Have you tried Truvia yet? Click below to get a free sample!

Here are the best deals I’ve found today. We’ve got $16 worth of printable coupons!

If you’ve got a home improvement project looming, click here for a Lowes printable coupon good for $10 off of a $50 purchase. The offer ends April 4, so go ahead and start that garden or repaint that room you’ve been putting off!

I shop at both Food Lion and Kroger, but in my experience I’ve had the best luck buying meat at Food Lion. Click here for a printable coupon that will save you $3 on an $8 purchase in the meat department at the grocer.

I rarely treat myself to popcorn at the movies anymore, and it’s mostly because of the high cost. Regal Cinemas (Regal Valley View Grande) is offering two coupons for a $1 small popcorn and $1 small drink good for this weekend only (April 1-3). Click here for more details and to print your coupons.

Truvia is also featuring a special deal today. Click here and you can receive a free sample and $1 off coupon. I use Splenda regularly, but this is a good opportunity to try the latest “natural sweetner” product.

Some examples of the Frito Lay line made with all natural ingredients.

I hope you’re hungry for a snack, because chip manufacturers Frito Lay and Utz are both running great promotions.  

The throwback Utz bag.

Big dresses don't have to cost big bucks. Check out the Dream Dress Dance for free prom items this Saturday.

Prom season is upon us.  If you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a dress that may only be worn once,  there are ways around  it.

Thrift stores  such as Goodwill end up with formals and other prom goods from time to time, and they often feature these items at the front of the store or in a special section. Because most formal gowns are very lightly used, this is an easy way to pick up a like-new dress for a fraction of the cost. Even if it doesn’t fit perfectly, some of the money saved could go toward  alterations.

Shopping for formal items in the off season is also smart. By the end of May, department stores (like Macys, J.C. Penney and Belk) have formal dresses deeply discounted. Consider buying one that’s not a perfect fit (slightly long and wide) to account for any body changes and shoe options.  Alterations can also  be taken care of with the money saved.

Trading in or donating your used dress can also have its benefits. Now through  Saturday, J.C. Penney stores are accepting gently worn prom dresses to be donated to underprivileged teenage girls. After donating, you’ll receive a 20 percent discount coupon toward a new prom dress at the store.

Another option for those wishing to donate their used dresses is the Dream Dress Dance presented by Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley.
The event is currently collecting formal dresses and other prom-related items to  give away. Donations are  accepted at the Pulaski Jackson Hewitt location, 313 N. Washington Ave.

If you’re shopping for these items, the Dream Dress Dance will be giving everything away on Saturday, no strings attached, and everyone is welcome. Attendees will also have the opportunity to register to win prom packages.

Dream Dress Dance
What: Formals and other prom-related items will be available for free.
When:  Saturday,
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: The Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley, 44 W. Fourth St., Pulaski
Contact: 980-4282

Do you know of any other ways to get a bargain on prom goods? Share it below!

If you purchase 10 Kellogg’s cereals through December 31, a $10 pre-paid MasterCard for gas purchases will be coming your way with this rebate form. While 10 boxes of cereal may seem like a lot, since there are a few months to complete this deal it’s not too bad, especially if you use these Kellogg’s coupons.

Smart Source is giving away free Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice samples, and it looks like you receive a full size pouch when you sign up. Get the deal and more information here.

Go here to “like” Degree Women on Facebook and you’ll receive a free sample of the new MotionSENSE product. If you go back and tell them what you think of it, you’ll be entered to receive a $1,000 Zappos gift card.

Avery office supplies also has some freebies up for grabs. Click here to “like” them on Facebook and you’ll receive Avery NoteTabs and PocketTabs. There’s a limited supply (only 1,711 left last I saw), so act fast if you want them! This page is slowing down due to all the traffic, so just be patient.

For the next 2 days Groupon is offering a $15 eBay gift card for only $7. One interesting aspect of this deal is that it can be applied to tax and shipping, something that most online gift cards don’t allow. Click here for more info.

New moms and moms-to-be will like this offer. Udder Covers is offering a free nursing cover and baby sling for free (a $30-$40 value per product), all you have to pay is shipping. The products come in a lot of cute patterns. To get the free product, enter the code EASTER at checkout on each page (these are separate websites). Click here for more information and to browse the nursing covers. Click here for more information and to browse the slings.

Biore Skincare is offering a free cleanser sample after you “like” them on Facebook and vote for which cleanser you think is the best.  Click here for more info and to participate.

Lastly, Hardees is offering this printable coupon for a free caramel crumb biscuit with the purchase of a breakfast combo. This coupon is good through April 12.

Yes, it’s a gloomy Monday, but here are a few things that might help you get through the day:

The release of Disney’s “Tangled” is leading to a couple good deals for those interested in picking up the movie on Blue-ray or DVD.
*One deal partners with Cost Cutters. Purchase the DVD or Blue-ray Combo Pack, then visit a Cost Cutters salon for a haircut (adult or child) between March 29 and 31 and you’ll receive a $5 rebate by mail. Click here to print off your rebate form and read up on the details.
*Additionally, if you purchase the film you could receive a free charm bracelet — making some little girl very happy. With this deal all you have to do is buy the Blue-ray or DVD, sign in or create a Disney Movie Rewards account, enter the “Magic Codes” from the movie’s box and then click on the charm bracelet banner. You will have to pay $2.99 shipping, but by combining this offer with the rebate the bracelet is paid for. Click here for further instructions.
*Disney Movie Rewards is also offering a $5 off coupon for the 4-disk Blue-ray Combo Pack. Blue-rays are significantly higher than DVDs, so if you’re thinking of purchasing the film definitly click here to get your coupon.

Next, we have a printable Quiznos coupon. Click here and you’ll be able to print a coupon that will get you a small sub for only $2.99. If you’re part of the Q-Club you can upgrade your coupon to include a free cookie. Lunch for under $5? Not bad.

After eating you’ll have to keep those pearly whites clean, so click here for a free sample of Flix Professional “In Between” Sticks. The dental tools help remove plaque, freshen breath and act as floss all on the go.

At Staples this week Staples Rewards members can get a 20 pack of AA or AAA Duracell batteries for practically free. Buy either item for a value of $12.99 and you’ll receive $12.99 back in Staples Rewards. This deal is best if you’re a frequent Staples shopper or know you’ll be needing to stock up on school/office supplies soon, but it’s a great deal nonetheless. Click here  to sign up and get more info.

Aveeno just revealed their latest hair care line, and you can get free samples and coupons here. I especially liked this because you can pick out which sample you want — no risk of getting a shampoo or conditioner for normal hair when you have color treated hair, or vice versa.

I tried out everything except the Staples deal and had success. Let me know if I missed something good!

Some of you will receive a $1 off coupon for Mi0, the latest drink mix. It carries a pretty hefty price at $3.50 per bottle, but claims to make 24 servings. Has anyone tried it?

It’s still soggy and chilly out, but today’s ads should brighten your day.

Redplum and Smart Source are both making an appearance today. Smart Source is mainly covering your favorite lunch and snack items, while Redplum is full of hygiene, medicine cabinet and pet items. You’ll also find a promotion for a free bag of Iams pet food in the Redplum insert. Read the fine print and you’ll see that you can purchase a participating bag of dry dog or cat food at Petsmart, fill out a rebate form and receive the bag for free. This appears to only be available at Petsmart.

Some of you will receive the Smart Source packet featuring MiO on the cover (I’m not sure exactly where the lines are drawn for each region). This product is a “liquid water enhancer.” It looks like a comprable product to Crystal Light drink mixes, but you can control how much flavoring per glass with the liquid dropper. Has anyone tried this? I’m intrigued, since I enjoy the individual packets of Crystal Light from time to time.

The A.C. Moore ad is full of spring craft ideas. Homemade crafts are a great activity for kids over the summer, and every now and then you can really impress yourself! Plain T-shirts (perfect for tie-dye projects) are 5 for $10, all Crayola products are 50% off and spring decor is all 40% off. Also see the coupon valid for 50% off any one regular priced item.

Target is offering a free $5 gift card when you buy any 4 participating Vaseline, Suave, Dove and Degree products for men. Some of these products have coupons in this week’s paper, too, so you could end up getting them for nearly free when you factor in the gift card. Target also has Dove soap on sale this week (including the products for men).

This week Kmart will have all regularly priced family footwear buy 1, get one 50% off. It’s also a good time to stock up on winter clothes for next year. All winter apparel clearance is going for only $2.99. Pick up some basics for minimal cost! The ad also features “super coupons” for select grocery items, as well as certain products 10/$10 (such as Hershey’s Easter candy and select Coke, Chef Boyardee and other products).

It is spring, I promise...don't mind the chilly temperatures.

This Sunday you can expect more coupons than we’ve seen in a while. Smart Source and Redplum both have inserts that are stuffed with savings. Kroger is launching a new sale on select items, too.

A.C. Moore, Target and Kmart all have interesting things going on in their ads, each with big reminders that spring is officially here (even if the weather isn’t cooperating this week).

Check back Sunday for more!

It's awfully fun to buy a new prom dress, but it's even better to give one away. Who knows, you might even find the perfect fit for free!

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service and the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley are teaming up to present the Dream Dress Dance, a prom dress give-a-way. Through the program, attendees can pick out dresses and other prom related items for free.

To make this awesome program possible, though, they need donations. If you have a clean, used formal dress or other items that you would be willing to donate, drop them off at the Pulaski Jackson Hewitt, 313 N. Washington Ave., Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., or Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

I know how tough it is to give up these dresses, but it’s for a great cause. I’ve given up all but one of my formal dresses – maybe this is the time to finally let go!

For more information or to learn other ways you can contribute to the event, contact Peggy Hubble (phubble110@aol.com) or Megan Brillheart (megsbheart@gmail.com) at 980-4282.

More information to come about the Dream Dress Dance!

Do some clicking around on Facebook today and you’ll be rewarded with freebies. Sounds pretty good, right?

Suave Professionals is giving away coupons for a free full size product for the first 200,000 people who enter the promotion. Click here to participate. This is a pretty good deal, you don’t even have to “like” their page to participate. (the deal has changed and you do have to “like” the page now, but as of 1:30 the offer is still available). 

The new Shout Color Catcher could also be yours for free. Visit their Facebook page here, click the ”Offers” link on the right hand side of the page and upon “liking” the page you’ll be offered both a free Color Catcher and a $1 off coupon for the future.

Even gas stations are getting in the spirit of freebies. Pilot Travel Centers is offering a free hot beverage and a free flavored Mountain Dew or Diet Mountain Dew after “liking” the site here. You don’t have to wait for these coupons in the mail (a bonus) — you’ll gain access to special links to print the coupons from home. These work at all Pilot and Flying J locations.

Spring is officially here, and I’m sure you’re sinuses have begun to notice. Allergy sufferers will appreciate the Free NeilMed Sinus Rinse^™Bottle Kit you’ll receive by liking the page here, and then choosing “Allergy Suffer” at the bottom of the screen. I suffer from allergies every spring and fall, and I can vouch for the effectiveness of the NeilMed products. They can also be pretty pricey, so the free starter kit is an awesome steal.

Now one freebie that’s not Facebook related. Click here and you can sign up for a free sample of a Dove Men+Care product. Simply fill out your name, address and other basic info and you can try out the new products.

Do you know of any others?

You never know what you might find at a consignment sale...(www.wee-cyclemart.com)

While there are entire stores open year-round dedicated to children’s consignment items (including goods for moms-to-be), annual independent consignment sales also present great opportunities.

Many organizations spend months collecting goods and have a big sale once or twice a year. For consignment newcomers, it’s important to know that consignment sales are not garage sales. Most stores and consignment events are picky about what they will sell. Items are generally in good condition and range from Halloween costumes to products that still have tags intact.

Here are some tips if you’re planning to hit one of these sales:
* Some annual sales are huge, so remember to bring something to carry your finds. A laundry basket or something that rolls (such as a wagon) are both good options. Just make sure it’s something easy to walk with and hold for an extended period of time. 
* Bring a list of your children’s sizes and measurements. Because sizes can differ among brands, a measuring tape helps make sure you’re buying something you can use. Remember, there are no returns. 
* For shoes, consider tracing your child’s foot on cardboard and cutting it out. The cardboard can be slipped into shoes, or used in place of a child’s wiggly foot.
* Consider volunteering at a sale. Often the volunteers get first choice of the items in a presale. Because the best bargains get snatched up early, volunteers can also beat the crowd.

Internet-savvy parents might consider using sites such as eBay (www.ebay.com) and Stork Brokers (www.storkbrokers.com). Both sites allow you to buy and sell gently used items at a deep discount. But there is a greater risk when buying used goods online.

For more information on shopping at consignment sales, check out ConsignmentMommies.com and KidsConsignmentSales.com. Both sites are full of tips, and have up-to-date listings of consignment sales by Zip code.

Upcoming consignment events:
*The Roanoke Valley Parents of Multiples Club presents The Great Kids Sale
When: Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon.
Where: Vinton Baptist Church, 200 E. Washington Ave., Vinton
What: This event will focus on spring and summer items from infant to preteen. Cash only.

*New Vista Montessori Preschool’s Consignment Sale
When: April 16, 8 a.m. to noon
Where: Unitarian Universalist Church of Roanoke, 2015 Grandin Road S.W., Roanoke
What: Featuring clothing for children and infants, maternity clothing, baby items, toys and books.

Do you know of any other tips we missed? How about some sales coming up? Tell us about it below.

The Big Flea! Courtesy of northcross.org.

On Saturday, April 2 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. North Cross School will be holding its annual Big Flea. Gently-used furniture, large appliances, household items, books, jewelry, collectibles and name brand clothing will all be available.

Donations are currently being accepted. To donate, call Jenn Mitchell at 230-8584. They’ll even come pick up your donations with a call in advance (pickups are scheduled on Tuesdays and Thursdays).

For more information, visit www.northcross.org.

I’ve heard great things about this sale, but also that you have to get there early. Have you been to the sale, or do you plan to go this year?

Is there anything better than getting a new bike as a kid? Toys R Us can help you re-live the fun.

Have you finally adjusted to the time change? I think I’m just getting around to it after a slow weekend. Now it’s time to go shopping!

Drug stores have really stepped up in the past year, and this week’s Rite Aid and CVS ads are proof. Rite Aid has been promoting its 15 minute prescription guarantee like crazy lately. The deal is if you don’t get your prescription order (3 prescriptions or less) within 15 minutes you receive a $5 gift card. Keep this in mind next time you drop something off! There are tons of BOGO items featured, too many to list. Some items include L’Oreal cosmetics, Post cereals, reading and sun glasses, Dr. Scholl’s Footcare, Speed Stick for women and men and so much more.

CVS has a noticably hefty ad this week featuring over $100 in extrabucks. As usual they note when an item has a manufacturer’s coupon in this week’s paper, but they are also offering BOGO deals, 10/$10 sales and extrabucks for items already discounted. For those of you who missed the Beauty Club promotion that ran a couple weeks ago, look for it again on page 6. Even if you don’t regularly purchase beauty items at CVS it’s a good deal simply for the $3 in extrabucks on your birthday. Get more info on the Beauty Club here.

In addition to the regular Kroger ad this week, and it’s continuing of the March to Savings promotion (save $5 when you mix and match any 10 participating products), the grocer has a special ad featuring first-time savings on new items. On the back of the ad you’ll find manufacturer’s coupons for each of the featuring products. Do note that because these are manufacturer’s coupons they can be used at other stores, despite Kroger being exclusively featured on the ad.

Ladies, don’t flip past the JC Penney ad. Every so often the store has a promotion for its extensive collection of hair tools and products. These items are usually too expensive for regular purchase, but it’s a nice splurge when this promotion is running. High end shampoos, conditioners and other products by Matrix, CHI, Paul Mitchell and more are on a variety of specials. Some are buy 2, get 1 free, while others are being sold at a deep discount. There’s also a 20% coupon tucked inside for salon services.
You’ll also find discounts on high quality hair dryers, straighteners and curling irons. Some are still pretty pricey, but others are brought down to around the same price as cheaper models that can be found around town. With products like this I’ve found that the higher end models can be noticably better (and better for your hair!) OPI nail polish (which can run up to $16.95 per bottle) is buy 1, get 1 50% off. This polish is often used in salons and holds up great. If you’re in the mood to pamper yourself, now’s the time!

Do you have a kid begging for a new bike? Toys R Us can help. During The Great Bike Trade-In you can save up to $50 on any bike when you trade-in any old bike. You’ll also receive up to 25% off any helmet when an old helmet is traded-in. Kids can outgrow their toys and safety gear just like they do everything else, so this an easy way to benefit from your old stuff.

Expect lots of grocery savings this coming week. Be prepared to comb through the CVS and Rite Aid ads – they’re loaded and you don’t want to miss anything!

JC Penney is unrolling one of my favorite sales starting Sunday, and Toys R Us will be starting a great promotion for kids itching to get outside.

Smartsource and Redplum will both be making appearances. Both are heavily promoting the coupons that can be found on their websites. Check it out and see what all the hoopla is about. It can only lead to more money in your pocket, right?

Also remember to print out your 30% coupon before visiting Gap, Old Navy or Banana Republic, the promotion runs through Sunday. You can find more information here.

From today (March 17) through March 20 make sure you print off this coupon before shopping at Gap, Gap Outlet, Gap Factory Store, The Gap Generation, Banana Republic, Banana Republic Factory Store and Old Navy. With the coupon (which can only be used in stores) you’ll save 30%, and then the Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund gets 5% of what you spend.

The coupon won’t work on final sale items, but it seems like that’s one of the only restrictions.

Make sure to hold on to the coupon after printing, as it’s good for multiple uses. Remember to print it here!

Shopping clubs such as Sams are often cheaper than most gas stations, but that's not saying much these days. Photo by AgentAkit, Flickr.

Gas prices are on the rise again, but there are a few tools you can use to find the best prices around.
On smart phones, iPhone apps such as “Accufuel” (99 cents) and “Where” (free) can not only track your mileage for performance comparisons, but find gas prices at the nearest stations using your phone’s GPS feature.
“Where” is also compatible for BlackBerry users. GasBuddy (free) is available for download on the Droid. This app features real-time updates and the option to sort prices by distance.
If you don’t want to download an app, use your phone’s browser to visit gasbuddytogo.com. This mobile site is updated by users throughout the day with the current gas prices at stations around town.
For people without smart phones, GasBuddy.com (which operates the mobile site and app mentioned above) is a great resource to check before leaving the house if your tank is running low. You can search by ZIP code, use the Trip Cost Calculator and read fuel saving tips.
According to GasBuddy, Sam’s Club and Kroger consistently have some of the cheapest fuel in the Roanoke area, while the Pilot off Interstate 81 in Botetourt County and the Sunoco in Blacksburg are also competitive.
If you would like to help keep the lowest gas prices in the area up to date, consider joining GasBuddy.com. Users can join for free, report gas prices and be entered to win prizes every week such as free fuel.

What other tools do you use to find the best gas prices? Have you noticed any gas stations that tend to be priced higher or lower on a regular basis?

Sometimes the search for coupons can be a little mind boggling, so what are your go-to sites?

It’s the Monday after the time change and Roanoke’s big St. Patrick’s Day weekend, so I think everyone’s head is a little foggy this morning. With that said, why don’t we talk about something easy and enjoyable: your favorite coupon blogs.

While sites like Kroger and Food Lion are great for uploading digital coupons, it’s nice that some people have dedicated entire blogs to finding the best manufacturer and store specific deals.

A couple of my favorites are Retail Me Not (which includes online deals such as free shipping codes and printable coupons) and Southern Savers (only stores and products sold in our region are included, so you know you’ll find coupons you can actually use).

I know Courtney has had good luck with Coupon Mom, and it seems like a site that is really easy to navigate.

So, what are your favorites?

First, the BOGO deals:

Redplum:
Buy 1 Right Guard product, get 1 Right Guard Body Wash or Deodorant free($4.49)
Buy 3 Renuzit Adjustables Air Fresheners and get 3 of the same size free ($4.17)
Buy 2 Renuzit Adjustables Air Fresheners 2 or 3 Packs and get 1 of the same size free ($4.17)
Buy 2 bags of M&M’s Brand Chocolate Candies and receive 1 bag of M&M’s Brand Chocolate Candies free ($.89)
Free Milk-Bone Soft & Chewy Dog Snack (up to 5.6 oz.) with the purchase of any 2 Milk-Bone dog snacks ($3.49)
Buy 1 13.2 oz. or smaller can of Purina ALPO dog food, get 1 13.2 oz. or smaller can free ($.89)
Buy 1 Olay Pro-X Regenerist or Total Effects Facial Moisturizer, get 1 Covergirl Lip Perfection Lipcolor free ($8)
Buy 1 Oral-B Advantage or 3D White Vivid Manual Toothbrush, get 1 free ($2.99)
Total Savings: $29.09

Smartsource:
Buy 10 Kool-Aid Envelopes, get 5 envelopes free ($1.25)
Buy 2 Kool-Aid Envelopes, get 1 free ($.25)
Buy 1 16 oz. carton of Purina One beyOnd Cat Food, get 1 free ($3)
Buy 1 Herbal Essences or Aussie product, get 1 Herbal Essences or Aussie styler free ($3.23)
Total Savings: $7.73

Total value of free products: $36.82

These two circulars also have ads in them from some of our favorite products, noting where you can find each on sale this week. Some of the ads even note the possible final price after utilizing coupons and the sale price. Look for those hints on where to get the best bargain!

Kohl’s is offering an extra 30%, 20% or 15% off of everything when a Kohl’s Charge is used, and everyone who spends $50 will get $10 in Kohl’s Cash through today (you don’t have to use a Kohl’s charge for this). Each department has numerous sale items, so the additional percentage off makes for big savings.

Target is filled with $1 items such as Softsoap, Vitamin Water, Pepsi 2-liters, socks for infants and toddlers and more. Other prices throughout the store have also been slashed, and the ad does a nice job of outlining them.

I’m going to have to start checking out Big Lots more often. This week they have tons of outdoor furniture that’s significantly cheaper than other retailers. Resin adirondack chairs, for example, are only $16. These are great for lounging in the sun! They also have nice prices on XBOX, Wii and Nintendo DS games.

March madness has hit Kroger. Their March to Savings event is offering this deal: “Mix and match any 10 participating products and you’ll get $5 off.” Some of the items include Coca-Cola drinks, Kraft dressing, Ritz and Nabisco snack crackers, Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables (one of my favorites), Del Monte Tomatoes and much more. This is a great opportunity to stock up on dry and canned goods.

What are your standouts from today’s paper?

Take a peak at our new mobile site at m.roanoke.com.

Congrats, Sonya! After much deliberation (seriously, this was tough), your tips about Brighter Image Day Spa in Roanoke won you some Ecotools products! I’ll be emailing you soon to get your address. I love that they give you a discount on your birthday and have a new special each month. The 90 minute pedi and leg massage for $41 is a steal compared to some prices I’ve seen recently.

Everyone had some great ideas, though. I forgot to mention in my previous post Nikki’s tip about using spas and salons with students in training. Usually you still get great service for a fraction of the cost. Signing up for last minute deals, like Meghan suggested, is also good advice. So many new massage therapists, spas and more were brought up, I wish I could reward everyone!

Now onto some news for you smart phone users. Be sure to check out our new mobile site m.roanoke.com to stay up to date on headlines and blog posts. If you’re going to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade tomorrow be on the lookout for The Roanoke Times! We’ll have lots of info and goodies to hand out in the site’s honor. We’re even asking you to upload your photos of the parade to our Facebook. The three photos with the most “likes” by 5 p.m. March 17 will win a Roanoke Times comics umbrella.

While you’re at it, “like” The Roanoke Times Inside Out to stay up to date on all your favorite entertainment news. It’s a great way to interact with us.

Extra savings are packed into Sunday’s circulars. A SmartSource and Redplum insert will be stuffed with coupons, a more BOGO deals will be available than usual. Both are also promoting their online coupon tools and Facebook pages for extra savings. Check out those options for a few early coupons.

Also be on the lookout for bargains from Kroger, Big Lots, Target and Kohl’s (for those of you lucky enough to live in or near Lynchburg).

The Ecotools train case features a large compartment with a removable clear case inside.

The Ecotools 5 piece brush set includes a compartment for brushes and cosmetics, a blush brush, mini foundation brush, mini powder brush, eye shading brush and spoolie brush.

The comment detailing the best local value (name of the spa, phone number, treatment(s) and price) will win some loot. I’ve got an Ecotools 5 piece brush set & bag and an Ecotools train case to pass along to the winner.

Be sure to leave your tip by noon on Friday! Check back here that afternoon to see who has won.

Also, don’t forget about the Starbucks promotion for free Petites that runs today through Friday. See more information here.

The Starbucks Birthday Cake Pop is just one of the Petites available for free with the purchase of any beverage.

To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Starbucks is holding Tribute Days. Between 3 and 5 p.m. on March 10-12 you will receive a free Starbucks Petite with any beverage purchase. I’ve never had any of these mini-treats, but they look pretty delicious (I’m eyeing the cake pops). Even better, each is less than 200 calories. This might be the time to go and try something new.

Click here for more details and a short video about Tribute Days.

Enjoy, coffee lovers!

Reduced fat creamy and reduced fat chunky Skippy peanut butters have been recalled due to the possibility of salmonella. For more information, see the full article here.

If have purchased any of the above, discard immediately. The company can be contacted at 1-800-453-3432 for additional information and replacement coupons.

This bored looking puppy is named Jack. He's hoping his Shoptimist pet parent will find him some goodies this week!

There’s literally something for everyone in this Sunday’s circulars. I’ll start out with something that appeals to everyone: food.

Kroger launches the Cart Buster Savings Event today. Sounds exciting right? Everything marked with a special yellow tag will be offering big savings. Participating products inclue Pepsi 2 liters ($.95), Lean Cuisine and Stouffer’s entrees (5 for $10), Coca-Cola 12 packs (3 for $10), Lenten specials (like shrimp poppers 10 for $10), multiple candy products (10 for $10), natural food specials (like Horizon Organic Milk 10 for $10), Keebler cookies (10 for $10) and tons of other similar specials. Stock up on all of your pantry staples!

Smokey Bones, Olive Garden, Logan’s Roadhouse, Baskin Robbins and Chuck E. Cheese all make appearances as well, each featuring at least 2 coupons. Some of these are tucked into the jam packed Smartsource packet, so you may have to do a little hunting.

Boys and girls alike will be thrilled with Toys R Us this week. Ninendo DS games and Barbie & Ken dolls are all buy 1, get 1 half off. For the parents, find a 20% off coupon for any regular priced baby item and a $5 coupon valid on Huggies or Babies “R” Us value boxes of diapers.

Pet parents will be impressed with Petsmart. The retailer is offerening savings on multiple varieties of cat and dog food. Iams customers will be pleased to receive a free bag of cat (4 lb.) or dog (8 lb.) food with the purchase of any size of Iams cat or dog food (with a mail in rebate). Other offers include savings of 15% off of select popular KONG products, 20% off Martha Stewart Pets items and upt to 50% off of select dog and cat beds.

I’ve spotted my first major swim suit sale of the season at Target. All women’s suits are on sale for $14 per piece. Considering the price of swim wear these days this is a steal. The quality isn’t bad either. I bought one two years ago that is still in great shape.

Don’t skip over the Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid ads this week. Easter candy as well as pantry and bathroom staples are all on sale or are featured in store-specific coupons. While I usually wouldn’t be purchasing too many of these items at a drug store, these prices are comparable to Walmart and other retailers.

For those in the NRV you’ll be receiving the Home Expo Guide. It’s full of information about how-to clinics, recommended products, advice and a guide to the Home Expo being held March 11-13.

What stands out to you in this weekends ads?

The Sunday circulars are full of proof that spring has sprung. Photo by Ashley Campbell Photography, Flickr.

It’s that time again. What can you expect to see on Sunday? Plenty.

Restaurant coupons make a good showing, while Target, Toys R Us and Petsmart also have interesting deals for those that fit particular niches.

Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens are all supplying their own coupons this week on numerous household staples.

Kroger is launching a Cart Buster Savings Event, but you’ll have to wait to see what that entails.

Finally, you’ll get a thick packet of Smartsource coupons. As usual, check out their website for more free coupons.

It’s going to be a good day for those of you who want significant savings on hot items.

I don’t know about you, but I was really excited about Kroger‘s digital coupon advertisement on page six of yesterday’s newspaper — and the sales on pages two and three of the paper.

I logged on to the grocer’s coupon Web site last night and loaded my Kroger Plus card with several electronic coupons, including $3 off Charmin toilet paper (12 double roll or mega roll packs) and $2 off Bounty paper towels (8 regular rolls or larger).

Select Bounty and Charmin are on sale through Saturday at Kroger. Photo courtesy of saving4family.blogspot.com.

I went to Kroger at Towne Square this morning and stacked 25 cents off coupons on each of those items, which also are on sale this week. I was able to maximize my savings even more because Kroger doubles coupons up to 50 cents everyday. I saved $3.50 on the toilet paper and $2.50 on the paper towels.

Final prices after sales, newspaper coupons and digital coupons: Bounty, $3.49 and Charmin, $2.49.

I also priced a couple of other household items that I needed but I don’t usually purchase at the grocery store. I found Dove bar soap, a six-pack of one scent was marked down to a closeout price of $5.07. I happened to have a $1.25 off coupon.

I found Gain laundry detergent, another closeout item, marked down to $9.60 and I used a $1 off coupon.

Lastly, I scored a pack of colorful Reynolds baking cups (cupcake liners) for 19 cents. The regular price is $1.19 less a doubled 50 cents off coupon.

Total saved today: $15.51 (45 percent)!!!

Ooh, I almost forgot, there’s another reason I was super excited to coupon shop today: my work bff gifted me a personally-decorated (with owls) coupon organizer yesterday. Thanks, Janelle!

Love movies? Interested in a cheap date night? This deal is a savings of 70%.

For the next 24 hours Living Social(a group buying site similar to Groupon and the Daily Deal) is offering 2 movie tickets through Fandango for $9. Depending on your theatre of choice, that’s the average price of one ticket — or maybe even less. I know Fandango offers online ticketing for Valley View Grande, Salem Valley 8 and Carmike Cinemas (Tanglewood). The Regal in the NRV also works with the site.

In order to buy the deal, Living Social says it’s as easy as this: “Skip the lines and head to this four-star site, where you’ll drop just seconds using the drop-down menu to buy tickets for the film you want to see at the location where you want to see it. Just type in your voucher code and follow the instructions to redeem it — no agony or grit required.”

What’s even better is that if you buy the deal, share it with your friends and then at least three of them also participate, yours is free! Currently Living Social doesn’t have a Roanoke network, but I signed up for the Piedmont Triad and Washington D.C. deals because they have online deals like this one fairly often.

I’ve never used Fandango or any other online movie ticketing services, but I know others have with success.

What’s been your experience with Fandango? Would you recommend this deal to shoppers?

These pint size products will end up costing you, so save up those samples.

I can see how product samples can be considered annoying. They break up the pages of magazines, stuff up mailboxes, or get delivered straight to our doors.
But I think they can be useful. Especially for travel.

The compact and lightweight packets are perfect for suitcases, and you can toss them when they’re empty. Even laundry detergent samples can come in handy for vacations at the beach, for instance.

Recently I signed up to receive the P&G Brand Sampler . After becoming a member of the website (free registration), I chose from the samples available.
At the time, I was able to receive two types of shampoo and conditioner, makeup and laundry detergent, all in sample sizes. A few weeks later, the box of goodies arrived. The shampoo, conditioner and detergent went straight into my travel bag.

When you  use the samples this way, the savings really add up. Have you ever noticed how much travel-size items cost? Currently, Walgreens has a 1.5-ounce travel bottle of Johnson’s Baby Shampoo for $1.29, while the 15-ounce bottle is only $4.29 — instead of paying 29 cents per ounce, you pay roughly a dollar per ounce for the travel size.

So save your samples because they save money and space.
What do you do with all of your free samples, and where do you find them?

Some of the items that have been available as free samples in the past. Most are common, but useful, household products. pgeverydaysolutions.com.

Do you have a case of the Mondays? Hopefully this will help.

Take a look at the P&G Everyday Solutions website. It’s full of coupons, tips, promotions and product reviews. Some of the coupons can be sent to your home, and others can be downloaded directly onto a shopper’s card (looks like that trend is really catching on). Find all the coupons that are currently available here. 

Currently, they have a promotion for a free Febreze Noticeables Oil Warmer. Granted, you have to send in a rebate, but as far as I know that’s never killed anyone.

Become a member of the website and you can sign up to receieve a P&G Brand Sampler. You’ll get to choose from the samples currently available, so you know you’ll be receiving items that you’re actually interested in. After a few weeks, a box full of samples that could include hair products, detergent, over the counter medications, makeup and more will come to your door. Some of these products you’ve probably already used, so the samples are great for travel. For the products you haven’t tried out, a sample size is a great way to test them.

When I received my box of goodies it included two different shampoo and conditioner samples (they went straight into my travel bag), laundry detergent samples (these are great for trips to the beach, especially if you stock up on a few) and a makeup sample. They also threw in a few coupons.

Where do you find useful samples, and what do you do with them?

This week lends itself to a couple opportunities for free food. Sounds good, right? Here are the details:

The free Chipotle burrito deal is still on through Friday. See more information here.

In honor of the new Heinz® Dip & Squeeze® Ketchup,  Chick-fil-A has declared March 4 Free Fry Day. Between 2 and 4 pm, ketchup lovers who ask for Heinz® Dip & Squeeze® Ketchup at all Chick-fil-A restaurants will receive a free medium order of Chick-fil-A Waffle Potato Fries. You always have to ask for extra ketchup anyway, why not get a free order of fries out of the deal?

Finally, today, March 1, is National Pancake Day. Visit IHOP between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. and you’ll receive a free short stack. All they ask is that you consider a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network. Consider this preparation for Fat Tuesday (March 8).

Know of any other free food deals coming up? Let us know!