FREE fun!

There is a playground park in our neighborhood here in Illinois. It is a really nice playground too! The hubby got off work at 1500 (3pm for you Civilians) and we decided to take little man.

Yes, it was chilly enough for a sweater.

Needless to say, we had fun. And it was FREE!!!

Today was an expensive day.

Well... Today was an expensive day. We had to get water softener for the house and other things.

Here is what we paid:
- $21.83 Menards (We will be getting a $6 rebate in 4-6 weeks)
- $9.89 Dominick's (6 Pepsi 12packs for $1.50 each and 4 Del Monte Smoothies)
- $.18 Wal-Mart (Two bottles of Gain Dish Soap)
- $2.92 CVS (Two Schick Intuition razors and a bottle of Dawn)
- $13.56 Pop-eyes (Dennis and I had a special treat at the office with Top, we bought him lunch too)

Total spent = $48.46 eek! That's a lot! It's alright because we are still in our frugal mindset and haven't given up.

$343.86 left for the rest of the month!

A Guide to Swag Bucks.

I blogged about Swag Bucks HERE, but I wanted to give you more information. We all know knowledge is power! If you haven't already, sign up HERE

The Swag Bucks Guy, or TSG, releases codes for free Swag Bucks almost daily. Some are for 5, some are for as much as 9 and I've had a few worth upwards to 20 Swag Bucks! How to find the codes is a challenge at times, but you can get the hang of it pretty quickly. Follow me, An Army Wife's Couponing Adventure, on facebook to keep up to date on the codes.

The three main locations for codes are:
- Swag Bucks Blog
- Swag Bucks Toolbar
- Swag Bucks Swidget.

Once you find the code, enter it in the bar labeled "Gimme" blow your account information on the right hand side of the swagbucks homepage. (see picture below)

The blog codes are pretty easy to find. Just search for Swag Bucks Code in the blog entry, copy and paste it in the bar.

Toolbar codes never pop up in time for me, so when I'm alerted there is one I click on the red box with the white envelope on the toolbar, the newest message. The message will open in the browser and directly above the right hand corner is a blue word "newer". Click it. The message should refresh with a code. (Expired codes are replaced with the word "Expired")

The Swidget is incredibly easy. See that black box at the bottom of this blog? It looks like this:

See that "SC" button? Click it > Click"Check for Code"> Copy and Paste!

There you have it. A guide to codes.  Questions?

Operation Iraqi Freedom becomes Operation New Dawn

Some of you might be worried if your Soldier is deployed to Iraq under Operation New Dawn, they won't receive combat pays. If you are worried, stop. This was released today:

"WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2010 – The change from Operation Iraqi Freedom to Operation New Dawn does not affect combat and other hazardous-duty entitlements troops serving in Iraq receive, a Pentagon spokeswoman said today.
 
Servicemembers deployed to Iraq will still receive hostile fire/imminent danger pay, hardship-duty pay, and incidental expenses. Some troops will qualify for family separation allowances. Also, all pay for warrant officers and enlisted members is tax exempt, while officers are exempt from taxes for up to $7,611.30 each month they serve in an eligible area."
http://www.defense.gov//News/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=60679

By the way... What do you think of the new name?

Day 1 $1.53 spent at Meijer and $6.23 at CVS ($7.76 total)

Yup. A $1.53 for 5 boxes if pasta, 6 cans of tomatoes, and 1 package of Kraft sliced cheese. My Cashier said, "Whoa! You did good!"

I'd say this a good start for our $400 challenge! $392.24 left.

Truly Inspirational.

Get out the tissues, you're gonna cry! This is a great motivational video that is making its rounds on Facebook. It really inspired me to be happy with all the blessings God has given us. Not just material things, but our family. Our son is healthy and happy. My husband and I are madly in love. I am closer than ever to my parents and my brother. Mom is my friend. Thank you, God, for your many, many blessings. Sometimes I need to be reminded when I get wrapped up in the world of how truly lucky I am.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

$400 a month?!

For the month of September my husband and I will be living off of $400. That is all we will spend on groceries, entertainment, toiletries, clothes, pretty much everything! I have been looking over the past few months and wondering where has all our money gone?

I will chronicle every shopping excursion and share our success (or failure) with you. Wish us luck!

The Rules:
Not restricted by the $400: diapers, formula, gas for cars, medical expenses, monthly bills (like cell phone, car payments, gas, electricity, etc.).
I am going to keep all receipts from this month.
Cash ONLY! I will pull out $400 tomorrow and put in my wallet. Once that cash is gone, oh well!

Wish us luck!

Do you know this Soldier?!

Do you know a Soldier deployed to Iraq? Is he from Arizona? Does he have two Golden Labs? If you do, please tell him to call Pinal County Animal Care and Control. His "friend", who was supposed to watch his dogs while he served our great country, turned them over to the pound. This "friend" is refusing to release the Soldiers name, just saying he is deployed to Iraq.

"The dogs are approximately 2-4 years of age, one male, and one female. One dog is named Wyatt and the other is named Storm.  If anyone has information about the person that owns Wyatt and Storm, they are asked to contact Rhonda Wagner Kuehn at 406-697-5975. "

Please help and keep this article circulating until we help this brave man fighting for our freedom get his dogs back.

http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national/soldier-s-dogs-surrendered-to-az-shelter-public-help-needed-to-facilitate-a-reunion

Are you a Veteran? Please take this survey!

THIS survey is about the care given to Veterans. It is important because it could affect how you and others are treated in the future. This is a chance to make a change for the better! 

Noodlette is back!!

Kraft Noodlette is back! Go and play HERE. Win points for the coupon of your choice. You can play until you win enough points for the coupon you want.

Here are the prices:
For 500 points you can win $.55 off 2 boxes of Kraft Mac'n'Cheese
For 1000 points you can win Buy two, get one free Easy Mac
For 5000 points you can win Buy one, get one free Homestyle Mac'n'Cheese

My friend's baby died. I am not afraid to talk about it.

August 19th was the day of hope... A day to remember those who have given birth to a sleeping baby or miscarried, those who have left the hospital with empty arms. We shouldn't just remember on August 19th, we should remember every day the pain these women go through. I firmly believe that when God calls a baby to heaven it is for a special purpose.

My friend's baby died. I am not afraid to talk about it. I love her and will always be there for her.

My favorite Restuarant Coupons!

Here are some awesome coupons for when you eat out this weekend, because honestly, who wants to cook on the weekend?

Buy one, get one free at White Castle HERE

Buy one entree, get one 50% off at TGI Fridays HERE

Free Chips and Queso at Chili's HERE (you have to join their email club)

For more great Restaurant Coupons, head over to MommySavers (or just click this LINK)

$110 P&G Coupon Booklet

Another P&G Coupon booklet is available!! 

Just spend $50 on P&G products between August 20, 2010 and December 31, 2010. Once you have all your receipts collected, highlight the P&G products. Fill out this FORM, then mail it all in! I've gotten one of these before and I used a lot of the coupons.

So excited!

FREE Military Care Package from Scion

Scion is giving out free care packages to our troops, deployed or not. So no matter where your Soldier is at the moment, take a second and send them a care package courtesy of Scion!


Head HERE to sign up!

Target is accused of not giving full value on Coupons

Be careful shopping at Target if you are a couponer!

According to THIS Target has been short changing Ms. Gundersonon her coupons. Shockingly (insert sarcasm here), Target says the first time they heard about this issue was when WCCO contacted them. But this has been going on for months. It has happened to me and cost me tons of money.

WCCO went back to see if Target had fixed the problem (HERE is the article) and nope! Still not fixed.

I refuse to shop at Target for personal reasons, and am not saying you shouldn't shop there... Just double check your coupons and make sure you are getting your full value worth.

Meijer has an iPhone App!

I guess there really is an App for everything!

Meijer Coupon Policy and Printing Meijer Coupons

Meijer Coupon policy
When accepting coupons, Meijer uses the following guidelines:
We accept two kinds of coupons; Meijer issued coupons and manufacturer coupons.
-To be accepted, coupons must be presented before or on the expiration date.
-Only one manufacturer coupon and one Meijer coupon for the same item will be accepted (unless prohibited).
-Mealbox coupons are considered Meijer coupons.
-We accept all valid Internet coupons. These coupons must be presented before or on the expiration date
-We reserve the right to limit quantities.
-If the value of the coupon is more than the price of the item after discounts or coupons are applied, the value of the coupon will be applied up to the price of the item.
-We do not apply the excess value of a coupon to the order total if the value of the coupon is over the price of the item after discounts or coupons are applied.
-Only coupons for products carried in our stores will be accepted.
-All coupons should be given to the cashier while you're checking out and cannot be applied to a previous purchase.

How to print Meijer coupons:

Above is a screen shot from http://www.meijermealbox.com/ This box is located on the right hand side of the screen.  Go to "Specials" tab > "Coupons" tab > Click "Add to Shopping List" (notice there are usually multiple pages). After selecting all the coupons you want to print

Go to "Shopping List" > Click "Print"> A new window pops up

Once pop up window is visible> File > Print

Adjust your printer settings > Click "Print"

And now you have Meijer Coupons!

$142.44 worth of groceries for only $33.07

I might be getting the hang of this Civilian way of life out here in Recruiting! Today I went to Meijer (Fancier than Wal-Mart and much nicer) to get a few things, mainly produce and my prescription refilled.

The great thing about Meijer is that they stack coupons. That means you can use a manufacturers coupon (like you find in the paper on Sunday) as well as a Meijer coupon. 

Go HERE for Meijer coupons. They are located in the box on the right hand side under the specials tab>click "shopping list" tab> print to print your Meijer coupons.

Todays haul:
12 boxes of Ziploc baggies
4 boxes of Cheerios
5 boxes of Rice A Roni
2 Wishbone Salad dressing
2 Jimmy Dean Sausage
1 dozen large eggs
1 Homestyle Kraft Mac'n'Cheese
4 Healthy Request soup
2 Colgate 360 toothbrushes
1 tube of Colgate toothpaste
6 blocks of Kraft Cheese
2 packages of hashbrowns
4lbs of Bananas
2lbs of Sweet Potatoes
2 Mangos
4 Summer Squash 
Carrots

CVS trip: Spent $9.97, Saved $75.07

Pretty good haul for $10 if I do say so myself! And I earned another $10 in ECB for my next trip!

Go HERE to see how I did it!

Hibachi Chicken without the flaming onion (or the price!)

Teriyaki Sauce:

- 1/2 large onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup vinegar

Combine ingredients into a sauce pot:

Cook on low until onions are caramelized.

Now you have the sauce!

I cook the chicken like they do at the restaurant. I put it in whole and let it cook more of the way before cutting it up into bit size pieces.

I add water then cover with a lid for most of the cooking process, it keeps the chicken nice and moist.

Pull the chicken out and cut into bite size pieces. Then put back in the skillet, add the above teriyaki sauce:

Voila! Hibachi Chicken without the hefty price of the restaurant!

Bon appetit!

Fried Rice:
2 cups of cold or day old rice.
1/4 cup of Soy Sauce
4 eggs (I like my fried rice with a lot of eggs, feel free to use less)
2 Tablespoons of Oil

Put oil in large skillet, add rice, pour Soy Sauce over rice. Using a spatula continuously stir. After rice has a nice brown color to it, crack eggs. Continue mixing until eggs and thoroughly cooked.

Now for the finishing touch: Shrimp Sauce or White Sauce or whatever they call this fattening yummy goodness!

1 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoons melted butter
3/4 teaspoon paprika
3/8 teaspoon garlic powder
**If you like heat** I add 1 teaspoon of Red Roster chili sauce.

Mix together in a bowl, cover, and refrigerate!