Home Made Simple Coupon Book

Click here to get a coupon booklet mailed to you from Proctor and Gamble. This booklet has brands such as Swiffer, Dawn, Pledge, etc. These booklets usually have higher coupon values than you would find in Sunday paper circulars, so they are worth the 4-6 week shipping wait.

Click here to "Like" Origins on Facebook and get a free sample of their new GinZing brightening eye cream. While supplies last.

Crocs Sale

Now through August 7th, Crocs.com is havng a Buy One Get One 50% off select sandals. They've got some pretty good deals on some of them right now for the whole family. Check them out while supplies last!

Tax Free Weekends

Again, with school starting up again soon, most states offer a weekend in August each year where you won't be charged for sales tax on certain items.

GUESS WHAT??? Maryland is ACTUALLY participating this year! I'm so excited!! MD has never participated before, that I can remember, and we actually get a full week. Through the week of August 8th (remember, my birthday, and what an awesome present!!) to August 14th, any article of clothing or footwear under $100 will be tax-free (this discount is not applicable to accessories such as jewelery or handbags). So, yes, an article of clothing that is $99.99 will be tax-free.

Here is the full list of states that will be participating. Check out the link your state provides to see any specifications. Most states have the same max cost of items that Maryland does, but some also have additional savings on things like school supplies.

Back to School Time!

Yes. it is already that time of the year for most of the country. I know my county goes back on August 30th, although other parts of the country start back in early August.

Whether you are a student, teacher, parent, or just someone who donates school supplies to needy children; Tara over at Deal Seeking Mom has compiled a huge list of all the school supply deals you can score this week. Most of her listings are under a dollar and many are 0.25 cents or less!

Now is the time to stock up on anything you might need!

BOGO Baskin Robbins

Who doesn't love free ice cream? Especially since here on the east coast, we've been in the triple digit temperatures more often than not the past few weeks.

If you go here and print out this coupon, you can get a free soft serve ice cream cone from Baskin Robbins when you purchase one.

Offer is valid through August 8th (ahem, which happens to be my birthday, AHEM!).

Free Antibacterial at Bath and Body Works

More Bath and Body Works coupons!!

Now you can get a free Antibacterial soap with ANY $10 purchase. Just go over here and print out the coupon or enter promo code 2905 at checkout if you shop online.

Offer valid through August 29th, so you have plenty of time to use this.

Free Shipping at Forever 21

I like Forever 21 for random tops and occasional jackets because they aren't overly expensive and they're stock rotates pretty frequently. Right now, you can get free shipping on ANY online order. There is no purchase minimum, just enter the code SURVEY at checkout and your entire order will ship for free. They have cute tops starting from just $3, so you could really stock up and not worry about a shipping fee!

Click here to shop!

Oxy Clinical Acne Solutions Sample

Click here to get a free Sample of Oxy Acne Solutions: Clinical Strength.

You do not have to have a teenager in the house to get this sample. They ask if you have a teen but you don't have to answer that question.

Old Navy Student and Teacher Discount

If go to Old Navy this weekend (Fri-Sun 7/23-7/25, only) and show a valid school ID, you will be able to get an additional 25% off your entire purchase. It doesn't limit what the discount applies to, nor does it state that it's only for HS kids or college kids, it just says anyone with a school ID, which would include teachers/professors. Here is the ad on Facebook for more information. You can call your local Old Navy to make sure they are participating.

7/19/10 Shopping part deux

CVS: The Gilette ProGlide works wonders for my brother. It's the only thing that will shave him close, so I have been stocking up on them.

• 1 Pro Glide Razor - orig. $12.99, on sale for $9.97, used $4 off coupon = $5.97
• 2 Pretzel M&M's - orgi. .89/ea, on sale for 2/$1, used a Buy One Get One Free Coupon = 2/0.50 or .25 each
• 1 4-pack Expo Washable Dry-Erase Markers - 0rig. $4.99, on sale for $1.99, used $1 off coupon = 0.99

I also had $3 in Extra Care bucks that I redeemed which brought my final total down even more.
Total before coupons/sales: 19.76
Total after coupons/sales/extra care bucks: $4.95
PLUS: I got $6 in Extra Care bucks back from buying the razor and 2 packs of Pretzel M&M's, so it's like I made $1.05 on the deal! Have I mentioned how much I love CVS?

Oh Target, Target, Target. I bought more than I normally do, but I got some pretty good deals on stuff. The second pic is a little dark, I apologize, my flash was acting weird. That is one of the Room Essentials side tables in White.
In the Pictures:

• 4 SoBe Yumberry Pomegranate drinks @ $1 each = $4
• 1 Ponds Make-Up Remover Wiples = $4.69
• 1 Venus Bikini Kit orig. $7.99, on clearance = $3.98
• 1 Sonia Kashuk Eyeshadow Brush orig $7.99, on clearance = $1.48
• 1 Serrated Icing Spatula orig. $7.99, on clearance = 2.98
• 1 Visine eye drops orig. $1.98, on clearance = $0.98
• 8 5-tab Index Dividers orig. $0.97/ea, on clearance @ 0.57/ea = $4.56
• 1 Westcott Scissors = $1.99
• 1 Comet Disinfecting Spray = $1.89
• 1 Stacy's Cinnamon Sugar Pita Chips orig $2.79, on clearance = $1.88
• 2 GE Reveal 3-way lightbulbs @ $2.24 each = $4.48
• 1 Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets orig. $4.49, on sale = $3.99
• 6 Bounty Basic Paper Towels @ 0.99 each = $5.94
• 1 Post-It Cube orig $3.24, on sale = $2.24
• 1 Room Essentials Side Table orig. $14.99, clearance tag said $10.51 but it rang up = $9.51
  

Coupons used:

• 2 Buy One Get One Free SoBe coupons from here = $2.00 total
• $1.25 off Ponds Make-Up Towlettes 30-count
• $2.00 off Venus Bikini Kit
• $1 off any size Visine drops - was adjusted down to 0.98 off
• $0.25 hangtag coupon for Comet cleaner
• 0.75 off Stacy's pita chips
• 2 $1.50 off GE Reveal Light bulbs - Target coupons, no longer available = $3.00 total
• $1 off any Clean and Clear item - Target coupon, available here
• $2 off any Clean and Clear product, manufacturer printable - available here
• 3 $1/2 Bounty products, any size = $3.00 total
• $1.00 off Post-It Cube, available here

Total before clearance/sales/coupons: $82.21
Total after clearance/sales: $56.58
Total after coupons: $39.33

I did the breadown that way to show that even without coupons, since this woman suggests coupons are pointless, you can still save money shopping sales and clearances. Before coupons, I saved almost $26 just because it was on sale. BUT with coupons I saved an additional $17.25, bringing my total savings to almost $43. A little extra effort to use coupons is definitely worth it.

Here is my total for today:
What I would have spent today without sales and coupons: $149.13
What I actually spent: $48.54
That extra $100 I saved makes my bank account very happy.

7/19/10 Shopping part 1

So, I have three addictions: 1. Purses, 2. Clearance Shopping, 3. Office Supplies (yes I can spend hours in Staples/Office Depot looking at everything - don't judge me! I actually have a friend that loves office supply shopping as much as I do, lol). When you think of some of the worse addictions, mine are pretty tame, wouldn't you say?

Today I got to indulge two of those addictions (my purse habit is sadly a bit more expensive) as a treat to myself for getting through summer session at school. I'm going to do a two-parter because my Target trip was a bit extensive than what I normally do.

Old Navy: I just sort of wound up there? I really had no reason for going to Old Navy, but alas, a couple of good finds were.....well...found.
Both of these were on clearance. The flip-flops were 1.47 and had there been more color choices I definitely would have stocked up, but all they had were pink, a weird green, and silver (none in my size). That little tote was on clearance for 2.97 from $10. It's not a huge tote, but it will be GREAT for me to take my lunch to work in. So it was like buying the flip-flops at normal retail price and getting the tote for FREE!


Staples: While no I don't do the traditional "Back to School" thing, I am a Graduate Student so now is a great time for me to stock up on supplies that I will need for the fall and spring semesters.

You can find their weekly sale ad here.
Thanks to their .25 and under Back to School sale, that whole picture came to $1.06 (with MD's 6% tax, that is). The pencils retail normally for 3.49 a pack and the index cards retail for 0.99 a pack. That's a savings of $7.96 from the regular retail price.

Walgreens: More Office Supplies!!!! The IVC is the Instant Value Coupon Books that you can find with the Walgreen's Circulars at the front of the store

• 2-pack Fine-tip Sharpie; on sale for 1.49 & used $1 off coupon from IVC = .49
• 5-pack Bic Highlighters; on sale for .49
• 1 Liquid Paper; used in-circular coupon making it .59
• 2-pack Pilot G2 Pens; on sale for 1.19 & used $1 off coupon from IVC = .19
• 6-pack Expo Washable Dry Erase Markers; 5.99 - used $3 off coupon from IVC, as well as $1 Manufacturer coupon = 1.99

Total before sales and coupons: $23.25
Total after sales and coupons: 3.75
Total Savings: 19.50 (all according to my Walgreens receipt)

Yahoo Finance Article.

I've gotten a couple emails from readers wondering if I had seen the Yahoo article this morning about the "8 reasons to not use coupons". I saw it and got a good laugh out of it. While reading it, I could come up with a rebuttal to every statement that was made. I know there are skeptics of coupons, but when I save an average of $50 at the grocery store weekly, and around 90% on average at drug stores, there is no way I'm going to stop using them.

I was going to post a rebuttal here, but another lovely blogger, Collin, over at Hip2Save already did it for me, and basically said everything that I could have even thought of. Here are her comments that she actually mailed to the author of the article in hopes that she re-considers some of her reasoning.

This is the original Yahoo finance article, for those that are interested.

Free Bare Minerals Trio from Sephora

Print out the linked page and take it to your local Sephora store to score a free 3-piece Bare Minerals makeup set, in Original or Matte finish, with ANY purchase.

You can also use this with any Sephora.com purchase by entering either BEMATTETRIO or BEBARETRIO at checkout.

Free Travel Mug

Join Dippin Dots 40 Below Zero Club today ONLY (July 18th) and you will receive a free travel mug by mail in 4-6 weeks. The 40 Below Zero Club is their official email club, where they will send you special members only offers, promotions, and special birthday discounts.

Click here to join!

Aeropostale Summer Clearance

Aeropostale is having an online final summer clearance sale with an extra 30% off all clearance sale prices. Great time to get a few summer pieces to take you through the rest of the summer.

Online only. Enter promo code SMRCLEAR at checkout to see the savings.

Click here to shop the clearance!

My 89 cent CVS trip

Yes, all of that was 0.89. I went in for a free CVS Instant Hand Sanitizing Spray I passed by on Twitter the other day, and saw their clearance section had a few good deals in it. Since I also had $3 in Extra Care Bucks about to expire I figured I'd treat myself.

In the picture:

• 1 CVS Hand Sanitizer - 1.99
• 1 Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector - 3.50, on clearance from $13.99
• 1 Essence of Beauty double sided lip gloss in Raspberry - 1.50, on clearance from $5.99
• 2 Essence of Beauty Portables Make-up Remover pads - 0.75 ea, on clearance from $2.99
  

Coupons used:

• 1 Free CVS hand Sanitizing spray
• 1 $3 off Neutrogena cosmetic from AllYou.com
• $3 in Extra Care Bucks

Total before coupons: 8.49 (if all items had been purchased at regular price: $27.95)
Total after coupons: 0.89

Awesome! :)

New Bath and Body Works Coupon!

Bath and Body Works is at it again! Click here to print a coupon for a free travel item ($5 max) with ANY purchase. This means you can find an item on clearance for a couple dollars and still get your free travel item.

Offer valid through July 28th.

Ulta Coupon

I love Ulta so I can buy salon shampoo's without having to spend salon prices for them.

Right now they have a coupon in their ad for $3.50 off any $10 purchase. Along with that, they have liter bottles of salon shampoo on sale for around $13.50, which after the coupon will make them $10. Not bad for shampoo that's normally sold for about $30.

Also, if you shop online, you will get free shipping on any order over $25, when you enter code 5903 at checkout.

I promise

I'm gonna stop ignoring you guys now!

I'm officially on summer break from school until September 16th and couldn't be happier. This summer class wore me down like no class has ever done before. I'm just waiting on the final grade right now so I can put the whole horrible experience behind me (and trust me I'm not being dramatic, one guy actually failed the program because of this class and dropped out with 2 classes left) and enjoy a relaxing summer.

So I am back! Yay!!!

Body Shop Coupon

Through Sunday, you can save $5 on any The Body Shop purchase, in store or online by using this coupon. If you want to use it in-store you have to print it out and have it with you. This can be used in conjunction with any in-store promotions and with your Body Shop Membership card, if you have one.

McDonalds Frappe or Smoothie

Generally my tummy isn't a fan of McDonalds, but I think this is a coupon even I could use!

Enter your email address to print out a $1 off any McCafe Frappe or Smoothie coupon.

Post-It Coupons

Even if you aren't a student, the summer is the perfect time of year to stock up on all sorts of office supplies.

Right now you can print out 6 Post-It Coupons that don't expire until the end of September. You can print them as many times as you like and save them for when all the school supplies go on deep clearance at the end of August.

Attn all College Students!

This is an AMAZING deal for college students: a free year's subscription to Amazon Prime (a $79 value). You have to be a current student in a college/University and provide them with your school e-mail address with a .edu. If you don't have a college e-mail the offer won't work for you.

The great thing about Prime is that you are eligible for Free 2-Day shipping on any order, which is great when it comes to ordering those textbooks that professors tell you about a week before class starts.

Send this to all of your college friends and let them take advantage of it, too!

Ahhh, sweet relaxation

I spend the whole weekend working on a huge project for my summer class. It took me around 14 hours and 37 pages for it to be completed.

That would be why I've been scarce for the past few days. Sorry guys! This is the last week of classes for me until the middle of September so I'll have plenty of time for you all. :)

Giveaway winner!

True Random Number Generator Min:1 Max:118 Result: 46

Commenter #46 was Amanda! Amanda said..."I hope you get to feeling better soon! I hate being sick in Summer! Were I the lucky winner, I think I'd mosey over to CSN's Cookware.com store and grab their KitchenAid set of Skillets in Red - quite a bargain for $40! Thanks so much for the chance to win!"

Congratulations! I'll be emailing you this morning to claim your gift card.

Thanks to all who entered!!

Giveaway!

EDIT: GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED!

Don't forget about the giveaway I have going on! I have had an awesome response so far (for this being such a new blog, I see it as an awesome response anyway, lol). It ends tonight at 11:59pm. So go ahead and click on the red link at the top of the page to enter if you're interested!

The winner will be announced tomorrow evening!

Bath and Body Works in-store promotion

Planning on making a trip to Bath and Body Works this weekend?

Well, tomorrow (Saturday) they are having an in-store promotion where any $10 purchase will get you a free C. O. Bigelow lip care item. There is no coupon necessary, the promotion will run while supplies last, so get there early!

Here's more information here.

Free sample from Nexxus

Go here to sign up for their newsletter and they will mail you a $3 off coupon, a free sample and information on a new product. This is only available this week, so sign up now!

Free Origins Mini-Facial

Right now you can get a free mini-facial from Origins (through 7/11).

In your facial you will get:

• skincare consultation
• gentle exfoliation
  
• facial mask targeted to your skincare concern.

You can choose from the following different types of facials:

• Age Erasing
• Firming
• Redness Relief
• Brightening
• Hydrating

Go here to find a participating location near you so that you can book your appointment before the promotion ends on July 11th!

Aveda Freebie

Print out this coupon and take it to your local Aveda store to get a free 3-piece sample pack of their Color Conserve Shampoo, Conditioner, and Strengthening Treatment.

Click here to find a location near you.

Offer valid through August 31st, no purchase necessary, limit one per customer. You must have the coupon present to get your product.

Enjoy Bodycology products?

Do you enjoy the Bodycology Line? If so apply to be one of their product testers. I'm not sure how or when they let you know if you have been selected, but it's worth a shot. Plus it's always fun to try out new products.

Right @ Home Back to School Gift Pack

It might not be back to school time yet (since my county's school year just ended two weeks ago) but Right @ Home wants to get you ready with a Ziploc gift pack. In the pack you will receive:

• One box of 50-count Ziploc® Brand Sandwich Bags
• One box of 25-count Ziploc® Brand Storage Bags with the Smart Zip™ Seal.
• One package of Ziploc® Brand Containers with the Smart Snap™ Seal (small bowl)

The pack is limited to the first 10,000 respondents. Limit one per household. You will not receive the gift pack if you registered for another package in the past 180 days. Don't know if you registered for a gift pack recently? Go ahead and register anyway and Right @ Home will sort it out. Those eligible to receive will have their gift packs mailed on October 15th.

Free Slurpee on 7/11

On Sunday 7/11/10, 7-11 will be giving away free Slurpees! Head on over between 8am and 11pm to pick yours up!

Bedrooms

GIVEAWAY IS OVER AND COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.


With being sick and overall worn out the past couple days, I have spent a lot of time in bed. Looking around my room, I notice that there are some things I could use to spruce it up a bit. Like another piece of furniture in the corner, new bedspread, a new lamp, a rug, and on and on and on.

So, of course, what do I do? I start looking around online to see if there is anything that catches my eye to liven up my bedroom a little bit and I stumbled upon a site by CSN Stores. They have everything you could want to design or redesign your bedroom.

Plus, CSN Stores also has something else for my wonderful readers. A $40 gift card towards any purchase on their site.

In order to enter, all you have to do is browse the site and leave me a comment (with your email address - that is required for you to receive your gift card) here telling me what you might like to use the gift card on if you won.

The giveaway will end on July 9th and then the winner will be chosen using random.org. The winner will then be announced and emailed. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to my email telling them that they won. If there is no response, a new winner will be chosen at random.

Disclaimer: This giveaway is open only to those within the U.S. and Canada. Additional shipping fees may be applicable within the U.S. and Canada (along with any international fees for Canada).

*Image courtesy of bedroomfurniture.com

Aeropostale Clearance Sale!

Throughout this weekend if you shop at Aeropostale.com you will get an additional 30% off any clearance item. They have items clearanced down to $5.99 plus the 30% off will make those items $4.19. Just enter the code CLEAR at checkout and the savings will be deducted.

Heading to the mall? Print out this coupon to save $10 off any purchase of $50 or more in-stores only this weekend.

Gas-X Prevention

Click here to get a Free sample of Gas-X Prevention supplement.

Womanity by Theirry Mugler

Go here to request a sample for Thierry Mugler's new scent Womanity.

I love perfume samples!

Barnes and Noble Summer Warehouse Clearance

bn.com is having a major summer clearance where you can find books for as low as $1.99! They have thousands of books on clearance so you can find something for everyone. Teachers, this would be a great time to stock up on books for your classrooms! Plus enter Y9K7J7X at checkout and you'll receive an additional 20% off any one item. ALSO if you're total is over $25 you'll get free shipping! Take advantage of this while you can!

Old Navy Saturday Special

Old Navy tends to have special deals on Saturday mornings and this upcoming Saturday they will have their signature flip-flops for $1 each. The sale is limited to the solid color flip-flops only, for the whole family. Limit 5 pairs.

You might want to find out what time your local Old Navy opens. Last year the one near me had a line hanging out the door as soon as they opened.

O.b and Stayfree coupons and samples

Go here to request a free sample of Stayfree Overnights Ultra Thin. You do have to register, but it'll only take about 2 minutes.

Also go here to request an o.b. trial pack and here to print a $1 off coupon for any o.b. product.