The Sox have been in town all weekend, and now you might qualify to catch them for free.

May 30, 1:05PM game free for all active-duty, reserve and/or military veterans and their families

 SALEM, VA – The Salem Red Sox will offer free tickets to any person who is currently or has served in a branch of the United States military and their families for the 1:05PM game on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30) in honor for their great service to our country.

 “We want to formally thank the great service men and women that help to protect our great country,” said general manager Todd Stephenson. “This is only a small token of gratitude for a group of brave and courageous men and women who protect our way of life.”

 Tickets can be claimed with a military ID ahead of time at the Salem Red Sox offices, at the Salem Red Sox box offices outside the gates before the game, or by calling the Salem Red Sox at (540) 389-3333.

Enjoy your holiday!

The city market is a popular destination for a lot of locals, especially on weekend mornings. Through October, Haley Toyota is sponsoring additional free events to be held as a part of what they’re calling City Market Saturdays. Here’s the schedule for the month of June.

June 4: How-To: Container Gardens with the City of Roanoke Parks and Recreation

June 11: Blues BBQ cooking demonstration

June 18: Music by RagTop and a “Make a Mug” station for Dad for Father’s Day

June 25: Music by White Top Mountaineers

For more information, check out www.downtownroanoke.org.

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day! I hope you’ve enjoyed your holiday weekend so far. The good news is that most of us get to keep the holiday spirit alive with a day off tomorrow. Maybe you’ll find something worth running to the store for in these deals:

*This week Kroger is having a big produce sale. You’ll find good deals on grapes, watermelons, blueberries, bell peppers, squash, green beans and more. Ball Park hotdogs, Kroger Bratwurst and Tyson Boneless Skinless frozen chicken are also on special.
You’ll also see some information at the top of the ad about Kroger fuel. Now your fuel savings from Kroger apply to Shell stations, as well. At participating Shell stations you can use your 10 cents to $1 discount on gas earned from using your Kroger card.

* Major household appliances are on sale just about everywhere this week. The Home Depot, Best Buy, hhgregg and Sears all have special deals on washers, dryers, fridges and more. If you’re in need of any of these products, check out the financing and discounts at each store to see what works best for you.

*JC Penney has tons of items under $10 this week, but some of them require you head to the store by Tuesday. Tank tops for women and girls, shorts for the whole family, flip flops, swim suits and Tees and polos for guys will only be on special until Tuesday, and all of them are under $20 (most are under $10, with the exception of shorts).

*Fashion Bug doesn’t have an ad very often, but when it does it’s usually good. Through June 21 you can find many items at the store (from tops to shoes to accessories) buy one, get one for $10. What makes this deal even sweeter is the coupon on the back of the ad that will get you $10 off of a $20 purchase.

*Belk’s Memorial Day sale includes items throughout the store, but Sunday and Monday you can get an extra $10 off of a $30 purchase (includes sale items) storewide and $10 off of a $30 home purchase. The home coupon is an impressive deal, as many times the dollar amount or percentage off of home goods is usually less. The first coupon is on the cover of the ad, but you’ll have to dig to the middle of the ad to find the home coupon.

*Walgreens is joining the big department stores in having a two-day sale. Sunday and Monday you can find sales on drinks (water, Coke products, beer), cookout goodies (charcoal, Reynolds Wrap, Dixie tableware) and more. Some of these sale items also have coupons in the ad and register rewards, making them an even better deal.
All week long they’ll have tons of BOGO deals. Maybelline, L’Oreal and Covergirl makeup products are all buy one, get one 50% off, while vitamins, sunscreens and more are all buy one, get one free.

*I’m pretty excited about the Sonic flier you’ll find tucked in your ads. I love stopping by the restaurant in the summer and chilling out with some ice cream or a giant limeaid! The flier has coupons for hotdogs, tots, kids’ meals, and drink items.

*Toys R Us is continuing its run of sales on outdoor items for kids. This week you’ll find gym sets, trampolines, sandboxes, swing sets, playhouses and more all for 20% off. Select board games are all 50% off (you need something to entertain the kids on a rainy day, right?), and LeapFrog products are buy one, get one 50% off. The last page of the ad features all of the ways you can earn free gift cards and other products this week. Most of them are larger purchases (PS3, Xbox 360, Netbooks), but a free $50 gift card could be a game-changer for some folks.

*Lastly, CVS is still running its free gas card promotion. Buy $30 worth of select items and you’ll earn a $10 gas card. Some of the participating items include Planters nuts, Post cereals, Doritos and Tostitos, Progresso soups, Excedrin, Nature Made vitamins and Kashi and Kellogg’s products. With so many participating products, it’s easy to spend $30.
There are also tons of ways you can earn ExtraBucks this week, including purchasing Hershey’s candy, Revlon products, Aveeno products, Crest toothpaste, Pampers, Huggies and more. One of the best deals is the 2/$1 M&M’s deal that rewards you with $1 in ExtraBucks — that’s like getting them for free!

Enjoy the remainder of your weekend. Let me know if you get any great deals!

It's a beautiful day, we're 24 hours away from a holiday weekend and there are bargains all over the place -- we're set up for a pretty good Thursday. Anyone visiting the lake this weekend? Props to Seth Sprinkle to this awesome photo of Claytor Lake.

 UPDATE #2:

*J. Crew’s online factory store will have select items 50% off of the factory price — that’s a great deal! Even better, all orders have free shipping, no minimal purchase or code necessary. This only applies to the J. Crew Factory Store online. Also, the store will be open through Monday at midnight to account for the holiday.

*Bath & Body works has two great printable coupons out right now. You can’t use them both at the same time, but you may be able to split up a purchase and get by with it.
Print this coupon and receive a free travel size item with any purchase. Good through June 1.
Print this coupon and receive a free Signature Collection Body Care Item (full size!) with any purchase of at least $10. Good through June 9.

*Use this Macy’s WOW Pass and you can get an extra 15% off of sale and clearance apparel, fashion jewelry and intimates, or an extra 10% off of sale and clearance home, electronics, watches, shoes, coats, dresses and suits.

*Check out these Michaels printable coupons for 50% off of any regular priced item, 20% off of your entire purchase (excluding sale items), 40% off of any regular priced item and 25% off of your total purchase of frames and display cases.

*Print this Sears coupon from their Facebook and you can get $20 off of a $100 purchase through Saturday. It’s good on sale, clearance AND regular priced items!

*I’ve never seen this before, but Barnes & Noble has printable coupons! Check these out and you can get 30% off of select titles.

*Aeropostale currently has a printable coupon that will earn you $10 off of a $50 purchase. This doesn’t mention any exclusions on sale or clearance merchandise, so give it a try!

*Print this JC Penney coupon and you’ll receive $10 off of any $50 purchase. The exclusions don’t mention clearance and sale items, and it’s good through June 10!

*Military families can get free tickets to Monday’s Red Sox game. Click here for more info.

END UPDATE

UPDATE: 

*Martha Stewart is offering a free download of her summer grilling cookbook (similar to the Emeril deal a while back, which is still good for those who missed it). You can choose specific recipes to print, print the whole book or just save everything to your computer. If you still need some ideas for your Memorial Day BBQ, this might help you out! 

*Now through Monday Banana Republic is offering 25%, 30%, or 50% off your entire purchase with the coupon code H24XN2W21GCC or by using this printable coupon (if you’re headed somewhere with a local store this weekend). You could also use the code BRGET30 for an additional 30% off online. See which code benefits you most at checkout. 

*Gymboree will be having a Memorial Day sale this weekend and everything in the store and online will be $12.99 or under. There’s also a flat rate of $5 shipping for online purchases. 

*Gap is having an online Memorial Day sale with lots of good deals to choose from. Tees, tanks, boxers and briefs will be $10; polos, shorts and swim gear will be $20; tops, dresses, skirts and sandals will be $25; flip flops and bodysuits for kids will be $5; Tees, tanks and shorts for kids will be $10; and swim dresses will be $15. You can also take an additional 30% off of sale styles by using the code GAPSAVE. This would be better if it was happening in the store, but at least there’s a local Gap where you could return anything that doesn’t work out. 

*Use this coupon or the code 47010 online and you can get 20% off of your entire purchase at Payless. A lot of styles are on sale this weekend, so you could end  up getting a good deal on some shoes! 

*I’m not sure how widespread this was, but I received a Redplum coupon insert with my mail yesterday. It included a lot of restaurant coupons (Papa Johns and Schezuan were a couple of my favorites) and it was a pleasant surprise (since we won’t be getting any coupon inserts this weekend due to the holiday). Be on the lookout because you might get one,too! 

END UPDATE 

*The Regal Cinemas coupon for this weekend is a coupon good for a $2 Zap Pack. The Zap Pack includes popcorn, a drink and a packet of Welch’s fruit snacks. Be sure to print this by 6 p.m. Friday! 

*Today only Amazon is once again offering “Born This Way,” Lady Gaga’s new album, for only 99 cents (it’s a digital download). When this was offered the other day Amazon’s servers crashed, so be patient if things start slowing down! 

*Old Navy’s big Memorial Day sale runs now through Monday. First of all, clearance items will be an additional 30 to 50% off! They’re also having a $6 Sale – where tons of items start at $6. At first glance, I’m seeing lots of Tees and tanks in the $6 to $10 range. 

*On Saturday Walmart stores across the area will be having an Ice Cream Social event. From 5 to 9 p.m. (in most stores) shoppers will be treated to free sample of Edy’s ice cream topped with Nesquik’s Chocolate Syrup and Reddi-wip, while supplies last. To find out if your local store is participating, click here. 

*This weekend New York & Company has all of their Tees, tanks, shorts and crops buy one, get one 75% off for their Memorial Day Sale. The sale does exclude clearance, but it allows you to mix and match — so go find yourself a new outfit! 

*Today through Monday you can take 30% off your entire purchase at American Eagle in stores and online. The code for online orders is 82934281. There’s no printable coupon, so this must be automatically taken at the register in stores. 

*Sometime today Healthy Choice will be offering coupons for free meals on their Facebook page. If you want to beat the rush, go ahead and “like” them so you get first dibs. 

*Now through Monday The Children’s Place has select items on sale for $5, plus free shipping with no minimum purchase required. If you’re ordering online, try the codes x3dwmvev5c and RETAILMENOT5C for an additional 15% off. You never know when these codes will end, but give it a try! 

*True Value currently has a printable coupon that will earn you $5 off of a $25 purchase. The coupon doesn’t expire until July 9, but you never know when they’ll take it off the website. 

*More deals are likely to appear throughout the next couple days, so I’ll keep you posted! Have you heard about anything that I missed? Leave a comment and let me know.

I recently got a message from the Salem Red Sox, and it’s a special treat for those of you in military families!

It said:
Salem Red Sox Offer Free Tickets to Military Families for Memorial Day Game

May 30, 1:05PM game free for all active-duty, reserve and/or military veterans and their families

 SALEM, VA – The Salem Red Sox will offer free tickets to any person who is currently or has served in a branch of the United States military and their families for the 1:05PM game on Memorial Day (Monday, May 30) in honor for their great service to our country.

 “We want to formally thank the great service men and women that help to protect our great country,” said general manager Todd Stephenson. “This is only a small token of gratitude for a group of brave and courageous men and women who protect our way of life.”

 Tickets can be claimed with a military ID ahead of time at the Salem Red Sox offices, at the Salem Red Sox box offices outside the gates before the game, or by calling the Salem Red Sox at (540) 389-3333.

Enjoy your holiday!

Memorial Day means many of us will be having cookouts. How do you plan to spend your holiday weekend?

Monday is Memorial Day, which means there won’t be any coupon inserts to look forward to this coming Sunday. (For more information about why we don’t get coupons on holiday weekends, click here.) Hopefully that means we’ll get loaded up with coupons next week, but in the mean time we can enjoy all of the special Memorial Day sales going on this weekend. Here’s what you have to look forward to:

*Appliances just about everywhere are on sale. Apparently if you need a washer, dryer, stove or fridge, Memorial Day is the time to make your purchase.

* CVS will be continuing its free gas promotion, and there will be tons of opportunities to stock up on Extra Bucks.

*Toys R Us will have at least 20% off of tons of play sets. You will also have the chance to score free gift cards and products by making big purchases.

*Sonic is one of my favorite places to grab a cold drink or ice cream in the warmer months, and I’ll have a good excuse to swing by there starting Sunday.

*Walgreens will be having a special two-day sale on Sunday and Monday, but all week you’ll be able to catch tons of BOGO items. Don’t forget to compare their ad coupons with any manufacturer coupons you’ve held on to.

*Belk’s Memorial Day sale starts Sunday. Be sure to check out the ad and grab their coupons before you head out — you can get extra savings Sunday and Monday.

*Fashion Bug will be having a BOGO sale Sunday through June 7, and they’re even throwing in a bonus coupon.

*JC Penney’s Memorial Day sale means lots of items for the whole family for under $10. If you go Sunday through Tuesday you’ll find the best deals.

*Starting Sunday Kroger will be having a Produce Sale, so start thinking of some fresh ideas for dinner. They’re also going to be revealing new ways to save on fuel.

Many folks know about the travel perks of membership groups  such as AAA or AARP, but the benefits have multiplied over the years. 

Today, AAA members can enjoy discounts on tickets for theme parks such as Busch Gardens, Sea World and Universal Studios, a price cut on movie tickets, retail discounts at Target, Payless and Gap Outlets, and enjoy savings at optical retailers and health clubs — just to name a few.

I’ve been a member of AAA since college and have had success with travel discounts, but until now hadn’t ever thought to pull out my card for everyday shopping.

AARP members get plenty of benefits, too. The over-50 crowd can enjoy discounts at Tanger, Reebok, Rockport and Ashworth Outlets, Walgreens and Teleflora. Members can also access special coupons and online savings through sites  such as Kellogg’s, Grocery Coupon Center and Everyday Savings Center. Other perks include discounts at Denny’s, Regal movie theatres, Gold’s Gym and ADT Home Security.

Other groups with member benefits that may not be as widely known include the National Rifle Association, American Legion and the National Association of Realtors.

If you identify with any of these niche groups, check out the benefits and consider joining. In addition to the standard travel and lodging discounts, some perks include discounts on Apple products (American Legion), savings on mailing and shipping (NAR) and savings on hearing aids (NRA).

Though membership to these groups does require a yearly fee, most of the time the savings outweigh the cost — if you  use what’s being made available.

For a full list of the benefits for each membership, click one of the links below:
*AAA
*AARP
*NRA
*American Legion
*NAR

Do you know of any other membership programs that have notable discounts for members? Tell me about them!

A while back I signed up for Kraft First Taste. The website has reviews of new Kraft products and gives away free goodies from time to time. Another cool feature of the site is what they call hosting a First Taste House Party. Here’s what they say about the program:
“Be among the first to try new things in a delicious new way. As
a party host, you’ll be among the first to experience Kraft Foods products and share them with friends and family.”

Here’s how it works: Sign up for Kraft First Taste and apply to be a party host for one of the available products. If you’re picked to be a host, you’ll receive all of the goods for the party for free.

For example, the current product that’s available is the Velveeta Cheesy Skillet. If you are chosen to host a party, you’ll receive  the Velveeta Cheesy Skillets product, a $5 Wal-Mart gift card, memo boards, tote bags and $1 off coupons. Kraft does ask that you follow some of their suggested party gamesand conversation topics, hold the party on a specific date and report back, but it’s still a pretty good deal. It’s definitely a fun way to try out new products for free, and an excuse to get together with friends.

To view some of the products picked for parties in the past, click here.

If anyone gets picked to host a party, let me know how it goes! If you’re not interested in hosting a party, I still suggest you sign up for First Taste for the freebies and coupons.

It’s Monday yet again, but here are a few things to help start your week right.

UPDATE:

Print this American Greetings coupon and you can get $1 off the purchase of 3 greeting cards through June 15. The only drawback is this coupon isn’t valid on 99 cent card. Remember, Father’s Day is coming up!

Participating Bruster’s locations are offering buy one, get one free waffle cones with this coupon through May 27. Check with your favorite location to see if they’re accepting the offer. END UPDATE

Gaga's latest could be all yours for a mere 99 cents.

Lady Gaga fans have been going nuts in anticipation for the singer’s latest album, and today Amazon.com has a special treat for them. Today only shoppers can download the entire Born This Way album for only $.99. To download the album, click here. This would normally cost around $13.

Today only you can use this printable coupon for 25% off of your Old Navy purchase in store or online (use the code ONMELON). The coupon is not valid on Old Navy Everyday Steals, jeans, or baby/toddler merchandise.

A 3 lb. container of Osmocote plant food is currently on sale at Lowe’s for $9.97, and PlantersPlace.com is offering a $10 rebate – which makes it free! Even if you miss the sale, the product is usually $11.39, so this is still a great deal. The rebate must be postmarked by June 30.

Through May 30 (next Monday), you can use this rebate get $5 of a gallon or $20 off 5 gallons of Behr paint. The paint must be purchased by May 30, and the rebate must be postmarked by June 29. Behr is sold exclusively at Home Depot.

Have a long commute to work each day? Gas prices keep going up, so consider some of these money saving options.

I drive from Botetourt to Roanoke every day for work, so I can vouch for the commuters out there who are hurting due to gas prices. In Sunday’s paper, my colleague Michelle Skeen outlined some handy money-saving points for commuters. If you missed it, check it out — you might find something that works for your daily routine. To read Michelle’s article, click here.

Know any more helpful tips? Share them in the comments section below.

Memorial Day weekend is coming up fast (3-day weekend!), and most stores are

After you clip your coupons, remember to compare them with the ads -- you may be able to double up on sales and/or store coupons!

giving you the opportunity to stock up now.

Here are some holiday weekend items you might look out for in SmartSource:
Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ Sauce
Salad dressings
Dole Mandarin Oranges
Tyson Wings
Glad Products
Betty Crocker cake mixes and icing
Dips
Snyder’s Pretzels
Sweet Tea
Heinz 57
Weber Seasoning
Bob Evans sides
Off! products
Oreo and S’mores icings
Scott paper prodcuts
Borden cheese
Tabasco sauce
Brookwood Farms BBQ
Ore-Ida Sweet Potato Fries
*There’s also an Olive Garden coupon tucked in there, so enjoy a night off from cooking!

Redplum has these Memorial Day offerings:
Breyers Blasts
Hellmann’s products
Magnum ice cream
Knorr Rice Sides
Wish Bone salad dressings
Lipton tea
Coppertone sunscreen
Domino sugar
Starbucks ice cream
Deer Park water
M&Ms
A liquor store rebate
Amdro Ant Block
Jimmy Dean sausage
Sara Lee meats
Morton salt and seasonings

CVS is offering a free $10 gas gift card with the $30 purchase of select items. Some of these items include: Gatorade, Doritos and Tostitos, Hershey’s candy, Folger’s coffee, Coke, Lysol products and more. This is an interesting promotion, especially since many of the particpating products are common purchases for many shoppers.
There are also a lot of opportunities for shoppers to earn ExtraBucks. Some of the best include: $4 with a Revlon nail polish purchase (like getting it for $.99), $5 with 2 Irish Spring or Softsoap purchases (like getting them for $2 each), $5 for buying select $50 gift cards (includes Old Navy, Gap and Banana Republic), $8 with the purchase of 2 Coppertone Sun Care items and $10 with the purchase of $20 in Garnier Skin Care items.

This week Kroger is offering Coca-Cola and 7UP soft drinks 5/$12 (that’s like getting 1 free), Oscar Mayer hotdogs are 4/$5, ribs only $2.99/lb. and Sweet Baby Ray’s BBQ sauce is 10/$10 (don’t forget the manufacturer’s coupon!). Other good deals include Johnsonville brats and sausages for $3.99, various sales on fresh meats and seafood, cantaloupe 3/$5 and asparagus for $2.49/lb.

Dick’s Sporting Goods is having a boat sale, but almost anything water related is on sale. Fishing items, water shorts and teex, paddles and more are all on sale, some up to 50% off.

hhgregg is having a Memorial Day sale and offering “family prices” on almost everything. HDTVs look to have some decent price cuts, as do most major appliances (plus they have free delivery, haul-away and recycling).

Michaels has an attractive ad for any bakers out there. The entire stock of bakeware is buy two, get one free, and all Wilton classes and course kits are 50%off. Tons of red, white and blue goods for the holiday are also on sale, so stock up and reuse them for July 4.

A.C. Moore has over 6,000 papercrafting items on sale, and some items are up to 90% off. There is also a class TODAY from 1 to 5 p.m. where you can learn to create your own floral embellishments.

Rite Aid’s ad is full of BOGO items. Dixie or Vanity Fair goods. first aid products, allergy relief medications, select cereals, king size candy bars and more are all buy one, get one free. Other products, like sunglasses, pool toys, L’Oreal skin care items and Covergirl makeup are all buy one, get one 50% off.

Gander Mountain has outdoors goods of all kinds on sale. Now would be a good time to stock up on camping chairs, which are all buy one, get one 50% off. Sunglasses, coolers, grill and outdoor games are also at least 20% off.

Walgreens has loads of coupons in their ad, so try to match them with a manufacturer’s coupon whenever possible. There are also tons of BOGO items here, like sugar free candy, Breyers ice cream, Dixie and Vanity Fair paper goods, sunglasses and vitamins all buy one, get one free. Sandals, sunscreen, summer toys and tons of skin care products are all buy one, get one 50% off.

Target has kid’s tees and shorts starting at $3 and others only $4 and $5. Sandals are all buy one, get one 50% off, and women’s V-neck tees and tanks are only $5. Men’s polos are only $8 this week, and graphic tees only $10.
Free gift cards with purchase are finally reappearing in the ad, and the products they’re included with include: Bromley table and chairs, Char-Broil grill, Conservatory table and chairs, Playstation 3, Brad Paisley’s latest CD “This Is Country Music,” Olay facial care, Gillette razors, Huggies & Pampers and Iams dog food.

Toys R Us has Razor scooters for only $19.99 this week, as well as 25% off of Ripstiks and Little Tikes coupes. Water toys like the Rip Curl Surf Slide are also at least $10 off. In prep for rainy days this summer, Nintendo DC games are $10 off, and you can receive a free $50 gift card with the purchase of Mortal Kombat and Fear 3 for XBOX 360 or PS3.

Food Lion is teaming up with Nestle for an interesting promotion. Spend $25 on participating products (such as Carnation Coffeemate, Hot Pockets, Deer Park water, Juicy Juice and more) and you’ll be rewarded with a free Digiorno Pizza. Most of these items are common purchases for many families, so just be aware of the deal.

Memorial Day means cookouts for many of us, and I'd recommend you start planning now -- tons of cookout items will be on sale come Sunday.

**Don’t forget to check yesterday’s post full of freebies and deals, some are still active today!

It’s shaping up to be a pretty nice weekend, and there are some pretty nice deals on the way, too. With Memorial Day coming up there are big sales coming up, especially for the outdoorsman.

First off, you’ll find a SmartSource and Redplum booklet in your paper Sunday. Both of them include tons of coupons for items that are going to be on sale, so be sure to cross-check your coupons and the ads.

Food Lion plans to reward you with pizza if certain purchases are made.

Toys R Us will have tons of outdoors toys on sale, but also some deals  for those rainy summer days. 

Target will be tempting you to buy new outfits for the entire family, and a few free gift card offers will start to re-appear.

The Walgreens ad has tons of coupons, and if you work at it they could be combined with manufacturer coupons for an even better deal.

Gander Mountain will give you the opportunity to do some early prep for your Memorial Day cook-out and/or camping.

Dick’s Sporting Goods will have an appealing ad for anyone who can’t wait to get on the river or the lake — almost everything water-related is going to be on sale.

Rite Aid’s ad is full of BOGO opportunities, and luckily for us many of them are buy one, get one free.

A.C. Moore is prepping for a sidewalk sale (I’m not sure if this is a literal sidewalk sale, or if tons of stuff in the store is on sale), and is having its “Biggest Papercrafting Event of the Year.” Sounds like a pretty big deal!

Michaels will be having a big bakeware sale and will have tons of Memorial Day/patriotic bargains, so stock up and re-use it for the 4th!

Apparently Memorial Day is the time to invest in a new TV and home appliances, and hhgregg  is stocked with choices.

CVS is releasing a new promotion, and it’s offering you a gas gift card with select purchases. There are also plenty of opportunities for ExtraBucks, so shoppers really have the chance to rack-up here.

Yes it's spring, so things are in bloom and looking lovely, but it also makes most of us sneezy. Check out the NeilMed Facebook page and you might find some relief.

The deals were slow to appear today, but there are a few that are worthy of mention. Let me know if I missed any!

This week’s Regal Theatre coupon is a free small drink with any popcorn purchase. Don’t forget to print it before 6 p.m. today!

Allergy season is in full swing, so it’s a convenient time for NeilMed to be offering free neti pots. “Like” their Facebook page here, fill out some info and your freebie will be on its way. I’ve never tried the neti pot, but I’ve had success with other allergy related NeilMed products (I’ve successfully gotten some free stuff through their Facebook page, too!), so check it out.

Arby’s has another free chicken salad sandwich offer out, and its expiration date is further away than the last one that was released. Go to their Facebook page and participate in the Chicken Salad Taste-Off and you’ll be rewarded with a printable coupon. Buy a 22 oz. drink with the coupon and the sandwich is yours for free!

Hotels.com is in the midst of its Summer Giftaway, and there are loads of free things you can earn by booking hotel nights. With vacation season coming up, it’s not a bad thing to be aware of. Browse all of the available offers here, but be sure to read the fine print — sometimes booking through sites like this means you can’t cancel your reservation. Some of the deals include a free Amazon Kindle when you book 3 nights and use the code BOOKWORM or free $25 gas cards.

The iMap Weather Radio is being given away to the first 100,000 people to download the app from the iTunes store. This app is usually $9.99, so this is a great opportunity! Download the app straight to your device (iTouch, iPhone or iPad), or get more information here.

Dollar General has another exciting coupon available to print from their website. Go here to view all of their coupons, and be sure to note the offer for $5 off of a purchase of $20 — that’s a pretty big purchase from the dollar store!

Through June 3 you can get a free cup of coffee from Waffle House by printing this coupon. This is for dine-in only, but could top off your breakfast one morning (or one evening).

Friday and Saturday CHIP of the Roanoke Valley is having a yard sale Fundraiser in the former Hayes Seay Mattern & Mattern Building at 1204 Franklin Road, Roanoke. All funds benefit Child Health Investment Partnership (CHIP) of Roanoke Valley, and food and drink will be available for purchase both days. This is a great cause to support and you might find some bargains, too.

The Fresh Market is hosting its First Taste of Summer sampling event Friday through Sunday. From 3 to 7 p.m. Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday you’ll find tons of free summer samples, and on Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. you can also catch a cooking demonstration — they’ll be whipping up chicken fajitas with zesty lime and avacado slaw. Additionally, the grocer will have tons of “buy this, get that” BOGO deals.

Whenever I’m planning a trip, whether it’s an hour or eight hours away, I always check to see what kind of shopping I’ll run into en route and once I arrive.
Of course, there are always those trips (my favorite) where the shopping is the destination. While I would never discourage anyone from supporting local businesses, it’s always nice to know what’s out there.

Williamsburg, Richmond, Charlotte, N.C., and the outlets in Gaffney, S.C. (my dad’s favorite place to spend a few hours on the way to a Clemson football game — ha! ) are all on my list of beloved shopping destinations.

Those are all great spots if you’re looking for big-box stores and outlet malls, but what about smaller shops?

For instance, the Cheese Shop in Stuarts Draft is a family owned, Amish-style bulk foods store that has a wide variety of kitchen goods for a fraction of what you could find them for in the grocery store. This store has become a favorite of my family’s despite its remote location — about an hour and a half  from Roanoke.

Rocky’s Gold and Silver in Weyers Cave has won me over despite the fact that jewelry is, call me crazy, one of my least favorite things to shop for. Browsing through estate sale jewelry and other pieces that you won’t see at the mall gives the store an edge.

The Fashion Shack is like a smaller version of our local TJ Maxx locations, but you’ll only find the store hidden in a few Southern towns.

So how are we supposed to keep track of all these stores, from the hidden treasures to the giant outlets? I’ve got one solution.

View Shoptimists: Where do you drive to shop? in a larger map

Click the link below the map to view and add to what a few Roanoke Times staffers and readers have already marked as notable stops for shopping (that’s what all the little yellow shopping baskets and other markers represent — click them for more details).

To add your favorites, save The Shoptimist map to your maps in Google (you should see a link saying “Save to My Maps” — you will need a Google username and password), and then simply enter the address of your shopping destination in the Google search bar, find the location on the map, click on the map marker, and then choose “Save to Map.” You should find The Shoptimist map as an option there.

Once the destination has been added, return to The Shoptimist map to add why you think this spot is notable and any important details. Ideally these locations will be within a day’s drive (or two) from Southwest Virginia.

If anyone has any problems with the map process, let me know and I’ll try to help out.

Visit The Homestead and get a second night for only $24.50. Photo: FamilyVacationCritic.com.

This year is the 245th birthday of The Homestead in Hot Springs. To celebrate the big event, the resort is offering a BOGO deal until May 20 — buy one night, get the second for only $24.50. Rooms at this high-class resort usually start around $200, so if you’re planning to treat yourself you may as well add an extra day!

Remember, you must book your rooms by May 20 (Friday), but they can be used through December 22. Blackout dates do apply and this offer can’t be combined with any other offers.

For more information or to make reservations, call 877-899-1306, option 3.

Now through June 5  those of you who are not currently members of Sam’s Club can give it a try with this special. In honor of National Small Business Week, Sam’s Club is offering 10-week memberships for $1 per week. Memberships usually range from $35 to $100 annually, so $10 for the entire summer is definitely a bargain. 

In order to get the deal you must be at least 18 and join by June 5. Check with your local club to get more details, or get more information here.

I haven't been to hhgregg yet, but I'm suddenly feeling inspired to check it out...

Only a few deals are around today, but here’s what we’ve got so far:

Do you still have your Sunday paper? If so, dig out your issue of Parade and check out the McDonalds insert (it’s easy to find, mine was sticking out of the top). There are two coupons: one for a free frozen strawberry lemonade and one for $1 off of any medium or large frappe or smoothie.

Now through May 25 you can get a deal-a-day from Redbox. Text DEALS to 727272 and you’ll be rewarded with a discount code. The value of the codes vary from a 10 cents off to $1.50 off. You can text each day and receive a new code!

Have you been to hhgregg yet? The store is relatively new to Roanoke and has recently been dubbed the fastest growing appliance and electronics retailer in America. As a reward for its customers the store’s website is offering this printable $10 coupon. It’s good on any purchase of at least $10, so you could get something for practically free. I hear that some of these stores carry DVDs, so that might be worth checking out!

Lastly, remember to print or clip your Dollar Monday coupon so you can check out the Red Sox game tonight for only $1.

Don’t forget that today is Dollar Monday! If you’re heading to the Red Sox game tonight (assuming the weather cooperates) be sure to print this coupon , or clip the one printed on page 3 of the Sports section, and your ticket will only be $1.

Select food and drink will also be on special for $1, so take the whole family and enjoy!

Retailers are diving into the summer season. Will you be joining them?

It’s been a gloomy weekend, but the ads and inserts today should have you thinking sunny thoughts. Retailers are jumping into summer, and they’re tempting you to do the same with some great sales.

We’ve got more coupons this week than we’ve had since the weekend before Easter (that awesome 4-insert Sunday, remember?).

Both SmartSource and Redplum have booklets with a wide variety of products. A few standouts include coupons for Johnson & Johnson first aid products and a free first aid kit offer, Aveeno sun protection products and a BOGO Gillette coupon in Redplum. SmartSource has great coupons for Red Lobster, Hidden Valley, “People” magazine, Huggies, Oscar Mayer, Hershey’s/Honey Maid/Jet-Puffed (don’t forget about the printable coupon from earlier this week! you should be able to use both here) and Logan’s Roadhouse.

Kroger starts its frozen food sale this week, offering tons of frozen items for a fraction of the normal cost. Cool Whip, Green Giant veggies, Lean Cuisine and Stouffer’s products, Tyson chicken, Popsicle items and so many other products are on sale. You can save even more by buying any 10 participating items and get an additional $5 off! Stock up now, as some of these products rarely go on sale.
Other fresh products are also on sale, like eggs, Yoplait yogurt, sweet corn and 1% or skim milk.

Target has various outdoors goodies on sale (watering cans, lawn chairs, flower pots, etc.) for $20 or less, but the biggest deals can be found on sandals and swimsuits. Sandals for the whole family are on sale for $18 or under, and swim suits for women and girls are only $14 per piece.

I know it seems early, but you might consider doing some Christmas shopping this week at Toys R Us. Tons of items are on sale, but by utilizing their layaway program you can really stock up. Pricey products like the Nintendo Wii, Wii games, Little Tikes, Fisher-Price and select XBOX 360 games are all on sale. One of the best deals is a free movie ticket to “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” with the purchase of any Priates of the Carribean product $25 or more.
Look out for the diaper and formula coupons on the back, too!

A.C. Moore and Michaels are battling for the best bargains this week. While I think Michaels wins, A.C. Moore has some good prices on wall decor, seasonal flags, silk flowers, frames and scrapbooking materials.
Michaels takes the cake with its buy one, get one for a penny sale, though. Framing can be expensive, even when you’re doing it yourself, but tons of their frame selection falls under this sale. Other products that apply are artist pads and canvas and garden pots.

Walgreens will continue to have vitamins buy one, get one free this week, as well as laundry products, Kleenex and more. Neutrogena sun care will all be buy one, get one half off (you can find a $2 coupon here, too!), while Aveeno sun care is $2 off (don’t forget to use your coupon, too!). L’Oreal, Revlon, Covergirl and Maybelline products are also available for buy one, get one half off, so now is a good time to stock up and combine these deals with coupons.

CVS usually has nice sales on makeup, but this week is especially good. L’Oreal products are already on sale, but you could also earn some ExtraBucks by buying them. Covergirl, Neutrogena, Revlon and Physicians Formula are also on sale. There’s no reward for ExtraBucks with these items, but if you’re a member of the Beauty Club the purchase of these products will go toward your credit of $5 in ExtraBucks with every $50 beauty purchase.
One of my favorite deals this week is the$10 in ExtraBucks that will be given by purchasing two Neutrogena sun care or sunless tanning products. Combine that deal with the printable coupons you can find here, and you’ll get a great price on some otherwise expensive products.

Dick’s Sporting Goods has a special ad for golf lovers. An assortment of clubs in all price ranges are on sale, as well as shoes and apparel. Select golf balls are buy two, get one free. If your dad is a golf lover, it may be a good opportunity to do some early Father’s Day shopping.

Cardholders can enjoy the $1 flip flop sale this weekend, and non-cardholders next weekend. Stock up for the whole family!

You don’t have to wait for your Sunday paper with these retail coupons. Print them out and enjoy!

*Old Navy cardholders can purchase up to 5 pairs of flip flops for $1 each this Saturday (May 14). Non-cardholders can pick up their $1 flip flops next Saturday (May 21). This promotion is in-store only and includes solid flip flops only (non the other sandal selection). There are a few Old Navy locations throughout SWVA, so check with your favorite to be sure they’re participating. These are nice to have in the summer for the beach, and you don’t have to worry about ruining them at $1 a piece.

*The Gymboree Circle of Friends sale is happening now through May 15. Print off this coupon or use the code online and you’ll receive 30% off of everything.

*Bath & Body Works is giving away a free travel size item with every purchase through May 18 with this coupon. Those little bottles carry up to a $5 value!

*Did you know that Dollar General has printable coupons? Check it out! One standout is the coupon offering 25% off of party supplies.

*Through tomorrow you can earn $10 in JCP Cash with any $50 purchase or $15 with any $75 purchase at JC Penney. Print the coupon here. There are no exclusions!

*Shoe Carnival’s website has a Suprise Savings coupon printer where you can get a $5, $10 or $15 coupon off of a purchase of at least $29.98. You won’t find out how much you’re saving until you check out with this “mystery coupon,” but it could still be a good deal.

Know of any other good deals coming up this weekend? Let me know!

If your freezer is looking anything like this one, be sure to clean it out before Sunday. You'll need the space after grocery shopping!

Sunday’s inserts are pushing us past spring and into summer, and I have to admit that makes me very happy (call me crazy, but I would rather have 90 degree weather than anything even slightly chilly). Here are some things you should be on the lookout for:

Walgreens and CVS are continuing their streak of great sales, and this week has tons of buy 1, get 1 deals.

Dick’s Sporting Goods has an attractive ad for those who like to spend their days out on the golf course.

Be sure to make room in your freezer before you head to Kroger next week, and start thinking up  meals that use lots of fresh produce.

A.C. Moore and Michaels will both be having two of the best sales we’ve seen from the craft stores in a while. It’ll be hard to find anything full price in either store next week, but if you do they’ll still have you covered.

Toys R Us will be making both kids and parents happy with some impressive deals on popular items. Tons of seasonal products will be on sale, also.

Target is taking a break from offering additional savings with free gift cards, but there are still savings to be had.

SmartSource and Redplum will both be making appearances, and they’ll help you stockup on everything from items for the pantry to the medicine cabinet.

Emeril's cookbooks usually range from $10 to $20, but you can download the 20th anniversary book for free.

By Thursday afternoon my thoughts are on the weekend. Since I’m planning to go to the movies, the popcorn deal below was a great find! And the cookbook is just an added bonus — you can’t argue with free.

“Like” Regal Cinemas Facebook page and you’ll be rewarded with a coupons for a $1 soft drink and $1 popcorn. These coupons are only valid May 13-15. This Facebook page releases new coupons each week, so remember to check back. Print these by 6 p.m. Friday!

You might recall me mentioning discounted movies for kids throughout the summer in a column a while back. More details on Regal’s kids program is finally starting to come out, and locally the New River Valley Stadium 14, River Ridge Stadium 14 and Valley View Grande 16 will be participating in Regal’s Summer Movie Express 2011. During this 9-week stretch, theatres offer selected G or PG rated movies for only $1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. There is no specified start-date yet.

Popular Food Network chef Emeril Lagasse is celebrating the 20th anniversary of his New Orleans restaurants, and if you click here you can download Lagasse’s latest 32-page cookbook for free. Save the book to your computer, print the entire thing or just print your favorite recipes — it’s a good deal any way you look at it!

Click here and, thanks to Oprah (of course, who else could conjur up a random deal?), you can print an Old Navy coupon good for 50% off any regular priced item. This coupon is good through Sunday.

Many stores are adoptiong site-to-store policies that help shoppers avoid shipping costs. Kmart uses Mygofer to power their site-to-store program.

Saving on shipping is easier than  ever  with stores adopting free site-to-store and free shipping with no minimum purchase policies. Shoppers can skip return shipping costs with these programs, too, as most locations accept returns in-store.

Site-to-store shopping allows consumers to do their shopping online and have it shipped to their nearest store, or even have their items ready to pick up on the same day.

Walmart, Kmart, Sears, Best Buy and Lowe’s all offer same-day pickup on participating products for free. Lowe’s guarantees the order will be ready within 20 minutes, while Best Buy can have an order ready in as little as 45 minutes.

The Home Depot, Staples, and Payless all offer free site-to-store shipping on most items. Best Buy and Walmart also participate  in this program for items  not immediately available in the store. This option can save a shopper a lot on shipping costs, especially with larger items, like appliances.

Items that are not available for same-day pickup are generally ready between 7 and 14 days after the order is placed. Over holidays, the shipping time and pickup dates are subject to change. Most stores require a valid photo ID, an email confirmation and/or the credit card used for the purchase before same day or shipped items can be picked up.

Websites such as LLBean.com and Zappos.com  have also hopped on the free-shipping bandwagon. Both sites offer free shipping with no minimum purchase or promotional codes necessary. Zappos also offers free returns, while free returns are only available through L.L. Bean for L.L. Bean Visa Card members.

Do you know of any other stores that offer free site-to-store shipping or same day pickup?

Site-to-store and free shipping policies:
* L.L. Bean
* Zappos
* Home Depot
* Staples
* Payless
* Walmart
* Kmart
* Sears
* Best Buy
* Lowe’s

Print your $1 off McCafe Frozen Strawberry Lemonade Coupon now! It doesn't expire until June 15, so make time to enjoy it on a sunny day.

There’s a new group of food deals today for your enjoyment. Check out anything you’re interested in ASAP before any limits are reached!

My co-worker Lindsey Nair also filled me in on a sale going on at FineCooking.com. They’re having a warehouse sale and you can find some great deals on popular cookbooks here – all of them are $25 or under, but most are closer to $10. They’re also selling their special issues of the magazine, which normally retail for $10, for half off here. This sale ends May 31.

Visit the Lunchables Facebook page and you can print out a $1 coupon for Lunchables with Fruit. These are on sale at Kroger this week! (The page is running slowly, so be patient!)

Print this coupon and you can receive $1 off a regular sub or $2 off a large sub at Quiznos. There’s a second coupon for free chips and a drink when you buy a regular sub, a large sub or a salad.

S’mores is a classic treat, and right now you can print this coupon that offers one free package of Kraft Jet-Puffed Marshmallows when you buy both Honey Maid Grahams and Hershey’s Milk Chocolate. Though this coupon is being promoted by Walmart, it can be used at any grocer.

Now through Saturday (May 14), use the code TASTY at Restuarant.com and you’ll get 70% off of a gift card purchase. That means a $25 gift certificate to your favorite restaurant will only cost you $3. I always recommend calling the restaurant you’re interested in and clarifying the details about the use of Restaurant.com gift cards — they vary by each location.

Right at Home, an extension of the Johnson & Johnson company, is giving away 2,500 free boxes of gallon size Ziploc Brand Freezer Gallon Bags with the Smart Zip Seal. Go here to fill out the necessary information, and your box of freezer bags (15 count) could be on its way!

Visit the Birds Eye Facebook page and you can “spin to win” a $1, $2, or $3 coupon off of Birds Eye Voila after “liking” the page. This is a printable coupon, so you’ll be able to use it right away. Be patient if the site is running slowly, sometimes the high traffic that these types of deals draw slows things down quite a bit. Voila is basically a meal in a bag, so consider picking it up next time you’re shopping for a quick dinner.

If you’re preparing for swim suit season, or still battling the holiday bulge, check out The Atkins Community. This is a nice opportunity for those considering the diet or anyone who has been following it for a while now. You can sign up for a free weight-loss kit that will provide you with a quick-start guide, recipe booklet, coupons and three Atkins bars. This is a good deal since the bars themselves are pretty pricey.

Fans of Emeril are familiar with the chef’s line of popular spices, and BestEmeril.com is now giving everyone a chance to try the Essence seasoning for free. This is a great opportunity to try to the spices if you haven’t yet, and a nice bonus for those of you who are already a fan.

McDonald’s has really stepped up its game in the beverage department (I’m a fan of the berry smoothies), and now they’re offering $1 off the new McCafe Frozen Strawberry Lemonade. It looks delicious! Click here to print off the $1 coupon. All restaurants may not be participating, so check with your favorite location.

I enjoy a few Kashi products, but they are higher than most things I pick up at the grocery store. By going here, you can tell the folks at Kashi what “Real Food” means to you and be rewarded with a $1 coupon for any Kashi cereal or TLC snack. This is especially valuable when used in combination with a sale on either of these products.

Arby’s recently added chicken salad to their menu, and now they’re giving people an opportunity to try it for free. Go to the Arby’s Facebook page, “like” them, and you’ll receive a coupon for a free Market Fresh sandwich with the purchase of a drink. Participate in the Chicken Salad Taste-Off and they’ll also donate $1 to No Kid Hungry.

Also, don’t forget about Starbuck’s Frappucino Happy Hour going on from 3 to 5 p.m. through May 15!

Finding a spot where kids eat free is like hitting the jackpot. Thanks for the photo, Deal Seeking Mom.

In today’s Extra section Ralph Berrier, our columnist for The Dadline, talked about how awesome it is to find kids-eat-free deals. Read his column here, and check out the list of some locations that offer the deal here.

Do you have any to add? Tell me about them!

Saturday and Sunday (May 14 and 15) mark the dates of the next J.Crew Warehouse sale in Lynchburg (25 Millrace Drive).

Shopping hours will be 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The clearance store is still open during the warehouse sale, so be sure to check out both!

I really racked up last time, and so did a few other readers. If you go, let me know about your finds!

For more information, call 434-316-6324.

Happy Mother's Day!

Compared to last week, this week’s inserts are relatively light. There are still some deals to be had, though.

Smart Source is the only coupon booklet this week, but it’s pretty stuffed. There are loads of coupons for quick meals. You’ll find coupons for Ken’s salad dressings, Hormel chili and meat products, Tyson Grilled & Ready products, Wacky Mac and Smart Balance products. There are also some good coupons available for Schick razors, Mitchum deodorant, Revlon cosmetics and Air Wick Air Freshners (a free warmer unit with the purchase of refill frangrances, and a $1 coupon for refills).

 Drug stores have great prices on vitamins and supplements this week. Vitamins are something you should never pay full price for, because someone always has them on sale — and this week just about everyone does!
Rite Aid, CVS and Walgreens all have vitamins and supplements buy 1, get 1 free. Other over the counter medications are also reduced.

Additionally, Walgreens has a coupon for 4×6 photo prints for only 12 cents a piece, and a coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase. Keep these in mind as you prepare to print off all of those college graduation photos.

CVS has Sally Hansen and Maybelline cosmetics all buy 1, get 1 50% off. I suggest you try the Sally Hansen Salon Effects. I tried them out and was really impressed, they stayed on for around two weeks and barely chipped. If you’re looking to earn Extra Bucks, you’ll need to do your shopping in the beauty section. Be sure to stop by the coupon center in the store to scan your card, where you’ll get a coupon for $3 off any $10 cosmetic purchase.

I was most impressed with Target’s ad this week. It has multiple offers for gift cards with purchase, and a wide variety of sale items.
You’ll earn a free gift card with the purchase of:
*$5 card with any two Gillette Fusion ProGlide razors and cartridges or Venus Embraze razors and cartridges.
*$20 card with the Bissell Steam & Sweep
*$20 card with the Bissell SpotBot
*$20 card with the Bissell PROheat
*$100 card with the Smith & Hawken Allogio Collection table & chairs
*$50 card with the Xbox 360 4GB game system

Other sale items include girls, boys, toddlers and infants clothing items, $7 women’s Merona tops, and men’s polos, pocket Tees and shorts. Pool toys are on sale for $7, and you’ll receive a free LEGO building set with the purchase of the LEGO Pirates vido game.

Take today off and enjoy the holiday, but get shopping tomorrow!

Starbucks lovers, you’re in luck again. From today (May 6) through May 15, you can participate in frappucino happy hour from 3 to 5 p.m. at particpating stores (so call your preferred location before stopping in). The best part? There’s no coupon necessary.

I’m eyeing the new mocha coconut frappucino — it combines two of my favorite things! With the weather getting warmer each day, this is an excellent way to chill out.

For a daily reminder, try texting MIXIT to 44264 and you’ll never forget to stop in.

Flowers will be in high demand this weekend, but many places (especially grocery stores) will have them on sale.

This Sunday is Mother’s Day (that’s my last reminder, I promise), and there will be plenty of deals to keep Mom happy this Sunday.

Prepare to stock up on your vitamins and beauty products at CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid.

Target has something for everyone on sale this week, and there are some high-dollar gift cards to be earned, too.

Smart Source will be your only coupon insert, but it’s full of pantry staples and options for meals on the go.

Check your local grocer for deals on fresh flowers this weekend — you can’t go wrong giving Mom that classic gift.

Many stores have a price matching option, but you have to know how to work the system to use it effectively.

Price matching — when stores match their competitors’ prices — has been available in stores for years, but the introduction of online shopping has complicated the process for consumers.

Here are some highlights from the policies of local stores, as well as some tips on  what shoppers should look out for when trying to price match.

* Many stores refuse to price match online prices, even if it’s their own website. Walmart, Staples, Target, Sears, Best Buy and Home Depot are all examples. Best Buy will match prices from BestBuy.com, but not the prices of other online competitors.

* Lowe’s will automatically give the shopper the lower of the online store price or the price at the local store as a benefit to buying online and selecting Store Pickup or Lowe’s Home Delivery.

* Sears and Best Buy exclude sale prices on Thanksgiving, Black Friday and the weekend after Thanksgiving  from price matching.

* A competitor’s financing or deferred interest offers are rarely matched. Keep these payment tools in mind, though, as certain stores such as Best Buy will still offer its financing after performing a price match. 

* A competitor’s offers associated with products (such as rebates or free accessories) are generally not given in addition to the price match. 

* Timed events (like door buster sales), items advertised as limited time or supply and bundle offers are generally not available for matching. 

* A lower advertised price due to a shopper’s card (like the Kroger Plus Card) is often excluded from price matching.

* In order to receive a price match, the competitor must have the item in stock.

* Labor and installation fees are rarely included in a price match price. They are often fees added on to the purchase price.

* Sometimes it’s possible to get an additional deal on top of a price match. Target and Staples both accept additional coupons, while Sears, Home Depot and Lowe’s all automatically deduct 10 percent after a price match.

* It is required to have proof of price when attempting to price match. Walmart is the only exception. The company has reworked its “Ad Match Guarantee,” no longer requiring shoppers to have a competitor’s ad to receive the price match. Instead, stores are expected to maintain a list of competitors’ ads at the register.

It’s always best to consult a manager about price matching, especially if financing, additional offers or an additional percentage off is possible.

Price Match Policies:
*Walmart
*Lowe’s
*Staples
*Target
*Sears
*Best Buy
*Home Depot

This basket of daisies is currently marked down to $23.99 on Teleflora.com.

Mother’s Day is coming up this Sunday, and some of you are probably still scrambling for gift ideas. Here are a few things I’ve come across that are not only great ideas, but not too hard on your wallet.

*Now through Saturday, CVS.com has a variety of items from beauty products to candy on sale plus a 20% discount.
Enter MOTHER20 at checkout to get your savings.
Also, you can get 50 4×6 prints for only $5 by using the code 50FOR5 (same day pick-up is available with this option!).
Click here to get a coupon that will earn you $3 off your purchase with the purchase of three Hallmark cards. This option is only available in-store.

*Amazon runs specials on MP3 albums frequently, but right now there are over 1,500 $5 downloads available. These MP3′s can be gifted, so it would be a great option for a mom who isn’t close by.

*Restuarant.com is currently offering $25 gift cards for only $2. Use the promo code MOM at checkout to receive the discount of 80%. Most of the gift certificates are only good for dining-in. Here’s a previous post about Restaurant.com if you’re not familiar with the site.
Additionally, with every Restaurant.com order you will get a free $15 code you can use to purchase flowers on ProFlowers. The promo code will be given to each buyer on the order confirmation page and in the order confirmation email.  The ProFlowers promo codes will be valid until May 31.

*ProFlowers is also giving customers a free glass vase and an additional 15% off by entering code 15TODAY at checkout.

*Tiny Prints is offering a free Mother’s Day card with the promo code MDCARD offered at checkout. This website is really neat because you can personalize a card with photos and your own text. Currently they have over 500 Mother’s Day cards available.

*Teleflora is offering 20% off of flowers for Mom by using the coupon code meed20. This site has a wide variety of different arrangements for every price range.

Grocery stores and other flower shops are also running deals, so check out your favorite local spot, too.

I’ll update this list as things become available. Don’t wait too long to start shopping, though!

Latest Deals (May 4):
*Today through Saturday is the Mother’s Day Sale at the Elizabeth Arden Warehouse (3030 Nicholas Ave., Roanoke). I wrote about this warehouse a while back, and if your mom is a fan of cosmetics and perfume then definitely check it out. For more information, call the warehouse at 983-6594.

*On page 9 of today’s main section you’ll find a Macy’s Mother’s Day Sale ad with a shopping pass good for an extra 15% off of sale and clearance apparel, and an extra 10% off all sale and clearance jewelry, shoes, coats, dresses and more. I can’t find the coupon online, so it looks like you’ll have to get the paper to get the deal.

*Daily Deal site Mamapedia is offering a $30 credit to Proflowers for only $15. You must place your order by 1 p.m. on May 7 to be eligable for Mother’s Day delivery, and the voucher can be used towards shipping. This deal is available for purchase for the next 3 days.

Latest Deals (May 5):
*On page 4 of today’s main section Macy’s has another coupon good for $10 off a $25 purchase until 1 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The coupon applies to all sale and clearance apparel and select home items. There are some exclusions.

*Now through Saturday (May 7) Walgreens is offering a free 8×10 collage print with the code FREECOLLAGE at checkout. You could order this product online and pick it up at the store (even on the same day) to avoid shipping costs. Also, all photo posters are 50% off with the code MOMPOSTER. I’m sure I’m not the only person who has a mother that loves getting photos as gifts. It can’t get any easier than this!

It looks like this evening will be a great night for baseball, especially with $1 tickets available!

Print this coupon or clip the one printed on page 3 of the Sports section and you can enjoy tonight’s Salem Red Sox game for $1.

Enjoy one coupon per person on each of these Dollar Monday dates: May 2, May 16, May 30, June 27, July 11, July 18, August 15 and August 22.

As an added bonus, hot dogs, chips and all small beverages are also only $1. Enjoy!