Nestle Family Coupons

Nestle has released some new coupons on their website. You'll need to sign up for their email list to get to the coupons.

I was able to get:
$1/1 Carnation Instant Breakfast
$1/2 Nestle chocolate chips
.55/1 Nestle Cookie Dough

I'm Torn: Staples Freebies Last Day

So I was just reminded by another blog that the Staples Freebies end today. In case you didn't know (and you want to rush out tonight) you can get 4 different items FREE after their Easy Rebate; pens, paper clips, envelopes & copy paper.

I'd really planned to go out and grab 2 boxes of the envelopes (limit is 2) and since I have an $8 gift card from the ink cartridges I recycled in January, it would only be $2 OOP. (But I'd get a $10gc later from the Easy Rebate). But, I haven't had a chance to go all week and I really don't feel like running out in this wet nasty weather tonight to grab them. So I guess I will miss this deal.

It's funny how when I realize I'm missing a great deal it really bugs me, but once it's already missed I'm ok. Tomorrow I'll be fine with it. Tonight it will bug me that I'm not getting the deal.

If you aren't familiar with the Staples Ink Recycling program, this is one you really should take a look at. Rather than throwing away your dead ink cartridges, they will pay you $2 for every cartridge you bring in to recycle. I just got my first gift card from doing this a few weeks ago and I can't help but think how much this will save me on other things I need (like envelopes). If you are interested, you can check out details on the program on their website, here.

Blog Hop Skip & Jump

Check out these other great blogs all participating in the Blog Hop Skip & Jump. You may find something you like.

Walgreens Plan of Attack: Better Deal on the Swiffers?

I may have found a better deal on the Swiffers, still at Walgreens just a different way to do the transactions to lower the (OOP) Out of Pocket.  No matter how I do it it's going to take a lot of transactions and I'm not looking forward to this trip.  I'm just not into the whole multiple transaction thing.

So included with the Swiffer refills on the Buy $10 get a $3RR are Mr Clean magic erasers for $2.50 and Downy liquid fabric softener for $3.99 (both also things we would use). I'm also planning to buy several of the Schick Xtreme 3 razor packages which are on sale for $5.99 (with a $3RR).  So here's my current transaction plan.

Transaction 1
4 Swiffer Refills @$4.49 = 17.96 -$8.98                         = $8.98
1 Schick Xtreme 4pk @$5.99-$1Q                                 = $4.99
                                                                                       = $13.97
- $4RR                                                                           = $9.97 (get $6RR)

Transaction 2
2 Swiffer Refills @ $4.49 - BOGO                                  =$4.49
1 Downy           @$3.99 -$1                                          =$2.99
                                                                                       =$7.48
-$3RR                                                                            =$4.48 (get $3RR)
   
Transaction 3
1 Schick Xtreme 4pk @$5.99-$1Q                                = $4.99
 - $3RR                                                                          = $1.99 (get $3RR)

Transaction 4
2 Swiffer Refills @ $4.49 - BOGO                                  =$4.49
1 Downy           @$3.99 -$1                                           =$2.99
                                                                                       =$7.48
-$3RR                                                                            =$4.48 (get $3RR)

Transaction 5
1 Schick Xtreme 4pk @$5.99-$1Q                                 = $4.99
 - $3RR                                                                           = $1.99 (get $3RR)

Transaction 6
2 Swiffer Refills @ $4.49 - BOGO                                  =$4.49
1 Mr. Clean @ $2.50- $1                                                =$1.50
                                                                                        =$5.99
              -$3RR                                                               =$2.99 (get $3RR)

Transaction 7
1 Schick Xtreme 4pk @$5.99-$1Q                                 = $4.99
 - $3RR                                                                           = $1.99 (get $3RR)


I keep looking at this thinking there has got to be a better way.  The OOP still seems so high. After tax it will be around $30, but I will come out with 4 packs of razors, 1 Mr Clean, 2 Downy & 10 Swiffer refills. So, when I think of it like that it still seems like a pretty good deal since that's less than $1.50 per item.

Tax Procrastinator? Prepare & File Free Online

If you haven't filed your taxes yet, you can still take advantage of these freebie deals from TurboTax and H&R Block. Both are offering FREE online preparation and e-filing of your simple return. I suggest you check them each out and see if one gives you a better return than the other... just a suggestion :)



Free to prepare, print, and e-file! It's easy and guaranteed to be accurate! H&R Block







Turbo Tax Guides you to your Maximum Refund! Prepare, print, e-file FREE!

COUPON: Ore-Ida Steam 'n Mash

I love these Ore-Ida Steam n Mash potatoes, we tried them for the first time at Thanksgiving and we were quite impressed at both how easy they were and how good they tasted.  You can grab a $1/1 coupon here (look for the button on the left side of the page). While you are there they are looking for new creative ways to mash potatoes in their Mash Destruction contest.

Publix Coupon Matchups

I'm happy to say that for the second week in a row I'll be able to do a super cheap shopping trip.  Passionate Penny Pincher has her Publix Coupon Matchups posted.

I'll only be picking up a few items this week:

Marzetti Simply Dressed Dressing, 12oz jar - BOGO $3.49
-use $1/1 coupons from 1/30 SmartSource or
-print $1/1 coupons
= 2/$1.49 (or .75 each)

Pompeian Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Regular or Organic Imported, 16oz bot - BOGO $6.65
-print $1/1 coupons
= 2/$4.65 (or $2.33 each)

Sargento Shredded Cheese, 5-8oz pkg - $2.00
-print $1.50/1 Extra Sharp Cheddar or Pepper Jack Publix Store coupons 
=.50 each 

K-Cup FREE Samples!

Barista Prima Coffeehouse is offering a FREE sampler pack of their k-cups.  Go here to sign up for it.

FREE Canvas is BACK!

I love this deal and I love the beautiful pictures we've had put on canvas and hung around our house thanks to this deal.  And now it's back .... again.

Get a FREE 8x10 canvas from Canvas People, just pay shipping.  If you want to upsize you can do that with a massive discount as well ($50 off). Click here to check out this deal and order your free canvas.

Half Off Deals: Questions To Ask Before You Buy

Before you jump on that 50% Off Daily Deal you are about to buy, take a closer look at the deal, and ask yourself a few questions.

1. How likely am I to use this deal?  If the deal is for someplace you never go, are you any more likely to go there if you have it already paid for?  Probably not.  If it's someplace you've been wanting to try, you might.  If it's one of your favorite places, you'll probably use the deal as soon as it's available.

2. Will you use it before it expires?  See question 1.  For us, there are some places we like but only at certain times of the year.  So if the deal is only good for 6 months will we use it within that time frame?  Or will we forget we have it before it gets used?  Always check the fine print on these deals to know how long you have to use them before they expire.  If you don't use them before they expire you just wasted money buying the deal.

3. How much will it really save you?  This is a big one, and one we've had to ask ourselves more and more lately.  It seems that the daily deal sites and the restaurants have caught onto the fact that the real way to make money on these deals is to give you a deal that is 50% off an amount that is higher than what you would normally spend.  If the average ticket for 2 people is $20 then make the deal for 50% off $30.  The end result is that in order for the person to get their money's worth they will either have to bring an extra person, or order more... or forgo a portion of their "savings".  Given the example of above, if you normally only spend $20 for dinner for 2 and you buy a deal that is 50% Off of $30, you'll really only be saving $5 (or 25%) Off of what you'd normally pay.

If the restaurant is one you aren't familiar enough with to know their prices, check them out online before you buy and get an idea of what you should expect your bill to be.  Due diligence will save you a lot more money than any 50% Off deal.