*Saving you some money in the Rock River Valley*


Welcome to our blog! While a lot of our deals may be specific to the Rockford area, you'll find many deals that are also good nationwide! We hope that our blog will be fun, informative, and that it will help you SAVE SOME MONEY!

Read here about our "Coupon Ethics"

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Excellent Diaper Coupons!

Since it is March 1st, there are new coupons available on coupons.com. There are two diaper coupons that you must print and I would advise printing them now because the number is always limited.

$5.00 off one Huggies Gentle Care Product
$3.00 off one Huggies Natural Fit Product

You can print each coupon twice! Clip each coupon and print then go back the coupons will be on the last page. Clip them again and print again.

At Walgreens the week of 3/8 there will be a great diaper deal. Buy $25 worth of Huggies and get $10 in Register Rewards (cash to use on your next visit). The jumbo packs will be on sale for $10. After your Register Rewards and coupons, you can get three packages of Huggies for around $5!!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

"Spring is coming" Giveaway

Well, here it is ladies! Our second giveaway. This one includes:


*Gillette Venus Embrace Razor (1 razor, 2 cartridges, 1 shower pod)
*Sally Hansen "Hard as Nails" Nail Polish (Ice Coffee)
*Glade's new Lasting Impressions PlugIn w/ Clean Linen and Sunny Days (the new 60 day one!)


Everything you need to get ready for spring and the warmer weather (or at least encourage you that it IS coming)! :)

How to enter (each action counts as an entry):

1. Leave a comment on this post.
(1 entry)


2. Refer your Rockfordian friends (they must be a new reader: you can't "refer" someone who has already posted in the past!) - when they post and mention that you referred them, you get an extra entry!
(1 entry per referred friend)

3. Sign up to receive our deal-finders via email - just type in your email on the right and click send. We promise, you won't get junk mail - just notifications when we post something new. If you have already signed up for the email notifications, you automatically get the extra entries.
(2 entries)


4. Here's the NEW way to get an entry: come to our FREE "Coupon Class" (at Kristie's) on March 6th at 7:00pm! Let us know you'll be coming (either email us or post that you are) and then come - that gets you 2 more entries!
(2 entries)

So enter today! The giveaway will close at 6:00pm on Friday, March 6th and the name of the winner will be drawn sometime after 7:00pm during the class (so if you're there, you'll get your prize right away!)

Again, we apologize that at this time we can only make the giveaway available to Rockford area residents. One of these days we'll figure out how to get free postage so we can send these out . . . until then, the giveaways will be restricted to this area!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Walgreens Deal through Feb. 28th

Here are a few Walgreens deals this week!

Walgreens nutritional drinks (6pk 8 oz.) are on sale for $4.00. Purchase one and submit for the Easy Saver Rebate #14 in February for $4.00. Limit 1. FREE after rebate plus 10% if you put it on a gift card! (Austin loves these and needs these to keep the weight on!)

Excedrin 20 or 24ct on sale for $1.99. Purchase one. Use $1 off coupon from 1/4 insert or this internet printable Get $1 register reward good on next purchase. FREE after coupon and register reward! (Do not purchase more than one of these at a time if you have more coupons or pay with the register reward more Excedrin as the register reward will not print.)

Reynolds Aluminum Foil on sale with in-ad coupon for .89. Use $1 off coupon from 2/8 insert. FREE

Free Coupon Mom's e-book

I have a book by Stephanie Nelson (a.k.a. Coupon Mom) and have enjoyed it. Right now she is offering free e-books. There are 3 of them and each is 10-15 pages - a nice short read full of helpful information. Just go here and click on the downloads - no registration required! Here are the 3 topics:

* Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half with the Coupon Mom System (Part 1)

* Advanced Grocery Savings Strategies to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half (Part 2)

* Drugstore Savings Strategies

And remember, Kristie and I are having a free coupon class on Friday, March 6th at 7 pm! Please let us know if you plan on attending: the more, the merrier! Also, watch for a giveaway soon, where attending the class will give you some extra entries!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

KMart is doubling coupons up to $2!

I've know about this for a week or so now, but before I posted about it, I wanted to try it out. This is my first day out in a while since I've been sick.

So here's the deal: KMart is doubling all coupons up to a $2 value until Saturday. There isn't much there that can be had free after coupons, but if you're needing some items anyway and have some good coupons, it might be a good time to go and get those coupons doubled.

Some rules:
- If your item is less than double the coupon, it will only "double" up to the price. You'll see what I mean.
- If the coupon says "do not double" check the bar code. If it has a "5" at the beginning, it will double. If it has a "9" there is a good chance it won't.
- You can only buy 4 of the same items with coupons.


Here's what I got today:

Rimmel mascara (all Rimmel is 40% off, reg $3.29) - $1.97
had $1 coupon, got "doubled" for another $0.97 = FREE

Glade Carpet powder (on sale from $1.99 to 2/$3) - $1.50
had $1 coupon, got "doubled" for another $0.50 = FREE

Dentyne Ice 3 pk - $2.49
had $1 coupon, got doubled for another $1.00 = $0.49

Dentyne Ice - $1.19
Had $0.75 coupon, got "doubled" for another $0.44 = FREE

Trident Splash - $1.19
Had $0.75 coupon, got "doubled" for another $0.44 = FREE

Kotex Lightdays liners, 22 pk - $1.29
Had $0.75 coupon, got "doubled" for another $0.54 = FREE

Total OOP (out of pocket) was $0.49 plus $0.22 tax = $0.71

Not bad eh? It was fun to try out. I didn't have the energy to shop more, or I would have done some more searching.

If you go try out KMart's double coupons this week, post about it here!

RESTAURANT.COM

If you have never heard of RESTAURANT.COM, check it out! You search for restaurants in your area that participate and buy a $25 gift certificate for $10 BUT if you are a smart consumer wait for a sale! There are often codes that will get you 60%, 70% or 80% off.

Today's code is DINE. Purchase a $25 gift certificate for $2! Some not all gift certificates have stipulations (see below) so make sure you read the terms. Once you have added to your cart any gift certificates you want in the top right hand screen you will see where you can add your discount code and it will be applied then finishing checking out.

There are three restaurants in Rockford that participate:
Alvaraz: They only have $10 gift certificates left that must be used on a $20 or more purchase excludes alcohol.
India House: Valid for dinner & dine in with a minimum food purchase of $50. Not valid with any other offers.
Kiki B's: 18% gratuity added to full bill. Not valid on holidays (including but not limited to Easter and Mother's Day).

Thanks for the heads up on the new code Tasha!

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Walgreens: Diapers!

Here is a Walgreens diaper deal that is good through today only if you want to try their generic brand it would be a good time to give them a shot.

Buy two packs of the comfort stretch diapers 2/$15.98. Use the in ad coupon to receive $3.00 off both packs. Pay $10.98 for two jumbo packs.

You can also buy one pack for $8.99 and use the $3.00 coupon and pay $5.99 for one jumbo.

Walgreens does have small trial packs for $3.99 and if you buy a package of Pampers you can get a Walgreens trial pack for free. Starting tomorrow Pampers will be on sale for 9.99.

We have never had a Walgreens diaper leak! Ever but as we know all kids are different!

Friday, February 20, 2009

It's a Coupon Class! Friday, March 6th.

Would you like to know the lowdown on using coupons? Where to get them? How to use them? Maybe you want to know more about playing the drugstore game at CVS or Walgreens! Well, Anouk and I are going to offer a class on Friday, March 6th at 7pm. The location will be in Rockford and will depend on how many sign up. So please contact one of us and let us know as soon as possible if you will be attending.


The class is free just bring your questions and be ready to learn how to maximize your savings. We want to help you stretch your budgets, be wise consumers and have fun in the process. There are few things better than the excitement of a great deal and knowing that we are being wise stewards of what we have been given! It is also great to donate overstock items to many places in town who are in need of the assistance in these unstable economic times.

Keep an eye out for our next giveaway and see how you can earn additional entries by attending the class!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Free Prints at Walgreens on 02/20

Apparently, Walgreens is offering 20 free prints this FRIDAY only.

- Go online here, sign in to your account (or create one)
- Order your 20 prints (it has to be exactly 20)
- Enter the code ONEDAY.
- Then choose in-store pickup!

Tada! 20 free prints!

Thanks MoneySavingMom!

P.S. - I just ordered my 20 prints and it worked. This is a good time pictures printed that you've been putting off, or, if you're like me, get multiples of your boys (I only have so many different pics) for scrapbooking! Woohoo!

Some "Sunshine" at the Pinch-a-Penny store

With all the news we hear out there every day about our economic times, and hearing of so many friends and family that have lost jobs, we thought we'd bring a bit of sunshine in to the "gloomy economic weather." How about a "store" in Rockford where you can by everyday things for cheap?

We just wanted to let you all know that we have over 55 different items for sale in our Pinch-a-Penny store, and all of them are at incredible prices! Be sure to go check it out and email us if you'd like to purchase anything.

Hope you're enjoying the sunshine inside and out!

Lowe's $10 off $50 coupon

If you have any projects to do around the house, you'll be happy to have this coupon! I printed mine today and it is good until March 2.

Thanks to MoneySavingMom for bringing this to my attention!

Note: Since each coupon is assigned a specific bar code, you can't print multiples of the same.

2009 Coupon Insert Schedule!

Do you buy the newspaper for coupons? We both subscribe to a newspaper every Sunday. Anouk subscribes to the Rockford Register Star and the Chicago Tribune while I just subscribe to the Chicago Tribune. I pay $5.42 a month to have it delivered to my door every Sunday! Now if we could just remember to pick it up before we run over it on our way to church we would be doing good!

If you are just getting started in the couponing world then here is a list that might help you. Maybe you just want to pick up a paper now and then for products from companies you use or possibly so many coupons just seem daunting.

The first Sunday of the month the paper usually has the most coupons and the coveted Proctor and Gamble insert. If you want to see a Proctor and Gamble insert, just ask I always have one in my coupon binder!

So check it out the 2009 Coupon Insert Schedule and make sure you don't buy a paper for the coupons when it isn't stuffed with them!

Thanks to Be Centsable for the complete list!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Winter Wanderings - Free Rockford Event

Winter Wanderings is an event held at the Atwood Environmental Center in Rockford. Admission is free. There are some fee activities such as cross country skiing lessons, tubing, and bracelet making. Click here for the full rundown on the days events!

Great deal on Handbags!

If you live in Rockford and have never visited Crimson Ridge, now is the time. Currently they are having a huge handbag sale 2/$25. These are great bags that usually sell for about $80 a piece. Having two small children I abuse my bags not on purpose but it just happens. These are great quality bags for $12.50 each!

Crimson Ridge is located at 735 North Perryville Rd. When you are looking at the building go to the third set of doors for the handbag sale it is in a room all by itself . If you are unsure just walk in the main doors and an employee with show you were to go.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

2 Free (or better) Lip Glosses

Walgreens has all of their Revlon lip products BOGO (Buy One Get One free). This month, the "Revlon Creme Lip Gloss" is also free after rebate. So, here is what you do.

1. Go to Walgreens
2. Pick up an EasySaver Catalog (this is your best friend) - it's usually with the fliers
3. Pick out your 2 favorite shades of Revlon's "Creme Lip Gloss" (make sure it is this specific kind)
4. Go to the counter and pay $9.99 plus tax for the 2 lip glosses
5. Send in your rebate (you can actually do this online now) and get $9.99 plus an extra $1 back if you get it put on a Walgreens' gift card. You just got 2 free lip glosses! If you're not sure how to do the Walgreen's rebate system, you can read about it here.

You can make this deal even better if you use some coupons. Today, I used a $2 coupon and a $1 coupon off of Revlon. This means I paid $6.99 plus tax for 2 glosses and will be getting $10.99 back! I just "made" $4.00!

There are other deals to be made at Walgreen's, but this is the best one this week. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. If you want these lip glosses, but don't understand how to do the rebate, go ahead and buy them by Saturday (after which the sale is over), and then call/email/talk to us and we can help you through the rebate process! Have a great day!

Monday, February 16, 2009

We have a winner!

Thank you to all who participated in this giveaway. We had 7 different ladies participate with a total of 12 entries (either by post or email subscription). Here is the list:

1 Jennie
2 Tricia
3 Margaret
4 Jenna
5 Robin
6 Robin
7 Jenna
8 Margaret
9 Deb
10 Tricia
11 Amy
12 Jennie

I then went to random.org and had them pick out a number between 1 and 12. And the winner is:Margaret!!!

Congratulations Margaret! You're the winner of our first ever giveaway. Please send me a quick email and we'll get your prize to you in the next few days.

Stay tuned folks! There will be more giveaways in the future. And of course, there will also be good deals to be found! Thank you to all for your suggestions - they were good and we'll be looking for ways to implement them.

Just so you know, I won't usually post the list of names and entries in the winning announcing post - for this first time, I just wanted to show you all how the winner is picked so you can see that it is truly unbiased and random! :)

Friday, February 13, 2009

"Pamper Your Face" Giveaway

Well, as promised, we are having a giveaway. At this point we can only offer this giveaway to people in the Rockford area who can either pick it up or to whom we can bring it. When our blog starts making us some money (haha!) then we might be able to afford the postage for these! And if we ever have "online" giveaways (codes for free stuff) or gift cards (only needs a stamp), then of course everyone from all over is welcome to participate.

Alright - now for the good stuff. This giveaway is called "Pamper Your Face." It includes the following:

- L'Oréal Age Perfect Pro-Calcium Sheer Tint Moisturizer (medium)
- L'Oréal Skin Genesis Pore Minimizing Gel Cleanser
- Almay Black lengthening one coat nourishing mascara (hypoallergenic)
- Revlon Goldpearl Plum Super Lustrous Lipstick

Of course, all of it is brand new in package!

Here's how to participate: you can get an "entry" by doing each of the following (so a possibility of at least 3 entries!):

1) Leave us a comment on this post and tell us what else you would like to see posted on this site - give us ideas! One entry

2) Tell your friends about this site and have them participate. When they leave a comment on this post, be sure to have them write "so-and-so referred me". That gets YOU one more entry per person you refer. One (or more) entry

3) Sign up to receive our posts via email (see right side) - don't worry, your inbox won't get flooded with emails. You'll just get an email when we post something on the blog - that way you won't even have to remember to check the blog (unless, of course, you want to see what the newest poll is, or what is in our pinch-a-penny store!). One entry!

On Monday, we will randomly pick a name (there is a website that will do that for us) and post the winner's name on our blog (see, that's why you should sign up to get the emails - you won't have to remember to check on Monday!). We'll then ask the winner to email us with their name and email address so we can get the prize to her. So be sure to check on Monday: you could be our winner!

And PLEASE participate even if you think you won't use some of it. You can either pass on the extras to someone else who can, or you can just choose to only take what you will use! Please help make this first giveaway fun and full! :)

(Please do not participate if you just plan on selling it ALL on e-bay or at a yard sale. We want these giveaways to bless someone who is going to enjoy it or to someone who will give it away to bless someone else. Thank you for understanding).

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Old Navy: $5 coupon on Valentine's Day

This is an in-store only promotion! Stop by and pick up a coloring sheet (one per child) with four valentines. Bring the bottom right valentine into Old Navy on Valentine's Day and receive a $5 coupon per child. There are lots of items in the store for $5 or less. My son noticed the bins of balls - only $2 each. Happy Valentine's Day shopping. The valentines are adorable too.

Thanks to Money Saving Mom!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

I have not forgotten!

Just wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten about the promised give-away! I was sick most of Monday and all of Tuesday, so I'm 1.5 days behind in everything. Keep checking in! We'll have a giveaway soon!

T.G.I. Friday's BOGO deal


For those of you new to the couponing world, BOGO means Buy One, Get One free.

T.G.I. Friday's has this great BOGO free entree coupon. (In the email they sent me, they even encourage you to print it as many times as you want!)

So treat someone out to a meal and save money . . . unfortunately, you won't be able to on Valentine's Day though (in the small print) - but any other day is fine up until March 1st!

Enjoy!

Pinch-a-Penny Nook Store

Please check out the link on the right to the Pinch-a-Penny Nook Store where you can find some great deals on everyday products! The store has been updated.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Free 2-yr Subscription To LEGO Club Jr. Magazine


Currently Lego is offering a free 2-yr subscription to Lego Club jr. a magazine for younger kids through age 6. Call 1-800-835-4386 press option 1 and order the magazine with code RRJ29.


(There is also a subscription for kids over the age of 6 that is free upon request.) Thanks to iMommies for the tip.


Friday, February 6, 2009

Frugal Valentine's Day


Here is an e-book that gives lots of inexpensive but neat ideas to treat your loved ones (husband, kids) for Valentine's Day. I already found a couple of ideas I want to use (even though Jeremy and I don't care for the hype of Valentine's . . . and according to Pastor, we have all the romance we need!).

It's completely free and you don't have to give any info (email or other). Just click on the "free download" link and save it to your computer.

Thanks to Money Saving Mom for the head's up!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

McDonald's: Buy One Get One Free Drinks


It's called refreshment recess! At McDonald's every Monday - Friday from 2-5pm you can purchase 2 drinks for the price of 1! This includes their specialty coffees too!


I just may have to make the trip out this afternoon for a Mocha and deliver one to my husband at work!


One Day Pass to Sam's Club

If you are not a member of Sam's club this is a good deal! Usually Sam's clubs one day passes include a 10% service charge on all the products because you are not a member but not this pass! This is a free one-day pass at regular member prices. Print here and take a trip to Sam's!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

More Free Cottenelle Toilet Paper

**Edit - The Hilander by the Cherryvale Mall is being picky about the .50 coupon and didn't double them. If you are headed there with your coupons maybe check with customer service. I used all of the links from this site at the Hilander on Mulford, they accepted them and doubled them. It will only double to .49 because the tp is .99 and they don't give overage. Just a little heads up - always check your receipts.

Alright, here is another link to print two $1.00 off coupons for Cottenelle. All you have to do is make a pledge and choose which coupon you want to print (hit back and refresh to print the second one). Then head to Hilander (Kroger) and pick up a 4 pk of Cottenelle for .99.

My pledge, I will never run out of Cottenelle toilet paper! (At least not while I can get it for free :) ! )

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

More Free Buddies Soaps


Here are two more links that will score you a ton of Johnson's Buddies Soap!! Remember print two coupons per link and Walmart and Target have these for .99 and .97!





New poll and THE STORE!

Well, I think from our last poll we gathered that some of you could use some tips on how to where to get coupons and discover the best way (and places) to use them. Our goal is to help you get the most for your money (without begging or stealing). In the days and weeks to come, we'll be posting some tips to help you do just that.

Until then, there is a new poll to your right. Be sure to participate and help us get a feel for where you do your grocery shopping!

Also, the Pinch-a-Penny Store is up and running. Click here or on the link on the right to find some REALLY great deals. This post will be updated periodically as we add more items (and as we sell them too hopefully). At this time these items are only available for purchase for people in the Rockford area since postage fees would kill the great deals.

Just for fun, we will be having a giveaway sometime next week - so stay tuned! Have a great day!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Free audiobook

Do you like to read but can't find the time to do it? Or maybe you have to travel long distances and an audiobook would be a welcome companion? Do you have a room to paint (that's when I listened to all of Pilgrim's Progress on my iPod). Whatever the case may be, here is a way to get some free audiobooks.

I've been signed up at www.christianaudio.com for a few months now after our pastor told us about their monthly free audiobook. Every month, they offer a new audiobook. All you have to do is go here and add the book to the cart - then register and put in the code FEB2009 and get it for free! Then you'll receive an email at the beginning of every month telling you what the free book is and what code to use to get it for free. You never have to enter a credit card number!

So far I've gotten the following audiobooks for free:

In His Steps
Pilgrim's Progress
90 days of Spurgeon's Morning and Evening
A biography of Oswald Chambers
Calvin: Of Prayer and the Christian Life

So sign up today and enjoy!

_______________________________________

This month's free audiobook sounds very interesting and is about modern day slavery: I know I don't know the half of what is really going on out there, and think of slavery as a thing of the past. Here's a synopsis of the book:

"Award-winning journalist David Batstone reveals the story of a new generation of 21st century abolitionists and their heroic campaign to put an end to human bondage. In his accessible and inspiring book, Batstone carefully weaves the narratives of activists and those in bondage in a way that not only raises awareness of the modern-day slave trade, but also serves as a call to action."

Disclaimer: The mention of any book in this post is in no way an endorsement of its contents, especially that of this month's book which I have not yet read.

Free Cottenelle Toilet Paper!!

Okay so we all need toilet paper, let's get some for free!

Print two .50 off 1 Cottenelle coupons here and here (you should be able to print two per link) and take your coupons with you the next time you head to Hilander (Kroger). The four pack of Cottenelle is .99. Hilander will double your .50 coupon to score some free tp!

Also, if you are a Sunday paper subscriber, Cottenelle usually has a .50 coupon off one pack or sometimes two packs.
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