Friday, October 10, 2008

Where Do You Get All Your Coupons??

This is the question I hear the most. Sometimes I don’t know if I want to answer that question for all the “normal” folks out there because then they may think that this coupon lovin’ girl is out of her mind! But I will try, just know this could take some time!

In addition to clipping coupons from the Sunday paper, I have found that with just a little effort you can obtain more coupons than you will ever need or want. Yahoo groups are a great place to start. I am a member of the Yahoo group, Royalty Coupon Trains. I never knew what a coupon train was until someone in my Freecycle Yahoo group told me about it.

The coupon train that I am on consists of 5 people; a conductor and 4 passengers. The conductor starts the train (an envelope) with 50 coupons that are all at least 3 weeks from their expiration date. The conductor will send it to the first passenger. When passenger #1 receives the train, he/she will remove any coupons they want/need AND any coupons that will expire within 3 weeks. Passenger #1 then has to replace the number of coupons he/she removed with the same number of coupons having at least 3 week expiration, then send it to passenger #2.

There are other perks to being on coupon trains. For example, the moderator of Royalty Coupon Trains requires you to complete a Wish List, which is a list of items that you use regularly. She does this so that other members can look at your list and send you a ROAK (Random Act of Kindness) envelope, if they choose. A ROAK is an envelope of coupons from your wish list. You can also post to the group if you are looking for a certain coupon.

Sample or Freebie web sites are also a great way to get your coupon stash started. My favorite freebie site is A Freebie Empire. The owner researches online freebies and sends a message 1-2 times a day with the listings of freebies. It only takes a few minutes each day to read the message and pick which freebies I want to receive. I fill out a quick form with my Name, Address, and Email address for each form and then the freebie will be sent to me. It takes a few weeks for the freebies to start coming in. Many times a freebie will include a coupon or a few coupons. Also, usually when you request a freebie you have to agree to receive that company’s online newsletter. If you agree, they will send you more freebies and coupons. If you use your email for business purposes, I would suggest getting a free yahoo e-mail account just for this. Some examples of freebies I have received are Vaseline Lotion, Dove Lotion, Caress body wash, reusable grocery bag, vitamins, Lemonade drink mix, True Lemon, and many, many more. The lotion and body wash samples are usually travel size. Most of these all came with coupons!

The magazine ALL YOU is a great magazine to get coupons from. ALL YOU is approximately $2.00 an issue. It is a monthly magazine. It has some great articles and the coupons are also great. This is where I got those great Kraft coupons that I blogged about, see the post HERE. You can get ALL YOU at the grocery check-outs but they do go fast.

You can find coupons on E-bay—that is correct! Just do a search for “coupons” and you can have a field day. I do suggest looking at several sellers before deciding.

When I go to Publix I always grab one of each of the free magazines they have on the rack with the sales ad. Greenwise and Advantage Buy books—many times these will have coupons and people assume that they are only Publix coupons. There are Publix only coupons in these, but there are also manufacturer’s coupons to be found in these books. Just look through them and the one’s that state “Manufacturer’s Coupon” next to the expiration date are NOT Publix specific coupons. Publix specific coupons will have a look-up number and state “Store Coupon” on it. The other free Publix magazine, Family Style, does NOT have coupons if you receive it from the store. You used to be able to subscribe to it free via the Publix web site and then it would be delivered via regular mail and it would have coupons, I don't know if you can still do that or not.

Have you ever seen those red boxes that blink and then spit out coupons in the grocery store?? Yes, another source of my coupon addiction. Even if the item is NOT on sale that week, grab a few of these at each blinking box. These usually have long expiration dates and the items will likely go on-sale before they expire. These are manufacturer coupons so you don’t have to use them at the same store you get them from. These are also great to add to the coupon trains.


Lastly, if you have a particular brand you like, you can go to the company web site and request coupons. Viva is a great example of this. I didn’t request coupons but I did go to their site and tell them how much I love their products. They sent me an envelope of 4 or 5 coupons. Some sites have an actual tab you can select titled, “Coupons,” “Deals,” or something similar. They may send the coupons via mail or you may be able to instantly print them from your computer. Many retailers will accept internet coupons, but you may want to verify with a quick phone call to the store.

I know this is long and I could add more, but you should have a good idea now of where to start your coupon search. If you have another great source for coupons, let me know.

Blessings,
Tara

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Title Town Deals at Publix beginning Oct. 9th

There are several fabulous finds at Publix this week; of course milk is one of them considering it is still $3.59 a gallon.

In keeping with their theme of affording the essentials they have the following at excellent prices:


Tide 2x
$5.99

Sidenote: CVS has Purex for $3.99 this week and if you have the $1.00 coupon that is a great deal!

Chicken Leg Quarters
$.59 per pound

Green Giant Canned Vegetables
$.79 each

Publix Large Eggs
$1.39

In addition to these fabulous finds, check out Publix’s 20 Buy One Get One Free items for this week. Remember, in Title Town you only have to purchase ONE of an item and it will ring-up for HALF the original price. At other Publix stores, you will likely have to buy BOTH items.

----BOGO----


Publix Classic Salad (Bag)
Classico Pasta Sauce (Stock-Up)
Ronzoni Boxed Pasta (Stock-Up)
Publix Ibuprofen (Stock-Up)
Barber Foods Stuffed Chicken Breast
Diner’s Choice Mashed Potatoes
Old El Paso Salsa (Stock-Up)
New England Coffee
Wish Bone Dressing (Stock-Up)
Hellmann’s Mayo (Stock-Up)
Kellogg’s Special K Cereal (Stock-Up)
Post Honey Bunches of Oats Cereal (Stock-Up)
Lawry’s 30 Minute Marinade (Stock-Up)
Mrs. Cubbison’s Croutons
Pasta Roni and Rice A Roni (Stock-Up)
Progresso Bread Crumbs
Life Saver’s Bag Candy
6-pack 7-Up, A&W, or Diet Riet
Doritos Tortilla Chips
Entenmann’s Donuts

----FREE----
Get a FREE 1-pint Publix Deli Tea or Lemonade WITH the purchase of a whole turkey sub.

Sounds like this would be a good week for something Italian or Mexican. There are several other fabulous finds on sale that could be paired with the BOGO’s to make a cheap meal. Check out the complete ad online at http://specials.publix.com/


Have a great weekend.

Tara

One Week Left

This time next week I will be racing to get everything done before heading out for the Peru Mission Trip. We will leave next Thursday and will return the following Friday. We may have access to the internet, but I don't know if I will access it or not.

This week and past weekend have been all about spending time with some of my most fabulous finds: MY WONDERFUL FAMILY and FRIENDS!! Oh how I will MISS them. The thought has consumed me the past few days. However, today me and Jesus had a conversation about just how much I desire to go on this trip AND how much I desire to come back ALIVE and IN ONE PIECE--the same way I left (physically), now emotionally--that will be a different story.

I am so excited about this trip, but I was telling Jesus earlier that this has to be for HIS glory. I don't want to just be able to say, "I went on a mission trip."

I want to be able to say, " I went on a mission trip and HELPED people. I SAW lives CHANGED. I held sweet children, and while their lives were touched, they touched mine in ways that I will never be able to explain and they will never comprehend."

The Lord knows that this is uncharted territory for me. I know from all the ways he has provided for this trip, that it is HIS plan for me to be out of my comfort zone and that HE will take care of ME and EVERYONE ELSE that is going to be with me. Keep us in your prayers please.

Once I get back to normal, I will start posting again about my fabulous store finds. Take care!

BLESSINGS from the BOTTOM of MY HEART!!

Tara

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Kids Eat FREE or NEARLY FREE in Valdosta, GA

Kid’s can eat for FREE or NEARLY FREE at the following restaurants in Valdosta. Some exclusions may apply. This is the most updated list my friends and I have, but I would still verify these with a phone call before going.

EVERY NIGHT
Kid's 3 and under eat free at Ci Ci's Pizza

MONDAY NIGHT

Fazoli’s: 5-8 p.m. They do not have a kids eat free night, but they do have a craft table set up for the kids.

Texas Roadhouse: 5-8 pm, 99-cent kid’s meals

Loco’s – Children 12 and under eat free w/the purchase of an adult meal

Wooden Nickel – Kids menu 99 cents w/purchase of an adult meal, free games 4-8 pm – Perimeter Road location (need to verify with new location)

TUESDAY NIGHT

Ryan’s: They have characters, activities, and your child will receive a coupon, so the next visit, they eat free.

Pizza Hut on Ashley St. : 5:30-8 p.m. Kids coloring activity. Free buffet for children with purchase of adult buffet.

Beef O’ Brady’s: 4-8 p.m. free kids meal with each adult meal.

Chick-Fil-A on St. Augustine: 5-8 p.m. free kids meal with purchase of combo meal.

Fox’s Pizza – Kids eat free and play games free (children 12 and under will enjoy a free bambino pizza and 4 game tokens w/purchase of any regularly priced Medium, Large or Big Daddy Pizza. Dine in only, drinks not included.)***

Wooden Nickel – Kids menu 99 cents w/purchase of an adult meal, free games 4-8 pm – St. Augustine Road location (need to verify new location)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT

Moe’s: (after 4:00 p.m.) Free kids meal with each adult meal.

Fox’s Pizza – Kids eat free and play games free (children 12 and under will enjoy a free bambino pizza and 4 game tokens w/purchase of any regularly priced Medium, Large or Big Daddy Pizza. Dine in only, drinks not included.)***

Las Banderas – Kids eat for 99 cents w/an adult purchase, kids choice from kid’s menu

THURSDAY NIGHT

Atlanta Bread Company: All children eat free!

Fox’s Pizza – Kids eat free and play games free (children 12 and under will enjoy a free bambino pizza and 4 game tokens w/purchase of any regularly priced Medium, Large or Big Daddy Pizza. Dine in only, drinks not included.)***

SUNDAY

Applebee’s: All day Sunday. Free kids meal with each adult meal.

El Toreo: 99-cent kid’s meals

Rodeo: 99-cent kid’s meals

Wooden Nickel: Kids Eat for 99 cents all day

***Not sure if you need a coupon for Fox’s Pizza, the flyer that has this information on it does not say coupon needed****

If you know of others, please let me know.

Blessings,
Tara

Friday, October 3, 2008

FREE Pictures!!!

When my daughter was born so was my addiction to picture taking. The lovely folks at Sam's Photo knew me by name. At that time, I was using a 35mm camera. I was in there every week developing a roll of film. THEN, I got my handy dandy digital camera AND a SD card that holds about 600 pictures, yes I said 600! I thought that was great, but here is the real problem that presents: I will take ALL 600 pictures now before I go and get them developed. This can obviously become quite expensive. So being the frugal person that I am, picture developing is one of those items I search out the most fabulous find on. I NEVER pay full price to develop my 600 pictures.

There are 2 great offers for online developing right now. The first is CVS Photo Center. A NEW user can get up to 50 prints FREE! Details are as follows, and remember an Extra Care Card is FREE just sign-up at your local CVS it only takes a few minutes:

"Get 20 Free Prints when you open an account and 30 more when you add your ExtraCare card number to your account. You will receive an email with a link to activate your free prints."

Shutterfly is also an excellent online service. I just received prints from them yesterday and they were excellent quality. Did I mention that (50) 4x6, (2) 5x7, and (1) 8x10 were all FREE?!?
Why does that matter to you? Because here is what it says on their website:

"Experience the quality of our products with 50 Free 4x6 prints and Free standard shipping on first order."

I had an additional code from a Disney DVD my husband purchased that allowed me to get the 8x10 and (2) 5x7 prints free. I did have to enter my credit/debit card info. but I was NOT charged. The price was adjusted before checkout.

So what are you waiting for?? Go get some of those pictures developed. I am definitely going to be searching out the best picture deals when I get back from Peru!

Blessings,
Tara

Thursday, October 2, 2008

Two Fabulous Finds You Don't Want To Miss

CVS has Zephyrhills 24- pack water for $3.88, plus you may have a coupon in your stash for $1.00 off. That was one fabulous find I couldn't leave behind. This was in Title Town, but I am pretty sure this was a regular sale.

Walgreens has a great coupon for $5 off of a $20 purchase. It is valid Friday and Saturday. Just remember, the required $20 is AFTER all coupons have been taken off. If you have some monthly rebate items you want to purchase, this would be a great time to do so. You can print the coupon out HERE.

Title Town Milk Deals for Thursday

This is later than normal, sorry. I don't have a lot of time today so this will be brief. (Bet you didn't know I could be brief) :-)

Publix is taking great strides in helping us to "afford the essentials." They lowered their milk 10 more cents this week, making it $3.59 a gallon! THANK YOU PUBLIX.

If you haven't checked out their ad, I encourage you to do so. You can do it online by clicking HERE. They really have some really good prices on the "essentials," as they put it.

Blessings,
Tara