Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program

My daughter, who is in 1st grade this year, has really fallen in love with reading (yeah!), so this Barnes & Noble program is pretty exciting to me! I'm always looking for new books for her to read, and this sounds like a great way to get one!

Here's the scoop:

Kids in 1-6 grade read 8 books, fill out this reading journal, have their parent sign it, then turn it in at a local Barnes & Noble store. They will receive a coupon for a free book (choose from a selection listed on the reading journal). Sounds easy to me, and I know that Maddie will love picking out her new book!

Program runs between May 27 and September 7, 2009.

Thanks, Free Stuff Times!

Another Free Reusable Tote

This week at QFC you can get a free reusable tote when you bring in 10 or more plastic bags for recycling. There's a coupon in their weekly ad (4/22-4/28) that you have to give them, but no other purchase is necessary.

Also, you can "design" your own tote on the QFC website and they'll credit your QFC Advantage card with another reusable tote! I did one today, and it was fun!

Albertsons Deals

Check out this week's deals (4/22-4/28) at Albertsons on The Bargain Jargon. Doesn't look like there are any doubles this week, however. Hope you had a chance to use yours last week!

Reynolds Rebate Still Working!

I just printed off my rebate form for the Recycled Reynolds Aluminum Foil (8:45 a.m. PT). Hurry to get yours!

Free Walgreens Reusable Tote & 15% Off

Tomorrow, in honor of Earth Day, Walgreens is giving away free tote bags when you bring in this coupon. The coupon also entitles you to 15% off your in-store purchase of qualifying products (basically anything except dairy, liquor, stamps and prescriptions) and 20% off any Walgreens brand products. Notice that it says you have to use it at the cosmetics counter.

Don't forget to download your rebate form for free 100% Recycled Reynolds Aluminum Foil beginning at 4:22 a.m. EDT tomorrow.

Also, remember that the Disney Store is giving away limited edition water bottles tomorrow when you bring in 3 plastic bottles for recycling.

Go Green!

10 Free FoodSaver Freeze 'n Steam Bags

Click here to grab your 10 free bags (no purchase necessary). If you have a FoodSaver, you'll love these!



Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Cheap Cottonelle at Albertsons!

I went to Albertsons this morning to use my double coupons (which expire today!) and came across the Cottonelle Ultra (remember, the stuff I got the coupons for at Fred Meyer last week). It's currently on sale for $6.99 for 12 double rolls. Not a stellar deal on its own, but wait. There's a Kimberly-Clark promotion where you get a $5 coupon good on your next purchase when you spend $20 in participating products (Cottonelle is included). So, here's what I did:

Purchase 3 pkg. 12 double rolls Cottonelle Ultra ($20.97)
Use (3) $1/1 Cottonelle Ultra coupons from blinkie at Fred Meyer (-$3.00)
Use (3) Albertsons double coupons (-$3.00)
Received a $5.00 and a $1.00 catalina at the end of my transaction

Total: $8.97 for 36 double rolls!

*I'm not sure what exactly the $1.00 catalina deal was. It was a surprise when it came out! It's from Cottonelle (it says so on the coupon), but I haven't read about it anywhere.

Deal Alert!

Just came from Fred Meyer (a shopping trip with NO KIDS!) and found a deal I just had to pass along.

Physician's Formula Organic Wear Mascara $9.99
*find the ones that say, "Try Me Free"
Buy 2 ($19.98)
Use in-store coupon for 20% off any cosmetic item (-$4)
Physician's Formula Organic Wear cosmetics are "buy-one-get-one-half-off" (-$4)
Submit for 100% rebate (up to $9.95) using the "Try Me Free" label and this form (-$9.95)
Total for 2: $2.05!

I'm excited to use this mascara, which is made with organic, natural ingredients.

Deals Around Town

photo credit: frugal.families.com

Check out the following posts for this week's deals. Keep in mind that some posts are done by bloggers in other parts of the country, so we may not have every coupon they reference. Generally speaking, however, I've found them to be pretty accurate.


Rite Aid (take note of the Huggies deal)
Deal Seeking Mom

Walgreens
It's Hip 2 Save
Check out additional Walgreens deals here, here and here.

Target
It's Hip to Save (plus an update here) and Stretching A Buck

Safeway
Saving 4 My Family


Happy shopping!

Redbox Code

Here is today's code for a free Redbox rental:

M6FR97

Remember, the code is good for one use per credit/debit card. Code expires at midnight tonight and you must return your movie by 9:00 p.m. Tuesday to avoid any charges to your card ($1.00 per day). Enjoy!

Albertsons Double Coupons 4/19-4/21 Only!

Did you find the 3 double coupons in the Albertsons ad in today's paper? They're valid for 3 days only, but if you got a couple of papers, you can make a couple of trips and get some great bargains.

Click here for The Bargain Jargon's coupon match-ups.

Earth Day Freebies Today!

Remember, today Home Depot is giving away a million EcoSmart 14w CFL bulbs in honor of Earth Day, so head on over to claim yours.

Also, Target is giving away a million reusable tote bags today. Each bag comes with a coupon for $2 off a GE CFL bulb.

Both of these offers are valid today only!

Happy Earth Day week!

Thanks, It's Hip 2 Save!

4/19 Coupon Preview

Make sure you pick up a paper or two tomorrow. Looks like we're in for some valuable coupons!

Check out this post from It's Hip 2 Save for a list of what coupons are coming.

$75 in Gift Cards for $7!

Have you heard about Burnless Bakeware for $1? If you haven't tried it yet, you should. It's easy and super cheap. I've done this deal three times now, and my total out-of-pocket is $3!

I have been reading on other blogs about how to get free gift cards by completing offers, but have been hesitant to try them out. Well, a couple of weeks ago I took the plunge and did it. This is what I ended up with! Let me explain.

First of all, I got a $25 Target gift card last week for bringing in a new prescription. Yep, that's it. I had a prescription I had been waiting to fill until I could find one of these deals. Usually Target's deal is a $10 gift card for a transferred prescription. I never have those, so was thrilled when I found the coupon for this deal. I found the coupons at the registers and they are good through 6/30/09. Keep your eye out for them. My prescription cost me $4, and I walked away with $25. Of course they gave me one of those tacky, flimsy red cards that says "Gift Card", so I took it to customer service, along with two cute gift cards, and had them put $15 on one and $10 on the other. I will be using them for birthday gifts next month!

Next, I read this post from It's Hip 2 Save about doing "trial offers" from different companies and receiving gift cards. I did three trials (each costing $1 for a 30-day trial) and I received $50 in gift cards. One sent me 2 $10 gift cards for Lowe's, one sent a $10 Target gift card, and one sent 2 $10 gift cards for Blockbuster. The whole scenario cost me $3. As long as I call to cancel my memberships before the trial period, I will not incur any additional charges. I received all my gift cards on the same day, about 10 days after I signed up. I have tons of time to spare before I need to cancel. I have already cancelled one membership, and another offered me a 30-day extension of my free membership and some gas & grocery rebates. I'm not 100% sure how they work, but will find out when they arrive in the mail. If it's not of interest to me, I'll cancel my membership then.

My next endeavor will be this scenario, found on Nicole's Nickles. It's a bit more time-consuming, but the reward is much greater! The author got a Wii and a Wii Fit for $36.34 out of pocket. I've got my eye on a $500 Visa gift card, with which I plan to buy all our Christmas gifts for 2009.

The key to any of these types of deals is ORGANIZATION. Write on your calendar when you need to cancel (allow yourself a few days before the trial period is over, just to be safe). I have not yet had any problem cancelling, and even if they try to convince you to extend your trial or remain a member, they're very nice and have no problem completing your cancellation request. Always make sure you get a CONFIRMATION NUMBER when you cancel, and you can ask them to send you a confirmation e-mail if you want.

Coupon Alert!

While shopping at Fred Meyer today I spotted some small purple boxes near the Cottonelle Ultra. They were hanging where those blinking coupon dispensers usually hang. Inside were samples of Cottonelle Ultra (no big deal there); on the back was a coupon for $1.00 off a 4-pack (or larger)! They must have just put these coupons out, because there were tons left. I snagged a few, and will add them to my stash. They don't expire until 12/31/09!

Next time you're at Freddies, see if you can grab a few for your stash, then wait for a sale. You could use them at Albertsons when they have double coupons, or at Kmart when they have a double coupon event. There will surely be a great deal before the end of 2009!

Random Acts of Kindness

I know, this is a very "random" topic for a coupon blog. But I've been thinking about it lately, and it does fit in. Just bear with me.

Today I was at Fred Meyer with my 3-year-old, Jack. Now, I LOVE Fred Meyer, but don't shop there too much any more because there aren't a whole lot of great deals there. (What they DO have is PLAYLAND!) Anyway, we were leaving and Jack spotted the 25-cent pony ride and begged me to let him ride. I rarely do, but for some reason decided to let him do it today. He climbed up and I was reaching for my change purse when a woman approached me and said, "Let me pay for his ride!" She handed me a quarter and disappeared.

What I loved about this Random Act of Kindness is that it wasn't big, it didn't cost her a lot to do it, but it made my day! Not because it saved me 25 cents. But because someone I don't know, and will never see again, thought to do something kind for my son. Afterwards, I found myself looking for ways to "pay forward" the kindness I had received.

Another example - I can recall at least two incidents when I was in the drive-thru line at Starbucks and someone ahead of me paid for my drink, for absolutely no reason. That type of random kindness changes your perspective. I've tried to do the same thing at Starbucks a couple of times, too, simply because I know how it feels.

What would our city be like if everyone was fortunate enough to experience random kindnesses like I did today? This is why I enjoy using coupons to get free products (even ones I know my family will not use) - because I can pass them on to others who might need them. Because of the recent Post cereal deal at Albertsons, I was able to take a huge shopping bag full of great cereal to the food pantry yesterday. The whole bag cost me less than $2, so it wasn't a big sacrifice, but I hope someone will enjoy them. That is something I can do, on a frugal budget, to help others.

How can I use the bounty God has blessed me with to bless someone else? Finding the answer to that question is my goal for this year.

Thriftway 4/15-4/21

I went to Thriftway last night to check out this week's ad (for some reason we didn't get our Food Day this week). I live near one and they often have some real steals. I was not disappointed this week.

Kellogg's Raisin Bran or Raisin Bran Crunch (18.2 - 20 oz.) 2/$3 with $10 minimum purchase

*use this $1/1 Kellogg's coupon (print it twice) and Thriftway double to get both boxes for free!

Thriftway or Western Family gallon milk $0.99 (limit 1) with minimum $10 purchase

Kellogg's Eggo Waffles 2/$3 (no minimum purchase)

*use $1/2 coupon from the 4/5 RP insert and Thriftway double to get these for $0.75 each!

Darigold cottage cheese (16 oz.) 2/$3 (no minimum purchase)

*use $0.40/1 coupon from the 4/5 SS insert and Thriftway double to get these for $0.70 each!

Something to note about using the coupons that require a minimum purchase:

$10 minimum must be after all coupons (except the one that requires the minimum), but can include the items you're using the coupons for. Confusing, I know. I didn't know the total had to be $10 after the coupons, so I ended up having to add about $2 worth of other groceries to get my total up. Normally I won't do that, but the cereal was such a great deal, and I added some frozen vegetables that I needed anyway (and were also on sale), so I still felt good about my purchase.

Earth Day is Next Week

photo credit: livingorganic.org

Once tax day is past, we'll move on to Earth Day. I'll update this post with new info as I get it, but here are the freebies I know of so far:

Home Depot will be giving away a million CFL lightbulbs on Sunday, April 19 (while supplies last).

Go to Ben & Jerry's on April 21 between noon and 8:00 p.m. for a free scoop of your favorite ice cream.

If you bring in 3 plastic bottles (to be recycled) to the Disney Store on April 22 you'll receive a free gift (speculation is that it will be a water bottle, reuseable tote or t-shirt).

Reynolds is offering a 100% rebate on their new 100% recycled aluminum foil on April 22. Enter your e-mail address here to receive a reminder to download the rebate form. Quantities are limited, so download your form quickly! Downloads begin at 4:22 a.m. EDT.




Thanks, Moms by Heart and Thrifty Northwest Mom!

Tax Day Freebies & Deals

photo credit: christinecpa.com

Check out this list of local freebies in honor of tax day:

*Free Classic Bites at Cinnabon stores located inside malls.

*Taco Del Mar is giving away a free taco when you fill out this form with your e-mail address and zip code.

*McDonalds will give you a Bic Mac or Quarter Pounder for a penny when you purchase another at regular price.

*Get 15% off your bill at PF Chang's (get it, April 15?). If you've never eaten here before, this would be a great opportunity - their food is awesome! (My favorites are the lettuce wraps and the Mongolian Beef.)

*McCormick & Schmick's is offering selected entrees and bar food items for $10.40, and each "tax payer" received a gift check for $10.40 to use at a future visit.

Hope you have your taxes done and can enjoy at least one of these great deals!



Thanks, Nicole's Nickles!

Free Tea Club Update

A while back I posted about a company called Tropical Tea Co, who was offering the opportunity to join their tea club for free. I joined, and I'm guessing some of you did, too. Anyway, I haven't heard anything since I joined, until today. Here's the update:

"First off I am sure everyone is wondering, "Where is my FREE TEA SAMPLE?" Well, that's a good question! Due to the amount of members we have in this huge club, the U.S. Mail was pushing back just a bit about sending that much dry herbs (tea) in the mail. Fortunately they have been very helpful in trying to figure out a solution that will work. Our first batch of samples will go out in about 14 days and after that we will be back on track to send them out every month!"

So, hang on and your samples will begin to arrive!

Redbox Code

Today's free Redbox movie rental code is:

J89LA2

Remember, this code is good for one free rental per debit/credit card, is valid until midnight Monday and movies must be returned by 9:00 p.m. Tuesday night in order to avoid a $1.00/day charge.

Target Deals

Here's a list of some deals to check out at Target right now. It's Hip 2 Save must have a Super Target to shop at, so some items in the post are not available at our regular Target stores.

Now is a great time to check out the Easter clearance. I keep one Rubbermaid bin of Easter decor/eggs/baskets in our attic and replace or replenish it each year with the fabulous deals I find during Target's Easter clearance sale.

Walgreens Deals for April 12-18

Click here for a great list of all the deals at Walgreens this week.

Note: some deals listed that include overages when using multiple coupons may not work for you. I generally choose not to participate in deals that cause an overage at the register (like the Vitamin Water deal at Walgreens in this post). My Walgreens will not allow overages, so I don't even attempt them. Of course, the choice is up to you. However, if you use a coupon, then submit for a rebate, resulting in an overage, there won't be any issues at the register.

Huge Freebie & Coupon List

Photo credit: clippingcoupons4acause.com

I know, I've been MIA for a few days. We've been moving my in-laws to an independent living facility south of here (the work began last Tuesday), so I've been doing a lot of sorting, packing, standing, etc. But, after a wonderful Easter with the family, I'm back to the blogs.

Here's an exhaustive list of some new coupons and tons of free samples for you to enjoy. Thanks, Happy Couponing!

Become a BzzAgent and Test New Products

I mentioned a while back that I signed up with a company called BzzAgent. When I signed up I started getting opportunities to test new products.

First, I got the opportunity to try out Glade Sense & Spray air fresheners. I received one full-size product and 5 $4.00 off coupons to give to my friends. I have tried this product recently and LOVE it! The idea behind it is that it only sprays freshener when it senses movement in the room. Isn't that when we need it anyway? Refills come in Clean Linen, Apple Cinnamon, Country Garden and Powder Fresh. You can often find these for a great price at Walgreens when paired with a coupon.

Next I received Afrin PureSea Nasal Wash. I received a full-size product and 8 $3.00 off coupons for my friends. I have used a few different types of nasal washes and it was nice to try yet another (without having to pay for it). This hydrating nasal wash comes in Gentle Mist, Medium Stream and Ultra Gentle Mist (for kids and babies 6 months and older). You, too can download your own $3.00 off coupon here.

My latest product test was for Non-Drowsy Children's Claritin chewable tablets. I was excited to be part of this campaign especially because my 6-year-old daughter has seasonal allergies. I used to use the liquid and she never liked taking it because of the flavor. When I received the box of 10 chewable tablets (and 8 $3.00 off coupons) I was looking forward to having my daughter try them. I gave one to her the next morning and she enjoyed the flavor very much! I know she will gladly take them each day! Once again, you can download a $2.00 off coupon for yourself.

The campaign I've just joined is for the new Fiesta Family Meal from Taco Bell. It includes everything you need to make 10 tacos, plus rice and beans for everyone. I can't wait to try it!

As a BzzAgent, you get to try new products, tell your friends about them, give them coupons and all you have to do in return is report back your honest feedback (and that of your friends). Doesn't get much easier!

If you're interested in becoming a BzzAgent, just visit their website and sign up. It's totally free and there's no obligation. Start bzzzzzing...

Free Fisher Price "Precious Places" DVD

Go on over here to pick up your FREE DVD from Fisher Price. It's only a 12-minute DVD, but hey, it's free! It's intended for girls 3 and up. There is no charge for the DVD and no shipping charge. You don't even have to enter a credit card number! Allow 12-14 weeks for delivery.

Thanks, It's Hip 2 Save!