Friday, January 30, 2009

Crazy Coupon Capers



Last week I didn't have a picture to show you because I hadn't done my shopping yet. I told you I was going to Rite Aid to get some diapers. Here's how the trip turned out:




2 packs Huggies diapers - $24.98 (one got conscripted for use as soon as I walked in the door - that's how badly I needed them!)
1 tub Huggies wipes -$2.50
1 Huggies baby wash - $2.50
1 Maybelline mascara - on clearance for $1.69
2 L'Oreal foundation - on clearance for $1.98 each
Total = $35.63

Used $5/$25 Rite Aid coupon
(2) $1.50 diaper coupons
(1) $.75 wipes coupon
(1) $1 baby wash coupon
(1) $1 mascara coupon
(2) $3 foundation coupons
New total = $18.88 plus tax

My total with tax was over $20, so the cashier let me use my $20 gift of savings certificate. She actually owed me $.04 at the end of the transaction.
So I left the store 4 cents richer, and I will get back $6 in rebates and a $10 gift card for the Huggies products.

How did you do? Did you get any great deals with your coupons or have any interesting experiences? Link in or leave a comment and let me know!


CVS Deals for February 1 - 7

These are the best deals I see at CVS this week:

ECB Deals

Glade products
Buy 4 for $10, get $5 ECB (Limit 5)
Jar Candle 4 oz.
Use $1.50/2 coupon from 2/1 S
Plugins fresh refills 3 pk.
Scented oil refill 1 pk.
Scented oil candle refill 3 pk.

Final price = varies ($2 for 4 candles)

Colgate/Palmolive Products
Buy $15, get $5 ECBs (Limit 1)
Speedstick deodorant (2/$5)
Lady Speedstick Clinical Strength ($7)
Colgate Total 6 Oz, 2 in 1 4.6 oz., 360 Toothbrush, Max Fresh Paste or brush (2/$5) Use $.75 toothpaste coupon from 1/18 S
Soft Soap Elements Hand Soap ($1)
Soft Soap Body Wash (2/$7)
Use $1 printable
Irish Spring Body Wash (2/$7)
Irish Spring Bar soap 3 pk ($2)
Palmolive Dish Soap (97¢)
Fabuloso or Murphy Oil Soap (2/$5)
Suavitel (2/$7)
Final price = varies

Excedrin 10ct. Vial
Buy 1 at $2.49, get $2.49 ECBs (Limit 1)
Final price = FREE after ECBs

L'Oreal Revitalift
Buy 2 products, get $10 ECBs (Limit 2)
Cleanser 5 oz. or Towellettes 30 ct. ($5.99)
Anti-Wrinkle Serum 1.7 oz. ($13.99)
Use $2 coupon from 1/4 RP (good on any facial care product)
Final price = $2.02 moneymaker to $13.98 cost
Other Deals

Elelectrasol Tabs
Sale price = $2.99
Use $2.50 coupon from 1/4 S (expires 2/1)
Final price = $.49

Hershey's or Nestle Singles
Sale price = 2 for $1
Use $1/2 Reese's Whipps coupon from 1/4 S
Final price = FREE

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Walgreens Deals for February 1 - 7

Here are the best deals I see at Walgreens this week:


Register Rewards Deals

Right Guard Clinical or Dry Idea Antiperspirant/Deodorant
Buy 1 at $5.99, get $5.00 RR
Use $2 Right Guard coupon found inside some Right Guard Clinical Aerosol packages
Final price = $1.01 moneymaker with coupon or $.99 each without coupon




Easysaver Rebate Deals

Triaminic or Theraflu
Buy 2 for $10
Use (2) $2 printables for Theraflu
Submit for $6 Easysaver rebate on 2
Final price = FREE after coupons and rebate




Other Deals


Pert Plus (12oz)
Buy 1 at $3.49
Use $1.50 Easysaver coupon
Use $1 manufacturer coupon from 1/25 S
Submit for Try Me Free rebate for Pert for Men (found on specially marked bottles)
Final price = $.99 without rebate or $2.50 profit with rebate


Ricola Cough Drops
Sale price = $1.29 with in-ad coupon
Use $1/2 coupon from 1/11 RP
Final price = $1.58 for 2


Kelloggs Pop Tarts
Sale price = 2 for $3 with in-ad coupon
Use $1/2 coupon from 1/18 RP
Or use $1 peelies found on some boxes
Final price = $1 each or $.50 each

Free Swagbucks Code


Search & Win


Enter code BeMine on your Swagbucks account, and you'll get 1 free Swagbuck! (Note: the code is case-sensitive, and you must click the Gimme button rather than hitting enter.) If you haven't signed up for Swagbucks yet, you can read all about it here. You can earn giftcards and prizes just by searching the web!

Thanks, Ginger!

CVS: Gillette Razor Limit and Almay Moneymaker


Although the CVS ad for this week says that the limit on the Gillette razors is 1, I was able to purchase 5 before my limit was reached. The ad states that these are not supposed to be available until Friday afternoon, but my store already had them in stock. They were not on the razor aisle; they were in a special display.


Also, although I couldn't find any at my store, it is being reported that the $.99 Almay facial cleansing bars are working for the "Buy $10, get $5 ECBs" Almay deal. Buy 11 cleansing bars, and use 11 $1 coupons from the 10/12, 12/14, and 1/11 Smartsource inserts. Pay nothing out of pocket and get back $5 ECBs!


This is what I got last night:

5 razors
2 Gillette shampoos

Total after coupons: $25.93
ECBs used: $26.00 (adjusted down)
Total ECBs earned $26.00
I was happy they already had the razors because I really needed to roll some ECBs before they expired. I was able to roll $26.00 worth without forfeiting any, which is a big plus.

QVC.com: Free $10 Credit

Update: If you were having trouble getting the link to work, it should be working now.
Sign up for a new account at QVC.com, and you'll receive a free $10 credit to use on your first purchase. When you are asked for a referral code use code 12121. If you can find something for $10 or less, you'll be able to get it for free! You might want to check out the clearance section to get you started with some ideas. I found this shirt for $5.76 with $4.97 S&H. The $10 credit did go towards paying for S&H, so the total was just $.73 plus tax. Things are going out of stock really quickly, so if you find something you want, you'd probably better order it as soon as possible.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Free Subscription to Martha Stewart Living

Update: These are already gone!

Claim your complimentary subscription to Martha Stewart Living here. I would imagine this freebie is not going to last very long, so you'd better get yours as soon as possible.

Harris Teeter Deals for 1/28 - 2/3

To see the entire ad, just click on the banner.
Harris Teeter ad

Click "Read More" to see the list of coupon match-ups.

Chex Mix 8.75 oz.
Sale price = BOGO, $1.44 each
Use $.50 coupon from 12/7 S (exp. 1/31) or 1/25 S, doubled
Final price = $.44 each

Chi Chi's Salsa 16 oz.
Sale price = BOGO, $1.49 each
Use $.55 coupon from 12/7 S, doubled
Final price = $.39 each

Frank's Red Hot Sauce 5 oz.
Sale price = 3/$1
Use $.50 coupon from 1/18 S
Final price = FREE

Hungry Jack Pancake Syrup 27.6 ozl
Sale price = BOGO, $1.94 each
Use $.55 coupon from 1/11 RP, doubled
Final price = $.84 each

Hungry Jack Pancake Mix
Sale price = $1.99
Use $.55 coupon from 1/11 RP, doubled
Final price = $.89 each

Pillsbury Grands Biscuits
Sale price = BOGO, $1.09 each
Use $.25 coupon from 11/23 or 12/14 S, doubled
Final price = $.59 each

Newman's Own Salsa
Sale price = 2/$4
Use $.50 coupon from 1/25 RP, doubled
Final price = $1.00 each




Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Free $10 Gift Card from Dillyeo.com




Grab your free $10 gift card from Dillyeo.com. Hurry! This offer is good today only (January 27.) All they ask is that you invite at least 1 friend to check out Dillyeo.com. You just need to enter their email address, and they'll do the rest. Add the gift card to your cart and checkout. There is no need to enter your credit card info. Your gift card code will be generated within 24-72 hours, and you'll have until February 8th at midnight to use it.

So what is Dillyeo.com anyway?
They offer limited-time only items at fabulous prices! Their featured item changes daily, so be sure to check out their site frequently so you'll know what they're offering each day.

Hopefully you'll be able to find something to use your $10 gift card on!

Free Diet Dr. Pepper


Go here to claim your coupon for a free bottle of Diet Dr. Pepper. You can choose a coupon for a free 20 oz. or a free 2-liter. Your coupon will be mailed in 4-6 weeks and will expire 6/30/09. Enjoy!

Monday, January 26, 2009

Current Wal-Mart Deals


These are the Wal-Mart deals that I have not previously posted:

As always, keep in mind that prices and coupon amounts will vary slightly by region.

If you are having trouble with your Wal-Mart not accepting printable coupons, you can print out the corporate coupon policy here, which clearly states that they will accept printable coupons. If neither the cashier or manager will accept the printable coupons after you have kindly showed them the policy, you may want to call Wal-Mart's corporate offices.


Lysol Neutra Air Starter Kit
Regular price = $6
Use $5 coupon from 1/11 S
Final price = $1

Kashi Soft-Baked Cereal bars
Regular price = $2.98
Use $2 printable
Final price = $.98

Quaker Rice Cakes
Regular price = $1.36
Use $1 coupon from 1/18 RP
Final price = $.36





Click "Read More" to see deals previously posted yet still available.


Egg Beaters
Regular price = $2.00
Use $1 printable coupon
Final Price = $1.00

Purina beggin strips 6oz
Regular price = $2.24
Use B1G1 free coupon from 1/11S
Final price = $2.24/2

Suave Hand Lotion 3oz.
Regular price =$0.97
Use $1/1 coupon from 12/14 R
Final Price = FREE

Healthy Choice Frozen Meals
Regular price = $2.00
Use $1 printable coupon
Final price = $1.00

Hungry Jack Potato pouches
Regular price = $.92
Use $1/$2 coupon from 11/9 RP
Final price = $0.42

Martha White Cornbread Mixes
Regular price = $.33
Use $.55/2 coupon from 11/9 RP
Final price = $0.06

Campbell's Cream Soups
On sale for $.60
Use $0.30/3 or $0.40/2 coupon from 1/4 S
Final price = $1.50/3 or $0.80/2

Seapack Shrimp poppers
Regular price = $1.25
Use $1.00 printable coupon
Final price = $0.25

Whole Wheat Gold Medal Flour
Regular price = $2.76
Use $1.00 printable coupon
Final price = $1.76

Honey Bunches of Oats - Just Bunches cereal
On sale for $2/2
Use $2.00 printable coupon
Final price = Free plus possible $1.00 overage on each box

Cascadian Farms Organic Purely Steam Vegetables
Regular price 1.22
Use $1.00 printable coupon
Final price = $0.22

Kotex pantiliners
Regular price = $1.00
Use $1.00 coupon from 1/11 S
Final price = FREE

Gilette Fusion Razor
Regular price = $4.74
Use $4.00 coupon from 12/28 PG
Final price = $0.74

Beech-Nut Let's Grow Microwaveable Meals
Regular price = $1.06
Use $1.00 coupon from 1/4 S
Final price = $0.06

Brita Slim Pitcher
Regular price = $7.97
Use $5.00 printable coupon (must register)
Final price = $2.97

Ziploc Big Bags
Regular price = $3.42
Use $3 printable
Final price = $.42

Betty Crocker Potatoes (pouch)
Regular price = $.68
Use $.35 coupon from recent insert
Or use $.40 printable
Final price = $.33 or $.28

Chex cereal
Regular price = $1.66
Use $1/2 coupon from 1/11 S
Final price = $2.32 for 2

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
Regular Price = $.48
Use $1/2 printable coupon
Final price = 2 for FREE

No Nonsense Ultra Sheer Pantyhose
Regular price = $1.00
Use $1 coupon from 10/19 S
Final price = FREE

Yoplait Kids yogurt
Regular price = $2.27
Use $1.50 printable
Final price = $.77

Guerrero Corn Tortillas
Regular price = $1.00
Use $1.00 printable
(must register; form is in Spanish)
Final price = FREE

Beech Nut baby food jars
Regular price = $0.44
Use $1.50/8 from 10/26 insert
Final price = $2.02 for 8

Beech Nut baby cereal
Regular price = $1.50
Use $1 coupon from 10/26 insert
Final price = $.50

Progresso Soup
Regular price = $2.00
Use $1.10 printable
Final price = $.90

Nestle Hot Chocolate 10 pack
Regular price = $.75
Use $.75 printable
Final price = FREE

Birds Eye Frozen Vegetables
Regular price = $1.25
Use $.35 coupon from 1/4 S
Final price = $.90

Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Cakes
Regular price = $1.50
Use $1 printable
Final price = $0.50
(Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!)

Wet Ones trial size
Regular price = $.92
Use $0.75/1 printable
Final price = $.17

Coffee Mate
Regular price = $1.98
Use $1/1 printable
Final price = $.98

Franks Red Hot Sauce
Regular price = $.88
Use $0.50/1 printable
Final price = $.38

Muir Glen Tomato Sauce or Diced Tomatoes
Regular price = $1.24
Use $1/1 printable
Final price = $.24

South Beach Frozen Pizza
Regular price = $2.00
Use $1.00 printable
Final price = $1.00

Yo-Plus Yogurt 4 pk.
Regular price = $2.12
Use $1/1 printable
Final price = $1.12

Clean and Clear Blackhead Eraser pads
Regular price = $5.44
Use $5/1 printable
Final price = $.44

KY Jelly 2 oz.
Regular price = $2.59
Use $3 coupon from 1/4 RP
Final price = FREE

Preparation H 10 ct. wipes
Regular price = $2.97
Use $3/1 printable
Final price = FREE

Viva Paper Towels Single Roll
Regular price = $1.00
Use $0.50/1 printable
Final price = $.50

Purina Cat Food
Regular price = $3.97
Use $4/1 printable
Final price = FREE

Purina Puppy Chow
Regular price = $4.12
Use $4/1 printable
Final price = $.12

Please leave a comment if you know of any other good deals at Wal-Mart.

Also, since I can only print the coupons once myself, I have no way of knowing when they stop working. If a printable coupon is no longer available, it would be great if someone would let me know about that too!

Sunday, January 25, 2009

Sunday Sustenance


I Timothy 2:1-4 I exhort therefore, that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men: For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

In light of the recent Presidential inauguration, I thought these would be fitting verses to mention. Whether we agree with or disagree with, like or dislike our new president and elected officials, we are commanded to pray for them. We must pray for those who are not saved to be saved, and for those who do know the Lord as their Savior to stand up courageously for what is right.

What would happen if the time we would normally spend complaining about governmental decisions with which we do not agree we used instead to retreat to our prayer closets and there lift up our officials before the Lord in prayer? The Bible says that "the king's heart is in the hands of the Lord"; however it is the prayers of God's people that will move the hand of God.

How has the Lord been working in your heart? I'd love to hear from you either in a comment or an email and have you share what the Lord has been teaching you!

Friday, January 23, 2009

Crazy Coupon Capers


I thought I was going to actually have a shopping trip to share with you this week, but I still haven't made it to the store! I'm probably out shopping as you're reading this. I plan to stop at Harris Teeter for my groceries and I'll be picking up some diapers at Rite Aid since I really need them and I have a $20 Rite Aid gift certificate. I'd rather spend a gift certificate than cash, and if I spend $25 on Huggies products, I'll get a $10 gift card back. Throw a $5/$25 coupon into the mix, and I should end up with $25 worth of Huggies for $10, none of which will be actual cash.

So how did you do this week? Did you find any great deals or have any interesting coupon experiences? Link in or leave a comment and let us know!

Printable Coupons 101

Here you will find the answers to questions you may have had regarding printable coupons.

Where are the places to find printable coupons?
Coupons.com and Smartsource.com are the 2 main sites that offer printable coupons. If you find a good coupon at smartsource.com that you want more of, you can usually print more at coolsavings.com. You can print more of the coupons from coupons.com right here at Centsible Savings by using the "quick print" coupons on the sidebar.

In addition to the coupons.com and Smartsource.com sites, you can often find coupons on specific manufacturers' websites.

If you have a specific coupon that you are looking for, you can usually just do a web search for "such and such printable coupon". If you don't see one within the first few results, there probably isn't one and you shouldn't spend a lot of time looking.

How can I print more than one coupon?
Usually all you need to do is click the back button or hit backspace on your keyboard. You will then need to refresh the page. Another coupon should print as soon as the page reloads. You can generally print two coupons per computer.

Why won't the coupon print?
The first time you print coupons you will need to install the coupon printer. You will most likely need to restart your computer after that. Sometimes there have been updates made to the coupon printer. In that case you will need to reinstall the coupon printer. Sometimes the coupon printer will work in one web browser, but not another. I use both Internet Explorer and Firefox for my web browsing. If the coupon will not print in one browser, I will open it up in the other browser, and most of the time it will work.

Is there anything I can do if the coupon absolutely will not print?
Many of the coupons have a help button in the lower right hand of the page. Once you click on that, you will find an option to have the coupon mailed to you.

Walgreens Deals for January 25 - 31



Register Rewards Deals

2 liter Sodas – 7 up, Sunkist, Dr. Pepper, Hawaiian punch, Canada Dry
Buy 3 for $4, get $2 RR
Final price = $2 for 3 after RR


Listerine mouthwash
Buy 2 for $9, get $4 RR
Use $2 Printable
Final price = $3 for 2 after coupon and RR

Other Deals

Revlon Colorsilk Haircolor or root perfect
Sale price = $1.99 with in-ad coupon
Use $1 coupon from 1/11 S
Final price = $.99

Carefree Pantyliners
Sale price =$.99 with in-ad coupon
Use $1 coupon from Glamour, Parents, or Shape Feb. 2009 magazines
Final price = FREE

Reese's Whips
Sale price = BOGO (2/$.89) with in-ad coupon
Use $1/2 coupon from 1/4 S
Final price = FREE plus possible overage

Kellogg's cereal
Sale price = $1.99
Use $1 coupons from 12/14 RP
Final price = $.99 each

Ink Cartridge Refills
Sale price = $5
Use $3 coupon found in some stores at the checkout counters
Submit for $5 Easysaver rebate
Final price = FREE to $3 moneymaker after coupon and rebate

Also, don't forget to get your January Easysaver Rebate deals if you haven't already.

CVS Deals for January 25 - 31



These are the best deals I see coming up at CVS:


Huggies Products
Buy $20, get $5 ECBs (Limit 1)
Wipes or Wash ($3)
Use $.50 or $1 coupon from 1/11 S
Diapers or pullups jumbo pack ($10)
Final price = Varies

Gillette Fusion Gamer, Venus Breeze Spa or Embrace Sister Razors
Buy 1 at $7.99, get $4 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $4 Fusion coupon from 12/28 P&G
Final price = FREE after coupon and ECBs


Head & Shoulders, Gillette, Pantene Restoratives or Expressions shampoo, conditioner, mask or balm
Buy 1 at $4.99, get $3 ECBs (Limit 5)
Use $2/2 Gillette coupon from 12/28 P&G
Use $2/1 Gillette coupon from 1/18 P&G
Use $1 Head & Shoulders coupon from 12/28 or 1/18 P&G
Use $3/2 Pantene coupon from 12/28 P & G
Use $1 Pantene coupon from 12/28 P&G
Final price = Free to $.99 after coupon and ECBs

Also, don't forget that this is your last week to pick up the January monthly deals.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

6 Free Personalized Valentine's Cards


Visit Stories by Everyone and create a set of 6 Valentine's Cards. Enter code VALENTINE at checkout and your total will recalculate to $0.00 with free shipping! The promotion ends February 1. Freebies 4 Mom has created click-by-click instructions for anyone having any trouble creating their cards.

Target Freebies: Ocean Spray, Coffee-Mate and More!


Thanks to Ginger at Attention Target Shoppers for alerting us to several great freebies at Target this week:

16 oz. Coffee-Mate Liquid Creamer
Sale price = 2/$3.00
Use $1.50/1 printable
Final price = Free

2 pk. Fiber One Granola Bars
Sale price = $.99
Use $.75 Target printable
Use $.50 manufacturer's coupon from 1/4 S
Final price = Free

Special K Bars
Sale price = $2.00
Use $1 Target printable
Use $3/3 manufacturer's printable
Final price = Free

Ocean Spray Juice
Sale price = $1.99
Use $1 Target printable
Use $1 manufacturer's coupon from 1/11 RP or printable here
Final price = Free

Harris Teeter Deals for January 21 - 27

To see the entire ad, just click on the banner.
Harris Teeter ad

Click "Read More" to see the list of coupon match-ups.

Chex Mix 8.75 oz.
Sale price = BOGO, $1.44 each
Use $.50 coupon from 12/7 S, doubled
Final price = $.44 each

Chicken Leg Quarters
Sale price = $.37 lb.

Electrasol Dishwasher Detergent
Sale price = BOGO, $2.59-2.99 ea.
Use $2.50/1 coupon from 1/4 S2
Final price = $.09 - .49 each

Kellogg's Crispix or Rice Krispies
Sale price = BOGO, $1.79 each
Use $1 coupon from 12/14 RP
Final price = $.79 each

Ken's Marinade
Sale price = BOGO, $1.74 each
Use $1 coupon from 1/11 S
Final price = $.74 each

Ocean Spray Cranberry or Grapefruit Juice
Sale price = BOGO, $2.29 each
Use $.55 coupon from 12/7 RP, doubled
Final price = $1.19 each

Beech Nut Let's Grow Products
Sale price = $1 - $2.50 each
Use $1 coupon from 1/4 S1
Final price = FREE - $1.50 each

French's Spicy Brown Mustard
Sale price = $1.89 each
Use $.75 coupon from 1/18 S
Final price = $.39 each

Total Cereal
Sale price = $2.50 each
Use $.75 coupon from 1/4 S
Final price = $1.00 each

16 oz Pace Salsa or Picante Sauce
Sale price = 2/$4
Use $.50 coupon from 12/14 S
Final price = $1.00 each

Colgate Toothpaste
Sale price = $1.50 each
Use $.75 coupon from 1/18 S
Final price = FREE


Couponing Basics: Shopping Time!

Now that you've collected your coupons, gotten them organized, and learned the lingo, it's time to put those coupons into action! But don't assume something is a good deal just because you have a coupon for it. Here's how to make sure you're getting your groceries, toiletries, and household items as inexpensively as you possibly can:



Match Coupons With Sales

This is the biggest help in maximizing your coupon savings. If you see a coupon for an item, that means that the manufacturer is trying to promote that product. But another way manufacturers promote products is to offer special sale prices on them. If you hang on to a coupon long enough, chances are that item will go on sale. When you combine the sale price and the coupon, a once expensive item suddenly becomes very inexpensive. For example, let's say you needed some shampoo. The regular price is $3.99, but you have a coupon for $1 off. You decide to wait for a sale, and sure enough, it goes on sale buy one get one free. Since most stores' buy one get one free sales ring up half price, that makes the shampoo $1.99. You use your coupon for $1 off, and now you only have to pay $.99 for the shampoo.





Know your store's coupon policies

Many grocery stores double coupons up to $.50, and some will double coupons up to $.99. That makes your $.50 coupon actually worth $1.00. Something that may have been an "okay" deal very well may end up being a great deal with a doubled coupon.

Some stores will only double coupons if you are purchasing a certain dollar amount worth of items. Some stores will not accept printable coupons. Make sure you know ahead of time what each store's policies are so you don't end up frustrated because you had to pay more than you expected.





Stack coupons when you can

This goes along with knowing the store's coupon policies. Some stores offer store coupons that can be used along with a manufacturer coupon on the same item. Examples of these stores are Walgreens, Target, CVS, and Publix. If an item is on sale for $3 and there is a $1 store coupon and a $.75 manufacturer coupon that would double to $1.50, you would only have to pay $.50 for that item.



Bigger is not always better

Before I started using coupons, I always looked at the price per ounce to make sure I was getting a product as cheaply as I could. That usually meant that I bought a bigger size package since the price per ounce usually came out cheaper. But when you use coupons, it is often a better deal to buy several smaller sized packages. For example, let's say you were looking at rice, and you had a $.50 coupon that would double to $1.00. The big bag of rice was $1.99, and the small bag was $.99. If you followed the habit of buying a bigger size, you would spend $.99, but if you bought the smaller bag, you would get if for free! If you had several copies of the coupon, you could get several bags for free.



Look for clearance items

Most grocery stores, drug stores, and even Wal-Mart will put items on clearance when they have been discontinued, damaged, or are soon to go out of date. These items may be in a special location or they may be left on the shelves and marked with a special tag. If you have organized your coupons, you will be able to quickly look to see if there are any coupons that can be used on the clearance items, making them free or very inexpensive.



Ask for rainchecks

What happens when you go to the store planning to get a great deal, and they are out of the item you wanted? Ask for a raincheck. You will be given a piece of paper telling what the sale price of the item was, and when the item is back in stock you can purchase it at that price and also use your coupon for it.





Shop the drugstores

You can get all your household's toiletries, medicines, and beauty products for pennies when you buy them at the drugstore. CVS, Walgreens, and Rite Aid each have their own programs that, when used correctly, will save you literally thousands of dollars each year. In the past 2 weeks I have published extensive information about the CVS and Waglreens programs.

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

I'm Back!

I'm finally back after my 2 week trip to Mexico. My husband, my son, and I were visiting some missionary friends of ours there. We had a great trip, but I must say it is very good to be back home! Thanks to all of you who linked in sharing deals with other readers. And a very special thanks goes to my friend Christina, who kept you updated on the CVS, Walgreens, and Wal-Mart deals. I'm looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. I sure have a lot to catch up on! I have no choice but to get back in the game, though, since my refrigator is almost completely bare! I'll let you know how my restocking goes on Saturday when I post Crazy Coupon Capers!

Today's Freebies


These are the latest freebies that have become available:



Quaker True Delights - free sample here

Playtex Sport - request a free sample and coupon here

Free Mini Football - request yours from the Exercise Guru here

Hansen's Junior Juice - Get a coupon for a free 4-pack of organic juice when you sign up for their newsletter

Parents Magazine - Get a free 2 year subscription here

Free Swagbucks Code


Enter BeRewarded (case sensitive) in the Swagbucks code box to earn a free Swagbuck. (If you haven't signed up for Swagbucks yet, you can read more about it here.

Couponing Basics: Know the Lingo

You may feel overwhelmed when you're trying to look at the deals for your local stores. BOGO, OYNO, FAR? What is all this stuff? Well, don't worry. I'll do my best to explain all the terms you'll come across.



AC - after coupon
AR - after rebate
Blinkie - coupons found in stores in a blinking machine. They are usually located next to the item for which they're to be used.
BOGO/B1G1 - Buy one get one free
Catalina/Cat. - A coupon that prints along with your receipt; usually triggered by a specific item that you purchased.
CRT - Cash Register Tape; a coupon that prints directly on your receipt.
DND - Do Not Double. However, if a coupon begins with a 5 it will automatically double unless the cashier manually overrides it. If a coupon begins with a 9 it will not double.
Double/triple coupons - Some stores will double the value of your coupons. For instance, if a coupon is worth $.50, you will get $1.00 off. Some stores occassionally have special promotions in which they will triple the value of your coupons.
ECB - Extracare Bucks from CVS. For more information on the CVS Extracare program, see our CVS Tutorial.
ESR - Easysaver Rebates from Walgreens.
FAR - Free after rebate
FLIP - Food Lion internet printable
IVC - Instant Value Coupon; Walgreens coupons found in their Easysaver booklet.
IP - Internet printable coupon
MIR - Mail-in rebate
MQ - manufacturer's coupon
NED - No expiration date
OOP - out of pocket; refers to the total amount of actual cash you spend
OYNO - on your next order
P&G - the Proctor and Gamble insert from the Sunday paper
Peelie - A coupon attached to the product that you can peel off and use instantly.
Q - coupon
RC - raincheck
RP - the Redplum insert from the Sunday paper
RR - Register Rewards from Walgreens.
S - the Smartsource insert from the Sunday paper
Stacking - using both a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on one item
Tearpad - A pad of coupons where you can just tear one off. These are often found on cooler doors. They may or may not be next to the item that they are to be used for.


If a date is listed beside an abbreviation, the date stands for the week that the paper came out, and the abbreviation stands for which insert a coupon was in. So if a coupon was from 10/12 S, you can find it the Smartsource insert from the October 12th Sunday paper.


Free Signature Item (Up to $12) with Any Purchase at Bath and Body Works


Print a coupon here for a free Signature Collection product up to $12 when you make a purchase at Bath and Body Works. You can purchase the cheapest thing you can find (such as trial sized anti-bacterial gel for $1.50) and still get the free product. The coupon expires Sunday, January 25, 2009.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Couponing Basics: Organize Your Coupons

Now that you've collected your coupons, you need to organize them. I'm going to share how I keep my coupons organized, but if you're a beginner, this may seem a little overwhelming to you. I suggest that you start out with something smaller like an expandable coupon file, and upgrade when you feel you're starting to outgrow it. Whatever system you decide on, you need to do what makes the most the most sense to you. I could not find any ideas that I liked, so I finally ended up using a whole bunch of different ideas and mixing and matching them until I figured out what worked best for me.





My objective was to have a system that required as little time as possible to maintain, yet still enable me to know exactly where to find any coupon at any given time. Here's what I finally came up with:





Supplies:


Binder


I use a 3 inch zippered binder to hold all my coupons. The only brand I could find that makes these is Case it, which I finally found at OfficeMax.


Trading card holders


I bought mine at Wal-Mart, but you can also find these at office stores.


Sheet protectors


Tab dividers


Scissors


Pen


Printer





Method:


Every week when I get my coupons, I write the date on each insert. I then go through and cut out any coupons that I am sure I want to use before they expire. These are coupons that even if they never match up with a sale, I would want to use them because they are for things I normally buy and I might as well save a few cents on them. I file those coupons alphabetically in baseball trading card holders.





I then go to http://www.taylortownpreview.com/ and print out the list of coupons that are in each insert. I place the list and the inserts into a sheet protector and place them in my binder. If I find something on clearance I can look at each week's list to see if there is a coupon for that item. This actually doesn't take very long since the lists are alphabetical. If the item on clearance starts with a B, all I have to do is look at the B's on each week's list. I keep between 10 - 12 inserts in my binder at a time. Any more than that will not fit. Whenever I add a new insert, I take out the oldest insert and cut out all the coupons that are not expired. Usually by that time there are only a few that are not expired. I then file those coupons.





Every week before I do my shopping, I scan through and check to see if there are any coupons that I might want to use that will expire before the next time I go shopping. I place those into a section of my binder labeled "expiring soon". Then I can easily see the coupons if I want to check prices on those items.





When I make up my shopping list, I look at the deals on my blog, cut out the coupons I need, and place them in envelopes, one for each store.



I keep all my CVS stuff in a separate folder. I need to be able to see all my Extrabucks and coupons easily, so I keep them in the trading card holders. I carry them inside a velcro folder when I go to the store so that nothing falls out and gets lost.



Any miscellaneous coupons go in the expandable file inside my binder. I also keep the store ads in there in case I need to refer to them.



So each week I spend between 30 minutes keeping my coupons organized. That is a small amount of time to spend to be able to save hundreds of dollars each year!

Monday, January 19, 2009

Couponing Basics: Collect Coupons

If you are new to using coupons, you may find this series on couponing basics helpful. I will share everything you need to know to get started. Before you know it you'll be saving more than you ever thought possible!

The first step in couponing is to collect coupons. You will want to collect as many coupons as you can get your hands on. Even if you find a coupon for something you don't normally buy, keep it anyway. As you get more into couponing, you'll find out that there are many times you can actually make money by purchasing certain items. There are many different sources where you can find coupons.

The Sunday paper

Every week (except for major holiday weekends) you will find coupon inserts in the Sunday paper. Here are a number of ways you can obtain the coupon inserts.

1. Pay for your own subscription.
2. Buy newspapers from the newstand (make sure you check to make sure the coupons are actually inside the paper.)
3. Collect from friends and family who don't use their coupons.
4. Buy extras from a coupon clipping service such as The Coupon Clippers.
5. Buy whole coupon inserts from Coupons & Things by Dede.
6. Look in newspaper recycling bins.


Write or call companies praising their product (or complaining if you have a legitimate complaint.) Very often they will send you coupons in appreciation for your feedback.

Look for coupons in the stores. You can often find blinkie machines, tearpads full of coupons, or peelies on product packages.


Now that you know where to go to collect your coupons, watch for the next post in this series. I will share how to organize all of those coupons!

Current Walmart Deals

These are the Wal-Mart deals that I have not previously posted:

As always, keep in mind that prices and coupon amounts will vary slightly by region.

If you are having trouble with your Wal-Mart not accepting printable coupons, you can print out the corporate coupon policy here, which clearly states that they will accept printable coupons. If neither the cashier or manager will accept the printable coupons after you have kindly showed them the policy, you may want to call Wal-Mart's corporate offices.

Egg Beaters,
Regular price = $2.00
Use $1 printable coupon
Final Price = $1.00

Purina beggin strips 6oz
Regular price = $2.24
Use B1G1 free coupon from 1/11S
Final price = $2.24/2

Suave Hand Lotion 3oz.
Regular price =$0.97
Use $1/1 coupon from 12/14 RR
Final Price = FREE

Here are the deals previously posted but still available:

Healthy Choice Frozen Meals
Regular price = $2.00
Use $1 printable coupon
Final price = $1.00

Hungry Jack Potato pouches
Regular price = $.92
Use $1/$2 coupon from 11/9 RP
Final price = $0.42

Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice
Regular price = $2.50
Use $1 coupon from 10/5 S
Final price = $1.50

Martha White Cornbread Mixes
Regular price = $.33
Use $.55/2 coupon from 11/9 RP
Final price = $0.06

Campbell's Cream Soups
On sale for $.60
Use $0.30/3 or $0.40/2 coupon from 1/4 S
Final price = $1.50/3 or $0.80/2

Seapack Shrimp poppers
Regular price = $1.25
Use $1.00 printable coupon
Final price = $0.25

Whole Wheat Gold Medal Flour
Regular price = $2.76
Use $1.00 printable coupon
Final price = $1.76

Honey Bunches of Oat - Just Bunches cereal
On sale for $2/2
Use $2.00 printable coupon
Final price = Free plus possible $1.00 overage on each box

Cascadian Farms Organic Purely Steam Vegetables
Regular price 1.22
Use $1.00 printable coupon
Final price = $0.22

Kotex pantiliners
Regular price = $1.00
Use $1.00 coupon from 1/11 S
Final price = FREE

Gilette Fusion Razor
Regular price = $4.74
Use $4.00 coupon from 12/28 PG
Final price = $0.74

Beech-Nut Let's Grow Microwaveable Meals
Regular price = $1.06
Use $1.00 coupon from 11/16 and 1/4 S
Final price = $0.06

Brita Slim Pitcher
Regular price = $7.97
Use $5.00 printable coupon (must register)
Final price = $2.97

Ziploc Big Bags
Regular price = $3.42
Use $3 printable
Final price = $.42

Betty Crocker Potatoes (pouch)
Regular price = $.68
Use $.35 coupon from recent insert
Or use $.40 printable
Final price = $.33 or $.28

Chex cereal
Regular price = $1.66
Use $1/2 coupon from 11/9 S
Or use $1/2 printable coupon on left sidebar (click "see all coupons")
Final price = $2.32 for 2

Arm & Hammer Baking Soda
Regular Price = $.48
Use $1/2 printable coupon
Final price = 2 for FREE

No Nonsense Ultra Sheer Pantyhose
Regular price = $1.00
Use $1 coupon from 10/19 S
Final price = FREE

Yoplait Kids yogurt
Regular price = $2.27
Use $1.50 printable
Final price = $.77

Glade Scented Oil Candlle Holders
Regular price = $2
Use $2 blinkie found in various grocery stores
Final price = FREE

Guerrero Corn Tortillas
Regular price = $1.00
Use $1.00 printable
(must register; form is in Spanish)
Final price = FREE

Beech Nut baby food jars
Regular price = $0.44
Use $1.50/8 from 10/26 insert
Final price = $2.02 for 8

Beech Nut baby cereal
Regular price = $1.50
Use $1 coupon from 10/26 insert
Final price = $.50

Scotch lint roller trial size
Regular price = $1.37
Use $1 coupon from 10/5 RP
Final price = $.37

Progresso Soup
Regular price = $2.00
Use $1.10 printable
Final price = $.90

Nestle Hot Chocolate 10 pack
Regular price = $.75
Use $.75 printable
Final price = FREE

Birds Eye Frozen Vegetables
Regular price = $1.25
Use $.35 coupon from 11/2 S
Final price = $.90

Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Cakes
Regular price = $1.50
Use $1 printable
Final price = $0.50
(Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!)

Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers
Regular price = $1.23
Use $1 coupon from 11/16 GM
Final price = $.23

Wet Ones trial size
Regular price = $.92
Use $0.75/1 printable
Final price = $.17

Coffee Mate
Regular price = $1.98
Use $1/1 printable
Final price = $.98

Franks Red Hot Sauce
Regular price = $.88
Use $0.50/1 printable
Final price = $.38

Muir Glen Tomato Sauce or Diced Tomatoes
Regular price = $1.24
Use $1/1 printable
Final price = $.24

Ronzoni Smart Taste Pasta
Regular price = $1.50
Use $1 coupon from 10/5 S
Final price = $.50

South Beach Frozen Pizza
Regular price = $2.00
Use $1.00 printable
Final price = $1.00

Yo-Plus Yogurt 4 pk.
Regular price = $2.12
Use $1/1 printable
Final price = $1.12

Clean and Clear Blackhead Eraser pads
Regular price = $5.44
Use $5/1 printable
Final price = $.44

KY Jelly 2 oz.
Regular price = $2.59
Use $3 coupon from 5/1 RP
Final price = FREE

Preparation H 10 ct. wipes
Regular price = $2.97
Use $3/1 printable
Final price = FREE

Viva Paper Towels Single Roll
Regular price = $1.00
Use $0.50/1 printable
Final price = $.50

Arm & Hammer Essentials Starter Kit
Regular price = $2.82
Use $1/1 printable and Try Me FREE Rebate
Final price = Moneymaker after coupon and rebate

Purina Cat Food
Regular price = $3.97
Use $4/1 printable
Final price = FREE

Purina Puppy Chow
Regular price = $4.12
Use $4/1 printable
Final price = $.12

Please leave a comment if you know of any other good deals at Wal-Mart.

Also, since I can only print the coupons once myself, I have no way of knowing when they stop working. If a printable coupon is no longer available, it would be great if someone would let me know about that too!

Enter to win $15 in coupons from Kraft foods

You must register the first time and then only enter your email address every time after. I tried and won on the second day! There are 43,000 chances to win and you can enter every day till 2/2/2009.

Play the "So Good Together on Game Day" instant win game

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Sunday Sustenance - Part 3 of 3




Are you following the example set by the good Samaritan?


In review, two weeks ago we looked at the first necessity for following the example set by the good Samaritan, which is Spiritual Eyes. How do we view those with whom we come into contact everyday of our lives? Are they simply just human beings walking down the road of life or do you see living souls? do you see people who have needs that only the Lord Jesus Christ is able to meet? Then last week we introduced the second necessity for following the example of the good Samaritan, which was Spiritual Equipment, including the Word of God, a Walk with God, and a Whole-hearted surrender to God. We covered the first sub-point last week regarding the Word of God and how it is only the Scripture that is able to work in the heart and life of an individual to bring about real change. This week we will cover a Walk with God and Whole-hearted Surrender to God.


In Ephesians 4:15 we read that we are to speak the truth in love. It is not enough to just share the Word of God with a soul in need, for if we share Scripture without love we may actually do more harm than good. If we are not walking day by day with Jesus Christ then we will not have the love of Jesus Christ abiding in us. We also will not have the ability to sense the leading of the Holy Spirit and consequently may miss out on opportunities to minister to others.
Another necessary piece of Spiritual Equipment is a Whole-hearted Surrender to the Lord. James writes in verse 22 of chapter 1, "But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only." When the Holy Spirit whispers in our ear to witness to someone, we must be willing to do so. Possessing the Word of God and a Walk with God are not enough in and of themselves if we are to follow the example of the good Samaritan. Each one of us must make a personal choice to follow the Spirit's leading and witness boldly to the lost.


In conclusion, let us remember that it is not only the good Samaritan whose example we should be trying to follow; it is ultimately the example of the Lord Jesus Christ we should be seeking to emulate. The good Samaritan demonstrated Biblical principles, principles from the Word of God. Every aspect of our lives should be controlled by the Word of God.


How about you? How has God been working in your heart lately? I'd love to have you leave me a comment of write me an email, sharing what the Lord has been teaching you!

Crazy Coupon Capers


Since I'm still out of the country, I don't have any coupon stories to share with you again this week! But I still want to see how everybody else did! Did you get any good deals with your coupons or have any interesting experiences? Link in or leave a comment and share how you did this week! I'll try not to get too jealous that I didn't get to use a single coupon for 2 weeks!




Thursday, January 15, 2009

Walgreens deals for January 18-24

Here's the deals I see at Walgreens this week.

RR deals

Neosporin/Bandaids
Buy 3 and get $3 in RR
Neosporin $4.99
Bandaids $2.99
Final price= varies

Vicks products
Spend $20 get $10 RR, spend $15 get $5 RR
Vick's Dayquil $7
Vick's Nyquil $7
Vick's Thermometer $13
Use Buy 2 Vicks products Get 1 Free Puffs coupon from 12/28 PG
Final price= varies

Robitussin or Dimetapp
Buy $10 get $5 RR
Robitussin 4oz $3.99
Use $1/1 coupon from 12/14 RP
Or use $2/1 printable coupon
Dimetapp 4 oz $3.99
Final price = varies

*Possible deals
Buy 3 Robitussin
Use (3) $1/1 coupon
pay $ 8.97 OOP
Get Back $5 RR = like paying $3.97 for 3 ( or $1.32 ea.)
-OR-
Buy 3 Robitussin
use (2) $2/1 IP coupon and (1) $1/1 manuf. coupon
Pay $ 6.97 OOP
Get Back $5 RR = like paying $1.97 for 3 ( or $ .66 ea.)

Huggies Diapers
Buy one for $9.99 get $1 RR
Use $1.50 coupon from 1/11S
Final price = $7.49 after coupon and RR

Also see in store for possible deal of buy a pack of size 3 Huggies diapers receive a trial pack of 14 Walgreen Size 3 diapers FREE!

Other deals

Kleenex Facial Tissue
On sale for $.99 with in ad coupon (Limit 2)
Use $.50/3 coupon 12/7 S
Final price = $2.50/3

CVS Deals for January 18-24

Here's the best deals I see at CVS this week.

ECB deals

24 hour allergy relief (CVS brand Claritin) 5ct
On sale for $3.79 get $3.79 ECB limit 2
Final price = FREE after ECB

Herbal Essence
On sale for $2.99 get $1 ECB
Use $1 coupon from 12/28/08 PG
Final price = .99 after coupon and ECB

Pepsi products
Spend $20 get $10 ECB Limit 1
Aquafina 12 PK 2/$6
Gatorade 32.0Z./Propel/Sobe life water 20oz 4/$5
Lays 10.5-11 oz. (excludes baked) 2/$6
Pepsi 2 liter 4/$5
Pepsi 12 pk. 4/$12
Pepsi 8 pks 5/$10 limit 10
Stacys pita or bagel chips 2/$6
Starbucks frappuchinno 3/$5
Tostitos 10-13 2/$6
Final price = varies
If you do buy this deal check out this MIR for buying Pepsi products

Covergirl products
Spend $10 get $3 ECB
All items regular price
Use $1 coupon from 12/28PG
Final price = varies

Rogaine
Buy one for $19.99 get $5 EB
Use $15 printable coupon
Final price = .01 overage after coupon and ECB

Other deals

St. Ives skincare
On sale for all $2.99
Use $2 printable coupon
And use $3 of any 2 body lotion CRT
Final price= .99/EACH with printable coupon,
OR buy 2 and get $1 OVERAGE with CRT and 2 printable coupons

Dawn
On sale buy one get on free limit 6
Use $.50 coupon for Dawn Direct Foam 12/28 PG
Or use $.50 coupon for Dawn Simple Pleasures 12/28 PG
Or use $.25 coupon for Dawn 12/28 PG
Or use $.50 coupon for Dawn 12/14/08 PG
Final price = varies

Excedrin
20+24ct on sale for $1.99
Use $2 printable coupon for Excedrin migraine
Or $2 coupon for Excedrin Back & Body/PM from 10/19 SS
Final price = .01 overage

Duracell batteries
On sale for $2.99
Use $5/2 CVS tearpad coupon found at some stores
Use (2) $.75 coupon from 12/14 PG
Final price = .52 overage on 2 packs

Get Giftcards and Prizes from Swagbucks


Search & Win


Swagbucks is a search engine that lets you earn while you search! Just use Swagbucks like you would use your regular search engine, and every so often while you're searching, you'll win some Swagbucks. I seem to win at least one Swagbuck every single time I do a search. You can then redeem those in the Swag Store for all kinds of prizes. I prefer to use mine for gift cards. A $5 Amazon.com giftcard only costs 45 Swagbucks. If you use Swagbucks for all your searches, you should be able to get that in less than a month. And if you refer people, every time they win a Swagbuck, you win one too! You're not going to get rich from Swagbucks by any means, but you might as well get a little something back from something you normally do anyway! The search results are by Google and Ask, and I have been pleased with the quality of the results that I have been getting. Sign up now, and start winning some swag!

Walgreens FAQ: Coupons

Below are the answers to questions you may have regarding the use of coupons at Walgreens.

What are IVCs or Instant Value Coupons?

What are 7-day coupons?

Can I use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on the same item?

What is the best order in which to hand the cashier my coupons?

Can I use two coupons on Buy One Get One Free items?

Does Walgreens allow overage?

What are IVCs or Instant Value Coupons?
IVCs are the coupons found in the Easysaver booklet along with the rebate offers. These are Walgreens store coupons and can be combined with manufacturer coupons. If you buy more than 1 of an item, the IVC will subtract the coupon amount from each item that you purchase.

What are 7-day coupons?
7 day coupons are found in the weekly store ads. You will not get the advertised sale price for these items unless you have the cashier scan the coupon. These can be stacked with both Manufacturer coupons and Instant Value coupons. If you buy more than 1 of an item, the 7 day coupon will subtract the coupon amount from each item that you purchase.

Can I use a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon on the same item?
Yes. You may use one store coupon and one manufacturer coupon per item.

What is the best order in which to hand the cashier my coupons?
Generally it works best to hand them Register Rewards, then manufacturer coupons, then store coupons. However, some stores require their cashiers to scan the store coupons first and the Register Rewards last.

Can I use 2 coupons on Buy 1 Get 1 Free items?
Usually the answer is yes, but it may depend on your store's individual policies.

Does Walgreens allow overage?
No. The official policy if a coupon is worth more than the price of the item is to adjust the coupon down to the price of the item. You can however get overage by combining a manufacturer coupon and store coupon. Just make sure to give the store coupon last, since store coupons do not beep when overage is given. Again, some stores require their cashiers to take the store coupon first, so your whether or not you get the overage will depend on the individual store policies.


If I have not answered all your questions in this series, please leave me a comment and I'll do my best to answer it when I get back home!

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Earn Money with Upromise



I just joined UPromise not long ago, and I am wondering why I waited so long! There are so many ways to earn money by doing things I already do! Any money I earn is put into my Upromise account. I can then decide if I'd like to place it in a 529 account to pay for college expenses or if I'd like to receive a check.

Here's how to earn:

Shop online:
If you shop online through UPromise, you can earn between 1 and 25 percent back on all purchases you make.

Eat at participating restaurants:
"Get up to 8% back from more than 8,000 restaurants as a Preferred Diner when you pay with a registered credit or debit card." I prefer not to give out my credit and debit card information, so I'm not using this option, but if you feel comfortable with it, that's quite a bit more that you can earn.

Shop at grocery and drug stores :
Register your grocery store and drug store loyalty cards, and you will get 1-3% back on thousands of eligible items. All you have to do is make sure to scan your card at the store, and the money from any eligible items you bought will automatically be added to your UPromise account.

Use Coupons:
E-coupons, that is. Every month UPromise adds new coupons to their e-coupons site. Select the coupons you wish to use, and when you purchase those items, the value of the coupon will be added to your UPromise account. E-coupons will not affect your ability to use paper manufacturer's coupons either.

Invite Family and Friends:
If Grandma and Grandpa want to help with their precious grandkids' college bills, all they need to do is register with UPromise. They can then choose to have all their earnings go directly into your account. Just by adding one more person onto your account, you'll earn basically double what you would by yourself. If you get more people involved, that's even better!

I'm excited to see how quickly my earnings will to add up!

Walgreens FAQ: Easysaver Rebates


Here are some answers to questions you may have had regarding the Walgreens Easysaver rebates.


Where can I find the rebate booklet?

How do I know what items qualify for rebates?

How do I submit my rebate?

If I use coupons on a rebate item will I still get the full amount back?

Can I submit an item for both a Walgreens rebate and a manufacturer's rebate?


Where can I find the rebate booklet?
The rebate booklet can be found in the front of the store along with the weekly ads.

How do I know which items qualify for rebates?
The rebate booklet lists the specific items for which there are rebates and the amounts you will get back.

How do I submit my rebate?
You can either mail it in or submit it online. I would recommend submitting it online. That way you don't have to pay for a stamp, and you will also be able to keep your receipts in case you need them for a manufacturer's rebate. You will have the option to either choose check or a Walgreens gift card. If you choose the gift card option, you will receive an extra 10% bonus.

If I use coupons on a rebate item will I still get the full amount back?
Rebates are always based on the price before coupons. If something is $4.99 with a $4.99 rebate, but you have a $1 coupon, you will pay $3.99 but get back $4.99, essentially earning $1.00.
Can I submit an item for both a Walgreens rebate and a manufacturer's rebate?
Yes. Usually manufacturer's require you to send in your original receipt, so you'll either need to submit your Walgreens rebate online or ask the cashier if she can print you a rebate receipt.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

How to Earn Money from Paid Surveys

I have mentioned some of these in the past, but for those of you who haven't yet tried these out, read on!

If you're looking to earn a little extra cash from home, you may be interested in participating in paid surveys. Let me start by telling you that you're definitely not going to get rich from these, but it is an easy way to earn a little extra money.

I have been participating in paid surveys for about 2 years, and I generally earn around $40 a month between all the different sites for which I take surveys. I receive a whole lot more survey invitations than I have time to take, so I'm sure I could potentially make even more than $40 a month.

Here are some tips from my personal experience with taking online surveys:

1. Sign up for as many companies as you can. The more companies you're signed up with, the more survey invitations you'll receive and the more money you'll earn.
2. Use a "junk mail" email address to sign up. You won't want your survey invitations filling up your regular inbox.
3. Fill out as much profile information on each site as possible. You will be more likely to receive survey inviations.
4. Don't be disappointed if you don't receive many survey invitations from one company. Survey invitations are based on certain demographics, and if you're not a good fit, you won't get many invitations. Don't let that bother you, there will sooner or later be a company that will work out better for you. Some companies work really well for one person and not for another.
5. Pay attention to the incentive. Usually when you receive a survey invitation in your email inbox, you will be told up front what the incentive is - a certain dollar amount, a sweepstakes drawing, points, etc. I never bother taking surveys when they are for a sweepstakes - I don't feel that it is worth my time.
6. Don't be afraid of sites that offer points rather than cash. You can bank up your points and redeem them for prizes, and a lot of times they can actually be redeemed for gift cards or even cash.
7. Evaluate how much your time is worth. If you really don't have the time to take the surveys, don't make yourself feel like you have to take every single survey you're invited to take.

Here are some sites that I either currently use or have used in the past.


American Consumer Opinion

MySurvey.com
Banner Ad

SurveySpot

Opinion Outpost

Survey Savvy

Zoompanel

ZoomPanel

Walgreens FAQ: Register Rewards


I post the Walgreens deals every week, but I have never taken the time to explain how it all works. I know many of you are old pros at working the Walgreens deals, but many of you have never given Walgreens a try due to a lack of information on how the system works.

I'll do my best to answer any questions you may have and hopefully help you work up enough courage to go work yourself a deal!

There are actually several different avenues to finding great deals at Walgreens. These can all be used singly, but many times you can mix and match these techniques to make an even better deal! I will explain these techniques over a series of several posts.


In this first post I will deal with Walgreens Register Rewards.

If you only need answers to specific questions, you can click a question, and you will automatically be shown the answer. Otherwise, you can read the entire FAQ.



What are Register Rewards?
Register Rewards are coupons worth a certain dollar amount that you can use to help pay for another purchase. They print at the register when you buy certain items.


How do I know what items to buy to get Register Rewards back?
Every week the ad will feature the items that produce Register Rewards. Many times these items are a good deal in and of themselves, but if you have coupons for the items, you can often get products for free or even make money!



What do you mean when you say something is a moneymaker?
Here is an example of how I post any deals involving Register Rewards:

Reach Toothbrushes
Buy 2 for $6, get $6 RR (Register Rewards)
Use B1G1 (buy one get one) coupon from 10/12 RP (the Redplum coupon insert from the 10/12 Sunday paper)
Final price = $3 moneymaker after coupon and RR

So here's what happens. You buy the two toothbrushes for $6 ($3 each). But you will get $3 taken off for the B1G1 coupon. Your total will be $3, but $6 in Register Rewards will print. So you have made a profit of $3.


Can I use Register Rewards to pay for more items that give back Register Rewards?
If you have Register Rewards from previous transactions you have done, you can use those to pay for your purchase, thus reducing the amount of actual cash you have to spend. However, Register Rewards can not always be "rolled" (using Register Rewards to pay for something else that gives back Register Rewards.) You cannot use a Register Reward from one product to pay for another of the same product. The new Register Rewards will not print. Also, you generally cannot roll Register Rewards between two products that are the same brand. For example, if you had Register Rewards that printed from buying Pampers, you could not use them to buy Crest toothpaste and have new Register Rewards print (these are both Proctor & Gamble products.)


If I buy all the qualifying products, will more than one Register Reward print per transaction?

More than one will print if they are different advertised deals. For example, if Crest toothpaste is advertised as giving back $2 in Register Rewards, and Huggies diapers are advertised as giving back $3 in Register Rewards, you can buy both products and get back a $2 and a $3 Register Reward. But you cannot buy 2 Crest toothpastes and get back 2 $2 Register Rewards. If you wanted to buy another toothpaste and get back more Register Rewards, you would need to buy it on a separate transaction.


The Register Rewards say "Manufacturer Coupon" on them. What does that mean?

The register actually treats Register Rewards like any other manufacturer coupon. Since you can only use one manufacturer coupon per item purchased, you need to make sure that the number of items you are purchasing is equal to or greater than the number of coupons you have, including any Register Rewards you may have. If you are planning on using a coupon on everything you are buying, you need to add a small filler to your transaction in order to be able to use the Register Reward. (Note: Instant Value Coupons and 7-day coupons, which I will discuss in another post, are not considered manufacturer coupons, so you do not need to have extra items for those.)


If a Register Reward deal is advertised as "Buy $x of item x, get $x Register Rewards" is the value computed before or after coupons?

The value of what you are buying is computed before coupons. An example of this type of deal would be this: "Buy $20 of Huggies products, get $5 Register Rewards." If the diapers are $10 a pack, you could buy 2 packs for $20, use 2 $1 coupons, and pay a total of $18. You would still get the $5 Register Rewards.


Do I have to have a store card to get Register Rewards?
No. If you buy the qualifying items in the ad, the Register Rewards will automatically print.


Why didn't my Register Rewards print?
There are a couple possible reasons why they didn't print. 1. You didn't buy the correct items. Double check the ad and make sure that you bought the right item including the correct size, variety, etc. If you had to buy a certain dollar amount of something, make sure the items rang up correctly. Sometimes things ring up cheaper than you expected them to, making the total value lower than necessary to get the Register Rewards. 2. The macine is not working or is not on. I have learned to look at the machine before I check out. If there is a green light, my Register Rewards generally print without a problem. If there is a red light or no light at all, I go to a different register because the machine is most likely not working.