Thrifty Thursday: Three ways to get free movie tickets!

April 8, 2010 by

Being on a budget means we don’t go to the movies very often.  Pretty much the only way we go to the movies is if we have free tickets.  The only time we really take my kids to the movies is during the summer when theaters offer the “movie camps” and the movies are only $1.  Summer is just around the corner and there are some great new movies coming out, so I’m excited about all of the “deals” right now where you can earn free movie tickets.

Here are a few ways that you can earn free movie tickets right now:

Kroger has a promotion right now where you can receive a free movie ticket (or 15 free music or ringtone downloads) for purchasing 10 participating items.  I did this deal for the first time yesterday.  I’ll be looking for other ways to “work this deal” throughout the week.

Here’s the breakdown of what I did yesterday:

Buy 5 Snuggle fabric softener sheets – $3.50/each
Buy 5 Uncle Ben’s 90 minute Ready Rice packets – $1.69/each (love these things!)

Use 5 $3/1 Snuggle fabric softener coupons (3-28 RP) 
Use 5 $1/1 Uncle Ben’s rice coupons (2-21 RP)

Spent $5.95 OOP, earned a catalina with a code for a free movie ticket! (that’s less than I would have spent on the movie ticket alone and I got 10 other items we really needed…also, I’ve had several people ask if it’s “worth it” to buy multiples of coupons and this trip alone should show that it is!)

Hershey also has a promotion right now where you earn a free movie ticket when you submit 4 UPCs from 10 oz or larger packages of Hershey’s Kisses, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup miniatures, Hershey’s Miniatures, or York Peppermint patties.  You can submit for the free tickets more than one time per household, but you must submit your UPCs in separate envelopes.

DISCLAIMER:  Hershey’s has changed the sizing on their bags of candy, so the “smaller” bags are now typically 8.5 ounces, so you will have to buy the “bigger” bags which are 18+ ounces from what I have seen in my stores and usually quite a bit more expensive.  This is a great time to look for clearanced Easter candy, though!

Toy Story ~ If you took advantage of the “deals” recently on Toy Story 1 and Toy Story 2, don’t forget to enter your codes from inside the boxes to get the link to print your free movie tickets to see it when it comes out in June!

Do you have a Thrifty Thursday idea to share?  Don’t forget to link up below!

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

Filed Under: Thrifty Thursday

Kroger deals for the week of 4/7

April 7, 2010 by


Don’t forget to load your coupons to your Kroger card:
Cellfire
Kroger
Shortcuts
Upromise

**For more information about loadable coupons and how they work check out this post!

This ad is based on the Texas/Louisiana market. My Kroger stores double three “like” coupons with a face value up to $.50 and triple three “like” coupons with a face value up to $.39. Your market may be different. Check with your store for details!

Kroger is currently offering a “Digital Choice Rewards” promotion – buy 10 participating products, get 15 free music downloads, 15 free ringtones, or a free movie ticket! (you will receive a catalina coupon with a redemption code at check-out)  Download the full list of participating items here.

Here are some of the participating items from this week’s ad:

*Arm & Hammer laundry detergent – 2/$7

*Breyer’s ice cream – $2.88

*Buitoni pasta – 2/$6 – $2/each after coupon
$1/1 Buitoni printable

*Colgate Total toothpaste – 2/$5 – $1.75/each after coupon
$.75/1 Colgate Total, Max White, Max Fresh or Sensitive toothpaste – 3-28 SS2
$.75/1 Colgate Total toothpaste printable

*Cottonelle Bath tissue – $5.99 – $4.99 after coupon
$.50/1 Cottonelle toilet paper (12 pk) – 3-14 SS (should double)

*Eckrich smoked sausage – 2/$5

*Florida’s Natural Orange Juice – 2/$5

*Frito corn chips – $1.99

*Gatorade sports drink – $1.99 (4 pk, 12 oz)

*Keebler Deluxe Cookies or Fudge Shoppe – $1.99 – $.99 to $1.72 each when you buy 2
$.55/2 Keebler cookies – 3-7 RP
$1/1 Keebler Fudge Shoppe printable

*Kellogg’s Nutri-grain bars – $1.99

*Kraft macaroni and cheese – $3.49 (5 ct boxes or 4 ct)

*Kraft singles, shreds, or bar cheese – $1.99/each

*Kroger potatoes – $1.79

*Lipton iced team/Starbucks Frappucino – $4.99 – $3.99 after coupon
$1/1 Starbucks Frappucino printable

*Nabisco snack crackers – $2.49 – $1.49/each after coupon
$1/1 Nabisco Wheat thins printable

*Nestle Pure Life water – 3/$10 – 2/$5.66 after coupon
$1/2 Nestle Pure Life water printable

*Pillsbury Savorings – $2.99 – $1.99 after coupons when you buy 2
$1/2 Pillsbury Savorings printable
$1/2 Pillsbury Savorings loadable on shortcuts.com

*Purina ONE dog food – $16.99

*Quaker Life or Cap’n Crunch cereal or instant oatmeal – 2/$5 – $1.50 after coupon
$1/1 Quaker Instant oatmeal printable

*Red  Bull Energy drinks – 2/$3

*Sargento shreds or singles – $1.99 – $1.59/each after coupons (when you buy 2)
$.40/2 Sargento natural shredded cheeses – 2-7 SS (should double)

*Smart Balance spread or butter blend – $1.99 – $.99 after coupon
$1/1 Smart Balance butter blend sticks – 3-21 RP

*Smart Ones Entrees (or Claim Jumper Entrees) – 5/$10 – 5/$7 after coupon
$3/10 Smart Ones entrees – 1-10 SS

*Snuggle fabric softener – 2/$7
$3/1 Snuggle fabric softener – 3-28 RP

*Sobe Lifewater or Fuze – 10/$10 – $.50/each when you buy 2!
BOGO free printable

*Splenda No Calorie Sweetener or PureVia – $3.99 – $2.99 after coupon
$1/1 Splenda sweetener – 3-21 SS, 2-28 SS

*Starbucks coffee – $6.99 – $5.49 after coupon
$1.50/1 Starbucks Coffee (12 oz bag) – 3-21 SS

*Tombstone pizza – $2.99/each

*Totino’s pizza rolls – $2.99

*Uncle Ben’s rice – $1.69 (selected varieties) – $.69 after coupon if whole grain rice is included
$1/1 Uncle Ben’s whole grain brown rice – 2-21 RP
$1/2 Uncle Ben’s rice products printable

*Viva paper towels – $5.99 – $4.99 after coupons
$.50/1 Viva paper towels printable (should double)

Here are some of the “other deals” from this week’s ad:
*Boneless chicken breasts & chicken breast tenders – $1.88/lb
*Broccoli crowns – $.77/lb
*Jumbo cantaloupes – 2/$3
*Kraft BBQ sauce – 10/$10
*Kroger hamburger/hot dog buns – 10/$10
*Mrs. Baird’s 100% whole wheat bread – BOGO free
*White seedless grapes – $1.47/lb

CRAZY MEAL DEAL:  Buy 1 Hormel dinner entree, get FREE Fresh Selection s garden salad, Big K soda (2 liter bottle), 4 ct King’s Hawaiian dinner rolls, Meals Made Simple mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese (20-24 oz pkg), Kroger recycle bag (Save $6.97 with card)

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Website of the Week Wednesday: Vocalpoint

April 7, 2010 by

Have you signed up for Vocalpoint yet?  If you aren’t familiar with Vocalpoint, they send you products to sample along with great coupons and all they ask is that you review the products and/or share our experiences with your family and friends.  My latest “freebie” from them was a full size bottle of Pantene Nature Fusion shampoo.  They also sent 3 $2 off Pantene Nature Fusion coupons which I was able to use at CVS this week to get three more bottles for free!

Some of my other “freebies” have included Secret Clinical Strength deodorant, a Bounce dryer bar, and various Olay products.

Don’t miss out on the next great freebie!  Sign up for Vocalpoint now!

Filed Under: website of the week Tagged With:

Target deals for the week of 4/4

April 7, 2010 by

Keep in mind that pricing may vary by area.

NEW AT TARGET: Electronics trade-in ~ Trade in your new or used iPod or iPhone for a Target gift card.

Get Text Alerts from Target: receive coupons, deals, and weekly ad reminders on your mobile phone – use a barcode that can be scanned at check-out for multiple one time only coupon deals throughout the month.  The text alerts for mobile coupons appear to be released on Sundays and appear to be valid for one week only (when the new round is released on Sundays, the old round disappears).

Target now offers price matching. You can check out their policy here.

At Target, you can use one Target coupon and one manufacturer’s coupon per item. The printable Target coupons now state “one per transaction” meaning you can only use one “like” coupon per transaction. The Target coupons from the inserts do not have this wording and neither do the Target toy coupons. You can read/print their coupon policy here.

They are also offering a .05 credit when you bring in your own reusable shopping bag!

Regular Markdown Schedule in other Departments
Monday – Electronics, Kids Clothing and Stationary (Cards, GiftWrap, etc.)
Tuesday – Domestics, Women’s Clothing, Pets and Market (food items)
Wednesday – Men’s Clothing, Toys, Health and Beauty, Lawn & Garden items
Thursday – House Wares, Lingerie, Shoes, Sporting Goods, Movies, Music, Books, Decor and Luggage
Friday – Auto, Cosmetics, Hardware, & Jewelry

My Target deals post is late this week.  I’m having a hard time balancing being a mom and working full time (especially since work has been crazy lately) with blogging.  Plus, I haven’t been all that excited about the “deals” at Target this week.

**There is a coupon for a $10 gift card with any new or transferred prescription in this week’s ad

My favorite deal from the weekly ad is this one:

Buy 2 Schick Intuition Plus, Quattro for Women, or Quattro Titanium razors – $6.99/each, get a $5 Target gift card
$4/1 Schick Intuition Plus or refill – 2-28 SS
$4/1 Schick Quattro for Women razor or refill – 2-28 SS
$2/1 Schick Quattro Titanium razor – 3-28 SS

SCENARIO:
Buy 2 Schick Intuition or Quattro razors or refills – $6.99/each

Use 2 $4 coupons

Spend $5.98 OOP, get a $5 Target card
Final price = $.98 OOP

GROCERY DEALS:

Act II popcorn (3 ct) – $1 (in the “Dollar” Spot)
$.40/1 Act popcorn – 2-28 SS
Final Price – $.60/each
(Thanks Hip2Save!)

Grapes – $1.49/lb

Heinz vinegar – white or apple cider – $.99
$.50/1 Heinz vinegar printable
Final Price = $.49

Hunts Snack Pack – $.96 (price cut through 4/10)
$.50/3 Sugar Free or Fat Free Snack packs printable
Final Price – $.80/each when you buy 3!

Michael Angelo’s Frozen Entrees – $2.50 (on price cut through 4/24)
$1/1 Michael Angelo’s Entree printable
BOGO free Michael Angelo’s Entree printable (must register to print)
Final Price = $1.50 for 2!
(Thanks Totally Target!)


Quaker granola bars (5-10 ct) – buy 3 at $2 each, get a free box
$.75/2  Quaker chewy granola bars – 2-14 RP
$.75/1 Quaker True Delights granola bars – 2-14 RP

SCENARIO:
Buy 4 Quaker Chewy granola bars

Use 2 $.75/2 coupons

Spend $4.50 OOP

HEALTH & BEAUTY:


Crest Kids Toothpaste – $1.49-$1.97
$1/1 Crest Kids Oral Care (Target printable)
$1/1 Oral B Stages, Zooth, Crest Kids toothpate – 2-7 PG
Final Price = free after coupons (Make sure you give the Target coupon last!)

Dial Nutriskin Hand Soap – $1.37
$1/1 Dial Nutriskin Target printable
$.35/1 Dial liquid hand soap – 3-7 RP
Final price = $.02 after coupons!

 
Some Target stores now have the Gillette Fusion MVP razors in new packaging for $4.99.  Use the $4/1 coupon from the 4-4 PG insert and get it for $.99!  (Thanks Cuckoo for Coupon Deals!)
 
Some Target stores also have the Gillette Venus razors in the new packaging for $4.99.  Pair the $2/1 Venus coupons from the 4-4 PG insert and get it for $2.99!

Kandoo 42 count flushable wipes – $1.65
$1/1 Kandoo, any – 4-4 PG
Final Price = $.65/each
(Thanks Totally Target!)

Lip Smackers – $1.47
$1/1 Lip Smackers printable
Final price = $.47

Extra Super Lash Rimmel Mascara is priced at $2.99 in some Target stores.  Use the $3/1 Rimmel coupon from the March All You Magazine and get it for FREE!

(Thanks Totally Target!)

Reach floss – $1.12
$1/1 Reach floss – 10-18 RP, 1-3 RP
Final price = $.12

St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea butter body wash travel size, St. Ives Hydrating Vitamin E body moisturizer travel size, St. Ives Fresh Skin Invigorating Apricot Scrub travel size – $.97/each
$1/1 St. Ives, any (does not include trial sizes) – 3-21 SS
Final Price = Free after coupon!
(Thanks Totally Target!)

Suave Professional shampoo or conditioner – $1.92 (on price cut through 4/11)
$1/2 Suave Professionals – 3-14 SS
$1/2 Suave Professionals Target printable
Final Price = $.92 after coupons
(Thanks Totally Target!)

HOUSEHOLD:

Airwick Freshmatic Ultra iMotion Starter Kit – $6 (on price cut through 4/10)
$5/1 Air Wick Freshmatic Ultra i-Motion Starter Kit – 3-7-10 SS
$2/1 Air Wick iMotion Starter Kit Target printable
Final Price = free after coupons (if you give your Target coupon last you MAY get overage, this is totally a YMMV and you need to make sure that you have something to cover the overage)

Airwick Freshmatic Scented Oil iMotion Starter Kit – $6 (on price cut through 4/10)
$4/1 Air Wick scented oil i-motion starter kit – 3-7 SS
$3/1 Scented Oil iMotion Starter kit printable (must register)
$2/1 Air Wick iMotion Starter Kit Target printable
Final Price = free after coupons if you have the $4 coupon or $1 after coupons if you have the $3 printable
(Thanks Totally Target!)

Free Glade 2 oz candle when you buy a Glade Fragrance Collection Candle (10 oz) or Reed Diffuser Target printable – The Reed Diffusers/Fragrance Collection candles are priced at $8.99 in my stores, so this isn’t much of a “deal” right now, but if they release a coupon for either one of these soon, this could be a good deal – since coupons tend to go quickly these days, I’d print this one now and hold on to it!

Here are some links to the clearance deals online: (don’t forget to shop through Ebates to get 4% cash back)
Want to get on the Target mailing lists? This isn’t a sure thing, but it’s worth signing up here. (Thanks A Full Cup!)
This post is part of Becentsable’s Grocery Gathering.
Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

Tip of the Day Tuesday: Proper coupon usage

April 6, 2010 by

On a message board that I belong to, someone recently posted this video about a woman who had been arrested for using thousands of dollars in fraudulent coupons. As a “couponer” I know how exciting the “thrill of the bargain” can be, but improper coupon usage hurts us all in the end.  Through the years, I have also learned that just because you read about a deal online, that doesn’t mean that it is “legit.”

Here are some tips for proper coupon usage:

Read “the fine print” ~ Most coupons have specifications such as size limitations included on them.  If the coupon says “good on any” then it truly should be good on any product, including trial sizes.  If the coupon says “one per purchase” that means that you can use one coupon for each item that you are purchasing.  So, if you are purchasing 5 items and you have 5 coupons, you should be able to use all 5 items.  If the coupon says “one per transaction” that means that you can only use one of those coupons in your transaction.  So, if you have 5 coupons, you would have to do 5 separate transactions to use all of those coupons.

Do not copy coupons ~ One of the biggest “newbie” mistakes I hear about is people copying coupons and particularly printable coupons.  Many printable coupons have print limits, which can be frustrating and they all “look” the same, so what’s the harm, right?  What some people don’t realize is that the printable coupons have a unique code that prints in the upper right hand corner of each coupon.  In addition, some have a special background that will not show up if you copy them.  Many store employees have been trained to look for this, and if you have copied coupons, it will quickly become obvious.  A visit with your store’s loss prevention is not worth that extra bargain and will not even end up being a bargain in the long run.

Beware of fake coupons ~ If it looks or sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Just because you found it online or got it in an e-mail doesn’t mean that it’s “real” and you don’t want to be caught using a fraudulent coupon.  Read more about How to Spot Fake Coupons.

Be courteous ~ Don’t clear the shelves in one store and don’t plan big trips during “prime” shopping hours.  Read more about The Rules of Coupon Etiquette.

Filed Under: Tip of the Day Tuesday