15 inches of rain in 24 hours are enough to bring down the best plants, especially when their limbs are heavy with wet fruit. But I finally held my breath and headed out to survey the damage.

Our homeowners covenants don't let visible gardens detract from the property. So, we have a postage stamp size garden hidden behind a home grown fence of flowing ornamental grasses and pine trees.

Hidden away, we have a vegetable patch, yet to be planted. A frugal tip - don't overcommit yourself to a giant gardening project and lose your investment in plants if you can't establish and maintain them.

We have a line of blueberry plants, a range of varieties to pollinate and keep blueberries ripening throughout the summer. Most seem to have hung on through the storms, and only a few succumbed to a hungry deer tearing away the protective netting:



We also have six dwarf fruit trees. Growing up in California farm country, the concept of dwarf trees affronts me. How can you possible get decent fruit from dwarf trees? Do they produce much? Is the fruit dwarf?



I'm happy to report they are also doing well...and the quality, well, the pile of pits on the ground from said deer indicates they are doing well. Not ripe yet, but growing quickly.





Savings of the day...well, a cup of blueberries runs around $4? We and our friends, family, neighbors, dental hygenist...picked around twenty quarts last year. The cost...well, the fertilizer won't put a dent in the Home Depot g/c I just received. Blueberries are remarkably hardy, and one of the easiest to grow organically.

Finding storage space in the freezer...well, you can do worse things to your friends than donating buckets of fresh blueberries to their homes!

Today I received a $50 Home Depot card from My Points. I think I purchased some Avon or Lancome, free gifts and sale, all that. Things I would have purchased elsewhere anyway, in my new TAKE CARE OF ME OCCASIONALLY state. The Home Depot card, definite bonus.

Well, maybe I wouldn't have purchased bath gels, and stuff, without the additional incentive of the gift card and the free gifts and the half price sale. But, this is one thing I am TRYING to learn. A bit of self-nuturing. I'm horrible at it, but I'm trying to get better. A nice bubble bath is a great start.

I also received two $20 rebates from amazon.com, g/cs of course. $40, but I won't add that in to my totals until I use them. DH still wants that software, but I'm hoping for, maybe a new vacuum? Ionic Breeze?

Shopping, well, that was fairly excellent. Dropped by the store to see if they had more Oreo coupons, and use another meat coupon. They had a package of premium cut beef, originally $39.45, on sale for 17.45, and we had a $10 beef certificate WYB 5 oral-b, so we picked up a few more packages of floss. We run through loads of it for health reasons. DH wasn't happy...until he saw the meat. We'd never purchase something that expensive.

I've seen people in other stores finding sample sizes of floss, 18 cents a piece or so. Five of those for $10 of beef would be excellent. No such luck here. But, I'll take the savings we did find.

Also picked up cranberry juice at BOGO, and more salad. Last day to use the $2 coupon, and at BOGO it came out free.

So, new totals:

Current savings:
2006 $20 challenge: $4852
2006 grocery savings: $6661

Today I received several wine tags in a trade, $2 on any meat, no wine or other purchase required, $2 on meat with A1 purchase, and a Coors coupon booklet with coupons for charcoal, BBQ sauce, and 8 other things (I think, going from memory here).

I don't drink beer, and we don't have wine tags here. But, I traded them, for, of all things, MILK coupons

Other coupons new in stores today..
blinkie - $1 off any one spinbrush product, 7/31/06

hang tang - on BBQ sauce - $1 on one wet ones wipes canister or one box of singles, 12/31/06

loose - 0.50 create your own platter from olive orchard, no expiration

tear pad - mail in, free MBL t-shirt and hat by mail, B4 pepsi or aquafine 12 oz 12 packs, or any 3 pepsi or aquafina 24 packs and use your club card, mail in receipt only to Pepsi CMG. Found at Safeway, but not marked for any store.

loose - looks like a small hefty plate, 75 cents off any one package of hefty serve 'n store plates or bowls, exp. 1/31/08

Midlight has mailed her trains off. She still wants to contribute coupons to the team, even though she is too swamped to keep up with a train. New babies, no sleep.

So, kicking off two new coupon trains today, one that bounces all over the place, and one that is extremely localized.

DH helped me sort coupons. The entire room is covered with onesies and twosies. So many I just have one or two of, didn't post, because hey, I do have a life, and hey, I'm not that great at typing and, well, no one is THAT interested in random coupons. But, it's quite funny and so sweet. The trouble with being a rocket scientist, as I've learned over the years, is that they are either completely unorganized, and the random piles make complete logic to them, or they are obsessively accurately and precisely (there is a difference!) organized to the point of shutting down the process. Which is why he doesn't cook.

DH was responsible for putting our coupon box together last year, when we started from scratch. Which is, again, why it has 72 categories. I think there are more dividers than coupons at times, but then again, when I'm rushing through a store, I do know EXACTLY where to look.

Email is backed up, the problem with 15 inches of rain and no power, I'm afraid. I have surveys to take, and companies to contact, and articles to write (sorry, Jeffrey!). I've probably spent more than I saved this week. DH managed to save two of our birch trees, but they are, well, topped off? Other than that, we are in great shape.

So, nothing new to report in the challenges or savings. Other than we are hanging in there.

It's the end of the month, so time to clean out my coupon box for all the "use it or lose it" (expiring) coupons.

I receive a large number of coupons, using all the methods discussed at www.grocerycouponguide.com. I do test my own advice before I submit it to the site . So, while I remove expiring coupons, I also evaluate whether or not I'm actually going to use other coupons I have filed.

Having a great coupon for something I don't really need can be an expensive temptation! DH regularly reminds me that we have a BACKLOG of groceries, and, groceries, like coupons, have expiration dates. No matter how good the sale and coupons are, it's wasted money if you never use the products.

So, I use the coupon trains! It's much more satisfying to send off coupons that I know someone else really needs. And, since manufacturers do target specific promotions and coupons to specific regions, I also receive a broader selection of coupons myself. And, of course, it's also great to receive multiple coupons of the same type, since a great sale needs MANY great coupons to match!

Here is the list of my current "haves list", coupons I have but won't be using myself. It's a broad selection, encompassing most categories of groceries. It also illustrates the types of coupons that are readily available. They are all non-newspaper insert, non-printable, except where noted.

While this shows the types of coupons available to any consumer, remember, if you are on the savingadvice.com coupon trains, these are available to you, just let me know!

STANDARD GROCERY COUPONS

Beverages (non-dairy)
(3) 5 free 2-liter Coca-cola product, 8/31/06
(3) Bottled water, FREE (NTE $1), WYB (1) Crystal Light mix, any, 9/30/06
(3) Hansen’s soda, $1 /2 6 pk, DND,8/31/06
(2) Nesquick Strawberry, 64 oz. carton, $1/1, 12/31/06
(3) Odwalla, any drink FREE/1, NTE $3.49, 12/31/06
(3) Turkey Hill Iced Tea, Lemonade, or Nature’s Accents, any ½ gal +, $0.35/1, 12/31/09
(2) V8 Fusion, 12 oz., $0.50/1, DND, 8/31/06
(2) V8 Fusion, 46 oz., $0.50/1, DND, 7/31/06
(4) 7up, 2 liter, FREE (NTE $1.59), 7/31/06
(4) 8th continent soymilk, 64 oz., FREE/1, 6/30/07
(4) Ice, $1/1, $2 minimum purchase, DND, 9/9/06
Miscellaneous inserts


Cereals
(22) Cheerios, any, $0.75 /2 DND, 9/10/06
(56) GM cereals, $1 /3, DND, 7/17/06
(35) GM cereals, $0.75 /2, DND, 9/10/06
(2) Kashi GoLean Instant Hot Cereal, any, $1 /1, DND, 12/31/06
Miscellaneous inserts


Crackers/Snacks
(25) Advantage Caramel Bars, $1 /3, DND, 9/30/06
(15) Doritos 13 oz. bag, FREE WYB 3 cards, 7/04/06
(3) EatSmart baked potato crisps, 6 oz., $1 /1, DND, 12/31/06
(16) Famous Amos cookies, 16 oz. package, 9/1/06
(16) Frito-Lay Light snack chips, $0.55 /1, 12/31/06
(8) Jet-Puffed Marshmallows AND 10 oz. or larger Honey Maid Graham Cracker, $1, 12/31/06
(20) Kraft/Nabisco: $1 WYB 3 Balance bar singles, Nabisco snack pack, nabisco to go, or Barnum’s animal crackers, DND, 6/30/06
(6) MetRx bars, BOGO, insert, 8/31/06
(40) Nabisco multi-pak AND (2) Kraft snack products, $2, DND, 8/31/06
(5) Nabisco Honey Maid graham honey sticks, 13 oz, $0.75/1, DND
(4) Ore-Ida, $1/2, insert, 7/31/06
(40) Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies, FREE (NTE $3.00) WYB 2 boxes goldfish crackers (11 oz. or larger), 7/31/06
(11) Ritz crackers, any 2 12.5 oz or larger, $1 /2, DND, 8/31/06
(5) Ritz crackers, 14 oz +, $0.75/1, DND
(2) South Beach Diet Cookie or Cracker, any, FREE/1 (NTE $3.99), 2/28/07
(40) Sunchips, Rold Gold, Frito-Lay Baked! And/or Frito-Lay Light snacks (any combo, 9 ¾ oz or larger), $1 /2, 12/31/06
(5) Triscuits, 8.5 oz +, $0.75/1, DND
Miscellaneous inserts


Dairy
(2) Activia 4-pk, FREE /1, 12/31/06
(8) Activia 4-pk or larger, $1 /1, DND, 6/30/06
(2) Dannon yogurt, any, $0.50 /1, 12/31/06
(2) Daisy sour cream, FREE/1, NTE $2.29, no expiration date
(1) Eggland’s Best Eggs, $0.50/1, insert, 9/30/06
(3) Eggland’s Best Eggs, cage free, $0.50/1, insert, 9/30/06
(2) Eggland’s Best Eggs, $0.35/1, insert, 9/30/06
(5) Kraft singles cheese, 12 oz +, $0.75/1, DND
(5) Kraft sting-ums cheese, 24 ct. $0.75/1, DND
(15) Land O Lakes ½ pound or (1) package pre-sliced Land o Lakes Cheese, DND, 9/30/06
(1) Land o Lakes eggs, FREE/1, NTE $4, no expiration
(5) milk WBY 1 Oreo 14 oz., $1 /1, 6/30/06
(3) milk, FREE (NTE $2.99) WYB any two oreo, DND, 7/31/06
Miscellaneous inserts


Frozen
(3) Amy’s product, any, FREE/1, no limit, 12/31/06
(3) Bagel Bites, $0.55/1, DND, 6/30/07
(5) Breyers, Good Humor, Klondike, or Popsicle, any, FREE /1 (NTE $6), 3/31/07
(4) Contessa Homestyle Convenience Meal, any, $1 /1, DND, 12/31/06
(14) Edward’s whole pie or any two slices, $1, DND, 9/30/06
(11) Eggo, any product, $1 /2, 7/31/06
(28) Freschetta Pizza, any, $0.75, DND, 8/14/06
(22) Healthy Choice Frozen Meals or Entrees, any, $1 /3, DND, 7/22/06
(28) Kid Cuisine meal, any, 0.50 /1, DND, 7/23/06
(4) Lean Cuisine, any, FREE/1, NTE $3.49, 2/28/07
(26) Mann’s Fresh Cut Vegetables, any, 0.55/1, 9/30/06
(9) Morningstar Farms, any one, $1 /1, DND, 7/31/06
(3) Texas Toast, any, $0.50 /1, DND,8/15/06
(3) Turkey Hill ice cream, any 48 oz +, $0.55/1, 12/31/09
(3) Turkey Hill frozen yogurt, ice cream, or carb IQ, any 48 oz +, $0.75/1, 12/31/09
Miscellaneous inserts



Meat
(25) Aidells sausage, any, $0.50/1, DND, 8/31/06
(36) Beef WYB A1 Steak Sauce OR Marinade, 10 oz. or larger, $1 /1, DND, 5/31/07
(28) Bumble Bee Prime Fillet Steak, 4 oz pouch, $0.50/1, DND, 9/30/06
(1) Chicken (fresh), $1 off WYB 2 Fresh Express Salads, DND, 6/30/06
(2) Fast Fixin’s, any, FREE/1 NTE $7.99, 12/31/06
(23) Ground Beef WYB Lea & Perrins, any, $1 off, DND, 9/30/06
(25) Ground Beef, Giant, WYB (2) 64 oz. Heinz ketchup, FREE (NTE $2.50), DND, 9/30/06
(2) Ground Beef WYB (2) Hamburger Helper, $1 off, 9/1/06
(2) Honeysuckle White product, any, $1/1, 1/31/07
(2) Honeysuckle White product, any, $0.50/1, 1/31/07
(5) Pilgrim’s Pride cooked chicken, any, $1 /1, DND, 2/28/07
(30) Prairie Grove Farms pork product, any, $1/1, 2/01/07
(2) Perdue, any chicken product, $2/1, 5/31/07
(16) Rancher’s Reserve Beef, WYB any (5) Gillete, Oral-B, or Duracell products, $10/1, DND, 7/31/06
(2) Seafood, WYB any (1) A1 marinade for seafood, $1, 1/31/07
(1) SeaPak Shrimp, FREE package (NTE $9.99), DND, 6/30/08
(1) SeaPak Shrimp, any, $1 /1, DND, 6/30/08
(41) Tyson canned or pouch chicken, any, $0.50 /1, 8/31/06
(1) Tyson fresh chicken, FREE/1 any, NTE $3, 12/31/07
(1) Any meat, $25 on $75 MIR, 7/15/06
(1) Any meat, $15 on $20, MIR, 7/15/06
(2) Any meat, WYB (2) Wishbone salad dressing, 16 oz+, 8/31/06
Miscellaneous inserts


Produce/Salad Dressing
(3) Earthbound Farm Product, any, FREE/1 (NTE $6), 12/31/07
(4) Fresh Express packaged salad, any, FREE/1 (NTE $4), 12/31/06
(11) Fresh Express Complete Salad, any, $0.75 /1, DND, 7/31/06
(7) Fresh Express Complete Salad, any, $0.75 /1, DND, 6/30/06
(40) Fresh Express Salad, any, $2 /2, DND, 6/30/06
(2) Fresh Express Organic Salad, any, $0.55 /1, DND, 6/30/06
(9) Fresh Express salad, free bag (NTE $3.99) WYB (1) Oral-B Pulsar or Advantage twin pack toothbrush, DND, 7/15/06
(175) Litehouse dressing, any, $1 /1, DND, 12/31/06
(5) Maple Grove Farms Dressing, buy 2 and lettuce, $1, DND,10/31/06
(5) Marzetti dressing, any, $0.50/1, 7/31/06
(30) PRODUCE, any WYB (1) Kraft Parmesan Cheese (7 oz. +), and Good Season Salad Dressing mix, $2, 9/30/2006
(1) PRODUCE, any WYB Reynolds Plastic Wrap, any, $1, 11/30/06
(44) Ready Pac Bistro-to-go or Ready-to-go bowl salad, $0.55 /1, DND, 12/31/06
(11) Sunkist Almond Accents, any bag, $0.75 /1, 12/31/06
(100) Sunkist Almond Munchies, any bag, $1 /1, 12/31/06
(23) Sunkist Almond Munchies, any bag, $1 /1, 12/31/07
(1) Tomatoes FREE (NTE $3) WYB two Fresh Express slaw or shreds, 8/31/06
Miscellaneous inserts


Other
(27) Cattlemen’s, any, 0.75/1, 12/31/06
(5) Classico pasta sauce, any, $1 /2, 12/31/06
(1) Delmonte, free can, any, 1/21/07
(4) Filippo Berio Olive Oil, any, $1, DND, 12/31/06
(15) Heinz Tomato Ketchup, 32 oz or larger, 0.50/1, 7/31/06
(5) Jello Pudding, 4.5 oz, $0.55/1, DND
(30) KC Masterpiece BBQ or Marinade, FREE WYB (1) Kingsford 18 lb charcoal, (NTE $4.50), DND, 6/30/06
(2) Kikkoman Teriyaki Takumi, $1/1, insert, 12/31/06
(3) Kikkoman, $1/2, insert, 12/31/06
(2) Kikkoman, $0.55/1, 9/30/06
(3) Olivio, any product, FREE /1, NTE $2.30, 12/31/06
(4) Sara Lee soft and smooth bread, FREE WYB (2) Hillshire Farm Deli, DND, 6/30/06
(2) Smucker’s Natural Peanut Butter, any, $0.35 /1, DND, 4/30/07
(2) Tabasco, any, $0.75, DND, 7/23/06
(1) Tree Top Apple Sauce, any, $0.30 /1, DND, 7/31/06
Miscellaneous inserts


NON FOOD COUPONS
Paper/Plastic
(4) Brawny Napkins, any, FREE /1, (NTE $5), 12/31/06
(31) Cottonelle TP in Ultra or Aloe & E, (3) 4-pk OR (2) 6-pk OR (1) 12-pk, $1, DND, 8/13/06
(25) Reynolds Wrap Release Non-stick Foil, any, $0.75/1, 12/31/06
(25) Reynolds Wrap Release Non-stick Foil, any, AND Reynolds Wrap Foil, $0.75/1, 12/31/06
(1) Reynolds Wrap Release Non-stick Foil, any, AND Reynolds Wrap Foil, $1/2, DND, 9/30/06
(17) Solo, any product, $1 /1, DND, 8/13/06
(3) Scott any (1) 4 pack or larger scott extra soft tissue OR (1) 12 pack or larger Scott 1000 Tissue, $0.50/1, DND, 8/13/06
(29) Scott any (1) 4 pack or larger scott extra soft tissue OR (1) 12 pack or larger Scott 1000 Tissue, $0.50/1, DND, 10/08/06
(3) Scott any (1) 4 pack or larger scott extra soft tissue OR (1) 12 pack or larger Scott 1000 Tissue, $1 /1, DND, 10/08/06
(105) Sparkle paper towels, (2) big roll or (1) larger size, $0.50, DND, 7/16/06
(2) Viva, 2 big roll or (1) big roll 2-pk, $1, 7/1/06
(1) Ziplock easy zipper bags, $0.35/1, 7/1/07
(1) Ziplock container, $1/1, 8/31/07
Miscellaneous inserts


Cleaning/Household
(1) Airwick Freshmatic starter kit, $4/1, 12/31/06
(2) All small and mighty, insert, $1/1, 8/20/06
(2) All or Surf laundry, insert, $0.50/1, 8/20/06
(1) Ajax liquid dish, any, $0.25 /1, 1/30/07
(5) Cascade, various, $1, 6/30/06
(5) Clorox, various cleaners, $1 - $5, 6/30/06
(3) DampRid, any, FREE/1, (NTE$5.59), 8/31/07
(1) Glade candle, $2/1, 11/1/06
(1) Glade scented oil candle holder, $2/1, 11/1/06
(1) Glade plugins extra outlet and night light warmer, $2/1, 8/1/06
(1) Glade glass scents or air infusion spray, FREE WYB Glade Wisp or Oil Fan, 12/31/07
(2) Glade Wisp starter kit, $2/1, 6/30/06
(7) Hot Shot, $1 on 1 ultra, or $1/2 other, 7/31/06
(1) Murphy’s Oil Soap Product, any, $0.50 /1, 1/30/07
(1) Palmolive Automatic, any, $0.40 /1, 1/30/07
(3) Pledge product, any, FREE/1 (NTE $4.50), 8/31/06
(2) Pledge Multi Surface, $1/1, 8/31/06
(1) Scotch Brite floor cloth starter pack or refill, $1/1, 12/31/06
(1) Scrubbing Bubbles shower cleaner refill, $1.50 /2 12/31/07
(1) Scrubbing Bubbles shower starter kit, $5 /1 7/31/06
(4) Tide, various, $0.50, 6/30/06
(1) Wisk 32 oz. Dual Action or High Efficiency concentrate, insert, $1.50/1, 7/9/06
(1) Wisk 100 oz +, insert, $0.50/1, 7/9/06
(1) Woolite carpet, $1/1, 12/31/06
Miscellaneous inserts


Beauty
(32) Sunsilk, any 24/7 crème, volumizing crème, or masque, $1 /1, 7/01/07
(30) Chapstick, $1 /3, 12/31/06
(1) CoverGirl Last Exact mascara, $1/1, 9/30/06
(2) Dermal Therapy product, any, $3/1, 12/31/06
(1) Dove Energy Glow, FREE/1, (NTE $6.49), 6/30/07
(5) Dove Energy Glow, $1.50/1, insert, 8/12/06
(1) Dove hair care, FREE/1, (NTE $5.99), 6/30/07
(4) Hawaiian Tropic suncare, 4 oz.+, $1 /1, 12/31/07
(12) Jergens Natural Glow, any, $1/1, 12/31/06
(1) John Frieda Luminous Color Gaze, any, $1.50, 12/31/06
(1) L’Oreal Feria haircolour, any, $2/1, 12/31/06
(1) Maybelline Pure Makeup, fullsize, $2/1, 1/1/07
(4) Nivea, various, $1 - $2
(1) Olay, any, $2 /1, 9/30/06
(1) Pantene Pro-V expressions, any, $1/1, 9/30/06
(4) Selsun, any, $1/1, insert, 11/7/06
(1) Sunsmakers, $1/2, 10/31/06
(50) miscellaneous inserts


Personal Care
(4) Adidas deodorant, any, $2/1, insert, 9/30/06
(20) Banana Boat product, $1 off WYB 1 minute maid coolers, 8/31/06
(1) Colgate Power Toothbrush, any, $1/1, 1/30/07
(1) Colgate toothpaste, any, $0.75/1, 1/30/07
(1) Colgate toothbrush, any, $0.75/1, 1/30/07
(1) Colgate kids toothpaste, any, $0.75/1, 1/30/07
(1) Colgate Total toothpaste, any, $1/1, 1/30/07
(1) Dove bar or body wash, FREE/1, (NTE $4.99), 6/30/07
(1) Dove deodorant, FREE/1, (NTE $3), 6/30/07
(1) Irish Spring soap, any multipack, $0.30 /1, 1/30/07
(1) Ivory personal cleansing product, any, $1/1, 9/30/06
(7) Lamisil AT cream, 24 g, $3/1, 1/31/08
(7) Lamisilk, any, $1/1, 1/31/08
(25) Oral-B, $1 any (1) Pulsar, Crossaction, or Advantage Artica, OR any (w) Oral-B Advantage, Indicate, or Stages toothbrushes, DND, 7/18/06
(25) Oral-B Crossaction power toothbrush, $1 /1, DND, 7/18/06
(13) Refresh Dry eye Therapy, any, $3/1, insert, 8/31/06
(12) Refresh, any, $1/1, insert, 8/31/06
(1) Secret, any, FREE/1, 9/30/06
(1) Secret Platinum, $0.50/1, 9/30/06
(1) Softsoap Body wash, any, $0.75 /1, 1/30/07
(1) Softsoap liquid hand soap, any, $0.40 /1, 1/30/07
(1) Speedstick, any, $0.75/1, 1/30/07
(1) Speedstick, any Ladies, $0.75/1, 1/30/07
(1) Thermacare, any, $2/1, 8/31/06
(3) VO5 styling produce, $1/1, insert, 7/31/06
(1) Viadent, any, $1 /1, 12/31/07
Miscellaneous inserts


Medicine/OTC
(12) Accuchek meter, $40 coupon and $40 MIR, 8/31/06
(1) Free Ascensia Breeze monitoring system WYB test strips 100-count, 6/30/06
(42) Advil PM 20 ct +, $2 /1, 11/30/06
(4) Aleve, 8 +, $1/1, insert, 7/31/06
(2) Aleve, 8 +, $0.75/1, insert, 7/31/06
(1) Aleve, 20 ct + or Cold and Sinus 10 +, or Sinus and Headache 10 +, $1/1, 3/31/07
(1) Bayer, any up to 120 ct., Free/1 (NTE$8.50), 3/31/07
(1) Bayer, 24 +, $1/1, 6/30/07
(6) Benadryl, any, $1/1, insert, 7/31/06
(4) Caltrate, any, $1 /1, 3/31/07
(6) Claritin, any, $2/1, 3/31/07
(2) Digestive Advantage Children’s Lactose Intolerance, $1/1, 11/30/06
(5) Flinstones, any, insert, $1/1, 6/30/06
(7) Metamucil, any, $0.50 - $1/1, insert, 6/30/06
(1) Metamucil, any, $1/1, 7/31/06
(11) Mylanta liquid, 12 oz. or larger, $1 /1, 12/31/06
(2) One-A-Day, any $1 /1, 6/30/07
(2) One-A-Day, any 200 ct., $1.50 /1, 9/30/07
(11) Pepcid, any 25 count or larger, $1 /1, 10/31/06
(6) Pepcid, any 25 count or larger, $1 /1, 1/31/07
(2) Robitussin, any, $1 /1, 12/31/06
(1) Rogaine, women’s, any, $5/1, 12/31/06
(3) Rolaids Plus, FREE UP TO $1.50/1, insert, 8/31/06
(1) Rolaids, any, $0.50, 12/31/06
(7) Tylenol PM, 50 ct or larger or 8 oz liquid, $2 /1, DND, 8/31/06
Miscellaneous inserts


Rite Aid Allergy Booklet – exp 7/29/06
(6) $1 /1 NasalCrom
(6) $1 /1 Visine
(6) $1 /1 Sudafed PE
(6) $1 /1 Zicam
(6) $3 /1 Nasal Comfort Mist
(6) $1 /1 DayQuil Sinus
(6) $1.50 /1Claritin
(6) $1 /1 Benadryl

Babies
(1) Baby Avalon organics, $1/1, 12/31/06
(28) Beechnut table time bakery, tubs, or dices, $1/4, DND, 9/30/06
(1) Bright Beginnings formula powder, 31.7 oz, $3, 12/31/07
(1) Gerber bowl, cup, or utensil, $1/1, insert, 6/30/06
(1) Gerber bowls or utensils, $1/1, insert, 10/31/06
(1) Gerber Grins & Giggles, $1/1, 10/31/06
(1) Gerber Grins & Giggles, $1/1, 12/31/06
(1) Gerber Graduates, any, $0.75/1, 10/31/06
(1) Gerber Graduates, any, $1/3, 6/30/06
(1) Gerber Graduates, Lil’ Entrees, $1/2, 10/31/06
(3) Gerber Graduates Fruit or Veggie Dices, $0.75/3, 10/31/06
(1) Gerber Graduates Fruit Splashers, $1/2, 10/31/06
(1) Gerber Graduates 1 liter Fruit Splashers, $1/1, 10/31/06
(3) Gerber Graduates Garden Mashers, $0.75/2, 10/31/06
(2) Gerber Graduates mini Fruit or Veggie, $1/1, 10/31/06
(3) Gerber Tooth & Gum cleanser, $1/1, 10/31/06
(3) Gerber 2nd foods, $1/8, 10/31/06
(1) Gerber 2nd foods, $0.50/8, 10/31/06
(3) Gerber 3nd foods, $0.75/6, 10/31/06
(3) Gerber Puffs, any, $0.75/2, 10/31/06
(10) Gerber Tender Harvest jars, any, $1/8, 9/30/06
(4) Gerber Tender Harvest jars, any, $0.75/4, 10/31/06
(200) Huggies Baby wipes, $0.50/1, DND, 8/31/06
(3) Huggies Good Nites, $1/1, insert, 8/14/06
(11) Huggies Lil Swimmers, $1 /1, insert, 9/06
(6) Huggies Lil Swimmers, $1/1, DND, 7/31/06
(4) Huggies any, $2/1, DND, 6/30/06
(4) Huggies any, $1/1, insert, 7/20/06
(6) Huggies any, $1/1, insert, 8/20/06
(26) Huggies any, $1/1, DND, 7/29/06
(5) Huggies Pull-up, jumbo or larger, $2/1, insert, 9/4/06
(4) Huggies Pull-up, jumbo or larger, $1.50/1, insert, 8/13/06
(4) Pampers, jumbo or larger, $1/1, 6/30/06
(2) Pampers, jumbo or larger, $1/1, 7/31/06
(2) Pampers, jumbo or larger, $1.50/1, 9/30/06
(3) Pampers, jumbo or larger, $1.50/1, 3/31/07
(4) Pampers, Easy up or Feel n Learn, insert $2/1, 6/30/06
(2) Pampers, Easy up or Feel n Learn, insert $2/1, 7/31/06
(3) Pampers Splashers, $1.50/1, insert, 7/31/06
(8) Weis Bear Essentials diapers, any, $1 /1, 12/31/06
Miscellaneous inserts

Pets
(10) Cesar dog food, $10 rebate on grooming WYB 12, 10/14/06
(1) Eukanuba puppy food, 4 lb. +, $2, 7/31/06
(1) Eukanuba, FREE 6.5lb bag dog food, 6/30/06
(1) Feline Pine cat liter, $3 on 2, no expiration
(1) Fresh Step Cat Liter, $5, 7/30/06
(15) Friskies cat, miscellaneous, inserts
(1) Greenies coupon booklet, various, 12/31/06
(1) Hills Science Diet, $5, PRINTABLE, 7/23/06
(12) Iams tartar Treats, $2 and $3 off, inserts, 7/31/06
(6) Kibbles ‘n’ Bits, miscellaneous
(1) Meaty Bone Chew-Lotta, any, FREE /1, NTE $2.99, 5/9/07
(1) Meaty Bone Chew-Lotta, any, $1 /1, 5/9/07
(2) Meow Mix, any 3.15 lb +, $1 /1, DND, 6/30/07
(4) Milk Bone, $1 /2, insert, 8/5/06
(2) Natural Choice Complete Care cat food, B12,G6 (coupon by mail for 6 free), 6/30/06
(5) Natural Way dog food, $1.50 on (1) 5 lb +, insert, 7/31/06
(12) Pedigree dog food, miscellaneous
(1) Pet Promise dry dog or dry cat food, FREE 3 lb. bag OR $9.99 on any 5 lb. bag or larger, 12/31/06
(2) Purina brand pet food, any 4.5 lb, $2 /1, 5/31/07
(3) Purina Busy Bone, $1/1, insert, 7/31/06
(8) Purina Dog Chow, $1 on 22 lb., insert, 7/31/06
(6) Purina Little Bites indoor complete, $2 on 4 lb, 10/31/06
(6) Purina dog food, any, $1, insert, 8/21/06
(1) Purina One Natural Blends Cat Food, $2 3.3 lb +, 12/31/07
(12) Purina cat, miscellaneous
(3) Purina Pro Plan Selects, $5, any, insert, 7/31/06
(10) Purina Whicker Lickin’s, various
(20) Whiskas cat food, various
(20) Miscellaneous dog treat coupons
Miscellaneous inserts


Other
(3) RadioShack, $10 off on $20, marked Baltimore area but good other locations, 9/30/06
(3) Kingsford Charcoal and Bic Lighter, any size, $1, 6/15/07
(6) Duraflame 3 lb. bag charcoal, $0.55 /1, DND, 7/16/06
(8) SixFlags America, $15 off with movie ticket stub, exp. 9/9/06
(6) $5 off GNC Gold Card at Rite-Aid
(5) Maxwell House Points Program, offer form, 12/31/06
(5) Costco sign up and receive $10 g/c form
(40) Costco refer-a-friend form ($10 to you, $10 to friend), 12/31/06
Miscellaneous inserts

CVS Pharmacy Booklet
$5/20 for 12 weeks

MAIL-IN REBATES
(12) Accuchek meter, $40 coupon and $40 MIR, 8/31/06
(2) Feline Pine cat liter, $3 on 2, no expiration
(2) FiberSure, $2 coupon by MIR, any, 12/31/07
(1) Filtrete filters, B2, $3 rebate, 7/31/06
(47) KC Masterpiece (any one) and Kingsford charcoal, (any one), ($2.00 rebate), 12/31/06
(1) Kedem sparkling juices, $1/bottle, up to ($6 rebate), NO EXPIRATION
(38) Ortega products (2) AND “eight below” or “glory road” DVD, ($3.00 rebate), 7/31/06
(2) Natural Choice Complete Care cat food, B12,G6 (coupon by mail for 6 free), 6/30/06
(1) Senokot, ($1.50 on 10 or 20 ct., $5 on 30 and larger and bran, no limit on number), exp. 6/30/06
(3) Sidekick System, ($5.00 rebate), 12/31/07
(40+) Sunny D movie ticket official order form, exp. 8/31/06
(3) $1.50 on flowers, MBP by 7/15/06


TRY ME FREES
(42) Advil PM 20 ct (FREE, no $), 8/15/06
(20) Aquafresh White & Shine or Extreme Clean 4.3 oz or larger (up to $3.69) 3/31/08
(3) Boost with Benefiber (up to $8.50), 10/31/06
(5) SpeedStick with Irish Spring scent, any, (NTE $2.99), 12/31/06


ALCOHOL
(1) Aquinas napa valley, ($1.50 /1 - $30 /12). 1/31/07
(2) Bacardi party drinks, $2, PMB 7/14/06
(10) Black Velvet Canadian Whiskey, 1.75L, $3, 8/31/06
(10) Burnett's gin, 1.75L, $2. 9/9/06
(3) Burnett's Vodka, 1.75 l, $2. 9/9/06
(7) Christian Brothers Brand, $2 on 750 ml or 1 l, or $3 on 1.75 l, exp 7/7/06
(1) Delicato wine, up to $7 MIR,. 8/31/06
(1) Francis Coppola wine, $2, 12/31/06
(1) John Barr, $3 on any, 12/31/06
(2) Rosso Bianco, $1 any, 12/31/06
(20) Seagram's Vodka, $4 on (2) 1.75L, or $2 on (2_ 750 ml, 6/30/06
Seagram's Gin, $2 /750 ml or $3 on 1.75L. 6/30/06
(10) Ten High Bourbon Whiskey, Lauder's Scotch Whiskey, Imperial Blended Whiskey, Northern Light Canadian Whiskey, Corby's Reserve Whiskey Or Corby's Canadian Whiskey. ($22 on 6 1.75L, $10 on 3 1.75L, or $3 on 1 1.75L) exp. 8/31/06
(1) Wild Bunch wine, $2 - $5 /2, 7/15/06

Wow, I'm a bit surprised. And saddened, not just by the change, but by all the concern members are expressing at that site.

I'm new to trading, I really don't have much experience. But, it's an interesting site, a place to contribute recipes and share the latest hot deal found at a specific supermarket. Or a rare find coupon.

There has been so much concern about personal info being sold to the other company, people wanting all their posts at DAGG deleted. So much so, they had to lock the comment thread after maybe a day.

I don't have any great wisdom or ponderings, just sadness that people feel betrayed. Perhaps relief that I'm not a moderator at THAT site. And mostly a touch of awe, at what a strong community, friends and family, a site can become.

Me, I love our community, be it our blogs or the www.savingadvice.com site. A close knit family, with opinions and advice, a few emotional battles now and then. But that's part of being a family. The good, the bad, the ugly, the spending and saving and free advice. Family.

Money. It brings families together, pulls them apart, and weaves them back together again.

If you've noticed the price of the frig packs of Pepsi and Coke bouncing around, you are right. Soda is one of the true rollercoasters of sales pricing. And it has little to do with supply and demand.

Remember, shelf space is limited, and old packaging is, well, old. Think back...around the holidays, Pepsi ran a huge promotion, get the code out of your package and enter into an instant win and sweepstakes. Prices were higher, people wanted the codes. The game ended, and suddenly the packaging was old. Who wants to buy a specially marked package to WIN, only to find that the contest has been concluded. Certainly Pepsi-co doesn't want to deal with unhappy consumers. Time for mass sales, 5 packs for $10, rebates, gift cards.

Enter the coca-cola olympics promotion. First, dump all the old packaging. People want the packaging with the codes! Then, game over, dump the old packaging, 5 packs for $10, rebates...and so it goes.

Notice Pepsi has been on clearance for the last month...and now the Superman promotional packages are hitting the shelves.

As a saver, which do you prefer, the sale price, or the game code?

Well, truthfully, you can have both, and it's actually a better deal. Almost all soda contests are NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. If you participated in the coke Olympics games, you know that you can get MORE codes online, up to 5 A DAY (?).

Personally, I can't drink 5 frig packs a day. I can generally log on to request five codes a day, while sipping my $1 a pack coke from the last sale/rebate/deal.

Remember, super savers take advantage of packaging changes. For every item that is squeezed onto a store shelf, one is taken off. Usually at a clearance price. New packaging, label changes, new laws and labeling requirements, all mean SALES.

Available in a store near you

Mercy me! Oreo has a coupon out now, buy any two oreo products, get $3.99 in free milk. Any two Oreos means...those little teeny snack packs count. Suddenly, this simple little coupon became the hottest deal around. 20 cents for cookies and free milk during the summer when kids are home EATING.

Oops! Not quite what Nabisco was looking for. And so...while the displays remain up in almost every supermarket, the tearpads of coupons have been removed. Making the coupon even hotter!

For our trains, well, if you hoped for the coupon, the 3 I had were traded...for around 30 other coupons for train members. The beauty of knowing people's wish lists.

Still, much to ponder. I'm still trying to get my mindset around coupon trading. It's fun, and fascinating. But tracking thousands of coupons that closely takes too much mental energy!

Then again, I don't have a five year old wanting Oreo's and milk.

An old expression from childhood, but very applicable today! We've had 15 inches of rain at the house, a tree is down, and a bit of repair work to do.

The expression is basically another version of penny foolish, pound wise. Not investing in the important things that may catch you short in the end.

Six years ago, we weren't really into putting up the bricks, figuratively or literally. New house, looked pretty solid. We did all the right things in planning, house was nowhere near flood plains, high enough, good swale, and not the highest point around (lightning).

The first downpour, and we realized the weather stripping around the front door looked perfect...except the rain came right through, and onto my wood floors! We, in our 24/7 work ethics, shoved towels into the cracks, wiped up the floor as often as possible, and kept saying we would "get around to it".

Loads of wet towel laundry later, time passed, and the door frame rotted out. Again, a bit of packing tape around the door as a short term fix...that was retaped over the days, then months, then years...

The basement...well, it's in ground. Nice and dry...except that when a downpour comes down onto the concrete exterior staircase, all that water makes a nice river down. There is a drain at the bottom, but it has to be cleaned out of debris. And, let's face it, 15 inches flows down to form a pool several feet deep.

Over the last two years, we've done a bit of "investing". DH removed the old door frame and replaced it himself. We changed the weather stripping. All the window caulking has been redone. DH has created an UGLY tarp system to flow the water over the stairs; it only gets put up when downpours are predicted, and it works extremely well.

DH received a wet/dry vac for his birthday, which works great for water in the basement; it also does a great job vacuuming the deck. Yes, the outside deck. All the little leaf and debris that accumulates between the boards can silt into a concrete that holds water, and rots out the deck. Even though we have Trex, it's not invulnerable. So, the gunk is vacuumed out.

In the end, we have spent a bit. We have saved ALOT. One nasty storm...and we did NOT lose our computers through a power surge through the modem or other lines. Since this has happend 4 times previously, four computers that could not be repaired...and phone lines, and water leaks, paint, so many little things.

Floods are free. Watering my garden, free. Saving the house...those few "bricks" were priceless.

Hangtag, $1 off Filippo Berio olive oil, 17 oz. or higher , exp 12/31/06

Peelie, $1 off Kingsfords charcoal, any size, with purchase of Bic multipurpose lighter, exp 6/15/07

Peelie, $1 Kashi GoLean instant hot cereal, any, exp. 12/31/06

Blinkie: $1 any Pilgrim's pride bag full cooked chicken, exp. 2/28/07

Rebate form, $5 off Sidekick system (diabetic)

$40 coupon Accuchek system, and $40 rebate inside package, exp. 8/31/06

$1 Sunsilk, exp. 7/1/07 (just restocked)


ALSO, did you know...
$10 cash card for Costco with membership (form)

Costco sign up a friend, each get $10 cash card, form, exp. 12/31/06