novathrifty

Here are a few fun freebies that I saw today:

Free Origins Sample: Starting this week, you can bring your used cosmetics containers, regardless of brand, to an Origins retail store or skincare counter and receive a FREE sample of one of origins high-performance skincare products.  Thanks Frugal Coupon Living!

Free Hallmark Card:  Hallmark is offering a FREE personalized greeting card.  Sign in (or sign up), pick the card on their website, personalize it, and they will send it for you—even postage.  Use the promo code TRIAL.  Thanks Hip 2 Save!

Free Aveeno Shampoo:  Get a free (apparently full-sized) sample of Aveeno shampoo. Just fill out the form, but hurry—this one will probably go fast!  Thanks Freebies 4 Mom!

Pollo Campero – the Guatemalan chicken chain – is offering free fried and grilled chicken sandwiches on Thursday April 2 to celebrate the introduction of its new sandwich line.  The offer is good all day on Thursday, with a limit of one sandwich per person (details here).

Pollo Campero has locations in Falls Church and Herndon. To find the one nearest you, check here.

If you’re new to couponing, or want to better understand how to use the grocery store deals posts, start here.  These deals are shared each week as part of the BeCentsable Grocery Gathering.

Here are a few more triple coupon deals I saw in the 3/29 circular.  Make sure to get there today or tomorrow!

• Speed Stick 24/7 – $2
  • Use $.75 off 1 coupon from 2/29 SmartSource (triples to $2.25)
  • Final = FREE plus overage

• French’s Spicy Brown Mustard – $1.99
  • Use  $.50 off 1 coupon from 3/29 SmartSource (triples to $1.50)
  • Final = $.49

• Barilla Piccolini – $1.59
  • Use $.50 off 1 coupon from 3/29 SmartSource (triples to $1.50)
  • Final = $.09

• Barilla Pasta Sauce – $2.50
  • Use $.55 off 1 coupon from 3/29 SmartSource (triples to $1.65)
  • Final = $.85

Staples is offering a free copy of Quickbooks 2009 Simple Start Edition (a $89.99 value) for free (including free shipping) after rebate.  You can file for the rebate online and it will come as a Visa prepaid debit card.  The offer is good through 4/4.

Thanks Coupon Cravings!

My household really likes this crock pot chicken recipe from All You, which comes out tender and a little sweet.  Harris Teeter has chicken thighs for $.99/lb until 3/31, and you can get dried apricots 2 for $3 this week at CVS.

Super-Easy Apricot Chicken

Ingredients

12 dried apricots

8 medium chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 lbs)

salt and pepper

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 onion, sliced

1 cup chicken broth

Preparation

Rinse apricots and scatter them in a slow cooker.  Pat chicken dry; season with salt and pepper.  Melt butter in oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook thighs until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes per side.  (Brown in batches to avoid crowding skillet). Arrange over apricots.

Pour off all but 1 Tbsp. fat in skillet.  Add onion and cook until just soft, 2 to 4 minutes.

Add broth to skillet; turn heat to high.  Bring to a boil, loosening brown bits.

Pour contents of skillet over apricots and chicken.  Cover and cook on low heat for 4 hours.

Carefully transfer thighs to a serving dish; cover with foil to keep warm.  Pour remaining contents into saucepan.  Boil, stirring often, until reduced and thickened, about 10 minutes.  Pour over chicken.

The Wooly Mammoth Theater’s new show, Robert O’Hara’s Antebellum, opens tomorrow, and for two nights (Monday 3/30 and Tuesday 3/31) the theater is allowing you to pay what you can for tickets.  The rules are these: tickets go on sale at the theater 90 minutes prior to the performance (showtime is 8PM, so tickets are on sale at 6:30PM).  You can buy two tickets per person, cash or check only.

The theater is in downtown DC in Penn Quarter, at 641 D St., NW.

If you’re new to couponing, or want to better understand how to use the grocery store deals posts, start here.  These deals are shared each week as part of the BeCentsable Grocery Gathering.

Safeway is still running its “Mix and Match” sale from last week, and there are many, many, many items on sale!  So I’m going to do the post a little differently this week and just give some info about the sale and a few match-ups that I found.  For more information, you can check Slickdeals for a full list of sale items, and Moneywise Moms for some more scenarios.

A few details about the sale:

• You will receive $5 off your grocery bill if you buy 10 participating items, which have orange tags in the store.  Note that the prices listed in the circular are the prices if you buy 10 items.  For example, if it says that Heinz Ketchup is $1.50, it means that you will pay $1.50 if you buy the full 10 items.
• Every 10 items saves you $5.  So, for example, if you buy 20 participating items in one trip, you save $10.

Most of the deals I listed last week are still available.  Here are a few more:

• Reynolds Wrap – $2.50
  • Use $1 off 1 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource
  • Final = $1.50

• Spray ‘n Wash – $2.50
  • Use $.50 off 1 coupon from 3/8 SmartSource (doubles to $1)
  • Final = $1.50

• Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner – $2.00
  • Use $.50 off 1 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource (doubles to $1)
  • Final = $1

• Irish Spring 3pk – $1.50
  • Use $1 off 1 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource
  • Final = $.50

• Huggies Baby Wipes – $2.00
  • Use $1 off 1 coupon from 3/1
  • Final = $1

Also, remember that Safeway has a buy-one-get-one-free deal on Lysol products this week, and you can get them free with a rebate!

If you’re new to couponing, or want to better understand how to use the grocery store deals posts, start here.  These deals are shared each week as part of the BeCentsable Grocery Gathering.

Harris Teeter is TRIPLING coupons this week!  You can find lots of great deals, but remember, only coupons up to $.99 are tripled and you can only use 20 per day.  Here are the best deals I saw this week:

• Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats – $2.29
  • Use $.70 off 1 Kellogg’s cereal from 2/22 RedPlum (triples to $2.10)
  • Final = $.19

• Pillsbury Grand’s Biscuits – buy one get one ($.84)
  • Use $.30 off 2 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource (triples to $.90)
  • Final = $.39/ea for 2

• Wisk Laundry Detergent – $3.74
  • Use $1 off 1 coupon from 3/15 RedPlum
  • Final = $2.74

• Tropicana Pure Premium – $2.97
  • Use $1 off 1 coupon from 3/15 RedPlum
  • Final = $1.97

• Pillsbury Crescent Rolls – $2
  • Use $.25 off 1 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource (triples to $.75)
  • Final = $1.25

• Fiber One Bars – $2.50
  • Use $.50 off 1 coupon from 3/8 SmartSource (triples to $1.50)
  • Final = $1

• Ken’s Salad Dressing 8oz – buy 2 get 3 free ($.88 each)
  • Use $1 off 2 coupon from 3/8 SmartSource
  • Final = $.67 each for 5

• Noxzema facial products – $3.79
  • Use $.50 off 1 coupon from 3/8 SmartSource (triples to $1.50)
  • Final = $2.29

• Ziploc Sandwich Bags 50ct – $2
  • Use $.55 of 1 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource
  • Final = $.35

• Ziploc Containers – $3
  • Use $.55 off 1 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource (triples to $1.65)
  • Final = $1.35

• Reach Dental Floss (55 yd) – $1.59
  • Use $.50 off 1 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource (triples to $1.50)
  • Final = $.09

• Aleve 24ct – $2.99
  • Use $1 off 1 from 3/22 SmartSource
  • Final = $1.99

• Dannon Frusion – $.80
  • Use $1 off 4 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource
  • Final = $.55/ea for 4

• Rold Gold Pretzels – $2.50
  • Use $.55 off 1 coupon from 3/1 SmartSource (triples to $1.65)
  • Final = $.85

• Mahatma Rice 48oz – $2.50
  • Use $.50 off 1 coupon from 3/1 RedPlum
  • Final = $1

• Sure Anti-Perspirant and Deodorant – $2.59
  • Use $.75 off 1 coupon from 3/1 SmartSource (triples to $2.25)
  • Final = $.34

• Pillsbury Ready to Bake Cookies – $2.99
  • Use $.35 off 1 coupon (peanut butter cup, oatmeal raisin, oatmeal chocolate chip, or Reese’s Pieces) (triples to $1.05)
  • Final = $1.94

• Jet-Dry Rinse Agent or Turbo Dry – $2.74
  • Use $.40 off 1 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource (triples to $1.20)
  • Final = $1.54

• Dawn Direct Foam and Dawn Simple Pleasures- $1.44
  • Use $1 off 1 coupons from 3/1 P&G
  • Final = $.44

• Blueberries and Blackberries – $1.99

• Cubed Steak – $2.34/lb

• Perdue Boneless Skinless Chicken breasts – $1.83/lb

Here are my favorite deals at Magruder’s* this week:

Ground Turkey – $1.29/lb

All-Purpose yellow onions – $.98/3 lb bag

Strawberries – $3 / 2 1-lb boxes

Idaho Russet Potatoes – $5 / 2 5-lb bags

Mix and Match onions (red, white, yellow sweet) – $.78/lb

Mix and Match pears (red, bosc, d’anjou, bartlett) – $1.18/lb

Betty Crocker cake mix – 2 for $1

Arnold Whole Grain Bread – $1.99

Also, check out the circular for coupons for $1 milk with a $10 purchase and a free Entenmann’s Single Serve with a $10 purchase.

*Magruder’s is a locally-owned grocery store with locations in Virginia, DC, and Maryland. You can find their nearest location here.  Their weekly circular is in the Wednesday Washington Post or on their website.

Although upscale spa treatments rarely qualify as “thrifty,” if you have the occasional need to indulge in one, Spa Week is the time to do it.  Spas around the country offer high-end treatments for $50 – a savings of around $30 to $50.  A list of participating Virginia spas is here, along with the list of treatments they are offering.  I’m tempted by the 60 minute Chardonnay Aromatherapy Massage at L’Vida Spa in Arlington and the 50 minute Spa Week Facial at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa (various locations).

Book now – appointments will go fast!

Bellacara, a beauty products boutique in Old Town Alexandria, is hosting makeup artists from Paula Dorf Cosmetics on Saturday March 28 for free makeovers between 11AM and 5PM.  You must have an appointment, and hurry, because they will go fast!

If you don’t get an appointment this time, sign up for Bellacara’s email list.  They will send you a 15% off coupon and you can stay in the loop on future free events.

On Tuesday March 24, participating Ben & Jerry’s are offering a scoop of ice cream for $1 if you bring a non-perishable food item.  The food will be donated to a local food bank.  Find your nearest Ben & Jerry’s here.

Thanks Coupon Cravings!

Happy Monday!  Here’s today’s code for a free one-night rental: HG7W56.  It’s good until midnight tonight.

Since there was a good deal on smoked sausage at Giant this week, I decided to try this sausage and bean casserole from Cooking Light.  My household gave it five stars for taste, and it’s also quite healthy.  

Sausage and Bean Casserole

Ingredients:

1 c chopped onion (about 1 medium)
1 (16-oz) package light smoked turkey sausage, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 14-oz can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 T brown sugar
2 T tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 16 oz cans cannellini beans or other white beans, rinsed and drained
1 bay leaf
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper, optional (I used it)
3 slices white bread

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375.  Heat a Dutch oven over medium-high heat.  Coat pan with cooking spray.  Add onion and turkey sausage to pan; saute for 5 minutes or until browned.  Add garlic, and saute for 2 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, scraping pan to loosen brown bits.  Stir in 2 tablespoons brown sugar, tomato paste, dried thyme, freshly ground black pepper, cannellini beans, and bay leaf.  Ad ground red pepper, if desired.  Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 5 minutes.  Remove from heat.

Place bread in a food processor, and pulse 10 times or until coarse crumbs measure 1 1/2 cups.  Sprinkle breadcrumbs evenly over bean mixture, and lightly coat with cooking spray.  Bake at 375 for 15 minutes or until browned.  Discard bay leaf.

      

If you’re new to couponing, or want to better understand how to use the grocery store deals posts, start here.  These deals are shared each week as part of the BeCentsable Grocery Gathering.

Good news: Giant has extended its free antibiotic program until July 11.  More details here.

Not a lot of great bargains at Giant this week, but here are the best I saw:

• Gorton’s Seafood Products – 33% off (various prices)
  • Use $.40 off 1 coupon from 3/1 SmartSource (doubles to $.80)
  • Final = various

• Tyson’s Chicken Strips – $6.99
  • Use $1 off 1 coupon from 3/8 SmartSource
  • Final = $5.99 + get Giant Fries, White House Apple Juice, and Edy’s Ice Cream free

• Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage – buy one get one free (around $2.25 each)
  • Use $.65 off 2 coupon from 3/8 RedPlum
  • Final = around $1.60 each

• Jimmy Dean Breakfast Skillets – $3.99
  • Use $1 off 1 from 1/18 RedPlum
  • Final = $2.99

• Over the Moon Milk (half-gallon) – $3
  • Use $1 off 1 coupon from 3/1 SmartSource
  • Final = $2 

• Simply Orange OJ – $3
  • Use $.55 off 1 (pineapple or mango varieties) from 1/25 SmartSource (doubles to $1.10)
  • Final = $1.90

• Shedd’s Spread Country Crock – $1.99
  • Use $.35 off 1 coupon from 1/18 RedPlum (doubles to $.70)
  • Final = $1.29

• Ritz Crackers – $2.50
  • Use $2 off 2 coupon from 1/25 SmartSource
  • Final = $1.50 each for 2

• Lysol Disinfecting Wipes – $2
  • Use $1 off 2 coupon from 3/15 SmartSource
  • Final = $1.50/ea for 2

• Secret Deodorant – $2
  • Use $1 off 1 from 3/15 P&G
  • Final = $1

• Old Spice Deodorant – $2
  • Use $1 off 1 from 3/15 P&G
  • Final = $1