Making Life Sweet...one deal at a time!: 7/1/08

Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Monday, July 28, 2008

Winners

Thanks to all who entered the contest. Small numbers make the odds better! Ready for the results?

I used a random number generator for the winners.

Winner #1, for the $10 Target gift card is:
Matt&amp, commenter #7!

And winner #2, for the movie tickets is:
tisha lou, commenter #2!

Congrats ladies! Email me your mailing info and I will get your prizes out to you!

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Free GeoTrax DVD from Fisher Price

Remember when I posted back in April about a free Planet Heroes DVD from Fisher Price? Well, now Fisher Price is offering a free Geo Trax DVD as well! HERE is the link. Oh, and the Planet Heroes is still available too....I just checked. So order both and make your little one happy!

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

A great reason to use coupons

Groceries are constantly going up in price! It seems like every time I go to the store prices are higher. It makes NOW the best time to use coupons. One of the best ways to use your coupons is to combine them with good sales and rebate programs going on at various stores that week. For example, here was my shopping trip tonight at Albertson's:

9 64 oz bottles Old Orchard Healthy Balance juice
8 boxes General Mills cereal
4 boxes Barilla Picolinni pasta
2 bags Chex Mix
3 boxes Curves granola bars
1 box Yogos
2 boxes Pop Secret popcorn
4 boxes Gogurts
1 Fiber One yogurt 6 pack

For all that I paid a total of $32.82......that is only about .97 per item!! Not even Walmart can match those prices.

The key to my shopping success was using coupons with Albertson's sale. When the items are on sale for $1.50 (when you purchase 10 items in a group) then I add the coupons on top of that, it makes for big savings. Plus, the Barilla pasta and the Old Orchard juice bottles were on sale for Buy 2 get 2 free....and I had additional coupons for those as well. IT ALL ADDS UP! I had a total of $18.74 in manufacturer coupons and $65.36 worth of store savings. I saved almost an additional $20 compared to the person who had no coupons and purchased the same items I did. Cool, huh!

If you want to start shopping this way but feel like it takes too much time, think again. There is a marvelous website out there that organizes the deals for you. They make up the shopping lists for you....they even match up the coupons for you and tell you where to get them, online or in the paper. No more searching and hours pouring over the ads. Pinching Your Pennies is the place to go! It can't get any easier. Plus, it's FREE! They spell it all out for you, but if you have specific questions I would be happy to answer them for you.

Here are some more helpful hints:

Coupon 101
General coupon rules
Printable coupon links
Rebates

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Anniversary Contest

One year ago this month, July 2007, I started this blog. I wanted to share my knowledge with others and organize my information for myself. When it comes to finding deals, couponing, and freebies, I love it and want to share it! I have had lots of fun with this blog, and I really enjoy letting others know about deals I find. I get so giddy about deals and freebies & I like to see others get the same rush. Isn't it fun?

To celebrate the one year anniversary of my blog, I will be giving away a few prizes! YIPPEE! To enter the contest, all you need to do is leave a comment here on this post, then put a link to this contest post on your blog. Share the love of deals and freebies!

I will have two drawings, for prize #1 and prize #2. I will be using a random number generator to pick the winners. The contest will run from today through July 27th. I will post the winners on July 28th.

Prize #1 A $10 gift card to Target!

Prize #2 Two complimentary movie passes to any Regal Cinema location! The passes are good through 2010.

Good luck everyone!

24 Free Computer Fonts

Jessica has given us links to 24 free computer fonts. Thanks! They look totally awesome. There is also listed a handy tutorial for downloading fonts if you are not sure how to do it.

Saturday, July 19, 2008

40% off at Borders, plus free shipping

Here is a good deal if you are needing something at Borders.com

Use code BC4777 for 40% off a single item
Then use the code BR41925 for another $5 off your purchase
Free shipping on orders of $25 or more or free shipping if shipped to a store for pickup!

Note: both codes will not work on a single item purchase. If you want to use both codes, you muse order multiple items. Or just order one item and use one code.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Children's Place Monster Sale items as low as .99 each

The Children's Place is having their annual Monster Sale! 50% off clearance prices, plus use this code for an extra 15% off! (thanks PYP)

Code: 15% off - FA78

$5 flat rate shipping!

The Children's Place Link

I just ordered 4 pairs of shoes, 4 pairs of jeans and a pair of sunglasses...all for $46 shipped! Awesome.

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Free Jiffy Mix recipes for camping

Click HERE to get a free camping recipe book from Jiffy Mix! I got one a few years ago, but they have since updated it. It also comes with nutritional information.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Free box of Cheerios

The lower your cholesterol challenge begins on July 28th 2008. Sign up for details via email.
LINK

Kodak Gallery Free Pocket Photo Book

Join Kodak Gallery today and get a free pocket photo book!

Terms and Conditions:
KODAK Gallery will provide 1 free fourteen page, double-sided Pocket Photo Book (a $9.99 value), to people who register as new members of KODAK Gallery between June 13, 2008 and August 31, 2008. You are responsible for the cost of additional pages, shipping costs and applicable sales tax. Other restrictions apply.

Costco again & finding deals

A few months ago I had a post on Costco and price comparison shopping. This dilemma comes up for me every now and then...is it really worth the membership to shop there?

I remember when Costco was only $40 per year...now we pay $50 per year. I would really have to spend some time adding up the savings to see if I make my membership fee back each year. I probably do.....but I have come to the conclusion that Costco is also a fun place to shop...a place where you want to go to see what they have in stock, get some samples, and see what new things they have in. You pay for the experience most of the time, don't you think? I have had some friends tell me they can never get out of Costco for less than $125. REALLY? I suppose I think that is weird because I stick to my list. Rarely, very rarely will I purchase something impulsively at Costco. It all adds up! I don't like to spend unnecessary money. Additionally, many things I purchase at Costco last me a long time, so I don't need to go back all that often. Besides, when I do go back when I don't really need anything specific, it is easier to be tempted to spend money that I shouldn't. So I just don't.

I almost didn't renew our membership this year, but I did. I am finding myself being sucked into their trap! I used to split a membership with my sis-in-law, but I found I missed the coupons that way since they only send them to one address and she got them! I have found that almost 100% of the time, most grocery food items (except for bulk goods, spices, salad, and the like) are not good deals. Note that I said grocery food items. If you watch the ads, price match at Walmart or use coupons, you can get much, much better deals at the supermarket. Here is a blog with a post on some examples of that. There isn't any difference when I stock up on a killer sale for ketchup at the grocery store by purchasing 24 bottles or buying the same amount at Costco...except for the price!

If you are wary about using coupons or don't know where to begin, here is a good place to start. Knowing a little about coupon rules doesn't hurt either. The gals at Pinching Your Pennies are awesome...they spend many many hours putting together shopping lists for us, matching up coupons with the sales, and more. Check out Pinching Your Pennies if you haven't already. It is FREE! Many other websites have similar services but charge a fee. Why pay for it?

Here and here are a couple of my examples from deal shopping. I have had hundreds more but I don't always document them. My best one ever was a few years ago at Albertson's when I got cereal for .32 cents a box. I had about 40 boxes in my garage. Here is an example from Faye and how you can increase your savings by utilizing double and triple coupon days with sales. WOW!

Please post any questions you might have or comments about Costco or using coupons and sales to stock up at the grocery store. I would love to hear them!

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Free Sippy Cup

Click HERE to get a free sippy cup from Juicy Juice! I have gotten this twice in the past few years. They are Playtex cups with the Juicy Juice logo. Nice cup...a great freebie!

New freebies

Huggies sample (size 3 only)
Suze Orman Will and Trust Kit (enter people first as the gift code)
Purex sample and coupon

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Pinwheels

Sorry for the long time with no posts. I just got back last night from New York, on a week-long getaway with my hubby to celebrate our 10 year wedding anniversary. Oh, it was fabulous! Now back to the grind. I will catch up with your comments and new freebies shortly!

Skip to My Lou is a great crafty blog. She has all sorts of fun ideas. Here is a free pattern and instructions for 4th of July patriotic pinwheels. Fun, huh?