Food on the Table Menu Planning Service for FREE

It is a snowy Saturday morning, so I’ve been sipping coffee and perusing my emails.  When what to my wonderous eyes did I see, but a fantabulous deal?!

Right now, you can sign up to receive Food on the Table, a menu planning service, FREE for LIFE.  Yep.  That is pretty amazing.  Normally, the free membership only allows you to receive 3 meals a week and then you must pay for the unlimited upgrade. 

This FREE for LIFE promotion is unlimited meals.  EVERY week.  For LIFE.

Yep.  That is pretty super duper. 

Here is what you do:

• Sign up for Food on the Table here.
• Use Coupon Code: FEBFREE ( This code is good throughout the month of February!)

My understanding that this is only for new users, so if you are already signed on for the free 3 meals a week, sign up your husband. It will make him smile.

Even though I still heart my menu planning system, I am going to take advantage of this offer.  Who knows what exciting recipes you will find!

this post contains an affiliate link

FREE Fribble, Freezer Eating, and Cash Success

Today is “one of those days” where I am trying to keep my head above water.  It is not a “bad” one of those days.  It is just filled with lots of life.   I purposely avoided all aspects of blogging yesterday.  My brother and his family are in town.  I have not seen them in a few years, so priority keeping is in order.

In order to keep my focus where the focus needs to be, I offer you 3 quick tidbits.

1. Tomorrow (Saturday January 21st),  Friendly’s is offering FREE Fribbles from 1-5.  We are expecting snow and ice and I can think of nothing more entertaining than driving to obtain my FREE Fribble.  A family of 6 easily costs $20 or more for an ice cream outing.  So yea.  Ice, snow and FREE Fribbles sounds fantastic.

2. I was unable to fit a “real” grocery trip in this week.  I have no plan.  I know you are all entertained with that notion.  The plan for the next few days is to eat out of the freezer and pantry.  I may empty the deep freezer if it stays cold enough to keep my freezer items cold while I defrost 3 years worth of freezer ice.  Am I the only one that finds the freezer an organizing nemesis?

3. We have successfully completed 2 weeks on the cash challenge.  We have saved $500. Yes.  $500 in two weeks.  That is impressive is it not?  I am not ready to adorn the party hats until we have several months with significant savings.  My goal is to eliminate our car payment.  It is not substantial, but it needs to go. 

Are you working towards paying down a debt?  Why not celebrate with a FREE Fribble?

A Few Ways to Save Money on Taxes

It’s that time of year again.  Time to think about taxes.  Some folks groan.  Others will say, “yippee” (if you are due for a refund).

Obviously you can save a lot of money completing your own taxes.  With the tax computer programs, it makes it easier than ever to file them on your own. 

If you plan to file your own taxes this year, you may be interested in this offer by H & R block. 

This offer allows you to complete your federal tax return using their online product for free.  Yippee for free!  There is a fee for filing a state return.

Another way to save money on tax filing?  Hop on over to Ebates. 

    Ebates is offering 11% cash back at H&R Block and 8% cash back at Turbo Tax.

   Need an Ebates refresher?  You can check that out here.

Saving money will make taxes a bit less painless.

*This post contains an affiliate link

Stockpile Sweet Potatoes

My family loves sweet potatoes.  We eat them baked with butter, sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top.  We eat them in soup.  We eat them as fries.   We also make a mean sweet potato casserole that I will share with you next week.  Your family doesn’t like sweet potatoes?  This casserole might make you change your minds.  

If you love sweet potatoes (yams), or if you want to try and like sweet potatoes, now is the time of year to stock up.    Currently, sweet potatoes are at their rock bottom price.  At Walmart they are $.38/pound.   Aldi of course beats Walmart this week with a 3 pound bag selling for 99 cents (33 cents/ pound).

Sweet potatoes will keep for awhile in a cool, dry place.  What exactly am I going to do with the 18 pounds of sweet potatoes I just bought at Aldi?  Next week I will show you.

For now, you need to stock up on those sweet potatoes!  If you subscribe to the Frugal Flamingo via email, Facebook or Twitter you won’t miss a sweet potato thing.

Here is a Free “don’t Stress over Christmas” Gift Idea

It is easy to become stressed over Christmas each year.  Unfortunately,  a lot of our stress is due to gift planning and buying.  Over the past 2 years, I have eliminated the “I have to find the right gift” stress by going with photo books or photo gifts.  I love them.  So, do the people that I give them too.

Right now Vistaprint is offering a free photo wall calendar.  You just pay shipping and processing.  Shipping starts at $5.67.  A personalized gift for less than $10.  Oh yea. 

*This post contains an affiliate link

Stock Up on Meat

photo source: pixelbase 

It is that time of year again.  Time to buy your turkeys.  This week at Giant and Weis (my local grocery stores), whole turkeys are on sale for $.58/pound.  My suspicion is that almost all grocery stores will have turkeys on sale the next 2 weeks.  This is a slight price increase compared to last year’s $.49/pound.  I suspect it is due to the cost of turkeys rising by 4%. 

I think this is it.  This is the stockpile price of the season.

Even if you are not cooking a turkey on Thanksgiving, you need to buy one.  In fact, I recommend buying one every week they go on sale for this rock bottom price. 

Think beyond Thanksgiving.  Store them in your extra freezer.  Pull them out through the winter to feed your family for a week.  This is the cheapest way to feed a family when meat is involved.   Still need a little turkey convincing?  Here are some ways you can use your turkey.  Remember, making your own broth will almost fully compensate you for the cost of your turkey.

Cooking your turkey

Homemade broth

Turkey Noodle Soup

Turkey Tetrazzini

Turkey Tacos

What about you?  Do you buy turkeys on sale to use later?

Stock up at Aldi this Week

This week at Aldi 2 products on sale grabbed my attention.

The Happy Farm’s cream cheese is on sale for only $.89.  This is a marked down price from $1.49.  If you coupon, you can sometimes get cream cheese cheaper.  However, if you don’t coupon be sure to stop by and grab a few.  You can freeze cream cheese if needed.

 

The sale I am very excited about is Aldi’s 16 oz butter.  It is on sale for only $1.99.  This is a price cut from $2.79.   I use a lot of butter.   I have not been able to find butter this cheap recently, even with coupons.  So, I plan on stocking up for my upcoming Christmas baking.  Also remember that you can freeze butter too.

Stocking up on Toilet Paper

I often get asked, “where do you buy your paper products like toilet paper?”  I seriously wish it were a more glamorous question, but it is reality.  We need toilet paper and a lot of it.

I buy almost all my toilet paper at the grocery store.  You may be surprised by that because it is thought to be more expensive at a grocery store.  However, I stock up when the time is right   Lucky for you, the time is right this week at Weis.  My favorite toilet paper is Scotts 1000. Why?  Because I feel like it lasts longer than the ultra soft stuff.  At least that is the opinion in our house. (*I have not been compensated by Scott Tissue for this post)

Back to the deal.  This week at Weis if you buy $11 worth of Scott’s Bath Tissue,  you get back $3 to use on your next order.  If you buy $21 worth, you get back $7.  The toilet paper in the deal is the 12 pack of Scott 1000 Bath Tissue priced at 2/$15.

Here is what you can do:

• Buy 2 packs of bath tissue (a fancy word for toilet paper)= $15
• Get back $3
• That equals $12 for 24 rolls.  In my opinion, 50 cents a roll for this toilet paper is a good price. 

A better deal:

• Buy 3 packs of bath tissue= $22.50
• Get back $7
• That equals $15.50 for 36 rolls or only $.43 cents per roll. 

Did you notice something?  You can get this deal with no coupons involved.  You are trying to get your rock bottom price to stock up.  If you don’t coupon, this may be your stock up chance.

If you do coupon, you are going to get an awesome deal.  You can find Scott’s Bath Tissue coupons:

• 10/23 Smart Source flyer $1/1  12 pack
• $1/1 All You Magazine August
• $1/1 printable (you can print up to 2)

Since I have 3 coupons, I will get 36 rolls for $12.50 which is only 35 cents a roll.  That is my rock bottom.  We are not out of toilet paper, but it looks like I will be stocking up this week any way.  Please don’t wait until you run out.  For more reasons than one.

*Of note: if the store is out of the toilet paper you need for your deal, just go to customer service and ask for a raincheck.

Stocking up on Snacks

Forgive me for a completely text based post. I have no time to take pictures.  This post is really for the “local folks”.  Today I ventured to my somewhat local food salvage store.   With summer here, I suspect it will be quite awhile until I go back again.

If I had time to take pictures each week of my groceries, you would notice that I do not buy much in the way of snacks.  I make a lot of my snacks and “junk” food. 

I also buy snacks at D & K (our food salvage store).  I spent more than I wanted to this week.  However, I bought a lot of snacks that will last us through the summer.  Or at least a good chunk of it.  I hope. 

We spend a lot of time at the pool each summer.  I was purposely on the hunt for treats to eat there.  We rarely ever buy anything at the snack bar.

At D&K right now, there are a lot of buy 2 bags for $1.  I bought a lot of bags of baked veggie chips and baked pita chips.  While not entirely “healthy”, it is a better option than Doritos.  If my crew can munch on something for 50 cents, I’m a happy camper.  Or a swimmer in this case.

I also found boxes of Jello pudding pops for 99 cents.  I can give my kiddos a popsicle for 3 days on one box.  This is only 33 cents per day.  Oh and the ice cream cake I bought for $5.99.  Not entirely frugal.  Ok not frugal at all.  However, good gravy is that a fun treat to pull out in the heat of the summer.  Surely will get your mom of the year award.

I do not condone junk food.  However, we have one “fun” snack per day.  It is our afternoon tradition.  Family traditions are important so it’s all good. 

Happy summer snacking!

Opportunity to Stockpile Peanut Butter

Although my menu is planned, I have not yet figured out what deals are to be found this week.  However, a quick glance in the Weis grocery flyer caught my eye.  Peanut butter is on sale.  My kids love peanut butter.  If I could use a stronger word for their affinity of the creamy delight, I would.  They would eat peanut butter every day for lunch.  Often they do.

I also use peanut butter in baking and cooking.  Needless to say, this is one of the items I stockpile. 

At Weis this week, the small jars of  Skippy peanut butter are on sale 3 for $5 (which is $1.66/jar).  However, if you buy $20 worth, you get back $5.

So, let’s look at this deal. Without clipping any coupons, I can buy 12 jars of peanut butter for $15 (will spend $20, get back $5).  This is equivalent to $.80 per jar.  As long as the Skippy Natural is included in the deal (which it usually is), I am all over it.

It will only take us a few months to consume that many jars of peanut butter.  This is WELL before the expiration date. 

This is how I go about stockpiling. It does not have to be rocket science, time consuming or coupon intensive.  Can someone else do better?  Absolutely!  However, this works for me! 

Hopefully this could work for you too!

Sshh! Can you Keep a Secret?

I have another lil’ secret for how I keep my grocery budget low. I honestly forgot to mention this until now.  Since we are friends, I will share it with you.  Ready?  It’s called: the Bread Outlet.

Oh glorious day.  How the bread outlet saves my family money.  Each day of the week the specials are slightly different.  My favorite day to go is Friday because it is buy one get one free day.

My local bread outlet is “across” town.  When I go, I stock up.  I simply throw the bagels, bread and muffins in my freezer. 

This week I bought

• 3 bags of of whole grain bagels
• 3 bags of pretzel bagels (I have never heard of these before, but they sound delicious for sandwiches for tomorrows lunch)
• 3 boxes of Thomas English muffins
• 1 box of donuts (a pure sinful delight that will make me mom of the year with my kids)
• 6 loaves of Stroehmann’s bread

Grand total?  $9.50! For the “non-math minded”, that averages to only 59 cents per item! 

Have you bought a loaf of “name brand” bread at the grocery store lately?  Good gravy!  The prices are outrageous.  So, I believe it is worth my time, energy and gas to buy my bread at the outlet.  I usually combine my trip with other errands. 

I do make my own bread from time to time.  Especially, when I run out of my outlet bread.  However, as long as I can get whole grain bread this cheap, I will continue to buy it. 

I know that other areas have bread outlets too.  So, go ahead and google it!  Have you ever shopped at a bread outlet?

Decorating Paralysis? Free Professional Advice!

You know that there are several simple and frugal ways to refresh your home quickly. However, what if you hit a mental block? You have been staring at the same wall decorated the same way for umpteen months?

I will be the first to admit that I am having redecorating paralysis. I have ideas, spray paint and new yard sale finds. However, I just sit and stare at them.

If you are suffering from decorating paralysis, I have an awesome suggestion for you that will cost you nothing!

This week and this week only, Darlene of Fieldstone Hill is offering free decorating advice! Darlene is uber talented. She breathes in this decorating stuff. She is offering her Single-Question Design Service for FREE! Here is a description of the service:

The Single-question Design Advice

I will give you my guidance/advice/opinion on a single design question. This will be based on your photograph and your detailed question. For example: This option is useful in picking room colors, discovering pillows to revitalize a couch, or finding a piece of furniture for a problem spot. Accessible resources will be included.

{normally, Single-question Design Advice is offered for a fee of $20 per question.}

What an awesome opportunity! So head on over to Fieldstone Hill.

This is not a paid endorsement or a monetary affiliation.

Stock up: this Week at Amelias

I have shared before that the majority of my shopping does not take place at the traditional grocery store. I go to the “regular” grocery store with a list in hand.  I buy coupon deals and meats.  That is typically all. Of course, you know I shop Aldi’s.  Hopefully you do too now.

Another place I frequent is Amelia’s.  I typically stop by Amelia’s every 4-6 weeks.  I do not go with a list in hand.  Instead, I scan the aisles for items I would buy at the lowest price.

There are times that I walk out with nothing.  Sometimes, I walk out with a cart full.  The last time I visited, I came out empty handed.  This time, I emerged with a lot.

They have half gallons of Turkey Hill Duettos Gelati on sale for 99 cents!  99 cents!  Duettos are half vanilla soft ice cream and half Venice Ice (they have the Rasberry).  I bought 5.  They will last us quite awhile.  When I open my freezer I am now pelted with half gallons.

The yogurt sales are incredible.  16 oz of Athenos Greek plain yogurt are 3 for $1. 

32 oz tubs of Plain and Vanilla Yoplait yogurt are 99 cents

Yoplait whip yogurts are only 19 cents (they hardly count as yogurt, but they are a fun snack)

Havarti cheese is only $1.50 for 8oz

3 oz tubs of Goat cheese are only 99 cents (I dream of swimming in Goat Cheese.  It is my absolute favorite)

5 lbs of Gold Medal Whole Wheat Flour are only 99 cents

Quaker Honey Graham granola bars (10 pack) are only 99 cents

That is what is there THIS week. Amelia’s prices and stock constantly change. Want to get started in stockpiling?   Don’t buy 1 box of granola bars, buy 5.   Flour, granola bars, cheese can all be frozen.  Do not become extreme.  Buy what you would eat in an 8-12 week period. 

I hope you have time to swing by!  Let me know what you find!

Feeling inspired or just having fun?  Subscribe to the Frugal Flamingo via email, RSS or on Facebook.

A Way to Lower your Cell Phone Costs

I lost my cell phone. 

Again. 

I found it. 

Again.

It is the typical cha cha dance for me.  Lost, found, broke, lost.

I don’t have a fancy schmancy phone.  Although I would be lying if I didn’t admit that I want one. Very badly.   Right now, a smart phone is not the best financial decision for my family. Is it OK for yours?  I have no idea.  It is not a matter of right and wrong.  It is simply a matter of what you can afford or are comfortable with affording. 

For 5 years, we have had a prepaid Net 10 phone.  Until last year, my husband and I shared a cell phone.  We finally decided it was time for us each to have our own.  So, we really “splurged” and we each got a prepaid phone.  However, I found myself using my phone more and more.  My monthly bill was climbing.  I was also not very pleased with my coverage.

Last fall, I broke my phone. Again.  I decided to switch to Straight Talk.  I was a little skeptical.

Now that I have been using Straight Talk for 6 months, I tell you that I love it.  I recommend it whole heartedly.  Hands down, it is an incredible cell phone deal.

Here is the skinny.  Straight Talk is only available through Walmart.  It is Verizon’s network.  So, it has the same exact coverage as Verizon.  I have had very few “dead spots”. 

The catch?  You buy the phone.  Phone’s range from $60 to $300. I have a $100 Blackberry Style phone. 

The beautiful part?  You have a choice of 2 different plans. 

The $30/month plan allows you 1000 minutes of talk, PLUS 1000 texts, plus 30 GB of web.  This is the plan I have.  I use my phone a lot and do not run out of minutes or texts.

The unlimited plan is $45 a month.  Unlimited for everything!

I will admit, the web browser is very slow.  This is not a smart phone type of deal.  However, I had nothing before.  So the ability to check email, Facebook, or twitter on the run feels luxurious.

Someday, I hope to move into the leagues of owning a smart phone.  However, for now I am sticking with my prepaid Straight Talk. If you are looking to decrease your cell phone costs, you might want to consider this option.  I’ll answer any questions you have.

Oh and the phone I just lost?  I found it 2 days later under a pile of laundry.  Yea.  I’m on top of life like that.

What about you?  Are you looking to decrease your cell phone bill?

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with Walmart or Straight Talk.  I am not endorsed or compensated for this post.  Just shouting out some cell phone savings love.

 

A cheap ol' meal for St. Patrick's Day

I made my menu plan and I forgot about St. Patrick's day being this week. I am not a fan of corn beef and cabbage, but I found this recipe so I am going to try it again.

Corned beef is cheap this week. Really cheap. It is only $1.29/lb at Weis and cabbage is only $.29/lb. I am sure it is on sale for a really good price at other stores too.

So, why not try it? If it is terrible....well, it's only 1 meal to live through. Then you never have to make it again.

Want to start stockpiling? Here is your chance...

I am done my coupon match ups for the week! My goal is to have them done Monday, but so often I procrastinate.

In the past we talked about stockpiling. This week is your chance to stockpile cereal without cutting one coupon!

This week at Weis several of the Kellogg's cereals are on sale for $1.99 (Raisin bran, Corn Flakes, Cinnabon, Honey Smacks, Crispix). If you buy 5 boxes, you get $5 off your bill.

So, let me do the math for you. Without clipping 1 coupon you are looking at a great deal:

• Buy 5 boxes of Kelloggs cereal= $10
• Get back $5
• $5 Total= $1 a box

Of course there are coupons to make this deal even sweeter!!! Take advantage of them! Raisin bran has a $.70 off coupon! .$30 for a box! And if your store doubles, it is free!

Remember to visit Kellogg's and sign up to receive up to $5 in Kellogg's coupon savings! That is where you can get great coupons for this deal. I have not calculated the whole deal yet, but I suspect that with using these coupons I will get 5 boxes for only $2.

That's it folks. This is how you begin to stockpile something like cereal. It is not rocket science. To be honest, we do not do cereal a whole lot for breakfast during the school year. However, I like to have it on hand. I also think "junk cereal" can work great as a snack from time to time.

To really stockpile, do this deal several times!! Note, this must be in separate transactions. I haven't tried this specific deal yet, but in the past it has always worked.

Also, if your store is out of the cereal you want, just ask for a raincheck and you can do the deal next week!

If you are interested in other deals, check out For the Momma's for the coupons and the deal specifics at Weis. If you shop Giant of PA, you can check out that link up here. For all other stores (including Walmart) check out Money Saving Mom's grocery page.

Happy savings!



*Disclosure: this post contains an affiliate link. If you use my link, I will be paid a very small commission per sale or click. Just wanted to let you know! However, I will only recommend products, coupons, or sales that I myself would do!