Free McDonald's Coffee Week 9/23 through 9/29

Free Coffee at McDonalds Week of 9/23
If your mornings need a jumpstart, you are in luck!
Starting 9/23, McDonalds will be giving away 12oz cups of premium roast McCafe coffee to help celebrate National Coffee Day!
From 9/23 – 9/29, stop in your local McDonalds and pick up your free coffee.
**It is always a good idea to call first to make sure your local store is participating!
Thanks to MoJo Saving.com

Homemade French Vanilla Coffee Creamer

Homemade French Vanilla Coffee Creamer

Ingredients:

14 oz or 1 can of Sweetened Condensed Milk or Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk recipe

1 1/4 cups of milk

1 1/2 Tbs of vanilla extract

Direction:

Mix all three together in a mason jar with lid on and shake well. Will keep for 2 weeks in the fridge. 

I used a recipe, but I made a few adjustment to the recipe. 

Original recipe link below.

http://www.mommyknows.com/real-food-how-to-make-your-own-french-vanilla-coffee-creamer/

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk

Homemade Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipe

Ingredient:

1 1/2 cups whole milk

2/3 cup sugar

3 Tbs butter

1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Stove Top Directions:

Mix sugar and milk together in a saucepan. Stir often, bring to a low simmer over medium-low heat. When steam starts lifting off milk, lower heat to simmer until  sugar is entirely dissolved. 

You want to make sure the this is reduced half the quantity in the pot. Takes 2 hours on low heat to reduce to one cup of liquid. When you turn the stove off, put your 3 Tbs of butter and 1 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract in and stir. 

Let cool before transferring to a mason jar. You want this thick, but not thick if you are using for coffee creamer. 

Crock-pot directions:

Mix sugar and milk together in a saucepan. Stir often, bring to a low simmer over medium-low heat. When the steam starts lifting off milk. I transfer this to the crock-pot with the lid half off on low for 2 hours. I stirred every 30 minutes. When done with the 2 hours, put your 3 Tbs of butter and 1 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract iin and stir.

Let cool before transferring to a mason jar. You want this thick, but not so thick if you are using this for coffee creamer. 

I used the recipe from a website, just made a few adjustments of my own.

The original recipe link is here below.

http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/recipes/healthy-homemade-sweetened-condensed-milk-without-powdered-dry-milk/

Coupon Challenge and Farm Fresh giveaway

The Coupon Challenge and Farm Fresh is having a giveaway for Farm Fresh Grill On. All you need to do is follow a few bloggers, tweet, and post to The Coupon Challenge to let her know you did these things. This ends tonight at 8pm. Good Luck!!

The Coupon Challenge and Farm Fresh giveaway

Friday Walmart and Farm Fresh trip

I made a unexpected trip to Farm Fresh and Walmart. 


Walmart trip, I just needed a few things and I ended up only spending $16.27. Not bad and even saved $3.25 for the coupons. 


Farm Fresh trip was interesting that I was not expecting to spend the time that I did in the store. Usually, I have a list with all my coupons. Farm Fresh had their coupon booklets in the store to go with some of the Farm Fresh brands were on sale. I found a coupon for the hot sauce for $1.00 off and they were on sale for $1.00. Purchased six and used six coupons, this equal FREE!!!!! However, I did manage to get several things free beside the hot sauce. My complete total was $61.55. Coupons were $32.78 saved giving me a 54% saving. Out of pocket was $28.77. This was another great job on saving at an unexpected trip. 

Clearance Jeans!!!

The other day, I accidentally tore my last pair of jeans and needed to buy more. I usually do not buy clothes for me unless I have to have them or they are on sale for a good price. Well, my intention was only one pair of jean, I ended up purchasing two pairs that was on clearance. Usually, I do not purchase my jeans on clearance either, I usually pay full price for them. However, that day, I had so much to spend on jeans and I really wasn't ready to purchase any clothes for myself. So, I went into Walmart and was looking at the jeans and I found two pairs of jeans on clearance. One was for $7 and the other was $11. I ended up spending $18.90 on two pairs of jeans instead of only getting one pair. I did a great job on this and wasn't expecting it. 

First Christmas order has been placed...

This evening, my sister posted a link saying that she purchased two of the xbox headset. Well, I decided to look at what she purchased and thought that maybe, my son would like this. I went to Amazon and this is what I found.

Professional Headphone with Mic for XBOX 360

Xbox headset

So, I went and decided to purchase two as well. My son is hard on headsets for his xbox, so I decided to purchase 2 of these. Well, Amazon was offering them for $2.97 from originally $29.99, this is a $27.02 saving on gifts. Well, when it was all over and done, I only paid $.43 for two headsets. Thanks to my sister for posting this on her wall and I see this right before I decided to go to bed.

Here is a partial of my amazon receipt...

Order Grand Total: $0.43 Get the Amazon.com Rewards Visa Card and get $30 instantly as an Amazon.com Gift Card. Order Summary: Shipping Details : Eforcity

Order #:	xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Shipping Method:	Standard
Items:	$5.94
Shipping & Handling:	$5.96
	------
Total Before Tax:	$11.90
Estimated Tax To Be Collected:*	$0.00
	------
Total:	$11.90 (Total to be paid out)
Gift Certificate/Card:	-$11.47 (Love my free amazon cards that I get.)
	------
Order Total:	$0.43 (What a awesome price that I paid!!!)
Delivery estimate: May 23, 2012 - May 29, 2012 2 "Professional Headphone with Mic for XBOX 360" Personal Computers; $2.97 In Stock    Sold by: Eforcity

Oh My!! Updates over the last few months.

Oh wow, I have been busy. It has been months since I posted on this thing. However, I hope to get back into the groove of this again. However, since I have been on here last, I have started school again for Business in Human Management instead of Education for my bachelor degree. I have found a great spreadsheet to keep track of how much I am spending each month and how much I have spent with coupons so far since January 1, 2012. I can say what a great job so far. I have gotten a stockpile started real good that it has finally taken me this long to get. I have gotten a shelf to get my stockpile straight where I can see what I have. Pictures are to follow.


First topic is that I change my degree and decided to go for my bachelor in Business in Human Management.  With the idea that teachers are being laid off and with the economy, I started to rethink my decision for my degree. Classes started in the beginning of March 2012 and the classes are five week long. I am in my second class with only two more weeks left before I start my third class. If you know me, you know that I hate the learning teams that UOP has and this has been since I started my degree for teaching. However, I continue to work toward the degree. Kudos for me to keep going. There are good learning teams and there are bad learning teams. This class happens to have a bad learning team. However, two more weeks to go and I will start the next class and hope the learning team is better then. 


Second topic is the spreadsheet that I am using to keep track of how much I am saving and spending. The spreadsheet is separate by monthly with a summary.  This includes meats that has been purchased, as well as household goods and groceries.

Not bad!! I got almost 3,000.00 worth of food.

Third topic is my Stockpile!!!!! I am so happy with my stockpile that I have gotten for food. I have a small stockpile of household items that are spread out through the whole house in certain rooms. However, I have pictures of my food stockpile. Below are pictures. 

The before stockpile.

Dining room table is full of food that is in need of a spot to be.

Last shopping trip still in the bags

Last shopping trip still in the bags. 

The cabinet is full of stuff with no room.
The side is a spot for a time being.

The after stockpile. Boy, these look a lot better than the before.Look, I added to make my stockpile more understanding. However, I am in need of another one, though. Gotta save money for the next one. 

Cans and jars good with spices

Box goods, baking, juices and snacks. Look at all those juices. 

That is both of the food goods beside each other.

However, this evening, I took a few things off the shelf and put them in a few bags to help someone out. 

New Year Blogging....

I have decided this is the year that I will blog each shopping trip and other deals that I have located. I started this last year, but around the holidays, it came to a end. However. This year, not only will I be blogging my deals, I will be going back to college again. I  can't wait for this year. I will be doing a few post between today and tomorrow to state my great grocery deals. I have to start with last week, before I do today. And today was a great day at shopping. Not much to purchase, but great shopping trip.

Tyler's jeans

On monday, August 29th, Tyler's jeans came UPS and he has tried them on. He has told me that he like the jeans and that they fit just great. Not bad for spending $39.98 on 2 pairs of jeans and free shipping. CCS did not let me down and I believe that I will be making another purchase through them for Tyler again for Christmas.

He wore a pair yesterday to orientation and they did not look bad on him. He told me that the jeans made him look a little skinny than he is now. Great Job on my part.. woohoo..

Apple Cake Recipe

Tonight, I made a apple cake that I have been craving for the last 2 weeks. I used a cake mix and added my own stuff to it. It was so awesome and I know I will be making it again. Robert and Tyler enjoyed it a lot and as of right now, there is only 1/8 of the cake left. My recipe that I used is listed below.

Apple Cake Recipe

1 box betty crocker super moist cake (yellow)

1 1/2 tbsp apple pie spice

1 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon 

1 1/2 tbsp sugar

5 peeled, core and cut apples ( I used pommes apples)

Glaze:

1/4 butter melted

1/8 brown sugar

Prepare:

Combine Cake mix, apple pie spice, cinnamon, sugar together and mix. Add oil, water and eggs as you would normally from back of cake box. Mix for about 2 minutes and then fold in the apples. 

Cake pan, spray with non-stick spray and flour and then pour in cake batter. Cook for 35 - 40 minutes. I cooked in a bundt cake pan, Once done, let cool for about 5 minutes. 

While cake is cooling, prepare the glaze on stove top by melting butter and stir in brown sugar. Once melted, pour on cake and let it cool for about 5 minutes. Then ready to eat. I wish I would have taken a picture of this. I will the next time. 

August 26th - 28th, 2011 Greensboro, NC trip

I had plan to stay home for the hurricane, but Robert sent Tyler and myself away from the house. We ended up going to Greensboro, NC to my sister SIL's house and stayed until Sunday. I was very impressed with myself. When we left the house, we had $200 on us for gas and other needs. I spent $37.00 for gas in the truck for the trip down there. O'course, I had already filled up the gas tank on Tuesday, August 23 for the hurricane. I was impressed that I only used 1/2 tank of gas for the trip down to Greensboro. I had to stop and get a light bulb for the truck and I replaced in myself in the parking lot. However, the bulb still didn't work even after replacing it. My father messed with the fuses to try to get the cigeratte lighter to work so I had a GPS for the trip down and back, I didn't have the gps, I had to print out directions and use Tyler as my side kick for directions. That was interesting, however, he did good with directions and texts for me until we came home when he went to sleep. He was the one who made me spend the $17.84 for the light bulb that I did not need, but have a back up now. However, we did make it down there. On the way home, we stopped and filled the tank up again and I spent $39.04 at the gas station. Stopped at McDonalds for lunch and spent $10.66 and at Food Lion for 2 bags of sugar at $6.51. Then when we got to the 7-11 by the house, I spent $8.40 for 4 newspaper. I ended up spending the for the whole trip $119.45. I ended up giving $81.00 back since I used some of my loose change for the change for some of the purchases. I did not do a bad job and when I got home, I had 3/4 tank of gas in the truck. I did so great this past weekend. Yeah for me..

August 24 Farm Fresh Shopping Trip

On August 24, I went shopping to get a few items before hurricane Irene decided to come and drop by for a visit. I made a very few simple purchase and I ended up getting a free water coupon.

However, I picked up only a few food items and some snacks to hold us over in case we loss power. My complete total of my purchase was $43.43. Coupons total was $27.00. Out of pocket, I spent $16.43 and received a Catalina for $4.50 for my water. Giving me a saving of 63%.

Before I walked out the door, I remember I needed bags of ice. Farm Fresh had ice on sale for 2 for $4.00. I got 3 bags of ice and a case of water. Farm Fresh took the whole $4.50 off my order which gave me my case of water free and $.62 off a bag of ice. Not counting my green bags counted for 3 bags of $.05 each off my total. My total order was $9.98. Coupons total was $4.50. Out of pocket, I spent $5.48. Not bad for my purchase. Giving me a saving of 46% on my last purchase.

Adding both together, I had a total of $53.41, coupons of $31.50. Out of pocket $21.91. Saving of 59%.

That was a great trip. Wish I would have did this the day before when I went for supplies for the hurricane with batteries, light fuel, hurricane oil, and 4 case of water. But that is okay, I still did a great job. I will continue to go a great job.

School shopping for Tyler clothes..

This year, Tyler felt he wanted to have specific jeans. O'Course, I gave in to him since this is his high school years. I thought I would be paying around $50 for all to get the free shipping. What do you know, after looking for about an hour, we couldn't find the jeans he had before. However, he did find another pair that he likes, so I placed the order and ended up spending $39.98 and that even had free shipping.. Hot Dog!!! Now, we get to wait for it to show up and find out if they will actually fit him. This is why I hate to order clothes off the internet because sometime clothes does not fit right. Now, we play the waiting game of 6 to 8 days to ship to find out if they actually fit or if I have to send them back. Picking was slim and we got what we can. Now, I just need to worry about some shirts for him and a few more school items. However, I get to finish school shopping after school has started September 6th. Can the days count down faster.

Shopping trips at Dollar General, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree Deals

I had a notion today to go school shopping.  haha.. That did not happen. However, I didn't do to bad when I did go shopping. My first stop was Family Dollar. Family Dollar only has the Faygo that my son likes for $1, so I picked up 4 and I ended up clearing the shelve with those 4, and before I cleared the shelf, I asked to find out if they had more. He told me, no they do not have anymore until Thursday night. Okay, thanks and he told me to go ahead and take the last 4. I would have spent $31.93 and I saved $10.25 leaving me to pay out of the pocket of $21.68. Also, I found the Keri Lotion that everyone has been talking about for $3.00 and I used my $2.00 coupon and end up paying $1.00 each.
Dollar General was my next store. I walked in and picked up all my items and made it to the register. I had 3 coupons for B1/1F, well the first coupon went through not a problem. The other 2 were a issue. They wouldn't scan or take off $3.50 for the free items. The CS even called another CS to fix the problem and manage to not get a hold of the other CS. They had to do it differently then it was suppose to happen. However, I did get those free. I ended up doing a total of 3 transaction. The first transaction I spent $34.68 with a saving of $6.65 leaving me to pay $28.03. This was a bad choice that I made. However, my second transaction were the four Dove products that would not work in the previous transaction. For a total of $21.35, I saved $7.00 and paid $7.35 out of pocket. Then I realize that I forgot to pick up something else while I was there for my father. Well, I went back and picked up those 3 items. For a total of $10.25 of product and saving of $3.00 leaving me to pay $7.24 out of my pockets. That wasn't too bad this time.
Then I went to Dollar Tree Deals, I only purchased 9 items and had coupons. However, when I went to the register, I couldn't use internet printed coupons and I told the girl to take the 4 items off since I couldn't use those coupons. I ended up spending only $5.75 for all that I purchase. I had a saving of $1.50 leaving me to pay $4.25. However, I came home to look for the coupon policy for Dollar Tree and couldn't find it. I will have to do some more serious looking.

Complete total of items purchase $72.03 with saving of $28.40 and paying out of pocket of $43.63. Now I think I have cut into my budget for this week. And I still have to purchase those jeans for my son to use for school and I already know that will be $50.00 already but I will have free shipping by the time I am finish with that.

Farm Fresh Visit on August 17th

On August 17th was a very busy day. I babysitting for my sister while she was in court. I had plan to gather up my coupons while I was with the natives. However, that did not happen. However, when my sister got back from court, we both figured out our shopping list and coupons, so we could go shopping. My last post about Farm Fresh and receiving 6 $5 coupons and 1 $2 coupon from them the week before. I only had plan to use a few of them so I could use the others for this coming week purchase. I didn't take a picture of this purchase and wish I did. However, I walked in the store only planning to pay a little under $5 for all  my purchase. I manage to only pay $1.12 for $65.70 of food. That was a 100% saving. I did so awesome that day and my sister was waiting for me and was amaze that I only spent that much money for it all. I just wish I had more of those $5 coupons that I got from all that general mills items the week before. I also was short a couple of items and my sister gave me 4 things to put with my order and coupons. However, I thought I gave the lady all my coupons and when we both got home, I realize that I had one coupon that I didn't give the lady. If I would have gave the lady the coupon, I would have had to find a filler to end up paying ZERO for all my food. Since the coupon would have double from $1 to $2. So, I did great that week. Thanks sis for talking me into using those other coupons that I was planning to use this week. I had a great and awesome day then.

All You Magazine

I made a purchase for a discount for the All You magazine. I have yet to received it and I think this is wrong. Even my sister place 2 orders for this and she has yet to receive it. However, I would like to know when is the magazine suppose to start being sent out. I have been waiting since June or July. So, I would like to know about this. In a way, I think this is wrong since I have order it and have yet to receive anything. I am thinking, I have better chances to just purchase the All You magazine from Wal-Mart then wait for it to be delivered in the mailbox. I wonder who else has have this issue of ordering and not receiving the magazine.

From my understanding, it takes 8 to 10 weeks to get the magazine to be sent out. I am thinking, that I should be getting this next month, which means, I will need to go and pick one up at Wal-Mart.

Farm Fresh Coupons from General Mills products

WOW! I was looking through my receipts from yesterday and looking at my coupons that I got from Farm Fresh yesterday when I went shopping. I got 6 $5 off coupons and 1 $2 off coupon. I made out like a bandit yesterday. I can save $32 on my next shopping trip and I get to split that in between for the next 2 weeks. I did not realize how many coupons I was going to get from General Mills products yesterday. I wasn't even looking at that part when I was making plan to shop. Not to shabby here. In addition to the coupons, I got 185 for box tops as well. Now, I just need to figure out if Tyler's school does the box tops since I have no idea about the high schools. I also have other box tops from previous purchases to give as well. 

How I did my binder,thoughts on budgets, stores and bloggers.....

After trial and error with my binder to do either the inserts or the cut out of coupons in the baseball cards, I manage to decide to do the cut out coupons in baseball cards. I had started out with this and was thinking there would be a easier way to get this. However, I had 2 binders with me when I walked in the stores. One binder was coupons that was already cut and in baseball sleeves and the other was just inserts in slides. After that, I had no clue what coupons I had in one binder when it came to matching up against the stores. There are times, that I use other bloggers to make my list, however, I do use the grocery stores sale ads to make my list. I have notice that some (not all) bloggers only post items that they believe are to be good to them and miss what might be important to another individual. Granted that I am one that does not like shopping and I only go out once a week to shop, I do not go to all the stores in the area because either I am short on funds or gas or they are about an 30 minute drive for me each week. Most of the time, I will look at the other stores and then base on what my shopping is going to be on Wednesday when the sale ad comes out for Farm Fresh and Food Lion, then I decide if I should go to what store. I am on a strict budget and I have to work within that budget. I have to think what is good for my family and my budget.

My Farm Fresh shopping Trip for August 12th

I took my son shopping like usual when I go to Farm Fresh and to make it even special, I have a Farm Fresh that does double coupons up to $1 each day instead of just on Wednesday. However, I did do good on my shopping trip, not one that I manage to save over 50% of my purchases. First trip that I had was my purchases. My complete purchases came out to be $65.18 with a saving of 49% that 18 coupons were double at $15.50 leaving me to pay $34.18. Not bad for this total to pay. My second trip, my complete purchase came out to be $62.71 with a saving of 46% that had 18 coupons that double at $14.25 leaving me to pay $34.21. With both purchases, I manage to spend $68.39 for a total of $127.87 worth of products. Having a total of 36 coupons that double taking off $29.75 off my complete order. Not bad still. I still like the time that I went shopping and only spent $.25 for some bounty paper towels. And the other trip when I went to Dollar General to get the Air Wicks that they had on sale for $4 and I purchase 4 of them at $4 making my total a little over $16. I ended up only paying the sale tax on all 4 of the air wicks. I believe the sale tax that I paid was under $1.