Posted By Esscie on May 10, 2009
For Mother’s Day:
Honani gave me a gingerbread cookie, with green frosting and twizzler hair.
He also gave me some unusual earrings that it turns out I really like.
Huritt gave me a pretty bouquet of flowers.
And the chief gave me food poisoning.
Wasn’t that sweet?
I love my family.
Esscie
P.S. I’ll be back when I’m feeling better.
Posted By Esscie on May 8, 2009
Or it could just plain be incompetence. Earlier this week KFC started a huge new promotion: for two days they had coupons available for a free meal of grilled chicken, 2 sides, and a biscuit, print limit of four per computer. The promo was even featured on Oprah.
KFC had trouble keeping up the the demand, so they decided to rescind their offer. That’s right- they will not honor our coupons, at least not directly. Instead we will have to take our coupons to KFC to fill out a “raincheck” form. Eventually they will send new coupons out by mail (possibly with staggered redemption dates).
In my opinion, this smacks of false advertising. Perhaps they should have been wiser about the impact of their marketing strategy, but once they decided to move ahead with the promotion they should have honored it, not through an elusive raincheck and waiting period, but according to the terms of the coupons that they themselves issued.
Esscie
Posted By Esscie on May 8, 2009
Sign up here for free chocolate from M&M Mars (coupon by mail, limit 4 per household during the promotional period of now through September; offer available on Fridays only- see site for details).
Esscie
P.S. I know it seems like I dropped off the face of the earth. Let’s just say Tocho has another broken bone and leave it at that (I’m starting to think my dear child is reckless).
Posted By Esscie on April 27, 2009
What’s that, you said? You’re in the mood for dining out on the cheap? Then this sale from restaurant.com comes just in time! Take 80% Off with every order of $25 Gift Certificates with code LUCKY and pay $2 thru 4/30/09.
Please be careful to read the fine print, as there may be restrictions on minimum purchase and when you can redeem it. These are good for one year, so at this low price it’s a good time to buy a few extras for yourself and for gifts.
End-of-year teacher gifts, anyone?
Why not make a night of it? After dinner stop by Redbox and pick up a free one-night movie rental using the code 4CW33N (good 4/27 only). You can get one movie per credit card.
Dinner and a movie sounds like a good date night to me!
Esscie
Posted By Esscie on April 26, 2009
Maybe that’s not a good title, because it implies that I’m going to bring you tips every day. That probably won’t happen, but i do have two good tips for with you today.
First, the cashier at the gas station shared her favorite website with me today. It’s like a clearinghouse for freebies, and you can sign up to get a daily e-mail with all the new deals. If you decide to sign up I strongly suggest that you create a second e-mail address for junk mail, because you’re likely to be inundated.
Second, Erin from Five Dollar Dinners appeared on the Rachael Ray show earlier this week. She had the perfect answer to a question I’ve pondered for a while now: how many newspapers should I buy each week? I get one delivered to my house and usually pick up extras in the store. Five papers is usually my minimum, but occasionally I get bold when I know there are good coupons and buy up to a total of ten. Very often I’ve been disappointed that I “only” had five, but ten seems excessive. Erin’s rule of thumb is to buy one paper for each family member, so today I got a total of seven papers for me, the chief, and our five children. What a logical woman she is!
Esscie
Posted By Esscie on April 26, 2009
There are two inserts in this week’s newspapers: one Smart Source and one Red Plum. I just finished typing and uploading the database, which you can view here (opens as a pdf file).
I noticed last week that values have increased on some common coupons, with some now valued at $1.25 or more. It will be interesting to see if this trend continues. There is already a trend to issue higher-valued coupons in the north eastern states. This is possibly because our cost of living is higher than many other regions, but it does work against us when the grocery stores limit double coupons to a value of $0.99 or less.
Another trend I noticed is that many manufacturers are specifying smaller sizes on the coupons, such as 13 ounces for items where a pound used to be the standard size. I suspect this is to initially soften the blow for consumers, however a) once we become acclimated to the smaller size they’ll likely stop issuing those coupons and b) having to purchase more frequently increases the amount of packaging that will wind up in our landfills. It’s a trend I don’t like.
Incidentally, it was an odd experience typing up these coupons because many of them expire on 6-30-09. My oldest son was born on 6-30-90, so my fingers had a mind of their own and wanted to type his birthdate out of habit.
Enjoy the sunshine!
Esscie
Posted By Esscie on April 25, 2009
One rather lousy coupon this week:
Sunlight Dishwasher Detergent
Pay $3.65 after IPQ and MQ; limit 2
SS 02/22 SUNLIGHT AUTO DISHWASHING POWDER GEL, OR POWER PACS $0.35
OSJL Printable IPQ
Incidentally, have you ever considered the etymology of the word “lousy?” I’ll give you a hint: it’s related to the phrase “nit picking.” Ew!
Esscie
Posted By Esscie on April 21, 2009
Print up a bunch of these and this and head to CVS for some really cheap hair care products (think charity on this one!). Prices start at $5.99 and are buy one, get one free this week; remember that you can use one coupon per item, even on the freebie.
Scenario 1:
Purchase 8 got2b @ $23.96
Add in $1.04 “filler” items (chocolate is always good)
Total: $25
Use 8 got2b coupons & the $5/$25 coupon
Total OOP: $4
Scenario 2:
Purchase 10 got2b @ $29.95
Use 10 got2b coupons & the $5/$25 coupon
Total OOP: $4.95
To find the coupon, click on the link, log onto facebook, then click on the “boxes” tab and print as many as you want.
Thanks, Budget Help$, for spotting this coupon!
Esscie
Posted By Esscie on April 21, 2009
There are some sweet little deals this week at CVS- lots of ECB deals and some freebies, especially if your store accepts competitor’s coupons.
Edge Infused Comfort or Hydrate Shave Gel
Sale $2.89, earns $2.89 ECB; limit 1
Bayer aspirin quick release crystals 4ct.
Sale $2, earns $2 ECB; limit 1
Aveeno Skin Care, Hair Care, or Sun Care (see ad for participating products)
Spend $25, get $10 ECB; limit 1
SSG 04/05 AVEENO EXC CLEANSING BARS & TRIAL SIZE $1.50/2
SSG 04/05 AVEENO EXC CLEANSING BARS & TRIAL SIZE $1.00
WAG ESC AVEENO SUNCARE PRODUCTS $1.00
IPQ AVEENO DAILY MOISTURIZING LOTION $2.00
IPQ AVEENO (assorted)
Benefiber, Gas-X, or Maalox (excludes children’s)
Spend $20, get $10 ECB; limit 5
SS 02/22 BENEFIBER CHEWABLE OR CAPLET $2.00
SSG 04/05 BENEFIBER POWDER $2.00
SS 02/22 BENEFIBER POWDER $2.00
SSG 04/05 BENEFIBER STICK PACK $2.00
SS 02/22 BENEFIBER STICK PACK $2.00
SS 03/08 GAS X $1.00
SS 03/08 GAS X THIN STRIPS $1.00
SS 02/22 MAALOX ANY $3.00/2
SS 03/08 MAALOX LIQUID $3.00/2
SS 03/08 MAALOX LIQUID $1.50
SS 02/22 MAALOX TOTAL RELIEF $1.50
Crest Pro-Health toothpaste, rinse, Oral B floss, or Superfloss
Sale $2.88, earns $2 ECB; limit 2
PG 03/15 CREST 4.2OZ+ PASTE OR GEL $1.00
PG 04/05 CREST RINSE 440ML+ $1.00
PG 04/05 CREST TOOTHPASTE OR LIQUID GEL 4.2OZ+ $1.00
General Mills Total, Fiber One, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, or Cheerios
Sale 2/$6, earns $2 ECB on 2; limit 2
SSG 04/05 GENERAL MILLS CEREAL ASST $1.00/3
John Frieda Hair Care, Jergens, Curel, or Biore Skin Care (see ad for participating products)
Spend $15, earn $5 ECB; limit 1
SS 03/15 JERGENS NATURAL GLOW FACE 2FOZ OR BODY MOISTURIZER 4OZ+ OR MOISTURIZE$1R. 070.5OZ+ $1.00
WAG ESC JERGENS NATURALS 16.8OZ $2.00
CVS IPQ here (several)
Kleenex facial tissues
Sale $0.99; limit 6
SS 04/05 KLEENEX FACIAL TISSUE $1.00/4
L’Oreal Eye Shadow or Liner
Buy 1, get 1 free; limit 6 items
RP 02/01 LOREAL ANY MAKEUP, POWDER, BLUSH OR CONCEALER $2.00
RP 02/01 LOREAL HIP EYE OR LIP PRODUCT $2.00
RP 04/19 LOREAL HIP EYE SHADOW LINER OR MASCARA $2.00
SS 04/05 LOREAL MAKEUP $2.00
RP 04/19 LOREAL PARIS EYE PRODUCT $1.00
L’Oreal EverPure, Excellence or Excellence to Go
Spend $20, earn $5 ECB; limit 1
WAG ESC LOREAL EVER PURE HAIR CARE 8.5OZ $1.00
SS 03/22 LOREAL EVERPURE SHAMPOO CONDITIONER OR TREATMENT $2.00
RP 02/01 LOREAL EVERPURE SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, OR TREATMENT $2.00 1
RP 03/29 LOREAL EXCELLENCE OR CREMELIGHTS $2.00
RP 03/01 LOREAL EXCELLENCE OR EXCELLENCE CREMELIGHTS $2.00
SS 04/19 LOREAL EXCELLENCE TO GO $3.00
WAG ESC LOREAL EXCELLENCE TO GO $2.00
RP 03/29 LOREAL EXCELLENCE TO GO $2.00
SS 02/22 LOREAL EXCELLENCE TO GO 10 MINUTES CREAM COLORANT $3.00
TRESemme (excludes trial sizes)
Sale 3/$10, earns $5 ECB on 3; limit 2
IPQ TRESEMME 24 HOUR BODY PRODUCT $1.OO
If your CVS takes competitor’s coupons, don’t forget this $5/$25 one!
Esscie
