 | | | |
Here's What's New 
This amazing tip was emailed in by Sarah Jackson: The other day I sent out a humorous tweet about how much I love a certain company. I wasn’t too surprised when they tweeted me back, since Twitter is known for connecting people. They asked me to direct message them because they had a surprise for me. When I contacted them, they said if I sent them my address they would send me a gift card to say thanks. I gave them the information and looked forward to receiving a small token of appreciation. I got my gift card in the mail yesterday but it was not what I expected. Since this was a business that sells dessert items, I figured the card would be maybe $10-20. When I opened the envelope, I was floored to find a gift card in the amount of $250! I even called the 800 number just to verify. My decision to tweet them was made on a whim but I’m so thankful God gave me the idea! Just a reminder that it pays to be nice! -Sarah
   Related Stories 
Every week in 2013, I'll be sharing a different way you can save $100 this year. If you do all of these things, you'll be able to save over $5,000 this year alone! Many of these things will likely be things you're already doing, but hopefully all of you will pick up at least a few new ideas or some inspiration from this series.
As you well know, we’re book lovers around here. But we rarely pay full price for books. In fact, usually when we buy books, we get them for pennies on the dollar — mostly by buying them used. Here are some of our favorite ways to find great deals on used books: 1) Amazon If you’re planning to purchase a book for yourself on Amazon, always check for the price of buying a used copy versus a new copy. If the book has been out for a few years, chances are that you’ll be able to find a used copy for less than $0.01. All you’ll have to pay is a few dollars for shipping! 
Note: Don’t forget to sign up for Swagbucks so you can earn free Amazon gift cards toward more books. You can really stretch the gift cards when you buy used books! 2) Dollar Tree You never know what you’re going to find at Dollar Tree, but I’ve come across a few really great titles over the years. So I recommend always scanning the bookshelves at Dollar Tree when you’re in there. Paying just $1 for a brand-new book — especially if it’s a title you’ve been hoping to read — can be a great bargain! 3) Barnes & Noble You can also check Barnes & Noble’s Marketplace for good deals on used books. You can get a copy of many different used books for around $5 shipped — which is typically 50% to 75% off the price of buying new. Note: Be sure to order through Ebates so that you’ll get cashback on your purchase! 4) Thrift Stores I haven’t had as great success at finding really amazing books at thrift stores, but I know many of my friends have. So maybe I’m just going to the wrong stores or at the wrong times?! 5) PaperBackSwap I love swapping books through PaperBackSwap. I recommend adding books you want to your wishlist, as this is the way I’ve had the most success in getting copies of books. Sometimes I’ve had to wait a year or two, but it was worth it since it saved so much money! Note: For more tips on using PaperBackSwap, be sure to read this article. 6) Used Book Sales The favorite of all us book lovers! Used Book Sales are a goldmine of good deals. But if you want to get the best deals, you need to have a plan of action. This article outlines a lot of great suggestions for maximizing the mileage of your money at used book sales. Want to Save Even More? Check out my article on 5 Ways to Get Books for Free. Also, don’t forget that you can download a variety of books for free each week through Amazon.com. If you don’t have a Kindle, you can download the Kindle app to your device or PC and read the books for free. What are your favorite ways to find deals on used books? I’d love to hear!  Related Stories  
Sign up for a free sample of Energems. What are Energems? They are energy bites made with real milk chocolate and infused with energy by using caffeine, B vitamins, and energy mix. Each bite is only 15 calories each and one serving (three gems) is the equivalent of one energy drink and there are three servings per box. Energems are easy to take with you – ready to use whenever you need energy on demand. 
I had the opportunity to try these out and was very impressed. However, I don’t recommend eating them in the late afternoon. Because they really do work — thus the reason I wasn’t even tired until past midnight last night!  To get your free sample of Energems, just visit the Energems Facebook Page. Note: Energems sent me some samples to try and also kindly and generously paid me a small amount to post about this freebie. Since there were no strings attached and I knew some of you would be interested in this free offer, I accepted. You can read our disclosure policy here for more details on why I sometimes use referral links or accept payment for posts.
 Related Stories 
Here’s a great deal at Walgreens that my friend, Angie, emailed to me: Buy 2 Starbucks bags of coffee (with Starbucks peelie with code on bag) at $6.99 sale price
Get $1.00 (1000 rewards points)
$5.99 per bag after rewards points Use a peelie coupon found at Walgreens for a free Starbucks Iced Coffee when you buy two ($2.59 value) bags of coffee. Do this TWICE (or in the same transaction) so you have 4 bags of coffee with 4 Starbucks peelie codes on the front of the bags (and two free iced coffees). Then, take your Starbucks codes and register them with your Starbucks account and you can get a $10 Starbucks ecard (plus free coffee and food when you redeem the codes on the bag)! Also, you can turn in your used coffee bags for free tall coffee at a Starbucks store ($1.75 x 4=$7 value). Here’s the final breakdown: All 4 bags = $27.96 out-of-pocket
-$4 (4000 balance rewards)
-$5.18 (2) free iced coffees
-$10 Starbucks ecard (plus free coffee and food with these codes)
-$7 for 4 free tall coffees (from bags)
Equals the equivalent of paying $1.78 total or $0.45/bag (plus you still earn the free coffee and food!)
 Related Stories 
Get an 8×8 Photo Book for FREE from Shutterfly through September 11, 2013 when you use coupon code SUMMERBOOK at checkout. You’ll still have to pay shipping, which is around $8. This offer is valid on an 8×8 Photo Book (up to 20 pages) and is good through September 11, 2013. Thanks, My Frugal Adventures!  Related Stories 
Here are the best gluten-free coupons and deals, thanks to Janelle from Gluten Freely Frugal: Gluten-Free Coupons: $2/1 Van’s Waffles, Cereals, Crackers or Snack Bars, $0.50 off any Sahale Snacks Item, $0.75 off 3 Larabar, Uber, ALT or Jocalat Bars and $0.75 off 2 any flavor/variety Larabar ALT Bars, Save 35¢ on any Flav-R-Pac/ Westpac product, $1/2 Blue Diamond Almond Breeze, $1/2 Chex Cereal, $1/1 Rudi's Gluten-Free product, $1/1 Silver Hills Bakery Gluten-Free Bread, $1/1 Arrowhead Mills product, and $1/2 Coffee-Mate Natural Bliss. Udi’s Granola $3.63/Bag Shipped: Amazon Warehouse currently has the Udi’s Gluten Free Granola, Vanilla, 12-Ounce Pouches (Pack of 3) priced at $10.88 and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping! That equals out to approximately $3.63 per bag shipped! There are several other flavors available as well at similar pricing. Just make sure to only purchase the gluten-free granola! This is a Warehouse deal, so quantities are limited. 
Two Free Boxes from Taste Guru (Just Pay Shipping): Here's a sweet deal you won't want to miss out on! Taste Guru is currently offering 2 FREE boxes for new customers (a $74 value)! You just pay $24 for shipping ($12 for each month's box)! TasteGuru is a gluten-free subscription service. Each month, they put together a box of fabulous gluten-free goodies and ship them right to your door! Just use coupon code 2FREE at checkout! Your price will drop to just $24 for shipping! Free Amazon Kindle Books: There are several gluten-free cookbooks available on Amazon for free today, including 10 Great Vegetarian Gluten-Free Recipes for the Busy Home Cook, Gluten-Free Recipes for Kids, Coconut Flour Recipes, and more! Remember, you do not need to have a Kindle to order, store, and read these free books! 
Arrowhead Mills Pizza Crust $3.31/Box Shipped: Today, Amazon Warehouse has the Arrowhead Mills Gluten-Free Pizza Crust Mix, 16.5-Ounce Units (Pack of 6) priced at $19.89 and eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping. That equals out to approximately $3.31 per box shipped! This is a Warehouse deal, so quantities are limited. Janelle is wife to Brad, who is celiac, and mom to 2 sweet girls, one of whom is celiac, and the other showing signs of gluten intolerance. She blogs about the gluten free life on a budget, including coupons, deals, recipes, and other money-saving tips at Gluten Freely Frugal.
 Related Stories 
Head to Naturally Savvy and download a free copy of Label Lessons: Unjunk Your Kid’s Lunch Box. You’ll also be able to download money-saving coupons for healthy products mentioned in the ebook. Plus, you’ll be entered to win a $1,000 shopping spree to a natural product store of your choice!  Related Stories 
I’m a little late in getting this posted, because I sort of got ambitious tonight and got my freezer cooking and my Make It From Scratch project done at the same time — and dinner on the table, to boot! 
I made up two different batches of burritos using the homemade refried beans I made on Saturday. Having burritos on hand in the freezer is such a great thing. They work well for lunches, dinners, on-the-run meals, and late night snacks. 
Next, I tried the To Die For Blueberry Muffin recipe. We opted to put blueberries in half the batter and chocolate chips in the other half. The end result was a little on the dry side. I don’t think I cooked them too long, but I do think they could have used a bit more liquid. 
And finally, my Make It From Scratch project I decided upon was the Primal Fudge. I was extremely happy with how it turned out. 
But I have a little confession to me: I didn’t follow the recipe 100%. I promise I totally meant to, but I discovered halfway through that I didn’t have enough cocoa. So I used chocolate chips instead. I know that defeated the whole purpose of it being primal, but man, it turned out yummy.  Recipes Made: Bean & Cheese Burritos
Southwest Rollups
To Die For Blueberry Muffins
Primal Fudge Are you participating in the Make It From Scratch Week? If so, link up your blog post about today’s Make It From Scratch Project. Don’t have a blog? Tell us about what you made in the comments.
 Related Stories 
Breakfasts Oatmeal, Cereal, Eggs, and/or Fruit Lunches Mac & cheese, fruit
Snack-y lunch {veggies, cheese, yogurt, fruit, crackers, etc.}
PB&J, carrot sticks, apples
Cheese quesadillas, carrot sticks
Leftovers x 3 Snacks Fruit/veggies
Popcorn
Boiled eggs
Healthy Choco-Cherry Oatmeal Cookie Recipe 
Freezer Cooking in an Hour (I'll share more how this goes later on this week!) Bean & Cheese Burritos
Southwest Rollups
To Die For Blueberry Muffins Dinners Southwest Rollups, steamed veggies, fruit
Breakfast for dinner: Pancakes, fruit, scrambled eggs
Bean & Cheese Burritos, fruit, steamed veggies
Loaded Potato Soup, fruit, To Die For Blueberry Muffins
Dinner with extended family x 2
Dinner out
What's on your menu this week? Tell us in the comments or leave a link to your menu plan post.  Related Stories 
Here are some of the best deals at Target this week, with thanks to Marcy from Stretching a Buck for her help in compiling them: Reynolds Baking Cups – $0.97
Use $1/1 coupon form the 6/23 SmartSource insert
Free after coupon Ore-Ida Simply Potato Wedges, 24 oz – $2.69
Use $1/1 coupon from the 8/25 RedPlum insert
Stack with $1/1 Target printable
As low as $0.69 after coupons Barilla Plus Pasta - $2.19
Use $0.55/1 coupon from the 7/28 SmartSource insert
And use $0.75/1 Target printable
$0.89 each after coupons Up & Up Pain Reliever, 24 ct – $0.99
Use $1/1 Target Mobile coupon
Free after coupon Bic Silky Touch Razors – $2.99
Use $3/1 coupon from the 8/11 SmartSource insert
Free after coupon Gillette Series Shave Gel – $1.99
Use $0.75/1 coupon from the 9/8 RedPlum insert
Or buy 3 and use $6/3 coupon from the 8/11 RedPlum insert
As low as free after coupon Bic Cristal Pens, 10 ct – $0.99
Use $1/1 printable
Free after coupon Bic Wite Out – $0.97
Use $1/1 printable
Free after coupon Up & Up Cotton Balls, 100 ct – $0.97
Use $0.50/1 Target Mobile coupon
Plus use 5% Cartwheel.com coupon
$0.45 after coupons Up & Up Cotton Rounds, 100 ct – $0.97
Use $0.50/1 Target Mobile coupon
Plus use 5% Cartwheel.com coupon
$0.45 each after coupons L'Oreal Advanced Hair Care – $3.99
Use $2/1 printable
Or buy 2 and use $5/2 printable
Stack with 2 $1/1 Target Mobile coupon
$0.49 after coupons Up & Up Bleach, 64 oz – $1.79
Use $1/1 Target Mobile coupon
Stack with 5% Cartwheel.com coupon
$0.75 after coupons See the full list of deals at Target this week here.
 Did you find a great deal at Target? Just post about it on your blog and leave your link below. To make it easy for everyone to navigate quickly through the links, your link must link directly to your Target deals post. Links going to the homepage of your blog or any other part of your blog besides the direct link to your Target deals post will be deleted.
 Related Stories | | |
Read 1 chapter of 
No comments:
Post a Comment