http://my.adperk.com/splash/d30b50da/index.htmlGet a coupon for a FREE personalized Mouse Pad. All you have to do is watch the Fuji Film at the Video Values site. These mouse pads normally cost around $12.99.
The coupon can be used in-store or you can create your mouse pad at RiteAid.com (If you order online and choose to pick-up in-store. shipping is FREE)
This coupon EXPIRES June 30, 2010.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Get $3 ECB at CVS for Your Birthday
Go online to CVS and log-in or create new account
Attach your Extra Care Card to account
Receive $3 ECB on your birthday
Thanks to Freebies 4 Mom!!
Freebie: Pedometer from Nature's Bounty
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Coupon Code: 15% off Mineralicious! Mineral Makeup for Mother's Day
This is my favorite kind of makeup!15% off in honor of Mother's Day at Mineralicious! Mineral Makeup!
Discount not valid on Consultant Kits, Diva Discount Club or Color of the Month Club
Monday, May 3, 2010
Freebie: Walt Disney Records 50 Days of Disney Music
Walt Disney Records is giving away a free MP3 of a Disney song every day for the next 50 days. The first one was just announced. Phineas and Ferb - "Squirrels in My Pants". "Like" their page on Facebook to see the freebie each day!
This came out just in time too! My two boys have a hard time NOT annoying each other, so we just ordered them each an MP3 player (using Amazon.com gift cards from Swagbucks!) to listen to to help tune each other out during tough times. I've been trying to decide what to put on the Mp3 Players when they arrive, and now I've started a collection of kid friendly music!
Thanks Disney!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Free Sample: Dove Damage Therapy Conditioner
We love free samples from Dove! Sign up now for the freebie they just announced on their Facebook Page!
Dove Damage Therapy - you can choose from Intensive Repair and Daily Moisture
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Limited Time: Arm & Hammer Clumping Litter $10.50 in Coupons!
Sign up for over $10 in FREE coupons for Arm & Hammer Clumping cat litter!
I hear a rumor this offer won't be valid after Friday, so hurry!
FREE CARD @ Kodak Gallery, Pay .99 shipping
Get a FREE 5x7 folded greeting card at Kodak Gallery!! Use coupons code 4MOM, then pay .99 cent shipping. Even though this is a promotion for Mother's Day, coupon works on ANY 5x7 folded greeting card. This offer expires May 4th!!
link:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/category.jsp?parentCatId=Products&catId=Cards&cm_mmc=Affilate_-_CJ_-_2734597_-_10574745&sourceId=93687970703
REMBER if you are a new customer to Kodak Gallery, you also can get 50 FREE prints!!
link:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/lp/new-member-offer-a/offer.jsp?cm_mmc=Affilate_-_CJ_-_2734597_-_10476874&sourceId=93687970703
Big Thanks goes out to Freebies 4 Mom for this deal!!
link:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/category.jsp?parentCatId=Products&catId=Cards&cm_mmc=Affilate_-_CJ_-_2734597_-_10574745&sourceId=93687970703
REMBER if you are a new customer to Kodak Gallery, you also can get 50 FREE prints!!
link:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/lp/new-member-offer-a/offer.jsp?cm_mmc=Affilate_-_CJ_-_2734597_-_10476874&sourceId=93687970703
Big Thanks goes out to Freebies 4 Mom for this deal!!
Contributor Bio: Desiree S.
Hi everyone!! My name is Desiree and I will be posting deals/freebies. I live in Canaan, Maine with my fiance Harry and our beautiful daughter, Delani. I am currently a stay-at-home mom and love it!
My journey to save money began when I found out I was pregnant. It began with saving money on baby items, and grew to saving money all around the budget. I love to save money because this is what allows me to stay home with Delani!! I view saving money as "my job", because with only Harry's income, I have to make every dollar stretch.
My number one favorite way to save money: COUPONS!!! To me, this is "free" money. By pairing coupons with sales and other deals, you can get a lot for almost nothing!! Who doesn't like that? In close second, comes buying second-hand or used clothing. This is especially money-saving when you have a little one!
Well, I hope that I can help everyone save some money because who doesn't love spending less and getting more!!
My journey to save money began when I found out I was pregnant. It began with saving money on baby items, and grew to saving money all around the budget. I love to save money because this is what allows me to stay home with Delani!! I view saving money as "my job", because with only Harry's income, I have to make every dollar stretch.
My number one favorite way to save money: COUPONS!!! To me, this is "free" money. By pairing coupons with sales and other deals, you can get a lot for almost nothing!! Who doesn't like that? In close second, comes buying second-hand or used clothing. This is especially money-saving when you have a little one!
Well, I hope that I can help everyone save some money because who doesn't love spending less and getting more!!
Monday, April 26, 2010
Free Sample: Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Detergent
Sign up now for a Free sample of Purex 3-in-1 laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets! This sample is 2 sheets, I've received one of these samples in the past, and they were ok, the fragrance lasted really well on my laundry, though I normally use dye and fragrance free detergent, so that may be why the fragrance seemed so strong to me!
Anyway, don't miss out, I just signed up for this one so it's still valid!
Free Sample: Nescafe
This will be the third time I've managed to snag this great freebie! A pack of 6 different Nescafe instant coffee samples!
I'm not a big instant coffee drinker, but sometimes these will "fix" a bad/weak cup of coffee, so they are great to have around! They are also good for adding coffee flavor to other drinks!
Free Sample: Eucerin Daily Skin Balance Lotion
Walmart has a great freebie! I just signed up for some Eucerin Daily Skin Balance Lotion! Click the link to sign up for yours today!
Edited: You can get this directly from the manufacturer's website now too! Click here to sign up!
Free Address Labels from Vistaprint - Limited Time!
Check out Vistaprint.com for a great deal on Return Address Labels!
They are free, you just pay shipping!
Shop through your Upromise toolbar and get 5% back for College!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Healthful Eating on a Budget (Part 2)
Note: This is part 2 of a 2 part essay, to read part 1 click here
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While it is possible to grow a good deal of food at home in containers or a garden, there will always be food items that you are just not able to grow or produce for yourself. For the foods that still need to be purchased, consumers can save money on them by using coupons. Many people do not understand how to use coupons, causing them to believe that they are not worth the time it takes to find them. However, once the proper way to use coupons is learned, consumers can save a lot of money on food and other items that are needed. There are many places that one can find coupons.
Traditionally, people think of finding coupons in the Sunday paper, which is still a reliable source for finding them. Coupons can also be printed off the computer from various websites such as Coupons.com, SmartSource.com, RedPlum.com, and even directly from different manufacturers’ websites. Many people mistakenly believe that there is nothing more to using coupons than clipping them and then using them. However, there are occasionally situations when it would be in their best interest to avoid using a coupon that they may have.
According to Mommy Savers (2007), “You will need to become coupon-savvy in order to recognize when coupons are a good deal and when they’re not”. (Perfecting the Art of Couponing: How to Use Coupons, para. 2). Coupons are more effective when used in stores that will double them, meaning people can receive twice the value for one coupon. Coupons can also be paired up with sales, and store deals, to increase the savings. Shaw’s supermarkets will double coupons with a value up to 99 cents. In this case, it is better to have a coupon worth 75 cents than one worth $1. Once the value is doubles, consumers will end up receiving $1.50 of the normal purchase price. People should also always remember to purchase the smallest item allowed by the coupon to increase savings by volume.
In order to maximize the savings, and decrease the frustration that can result from trying to use a variety of coupons, it is best to find an organizational method that suits each person’s individuality. Many people use a three ring binder with trading card sleeves and tabbed dividers to keep their coupons organized, whereas others use a simple accordion style folder or a small file box. After finding a method that works effectively, it will become much easier to save money and plan shopping trips, and also to plan menus around the use of the coupons.
When planning a shopping list, keep in mind which local stores are having sales, and which coupons are available for the sale items. Using coupons on sale items is a good way to get the best possible price and to save money. This method is especially effective if the store also happens to be participating in a Catalina deal. A Catalina deal is when purchased items meet a predetermined requirement (usually $20 or $25 of participating items). Then, at the check out, the purchaser will receive a certain dollar amount off on their next shopping trip. These coupons can be “rolled-over” and used for multiple trips through the checkout, at the same store, to increase their savings. I have been known to take three or four trips through the check out, in one day, to take advantage of these Catalina deals, just to go in one more time to buy other items that were needed that I either did not have a coupon for, or were not part of a current store deal. On my best day I brought home over $140 worth of groceries and personal care products, but I only spent a little more than $16.
Building a stockpile is probably the most important part of saving money on food. A stockpile is exactly what it sounds like—a large collection of products that are used regularly. Some people stockpile toilet paper or canned foods, while others stockpile diapers and other items. By using coupons in conjunction with deals and sales, and purchasing items that a family will use regularly, instead of just whatever happens to be on sale, a stockpile will slowly be built. By purchasing items when they can be obtained at their absolute lowest price, and building a stockpile of non-perishable foods and other items such as toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, etc.), then room can be freed in the budget for healthier items, such as fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. Having an established stockpile helps to cut down on costs because when a person sits down to plan out their weekly or monthly menus (a very important part of saving money) they can check their stockpile, the current sales fliers, and available coupons to see what they have and what is inexpensive that they can pick up to complete meals for the least amount of money possible.
Although healthy food costs more, people can indeed eat healthy without breaking the bank. By shopping sales, and taking advantage of deals to stock up on non-perishable items that are used frequently, people can easily free up money from those areas of their budget to make room for the more expensive fresh and healthy foods that their family will thrive on.
While it is possible to grow a good deal of food at home in containers or a garden, there will always be food items that you are just not able to grow or produce for yourself. For the foods that still need to be purchased, consumers can save money on them by using coupons. Many people do not understand how to use coupons, causing them to believe that they are not worth the time it takes to find them. However, once the proper way to use coupons is learned, consumers can save a lot of money on food and other items that are needed. There are many places that one can find coupons.
Traditionally, people think of finding coupons in the Sunday paper, which is still a reliable source for finding them. Coupons can also be printed off the computer from various websites such as Coupons.com, SmartSource.com, RedPlum.com, and even directly from different manufacturers’ websites. Many people mistakenly believe that there is nothing more to using coupons than clipping them and then using them. However, there are occasionally situations when it would be in their best interest to avoid using a coupon that they may have.
According to Mommy Savers (2007), “You will need to become coupon-savvy in order to recognize when coupons are a good deal and when they’re not”. (Perfecting the Art of Couponing: How to Use Coupons, para. 2). Coupons are more effective when used in stores that will double them, meaning people can receive twice the value for one coupon. Coupons can also be paired up with sales, and store deals, to increase the savings. Shaw’s supermarkets will double coupons with a value up to 99 cents. In this case, it is better to have a coupon worth 75 cents than one worth $1. Once the value is doubles, consumers will end up receiving $1.50 of the normal purchase price. People should also always remember to purchase the smallest item allowed by the coupon to increase savings by volume.
In order to maximize the savings, and decrease the frustration that can result from trying to use a variety of coupons, it is best to find an organizational method that suits each person’s individuality. Many people use a three ring binder with trading card sleeves and tabbed dividers to keep their coupons organized, whereas others use a simple accordion style folder or a small file box. After finding a method that works effectively, it will become much easier to save money and plan shopping trips, and also to plan menus around the use of the coupons.
When planning a shopping list, keep in mind which local stores are having sales, and which coupons are available for the sale items. Using coupons on sale items is a good way to get the best possible price and to save money. This method is especially effective if the store also happens to be participating in a Catalina deal. A Catalina deal is when purchased items meet a predetermined requirement (usually $20 or $25 of participating items). Then, at the check out, the purchaser will receive a certain dollar amount off on their next shopping trip. These coupons can be “rolled-over” and used for multiple trips through the checkout, at the same store, to increase their savings. I have been known to take three or four trips through the check out, in one day, to take advantage of these Catalina deals, just to go in one more time to buy other items that were needed that I either did not have a coupon for, or were not part of a current store deal. On my best day I brought home over $140 worth of groceries and personal care products, but I only spent a little more than $16.
When it is possible to find really good deals on fruits and vegetables do not pass it up just because of the fear that they will go bad before they can be used up. Berries can be spread out and frozen, and then bagged for storage. Many other fruits can be frozen and saved for future use, as well. Erin Chase ("The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook", 2009) stated, “Frozen fresh fruit is best used to make smoothies or for baking, as it tends to turn ‘mushy’ as it thaws” (p.31).
Building a stockpile is probably the most important part of saving money on food. A stockpile is exactly what it sounds like—a large collection of products that are used regularly. Some people stockpile toilet paper or canned foods, while others stockpile diapers and other items. By using coupons in conjunction with deals and sales, and purchasing items that a family will use regularly, instead of just whatever happens to be on sale, a stockpile will slowly be built. By purchasing items when they can be obtained at their absolute lowest price, and building a stockpile of non-perishable foods and other items such as toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, toilet paper, etc.), then room can be freed in the budget for healthier items, such as fresh, organic fruits and vegetables. Having an established stockpile helps to cut down on costs because when a person sits down to plan out their weekly or monthly menus (a very important part of saving money) they can check their stockpile, the current sales fliers, and available coupons to see what they have and what is inexpensive that they can pick up to complete meals for the least amount of money possible.
Although healthy food costs more, people can indeed eat healthy without breaking the bank. By shopping sales, and taking advantage of deals to stock up on non-perishable items that are used frequently, people can easily free up money from those areas of their budget to make room for the more expensive fresh and healthy foods that their family will thrive on.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Healthful Eating on a Budget (Part 1)
Note: This will be a two part series, based on an essay I wrote for one of my college classes.
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In today’s economy it is equally important to remain healthy and to save money. One of the most important things people can do to keep themselves and their family healthy is to maintain a healthy diet. Most people believe that when their household budget is tight, they will not be able to afford to eat healthily. Even though healthy foods cost more, they can eat healthily without spending a lot by using coupons, shopping sales, and growing a garden of their own.
One of the most important parts of a healthy diet is including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. These can be expensive to purchase, especially in the colder months when very little is “in season” locally, and consumers have to pay higher prices for items that are grown in warmer climates and shipped to cooler areas. On top of being more expensive, these foods can also have lower nutritional values because they are harvested before they are entirely ripe.
By growing fruits and vegetables at home, people can avoid some of the expense and inferior nutritional values. There are a variety of fruits and vegetables that can easily be grown at home, even in the smallest spaces. One method, called Square Food Gardening, uses grids to help lay out small spaces using boxes with aisles to maximize the space available, and uses only two or three seeds per section (Square Foot Gardening, 2009). This method can be used in window boxes or balconies, using containers of all sorts, and even indoors in the winter time.
When it concerns eating healthily, an important reminder is that commercial pesticides and fertilizers are full of chemicals of all kinds. Eating organic is ideal when it comes to fruits and vegetables. But again, this can be costly. One way to avoid this issue with an individual’s own garden is to make their own compost. There are many methods of composting, from using a bucket with worms in the house that turn food scraps into compost, to having a rotating compost barrel, or if there is a larger area available, using compost bins. Composting is actually very easy once an individual has gotten the hang of it. Remember no to add any meat, bones, or dairy products. Most food scraps, paper waste,, and yard waste can be composted, leaving an amazing fertilizer that is great for gardens. In addition, people should try to avoid using chemical filled pesticides.
Companion planting is a wonderful way to minimize the amount of pest control needed. Companion planting is a method of placing plants that will benefit each other in some way near each other. One example of this is what is traditionally known as “the three sisters.” Beans, corn, and squash would be planted together; the beans grow up the corn stalks, and the squash grow around the base, preventing many animals from coming in and eating the crops.
After learning to grow fruits and vegetables at home, using minimal amounts of chemicals in the fertilizer and pesticides, the next step is learning ways to preserve the harvest. Three effective methods of prolonging the usefulness of the harvest are: canning, freezing, and dehydrating. The method of preservation that a person chooses will be based on what they are trying to store. For instance, broccoli and cauliflower can be blanched and frozen, while tomatoes should be prepared and stored in sealed canning jars. Herbs, peas, and even carrots can be easily dehydrated and stored in jars or bags for use in many different kinds of recipes.
One of the most important parts of a healthy diet is including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. These can be expensive to purchase, especially in the colder months when very little is “in season” locally, and consumers have to pay higher prices for items that are grown in warmer climates and shipped to cooler areas. On top of being more expensive, these foods can also have lower nutritional values because they are harvested before they are entirely ripe.
By growing fruits and vegetables at home, people can avoid some of the expense and inferior nutritional values. There are a variety of fruits and vegetables that can easily be grown at home, even in the smallest spaces. One method, called Square Food Gardening, uses grids to help lay out small spaces using boxes with aisles to maximize the space available, and uses only two or three seeds per section (Square Foot Gardening, 2009). This method can be used in window boxes or balconies, using containers of all sorts, and even indoors in the winter time.
When it concerns eating healthily, an important reminder is that commercial pesticides and fertilizers are full of chemicals of all kinds. Eating organic is ideal when it comes to fruits and vegetables. But again, this can be costly. One way to avoid this issue with an individual’s own garden is to make their own compost. There are many methods of composting, from using a bucket with worms in the house that turn food scraps into compost, to having a rotating compost barrel, or if there is a larger area available, using compost bins. Composting is actually very easy once an individual has gotten the hang of it. Remember no to add any meat, bones, or dairy products. Most food scraps, paper waste,, and yard waste can be composted, leaving an amazing fertilizer that is great for gardens. In addition, people should try to avoid using chemical filled pesticides.
Companion planting is a wonderful way to minimize the amount of pest control needed. Companion planting is a method of placing plants that will benefit each other in some way near each other. One example of this is what is traditionally known as “the three sisters.” Beans, corn, and squash would be planted together; the beans grow up the corn stalks, and the squash grow around the base, preventing many animals from coming in and eating the crops.
After learning to grow fruits and vegetables at home, using minimal amounts of chemicals in the fertilizer and pesticides, the next step is learning ways to preserve the harvest. Three effective methods of prolonging the usefulness of the harvest are: canning, freezing, and dehydrating. The method of preservation that a person chooses will be based on what they are trying to store. For instance, broccoli and cauliflower can be blanched and frozen, while tomatoes should be prepared and stored in sealed canning jars. Herbs, peas, and even carrots can be easily dehydrated and stored in jars or bags for use in many different kinds of recipes.
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To be continued... part two - Shopping sales, using coupons and stockpiling
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Make Money By Saving Money
Saving money in this day and age is important to everyone. Since I stay home with the kids and work from home for the time being, I make it my job to find ways for my family to save money. We've got four kids and survive on basically one income, this wouldn't be possible without my hard work in the savings department.
One of my favorite ways to save is by shopping online. I'm always finding coupon codes for stores we buy from, and use them online to save money or get free shipping, and when that is doubled up with a great program like BigCrumbs.com, the savings can't be beat!
Give it a shot! It's free to sign up, you won't be disappointed!
One of my favorite ways to save is by shopping online. I'm always finding coupon codes for stores we buy from, and use them online to save money or get free shipping, and when that is doubled up with a great program like BigCrumbs.com, the savings can't be beat!
- Log into your BigCrumbs.com account (and if you don't have one, you can sign up here).
- Do a search for the store you want to shop through, or the product you're looking for (such as a few weeks ago when my husband and I were searching for a new kitchen mixer, we searched KitchenAid Mixer)
- If you are searching for a product, compare the amount of money you'll get back by shopping at each place, be sure to take into consideration the price each place is asking for similar items. Evaluate your options, including any shipping costs, and choose where you'll be shopping through
- Make your purchase!
- Get money in your Paypal account monthly!
Give it a shot! It's free to sign up, you won't be disappointed!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Free Winter Fun!
I've been researching for ideas on how to encourage my kids to have fun playing outside (for days like now, when they are on vacation from school and my girls need to nap), here is a really great one I came across!
"Get 4 spray bottles, I get mine at the dollar store and sometimes they have the ones that come four in a package with different colored tops. Now take 1 of those little packages of food coloring you get in the baking aisle at the grocery store. Empty 1 bottle of the food coloring into each spray bottle and fill the bottle almost to the top with tap water. Gently shake each full spray bottle. Now take your "Snow Paint" outside and create snowbank graffiti. The food coloring will fade away slowly and disappear as the snow melts. It will not harm your soil or stain anything but the clothing of the person wearing it. Just be sure no-one is wearing their "best coat" when they're playing"
"Get 4 spray bottles, I get mine at the dollar store and sometimes they have the ones that come four in a package with different colored tops. Now take 1 of those little packages of food coloring you get in the baking aisle at the grocery store. Empty 1 bottle of the food coloring into each spray bottle and fill the bottle almost to the top with tap water. Gently shake each full spray bottle. Now take your "Snow Paint" outside and create snowbank graffiti. The food coloring will fade away slowly and disappear as the snow melts. It will not harm your soil or stain anything but the clothing of the person wearing it. Just be sure no-one is wearing their "best coat" when they're playing"
