Best DIY Lotion !

As this last winter comes to a close, I don't know about anyone else but my hands could use a break from it!  I have hands that bleed in the winter time because it is so dry out.  This winter has been especially brutal on them. They have been constantly cracking and bleeding. I have done all the tricks when you hands get like this.  I have put lotion on constantly, used all sorts of lotions to body butters that promise relief, and I have even slept with socks over my lotioned hands at night in hopes of softer hands.  In the end, I have ended up with the same result. Hands that barely get any relief and spending too much time and money on a solution.

In an effort to save money, I started researching some of the best lotions around last fall.  I found a lot that you can cook; however, for a mom of 2 younger kids, I don't want to have to spend an excessive amount of time saving cooking up lotion.  So, I researched some more and came across this recipe and liked it immediately because I can pick up all the items at Walmart and you simply mix everything together.  How easy! 

What to remember with this recipe 

 

It is slightly greasy; however, I found that it works fantastically.  I can use this just a few times on my hands that bleed and they stop bleeding.  I don't have to constantly apply lotion.  I only apply it if I notice my hands are super dry.

What you need:

1 bottle of Johnson's Baby Lotion (27 oz)
1 container Vaseline (7.5 oz)
2 bottle Vitamin E cream (2 - 4 oz)

I found everything at Walmart and I personally bought the cocoa butter lotion and petroleum jelly so my lotion would not smell like a baby!

Directions:

Use a hand mixer and mix everything together. 
Put the lotion back in the containers you used.

For step by step instructions, follow the below link:
http://www.thecraftyblogstalker.com/2012/01/best-lotion-ever.html

Stingily Yours,

The Stingy Sister

The Art of AdMatching & Couponing

Let’s start with the hard truth of couponing in my house.  I am not a crazy couponing lady that spends hours so I can buy $300 worth of groceries for $5.  I throw away 90% of coupons I get simply for the reason that I wouldn’t normally buy the product if I didn’t have the coupon and the sale is not good enough for me to do The Swap (more on this later).  So, if you are looking to save some money without having to spend a lot of time on it then you have come to the right place! 

This is going to be a big blog simply because there are so many options out there to use to save money while grocery shopping.  You do not have to use every single one that I use; however, just try one and you will be amazed how much it can save you.

When I begin to use my ads and coupons, this is the process I follow to ensure I get the biggest bang for my buck.  It may take some time at first to get the hang of this; however, I can fly through this now and it takes me hardly anytime at all.

1. Look at sales in Ads and circle them with a marker

 Ads I use: County Market, Dollar General, Kmart, Menards, Walgreens.

I receive a free Weekly Advertiser every Wednesday that includes County Market and Dollar General.  I also buy the Saturday paper that includes ads for Kmart, Menards, & Walgreens.  I normally do not use any of the other ads simply because they do not usually include any great sales.  Once I receive them, I usually check how long the items are on sale for and begin circling them with my marker.  This makes it easier when I go to the store to show to cashier when they admatch. 

Check prices of what you admatch to ensure that it actually is a sale.  County Market will place an item on sale (EX: Pasta Sides for $1) when I can simply go to Walmart and purchase it for $1 without a sale.

2. Look at coupons to see if they match any of the sales

Where I go to find coupons: www.coupon.com ,  www.hip2save.com,   App Ibotta ,  Newspaper 

Weekly I pull coupons from the Weekly Advertiser and from the Saturday paper.  Both of these can offer some great coupons so don’t look them over!  Once/Twice a month I check the website www.coupon.com and print off anything that I may use and do The Swap with.  I simply put these in my wallet and save for when I go to create my meal plan.

 
There is an app called Favado.  This app will let you enter your zip code and give you the local ads for the area, as well as, tell you if there is a local coupon available for it.
 

Another app is hip2save and I also can check the website.  This lets me know of any good deals or great coupons that are going on.   

The Ibotta app is something I have not utilized just yet but they offer some great discounts, such as, 50 cents off any gallon of milk.  The money you save is put onto a paypal account that will pay you or you can redeem them for an itunes card, etc.

Once I have all these coupons ready, I look at the sales I found in the ads to see if they will match.  I great example is Anglesoft toilet paper.  I can find it on sales for $5 in the Kmart ad and I usually have a $1 off coupon which makes the final price $4 for 12 double rolls.  This price is even cheaper than the toilet paper I can buy at ALDIs.

3. Create Meal Plan from what is on sale through admatching/coupons

This step is key when creating a meal plan if you are planning on saving as much money as you can.  Work off of what is on sale to create your meal plan.  I look at my County Market ad usually to see what they have on sale.  Their 10 for $10 sale is my favorite because they will occasionally include chicken breasts where I can get 10 lbs for 10 bucks!  I also like this for Hamburger Helper and many other things.  Once I see those sales, I know I will be adding BBQ Chicken and Hamburger Helper to the Meal Plan.  I also look at my coupons and see if they go with any of the sales to make a great deal.

If there is a week where there is nothing on sale in the ads then I look back to my coupons.  If I do not have any great coupons, I create a meal plan from what I already have in my pantry. 

4. Add all essential items to grocery list FIRST

 

This is where I am going to give the lecture that just because you have a coupon for something does not mean you need to buy it.  Add first what you NEED on your list and don’t break your budget to use a coupon.   A prime example is my shampoo.  I keep an extra bottle at all times.  If I have a coupon for my shampoo but I already have spent my budget’s worth, I let the coupon expire.  It is more important to stay on budget then to get a great sale.

5. See if I can do The Swap on any essentials

If you want to do The Swap, you need to have an open mind and be open to trying different things.  Basically the swap is when you are willing to swap out something you normally buy for something that you can get cheaper through admatching, a coupon, or simply changing up what you buy to save money. 

Example 1:  I buy Herbal Essence shampoo for $5.  Garnier Fructis shampoo is also $5 for the same size.  Coupons.com will normally have a $1 off coupon for Garnier Fructis shampoo so I swap out buying Herbal Essence for Garnier Fructis since I can save a dollar and get my shampoo cheaper. 

Example 2: I buy Herbal Essence hair mouse.  Once again, Garnier Fructis hair mousse is the same price for same amount.  I can get a $1 off coupon for Garnier Fructis styling products so I will swap out and buy the Garnier Fructis styling products instead of the Herbal Essence so I can save $1 on my hair mousse. 

Example 3: I buy Cascade for my dishwasher; however, I can find coupons in my Weekly Advertiser for $2.15 off any pack of Finish detergent.  A 20 count pack of Finish detergent is normally $4 so with the coupon that makes the box $1.85!  This is a great deal and they do this often! 

6. Add any items that have a coupon that I may want 

Last but not least, if I have any extra amount in my budget, this is where I get to really dive into my coupons and stock up on stuff I use!  I always have plenty of extra coupons so if they have a really good ad sale on something and I have lots of coupons for it then I stock up on it!  

After reading this, if you are looking for a basic checklist to follow to really maximize the amount you save then follow the below list:

1. Look at the sales in the Ads and circle them with a marker.
2. Look at coupons to see if they match any of the sales
3. Create meal plan from what is on sale through admatching/coupons
4. After meal plan items, add all essential items to the grocery list FIRST
5. See if I can do The Swap on any essentials
6. Add any items that have a coupon that I may want

 As Always,

The Stingy Sister