How To Prepare For A Hurricane

This is what I ran out and picked up at Target and CVS and the dollar store yesterday in anticipation of Hurricane Sandy.

Half and half for my coffee.
Diet Coke. (2L on sale for $0.88 this week)
Candles.  ($1 from Dollar General)
Applesauce squeezy thingies.  Just in case.  Plus, I love them.  Great to toss in a bag for a snack on the go.

Notice that my haul does not include batteries.  I searched high and low for D batteries to use in an old boom box in case of power outage.  But it seems that everyone else beat me to the punch.  Which makes sense as I went on this big search around 2 in the afternoon.

Bottom line.  I was happy as a clam.  I had a chicken in the crockpot and a big glass of wine and all my necessities at the ready.  Just in case.

How did you prepare for Hurricane Sandy?  And did your area have much damage?  I hope not!

Mayo And More From Price Chopper

I am running out the door so I will post a very detailed list of deals first thing tomorrow morning, as well as a review of how I put those deals to use this week.

But quickly...the sales at Price Chopper are AMAZING this weekend.  Watermelon for just $0.99, Breyers ice cream for just $0.50 and mayo for just $1! 

Again, the details of the great sales will come first thing tomorrow morning.  But for what you see above (I clearly forgot to include the candy in the first photo and by the time I realized it, the ice cream was put away to prevent it turning into soup), here are my totals.  You should note that I used a bunch of competitor coupons (ie: $5/$25 from Dollar General) and Catalinas (Because I do NOT consider those into totals until I use them.  I honestly think it makes zero sense to do otherwise.).

This was possibly my VERY BEST grocery shopping trip ever.

Total value purchased ... $76.99

Paid out of pocket ... $1.55

Percentage saved ... 98%

Earned ... (1) $1 Catalina from two Kikoman purchased

FREE Hair Color and Gum Tomorrow Only!

Deal Idea for tomorrow only at Dollar General...

* Buy (8) boxes of Clairol Balsam Hair Color  $3/each

* Buy (1) pack of gum or anything that totals $1

= $25

- (1) $5/$25 Dollar General coupon - make sure to hand this over FIRST!
- (4) $5/2 Clairol hair color coupon SS 4/15

= out of pocket FREE!  Just pay tax, baby!

There are lots of other deals to be had but I think it's fun when you can manage to get a total down to a big fat goose egg.  Great to fill up your stockpile if you are running low on hair color.  One must keep her locks naturally bright and blonde year-round!

Easy and Inexpensive Gift Ideas

I thought this might be a good time to show y'all some gift ideas that have been big hits in my family over the years.  My biggest challenge is always kids from age 5-16.  I don't seem them enough to know what's cool and not cool and what they have already.  By that age they certainly have big wardrobe opinions.  And in my family, they are nearly all little boys.  A complete mystery to me.

This was a BIG hit!  I picked up lots of funky flavored sodas as well as a bottle koozie and funky straw (pack of 6 just $1 at Dollar General).  Put everything in a colorful bucket from the $1 section at Target.  Added crinkle and wrapped it all up in a big bag.  As always, click the images to see the original explanation posts.

And for the family gift exchange, a little bucket full of nips.  These are fun to make single drinks or to add to a hot bevvy during the 75 months of winter we have ahead of us.

These were other favorites.  What I called Sugar Buckets.  I bought buckets at the Dollar General.  And kiddie snacks and sweets at various stores.  Very inexpensive.  And a HUGE hit with kids.  Parents, perhaps notsomuch.  Ha. 

I love how I wrapped them and actually use this method a lot with oddly shaped gift baskets.  Take a yard of scrap fabric, place the bucket or odd shaped gift in center, and tie with a grosgrain ribbon bow.  Simple as can but but be prepared for everyone to make a big fuss over your amazing gift wrapping skills. 

Oh and last year I made initial towel wraps.  You need to know some basic sewing skills but they were pretty simple and inexpensive.  And I hope pretty useful- bath, pool, beach, etc.  Again, click the images to see better explanations of the gifts.

Feta Cheese From The Dollar Tree

There is a one Dollar Tree store sort of near me (East Greenbush) that has a row of fridge and freezer cases in the back.  And sometimes they have feta cheese (my favorite).  They've not had any in at least six months but I was over that way running errands today and they were back in stock.  Albeit a different brand (they used to carry the same brand as Price Chopper) and a smaller size.  I still think $1 for a 2 oz pack of feta is a good deal. 

For those wondering why I bought eight, it's because I freeze them.  When you find a good deal, buy many and freeze until you need it.  Cheese freezes great so I am never worried about it tasting funny later.  I use feta in salads, pasta dishes and in spinach feta omelets (which I eat a few times a month I must admit).

The Dollar Tree is also a great resource for cheap prices on spices.  I ran out of onion powder last weekend so this was prefect timing.

I don't buy much at dollar stores but sometimes you just hit the bargain jack-pot. 

Other things I try to get at the Dollar Tree are....
* Minced garlic
* Tortillas (before I stopped eating gluten)
* Chicken stock

This is sort of my dirty little secret.  I don't know why I have no shame in using coupons but shopping at the Dollar Tree feels seedy.  But it does- ha.  So shhhh...don't tell anyone!

Better Late Than Never

Aaaah the week got away from me and I never got around to showing these deals in hopes that y'all could go do the same.  Sorry. 

But I made my first ever purchase from Dollar General last week.  I went in the store one other time but never found what I was looking for and left.  I read on another blog that these smaller bottles of the Nivea body wash were unmarked but on sale for just $2.  I had six $2/1 coupons left and figured it was worth a shot as I was near there anyway.

The were not marked on sale at my store- regular price was $2.50 so they would be cheap even without the sale.  But I did a trusty price check and it turns out, they were ringing up at just $2.  Yay!  I'd read a few blogs over the year saying that DG gives you issues if your total is $0.  Not wanting to deal with that possibility, I picked up the snack pack of peanut butter, something I will always eat, for just $1.  Not too shabby!  And again, even at full price, these bottles would only run you $0.50 after the coupon.  My store had a bunch but only in this one scent (which I really like so it all worked out peachy for me).

Next I ran across the street to Rite Aid.  Cold and Flu season is around the corner.  I used $2 +up RR in addition to coupons, paid about $2 out of pocket and earned another $2 in +up RR.  I actually consider them to be $1 each as I don't factor in Reward bucks until I use them.  But that's still an awesome price.  The Triaminic went into my donation box.  I don't often pay for what goes in there but figured it was a great price and something that is rarely afforded by mommas shopping at a food pantry.

And finally, I popped into Price Chopper for a few things.  I only took this one photo though because I am never in that mindset when putting food away.  The peanut butter was totally FREE though!  And tastes delish with my inexpensive (thanks to a PC store coupon) bag of apples.  Don't you agree that things taste better when you pick them up for FREE?  Mmmm!


I will try to do a much better job of sharing deals and shopping trips this week.  It's my first week in forever without a zillion evening meetings so it might actually happen!