MoreGreen4ME

Flats and Handwashing Challenge - Final Thoughts and Wrap Up

2011-05-29T23:48:00.000-04:00

Today is the last day for the Flats and Handwashing Challenge. I did miss a few days of updates, so I do want to go over what we experienced. Sorry, but I am just not a daily blogger. This challenge went really smoothly for us. I will say that since I knew I needed to wash the diapers, it made me utilize routine more than I normally would, and I did like the effects of that. My kids handled it a lot better knowing that we would go for a walk after Mommy finished her chores. I do have somewhat of a bad back, so bending over to agitate (plunge) in my camp-style washer did hurt my back. After the first day, I decided to put the washer in the sink to save my back, but this meant the dishes needed to be washed first. I did like the feeling of accomplishment of getting a lot done in the morning, and this challenge really brought that out since I normally only work on being a grump in the morning. Aside from my previous posts, there really isn't a whole lot to add on a daily basis except that my husband took the kids to a cookout on Saturday and didn't take flats. He claimed that there weren't any set out to grab (true, someone was sleeping when I folded the flats, and I forgot to take them in later), and he said he didn't know the "rules" so he improvised. He DID take cloth, though, and didn't go pick up disposables, so kudos to him for being awesome.

Some of the things that we really liked about the challenge:

1) Flats are workhorses. They really WORK. Well. There is something you should know about my husband. He HATES cloth diapering. He also hates to debate with me, apparently more so than he hates cloth diapers. I must be a great mom and wife because he cloth diapers because I ask him to do it, even though he would much rather use sposies. When I said I wanted to do this challenge, his response was a resounding "absolutely not." Cue annoying debate and endless justifications, a few promises that he would not have to wash a thing, and we were all signed up. So when I was polling him earlier today, I was pleasantly surprised to hear him say that he was amazed at how easy and effective it was, especially for the nighttime diapering, and we actually agree on something cloth-diapering related. Easy peasy.

2) I LOVE LOVE LOVE the idea that I am able to utilize the sun's energy to replace a task that I would use electricity to accomplish. I have big dreams of having an off-the-grid home someday with geothermal heat, solar and wind power, solar hot water heater, energy efficient insulation and windows and the whole 9 yards. Using electricity (for me, anyway) means my local utility is using oil. Oil is expensive. It keeps us dependent on an unstable Middle East. It creates pollution. I love the green factor of using the sun instead.

3) I learned that it is possible to cloth diaper a child for the cost of 1 month's worth of disposable diapers. It might not be the most convenient washing schedule or the latest prints in the cloth diapering scene, but it can be done if needed.

4) Should some unforeseen crisis strike our area (like the ice storm we had in 1998) and we had to go days or weeks without power, we would have a plan that we know will work for diapering our child. I would highly recommend parents add some flats and covers to an emergncy preparedness kit.

5) I love the space that flats have freed up for us at the changing table. Usually I wash diapers, then sort diapers, then stuff diapers, then stack diapers by type. It takes up a small table near the changing table (by the way, the kids just LOVE to throw the diapers on the floor so they can crawl across the table to get to the cabinet that is built into the wall next to it). Flats are 1 pile of pre-stuffed covers and 1 pile of extra flats. Only folding to do when they are dry, and the kidlets have plenty of room to climb on the table (like they are not supposed to do), so my diapers stay on the table. Ah, sweet harmony.

6) Flats are trim. I had no idea. One flat works as well as any pocket diaper and is as trim as a disposable. Two flats work great for overnights and naps, and are about as bulky as a pocket diaper.

7) NOT ONE SINGLE LEAK.

Things we didn't like about the challenge:

1) I didn't feel like putting in the elbow grease to handwash every day. Namely, Saturday. Saturday is usually the day I go on strike from most chores. Hubs took the kids to his mom's house for the day, and I just wanted to make progress on my never-ending list of things to do. I resented every plunge on Saturday. Really, though, I didn't mind the other days at all. As I am unemployed currently, the time factor was not really an issue. However, if I were working, I would probably really loathe the time out of my schedule spent washing diapers.

2) The limit of 5 covers made me nervous. I completely understand and support why it was part of the challenge, but I feel much more secure having at least 2 days' worth of diapering on hand. Some days are just crazy, after all. Can it be done with 5 covers? Absolutely!

Full Disclosure:

Okay, so I loved the challenge, it went really well for us, blah blah blah, but here are my confessions of what you should know that may have made it a lot easier for us. My son only poops about once every 3-5 days. When he poops, they are quite solid and plop-able, much to his cloth-diapering parents' delight. We did choose to use diaper liners for the challenge. The day before the challenge officially started, I got a poop in a flat (I started early). Used the liner, and it was a very easy clean up. Mr. Chubberton did not poop again until a few days later, and he actually told me he had to poop, so I set him on the potty - he ended up pooping on the floor instead of in the potty, but that is a long story that I will not amuse you with at this time. Next poo was at my mother-in-law's house at the cookout in the regular cloth diaper hubby took with him. So - I only had the one flat that had been pooped on the day before the challenge, but that I handwashed on the first official day. Let's be honest, runny or messy poo could certainly change one's opinion of the entire challenge. Also, no way would I handwash poopy diapers if I had to touch them. Camp-style washer is awesome!

So....my conclusions! We will definitely keep using flats. We will probably also use our other cloth diapers as well. I have to admit that I am very curious to see how much this would affect my utility bill, so I may continue for another month or two to get an idea. We pay for water and sewer, and the handwashing uses MUCH less water than our machine does. Regardless of the washing, I will continue to line-dry as much as possible. I did struggle to find enough places to hang flats inside, so rainy days I will probably use the clothes dryer. However, now that we only have 1 child in diapers, we have a big enough stash that if my laundry gets rained on, I have plenty of backup diapers just in case. I may even hang our clothes out to dry if there is room on the line.

I definitely think it is possible to cloth diaper for a reasonable investment (the cost of 1 month of dispoables) regardless of income and even if you do not have a washer and dryer available. I would not cart dirty diapers to a laundromat, but I would absolutely be willing to do this rather than use disposables. I would, however, want more than 5 covers, so I would probably use part of the money I wasn't spending on disposables to get a few extras.

Thanks for following along, and if you have any questions or comments for me, please be sure to let me know!

Flats and Handwashing Challenge - Days 2-4

2011-05-27T11:43:00.000-04:00

With my flats prepped and ready to go, I stuffed all my other diapers (and extra covers) into our 2 wetbags and tucked them away...just to avoid temptation, in case flats turned out to not be my thing. Since I would be washing in a camp-style washer (5-gallon bucket rigged with a toilet plunger for agitation), I decided it would be easiest to put the dirty diapers directly into the bucket for storage rather than use a wet bag that would also need to be washed by hand. The top of the bucket is not airtight, as there is a small gap where the plunger handle comes out, but thankfully, this has not caused any odor issues - likely since I am washing every day. I had considered that this might be an issue and was prepared to use a spare bucket lid for storage if necessary.

I have to admit that I was quite surprised to find that a mere 27" x 27" flat performed just as effectively as any pocket or all-in-one or other fancy diaper in my stash. For naps and overnights, 2 flats have gotten the job done WITHOUT ONE SINGLE LEAK. I was sure that they couldn't possibly perform that well, since they are SO TRIM. I would say that the cover with 2 flats is about equivalent in size to the average pocket diaper we would normally use. Using a single flat with the cover is about equivalent in size to using a disposable diaper (no, I am not joking).

So, the washing must be terrible, right? Well....not so much. The first day that I washed in my camp-style washer, I had used about 1/2 tablespoon of Charlie's Soap in the cold rinse and another 1/2 tablespoon of Charlie's in the hot wash, each with 5 minutes of agitation. I did find that there were a lot of suds, and I ended up doing a few extra rinses to get the suds out. After the first day, I started using soap nuts instead, and the suds issue has resolved. The worst/hardest part by far is the muscle involved. I set my timer and do 5 minutes of agitation in the cold rinse, another 5 minutes of agitation in the hot wash, then 2 minutes of agitation in the cold rinse. It is a decent workout. The very first day I kept stopping to check the timer, as I was certain that at least 20 minutes must have elapsed since I started agitating. It has gotten progressively easier each day, though. Don't get me wrong, it's not torture, but I will say that I clearly am not used to 12 continuous minutes of upper body activity. We'll see how that is at the end of the challenge.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge - Getting Ready

2011-05-27T10:58:00.000-04:00

Time now for a few days' worth of updates. Blogger wasn't working for me when I was able to log in, so I am updating now for 3 days. First though, as promised, I have some prepping activities to talk about. Here are my flats boiling on the stove:

I also wanted to demonstrate the difference between prepped and unprepped flats, so I have 2 videos here. They both show me pouring 1 cup of water on an unbleached flat. In the first video, the flat is unprepped - exactly the way I brought it home from the store. The second video shows the same amount of water being poured onto an unbleached flat that has been boiled on the stove.

You can see how the water beads up on the flat and takes time to absorb into the fabric. The boiling removes the natural oils (be sure to do a hot rinse while still hot or some of those oils can redeposit back into the fabric as the water cools.

After prepping:

I would expect that the flats will continue to become more absorbent for the next few washes, but I actually used them just like this, and we have not experienced any leaks, so they are certainly adequate after boiling once.

If you have leaks and suspect that your diapers might be repelling, you can always try a kitchen experiment like this to find out how well the diapers are soaking up liquid.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge - Day 1

2011-05-23T17:02:00.000-04:00

So, I have decided to go ahead and take the Flats and Handwashing Challenge this week. You can follow the link to read more about it, but it is basically a challenge to use the cheapest cloth diapering method (flats with a minimal number of covers) and to handwash and air dry them (mimicking a scenario of not having a washing machine and clothes dryer available). I will be honest. The main reason that I decided to start cloth diapering was that money was tight, and the cost savings was very appealing to me. Money was so tight that we could not afford the initial set up to get started in cloth diapering (or so I thought - more on that later). When GroVia was rebranding from GroBaby and offered up the last of the GroBaby diapers on babysteals.com, my mom helped us get started by loaning us the money for our initial stash. I had 2 children in diapers, and we were easily spending $100 per month on disposable diapers. We got the maximum that the site allows customers to buy (3 of each item), and they were being sold in sets of 4 - setting me up with 12 diapers to start. When the site was not sold out the next day, I bought another pack of 4, for a total of 16 shells, inserts and doublers. My daughter was 2.5, and my son was 6 months, so this gave us just about enough diapers for one day, and we could always use disposables as a back up if we were waiting on the laundry to finish. Once we got started and didn't have to buy disposables anymore, I used part of that money to build our stash, buy cloth-diaper-friendly laundry detergent and flushable poo liners. What I never considered (because I didn't realize it was an option) was to get flats and covers and pay a LOT less to get started. I still could have used the savings to buy the fancier diapers if I chose to do so.

Here is a breakdown of what I spent to get started for the Flats and Handwashing Challenge:
8 birdseye flats - $1.25 each from Central Street Farmhouse
10 flats - 2 packages of 5 flour sack towels from Wal-Mart - $4.87 each
5 EconoBum one-size covers (previously purchased from their B1G1 free sale which included 2 covers and 2 prefolds for $9.95), but let's err on the conservative side and use the $8.95 each retail price.

This gave me 18 flats and 5 covers for just about $65.

Now, the challenge requires handwashing and air drying of the diapers. It does allow for a camp-style washer, and this is how I have chosen to wash my diapers. You can find a great video at Dirty Diaper Laundry with instructions on how to do this here and a video of how to use it to wash your diapers here. I purchased a 5-gallon bucket for $2.88 and a toilet plunger for under $5. I drilled a 1" hole in the bucket lid to fit the plunger handle and several 3/8" holes on the sides and top of the plunger to reduce water resistance to make my washing job easier.

Because I am using a camp-style washer, I find it easiest to just use the washer to hold the diapers until I am ready to wash them rather than using a wet bag as I normally would.

A few months ago, EconoBum diapers were on sale - buy one, get one free for a cover with prefold - normally $9.95 each, you could get 2 covers and 2 prefolds for just under $10. I bought a few to try, and was quite surprised to find them just as effective and shockingly easy to use - no velcro tabs for hubby to forget to fold over, no pocket for him to forget to unstuff - all he had to do was take it off our son and drop it in the pail. Given this previous experience, it didn't come as that big of a surprise when I tried these flats and found that they perform just as well. They appear to be even a bit more trim without any issues yet with leaking or absorbency (I did start a few days early with the flats to make sure they were prepped okay - I just boiled them once - and things have been fine so far). I even have videos to upload later showing the difference between an unprepped birdseye flat and one that has been boiled.

So, before I am even very far down this journey, I have already come to the conclusion that I didn't need to spend so much to get started initially. I think there is a general perception that flats are somehow inferior to pockets, all-in-ones and all-in twos, but I think the flats are simpler and easier. You can use regular detergents if you wish, and they don't get the stink issues that are common with fancier diaper types.

In hindsight, I could have gotten started with 3 packages of flour sack towels and 5 covers for about $60. I initially bought a wet bag for about $16 online, but I found it to have a casing that sticks, and the stitching began to unravel shortly after I bought it. Not only did I mend it, but I sewed my next wet bag myself just the way I wanted it. It is a drawstring pail liner that fits most 13 gallon trash bins. It has an elastic drawstring so I can set it to hug the pail snugly and also empty into the washer easily without adjustment. I sell them here.

I also want to say that I am curious to see how I will deal with the handwashing and air drying. I love the idea of using less water and electricity. We have public water and sewer and who doesn't like lower utility bills? I do suspect that since I only have 1 child in diapers now and my stash is more than sufficient, I may line dry diapers in the future when the weather cooperates.

Must-read Article: Diapering in Tough Economic Times

2011-04-28T15:15:00.000-04:00

Here is some food for thought. This article brings up some interesting challenges facing families with children in diapers. I highly recommend reading it and sharing it if you have children in diapers or know someone who does, especially so if you or someone you know struggles to afford the costs of diapering.

http://www.everythingcloth.com/2011/04/diapering-in-tough-economic-times.html

Household tip for saving gasoline

2011-04-05T12:56:00.000-04:00

Here's a tip that could save you big bucks. Make sure that the person in your household with the longest commute is driving the most fuel efficient vehicle. If it saves you a buck a day in gas, that's $250 a year. A difference of 5 miles per gallon efficiency with a 20-mile commute each way saves $7.20 a week ($360/year) assuming gas costs $3.60 per gallon.

How ELSE Do We Use Oil?

2011-03-21T10:18:00.000-04:00

Think gas and oil prices are too high? Did you know that it takes 1 cup of crude oil to produce the plastic in one disposable diaper? Or that 12 million barrels of oil are used each year to produce plastic shopping bags? The higher the demand for crude oil, the higher prices OPEC sets. Consider using cloth diapers and reuseable shopping bags. It's better for the environment and reduces our dependency on fuel from an unstable Middle East. You might even save some money, too!

A $300 investment in cloth diapers, when used from birth to potty training, can prevent approximately $3000 in disposable diaper purchases AND it keeps the diapers out of our landfills.

Reuseable shopping bags typically cost the consumer money. The "free" plastic bag that your purchase is put in at the checkout counter costs the retailer money. By not requiring plastic bags for your purchases, you are reducing the need for the crude to make the bag, the resources used to transport the bag to the store, and keeping costs down for the retailer (because let's face it - they can't stay in business if they don't pass their costs along to their customers), not to mention the reduced cost of disposal once these bags enter the waste stream. Some retailers even give you a discount when you bring your own reuseable bag. Target discounts 5 cents off your purchase for each reuseable bag you use when making a purchase.

A New Direction for MoreGreen4ME

2011-03-20T12:58:00.000-04:00

I have stepped away from this blog for quite a while, and I have been considering lately what, if anything, I want to accomplish with it. While I think that the money savings aspect is useful, I think there are plenty of resources out there that get into this area in a lot more detail than I am able or willing. The topics that interest me most are more thought provoking and are more related to sustainable living, environmental issues, conservation and also household money savings. The thing is that I believe all these topics are very much related. Now that I have that out, here is what you can expect from this blog in the future: Posts that promote breastfeeding and cloth diapering, and why they are important not only for kids but also for the environment (and perhaps the economy); tips on how to save gas and energy; kid-friendly activities; the occasional crafty project (sewing can be VERY economical on the household budget); a yummy recipe here and there; promotion of green products; review of products that are ecofriendly/time saving/money saving, and occasionally a giveaway here and there. You can expect to read about my personal efforts to become part of a more sustainable, ecofriendly and budget-conscious household, what obstacles I encounter along the way and how I manage to engineer a solution, adapt my behavior or select a different solution to my projects along the way. I will not make daily posts. I do expect to post at least once a week, perhaps more. I hope that you will find this blog to be useful and thought inspiring, and please share us with your friends.

2011-01-20T13:19:00.004-05:00

Great Deal on MP3 player at Amazon.com

2010-12-16T18:40:00.000-05:00

Amazon.com has a great deal on a Coby 4 GB Video MP3 Player with FM Radio (blue color only) for just $21.99 (down from $45.39!). Use 1-Click ordering and also get a $15 Amazon MP3 downloads credit. After completing your purchase, you will receive an e-mail that includes a $15 code good for Amazon MP3 music downloads. The e-mail will also provide instructions on how to redeem your credit.

You can also score FREE SHIPPING with a purchase of $25 or more with Super Saver Shipping or get free shipping with no minimum with Amazon Prime or Amazon Mom!

Lots of Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards codes

2010-06-30T18:14:00.000-04:00

Here are a bunch of Huggies codes for the Enjoy the Ride Rewards Program. Thanks to Mommy Wants Freebies!

Worth 5 points each:
BHSQJQKKMLFTPGB
Bhsgswklgqrqpgb
Bhjxfwscmrqspgb
BFSJXBBWQDCCPGB
BFRJWLQPSGZJPGB
BFSFFMHFHCWCPGB
BFJCWFCCTFPPPGB
BGGCLHNZGFZZPGB
BFJKNNCDTSRXPGB
BFMJCPNQCJBNPGB
BFMCDPKPWPZGPGB
PQKXBRXMDTBWPGB
BGTRQWCSXXZRPGB
BFJZZGBBNBGPPGB
BFNMBKDSPXRCPGB
MLXRCCNRWKKWPGB
HKNZJZGMDNKBPGB
XZRSSFHSQGFLTMN
BXZWTNJFSLHCPGB
WHTZHNBDQFXKPGB
BDGTWXSQBJTXPGB
SLHPGDSPRWCDPGB
BRSJTFPNPXPQPGB
BHGKFQLRTLMPPGB

Worth 1 point each
BJDXLPQKJZBHPGB
BJDWPWPXBZZNPGB
BJCPNJNFMSSPPGB
BJCSPNDMBTKWPGB
BJDGQWZCSGMHPGB
BJDWCTPPPTXRPGB
BHQWTLDZFKJTPGB
BHQXZMKTGBZRPGB

Some of these will give you points right away, and some are bonus codes and will give you extra points the next time you enter a code. So if you have some codes to enter that are from product, your best bet is to enter these ones first.

bfqpqmmztdxbpgb
BFRBGQHTCTXQPGB
BFQFBHGCPKGDPGB
BFQCWHRKQMLKPGB
Bfqpqmmztdxbpbg

Win a Keurig coffeemaker!

2010-06-23T12:42:00.001-04:00

My local Hannaford has a Keurig coffeemaker in their bakery section where you can make your own cup of coffee for $1.19. I do my grocery shopping on Wednesday nights, and guess what? I am addicted to this coffee. I leave the kids at home with their dad, go to the store, brew my coffee and then stroll around the store in utter bliss. There are no screaming kids (at least, not in MY cart). The slogan should be "Keurig, take me away!"

You can head on over to Keurig's website to learn more about them. You can also enter to win one by heading on over to A Mom's Balancing Act, where you can read her review of the Keurig Special Edition coffeemaker and then enter to win your very own. Well, what are you waiting for?

GroBaby diaper giveaway

2010-06-22T23:01:00.000-04:00

I recently picked up some GroBaby diapers from babysteals.com, and I am so excited to try cloth diapering! It is really so much easier than it sounds, and the kids look SO stinkin cute in these diapers. It saves us a bunch of money on our budget to not buy disposables, and it's better for the kids and the environment, too! Since I like my GroBaby diapers so much, I was thrilled to come across this giveaway at The Modest Mom. Go check it out!

Check out this giveaway!

2010-06-17T02:16:00.002-04:00

Mommy Wants Freebies is having a giveaway for an aden & anais dream blanket! (ARV 44.95) If you are not familiar with this product, may I suggest that you RUN, don't WALK, to their website and find out what you are missing! We have the swaddlers at my house, and these are by far my favorite blankets for my kids. They are so cozy warm, but the open weave means that the kiddos never overheat in them. So if you are having a baby, already have a baby, or know someone who is having a baby (I don't think there are many of you left out at this point) go enter to win this blanket. It will leave you wishing for an adult-sized version, I promise! We also have the washcloths, which are luxurious, whether for baby or mom - they are HUGE and the ultimate in softness!

Cloth diapering

2010-06-14T23:48:00.000-04:00

A fantastic way to save money for those of you with kids is cloth diapering. While you are probably thinking this would be the equivalent of trading in your car for a horse and buggy, let me say that cloth diapers have changed A LOT since I used to wear them. Not only are they a LOT more convenient now than ever before, the health benefits are better, they are much cheaper over the course of your child's diapering years, and they are better for the environment.

I highly recommend checking out this site - http://www.bouncingbabies.ca - they have great info for you if you are new to cloth diapering or if you are considering a switch and just want to learn more about it. And when you do decide you're ready, they have a great selection of products to get you started!

How I got paid to shop at Rite-Aid!

2010-06-13T01:20:00.000-04:00

Here is what I picked up on my shopping trip to Rite-Aid today. The grand total for everything you see in the picture was....drumroll please....I GOT PAID $1.12 to bring this home from the store!

Here is how I did it:
The total at the register for these products was $28.92. I had a Rite-Aid video values coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase, bringing it down to $23.92. I will break the rest down by product.

Gillette ProFusion Razor - $9.99
I used a $4/1 coupon from the 6/6 newspaper.
I sent in for a $5 Rite-Aid Single Check Rebate (SCR). (0.99)

Old Spice deodorant - 2/$7
I used a $1/2 coupon from the 6/6 paper.
I sent in for a $3 Rite-Aid SCR. (3.00)

Bangor Daily News - $2 (2.00)

Tugaboo Trial-Size diapers - $0.99
I used my Rite-Aid wellness+ card for a 10% discount ($0.10)
I used a $1 coupon found inside the last trial size of Tugaboos that I purchased. (-0.11)

Blink Tears eye drops - $7.99
I used a $2 coupon printed from coupons.com.
I sent in for a $7.99 Rite-Aid SCR. (-2.00)

This brings my total to $3.88, but thanks to that $5 coupon from above, I end up gaining $1.12! Plus, I now have all the coupons from the inserts in that newspaper, so I can save even more money on future trips.

By the way, Single Check Rebates are VERY easy. You sign up on-line at Rite-Aid's website to process them. You go to the store, purchase your items, come home and log in. All you do is enter a few numbers from your receipt, and then they mail you a check!

So, here is your action checklist.
~Buy a weekend paper for coupon inserts and check out on-line printables too.
~Go to Riteaid.com and sign up for wellness+ rewards.
~Sign up for Single Check Rebates.
~Sign up for Rite-Aid video values (you get downloadable coupons in exchange for watching commercials).

Free Pampers wipes at Wal-Mart.....cheap everywhere else

2010-06-09T02:22:00.000-04:00

Hopefully you picked up a copy of the weekend paper, because there is a coupon for $2 off Pampers wipes. They are on sale at Wal-Mart this week for $1.97. You can also get them at Target for about $2.50, so about $0.50 after the coupon.

Pick up your weekend paper!

2010-06-06T01:48:00.000-04:00

If you haven't picked up a copy of the weekend paper yet, you'll want to. In addition to the regular PG, SmartSource and RedPlum coupon inserts, this week Hannaford also has coupon inserts - $5 off a $75 purchase, $2 off any Hannaford brand product (can you say FREE product) and $1 off any beef product. There were 2 of these inserts in my paper.

FREE Ecotrin + $2 store credit at Walgreens

2010-06-04T00:34:00.000-04:00

Register with GlaxoSmithCline to get a printable coupon for $2 off Ecotrin (among other product coupons). Walgreens is selling Ecotrin aspirin for $2, so you will get it for free. Plus, this week you will get $2 in Register Rewards which prints at the register when check out (no coupon or member card or resgistration required). The only restrictions on the Register Rewards is that you can't use them to buy more aspirin, and they will have an expiration date.

So to summarize - FREE Ecotrin aspirin + $2 Register Rewards. What are you waiting for?

Lifesavers at Walgreens for $0.65/pkg with sale and coupon

2010-06-04T00:24:00.000-04:00

Lifesavers are Buy One, Get One Free for $2.29 at Walgreens this week. Pair it with this printable coupon for $1 off Lifesavers, and get 2 for $1.29.

Get Campbell's Chunky soup for $0.75/can at Walgreens!

2010-06-04T00:11:00.000-04:00

Walgreens has a coupon for Campbell's Chunky soup for 4/$5 this week. Pair it with this manufacturer's coupon for $1 off 2 cans, and you can get 4 cans for just $3.

HOT deal on SoBe Lifewater!

2010-06-03T23:18:00.001-04:00

SoBe Lifewater printable coupons for buy one, get one free. I was able to print 3 of these. Target has these on sale this week for 10 for $10, PLUS (when you buy 10) you will get a $5 Target gift card to use on your next visit. So you are really getting them for $7 plus the bottle deposit, and you will gat a $5 gift card back (and your bottle deposit if you recycle). If you have access to more than one computer, print another 2 and get all 10 for just $5 + bottle deposit out of pocket. Happy shopping!

National Donut Day is Friday, June 4th!

2010-06-03T23:05:00.000-04:00

In honor of National Donut Day, Dunkin Donuts is giving away a free donut with the purchase of any beverage. Go here for details.

Save 15% at Kohl's (even clearance)

2010-06-03T10:31:00.000-04:00

Take 15% off at Kohl's with coupon code SUMMER15 online. You can also print a coupon to use in-store.

Check out the Dollar Stretcher to save money on ....well, anything!

2010-06-03T00:52:00.000-04:00

I have subscribed to The Dollar Stretcher e-mails for a long time now. This website has articles and tips on how to save money in dozens (maybe even hundreds of areas).

I highly recommend subscribing to their weekly e-mails. They are full of great ideas and tips on how to save money on just about anything. You could easily spend hours (or even days) trying to take in everything on their website, so take my advice and pace yourself....enjoy!

FREE Tomato Sauce at Hannaford

2010-05-30T02:37:00.000-04:00

Get this printable coupon for $1 off Muir Glen tomato sauce, then head into Hannaford, where the 8-oz size is priced at $0.99, to pick it up for free!

HOT Clearance Sale at Old Navy this Friday and Saturday (5/28 and 5/29)

2010-05-27T23:19:00.000-04:00

Old Navy is taking an extra 50% off clearance prices this Friday and Saturday, May 28th and 29th. In-store only.

You can also get a coupon from their Facebook page.

Coupon and rebate for World's Best Cat Litter

2010-05-27T23:06:00.000-04:00

World's Best Cat Litter is made from whole-kernal corn, and it is scoopable. It is also flushable. You can try it for free after this mail-in rebate. There is also a $3 off printable coupon available.

I picked up an 8-pound bag at Hannaford for $6.49. I will come back and comment on how we like it.

Printable coupon for $1 off Quaker oatmeal

2010-05-27T22:48:00.000-04:00

Get a printable coupon from Walmart.com for $1 off Quaker oatmeal (Instant Oatmeal or Quaker Quick or Old Fashioned Oats). Don't forget to hit the back button on your browser to print it twice.

2010-05-25T11:59:00.000-04:00

Rite-Aid has launched their new wellness+ Reward Program. It's free to sign up, and you get exclusive benefits for being a member.

Save $10 on a $25 purchase at Office Depot with this printable coupon

2010-05-25T02:09:00.000-04:00

Here is a high-value coupon for Office Depot. Get $10 off a $25 purchase with this printable coupon. Great for stocking up on printer cartridges and toner for all those printable coupons!

Printable coupon for $1 off 3 cans of Libby's Vegetables.

2010-05-24T13:39:00.000-04:00

Printable coupon for $1 off when you buy 3 cans of Libby's Vegetables.

Get an Additional 75% Off Already-Reduced Shoes at Sears.com

2010-05-24T03:43:00.000-04:00

Sears is having a smoking hot deal on shoes right now. Check out their website for an additional 75% off already-reduced shoes. No coupon code is needed, the discount is automatically applied when you add items to your cart!

Exclusive Hannaford Printable Coupons

2010-05-24T02:38:00.000-04:00

Hannaford has posted some coupons for this week on their website - including one for $5 off a $50 purchase!

GreenWorks laundry detergent FREE at Hannaford with coupon

2010-05-21T01:15:00.000-04:00

"Like" Greenworks on Facebook for a $3 coupon for laundry detergent. Hannaford has the 30-load GreenWorks Clorox laundry detergent on sale for $2.99, making it FREE! You can also print a $3 off Greenworks laundry detergent Target store coupon and stack them for $6 off the 90-ounce size.

$3 off Ovaltine with stackable coupons at Target

2010-05-21T00:53:00.001-04:00

Use a $2 off Ovaltine maunfacturer's coupon and $1 off Ovaltine Target store coupon and get $3 off.

FREE Ice Cream Sundae at Wal-Mart on 5/22

2010-05-20T23:33:00.000-04:00

From 11-4 on Saturday, May 22, participating Wal-Mart stores will be giving away free ice cream sundaes.

"Come have a free ice cream sundae* with Breyers new and exclusive flavors, and Blue Bunny Premium Ice Cream and new All Natural Frozen Yogurt topped with Hershey's Chocolate Syrup, Reddi-wip, and Fresh Strawberries. *While supplies last."

Save $3 on swim diapers at Target with stacked coupons

2010-05-20T01:28:00.000-04:00

Use a Target store coupon for $1.50 off Huggies swim diapers and a manufacturer's coupon for $1.50 off Huggies swim diapers, and get a total of $3 off, making the final price $5.99 (may vary due to local pricing).

Use stacked coupons at Target to get $2.50 off Dove deodorant

2010-05-20T00:43:00.001-04:00

Target's coupon policy allows you to use 1 manufacturer's coupon and 1 Target store coupon for the same item. Get a Dove coupon for $1.50 off any deodorant or body wash and a Target store coupon for $1 off Dove deodorant and save $2.50 - get it for free or very cheap!

$10 off $25 at J.C. Penney when you sign up for moblie alerts

2010-05-19T15:13:00.000-04:00

Sign up for mobile alerts at J.C. Penney and get $10 off $25 purchase. Standard text messaging rates apply, but if you have U.S. Cellular (like I do), all your incoming texts are free!

FREE Limeade Sparkler at Taco Bell

2010-05-19T14:58:00.000-04:00

Here is a printable coupon for a FREE Limeade Sparkler from Taco Bell. They are valid until 7/11 or until 500,000 coupons have been redeemed, so I would use this one right away.

Sign up for "Free Stuff" from Seattle's Best Coffee

2010-05-18T21:54:00.000-04:00

Go to the Seattle's Best website and sign up to receive "free stuff." They haven't said what they will be sending, but it's going to the first 10,000 who sign up.

Coupon for $2 off Energizer batteries

2010-05-18T21:23:00.000-04:00

Here is a coupon for $2 off Energizer rechargeable batteries and another for $2 off Energizer Lithium batteries. When our daughter was born, we had a baby swing that ran on 4 D-cell batteries. I figured that even after the intial investment in the batteries and charger, we ended up saving hundreds of dollars on batteries on just the swing alone.

Sign up for Home Depot's Improver's Club and save $$ with DIY

2010-05-17T01:43:00.000-04:00

$1.50 off any Dove deodorant

2010-05-17T01:32:00.000-04:00

Printable coupon for $1.50 off any Dove deodorant or body mist, or save $1.25 on any Dove body wash (excludes travel size and Dove Men+Care).

5 Points for Disney Movie Rewards accounts

2010-05-17T01:20:00.000-04:00

Use code E9V03JA393 to add 5 points to your Disney Movie Rewards account.

$1 Flip-flops at Old Navy on 5/22

2010-05-16T12:17:00.002-04:00

Head into Old Navy on 5/22 for their 1-day special of $1 Flip-flops.

20-pack of AA or AAA Duracell Batteries for $5

2010-05-16T11:41:00.000-04:00

Family Dollar has 20-packs of Duracell batteries in AA or AAA on sale for just $5. Sale price is good starting Sunday, May 16, through Sunday, May 23. Offer is good while supplies last.

Huggies Diapers - $3 off printable coupon

2010-05-14T14:00:00.000-04:00

$3 Coupon for Huggies Diapers on the coupon bar on the top of my blog page. Simply scroll through until you see it, then click to print.

If you are near a CVS, you can pay $5.49 with the coupon and get 2 ECBs (Extra Care Bucks) for a grand total of $3.49 per package. What a bargain!

Mommy Cards are the new hot thing - get a great deal at VistaPrint

2010-05-13T22:57:00.000-04:00

Mommy cards are the new hip thing. Tuck them in your child's pocket, backpack, lunch box, etc. Hand them out to coaches, teachers, other parents and babysitters. Put contact, emergency, and allergy information on them. Check out this deal at VistaPrint - get 100 cards for only $1.99...what a deal!

$0.60 off Dr. Pepper 2-liter or 12-pack

2010-05-13T10:52:00.000-04:00

Here is a printable coupon for $0.60 off any 2-liter or 12-pack of Dr. Pepper. Don't forget to hit the back button on your browser to print this one twice.

Coupon for $2 off any Biore product - possible free product

2010-05-13T09:37:00.000-04:00

B iore is offering a coupon for $2 off any one of their products. You can use it on something pricey that you've been dying to try out or possibly score some free product, like their facial scrub, which many Wal-Marts carry for $1.97.

PUREX 3-in-1 sample

2010-05-13T09:26:00.000-04:00

I also just got this free sample in the mail last week, and it is still available. PUREX 3-in-1 sheets have the detergent, fabric softener and anti-static product in one convenient sheet. You toss it in with the laundry and then transfer it to the dryer.

This is a great way to cut down on the amount of product you're carrying around, particularly if you use a laundromat. The sample also comes with a $1 coupon for the product.

FREE sample of True Lemon

2010-05-13T09:19:00.000-04:00

I just got my free sample of True Lemon in the mail yesterday. It is crystallized lemon and is a great way to flavor water or tea and contains no sweeteners. I was also pleased that the sample came with orange and lime flavors as well and ideas for recipes. (Can you say Tequila Lime Chicken? Yummy!) I love the idea of having this flavor stocked in my pantry without having to plan for fresh fruit every time. I also like the idea of being able to carry the packets in my purse.

There is a store finder on their website, but you can always purchase from them online if you get hooked and your local store doesn't carry them.

FREE Full-size Suave Professionals sample

2010-05-13T09:08:00.000-04:00

HURRY for this one! The first 100,000 to sign up will get a free FULL-SIZE bottle of Suave Professionals. Click on the blue "MORE" button, then on the next page look at the top for the link to sign up.

FREE sample of Child Safety Tattoos

2010-05-12T12:05:00.000-04:00

These Child Safety Tattoos are a great idea, especially if you are planning a vacation or an outing. Now you can get a free sample here.

Save $5 on a haircut from SuperCuts!

2010-05-12T10:06:00.000-04:00

Use this coupon from ESPN to get $5 off a SuperCuts haircut.

Exciting (Money-Saving) News!

2010-05-12T09:14:00.000-04:00

You can now view and print Coupons.com coupons directly from my blog! There is a banner on the header of the blog which shows 3 coupons at a time. You can scroll across to see all of them, or click on "see all" to bring up a list of all the available coupons. There is a Quick Print button under each product on the banner to print the ones that are shown.

I am so excited to be able to share this with you! Now you can enjoy more money savings in one place! Don't forget to follow MoreGreen4ME on Facebook and share with your friends....the more people who follow the site means more great deals that I can bring to everyone! Enjoy!!

New Deal-of-the-Day website

2010-05-12T00:50:00.000-04:00

Check out this deal-of-the-day website that I just discovered. For all you night owls, AnikaBurke.com has a deal of the day that goes live at midnight, EST (9 p.m. PST). If you want to find more than one deal, you can browse their online shop, too. They truly are eclectic, and I now have yet another time of day to check online for a daily steal! Happy shopping!

Coupon code for 20% at Payless.com

2010-05-11T23:17:00.000-04:00

Use Coupon code 34318 at checkout to get 20% off any purchase at Payless.com. It works on sale items too! If you're really feeling thrifty, have your order shipped to your local store for free shipping and don't forget to go through Ebates first! Ebates offers 3% cash back on Payless.com purchases just for clicking through their site first - PLUS if you are new to Ebates, you will get an extra $5 cash back just for trying them out!

Discount code for AllyZabba website!! HURRY, it's only good for 1 hour!

2010-05-11T22:07:00.000-04:00

If you haven't heard of AllyZabba blankets, you need to RUN, don't walk, but RUN to their website and check it out. Each of my children have one, and they are high on the blankie faves list in our house. They also have MegaZabbas, which are on my wishlist.

Until 11 pm EST, you can use the code 700fans to get a 20% discount on your order. HURRY, this is only good for 1 hour. Oh, and don't forget to "like" them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. Well, what are you waiting for??

FREE Soft Scrub at Walgreens after coupon

2010-05-11T15:55:00.000-04:00

Walgreen's has Soft Scrub on sale this week at buy one, get one free. Pair it with this buy one, get one free offer from Soft Scrub, and you can score some free cleaner!

You can also find $1 off printable coupons for any Soft Scrub Total purchase and another for any Soft Scrub Cleanser purchase.

FREE subscription to Cooking Light

2010-05-11T15:37:00.002-04:00

Hurry, this will go fast. Follow the link for a FREE 1-year subscription to Cooking Light.

FREE sample of YoPlus yogurt

2010-05-11T15:32:00.000-04:00

Get a FREE sample of YoPlus Yoplait yogurt when you sign up for the Betty Crocker newsletter.

Coupon for Buy One, Get One Free Sub as Quizno's

2010-05-11T14:52:00.000-04:00

Use this printable coupon to get a free sub at Quizno's when you buy a sub and drink.

Free Panties at Lane Bryant!

2010-05-11T13:19:00.000-04:00

I just got my free cami at Lane Bryant last week, and I have to say that I absolutely love it! It has an adorable shirred neckline, a good range of its adjustable straps, and it actually covers my cleavage, which none of my other tanks tops do, and my pet peeve is wearing a bunch of clothes that don't actually cover me up! The cami retails at $19.50, but was free with last week's coupon.

Now Lane Bryant is offering a free pair of Cacique Panties. You can choose either black or white and you don’t even need a coupon! This offer is good until May 19th, but I recommend that you as soon as possible before they run out. Lane Bryant has women's sizes starting at size 12. They also offer hard-to-find bra sizes for well-endowed women, including cup sizes F, G and H! Thanks, Couponing to Disney.

Free sample of Eucerin Daily Skin Balance body lotion from Walmart.com

2010-05-11T12:38:00.000-04:00

Free sample of Eucerin Daily Skin Balance body lotion from Walmart.com.

Free Sample of Old Spice Odor Blocker Body Wash

2010-05-11T12:10:00.001-04:00

Click here to visit Walmart.com for your free sample of Old Spice Odor Blocker body wash.

Secret Clinical Protection deodorant free sample at walmart.com

2010-05-11T12:07:00.003-04:00

Free sample of Secret Clinical Protection deodorant from Walmart.com.

Free mascara at JCPenney.

2010-05-11T11:50:00.000-04:00

Free mascara at J.C. Penney. Print this coupon and take it to a Sephora inside JCPenney for a free deluxe sample of Too Faced Lash Injection Mascara. There is no expiration date on the coupon, they just say while supplies last - and if they run out they'll give you a sample of another product! Thanks Freebies4Mom!

Free download from Disney today is "Grim Grinning Ghosts" from Mickey's Monster Bash.

2010-05-11T11:37:00.000-04:00

Today's free download from 50 Days of Disney Music is "Grim Grinning Ghosts" from Mickey's Monster Bash.

Free sample of eB5 Anti-aging Facial cream

2010-05-11T11:18:00.000-04:00

Free sample of eB5 Anti-Aging cream. Sold at J.C. Penney, CVS and Walgreens. Here is their product locator.

$1 off Turkey Bacon from Oscar Mayer

2010-05-11T00:37:00.001-04:00

Printable coupon for $1 off Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon.

$1 off BIC products

2010-05-10T16:40:00.000-04:00

This is a great coupon for $1 off any BIC product. Hit your back browser to print it twice. It is not unusual to see BIC products on sale for less than $1, so you are likely to be able to score some free product with this one!

Kids Eat Free at Quiznos PLUS $2 coupon when you join Quizno's Club

2010-05-10T13:35:00.000-04:00

Purchase an entree, and get a free kid's meal (child under 12 must be present). No coupon required.

Plus, join the Quizno's Club for coupon for $2 off a regular or large sub.

Day 8 of free music downloads from Disney

2010-05-10T13:26:00.000-04:00

Day 8 of Disney's 50 Days of Music is "Now or Never" from the High School Musical 3 soundtrack.

$3 off No-Nonsense microfiber panties

2010-05-10T12:42:00.000-04:00

$3 off a 2-pack of No-Nonsense microfiber panties. No-Nonsense is offering a limited-time discount on their microfiber panties. They won't ride up, come in high-cut, bikini and brief. This is a great time to give them a try. Offer is effective from noon to midnight.

Nature's Own coupon to the first 2500 requests

2010-05-09T10:47:00.001-04:00

Nature's Own has a coupon for the first 2500 people who request it on Facebook.

$1.50 off coupon for Wheatables - $0.46 at WalMart

2010-05-09T03:29:00.000-04:00

There is a new Wheatables coupon for $1.50 off. The Wal-Mart price is $1.96, giving a purchase price of $0.46 after the coupon.

Rite Aid Deals - May 9 through May 15, 2010

2010-05-09T02:08:00.000-04:00

Post Cereals @ $4.49 each - On sale, Buy One, Get One Free.
Buy 2 and use $2/1 printable coupons
$0.25 each after coupons

Tresemme Shampoo, Conditioner & Stylers @ $3.29 each
Buy 2 and use Buy One, Get One Free Printable

Also use $2/1 printable coupon
$0.65 each after coupons

50 Days of Disney Music - "Trust in Me" from the Jungle Book

2010-05-08T18:00:00.000-04:00

Today's download is "Trust in Me" from the Jungle Book Soundtrack.

$3 off Spot Shot Pet Clean - possibly FREE after coupon

2010-05-08T17:49:00.000-04:00

Printable coupon for $3 off Spot Shot Pet Clean. Some Targets have this for $2.99, which would make it free.

Coupon for $15 off at Bebe Bella Designs

2010-05-08T17:36:00.000-04:00

Coupon for $1 off Chinet

2010-05-07T20:33:00.000-04:00

Join Club Chinet to get a coupon for $1/1 Chinet product.
Your coupon will be emailed to you after joining. You will also receive a monthly e-newsletter with additional coupons, recipe ideas, and entertaining tips.

Day 5 of 50 Days of Disney Music - "One Jump Ahead" from Aladdin

2010-05-07T20:21:00.000-04:00

Day 5 of 50 Days of Disney Music is Aladdin's "One Jump Ahead."

What is in your mailbox today?

2010-05-07T14:37:00.000-04:00

I just got my mail today, and I have received my samples for Benfiber and Crest WhiteStrips through Wal-Mart. The Benefiber sample came with a $2 coupon, and the WhiteStrips came with a $10 off coupon - excellent! These samples are no longer available, but the current Wal-Mart free samples are Eucerin, John Freida Root Awakening, Dove Hair Care, Prilosec, and Parent's Choice infant formula.

FREE Pedometer from Nature's Bounty

2010-05-07T12:41:00.000-04:00

B1G1 Nabisco 100-Calorie Packs

2010-05-07T12:23:00.000-04:00

"Like" Nabisco 100 Calories Packs on Facebook and get a buy one, get one free coupon for 100 Calorie Packs

Free Nivea body lotion or body wash sample

2010-05-07T12:18:00.000-04:00

Get your FREE sample of Nivea Happy Sensations Body Lotion OR Touch of Happiness Body Wash.

FREE Panty Coupon at Macy's!

2010-05-07T11:58:00.000-04:00

Use this coupon for a FREE Jockey panty at Macy's from May 31st to June 6th. I will post a reminder at the end of May, but I do recommend that you print the coupon now in case they are all gone by then.

Oakhurst Dairy Living Healthy Sweepstakes

2010-05-06T22:57:00.000-04:00

You could win a $100 supermarket gift card plus a Living Healthy Shopping Tour with an Oakhurst Dairy dietician in Oakhurst's Living Healthy Sweepstakes. Offer Valid only in ME, MA, VT, NH, and RI.

FREE Honest Tea at Shaw's

2010-05-06T22:37:00.000-04:00

Honest Tea's are on sale 5/7 through 5/13 at Shaw's for $0.99 each. Use this printable coupon from Honest Tea, and Shaw's will double the coupon, making the tea free! You can print the coupon twice.

$2 off Dove Deodorant

2010-05-06T22:20:00.000-04:00

Another Facebook coupon - this is for $2 off Dove Visibly Smooth antiperspirant/deodorant.

Free Eco-Friendly Gardening Workshop at Home Depot

2010-05-06T21:34:00.000-04:00

Attend a Free Eco-Friendly Gardening Do-it-Herself workshop featuring Martha Stewart Living on June 3rd.

Get 2 Armor All products FREE after coupons and mail-in rebate.

2010-05-06T15:46:00.000-04:00

"Like" Armor All on Facebook for a $2 printable coupon. Don't forget to use the back button on your browser to print it twice. Then:

Buy 1 ArmorAll Wipes or Tire Shine for $4

Buy 1 ArmorAll 7 oz Tire Protectorant for $7.99

Use two $2 printable coupons.
You will pay $7.99 in-store.

Submit for the Mail In Rebate and get $7.99 back via rebate!

Thanks Couponing to Disney!

Avon's new Glazewear on sale for $1.99 each, plus be entered to win a car!

2010-05-06T14:39:00.000-04:00

Tired of overly tacky, sticky glosses? Avon Glazewear delivers high-shine, leaving lips feeling silky-smooth. During the entire month of May, snag yours for only $1.99! Plus, each purchase of Glazewear comes with a mail-in entry to win a car.

Free Disney Music Downloads - Get "A Spoonful of Sugar" today!

2010-05-06T13:36:00.001-04:00

Disney is offering a free music download a day for 50 days. Today is day 4, and the track available today is A Spoonful of Sugar from Mary Poppins. I am getting all our faves so I can put together a playlist for my daughter. Music can be a lifesaver on rainy days when you have bored kids in the house!

$1 Tropicana coupon when you send a Mother's Day e-card

2010-05-06T09:47:00.001-04:00

Send a Mother's Day e-card and both the sender and the recipient get a coupon for $1 off Tropicana orange juice. Don't forget that you can hit the back button on your browser to print it twice.

$1 off 7Up

2010-05-05T22:36:00.000-04:00

Here is a coupon for $1 off 7Up, on a 20-ounce bottle, a 2-liter bottle or a 6-pack in any flavor.

Free Lever 2000 sample

2010-05-05T22:05:00.000-04:00

Free sample of Lever 2000 from Sam's Club. You do not need to be a member to receive the sample.