Saturday, January 9, 2010
**My loot-you will want to check out the INK deal at end at least!!
5:54 PM
OK, I got some AMAZING deals today and I want to tell you about them. But first, I want to mention that as I have started on my journey to save, save, save, I have become one of those coupon clippin' junkies. I cannot wait for Sunday's paper (thank goodness it is tomorrow) to get more. I spent 2 hours yesterday organizing all my coupons in a way that made sense to me, and I made a list of what I have in the almighty baggie of coupons (which are arranged by expiration date, then alphabetically.) I am getting organized and saving money. YEAH! I highly recommend clipping the coupons and watching the sales in your area.
That being said, let me tell you about some of the deals I got this week, and how I got them.
Deal 1:
Mission: to get my oldest daughter some pants that fit.
Goal: To find 1-2 pairs of pants for less than $10/pair. (After doing some price checking and some major homework, I discovered that my girl has hit that size where her clothing is now clumped in sizes with-gasp-teenagers, and it is now much more expensive. Dangit!)
Mission: Accomplished and for MUCH less that the $20 I gave myself to spend.
How: OK, I posted earlier about Kohl's sale this weekend, right? Well, because earlier this week I had signed up for their mailing list, they sent me a $5 gift card in my email. I printed that and set out with 4 small children in the -20 degree weather last night to see what they had at their night owl sale. Boy was I pleasantly surprised by my finds: 2 pairs of pants & 2 pairs of shirts, and I paid out of pocket only $7.01!! Check out the receipt below:
Since this is a pretty small picture, I will tell you about it, Top#1: originally $28, I paid $2.10, Top 2: originally $24, I paid $1.80, Pant 1: Originally $30, I paid $2.25, Pant 2: Originally 36, I paid $5.40. That is a grand total of $11.55 minus my $5 gift card=$7.01 out of pocket! FYI-the bottom of the receipt says "Total Saved:$111.45."
Deal 2:
Mission:Figure out how to use Register Rewards at Walgreens along with Manufacturers coupons to get best deals possible! FYI-Register Rewards are like Walgreens money that prints off at the end of a transaction. So, basically if a $1 RR prints, you have $1 toward your next purchase at Walgreens. When you buy certain things as listed in their ads and on their store signs, the RR will will print for you.
Mission accomplished: I bought the above items, 1 box Electrasol dishwasher tabs, 2 Glade candles, and 4 Toothbrushes for a grand total of $5.78 out of pocket but I got $4 back in RR. I used one Walgreens in ad coupon on the toothbrushes, 1 manufacturers coupon on the toothbrushes and 1 Manufacturers coupon for the glade candles, and 1 Manufacturers coupon for the Electrasol. Had I paid full price for these already sale items, I would have paid $22.15.
Deal 3: Mission: Find FREE items
Mission Accomplished: As pictured above: International Creamer 16 oz, free with coupon from Facebook form last month, 2 Johnson's & Johnson's bath soaps-.97 each at Walmart-free with $1 off coupons from newspaper last month, Reach floss .97 at Walmart-free with $1 off coupon from newspaper, and a free sample of Vaska Laundry Detergent I signed up for a few weeks ago.
Deal 4: Mission:Check out the Holiday Clearance at Walmart and try to get a few great deals.
Mission accomplished with many many more great deals than I expected. Here is the run down of the picture above: There are 7 Candy/toy combos, 6 of the funny winter animals that poop out jelly beans, 2 Johnson & Johnson bath soaps, 1 Reach floss, 3-300 count Icicle lights (normally priced at $15 each), 2 boxes of 12 count Nickelodeon candy canes, 4 boxes of Lil Angel chocolates (3 count), 2 boxes of Crisp Kringles chocolates (3 count), 3 stockings. Total: $8.10 I did also buy the 2 storage tubs in the background-they were on clearance for $3.40 each. So with those 2, the grand total was $14.90.
Deal 5: Get some new towels for the family (for cheap)
Mission accomplished, though admittedly this is a bit of a cheat to put on this week as I really ordered them last week from Kohls.com. Last week I posted about the big towels on sale at Kohls.com for $2 each with free shipping. Well, the deal went fast, but I was able to score some great towels-6 in fact (one for each member of the family) and I paid just over $12 for them all. Pictures above is 5 of the 6 as my oldest son took his out of the box an immediately to the bath!
Deal 6: Mission: Get my husband some new shoes he can wear to Church and work that do not have worn out sole and do not cost an arm and a leg as all men's shoes do. Also, to try to find Sunday shoes for my oldest 3 kids (1 girl, 2 boys).To accomplish this goal, we took the whole family out (again) this morning to Kohls to see if the Early Bird specials offered us up any great deals...Oh and did it!
Mission half Accomplished: I have to say that I feel like I have done a good job if I buy a pair of shoes for my husband that are under $80. Seriously. So, when we got to Kohls, we headed straight to the men's shoes, searched around for a while and found the above (and below) pictures shoes on clearance plus more off for the sale. The shoes were originally $74.99, marked down to $39.97, and actually rang in at $33.97! So, on to the kids shoes. My daughter quickly found some cute little Candies slip on Sunday shoes that were originally $39.99, marked down to $7.99, and rang in at $5.99. Awesome. Sadly, no boy Sunday shoes-still on the lookout, but we did find WARM PJ's for the boys that were great deals as well. We did have one impulse buy-a Dr Seuss book that is part of the Kohls Cares for Kids program that was $5. Grand total of this trip: $62.55. Total Savings:$121.52 
Deal 7: Mission:Find ink for crappy old printer for less than $60!
Mission Accomplished! Here is how, I saw in the Walgreens ad that they will refill your ink cartridges, normally for $12.99, but there was an in-ad coupon making it only $9.99 today. So I went and collected the ink cartridges I could find and headed over to Walgreens. It was awesome. I got 2 ink refills for a total with tax of $21. I used $3 in RR and paid only $18 out of pocket for 2 COLOR ink refills! Best of all-they came with coupons for 50% off my next ink refill!!! I was so excited I almost cried for joy right there in the store! You can look here to see if your printers ink is one they do and to see if your local Walgreens store participates in the ink program.
That being said, let me tell you about some of the deals I got this week, and how I got them.
Deal 1:
Mission: to get my oldest daughter some pants that fit.
Goal: To find 1-2 pairs of pants for less than $10/pair. (After doing some price checking and some major homework, I discovered that my girl has hit that size where her clothing is now clumped in sizes with-gasp-teenagers, and it is now much more expensive. Dangit!)
Mission: Accomplished and for MUCH less that the $20 I gave myself to spend.How: OK, I posted earlier about Kohl's sale this weekend, right? Well, because earlier this week I had signed up for their mailing list, they sent me a $5 gift card in my email. I printed that and set out with 4 small children in the -20 degree weather last night to see what they had at their night owl sale. Boy was I pleasantly surprised by my finds: 2 pairs of pants & 2 pairs of shirts, and I paid out of pocket only $7.01!! Check out the receipt below:
Since this is a pretty small picture, I will tell you about it, Top#1: originally $28, I paid $2.10, Top 2: originally $24, I paid $1.80, Pant 1: Originally $30, I paid $2.25, Pant 2: Originally 36, I paid $5.40. That is a grand total of $11.55 minus my $5 gift card=$7.01 out of pocket! FYI-the bottom of the receipt says "Total Saved:$111.45."Deal 2:
Mission:Figure out how to use Register Rewards at Walgreens along with Manufacturers coupons to get best deals possible! FYI-Register Rewards are like Walgreens money that prints off at the end of a transaction. So, basically if a $1 RR prints, you have $1 toward your next purchase at Walgreens. When you buy certain things as listed in their ads and on their store signs, the RR will will print for you.
Mission accomplished: I bought the above items, 1 box Electrasol dishwasher tabs, 2 Glade candles, and 4 Toothbrushes for a grand total of $5.78 out of pocket but I got $4 back in RR. I used one Walgreens in ad coupon on the toothbrushes, 1 manufacturers coupon on the toothbrushes and 1 Manufacturers coupon for the glade candles, and 1 Manufacturers coupon for the Electrasol. Had I paid full price for these already sale items, I would have paid $22.15.Deal 3: Mission: Find FREE items
Mission Accomplished: As pictured above: International Creamer 16 oz, free with coupon from Facebook form last month, 2 Johnson's & Johnson's bath soaps-.97 each at Walmart-free with $1 off coupons from newspaper last month, Reach floss .97 at Walmart-free with $1 off coupon from newspaper, and a free sample of Vaska Laundry Detergent I signed up for a few weeks ago.Deal 4: Mission:Check out the Holiday Clearance at Walmart and try to get a few great deals.
Mission accomplished with many many more great deals than I expected. Here is the run down of the picture above: There are 7 Candy/toy combos, 6 of the funny winter animals that poop out jelly beans, 2 Johnson & Johnson bath soaps, 1 Reach floss, 3-300 count Icicle lights (normally priced at $15 each), 2 boxes of 12 count Nickelodeon candy canes, 4 boxes of Lil Angel chocolates (3 count), 2 boxes of Crisp Kringles chocolates (3 count), 3 stockings. Total: $8.10 I did also buy the 2 storage tubs in the background-they were on clearance for $3.40 each. So with those 2, the grand total was $14.90.Deal 5: Get some new towels for the family (for cheap)
Mission accomplished, though admittedly this is a bit of a cheat to put on this week as I really ordered them last week from Kohls.com. Last week I posted about the big towels on sale at Kohls.com for $2 each with free shipping. Well, the deal went fast, but I was able to score some great towels-6 in fact (one for each member of the family) and I paid just over $12 for them all. Pictures above is 5 of the 6 as my oldest son took his out of the box an immediately to the bath!Deal 6: Mission: Get my husband some new shoes he can wear to Church and work that do not have worn out sole and do not cost an arm and a leg as all men's shoes do. Also, to try to find Sunday shoes for my oldest 3 kids (1 girl, 2 boys).To accomplish this goal, we took the whole family out (again) this morning to Kohls to see if the Early Bird specials offered us up any great deals...Oh and did it!
Mission half Accomplished: I have to say that I feel like I have done a good job if I buy a pair of shoes for my husband that are under $80. Seriously. So, when we got to Kohls, we headed straight to the men's shoes, searched around for a while and found the above (and below) pictures shoes on clearance plus more off for the sale. The shoes were originally $74.99, marked down to $39.97, and actually rang in at $33.97! So, on to the kids shoes. My daughter quickly found some cute little Candies slip on Sunday shoes that were originally $39.99, marked down to $7.99, and rang in at $5.99. Awesome. Sadly, no boy Sunday shoes-still on the lookout, but we did find WARM PJ's for the boys that were great deals as well. We did have one impulse buy-a Dr Seuss book that is part of the Kohls Cares for Kids program that was $5. Grand total of this trip: $62.55. Total Savings:$121.52 
Deal 7: Mission:Find ink for crappy old printer for less than $60!
Mission Accomplished! Here is how, I saw in the Walgreens ad that they will refill your ink cartridges, normally for $12.99, but there was an in-ad coupon making it only $9.99 today. So I went and collected the ink cartridges I could find and headed over to Walgreens. It was awesome. I got 2 ink refills for a total with tax of $21. I used $3 in RR and paid only $18 out of pocket for 2 COLOR ink refills! Best of all-they came with coupons for 50% off my next ink refill!!! I was so excited I almost cried for joy right there in the store! You can look here to see if your printers ink is one they do and to see if your local Walgreens store participates in the ink program. 
Labels:
**Reminder: Free Around Omaha (Ok-one is just cheap)
5:45 PM
Tomorrow 1/5
Christmas at Boys Town Events: Three Nativities through Jan. 6.
Children's Museum: If you happen to have a Children's Museum pass, you can take your kids to the Preschool Pals Program for FREE. It is a great program and my kids love it-darn my pass for expiring! It is on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. (Omaha Children's Museum Members Only) & 10:30 a.m. Each week a new theme is explored through activities, stories, songs and games. Click here for upcoming themes. This activity is free with admission but seating is limited. Families will need to secure a ticket when checking in at the front desk. Preschool Pals is for children developmental ages 3-5. Preschool pals is included with regular museum admission.
Saturday 1/9
Grand Opening of the Salvation Army KROC Center: From 9:00am – 7:00pm • Free activities all day - Strolling Magician, Free Throw Contest, Soccer Shoot Out, Fitness Classes and Demos, Aquatic Center Games and Activities, Well-known drummer and Percussion Artist to Perform, Face Painting and Balloon Artist. Located at 2825 Y street.
Monday 1/18
The Kansas City Royals will be arriving to the Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center and CoCo Key Water Resort on Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2010. This FREE event is open to the public and will feature players and personnel from the Kansas City Royals! They will be signing autographs from 10:30am-noon at the Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center and CoCo Key Water Resort. The Omaha Royals will have their inflatables there as well as Casey, Spike and Herman for the kids! There will be a merchandise table with O-Royals and Rosenblatt Stadium memorabilia available for sale. Please check oroyals.com for more information.
Wednesday 1/20
Joslyn Art Museum & Omaha Library Preschool Story adventures: 10:30 am Preschoolers accompanied by a grown-up are invited to attend Story Adventures, an artful reading program presented by Joslyn and Omaha Public Library. Nurture your little one's love of art and stories by stopping by the Museum on the third Wednesday of each month, at 10:30 am, when a librarian reads aloud thematic stories and engages youngsters in conversation and simple activities connecting picture books and art.Story Adventures is free to Joslyn members and anyone presenting a library card (from any public library). Arrive early to sign up for an Omaha Public Library card; regular Museum admission for all others who attend. http://www.joslyn.org/Calendar/Detai...e-0812a5e93272
Friday 1/22
FREE Pajamarama @ Barnes & Noble (Oakview): 7 PM Children's Event: Put on your pj's and join us for a special Marc Brown Storytime with one of our favorite characters, Arthur!
Saturday 1/23
FREE Kids Craft Event @ ALL Michaels Stores: 1-3 pm Join us for two free Make-It Take-It projects- a yarn-covered bracelet and a pencil topper. While supplies last. http://www.theknackkids.com/EventView.aspx
Tuesday 1/26
Whole Foods FREE Children's Storytime (MUST PRE REGISTER): 10 am Attention kids, moms, dads, grandparents and caregivers! Storyteller Anna Hutchinson from The Bookworm will tell us an entertaining food-themed story for kids ages 2 to 5 then we'll enjoy a delicious snack. And, we'll have free coffee for caregivers! (ALSO ON THURSDAY 1/28)http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stor...recalendar.php
Saturday & Sunday 2/6-2/7
Little Red Barn: FREE Petting zoo (and $4 Pony Rides) at "The Little Red Barn"!! Open the first full weekend of each month, Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm. Located just 1/2 mile south of 252nd & Hwy 92 (or West Center Road) OR 1 mile East & 1/2 mile south of Venice Antiques (or Two Rivers turn). Fun family place for kids to run around and have fun. There's even a straw stall for the kids to jump and play in the straw. ALL INDOORS - OPEN RAIN OR SHINE - YEAR 'ROUND!!!
Ongoing Deals:
Skatedaze Mom & Me Play For Free: Don't forget Skatedaze also has FREE Mom & Me play for free play days in the playdazium Tuesday-Friday from 10 am-3pm. Note-this program is suspended until school is back in on Jan 6th. And they currently still have FREE Birthday parties. Please see details for both programs on their website at http://www.skatedaze.com/. They are listed on right side of the page.
Children's Museum: If you happen to have a Children's Museum pass, you can take your kids to the Preschool Pals Program for FREE. It is a great program and my kids love it-darn my pass for expiring! It is on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. (Omaha Children's Museum Members Only) & 10:30 a.m. Each week a new theme is explored through activities, stories, songs and games. Click here for upcoming themes. This activity is free with admission but seating is limited. Families will need to secure a ticket when checking in at the front desk. Preschool Pals is for children developmental ages 3-5. Preschool pals is included with regular museum admission.
Little Red Barn: FREE Petting zoo (and $4 Pony Rides) at "The Little Red Barn"!! Open the first full weekend of each month, Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm. Located just 1/2 mile south of 252nd & Hwy 92 (or West Center Road) OR 1 mile East & 1/2 mile south of Venice Antiques (or Two Rivers turn). Fun family place for kids to run around and have fun. There's even a straw stall for the kids to jump and play in the straw. ALL INDOORS - OPEN RAIN OR SHINE - YEAR 'ROUND!!!
Running 2/6-3/20 (Cheap, not free)
Marcus Theatres Frosty Flicks Kids Winter Film Series: Warm up with Marcus Theatres® this winter! Join us February 6th - March 20th, 2010 on Saturday mornings at 10am to view your favorite family flicks for just $3/ person! Popcorn is included, so grab the family and head to your nearest participating Marcus Theatre® location! Here's the schedule:
2/6 - Ice Age 2D Dawn Of Dinosaurs
2/13 - Night At The Museum: Battle Of Smithsonian
2/20 - Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2D
2/27 - Where The Wild Things Are
3/6 - Fantastic Mr Fox
3/13 - Planet 51
Check out Marcus Theaters for more info and to find a location near you.
Christmas at Boys Town Events: Three Nativities through Jan. 6.
Children's Museum: If you happen to have a Children's Museum pass, you can take your kids to the Preschool Pals Program for FREE. It is a great program and my kids love it-darn my pass for expiring! It is on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. (Omaha Children's Museum Members Only) & 10:30 a.m. Each week a new theme is explored through activities, stories, songs and games. Click here for upcoming themes. This activity is free with admission but seating is limited. Families will need to secure a ticket when checking in at the front desk. Preschool Pals is for children developmental ages 3-5. Preschool pals is included with regular museum admission.
Saturday 1/9
Grand Opening of the Salvation Army KROC Center: From 9:00am – 7:00pm • Free activities all day - Strolling Magician, Free Throw Contest, Soccer Shoot Out, Fitness Classes and Demos, Aquatic Center Games and Activities, Well-known drummer and Percussion Artist to Perform, Face Painting and Balloon Artist. Located at 2825 Y street.
Monday 1/18
The Kansas City Royals will be arriving to the Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center and CoCo Key Water Resort on Martin Luther King Day, January 18, 2010. This FREE event is open to the public and will feature players and personnel from the Kansas City Royals! They will be signing autographs from 10:30am-noon at the Holiday Inn Omaha Convention Center and CoCo Key Water Resort. The Omaha Royals will have their inflatables there as well as Casey, Spike and Herman for the kids! There will be a merchandise table with O-Royals and Rosenblatt Stadium memorabilia available for sale. Please check oroyals.com for more information.
Wednesday 1/20
Joslyn Art Museum & Omaha Library Preschool Story adventures: 10:30 am Preschoolers accompanied by a grown-up are invited to attend Story Adventures, an artful reading program presented by Joslyn and Omaha Public Library. Nurture your little one's love of art and stories by stopping by the Museum on the third Wednesday of each month, at 10:30 am, when a librarian reads aloud thematic stories and engages youngsters in conversation and simple activities connecting picture books and art.Story Adventures is free to Joslyn members and anyone presenting a library card (from any public library). Arrive early to sign up for an Omaha Public Library card; regular Museum admission for all others who attend. http://www.joslyn.org/Calendar/Detai...e-0812a5e93272
Friday 1/22
FREE Pajamarama @ Barnes & Noble (Oakview): 7 PM Children's Event: Put on your pj's and join us for a special Marc Brown Storytime with one of our favorite characters, Arthur!
Saturday 1/23
FREE Kids Craft Event @ ALL Michaels Stores: 1-3 pm Join us for two free Make-It Take-It projects- a yarn-covered bracelet and a pencil topper. While supplies last. http://www.theknackkids.com/EventView.aspx
Tuesday 1/26
Whole Foods FREE Children's Storytime (MUST PRE REGISTER): 10 am Attention kids, moms, dads, grandparents and caregivers! Storyteller Anna Hutchinson from The Bookworm will tell us an entertaining food-themed story for kids ages 2 to 5 then we'll enjoy a delicious snack. And, we'll have free coffee for caregivers! (ALSO ON THURSDAY 1/28)http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stor...recalendar.php
Saturday & Sunday 2/6-2/7
Little Red Barn: FREE Petting zoo (and $4 Pony Rides) at "The Little Red Barn"!! Open the first full weekend of each month, Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm. Located just 1/2 mile south of 252nd & Hwy 92 (or West Center Road) OR 1 mile East & 1/2 mile south of Venice Antiques (or Two Rivers turn). Fun family place for kids to run around and have fun. There's even a straw stall for the kids to jump and play in the straw. ALL INDOORS - OPEN RAIN OR SHINE - YEAR 'ROUND!!!
Ongoing Deals:
Skatedaze Mom & Me Play For Free: Don't forget Skatedaze also has FREE Mom & Me play for free play days in the playdazium Tuesday-Friday from 10 am-3pm. Note-this program is suspended until school is back in on Jan 6th. And they currently still have FREE Birthday parties. Please see details for both programs on their website at http://www.skatedaze.com/. They are listed on right side of the page.
Children's Museum: If you happen to have a Children's Museum pass, you can take your kids to the Preschool Pals Program for FREE. It is a great program and my kids love it-darn my pass for expiring! It is on Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. (Omaha Children's Museum Members Only) & 10:30 a.m. Each week a new theme is explored through activities, stories, songs and games. Click here for upcoming themes. This activity is free with admission but seating is limited. Families will need to secure a ticket when checking in at the front desk. Preschool Pals is for children developmental ages 3-5. Preschool pals is included with regular museum admission.
Little Red Barn: FREE Petting zoo (and $4 Pony Rides) at "The Little Red Barn"!! Open the first full weekend of each month, Saturday & Sunday 10am-4pm. Located just 1/2 mile south of 252nd & Hwy 92 (or West Center Road) OR 1 mile East & 1/2 mile south of Venice Antiques (or Two Rivers turn). Fun family place for kids to run around and have fun. There's even a straw stall for the kids to jump and play in the straw. ALL INDOORS - OPEN RAIN OR SHINE - YEAR 'ROUND!!!
Running 2/6-3/20 (Cheap, not free)
Marcus Theatres Frosty Flicks Kids Winter Film Series: Warm up with Marcus Theatres® this winter! Join us February 6th - March 20th, 2010 on Saturday mornings at 10am to view your favorite family flicks for just $3/ person! Popcorn is included, so grab the family and head to your nearest participating Marcus Theatre® location! Here's the schedule:
2/6 - Ice Age 2D Dawn Of Dinosaurs
2/13 - Night At The Museum: Battle Of Smithsonian
2/20 - Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2D
2/27 - Where The Wild Things Are
3/6 - Fantastic Mr Fox
3/13 - Planet 51
Check out Marcus Theaters for more info and to find a location near you.
**"Junk" email & other comments
5:38 PM
Merrilyn left a great comment on the KY sample post. She mentioned the spam mail that can come from signing up for all these samples. It is true-you will get a lot of email from these places, because lets face it-they are giving us free samples because they want to eventually sell us something. I love that so many companies believe in their products enough that they think sending me a freebie will get me hooked (and sometimes it does). But, you WILL get emails from them. So, to avoid filling your regular email with all the stuff they will send you, go to gmail or yahoo or any of the free email sites and set up an email that you use solely to sign up for things like freebies. I have beckeesdeals@gmail.com set up for all the things I sign up for online and for this blog and my regular email has been so much nicer! Just a suggestion!
Also, I want to say that with freebies, I try to check out the ones I post as much as possible, but it is still possible for me to find one that is just spam-if you ever find that something I post is just a scam or a spammer site, please, PLEASE let me know so I can remove it and warn others as well!
Thanks for checking my blog! (BTW-who are you out there checking this? Leave me a comment so I know if this is actually being read enough to keep doing all this work everyday!)
Beckee
Also, I want to say that with freebies, I try to check out the ones I post as much as possible, but it is still possible for me to find one that is just spam-if you ever find that something I post is just a scam or a spammer site, please, PLEASE let me know so I can remove it and warn others as well!
Thanks for checking my blog! (BTW-who are you out there checking this? Leave me a comment so I know if this is actually being read enough to keep doing all this work everyday!)
Beckee
**Free sample of Breathe Right
5:30 PM
Boy have I been busy today-I was mostly out shopping, trying to score some deals. I got some good ones that I will post shortly, but first I want to let you know about a new to me freebie today. If you want to try out a sample of Breather Right, click here and sign up!ThanksMy Frugal Adventures.
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