Amazon Deal of the Day: Ghirardelli Squares

Every day Amazon.com does some serious price slashing for their "Deal of the Day". Today, that deal just happens to be on super yummy Ghirardelli Chocolate Squares. This deal is perfect for anyone who has given up chocolate or sweets for Lent! A pack of 6 bags is normally $29.62, but it's on sale today only (3/31/10) for $14.50! That's a great price for this indulgent treat. My favorite is the Milk Chocolate and Peanut Butter variety, pictured above. What's yours?

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Free Sample of Parent's Choice Formula

Walmart.com is currently offering free samples of Parent's Choice formula. Simply click "Get a Sample" and fill out the form that opens up.

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

BJ's Wholesale Club Free 60-day Trial

BJ's Wholesale Club currently has a printable offer available on their website for a free 60-day trial membership. If you have a BJs near you and are not currently a member, I highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity! One of the great things about BJs is that they accept manufacturer's coupons. Most items found at BJs are cheaper per unit than at your grocery store, and if you have coupons from your Sunday newspaper inserts you can get some really fantastic deals. Check it out! (Expires 7/5/10, new members only.)

(Thanks, Deal Seeking Mom!)

30% Off at Old Navy

I love when these 30% off printable coupons are released! This one is good at Old Navy through Easter Sunday, 4/4/10. Could be perfect for finding a cute last-minute outfit to wear for Easter! Happy saving :)

(Thanks, Moms by Heart!)

Franklin Goose

Franklin Goose, a company that sells organic baby products, is currently offering $5 store credit for every review you write! If you own any Franklin Goose products, this is a great opportunity to voice your opinion and be paid for doing so. This promotion goes through March 31, so register on their website now and hurry on those reviews. Rumor has it the store credit can even be used towards the flat $5 shipping rate, so if you are able to write several reviews you'll be able to get some great organic products absolutely free!

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

SilverJewelryClub.com

Tonight I'd like to highlight a website that I personally enjoy. SilverJewelryClub.com offers free jewelry in an attempt to get their name out there. I have ordered several pieces from this website in the past and have been quite happy with them. The only catch is that technically it's not free because you do have to pay shipping, which is $6.99.

At any given time, 4 pieces of jewelry will be on display, with each piece being available for 15 minutes. When something sells out or its fifteen minutes are up, a new item appears in its place. There is also an option to see the next 15 items that will be available, which is really a great feature! If you are looking for some cute, inexpensive jewelry, check it out!

Quick Tip - Bathrobe

Have you ever been in the middle of a shower and had to hop out to attend to your child? As moms, I'm sure this has happened to all of us at one point or another. Today's quick tip is to keep a bathrobe around for those jump-out-of-the-shower-dripping-wet moments. If you've got a bathrobe handy, you won't be stuck trying to take care of the kids while desperately trying to keep your towel from falling off.

See all Quick Tips HERE.

Why I Love CVS

CVS has great deals on Pampers and Colgate this week, so I headed there this morning. I spent a total of $5.65 out of pocket and walked away with $3 Extra Bucks (EBs), so basically I spent $2.65 and got my Sunday newspaper, a jumbo pack of Pampers Cruisers, and Colgate Total. Here's how it happened:

Transaction #1:
Albany Times-Union: $2
Colgate Total: $3.99 minus $1 off coupon from 3/7 SmartSource insert = $2.99
NY Sales Tax: $0.32
Total: $5.31 minus $3 EBs from a previous week's purchase = $2.31 out of pocket
Received $3.99 in EBs for buying Colgate Total

Transaction #2:
Pampers Cruisers Jumbo Pack: $8.97 minus $2 off coupon from 2/21 P&G insert or 3/14 RedPlum insert = $6.97
NY Sales Tax: $0.36
Total: $7.33 minus $3.99 EBs from previous transaction = $3.34 out of pocket
Received $3 in EBS for buying Pampers, which I will use another day

So there you have it - newspaper, diapers, and toothpaste for under $3 after coupons and EBs! Have you jumped on the CVS bandwagon yet?

Dining Out on a Budget

Final Suggestion: Skip Dessert

As a total chocoholic, it pains me to write this post. Which is probably why I kept putting off writing it. However, unless you are ordering a meal special that includes dessert, I would definitely recommend skipping it. If you have a serious sweet tooth like me, bake a pan of brownies or some cookies before you leave so that you have dessert waiting for you when you come home. Restaurant desserts are definitely tasty, but they are so overpriced that most of the time they just aren't worth it. (Unless, of course, you are at the Cheesecake Factory. I mean come on, cheesecake is what you go there for in the first place!)

This belatedly concludes my dining out on a budget series. I hope my readers will benefit from the tips I have offered, and let me know if you have any great advice that I have missed!

See the entire Dining Out on a Budget series HERE.

Bethlehem Books Giveaway

Today only (Friday 3/19), from 11 am to 4 pm EST Bethlehem Books is giving away one free book of your choice! To get your free book, become a fan of Bethlehem Books on Facebook and send them an email at freebook@bethlehembooks.com with your name, address, and choice of book. I checked out their website, and most of the books appear to be for young adults and preteens. If you've got a 'tween to shop for, this giveaway is for you!

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #6: Order a Kid's Meal

I know it may sound silly, but if you find that you can never finish your meal at a restaurant, order a kid's meal. Not all places will let you do this, but it's worth a shot. The portions are smaller and so is the price!

See the entire Dining Out on a Budget Series HERE.

Printable Coupons

I mentioned this site back in December, but I realize I have gained readers since then so I decided to mention it again. If you are headed out on a shopping trip, check out the list of printable coupons on Mommy Saves Big. There are lots of great money-saving coupons available!

Free VS Pink Tank Top

If you are a member of Victoria's Secret Pink Nation, log in today! In order to celebrate reaching 1 million members, they are giving away free tank tops with purchase. I'm not sure if this is available for new members or only current members, so if you sign up today let me know if you were able to print the coupon. Free tank coupon valid until March 23 (or while supplies last) with any PINK purchase.

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #5: Sign up for E-mails

There are many restaurants that send out exclusive coupons and offers to their e-mail subscribers. Do a Google (or Swagbucks) search and find out if your favorite restaurant has a website. If so, check it out and see whether or not they have some type of e-mail list or newsletter that you can subscribe to. Many places actually offer some type of incentive just for signing up. It could be a coupon for a free appetizer, dessert, or even entree. Also, you may find that you receive a coupon for something on your birthday. If you don't feel that the e-mails you receive are worth it, simply unsubscribe later. (Note: You may also want to check if your favorite eatery has a Facebook page and become a fan there!)

See the entire Dining Out on a Budget series HERE.

15% off at Payless

I love getting discounts on shoes! Available now - printable coupon for 15% off at Payless. Print the entire page and bring it in to Payless for your discount, or use the coupon codes provided to get 15% off or $10 off $50 at Payless.com. Oh, and while you're at the store, don't forget to check for fluffy slippers on sale!

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Ghirardelli Coupon

Mmm chocolate. The Ghirardelli website currently has a printable coupon available for $1 off two 4.5 oz bags of Ghirardelli squares. In the bottom left corner of the page, click on "Save Today!" under "Savings to Make You Melt". (If you have not done so yet, you will need to install coupon printing software.) The coupon doesn't expire until 5/15/10, so I wonder if the stores will let us use it on the Easter varieties once they go on clearance? I'm certainly going to try!

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #4: Look for Specials

A lot of restaurants have been having specials lately in order to drum up more business. Seek out these specials and you will save a lot of money on your nights out! For example, Friendly's is currently offering a drink, meal, and ice cream for $9.99. In February, they also offered free kids meals with two adult entrees on Mondays, so a family of 4 could have eaten for $20. In addition, Chili's and Applebees have been known lately for their 2 for $20 deals. Find those specials and enjoy your family night out for less!

See the entire Dining Out on a Budget series HERE.

Free Office Supplies at OfficeMax

OfficeMax is offering a number of products right now which will be free after MaxPerks. Head over to The Thrifty Mama to read more about how to score free-after-perks office products. If you buy online, don't forget to shop through Ebates and get 3% cash back!

Free Sample of Ritz Munchables

Head on over and become a fan of Ritz Crackers on Facebook, then click on the "free samples" box. You will be able sign up to receive a free sample of Ritz Munchables Pretzel Crisps. Yum!

(Thanks, Money Saving Mom!)

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #3: Do Breakfast

Who doesn't love breakfast food? Most people I know thoroughly enjoy pancakes, waffles, eggs, and/or bacon/sausage. If you've got time before work, or can get yourself out of bed by 10 am or so on the weekends, try going out for breakfast instead of lunch or dinner. At most restaurants, breakfast items are significantly less expensive than the rest of the menu. And hey, if you have a diner nearby, you can even order breakfast for dinner. You'll get the experience of dining out, but with different foods and a much lower bill. Syrup, anyone?

See the entire Dining Out on a Budget series HERE.

Quick Tip - Fluffy Slippers

Now that winter is winding down, most stores have winter apparel on clearance. While you're out and about, see if you can snag a pair of nice, thick, fluffy slippers at a great price. Then, when you're running around the house chasing your kids, or when you get home after a long day at work, your feet can feel oh-so-cozy. It's a little slice of comfort amidst all the craziness.

See all Quick Tips HERE.

$5 off $25 at Payless

Here's another great Facebook offer: become a fan of Payless and under the "Special Deals" tab you can print a coupon good for $5 off a $25 purchase. If you prefer online shopping, enter promo code 32861 to get the same offer. Coupon and promo code good through tomorrow, Monday, 3/15.

(Thanks, Squeezing a Dollar out of a Dime!)

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #2: Share a Meal

One of our favorite budget restaurants is, believe it or not, the Olive Garden. As you may know, they offer unlimited salad (or soup) and breadsticks with any entree purchase. We enjoy the salad and breadsticks so much that we found we were never able to finish our meals because we were already so full before they came! A few years back, while perusing the menu, we decided to split the Tour of Italy and have never looked back. I get the fettuccine alfredo, my husband gets the chicken parm & lasagna, and we both end up quite full. (Please note that every once in awhile you may get a server who will insist on charging you extra for sharing the salad, but it's still cheaper than two entrees.) While not every restaurant offers unlimited starters, and some may even charge a "plate fee" for sharing an entree, this is still a viable option at many restaurants. Give it a try!

Dining Out on a Budget

Suggestion #1: Order Water

I realize that this may seem obvious to some of you and out of the question for others, but just hear me out. I'd say the average cost of ordering a soft drink with dinner is around $2.50 per person. At that rate, you and your spouse will save $5 per dinner just by ordering water instead, even if you still allow your children to order soft drinks. If you go out to eat twice a month, that's a savings of $120 in a year! That's enough for anywhere from 3 to 6 more family dinners out. So, which do you prefer? Paying for overpriced soda or having more money for dining out? I'll take the extra dinners, thank you very much.

Review: NUK Orthodontic Bottles

Now that my daughter is no longer interested in breastfeeding, we have had to find a bottle that works for us. Originally, we were using Avent bottles, but every time I shook them to mix her formula they leaked all over me! No matter how tight I screwed the nipple on, they always leaked from the neck. Well, I had received a 3-pack of Gerber's NUK orthodontic bottles as a baby shower gift. They were cute and pink and girly, and I figured my little monkey wouldn't mind them because were basically the same shape as her NUK binky (which is the only pacifier she will take). Can I just say that I LOVE these bottles?

What do I love about them? First, they've got a nifty little plastic cover that goes over the neck, under the nipple, so when you shake them they don't leak. Second, as I said before, they are shaped just like the NUK orthodontic pacifiers, so it's an easy transition for babies who use those. Third, this would be a great bottle for a breastfeeding mom to use because the nipple is nice and wide just like mom's. They are also very cute - they come in pink, green, and blue with patterns of flowers, bugs, and boats. These bottles are available in both 5 oz and 10 oz sizes, and the nipples are all interchangeable. Oh, and another important quality - they are BPA free. (Not sure what that means? My friend Heather over at StorkFit has a great post on the Perils of Plastic and BPA.)

If you are hunting for the right bottle for your baby, give this kind a try. While I'm sure they won't be perfect for everyone, we sure do love them in our house!

Dining Out on a Budget

It's no secret that my husband and I love going out to eat. It's also no secret that we don't have a lot of money, which makes this favorite pastime of ours a little difficult. We thought that having a baby would slow us down, but our daughter loves being out and about and (for now at least) is quite well behaved in restaurants. (Well, aside from the fact that she gets really excited about being there and screeches about it at the top of her lungs...ah to be 9 months old!)

Anyway, we have lots of tips and tricks up our sleeves on how to dine out once every other week without breaking our budget. It just occurred to me on our latest dinner excursion that this would be a great topic to blog about. I'm going to try and add a new tip each day for the next week or so, starting tomorrow, and I sincerely hope that my readers will benefit from this info!

Save Those Baby Food Labels

If you buy Beech Nut baby food, be sure to save the labels! Once you have 48 labels (which actually won't take long at all - less than a month if you use 2 jars a day), fill out this form and send it in along with your labels. Beech Nut will then send you four coupons for $1.00 off ten items.

Earth's Best also has offers available; send in the designated number of UPCs and/or register receipts and a small S&H fee to receive various products. The items currently available are: a cereal bowl, Earth's Best baby body care travel pack, Guess How Much I Love You, and a Birthday Keepsake Scroll.

Book Review: The Flowering Cross

I recently received the children's book The Flowering Cross, by Beth Ryan, through a program called BookSneeze, which provides bloggers with free books in exchange for honest reviews.

The Flowering Cross is about a little girl named Katie who helps lead her neighbor, Mean Old Jack, to Christ. Jack grows beautiful flowers in his garden, but mostly he’s known for being mean and scary. Every Easter, Katie picks some of Jack’s flowers for church, and one year Jack decides to go to service with Katie’s family. Once he understands the true meaning of Easter and the Cross, he is a changed man.

This was a very sweet book, and I look forward to reading it to my daughter as she gets older. I think it will be a nice little tradition to read this book each Easter. The book contains “Faith Imprints” paired with Bible verses to help teach children about the Word of God. I thought this was a nice little touch and it adds a little something extra to an already cute story.

While this book does not go seriously into depth about Jesus’ death and resurrection, it does a good job of showcasing the impact that a child can have on an adult.

Seasonal Splurges

While I was at the grocery store the other day with all my rockin' free product coupons, I walked straight over to the Easter candy aisle and picked up a seasonal favorite of mine - Cadbury Cream Eggs. Did I need them? No. Were they worth every penny (and calorie)? In my book, absolutely.

You see, I have several favorite things that are only available once a year. When they come out, I allow myself to splurge on them just once (well, okay, maybe twice). They are all things that I normally would not be willing to "waste" money on, but since they are seasonal treats I make an exception. My favorite seasonal splurges are:

December - Starbucks White Chocolate Peppermint Mocha & McDonalds Egg Nog Milkshake
March - McDonald's Shamrock Shake
Easter - Cadbury Cream Eggs & Cadbury Mini Eggs

Am I the only seasonal splurger, or do you have any once-a-year treats that you just have to have?

Physicians Formula BOGO coupon

Become a fan of Physicians Formula on Facebook and register to receive a buy one, get one free coupon by e-mail. I have been wanting to try their mineral powder foundation, so I am really excited about this coupon!

(Thanks, The Thrifty Mama!)

NOTE: Be patient - Physicians Formula has updated their status to the following: "We have had such a large response to the Instant Rewards promotion that the email server crashed. We are working on this right now. No worries,everyone will get their coupon! We’re working to resolve this as fast as possible! Thank you for all of the Physicians Formula love!"
 

Dunkin Donuts Turbo Sample

Dunkin' Donuts is currently offering free samples of their Dunkin' Turbo coffee. Yum! Not sure how long these will be available, so request your sample soon!

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

Maximizing Free Product Coupons

Pictured above are the coupons I brought on a quick trip to the grocery store today, 3 of which were "free product" coupons:

-1 free Heluva Good! product ($3.69)
-1 free Excedrin product ($4.99)
-1 free box of Kashi Heart to Heart cereal, from Vocalpoint ($2.99)
-75 cents of 4 packs Gerber 2nd foods

All totaled, the coupons ended up saving me $12.42. The key to using free product coupons is to read the fine print and be aware of the maximum value. For instance, the small Heluva Good! dip pictured on the coupon was $1.99 at Hannaford. However, the coupon stated that it was good for any product up to $4.99, so clearly this would not maximize my coupon savings. I wanted to go for the large block of Colby Jack cheese at $4.49, but since my husband really wanted dip I went for the larger size of French Onion, which rang in at $3.69. Not the best purchase I could have made with it, but it made my hubby happy. Bottom line, make sure you read the fine print so you can get the most out of your coupons!

Quick Tip - Hot Shower

While most of us won't be able to get to a spa anytime soon, we generally find time (most days) to take a shower. Before you step out and back into "Mommy World", turn the temperature up just a bit and let the hot water run over your back. Even if just for 30 seconds, this quick burst of heat will help relax your sore, achy back muscles.

See all Quick Tips HERE.

Extra 25% off at Vera Bradley

Love Vera Bradley but hate the high prices? Now through Sunday (3/7), visit VeraBradley.com and get an extra 25% off Puccini, Mediterranean Blue, and Raspberry Fizz designs. The final price will show once the items are in your shopping cart. Don't forget to shop through Ebates to get 3% cash back on your order! Happy saving :)

(Thanks, Albany Mommy!)

Free Bag of Sunchips

Be one of the first 100,000 to become a fan of Sunchips on Facebook and sign up to receive a coupon for a free 10.5 oz bag. Sunchips are popular in our household - they've got that satisfying crunch and great flavor you expect, but in a healthier multigrain chip!

(Thanks, Mojo Savings!)

31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget

Crystal over at Money Saving Mom is able to feed her family of five with a grocery budget of only $40/week! While I know I will never be that good, I do value any advice she is willing to dole out on how to cut down on grocery spending. For the month of March, she is writing one blog a day for a series she calls 31 Days to a Better Grocery Budget. If you'd like some tips on lowering your grocery bills, I definitely recommend checking it out!

Friendly's Breakfast Coupon

Become a fan of Friendly's on Facebook and click on the "coupons" tab. You will be able to sign up for a printable coupon good for $2 off a $10 breakfast. Yum! Sing it with me: "I wanna go to Friendly's..." :)

Review: Downy Wrinkle Releaser

While I do not have any spectacular coupons for this product at the moment, I wanted to mention the wonder that is Downy Wrinkle Releaser. I promised to review products that would make life as a mom easier, and this definitely qualifies. After doing 7 loads of laundry at the laundromat yesterday, my husband and I made the very poor decision not to put that laundry away. "We'll do it tomorrow," we said.

This morning, I realized the sweater I had planned to wear to work was sitting in said laundry bags, and when I pulled it out it was wrinkled beyond being wearable. I didn't have time to iron, but I remembered that we had our little bottle of anti-wrinkle potion. I sprayed some on and pulled at the fabric, and like magic the wrinkles were gone. Instant wearability! There aren't many products that work as well as they claim to, but this is one of them. If you, like us, are a laundry procrastinater and regularly find yourself frustrated by wrinkled clothing in the morning, you should definitely check it out!

Free Baby Sign Language Resources

Interested in communicating with your baby via sign language but not sure where to start? Baby Good Buys has some great information about baby sign language, as well as links to several free resources to get you going. I've been wanting to try signing with my daughter, so I am really excited to find out more about this method of communication.

Have you tried baby sign language? If so, did you have any success with your child learning to sign? If you have any wisdom to share on this topic, feel free to leave a comment. :)

Survey Drought

Seriously, where are all the surveys lately? I am a member of around 10 different survey sites and am currently experiencing the worst survey drought I've seen since signing up 5 or 6 months ago. I never expected to make a lot of money, but I do enjoy the small amounts of extra cash that survey taking usually generates. While I have no intention of giving up, I do find myself a little frustrated. I'm not receiving many invitations, and have qualified for very few of those I have received in recent weeks.

I thought it might be helpful for any newbies to know that just because no opportunities are popping up right now, that doesn't mean they never will. I am hopeful that the drought will end soon and I'll once again be swimming in surveys!