Thank you for stopping by my blog!
I am Charlene Haugsven, a stay at home mom of two gorgeous girls. This blog is written for the thousands of moms (and non-moms) out there that want to learn how to seriously stretch a dollar. By sticking to a budget and making every penny count we are able to enjoy life and spend money on the things that are really important to us. As the blog name indicates- we are committed to a debt free lifestyle and we are slowly getting there- one coupon at a time!
We live in the land of no doubles (Northern California)- where the cost of living is high and getting great deals is even more of a challenge. If I can do it anyone can do it!
CONTACT ME:
Email: Myfrugaladventures at yahoo dot com
Twitter: frugaladventure
Kate says
I’m not sure if this is old news or not~ but since I just discovered it I thought I’d share for anyone that hasn’t discovered it!
Safeway actually has their coupon policy online~ I suggest everyone print it and keep it handy when shopping~ just in case! ๐
http://www.safeway.com/ifl/grocery/Coupons-Policy
Ana says
I absolutely love your website. Thanks for sharing all the great deals in the land of no doubles. I just moved 30 min. south of San Francisco and love to know I can still save money on groceries.
Thanks again
Heather says
Charlene–
Thanks for all the great posts. It took me awhile to find a great blog for those of us trying to save bucks in NorCal. I really appreaciate all of your great tips, you are doing a wonderful job and I have been able to save more money thanks to you!
Thanks again!
Anonymous says
Charlene,
I really like your blog site. But….I have a problem when I recieve your e-mails that i had signed up for. Just recently the e-mails I get won’t let me rea your highlights that I click on. The links say “In valid”? It just shuts ne down and sends me back to internet explorer? Really strange. So I was wondering if I needed to unsubscribe and then re-scribe again? Let me know what you think or if anyone else has had the problem. Keep up the great information you tall up for us.
Smiles,
Holly
Dana says
Hi Charlene,
YAY! A Northern Californian! I love your site. I invite you to visit Passionate for Life, http://passionateforlife.com/magazine, and share your passion, on the home page and/or in an article. I’d love to feature a frugal living passion. You get a bio with link to your site.
Passionately,
Dana
Charlene says
Hi Anon, I will look into the reader issue- thank you for subscribing!
Julia @ The Frugal Find says
Northern CA here too, so glad we are getting CVS!! Love your blog ๐
Anonymous says
I just found your blog thru my daughters web site and I ordered the All You magazine and I just wanted to make sure it would be delived to me. I did not do the direct delivery per your instructions and this is probably a stupid question, I just wanted to make sure.
Terri
Charlene says
Yes it will go straight to you! The direct ship is for the home furnishings that you can also order through Southern Living. Some of the consultants do parties at someone's house (like a Tupperware party) and people order items from them. Everything is then shipped to whomever had the party and she gets it to her friends. Magazines are totally different- they go straight to you. I definitley do not need hundreds of All You magazines coming to me every month ๐
Linda says
Burt's Bee sample site is up!! For those of you who have waited all day (like me)you can get your free sample(s) now!
cjs says
I just came across your website – thank you! It is nice to have a 'local' reference for deals!
Jana says
I hate that Nor Cal is the land of no doubles. I wish that would go away. I am in Northeastern Calif, so saving money in a rural area is a challenge.
Anonymous says
It took me forever to find a Nor Cal thrifty shopper. I am jealous of all of the Idaho and Pennsylvanian, and Texan thrifty moms who are getting doubles and triples. I don't even want to read there blogs. What is wrong with NorCal. I just posted you as a favorite. Keep up the great work at helping us stretch our buck here in over pricedville.
Kina says
I really enjoy your blog so I wanted to stop by and tell you that my Walgreens had Pampers Lavendar Calming Baby Wipes clearanced down to only 82 cents! The regular price is over $3. I got the only 3 they had left and used two coupons – one for $1/1 and one for .50/1! The register gave me another $1/1! I'm going to check my other WAGs to see if theirs are marked down too. Just wanted to let you know!
Anonymous says
Each time I have tried to register at the end it says to type in the words as they appear in the box and I do it comes back and says I did not type the word as it appears but I do. What is wrong with this? I have tried 6 times.
Anonymous says
I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work. I scored big time at Walgreens today all because of you. I saved about $50 and came home with a haul! You rock!
Anonymous says
I am just wonder how it works for this weeks Kellogg's cereal, $5 for 2,12oz to 14oz and the print coupon of $1.5 is for Frossted mini-Wheats, all-bran, Raisin Bran which are all large than 14oz in Walgreen. have anyone tried this conbination in Walgreen yet? thanks!
Kina says
Heads up! Target apparently has a new coupon policy (dated 8/18/09). I wasn't able to find it online but when I was in the store yesterday the manager gave me a copy after explaining why I wouldn't be able to use some of my coupons. It looks like an email.
Anonymous says
FYI –
I called Kmart customer service at 1-866-562-7848 this morning (8/27) at 9:00am EST to inquire if my local K-Mart will be participating in the doubling of coupons starting 8/30/09… and the woman told me that that campaign has been put on hold. Just wanted to let you know.
Danielle says
I had a question, I am just starting to use coupons and I was wondering if I bought a bottle of shampoo that costs $4.00 dollars before coupons if I had one manufacturer coupon for $2.00 and one manufacturer coupon for $1.00 could I use both on the same bottle of shampoo? I know it sounds silly but I have no idea.
Thanks,
Danielle
Charlene says
Hi Danielle, Yes that is called "stacking" it depends on what store you are talking about but 99% of the time you can do that with no problems. Great right?!
Jessica says
Hi Charlene,
I absolutely love your blog and how often you post things. I'm pretty up to date on couponing lingo, the only thing I have shyed away from is the online things, such as Cellfire. Can you include these in your "Coupon 101" articles, please!?!
Anonymous says
Hi Charlene,
In your many calls to KMART CS, have you asked if diapers are considered consumables? The manager lady at my store says they are not. But i was wondering if you have heard an official ruling, and if it is worth it to stand there and call the 1-800# infront of her to find out.
Many thanks!
Laura
ps, I LOVE YOUR BLOG! i live all the way down in FL and still love it!
Anonymous says
Love your blog and check it everyday…sometimes twice! Just wanted to let you know that I tried the Nicole Savings Advantage you blogged about and after paying $13 I received my two giftcards to Target for $25 each. Thanks for the great tip!
Anonymous says
Absolutely love your blog and check on it 1-2 times daily! Re Albertsons deals: Here in Arizona they are offering Pillsbury, Chex Hamburger Helper, etc, @ $1 when you buy 6….with all the coupons available online for these products, I have managed to get quite a few (a lot actually)of them free. Thanks Laura…
Michelle
Tanya says
Hi Charlene,
I am new to the blog and I am all the way from Orlando. I love your tips. Thanks a bunch!!!
Anonymous says
Love your site!! I really feel like I don't have to check a million other sites to find all the best deals, you've got 'em all! ๐
Thanks for all the time you put into it.
Shelly says
The Old Navy site hasn't changed yet. It's still the same from last week.
Anonymous says
I love your website! We've saved so much money using coupons. Thank you for all your hard work. I was at Rite Aid this week tryig to get the Johnson & Johnson deals. The clerk told me that Rite Aid no longer takes manufacture coupons only Rite Aid coupons. I was shocked! Have you heard of this new policy or had any problems using man. coupons? This the first time I've experienced this problem with them.
Thanks again for all you do!
Anonymous says
I wanted to tell you that I LOVE your blog! Out of all the blogs I read, yours always has the most and best deals! Thank you for saving our family money!!
-Shae
Anonymous says
I love your BLOG…I send it to 12 people. The game I really liked the best growing up was Sorry and I can't wait to play it with my Grandchildren …please enter me in your drawing..I do not understand how to write on the 2 other ways to enter your drawings…thanks!!
Karen
Anonymous says
I've been trying to enter your Febreeze/Walmart give away. I can't seem to enter at any of the links. I follow you through email… [email protected]. And I would like the cranberry pear luminar flameless thing. I don't remember what it is called. Thank you so much for your great site.
Tabetha
[email protected]
Anonymous says
I love your blog!! Thank you for all the great posts/deals you tell us about. I check it all the time. Thanks so much, tonya
Priya says
I love reading your blog and i do it everyday. I have a question regarding rite aid coupon policy. Is the 5/25 coupon or the 5/20 coupon used first or is it used only after all the other coupons. My rite aid store says the 5/25 or 5/20 coupon would be used only at the end .please let me know ..thanks for helping me save money…
Charlene says
In every store EXCEPT Walgreens it is before coupons. If your Rite Aid is giving you a hard time- you might call RA customer service and see if they can help. Coupons should be considered a form of payment just the same as if you paid cash.
Anonymous says
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Your site is such a blessing to my family. You taught me how to save by showing me where to shop and what to buy to maximize my savings. Last week I saved well over $150 and got several items for FREE. Thank you so much for the time you devote to keeping us informed. – Lindsay
Shelly says
After you use the coupon for $10 off Snow White you can also get a $5 rebate form here.
http://heftybrands.pactiv.com/movierebate2/SnowWhite-Hefty_RebateForm.pdf
Shelly Nabb
Anonymous says
modesto here. great website it is now my first stop when i turn on my computer. walgreens pulled a fast one on me today so i will have to call catalina office in the am. no rr after buying the vaseline lotion advertised. also no walgreens here has the halls refresh. bah humbug. you are doing an excellent job!
Sue says
Our Food Lion In Delmar DE has the Snuggle Fabric Softner or Sheets on sale with your MVP card 2/$6.00.In the Sundays paper dated October 3rd there are coupons for $3.00 off any Snuggle fabric softner Liquid or Sheets.So you can get a single softner or sheets for free if you use the coupons.I bought 2 liquid and 2 sheets which would of been $12.00 and paid $0.00 for them.I bought extra newspapers just for those coupons its worth it !!!
Anonymous says
FYI – I added your website to the bzzagent Frogpond last night. So far you are getting great reviews! Thanks for the great work! Lindsay – [email protected]
Charlene says
Hey Lindsay! So funny because even though I get hundreds of emails a day it doesn't actually occur to me that people read my little blog. Thank you!
Anonymous says
Hey Charlene,
I heard on the radio this morning (Chicagoland) that there is another freebie for Glidden paint this Friday (10/9) through Sunday (10/11). I haven't been on the website but thought you may want to investigate and post!
Melinda
[email protected]
Anonymous says
I just love the Sprout Color…Please enter me in your contest…I send you e-mail to 10 others everyday…Thanks for all of the GREAT IDEA's.
Karen
ccarwile says
Thanks so much for your site! You have taught me how to really use coupons to really save money. I check in a few times each day. I got my first super deal at Walgreens the other day, a $24 purchase for $1.88! Such a thrill to get an awesome deal!
Anonymous says
I found an offer from Beechnut baby food! Just save 48 proofs of purchase from any Beech-Nut product and youโll get four coupons for $1.00 off any 10 Beech-Nutยฎ items! Here's the link to the certificate that you have to mail with them:
http://www.beechnut.com/About%20Us/Special%20Offers/label_saver_2.html
Anonymous says
babiesRus is offering $5 off huggies diapers (72 count or larger) until oct. 15th, which i think you blogged about. huggies has coupons out for $3 off any package of huggies diapers. you can combine the mfr coupon with the babiesRus promotion and get a total of $8 off a pack of diapers… i dont know how to share the $3 coupon because i cant find it online and my printer is currently unavailable, but the two barcodes read as follows (btw this expires in 2010):
536000110871 (#5 leading is small and #1 at end is as well, idk if that means anything?) and the other barcode beside that one is 0036000-091207.
ccarwile says
It had been a while since I had been to CVS and I am not sure if this is something new or not, but I thought I would share it. I went in the other day and there was a kiosk where you can scan your CVS card and it will spit out a coupon for you. I got a $4/$20.
Anonymous says
Great information on your blog! Thank you
Anonymous says
hi there, i am not sure if this is really popular. but the limit on coupons stinks. i have fell in love with the RESET button on my printers….unlimited access! love your blog
posted by [email protected]