Saturday, January 30, 2010

Coupon reset coming soon!

It's almost the end of another month and that means coupons are going to be reset in the next few days. Some coupons will disappear and others will be printable again if you've already printed them (this can also apply to coupons that ran out of prints due to demand).

So head to your favorite coupon sites and get printing!

Coupons.com
Smartsource.com
RedPlum.com

Also try manufacturer websites:
http://www.kraftrecipes.com/Products/SuperValu.aspx
http://www2.kelloggs.com/Product/KelloggCoupon.aspx
http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/coupons/default.aspx?WT.ac=homepage_05-01-2008
http://www.campbellkitchen.com/coupon.aspx

Mail Call! Sears/Kmart & Lane Bryant

In the mail today, I got a physical card for Shop Your Way Rewards. It's a reward program that works at Sears, Kmart, and Lands' End. Basically, you get a percentage of your purchase back to use on a later purchase (you get to choose when). If you use the card at Kmart, you may win prizes. Also, no reciepts are required for returns at Sears and Kmart if you use your card.  If you don't have a physical card or forget it, just tell the cashier your phone number and they can pull it up.

Got a new catalog from Lane Bryant also. I almost tossed it, but I'm glad I didn't because there were TWO $15 off $15 purchase coupons inside! I don't really need any clothes right now, but I'll try and use these to get a great deal on clearance or sale items. It really is worth it to sign up for mailing lists for your favorite stores; I've gotten 4 of these coupons recently.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Designer OOAK Barbies on eBay - 100% goes to charity!

Twelve top designers, including Betsey Johnson and Issac Mizrahi, have transformed Barbie Basic dolls into extraordinary one of a kind creations. These dolls are exclusively available on eBay. All the proceeds go to the CFDA Foundation, Inc (learn more about the CFDA here).

What a great gift for the doll collector in your life!

Earth Fare Big Game Celebration in Chattanooga

Earth Fare is having a big event on the Saturday before the Super Bowl. There will be food, beer samples, games, and,best of all, PRIZES! Earth Fare is giving away a LCD TV and an IPod Nano! To enter for the prizes, you'll need to stop by the Chattanooga location on February 6 and sign up for the healthy journey. While you're there, make sure to take part in the festivities!


The press release can be viewed here.

Earth Fare ---- new coupons and matchups for February

There are two great coupons available now!
20% off ALL Health and Body Care until 2/2
BOGO Muir Glen soup valid TODAY ONLY!

A Savvy Saver has the February deals with coupon matches; I'm really liking the organic baby spinach and carrots for .69!

Earth Fare has also twittered that Meyer lemons will be 4/$1 starting this weekend. Is it too soon for lemonade? Yum!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Today Only! FREE $5 gift card from Babies"R"Us!

Just go here and become a fan of Babies"R"Us on Facebook. Fill out a form with your name, address, email, and mobile number to receive your FREE card. Watch out for an email in the next few days! Quantities are limited and card expires 2/20. Card is valid in-store and online.

Food Lion ---- saved 43%

I stopped into Food Lion today for some produce and 7UP.  I got a text message from ShopText a couple of days ago telling me I could get a FREE 2 liter of 7UP or Canada Dry just by using my MVP card. I discussed signing up for this service here. I also got a $1 Tyson Any'tizers & 12" Digiorno Pizza and .40 Pringles coupons added to my card.

I took a $1 off a $5 produce Food Lion coupon to the store with me. Every week Food Lion emails me a link to exclusive store coupons. My Publix also accepts these coupons and I like to combine them with manufacturer coupons when possible. Sign up for the email list here.

Trip summary:
I bought 5lbs of potatoes, a head of lettuce, a mango and a 2 liter of 7UP.

Total before savings: $7.59
Total out of pocket: $4.30
---------------------------
saved 43%

Saving with a new coupon shopper

I went shopping Wednesday with a friend to demonstrate how to save with coupons. She went to Jenny's (from SouthernSavers.com) talk Saturday, so she had a bit of a head start. However, I think going out and actually doing it can be helpful (like learning to drive).

We went to Publix and CVS. I had to scramble to get some coupons together; I wasn't planning to buy much this week, so I hadn't really looked at the ads. Still, I think we did really well.

Trip summary:
She was able to get most of the items on her shopping list, including bread, eggs, margarine, cereal, produce, and potato chips. Some items were out of stock, so we made sure to get rainchecks.

Publix: saved 54%
CVS: saved 43%

New Staples 15% off coupon

Staples has a new 15% off coupon for in-store only. You can use it to make the $1 and rebate items this week even cheaper! It does exclude computers and a few other items. It expires 1/31.

**I have used this coupon in the past to make a small profit on rebate items. Make sure you use your Staples Rewards card!

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Mail Call! Olay part deux

Well, yesterday I got my $15 rebate from Olay. And wouldn't you know it, I got my $19.98 rebate today. As I mentioned yesterday, 2 Olay rebates are still active. Use coupons with a sale and you could make a profit!

Kroger --- saved 75%

I made a pilgrimage to Kroger today. I don't go to Kroger very often, because it is about one hour roundtrip. However, Kroger is having a Mega Sale this week. If you buy 10 items from their list, you get $5 automatically taken off your transaction. Best of all, Electrasol is on the list and I had 10 coupons!


As you can see, I got so much that I could not fit everything in one picture. I was even able to snag 8 boxes of Electrasol with 5 extra tablets (40 tablets for FREE)!

Trip summary:
Sadly, I did not know until checkout that my Kroger now limits internet coupons to two per transaction. I had to forgo an extra $12 in savings because of this. But, the cashier was kind enough to let me do 3 transactions (so I saved $15 that way). I also got a $2 on your next order coupon by buying the water (that I used).

Total before savings: $143.20
Total out of pocket: $35.53
-----------------------------
saved 75% ---- I also got more fuel points, so I saved a $1 on my gas today

Even more FREE food! Subway & Dairy Queen

Click here to sign up to get a BOGO Subway 6 inch sub coupon emailed to you just for creating your own custom sub! (Thanks, CouponDealsandSteals!)

Go here or here to sign up for the Blizzard Fan club. You'll get 6 BOGO 16oz Blizzard coupons throughout the year including your birthday and after signing up. (Thanks, Jessica's Coupons!)

FREE bar from Dove!

Head here and reply with a pic of your regular soap to get your FREE bar. You will need to have a Twitter account. Don't forget to follow ShoppingforSavings! See my post here for more great offers from Dove.

Monday, January 25, 2010

Get free food and discounts from your favorite restaurants!

I get emails from a variety of restaurants. Sometimes they are just info about new products, but you can also get great coupons!

I recently signed up with OJ Quench Club at Orange Julius. A couple of days later, I got a coupon for a FREE Orange Julius or smoothie. Today, I got a coupon for BOGO Premium Fruit or Light Smoothies! I'll also get a special Birthday coupon and something special every year I'm in the club.

I also joined the Red Robin eClub. So far, I've gotten a $3 off coupon and a coupon for a FREE appetizer with the purchase of 2 entrees. I'll also be getting a FREE burger on my birthday!

I'm also a member of Smokey Bones The Bones Club. Now, you do have to have a card from Smokey Bones to take advantage of the full member benefits, but you can also sign up for just the email list if you wish. You'll get $10 off just for joining. I've gotten BOGO entrees and dollar off coupons in the recent past.

These are just a few of the discounts available. Search for your favorite restaurants and you can get special treats in your inbox too!

FREE Oreos to the first 150,000!

Fan Oreo on Facebook and then go to the DSRL news tab to fill out a form to receive a coupon for a FREE Golden Double Stuf Oreo cookies package by mail. If they run out of free ones, you will instead get a $1 coupon for same.

It looks like there are still FREE coupons left, but hurry cause this all ends at 11:59 EST tonight or while supplies last!

Mail Call! Olay Rebate & Subway

I received a check today from Olay for $15. I had to buy 2 Regenerist products to receive this rebate. I paid about $4 for both products, so I made a profit of $11 and I got 2 great items FREE! Sadly, the rebate I received today ended yesterday. However, the rebate I mentioned here, you have until January 29 to make your purchases. There is also a rebate on other Regenerist items for $20 that ends February 11.

I also got a postcard from Subway. I don't know if this will go out nationwide, but it is great! It has 3 coupons: BOGO any regular Footlong sub, BOGO any Fresh Value meal, and $2 for any Subway salad with purchase of 21oz drink. Also, Subway now serves breakfast. I think I may use one of these coupons tomorrow!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

The importance of acquiring coupons

If you want to save money, it is important to collect and use coupons. Now, you can save with buy 1, get 1 and percentage off sales, heck, I do that myself. However, if you want to consistently save over 50% off your grocery and drugstore transactions, you must use coupons. There are two basic forms of coupons available: newspaper and ad inserts and printable online coupons.

I do not subscribe to my local paper. My grandfather generously lets me have his Wednesday and Sunday ads and inserts each week. This is actually a great way to start collecting coupons; asking relatives, friends, and co-workers for their papers. If you can't get enough inserts this way, you can also purchase additional papers. I'm not willing to buy extra papers, but my Walgreens discounts the Sunday paper to .75 when you purchase any other item. Some Dollar Generals will also mark down the Sunday paper to $1. You can also call your newspaper and see about discounts for multiple or Sunday-only subscriptions. If possible, buy the biggest (most populous city) paper available to your area.

Now, my paper, the Chattanooga Times Free Press, is horrible for serious couponing. So, I have to acquire the bulk of my coupons through online transactions. I regularly buy off of eBay and from coupon clipping services. eBay is nice, because it never takes a holiday and prices are generally low. Coupon clipping services are good if you need a specific coupon (usually you have to buy at least 5 and there may be a limit) and they generally offer whole inserts before any auctions will appear on eBay. Try to cultivate a variety of resources just in case something happens to one source. That way you'll never have to worry about missing a great coupon/insert.

Do you have a printer? If not, you will want to get one, because online coupons are awesome! Some coupons can only be obtained online. Target has good store and manufacturer coupons that can only be found on their website. My Publix accepts Target as a competitor, so I am able to use 2 coupons and save more money than I would with just 1 coupon. Even the newspaper insert companies have online coupons available! I highly recommend visiting Coupons.com, SmartSource, and Redplum. Also, look for your favorite manufacturers' websites for coupons. Sign up for mailing lists when you see them; email and mailed coupons are possible. If you have problems printing, consider trying multiple browsers or installing Flash. I use 3 browsers myself. Also, most online coupons can be printed twice per computer, just use your Back button.

Stay on the lookout for coupons; they will help you take your savings to the next level!