Random freebies and articles

I have been remiss in posting- we're really busy and my coupon class has me running around like a crazy(er) coupon lady!

So, enjoy some stuff that I have stumbled upon and enjoyed:

Free Avery Removable Labels (Thanks to This Frugal life)- Via Twitter

Free Signature Collection Body Care item at Bath and Body Works, when you spend $10.00. - Via Email from B&BW

Scotch Products Try me Free rebate- Thanks to Frugal Coupon Living

New free samples at Wal-mart.com!

20 ways to save money everywhere you shop- Courtesy of Allyou.com

New printable coupons from Allyou.com!

Walgreens has a great $10 rebate (in the form of a $10 Wags Gift card!)WYB $30 in Revlon or Nexxus products! -Found on the Wags website

Are you checking Allyou.com each day for their Free Sample of the Day?  No- Well, you should be!!

And remember- Once we hit 100 Twitter Followers, we're having a sweet give-away, including gift cards and coupon wallets stuffed with coupons!

80% off at Restaurant.com Gift Certificates

Woo Hoo-Restaurant.com Gift Certificates are 80% off with discount code CLEARANCE at check out.

That makes a $25 gift Certificate only $2!!

If you haven't checked out this website- I totally recommend it- it's a great way to try new restaurant's in you area, or plan your upcoming vacation, on the cheap!

It's Friday!!

That means tons of freebie re-tweets on Twitter.  Go check it out... What are you waiting for?

Oh, but first, before you go...Walgreens has put their corporate coupon policy online.  For those aftraid to click the link, here it is:

As a customer-focused retailer, Walgreens encourages the use of coupons by our customers in our retail stores, in accordance with the following guidelines.

Guidelines:

General

• All valid coupons should be presented to the cashier at the time of checkout.


• Walgreens does not accept expired coupons.


• Coupons and their face value cannot be exchanged for cash or gift cards.


• Competitor coupons are not accepted at Walgreens.


• Walgreens cannot accept coupons for items not carried in our stores.


• The number of manufacturer coupons, including Register Rewards^TM manufacturer coupons, may not exceed the number of items in the transaction. The total value of the coupons may not exceed the value of the transaction. Sales tax must be paid, if required by state law.


• Any coupon offer not covered in these guidelines will be accepted at the discretion of Walgreens management.

Sale Items

• Walgreens will accept manufacturer coupons for an item that is on sale.


• In the event that any item's selling price is less than the value of the coupon, Walgreens will only accept the coupon in exchange for the selling price of the item. Coupon redemption can never exceed the selling price of an item and no cash back is ever provided in exchange for any coupons.

Multiple Coupons

• When purchasing a single item, Walgreens accepts one manufacturer coupon and applicable Walgreens coupon(s) for the purchase of a single item, unless prohibited by either coupon offer.


• The coupon amount must be reduced if it exceeds the value of the item after other discounts or coupons are applied. (For example, a $5.00 coupon for a $4.99 item will result in a $4.99 coupon value).


• When purchasing multiple items, Walgreens accepts multiple identical coupons for multiple qualifying items as long as there is sufficient stock to satisfy other customers, unless a limit is specified. Management reserves the right to limit the quantity of items purchased.

Buy One, Get One Free Coupons

• When items are featured in a Buy One, Get One Free promotion, up to two coupons can be used against the items being purchased, as long as the net price does not go below zero for the items being purchased.


• Sales tax must be paid for any Buy One, Get One Free coupon offers, if required by applicable state laws.

Internet/Print at Home Coupons

• Walgreens accepts valid internet/print at home coupons.

Register Rewards^TM coupons

Earning Register Rewards^TM

• Register Rewards^TM will only print for in-stock merchandise during the promotional period.


• Register Rewards^TM can only be earned for eligible items. No substitutions.


• There is a limit of one Register Rewards^TM (RR) printed per offer per customer per transaction.


• Customers redeeming a Register Rewards^TM against the same offer may not receive another RR.

Redeeming Register Rewards^TM

• Customers redeeming a Register Rewards^TM against the same offer may not receive another RR.


• Refer to Register Rewards^TM coupon for expiration date.


• The RR coupon value cannot exceed the total purchase amount. No cash back and no cash value for RR coupon.


• The number of manufacturer coupons, including RR manufacturer coupons, must not exceed the number of items in the transaction.


• Register Rewards^TM must be forfeited if the qualifying merchandise is returned.


• Register Rewards^TM cannot be used toward the purchase of gift cards and pre-paid cards.


• Register Rewards^TM can be redeemed for eligible items only. Ineligible items include but are not limited to:


• 
  
  
  
  • Prescriptions
  
  
  • Tobacco products
  
  
  • Alcoholic beverages
  
  
  • Dairy products
  
  
  • Lottery tickets
  
  
  • Money orders/transfers
  
  
  • Transportation passes
  
  
  • Special event/entertainment tickets or passes
  
  
  • Postage stamps
  
  
  • Gift cards/phone cards/prepaid/Green Dot^TM cards
  
  
  • Prescription Savings Club" memberships
  
  
  • Health care services, including immunizations
  
  
  • Any items prohibited by law
  
  
  
  

Not bad, not bad. For those hardcore Wags shoppers, I recommend printing a copy out and sticking it in your coupon wallet.  I know I will be!

The only thing that makes me sad is the language regarding BOGO items.  I guess I'll have to hit up CVS for BOGO with a BOGO Q.

Freebies!

Here are some mid-week freebies- enjoy!

Carefree Pantyliners Free sample and coupon.

Parsely Plus Cleaner- You must be a Viewpoints member (but you can join after you sign up after you enter your address info)

Redken Mens Clean Spice 2 in 1 shampoo

Lanacane Anti-Chafing gel

Cheetos Mighty Zingers snacks

How to Be Frugal and Still Be Asked on Dates- Article

LOL.

Granted, I'm an old, married lady, but still.. This article made me LOL.

Check it out- what do you think?

The Frugalistas best friend: The Price book!

Familycorner.com defines a price book as, "A price book is simply a list of the items you use regularly and the best prices they sell for in the stores where you are willing to shop. It is an excellent tool for tracking prices, sales and buying opportunities. Prices in a price book should be listed by cost per unit so you can easily compare different size packages from different stores. When you see a deal in the weekly flyer or in the store, you will know instantly if it is really a good deal and worth your time to go out and purchase. Just because an item is on sale doesn't automatically make it a good buy. The regular price at some stores may be less than the sale price at others. Your price book is an invaluable tool to help you determine if a sale is really a deal."

Really, I can't come up with a better definition then that.

Your price book can be as complex or as easy as you want it to be. You can calculate price per unit, or just list the regular price of each item at each of the stores you visit in your area.

If you have an iPhone or other smartphone, there are several apps available for purchase that take the guess work out if it.  If you are computer savvy, you can do a price book in Excel and print a copy when you go to market. There are several available for download free on the Internet.  Google search “Excel Price Book download”.

Your price book can be as simple or as complex and you want it to be.  If you are new to the concept of prices books, you may wish to add as much detail as possible, to track your savings to the penny.

Basic information for every price book should include:

Date ( you can date the top of each page or note it somewhere within the columns)

The brand- i.e. Hunt’s

The item- i.e. stewed tomatoes

Size -in ounces or pounds, however the item is listed on the container (i.e. 14.5oz, 2 lbs.)

Price- for the entire package. i.e. $1.89

Name of store- This is helpful if you are trying to find the cheapest price for an item within a range of stores.  Is deodorant really cheaper at the grocery store, Target or CVS in your area.  Start price book and find out!

Additional info:

Sale price (if any)

Date of sale (if any)

Listing sale information may assist you in tracking when sales occur, and plan your shopping trips throughout the year.  Knowing when to stock up on specific items may save you a couple hundred dollars a year.

Your price book will help you determine if that 50-gallon drum of yogurt at Costco is a better deal than the 32-ounce tub from the supermarket. Not all bulk purchases are a better deal.

I have two- one is for stores that I shop for groceries at, and the second is for drugstores and mass merchandisers (for HBA shopping).

My grocery stores include: Vons, Albertsons, Costco (so I can determine what is a good deal), 99 Cents Only, and Target.  My local Targets are not Super Targets, but they do have a pantry section, so I can shop for some food items.

My HBA spreadsheet includes Wags, CVS, and Target.  I do not shop at Wal-mart (our local Wal-marts are not coupon friendly).  I tend not to buy HBA at Costco- they do not accept coupons and have a limited range of brands.  When I work deals, I can usually get HBA for free or 80-90% off.

Here are some websites that talk about price books and give examples:

Organized Home

No Credit Needed

Suite 101

Cheap Cooking (this one has a template in Excel!)

Grocery Price Comparison (specifically for those in Ohio- but it may be helpful for others in the US)

Enjoy working on your price books!

Check it out- My sweet, sweet free stuff!

If you follow me on twitter, you know I re-tweet freebie offers ALL THE TIME!  I try to take advantage of those freebies too.

Recently, I haven't been trying to get as many as I could, we've been really busy!

[caption id="attachment_644" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="WOO HOO!"][/caption]

Bull's eye BBQ sauce, Dentyne Pure, a neti pot (the teapot for your nose!), Prilosec, Nexxus samples and hair color coupons have all arrived in the past week!

We also received a no cost energy Efficiency Kit from SDG&E, but I already installed all the parts!

If you are looking for freebies, check out facebook and twitter!

I'm still alive!

Sorry my posts have been sporadic, I've been a little under the weather as of late.

Remember to check out our Twitter feed.  We try to twitter everyday, re-tweet great deals and cool links we find.

I've got some photos of the great freebies we've received recently, I'll post a re-cap tonight!

Woo Hoo!

Thanks to everyone who attend my coupon class this week.  We went over couponing basics, discussed the types of coupons and everyone got a new coupon wallet and got to fill it with as many coupons as they wanted!

Next week we'll discuss piggybacking and stacking, drug store shopping, and we'll pick a date for our first shopping trip to the drug store!

I still have a lot of coupons left, so if you are a San Diego local and you are interested in taking a peek into the stash, let me know.  I have  3 sets of last 2 months worth of inserts.

I also have 6 extra coupon wallets if anyone is interested, drop me an email and we can discuss specifics.  Each one will come stuffed with a couple hundred dollars in coupons.

Article- 10 tips to save $1000 by Christmas and the reality...

Yahoo Finance has an article up called:  10 Tips to Help You Save $1,000 By Christmas, which sounds great, but if you already live a frugal lifestyle, none of these tips are helpful.  Let's break it down, some of these tips aren't too great, or may not apply to the already frugal-liver.  These amounts of "savings" are pretty generous, IMHO.

1. Lower your cell phone bill. Potential savings: $100. I agree that it is a good idea to go over your plan and if your needs aren't being met, change the plan. If you have a pay as you go phone, this option may not be available.

2. Lose your land line. Potential savings: $140. If you want to do this- GREAT.  If you have the internet via your phone, either via dialup or DSL, you have to have a landline.   If you can't do without the house phone, consider doing only the Universal Life Line.  It's usually less than $10/month and it allows you to make phone calls within your area code only and of course 911.

3. Staycation instead of vacation. Potential savings: $1,000+. I have never spent $1000 on a vacation EVER.  Most Frugalistas don't.  If you stay at home instead of having the big fancy vacation that you usually plan, then you'll save some money, otherwise.. no money saved.

4. Raise your insurance deductibles. Potential savings: $250. Once again, most Frugal livers have already gone over their insurance to make sure they are getting the most bang for your buck.  If you haven't done this in a while, contact your Insurance agent and do a complete insurance check up with them.  You may find yourself grossly underinsured.  Once again, with this check up, you may not save any money, but in the long run, you will protect yourself against financial ruin by having the insurance appropriate you your life situation.

5. Drop the gym. Potential savings: $150. If you are like me, you bought your gym membership at Costco- 3 years for $299, so it's already paid for and you can't cancel it.  Buying a package at Costco can save you upwards of $100/year. If your place of employment offers a discount, take advantage of it.  If you go to the gym and use your membership, don't get rid of it to "save money".  You may end up sitting around and gaining more weight, and that won't save you any money (new clothes, increased frequency of Doctor's appointments).

6. Drop premium cable channels -- or drop cable altogether. Potential savings: $50 - $600. If you don't have cable, this won't apply to you.  If you go to the gym and you can't live without your favorite shows, hit the gym when they are on and do cardio while the show is on- watch it on the TV at the gym!!  Otherwise there is Hulu and YouTube.  We haven't had cable in 6 years and I'm just fine.

7. Sell Stuff. Potential earnings: $400+ This is the one I have the biggest beef with.  Ebay isn't a good place to sell stuff. Competition is fierce, shipping is expensive, and the likelihood that you'll get a deadbeat bidder is high, also selling stuff on Ebay COSTS MONEY!! Garage sales are a great bet, or if you live in a condo or apartment, go to the local swapmeet or flea market.  You may not make $400, but you'll get rid of some junk you don't need and make some bucks.

8. Save on Food. Potential savings: $300+ I would hope if you read this website that you already use coupons.  In addition to coupons and taking advantage of sales, shop from a list, eat your leftovers, and bring your lunch from home.  Also- kick that 'Bucks habit and make coffee at home.  That'll save you an extra $200 or so.

9. Haggle. Potential savings: $500+ Haggling in my mind is tacky, and some companies don't budge (would you go to Nordstroms and try to talk them down?).  Instead, try comparison shopping to save money.  Or better yet: Do you actually NEED the item?  Are you replacing the item because the old one is no longer functional?  Or do you WANT this item?  If you find something that you WANT but don't NEED, hold off on buying it for 7-10 days and then go back.  Do you still have a case of "gotta have its"?

10. Carry only cash: Potential savings: $250+. Most of us already do this.  If this isn't feasible for you, then create a budget and stick with it.  Only have available in your checking account the minimum amount of money you need, and keep the rest in savings.  Select an interest bearing savings account- there is no reason your money shouldn't work for you!

Frugalistas- I want to hear your thoughts.  How can you save $1000 by Christmas or the end of the year? Leave a comment or email me at akeen02037@gmail.com.   I will be posting your comments.  The Frugalista with the best tip or tips will receive a HUGE potluck envelope of coupons.

I'll pick a winner on August 15th!

Doing Vegas on the cheap!

What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but there is no reason to spend a lot of money while you are there.

Here are some tips for having a great time in Sin City without dropping a fortune!

Unless you plan on spending a lot of time in your room, there is no reason to stay in swanky hotel on the strip (unless you have comps!!).  It's true, everyone likes the fancy little soaps and a mint on their pillow, but those things come at a cost. If you are looking for honest (and funny) reviews of all of the hotels in Vegas, check out Cheapo Vegas.  It gives reviews of the rooms, casinos, buffets, and what kind of amenities are in each room (including those little soaps!).  They even have a comparison chart.

Everyone has to eat- There are a lot of places to eat in Vegas, but what Vegas is best known for is BUFFETS!!  The days of all you can eat $5.00 buffet may be over, but the Harrah's chain of Casino/hotels offers a great deal called Buffet of Buffets.  It's a 24 hour pass to eat at seven of Harrah's buffets.  Take your pick!  We had brunch at Caesar's Palace, a snack at the Oriental Palace, dinner at Planet Hollywood, and Sunday breakfast at Paris.  All for $34.99. The price may vary at the time of your visit, so check at the buffets or at the Player's club desk.

Players Clubs- If you plan on gambling, join the players club for each casino you gamble in.  You earn points for playing, and points can be turned in for free food, tickets to shows, or other great perks.

When you check into your hotel, in the packet from the front desk, there are usually coupon books, and information on points of interest.  Make sure to check these out- there may be valuable coupons for food, shows (dollar off or BOGO), places of interest that are on your list of "stuff to do".

If you room has a fridge, don't hesitate to bring your own snacks or liquor- It will save you money.  Booze can be expensive at the hotel bars.  If you are looking for a place to pick up inexpensive snacks (including fresh fruit and veggies, chips, pretzels and bottled water and soft drinks)- There are several 99 Cents Only Stores in the Las Vegas area (the closest one to the strip is the location on East Flamingo).

If you live within driving distance, you may want to calculate your gas mileage and see if it's cheaper to drive or fly. Southwest Airlines has tickets from San Diego to Vegas for $39.00 each way (plus airport fees and taxes).  That makes your round trip about $89.00.  Southwest also has pretty lax baggage restrictions too. Most hotels have shuttles to and from the airport, and if not, it's usually about a $10.00 taxi ride from the airport to the strip.

Speaking of taxis- It is important to note that there is a state law that only 5 riders are allowed per cab- even if it's a van or mini van.  So if you're a big party, you may have to take 2 or 3 cabs. Cabs are pretty cheap too, so if it's too hot or you are too drunk to walk, take a cab.

Remember to stick to your budget (that means you need to make one!), wear sunscreen if you'll be outside, and have FUN!!

If you have any tips to share, please post them in the comments!

Articles and websites to save you money

10 expenses you don't need (Yahoo Finance)

Feed the Pig (free savings tips, quizzes and practical ideas)

New Credit card tricks (Yahoo Finance)

10 things people buy they should get free