Monday, May 31, 2010

$3 off Pepcid

Click here to get an assortment of $3 off coupons for Pepcid Products. They have coupons or Pepcid Complete, Pepcid Maximum Strength, and Original Pepcid.

Combine this coupon with a Pepcid Sale and you could probably get some awesomely inexpensive heartburn relief!

Happy Memorial Day!


Happy Memorial Day, everyone! Best wishes to all the brave men and women that are currently serving to protect our country, and that have previously served. No thanks will ever be enough.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Bath and Body Works Coupon

The Bath and Body Works deals are plentiful these days.

If you've missed this one before, here's your chance to get it again. You can get a free full size body care item (up to $13) with any purchase of $10 or more. You can print it out and take it in-store, or you can use the code FREEBODYCARE online to save that way.

Valid through 06/10/10.

Jack in the Box


I wish we had a Jack in the Box up in these parts.....oh well.

Anyways, stroll on over to their website and you will get a coupon for $1 off any Grilled Breakfast Sandwich. They serve breakfast 24/7, so this works even for those of us that don't like to see the day before 1pm.

While your there, there is a link under the coupon where you can sign up to be emailed about more coupons and special offers in your area.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Free Smart Ones Entree

Sign up to join Weight Watcher's Real Dish Community, fill out a short survey and they will mail you a coupon for a free Smart Ones frozen entree (will take 3-4 weeks). Also if you remain a member they will periodically send you more coupons for more Smart Ones Entrees.

My coupon is for Cheesy Scramble with Hashbrowns. Sounds yummy!

Vocalpoint offers

If you are a member of Vocalpoint, they have a new sample from Crystal Light. They will send you three drink packets; one grape, one lemon-lime, and one strawberry-kiwi from their Pure Fitness Line. You can expect your sample to arrive in 5-7 weeks. Plus Vocalpoint always has coupons in their sample packs.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Giveaway time!

Do you love Aquafina Flavor Splash Water, or always wanted to try it and are skeptical?

Head on over to Koupon Karen where she is having a giveaway for Aquafina. From her site: Giveaway: (2) Koupon Karen reader’s will each receive (2) coupons for a FREE 6 pack of Aquafina FlavorSplash and (2) Aquafina FlavorSplash Wild Berry lip balms.

She will keep the giveaway open until May 28th 11:59pm. She will email the two winners and they will have 48 hours to respond and accept their prize.

Giveaways are a great way to try something new, so go on over and enter!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Vera Bradley Sale!

Vera Bradley is having yet another clearance sale with discounts up to 70% off regular prices. Discounts have already been taken, so prices are as marked, but you can get things for as low as $5 right now, depending on what you are looking for.

Express Coupon!



I found something great in my email this morning (so great that I'm actually blogging from work about it - shhhh!!!) from Express. They have a coupon where you can save $15 off a $30 purchase or $30 off a $75 purchase. This is only valid through May 23rd, so use it quickly! Valid in-stores and online.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Finding Coupons

Just joining in? Get started here!

Finding coupons is a lot easier than some make it out to be. "Well duh they're only in the Sunday paper, right?" WRONG!!

  • Sunday Paper: Yes, they are in the newspapers, it's the most common place to find them. There are even sites such as thecouponclippers.com that have trackers that will tell you how many inserts will be in that weeks paper along with a general idea as to what coupons will be in that paper. Although, when you use the tracker and see what coupons will be in the paper be mindful of the savings amounts, they vary by region. For example: One part of the country might get a coupon for 0.55 off 1 item, whereas another part of the country will get a coupon for the same item but it's 1.00 off 2.
  • Coupons.com and the like: There are three main websites on the net where you can find a plethora of coupons. Coupons.com is the most popular. These coupons are changed at the beginning of each month and are valid for 30 days after you print them. You can print each coupon available twice in the calendar month by hitting your browsers back button after they have all printed once, or by coming back at a later time. They have everything from food, personal care items, drug coupons, clothes, etc. The coupon values here don't usually vary regionally so everyone gets the same thing. Along with coupons.com, there is also smartsource.com and redplum.com. These sites also have pages of coupons that can be printed twice and that change once a month. All of these sites install a small Java application on your computer that you never notice, so that it can communicate with your printer....don't worry it's harmless.
  • Manufacturer's Websites: Have a favorite snack or brand of pasta? Check out their product website online. A lot of times you can find a "Special Offers" page somewhere on their website (sometimes around the Contact page) where they will have coupons or a mailing list you can sign up for that will contact you when new deals are coming up. If you don't see a page like this, use the Contact page, email them and ask if there is a mailing list you can sign up for. Sometimes companies don't fully advertise them and it never hurts to ask.
  • Free Samples: You see those posts I make about a free sample here and there? "Well those things are just gonna clutter up my house". Well yea, if you don't use them they well. My point is, not only is it a good way to try a product, but they usually send a coupon or two with the sample so that you will, hopefully, go out and buy the product if you liked the trial. A lot of the time these coupons have expiration dates far, far into the future, like months or a year into the future, so it will give you plenty of time to find a sale and use them.
  • Google: I have a few readers that have found me through Google, yes? If you search in Google (or your preferred search engine - like I prefer Swagbucks) for say "Oreo internet printable" you will come up with hundreds upon thousands of websites that will provide links to coupons for Oreos. Now google searching will force you to do some digging, as some sites won't be what you want, or the coupon will be outdated, but in the end you still might find what you were looking for. And, if you happened to have stumbled across my blog while you were searching for a discount of some sort, you will also already know that you could find something else in the process that catches your eye, that you really like. :)
  • Tearpads/Blinking machines: Look in your grocery store/Walmart/Target/etc. When you are shopping sometimes you will see little packs of coupons near an item, these are called tearpads (since ya know, you tear a coupon off the pad....yeah) and the little red machines are usually called blinking machines (since they have a red light....that blinks....). Manufacturer's will have stores put these near their items in hopes that consumers will see them and decide to pick up their product instead of their competitors. There is no law saying you only have to take one of those coupons, but be fair, don't take more than you will use/need. Also beware of expiration dates on these, as they might expire faster than traditional coupons. But, these also have a tendency to be of higher value than traditional coupons, which makes them completely worth searching the store for.

I warn, as always, make sure your store accepts coupons printed from the internet before you try to use them. Many stores do, but there are some that either don't accept them at all, or that limit how many you can use in one transaction. Knowing the store policies will save a lot of time and headache when you get to the checkout line.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

MIA

Hey guys!!

After tonight I will be MIA until Sunday. I figured I'd actually post this now, since the last time I tried to auto-post it failed miserably.

Tomorrow I'm leaving work early and going to pick up my friend Devon, then we are off to West Virginia to visit our friend Betsy for the weekend. It will be a nice, relaxing weekend of sleeping, eating, going to see Iron Man 2, etc.

I hope everyone has a good weekend! I'll be back around Sunday night or Monday (haven't decided yet, lol).

True Lemon, Lime and Orange Sample

True Lemon is offering a sample pack of (one each) their True Lemon, True Lime and True Orange flavorings. I haven't actually tried this stuff before, but a few friends of mine like it. They are supposed to be great in water and other drinks instead of other drink enhancers that have a lot of sugar in them.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Deodorant Samples from Walmart

Walmart has a couple samples for deodorant currently on their website. Both of these can be on the expensive side for the most part, so what better way to try them. Yes, you can sign up for all three of them.

Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant

Dove Ultimate Beauty Care Deodorant

Old Spice Odor Shield Body Wash

Saturday, May 8, 2010

Couponing 101

These days everyone is trying to save money. People are going out to eat less, shopping less, but most people aren't fidgeting with their grocery budget. On average, most families spend over $5,000 a year on grocery store trips. Most families can spend around $150 per week on groceries (not counting eating out), which is almost $8,000 a year! That's almost as much as a decent used car (or about half the price of a new car).

Before couponing, my mother was spending around $100-125 a week for groceries just for her and my brother (when I was away at college) and she was always saying "there's nothing to eat in this house". I always thought the was absolutely ridiculous. With the help of fellow frugal blogs, I learned how to use coupons and sales to get our grocery bill down to, on average, around $60 a week for 3 people.

I don't want to overwhelm people with everything at once, so I'm just going to talk about basic couponing here. Coupons aren't just something that mom's who drive mini-vans use (no offense to any mom's that read here), they can be used by anyone. I am 23 years old and have no shame when I hand my stack of coupons to the cashier when I go to the grocery store.

The basics to couponing:
  1. FIND THEM!: Coupons are easy to find if you look for them. You can find them weekly in the Sunday paper, online (websites such as coupons.com, smartsource.com, redplum.com, as well as the actual manufacturer's websites), in grocery stores (sometimes items will have tearpads nearby with a certain amount off the item), from family and friends, and sometimes you can even get some from your local library if they keep a box of donated coupons.
  2. START SMALL: Looking through coupon inserts can seem overwhelming at first, so start small. Cut out coupons for items you use a lot. I started with Zyrtec coupons. I have horrendous allergies and Zyrtec is the only thing that makes me feel semi-normal during spring, but it's expensive. During allergy season, there are often $4 off Zyrtec coupons in the paper which is a big help. If your family goes through a lot of cereal, go for those first. Work your way up to using more coupons for more items. Don't feel like you have to use every coupon in the insert the next time you go shopping.
  3. DON'T USE EVERY COUPON IN THE INSERT THE NEXT TIME YOU SHOP!: This is one of the first mistakes beginners make. Just because the coupons are in the insert one week doesn't mean you have to use them right away. Most coupons have an expiration date at least a month away so there is plenty of time to find the item on sale and use the coupon then. If you use the coupons right away it's more likely that you'll wind up spending more money than if you didn't use them at all. (Sounds counterproductive, huh?)
  4. ORGANIZE THEM: In the beginning you won't have many coupons, so using a simple envelope is usually fine. Try to keep coupons for like items together (cereal, frozen food, drinks, etc) this way they are easier to find when you are in the store. Over time as you get more coupons, you may need to invest in something bigger like an accordion folder or something to better organize yourself.
  5. READ YOUR COUPONS: Always make sure to read the coupons before you use them on a purchase. Sometimes some will say you have to buy a certain amount, or you have to buy a certain size of the product. Also make sure it's not expired. Few stores will take expired coupons, so make sure everything checks out before YOU check out..
  6. FIND OUT IF YOUR STORE DOUBLES OR TRIPLES COUPONS: This is much simpler than it sounds. Most times the store flyers will tell you, or you can simply ask a manager whether they double or triple coupons and what amount they double up to. The two main stores I shop at (Safeway and Superfresh) always double coupons up to $0.99. That means if I have a coupon for .75 cents off, the register will automatically double it's value to $1.50 off. Also remember, not all stores are the same in this, not even stores in the same chain are the same, so make sure you know the policy before you get to the check-out line.
  7. USE COUPONS DURING SALES: Items in grocery stores go on sale regularly, so try and save your coupons for when that particular item goes on sale. This is something else that you get better with in time and with patience. Using a coupon with a sale can get you an item much MUCH cheaper than you would have originally paid for it.
  8. FINALLY; USE LOYALTY CARDS: Most grocery stores have some sort of loyalty or savings card that you can scan at check-out to get sale prices on items. These are great cards to keep in your wallet, they can save you so much money. They are all free (I have yet to see one that costs) and only take up a small space in your wallet. Check with the customer service counter in your store to see about signing up for their loyalty program.

This is the bare bones of couponing. I hope to expand each bullet point into it's own blog entry over the next couple weeks for an in-depth guide to saving the most money when you go to the grocery store. I know at first read it seems like a lot, but most of it is just simple planning before you get into the store and watching your savings when you get into the checkout line.

Feel free to post questions/tips in comments. If there is something you want me to address in future blogs feel free to tell me!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Nivea Happy Sensation Body Wash

The Ellen DeGeneres show is giving away free samples of either Nivea Happy Sensation Body Lotion or Touch of Happiness Body Wash. It doesn't look like you get to choose, one of them is just randomly sent to you.

Cheap Nabisco 100 Calorie Packs



Safeway(and it's affiliates Tom Thumb, Randalls, Dominicks, Pavillions, etc) is currently running a deal for Nabisco 100 calorie packs 2/$5.00

If you go on Facebook and Like Nabsico 100 Calorie packs, you can print out a Buy One Get One Free coupon. Usually you can print these coupons twice (once it prints hit the back button and let it print again), so if you use one coupon, you can get two boxes for $2.50, or use both and get 4 boxes for $5.00. Regardless of how many, it's $1.25/box, and you don't see these go on sale for that price all that often, so take advantage!

Dove with Fiber Actives Sample

Yes, they even have fiber for your hair care products now.

Head on over to Walmart and request a free sample of the new Dove line of Fiber Actives Shampoo and Conditioner. It should take up to 4 weeks to receive.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Organic Coupon Book

Sign up with Mambo Sprouts and you'll receive a coupon book in the mail for a lot of organic products. Names like Kashi, Michael Angelos, RiceSelect, etc. You can also check the box at the bottom if you want to be contacted for product surveys, product trials, coupons, etc, in the future.

CVS and Target today


I spent roughly $5 for everything pictured there.

Target: Now, I did actually have a purpose for going here today. The bulb blew out in my bedroom and light bulbs are something we don't stock up on in my house, so I had to buy one. But me...I don't just BUY a bulb, oh no, it's unheard of.

  1. (1) GE Energy Smart Light Bulb: $2.99
  2. (1) Seventh Generation Multipurpose Cleaner: $2.99
  3. (2) NYC Nail Polishes: $0.94 x 2= $1.88
  4. (1) Gladware Container: $2.33
Coupons used:
  • (1) $2 off GE Energy Smart bulb package from Target.com
  • (1) $1 off GE Energy Smart lightbulb from Sunday paper
  • (1) $1 off Seventh Generation cleaner from Target.com
  • (1) $1 off Seventh Generation cleaner from Sunday paper
  • (1) Buy one get one free NYC Nail color which deducted $0.94
Total before coupons: $10.19
Total after coupons: $4.25
Savings: 58%


The rest of the picture was gotten at CVS. I actually made money off of this deal, which always makes me happy.

  1. (2) Betty Crocker Warm Delight Fudge Brownie: 1.00 each = $2.00
  2. (2) Nivea Lip Care Cherry flavored: 2.99 each = $5.98
  3. (2) Nivea Body Wash in Shea Butter/Vanilla scented: 4.88 each = $9.76
  4. (1) Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste: $2.99
  5. (4) SoBe Vitamin water (yes only 3 pictured - I drank one in the car): buy one get one free @ 1.59 a bottle = $3.18 for 4.
  6. (1) Prevacid 24 hour 14 count : $12.49
  7. (1) Nestle Crunch bar: $0.50
Coupons used:
  • (1) $2.00 in CVS ExtraCare Bucks
  • (2) Buy one get one free SoBe water coupons, making all four bottles free
  • (1) CVS coupon for $6 off any Prevacid product
  • (1) $6 off Prevacid from Sunday paper
  • (2) $4 off Nivea body wash coupons from this past Sunday paper
  • (2) $2.00 Nivea lip care also from this weekends paper
  • (1) CVS coupon for $2 off ANY 2 body wash/bar soaps - added an extra discount to the Nivea
  • (2) $1 off Betty Crocker Warm Delights
  • (1) $1 off Colgate Total Advanced toothpaste
Total before coupons: $36.90
Total after coupons: $4.72
Savings: 89%
PLUS: For buying $15 worth of Nivea products I got $5 in ExtraCare bucks, and I got another $2 in ExtraCare Bucks for buying the Colgate. So I got back $7 to use in my next trip, which means I made back what I spent with $2.28 overage. Getting paid to shop is a lot of fun.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Lucky Brand Extra 20% off Sale

Now through May 3rd, Lucky Brand Jeans online store is taking an extra 20% off all sale and clearance merchandise. Some items are already marked down as much as 50-60%, so add another 20% and you can get some awesome steals.

No need to enter a coupon code, markdowns will be taken at checkout automatically.

Lacoste Free Sample

Lacoste has a rare sample opportunity for people to take advantage of. Fill out a short form and you can receive a sample of one their three best known fragrances. You have your choice of: Challenge, Essential Sport, or Love of Pink. My mom actually has Love of Pink and enjoys it. There also seem to be more Lacoste stores popping up in malls these days, so if you like it, you could probably find a Lacoste store near you to purchase a full-size bottle.