Just thought I’d post this update on my earlier blogs this weekend regarding sales, freebies and savings.
If you use the Hallmark $5 coupon and don’t want much of an overage here are some suggestions:
- Most Hallmarks have food products that are cheaply had. I’m making gift baskets for people and grabbed some of the gourmet soup mixes (retail $6.99) – on sale for $5.99.
- Beenie Babies are either $5.99 or $6.99 and make a nice option for a stocking stuffer for a child or a kid at heart.
- Yankee Candle tarts are 3 for $5.00 or you pick up the bonus package of 3 car air fresheners for $5.99. (Make sure you get the packages marked “bonus” and you’ll gain one freshener). Small Yankee Candles (the ones in the glass jars) are $9.99, which means you are getting half off if you buy one with the coupon. It’s still a good deal and the candles have unbeatable fragrances. Even a tiny candle burns for many hours and fills your home with heavenly scents! One to try is Almond- it’s a new fragrance that is simply delicious!
- Other options are the $.99 cards -get five of these to stay in your $5 allotment.
- Ornaments abound at $9.99 (with coupon, you’ll give yourself a fifty percent discount)
You can ask to use more than one coupon, as these are plentiful right now. Better Homes and Gardens had one in their December magazine, as does the web link I mentioned earlier. I have two Hallmark stores only three miles apart. One store wouldn’t let me use multiple coupons. The other did, but required separate transactions. I had three total coupons and got $18 worth of items for only $3.00 (plus tax). These coupons are good until Christmas. You’re really missing out if you don’t use them. Also, on your receipt, you may find a call-in survey to complete. Before I left the store, I used my cell phone to complete the survey and got another $2.00 instant coupon. I bought a dip mix for the gourmet basket ($2.99) and paid only a buck plus tax for this.
JC Penney had a recent mailing with a coupon that gave customers $10 off a purchase of ten dollars. This means, FREE stuff! What can you pick up for ten bucks at Penney’s currently?
Among the best choices for the value are the Footnotes jewelry items. Each item has a unique saying on the greeting card style packaging and is geared for various recipients. Choose friend, daughter, mother, sister or generic female recipient. Retail price was $45.00 for these Sterling Silver necklaces. Beautiful and classy looking, these are a heck of a deal right now for $14.99. For only $5.00 plus tax (after the $10 coupon), I picked one up for my sister. There are also rings in the line which are on sale for $9.99, and likewise are on a massive reduction. The only reason I’d opt out of the rings is uncertainty about sizing for my recipient, otherwise they’d be a great choice as well.
Various other options to spread your free cash out are Columbia jackets (some are on sale right now for only $23.00). When you can toss less than $15 including tax in the mix and pick up a winter jacket, pat yourself on the back! Or choose from super soft fleece scarf, mitten and hat sets in a wide range of colors for only $11.99. There are also clothing options, of course- sweaters, T’s and even jeans for $19.99. You can pick up multiple items to total ten bucks if you’d like. Items like socks or mittens are around $5.00. And of course, you can apply your ten bucks to larger purchases.
If you missed out on the JC Penney’s mailing, use these coupons to grab some savings till the end of the holiday season!
My foray into Bath and Body Works was quite fruitful. Here are some tips on using the printable coupon:
- This printable coupon is good for a free $13 item with a ten dollar purchase. You need to examine it carefully, as it seemed like it was for multiple products that total thirteen dollars. Alas, it’s not. With as many sales that Bath and Body are offering, it’s hard to find something that is $13, without going way under or over. Additional exclusions on this coupon are using it for the 3 wick candles or gift sets. I always like to get the best value for my free item, so it took me a while to settle on a purchase.
- Here’s what I did- I bought 2 three wick candles (on sale for $10.00 each) with my cash and then used the coupons for 2 large bottles of Victoria’s Secret Pink Fresh and Flirty lotion (retail $12 each). Having priced Victoria’s Secret body products in the past, they aren’t cheaply had. It’s great that Bath and Body carry some of their competitor’s fragrances, as the closest Victoria’s Secret is an hour’s drive from my home. Bath and Body Works honored my second coupon I’d printed out with two transactions.
- You can use the coupon for items less than $13 or take that amount off a larger item. (Though it’s clear they’d rather have you use it for a smaller purchase under thirteen bucks).
- After my purchase, I got two additional coupons for $10 off a thirty dollar purchase and two register receipts for surveys that give you another $10 off $30. Those surveys are worthwhile, because once you have the code written down, these coupons don’t expire for a year.
See the awesome breakdown of my spending:
Hallmark-
Used
3 $5.00 off coupons (separate transactions)
Purchased
1 gourmet potato soup mix- $5.99
5 $.99 cards @4.95
3 Yankee Candle air fresheners- $5.99
Got $16.93 in merchandise
Paid (after coupons) $1.98, (plus tax)
Used
Call in survey instant coupon $2.00
Purchased
1 Dip Mix @ $2.99
Paid (after coupon) $.99 (plus tax)
JC Penney’s
Used
1 $10 coupon
Purchased
1 Sister Footnotes Sterling Silver Necklace- Suggested Retail $45 (on Sale for $14.99)
Got $45 in merchandise
Paid (after coupon) $4.99 (plus tax)
Bath and Body Works
Used 2 up to $13 free merchandise coupons w/$10 purchase
Bought 2 $10 3 wick holiday candles
Redeemed coupon for 2 Pink Body Lotions (Retail $12 each)
Got $44.00 in merchandise
Paid (after coupons) $20.00 (plus tax)
Received in total value of merchandise- $108.92
Total out of pocket- $27.96 (plus tax)
That makes for a great shopping day!!! I’m thrilled! Save money by using coupons and combining with sales for your holiday gifts. Never neglect even the small ”free money” or “free product” coupons. As you can see, this really adds up if you use them smartly. Don’t forget that all of these deals are ongoing till after the holidays. Get out and save!!!