Saving Money | Table for Five

Save Money With Family Gourmet at Family Dollar

April 4, 2011 By Elizabeth

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Family Dollar for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

About six months ago, a Family Dollar store opened nearby, and when I walked through the doors for the first time, I couldn’t believe my eyes. Aisle after aisle of products I was buying every week at top prices, except for a whole lot less! And not only did they take manufacturer’s coupons, they offer their own coupons right on their website? I was in love, people.

So then, as I started giving myself a little more time to browse the aisles, I discovered Family Dollar’s own brand of products, called Family Gourmet. There’s cereal, coffee, pancake mix, syrup, macaroni and cheese, salad dressing, apple juice – all the foods I buy week after week.

Family Gourmet

Family Gourmet products are quality tested to match national brands, so you get the same taste for a lower price! Still not sure? How about a guarantee from Family Gourmet?

We are so confident our customers will like Family Gourmet, if they are not satisfied we offer a 100% Guaranteed or money back within 30 days for a refund or exchange with receipt!

Check out what you can get from Family Gourmet and how much you’ll save!

Family Gourmet Snack Crackers (12 oz.) vs. Nabisco Ritz Crackers (12 oz.) – Save $.85!
Family Gourmet Shells & Cheese (12 oz.) vs. Velveeta Shells & Cheese (12 oz.) – Save $.65!
Family Gourmet Coffee (34.5 oz.) vs. Folgers Classic Coffee (34 oz.) – Save $2.50!

On average, Family Gourmet saves customers over 30% versus national brands! Family Dollar even offers coupons on Family Gourmet products so you save even more. Click the coupons tab on the site to choose your coupons to print out and take with you. You can even create a shopping list and print that out too!

I get excited when stores understand how people shop today. We want low prices, we want coupons, we want to print a shopping list, and we want food that tastes good. I think Family Dollar has hit the nail on the head with Family Gourmet. Use the Store Locator on the site to find a store near you and go see how much you can save!

Filed Under: Sponsored Posts Tagged With: brands, Family Dollar, saving money

Walgreens Brand Oil-Free Acne Wash Review

March 23, 2011 By Elizabeth

This is a compensated post written by me on behalf of Walgreens. All opinions are 100% mine.

Thanks to SocialSpark and Walgreens, I had a chance to try out Walgreens Brand Oil-Free Acne Wash. I still break out once a month, and both my tween and teen sons use acne products every day. Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products are pharmacist recommended, have to contain the same active ingredients as national brands, and have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. I like them because they cost less too!

Walgreens Brand Oil-Free Acne Wash costs $1.50 less than the similar national brand, which I have also used. It has a similar smell, consistency and lather, rinses clean, and doesn’t leave our faces feeling dried out. I like being able to save money without sacrificing quality, don’t you? Everything else is so expensive – food, gas, entertainment – so it’s nice to have one area of my budget where I can know for sure that I’ll save money.

Another reason to purchase Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products is that it also supports the Walgreens Way to Well Fund™, which brings free preventative health tests as well as other health and wellness and education programs to local communities. Walgreens will contribute up to $3 million annually to this fund. That’s another great reason to shop at Walgreens! Learn more about the fund at walgreens.com/waytowell.

Filed Under: Sponsored Posts Tagged With: Beauty, brands, saving money, skincare, walgreens

Mother’s Day Pampering Tips from The Debt Diva

May 7, 2010 By Elizabeth

A P.R. person emailed me these tips, and this is one of those rare times where I actually think the information WILL interest my readers! I’m not getting any kind of compensation for sharing this with you. The following tips for pampering Mom without breaking the bank come courtesy of The Debt Diva, at www.TheDebtDiva.com. Feel free to share them with others!

Mani/Pedi
Why send Mom to a pricey spa when a mani/pedi at home is fun and frugal?

Step 1: Remove all old polish from your feet. Skip name-brand polish removers in favor of store-brand and save $1.

Step 2: Soak If don’t you have a foot bath great, a large salad bowl it a great alternative… be sure wash before using it for food purposes! Soak feet for 5-10 minutes.

Step 3: Exfoliate Think ahead and mix up your own simple, inexpensive scrub made of sea salt and olive oil. (Basic recipe: 1 part sea salt or coarse sugar with 1 part olive oil). Rub gently but firmly into Mom’s feet, starting at the heel. Rinse feet well.

Step 4: Moisturize A foot moisturizer that Mom is sure to love is Norwegian Formula Foot Cream by Neutrogena… under $5 at drug stores and only $3.64 at Ulta.com

Step 5: Polish Instead of buying toe separators, wrap bath tissue around Mom’s toes to avoid a mess. Start with a base coat. Add two coats of toe color and finish with top coat to protect color and helps the polish last longer. Let dry for at least 20 minutes.

SAVINGS
· Mother’s Day Spa mani/pedi- $100 plus tip
· Debt Diva’s Mother’s Day DIY mani/pedi- $20

Mother’s Day Movie
Mom loves going to the movie theater to see her favorite flicks and indulge in yummy treats like popcorn and candy. But with tickets and over-prices concessions, a trip to the movies can really add up. Throw a movie party at home for a fraction of the price can make Mom feel special without breaking the bank

Snacks: Pop movie-theater style popcorn. Have Dad pick up Mom’s favorite candy from your local convenience store or grocery (buy in bulk to reduce costs even more). Offer an array of cold soft drinks

Set Up: Chose a room with lots of space. If there’s not enough seating for everyone, move the furniture aside and spread out blankets on the floor for a “drive-in” movie experience.

Screen: Broadcast your movie of choice on your home television or computer (the larger the screen, the better) or rent a projector from your local library

Watch: Any movie that shows Mom being the hero!
For Younger Kids: The Incredibles or The Sound of Music
For Older Kids: Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood or Erin Brockovich

SAVINGS
· Mother’s Day Movie in the Theater (including snacks)- $35 for 3 people
· Debt Diva’s Mother’s Day DIY mani/pedi- $25 for 15 people

Mother’s Day Brunch
Brunch is an important Mother’s Day tradition, but we all know that eating at home instead of going out is a tried-and-true money-saver.

Kids can make a delicious meal for the Moms in their neighborhood! Brunch classics like eggs and French toast can be made with a few ingredients, a few cooking tools, and a microwave. Walk kids through these simple steps until they learn to cook alone.

Elementary kids and older can cook their own breakfasts, as long as they can:
o Measure
o Crack eggs without getting shells in (or remove shells from) the bowl
o Use the microwave.

For kid-friendly recipes, see http://kids-cooking.suite101.com/article.cfm/easy_breakfasts_kids_can_make_in_the_microwave

SAVINGS
· Mother’s Day Brunch for four at a mid-priced restaurant – $60
· Debt Diva’s Mother’s Day DIY Brunch for four- $10

DIY Mother’s Day Bouquet
According to the About Flowers.com (a web site hosted by the Society of American Florists, the U.S. floral industry trade association), about one-third (32%) of adults (37% of men; 27% of women) bought flowers or plants as gifts for Mother’s Day 2009. But you can save money by making your own flowers that will show Mom how much you love her after even the freshest of blooms has wilted.

You’ll need: some colorful tissue paper and a healthy dose of imagination.

Learn how to make paper flowers for kids with the craft instructions on the following links:
o Paper Carnations These sweet, simple flowers will be the center of attention.
o Paper Roses These roses don’t wilt, they don’t have thorns, and they can be any color of the rainbow!
o Tiny Paper Flowers These tiny paper flowers make a big statement.
o Tissue Bouquet Why stop at just one? Craft a whole bouquet of beautiful flowers.

SAVINGS
· Mother’s Day Bouquet from florist- $35
· Debt Diva’s Mother’s Day DIY Bouquet- $5

TOTAL SAVINGS:
o Traditional Mother’s Day celebration: $370
o Debt Diva’s progressive “Mother’s Day Out”: $60

I hope all of my wonderful Mom readers have a terrific Mother’s Day!