Ziploc Money-Maker at Kroger, Meijer, and Food Lion

Through November 1, 2009, you'll get a $2 catalina when you purchase any 3 participating Ziploc products at Kroger, Meijer, or Food Lion stores (possibly elsewhere). Here's how to turn this into a money-maker:

 

Buy 3 Ziploc bags products (priced anywhere from $1.84 to $2.19)
Use 3 $0.40/1 coupons from recent inserts, $0.55/1 coupon here, or $1.50/2 here
Spend $2.34 to $4.17 plus tax out of pocket
Get $2 catalina back
Then, send your receipt in for this $5 rebate
Free plus overage after coupons, catalina, and $5 rebate

Best of all? This rebate can be done up to 3 times per household!

Neilsen Homescan Consumer Panel: Earn Rewards for Scanning your Purchases

The Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel is once again accepting new applicants in many locations.
If you are accepted as a panel member with Nielsen Homescan, you will be sent a small hand-held scanner and will scan all the bar codes of everything you purchase. Once a week, you'll transmit this information to Nielsen and you'll earn points which can be redeemed for a variety of items from the Nielsen Gift Catalog.

The Nielsen Homescan Consumer Panel is a "mini-USA" that represents all types of Americans. Manufacturers and retailers will look at the information you send to them to decide what products to make and sell to consumers all across the country.

Couponing 101 - Lesson 2 - Walgreens

Welcome to Couponing 101 – Lesson 2!

This week we are covering Walgreens. Participating in Walgreens Register Rewards does not require any special memberships or cards. However, you can go to www.Walgreens.com to sign up for weekly emails, and they will often send coupons for bonuses such as a coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase.

This week you will be getting nearly $40 worth of merchandise at Walgreens with a net cost total of NOTHING! You may even be able to make a little money in the process. There are other items that you can pick up for a dollar or two.

Question of the Week

This week’s questions comes from Stacy. Stacy asks, “What does Red Plum, Smart Source and Proctor & Gamble mean, and what do the numbers after them mean?”

That is an excellent question Stacy!

Red Plum (RP), Smart Source (SS), and Proctor & Gamble (P&G) are the names of the companies who put the coupon inserts in the Sunday papers. Check near the top of the front page of your flier inserts and you will see which company put that batch of coupons in the paper. The numbers after them are the date that the coupons were put in there. For example – if the description reads RP 8/30, it means that Red Plum put the coupons in the paper on August 30^th. The name and date may not be important to you if you clip and file your coupons, but some people don’t clip their coupons. They prefer to file the whole flier, and then just click as they go along.

Lesson 2 - Walgreens

Walgreens uses a system called Register Rewards (RR). The cash register prints the Register Rewards (RR) when you buy specially designated products. The cashier will give you your with your receipt. You then use the Register Rewards (RR) on your next purchase to offset the amount of cash that you are paying out of pocket.

This week at Walgreens, you can get the following items FREE (and a few items for under $2):

Carefree Ultra Protection Pantiliners, 16 ct

Price $1.99 (Receive $2 RR)

Use $1 coupon printed HERE or from SS (8/30)

Net Price = $1 PROFIT

Windex Outdoor All-in-One Glass Cleaning Kit or Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner

Price $9.99 (Receive $3 RR)

Use $7 coupon for Shower Cleaner printed HERE

Net Price = FREE

Trident Layers Gum

Price $2 for 2 (Receive $1 RR when you buy 2)

Use $1 off two coupon printed HERE

Net Price = 2 for FREE

(*Note: You can print up to 2 of this coupon. That means that you can get 4 for FREE)

Glade Reed Diffusers, 3 Wick Candle, Sense & Spray, Flameless Candle, or Lasting Impressions

Price $5.99/1 (Receive $2 RR)

Use $4 coupon for Sense & Spray Printed HERE or from SS (8/23)

Net Price = FREE

Use $3 coupon for Lasting Impressions Holder from SS (8/2)

Net Price = 99¢

Use $3 coupon printed HERE Fragrance Collection, if included

Net Price = 99¢

Glade Scented Oil Candle Holder or Candle, 2 oz

Price two for $4 (Receive $1 RR)

Use $3 coupon printed HERE for Fragrance Collection

Net Price = 2 for FREE

Use $3 off 2 coupon for Fragrance Collection from SS (8/23)

Net Price = 2 for FREE

Starbucks (Purchase $15, Receive $5 RR ~ Purchase $10, Receive $2 RR)

* Starbucks Ice Cream, 1 pint

Price $3 each

Use $2 coupon from SS (6/21)

Use $1 coupon printed HERE or from RP (8/9)

Purchase 5 Starbucks Ice Cream w/5 $2 off coupons and Pay $5 for 5 (Receive $5 RR)

Net Price = 5 for FREE

Chex Mix, 5.5 or 8.75 oz, Lays Stax, 5.5 or 8.75 oz, or Cracker Jack, 7 oz

Price .99¢ each

Use .50¢ for Chex Mix printed HERE or HERE Chex Mix

Net Price = .49¢

Use $1 off 2 Chex Mix printed HERE

Net Price = .98¢

(*Note: You can print up to 2 of each coupon. That means that you can purchase 8 for $3.92)

Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, 7.25 oz – Buy 3

Price .69¢ (when you use coupon in this week’s Walgreen flier)

Use $1 off 3 coupon printed HERE

Net Price = $1.07 for 3

(*Note: You can print up to 2 of this coupon. That means that you can purchase 6 for $2.14)

Duracell Coppertop Batteries, 4-pk AA or AAA, 2-pk C or D, or Single 9-Volt

Price $2.99 (Receive $1 RR)

Use .75¢ from P&G (8/30)

Net Price = $1.24

Your Homework

1. Plan your shopping list by double checking the specials in your area before you head out to shop. Look over your local flier or click “View Your Weekly Ad” at www.Walgreens.com to see what your local Walgreens is carrying. Because not all of the Walgreens have all of the same specials, you should only use this list as a guide.
2. Print all of the printable coupons you plan to use.
3. After loading the buggy with your purchase, double check your coupons before you head to the register.
4. When the cashier is done ringing up your purchases give him/her your coupons. If you have a coupon for money off the total purchase, you should always give the cashier that one first. Then hand the cashier the rest of your manufacturer's and store coupons. If you have Register Rewards (RR) from previous shopping trips at Walgreens, save them for last. Ask the cashier for your subtotal (the total before taxes), and then hand her the Register Rewards for up to the subtotal amount. It is important to remember that if you use Register Rewards (RR) to pay for something, you should only use them up to the amount of the subtotal. Walgreens will not give you change back if the amount of Register Rewards (RR) exceeds the subtotal.
5. Keep in mind that the amount of cash that you will have to pay out of pocket (OOPs) will be greatest the first time that you shop at Walgreens. This is because you probably don't have any Register Rewards (RR) to offset your costs. Future shopping trips will cost you less out of pocket (OOPs) because you will be accumulating Register Rewards (RR).
   

Interesting Savings Tip

Publix will accept Walgreens Register Rewards as competitor’s coupons. Use the Registers Rewards just like any other coupon for money off your grocery bill.

Get Free Scope Outlast Products

Be one of the first to try the new Scope Outlast.

Walmart is giving away free samples of, I believe, both a tube of Crest toothpaste with Scope Outlast and a bottle of Scope mouthwash. The samples are typically the "travel size" (which sell for .99 in stores) and are great toss in a weekend bag or your desk drawer, or for donating to homeless shelters.

The best part about requesting this sample is that you will also get coupons!

These are new products so the manufacturer is going to be putting coupons in the hands of the consumers to try to generate interest. I don't know how much the coupons will be for, but I can guarantee you that they will be better than the ones that will be in the Sunday inserts. I can also guarantee that at least one of the chain drugstores will have the Scope Outlast products on special.

So order your samples, file those coupons, and watch the fliers - you should be able to pick up both products for free! Who knows, you may just get paid to take them home.

How I Made $80.42 Shopping

The first thing I need to do is apologize to anyone who checked in yesterday to find out how I made a profit shopping at CVS on Sunday. I had another flood in my apartment and spent most of the day dealing with that. The good news is that both the total of what I purchased and the total of how much I saved are greater than I originally reported. Keep reading…

On Sunday, August 2, I bought the following items at CVS:

1” binders – 2 @ $2.49/ea

Book covers – 2 @ .99/ea (regular $1.99/ea)

Tears eye drops – 1 @ $7.99 (regular $9.99)

EAS meal replacement bars – 2 @ $1.99/ea

Wrigley’s spearmint gum – 1 @ $1.19

Slimfast Multipack Bars – 4 boxes @ 1.67/ea (regular $6.69/ea)

Slimfast Multipack Bars – 1 box @ $1.25 (regular $4.99)

Suave body wash – 2 bottles @ $1.99/ea (regular $2.79/ea)

Softsoap body wash – 1 bottle @ $4.99

Clean n Clear astringent – 1 bottle @ .52 (regular $5.99)

Clean n Clear face wash – 1 tube @ .99

CVS Mouthwash – 1 bottle @ $2.59

I bought everything as two separate transactions because I had a coupon for $4 off a $20 total purchase and a coupon for $3 off a $15 total purchase. By splitting my purchases I was able to use both coupons.

The first transaction subtotal was $20.12 before taxes. I used the $4 off $20 coupon which brought my subtotal to $16.12. I had a coupon for a free EAS bar and a second coupon for up to $3.98 off any EAS product. I had expected to only get both EAS bars for free, but the cashier gave me full credit for the “up to $3.98” coupon which, when combined with the free bar coupon, decreased my subtotal to $10.15. I also used a $3.00 coupon for The Tears eye drops. That brought the subtotal to down to $7.15 – that is 65% less than the original subtotal, or 71% off the regular retail prices!

But then it got even better…

The Tears came with $7.99 (the full purchase price) back in Extra Bucks. I purchased the binders with rain checks issued 2 weeks ago. The special was for $3 per binder with $3 Extra Bucks back on each. The binders that were substituted for the special only cost $2.49 each, but the cashier issued $3 each in Extra. The book covers are a special this week for .99 each with .99 each in Extra Bucks which makes them the same as free. After calculating my savings with the added Extra Bucks, I made a profit of $8.82.

The subtotal for the second transaction was $21 which qualified for the $3 off $15 coupon, and immediately reduced the subtotal to $18. I had a coupon for free CVS mouthwash ($2.59) that had been issued with the Extra Bucks on the first transaction. New subtotal - $15.41. Even though the Slimfast bars were clearance priced I was able to use the five $1 off coupons I had which lowered the subtotal to $10.41. I wrapped up my coupon discounts with two - .50¢ coupons for Suave body wash and a $1.00 coupon for the Clean n Clear. The final subtotal was $8.41. The only item that I got Extra Bucks for on this transaction was the Softsoap, but I received $4 worth. My net cost, before taxes, for this transaction was $4.41 for nearly $52 worth of merchandise – that is about a 92% savings!

After subtracting the net cost of the second transaction from the net profit of the first transaction, I made an overall net profit of $4.41 before taxes on purchases that would have cost most people $76.01.

If reading about how the coupons savings worked has you confused, don’t give up. It sounds more complicated than it really is. The three most important things to remember are: 1) match your coupons to the store sales to maximize your savings, 2) use the Extra Bucks before they expire!, and 3) do it again next week.

With a little practice, you too can get paid to shop.

I Got Paid to Shop at CVS Today

CVS gave me all this stuff today plus $1.51 in free Extra Bucks.

Check back tomorrow to find out how I made a profit by taking home more than $70 in free groceries, toiletries, personal care items and school supplies.

Holiday Cash (or How to Make Extra Money)

The holidays are a financial strain for most people anyway; add in the current struggling economic woes, and most of us have even less cash for holiday gifts and festivities than usual. If you find your Christmas list larger than your budget, you can try these last minute cash generators to help ease the crisis. Or, if your Christmas shopping is done, you may want to seize this opportunity to put a little extra something in your bank account to help tide you over the next few months.

1. Have a yard sale.

I know that Christmas isn’t the time that most people think of having yard sales, but this year just may be the exception. Everyone is looking for a good deal this year, so more people are open to alternatives to the big mall prices. Plus, there are the dedicated yard sale shoppers who have limited “shopping opportunities” this time of the year. This may actually be the best time to have a yard sale that you’ll get for a while.

If the weather is just too bad where you are to have a yard sale…

2. Take your stuff to a flea market.

Most area’s have an indoor flea market of some kind, and again, you have the dedicated flea market shoppers who are out in full force this time of the year looking for a bargain. Some people go to flea markets for inexpensive entertainment, and if something catches their eye, they will spend more on a spontaneous purchase than they might otherwise. If you have some bigger ticket items, this may just be the outlet you’re looking for to unload them.

3. Sell on eBay.

eBay is always a great outlet for selling the unwanted and unused items around your home. Granted things are selling as well on this online auction giant’s sight like they did even a year ago, but it’s still possible to make some extra cash if you price it right from the start, and offer shipping at cost. Your best bet here is with new, popular, or collector’s items.

4. Gather your books.

Cash4books.net buys books in good condition at a fair price. I’ve sold some books here myself, and got more money for them than I would have anywhere else. Type in your books’ ISBN numbers and see what they will buy. Complete the transaction online, print out a prepaid mailing label, pack up the books and send them off. In just a few days you will receive your choice of either a check in the mail or a deposit to your PayPal account. It doesn’t cost you a cent – not even for postage. (When I sold my books they gave me a bonus for using PayPal.)

5. Put it on consignment.

This is sometimes the best place to sell larger items, like furniture, and high ticket items such as designer clothes, antiques, and jewelry. Keep in mind that you will only collect if the item sells, and you only get a percentage of the selling price. Make sure you find out what their pricing, discounts, length of time they will keep an item, and unsold items policies are. You don’t want to find out after 90 days that they donated your Wedgewood china to the Salvation Army, and you don’t even get the write-off!

Which brings me to my final suggestion…

6. Forget the cash.

Donate your unwanted items to charity and take a tax write-off. It’s not money in your pocket right now, but it does mean that you will have a larger tax refund at the first of the year. And that may just be worth more than you could get at a yard sale anyway. To get everything you are entitled to for your donations, check the up-to-date lists of fair market values at TurboTax’s itsdeductible.com and use the free online software to track your donations. Don’t forget to take pictures and collect your tax receipt!