Real Deals for Real Moms

There are a lot of deals at Rite Aid this week, as well! Hopefully this is a sign that all of the drugstores will be stepping up their sales in this new year.

Don’t forget to register on the Rite Aid website to receive a $5/$25 coupon (exp. 6/30/09) plus more!

:: Single Check Rebate Deals

Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner or Styler, $3
Get $2 SCR #55 (limit 1)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner, or Treatment, exp. 1-31-09 (RP 10/5/08)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner, or Treatment, exp. 2-9-09 (RP 11/9/08)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner, or Treatment, exp. 5-1-09 (RP 1/04/09)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Style Product, exp. 2-9-09 (RP 11/9/08)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Style Product, exp. 5-1-09 (RP 1/04/09)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Style Product, exp. 1-31-09 (RP 10/5/08)
FREE after coupon and SCR!

Theraflu, $4.99

• Warming Relief Liquid, 8.3 oz.
• Thin Strips, 12 ct.
• Packets or Vapor Patches, 6 ct.
• Caplets, 24 ct.

Get $1 SCR #41 (limit 1)
Theraflu Warming Relief Rebate up to $6.99 (mail-in), exp. 1-31-09 (SS 10/19/08)
$1.50/1 Theraflu Product, exp. 3-31-09 (SS 12/7/08)
$1.50/1 Theraflu Product, exp. 3-31-09 (SS #2 1/4/09)
$2/1 Theraflu Product, exp. 1-31-09 (SS 10/19/08)

~Best Deal~

BUY Theraflu Warming Relief Liquid, 8.3 oz. at $4.99

USE $2/1 Theraflu Product, exp. 1-31-09 (SS 10/19/08)
USE Theraflu Warming Relief Rebate up to $6.99 (mail-in), exp. 1-31-09 (SS 10/19/08)

Better than FREE after coupon, MIR, and SCR!

Durex Condoms 12 ct., $6.99
Get $5 SCR #21 (limit 1)
$1.99 after SCR!

Maalox, $4.99

• Liquid, 12 oz.
• Tablets, 65 or 90 ct.
• Children’s, 32 ct.

Get $2 SCR #42 (limit 1)
$2/1 Maalox Chewable, exp. 1-31-09 (SS 10/19/08)
$2/1 Maalox Liquid, exp. 1-31-09 (SS 10/19/08)
$1.50/1 Maalox Product, exp. 3-31-09 (SS #2 1/4/09)
$0.99 to $1.49 after coupons and SCR!

Duracell Hearing Aid Batteries 6 or 8 pk., $6.99
Get $3 SCR# 5 (limit 2)
$1/1 Duracell Rite Aid coupon (Page 12)
$1/1 Duracell Hearing Aid Batteries with Easy Tab, exp. 1-31-09 (P&G 12/14/08)
$2/1 Duracell Hearing Aid Batteries with Easy Tab, exp. 1-31-09 (P&G 12/28/08)
$0.99 to $1.99 after coupons and SCR!

Powerade 32 oz., buy 5/$5
Get $1 SCR #60 (limit 1)
$1/3 Powerade 32 oz., exp. 2-15-09 (SS 1/4/09)
$0.50 ea. after coupons and SCR!

:: Other Deals

Skippy Peanut Butter 16.3oz, $1.99
$1/2 Skippy Peanut Butter, exp. 02-08-09 (RP 11/16/08)
$1.44 ea. after coupon!

Cottonelle Double Roll 4 pk., 2/$4 (with in-ad coupon Page 11)
$0.50/1 Cottonelle printable
$0.50/1 Cottonelle printable Teal Quick Print on Right Sidebar
$1/2 Cottonelle 4pk.+, exp. 01-11-09 (SS 12/14/08)
$1.50 ea. after coupon!

See the Rite Aid website for additional details on the Single Check Rebates program.

Need a prescription filled? Use this coupon for a $25 Gift Card with any transferred prescription!

photo credit: James Jordan

Aldi’s here to help you get healthy in the New Year!

They’ve got lots of great deals to help you save money while you get fit.




Thanks to Katie at Cincinnati Cents for compiling a list of the best deals to be found at Aldi this week. Find my favs below, and then check out her site for the complete list!

• Rice cakes, $1.29

• Light salad dressings, $1.19

• Multigrain waffles, $1.29

• Lean stuffed sandwiches, $1.89

• Fat free pudding cups, $0.88

Check out Cincinnati Cents for more deals!

Looks like a good week for CVS!

Pick up multiple copies of your Sunday paper to get free Speed Stick deodorant this week, and print your $1.50 Colgate coupons for better than free toothpaste.

Looking for a suggestion on what to do with all this free toothpaste? Check out Mom For Him’s Toothpaste Project.

Don’t forget to check out the new $3 off any CVS Brand coupon to score a free item with your transaction!

:: ECB Deals

Colgate Total Toothpaste, buy 2/$5
Get $2 ECBs (limit 3)
$1.50/1 Colgate Toothpaste printable
Better than FREE after coupons and ECBs!

Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner or Styler, $2.99
Get $2 ECBs (limit 1)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner, or Treatment, exp. 1-31-09 (RP 10/5/08)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner, or Treatment, exp. 2-9-09 (RP 11/9/08)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner, or Treatment, exp. 5-1-09 (RP 1/04/09)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Style Product, exp. 2-9-09 (RP 11/9/08)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Style Product, exp. 5-1-09 (RP 1/04/09)
$1/1 Garnier Fructis Style Product, exp. 1-31-09 (RP 10/5/08)
FREE after coupon and ECBs!

Cottonelle Toilet Tissue 20 pk., $12.97
Get $4 ECBs (limit 5)
$0.50/1 Cottonelle printable
$0.50/1 Cottonelle printable Teal Quick Print on Right Sidebar
$0.50/1 Cottonelle Toilet Paper, exp. 1-11-09 (SS 12/14/08)
$8.47 after coupon and ECBs!

Johnson & Johnson products
Buy $20, Get $10 ECBs
See here for long list.

Mennen Speed Stick, buy 2/$6
Get $3 ECBs (limit 1)
BOGO Speed Stick 24/7 Antiperspirant/Deodorant, exp. 1-24-09 (SS #2 1/4/09)
FREE after coupon and ECBs!

Slim Fast Optima Bars or Shakes 6 ct., $6.49
Get $2 ECBs (limit 5)
$1.25/1 Slim-Fast Bars, any Multi-pack, exp. 3-31-09 (RP 1/4/09)
$1.40/1 Slim Fast Ready-to-Drink Multi-Pack or Powder Canister, exp. 3-31-09 (RP 1/4/09)
$2/1 Slim-Fast Bars printable (register)
$3/2 Slim-Fast Multi-pack printable (register)
$2.49 to $3.24 after coupons and ECBs!

:: Other Deals

Progresso Soup, $2.99 (BOGO)
$1.10/1 Progresso printable
$1/2 Progresso printable
$2/4 Progresso printable
$0.50/2 Progresso Soup, exp. 1-17-09 (SS 11/23/08)
$0.50/2 Progresso Soup, exp. 1-31-09 (SS 12/7/08)
$1/4 Progresso Soup, exp. 1-17-09 (SS 11/23/08)
$1/4 Progresso Soup, exp. 1-31-09 (SS 12/7/08)
$0.40 ea. to $0.99 ea. after coupons!

L’Oreal Cosmetics, psa $3.49 (BOGO)
$2/1 L’Oreal HIP Eye or Lip Product, exp. 3-29-09 (RP 1/4/09)
$2/1 L’Oreal Lip Product, exp. 3-29-09 (RP 1/4/09)
$3/1 L’Oreal Makeup, Powder, Blush or Concealer, exp. 3-29-09 (RP 1/4/09)
$2/1 L’Oreal Paris Eye Product, exp. 3-29-09 (RP 1/4/09)
FREE or cheap after coupons!

Atkins Bars, $1.69 (BOGO)
$1/2 Atkins Single Bar, exp. 3-31-09 (RP 1/4//09)
$0.69 ea. after coupons!

ALL Laundry Detergent 2x or 3x, $7.49 (BOGO)
$1/1 ALL Laundry Detergent printable
$1/1 ALL Free & Clear printable
$2.75 ea. after coupons!

See all ECB deals for the week of 1/4/09-1/10/09 here.

New to CVSing? Want to learn how to create your own CVS deals? Get a quick overview with CVS 101 for Newbies.

Here’s a hot coupon for Bath & Body Works!

Get a free Bath & Body Works Signature Collection Body Lotion 2 oz. with any purchase through January 14th. This would be great paired with the great clearance deals that they have after the holidays!

The following is a guest post from Cheryl at Swap Savers.

photo credit: ninjapoodles

Swap Savers a social network for frugal folks who love freebies, coupons & rewards.  Check it out!

Nothing pains me more than to realize my coupon is expired or forgotten at home. If you forgot your coupon or have an expired coupon, here are some tips to prevent or correct this situation.

:: Preventive Tips

Mark your Calendar – If you have a great coupon or rewards coupon (such as CVS Extra Bucks or Best Buy Rewards), mark the expiration date on your calendar. You can also make a notation to use the coupon at least a week or two before it expires.

Use the Coupon Immediately – If you use the coupon as soon as possible, you decrease your chance of forgetting or losing it. Also, if you wait until the last minute to use the coupon, you may be unable to make it to the store (if you get sick, etc.).

Coupon Organizer – If you use a coupon organizer, you can identify coupons which may expire soon by placing them in a certain location or using a sticky tab on the soon to expire coupons.

Coupon=Wallet – Treat your coupons like dollar bills and bring them wherever you would bring your wallet. Using a coupon organizer makes it easier to transport your coupons in the car or store similar to a wallet holding your dollar bills.

:: Corrective Tips

Ask if Store Accepts Expired Coupons – Some stores will accept expired coupons, especially if it is a store coupon such as Bed and Bath. If a manufacturer’s coupon is only a day or two expired, some stores will also accept the coupon.

Ask about Coupon Reimbursement – If you forget your coupons, ask if the store will reimburse you the next time you shop. Most stores will reimburse you the coupons amount if you bring the coupon and receipt to customer service the next time you shop.

Call Customer Service – If you let a rewards coupon expire (such as CVS Extra Bucks or Best Buy Rewards) and the store will not accept the coupon, try calling customer service. One time my Best Buy Rewards coupon expired and the store would not accept it. After calling customer service, I was sent a “one-time reissue” of the rewards coupon.

:: Other Suggestions

Donate Expired Coupons – U.S. military families stationed overseas are able to use expired coupons on base for up to six months after the manufacturer’s expiration date. You can adopt a base. Here is a link http://www.ocpnet.org/base_list.htm.

These are great suggestions. It definitely pays to know the policies on expired coupons for the stores that you frequent! Do you have any additional creative uses for expired coupons?

Check it out! ALL YOU has a special issue that will show up in Walmarts everywhere today, Friday, January 2nd.

Run out and purchase your copy of ALL YOU Health & Fitness for information to improve your health, diet, and exercise routine, as well as these money-saving coupons!

Don’t forget to use your $0.50 off coupon that was in the January issue. This issue is $4.43 ($3.93 after coupon), so you’ll have to weigh whether or not the coupons and information are worth the price.

$5/1 Black Lace Eau de Toilette Spray
$1.50/1 Any Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste
$1/1 Any VIACTIV product
$5/1 Aquafresh White Trays Pro-Gentle System
$3/1 Any Monistat Yeast Infection Product
$1/1 8th Continent Soymilk, 64 fl. oz. size
$0.50/1 ALL YOU Magazine
$1/1 Healthy Choice Café Steamers

Looking for a fabulous deal on an ALL YOU subscription?  See how you can get a 2-year ALL YOU subscription for just $19.95!

photo credit: *L*u*z*a*

I guess technically I should say a look back at the second half of 2008 since I only started this blog mid-June, but you get the idea.

I’m still amazed at all that has happened since then and ever so thankful that Mandi talked me into starting a blog with her. (BTW, check out her new venture, OrganizingYourWay.net!) I never imagined that what I started as a fun creative outlet on a whim could have developed into this site!

I thought I’d just take a moment to share some of my favorite posts from the past 6 months, as well as some goals I have for 2009 and some exciting things that are on the horizon.

:: Top 5 Favorite Posts

• Redbox 101: Your Guide to Renting Free and Cheap DVDs – Redbox is one of my favorite resources for cheap or even FREE entertainment, and this guide details everything you need to know about how to use those codes I post every Monday. I was even lucky enough to be able to provide my readers with 5 exclusive Elevenmoms Redbox codes!




• Make Your Own Clorox Anywhere Recipe – I love this stuff, but I didn’t love the price, so I worked out a comparable recipe!




• Frugal Feeding Tips for Babies and Toddlers – This is my very first vlog! In it I share some creative ways I’ve learned to save money on feeding my kids.




• All About ALL YOU Magazine – I filled you in on all the reasons why I love this fabulous magazine, and I had the great pleasure of meeting with two of the editors during my trip to Walmart headquarters in Bentonville.  If you’re an ALL YOU fan as well, be sure to check out how you can get a 2-year ALL YOU subscription for just $19.95!




• Troubled Times Ahead: How to Survive a Job Loss or Layoff – I was hesitant to share the news of my husband’s recent layoff because I want Deal Seeking Mom to be a positive space; however, many of you assured me that ultimately my post was positive because I offered useful tips for others facing the same situation. Thank you so much for your support!

:: My 2009 Goals for Deal Seeking Mom

• Have a better balance of posts – I enjoy posting the deals, but frequently the meatier stuff gets squeezed out.  I’d like to do a better job of incorporating real articles that will be of value to my readers.  If there’s a topic you’d like me to cover, I’m all ears!  I know one that I promised and I’m frequently asked about is how to start a blog, so that is definitely on my agenda.
• Vlog more often – I enjoy vlogging, but I’m such a perfectionist that I feel like I have to keep redoing and editing them until they’re just right.  I’m trying to get in the mindset that it’s okay to show my flaws a little, because we all have them, so look for those more regularly in the coming months.
• Learn more about SEO – SEO is search engine optimization and is basically tips that help your site rank higher in online searches.  I’m hoping to learn more not only to help Deal Seeking Mom but to be able to pass some of the knowledge on to you all.
• Tweak the organization a little – I want all of my readers to be able to find the information I provide easily, so I’m going to work on the navigation of the site a little.  There’s also the possibility of a redesign in a few months, but I’ll take it one step at a time here.
• Interact more with readers – I’ve been a little hit or miss on this front.  I’d love to be able to follow back and comment back on all of your blogs, but that would take a significant amount of time every day.  But I do think that there’s room for improvement here.

:: New Things on the Horizon

• The Elevenmoms will have a channel on Blog Talk Radio, and I’m so excited to be teaming up with Mercedes of Common Sense with Money on a show! I don’t have much in the way of details just yet, but we’re pretty certain that it will be for 30 minutes on Thursday afternoons at 3:00 EST. More to come on this one!
• I’ve taken on the position of co-editor of the Financial Bliss channel on Blissfully Domestic. If you’re interested in writing for Financial Bliss, please contact me at tara (at) blissfullydomestic (dot) com for details!
• I’m speaking at BlissDom! If you have chance to attend this event, I believe it will be well worth your while.  I’m really looking forward to meeting so many people that I’ve only talked to online previously.  There’s still time for you to register!
• I’m also scheduled to attend South by Southwest and BlogWorld with the Elevenmoms. I’m hoping to squeeze in BlogHer as well, but I may have to look for sponsorship on my own.  Either way this is going to be a busy year!  I’m up for the challenge, and hopefully I’ll bring something back from each event that will be useful for my readers as well.

I’m looking forward to continuing on this blogging journey and whatever new opportunities may come my way, and I’m thankful to have so many fabulous readers along for the ride.

May 2009 be a healthy and fruitful year for us all!

It’s January first, and that means new coupons are available at Coupons.com!

Top brands this month include Betty Crocker, Big G Cereals, Cheerios, Green Giant, Pillsbury, and Yoplait. The best coupons always go fast, so don’t wait for a sale matchup if you see something you know you will use. Be sure to print them now before they reach their print limits!

Print yours from Coupons.com before they’re gone! You can also print them from the teal quick print widget on the right sidebar.

Some of my favorites:

• $0.50/1 Tabasco (free or very cheap when doubled!)
• $1.10/2 Old El Paso (free or cheap taco seasoning!)
• $0.50/1 Wacky Mac (free or very cheap when doubled!)
• $0.60/1 Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers (cheap at Walmart!)
• $0.40/1 Betty Crocker Box or Pouch Potatoes (cheap at Walmart!)
• $5/1 Kodak Picture Movie DVD
• $3/1 Dryel Starter Kit or Refill
• $1/1 Kraft or Polly-O String Cheese

There are several more that I’ll be printing, but obviously you should check them out for yourself.  I’ll be matching them up with sales over the next week of course , but in the meantime you may want to print out your favorites in case they don’t last!

Do you know of a hot deal using any of the new coupons? Share it in the comments or let me know and I’ll post it for everyone!

photo credit: James Jordan

There are tons of great coupons coming out this Sunday, so I’d recommend buying additional copies.

As an example at Giant Eagle this week, if you buy 10 copies of the Columbus Dispatch at $1.75, you can get 10 bottles of Powerade Zero, 10 packages of Electrasol, 10 Luden’s Cough Drops, and 10 L’Oreal Kids Products for $33.40. That includes the cost of the paper, and there are tons of other great coupons that we’ll be putting to use over the next few weeks!

Thanks to Jen at Cherry Picker for compiling a list of the best deals to be found at Giant Eagle this week. Find my favs below, and then check out her site for the complete list!

$2.00 off instantly wyb 10 Powerade
– Powerade, $1.00
$0.40/1 Powerade Zero, exp. 2-15-09 (SS#2 1/4/09)
FREE after 10 coupons!

Finish/Electrasol, $3.59
$2.50/1 Finish/Electrasol Powerball Tabs, Gelpacs or Quantum, exp. 2-1-09 (SS 1/4/09)
$1.09 after coupon!

Luden’s Cough Drops, $1.00
$1/1 Luden’s Throat Drops, any 30 ct., exp. 4-4-09 (V 1/4/09)
FREE after coupon!

L’Oreal Kids, $2.00
$0.75/1 L’Oreal Kids Product, exp. 3-29-09 (V 1/4/09)
$0.50 after coupon!

Check out Cherry Picker for more deals!