Reasons to be Frugal

These days there are many reminders of why we should be frugal. The fall of the stock market, the biggest fall in consumer confidence in thirty years, and the housing crisis all seem to be the top stories anytime we turn on the news. The other day when I was watching CNN, I heard one of the commentators say that the current financial situation could mean that the United States will be forced into becoming a primarily cash economy. To me, that doesn't sound like an entirely bad thing.

The best reminders of the importance of frugality, though, are a part of our Deen (religion). The following sayings of the Prophet Muhammad are from The Content of Character: Ethical Sayings of the Prophet Muhammad.

• The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said, "Abandon desire for this world and God will love you. Abandon desire for others' goods, and people will love you." Ibn Majah

• The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said, "Fulfillment is not plenty of goods; rather, it is self-fulfillment." Al-Bukhari and Muslim

• The Messenger of God (peace be upon him) said, "God enriches the thrifty and impoverishes the spendthrift; God elevates the humble and whoever tyrannizes others God will crush him." Al-Bazar

Glade Plugin Deal Over

Well, it was supposed to last until the 2nd of November, but it looks like the Glade Warmer deal is over. Now, only one $4 off Catalina is printing no matter how many you buy.

This is a good reminder that any time there is a really great deal out there, it is best to take advantage early!

Free Soup at Safeway

Progresso Soups are on sale this week at Safeway for $1. Go here for a $1.10/1 coupon. The cashier will most likely have to adjust the coupon down.... so if you know who your coupon savvy cashiers are, go to their aisles!

Mommy Making Money has some good info on this week's Safeway deals here.

Also, if you have any more of the BOGO Glade warmer coupons (discussed here), remember, you only have until November 2nd to use them!

On Giving

So, it's been mentioned before, but bears mentioning again that the purpose of this blog is to provide information on deals so that people can save money for their families.

The bigger purpose, though, is that you will save money for your family and also be able to help others. It's not a stretch to shop all the deals at a store rather than just for items that your family can use!

This blog, though, was started for a group of friends trying to give more to others. Right now, I think, there are about four (one of whom started just last week) of us who are buying and two or three others who are collecting coupons. The top picture represents only some of what we were able to collect within about a month and a half of saving. All that is pictured is being donated. The bottom picture is the stockpile being sorted and packed up. Right now, we are giving to a shelter in DC and the Dar al Hijrah food bank. InshaAllah (God willing), this is just the beginning. The more people we have collecting coupons and shopping and, of course, with the help of Allah (God), I know that we can do so much more!

CVS Deals Week of 10/26 - 11/1

The deals this week at CVS are a little lackluster, in my opinion. Fortunately, though, there are great deals to be had at Kmart and Rite Aid!

Money Making Deals:

• Buy 4 Soy Joy Bars @ 4/$4, get $4 ECBs (Limit 1)
  
  • Coupons:
    
    • $3/5 printable here
    • B2G1 from the 10/19 SS
    • B1G1 from the 9/7 SS
      
      
• Buy Bic Comfort 3 Advance Shavers 4 ct @ $4.99 (or $5.99 in some areas) (Limit 4)
  
  • Coupon: $2/1 from the 10/12 SS

Free Deal:

• Buy Nova Max Blood Glucose Monitor System @ $9.99, get $9.99 ECBs (Limit 3 or 5, depending on your area)

Other Good Deals:

• Buy $20 worth of various participating pharmacy products, get $10 ECBs
  
  • There are a lot of participating items and matching coupons look here (scroll down) for a comprehensive list.

For more discussion of these deals, check out here on Slickdeals.

My Kmart Super Double Run

Here's the result of my trip to Kmart:

To be donated:

• 7 bottles of Oust
• 6 bottles of Dove Shampoo
• 1 Herbal Essences
• 4 L'Oreal eyeshadows

For my family:

• 1 Cascade Complete
• 1 Celestial Seasonings
• 6 Cacao Reserve Chocolates

I think that couponing really is catching on because I had coupons ready to buy a fair amount more, but the shelves were cleaned out! For information about where I got the coupons for these items, see here (with the exception of the Cascade Complete - I used a coupon from a home mailer). I ended up having to make three transactions. I went with a friend, so she did the second. Then, the third was because I picked up the wrong L'Oreal item (remember, it's only eye and face products that are BOGO).

The best part about this trip, though, (besides having a great friend like Tracey who doesn't coupon at all, but could be convinced to run all over Kmart with my two kids in tow) was the OOP. On the first trasaction, I used the $5/$50 and was given a $1.29 gift card. For Tracey's transaction, her total was $1.39, so she only paid a dime. Then, on #3 (which was just the four L'Oreal eyeshadows), my total was -$2.72, so the cashier handed me $2.72 out of the register! I don't think that all store allow overages like that, but I surely wasn't going to complain!

Alhamdulilah (All praise is due to God), I never thought that by using coupons, I could walk out of a store with that much merchandise and more money than I had walking in!

Kmart Super Double Coupons 10/26 - 11/1

It's already time again for Super Double Coupons at Kmart! For their Super Double Days, Kmart doubles all coupons up to and including $2. There is a limit of four of any item using double coupons and a limit of 75 coupons per customer per day. They do not accept internet coupons. Before you go, make sure that your store is participating here. Also, I've heard it suggested to have a copy of the Kmart circular in your hands when you checkout (with the Super Double Coupons mentioned on it) so that you are guaranteed to get your coupons doubled.

Don't forget to register for their emails here, and you'll receive a coupon for $5/$50!

Here are some of the matchups I'm noticing so far (prices may vary store to store).

Free Deals:

• Celestial Seasoning tea @ 2/$5 and you get $1 catalina coupon at check out when you buy two.
  
  • Coupon: $1/1 from the 10/5 SS
    (Free after coupon + catalina)


• Herbal Essence @ $3.79
  
  • Coupon: $2/1 from the 9/7 RP
    


• Gillette Shampoo @ $3.50
  
• Coupon: $2/1 from the 9/28 P&G
  


• Ice Breakers Gum @ $.99
  
• Coupon: $1/2 from the 9/7 SS
  


• Oust Surface Disinfectant @ $2.50
  
  • Coupon: $1.50/1 from the 10/26 SS


• Endust Free @ $3.29
  
  • Coupon: $2/1 from the 9/7 RP

• Revlon Beauty Tools (any item under $2 - emery boards, nail clippers, tweezers)
  
  • Coupon: $1/1 from the 9/14 SS, 10/12 SS, 10/19 SS

• Dove Shampoo/Conditioner @ $3.79
  
  • Coupon: $2/1 from the 10/12 RP
    
    
• L'Oreal Face and Eye Makeup BOGO (I saw prices in the $4-$6 range)
  
  • Coupon: $2/1 L'Oreal Makeup from the 9/7 RP and 10/5 RP
    

Other Good Deals:

• Hershey's Cacao Reserve Chocolate @ $2.50
  
  • Coupon: $1/1 from the 9/28 SS
    

More discussion about the Super Double Coupons (including more scenarios and participating stores) is available here on Slickdeals.