Cheap and Green Clean: All Purpose Cleaner

For those of you who don't know me... I can be a little bit of clean freak, but I don't like to spend a lot on cleaning products. Well, except for Magic Erasers. With five messy little boys in the house, I've found those things to be worth every penny!

A couple years ago when I was looking for a kid-friendly cleaner for my children to clean with, I came across this frugal recipe. We have been using it ever since and I am very pleased with the results. It's basically an all-purpose cleaner (similar to Formula 409). I have used it on just about everything. [Disclaimer: I do not have stainless steel appliances or granite counter tops so I'm not sure how it'd work on those.]

All Purpose Cleaner Recipe:
2 T. white vinegar
1 T. Borax
2 T. Dawn dish soap
1 cup hot water, plus water to fill rest of container
Triggered Spray Bottle (got ours at the Dollar Tree)

Mix vinegar, borax and hot water in spray bottle. Fill bottle almost to the top with water. Then add Dawn dish soap. Gently rotate the bottle to mix. If you shake it you'll make lots of suds!

If you're not cleaning a really dirty or greasy surface, I've found that you can dilute this even a little bit further. I usually make a double batch in a recycled 64 oz. plastic juice container and it still works great. I just refilled the spray bottle as needed. Although the ingredients are all non-toxic, I did mark the spray bottle with the ingredients just in case.

Reminder: $2 Marcus Movie

This week Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10am you can see Hop for just $2! Get more details and see the summer schedule here.

LOCATIONS:

Bay Park Cinema - Green Bay

755 Willard Drive in Ashwaubenon (920) 497-2430

Green Bay East Cinema - Green Bay

1000 Kepler Drive (920) 468-6500

Just wanted to say...

Festival Foods Deals 7/3 - 7/9

GBPG Online only Festival coupon (with $5 purchase): 
Flavorite Dozen Eggs $.48

Website Rewards Coupon:

FREE Festival Hamburger Buns (8 ct)

Weekly Coupon Items (limit 1 unless otherwise stated):
Barq's, Mello Yello, or Fanta 2L $.78 (limit 3)
Flavorite American Singles $.98 (limit 2)
Morning Glory Milk, gallon $1.88
Flavorite Mandarin Oranges $.38 (limit 4)
Flavorite Specialty Pasts $.68 (limit 3)
Flavorite Ketchup $.68
Flavorite Yellow Mustard $.68
Flavorite Peanut Butter $.98 (limit 2)
Flavorite Grape Jelly $.98 (limit 2)
Ultimate Brownie Cookies $2.48 (limit 2)
Bad Boy Brownies $2.98 (limit 2)
7Up, Dr. P, A&W, or Crush, 6 pk. bottles $1.88 (limit 3)

Weekly Sale and Green Sheet Items:
Powerade $.50 (limit 8)
Flavorite Honey Grahams $.98
Whole Mushrooms $.98
Peaches or Nectarines $1.48 per lb.
Plums $1.28 per lb.
Orv's Pizza $1.88 (limit 10)
Yoplait Greek Yogurt $1 - $.50/2 (6/26/11 SS) = $.75
Blue Bunny Ice Cream, 4.5 qt. pail $3.99
Flavorite French Fries, 2 lb. bag $1.49
Bar S Franks $.69 - $1/2 (5/22/2011 RP) = $.19 each!!
Chi Chi's Salsa $2 - $1/2  or $.50/1 (6/12/2011 SS) = $1.50
Sunny D $1.49 - $.25/1 (5/15/2011 SS) or $0.55/1 printable = $.94
Koop's Yellow Mustard $.88
Van Camp's Pork and Beans $.67
Hostess Snack Cakes $1.98
Smuckers Ice Cream Toppings $1.66 - $1/2 printable or $1/2 (5/15/2011 RP) = $1.16
Chips Ahoy $2.49 - $1/2 (6/19/2011 SS Insert) = $1.99
Festival Napkins, 250 ct. $1.49
El Monterey, assorted varieties $4.98 - $1/1 (5/1/2011 SS) or $1/1 printable = $3.98
Buddig Deli Cuts $2.88 - $1/1 printable = $1.88

Green Sheet COUPON Items:
Reese Croutons $.99
Riley Ice Cream Cones $.99
Eggo Waffles $1.88
Country Crock Spread $1.48 - $0.40/1 printable = $1.08
Cruz Flour Tortillas $1.49

The items you'll find on this list are what I consider to be good prices either because of the sale or a coupon match up. If you see a deal in the ad or in the store that I missed please feel free to leave a comment (or email me) and I'll add it to the post!

Read the shopping guide and coupon policy for Festival Foods here. Please note if you are outside of the GB area a few prices may be different, check your local Festival ad to verify prices.

Holiday Treat: $1 Root Beer Floats at Culver's

Got this in an email from Culver's:

Celebrate summer with a tasty Root Beer Float from Culver's. Stop in Monday, the Fourth of July and recieve a short Root Beer Float for only $1!

Heads Up! No Coupon Inserts (Maybe?)

UPDATE: GB Savers reader Melissa and Lisa from Couponing Central both let me know that there will, in fact, be a P&G insert in this Sunday's paper! Guess there is nothing more American than coupons... besides apple pie and baseball, of course!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 Since it is a holiday weekend there are no coupon inserts scheduled to be in the paper this weekend. If you buy papers just for the coupons... you can take a week off! Maybe. I say maybe because... there have been a few rumors that there may be a P&G insert this weekend. I haven't been able to find out for certain, so if you might want to check before buying a paper.

If you ever want to take a sneak peek at what inserts are scheduled just head over to Sunday Coupon Preview.

Another friendly reminder, even though Dollar Tree no longer carries the Green Bay Press Gazette you can still get if for only $1 at the following stores:

Tracy's Groceries 832 S. Military Ave. (Sunday hours 10am and 6:00pm). If you can't make it in on Sunday, give her a call at 920-498-0926 and she will save copies for you! She is a GB Savers reader, so tell her Shelly sent you. :)

Uncle Buck's Dollar Store 1390 Bellevue St # 100 in Green Bay.

Mega Swag Bucks Friday!!

It's Friday!! You know what that means... it's Mega Swag Bucks day. If you search on Fridays there is a greater chance to earn high value Swag Bucks. You can also pick up a buck for taking the quick "daily poll" or earn a few by watching a video or taking a survey.

If you haven't already joined Swag Bucks... it's an easy way to "earn" gift cards by searching the internet. You'll get 30 Swag Bucks just for signing up. 450 Swag Bucks will get you a $5 Amazon gift certificate, but if Amazon isn't your thing they have lots of new gift card options!

To learn more read: What is Swag Bucks?

Home Depot Kids Workshop 7/2

The Home Depot Kids Workshop for July is the 2nd. Head over to make a coaster set. These workshops are free and no registration is required, just show up between 9am and noon. All Home Depot stores participate in the workshop. Participants are also given a little Home Depot apron just like the employees wear and a pin to show they completed the project.

Festival Trip

I printed out my Festival Deals post and got together a pile of coupons to send my wonderful husband to the store for me. He did a great job! Not the best picture to share, some the items are hidden in the back... I was in a hurry because of the melting freezer stuff and I completely forgot to get the Suddenly Salad (there were 6) out of the bag.

Total Before Sales and Coupons = $131.17
Total After = $58.03
55% savings

You'll notice some special treats (aka junk food) for the kids. We don't get Little Debbie snacks or candy bars very often so the kids were pretty excited when they peeked into the bags. We have a pretty full freezer and pantry so this week we just shopped the sales. Since we already have menu planned for this week, most of these items will be made into future meals.

While out shopping an Aldi stop was made as well. That cart was mostly full of produce and gallons of milk. Aldi has strawberries for $.99 per pound, cantaloupe for $.99, and blueberries for $1.29 this week!

Piggly Wiggly Deals 6/29 - 7/5

Lots of good deals at the Pig this week! I LOVE holiday sales!!

Weekly Coupon Items (with $10 purchase, limit 1): 
Ice Mountain Water (12 pk) $2.99
Kingsford Charcoal $5.99
Pepsi Products (12 pk) 4/$8.88 (must buy 4)

Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip $1.99
- $1/1 or $.75/1 (6/19/2011 SS) = $.99

Meat
Ground Beef (in 10 lb. tubes) $1.99 per lb. STOCK UP!
**Like lower fat ground beef? Read this!**
 
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts $1.89 per lb.
PW Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns $.79 or FREE with 2,000 Pig Points

Johnsonville Brats or Italian Sausage (3# box) $6.79
- $.55/1 (4/17/2011 SS) or $1/1 Italian sausage printable
= as low as $5.79

Oscar Mayer Wieners (3# box) $2.88 (limit 2)
- $1/2 (6/19/2011 SS) = $2.38

Produce
Sweet Corn $.24
Strawberries (2#) $2.99
Whole Seedless Watermelon $2.99 (limit 2)
Anjou Pears $1.29 per lb.
Jalapeno Peppers $.99 per lb.
Romaine Lettuce $1.29 per lb.

Dairy
Food Club Sour Cream $.99
Food Club Chunk or Shredded Cheese (8 oz) $1.67
Kraft Singles BOGO at $2.49 ($1.25 each)
Philadelphia Cream Cheese $1.33

Dean's Dips $.99 (limit 2)
- $1/2 printable = $.49 each 

Pillsbury Grands Biscuits $1.29
- $1/3 (4/17/2011 SS) = $.96

Pillsbury Crescent Rolls $1.99
- $1/2 ( 4/17/2011 SS) = $1.49, plus get $1 Oscar Mayer Wieners

Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls $1.99
- $0.50/2 (4/17/2011 SS) = $1.74, plus get $1 Oscar Mayer Wieners

Reser's Salads, 3 lb. $4.99
- $1/1 printable = $3.99

Beverages
Powerade $.69 (limit 6)
Dr. Pepper/7-up 2L $.89 (must buy 4)
Minute Maid Punch, Limeade, or Lemonade (64 oz) $.99 or FREE (see below)
CapriSun Drink $1.99

Swiss Tea, gallon $2.29
- $1/2 (5/22/2011 SS) = $1.79

Crystal Light Drink Mix $2.49
- $1/1 (6/12/2011 SS) = $1.49

Frozen Foods
Food Club Tropical or Rainbow Pops $.99
Cool Whip $.99
Orv's Pizza $2
Food Club Ice Cream or Sherbet, 5 qt. pail $4.99

Totinos Pizza Rolls, 40 ct. $2.99
- $.35/1 (4/17/2011 SS) = $2.64

Grocery Items
Doritos or Lay's Chips $1.79
Heinz Ketchup (32 oz) $1.69 (limit 1)
Food Club Mustard $.99
Food Club Ripe Olives $.99
Bush's Baked Beans $1.33 (limit 3)
Hunt's Snack Pack Pudding $.99

Keebler Crackers (Club, Cheez-It, Townhouse, or Grahams) $1.99
- $1/2 Townhouse printable = $1.49

Pringles $1.33
- $1/3 P(6/26/2011 RP) = $1

Chex Mix $.99
- $0.50/2 (6/12/2011 SS) = $.74

Hershey's Bars, 6 ct. $2.99
- $1/2 (6/26/2011 SS) = $2.49

Creamette Pasta $.99
- $1/2 printable (Quick Cook) or
- $0.55/1 Quick Cook (4/10/2011 SS)
= as low as $.44

Sweet Baby Ray's $.89 (limit 2)
- $1/2 (5/22/2011 SS) = $.39

Chi Chi's Salsa $1.99
- $.50/1 or $1/2 (6/12/2011 SS) = $1.49

Kraft Dressing $1.99
- $1/2 (6/19/2011 SS) = $1.49

Claussen Pickles $1.69 (limit 3)
- $1/2 printable = $1.19

Household Items
Mardi Gras Napkins, 250 ct. $1.99
Food Club Paper Plates, 100 ct. $1.49

Purex Liquid Detergent $1.99
- $1/1 (Purex with Zout, if included)  = $.99

Exclusive Facebook Coupon (w/ $10 purchase) this week:
This week the exclusive coupons are only available on Facebook. Larry's Facebook here and Olsen's Facebook here.

• FREE Minute Maid Punch, Limeade, or Lemonade (64 oz)

Click here for more helpful information about using coupons and shopping at Piggly Wiggly. Remember, Piggly Wiggly stores are independently owned and their ads occasionally don't match up, check your store ad for prices.

Reminder: $2 Marcus Theatres Movie

This week Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 10am you can see Diary of a Wimpy Kid for just $2! Get more details and see the summer schedule here.

LOCATIONS:

Bay Park Cinema - Green Bay

755 Willard Drive in Ashwaubenon (920) 497-2430

Green Bay East Cinema - Green Bay

1000 Kepler Drive (920) 468-6500

Deal Post Q & A

What do those letter mean? If you are new to blogs and coupon deals you might be wondering what some of the abbreviations used in the posts mean. Here is a list of some of the abbreviations you might see on this blog or others. The abbreviations I use most often are SS, RP, and P&G. You will see these letters in combination with a date, for example: 6/26/11 SS. This just means the coupon I mentioned can be found in the Smart Source insert from the 6/26/11 newspaper. RP stands for Red Plum insert and P&G stands for Proctor and Gamble insert. These are the coupon inserts you'll find in your Sunday paper.

Why do you list the coupons like that? Because, personally, I don't clip every coupon. I only clip the coupons I know I will use and then save the inserts just in case I run across a deal later. If I need to go clip a coupon later I use this information to find it. You can read more about how I organize my coupons here.

Why can't I find the coupon in my insert? Coupons are regional and I use a national database to search for coupon matchups. So some coupons I mention may not have been in our paper. Why do I bother mentioning them? Lots of coupon shoppers (including myself) get papers from larger metro areas or order coupon inserts online in order to get the best coupons so they will have those coupons available.

How do I get printable coupons? When you see the word "printable" highlighted (or a different color) in a deal post you can click on that word and it will take you to a printable coupon. If you haven't already, you will need to download the coupon printer program. A message will pop up the first time you want to print a coupon, just follow the instructions to install the program. Most coupon printing software allows you to print two of each coupon. Once you reach the limit you will not be able to print any more unless the coupon is "reset". If you are having trouble with your coupon printer try a different internet browser (switch from Internet Explorer to Firefox or vice versa).

The printable coupon you linked isn't there! That drives me crazy too! Sometimes a company puts a limit to the number of coupons they will allow to be printed and it's first come first served. Sometimes you've reached your print limit for that coupon already so it "disappears" from your list but is still available to others. So, unfortunately, it is possible you will run across some that are no longer available.

How do I get more than two printable coupons? If you have more than one computer in your house you are in luck! You can print two per computer. If you don't have two computers you can always ask a friend or family member to print a great coupon for you. Please NEVER photo copy a coupon. That is coupon fraud. Fraudulent coupon use only causes manufacturers and stores to get more strict in what coupons they offer and accept.

Have any other questions? Let me know!