New P&G Brand Saver Book Available Tomorrow

Enjoy coupon savings of over $96. Plus, get more for less and ideas for back-to-school smiles with the new P&G Brand Saver Book.

What Is the P&G Brand Saver?

The P&G Brand Saver is a coupon book in most local Sunday newspapers that provides valuable savings on P&G products in one convenient place.

This months Saver includes valuable coupons for Bounty paper towels, Crest toothpaste, Scope mouthwash, Charmin toilet paper, Oral B toothbrushes, Glide dental floss, Downy fabric softener, Crest Pro-Health rinse, Tide laundry detergent, and much, much more!

Even if you don't clip coupons and sale shop at any other time of the month, you need to pick up this insert. The Rite Aid and CVS sales for the week of August 2-8 will be coordinated with the offers in the Saver so that many of their P&G sale items end up being free with the use of the coupon.

I save so much with the coupons in the P&G Saver that I always buy two papers!

Free Breakfast

Get a free sample of Total's new Blueberry Pomegranate cereal.

If it's like the sample's I've gotten from Total in the past, it is one of those single serve boxes that you used to get when you were a kid.

Total's samples usually come with coupons that are more valuable than the coupons you get in the paper. Save those coupons for an upcoming sale - there will be one, after all it is a new cereal - and you could end up with several free breakfasts!

When Less is More

Since this is a blog about living better with less, let's talk about something I know everyone can live better with less of - junk mail!

I know what you're thinking, "But, Valerie, you request all of those free samples."

Yes, I do, but I generally have a mailbox stuffed with goodies not trash. Most companies just send what I requested and that's the end of it. Since I don't want a mailbox stuffed with unsolicited catalogs and sales literature, I signed up for "opt out". Now I almost never get something that I am not expecting, and living with less junk mail has certainly made my life better.

Here are three sites you can visit to reduce your junk mail too:

1. OptOutPrescreen.com - You may already be familiar with this site; it's where you can register to opt out of "offers of credit or insurance." When you sign up, you can opt out for five years or opt out permanently (you can always opt back in if you change your mind later). By opting out, you will no longer receive preapproved or prescreened offers of credit.

2. DMAchoice.org - The Direct Marketing Association has a mailing list that is used by DMA members for direct mail letters, flyers, or brochures. Through the DMA site, you can register on a do-not-mail list and all DMA members are required to stop sending you unsolicited marketing media.

3. AbacusOptOut - Abacus, a subsidiary of Epsilon Data Services, has a large database of mailing addresses from retail and catalog companies. Members share information about their customers and transactions which other companies then use to send out catalogs and mailers.

It only takes a few minutes to complete each registration, and by signing up for the Do Not Mail list at these services, the amount of junk mail that you receive will drop dramatically.

If you don't do it for any other reason, do it for the environment - we will all live better with less greenhouse gases!

A Necessary Evil

Get a free sample pack and coupons from Playtex.

The sample is only for three tampons, but the coupons are usually for $1.00-$1.50 off and typically do not expire until Dec. 31, 2010. That will give you plenty of time to use them. Save those coupons for a good sale at one of the drugstores, and you will be able to stock up for next to nothing. I spent less than $10 for feminine hygiene products last year by doing this.

Get additional samples and coupons from Playtex Sport, Carefree, and Stayfree.

While you're at it, stop by CVS this week for store brand tampons. The 10-pack is on sale for $1.89 with $1.89 back in Extra Bucks. That's as good as free in my (check)book!

Coffee and Band Aids

The mailbox "loot" has been a little lean lately. And, really, it's going to take something extraordinary to top getting a whole roll of toilet paper.

Today I received 8 Nexcare adhesive bandages, 2-$1.00 coupons for more Nexcare bandages, and a 6-pack of Taster's Choice single serve packets. I don't particulary care for instant coffee, but they will be great to stash in my desk at work for an emergency caffine fix.

Nescafe is still offering samples if you are interested in receiving a 6-pack, too. Just register on their website at www.smartchoice.tasterschoice.com.

Grocery and Drugstore Deals for July 27 - Aug 1

There are lots of great deals this week, so look over those Sunday sale fliers and break out your coupons. Here's a brief overview of some of the bargains you should be looking for:

• CVS - Don't miss the school supplies this week, and don't pay anything at the register for them by using your extra bucks from last week. You can get free 2-pk pens, binder clips, composition books, erasers, push pins, index card cases, pencil cases, stapler,and 2 pk sticky notes. But hurry - those deals are only good through Tuesday. You can get free 10-pk of CVS tampons, .13¢ Colgate toothpaste, and .99¢ Aussie shampoo or conditioner through the end of the week.

• Rite Aid - You can get school supplies on the cheap here, too, with .25¢ 1-subject notebooks and 10-cnt pencils. And while you are there, pick up Suave shampoo for .39¢, .50¢ Kotex products, Air Wick air freshener spray for .37¢ and a $1.88 box of laundry detergent.

• Target - Combine your Target coupons and manufacturers coupons to get a box of Kellogg's poptarts for .44¢, Kotex pantiliners .19¢, Smart Ones Frozen entree .80¢, and Kraft Mac & Cheese .39¢ .

• Wal-Mart - Yes, Wally's takes coupons! Use them to get FREE Reach dental floss, Jello at .25¢ a box, .14¢ Mars candy bars, Pringles .50¢ each, Pebbles cereal for $1.58, and Palmolive dish deterget for .75¢ a bottle.

• Kroger's - Kroger's has a special $4 off 4 mix-and-match P&G products promotion going this week. Combine your manufacturer's coupons with the eSaver coupons and sale prices to make a profit on Aussie shampoo. You can also get Tide laundry detergent for $3.53 and BIC pens for just pennies.

• Walgreens - Personally, I don't shop at Walgreens because they make it difficult for super shoppers to get super deals, but my ex sister-in-law loves them! So, here's for you, Amy... free Clairol haircolor, free Goodies hair accessories, $4.99 Conair blowdryer after $10 Register Rewards, free Scotch bubble mailers, free diabetes blood sugar monitor, free Mars candy bars (use 2 coupons), Hunts tomato sauce .39¢, .25¢ Starbucks frappucino, and Ajax cleanser .33¢. They also have back-to-school specials starting at .20¢ on supplies.
  

• Publix - Use two coupons with your Publix BOGO specials to pick up Lawry's 30 Minute Marinade for .43¢, Dial hand soap .49¢, and Yoplait Go-Gurt for .70¢. Combine two coupons for Alexia Natural Crunch Snacks with the BOGO and a manufacturer's rebate to get 2 bags at a $2 profit. Don't forget the Land O' Lakes butter with olive oil - this is the last week to get a full rebate on the purchase price. Use the manufacturer's coupon and make a .55¢ profit. If you do your shopping today, you can also pick up the .1¢ mystery coupon item.

My schedule is very full this week. I will make a point to pick up all my deals, but it may be the end of the week before I can give you the low-down on the savings. Until then - happy shopping and good savings to you!

80% Discount at Restaurant.com

80% off Restaurant.com certificates with code NAPKIN
Pay only $2 for a $25 certificate
Stock up at this price! (expires Tuesday)

I have a friend who swears by Restaurant.com certificates. He says he eats all over town for next to nothing by buying a bulk of certificates when they are on sale. I haven't tried them yet because all of the restaurants that take them in my area are either downtown or on the islands, and I usually don't want to drive that far to go out to eat.

Let me know if you have tried them - I would love to know what your impression is.