The holiday season is around the corner, and if you haven’t started saving money for holiday expenses, there’s never been a better time.  Fortunately, there are many great sales and high value coupons that have come out recently, and I’m so excited to share them with you.  Know of any that I’ve missed?  Please share them below!

Save $2 on Hungry Man dinners. You don’t need to ‘like’ the Hungry Man page in order to access the coupon.  You should, however, make sure to ‘like’ my Facebook page so that you can continue to hear about other great deals!

Save $2 on Quaker oatmeal.  Stock up now before the winter hits – and while you can use this high value coupon.

Save 30% on clothing at Toys R Us.  This printable coupon is good until October 24^th, so make sure to head on over if you want to save 30% on your entire clothing purchase.

2 free cans of Spot’s Stew pet food.  Okay, this isn’t a coupon, but if you sign up for the Halo newsletter here (top right of the page), you’ll get two free packages, which are valued at about $4 each.

Free photo book from Picaboo.  If this isn’t a great free holiday gift, I don’t know what is.  The offer is good until October 25^th for new customers only.  Use coupon code FALLBK at checkout to score your free photo book.

Buy one get one free Healthy Choice Entrée.  When you ‘like’ the Healthy Choice Facebook page you can reserve a coupon for yourself.  They claim the coupon rises in value each time someone likes the page.  The promotion ends when supplies run out or on October 25^th, so don’t wait long.

Get $10 off a $20 purchase at Sears.  This promotion includes is good on all apparel, including sale and clearance, and is good until October 23^rd.  There’s no denying the benefit of this coupon!

Buy one get one free sandwich from Arby’s. Good today (October 18^th) only, this coupon entitles you to one free beef ‘n cheddar sandwich when you buy one.  If you’re hungry today, this could be a great option.

High value coupons on Coupons.com.  If you haven’t checked out Coupons.com, now’s the time.  Here’s a sampling of some of the high value coupons that you can find there this month: $2.50 off Scott toilet paper, $1.50 off Glade jar candles, $3 off a Baskin-Robbins ice cream cake, buy one get one free Nestle Pure Life water (5 gallon bottle)…and so much more!

Happy saving,

Billy

Labor Day weekend is only a few hours away, but you needn’t despair if you haven’t solidified your plans yet.  With great sales going on both in stores and online, there’s plenty of deal-chasing that can be done this weekend.  Here are some Labor Day sales worth checking out:

BareNecessities.com is offering 50% off all clearance items through September 7^th (now that sounds like a deal), and a buy 2 bras, get 1 free Labor Day sale (no expiration dateisgiven, though it probably expires after the weekend).

CVS.com has an online special offering $10 off a non-prescription purchase of $50 or more, plus free shipping with coupon code LABORDAY50.

Gap.com has free shipping through September 11^th on all purchases over $50.  Use coupon code GAPSHIP50 at checkout.

Gymboree.com is running its Fill-A-Bag sale with 30% off storewide until September 5^th.  $5 shipping is also available for a limited time.

JCPenney.com has free shipping on orders over $49 with coupon code 49WORKS through September 11^th.  Not valid on furniture.  And don’t forget that all shoes at JCPenney.com ship free.

JosABank.com is reducing their clearance products by another 50% through Labor Day weekend.  There are some great deals here if you’re looking for men’s dress clothing.

Kohls.com is offering 15% off all purchases and free shipping on orders over $75 with coupon code SAVEON75, which expires today, September 2^nd.

Macys.com has free shipping on all orders over $99 until September 6^th as well as some great Labor Day sales that are online only until today, September 2^nd.  You can also get free shipping through September 7^th if you purchase a minimum amount from specific companies.  For a full list of these deals, click here.

OldNavy.com is offering 20% off a purchase of $100 or 25% off a purchase of $150 for all online purchases through September 6^th with coupon code ONSAVEBIG.


And while you’re online, why not sign up for some great freebies that may not be available when the Labor Day sales are done?

• Get a free sample of Garnier wrinkle test strips.
• Snag a free Fisher Price TRIO race car with free shipping.
• Like MurphyUSA on Facebook to get a free Dr. Pepper drink.  And while you’re there, why not like Billy.com too?

There’s no question that clipping (or printing) coupons can help you save big on your regular purchases, both at the grocery store and at hundreds of retailers nationwide.  But if you’re like most consumers, you’re probably hesitant to waste time looking for coupons or aren’t even sure where to get started.  The truth is, if you take a few minutes to look for coupons, you can probably find a coupon for nearly any item that you wish to buy.  And if you take a few moments to stock up on coupons for your next trip to the store, you can see instantly that you’ll save big.  Read on to find 10 places to find useful coupons.

1. Sunday newspapers and weekend circulars. If you’re looking to save on gardening, home improvement or other services, Sunday’s paper is the best place to find deals on local services. But Sunday’s paper usually comes with a coupon insert as well, offering coupons on all sorts of items from shavers to sandwich cookies.  Take a moment to flip through the coupons looking for those that have a high value ($1 or more), or those that reduce prices on products you use regularly.  If you find anything interesting, don’t hesitate to ask your friends or neighbors if they want their coupons.  You may be able to score double!
2. Coupon websites.  There are dozens of coupon websites that offer legitimate printable coupons.  Try coupons.com to get started, and once you’re used to the system, you’ll easily find others that fit into your lifestyle.  Target even has its own database of in-store coupons that you can print from its website and use on in-store purchases, which can be accessed here.
3. On products themselves.  Sometimes products offer peel-off coupons or those that are tied onto the product, which can be used as an instant saving when you purchase the products.  Many times consumers think that they need to use detachable coupons for their next purchase, but in most cases they can be used to discount the original purchase.
4. In the grocery store aisle.  Did you ever notice that your grocery store has little coupon dispensers that are hung in some of the aisles?  Check those out when you pass by, as they may be discounting an item that you purchase.  These coupons change regularly, so if you find a relevant coupon, don’t hesitate to use it.
5. With your receipt.  At the grocery store it’s not uncommon for the cashier to hand you a coupon that prints out with your receipt.  These coupons are called Catalinas and can help you save big on your next purchase.  If you’re lucky, you can also receive coupons with your purchase when you buy things online.  I’ve seen many companies include a coupon code or discount off your next purchase on the receipt with your online purchase.  If you’re not accustomed to reading your receipts or packing slips carefully, now’s the time to start taking a better look.
6. Search engines.  If you’re looking to make a specific purchase, why not look for coupons online simply by Googling the “product name coupon”?  You may be able to find serious savings, especially on things like clothing, electronics and music.
7. On your cell phone. Yes, you read that right.  You can get coupons directly to your cell phone which can be scanned at checkout.  Try Cellfire.com for starters and see what you think.
8. Facebook.  Is there a specific product or company that you really like?  Like their page on Facebook and you may find yourself finding exclusive coupons for Facebook fans only.  Some brands even offer coupons just as an incentive for you to like their page.
9. Manufacturer’s websites.  Are you devoted to a specific brand of toothpaste or brand of shampoo?  Chances are good that you can find coupons on the company’s website that you can use to purchase their products.  Some companies even have fan programs that allow you to sign up to receive emails with coupons.  These coupons aren’t always the same as they are on the Facebook page, so it’s a good idea to sign up to them all.  Besides, having two coupons just means that you can enjoy double the savings.
10. With free samples. Not only are free samples great, but they generally come with coupons too.  If you find offers for free stuff, as you may find on my Facebook page, make sure to sign up!

If you’re like most mothers I know, you probably have no time for a bathroom break, let alone time to surf the net.  But there are some remarkable mommies out there who have taken time out of their busy lives to provide a service to busy moms like you, by writing mom blogs that can simplify your trips to the grocery store while saving you money.  The authors below are not only surviving motherhood, but they’re thriving – and inviting you along on the journey so that you can also succeed on a new level.  Below is a list of five mom blogs that Ihighly recommend, the reasons why I love them, and a shout out to the fantastic women who take the time to write them.

Consumer Queen

I love this mom blog because…Over the years I’ve encountered a few money saving blogs that offer a coupon database, but few work as well as the one found on Consumer Queen.  If you have a few spare moments when you’re done finding great coupons you can also check out author Melissa’s hysterical videos which offer interesting ideas and a chuckle at the end of a long day.

Coupon Geek

I love this mom blog because…There are dozens (hundreds?) of coupon blogs out there but none offer comprehensive store roundups like Coupon Geek mom blogger Jaycie does.  Coupon Geek and her partners explain weekly deals available in most large chain stores and offer ideas for how to pair deals with coupons (she even tells you where to find the coupons!) for maximum savings.  When possible, Coupon Geek also tells you the final price that you can expect to pay so that there are no surprises at the register

Freebies4Mom

I love this mom blog because…Not only does Freebies4Mom have coupons and deals, which are common both in mom blogs and regular coupon blogs, but it has an entire section dedicated to sweepstakes that give away lots of prizes.  While you may be too busy to enter a sweepstakes that is giving away a single grand prize, it’s always worthwhile to enter a sweepstakes that is giving away dozens of prizes daily – and mommy blogger Heather Hernandez has a knack for identifying these ‘winnable’ sweepstakes.  I haven’t won any yet, but I have gotten dozens of coupons as a courtesy for playing, which, in itself, is a notable benefit.

Bargain Briana

I love this mom blog because…Bargain Briana offers cheap and easy recipes in addition to standard savings suggestions.  I may not be feeding a large family, but I find it hard to find easy, healthy and affordable recipes just for myself.  Briana takes the thinking out of making dinner by offering recipes that are entirely achievable and extremely affordable.  With a full-time job, four young children and a popular mommy blog, Briana has no room for dinner disasters – and sure enough, I’ve found her recipes to be completely dependable.

Mashup Mom

I love this mom blog because…Many mommy blogs that focus on savings are helpful for the grownup part of mommy life, but few really address the needs of the child like Mashup Mom does.  Mommy blogger Rachel offers savings, steals and coupons for kid-friendly products including food, clothing and toys.  Other mom blogs may offer kid-centric products mixed in with their regular deals, but for Mashup Mom, the most prominently featured deals are almost always about things that are good for kids (or moms).  I’m sure I don’t need to explain why this is a great thing.

Do you recommend any other money saving mommy blogs that you don’t see on this list?

Facebook freebies and coupons seem to be extremely popular these days, and many of them don’t even require you to ‘like’ the page.  You can, of course, if you want…but at least it’s your choice instead of a prerequisite!

• Free sample of Dentyne Pure gum – I’m not extremely excited about the idea of mint melon gum, but I’ll pretty much try anything if it’s free…and who knows, maybe it’ll be the greatest thing since the invention of sushi (who would have thought that seaweed with raw fish would be good together?).
• Free sample of Propel – The sample request form for this free Propel powder with calcium requires that you list a new activity that you plan to try this summer.  It doesn’t specify what type of activity, but it seems to hint that it should be something physical.  Does trying out a new computer game count as a physical activity?  I’ll let you know if I get my free sample!
• $10 off a purchase of $10 or more at Famous Footwear – The upside of this coupon is that with dozens of pairs of shoes that cost under $20, you can use this coupon to get shoes for an unbeatable price.  If your local store lets you use this coupon on socks (the coupon does not specify what restrictions apply), chances are good that you can get something for $1 or less!  The downside is that it expires today, so you’d better hurry over to Famous Footwear now.

In addition to Facebook deals I’ve also located some other cool freebies that are worth mentioning:

• Get a full rebate on a purchase of Neutrogena Clinical (SPF 30, Night or Eye) – Purchase the product by July 18^th and complete the mail in rebate form for a full rebate up to $40.  You should receive your money back in 6-8 weeks.
• Free sample of Purex 3-in-1 laundry sheets.  I’ve already received (and used) my free sample of these Purex sheets, but now they’re available again, and I should really mention that they’re fantastic.  If you missed the first offering of this freebie, sign up now before the samples run out!
• Free Blockbuster Express movie rentals.  Use codes GT16A, G417A or GT17A to get 3 free rentals during the month of July.

Like these deals?  Check out my Facebook page to get more up to the minute freebies and coupons on great products!

Although I’d obviously heard that counterfeit money existed, I never thought I’d be the one to own it.  After all, wasn’t it made by people who wanted to become instant millionaires?    Now, as an avid coupon user, I’ve been shocked to learn that there are thousands of fake coupons are nearly as common as counterfeit money.  Really!  And, while I fully support the use of coupons to save money, I vehemently oppose the use of fraudulent coupons or fake coupons of any kind.  Not only is this practice illegal, but it causes manufacturers and retailers to lose money, which ultimately means that they’ll raise prices, which will not only afflict you, but will distress consumers nationwide.

You can rest assured that if you use any coupons from my website, or Facebook page they’re 100% legitimate.  But since you’re probably getting coupons from other places as well, here are some ways to tell if they’re real – or if you may accidentally be using fake coupons.

• Be wary of high-value coupons. Many fake coupons are those with high values (over $1 or $2).  A classic example of a fake coupon of this nature would be a coupon to save $5 off a cosmetic line where products retail for $6-$8.  Companies generally don’t give away their products in this way.



• Verify  the company’s logo. Just last week there was a scam circulating on Facebook in which users were conned into liking a certain page to get free items at Target.  What most users didn’t notice is that the logo had an extra period in it, signifying the fraud.  As I just said – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!
• Look for a bar code.  Another easy way to tell if you’re using a fake coupon is to look for a bar code, UPC code or any other scanning code.  If the coupon doesn’t have one, you can probably assume it’s fake.
• Check for legal jargon.  Ever read the fine print of a coupon?  It’s utterly fascinating, and tells you that the actual value of the coupon is something like 1/30^th of one cent.  If your coupon is missing this legalese, it’s probably a fake coupon.
• Peek at the expiration date.  In the days of my youth (ah, the olden days), there used to be such a thing as a coupon with ‘no expiration date’.  Sadly, the days of those savings are long gone, and today’s coupons generally expire quickly.  You can expose fake coupons by noting if they don’t have an expiration date.  If it says ‘no expiration date’ you may want to check with the manufacturer before using the coupon.
• Double check printable coupons.  I don’t mean to discriminate against printable coupons, but chances of having counterfeit coupons rise significantly when they’re internet coupons instead of those found in your local circular.  Of course there are still loads of legitimate printable coupons – just be careful before printing so that you don’t waste ink or paper on fake coupons.

Here are my favorite places to find reputable places to find printable coupons:

• Coupons.com
• Redplum.com
• Couponcabin.com

Got any other favorites?  Leave a comment below to share the coupons with others!

1- Taxes are due.

2- There seem to be more new deals this week than usual, which means that even if you discover that you owe money to Uncle Sam, you’ll be able to save money moving forward.

I’ve chosen my 20 (yup, TWENTY!!) favorite new deals, but if you think there are any important ones that I’ve left out, please leave me a comment!

New Coupons:

1- Take 25% off at Babies R Us (and get a free reusable tote while supplies last).  This new deal is valid unitl April 22.

2- Save $3/1 Tucks pads (in some stores, this can mean it’s free!).

3- B1G1 free entrees at Panda Express – good until April 21.

4- Here’s a 15% off coupon for Kohl’s, good today only.

5- Here are some great new coupons from Rubbermaid.

6- Interested in organic food? Check out the Earth Month coupons from Whole Foods and save big.

7- Get 2 free travel size products from Bath & Body Works when you purchase 1 full size Signature Collection product. Good until April 13.

8- Take 30% off H&R Block premium tax preparation software (if you haven’t filed yet, this can help!).

9- Here are great coupons for Excedrin products (for headaches, migraines, body aches and other discomfort).

10- Here are some valuable Visine coupons (check out the anti-itch drops if you’ve got allergies like I do!).

New Freebies:

1- Get a free sample of Uncle Ben’s whole-grain rice, in either Chicken Medley or Roasted Garlic flavor.  (Note – this link may be down at some points, but it’s definitely worth trying back!)

2- Get a free sample of a chocolate cream flavored EAS Myoplex energy drink. This one may not expire until 2011, but it’s worth registering now, before they’re all gone.

3- Get a free sippy cup from Juicy Juice.

4- Get a free Land O’Lakes butter with olive oil when you purchase a product from a competing brand.  (Now that’s certainly an interesting marketing strategy!)

5- Become a fan of Einstein Bros. Bagels on Facebook, and get a free bagel every Friday between now and May 22.  While you’re there, become a fan of Billy.com to receive new deals, coupons and giveaways).

6- Get a free potty training DVD from Pull-Ups.

7- Snag this free potty training kit from Pampers.

8- Get a free guitar pick holder and 5 black picks from Prodlix.

9- I ordered my free photo book from HotPrints (with free shipping, they didn’t even ask for my credit card information!)…they are still offering them, so if you haven’t made one yet, now’s the time!

10- Use coupon code APR10BD to get free shipping from Snapfish, today only.  (If you’re planning on ordering heavy items like Mother’s Day mugs, now might be the time!).

New coupons:

Get $1 off any Jamba Juice All Fruit smoothie with this new coupon.  Good until April 10th.

Check out Nexcare’s new coupons for great savings on first aid products.

Save $1 on General Mills cereals (plus, check out the other great coupons from coupons.com).

Use coupon code GA13A4 to get a free movie rental at Blockbuster Express, until April 12th.

If you like magazines, you’ll love these great magazine deals at Amazon on favorites like SmartMoney, Redbook, O, and Esquire.

New freebies:

Get a free kids meal (for kids 12 and under) every day in April, with purchase of an adult entree at IHOP.

Get a free Chavrie goat cheese by joining the Love of Goat Cheese club (Don’t love it yet?  Take advantage of this freebie and see if Cupid’s arrow will strike you.).

Snag a free signature shower gel (a $10.50 value) from Bath & Body Works with a $10 purchase.  Good until April 18th.

Get 20 free 4×6 photo prints at Walgreens on April 7th only. Or, use this new coupon to get a free 8×10 print at Walgreens on April 9th (of course, if you’re like me, you’ll use both!).

Enjoy a free 20 oz. coffee at Holiday Station stores with this new printable coupon.

Get a free sample of Breathe Right strips (personally, I use them to stop my snoring, but are also great if you have a cold).

And here’s one for the road – next week is National Parks Week, and entrance to all 392 national parks is free.  Plan your trip today!

Best Coupons:

- 30% any single item at Old Navy.  Good until April 4.

- $1.50 off bedroom pillows at Target. While you’re there, see if you can enjoy the 20% off Circo bedding for another great deal.

- Buy 2, get 1 free Chobani Greek yogurt (you can print up to 3 coupons for extra savings).

- Save $2 on Renu contact lens solution.

- Buy 1, get 1 free Panini, sandwiches and wraps at Earthfare.

Free Stuff:

- Get  10 free personalized skin care samples from SEPHORA if you’re a Beauty Insider.  If not, sign up here to take advantage of this deal and others!

-Free Blockbuster Express Rental Codes:

G2U13B4 – Valid only on 3/31/10
GY131 – Valid through 3/31/10

- Buy One Get One Free Blockbuster Express Rental Codes:
NEWMOON – Valid through 3/28/10
GN13B4 – Valid through 3/29/10
555G13B -Valid through 3/31/10

- Get a free Special K protein meal bar (and a coupon!) here.

- Get a free 8 x 10 picture on canvas from the Canvas people (and get a $55 gift certificate too!).

- Get 50 free photo prints at See Here.

- New members get 50 free photo prints from Snapfish.

And finally…if you’re looking to snag a great travel deal, there are some pretty good sales going on this week (but you’d better act fast!):

Virgin America has coast to coast fares for only $129 each way, and closer flights are even cheaper.

Spirit Airlines is having fares starting at $9 each way…if you’re a member of their $9 club.  Good until tomorrow, so join now!

I know you’re thinking that menu planning is a big hassle, that it’s time consuming, and that you’ll never stick to the plan anyway.  But I’ve been experimenting with menu planning for the past 3 months, and I’ve found that it’s been amazingly helpful.  Believe it or not, I’ve even found it extremely doable.  I find myself scouring weekly circulars and coupon books to find food on sale so that I can stock up and weave them into my menu plans throughout the month.  Knowing what I’m going to eat each day has also prevented me from snacking mindlessly in front of the fridge when I can’t figure out what to have for dinner, and, much to my chagrin, has encouraged me to plan healthier meals (and most importantly, to actually make them).

I’m so excited about how menu planning has changed my life, and I really want to share this experience with you.  So, for the next weeks I’ll be guiding you through weekly menu planning and providing recipe advice and encouragement.  Every Thursday through March I’ll be introducing a new and original recipe idea and ideas that can make it easy to create your menu plans either on weekly or monthly basis.

Here’s an easy menu idea to help you get started – I look forward to welcoming you back next week!

Appetizer:

Soup from a can, prepared according to directions (Yes, canned soup is delicious! Try it out with a coupon for Progresso soup )*

Main course:

“Mock” Spanish omelet

2 eggs

Splash of milk

3-5 Tbs salsa (to taste)

2 Tbs onion, diced

Grated mozzarella cheese to taste

Red or green peppers, cubed (optional)

Prepare frying pan with oil, butter or cooking spray. Wisk eggs with milk.  Add to frying pan.  Add onion, salsa and peppers.  When the egg begins to separate from the pan, add cheese.  Fold the omelet in half for 1 minute.  Flip.  Omelet is ready when the cheese is melted.

Serve with bread or a tortilla as desired.

I used to eat this quick and inexpensive meal at least once a week.  But now that I’ve started menu planning, I’ve got tons of ideas, so I don’t need to repeat as frequently.  Send me your favorite inexpensive menu ideas today, to billy@billy.com.  I look forward to hearing from you and sharing ideas together!

*As you get more proficient in the kitchen you can personalize canned soups as you desire