Money Saving Minnesotan

Waterpark of America passes for only $11!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:59:00 +0000

Ignore the fact the picture is dated 2008 -- this kids play area looks the same today as far as I can tell!

Right now through September 30, 2011, you can get half day passes to the Waterpark of America for just $11 when you print this coupon.

We went today, and to our surprise, they actually gave us all day wristbands! I'm not sure if they're doing this for everyone anyway, or if it was just a fluke. My 5 and 3 year old even went on the bigger slides with us and LOVED them!

Amazon: Pampers Easy Ups for as little as 17 cents each!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 03:38:00 +0000

I love when I can buy things cheaper online than in the store!!! Right now, Amazon has Pampers Easy Ups marked down to $29.00. But wait, here's how you can get a value box for just $18.80!

Sign up or Login to your Amazon Mom account.
Click on Pampers Easy Ups Trainers for Girls Value Pack, Size 2T-3T, 108 Count
Clip the $1.50 off coupon (it should show up near the center of the page if you scroll down a bit).
Choose Subscribe and Save* at Checkout -- typically seen on the righthand side of the page.
Pay just $18.80 for 108 Easy Ups!

You can also get the Pampers Easy Ups Trainers for Girls Value Pack, Size 3T-4T, 96 Count for $18.80 which comes out to $0.20 cents each instead.

If you have a little guy, the Pampers Easy Ups Trainers for Boys Value Pack, Size 3T/4T, 96 Count is also available for the same price.

*Subscribe & Save means that they will automatically ship out the product every month (or however often you've selected for delivery) at whatever the price is each time, so the sale price is not guaranteed the next time. But, the great thing about Subscribe & Save is that you can get it now and easily go back into your account and click on Manage Subscribe and Save Items if you don't want these to be automatically shipped every month. Just wait until you know your product has shipped out first :)

Chili's: Free Kids Meals TONIGHT only!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 20:05:00 +0000

Have kids? Don't feel like making dinner tonight? Live near a Chili's? You're in luck! Chili's is offering two free kids meals per adult entree purchased with this coupon! This offer is good tonight, August 8th, only.

The Children's Place: Free Shipping TODAY only + 15% off

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:56:00 +0000

The Children's Place is offering free shipping on their site today. I spotted a couple of cute $2.99 shirts and a pair of $1.49 flip flops in clearance for my kids for next summer!

Things are going fast, so if you're thinking of ordering here, the sooner the better. Use the code X3E2011 for an extra 15% off your order!

Taco Bell: 99 cent Nachos Supreme!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 19:45:00 +0000

Taco Bell has Nachos Supreme for just $0.99 until August 27! I'm excited, because I normally order this whenever I go to Taco Bell. I think I'll go just for this one day soon!

SuperAmerica: Double Gas Coupon Tuesdays!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:01:00 +0000

Okay, who misses the gas price seen above??? While I wish I could bring that back, I can't... However, for all you Minnesotan readers -- Tuesday is THE day to fill your tank, no doubt about it.

All corporate owned SuperAmerica Gas Stations in Minnesota will double any gas coupon, including competitor gas coupons, every Tuesday. If you're unsure if your store is participating, a simple call over should help you answer that question.

Some stores will accept printable gas coupons while others will not, so please respect your store's decision. There are almost always gas coupons on the back of grocery store receipts, especially if you shop at Cub or Rainbow -- so check the back of those receipts! Some areas may also get gas coupons in the mail -- I have seen some come in my area's "Super Savers" booklet chock-full of coupons for various stores in the area.

If you are not a SuperAmerica Speedy Rewards member, you might want to consider signing up as you can get points from your gas & merchandise purchases to use on future gas purchases. And if you buy gift cards to pay for your gas, that's even more points toward your next gas purchase. A $100 SA Gift Card is 1000 points. And you get 10 points for each gallon you put into your car at each fill up -- so a 16 gallon tank gets you 160 points. Once you reach 8750 points, you can turn those points in for 50 cents off per gallon -- BUT on a double Tuesday it ends up being $1.00 off per gallon -- which means you can get $25.00 off a single gas purchase if you have a 25 gallon tank (the max)! That's a pretty awesome deal in my book.

Also don't forget, if you shop at Rainbow, sign up for their rewards card & you'll get money towards gas purchases at BP every time you shop at Rainbow -- so that's another way to save on gas!

Your turn -- What are some other ways you save money on gas?

Kmart: Box of Pampers Diapers for $12.99

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:20:00 +0000

For all mothers & fathers out there with little ones in diapers, this is a deal worth getting excited about! K-mart is reportedly printing catalinas at the register for $10 when you spend $35 or more in Pampers products.

Deal Scenario:

Buy two Pampers Big Boxes of Diapers at $19.99 each
Use two $2/1 Pampers coupon from the 7/31 P&G coupon insert
Get a $10 catalina back to use on a future purchase
Total after all discounts: $12.99 per box!

Happy Savings!

Starbucks Bistro Boxes Sweepstakes

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:33:00 +0000

Goodness, don't these new Starbucks Bistro Boxes look yummy!? Well, they are giving away 2 bistro boxes & 2 grande beverages to 250 lucky winners! Enter for your chance to win by texting BISTRO to 697289 -- you have until August 14th to enter!

HOT Amazon: Digital Scale for $10.95 shipped!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 15:13:00 +0000

What an amazing deal over on Amazon right now! This Ozeri Pro Digital Kitchen Food Scale has a list price of $39.95, but you can get it for just $10.95 shipped when you use the coupon code SUPERSAV at checkout. This scale has really great reviews, too! Think wedding gifts... Christmas gifts... Birthday gifts... or just get one for yourself at this hot price! Don't wait as I suspect this price won't last long!

Stockpiling 101

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 15:46:00 +0000

If you've ever watched the TV show Extreme Couponing, you probably think of a stockpile to be housed in a garage with 500 deodorants, 1000 tubes of toothpaste, and so on... Well, this is certainly not the case in my house! The picture above is my actual bath & body stockpile. Yes, that is all of it. In that tiny under-the-sink cabinet. I didn't pay more than a buck for any given item. Most of it was free after combining a sale with a coupon.

And that works for us. Rarely do I have more than five or six of anything at once in there. I find that pretty much everything goes back on sale again before I run out. Sometimes I even skip sales because I have enough in there.

So, you ask how I do it? Well, I changed the way I shop. Instead of shopping based on need at the moment, I shop ahead -- for what I WILL need in the next 3-4 months. A good way to figure out how much you need to buy is by writing down the products you and your family use, and how many of those you go through in a certain time period. That'll give you a rough estimate of how many you'll need over the course of 3-4 months (which is usually the longest a typical item goes before it's back on sale again).

How do I know it'll go back on sale? This is something I learned during my first year of couponing -- sales typically run in cycles of four to twelve weeks, depending on the product.

I also went a step further, and wrote down the regular prices of those typical items that I buy at two stores that I frequently shop at. So, when I got the ad in the Sunday paper, I'd know if it was a good sale or not. And by a good sale, I don't mean a measly 12 cents off... My general guideline -- a good sale to me is when I can get the product for at least 75% off using a coupon in conjunction with the sale.

So, instead of running out and using your coupon the minute you get it, hang onto those coupons! Most coupons don't expire for a month or longer -- therefore giving you a chance to use your coupon during a sale and maximizing your savings.

I find that being flexible on what brand you use can be another way to save. For example, I was using Dove deodorant for a long time, but when I found a great coupon for Degree deodorant, I clipped it out of each Sunday paper coupon insert that I had (I usually get two or three each week) and hung onto it. Two weeks later there was an amazing deal on the twin-packs, making them free with the high-value coupons I had. Can't hurt to try a new deodorant, especially when it's free!

There are some things that I am brand loyal to, though. So, if that's how you are -- then watch those prices like a hawk over the next 3-4 months and soon enough, you'll know the lowest price you can get that product for.

Oh, and stockpiling is most certainly not limited to just bath & body items. You can stockpile anything from food to healthcare items to clothing, and YES, even those school supplies!

More HOT Gerber Graduate Coupons!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 15:26:00 +0000

Head on over to coupons.com to print rare Gerber Graduates coupons!

$1/2 Gerber Graduates Yogurt Melts or Fruit & Veggie Melts
$0.55/1 Gerber Graduates Pasta Pick-ups Ravioli or Lil' Meals
$1/1 Gerber Graduates Lil' Entrees Selections

They're under zip code 55113 if you don't see them. Click the "Food" Tab on the left hand side of the page to find them quicker.

Don't forget the $1/1 Gerber Graduates Puffs or Lil' Crunchies Snacks is still available if you haven't printed it twice already.

And Gerber Graduates are going to be 10% off at Target starting tomorrow from what I hear!

Once Upon A Child: $1 Clearance starts TODAY

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 14:55:00 +0000

Once Upon A Child has clothes on clearance, and they are going to be just $1 starting TODAY, July 9th in the Maple Grove and Eden Prairie locations ONLY. More info on the flyer here.

Thanks, Pocket Your Dollars!

Save on Kids Clothing: Summer Sales are on!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 05:26:00 +0000

One way I attempt to save money is by buying clothes at the end of each season for next year when that season's clothing goes on clearance for around 75 or more % off. My kids have been pretty good about following the "typical sizes" for their age, so it's made it easier to guess what size they'll be in the following year.

For both of my kids, I aim to buy shirts and shorts for less than $5 each. Sometimes I get lucky and snag things for just pennies on the dollar. The lower, the better!

Here's a confession: Sometimes I'll think I'm getting a great deal on all these adorable name brand clothes, but then when I buy 15+ shirts and 10+ shorts for each kiddo, some things might only get worn once, or even worse, not at all! And then I forget they are also both each a size down from their same-age cousins, so we usually also get a few hand-me-downs on top of what I bought... So, I'm setting a new goal for myself for our clothing "stock up" for next summer. Each child will have 3-4 play shorts, 2-3 nicer shorts, and a coordinating shirt for each. I think that's about all they really need, plus their basics (socks & undies, shoes & a jacket)! Actually, they could get by with less, but hey, baby steps here -- I'm a child clothing shopaholic (!!!) attempting to do better. One thing is for sure -- it would definitely help keep the laundry from piling up.

July is a clearance month, so keep your eye out for clothing to go on clearance. Some stores are already clearancing out, so you might want to check them sooner rather than later for the best selection. Other stores will have better sales toward the end of July.

Children's Place is having their Final Clearance Sale with items up to 75% off. I see plenty of clothing and shoes for just a couple of bucks. Take an extra 15% off with the coupon code H3E2011, or if you purchase over $50, get 20% off with the code D9DZ2CWM7C. Shipping is free with orders of $75+, otherwise it is a flat $5.

Gymboree is having their semi-annual Red Balloon Sale, and you can take an extra 20% off already reduced prices for up to 70% off the original price. I see many clothing items for less than $5. Some are priced at $2.99 or $3.99 in the clearance section, which is great for this brand. Shipping is $5 flat.

The Disney Store is having their Warehouse Clearance Event with items up to 70% off. Disney clothing and accessories are always in popular demand, so I'd recommend checking the sale out sooner rather than later if you have a child who loves Disney characters. Shipping over $50 is free with the code SHIPONLINE. You might also be able to get 25% off toys with the code TOY25.

Kohl's is having their Gold Star Clearance Sale, and it appears you can save up to 80%! There is a coupon code for an extra 15% off through Sunday when you use the code EXTRA15 at checkout. This could make for some pretty sweet deals. Shipping is $0.99 per item or free when you spend over $75 with the code SHOPNSHIP.

Baby/Kid Gap clothing seems to still be priced a bit high in my book, so I'd hold out if you can. If you can't, you can get an extra 20% off with the coupon code GAPSAVE today (Friday 7/8) and tomorrow (Saturday 7/9) only. Gap orders ship free when you buy $50+ worth.

Don't forget to check out your favorite stores websites or check your e-mail if you subscribe to their newsletters -- you might be surprised to see they're having sales going on now, too!

Question for you -- What are ways you save money on kids clothing?

Back to School: Sales are on!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:24:00 +0000

Summer is flying by! It seems that every year as soon as the 4th of July is over, the stores are stocking their shelves with Back to School supplies again. This means the school supply sales have started already and will continue for a couple of weeks until everything is jacked up in price.

My advice: Start watching the ads and stocking up on what you need now instead of waiting until mid-August and realizing you need everything from A to Z and everything is ridiculously overpriced (back to full price). Don't ask me how I know this...

Here are some deals:

-- Target currently has printable coupons for BIC, PaperMate, Scotch, Sharpie, and several more school supplies available on their website. You can score FREE Scotch Tape and PaperMate Pens along with cheap twin packs of Sharpie markers with these coupons over at Target right now.

But, wait until next week and you can also get a FREE twin pack of Sharpies with the Target coupon since I hear they'll be on sale for $1.00 this coming Sunday!

-- Staples has Staples 8.5"x11" Photo Paper ($14.99) and Bic Brite Liner Yellow Highlighters ($4.00) for FREE after Easy Rebate until Saturday, along with a few $0.50 deals. They also have these coupons for 75% off select items if you're in need of any of those. Starting Sunday, they will start their $0.01 deals!

HOT Tanga: Simple & Delicious Magazine for $6.99

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 17:19:00 +0000

Simple & Delicious is one of my absolute favorite magazines ever. (Hint Hint, all you people who ask me where I get my recipes from...) I used to subscribe to this magazine for a couple of years until it ended and I just never renewed. But when I saw this deal on Tanga, I couldn't resist! Retail value is nearly $24, but use the code SIMPLE at checkout to get this magazine for just $6.99/year.

Tanga: Disney's Family Fun Magazine for $3.50/yr

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 03:02:00 +0000

Tanga.com is known for their magazine deals, and right now you can snag Disney's Family Fun for just $3.50 per year** when you enter the code DISNEY at checkout.

I LOVE this magazine and have found it to have so many great ideas and tips. Within the magazine, you'll find learning activities, vacation planning, travel tips, and reviews of children’s books, videos, and music, etc.

**Side note: Tanga deals often increase in price after more and more people purchase the deal, so if this is something you're thinking about getting -- making up your mind sooner rather than later is recommended!

Arby's: BOGO Free Jamocha Oreo Shake

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:52:00 +0000

I love milkshakes and this coupon for a Free Jamocha Oreo Shake when you buy another over at Arby's is making me want one now. It looks delicious :)

Barnes & Noble: Buy One Get One Free Smoothie!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:49:00 +0000

If you're near a Barnes & Noble, you might want to check out this coupon for a FREE Smoothie when you buy another one (good through 7/11). Yum!

Lego Stores: Free Monthly Mini Model Build TONIGHT

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:44:00 +0000

If you're looking for something fun to do with your elementary aged kiddos this evening, head out to a Lego Store in your area for their FREE Monthly Lego Mini Model Build. Tonight's model is a Lego Lighthouse, and you get to take your model home with you!

The only store in Minnesota is at the Mall of America, and the event is geared towards kids ages 6-14. It starts at 5 PM and lasts until supplies run out this evening.

HOT MyHabit.com: Get $25 off through August 1

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 18:33:00 +0000

WOW! MyHabit.com has got a *HOT* new coupon code for $25 off your order when you use the coupon code SUMMER25 through August 1st.

They have got some cute Barn Organics baby clothes on there right now, but they are going FAST. Since the coupon is good until 8/1, you could hold out -- they seem to change the items they offer almost on a daily basis so it's almost guaranteed you'll find something you like on there.

Remember, orders from MyHabit.com ship free, too. I recently purchased Kidorable Rainboots for my kids through this site and it was delivered to my front door three days later -- talk about great turnaround time!

Coupons.com: New Coupons to Print!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 15:07:00 +0000

Head on over to coupons.com to see the full list of printable coupons available! There are many great ones to be had such as these:

$1/1 Skittles, Starburst, or Life Savers Candy
$1/1 Edy's Fruit Bars
$1/1 OPI Nail Polish
$0.75/1 Cocoa Puffs Brownie Crunch Cereal
$0.75/2 Nature Valley Granola Bars
$0.75/3 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks
$0.50/1 Bisquick Baking Mix
and many MORE!

Enjoy the savings!

Free P&G Coupon Booklet: over $35 in savings!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:55:00 +0000

I love these P&G coupon booklets! They come with several high value coupons for select P&G products, such as Cascade, Swiffer, etc. Head on over here to request yours to be mailed to you for free.

Tanga.com: Parents Magazine for $2.99/year

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:51:00 +0000

Tanga.com has Parents Magazine for $15.99 per year, but if you use the code PARENTS at checkout, you can snag up to three years at just $2.99 per year. That is a great price for this magazine!

Tanga.com is known for upping their prices as more and more people get in on the deal, so if you'd like this magazine, get it soon!

More Free eBooks!

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:48:00 +0000

Amazon is constantly offering free eBooks. If you don't have a Kindle, don't forget you can read it on your iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, Android, Mac, or PC.

-- Cookouts Veggie Style!

-- The Curse of the Holy Pail

-- Inspector Zhang Gets His Wish (a free short story)

-- Impeding Justice (Lorne Simpkins the FEMALE Jack Bauer) (DI Lorne Simpkins thrillers)

As always, please check to make sure the price is still $0 before checking out.

Groupon: Golf for Two and Cart Rental for $58

noreply@blogger.com (Jenn) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 16:24:00 +0000

Right now over on Groupon under Minneapolis/St. Paul, you can get 18 holes of Golf for Two people (including a Cart Rental) at The Refuge Golf Club for just $58 (a $116 value).

The Refuge Golf Club is in Oak Grove, MN, which is just 30 miles north of the Twin Cities. They were #5 in "Best of the State" Golfweek Magazine in 2009!