Free Donuts!

Who can pass up free donuts!? Today you can go in and get any donut for free for National Donut Day. But if you miss it today, you can bring in an ugly tie to the store (now until Father's Day) and get a free dozen original donuts. YUM!

Papa John's

Don't know what to do for dinner tonight? You can get 50% off of a large pizza with the promo code DRAFT14 at Papa John's which makes for a killer deal. Enjoy!

Cheap Mulch

If you need gardening mulch check out this deal. Normally about $4 a bag for $2 and then a promo code for $10 off $50. I ordered some online around 9, picked it up and had them load it for me at 10, and it is ready to spread (any volunteers)?

http://freebies2deals.com/2014/04/lowes-spring-black-friday-sale-save-mulch-step-ladders-miracle-gro-plus-get-10-50-purchase.html

Free Stuff on Tax Day

Take advantage of tax day with these offers. I'll be heading over to Sonic for my 1/2 price diet coke soon. . .

http://freebies2deals.com/2014/04/tax-day-deals-freebies-round.html

Freebies2Deals

I found this awesome site for deals that seem to fit the needs of our family. Check it out:

http://freebies2deals.com

Free Pancakes on March 4th

http://ihoppancakeday.com

Free Magazine Subscription

Gossip magazines are a secret joy that I am embarrassed about, but I really do like reading them and they are the perfect length for a bath. If you fill out this survey (about 10 minutes) you get a free subscription to US Weekly for 2 years. You don't have to give your credit card number. You might get a little more junk mail but you can just recycle it.

http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/usw_gd/sg_usw_pg2gd-nonmem.htm

At the end just click the option for the magazine.

Macy's Deals

I dropped by Macy's spontaneously today and found some great deals. I only had time to look at kids' clothes, but wow! What amazing prices. Macy's often has great deals on kid's clothes. The trick is to look at the racks that are already on sale and then have a sign that says another 50% off. Usually it is on Saturdays. Most times you can get an additional 10-20% off with a WOW pass or Macy's card, but this weekend they marked things down to reflect that price without the additional discount.

With four little boys, I really have no problem spending money on clothes for them--especially the oldest--because I know they will be passed down and well-used. But when I can buy really great quality and cute clothes for a really cheap price it makes me feel great. I wish all big, financially tight families would recognize that they can buy really awesome clothes on sale for cheaper than they get the clothes they buy at places like Walmart!

People have asked what I bought--here you go:

I saw these at Christmas and liked them but at $80 I could not justify getting them. They are Calvin Klein and the set includes pants/jeans (with adjustable waist band--a must for my boys), a  nice button up shirt, and a great vest. I bought them for all three big boys--for only $9.99 EACH!!

This was another Calvin Klein set like the first with cute skinny jeans for Myles.

This is a shirt for Mason. Regularly $20 for $2.39!

This is a cute little set with jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and a hoodie for McKay. Regularly $29.99 for $7.45.

And finally, a sweater for Mason. Regularly $29.99 (I think) for $4.99. He has a few sweaters from this line  and he looks really cute in them.

And the most rewarding part of all--spent $58.62 and saved $366.64.  

Free Formula

There are few things in life that give me more pleasure than free baby formula. I don't know why, but my heart just sings when I look at a full stash of milk for my babies. I have a 2 month old right now, and though I am exclusively breastfeeding, I wasn't able to breastfeed two of my four kids, and having a supply of formula ready made me feel just a little less terrible about it. I likely won't need all this formula with this baby, but my sister is having a baby in a few months and might need it. I also donated 6 cans to the food bank last week because they were going to expire in a few months. So far all my kids have been able to tolerate all brands of formula, which makes building a supply easier. So, here are my tips for acquiring free formula:

1. Sign up on all the formula websites for freebies and coupons. Sign up for Enfamil, Similac, and Good Start. Now, if you want more you can umm. . .stretch the truth. . .and say that you are having twins, it is your first kid, and that you plan on breastfeeding and they will send you more. They want to convince you to give up breastfeeding for the ease of formula. You could also sign up with the names and addresses of grandparents, etc. if they don't mind getting the junk mail and packages. 

2. They will send you formula checks. Some will be for the full cost of a can of formula ($10, $15), but some will be for as little as $5. To get the best savings, use the coupons for as close to the cost of the item as you can. For example, I buy the boxes of ready-to-feed 2 oz bottles of formula (great to supplement with or leave with a babysitter if you are out of pumped milk) which cost $6 with the $5 checks. It used to be that some places would let you use more than one check per item but I haven't found those lately. I also just throw away any checks for less than $4 because the savings isn't worth the cost of the item (i.e. $4 off a $14 can of formula is still too expensive).

3. The next tip is to request samples EVERY TIME you go to a pediatrician, your OB/GYN, or even a lactation consultant. I even started this when I was pregnant. With 4 kids we make quite a few trips to the pediatrician and each time he gives me at least 4 or 5 cans of formula. 

4. My final tip is to watch he expiration dates on formula checks and cans. Make sure that if they are going to expire before you can use them to give them to someone who needs them. I don't feel comfortable selling them on the internet, but a lot of people do. I think it is better to give them to another mom who can't breastfeed or to donate them.

It is helpful for me to remember that by getting free formula, the only person who is losing out is the gigantic formula companies who make a ridiculous about of money. At least that helps me not feel excessive and indulgent when admiring my stash of formula!

Dilliards' New Year's Day Sale

Okay folks, you will want to file this away for next New Year's Day. The sale is so big that my parents and grandparents from Canada extend their vacation to be here for it.

For one day only, everything that is already marked down at Dilliards (anything with a pink sticker) is another 50% off. And that is about 1/3-1/2 of the store. We discovered this about 4 years ago by accident and it has been a family tradition since. Two years ago I scored my favorite purse of all time--a beautiful gray Coach bag regularly $398 for $120.  I get compliments on it wherever I go.

The first key is to scope out the store ahead of time. My mom and I went once on Monday and got a general idea of what was on sale, then we went again yesterday to decide what we wanted and what was a priority. We also may or may not have hidden a few items in the store that we wanted to make sure to find. This only works about 30% of the time, but it is worth a try and saves major time. This time I just gathered together the kids' clothes that I wanted and put them all together on one rack. It is also important to try on the shoes and clothes you are sure you want so you don't waste precious time on sale day.

The second key is to MAKE A GAME PLAN. Our mom is a little more intense about this and had her route through the store mapped out. I just knew I wanted to first grab the Vera Bradley diaper bag, and that I wanted to hit the shoes pretty quickly.

The third key is to be there RIGHT WHEN THEY OPEN. And to be at the door closest to the first item you want to nab. This time we all wanted purses, so we were at that door. You really only have to stand outside the door for 5 minutes or so and then when they open the doors--run!

Jessica waiting for the opening. 

The third key is to BRING SHERPAS.  You always want to bring along someone who can carry items and stand in line for you. Jessica and I both needed our husbands to watch our kids at home, but my dad was happy to help us. My mom even brought my empty baby stroller to load things into so that we could grab more without having to stop. Jessica and I made fun of her until we found it very useful. At one point the stroller couldn't fit one more thing and all of our arms were full.

Mom and dad waiting with the stroller. She was up for hours in the night because she was so excited for the sale.

The next key is to SHOP IN SHIFTS. First, we grab what we know we want because we had a plan. After that is bought and put in the car, we can go back and browse a little more. This is where I picked up jewelry and some shirts for my husband. 

Our haul.

The final key is a really exciting one for my sister and I. When you get home CALCULATE YOUR SAVINGS.

Jessica spent $120 for $450 worth of merchandise for a spending of 27% of the original cost. I don't remember everything she bought, but I know it included a Fossil purse, a Vera Bradley bag, shoes, and a few shirts for her husband. 

I spent $322 for $1091 of merchandise for a spending of 29% of the original cost. I got some new cookware (reg $200 for $50), a Vera Bradley diaper bag (reg. $118 for $41), a Fossil bag (reg $98 for 16), two pairs of shoes for the boys, a beautiful pair of shoes for myself, lots of baby clothes and little boy shirts, some jewelry, and some shirts for my husband. 

I'm not sure what my mom's cost and savings amount to, but she got a beautiful comforter for her bed, some purses, sheets, and great shoes. 

So now you know. . .not only how ridiculous we are about shopping, but also how to be as successful as us on your next trip to Dilliards' on New Year's Day. Happy shopping!