BargainMoms Giveaway Rules

Please read and take note of these rules:
1. Winners will be notified by post on the BargainMoms blog and are asked to respond to bargainmoms@gmail.com with full contact information within a certain period of time, usually 72 hours.
2. Winners who do not respond or who are not easily contacted via post or other contact information from comments left may forfeit their prize and an alternate winner may be chosen.
3. Follow described entry details on the giveaway. Multiple members of a household may enter. (If 18 or older)
4. Contests are open to residents with a U.S. mailing address only unless otherwise noted. Please be aware that some prizes may not be deliverable to P.O. Boxes.
5. Winners must provide full name, mailing address, and phone number for shipping purposes.
6. All decisions made by the BargainMoms contributors for giveaways are final.
7. Any applicable taxes (rare) are the sole responsibility of the winner, not of BargainMoms.
8. Since most prizes are delivered directly from the company, BargainMoms is not responsible for any delays or substitutions that a company may make regarding the prize.
9. Winners are chosen by using random.org

Fry's Coupon Policy

Thank you for contacting Fry's Food and Drug Store regarding the Coupon Policy for stores in your area.

Our stores will accept the following:

Manufacturer Coupons
Internet Manufacturer "cents of"" Coupons
Internet "Dollar Off" Coupons
Fry's In-Store Coupons
Fry's Catalina Coupons
and Competitor Pharmacy Coupons only.

* Fry's will double manufacturer coupons only. (unless we are running a special triple or quadrupling promo, for which we will advertise specific dates)

In-Store coupons are always taken at face value.

* Fry's will double 'cents of" manufacturer coupons up to $1.00 in value.
* All coupons that are over $1.00, FREE, or state 'Do Not Double' are redeemed at face value.
* A limit of three of the same coupons for the like items will be doubled. Any additional coupons for the same items will be redeemed at face value.
* There is generally no limit on manufacturer FREE coupons however stores can limit the free coupons in order to ensure product availability for our customers.
* The coupon refund may not exceed the price of the item including VIP discount.
* Alcohol, Tobacco and Pharmacy coupons are accepted at face value only.

We do accept Internet coupons, providing the following is true:
* The coupon is not for a free product or for more than 75% off the original cost - we do not accept those from the Internet.
* The coupon scans properly at the register. If the registers do not register, it is most likely not a valid coupon.
* The coupon is not altered in any way.

If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to call us at 866-344-3797.

Thanks again for contacting Fry's.

Wal-Mart's Coupon Policy

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the acceptance of coupons at Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart accepts the following types of coupons:

manufacturer coupons (Cents Off), free merchandise (or manufacturer's Buy-One-Get-One-Free) coupons, store coupons, pharmacy (Advertising and Promotional) coupons, internet coupons, and soft rink container caps. We also wanted to let you know that Wal-Mart only accepts coupons for merchandise we sell and only when presented at the time of purchase. The Coupons should have an expiration date and be presented within the valid dates - Wal-Mart will not accept expired coupons. Internet coupons should be legible and say "Manufacturer Coupon", and there should be a valid remit address for the manufacturer and a scannable bar code. Only one coupon per item is permitted and the use of 40 or more coupons per transaction will require approval by Customer Service Manager.

Thank you,
Wal-Mart Customer Relations

Wal-Mart's Coupon Policy

Thank you for your recent correspondence regarding the acceptance of coupons at Wal-Mart.
Wal-Mart accepts the following types of coupons:

manufacturer coupons (Cents Off), free merchandise (or manufacturer's Buy-One-Get-One-Free) coupons, store coupons, pharmacy (Advertising and Promotional) coupons, internet coupons, and soft rink container caps. We also wanted to let you know that Wal-Mart only accepts coupons for merchandise we sell and only when presented at the time of purchase. The Coupons should have an expiration date and be presented within the valid dates - Wal-Mart will not accept expired coupons. Internet coupons should be legible and say "Manufacturer Coupon", and there should be a valid remit address for the manufacturer and a scannable bar code. Only one coupon per item is permitted and the use of 40 or more coupons per transaction will require approval by Customer Service Manager.

Thank you,
Wal-Mart Customer Relations

Birthday Freebies

Businesses that Give Free stuff on your birthday

ALFY'S PIZZA - free mini pizza
ALL-AMERICAN CAFÉ - free dessert
APPLEBEES - free dessert
ARIZONA SNOW BOWL- (FLAGSTAFF, AZ)free skiing/ride (if they are open)
AUSTIN GRILL - free meal (register first)
AUTO ZONE- free oil change
BAKERS SQUARE - free pie
BANDIDO'S [IN] - free entrée
BANJARA INDIAN CUISINE [SUNNYVALE, CA] - free meal
BASKIN ROBBINS - free ice cream treat
BEACHES RESTAURANT - free meal
BEAR MOUNTAIN (Or Snow Summit) free skiing
BELLEAYRE MOUNTAIN-free skiing
BENIHANA'S JAPANESE RESTAURANT - free dinner WITH 3 other paying guests
BENNIGANS - free dessert + song
BILL KNAPP'S [MI & OH] - gives adults a % discount equal to age; plus a free bday cake (w/purchase of a meal) during the week of your B-day
BJ's - Free Pazookie!! (best dessert)
BLACK ANGUS-free steak! (sign up online)
BLACK BRISKEE [BURLINGTON, MA] - free meal
BOB'S BIG BOY - free hot fudge ice cream
Boston Market-It's good for a free kid's meal, drink, and dessert
BUFFALO WILD WINGS (BW3) - free dozen hot wings
BURGER KING - free kids meal to all kids club members
CALIFORNIA PIZZA KITCHEN - free kids meal during the month of their birthday (register first)
CAPTAIN DIZZY'S CAR WASH - free car wash
CARROWS - free cake
CATTLEMEN'S - free dessert and cowboy hat
CHARLIE BROWNS RESTAURANTS [NJ] - free meal for "Handshake Club" members
CHARLIE'S SEAFOOD [NE] - free meal
CHEVY'S - free dessert and sombrero
CHILI'S - free song
CHIPS N GIGGLES - free meal
CLAIM JUMPER - Free Dessert + song
COLDSTONE CREAMERY (sign up online)
COTTONWOOD GOLF COURSE (San Diego, CA)- free round of golf
CRAZY BUFFET [WESTPALM & TAMPA, FL] - free meal
DAVE & BUSTERS- $5 gift card credit
DENNY'S - kids under 10, free meal and sundae
DESPARADOS MEXICAN RESTAURANT [GARLAND, TX] - free meal
DOCKSIDE RESTAURANT [MALDEN & SAUGUS, MA] - free meal
DUKE'S CHOWDER HOUSE [SEATTLE, WA] - b1g1 coupons (register first)
EINSTEIN'S - free meal
EL CHICOS - free dessert
ERNIE'S STEAKHOUSE - free meal
FAMOUS DAVE'S BARBEQUE - free meal (w/advance signup)
FOOD PAVILLION- free movie rental
FUDDRUCKERS - free burger
FUNNY BONE COMEDY CLUB [PITTSBURGH, PA] - free cake (party of 5 min.; 2 drink min.)GOLDEN CORRAL - free meal to Birthday Club members (not just kids!) during month of birthday
GRILLFISH - free meal
HALLMARK- 20% off coupon for 1 item (might need to signup online)
HANA JAPAN [DUBLIN, CA] - free meal
HARD ROCK CAFÉ - free dessert
HARKINS THEATRE- free butter popcorn coupon (and free movie?)
HOLLYWOOD VIDEO- free movie rental
HOMETOWN BUFFET - free birthday cake
HOOTERS - free song + tshirt
HOSS'S STEAK HOUSE AND RESTAURANT [GETTYSBURG, PA] - free cake + song
Houlihans - Free Coupon for an entree next visit(up to a week after b-day)
IHOP- free meal
JOE'S BBQ (Gilbert, AZ)
JOE'S CRAB SHACK - free cake
JT WHEATFIELDS [BUFFALO, NY] - free coupon in phone book
KING BUFFET [CLINTON, NJ] - free meal
KRISPY KREME- free dozen (walk-in)
LADONNA [MANSFIELD, MA] - free meal
LOMBARDI'S IN BALLARD [SEATTLE, WA] - free meal w/another during month of birthday (register first)
LOTUS - free meal
LUTHERS BBQ - free stuff (varies) for "Great Rewards" members
MACARONI GRILL - free dessert + OPERA-style "Happy Birthday" song
MAGGIANOS - $10 Off purchase of $20 (sign up in advance)
MARIE CALENDERS - free dessert
MAX AND ERMA [OH] - free $5 dessert
MEXICAN VILLAGE - free meal
MOONIES DINER - free meal
MUCKLESHOOT CASINO [SEATTLE, WA] - free sushi dinner + player's club points
NEWICK'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS [SO. NH / SO. ME] - free entrée
NITTY GRITTY [MADISON, WI] - free drink + souvenir glass
OKAYAMA RESTAURANT (in Japan Town) [SAN JOSE, CA] - free meal
OLD SPAGHETTI WAREHOUSE - free meal
OLIVE GARDEN - cake (some say free, most say $$)
ONAMI [WEST COVINA, CA] - free dinner WITH 3 other people paying
OUTBACK - free dessert + song
PANCAKE HOUSE [WINNIPEG, CAN] - free entrée
PAPPA'S RESTAURANTS (PAPPADEAUX, PAPPASITO'S, ETC) - free dessert
PARADISO'S - free meal
PERKIN'S - free stack of pancakes
PF CHANGS - free cake or cheesecake
PIZZA EXPRESS [EUROPE] - free meal
PONCHO'S - free meal, dessert & picture
PROVINO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT - free $10.99 meal and ice cream dessertRadisson (on Portage Ave at Smith St) [WINNIPEG, CAN] - free entree in their 12th floor restaurant
QUIZNO'S- free cookie on your birthday, sign up for their Q club and get a free "Sammie".
REAL SEAFOOD COMPANY [ANN ARBOR] - free meal and dessert
RED LOBSTER - free slice of cake + song
RED ROBIN (sign up online)
RICE & COMPANY [PITTSBURGH, PA] - free meal for Robinson Rewards Club members
ROCK BOTTOM - free appetizer for Mug Club members
ROUND TABLE - free personal pizza
RUBIO'S MEXICAN - (many say invalid)
SAFEWAY GROCERY STORE- free movie rental
SCALINI'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT [ATLANTA, GA] - up to 10.95 off pasta specialties
SHEPARD'S BUFFET [CLEARWATER BEACH, FL] - free dinner buffet w/3 other paid customers
SCRUB-A-DUB- free car wash
STEAK AND ALE - free mini choco cake
STEAK-N-SHAKE - free dinner for "birthday club" kids
TACO BELL - free combo meal of your choice
TGI FRIDAYS - Free Birthday Dessert
THE 99 [BOSTON, MA] - free meal
THE BARNSIDER'S/DEPOT RESTAURANTS [BOSTON / N.SHORE / PROVIDENCE, RI / ALBANY, NY] - 1/2 off meal + cake & songTHE LOFT [FL] - free meal
THE PALM - 3lb lobster (must be a member/register first)THE PARADISO [GRAND FORKS, ND] - free entrée + sombrero & song
THE VINE TAVERN - free meal
TODAI SEAFOOD BUFFET - Free Meal or voucher for Meal Next Visit
TONY ROMA'S - free dessert
UP THE CREEK [MARYVILLE, TN] - free meal and dessert
VACCARO'S ITALIAN PASTRY SHOP [MD/DC AREA] - free dessert and drink
WENDY'S - free kids meal to all kids club members
WHITEHALL JEWELERS - free $50 gift certificate
Z' TEJAS - $15 coupon for the month of your birthday (register first)
ZEHNDER's {Frankenmuth, MI)- Free dinner
ZIO'S - free dessert

CVS for Beginners

First things first. Get your CVS ExtraCare card. Ask a cashier, or sign up online. If you're excited to get started, ask for it at the store. Otherwise you'll have to wait for it to arrive in the mail. You'll need to have the card scanned for each of your purchases.


Next, earn ECB (Extrabucks)ECB are earned through promotions, such as “Buy XX, receive $YY in ECB.” you will see these promotions in the monthly and weekly ads. The ecb print at the end of your receipt - clip them and keep them as carefully as you would cash.

♥ The required amount to receive the ECB is calculated before coupons.
♥ You do not have to buy all the products for that particular promotion in the same transaction or at the same store.
♥ ECB coupons can be used to purchase nearly anything in the store. (excluding prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, and Gift Cards)
♥ you cannot get change back when you spend your ecb's. they can be entered as less than their face value (if your cashier knows how), for example if your total comes to $1.97 and you have an ecb for $1.99 that you would like to use, and you don't mind losing 2 cents
♥ ECB coupons expire 4 weeks from the date they are printed.

couponing @ cvs
CVS accepts manufacturer's coupons, including ip (internet printable) coupons. CVS also issues their own store-specific coupons. you can get these by email or printed out at the end of your receipt (these are referred to as CRT's - cash register tape). Both ECB and CRT coupons are linked to your CVS account, which means you cannot use them without the same CVS card that earned them. it used to be that we could share email coupons, but recently that has been changing a bit. it seems most of the item coupons (like $1 off gatorade) can still be used with any extracare card. however the $$/$$ coupons (like $3 off $15 or more purchase) will beep and the cashier will receive a message that the coupon was not issued to your card.

The CVS coupon policy allows for the use of one manufacturer and one CVS coupon on the same item. often a very good deal can be had when you combine a cvs item coupon and/or a manufacturer's coupon on an item that gives back ecb's.

Info was obtained from www.iheartcvs.com

Coupon Abbreviations and Glossary

BOGO or B1G1F Buy One, Get One Free

BTFE – Box Tops for Education

BTW – By The WayCatalina – Catalina Category Marketing (CCM)Rewards purchases of promoted products with “catalinas”, also known as “check-out coupons”. These offer incentives are good on your next shopping trip to that retailer.

C/O – Cents Off

CYE – Check Your Email

DND – Do Not Double

Double coupon – coupon that a grocery store matches to “double” the value to the customer, usually up to $1.00.

ECB – CVS Extra Care Bucks earned for purchase.

FAR – Free After Rebate

HTH – Hope This/That Helps

ISO – In Search Of

IDSO – In Desperate Search Of

IVC – Walgreen’s Instant Value Coupon

MIR – Mail-in Rebate

NAZ – Name, Address, Zip code

NED – No Expiration Date

OAS – A coupon that is good On Any Size

OOP – Out Of Pocket

OOS – Out Of Stock

OSI – On a Single Item

OYNO – On Your Next Order

P&G – Proctor & Gamble

Peelie – coupon that is attached directly to the product to be “peeled off”. Generally they indicate “use me now”. These coupons are frequently unnoticed at the time of purchases, but can be removed and redeemed at any time before the expiration date.

POP – Proof Of Purchase

PP – Purchase Price

Q – Coupon

RAOK – Random act of kindness

RP – Red Plumb (also referred to as Valassis)

SASE – Self Addressed Stamped Envelope

SD – Store Display

SMP – Specially Marked Packages

SS – Smart Source

Tear pad – A pad of coupons, generally stocked on the shelf or display, where you simply tear the coupon off the pad.

TMF – Try Me Free

V - ValassisW/L –Wish List

WSL – While Supplies Last

WYB – When You Buy

YMMV = Your Milage May Vary - item might not be on sale at your local store

Organizing Your Coupons

All AZ Coupons currently available are always listed on PinchingYourPennie's website HERE.

There are a few different ways to organize your coupons.

My favorite is the "Binder method".

With this method, you need to have time to clip every coupon and file it into different categories. (or at least the coupons you know you will use) With this method the upside is that you will have all of your coupons with you at all times so if you are walking through a store and see an item that is on clearance, you can flip through your binder right then and there to see if you have a coupon for it. I have gotten A LOT of hidden freebies this way. The downside is that you do have to take the time to clip the coupons and you COULD end up spending more money than intended if you walk around the store looking for ways to use your coupons. It really is up to you and how much time you have to spend on cutting out your coupons. Sometimes there are coupons that I KNOW I will most likely never use, but I don't want to throw them away "just in case". For those items, I do not take the time to cut them out, but instead, I will save them and put them in a folder.

In my binder I use clear baseball card holders to organize my coupons. (Thanks Rachel for the picture) They can be found at Target or WalMart near the baseball cards for about $5 a pack. (Usually at the front of the store)

Here are the categories I use for my binder: (you can add, delete or change to your preferances)

Baking

Baby

Beverages

Breads and Bakery

Candy

Canned Goods

Cereal/Breakfast

Condiments/Spices

Dairy

Deli and Meat

Dental Hygiene

Diet and Nutrition

Entrees

Frozen

Snacks
Cleaning/Household

Feminine Care

Hair Care

Make-Up/Razors

Miscellaneous

Paper

Pet Care

Restaurants

Rx

Soap and Deoderant and Skin Care (I have been known to put all of these together under "Personal Care" along with the feminine care, razors etc to save from having so many categories)

Store Coupons

Here is another option called the "Bin Method":

First, get a file folder bin. (Cheap at Wal-Mart)
Insert some hanging file folders.
Disperse about 30 file folders throughout the hanging file folders.
Take your coupon inserts out of your Sunday papers.
Collate the inserts. (match page to page and set them aside)
Place the inserts in the first available file folder.
Label the folder with the date (i.e. 8/24)
Your coupons are all organized.

Now that they're all put away, how do you know what to use, when to use it and how to find it? First, if you are reading our BargainBlog or checking the deals listed at Pinching Your Pennies, you will see that for every deal it says: "Use: BLANK PRODUCT COUPON 10/22 SS", go to the file you have labeled 10/22. Find the Smart Source insert and clip the coupon.

The information at the end is where the coupon can be found, and the date it was issued and here are the abbreviations for your coupon inserts:

SS=Smartsource
V=Valassis/RedPlum
P&G=Proctor&Gamble
K=Kraft
LV= La Voz
PH= Presna Hispana

Money Saving Mom also has a great way that she organizes her coupons. Click here to see her method.

I know some people that do a modified version of both, cutting out and putting their favorite coupons into a binder, filing the others in the "bin" for just in case. It is really up to you and what you prefer.

Bulk Storage Food items in Plastic Buckets

Bulk Storage Food Items in Plastic Buckets

1. For plastic buckets to be used as dry food storage containers, they should be made of food grade plastic and have a lid.

2. Carbon dioxide effectively prevents weevil infestation in home storage center items stored in plastic buckets. Treatment methods that depend on the absence of oxygen to kill weevils, such as oxygen absorbers and nitrogen gas flushing are not always effective in plastic buckets because of the potential for oxygen leakage.




3. INSTRUCTIONS FOR DRY ICE TREATMENT IN BUCKETS

a. Use approximately 1 ounce of dry ice for each gallon of container size.
b. Wipe frost crystals from the dry ice using a clean towel.
c. Place the dry ice in the center of the container bottom.
d. Pour the food in the container until it is within ½” to 1” of the top.
e. Place the lid on top of the container and snap it down only about halfway around the container.
f. Allow the carbon dioxide gas to escape from the partially sealed lid as the dry ice evaporates.
g. Allow the dry ice to evaporate completely before sealing the container. To see if the ice is all gone, feel the bottom of the container. If it is still very cold, the ice has not all evaporated.
h. Watch the container for a few minutes after sealing the lid. If the container bulges, slightly lift the edge of the lid to relieve pressure.
i. It is normal for the lid of the bucket to pull down slightly as a result of the partial vacuum caused when the carbon dioxide is absorbed into the product.

Thanks, RUGettingPrepared