Free Reusable Shopping Bag.

Free reusable shopping bag from Nature's Bounty.
Click the link and fill out the form. They will send you a free reusable shopping bag and a $1 off coupon for vitamins. You won't get a ton of spam from them.

This is how I amassed my giant collection of reusable shopping bags. No more paper or plastic for me, yo'.

Free Sample of Organic Pediatric Formula.

Free sample of Baby's Only Organic Pediatric Formula.
Click the link and call the number for a sample by mail.

Free Fruit Roll-Up.

Free Fruit Roll-Up.
Click the link and sign up at Box Tops for Education to get it. You will also get a newsletter with lots of coupons.

Free DVD Rental, etc.

Free Redbox DVD rental.
TODAY ONLY!
Click the link to find one near you. They are in McDonalds and grocery stores, even here in Mayberry. Use this code 2THS48 at your retail location for a free rental.

$3 off of 5 SoyJoy Bars.
Click the link to print the coupon. These go on sale for about $1 each, so you would get 5 for $2. Maci HATES them, but Amywith2Es thinks they are great.

Free Betty Crocker Instant Mashed Potatoes.
Click the link and sign up to receive the newsletter, which comes with lots of coupons. You will get a sack of instant potatoes in the mail.

Mealtime Monday: Bargain Beans

Bargain Beans

Pound for pound, your best value for protein is dried beans. At around a buck a pound before they are cooked, they can really extend your mealtime dollar. With so many varieties of dried legumes available in almost every grocery store, you have endless possibilities to create new dishes for next to nothing.

During one particularly low budget time, Maci got beans for every meal for a few days. Thankfully, the ever complementary little monkey loved them. Nothing can make you feel quite as grateful as a wee curly headed cutie squealing, "Yeah!!! Beans, again!!!" as she peers into her cereal bowl at 7am.

Here is a Bargain Basement Bean Recipe accompanied by its best frugal friend, Rice.

Beans and Rice

• 1 pound of dried beans
• Garlic
• Celery
• Onion
• Carrot
• Black Pepper
• One hunk of pig (bacon, side meat, salt pork, etc.)
• Water
• Salt
• Rice

Pour your sack of beans into a colander and pick out the funky looking ones and rinse the rest. Dump these into a slow cooker and add whatever amounts of the vegetables that you have or that you like. Toss in your pig particle and add water to within 2 inches of the rim. Cook on low for at least 8 hours and salt your concoction.

Make rice per the package instructions.

Serve beans over rice for a delicious dinner....or breakfast, as the case may be.