Archive for ‘Resources’

FREE Ziploc Bags vs. Reusable, Frugal & Green Bags

ziploc bagsIf you’re newer around here, you should know there is a $5 SC Johnson Mail-in Rebate available through June, 30 2010.  You may submit it 3 times per household.  It’s valid with the purchase 3 of the following products:

  • Ziploc®
  • Glade®
  • Windex®
  • Scrubbing Bubbles®
  • Pledge®
  • Shout®
  • Fantastik®
  • Drano®
  • Raid®
  • Off®
  • Saran™
  • Nature’s Source™

This is great and fine and dandy because it usually means FREE Ziploc bags (and Glade, etc)!!!  I have to tell you though, I still struggle with the amount of waste I’m producing as a couponer.  We always try to buy the smallest size of a product the coupon will allow so we get a better value, but that means we’re throwing away more packaging… and using more ziplocs because they’re FREE?  Maybe this doesn’t bother you at all.  If it does, here’s another option…

little house creations

A dear friend I went to high school with makes & sells fantastic reusable snack and sandwich bags in her Etsy store Little House Creations.  They’re a great alternative to disposable plastic!  They are “made with a cotton exterior and nylon interior to make cleaning easy. You can rinse it out in the sink or throw it in the washing machine.”

I think it’s worth the small investment if you’re packing lunches for your kids or you brown-bag your work lunch… What do you think?

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By Jolon, 10 March, 2010, Leave A Comment

What’s on Sale in March?

dollar man

The only way to build your stockpile is to take advantage of the current sales.  The same items tend to be on sale about the same time every year, so combine your manufacturer coupons, store coupons, rebates and sales to buy at the lowest possible price!

Here are the types of deals to be on the lookout for in March:

Frozen Food Month:

  • Frozen vegetables (box, bag, steam)
  • Frozen fruits
  • Frozen dinners/meals
  • Ice cream, popsicles, etc
  • Waffles
  • etc (all frozen foods)

Spring Cleaning Month:

  • Cleansers and household items

Easter/Passover Promotions:  (March or April)

  • Eggs
  • Ham
  • Asparagus
  • Horseradish
  • Butter
  • Coconut

National Peanut Month:

  • Peanuts
  • Peanut butter

St Patrick’s Day:

  • Potatoes
  • Corned beef
  • Other “Irish” foods

Gardening supplies

Thanks, GroceryCouponGuide!

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By Jolon, 6 March, 2010, Leave A Comment

Jennie-O Turkey $5 Mail-in Rebate

jennie o turkey leanJennie-O Turkey has a $5 Mail-in Rebate (good on ANY ONE Jennie-O Turkey store product) available to the first 25,000 who register!! (I just did it 10 minutes ago and it was still available.)  I buy Jennie O-Turkey exclusively.  It’s not cheap.  Therefore this excites me!

  1. Register for the Jennie-O Turkey online wllness center & create an account.
  2. Log in with your new account info.
  3. Click “coupons and offers” to print your rebate form.
  4. Make your purchase by May 31, 2010 and get $5 back by mail.

Regular price of the lean ground turkey is $4.99 at Meijer, so I’ll get one package FREE! (But it’s good on ANY product – you could even do $5 of deli-meat!)

Thanks, DealFindingChik!

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By Jolon, 25 February, 2010, Leave A Comment

Local Flair: Buy Michigan Now – Grocery Guide

Michigan Hands Logo

Let’s talk about “saving” in a slightly different sense of the word… as in “saving” Michigan.

I couple weeks ago, I attended “Touting Michigan,” the first in a series of discussions hosted by Rapid Growth Media. The 5 speakers we heard are leading movements to save & promote Michigan. I would encourage you to check out their sites and join the effort to love our great state!

**I’m particularly interested in Buy Michigan Now’s Grocery Guide. It’s a comprehensive resource of brands and products made here in Michigan. And guess what?!?… some of those brands publish coupons!

Examples:

  • Lighthouse dressings which are made in Lowell.  I used coupons at Family Fare this week to get their tasty Ceasar dressing for only $0.75 ea!!
  • Old Orchard & Healthy Balance Juices frequently release $1/2 coupons, too!

What efforts are you making to buy Michigan products and promote Michigan??

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By Jolon, 20 February, 2010, Leave A Comment

FREE Olay Products via $15 Mail-in Rebate

olay $15 mire

Olay has a new $15 mail-in rebate when you purchase any 3 Olay Facial Moisturizers, Facial Treatments,
Facial Cleansers, Hand & Body Lotions, Body Washes or 6+ Bar Soap Packs.
All purchases must be made by March 12, 2010. Rebate submissions must be postmarked by March 26, 2010.

Coupons available:

  • $2 Olay Hand & Body Lotion from 1/17 PG
  • $1 Olay Lotion, Body Wash, Bars from 1/17 PG or 2/7 PG
  • $3 Olay Regenerist coupon from 2/7 PG
  • “Buy Venus Razor, Get Olay Body Wash FREE” coupon from 2/7 PG

Walmart:

Savvy Scenario:
Buy 3 Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash $3.87 ea  (Thanks, Shannon!)
Use (3) $1 Olay Hand & Body Lotion coupons from 1/17 PG
OOP = $8.61 + tax
Submit $15 Olay Mail-in Rebate
Final Price FREE + $5.87 money maker

Savvy Scenario:
Buy 3 Olay Regenerist Moisturizers $6.27 ea (Thanks, Shannon!)
Use (3) $3 Olay Renegerist coupons from 2/7 PG
OOP = $9.81 + tax
Submit $15 Olay Mail-in Rebate
Final Price FREE + $4.60 money maker

Rite Aid:

Savvy Scenario:
Buy 3 Olay Ribbons Body Wash $6.00 ea
Buy 1 Venus Embrace or Breeze Razor $11.99
Total = $29.99
Use $5/$20 RAVV coupon
Use (1) “Free Body Wash wyb Razor” coupons from 2/7 PG
Use (1) $2 Venus coupon from 2/7 PG
Use (2) $1 Olay coupons from 1/17 PG or 2/7 PG
OOP = $14.99 + tax
Submit $15 Olay Mail-in Rebate
Final Price $0.89

Walgreens:

Olay Body Wash BOGO 50% off
Buy 3 Body Wash
Use (3) $1 coupons
Submit $15 Olay Mail-in Rebate

What other variations have you come up with this week?  Feel free to send in your pictures and scenarios!!

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By Jolon, 16 February, 2010, Leave A Comment

$50 Rebate – Garmin Forerunner 405

Garmin-1

Get a $50 Rebate on a Garmin Forerunner 405 if you purchase before May 31, 2010. Terms, conditions, & rebate form.

**Emailed to me by Gazelle Sports.  If you’re going to shop locally, perhaps you’d consider buying there.  Great way to support local business AND your running habit (AND your savings habit, of course!)

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By Jolon, 9 February, 2010, Leave A Comment

Frugal Living Tip #4: Getting More Coupons

savvy_125

If you’re going to go through all this “work” of using coupons, are you going to go to the store with your one little set of coupons you got from the Sunday paper you subscribe to?  NO!

Well, you could but personally I think that’s an inefficient way of going about it (since you asked.)  You need to go armed with MANY coupons so you make an actual impact on your budget and out of pocket (OOP)!!

Today’s Frugal Living Tip:  GET MORE COUPONS!

So how do you get more coupons?

Buy more papers!
I frequently incorporate multiple Sunday papers into my drugstore Savvy Scenarios and get my $2 Sunday paper for 25-50% off! Friends and family also save inserts for me. AND umm… is anyone willing to share the location of a newspaper recycling location? I’m not above dumpster diving… *gasp*

Print more!
Print coupons you want as soon as you see them because they often have print limits. They reset and reappear at will! Here is a controversial tip and I’ll leave it up to your discretion: you can find different coupons/values by searching under different zip codes.

  • Coupons.com – this is my favorite site and I check it daily!
  • Smartsource – Original Flavor HERE or Family Fare Flavor HERE
  • Red Plum – not my fav because it takes FOREVER to reset.

Purchase more!

  • The Coupon Clippers – great alternative if you don’t like to clip coupons PERIOD. You purchase only the coupons you want without purchasing a whole insert.  If you run out, reorder and they arrive in a couple days!
  • Ebay – some people have great luck finding a particular coupon on eBay.  Just be careful not to over-pay for coupons!  Shop through Ebates for cash back on Ebay purchases.
  • All You Magazine – this is sold per issue at Walmart or save on a subscription HERE.  Great high value coupons!

Stack coupons!
See my Frugal Living Tip #2 HERE

What’s your favorite way to collect coupons?

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By Jolon, 22 January, 2010, Leave A Comment

$0.07 Ziploc Bags ($1.50/2 ANY Ziploc product)

ziplocVisit Right at Home HERE and register to print (2) $1.50/2 ANY Ziploc products – even bags!

The best insert coupon is $1/2 so save a little extra with this printable coupon and then submit for the $5 SC Johnson Rebate when you buy 3 products!

For a great deal on Ziploc bags, this week head to Rite Aid:

Ziploc Bags $1.99 (buy 4)
Use (2) $1.50/2 coupons from above
OOP = $4.96 + tax
Submit $5 SC Johnson Rebate (3 per household)
Final Price $0.07 ea wyb 4

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By Jolon, 20 January, 2010, Leave A Comment

Rite Aid Deals 1/17 – 1/23

RA

Watch videos and earn Rite Aid Video Values (RAVV) coupons and a $5/$20 coupon HEREGet the list of the January Video Value coupons HERE.

Learn about the new GAME OF LIFE Promotion HERE.

Single Check Rebate Deals:

Crest Toothpaste (select varieties) $2.99
Use $1 coupon from 12/27 PG
Submit $1.25 SCR #78
Final Price $0.74

Vicks DayQuil or NyQuil $3.99
Use $2 coupon from 1/17 PG
Submit $1 SCR #40
Final Price $0.99

Jergen’s Sensitive Skin Relief Lotion 16.8 oz $5.99
Use $1.50 coupon from 1/17 SS
Submit $3 SCR #61
Final Price $1.49

N.Y.C Color Cosmetic (purchase any $1.99+)
Use $1 coupon you may have printed HERE or Feb All You Magazine
Submit $1 SCR #64
Final Price FREE

Tampax Pearl Tampons 36 – 40 ct $6.99
Submit $2 SCR #2 (this is a limit 1 SCR, cannot do both Tampax and Always deal below)
Final Price $4.99
*Could also buy Tampax 18-20 count
Use BOGO coupon from 12/27 PG
Final Price $4.99 for both

Always Infinity Pads 28-36 ct $6.99
Use $1 home mailer coupon
Submit $2 SCR #2 (this is a limit 1 SCR, cannot do both Always and Tampax deal above)
Final Price $3.99
*Could also buy Always 14- 18 ct
Use BOGO coupon from 12/27 PG
Final Price $3.99 for both

Other Great Deals:

Cover Girl cosmetics BOGO 50% off
Use (2) $1 coupon from 1/17 PG
Final Price varies wyb 2

Olay Skin Care and Bath care BOGO 50% off
Use (2) $1 coupons from 12/27 PG or 1/17 PG
Final Price varies wyb 2

Halls Cough Drops $0.99
Use $1/2 coupon from 1/10 SS
Final Price $0.49 ea wyb 2

Chapstick Medicated $0.99
Use $0.50/2 coupon from 12/13 RP
Final Price $0.74 ea wyb 2

Revlon Eye Cosmetics BOGO
Use (2) $2 coupons from 12/13 SS or (2) $1 coupons from 1/17 SS
Final price varies wyb 2

Smooth Away $9.99 BOGO
Use (2) $1.50 coupons from 1/10 RP
Final Price $3.50 ea wyb 2

Loreal Foundation, Powder, Blush or Concealer $2 off
Use $2 coupon HERE
Final Price varies

Nature Made Vitamins & Supplements BOGO 50% off
Use (2) $1 coupons from 1/3 SS
Submit towards SCR#44 ($5 GC wyb $30)
Final Price varies wyb 2

Johnson & Johnson First Aid BOGO 50% off
Use (2) $1 coupons from 1/3 RP
Final Price varies wyb 2
 
Lance Crackers 8-pk $1.50 ea
Use $1 coupon HERE
Final Price $0.50

Doritos $2.49
Use $1 RAVV coupon
Final Price $1.49

Ziploc Bags $1.99 (buy 4)
Use (2) $1/2 coupons from 1/10 SS
OOP = $5.96 + tax
Submit $5 SC Johnson Rebate (3 per household)
Final Price $0.26 ea wyb 4

Wet Ones Canister $1.99
Use $1.50 coupon HERE
Final Price $0.49

Savvy Scenario:

Buy 1 Crest toothpaste $2.99
Buy 2 Vicks DayQuil/NyQuil $7.98
Buy 1 Puffs tissues $3.99
Buy 2 Wet Ones Canisters $3.98
Buy 1 Lance Crackers 8-pk $1.50
Total = $20.44
Use $5/$20 RAVV coupon
Use $1 Crest coupon
Use (2) $2 Vicks coupons
Use “Buy 2 Vick, get Puffs FREE” coupon from 12/27 PG
Use (2) $1.50 Wet Ones coupons
Use $1 Lance coupon
OOP = $2.45 + tax
Submit $1.25 Crest SCR
Submit $1 Vicks SCR (limit 1)
Final Price $0.35
 
What scenarios will you be doing?

*NOTE: the ads in West Michigan do vary slightly! Greenville and Grand Rapids areas have a bigger ad (though not always as big as the national ad). Sparta and Grant get a shorter ad. While stores will honor either ad, please check your ad before planning your deals and heading to your store (and take the ad and the policy with you!)

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By Jolon, 17 January, 2010, Leave A Comment

Rite Aid + Johnson & Johnson Rebate = FREEBIES + MM!

RA

Remember the $10 Johnson & Johnson rebate (when you buy $30) and the corresponding coupons I posted HERE ?  Take them to Rite Aid this week (1/10 – 1/16) and get some FREEBIES!

Savvy Scenario:

Buy 1 Aveeno Hair Care Products $6.99
Buy 2 Lubriderm 6oz Lotion $4.69
Buy 2 Clean & Clear Foaming Fash Wash $4.99
Buy 2 Aveeno Lotions $3.49
Total = $33.33
Use $5/$20 RAVV Coupon
Use $1 in-ad Aveeno Hair Care coupon
Also use $2.50 Aveeno coupon HERE
Use $1 in-ad Lubriderm Lotion coupon (deducts $2)
Also use $2 Lubriderm coupon HERE
Use $1 in-ad Clean & Clear Coupon (deducts $2)
Also use $2 Clean & Clear coupon HERE
Use $1 in-ad Aveeno Lotion coupon (deducts $2)
Also use $2 Aveeno coupon HERE
OOP = $6.83 + tax
Submit $10 Johnson & Johnson Rebate HERE
Final Price FREE + $2.75ish Money maker

Thanks, KCL!

Stay tuned for the rest of the Rite Aid deals for this week!

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By Jolon, 11 January, 2010, Leave A Comment