Post from Erika - Kohl's!

Today, I saved 40% on a new kitchen rug at Kohl's that matches my kitchen border/colors (noticed the match in the Sunday ad for the sale). While there I saved 80% on a nice blouse on clearance rack. Then at the register took an additional 15% off the already marked down price by signing up for the credit card (which I will pay off immediately upon receiving the bill). I paid $35 with tax for both; saved almost $60. They say not to get caught in credit cards, but they DO come attached with extra savings and rewards. Just be ultra responsible and only charge what you can pay off when you get the bill so you don't pay interest. In my case $35 - NO SWEAT!
Thanks, Erika - my first post from someone else!  Yay!!

Give, Give, Give!

Easy Come, Easy Go

 As you begin to get lots of free and really cheap stuff always remember it is so much fun to give it away.  You may get a brand of toothpaste or deoderant for free and it isn't your favorite.  You might get more free pasta than you need.... Donate it!  Amy has a fabulous idea for donating items....do any of you have places you would like to give to?  So far I've given to a family through our church, food drives and the Domestic Violence shelter.  The food bank is always in need.  I also frequently give free stuff to friends when they are over, and I love making pretty baskets of products for gifts.  I just say "Easy come, easy go" and try to give generously. 
What do hope to do when you start getting too much free and cheap toiletries and food?  What a problem to have, right!

Why "Rhea of Hope"?

Avery's middle name is "Rhea" and Baylee's middle name is "Hope" so I call this blog "Rhea of Hope".  After all, keeping more of our hard-earned money gives everyone a "Rhea of Hope"!  I thought it would be fun to start this blog since we had our class together.  I get such a rush from a good deal, and if you do too, post it here!  We can discuss questions, give input, whatever you want.

An idea for your Top Foods $5/$25 purchase coupon

We got a coupon in last Tuesday's mail with the Top Foods ad for $5/$25 purchase.  I like to use these for good quality meat and organic produce.  You don't find these items on good sales too often.  The produce is organic except the bananas and tomatoes.  And the chicken is Draper Valley - not organic, but I looked it up and it seemed pretty good.  The chickens have "free range access" so who knows what that means, but anyway, it's what I get right now.  Top Foods has great manager meat markdowns - it's getting close to it's sell date so they put instant coupons on the package.  I just freeze or cook it the day I buy it.  So, for all of the above I paid $21 and change, and I think I saved $38 but I'm not positive.  Can't find the receipt.....but I was happy with my savings (that's a lot of chicken!).  I did weigh the produce as I shopped because for max savings it's important to keep your total close to $25.  This coupon would be good for dairy, etc. too.  What are your ideas?  Anyone use the coupon?

Coupon Savings Tracker!

This is a tool I have really enjoyed using.  Angela from www.thecouponproject.com has created a spreadsheet, a video and a manual - wow!  I use the googledocs one.  It's so easy.  It has really helped my track my savings - and spending this month.  If you are just getting started on this journey - give yourself a break!  You won't cut your spending drastically at first.  It takes time.  This is a great tool if you like tracking.  By the way, it's FREE!
 http://thecouponproject.com/?s=coupon+tracker

My Target Finds today!

These were my fabulous Target deals today.  I spent 4.09 + 1.97 tax (you have to pay full tax on the before-coupon price) so 6.06 total and I saved 28.14!  Did any of you get papers yesterday?  I used those coupons for free secret deodorant (my favorite brand) combined with a coupon that expired today ($2 off Olay soap) so I got the Olay 2pack for .49 and the deodorant free!  The cereal was .25 cents a box. And I can mail in for a rebate - so it will be a money maker! Not the healthiest, but good for dessert.  Who am I kidding....I might let my kids eat it for breakfast.  It's hard to get them to eat anything, so sometimes I figure sweet cereal is better than nothing.....anyway, I digress.  The floss was free from coupons I printed a couple weeks ago.  You can find coupon match-ups on pretty much all of the blogs for Target.
What are you finding since taking Tiffany's class?

My QFC trip!

This was my QFC trip for this week.  Before coupons this would have cost about $126.  After coupons I paid $23!!  I got organic and all natural foods, too. The Kens salad dressing and Kleenex were the only things not all natural.  If you notice, that $23 includes a big pork loin roast!
I got the coupon match-ups from QueenBee http://queenbeecoupons.com/category/stores/qfc/  scroll down a little on the page and you'll see all the coupon match-ups.
Yes, I am one of those people Tiffany talked about:  I take pictures of my good deals.  It's FUN!!
Let me know what you find!

McDonald's Valentines Coupon Book!

I got these today at the Sleater-Kinney McDonalds.  They are only $1 and they have 12 Valentines to give.  Each Valentine is a coupon for a FREE item!  Either ice cream cone, hamburger, juice/milk or apple dippers.  Must be used by kids 12 and under, only one coupon per visit, etc.  So affordable, and Fun!