School Supply Freebies & Deals 7/25-7/31

If you're Southern Nevada, we're having a school supply drive at SOS Radio. You can drop supplies off at SOS Radio on 2201 S. 6th St. in Vegas from 9-5 Monday through Friday.

There are school supply drives in cities big and small nationwide. If you don't have school-age kids or can buy extra supplies, I would encourage you to find a drive in your area. If you can't find a local drive, contact a local school and offer to donate the supplies directly to them. I don't know any school that would turn away supplies if they are offered.

To keep all of the information in one place for you, I will update weekly with what the freebies and extra good deals are on school supplies throughout this season. If I can get all of the ads in time, I'll post on Saturday for the following week. If I can't get the deals ahead of time, I'll have them posted by Sunday afternoon. If there's a school drive supply in your area, feel free to post the info in the comments to let others know about it.

And without further ado, here are the freebies and great deals on school supplies for this week:

Staples: (If you are a teacher, you can get 25 of the extreme deal items)

• Backpack: FREE after Staples Rewards (no maximum price is listed) (lt. 1) 
• Staples Multipurpose Paper (500ct) $4.99 - ($4.98) ESR = $.01 (lt. 2)
• Bic RoundStic ballpoint pens, black (8ct) $.01 w/$5 purchase (lt. 2) (Sun.-Wed. only) (Extreme Deal)
• Zebra Sarasa retractable gel pens (medium, black) (5ct) $4.99 - ($4.74) ESR = $.25 (lt. 1)
• Staples Hype! pen-style assorted highlighters (6ct) $.25 (lt. 2)
• Really Useful Box (a mini-storage box) (0.14ltr) $.25 (lt. 2)

 Office Depot:

• Office Depot brand acrylic ruler $.05 (lt. 3)
• Office Depot Eraser Caps (12pk) $.10 (lt. 3)
• HP Office Paper (500ct) $6.49 - ($5.54) rebate = $.95 (lt. 2)
• Office Depot brand spiral notebooks (6pk) $.50 (lt. 2)

Wal-Mart:

• Composition Notebooks $.25
• Crayola Crayons $.25 (this price is varying from $.25-$.35, depending on your area)
• RoseArt Crayons $.20
• Other decent deals worth checking out but not listed in the ad

CVS: (No school supply deals this week, but there are some good freebies)

• Photo Books 6x8 (10pgs) $7.99- ($7.99) ECB = Free (lt. 1)
• U by Kotex Liners (50-60ct) $4.99 - ($1) ip - ($1.50) RB - ($4.99) ECB = Free + $2.50
• U by Kotex Liners (14-18ct) $4.99 - ($1) ip - ($1.50) RB - ($4.99) ECB = Free + $2.50
• 
  

Office Max:

• Backpack:  Free after Max Perks Rewards (Applies to any backpack) (lt. 2)
• Westcott 5" Blunt or Pointed Scissors $.20 (lt. 3)
• Office Max Glue Combo Pack (as 1 bottle & 2 sticks) $.25 (lt. 3)
• X-Acto Pencil Sharpener $.25 (lt. 3)
• Sharpie Singles (assorted colors) $.25 (lt. 3)
• BIC Cristal Pens (10pk) $.50 (lt. 3)

Walgreens:

• Penway 2-pocket Folder with Prongs $.09 (lt. 5)
• Memo or Mini Composition Book $.19
• Penway Flexible Ruler $.39
• Penway Flexible Protractor $.39
• Poly Index Card Case $.39
• 2 Pocket Poly Portfolio $.39
• Crayola Posterboard $.39
• Penway Cloth Carry-All Pouch $.59

If you have any questions about a particular abbreviation or word, check out my coupon definitions. If you still can't find the answer, post here or shoot me an e-mail. Want to see the best grocery deals for your area? Check out Savings Angel. I use them when I'm short on time or not feeling well but still need groceries for the week.

Full Disclosure

SOS Mom Saver: Homemade Powdered Sugar

Because of our food allergies, we use a homemade powdered sugar icing when we make cakes.  But oh my GOSH powdered sugar is expensive!  There are usually decent sales that I can combine with a coupon to get regular sugar for far under $1/lb.  I have never seen powdered sugar for less than $2/lb.  That's almost TWICE as much!

It is so unbelievable easy to make homemade powdered sugar!  You put the amount of sugar desired into a blender & blend until you have the desired consistency.  If you are planning on storing it long-term, you would want to add 1tbs of corn starch per cup of sugar that you're blending.

Here's a marvelous example of this being done in an uber-awesome Vitamix blender!



For the record, you don't have to have a Vitamix to make powdered sugar from regular sugar.  Any old blender will do.  (However, that doesn't mean that I would turn away a donation or gift of a lovely Vitamix, new or used.)  (Because while my blender will blend powdered sugar...it has issues with blending my spinach!)  (Excuse me while I day dream for a minute about what it would be like to have a Vitamix blender...) (Sigh.)  (I don't think I used enough parenthesis...eseses.  Here's another.)

Okay.  Back to reality! 

A friendly reminder:  Don't forget about the SOS Radio school-supply drive!  You can drop off school supplies at the SOS studios from 9-5 Monday-Friday.  You can find the deals for the week on my blog each Sunday.  Check out this week's deals!

School Supply Freebies & Deals 7/18-7/24

If you're Southern Nevada, we're having a school supply drive at SOS Radio. You can drop supplies off at SOS Radio on 2201 S. 6th St. in Vegas from 9-5 Monday through Friday.

There are school supply drives in cities big and small nationwide. If you don't have school-age kids or can buy extra supplies, I would encourage you to find a drive in your area. If you can't find a local drive, contact a local school and offer to donate the supplies directly to them. I don't know any school that would turn away supplies if they are offered.

To keep all of the information in one place for you, I will update weekly with what the freebies and extra good deals are on school supplies throughout this season. If I can get all of the ads in time, I'll post on Saturday for the following week. If I can't get the deals ahead of time, I'll have them posted by Sunday afternoon. If there's a school drive supply in your area, feel free to post the info in the comments to let others know about it.

And without further ado, here are the freebies and great deals on school supplies for this week:

Staples: (If you are a teacher, you can get 25 of the extreme deal items)

• Washable school glue $.01 (Sun-Wed only with a $5 minimum purchase) (lt. 2)
• Bic Matic Grip assorted mechanical pencils (5pk) $.25 (lt. 2)
• Slider pencil case $.25 (lt. 2)
• Staples 3x5 white ruled index cards (100ct) $.25 (lt. 2)
• Staples Photo Plus 4x6 paper (60ct) $9.99 - ($9.74) ESR = $.25 (lt. 2)
• Hammermill CopyPlus Copy Paper (500ct) $4.99- ($3.99) ESR = $1 (lt. 2)
• 50% off backpacks...this is a decent deal if you have to buy one anyway and/or want a nicer one
• Expo 8.9x11.8 double-sided writing and math practice dry-erase board $2 (lt. 2) (lined like handwriting paper...this is MUCH easier for young ones to use when beginning to write)

Office Depot:

•  Expo Fine Point Dry-Erase Markers (4pk) $5.29 - ($5.29) Rebate = Free (lt. 1)

Wal-Mart:

• Composition Notebooks $.25
• Crayola Crayons $.25 (this price is varying from $.25-$.35, depending on your area)
• RoseArt Crayons $.20
• Other decent deals worth checking out but not listed in the ad

CVS: (No school supply deals this week, but there are some good freebies)

• Bayer Contour Meter $14.99 - ($10) 4/25/10 RP - ($5) ECB = Free + $.01
• Celsius Green Tea (4pk) $7.99 - ($2) ip - ($7.99) ECB = Free + $2
• M&Ms Pretzel Chocolate Candies (1.14oz) 2/$1 - (b1g1f) 6/27/10 RP - ($1wyb2) ECB = 2 Free + $.50
• CVS Hand Sanitizer Pen - (e-mail coupon you can get until 7/18) = Free

Office Max:

• Purell Hand Sanitizer (0.5oz) $.10
• All Just Basics Ballpoint Pens (10pk) $.20

Office Max: (These deals are online only and you must have their card to get the deals.)

• (In)Place Heavy Duty Binders $6.49 - ($6.49) MPR = Free (lt. 6)
• (In)Place Heavy Weight Manilla File Folders (50ct) $8.99 - ($8.99) MPR = Free (lt. 6)
• Office Max Filler Paper College or Wide (150ct) $1.50 - ($1.50) MPR = Free (lt. 6)
• Office Max 2 pocket folders (24pk) $8.99 - ($8.99) = Free (lt. 6)

Walgreens:

• Colgate Advanced Toothpaste (5.8oz) $3.49 - ($1) DAY pg9 - ($3.50) RR = Free + $1.01
• Colgate Advanced Toothpaste (5.8oz) $3.49 - ($1) 7/11 SS - ($3.50) RR = Free + $1.01
• Colgate Advanced Toothpaste (5.8oz) $3.49 - ($.75) ip - ($3.50) RR = Free + $.76
• Pilot G2 Pens (2pk) $1.19 - ($1) ivc = $.19
• Penway older $.09
• Highlighter Singles $.09
• Wooden Ruler $.09
  
• Corner Office Sheet Protectors (10pk) $.29
• Corner Office  5 tab dividers $.39
• Penway Cap Erasers (15pk) $.39
• Poly or 3 Ring Binder $.39
• Bic Brite Liner Highlighters (5pk) $.49
• School Box $.49
• Dual Pencil Sharpener $.59 w/ac (lt. 6)
• White-Out Fluid (0.6oz) $.59

If you have any questions about a particular abbreviation or word, check out my coupon definitions. If you still can't find the answer, post here or shoot me an e-mail. Want to see the best grocery deals for your area? Check out Savings Angel. I use them when I'm short on time or not feeling well but still need groceries for the week.



Full Disclosure

Abortion: Is It REALLY "Pro-Choice"?

If you are for abortion because it is the woman's right to choose what she does or doesn't have happen to her life, then aren't you being a sexist?

What about the MAN'S right to choose?

Does he have no say in how HIS life goes?

What about the child?  Do they have no right to choose?

Let's evaluate the right to choose.  Is it really the right to CHOOSE.  For everyone involved?

Does anyone else find it a little disturbing that ONLY women get to determine how their life goes?

A man doesn't get to say, "I don't want to have a child right now so either you abort or you relieve me of all financial duties."  He also doesn't get to say, "I want a child right now and I'm willing to take on the financial and physical task of raising that child."  He gets NO say.  Only the WOMAN gets a say.  She gets to determine not only how HER life goes but also how the life of the father goes.  Wow.  Talk about control!

A child doesn't get the opportunity to say, "You know what, you're going to be sucky parents & frankly I'd rather not be raised by you so don't even let me live."  The child also doesn't get to say, "I want the opportunity to change the world.  No.  I just want the opportunity to live.  Don't abort me.  Don't kill me."  Nope.  The child gets no say.  Only the WOMAN gets a say.  She gets to determine not only how HER life goes but whether or not another individual even gets the CHANCE at life.  Wow!  Talk about control!

I posed this question once to a friend.  Her response?  The man's opportunity to choose comes when he decides whether or not to have sex with that woman.  WOW.  Are you kidding me?  When does the CHILD'S opportunity to choose come in?  If a MAN loses HIS right to choose the second HE decides to have sex with a woman shouldn't the same also go for the woman?  Shouldn't BOTH of the two people who are ABLE to speak for themselves get to exercise THEIR rights when determining whether or not to even be involved in an act which could create a child?

Once they have CHOSEN their path by choosing to engage in an act that could create another life do they then get to END another life because they don't like their choice?  Or rather...does ONE of those people get to exercise control over ALL other people in the situation without further thought to anyone's life but her own?

I don't get it.  I thought it was about the right to choose.  I thought they were pro-CHOICE.  Clearly, it's only about the woman having control over men and children.  Seems sexist and selfish to me.

Still, if we're going to go by THAT standard, why stop at any age?

If I don't like the choice I made to have children when times get hard and my kids are 10, 8, or 3, do I get to kill them?  I mean, it IS about MY right to choose at the expense of my children's lives, right?  Why should age matter?  If I can kill my children when they're fully-formed babies at 6 months of life after partially-birthing them, then why not now?  Why do they suddenly have rights?  When do they get rights?

If they're a full life with rights if born premature at 6 months then why are they not a life with rights if I decide to kill them at 6 months gestation?  If the line between them being a life and not is blurry when they clearly CAN survive outside of the womb at 6 months, then why not keep it blurry for the convenience of all women?

How much easier would it be on us women if we COULD decide that we no longer wanted that child and could kill them...regardless of their age?  Seems to me if they become an inconvenience on me then I should have that right as a woman.  That IS what it's about, right?  JUST the woman having a choice and no one else.  Clearly it is.  So why stop that "right" at any age?

SOS Mom Saver: Freebies!!!

Can you feel it in the air?  It's school time again! Even if you don't have kids, please continue reading.  I've got info on how you can get items for free to donate.

This week, the school supply deals begin.  There are a few freebies this week which I'll talk about in a minute.  The deals WILL get better.  The office supply stores, specifically Staples, always have lots of freebies &/or items for literally pennies each.

Before we get to the deals, I want to talk about why you should get the deals even if you don't have school-age kids.

I'm sure we've all heard about the current state of our schools.  Teachers are often left paying a good amount out of their pockets towards school supplies.  Many not only have to supply their own copy paper but must also have supplies on hand for kids who've either forgot theirs or don't have the money to buy supplies.

Last time I checked, teachers got a tax credit of $250 for purchasing supplies.  Teachers I've talked to say that doesn't even come close to covering what they've actually spent every year on supplies.

There are school supply drives in cities big and small nationwide.  If you don't have school-age kids or can buy extra supplies, I would encourage you to find a drive in your area.  If you can't find a local drive, contact a local school and offer to donate the supplies directly to them.  I don't know any school that would turn away supplies if they are offered.

If you're Southern Nevada, we're having a school supply drive at SOS Radio.  You can drop supplies off at SOS Radio on 2201 S. 6th St. in Vegas from 9-5 Monday through Friday.


To keep all of the information in one place for you, I will update weekly with what the freebies and extra good deals are on school supplies throughout this season.  If I can get all of the ads in time, I'll post on Saturday for the following week.  If I can't get the deals ahead of time, I'll have them posted by Sunday afternoon.  If there's a school drive supply in your area, feel free to post the info in the comments to let others know about it.

On a related note, I'm working on my couponing series right now.  I've gotten several questions already.  If you want to make sure I address any questions you may have, be sure to let me know by commenting here or sending me a message on Twitter, Facebook, or by e-mail.

And without further ado, here are the freebies and great deals on school supplies for this week:

Staples: (If you are a teacher, you can get 25 of the limited items here)

• 2 pocket folders w/ or w/out fasteners $.01 (Sun-Wed. only w/a $5 minimum purchase) (lt. 10)
• Pencils (8ct) $.01 (Sun-Wed. only w/a $5 minimum purchase) (lt. 2)
• Staples multi-purpose paper (500ct) $4.99 - ($4.98) ESR = $.01
• Staples Photo supreme 8 1/2 x 11 paper (50ct) $14.99 - ($13.99) ESR = $1 (lt 2)
• Quartet 8 1/2 x 11 dry-erase board $1 (lt 2)
• $5/30 coupon which can be used on ESR items to make them moneymakers
• Office Depot has a $10/$25 ip which Staples will match to make an even better moneymaker when used with ESR items.

Office Depot:

• Mr. Sketch Markers $7.99 - ($7.99) Rebate = Free (lt. 1)
• Swingline Light Touch Reduced Effort Stapler (what a name!) $13.99- ($13.99) Rebate = Free (lt. 1)
• Office Depot Multi-purose Paper (500ct) $6.29 - ($5.29) Rebate = $1 (lt. 2)
• Office Depot Color-coded heavy weight sheet protectors (25ct) $7.59 - ($6.59) Rebate = $1 (lt. 3)
• $10/$25 ip (see above) can be used to make these deals moneymakers

Wal-Mart:

• Composition Notebooks $.25
• Crayola Crayons $.25 (this price is varying from $.25-$.35, depending on your area)
• RoseArt Crayons $.20
• Other decent deals worth checking out but not listed in the ad

CVS:

• Complete Multi-Purpose Contact Solution $7.99 - ($2) 5/16 RP - ($7.99) ECB = Free + $2 (I know this isn't a school supply item, but it's a money maker so I included it.)
• Caliber Scissors (5") $.99 - ($.99) ECB = Free (Sun-Tues only) (lt. 1)
• Papermate Pens 1.2 (10ct) $.99 - ($.99) ECB = Free (Sun-Tues. only) (lt. 1)

Office Max: (These deals are online only and you must have their card to get the deals.)

• (In)Place Heavy Duty Binders $6.49 - ($6.49) MPR = Free (lt. 6)
• (In)Place Heavy Weight Manilla File Folders (50ct) $8.99 - ($8.99) MPR = Free (lt. 6)
• Office Max Filler Paper College or Wide (150ct) $1.50 - ($1.50) MPR = Free (lt. 6)
• Office Max 2 pocket folders (24pk) $8.99 - ($8.99) = Free (lt. 6)
• Buy 2 any brand ink packages get $10 MPR back
• Free shipping with $50
• If you don't have an Office Max in your area, you can still sign up and do these deals.  As of this past November, you could spend your rewards back on online purchases.  (I don't mind having huge amounts like this coming back on items...like the folders...that I buy anyway...I just turn around and use it on printer ink since mine isn't refillable for $10 at Walgreens.)

If you have any questions about a particular abbreviation or word, check out my coupon definitions.  If you still can't find the answer, post here or shoot me an e-mail.  Want to see the best grocery deals for your area?  Check out Savings Angel.  I use them when I'm short on time or not feeling well but still need groceries for the week.

Christmas in July, Part 3

We've planned for and/or bought our gifts and have our cards ready for mailing.  What's next?

Where do we put the gifts we've bought?  It's no problem to hid Grandma's gift, but where do you put the gifts you got for your kids...ahem...or gift-loving husbands.  (Not that I have one of those...)

To remember where you stashed the gifts while keeping prying eyes away, get a bin to keep high in the garage or attic with the gifts.  WRAP the gifts NOW and write the recipients name and a number in pencil in the bottom corner of the gift.  Keep a list of what you've purchased (listing the number, who the gift is for, and what is in the gift) on an e-mail that the kids don't have access to or with your bills or in another secure place where you know you'll find it.  Include any hiding places on this list so there's not a last minute scramble to find gifts you KNOW you got at the last minute!

(I always have wrapping on hand because I buy it at 90% off after Christmas.  If you don't, just wait a month or two.  It will start popping up at the Dollar stores and Wal-Mart before you see it anywhere else.)

When I wrap the gift, I also go ahead and make the label....but don't attach it now. (I use wrapping paper scraps to do mine, but this works with regular labels as well.) The child will be able to easily see that they have a gift, but they won't know what that gift is...or which gift is for them!

The reason you write what the gift is on a separate sheet of paper is because labels CAN come off...then you don't know what's in a gift or who it's for without unwrapping it...which kind of defeats the purpose of having wrapped it in the first place.  (Not that I speak from experience or anything.  Ahem. Let's just say that *I* try things out so YOU don't have to!  Yeah.  THAT'S it.)

There are several bonuses to wrapping the gifts now.  Should a child (or gift-loving husband) stumble upon the bin, they can't easily see which gifts are theirs or what the gift is.  You also don't have to worry about that task later!  It's already done.  Imagine NOT staying up all night wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve.  (Not that I've ever done THAT either...)

When it's time to put the gifts under the tree, pull out your list and the bin.  Attach the labels that you made to the gift with a bow or ribbon if you so desire.  And that's IT!  MAYBE 10 minutes.  If you have a LOT of gifts or REALLY like bows.

Christmas in July, Part 2

We began our Christmas in July celebration yesterday.  Shall we continue?

You've made your gift list, but most of us have a MUCH longer Christmas card list.  If you haven't made that yet and updated addresses, I'd do that now!  It seems like one of the most time-consuming tasks we have at Christmas is addressing card after card after card.

Some people have gotten smart and make a database on their computer from which they then print out labels.  There are those of us fuddy-duddys, though, who still address our cards the old-fashioned way...by hand.  Lest someone think I'm calling someone names, I'M the old fuddy-duddy!  Still, I don't want to do this all in one month, and neither do the kids.

Again, we purchase our Christmas cards on clearance the year before.  If we want to include a picture, we have one taken in the summer & include them in the cards when they come in.  If you prefer one of the speciality picture-cards, you can have those done in the summer too.  (No one has to know WHEN that family "Christmas" picture was taken!)

This month, I'll update my card list and the addresses, get my cards together, buy my stamps, and have any pictures taken that we'll want to include.

Next month, we'll start addressing cards every week.  The kids and I will take 15 minutes once a week and address cards.  With 3 of us who write well addressing this goes pretty quickly.  I save the grandparent's cards for my son since they typically enjoy his "messy, still-learning-to-write neatly" handwriting.

We'll also add any personal notes and sign the cards at this time.  If we have a picture to add, we'll add it now & then seal the card shut.  We finish the card by adding the stamp & putting into our completed box.

This is an absolutely painless way to get your Christmas cards done.  Just imagine how good you'll feel when December comes and you pull out all of your ready-to-mail cards!  This leaves time for more of the fun things at Christmas like baking!  (A personal favorite of mine!)



Full Disclosure

Mom Saver: Christmas in July, Part 1

I'll apologize now for those who heard me singing on the radio.  I promise not to do that again.  This week.

I'm sure you've heard of Christmas in July before, but did you really stop and think about the REAL Christmas in JULY?  Well you should!

Now is the BEST time to start planning for Christmas.  Why?  Many stores start clearancing out their toys in August in preparation for the Christmas season.  If there are toys out there now that your child wants, then August is the time to shop!

Target generally has the best clearance.  You'll be able to find their toys at 50%-75% off by mid-August.  I'd grab something I KNOW we'll be buying as soon as it hits 50%.   If there's a HUGE quantity, I might try to make it to 75%, but I wouldn't count on it if it was a "must buy" item.

Wal-Mart will also clearance their toys out, but I've found that they take a LOT longer to do so than Target does.  When Target is ready to clearance something, it will be out of the store within a month.  On the other hand, Wal-Mart clearance will sit on the shelf at the SAME price for a couple of months...and then one day it will just be gone without having ever gone up to a higher percentage off.

You'll also find toy clearances at Kohls and some at Toys R' Us.  I'd take a look around at the first of August and see what stores are starting to clearance out.  What they have at 15% or 30% at the first of August will be 50% by mid-August at some stores.

Regardless of whether you jump on the toy clearance or not, I would highly recommend that you start your Christmas planning now.  Make a list of who you need to give gifts to and what you intend on giving them.  It's helpful for me to know what the regular price of these items is so I know when I should jump on a good deal.  I usually make this list in January so I can take advantage of Christmas clearance items.  I didn't do that this year so I'm a little late to the game by starting in July.

Another advantage to starting in July is that if you realize your child (or another family member) just HAS to have a higher-priced gift, you can start saving now and reduce or completely eliminate debt this coming Christmas!  Won't it be nice to NOT have a credit card bill come January!  I wouldn't do Christmas any other way!

Every day this week, I'll be talking about what you can do this month to make this Christmas one of the least stressful you've ever had!  (And to make your January less financially painful!)

Tomorrow:  Christmas Cards

Merry Christmas (in July)!