I just can not say enough good things about this site!! But rather than go on and on about it, I'll give a summary of the four orders I've placed over the past week.
Order #1
1 Huggies wipes (2.80 - 1.50 Q)
2 Lady's speed stick deodorants (1.58 - 1 Q each)
1 Dentek Dental Flossers (3.29, no Q--we LOVE these)
Total: $9.25 - $3.50 Q + $1.06 Tax = $6.81
(I should note that this order originally contained two packs of diapers. Alice cancelled that portion of the order due to being sold out and sent me a $5 gift card to use on a future order. However, it looks like they charged tax on the original total--I'll need to email them about that )
Order #2
2 Huggies Jumbo packs diapers (9.69 - 6.20 Q each)
2 lady's speed stick deodorants (1.58 - 1 Q each)
1 men's speed stick deodorant (1.86 - 1 Q)
Total: $24.40 -$15.40 Q + $0.53 Tax = $9.53
Order #3
2 Bounty Paper Towels single rolls (0.84-0.50 Q)
1 Mean envelopes 50 count (0.85 - 0.50 Q)
1 White Rain Body Wash (0.97 - 0.50 Q)
1 Kleenex Tissues (0.98 - 0.50 Q)
1 Softsoap Hand Soap (1.06 - 0.50 Q)
1 Jergens Hand Wash (1.16 - 0.50 Q)
1 Ajax antibacterial dish soap (1.10 - 0.50 Q)
1 Downy Wrinkle Releaser, full size bottle (1.59, no Q)
Total: $9.39 - $4 Q - $5 gift card (from order #1) + $0.33 Tax = $0.72
Order #4
1 Downy Wrinkle Releaser, travel size (1.59 - 1 Q)
2 Suave Shampoo (1.10 - 0.55 Q each)
5 Tide In Wash Laundry booster (3 different types, 3.36- 1.50 Q each)
2 Dawn ultra concentrated Dishwashing liquid (1.34 - 0.55 Q each)
Total $23.27 - $10.70 Q + $0.75 Tax = $13.32
GRAND TOTALS: $66.31 - $33.60 Q + $2.67 Tax = $35.38 - $5 Gift Card = $30.38!
And best of all, as far as I'm concerned, those prices include shipping. So I saved time, gas, money, AND the headaches of shopping with two toddlers and a preschooler. What could be better than that?
If you sign up via a referral link like this one, you will get a $10 gift card added to your account once you have spent $50. And the $50 total is PRE-coupon--I have already qualifed for my gift card, even though I have really only 'spent' $30.38 of my own money. Pretty sweet deal :D
If you haven't tried Alice yet, it really is simple. Go Here , create an account (it takes about a minute) and start shopping. I always go to 'other ways to shop' in the upper right corner, then choose '50 best deals' from the drop down menu. After I choose which of the best deals I want I use the room by room or the search function to find any other products I need. This new site is going to revolutionize the way we shop for household consumables, I'm sure of it!
*A word about Alice coupons (which I have notated with a Q in my order summaries). Alice coupons are applied automatically when you place an item with a coupon in your shopping cart. However, they are limited use--usually only once or twice per customer. You may purchase as many items as you wish (for example, you can buy 10 packs of diapers) but if the coupon is limit one, you will only get one discount, the other items will be regular price. This allows more buyers to get in on the deals. It's a little bit frustrating to only be able to order one or two of an item I really want, but if it were unlimited, the first few people to find the deal would buy the entire stock, so this way is a little more fair.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Deal Alerts
These are just some deals I felt were worth mentioning. Some may last a while, some will be gone quickly, so if you see something you want, order now :D
1. Fisher-Price Ready 2Wear Baby Monitor
Kohls.com Original $49.99/Now $19.99 ($16.99 after 15% coupon)
Valid coupon codes: (you can combine one % off coupon with the Free shipping coupon)
AUGUST15 15% off w/Kohls Charge
SAVE20AUG 20% off $100 or more w/Kohls Charge
PERKSPOT100 15% off $100 or more (no kohls charge necessary)
MVC1383 Free Shipping
This is the baby monitor we use for our twins, and it's incredible. The parent's monitor is so light--we wear it on our wrists like a watch and I actually forget I'm wearing it until I hear the boys. It has crystal clear sound and a great range. Walmart.com has this same monitor on clearance for $49.
2. Alice.com
Today's deals on this awesome site include Bic Razors, Men's or Lady's Speed Stick Deodorant, and Suave Shampoo & Conditioner all for less than $1 each after coupon. As always, two day shipping is free. I don't really like the Suave shampoos for my hair, but they make great body wash, and so much cheaper than the actual 'body wash' in same or similar scents! Don't need or use these products? Order two Lady's Speed Stick, Two Men's Speed Stick, Four Shampoos, Two Conditioners, and two packs of razors. Now put one deodorant, one pack of razors, and a shampoo into four bags or baskets, adding the conditioners to the containers with the women's deodorants. For under $10, including the tax, you now have either four gifts for kids who have just left for college, four 'emergency packs' for guests in your home, or four bags to donate to a school, homeless shelter, batterred women's shelter, home for teens--the list goes on!! You could even add Reach toothbrushes for $0.90 & Aquafresh toothpaste for $0.97!!
3. Gevalia
Gevalia always has good deals, especially for new customers. Follow the link above and enter the code of your choice from below:
121374 Three Half-pound boxes of coffee or tea & a travel mug for $3
166272 Two half-pound boxes of coffee or tea & a programmable coffee maker for $10
120823 Coffee maker, caraffe, Travel mug, and two boxes of coffee or tea for $14.95 !!!
1. Fisher-Price Ready 2Wear Baby Monitor
Kohls.com Original $49.99/Now $19.99 ($16.99 after 15% coupon)
Valid coupon codes: (you can combine one % off coupon with the Free shipping coupon)
AUGUST15 15% off w/Kohls Charge
SAVE20AUG 20% off $100 or more w/Kohls Charge
PERKSPOT100 15% off $100 or more (no kohls charge necessary)
MVC1383 Free Shipping
This is the baby monitor we use for our twins, and it's incredible. The parent's monitor is so light--we wear it on our wrists like a watch and I actually forget I'm wearing it until I hear the boys. It has crystal clear sound and a great range. Walmart.com has this same monitor on clearance for $49.
2. Alice.com
Today's deals on this awesome site include Bic Razors, Men's or Lady's Speed Stick Deodorant, and Suave Shampoo & Conditioner all for less than $1 each after coupon. As always, two day shipping is free. I don't really like the Suave shampoos for my hair, but they make great body wash, and so much cheaper than the actual 'body wash' in same or similar scents! Don't need or use these products? Order two Lady's Speed Stick, Two Men's Speed Stick, Four Shampoos, Two Conditioners, and two packs of razors. Now put one deodorant, one pack of razors, and a shampoo into four bags or baskets, adding the conditioners to the containers with the women's deodorants. For under $10, including the tax, you now have either four gifts for kids who have just left for college, four 'emergency packs' for guests in your home, or four bags to donate to a school, homeless shelter, batterred women's shelter, home for teens--the list goes on!! You could even add Reach toothbrushes for $0.90 & Aquafresh toothpaste for $0.97!!
3. Gevalia
Gevalia always has good deals, especially for new customers. Follow the link above and enter the code of your choice from below:
121374 Three Half-pound boxes of coffee or tea & a travel mug for $3
166272 Two half-pound boxes of coffee or tea & a programmable coffee maker for $10
120823 Coffee maker, caraffe, Travel mug, and two boxes of coffee or tea for $14.95 !!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
What is SWAGBUCKS?
Swagbucks (click on the title of this post to follow my referral link) is a search engine where you randomly earn swagbucks (points) for searches. You can also earn them through swagcodes (random codes giving free points, usually posted on their blog or twitter, and often posted on the swagbucks thread on slickdeals.net), referrals, trading in your old cell phones, etc. 45 swagbucks will buy you a $5 amazon gift code. They have other prizes as well, but I'm all about the amazon codes. I've been a member for a month or so, and I have so far earned two $5 amazon gift codes. I have earned these through NO MORE than ten minutes a day of searches (I usually search for a few minutes in the morning until I get a swagbuck reward, and a few minutes in the evening until I get a swagbuck reward). It really is incredibly easy.
In addition, for the first 100 swagbucks a referral earns, you earn swagbucks, too. So if you use my link, I will get something out of it. Of course, this also means that for everyone that signs up with YOU as a referral and earns swagbucks, you get swagbucks, too. I've heard of people with so many referrals that they earn a $5 amazon gift code every couple of days. Sounds great, but it would take a LOT of referrals, since you stop earning points from each referral after the first 100.
In addition, for the first 100 swagbucks a referral earns, you earn swagbucks, too. So if you use my link, I will get something out of it. Of course, this also means that for everyone that signs up with YOU as a referral and earns swagbucks, you get swagbucks, too. I've heard of people with so many referrals that they earn a $5 amazon gift code every couple of days. Sounds great, but it would take a LOT of referrals, since you stop earning points from each referral after the first 100.
What is ALICE?
Alice (Click the Title of this post to follow my referral link to the site) is a new way to shop for household items. They have pretty much every conceivable non-grocery consumable you would use in your home (trash bags, diapers, deodorant, soap), and a lot of pantry grocery items (tea, coffee, granola bars). Their prices are comparable to Walmart--some are slightly higher, but since you save gas, time, and frustration by NOT having to drive to walmart, it works out better in my opinion :D. Of course, some items can occassionally be found in brick and mortar stores at a better price when you combine coupons and sales, but they have their OWN coupons as well, and the items with coupons tend to be really really good deals. I suggest anyone shopping there go to "other ways to shop" in the tool bar at the top of the page, and choose 'shop the best deals'. This gives you a list of the 50 best deals (based on percentage off) on the site. I recently got jumbo packs of Huggies for $3.49 each, a price I have NEVER gotten in a brick and mortar store (I have gotten a similar price on Pampers, but that was well over a year ago with a Target super sale, and I haven't been able to replicate it :( . )
It should be noted that the coupons are limited use--usually only one or two uses per customer. This keeps people from buying all of the available items before anyone else gets a shot at them, so while I'd rather be able to buy 20 packs of cheap diapers, I'll settle for one or two. Still, though, this site could be a great time and money saver for busy frugalists!! :D
It should be noted that the coupons are limited use--usually only one or two uses per customer. This keeps people from buying all of the available items before anyone else gets a shot at them, so while I'd rather be able to buy 20 packs of cheap diapers, I'll settle for one or two. Still, though, this site could be a great time and money saver for busy frugalists!! :D
A Kohl's Primer
Kohl's is my new favorite store. Their items tend to be good quality, and with careful shopping, you can get GREAT deals. I've gotten shoes for the boys for $3 a pair, children's clothes for $2-$3 an outfit, clothes for me for $4 or less each piece, men's polos for $6 each, bath towels for less than $3 each, king sized bed sheets for $10 a set--all those prices with shipping included!! It is not unusual to find items on kohls site for 80%-90% off, and then get another 15%-30% off of THOSE prices, with free shipping! Plus, they regularly do something called 'kohl's cash', when you get a $10 in store coupon for each $50 you spend. To get the best deals, though, you need to know a few things about kohls.
1. Get a Kohls credit card. Go to their site and apply. If you are approved, you will get your card number and limit immediately, and can begin shopping right away. Their card, like most store cards, has an outrageous interest rate. But Kohls has cardholder only coupons, both online and in store, almost constantly, including the all important free shipping on any order coupons. If you worry about your ability to pay off your kohls balance in full each month, then get the card, register it to your online account, and then buy a gift card. You can use the gift card to pay for your purchases, and as long as the credit card is chosen as your payment method, you can use the cardholder only coupons. Kohls will use the balance from any gift cards you enter before charging your credit card.
2. Check out sites or forums devoted entirely to kohls deals. I've recently discovered http://www.kohlsbargains.com/ . They post a daily list of items listed by percentage off. I also like the Kohls thread on slickdeals. These sites have done all the deal finding work for you, you just have to choose which ones to buy and purchase them before they go out of stock.
3. There are almost always discount codes for kohls.com. Both of the sites I referred to earlier post all known ones on their front page. You can use one percentage-off coupon and one free shipping coupon per order (in other words, you can't use a 15% off and a 20% off on the same order, even if it's different codes).
4. Kohls return policy is one of the best I've ever seen--If you bought it from kohls or kohls.com, you can return it to a kohls brick and mortar, period, with no time limits--there are reports of people returning items a year or even two years after purchase! If you have the receipt, they will give you your return credit in whatever way you paid--crediting your kohls card, a different credit card, cash, etc. If you used Kohls Cash, any amount you used will be creditted to a kohls merchandise return card (pretty much a gift card). If you EARNED kohls cash with the purchase, you keep your kohls cash, and the items are returned just as I've already described. If you do NOT have your receipt, then you show a photo ID and they'll give you a merchandise return card for whatever amount the item is currently ringing up. If you do not have your receipt but you paid with your kohls card, they can actually look up the amount you paid and credit your account for you (this may be limited to three months, not sure).
5. Kohls customer service is incredible. When some items I ordered arrived broken, I contacted them and they creditted my account. When a little girl's dress I ordered that was listed as a 'set' and showed a picture of matching bloomers arrived sans-bloomers, they credited my account for the entire purchase price and told me to keep the dress. When the computer choked last Black Friday (the big sale day the day after Thanksgiving) and cancelled my order, I reordered the items I wanted and customer service adjusted the total to the Black Friday sales prices. I have only heard of a handful of people who have had bad experiences with Kohls customer service, and hundreds who have had great experiences.
6. Kohls sites/thread vocabulary and frequently used abbreviations:
Email coupons Usually refers to $5 off any purchase coupons via email
When you sign up for kohls' email newsletter, HERE, they will send you a $5 off any in store purchase coupon via email. These can be used on any items, including clearance, and can be combined with kohls cash, % off coupons, etc. They take a week or two to arrive in your email box, and are usually valid for about a month. They are one time use coupons (you can't print out an extra--they are uniquely coded to work just once) and you can only receive one to an email address, ever. Many kohlies spend a few minutes each week creating a free email account and signing it up for kohls' newsletter so they always have a valid coupon available.
Kohls Cash Coupons issued by Kohls off a future purchase
Kohls Cash events usually last around 10 days. Generally (these are current guidelines) you get one $10 coupon off of a future purchase for every $50 you spend, after discounts and before taxes. The coupons are only valid on IN STORE purchases (though there have been reports of customers contacting customer support when they couldn't get to the store within the time frame and getting the Kohls Cash credited directly to their kohls account) and are usually valid for 10 days to 2 weeks, starting the day after the period when kohls cash can be earned (for example, you last Kohls Cash earning period was August 19-August 24, and the coupons are valid to be spend August 24-September 7).
SCT Secret Cart Trick or Save Cart Trick
Add the item to your cart, save your cart, log out, log back in, the SCT price should now be listed. This frequently only works on certain colors or sizes, and rarely results in a HIGHER price--if that's the case, remove the item from your cart and then re-add it at the lower price just before checking out.
BIS or SIS Back In Stock, Still In Stock
Frequently, kohls items that are sold out will come back in stock in a limited supply. This will sometimes happen a couple of times a day or a few times a week, with only a small supply of items available each time. As with any kohls clearance item, if you want it, buy it quickly--if you wait, it will most likely be gone. If an item you really wanted is out of stock, save the link and check it frequently--odds are, the item will come back in stock eventually, even if only for a few minutes.
PRD Basically a Kohls Item number
There are two types of PRDs--regular & Catalog. You can either search by a known PRD, or go directly to a PRD this way:
kohls.com/kohlsStore/clearance/PRD~123456/.jsp? (regular PRD)
kohls.com/kohlsStore/clearance/PRD~c12345/.jsp? (catalog PRD)
If you know the PRD of an item you want, you can just fill it in to the above and go directly to it. If you are bored, you can also just surf PRDs--make up numbers and check them out. Some have even written programs to do this for you. I'm not one of them :P
Kohlies Self Proclaimed Kohls addicts.
Refers specifically to posters on the slickdeals kohls thread, and generally to any kohls addict.
C4C Check for Change
This is an add-on for Mozilla firefox that automatically checks websites you choose for changes. Kohlies use it frequently to monitor items that have gone out of stock in hopes they will come back in stock.
Hidden Items that are not on the 'public' part of the site
These are usually items that are extremely limited in quantity, and for one reason or another kohls has pulled them from the main part of the site. So, if a pair of shoes is hidden, it will not show up when you go to the shoes section, will not show up when you go to the clearance shoes section, and frequently won't show up if you search for the item name in the search box. Sometimes, it will show up when you type the PRD into the search box, but not always. You must go directly to the item link, either by typing it in, getting it from your own bookmarks or favorites list, or following a link someone posted.
7. My best Kohls deal ever
My mom needed a new set of pots and pans. Kohls had a Rachel Ray set in Green for $159.99, with an SCT of $71.99. I ordered one, as well as a full-priced blue set, and received a total of $30 in kohls cash (15% discount + free shipping). When I decided not to keep the blue one (mom liked the green just fine), I returned it to store, and found out that the green was now ringing up for $35.99. I returned the green set & re-bought it for $35.99 - 15%. I got to keep my kohls cash. There was also a $30 Mail in Rebate. So I paid around $8 (after tax and rebate) AND got $30 in Kohls Cash!!!
1. Get a Kohls credit card. Go to their site and apply. If you are approved, you will get your card number and limit immediately, and can begin shopping right away. Their card, like most store cards, has an outrageous interest rate. But Kohls has cardholder only coupons, both online and in store, almost constantly, including the all important free shipping on any order coupons. If you worry about your ability to pay off your kohls balance in full each month, then get the card, register it to your online account, and then buy a gift card. You can use the gift card to pay for your purchases, and as long as the credit card is chosen as your payment method, you can use the cardholder only coupons. Kohls will use the balance from any gift cards you enter before charging your credit card.
2. Check out sites or forums devoted entirely to kohls deals. I've recently discovered http://www.kohlsbargains.com/ . They post a daily list of items listed by percentage off. I also like the Kohls thread on slickdeals. These sites have done all the deal finding work for you, you just have to choose which ones to buy and purchase them before they go out of stock.
3. There are almost always discount codes for kohls.com. Both of the sites I referred to earlier post all known ones on their front page. You can use one percentage-off coupon and one free shipping coupon per order (in other words, you can't use a 15% off and a 20% off on the same order, even if it's different codes).
4. Kohls return policy is one of the best I've ever seen--If you bought it from kohls or kohls.com, you can return it to a kohls brick and mortar, period, with no time limits--there are reports of people returning items a year or even two years after purchase! If you have the receipt, they will give you your return credit in whatever way you paid--crediting your kohls card, a different credit card, cash, etc. If you used Kohls Cash, any amount you used will be creditted to a kohls merchandise return card (pretty much a gift card). If you EARNED kohls cash with the purchase, you keep your kohls cash, and the items are returned just as I've already described. If you do NOT have your receipt, then you show a photo ID and they'll give you a merchandise return card for whatever amount the item is currently ringing up. If you do not have your receipt but you paid with your kohls card, they can actually look up the amount you paid and credit your account for you (this may be limited to three months, not sure).
5. Kohls customer service is incredible. When some items I ordered arrived broken, I contacted them and they creditted my account. When a little girl's dress I ordered that was listed as a 'set' and showed a picture of matching bloomers arrived sans-bloomers, they credited my account for the entire purchase price and told me to keep the dress. When the computer choked last Black Friday (the big sale day the day after Thanksgiving) and cancelled my order, I reordered the items I wanted and customer service adjusted the total to the Black Friday sales prices. I have only heard of a handful of people who have had bad experiences with Kohls customer service, and hundreds who have had great experiences.
6. Kohls sites/thread vocabulary and frequently used abbreviations:
Email coupons Usually refers to $5 off any purchase coupons via email
When you sign up for kohls' email newsletter, HERE, they will send you a $5 off any in store purchase coupon via email. These can be used on any items, including clearance, and can be combined with kohls cash, % off coupons, etc. They take a week or two to arrive in your email box, and are usually valid for about a month. They are one time use coupons (you can't print out an extra--they are uniquely coded to work just once) and you can only receive one to an email address, ever. Many kohlies spend a few minutes each week creating a free email account and signing it up for kohls' newsletter so they always have a valid coupon available.
Kohls Cash Coupons issued by Kohls off a future purchase
Kohls Cash events usually last around 10 days. Generally (these are current guidelines) you get one $10 coupon off of a future purchase for every $50 you spend, after discounts and before taxes. The coupons are only valid on IN STORE purchases (though there have been reports of customers contacting customer support when they couldn't get to the store within the time frame and getting the Kohls Cash credited directly to their kohls account) and are usually valid for 10 days to 2 weeks, starting the day after the period when kohls cash can be earned (for example, you last Kohls Cash earning period was August 19-August 24, and the coupons are valid to be spend August 24-September 7).
SCT Secret Cart Trick or Save Cart Trick
Add the item to your cart, save your cart, log out, log back in, the SCT price should now be listed. This frequently only works on certain colors or sizes, and rarely results in a HIGHER price--if that's the case, remove the item from your cart and then re-add it at the lower price just before checking out.
BIS or SIS Back In Stock, Still In Stock
Frequently, kohls items that are sold out will come back in stock in a limited supply. This will sometimes happen a couple of times a day or a few times a week, with only a small supply of items available each time. As with any kohls clearance item, if you want it, buy it quickly--if you wait, it will most likely be gone. If an item you really wanted is out of stock, save the link and check it frequently--odds are, the item will come back in stock eventually, even if only for a few minutes.
PRD Basically a Kohls Item number
There are two types of PRDs--regular & Catalog. You can either search by a known PRD, or go directly to a PRD this way:
kohls.com/kohlsStore/clearance/PRD~123456/.jsp? (regular PRD)
kohls.com/kohlsStore/clearance/PRD~c12345/.jsp? (catalog PRD)
If you know the PRD of an item you want, you can just fill it in to the above and go directly to it. If you are bored, you can also just surf PRDs--make up numbers and check them out. Some have even written programs to do this for you. I'm not one of them :P
Kohlies Self Proclaimed Kohls addicts.
Refers specifically to posters on the slickdeals kohls thread, and generally to any kohls addict.
C4C Check for Change
This is an add-on for Mozilla firefox that automatically checks websites you choose for changes. Kohlies use it frequently to monitor items that have gone out of stock in hopes they will come back in stock.
Hidden Items that are not on the 'public' part of the site
These are usually items that are extremely limited in quantity, and for one reason or another kohls has pulled them from the main part of the site. So, if a pair of shoes is hidden, it will not show up when you go to the shoes section, will not show up when you go to the clearance shoes section, and frequently won't show up if you search for the item name in the search box. Sometimes, it will show up when you type the PRD into the search box, but not always. You must go directly to the item link, either by typing it in, getting it from your own bookmarks or favorites list, or following a link someone posted.
7. My best Kohls deal ever
My mom needed a new set of pots and pans. Kohls had a Rachel Ray set in Green for $159.99, with an SCT of $71.99. I ordered one, as well as a full-priced blue set, and received a total of $30 in kohls cash (15% discount + free shipping). When I decided not to keep the blue one (mom liked the green just fine), I returned it to store, and found out that the green was now ringing up for $35.99. I returned the green set & re-bought it for $35.99 - 15%. I got to keep my kohls cash. There was also a $30 Mail in Rebate. So I paid around $8 (after tax and rebate) AND got $30 in Kohls Cash!!!
Welcome!!
Hi!! I hope to use this blog as a place to post deals I've found, advice on frugal living, and ideas on how to best utilize your family's income.
I am a stay at home mommy of three little boys--a four year old and twins who will be two next week. My husband is a high school teacher at a public school, so it's imperative for us to stretch our dollars whenever possible. Moreover, though, we feel that we owe it to ourselves and our boys to steward the monetary resources we have as best we can. If we bought retail, we could afford to feed, clothe, and house our boys. Living frugally, we are able to give them the experiences we want them to have-vacations, museum trips, etc-that we would be unable to afford otherwise. In addition, we are frequently able to donate items (especially health and beauty items) to charities that we support that we would be unable to afford otherwise. It's a win for everyone involved :D
I am a stay at home mommy of three little boys--a four year old and twins who will be two next week. My husband is a high school teacher at a public school, so it's imperative for us to stretch our dollars whenever possible. Moreover, though, we feel that we owe it to ourselves and our boys to steward the monetary resources we have as best we can. If we bought retail, we could afford to feed, clothe, and house our boys. Living frugally, we are able to give them the experiences we want them to have-vacations, museum trips, etc-that we would be unable to afford otherwise. In addition, we are frequently able to donate items (especially health and beauty items) to charities that we support that we would be unable to afford otherwise. It's a win for everyone involved :D
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