FREE SAMPLE: PowerBar Protein Bites

PowerBar is giving away a FREE Sample of their new Powerbar ProteinPlus Bites.  Just click here to sign up for your free sample.

FREE Creamer for VocalPoint Members

If you are a Vocal Point member, head over here and sign up for your free pint of Coffee House Breve Creamer from International Delight, if you aren't a Vocal Point member you can sign up and get this deal, too!

Ipod USB Travel Kit $3.15 at Amazon

Here's a hot deal on a Apple iPod USB Travel Kit with Car Charger/ Travel Adapter/ Cable at Amazon.com, this kit is white and it includes an interchangable charger with car charger and travel wall charger.  This is a pretty sweet deal as it's rare to find just a car charger or just a wall charger for under $10.

While you are there you may want to pick up this  Rapid Travel Charger for iPod for only a penny (that's right just $0.01 plus shipping).

24 pack Ziploc Storage Containers $8.60

Amazon has a really good deal right now on their Ziploc Storage Containers . Get 24 containers (variety pack) for just $8.60.  This is an excellent deal. And if you are an Amazon Prime Member it will ship for FREE!






thanks Because Cheaper is Better

FREE SAMPLE: Kellogg's Mini Wheats Touch of Fruit

VocalPoint is offering up a FREE SAMPLE of the new Kellogg's Frosted Mini Wheats Touch of Fruit cereal.  Just click here and fill out the info to grab yours.

$10 Amazon Card Giveaway - Enter Now

Head over to this post to enter NOW for your chance to win the $10 Amazon card.  I've noticed lots of new likers today (we hit the 100 mark on Facebook) and we are just 6 followers shy on GFC, but surprisingly not all of you have entered the giveaway.  Go enter, because as soon as I see that I've passed the 100 mark on BOTH Facebook and Google Friend Connect, I'll be picking a winner from the entries on the giveaway thread, here.

Don't Miss Your Chance!

COUPON: BOGO Athenos Hummus

Head over to Facebook and "like" Athenos to grab a coupon for BOGO Hummus.  You can occasionally find this on sale for as low as $1 and it makes for not only a great snack but you can use it in recipes too.

Take a Virtual Snack Break with Yoplait

Join Yoplait Greek and Maria Menounos for a live virtual snack break, because it´s time for a better snack! Please see attached and below for details of the virtual event that will take place on Thursday, March 24. Simply log-on to register.

Yoplait Greek invites you to join Maria Menounos, Access Hollywood Correspondent and author of the upcoming book The EveryGirl´s Guide to Life, registered dietitian Christina Meyer-Jax, and Allison Curran from Yoplait Greek, for a live virtual snack break.

When: Thursday, March 24, 2011, 12:30-1:15 p.m. PT (3:30-4:15 p.m. ET)

Where: Log-on to http://event.xfactorcom.com/sd/yoplait/20110324/ (password: "Yoplait" - case sensitive) - Pre-register to receive a free Snack Pack**

Why: Let´s face it, we´d all like an upgrade every now and then

Event Features:
- Maria´s expert organization, health, recipe and lifestyle tips
- A sneak peek of Maria´s new book
- Introduction to the new and improved Yoplait Greek
- Launch of the Better Snacking Sweepstakes
- Live Q&A and snacking poll

** If you pre-register by March 21, Yoplait Greek will send you a fun Snack Pack including Yoplait Greek coupons, a meal planner, a reusable grocery bag and a pocket organizer.

Sunday Coupon Preview

It appears that we will have at least 2 inserts in the paper this Sunday; a Redplum and a SmartSource.  I'm hoping it's a better coupon week personally as I have really had to dig to find coupons I would really use in the paper since the first of the year.  How are you feeling about the inserts we've seen so far?

This week we will be seeing some new coupons for things like Edge shave gel, $4 off Gillette Fusion razors (love these), & B2G1 Suave body wash, these all give me hope.  If you'd like to check out the preview of what's coming in this week's coupon inserts and see what's going to make it worthwhile FOR YOU, then please check out the Sunday Coupon Preview.

Spending Goals Report - March 17

I've totally slacked off on reporting on my spending goals.  But, I am happy to say that so far I'm doing much better this month than I did last month.  We are still trying to find the best way to allocate the cash to prevent going over budget and at the same time make sure I have enough on hand.  At this point we have opted for taking out cash on a weekly basis for groceries (all other cash we take out every other week).

Here's where we were at the end of February.

One issue I'm running into is that the month and our budget month don't line up.  So I'm having to just remind myself that it doesn't matter and as long as I don't over-spend in the 4 week period that makes up a month (as per the Savings/Spending tracker, I'm good.

So here's the list of the trips so far this month (March)....

• Kroger, paid $1.22 for $45.88 worth of groceries (used up the remaining $3 Daytona Qs on this one). (2/25)
• Kroger, paid $7.49 for $25.51 worth of groceries (3/1)
  - returned $2.70, so total spent was only $5
• CostCo, paid $3.79(3/1)
• CVS, paid $9.15, for $20.97 worth of drugstore items (left with $11 in ECB) (3/3)
• Rite Aid, paid $3.14 for $27.35 worth of drugstore items (used $8+UPs, got back $1+UP) (3/3)
• Publix, paid $8.65 for $38.62 worth of groceries (3/3)
• Walgreens, paid $8.08 for $31.34 worth of drugstore items (used $5RR, got back $4RR) (3/5)
• Rite Aid, paid $6.62 for $26.95 worth of drugstore items (I know I used some +UPs and got some back, just didn't enter it in my tracker) (3/11)
• Walgreens, paid $41.44 for $115.75 worth of items (this was my Swiffer stock up trip - started with $4RR, left with $6RR) (3/11)
• Publix, paid $23.15 for $66.32 worth of groceries (3/11)
• Kroger, paid $20.71 for $41.31 (3/11)

All of my spending totals include tax and I have to say that tax puts a really big dent into what I spend.  If I had to estimate I'd say that tax ends up being about 30-40% of what I end up spending (since tax is paid on the pre-coupon total).  Overall, my savings rate so far this month is just about 75%, which seems to be about where I average out every month.  I was just a little lower last month.  I have a feeling that rate may go up slightly as I shop at Kroger less and less.  They seem to bring my percentage down, with savings around 55% compared to the 75% at Publix and usually over 90% at the drugstores.  It really makes me wish our drugstores carried more in the way of groceries around here, but they rarely even have the advertised grocery items available.

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