Blog

Did you know that the best time to buy summer toys and clothes was AFTER summer?  Yep. That’s when stores clearance out the seasonal stuff to make room for the new line that’s coming in.  Well, I was cruising around Amazon.com looking at the clearance section when I got a great idea for this week’s Family Frugal Fun!

So, just because the summer is coming to a close – how about a fun summer blow-out?  Now, each week I do my best to keep us under $25 and some week’s the cost has been just about nothing, so hopefully you saved up some of that Frugal Family Fun budget for this!

It is the Cuisinart ICE-21 Frozen Yogurt-Ice Cream & Sorbet Maker and it’s on clearance for just $49!  Marked down from $90, it has over 250 reviews and it has a 4 1/4 star rating!  So, not only are kids toys on clearance this time of year – goodies for us are too!  And it ships FREE with Amazon prime!
Here are a few of the features:

So, this week enjoy the last of your summer days (or the memory of your summer days!) with a cool treat – you and the kids can work together to make something fun and special in the kitchen.  Doesn’t everything taste better when it’s homemade??

I know the last couple week’s our Frugal Adventures have kept us at home, so next week I think we will venture out of the house.  But, I thought this was a great way to show you that there are ways to get the things you want, you just have to wait for that sale and the right time…And NOW is the great time to see if there is any summer items left, and if there are – they all should be GREATLY reduced in price…

Enjoy your ice cream

We have a nice long weekend coming up and I know some of us BBQ and have friends and family over to relax and well, just have FUN!  I also know that coming up with ideas and games for everyone to do can seem costly.  So, I have a FRUGAL FAMILY FUN IDEA…

Family Olympics!
Hold an Olympics just for your family (and friends if you are having company over!) . Events can range from walking with an egg on a spoon, soccer in the backyard, swimming laps (if you have a pool), and how about the crab walk, AND no summer fun is complete without the infamous water balloon toss. You can have individual events as well as teams, so that everyone feels like they have a special part!  The cost of these games would be the cost of the eggs and balloons – all the rest are FREE, FAMILY FUN!
You can totally use your imagination on this one — the events are limitless.  In fact – I would LOVE it if you would share an event idea in the comments so that we can all enjoy!

As for food, I rounded up some great deals that I saw at Publix that can make your menu cost-effective.

Plates!
Dixie Plates or Bowls, 20 – 48 ct, BOGO $2.65
-$1/1 Dixie CMN donation sheets
-$2/1 CMN donation sheets
-$0.55/1 CMN donation sheets
-$2/1 cereal WYB 2 packs of Dixie Ultra Bowls Tearpad (if included)

Drinks:
Publix Deli Tea Gallon, BOGO $2.59

Assorted 12 pk Pepsi, $5.29, B2G2
-$0.55 off Pepsi Max (1) 2L or (1) 12pk blinkie (exp 10/31/11)
–$1/1 Pepsi Diet soda 12pk cans Target

Snacks:
General Mills Chex Mix, 8.75 oz or Gardettos, 8.6 oz bag or Bugles, 6 or 7.5 oz bag, BOGO $2.59
– $.50/1 Chex Mix – printable
– $.50/1 Bugles – printable
-$0.50/2 General Mills Chex 100 Calorie Snack Mix 8/7/2011 GM Insert (exp 10/1/2011)
-$0.50/1 General Mills Sweet’n Salty Chex Mix 7/10/2011 SS Insert (exp 9/3/2011)
-$0.50/1 General Mills Bugles Corn Snacks 7/10/2011 SS Insert (exp 9/3/2011)
–$0.75/1 Chex Muddy Buddies (if included)

Lay’s Potato Chips 10 to 10.5 oz, BOGO $4.29

Sides:
Publix Deli Southern Style Potato Salad, 16 oz, BOGO $2.69

Uncle Ben’s Rice 14 to 15.8 oz, BOGO $2.29
–$1/2 Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain Brown Rice Products Rolling
–$1/2 Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice Product Rolling
-$1/1 Uncle Ben’s Whole Grain White Rice tearpad (exp 3/31/2012)
-$0.75/1 Uncle Ben’s Ready rice, any (DND9) – found on product peelie (exp 12/31/2011)

Knorr Sides 3.8 to 6.4 oz, 10/$10
-$0.75/3 Knorr® Rice and Pasta Sides (no longer available) – check your binders!
-$1/2 Knorr Sides Products, any (Publix Coupon) tearpad (exp 9/4/2011) or printable

Birds Eye Vegetables 9 to 16 oz, 50% off
-$.35/1 Birds Eye Steamfresh variety tearpad (exp 9/30/2011)

Sweet Corn, 10/$3

Condiments:
Heinz Tomato Ketchup 32 to 36 oz, 2/$4
 – Save $1 when you purchase one Heinz Tomato Ketchup – PUBLIX coupon in the Toss for Cash Booklet
-$.25/1 Heinz Ketchup, any – 08-21-11 SS Insert (exp 9/30/2011)
-$.50/1 Heinz Ketchup, any – 08-21-11 SS Insert (exp 9/30/2011)

French’s Mustard 14 oz, BOGO $1.87
-$0.30/1 French’s Mustard
-$0.30/1 French’s Mustard 6/19/2011 SS Insert (exp 8/31/2011) (only if your sale starts 8/31)

Kraft Barbecue Sauce 16.25 to 18 oz, BOGO $1.33
 -$1/2 Kraft Dressing, any 14oz or larger WYB this Kraft Barbecue Sauce 18 oz – found on Kraft Barbecue Sauce peelie (exp 1/31/2012)
-$2/4 Fresh Meat, save WYB (1) 18 oz.+ Kraft Barbecue Sauce AND any two (2) other participating products: Country Time Drink Mix (8 qt.+), Kraft Dressing (16 oz.+), Kraft Mayo (22 oz.+), Miracle Whip Dressing (22 oz.), or A.1. Steak Sauce (10 oz.) tearpad (exp 9/30/2011)

Kraft Dressing 14 to 16 oz, BOGO $3.39
 -$1/2 Kraft Dressing, any 14oz or larger WYB this Kraft Barbecue Sauce 18 oz – found on Kraft Barbecue Sauce peelie (exp 1/31/2012)
-$1/2 Kraft Dressings 8/28/2011 SS Insert (exp 9/25/2011)
–B2G1 Kraft Salad Dressings TARGET coupon Target.com (exp 9/10/2011)

Main Meal Ideas:
Pulled Pork Sandwiches:
Lloyd’s Meats in Original BBQ Sauce, Pork, Chicken or Beef, 18 oz tub, BOGO $5.49
-$1/1 Lloyd’s Barbeque Product 8/28/2011 SS Insert (exp 10/24/2011)
-$1/1 Lloyd’s Barbecue Product Printable

Grilling:
Pork Spareribs, $1.99/lb
Mesquite Seasoned Pork Spareribs $2.49/lb
Boneless Ribeye Steaks, $6.99/lb

Desserts:
Jell-O Pudding Snacks or Temptations 4 to 6 ct, 3/$6 (Super Easy for the Kids!)
–B2G1 Jell-O Ready-to-Eat Snacks TARGET coupon Target.com (exp 9/10/2011)
-$.50/2 Jell-O Snacks 6-packs, any (DND5) – found on product peelie (exp 12/31/2011)
-$1/3 Jell-O Snacks 6-pack WYB TWO (2) boxes of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner (7.25oz) (DND5) – found on Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner peelie (exp 12/31/2011)

Cool Whip Topping 8 oz, BOGO $1.67
tearpad (exp 9/30/2011)

Breyer’s Ice Cream 48 oz, BOGO $5.99
 –$0.50/1 Breyers Blasts (IE) Rolling Printable (FF)
–$1.50/2 Breyer’s Blasts Rolling

Have Fun!