Remember the Procter & Gamble offer that Giant ran for several weeks in April & May? The one that was spend $100, get a $25 gift card?

I got my card in the mail this week. One part of the mailer said something like “Here’s your $25 gift card” and another part said something about $10 being on the card. I checked the balance online, using the website they gave, and it had $10 listed. I sent an email. The first response I got gave me an 800 number to call and said I had to take it up with P&G. While I was mulling that over, another email came. It said that $10 cards were sent out in error, and that another $15 card would be coming in the mail.

If you get a $10 card, I’d just wait a few weeks and see if another one comes before you call or email.

Now, redeeming these things can be a pain in the butt, so I’m a bit miffed at having to redeem two of them instead of one. When you redeem it, I highly recommend making a purchase that will use up all of it. Because when you give it to a cashier, he/she has to punch in the amount that is on the card, as you enter it. For example, since mine is a $10 card, let’s say I make a $12 purchase at Acme. I just swipe my card, it will be declined. Because the computer is looking for $12 on the card and can only find $10, therefore it’s thinking I have insufficient funds, and declining it. The cashier has to punch in that you’re making a $10 payment with the card, swipe it, and then it should work. Or, use self-checkout someplace where you can just do it yourself.

Because the cashier has to punch in the amount is why I don’t recommend using the card more than once-dump the entire amount while you can.

I wouldn’t even bother trying to use it at a gas pump! I tried that with the $10 Kellogg’s cards we got and it was a nightmare.

Sometimes saving money is a bit of work! I just keep reminding myself that these gift cards enabled me to get several boxes of diapers and wipes for super cheap.

I’m not motivated enough to look at last year’s blog posts, but I’m pretty sure that last year the deal was spend $50, get $50 back. This year, it’s spend $50, get $25 back. Not bad. Also, if I recall correctly, the deal from last year, when you got the $50 gift card back, you could only spend it on mens items. I can’t find anything that says that about this year’s deal. So here we go with stacking options:

First, at Sears, all mens clothing is 15% off, and you get a $25 gift card back when you spend $50. If you do think that you are going to do this deal, go and buy a $50 gift card first, at Acme. Or $100. The deal at Acme is spend $100 on gift cards (includes Sears) and get $20 back. So you could do $100 of all Sears, or $50 for Sears, and $50 for other stuff.

Then, shop at Sears. Here are some codes to stack: 

• EXTRA $5 off $50 with code SEARS2011
• EXTRA $10 off $75 with code SUMMER
• EXTRA 15% off Apparel, Shoes & Fine Jewelry with code SEARSJUNE15

And, if you use Shop at Home, they’ll give you another $20 back when you spend $100 at Sears. (I don’t do Shop at Home.) Sears is on Ebates, giving 4% for Sears and 6% for Lands End (I’m not 100% that will qualify, double check first).

ETA: I found the motivation to dig up the old post. Last year it was 50/50. This year, 50/25. Hmph. Still with all these deals to stack, you could make out pretty well.

Big sale at Old Navy on denim shorts. The Marple location also has a special Facebook offer, so mention you saw it there. If that’s not your store, check fb or ask while you’re there for added discounts.

Big sale at Concord Pet today, see you there!

And if you’re going to be making a purchase at Sears, Lowe’s or any big stores like that, go to Acme first. Buy a gift card (no processing fees!) and for every $100 you spend on GCs, you get $20 back to spend on groceries. I did this deal yesterday because hubby wanted some stuff at Lowe’s. It was money we would have spent at Lowe’s anyway, and now I have my weekly groceries almost paid for. Just a note though, the $20 catalinas have a very short expiration-one week. And when redeeming, it’s only one per transaction.

Happy shopping!

It’s so hard to get back into the swing of things after vacation! I ran into Acme this week, just to get the basics like milk & produce. I know there were lots of good deals, I just couldn’t wrap my brain around any of it. Hopefully this week will be better, because it looks decent for sales at many of the stores. Thanks to my friend Heather for doing a bunch of the typing on her blog, and I can just add more items + matchups.

Gift card offer: Buy $100 worth of select gift cards, get a $20 catalina. Stores like Lowe’s are pictured, woot! I know we have some purchases to make at Lowe’s in the coming weeks, so I might as well get some cash back. My experience from my Christmastime gc purchases, is that you do NOT have to buy one $100 gift card, you can mix it up. For my own insecurity reasons, I did them all as separate $100 transactions, just to make sure I got all my $20 catalinas. I would assume that they will run this deal again around Christmas, but think birthdays, anniversaries, teacher gifts….what do you need?