Sponsored: $500 Coupons.com Giveaway and the Best Frugal Advice My Mom Ever Gave Me (Ends 5/7) U.S.

I am so pleased to be working with Coupons.com and the Fashionista Events Group on behalf of this sponsored post.

Well, that is my mom, and she taught me practically everything I know about frugal living.  That's right.  Things were tight when we were growing up, and I often didn't have all the nicest things in the world like my friends did.  We didn't have cable TV, Atari (remember those game systems?), and all the sugar cereals that were advertised on Saturday morning cartoons.  We had an old-fashioned TV set, and we were not the first ones to get a VCR nor a fashionable car.  We went on vacation during the summer, and we always had picnic lunches and stayed in Motel 6.  We even went camping.  (Some of this was my dad's doing, but that's another story.)

I think the thing my mom taught me about frugal living was that you don't always have to have everything that is the latest trend nor the passing fad.  You don't have to be first on the block to get the new electronic gadget or be the first to have an in-home spa or anything else fancy.  There is nothing greater than spending time together as a family and waiting for the price to go down and maybe even buy something "second-hand."

I am very proud to state that I am passing this frugality my mom instilled in me to my daughter.  There she is at a great event that cost us nothing since I am a blogger (that has become my newest frugal way of living!).  She continually asks for this game or that toy or even that special thing that her best friend has.  It was just the other day that she asked me if we could get a DVD subscription service, and I told her "no."  I proceeded to give her the reasons, and she knew there was no point in fighting it.  Mom's mind was made up!  I know for a fact that the frugality that my mom instilled within me continues to this day.  I still have the mindset that if it is not necessary or too expensive, there is no reason to get it.  However, as I have gotten older, I have also discovered that quality can be just as important.  The key is quality at a good price.  

I am pleased to give my wonderful readers a chance to win a some fantastic gift certificates supplied by Coupons.com.  Five will win $50 e-gift certificates from Kohl's, and five will win $50 e-gift certificates from Nordstrom.  All you will need to do is enter on the rafflecopter below, and you will be entered to win.  This is open to U.S. only, and it will end May 7 at 9 P.M. Pacific time.  What a perfect opportunity for you to cash in on great Kohl's offers for your next quality, frugal item!  You, too, can put into practice what my mom taught me so long ago!  So be sure to enter today.

I also invite you to follow coupons.com via facebook  and twitter for the latest news and deals!

I wrote this blog post on behalf of coupons.com, and I was compensated for my time.  All opinions are 100 percent mine, and I was not told what to say nor how to say it.  

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Coupon coup Giveaway (Ends 11/15) U.S.

Welcome to the Coupon Coup Giveaway, hosted by Stay a Stay at Home Mom with cohosts Zoes Printable Coupons, Sisters Saving Cents, Military Wives Saving, and Mamal Diane Keeping it Simple. One of the best ways families can save money all year long is to utilize coupons. Now, for the uninitiated, you're probably thinking its just not worth it to spend Sunday morning clipping a coupon to save a quarter off a tube of toothpaste you don't even like! But there is so much more to couponing than that! By properly using coupons, most families can save 20-90% off their food, paper products, and toiletries bill, and take home bags of freebies each month. This fantastic giveaway aims at helping you learn how to do it! I know it sounds like a lot of work, but really, it is so worth it.  Especially in light of our economy. One lucky winner will receive:

1. Couponing: The Extreme Video Course
2. 6-mo Membership to SavingsAngel
3. Coupon Clutch from Grandma's Little Lilly
4. Create Your Own Coupon Binder
5. 40 Recent Coupon Inserts from Coupon Connection Idaho
6. $100 Wal-Mart Gift Card

Additionally FIVE First Prize winners will receive a copy of Couponing: The Extreme Video Course. Couponing: The Extreme Video Course Have you ever wondered how the couponers on TV are able to fill three grocery carts full of food and toiletries and pay a penny? Well, part of that is Hollywood entertainment, but most of it is possible. Couponing: The Extreme Video Course will show you how to regularly save 20-90% off your food and toiletries bill. The Coupon Coup Giveaway winner will receive a copy of Couponing: The Extreme Video Course (accessed online) AND FIVE lucky runner-up winners will also receive a copy! Plus, all giveaway participants are eligible to receive $5 off Couponing: The Extreme Video Course while the giveaway is going on. Simply enter this code at checkout:

COUPONCOUP

(NOTE: If you purchase Couponing: The Extreme Video Course and are one of the winners, you'll receive a refund. No need to worry about buying the course and then winning it anyway :) Couponing: The Extreme Video Course  Sounds like a good deal to me!!

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6-Month Membership to SavingsAngel SavingsAngel helps busy moms dramatically cut their grocery bills. Create your own customized shopping list from hundreds of weekly matchup deals. Search for specific products or coupons. Get email alerts for deals on products you use at your favorite stores. Get personalized help for couponing beginners and great tips for experts. Long-time members agree the small monthly fee is worth the extra savings of money and time. A generous friend-to-friend referral program makes it easy to get your membership for free. The winner of the Coupon Coup Giveaway gets a 6month membership to SavingsAngel absolutely free!

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Coupon Clutch For smaller couponing trips, restaurants and entertainment, and even specialty store organization, a coupon clutch is critical! You know you want this, and what is better than homemade? Grandma's Little Lilly, an etsy store, makes beautiful, functional coupon clutches, and has graciously offered the winner of the Coupon Coup Giveaway the clutch of her choice from Grandma's etsy store here.

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Coupon Binder Every good couponer worth her salt has a coupon binder. This is something I really need to investigate.  I have never had one, but I know I should!  The winner of this giveaway will receive the materials needed to make her own customized coupon binder (instructions here) including:

• Case It Zippered Binder
• Coupon Binder Pages
• Tabbed Dividers

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Coupon Inserts Probably the most important component of couponing is the actual coupon inserts themselves! You cannot buy coupon inserts, but there are several services out there including Coupon Connection Idaho that will save them for you and send them to you for free. (You just pay a small fee to cover administrative costs and labor associated with gathering them.) Coupon Connection Idaho is providing the winner with 40 recent coupon inserts.

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$100 Walmart Gift Card To get their couponing off to the right start, the winner will get a $100 Walmart gift card to help pay for groceries. If the winning bidder would prefer, $100 Paypal cash can be substituted.  How can you beat that?  Walmart or Paypal?  With thee holidays coming up, you know you want it.

As I see it, this giveaway is so worth it.  You know you want to enter.  After all, what do you have to lose?

Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win. Good luck!

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blogger Opportunity: Coupon Coup Giveaway

Stay a Stay at Home Mom is proud to announce the first annual Coupon Coup Giveaway November 1-15, 2012! This event is FREE for bloggers worldwide, (though the grand prize can only be shipped/used in the United States) who choose to post an announcement. Blogger sign ups will close October 29. The sooner you sign up, the closer to the top your info will be. One single winner will receive the following prizes:

1. Couponing: The Extreme Video Course
2. 6-mo Membership to SavingsAngel
3. Coupon Clutch from Grandma's Little Lilly
4. Coupon Binder
5. 40 Recent Coupon Inserts from Coupon Connection Idaho
6. $100 Wal-Mart Gift Card (more depending on how many bloggers we get to participate)

Plus, there will be FIVE first place winners who will each receive a copy of Couponing: The Extreme Video Course, or, a refund if they purchase the course during the giveaway. In addition, there will be a referral contest with a prize of AT LEAST $25 going to the blogger who refers the most other bloggers. This amount may increase as more bloggers come on board. Please join the Facebook group for details on the referral contest.

Get Up to Speed

Want to make sure that you understand what it is that is being given away? First, download your free Guide to SavingsAngel. Plus, as a special offer to all bloggers who are participating in the Coupon Coup Giveaway, you can purchase Couponing: The Extreme Video Course for half-price using the code COUPONCOUP. Code for Announcement Post The code for the announcement post can be found here. You can alter the text to reflect your own personality but please make sure all links are kept as-is. Make sure you at least add a paragraph to the beginning of your post to make it different from everyone else's for search engine purposes. Sign Up Sign up using the form here. Questions? Contact Stay a Stay at Home Mom here.

I know that I often have not joined in with giveaways like this for coupons, but in this day and age, I think everyone is looking for ways to save, so this makes perfect sense, right?  And bloggers, if you do sign up, please say My Devotional Thoughts referred you!  And if you are one of my readers, come back to win this prize!  After all, why shouldn't one of my readers win, huh?

Friday Flash Fun Giveaway: A Loaded Coupon Binder! (Ends 8/27) U.S.

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We decided to shake it up a bit this week with a Friday Night Flash Fun Giveaway!

I’ve joined some super awesome bloggers and hosts

My Crafty Life and Full Price? Never! to bring this cool flash giveaways to you!

We are giving away a super cool prize to help you save money and start the school year ahead....

A Loaded Coupon Binder!

What you get:

*binder

*printables to organize your binder

*page protectors for coupons & printables

*current coupon inserts {8/29}!
Courtesy of Palmetto Clippers http://www.PalmettoCouponClippers.com/

Entering is simple on the Rafflecopter form below.This giveaway starts at 12:01am est on the 25th and ends at 11:59pm est on August 28th 2012!

GOOD LUCK!

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The participating bloggers were not compensated for this post. We are not associated with Case-It or Jessica Weible . No purchase is necessary to enter. Void where prohibited by law. The odds of winning are based on the number of entries received.** This promotion is no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.** To qualify to win, you must fill out the Entry. Winners will be chosen within 7 business days and be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond. This giveaway is compliant with Facebook Rules! Must be aged 18+ to enter and win. Prize can only be mailed within the Continental US.

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Knot Genie Coupon Deal and Giveaway

Are you ready to join the thousands and thousands of mamas who no longer dread the hair brushing drama? Then The Knot Genie Detangling Brush is for you! The Knot Genie and Teeny Genie were created to not only to make brushing of even the most unruly hair effortless, but to create peace in households around the world at bath time. Their unique bristles act like little "fingers" gently untangling knots and tangles. The amazing Knot Genie magically gets rid of knots. Not to mention complaining.

My daughter swims about once a week, and her hair is not incredibly long, but it certainly get tangled.  I have seen another mother with one of these Knot Genies, and I have wanted desperately to try one.  And now here is the chance for all of us!  You can get a $4 off coupon for the Knot Genie! Just click here for all the details.

With the introduction of four new Knot Genie colors in our limited edition   Back to School Collection, they're also running a fun contest. The contest is called, the Knot Genie Back to School Morning Meltdown contest.  If you’re a parent,  you’ve  probably experienced a foot stomping-shrieking-morning meltdown at that critical time when you’re trying to get your child off to school. Recount (if it’s not to painful) your worst meltdown and  how you diffused the situation and enter your story in our contest. Ask  your friends  and family to vote for your entry and you could win $500.00. The first 50 people to enter will get great prizes just for participating.   Find the information here.

I wrote this blog post in exchange for a free Knot Genie and to be entered in a sweepstakes.  Nevertheless, all opinions are 100 percent mine.

Piczzle Promotional Code--Expires Soon!

Remember the giveaway I just had for Piczzle?  It was my Father's Day giveaway, and there was a lot of interest for this company.  So they have provided me with a promotional code--21% off!  It is only good until Tuesday, June 26 at 11:59 P.M.:


MyDevotionalThoughts21


It is good on all prices, so head over to their site now!  This is the perfect time to get all those gifts you need throughout the year.  Think birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, baby showers, and even Christmas!  This is the perfect gift for everyone, and it is easy to personalize everything.  

Honey Bunches of Oats Coupon Giveaway--5 winners! (Ends 6/13) U.S.

About a month or so ago, I was sent a fantastic product to review--Honey Bunches of Oats cereal. I was sent a full-sized box, and I have thoroughly enjoyed it!  Cereals are something I tend to be really picky about.  I like my cereal to be filling and tasty.  I don't want it to be high in sugar, and I prefer a low-calorie cereal.

This is the exact flavor I tried.  When I eat cereal, I don't use milk--I use Greek Yogurt.  I mix them together, and this is the perfect kind of cereal to mix with yogurt.

So what about the nutrition content?  No fat or cholesterol.  It has 10 grams of whole grain.  And it has the same amount of calories as Special K cereal! Not bad.  All that, and I can assure you it tastes good!

So the people over at Post have decided to give away 5 coupons for a free box of cereal.  I will look up the expiration date--I have to find them, and I will update this.  You have until June 13 9:00 P.M. Pacific time to enter for a chance at these coupons.  Just fill out the the rafflecopter form below.  Sorry, U.S. only.  Best of wishes!


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Cinnabon Random Packs of Kindness Contest (My Blog Spark) and a coupon

Cinnabon was able to warm the hearts of others this holiday season through its Random `Packs´ of Kindness contest and it´s your turn to do the same!

Throughout the holiday season, Cinnabon asked consumers to share stories of random acts of kindness stories online and now it´s time to vote for your favorite good deed! Between now and January 28th, vote for the most heartwarming act of kindness on the Cinnabon Facebook page and help those who did a good service win a cash prize of $2,500 as well as a $2,500 donation to the charity of their choice.

Be sure to vote and encourage friends and family to do the same on the Cinnabon Facebook page and continue to spread the warmth throughout the New Year.

Information provided by Cinnabon and General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

And, one more thing (somewhat unrelated).

Want to get a coupon for $100 off one package of Yoplait Frozen Smoothies?  Click here.

*This coupon offer is not valid in the following states: including California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota and Tennessee.

Thank you, My Blog Spark!

The Slice Safety Cutter Review

Slice™ Safety Cutter - Great for couponers 

Perhaps you have heard of the Slice Safety Cutter, but I have to admit that before I received this product, I really did not know about it.  I liked the premise behind it:

The Slice™ Safety Cutter is the most versatile tool you'll ever own. Features a finger-friendly microscopic ceramic blade that's quick, easy and a safe substitute for scissors. Perfect for scrap-booking, clipping recipes, coupons and news articles, removing shrink-wrap, opening CDs, DVDs, and plastic packaging, and more. Includes a built-in magnet and key-ring hole.

- Ceramic blade lasts longer than steel
- Stays sharp and never rusts
- Built-in magnet and key-ring hole
- Finger-Friendly™ Design
- For left- and right-handers

What first intrigued me was the fact that it is useful for clipping coupons.  I am not a big coupon shopper, but we often print coupons off the computer, and I never enjoy having to cut them out. I was also interested in using it to open CD and DVD packages--I really hate doing that!

When this first arrived, I have to admit that I wasn't too keen on it.  It seemed that when I used it to open packages, it just did not cut through tape or plastic like I thought it would.  I had to press so hard in order to use it--or at least it seemed that way.  I tried to get my mom to use it on her scrapbooking, and she she said she did not have the strength to hold it.  I was afraid I was going to be giving this product a somewhat negative review, and I was kind of dreading it.

Amazingly, I went to use it a few days ago--as a last-ditch effort to give it a semi-positive review.  And suddenly, I realized that I had been holding the cutter incorrectly.  The little blade is almost indistinguishable, and I was not holding the tool at the correct angle.  When I changed the angle just slightly, voila!  The slicer worked perfectly on paper, coupons, and even plastic.  I would not recommend using this on really thick cardboard or plastic--you really have to push hard to make this little cutter work on thick things like that.  But if held correctly, this little tool is invaluable!

As I was looking over the benefits, I noticed that the design is such that you can take the product with you very easily.  It has a hole that easily attaches to a key ring, and it is definitely the right size to go with you!  You can clip your coupons in the store or instantly open any packages you may buy at the store.  You know what packages I am talking about--the ones that are child-proof and/or completely encased in plastic wrap that your fingers just cannot open easily.

My daughter has not had a chance to use this, but she is definitely at an age that this would be beneficial. I am not saying she could not get cut.  She is a curious 8-year-old, and chances are she would be fascinated with the blade.  But she could get less cut with the Slice than a pocketknife.  

In short, this tool is an ideal mutli-task tool for cutting paper, coupons, and much more.  I do recommend doing what I finally did--experimenting with holding and using the Slice. You may have to apply more pressure in some instances than you think you might have to, but I think that most people will be able to do this.  I think you will find this a tool that will use for a myriad of projects and tasks with excellent results.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Coupons Gone Crazy (Guest Post)

Coupons Gone Crazy

We’ve all seen those shows on TV.  Those shows where a crazy coupon lady is shown clipping and snipping away at her newspaper, mulling in her basement over a stockpile of merchandise that looks nothing short of preparation for a nuclear war, and then leaving the grocery store with 18 shopping carts along with a bill comprised of $1,000 worth of items all for $7.32. 

After watching these somewhat insane cases of couponing, not only are the savings incurred shocking, but so is the time and dedication it takes to reach such deals.  If you’re someone who is playing a juggling act with church, school, home, jobs, etc.,  it might be hard to find the time (not to mention the space!), but also know that a bit of clipping and planning can benefit your family and your wallet.

With these tips used by the most experienced coupon-ers out there, you don’t have to become a crazy coupon lady…just a savvier shopper who is on a pursuit of unbelievable savings upwards of 90%!

Find the Coupons 

·        Newspapers.  The best place to find your coupons is the newspaper.  So after church on Sunday grab a cup of coffee, a pair of scissors, and start clipping away!  With Sunday papers costing around $1.00--$1.50, they are a good investment being that they can sometimes hold hundreds of dollars’ worth of savings.  And don’t just settle for one.  Get aggressive and subscribe to several—that is if they have quality ads and aren’t too expensive.

·        Online.  Many websites offer coupons or codes that you can print off and use in stores.  Sign up online to receive emails with coupons and other money-saving deals.

·        Direct from the manufacturers.  You can call up your favorite stores and ask them to send you coupons.  Simply tell them that you are a customer who loves their products and they should be happy to mail some coupons your way! 

·        Ask around.  Ask friends or coworkers for any extra papers with coupons in them that they aren’t using.  Also, check with local businesses to see if they have any left-over Sunday newspapers that they are throwing away—no savvy coupon-er would ever let a Sunday paper chalk-full of sweet deals go to waste!

Get Organized 

So you just spent an entire afternoon clipping hundreds of coupons and fell victim to 3 excruciatingly painful paper cuts…now what do you do?  Well, get yourself organized of course!  A good way to do this is to fill a binder with sheet protectors or baseball card holders and use page dividers to separate coupons either by category or expiration date. 

Know the Store Policies

You are ready to set out on your shopping trip, and with the promise of saving some major cash, you are more excited to hit the aisles than ever before.  But wait!  Before you go, have you looked over the store’s coupon policy?  Most stores post their policies online, so be sure to get a hard copy to take with you in case there should be a disagreement regarding the company’s rules on coupon use.

Know the Checkout Etiquette

It’s 6:00 on Monday night, it’s been a long day at work, and you’ve dropped by your neighborhood grocer to pick up a few things to throw together for dinner before your family gets home.  It seems as though everyone else in town had the same idea as you and each checkout line is stretched halfway down the store’s aisles.   Just when you think you’re almost to the finish line, the woman with 2 baskets filled to the brim in front of you hands the cashier a stack of coupons, making your “quick” trip to the grocery store that much longer.  Let the lady in front of you be an example of what not do to.  If you have a massive shopping trip planned that will require tricky transactions with, then remember the following checkout etiquette:

·        Don’t plan your coupon adventure during peak shopping hours. 

·        Find cashiers that don’t mind the drill and try to check out with them each time you shop.  If you truly have some confusing coupon combinations, it can frazzle the store employee so it is important to remain as polite, friendly and respectful as possible. 

·        Be courteous and let other customers who may get in line behind you know that you have a big check-out and they may want to switch lines.

Amy Young is an author who writes about issues covering consumer topics and is the owner of the site First Credit Card Resource

Quick Facebook Giveaway--Udderly Smooth Coupons

I am having my first facebook giveaway which will end Saturday night at 9 P.M. Pacific Time.  There will be three winners.  Each winner will win two coupons for 45 cents off any Udderly Smooth product 8 oz. or larger.  These coupons expire on 7/31, so this is a fast giveaway.  If you're interested, check it out here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Devotional-Thoughts/139303209446476?sk=app_204684816209053

How Extreme Couponers Can Help Tornado Victims (re-post from A Full Cup)

I have to admit that at this point, I do not have a stockpile of coupons.  We have been so busy we barely have had time to shop.  I will be getting back to it.  But I will never be an extreme couponer.  It just is not me.  But I know there are lots of you out there.  So for those of you who can, please take a look at this post from Rasha at a Full Cup.