| Good morning all!!
3girlsmom, that's the kind of saving I love.
Yes, Walgreen's is a great place to get free after rebate (FAR) stuff to donate. I not only participate in their program whenever I get to a Walgreens (there are none in my area yet), but I do Rite Aid. And if I am not donating the free stuff, I am putting it aside for our city-wide yard sales. I use what I call "roll over" money. I originally put a limit of $50 total for these rebates that I would use. I have it in an envelope. I use strictly cash for these. When I get the rebate back, it goes into the envelope.
I also have a set limit of $200 that I will put out for FARs online. A couple of years ago, Amazon.com was selling computer software (games, programs, etc.), shipped free, and with a full rebate. There was a limit of 3 of each title. People were buying the stuff so fast, that by the time I got the post that they were having one of these sales (ususally the 3rd Thursday of each month) that I sometimes missed something. I was getting whatever was there (except some of the tax software, because I didn't know how up to date it might be), 3 each, and donating them to my friend who runs a silent auction each year for the animal welfare association in her area. I not only got the stuff to donate free, but she gave a letter attesting to the total value of the stuff I donated. The woman who does my taxes was very happy with that letter.
The rebates often come before the time the credit card bill had to be paid. If not, it comes out of my savings account, and goes back when the rebate check arrives. And, I too have a credit card that pays you when your purchase total is over a certain amount. Mine is for certificates to my grocery store. Which I often specifically use to get more rebates, or free stuff with coupons.
So if you plan to donate, don't forget to take any advantage you can of getting a letter attesting to the value of what you donate. If you itemize, and if you already tithe, or donate to charity, this can add some to that amount.
A couple of years ago, there were rebates galore out there for extension cords. The ones in my house were inherited from my mother. They were really old (late 60's, early 70's). I wasn't using them, but wasn't throwing them away either, until there were rebates which made the new ones free. So I stocked up, and then recycled the old ones by cutting off the plugs, so no one would mistake them for anyhing that could be used again. These have been used for tying stuff up from time to time.
There have been rebates on items that are on sale too, like coffee pots. You might not need a new one this second, but if you pay no more than $5, after a rebate and sale, pick it up if they come out to about that price. I don't drink coffee but one was on sale for $5, after the rebate, so I picked up and added it to my "gift closet". My sister, who also doesn't drink "coffee" was bemoaming the fact that her coffee pot, which she uses to make hot tea all day long, broke. Rather than her going out a buying a new one, not on sale, I gave her the one I had for the cost I paid - $5. She was very happy about that. I didn' make anything on that, I didn't donate it anywhere, but, I helped someone else save. And that $5 went back into the "roll over" money.
Anna, I don't eat enough yogurt to make my own, but I am glad that you can now make it in bulk. Try going to the brand name's website for recipes, they usually have lots of them. And the ingredient amounts would be just perfect for their machines.
See, there really are kitchen items I don't own. But somehow, I forgot to mention that quite a few years ago I purchased a food mill, thinking that I would do mashed potatoes in it. They came out a little sticky, but it works good if you are doing applesauce. I realized I don't eat too much applesauce, so it has been in the bottom of cabinet for the pots and pans. That thing was pretty expensive at the time.
I do however, use my ricer. I use it for mashed potatoes (I peel and chunk the potatoes, boil them til tender, mash with hand masher first, then spoon into the ricer and press. I also use it to mash sweet pototatoes for pies. I think that it would work well for spaetzle, but I don't make that, so I don't know. I also use it for boiled eggs for potato salad, which is what reminded me to put it here. It is a star in my kitchen.
Well ladies, I have been rambling on here long enough.
Take care all!! Norma
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