Cha-Ching on a Shoestring™

Living Large on a Limited Budget

Guest Post: Boredom Busters

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By Pam from Frugal Catholic Mommy

http://www.clipsahoy.com/webgraphics3/aw4910.htm

With 4 kids at home, I want to be prepared with spontaneous “boredom busters” to fill the days, so I’ve compiled a list to keep my kids (and yours!) busy.

  • Shiny Pennies. Click here to learn how. Even older kids still like to do this!
  • Have the kids act out a story while you video tape it, then hook up your video camera and watch it on TV. Our kids acted out Goldilocks and it was hilarious! And it kept them busy with rehearsal for about an hour, then they watched themselves on TV about 5 times!
  • Make a trash dollhouse (or “Army bunker” for boys)–this can fill up days and days! All you need is a shoebox or other cardboard box and an assortment of caps, little empty bottles, paper clips and other miscellaneous household junk that we all have lying around in a drawer. Click here for the instructions.
  • Finger Weaving Contest. This is great for older kids (8+). Stock up on yarn at the dollar store and Click here for instructions.
  • Add It Up (toss $1.00 in coins out in the yard and have the kids search for the entire $1.00—while Mom takes a coffee break! If you want to be mean and take a LONG coffee break, only toss out $.95 and they will look for the elusive nickel for hours J)
  • Play Battleship. If you don’t have the actual game, you can print out a version here.
  • Make Hot Pretzels. Get creative and roll the dough into names, animals, footballs, a butterfly etc… Click here for an easy recipe.
  • Make a chalk mural on your sidewalk–let each kid (and neighbor kids) each fill up an entire sidewalk square.
  • Make your own pinata. This takes several days from start to finish, so it would be great to start on a Monday and have it ready for a play date on Friday. All ages can help with this one. Instructions here.

For more ideas, read another Boredom Busters post from Pam here.

Freebie Favorites: The Walmart Edition

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free-sign

Here are a few of my favorite Walmart freebies of the day:

  • Get a free sample of Sun Crystals here.
  • Get a free sample of Kotex Overnight here.
  • Get a free sample of Playtex Gentle Glide here.
  • Get a free sample of Aveeno Nourish here.
  • Get a free sample of NicoDerm here.
  • Get a free sample of a Scott Extra double roll and a 10-ct. travel pack of flushable wipes here.

Walmart: Current Deals

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This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

walmart-logo

Here are the best deals currently available at Wal-Mart, with thanks to Christina from Centsible Savings for her help in compiling these!  She has the scoop on a variety of grocery stores that you may want to check out.

As always, keep in mind that prices and coupon amounts will vary slightly by region.

If you are having trouble with your Wal-Mart not accepting printable coupons, you can print out the corporate coupon policy here, which clearly states that they will accept printable coupons. If neither the cashier or manager will accept the printable coupons after you have kindly showed them the policy, you may want to call Wal-Mart’s corporate offices.

Pace Salsas Specialty Flavors, $2.98
$2/1 Pace Specialty Salsa, exp. 7-5-09 (SS 4/26/09)
$0.98 after coupon

Kraft BBQ sauce — $0.97
Use $1.00 printable coupon from Coupons.com (no longer available)
Free after coupon

Colgate Extra Clean Toothbrushes–$0.97
Use $1.00/1 coupon from 4/26 SS
Free after coupon

McCormick Seasoning Packets — $0.50 – $1.00
Use $0.75/1 coupon from 4/5 SS
FREE – $0.25 each after coupon

Kraft salad dressing 16 0z –rollback for $1.58
Use $1.50 coupon from 5/10 SS
$0.08 after coupon

Nestle Tollhouse baking morsels –$1.00
Use $1.50/2 coupon from 3/29 RP
$0.25 each after coupon

Bob Evans Side Dishes — $0.75
Use $0.35/1 coupon from 3/22 SS
$0.40 each after coupon

Suave Hair Care –$0.93
Use $0.50 coupon from 3/29 RP
$0.43 after coupon

Suave deod0rant — $0.94
Use $0.50/1 from 3/29 RP
$0.44 after coupon

Daisy Sour Cream, 8 oz. — $1.08
Use $0.50/1 coupon from 4/5 SS
$0.58 each after coupon

Capri Sun 10 pk Sunrise– $1.97
Use $1/1 from 4-19 Smart Source Insert (Expires 7/31/09)
$0.97 after coupon

Thomas English Muffins — rollback for $1.97
Use $1.00 coupon from March All You Magazine
$0.97 after coupon

Ball Park Franks –$1.50
Use $1.00/2 coupon from 4/26 RR
$1.00 after coupon

AXE Shower Gel (trial size)–$0.97
Use $1/1 coupon from the 4/5 RP
Free after coupon

Nonsense Ultra Sheer Pantyhose –$1.00
Use the $1 coupon from the 3/29SS
Free after coupon
**Look for an additional $1 coupon inside the package and snag another FREE pair!
(Thanks, AThriftyMom!)

Vitamin Water–$1.00
Use $1/1 from 4/5 SS
Free after coupon

No Nonsense Ultra Sheer pantyhose–$1.00
Use $1/1 from 3/29 SS
Free after coupon

Halls Cough Drops 30 ct.–$1.18
Use free coupon from 3/29 SS
Free after coupon

True North Peanut Nut Clusters 5.5 oz.–$1.00
Use $1/1 from 2/8 SS
Free after coupon

Johnsons Baby Swabs — $1.38
Use $1/1 from 3/8 RP
$0.38 after coupon

Suave Deodorant–$0.94
Use $0.50 coupon from 3/29 SS
$0.44 after coupon

Oust Surface Disinfectant and Air Sanitizer–$2.50
Use $2/1 coupon from 3/29 SS
$0.50 after coupon

Benefiber drink mixes–$2.50
Use $2 coupon from 4/5 SS
$0.50 after coupon

Campbell’s Cream Soups–$.60
Use $0.30/3 coupon from 3/1 Smartsource insert
$1.50 for 3 after coupon

Wheat Thins Artisan Crackers –$2.00
Use the buy one get one free coupon from 3/15 SS
$1.00 each after coupon

Lysol Wipes Twin packs–$2.00
Use $1.00/2 coupon from 4/26 SS
$1.50 after coupon

Del Monte Fruit Chillers, $2
$1/1 printable
$1 after coupon

Hamburger Helper (Asian Helper), $1.25
$0.80/3 printable
$0.98 after coupon

Kashi Go Lean Cereal, $2
$1.50/2 printable
$1.25 ea. after coupon

Kotex LightDays Pads, $1
$2/2 printable
FREE after coupon

Snuggle Fabric Softner (40 ct-blue box), $1.87
$1/1 printable
$0.87 after coupon

Purina Alpo (6-pk.), $3.52
$3.50/1 printable
$0.02 to $0.52 ea. after coupon

Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats, $2
$1.50/2 printable
$1/1 Kelloggs Mini-Wheats, exp. 7-19-09 (V 6/7/09)
$1 to $1.25 ea. after coupon

Eight O’Clock Coffee, $3.88
$1/1 printable
$2.88 after coupon

Seattle’s Best Coffee, $6
$1.50/1 printable
$4.50 after coupon

See any deals that I missed?  Or any deals that need updating?  Let me know!

The Cha-Ching Challenge Highlight

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Cha-Ching challenge

Welcome to the weekly

Cha-Ching Challenge Highlight!

I am pleased to announce our
Cha-Ching Challenge Highlight Winner.

This week’s highlight is Penny Pinching Diva!

Shynea is a 26 year old stay-at-home mom to four little boys, 7, 6, 1 and a 7 months. (Whew! How she finds the time to create such an adorable site is beyond me!)  She writes:

“I also want to help others out there, who like myself, live on one income and want to stretch their dollars as far as they will go. I love catching sales, finding amazing steals at yardsales, couponing, CVS’ing, frugal cooking and anything else that will make my family look like they’re “living large” on less then $10. I hope that by reading my blog, you will laugh and hopefully find inspiration to “pinch-a-penny” as well.”

Check out her post, sharing how she saved 61% at Walmart last week.  IMPRESSIVE.  Great job, Shynea!

While you are there,  make sure you check out her daily Mommy Seal of Approval Giveaways going on this week!

Would you like to join us in next week’s Cha-Ching Challenge?

Simply come back on Friday and join the Cha-Ching Challenge by adding a link to your post sharing your great deals for the week!

Gone Camping

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We are all packed up and on our way to Creation Northeast.  (Picture Woodstock–only with Christian bands.)

We scored some free tickets because our friends our playing and we are going to help watch their son–who is also best buddies with Griffin.  (Check out their band, The Proxy–they’re awesome!)

So, we will be without all the amenities of life for a few days–including internet connection.  But, have no fear–I have all sorts of fun stuff scheduled out.  You’ll hardly even notice I am gone.

Now that I am all done re-writing my packing list, I remembered a great site that I found on From the Trenches of Motherhood.  It’s called DontForgetYourToothbrush.com and it’s a fantastic resource for all you fans of list-making.  You can create your very own customized lists in advance and they will be e-mailed to you in the time frame that you designate.

The only tricky part is that the site is British–so some of the wording is a bit confusing.  (For example, can anyone tell me what a ‘budgie’ is?!)  But other than that, I have a feeling many of you will love this site.  Do you have any other great tips when it comes to preparing for a trip?

Oh…and by the eay, next time I go camping, will someone remind me about this post?  Thanks.