Happy Birthday to Me!
It's my birthday but you get the gifts.
Here is a whole list of birthday freebies that I've received this year. Follow the links and sign up for them yourself.
http://www.redrobin.com/ - free burger for your birthday (click on join eclub) Kids can also sign up for a free burger for their birthday under the Kids Club
http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/ - free icecream - sign everyone up!
http://www.houlihans.com/EmailClub.aspx - free entree
http://www.lonestarsteakhouse.com/ - sign up for their e club receive a $15 gift card for your birthday!
http://www.macaronigrill.com/ - sign up for their Mac Pack, get a free dessert for your birthday & anniversary
http://www.sonicdrivein.com/ - sign up for their cruisers club (you don't have to have a My Sonic Card to register) get a free meal for your birthday. Also - sign your kids up for their kids club, they get a free wacky pack for their birthday.
Here are some more goodies that are just for the kids:
Spaghetti Factory - http://www.osf.com/ - free meal on their birthday
Applebees - free meal, get card to fill out from Applebees
Sonic - http://wackypack.kidsbirthdayclub.com/about_the_club.cfm - free wacky pack for their birthday
Target - free birthday goodies - https://sites.target.com/site/en/spot/page.jsp;jsessionid=OIQ1MJIZIHAJNLARAAV5X5Y?title=birthdaycentral_signup&_requestid=2058311
http://www.chuckecheese.com/ - free tokens for their birthday
Have a great day....I know I will.
Showing posts with label Couponing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Couponing. Show all posts
Friday, January 30, 2009
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Aldi vs. Wal-Mart
In case you've ever wondered if shopping at Aldi is really worth the hassel....
Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer did an item by item price comparrison of Wal-Mart and Aldi and posted the results in spreadsheet format on her blog.
Check it out here.
Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer did an item by item price comparrison of Wal-Mart and Aldi and posted the results in spreadsheet format on her blog.
Check it out here.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Freebies!!
Another part of saving money and/or living frugally is signing up for hundreds of freebies.
It is kind of time consuming (unless you can figure out how to make the "auto fill" feature work...which I can't) but it pays off.
Here are the freebies I have received in the last two weeks.
It is so exciting to open the mailbox and find all kinds of little packages full of goodies.
All of the frugal blogs I have listed in my sidebar will direct you to the best freebies around. Check it out!!
Friday, May 16, 2008
One More Time
Ok, Ok. I know this is probably boring the socks off of most of you bleaders (that's blog + readers).
I just have to post about it one more time. This is it I promise. No matter how much money I save at CVS in the future I won't make you read about it. (Hey, it could be worse. I could be lining everything up nice and neat and taking pictures of it and posting them on here. Trust me, people do it everyday.)
But.....today I bought:
7 tubes of toothpaste
2 bags of Hershey's Bliss
1 bag of Twizzlers
8 bars of soap
1 liquid hand soap
1 body wash
1 sucker
1 mini box of Cheese Nips
2 Glade air freshener sprays
...and paid a grand total of $8.94 out of pocket
...and earned $24.98 in Extra Care Bucks
...so in other words CVS paid me $16.04 to take this stuff
Without coupons and Extra Care Bucks I would have paid $48.40!!!
Can you believe it?
You've got to start doing this if you aren't already...and judging by the reactions Jackie (fellow new CVSer) and I have had from the cashiers not many of you in Greenville are doing it. The cashiers are actually asking us how to do it and where to get the coupons, etc.
CVS is my new favorite store.
I just have to post about it one more time. This is it I promise. No matter how much money I save at CVS in the future I won't make you read about it. (Hey, it could be worse. I could be lining everything up nice and neat and taking pictures of it and posting them on here. Trust me, people do it everyday.)
But.....today I bought:
7 tubes of toothpaste
2 bags of Hershey's Bliss
1 bag of Twizzlers
8 bars of soap
1 liquid hand soap
1 body wash
1 sucker
1 mini box of Cheese Nips
2 Glade air freshener sprays
...and paid a grand total of $8.94 out of pocket
...and earned $24.98 in Extra Care Bucks
...so in other words CVS paid me $16.04 to take this stuff
Without coupons and Extra Care Bucks I would have paid $48.40!!!
Can you believe it?
You've got to start doing this if you aren't already...and judging by the reactions Jackie (fellow new CVSer) and I have had from the cashiers not many of you in Greenville are doing it. The cashiers are actually asking us how to do it and where to get the coupons, etc.
CVS is my new favorite store.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
The Worldwide Garage Sale
Well, E-Bay has done it again.
Now people are selling old, unused postage stamps!
Yeah, you can buy a roll of 41 cent stamps for $34. That means that even when you add the 1 cent stamp you are still only paying 35 cents for postage.
Crazy!! People really will sell anything.
For more details on it all go to Tammy's Recipes and check out this post.
Now people are selling old, unused postage stamps!
Yeah, you can buy a roll of 41 cent stamps for $34. That means that even when you add the 1 cent stamp you are still only paying 35 cents for postage.
Crazy!! People really will sell anything.
For more details on it all go to Tammy's Recipes and check out this post.
Friday, May 9, 2008
First Time CVS'er
Considering that it is Frugal Friday and all, I finally did it.
I made first foray into the mystery that is the Extra Care Buck at CVS.
I studied for two weeks and read every blog I could get my eyes on. I was finally brave enough to try my luck with the coupons and all today.
Here is what happened:
I bought 2 small bags of dog food, one razor, two tins of breathmints, a toothbrush, and the Tuesday edition of the Greenville Advocate which has my son's prom picture in it.
The total came to $22.58.
Then I whipped out the coupons!!
I had a coupn for $4 off of a purchase of $20 or more at CVS which I used.
I had a $4.00 off coupon for each of the $3.99 dog foods, that made them free and a coupon for the razor and the toothbrush too.
After coupons my total was $9.70.
I got $22.58 worth of stuff for $9.70 and earned $10 in Extra Care Bucks (ECBs).
That means that technically I got paid $0.30 for buying $22.58 worth of stuff.
Here is how it works:
Certain items at CVS produce ECBs. That means that when you buy them you will get a coupon printed out on your receipt for money to use at CVS. For example, the Colgate 360 Toothbrush I bought today cost $3.99 (for a toothbrush!, crazy I know) but it also produces an ECB coupon for $3.99, so it's like you get it for free. I also happened to have a coupon from the paper for $1 off of a Colgate 360 Toothbrush so I paid $2.99 for it and made $3.99 in ECBs.
The trick is to buy things that produce ECBs greater than or equal to the amount of the purchase, like the toothbrush.
If you can combine manufactuers coupons with the CVS deal then all the better. I was able to do that today too. I had a coupon for $4.00 off of the Venus razor that costs $9.99 at CVS. That would make it cost $5.99 for me (see how good I am at the math :)). The Venus Razor produces a $5.00 ECB. You guessed it. The razor technically cost me $0.99.
I say "technically" because I did pay $5.99 out of pocket for the razor and $2.99 out of pocket for the toothbrush...but I received $8.99 in ECBs for making those two purchases. I will roll over my ECBs and let them accumulate and then use them to buy stuff that I need, but that doesn't actually produce ECBs, like detergent or something.
Now, some people will buy anything and everything at CVS that produces ECBs and figure out what to do with it later. I am not one of those people. If it isn't something I can use or give to someone else that might need it I am not going to buy it...no matter how many ECBs it produces. I just don't need extra stuff laying around.
So, how do you know what will produce the most ECBs? The sale flyers at the CVS stores tell you exactly what does and doesn't produce ECBs and how much each item will produce. All of those frugal mom blogs listed on my sidebar will give you their best CVS "scenarios" too. (What combination of items to buy to maximize the use and accumulation of ECBs.)
What should you do now? Well, the first thing is to make sure that you have a CVS card. You can sign up for one and receive it immediately in the store. While you are there pick up the sale flyer. (Don't forget to get a new one every week, Sun. I think) Next, go online and register with CVS and get your e-mail coupon for $4 off of a $20 purchase. Then just start readin' the blogs and workin' the deals. Whatever you do do not throw away your ECB coupons (Mom!!). Send them to me if you don't want to mess with them.
If you don't trust me, or don't understand anything I've said here, or would just like a little more explanation of the whole CVS, ECB thing then check out the CVS tutorials here and here. These women have been CVSing a long time and they have it all figure out.
For more tips about living frugally go to Biblical Womanhood and check out all of the Frugal Friday posts.
I made first foray into the mystery that is the Extra Care Buck at CVS.
I studied for two weeks and read every blog I could get my eyes on. I was finally brave enough to try my luck with the coupons and all today.
Here is what happened:
I bought 2 small bags of dog food, one razor, two tins of breathmints, a toothbrush, and the Tuesday edition of the Greenville Advocate which has my son's prom picture in it.
The total came to $22.58.
Then I whipped out the coupons!!
I had a coupn for $4 off of a purchase of $20 or more at CVS which I used.
I had a $4.00 off coupon for each of the $3.99 dog foods, that made them free and a coupon for the razor and the toothbrush too.
After coupons my total was $9.70.
I got $22.58 worth of stuff for $9.70 and earned $10 in Extra Care Bucks (ECBs).
That means that technically I got paid $0.30 for buying $22.58 worth of stuff.
Here is how it works:
Certain items at CVS produce ECBs. That means that when you buy them you will get a coupon printed out on your receipt for money to use at CVS. For example, the Colgate 360 Toothbrush I bought today cost $3.99 (for a toothbrush!, crazy I know) but it also produces an ECB coupon for $3.99, so it's like you get it for free. I also happened to have a coupon from the paper for $1 off of a Colgate 360 Toothbrush so I paid $2.99 for it and made $3.99 in ECBs.
The trick is to buy things that produce ECBs greater than or equal to the amount of the purchase, like the toothbrush.
If you can combine manufactuers coupons with the CVS deal then all the better. I was able to do that today too. I had a coupon for $4.00 off of the Venus razor that costs $9.99 at CVS. That would make it cost $5.99 for me (see how good I am at the math :)). The Venus Razor produces a $5.00 ECB. You guessed it. The razor technically cost me $0.99.
I say "technically" because I did pay $5.99 out of pocket for the razor and $2.99 out of pocket for the toothbrush...but I received $8.99 in ECBs for making those two purchases. I will roll over my ECBs and let them accumulate and then use them to buy stuff that I need, but that doesn't actually produce ECBs, like detergent or something.
Now, some people will buy anything and everything at CVS that produces ECBs and figure out what to do with it later. I am not one of those people. If it isn't something I can use or give to someone else that might need it I am not going to buy it...no matter how many ECBs it produces. I just don't need extra stuff laying around.
So, how do you know what will produce the most ECBs? The sale flyers at the CVS stores tell you exactly what does and doesn't produce ECBs and how much each item will produce. All of those frugal mom blogs listed on my sidebar will give you their best CVS "scenarios" too. (What combination of items to buy to maximize the use and accumulation of ECBs.)
What should you do now? Well, the first thing is to make sure that you have a CVS card. You can sign up for one and receive it immediately in the store. While you are there pick up the sale flyer. (Don't forget to get a new one every week, Sun. I think) Next, go online and register with CVS and get your e-mail coupon for $4 off of a $20 purchase. Then just start readin' the blogs and workin' the deals. Whatever you do do not throw away your ECB coupons (Mom!!). Send them to me if you don't want to mess with them.
If you don't trust me, or don't understand anything I've said here, or would just like a little more explanation of the whole CVS, ECB thing then check out the CVS tutorials here and here. These women have been CVSing a long time and they have it all figure out.
For more tips about living frugally go to Biblical Womanhood and check out all of the Frugal Friday posts.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Wal-Mart Paid Me!!!
This weekend I sent my friend Jackie to Wal-Mart with my coupons. (It costs me $6 just to get to a Wal-Mart so if I can find other people that are going I send my list with them.) She picked up $15.38 worth of products for me, and after she checked out the clerk had to give her $0.15!!!
Can you believe that? Wal-Mart paid me $0.15 to buy 2 boxes of cereal, a bar of soap, two boxes of Zantac, and 6 Ziploc containers. I made money by shopping!!!
Jackie said the clerk said, “Well, that’s a first for me.” Well I can tell you it won’t be the last time it happens because I plan to keep it up. So how did I do it?
Thanks to all of the great frugal mom bloggers out there I have discovered the world of “couponing”. I’m still trying to figure it all out but in just 2 weeks I have saved a little over $24 off of my Wal-Mart bill. This is just a brief overview to help you get started if you are interested in saving money too.
Step One: Buy a couple of Sunday papers.
I buy the St. Louis Post Dispatch ($1.50) and the Bellville Herald and Review ($1.75). They both have two sale flyers in them every week and other flyers that come out just at the beginning of the month.
Step Two: DON’T clip any coupons.
You do not want to clip your coupons ahead of time. Just pull out the flyers and use a marker to write the date on the top of them and then file them away by type (Smart Source, Red Plum, Proctor & Gamble, etc.) and date.
Step Three: Find the deals.
This is actually very easy. Just go to the blogs that spell the deals out for you. I’ve listed some on my sidebar and they all link to others. So just find the ones that you like the best and check them every day. They will have the best ideas listed near the end of the week because they have had time to go to the stores and scope them out. It’s like having your own personal shopper, kind of. You can also use MyGroceryDeals.com to find what is on sale at all of the major chain stores.
Step Four: Learn the lingo.
There are a lot of acronyms involved with couponing that you’ll need to know.
BOGO= buy one, get one
OOP=out of pocket
$1/1=a coupon that is $1 off of 1 item
$3/$15= a coupon that is $3 off of an expenditure of $15
5/4 SS=tells you that the coupon you need can be found in the May 4th issue of the Smart Source sale flyer. This is why you do not want to clip any of your coupons until you are ready to take them to the store.
Step Five: Combine offers.
That is the most important point to remember. You CAN combine manufactuers coupons with store coupons and discounts. So only use your coupons for things that are already on sale. This enables you to get things for free or almost free.
For example: The Zantac that I bought was on sale at Wal-Mart for $3.98 a box. I had two coupons (that I printed on-line) for $5/1 ($5 off of one box). I bought 2 boxes so I got $2.04 back. The Ziploc containers were on sale for $2.48 but my coupon was only for $1/1 leaving me to still pay $1.48 for the 6 containers. But that’s OK because I’ve got that $2.04 leftover from the Zantac that can go to that. The Kashi cereal I bought was on sale for $2 a box and I had 2 coupons for $2/1. Voila! Two free boxes of cereal. See how it works?
It may sound complicated but it really is simple. Especially when the blogs actually tell you exactly which coupon to use at which store when. It is very little work for a big return.
Happy Saving!
Coming soon! How to get all that free stuff at CVS. (Still working on learning that.)
Can you believe that? Wal-Mart paid me $0.15 to buy 2 boxes of cereal, a bar of soap, two boxes of Zantac, and 6 Ziploc containers. I made money by shopping!!!
Jackie said the clerk said, “Well, that’s a first for me.” Well I can tell you it won’t be the last time it happens because I plan to keep it up. So how did I do it?
Thanks to all of the great frugal mom bloggers out there I have discovered the world of “couponing”. I’m still trying to figure it all out but in just 2 weeks I have saved a little over $24 off of my Wal-Mart bill. This is just a brief overview to help you get started if you are interested in saving money too.
Step One: Buy a couple of Sunday papers.
I buy the St. Louis Post Dispatch ($1.50) and the Bellville Herald and Review ($1.75). They both have two sale flyers in them every week and other flyers that come out just at the beginning of the month.
Step Two: DON’T clip any coupons.
You do not want to clip your coupons ahead of time. Just pull out the flyers and use a marker to write the date on the top of them and then file them away by type (Smart Source, Red Plum, Proctor & Gamble, etc.) and date.
Step Three: Find the deals.
This is actually very easy. Just go to the blogs that spell the deals out for you. I’ve listed some on my sidebar and they all link to others. So just find the ones that you like the best and check them every day. They will have the best ideas listed near the end of the week because they have had time to go to the stores and scope them out. It’s like having your own personal shopper, kind of. You can also use MyGroceryDeals.com to find what is on sale at all of the major chain stores.
Step Four: Learn the lingo.
There are a lot of acronyms involved with couponing that you’ll need to know.
BOGO= buy one, get one
OOP=out of pocket
$1/1=a coupon that is $1 off of 1 item
$3/$15= a coupon that is $3 off of an expenditure of $15
5/4 SS=tells you that the coupon you need can be found in the May 4th issue of the Smart Source sale flyer. This is why you do not want to clip any of your coupons until you are ready to take them to the store.
Step Five: Combine offers.
That is the most important point to remember. You CAN combine manufactuers coupons with store coupons and discounts. So only use your coupons for things that are already on sale. This enables you to get things for free or almost free.
For example: The Zantac that I bought was on sale at Wal-Mart for $3.98 a box. I had two coupons (that I printed on-line) for $5/1 ($5 off of one box). I bought 2 boxes so I got $2.04 back. The Ziploc containers were on sale for $2.48 but my coupon was only for $1/1 leaving me to still pay $1.48 for the 6 containers. But that’s OK because I’ve got that $2.04 leftover from the Zantac that can go to that. The Kashi cereal I bought was on sale for $2 a box and I had 2 coupons for $2/1. Voila! Two free boxes of cereal. See how it works?
It may sound complicated but it really is simple. Especially when the blogs actually tell you exactly which coupon to use at which store when. It is very little work for a big return.
Happy Saving!
Coming soon! How to get all that free stuff at CVS. (Still working on learning that.)
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