Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Free PDF of the book The Alchemyst by Michael Scott


Schuler Books is giving away free PDF copies of the book The Alchemyst by New York Times bestseller Michael Scott. Go here to download your copy now through May 8th.

You can also go here to print off a coupon good for a $1 off any beverage at the Chapbook Cafe inside Schuler Books' store, and go here for a coupon good for 20% off any regularly priced CD or DVD.

Lots of treats for the kiddos...

Today is .31 cent scoop night at one of my favorite places - Baskin Robbins!


From 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM you can treat the family to a scoop of ice cream for .31 cents in honor of America's Firefighters!

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Also for the kids....

Barnes and Noble is having a Summer Reading program for children.

Here are the details:

1. Kids read any eight (8) books of their own choosing.

2. Kids use the Summer Reading Journal (printed here)to record their books and complete an journal where they tell about their favorite part of each book and have the opportunity to create their own adventure. A parent/guardian signs the journal when it's complete.

3. Children bring their completed Reading Journal to a Barnes & Noble store between May 26th & September 7th, 2009 where they will receive a coupon for a FREE book chosen from a list of paperback titles.*

Sounds pretty great!

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And in sticking with the reading theme...
In celebration of National Comic Book Week, the main branch of the GRPL library will be holding a talk by author/ illustrator Ryan Hipp this Saturday from 11:00 am - 12:00 pm in the Storytime Room on Level 2 of the library. He will share how he got his start making books and music for kids and discuss the three most important rules for being successful at writing and drawing. He will inspire kids to explore their imagination and inspire creativity.

If you haven't been there before, the downtown library is really beautiful and a fun place to take the kids.




Monday, April 27, 2009

Save 20% at Barnes and Noble


We read a lot of books in our house and I always love receiving coupons in my email from Barnes and Noble!

Enter the code H4E7B3W at check out to receive 20% off one item when making an online purchase. Offer good through May 2nd.

WOW! 80% off at Restaurants.com

I have never tried purchasing gift certificates from Restaurants.com before, however for 80% off I am going to try it! (Thanks Dealnews.com!!) Enter the word "LUCKY" in the coupon code at checkout and it adjusts down the cost of the gift certificates.


There are certain restrictions that vary by restaurant and you will still need to tip the server based on the pre-certificate amount, but what a great deal!!!

I just ordered 6 gift certificates for a Thai restaurant that my family enjoys going to - (2) $50 gift certificates and (2)$25 gift certificates...all for $12!!!! The gift certificates for the restaurant I purchased them for requires a minimum purchase of $50 for the $25 GC and $100 for the $50 GC and there is no waiting for the certificates to arrive in the mail as you print them right from the computer!

I will report how the whole process goes when we use on of the certificates, but I am certainly intrigued :-)

If you are not familiar with Dealnews.com, it is a family favorite in our household - (my husband forwarded me the restaurant.com deal)! Lots of great deals are posted daily for all kinds of shopping goodness!!

Friday, April 24, 2009

Awesome Swiffer Purchase!

Sticking with the Swiffer theme for this next post, I had the fabulous experience of actually having Kmart PAY ME .57 cents to purchase two boxes of Swiffer refills. How fantastic is that?


I purchased a Swiffer starter kit at Kmart yesterday using a $2 off coupon I received recently, which after doubling made the total OOP $6.49 before tax. Inside the box was a set of 3 coupons: $2 off a starter kit (which I passed along to a friend in hopes that she will have the same luck!), $2 off dry refills, and $2 off wet refills.Kmart has the refills priced at $4.29 each (covering an older price tag of $3.99 each - must have been marked up recently! ha!).

I had a .75 cents off coupon good for my next purchase that printed out when I bought the Post Trail Mix cereal a few days ago, so I used that to offset the amount I would owe. Well, that coupon doubled as well so the cashier actually PAID me .57 cents when all was said and done!All in all, that brings me about $8.58 closer to the $10 needed for the $5 mail in Swiffer rebate I mentioned earlier! Yahoo!

Swiffer rebate offer

If you use Swiffer Sweepers, you can go here to print off a rebate form to receive a $5 Debit Card when you purchase $10 worth of Swiffer REFILLS or a $10 Debit Card when you purchase $20 worth of Swiffer REFILLS.


Qualifying purchases must be made between April 1, 2009 and May 15, 2009 and postmarked by May 30, 2009.

You can also go here to request by mail a coupon book good for Swiffer products . Now if only the coupons will arrive before May 15!

Free Schick Quattro Titanim Razor samples

For the special men in your life - at least those old enough to shave! Schick is giving away samples of their Quattro Titanium razors here. The first and only razor to shave, edge and trim. Oh, la, la! Thanks Moneysavingmom.com!

***Wow. Hope you got your request in as it looks like they are no longer giving them out! ****

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Multiple free diaper samples

No, we don't need any these in my house, but if you have any little ones or friends that do...go here for a free sample of Huggies Snug and Dry. Go here to order 3 free samples of Huggies Pure and Natural diapers and then go here to order one additional sample from Walmart.

Go here for a free sample of Good Nights Sleep pants.
That is quite a collection of diapers freebies!!!

And while this breaks from the whole diaper theme, you can go here to order a free Milk Matters coloring book from the National Institute of Child and Human Development.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Possible Kmart Freebies (if in stock!!!)

Go here to print off a coupon for $1 off any Kotex product. Kmart has 18 count boxes of tampons for $3.49 which makes for some pretty cheap feminine products after a double coupon is applied! Stock up!Go here to print coupons for $2 off V8 V-Fusion juice which is sold for $3.99 at Kmart. Double your coupon and it is FREE!!!! The coupon says it is for a specific flavor of the juice, however I had no problem using it at my Kmart for a flavor that was not listed.
Go here to print off a coupon for $2 off any Pledge Multi-Surface cleaner. It is sold at Kmart for around $3.79 which makes it FREE after doubled coupon!!!
Go here for $1/2 Campbell's soups (chicken noodle or tomato) which are on sale for $1 each at Kmart this week making them FREE after coupons!!!!!
Go here to print off a $2 coupon for Post Trail Mix Crunch Cereal. Kmart sells it for $2.79 making it FREE after doubled coupon!!!
Remember to hit the refresh button to print off two copies!!!! And even if your Kmart store is out of these items these are still good value coupons to use elsewhere!

Below is a picture of the items I picked up today and paid...wait for it...$5.16 OOP. The only items that I actually had to pay for were the Kotex which came out to $1.49 each. EVERYTHING ELSE RANG UP FOR FREE!!!!!!!!

FREE FoodSaver vacuum sealing bags


If you own a FoodSaver vacuum sealing system, go here to sign up to receive 10 free Foodsaver freeze and steam bags. Offer ends May 31, 2009 or while supplies last.

Free paper shredding at Macatawa Bank

Macatawa Bank is offering free paper shredding at the locations below, compliments of Rapid Shred!

Butternut Location Thurs., April 16 4-7pm
Maple Location Fri., April 17 12-3pm
Zeeland State Location Wed., April 22 4-7pm
16th Street Location Fri., April 24 3-6pm
Riley Location Mon., April 27 3-6pm
Allendale Location Wed., April 29 3-6pm
Grandville Location Thurs., April 30 4-7pm
Gaines Location Mon., May 4 3-6pm
East Beltline Location Tues., May 5 12-3pm
Hudsonville Location Wed., May 6 4-7pm

(Limit 2 grocery bags per household)

This might be a good idea if you have unearthed old important papers during your spring cleaning that you don't want to just throw away in the trash!

Ace Hardware - FREE reusable tote and 20% off Ace Brands


In celebration of Earth Day, today Ace Hardware will be giving away one FREE reusable tote per person (while supplies last) PLUS, you will receive 20% savings on any Ace brand items that fit inside the bag (some restrictions apply)!

Check here for a location near you to see if they are participating !

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Another free earth day tote

On Wednesday, April 22 Walgreen's is giving out free reusable shopping totes in celebration of earth day. You will need to go here to print out a coupon which is also good for 15% off eligible store items or 20% off Walgreens or W brand items. Coupon must be presented at either the photo or cosmetic counter.


That works for me! Between the free totes the GRPL library handed out to each library card holder (we have three in the family), the two Target bags and if I get a Walgreens bag, I should have a nice collection. The trick is to remember to actually take them to the store and use them!

Free Cambell's Soup at Kmart

There is an Internet coupon available here for $1 off 2 cans of Cambell's soups (Thanks Moneysavingmom.com!).Kmart has their Cambell's chicken noodle and tomato soups on sale for 5/$5 or $1 each making them free with the coupon! I just picked up 4 cans of chicken noodle for free! Yahoo!

Monday, April 20, 2009

63% Savings at Kmart Double Coupon Event

I just returned from what I feel is a pretty successful trip to Kmart. I spent $27.43 OOP for everything shown below which would have cost $74.28 without coupons/sales items. That is almost a 63% savings if I did my math right! The Aveno lotion, Glade carpet odor eliminator and the Post cereals I got for free after coupons and the shampoos were only $1 each!

I went with the mindset of buying only things that I know we will use, or things that I could get for free so I think I did a pretty good job of not going overboard and just using a coupon for the sake of using a coupon!

Being new to this whole double couponing deal, I did make one purchase where I got kind of burned which was the dishwasher soap. I made the rookie mistake of using a $2.5o coupon that I thought would double to $4.50, but apparently when the ad says that they double coupons up to $2 it does not mean that if you have a coupon OVER $2 it will double it up to the $2. Lesson learned.

All in all, it was a good shopping trip. I do however favor my trips to Meijer, Target, Walgreens and Walmart. Their prices are consistently lower from what I was able to see walking through the aisles. Now if only they would double coupons in our area too!!!!

I will say that my stock piles have grown immensely over these last few weeks which should hopefully lead to fewer trips to the store over the long run when we run out of something.

Walgreens and Target

These were from my shopping on Sunday.

I stopped at Walgreens to take advantage of some shaving gel register rewards and to buy my 2 Sunday papers for my coupons, and then headed to Target for the free totes. The shaving gel at Walgreens cost me $12 OOP but I received $12 in register rewards (RR) which I used to buy my newspapers and some other stuff so it was like getting them for free! I have $3 in RR left over to use next time I go there.

At target I picked up my 2 totes, 2 Dry Idea Antiperspirants (1$ each after using 2 1$/1 MQ), an Axe trial size shower gel (free after coupon) and 3 bags of fruit snacks (all free after coupons) all for $2 OOP done in three separate transactions! You can still go here to print off a $2 coupon for Dry Idea which is marked down at Target for $2 until the beginning of May if memory serves. Remember to hit the back button as you can print each coupon twice.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Kmart Double Coupons!!!

Many Kmart stores are doubling, and even in some lucky places throughout MI and OH, are tripling coupons this week! The Kmart I am heading to will double coupons up to $2!NO stores in my area double coupons on a regular basis so I am quite excited to head over there to see what I can find!

Happy shopping!

Free Tote Bags at Target TODAY

Just shopped at Target where they are giving out one of their reusable red tote bags with every purchase (1 per customer). Or two if you happen to go there twice! ha! Each bag has a target coupon attached to it for $2 off GE Energy Smart compact fluorescent light bulb package.

Saturday, April 18, 2009

HUGE Scholastic Warehouse Sale!!!


While my ultimate favorite place to buy books for my boys is at a Goodwill store (.49-.99 cents for a chapter book can't be beat!!!) one of my newer favorite places is at a Scholastic Warehouse sale. These are the same books that come home on the order forms from school, but usually at a fraction of the cost. And don't think it is just limited to children's books because they have a ton of adult books too -- fiction, cookbooks, self-help and coffee table books too!

Mark your calendars because there is a huge end of year sale coming up in the West Michigan area:

Caledonia
Scholastic Book Fairs
8280 Broadmoor SE
Caledonia, MI 49316
(800) 451-7181

Thu., 5/14/2009 - Sat., 05/30/2009
Thurs & Fri, May 14 & 15, 9:00-8:00
Sat, May 16 & 30, 9:00-3:00
Mon-Fri, May 18-22, 9:00-6:00
Tues-Fri, May 26-29, 9:00-4:00

Go here to find a location near you!!

Choose from hundreds of items for $1 or less and register online now to receive a special coupon to save $10 off a purchase of $60-$100 or $15 off a purchase of $100 or more!

I have heard that the end of year sale is great and am excited to go for the first time! You will need to register and print off a pass to enter, but it only takes a minute!

pretty convincing

I remember reading somewhere that the best way to show someone how great the savings can be from using coupons and a little planning is to line your purchases up in one place and take a picture. So knowing that I had a ton of great deals in the last two weeks, I gathered up a few items and did just that (all purchases were made at Meijer, Walmart, Target, RiteAid and Walgreens)

Total before: $118.27
Total after coupons, register rewards, and store deals (without tax): $20.22

And all this with being deprived of any stores around here that offer double coupons!

This does not take into account the food items I purchased throughout the week but am too lazy to gather those items up to put on here.

***** OK, so after I started thinking about it, the almonds were all purchased as BOGO and I did not tally up the cost of the freebie almonds in my total, so if I added that cost into it the total before would actually be more like $135!!!****


Friday, April 17, 2009

Flick's Family Film Festival

Now through April 23rd, the movie Inkheart will be playing at Celebration Cinemas for the Flick's Family Film Festival.


The Flick's festival replaces the Dove Family Film Festival but still offers Dove approved films at the great admission price of $2.50 for adults with kids 12 and under getting in for free!!

We have seen two of the movies in this current festival and they have been great entertainment for my little boys at a price that makes me happy!!!

You can check out listing times in your area here.

Welcome!

I am a stay-at-home mom of two wonderful and wonderfully active young boys and married to an equally wonderful husband. I am a newbie when it comes to coupon clipping, but I will be the first to tell you that it has become an obsession! The satisfaction of walking into a store and buying something and only paying a fraction of the cost has proved to be very satisfying!

Perhaps the greatest lesson I have learned so far is that there are a ton of coupons on the Internet that are just waiting to be printed and a ton of extremely helpful websites out there so you don't have to go it alone in figuring out where to find the best deals!

I plan on using this site to showcase my savings (a little personal inspiration!) as well as direct you to fun deals along the way.

To give a little inspiration...on my first week of coupon shopping, I was able to make the following purchases spending $7.35 out of pocket (OOP).Total without coupons savings: $22.60.
- 2 pledge cleaners
-4 cans soup
- 1 gallon milk
-1 oreo cookie
-4 packs of yogurt

Total spent below: $2.14 OOP


Total without coupons: roughly $10.88
- 1 tube of chapstick
- 2 comet cleaners
- 1 kraft salad dressing
- 1/2 and 1/2
- Halls Cough drops

Pretty fun, yes? Everything pictured above was purchased for less than $12. WOW!

So thanks for joining me and happy shopping to us all!