Saturday, August 29, 2009

AND THE WINNER IS......

Tanya. I will be emailing Tanya tonight to get her address so that I can send her the envelope of coupons. Congratulations Tanya.

As many of you may have noticed, I have not been posting on here much. Between work, my classes and family, I just don't have the time. I get home from class on Mondays and Wednesdays and just crash. The rest of the weekdays I spend a little time with the kiddos and then crash as soon as they are in bed. I am really exhausted.

As much as I love writing in my blog, I just can't keep up with it. So, I will post when I can, but I make no promises. I have been having trouble even getting my Tops deals and shopping trips posted (I went last weekend, even took pictures, but never found the time to post them). So, I will leave everything up and active, and just post when I have the opportunity.


Lisette

Sunday, August 23, 2009

It Pays to Eat Pasta Sweepstakes!

This contest is pretty cool, so I just had to share it with you all. Go to It Pays to Eat Pasta, and enter their sweepstakes today. They are giving 8 lucky people free groceries for a year ($5200) and 42 people $200 in groceries. Pretty awesome huh? I know we could certainly use either of those, and with 50 chances, that ups the odd of winning. So, go over to site and enter.


Lisette

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Coupon Contest - Win over $150 worth of coupons

I have A LOT of coupons right now. I have been given a lot of coupon inserts in the last few weeks and really there are more coupons than I could ever think about using. So, instead of letting them expire, I have decided to share.

So, one lucky winner will win over $150 in coupons. Some of the products include:


  • Tide
  • Scott toilet paper
  • Cascade
  • Kid Cuisine
  • Banquet Meals
  • Manwich
  • Act II popcorn
  • Huggies Pullups and Pure and Natural Diapers
  • Cookie Crisp cereal
  • Listerine
  • Windex
  • and much, much more

All coupons expire after September 10. Since I will not have much time to advertise this contest, I will be giving more entries for people who get the word out about this contest. Here are the ways you can get entries:
  • 1 Entry - This one must be done in order to enter the contest. My husband is having trouble making dinner (he is currently the stay-at-home parent). To get your first entry into the contest, let me know ideas and tips he can use to make getting dinner on the table easier. Also please leave your email or blog address, so that I can get a hold of you if you win.
To get more entries:
  • 2 entries - Subscribe to my blog via email. Please leave me a comment with your email address.
  • 3 entries - Add my badge to your blog or site. The code can be found on my sidebar. Please leave me a comment letting me know you did this, along with the address.
  • 3 entries - Twitter about my contest. Please leave a separate comment stating you did this, with the link or your Twitter name.
  • 3 entries - Emailing at least 3 friends telling them about this contest. (Please put me on cc - couponqueenofcorning at hotmail dot com), and leave me a comment letting me know you have done so.
  • 5 entries - Blog about this contest. Please leave a comment with the address link.
Contest Ends August 26 at midnight EST. I will be drawing a winner and post the name on the 27th. I will also email that person. Winner has 48 hours after receiving email to get back to me or I will have to choose a new winner.

Good luck! Bonne Chance!!


Lisette

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Contests

Here are a couple awesome giveways that I just wanted you all to know about:
  • Table4Five, on conjuction with GoodNites, is running a giveaway that ends tomorrow. Click here to go the post and you have a chance to win a 100 gift certificate to PajamaGram.com, a $50 gift certificate to Borders, a blanket, a bedtime journal, and a tote to hold it all, worth approx. $250.00!
  • FrugalUpstate has partenered with Nestle to give away a $500 gift card to Walmart. How cool is that! Head on over to frugalupstate.com to enter before tomorrow also.




    Lisette

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Coupon Tips - Where to Get Coupons

Wondering where to get extra coupons? Do you ever feel let down by the coupon inserts in the Sunday paper? Well, the Sunday paper is not the only place to get great coupons that will save you tons of money. So, where do people get coupons? Listed below are some places that you should try looking.


The Sunday Newspaper


This is the first place I look for coupons. You can get anywhere from 1-3 inserts in most Sunday papers. Coupons in the paper can vary depending on where you live. I have noticed that when I look at other blogs of couponers that are in the South that they have better coupons than ours. Or they will get certain ones for $1 off 1, whereas we get a coupon for $1 off 2. Also keep in mind that on holiday weekends they do not have coupons in the Sunday paper.

Ask family and friends if you can have their coupon inserts. This way you can have extra of all the coupons. You can even go out and buy extra papers if the coupons are really great. Ask local stores what they do with their extra newspapers and ask if you can have the inserts.


Off the Internet

There are so many coupons on the Internet that you can print and use at your local stores. You will need to check with your store to see if they accept Internet printables. Tops, Target and Walgreens takes Internet printables. I have not checked with other stores, but if you know of other stores that take them, please let me know in the comment section.

Target will take an Internet coupon plus they will also take coupons printed from their site. So, you can save even more by stacking your coupons. Here's a list of coupon sites for you to print from:

Catalinas


Sometimes when you buy certain products, a store coupon will print for you to use on your next visit. Sometimes these are for a certain amount off a product or even a certain amount off your total order. I've gotten these at the grocery store for products such as cereal, yogurt and coffee. Walgreens has these also, but they are called register rewards there. When you buy a certain number of a certain product, you get a coupon for a certain dollar amount to be used on your next visit. By using your register rewards for your next purchase and buying products that have more register rewards, you can save a lot of money.

In the Stores

Sometimes, when you are going through your grocery store, you can find coupons. The coupons that are in those red little boxes are called blinkies. Even if I don't need that product today I will grab a couple coupons to use at a different time, maybe even a different store. These are manufacture coupons, so they can be used anywhere. The only downfall to the blinkies is that usually you can not double them, so if they are for a small dollar amount, you may just want to pass.

Other coupons found in the stores are peelies. These are coupons that are attached to the product to entice you to buy it. If the price is good and you want to buy the product, it may be worth it. But many times I have noticed that these peelies are not on the products that are on sale. Recent peelies I have seen have been for products such as iced tea, rice, pasta, and cereal.


In the Mail

Getting coupons in the mail seems to be decreasing with the advent of Internet printables, but you can still get coupons this way. If you write or email a company, many times they will send you coupons in the mail. Do not hesitate to send an email or letter to a company to compliment a product you like or to complain about one you disliked. If you are going to have a baby or have one already, sign up for formula and diapers in the mail from the manufacture. I also signed up for a baby gift registry when I was pregnant, and I get baby coupons from Target, that can be stacked with regular manufacture coupons to increase savings.


From Other People

Besides asking people you know for inserts you can also trade or buy coupons. Several websites, like Frugal Village have coupon trains where you sign up to exchange a certain number of coupons a week. You get rid of the coupons you won't use and get ones that you hopefully can use. You can also have a coupon party with your friends where you get together over a meal (at someone's home, preferably) and exchange coupons with them.


I am sure there are a lot of other ways to get coupons. Please leave me a comment if you would like to add anything else to my list.




Lisette

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Tops Trip and Rite Aid Trip 8/8

We ran to Rite Aid (the new one in Horseheads -it is really nice and the associates are very friendly) and then to Tops to get some much needed food. Last week, money was pretty tight so we needed to get quite a bit this week. I also want to run to Aldi's later this week and get rolls and fresh fruit. Here's what we bought.


Rite Aid Trip 8/8

  • Venus Spa Breeze Razor. Regular price $9.99, on sale for $7. Used $2 coupon and there is a $5 rebate so this will end up being FREE AFTER REBATE
  • Garnier Fructis shampoo. Regular price $4.19, on sale for $2.99. Used $1 coupon and there is a $2 rebate so this ends up being FREE AFTER REBATE
  • 4 1-liters of Crest Pro-Health Rinse. Regular price $6.49 each, on sale for $5 each. Used 4 $1 coupons and there is a rebate for $10 when you buy 4. This brings the price down to 4/$6 after rebate

Original Total: $42.53

Amount Saved: $34.14
Total Paid: $8.39 (saved 80.3%)




Tops Trip 8/8


  • 6 2-liters of Diet Pepsi. On sale for $1 each + deposit .05 each (.48)
  • 6 4-packs of Hunts snack packs. On sale for $1 each. Used two internet coupons for $1 off 1 4-pack and another coupon for a free 4-pack when you buy 3. So, these ended up being 6/$3
  • Quaker rice cakes on sale for $1.50. Used $.50 off 1, which doubled to $1, making these $.50
  • Kellogg's Strawberry Mini Wheats -on sale for $2.50. Used $.75 coupon (from back of regular Mini Wheats box) which doubled to $1.50, making these $1
  • Kellogg's Fruit Loops on sale for $1.99.
  • 2 bags of single size M&Ms. On sale for $.50 each. Used 2 Free chocolate Friday coupons to make these FREE
  • Wishbone salad dressing $2. Used $1 off 1 internet coupon to make it $1.
  • 4 packets of Knorr Rice sides on sale for $1 each. Used two $.60 off 2 coupons, which doubled to $1.20 off 2, making these $.40 each
  • 2 jars of Skippy peanut butter $2 each. Used coupon for $1 off 2, making these 2/$3
  • 2 boxes of Tops instant oatmeal (need to check at Aldi's and see if they have them again) on sale for $2 each.
  • Jiffy popcorn $1.47
  • flip flops for my daughter's birthday on sale for $3.
  • 2 boxes of Playtex gloves on sale for $1.50 each. Used two $1 off coupons to make these $.50 each
  • 8 ears of cob $2
  • 3 pounds of potatoes $3.99
  • 2 pouches of Margerita pepperoni slices on sale for $2 each. Used two $.75 off 1 coupons, which doubled to $1.50 each, making these $.50 each
  • 4 1/2 gallons of Turkey Hill iced tea on sale for $1.50 each. Used two $1.00 of two coupons, making these $1 each
  • Tops gallon of skim milk $1.69
  • Boneless Skinless Chicken breast $1.88 a pound = $8.27
  • 80% ground beef $1.99 a pound = $9.89

Original Amount: $113.33

Amount saved: $57.13

Total paid: $56.96

Grocery Challenge Amount: $52.68


I am working on this week's Tops deals tonight. As you may be able to tell, some of the items I got on sale are on this week's sales and some are last week's. I guess this is one of the perks to going shopping on a Saturday evening. I will post the deals as soon as I can.


Lisette

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Happy Saturday Morning

It's Saturday morning and the kids aren't up yet, so I thought I would use the opportunity to get some posts done. It has been a very hectic week. I really need to get on a better schedule and devote a few hours a week to blogging. I will be starting a job that involves more hours and a little but more a drive starting on the 17th, and then my one class will be starting the next week after that (an accounting class). So, I am hoping to be able to keep up on here. I have two posts about couponing ready to be posted and I want to write up some more this weekend.

My husband has been doing a lot better this week in regards to keeping the house clean. He has been keeping the dishes washed each day and the house picked up. So, that is a plus. We still need to work on him making dinner though. I am going to go downstairs and take inventory of everything in our inventory and freezer and then we are going to figure out meals that he can make, hopefully utilizing a good majority of what we already have. Need to get him in the cooking everyday habit this week because the next week I will not be getting home until 5:30.

Now, I need to be getting off this computer. I have TONS of computers that still need to be put in my binder (I had 5 papers' worth of coupons last week and there were a lot of coupons in each one!) so I will be working on that before we go shopping today. I need to inventory stockpile, make a meal plan and make a list for shopping. Then, of course, there is a lot of clothes to be folded, plus I need to do another load of mine and the kids' clothes. So it is going to be a very busy weekend. I am leaving you with some deals and coupons that I found this morning.

Coffee-Mate coupon
In my email today I received a link to a coupon for Coffee-Mate, so if you use this in your coffee, you can click here to go to the site. You must either log in or register. Supposedly it is a $1 off 1, but I have not had the opportunity to print this yet. I know that there is a $1.50 off 2 that you can print more than one time on that site also.

Rite Aid coupons
I don't know how many other people got an email from Rite Aid today, but supposedly, if you watch some videos, you can get coupons to print and use at Rite Aid. Click here if you'd like to go to the site and see what it's all about.

Kraft FirstTaste $100 in Groceries
Kraft is having a promotion where you can win a $100 grocery card. Go to Kraft FirstTaste and either sign in or register. They are giving away one of these cards every day until September 1, so sign up NOW for your best chance to win.

Coupons
I found a pdf with several coupons. Click here to take you to it. It includes coupons for Dixie plates and bowls, BagelBites, Sharpie Highlighters, and Tide Stain Release. Print a few of these and then check out Target and Walmart in the next few weeks for prices on the highlighters at less than $1.

Restaurants.com
Would you like to be able to go out and eat for 80% less! Restaurants.com has coupons for local restaurants and right now if you use the code PORTION you can get a $25 gift certificate for only $2!! Offer ends August 13.



Lisette

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Tops Deals 8/2-8/8

I'm sorry I didn't get this done sooner. Sunday we were gone most of the day, yesterday I worked and last night I went to bed early with a migraine. There really aren't too many good deals this week at Tops. If you have a P&C near you, you may want to check out their ad for this week. I always look at their ads and usually their sales are just awful, but this week is actually pretty good. So here's the deals I see this week.

  • sweet corn 4/$1
  • fresh boneless chicken breast or center cut pork chops $1.88 a pound
  • fresh lean ground beef $1.99 a pound
  • Pepsi 2 liters $1
  • All laundry detergent $3.99. Use $1 off coupon from Sunday's insert, making this $2.99
  • Margerita sliced pepperoni $2. Use $.75 off coupon, which doubles to $1.50, making it $.50
  • Turkey Hill iced tea 2/$3. Buy 2 and use $1 off 2 coupon, making these 2/$2
  • Hunt's snack pack pudding $1. Use $1 off 1 from Con Agra site, to make this free


If you would like to see more coupon and store matchups, head over to BeCentsAble.


Lisette

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Making Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

For those of you who may be newer readers, I wanted to explain my absence for the last few days. As many of you may know, my husband was laid off in March. Since then money in our savings has been dwindling and I had to start looking for a job. Luckily, I was able to get one, and it's even something I enjoy doing. I started on Monday, and it's really an awesome job and the people there are really awesome.

So, as I am transitioning from being a full-time stay-at-home mom with loads of time to do everything I want, to a full-time working mom, my blog may sometimes get overlooked. I have a new banner ready and will need to change the colors and background of my badge, so I need to set some time aside for that. I am hoping to get on a little better schedule this next week and maybe get some posts written for when I am really busy. I will be posting on the Tops deals, no matter what. I have to look through the ad each week anyway for my own shopping, so it really isn't too much more time-consuming to type the deals in a post. I also want to keep doing the meal plans on Mondays. Those are my priorities right now and if I find more time, I will work on Words of the Week Wednesday and Frugal Meal Friday. I also have a couple couponing posts I will start posting and I would like to write a few more to go with the series. So, bear with me through this transition and we will all be happier soon!!

Now, on to those wonderful oatmeal chocolate chip cookies I mentioned in the title. I am a baker! All week, I have wanted to bake something, but really have not had the energy nor really the time to bake after I got home from work. I found I really miss it. So, this morning I made a double batch of chocolate chip cookie dough. Some of it will be baked later tonight (when it cools down) and the rest will be put in the freezer. Here is the recipe if you are interested:


Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies



Ingredients:
4 sticks of butter
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups oatmeal
about 6 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2-1 bag chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to about 350 degrees.
2. Soften 4 sticks of butter in microwave (use a low power) in a large bowl. Add sugar and brown sugar and mix well.
3. Add eggs and vanilla and mix again
4. Add oatmeal, 4 cups of flour, salt and baking soda. Swirl around with spoon to mix those 3 things. Then mix well. Add in about 1-2 cups more flour. This is an approximation. You may need to add a little more flour if you use larger eggs or like your dough pretty dry.
5. Add chocolate chips
6. Scoop dough onto cookie sheets, making sure there is enough room for them to expand. I usually try to put 9 or 12 on a sheet depending on the sheet's size.
7. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until brown. Let cookies cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes and then, using a spatula, place them on a paper towel.

I hope you try the recipe and like it. My family does! I am off now to make up some zucchini bread. Then I have to make some dinner (I'm thinking homemade sloppy joes with frozen tatertots and a veggie) and then I will be making homemade bread for the week. I am also thinking about making some pasta salad for a cookout we are going to tomorrow. I already have most, if not all, of the ingredients and it sounds good. Have a wonderful weekend.


Lisette