Quite often lately, there have been lots of free sample offers on Facebook. I just saw another two posted. One is for free detergent and it’s limited to like 20 or 30 thousand samples, and you have to be on the page at 6 pm to get it…yada yada yada. Sure, it’s fun to receive free stuff in the mail, and in most cases, a higher value coupon will accompany the sample. I don’t know about you, but I just don’t have the time to sit on Facebook hitting refresh 100 times in hopes that I’ll get a half ounce of detergent or two dryer sheets sent to me. If that’s your thing, then I would suggest in addition to liking this page, that you go over to Free Stuff Finder and subscribe to that. They post that kind of thing all day long. I just prefer to focus on getting free full-sized products instead!
Rita’s & Alex’s Lemonade Stand
Tomorrow, July 1, Rita’s officially changes the name of it’s lemon water ice to Alex’s Lemonade. You can also, starting tomorrow, purchase a paper lemon for $1 to go to childhood cancer research. What a bargain–$1 to feel good about donating to a great cause. Visit your Rita’s. C’mon, do you really need a reason to visit Rita’s?
What’s in your wallet?
While the boys are napping, I have some time to go through my purse and see where I stand. Last week I issued a challenge to my readers here and on hotcouponworld. Those who are doing it and starting to check in.
After one week, here’s where I stand–
I have only about $50 left out of my original $100. Ouch. Ok, at first glance, not doing so hot. Here’s where much of it went.
Farmers market-$15
Acme-$15
New shoes-$11
Zoo-$6
But, in addition to the cash I have left, I also have:
more than a half tank of gas
$21 in catalinas to spend at Superfresh
$15 gift card to Target
$40 in catalinas to spend at Acme
$38 in extra bucks to spend at CVS
And I’m owed $35 in rebates: three for $5 each from SC Johnson, $10 from Hydro, $10 from Aveeno. Hopefully they will get here before my other cash runs out.
I’ve used 5 stamps and haven’t touched the money in paypal.
So far I have actually really enjoyed this and am learning a lot. It’s really making me focus on every purchase that I make, and ask “Do we really need this or can I live without it?” I’m also learning how much we spend on produce which is pretty amazing and focusing on not wasting produce. My kids are eating about $10 worth of bananas a week, which I hadn’t realized, and the baby would eat a pint of berries a day if you let him. Still, I’m not going to deprive them of healthier foods just to win a contest, so I’ll have to find it cheaper. I could have saved $5 at the market as I did not need the sticky buns or the fresh made bread. But I splurged on the stickies since it was my bday and the homemade bread made for some awesome tomato sandwiches.
The shoes–well, I actually broke my flip flop, and truth be told, I could have hobbled home that way with it. But I broke it at Peebles while I was there to pay my bill, and I had a 25% off coupon…….oh well, I don’t regret it. I got a very cool pair of born flip flips for only $11. The zoo was free since we have a membership, I just paid for the kids to ride the train. We’ve also been swimming which was free and to the New Garden playground when we went to the Farmers Market.
I also have several hundred dollars pending in focus groups, I’ve filled out several surveys online and had two phone interviews regarding participating in them, just waiting for the final call.
I’m also very proud of the fact that this week my husband was able to donate 484 separate items to the canned/non perishables drive at work. About 2/3 of that was from our already existing stockpile and the other third was purchased this week. So to be able to donate almost 500 things and only spend a few bucks, that’s great, and goes to help others down on their luck.
So that’s my first week of the contest. I’m definitely watching my spending more in the coming weeks and still have recreational things planned. Also, I’ll have to look at Giant deals so I can save on gas.
Happy couponing!
Welcome to New Readers
Over the past few weeks, my reader base has grown and I just want to say thanks and welcome. In the coming weeks, I will be looking around for a new host site as well as updating the look and links on this blog. So stay tuned for more great deals, in hopefully a less-rudimentary-looking format.
Also, given that I have lots of new readers, I will try to not speak in coupon lingo and acronyms, and go back to basics and explain things more. Don’t be intimidated–my friends and I are what the media likes to call “super couponers” but that doesn’t mean you have to be. You can still take advantage of lots of great deals. Like this one-how about some Free Lettuce Wraps at PF Changs? And if you’re on facebook, make sure you “like” Famous Dave’s BBQ. The first 100k people who do will get a bogo coupon for dinner. Having lived in KC, MO for a few years, I do miss eating good BBQ. Famous Dave’s is about the best we can get here on the east coast.
See-that was easy. Two good deals and you didn’t have clip anything!
Thanks again for reading and happy couponing!
