2012 in review

2012 really flew by, as evidenced by my lack of posts.  I still hope to come back to this blog from time to time to post savings and deals as I have time.  My lack of posting didn't mean that I wasn't carrying through with the frugal and saving lifestyle, though!


Do you have a goal to save money in 2013? Here are some examples of what we've done in our household: 

Total amount of coupons used: $2,062.41.  Most of our coupons came from the Sunday paper insert.  If you want to use internet coupons, check out this post HERE to find out where you can find coupons online.

 

Using a Perkstreet debit card got us 1% cash back on our purchases, totaling $250 in cash gift cards. We love our Perkstreet card.  It's linked with our home checking account and very simple to transfer the money online.  They have awesome customer service, and they are recommended by one of our favorite individuals: Mr. Dave Ramsey.  Find out more HERE.

 

Using the swagbucks rewards site earned us $60 in Amazon gift cards.  Even if you just download the toolbar and use it for your searches on the internet, you will find this site will get you some extra money.  Many of our printable coupons come from this site as you receive 10 swagbucks for each coupon you print and use.  450 swagbucks earns you a $5 Amazon gift card, so it's kind of like getting another 10 cents per coupon used.  You can find out more about swagbucks through my post HERE.  

 

I'm not sure how much we saved in rebates this year, I do know that we had some. A useful site for finding rebates on products can be found HERE.  Just be sure to save those cash register receipts and UPC numbers!  Saving big purchases for the Menards 11% cash back events is always a big help.  

 

Using the Mypoints rewards site earned us $35 in Amazon and Walgreens gift cards.  I've found that the easiest way to get points on this site is to sign up for the daily emails.  You can set up a separate email account and have your emails sent there so they don't clog up your inbox.  For each email you open and click the link on, you usually will get 5 points.  There is never any purchase required, and I usually click out of the screen while it is still loading and receive the points.  They will also send you survey opportunities.  These don't take very long, and you will get 10 points if you don't qualify and between 50 and up to 200 points if you do qualify.  There are also coupons available on mypoints.  You will earn 10 points for every coupon that you redeem.  You also receive a 25 point bonus if you redeem 10 or more coupons in one month.

 

Shopping online through Ebates earned us $13.31 cash, and through Mr. Rebates earned us $66.18 cash.  These are the sites that we have started using whenever we want to do any online shopping.  Not only will they give you any online coupon codes available for that store, they also give you a cashback bonus.  You can't use both of these at the same time, so I choose whichever one will give us more cash back.  Signing up through the links provided here will get you a $5 cashback bonus for each one.  To earn money through these sites, search for the store you want to shop at, click on the store through Ebates or Mr.rebates, and the site will tell you how much you will earn (up to 25% cash back at some stores).  Your money is issued right into your paypal account or you can choose to have them send you a check.  Ebates pays every 3 months, and you can request money from Mr. Rebates once you have earned $10 cash back.  

 

If you've ever purchased a Disney Movie, you will find that there is a rewards code inside the movie package.  These rewards can also get you gift cards.  Go HERE to find out more.  We received $20 in Starbucks gift cards from our Disney movie points this last year.

 

My Coke Rewards gives great items for their rewards.  We don't drink a lot of coke, but we do have family members that do and I've also hit the recycling containers at work for the coke product caps (yes, I will admit to dumpster diving, in a sense).  This last year we were able to get a $25 Best Buy gift card, $50 Bass Pro Shop card, 4 free 12 packs of Coke, 2 free boxes of Ritz Crackers, and 2 years in subscriptions to All You Magazine (great coupons in this magazine).  Go HERE if you want to find out more about My Coke Rewards.

 

That's over $2500 just for shopping smart for one year! And the beauty of this is, anyone can do this!  If you ever need some advice on any of these things, just let me know, I'm happy to share my knowledge and tips. 

 

Here's to saving more money in 2013!

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$10 MIR for Pfizer products

To receive a $10 rebate check, mail the original UPC codes from 3 qualifying Pfizer product purchases, the original cash register receipt dated from 1/24/12 to 2/29/12 with purchase prices circled, and an official request form found in the 1/29 Red Plum insert.

Qualifying products are Centrum Silver or Centrum Specialist, ProNutrients Omega or Fruits and Veggies, Pronutrients Probiotic, Caltrate Soft Chews, Advil, Advil PM, Childrens Advil, Thermacare, Robitussin, Dimetapp, and Advil Congestion Relief.  Select sizes apply.

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$10 Neutrogena Rebate

Purchase $30 worth of Neutrogena products between 1/8/12 and 2/8/12 and receive $10 through a mail in rebate.  Go HERE to get the rebate form. 

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Busch $8 Mail In Rebate

I ran across a rebate form at Pronto in Creighton:
Save $8 via mail in rebate on your puchase of water, ice, coolers or salty snacks with the purchase of one Busch or Busch Light 12 pack or larger, cans or bottles.  Purchase price of water, ice, coolers or salty snacks must exceed $8.  Valid for residents of IA and NE.  Purchases must occur between 1/1/12 and 2/4/12.  Must be postmarked by 2/18/12.
I was unable to locate a copy of the form anywhere on the internet, but there were plenty more at Pronto!

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$10 gas rewards card from Kelloggs

This offer is back!  Send UPCs (you don't even need receipts) from 10 boxes of participating Kellogg's cereals by 4/30/12 and receive a $10 prepaid rewards Mastercard.  Find the official order form and details HERE.

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$10 rebate with purchase of 4 Tyson Any'tizers

Purchase 4 Any'tizers snack bags between 1/2/12 and 2/17/12, mail the form linked below and the proof of purchases and store receipts in to receive a $10 gift certificate good at participating retailers (Walmart is one).  Must be postmarked by 3/16/12.

I haven't tried any of the other flavors, but the buffalo wing Any'tizers are awesome!

Go HERE to get the details on this rebate and the printable form. 

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2011 Recap

Do you have a goal to save money in 2012? Here are some examples of what we've done in our household: 

 

Total amount of coupons used: $1875.  Most of our coupons came from the Sunday paper insert.  If you want to use internet coupons, check out this post HERE to find out where you can find coupons online.

 

Using a Perkstreet debit card got us 1% cash back on our purchases, totaling $325 in cash gift cards. We love our Perkstreet card.  It's linked with our home checking account and very simple to transfer the money online.  They have awesome customer service, and they are recommended by one of our favorite individuals: Mr. Dave Ramsey.  If you sign up today, you even get an extra $25 cash back just for signing up!  Find out more HERE.

 

Using the swagbucks rewards site earned us $210 in Amazon gift cards.  Even if you just download the toolbar and use it for your searches on the internet, you will find this site will get you some extra money.  You can find out more about swagbucks through my post HERE. 

 

Submitting for rebates gave us $225 cash. A useful site for finding rebates on products can be found HERE.  Just be sure to save those cash register receipts and UPC numbers!  Saving big purchases for Menards 11% cash back event was key for us this year. 

 

Using the Mypoints rewards site earned us $60 in Walgreens gift cards.  I've found that the easiest way to get points on this site is to sign up for the daily emails.  You can set up a separate email account and have your emails sent there so they don't clog up your inbox.  For each email you open and click the link on, you usually will get 5 points.  There is never any purchase required, and I usually click out of the screen while it is still loading and receive the points.  They will also send you survey opportunities.  These don't take very long, and you will get 10 points if you don't qualify and between 50 and up to 200 points if you do qualify.  There are also coupons available on mypoints.  You will earn 10 points for every coupon that you redeem.  You also receive a 25 point bonus if you redeem 10 or more coupons in one month.

 

Shopping online through Ebates earned us $50 cash, and through Mr. Rebates earned us $27 cash.  These are the sites that we have started using whenever we want to do any online shopping.  Not only will they give you any online coupon codes available for that store, they also give you a cashback bonus.  You can't use both of these at the same time, so I choose whichever one will give us more cash back.  Signing up through the links provided here will get you a $5 cashback bonus for each one.  To earn money through these sites, search for the store you want to shop at, click on the store through Ebates or Mr.rebates, and the site will tell you how much you will earn (up to 25% cash back at some stores).  Your money is issued right into your paypal account or you can choose to have them send you a check.  Ebates pays every 3 months, and you can request money from Mr. Rebates once you have earned $10 cash back. 

 

That's just under 3k for shopping smart for one year! And the beauty of this is, anyone can do this!  I've been playing with the idea of offering a sort of couponing/money saving class in our area for free, if there would be any interest.  Drop me a note if you would be interested in something like this.

 

Happy New Year, and here's to saving more money in 2012!

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$5 rebate with the purchase of a flu shot and a Lysol product

As a school nurse, this rebate is right up my alley:
Receive $5 by mail when you purchase 1 Lysol product and a flu shot.  Offer valid between the dates of 10/1/11 and 2/29/12.  Must be postmarked by 3/9/12.
Get the details HERE.

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FREE backpack & special offers

Spend $5 or more on JCPPortraits, Pebbles Boulders, Burlington Coat Factory, Bagel Bites pizza snacks, Little Fevers, items from NCircleEntertainment.com, Ovaltine, Mini Wheats, Froot Loops, or Apple Jacks, Gymboree, Kellogg's Rice Krispies Treats, or Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes between 8/9/11 and 9/30/11 and get a packpack filled with special offers.  Limited to the first 500, so act fast.  Send your receipt, proofs of purchase and shipping address to Parents Goes Back to School, 375 Lexington Ave 10th Floor, New York, NY 10017.Go HERE for more details.

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$5 Mail In Rebate on P&G items

Go HERE to find a rebate form to get $5 back for purchasing any 3 of the following:

 

Any size bounce bars

Bounce dryer sheets 105 or more

Downy 90 oz or larger

Any Tide Stain release

Any Tide Washing Machine Cleaner

You can also get a $2.50 rebate for purchasing two of these items.


Thanks, CouponsOnCaffeine!

 

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