CVS ~ Free tooth paste plus overage

CVS is printing out $2 off Colgate toothpaste from its Red Machine.
There is a manufacturer coupon for $2 off Colgate Daily Repair.
The Colgate Daily Repair is $3.49.
Free +  $0.51 in overage.

A quick inexpensive deal would be to get the $.99 Cadbury Egg.  Purchase one and receive .99ECB for next purchase.

Money Saving Tips: How I make my phone work for me ~ SWAGBUCKS

My phone works for me on this, but I also do most of my Swagbucks earning on my laptop.

But with more people going mostly mobile, this just may be a perfect for you. 

You can read more about Swagbucks here and here.   

This is my referral link.   Swagbucks has a referral program.  For each referral that signs up and earns swagbucks, Swagbucks will then award me with a bonus of 10% of your earnings into my account.  It is a win win for both!   Please consider signing up through my link if you decide this is something for you. 

Swagbucks is a search engine. You can earn swagbucks for just doing your normal every day online searches through their search engine.  There are also varying tasks that can be done each day that will earn you swagbucks.  Swagbucks can be earned for completing surveys, watching videos, printing and redeeming manufacturer coupons.  Finding and entering swagcodes.  

It took some creativity and time to figure out how to fit the tasks into my day, but now it is just apart of my online routine.  Between my phone and laptop, I earn enough swagbucks each month to trade them in for 2 $25 gift cards of my choice!  That is $50 !  This past weekend, I headed to Walmart with some of my gift cards earned from Swagbucks and went grocery shopping.  It was so exciting to buy groceries and not use any family budget money!! 

My $5 gift card to Starbucks came ~ joy, joy, joy!!

Last month I posted about an email I received from Starbucks.  I was asked to complete a survey, in exchange I would receive a $5 gift card.  For less than 5 minutes of my time.
Well it came !!   Thank you Starbucks!!  I am looking forward to my next treat.

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me ~ Retail Me Not

I recently reloaded this app on my phone. 

I have been pleasantly suprised and pleased. 

I have received alerts for great offers that have been perfectly timed for that moment. 

Been blessed beyond measure and said, "Thank you God for this added blessing!" 

The first was a suprise alert that I could receive cash back for purchasing a drink at Starbucks.  

I combined this offer with another offer on my phone and used my free gift cards to score a special treat for myself at a significant savings.  

Money Saving Tips: Making My Phone work for me ~ Saving Star

Saving Star is another one of my favorite apps. 

You are able to link selected loyalty cards to the app.  

If you open up the app and have the register scan the bar code in the Saving Star app you will then receive your offers this way.  

But have no fear,  If your favorite starts are not in the "selected" grouping of loyalty cards to link up not all is lost.  Saving Star still recognizes a wide variety of stores in offering savings.  

I have only used Saving Star for redeeming their grocery offers.  (They do have online shopping offers.  I have yet to explore this option.)  Saving Star offers a lot of offers that combine very well with the latest coupons that are released in the Sunday paper.  They do have a disclaimer in their "fine print" that this may change at some point, but for now it is possible to coupon paper coupons with their offers.   In addition, they offer an occasional limited time only "freebie."  They have a new "Healthy Offer"  every Tuesday and seems to be normally about 20% back on some type of produce item.  Currently it is on apples.  

The redemption process is pretty simple.  Purchase the item, submit the receipt or use the loyalty link bar card and receive the full purchase price back!  When submitting receipts for the offers, items have to be scanned with some exceptions like produce and the receipt is also photographed using the phone.  It is possible to verify a product's eligibility before purchasing and I strongly recommend doing this when time and data allows you to do so.  A few times, I have grabbed the wrong thing and been a little disappointed once home.  

Once you have redeemed  and have $5 in your Saving Star account you can request a payout.  Payouts can be made to a bank account, PayPal account, UPromise account, Starbucks gift code, iTunes gift code or AMC theaters gift code.  

Redemption seems to happen fairly quickly with transactions on linked cards.  Filing via a receipt and scanning bar codes seems to take quite a bit longer than it did initially.  Partly, I believe due to growing pains and keeping up with the number of people taking advantage of the savings.  I haven't had an issue yet and it has been so far so good.  

The app works for Iphones and Androids. 

It's the little things!! Thanks Starbucks!!

Earlier in January I blogged about getting some super duper delicious Starbucks samples in the mail. 

Today I received this email: 

But the email was sent earlier today at 10:30.  Chances were slim, I was responding in time to earn the gift card.  

And yet this was the response when I completed the survey:  

Talk about happy dance!!!! Especially after this morning's wonderful indulgance.  I have a super sweet barista in my house.  She loves coffee.  Preferably black.  Yet, she likes her sweets too and has discovered how to make me a peppermint mocha at home.  This is what welcomed me to my day this morning after my shower... Oh bliss!! I was gently informed my youngest is in training and contributed the chocolate chips.  They just may need to open their own cafe one day.  

Mail box freebies ~ Happy Suprises!

I love free samples!  

I love getting them in the mail. 

Often times I sign up for them and then forget. 

Which is perfect, because who doesn't love a perfectly wonderfully good suprise.

Especially in the mailbox.
Something delightful instead of bills. 

My children love it too. 

These created quite the stir. 

My coffee loving daughter was quick to let me know she knew how to convert

those k-cups into perfect cups of delicious-ness, 

since we don't own a keurig. 

The question I have is, 

will I get even a taste before they are gone?

My carmel loving son, just about melted when he saw the salted carmel flavor. 

Thank you Starbucks for the smile in our mailbox! 

It is the little things that make my kiddos smile! It is the big things that make my heart soar!

This came in the mail today.

My kids love snack bars.  The athletes and health nutty ones really like it if they are "protein" bars.
So this arrived today.
The question was who gets it???
So the label was read and it was "happy tummy!"  No peanut/nut contamination.  I offered it up to all to split and try together.  My allergy one, oh so (wisely) declined.  Mom, they make nutty/peanutty versions.  The facility it came from just might not be safe.  True...but it has to be on the label...  Then I told him he was wise and correct in questioning the possibility of possible cross contamination.  And he was right to decline if he was concerned and didn't want to take the chance.
My heart just soared.  At first it was jumping and skipping because the oohs, ahhs and getting to see the smiles.  But then witnessing a maturity in my youngest as he is growing up and learning to take responsibility for his health and able to make decisions/sacrifices based on the big picture.  He didn't pout.  He didn't get upset.  He just recognized the risk and determined whether it was worth the risk and made a choice he was vey happy and content with...   That is hard to do, even as a grown up.  Just so proud. My heart couldn't help but swell up and soar because I know how much he normally feels left out by the protein snack bar world.. so many are nutty and/or peanutty.  Today, it just didn't matter.  Contentment.

In the event, you are wondering how this little bit of freebie heaven found its way into our mailbox, I am signed up with Sample Storm  Free to join.  Freebies are offered.  Just click and sign up for the ones you want.  I opt out of a lot of the extra emails.  I don't seem to get flooded with too much extra email as a result.  The packages we get periodically are super fun suprises to find in the mailboxes!  Free kitty food, personal "girly" products, lotions, toothpaste, paper products, magazines, and makeup are just some of the goodies we get.  There is a referral program, points are earned for referring people who sign up.  I have yet to redeem any points. I have primarily focused on signing up for the free sample offers.
Let me know if you sign up and enjoy the mailbox suprises!

Smile Makers this week

Smile makers this week!

Freebie Tea in the mail for my tea lovers...

Oh all the places to choose for curling up to take a nap!?!  This kitty does like soft beds but I often find him on hard wooden chairs and stools and apparently he likes boxes too.

Sometimes it pays to shop around! Vitacost and Top Cash Back !

I try to stay on top of things a bit better than I did this time.  

One of the supplements in our home is running out this week! 

Not the best plan.  

The "local" store I would usually shop at is 30 minutes away.  No plans to be in 'the neighborhood' this week.  So last night I went online.  More often than not, I order these supplements because I just can't beat the price locally.  

Timing and special offers at Vitacost seem to make this a pretty good deal.  

However, because it involves shipping... it requires forward thinking and doing.  

Something I failed this week on... but I am hoping and prayerful that I will be able to stretch what we have till they arrive. 

Vitacost has some really good prices.  

Just saying. 

They also have a referral program.  

When you refer someone and they make a purchase you can earn $10.  Program details are here.

Seriously $10 towards a future purchase.  Who would not like that deal!  

Since I last ordered from Vitacost, I have joined another online shopping rebate site.  So before I jumped into shopping, I pulled up all the sites that I use for shopping rewards and chose the one that offered the best cash back offer.  This is where "shopping around" pays off, because Top Cash Back was more than doubling the other offers!  It only took a few extra moments to look at all the offers, but the "payoff" is worth it.  

Plus, if you sign up with (if you haven't already) Top Cash Back you can earn 8% back when you use their site to click through to Vitacost.  

Great Prices, Great Rebates. 

What makes me smile even bigger..is when I assessed our supplement issue, I realized it was prudent to check on the pricing and possible order ahead on a few more things.  I didn't need to spend much more to reach the minimum for free shipping, $49.  This time, there were a few more things we were going to run out of sooner than  later and I had enough wiggle room in my budget that I decided to go ahead and order.  Once done, my total was $52.06, just over the minimum.  

I have learned to always do a quick search through the rebate site I am using and online for additional promos being offered.  

Sure enough, there was a promo code for $5 off a $55 purchase.  I really didn't want to spend more money.  However, If I could find anything for $2.94, I would essentially save myself $2.06 and end up with some "freebies."  So I headed on over to their snack lists.  

And I discovered if I ordered a combination of 5 of these yummy snacks at $0.59 each, I would add $2.95 to my cart.  And they would be free!  And I would save $2.06 on our supplements!  

My final total, $50.01

Avengers..Build and Grow at Lowes

He did it!  We did it!  All 6...
It started with just checking out the website.. There was so much enjoyment...and then the discovery that it was the theme for the summer. The 2 of us every couple of weeks...headed to Lowes.
So proud of all the efforts of my youngest young man.  He learned much and did a great job!

Been Creative? Art for Kids Hub

Last year or the year before, this poster idea was floating around on facebook.  I have some really awesome friends that peruse pinterest and then they share the gems!  I am truly grateful for their efforts.

Last summer I duplicated this for my home!

This year, I borrowed the concept and "assigned" specific elements as part of daily chores.  The rule was do not ask me for anything or to go anywhere until these 12 things are done each day!  Each child's list looked a little different depending on age. The goal was to carve out about 3 hours for myself.  They could self direct and I could work somewhat uninterrupted.  For "Be Creative" I found on Money Saving Money a free calendar link for art for June.  Sent the link to my daughter to help direct her brothers.  She likes all sorts of things artsy!  Again my goal was to be able to work uninterrupted for a few hours.

Smiley 360... Try things for free!

Smiley360!  A site that I enjoy checking out occassionally.  They provide opportunities to try products for free.  Complete simple surveys to see if you are a good candidate and then watch your mail.  Try the products for free and share your opinion on social media.  Simple as that!  

 

Swagbucks! Another Gift Card in my Inbox !!

Just received my email with my $25 E-Gift Card tonight!!  Loving Swagbucks ! 

Currently, each month you can redeem 2200 Swagbucks for your first $25 e-gift card each month. Usually each $25 gift card is worth 2500 SBs or Swagbucks.  My goal each month currently is to earn enough Swagbucks/SBs to redeem one of theses gift cards every month for the remainder of the year!  2 months down!! 

I wrote more about Swagbucks here. 

Free Coconut Oil...while supplies last! (after cash back)

Over at Money Saving Mom's Blog, I discovered how to get this:



for free!

This is my referral link  for signing up with TOPCASHBACK.
This offer is only for new-sign ups.  I did some reading, they defined a new sign up with TopCashBack was someone who has never completed an offer.  I signed up a few months back to look into an offer that was available but it wasn't doable for my location.  So, yeah for me, cause I can take advantage of this offer!

I think it would be possible to sign up through my link with TopCashBack and then follow the links over at MoneySavingMom to get the deal...because that is how I completed my order.  There are bonuses for referring friends.  TOPCASHBACK offers $10 cashback for referrals.  So I would be tickled if you used my link!  Then forward this offer onto your friends and family.  Offer is good only while supplies last.

Smiley360 and a Free Sample of EmergenC

I signed up with Smiley360 a few months ago.
We have had fun in our home with the process of being product testers for Smiley360.
Smiley360 selects individuals to try out various products.  No cost involved on my part.  They only require we share on social media our thoughts and opinions about the products we have received.
Earlier in the year, we tried out Sleep Number.
Currently, I am trying out EmergenZZZ.