My Frugal Christmas 2010 Part 5

I am going to include my baking and food making this year as part of my frugal Christmas, which I will explain below.

Normally I wouldn't consider the food goodies to be frugal.  I usually would have spent more money on food items than I did on all the rest of the gifts!  In past years, I've had food stamps, so there was no actual cash going out of my pocket.  I'm sure that's why all those years ago I even started baking bread and cookies and making some kind of candies and such.

I was worried this year as to how I was going to do the baking.
Here is a photo of the total of 11 boxes I fixed up.....whew!  got them done about 1 pm this afternoon.

Now for the fun part.  The Lord works in mysterious ways and does provide!!
I was chosen to do a giveaway through myblogspot with Chex cereal and Kroger.  The prize package included a $25 Kroger card to make my favorite Chex cereal holiday recipe.  I've been making the Muddy Buddies for a few years now.  These were TOTALLY paid for, including the Ziploc bags with the gift card!  Plus, there was some left over for a few other groceries as well.

I "cheated" this year on the cookies.  I used Krusteaz cookie mixes.  They were on sale at my store for .99 a box and there were $1 coupons out!   I had 6 coupons, and therefore got 6 boxes of cookies mix free (just paid the sales tax).   I did peanut butter and frosted sugar cookies (powdered sugar for the frosting was left over from making the Muddy Buddies)

Then, I won a blog giveaway for a $25 Del Monte gift certificate good on fresh fruits and veggies.  The bananas for the banana bread all came from that (along with 3 pineapples and 9 large tomatoes).

Steve bought the ingredients I was missing.....1 dozen eggs, 2 boxes of stick margarine and a bag of brown sugar.

And, even the boxes I used I didn't pay much for.  They were all part of a larger bag full of the boxes, plus some gift wrap that I picked up at my church Christmas fundraising sale for just $1!

So.....how did I do?  I want to say again, that God works in mysterious ways...and here's proof that he listens to prayers and does provide!

Here is wishing all my readers a very Merry Christmas!!

Marsha Seiberling's blog - Would You Please Give Us a Vote?

Marsha Seiberling's blog - Would You Please Give Us a Vote?

WIP Wednesday 12/22/10

Welcome to this week's WIP Wednesday in conjunction with Every Day Crochet.
(click the button at the bottom of my post to join in the fun)

This week has still been a lot of preparing for Christmas.  I need to be having a work in progress of baking cookies and making my Muddy Buddies.  I did get the banana bread baked so far, but that's it.  Oh oh  3 days until Christmas!

I did some My Frugal Christmas posts in 4 parts.  Part 4 has the photo of the completed hot pads.
I also had a last minute order for a fabric bag that had to be put together and mailed out.

I did get some more scrubbies made.  I made taking netting along with me while running others around my project.  I finished about 9 of them and added them to my jar.  As you can see, I still have a long ways to go to fill the jar.

I also got in some more work on my current toothbrush rug.  I hope to have it completed before next week's post and listed in my etsy store.  I posted scrubbies in my etsy store.  As I get 4 of a color I am listing them there.

That's it for this week.....I want to wish all of my readers a very Merry Christmas!!

Giveaways Linky Tuesday

Christmas is just around the corner and there are lots of great giveaways still going on!

Look at the list below to find some to enter.

List your own giveaway if you are having one.  Please list the prize and end date.

Most of all.....have fun and good luck!

Mailbox Monday 12/20/10

Mail's been good this week again.
Magazines:
People
Time
Sports Illustrated
Entertainment Weekly
Good Housekeeping
Newsweek
Other mail:
Spent (book) redeemed for with pointsandprizes.com
Birdseye .50 coupon
6 free coupons for Healthy Request soups from shespeaks
Kashi Go Lean cereal sample box with coupons from vocalpoint
coupon train
Pillsbury 2011 calendar
Jerky Direct autoship (price covered by my downline)
(items above aren't pictured as some of the  magazines are still at my mom's)

In the Pink prize package that I won in a blog giveaway (pictured below)  includes coupons for 5 free products.
Also pictured below:   Lego Set I redeemed for with clubbing.com








In my email:  $10 paypal from gather and $4.92 paypal from squidoo.

My Frugal Christmas 2010 Part 4

As the last of my banana bread for this season is baking, I thought I would get part 4 of my frugal Christmas this year posted.

It seems I've been working on these hot pads for months...I'm sure it's only been a couple of months.

I used leftover materials from the quilts that I gave my kids and grandkids last year.  I hope you will visit my squidoo lens all about them at Blankets For Christmas.

When I was cutting the material last year for the quilts, I was throwing away the smaller pieces of fabric.  It was actually my boyfriend that pointed out as to why I wasn't making 2 inch squares to use some time later.  Well, go Steve!  
I had what seemed like piles of them in my dresser drawer.


While we were at Wal-Mart one day there was some of the Insulbrite material in the remnant bin.  I picked it up quickly, knowing I had been wanting to make hot pads/pot holders with those small squares.  I don't remember the exact cost, but it was right around $6.

I also did pay $1.97 for the package of plastic rings that I sewed to the back of each one.

All of the women on my list are getting a set of 2 this year.  My daughter's boyfriend is also getting a set since he recently bought a house.  (Can't wait to see his reaction when he opened them  he he)


What do you think?   Sure looks like a load of them when I put them all down for the photo once they were done!

I'm thinking of doing a part 5 with my Christmas goodies, but I'm not sure yet.  It's turned out to be more frugal than most years, so I probably will  :)   Just wish me luck on getting all the baking done this week!

My Frugal Christmas 2010 Part 3

Welcome to part 3 of my frugal Christmas this year.

By accident I had discovered making the fabric bags when someone contacted me asking if I could make them.  From there it blossomed to me making one for each of 5 grandchildren for their birthdays this year.  Filled with goodies of course.

I decided that for Christmas I would make my other 2 grandchildren, as well as my niece and nephew each one as well.

Below is the photo of just the bags--Thomas for my 3 yr old grandson, Cash--Scooby Doo for my 9 yr old grandson, Tristian---pink and brown sparkly for my 11 yr old niece---and KU for my 16 yr old nephew.

Below is the photo with the contents in each.  I now have these wrapped and ready to go.

 I'm not sure how well you can see, but the body wash and body spray I had gotten at Walgreen's using coupons and receiving back full price in register rewards.  The deoderant was part of a sale and coupon deal at the grocery store  and I paid just 5 cents for it.

My 9 yr old grandson is getting the same school supplies that the other are getting in a box, just inside his bag instead.

My niece is getting a Teddy Bear that I paid $1.79 for at a close-out store, body spray I paid $1 for, a ruler that was 5 cents, and body wash that I just paid sales tax on after sale and coupon.

My 3 yr old grandson is getting 2 tray puzzles and an activity book boubht at Walgreen's 3 for $1.  Another activity book I paid 25 cents for on clearance.  A box of crayons that I paid 25 cents or less for and a Tonka tractor that I paid .50 for at a yard sale.

As far as the bags....each takes 1/2 a yard of material.  The most expensive was the KU licensed material at $3 plus.  The Scooby Doo was $2.24 and the brown and pink was $2.22.  The Thomas material was given to me by a gal at church.

I strive on finding bargains, and I love making home made Christmas gifts.  These fulfill both!

Part 4 will be the hot pads I am almost done with!  Stay Tuned!

Santa Savings with Cellfire and Kroger!!

This doesn't start until tomorrow, but I wanted to get the word out!

Cellfire is running another special promotion for Kroger stores this week. Their Santa Savings campaign will launch at 10AM Pacific on Thursday, December 16 for four hours (it ends at 2PM Pacific). Anyone with a Kroger or Kroger-owned loyalty card who logs in will receive a $$ off coupon. The fun starts when they login to see whether they've won a $0.50, $1.00, $2.00 or $5.00 coupon of their next shopping trip. Please see the attached graphic for details.



These Coupons are for Kroger and Kroger-owned stores.

HERSHEY’S KISSES brand Save $1
Save $1.00 when you buy any two bags of HERSHEY'S KISSES chocolates 7.5oz. or larger.

Colgate® Wisp® Save $.75
Save $0.75 on any Colgate® Wisp® 4 count or larger.

PILLSBURY® Rolled Pie Crusts Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy TWO packages of Pillsbury® Rolled Refrigerated Pie Crusts.

PILLSBURY® Frozen Grands! Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy any TWO Frozen Pillsbury® Grands!® Biscuits.

Green Giant® Frozen Boxed Vegetables Save $.60
Save $0.60 when you buy THREE any variety Green Giant® Frozen Boxed Vegetables.

Just for One® Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy any variety Green Giant® Just for One® vegetables.

PILLSBURY® Sweet Rolls Save $.40
Save $0.40 when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Sweet Rolls OR Grands!® Sweet Rolls.

Pillsbury® Crescents Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Crescent Dinner Rolls.

PILLSBURY® Refrigerated Grands! Save $.30
Save $0.30 when you buy TWO any size/variety Refrigerated Pillsbury® Grands!® Biscuits
.
PILLSBURY® Italian Meal Bread Save $.40
Save $0.40 when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Italian Meal Breads (Includes any Loaves, Breadsticks, Dinner Rolls, and Pizza Crust).

PILLSBURY® Cookie Dough Save $1
Save $1.00 when you buy TWO PACKAGES any variety Pillsbury® Refrigerated Cookie Dough.

Progresso® Soups Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy TWO CANS any flavor Progresso® Soups.

Nature Valley® Granola Bars Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor/variety Nature Valley® Granola Bars (excludes Nature Valley® Granola Thins).

Betty Crocker® Fruit Snacks Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor/variety Betty Crocker® Fruit Shapes, Fruit by the Foot®, Fruit Gushers® OR Fruit Roll-Ups® fruit flavored snacks.

Chex® Cereals Save $.75
Save $0.75 when you buy any ONE BOX Chex® cereal listed: Rice Chex® Corn Chex® Wheat Chex® Honey Nut Chex® Chocolate Chex® Multi-Bran Chex® Cinnamon Chex®.

Fiber One® Chewy Bar Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Fiber One® Chewy Bars OR Fiber One® 90 Calorie Chewy Bars.

Honey Nut Cheerios Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy ONE BOX Honey Nut Cheerios® cereal.

Lucky Charms® Cereal Save $.55
Save $0.55 when you buy ONE BOX Lucky Charms® cereal.

Green Giant Bagged Vegetables Save $.40
Save $0.40 when you buy any variety 19 OZ. - 24 OZ. ONLY Green Giant® Frozen Bagged Vegetables.

Betty Crocker Cake Mix/Frosting Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy BOTH Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® Cake Mix AND Betty Crocker® Ready to Spread Frosting (any flavors/varieties).

PILLSBURY® Holiday Cookies Save $1
Save $1.00 when you buy any TWO Pillsbury® Refrigerated Holiday Cookies.

Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers® Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy TWO any variety Green Giant® Valley Fresh Steamers® frozen vegetables.

Chex Mix® Treats Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy ONE BOX any flavor Chex Mix® Treats, Golden Grahams® Treats OR Milk 'n Cereal Bars.

Betty Crocker® Potatoes Save $.50
Save $0.50 when you buy TWO any flavor Betty Crocker® boxed Potatoes (Except Potato Buds® and Betty Crocker® Pouch).
 

New Coupons this week at Coupons.com!!

New coupons available this week at coupons.com!   Good stuff.  Happy savings!

$5.00 off on ONE (1) REMBRANDT Kit
$0.50 off any TWO (2) Plum Organics Baby Products
$1.00 off on any ONE (1) Gorton's Shrimp item
$3.00 off TWO (2) boxes of WONKA Exceptionals
$1.00 off on 2 Any Spic and Span Product
$0.55 off one (1) package of ARMOUR Pepperoni
$2.00 off any LISTERINE ZERO™ Mouthwash
$1.00 off HP ColorLok Paper
$1.00 off Spot Shot Carpet Stain & Odor Eliminator
$0.55 off any one package of Treasure Cave cheese
$0.55 off on any one (1) package of Stella cheese
$0.55 off on any one (1) package of Frigo cheese
$4.00 off Any Benefiber Product
Buy One Get One Free box of WONKA Exceptionals
$2.00 off any one (1) Triaminic product
$1.00 off ON ANY ONE (1) FLEXITOL PRODUCT
25% off (up to $36) only at www.tryboda.com
$5.00 OFF any size HP Photo Book
$1.00 off when you buy InStyle magazine
$1.00 off Any Three (3) STOUFFER'S Entrées
$1.00 off on any ONE (1) TENA Product
$1.00 off TWO (2) Boxes of Ronzoni Smart Taste
$1.00 off one (1) Starburst Sweet Gamebook
$0.75 off Pledge Multi Surface product
$1.00 off one (1) LIFESAVERS Gummie Wreaths
$1.00 off any LISTERINE for Kids product
$2.00 off on any Slo-Niacin
$1.00 off on AmLactin Foot Cream Therapy
$2.00 off AmLactin Moisturizing Body Lotion
$1.50 off 2 DOVE Chocolate Bags (8.5oz. - 9.5oz.)

Free Samples of Emergen C, Slim Fast, Gas X and Ester C!!

Simply click the links below for each sample.

If you aren't a member of FreeFlys, I strongly encourage that you sign up.  Nothing beats free!!

Free sample of Emergen C BLUE®:

Free sample of GasX® Thin Strips:

Free sample of Ester C® Gummies:

Free sample of Slim Fast® Peanut Butter Crunch snack bar:

Hurry before supplies are exhausted!