Monday, June 30, 2008

Birthday Gifts!!

Thanks to Freebies 4 Mom for this great list of Birthday Clubs! There are a lot of good places listed, and also a list for Kids Only. Enjoy!

The Melting Pot is good for birthdays AND anniversaries...

What do YOU want to see?

Dear Friends and Family,

What types of things would you like to see on this blog?
Do you want rebates?
Freebies?
Specific stores?
Online deals?
Nothing?

I am doing this blog with you in mind.
CVS, Target, and Wal-Mart are three of the stores I will begin listing since they are also located in the Midwest. You can get lots of great deals at Wal-Mart.
Please let me know if there is anything that you need. Also, I will begin posting some tips about couponing and store policies, etc. These things will all come into play.

I NEVER pay full price for anything if I can help it.

I will NEVER PAY for these items again: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo & conditioner, most hair products, many medicines


Did you know?

You can "stack" MFQs (manufacturer's coupons) at some stores with their store coupons to get extra savings?

Some stores that allow this: Walgreen's, Rite Aid, CVS, Target, and Food Lion

Unless things have recently changed (I'll check on this): CVS allows you to use a MFQ, plus A CVS coupon, PLUS a discount coupon off the entire purchase (i.e. Save $3 off any $15 purchase)

Walgreen's in July

Easy Saver Rebates

FREE after ESR all month long!
  • TheraBreath Starter Kit
  • Hebert’s Fully Loaded Chocolate Bars, 2.75 oz.
  • Nature Made RX Essentials, 30 or 60 Pack
Click here to view this month's Easy Saver Catalog.
Prices/deals good June 17, 2008- July 5, 2008.
Postmark/submit online by Aug 2, 2008.

Walgreen's Diaper Deal week of 6/29

I'm not a big fan of disposable diapers, HOWEVER, I have been informed that they come in handy from time to time even for the cloth diaper users. So...I will post some diaper deals if they are really good. : )

Click here to see a deal at Walgreens from Sisterly Savings. It's a little bit complicated, especially if you have never shopped at Walgreen's or aren't used to using coupons frequently. But, if you want free diapers, try it out!

Rite Aid June 29-July 5

Single Check Rebates Deals:

Oxy Face Wash/ Shave Cream $5.99
= FREE after SCR
Use $1/1 MQ from 5/4/08
= $1 Profit
Rebate valid only: 6.29.08 - 7.5.08


Giovanni Shampoo OR Conditioner 8.5 oz. $6.99
= FREE after SCR
Rebate valid only: 6.29.08 - 7.1.08 - Note: 3 days only.

Click here for more sale items.


Definitions:
SCR = Single Check Rebates
MQ = Manufacturer's Coupon

Free-bates at Menards!

Thanks to Budget Helps, click on this link to find some Menards items that are FREE after rebate (with an additional $10 purchase of non-rebate items).

Saturday, June 28, 2008

A few things

First - if you haven't seen the movie "Lars and the Real Girl", you should consider renting it! Very good, funny, and touching.

Second, since my Walgreen's decided NOT to put their July Easy Saver Rebate booklets out (grrr...), I wasn't able to get the great deals I had hoped for...

I still got the Maalox for less than $1, and ended up buying two Revlon eyeshadow compacts (4 colors each, reg. $6.50) for $2.50 with the BOGO (Buy 1, get 1 Free) sale, and 2 $2 off coupons. Not too shabby. I figured I could use them for the wedding.

I'm feeling a little bit better, but I think it's mainly due to the medicine I took earlier. B & I went for a walk on the beach. The sunset was really pretty, and there were a few people out fishing and wading in the bay. During our stroll, we decided that if we buy a house, we are also getting a cat. We both miss having a cat around.

(Sorry, Cayla. I won't be replacing you, it's just that I miss your company! You keep Mom happy now, you little vole and chipmunk killer. I've heard you like to bite the head off the chipmunks...you didn't learn that from me.)

I'm off to work on wedding stuff, and get prepared for the gig tomorrow. Franklin, VA - here we come!

Boycott ExxonMobil

I have actually been doing this for a few years now.
It's pretty simple - go next door to BP.
I'll even pay a few more cents for Shell.
You are driving on the highway, and you need to stop for gas.
You see a sign that only has Exxon listed, drive on a few more miles to the next exit.
I'm sure other oil companies have done things that should cause us to boycott them as well, but Exxon has screwed over their own countrymen for 15 years now...

Please read this great article written by my college buddy, Ashley Shelby, about the recent (and infuriating) Exxon-Valdez ruling in the Supreme Court.
Today I am sick.

One side of my nose is completely stuffed with some really nice drainage. I can't stand for very long before I get light-headed. And my throat is sore.

I've already had a glass of OJ, and have begun drinking my triple echinacea tea, AND I took Sudafed. We have a gig tomorrow afternoon in Franklin, VA, so I'm hoping I'll be feeling better...

I'm in bed now doing some coupon research - trying to plan my drugstore runs (assuming I feel better this afternoon).




Here are a few deals that are only good for today (see definitions below):

WALGREENS

Maalox Chewables $3.99
-use June IVC $2
-use July IVC $2
-MFQ $1.50
Total $-1.50 overage

Benefiber $6.79
-June IVC $3
-July IVC $2
-MFQ $2.00
Total $-.21 overage

For the July FAR items click here and visit the Centsible Shopper blog.

RITE AID
Crest Pro Health Toothpaste Night $2.99 FAR


Definitions
IVC = Walgreen's Easy Saver Catalog Coupons (Instant Value Coupon) found in front of store.
The catalog lists all of the rebates. I recommend grabbing two. One as a tracker, one to cut the coupons from.
MFQ = Manufacturer's Coupon
FAR = Free After Rebate (Rite Aid has a catalog at the front of their stores, too. Sometimes they will also have coupon booklets such as the recent "Beauty the Rite Way")

Friday, June 27, 2008

Ace Rebates

Here is a link to some Ace hardware rebates compiled by Hooray for Free-bates! June 27-29 is the store's National Grand Opening Sale, and it sounds like there will be some great deals.

Marsh Deals 6/26 to 7/2

To all my pals in Indiana, here is a link to a blog, Bargain Bri, that has the current Marsh deals. Note that under most items, she mentions a coupon to use. That's the best part about these blogs! It makes it easier for the rest of us. Since she's local to you, you might want to check back each week and/or subscribe to her blog to keep up on the deals.

In the Beginning

I have decided to begin a blog for three reasons.

1) I have found so many great deals online, I want to share them in an easy format with my family and friends.

2) As an outlet for my life right now. Work, wedding planning, college classes.

3) To prove that I have the most wonderful fiance in the world!

I can't promise that I will be updating every day, but I'll attempt to keep you in the loop for those deals. : )