Cyber Monday Deals, Coupons, Freebies, and more!
Good morning everyone. I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving weekend and survived all the food and shopping frenzies.
I’m proud to announce that I finished my Nanowrimo novel last night, reaching 50,107 words, so yay! I’m glad to get back to a little more normal balance of writing and regular life.
So, it’s Cyber Monday, and a great day to get in on some great deals. Here are some of the interesting deals I’ve seen around the web today:
- 80% off Restaurant.com $25 Gift Cert. orders. Use code SAVE and Pay $2 thru 11/30/09.
- Amazon.com Cyber Monday Deals
- $5 Build A Bear Animals
- Entertainment Weekly 1 Year Subscription for $10 at Amazon.com (through 12/5)
(thanks Saving With Shellie!)
- Sephora Free Shipping and a Free Gift
- Victoria’s Secret: 3 Sweaters & 1 Scarf for $30
- Philosophy.com Free $100 gift with Purchase
Mashup Mom has an alphabetical list of a ton of Cyber Monday deals if you’re looking for a more comprehensive list.
Samples and Freebies
- Free Sharpies & Batteries at Staples
- Free Sampler Claus Christmas MP3s
(Thanks Freebies 4 Mom)
- Golden Tea Sample (Thanks Sweet Free Stuff!)
- Free MP3: Christmas Tree by Lady Gaga
(Thanks Free Snatcher!)
Just as a reminder, Vocalpoint is still accepting applications. This company is great for coupons and free samples, so if you enjoy them I recommend signing up. Check out what I got in the mail from them last week.
Also, since it’s the last day of the month, all of the printable coupons at Coupons.com will either reset or disappear, so print anything you’re interested in.
Happy Halloween! Get Some Freebies & Deals
Happy Halloween everyone! If you celebrate the holiday, or even if you don’t, this is a great day to have fun and enjoy a little sugar. It’s also a great day for freebies.
Check out a a full list of Halloween freebies over at Hey It’s Free.
If you want to watch a spooky movie today, see what movies you can stream online for free.
The boyfriend and I went to a Halloween party last night, so we’re enjoying a night in and watching a few “scary” movies.
Tomorrow morning we plan on heading out to the grocery store to check out the clearance Halloween items. November 1st is the best day to get deals on Halloween candy, decorations, costumes, and more. The stores need to clear that space ASAP for Christmas stock, so go and get ready for next year.
I’m just a chocolate addict, so I’m looking forward to cheap candy!
Mid-Week Freebies & Deal Round-Up 10-28-09
Another week is halfway done, and this weekend is Halloween, which means a lot of fun for those who celebrate. For now, check out some freebies and deals.
Check out the list of Halloween freebies at Hey It’s Free!.
Freebies and Samples
- Ebook: Credit After Bankruptcy or Foreclosure
- Ebook: Get A Car When Banks Aren’t Lending
- Free sample and $7 coupon for NicoDerm® CQ® with Smart Control
- Print Passes to a Free Screening of Gentlemen Broncos. Toronto just added!
- Free Beauty Rush Lip Gloss at Victoria’s Secret
- Power Bar Gel Blasts Sample(Thanks Abundant Food Savings!)
Great Deals & Coupons
- $2 off Wonka Candy
(Print 2 per Computer)
- $2 off Nestle Candy
- Learn how to buy 1 Yankee Candle and get 3 for Free
- BOGO Glade Fragrance Collection Candles Coupons (Thanks Money Saving Mom!)
- Spend $80 on video games at Amazon & get a $40 promo code
- Burt Bees Grab Bag Deal
Never Pay for Shipping on Amazon.com Again
I love Amazon.com
That’s where Amazon Filler Item Finder comes to the rescue. Just type in how much money you need to get the free shipping, and it automatically searches Amazon.com
This is my real life example of using the filler item finder. Today I was buying two items off of Amazon and once I added them both to my cart, I was 1 cent away from the free shipping. A single penny! How frustrating is that? So I searched the item founder and found plenty of items under a dollar, the lowest being 7 cents (anyone know what this is
Now I don’t actually pay for anything I buy from Amazon.com, since I just use the gift certificates I earn from places like Swagbucks and MTurk, but still I like saving money and stretching those gift cards as far as I can. Using the Free Super Saving Shipping is just one of the ways I do that.
Why Are Exotic Pet Supplies So Expensive? Tips to Cut Costs
I didn’t do any posting yesterday because I was out running errands with a friend. While we were out, we stopped by a lot of different stores. I checked out some deals, but I had a strict budget for myself, which was $2 for any fun things + whatever it would cost to get some pet supplies I need.
I ended up spending $2.17 at the thrift store for 5 vintage books for the boyfriend, and about $46 on pet supplies. I always have an “ouch” moment when I go to the pet store and hear the total. It’s not like I buy anything extravagant, I buy what my pets need to be healthy and happy. It’s just really hard to finds deals and coupons for anything beyond dog and cat food.
I have three pets currently: a chinchilla named Dua and two rabbits, Barney and Gracie. Now when I adopted them, I knew the costs, and in the beginning I was spending much more than I spend now, so I’m glad to say that I have found some ways to save money. In the end, it’s just really frustrating, especially when I flip through the coupons inserts from the newspaper or visit coupon sites, and all I see are coupons for cats and dogs.
Anyway, I just try my best to save what I can and work with the system. For example, on my trip to the pet store yesterday I spend $41.47 without tax. Before coupons and discounts it would have cost me $49.97 plus $5-6 in tax). I bought two large 96oz bags of timothy hay and a 40lb bag of litter. Now on a normal trip I would only buy one back of timothy hay and a smaller bag of litter, but the timothy hay was on sale for $3 off so I decided to stock up, and only the largest bag of litter was on sale $1 off. For once I had a coupon to use! But that’s only because I bought Feline Pine, which there’s a $1.50 off printable coupon for at Coupons.com. That much litter should last me a few months and the hay (which is what I have to go buy the most) should last about 2 months. So not only did I save $8.50, but I’ve saved time and bus fare that would be spent on another pet store trip in about a month.
So, the savings are no so bad, but not the best. There are other ways I implement savings for pets.
Shop in Other Sections of the Store
First off, I buy litter in the cat section of store, as you can see by the fact that I bought Feline Pine (the Original non-clumping variety). For whatever reason, most companies that make exotic pet products charge an exorbitant amount for litter if it’s sold in the small pet section. I think this may be because smalls pets often use smaller amounts of litter over time in comparison to cats, so they expect the pet owners to just eat the costs.
One of the best examples of this is the litter Yesterday’s News. I used to buy this litter exclusively because it’s made from recycled newspaper, which made me feel better environmentally, plus the animals liked it and it was safe for them. Now, if you go to the store and buy their “Rabbit Litter” it’s $9.99 for a 10lb bag (the largest you can get). That’s $0.99 per pound. If you go to the cat section and get their “Cat Litter” it’s $16.99 for 30 lbs, which is only $0.55 per pound, almost half the price. The only difference between the “Rabbit” and “Cat” litter: name and price. Everything else is exactly the same.
Other items that may be cheaper in other parts of the store include litter boxes and toys (you have to be careful to inspect them and be sure they’re safe for your pet).
Don’t Buy Edible Toys and Treats at the Pet Store
I do not buy treats or edible toys from the pet store. There’s two reasons for this. Firstly, I am not going to spend $6 on something my pet will destroy in less than 24 hours. My rabbits and my chinchilla prefer things they can rip up and destroy, which is fine because they all need to wear down their ever-growing teeth. The second reason is because I don’t trust the treats and some of the toys sold at the pet store, because they’re often filled with chemicals, dyes, and preservatives that I don’t want to feed my babies, plus they may contain ingredients that just aren’t healthy or safe for my pets.
So what I usually do for this stuff is shop online. There are many websites, owned by pet enthusiasts themselves that sell all kinds of great, reasonable priced chews, treats, and toys for small pets. A lot of times they’re cheaper and they’re usually healthier and safer.
Some recommended web sites:
If you’re really crafty and have the resources, you can make your owns toys, which saves a ton of money. There’s a great article on rabbit toys which lists a ton of resources, including the regular toy store, to find or make toys for your rabbit.
Buy Food and Hay in Bulk Online or at a Feed Store
This is something I don’t get to do as much, especially since there’s a major lack of feed stores in the city of Chicago and we don’t have very much storage space to stock up. I know other pet owners in more rural areas may find better deals on hay from feed stores.
I know it’s often cheaper to buy Chinchilla food online. At pet stores, they’re usually sold in quantities of 2-5lbs, but by buying 20lbs or more online, and freezing the excess, it could be cheaper.
These were just a few tips on how I save money when it comes to my pets. If there’s an interest, I can do more in depth posts about this in the future. Also, I’d love any tips from my readers on how they save money when it comes to pet food or supplies. I’m always up for new thrifty tips!
$25 Restaurant.com Gift Certificates for $3
Restaurant.com has another great promotion going on.
Their current promo is 70% off any order, which means you can save on Dinner of the Month Club purchases and gift certificates. That makes the $25 certificates only $3.
This is a great way to save money while eating out. You can read my full review here.
To get this deal, you have to enter the coupon code TREAT at check out, and it will take 70% off your order.
College Students Save Money with Student Advantage
A lot of college students are returning to classes this week, and it’s gotten me a little nostalgic for my college days. It’s only been two years, but it seems so long ago. Plus everything seemed so much easier and cheaper then (I miss you student discount!).
One of the ways I saved a lot of money in college was with a Student Advantage card. This is a great program, and though you do have to pay for the card, savings far outweigh the costs. I originally got the card because I took Amtrak between Chicago and St Louis (where my family lives), several times a year. I saved more than the entire cost of the card with just one round trip.
Basically, this is a discount card. You can only get the card if you’re a college student or faculty/staff at a college. With the card you save with hundreds of retailers.
Some of my favorite savings:
- 15% of Amtrak rail fares
- 15% off Greyhound fares
- 10% off Target.com
- 40% off AMC theater tickets
- 10% off American Airlines flights
- Up to $100 of cell phones from Alltel, AT&T, Nextel, Sprint, & Verizon
If you travel or shop online, then this card is essential and will pay itself off very quickly. In addition to national savings, there are also local savings for your area.
Currently the card costs (plus $2.50 for S&H):
- 1 year for $20
- 2 years for $30
- 3 years for $40
- 4 years for $50
They’re also doing a $10 off promotion right now, so that makes it even more affordable!
For whatever reason, I bought it on a year-by-year basis, but for the biggest savings I should have bought the 4 year card, which equals only $12.50 a year. Oh well, I still saved more than I spent, so it was definitely worth the investment. I highly recommend it to any college student. Travel for less, decorate your dorm for less, and save on clothing, books, and even the fun stuff.
A Newbie’s Approach to Couponing
Couponing is basically a new thing for me. My parents never really used coupons and I never really gave them much thought. Then earlier this year I read an article about a woman who only spent $100 a year on groceries for her family, and she did that all through coupons. That really caught my attention, considering I can easily spend that much on groceries in a week.
Since then I’ve started collecting and using coupons. I’m no coupon expert, and I’m definitely not to the point where I’m spending only dollars a week on groceries. I don’t have the time or the energy to search every store ad and travel all over the place to different stores to gather all the best deals.
Here’s my approach to couponing, which I think may be useful for other 20-somethings who may not have the same amount of time and resources as other, more experienced couponers.
Gathering Coupons
I will get coupons where ever I can. My biggest source is the newspaper. Funny thing is I don’t pay for it. In Chicago we have a free newspaper called the Redeye and the weekend edition contains all the same coupon inserts as the major newspapers. I’m lucky to have a free option available, but if you don’t I still recommend getting a Sunday paper. You can subscribe (many papers have a “Sunday Only” option) or pick them up at a store or newspaper box (just check to make sure there’s inserts inside before you buy).
My newest way of getting coupons is printing them from online. This is great because it’s an option everyone has that doesn’t require extra money (beyond the cost for ink and paper). Coupons.com
is a site where I print a ton of coupons. Another great place to find online coupons is manufacturer websites (look for a special offers page).
Other ways I collect coupons is gathering up the ones that come with free samples I receive, giving feedback to companies I love, and looking out for tearaways, peelies, and coupon books offered at the stores I shop in.
Organizing Coupons
Before I organize coupons, I decide which coupons I actually want to keep or print. Usually I’ll only keep coupons that I know we’ll use or think there may be a chance I’d use it if there’s a good deal. I don’t bother with coupons for things I know we won’t buy like diapers or cat food.
Originally I just kept the coupons in an envelope, but after a few weeks I had way too many coupons and needed a more sophisticated system.
I found a coupon sized expandable organizer with pockets and I organize my coupons within categories. It’s perfectly sized so I can toss it in my purse. This is what works for me and the amount of coupons I deal with.
For more elaborate set ups check out the veteran coupon links at the end of this post.
Using Coupons
My main goal is to try to match coupons with sales to maximize savings. I also read a good number of blogs that post coupon deals by store and I try to get in on as many of those as I can.
I wish my system was a little more sophisticated than that, but it’s not. I do what I can. Mostly I’m happy if I can save $10 on a shopping trip or get an item or two for free (or nearly free). I’m not perfect and definitely not a pro. I know I’ll get better with time, but for now I’m just happy with any money I can save.
Now if you want to save more and learn the tips of veteran couponers, here’s a few places I recommend you check out:
- Money Saving Mom’s Organizational Method
- A Thrifty Mom’s Coupons 101
- Coupon Geek: How to Organize Coupons
Save Money Dining Out: Restaurant.com
Let me tell you a secret: the boyfriend and I love to eat out. We like going out and enjoying different restaurants, different foods, different atmospheres. Where we live in Chicago there are tons of family owned restaurants and little holes in the wall with lots of charm and great food.
Eating out is expensive. When I was growing up my family hardly ever ate out (it was hard to do cheaply with two adults and four kids). I learned that eating out is a treat, not a necessity. It’s much cheaper to cook at home.
If I was asked to make a list of the easiest ways to save money, do not eat out at restaurants would be near the top of the list. The boyfriend and I do eat out, but only on occasion since it is so expensive. I’ve recently discovered something that’s going to make this whole dining out experience much cheaper.
Enter Restaurant.com. The main goal of this site is to save you money while dining out. How great is that? Basically they sell $25 gift cards to select restaurants for $10. That’s like getting $15 of food for free–over 50% off. Their Dinner of the Month
club can save you 60% or more AND earn you free gift certificates.
I searched for participating restaurants and there’s almost 100 available within five miles of my apartment. I can’t wait to give this deal a try. The main problem will be picking a restaurant from all those choices.
To make this even better, they’re running a promotion right now where you can buy $25 gift certificates for only $2. Yes, you read that right: only $2. Those savings are huge! Use the code TASTE at check out. This offer is valid through 8/31/09.
So if you’re going to eat out anyway, whether it’s a weekly thing or just a special occasion treat like us, you should really give Restaurant.com a try. It will save you major money. Just make sure you read all the rules for each restaurant: many of them have minimum purchase requirements, you can only apply the gift certificates when you’re dining in, etc. Give it a try and let me know what you think.
Free Big Kahuna Reef Game & $5 Amazon MP3 Credits
I just discovered this via Coupongal.net and I have to share this with my readers, because it’s a great deal and absolutely free.
Go to Amazon and order Big Kahuna Reef
Go through the checkout process ( you will not be charged for anything).
You can download the game to your computer (it is free after all), but you don’t have to to receive the credit.
A few minutes later you’ll receive a confirmation email and then you’ll receive an email about a promotional credit.
Here’s what mine said about the deal:
Dear Amazon.com Customer,
As someone who recently purchased a qualifying video game item offered in the Amazon.com Video Games store, you have automatically qualified for $5 worth of any Amazon MP3 downloads. Use your credit toward the purchase of a full MP3 album or a single song.
Redeem your $5 credit by simply clicking the “Buy” button on any Amazon MP3 detail page. The expiration date of this credit is September 30, 2009. Each time you make an Amazon MP3 purchase through September 30, 2009, we will automatically apply your promotional credit until you have used its full $5 value. Your credit card will not be charged for Amazon MP3 purchases made through September 30, 2009 until your full $5 credit has been used.
You can read more about the promotion here
