Spring Project: Completing a DIY First Aid Kit

This spring, my goal is to have a complete, stocked first aid kit. I normally have one on hand, and extra supplies in back stock, but I've been relying on those bandages and triple antibiotic supplies. Now they've dwindled.

So, join me as I try to identify sales and use coupons to have a completely stocked first aid kit, without cheating and buying a pre-filled kit!

Lets start with a good list of what to include. Here's a nice printable version from Organized Home. I personally like this one better than the one from the American Red Cross, so it is what I'll be working from, but since it doesn't include information on quantity, I'll refer to this one from the Red Cross to make sure I have enough of everything.

Catalina Alert - Ore-Ida Potatoes (Kroger) Through April 15

Now through April 15, Earn up to a $3.00 catalina when you purchase Ore-Ida Frozen Potato Products (you know... fries, tater tots, hash browns, etc).

Here's the breakdown:
Buy 2 = $1.00 catalina
Buy 3 = $2.00 catalina
Buy 4 or more = $3.00 catalina

Currently there are no coupons for Ore-Ida and they are NOT part of the $5 off when you buy 10 promotion. However, they are frequently included in Kroger promotions, so keep your eyes peeled (hee hee, bad pun intended).

Remember, when buying items that will produce a catalina coupon, do separate transactions and ring them up in your first transaction. Then use the catalina to bring down the total on your second transaction. Plus, you won't have to worry about forgetting to use it before it expires.

Not familiar with catalinas?
Think of a catalina as "Store Credit." It's only good at the store where you received it, BUT it can be used on ANY purchase (with a few exceptions, usually for things like beer or cigarettes). And your purchase must be for at least the amount of the catalina.

Kitchen Hack - Keep Manicotti Shells from Breaking In Storage

Used 1/2 your manicotti shells?

Keep the empty plastic tray and turn it upside down. Put it underneath the tray that has the 1/2 of your manicotti shells to go back to the pantry. Close the box and store!

Remember to turn the tray upside down. If not, it will "nest" with the top tray and your manicotti will get tossed around inside the box.

NEW Pampers 10pt Gifts To Grow Code

Log into your Pampers Gifts To Grow account and enter code FBSTPPKKGA3M412 for 10 points!!!



Thanks,
Totally Target

Need $5 Toward a Pet Food Purchase?

You're in luck because Petco has a silly, but fun little game on their Facebook page here.

Play the game, and at the end you'll be prompted for your Pals Rewards number. Enter it and a $5 credit will be applied to your card in the next 7 days.

Thanks,
STLMommy

Free Martha Stewart Living Magazine Subscription

Head over to Raining Hot Coupons and check out her post on how to get a FREE one-year subscription to Martha Stewart Living magazine.

Just what I need... more ideas!

Live Now - FREE MILK!!!

Hurry over to the milk mustache facebook page to get a coupon for one FREE gallon of milk when you buy 3 breakfast items.

Combine this with some good deals + coupons on cereal, breakfast bars, frozen breakfast items, etc for great savings.



Thanks to STLMommy

Spring Cleaning Saving Tips: Buy a Carpet Steamer w/ Upholstery Attachment

I know, we money saving divas hate it when we're told to buy someone's product in order to save money. Grrr, right!?!

We'll I'm not selling anything. So, hopefully that helps. Before you ever start your spring cleaning, go buy a carpet steamer. I don't care what brand, or from what store. Just get one! And make sure you get one with an upholstery attachment.

You can get a steamer with an upholstery attachment for somewhere in the neighborhood for $160-$200. If your spring cleaning plans included having your carpets professionally cleaned, you should easily be able to purchase with the money budgeted for the cleaning. With an upholstery attachment you'll also be able to clean your furniture as well.

Here are some of the benefits of owning your own steamer:
- More frequent cleaning of your carpet and upholstery. Since you'll be doing the work, it might not sound like a benefit, but this will increase the longevity and day-to-day appearance of your carpets and upholstery.
- Decreased allergens. If you, your entire family, or just one family member have allergies, keeping your soft surfaces cleaner will result in fewer runny noses, itchy eyes, sinus congestion or headaches and other allergy symptoms.
- Better smelling home. When your soft surfaces are clean your home smells better overall. You'll need fewer scented candles, air fresheners and fabric refreshers (ex: Febreeze).
- Fewer or milder chemicals in your home. If you have a carpet cleaner at the ready, you'll be able to treat spills and stains on carpet and upholstery more quickly and thoroughly. This will likely mean you don't need a spot treatment for your carpet and another one for your upholstery. Often, if you get to the stain with your steamer loaded with plain water, while the stain is still fresh, that's all you'll need.
- Most effective, and coincidentally green, way to remove pet odors. The best way to remove pet odors (ie: that pee smell from your dog/cat's accident) from your carpet is to douse the area with strait, white vinegar. Allow that to sit until dry. The vinegar reacts with the ammonia in the urine, deactivating the stain and smell. Remember in science class how an acid neutralizes as base and vice-versa? That's how this works. When it's dry. Go over the area with your steamer loaded with plain water to clean any residue from the carpet.

I have my own "homemade-ish" solutions for my steam cleaner. Stay tuned for those recipes.

$0.75/1 Sister Schuberts Product Coupon

This is a great high-value coupon for this product, typically only seen around the holidays.

Click the image to go to the coupon

Using Points for Christmas Shopping? Now's the Time to Order.

I remember one Christmas my mom used green stamps (remember those?) to get all our Christmas presents. Genius!

If you've been racking up rewards points, there are a few ways to use them to get extra mileage when Christmas shopping.
1) You could order an actual gift from the rewards catalog, like the bumble bee shaped flashlight I just ordered for my little one.
2) You could order a gift card to give as a gift.
3) You could order a magazine subscription as a gift.
4) You could order a gift card that you use to do your Christmas shopping.

However you slice it, getting those rewards can take as much as 6-8 weeks! So, now's the time to order because the 8 week mark puts the calendar near Thanksgiving (yikes!). Putting off an order will leave you with no time to try to resolve any issues if things don't arrive in 6-8 weeks. And if you're planning to shop with your gift card, you want to get it in enough time to hunt up the best deals, and Black Friday.

The one exception to all this being a gift magazine subscription. Order those in mid-October so issues don't start arriving before the holidays. Your gift might start arriving with the December issue, but more likely, with the January one.