Thrifty Summer Crafts & Easy Recipes

Summer time crafts offer some much needed creative outlet time for both the kids and us mums! Here are a few thrifty crafts we will be tackling this weekend; pictures of our success (or attempts)to follow Sunday!

Easy & inexpensive Garden Stepping Stones:

Items Needed:
Quick setting concrete
Plastic molds (we use plastic plant dishes)
protective wear
Newspaper or tarp
5 gallon bucket or other mixing container
Old Serving spoon
Old Measuring Cup
Old Screen or hardware cloth (reinforces stone)
Concrete dye (if you desire)
Any decorations you would like to embellish the stone with; small mosaic tiles, pebbles, stones, popsicle stick to write words on stone, cookie cutters or other items to make impressions, etc.
_________________________________
Step 1: Protect your work surface by laying out newspaper or putting a tarp down, mixing concrete is messy no matter the amount, I recommend doing it outside if weather permits!

Step 2: Mix the concrete; I purchased a bag of Quikrete Concrete because it is cheap and easy to work with.  You can purchase mixes from hobby stores but they cost $5 - $10 and only allow enough mix for 1-2 stones.  Mix according to the manufacturer's instructions found on the bag.

Step 3: After you have completed the mix, begin spooning it in to the plastic mold, filling it only half way. Smooth out surface and place the cut out screen/hardware cloth, and continue filling mold until full. A minimum 2" thickness will ensure a strong stone.

Step 4: Gently tap sides to release any air bubbles, leaving it to set for 30-60 minutes before adding embellishments.

Step 5: Decorate away! Handprints are always a fun way to leave your mark, but think outside the box. Also, this is the time to paint if you have chosen to do so, make sure to use an acrylic sealant to protect your creation! Below is an example of free templates you can find online to help give you a guide for nifty designs. And get creative with your molds- just remember concrete can be a little tricky to expel from certain types of molds and always look for discounted molds whenever you venture into the craft store.

Who Made the Bubbles?!
The Best Homemade Bubble Recipe:

Items needed:
1 cup of water
2 tablespoons light karyo syrup or glycerin
4 tablespoons dish liquid

Mix items and PRESTO! You just bubbles :)

Now you need something creative to blow them bubbles right? Try these bubble wand ideas:

1. Wire hangers - they can easily be bent into all sorts of shapes and last forever.
2. Pipe cleaners - again, bendable and the kids won't need your help making their own shapes.
3. Old kitchen utensils like whisk, slotted spoons, strainers.
4. Fly swatters! My favorite home made bubble wand!
5. Ask the kiddos to create some of their own ideas for wands, give them a box with items you ok, like drinking straws, paper cups they can poke holes in, old tennis rackets, strings, and see what they come up with! My son once used an old set of keys to blow bubbles through!

Cool Summer Recipes - Quick, Easy, & Refreshing

Rainbow Salad:
Ingredients:
4 cups romaine lettuce
2 medium yellow peppers, sliced & cut into strips
1 1/2 cups thinly sliced red cabbage
1 1/2 cups sliced carrots
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1 large cucumber, peeled & diced
1/2 cup strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Layer all ingredients in a clear glass bowl, serve with favorite dressing. 

Fruitty Bowl of Goodness:
Ingredients:
2 cups watermelon chunks
2 cups cantaloupe chunks
2 kiwi, peeled & sliced thinly
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1/2 blueberries
1 cup plain yogurt
1/2 granola

Toss fruit together and cool for 30 minutes. Mix yogurt and granola together for topping.

Turkey Bacon Wraps:
Ingredients:
2 slices lean turkey bacon
1/2 cup lettuce
1/3 cup diced tomatoes
1 whole grain tortilla

Cook bacon, warm tortilla in oven @ 250 degrees for five minutes, place lettuce, tomatoes, and bacon strips in tortilla and roll.

Deals of the Day:

Freebies:
check out www.8coupons.com/stlouis great deals on freebies in St. Louis and coupons

http://www.stlouis.zip2save.com/  another awesome site to find local deals and freebies

Sales:

$4 tanks and tees @ Old Navy

Zhu Zhu pets 5 for $10 @ CVS

Local Events:

Shakespeare Family Festival June 25th
location: Millennium Park in Creve Coeur
time: 9am - 1pm & 4pm - 8pm
description: Children's craft area, dancers, music, character meet and greet, Shakespearean Performances
http://www.dayspringarts.org/

Fiesta in Florrisant June 25th
time: 10am-10pm
location: Knights of Columbus Park
description: children's pavilion, dance contest, latin foods, motorcycle bike showing
cost: FREE admission
website: http://www.hispanicfestivalstl.com/

Family Program: Bravo!Bravo! June 26th
St Louis Art Museum
time: 1pm-4pm
cost: FREE
description: Every Sunday afternoon, hands on art activities and lively guided 30 minute gallery tours
website: http://www.slam.org/

Sweepstakes & contest:

"40 Prizes for 40 Years"
Six Flags St Louis
website: http://www.sixflags.com/stlouis/footernav/40Years.aspx

Also check the St. Louis Writers Guild for upcoming poetry contest (We just missed a recent deadline)
website: http://www.stlwritersguild.org/

Summer Time in the City: Top 60 Free Things to Do + local sweepstakes

Top 60 FREE things to do this Summer in StL & nearby areas:

1. Visit the Saint Louis Zoo
2. Grant's Farm (parking is $11)
3. Tower Grove Park Wading Pool
4. Carondelet Park
5. Suson Park-kiddos will love all the animals
6. Science Center (park in Forest Park)
7. History Museum
8. Art Museum
9. Anheuser-Busch Brewery Tour
10. Union Station
11. Cahokia Mounds
12. Craft Alliance Gallery
13. Golden Eagle River Museum
14. Soldier's Memorial
15. World Bird Sanctuary
16. City Gardens
17. Art Hill in Forest Park
18. Botanical Gardens (free for city residents on Wens before 11 am)
19. Old Court Hose
20. Faust Historical Village
21. Purina Farms
22. Cathedral Bascilca of St Louis
23. Jefferson Barracks Park & museums
24. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
25. Babler State Park
26. St. Louis Public Library central branch
27. Citizens National Bank Park
28. Columbia Garden Conservation Area
29. Cliff Caves County Park
30. Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center
31. Antique Row along Cherokee Street
32. Holocaust Museum and Learning Center
33. Concordia Seminary
34. St Louis Fire Department Museum
35. Laumeire Sculpture Park
36. St Louis Car Museum
37. Tilles Park
38. Mississippi River Front & Lacledes Landing
39. Brentwood Park
40. Willmore Park
41. Turtle Park
42. Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
43. Soulard Market
44. Old Post Office & Customs House
45. The Green Center (open to public Wens only)
46. Eads Bridge (great lookout point)
47. James Thomas "Cool Papa" Bell Memorial
48. Historic Daniel Boone home & Boonesfield Village
49. Theis Farm
50. The Muny
51. Jewel Box
52. Faust Park
53. St Louis Walk of Fame (Delmar Loop)
54. Katy Trail
55. World's Largest Catsup Bottle (drive by)
56. St Louis Skate Park
57. July 4th fireworks/ VP parade
58. St Joe's Park (lake swimming, fishing, sand dunes)
59. Benton Park
60. The Wabash Frisco and Pacific Railroad - this does REQUIRE a $4 donation per ticket, kids 3 and under are free, but I had to add it!

Believe it or not there are more free things to do, so keep checking in as I update on the latest events.  If you need help or have questions about any of the places I listed above, leave a comment or you can send me an email @ thriftystlmummy@aol.com

Deals of the Day:

Freebies:

Captain D's - Thursday get 2 free kid's meals w/ the purchase of any adult entree at regular price (dine in only) please check w/ your local restaurant for details

Tin Can Tavern & Grill 3157 Morganford Rd - 2 kids eat free from kids menu per adult purchase between 5pm - 9pm, 12 years & younger, Mondays - Thursdays

Grocery Sales:

Aldi's has cantaloupe for $0.99 and strawberries $0.99 per lb
Shop n Save - coupon Thursday! $10 off purchase of $50 or more (work that to your advantage!)

Local Sweepstakes (new section as suggested by a friend):

"Lucky Day Car Giveaway" @ Marty Cancila Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram - 2175 N Hwy 67 N Lindbergh Florissant MO 63033
details: Test drive any 2011 Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep and be entered to win a new vehicle ($30,000 towards purchase) no purchase necessary valid now thru 8/31/2011

Win a Chevy Cruze - visit http://www.gleesingtheusa.com/  for details now thru 7/15/2011

Springfield MO vacation Package - http://www.vacationfun.com/ hurry ends 6/25/2011

Western Wear Package - http://www.silverdollarcity.com/ now thru 10/29/2011
click on special offers and packages, they also have other sweepstakes occurring all the time, so bookmark their site.

As always - be careful and fully read sweepstakes rules and regulations, although I do a quick scan it's best to check them out so you understand what you are entering!

Look for future give aways coming straight from yours truly, Thrifty Stl Mummy!!

Next post - thrifty summer crafts, recipe ideas, and party planning on a budget!

Thrift Stores for Thrifty Mums and more deals & events!

Thrift & antique shops
Thrift stores can hold the key to finding great second hand items at a fraction of their retail cost and there are a few really good thrift shops around StL that I love and had to share:

1. Goodwill on Bayless & hwy 55.  I rarely find great bargains on the clothes they offer, but on household decor items and books, this is a great thrift store to go to.  They receive a ton of inventory from Target and it's always marked down considerably and still in the original packaging!

2. Refabulous on Meramec & Virginia Ave 63111.  This little shop has name brand clothing in all sizes at great bargain prices.  I like two things about this store; it's very clean and super organized.  You really feel like you are shopping in a boutique and not a junk store.  No toys or electronics, but a must for great deals on clothes.  Also stop in one of the other thrift /antique shops on the same street, you never know what you might find!

3.  Family Value Thrift Store on Lemay Ferry Rd.  Another excellent store, larger in selection, great for a bargain hunter.  They carry clothing, electronics, decor, toys and books.  They also offer a shoppers reward card that you can earn discounts on throughout the week and use every Sunday for up to 50% off your total purchase.

4. Value Village on Watson Rd.  Less impressed with their customer service than other area thrift shops, but a bargain hunter can't be picky in that department!  A wide array of clothing and household items, organized in a decent manner.

5. Antique Row on Cherokee Street.  Most people think antique automatically means expensive, not true.  I browse these shops anytime I am looking for unique gifts or a special item for the house.  You wouldn't believe some of the amazing deals I have found!  My mum-n-law was looking for a large hutch or china cabinet for her dining room, I scored a lighted buffet w/ glass doors for $40!  The quality of the piece was amazing and she still loves it today.  I'd suggest making an afternoon of browsing, there are several stores, great diners, and you cold even enjoy a tour of the infamous Lemp or DeMenil mansions!

6.  Mom and Pop stores along South Broadway.  There are a ton of new thrift stores popping up along Broadway that offer a similar experience to Antique Row.  Hop from store to store and then stop in one of the eateries for lunch.  It's a great mix of thrift shops and antique shops. 

The best advice I can give on scoring great bargains at these stores; flip flop your seasons when shopping for clothes, summer clothing is always cheaper in winter and winter clothing is always cheaper in summer.  Ask about return policies and try electronics out before you purchase them.  Most shops have a wall of outlets just for this purpose.  At the antique shops, try to strike a deal on the larger priced items, most shop owners are reasonable and looking to move inventory, but be prepared to fall in love with some higher priced pieces.  In that case, leave your contact information with the store owner and tell them to give you a call if they ever decide to lower the price.

This is just a small sampling of thrift stores StL has to offer and new ones keep opening all the time.  Anytime I travel to a different area of the city I keep my thrifty radar on and take mental notes of newbies.  Feel free to comment with any other great shops you can't live without!

Tomorrow; Summer Time in the City: 60 things to do for FREE.

Deals of the Day

Freebies:
Free paint at Earthbound Recycling
location: 25 Truitt Dr Eureka MO 63025
www.EarthboundRecycling.com


Check back tomorrow for grocery sales & coupon deals

Events:

Legally Blonde premiere @ The Muny
location: Forest Park
date: June 20th
time: 7 pm the free seats gate opens, show starts at 8:15 pm
cost: FREE or you can purchase tickets - www.muny.org

Family Summer Series - 10 free family films
location: local Wherenberg Theatres
date: June 1st - August 4th, Wens & Thursdays
time: 10am
cost: FREE
(Marmaduke is playing this week @ Ronnie's)

Music & Movie Series
location: Laumeier Outdoor Music Amphitheatre
date: June 24th
time: 7pm
cost: free
description: local musicians perform, followed by a family friendly movie for a night of free entertainment under the stars!
www.laumeiersculpturepark.org

Marine Week
June 20th - 26th
ongoing events all week - for a complete schedule of events visit:
http://www.marines.mil/community/marineweekstlouis/Pages/events.aspx

Sunday Reflections; Happy Father's Day!

Sundays are family days in our home. With this past Sunday being father's day, it meant that much more.  I found myself in awe of the kids watching them gloat over their father.  I imagine there's no greater feeling for a dad than the praise of his children.  And I starting thinking back to my childhood, how incredibly important my father was and still is to me.  I wondered if I had gloated over him enough. Of course, I am blessed to still have plenty of opportunities to do so, and I try harder everyday to make sure he knows how much he means to me.  Funny thing how strong the bonds between a parent and a child are, the endurance and strength required to maintain an unbreakable connection no doubt become harder with age, but that bond is always there. 

We celebrated the day making various rounds between in-laws, giving the "fathers" in the family their due recognition.  The day was filled with love, laughs, and good food.  A winning trio if I do say so myself.  We returned home, one kid lighter, a few pounds heavier, and exhaustedly satisfied another holiday was done.  All in all, it was a perfect Sunday!

Prepare Your Coupons Thrifty Mums! Decoding Coupon Terminology

Stormy weather here in StL this morning!  Hope all is well with everyone :)

Today's topic; Coupons and all their glory!

Most people view coupons as a thing of the past, something our mother's did to save a few bucks.  I beg to differ!  The benefit of couponing can be tremendous when it comes to weekly shopping trips.  With a little time, planning, and a few tricks from the coupon pro's, you'll be saving big bucks in no time!

Coupon Terminology:

MNFC = manufacturer coupon
SC = store coupon
B1G1 = buy one get one free
B1GH = buy one get one 1/2 off
RR = register rewards @ walgreens - a coupon that prints on your receipt for a center dollar amount and allows you to use it towards your next purchase
WAGS = walgreens
CVS = CVS pharmacy
ECC = extracare card offered by CVS allowing you access to all sale prices + earn extra bucks towards future purchases
TAG = target
FAM = family dollar


All these abbreviations will be used frequently whenever I discuss the weekly deals.  Next I'll share a few tips to help you start couponing today!

1. Start by buying a Sunday Post Dispatch Early Edition newspaper.  Every Saturday you can purchase a paper for $2 and get a jump start on the stores weekly ads and coupon inserts. 

2. Circle anything in the store ads you need or items that are B1G1 free. 

3. Now it's time to clip some coupons!  I only clip the coupons for products I know I will use, no need to dog food coupons if you don't have a dog :)

4.  Organizing coupons takes some practice, you have to do whatever works for you.  Some organize by expiration date, others by department.  I have five categories I split mine into; health, household, store coupons, grocery, & misc.  There are times I still change it up, but again whatever is easiest for you to know where that coupon can be found, do it.

5. Next, cross reference your coupons with the weekly ads.  This can take some time, but as you do it more, you'll learn with practice what you are looking for and fly through it.  Also, remember that most of your food coupons will be used at a local grocery store, so waiting for their ads to come in the mail will allow more opportunities to find the best bargains. 

6.  Once you have an idea of which products are on sale and which ones you have coupons for this week, start matching those products to any store coupons you have as well.  This is your best opportunity to get items for a fraction of the cost and sometimes even for FREE! Remember, you can use one MNFC & one SC per item. 

7.  Lastly, pay close attention to the details of your coupons; expiration dates, size, quantity, and limitations.  Every store has a different policy on coupons, but most are willing to share it with you without any hassle.  Now grab your shopping list and your coupons and start shopping!

There are many other ways to obtain coupons, writing individual companies and requesting coupons, asking family and friends to give you their unwanted coupon inserts, and the latest is printing and receiving them via your smart phone.  Here are a couple sites that offer great resources for printing coupons for your specific area;

www.redplum.com

www.smartsource.com

www.freestuff.com

Again, check with customer service at your local store to ensure the acceptance of printed coupons.  Example, Schnucks accepts printed coupons but Foodland does not.

On to our Deals of the day!  Tomorrow check back in for Thrifty Stores every thrifty mummy needs on her radar and more great deals and events in StL!

Daily Deals:

Freebies:

FREE SALE located @ 3905 Nugget Street St. Peters 63376 - begins @ 3 pm today, June 18th, nothing will be free until 3 so please wait.  Description: Yard sale leftovers free for the taking after 3 pm :)

Coupon deals:

Following deals are @ WAGS and valid 6/19 - 6/25;

Loreal eye cosmetics B1GH + use $1 off MNFC from this Sunday's paper

B1G1 Finest Natural vitamins and supplements
B1G1 Aquafresh Advanced or Extreme toothpaste
B1G1 Colgate total or sensitive toothpaste, 360 surround, or activila toothbrushes
B1G1 Dial soap, Got2bu styling products, Dry Idea & Right Guard Deodorant
B1G1 - buy one box of Playtex tampons 36 sport or 36 - 50 pk Gentle Glide and get a free box of Playtex 18 pk sport or gentle glide
B1GH Garnier skin care products + use $1 off MNFC in Sunday paper
SC $4 off Centrum 200,220, or 250 ct viatmins + use $4 off MNFC in Sunday paper
___________________________________
Following deals are @ TAG valid 6/19 - 6/25

$2.99 sale on selected 28 oz Method cleaners + use $1 off MNFC in Sunday paper
$5.99 sale on Loreal Healthy look Creme Gloss Hair color + use MNFC $2 off in Sunday paper
___________________________________
Following Deals are at CVS and valid 6/19 - 6/25

Pantene shampoo 2/$6.97 + use $3 MNFC in Sunday paper and earn $2 via EBR good towards next purchase
B1G1 Schick Hydro 3 or 5 refillable razors or cartridges
General Mills cereal 2/$4 + use $1 MNFC
VO5 shampoo $0.77 ea w/ ECC
____________________________________
Local StL Events:

6/19 - Amazing Animal Encounters
location: Wild Bird Sanctuary 125 Bald Eagle Ridge Rd Valley Park MO 63088
cost: admission and parking are FREE
ongoing event: every Saturday & Sunday from Memorial Day until Labor Day except July 10th.
www.worldbirdsanctuary.com

6/19 - Circus Flora's "Vegabond Adventures" 1pm & 5pm
location: Big Top Tent in Grand center (corner of Grand & Samuel Shepard)
cost: $8 - $44
ongoing: check website for time frame
Little Top one hour show (for younger kiddos) held on Wednesdays @ 10 am
www.circusflora.com

6/21 - Wild Side Walkers 7am - 8:30am
location: St Louis Zoo
description: walking program that meets every Tuesday & Saturday morning
cost: FREE
www.stlzoo.org

6/23 - St. Louis Banjo Club 7:30pm - 9:30pm
Tin Pan Alley
location: Concordia Turner Hall
cost: FREE
www.stlouisbanjoclub.org

Yard Sales- sales happening this weekend - Plus this weekends events and deals

Yard sales, a bargain hunters weekly obsession, they begin in spring and last well into fall. Everyone loves scoring a great deal but for yard sale enthusiast like myself, yard sales can sometimes be overwhelming.  First you have to take the time to find all these sales, then map the most economical route from one sale to the next (gas is way to expensive to be driving in circles) and then you have to set a spending limit.  The last thing you want to do is hit yard sales with no budget!  Before you know it, your pocket book will be empty and your list of sales will be many.  So how do you know which yard sales are really worth your time?  The process of elimination can be tedious and exhausting.  The truth is, you never really know which sales will hold those sought after items until you get there.  Nowadays, people use everything from craigslist to facebook to advertise their sales.  So here are my best tips for planning your yard sale days!

1. Pick an area you feel comfortable with, consider the distance and time it will take to get there and how many other sales are in the area.  Often, I start with the sale farthest from my house and work my way back.

2. Finding the sales in your selected area is easier now than ever.  I use Craigslist.org and scan the newspaper on Saturday mornings and Wednesday mornings.  Also, some of the larger neighborhood sales and church sales are advertised in monthly neighborhood fliers.  Keep your eye out for these, they can let you know of other upcoming events closer to home as well.

3. Hard to decide which sales are worth the time? Start by looking for Estate, Church, and Neighborhood/Subdivision sales.  These sales give you a wider variety of items to choose from and usually have the best bargains.  Beware of Estate sales though, make sure you read the ad to find out what they are offering, and be prepared for larger crowds.  Most Estate sales are well worth your time, especially if yo are searching for bigger ticket items like furniture and electronics.


4. If you are unsure of directions, use Mapquest.  The great thing about mapping sales out on Mapquest - you can visibly have a reference in front of you from sale to sale without back tracking.  I Mapquest from my house to the first sale of the day, then from that sale to the next and so on.  It saves lots of time and I never get lost!

5. Have your budget set.  If you pick only a handful of sales to attend, make sure you go to the ones that offered items you want the most first.  That way you get what you are looking for before spending money on items you "just had to have" in the heat of the yard sale moment!  And always try to offer less than the asking price!  Most people hold sales to clear out their junk (our treasures) and enjoy a good game of haggle.  Just remember to be polite, smile, and pick your battles wisely, if you know its a good deal, take it before someone else sees it too!

6. Lastly - HAVE FUN! Even if you have to take the kiddos with you (easier said than done i know) just simply give them a budget too!  Mine get to spend their weekly allowance, if they choose to, and they are responsible for keeping their money safe, paying for their items, and minding their manners.  I also have "NO KIDS ALLOWED" yard sale dates with my hubby.  These are great because we rarely are both off work at the same time to attend sales together and we get to spend more time actually looking for things we need or want!


Hope these tips help your plan of attack on our city's yard sale circuit! Please share any ideas or tips you have! Here's a list of my top five picks for sales tomorrow, June 18th:

All Church Rummage Sale - Christian Life Center of Webster Hills United Methodist Church - located at the corner of Lockwood Ave & Berry Rd in Webster Groves 8am - 2pm
*antiques, children's clothing, furniture, misc

Rummage Sale @ House Springs Elementary School in the gym, 2nd annual charity sale to raise money for St. Baldrick's Foundation, simply offer a donation for items you want!  Sale begins @ 7am

Southwest Church - 4543 Magnolia 63110 - 8:30 - 5pm

50 family Subdivision Sale - Tesson Creek Estate Sales - 7am
*tools, household, clothing

4043 Delor 63111 - Quarter Sale (almost everything is .25) - 8am - 12pm


Today's Deals:

Freebies: Check out freecycle.org - a great site not to just find items you want, but also to pass along any of your unwanted items.

Also remember Craigslist.org has a free section and a barter section, both great ways to make awesome deals!

Redbox - sign up for their text alerts (one text a week) to recieve a free weekly monday rental code! Now they have video games you can rent too!

Walgreens - 30 4x6 photo prints for $3 enter code SOAKUP at checkout - valid until June 18th

$10 off $20 photo product orders enter code CELEBRATE at checkout - valid until June 18th

Old Navy- $3 men's basic tees - this weekend only June 18th & 19th

Events:

Mount Vernon Movie in the Park- June 17th
location - Veterans Park, Mount Vernon, Il
www.mtvernon.com/newtourism/index2.htm

St. Louis Uncorked - A Wine & Music Festival - June 18th
location: Soldier's Memorial in downtown St. Louis
time: 3pm - 11pm
cost: FREE but if you want to sample items you will have to purchase sample tokens, live music
www.stluncorked.com

Welcome to Thrifty StL Mummy!

Hello!  Welcome to Thrifty StL Mummy! 

My name is Crystal, and this is my solution for all the fellow mums in St. Louis looking for thrifty solutions for everything from StL freebies, thrifty ways to save money on clothes, cleaning supplies, and food, awesome local events, and occasionally maybe a mummy rant thrown in for laughs! 

Why I wanted to share my thrifty secrets:

It started with my fellow mums teasing my coupon clipping, yard sale searching, free-stuff-finding habits.  The main reason I do all of these wonderful things is because I believe you can get what you need (and what you want) and do so without ever feeling guilty!  It saves my family money and truthfully, it was just the way I was raised!

What to expect from my post:

My thrifty ideas flow like water down the Mississippi!  There are always new ways to save a buck in the city.  My motto is three fold; coupons, yard sales, free stuff!  Free stuff is the best stuff, every time I find a new freebie deal (and I mean completely free) it will be posted asap.  Occasionally I will find great freebies that may require shipping cost, but most of the deals are 100% free!  Yard Sales are my favorite pass time and a great way to save money on clothing, toys, and household goodies.  There are lots of sales in the city and surrounding areas every week and I'll pass along the details, teach you tips on scoring great bargains, and what are sure signs of yard sale duds.  Lastly and perhaps most importantly, the benefit of clipping or printing them things you used to throw in the recycling bin; COUPONS!  I know, who has time to clip coupons, right?  Trust me, you'll want to make the time once I show you how much money you can save! 

What I hope you can learn from Thrifty StL Mummy:

Mainly, that thrifty living isn't a thing of the past,  is nothing to be ashamed of, and is a lot easier than it seems.  I can't promise to post every deal or great find, but I can promise to spark ideas on how you can start finding them on your own as well.  As I begin to post more, you'll start to see things like B1G1 (buy one get one free) or MnfC (manufacturer coupon) or SC (store coupon).  I hope to have a post up soon decoding all the lingo and terms, but for now I will explain them as they arise in post.  No worries - it'll get easier to decode in no time!

Finally, I will post in the same order everyday (tweaking as Thrifty Stl Mummy progresses) starting with an introduction full of thrifty obtainable habits and ideas, followed with any freebies, great coupon buys or B1G1 free deals, then upcoming yard sales and local events, ending with the tip of the day.

So without further ado, let's get straight to the deals of the day! 

Free 8x10 photo collage from Walgreens.com - offer valid now through June 18th, enter coupon code 1FREEBIE at checkout. 

B1G1 (buy one get one free) Lysol toilet bowl cleaner, $2.99 on sale at Walgreen's, coupon is in their weekly ad (available at the front of the store) Buy one at $2.99 and get the second free.

Following B1G1 free deals are @ CVS pharmacy, please note in order to receive sale prices at CVS, you need to have a CVS extra care card which you can obtain for free at the store, highly recommend taking the extra 5 minutes to do so, as they offer great deals on a regular basis!  All deals are valid until June 18th, this Saturday :)

B1G1 Purex Complete 3 in 1 sheets or Ultra Concentrate 24-33 loads @ CVS - limit of 6

B1G1 All Nature's Bounty or Flex-a-min @ CVS - limit of 6

B1G1 Right Guard or Dry Idea  @ CVS - limit 4

B1G1 Colgate Total, Triple action, or Kids toothpaste @ CVS - limit 4

B1G1 Stack chair (plastic lawn chairs) @ CVS

B1G1 Sundown Vitamins, Ester-C, Disney or Marvel Gummies @ CVS

*No Yard Sales to update on just yet, Tuesdays and Fridays will be the best times to prepare, and also be alert for FREE SALES!*

Family Fun in StL - St. Louis Zoo! For the first hour the Zoo is open, you can get access to the Children's Zoo, Sting Ray exhibit, and Carousel for FREE.  We visit the Zoo probably a dozen times a year, so we do have memberships now, but if you only go once or twice, why not get there a little earlier and enjoy the exhibits for free (and beat the crowds) and then the rest of your day becomes a leisurely stroll through an amazing setting :)

Tip of the day:

In following with our Family Fun in StL- the Zoo; quick tips on how to keep the kiddies focused on the animals and learning exhibits and not the gift shops and dozens of snack caddies.

1. Pack a backpack with their favorite snacks, juices, and of course the first aid kit and sunscreen.  I let the kids pick out what there snack will be for the day and sometimes we even make trail mix bags the kids call "Anteater Munchies".  I found when they help pack the goodies, they argue less when it comes time to eat them.

2. Depending on their ages, kids are often fascinated when we make them feel in charge of something.  A day at the Zoo can be a great opportunity to use this to our advantage :)  My son is the youngest, 7, I put him on camera duty.  He has a special camera (my old digital one) that he is in charge of for the entire day.  I give him the camera with a checklist of animals we need good pictures of, and he's on the job!  My daughter on the other hand, 10 going on 16, is a little harder to persuade.  I assign her Map duty, we put stickers on the map of all the places and animals we want to see that day and she leads the way.  

3. We stop as needed throughout the day to eat our special snacks, pb&j sandwiches & fruit for lunch, and at the end of our visit, they get to have a pretty animal painted on their cheek instead of stopping at the gift store.  This is an agreement we make every time we plan a Zoo day.  It amazes me at how well it works, $4 for two cheeks to get painted is a steal!

Tomorrow's Post:

All about Yard Sales! The good, the bad, the down right sad - it's all here along with more great Thrifty StL Mummy deals!