Wishful Slacker

Sale! Sale! Sale!

We went to the pre-sale of the Babies and Tots consignment event for first time moms last night. With the baby fed and in her pj's, we rushed in with the throng of new and expectant couples and went to town. The baby dangled upside down in her carrier as I lunged for dresses, pants, and pajamas. We grabbed as much as we could, and quickly checked out before Eleanor decided she'd had enough! It was pretty fun!

For $150, we came home with:
1 pair of shoes
2 toys
2 sweaters
2 long sleeve shirts
8 pairs of pajamas
2 pairs of pants
7 dresses
5 two-three piece full outfits (tops with pants, including one pair of Levi jeans)

Oh, how I love shopping resale...

(cat not included)

Good cloth diaper summary

Below I've posted a link for a good quick video on the basic options available for cloth diapering.  We continue to be very happy with using our cloth diapers for Ellie.  And, so far, my favorite technique has been using the more traditional prefold diapers with simple diaper covers, which is also the least expensive option (I bought 10 more Indian prefold diapers last week for $1.50 each)!  I'm still happy that we have the fancier pocket diapers and I think these will be easier for our relatives and other caregivers to use and will also be easier once this kiddo becomes more wiggly on the changing table.  For some reason typepad won't let me insert the actual video, so here's the link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7131550n

And here is a You Tube video on the different ways to fold a traditional prefold diaper.  With the new ones I just bought, I like using the twist method.

 

I have taken careful notes on what we have spent on our diapers these past few months, and I plan to create a future post on comparing those costs with the average cost of disposable diapering.  We used ebay and craigslist for many of our cloth diapering finds, including new and very gently used diapers on which we got some great deals. 

There is really nothing nicer than a sweet little baby bum wrapped up in a cloth diaper :)

This is how you do it

I made a killing at Walgreens last night.  The success of saving a lot at places like Walgreens depends on how well you combine weekly store specials with manufacturer coupons.  And, not to toot my own horn or anything, but I've gotten pretty good at it.  Here's my technique:

1) You don't need one, but having a coupon organizer like the one below from The Container Store makes sorting through coupons far easier.  I have the taps on ours labelled "dry goods," "toiletries," "household items," "medicine," etc.  My tab for "cat," has now become "cat/baby," which the cat is a little disgruntled about.
2) On Sunday mornings, I sort out the weekly circulars that come in the newspaper, setting aside the inserts for Walgreens and Target along with the manufacturer coupon sheets that have come out that week.  I'm not a huge fan of CVS, and we don't have many Rite Aids nearby, so that's why Walgreens is my convenience store of choice.  Target can throw out some good specials too, but venturing into a Chicago-area Target sometimes is like walking into the penguin house at the zoo.  There's a lot of slow waddling and waiting in lines. 

3) Sitting down with the scissors, I go through the manufacturer coupons FIRST, cutting out only the ones I think we would ever use (Using coupons is not so you can buy pointless stuff you'd never buy to begin with).  THEN, I finish off with the Walgreens and Target ads.

Why in that order?  Well, if I just clipped a manufacturer coupon for Ponds lotion, then when I see the weekly special for Ponds lotion at Walgreens I instantly remember that I just cut out a manufacturer's coupon for the same product.  If you looked through the Walgreens catalog first, you'd be more apt to forget those store specials when you go through the manufacturer coupon inserts.  Or that could be just me. 

Again, this is the vital consideration here- you CAN combine manufacturer's coupons with weekly store specials. 

To demonstrate my point, I actually wrote down several of the coupons and specials that I combined yesterday during my shopping spree:

• We had a $2.50 coupon good for any 3 Swiffer refills (from the newspaper insert) and a $1 off Swiffer refill coupon that we got from our Swiffer mop starter kit.  Swiffer refills this week from Walgreens were 25% off.  We then got $3.50 off of 4 Swiffer refill products (the pads and liquid refills) that were already 25% off to begin with.  In addition to THAT, Febreze air freshioner was 25% off and we had a $0.50 manufacturer coupon.  If you bought any combination of Febreze or Swiffer products of $10 or more, you got $2 in register rewards (basically a $2 coupon to use for your next trip to Walgreens), expiring Sept 15.
• There was a "buy one get one 50% off" store special for Gillette disposable razors.  We also had a $2.00 off manufacturer coupon.  Now, ladies, boy razors are so much cheaper than those meant for women.  Have you noticed?  You got 4 Gillette Mach3 razors for a little over $6, while Venus disposable razors are almost $10 for 3!  And, I seriously can find no major difference between them aside from the color of the handle.  Anyways, just a side thought there.
• This was a good one- a 10 count pack of Breathe Right nasal strips (which come in handy during bad allergy or cold season) was on sale at Walgreens for just $4 (they're usually closer to $10), AND Walgreens gave you $4 back in register rewards for their purchase.  AND we had a $1 off manufacturer coupon.  Get this, Walgreens doesn't always want you to realize that there are such good specials on some of their products, so sometimes there will be no sale sign at the display.  Another reason why it's handy to do your homework (and they keep their weekly special inserts at the entranceway, which I'll often grab in order to make sure I'm grabbing the right thing).
• Colgate Advanced toothpaste (4 oz tube) was on sale at Walgreens this week for $2.99, plus you get $2 in register rewards.  AND we had a $0.75 off manufacturer coupon.  You can get fooled pretty easily, because the 4 oz tube is one of the smaller tube sizes.  There were other specials on the larger sizes, but our combination of coupon/store special was a better deal. 
• General Mills cereals were on sale for $1.99 each, and we had a coupon that we'd previously been issued by Walgreens for $1.50 off of 3 boxes.   

In the end, we ended up saving $34 after the weekly store specials and manufacturer coupon totals were tallied up.  They print it right at the bottom of your receipt, so you can stare at it with glee all evening.  In addition to those savings, we received $8 in coupons for register rewards and another $1.50 General Mills cereal coupon.  So, basically, my coupon plans involve 2 trips.  The first trip involves using up many coupon deals to get the register rewards.  My second trip involves using our register reward coupons for products that we need that don't usually go on sale, like the 18 containers of Pepcid that I need to buy to get me through the rest of this pregnancy. 

Here's a couple additional tips.  In order to get all this to work, it pays to be organized.  So, as I'm going through the ads each Sunday, I also take out an envelope and a pen.  When I find something for us to get, I write it down and then, if there is a coupon, I stick the coupon inside the envelope.  If there are any particulars on the coupon or sale (which there often are-for example, if it's for 75 ft versus 100 ft of Reynolds Wrap) then I write that down on the envelope too.  The envelope is also handy as you head to the check out. 

 

Sometimes I realize that, even with these combos, it's still cheaper to buy off-brand.  If that happens while I am at the store, I scrap my original plan and will remove the coupon from the envelope and shove it into a pocket or rip it up so that it's no longer stuck in the stack of coupons I hand over to the cashier.  That may seem a bit overboard, but it really makes the whole shopping excursion much more efficient. 

You often don't strike it as big with manufacturer coupons on food at grocery stores as you do with toiletries, especially if you tend to eat more produce and less meat and processed foods.  We still come across good deals on canned and dry goods, frozen vegetables, and things like that.  And some weekly grocery store specials are really good. 

As part of this couponing spree, it sometimes pays to stock up.  Buying two things of peanut butter when you've got a store special and a coupon ends up saving you money in the end than just getting 1 and having to return in a month for more peanut butter at full price.  But, don't go overboard here- it's no good to have a pantry stuffed with 10 jars of peanut butter.  Along those lines, as I've already mentioned, pay extra close attention to the sizes of what you're getting.  More is not always better.  Walgreens runs that 4 oz toothpaste special quite often, and manufacturer coupons are a plenty for toothpaste.  Over time I feel we save a lot more money buying smaller sizes at essentially $0.25 a piece than what a larger collection breaks down into. 

And, to end this, I think it's important not to get coupon burnout.  If you don't feel like going through the coupons and ads on a particular Sunday morning, then don't.  If it seems like a chore than I don't think you'll feel the pay off as much.  There's a price paid for convenience during some weeks, and we don't need to shop for shampoo every week either.  So no pressure! 

 

Restaurant.com Special

Now through Sunday- use the promotion code NINETY at restaurant.com to buy $25 certificates for only $1.  We just bought one hundred dollars worth for only $4!  Some restaurants have specific requirements (some certificates can only be used Sun-Thurs, some have minimum purchase requirements, etc), but those are all listed pretty clearly on the site.  You can print them out and then you're good to go!

Website of the Week

When I first started this blog, one of the subjects I thought I would discuss frequently was coupon savings.  And, lo and behold, I really haven't talked that much about it!  Part of the reason for this is that stores seem to be getting smart to the recession and aren't offering the types of specials they were earlier in the year.  Another reason I haven't blogged much on my couponing is that I stocked up on many of our toiletries, etc, a few months ago and haven't needed to venture out and replenish the stock.  And, sigh, I've been working long hours recently and spending my evenings at home collapsed on the couch with my eyes glazed over.  Sitting next to me on the couch are the inserts from Sunday's newspaper that I have yet to go through.  It's Wednesday night for crying out loud!  

But those of you who know me know that I love nothing more than getting good deals.  The other day while walking down Diversey, I spotted a slip of dirty paper stuck against a fence.  My husband was in mid-sentence when I shrieked and rudely leapt past him, snatching up the paper with an urgency comparable to a junkie trying to satisfy his drug habit.  It was a $3 off coupon for Walgreens!  How sweet is that?  It was almost as good as when I discovered that leftover meatloaf last night.

This is a site that we saw featured on a re-run episode of ABC Chicago's 190 North show.  The show was taped in the dead of winter and they featured a segment about things to do in the city to warm up.  It made you cold just watching it- not really something you want to see when winter is in the distant future.  But anyways, later in the show they interviewed a man named Brad Wilson who created bradsdeals.com, a website with online coupon codes, print-out coupons, and featured store specials.  Check it out.  May your savings bring you much happiness!

Website of the Week

It's time for the website of the week!

This week I'm featuring the Trulia real estate search, a site I learned about at a housing seminar I attended a few weeks ago.  This may be one of those examples where I was the last to learn about this great resource, but I thought I'd post it in case there are others like me who had not heard of it before.  We're probably a ways from buying a home here in Chi-town (I'm still waiting for that distant great aunt I've never heard of or met to bequeath me a large sum of money for our down payment and am hoping she does it SOON before home prices go back up).  I am starting to sniff around in hopes of becoming somewhat decently educated on the subject before plowing into something that is way over our heads. 

I think this should help out!  I'm starting to learn about the features that come with the free account.  For example you can save the houses you view that you like, and can ask Trulia to update you on similar homes for sale.  Each listing provides the local schools with parents' reviews, the recent price reductions, pictures, links to the realtor's website, etc.  You can also search for open houses if you've got a lazy Sunday on your hands.  AND, there's a pretty neato iphone/ipod touch app for Trulia that allows you to view all this stuff while you're out and about.  

If you are planning to go out and buy a house, Trulia is a great place to start.  Good luck :-)

I love this man

See this man?  Thanks to him, I was able to come home from work, run the dishwasher, get our dinner started, and receive all my groceries at my door as my chicken cooked on the skillet.  The timing could not have been better, and now thanks to Peapod, we have a stocked fridge.  This man must have sent his friend to our place instead today, but I was still more than happy to receive any Peapod employee this evening.

In buying from Peapod and comparison shopping, there are a few things I have learned.  Peapod is great for when you need basic interchangeable food items and can do most your shopping from their weekly specials list (which, be forewarned, runs from Wednesday-Tuesday, not Sunday-Saturday like most stores.  I found out the hard way when I saved an order on a Tuesday night only to log in on Wednesday to find everything back to regular price).  Outside of weekly specials, Peapod's prices can be a bit on the steep end, especially for meat and name-brand items like Nabisco crackers, etc.  We've even come across some fruits and vegetables that we feel are expensive, whereas other produce items have come at a great price.  Speaking of their produce- I've not once been disappointed.  The bell peppers we've received have been gynormous (yes that's a word), and everything we've purchased has arrived very flavorful and fresh.  Tonight we received some blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, cucumbers, zuchini, squash, apples, oranges, nectarines, and peaches, and they all arrived looking stellar. 

Peapod also has weekly specials on non-food items, and (FINALLY!) they ran a special on a facial cleanser for which I also had a manufacturer coupon.  You just give your friendly Peapod delivery man the manufacturer coupons when he arrives, and the next day you receive an email with your adjusted total.  The first few times you use Peapod you're eligible for some good store coupons (like $5 off your first order and super amazing things like that).  As much as my husband and I have googled " Peapod coupon codes," nothing has come up that is legit for us to use any longer.   So, alas, no cheating with coupon codes.

And, let's please not forget one of the best parts of ordering from Peapod, which is the convenience factor.  Good God there's nothing better or easier.  For me, when I have what can be called a "Peapod kinda week," the $7 fuel and delivery charge is worth every penny to not have to get in the car, slowly inch along Diversey or Wrightwood for 30 minutes, to then weave through 500 other people at the grocery store at its busiest time (which, when you don't get home until 6pm most days, is basically any time you're not at work).  I have to say, that while you need to be cognizant of some of the pricing, I feel that you save oodles using Peapod because there are no impulsive purchases that have tempted each and every one of us, without fail, while walking past the display at the grocery store (ahem Scooby Doo toy in the cereal box!).  

So, my vote is two thumbs up for Peapod.  If you live in the Peapod-less 'burbs, I am sorry.  It is a terrific benefit to have this option.  However, you folk can usually zip to the store and back while reaching speeds of greater than 30 mph, which from a city dweller's viewpoint, is comprable to having super powers.  Who needs grocery delivery with that?!

They're on to us...

When people ask me how I use manufacturer coupons to find such good deals, I tell them that I imagine myself as a cheetah crouched patiently in the grasses while waiting for a gazelle to go happily skipping by.  As you can imagine, this description is frequently followed by an "Okaayyy..." and a hasty shuffle to a different corner of the dinner party.  But I mean what I say.  I collect the coupons each week from the Sunday paper that I think I'll eventually use, and then I just wait for a store, be it Walgreens, Target, or a grocery store, to feature that same item as their weekly store special.  And that's when I move in, using both the store special and the manufacturer coupon to buy our toiletries, cereal and other groceries, and household items for dirt cheap.  Mind you, this waiting game can take a few weeks, but I promise you, the majority of the time it works.  You just need to be patient and pounce when the heavens find you a match.

For example, last week Walgreens had a special on Colgate toothpaste. Regularly $2.99, they had a special where you received a $1 coupon back for the purchase.  Plus, there in my coupon booklet (from The Container Store) was a $1 off manufacturer coupon.  So, in essence, we got the toothpaste for less $1 (even though the $1 off Walgreens coupon will be used at a future visit). 

If you think through these things, you can create similar scenarios for all the daily items you use.  Hair products, toilet cleaner, Glade scented oils, Uncle Ben's Rice, frozen food, etc etc.  Yes, it takes some time, but it really is quite quick and easy, especially if you keep your coupons organized.  I'm also big on convenience, and doing this has to be conducive to your daily grind.  Last week there was nothing else I needed from Walgreens, but it was still no big deal to run in there just for toothpaste since it's literally on my walk home from work.  If I lived outside of the city, and had a minivan full of kids, this probably wouldn't be as feasible.  And I get that. 

I am getting a little off track from the reason that I initially sat down to do this post, which is that I think that Walgreens is beginning to grow smart to people like me.  The past few months, their store specials have not been very impressive at all, and have rarely matched with recent manufacturer coupons.  For 2 months now, I've been waiting for Walgreens to have a special on face cleanser that matches a manufacturer coupon, and there has been nothing!  I have manufacturer coupons for Dove, Olay, and Noxema facial cleansers, and Walgreens has not run a special on any of these (nor has Target, for that matter).  It's to the point now where I'm down to my last few uses of my current Biore cleanser, and I may have to drag myself to the store to get a cleanser using just the $1 off manufacturer coupon and no store special.  It's enough to make me feel sick to my stomach.  Especially when I know that next week, after I've been forced to go out and make this sub-optimal purchase, Walgreens will run the special that I need. 

Don't #*&% with me, Walgreens!   

You too can make yummy beer can chicken!!!

 This past week the Chicago Tribune featured writer John Kass' recipe for beer can chicken.  We decided to try it ourselves and boy oh boy was it delicious.  Not only was it amazingly good and juicy, but it had very minimal prep, was very easy, and was very cheap.  That's a lot of very's!  We got our chicken from Costco, where two 4-5 lb chickens wrapped together cost $8.  So the main part of this meal cost only $4.  Pretty good.  Add to that the fact that the seasonings used were all kitchen staples.  We had to buy one lemon and canned beer (we used Hamms- probably the cheapest beer you can find).  For sides, we had baked potatoes (on sale) and corn on the cob (also on sale).  This entire meal cost us about $8, and we even have leftovers. 

We didn't buy the special Cavender's Greek Seasoning but instead mixed oregano and garlic powder as is detailed below. 

Last year on July 4th we also made an incredible dinner from my favorite Everyday Food cookbook.  We're happy that we may have started a tradition of having some fantastic Independence Day dinners.   

To watch John Kass make this himself, click here.

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Beer Can Chicken
From the Chicago Tribune, June 30, 2009

The Tribune's John Kass prefers to flavor the chicken with Cavender's Greek Seasoning, a proprietary spice blend made by the Arkansas-based S-C Seasoning Co. (cavendersseasoning.com) You can substitute your own blend. Kass suggests crushing 3 tablespoons dried oregano in your hands into a small bowl; add 2 teaspoons each salt and pepper, plus 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and mix.

Prep: 10 minutes Brine: 30 minutes Cook: 1 hour Makes: 4 servings

1/2 cup kosher salt

1/4 cup white vinegar

1 whole frying chicken, about 4 pounds

1 lemon, halved

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/4 cup Greek seasoning mix

1 can (12 ounces) beer

Fill sink or large bowl with cold water; add salt and vinegar. Soak chicken in brining solution 30 minutes or more. Rinse chicken, pat dry. Rub chicken with one half of the lemon. Rub inside of chicken with other half of lemon. Coat chicken on all sides with olive oil. Rub chicken inside and out with seasoning mix.

Prepare a grill for indirect cooking. Punch two holes in the top of the beer can, away from the opening. Pour off 1/4 of the beer (about 1/2 cup); add any remaining rub to the beer in the can. Slowly insert the can of beer into the chicken's cavity until chicken legs are even with the end of the can. Place the chicken on the grill, standing upright with the legs forming a tripod. Close lid; grill until the juices run clear, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

Carefully pick up chicken with tongs; transfer upright to a cutting board. Stick a long handled spoon through the neck hole of the chicken; gently push beer can through without spilling, holding chicken with the tongs. Allow chicken to rest 15 minutes before cutting into pieces.

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The Tribune wine guy suggested this meal be paired with a Chardonnay :-)  Enjoy!

***Update 7/15/09***

To update our beer can chicken experience- we made this a second time this past weekend.  We had it for lunch so ended up brining it overnight instead of ~30 minutes beforehand. It tasted delicious.  Even better than the first time.  If you can allow for extra brine time, go for it!

Two Buck Duck Chicago

For you Chicagoans, check out this cool website: twobuckduck.com.  The site offers coupons for really good deals in and around the city.  To get the deal, you pay $2, but the coupon values are worth much more than that.  For example, our favorite Italian restaurant, Sapori Trattoria has used twobuckduck.com.  For $2 you got a $15 coupon.  Pretty cool, eh?  The site offers 1 coupon at a time and they are only up for a few hours each, so it's worth checking out periodically.