We don’t need no stinkin’ cat food! -last bump-

Announcing a giveaway of 50 bags and boxes of Purina Kitten Chow by
Jake the Deranged Dog.  Send me your sob stories about why you (or
your organization) deserve to win this.  The usual procedure is to
have a random generator pick the winner, but since this is my site, I
get to choose!  So pluck my heartstrings, make a cry of rachmones,
make Jake howl in pain.  Since we’re talking a sizable amount here, I
won’t be able to ship it, but if you can arrange to be in the Downers
Grove, Naperville, Lisle, Woodridge areas to pick it up, it’s yours.
These are brand, spankin’ new bags of food, not overstock or dumpster
deals (not that there’s anything wrong with that).   Post your
comments and give it your all.  Please limit yourself to one comment,
’cause my eyes are bad enough and Jake would make a lousy service dog.
Contest closes on Friday the 20th at 5 pm, which will give you the
week-end to arrange pick up.  Just think, tons of kitty chow without the hassle of Wal Mart!   win-win

Kohls

Just got back from freaky-deaky land, also known as Kohls.  Don’t get me wrong, everyone working there is great, the clearance stuff you’d normally have to kill someone to get these prices, but please, please, please, let me know when it’s People of Walmart day.  OK?   I’d never been a Kohls shopper before, but I got lured in a few weeks ago when they paid me to take home several hundred dollars worth of bath towels and rugs.  Oh, and tons of “stylish” stuff for the Drama Teen Queen.  Today we picked up two more pairs of jeans and yes, those are a size 0.  It’s a sad day when your daughter wears a belt with size 0 jeans and your butt cheeks are in different zip codes…  Anyway, two pairs of “stylin” jeans for free, using the two Kohl’s Kash cards I got.  One came in the mail and the other came via email when I registered with them.  Go on, it’s free money!

Tropicana Juicy Rewards

How many of  you are signed up with the Tropicana Juicy Rewards program?  Hey, get with the program!  They have monthly sweepstakes and in the past have had promotions for free juice.  And as we all know, I love free.

Restaurant.com

Seems like I’m following Mashupmom here, but I’ll give it a shot anyway!  Restaurant.com has a few codes for up to 70% off the usual certificate price.  For example, the $25 certificate is now $3.  I can highly recommend this program, as I’ve used it quite often in the past.  In fact, I used one just last Friday.  A really nice feature is that you can buy a ton and then just store them as gift certificates. No need to worry about whether or not you’ll actually use the restaurant you originally picked. And if you do change your mind after you’ve selected a restaurant, it’s easy to call customer service and  make the change  You’ll get an email with the link to a gift certificate. This takes less than an hour during their normal business hours.  An added bonus:  These certificates don’t expire! Use the following codes:  REDPLUM or  STEAK.

Lucerne (Dominick’s) and Hillandale (Costco) eggs recall

This post is from Mashupmom and concerns most every reader out there, so please click on the link and read.  I’m amazed that all these branded eggs are actually from the same farm/chickens.  So we now know that all eggs are the same (the non-organic, any way) and the only difference is which store has a sale running.  Boy, do I feel like a sucker.

Ethics of Couponing?

I have to state here that this site is not going to get into a discussion of what constitutes “proper” coupon usage:  My site and I can do what I want nah nah nah.  Seriously though, there are some blogs where anything goes, it’s us against them, so go for it.  I do have some standards, few though they may be, which I’ll be happy to share with you.  I have problems knowingly using a coupon on one item which is meant for another size or flavor or even a different item entirely.  Some manufacturers code a coupon to work on all items in that “family” or brand.  So you could use a diaper coupon on a wipes (just as an example) and a large discount would come off a lesser-priced item.  Have I ever used a coupon on the wrong size or type:  Hell,  yes, but only by mistake.  Another is people who use the self-scan at some stores where they can sneak in expired coupons without being caught.  The most important thing an extreme couponer can do is set up and maintain his or her relationships with the various stores’ personnel – these are the people who will make or break your deals.  Don’t believe me?  I’ve read first hand reports of people getting banned from stores.  Try running a Walgreens deal with no Walgreens.  Shelf clearing.  Boy is this a hot button.  Common sense and courtesy should lead the way here, but it seems to be lacking so often.  If there is a fantastic deal requiring multiple item purchases and you know about it in advance, have the store put in a special order for you.  If you can’t do that, try to take enough for one run a day or hit a few stores in the chain.  If the last few hours of the deal are looming ahead – clear ’em out!  Some stores have coupon generators on their site which allow unlimited prints and yes, I print out these suckers and redeem them as often as I can.  I am not going to argue with readers over what the store’s “intent” was in making them available.  I would guess that their marketing people are degreed and well-paid and know what they’re doing.  Don’t pretend that you had no way of knowing that people would be making large scale purchases using “free” or almost free coupons.  If you, dear readers, can read minds, email me privately with tomorrow’s lottery picks, please.  Having said that, I’m going to release some store coupons later today which will help with produce, bread and canned goods, so keep checking back.  Not trying to be a tease here, but I must get going on errands.  Posting is fun, but laundry is reality.

DG Deals store closing!

Just heard from a reader who shops at the Deals store on Butterfield in Downers Grove.  Deals stores are owned by Dollar Tree and the Butterfield location is being converted to a Dollar Tree store, so everything in the store priced over a buck is being clearanced out.  The large (56 oz) Fabuloso all-purpose cleaner is priced at $1.50,  Mean Green 48 oz. $1.75/2.  Other prices are crazy-comparable!  Check it out before all the stuff’s gone.  Oh, forgot to mention – THEY TAKE MFR COUPONS!

Getting enough inserts?

Some readers wonder how I can get so many coupons that picking up 14 milks is possible.  Well, I get four Sunday Tribs delivered, and usually manage another 4 or 5 through friends/family.  Then, every once in a while, I get a whole slew of inserts from a delivery service for no reason at all.  That’s this week, when I got (so far) 60 of the 8/15 Smart Source inserts.  Unfortunately, I can’t see any fantastic match-ups – yet!  I also occasionally trade coupons with others.  This week I’ll be taking some more of the Smart Balance $2 coupons to use at Meijer, since the other person has no use for them – likewise with pet food.  Ask the people around you, at work, your family to save the inserts for you.  Don’t expect other people to do all the work; offer to pick them up every week or two or “pay” them with a free razor or shampoo.  People are happy to help out if they know their actions are appreciated.

Jewel Avenue Preferred Card

I don’t know how many of you shop at Jewel.  If you do, you must have signed up for a preferred card, since that’s the only way you can get great savings.  Having said that, how many of you actually go on line every week to check out the “special” savings applied to your card(s)?  Hmmmm?  Just as I thought.  Go here Jewel and sign up or if already registered, check your offers.  If you are signed up for their weekly emails you can also get some great deals.  This week is a $1 off Haagen Daz, which is in addition to any sales or coupons you might use.  Lately Jewel has been a real snooze for deals, but if you like/need this ice cream, since it isn’t on sale and there are no current coupons, go for it.  Or, as we say, whatever floats your boat…