Sit n' Spin for $6 ???

You may recall I posted about some high-value toy coupons a couple weeks ago. They don't expire until December 31, so I've been waiting for a sale to combine with the coupons to get the best deal possible.

The Sit n' Spin is on sale at Target for $20 (regular price $21.99). Not a great sale. However, I heard that they are on sale at Walmart for $16 - much better. I'm having a hard time confirming this since Walmart didn't have a sale flyer in the Sunday paper or on their website. I'm working on finding out for sure. Thanks for the information Deal Finding Chik.

If they are on sale for $16, you could use the $10-off coupon for a price of $6!

I'm sure there will be plenty more coupon-sale match ups to come before Christmas, so be sure to print your coupons now before they disappear. I'm afraid the Sit n' Spin coupon has disappeared, but the same coupon was in the 10/18 newspaper.

Click here for the online coupons (look for the Toys & Games link on the left-hand column).

Free & Fun Kids Activity: Lowe's Build & Grow Clinic

Looking for something fun and free to do with your kids on Saturday morning? Consider Lowe's Build and Grow Clinics.

Thanks to my frugal friend, Amy for this great idea! Amy said that although the website says the clinic is for first through fifth graders, she's been taking her son since he was three years old. I took my three year old once, and he managed just fine with my help. And we got a cute little apron too!

If you have problems registering online, Amy suggests you call the store closest to you and speak to a manager directly.

Walgreens Specials - Oct 18 to 24

There are some great deals at Walgreens this week. Today I paid $9.81 out of pocket, and received $12.50 in Register Rewards (RR). So, I actually made $2.69 from this purchase! Click here to learn more about Register Rewards and how to make the most of them.

Here are the best deals I found:

• Zantac *Money Maker*
  Pay $3.99, Get $9RR = $5 overage
  On sale for $8.99, get $9 in register rewards
  Use this online $5-off coupon or the $1-off coupon from 10/18 newspaper to make money on this sale! Limit one register rewards offer per customer.
  
  
• Ricola - 75 cents each
  2 for $3 store coupon
  BOGO manufacturer coupon in 10/11 newspaper
  
  
• Bic Razors - Pay $1.99, Get $1RR = 99 cents
  On sale for $3.99, Get $1 in register rewards
  Use $2-off manufacturer coupon in 10/18 newspaper
  
  
• Lindsay Olives - 49 cents each
  99-cent store coupon
  Click here for a $1-off/2 manufacturer coupon
  They did not have the natural variety. Too bad!
  
  
• Starbucks Frappachino - 29 cents each
  $1.29 store coupon.
  You can also get a $1-off manufacturer coupon if you click here to go to the Starbucks website to nominate a friend. You can do this more than once to get multiple coupons.
  

Register Rewards at Walgreens

I recently became aware of Register Rewards (RR). Ever since, Walgreens has been one of my favorite places to shop. Not familiar with RR? Let me share what I know so far.

Basically, RR are instant rebates that you earn when you buy certain products. They come in the form of a receipt coupon at the end of your transaction. You can use these coupons on future transactions. You don't have to sign up for anything or carry a card. You simply look in the sales flyer for products that will earn RR and buy them.

For example, one of the RR items from the October 18-24 sales flyer is Zantac. It's on sale for $8.99, and you get $9 in register rewards. So, it's essentially free. Better still, if you can find a coupon for that item (such as this online $5-off coupon or the $1-off coupon from 10/18 newspaper) you can actually "make money" on the transaction.

***NOTE: $5-OFF COUPON ON ZANTAC WEBSITE IS NOW EXPIRED. THEY DON'T TELL YOU THIS UNTIL AFTER YOU REGISTER***

In this case, I made $5. I paid $3.99 out of pocket, and I received a RR for $9 that I can use the next time I shop at Walgreens.

The funny thing is, I don't even need Zantac. I'm not even sure what it does. Why in the world did I buy it, you might ask? Well, the RR I make from this transaction will allow me to buy the things I do need for a much cheaper price. I can donate the items I don't need to charity.

Okay, so is this really worth the trouble? Well, for me it is. Saving money for my family is my job, and I approach the task as such. I'm happy to share the information with others who are interested.

In all honesty, it's actually kind of fun. I kind of feel like I'm playing Monopoly. The trick with RR rewards is to keep it going. Use your existing RR to purchase more items that earn RR, and so on. That way, you are saving more and paying less out of pocket.

Be aware that there is a certain finesse required to using RR effectively. You can't just hand them over like cash, particularly if you are using other coupons for your purchase. The Walgreens register will only allow you use one coupon per item, and a RR counts as a coupon. So if you are purchasing three items, and you have a coupon for one of those items, then you can use two RR coupons.

Also, RR do have an expiration date, and they can't be used for certain things, such as tobacco or alcohol.

Besides what's listed in the weekly sales flyer, Walgreens also has on-going deals that are posted throughout the store (the signs are small, so you have to look closely). Here are some of the ones going on right now that I know of. Some of these could be good money-makers if you have coupons.

• Robitussin DM To-Go 2pk
  On sale for $2.49, get $2.49 in RR
  $1-off coupon in 9/27 newspaper
• Vaseline Sheer Infusion Lotion
  On sale for $6.99, get $6.99 in RR
  50-cent-off coupon in 10/18 newspaper
• Chapstick Fresh Effects
  On sale for $2.99, get $2.99 in RR
• Dentek Floss or Floss Picks
  On sale for $2.00, get $2.00 in RR
  Various coupons in 10/11 newspaper
  There are sometimes coupons on the Dentek website
  
• Halls Refresh Sugar Free Drops
  On sale for $1.00, get $1.00 in RR
  75-cent-off coupon from 9/27 newspaper

Starbucks Frappachino 29 Cents at Walgreens

Walgreens has a store coupon in their sales flyer this week for Starbucks Frappachinos at $1.29 each (expires Saturday October 24). Combine this with the $1-off manufacturer coupon you get if you go to Starbuck's website to nominate a friend for a free frappachino (you can do this more than once to get more coupons). That makes the final price 29 cents!

Free Sample of Underjams

Click here for a free sample of Underjams. I got mine in the mail yesterday along with a $1.50-off coupon. It basically looks like a really big pull-up. I'm not sure if it was worth all the wasted packaging and postage to get that one item that I may never use. I'll be sure to think more carefully before I make a request for a free sample in the future.

Gift Idea for Kids: Jump, Jump, Jump!

Need gift ideas for kids?

One of the best presents my boys got for their birthday last year was a gift certificate to Planet Bounce, a local bouncy place for kids. Here's why I loved it:

• It provides a great way to get exercise for the whole family, regardless of the heat or rain.
• It's an experience, rather than a thing (any parent can tell you about their clutter problems).

Another bouncy place, Jump Zone on Race Track Road in Tampa is having a Halloween Bounce & Haunted House Rate tonight (October 17) from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Cost is $8.

Bouncy places are popping up all over. Find one in your area and give it a try. I have to wonder, though, if bouncy places are very green given all the electricity they have to use. What do you think?

Good Deal on Lindsay Olives at Walgreens

Starting October 18, Walgreens is running a store coupon in the weekly ad flyer for 99-cent Lindsay Olives. Combine that with this $1-off-2 manufacturer coupon to get 2 cans for 99 cents.

I love the green natural olives cut up into a salad! Too bad my Walgreens doesn't carry the natural variety.

Ideas for Stockpiling Bread

Nature's Pride 100% Whole Wheat bread is BOGO (buy one get one free) at Publix through Wednesday, October 21 (click here for more information about this week's sales at Publix).

I never buy bread unless it's BOGO. I stock up and freeze it. Whenever I need a new loaf, I just take one out of the freezer and sit it on the counter. Within a few hours it's as good as new. If I can't wait a few hours, I just toast it.

Skeptical about freezing your bread? I've always been a bit of a freezer snob. I just don't typically like the way food tastes after it's been frozen. However, my mother persuaded me to give it a try, and after that I was convinced. I've never paid full price for bread again! Mom always knows best.

Trying to find the healthiest bread?

• Look for 100% whole wheat flour as the first ingredient.
  
• Don't get fooled by the use of the term "wheat" on the front of the package - check the ingredients to be sure.
• Avoid high-fructose corn syrup.
• Avoid sugar if it's near the top of the list of ingredients.
• Avoid enriched flour or any flour that's not whole grain.
  

Cupcake Stands Have Some Green Benefits

Consider using a cupcake stand instead of a traditional cake for your next birthday party, holiday event, or even a wedding celebration. Depending on how it's done, it could be a cheaper, greener, and more convenient way to go.

• You may be able to reduce (or even eliminate) the need for plates, forks and serving utensils. Guests just take one and eat it!
• If you are having a party at a park or a location away from home, it's nice not to have to fuss with cutting, serving and distributing the cake. It just saves time and aggrevation.
• If you use a silicone muffin pan, you won't need generate the waste that comes from the baking cups.
  
• You can make some beautiful displays with cupcakes without spending a lot of money.
  
• One way to create a unique look is to use some of the unusual-shaped silicone pans (such as hearts, squares, butterflies, etc.).
  

You can purchase cupcake stands and silicone bakeware at places like Target, Joann, and Michaels. Joann and Michaels both had 40%-off coupons in the Sunday paper on October 11 (expires today).

I also came across the online company, Cupcake Tree that touts their cupcake stand as a greener option because it is made from recyclable materials, is lightweight (which reduces the impact of delivery), and is made from locally-grown materials. Cupcake Tree has some very beautiful pictures of wedding displays (including the picture shown above).