Friday, February 18, 2011

Mega Swagbucks Friday

Search & WinIt's Friday again! And you know what that means!  Mega Swagbucks Day!  Last week one of my friends earned 50 Swagbucks from just doing a search!  That's pretty freakin cool, if you ask me.

So what's the deal with Swagbucks?
Basically, they give you points for doing things online that you'd be doing anyway, like searching the internet.  Just use their search engine and you could win points.  They also give you points for other things like surveys or even for buying deals on Groupon or Living Social.  You can even get points for printing and using coupons! How bout that?

Then you can trade in those points for stuff.  Anything from games to electronics or even gift cards.  I always opt for the Amazon.com gift cards as they seem like the best deal to me.  You can get a $5 Amazon card for just 450 Swagbucks (and I usually can earn that just from doing searches in about 3 weeks).

When you join they will start you off with 30 Swagbucks just for joining.  Then just use their search engine when you do searches and you'll be well on your way to snagging some cool stuff.

So far this year I've earned $45 in Amazon gift cards.  I'm planning to pay for Christmas with Swagbucks.  If you start now, you could too!  Click here to get started.


Search & Win

Yogi Tea

Recently, I received a sample of Yogi Tea.  I believe when you ordered the sample you had a choice of different teas to choose from.  I got the Kambuchi and Echinacia and loved them both before I even took the first sip.  They smelled wonderful and then I tasted them and they tasted as good as they smelled.  Better yet, I had a headache when I drank the Kambuchi and it actually eased the ache in my head.  I think it had a lot to do with all the mint in the tea.

The sample came with a $1 off coupon and the only place I'd been able to find it locally was at Target, for $4/box (of 16).  I was really hoping to find it at Publix and then hoping to catch it on BOGO but no luck, my Publix doesn't carry it.

Just now I checked on Amazon and found that they have a really great price.  You can get 6 boxes (of 16 bags each) for just $15.82, then if you select "Subscribe & Save" you'll save an additional 15%, knocking the price down to just $13.45!  Plus if you have a Prime account it qualifies for FREE shipping! 

Prices varied just a little on the different flavors but they were all pretty close.   If you haven't tried Yogi Teas yet you can still get the free sample via their website.  Just fill in the details to send a custom "well wish" card to a friend (you can always be your own friend) and they will send your "friend" instructions on how to get their free sample.  Click here for the Free sample.

COUPON: Pillsbury Sweet Moments



Click here for a coupon worth $1.10 off Pillsbury Sweet Moments ready to eat desert bites

It Never Hurts to Ask - Store Manager Let me Use Expired Register Reward

Going through my coupon box Wednesday night I realized that I had a $6RR that had expired on Monday.  UGH!  I said something to my husband and he insisted on giving me a hard time about how all my hard work had now been wasted.  Whatever.  Yes, I was annoyed, but I was also glad I don't work RR into my savings until I actually use them.

I decided I'd go into Walgreens yesterday and just ask if I could use it. I also had a $3RR which expires next week and figured if nothing else I'd just use it.  I'd been needing to get into the store that's closest to me (although the one I go to least often) because I knew they carry the Genesis Today juice and I still had a coupon for BOGO Acai Berry Boost (which I really like, BTW).

I got in there and realized that juice is $4.49/ bottle (and it's only a 32oz bottle!).  With the BOGO Q it still wasn't bad, but I decided to check and see what else they might have, and I knew there was a RR on Schick razors.  I walked over to the razor aisle and was looking at them and there were two employees stocking the shelves. They asked if they could help me and I said no, initially.  Then I realized that one of them had "store manager" on her tag.  She also shared my first name "Julie". So I knew it must be fate.  I told her that I had a RR that I just realized had expired on Monday and would there be any way I could still use it.  She said YES! They'd honor it.  WOOT!

This changed my shopping plan, so I went back and grabbed the juice.  Of course, that was only $4.49 and the RR was for $6.  Then I saw that Clean & Clear was B1G1 50% and I still had a stack of $2/1 C&C coupons.  Since I go through at least 1 bottle of this stuff a month I try to stay stocked up when I can find a deal.  So, I grabbed two bottles.

2 Bottles Genesis Today Acai Berry Boost @$4.49
2 Clean & Clear cleanser @ $5.49 (B1G1 50%)
- used (1) BOGO Genesis Today Acai
- used (2) $2/1 C&C

All said and done, I spent $4.10 OOP (after tax).

This trip has also changed my tune about a) Walgreens and b) Frequenting this particular Walgreens.  I've been going to a different one because it's just more convenient.  Usually, when I'm out and about I'm going to my chiropractor and there is a Walgreens just around the corner.  While the Walgreens I went to this week is actually much closer to me, it's much more "out of the way" of places I usually go.  I guess sometimes it's worth it to go a little out of your way.

My Publix Trip - I got 20 items for FREE!

I hit up Publix yesterday and came home with one heck of a haul for $20. When I added everything up this morning I realized that my total for everything except the 20 Italian Days items was more than what I payed.

Oddly enough, I think this was my first Publix trip where I didn't use any Target Qs (I usually have almost as much in competitor Qs as I do in Manufacturer Qs, this time I just used a $5/50 and nothing else. Also, I think I got shorted about $1.20 in coupons. For some reason the girl was manually entering a lot of my coupons and I noticed when I looked today that there was a .15 coupon (and I know I didn't have any that low), so I'm thinking it should have been $1.50 (as I did have several of those). Short of going back and counting and matching up every coupon it's hard to know for sure. I'm not going back over $1.20. And in the end, I'm pretty happy with how this trip turned out (ok, I'm very happy with this trip).

I saved more than 75% AND got 20 items for FREE! How could you not be happy with that!?

Here's what I got:
(4) Macaroni Grill/Wanchai Ferry @$7.99 BOGO
- used (4) $1.50/1 Qs
(1) Marie Calendars Bakes @ $3
- used (1) $1/1 Q
(2) Publix Yogurt 32oz @ $1.89
(2) V-8 Fusion @ $3.99 BOGO
- used (2) $1/1 Q
(2) Arm & Hammer baking soda @ .75/each
- used (1) .50/2 Q (doubled)
(1) Smuckers All Natural peanut butter @ $4.09


Total for above, minus coupons = $22.34


Italian Days Items:
(4) Green Giant frozen boxed veggies @ 10/$10
- used (2) .50/2 Green Giant boxed veggies (doubled)
(4) Green Giant canned veggies @ $1.29 BOGO
- used $1/4 Green Giant canned veggies (Publix coupon)
(4) Progresso black beans @ 3/$2
- used $1/4 Progress (Publix coupon)
(2) Muir Glen tomatoes @ 3/$4
- used $1/2 Muir Glen products (Publix coupon)
(6) Hunts tomatoes @ 2/$1.89
- used (2) $1/3 Qs

- used $5/20 participating items Q (Publix)

- used $5/$50 competitor Q

Total Paid for all items (after tax) = $22.52 (.30 more than the pre-tax total for just the non-Italian Days items)


The Publix store coupons are still available, and you can grab them at clickcallmail.com. While you are there be sure to enter the Publix giveaway for $10,000 in groceries (you can enter daily).