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Restaurant Deals: Kids Eat Free!

Family dinner - Kids eat Free!

All families need a night out on the town every now and then. Unfortunately, entertaining and feeding a family on an outing can get pretty expensive if you don’t keep a watchful eye. While I can’t help you minimize your theater or mini golf bill, I do have a few tricks up my sleeve about feeding your family at a restaurant on a dime.

Now, you’re probably expecting me to tell you to whip out your coupons – but I’m not. Not this time, anyway. Below, I’ve given you a list of restaurants where kids eat for free! Yes, you’ll still have to pay for the adult meals, but if you and your hubby can split an entrée and skip the dessert, your bill – inclusive of tip – will most likely total less than $20!

Golden Corral

Golden Corral: Kids Eat Free!

At Golden Corral you can snag a free meal for kiddies that are 10 years of age or under. You can bring two children per adult. So, if you bring your husband or an adult friend, you’ll be eligible to receive four free kids’ meals. This is one of the best policies I’ve seen in a while for a restaurant. Generally, you’re only able to receive one free kids’ meal for each adult that orders an entrée.

This deal is effective every Monday between the hours of 5pm and 9pm at Golden Corrals across the country. And, little ones under the age of three eat free every day of the week, regardless of the time. I’ll admit, it is a bit late. But, if you’re able to get into your local Golden Corral before six or seven P.M, you should be able to make it home before bedtime. That is, of course, depending on the age of your children, their bedtimes and whether or not they’re of school age.

IHOP

Kids love breakfast for dinner! And on Monday’s you can score free meals for kids at your local IHOP between the hours of 4:00pm and 8:00pm. And just one child can eat for free per adult entrée order. Now, the drinks aren’t included in the free offer – that’s how they get you. But, you can just order a drink to share with your child or order a pitcher for the whole family if your local IHOP offers pitchers of juice/soda as they do coffee.

Denny’s

http://www.doney.net/aroundaz/DA_phoenix_dennys.jpg

Denny’s is one of those awesome diners which do their breakfast as incredibly well as they conjure up their dinner menu. In my opinion, it’s difficult to come across inexpensive eateries which offer this type of quality. I appreciate this especially because my kids love to eat breakfast for dinner. And well, my husband and I like to have our dinner entrees as they should be. So, Denny’s is the perfect fit for my family. If your kids are as pancake, French toast and omelet loving as mine, you’ll especially appreciate this deal from Denny’s.

On Saturdays, all kids under the age of 10 eat free. This deal is from 4pm to 10pm and two children’s entrees are allowed per each adult meal. So, after a fun afternoon of shopping, mini golfing, a day at the theater or laser tagging (all popular over at casa Smith), you can head over to Denny’s and look like a big spender but in actuality spend less than $15 for a meal for four!

Personally, I wish my kids could eat free at my restaurant of choice everyday. But, I understand that restaurants choose to offer these deals on their least crowded days and time slots. Sure, it’s a small inconvenience to go out for dinner on a school night or later in the evening on a Saturday. But, the time slots are somewhat flexible, and I wholeheartedly believe it’s worth the effort to save $15 to $30 on a fun meal!

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By Stacy – October 12, 2010

Guide to Rite Aid’s Single Check Rebates and Wellness Program

Rite Aid Storefront

Drugstores have some of the most incentivized rewards programs for their customers when compared to other retail stores. And luckily for you, this translates into mega savings on routine family expenses when shopping at drugstores, such as Rite Aid. Rite Aid’s Rewards program is pegged, the “Wellness Program.” In this program, you’re able to receive Single Check Rebates (SCR) and +UP Rewards. Below, we’ll discuss just what these little guys are and how you can use them to your benefit to save a bundle of cash!

Wellness Rewards

Rite Aid's Wellness Program

Simply put, wellness reward is a tiered, discounted pricing system for wellness program members only. As soon as you receive your card you’re eligible for member only pricing for eligible purchases. Over time when your card/account begins to accumulate points, your rewards will be greater.

Here’s how the tiered discounts work

  • When you reach 125-points, you receive a one-time-only 10% discount on your shopping trip.
  • When you earn 500-points (this is the silver level), you’re eligible to receive a 10% discount on all store purchases excluding prescriptions.
  • When you reach 1,000-points (this is considered the gold level), you receive a 20% discount on all store purchases for everyday shopping (excluding prescriptions).

Other perks:

  • An everyday 10% discount on all Rite Aid brand products.
  • One free health screening when the silver level is achieved

What are Single Check Rebates?

Rite Aid Single Check Rebates Program

Single check rebates are cash-back offers for certain items. You purchase the item in store which is eligible for a SCR and when you get home, you log onto the computer input the information from your receipt to the Rite Aid website, and you’ll be sent a check for the rebate amount stated. This program is very easy to use, but some find it unappealing because you have to wait to receive your money back in the form of the check rather than receiving the full discount upfront. Personally, I’m fine with this system because I’m getting my money back. And, sometimes the items are free after the rebate. So, I am not one to complain about free items!

Rite Aid releases a monthly SCR booklet which you can pick up in stores. Or, you can access it online by clicking here. This booklet is oh-so-helpful because it helps you map out your single check rebate buys with any matching coupons beforehand to increase your savings. Otherwise, you’d be ambushed at the drugstore with a SCR but realize that you have a matching coupon for the item at home.

Best Current Single Check Rebate Deals

  • First Response Pregnancy Test Kit: $13 price tag – $2 off coupon – $3 SCR = $8!
  • Gerber Good Start Gentle Plus, Infant Formula (25.7oz): $27.49 – $5 off of $25 purchase coupon (found here), – $10 SCR = $12.49!! That’s well over a 50% savings.

What are +UP Rewards?

+UP Rewards Progrm

There isn’t very much to the Rite Aid +UP Rewards section of the wellness program. You receive +UP Rewards when purchasing an eligible product. Generally, the products range in value from just 1 +UP Reward to 5 +UP Rewards. The best way to gain +UP Rewards is to match coupons (store coupons, video value coupons and manufacturer coupons), and then snag clearance items which are eligible for both +UP Rewards and maybe even Single Check Rebates if you’re lucky! Whoa, now that would be a huge money maker! Just like CVS, you can use your +UP Rewards towards your next purchase just like cash.


Current +UP Rewards

  • Tostito’s Tortilla Chips + Tostito’ Dip: $5 for 2 – Receive 1 +UP Reward for a total cost of $4 for 2.
  • Pepperidge Farm Cookies: $3 each (Must buy 2): Utilize 2 of the $2 off of 1 coupons (click here for the coupon), and receive 1 +UP Reward for a total cost of $3 for 2! (That’s essentially two for the price of 1!)

As you can see, Rite Aid’s Wellness Program really is a goldmine for moms! You can get anything from diapers for your infants to snacks for your big kids for a very minimal cost by utilizing all of the member features provided by Rite Aid’s Wellness Program. Hopefully, you’re able to maximize your savings by combining all of the savings tools available at Rite Aid.

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By Stacy – September 23, 2010

Freebies you can Snag Right Now!

Freebies

If you believe that nothing in life is free, you need to spend more time couponing and browsing sample deals online. Tons of stuff is free! In fact, many of the household items you use day in and day out are freely available for the taking if you’re able to recognize a good deal when you see one. Clearly, you’re here for the deals and not to hear me blab – so I’ll get straight to the freebies you can snag right now!

Note: Some deals may require that you use a coupon strategy to score the items for free. But most of the deals outlined below are samples of sheer store freebies offered for a limited time.

Restaurant Deals

Restaurant Deals - Kids Eat Free

A&W Restaurants: A&W is offering two free meal deals this week at its restaurants. Currently, you can snag a free burger or chicken “Papa Wrap” without the need to purchase a single thing. If you’ve eaten at an A&W restaurant in the past, you’re aware that the food is yum-o! But even if you haven’t had the opportunity to eat at an A&W restaurant, now is the time to give the chain a go!

For the printable voucher for the burger/chicken Papa wrap, click here. By visiting the link (PDF), you can also print coupons for a free A&W Root Beer float, and additional high-value coupons for other meaty treats.

Carvel: Head to Carvel tomorrow to score a free scoop of the companies ever-so-popular Swiss Miss Hot Chocolate Dipped Ice Cream! The company is celebrating their 76th anniversary. This deal is great for your kids because Carvel scoops are generously sized, so two little ones can easy share a treat on the cheap free! Yeah – Now THAT is a deal you can’t pass up! By the way, no coupon is necessary. You can just waltz right on in and ask for your free scoop.

Villa Fresh Italian Chicken: If you’re heading to a mall soon and would rather eat for free than have to pay for a pricey meal at the mall, stop on over to your mall’s Villa restaurant or stand and hand in your coupon for a free cheese slice. You can request to have it cut in half for your kids to share. Or, if you prefer to limit their pizza consumption (hey, I can’t blame you there!), it can be a free midday mommy pick me up for you! You can print your coupon for a free slice by “liking” the company on Facebook. In addition to this free offer, you’ll often receive notifications for company coupons to maximize your savings in the future!

Golden Corral: At Golden Corral, kids under the age of three always eat free! This can especially cut down the tab on your restaurant outings. But, in addition to this sweet deal, kids under 10-years-of-age eat free between the hours of 5:00pm and 9:00pm on Mondays!! The policy is in place at every Golden Corral restaurant, so there is no need for printing a coupon before you pop in.

Freebies for the Kids

Freebies for Kids

If you know where to look (hint, hint – this blog is the answer!), you can find multiple freebies on a daily basis. Some will be delivered to your door, some are downloadable straight to your computer and others may be free passes that allow you admission into a facility, such as a museum. Below, well cover like deals.

Kmart: Right now, Kmart is offering a $5 off of a $5 or more toy purchase. So, if you can find a toy for $5, you only have to pay taxes and the toy for your tot is free! Keep in mind that clearance items aren’t eligible for this deal. Go here to print the coupon (PDF).

Free Admission to a museum: By printing the coupon provided here, you can score two free entrances to one of over 1,000 participating museums nationwide. Even if you live in a small town, you’ll likely be able to find a participating within 25-miles or so.

Cream of wheat sample: Treat your children to a free breakfast right in your own kitchen by signing up to receive a free sample of the free Cinnabon Cream of Wheat Sample. Click this link to snag your free sample!

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed today’s freebies. Clearly, even if you’re on a very limited budget there’s no need to be avoid having fun outside of the home. Treat your kids to an outing for free pizza, ice cream, root beer floats, restaurant meals, toys and a museum trip – after all, they’ll never know it was free. And, even if they did, it’d be a great opportunity to teach them about the value of practicing frugality.

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By Stacy – September 23, 2010

Saving Money while Mall Shopping – You CAN Do it!

Mall Shopping Deals

As most mommas know – mall shopping can mean death to your wallet. Prices in malls seem to be heavily inflated, and that’s because they are. But, you don’t have to be one of the run-of-the-mill shoppers that simply smiles handsomely while forking over a boatload of your family’s hard-earned cash. You CAN save money while shopping at the mall. And, you’ll be able to score some pretty great items for mom and baby while at the mall as well.

Below, we’ll discuss some of the crazy amazing deals you can score at the mall right now and how you can go about getting them.

Newsletters

Newsletter Savings

Signing up for the email newsletter offered by your favorite store is one of the easiest ways to save. At least a few times each month (generally once each week or so), you’ll be sent an email containing a coupon for your next in-store or online purchase. Of course, you’ll also receive the standard newsletter of the store, but if you have no desire of reading them you can just click “delete” – no biggie.

Tip: Even if you don’t feel like reading the newsletter emails, scan them briefly to ensure that you’re not tossing a coupon.

Some of these stores are known to offer great coupons for a percentage off of your total purchase. Generally, the coupons will be in the range of 10% to 75% off. But, most fall somewhere between 15% and 40% off. If you’re able to match these coupons with an in-store sale, you’re golden! The savings will be incredible!

Another hip way to save at the mall is by using printable coupons. By simply going to websites, such as www.retailmenot.com and www.couponcabin.com, you’ll be able to find several printable coupons for just about any store in your mall.

Tip: By becoming a fan of the company on Facebook, you’ll often receive an in-store printable coupon.

Macys Savings

Macy's Savings

Currently, Macy’s is having a HUGE storewide sale. For example, you can score a Cuisinart 14-cup coffee maker for just $100 – which is already a good deal. But, to make the deal even sweeter, you receive a $10 rebate just for making the purchase. But, the savings certainly don’t end there. You can shave off an extra 10% off of your purchase by using this printable coupon. And finally, you can save an additional 20% off of your purchase just by swiping your Macy’s card.

Total before savings: $100

Total after savings: $64.80!

Now, that’s a deal! Sure a coffee maker may not be directly related to baby. But, it’s the staple of every mom’s morning!

Kids Department

Kid's Shopping

You can finally afford those jeggings that your little ones have been begging you for even by shopping at Macy’s – one of the most expensive department stores. But, here’s how this deal will work out. Girl’s jeggings are priced at $20. And you can instantly shave 20% off simply by swiping your Macy’s card at checkout. So now, the total is down to $16. But, you can also stack this 15% off printable coupon to bring your price down to a mere $13.60! At this price, you can purchase 2 jeggings for just $7 more than the initial price of one!

Of course, Macy’s isn’t the only store in the mall which you can save with. But, I used this specific store to prove a point. Aside from Nordstrom, Macy’s is typically the most expensive department store in most malls. Therefore, if you’re able to save quite a chunk of change at this very store, surely you’ll be able to work the sale/coupon system at other mall stores. Happy (deal) hunting!

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By Stacy – September 23, 2010

Understanding the CVS Extra Care Program

CVS Extra Care Program

CVS’ Extra Care program sets you up to save a bundle on your CVS shopping trips. Many times, savvy shoppers walk out of the store with bags full of free items and money given to them by CVS which they can use towards their next shopping trip. But you need to know how to milk the system for what it’s worth in order to truly maximize your savings.

Below, we’ll discuss just how you can achieve amazing rewards, such as receiving money from the store towards your next purchase and more.

What are Extra Care Bucks?

CVS Extra Care Bucks

The CVS Extra Care program is based around Extra Care Bucks. Receiving Extra Care Bucks is pretty much like receiving rewards points in the form of store credit which you can later apply towards your next purchases. At CVS, Extra Care Bucks work just like cash. For example, if you receive five Extra Care Bucks towards your next purchase, you can use these Extra Care Bucks towards any in-store or online CVS purchase from here on out. You can use them to simply deduct $5 from your next purchase. Or, if you’re a savvy shopper – get an order under $5 completely free! So essentially, CVS is paying you to shop. How cool is that?!

How do you Earn Extra Care Bucks?

Earning Extra Care Bucks

When you purchase select items, CVS will offer you Extra Care Bucks. Sometimes, there is a specified quantity, such as “buy 2 ______ get back 3 Extra Care Bucks.” But generally, the deals consist of buying just one item and getting back the specified Extra Care Bucks.

You can really milk these deals by purchasing multiples of an item that offers Extra Care Bucks and using coupons on the item. Because CVS has such a consumer-friendly coupon policy, you’re allowed to stack a manufacturer coupon with a CVS store coupon to maximize your savings. When you buy multiples of the items that are eligible for Extra Care Bucks, the amount you’re rewarded doubles. See below for a nifty little example.

Every mamma needs baby wipes. And, now you can snag them at CVS by utilizing the Extra Care Bucks programs and by combining coupons.

Currently CVS has a sale on Huggies baby wipes for $17.98 for a purchase of 2.

This is how the deal works out.

  • Purchase 2 boxes of Huggies Baby Wipes (360 ct.) = $17.98
  • Use (2) $2 off of 1 Huggies 360 ct. wipes total is now – $14.98
  • Get back $3 in Extra Care Bucks – total is now = $10.98

Yes, you’re spending $14.98 out-of-pocket. But at the end of your checkout, your receipt will print a coupon for three Extra Care Bucks towards your next purchase. So all in all, you’re receiving 720 wipes for less than $11!

If you truly want to maximize this deal, use the $4 off of a $20 purchase available to those that subscribe to the Extra Care Email on www.CVS.com to score an even better deal.

Fill up your cart with a little over $2 worth of items (my little ones usually pick up even more than that in candy just at the checkout line alone!) to bring your total up to $20-even. Then do the following at checkout.

  • Always swipe your CVS Extra Care card first!
  • Swipe your $4 off of $20 coupon to bring your total down to $16.
  • Then, hand your cashier the (2) $2/1 coupons for the wipes
  • Take your Extra Care Bucks into account when tallying the total
  • Total spent = $9 on 720 wipes plus $2 of miscellaneous items!

What’s more is that Extra Care Bucks can roll over and compound until you feel like using them. If you learn how to work the Extra Care system correctly, you can often score free formula, diapers, baby wipes and more. CVS is certainly mom friendly, as they realize that we are some of their most loyal consumers!

In addition to Extra Care Bucks, you earn 2% from every order that you make. So, if your shopping trips to CVS throughout the month amount to $100, you’ll be able to earn $2 back. Sure, it’s a small drop in the bucket, but every dollar you receive is a dollar you can put towards purchasing necessities for your family!

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By Stacy – September 23, 2010

Store Deals for the Week of 09/12 to 09/18

Grocery Deal Shopping

As you know, here at Shop for Mom frugality is gold! With that said, you don’t need to skimp on brand names or the quality of your purchase in order to keep money in your pockets. You can save money by shopping at the popular stores that all of your friends shop at. And, you can even do it by purchasing the very same products. The only difference is that your bill will ring up a lot cheaper than theirs! And of course, the way to do this is to match store sales with coupons and store programs/loyalty cards and the like.

Below, we’ll outline the deals for the week of 09/12 to 09/18.

Rite Aid

Rite Aids Deals for the week


Always remember that Rite Aid routinely releases “$4 off of $20 purchase” and “$5 off of $25 purchase” coupons. You can usually snag them in PDF form (click here for the link for a $5 off of $25 purchase coupon), and receiving them in PDF form allows you to print multiple coupons. Other ways you can snag these coupons are by logging onto www.redplum.com and searching for the coupon by zip or by earning 20-credits for watching videos through the online Rite Aid Video Values program (VVP).

  • Light bulbs are generally expensive. But, you can score two packs of “GE Soft Long-lasting bulbs” for just $4 for the pair. And, when you buy both, you’re able to receive a Single Check Rebate for $3! This brings the total price down to just $0.50 per pack.
  • Hamburger Helper meal kits are priced at 2 for $4. You can use a Hamburger Helper coupon from the VVP which brings the total down to $3 for 2 boxes. In addition, you’ll receive 1 +UP reward which brings the total cost down to $2 for 2 boxes, or $1 each.
  • Standard Size Arizona Iced Tea is on sale for $0.67! No coupon necessary. These drinks are typically priced between $0.99 and $1.50, so take the opportunity and stock up now! You’ll receive bonus points for coolness with both your kids and your husband.
  • Alli Weight Loss Starter Kit (90 pills total), priced at $40. Rite Aid is offering 5 +UP Rewards for purchasing the item, which brings the total down to $35. There’s also a VVP coupon available for $5 off of one – current total is down to $30. Finally, use the $5 off of a $25 purchase coupon mentioned above to snag the order for just $25. I remember when these weight loss pills first hit the shelves a few years ago. They were priced at $50. So, $25 is an incredible deal!

Target

Target Deals for the Week

Now, Target is a toughie to crack when shopping for everyday deals. Firstly, they do not double coupons. And, the only coupons they allow you to stack are target coupons and manufacturer coupons. Also, there have been reports that many target stores are scamming (maybe not purposely) their customers out of coupon savings by scanning coupons that aren’t deducted from the total order. But, if you’re alert and aware, you should still be able to snag some pretty great deals at the hybrid store!

  • If you have older kids, they’re going to love The Prince of Persia (The Sands of Time Blu-Ray Edition Packet). It is currently priced at $27. However, you can score a high-value $8 coupon by clicking this link. Your purchase will ring up for $19! That’s considered a steal for Blu-Ray DVDs.
  • Purina Friskies Party Mix is priced at $1.35. You can find a printable coupon for $1 off of one at www.coupons.com. Your total cost after submitting the coupon is just $0.35. Where can you beat that price?!

Get into your stores to snag these deals before they’re gone. When deals like the ones mentioned above are advertised, most of the merchandise is generally cleared out by shoppers between Monday and Wednesday. If possible, head to the stores on Sundays or at the very latest, get in before Wednesday so YOU can be one of the shoppers clearing out the aisles! Happy deal hunting, ladies.

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By Stacy – September 23, 2010

Making Parenting Affordable: Ways to Cut your Baby’s Monthly Expenses without Sacrificing Quality

You’ve heard the saying – “if you wait until everything is perfect to have a baby, you’ll forever be without a child.” This statement certainly holds true. Certain aspects of life shouldn’t be overlooked, such as maintaining a healthy relationship with your significant other. However, you should never allow the fact that you’re not a millionaire to stop you from fulfilling your dream of becoming a parent.

You know what? – you can afford to have that baby. You may have this image in your head of picking up your car seat while the image of your brand new car fades into the distance as you’re walking up your sprawling driveway and into the front door of your brand new home.

But in reality, your baby won’t care whether you’re driving a 94’ Honda or a Brand New Ford Escape. He won’t care whether you’re a homeowner or an average apartment renter. So, stop the silliness of delaying your maternal clock from fulfilling its needs simply because you’d like to achieve more in the terms of flashy possessions.

If you’re serious about learning how to afford a baby, below we’ll discuss a few ideas that will get your creative juices rolling.

Staying Home with Baby

Think beyond maternity leave. What will you do when you have to return back to work? As a parent, childcare will be one of your largest expenses each month (maybe even exceeding that of your mortgage or rent payment). Therefore, it may make financial sense to become a stay at home mom, or a work at home mom.

Consider purchasing the Stay-at-Home Survival Guide: Field-tested Strategies for Staying Smart, Sane and Connected while caring for your kids book. Currently, it’s priced at Barnes and Noble for $11.48. But as always, I have a coupon code for you. So, input the code “Y3C9V9H” at checkout to discount your purchase 15%. This’ll bring the book’s cost down to $9.76. Now, that’s a deal.

Trimming off the Splurges

If you’re eliminating an income, you’re going to have to adjust your lifestyle. If possible move to a more affordable home. This alone can trim your expenses by several hundred dollars each month. If this isn’t an option, you need to eliminate indulgences from your budget. Wave goodbye to premium television channels, personal shopping, having more than one phone line per adult in the household and eating out with coworkers during lunchtime at work (for your spouse).

Assuming that you spend $10 for lunch on any given weekday, $15 per month for premium television channels (i.e. HBO), $200 per month on random purchases (e.g. décor, makeup, accessories, clothing, nail salon visit, morning Starbucks run) and $30 on your home phone, you can eliminate $445 from your monthly budget. Quite the chunk of change, if you ask me!

Seeing what you’re spending in writing is the only real way to stick to your budget. Therefore, in order to make you the budget queen of your household, you can click here to download up to four different mommy budgeting worksheets!

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the single most nutritious food your baby can consume. Breast milk helps build your baby’s immune system. But, it also helps you save well over $1,000 over the course of one year on baby formula! And, if you’re looking for a bonus perk, daily breastfeeding allows most moms to burn 500-calories per day! In turn, this eliminates the need for a costly gym membership. Score!

While breastfeeding is clearly a great way to nurture your baby while saving a pretty penny, it can be a tough feat for most moms. Therefore, purchasing a breast pump may be necessary.

Now, for some reason, many new moms are under the impression that breast pumps need to be a very costly purchase, but truthfully, there isn’t very much of a difference between the $100 pump kits and the $300 pump kits – just fancy branding, that’s all.

But luckily for you, I’ve found a nifty little coupon that will allow you to receive a $50 discount on your purchase of any breast pump kit on www.Baileymed.com. Their least expensive breast pump kit is priced at $130. So, if you use the coupon, you can actually snag the deal for $80! Use the coupon code “LI50” at checkout to redeem your coupon.

If you’re able to afford your bills now with a bit of disposable income after all expenses are paid, you’re already on the right foot. But clearly, nurturing a baby will cause you to incur a few added expenses. And below, we’ll discuss how you can manage and minimize these costs to live a fulfilling life as a financially stable new set of parents.

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By Stacy – September 12, 2010

Frugal Back-to-School Shopping: Score Free or Cheap Items for Pennies on the Dollar

All of the moms in the neighborhood may have finished their back-to-school shopping months ago. Though they have peace of mind, they likely paid far more than necessary simply to “cross it off their lists.” But, by implementing my little secret you can win by being a procrastinator when it comes to school shopping for your children.

This is because most stores have deeply discounted Labor Day sale pricing on their merchandise. But, their back-to-school sales are concurrently active throughout this period. Therefore, if every item in the store has been marked down 25% for a summer-wide back-to-school sale, and their Labor Day sale states that all items are 50%, you can save up to 75% on your back-to-school shopping!

And, this is without shopping for clearance items and combining coupons!

Swagbucks

A few posts ago, I mentioned that you can snag free items for your children using Swagbucks. But more specifically, you can score school supplies for no money at all simply by fulfilling surveys, daily polls and completing free offers, such as downloading a Facebook application.

Currently, you can score the following deals with your Swagbucks.

  • Crayola Colored Pencils (12) = 499 Swagbucks (On Sale)
  • Mathematics Flashcards = 259 Swagbucks
  • Math Tools Set = 399 Swagbucks (On Sale)
  • High School Musical Pen Set = 349 Swagbucks
  • Composition or College Ruled Notebook = 349 Swagbucks (On Sale)
  • Webster’s Dictionary = 349 Swagbucks
  • 5 Pack Extendable Erasers = 299 ( On Sale)
  • DragonBall Z Ruler = 249 Swagbucks (On Sale)
  • 5 Pack Sharpie Highlighter = 209 Swagbucks (On Sale)
  • 5 Pack Ball-Point pens = 169 Swagbucks (On Sale)

Depending on which offers you complete, you can usually earn 100-Swagbucks or so per day with very minimal effort (just be sure to delete any downloads that require installing to your computer – and take a screen shot of the application running on your computer, in case Swagbucks encounters an error with awarding your Swagbucks. By earning just 3,000 Swagbucks in one month, you can “purchase” all of the school supply items mentioned above while incurring no out-of-pocket expense.

Kohl’s Alert!

Currently, Kohl’s is hosting a huge clearance sale. Items are up to 80% off. So, get in there while the deals are still smoking hot. In addition to receiving up to 80% off of each item, you can save a few more dollars with the following deals.

Use the coupon code “NEW6361” at checkout to receive an additional 10% off of your entire order. Yowza! This means you’re actually receiving 90% off!  You’re guaranteed to receive 99-cent shipping on each item with a total purchase up to $75. And, orders above $75 ship completely free!

Boy’s Deals

Girl’s Deals

  • The Emily West Smock Dress was originally $40, but is now selling (on clearance) for just $8. And, if you use the 10% off code, you’ll snag the dress for just $7.20.

Yes, your children may be starting school within a few days (if they haven’t already). But, I highly recommend waiting until the last minute to do all of your back-to-school shopping. The items are on sale already due to competitive end of back-to-school sales, but you can also combine them with Labor Day sales, coupons and loyalty cards in order to get bargain basement pricing.

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By Stacy – September 12, 2010

Frugal Back-to-School Wardrobe by Shopping Sales and Combining Coupons

back-to-school clothing deals

A mile-long school supplies list and a mounting need for sneakers, tops, jeans and other back-to-school wardrobe essentials can send just about any mom into frenzy. But, a momma has got to save a buck wherever she can! Luckily, there are still some back-to-school and labor day sales going on which will help you significantly slash your kids’ wardrobe cost. And, by following some of the deals listed below, you can snag up to 50% off or more.

Charlotte Russe

Charlotte Russe Deals

Right now, the Charlotte Russe website (www.CharlotteRusse.com) has a 50% off sale going on. The sale prices are effective on every item on the website, and you can even snag a 50% off deal on items, which are already discounted up to 75%. For example, select t-shirts are marked down to $2.99, already on sale from the initial price. But, once the 50% off deal is applied, you’re able to snag the t-shirts for just $1.49! In turn, you can buy up to 6 t-shirts for just $8.94! Where else can you score a deal like that without even using a coupon?!  Aside from the bargain basement pricing, the best part is that your favorite girl will arrive to class in style, with ruffle, jewel and ribbed detailing for less than $2 per shirt.

Tip: If you sign up for the Charlotte Russe email newsletter, you can score an instant 10% off. And, by inputting the coupon code “SEPTSHIP,” you can score free shipping throughout September 15th.


Old Navy

Old Navy Deals

Old Navy is one of the family-friendly stores which offer generous discounts year round. But, throughout the months of July to October, their sales seem to be especially heightened due to the back-to-school season and Labor Day sales. Now, while back-to-school season is technically over as the new school year has officially begun in most states, you can still catch savings throughout the month of September.

At the moment, the most notable sale at Old Navy is their leggings sale girls’ leggings are priced to sell at just $4 and $6 each. The sale is one day only on September 11th. But, if you’re pressed for time, you can shop online. While $6 for a pair of leggings may not sound too appealing, remember that their everyday pricing is between $8.50 and $16.50, so you’re getting 50% off or more.

Other great deals include boys pullover hoodies priced at $12.50, boys logo jersey shorts at $4.99 and girls beaded trim jersey camisoles at $4.99.

Tip: Use Coupon code “ONSHIP50” on orders over $50 at checkout to score free shipping if shopping online.

Aeropostale

Aeropostale Deals

Aeropostale has a 50% off sale for their uniforms line, P.S from Aeropostale. Their kids’ uniform pants are priced at $14.75, down 50% from their initial $29.50 price. And, their uniform pique polo shirts are just $8.25, uniform skirts are currently priced at $12.25, and their long-sleeve uniform shirts are $12.25. You can check out these deals by clicking here.

While these certainly aren’t the lowest prices of the bunch, Aeropostale is known for having fairly high prices. So, these are the lowest prices that have been offered by the store for quite some time. The store is also offering a 30% off sale for non-uniform purchases.

Tip: Print this coupon to receive $10 off of every item priced at $50 or more. This would make jeans, coats and shoes a great buy! This offer is valid only in stores and expires on September, 19th.

Back-to-school clothing shopping doesn’t have to give you gray hairs! And no, you don’t have to settle for generic clothing from Wal-Mart in order to afford a back-to-school wardrobe. By scooping up the deals mentioned above, you can send your kids to school in style while keeping your bank account happy.

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By Stacy – September 10, 2010

Beginner’s Guide to Coupon Shopping

Grocery deals

Like many coupon queens in the making, one of your main priorities on your couponing expedition is to save money on things for baby. While it may take a bit of footwork to actually snoop out the best deals – the time invested is worth it because it equates to keeping money in your pocket. And, the best part is that you can save money on baby, but also your everyday expenses.

When I first began my couponing extravaganza, I decided that I would clip just about every coupon that I could find to save money on routine baby expenses, such as wipes, pampers and formula. But, I became so clip-happy that I clipped coupons that didn’t really apply to my needs. So at the end of the month, I’d have a huge pile of expired coupons and very little savings to show for them.

While this led to saving $.90 here on wipes and $3 there on diapers, the savings just weren’t enough to justify hours upon hours of coupon clipping each Sunday. But after trying many methods of maximizing my couponing efforts, I learned the real tricks of the trade. And, I’m here to teach you what I wish I had known way back when I was a beginning coupon junkie.

Stockpiling


When you find an item for free or very cheap, it pays to create a stockpile. If you find baby wipes on sale for $1 or less, buy as many as you can afford/have coupons for. Rather than spending $3 on just one refill, you can buy 3 tubs for the price of one regular priced refill.

For example, right now Target is having a sale on their Huggies wipes. They’re priced at $2.39 in most states. And, you can use three coupons to make the transaction super cheap.

Here’s how by using just printable coupons.

1. Use $1.50 off of two coupon (manufacturer coupon)

–          This brings the price down to $3.28 for two or $1.64 for one

2. Use a store coupon for $0.75 off of one.

–          Because you’re purchasing two items, you can use one coupon for each. Combined with the coupons above, this brings the price down to $1.78 for two or $0.89 for one!

If you can create a baby wipe stockpile by using your coupons to purchase 10 wipes for this price, you’re able to purchase them for $8.90 as opposed to paying $30.

As you can see, when you can snag an item for free or very cheap, it pays to stockpile. Not only are you stocking up on the product you need, but you’re piling on the savings because

Clearly, if you’re able to snag the item for a steal, snag lots of them! Not only are you stocking up on the product, but you’re piling on the savings as well. You have the luxury of waiting until the item hits rock bottom prices before the need to purchase again arises. This gives you more time to stock up on valuable coupons for the item, and may even result in a free purchase!

Get more of the Good Stuff

Buy two copies of the Sunday paper so you can get two versions of the same coupons. And, ask your non-couponing friends and family members to give you their coupon inserts so you can save even more money! Often times, busy neighbors which you’re friendly with are the best targets as they don’t have the time to actually use the coupons, so they just toss the inserts in the trash.

Another way to get more copies of the same coupon is to use a coupon clipping service. For example, www.CouponCarryout.com has two notable baby product coupons. Currently there is a coupon available for Pampers boxed diapers and Pampers wipes coupon for $2 off. This coupon is a Target coupon. But, they also have a near identical manufacturer coupon also for $2 off. If you stack up on these coupons, you can save up to $4 on just the two item purchase. Purchasing 10 each of these coupons will help you build a better stockpile.

Systematize your Clipping


Only clip your coupons when you’re going to use them. Use a small bin to store the weekly circulars and write the date the circular was released on the first page of the booklet. Then, each week go analyze your weekly store ads to determine the best deals and sift through your circulars to clip only the coupons you’re going to use on your shopping trip that very day.

By using this method you’re able to clip and match coupons for 15-minutes each Sunday as opposed to spending hours just to sift through unusable coupons. You may also want to invest in a portable coupon organizer to help you categorize your coupons while in the grocery store – trust me; it’ll make your shopping trip go by smoothly.

Everyone has their own little tricks and tips for getting the most savings out of their coupons. And, while I’m always open to trying new methods, the two mentioned above have been my go-to “clipping” method for years. They’ve saved my family thousands of dollars and it’s a fairly simple system, so why change what isn’t broken?!

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By Stacy – September 10, 2010