Smith's has 1 lb cartons of strawberries on sale this week for $1.29. I have been watching prices for a couple of weeks, and this seems to be one of the lowest prices I have seen. I need to make some more jam - but I have been waiting for a great price. Have you seen a better price - if so, where????

Albertson's has a couple of great sales this week! My favorite is on the front page of their sales flyer. When you spend $10 on participating products, save $4 instantly. My favorite picks are the Ritz, Wheat Thins and Triscuit crackers for $1.20/box, Jello-O Cheesecake with topping for $1.50/box, and Bagelfuls for $1.50/box.

This is an example of how to maximize your savings:

Buy 4 Bagelfuls @ $2.50 each = $10

Less $4 instant savings = $6

Less 4 $1 coupons from Kraft = $2

I can handle paying $.50 per box for a quick snack item to use on busy days. These are a frozen product, so they will last a while.

Albertson's Coupon Doubles

Today I had a great time at Albertson's. I had 3 coupon doublers from the Sunday paper to use. I used a Tree Top $1/2 coupon and 2 Right Guard coupons - $1 each. Then I used the 3 coupon doublers. Final price was $.18 (the tax)! The cashier was so surprised that she actually had to look back through the transaction to make sure that it was correct....hehehe...

After the purchase a catalina printed out for a free gatorade up to $2.50 - I paid $.12 in tax for a big bottle of gatorade. At this point, the cashier was really stunned....the lady behind me wanted to know what I bought ..... it was great!

So, if you think that doublers aren't worth it - think again....you just have to be creative!!

This will be added to my stockpile for future use.

Where Have I Been???

The last week has been crazy busy for us!!!

Last Thursday, Mike had to have sugery on his mouth....ouch!!

He had an infection in his gum above his front teeth, and it was eating a hole in his gums. So we had to go to a specialist and he created a flap in his upper gum....I will spare you the details. Then I drove him to another specialist that cleaned out the infection, did a root canal on his front tooth, filled it with some stuff and then we were sent back to the first specialist we saw. He ended up doing a gum graft to cover the hole and he changed the little tissue thingy that attaches your lip to your gums. I know that all sounds so technical - but I didn't want to know any more...eeewwww!!!

It took about an hour for them to stitch him up. Then they glued a bandage over the surgical site that is suppose to remain there until next Monday. It is driving him nuts!!!

This picture was taken while we were waiting at the second docs office. He wasn't so happy to have his picture taken...but you can see some of the swelling. When it was all done, his top lip stuck way out from his bottom lip and it looked like a bad botox job!!

In total it took about 3 1/2 hours to get all the work done and travel back and forth. We are just glad it is done and he is recovering pretty quickly. He is just really uncomfortable with the bandage in his mouth. He can feel a few of the stitches which are also bothering him. The swelling has mostly gone away now that it has been 5 days....he just tends to be swollen in the morning when he wakes up. We go back next Monday for a follow up appointment and to have the bandaged removed.

We are hoping for good news and to know that the problem has been resolved - keep your fingers crossed for us!!

My New Addition

I work at home sometimes and I have been using 2 folding tables as a "desk" for the past couple of years. Well, Mike felt bad that he had such a nice desk to use for playing around with his computer, and I was still working on crappy tables. I found it really difficult to stay organized with the make-shift "desk" and no drawers, so my office was usually a mess! So my sweet husband has been looking for a good desk at a great price.....not so easy to find. I didn't know he had been looking - but he showed me a picture of one the other day and it looked pretty good. He found it on Craig's List and we went to pick it up a couple of weeks ago. I am so excited!!!

The only problem we had is trying to fit it through my office door. They had to take it apart. This is Kenneth helping to put it back together. He is much smaller and able to fit under the drawers much easier than Mike could. He was more than happy to help...of course!

THIS IS IT!!!

My new setup gives me a ton of desk space and now I have 4 drawers to use...which is wonderful!!!!

How sweet is Mike for doing this for me???

Ahhhh....

Money Saving Madness

I like to play the guessing game at my house - so I am constantly asking Mike - "How much do you think this cost?" Honestly, he could care less - but once in a while he humors me.

So - since I don't have a willing participant at home - I will ask you - how much do you think all of this cost?

ANSWER: I spent $7.57 + 3.40 in tax = $10.97

Thanks for playing the guessing game!

Walgreen's Deal of the Week

UPDATE:

There is another location to print a $1 coupon for this deal. Go to RedPlum and don't forget you can print this coupon twice - more toothpaste that will make you money!! Walgreen's has Colgate Total Toothpaste on sale for $3.49 this week. When you purchase it, a register reward will print for $3.50 off your next transaction. This means you only end up paying for the tax. Not too bad!!!

If you want to make the deal even better, go here and print a coupon for $1.00 off Colgate Total. You can only print one coupon - but that is still a pretty good deal!

Just remember, only purchase 1 toothpaste per transaction to get the register reward to print. Also, you cannot roll the register rewards at Walgreen's. You have to buy something other than the toothpaste to use the register reward.

Weekly Menu Plan

Sunday:

Broiled Chicken, Broccoli, Green Salad, and Mashed Potatoes

Monday:

Tacos

Tuesday:

Shake-n-Bake Chicken, Crazy Beans, Cornbread

Wednesday: Kenneth's Night to Cook

Hamburger Helper and Peaches

Thursday:

Yummy Potatoes

Friday:

Tin Foil Dinners - Beef with Potatoes and Carrots

Saturday: Mike's Day to Cook

Free Coupons!

I have eleven Post coupons leftover from the great sale this week. I have purhased all the cereal we need for the next year. So I am happy to pass these along. If you would like them, just be the first person to leave me a comment. The deal only runs through the middle of next week, so this offer is only valid for locals that I don't have to mail to.

Free coupons - they will save you $11 on good cereal!!

Potato Bread Recipe

I had a request for my bread recipe that I talked about here. It is nice to know that people are actually reading this blog!!! (Thanks, Wendi)

White Potato Bread

3 cups warm water

1/8 cup oil

6 cups flour

1/6 cup sugar

1 T salt

3/4 cup potato pearls

1 T yeast

Combine ingredients in breadmaker according to your breadmaker directions.

(If you make the mix shown in the previous post, I put all of the dry ingredients in the mix except for the yeast. Then all you have to do is put water, oil, bread mix, and yeast in - it is a big time saver.)

Set breadmaker on dough cycle. I always check about 30 minutes before the cycle is over and punch the dough down. On lightly floured surface, separate dough and knead into 2 loaves. Place in baking pans and let rise. Bake at 350 for 42 minutes. Remove from pans and lightly spread butter on top of loaves.

The original recipe called for mashed potatoes - which works great if you have some leftovers, but I found that the potato pearls work great.

I have also made this recipe using my Kitchen Aid mixer using the dough hook. It works, but I like the convenience of the breadmaker.