Thanks to everyone who spent their Saturday morning with me learning about coupons, rebates and holiday savings. If this is your first time reading the blog, welcome!

I really enjoyed meeting all of you and hope you will make the Centsible Saver blog a regular part of your day as you look for coupon deals, freebies and tips on frugal living.

Look for new posts seven days a week. And be sure to check early Wednesday and Sunday mornings when I post the best sales and coupon matchups at the supermarkets and drugstores -- all of them tailored to Triangle shoppers.

If you're a coupon beginner, be sure to check out my Coupons 101 page HERE for basic information on couponing at the supermarkets and drugstores, a key to coupon lingo, tips on how to use the N&O's coupon database and much more.

If you're looking for the recipes I use for homemade foaming hand soap or homemade laundry soap...

One last reminder about my coupon workshop scheduled for this weekend.

There are just 5 slots left so if you've been thinking about attending, you might want to grab your spot. Not only will you get the latest information on traditional and digital couponing, you'll score a reusable grocery bag filled with some very nice freebies.

The class is this Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Ronald McDonald House, 506 Alexander Ave., Durham, NC 27705.

The class covers basic and advanced coupon techniques, frugal living ideas and meal planning, including information on:

Deadline to enter is midnight tonight, Friday, Oct. 26.

If you've been wanting to attend one of my coupon workshops, here's an opportunity for you and a friend to attend for free.

I'm giving away two free tickets to my next class, scheduled for Nov. 3 at the Ronald McDonald House in Durham.

Just leave a comment by midnight Friday and you'll be entered to win. I'll announce the winner Saturday morning.

What you'll win:

Registration for you and a friend at the Nov. 3 class at the Ronald McDonald House, 506 Alexander Ave., Durham, NC 27705.

The class covers basic and advanced coupon techniques, frugal living ideas and meal planning, including information on:

Do a good deed on Saturday, Oct. 27, and get rewarded with a free lunch from McDonald's.

Sign up to volunteer from 9 to 11 a.m. with one of nine organizations across the Triangle and Eastern North Carolina as part of a nationwide day of service.

The work will range from cleaning out horse barns to raking leaves. Among the charities you can help: three Ronald McDonald Houses, a horse therapy program, a local autism group, a YMCA and several charities that help at-risk children.

Registration is now open to the public for my Nov. 3 half-day coupon workshop.

For $20, you’ll learn basic and advanced coupon techniques, score a reusable grocery bag full of freebies and walk out with all the tips you need to cut your grocery bill by at least half.

The class, which will be held at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham, 506 Alexander Ave., will include information on:

• finding, organizing and using coupons for the items you already buy
• matching your coupons with the weekly grocery ads to maximize your savings
• tips on using digital coupons to your advantage
• the ins and outs of local grocery and drugstore policies and rebate programs
• meal planning and other frugal-living tips
• and ideas for celebrating the upcoming holidays debt-free

The class fee also includes parking, breakfast and a detailed class handout. Most folks easily recoup the cost of the class in their first grocery trip.

We’ll also do a drawing for prizes, which include grocery gift cards, movie passes, cookbooks, children’s books and more. Bring a donation to the Ronald McDonald House and get a second chance to win.

Go to the N&O ZONE page to register and check out the Ronald McDonald House wish list for its most pressing needs.

Interested in learning how to save 50 percent or more at the supermarket? Or do you feel like you need a refresher course in couponing?

Registration is now open for my next coupon workshop, a half-day class on Saturday, Nov. 3.

I'll be teaching this class, covering basic and advanced coupon techniques, in the community room at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham, 506 Alexander Ave., Durham, NC 27705

The half-day session will include information on:

The folks who run the Ronald McDonald House of Durham are in the business of helping others, but right now they're the ones in need of a little help.

Specifically, they're looking for the assistance of some savvy coupon shoppers who know how to score a great deal.

The charity, which operates as a free hotel of sorts for the parents of critically ill children being treated at Duke Hospital, is expanding this fall, going from 29 bedrooms to 55 bedrooms. And that translates into a lot more donations needed to keep the place running.

"We have a lot more space to clean and a lot more families to help," said Holly Hutchinson, volunteer director at the house.

Hutchinson wondered if Triangle coupon shoppers might work their coupon magic and share some of their extra bounty.

Guest blogger Claire Meyerhoff watches the finale and gives you something to think about:

Is this 80’s night on American Idol?

I’m blogging once again from the Ronald McDonald House of Durham. We’re in the dining room with the BIG TV and lots of cheap, fattening party snacks. I’m joined once again by the wonderful Sara from Buies Creek and tonight we’re happy to have Yira Alfaro with us. She’s from Puerto Rico, and has been staying at the Ronald McDonald house for more than a year while her daughter Andrea is treated at Duke Children’s.

Guest blogger Claire Meyerhoff is back and writing about the finale pt. 1:

Blogging LIVE from the Ronald McDonald House of Durham…THIS is American Idol!

After weeks and months of auditions, scary contestants, a new judge, a guy named Anoop and a girl with tattoos, it’s down to the very last song-fest between a couple of cute guys who are very different. We’ve got glam Adam, sporting guyliner and alternating between sweet sounds
and high-pitched shrieks. Then there’s coffee-house Kris, the adorable underdog who we barely noticed “way back when” but really is a very pleasing musician with a lot of charm.