Back to the Basics – Make Your Own Baby Food

September 30, 2009 By 8 Comments
baby

baby

The cost of baby food can really add up. I started making my own baby food with our second daughter. (Isn’t she cute!) Anyway, it is so easy to do. As you know, we grow our own organic produce, but even if you don’t just check out my lists of produce that is in season on the first of each month to find the cheapest prices for those items.

Making the food is so simple and doesn’t take much time. When my baby’s first start eating, and I am introducing one food at a time, I just spend a day making different foods. I love the variety of foods that I can give my kids this way.

For veggies, I just steam them, then put them in the food processor with a little bit of water. Once they are the consistency I want, I pour the food into ice cube trays and freeze them. Once the cubes are completely frozen, I pop them out and put them into labeled ziploc bags in the freezer.

With most fruits, I don’t cook them. I just wash them, peel them and cut them into large chunks. I put them in the food processor with a little bit of water (less than with the veggies.)  Once the cubes are completely frozen, I pop them out and put them into labeled ziploc bags in the freezer. Note some fruit won’t need any water. Also, I tried watermellon one time and it did not work at all, but all of the rest of the fruits I tried worked great!

Once my daughter is ready for the same foods that we eat, I just put a little bit of our food into a mini food processor with a little bit of water if needed, or I just mash it up with a fork. On the days that we are eating foods that she can’t have yet, I can pull out the veggies, oatmeal and fruits that I have stored in the freezer.

To make homemade oatmeal, I just put oatmeal in the food processor until it is very fine. Then I cook it per the directions, pour it into icecube trays and freeze it. Once it is frozen, I pop the cubes out and freeze them in ziploc bags.

This really doesn’t take long and is so healthy. I honestly just spend one or two days and I have enough baby food to last until they are eating table food.  I hope this helps you make some budget saving baby food for your baby!

Filed Under: Basics for Beginners, Budget Saving Tips, organic

Lowe’s Foods Budget Saving Deals 9/30

September 30, 2009 By 1 Comment

Weekly Deals:

Oscar Mayer Bacon – B1G1 – $2.74 sale price
Use $1.50 off 2 Sunday paper 8/30
Final price $4.48/2

Smart Ones Dinner – $1.98
Use $2 off 8 here,
or $3 off 10 here,
or $1 off 5 here,
or $4 off 10 here

Yoplait Yogurt – $.50
$.50 off 6 here,
or $.75 off 2 Sunday paper 9/13
Final price free

Edy’s Ice Cream – B1G1 – $2.65 sale price
Use $1 Sunday paper 8/23
Final price $1.65

Aunt Jemima Pancakes/Entrees – B1G1 – $.90+ sale price
Use $1 off 2 Sunday paper 8/16
Final price $.80 for 2

Oikos Greek Yogurt – $1.00
Use $.50 here,
or $1 Sunday paper 9/27
Final price FREE

Trop50 OJ – $2.50
Use $1 here,
or $1 off 2 or $1 Sunday paper 9/13
Final price $1.50

Michelinas Dinners – $1.00
Use $1 off 5 here, or here, or here, or here
Final price $4 off 5

Country Crock – $2.00
Use $.55 here, or here,
or $.30 Sunday paper 9/20
Final price as low as $.90

California Pizza – $5.99
$1 Sunday paper 9/27
Final price $4.99

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks – B1G1 – $1.37 sale price
Use $.50 here,
or $1 off 2 Sunday paper  8/9,
or $.40 Sunday paper 8/9,
or $1 Sunday paper 8/9,
or $.50 off 2 here,
or $.40 here
 Final price as low as $.37

Fiber One Chewy Bars – $2.50
Use $.40 here, or Sunday paper 9/13,
or $1 off 2 here,
or $1 off 2 Sunday paper 9/13
Final price as low as $1.70

Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix – $2.00
Use $1 off 2 Sunday paper 9/30,
or $1 off 2 Sunday paper 8/30
Final price $3 for 2

Ragu Sauce – $2.99
Use $.60 off 2 Sunday paper 9/13, or here,
or $1.25 off 3 Sunday paper 9/13,
or $.75 off 2 Sunday paper 9/13
Final price as low as $4.48 for 2

Ronzoni Healthy Harvest – $1.25
Use $1 off 2 here, or here
Final price  $1.50 for 2

Wisk Detergent – B1G1 – $3.50
Use $1 here
Final price $2.50

Charmin 12pk/6pk – $6.99
Use $.25 Sunday paper 8/30,
or $1off 2 Sunday paper 8/30,
or $.25 Sunday paper 7/19
or $.50 Sunday paper 9/20
or $1.50 off 2 Say paper 9/20
Final price as low as $5.99

Bounty 8pk/6pk – $6.99
Use $1 Sunday paper 8/23
Final price $5.99

Bounty Napkins – $2.49
Use $1 Sunday paper 8/30
Final price $1.49

Purex 3-in-1 – $5.99
Use $1 here,
or $1 Sunday paper 8/16
Final price $4.99

2000 Flushes Toilet Cleaner – $2.99
Use $1 here,
or $.55 Sunday paper 7/26,
or $1 Sunday paper 8/16
Final price as low as $1.89

Glade Sense & Spray – $5.99
Use $4 here, or Sunday paper 8/23
Final price $1.99

Palmolive Dish Soap – $2.50
Use $1 here,
or $.75 Sunday paper 9/27,
or $1 Sunday paper 9/13,
or $.75 here
Final price as low as $1

Kelloggs Cereal – Frosted Bite Size Mini Wheats, Raisin Bran Crunch, Raisin Bran – B1G1 – $1.86
Use $1.50 here,
or $1 off 2 Sunday paper 8/23,
or $1 off 3 Sunday paper 9/13,
or $2 off 2 Sunday paper 8/30
or $1 off 2  here
 or $.75 Sunday paper 8/9
Final price as low as $.36

General Mills cereal – Multi-Grain Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Cheerios, Fiber One, Total Whole Grain – $2.50
Use $1 off 2 here, or Sunday paper 8/30
or $.75 here
 or $.55 here, or here
or $.75 here
or $1 off 3 Sunday paper 9/13
or $1 off 2 Sunday paper 9/27
Final price as low as $1

Nabisco Crackers – B1G1 – $1.66 sale price
Use $1 off 2 here
or $.75 off 2 Sunday paper 8/23
Final price as low as $1.82 for 2

Kraft Singles – $2.50
Kraft Phiadelphia Cream Cheese – $1.50
Kraft Shredded Cheese – $1.66
Simply Orange – $3.00
Healthy Choice Dinners – $2.50
Kraft Chunk Cheese – $2.00
Home Run Inn Pizza – $5.99
Savannah Classics Hushpuppies – $1.25
Thomas English Muffins – B1G1 – $1.49 sale price
Deli Pumpkin/Apple Pie – $3.00
Deli Cinnamon Rolls – B1G1 – $1.49 sale price
Aquarius Water 24pk – $2.99
Natures Pride Bread – $1.50
Hershey’s King Size Candy – B1G1
Green Giant Canned Veggies – $1.00
Kraft BBQ sauce – $1.25
Hunt’s Ketchup – $2.00
Betty Crocker Muffin Mix – $2.00
Marie Callender Homestyle Creations – $2.99
Sweet Sixteen Donuts – B1G1 – $1.50 sale price
Van Camp’s Baked Beans – $1.25
Frito Lay Dips – $2.50
Kool-Aid Jammers – $2.00
Nabisco Easy Cheese – $2.99
Tostitos Chips – $3.50
Maxwell House Coffee – $6.99
Capri Sun – $2.50
Deer Park Water – $.99
Aquafina 24pk – $4.99
Pepsi 2LT – $1.25
Puffs Facial Tissue – $1.00

Lowes Foods Brands:

Bratwurst – $2.79lb
Lunch Meat – $3.50
Bacon – $2.79
12pk Drinks – $1.75 (Limit 4) e-offer
Animals Cookies – B1G1 – $.99 sale price
Salad Dressing – $2.00
Worcestershire Sauce – $.99
Bath Tissue – $2.25
Paper Towels – $4.49
Fabric Softener Sheets – B1G1 – $.87 sale price
Dishwaser Detergent – $2.29
Plastic Cups – $1.29
Plates – $2.00

Produce:

White Potatoes 5lb – B1G1 – $1.99 sale price
Grape Tomatoes – $2.50
Better Valu Red Delicious Apples – $3.99
Jumbo Sweet Onions – $1.29lb
Cantaloupes – $2.99
Washington D’Anjou pears – $1.29lb
Hot House Cucumbers – $1.50
Fresh Express – $1.69
Crown Broccoli – $1.99lb
Roma Tomatoes – $1.69lb

Meat and Seafood:

Boneless London Broil – $2.49 lb
Ground Beef – $1.99lb
Sanderson Farms Chicken Breast – $.99lb
Boneless Thin Sliced Round Steak – $3.99lb
Lauras Lean Ground Round – $5.99
Lauras Lean Sirloin Steak – $8.99lb
Fresh Ground Meatballs – $3.99lb
Boneless Top Round Steak – $2.99lb
Perdue Chicken Thighs/Drummsticks – $.99lb
Sanderson Farms Boneless Chicken Breast – $3.99lb
Perdue Boneless Skinless chicken – $2.99lb
Grobbel Corned Beef – $3.49lb
Boneless Ribeye Steak – $8.99lb
Boneless Sirloin Tip Roast – $4.29lb
Fresh Ground Beef – $3.79lb
Center Cut Boneless Pork Chops – $4.79lb
Fresh Ground Italian Sausage – $2.79lb
Fresh Meatloaf Mix – $3.79lb
Cod Filets – $5.99
Naturally Fresh Cocktail/Tartar Sauce – B1G1 – sale price $1.74
Virginia Pride Oysters – $5.99
Gortons Grilled Shimp – $5.99
Sashimi Tuna Steak – $7.49lb
Carolina Crab Cakes – $3.00
Carolina Flounder Filet – $7.99lb
Kanimi Crab Smart – $3.79lb
Haddock/Cod Filet – $3.00

These are the best budget saving deals I see at Lowes Foods this week. Leave a comment in you see any budget saving deals I missed.

Thanks Coupon Kim for helping me out while my sis is out of town!

Filed Under: Lowe's Foods

Harris Teeter 9/30 Budget Saving Deals

September 30, 2009 By Leave a Comment

harris teeter

These are the best budget saving deals I see at Harris Teeter this week. If you are new to Harris Teeter, you will want to check out my post here. If you are new to couponing, check out my posts here and here.

E-VIC Item

Campbell’s Chunky Soup 18.8oz .88¢ (limit 1)

Meal of the Week

Full Meal for $7.99

Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage, 14-16 oz.
Harris Teeter Instant Long Grain Rice, 14 oz.
Farmers Market Bagged Salad, 2lb.
Harris Teeter Frozen Green Peas, 16 oz.
Harris Teeter Cream of Celery Soup, 10.5 oz.
Harris Teeter Sliced Mushrooms, 4 oz.
Harris Teeter Swiss Cheese, 14 oz.

Game Day Meal

Everything for $7.99

Fried Chicken, 8pc.
Potato Salad, 1 lb.
Macaroni Salad, 1 lb.
Fresh Foods Market Tea or Lemonade, 1gal.

Buy 1 Get 1 FREE:

New England Coffee, 12 oz., $6.49
Use $1 coupon here
Final price 2.24

Scotties Facial Tissue, $1.39
Use $.50 off of 3, Sunday paper  9/13, 8/09
or $1 off of 5, Sunday paper 9/13, 8/09
Final price varies

Emerald Whole Cashews or Mixed Nuts, 10 oz., $6.59
Use $1 off 2 Sunday paper 7/26 (expires 9/30)
Use $1 Sunday paper 7/26 (expires 9/30)
Final price varies

Palermo’s Pizza, 13-32 oz., $6.99
Use $1  coupon here
Final price $2.49

Orville Redenbacher’s Popcorn, 4.5–9.5 oz., $2.95
Use $1.50 Popcorn and M&M’s here,

or $1 off 2 Sunday paper  8/02,
or $.40 Sunday paper 8/02 (exp 9/30)
Final price as low as free

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner, 24 oz., $2.99
Use $.75 Sunday paper 9/13,
or $.50 here
Final price free

La Brea Sourdough or French Loaf, $3.99
Lay’s Potato Chips, 10.5-11 oz., $3.99
Sunny Delight, 64oz., $1.95
Mystic Pizza, 15.8 oz., $5.39
Keebler Zesta Crackers, 16 oz., $2.99
Phillips Natural Light Bulbs 4pk, $3.59
Vegetable Fed Ground Chicken, 16 oz., $5.99
Famous Amos Cookies, 15 oz., $4.19
McCormick Taco Seasoning, 1-1.5 oz., $0.99

Weekly Deals:

Sliced Land O Frost Lunchmeat, 16 oz., $3.99
Use $1  Sunday paper 8/09
Final price $2.99

John Morrell Off The Bone Lunchmeat, 10 oz., $3.50
Use Buy one get one free here
Final price $3.50 for 2

Butterball Deep Fried Sliced Turkey, 8 oz., $3.50 ea
Use $1 here
Final price $2.50

Tide Laundry Detergent, 100 oz., $9.99
Use $1 Sunday paper 9/27
Final price $8.99

Clorox Bleach, 96 oz., .99¢

Success Rice 14oz., $2 ea
Use $1 here, or here,
or $1 Sunday paper 8/30
Final price $1

Yo Baby Yogurt $2.99 ea
Use $.75  here,
or $.50 here
Final price as low as $1.49

Blue Bunny Aspen Frozen Treats $3.33 ea
Use $2 Sunday paper 8/02
Final price $1.33

Cabot Cheese 8 oz $2 ea
Use $1 off 3 Sunday paper 8/02
Final price $5 for 3

Campbell’s Select Harvest Soup $1.50 ea
Use $.50 off 2 Sunday paper 9/13, 10/04,
or $.40 off 2 Sunday paper 9/13, 10/04
Final price varies

Duke’s Mayonnaise 18., $2.50 ea
Use $.55 here,
or $.50 Sunday paper 8/16 (expires 9/30)
Final price varies

Betty Crocker Warm Delights $1.66 ea
Use $.50 Sunday paper 9/13, 8/09 or here, here,
or $1 Sunday paper 9/13, 8/09
Final price varies

Pringles 6.8oz can $1.50 ea
Use $1 off 2 Sunday paper 9/27,
or $.50 Sunday paper 9/27
Final price varies

Produce:

Red Seedless Grapes .99¢ lb
Courtland or Macintosh Applies .99¢ lb
Yellow or White Onions .79¢ lb
Russet Potatoes 8lb bag $3.97

Meat/Seafood:

Rancher Beef Bone-In Rib Steaks, $4.77/lb.
EZ Peel White Shrimp or Cod Fillets, 31-40ct., $4.98
Fresh Whole Fryer Chicken, $0.57/lb.
USDA Choice HT Reserve Angus Beef Bone-In Rib Steak, $5.77/lb.
USDA Choice HT Reserve Angus Beef Chuck Tender Roast, $2.99/lb
Gwaltney Great Dogs, 16 oz., $0.97
Wild Caught Frozen Cod Fillets $4.98/lb.
Fresh Whole Rainbow Trout, $3.99/lb.

Harris Teeter Brand Sales:

Antibacterial Liquid Soap, 7.5 oz. $1 ea
Resealable Sandwich Bags, 50 ct. $1 ea
Lotion Facial Tissue, 3-Ply 65 ct. $1 ea
White Facial Tissue Cube, 85 ct. $1 ea
White Facial Tissue, 160 ct. $1 ea
Penne Rigate, Medium Shells, 16 oz., $1 ea
Toaster Pastries, 11 oz. $1 ea
Raisins or Mini Snack Pack Raisins, 6 pk. $1 ea
Canned White Chicken, 4.5 oz. $1 ea
Spring Water, 3L. $1 ea

If you see any budget saving deals that I missed, please leave a comment!

This post is part of Drugstore Divas’ Supermarket Social.

This post is part of the Grocery Gathering hosted by Be CentsAble!

Thanks Coupon Kim for helping me out while my sis was out of town!

Filed Under: Harris Teeter

Back to the Basics – Balancing Life and Deals

September 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

A lot of people have been asking me how in the world I can do ALL of this and still be a wife and mom. The answer is: I pick and choose what I do. I don’t go to all of these stores every week. I post what the best deals are so that each of you can look and decide what will be most beneficial for your family that week. After seeing what deals there are, I pick which stores have the most items I need. Then, in between naps, meals, homeschooling, etc. I head to those stores.

How to do this with the KID factor:
It will be different for each of you, but I want to encourage you that you can do it. I have a newborn, a two year old, and a 10 year old. Before you think to yourself, well – she’s got a built in helper with her 10 year old, that’s how she can do it. While I love my eldest greatly, first, a lot of times (with all of her activities) she isn’t with me, and she’s a typical 10 year old – a bit scattered at times and extremely distracting. She’s a joy to be with, but not the most helpful when it comes to shopping – except for when she grabs the blinkie coupons at the stores :).

So, here’s my scenario: as soon as I finish feed my baby I pack the kids up and head out with my 2 year old’s breakfast and drink in tow. The night before I have planned out exactly which stores I will be hitting and pulled my coupons that I will be using and put them into envelopes labeled with the store names. So, when I get out of the van I have the following things with me:

1. A list for that store of exactly what I will be getting – this is usually my blog post edited down for just exactly what my family will use and those things I can get for free (to donate) and things I can make money on.
2. The sales paper into each store with my list (actually, I typically forget this, but pick one up as I walk into the store – hey – I’ve got three kids! :)
3. My coupons in an envelope labeled with the store name.
4. My coupon book (that stays closed in the bottom of the stroller until the end when if the kids are cooperating and if I have time I look through the clearance items in the store to see if I can match up any coupons.

So, that’s how I do it. My sister who has three kids under three asked me to time how long I actually spend in each store. So, I did – on average, I spend 15-18 minutes in each store. This is obviously going to take longer at first because you have to learn the layout of the store and get used to it.

***Family is most important. There are weeks that I have had to take the week off from couponing to spend time with my kids. So, I balance this with my desire to live a frugal lifestyle and be able to budget and save money for my family.***

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Back to the Basics – The Wonders of Vinegar

September 29, 2009 By Leave a Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vinegar is an amazing product! It is so versatile, and you can do SO much with it. We always keep white distilled vinegar around our house. Vinegar is not only used in cooking, there are many other uses.

What makes vinegar so special? It is slightly acidic, will kill mold, bacteria and even weeds. Here are some ways to use vinegar.

1.  As a weed killer.
(My hubby goes out and sprays for weeds on occasion, and I really hate to see him spraying poison, so I tried something different, straight vinegar. I had heard that it would work, gave it a try and it was shocking to see. My hubby had sprayed poison on one area and the plants didn’t die, I sprayed straight white distilled vinegar and my weeds died. And, I didn’t have to be around any poison. As an added budget saving bonus, white vinegar is a lot cheaper than weed killers you find in the store.)

2. Mix vinegar and water and use it to clean your windows and mirrors.

3. To clean the microwave, put a bowl of half vinegar and half water in the microwave, heat it to boiling and wiped out the microwave easily.

4. To get rid of ants (Spray some vinegar where they are coming in.)

5. Keep boiled eggs from cracking. (Add a tablespoon to your water before boiling.)

6. Use as a cleaner by mixing equal parts vinegar and water. (This works great on the fridge and eliminates odors as well.)

7. Make buttermilk. (Add 1 tablespoon vinegar to 1 cup of milk. Let is stand for a 4 or 5 minutes and you have buttermilk. I never buy buttermilk anymore because this is so much cheaper.)

8. Get stains off your aluminum cookware. (Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to 1 cup of water, boil and the black stains will be removed.)

9. As a bathroom cleaner. (Use one part vinegar to one part water. Put it in a spray bottle and you have instant, inexpensive, safe cleaner.)

I am sure that there are many more uses, but these are some of my favorites. If you have any similar budget saving vinegar tips, I would love to hear!

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Filed Under: Homemade Products/DIY, Organic