Vegas area deals and events May 29-June 4

There are some good sales to note this week, prices good May 29-June 4

Smith's 10 lb potatoes 99 cents and lettuce 99 cents a head

Albertson's has an in-ad coupon for 24 pk water 1.79, limit 2.  Also grapes 99 cents/lb 

Food 4 Less has their buy 4 save 4 mix and match sale going on which includes Betty Crocker fruit snacks 98 cents a box (add your 50 cents of 2 boxes coupon from coupons.com and you'll save additional 25 cents per box).  Also Skippy PB is 1.48 and Old Spice/Secret deodorant is 1.28 with this sale.  If you want to save a trip to their store, bring the ad to Walmart for their price match.  **Update-Was able to get price matches at Walmart for the PB and fruit snacks!!

Costco has Huggies diapers $6 off and Huggies wipes $5 off until June 2.  Got chips/salsa, fruit and veggies for party, 2 pairs of Union Bay shorts for Ryan, wipes, and summer snacks on sale and spent $123.

Check back for updates on this post for current sales found at Winco and my actual trip results!

***UPDATE-  Winco sales as of May 30, 2013- Kraft BBQ sauce 68 cents (rock bottom for this is 50 cents, but if you need some, its a decent price) Bar S Hot Dogs 58 cents, lettuce 99 cents, broc crown 88 cents/lb, 10 lb potatoes 98 cents, fuji apples 58 cents/lb, snack pack puddings 78 cents (again, not rock bottom, but decent).  Got groceries needed for the week plus party food for $37!!

Children's Orchard (baby and kids resale) is having their Fill a Bag sale this Saturday, June 1.  Stuff a bag full of clearance items for only $5!!  The Ann/95 location in the Alb's shopping center is open at 10 am.

This Saturday, June 1 is the Children's Art Festival at Centennial Hills park and amphitheatre from 10 am-3 pm.  Free admission, lots of fun activities for the kids.  I am going to try to take the kids. more info here

This Saturday is also my b-day!! We are going to the Mob Museum downtown at 5 pm then having a little gathering at my house, so when I do my shopping this week, I will also be purchasing food for the party.  Message me on FB for my address, all are welcome.

Saving at the store May 17 and 25

On my May 17 trip, I spent $18 on produce and a few grocery items on sale at Fresh and Easy, using their $5 off program. I also signed up for their Friends revwards and linked it to my phone/email so I get sales alerts and free offers.  The other grocery items I needed that were too high at F&E were purchased at Winco, spending a total of $24.51.

This past weekend, I shopped exclusively at Fresh and Easy, using their $10 a $50 purchase coupon.  I got some beef patties on sale that included free buns.  I also got produce items on sale and frozen fruit and veggies for making baby food that was on sale.  With all the other items I needed that week, I spent $43.

I'm going to start blogging the sales I find that are good ahead of time while the sale is still in effect so that my local peeps can take advantage.  Then after I do my shopping, I will update it with what I spent.

Viva Mom's savings for the past 2 weeks May 12-26

Yay! This month is almost over, so close to summer break!  Viva Mom has been busy with work, errands, kids, cooking, and cleaning!  So what have I been up to in the savings dept for the past two weeks?

Baby Food, Baby Food, Baby Food!! I can't seem to keep up with my little eater.  I've made peas, sweet potatoes, peaches, pears, and pineapple.

My homemade granola bars are now a major household  favorite, so I have to make a batch each week.

Doing lots of oil/butter free baking to prevent my gallbladder from acting up.  Made breakfast muffins and my applesauce chocolate chip cookies (will post recipe soon!)

We didn't eat out for dinner for close to two weeks.  Went to Sweet Tomatoes last Friday night after I'd forgotten to put dinner in the crockpot!

Used up the rest of my canned cream of soups and chicken broth and made my own cream of chicken soup mix. recipe here When I need broth, I add a tsp of chicken bouillon base to 8 oz of water.  Much more cost effective!

Cooked several chicken breasts in the crockpot and shredded them to freeze in for chicken wraps for work lunches and chicken enchiladas for dinner.

Purchased the YMCA family summer pass for $199.  This will give us membership for 4 months and access to the waterparks, group fitness classes, and childcare.  Regular family membership is $56 a month plus an enrollment fee, so this is a good deal.  

Ryan started working on the master tub project again.  He ordered the plumbing parts from Amazon and a few other places after comparing costs online.  My cousin and Ryan's dad came over the three day weekend to help with getting the plumbing components installed and then the drywall and water proofing up.  It is now ready to tile!!

So the countdown to summer is on, next project is to plan all my summer projects!

Savings May 12

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!  I took the weekend off from most of my typical activities to spend extra time with my family.  On Mother's Day I didn't have to cook or clean up all day and even got to take a nap!!

There were still some opportunities to save this week,

Ryan cut his and Austin's hair.

I made baby food squash.

On Saturday, I had to run an errand across town, so I took the family along. On the way back, we hit the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay and got two free entries for teacher appreciation, so we just had to pay the $10 local child admission for Austin.

I cooked dinner every night this week.  Ryan grilled one night and we ate outside on the patio.  My father in law is back in town, so we are back to Sunday dinners at their house.

We made handmade Mother's Day cards.

Talked to my sister in Norway for free on Skype!

Ryan and I splurged to get a babysitter and see Iron Man 3, we got the tickets at Costco so that saved a little, but in this case I considered it an investment in my marraige and my husband's happiness!  Plus the movie was AWESOME!  Seeing it on a DVD rental just wouldn't compare.

Mega Grocery Shopping Trip May 9

Had a day off work to see my family physician in the am and my surgeon in the pm.  Gallbladder is set to be removed June 6 after school gets out.

I had a few hours in between the appointments so I made several shopping stops as there were several great sales for stock up items.  The furthest store away from me was Food 4 Less, so I started there and then all other stores were along the same major road on my way back home.  But first, I hit Jamba Juice to get my free teacher appreciation smoothie so I didn't go shopping hungry!!

Stop #1 Food 4 Less $15.60 on mix and match multiples of 10 sale.  5 boxes of Capri Sun $1.68 ea and 15 boxes of Creamette Pasta 48 cents ea!

Stop #2 Albertsons $12.50 Buy 10, save $5 sale, 10 Snack Pack puddings 75 cents ea (these are good emergency food storage as they require no refrigeration) and 10 Cascade Ice sparkling fruit drinks 50 cents ea (to help me quit soda).

Stop #3 Smith's $17.25  Chicken 1.59/lb, Kroger sour cream $1, pineapple 99 cents, gallon OJ 2.68

Stop #4  Winco $25.99 all other groceries that were on my list that were not on sale elsewhere, 3 lb bags of apples 1.98, 5 lb potatoes 98 cents, broccoli crowns 88 cents, cream cheese 1.08

Stop #5 Target $17.21  Baby formula, Gerber baby snacks on sale, value pack kids sunscreen  used the $20 gift card I won in the teacher drawing at school!

Total spent:  $88.55

Savings Jackpots May 5

Another crazy week!  I ended up in the ER Tuesday night after having severe abdominal pain.  I was keeled over on the floor in so much pain, was alone with the kids so called 911 as it took a few attempts to get ahold of my husband.  He got there the same time as the ambulance so he drove me.  After some tests, they saw I have gallstones, so looks like I will probably require surgery.  Will meet with the dr this week to see what the plan is.  In the meantime, just need to be careful with what I eat.  I stayed home to rest the following day and then Thursday was spent with some family in town and they treated us to dinner.

I'm feeling much better now so was still able to hit the jackpot with some savings this week!

Did my weekly grocery shopping at Winco for $46.

Made baby food peas, peaches, and carrots.

Made another batch of granola bars, put half in the freezer and a dozen breakfast muffins.

Triple duty crockpot meal: three chicken breasts in the crockpot for chicken sandwiches on Saturday, chicken noodle soup on Sunday and bagged four servings to freeze for work lunches.

Planned the next 2 weeks of meals based on what meat and ingredients are currently in my pantry.  Will only need to replenish what I run out of and get my dairy/produce for the next 2 weeks at the store.

Did my own facial waxing and pedicure.

Made more homemade dishwasher detergent from a Pinterest post Click here for recipe 
I used epsom salt instead of the Kosher salt.  It also has Borax, washing soda, and Lemi Shine.  My previous concoction of Borax and baking soda left too much residue.  Before I switched, I also ran the dishwasher empty with the Lemi Shine and some white vinegar in the pre-wash cup.  That stuff is amazing!!  My dishwasher was sparkling!!  So grateful I do not have to go back to manufactured brands.  After switching so many of my cleaners to natural alternatives, I can't even walk down the cleaning/laundry aisles without gagging from the strong scents.

Registered for a free 6 month membership for 2 at FillaSeatLasVegas.com as part of their teacher appreciation special!

Teacher Appreciation Deals

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I wanted to share some of the deals available to teachers!

If you have a Staples nearby, they are offering eraser sets, 2 pks of Sharpies, Bic pens, and school glue for 1 cent.  You can buy up to 5 of each item with a minimum $5 purchase.  I was able to get 5 of everything except the pens.  Offer is while supplies last and until May 11.  Click here for information

I bought colored pencils and a notebook for my son along with all of the above and spent $9!

CCSD Deals  Click here for full list

Las Vegas is pretty good to their teachers.  Here are some of the best deals, all require you to show your badge and some require a flyer that can be printed from the link above.

Free smoothie at Jamba Juice on Thursday May 9 (present flyer from the link)

Free cupcake at Freed's Bakery plus additional cupcakes only $1

50% off at KISS Monster Mini-Golf

Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay free for teacher and one guest 

(good all this week, plus the first weekend of every month)

Wet n Wild waterpark season passes $59.99 for CCSD employees

Blue Man group 2 for 1 tickets

Fill A Seat free 6 month membership for 2