SavingStar.com

Coupons are more popular than ever, but today there’s a divide between paper and digital. Some people prefer classic paper coupons while some like the ease of saving through digital coupons. With a new, free program called SavingStar you can utilize the best of both worlds.

 What is SavingStar?

 SavingStar is a digital grocery e-coupon service that links all of your customer loyalty cards and gives you a payout once $5 in savings is reached. The program is very similar to existing digital coupon services such as the one found on Kroger.com. However, with SavingStar you can continue to use paper and in-store digital coupons in addition to their e-coupons. Register your store cards (locally, Rite Aid, CVS, Food Lion and Kroger cards can be registered) and then choose which e-coupons you want loaded onto your card or cards. Use the card at checkout as you normally would and your savings will be automatically added to your SavingStar account.

Here is where this program differs from other digital coupon services: Your grocery bill will stay the same; the savings are simply reported to SavingStar, not the cashier, which is how you can get by with using your usual paper and digital coupons in addition to your SavingStar coupons.

Once your savings reach $5, SavingStar will deposit the money into your bank or PayPal account, convert it to an Amazon gift card or make a donation to American Forests.

More details

 New SavingStar coupons are uploaded to the site every month. Most are available on the first of every month, but new deals may be introduced periodically after that. The savings often appear in your account between two days and two weeks after shopping. Some of the coupons carry a value of $2 or more, so achieving the $5 goal could happen quickly.

If you see a coupon for a product you are interested in, it’s best to buy it early in the month. The coupons can “sell out,” so you may not earn savings for certain products if you wait too long to use them. When you’re choosing your e-coupons, it will be noted if the coupon is for one-time use or can be used multiple times. Most can only be applied to your savings account once.

Often, the e-coupons are for popular grocery items. Throughout the month of August, Beech-Nut baby food, Snyder’s of Hanover pretzels, Bayer aspirin, One A Day vitamins and POM Wonderful juice were all available, and each carried $1 in savings – a quick $5 back in your pocket.

 Have you used SavingStar yet? Do you plan on adding it to your couponing plan?

A few of the products eligible for the $10 Neutrogena rebate.

If you love movies, you’re in luck today. I’ve also got some other great retail and retaurant coupons below.

*Those of you who use Twitter will like this deal. Amazon is offering a free $5 credit to Amazon Video On Demand. Click here to get the credit. You’ll automatically begin following @amazonvideo and @amazon_movies on Twitter, and the message “I just got a $5 credit for instant movies and TV shows @amazonvideo. Click http://amzn.to/oWmBFy to get yours. #get5″ will be automatically tweeted from your Twitter account.
This offer ends Sept. 2 (Friday).

*Check out Old Navy’s Facebook page and you can get a printable coupon good for $10 off a $50 purchase. You will have to “like” the page before you can gain access. This coupon expires Sept. 8.

*Smokey Bones has a new printable coupon available that will earn you $10 off of a $20 purchase. Better hurry if you want to take advantage of this deal, the coupon expires Sept. 4 (Sunday).

*Fandango has a new daily deal offer available through Screamin’ Daily Deals, and it’s a good one. Click here and you can purchase a code that will earn you a movie ticket (up to a $12 value, but 3D and IMAX are exempt) for only $6 on Fandago.com. This isn’t as good of a deal as we’ve seen from Fandango before, but it still saves you some money. The cheapest ticket is usually at least $7 for a senior ticket. Evening movies are at least $10 for adults.
You can purchase two deals, so that’s a cheap date night! The Fandango code won’t expire until Aug. 27, 2012 after it’s been purchased.

*Neutrogena has an interesting rebate deal going on right now. Purchase $30 of qualifying Neutrogena merchandise (includes cleansers, lotions and more), fill out a rebate form and send it in by Sept. 28, then you’ll receive $10 back. If you’re a fan of Neutrogena products (I am!), then this is a great deal. You can use coupons on your purchase, but it must total $30 after any discounts have been applied. Stock up and save!

*Don’t forget to check out these deals from yesterday (most are still valid), and these freebies for kids from earlier today.

Know of any other deals? Share them!

It’s only Tuesday and we’ve already had tons of freebies and deals pop up…so are you ready for more? Here are a few kid-friendly freebies for you to scoop up.

Check back later today for a new bundle of retail, restaurant and entertainment coupons!

*As a kid I loved Dr. Seuss, so I love that Energy Star is giving away free “Lorax” activity books. Click here and you can  download the six-page book, or have it shipped to you for free.

*Amazon is offering a free MP3 download of “Five Super Silly Songs” by Veggie Tales. These songs can be transferred to a CD or iPod after they’re downloaded, so keep them handy for some kid-friendly entertainment.

*Amazon is also offering a sampler with five free Sesame Street MP3 downloads. Sesame Street is a classic and it seems like kids everywhere go crazy for it, so add it to a CD or iPod like the Veggie Tales tunes above.

*Note, Amazon prices can change at any time, so grab those MP3s quick!

Know of any other deals for the kids out there? Share them!

The Target Beauty Bag comes filled with free samples and coupons.

It’s hard to believe Monday is here already, but there are a few freebies available to help start your week off right:

*Target is giving away free beauty samples, while they last. Click here, answer a few simple questions and then in a few weeks you should receive a makeup bag filled with goodies and coupons.

*Gold Medal has a free downloadable/printable cookbook available, and it is all about whole wheat baking. Some of the recipes available include orange cranberry scones, caramel rolls and meat lovers pizza.

*Chick-fil-A is giving away free breakfast entrees from September 6 to 10, but in order to participate you must click here and make reservations. Both Roanoke locations are participating, as well as the Christiansburg and Lynchburg locations. There’s a limited number of reservations available for each location, so sign up early!

*Note: The Chick-fil-A and Target sites are running slow because of all the traffic, so just be patient.

Know of any other freebies out there today? Share them below!

The bad news: the weekend is over. The good news: there are tons of sales and coupons waiting for you in your paper box.

* P&G Brandsaver, Smartsource and Redplum are all represented this week. They’re all packed with coupons for some of your favorite brands, but you’ll also find some restaurant coupons tucked in the SmartSource and Redplum books.
SmartSource has Arby’s, Longhorn Steakhouse and Chuck E. Cheese, while Redplum has multiple coupons for Logan’s Roadhouse.

* Target is offering a lot of free gift cards with purchase this week. You’ll receive: $60 with the purcahse of a 4GB Kinect bundle, $10 with the purcahse of Madden NFL ’12 and two bags of Doritos, $10 with the purcahse of a Samsung Galaxy, $10 with the purcahse of any HP multipack or photo value-pack ink, $5 with the purcahse of any 5 participating Febreze items and $5 with the purcahse of three K-cup packages.

*Toys R Us is starting a new trade-in program this week. If you bring in any used car seat, stroller, travel system, high chair, play yard, bassinet, walker, infant swing, bouncer, etnertainer, crib or kid’s bed you’ll get 25% off a new item. You can trade in as many items as you want, and purchased items can be from different categories.

*The gift card/fuel points promotion (buy a gift card and get 4 times the fuel points) continues at Kroger into next week, but after that you’ve only got one week left to participate (Sept. 10).

*Petsmart is having a 4-day Labor Day sale starting on Sept. 2, and you’ll find everything from dog and cat food to reptile pets on sale. Some of the bets deals are select fish for only $1, and puppy training pads for only $3.59 (40% off). You’ll also find dog and cat toys Bu Grreat Choice for only 49 cents!

*Michaels already has their Halloween items 30% off this week, and you’ll also find the entire stock of craft paint 40% off. This paint is great for school projects, so you might consider buying a few of the primary colors and be prepared!
 A.C. Moore  has their entire stock of Lauren Portrait wall frames 50% off, and scrapbook lovers need to check out the entire stock of Open Stock and Paper Packs, which is 45% off.
Both ads also have coupons good for 40% off any regular priced item.

*Dick’s Sporting Goods has a big $15 off coupon in their ad today, and it’s good on any pair of athletic footwear $59.99 or more. If you need new running shoes, or your child needs new athletic shoes, remember to bring it along when you go shopping!

*CVS is continuing the free gas card promotion this week, but it should be pretty easy to reach the $30 minimum on select product when Zyrtec, Duracell, NyQuil, Covergirl, Claritin, Allegra and Mucinex are some of the participating brands.
The retailer is also having a couble sale on select DVS health and beauty products. Many are buy 1, get 1 50% off, plus when you spend $30 you’ll get $10 in ExtraBucks.

* Gander Mountain is having an End of Summer Clearance Event, and you’ll receive up to 60% off of apparel, footwear, fishing, hunting and camping gear and more. If you’re already prepping for winter, you’ll also find the entire stock of men’s and women’s rainwear, bibs and pants from Gantder Mtn., GSX, Columbia, The North Face, Frogg Toggs, Marmot and Mountain Hardwear 30 to 50% off.

What are you shopping for this week?

There are tons of ads and coupons this weekend, but you’ll finally get a break from back to school sales. Staples and Office Max will still have some good school bargains come Sunday, but I’m going to concentrate on some of the other deals that deserve some attention this weekend:

* P&G Brandsaver, Smartsource and Redplum all have coupon booklets coming this weekend. You’ll find lots of restaurant coupons tucked inside.

* Target has tons of items throughout the store going on sale, and they’ve got a lot of opportunities to earn free gift cards with purchase this coming week.

*Toys R Us has an interesting trade-in program they’ll introduce Sunday, and if you have any used baby/toddler items that need upgrading hold on to them.

*The gift card/fuel points promotion (buy a gift card and get 4 times the fuel points) continues at Kroger into next week, but after that you’ve only got one week left to participate (Sept. 10).

*Petsmart is having a 4-day Labor Day sale starting at the end of next week, and you’ll find goodies for pets of all kinds.

*Crafters will be excited to receive the Michaels and A.C. Moore ads. Both have deep deals coming up on basic crafting items you can stock up on.

*If you or anyone in the family needs new footwear, hold out for the Dick’s Sporting Goods ad Sunday — especially if you prefer high quality running shoes.

*CVS is continuing the free gas card promotion into next week but there are a lot more high dollar items participating starting Sunday, so it should be a little easier to reach the $30 goal. There are also a lot of opportunities coming up to earn high amounts of ExtraBucks.

*Outdoors men and women will be impressed with the Gander Mountain ad. Think about what off-season items you want to stock up on!

Do you know of any other big Labor Day sales coming up? I know it’s a week out, but it’s good to think about these things in advance!

Fundraising has come a long way in recent years. Gift card promotions and events hosted by reputable retailers are new options for nonprofits that not only allow the organization to earn funds, but benefit local supporters and retailers.

One good example of a local nonprofit utilizing these modern means of fundraising is the Roanoke Valley SPCA (RVSPCA). For those who have trouble finding time or the funds to donate, these options offer an opportunity.

At www.rvspca.org/support-us/gift-ideas you’ll find information about purchasing Kroger and Fresh Market gift cards that help support the shelter. The Kroger Cares Gift Card can be used on anything from gas to groceries to prescriptions. The re-usable card only costs $5, which is returned to the shopper as a $5 credit on the card, and every time the card is loaded with money and a purchase is made the RVSPCA earns 5 percent, donated by Kroger. Re-filling and using this card for weekly shopping and fuel purchases can quickly, and easily, earn some extra funds for the SPCA.

Fresh Market gift cards are also available from the shelter in $50, $100, $200 and $500 increments. Each time a card is purchased, the RVSPCA earns 10 percent of the face value of the card. If you’re an avid Fresh Market shopper, consider purchasing multiple cards at one time, as the SPCA does not benefit from these cards being re-filled.

Macy’s Shop for a Cause is a nation-wide event in its sixth year that gives back to participating nonprofits. The RVSPCA has been supported by the Macy’s Shop for a Cause event for the past three years, and it’s proved to be a successful partnership.

“Over the past three years, we’ve raised $2,500,” said Carolyn Schwanahusser, director of development for the RVSPCA.

The event is this Saturday, and by purchasing a $5 shopping pass through the RVSPCA you’ll earn discounts throughout any Macy’s store and at Macys.com. All of the proceeds from the sale of shopping passes go directly back to the RVSPCA. Additionally, shoppers will receive 25 percent off on regular sale, and clearance merchandise with the pass. Passes can be bought online at www.rvspca.org, and they will be mailed out before the event. If passes are ordered too late to be mailed, they will be distributed by RVSPCA volunteers at the store on Saturday.

Shopping passes can be bought directly from Macy’s on Saturday, but the proceeds from those sales will benefit the March of Dimes, the organization Macy’s chose to support nationally.

Some exclusions do apply to the shopping pass, such as cosmetics and fragrances. For more information on Macy’s Shop for a Cause, and to see which other Roanoke-area non-profits are participating, check out www.macysinc.com/shopforacause/.

Do you support a local nonprofit by purchasing gift cards or special passes?

Subway is giving away free Random Acts of Fitness kits to teachers (including homeschool parents). These kits are ”classroom-based programs promoting healthy minds and healthy bodies,” according to the website. They include fun activities for kids to promote healthier choices.

There is a limited number of kits available, so sign up now if you’re interested!

Tonight at 7 p.m. the Salem Red Sox are taking on the Winston-Salem Dash, and it’s the last Dollar Monday of the season.

Print this coupon or clip the one on page 3 of the Sports section, you can get a general admission ticket for just $1.

I hope everyone has had a great weekend! If you didn’t start school last week, you’re probably prepping to this week. Check out the deals below for any last minute bargains you may be going after.

Smartsource is the only coupon booklet included with today’s paper, but it’s packed with coupons for new products you may have been wanting to try. Velveeta Cheesy Skillets, Pampers Kandoo soaps, Whole Wheat Golfish Sandwich Bread, Planters Peanut Butter, Glade fall-fashioned products, Glade Decor Scents, Alpo Come & Get It, Friskies Crispies and Lance Cracker Creations are just some of the products you’ll find coupons for.
There are also TWO Olive Garden coupons tucked in near the back.

Kroger  has a lot of great products for school lunches in the buy 10, save $5 promotion this week. Some of them include Fuze drinks, Keebler cookies, Town House and Cheez It crackers, Pure Life water, Oscar Meyer deli meats, Kellogg’s cereals, SpaghettiO’s, Cheetos, Fritos and more.
You can still earn four times the gas points by purchasing gift cards, also (this will continue through September 10).

You can earn tons of ExtraBucks at CVS  this week. Buying $25 in Charmin, Bounty or Puffs paper products, $15 in Five Star notebooks/binders, HP Ink, American Express Prepaid Gift Cards (you could buy that for yourself and spend it like cash, so this is an especially good deal) and various make up products will all earn you big ExtraBucks.
All summer clearance products are also going to be an extra 33% off, so stock up!.

Staples and Office Max are still pushing school supplies.
The best deals at Office Max this week include #2 pencils for 5 cents, composition books for 50 cents, glue and Crayola crayons for 15 cents, 1-subject notebooks for 1 cent and a 4GB flash drive for only $5.99 (that’s $14 in savings!).
Staples is offering BIC permanent markers, retractable pens, 2-pocket folders and storage boxes for only 25 cents, 1-subject folders for 19 cents, memo books and photo paper for 50 cents, and 100% back in Staples Rewards on Scotch tape, colored paper, writing pads and moving tape.
BIC products are all buy 2, get 1 free, and backpacks are all 25 to 50% off — so check it out! Similarly to Office Max, you can get a 4GB flash drive for only $6.99 ($11 in savings).

Toys R Us has a great deal on Nintendo DS games this week, offering them all for only $9.99 when ou buy a Nintendo DS system. Otherwise, all DS, 3DS and Wii games are buy 1, get 1 50% off (which is still a good deal). If you’ve still got a few school supplies to buy, check out their Crayola specials — buy 1, get 2 free on all markers and crayons.

Michaels or A.C. Moore both have some great sales going on this week.
Check out the buy 1, get 1 for 1 cent sale at Michaels. Some of the participating products include canvas, artist pads, foam boards, value packs of paper, poster frames (wow!), and craft storage. Be sure to check out the bonus coupons on the side and back of the ad, too.

A.C. Moore is offering door buster deals on poster frames, mirros, collage frames and memo boards (all $10 each), the entire stock of Crayola (all 50% off), scrabooking stickers ($1 each), wooden frames (50% off) and Halloween characters or scarecrows for only $4.99.
Use the moonlight madness coupon tonight from 6 to 9 p.m. for an extra 25% off your total regular priced purchase!

Macy’s  has some awesome deals on clothing and other goods for the whole family, and the best deals will be Thursday through next Sunday, when you’ll find specials on hoodies, ballet flats, woven shirts, jeans and more.
Be sure to use your WOW Pass for an extra 15% off clearance and sale apparel, and an extra 10% off shoes. The pass is good through next Sunday. You’ll find tons of apparel for $20 or under this week.

Kmart  has jeans for the entire family starting at only $6.88 this week. Jeans can get expensive fast, espeically if you’re buying some for everyone, so check it out.
The retailer also has some back to school specials, with 2-pocket folders for only 10 cents, notebooks for only 35 cents, composition books, pens and fashion folders for only 49 cents, and Crayola products for only $2.

JC Penney is another good stop for anyone outfitting an entire family for the new school year. Tops for guys and juniors are only $12, juniors Arizona jeans are only $21.99, guys graphic Tees are only $9.99, kids Izod shirts are only $9.99, mens St. John’s Bay polos are only $9.99 and womens St. John’s Bay 3/4 sleeve tops are only $8.99 — just to name a few.

Want to make the weekend even better? Check out some of these freebies and deals:

*Free burger at Ruby Tuesday’s with the purchase of two non-alcoholic drinks.

*Free Kashi samples: taste test Cinnamon Harvest Cereal or TLC Peanutty Dark Chocolate granola bars by signing up here. Yum!

*Free Huggies Snug & Dry at Walmart, in sizes 3 through 6.

*Free 8×10 photo collage at Walgreens – this is good through Saturday, just pick out your photos and design on line and choose the free in-store pick-up

*$5 off a $15 food purchase at TGI Friday’s – this offer is good through Aug. 24

*$5 off a $2o food purchase at O’Charley’s – this offer is good through Aug. 31

*$10 off a $20 food purchase at Smokey Bones – this offer is good through Aug. 21

*Free sub with the purchase of a sub and drink (plus 3 other impressive coupons) at Quiznos

*30% off new releases at Barnes & Noble – this offer is good through Aug. 22

*15% off 1 item at Barnes & Noble – this off is good through Aug. 21 (unfortunately this can’t be applied to textbooks or NOOKs/digital books)

*Free Signature Collection Body Care item ($12.50 value) with a purchase of $10 or more at Bath & Body Works – this offer is good through Sept. 6

*15% off at The Children’s Place – this offer is good in stores and online through Sept. 5

*$5 off a purchase of $25 or more at Dollar General – this offer is good through Aug. 20

*$20 off a purchase of $100 or more, $15 off a purchase of $75 or more and $10 off a purchase of $50 or more at JC Penney – these offers are good through Aug. 20 and have no exlusions

*$5 off a purchase of $25 or more at Kirklands – this offer is good through Sept. 14

*$25 off a purchase of $75 or more at Kirklands – this offer is good through Sept. 14

Do you know of any other good deals for the weekend? Share them!

Everyone should be wrapping up their back to school shopping by now, but for anyone in need of some last minute supplies or clothes there are plenty of chances coming up on Sunday and into next week.

This weekend there’s only one coupon booklet heading your way, Smartsource, but it’s full of coupons — many of which are for new products you may be wanting to test out.

Kroger will continue its buy 10, save $5 deal, and you’ll find lots of good back-t0-school lunch and breakfast items. The fuel points promotion (buy a gift card, get four times the fuel points) will also continue.

CVS has tons of opportunities for ExtraBucks this coming week, and the gas card promotion will be continuing with a new line-up of products. It’s also going to be a good time to stock up on school supplies and summery products.

Staples and Office Max are still putting out deals on school supplies, and there’s still time to get most of your supplies for under $1 each. This week there are also numerous opportunities to buy items that are usually a little pricey.

If you (and your kids) are sick of back-to-school madness, check out the Toys R Us ad. They’ve got tons of specials on games and game systems, which are sure to pull everyone out of the back-to-school blues.

We haven’t seen much out of Michaels or A.C. Moore lately, but this week they’ve got some impressive sales going on. Michaels has a sale coming up where you’ll find lots of items for well under $1, and you should prep for doorbusters at A.C. Moore.

Macy’s is having a storewide sale with tons of specials next week, but the best deals will be for four days only. Don’t forget to clip the WOW Pass for extra savings.

Buying jeans for the whole family can add up fast, but Kmart might be the solution to that problem next week. They’ve also got some good back-to-school specials coming up.

JC Penney will have great deals on attire for the entire family next week, but especially Sunday through Tuesday. Remember to use any online coupons or JCP cash on your purchases!

Check back Sunday for more details!

If you’ve been wanting to check out the J. Crew Clearance Store (101A Northwynd Circle) in Lynchburg, a great opportunity is coming up. Go on Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. and not only will you get 20% off the entire store, but you might win some goodies. If nothing else, you can enjoy some free treats.

If you go, let me know about your experience!

The cost of textbooks can really add up, so consider some of these options before visiting the bookstore. Photo by collegetocareers.com.

As if the price of college wasn’t high enough, purchasing new textbooks each semester can add up to hundreds of dollars.

Sadly, the buy back options offered at most bookstores will not offer a pay out  at even half of the original cost. One semester, not too many years ago, I recall my books totaling more than $600.  But I couldn’t tell you what I sold the books back for —  I think I blocked out the experience because it was so bad.

Today there are a lot of options for students looking to save a buck on books. With the growing popularity of  e-books  and online communities made for buying and selling used books, students are no longer forced to pay the high prices at campus bookstores. They also have a better opportunity to earn their money back with more selling options.

Rentals
Textbook rental is a great option if you  need a book for only part of a semester, or if the book is likely to be timely only for a short time.
Websites such as Chegg.com, CampusBookRentals.com and BookRenter.com  all offer new or used books for various lengths of time. You are free to write and highlight in the books, and each website does have a grace period for risk-free returns if there are any issues with the book(s).

CampusBookRentals.com claims that “students typically see a savings of 50 percent to 85 percent over new or used purchases. Some students will see even greater savings of up to 90 or 95 percent.” Similarly, BookRenter.com says their rentals can save students up to 80 percent. 

You can also save on shipping with this route. CampusBookRentals.com ships orders with prepaid envelopes, BookRentals.com offers free UPS return shipping and Chegg.com offers printable, prepaid UPS return labels.

Amazon.com  has recently revealed a new option for those interested in renting digital copies of textbooks. Amazon offers electronic texts that can be read on the Amazon Kindle , or any other products with Kindle reading software (smartphones, PCs, iPads and more). The software can be downloaded for free on Amazon.com.

Students can still make notes on the text with the software and the notes will be saved in their account even after the rental has expired. Then, the notes can be accessed by the reader if the book is ever re-rented or bought.
Amazon  e-rentals can save students up to 80 percent on their books, and books can be rented for any time between 30 and 360 days. One of the positive aspects of this option is that the text can be accessed instantly after downloaded.

Buying used
Most students can find used books at their campus bookstores, but prices can still be high. Amazon and Barnes & Noble  both sell used textbooks online, and they are often a fraction of the new and used list prices.
Students can search for a book online, and then choose from the various sellers available. Some sellers offer free shipping, but even with shipping costs many of these books are still a great value.

These sites often note the condition of the book as well, so students have an idea of what they’re getting. Because Amazon and Barnes & Noble both deal with independent sellers, it’s important to check the return policy of each before you make a purchase. Checking the seller’s past reviews is also a good idea.

EBay  is another option for buying used texts. The amount of information included by the seller varies more here (they’re not required to include certain information about the condition of the book, for example), but finding a reputable seller can mean big savings.

Selling texts
Campus bookstores will buy back texts at the end of the semester, but it’s not always the best deal. Often the buy back price is a small fraction of what you originally paid, and some books that are not being used the following semester are not bought back at all.

Selling books through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and eBay  is often the most profitable option. There, you can set your own price comparable to other sellers — higher for a book in like-new condition, lower for one that has some scratches or is missing any supplemental material. You can also list your textbooks at the most profitable times, such as in the weeks before fall and spring semesters begin.

Both Amazon and Barnes & Noble will take a small percentage of the sale, but even with this fee you usually still make more money than selling back to the bookstore.

When you’re shipping the books out, remember to ask for the book/media mail rate. Shoppers pay for shipping when the books are bought through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and that money is credited to you when your check for the sale is sent. This set shipping fee often exceeds the actual cost of shipping.

Amazon also has a new trade-in program. Students can send in their eligible books, and within approximately two business days their account will be credited with a digital Amazon gift card containing the quoted amount. This gift card can be used on anything on the site, not just books.

Shop around
If you’re looking for an easy way to find the best price on used textbooks, check out Fetchbook.info.

After entering the keyword, author or ISBN number of the book, you’ll find a list of various sellers with the book. EBay, Amazon and Barnes & Noble are all retailers included in the search.

How do you save money on textbooks?

Rescue Mission staff members & participants in Models on the Market, Kyle Edgell (black dress) & Gail Strickler (red dress), pose in the Thrift Store formal wear they will be wearing at noon downtown on August 17 to promote National Thrift Shop Day. Photo by the Roanoke Rescue Mission (Facebook).

If you’re around the Roanoke City Market tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m., you might notice a little something different.

In honor of National Thrift Store day, the Roanoke Rescue Mission Thrift Store will have “Mission Models” positioned throughout the market area wearing thrift store formal wear. The models will be showcasing the pieces from the selection of formal apparel that the Roanoke thrift store offers.

The models will be dressed in formal wear and accessories from the thrift store, and wear over sized price tags to show what the entire outfit would cost if purchased.

Homecoming and college formals are right around the corner, so this is something to keep in mind! Thrift stores are a great way to get lightly used formal items.

Check out more information on their Facebook page here.

Shopping through PetCareRx is generally one of the cheapest options for pet parents (not to mention it ships to your door!), but you can save even more with the deal below.

Back to school shopping has been weighing on everyone’s mind lately, so relax and take advantage of some of these deals:

*The Betty Crocker Best of Summer 2011 cookbook has lots of delicious looking treats in it, and you can download it for free here. If you want hard copies of the recipes, you can also print the book.

*Bath & Body Works has a new printable coupon, and this one will get you a free Signature Collection item ($12.50 value) with a purchase of $10 or more. This means you could get a free full size body spray, body wash or lotion for free!

*Quiznos has a new batch of printable coupons. Four coupons are available, and include: 

• Buy One Sub and Two Regular Drinks, Get a Free Sub

• Buy One Regular Salad or Sub, Get a Free Regular Drink and Chips or Cookie

• Save $1 on One Sub, $2 on Two Subs or $3 on Three Subs

• Save $2 on a regular or Large Sub

*The daily deal site Eversave has a deal running through August 24 offering up to 56% off at PetCareRx. You can buy a coupon code that will earn you $20 worth of merchandise for $10 or $45 worth of merchandise for $20. This can be used on heart worm and flea/tick medications for dogs and cats, as well as toys, but not food. Two vouchers per person may be purchased, and they expire February 15.

Know of any other deals? Share them!

Tonight is Dollar Monday at the Salem Red Sox game. They’ll be taking on the Myrtle Beach Pelicans tonight at 7 p.m., and hopefully the weather will stay as mild as it is now.

Print the coupon here or clip the one on page 3 of the Sports section, and you’ll get in for $1. There will also be great food and drink specials.

Today’s SmartSource and Redplum coupon booklets are stuffed with great coupons for pantry and freezer items, as well as popular products like Kleenex, Post-its and various makeup brands. SmartSource even has some very timely Ball canning coupons.

Quiznos, Hibachi Grill and Smokey Bones all have fliers this week, and each has multiple coupons available.

Office Max and Staples are still competing for your attention over back to school items.
Office Max has its familiar brown bag sale going on this week. Whatever you can fit in the bag will be an additional 20% off.
Staples features back to school savings, with many under $1 again. Tape, glue sticks, pencil cases, sticky flags, photo paper, memo books, copy paper and Bic pens are all $.50. Filler paper is only $.01.
Additionally, when you buy any two Bic pens, pencils, markers, highlighers and white-out, you’ll get one free (you can mix and match).

Fashion Bug has everything in the store this week buy one, get one 50% off. There are also two coupons available: one for an extra 10% off items pictured in the ad, and one for an extra 15% off when you use your Premier Card. Present the coupon on the back of the ad and you’ll receive a free reusable bag.

Target  has everything you need to fill a dorm room on sale this week. Towels, sheets, furniture and more are all on special. Some highlights include desk chairs for $17, microplush blankets for $14.99, XL twin sheets for $9 and towels for only $3.50.

Footwear is the highlight of the Dick’s Sporting Goods ad. Tons of running and athletic shoes are on sale, and you’ll find a coupon good for $15 off any pair of athletic footwear priced $59.99 or more.

Sears and Belk are prepared to dress your family for back to school.
Belk is offering an extra 30% off red dot clearance, meaning a total savings of at least 65%. Tons of other items throughout the store, like accessories, juniors dresses and tops, men’s sportswear and more. There’s also a coupon valid through Tuesday that offers an extra 15% off of sale prices storewide.

Sears has demin for everyone on sale. Additionally, you’ll receive a special 20% friends and family discount through Tuesday when you use the coupon on the cover of the ad.

Kroger is offering back to school savings on some popular items by promoting the buy 10, save $5 deal. Some items featured include Spaghettios, Del Monte tomatoes, Cheetos and Fritos, Pop-Tarts, deli meats, breads and more.
Through September 10, you can save even more on Kroger fuel by purchasing gift cards. Pick up a few gift cards from the variety available (it doesn’t have to be a Kroger card), and you’ll earn 4 times the fuel points.

Have you finished your back to school shopping? Have you been able to take advantage of the recent sales and tax free weekend?

We’re officially in the back to school crunch. It’s time to pick up all those last minute supplies and pick out the ever-important first day of school outfit. Store’s are making it easy on you this weekend with tons of sales for the whole family.

You’ll find SmartSource and Redplum coupon booklets Sunday, so you can start prepping for school lunches. You’ll also find lots of restaurant coupons that will be handy for any busy nights out.

Office Max and Staples will still have school supplies on special, so it’s not too late to find some big discounts.

Fashion Bug is gearing up for a big sale, and a few coupons will be available, too.

Target is a great place to find goodies for your dorm room, and next week a lot of those items will be on sale.

If you’re in need of footwear, hold out for the Dick’s Sporting Goods ad.

Sears and Belk are putting clothes for the entire family on sale, plus there will be coupons available.

Back to school at Kroger means big savings on popular lunch items, plus a special event involving gas and gift cards.

Check back Sunday for more info on all of these sales!

An example of the chocolate dipped fruit you could receive. EdibleArrangements.com

Now you’ve got even more of a reason to do a little good and donate blood.

Donate through the American Red Cross in August and you’ll receive a coupon for a free box of chocolate dipped fruit (six pieces). The coupons will be valid through Sept. 16.

For more information, click here.

Print this coupon and you’ll receive $2 off adult beverages at Downtown Live! tonight. Entry to the live music event is free, so this a great option for a cheap afternoon out.

Gift cards: some people love them, some people hate them, and almost everyone has one that’s been buried in his or her wallet for months.

Now there are websites available for each of those groups. Sites like Plastic Jungle  allow shoppers to buy, sell and trade their unused gift cards.

As with any online transaction, there’s always the risk of scams associated with buying, selling and trading gift cards, so do your research before providing too much personal information or sending off any cards.

Gift Card Granny (www.giftcardgranny.com)  is the easiest way to be sure you’re getting a legitimate deal. The site  works with only reputable resellers, even sifting through the offers listed on eBay.

Buying cards
Buying discounted gift cards is as easy as browsing the selection of cards available and picking what best suits your needs.
There are many ways to search for what you want, including by store name and also by discount level.

Shipping through the sites listed on Gift Card Granny is always free, and you won’t be charged any additional buyer’s fees.
I was able to find a $10  prepaid Discover  debit c ard available on eBay through Gift Card Granny for only $4.25 — that’s like getting $5.75 for free. Cards like this are especially valuable because they can be used wherever Discover is accepted. Other eye-catching cards available for purchase include those for movie theaters, Walmart, Target, CVS and even a few for gas.

Selling cards
If you’ve received a gift card to a store or restaurant you can’t visit locally or to somewhere you don’t shop, these sites will offer to buy the cards from you for up to 90 percent of their value.

While you will lose a few dollars this way, it’s better than letting the card go to waste or buying something you’re not interested in.

The easiest way to find out where you’ll get the most out of your gift card is by, once again, checking Gift Card Granny. The site breaks down what gift cards will sell for on the most popular re sale sites.

The resellers listed on Gift Card Granny do not charge shipping or processing fees to those selling their gift cards, so as a seller you’ll get the most out of your card.

Trading cards
Plastic Jungle, which can be accessed through Gift Card Granny, is the most popular site for exchanging gift cards.

After entering some basic information about your card, like the remaining balance and merchant who issued the card, the site will show the offers available for buying your card, or give you the opportunity to exchange it for an Amazon.com gift card.
If you choose this exchange, you’ll receive 3  percent more than the listed sale offer. This offer is appealing to avid Amazon shoppers, but it’s generally easier to  buy or sell your cards.

Do you have any experience buying or selling discounted gift cards?

Want a free pineapple daisy pop? Take the Pledge of Health and Happiness!

 The Plum District, a group buying website geared toward mothers, has a deal good for $50 worth of jcp.com merchandise for only $25. This deal is only valid for online shopping, but it’s still a great bargain. Currently, JC Penney is offering free shipping on orders over $49 with the code SHIP49, or you can always use the free ship-to-store option. Online orders can also be returned in-store if necessary, helping to avoid even more shipping costs.
Even better, if three of your friends buy the deal from your referral link, your’s is free! This deal is available for purchase for two more days, but if you’re interested I’d suggest you act now — you never know if they might run out!

You can save $10 off of a $50 purchase at Old Navy by “liking” their Facebook page and printing off this coupon. This coupon is good through August 18.

The CVS MinuteClinic is offering a printable coupon for free bodywash on their Facebook page. If you’re a CVS shopper, this is an easy way to get a freebie. Just “like” their page, and a coupon will be emailed to you.

CVS also has a daily deal on Dealster today offering an eGift Card worth $10  for only $5. These eGift Cards are printable and can be used in-store. When I was typing this up, there were only 2,117 left!

Want a free subscription to Martha Stewart Living? Click here and you can get one! RewardsGold often offers freebies, but they run out quick. This does require you to refer a couple friends and complete a survey, but that’s not too bad for a full year’s subscription.

It may seem early to be thinking about the new year, but if you want to stay ahead of the game check out this free calendar offered by womenshealth.gov. It will be a while before the calendar arrives, but you won’t be needing it for a while anyway. A free printable version will be available starting in December.

Edible Arrangements is offering a free pineapple pop to anyone who takes the Pledge of Health and Happiness on their Facebook page. Kids would love these, but they’re a pretty fun way for adults to get their fruit for the day in, too. “Like” their page and take the pledge, then a printable coupon will be emailed to you.

If you’ve got a daughter in dance class, the cost can add up quickly. You’ll be happy to see that Capezio is offering free ballet slippers to girls 13 and up here. Fill out some basic information and give your shoe size, and the shoes will be on their way. You will have to pay shipping, but that comes out to only $4.95.

Know of any other good deals out there? Share them!

The entire "Narnia" series can be downloaded for free at the link below.

Today only The Children’s Place is offering free shipping, plus an additional 15% off all purchases (including clearance). Currently, school uniforms are also 25% off. No code is necessary for the free shipping, but to earn the additional 15% discount use X3E2011 at checkout.

The Chronicles of Narnia are great books that have been popular among people from every age group for years. Now, you can download the audiobooks for free here. These downloads should be compatible with iTunes, so consider downloading them before a long drive with the kids.

Know of any other deals? Share them!

SmartSource has two coupon booklets today and Redplum has one. Grocery items won’t be tax free, but you can still take advantage of all the coupons and stock up on products for packing school lunches.

CVS, Staples, Target, Toys R Us, Walgreens, JC Penney, Office Max and Sears all have back to school items that qualify to be tax exempt.

CVS has Elmer’s, Expo, Paper Mate and Crayola products buy one, get one 50% off. Copy and print paper and Avery binders are also buy one, get one 50% off, while 2-pocket folders, Paper Mate pens, Pilot pens and composition boks and filler paper are all buy one, get one free. These items should all be tax exempt today.

Staples has tons of deals for less than $1. Paper clips, pencil sharpeners, pencil boxes and copy paper are 50 cents (the copy paper requires a rebate); Sharpie markers, mini composition books and binders are 25 cents; and 1-subject notebooks are only 1 cent (today through Wednesday only).
Also, High Sierra backpacks are all 50% off, and multipurpose paper is buy one, get one free.
The ad is full of other BOGO and deals $5 and under. Anything unrelated to computers or printers should qualify to be tax exempt.

Target is offering Five Start notebooks, Post-its and Sharpie markers all for $1 each. Rose Art markers, Paper Mate pens, book covers, Mead notebooks, folders, index cards, pencil boxes and more are only 50 cents. Up & Up “school tools” and Rose Art glue products are only 20 cents, while Up & Up notebooks, pencils, scissors and BIC pencils are only 90 cents.
All of these items will be tax free today.
They also have tons of clothing items on sale that qualify to be tax exempt. Juniors Tees, tanks and shorts are on sale for $10, and all school uniform items are on sale for under $20.

Toys R Us  has all Crayola crayons, pencils, markers, paint, dry erase, Color Wonder and Color Explosion products buy one, get one free. You can also get a free lunch kit (up to $9.99) when you buy any back pack at $12.99 or more. These products should all be tax free today.
All Carter’s baby clothing is 30% off, and you can also save $25 off of $100, $10 off of $50 or $5 off of $30 purchases of shoes, clothing and accessories. Gaming Tees are 3 for $10. These purchases should also be tax free today.

Walgreens has Anchorage or High Trails backpacks and totes and Mead notebooks and portfolios buy one, get one free. Filler paper is two for one cent, notebooks are 29 cents, and two pocket folders are only 9 cents. Paper Mate pencils are 39 cents and pencils are 19 cents, while erasers, index cards and cases, dividers, sheet protectors and binders are all 39 cents.
All of these items will be tax free today.

JC Penney has special deals today through Tuesday, and remember that any clothing or shoes (non-athletic) under $100 will be tax free today. Most clothing and shoes for the entire family are under $20, including denim.

Office Max has filler paper for one cent, Paper Mate pens for 10 cents, 4-pocket folders for 25 cents, Paper Mate pencils for 75 cents and glue for 50 cents. All of these items are tax free today. There are also coupons for tons of school and office supplies inside, and lots of buy 2, get 1 free deals.

Sears has a savings pass good through August 13 that will save you an extra 20% off clothing and accessories when you use your Sears Card, or 15% off if you don’t use a Sears Card. Comebine this with the tax free deals today and you’ve got a lot of savings. One highlight is the sale on school uniforms, which you’ll find up to 40% off.

Remember: You are allowed to use coupons in addition to the tax holiday. If your coupon brings a product below the $100 clothing or $20 supply threshold, it will be tax exempt.

 Athletic products are not tax exempt, but shoes are. Dick’s Sporting Goods has tons of tennis shoes for under $100, which qualifies them to be exempt. You’ll also find tons of fall sport items on sale, like shin guards, cleats, sport socks and football pads.

Have you had a successful tax free weekend? Share any finds below.

Valley View Mall will have extended hours this weekend to help shoppers get the most out of their tax holiday. Today and tomorrow (Aug. 5 and 6) the mall will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday (Aug. 7) the mall will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sam’s Club is hosting an open house this weekend for non-members to celebrate the sales tax holiday. If you’ve got a lot of school supplies to pick-up, this is a great opportunity. Any school supplies less than $20 and clothes less than $100 will qualify to be tax exempt, and often the Sam’s Club price is very competitive.
Non-members can also look for ads on Facebook to redeem a free Sam’s Club membership in participating states while supplies last.

This printable coupon for Ann Taylor LOFT is still valid through Sunday. Combine it with the 30% off sale going on right now plus the tax free weekend and you’ve got a ton of savings! I used the coupon earlier this week and was able to snag two dresses and two tank tops for only $50!

The J. Crew clearance stores in Lynchburg (at 25 Millrace Drive and 101A Northwynd Drive) are having a special tax free weekend sale through Sunday, and it sounds like an opportunity to really rack up. Today through Sunday you’ll receive an additional 20% off of your total purchase, plus 40% off of shoes. Plus, anything under $100 will be tax free!

I expect stores to be packed this weekend because of the tax free holiday. If you can hold out until Sunday, you can take advantage of some of the upcoming back to school sales in addition to the tax holiday. 

Photo: instoresnow.walmart.com

Here are some hints to what you can expect: 

SmartSource has two coupon booklets coming up Sunday, and Redplum has one. Grocery items won’t be tax free, but take the coupons along if you’re doing your back to school shopping somewhere with a grocery section like Walmart or Target. 

It seems like everyone has some sort of back to school sale going on. CVS, Staples, Target, Toys R Us, Walgreens, JC Penney, Office Max and Sears all tout ads full of tax emept items. 

School supplies and clothing are popular sale items in all of these stores. Remember: You are allowed to use coupons in addition to the tax holiday. If your coupon brings a product below the $100 clothing or $20 supply threshold, it will be tax exempt. 

Athletic products are not tax exempt, but shoes are. The ad for Dick’s Sporting Goods features a sale on tons of shoes that should qualify to be tax exempt, plus other sporting goods that don’t qualify but are still on a good sale. 

Will you be doing your shopping today and tomorrow, or holding out for Sunday to get the new ads and coupons?

This weekend, from Friday through Sunday, Virginia will be holding its sixth annual back-to-school sales tax holiday.
Throughout the weekend, customers  will be able to buy select items, such as school supplies and clothing, tax free.

Joel Davison, public relations manager at the Virginia Department of Taxation, said  it’s estimated that residents could  save approximately $4.3 million over the weekend.

How it works
A school supply, according to the Virginia Department of Taxation, “means an item that is commonly used by a student in a course of study.” In order to be exempt, the supplies must all have a sales price of $20 or less.

Some eligible products include lunch boxes , dictionaries, book bags, art and music supplies (including instruments), legal pads and more.

Clothing and shoes with a sales price of $100 or less per item  are also exempt from tax. However, sporting equipment and footwear “designed primarily for athletic activity” does not qualify for exemption.

Baby bibs and receiving blankets, bathing suits, belts, coats, costumes, diapers, golf clothing, hats, shoe inserts, ties, underwear and wedding apparel all qualify to be purchased tax exempt.

Computers and computer supplies, such as printers and compact disks, are not eligible for tax exemption.

Clothing accessory items, such as handbags, watches, sunglasses, protective equipment and recreational equipment do not qualify for tax exemption.
Rental items, custom orders and items that do not fall under the price threshold until a rebate is issued do not qualify for a tax exempt sale.

However, items purchased online, by mail order or by telephone are exempt from tax if the item is both delivered and paid for by the customer during the exemption period, or if the customer places and pays for an order and the seller accepts the order for immediate shipment during the exemption period. In the latter case, the delivery can be made after the exemption period.

Coupons may be used to reduce the price of an item to fit below the price threshold. As long as the sales price for clothes ends up below $100 and supplies below $20, the items will be tax exempt.
An item purchased during the exemption period and then exchanged for another qualifying item after the exemption period ends does not owe any additional tax.

For 60 days immediately after the tax holiday, no credit or refund of sales tax will be given for returned items unless a receipt shows tax was paid. This 60-day period is set for the purpose of designating a time period during which customers must provide proof that sales tax was paid on returned merchandise. A retailer’s return policy will not be altered by the holiday in any other way. 

Other tax holidays
Virginia holds sales tax holidays at various times of the year. The next sales tax holiday will occur Oct. 7-11. During that period, Energy Star and WaterSense Qualified  products will be exempt from sales tax. Eligible products must be priced at $2,500 or less, and be purchased for non commercial  use.

Unlike the other sales tax holidays (one for hurricane and emergency preparedness and one for Energy Star and WaterSense qualified products) that are due to expire in 2012 if they’re not renewed by the General Assembly, the back-to-school sales tax holiday has no expiration date.

“This holiday proved to be especially good timing with the recession, it would be hard to stop,” Davison said. “When you add up the savings for one child or five children, it can add up for a family and mean something. It was approved unanimously by the Assembly. It’s good for consumers and retailers, this one really is a win-win situation.”

Exceptions to the rule
For this weekend only, retailers will also have the option to absorb the sales tax for shoppers on any items in the store. However, retailers are not required to do this. Usually retailers, with the exception of those in car sales, would be charged a misdemeanor for exempting shoppers of sales tax.
If any retailers are not honoring the tax exemption for qualifying products, Davison suggests going back to the point of sale and discussing it with the retailer. If the money is not refunded or there is another issue, report the problem to the Department of Taxation.

“Retailers don’t benefit from charging the tax on this weekend, so there aren’t usually many problems,” said Davison. “It’s usually some confusion about the rules or a problem with the register.”

For more information about the sales tax holiday, visit www.tax.virginia.gov/.

For the complete list of exempt items, click here.

Recently, I prompted blog readers to share their money-saving vacation tips. It seems like everyone has a system that works best for them, whether  it’s as simple as saving change or as complex as bidding on time shares. Even if you already have a system of your own, maybe you’ll find some tips you can use here.

Here’s what readers suggested:
* Stay in a location that offers a kitchen or kitchenette. Eating at a restaurant for every meal adds up quickly, especially when there’s an entire family to feed. Keeping some basics on hand, such as peanut butter and jelly, will save a bundle.

* Visiting vacation spots in the off season whenever possible is an easy way to save. Booking a room at the beach after Labor Day, for example,  can save hundreds of dollars per night and the weather will usually continue to be beach-friendly into October.

* By using cash,  it’s easier to keep track of what you’re spending. Try setting a budget for each day and  bringing only that much cash along (but keeping a debit or credit card for emergencies).

* If you  make purchases on credit, try to use the card that will earn you the most rewards, whether  frequent flier miles, gift cards or other perks. Rack up on points and use them toward your next vacation.

* Purchasing vacation packages that include airfare, hotel and/or car rental can lead to discounted rates for each service. This is harder to schedule sometimes, and you have to be in need of each service offered, but the extra planning can pay off in the end.

* For shorter or spur-of-the-moment vacations, try booking at the last minute. Many airlines and hotels lower their rates to fill open slots. This option is harder for families, but good for couples or single travelers. 

* Bringing snacks along for a long drive will  save not only money, but also calories. Keeping foods that you like on hand will keep you from stopping for fast food or convenience  store items. Though the prices are generally pretty low for these foods, the cost, and time spent stopping, can add up. 

* Hostels (dormitory-style rentals) are not as prevalent in the United States  as in other countries, but they are an option (especially for international travel). Usually these locations offer a kitchen, laundry facilities and other basics. In some situations, residents can stay for free in exchange for their services (working on the housekeeping staff, for example), while others offer rooms or beds for an extremely low rate.

* Stop by the visitor  center once you reach your destination. Not only will they be able to give you advice on things  such as parking,  but they also often offer maps and coupons. 

* Using restaurant.com  to buy gift certificates to restaurants in and around your vacation destination is a great way to save some cash on dining visits. The website often has promotions where gift certificates can be bought for as low as $2, so be sure to check around for promotion codes. Read the fine print for each eatery before purchasing the deal,  because each has  its own stipulations for use.

* For those who don’t mind the drive, Megabus, which runs out of Christiansburg , offers fares for as low as $1. From Christiansburg, travelers can head to Knoxville, Tenn., or Washington, D.C.; multiple other destinations are available out of the  Washington location. Riders are  allowed only one piece of luggage and one carry-on bag, but this is a manageable limit for most trips.

* Search for time at condos, hotels and time shares on eBay  for deeply discounted deals. You can limit your search by location, and then choose to bid or “Buy It Now.” As this was being written, a condo in Fort Myers, Fla . was available for $10 on the first night, and then open for bids for the remainder of the week. However, always check on the reliability of the seller, and be wary of scams on eBay.

Tax-free shopping day
Thursday’s Inside Out will feature a special Shoptimist column about this weekend’s sales tax holiday.

Do you know of any other money-saving tips for vacation? Share them!

I'm suddenly craving pizza...

Check out Saveology (another group buying website), and you can get a $10 voucher for Papa John’s for only $6. Sounds like a cheap and easy dinner to me! There is a limit to one deal per household, and this deal is good for 3 more days.

Through tomorrow (Aug. 3), Land’s End is offering 20% off all sale and clearance merchandise with the promo code AUGUST and PIN 9034. There’s a huge variety of things on sale, so give it a look.

Through Thursday (Aug. 4) you can use this printable coupon to get $10 off of a $20 purchase at Smokey Bones. The website is being a little stubborn this morning, so be patient if you’re interested in this deal.

Ann Taylor LOFT is offering 30% off of your entire purchase in-store and online now through Sunday (Aug. 7). Use the promo code FBFRIENDS if you’re shopping online, and this printable coupon in-store. This applies to regular and sale priced items!

Use this printable coupon at Old Navy now through Thursday (Aug. 4) and you will earn $5 off of a $25 purchase.
It’s also Super Cash time at Old Navy, which means you’ll earn $10 in Super Cash for every $20 you spend through Aug. 18. Super Cash can be redeemed in stores Aug. 25 through 29.

Use this printable coupon at Waffle House now through Aug. 12 and you can buy one sausage biscuit and get one free. This is great if you’re about to hit the road for vacation, keep it in the car for any pit stops.

“Like” Toys R Us’ Facebook page and you’ll get access to a printable coupon to save 20% on any one regular-priced toy at either Toys “R” Us or Babies “R” Us. This coupon is good through Aug. 14.

If you’re a PetCo shopper (there’s a location at Towers Mall) print this coupon that will save you $5 on a $25 purchase. This coupon is only good Aug. 13 and 14.

Every Saturday until October will feature free events at the Roanoke City Market. Most of these events are family-friendly, so check them out the next time you stop by the farmers market.