Monday, December 22, 2008

Office Max $10 off $20 Purchase Coupon

Go here to print your copy of this Office Max coupon.
Good in-store only.
It expires 1/03/09.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

McCafe - Free coffee


Go here and type in your zip code and if you're nearby to a McCafe, you can print a coupon for a free specialty coffee.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Coupon Abbreviations

You see all these abbreviations on my blog and others. What do they all mean? Here they are decoded.

BOGO or B1G1= Buy one get one free
CRT = Cash Register Tape (a coupon printed at the end of a CVS receipt)
ECB/EB = CVS ExtraCare Buck
ESC = Walgreens Easy Saver Coupon
ESR = Walgreens Easy Saver Rebate
FAR = Free After Rebate
MFR = Manufacturer
MQ = Manufacturer Coupon
MIR = Mail In Rebate
OOP = Out Of Pocket
PG/P&G = Proctor & Gamble Coupon Insert
PSA = Prices Start At
Q = Coupon
RP = Red Plum Coupon Insert
RR = Register Reward (Walgreens version of ECBs)
SS = SmartSource Coupon Insert
V = Valassis (same as red plum, just regional) Coupon Insert
WYB = When You Buy

Monday, March 10, 2008

Newspaper Coupons

The Sunday paper is one of the best sources for coupons. Most Sundays there will be more than one coupon insert. There are three different types of coupon inserts. They are: Smart Source, Red Plum (Valassis), and the P & G Saver. The first two typically come weekly and have varying expiration dates. The P&G Saver is usually a once-a-month insert and the coupons generally expire within 30 days.

The Sunday after a holiday, there will be no Smart Source or Red Plum inserts. This happens on Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. Sometimes you will still find a P&G Saver in these papers though.

You can either subscribe to the newspaper, pick up an early edition on Saturday or pick up the regular edition on Sunday. Do whatever works best for you.

The biggest money saving mistake coupon novices make is this...you get a coupon and use it right away. Wrong! Just because you have a coupon for an item doesn't mean you have to use it right then. Wait for the item to go on sale... then use that coupon! Sales usually rotate, so if you recall a sale the previous week, hang tight... it will most likely come around again. Now that you have that coupon, it makes for a much better deal.

Once you’ve pulled all of your coupons from the paper, recylce it!

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Internet Printables

One of the best sources for coupons, is the Internet! Many companies will allow you to print coupons straight from their website or an outsourced company site.

The limit for most internet printables is 2 per computer. Sometimes the coupons will reset after a month and you can print them again. Sometimes, they are only available for a limited time. The coupons generally expire 14 days from printing. Also if you hit the “back” button on your browser, you can usually print a second coupon.

Just because these coupons are available doesn't mean you have to print them all. Keep in mind that some companies only allow a certain amount of prints available for download. So, if you print coupons that you may not neccessarily use/need it prohibits others who may need/use the same coupon from downloading and printing it.

So where can you find all of these coupons?

Coupons.com, Smart Source and Red Plum have coupons that get added all the time.
If you still can’t find an internet coupon that you'd like, go to the company’s website and look for promotions or special offers. You can also google for the coupons!

Coupon Organization

Everyone's theory of organization is different. I'll share how I organize my pile just so you can become familiar with the idea, you may find a method that differs from mine that you prefer, and that's okay! :)

When I purchase my Sunday papers I separate my inserts;

Smart Source, Red Plum, P&G (occassionally we'll get a separate insert; Unilever, General Mills, etc..)

I then take a sharpie marker and date the front of each one (mm/dd).

Afer all of my inserts are dated I then stack them in a deep office desk drawer in chronologial order.

When the sales ads come out I cut them as I need them. This works for me. I usually purchase 4-6 papers each week. If it's a good week then I'll get 10 or more. So, you can see how time consuming it would be to clip every coupon each week! I keep each weekly insert about 4-5 months then go through them and discard into the "expired" pile.

By no means is this the best way. This is just what works for me. But if you don’t have a good system you’ll get frustrated by the vast amount of coupons stacks and then possible give up or miss out on deals. So if my way doesn’t work for you, ask around. Look on other blogs or Google. You can easily find other options that will work better for you!

Good Luck!!

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Birthday Freebies!!

Abbot’s Frozen Custard - Join the Abbott’s Frozen Custard Fun Club to a get a free frozen custard on your birthday. The site says there will also be freebies throughout the year for their members.

Alfy’s Pizza - Get a free mini pizza on your birthday.

Applebee’s - Free dessert and song on your birthday.

Arby’s: free food on your birthday (it changes) and a coupon just for signing up!

Austin Grill - Register for their eClub and get a free meal on your birthday.

Bakers Square - Get a free peice of pie on your birthday at Bakers Square.

Bandido’s - Get $10 off your favorite entree when you celebrate your birthday at Bandido’s in Ohio and Indiana.

Baskin Robbins - Baskin Robbins will send you a coupon for a free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream on your birthday plus other special promotions when you join the Baskin Robbins Birthday Club.

BD’s Mongolian BBQ - Receive a free stifry on your birthday when you join Club Mongo.

Ben & Jerry’s - Get a free ice cream treat on your birthday when you become a ChunkSpelunker with Ben & Jerry’s.

Bennigan’s - Get a buy 1 entree, get 1 entrée free and a free brownie ice cream dessert coupon on your birthday.

Black Angus Steakhouse - Get a free steak dinner on your birthday when you join the BA Prime Club. You also get a complimentary dessert for signing up for the club.

Blimpie - Get a coupon for a free 6” sub on your birthday at Blimpie’s.

Blue Bell - Members of the Blue Bell Country Club will receive a gift certificate for a free half gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream during the month of their birthday.

Bob’s Big Boy - Get a free hot fudge ice cream on your birthday.

Bob Evans - Sign up your child for their birthday club and they’ll get a free kids’ meal on their birthday at Bob Evans.

Boston Market - Kids 12 and under will receive a birthday coupon good for a free kid’s meal, drink, and dessert at Boston Market.

Bruster’s Ice Cream: Get a free ice cream on your birthday

Bucca di Beppo - Free Dessert

Burger King - Sign up your child to be a member of Club BK so they can get a free kid’s meal on their birthday.

California Pizza Kitchen - Sign up your child (10 and under) for CPKids and they will receive a free CPKids meal during the month of their birthday.

California Tortilla: Register your Burrito Elito Card and make sure you include your birthday when you do. They just threw a free burrito on my card for my birthday ($8 value)

Captain D’s - Kids get a free kids meal and birthday greeting on their birthday at Captain D’s.

Caribou Coffee - Create an account and be sure to update it with your birthday. They will send you a coupon for a free coffee drink on your birthday.

Carrows - Join the Carrows E-Club to get a free dessert on your birthday as well as one for joining.

Cattlemen’s - Join the Cattlemen’s E-Club and get a free dessert when you come in on your birthday.

Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse - Get a free gift on your birthday as a member of the Charlie Brown’s Handshake Club as well as gift vouchers and special members-only events.

Cheeburger Cheeburger: kids 12 and under get a free birthday meal

Chevys - Join Chevys Compadres Club and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Chuck E. Cheese: kids 12 and under get free tokens on their birthday

Claim Jumper Restaurant - Join the CJ E-Club and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Cold Stone Creamery - Cold Stone Creamery will send you an email with a coupon for a free ice cream creation to enjoy on your birthday. All ages are welcome!

Country Buffet - Join the eClub and get a free birthday coupon in the mail.

Crazy Buffet - Bring a friend and your ID into Crazy Buffet on your birthday and get a free dinner buffet.

Dairy Queen - Join the Dairy Queen Blizzard Fan Club and get a free ice cream cone on your birthday as well as a coupon for a blizzard when you join.

Dave & Buster’s - Get a free $5 game card credit on your birthday.

Denny’s - Fill in and mail out this form to enroll your child (10 and under) in the Denny’s Kids’ Birthday Club where they will receive a birthday card entitling them to a free kid’s entrée and sundae.

Desparados Mexican Restaraunt - Come in and get a free meal at Desparados on your birthday.

Disneyland - Get free admission on your birthday when you register in advance. You will need to bring the confirmation along with your ID to the park.

Dockside Restaurants - Get a free meal on your birthday.

DSW Shoes: Sign up for the DSW Rewards program and get a $10 off $10 coupon on your birthday!

Duke’s ChowderHouse - Get a coupon for a free lunch or dinner entree on your birthday when you sign up on Duke’s website.

Famous Daves BBQ - Free food coupon via email on your birthday when you join the Famous Dave’s P.I.G. Club (could be free cake, an appetizer, or some ribs!).

Firehouse Subs - Jon the Firehouse Subs Birthday Club and enjoy a free sub on your birthday.

Friendly’s - Sign up for Friendly’s E-News and get free ice cream for your birthday. This is now for kids and adults!

Fuddruckers - Join the Fudds Club and gett a free burger on your birthday. (May not be available in all areas.)

Garozzo’s Ristorante - Bring in your driver’s license to get a free spedini meal at this Kansas City eatery.

Hana Japan - Get a free birthday lunch or dinner when you bring in 4 or more people on your birthday.

Hard Rock Cafe - Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Hollywood Video - Get a free rental at Hollywood Video on your birthday with card membership. In fact, anyone on your account can get a free rental on their birthday.

Hometown Buffet - Join the eClub and get a free birthday coupon in the mail.

Houlihan’s - Visit Houlihan’s on your birthday and get free cake and ice cream.

IHOP - Come on into IHOP and get a free meal on your birthday. (May not be available in all areas.)

Joe’s Crab Shack - Go to Joe’s Crab Shack on your birthday and get a free piece of cake.

Luby’s - Free kid’s birthday meal (ages 9 and younger) on their birthday as a member of the Luby’s birthday club.

Macaroni Grill - Come on into Macaroni Grill on your birthday and get a free dessert plus a song.
Marie Callender’s - Join Marie Callender’s E-Club and get a coupon for $5 off your meal and piece of pie when you visit during the month of your birthday.

McDonald’s - Free Happy Meal for your child on their birthday. This offer is only good at participating McDonald’s in Colorado, Greater Las Vegas Area, Western Nebraska and Wyoming.

Memphis Barbecue - Receive a coupon good for a free rack of ribs and a dessert when you join the free eClub.

Moe’s Southwest Grill - Get a coupon for a free Moe’s entree on your birthday when you choose to “stay in the moe.”

Noodles & Company - Join the Noodleville Noodlegram to get a coupon for a free dish on your birthday.

Olan Mills Portrait Studios - Get a free Olan Mills portrait package that includes (1) 8X10, (2) 5X7 and (8) wallets when you join the birthday club.

Old Country Buffet - Join the eClub and get a free birthday coupon in the mail.

Old Spaghetti Warehouse - Join the Warehouse Club and get a coupon for a free meal on your birthday.

On the Border - Get a free appetizer on your birthday when you join On the Border’s Club Cantina. When you initially join you will get an instant coupon for a free bowl of queso or empanadas.

Outback - Get a free dessert and a song when you go to Outback on your birthday.

P.F. Changs - Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Pancho’s - Join Pancho’s Birthday Club to get $10 off the bill for adults or $5 off the bill for kids.

Perkins - Receive an email for a free kid’s meal and birthday greeting on their birthday when you sign them up for the Bakery Buddies Kid’s Birthday Club.

Provino’s - Come on into Provino’s on your birthday and show your ID to get a free pasta speciality dinner (which includes salad, garlic rolls and a birthday dessert!).

Qdoba Mexican Grill: Buy One Get One coupon for your birthday (another one that is good for 2 weeks) and free chips & salsa just for signing up!

Red Lobster - Join the Overboard Club and they will email you a suprise for your birthday.

Red Robin - Join the Red Robin eClub and get a coupon for a fee burger on your birthday. This is for all ages!

Rock Bottom - Join the Mug Club and get a free appetizer on your birthday.

Round Table - Get a free personal pizza when you visit on your birthday.

Ru Sans - Visit Ru Sans to sign up for their birthday card to get free food on your birthday.

Sephora - Sign up as a Beauty Insider and get a free gift from Sephora on your birthday.

Shoney’s - Get your child (10 and under) a free kid’s meal on their birthday when you sign them up for the the Kids Club.

Schlotzsky's - Free Sandwich

Sonic - Members of the Wacky Pack Kid’s Birthday Club will receive a coupon for a free Wacky Pack during the week of their birthday.

Taco Bell - Get a free combo meal of your choice on your birthday at Taco Bell. (May not be available in all areas.)

Taco Time - Taco Time send kids ages 12 or younger a coupon for a free kid’s meal on their next birthday.

The Body Shop: Get a free Love Your Body Card (costs $10 and gives you 10% off all your purchases). If you already have a Love Your Body Card, make sure it is registered because they will send you coupons for up to $10 in free items

The Melting Pot: get a free chocolate fondue on your birthday when you join Club Fondue.

Texas Roadhouse - Become a Texas Roadie and come into Texas Roadhouse to get a free dessert on your birthday.

TGI Friday’s - Receive a coupon for a free appetizer to use on your birthday when you sign up for Friday’s E-Club. You also get a coupon for a free appetizer just for signing up!

Tony Roma’s - Get a free dinner on your birthday from Tony Roma’s.

Toys ‘R’ Us - Children ages 2 – 10 will receive a birthday card and surprise gift from Geoffrey when you sign them up for Geoffrey’s Birthday Club.

Walt Disney World - Free admission on your birthday when you register in advance and bring the confirmation along with an ID.

Zio’s Italian - Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday at Zio’s.

Expired Coupons

Did you know that military families stationed overseas can use coupons on base for up to 6 months past the expiration date? This is something tangible you and your family can do to show your support and appreciation. It takes a little work because they like the coupons to be clipped and sorted into 2 categories, food and nonfood. Plus, it costs the postage to send them. Several people I know send a package full once a month and it takes them about 10 minutes to prepare the package.

Check out this site to participate in the program. Keep in mind that you are mailing internationally, so it could take a few weeks for them to arrive.