You don't have to spend your tax refund on filing fees. Photo courtesy of accountingweb.com.

Let me apologize in advance to my accountant friends and other tax preparers, but I don’t think I have ever paid to file my income tax returns.

I know my dad helped me with the paperwork when I was a teenager. But for most of my adult years I have filed electronically sans fees, which means free and fast refunds for me. 

You can file free too, if your Adjusted Gross Income is $58,000 or less. And according to the Internal Revenue Service, about 70 percent of federal taxpayers fit that bill. So before you purchase pricy tax preparation software, look into this.

Once you determine whether you AGI falls below the cap, the next step is to choose a free file company. I have used H&R Block Free File and TurboTax Freedom Edition. Both of these sites also allow users to electronically file the completed forms. I e-filed earlier this month and received my refund via direct deposit in less than a week.

I traditionally have not used the free file companies  for my state income tax returns because of the fees. But according to the Virginia Department of Taxation, beginning this year eligible taxpayers can free file state income tax returns using these preparers. 

Too bad I didn’t know that before I filed my federal return. I filed with pen and paper by snail mail and my state refund still was processed pretty quickly.

If you filed your returns and want a cool app to track your refund, check out my colleague Jenny Kincaid Boone’s post on the Storefront blog.

Jenny also asked readers to post tax filing tips there. What I want to know is: If you’re getting a refund, how do you plan to spend it?

Sadly, a chunk of my refund already went car repairs.

Here are the highlights of the Sunday circulars. It’s  an impressive lineup!

Smartsource is full of coupons for those of you who love seasonal treats. Look for Hershey’s, Cuties (clementines) and Pepperidge Farm 3-Layer Cake coupons if you’re interested in stocking up for Easter baskets or spring gatherings.

P&G is unveiling their new “Have you tried this yet?” campaign, categorizing and featuring certain products for consumers. They include coupons for each product, which includes items from Tide, Pantene, Swiffer, Covergirl and more. You’ll also find a few valuable BOGO coupons for Olay Facial Cleanser, Covergirl foundation, Old Spice deodorant, Gillette deodorant, Vick’s, Tide detergent, Febreze Noticeables, Febreze flameless luminaries and the Swiffer Sweeper.

CVS, Walgreens and Walmart are saving you some time hunting for specific coupons by noting which items have manufacturer’s coupons available this week. Look for a logo featuring a pair of scissors next to these items. What’s even better is CVS and Walgreens also have many of these items on sale, so you’re savings will be increased further from the coupons. Add in the Extra Bucks you can earn by buying certain products at CVS and there’s a good chance you could be saving more than you spend.

As far as retail goes:
*Rack Room has a special on boat shoes. These are a great (and comfortable) alternative to flip flops in the summer, plus they last a lot longer. Rack Room has a BOGO 50% deal every day, but this week they’ve also added in a $10 off of $60 purchase coupon.The Sperry Top-Siders  featured in the ad are on the higher end of the boat shoe spectrum, but utilize both of these deals and you could end up with two pairs at a great price.
*Michaels and A.C. Moore both have their entire stock of spring florals on sale, as well as other springtime decor.
*Shoe Carnival is having an athletic sale with great deals on tennis shoes and Nike sandals. Plus they have a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $49.98.
*Hamrick’s has many spring and summer basics on sale for under $10 (this applies to men, women and children), and an impressive 70% off the entire stock of clearance.

Also look for early specials on patio furniture at Sears and Big Lots. When the days get longer and warm weather sets in you’ll be glad you prepared early!

The nearest Chiptotle is in Blacksburg (314 N. Main St.), but this is still an enticing offer.

Go here to “Like” America’s Next Great Restuarant on Facebook. Watch their latest commercial and you’ll unlock a printable coupon for a free burrito. The process actually works, so don’t worry about being scammed.

The offer expires March 4, so make sure you’ll be near the restaurant by then!

Start clearing off that patio. Spring will be here soon enough, and the sales are coming Sunday. Photo courtesy of dailyinvention, Flickr.

We’ve gone back to dreary cold weather the past few days, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Exciting things will be arriving in your Sunday paper. Bright colors, flowers, lawn furniture and clothes that don’t require layering — it’s about time!

Be on the lookout for both P&G Brand Saver and Smart Source coupon packets. They have well over $131 in coupons combined.

You’ll also find impressive ads from Michaels, Hamricks, Rack Room, Target and Shoe Carnival, just to name a few. Hint: These all caught my eye because they are full of sale items to prepare for warmer weather.

What will you be on the lookout for as the season begins to change? Many realize it’s time to get new deck or patio furniture, while others are mostly concerned with clothing. Me? I love it all.

This little card can earn you even bigger savings by enrolling in the BeautyClub.

Sunday’s circulars included an ad from CVS, and buried inside was a certificate for the ExtraCare Beauty Club. I nearly missed the certificate, but luckily it caught my eye as I was double checking sale items.

By clipping the certificate and bringing it to the store (find information below if you missed the ad, or prefer to enroll online), you will receive a 10% off beauty shopping pass and have the opportunity to earn $5 of ExtraBucks with every $50 beauty purchase. Purchases that qualify include cosmetics, fragrances, hair accessories, hair care, hair appliances, hair color, healthy skin care, hosiery, skin care and sun care. With all of those options it’s not difficult to rack up a $50 purchase, even for the guys!

You also earn $3 in ExtraBucks on your birthday just for enrolling.

If you missed the ad in Sunday’s paper, click here to enroll online. Hurry! The 10% off certificate is only good between now and Thursday evening.

Help a fellow Shoptimist out. What do you want to know more about? Photo courtesy of Will Murray, Wikimedia Commons.

As you can see, The Shoptimist is looking a little different these days. Our new look hasn’t changed our goal, though, which is to keep you in the know about the best deals, coupons and more.

With the new changes, it seems like a good time to really get to know the readers. Courtney and I have tons of ideas for future posts and tips, but we want to know what you want to know.

What do you like reading about? What don’t you like reading about? What have you not seen here, but would like to? It’s time to trade places for a bit and have you give us some tips. Tell us in the comments below!

As They Grow Consignment will be holding their spring consignment event on February 26 & 27 at the New River Valley Fairgrounds. Shop Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Gently used baby/kids/tween/teen clothing, maternity clothing, baby equipment, toys, shoes, books and more will be available. All items are sorted by gender and size, and some of the brands available include Disney, Fisher Price, Little Tikes, Baby GAP and Graco.

There’s no admission fee, but cash is the only payment to be accepted. If you’re interested in shopping early, sign up at the company’s website to be a consignor or volunteer.

For more information, click the link above or call Tonya at 309-8269.

While President’s Day could pass for many people with little or no notice, avid shoppers know it to be an early spring sale weekend. Some of the best deals you’ll find today include:

For the kids:

Toys R Us
Buy 1, get 1 50% off, all LEGO sets (excluding Star Wars)
Buy 1, get 1 50% off, all Power Rangers Samurai Action Figures & Accessories
Buy 2, get the 3rd free, all Play-Doh sets
Buy 2, get the 3rd free, Crayola Color Wonder & Color Explosion Activity Sets
25% off all Disney Preschool Ride-Ons
25% off all Radio Flyer Wagons & Scooters
Free $5 gift card when you by any 2 Similac, Enfamil or Gerber Good Start 32-oz., 6-can/bottle cases of ready-to-feed formula
Free Vivitar Camera Kit ($24.99 value) when you buy any camera $49.99 or more
Free $40 gift card when you buy any 2 participating Xbox, Wii or PS3 games, or free $5 gift card when you buy any 1

For the grown-ups:

Macy’s
On the cover of the ad, you’ll find a savings pass good for and extra 15% off select sale & clearance apparel for him, her & kids, plus fine & fashion jewelry. It’s good for an extra 10% off other select items. The ad is full of home, kitchen and clothing items on sale, and the coupon applies to many of them.

JC Penney
Certain sheets, towels, kitchen items and baby clothes are all up to 50% off, as well as 50% off many basics for men and women.

For both:

A.C. Moore
The ad is full of doorbusters for Sunday and Monday, including a coupon for 55% off any regular priced item.
Some of the best deals include Jar candles, 2 for $6; Crayola items, 50% off; Thomas & Friends items, 50% off; craft paint, 3 for $1; 40% off entire stock of scrapbooking items; and 50% off entire stock of wall frames.
Of course, we’re coming into wedding season. Check the back of the ad for a coupon good for an additional 25% off wedding clearance items. This coupon is good through Feb. 26.

Happy President’s Day indeed. From now until Sunday at midnight you can get free shipping on all online orders at J. Crew’s Factory store. The Factory Store is full of J. Crew items that have been marked down, many to under $50 (as J. Crew generally runs pretty pricey, this is a good deal). In my experience, all of their clothing holds up very nicely making it worth the price in many cases. I suggest you stock up on basic items like cardigans, dress shirts, jeans and khakis — items that won’t be out of style in a couple weeks.

This wristlet (which comes in multiple colors and patterns) is only $19.90, making it under $10 with the use of Fashion Cash.

Today through Sunday The Limited is offering $10 of “Fashion Cash.” This is one of the best deals I’ve come across lately. Even though you can’t spend it on discounted clearance items, the minimum amount you have to spend to use this $10 coupon is only $10. The store has tons of great jewelry and other accessories in the $10 to $20 range, so you could end up with a purchase that’s nearly free — and all you have to do is walk in the store!

An email I received said, “For online purchases enter FASHCASH at checkout to receive discount, or walk in any Limited store and we’ll hand you $10 in Fashion Cash.”

I accidentally stumbled into this sale a while back and ended up getting some hair clips for around $2. I even went back the next day, got another coupon, and purchased a bag similar to the one pictured for $7. In all, I spent under $10 between both trips on items that would usually total around $30. 

If they happen to be out of the coupons when you get there, mention you heard about the deal at checkout. Hopefully they’ll still honor the offer.

President's Day means sales, and you can start saving now on spring clothing and home items. Vectorportal, Flickr.

In this weekend’s inserts it’s clear that spring is coming, and President’s Day (Monday) means there will be lots of sales.

Toys R Us, Dick’s Sporting Goods, JC Penney and Macy’s all have impressive savings to be seen. Interior home goods (like towels, sheets, kitchen items) are a few things to look for, as well as early sales on spring clothing.

Toys R Us, JC Penney and Macy’s all have previews of their ads online, so click the links above if you just can’t wait!

An example of what you'll see on your smart phone after downloading the Kroger app.

Mobile and digital coupons are a big hit for local grocers Kroger and Food Lion. Read more about it here.

Do you know any more tips for utilizing shopper’s cards and coupons? Share them below!

Consignment shopping takes a little extra leg work, but the savings in the end can make it worth while. Photo by turtlemom4bacon, Flickr.

Consignment shops are a great way to find nice clothing for a lower price. Unfortunately, I don’t get the opportunity to shop at them as often as I would like, but one of my favorites is the small area in the back of Millie & Co. in Salem. Because of their location, which practically backs up to Roanoke College, they usually have sizes and styles appropriate for 20-somethings like myself.

I know many people buy children’s clothing on consignment, which I think is smart. Finding Halloween costumes this way is also a good idea for kids, or even adults. More than likely the costume was only worn once, and brand new costumes are not cheap.

I’m interested in finding more great consignment shops in the Roanoke/Blacksburg area, I know there are a bunch. At what consignment shops have you had the best, or worst, luck? Any tips for people new to the consignment world?

Dresses range from long formals to shorter dresses perfect for a special date night.

A friend recently introduced me to Rent the Runway, a website full of designer dresses and accessories for rent. While I haven’t had a reason to try it out yet (unfortunately), I think the site would be a great option for high school girls planning to attend homecoming or prom on a budget. Here’s how it works:

For each dress, the site will also give suggestions on what jewelry might go best, and you can rent that as well. This saves you from investing in costume jewelry pieces that may never get worn again. Many pieces are in the $10-$15 range. 

Some dresses can be rented for as low as $50, which is much cheaper than most cocktail dresses and formals these days. Other perks of Rent the Runway include the opportunity to chat with a fit specialist, free returns, and $5 insurance against spills and stains. All the dresses are dry-cleaned before they’re sent out and are retired once they start showing wear, so there’s little risk of getting a dress that looks used.

Styles range from prom, to date night, to black tie, so next time you have a fancy event, but don’t want to splurge on a fancy dress, remember this option.

This week may be the prime time to score discounted clothing for infants, toddlers, children and teenagers at Toad’ly Kids, a Southwest Roanoke County merchant. The store sells many popular boutique brands including Lilly Pulitzer, Florence Eiseman and Joah Love.

The clothier on Friday posted details of the huge sale on its Facebook page: “We are getting rid of ALL our old merchandise so we can buy new and de-clutter our store.”

The inventory reduction sale happens today through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at The Forum on Starkey Road, in the vacant storefront beside Jos. A. Bank Clothiers.

“Our store is too small to hold it all,” explained Suzi Turner, a sales clerk at Toad’ly Kids.

Toad’ly Kids is located at 4710-E Starkey Road in the Forum. Click here for directions.

Use your coupons to bake something sweet this Valentine's Day. Photo courtesy of megan.chromik, Flickr.

Ok, we’ll get to the coupons soon enough. What’s important right now is that it’s February 13 and you haven’t finished your Valentine’s Day shopping. So we’ll skip right to good stuff first.

Kroger and Food Lion both have specials on rose bouquets, steaks and shrimp. Flowers and a fancy home-cooked meal are a great last minute option.

Walgreens and CVS both have boxes of chocolate and sweet stuffed animals on sale, as well as cards.

If you’re looking for something that sparkles check K-mart, Sears, Macy’s, Belk and JC Penney. They have specials on watches, sterling silver pieces and of course your heart shaped necklaces. JC Penney, Belk, Macy’s and Sears also have women’s pajamas and intimates.

In the coupon circulars you’ll find a lot of buy-and-bake options, including Betty Crocker sugar cookies, brownie and dessert bar mixes, as well as Pillsbury refrigerated cookie dough, cinnamon rolls and Sweet Moments.

How many stores will you visit to save a buck? Photo courtesy of Mike Licht, Flickr.

While at Food Lion a couple months ago I passed by a woman loading a cart full of groceries into her car. I didn’t think much of it at first, but as I got closer I noticed her trunk was already full of groceries from the Kroger right down the road.

I’ll usually shop at whichever store has the most of what I want on sale, but I’ve never done major shopping (stocking up on canned goods and the like) at multiple grocers in the same week — much less the same day.

This made me think, how many people will check out the ads and make lists specific to each store? Do you make trips to multiple stores in the same week to stock up on goods?

It's hard to go wrong with a gift that's so delicious. Courtesy of chaunceydavis818, Flickr.

Reminder: Valentine’s Day is Monday, February 14, and Sunday’s paper will be filled with inserts suggesting last minute Valentine’s Day gifts. 

For all of you last minute shoppers there will be plenty of sales on jewelry, flowers and grocery items for that romantic dinner you’re planning. You have started planning, right?

You’ll also find Redplum and Smartsource inserts loaded with savings. As usual, check the websites too for additional deals.

If you haven’t registered for The Roanoke Times Daily Deal yet, today may be the day to try. Anyone registering new today gets $5 deposited in their account. Sweet!

http://roanoke.com/dailydeal5

Deleting all of those unwanted store emails is wasting time and precious space in your inbox. This is a pretty accurate description of how I feel during the deleting process every day. Hikingartist.com.

There’s no doubt that everyone gets bombarded with emails on a daily basis advertising for products they would never be interested in, or with those newsletters they signed up for years ago when first registering for a site. I have fallen into a mindless habit of deleting all of these emails first thing in the morning, but I have learned to be on the lookout for stores I might actually be interested in.

In the past couple years stores have made great improvements to their emails sent out to loyal customers. What used to be emails filled with the same information that could be found on the website or an ad has been change to emails filled with coupon codes, flash sales and updates on clearance and sale items.

Two of my favorite store emails are from Express and The Limited. Sometimes they send out offers and coupons exclusively via email, like a two hour sale that happened online at The Limited last week. By following a special link in the message, I was given a special code that took an extra 20% off of everything online, even clearance. Amazon has also gotten better about tailoring their emails based on your purchase history. I often get my magazine subscriptions through the site, so when it comes time to renew or they’re having an especially good sale (sometimes just $5 for a year long subscription) they let me know.

So, now’s the time to reevaluate your inbox! Finally unsubscribe from those emails that will get deleted every day. Do yourself a favor and only sign up for notices from your very favorite stores, where you’re most likely to buy something. If you’re on too many lists they all blur together and become a part of the daily deleting routine. Sometimes the emails also contain printable coupons, so if you’re not an online shopper yet you can still be in the loop.

Have you signed up for any store emails that have been especially useful? Which stores are your favorite?

It's nifty to be thrifty! This coupon notebook can be found at zazzle.com, where you can personalize the text seen on the cover and spine.

It’s time to get organized! This coupon notebook can be found at zazzle.com.

The Rocky Mount Community and Hospitality Center (52 Franklin St., Rocky Mount) will be hosting a workshop called “Coupons Make Cents” for $10 on February 22 from 6 t0 8 p.m. The workshop will help you learn how to shop smart, save money and plan a menu. Bring your coupons and a notebook to the workshop and start getting organized.

This is a great opportunity for beginner couponers and Shoptimists. Just make sure you register by February 15! To do so, call Dena Custer at (540) 489-8598.

One of Clinique's previous gift-with-purchase offers during bonus time.

While I would never encourage anyone to buy a product just to get a “free” gift (I guess deep down inside we all know the gift isn’t exactly free, but built into the price), it is worth shopping around for sometimes.

Different times during the year, companies like Clinique, Estee Lauder, Bare Minerals and numerous fragrances will offer bonus gifts with purchase. These gifts can range from bags to jewelry to additional makeup and more. 

I used to shrug off these specials, but after some research I noticed that some of these items have real value. Currently Macy’s has a special for Lancome, stating that if you buy a qualifying product, you get a free 7-piece gift bag. There’s an extra bonus if you spend over $65 — something easily achieved if you’re re-stocking on makeup, lotions and cleansers. These bags of sample products are great if your new to a brand and want to test products without buying the full size, and are also convenient for travel. Macy’s says the gifts alone can total up to $178. Many times these makeup gifts are seasonal, too, giving you a preview of new items.

These specials aren’t just beneficial to women. Often companies will throw in a travel size bottle of fragrance, deodorant or shower products for men with the purchase of a regular size cologne or after shave — if you buy during the special.

Websites like beauty.com and drugstore.com (where you can use the same shopping cart for both sites and consolidate shipping) also offer great free samples with each purchase. Additionally, you earn 5% back on eligable products for your next purchase. You can see all the gifts with purchase here, so you know what to be aware of while shopping. I’ve personally had a lot of luck with these sites.

One thing to be aware of is to hold off making a purchase until a company who often offers bonus gifts has a current deal, especially if it’s not something you need right away. Earning bonus gifts for items you would be buying anyway is a great opportunity to try new products and get freebies, so be on the lookout and shop around before you buy. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I’d say these specials are easily found this week.

This is what you'll see when you download the Kroger app for free mobile coupons.

Recently I just heard about the new Kroger app for Android and iPhone. Download this free app and you’ll have the opportunity to automatically add the coupons of your choosing right onto your Kroger Card. That means no more clipping – just purchase the items, scan your Kroger Card and the savings will automatically be applied.

For those of us who haven’t yet entered the world of smart phones, like myself, Kroger also offers digital coupons and printable coupons here. A “coupon printer” must be installed for the printable coupons and you have to register with Kroger to redeem both offers, but these are both pretty painless processes. The digital coupons operate similarly to the mobile coupons. Pick the products you’d like to save on and the coupon is added to your Kroger Card.

The best thing about these coupons is that most of them are pantry and freezer staples that many people buy often. Scrolling through I saw savings on diapers, cereal, frozen foods and more.

Have you tried out these options with any luck?

Sunday’s inserts feature tons of gift ideas for Valentine’s Day, which is just more than a week away.

There is a cute 2-piece cami and shorts pajama set at Target on sale for $9. Pair with Britney Spears’ Fantasy or Halle Berry’s Reveal perfumes, for $19.99 each.

Kmart has Joe Boxer Valentine-themed lounge pants for guys on sale for $8.99 and boxers for $6.99.

Sears is featuring a sale of up to 70 percent off fine jewelry. Spend $35 on a fragrance, cosmetics of bath purchase and receive a free set of two martini glasses, while supplies last.

There also is a Smokey Bones flyer with three great offers: 20 percent off a to-go order placed online, $10 off any $25 purchase and $10 off any $20 purchase.

The Groupon deal posted today is $20 worth of books, toys, games and more from Barnes & Noble for $10.

The deal is valid in store and online. Limit one offer per person. Expires April 11. See the full terms.

It appears the offer will continue through Monday.

Attention, brides-to-be! Sunday’s newspaper includes a special advertising supplement, Your Wedding 2011. The section is full of tips – from choosing a venue to ordering the perfect bridal bouquet – and ads from local jewelers, caterers, photographers and more. There’s even a section about planning an eco-friendly celebration.

Sunday’s circulars also include two sets of coupons. The RedPlum insert contains more than $42 in coupons, including several great buy-one-get-one-free offers. There are $57 worth of savings in this week’s SmartSource set.

Hands down, my favorite store at Tanglewood Mall (and my favorite craft store) is A.C. Moore. I shop there at least once a week and never pay full price for anything.

Most weeks there’s an ad in Sunday’s circulars with a 40 percent off coupon, which generally is valid for a single item that is not already on sale.

But I often need more than one coupon each week to shop for holiday decor, gifts and scrapbooking supplies. You can find a printable coupon on the store’s Web site by entering your ZIP code.

I also rack up points with the A.C. Moore Rewards card, which earns you a $10 gift certificate for every $200 spent in the store.

Check out page six of today’s newspaper for a buy-one-get-one-free Ruby Tuesday offer. Buy one entree and receive an entree (of equal or lesser value FREE). The coupon is worth up to $10 and valid today through February 10.

Also, Nine West is having a flash sale today until 11:59 p.m. Take an additional 30 percent off the lowest ticketed price of select styles. Some shoes and handbags are as much as 50 percent off. Sorry I didn’t get this info out earlier, but our blogs were down for much of the day. Hurry! The sale ends in less than eight hours.

I was walking through a Kroger parking lot this weekend when I saw a 75 cents off coupon on the ground. I recognized it because I had redeemed it at Walmart (more details below) earlier that day on Kraft cheese. For half a second, I contemplated picking it up but instead kept walking.

I thought about it inside the store and said to my girlfriend, “You know if there were three quarters laying on the ground, I would not have hesitated to pick the money up.”

On the way back to my car, I saw the coupon again. But my hands were full of bags, so I kept walking.

Sigh.

Also, on Saturday I visited the new Walmart Supercenter at Clearbrook (see Jenny Kincaid Boone’s grand opening story). I went mid-afternoon, which may have been the peak time for shopping because the parking lot was full. Surprisingly I scored a front row parking spot!

I was impressed with the cleanliness and openess of the new store, but it was so crowded and noisy that it was difficult for me to take in. Usually scenes like that don’t bother me, but I went into sensory overload. My head was spinning by the time I left the store some two hours later. I will have to get used to the way some aisles run vertically and other horizontally.

I didn’t make it through the entire store, but I did peruse some of the grocery aisles. I was impressed with the selection of fresh meat and produce. We bought a large pack of chicken breasts for $9.99, cooked five pieces that night and froze the other six.

The shelf was empty where I looked for one particular frozen item, but I think I will return to the store for my next big grocery run. I am going to plot a trip either in the early morning or late at night to miss the crowds though.

What do you think of the grocery layout at the new store? Do you have a Walmart shopping strategy of you own? Tell me about it.

Look for these kiosks outside of Walmart, grocery stores and drug stores. Photo courtesy of IlliniGradResearch.

Today through Valentine’s Day Redbox is giving anyone who rents two movies a free rental code ($1 value). There’s no limit, and this includes DVDs, Blue Ray and video games in any combination.

Your promo code will be emailed to you, and it must be used within 1 week. For more information, click here.

Other ways to earn free rentals is to sign up for a redbox.com account and sign up for Monthly Movie Monday, which texts you a free rental code on the first Monday of each month.

I’ve participated in each of these offers in the past with success.