It’s Mega Swagbucks Friday plus the Summer of Swag is coming!

It’s Mega Swagbucks Friday!  Typically, Swagbucks are awarded in increments ranging from 10-30, but on Fridays, you can earn even more and they give out Swagbucks in bigger amounts!  Plus, the “Summer of Swag” is just around the corner!  Starting on Monday, at least five different codes will be posted!  Also, on Monday, every 7th “win” will win 25 Swagbucks!  If you haven’t signed up yet, you can sign up using the bonus code SUMMEROFSWAG and you’ll get an additional 20 Swagbucks (this code is valid through 6/11).

If you’re not familiar with Swagbucks, you earn “Swagbucks” by searching online and your Swagbucks can then be redeemed for gift cards or other prizes and merchandise. I typically redeem mine for Amazon gift cards.  I joined Swagbucks last January (2009), saved my Amazon gift cards all year, and used them to pay for most of our Christmas!  This has become my favorite site!  Some people have asked me if I get any junk mail from them or if I’ve had any problems with them, and I haven’t gotten any junk mail or had any problems in the last year and a half since I joined.

Here are a few tricks that I have learned to help you make the most of your Swagbucks account:

*Do a few searches every day until you win at least once. I search for things that I would normally be searching for online anyway and I have found that I can easily earn 10-30 Swagbucks each day by doing this. Your searches do need to be “natural” searches. If it does not seem like your searches are legitimate, they may freeze or even close your account.

*Complete the Daily polls.  You get a Swagbuck each day just for doing that!

*If you have a Facebook account, become a “fan” of Swagbucks on Facebook. Click here to do this. If you check out the wall, there are bonus codes posted from time to time that you can add to your account. (To add bonus codes, log into Swagbucks, and then click on the icon that says “You have X Swagbucks.” There will be a box that says this: Have a SwagCode? Just enter it here and receive your SwagBucks instantly! Enter your code and click GIMME!)

*Publish your Swagbucks winnings on Facebook – when you “win” a buck, you now have the option of posting your win on Facebook. It shows up on your profile and it’s another way to promote your Swagbucks account (and get more ‘friends’)

*Read the Swagbucks blog (you can access this here). Bonus codes are posted here, as well.

*Sign up for the Swagbucks newsletter. They send bonus codes embedded in the newsletter, so it’s an easy way to earn extra Swagbucks!

*Download the Swagbucks Toolbar onto your internet browser – Click on the “toolbars” option on the left hand side of the website after you log in and follow the instructions!  I usually get one “buck” each day just for using my toolbar!

*Post the Swidget on your blog or your Facebook page. You can download it here.

*Tell all your friends – When your friends sign up under you, you win when they win for the first 1000 Swagbucks (this does not include any Swagcodes that they enter)

I have found that I typically earn at least 30 Swagbucks per day just by doing the things listed above. That adds up to 900 Swagbucks in one month’s time (or 2 $5 Amazon gift cards!). I work full time and I only do searches from home (non working hours) and I’m able to do this, so it isn’t something that you have to spend a lot of time on, but you should easily be able to earn $120 in Amazon gift cards in a year’s time. If you’d rather have gift cards for somewhere else, that would give you enough to cash out for $100 in Target gift cards (these can only be used online) or for 8 $10 Starbucks gift cards. If your goal is to do a 100% Cash Christmas, this will help you get started!

HAPPY SWAGGING!

It’s Freebie Friday: free donuts, free IHOP, free photo prints and a photo mug, weekend activities, and MORE!

Happy Friday and Happy Free Donut Day!  I’m not a big fan of donuts, but if you are, there are some freebies you might enjoy:

*Dunkin’s Donuts ~ Get a free donut with any beverage purchase (valid all day on 6/4 at participating Dunkin’ Donuts nationwide)

*Krispy KremeGet a free doughnut today (6/4) only at participating locations (no purchase required)

*Shipley Do-NutsGet a free donut with any purchase (valid 6/4 only at participating locations)

Here are some other freebies for you: (plus, don’t forget to check out the hot $10 Medco Health “free or almost free” deal that I posted about yesterday!)

Cottonelle Ultra Toilet Paper ~ Get a free sample of Cottonelle Ultra toilet paper from Walmart

Crest 3D White ~ Get a free sample of Crest3D White from Walmart

Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards Codes ~ BFSJXBBWQDCCPGB (5 points)

IHOP ~ Join the Pancake Revolution on Facebook and get three free meals (one for signing up, one on your birthday, and one on your one year anniversary of signing up for The Pancake Revolution – PLUS I was able to add the birthdays for my husband and kids, too!)

JC Penney ~ Get $10 off any purchase of $10 or more online when you use the code DADROCKS at check-out (this code cannot be combined with any other codes).  Get an additional 3% cash back when you shop through Ebates.

Pampers Gifts to Grow codes ~ FBMemorialDay10 (expires 6/6, worth 10 points), JUNFACEBOOK2010 (worth 10 points), and GTGSUMMERFUN5PT (worth 5 points), WELOVECHEERIOS2 (worth 10 points)

Playtex Gentle Glide ~ Get a free sample of Playtex Gentle Glide tampons from Walmart

Purina One Smartblend ~ Get a free sample of Purina One Smartblend for your dog from Walmart

Snapfish ~ New members get 50 free photo prints and a free photo mug when they enter the code FREEMUG at check-out!  Plus, get 9.5% cash back when you place your orders through Ebates!

Starbucks Via Ready Brew ~ Get a free sample of Starbucks Via Ready Brew from Walmart

Zantac Heartburn Relief ~ Get a free sample of Zantac Heartburn Relief from Walmart

Free weekend activities:

Bank of America Free Museum Weekends ~ Bank of America cardholders can get free general admission to over 100 museums nationwide the first Saturday of every month. The next free weekend will be this weekend, June 5th and 6th. All you need is a photo ID and any Bank of America card. Click here for details and to locate a participating museum near you.

Lakeshore Learning ~ Make free summer sunglasses (ages 3+) from 11 am-3 pm on Saturday, June 5th

Michaels ~ Free “Build a Book” by Klutz Make it and Take it Activity from 10 am-2 pm on Saturday, June 5th at participating locations.


HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Save $10 off ANY order at Medco Health Store!

Get $10 off any order at Medco Health Store when you enter the code MHS10 at check-out (if this is your first time ordering from them, enter the code FIRST10 FIRST and then you’ll be able to use the other two codes on additional orders!)!  Plus, shipping is only $.99Place another order and use the code TENOFF and get an additional $10 off that purchase!  The discount is applied before you enter your credit card information and you will have the opportunity to verify your purchase before completing your order.

I got some sunscreen for my kids and some detangler for my daughter’s hair on my first order.  My total out of pocket was $3.27.  There are lots of products to choose from and I could have gotten a lower out of pocket if I would have purchased other items, but these were both items I needed anyway, and $3.27 is a lot less than I would have paid retail!

In my second order, I got a 10 pack of swim diapers (a $3 coupon is applied instantly making them $6.99 each) and some baby shampoo for $2.27.

There are lots of great items to choose from ranging from over the counter medicines to diapers!

I’m hoping this is not a deal that ends up being too good to be true!  Let me know what you end up getting if you decide to try out this deal!

(Thanks Hip2Save!)

The Gymboree Fill a Bag sale just got even better!

Yesterday I posted about the Gymboree Fill A Bag sale.  You save 30% off your entire purchase instantly!  On top of that, you can use coupons.  There is a 20% off coupon in the latest issue of Family Fun magazine.  If you don’t have that coupon, there is a universal coupon that you can use online and get 15% off:  11A9MBSQH180889.  Right now, there is a flat $5 fee for shipping if you purchase items online.  Gymboree Visa holders get an additional 5% off their total purchase price.

Don’t forget to sign up for Gymboree Rewards.  It’s free and you earn gift certificates based on your purchases.

You will also earn a $25 Gymbuck for every $50 you spend.  Gymbucks redemption starts on July 15th.

To get the most bang for your buck, buy items that are already on clearance and then use a coupon code!  I got several shirts and shorts for my son to use next year that were about $4 each after all the discounts!

Thrify Thursday: Birthday freebies for kids

My two kids just recently celebrated their birthdays and one of the fun things was all of the great birthday freebies. If your child has a birthday coming up, make sure you sign up for these great freebies ahead of time!

Baskin Robbins ~ Join the Baskin Robbins birthday club and get a free 2.5 ounce scoop on your child’s birthday!

Benihana ~ Join the Kabuki Kids club and your child (ages 12 and under) will get a free souvenir mug of their choice with the purchase of any children’s meal during the month of their birthday

Burger King ~ Join the BK Birthday Club and your child (13 years and under) will get a free BK kids meal on their birthday!

California Pizza Kitchen ~ Join the CPKids Birthday Club and get a free CPKids meal during your birthday month for kids 10 and under.

The Children’s PlaceJoin the Children’s Place birthday club and get a coupon for 15% off your entire purchase during your child’s birthday month

Chuck E. Cheese ~ Your child can get 20 free tokens during their birthday month when you sign up for the Chuck E Cheese e-mail club!

Denny’s ~ Join the Denny’s Kids birthday club and get a free Denny’s Grand Slam on your birthday!

Sonic ~ Join the Sonic Kids Birthday Club and your child will get a free Wacky Pack on their birthday!

Toys ‘R Us ~ This is probably our family’s favorite birthday freebie.  Prior to your child’s birthday, you will receive coupons in the mail for $5 off a $25 purchase at Toys ‘R Us.  Your child will receive a birthday card from Geoffrey with a $3 gift card good on any purchase and they will get a special phone call from Geoffrey on their birthday (my daughter has been receiving these calls since she was a year old and looks forward to them every year!)  Join Geoffrey’s birthday club here.

Whataburger ~ Join the Whatakids Birthday club and get a free Justaburger on your birthday!

Do you know of any other great birthday freebies for kids or do you have another Thrifty Thursday tip to share?  Feel free to link up below!

For more Thrifty Thursday ideas, check out Coupon Teacher, Madame Deals, and Life as a Mom.