Oct 1, 201209:20 AMThrifty Mom
Let's be Thrifty Together
How to find the best deals and freebies
Last week, I scored a pair of shoes that retail for $59 for just $20, plus a free five-year subscription to Entertainment Weekly, which could run as high as $125 (based on the current one-year rate on EW’s website).
When I found the deal, it was advertised as a free pair of shoes because you could send in a rebate form for the magazine. Since the site said the EW deal was worth $25 (not sure how they got that number), I would’ve gotten that amount back, essentially paying for the shoes.
I’ll readily admit that not all deals are this good (or confusing), but there are a lot of freebies available out there; you just have to know how to find them.
Social media makes finding deals extremely easy. Follow certain people, and they’ll do all the work for you.
My favorite couponing blog is The Krazy Coupon Lady. This is my go-to spot for coupon match-ups for major stores like CVS, Target, Wal-Mart and Rite Aid. If you follow the site on Facebook and Twitter, you’ll get alerts whenever a really good deal comes along. One of the latest is a deal to get Pert Plus shampoo and condition for only 24 cents at Walgreens or Crest 3-D White toothpaste for just 32 cents at Target.
Two other sites that are constantly posting updates on social media are Frugality for Less and From Crayons to Coupons.
Frugality for Less also has a lot of coupon deals but tends to post more online freebies, too. For instance, two of the latest posts announce that Mrs. Fields is giving away a free cookie today between 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and that you can get a free three-year subscription to Town & Country magazine. (By the way, the closest Mrs. Fields is in Hanover.) Follow Frugality for Less on Facebook and Twitter.
From Crayons to Coupons is similar to Frugality for Less. In addition to coupon and freebie deals, this site also posts a lot of giveaways in connection with even more blogs or product reviews. On Saturday, a group of blogs did a National Coffee Day giveaway for a $20 Dunkin Donuts gift card. (Sadly, I didn’t win.) Follow Crayons to Coupons on Facebook and Twitter.
But couponing blogs aside, one of the BEST ways to find freebies is to simply follow your favorite brands. I love Starbucks. I even have a “gold card.” Just through the My Starbucks Rewards program I’ve earned two free drink coupons (good for ANYTHING!). Plus, sign up for emails and you’ll get wind of new promotions. For instance, this past weekend you could get Starbucks K-Cups for buy one, get one free in Starbucks stores. That’s 24 K-Cups for just $9.95 — a phenomenal deal for any K-Cups let alone Starbucks.
Following your brands means signing up for newsletters, emails and following them on Facebook and Twitter. More and more, companies are taking their marketing strategies to social media. I’ve gotten free pens, free makeup, free coffee and more!
You also can follow me on Twitter. In addition to my witty thoughts on life, I’ll try to pass along some of the best deals I’ve found in my social media adventures.
CVS:
Almay Eye Makeup Remover
(Sale) Price: $5.49
Use $2 off one Almay makeup remover from Sept. 23 SS
Pay $3.49 OOP, receive $2 ExtraBucks
Final price: $1.49 (73 percent savings!)
Robitussin, 20-count, or liquid, 4-oz.
(Sale) Price: $4.99
Buy two for $9.98
Use two $3 off one Robitussin product from Sept. 30 RP
Pay $3.98, receive $3 EB
Final price: $0.98 or $0.49 each (90 percent savings!)
This next one I’ve found differing reports on. Online the razor is listed as costing $9.99. However, I’ve seen reports of it being on sale for $7.99. So keep that in mind if you’re going to do this deal.
Schick Quattro for Women razor
(Sale) Price: $7.99
Use $4 off one Schick Quattro for Women from Coupons.com
Pay $3.99 OOP, receive $4 EB
Final price: FREE (100 percent savings!)
WEIS:
Check your clearance sections! This week, I found a few Glade Expressions fragrance mist refills discounted to $1.64 each. If you’ve taken part in some of the other Glade deals going on recently, you should have some more coupons that were found inside the packaging. In fact, there should be one for $1 off any Glade Expressions fragrance mist starter kit or refill. That would make these just 64 cents!
Weis also is doing a lot of good BOGO deals. Another great scenario, if you’re into Pepsi, Starbucks and chips and salsa, is as follows.
Pepsi cans, 20-count
Buy two for $12
Starbucks Frappuccinos, four-count
Buy two for $10
Tostitos chips or salsa
Buy one for $3
Use $2 off two Pepsi 18-pack, 20-pack, 24-pack or 30-pack from Sept. 30 Moments to Save insert
AND use $2 off two four-packs of Starbucks Frappuccino coffee drinks from Sept. 20 Moments to Save insert
AND use $1 off one bag of Tostitos tortilla chips or jar of Tostitos salsa
Pay $20 OOP, receive a $5 Catalina coupon to use on your next order
Final price: $15 (40 percent savings!)
I discovered another reason why I like Weis better than Giant: Giant will only double your first coupon if you have more than one of the same coupon. I thought I’d be able to get the following deal for just 50 cents total because I had some better coupons I thought would double. Instead, it came out to the same scenario as below using more readily available coupons.
Quaker Real Medleys oatmeal
(Sale) Price: $1.50
Buy seven for $10.50
Use two $1 off two packers of Quaker Instant Oatmeal, Quaker Standard Oatmeal or Quaker Real Medleys from Sept. 30 Moments to Save insert
AND use one $1 off two Quaker products found here
AND use one $0.50 off one Quaker Real Medleys found here
Pay $6.50, receive $3 off instantly
Final price: $3.50 or 50 cents each (67 percent savings!)
Target is doing a great deal on more Glade products. This one sounds confusing, but trust me, it works.
Glade jar candle
Price: $2.99
Glade Expressions oil diffuser starter kit
Price: $5.99
Glade Expressions oil diffuser refill
Price: $3.49
Target promo: Buy one Glade Expressions oil diffuser starter kit, get one Glade Expressions oil diffuser refill free
Use buy one Glade jar candle, get one Glade Expressions oil diffuser starter kit free from Sept. 16 SS
AND use $1 off one Glade air care item from Target coupons
Final price: $1.99 or $0.66 each (84 percent savings!)
Index:
OOP — Out of Pocket
EB — ExtraBucks (from CVS)
BOGO — Buy One, Get One
SS — SmartSource (insert found in your local Sunday paper)
RP — Red Plum (insert found in your local Sunday paper)
P&G — Proctor & Gamble (insert found once a month in your local Sunday paper)
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