That Kitchen Sponge......

They are just a staple, must have item in most kitchens!! Whether we use them for scrubbing the bottom of a pot or pan, wiping off the counters, or wiping out the sink, it is in use multiple times a day for various cleaning tasks!! But try to think about the last time you actually cleaned the sponge you use in your kitchen?? Sponges can be full of bacteria and germs from all the cleaning-up tasks they perform...so frequent cleaning of them is a must to keep them germ free until you get open up a new package of them!!

I have found that cooking them in our microwave is a great way to get rid of the many germs on our sponges!! I just place the soaking wet sponge (must be very wet) in the microwave for 2 minutes. Then using a hot pad (sponge will be Hot!) I remove the sponge and let it cool off on the counter...then squeeze out the excess water after cooling.

I have also placed my kitchen sponge in the dishwasher a few times to clean it as well. I just placed it in my utensil holder and let it run through the whole wash/dry cycle. Works just as well...just takes a bit longer.

Before we had a dishwasher...I must admit we used sponges way more than we do now!! I used to sanitize them a few times a week, and replace them after about a week or so. As they would start to loose the scrubbing pad part from so much use!! No matter how long you decide to keep them...just be sure to keep them clean in the meantime!!

Receipts, Receipts...Everywhere!!!

Well this week it is all about organizing our store receipts!! It's not fun tackle....but let me just tell you I have put it off for too long as it is!! I am a huge fan of saving store receipts for a period of time after a purchase we make just in case something goes wrong with the purchase. Perhaps an item does not work as it should, it does not fit right, we change our mind that we do not need it or like it, or something is defective.....you just never know!!! Now-a-days you cannot return in most stores without a receipt, so for this reason I save them!!

How do I save them...you ask?? Well that is where the problem lies.....We do not have a desk any longer..as we just do not have the space for one in this house. So, currently, we just toss them onto our attic steps!!! Here is the pile from the attic steps:

I decided that I needed to go threw all the receipts and get rid of the ones we no longer need to keep saving...I actually found a receipt for a jar of grape jelly and box of cereal from 2007!!! LOL LOL I think the time has expired on returning those items...LOL LOL

Since our current system of piling receipts up on the attic steps is not working real well.... we will now keep all our receipts in this folder for safe keeping:

I also went through all the receipts and shredded old ones we no longer need to save....I actually filled the shredder basket twice!!! Either it has been a while since doing this...or we buy a lot of stuff...LOL LOL

These are the receipts that we will continue to keep...as they are for electronic purchases, lawn and garden purchases, purchases recently made, and other important misc. receipts!

I must admit this tackle took a little while....but now I can find a receipt in a matter of seconds...instead of having to look through hundreds of them in an unorganized, mass of confusion!!!

Interested in seeing more Tackles...head over to 5 Minutes For Mom!!

Free Roll of Film Developed!!!

FREE Roll of Film developed at Walgreen's on Wednesday 8-6-08 Only with Coupon from this past Sunday's Weekly Walgreen's Ad!! Includes 1 set of 4 X 6 Prints and negatives from 35mm or APS Film only. Single use cameras are included as well. Limit 1 coupon per order.

My coupon was on Page 7. You can also print a coupon from the Walgreen's website or they usually have extra Weekly Ads in your local Walgreen's store entrance.

It's Shop Rite Time!!!

Here are a few of the great deals I came across in this weeks Shop Rite weekly circular.....Sale runs through next Saturday the 9th!!


*Pert Plus Shampoo, 13.5 oz. bottle.....$1.64 each (1/2 Price) **Be sure to use the $2.00 off coupon from yesterday's coupon inserts to get this Free, or in some stores even make a profit of 36 Cents!!!

*Sure Deodorant.....2.7 oz. package, any variety Solid or Clear Dry. Just $1.24 each (1/2 Price) **Be sure to use the $1.00 off coupon from yesterday's coupon inserts to pay just .24 Cents for it!!

*Ken's 8oz. bottle of Salad Dressings.....2 for $2 (Must buy 2) **Use the $1.00/2 coupon from yesterday's coupon inserts and pay just 50 Cents each!!

*Juicy Juice 8-Packs 100% juice, any variety (Must buy 2), On Sale 2 for $4. **Be sure to use the $1.00/2 Juicy Juice coupons from yesterday's coupon inserts and pay just $1.50 per pack!!

*Ajax Laundry Detergent.......100 oz. Bottle, 3 for $5.00!!! (Must buy 3)

*Entenmann's Little Bites (5.6 to 11 oz. box), Any Variety, 2 for $3!!! (Must Buy 2)

*Thomas' Twin Pack English Muffins.......2 for $3!! (Must buy 2)


Did you find any other graet ShopRite Deals for the week?? Let me know if I missed any!!

Dove Deal.....

Are you a Dove Soap lover?? If so then you are in luck this week!! Dollar General has 4-Packs of Dove Bar Soap (Assorted Formulas) on Sale for just $2.50!!! A savings of $1.00 a Pack!! Remember Dollar General accepts manufactures coupons as well for additional savings!!

The sale runs through Sunday August 10th. Click here to find a store near you!

Plenty of Dove Free Samples here...be sure to sign up if you haven't already!!

Weekly Back 2 School Deals....

Here are a few great Back 2 School deals for this week. Sales start today and run through next Saturday August 9th.

Office Depot

*1 Cent Each Items- (All Limit 5 Per Customer!!)
-TUG Pencil Sharpeners (Assorted Colors)
-Office Depot Brand Slider Pencil Box
-Office Depot Brand 12" Wood Ruler

*5 Cents Each Items
-Scholastic Crayons (16 pack count) Limit 5 per customer.
-Office Depot 2-Pocket Paper Folder (With or Without Prongs) Limit 20 per customer.

* 25 Cent Item
-Paper Mate Ballpoint Stick Pens (Black or Blue) Limit 5 per customer.

*Free Item of the Week!!
-Child I.D. Kit with purchase of a $5 I.D. Photo.

Target

*50 Cent Items
-Target Kids Scissors
-12 Count Rose Art Colored Pencils
-Rose Art Washable Watercolors Paint Set

My Weekly CVS Trip.....

Another good week to head to CVS for me again!! I made 2 trips to get everything I needed to and to spend as little out of pocket as possible!!


Here is the 1st trip:

-2- Johnson & Johnson's Buddies Bar Soaps.....99 Cents Each

-1- Revlon Make a Sheen Lustrous Eye Shadow...$9.99
*The Eyeshadow was part of the weekly Revlon Limited Edition ExtraBucks deal....if you buy one you get $9.99 back in ExtraBucks!

I had the following coupons:

-2- $1.00/1 J&J Buddies Product
-1- $2.00/1 Revlon Product (From 07/20 Smart Source insert) Thanks to Money Savings Mom for the coupon match-up!
-1- $5.00 in ExtraBucks from last week

So I paid just $3.46 for the 3 items.....and I received $9.99 back in ExtraBucks!!

Here is the Second Trip:

I purchased:

-6- Johnson & Johnson 15 oz. Baby Care Products (2 lotions, 2 Bedtime Creams, and 2 Bedtime Baths). They were on sale for $3.99 each.
***This is a weekly deal if you buy $20 in participating J&J Baby products you get $10 back in Extra Bucks!!***

I had the following coupons:

-3- 1.00/1 J&J product from this past Sunday's USA Today Magazine (You can read about it here!)

-1- $9.99 ExtraBucks from transactions above

So I paid $11.93 out of pocket....Plus I got back $10.00 in Extra Bucks for next Week!!! Not bad...... at all for 6 bottles of lotions!!

Full Today!!

My mailbox that is......yeah!! It has been a bit empty of free samples lately!! But today makes up for the lull....LOL LOL Look what I received in the mail today......



-Free Simply Collection American Greeting Card from Walmart...also came with a B1G1 Free coupon inclosed in the envelope as well!! I must say a very nice Thank You card with a regular price on it of just $1.38!! Walmart may be my new nice card spot!!

-Huggies Diaper Sample from Walmart. Also came with a travel size (8 count) of baby wipes!! Great Freebie!!

-A Coupon from Victoria's Secret for a FREE pair of Cotton Panties....and $10 off a Bra purchase!! Sweet Deal!! Hubby somehow got on their mailing list??? Not sure why?? LOL LOL

-Dove Shampoo and Conditioner Sample (grapefruit & Lemongrass) with a few coupons thrown in as well!! These are great for vacations!!

What can I say....I just love getting Freebies in my mailbox...just brightens my day!!!

Are You a Member???

A few people have recently asked me about whether or not Warehouse Clubs are worth the membership fees?? Do I really get a lot of deals there? Does the membership pay itself off? Is it really worth it to join??

We split a membership with my in-laws to offset the $40 membership fee. So it breaks down to just $20 year for us to belong. It is not the type of place that you can get everything there if you are a heavy coupon user and on sale shopper like me........but we do get a few great buys there!!

Here are some of the items we buy at Sam's...(We only go once a month usually)

*Meats-Boneless Chicken Breasts (usually $1.99- $2.09 a lb. .....it is very clean, and does not have tons of ligaments in it!)

-Ground Beef (usually between $1.89 - $2.09 a lb.) is always fresh.

-Rotisserie Chicken -$4.99 each...they are delicious!! Great for a fast dinner!!
-Hamburgers for the summer months.

*Juice....My little ones love juice...if it is not on sale at any other store and I am running out I get it at Sam's...they have 2 large bottles (Bigger than grocery store size) Mott's 100% Apple Juice for just under $4 for both. I find that there 100% juice boxes are a bit high in price though.

*Half & Half and Heavy Cream for recipes....These are half the price you would pay at the grocery store!

*Fruit...Fuji Apples, Pineapples, Strawberries, etc. They have the freshest fruit at reasonable prices! They are in large quantities though so you must be a fruit lover!!

*Electronics....We have purchased Ipods, TV's, telephones, Children's DVD's......Plus, they have very cheap extended warranties. When we bought our TV a few months ago at Sam's the extended warranty was only $59 at Sam's......as apposed to paying over $200 at Best Buy!!

*Contacts-They have an eye wear department that hubby has used twice and been very happy!

*Furniture- They have various pieces of furniture such as patio sets, end tables, sofas, recliners, etc. We purchased a name brand leather sofa there on Clearance for just $399!!! And we love it!!

*Mattresses....they have all sizes, and few different styles at great prices. We have purchased two from Sam's in over the years!

*Tires....they have a tire department....My father-in-law has used it twice in the many years we have belonged!! He said they have name brands at good prices...and installation is cheaper than most places!!

*Bread- They sell bread in 2-pack loaves.....we buy Strohmann wheat bread 2 loaves for just $3.59!! The same bread at our local grocery store is over $2.50 a loaf!!

*Entertaining- Sam's is great if you have a lot of parties too!! They have a very reasonable bakery for cakes and desserts!! They have a great selection of veggie ($7.xx) and fruit trays (11.xx) too!! We love the shrimp platters they have ($12.xx) ..and our guests love them too...LOL LOL

These are just some of the items we have bought and continue to buy at Sam's Club. There are many items at Sam's that are just not cheap enough for me!! On some things such as paper towels, shampoo, toilet paper, baby wipes, diapers, etc.....I do much better shopping on sale with coupons (Mostly Thanks to CVS!!!)!! You just have to know your prices and be able to pass on temptation....sometimes all those yummy FREE samples reel you in...LOL LOL I was a tad reluctant many years back on joining...but hubby thought it was a great idea!! He was right!! We love Sam's and they have saved us a bundle on many occasions!!

Are you a Warehouse shopper? Are you able to find great deals at the club where you are a member??

30 Cent Deal!!!

Starting today at Acme....they have Softsoap Hand Soap (7.5 oz.) on Sale 10 for $10. There were .35 cents off manufactures coupons in the 7-27 Smart Source inserts. Acme will double your coupon to .70 cents off making the Softsoap just 30 CENTS!!!

They way Little Man goes through hand soap...I will be stocking up...luckily I have a few of these coupons!! The sale runs through next Thursday.