Muncie Children's Museum - Free Admission 2/28/09

Just about an hour North East of Indianapolis is the Muncie Children's Museum.  This is a fun, small, family friendly museum.  It is a nice change from the very large Children's Museum of Indianapolis where we normally go.   My son loves it and asks often when we can go again!

On the last Saturday of the month the Muncie Children's Museum is FREE!  Now that gas prices aren't too bad it would make a great day out with the kids!

If you go, take a dollar (at least that's how much it was last time we went) for the gift store and your child can make a fun sand bottle to remember his day.  My son had a blast filling his bottle with fun colored sand.

During Free Saturdays at the Muncie Children's Museum visitors can come to the Museum free of charge all day, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Check out their website here.

Guest Post - Walgreens Using Coupon

Today is the third and final Guest Post from MaryEllen at Centsible Savings.  I would like to thank her for sharing these posts with us!  I hope you have enjoyed them!

What are IVCs or Instant Value Coupons?

IVCs are the coupons found in the EasySaver booklet along with the rebate offers. These are Walgreens store coupons and can be combined with manufacturer coupons. If you buy more than 1 of an item, the IVC will subtract the coupon amount from each item that you purchase.

What are 7-day coupons?

7 day coupons are found in the weekly store ads. You will not get the advertised sale price for these items unless you have the cashier scan the coupon. These can be stacked with both Manufacturer coupons and Instant Value coupons. If you buy more than 1 of an item, the 7 day coupon will subtract the coupon amount from each item that you purchase.

Can I use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on the same item?

Yes. You may use one store coupon and one manufacturer coupon per item.

What is the best order in which to hand the cashier my coupons?

Generally it works best to hand them Register Rewards, then manufacturer coupons, then store coupons. However, some stores require their cashiers to scan the store coupons first and the Register Rewards last.

Can I use 2 coupons on Buy 1 Get 1 Free items?

Usually the answer is yes, but it may depend on your store's individual policies.

Does Walgreens allow overage?

No. The official policy if a coupon is worth more than the price of the item is to adjust the coupon down to the price of the item. You can however get overage by combining a manufacturer coupon and store coupon. Just make sure to give the store coupon last, since store coupons do not beep when overage is given. Again, some stores require their cashiers to take the store coupon first, so your whether or not you get the overage will depend on the individual store policies. 

Story Time at the Indianapolis Zoo - 2/28/09

We have enjoyed these story times at the Indianapolis Zoo!  If you have a Zoo membership these are free!

Story Time at the Indianapolis Zoo,
Presented by Dippin’ Dots and Macy's
February 28,
March 14 & 28,
April 11 & 25

Let your child’s imagination run wild during Story Time at the Zoo presented by Dippin’ Dots.  Every other Saturday from 9am-noon, beginning February 28, celebrate the joy of reading as your child’s favorite PBS book or television program visits the Zoo.

Upon entering the Dolphin Gallery, you will pick-up a passport that will guide your family through a variety of activities.  Collect stamps on the passport by playing games, viewing animal artifacts, and making two crafts.  Each passport will also specify a timeslot to listen to the day’s story.  Each half hour, Moriah Music’s Cindy Baney will share a story and sing songs from the featured character.  All completed passports will then be entered to win a Zoo goodie bag.

A highlight to the event will be having your child meet the featured character.  The characters are not shy, so please bring your camera.  Here's this year's exciting lineup: 

February 28 -  Maya & Miguel
                              
March 14 - Super Why
                              
March 28 - Martha Speaks
                              
April 11- Clifford
                              
April 25 - Curious George

Enjoy great ways to expand your child’s imagination through storytelling, songs, games, and activities. There’s more to a good book then what’s between the pages!

This event is free for members and is included with regular Zoo admission.

In partnership with .

Guest Post - Walgreens EasySaver Rebates

Today MaryEllen from Centsible Savings has her second Guest Post for us on Walgreens.  She is answering some questions regarding the Walgreen's EasySaver Rebate program.

If you are unfamilar with the EasySaver Rebate program,  Every month Walgreens has a booklet that they list items you can purchase at Walgreens and then submit your receipt for a rebate.  You can look at the Walgreen's EasySaver Rebates here on their website.

Here are some answers to questions you may have had regarding the Walgreens EasySaver rebates.

Where can I find the rebate booklet?
The rebate booklet can be found in the front of the store along with the weekly ads.

How do I know which items qualify for rebates?
The rebate booklet lists the specific items for which there are rebates and the amounts you will get back.

How do I submit my rebate?
You can either mail it in or submit it online. I would recommend submitting it online. That way you don't have to pay for a stamp, and you will also be able to keep your receipts in case you need them for a manufacturer's rebate. You will have the option to either choose check or a Walgreens gift card. If you choose the gift card option, you will receive an extra 10% bonus.

If I use coupons on a rebate item will I still get the full amount back?
Rebates are always based on the price before coupons. If something is $4.99 with a $4.99 rebate, but you have a $1 coupon, you will pay $3.99 but get back $4.99, essentially earning $1.00.

Can I submit an item for both a Walgreens rebate and a manufacturer's rebate?
Yes. Usually manufacturer's require you to send in your original receipt, so you'll either need to submit your Walgreens rebate online or ask the cashier if she can print you a rebate receipt.

Guest Post - Walgreens Register Rewards

Today I am happy to bring you the first of 3 Guest Posts by MaryEllen at Centsible Savings.  She recently did a series on Walgreens.  I thought you would enjoy learning more about how you can save money by shopping at Walgreens.  She has a lot of great information that you will enjoy!  Make sure you stop by her blog Centsible Savings!

I post the Walgreens deals every week, but I have never taken the time to explain how it all works. I know many of you are old pros at working the Walgreens deals, but many of you have never given Walgreens a try due to a lack of information on how the system works.

I'll do my best to answer any questions you may have and hopefully help you work up enough courage to go work yourself a deal!

There are actually several different avenues to finding great deals at Walgreens. These can all be used singly, but many times you can mix and match these techniques to make an even better deal! I will explain these techniques over a series of several posts.


In this first post I will deal with Walgreens Register Rewards.

What are Register Rewards?
Register Rewards are coupons worth a certain dollar amount that you can use to help pay for another purchase. They print at the register when you buy certain items.


How do I know what items to buy to get Register Rewards back?
Every week the ad will feature the items that produce Register Rewards. Many times these items are a good deal in and of themselves, but if you have coupons for the items, you can often get products for free or even make money!



What do you mean when you say something is a moneymaker?
Here is an example of how I post any deals involving Register Rewards:

Reach Toothbrushes
Buy 2 for $6, get $6 RR (Register Rewards)
Use B1G1 (buy one get one) coupon from 10/12 RP (the Redplum coupon insert from the 10/12 Sunday paper)
Final price = $3 moneymaker after coupon and RR

So here's what happens. You buy the two toothbrushes for $6 ($3 each). But you will get $3 taken off for the B1G1 coupon. Your total will be $3, but $6 in Register Rewards will print. So you have made a profit of $3.


Can I use Register Rewards to pay for more items that give back Register Rewards?
If you have Register Rewards from previous transactions you have done, you can use those to pay for your purchase, thus reducing the amount of actual cash you have to spend. However, Register Rewards can not always be "rolled" (using Register Rewards to pay for something else that gives back Register Rewards.) You cannot use a Register Reward from one product to pay for another of the same product. The new Register Rewards will not print. Also, you generally cannot roll Register Rewards between two products that are the same brand. For example, if you had Register Rewards that printed from buying Pampers, you could not use them to buy Crest toothpaste and have new Register Rewards print (these are both Proctor & Gamble products.)


If I buy all the qualifying products, will more than one Register Reward print per transaction?

More than one will print if they are different advertised deals. For example, if Crest toothpaste is advertised as giving back $2 in Register Rewards, and Huggies diapers are advertised as giving back $3 in Register Rewards, you can buy both products and get back a $2 and a $3 Register Reward. But you cannot buy 2 Crest toothpastes and get back 2 $2 Register Rewards. If you wanted to buy another toothpaste and get back more Register Rewards, you would need to buy it on a separate transaction.


The Register Rewards say "Manufacturer Coupon" on them. What does that mean?

The register actually treats Register Rewards like any other manufacturer coupon. Since you can only use one manufacturer coupon per item purchased, you need to make sure that the number of items you are purchasing is equal to or greater than the number of coupons you have, including any Register Rewards you may have. If you are planning on using a coupon on everything you are buying, you need to add a small filler to your transaction in order to be able to use the Register Reward. (Note: Instant Value Coupons and 7-day coupons, which I will discuss in another post, are not considered manufacturer coupons, so you do not need to have extra items for those.)


If a Register Reward deal is advertised as "Buy $x of item x, get $x Register Rewards" is the value computed before or after coupons?

The value of what you are buying is computed before coupons. An example of this type of deal would be this: "Buy $20 of Huggies products, get $5 Register Rewards." If the diapers are $10 a pack, you could buy 2 packs for $20, use 2 $1 coupons, and pay a total of $18. You would still get the $5 Register Rewards.


Do I have to have a store card to get Register Rewards?
No. If you buy the qualifying items in the ad, the Register Rewards will automatically print.


Why didn't my Register Rewards print?
There are a couple possible reasons why they didn't print. 1. You didn't buy the correct items. Double check the ad and make sure that you bought the right item including the correct size, variety, etc. If you had to buy a certain dollar amount of something, make sure the items rang up correctly. Sometimes things ring up cheaper than you expected them to, making the total value lower than necessary to get the Register Rewards. 2. The machine is not working or is not on. I have learned to look at the machine before I check out. If there is a green light, my Register Rewards generally print without a problem. If there is a red light or no light at all, I go to a different register because the machine is most likely not working.

Stop by tomorrow for MaryEllen's next guest post about Walgreen's  Easy Saver Rebates.

You can stop by MaryEllen's blog Centsible Savings here.

Free Breakfast Entree - Southport Rd. Chick-fil-a

FREE BREAKFAST WEDNESDAYS!
Southport Road Chick-fil-a

Every Wednesday Through February (No Purchase Required)


One entree per person in the dining room, and one entree per car in the drive-thru between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

If you need directions to the Chick-fil-a, or if you would like to find the address of a Chick-fil-a near you, check here.

Note: Not all Chick-fil-a's are participating in this promotion. So, if you don't live near the Southport, Rd Chick-fil-a, call your local Chick-fil-a before you go!

National Pancake Day at IHOP 2/24/09

Go to IHOP on 2/24/09 from 7 AM to 10 AM

for a free short stack of pancakes. IHOP is raising money

for Children's Miracle Network and would like if you made

a donation to CMN in appreciation for your pancakes.

HERE IS SOME INFORMATION FROM THE IHOP WEBSITE:

Since beginning its National Pancake Day celebration in 2006, IHOP has raised nearly two million dollars to support charities in the communities in which it operates. With your help, we hope to raise $1,000,000 for Children’s Miracle Network in 2009!

Go here to learn more.

Sunday Meditations

Proverbs 22:1 

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches....

Free Potty Training DVD From Pull-Ups

Pull-Ups is offering

a FREE potty-training DVD.

Click here to go to the link.

Guest Post - Coupon Binder

My friend Elizabeth, from White Picket Fence, wrote a great post showing her coupon binder, for Works For Me Wednesday. I use a box, but have seriously considered going to this method of organization. I would love to hear how you organize your coupons and any hints you have to make it easier for us.

Thank you Elizabeth for being my guest post today!

I stumbled across "Works for Me Wednesday", and it looked interesting, so I thought I would chime in this time around. My "Works for Me Wednesday" is my coupon binder. Before I "show" it to you, let me first say that I am not in any way shape or form one of those incredibly talented, frugal moms who can go to the store and buy $100 worth of groceries for $4.50.

If you are a "serious" couponer I'm sure there's all kinds of reasons why this wouldn't work for you. That being said, I do know what the terms catalina, oop, bogo, stacking and CVSing mean and I do clip coupons. I don't always use them every time I shop, but the majority of the time I do and I am capable of saving some money.

One of the reasons I never liked coupons is because I hated envelopes and those expanding file folder things. I try to have what coupons I know I'm going to use pulled, but occasionally I'll come across something and know that I have a coupon for it. It was irritating to pull a stack of coupons out of an envelope or folder and have to flip through each one individually. Thus...the coupon binder. I got the binder at Target when they were clearing out their school supplies. I think it was $4.00. I then bought those plastic sheets for putting baseball cards in and some plastic protective sleeves as well. I also got one of those zippered pencil pouches to put scissors etc. in.

I use the front pocket of the binder for sales fliers etc. There's a nifty little pocket for my calculator, a couple of places for pens and a business card size pocket that I put my CVS, Kroger and Marsh cards in. I also put a copy of my menu for the week in the front in a protective sheet. Sometimes if I have a new recipe or two I'm trying that week, I'll put those in too. (saves me time on hunting them down later)

I have the baseball card holders labeled and divided into categories. Most coupons fit into the slots, but some I have to fold. I try to keep duplicate coupons in the same slot and I've been able to fit quite a few in one. In the back of the binder, I keep a few protective sleeves for store specific coupons, and things like restaurants, pizza, Extra Care Bucks etc. Like I said, this may not be a good option for the "real" coupon queens out there....but it works for me! :)

Guest Post - Coupons Clipping Method

Today we are having a Guest Post from Jamie from the blog I Am a Money Magnet.  She will be sharing her method of clipping coupons - which just happens to be the same method I use!  She had such a nice post I wanted to share it with you. I'm sure you will enjoy it and learn something from her.  I did - I now staple my coupons together which makes them easier to file and pull!

I, for one, am a coupon clipper. I like having all my coupons with me, organized in my coupon binder, and ready to take shopping with me at the drop of a hat!

With that being said many different coupon clipping methods exist and I would love to hear what coupon clipping method you currently use! Clipping coupons is probably the most tedious task of "super couponing" so hopefully we can learn from each other and make clipping coupons a breeze!

Step One: Purchase Sunday Newspaper(s).

On average I purchase 4 Sunday newspapers each week (sometimes more, sometimes less depending on the coupons). I usually purchase my newspapers from Walgreens using my Walgreens gift card loaded with the money I've earned through their Easy Saver Rebates.

(Note: In Indianapolis you can get your Sunday newspapers on Saturday or Sunday at the Dollar Tree for $1.00 each.)

On Saturday night I check Taylortown Preview to see how many inserts I should expect in the newspaper.

Before purchasing my papers I flip through them making sure all the inserts are included. Once I'm back home I remove the inserts from the newspaper and group them together as shown in the picture above.

Step Two: Next, I group all like pages together as shown here.

If the insert is two pages (like the one shown at the top of this picture) after stacking all the like insert pages together, I rip the insert down the middle making 2 single pages.  (Just make sure there isn't a coupon in the middle of the 2 pages!)

Step Three: Forget About Keeping Your Floor Clean. :)

This is what my floor looked like Sunday afternoon after I let 2 weeks of inserts pile up! As you can see I have separated all the insert pages and stacked them into piles all over the floor!

Step Four: Select a stack of like coupon inserts from your piles on the floor. Next, staple the middle of each coupon. Bee sure to staple the coupons on both sides of the insert (in the picture I am stapling through 4 insert pages). Be careful not to staple through the bar code or expiration date. Once each coupon on the page has been stapled you can start cutting out your coupons. Note: I usually staple all my inserts first and then go back and cut. 

Why are you stapling the middle of each coupon you ask?


As you can see in the picture, stapling through each coupon before cutting keeps the coupons stacked together in nice and neat piles! Having the coupons stapled together makes it much easier to file in my Coupon Binder (coming up in Part 2). Another plus, when I don't have time to file them in my Coupon Binder I'm able throw the stapled stacks into a Ziploc bag and not have to worry about all those single coupons getting mixed up with each other!

Thanks so much Jamie!  I appreciate your sharing this with us!  Please stop by Jamie's blog I Am A Money Magnet.

Come back tomorrow when Elizabeth from White Picket Fence shares how she organizes her coupons!

TV Converter Box

Have you gotten your $40.00 TV Converter Box Coupon yet? If you do not have cable or satellite you will need this to receive TV signals soon. 

We do not have cable TV.  We never got cable after we married and so we don't miss it at all.  We figure that we are saving about $500.00 a year by not having cable and that's a grand total of $6000.00 over the 12+ years of our marriage.  Personally, I'd rather have the $6000.00 than HGTV and the Food Network - although I like to watch it when I go to my parents house!

The Converter Box coupons have technically "run out".  You can however get on the waiting list to get coupons.  They will fill the orders for coupons as distributed and unredeemed coupons expire.  

If you have not gotten your coupon, you can apply to receive up to 2 coupons per home here.   We were able to pick up many more channel and some are even in HD 1080i quality with our converter box!

Even if you do not regularly watch TV, you may want to have a converter box in your home for emergency situations.  If you use an antenna and have an older TV, when the TV broadcasting changes over to digital, you will not receive a signal without one.

Two things to note: Your coupon will expire 90 days after it is mailed to you and you cannot re request another if it expires. You can request coupons until March 31, 2009.

Free Breakfast Wednesday! - Southport Rd. Chick-fil-a

FREE BREAKFAST WEDNESDAYS!

Southport Road Chick-fil-a

Every Wednesday Through February (No Purchase Required)

One entree per person in the dining room, and one entree per car in the drive-thru between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.

If you need directions to the Chick-fil-a, or if you would like to find the address of a Chick-fil-a near you, check here.

Note: Not all Chick-fil-a's are participating in this promotion. So, if you don't live near the Southport, Rd Chick-fil-a, call your local Chick-fil-a before you go!

Happy President's Day - a President's Day Song for You.

My son has worked very hard to learn the names of all 44 U.S. Presidents. I promised to put him on mom's web page if he could learn them all. He is 5 and a big ham so that was incentive enough for him to learn this little song.

So I hope you will enjoy this little video and if you would like to learn the names of the Presidents, I've included the words.

The 44 Presidents Song


Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, Adams, Jackson, VanBuren,
William Henry Harrison, Tyler, Polk and Taylor,
Filmore, Pierce, Buchanan.


Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes,
Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison,
Cleveland, McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt,
Taft and Woodrow Wilson.


Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, FDR,
Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ,
Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan,
Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama.


If you would like some free coloring sheets for President's Day check out my posts here and here.

Sunday Meditations

Psalm 113: 1-5

 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD.

 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.

 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised.

 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.

 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,

If you would like to read more Sunday Meditations please go here.

CVS and Walgreens - This Week's Deals 2/15-21/09

Here are a few of my favorite sites to get the best CVS deals for the week.

Centsible Savings

Money Saving Mom

Mommies with Cents

Here are some good sites to check for the Walgreen's Deals:

Money Saving Mom

Mommies with Cents

Moms Need to Know

Are you new to shopping at CVS?  Go here to read some of my favorite CVS tips.

Coupon Insert Preview 2/14/09

Because of the Valentine's Day Holiday there are no coupon inserts scheduled for the papers this week.  If you would like to check the insert schedule for the year you can go here.

Pampered Chef 60% off any 1 Item

Do you need a nice gift for someone during the next year.  Maybe you have a wedding or wedding shower coming up and would like to give a great item, but the cost is keeping you from giving a really nice gift?  You might just like a nice item from Pampered Chef for your own kitchen?

Pampered Chef Consultant Kathleen Hertzler has a great offer for you.  If you host a show with at least $150 in sales or catalog show with at least $200 in sales you can earn 1 item at 60% off. You can also earn other rewards!  This promotion is only good in the month of February. 

This can be a great way to earn a very nice item at a greatly reduced price!  If you would like to find out more about this great opportunity you can email Kathleen at:  kathertzler@yahoo.com   

Frugal Indy's Top 10 CVS Tips

Are you a new CVS Shopper? Maybe you are giving CVS a try after attending a Savvy Saving program and are learning the CVS ropes.  Today I am going to share some CVS tips with you.

If you are a veteran CVS shopper and have some tips you would like to share with us please leave a comment with your tip!

Frugal Indy's Top 10 CVS Tips

1.  Register your CVS Extra Care Card online and receive a  $4 off $20 coupon.  You will also receive other coupons occasionally including $4/20 and $3/15.  If you get an email coupon you can only use it 1 time.

2. Scan your card at the price checker for more coupons when you go into CVS.

3.  Scan your card often for coupons. If you live/work near a CVS and it is convenient for you to make a quick stop during the week - just stop in and scan your card for more coupon opportunities.  I have even gotten the occasional  $5/15  coupon from the "magic scanner".

4.  Roll Your ECB's. When you plan your CVS shopping transaction or "deal" as I call it, start with the ECB earning items first - make sure you get your ECB's so you can go back again and have more fun!

5.  Use your expired CVS coupon.  Many CVS's accept expired CVS coupons for 2 weeks past the expiration date or until the coupon "beeps" in the register, so always give your CVS coupons - even if they are expired.  I have never had an expired CVS coupon refused.

6.  Look for CVS  $3/15 coupons.  Keep a diligent watch for legit $3/15 and $4/20 coupons that can be printed from online newspapers and magazines.  You can use one of these on each transaction that you do.

Please make sure you are printing from an original source.  CVS coupons that are in PDF format or scanned in may be altered and fraudulent.  If you are printing from an original source (the actual online newspaper)  you know the coupon is valid.  My favorite place to check is I Heart CVS.  But be aware that not all coupons posted to this site are from original sources.

7.   Coupon order is important.  If you are using a $3/15 or $4/20 type CVS coupon - give that coupon to the cashier first - before you give any Manufacturer Coupons.  That way you are still above the required transaction minimum.

8.  Maximize your savings. When you are using a $3/15 type coupon, you only need to meet the transaction minimum ($15) before coupons at CVS.  So, maximize your savings by filling up that $15 order with items that you will get "Free with ECB" or are free with coupons.  Use any overage you have to buy things you need (milk, paper products, etc) and reduce your grocery bill.   

9.  Make a "CVS" envelope and keep it in your coupon box or coupon binder. Keep one of your CVS ECB cards (you should get a few key tags and a card when you sign up), all your CVS coupons and your ECBs in it.  When you go to CVS, it will make it easier to find what you need.

10.  Each adult in your home should have a CVS Extra Care Card.  Because I saved so much at CVS last year, they've decided not to send my card those nice coupons - so this year I am using my husband's card.  You are not limited to 1 card per household, and you can greatly increase your coupon opportunities by having 1 card per adult in your house.  However, ECB items are limited on a "per household" basis, not "per card"  so please keep this in mind if you do have more than 1 card.    

These are my top 10 CVS tips - I would love to hear from you!  What do you do to maximize your CVS transactions?