Day 1 & 2: Knoxville's Ten Days of Real Food Challenge

Finding time to post about Knoxville's Ten Days of Real Food Challenge may be as challenging as finding the right foods, but I'll do the best I can. I can already tell I won't be as exemplary as my good friend Gabe (check out her updates on day 1 and day 2 of this challenge), but hopefully my honesty will inspire those intimidated by a challenge like this.

First off, I confess I forgot about the challenge until yesterday and didn't change my shopping to make any changes in our current eating habits. I'm working with what I have in the fridge, freezer, and pantry. This will give me a clear idea of how our current lifestyle stacks up.

Sunday, April 1: DAY 1

Breakfast: My hubby and son ran a 5K this morning and I was hurrying the kids to church for the Easter egg hunt. Our traditional breakfast consisted of cereals: Frosted Mini Wheats, Honey Nut Cheerios, Raison Bran, or Kashi Go Lean. Most of us use almond milk but one son still prefers 1% milk (not local). Coffee for the adults consisted of sweetened with one scoop of sugar and a few tablespoons of 1% milk. The Mini Wheats and Raison Bran fall under the 6 ingredient rule, but I have a hard time considering Kashi a poorer choice. MARGINAL PASS.

Lunch: Since we had the Covenant Health Kids Fun Run the night before and ate frozen pizzas for time (Fruschetta and DiGiorno), we had left-over pizza for lunch. FAIL.

Dinner: I roasted chicken breasts (not local or organic but they were on sale ;-), organic carrots, sweet potatoes, and onions. I cooked enough chicken to use in other meals this week. Breyers ice cream for dessert; has more than 5 ingredients but is better than many brands in my opinion. MARGINAL PASS.

Monday, April 2: DAY 2

Breakfast: Cereal again. MARGINAL PASS.

Snack: Brooke and I went to the Moms Club Easter Egg Hunt. I brought orange slices but of course there were tons of more tempting choices like cookies, cupcakes, and muffins. Snacks that would pass included cheese blocks, fruit, Annie's bunny grahams, and Pirate Booty (I think this pass). I did pretty well but split one pink cupcake with Brooke. MARGINAL PASS.

Lunch: I heated up left-overs: wild caught mahi mahi, rice (from a package that I had gotten on sale), steamed broccoli. Bob had the same. Brooke really wanted chicken nuggets, pasta (not whole wheat) and orange slices. She ate so many oranges, I agreed. Devin's lunch at school was white pasta, organic apple slices, goldfish, chex mix, and 3 chocolate eggs. Only the apples passed. Bobby's lunch had homemade salsa, tortilla chips, goldfish, and a Fiber One brownie. The salsa and chips passed. MARGINAL PASS.

Dinner: I made a stirfry primarily with veggies but with a little left-over pork loin (not local or organic). Ingredients included garlic, onions, peppers, mushrooms, broccoli, cabbage, and carrots. I added a little soy sauce, lime juice, and ginger. I cooked brown rice in chicken stock I had made the night before. This makes the difference between bland and delicious rice without the insane sodium in packaged rice. The kids weren't as keen on the stirfry like they usually are. After forcing a few bites down, I let them have some pasta, baked beans, and hotdogs with no nitrates. All three fail the criteria but I tried. MARGINAL PASS.

As you see, there isn't one meal I'd say we pass with flying colors. Is that depressing? A little, but I'm still making an effort to feed them better alternatives, even if they don't follow THE RULES. And when we were "on the run," we were literally on the run at races. This week Bobby and I also biked 8 miles, swam 20 laps, and kayaked nearly every day. Devin and Brooke run nearly everywhere they go and spend a lot of time on their bikes. Knowing how active we all are has to factor in there positively.

What do you think?

Coupon Workshop 10/9: Don't Miss!

If you've been wanting to learn more about couponing and want to shave 50-75% off your grocery bill, mark your calendar! Gabrielle is a good friend and mentor for me. She gets the "big picture" of saving money, making green choices, buying locally, gardening, reducing waste, and supporting others through her couponing ministry. She's not just any coupon blogger it's just five bucks! Here's the scoop!

Sunday, October 9

2 pm

Faith United Methodist Church

1120 Dry Gap Pike, Knoxville

Presented by Gabrielle Blake

Couponing in Critical Times blog

$5 donation at the door

(to benefit the outreach programs at Faith United Methodist Church)

Attendees will learn the basics of couponing and how to save 50-75% from their grocery budgets by using coupons and savvy shopping. Budgeting, coupon organization, coupon sources, store policies, and drugstore shopping will be reviewed. The workshop will take approximately 2-2 ½ hours. All are welcome!

For more info:

faithseekers.org

865-688-1000

couponingincriticaltimes@gmail.com

Art of FREE: Pay it Forward

To those I met at the coupon fair this morning, welcome to my blog! To those bargain bloodhounds who sniffed it out because of the word FREE, welcome as well. I just returned from the Second Annual Knoxville Coupon Fair, and I'm pumped up. The crowd doubled from last year (around 600)! I barely had a moment between breaths, but that made it more fun.

As I reflect on how much has changed from my Coupon Fair experience last year, the phrase PAY IT FORWARD resonates in my mind. I didn't even know there were deals at pharmacies until Coupon Katie shared her knowledge with me a year and a half ago. And it was here last year that I first met Gabrielle from Couponing in Critical Times, who inspired me to start Couponing for Charity. In a few weeks I will take my fourth batch of freebies to a local non-profit, and the annual total value of my contributions alone will be about $650 of goods. Wow!

That's why today my topic to share with folks was "The Art of Free." The goal was to give the basic tools to acquire these freebies themselves but more importantly to inspire them to share a portion of their good deals with others. PAY IT FORWARD. Whether you share them with your mom, your church, or the food bank, I challenge you to find some way to spread the good coupon karma. I hope that you will accept this challenge and share with me how I've inspired you in the months ahead. You never know the impact you could have. Gabrielle has impacted mine as a mentor, confidant, and friend. ;-)

If you didn't make it to the fair today, here's part of my hand-out:

The most beautiful word to any couponer is FREE. I smile every time I say it. But there is an art to attaining freebies. Here are a few tips.

1. Know what to look for. Items you can usually get for free are:

• Hygiene: toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, body wash, razors, shaving cream, feminine products, deodorant, shampoo, lip balm, eye solution, and travel first aid kids.
• Medicine: I haven’t paid for pain relievers or cold medicines all year.
• Candy: You can usually get candy bars for $.25 or free and bagged candy for $1 or less through pharmacy deals. Great for holidays.
• Food: Free pasta, canned soup, brownie mix, tuna packets, snack mix, energy bars, and granola bars for $.50 a box or less are typical.

2. Know where to go.

• There are weekly freebies through the rewards programs at CVS and Walgreen’s.
• Kroger doubles coupons up to $.50, making many “10 for $10” items free.
• Target allows you to stack manufacturer’s and Target coupons on the same item.
• Staples often has “easy rebates” or rewards deals that mean free office supplies.
• Earthfare sends out weekly email promotions for free items when you spend $5.

3. Sign up for free sample email alerts. Allyou.com sends emails with the free sample of the day. These are good on items I don’t use regularly, and they often come with a coupon for future savings.

4. Know which coupons are worth clipping / printing. When in doubt, clip. That’s good advice when getting started, but there are some coupons to specifically look out for.

• $1 off any Tide product gets a free travel size Tide at Target. I’ve also gotten several free travel first aid kits with $3/3 J&J when they’re a dollar each.
• A $.50/1 coupon for Colgate, Crest, Reach, Speed Stick, Duncan Hines, Star Kist, Pillsbury, Green Giant, or Ronzoni will usually mean free products on sale at Kroger.
• Cereal can be tough to get totally free but if you’re patient, you should never pay more than $1.50 a box. Coupons for cereal range from $.33 to B1G1.

5. Know the rules of B1G1.

• In most stores, you don’t actually have to buy 2 items to get an advertised B1G1 deal. If vitamins are B1G1 at $8, you can buy 1 for just $4 and if you have a $2/1 coupon, you only pay $2.
• If you have a B1G1 coupon for an item, you can also use another coupon for money off the one you’re “buying.” Say deodorant is on sale for $1 each; you have a B1G1 and $1/1 for that brand. You can use both coupons to get two free.

6. Even if you have a FREE coupon for an item, it’s wise to wait for a sale.

• Kroger sends targeted free coupons based on your spending habits. Waiting for a mega sale when I buy multiple boxes of granola bars helps bring down the total price per box.
• Since you usually pay tax, even on coupons that say “free,” it’s better to pay tax when it costs $3 as opposed to $5.
• Read the fine print on free coupons. Sometimes it’s up to a certain value. I was able to get Cottonelle wipes for free at Kroger – not so at Walgreen’s or CVS.

PAY IT FORWARD. PAY IT FORWARD. PAY IT FORWARD.

Thank you to Gabrielle and Christy for the photos.

Couponing for Charity 2/20-26

Before I get started, let me remind you about the Knoxville Coupon Fair this Saturday, February 26 from 9am to noon. It's a drop-in, walk-around set-up. So you don't have to be there the whole time. You will have access to some of the savviest coupon bloggers in Knoxville, and they will all be distributing informative hand-outs. I will be sharing tips for the "Art of Free." If you can spare one of the freebies I've helped you get, please bring it to donate. Come armed with your questions, because this is the only day of the year we're all in one room. Best part: IT'S FREE!!!! Still have questions? Gabrielle probably answered them in this post.

Can you believe it's only Sunday and I've already done my shopping for the week?! I shopped at CVS on Saturday to pick up deals from both weeks, stopped by for some essentials at Kroger yesterday, and ran into Walgreen's and Staples today. There are some good deals for sure!

*****UPDATE 2/21: GREAT TARGET DEALS*****

I just saw a series of deals at Target on Coupon Katie's site. Check posts here, here, and here. I'm hoping to get a few of these deals tomorrow:

• Finish Quantum 10ct ($2.50, $1.50 Target coupon, $1 MC=Free)
• Up & Up dental floss-50 yds ($.89, $1 TC=Free) Tip: If it beeps, have the cashier type in $.89.
• Up & Up mouthwash-16.9oz ($1.37, $1 TC=$.37)
• Up & Up pantyliners ($.87, $.75 TC=$.12)
• Up & Up ibuprofen-24ct ($.99, $1 TC=Free)
• Up & Up all purpose cleaner with bleach ($1.37, $1 TC=$.37)
• Up & Up bleach ($1.47, $1 TC=$.47)
• Up & Up dryer sheets-40ct ($1.37, $1 TC=$.37)
• Seventh Generation dish soap ($2.79, $1TC, $1MC =$.79). Using both a Target coupon and a manufacturer's coupon on the same item is called "stacking."
• Jeans (several on clearance marked $4.98, $5 TC=Free)
• There's also free Wolfgang Puck soup but I'd already printed and used that coupon.

If you have chance to go shopping tomorrow, 2/21, head to Staples for these freebies after easy rebates. It's a "pay now, save later" scenario but it's even better than the rewards deals because they send a check you turn into cash--not store rewards. And the rebates are all done online.

STAPLES:

For a complete list of freebies, go to MoJo Savings. Here's what I bought:

• 2 packs multi-purpose paper ($5.99 each, FREE after rebate)
• 2 packs photo paper ($9.99 each, FREE after rebate)
• 2 Avery address labels (normally $11.99 each, $4.99 for rewards members, should get $9.99 for each, making this a $10MM)
• 1 Pentel pack of pens ($3.79, FREE after rebate)
• 1 Staples mini post-its (normally $5.29, $4.00 for rewards members, FREE after rebate)
• 1 50 pack HP DVDs (normally $28.99, $9.99 for rewards members, $4.99 after rebate)

Total value: $94.01

Total OOP: $65.54 (remember you're still paying tax)

I will receive rebates for $64.73

I'm going to hang onto all this for now; I may donate some at a later time if I see a charity has a specific need.

It's a toss-up for which is the better pharmacy this week. So I'll start with:

CVS:

For all the match-ups, go to Southern Savers.

For pared down lists, go to Coupon Katie or Coupon Mommie.

Since I bought goods for two different weeks, I won't confuse you with my scenario specifics, but here are the best deals this week:

• 2 Colgate Maxfresh or Total Advanced ($2.99, get $2ECB, use $1MC from All You=FREE)
• 1 Gold Emblem jelly beans ($.99, get $.99ECB=FREE)
• 1 Cadbury egg ($.75, get $.75ECB=FREE); valid through 2/22 only
• 4 Mars bars; selected varieties ($.50 each, get $1ECB wyb 4; I used a B1G1 MC which expires today and a CVS B1G1 coupon from the kiosk that took off $.89. So my four were a $.39MM. Even without coupons, they are $.25 each)

WALGREEN'S:

For all the match-ups, go to Southern Savers.

For a pared down list, go to Coupon Katie.

Here's what I bought:

• 1 RepHresh box of tampons (normally $6.99, on sale for $5.99, get $5, used $1 printable=FREE)
• 1 Dove deodorant ($2.99, $1.99 with ad coupon, used $2 MC=FREE)
• 4 knee highs (normally $.50 each, $.25 each with in ad coupon, total=$1) I bought these as filler items to make the product / coupon ratio.
• Used 2 $2RRs from last week

Total OOP: $2.86

RRs for next time: $5

Total savings: $10

KROGER:

For all the match-ups, go to Southern Savers.

For a pared down list, go to Coupon Mommie.

Due to my Eat from the Pantry challenge, I may not make it in this week, but there are a few freebies to grab if you have the coupons: Voskos yogurt, Horizon milk, Colgate toothpaste, Starkist tuna, Mentos gum, and Land of Lakes spread.

The past few weeks have been primarily deals for our family, but here are some items I've added to the stash to donate: 1 pack gum ($1.49, Free after ECB), 4 tubes toothpaste ($15.96, after coupons and ECBs=$2.50MM), 1 feminine hygiene ($6.99, Free after RR and coupon), 4 knee hi's ($2, $1 after coupon), 1 deodorant ($2.99, $.01MM after coupons).

VALUE OF ITEMS DONATED: $29.43

MONEY SPENT: -$1.51 (that's negative $1.51)

TOTAL ITEMS DONATING TO DATE: 1 box of pain patches, 2 heat wraps, 6 toothpaste, 4 containers of hummus, 1 trial size laundry, 6 toothbrushes, 1 baby wipes, 24 post-it's, 2 eye drops, 3 cans soup, 1 body wash, 1 gum, 1 feminine hygiene, 4 knee hi's, 1 deodorant

VALUE OF ITEMS DONATED: $123.07

MONEY SPENT: -$6.05

See you at the Coupon Fair!

Party from the Pantry

We're on the downhill slide of the February Eat from the Pantry Challenge, and I thought I'd share some ways I've been able to stay on course and still be prepared for various celebrations. It's helped me know what to keep on hand in a pinch and how to get creative when necessary.

Valentine's Day means several parties for the kids. The first was with our MOMS Club chapter where everyone brought something sweet to share. I had thought about rice krispy treats but someone had already planned on that. So I settled on homemade granola bars. I chose this recipe because it didn't call for wheat germ (like many recipes online) which I didn't have. I wanted to use up some oats, honey, coconut, and dried fruit. It was simple enough to make but in my haste of multi-tasking, I forgot the sugar. Who forgets the sugar?!

Rather than scratch the whole batch, I decided to get creative. I'll just use another ingredient in abundance in my pantry: prepared icing! I had gotten several for free awhile back and forgot about them. So I broke up the granola, took a small dollop of icing and rolled it in the granola. Not surprising--they were delicious! How could they not be? I know they're not healthy, but they made for a yummy treat. When I ran out of the icing, I used peanut butter to do the same thing--also tasty. I plan to make another batch correctly soon.

Continuing on valentines parties, both boys had celebrations at school. Bobby needed to bring "something salty;" he was thrilled with a can of multi-grain Pringles nearing their expiration. Devin brought apples and grapes, which I'd bought a lot of the week prior. Both boys took valentines with Hershey kisses taped to them (another deal I had in abundance).

Our party scene continued with Brooke's second birthday party. I kept it very low-key at home with three of her friends. We played Elefun, Hullabaloo, and built towers out of our eco blocks. They had a great time. I served apples, grapes, and pretzyls for a snack and then cupcakes on reusable plates. I had the cake mix and frosting in the pantry already. My only costs were $1 for balloons (which I forgot to blow up), $1 for streamers, and $1 each for the balls I gave as party favors. Devin and Brooke helped me make a sign from poster board and stickers we had on hand; I even re-used the 2 candle and hats from previous birthdays. Hey, why not? A two-year-old doesn't care! What she did notice was that for a small period of time, she was the queen bee and garnered attention and presents.

Lastly, I planned two special valentine dinners: one with our family and one as a couple. The family dinner was steamed crabs I'd picked up at Sam's Club a few weeks ago, scalloped potatoes (AMAZING recipe!) that were starting to spud with heavy cream I needed to use, and steamed broccoli. We ended the meal with our favorite dessert: the chocolate fountain. I had the chocolate, marshmellows, and pirouette cookies in the pantry. The bananas and organic strawberries I'd bought fresh that day.

The special couple meal was supposed to be a dinner out at The Melting Pot (where I of course have a half off certificate), but kids' illnesses have put that plan on hold. So tonight I'm going to use the rest of the crab to make crab cakes and have a candlelight dinner with just the two of us after they go to bed. Plan B's not so bad!

If you ask my hubby if this challenge has been terrible, he might respond, "What challenge?" I haven't changed my habits greatly and have added some fresh fruit, bread, and veggies to balance our diet. I've saved a TON of money by simply not going to the store as often or buying only selective items. I may have to break down and pick up some cinnamon to keep the peace, but I'd say this has been a good experience. Thank you, Couponing in Critical Times, for suggesting it. I'm hoping to win that $5 gift card to Walgreen's to see how far I can make it go!

What has been your most creative use of items in your pantry?

February Eat from the Pantry Challenge

Maybe I'm crazy; maybe I just can't turn down a challenge. When my friend Gabrielle from Couponing in Critical Times set a challenge that she was going to "eat from the pantry/freezer/fridge"--aka, her stockpile--for the entire month of February, I decided to join her. I believe there are at least five of us actively trying to do this for two main reasons: save money and reduce waste. This is the ultimate in green living.

So often we buy things because they're a good deal and then they get shoved out of sight and we forget about them. Throwing away spoiled or expired food is just like throwing money in the trash; I can't stand it. So this weekend I took an inventory of everything in my stockpile to see where I could get creative with what I already have on hand. I have way too many cans of frosting, enough cereal for months, more beef than I know what to do with, and several goods nearing or just past their expiration dates. It's a good time for this challenge.

Each of us have set our own exceptions that work for our families. Personally, I'm allowing myself to buy fresh milk, bread, eggs, fruit, and a few veggies. I can't stand the idea of eating just canned or frozen veggies for a month, and I will not deny my family bananas and milk. I usually spend $500 on food every month. For February, I've set my limit to $200 for groceries and pharmacy deals. Also, if it's truly a freebie, I can get it. I think I'll come way under, but I'd rather give myself some buffer. We'll probably spend $36 on milk alone.

It's Day 4 of the challenge and so far, so good. I went to Kroger Jan. 27 and did my Walgreen's and CVS runs Jan. 31. Since then, I bought some bananas for $1.13 and had to stop in to Walgreen's for some decongestant and breathe right strips for Bobby. Thanks to register rewards and coupons, I saved $20.28 and only spent $2.26.

We've eaten lasagna and frozen peas, duck gumbo with shrimp and salad, stir-fry with pork loin and rice left-overs, and tacos. We'll probably have steak, potatoes, and broccoli tomorrow night. I'm not feeling deprived yet. We'll see how it goes. I think the hardest part will be telling my kids they can't eat something because we're out of it. However, I'll have what they need for healthy meals--just not some of the extra treats. They'll get over it.

Would you consider doing a challenge like this?

Ways to Save on Christmas Entertaining

Our group of amazing Knoxville money saving momma bloggers is at it again. This post comes from Gabrielle at Couponing for Critical Times. She shares ideas for frugal get-togethers and ideas to save on decorating your home for Christmas. If she weren't so darn nice and gracious, she would be intimidating with all her great ideas! She is the Martha Stewart of Knoxville (without the likelihood of spending time behind bars ;-)

One of my favorite get-togethers she mentions is a cookie swap. I've never hosted one, but our moms group does one every year. It's an easy thing for moms to do when you have kids with you. You might also suggest a gift card exchange of a designated value and play a game of "dirty Santa"--when you get to steal each other's gifts.

My favorite tip for decorating is to "Go Natural." We're going to cut our own tree at a farm on Saturday and I'll ask for some extra clippings. I've never had the courage to make my own swags, but this year I'll give it a try. I have everything she describes on hand; so it won't cost a thing. We'll see.

Thank you to all the other contributing writers to this series: Coupon Katie, Coupon Mommie,Couponing in Critical Times,Coupons Are Money, Frugalissa Finds,Frugally Farming Family,Knoxmoms.com, Knoxville Mamabelle,Knoxville on a Dime, Sharing Savings with You.

If you've missed a few, scroll down my posts in December and November.

Let the Donating Begin!

Note: My computer is doing funky things; sorry for the weird formatting: If you've been following my Couponing for Charity weekly posts, you know I've been gathering FREE deals (mainly hygiene products) to donate to deserving organizations. Our MOMS Club chapter has chosen four local organizations over the course of a year to be recipients of our crafty couponing skills. Every three months, a different one will benefit. I've felt a bit like a squirrel--hunting, gathering, and storing my precious finds--but it was finally time to relinquish my gems to our first deserving group: a non-profit, interfaith agency serving the poor and homeless of Knoxville called the Volunteer Ministry Center.

This from their website: "The Volunteer Ministry Center helps people find their way out of homelessness by offering “tough love” programs that work. It’s not enough to meet the basic needs of food and shelter. Real progress means that people face their problems and overcome them. It means that they set goals and achieve them – and in a timely manner. It means that they are held accountable. The work of The Volunteer Ministry Center has one purpose – to help our clients achieve housing and a higher level of self-sufficiency so that they are no longer homeless."

I actually got involved with the VMC through my church, The Church of the Good Samarita, an Episcopal church in the Cedar Bluff region.There's a group of 10-15 female parishioners who attend a monthly "ladies night in" at the VMC. It's a chance to share some life skills, but more importantly, an opportunity to build relationships with women struggling to overcome homelessness. They seek to give them a comfortable bridge to the community.

So when I began my Couponing for Charity mission, this group was the first to come to mind. I was excited that not only was this a chance to "give them fish" but to "teach them to fish." Over the weekend, I began pouring out some of the knowledge I'd gained the past nine months and tips for how to get the great deals at Walgreen's and CVS in a hand-out. I quickly filled 4 1/2 pages. Would they be overwhelmed? Will they be able to stockpile? Would they call me Crazy Coupon Lady when I walked out the door?

When I put all the goods I had in a box, along with several donations from another member of MOMS Club, I could barely carry the box. In total, we had at least $250 of products and we broke even with paying tax. Here's what we gave:

9 tubes toothpaste, 7 toothbrushes, 2 dental floss,

14 body wash, 7 shampoo, 2 conditioner,

1 hand soap, 2 dish soap,

9 deodorants,

9 feminine care,

1 sinus spray, 1 multi-purpose eye solution, 1 heat wrap, 2 lip balm, 1 barrette, 1 box of tissues, 1 box of vitamins, 2 boxes of cereal, 1 box of crackers

Seeing it all on a table was very gratifying. When I said I got it all for free, some women looked astonished and a bit wary, as if I were about to pull a rabbit out of hat. Surely it isn't possible to get all that for FREE in three months! What's the catch? was reading on some of their faces.

Unfortunately only 2 of the 11 expected VMC clients showed up. Periodically KARM (where many of them live temporarily) has a lock-down and they will not let you come back in after 6:30pm if you leave. So I think most of them were trapped. However, there were about 10 women from our church, and they were all eager to figure this out for themselves. Though some of them were new to using coupons and many had never shopped at drugstores with this strategy, they soaked in the knowledge. I think I inspired several of them to give it a try and begin bringing to the VMC each month some of the deals they pick up.

Probably the most important person I educated tonight was Lisa Wells, a caseworker who plans to work with their clients one-on-one to help them get these deals themselves. Since you can't use food stamps on hygiene or cleaning products, this is a huge way to stretch their dollars. The VMC also have three computers clients can use to print coupons and access the weekly blogs detailing the deals like Southern Savers, Coupon Katie, and Coupon Mommie. Finally I have to give a big thanks to the one who educated and inspired me to start this couponing mission for others: Gabrielle at Couponing in Critical Times.

Though I didn't get to see the excited expressions of the recipients, Lisa was thrilled to now have items that she can put in "welcome home baskets." Four of their clients signed leases this week, and she's giving them each a basket full of goodies to get them started. She expects any extra products will be quickly snatched up.

As I walked out the door and glanced back at the stockpile, it was a little hard to leave it behind. After all my hard work, I now start with a clean slate for the next organization. Will I be just as successful? What will the next box look like? One thing I do know: it sure feels good to give.

Living off the Land

Coming from a long line of farmers, I suppose it's in my blood to want to live off the land. Cotton has sustained generations of my family for 150 years; now I'm happy to get a few fresh vegetables to call my own. Maybe that's what drives my new friend and fellow Knoxville blogger Mamabelle to raise her own chickens for eggs. I'd have to check our neighborhood by-laws, but I'm pretty sure "no livestock" is in there somewhere. So for now, I'll stick with reaping the bounty of our small garden.

Take tonight's dinner: To celebrate the incredibly fresh taste of snow peas right off the vine, we ate a few raw as snacks and then steamed the rest slightly for a vegetable and pasta medley. I started by cooking a pound of pasta I got for $1. I then sauteed green onions from the farmers' market; mushrooms, red peppers, and garlic on sale at Kroger this past week; and a few organic carrots. I then added the rest of the chicken breast from the whole chicken I bought for $1.04/lb on manager's special at Kroger and those amazing snow peas I previously mentioned. I added 1/2 cup of parsley growing in our herb garden and a few tablespoons of Classico alfredo sauce I got for a great price when those Classiso coupons were going around in May. When the food is fresh, it's best not to lose it in too many spices or sauces. The result was fresh, healthy, and delicious.

This is far from "living off the land" but I stress that even one ingredient that's fresh can make an entire dish phenomenal. If you're intimidated by growing your own, though you shouldn't be with such guidance from Gabe at Couponing in Critical Times, then consider visiting a farmers' market this week. You'll be glad you did.

Couponing for Charity: A Mission Begun

Over the past six months that I've been eagerly couponing, I've sometimes picked up deals that we don't typically use or more of a product than we really need. If I buy one more box of toothpaste or can of soup, my husband may insist I seek counseling for my addiction.

However, rather than give up my thrill of the deal, I've decided to channel my money saving super powers to help those less fortunate. The idea is to gather some of the freebies or super deals out there and donate them to a good cause. I'm calling it "Couponing for Charity" and will begin writing posts regularly with specific deals if you'd like to join along.

First of all, I'm not talking about all the free samples you can sign up for. I find most of those a waste of the manufacturer's resources (packaging, shipping, etc.) and would rather they channel their energies into coupons. I'm talking about the freebies that bloggers highlight all the time, if you're willing to do a little homework.

To help me on my journey, I've enlisted other savvy shoppers, members of our MOMS Club chapter that supports SAHMs and part-time working mothers, to do the same. By the way, if you live in the 37931, 37921, 37909, or 37923 north of I-40 zip codes, we'd love to have you check us out! I've learned that many of these fabulous ladies are already experts at finding deals, clipping coupons, and working the specials at places like Walgreens and CVS. So now it's just a matter of hunting and gathering.

For simplicity sake, we're going to have a trial run for six months and see what we get. We're aiming for hygiene products mostly (things that qualify for register rewards / ECBs or items we can get for free with coupons). After looking at weekly match-ups that other bloggers do, I'll make my recommendations on my blog. I'll list what I plan to pick up for charity that week and how it will cost me little to nothing or even save me money. At the end of the summer, we'll look at what we've all acquired and vote on a charity to donate to (probably something related to women or mothers). Service is a big part of what we do.

Here's an example. A few weeks ago, Walgreens had a RR for Dove Men's Body Wash: spend $6, get $6RR. Since I had a $1.50 coupon for that product, I only spent $4.50 and got $6RR. In a separate transaction, I bought a pack of Huggies diapers on sale for $9 and used my $6RR and a $2 coupon. I had to buy another item to get the coupon ratio correct, but stay with me. In the end, I only spent $5.50 for both diapers and body wash (cheaper than if I'd bought the diapers alone), and as a bonus, the diapers gave me another $3RR. Since my husband is more of a bar soap man, I'll donate the men's wash to our cause. It's a win-win: I saved money and a charity gets a great product for someone.

I plan to keep a running tally of my finds (value vs money spent). In the above example, I'd record a $6 value and -$1.50 (a "money maker"). That will make me feel better when I spend some money on products--like $.24 for a tube of toothpaste.

Thanks to Gabe from Couponing in Critical Times for the inspiration to get this going. If you need guidance for mastering CVS or Walgreens deals, Coupon Mommie has put these tips together.

There are several deals you might consider this week. At Kroger, if you buy 8 qualifying products, you save $4 instantly. With that sale, Speed Stick deodorants are $1; with a $.50 coupon that Kroger doubles, that one's FREE. I'll buy 2 3-count bars of Irish Spring soap on sale for $1, use a $.50/2 coupon, and pay only $.50 each. Dial hand soap (also $1) will only be $.30 after a $.35/1 coupon.

Click here for Coupon Katie's Walgreens recommendations and here for all the Walgreens match-ups. I'll be picking up the Colgate (spend $3.99, get $3.99RR) and will use a $1/1 coupon. I'll be doing this in twice in separate transactions to get two register rewards to use next week. I also have all the coupons for the $.38 toothbrushes and the $.22 boxes of Kleenex.

Click here for Coupon Katie's CVS recommendations and here for all the CVS match-ups. This will be my first trip to CVS, but I have my new card and I'm ready to give it a try. I'm excited about the Dove and Degree deodorant special (spend $15, get $5ECB) that should make 6 of them $.17 each with coupons. If you have not printed these high value coupons, do it now before they're gone. I have 3 $3/2 coupons (hoping the Degree Girl is included in the special) and 1 $1.50/2 Dove coupon if not. I'm hoping the shelves won't be clear by the time I get there. Save a few for me, will you?

I'll let you know how my plan works out (with totals) in a future post. If you have any tips for me and my money saving mommas, please leave a comment.