*Saving you some money in the Rock River Valley*


Welcome to our blog! While a lot of our deals may be specific to the Rockford area, you'll find many deals that are also good nationwide! We hope that our blog will be fun, informative, and that it will help you SAVE SOME MONEY!

Read here about our "Coupon Ethics"

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Rockford's Money Smart Week and Couponing 101

Here is some great news! Rockford's Money Smart Week starts April 17th - April 24th, read more about that here from the Register Star. The fun news . . . We get to help the Rockford Public Library kick off Money Smart Week by teaching Couponing 101 at the Montague Branch on April 17th at 1pm! Read more details here.

Of course there will be giveaways, but most importantly we hope that you can learn something new to help make you Money Smart!!

Two Fun Frugal Easter Recipes

For Easter, I was searching the internet for a Resurrection cookie recipe and came across that recipe and another fun and frugal Resurrection roll recipe. They both are very inexpensive and are great object lessons for the kids.

For some reason I can not find the site I found them on but I do remember the blogger I read also could not remember where she had acquired the recipes either.

Most of the items for both recipes you probably already have on hand or in your stockpile. I had to buy one item from each recipe but so far my kids loved the Resurrection rolls. Next up the Resurrection cookies!

RESURRECTION COOKIES

You need:
• 1 cup whole pecans or chocolate chips
• Mixing bowl
• 3 egg whites
• Wooden spoon
• 1 cup sugar
• Bible
• 1 tsp. vinegar
• Zipper baggy
• 1 pinch of salt
• Wax paper
• Cookie sheet
• Tape
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Place pecans or chocolate chips in the baggy and let the children beat them with the wooden spoon to break into small pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.
Read John 19:1-3
Let child smell the vinegar.
Put 1 tsp. into mixing bowl.
Explain that when Jesus was thirsty on the cross, He was given vinegar to drink.
Read John 19:28-30
Add egg whites to the vinegar.
Eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life for our life.
Read John 10:10-11

Sprinkle a little salt into each child’s hand let them taste it then brush the rest into the bowl.
Explain that represents the salty tears shed by Jesus followers, and the bitterness of our own sin…
Read Luke 23:27
So far the ingredients are not very appetizing.
Add 1 cup sugar.
Explain that the sweetest part of this story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.
Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

Beat with mixer on high speed for 11-15 minutes until stiff peaks are formed.
Explain that the color white represents the purity in God’s eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.
Read Isaiah 1:18 and John 3:1-3
Fold in broken nuts or chocolate chips.
Drop by tsp.onto waxed paper-covered cookie sheet.
Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus body was laid.
Read Matt. 27:65-66
Put cookies sheet in the oven.
Close door and turn oven OFF.
Give each child a piece of tape and seal the door.
Explain that Jesus tomb was sealed.
Read Matt. 27:65-66

Go to bed!
Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight.
Jesus followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.
Read John 16:20 and 22
On Resurrection Morning open the oven and give everyone a cookie!
Notice the cracked surface and take a bite.
The cookies are hollow!
On the first Resurrection Day Jesus followers were amazed to find the tomb open and empty.
Read Matt. 28:1-9
He Has Risen! Hallelujah!


RESURRECTION ROLLS

Resurrection Rolls
Each item represents how Jesus’ body was prepared for burial.
• Large marshmallows
• Melted butter
• Sugar/cinnamon mixture
• Can of crescent rolls

1. Open can of crescent rolls and separate into triangles. The rolls represent the linen wrapping used in covering the dead.
2. Dip and roll one marshmallow (representing Jesus’ body) into melted butter. The butter represents the oils used in anointing the dead body.
3. Roll the marshmallow in the sugar/cinnamon mixture. The mixture represents the spices used in burials.
4. Place the marshmallow in the center of the crescent triangle. Fold and pinch the edges tight. Put each crescent-wrapped marshmallow on a slightly greased cookie sheet.
5. Bake the rolls as directed on the package. The oven represents the tomb.
When cooked, the marshmallow melts leaving only the puffed crescent roll. This demonstrates how Jesus rose from the dead. All that remained in the tomb were the linen wrappings.

A confession and a great deal!

I have a confession to make: I have not been a good penny-pincher these past few months. Ever since the earthquake in Haiti, our lives have been a little crazy. I feel like I've been at least 2 weeks behind on everything - including couponing! I have 3 weeks worth of coupons to clip, and I think I might have used 5 coupons these past 2.5 months! Eek!

As you might have noticed, that also has meant that I haven't been good at finding (and reporting on this blog) good deals that are going on! Thanks for your patience. I think that these next few weeks should be good for catching up on things (although I haven't even starting our income taxes - double eek!).

Having said that, I wanted to let you know about a GREAT deal going on at Mary Hunt's website. I've talked in the past about her great books on finances and penny-pinching. Well, they're having a "Garage Sale" here with many of her books for $1.99 plus shipping. I HIGHLY recommend the "Live Your Life for Half the Price." It normally retails for over $23, but since these are missing the dust jackets, they're only $1.99. Even with the estimated $3.77 shipping ($4.16 for 2 books), this beats Amazon's deal by almost $15!

30% off one item at Old Navy Coupon

Need an item to finish out an Easter outfit or an Easter basket? Check out this 30% off printable coupon from Old Navy good on any single item in the store. The coupon is good through 4/4.

Huggies Deal at CVS through April 3rd

Here is a great Huggies Deal at CVS through Saturday!

Buy 2 packages of Huggies - 2/$17.98 get $5 in ECB's (limit 1)
Print 2 $3 off coupons here
Pay $3.49 a package after coupon and ECB's

Even better?! . . . make sure you scan your CVS card at the coupon scanner because I received a CVS coupon for $2 off any baby purchase of $10 or more which made them $2.49 a package!

Also, from the coupon scanner I received a $1 off any CVS shampoo or conditioner product. There are three kinds of shampoo and conditioners that are $.99 so they are free.

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Cheap Pampers at CVS this week!

Here is a great deal at CVS this week on Pampers:

Pampers jumbos are on sale for $8.97 plus get $3 in ECB's
Use $2 off coupons from recent newspaper inserts OR
if you were lucky to get the home mailer Use $3 off coupon OR
Use $1.50 off coupon from the recent P&G insert
$3.97 (if you use the $2 coupon) after coupon and ECB's

The deal limit is stated as 2 in the weekly flyer but keep an eye on your receipt because it allowed me to do the deal 3 times. Until your receipt says offer limit reached you can do another deal.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

CVS Right Guard deal and and Update on Dove/Degree deal

I made it to CVS yesterday and wanted to first update you on this deal posted here. The only coupon that will work toward this deal is the Degree men's coupon. So, in order to do it with just deodorant you will need 3 - $3/2 Degree men's coupons to get a great deal otherwise mix and match some other Dove/Degree products and coupons.

My CVS did not have any of the Degree girl's and the Dove on sale is not the Dove ultimate. (Thanks reader Jennifer for confirming the same reminding me to get this posted!)

Now in case you still need deodorant and don't want to do the above deal. Try this one.

Right Guard Deodorant - 2/$5 get $2 in ECB's
Use 2 - $1.50 off 1 printable coupons here
Free after ECB's and Coupons
(Total Defense 5 is included in the sale)

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Upcoming Deodarant Deal at CVS

STARTING SUNDAY (14) at CVS there will be a deodorant deal where you can get 6 Dove Deodorants for $1 after coupons and ECB's. Here is the deal:

Buy 6 Dove or Degree Deodorant products - $2.50 each
Buy $15 (6) and get $5 in ECB's
Use 3 of the $3 off 2 coupons found here
Pay $1 for 6 deodorants after ECB's and coupons

That's a great deal as it has been a LONG time since we have seen a good deal on deodorant!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Starbucks deals!

Currently Starbucks is running a promotion to earn a FREE pound of one of their new Bold coffees. Here is how it works . . .
Stop in anytime before March 14th and get a cup of Yukon Blend and a sticker on your "passport". The Passports are only available through the 14th. Then come back each week for a cup of their bold coffee and get another sticker on your passport. Once you have all eight stamps you can turn in your passport for a FREE pound of Bold Coffee!!

Weekly schedule:
3/9-3/14 — Yukon Blend
3/15-3/21 — Italian Roast
3/22-3/28 — East Africa Blend
3/29-4/4 — Komodo Dragon Blend
4/5-4/11 — CaffĂ© Verona
4/12-4/18 — CafĂ© Estima Blend
4/19-4/25 — Gold Coast Blend
4/26-5/3 — Sumatra

You can get any size coffee but a tall is only $1.50! One offer per person. Visit Starbucks here for more info.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Hilander (Kroger) is having a cool March to Savings sweepstakes. You can play every day in March. When you sign in, you will be entered for the sweepstakes, and also get a chance to shoot some hoops.

In the 3 days I've played, I've won 3 times: a 20oz Coke Zero, a package of Oscar Mayer hotdogs, and just today a $5 in-store credit! You'll need your loyalty card to play, and if you win an instant prize like I did, it gets put on your card. So next time I go to Hilander (Kroger), I can purchase those two things and it should be free since it's credited on my card! Woohoo!

Thanks MoneySavingMom!

FREE Coffee at the NEW Road Ranger

Visit the new Road Ranger on the corner of Riverside & Mulford anytime during the month of March and get a FREE Coffee or hot chocolate!!

I LOVE the new Road Ranger . . . FIRST because it has a drive thru! A gas station with a drive thru!!! No more taking the kids in and out if I want to get a coffee at the gas station after filing up and SECOND . . . two words. . . COFFEE BAR! They have an amazing coffee bar/station with any topping, syrups, and creamers you want. I made Austin a FREE hot chocolate with whip cream and caramel. YUMMY!

Enjoy!
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