Two FREE Jack-in-the-Box Tacos – 08/04

Jack in the Box will be giving away two free tacos all day on Tuesday, August 4!

(I really like their tacos!)

Get the coupon here.

Recipe for Fresh Fruit Pie

This is a family favorite! This week we've been enjoying the blueberry version with the cheesecake layer (below)...


Combine the following ingredients in a saucepan and cook the mixture until clear and thick. (Boil, stirring constantly, to thicken.) Remove from burner and cool to room temperature.

1 cup fresh fruit (berries)
3/4 cup sugar
4 Tbsp. cornstarch
2/3 cup water
1/4 tsp. salt

When the mixture is about room temperature, add another two cups of fresh fruit (or berries). Pour into a baked pie shell. Cool completely in the refrigerator before serving.

For another variation, add the following cheesecake layer:

8 oz. cream cheese
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 to 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1/2 to 1 Tbsp. lemon or lime juice

Beat together until creamy and then spread in the bottom of a baked pie crust before adding the fruit (or berry) mixture.

Enjoy!

Recipe for Oil Pie Crust

This is easy – and economical!

For a single pie crust:

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup vegetable oil
3 to 3 1/2 Tbsp. cold water
(Reserve about 1 Tbsp. to see if all the liquid is needed.)

Mix all ingredients with a fork. Roll between two sheets of wax paper. (Frugal tip: Use an opened-out cereal bag OR two opened-out bread bags!) Peel off one sheet of wax paper, invert the dough into a pie pan, and fit it gently in. Gently remove the other sheet of wax paper.

Bake at 450 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes.

FREE books!

My husband and I recently started using Swagbucks to search the internet. What is/are Swagbucks? Basically, Swagbucks is a search engine that randomly rewards you with points ("Swagbucks") as you routinely search the internet. You can redeem the Swagbucks you earn for prizes – including gift cards!

We love books, so we signed up when we heard that Swagbucks can be used to get Amazon.com gift cards – a $5.00 card costs only 45 Swagbucks right now! I save the gift cards until I have $25 worth, so I can get free Super Saver shipping at Amazon.com, too.

My first order of free books arrived this week!

Swagbucks also randomly releases "SwagCodes" that you can enter on your account at the Swagbucks site to get more free Swagbucks. We've earned several Swagbucks that way, too.

Sign up here and try it today!

CVS Deals – 07/26 thru 08/01

There are more great deals on school supplies – good only through Tuesday. (That’s today!)

CVS Erasers, Push Pins, or Binder Clips – $0.99
Get $0.99 ECB (Limit 2)
FREE after ECB

Caliber Pencil or Index Card Case – $0 .99
Get $0.99 ECB (Limit 2)
FREE after ECB

Caliber Sticky Notes (2-pack) or Swingline Tot Stapler – $0.99
Get $0.99 ECB (Limit 2)
FREE after ECB

Caliber Composition Books (100 pages) – $0.99
Get $0.99 ECB (Limit 2)
FREE after ECB

Pilot EasyTouch Pen (2-pack) – $0.99
Get $0.99 ECB (Limit 2)
FREE after ECB

The following two deals are also good only through Tuesday.

Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste or 360 Toothbrush – $2.88
Get $2.00 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $1.00/1 printable coupon
FREE plus overage after coupon and ECBs

Neutrogena Cosmetics – B1G1 (starting at $3.49 each)
Use $2.00/1 coupon (RedPlum 07/26)
Use $3.00/1 coupon (RedPlum 06/21)
FREE plus overage after coupons

The following deals are good all week.

Aussie or Herbal Essence Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styler – $2.99
Get $1.00 ECB (Limit 1)
Use $1.00/1 coupon (P&G 07/05) (expires 07/31)
Also use B1G1 styler wyb any hair care product (RedPlum 07/26)
$0.49 each after coupons and ECB

Buy three Kashi products – $10.00 for 3
Get $5.00 ECB (Limit 1)
Use three $1.50/1 printable coupons
$0.17 each after coupons and ECBs

Lunch Carrier – starting at $5.99
Get $3.00 ECBs (Limit 2)
$2.99 after ECBs

BIC Pencils or Pens – B1G1
Use $1.00/2 printable coupons

Staples Deals – 07/19 thru 07/25

Staples is offering some great free-after-rebate deals on school supplies this week…

Buy a Backpack – starting at $9.99
Get full purchase price refunded as Staples Rewards. Join for free!
FREE after Staples Rewards
Staples Rewards will post in October.

I just came home with a JanSport laptop backpack – a $69.99 value on sale for $52.49!
$100 laptop backpacks may also be eligible for the full-price rewards; check with your store for availability.

Pentel Handy Lines Retractable Highlighters (4-pack) – $4.99
Get $4.99 rebate
FREE after Staples Easy Rebates

Use $1.00/2 printable coupon on the next two items – and get overage!

Zebra Cadoozles (0.7 mm) Mechanical Pencils (10-pack) – $2.99
Get $2.99 rebate
FREE plus overage after coupon and Staples Easy Rebates

Zebra Sarasa Retractable Gel Pens (5-pack) – $4.99
Get $4.99 rebate
FREE plus overage after coupon and Staples Easy Rebates

Other good deals include:

Staples Photo Supreme 8.5x11 Paper (50-pack) – $12.98
Get $11.98 rebate
$1.00 after rebate

$1.00 Deals (Limit 2 of each):
Pentel Pens
Pentel Erasers
3-Hole Punch
Expo Dry Erase Markers
Staples 5.5x4.25 Notebooks
Mini Legal Pads

$2.00 Deals (Limit 2 of each):
Pilot Erasable Gel Pens
Staples Mechanical Pencils
Staples Stickies Pads
Staples Erasers Pack
Small Dry Erase Board

Get an even better deal!
Use this $10-off-$50-purchase competitor coupon.
Or use this $15-off-$75-purchase competitor coupon.
Both coupons expire on 07/25.

The Picture People – FREE portrait package!

That's right! The Picture People are being extra generous. The free portrait package consists of one 8x10, two 5x7s, and eight wallet sized portraits of the same image. Print this coupon and hurry – it's good through Saturday, July 25.

We went last Saturday and are very pleased with our pictures!

And if you have trouble deciding on only one pose, check out this post to read details on how to get inexpensive postcard sized reprints of all your favorite poses! (Don't you just love the frugal blogosphere?!)

Entertainment Book for $7.99 – plus $8.00 back!

I recently learned about Cashbaq – a great way to save money while shopping online.

Here's how it works: Shop for products and services at over 2,700 stores, and earn cash back. (From what I hear, you typically save more than you would with a rebate credit card.) Cashbaq will even give you a head start by putting $5.00 in your account when you sign up. Best of all, it's free. Cashbaq pays you.

Here's today's deal:

Get a 2009 Entertainment Book free by ordering it through Cashbaq! The books are currently on sale for only $7.99, and by going through Cashbaq you can get $8.00 back. You do pay $1.99 for shipping on each book you purchase; however, even if you only use one of the hundreds of coupons, the book pays for itself. This offer ends on 07/31.

Click here to get started! In Shop by Store in the upper left corner of the Cashbaq site, choose "Entertainment Book" and you will be taken to the page with current promotional coupons. Click on Use this Coupon next to All Entertainment Books only $7.99 and order yours!

Enjoy!

CVS Deals – 07/19 thru 07/25

CVS is offering lots of free school supplies deals through Tuesday, July 21, only. That’s today!

Caliber or CVS Filler Paper (150 sheets) – $2.00
Get $2.00 ECBs (Limit 2)
FREE after ECBs

Caliber or CVS Memo Book (50 to 80 sheets) – $0.99
Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
FREE after ECBs

Caliber or CVS No. 2 Pencils (24-count) – $1.99
Get $1.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
FREE after ECBs

PaperMate 1.2 Pens (10-count) – $0.99
Get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 2)
FREE after ECBs

1-inch Vinyl Binder – $3.00
Get $3.00 ECBs (Limit 2)
FREE after ECBs

Other weekly deals (school and non-school) include:

Backpack – $7.99 and up
Get $5.00 ECBs (Limit 2)
As low as $2.99 after ECBs

CVS Pantiliners (22-count) – $0.89
Get $0.89 ECBs (Limit 1)
FREE after ECBs

Duracell Batteries – $2.99
Get $1.00 ECB (Limit 1)
Use $0.75/1 coupon (RedPlum 07/12)
$1.24 after coupon and ECBs

I’m also thinking of taking advantage of the following deal – if I have time to figure it out. (Getting three free photo books last week was a real highlight. Hurrah for CVS!)

Kodak Picture Movie DVD – $9.99
Get $9.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
FREE after ECBs

FREE Arby's sandwich with soft drink purchase

Arby's is offering a free BBQ Bacon Cheddar Roastburger with any soft drink purchase. Act quickly on this deal because the coupon expires on July 12, 2009.

The coupon states: "Limit one coupon per person, per offer." However, since it's in pdf format, you can print one for each member of your family with no problem.

Enjoy!

FREE meals at Chick-fil-A!

Our favorite restaurant is having a great give-away! This Friday, July 10, is the 5th Annual Cow Appreciation Day! Go to Chick-fil-A dressed as a cow and receive a free meal!

Don't have a costume? Make your own using Chick-fil-A's starter kit.

Plus, you can add to the excitement by entering two more Chick-fil-A promotions:

• Kid's Photo Contest

• FaceBook Photo Contest

We had fun last year with our dear friends (and future ministry partners)!

(Hurrah for humility, eh?!)

Walgreens Deals – 07/05 thru 07/11

Once again, I have Register Rewards (expiring today and Saturday), so here are some deals I’m planning to get. (See more deals, including coupon match-ups, at Money Saving Mom.)

Starbucks Ice Cream (1 pint) – B1G1 for $4.79
Use two $1.00/1 coupons (www.starbucksicecream.com)
$1.39 each after coupons
And remember that I plan to “pay” with RR!

Goody Ouchless Flex Hair Accessories – $3.99
Use $1.00/1 printable coupon
Full-price mail-in rebate prints (as Catalina coupon) at check out
FREE plus overage after coupon and rebate

Buy four packages of Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies – $2.50 each
Get $5.00 Register Rewards
Use two $1.00/2 printable coupons
$0.75 each after coupons and RR


By the way, this trip will probably be a learning experience; I’m hoping I can combine coupons and RR on this trip. (Stacking didn’t work for the Dry Idea deodorant deal last week. I was told it was because I used the $2.00/1 coupon, and I’ve read that others had the same experience.) The buzz on the frugal blogosphere is that Walgreens plans to phase out the Register Rewards program by October of this year. (Oh well, it never worked as easily as the CVS Extra Care Bucks program anyway!)

Here’s the gist of what I read:

Walgreens is slowly revamping the registers to make it so you have to pay full price to qualify for RR. The registers are all being re-programmed not to print RR when coupons are used; this applies to both manufacturer and RR. (Remember that RR are really manufacturer coupons and not “store money” – unlike Extra Care Bucks at CVS).

The silver lining is that I’ll save the time I would otherwise use trying to figure out how to best spend Register Rewards before they expire!

Walgreens Deals – 06/28 thru 07/04

Happy 4th of July! Here are some picnic item (and other) deals to help celebrate:

Pringles – $0.99 each
Use $1.00/2 coupon (P&G 05/17) (expires 06/30)
$0.49 each after coupon

Twizzlers – $1.50 each
Use $1.00/1 coupon (SmartSource 06/28) (regional)
$0.50 each after coupon

Dawn Dishwashing Liquid – $0.99 each
Use weekly ad coupon
Stack with $0.50/1 coupon (Home Made Simple)
Go here for a link to subscribe. This booklet usually has $30 in coupons, including one for a FREE item!
$0.49 each after coupons

Dry Idea Deodorant – $2.99 each
Get $2.00 Register Rewards
Use $2.00/1 printable coupon
FREE plus $1.00 overage after coupon and RR

Walgreens Paper Plates (72 pack) – $0.99 each

Maruchan Ramen Noodles (6 pack) – $0.99
I use these in a new Asian Cole Slaw I recently learned to make! Very yummy!

(See more deals, including coupon match-ups, at MoneySavingMom.)

Recipe for Asian Cole Slaw

It's picnic and potluck season! Here's a new twist on an old fave!

2 packs of chicken (or beef) flavored Ramen Noodles (uncooked)
(Break these apart while still in the packaging.)
2 (10 oz.) packages of Cole Slaw
(Broccoli Slaw is especially delicious!)
½ cup green onions, chopped
1 cup sunflower seeds

Toss all ingredients together in a mixing bowl.

For the dressing:
¾ cup salad oil
2 Tbsp sugar
¼ cup apple cider vinegar
2 seasoning packets (from Ramen Noodles)

Heat all together in a saucepan, stirring until sugar dissolves. Let cool, then pour over Cole Slaw mixture and mix well. Let sit in the refrigerator for a couple hours before serving.

This salad is a great one to make ahead, and it keeps well for a week or longer in the refrigerator. And, if I'm not cooking for a crowd, I divide the recipe in half.

CVS Deals – 06/28 thru 07/04

Happy 4th of July! (Don’t forget to pray for America!) And to help celebrate life in the good ol' USA, there are a few good deals at CVS this week!

Skintimate or Edge Shave Gel – $1.99 each
Use $1.00/1 printable coupon
$0.99 after coupon

Buy two Cheerios Cereal – $3.00 each
Get $2.00 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use two $1.00/1 printable coupons
$1.00 each after coupons and ECBs

Buy four Coke (12 packs) – $3.25 each
Get $3.00 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use four $1.00/1 printable coupons (My Coke Rewards)
$1.50 each after coupons and ECBs

Not that we need (any) more Coke! But it’s picnic season, I have four more coupons to use, and I just can’t resist getting it FREE – since I have $15 ECBs to use.

We’re heading up to NW IN to visit family. I may try the following deal either there or on the way (since milk is reportedly $1.99 per gallon in that area):

Buy one Dean’s Milk (1 gallon) – $1.99 each
And buy two Oreos Cakesters – $3.00 each
Get $3.00 ECBs
Use two $1.00/1 Oreo coupons (SmartSource 06/14)
$2.99 for everything after coupons and ECBs

Plus, there’s supposed to be a deal on Dean’s Milk until July 25:
Buy five gallons of Dean’s Milk, get one gallon FREE.

(See more deals, including coupon match-ups, at Money Saving Mom.)