The Bargain Sleuth

It is a rainy day here. The gentle rain has been falling steadily most of the day. It's exactly what our fields and gardens were thirsty for!

This afternoon my sister and I borrowed our brothers' rain ponchos and headed out to the garden to dig some potatoes for supper. I steamed them and tossed them with butter, salt, and pepper. I served them with a spicy sausage cheese sauce. I also baked a pan of hot cinnamon rolls with caramel frosting ( a perfect way to spend a rainy afternoon!) and put together a bowl of 3-bean salad.

As we sat down and began to eat, my dad mentioned that the salad sure tasted good, but it was different. He asked what I had done differently. I was rather perplexed as I was SURE the only thing different I had done was use red beans instead of kidney beans and that wouldn't change the taste a bit. I had noticed the salad tasted strangely sweet, but figured it just hadn't been refrigerated long enough for the flavors to meld. Then my dad said it tasted as if there was less vinegar in it than usual. But how could that be? I had used the same amount as I always had - 1/2 cup!

Just to play it safe, I rose from the table to check the vinegar bottle. Sure enough, the label said "distilled white vinegar". But one sniff told me it was NOT vinegar! It was then I noticed the sediment on the bottom of the bottle. It was water... rain water collected from past rain storms to use on our plants and flowers! EKKKKKK!

I felt bad, but my family had a huge laugh over it! I just pray that no one will get sick tonight. I'll be able to breath better tomorrow when we all wake up healthy!

So now you know what an awesome cook I am! :-)

Pets:

If you are a Dogster or Catster member, you can get a free Febreze Pet Pal Pack HERE. If you are not a member, you can register HERE first.

Literature:

Free book: Prodigals and Those Who Love Them by Ruth Bell Graham.

Household:

You can download free personalized stationary HERE when you take a sign up and take a quiz at homemadesimple.com .

Here's a list of coupons from Freebies 4 Mom:

• Dawn Dishsoap - a few different coupons
• $2 Just Bunches cereal - Smart Source coupon, is this a new one?
• 50 cents Tabasco Chipotle - great to take to a store that will double it!
• $2.25 Tums Quik Pak - a high value coupon, thanks Kimberly!
• Box Tops August coupons - check out the list!
• $1 Ronzoni Bistro - find this new product in the pasta aisle
• Wendy's Coupons - sign-up to get coupons by email, thanks Pam!
• Johnsons Baby Coupons - several different coupons
• $1 Caress Body Wash - another good coupon for drugstore game players
• $1 Baskin Robbins Oreo Sundae - save on this frozen treat

Health and beauty:

Free sample of Head & Shoulders dry scalp care or smooth & silky shampoo and conditioner.

FREE P.A.D. Information Kit.

Free sample of Degree Absolute deodorant for men.

Free sample of Always Infinity Pads.

Free sample of Pedia Pop Oral Electrolyte Quick Mix with calcium. (Choose between Apple and Orange flavors.)

Free sample of Perfect sleep.

Odds and Ends:

Free gift for signing up for a newsletter at Family Classic Cars.

Beverages:

Free samples of Batian Peak coffee and tea. (Note: I mentioned this HERE in June. They only allow one sample per household, so if you've already requested a free sample you probably won't be able to get another one.)

Free sample of Sundance Superfruit Tea Blend.

Get a free subscription to Log Home Living HERE. (Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

When you sign up for Organic Gardening's e-newsletter, they'll send you a free booklet as a "thank you": Companion Planting Made Easy. (This is a booklet you download.)

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Health and beauty:

Free sample of Dunhill fragrances for men. (Only the Dunhill Pursuit is available to residents of the U.S. and Canada and many other countries. The Dunhill London is available to residents of certain European countries.)

Free sample of Moon Sparkle fragrance by Escada.

Free sample of Metamucil: Berry Burst.

Free sample of raw organic Bee Pollen.

Odds and Ends:

Free bookmark from The New Yorker. (You do not need to purchase a subscription to get your free bookmark!)

Magazines:

Free subscription to TecHome Builder. (Note: looks like you must be a business owner to sign up.)

Grocery:

Free samples of H.O.T. sauce from hotexas.com.

Do you like giveaways? Check out these exciting giveaways:

Kim at Up North Mommy is giving away a Little Einsteins DVD and a Handy Manny DVD. Perfect if you have a preschooler in the house (which I do!). Hurry, she’s picking a winner on Wednesday evening.

On Bloggy Giveaways, you’ll find that Sisters of Savings is giving away two coupon binders valued at $55. If you watched my coupon organization video last week, you know I can desperately use one. Just take a look at the Sisters of Savings web site and then leave a comment on Bloggy Giveaways. The winner will be chosen on Friday.

Samantha at Saving for Our Family’s Dreams is giving away a batch of coupons on Saturday. Just leave her a comment with your favorite inexpensive gift to give for Christmas. She’ll pick a winner on Saturday.

Centsible Savings is a giving away a $5 CVS gift card. Just leave her a CVS-related comment and you’re entered. Want a second entry? Just post about the giveaway or tell three friends. She’s giving this gift card away on Saturday.

(Thanks, Coupon Cravings!)

This free sticker is good to have if you own a special kitty or pooch who lives in indoors. In case of an emergency when you are away from home, neighbors or rescue workers will know you have pet(s) inside who need to be rescued. (Thanks, FreeSamplesDirect!) Click on the sticker above to order your free sticker.

If you have kids who love to color, or kids who are suffering from summer boredom, go to Coloring Pages Plus and type in whatever you wish (zoo, Bible, horses, Bob the builder, etc.) in the search box. You'll get a bunch of links to coloring pages you can print for free (or should I say, just the cost of ink!). Coloring Pages Plus is basically a special search engine designed to scour the internet for coloring pages. Pretty awesome! (Thanks, Hey, It's Free!)

Health and beauty:

Free guide for better breathing. (For those with COPD.)

Odds and Ends:

FREE Meeting Solutions Sample Pack from Post-it.

Get a free gift for joining the mailing list at Compel.

Sign up for HealthyWomen Take 10 and receive a free gift.

Household:

Free Earthrise Spirulina sachet.

Free Welcome Home Gift Pack (contains Glade and Ziploc Brand products and coupons) to the first 10,000.

Pets:

Get a coupon from Iams for a free bag of pet food.

If you join the General Mills Product Testing Panel, they just might send you products or coupons for products for you to try. Click HERE! (Thanks, "Deal"icious Mom!)

If you shop at Rite Aid, you can get several things free this week! (Thanks, Hooray for Free-bates!) Check these out:


ReNu
Sale: $9.99
Use: $2.50 coupon (in the trial size box from target) SCR (#51): -$9.99
Total: FREE w/o coupon, -$2.50 w/coupon

Olay Skin Cleanser
Sale: $7.99
Use: $1 coupon (8/3 PG)
SCR (#6): -$7.99
Total: FREE w/o coupon, -$1.00 w/coupon

Revlon Nail Polish
Sale: $2.99
Use: $2 coupon (7/20 SS..note my 7/20 SS did not have this coupon so YMMV)
SCR (#105): -$2.99
Total: FREE w/o coupon, -$2.00 w/coupon

Charles Worthington Hair Products
Sale: $4.99
SCR (#90): -$4.99 ONLY VALID FOR 3 DAYS (8/3-8/5)
Total: FREE

Gillette Men's Shampoo
Sale: $4.49
Use: $1 coupon (7/13RP, 8/3PG)
SCR (#98): -$3.49
Total: FREE w/coupon

Gillette Fusion/Power
Sale: $9.00
Use: $4 coupon(8/3PG)
SCR (#5): -$5.00
Total: FREE w/coupon

Nice'N Easy
Sale: $7.49
Use: $2(8/3PG)
Use: $1.50 in-ad coupon Page 8
SCR (#93): -$3.99
Total: FREE w/coupons

Soft White GE light bulbs
Sale: $2.00
SCR (#137): -$2.00
Total: FREE

Nature's Cure Acne Treatment
Sale: $7.99
SCR (#48): -$7.99
Total: FREE

Noxzema Triple blade OR Old Spice Endurance Disposable Razor
Sale: $3.99
SCR (#101): -$3.99
Total: FREE

Join the D's club and get a coupon for free Fish & Fries or Chicken & Fries - Captain D’s. (Thanks, Frugal, Freebies, and Deals!)

If you know enough Spanish to request these freebies, go for it! (Thanks, Freebies 4 Mom!) These are from Unilever and Univision:


Dove go fresh Body Mist (pick Cool Essentials or Energizing)
includes a $1 coupon

Dove go fresh Energize Shampoo & Conditioner
includes a $2 coupon

Degree Women Ultra Clear deodorant (Clear Rain)
includes a $1 coupon

Pond's rejuveness
includes a $1.50 coupon

Household:

Free Christmas ornament.

Free sample of Econo-Clean. (NOTE: To qualify, you must be willing to consider purchasing their product when they call you after you've tried your free sample.)

Clothing:

Free t-shirt and cap.

Grocery:

Free Fiber One samples and coupons. (I mentioned this HERE last month.)

Health and beauty:

Free samples from Degree Girl when you sign up for their newsletter HERE.

Free Nature Collections Cancer Genomics Book.

Magazines:

Free subscription to Babytalk.

Free subscription to Working Mother.

For Kids:

Organic Valley: Ovie's Underground Club Kit. (Thanks, Frugal, Freebies, and Deals!)

Want to see what specials Aldis has this week before shopping? Go HERE to see them!