Another Valpak Offer: 50% off Chicken n' Chips

There are many advantages to registering with Valpak - like this 50% off offer for Chicken n' Chips in Nashua, NH.

For $12.50 you get a voucher for a $25 food purchase.

I know so many people that like to go there for lunch, and it's under new ownership...but don't worry, they boast the same great recipe.  Click HERE to get this deal.

Have you registered with Valpak?  I realize not all the Valpak posts apply to everyone because they are so localized.  If you've gotten a great voucher from Valpak in your area, let me know if the comments - I'd love to hear about your great deal!

Leda's Lighthouse Bowling Coupon Vouchers

Looking for a fun family activity?  How about BOWLING?!?  Right now Valpak is offering coupon vouchers for Leda's Lighthouse Glow Bowl (across from Leda Lanes in Nashua), and it is a great deal - 60% off!

For $16.80 you get a family package including 2 games and show rentals.
Retail value of $42

Get your by signing in to (or registering with) Valpak HERE.  Then find the offer, pay and print.  It's that easy!

Arm & Hammer Coupons - Save up to $10.50!

It's time to select and print your online Arm & Hammer coupons.  Coupons are available for everything from baking soda, to toothbrushes, to pet products, to laundry items, and more!  Many Arm & Hammer products have been around so long they are a traditions in some households, and they have always been a trusted brand.  Click HERE and save on all of your favorites today!

Clorox Coupon in Exchange for your Product Review

If you use Clorox products, you are probably in need of a coupon...and they are willing to give you one in exchange for your product review.  Visit their review page and see what other people are saying about their products.  Then sign-in or register, add a review of your own, and they'll give you a coupon for $1 off the purchase of two Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes while supplies last - Hurry!

20% Big Lots Buzz Club Discount - This Saturday (1/28/2012)

If you're like me you don't shop Big Lots often, so the rewards don't come my way too often.  However, you can still cash in - if you are a Big Lots Buzz Club Member, plan to shop this Saturday and use your member card to get an extra 20% off your entire purchase!  No coupon needed, just be sure to use your rewards club to reap the benefits.

Get $15 off $50 Online Purchase at Rite Aid

I don't shop the Rite Aid Online Store, but I'm sure some of you do - and you can take advantage of the convenience and savings!  Order online now through Saturday and get $15 off you $50 purchase with promo code GET15BAK.  Offer expires 1/28/212.  To start shopping, click HERE.

Subway's FebruANY is Coming...

Ever go to Subway and the featured $5 footlong is not the one you wanted?  Despair no more!  All through the month of February, ALL of Subway's footlongs will be $5 each.  So don't go yet, but get your money ready and plan to go to Subway to get the footlong of your choice for the price you're willing to pay.  Enjoy!

Save 20% at Kohl's This Friday and Saturday (1/27-1/28)

Kohl's is one of my favorite places to shop, but not without a sale PLUS a coupon.  This Friday and Saturday you can save an extra 20% with THIS savings pass.  Kohl's is great because they have no exclusions to thier coupons, so you can save, no matter what you buy.  Print your coupon out and take it to your local store or use coupon code EXCLUSIVE20 online.  Be sure to check retailmenot.com to see if they have a free shipping coupon code you can use, too.

20% Off Your Entire Purchase from A.C. Moore

A.C. Moore is a great place to buy craft supplies.  They have materials for all kids of projects, from paper crafts (scrapbooking - my favorite!)and painting, to flower arranging, and wood crafts - and so much more.  Right now you can save 20% on your entire order, including sale items!  Just click HERE to print your coupon and bring it to your local store on Saturday, January 28th. 

If you'd like to see what's on sale to plan your additional savings, click HERE to see this week's flyer.

Enter to Win a $50,000 Dream Kitchen from Houzz and Lowe's

 
Who doesn't want an updated kitchen?  Now is your chance - when you enter to win a $50,000 dream kitchen designed and built by Houzz's with quality materials from Lowe's.


The winner will receive $25,000 in remodeling materials from Lowe's and $25,000 in design, construction and installation from Houzz's top professionals in your area. Entries should be submitted by February 13, 2012. One (1) entry per person.

You must first sing-up for a free Houzz Account (or log-in).  Click HERE to register and enter to win!

Why does my husband always have to be right? Well, sort of...

Every time I rave about a great deal I got and tell him how much I saved, his response is always the same....

"You would have saved even more if you didn't buy it."

Technically, he's right, of course (don't tell him I said that!). We don't see it the same way, but we do see each others point-of-view.  In his eyes, I have a coupon for something, so I buy it...and if I have lots of coupons, I buy lots of it.  Especially if I can pair a great coupon with a great sale.

...and he's right.  BUT my rationale is that I only buy stuff I know we will use.  If there is an expiration date I will only by as much as we will use by then, and if it is something that does not expire, but we use it all the time, I will buy lots of it when I have coupons for it because it prevents me from paying full price later.

I know he understands.  I just have to laugh when he gives me his usual line.

The morale of the story is, just because you have a coupon for something doesn't mean you should buy it.  Know the prices of the stuff you regularly buy (whether written down or in you head) so that you will know what is a good price. 

For example, I normally buy store-brand cheese crackers.  2/$4.  The brand name, Cheez-its are 2/$5.  If I end up with a coupon for $1 off 2 boxes of Cheez-its, then it is the same price as the store brand, so I'm ok with getting the brand name.  I do that with lots of items.  If I don't have a coupon for the brand name, I go for the store band. 

Beware of the coupons that are tempting, but still don't bring the price down enough to be worth it.  If you are really serious about saving money, and you are not brand loyal, you will do well - compare and know your prices.  You'll even need to check the sizes to be sure what you are comparing is the same.  Do the math.

I'd love to hear some of your successful shopping trips, or any good deals you come across.  Occasionally, I post some of my most successful deals here on this blog.  It's encouraging to know that even with rising prices on almost everything, we can still find steals and deals if we look hard enough.

Printable Coupon Basics

Printable coupons are an important tool to utilize when couponing and trying to save money.  There are numerous sources and many coupons are ONLY found online, NOT in your Sunday newspaper.  Although you don't want to give up your Sunday newspaper inserts, having the willingness and capability to print coupons at home can only supplement your savings.

The advantages are obvious:  you can print them in the comfort of your home or office, and there are limitless sources.  On the downside, you can only print each coupon once or twice per computer, you still have to clip them, and you use up ink and paper for your printer - but we can try and tackle those obstacles later in this article to make it a little easier and more cost effective.


Where do I find printable coupons?
There are countless places to find coupons.  There is no guarantee that you will always find a coupon for the item you're looking to buy, but maybe along your travels you'll find others you had not even thought of.

There are 3 major online coupon sources, which you probably have heard of:
coupons.com
smartsource.com
redplum.com
These are GREAT resources for coupons.  Things to keep in mind:

• You might find a few different coupons at different zip codes...try 02128 (MA) and 07039 (NJ) and 19335 (PA) and even 30013 (GA).  I've tried 03060 (NH) vs. 90210 (CA) and it proved to be a bust...same coupons, even on opposite coasts, so that logic didn't work.
• These coupon websites will usually only allow you to print 2 of the same coupon from each computer.  This is good and bad...good because it saves me from printing extras and wasting more paper (if I don't end up using them) or buying more than I need.  Bad, because if you can get something for free, you can only get 2.  I suppose that gives other people a chance at it too.
• You might want to print the coupons you like right away.  These websites change as often as every week!  If you see something, grab it...2 of it.

There are other coupon websites, some free, and some not free.  Just be aware of what you're getting into.  Most of them ask you to sign up before you can browse or print coupons.  I currently don't belong to any because I'm not sure the number of coupons you get out of them, that you can't get anywhere else, makes it worth it.  That being said, if you still want to check it out, couponnetwork.com is one such site and a good one to get started with.  If you know of others you'd like to share, let me know in the comments so all can benefit.

I suggest taking your shopping list to your computer for the next few suggestions - you'll need to remember which brands you buy most often.
 
Another FANTASTIC place to find coupons is on Facebook.  All you have to do is search in Facebook for your favorite brands and "Like" their Facebook page.  Check the left-hand side of their page to see if they have "coupons" listed in their pages.  If you don't see it, don't get discouraged!  As you check your Facebook Home page every so often, you will find, as part of your listings, postings from these companies - including notifications of coupons. You might even run into some occasional free samples .If you are a dedicated Facebook person you probably have already done this numerous times. 


Manufacturer websites usually provide coupons for you, but they have their own standards on how often they are updated.  Visit the websites of the brands you buy most and sign-up for their newsletter to be sure you don't miss out on any discounts.

Store websites are another source for coupons.  Whether it's a grocery store like Stop & Shop or Hannaford (Market Basket does not have a website), clothing store (i.e.Target, Bob's Stores, etc) or any other store you visit often...go to that store's website and see if it has coupons available before you shop.  If they have a newsletter, sign up!  I can't tell you how many times I've gotten coupons sent right to my inbox!  If you plan on visiting a particular store, you should ALWAYS check their website before you go...just in case.

Those are my best suggestions to get started with printable coupons and I wish you the best of luck. I'm always open to suggestions, so please leave a comment if you have other ideas or websites to pass along. Remember, you should never pay full price if you don't have to!  Happy shopping.

Sky Diving Groupon for SkyVenture in Nashua

How can we save money on "luxuries"?  Let's look at one activity that would normally be out of reach finincially and find a way to save.

I've never done this, but I've always wanted to!  Imagine - after a 20 minute training session you could be floating in a syndicated sky dive for 4 minutes!  What an amazing opportunity!

SkyVenture offers a chance of a lifetime - in a safe environment.  You are lifted upward by the wind current, then you float in a powerful indoor wind tunnel above a giant trampoline.  Enjoy the adrenaline rush you get from the weightless flight without the feeling of falling, and no worries of bad weather or crashing into trees.  Friends and family can even watch from the deck and a photographer takes photos you can share for free online.

SkyVenture claims the experience is equivalent to skydiving from a height of 13,000 feet six times!  And it's all done on location here at 3 Poisson Ave., Nashua, NH.

Visit Groupon NOW to save money on a special event for you or a friend - for almost half price!  A $95 value for only $55.  Limit 1 per person, may buy 5 additional as gifts.  Vouchers expire October 1, 2012.

Save 20% off Weathervane Seafood Restaurants Gift Cards!

Are you not only looking to save money, but also having trouble getting your family to eat seafood?  Maybe you just don't like the "fishy" smell your house acquires when you cook it - or maybe you don't know how to cook more than 1 seafood dish.  Don't bother!  Just enjoy your lunch or dinner at the Weathervane Seafood Restaurant, instead!  They have lots to choose from, good portion options (even half-sizes for light eaters) and a kid's menu, too!

Right now they are offering 20% off gift cards when you order online and use code "lobster".  This makes a great gift for an upcoming birthday or anniversary, OR (my personal favorite) buy one for yourself - it's like saving 20% off your next bill!  Why pay full price if you don't have to?  Saving money is that easy.

This is a great place to eat in (kid-friendly, too), but they also offer take out, which is a great option for people on the go, or families with young children who can't sit still long enough.  They are located in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire.

Whether you eat in or dine out, be sure to join their Claw Club and start earning points towards $10 dining certificates (for every 250 points you earn).  You won't get points when buying gift cards, but you will when you redeem them.  Check out their website for more information.

Right now they are also offering a coupon voucher for a a free cup of chili.  Click HERE to print the voucher and bring it to local restaurant. Voucher valid through 2/1/2012.

For now, visit their website and start saving money!  Order your gift cards at 20% off and use them when you're ready...they don't expire!  Remember to use promo code "lobster" when you order.  Offer valid through February 6, 2012.  Enjoy!

SmartSource Savings Spectacular Super Bowl XLVII Sweepstakes

The buzz has has been going on for a while now.  The big game is coming.  We are ready for Super Bowl XLVI - New York Giants vs New England Patriots on February 5, 2012.  But what about next year?

If you want to win a chance to be there - in the action - watching the game live...have we got the sweepstakes for you!  Enter the online sweepstakes to win a chance to attend Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 NOW!  Will your favorite team be there?  Maybe YOU can be! 

This sweepstakes ends February 13, 2012.  You can enter online or by mail, and if entering by mail it is limited to one entry per envelope, and your mailed entery must be postmarked by 2/12/2012 and received by 2/21/2012.

Grand Prize is a trip to Super Bowl XLVII in 2013 and is valued at $4,500.  It includes round trip air transportation, 4 nights hotel accommodations, and 2 tickets to the Super Bowl. 

Snail-mail entries require that you print your name, address, and telephone number on a 3"x5" paper and mailing to:
SmartSource Savings Spectaular Super Bowl XLVII Sweepstakes
P.O. Box 2550
Grand Rapids, MN  55745-2550

Although mailed entries will only increase your chances of winning, the fastest way to enter is online - via one of the following websites:  www.smartsource.com or www.nfl.com  Enter every day to increase your chances of winning!

Odds of winning are based on number of entries received.

Welcome Back!

As some of you may know, I've recently come back to blogging.  Turns out having 2 kids makes me busier than I thought.  Sure, they play together, but they want YOU to play with them too.  To be quite honest, I have a blast playing with them.  They surprise me everyday and make me laugh.  It's amazing to see them learning something new that you have taken for granted for years and years.  Of course, there are the difficult days...or maybe I should say a little part of each day ends up being difficult.  But we have to remember they are very young, not a 30-year-old I can argue with.  Clearly they don't understand what I am trying to teach them day in and day out.

I wonder sometimes if I am being too "strict", but I feel strongly about teaching them manners and morals, how to clean up toys and share with others.  All of this work has been taking up so much time.  Hence I was away for a while, and around the time when my 2nd baby turned 1 year old, I decided to re-start my blogging efforts.  Now, more than ever, with a husband and 2 kids, I need to find ways to save money.  We won't be taking a vacation any time soon, unless I win it, so I've been big on sweepstakes lately, too.

My posts have been short and sweet at best, but I'd like to try to add some more insight to my postings.  I don't post just to post.  I don't like the idea of just filling your mailbox with "stuff".  I try to stick with things that mean something to me and my family.  I suppose you can expect more of the same kinds of posts, but a little more about why.  I'd love to hear and share your ideas, too!  I hope you will all continue following along my journey in saving money.