New Super-Couponing Tips column: Shelves too full? Evaluate and donate
“At times I find though that I have overbought. I was going through my cabinets and found canned goods that have expired on the shelf. I felt terrible about this as we try to…”
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Shopping and Savingnext >< prev
Coupon Matchups: Jewel-Osco Deals of the Week 1/29/20 – 2/4/20
.30-.80 Chobani Greek yogurt, $1.49 Huggies baby wipes, $1.62 Nabisco crackers, $2.25 Jack's pizza, $2.49 Crest mouthwash, $2.50 Celestial Seasonings tea, $2.99 U by Kotex
Coupon Matchups: Walgreens Deals of the Week 1/26/20 – 2/1/20
.99 Puffs facial tissue, $1 Pringles, $1.49 Ajax dish detergent, $1.50 Febreze Air sprays, $1.63 Nature Valley bars, $2.49 Hellmann's mayonnaise, $2.99 Tide, $30/$10 Netflix, Uber gift card deal
Coupon Matchups: CVS Deals of the Week 1/26/20 – 2/1/20
$1 Garnier Fructis haircare, $1.49 Ajax dish detergent, $1.49 Crest toothpaste 2-packs, $1.49 Era laundry detergent, $1.50 Suave haircare, $1.75 Garnier Whole Blends haircare, $2.12 Chips Ahoy
Coupon Matchups: Meijer Deals of the Week 1/26/19 – 2/1/20
.75 Chobani yogurt , $1 Clorox toilet bowl cleaner, $1.62 Nabisco crackers, $1.75 Kraft cheese, $2 Pine-Sol, $2.50 Land O Frost lunchmeat, $2.74 Farm Rich snacks, $9.99 Hormel Party Tray
Coupon Matchups: Mariano’s Deals of the Week 1/22/20 – 1/28/20
.50 Colgate toothpaste, .60 Chobani yogurt, .80 Michelina's meals, .97 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish, .97 Pringles Mega Stack, $1.74 Lean Cuisine entrees, $2.99 Halo Top ice cream
Coupon Matchups: Jewel-Osco Deals of the Week 1/22/20 – 1/28/20
.68 Michelina's entrees, .99 Juicy Juice, $1.50 Wewalka pizza crust, $1.99 Chi Chi's salsa and FREE cheese, $1.99 Palmolive dish detergent, $2.50 Florida's Natural orange juice, $3 DiGiorno pizza
Woodstock, Illinois has a new .10 shopping bag tax
While the city of Chicago has had a 7-cent bag tax for a few years now, bag taxes are creeping into the suburbs as well. Last week I spotted signs all over Woodstock, Illinois...
I found phosphonate dishwasher detergent at Menards
These boxes of Finish Powerball Classic caught my eye because the text on the front is in multiple languages - English, French, and Italian, with Dutch and German on the box too...
Great detergent deals at CVS this week
If you need laundry detergent, this is a pretty good week to head over to CVS/pharmacy and stock up. There are multiple deals running right now on detergent that drop it under $1...
2020 Coupon Insert Schedule
Which weeks will we have coupon inserts in the newspaper from NewsAmerica (SmartSource = SS) Valassis (RetailMeNot = RM) and Procter & Gamble Brandsaver (PG)...
Expired coupon inserts to remove from your files: January 2020
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: January 2020
Here is a list of Catalina offers for the current month, which includes Carnation, Cascade, Classico, DiGiorno, Gerber, Huggies, and more...
Current National Catalina Offers: December 2019
Here are the new Catalina offers for December, including brands like Dove Men + Care, Duracell, Gatorade, Godiva, Hot Pockets, Kikkoman, and more...
Expired coupon inserts to remove from your files: December 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: November 2019
Here is a list of Catalina offers for the current month, including Gerber, Huggies, Nature's Bounty, and more...
Expired coupon inserts to remove from your files: November 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...
Keto-Friendly Carando Abruzzese Italian Meatball Bake
As my husband and I follow a ketogenic diet, we also make a lot of meat-centric meals at home. Here's one of my favorite go-to recipes for busy nights that is rich with all of the flavors of...
Jewel-Osco’s Stock Up Sale returns: Save on your favorites!
One of my favorite fall sales is back this month: Jewel-Osco's Stock Up Sale! This annual event features great sale prices on a variety of brands and categories, including...
Current National Catalina Offers: October 2019
Here is a list of Catalina offers for the current month, including Breyers, Carnation, Gerber, Larabar, L'Oreal, Nesquik, Solo, and more...
Expired coupon inserts to remove from your files: October 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: 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.
Home and Stylenext >< prev
Why don’t they make bed sheets like this any more?
I found this delightful vintage package of two cotton fitted twin-size bed sheets for $1.99 that were made sometime in the 1950s! These sheets have no elastic -- they're truly a "fitted sheet" with a mitered corner...
My deck stain report: One year later
I detailed my deck refinishing project in 2015 and had high hopes for the deck stain I chose. Since that time, I've had curious readers writing to ask how my deck currently looks. How did it weather over the past year?
The Clean Dishes Challenge: Battle of the Dishwasher Detergents
Is your dishwasher not getting your dishes as clean as it used to? If it isn't, you might be surprised to learn that your dishwasher may be fine -- the actual problem could be with your detergent...
Meat Claws are incredible kitchen tools
I picked up a pair of Meat Claws recently and couldn't wait to try them out! I am a sucker for kitchen gadgets, and the package promised that they would "shred meat easily." My sons told me I looked like Wolverine.
A cutting-edge, “cutting board” over-the-air television antenna
Earlier this month, DirectTV and AT&T dropped CBS and NBC from their subscription-tv lineups. Several readers emailed to ask how they could continue watching over-the-air...
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...
Is your weather center discontinuing itself?
Each day, we look at our Bushnell weather center to see the time, temperature, and weather forecast. Today, on New Year's Day, our Bushnell weather center presented us with this ominous message...
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...
Snow sleds in the living room
I spotted "Cafeteria Tray" snow sleds on clearance at Target. The entire idea of this cracked me up, as many years ago my friends and I used actual cafeteria trays as snow sleds. We thought we were so creative...
College apartment bargains and finds
In addition to buying a few new things to decorate her soon-to-be space, she's also been scouring local stores, resale shops and rummage sales to pick up the rest. She was so proud of some of her recent finds...
Summer camp wardrobe by… Menards?
The camp our kids attend has a good way to group and keep track of the kids. Each cabin is assigned its own color, and the colors are also the campers' team colors for the week for all of their sports and "color war" play....
We couldn’t throw our old couch away
Something strange happened when we tried to get rid of our old couch. Our family room couch has seen better days. I bought this sectional when I was in college -- one of my first "grown-up" purchases...
Foodnext >< prev
Keto-Friendly Carando Abruzzese Italian Meatball Bake
As my husband and I follow a ketogenic diet, we also make a lot of meat-centric meals at home. Here's one of my favorite go-to recipes for busy nights that is rich with all of the flavors of...
Bacon-Wrapped Ranch Chicken Strips
Litehouse invited me to try their salad dressings at home and share with you what I made: Bacon-wrapped ranch chicken strips. They were definitely family-pleasers here in the Cataldo house...
My favorite low-carb recipes for things you’d think are “off limits”
While my first few weeks of low-carbing consisted of a lot of meat, meat, and more meat, I quickly started exploring Keto and Atkins versions of things we regularly enjoyed eating...
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...
Recipe: Honey Citrus O Organics Chicken Shish Kebabs
Summer grilling season is in full swing at our house! These long summer nights are perfect for cooking and eating outdoors together as a family. I love grilling out whenever possible...
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...
Try Primo Taglio for a perfect 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...
Ham, Apple, & Cheese Roll-Ups
Can you believe August is right around the corner? I hope you've been enjoying your summer as much as we have. We've spent many so many days outdoors -- we've been packing lots of coolers for lunches on the go...
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...
Seasons’ Eatings! 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...
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...
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...
Travelnext >< prev
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...
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...
What’s in your trunk? Three things to carry at all times…
I believe everyone should be prepared, even minimally, for a situation in which you may not reach your destination due to weather or other complications. What's in your vehicle's trunk right now? At a bare minimum, I recommend you carry...
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...
Universal Orlando VIP Experience and more resort fun!
During our Universal Orlando Resort vacation, we enjoyed taking part in Universal's VIP Experience. The VIP Experience is a guided tour through Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure...
Driving across South Dakota
Our RV tour's scheduled stops for the day included a visit to the Mitchell Corn Palace, an on-your-own lunch, and an ice cream social at the legendary Wall Drug, which my boys were very excited about...
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!
A Preview of Disney’s Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
A day before Mickey and Minnie Mouse led the annual Festival Of Lights parade in Chicago, Disney brought lots of love all the way from Orlando to the Windy City! So much is in store for the new Toy Story Land...
Jill’s Bucket List: 24 hours in the Riot House
During a trip to Los Angeles, I stayed at the Riot House, the most famous rock and roll hotel in the world...
Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse
I cannot fully express in words how beautiful Mount Rushmore is in person. It's breathtaking. I remember seeing it as a child and being in awe of how beautiful it is. My boys, ages 6 and 9, were also completely enamored...
A Walt Disney World shopping perk you may not know about
Did you know that you can get a special shopping pass at the Disney parks solely for the purpose of going in and shopping? It's true! To get a shopping pass, you'll need to head to the Guest Relations office...
Our Walt Disney World trip – Part 2: Staying on-site, staying off-site, and tips for buying Disney souvenirs up to 70% off
We split our stay between Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and the Downtown Disney Hilton Lake Buena Vista. You also won't want to miss these tips for buying Disney parks merchandise and souvenirs up to 70% off...
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...
