01/26/09 - Red Box - FREE DVD rental code

Today only - Here's the code to use for a free night's DVD rental from Red Box: 57VH9L. This can be used once per debit/credit card, so you can rent more than one for free by using different cards!

Make sure to click on "Rent with Promo Code" to be able to use the code. You can rent from any Red Box kiosk and return it by 9:00 PM the following evening without getting charged. You can also sign up for their mailing list at www.redbox.com to get addtional free rentals!

01/23/09 - Free Chicago museum days

With the upcoming school holidays, it might be fun to take the kids out to the city without breaking the bank.

Here's a link to a blog listing the Free days at Chicago museums: http://www.chicagohotblog.com/chicago-musuem-free-days.

Here's another link: http://www.iit.edu/~internat/forms/museums&FreeDays.pdf

Here's yet another link:
http://chicagoweekendfun.com/2009/01/13/free-days-at-all-the-chicago-museums-in-2009/

I have not verified the dates so please contact the museums to verify the current free days.

01/23/09 - Another freebie!

Here's a link to a downloadable audio book of "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People": http://www.audible.com/adbl/entry/offers/productPromo2.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@0444255063.1232768485@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccladegfkgdffjcefecekjdffidfkh.0&productID=FR_COVE_000032.

Enjoy!

01/23/09 - Big Lots 20% off coupon

Here's a coupon for Big Lots (valid Saturday, January 24th and Sunday, January 25th) for 20% off your entire purchase:

http://www.biglots.com/coupon/buzzclubcoupon.aspx

01/23/09 - Rewards "R" Us - new reward program

Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us have a reward program. To enroll, click on https://rewardsrus.toysrus.com/enroll.cfm. They will issue you a temporary membership card and send you an welcome packet after your first purchase.

Earn free products, get special discounts, and special notices when you become a member!

01/23/09 - CVS - Free candy and greeting cards

Here are some great deals that I got at CVS today. Some of the sales end tomorrow:

Reese's Whipps (single bar):
$0.50 - Sale price (2 for $1.00)
-$0.50 - Manufacturer's coupon (from Sunday's newspaper 2 weeks ago)
= FREE!

American Greeting Cards (single cards):
$2.97 - Price for 3 cards at $0.99 each
& Earned $3.00 in Extra Care Bucks (so FREE & earned $0.03 after ECB's)

Prilosec (42 ct package):
$24.77 - Sale price (saved $5.22)
-$3.00 - Manufacturer's coupon (from Sunday's newspaper)
- $3.00 - CVS coupon off FSA purchase of $15 or more (printed on bottom of a prior receipt)
=$18.47 - Net price (paid using FSA)
& Earned $5.00 in Extra Care Bucks (so $13.47 after ECB's)

Triaminic Strips (2 pack):
$11.97 - Special package price
-$1.00 - Manufacturer's coupon (from a Sunday newspaper insert)
= $10.97 - Net price (paid using FSA)
& Earned $3.00 in Extra Care Bucks (so $7.97 after ECB's)

Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Base & Top Coat:
$2.65 - On clearance for 50% off (saved $2.64)
- $1.00 - Manufacturer's coupon (from a Sunday newspaper insert)
= $1.65 - Net price (check for 50-75% off stickers in cosmetics)

Listerine Whitening Pre-Rinse:
$6.49 - Sale price (saved $1.40)
-$1.50 - Manufacturer's coupon (internet printable coupon)
-$1.00 - CVS coupon (printed on bottom of a prior receipt)
= $3.99 - Net price
& Earned 4.00 in Extra Care Bucks (so FREE and earned $0.01 after ECB's)

Listerine Smart Rinse:
$5.89 - Original price
& Earned $3.00 in Extra Care Bucks (so $2.89 after ECB's)

Playskool Diapers:
$9.99 - Sale price (saved $5.00)
-$1.00 - Manufacturer's coupon (peelie on package)
-$3.00 - CVS coupon (printed on bottom of prior receipt)
= $5.99 - Net price

Glade Scented Oil Lasting Impressions:
$6.99 - Special package price
-$4.00 - Manufacturer's coupon (received in the mail from Glade)
= $2.99 - Net price
& Earned $2.00 in Extra Care Bucks (so $0.99 after ECB's)

Sally Hansen Click, Color & Go Nail Polish:
$7.99 - Original price for the first one
$3.99 - 50% off the second one
-$2.00 - Manufacturer's coupons (2 at $1.00 each from Sunday's newspaper)
= $9.98 - Net price

I also used a CVS $10.00 off coupon of a purchase of $50.00 or more which printed out on the bottom of a prior receipt.

So, on my shopping trip, I ended up saving $76.64 by using my CVS Extra Care Card, CVS coupons, and manufacturer's coupons.

In turn, I received $38.00 in Extra Care Bucks to use for future purchases.

Not too bad for an hour at the store! The coupons from the Sunday newspapers really paid for themselves this week!

01/23/08 - Free DVD rental

To get a free night's DVD rental from Red Box, go to http://www.redbox.com. Then, you will see "Welcome to redbox!" - click on "Get a Free Rental" next to that and enter your e-mail address. They will send you a code that you can use at any Red Box kiosk for a free night's rental. Make sure you use "Rent with a Promo Code" when selecting a rental.

I just started using Red Box last week and so far have enjoyed it. You can return your movie to any Red Box kiosk and they send you an e-mail to confirm your return. It just needs to be returned by 9:00 PM the following night for no additional charges. You do need to swipe a credit card when processing a rental but it is not charged unless you keep the DVD for more than one night.

01/23/08 - More birthday freebies

Check out this site for more birthday freebies: http://www.frugalliving.tv/free-stuff/birthday-freebies.html

01/22/09 - Birthday Freebies

The following is a link to birthday freebies - there are some really good ones out there:

http://freebies4mom.com/

Enjoy!

01/22/09 - WVHS Planetarium Family Night

For those of you looking for something fun and inexpensive to do with your kids, check out Family Nights at Waubonsie Valley High School. We've attended a few of them and besides being educational, the kids have really enjoyed it. It's amazing to see a planetarium in a high school.

Information about and the upcoming dates can be found at http://planetarium.ipsd.org/programs_family_nights.htm.

01/22/09 - More savings to pass on...

Here are some printable coupons for you:

- Flash Portraits - Free sitting & traditional portrait ($50 value) - These offers are good until February 28, 2009 - http://www.flashportraits.com/offers/suchislove_1-8-09/1-22-09_print.html

- Picture People - Get 5 portraits for $75 (mix & match) - Print out the coupon here: http://www.picturepeople.com/promotion/email/vday_2009/vdr3_landing1.html

01/18/09 - Dollar Tree - Sunday newspaper - Saved $4.95

This is a delayed posting but a tip for the upcoming weekend. I buy my Sunday newspapers at Dollar Tree because they are only $1.00 there. The Chicago Tribune is usually $1.99 each for the Sunday edition. As you can see, I got a bundle of 5, which came out to $5.00 total. So, I saved $4.95 total from buying it there. Some of the Dollar Trees start carrying the newspapers on Saturday evening, so you could check with your local one to see if they have them available then to get a head start on the Sunday sales.

If I save $5.00 from using the coupons in there, then I have made my money back. Any more and it is a "profit" to me. The extra coupons I don't use I like to share with others. So, if there is a particular coupon you are looking for, just let me know.

01/21/09 - CVS - Tide Laundry Detergent

CVS has Tide laundry detergent on sale this week for $5.99 for the 26-32 loads size. This was my transaction:

$5.99 Sale price
-$0.35 Manufacturer's coupon
-$5.00 Extra Care Bucks
=$0.64 Total before taxes

01/21/09 - Carson Pirie Scott - Free Vera Wang Princess Body Wash

Due to a class-action lawsuit settlement, various department stores are giving away perfumes, colognes, body wash, and cosmetics from January 20th through January 26th, while supplies last. I was able to get the Vera Wang Princess body wash for FREE from Carson Pirie Scott. All you have to do is sign the log that you received one. No receipt from a prior purchase is necessary. Other stores that I have heard are participating are Macy's and Lord & Taylor. It's best to go as soon as possible before they run out of stock.

The details of the lawsuit settlement can be found on http://www.cosmeticssettlement.com/.

01/21/09 - Starbucks - Free Tall Brewed Coffee

From January 21st through January 25th, if you pledge to volunteer 5 hours of your time to help the community (you choose the community service), Starbucks will give you a FREE 12 fl. oz. (size Tall) Brewed Coffee. You don't have to sign anything, just let them know. For details, visit http://pledge5.starbucks.com/.

01/21/09 - Bath & Body Works - Free Body Wash

Click on http://f.chtah.com/i/34/528207786/20090119_8700_coupon.html to get a coupon for a FREE signature collection item with any purchase (up to a $12 value). Bath & Body Works is having a great clearance sale right now with some items only $1.00. You could purchase one item at $1.00 and still receive a FREE signature item collection. I also received another coupon for a FREE body care item of your choice (up to $13 value) with any purchase of $10 or more (good from January 26th to March 1st) to use on a future purchase.

My purchase was a Scentportable Clip & Go Fragrance Unit which was on sale for $5.00.

01/21/09 - Walgreens - Pepsi, Gum, Tostitos, and Dip for only $7.78!

I made a trip out to Walgreens to stock up on my favorite drink, Pepsi. This was my transaction:

$15.00 5 cases of Pepsi (12 cans each)
$5.00 2 13-oz bags of Tostitos
$2.79 Mild Cheddar cheese dip
$1.98 3 packs of Extra gum

Less:
-$1.00 off Pepsi (there were $1.00 off coupons/peelies on the cases)
-$2.00 off the dip (there was a $2.00 off dip when you purchase 2 bags of Tostitos on the Tostito wrapper)
-$0.99 off the Extra gum (in the Easy Saver book at Walgreens)
-$3.00 off a $10 purchase (Walgreens coupon for a grand opening)
-$10.00 Register Rewards from a prior purchase

New subtotal = $7.78

The best part, a new Register Reward for $10.00 printed out for me to use on a future transaction!

Also, I'll be able to submit my receipt and UPCs for $15.00 in coupons from Pepsi. You can also get the form here: http://www.pepsistuff.com/2009superbowl_webform.pdf.

So, I paid $7.78 out of pocket (before taxes), got back $10.00 in Register Rewards, and will get $15.00 in coupons. Not bad for a day's work!

01/14/09 - FREE bottle of Suave

Go to www.suave.com to register for a coupon for a FREE bottle of Suave. You must do it today because it is a one day deal!

01/13/09 - Great Clips - Saved $3.01

It was time for me to get a haircut. Luckily, there was a coupon in the Clipper magazine for haircuts for $8.99. It is usually $12.00. So, I used my savings for the tip and still saved money! The good thing is that they have 2 coupons in the Clipper so I can save twice!

Tip: Check your mail for any coupons that may be useful to you.

01/13/09 - CVS - Christmas at 90% off! - Saved $85.92

I decided to stop into my local CVS to see what was left of their Christmas inventory since the sign said they were 90% off. There was more left than I had anticipated so I got some good deals:

- White Tissue Paper (90 sheets per pack):
Originally $3.99 per pack
On clearance for $0.39 per pack
I bought 10 packs for $3.90 (900 total sheets of tissue paper)

- Red and Green Tissue Paper (20 sheets per pack):
Originally $1.99 per pack
On clearance for $0.19 per pack
I bought 5 packs for $0.95 (100 total sheets of tissue paper)

- Gift Card Holders:
Originally $1.29 each
On clearance for $0.13 each
I bought 2 for $0.26

- Frame Ornaments:
Originally $5.99 each
On clearance for $0.59 each
I bought 2 for $1.18

The subtotal was $6.29. Then, I used $5.00 of my Extra Care Bucks, which made my new subtotal $1.29! Not bad for all of that! Remember, I'll be using the tissue paper all year long for birthdays, anniversaries, and to make crafts so it was a good investment for me.

Tip: Keep an eye out for really good clearance sales 2-3 weeks after the holidays. Many stores have their Christmas items at 75% to 90% off right now to make room for Valentine's Day displays!

01/13/09 - Freebies for your home

Here are a couple of links for Freebies for your home:

- www.dtv2009.gov - Get a coupon towards a TV converter box if you need one when the digital switch happens in February.

- www.radon.illinois.gov - Request a FREE Radon Test Kit to be able to check the Radon levels in your house.

01/12/09 - Red Box - Free DVD Rental

In front of Jewel there is a Red Box kiosk. I decided to try it because I found a coupon code at www.dealseekingmom.com for a FREE DVD rental for today. We rented "Horton Hears a Who" for the kids and it was great! I'll be sure to post next week's code on Monday.

01/12/09 - Jewel - Kellogg's Cereal for $0.50 each

Jewel had a 2-day sale going on for Rinaldi pasta sauce so I stocked up. Here were my deals:

Rinaldi Pasta Sauce:
Original Price = $2.79 each
Sale Price = $0.99 each with Preferred Card
Savings = $1.79 each!

Kellogg's Cereal:
Original Price = $3.85 each
Sale Price = $1.75 each
Additional Discount = $2.00 when you buy 4 boxes
New Sale Price = $1.25 each (or $5.00 for 4 boxes)
Coupons = $3.00 (I used 3 $1.00 off coupons)
Final Price = $2.00 for 4 boxes or $0.50 each!
* Bonus - there is an offer for a FREE Tinkerbell camera on the box so once we collect 8 tokens (we're halfway there) - Olivia will have a new camera!
Savings = $3.45 each box!

Tip: Be sure to check the bottom of your receipts from Jewel. There was a coupon for a FREE loaf of French Bread on mine if I called and completed a survey. I have gotten this before and redeemed it and the bread was delicious. I usually use the self-checkout lane which prints out the plain white receipts so I don't know if that makes a difference in whether or not the free bread offer prints out.

01/11/09 - More Freebies

Here are links to a few more freebies:

- Free Book - Suze Orman's 2009 Action Plan (through Thursday): http://www.oprah.com/article/money/personalfinance/pkgyourmoney/20081119_tows_bookdownload

- Free Kids' Workshops - http://www.lowesandbuildgrow.com/ - kids get to build new projects every month and are given an apron, certificate, and patch for free

- List of where Kids Eat Free: http://coupondivas.com/kids-eat-free/

01/09/08 - Wal-Mart - Free Johnson's Buddies Soap

I stocked up on the Johnson's Buddies Soap today because they were better than free. They were $0.97 each and then I used the $1.00 off coupons that were in Sunday, January 4th's newspaper. Here is a link to another Johnson's coupon: http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/01/more-free-johnsons-buddies.html

Also, I had $0.50 off coupons (also from Sunday, January 4th's newspaper) for the Green Giant Steamers, so they came out $0.73 each.

Tip: Check with your Wal-Mart store if they are accepting printed coupons because some no longer will accept them unless they are the actual coupon.

01/08/09 - Walgreens - Free Shampoo & Dishwashing Tablets

Walgreens has a great deal on Garnier Fructis hair products this week. The sale price is $2.99 for selected varieties and then there is a $2.00 off coupon in the Walgreens EasySaver Catalog here: http://www.walgreens.com/store/rebateclub.jsp. Also, there is a $1.00 off coupon in Sunday, January 4th's newspaper, which makes the hair product FREE!

Also, I found the Seventh Generation cleaners on clearance for $1.19 a bottle. There is a coupon for $1.00 off here: http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/01/seventh-generation-printable-coupons.html, which makes them only $0.19 a bottle!

Lastly, there is a sale on the Electrosol tablets for $3.49 a box, with a $2.50 off coupon in Sunday, January 4th's newspaper, which makes them $0.99 a box. If you submit the Walgreens rebate here: http://www.walgreens.com/store/rebateclub.jsp, then you actually make $0.51 on the box!

Tip: Combine store sales, store coupons, and manufacturer's coupons to get the best deals!

01/07/09 - Jewel - Free Totino's Pizza Rolls

Jewel-Osco has these Totino's Pizza Rolls on sale for $1.00 each (or 10/$10.00) and you can print out coupons here: http://www.moneysavingmom.com/money_saving_mom/2009/01/11-totinos-pizza-rolls.html for $1.00 off, which makes them FREE!

Tip: Make sure you use your Jewel-Osco Preferred Card or have them scan the store card to get the $1.00 price.

01/06/09 - Walgreens - Saved $30.00 on dishwashing tablets

What a great week to stock up on dishwasher tablets. Walgreens has the 20-pack of Electrasol tablets on sale for $3.49 (regularly $5.99 a box). Then, there is a $2.50 off coupon from Sunday's newspaper. Also, Walgreens has a mail-in rebate of $1.49 for a box. So, you would potentially profit $0.50 from a box.

As you can see, the Walgreens I went to had some bonus boxes, so I got an additional 5 tablets in those. I ended up purchasing a 3 Musketeers bar because I had a $5.00 Walgreens Register Rewards coupon from a prior purchase and I wanted to make sure I could use the register rewards.

Overall, my savings was $12.50 off the original price, $12.50 from coupons, and $5.00 from using the register rewards. That's $30.00 before the mail-in rebate!

Tip: Try to time your purchases when items are on sale. Sometimes you can save big! Also, make sure to check with your Walgreens before using their Register Rewards. Some will only allow you to use one rewards coupon at a time.

01/03/08 - Happy New Year! Wal-Mart - Saved $17.22

I made a quick run to Wal-Mart and came across some good deals:

A digital photo ornament originally priced at $19.97 was only $5.00 (all Christmas items were 75% off) - total savings = $14.97!

A package of Wet Ones were $0.97 each and I had a coupon for $0.75 each making them only $0.22 each - total savings = $2.25!

Overall, my total savings at Wal-Mart was $17.22.

Tip: I got the Wet Ones coupons out of the "All You" magazine which you can find at Wal-Mart.