Freebies: Rebates and Coupons

I've heard many people say that coupons are not for products they actually use or the value of the coupon is so small that it does not make a difference. I think that Mindi at Moms Need to Know has written eloquently about these comments, but I wanted to add a few practical examples from my own life.

I've had to cut back on the amount of time I spend organizing coupons and shopping trips because of life with two small children, but I still love getting a good deal!

Recently at Rite Aid, I spied this Smart Start cereal with a 'Try Free' add on the box. I was able to use a coupon when I bought it, so I'm actually getting paid to eat this box of cereal!

This week (also at Rite Aid) I bought John Frieda conditioner and Blink tears eye drops. I didn't have any coupons so I paid $4.99 for the conditioner and $7.99 for the eye drops, but because of Rite Aid's single check rebate program, I will be getting a check in the mail from Rite Aid for $5 for the conditioner and $7.99 for the eye drops...completely free! (If you haven't already signed up for the Single Check Rebate Program, you totally should! It is free of charge, and is one of the biggest ways that I get our personal care products for cheap...and often for free)

On the left of this picture are items that I picked up for free at Target this week. I had a coupon for a free Children's Tylenol from the recall last year. The Oscar Mayer deli meat was a free coupon from Kraft First Taste. And the Suave Dry Shampoo was a free coupon through Facebook. I also used a BOGO coupon for Frosted Mini Wheats (not pictured) that I got from Vocalpoint (along with a free sample of their new cereal).

Want to get coupons like these for FREE full sized products? I have my favorites listed in the Coupon Resources tab. Be sure to sign up for Kraft First Taste and Vocalpoint -- I am always getting samples and free coupons from these two in particular.

For my instructions on shopping at Rite Aid, check out this post.

Do you have any favorite ways to get things for free with coupons and rebates?

Rite Aid shopping trip

I had a bunch of errands to run today, and I am so glad that I was able to stop by Rite Aid. I spent $12.97 out of pocket and have $4 in rebates coming as well as $5 UP+ reward on my next RA trip PLUS my receipt has a survey with a coupon for $3 off a $15 purchase.

Here's what I got:




2 Biore - $7.99 each
1 Carefree - $1
1 eos lip balm - $2.99
2 Tylenol precise - $5 each
2 Finesse - $3.99 (bogo sale)

I had coupons for nearly everything.
-Buy one Biore cleaning strips get any cleanser free 3/6 smart source insert
-$1/1 carefree 5/8 smart source insert
-2 $5/1 Tylenol precise printed from Tylenol's website
-2 $1/1 Finesse hair care from May All You and 5/8 smart source insert

The eos has a $2 SCR. In the 5/8 smart source was a Finesse rebate for $2. The 2 Biore products produced a $5 UP+ reward. With the rebates my cost will be just $8.97 plus the $5 UP+ and $3/$15 purchase coupons to get something for cheap or free in the next two weeks!

Thanks to Mindi @ Moms Need to Know for the trip inspiration!

Coupon Overage and Rebate Deals

Its been a few weeks since I went to Walmart to take advantage of their new coupon policy, so I had a few coupons I wanted to use. Similac ready to feed bottles were on sale for $3.84. Paired with the $5 off coupon from the 4/3 Smart Source insert to get them for free plus $1.16 of overage to put towards the rest of your total.

I also noticed these new Gerber Graduates breakfast bowls with a 'Try Me Free' rebate offer on the package. I'm guessing that you can find these at other places than Walmart, so keep your eyes open!

Stocking Up: Theraflu at Rite Aid

I've been dealing with a nasty cold this week, so this sale on Theraflu was perfect timing for me! I bought 2 packages at Rite Aid and will end up making $2 for my trouble! Here's how:

Theraflu on sale for $4.99
Purchased 2 for $9.98
Used $3 off 2 Theraflu products from Sunday's Smart Source insert
Used 2 $1 +UP rewards (generated from a previous purchase last week at Rite Aid)
Paid $4.98 out of pocket
Each Theraflu purchase generated a $1 off next Rite Aid purchase coupon ($2 total +UP rewards)
Submit for full ($4.99) Theraflu rebate (found in this Sunday's Smart Source insert also)

Now we are set for cold medication for a while! I hope this helps you prepare for the rest of cold season too!

Rebate on Behr and Glidden paints

(image via Home Depot)

Behr and Glidden paints (both sold at The Home Depot) are offering a $5 rebate on a single gallon of paint and a $20 rebate on a 5-gallon container of paint. The rebate is by mail or online and is good on purchases made from June 24, 2010 - July 5, 2010.

The Home Depot ad shows Glidden interior flat paint priced at $10.48 a gallon after the $5 rebate! I am hoping to decide on the color for my daughter's new room by Monday so that we can take advantage of this rebate!

Rebates!

After my post on rebates, I thought it would be good to share some great rebates that are going on right now.

Get a free bottle of Quench Body lotion (purchase must be made between 3/19/10 and 4/16/10)

Deal Idea: Walgreens has Quench 20 oz on sale for $7.99 this week, with a free bottle of Olay in-shower lotion when you purchase. The Walgreens I went to was out of the in-shower lotion and told me that it was discontinued, so they substituted Ribbons Body wash instead. Stack with the Quench coupon from the P&G insert and get 2 for free plus a little moneymaker!

Walgreens also has Renpure Organics products on sale BOGO this week. Many Walgreens have Try Me Free tags on the shampoo and conditioners (including the new location on 301 by Kohls). Submit for the rebate and get 2 for free!

Rite Aid has Organix shampoo and condition on sale BOGO this week. There are Try Me Free tags on Organix shampoo and conditioner also (including at the Middletown location - they were on an end cap last week). Submit for the rebate and get 2 for free!

As you can see, I have taken advantage of both of these rebates already - I should have waited for a buy one, get one free sale!

Money Making Opportunities: Rebates

One of the ways that I've been able to try many products for free (and sometimes even make a little money) is through rebates. There are so many places that offer rebates, including: displays in grocery and drug stores, satisfaction guaranteed rebates, Rite Aid (Single Check Rebates), manufacturer's websites, Sunday coupon inserts, and free coupon websites.

I post many of the printable rebates I see, but there are so many more opportunities for rebates out there. One of my favorites is the Try Me Free rebate, usually found on a product on the shelf in stores. These tags indicate that the company will reimburse you the full shelf price of the product via mail-in rebate. Occasionally when I am shopping I will walk a little slower down the isles, keeping my eyes peeled for Try Me Free tags.

Rebates are not going to make you rich or even cut your food or toiletry bills in half, but they are a great way to stretch your budget. I try to factor in the cost of a product without the rebate into my budget. Then, when my check arrives, it is simply extra money that can go in the bank.



A few specifics that I've found are very important to make rebates work:

Read the terms of the rebate. There is almost always a dollar value listed for the rebate, which is the most the company will pay you. If the product is more than the amount listed on the rebate, just be aware that you will not get the full price you pay. Pay careful attention to the date(s) listed in the terms. Sometimes rebates expire! Other times you must send in the recipe for the rebate within a certain time frame of purchase.

Stack with a coupon or BOGO sale. If you use a coupon, you will still be reimbursed for the shelf price! This means that if the product is $5 and you use a $1 coupon, you will be sent a check for $5. If a rebate product is on sale buy one, get one free, you could end up with 2 free instead of just one!

Be organized and prompt. Save your receipt!! I prefer to fill out rebates the day I make my purchase to stay on top of things. If it is a rebate where I must save multiple receipts, I keep an envelope on my fridge to not lose anything. You must send the original receipt with your rebate. Never send a copy; companies will not honor this. This is especially important to remember if you are thinking of buying 2 different things in the same transaction that require rebate receipts. It is better to break it up into two separate transactions.

Be honest. Only one rebate per household unless it says otherwise. This means you cannot submit for the same rebate more than once. The company will not honor your request. Some rebates will say 'limit 2 per household'; then you can submit for more than one.

Rebate checks take time to arrive. You need to allow 6-8 weeks for most rebate check to come in the mail. Make sure that you are not buying something just because its free, when it would be better to have the money during that time.

$100 P&G coupon book

Did you stock up on P&G products at Rite Aid the last few weeks like I did? I hope you saved your receipts! Any purchases made after February 1, 2010 will count towards this coupon book.

Purchase $50 worth of any P&G products between February 1, 2010 and April 15, 2010 and receive a coupon book with $100 worth of coupons for P&G products. The $50 is before any coupons or tax.

Mail your original receipts (multiple receipts ok) with this form to P&G Year of Savings, Dept. T, PO Box 460643, El Paso, TX 88546-0643 by April 30, 2010.

You can see the full list of coupons and check on the status of your coupon book on P&G's site. It also looks like the form will be in the P&G insert later this month.

I'm keeping my qualifying receipts in an envelope on my fridge so I can keep track of them!

Free Olay Lotion after rebate

Here is a great offer from Olay: you can get 2 bottles of their new Quench Body Lotion! Use the rebate form found here. Purchases must be made between December 10, 2009 and January 29, 2010 and rebate must be postmarked by February 12, 2010.

If you are submitting for 2 rebates, you must send for them together.

There are a few coupons for this lotion in magazines, which could turn this into a money-maker. Check out Common Sense with Money to see the list.

I think lotion like this makes a great gift (since we are in the middle of my thrifty Christmas series)...it would look great in a with some bubble bath and a sponge in a little basket!

Right at Home

Right at Home is a site by SC Johnson filled with recipes, money-saving coupons, and cleaning and organizational tips. Members receive monthly emails about recipes, giveaways, and exclusive coupons.

Just this morning I received an email with a coupon for buy one, get one free 2 oz. soy based Glade candles. This is a nice coupon on its own, but remember to submit for the $5 SC Johnson rebate!

Would you like to join Right at Home? Click here.

Rebate Offers

Here are two nice rebates that I wanted to share.

First, SC Johnson is offering a $5 rebate by mail when you purchase 3 items. Each household can have up to 3 rebates ($15, but each offer must be mailed separately) and the offer runs from 10/1/09 through 6/30/10! Thats a ton of time! (and also plenty of time to forget about it....) I have done one so far. I bought 3 Glade soy candles and with coupons only paid $3.10 -- so with the rebate I will make a little!

Click here to get the rebate form.

Participating products include:
• Ziploc®
• Glade®
• Windex®
• Scrubbing Bubbles®
• Pledge®
• Shout®
• Fantastik®
• Drano®
• Raid®
• Off®
• Saran™
• Nature’s Source™



Second, Johnson & Johnson is offering a free ($10 value) bath toy frog set when you send in your receipt for any Johnsons bath or lotion product bought between 9/28/09 and 12/1/09. Mail your receipt to:
Johnson & Johnson/Parents GWP
375 Lexington Ave, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Free Ice Cream for Labor Day!

Blue Bunny is running a promotion the 5th, 6th, and 7th (Labor Day Weekend) called You Try, We Buy....meaning free ice cream! This is specifically for Blue Bunny Aspen or Sedona Frozen Yogurt Granola Novelty (so its technically frozen yogurt which is healthy, right?)

Print out this rebate form and mail it with your receipt and the UPC from your ice cream by the 19th (postmarked) to receive a full rebate by mail.

A couple things to remember with rebates like this:

-since you must send in the original receipt, make sure you dont need it for something else (like another rebate!)

-dont throw away the package! because you need the upc...and digging through the trash is gross!

-get it in the mail asap

I have started sticking my receipt with the upc in an envelope as soon as my groceries are put away so that I don't forget about it and don't lose the receipt.