Today I want to share a few things that I started doing in 2009 and have really helped us a lot. This will be lengthy but if your interested in saving money, or getting full sized products or high value coupons this is a must read.
1. Have you heard of swagbucks? Swagbucks is a search and earn program. You search the web through them and earn swagbucks. The swagbucks can then be used to either purchase merchandise, enter sweepstakes, or buy gift cards. I highly recommend the gift cards. This helped us A LOT this last Christmas. I have turned my swagbucks in everytime for gift cards to amazon ( I will talk more about amazon in a moment ). You can get a $5 amazon card for only 45 swagbucks, you can also get higher amounts and gift cards to lots of other places. They are so easy to earn. I have been a member of swagbucks for about 4 months and have earned around $40 in amazon gift cards. To learn more about it or sign up go here.
2. Another favorite of mine is Alice.com, love love love it! On alice.com you can buy household items such as cleaning supplies, snacks for the pantry, diapers, beauty products, etc. I don't buy a ton from alice as I shop the local sales and use my paper coupons, but on alice they have coupons as well on certain items that will automatically come off the item. Plus when you order from alice shipping is always free and you get your order in 1 to 2 days. I shop the deals on alice ( that's actually a category on the website ), I have gotten luvs diapers cheap, bounty paper towels, toilet paper, cleaning supplies ( my fave scrubbing bubbles ), and a few other deals from there. It's nice when you have already made your trips to the store and forgot a few things, order from alice and have it in a couple of days tops. Your first order you can order as little as 1 item, but any order after that they require at least 6 items which is no big deal and easy to achieve. Also if you sign up through this link once you have spent $50 which can be over a long period of time you get a $10 credit which you can use for anything on the site. Hello free diapers! I just got my $10 credit and will definitely be using it for diapers. I have ordered 3 or 4 times over the last 4 months and love it. My last order I got a bag of samples in with my order which they do randomly. To learn more about alice or sign up you can go here.
3. I don't sign up for a ton of samples, I used to but they can be time consuming. I sign usually only sign up when it's a product I use, or know I would use and most likely it will come with a coupon. Or if it's something new, it's always fun trying out new products. Last year I discovered a great program Bzz Agent. I love this program. I signed up around August? I believe and have received so many great products to try out. Not only do they send you products but usually a stack of coupons to pass along to friends and spread the Bzzz. I have gotten to try products such as Childrens Zyrtec, Softsoaps bodywash, and Aveeno Baby products. The Zyrtec and the Aveeno I received full sized products to try and with the aveeno I got several samples and high value coupons to pass out ( I still have some if anyone wants them ), and with the Zyrtec I received a book of very high value coupons with it. With the softsoaps I received about 7 trial sized bottles of the bodywash along with high value coupons to give out. I was excited about them all but the Aveeno was definitely my favorite as the littlest guy has very sensitive skin and can only use aveeno and it was great to try a new product of theirs. The sign up process is a bit lengthy as you do need to fill out a survey so they can send you Bzz Ops that suit you. You can go here to learn more or sign up.
4. Another Awesome program is Vocalpoint. This is definitely a favorite of mine. This one is soo super easy to join, and there is not a lot of participation required. I have been a member since last April and have received so many coupons for either free products or full size products free to try. Recently I have gotten a coupon for free tuna, a full sized Tide Swash to try, a full sized jar of Olay Pro x plus tons of $10 off coupons to give out, I have gotten lots of coupons for a variety of different cereals, they sent coupons for free ones as well as high value ones to give away. All you do in return besides telling your friends or family is take a seriously quick and simple survey after trying the product. It is one of the easiest programs in my opinion and the coupons are awesome. You can go here to read more or join.
5. Another is Kraft First Taste. Sign up is super easy and again you get offers to try a product and take a quick survey after doing so. Recently I received a coupon for a new DiGiorni pizza to try free as well as a high value one, I have received others for free velveeta shells and cheese cups, wheat thins, and deli creations sandwiches. You can go here to learn more or sign up.
Another great way to score some high value coupons is emailing the company, search for their website ( through swagbucks of course ) and almost all companies have a contact form on their site to write them. I have done this with several companies who make products that I love and gotten tons of coupons for free products in the mail. I even scored $45 in free diaper coupons from one. I did have a small complaint with the diapers but was mostly telling them I loved them. Don't make up complaints be honest :) most companies love positive feedback and will mail you coupons in return for taking the time to share your feedback on their products.
Let's talk a little about online shopping. I almost never buy from a website if they aren't offering free shipping, otherwise I can drive my big hiney to the store and pick out what I want there, I do not like to pay for shipping. One of my most favorite places to shop online is Amazon. I did probably 70% of my Christmas shopping for the kiddos and distant relatives off of Amazon. They are almost always offering free prime memberships and I highly recommend it, I have even contemplated paying the yearly fee to keep it as it is so completely worth it in my opinion. With a prime membership you get free 2 day shipping on almost anything that ships from amazon ( not outside sellers ) and you can even get One day shipping for $3.99 which is so great for a last minute birthday or Christmas present that you either couldn't find at the store or to send straight to someone who lives far away. Also double up the free shipping with those amazon gift cards you earn with your swagbucks and you will be amazed at the savings. I got SO MANY deals on the kiddos toys this last Christmas, I couldn't believe it, hubby couldn't believe it. Way cheaper than walmart. To name a few I got my littlest a $60 fisher price toy for $19 and some change plus free 2 day shipping. At walmart I believe they were $45. I saved more then 50% shopping amazon at Christmas. They always have daily deals, and especially have the toy deals during the shopping season. There also great for printer ink. Earn those swagbucks, turn them in for amazon cards and get free or cheap printer ink to make up for printing all those coupons off :) Oh and one more thing, with amazon even if you don't sign up for prime you can still get free shipping on tons of stuff by spending $25. The prime is just better though as there is no minimum purchase. The other day they had a great deal on sippy cups so I spent like $5 and got free 2 day shipping with my prime membership. It's nice for when you see a good deal.
One last thing, my most favorite blog to read is My Frugal Adventures, she is Awesome and the first person to turn me into a couponer. She posts several times a day the store lists, the deals, and matchups with coupons, she is constantly posting a gazillion online deals, if there is a free coupon, sample, whatever she knows. Check her blog out here. She gets worried if she doesn't hear from me everyday, haha! She has helped me get many many deals. My favorite is my flip video camera, I wanted one for my Birthday but wasn't going to spend the small fortune ( i'm cheap ) and she found me a deal on one!! I had to stay up the day after Christmas til about 4 in the morning until the deal went live to get it but it was totaly worth it, I got mine for about $50 when they retail everywhere for $120 to $200. I definitely recommend subscribing to her blog and remember you absolutely do not have to have a blog to comment or subscribe.
Okie Dokie that's all I got today!! Any questions or help you can always email me!!
1 comment:
Thanks for all the new info for me. I've read about swagbucks and alice, but have yet to join.
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