P&G Brand Coupons and Samples

New coupons and samples are available at P&G Brand Sampler.

Choose from samples of Metamucil Clear & Natural and Metamucil Lemonade, and coupons for Tide Stain Release, Aussie Hair Care Products, Crest White Strips, Iams, and Venus Embrace or Spa Breeze.

But wait! You don't have to choose.... You can get them all!! And in 4-6 weeks you will have a nice surprise in your mailbox.

The Latte Factor

I believe it was in one of the David Bach "Finish Rich" books that I first heard of “the latte factor”. For those who aren't familiar with the term, it refers to the idea that many people continually spend on small purchases (like a latte) that add up to a ridiculously large amount over their lifetime. I didn't drink latte's at the time, but I did have a pack a day smoking habit that I was better able to put into perspective.

Since then, I have given up cigarettes but I started drinking coffee. Latte's, to be exact. And I realized a couple of months ago that I was drinking one a day, five to six days a week, at about $5 each because I was using the coffee shop's "free" internet service. It was also at about that same time that I noticed that my budget was completely out of whack, and that my pants were not fitting right.

Long story short...

I signed up for my own internet service at $30 a month, or one week's worth of latte's. I dusted off the coffee maker that I had stashed on a back shelf for the few occasions that I have just happen to have an overnight guest who drinks coffee, and I started brewing my own java.

I go through about 24 ounces of coffee every two days. With beans, chocolate syrup and soy milk, I'm estimating that I spend about $10 every three weeks making my own latte's at home.

My savings? $65-$80 a month. That adds up to roughly a grand a year. I can think of a lot of things that I would rather spend $1,000 on than coffee.

Oh, and the bonus - I've lost about a pound a week by giving up the high calorie beverages that I was purchasing at the "fill-in-the-name" coffee chain. My pants are fitting a whole lot better now!

Want to know what your own "Latte Factor" is costing you? Try this handy calculator from David Bach and "Live Rich. Finish Rich." (FYI - You do have to put numbers in every field.)

Try Land O Lakes Free

For a limited time you can try Land O Lakes Butter with Olive Oil free.

Check your local grocery store for the official mail-in certificate. (I found my form at Publix on the coupon kiosk in the lobby.)

The refund requires:

1. The orginial store receipt dated between 4/15/09 & 7/31/09 with the product highlighted on the receipt.
2. Writing down the product UPC number from the bottom of the package.
3. The original filled out certificate.

Submissions must be received by 8/15/09 in order to receive your refund of the full purchase price up to $2.99.

You can save an additional .55¢ by printing a manufacturers coupon at Land O Lakes or SmartSource for a total savings of up to $3.54.

Save Big On Books

I've been called on "avid reader". I don't know about the "avid" part, but I do frequently devour a novel within a couple of days. All of that reading quickly adds up to big bucks, and without some creative solutions, can quickly eat a big chunk out of my budget.

The most obvious solution is to make use of your local public library. They have a large selection of books, including the newest and best of the current "Have-to-Reads" lists. My local library even lets me go online to request materials and notifies me via email when they are available.

But since this blog is not about the obvious, I want to explore some of the not-so-obvious solutions that I have discovered...

Buying and selling books on eBay and Amazon are fantastic options for the budget buyer or rare book collector. Both of these venues allow you to pick up books at below retail prices while simultaneously selling your "used" collection at a fair price. At this writing, eBay has nearly 4.25 million books available for sale, and Amazon has over 27.7 million. The odds are pretty good that one of these two sights will have what you're looking for at the right price. I highly recommend that you check new and used books at both sights before buying to get the best price. I have seen a used book selling for a low of $9.95 on eBay when the same new book was available in the used section at Amazon for 1¢.

Book trading stores were pretty popular in the late 80's and early 90's. Most moderately sized towns still have a book trading store or two around. Again, these are great venues for buying books at a discount. If you have books to trade, the business model generally is to give you a book credit that you can then use to "buy" a book. Almost without exceptions, book trading stores charge a small per book transaction fee to help offset their overhead costs. This charge applies to each book that you are buying or trading.

There are a number of website out there that advertise that they buy books. (My Google search this morning came back with 238 million hits.) Most of the popular websites only buy textbooks. However, there is a site called cash4books.com that buys other books. I personally have used this service, and was quite pleased with it. You simply enter the ISBN numbers for the books you want to sell to see if how much cash you can get for them. Complete the transaction online, print the prepaid mailing label, and send in your books. In a few days you will receive either a check in the mail or a deposit in your PayPal account. The whole process was simple and straightforward. The only catch is that they will not buy most books that more than a few years old.

And finally, my latest and greatest find for controlling my book budget is a website called paperbackswap.com. To get started at paperbackswap.com, list all books that you are willing to swap out. If you list a minimum of 10 books you will automatically receive 2 books credits to use immediately. The trade process works like this...

Someone will notify you if you have a book that they want. You can then either accept or deny the transaction. If you accept, you pay the postage to ship the book to that person. You then receive 1 book credit - two if it's an audio book. You may then redeem your book credit for a book that you want, regardless of who owns the book. That person then pays the postage to send the book to you. The book credits do not expire, so you can use them whenever you want. You can also set up a "wish list" for books that are not currently available, and receive an email when someone lists that book. You are even able to specify if you want an audio or hardback book. (Despite the name, it's not just paperback books.)

The system works to a certain extent on an honor system. This may sound a little scary at first given all of the dishonesty that prevails in our society, but I think you will be pleasantly surprised. I've been participating in paperbackswap.com for nearly a year and have completed dozens are transactions with satisfactory results. Nearly all of the books that I have received are in "like new" condition, and I have never been "ripped off". I highly recommend PaperbackSwap.com!

Good reading, my fellow bookworms! And, good savings, my fellow frugalists!

BOGO Velveeta Shells & Cheese

There is currently a Buy One Get One Free coupon available on SmartSource for a Velveeta Shells & Cheese Cups (up to $1.30 value).

My daughter-in-law loves to carry one of these "cook-in-the-cup-meals" with a salad made at home on the days she has classes all day. It's a quick and easy lunch that is healthier and considerably cheaper than fast food. You don't have to be a college student to appreciate that!

As always, check your local sales fliers and Sunday coupon supplements for additional savings.

Save on Scott Paper Products

Buy a little, save a little. Buy a lot, save a lot!

Go to SmartSource to print a $1 off an 8-pk or larger of Scott Extra Soft Bath Tissue and get a bonus rebate certificate good for a $2, $3, or $4 off coupon good on Scott paper products. You can also print the certificate at the Scott Products website.

From 7/12/09 - 7/26/09, you'll get rewards for buying SCOTT® Brand products — from $2 for 2 products up to $4 for 4 products!* Just mail your cash register receipt with the purchases circled and the packaging UPC codes for your savings rewards.

Purchases must be from different Scott product categories. Product categories include: bath tissue, paper towels, napkins, flushable wipes, and scrub cloths.

Be sure to check your local sales fliers for additional savings. Also check your coupon collection for coupons to apply to your purchase as well. There are currently 10 different Scott products coupons that were available through the Sunday supplements from 4/19/09 - 7/12/09 that are not expired.

Hey, I can use the coupons that I got with my free samples in yesterday's mail!

*Savings to be awarded in coupons for future SCOTT® Brand purchases.

Free Mocha Mondays

Get a free sample of iced or hot Mocha
every Monday until August 3rd.

Stop into McDonalds between 7 am and 7 pm on Mondays, and start
the working week with a complimentary McCafe, the sweet
side of espresso.

Limit one sample size 8 oz mocha or 7 oz iced mocha per person per visit. Limited time only. (7/20, 7/27, 8/3).
While supplies last.
At participating McDonalds.

What Starbucks Knows About Oatmeal Can Save You Money

Starbucks announced that since the September 2008 introduction its “Perfect Oatmeal” has been the single highest volume food item in Starbuck’s history. In December 2008, Jamba Juice joined Starbucks and Corner Bakery by adding oatmeal to its menu.

Food chains like Starbucks, Corner Bakery, and Jamba Juice are realizing what mothers have known for decades. People love the taste of oatmeal.

Not only can oatmeal provide a hot and tasty morning meal, but it’s also the perfect food for the health conscious. High in fiber, low in fat, oatmeal lowers cholesterol associated with heart disease.

Yet companies like Starbucks aren’t introducing oatmeal just because it tastes good or because its so healthy, but more likely because of the high profit margins. Simply put, restaurants can charge a lot of money for a product that is relatively cheap to make.

The basic ingredients - oatmeal, water or milk, brown sugar, and a few pieces of fruit cost on average less than .50¢ per serving, but places like Starbucks and Corner Bakery charge $2.99 to $3.25 per serving!

Use what these food chains know to serve your family a cheap and delicious comfort food. Skip those packets of instant oatmeal. These are much more expensive than regular oatmeal and not that much more convenient.

Instead, purchase a large tub of regular Quaker oatmeal. I am able to buy a large 42 oz tub of regular Quaker oatmeal at the supermarket for $3.49 that makes 30 servings. (Less with the occasional coupon.) This about the same price as a single serving of oatmeal at Starbucks!

The quick cook oatmeal is simple to make. Simply pour some oatmeal into a microwave safe bowl, add milk or water, and microwave for 2-3 minutes. Add some butter, brown sugar, and a few slices of banana, some raisins and/or other fruit, or a spoonful of jam or preserves, and you have a delicious meal at a fraction of the cost.

In fact, oatmeal at 11.6 cents per serving is one of the cheapest breakfast foods you can make - much cheaper than processed boxed kids cereals, even when these cereals are on sale!

So to help save money in difficult economic times consider cheap, but tasty oatmeal made quickly in your own kitchen. Remember, in the time it takes to park at Starbucks, stand in line, hand over your cash, and receive your oatmeal you could have made your own delicious oatmeal at home.

Free "O" Subscription

Register at one of my favorite freebie websites, StartSampling.com, and request 5 free issues of "O" Magazine without further obligation. I get all my magazines for free this way: TV Guide, Fitness, Family Circle, Motorcyclists, Vogue, Harpers Bazaar, and more.

While you're there, go ahead and request free samples of Sun Crystals, Prilosec, Enfamil, Aveeno Shampoo and Conditioner, and Kotex Overnight. You'll get the samples, but not the extra junk email in your inbox.

Check back often because the samples change frequently!

Free Samples - Bigger is Better!

I love free samples!

I am always requesting some sample or another from one of the several freebies websites I frequent. The samples are usually what you would expect; a small one-or-two-use size that is perfect for tossing into an overnight bag for a weekend out of town.

OK, there was that “weekend party pack” from Trojan….that may have been someone’s idea of a weekend, but it was a year’s worth of party for me! (Oh, c’mon, we’re all adults here.)

When I checked my mail today, I was quite surprised to find a full-size roll of toilet paper in the box! I kid you not.

And there was more. The package also contained a sample of Scott Natural wipes (the perfect size for an overnight bag, backpack or car glove compartment), and coupons for future purchases of both products.

So, for those of you who are quick to pooh-pooh free samples, keep this in mind…

You can get something for nothing! It may even turn out to be more than you expected.

Who Says There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch?

Print this coupon and take it to Arby's for a free BBQ Bacon Cheddar Roastburger with the purchase of any soft drink. (No downloads required)

But hurry, this offer expires this Thursday, July 16th!

I printed two coupons yesterday - one for me and one for the roommate. We went to Arby's last night, used our coupons, and Arby's gave us two more coupons for free regular Roastbeef sandwiches! The two regular Roastbeef sandwich coupons can only be used on Wednesday, July 15th.

I guess I know what's for dinner Wednesday...

Now What?

I completed a much needed reorganizing and inventorying of my supply of toiletries, cleaners, and personal care items. When I got done I was both pleased and disappointed.

I was pleased because I have rebuilt my dwindling inventory in about 6 weeks.

I was disappointed because I have replenished my inventory to the point that I don't need to buy anything else for most of the next year.

I now have enough of a supply to keep me and 2 other people* in shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, deodorant, mouthwash, razors, etc., etc. for most of a year without having to buy anything else. Everything was free or almost free. (The most expensive items were three hair care products that I paid approximately $1 apiece for.)

For me, bargain shopping and (legally) getting store merchandise for free is fun. It's a game, a hobby, an interesting diversion from the doldrums of everyday life. But continuing to collect stuff at this point would just be greedy, and perhaps bordering on excessive.

I guess I'm going to have to find another outlet for my bargain shopping ways...

Does anyone want to hire a personal shopper?

*I was keeping myself and four other people who were having financial difficulties in toiletries. Two of those people have since learned from me how to buy for almost free and are now providing for their own needs.

Free School Supplies!

CVS is giving away school supplies through Tuesday, July 14th.

You may think that it's too early to be thinking about school supplies, but as any good bargain shopper knows, buying out of season is one of the secrets to getting great deals.

Take your Extra Care card to CVS today or tomorrow, and you can get 2 1-subject notebooks, 3 8-ct packs of Paper Mate pens, 2 pairs of 5" pointed or blunt tip scissors, 2 bottles of school glue, and 2 12" plastic or wood rulers - ALL FOR FREE!

With three college students in my family, those school supplies will definitely come in handy.

Don't have a CVS Extra Care card? You can get one of those when you go to pick up your free school supplies!

Don't have a kid in the family who needs school supplies? Donate the items to any number of charities who collect school supplies for needy children, give the supplies to a school teacher - he/she will know of needy children, or just drop them off at your nearest elementary or grade school.

This is a quick and easy way to do something good for someone in need without having to clip and organize coupons. Just make sure you use those CVS Extra Care Bucks before they expire in 1 month or all your savings go out the window!

New Personal Shopping Record!

Yesterday I set a new personal "super shop" record. I bought $199.51 in nonfood necessities for $7.73! I have had a lot of people asking how I did it, so I plan to cover some of the details of my strategy in this blog. Unfortunately, because of the number of items purchased, I will not be able to share all of the details for every item - to do so would result in a blog resembling a short chapter in a novel.

Rite Aid was the first stop on my shopping expedition. From reviewing the Rite Aid sales flier, and preparing my coupons in advance, I knew that I would be purchasing Colgate toothpaste, NoDoz, Nivea Lip Care, Sally Hanson fingernail polish, Venus Embrace razor, and Finesse shampoo and conditioner.

Colgate toothpaste was on sale for $2.59 with a $1.84 rebate from Rite Aid. I had a $1.00 coupon (that I got through a free sample offer), making my net cost -.25¢. (That's right, they paid me .25¢ to take home the toothpaste!) NoDoz was on sale for $5.99 with a $5.00 Rite Aid rebate; combined with my $1.50 coupon, my net cost was -.51¢.

The Nivea Lip Care sale price was $2.99 with a $2.00 rebate, the Sally Hansen polish was $1.99 with a $1.00 rebate. I had a $1.00 off coupon for each of these items. The Venus Embrace razor was on sale for $7.99 with a $5.00 rebate and I had a $3.00 coupon. Combining the sales price with the Rite Aid rebates and my coupons make my net cost -.01¢ each of these items. In other words, Rite Aid paid me 3¢ to legally walk out of their store with some great cosmetics and an awesome razor. (This is better than shoplifting, Mark! LOL)

The last two items on my list where the Finesse products, which by the way, I did actually pay money for....

The Finesse was on sale for 2/$6.00 with a $4.00 rebate on 2. This brought the net price down to 2/$2.00. I had two .75¢ coupons that I applied to the purchase bringing my net price to .25¢ each.

The net total spent on my Rite Aid shopping trip was -.29¢! (Hmmm, maybe that should read "The net total earned on my Rite Aid shopping trip was .29¢!") I left with $38.23 in merchandise, based on regular store prices.

Please keep in mind that this technique only works if you actually apply for the rebates! Rite Aid makes it very easy to do this. When you get home from your Rite Aid shopping trip, just go online to their website and fill in the appropriate receipt information. On the last day of the rebate period, if you have not already submitted all of your information for your rebate, the website will automatically do it for you. This way you never miss out on getting your money back for the qualifying purchases.

The other place that I shopped yesterday was CVS. CVS does their "rebates" in a different manner - they issue CVS "Extra Care Bucks" at the register when you purchase an item. Some people don't like this, but I love it! As far as I'm concerned it's just like getting cash back. (If you think of it in terms of a Walmart gift card you'll make the correlation, too.) The only catch is that you have to make sure that you use the "Extra Care Bucks" within the next month or they will expire.

The CVS trip made up the bulk of my shopping trip so you will understand if I don't cover everything that I bought. I will, however, cover the "Big Three"...

CVS had a sale on Febreeze products - Noticables starter kit, $6.50; fabric refreshner, $5.00; air effects, $3.00. They offered $5.00 in Extra Bucks with every $10 purchase of these products. I had 3 coupons for $4.00 off Noticables starter kit, 3 coupons for .75¢ off fabric refresher, and 3 coupons for "buy one fabric refresher get one air effects free". The math works out this way -
(6.50 x 3) + (5.00 x 3) + (3.00 x 3) = $43.50 - (5.00 x 4) - (4.00 x 3) - (.75 x 3) - (3.00 x 3) = .25¢. In summary, my net expenditure for 3 Febreeze Noticables starter kits, 3 Febreeze fabric refresher, and 3 Febreeze air effects was .25¢!

Pantene Expressions was on sale for $4.99 with $2.00 Extra Bucks reward. I bought 1 shampoo and 3 conditioners (the sale limit), and because I had a total of $2.00 off in coupons towards the purchase, the net cost was $6.97 . However, I also picked up 1 Pantene styling product, 1 Pantene conditioning masque, and a 4 pack of Duracell AA batteries for free by combining additional coupons with the Pantene purchases.

While I was there I also purchased 4 packages of the new Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets for -$5.01 through a really weird series of circumstances that included BOGO's, a rain check with sale prices and Extra Care Bucks, coupons, and a manufacturers rebate. I don't think I could pull that one off again if I tried... The only thing that I can really say is, ask and you may receive.

Now that I have you completely confused, everyone should run out and buy 2 copies of the Sunday paper so that they can start saving on things that they need every day!

Seriously though, while I don't save like this every week, I do spend very little money on toiletries, cleaning and laundry supplies, and personal care items. It didn't happen overnight - it took a couple of months of coupon clipping and saving to get to the point where I have the coupons in hand to combine with the sales. And, yes, most of my coupons do come from the regular Sunday newspaper.

The two most common arguments I hear against clipping coupons are (A) it takes time, and (B) you can only get coupons for "junk" food. I have to agree with both points.

I very seldom find coupons for the kinds of foods that I eat. However, when stores are paying me to take home a $3 tube of toothpaste, buying organic produce without a coupon isn't as hard on my budget.

As far as the time argument is concerned.... I estimated that it took me three hours of clipping, sorting, planning and shopping to save $191.78 yesterday. That's like getting $63.926 an hour NET pay. Frankly, I don't personally know too many people who are taking home $133,000 a year. I've done the math, and I've determined that it is well worth my time to coupon shop. If you decide that it's worth your time, and need some help getting started, give me a shout. I'm happy to help!