Monday, April 30, 2012

End of month reminder

Today is the last day of April, so make sure you print any online printables you're interested in from sites like coupons.com, Red Plum, SmartSource, and Coupon Network.  Some will disappear tomorrow and others may be replaced by new ones.

4/30 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon


Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off Tops original seafood salad and expires 5/6/12. Play the game here for your chance to win a $50 Tops gift card and earn the coupon if you're not the random winner.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

4/29 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon


Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off I Can't Believe It's Not Butter soft spread and expires 5/5/12. Play the game here for your chance to win a $50 Tops gift card and earn the coupon if you're not the random winner.
 
Since you can stack a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon, print out the $1.25 manufacturer coupon here to lower the price even more.  I don't know how much this retails for at Tops, but I have to believe getting $2.25 off between both coupons would make it pretty reasonable.

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Free Finish Quantum sample


Head over to Facebook to request your free sample of Finish Quantum dishwashing detergent.  I've never used the Quantum, but I absolutely love how the Finish Powerball Tabs clean my dishes.  Hopefully this will be work just as well!

Money Saving Challenge - week 17 in review


I felt very productive this week in my quest for being frugal and saving money.  Here is the rundown of what I did:
  • I downloaded a free ebook onto my Nook.
  • I received a bunch of freebie goodies in the mail this week: a coupon for a free drink at Dunkin Donuts, a full size bottle of MiO water enhancer, a Target beauty bad containing samples and coupons, and a bunch of Crest coupons. 
  • I matched coupons and sales at Tops and Wegmans to save money on my groceries and deposited a portion of my savings into our bank account.
  • I cashed in my Swagbucks for a $5 Amazon gift card, which I will use towards Christmas gifts later this year.
  • I combined errands on my outings to help save on gas.
  • I mailed out a $3 rebate which will make some fruit I bought a money maker. 
  • I read my MyPoints emails to rack up points for gift cards that I will use for gift giving or a treat for my family.
  • Since my car was on fumes, I used my gas points at Tops. I had a $4.00/gallon discount which enabled my to get about 17 gallons of gas for $1.00!  And to top that off, I did more shopping after my fill-up and am already up to another $0.50 per gallon discount with a full week's worth of shopping left in this earning period.
  • I was in desperate need of a hair cut.  I went to the Supercuts close to my house (cheap price, plus saves on gas), used a coupon (even cheaper), and will get my next cut free (used my buy 8, get the 9th free card).

Did you do anything to help save money this week? I'd love to read about them in the comments below!

Sunday Coupon Preview

Did you know you can get a sneak preview of the upcoming coupon inserts at Sunday Coupon Preview? This can be a good tool to decide if running out for additional newspapers will be worth it or not.  There are 4 inserts expected this week: 1 SmartSource, 1 Red Plum, 1 Proctor & Gamble, and 1 Pepsi Moments to Save.

Coupons and coupon denominations do vary by region so what you receive may not match up completely with the coupons listed at the above link, but it can help you plan your shopping trips early.

4/28 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $2.00 off Tops liquid water enhancer and expires 5/4/12. Play the game here for your chance to win a $50 Tops gift card and earn the coupon if you're not the random winner.
 
I have no idea what this is priced at.  Anyone?  I've used and loved the MiO brand before, so this might be a more frugal alternative worth trying.

Friday, April 27, 2012

Go earn some free gift cards -- it's Mega Swag Bucks Day!

I've done one search already on Swagbucks today. Have you? Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the chances of being rewarded large denominations of Swag Bucks is increased. What are you waiting for? Go do your searches now!

Not familiar with Swagbucks? Here's the deal:

Swagbucks is a search engine (like Google or Yahoo). You are awarded points randomly (called Swag Bucks) when you search the Internet, answer surveys, watch videos, play games, etc. Once you sign up (it's free!), you can also refer friends and family and earn points from their referrals.

I normally earn my points through doing the web searches only (and really, who doesn't already do that? Why not get rewarded for what you're already doing?). I seem to get points after my third or fourth search and I try to do it once in the morning and again in the evening. When I earn points for a search, they are generally in the 7 - 10 point range. I've also done some surveys and earned a bunch of points very quickly. And every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the odds of winning high-value Swag Bucks are increased.

Swag Bucks are redeemed in the Swagstore. While there are a lot of things to choose from, my favorite item hands down is the $5 Amazon gift card for 450 points. I know, that sounds like a lot of points, right? Trust me, if you commit to doing 2 searches per day, the points can add up quickly. I started using Swagbucks in June 2011 and by the end of the year I cashed in for $45 in Amazon gift cards which really helped with my Christmas shopping. I figure this year I'll be consistent enough about it that I will have quite a bit of free money to play with!

Interested? Sign up at Swagbucks (remember, it's free) and start earning free stuff!

Amazon gift cards earned in 2011: $45
Amazon gift cards earned in 2012: $40

4/27 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.00 off a dozen of Tops bakery donuts and expires 5/3/12. Play the game here for your chance to win a $50 Tops gift card and earn the coupon if you're not the random winner.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

4/22 - 4/28 Tops deals

Wow, I feel like I've been so busy between shopping trips that I haven't had a chance to sit down and blog about them until now!  I've made several visits to Tops this week, so here is a rundown of my purchases (not everything is pictured above):

Transaction 1

3 boxes Kraft Milk Bite granola bars - $1.50 each, see notes
On sale 3/$6, used 3 $0.75 (double to $1.50) coupons from here
Notes: The regular price of these at Wegmans is $2.99, but for just a penny difference I opted to buy them at Tops so I could earn the gas points from my coupons.  On the subject of coupons, I was able to print my normal 2 coupon prints per computer when I didn't enter a zip code.  I regularly play around with entering random zip codes in order to see if I can find any new coupons.  I realized that these Milk Bites coupons were resetting for several zip codes I tried (30030, 77477, 90210, and 60303) so I was able to print a bucketload of them.  It's a good thing my kids love them!  I printed them out on Sunday, so hopefully they are still available if you haven't printed them yet.

1 bottle Upstate Farms Intense milk - $0.50
On sale 10/$10, used a $0.25 coupon from the 4/15 SmartSource coupon insert

The retail cost of this transaction was $12.06 and I paid $5.00 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of about 59%.

Transaction 2

3 boxes Honey Bunches of Oats Fruit Blends - $0.90 each
On sale 2/$5, used 3 $0.80 coupons (double to $1.60, good on Fruit Blends varieties only) printed from here (FYI, this only allows 1 print per computer)

The retail cost of this order was $11.97 and I paid just $2.70 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of 77%.

Transaction 3

1 2-liter Pepsi Next - $0.01 (plus deposit)
On sale for $0.99, used the previously available coupon from the Tops "Burst the Bags" game
Funny side note: Purchasing this triggers a Catalina coupon for a free 1.25 liter Coke.

4 boxes Honey Bunches of Oats - $1.00 each
On sale 2/$5, used 4 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) from here (try zip 30030 if you don't see it)

0.55 lb. Sara Lee oven roasted deli turkey - $2.34 ($3.99 per pound)
On sale for $6.99/lb, used a $1.50 coupon printed from here (watch the video, then you will be able to print the coupon)

1 bag (1 lb.) Earthbound Farms organic carrots - FREE
Priced at $1.49, used a $0.75 coupon ("doubles" to $1.49) from registering on their website (note: if you register, they seem to be issuing new $0.75 coupons every few days lately)

6 Balance Bars - $0.63 each
On sale 10/$10, used 2 $1.10 off 3 coupons from their Facebook page (there is also $1 off 5 here)

I also bought 2 chickens for $9.32 (no coupons, but they are on sale for $0.88/lb, which I realized after the fact is the same price as Wegmans).

The retail cost of transaction 3 was $48.04 and I paid $19.52 after discounts and coupons, for an approximate savings of 59%.

Transaction 4

1 2-liter Pepsi Next - $0.01 (plus deposit)
On sale for $0.99, used the previously available coupon from the Tops "Burst the Bags" game
Note: This triggered another free Coke Catalina coupon, plus I just realized it also earns an extra Tops Monopoly game ticket.

3 tubs Pampers wipes - $1.00 each
On sale 2/$5, used 3 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) printed from here
Note: These are priced at $2.49 at Wegmans, but just like the Milk Bites I decided that the penny saved there was wasn't worth it due to the gas points I earn.  Also, this is currently a product that earns bonus game pieces if you're playing the Tops Monopoly game.

1 1.25-liter Diet Coke - FREE (plus deposit)
On sale 3/$3, used the free Catalina coupon from the previous transaction (actually, i have a bunch of these Catalinas from when Tops had the same Pepsi Next coupon during their "Pop the Balloon" game, so I will be buying these Cokes for a long time!)
Note: This earns you an extra game piece in the Monopoly game.

2 Banquet fruit pies - $0.60 each
On sale 10/$10, used a $0.40 off 2 (doubles to $0.80) coupon I clipped from a previously bought Banquet meal

4 boxes Kraft Milk Bite granola bars - $1.50 each
On sale 3/$6, used 4 $0.75 (double to $1.50) coupons from here

1 bottle Upstate Farms Intense milk - $0.50
On sale 10/$10, used a $0.25 coupon from the 4/15 SmartSource coupon insert

The retail cost of this transaction was $29.98 and I paid $11.13 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of about 63%.

Transaction 5

1 2-liter Pepsi Next - $0.01 (plus deposit)
On sale for $0.99, used the previously available coupon from the Tops "Burst the Bags" game
Note: This triggered another free Coke Catalina coupon and an extra Tops Monopoly game ticket.

4 boxes Special K granola bars - $0.94 each
Priced at $3.69 each (ouch!) but part of a promo where you get $5 off instantly when you buy 4, plus I used 4 $0.75 coupons (double to $1.50) printed from here.
Note: Each box also earns an extra Monopoly game piece.

1 package (10-ct.) Solo Bare dinner plates - $0.50
On sale for $2.00, used a $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) printed from here (this looks like it's no longer available which was weird -- I printed 2, I logged into another computer to print more and they were already gone)
Note: This earns an extra Monopoly piece.

1 package (15-ct.) Solo Bare dessert plates - $0.49
Priced at $1.99 each, used another $0.75 coupon above
Note: I was planning on getting 2 of the above dinner plates on sale for $2 each, but the store only had 1 package left on the shelf.  Instead of getting a raincheck, I bought the package not on sale for less money.

3 boxes Kraft Milk Bite granola bars - $1.50 each
On sale 3/$6, used 3 $0.75 (double to $1.50) coupons from here

1 bag Almond Accents - $1.49
On sale for $2.49, used a $1 coupon from the 2/26 SmartSource coupon insert (there was also a coupon in the 4/22 SmartSource insert)

The retail cost for transaction 5 was $35.94 and I paid $10.88 after coupons and discounts, for an approximate savings of 70%.

Transaction 6

1 2-liter Pepsi Next - $0.01 (plus deposit)
On sale for $0.99, used the previously available coupon from the Tops "Burst the Bags" game
Note: This triggered another free Coke Catalina coupon, plus an extra Tops Monopoly game ticket.

1 1.25-liter Diet Coke - FREE (plus deposit)
On sale 3/$3, used the free Catalina coupon from a previous transaction
Note: This earns you an extra game piece in the Monopoly game.

1 box Mission taco shells - $0.25, see note
On sale 4/$5, used a $1 peelie coupon found on the box
Note: This was one of my rare unplanned purchases.  I had seen them on sale in the Tops ad and had looked around for a coupon good enough to match up to make it a decent sale for me. I came up empty-handed but noticed in the store today that many boxes had $1 peelies on them!

1 bag (1 lb.) Earthbound Farms organic carrots - FREE
Priced at $1.49, used a $0.75 coupon ("doubles" to $1.49) from registering on their website

1 bag (3 lbs.) apples - $2.49, see note
On sale for $3.49, used the $1 Tops coupon previously available from the "Burst the Bags" gameNote: Because the were priced over $3, I will submit this receipt for the fresh fruit rebate I found.  After the coupon and rebate, these will become a money maker for me!

2 Banquet fruit pies - $0.60 each
On sale 10/$10, used a $0.40 off 2 (doubles to $0.80) coupon I clipped from a previously bought Banquet meal

4 boxes Kraft Milk Bite granola bars - $1.50 each
On sale 3/$6, used 4 $0.75 (double to $1.50) coupons from here

3 packages refrigerated Jell-o Pudding Snacks - 1 @ $1 and 2 @ $2, see notes
On sale 2/$6, used a $2 coupon I printed from being registered with Kraft First Taste and 2 $1 coupons I received from people I emailed coupon offers to (they gave me theirs -- yay! -- there is also a $1 off 2 coupon in the 4/1 SmartSource coupon insert)
Notes: Buying 3 of these triggered a $2 off my next purchase Catalina coupon.  Also, after I got them home, I realized all 3 packages of mine had $0.75 coupons inside!  I can attest to the fact the Strawberry Sundae variety is delicious, so I may grab the coupons and head out for some more this week. :-)

The retail cost of this final transaction was $38.86 and I paid $15.12 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of 61%.

Overall, I bought groceries with a retail cost of $176.85 and spent $64.35, for a savings of approximately 64%.  I also have a $2 Catalina to use on my next order, plus I will be getting $3 back from submitting a rebate. 

There were a couple other good match-ups that I decided not to buy, but I'll list them in case any of my readers are interested:

  • Mueller's Pasta - on sale 10/$10, generally you get a $0.55 coupon ("doubles" to $1, making these FREE) when you register a new email address at their website
  • Crest toothpaste - on sale $0.99, there was a $0.20 coupon in the 4/1 Proctor & Gamble coupon insert to make it $0.59
I hope everyone has/had a great shopping week!

4/22 - 4/28: My $4 Wegmans trip

Since I was getting low on milk, I decided to run into Wegmans to grab some along with a few other deals.  I did quite well!

2 half-gallons Upstate Farms milk - $0.84 each
Priced at $1.84 each, used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) from the 4/15 SmartSource coupon insert

4 cartons Cool Whip - FREE
On sale for $0.99 each (the Seasons Delights varieties only), used 4 $0.50 coupons ("double" to $0.99) printed from Facebook

4 packages Keebler Chips Deluxe cookies - $0.59 each
On sale for $1.99 each, used 4 $0.70 coupons (double to $1.40) from here (need to register, can get 2 coupons per email address and computer)

4 packages Carefree liners - FREE
Priced at $0.99 each, used a $1 coupon from the 3/18 SmartSource coupon insert and 3 coupons printed from coupons.com but are no longer available

The retail cost of this trip was $24.60 and after Shoppers Club and coupons I paid $4.24 (including $0.20 tax, thanks NYS), for a savings of approximately 83%.

I love great mail days

I get so tired of retrieving loads of junk mail and bills from my mailbox, so I'm excited whenever there's a fun freebie waiting for me.  Yesterday, I felt like a kid on Christmas...
Yesterday's mail consisted of high value Crest coupons, a full size bottle of Mio water enhancer, and a Target beauty bag filled with samples and coupons.  Hurray!

4/26 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon


Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1.50 off a 6-pack of Tops sparkling water and expires 5/2/12.  Play the game here for your chance to win a  $50 Tops gift card and earn the coupon if you're not the random winner.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Free deodorant @ Wegmans

Who likes to pay for deodorant when you can get it for FREE?  Watch a short video then print out a $0.75 Speed Stick deodorant coupon here.  It is currently on sale for $1.49 at Wegmans, so it will be free after the coupon doubles!

I saw a blurb on the screen that the coupon is only redeemable at CVS, but when the coupon prints it is clearly labelled as a manufacturer coupon and does not stipulate that it must be redeemed there.

4/25 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1 Snyder's Cheddar Bacon Pretzel Pieces and expires 5/1/12.  Head over here for your shot at a $50 Tops gift card and earn the coupon if you're not the random winner.

You may only use one of these coupons on your shopping trip, but if you buy 2 bags you can stack it with the $1 off 2 coupon from the 2/26 SmartSource coupon insert.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

4/24 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's printable coupon from the Tops Burst the Bags instant win game is $1 off a 3-lb. bag of apples and expires 4/30/12.  My kids will love this one!  Head over here to play.

Monday, April 23, 2012

4/23 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon


Today's Tops store coupon for the Burst the Bags game is a goody: only $0.01 for a 2-liter of Pepsi Next (plus tax and deposit). The coupon expires on 4/29/12.
This same coupon was available during the previous "Pop the Balloon" game and it was one of my favorites.  What a great way to stock up!

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Product review: Palmolive Fresh Sponge soap

Recently I was selected to receive a Palmolive Fresh Sponge dishwashing kit to use and review.  My first thought was "Ugh! I hate hand washing dishes."  Really, it is one of my least favorite household chores.  As a matter of fact, when my 12-year-old acts up I find myself hoping that there are dirty pots that need to be hand washed that I can assign him for extra chores.  My biggest pet peeve about washing dishes by hand is how the sponge gets slimy and smelly after a short time.  Even after running the gross sponge through the dishwasher, it never seems quite clean enough to me.

I was so surprised when my kit arrived.  I was expecting a tiny bottle.  Instead, I received a full size bottle of Palmolive Fresh Sponge dishwashing liquid, a new sponge, and coupons to share.  Palmolive Fresh Sponge dishwashing liquid has a unique dual action formula designed to wash away odor causing residue from sponges and clean dishes to a sparkling shine. Both sponge and dishes are left smelling freshly cleaned.

My first impression was very positive when I opened the bottle.  It has a scent that I can't quite describe.  I'd say it's kind of fruity smelling, but it's not a specific fruit I can identify.  It's not an overpowering scent, and it certainly strikes me as refreshing and clean.

I was also impressed when I squirted some out of the bottle.  It is very concentrated so a little goes a long way.  This large bottle will certainly last a long time. 

I find it cleans well, too.  In general, I've used it to clean pots and pans that can't go into the dishwasher.  Since they're non-stick, the food debris washed off easily, and the Palmolive cut through the grease just fine.  My pots and pans had a light, clean, fresh scent after they were dried, as did my sponge.

After almost 2 weeks, my sponge is neither smelly nor slimy.  I love that!

I would not hesitate to buy Palmolive Fresh Sponge in the future, especially since it is so concentrated to last long, smells so nice, and extends the life of my sponge.  And to make it even better, Palmolive coupons are released pretty regularly in the Sunday coupon inserts, so there should be no reason to pay full price for it! 

I have not yet looked locally for Palmolive Fresh Sponge, but the suggested retail value is $3.29 for a 25 oz. bottle and is available in most grocery stores and mass retailers like Target and Walmart.  It can also be purchased online at www.soap.com and www.walmart.com

*I received the above complimentary dishwashing kit from Colgate-Palmolive via Influenster for testing purposes.*

4/22 Tops "Burst the Bags" game coupon

Today's Tops store coupon for the Burst the Bags game is $2 off one big pack of 80% lean ground beef.  The coupon expires on 4/28/12.

I don't remember the price, but last time I checked I thought their meat was severely overpriced compared to the Wegmans Club Packs.  Maybe the $2 coupon will make the price comparable?  Or better yet, maybe I can find a package marked down because of a near sell-by date.

2 ways to win at Tops starting today!

There are 2 new games starting at Tops today that give you the chance to win cash, coupons, and other prizes.
The Tops Burst the Bags game starts today and runs through 7/14/12.  It's just like the Pop the Balloon game they ran earlier this year, where you'll click on a money bag to see if you're the random daily winner of a $50 gift card.  If you don't win, you'll have the chance to print a Tops store coupon.  I scored a bunch of great of store coupons last time around, so I definitely recommend playing this game.  You can play once per day here after registering your store card.  I'll try to post a reminder each day and to update what the daily coupon is (the key word here is try!) :-)


Also running 4/22 - 7/14 is the Tops Monopoly game, where you can win cash, a car, gift cards, gas points, and other prized.  Pick up a game board in the store and earn game pieces when you shop, including bonus pieces when you buy specially marked products.  For as often as I shop there, you'd think I'd win *something* but I've never gotten a darn thing from their games like this in the past.  I'm not holding my breath this time, either. :-)

Good luck to everyone on both these game.  Definitely let me know if you're a winner!

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Which coupons are in Sunday's paper?

Did you know you can get a sneak preview of the upcoming coupon inserts at Sunday Coupon Preview?  This can be a good tool to decide if running out for additional newspapers will be worth it or not.  We should expect just 1 insert this week: 1 SmartSource.

Remember, however, that coupons and coupon denominations do vary by region (with the Rochester region often not getting the best denominations) so what you receive may not match up completely with the coupons listed.

Keeping in mind the regional differences, some of the anticipated coupons (with expiration date in parentheses) are:

Almond Accents Save $1/1 bag (7/31)
Arm & Hammer Save $1/2 laundry detergents (6/1)
Banana Boat Save $1/1 product 4oz+ excludes lip balm (6/3)
Barilla Save $.55/1 Plus pasta (6/17)
Bausch+Lomb Save $1/1 Opcon-A product (6/30)
Bausch+Lomb Save $3/1 Soothe product (6/30)
Bausch+Lomb Save $4/1 Alaway product (6/30)
Bissell Save $1/1 carpet cleaning powder or carpet cleaning foam (6/30)
Cat’s Pride Save $1/1 cat litter (12/31)
Claritin Save $2/1 Children’s 4oz syrup (5/20)
Claritin Save $3/1 Children’s 20ct+ chewables (5/20)
Clearasil Save $1/1 skin care product (6/3)
Clearasil Save $3/1 PerfectaWash product (6/3)
Cottonelle Save $1/1 24pk toilet paper dnd (5/31)
Dole Save $.50/2 Mandarin Oranges cans (7/31)
Dole Save $.75/2 Fruit Bowls All Natural Fruit in 100% juice (6/30)
Dole Save $.75/2 Gels or Fruit Parfaits (6/30)
Edge/Skintimate Save $.55/1 shave gel excludes 2.75oz cans (6/3)
Efferdent/Effergrip Save $1/1 product (7/22)
Energizer Save $1/1 batteries, flashlight, USB wall or car charger (6/3)
Finesse Save $1/1 product (5/13)
Finesse Save $2/1 Color Lock product Mail In Rebate 4/22-7/22
Finish Save $.75/1 Powerball Tabs or Gelpacs (5/27)

You can see the remaining list at the Sunday Coupon Preview website.

Money Saving Challenge - week 16 in review

Despite a nasty cold virus that hit 3 out of 5 of us this week (including me, who seems to have been hit the hardest by it, which is so not fair!), I was able to do a lot of things to help save money this week:
  • I stayed home 2 days this week, which saved money on gas.
  • I combined errands on my outings to also save gas.
  • I matched coupons and sales at Tops to save money on my groceries, while racking up a huge discount off their gas price which I will take advantage off when my car is on empty.
  • I cashed in my Swagbucks for a $5 Amazon gift card, which I will use towards Christmas gifts later this year.
  • I made homemade hair detangler for free.  It is so easy, I will post a how-to tutorial later.
  • I found a couple great mail-in rebates while I was at the grocery store, including one for fresh fruit.  I will definitely be using this one!
  • My mailbox has been full of money-saving coupons lately.  Over the course of the week I received: a mailer containing several Proctor & Gamble product coupons, a coupon for a free Zone Perfect bar, a Target mailer which included a coupon for a free dozen eggs, and a Seeds of Change catalog which contained a $2 coupon off any product (will make for cheap organic rice at Wegmans).
If you have any frugal activities you did this week to help save money, I'd love to read about them in the comments below!

Friday, April 20, 2012

"No Beer Purchase" mail-in rebates alert!

I love finding "no beer purchase requirement" rebates, but I rarely find them at the store.  Today I went to Tops for another round of Dole frozen fruit (I am absolutely loving the $3 Catalina/200 bonus gas points deal -- I'm already at $3.90 off per gallon of gas, so I'm thinking there's a good chance I'll be filling up for FREE this time around!) and happened to see 2 tearpads on the edge of the beer cooler case:
  • Save $3.00 via mail-in rebate on the purchase of Lemons or Fresh Fruit, compliments of the Shock Top family.  Purchase price of lemons or fresh fruit must exceed $3.  No beer purchase required.  Valid for residents of CT, MA, ME, NJ, NY, and RI only.  Purchase(s) must occur 4/1/12 - 4/30/12 and must be postmarked by 5/14/12.  Limit one per address. 
  • Save $4.00 via mail-in rebate on the purchase of Gourmet Popcorn, compliments of Stella Artois.  Purchase price of gourmet popcorn must exceed $4.  No beer purchase required. Valid for residents of CT, MA, ME, NJ, NY, and RI only. Purchase(s) must occur 4/1/12 - 5/30/12 and must be postmarked by 6/13/12. Limit one per address. 
I am so excited for the fresh fruit rebate, because let's face it, my kids can eat fruit at an alarming rate and how often do you find a deal on fresh fruit?! 

And I don't think I've ever bought "gourmet popcorn" before, but I'll have to see what I can find next time I'm out shopping, and see if it's worth buying for a $4 rebate.

I found these at my local Tops, but since it's not store specific, they may have them at Wegmans as well.

Earn free gift cards - it's Mega Swag Bucks Day!

I've done one search already on Swagbucks today. Have you? Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the chances of being rewarded large denominations of Swag Bucks is increased. What are you waiting for? Go do your searches now!

Not familiar with Swagbucks? Here's the deal:

Swagbucks is a search engine (like Google or Yahoo). You are awarded points randomly (called Swag Bucks) when you search the Internet, answer surveys, watch videos, play games, etc. Once you sign up (it's free!), you can also refer friends and family and earn points from their referrals.

I normally earn my points through doing the web searches only (and really, who doesn't already do that? Why not get rewarded for what you're already doing?). I seem to get points after my third or fourth search and I try to do it once in the morning and again in the evening. When I earn points for a search, they are generally in the 7 - 10 point range. I've also done some surveys and earned a bunch of points very quickly. And every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the odds of winning high-value Swag Bucks are increased.

Swag Bucks are redeemed in the Swagstore. While there are a lot of things to choose from, my favorite item hands down is the $5 Amazon gift card for 450 points. I know, that sounds like a lot of points, right? Trust me, if you commit to doing 2 searches per day, the points can add up quickly. I started using Swagbucks in June 2011 and by the end of the year I cashed in for $45 in Amazon gift cards which really helped with my Christmas shopping. I figure this year I'll be consistent enough about it that I will have quite a bit of free money to play with!

Interested? Sign up at Swagbucks (remember, it's free) and start earning free stuff!

Amazon gift cards earned in 2011: $45
Amazon gift cards earned in 2012: $40

Giveaway - just in time for Mother's Day!

In honor of all the Mothers out there, Reality Couponing in Rochester has teamed up with a group of amazing blogs to bring you a giveaway just in time for Mother's Day!

Enter to win a great prize pack which includes a Mama Mio Massage Oil and a collection of Johnson's Naturals Baby products. This is a great prize to pamper yourself or to give to another deserving mama you know! Entering is easy - just use the Rafflecopter form below. You'll earn 1 entry for each task - the more you complete, the better your chances are to win. Giveaway will be open April 20-30. Good Luck!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Egg Beaters coupon - another Tops deal 4/15 - 4/21 *Updated*

$0.75 off one carton of Egg Beaters Florentine:
$0.75 off one carton of Egg Beaters Florentine

The above Egg Beaters Florentine has caught my eye all week long, because I love it when I can get $1.50 off after a high-value coupon doubles at a store like Wegmans or Tops.  If you haven't printed it yet, just click the picture above.

I've also been stocking up this week on Dole items that are part of the "buy 6, get a $3 Catalina plus get 200 bonus gas points" deal. 

How in the world did I miss that Egg Beaters are also part of the Catalina/gas points deal?!  All varieties of Egg Beaters are on sale for $2.69 each, or $1.19 after the coupon doubles (note: the coupon is valid on the Florentine variety only).  I don't usually use egg white products like Egg Beaters, but with the combination of the coupon and gas points deal to tempt me, I think I'll give these a try!

*Update*: My Tops carries several varieties of Egg Beaters, but unfortunately not the Florentine variety. :-( Hopefully some of my readers will shop at a store that stocks them!

Save $1 on Wegmans organic eggs

Wegmans has just released a new printable store coupon good for $1 off Wegmans organic brown large eggs.  The retail price on these is pretty steep ($3.79), but if you use these eggs on a regular basis the coupon will sure help lower the cost.

Since the coupon is in .pdf format, you can print as many copies as you'd like but can only use one coupon per shopping trip.  The coupon expires May 5th.

Free reusuable bag at Wegmans on 4/21

Wegmans is hosting a "Celebrate Organic" event in stores on Friday, 4/20 from 4pm - 6pm and Saturday, 4/21 from 11am - 3pm.  You can stop by stations throughout the store to sample organic dishes, pick up coupons for organic products, and enter to win a raised garden bed. 

During the Saturday event only, you can exchange your clean, empty plastic bags and receive a coupon for a FREE Wegmans reusable bag.  It looks like each store is limited to 300 bag coupons, so you may want to get there as close to 11am as possible if you're hoping to get one.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

A new Tops gas station

You all know one of the reasons I shop at Tops is due to the gas points program, and I accumulate almost all of my gas points from redeeming coupons.  In the past, I've been able to fill up for as low as $0.17 per gallon, which is a HUGE savings with gas prices out of control.

The biggest drawback of the gas points is that there aren't a lot of Tops gas stations in the Rochester area.  I just saw this article about a new location that opened today at the store at the corner of North Winton and Blossom Roads.  I was also excited that it stated the Mt. Read location in Greece is slated to get their gas station this summer (I've been told many times that it's "coming in the near future" for almost a year now, so it's nice to have that narrowed down).

Even with having to travel a little bit to take advantage of cheap gas, it has been totally worth it for me.  See the Tops website for more information on their gas points program.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

New Dole coupons = more Tops deals


I posted some coupon match-ups to go with the Dole sale with the $3 Catalina coupon and 200 bonus gas points deal at Tops over here.  Well, tonight I found a couple new Dole printable coupons that will make this deal very sweet!

Head over here for $0.55 off 1 Dole frozen fruit cups (will double to $1.10, making them $0.90 each) and $0.65 off 2 Dole Smoothie Shakers (will double to $1.30, making them $1.02 each).  In case you shop at a store that doesn't double, you can watch a video which will turn the $0.65 Smoothie Shakers coupon into $1.25 off 2.  Unlike most other printables, I found the $0.65 Smoothie Shakers coupon only allowed 1 print (instead of 2) per computer.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

4/15 - 4/21 Tops deals

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I rarely shop or do match-ups this early in the week. As it turns out, one of my kids was attending a birthday party at the Tops Cooking School today, so what better use of my time and gas than to shop while she partied?!

In order to stay within the 4 like coupon doubling policy and to maximize my gas points, I made 3 trips into the store and came away with a bunch of stuff...

Transaction 1

3 12-packs Marcal  Small Steps toilet paper - $2.99 each
On sale for $3.99 each, used 3 coupons printed from the Marcal Facebook page (it's a "bricks" coupons, so it will print 2 per computer, not per Facebook account like some FB coupons are! -- there are also $1 coupons in the 4/15 Red Plum and the 3/11 Red Plum (expires today!) coupon inserts

5 Dole Smoothie Shakers - 1 @ $0.67 and 4 @ $1.17 each, see note below
On sale 3/$5, used a $0.50 coupon (doubles to $1) from the April issue of All You magazine and 2 $1 off 2 coupons from here (there is also a $1 off 2 in the 4/15 SmartSource coupon insert)

1 package Dole frozen fruit cups - $0.50
On sale 2/$4, used a $0.75 coupon (doubles to $1.50) from the April issue of All You magazine (there is also a $1 off 2 coupon in the 4/15 SmartSource coupon insert and a $1 off 2 coupon here)
Notes: These 2 Dole items are part of a store promo where you get a $3 Catalina coupon for use on a future order when you buy 6 selected items.  In addition, my store also is giving 200 bonus gas points in addition to the Catalina.

3 cartons International Delight coffee creamers - $0.57 each
On sale 3/$5, used 3 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) printed from here (must register, you can get 2 prints per email address per computer)

The retail value of this transaction was $48.48 and I paid $17.23 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of approximately 64%. In addition, I received my $3 Catalina coupon to use on transaction 2, plus additional Catalina coupons for $1 off 2 Dole frozen fruit cups and $2 off 4 Dole Smoothie Shakers.

Transaction 2

2 12-packs Marcal Small Steps toilet paper - $2.99 each
On sale for $3.99 each, used 2 coupons printed from the Marcal Facebook page

2 boxes Hostess Mini Muffins - $2.00 each
On sale 2/$3, used 2 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here

6 Dole Smoothie Shakers - $1.17 each, see note
On sale 3/$5, 3 $1 off 2 coupons from here (there is also a $1 off 2 in the 4/15 SmartSource coupon insert)
Note: Part of the $3 Catalina and 200 bonus gas points promotion when you buy 6 select products

3 cartons International Delight coffee creamers - $0.57 each
On sale 3/$5, used 3 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) printed from here

The retail total for transaction2 was $47.77 and I paid $15.92 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of almost 67%.  I came away with another $3 Catalina coupon I used on transaction 3, plus Catalinas for $0.50 off Hostess mini muffins (it won't double because it's a Catalina), another $2 off 4 Dole Smoothie Shakers, and $1 off a half gallon of International Delight iced coffee.

Transaction 3

2 rolls of Reynolds recycled aluminum foil - $1.00 each
On sale BOGO ($2.99), used a $1 off 2 coupon from the 3/25 SmartSource coupon insert

2 12-packs Marcal Small Steps toilet paper - $2.99 each
On sale for $3.99 each, used 1 coupon printed from the Marcal Facebook page and 1 $1 coupon from the 4/15 Red Plum coupon insert

4 boxes Hostess Mini Muffins - $2.00 each
On sale 2/$3, used 4 $0.50 coupons (double to $1) printed from here

The retail cost of this transaction was $41.12 and I paid $13.37 after discounts and coupons, for a savings of 67%.  I also received another $0.50 Hostess mini muffin Catalina coupon.

Overall, I paid $46.52 for $137.37 worth of groceries for a savings of 66% and have earned a discount of $2.90 per gallon of gas. 

I think I may actually run back to Tops one more time today since I just found 2 more Marcal coupons (that expire today) and I rarely feel like I can get a good price on toilet paper in order to stock-up. Plus with the new Dole Catalinas I received earlier plus a couple more between today's coupon inserts and printables, I may do another Dole promo for the Catalinas and extra gas points.

Good luck with your Tops shopping this week!  If you find a great deal, I'd love to read about it in the comments. :-)

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Reminder: last day for free Wegmans salad


If you're planning to head out to Wegmans today, you might want to bring their printable store coupon here good for $1.00 off any Food You Feel Good About bagged salad. They have several varieties available, but their bagged garden iceberg salad is just $0.99 or FREE after the coupon.

Since the coupon is in .pdf format, you can print as many copies as you'd like. However, you can only use 1 coupon per shopping trip and the coupon expires today. I know what we're going to be eating later! :-)

Money Saving Challenge - week 15 in review

With the kids off from school this week, I felt like my priorities didn't include saving money.  Even still, I found a few ways to be frugal:
  • I combined errands on outings to help save on gas.
  • I received a free sample box of Palmolive dish soap from Influenster to use and review (stay tuned for my review in the near future!).
  • I cashed out my SavingStar balance.
  • I rented movies from RedBox using free rental codes.
  • I matched coupons and sales at Tops and Wegmans to save money on my groceries.
  • I only ran my dishwasher when it was full and used a half dishwasher detergent tablet each time.
  • I read my MyPoints emails to increase my points balance so that later in the year I can cash out for gift cards to give as gifts or use for my family.
  • I took advantage of our zoo membership for a free outing with the kids.  I also packed drinks and snacks from home so I could avoid buying overpriced food while we were there (we didn't end up eating or drinking anything, but I was prepared!).
What were some things you did this week to save money?  I'd love to read about it in the comments!

Friday, April 13, 2012

Get a sneak peak at Sunday's coupon inserts

Wondering which coupons are coming in Sunday's paper?  Is it worth it to run out and grab extra newspapers?  Get a sneak preview at Sunday Coupon Preview.


It looks like there will be 3 inserts this weekend: 2 SmartSource and 1 RedPlum.  You can see the anticipated listing of brands and denominations at the Sunday Coupon Preview website, but remember that coupons do vary by region so what you receive in your newspaper may be different.

Get free personal finance tips

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I know I'm looking forward to getting these important tips emailed to me!

Happy Mega Swag Bucks Day!


 

I've done one search already on Swagbucks today. Have you? Every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the chances of being rewarded large denominations of Swag Bucks is increased. What are you waiting for? Go do your searches now!

Not familiar with Swagbucks? Here's the deal:

Swagbucks is a search engine (like Google or Yahoo). You are awarded points randomly (called Swag Bucks) when you search the Internet, answer surveys, watch videos, play games, etc. Once you sign up (it's free!), you can also refer friends and family and earn points from their referrals.

I normally earn my points through doing the web searches only (and really, who doesn't already do that? Why not get rewarded for what you're already doing?). I seem to get points after my third or fourth search and I try to do it once in the morning and again in the evening. When I earn points for a search, they are generally in the 7 - 10 point range. I've also done some surveys and earned a bunch of points very quickly. And every Friday is Mega Swag Bucks Day, where the odds of winning high-value Swag Bucks are increased.

Swag Bucks are redeemed in the Swagstore. While there are a lot of things to choose from, my favorite item hands down is the $5 Amazon gift card for 450 points. I know, that sounds like a lot of points, right? Trust me, if you commit to doing 2 searches per day, the points can add up quickly. I started using Swagbucks in June 2011 and by the end of the year I cashed in for $45 in Amazon gift cards which really helped with my Christmas shopping. I figure this year I'll be consistent enough about it that I will have quite a bit of free money to play with!

Interested? Sign up at Swagbucks (remember, it's free) and start earning free stuff!

Amazon gift cards earned in 2011: $45
Amazon gift cards earned in 2012: $35

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

New Gorton's tearpad coupons

I found the above coupon (sorry for the poor picture quality) today at Tops on a tearpad on a freezer door in the frozen fish section.  It's good for $1.00 off any 1 Gorton's Simply Bake item, and expires 5/31/12.

I checked the price while I was in the store and these retail for $7.99 for a 9-oz. package that contains 2 fish fillets (I can't tell what they sell for at Wegmans -- according to their website, they're showing as "available in select stores" with no price listed).  Personally, this is way too expensive for my budget (I think I could get more fresh fish for the money if I watch the sales) and I can't imagine a sale price low enough to make this something I would buy, even with the coupon.  However, if this is a product you buy on a regular basis or you've been dying to try these, keep your eyes open for the tearpad at your local store.

Lots of Recyclebank points available

I've been lax in checking my Recyclebank account lately, so I was pleased to find there are currently over 100 points available in the Passport for the Planet game (especially since there is a $2 Kashi coupon for 75 points to pair with a Kashi sale at Tops this week). 

Not a Recyclebank member yet?  You can sign up here, start earning points for being "green," and cash in for great coupons and gift cards.

4/8 - 4/14 Tops deals

Since I was out of bread, I made a quick trip to Tops, but I only gave the ad a really quick once-over.  Here is what I bought and the coupon match-ups:
3 boxes Betty Crocker potatoes - $0.67 each
On sale 10/$10, used the $1 off 3 coupon from the 3/25 SmartSource coupon insert
Note: There is a better $0.50 off 2 coupon (doubles to $1) here, but I've used it in the past and it hasn't been reset for me.  If you haven't already printed and used this one, you'll pay $0.50 per box when you buy 2.

1 can Chicken of the Sea tuna - $0.05
Priced at 4/$5, used a $0.60 coupon (doubles to $1.20) I received from the company via snail mail

2 packages Land O'Frost lunch meat - $1.90 each
On sale 2/$6, used 2 $0.55 coupons (double to $1.10) from the 2/19 RedPlum coupon insert
Note: They don't have any printable coupons on their website currently, but you can register here to access them in the future.

2 Kashi Steamers meals - $2.25 each
On sale 2/$6, used a $1.50 off 2 coupon I found a few weeks ago on a tearpad in the dairy/frozen department
Notes: In hindsight, this was not a good buy for me at all.  I was thinking these would be much larger than they really were, plus I originally thought my coupons were for $1.50 off 1 instead of off 2.  After I came home, I also found a better $1 off 1 coupon on their Facebook page and a $2 off 1 coupon at Recyclebank (75 points).

1 Voskos Greek yogurt - FREE
Priced at $1.29, part of an in-store promo where you get a free Voskos yogurt when you buy 2 select Kashi products

1 bottle Simply Orange orange juice - $1.50
On sale 2/$5, used a $1 coupon printed from their Facebook page

4 bottles Upstate Intense milks - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, used 5 $0.25 coupons (double to $0.50) from the 3/18 SmartSource coupon insert and 3/11 and 3/25 issues of the Democrat & Chronicle

2 loaves bakery bread - $1.00 each
No coupons, but on sale 10/$10 and my kids love it when I buy "yummy bread"

1 pint grape tomatoes - $1.99
No coupons, but on sale

The retail value of this order was $46.99 and I paid $17.84 after coupons and discounts, for a savings of  62%. I am at a gas discount of $2.10 per gallon.

There were some other deals I would have bought.  Unfortunately, I had already used the available coupons on previous sales and the coupons had not reset for me.  I'll list some of them in case any of my readers are interested in using them and haven't printed them yet:

McCain Purely Potatoes - $0.50, see note
On sale 2/$5, use the $1 coupon from the 4/1 SmartSource, plus the $1 eCoupon at SavingStar
Note: Since the SavingStar program refunds the money to you, it will not change your out-of-pocket amount you pay at the store ($1.50 after manufacturer coupon). Also, when I logged into my SavingStar account, the McCain eCoupon was sold out. Hopefully you were able to grab it while it was still available!

Eight o'Clock coffee - $2.99 each when you buy 2
On sale $3.99 each, use the $2 off 2 coupon here (upper right on the screen)

Better Oats oatmeal - $0.45 each
On sale 10/$10, use the $0.55 off 2 coupon (doubles to $1.10) here

Cheez-Its - $0.60 each
On sale 2/$4, use the $0.70 coupon here (doubles to $1.40) after registering

Also, I don't need any Asian seasoning mixes, but if you're interested there is this deal:

Sun-Bird seasoning mix - $0.50 each
On sale 10/$10, use the $0.25 coupon (doubles to $0.50) here

Like I mentioned previously, I did a really quick scan of the ad before I ran to the store.  If I find any other great deals, I'll be sure to post them.  Likewise, feel free to post any comments of any other deals you found this week at Tops!

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Free sample of Seattle's Best Coffee

Need your morning coffee?  Head over and "like" the Seattle's Best Coffee Facebook page, then click on the "Great American Coffee Refund" link to register for a free coffee sample.

Free salad at Wegmans

I really thought I had posted about this deal last week, but looking back I see it didn't. Sorry!  Wegmans has a printable store coupon here good for $1.00 off any Food You Feel Good About bagged salad.  They have several varieties available, but their bagged iceberg salad is just $0.99 or FREE after the coupon.

Since the coupon is in .pdf format, you can print as many copies as you'd like.  However, you can only use 1 coupon per shopping trip.  The coupon expires on 4/14, so you have until the end of the week to score some free salad (or cheaper, if you prefer another variety of bagged salad).

Monday, April 9, 2012

Right@Home: sign up for free offers & more

If you haven't already signed up with Right@Home, now is your chance.  It's a great way to get useful tips and valuable offers delivered right to your email.  Just click the picture above to get started.

New SavingStar e-Coupons

Make sure you check out the new e-Coupons posted at SavingStar, in case there are any items you plan on picking up in the near future.  I noticed new offers for Yoplait, Pillsbury, and McCain, just to name a few.

Not a SavingStar member?  Find out more about the program here and sign up here

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Money Saving Challenge - week 14 in review

 
Here are the things I did this week to help save money:
 
  • I matched sales and coupons at Tops and Wegmans to save money on groceries.
  • I combined errands on my outings to help save money on gas.
  • I stayed home 1 day this week to also save money on gas.
  • Since I have an overabundance of fresh oregano growing in my kitchen, I picked some and am drying it.  When I need dried oregano, I won't have to go out and buy it. 
  • I mailed out a Renuzit "try me free" rebate.
  • I packed leftovers for my husband's work lunches.
  • I received a Chicken of the Sea coupon via snail mail.  After the coupon doubles, I will be able to get an almost free can of tuna.
  • I received a coupon and lotion sample of gud by Burt's Bees via snail mail.
  • I read my MyPoints emails in order to build up my account balance so I can cash in on a variety of gift cards.


What are some things you did this week to save money? I'd love to read about them in the comments!

Friday, April 6, 2012

Free subscription: Organic Gardening Magazine

While perusing the April issue of Nature's Marketplace magazine from Wegmans, I saw an ad for a free 1-year subscription to Organic Gardening with the purchase of any 2 Annie's Homegrown products.  You can access the order form here.  The offer expires 5/31/12.

I remember buying several boxes of their macaroni and cheese a while back when there were some printable coupons that matched up with a sale at Tops.  Hmm, I wonder if we've eaten them yet...

Reminder: no coupons this Sunday


Due to the Easter holiday, there will be no coupon inserts in Sunday's paper.  After using so many coupons for this week's shopping trips, I am looking forward to a little break from clipping and filing!

You can always check out Sunday Coupon Preview to get an idea of which inserts and coupons will be in Sunday's paper.  Keep in mind, though, that coupon manufacturers and values can vary by region so what you receive in your paper may be different than what is listed on the website.