Farewell....sorta

Well, guys, it's been fun being on the CouponCrazed train, but I think I need to change my focus. I've had so much fun couponing over the last couple years, but I think instead of a hobby, it's become more of an obsession. I guess that sounds crazy; but I guess what I really mean is that it's become work. Saving money should be fun! So, I'm changing my focus a bit.

I got in the mode of feeling "required" to make a stop at CVS, Wags, Target, Hen House, Hy-Vee, and Price Chopper at least once per week to get in on all the deals. AND, to then come home and blog about it. I have been falling short in my duties. I have failed you!! See--something must change!! Yes, I've saved lots of money and been able to increase my stockpile. But, for that very reason, I'm just not feeling the pressure to get it all done any more. I have plenty. I need very little. So why put all that pressure on myself, right?

I have a hubby, 2 kiddos, a part-time job. I simply do not have time to run all over town between naps on my 2 days off getting all my deals in, and still have time for cleaning, laundry, all the other misc to-do's, and (most importantly) quality time with the kids.

The result: a new blog!! "CouponCrazed" seemed limiting...like the focus should all be on couponing. Since I'm breaking away from that a bit, I've started an all new blog with a title I think fits my place in life perfectly: Saving My Sanity & Cents! I hope that you will join me in my new endeavor. My plan for the new blog is to list the best deals, opportunities for freebies and samples, money- and time-saving tips for shopping, beauty, and household upkeep. Crafts for the kids, bargain hunting galore, and anything else that sparks my fancy. My real goal is to share all I know about saving money so that others can reap the rewards I have gained in the last few years.

Link over to the new blog now. You'll find it's not all that different in layout, complete with labels on the side to help you navigate. And don't worry...the Holiday Help button is still in play!!! Go! I already have it up and running with posts just waiting for you (and freebies, too! YES!! I said FREEBIES!!!)

Thanks to all of you who have "followed" me on this journey. I hope that you will follow me on over to the new site!

Ciao!!

Awesome Buca di Beppo Deal!!

YUM!! You'll want to take note of this deal . . . put it on your calendar!!! October 26th is World Spaghetti Day. To celebrate, Buca di Beppo will give you a free order of spaghetti with any pasta/entree purchase!

Plus, they'll send you home with a 16-oz package of Rummo brand italian pasta to make at home!

To make it even sweeter, take in the $10/$20 purchase coupon we should be getting in the Sunday paper. I'm sad I already have plans that night!!

$10 off Tinkerbell & the Lost Treasure

Yeah!! More movie coupons!! Tinkerbell & the Lost Treasure comes out on DVD/Blu-Ray Oct 27th. Surely there will be some good in-store promos to go along with this release. To make it even better, use this $10 printable coupon good on the Blu-Ray combo pack. And don't forget to enter your code in your Disney Movie Rewards account!!

Also, consider doing a movie-themed gift basket for someone. Add in some popcorn and candy along with this or one of the other DVDs there have been recent deals on, and you've got a pretty nice gift for not a lot of money!

Buy 2 Get 2 at YankeeCandle.com !!!

Have someone on your gift list who loves Yankee Candles?? You may want to check out the latest coupon codes available for use on YankeeCandle.com!

Buy 2 large jar candles, get 2 free: CRM911L
Buy 2 medium jar candles, get 2 free: CRM911M
Buy 2 small jar candles, get 2 free: CRM911S

You'll still have to pay shipping and taxes, but this is still a decent deal if these are on your list anyway!!

There are also a couple promos they are running on their site:

• $5 collector's 2009 candle with a $30 purchase

• and buy one, get one 50% off!
• get a cute tote bag for $5 with any $30 order

Lemme know if these deals work for you!!

Sale at Children's Orchard

Do you shop the second-hand stores? I know I do! If you aren't familiar with Children's Orchard, Saturday may be the day to check it out. They are having a 2-day Anniversary Sale (oops...posting late...first day was today. Looks like we missed that one!). Check out their website for locations and be sure to stop in for 20% off all regular-price consignment clothing!

Candy, Candy, Candy ! ! !

I've been holding out for a great deal on Halloween candy, and I think I found it. At, of all places, Toys 'R Us!! They are advertising this week that all candy bags priced $3.49 will be 50% off, so just $1.74 each. That isn't a horrible deal itself, but you know me...I have coupons!!!

Mars Candy, $1.74
-$1/2 9/27 or 10/11 SS = $1.24 each!!

Hershey's Candy, $1.74
-B3G1 10/18 SS = $1.31 each!!

Reese's Candy, $1.74
-$.55 8/23 SS = $1.19 each!!

Nestle Candy, $1.74
-$1 IP = $.74 each!!

I'll be stocking up tomorrow. Now if I can just keep myself out of it till Halloween!!

Target Deals 10/18 - 10/24

Check out the full list of Target deals here. And don't forget about the Sit 'n Spin deal here.

Seventh Generation Detergent Sample & $1 Coupon

Seventh Generation is offering up a free sample of their Free & Clear laundry detergent by going here. You can also print a coupon for $1 off baby or cleaning products while there!

FREE 4-pack of YoPlus Yogurt

Yoplait would like to send you a coupon by mail for FREE YoPlus Yogurt (max $3) in exchange for your Activia UPC and purchase receipt!

Well, I'll be . . . I do believe I just bought some Activia for just a buck at Walmart. How convenient!! Check out the form here.

And while you are there, print out a $1 coupon as well!

Three FREE issues of Field & Stream

Know a guy who might be interested in the Field & Stream magazine?? I do!! Happy early Christmas, Darrell...you'll be receiving 3 issues of said magazine shortly!!

Valuemags.com is offering up this deal and I can attest that these magazines DO come in the mail, and I have never once received a bill. It does take a few weeks to receive your first issue; site states 6-10 weeks (I don't know that I've ever waited that long!) Your first mailing should be the October issue.

Bonus Disney Movie Rewards Points!

I just joined Disney Movie Rewards when I bought Snow White a couple weeks back for just $10. I already have 425 points, enough to get me 30 free photo prints from Snapfish, or a 4x6 flip-book, or a 12x18 collage poster (ugh...I'm thinkin' Christmas gifts, people!!)

So I entered my code for Snow White. While organizing the kids movies, I found a code in our Cars DVD, and just found 4 bonus codes online...wa-lah! 425 points!! Those are pretty good rewards for so little work, but I think I may save them and rack up a few more.

Here are some codes to get you started:

LIGHT -- 10 points
TINA -- 20 points
GOBLOON -- 30 points
GRAVEYARDS -- 40 points

Musical Sit 'n Spin just $10 at Target!

Looks like I'll be making a run to Target this week. I hadn't planned on getting this for my son, but at this price I can't pass it up!

Playskool's Musical Sit 'n Spin is just $20 this week. Use the $10 IP or MQ from today's (10/18) SS, and you'll score this for just $10. That's a pretty great price for a Christmas gift...or maybe just to stash away for an upcoming birthday party. Just an idea!!

Coupons for DVDs!!

Yeah!! More coupons for possible Christmas gifts! I love it (**and speaking of such, did you get your Sunday paper yet? More Playskool coupons right there on the front of the insert! I love it!!**) Anyway, smartsource.com has some printables that could make you very happy while shopping to make someone else very happy this holiday season:

$2 off Ice Age, Ice Age 2, or Horton Hears a Who DVD
$2 off Aquamarine, Bend it Like Beckham, or Flicka DVD
$5 off Horton Hears a Who or Spaceballs Blu-Ray
$5 off Ice Age or Ice Age 2 Blu-Ray

Check them out--you know they may not last long. But with that said, don't print them till you're ready because they'll expire 2 weeks from the date you print them. Happy shopping!!

Walgreens Deals, 10/18 - 10/24

Oh my, Walgreens is wearing me out this month!! Looks like they are the place to be yet again this week!!

FREE: Pert Plus, Zantac, Theraflu, Triaminic,
CHEAP: Quilted Northern, Starbuck's Frappucino, Lysol toilet bowl cleaner, and Ester-C

And don't forget all the FREE after RR Monthly deals, too: you can still score free lotion, floss, lip balm, Robitussin, and much more!

See full list here. Thanks, Hip2Save!!

The NASA Missions Blu-Ray, Amazon Deal

Have a space nut on your Christmas list? You may want to hurry over to Amazon to check out the deal they have on When We Left Earth: the NASA Missions Blu-Ray 4-disc set! Originally $49.99, now just $19.99 (71% off!)

Deals like this typically don't last long on Amazon...the price generally goes back up pretty quickly. So, if this fits someone on your list, I would snag it up right away. Seems like a pretty good price for an item like this. Plus, it ships FREE with super saver shipping (orders over $25, so you'd have to add something else to your cart)!

CVS Deals, 10/18 - 10/24

Free Glade this week at CVS!! Good prices on Revlon, and deals on Halloween candy!!! Yeah!! There's even a scenario to score a FREE Transformer's DVD (Think: Christmas gift!!)

Go here for the list!

Thanks, Hip2Save!!

Gear Up for Holiday Baking

I'm liking this printable for $0.50 off Gold Medal flour. Use it at Hen House (or another store that doubles), and you'll score some inexpensive flour for your holiday baking. If you are like me, and already have a fresh bag, maybe pick some up during a sale and throw it in the freezer (freezes great to stay fresh!).

Old Navy ... Another Opportunity to Save!!

If you can't make it in during the extra 50% off clearance items promo going on now, then perhaps you'll save your energy for their 50% off ANYTHING promo starting 10/30!!

The Deal: Stuff & Save!! It runs 10/30 - 11/8. The first 50 customers on 10/30 will receive 50% off everything they can stuff inside the bag!! That's right -- anything!!

The only catch: you must use your Old Navy credit card. Don't have one? You can apply for one that day. Don't want a credit card balance going into prime holiday season? Turn right around and pay that balance off before you walk out of the store. I do this all the time at JC Penney and the Limited. This way you get the benefit of using the card, without the balance looming over you for a month (or longer!).

Are you seeing inexpensive Christmas gifts in your future?? I am!

CVS is Going Green!!

I was super excited to see this little beauty by the registers at my local CVS. I am an avid "green" bagger...I take my reusable bags everywhere I go. Now, CVS wants to PAY me to use them!!

Here's what you do: Buy this little guy, attach it to your reusable bag, and have it scanned each time you shop (along with your Extra Care card!!) For every 4 times it is scanned, you'll receive $1 Extra Buck!! Since I shop CVS at least one time per week, I'm thinking those ECBs will be printing out quite often. Yeah!!

Wags Deal Head's Up

HOT DEAL ALERT: Here's a head's up for next week at Walgreens. Starting 10/18, Wags will have Zantac 24-30 ct on sale for $8.99 with a $8.99 RR...FREE!

What's better than free?? A MONEY MAKER!! Use the $5 printable coupon here to pay $3.99 OOP, get a $9 RR, making this a $5 MM!!

I would print yours ASAP before the whole couponing world finds out about this deal and the coupon print limit is reached!!