Tip of the Day Tuesday: Stretching your vacation budget

June 15, 2010 by

Now that summer has officially started for me, I am looking forward to our family vacation in a few weeks.  Since we’re on a budget, every dollar counts, and we look for every little way that we can find to stretch our vacation budget.

I have posted before about cash back sites such as Ebates, Shop at Home, and My Points.  I use these sites all of the time when I am shopping online, but I didn’t realize until recently that you can also book hotels, airfare, and rental cars using these sites!

We ended up finding a deal on a hotel that is part of the Marriott chain of hotels (we typically book through Marriott because we can usually find affordable prices at one of their chains, the rooms are typically clean, and they are family friendly).  I looked at the “cash back” offerings at all three sites and Shop at Home had the best incentive – 3% cash back, so I booked my reservation using their site. I am also a member of Marriott Rewards, and they have a promotion right now where you earn a free night at a Marriott hotel for every three “paid” nights from June 1st through August 31st, 2010 (you have to activate this promotion by June 30th in order to take advantage of it).  I also had a “bonus” promotion on my account where I will earn an additional free night for two “paid” nights from July 1st, 2010 through September 30, 2010.  So, we’ll earn some free nights that can be used toward another vacation!

I also cashed out for gift cards from some of the sites I belong to so that I can offset some of the meal expenses.  I got:

$25 “Darden” restaurant gift card (valid at Olive Garden, Red Lobster, etc.) from Epoll.com
$25 Chili’s gift card from MyPoints
$20 Chili’s gift card from MySurvey
$25 Cracker Barrel gift card from my banking rewards (we earn rewards for debit card purchases through my bank!)
$10 Wendy’s gift card from my banking rewards

Here are some of the other “travel related” sites you can book services through using Ebates, My Points, and Shop at Home:

*1-800 Hotels
*Alamo Rent-a-car
*Days Inn
*Dollar car rentals
*Doubletree Hotels
*Embassy Suites
*Enterprise Rent-a-car
*Expedia.com
*Hertz
*Holiday Inn
*Hotels.com
*Hotwire
*Jet Blue
*La Quinta
*Motel 6
*Orbitz
*Quality Inn
*Southwest Vacations
*Travelocity
*Wyndham

How do you stretch your vacation budget?!

MyPoints

Filed Under: Tip of the Day Tuesday Tagged With:

Get a free sample of Propel powder with calcium when you become a fan on Facebook!

June 15, 2010 by

You can get a free sample of Propel Powder with calcium when you become a fan on Facebook!  I recently had the opportunity to try these packets from a She Speaks promotion.  I was surprised that my husband loved them and has started drinking more water as a result.  The following flavors are available:  berry, blueberry pomegranate, grape, lemon, and kiwi strawberry.

Filed Under: freebies

Subscription to Every Day with Rachael Ray for $3.10 or Family Fun Magazine for $3.19

June 15, 2010 by

Best Deal Magazines has a HOT deal on yearly subscriptions for two of my favorite magazines!

Family Fun Magazine is on sale for $4.69.  Use the code WKLYSPEC at check-out, and you’ll get an additional 20% off, making it $3.75 for the one year subscription!  Get an additional 15% cash back when you shop through Shop at Home (plus a $5 “bonus” credit if you are signing up for the first time!)  So, after the cash back, it’s only $3.19!  This is one of my favorite magazines – they have great craft ideas and other activities for kids plus Gymboree coupons every now and then which is an added plus for me!

Every Day with Rachael Ray is the “Deal of the Day” today and is on sale for $4.29.  Use the code PXCJ613 at check-out and you’ll get an additional 15% off, making it $3.65 for the one year subscription!  Get an additional 15% cash back when you shop through Shop at Home (plus a $5 “bonus” if you are signing up for the first time!)  So, after the cash back, it’s only $3.10.  This is also one of my favorite magazines – lots of great, family friendly recipes that can be prepared in 30 minutes!

If you’re not familiar with Shop at Home, it’s a site where you can earn cash back for your online purchases.  Visit the site and then search for your favorite retailers.  It will tell you how much cash back you can earn and it will give you any coupon codes that are available.  Sixty days after the end of the month in which qualifying purchases were made, you will receive your cash back check via mail!


*Note:  This posting may contain affiliate links.  Please refer to my disclosure policy for more information.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

The Gymboree Red Balloon sale has started!

June 15, 2010 by

Gymboree’s Semi-Annual Red Balloon sale has started.  Save up to 70% off original prices on some items!  Prices start at just $.99!  There is a 20% off coupon in the July issues of Parenting and Family Fun magazines. 

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.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

MORE Walgreens deals?!

June 15, 2010 by

I can’t believe what an awesome week it is at Walgreens and it just keeps getting better!  Make sure you check out my weekly deals post so you don’t miss out on the other great deals this week!

If you need to stock up on cards for Father’s Day, graduations, weddings, or birthdays, there is an unadvertised deal that is perfect for you:

Buy 3 Hallmark cards, get a $2 RR
Buy 5 Hallmark cards, get a $4 RR

Some stores have cards that are priced at just $.49!  If you can find these cards (I could never find them at any of my stores the last time they had this deal), this is a moneymaker for you.  Even if you can’t find the $.49 cards, there are a lot of cards priced at $.99, so it still ends up being a good deal!

Here’s the breakdown:
Buy 5 Hallmark Cards – $.49/each

Spend $2.45, get a $4 RR
Final Price = $1.55 moneymaker!

Buy 5 Hallmark cards – $.99/each

Spend $4.95, get a $4 RR
Final Price = $.95 ($.19/card!)

(Thanks Savvy Spending!)

Yesterday, I posted about the trial sized Neutrogena items that are only $.79 and are working for the buy 3, get a $10 RR deal.  Smart ~N Savvy Savings posted this picture on her blog, so you know what you’re looking for!

There is also a $10 Neutrogena Mail in Rebate when you purchase $30 of Neutrogena facial moisturizers and teratments.  I don’t know if all of these products will qualify for the rebate or not, but if you’ve got the receipts, it’s worth sending them in to find out!  Purchases must be made between 6/6/10 and 7/4/10 and submitted by 7/18/10.

This post is part of Becentsable’s Grocery Gathering.
Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: