Mommie Cheapest

A Few Deals Around the Web

My inbox was full of deals this morning! Here are a couple of the best ones for today:

Kohl's - 50% off lots of items and free shipping over $75 (good today, July 21 only)

Barnes & Noble - Summer Kids' Sale! Books B1G1 50% off, games and puzzles B2G1 free, up to 40% off DVDs, up to 33% off kids; music, and $5 off kids' magazines!

Yankee Candle - Take $10 off any purchase $25 or more with this Yankee Candle printable coupon or online with coupon code XF004E2 (ends August 8).

Get 70% Off Restaurant.com $25 Gift Cert. Use code TASTY and pay $3 through 7/22/10.

LeapFrog and Stride Rite: 25% Off at Both

LeapFrog is currently offering a coupon code for 25% off your purchase site wide. Use code SAVE25 to get 25% off all items, including sale merchandise, some of which is being reported as half off or more already. Shipping is free for orders of $40 or more. The FridgeTalk Magnetic Wordplay Recorder (shown above) reduces from $21.99 to just $7.50 with coupon code! You can also shop LeapFrog through Ebates and get 3% back on your purchases! Don't forget, if you are a new signup with Ebates, you also get a $5 bonus!

Also, Stride Rite is having a Friends and Family sale from May 27 - May 31, 2010. You can use the coupon found here to take 25% off in Stride Rite stores, or use coupon code FFMAY25 at their website during those dates.

Thanks for the tips, Baby Cheapskate!

Make Your Own Butter (No Churn Required)

 

When I was a Kindergarten teacher, we would make homemade butter as part of our Thanksgiving celebration. The kids loved it and took a real sense of pride in making something like butter, which we all take for granted normally! But I never thought about making your own butter from a frugal point of view.

Then the other day, Crystal from The Thrifty Mama posted about making her own butter. She noted that she was able to get the Horizon Organic Whipping Cream for $.88. That and a little salt (if desired) is all you need to make organic butter, and $.88 is a lot cheaper than most organic butter I have ever seen!

Here is how you can make your own butter:

• heavy whipping cream
• small amount of salt (if desired)

1. Pour cream into a container with a tight seal. We used a jelly jar so the kids could see the cream change to butter as we went. If you are making a small amount, you can use recycled baby food jars (but put that lid on tight!). Whatever you use, just make sure it doesn't leak!
2. Add salt if you are using it. You can also add honey or cinnamon or dill or whatever you want!
3. Shake vigorously for 5 - 10 minutes. Ok, let's be real. Unless you are a gym rat, it might be more like 20. Ok let's be really real. You can do this in a blender or food processor, but that's cheating. If you're comfortable cheating, well, go for it. I, for one, am very comfortable cheating.
4. There will be a watery substance that separates from the butter as it thickens. Get rid of it. I have always heard it is buttermilk, but whatever it is, it will spoil your butter right quick if you don't pour it out. You can even rinse the top of your butter with a little cold water after you dump the buttermilk for insurance.
5. That's it! Keep in the fridge. There are no preservatives, so it doesn't last as long as store bought butter, so just make as much as you'll use in a few days.

This is not only a fun and extremely easy food project for the kids, but it's true -- it can be done on the cheap!

Thanks to Thrifty Mama for the great money saving idea!

Free Books and Money For Your Kids!

 

I have a horrible confession. I don't read. Like, AT ALL. I am well-educated, a former teacher, and reasonably intelligent. I just HATE. TO. READ. I think I fulfilled a lifetime of reading in college or something, because I can't even concentrate on reading the baby name book my husband and I bought the other day.

However, I am ALL FOR kids reading, especially through the summer. I fully intend on forcing encouraging our daughter to be a year-round reader when she's old enough!

Here are a couple summer reading programs that can net your child a completely FREE book! Plus, don't forget to find out how your child can get money for their bank account just for reading this summer as well!

Barnes & Noble:  Kids 12 and younger can get a FREE book when they read 8 titles. They just keep track on a "Passport to Reading" form and turn it in to any Barnes & Noble store before September 7, 2010.

Borders:  Kids 12 and younger can get a FREE book when they read 10 titles. They keep track on a "Double Dog Dare" form and turn it in to any Borders store before August 26, 2010.

Thanks for the free book tips, Common Sense With Money!

$.75/1 Beech Nut Product Coupons

Here are two very nice (especially if your store doubles coupons) printable coupons from Beech Nut! Have your printer ready because once you click, they begin to print right away. You can print two of each. Thanks for the tip, Money Saving Madness!

$.75/1 ANY Beech Nut Let's Grow Product

$.75/1 Beech Nut Let's Grow Tummy Trays

Supercuts: $5 Off a Haircut

 

Can't differentiate your kids from your shaggy dog? Is every day a bad hair day? If you enter to win a chance to go to the ESPY Awards, you’ll be able to then print a coupon for $5 off a haircut at Supercuts. Plus, you might win the trip! I have heard this coupon is a .pdf, so you may be able to print more than one for each person in your family.

Thanks for the tip, Cha-Ching on a Shoestring!

Gymboree: 30% Off Printable Coupon

(Tell me that's not cute.)

Gymboree is offering a coupon for 30% off your total purchase to use until this Sunday, May 16, 2010. Coupon is also good online using code REWARDSCOF. Plus, you will earn $25 Gymbucks for every $50 you spend... not a bad deal!

Thanks for the tip, Stretching a Buck!

Free Sample: Huggies Pull-Ups

Is your kid of potty training age? Costco is giving away a free sample of Huggies Pull Ups here.  There are two Pull-Ups in the sample pack and you can choose if you want Pull-Ups designed for a boy or for a girl. You do not need to be a member of Costco to receive this sample.

I have a question... does pretty much everyone use these while potty training? I have a while to worry about this, but I wasn't really planning on using any "transition" underwear. However, I have never potty trained before. Am I a fool if I don't use these?

Thanks for the free sample tip, Common Sense With Money!

Walmart: Step2 Two-Sided Easel, $24.54

If you haven't heard, Walmart has launched a bunch of new items on Rollback, so the prices are better than ever. This is one find I had to share!

This Step2 Easel for Two was $37.97, now it's just $24.54! Shipping is FREE if you ship to a store near you, or just a few bucks if you have it delivered to your house (it was $4.97 for me). This is a great price on an easel, these are normally $40 and up. And I love the fact that it is 2-sided, with a chalkboard on one side and a dry erase board on the other. You can also clip paper to it. It also has storage area in the middle and shelves on both sides. And you don't have to put it together!

Click here to check it out!

Stride Rite: 20% Off $50

Kids need shoes?

Stride Rite is offering a coupon for 20% off your purchase of $50 or more. You can print and bring the coupon to a Stride Rite store, or shop online using code SUN20. If you shop online, shipping is FREE with two or more pairs purchased. Both deals expire May 13, 2010.

Thanks for the tip, Baby Cheapskate!