Featured Posts
Rare All You Magazine Subscription Deal At 67% off Walmart Newsstand Price (Limited Time)

Rare All You Magazine Subscription Deal At 67% off Walmart Newsstand Price (Limited Time)

If you've been waiting for a deal on ALL YOU magazine then you might want to check this out - for a price of only $0.83 per issue!

Read More

Homemade Natural Jet Dry (Rinse Agent): 2 Ingredients, 5 Minutes and .30 Per Bottle

Homemade Natural Jet Dry (Rinse Agent): 2 Ingredients, 5 Minutes and .30 Per Bottle

I love this super easy, natural and highly effective rinse agent (like Jet Dry) in my dishwasher! It is also a super compliment to our homemade dishwasher detergent!

Read More

Best Ever Homemade Window, Glass and Stainless Steel Cleaner (Cheap and with Beautiful Results)

Best Ever Homemade Window, Glass and Stainless Steel Cleaner (Cheap and with Beautiful Results)

After many years of trying and experimenting with many homemade glass/window cleaners....I finally came up with this perfect and cheap combination! Check it out!

Read More

Spring Challenge for a Clean, Organized, Thrifty and Healthy Home: Challenge #1 Cleaning Items List

Spring Challenge for a Clean, Organized, Thrifty and Healthy Home: Challenge #1 Cleaning Items List

Here's the tools we recommend from around your house to help you get prepared for Spring cleaning.

Read More

Earn Up To $5 Per Online Survey – Company Accepting Applicants Now (Great for Part Time and Work At Home Moms)

Earn Up To $5 Per Online Survey - Company Accepting Applicants Now (Great for Part Time and Work At Home Moms)

Here's a good way to have a part-time or stay-at-home mom opportunity to earn up to $5 per survey!

Read More

Be Intentional Challenge #26 – Free Weekly Planner Download To Manage All Areas of Life

Be Intentional Challenge #26 - Free Weekly Planner Download To Manage All Areas of Life

We want to share this weekly planner with you as it is my personal favorite and fun to use to! It helps you cover every area of life and has helped our family tremendously!

Read More

Brown Rice For Breakfast – Our Sweet Version (Healthy, Yummy and Filling)

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy here.

by Cassie on May 20, 2013

finished-sweet-brown-rice-breakfast

If you like this idea, please “Pin” it to Pinterest!

A while back, I mentioned that we eat rice for breakfast.  In fact, we eat rice for breakfast A LOT! Why? Well for SEVERAL reasons.

  1. It’s super easy to make, especially with the rice cooker that I think is just as important or more than a crockpot! I love this one that is a 20-cup Aroma Cooker (you can make a little bit or all 20-cups!) by that I have referenced many times as it steams and is a crockpot while having the option to cook rice. 
  2. It’s super cheap.  Whether you choose to get white, brown or even organic! It’s all cheap.  Especially when you compare it to cereals! You can pick up a 1-2 lb. bag of brown rice for around $2.  This small bag will last our family of seven for 2-3 meals (whether breakfast, lunch or dinner). We’re talking very cheap, even for large families like ours!
  3. It’s super healthy. Especially if you opt for brown rice. It contains fiber and the way that we prepare adds extra healthy factors to it!
  4. It’s naturally gluten-free!

So we’ve had a few people that thought it was quite strange that we eat rice for breakfast! But if you think about it, it’s quite an optimal and practical breakfast!

So let me share with you our “sweet” version.

  • The first thing you need is to fry your rice in something.  Butter is a good option.  We personally love coconut oil or coconut creme concentrate (this one is like a coconut version of butter).  Any of these are good, but the coconut options add extra layers of health by easily and tastily including them!  We use Tropical Traditions and buy coconut oil and coconut creme concentrate when they have their 50% off (or buy one get one free) sales.  It is good quality too!
  • The second thing you need are toppings! Honestly, you can add ANYTHING! In fact, consider the toppings we have included in our printable list of 88 Oatmeal Topping Ideas HERE.  Any of those would work beautifully for this too!  We personally almost always use Craisins, shredded coconut and cinnamon.  When it became a perfect combo for us, we see now reason to change, but rarely!
  • Oh yeah, I just about forgot :) … the third thing is the rice! You will need already cooked rice whether you cook it on the stove or rice cooker!

Then all you do is this:

  • brown-rice-coconut-oilMelt your butter, coconut creme concentrate or coconut oil in your pan.  Use as much or little as you want!

frying-brown-rice

  • Then add your cooked rice and “fry” until it is all coated and reaches the desired consistency you want.  Our family likes it “crispy” which means more frying time.  If you want it softer, then just fry for a shorter time.

brown-rice-breakfast-toppings

  • Then add your toppings and mix up! Some of your toppings can be added after cooking too.  We add our favorite three and cook for another couple of minutes.

finished-sweet-brown-rice-breakfast

  • Then serve it up and enjoy! Here’s our daughter’s hearty bowl of delicious nutrition and give her a super jump start to her day!
  • Note: one fabulous add-in is nuts of any kind.  These will also add some healthy proteins.  We have deadly peanut and treenut allergies in our home, but it would be fabulous! For our protein, we just add an egg on the side or something :)

This is our “sweet version.”  We also have a “savory version” which is sorta like a breakfast fried rice – again healthy and that one adds a bit of protein too! We will share that one soon!

In the meantime, get creative with rice for breakfast!

{ 1 comment }

Alex & Cassie
 

FREE Baby Sling Carrier (Worth $40) – Only Pay Shipping and Pick From 16 Patterns

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy here.

by Cassie on May 20, 2013

seven slings

Right now you can get a FREE baby sling! This would even make a great gift.

Seven Slings wants to give you a promo code for a free baby carrier (a $40 value). The promo code is “ENBABY”. Go to their site HERE, click on ‘Shop Now”, select any baby carrier you would like – there are currently 16 different options!

Be sure to go to the sizing page so that you can get the right size carrier for you. Once you have selected your size, you will automatically be directed to the “shopping bag” where you can enter the promo code “ENBABY “ . This promo code will take 100% off of the baby carrier purchase and all you are required to pay are the shipping fees. You can use the code more than once- simply open a new browser window to do so.

The shipping is a little on the high side at $11.95, but to get this for $11.95 is even very difficult going into the store (like Walmart), so it is still the best deal you will probably get.  We imagine that they are making up some of their cost in shipping too :) But still don’t miss this!

This is only available for a short time and we do not know when the “limited time” is up, but it is available right now!

Head to their site HERE to get your FREEBIE

See more Free Stuff

{ 0 comments }

Alex & Cassie
 

Grocery Shop Online for Natural and Organic Foods and Personal Care at 60% off and Plus Extra 12% off and Even $10 off

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy here.

by Cassie on May 20, 2013

vitacost-12-percent-sm
Starting today and through tomorrow morning (May 21, 2013), you can get some great deals on organic, natural and whole foods from Vitacost.  I have mentioned Vitacost a few times, including most recently for the 7 Best Essential Oils for cleaning.  We’ve also mentioned that Vitacost is one of our go-to grocery stores.  It is like an online Whole Foods/Trader Joe’s, but with Amazon’s prices.  So when there is a further discount, it is a SUPER time for us to stock-up on our non-perishable foods, household and personal care items that would normally cost quite a bit buying them in-store in town somewhere.

Again, this would be a sale that you can save even more on the Essential Oils for Cleaning and get another 12% off the already low prices!!

best-essential-oils-cart

Here’s a quick cart view of those 7 Best Essential Oils for Homemade Natural Cleaning to go with our 26 recipes for homemade cleaning products.  To find out all of the details, head to the previous post here.  If you are a returning Vitacost customer, use coupon code: SUNSHINE to get another 12% off. If you are a new customer, you will want to get the $10 off instead, so you can follow the instructions on the post.

If you already have your oils for cleaning, then I would also highly suggest checking out there 60% off clearance section.  I find so many great things each month that I order from Vitacost in this section! Plus with the extra 12% off…..it means even more savings!

vitacost-clearance-may2013-sm

vitacost-clearance-categories-sm

In addition, they also have sale items that make their prices very affordable, especially when compared to other stores! So be sure to check out your shopping list and compare prices here!

STOP…. IF YOU ARE A FIRST TIME BUYER TO VITACOST… you will want to do this too as you will get further discounts! New customers get a FREE $10 to spend with orders of $30 or more.  This is great news for you as you will get another $10 off!!  You can use it on the foods, or you can use it on the 7 oils we shared previously to make now 26 homemade cleaners. 

Here’s the links to shop and get your discounts:

NEW Customers (first time customers to Vitacost) automatically get a $10 off coupon code HERE with registration.

Returning Customers shop HERE for the extra 12% off everything when you use coupon code: SUNSHINE

See more Organic Deals

{ 0 comments }

Alex & Cassie
 

Great Savings: Get the Sunday Newspaper Delivered To Your Door for As Low As .38 Each

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy here.

by Cassie on May 20, 2013

It’s been about a year since we have shared a deal on newspapers, but we are finally excited to share these deals with you and find deals again after all this time! Why? Well, in our many years of couponing, one tool that we know that has contributed to the highest percent of savings is having the Sunday paper for the coupons! Let’s break it down:

  • The #1 Resource/Tool needed to save the most money is coupons
  • There are coupons from many places (mail, printable, newspapers) but 45 – 50% of the total coupons you use come out of the newspaper! THIS IS HUGE! That means that to save about 50% more than what you are saving now, the coupons from the newspaper that you are using!
  • Although there are many sources of coupons, many stores will not take printable coupons (second major source of coupons) and so this means that your newspaper coupons are your RELIABLE source of savings = essential resource to achieve your low spending goals!

Facts regarding coupons!

  • Even if you do not use one single food coupon, your savings alone from personal care items and household items alone brings in massive savings!
  • The average coupon value today is $1.40 each – most packets include dozens and dozens of coupons = a lot of value
  • We treat our coupons like cash because that is what they are!
  • If you are strictly organic, you may or may not see the savings because there isn’t a lot of organic foods coupons.  We are still struggling to figure this out for this type of shopper, but at these prices, it is worth seeing if it will work!

HERE’S THE BEST PART

You can get the Sunday Newspapers for the coupons delivered to your door for as low as .38 each!

Why is this so great!! Well, we have not seen the newspapers this low in a while! Buying them in the stand is $1.50 – $2 each!! Even if you are a current subscriber, you can add more to your subscription at this cost.

We are highlighting two newspapers in Utah, but you can get similar deals in the following areas by clicking on the links below and order online! Be sure to mention that The Thrifty Couple referred you so that you can lock in your $20 per year (.38 each newspaper deal) and so that we can get deals like this in the future if they are popular enough!

  • This is for the Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News (you can click here to go directly to this deal)
  • These two newspapers deliver all across the state of Utah
  • You will receive the Sunday Only edition
  • PLUS they have extra coupon packets that the other newspapers in the state do not have.
  • You can get up to 4 newspapers at this cost
  • Even if you are a current subscriber, we can add more to what you currently receive.

And although the value of the coupons in each newspaper is over $100, you will probably only use around $10 – $40 worth of coupons for your families needs = investment of .38 and the return on investment = $10-$40!

piggy bank

Here’s how this works:

  • One newspaper for $20 for the WHOLE Year = $20
  • Two newspapers for $20 each for the year = $40
  • Three newspapers for $20 each for the year = $60
  • Four newspapers for $20 each for the year = $80

HERE’S THE BAD PART!

This deal is only good for a short time, the ending date is unknown, but usually only last a short time – then it will probably disappear for a while again!

So if you live in Utah and have realized that you are in need of the newspaper, or in need of adding more to your current subscriptions, then fill-out this form and your order will be placed.  If you have questions, please feel free to email us at thriftyus AT thethriftycouple.com and we will be happy to help you!

In addition, if you live in the following areas, you can get similar newspaper deals right now too! Just click on the links to be taken to the information on the current deals.

Note: For ease and accuracy to ensure your order goes through, we recommend going to the post on our site and clicking through the links to the forms on your web browser.  Please do not click through on mobile devices or if you are reading this article via RSS or email as the deals will not go through.

Utah*

Salt Lake Tribune/Deseret News - $0.38 EACH!

Standard Examiner – .81 each

Herald Journal – .88 each

* Please note most/all residents of Utah can receive the highlighted deal for the Tribune/Deseret News so make sure to check that first as it will be a better deal

California

Fresno Bee – .77 each

Los Angeles Newspapers – .50 each

Modesto Bee – .50 each

Orange County Register – $1.51 each

Press Enterprise (Riverside and Temecula) – .75 each

Sacramento Bee -.77 each

San Diego Union Tribune – .50 each

Nevada

Las Vegas Review Journal – .77 each

Idaho

Idaho State Journal – .83 each

*Please note, if the newspaper in your area is not listed, know that we are continually looking for newspaper deals in other areas so this list is expanding.  If you would like us to try and work with your area soon, then leave a comment and we will see what we can find for you!

Be sure to find out how to use them for maximum savings by reading our previous post!

{ 0 comments }

Alex & Cassie
 

We Finally Have a Goodwill and Here’s a Treasure I Found In My First Visit

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy here.

by Cassie on May 17, 2013

Goodwill-front-store

We finally have a Goodwill relatively close to us! For years, they seemed to be everywhere except where we have lived.  Many of my friends across the country have shopped there for their families.

I finally got to visit one (I do visit a lot of other thrift stores in the area too) for the first time a few weeks ago.  I purposefully went looking for shorts for our kids.  We seemed to have a shortage and I just wanted to find cheap ones for outdoor playing and for the summer.

I honestly have struggled finding any great selection at thrift stores as the kids clothes are so picked through and hard to find anything good, I am not sure if this is just a problem in our area, or if that is the case everywhere! So it is always nice to have another thrift store in the area to help with more selection.

In the end, I did find a couple of pairs of shorts for some of our kids.  I wasn’t horribly impressed with the prices, but they were still much cheaper than buying them even new at Walmart.  Their prices were actually compared to ThredUp, and I love ThredUp as it is all gently used high quality clothing and it is easy to find the style, size that I want and I know it is good quality.

I wasn’t even going to bother looking for things for myself, mostly because I had tired kids that probably had not much time in them left before melt down and watching mommy sift through clothing was probably going to bring a fast roaring melt down.

But….. we passed the shoes.  I have to admit, I have a shoe fetish and it has absolutely drove Alex nuts in the 14 years we have been married.  I have gotten significantly better since our journey to become debt-free because there was no room to buy extra shoes.  since becoming debt-free, we’ve had 5 kids and now I am up to my ears in buying shoes for all 7 people in my family. So it practically feeds my obsession now when I buy 7 pairs, they’re just not all for me anymore :)

Well, as we passed the shoes, I instantly spotted a pair of boots which were exactly like what I had been wanting! I rushed over to them and saw that they looked practically new! I am not sure if they were ever worn as they had the original tags on them!

I was so excited because they were $9.99!  I haven’t been able to find anything close to this price.

I love these boots and they go many places with me :) Here’s pictures of my boots walkin’ around the zoo!

Boots-at-zoo-straight-sm

They are very nice and I love them and I love that I got a good deal on them!

boots-bird-show-sm Here we are at the bird show… kids are in the front row and that is my sweet Miracle Baby Josiah (if you haven’t read his story yet, please do so… he will be 2-years old soon!). He is sitting next to his brother who is wearing a shirt from ThredUp online kids thrift store and a pair of shorts that I bought at Goodwill!

Since this was my first time to a Goodwill, this has been the most exciting find there for me so far ;)

What is the best treasure you have found at a thrift store? 

Have you been to a Goodwill and how does it compare to other thrift stores you have been to?

{ 7 comments }

Alex & Cassie