New Super-Couponing Tips column: Gift card cash-back offers
“These special gift card offers ultimately allow you to purchase a gift card at a lower cost than its face value. Then, you can use the discounted gift card to save money…”
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Shopping and Savingnext >< prev
Coupon Matchups: Jewel-Osco Deals of the Week 9/18/19 – 9/24/19
.13 Frigo string cheese, .88 Armour Lunchmakers, .88 Bumble Bee Tuna, .88 Campbell's Chunky soup, .88 Fisher trail mix, $1.50 Halls cough drops, $2 Turkey Hill ice cream
Coupon Matchups: Walgreens Deals of the Week 9/15/19 – 9/21/19
FREE Colgate toothpaste, $1.49 General Mills cereal, $1.99 Bullfrog razor, $2.99 Gain, $2.99 Jack Links jerky, $2.99 Tide, $3 Kleenex bundles, $3.49 Gillette razors, $3.75 Scott bath tissue
Coupon Matchups: CVS Deals of the Week 9/15/19 – 9/21/19
.49 Crest toothpaste, .94 Tide Pods, .99 Colgate mouthwash, $1.50 General Mills cereal, $2 Mars chocolate, $2.99 Bounty or Charmin, $2.99 MUA lip cosmetics, $4.50 Head & Shoulders
Coupon Matchups: Meijer Deals of the Week 9/15/19 – 9/21/19
$1 Meijer pasta sauce, $1 Old Orchard juices, $1.50 Pace salsa, $1.88 Meijer cheese, $1.99 Simply Juice, $2 Pepperidge Farm Texas Toast,$2.58 Totino's Pizza Rolls, $2.99 Tide Pods, Downy, Bounce
Coupon Matchups: Mariano’s Deals of the Week 9/11/19 – 9/17/19
.45 Barilla pasta, .75 Chex Mix or Gardetto's, .99 Kraft BBQ sauce, .99 Minute Maid fruit drinks, $1.25 Prego pasta, $1.49 Betty Crocker fruit snacks, $1.99 All and FREE Snuggle
Coupon Matchups: Jewel-Osco Deals of the Week 9/11/19 – 9/17/19
.80 Chex Mix, .88 Signature Halloween paper towels, .99 General Mills cereals, $1 Healthy Choice soups, $1.50 Calidad tortilla chips, $2.15 Doritos, $3.99 Sugardale bacon, $15/$5 Softsoap sale
Coupon Matchups: Walgreens Deals of the Week 9/8/19 – 9/14/19
.59 Renuzit air freshener cones, $1.66 Kellogg's cereals, $1.99 Schick, Skintimate, Edge shave gels, $2 Dixie paper plates, $2 Planters peanuts , $2.99 Schick razors, $3.99 Bounty or Charmin
Coupon Matchups: CVS Deals of the Week 9/8/19 – 9/14/19
.99 Garnier Whole Blends, $1 Garnier Fructis, $1.25 L'Oreal Elvive haircare, $1.99 Scope mouthwash, $2.50 Hershey's Snack Size, $3 Schick razors, $3.49 Visine
Coupon Matchups: Meijer Deals of the Week 9/8/19 – 9/14/19
.49 Softsoap hand soap, .66 Renuzit cones, .75 Chex Mix, .80 Michelina's meals, $1 Betty Crocker cake mix, $1 Old El Paso Mexican food, $1 Totino's Party Pizzas, $2 Dixie plates or bowls
Current National Catalina Offers: September 2019
Here is a list of Catalina offers for the current month. Most of these are believed to be national offers, though in each product's case, I am noting the store that the alert printed at...
Expired coupon inserts to remove from your files: September 2019
Here's a list of all of the coupon inserts that have expired within the last two months. If you have any of the following inserts in your files, you can pull them out and recycle them...
Fun with a $15-off-$25 coupon at Sears
A $15-off-$25 is a nice, high-value coupon to go exploring with. I've used coupons like these with great success at Sears before, because I always look for deals on towels or...
Current National Catalina Offers: August 2019
Here is a list of Catalina offers for the current month. Most of these are believed to be national offers, though in each product's case, I am noting the store that the alert printed at.
Expired coupon inserts to remove from your files: August 2019
Here's a list of all of the coupon inserts that have expired within the last two months. If you have any of the following inserts in your files, you can pull them out and recycle...
Expired coupon inserts to remove from your files: July 2019
Here's a list of all of the coupon inserts that have expired within the last two months. If you have any of the following inserts in your files, you can pull them out and recycle...
Current National Catalina Offers: July 2019
Here is a list of Catalina offers for the current month, including brands like Almay, Gerber, Lean Cuisine, Nature Valley, Stouffer's and more...
Try Primo Taglio for a perfect summertime deli platter
It's officially summertime, and Chicagoland has the humidity and temperatures to prove it! I love this time of year, as summer means spending lots of time in the sun, eating outdoors...
What’s an ice cream and pasta lover to do?
One of my longtime readers was flipping through the new 6/9 SmartSource coupon insert, and she saw something interesting. Did any of my other Chicagoland readers spot this too?
Expired coupon inserts to remove from your files: June 2019
Here's a list of all of the coupon inserts that have expired within the last two months. If you have any of the following inserts in your files, you can pull them out and recycle them...
Current National Catalina Offers: June 2019
Here is a list of Catalina offers for the current month, including brands like Barilla, Cerave, Cottonelle, Gerber, Keebler, Purina and more...
Current National Catalina Offers: May 2019
Here is a list of Catalina offers for the current month, including American Greetings, Bolthouse Farms, Morningstar, Ortega, and more...
Expired coupon inserts to remove from your files: May 2019
If you have any of the following inserts in your files, you can pull them out and recycle them, as all of the coupons inside each insert have expired...
Expired coupon inserts to remove from your files: April 2019
Here's a list of all of the coupon inserts that have expired within the last two months. If you have any of the following inserts in your files, you can pull them out and recycle them...
Current National Catalina offers: April 2019
New Catalina offers for February include brands like Breyers, Band Aid, Dole, Enjoy Life, Keebler, and more...
Home and Stylenext >< prev
Goodbye to the wedding dresses
One of my friends reached out and said she didn't want to keep her wedding dress anymore. She wasn't sure if it was worth trying to sell it. "You're good with money -- do you think it's worth anything?"
A fun trick for dusting high places of your home
Of course, when company's due to come over, you start looking around your house to see if any infrequently-cleaned spots need to be dusted before guests arrive...
Free Wi-Fi in the woods
We have a three-trunked weeping willow tree on our property, and over the years, one of the trunks has split from its siblings and progressively leaned over to rest on the ground. It was time to cut this tree trunk away...
A budget book for my daughter’s college life
While there are plenty of software solutions for personal budgets, there's something to be said for the simplicity of a budget book -- and she liked the idea of a book that would also organize her bills...
A wasp-free climber and swingset makeover
For whatever reason, wasps have decided to make our children's backyard swingset their home. The number of wasps living in every concealed crack and crevice in this thing was astounding...
Our experience with Ikea’s home delivery service
This was our first experience with Ikea's appliance home delivery, and unfortunately, it did not go well. Ikea contracts with a logistics company to handle the actual deliveries. They, in turn, assign delivery to contractors...
Putting two new HD television antennas to the test
Our existing roof-mounted antenna is old and has multiple broken elements from tree branches falling into it over the years. Antennas Direct offered me two antennas to review, and I was really surprised...
I hate my front-loading washer. Here’s how I “hack” it.
I've written at length about my misadventures in laundry with my front-loading machine before, but if the laundry's really dirty, it often comes out of the washer nearly as dirty as it went in...
How does my garden grow? With stinky deer repellent spray
Are you growing a garden this year? A new pest recently entered our yard: a beautiful doe who loves to eat our green bean and soybean plants. Don't get me wrong -- she's a very pretty deer, but...
My black leather trenchcoat
I've owned this black leather trenchcoat for more than 17 years, but the coat is older than I am. This coat has a story, and this seems as good a time as any to tell it...
My deck stain report: Two years later
It's 2017, and I've had numerous requests from readers asking for another update, as it's deck-staining time again! Several people have requested "many photos" this time around, so here we go...
Our daughter’s college journey: Weighing costs and education
"Have you shared any tips from shopping for colleges with your oldest daughter?" I've been receiving a few emails and messages asking about the path we chose for our daughter's education. and I'd be happy to share...
Foodnext >< prev
Try Primo Taglio for a perfect summertime deli platter
It's officially summertime, and Chicagoland has the humidity and temperatures to prove it! I love this time of year, as summer means spending lots of time in the sun, eating outdoors...
My low-carb life: 25 pounds down (and counting…)
We quickly set a start date, agreeing to start our weight loss journey on August 1st and compare results in three months on November 1st. Further sealing the deal, I got the smaller-sized jeans for myself as an incentive to do this...
My must-have products for low-carb eating
There's definitely an initial learning curve in figuring out what you're going to eat. Anything with high amounts of sugar is out, and for this former high carb eater, that meant saying goodbye to cereal, fruit juices...
Bargain-priced low-carb/keto flours at Farm & Fleet
If you're following a low-carb or keto diet (as half our household is,) here's a discovery I made recently that you'll be interested in. Farm and Fleet sells both coconut flour and almond flour, and the prices are much lower...
Seasons’ Eatings! Holiday table ideas and a Maple Walnut Apple Salad
The holiday season is almost here! I love the changing colors and the way the warm days turn to crisp evenings with vibrant sunsets. I love that Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year celebrations bring us closer...
Be Snacksational: Pineapple-Coconut Glazed Sugar Cookies
Here's an easy-to-make after-school snack that will get you in a "Snacksational" mood! My children love frosted cookies, so I created a tasty, frosted fiber-filled treat that gets some of its sweetness from yogurt...
Making a jar of cake-mix “upsizer”
It's getting difficult to find a cake mix that hasn't been reduced from 18.25 ounces to 15.25 ounces. This week, two things came up that made me want to work on a solution of sorts to this issue...
Recipe: O Organics Crunchy Peanut Butter Cookies
It's that time when many people resolve to live healthier: Eating better, exercising more, and cooking healthier meals and snacks for our families. While we don't eat 100% organic all of the time in our household...
Create the ultimate gift basket with Signature RESERVE
If you've browsed the aisles of your local Jewel-Osco store recently, you may have noticed a new brand on the shelves: Signature RESERVE™. Signature RESERVE is Jewel-Osco's exclusive, ultra-premium brand...
Recipe: Sweet & Savory Signature Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp
These shrimp are the perfect blend of sweet and savory flavors, and they get a little extra kick from Signature Kitchens' Stone Ground Horseradish Mustard...
Have you tried air chilled chicken? It’s delicious!
What exactly is air chilled chicken? Air chilling is a process that's been popular in Europe for over forty years. It is individually processed by suspending it in air and chilling it for several hours...
Soothing a cold with Creamy Garlic Chicken Soup
I recently came down with a cold that seems to be taking longer than normal to shake. My days and nights have been filled with decongestants, cough drops and syrups. As we head into cold season...
Travelnext >< prev
What you’ll love about Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay water theme park
We spent a day at Universal's new water theme park, Volcano Bay. When you hear "water park," you likely envision tube rides, a wave pool -- and Volcano Bay has all of those things. However, they've upped the traditional...
Taking the RV from Indiana to Minnesota
We woke up to a sunny day in Middlebury, Indiana. The KOA campground we stayed at has a lot of amenities to enjoy, including mini golf, bicycle and paddleboat rentals. They had a large swimming pool...
A bargain-priced idea for luggage organization
A few months ago, when I went on the All American RV Blogger Tour, one of the gifts I received was a set of Eagle Creek Pack-Its, which are small zipper bags that you can use inside a suitcase to organize socks, underwear and other items: The lightweight bags are made of nylon. After using [...]
My must-have when traveling with carry-on luggage
One of my favorite travel tips when I’m traveling with carry-on luggage? Always take a second, lightweight tote bag with you that’s slightly larger than the “personal item” you carry on. You just may need it to comply with the airlines’ “One carry-on, one personal item” rule. I typically travel with a rolling carry-on suitcase [...]
Visiting the Mall of America
The Mall of America is home to the largest indoor theme park in the United States, Nickelodeon Universe. There are 30 rides inside the mall, as well as a high ropes course and a mini golf course...
Rushmore Cave and Ziplining in the Black Hills
Rushmore Cave is located in Keystone, South Dakota and has been entertaining visitors since the 1920s. Unlike the national park caves, Rushmore Cave is more of an adventure destination with multiple activities...
The Field Museum and Chicago Auto Show
Our kids were off school yesterday for an extended Presidents' Day weekend holiday, so our family headed into the city for some almost-free fun at the Field Museum and the Chicago Auto Show...
Top ways to save on your Walt Disney World vacation
I'm always happy to answer questions on where to stay, resort amenities and dining. Learn about Disney resort rooms for under $100 per night and a special "Buy 4, Get the 5th day FREE" offer on park passes - just $64.59 per day!
Ultimate day pack for theme park trips
Whether our family's headed to Disney, Universal, Six Flags or another destination, I always bring what my family affectionately calls my "black backpack" on all of our theme park trips. I don't like carrying a purse when we're in theme-park commando mode. A few years ago I discovered the perfect small, yet durable sling-style backpack...
Our Walt Disney World trip: More Disney days, more fun!
We had such a wonderful time on this trip, and I still can't believe we went to Disney again, nearly one year to the day from our previous trip. Would it surprise you to learn that I am already thinking about our next trip?
Disneyland in one day… with preschoolers.
For a fresh perspective on Disneyland, I sent my sister and her family on assignment for my blog. Lynn is a public school teacher and mother of two preschoolers. This was her first trip to a Disney park with her children...
What sets a Disney Cruise apart from other cruises
Think of Disney resorts, and you'll likely conjure up thoughts of family-friendly relaxation. However, Disney Cruise Lines brings a level of grandeur that's unparalleled at the hotels. There's so much on board to see...
Make Thisnext >< prev
Fixing a suitcase wheel with… duct tape?
It irked me that everything else about the suitcase was fine and functional aside from the bad wheel. I looked at replacing the wheel, but I could not find a suitable wheel that was the right size...
Improving a great beach bag (with a not-so-great logo)
I attended a blog conference and brought home an oversized canvas beach bag featuring the logo of one of the conference sponsors. However, last year, that company became embroiled in a bit of a scandal...
Building a kitchen countertop extension
Our daughter's new apartment really only has one issue -- limited counter space and no place to put a microwave or other small appliances. I got the idea to build a countertop extension for her kitchen...
Our ultimate one-minute theme park tailgating setup
Our family has had a fun summer of enjoying days at the zoo, water parks, and theme parks. My kids actually look forward to our lunchtime tailgating, as we can completely set it up in under one minute...
Pooh to Pikachu
This year, when I asked my son what kind of cake he wanted, he said "Pikachu." The popular Pokemon character is certainly cute, but how to best capture him in cake form? Many of my cakes take shape...
Easy kids’ craft: Make a can candle
I believe I was around 7 or 8 years old when we made tin can candles, and so I did a quick web search to see if my juvenile memories of it were correct. Incredibly, I couldn't find anything online about how to make these...
Mending my family’s clothes: How to fix worn jeans “invisibly”
While I could put patches over these ripped knees, I also don't want my kids to be self-conscious of an obvious repair job. I want to share how I've been able to extend the life of my sons' jeans by patching them invisibly...
How to make a large utility tote for less than $20
If you've been wanting a large utility tote without spending too much, and you have minimal sewing skills (like me!) read on and learn how you can make your own large utility tote from one yard of fabric for less than $20...
The eighteen-year-old quilt
I came up with the idea to make a quilt for her eighteenth birthday. And for the past thirteen years, I've been saving our daughter's favorite shirts as she outgrew them. Everything from T-shirts and sports jerseys to pajamas...
Here’s an idea for leftover wax from your wax melter
The wax melt packaging recommends that you pour the melted wax back into the clamshell packaging to dispose of it. Being frugal, I couldn't simply throw the wax away. So, we're reusing it in a creative way...
Making a jar of cake-mix “upsizer”
It's getting difficult to find a cake mix that hasn't been reduced from 18.25 ounces to 15.25 ounces. This week, two things came up that made me want to work on a solution of sorts to this issue...
Make your own “Slushy Magic” at home!
To recreate the Slushy Magic effect, it's important to understand how it works. Each cup comes with three plastic ice cubes filled with salt water. Salt water freezes at a lower temperature than plain water does...
