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{Review} Walgreens Balance Rewards Program

September 24, 2012 by Lisa · 5 Comments

If you follow my blog, you know I’ve been shopping Walgreens for years. I’m such a dork, because I know all this trivia information about them–which is why I’m pretty loyal to them. I have a child with special needs and am very active in that community. Well, there was a gentleman by the name of Justin Dart. He got polio at the age of 18 and lost the use of his legs. He went on to become the son-in-law of Charles Walgreen, and was very instrumental in the growth of the company. He actually ended up divorcing Ms. Walgreen and went on to marry again. He was quite a colorful figure. Among his accomplishments, he is pretty much known as the father of the ADA act that was signed into law in 1992 I believe. When the first President Bush signed it, Justin Dart got the first pen–which is pretty significant. So now people with disabilities everywhere can thank Justin Dart whenever they now have access to a facility they couldn’t access before. And, Walgreens has a significant history of working with and hiring people with disabilities in the company. Needless to say, as a mom to a special needs child, it tugs at my heartstrings and that is why I like Walgreens.

So when Collective Bias put out invitations to do this shop for the Walgreens Balance Rewards program, I begged to be considered! Even before I signed on to do this, I had been promoting the program because I thought it looked interesting.

Walgreens rewards, balance rewards program

Getting ready to go!

My first step was to sign up for the Balance Rewards program. I had already done that, but I had to install the app on my tablet. It comes in Android or Apple apps. Ok, done! Next, I checked my ad to prepare for my shop. The program is pretty simple. When you purchase items that are giving points, you get points. 1000 points translates to $1. When you reach a $5 threshold, you can cash out and spend them, in the store. You do not have to spend them, you can bank them. I love this concept because it means that I don’t have to track paper things anymore. Paper things that get lost at the bottom of my purse only to expire. Right?

I looked at the ad and found a few things I needed. I was excited to see the trash bag deal because trash bag deals are hard to find and we were on our last few. They were on sale for $5.99 with 1000 points back, so I grabbed two. Next, I found a toilet paper offer and got that. There was lots of Halloween stuff on sale and I was thrilled to find the little trick or treat playdough things for $0.96! Both of my kids go to ‘nut free’ schools so it’s really hard to find treats sometimes. This fits the bill and one pack will cover both of their classes. My little guy talked me into buying the Sponge Bob Halloween window clings, but he was being good, so I was ok with it.

Ready to check out.

Took everything up to the register to check out. And #FAIL. This part was my fault though–my tablet wouldn’t load the app while I was in the store for some reason. My 3 year old loves to use our tablet, but he loads it up with tons of junk. He knows how to install apps, but he doesn’t know how to read. So we end up with a bunch of junk sometimes that clogs up the unit and we have to go in and delete a bunch of stuff. I think that’s what happened, because I couldn’t get anything to come up, not just the #BalanceRewards app. Luckily, if you don’t have a smartphone or you can’t get the app for some reason, it works on your phone number too. I punched that in and voila! It worked.

I ended up with some good deals and 2000 points on my account. I was able to use both Walgreens coupons from their monthly booklet and some manufacturers’ coupons. Overall, I really like the program and definitely see us using it a lot. Since it will take my phone number, I think I can probably even get my husband to use it. I encourage you to sign up if you haven’t already done so, and check it out!

To see more of my photos, visit my Google+ album. You can also find Walgreens on Facebook and Twitter. On my special needs parenting site, I have more on Walgreens and their commitment to helping the disabled community, as well as some photos of my boys and me with a Justin Dart statue (told you I was a dork!) at Disability Pride Philadelphia Day.

2000 points to start

I am a member of the Collective Bias Social Fabric Community. This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. All opinions are my own.

{Fall Follow Frenzy} Snyder’s Back to School Crunch Time Gift Pack Giveaway, ends Sept 4

August 20, 2012 by Lisa · 1 Comment

Yesterday I posted that I had enough fun prizes to do a giveaway each day this week……so welcome to the Fall Follow Frenzy! Going to start a giveaway every day until I run out of prizes! Welcome to day 3, and the prizes are some Snyder’s Back to School Crunch Time Gift Packs. We received ours last week and it’s a huge box of great stuff–a mix of pretzels, snack packs of pretzels, Lance crackers, the gluten free items and more. We’re using them for the pool, camp, and the beach, hopefully we’ll have some left for back to school time.

As a self-professed supercouponer, I am not brand loyal to too many grocery items. But honestly, Snyder’s has always been one brand that I am loyal too. For several reasons–one is that hands down they have the best pretzels, and the second reason is that they are a local Pennsylvania company and you all know I love to support local businesses. For decades (makes me feel old to say that) I have just loved their big thick, beer pretzels. Did you know that those pretzels are not available everywhere? Well, they’re not! When we lived in Kansas City, we had to get them shipped. Since pretzels are a Pennsylvania thing, other areas of the country don’t enjoy them as much. They are missing out! For over 20 years, I have only purchased Snyder’s pretzels as our household pretzel…and that’s no lie. Oh, and have you ever eaten the jalapeno bits? Love those too. And the southern BBQ ones. And I love when their Grande nacho chips go on sale plus those $1 coupons, AND….look at those chips…there are only 2 or 3 ingredients listed on the bag! That is so unusual these days, but that’s what I love about Snyder’s, their wholesome stuff without all those preservatives.

Now Snyder’s and Lance (same company) offer so many more items, as compared to when I first fell in love with those big sourdough pretzels. There is a line of gluten free items, whole grain items and 100-calorie snack packs to keep you on track if you are counting points. And if you want to be the mom that everyone thinks is just so clever…check out these ideas from their website.

Pretzels *and* Nutella? Sold! How cute are these?

My little guy loves SpongeBob, older one still loves Sesame Street, so I just may try to do this.

So easy and so yummy……..drool…..

I can’t wait to try some of these and we have a birthday party coming up this weekend for my oldest. All of the recipes or instructions can be found on the Snyder’s of Hanover website or on their Facebook page. Now, here is your chance to win your own Snyder’s Back to School Crunch Time Gift Pack. LOTS of entry options below, take advantage of all of them. Good Luck!

*Please note–lately in my giveaways, I’ve had a rash of fraudulent entries that did not verify when it came time to claim prizes. Please be honest, and don’t enter if you don’t want to do the entries. All entries that cannot be verified will be deleted.

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**Please note: Snyder’s are made in a facility that uses nuts. Please contact them prior to having this package shipped to your home if you have nut allergies in your household.

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{Fall Follow Frenzy} Win a Quotable photo book from Paper Coterie, ends Sept. 2

August 19, 2012 by Lisa · 8 Comments

How many times have you wished you captured the funny or insightful things said by your child? Click to order or see more.

Welcome to Day 2 of the Fall Follow Frenzy…I said I had enough prizes to go a whole week, so I am!

Kids say funny things, don’t they? My 3-year-old is coming up with some really funny stuff lately. He calls sunscreen, sun-scream. The hummingbird is a coming-bird. And he’s had some other funny ones that I put up on my Facebook wall when he says them. He also made me tear up when, in talking about his older brother said, “But he doesn’t talk, he just sings.” (he’s non-verbal) They do notice everything, don’t they?

Well now, Paper Coterie has a special photo book just for capturing things your kids say. Introducing the new Quotable photo book. I got one and it is so easy to do. Just upload your pictures and the quote block s are already inserted for you. The technology has made these so easy to do. I give them as gifts all the time, especially for grandparents.

To make this even better, Paper Coterie is offering a special rate on these. From today, August 20, until September 2, this book will only be $12, usually $26! You get a 20 page book with 19 photos, bound beautifully to keep or for gift giving. Just enter the code QUOTABLE when you check out. Code will not work until tomorrow, but you could probably start putting it together today, if you have more free time today. Just leave it in your cart and check out tomorrow.

So start jogging that memory and collecting those thoughts, and order yours. Even if you win one, you can always use another. Grandparents Day is in a few weeks and the holidays will be here before we know it. I hope that I can get it together enough to get all of mine ordered….and my dad’s birthday is this week too!

Thanks to Paper Coterie for giving me one to give away. If you win, shipping is included, I will just supply you with a Paper Coterie code upon verifying your winning entry. Which reminds me–I’ve had several blog winners recently whose entries did not verify. Please be honest and do the full entry, or just don’t bother, k? Just makes more work for me, and I enjoying doing these giveaways and don’t want to get bogged down with all the sorting afterwards.

Good Luck and have fun remembering what your child says, always fun to reminisce, isn’t it?

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Filed Under: Contests & Giveaways, Sponsored Tagged With: paper coterie