Free Kids Workshop at Home Depot

The Home Depot's Kids Workshops offer useful projects including the creation of toolboxes, fire trucks and mail organizers, as well as more educational projects, such as a window birdhouse, bughouse or Declaration of Independence frame kit.

The workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, while at the same time helping to instill a sense of accomplishment. Additionally, this fun time allows for quality one-on-one time between adults and children.

In addition to the newly constructed project kit, each child receives a kid-sized orange apron, similar to The Home Depot associates' aprons, and an achievement pin.

• Find Your Local Store

• Learn More About Other Workshops at The Home Depot

The dots are moving at Beall's Outlet

Beall's Outlet clearance merchandise is marked with coloured dots that indicate the % off the ticketed outlet price. Near the end of each month, the dots move! For example, items that were marked 70% off will now be 95% off! Combined with a Monday or Friday Club sale and a completed frequent shopper card, this makes for some out of this world bargains!

God bless your budget!

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Reversing the cash flow! 19¢ PROFIT!

We had a short list again today, coz we really wanted some muffins, but payday isn't till Wednesday. We had calculated the total to the penny and reckoned it was going to set us back all of 4¢.


It worked out like this:
(2) ½-gallon cartons Smart Balance milk - BOGO = $3.59
(2) 4-count Publix bakery muffins - also BOGO = $2.89
(4) Kraft Sandwich Shop Mayo @ $1.99 = $.7.96
(4) ears of corn @ 10/$1.49 = 60¢
Grand total = $15.04

We used:
(2) $2/1 Smart Balance coupons
(4) $1/1 Kraft SS Mayo (manuf) coupons
(4) $1/1 Kraft SS Mayo (Publix) coupons
(1) $3/$15 competitor's coupon

We're not entirely sure how it happened, but the cashier said she couldn't accept one of the $1 coupons, because it would result in a negative balance. Stupefied - huh?! - we asked if she couldn't key it down to zero. She consulted the manager, who told her to just scan it in and give us the overage! We walked in the store with a list and a handful of coupons and walked out with a bagful of groceries and 19¢ in our pocket!

We did, eventually, figure out HOW it happened, but we're still not sure just WHY. And frankly, my dear, we couldn't give a hoot! We're doing the making money at the market mambo! ☺

God bless your budget!

Duke's dandy drugstore deals!

The Duke made a last-minute run to CVS and Walgreens this afternoon and scored better than planned.

At Walgreens, he picked up one Re-nu contact solution ($7.49) and two Butterfingers (50¢ each) as fillers (coz he had 3 coupons). He used one $2 Re-nu coupon, two $2 RR's and an old Wags gc that had $1.69 left on it. Total OOP was $1.40 and he got a $7.50 RR. Plus, we get 15¢ back for every purchase using our bank's ATM card!

Next, at CVS... we decided to hold on to our ECB's till the new sale starts tomorrow. We started out with one CVS coupon for a free Dove bar or $2 off a larger amount and one free gift (choice of one 20-pk antibacterial wipes or shave cream ) coupon. The only other items on our list were 2 PowerBars @ 99¢, each of which gave us a 99¢ ECB. The Duke grabbed the shave cream ($1.49), 2 PowerBars ($1.98) and a Dove bar (89¢). The register took $2 off for the Dove and $1.79 for the shave cream, leaving a total of 57¢ and 10¢ tax. So, 67¢ OOP and we saved $3.79. AND we got $1.98 in ECB's. That, along with a $1 ECB for his 4th green bag tag* scan and the 15¢ ATM rebate, gives us a $2.46 profit!


Honestly, 6 months ago, we would have taken very little stock in the notion of saving money at CVS or Walgreens. But we're sitting here now with $46 in ECBs, a fistful of CVS coupons and a cupboard chock full of toiletries and paper products, most of which were dirt cheap if not free. The hardest part of the whole process is planning the best strategy to roll the ECB's/RR's. For beginners who might find that a challenge, just go back to our blog list (lower right) and you'll quickly find someone who has already posted some suggested scenarios. Go for it! Just think, once you're paying pennies on the dollar for all your toiletries, you'll have so much more in your budget for those pricey organics! 8-]

God bless your budget!

*'CVS/pharmacy will donate 5 cents to World Wildlife Fund for every Green Bag Tag™ sold between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011.'

Natural and Organic coupons

Do a quick survey and get five $1 off coupons.

From the Coleman website:

Our strict animal raising protocols surpass USDA standards providing your family with truly ALL NATURAL fresh pork and poultry cuts. Using only meats grown with our standards, Coleman Natural Foods offers Ready-to-Eat and Fully Cooked entrees like Bacon, Sausage, Hot Dogs, Ham, and Chicken Strips.

Save big at Cracker Barrel's Porch Sale

Roll out the barrel and crack open your piggy bank for some bargains at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store's Porch Sale 25-27 June. They're moving the Clearance Corner out to the porch, where everything (except for the rockers) will be marked down... 'at least 70% off on overstocked and out-of-season favorites'.

While you're there, grab a Front Porch Friends card and start collecting rewards.

As a Front Porch Friend, you'll enjoy:

• $5 off your next $20 visit to Cracker Barrel when you sign up
• Special rewards when you visit each season
• Plus, sneak peaks at new menu items, store offerings and more

If you're already a Front Porch Friend, you'll get an extra 10% off any retail purchase (during the porch sale) over $15!

All markdowns will be taken at the register, all items are non-refundable and sale hours and participation may vary by store or change due to weather.

God bless your budget!

Kirkland's green tag clearance

We didn't see an end date for this special. It's always a good idea to shop early, as the good stuff goes fast! Kirkland's is our favourite home decor shop in this area. We always find lots of interesting ideas and really good prices.


Sign up for their newsletters and get great coupons fairly regularly. Most are for $10/$50 or $5/$25. The current coupon, good through 30 June, is 10/50 and says one coupon per customer per day, so you can print more than one.

God bless your budget!

Super-saving at the grocery!

Publix was out of Tony's pizzas the other day, so we made a quick stop this evening, last day of this week's sale. Using five $1/2 Simply Potatoes coupons, four $1/2 Tony's coupons, two Publix coupons for the berries, and one competitor's coupon, we scored 8 pizzas, 10 potatoes and 2 pints of blueberries for exactly... drum roll, please...

$1.00! Average cost per item: 5¢! If we'd been sure they'd accept the particular competitor's coupons we used, we'd have gotten four more Simply Potatoes and paid NOTHING! But we're definitely not complaining!

God bless your budget!

Pinching pennies at Publix

We've long since lost count of how many times we've been asked, 'Is it really worth it?', when discussing coupons. Well, of course it is! Today's Publix trip is a good example. We spent $8.18, plus the tax on the Kool-Aid, and saved $42.96! That's a little more than 84% off! Average cost per item was just a fraction over 48¢.

How did we do it? Here's the breakdown:
2 Contessa Green Cuisine Meals @ $4.99 - $3.49 each after coupons
2 Eggo Waffles [BOGO] @ $2.59 - 11¢ overage after coupons
2 Bailey's Coffee Creamer [BOGO] @ $2.09 - $1.10 overage after coupons
4 Green Giant Frozen Vegetables @ $1.00 - 75¢ each after coupons
2 Arnold WholeGrain Bread [BOGO] @ 3.69 - no coupons
1 Kool-Aid Fun Fizz Drink Drops @ $1.99 - FREE after coupon
1 Philadelphia Minis @ $1.99 - FREE after coupon
1 pint blueberries @ $1.50 - FREE after coupon
1 5.6-oz raspberries @ $2.00 - 50¢ after coupon
1 tomato @ 79¢ lb. - 52¢, no coupon
And we used a $5/$25 from a competitor

So, are you convinced now? Really, it doesn't take that much time to clip. And most of the legwork has already been done for you. Just google for couponing blogs and you'll find someone who has matched the weekly sales with available coupons. Or click one of the links in our blog roll. Click, snip, save!!!

God bless your budget!

Five fun family friendly freebies

FREE U.S. Space & Rocket Center Space Camp poster for kids

FREE Blockbuster movie rental for kids with with good grades

FREE eCookbook - 31 Top Secret Restaurant Recipes

FREE eCookbook - 33 Top Secret Copycat Restaurant Recipes Volume III

FREE AgriMarks plant marker sample

The free Journey to the Stars DVD from NASA & the American Museum of Natural History has been temporarily deactivated. Sign up here to be notified when it becomes active again.

More deals at Bealls

Click the button below to save an extra 10-20% through Saturday, 19 June.


Celebrate Pink Flamingo Day with a $5 coupon, good 18-20 June. Prefer to shop online? Get free shipping with code 'Flamingo'. More details here.

Thanks, Maria!

Stein Mart Deals

Don't forget to skim through those Sunday circulars. On Stein Mart's (current) back page you'll find two coupons: one for 'an extra 20% off any one item' and one for 'an extra 20% off all Red Dot Clearance' both good through 20 June.

Also, if you sign up for their email list, you'll receive a 20% coupon toward your next purchase. While you're there, sign up for their preferred customer program and get:

• Preview copies of select circulars mailed to your home
• Members-only shopping days
• 20% off birthday discounts
• Email announcements

$10 Neutrogena rebate

This might go nicely with this month's Neutrogena deal at Walgreens. Buy 3 skincare products, at 25% off, and get a $10 register reward!

God bless your budget!

Beall's summer specials

This coming Tuesday and Wednesday - 15 and 16 June - seniors get an extra 15% off everything in the store.











And every Thursday through 2 September, Florida residents get an extra 15% off.


As usual, some exclusions apply.
Be sure to call and find out of the store in your area is participating.
Click here to find out what other events are coming up.

For great deals year 'round, check out Beall's Outlet. They offer that extra 15% off to seniors every Monday.