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.

Breakfast fun with the kids ** 2 dozen for 2-22 **

I have a love hate-relationship with donuts.
Love donuts.
Then I became a mom.
So not a fan of sugar high crazed kids.
But a late run to the grocery store last night and seeing these beauties marked down... and something came over me.
I was planning to just walk out with plain glazed.. and then I saw the chocolate.
Before I knew what was happening both boxes in the cart!
My kids know my feelings about donuts.
Donuts on a school morning translates into school work getting done issues.
The questions and shock were not disguised.
Without missing a beat, I looked at them and said, "Don't you know what tomorrow is?"  while getting dinner on the table.
The blank looks and quizzical looks.  I just don't know where this all came from, it was out of my mouth before my brain even knew what was happening.  A quick look at the calendar.  Tomorrow is 2-22.  We needed to have 2 dozen.  Happy 2-22 everyone!!

Then we prayed and had our chicken enchiladas.

This morning, I heard commotion about cereal.  Kids were eating cereal.  I said nothing.
About an hour into the morning my "wake up and eat later" kid asked if he could have a donut.
Jaws hit the floor.  Kids were saying, you know what mom thinks about donuts, you have to eat something else before you can have a donut!  I just looked at them. Because I was on the verge of saying "Yes! have a donut!"  Just don't know what alien has overtaken me.  I just hope the kids don't get used to it and expect the alien to stay.  Instead of allowing the alien to speak, I said have a yogurt or cereal and then have at the donuts!

They all went running for donuts.. It was a 2-22 score for this mom! They must be growing up because the sugar high isn't keeping them from their work.

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!! 

Couponing ~ CVS ~ Stretching the budget & Making my phone work for me

So for some of you friends out there asking how I do what I do at CVS.
Here you go.
Sometimes I can sit down with the ad and pick my own deals.
Most of the times, I choose to check out a handful of blog posts to find the deals.

First I go to Money Saving Mom. 

Once there she has a tab marked "grocery store deals." A drop down menu will appear.  I then click on CVS deals.
Sometimes I follow the links for coupons.
Other times, I head on over to my Swagbucks home page and print the coupons from there.  (By doing this I earn swagbucks for each coupon I print and redeem.  I can then in turn redeem my swagbucks for gift cards.  Sometimes, that means CVS gift cards which means even more savings! If you aren't signed up with Swagbucks, you can sign up here. (this is my referral link) Swagbucks is a search engine and more.)

Below each of Money Saving Mom's posts on CVS each week is list of bloggers who have linked up with their deals.

I really like checking out the one titled $5 and $10 deals from Simply CVS Shopping. Here I can select deals I am interested and it will create a shopping list for me.
and
What's free or almost free at CVS from Couponaholic.
and
ECB deals with Q matchups also from Simply CVS Shopping.

Once I have deals in hand I head to the store.
What you will need when you get there:
Your coupons and list of course.
But you will also need to have a CVS Extra Care Card ,  a rewards shopping card.
I recommend loading the CVS app on your phone as well.  You will receive special app only offers.  But it also stores your rewards card number.
Once at the store, you will want to visit the CVS red machine.  You scan or enter your rewards card number/id and special coupon offers for that week will be printed.
These are CVS offers and can be combined with manufacturer coupons and ECBs.
Then shop away.

I have my CVS card loaded with Saving Star.  When I check out, I have the cashier scan my Extra Care Card number from the Saving Star app.  This way I am able to receive any eligible offers available through Saving Star and maximize my savings.

Money saving tips: How I make my phone work for me ~ Shrink

Shrink is another grocery app I have on my phone. 

There is a variety of products offered for receiving either points or cash back.  

Points can be accumulated redeemed for rebate offers. 

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 ~Receipt Hog

RECEIPT HOG!  Another free app I have on my phone.  

Load your receipts and earn points or spins.  

Spins may or may not earn you more points.  

Points can be redeemed for Amazon gift cards or Paypal deposit.

No special purchases.  Just do what you normally do and load your receipt through the camera on your phone.  

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me ~ Checkout 51

Checkout 51 was one of the first 3 apps I started out with.  (Ibotta and Snap by Groupon were the other two.)  

I still faithfully use Checkout 51.  The frequency varies depending on sales and coupons. Not every app will offer rebates that fit normal purchasing patterns.  Sometimes, the deals while the rebate runs are just not that great.  What keeps me looking up the offers is the weekly "pick your own offer."  I love the produce options each week.  I get to pick one item that often pairs up with a sale or sometimes can be used in combination with an offer in another app.  My household goes through produce like crazy.  Coupons can be a rarity for produce so I love every chance to save here.  Each quarter dropped in the bucket adds up.  Believe it or not, at the end of the month, if I add up all my rebates submitted my total is enough to keep me going.  

This past week's "pick your own offer": 

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me ~ Shopmium

The first time I tried Shopmium I received the most delightful suprise.  I didn't have to wait till I reached a minimum for cash back to happen.  My rebates were deposited immediately into my PayPal account!  Guaranteed it wasn't a huge amount.  It didn't matter, I am not in this to become a millionaire.  Just to create some breathing room in my budget.  To add a little to my savings.  To quote my dad, every pound starts with an ounce and every dollar starts with a penny.  It is a little thing to scan a barcode and/or photograph a receipt.  Over the months, I have redeemed offers for crayons, mints, juices, coconut water and frozen pre-cooked chicken and more.  Pair any of these rebates up with coupons and other app deals and the budget stretches.  I paired the crayon offer with back to school sales and scored some free crayons! 

Shopmium does have a referral program.  If you download the app, open it up to register and use my code when you register (pictured below in the screen shot:  KUKCUUFW), I will earn $2 for the referral and you will receive an offer for a FREE Lindt Chocolate bar.  

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. 

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me ~ ibotta

Ibotta was my first money saving/rebate app I tried.

It has a wide variety of shopping options.
Clothing, Groceries, Sporting Goods, Restaurants, Gifts, etc.

I primarily use the grocery offerings.  However, I have taken advantage of the other offerings periodically.  Especially during holiday shopping and back to school.

I try to "unlock" rebate offers while at home and my phone is on wi-fi.  I don't sweat it too much if I am out and need to "unlock" one for that trip because I do try to do as many as possible when at home.  Unlocking offers is as simple as clicking on the offer or letting it play a 15 sec. video, or answering a question.  It just depends.

While in the store, I have learned to use the "check product's barcode."  This will do 2 things.  It will let you know that you are selecting the correct item for earning the rebate. A few times, I tried to redeem at home and released I grabbed the wrong variety or size. It also, marks it as "bought".  After you have shopped and purchased your items, you will have to scan/photograph your receipt with your phone.  You will also have to scan bar codes for some items.  If this is already done in store, you need to only make sure each item is selected before continuing on with the submission.

The best part about Ibotta are the offerings of "any brand" items.  Dairy products including milk, cheese, eggs, yogurt.  Bread.  Produce.  Meat.  Standard dry goods: pasta, sauce, etc.  Occassionally if you purchase a branded item that has a rebate being offered and there is an any brand offering, you will be rewarded both.  My favorite example is Ragu sauce and any brand pasta sauce!

Bonuses are offered each month.   Some bonuses are for the number of times you redeem a specific rebate.  Additional savings above and beyond!  There are team bonuses as well.  Your team is based on whether you link your Ibotta account with Facebook and if you have any friend on Facebook using Ibotta or referrals. Bonuses are awarded based on the number of redemptions and/or the dollar amount earned in redemptions.  Depending on how active you and/or your team are in redeeming offerings, these bonuses can quickly add up.

Even better, Ibotta rebates are based on the actual purchase of the item. Presently, it is possible to purchase the item with the use of manufacturer deals/coupons and still receive the rebate.  So it is just another way to maximize savings.

Please consider using my referral links (through out this posting) and here.
Ibotta's referral program :  Get $5 when you invite friends using your referral code!  Each person who signs up and redeems their first rebate will get $10, and you'll get $5.

The app is free.
Earnings can be deposited into Paypal or Venmo or redeemed as gift cards.
There is a minimum $20 for deposits and a $25 minimum for gift cards.
Again, the great part is there is a tremendous flexibility in what you do with your earnings.

Happy Saving!

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me ~ Find and Save

Find and Save is an app I have downloaded on my phone.  My referral code is CTGD

Find and Save has a program called: Cash Dash
The offerings provide opportunities to earn cash back on normal every day shopping.

Occasionally, there is something specific that needs to be bought.
ex. There was once an opportunity to earn $1 by going to Starbucks and ordering a latte.

More often than not, it is something like spend a minimum of $25 and get 3% back.  Or spend $10 and get $1 at the specified store. (please note these are only examples)

Money Saving Tips: Making my phone work for me

So, there are several people interested in what I do to stretch my budget. Especially as a single, stay home, homeschool mom!    One of the things I do is make my phone earn its KEEP, literally. This past summer, began my jump back into serious couponing and deal seeking.  No school to tend to and I could spend some serious brain energy learning some new stuff.

Currently I have about 12 apps on my phone I use for rebating/couponing.

For all the inquiring minds, I will start trying to post something once a day or every other day about what I am doing.  Hopefully, some of these tips will become helpful and/or inspire you to discover other ways to stretch your budget in small ways.

Zone perfect deals!!

I love smart phones!  Especially when shopping.  They are perfect for quickly documenting a price, a memory and sharing an exciting deal with a friend.

So when I was grocery shopping and grabbing snack/protein bars for my hockey player to have on hand I was particularly happy to see the the following shelf price to pair with my $1/2 coupon.  Oh, happy dance!

My friend who enjoys this brand as well, was impressed and happy for me but within days, I received the following text! 

What an amazing score!! Her deal completely squashed mine!  I was only able to get single bars but she got into boxes!! Woohoo.  I wish I could say I managed to get to the store and score her deal but I didn't.  Love, love having couponing / deal seeking friends to share fabulous scores and victories with! 

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!

108 days till Christmas!!

Yep!  I am already thinking about Christmas.
108 days, just over 3 months. That isn't very many paydays between now and then!
Between now and then we also have 2 kid birthdays and who knows how many "extra" birthdays...

Sticking to a budget and keeping things affordable sometimes means anticipating the future.
There are a whole lot of great deals happening these days.

So these are some things that are happening and I am considering in anticipation of Christmas.

This past weekend, our local grocery store, Dillons was offering quadruple fuel points on gift cards.
This can be a huge savings.  If your gift card purchase is $250, that is equal to 1,000 fuel points and that translates to $1.00 off a gallon of gas up to 35 gallons.  A savings of $35.  (Or think of it as some "free" Christmas presents bought!)

This isn't a great deal if you have to charge your gift cards to a credit card and pay interest.
However,  if you have some wiggle room in the budget and can stock up on some gift cards for future purchases it was a great time to do so.  Whenever, Dillons offer quadruple points I evaluate our calendar.  Birthdays that are coming up, crazy schedules that may require eating out, Christmas, etc.  If there is nothing in these categories, I just evaluate where I will be shopping for normal everyday stuff.  If I am going to spend the money, anyhow, it doesn't matter if it is cash, debit card or gift card and I might as well maximize the buying power of my dollar.

There are Kohl's cash events, Old Navy Super Cash events and countless other rewards and savings opportunities.  An app called Find and Save is offering all sorts of cash back opportunities that match up with some of these sale events.  To redeem some of these offers is as simple as just taking a picture of your receipt with your phone and submitting!  It is quickly becoming ONE of my favorite apps to use for in-store shopping! While there is always a sale happening, some happen to be better deals at certain times of the year. I love to layer the savings with in-store deals, coupons, rebates and gift cards/fuel points.  

So I have been challenging my kids to think ahead.  I have asked them to not share with me the things they kinda like, but the things that they "love."  Share with me the things that make each of them smile.  Point out needs.  Let me know which wants would truly be a blessing and bring a smile to your face and heart and get used.  So we have been hitting the stores a little bit more.  Collecting ideas.  Smart phones are great for taking pictures of items with prices for future reference.  Or taking "notes" on the app provided.  I have been utitilizing rewards and rebates to put aside what I can as I am able.

Something I figured out years ago, is this is the perfect time to start collecting various snacks and treats for stockings.  Gum and candy sales, hair accessories, art supplies.  Between coupons, back to school and the start of Halloween candy deals/coupons lots of these items can be tucked away for a much lower cost.

Unfortunately, I can't share all my great finds... my kids KNOW about this blog and well, I think they would ruin some of their suprises.  Sometimes, especially the teenagers, they already know I have put something aside because they picked it out.  Other times, I am able to score the deal without them ever knowing!!  And that is just whip cream and a cherry on the top knowing how suprised they will be!

What are some of the ways you save and anticipate for Christmas and other special occassions?

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

Sara Lee Manager's Special... Blessing my kids just feels so Amazingly Good.. Great Price while supplies last!

Feeling, oh so blessed!  

We were out of bread and lunch was coming up.  

So after I dropped my son off at work I stopped here: 

I discovered: Bagels for $1.00

and Raisin Bread for $1

I couldn't help but stock up the freezer.  Going to the store can be a chore.
But I have kids that love Bagels.
They even had Blueberry.
I have a kid that loves Blueberry anything.  

The bakery prices always beat the grocery store prices. 

But this was amazing!  

Feeling blessed that I can bless my children with something they love

for breakfast and snacks! 

My Amazon box came!

Thanks to Swagbucks I was able to order these two books, plus a stocking stuffer last week for nothing out of pocket! (I, also, ordered a copy of Breathe for a friend. In case you do the math and wonder how I managed to get free shipping.) Woohoo.

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!