The deals have not been super plentiful lately…until NOW.  I spent some time shopping online last night and found some great stuff.

Here are a few things you can get for a great price right now if you act fast.

Selected Crocs are Buy One Get One FREE and even have free shipping.  Head over to Crocs.com if you need a couple pairs.  I got my daughter two pairs of the mary jane style Crocs in her next two sizes for a total of $19.99!

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REI has their big Labor Day Sale and Clearance going on right now

Here are my picks:

Simple Weebit Booties $7.98 (most colors) at REI.com

We have these booties for our kids and we LOVE them.  Depending on which ones you select they are either made with hemp or organic cotton.  They are cozy and very breathable.  This is an unbeatable price!

REI Toddler girls fleece vest for $6.98 in sizes 12 and 18 mo at REI.com

I have been eyeing these vests for awhile and was thrilled to be able to pick one up for under $7 dollars.

TEVA Toddler Hurricane sandles for $9.83 at REI.com

Multiple prints available. They also have children’s sizes on sale on their site HERE

Be sure to look around while you are at REI’s site.  Lots of fun stuff on sale. Hurry though….its going FAST.

If you are on the hunt for a BOB Revolution stroller now is the time get one.  Right now they have both the single and double (duallie) versions on sale for 20% off.

The Single is on sale for $310.99 from $389.oo and the Duallie is 454.99 from $569.oo.

If you are willing to drive to REI to pick it up you can get free shipping to the store.  I love purchasing things from REI because of their great customer service.  Remember that nothing is a good deal unless you can afford to spend the money on it.

We picked up ours at this sale last year and have been SO pleased with it.  It pushes and steers like a dream and is our FAVORITE stroller (I need to write a whole seperate post declaring my love for this stroller). If you get one accessory for this stroller I would recommend the handlebar console.

Make a list of the top 10 house hold items you that use the most and/or tend to cost you the most.  Begin to watch for coupons and sales on these to reduce your spending right away where it will count the most.  Also, begin to create a stock pile of these items so that you are never forced to pay full price because you ran out.

For us the household items (non-grocery) we use that cost the most that are:

• Toilet paper
• Baby Wipes
• Dish Washing Detergent
• Laundry Soap
• Toilet Bowl Cleaner
• Lysol Wipes
• Bar Soap
• Face Wash
• Zip-lock baggies
• Tin Foil

Spend a few minutes deciding what your “Top 10″ list is.  This easy step will help you save money right away.   Today’s the perfect day to start!

Hint: Be sure to pull your two inserts from your (or your parents) Sunday paper before it gets recycled this week!

Here is a buying guide in honor of our close friends who just found out TODAY that they are having boy/girl twins!

Deciding what you need for twins can be a tricky thing.  Its hard to know what you need two of and what items you can just get by with one of.  After having twins myself and being a baby gear fanatic, here are my thoughts on the combination of gear that worked best for us.  You could definitely get by with less, but you should be able to easily save LOTS by buying “used” and borrowing when you can.

(2) Infant car seats with bases – My choice is the Graco Snugride.  Easy to find, good safety ratings, many color options in a variety of price points.  This is one of the few things that I would recommend buying new.

(2) Cribs – Pick a finish you will be happy with for years.  If you have more children, you will want to still love your crib.

(2) Mattresses – Yes, you have to buy them separately from the cribs and YES, they can be pricey.  Get an inexpensive one, but not the cheapest one you can find.  Many kids also sleep on these throughout the toddler years either as their crib converts to a toddler bed, or as the mattress in their new toddler bed, and you will want it to be comfortable for them and last.

(1) Changing table or changing table pad to go on top of a safe surface.

(1) Regular swing – I like the ones that look like little nests that can go back and forth or front to back. My pick is one of the Full Size Fisher-Price Cradle Swings.

(1) Small portable swing – These are great because they can be moved around the house easily and can even be used as a place for the baby to just sit safely even when the swing is not on.  We loved ours and even took it when we went places (like a friends house for dinner). My choice is the Fisher-Price Take Along Swing in “Woodlands”.

(1…or 2) Bouncer – Great “chill” spots for babies to rest, nap, or watch their surroundings. My pick is the Fisher-Price Soothe n’ Play Bouncer in “Woodlands.”

(1) Activity mat – We loved ours and used it endlessly.  Perfect for twins because they can lay under it together or have tummy time and face each other. My choice is the Baby Einstein Baby Neptune Ocean Adventure Gym or the less expensive Infantino Lil’ Lion’s Happy Hangout Activity Gym.

(1) Entertainer – These are those big fun things that kids sit in the middle of that have little toys and activities attached to the tray all around them. My choice is the Baby Einstein Discover and Play Activity Center or the less expensive Bright Starts Bounce-A-Bout Activity Center.

(1) Jumper – Some are free standing (my first choice) and some hang from a doorway (which work great if you have a doorway with a jamb somewhere near your central living space).  First choice for free-standing jumper is the Fisher-Price Jumperoo in “Precious Planet.

-It’s great to have one entertainer and one free-standing jumper because they can play side by side and can switch back and forth between the two for some variety.

(1) Baby bath – These don’t need to be very expensive.  I like the ones that have the little net that can be suspended in the bath for babies when they are little. My choice is The First Years Sure Comfort Newborn-Toddler Tub.

(2) Highchairs – Features I love: wheels, removable tray inserts that can be washed in the dish washer, easy-to-clean waterproof seats. My choice is the Fisher-Price Rainforest Deluxe Highchair.

(1) Boppy – I did not find these supportive enough for nursing, but loved them for cozy spots for the babies (especially when they were swaddled).  Start with one, and if you love it, get a second.

(1) Stroller – A stroller that holds two baby carriers that I love is the Kolcraft Contours Options Tandem Plus. Our favorite stroller as our kids got bigger was the BOB Revolution Duallie. Can’t say enough about the BOB. If you prefer a light weight side by side, I would recommend a Maclaren.

(1) Diaper Bag – For twins I recommend a backpack bag (or one with a long shoulder strap that you can wear across your body) with plenty of room.  Your arms will be full enough from the babies to use them to hold a bag.

If you plan to have the babies sleep in your room (which I highly recommend for your sanity) you will either need to have one of your cribs in there temporarily for them to share, or get some sort of place for them to sleep.  I LOVED our Co-Sleeper.  For twins you will need the original size (not the mini).  Ours slept in the Co-Sleeper together in our room until they were 6 mo. and then moved into their nursery and shared a crib, and later moved to their own cribs after they were more wiggly.

If you plan to be staying somewhere overnight sometime within the first 2(ish) years you will greatly appreciate having 2 pack n plays.  I would recommend a basic one.  For most people who already have a bassinet, changing table etc., the other features aren’t necessary.

Other great things if you can afford them:

(1) A wrap or sling for wearing one of the babies when they are little (you can wear both babies in one Moby wrap when they are still tiny) and an Ergo (or 2) for when they get bigger if you find you enjoy wearing them. We have used our Ergos endlessly!

Some sort of a chair that rocks easily. Gliders are perfect for this and can often be found “used” for a great price.

A nursing pillow made for use with twins – These are wonderful if you plan to nurse because they have a lot more support and are made with enough surface area to feed two babies at once. My choice is the EZ-2-Nurse Twins pillow.

(1) Bumbo

Baby Monitor-If you have a larger home or anticipate needing one of these. they can be nice to have.

This list is huge, but don’t get overwhelmed.  As I said before, you can find many of these things used. Craigslist is a great resource for baby gear.

Important tip:

Make sure that anything you buy used or borrow is in good working order and has not been recalled.

When I think of back to school I think of school supplies…when I think of school supplies…I think of art supplies.  I LOVE art supplies (Which is strange for someone who can barely draw a stick person).  I think I got this  from my mother (the love for art and school supplies…not my stick figure skills).  As a homeschooled child we had some cool opportunities to take some very eclectic art classes.  We did things from intricate Ukrainian eggs, to coil pots, and simple drawings.  Even with the exposure I definitely don’t consider myself an artist at all!   But I do like to be creative.  I believe that instilling a love for art and creativity in your children is a very wonderful thing.

And what better time than a Sunday afternoon to have some special family time around the table with some new art supplies.  Here are a couple ideas for both your “littles” and your “olders”.

For the Littles…

Grab some of these very fun “Crayon Rocks” from Stubby Pencil Studio (Be sure to look around on their site. They have some really fun stuff!)  They are made to be easy for younger artists to hold and help guide them as they learn to use the “tripod grip” as S.P.S. mentions.  They are made from mineral powders (to tint them) and non-toxic soy wax.  I was excited to see that they were made USA and come in a very cute drawstring pouch (I am a sucker for drawstring pouches).  I am pretty sure my kids need these.

For the Olders…

What could be more fun that some watercolor pencils?   I remember thinking these were magic as a child.  Draw with them like a regular colored pencil and then take a wet brush to them to turn them into a painting.  Here are a couple choices from inexpensive to splurge.

Crayola Watercolor Pencils $2.99 @ CrayolaStore.com

Watercolor EcoPencils by Faber-Castell 12 ct. for $6.95 @ StubbyPencilStudio.com

Prismacolor Watercolor Pencils 36 ct 34.99 @ Dickblick.com

Here is a great watercolor pencil tutorial to help you and your kids learn about technique.

Sit your kids down sometime in the next few days to create something as a family.  They are never too young to enjoy color, texture, and the feel of art supplies in their hands and the beauty they can create.

Have you done anything creative as a family lately?

As my kids get older I am realizing that I need to be much more intentional with my parenting.  We are out of the “infant survival stage” and into the “young toddler stage”.  I don’t want to wish down the road that I had made better use of my time with them.  Many days have gone by and I wished I had read them one more book, taught them another skill, or trained them rather than just occupy them.

Here are some of the things we are working on at 18 months.

• Holding my hand nicely and walking with me to the next activity (diaper change, hand wash, etc) rather than just picking them up and taking them there or having them go limp because they don’t want to transition.
• Coming when I call them over to me.
• Sharing my lap.
• Working on our attention span while reading.
• Pretending with food and cooking.
• Sitting on the furniture rather than standing.
• Using coloring crayons and colored pencils. (Holding them better, using the right side, switching between colors, learning how to make all sorts of lines and scribbles)
• Sharing (this will be a continual lesson).
• Very early skills of dressing themselves (helping me pull their shirts over their head, putting their arms in their jackets).
• Keeping all their food on their trays.
• Easy puzzles.
• Going on more walks around the neighborhood without a stroller to practice walking together nicely and following directions.
• Using words like “under,” “behind,” “close,” and using colors to describe where and what objects are and then asking them to give them to each other or bring it to me.

Any tips for me?

What are you working on with your kids right now?

While I believe that couponing is the best way to save your family money, I would like to introduce you to my other frugal love on a bigger scale.  I have posted a couple of the best freebies here and there, but now that you have been diligent coupon shoppers and are learning the ropes…Its time for a little reward!  And what does the a this Frugalista love more than a great bargain….a freebie that pops up in her mailbox 6-8 weeks later (long after she remembers signing up for it).  After you get in the habit of signing up for freebies here and there, you will eventually get to the point where you are getting a steady stream of them a couple weeks after you begin.

Things to remember…

Always use an emal address that you don’t mind giving out to companies.

Many freebies give you the option to opt out of their email list.

Decide what information you are willing to give out and don’t waver.  For familiar reputable companies I give out my address (necessary for most freebies), “other” email address, date of birth (necesssary to confirm you are an adult, name, and some other basic information.  I do not give out my phone number.

Here are links to some REALLY great blogs with extensive lists of freebies.  Many of the freebies will overlap, but you should be able to find some gems on each list.

(The first link is to their site home pages and the second link in the title takes you to their specific freebie post.)

Affluent Pauper-Sample Sunday

Mom Advise-Freebie Friday (from July 31st, but you should be able to find quite a few that are still available)

Attention Target Shoppers-Friday Freebies

And of course Freebies 4 Mom is always a great source of freebies (and other bonuses) throughout the week.

Did you sign up for anything fun? Have you recieved any of the freebies I have posted recently?

Twin Mama LOVES your comments!

What we have learned so far in this series

• How to build your stash of coupons
  

Now that you know some great places to get your coupons and hopefully have a little stash created its time to learn the basics.  Many people are slightly intimidated by the coupon game.  They know there are great deals to be had, but are afraid they don’t know all the rules.  This post should help you learn the basics so that you can use coupons with confidence.  Here are some tips to help you make the most of your shopping trips with coupons.

You can “stack” a manufacture coupon with a store coupon.  This is how many people get many items for close to free.  Many stores release coupons that are strictly for use at their store.  Companies also release coupons that are strictly for their product.  When you use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon at the same time you will save big.  Stores are reimbursed by the “manufacturer” when people use those types of coupons, so when you use both types of coupon the stores are not giving you that item for free.

Try to use your coupon(s) when the item is on sale.  Unless you need an item badly, try to always wait until the item is on sale before you use the coupon you have been hanging on to.  Most items will go on sale sometime before your coupon expires.

Take advantage of stores that offer double coupons.  Many grocery stores have what they call “double coupons.” These are the blank coupons (often in their add) that will usually say something like “Double Coupon” or “Double Your Savings.”  Most are only good up to a certain amount.  Some say something like “will double your savings up to 50 cents per coupon” or ” double your savings with coupons that have a value up to 1 dollar”.   There are usually about 3 or 4 of them in the adds that run them (so you will not be able to double all your coupons you use in that transaction).  Some cashiers like to fill in the value themselves and some want you to do it.  I always ask when I start putting my items on the belt which they prefer.  Some coupons (especially the coupons you find in the store in the “blinkie” machines or on the tear pads) will have the wording “Do not double” or “Not subject to doubling.”  These are obviously coupons that your store is not allowed to double.

Use your coupons that have the nearest expiration date first.  This seems like an obvious tip, but it is easy to forget if you are in a hurry.  Many times I have used a coupon only to later realize that I had another coupon that is just about ready to expire or has already expired that will now go to waste because my coupons weren’t organized.

Keep your eye open for unexpected sales.  Many stores will have unadvertised sales on certain items.  As you walk through the store keep your eyes out for items that are on sale that may not me mentioned in the add.  If your coupons are well organized you might be able to score a good deal by digging out a coupon to pair with an item you were not expecting to find on sale.

Watch for markdowns.  Those are the items that are nearing their expiration date that usually have little stickers on them offering a discount.  Sometimes they have multiple stickers on them and each sticker means more savings.  The other day I found a package of yogurt that had (3) 75cent off stickers on it at Safeway.  This means that we saved $2.25 right off the bat.  If you happen to have a coupon for this item you will save even more.  The most common places to find these stickers are in the dairy section, meat department, produce dept., and refrigerated section (items like biscuits or cookie dough), and bread dept.  Basically any items that have a limited shelf life are often marked down like this.  These will often be easier to find at stores that are a bit slower.  You can even ask employees that look like they are familiar with these departments if there are certain days they do markdowns on.

It usually works best to hand over your store coupons first.  Sometimes people have trouble using coupons even when they are following all the rules.  Sometimes the order you try to use your coupons effects weather or not the register likes what you are using.  In most cases you will have the most luck if hand the cashier all your store coupons followed by your manufacturer coupons.

Watch your items and coupons when they are rung up.  As the cashier rings up your items make sure they are coming up at the right price.  Pay special attention when you have items with markdown stickers.  After they have rung up all your items make sure that all your coupons are working properly.  If you hear a beep and nothing is deducted from your bill as they scan a coupon sometimes the machine rejected it for some reason.  If they don’t seem to be trying to figure out what is wrong, kindly ask if the coupon worked.  Sometimes they can push it through by if you have both determined that it should be working.  If the cashier does not seem to be familiar with a stores coupon policy or a coupon is not going through that should, you can always politely ask a for a manager.

Know the wording on your coupons.  Make sure you know what product the coupon is good for, if there are limitations on that size of product it is for (like can it be used on any item, or any item except for travel size, etc), and always pay attention to expiration dates.

Know your stores coupon policies.  If you have questions you can always go to customer service and see if they know, or ask if they have a copy of the stores coupon policies.  If you have a specific question you can always call to try and get an answer or ask to speak with a manager the next time you stop by.

Knowing these tips will help you save lots.  Being friendly to your cashiers will go a long way in how helpful they will be to you in that specific transaction, and also in future transactions.

Helpful Hints-

• Always have your coupons clipped and ready to hand over when you get inline.

• Sometimes I smile and tell the person who gets inline behind me that I have quite a few coupons and it may take an extra minute or two.  At that point they can either choose a different line or are atleast warned incase things get a little bogged down.

Any questions?  Twin mama LOVES comments!