Do phone apps help you when you're shopping, or are they just too much trouble?

Retailers are encouraging shoppers to access special deals and mobile sites by their smart phones more and more.
Then there are the apps that help you not only compare prices but navigate the mall, like the new app Valley View released recently.

While I can see the appeal of comparing prices, especially during holiday shopping, it seems like some apps are trying a bit too hard.

Have you ever tried any of these apps? Which do you like or dislike? Do you consider them helpful or just stressful?

Now that you’ve recovered from your Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping hangover, you may be asking yourself what you are going to do with all that stuff.

In retrospect, maybe you don’t need that 80-inch TV, five Barbie dolls and eight sets of LEGOs.

Store return policies vary, but luckily some stores give you a break during the holidays. Here’s the fine print to some popular holiday retailers’ return policies, and a few tips for making returns in general:

Amazon:

Items shipped by Amazon between Nov. 1 and Dec. 31 are eligible for a full refund through Jan. 31. This is subject to return guidelines specific to the item you’re returning, but it does mean you can shop for gifts with a little more confidence.

Bath & Body Works:

Bath & Body Works has a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee. If something doesn’t work out, you can exchange the item or get your money back with a receipt or invoice.

Best Buy:

Best Buy is offering extended holiday returns for purchases made between Nov. 13 and Dec. 24. These products may be returned through Jan. 24 if they meet the terms of the standard return policy. No restocking fees will be applied for these returns, as well.

JC Penney:

JC Penney allows returns for up to 90 days after the purchase. If you have a gift receipt, you will only receive store credit, but the retailer will pay for return shipping and handling on all online purchases.

Kmart:

requires a receipt or email confirmation within 90 days of purchase for items to be returned. For returns and exchanges of air conditioners, gas-powered equipment and jewelry and watches, you must visit the retailer within 30 days with the original receipt or e-mail. Refunds will not be given for any items without a receipt or e-mail confirmation.

Kohl’s:

will accept any item, for any reason, at any time. If you have your receipt, no matter how many days after the original purchase date, you’ll receive a full refund or even exchange. If you don’t have your receipt, Kohl’s will give you a refund, an exchange or store credit in the amount of the current price (or last known price) of the item.

Macy’s:

gives shoppers 180 days to return most purchases with the exception of jewelry, which has a deadline of 30 days. Anyone with a gift receipt will receive a store credit or exchange.

Macys.com orders can be returned for a full refund in most cases, less shipping costs. For exchanges, shipping for the new item will be free. Many Macys.com orders can be returned to your local Macy’s store, just be sure to bring your invoice.

Sears;

accepts returns or exchanges for up to 90 days past the purchase date, but you must have the product in its original packaging and with the original receipt or e-mail confirmation. Sears also accepts returns in-store for most Sears.com purchases.

Target:

accepts returns on unused items within 90 days of the original purchase. Some items can’t be returned if they’ve been opened (like music, movies, video games and computer software) and an exchange is your only option.

If you don’t have a receipt, it may not be a problem. In most instances, Target stores can verify purchases made in stores and on Target.com within the last 90 days on a credit or debit card, check or gift card. However, returns and exchanges without a receipt may be limited. Store refunds will be issued in the same form of payment originally used for purchase.

Target.com purchases must be returned with all of the original packaging and accessories. Most online purchases can be made in-store as well as by mail. The credit card used to make the purchase or packing slip is necessary to make these returns.

Toys R Us and Babies R Us:

Online purchases can be returned by mail within 90 days and the original form of payment will be refunded. If you received a gift through the mail, return or exchange the items at your local retailer for store credit.

In-store purchases can also be returned within 90 days for a full refund as long as they are in new or like-new condition, in the original packaging and with all paperwork (manuals, assembly instructions and your in-store receipt).

Walmart:

Most items can be returned for a full refund within 90 days of purchase (with some exceptions in the electronics department) if you have the receipt.

If you don’t have a receipt, you have the option of a cash refund (for purchases under $25), a gift card for the amount of the purchase (for purchases over $25) or an even exchange for the product. You can make up to three no-receipt returns within a 45-day period.

Online purchases can be returned at any store. Shipping costs will be refunded if the retailer made a mistake, and items must be returned in the original manufacturer’s packaging.

To simplify returns:

* Pay in cash whenever possible. If a credit card was used, many retailers require the original card to get a full refund and not store credit.

* Ask about fees associated with returning products. Many stores charge restocking fees for high-dollar or large merchandise, but some waive these fees around the holidays (like Best Buy).

* If there’s any question, research the retailer. The Better Business Bureau offers free business reviews at www.bbb.org or by calling 800-646-6222. You can find information about what types of complaints the business has had and see what its overall BBB rating is.

* If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Search for the retailer’s return policy online or in the store before making a purchase. If you can’t find it online, look for a phone number and talk to a person. A phone number that doesn’t work or isn’t available is a major red flag.

Where have you had good, or bad, experiences with returns?

Today through Sunday (Dec. 4) you can use this mobile coupon for a free small popcorn at Regal Cinemas. Just enter your phone number and the coupon will be sent right to your smart phone.

Unfortunately, you do have to have a smart phone to access this deal (bummer, I know).

Throughout the day, visit the Roanoke Times Daily Deal page where you’ll find tons of bargains on vouchers to local restaurants, shops, salons and more. There will be three new deals each hour, for 10 hours.

The deals are available for one hour only, and you can only purchase one of each deal.

Here’s the schedule of deals for the day:

Happy shopping!

Black Friday may be over, but that doesn’t mean the sales are over! Here’s a little taste of what you might find in today’s paper.

There’s a P&G Brandsaver, Redplum and special Walmart ad all up for grabs and filled with manufacturer coupons (don’t mistake the coupons on the Walmart ad for store-specific coupons). The Walmart flier will be especially exciting for parents, as all of the coupons are for diapers and Pull-Ups.

Target is offering loads of free gift cards with select purchases. In all, I totalled $340 in free gift cards available this week. You can get them from purchasing high-dollar items like Canon cameras and KitchenAid products, or everyday purchases like Dove soap and diapers.

Office Max has nice holiday deals on laptops and printers this week. You’ll get up to $250 when you trade in your laptop, on top of sale prices. Also, all clearance computers and monitors, and some accessories, are an extra 20% off. If you have loved ones far away this holiday season, check out their shipping deals — buy 2, get 1 free on mailroom and shipping supplies, and 50% off custom greeting cards.

Staples has plenty of 2-day deals today and tomorrow. Some of the products even end up being free after rebate, like Norton Internet Security, QuickBOoks Online Simple Start, McAfee Total Protection, Kaspersky Internet Security and Trend Micro Titanium Maximum Security.  All week long Kodak 4×6 photo paper will be $1.
Flip through the ad and be sure you clip the coupon good for 30% off your entire furniture and chair purchase of $149 or more.

Sears is having a Customer Appreciation Sale, and to say thanks they’re offering you a coupon good for an extra 20% off clothing, accessories, and intimate apparel with your Sears card (15% off with other forms of payment), or an extra 15% 0ff fragrances, cosmetics, footwear, bed, bath, housewares, luggage and fine jewelry with your Sears card (10% off with other forms of payment).
There’s also a preview of all the online deals for Cyber Monday, which start at midnight tonight.

Today is the last day to get $15 in Kohl’s Cash with every $50 spent, and today is the beginning of a 2-day Cyber Monday sale at the retailer. With the 2-day sale, you’ll get free shipping with no minimum purchase, and today only you’ll earn your Kohl’s cash on top of that and the sale prices.

Macy’s has another WOW! Pass this week that’s good today through Tuesday. With it, you’ll get an extra 15% off select sale & clearance apparel, and an extra 10% off most everything else.
On the back of the ad, you’ll find a batch of “holiday dollars.” These coupons offer dollars off of your purchase of select items. The more you spend, the more you save, in this case.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Joann Fabric ad, but they’re making a comeback this week. There are coupons available for 40% off any regular priced item, 50% off a regular priced item and 60% off your entire custom framing order. Additionally, many Christmas products and fabrics are up to 50% off.

AC Moore has coupons this week for 50% off a regular priced item (today only), 25% off your entire regular priced purchase (today only), 20% off seasonal decor or floral purchases of $20 or more, 55% off your custom framing order, 50% off a regular priced item (Monday and Tuesday) and 40% off a regular priced item (Wednesday through Saturday). There are sales all over the store, but the best are on Christmas items, most of which are 30 to 50% off, and paper crafting items are buy 2, get 1 free.

Big Lots has great deals on artificial Christmas trees this week, ranging in price from $14.88 to $108.88. There’s also tons of holiday decor for $30 and under, some as low as $3. Wii, Nintendo DS, Xbox and Playstation games are on special, ranging from $13.88 to $18.88, and various movies for kids are only $3.
Some of the other best deals are on small kitchen appliances, like crockpots, blenders and mixers, which are only $19 each.

Walgreens has numerous store coupons to be stacked with manufacturer coupons this week. Some of the best include Dawn Dish Liquid for 99 cents, $10 off Crest 3D Whitestrips, Carmex lip care 3/$3, and Dove or Caress bar soap for 99 cents. There’s also a new batch of photo coupons, plus deals on all kinds of Christmas decor.

Belk has 9 coupons (one is hiding on the back of the ad) available for use today and tomorrow. The coupons offer 15 to 20% off home purchases, storewide purchases, apparel  and even fine jewelry. Additionally, all online orders today and Monday get free shipping.

Toys R Us is claiming to have their lowest prices of the season this week on popular products like LEGOs (buy 1, get 1 50% off), Crayola (buy 1, get 1 50% off), Melissa & Doug puzzles (buy 2, get the 3rd free), and Nintendo DS games 2/$40. Check it out, there’s something for everyone.

JCPenney is offering free shipping on orders of $25 or more today through Tuesday as part of their Cyber Monday sale. Additionally, if you buy 3 $20 gift cards, you get $5 in JCP Cash for free.

Remember, all of these ads may not appear in your paper. However, many retailers post their ads online, so always check there if you’re interested in finding out more details. You can also get printable coupons at both SmartSource and Redplum websites.

Black Friday is here, but the sales are still coming. Here’s a taste of what you’ll find in the Sunday paper.

Up to three coupon sets will be in your paper box: a P&G Brandsaver, Redplum and special Walmart ad.

Target is offering loads of free gift cards with select purchases.

Office Max has nice holiday deals on laptops and printers next week. Plus deals on shipping goodies.

Staples has plenty of 2-day deals starting Sunday.

Sears is having a Customer Appreciation Sale, and to say thanks they’re offering you a coupon. There’s also a preview of all the online deals for Cyber Monday.

Sunday is the last day to get $15 in Kohl’s Cash with every $50 spent, and the beginning of a 2-day Cyber Monday.

Macy’s has another WOW! Pass next week that’s good Sunday through Tuesday.

It’s been a while since we’ve seen a Joann Fabric ad, but they’re making a comeback this week.

AC Moore has lots of coupons this week, so you’ll have to work to find something at full price.

Walgreens has numerous store coupons to be stacked with manufacturer coupons this week.

Belk has 9 coupons available for use Sunday and Monday.

Toys R Us is claiming to have their lowest prices of the season this week on some of their most popular products.

JCPenney has all the details on their Cyber Monday sale, plus info on how you can get free JCP Cash.

Remember, all of these ads may not appear in your paper. However, many retailers post their ads online, so always check there if you’re interested in finding out more details. You can also get printable coupons at both SmartSource and Redplum websites.

The J.Crew Factory Warehouse and Clearance stores are prepping for a big weekend — and you can get a preview tonight!

At both local clearance stores you’ll get an extra 20% off your entire purchase Friday through Sunday. You can get the same deal today at the preview sale from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Also happening this weekend is another J.Crew Factory Warehouse sale. The warehouse will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. I’ve had tons of luck at this sale in the past, and hope to take advantage of weary Black Friday shoppers, check it out late Friday and hopefully miss some of the crowds. 

If you want to check out both sales: the Clearance Store location on Millrace is right next to the warehouse, so you can knock both out at once!

Also, don’t forget about this giant list of printable coupons and deals. The list keeps growing, and many deals are good before and after Black Friday.

Last week I made a big confession: I’m not a Black Friday shopper. How could I give advice on Black Friday shopping when I’ve never done it?

Thankfully, readers and veteran shoppers came to my aid with some valuable guidance. Here’s what they had to say:

 * Do your homework. Review the circulars, know what’s on sale where, and know the layout of the stores. Doing a lot of prep work may take time in advance, but it could save you a great deal of hassle on the big day. Don’t get stuck wandering around a store, looking for your items. Know where you’re going, and keep your circulars with you to avoid questions about price.

* Bring a friend. Having someone to shop with is valuable for a number of reasons. Not only do you have someone to commiserate with in the early morning hours, but you can tag team the sales. Also, one person can hold a place in line while the other shops. After it’s all done, it’s nice to have breakfast with someone and go through all of your finds.

* Map out your store-to-store route. Navigating within the stores isn’t the only plan you should make in advance. Plan a route for the stores you want to visit. Know each store’s hours and its location relative to the other stores you want to hit. Think about parking options, as well.

* Make a list for each store. Having a list will remind you of your priorities and help keep you from getting distracted. Snatch up your “have to have” items first, and then browse through the rest of the store. One reader noted that Walmart had restocked many sale items by 7 a.m. last year, so they were able to avoid most of the early-morning crowds and still find most of the bargains they wanted.

* Shop local whenever possible. Most locally owned stores won’t be having midnight or earlier openings for their sales, allowing you to spend more time with family (or in bed). In many cases, small businesses are more willing to negotiate prices and work with shoppers on returns, exchanges and personalizing products.
Small Business Saturday, the day designated for supporting locally owned businesses, is in its second year. Get ideas for local spots you want to check out at smallbusinesssaturday.com.

* Use cash when possible. Using cash will not only help you keep track of how much you’ve spent, but it also simplifies returns at most stores. There’s no need to keep track of which card your purchase went on, and you won’t get any surprises on your next credit card bill.

If you have additional tips for surviving Black Friday, share them!

Deal Dash Monday

This year, The Roanoke Times has a special event for Cyber Monday (highlighting online sales) on Nov. 28.

Deal Dash Monday is a 10-hour event featuring more than 30 deals from restaurants, salons, services and retailers in the Roanoke and New River valleys.

Dailydeal.roanoke.com will be offering new deals every hour beginning at 7 a.m., and each hour, three or more deals will be offered. Each deal (limited to one per person) will feature a gift certificate from a local business at a savings of 50 percent or more.

 To get a sneak peek at the deals, “like” the Roanoke.com Daily Deal Facebook page, and check back at noon on Sunday, when some of the deals will be revealed.

I know Black Friday is looming, but don’t overlook these deals and opportunities to save. Scroll below for updates.

If you’re on Valley View Mall’s email list, you know that they send out deals and coupons from time to time. Here’s the latest batch:
*Printable coupon good for $10 off of a $50 purchase at Aeropostale. Good through Wednesday (Nov. 23)
*Printable coupon good for $4 off of a full set of acrylic nails, $7 off of a fill free design or full set silkwrap, or $2 off of a wax at A.T. Nails. Good through Wednesday.
*Printable coupon good for 20% off any purchase at Ben & Jerry’s. Good through Wednesday.
*Printable coupon for a free Crash & Burn scarf with any Crash & Burn purchase at Buckle. No expiration date noted.
*Printable coupon for an additional 10% off of sale denim at Buckle. No expiration date noted.
*Printable coupon for a free pair of Rock Revival headphones with the purchase of a regular priced Rock Revival jean at Buckle. No expiration date noted.
*Printable coupon good for $5 off of a $25 purchase at Build-a-Bear. Good through Dec. 31
*Printable coupon good for 25% off accessories at Cellular Express. Good through Wednesday.
*Printable coupon good for a free Chick-fil-A sandwich with the purchase of any combo 1 – 9 at Chick-fil-A. Good through Wednesday.
*Printable coupon good for a free regular sized drink with purchase of one item, two item, or three item plate at Fortune Express. Good through Wednesday.
*Printable coupon good for 20% off any CD or DVD regularly priced $12.99 and up at f.y.e. Good through Wednesday.
*Printable coupon good for 25% off a regular priced purchase at Gap. No expiration date noted.
*Printable coupon good for $5 off of a $25 purchase at GNC. No expiration date noted.

*At the New River Valley Mall, you can use this printable coupon to get $1 off any ice cream treat and $3 off any ice cream cake at Ben & Jerry’s.

*Check out this Yankee Candle printable coupon offering two free large candle tumblers when you buy two. This coupon is good through Sunday (Nov. 27), and can be used at Yankee Candle stores or retailers. I know Bed, Bath & Beyond sells these candles, so try stacking this coupon with one of their percent or dollar off coupons for the best deal!

*Coupons for produce, meat and dairy products are hard to come by, so be sure you “like” the Incredible Edible Egg’s Facebook page where you’ll be able to print a coupon good for 55 cents off two-dozen eggs. This is great for holiday baking!

*AARP is a great option for seniors to earn some special perks. Currently, the organization is offering a free one-year membership when you sign up here. If you’re already a memeber, your membership will be extended for one year at no cost.

*Now through Dec. 24 you can use this printable coupon at Bath & Body to earn a free item (up to $13) of your choice with any $10 purchase.

I’ll be updating this post over the next few days as deals continue to come out, so keep checking back!

[UPDATE: 2:30 p.m., Monday]

*”Like” the La Creme Facebook page and you’ll get a rebate offer to try the product for free. “Try me free” rebates are some of my favorite. It’s a great way to try new products, and you have nothing to lose.

*For a limited time (until the print limit is reached), coupons.com is offering unusual coupons for American Greetings wrapping paper ($1 off), Hasbro KRE-O Construction sets ($5 off) and Easy Bake Oven (free refill pack with the purchase of an Easy Bake Oven). You may need to try the zip code 90210 to access this deal.

*”Like” the Hallmark Facebook page and you can access a printable coupon good for $5 off of a $10 purchase. This coupon is good through Dec. 4, but there’s only a limited number available so go quick!

*”Like” the Scrabble Facebook page and you can access a printable coupon good for $5 off of the purchase of Scrabble Flash, Simon Flash or Yahtzee Flash games from Hasbro. This coupon is good through Dec. 4. You may be able to combine this coupon with some Black Friday toy sales — give it a try!

*Currently, Pottery Barn Teen has various lunch boxes, laptop covers, back packs and more for as much as75% off + free shipping. Some of these products are as low as $4.99, so consider using them as gifts or stocking up for the next school year. Note: Personalization is extra.

*Fans of Starbucks will appreciate this deal. Click here to access a rebate form, which you can turn in in exchange for a $5 gift card after you’ve purchased three packages of Starbucks coffee or Starbucks VIA Ready Brew. Your purchases must be made by Dec. 31 and be done in one transaction, but you can mix and match the products.

*Today through Wednesday you can get 20% off everything in-store and online at The Children’s Place. Click here to access the printable coupon, or use the code THANKS at checkout online.

*Click here to access a printable coupon from Family Dollar offering $5 off of a $25 purchase. The coupon is good today and tomorrow only, and there are some exclusions.

*Send a Denny’s eCard to one of your friends, and in return they’ll send you and your friend a printable coupon good for a free Red Velvet Pancake Puppies Sundae. Everyone wins!

*”Like” the CVS Facebook page and you’ll be emailed a 20% off shopping pass good through Thursday (Nov. 24). Sale items are excluded, and the coupon can only be used/printed once.

*Visit the TGI Fridays Facebook page to access a printable coupon good for a free appetizer for groups of 3 or more. This coupon is valid until Dec. 31.

*Through Dec. 2 you can get a free coffee at Waffle House with this printable coupon.

[UPDATE: 5 p.m., Monday]

*Here is another Yankee Candle offer, good for $10 off of a $25 purchase. This printable coupon is good through Dec. 4.

*Disney just released a printable coupon good for $5 off the Blu-ray or DVD combo pack of “Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas Special Edition.” This coupon is good through Sunday (Nov. 27).

*Click here for a printable coupon good for $5 off of blu-ray or DVD copy of “Super 8.” This offer expires Sunday (Nov. 27).

*Staples has a great printable coupon available for a free eco bag. Once you pick up your bag, everything you can fit in it will be an additional 15% off. There are some exclusions, but it doesn’t say anything about sale or clearance items, so try it out on those! This coupon is good through Wednesday (Nov. 23).

*Click here to check out various coupons available for KFC. The printable coupons are good through Nov. 30, and offer deals like $3 off of a 12-piece meal, a 16 piece feast for $29.99 and a free large Homestyle Side. This is great if you’re busy prepping your kitchen for holiday cooking!

[UPDATE: 4 p.m., Tuesday]

* The Regal Cinemas mobile coupon for this week is a $2 Zap Pack (which includes popcorn, a small drink and fruit snacks). Visit the Regal Cinemas Facebook page to enter your phone number and receive your coupon, which is valid through Nov. 27. Unfortunately, you must have a smart phone to use this deal.

*Check out the Campbell’s Kitchen website, where you can find printable coupons for Campbell’s condensed cooking soups, Campbell’s condensed soups, Swanson Flavor Boost, Swanson Broth or Stock, Eight O’Clock Coffee and various sizes of V8 Vegetable Juice. You can save up to $10 with these coupons, but you need to print them before they disappear!

*Here’s a fun freebie for the holidays. Sign-up here for a free personalized video from Santa. Just fill out a form with some basic information and you’ll receive a message back from the big man himself. There are options for messages to both kids and adults.

*If you’re a fan of People Magazine, be sure to flip through and find the coupon good for $18 puffer vests at Aeropostale in this month’s issue. The coupon is good for one day only, Black Friday (Nov. 25).

[UPDATE: 11 a.m., Wednesday]

*Scholastic is offering 20% off now through Dec. 31 with the code JOY20. This is a great opportunity to stock up on books and DVDs for your kids. Also, you’ll get free shipping on your order once the pre-discount price reaches $25.

*Working Person’s Store is offering a free $20 eGift Card with the purchase of any Carhartt outerwear. Many of the jackets and coats are on special right now, some for as low as $69.99 (usually $80) + free shipping. On top of that, you can find multiple shirts for under $20, making them free when you use your gift card.
To get the free gift card, you’ll need to add the outerwear and a $20 gift card to your cart. The gift card code will be emailed to you shortly after your purchase goes through.

*”Like” Crayola on Facebook and you’ll gain access to printable coupons for the next four weeks. The coupons this week are as high as $3 off

*Most stores don’t have coupons to combine with their Black Friday sales — but Kohl’s does! Click here to print a coupon good for an extra 15% off everything now through Sunday. You can also use the code GOBBLE15 if you’re shopping online.

While most people are concentrating on Black Friday, don’t forget about these 4-day sales — some of the deals are just as good as those you’ll find Friday.

There’s only one coupon booklet available this week, SmartSource. Inside, in addition to the regular coupons, you’ll also find restaurant coupons for Honeybaked Ham Cafe, Cold Stone Creamery, Moe’s (Blacksburg is the closest location), Logan’s Roadhouse and Olive Garden. 

Kroger’s ad is full of holiday goodies on sale. Honeysuckle turkey is only 59 cents/lb., select Campbell’s soups are 10/$10, Pepperidge Farm stuffing is 2/$5, Pillsbury canned breads are $1.88, various frozen pies are $4.99 and Kroger broth is 5/$3.
The bakery has Private Selection turkey dinners for $39.99 — which includes turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, rolls and a choice of potatoes au gratin, broccoli & rice casserole, green bean supreme or sweet potato souffle. This deal serves 6 to 8 people and is a great deal for anyone who isn’t a wiz in the kitchen, or simply doesn’t have time.
Some non-grocery deals:
You’ll receive four-times the fuel points with the purchase of select gift cards (including Macy’s, Lowe’s, iTunes and more). Also, Mattel and Hasbro board games are all buy 1, get 1 free.

Kmart has some great grocery deals this week, as well. Campbell’s cream of mushroom and cream of chicken soups and French’s French fried onions are all 10/$10, Green giant 4-packs of veggies are 2/$6, Crystal Farm English muffins or large eggs are 10/$10 and various baking needs are 2/$5.
Additionally, all regular-priced shoes for the family are buy1, get 1 50% off. Select card games are buy 1, get 1 free, and Hasbro action figures are buy1, get 1 50% off.
Remember to clip the coupons on the back, including: 88 cents for Pepsi 2-liter sodas, $1.88 for Nabisco crackers, $8.99 for Charmin and Bounty paper goods and $10 for Energizer or Duracell battery packs.

CVS is continuing the free gift card promotion into this week, so look for the specially marked items to spend $30 on.
You’ll receive $15 in ExtraBucks when you spend $75 on iTunes gift cards, $3 in ExtraBucks when you buy 3 American Greetings greeting cards, $2 in ExtraBucks when you buy Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick (making it 99 cents!) and $3 in ExtraBucks when you buy 2 or a combo of Colgate Optic White toothpaste or a toothbrush.
The free diaper promotion is also continuing, and diapers are on sale this week. Stock up and buy six jumbo packs for Huggies, CVS brand, Pampers or Luvs and get the 7th pack free.
One awesome deal is on Excedrin Bonus Packs, which are on sale for 99 cents, and you’ll receive 99 cents in ExtraBucks — that’s like getting it for free.
There’s also a $5 off $20 facial skincare purchases coupon available at the kiosk, so don’t forget to scan your card!

Walgreen’s is having a 4-day sale on toys, and you’ll find various toys buy 1, get 1 free OR buy 1, get 1 50% off.
There are store coupons offering: Charmin bath tissue for $2.99, Folgers coffee for $9.99, select sodas 3/$9, Pepperidge snacks buy1, get 1 free, Starbucks drinks for $4.99, mints for 99 cents, holiday candy 2/$1, Mars or Dove candy for 59 cents, various baking goods for 99 cents and more. Don’t forget — you can combine these store coupons with manufacturer’s coupons and/or store rewards.
Seasonal goodies are on sale throughout the store, and be sure to clip the coupon offering 25% off photo greeting cards if you plan to send them out this year.

There’s no Joann Fabric ad this week, but AC Moore and Michaels have plenty to go around.

Michaels has their entire stock of Christmas trees on sale, and some of the best deals come on the pre-lit trees (a huge time-saver during the holidays). Additionally, you’ll find Christmas decor (including garlands, wreaths, villages, ribbons and baskets) 40 to 50% off, tabletop frames 40% off, stock paper 6/$1, 40% off select kids’ crafts, Americana craft paint for 69 cents and Wilton gingerbread kits for $8.99.
The coupons this week offer 25% off your entire purchase today from 4 to 9 p.m., 40% off a regular priced item today through Wednesday, and 60% off, plus an additional 15% off, custom framing orders through Wednesday.

AC Moore has their entire stock of Crayola, K’nex, Thomas & Friends and Melissa & Doug products 50% off and the entire stock of Wilton baking goods 40% off Monday through Wednesday.
Today through Wednesday you’ll find deluxe pine decor for 40% off, seasonal flags, winter stems and bushes, seasonal kitchen accessories, ornaments, and holiday ribbon and boys for 50% off, beading goods for 50% off, the entire stock of tabletop frames for 50% off and various deals for kids between $3.99 and $12.99.
The coupons available this week include: 60% off any regular priced item today only, and 50% off any regular priced item Monday through Wednesday.

Toys R Us is having a big 4-day sale. Check out the coupon offering a $10 coupon with a $75 purchase.
Additionally, various board games are $4.99, all Nintendo DS and 3DS games are buy 1, get 1 40% off, Pictionary games are 50% off, various ride toys are $60 to $80, LEGO books are buy 1, get 1 50% off, American Girl crafts, Imaginarium puzzles and Erector construction sets are buy 2, get the 3rd free and you can save up to $25 on various Kinect games.
There are tons of other offers for dollars and percent off, plus free gift card offers, but just too many to list! You’ll have to check it out if you’re looking for some specific toys.

Target has an awesome ad this week — not only are there great sale prices, but store coupons.
Some of the best deals in toys are select Disney DVDs for $17.99, classic games for $8 (plus a $5 off coupon), LEGO sets for $14, ride-on toys for $14.99 and video games for $47.
Store coupons in the toy department are for popular brands like Disney, Barbie, Nerf, Hot Wheels, Fisher-Price and Little People.
Throughout the rest of the store, you’ll find Philips headphones for $7.49 (after coupon), women’s sweaters for $9.99, Hamilton Beach slow cookers for $10, and Christmas decor starting at $2.

Fashion Bug is having a storewide sale, offering 40% off, plus a coupon good for $10 off your purchase of $10 or more (including sale prices).
If you purchase a $50 gift card, you’ll also receive a $10 bonus.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Sale is offering 20 to 60% off value and regular priced items, plus an extra 10 to 15% off with your Macy’s card or WOW pass.
Some of the best deals:
Select winter coats, handbags and wallets are 40% off, detailed sweaters for women are 50% off, sleepwear and robes are 40% off, holiday dresses for girls and infants are 40% off, men’s designer outerwear is 50% off, Citizen watches are 20% off, Keurig brewers are 30% off and the Martha Stewart collection is 50% off.

Kohl’s is offering two days of doorbusters today and tomorrow.
With the sale, you’ll find outerwear 40 to 50% off, the entire stock of long-sleeved, sport shirts, shirt jackets, knit tops and sweaters for men 50% off, the entire stock of fashion tops and bottoms for newborns to kids 50% off, the entire stock of fashion jewelry 30 to 50% off, the entire stock of frames 50% off, bras buy 1, get 1 half-off,  and so much more. It literally looks like everything in the store is on sale.
Plus, clearance will be up to 80% off.

Stein Mart has coupons available in addition to their sale prices: one offering 20% off two regular priced items, and one for 30% off red dot clearance (both through Wednesday).
On top of that, fashion handbags are 30% off, men’s sweaters and woven shirts are 30% off, women’s turtlenecks and career collections are 30% off, and men’s watches are $9.99.

JC Penney is having a pre-Thanksgiving sale, plus there’s JCP Cash up for grabs — $20 off an $80 purchase, $15 off a $60 purchase or $10 off a $40 purchase. Additionally, all gold and fine silver jewelry is 60% off, towels are 40 to 50% off, New Balance shoes for men and women are $39.99, kids’ Arizona apparel is 50% off, select boots for girls and women are 50% off, coats for everyone are 50% off, pillows are all 40 to 50% off and men’s Arizona jeans are $19.99.

The Sears pre-Thanksgiving sale also includes a savings pass for 15% off regular, sale and clearance priced clothing, accessories, fragrances, cosmetics and intimate apparel, or 10% off regular, sale and clearance home fashions, fine jewelry, watches, housewares and luggage.
Some of the best deals include:
Kids’ fashions for 50% off (plus savings pass), 50% off all pillows and a Paula Deen cooking set for $79.99.

Belk’s pre-Thanksgiving sale includes coupons offering $30 off of your first $150 regular or sale priced purchase, $20 off your first $100 regular or sale priced purchase, and $10 off your first $50 regular or sale priced purchase. Ladies’ sportswear and outerwear is 30 to 50% off, 40% off ladies’ boots, 30% off select handbags, 25 to 30% off juniors’ sportswear, 25 to 50% off menswear, intimate apparel and home decor, and 40% off kids’ sportswear, dresswear, sets, outerwear and sleepwear.

Remember, all of these ads may not appear in your paper. However, many retailers post their ads online, so always check there if you’re interested in finding out more details. You can also get printable coupons at both SmartSource and Redplum websites.

Black Friday is huge and will be here before you know it, but don’t miss out on some of these deals. They’re definitely worth checking out.

There’s only one coupon booklet available this week, SmartSource. Inside, in addition to the regular coupons, though, tons of restaurant coupons will be available.

Kroger’s ad is full of holiday goodies on sale. There are even deals available for those who don’t want to spend their Thursday cooking.

Kmart also has some great grocery deals to look out for, as well as some store coupons you can combine with manufacturer’s.

CVS is continuing the free gift card and diaper promotions into next week. There are also numerous chances to earn high-dollar ExtraBucks on sale items.

Walgreen’s is having a 4-day sale the kids will appreciate. As usual, there will be lots of store coupons that can be stacked.

There’s no Joann Fabric ad this week, but AC Moore and Michaels have plenty to go around. It’s time to stock of up Christmas crafting goods, greenery and some special products for the kiddos.

Toys R Us is having a 4-day sale that will compete with Black Friday prices, and there’s a store coupon available.

Target has an awesome ad this week — not only are there great sale prices, but store coupons for toys and apparel.

Fashion Bug is having a storewide sale, and there’s a special deal for anyone interested in buying a gift card.

Macy’s Thanksgiving Sale is offering a discount on top of a discount — if you have the pass from their ad that could be coming your way.

Kohl’s is offering two days of doorbusters — I’m not sure there’s anything that’s not on sale next week.

Stein Mart has coupons available in addition to their sale prices. You can even get an additional discount on clearance items next week.

JC Penney is having a pre-Thanksgiving sale, plus there’s JCP Cash up for grabs.

The Sears pre-Thanksgiving sale also includes a savings pass, offering additional savings on already discounted items in every department.

Belk’s pre-Thanksgiving sale includes coupons, so stack those on top of the sale prices as well.

Remember, all of these ads may not appear in your paper. However, many retailers post their ads online, so always check there if you’re interested in finding out more details. You can also get printable coupons at both SmartSource and Redplum websites.

The Elizabeth Arden Warehouse Sale is happening now through Saturday (Nov. 19) and then Monday through Wednesday of next week (Nov. 21-23) at the Roanoke location (3030 Nicholas Ave., Roanoke).

Shopping hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

This is a great opportunity to get some Christmas shopping done before Black Friday.

I’ve been to this sale before and had tons of luck. I’ve gotten makeup brushes, makeup, fragrances (for men and women), cosmetic and travel bags and other odds and ends for deeply discounted prices.

Have you had luck at the Elizabeth Arden Warehouse in the past? Read up on other worth-while warehouse sales here.

For more information on this sale, call the warehouse at 983-6594.

Over the past few years, I’ve become increasingly enthusiastic about online shopping, especially during the holiday season.

Online shopping is easy, quick and can be done from the comfort of your sofa, but the shipping costs can add up. There are ways to get around this though, and there’s even a whole day dedicated to saving on shipping.

Free Shipping Day is scheduled for Dec. 16 this year, and so far more than 750 merchants are registered to participate. Many are major retailers including Kohl’s, Macy’s, Barnes & Noble and Cabela’s.

On this fourth annual event, you have 24 hours to order from these retailers, get free shipping and a guarantee that you’ll receive your order by Christmas Eve. In 2010, Free Shipping Day was the third-heaviest day of online shopping ever, according to freeshippingday.com.

There are other ways to earn free shipping outside of Free Shipping Day, too.

Sign up for your favorite store’s email notices or “like” them on Facebook so you are the first to get notified about special online events. Often, you’ll receive notices about nonadvertised coupon codes strictly for subscribers. During the holiday season, the special deals usually increase, so I suggest signing up soon.

Amazon has multiple ways to earn free shipping. Thousands of products are eligible for Free Super Saver Shipping once you’ve purchased $25 worth of select merchandise. Products that are eligible for Super Saver Shipping state “eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25” next to the price.

There’s also a special program called Amazon Student for anyone with a “.edu” email address. After signing up, students will receive six months of free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime and exclusive discounts on select products.

Amazon Mom is a free program for caregivers (you don’t have to be a mom) that offers three months of free two-day shipping with Amazon Prime, 20 percent off diapers and wipes that are regularly delivered to your doorstep with the Subscribe & Save program and other promotions geared toward parents.

The free two-day shipping benefits can be extended with the Amazon Mom program by shopping in the Amazon Baby Store. For every $25 spent in the baby store, you’ll get an additional month of Amazon Prime shipping benefits. You can earn up to a year of free Amazon Prime benefits by purchasing products through the Baby Store.

I’m not a Black Friday shopper, but I think Cyber Monday is awesome. On Nov. 28, many retailers will include free shipping in addition to their sale prices. Just be aware of which sites require coupon codes, and don’t forget to enter them at checkout. If a coupon code is required, try stacking it with other discount codes. Some online retailers allow this and some don’t, but it’s always worth a try.

Walmart, Kmart, Sears, Best Buy, Lowe’s, Home Depot and Staples all offer free site-to-store shipping. Walmart, Kmart, Sears, Best Buy and Lowe’s even allow same-day pick-up on select products. Other orders generally take between 7 and 14 days to arrive, but it’s still a good deal if it’s not a product you need immediately.

 Do you know any other free shipping secrets?

Customers wait for a 4:AM doorway opening at Belk in Christiansburg Friday November 26 2010. The first 250 customers received a free after Thanksgiving sale gift card. Photo by Matt Gentry, The Roanoke Times

Ok…I admit it. I’m not a Black Friday shopper. Cyber Monday, definitely. Early bird sales throughout the year, of course. But on Black Friday you won’t catch me anywhere near the mall.

So, I’m asking for your help. I’m featuring reader comments in next week’s column. I’d like to share tips with shoppers on how they can best navigate the Black Friday madness locally.

What are your tips and tricks? Do you make a list for each store? How do you decide what hot-spots to hit first? Do you go with one product in mind, or do you scour every sale for treasures?

If you’d like to help, share your ideas with me in the comments section by Friday. Maybe it will even inspire me to roll out of bed in the wee hours of the morning (or for some stores, head out after Thanksgiving dinner).

The holidays are coming, and that means many of us will be shipping cards and gifts all over. While it’d be much more convenient if we could be two places at once, that’s just not possible.

These shipping costs can get expensive, so check out the free shipping kit on the USPS website.  Choose between a Flat Rate kit or Regional Rate kit, and with it you’ll receive a complete set of Flat Rate or Regional Rate supplies, plus useful information and tips.

I ordered the Flat Rate kit and received all four Flat Rate Boxes, a Gift Card Envelope, a Letter Envelope and a tip sheet.

I’m not sure how long these will be available, so check it out ASAP!

You’ll find up to three coupon booklets in your paper today: SmartSource, Redplum and Everyday Saver.
SmartSource is especially thick, and it includes coupons for Red Lobster, Chuck E. Cheese and Longhorn Steakhouse. There are also coupons aimed directly at any one prepping to cook a big Thanksgiving meal!
Redplum includes restaurant coupons for Arby’s and Honeybaked Ham.

AC Moore and Joann Fabric are officially in the spirit of the holidays.
AC Moore has Christmasy silk florals, stems and seasonal flags 50% off, wreaths, arrangements, garlands, tabletop and wall decor, ornaments, baskets and more 40% off.
The entire stock of frames is 50% off, and tons of activity books, train toys, craft activities and games for kids are under $20. The entire stock of jewelry is 40% off.
Remember to clip the coupons: one good for 50% off a regular priced items, and 55% off + $10 off your total order in the frame shop.

Joann Fabric has select Christmas florals and decor 40 to 50% off, special occassion fabric 50% off, fleece prints 40% off and premium quilting fabrics are $2 off per yard.
There’s also a 3-day sale on patterns, offering Butterick patterns for $1.99, and Vogue patterns for $3.99. This sale is Nov. 17-19.
Most Christmas ornaments, ribbons, partyware, villages, stockings, wrapping paper, cards and more are 50% off, so stock up for all the wrapping and decorating you have ahead of you!
Don’t forget the coupons: One good for 40% off any regular priced item, and one good for 60% off your entire custom framing order. Joann also accepts competitor’s coupons.

Office Max is offering 25% back in MaxPerks Bonus Rewards this week with the coupon on the ad. You can also use the code MPEVENT3 for online purchases.
There are also tons of BOGO deals this week. Envelopes, mailing labels and shipping labels are buy 2, get 1 free; shipping boxes, packaging tape, bubble wrap and packing peanuts are buy1 , get 1 50% off; At-A-Glance and Day Runner wall calendars are buy 1, get 1 50% off; laser and inkjet paper reams are buy 1, get 1 50% off, holiday letterhead and greeting cards are buy 2, get 1 free; Scotch office tape is buy 1, get 1 50% off; and holiday gift wrap and bags are buy 2, get 1 free.

Staples dollar deals for the week are all buy 3, get 1 free, and you can mix and match. Some of the products available include BIC mechanical pencils, mini legal pads, Rose Art colored pencils and memo books for $1; dry erase boards, clipboards, Crayola markers and 3-packs of invisible tape for $2;  Pentel 5-packs of pens, Crayola crayons, CD/DVD envelopes and poly envelopes for $3; and rotary desk organizers, Swingline staplers, Pentel 18-packs of pens for $5.

Sears is having a Family & Friends sale today through Tuesday, and with the coupon in the ad you’ll save:
An extra 20% off clothing, accessories and intimate apparel, 25% off Lands End clothing and footwear, 15% off fine jewelry, bed, bath, window fashions, houswares, luggage and furniture, and 10% off watches, cosmetics, fragrances and mattresses.
Outside of that sale, women’s sweaters and knit tops are up to 50% off, fashions for kids are 40 and 50% off, men’s shirts and fleece are up to 60% off and all shoes and boots are on sale.

Target has tons of Thanksgiving grocery deals, and most are under $1 (Stove Top dressing, Betty Crocker potatoes, Del Monte veggies and more).
The 5-piece Cosco folding table and chair set is on sale for only $39 and could be a lifesaver if you’re expecting a packed house over the holidays.
Christmas trees are up to $75 off, and various decorations for the tree and tabletops are on sale for $3 to $9. Lit holiday decor is 20% off, and gingerbread house kits are only $8.
Select kids games are only $8, and remember to check out your big toy catalog for other deals and coupons.
If you’re an avid Target shopper, a deal on video games offering a free $20 gift card with the purcahse of 2 select games is a good deal, too.
In apparel, men’s Merona beanies and gloves are only $3, women’s Merona fleece is only $12 and women’s crew tees or long pants are only $7.

The CVS free giftcard promotion continues into this week, and some qualifying purchases include Sally Hansen cosmetics, allergy relief medications, Centrum and Caltrate supplements, M&M’s, Skippy peanut butter, Cottonelle toilet paper, Charlie Brown and Peanuts books and ornaments, designer fragrances for womena nd men, and more. This deal is especially nice because you can earn up to 5 free gift cards per week.
Other bargains throughout the store are BOGO deals on Wrigley’s, Hershey’s and Cadbury candy products and CoverGirl, Revlon and Rimmel cosmetics are all buy 1, get 1 50% off.
The free diaper promotion is still going on as well, so buy 6 jumbo packs of Huggies, CVS brand, Luvs or Pampers and you’ll get the 7th pack free.

Walgreens has Palmolive dish liquid for as low as 69 cents, Revlon cosmetics buy 1, get 1 50% off, Ziplock bags as low as 2/$3, Emerald Nuts buy 1, get 1 free and Scunci hair accessories for as low as 99 cents.
In-store coupon making Campbells soups 89 cents, Stove Top dressing and Betty Crocker potatoes 2/$3, canned vegetables 69 cents, aluminum foil 79 cents and more. There are also multiple photos for the photo department.

The new JC Penney Salon insert has multiple coupons for salon services and purchases. Also, doorbuster sales on Friday and Saturday will earn you an extra 40% off select purchases. Their holiday sets will be as low as $14.99 (usually a $20 value) Friday until 1 p.m.

Family Dollar is having a sale this week, plus there are in-store coupons in the ad. Kellogg’s cereals are 2/$5, Poptarts are $4, Del Monte veggies and Swanson broth are 75 cents, Garnier and Aussie products are only $3, select toys are $5 and $10, and Cottonelle bath tissue is $5.
Use the coupons to get 55 cents off of a dozen eggs, and Coca-Cola products for 85 cents each.

Kroger has savings on turkeys and hams this week, with prices ranging from 59 cents to $2.99 per pound. Also, Celery is only 89 cents, butter is 2/$5, Pillsbury crescents, cinnamon rolls and grands biscuits are $1.88, Green Giant and Kroger frozen veggies are 10/$10, select varieties of Cool Whip are 10/$10, avocados are 10/$10, sweet potatoes are 69 cents and salad blends are 2/$5.

Remember, all of these ads may not appear in your paper. However, many retailers post their ads online, so always check there if you’re interested in finding out more details. You can also get printable coupons at both SmartSource and Redplum websites.

First of all, I wanted to let you know about this week’s Regal Cinema mobile coupon. Through Sunday, you can get an order of nachos for $2 with this mobile coupon.

Now, onto the deals you can expect to see Sunday:

You’ll find up to three coupon booklets in your Sunday paper, and inside there will also be numerous restaurant coupons.

AC Moore and Joann Fabric are officially in the spirit of the holidays.
Crafting items, decor, florals and more are all on sale at both retailers. Remember, Joann also accepts competitor’s coupons.

Office Max is offering big MaxPerks Bonus Rewards with a special coupon in their ad. There are also lots of BOGO deals coming your way.

Staples has a new batch of dollar deals next week, so plan to stock up or replenish any school or office supplies you’re starting to run low on.

Sears will be having a Family & Friends sale for a few days next week, and that means extra savings on sale prices.

Target will have tons of Thanksgiving grocery deals, toy bargains and apparel steals.

The CVS free giftcard promotion will continue into next week, and there are multiple BOGO deals as well.
The free diaper promotion will also still be going on.

As usual, Walgreens  has multiple in-store coupons on top of sale prices. Many of the best deals next week will be found in the grocery and photo departments.

JC Penney Salon has a new ad coming, and there are doorbuster sales to be on the lookout for. Also, remember to clip your coupons here.

Family Dollar has competitive sale prices on grocery and personal items next week. Additionally, they’re also offering a few in-store coupons.

Kroger is ready to help you prep for Thanksgiving cooking, so start planning your menu now.

Remember, all of these ads may not appear in your paper. However, many retailers post their ads online, so always check there if you’re interested in finding out more details. You can also get printable coupons at both SmartSource and Redplum websites.

[Update: The Roanoke Zaxby's will be offering veterans a free meal with a drink on Friday. Read more on the Fridge Magnet blog here.]

Friday, November 11, is Veterans Day. And while these special people deserve much more than some freebies and deals, here are some small ways some retailers and restaurants are showing their appreciation:

*7-Eleven stores will be giving away free small Slurpees to active, retired and veteran members of the military, and their immediate family, on Friday. Just show proof of current or former U.S. military service and you’re set.

*Applebees will be rewarding veterans and active duty military with a free entree from a select menu on Friday. All you need to do is show proof of your military service to redeem this deal. Check out more information here.

*This deal is not only good for veterans, but anyone who enjoys patriotic music. Now through Friday you can download a 12-song MP3 for free from Amazon, full of music from the bands and ensembles of the US military.
Just remember, Amazon’s prices can change at any time, so make sure it says “FREE” or “$0.00″ where the price is listed.

Over the past two months, The Roanoke Times has held three couponing workshops, “Everyday Couponing by Everyday People,” led by local “strategic” couponers Justin Dudley and Tonia Phillips.

Almost 300 couponers, beginners and experienced clippers alike, attended the sessions, learning tips from Dudley and Phillips and sharing their own with the crowd.

Here’s a sampling of some of the best tips and tricks from the workshops:

* Getting yourself organized is the first, and most important, step in being a successful shopper.

* Combining your coupons with sale prices is the easiest way to get big discounts.

* If you’re interested in receiving online coupons and other deals, sign up for a free email address through sites such as Google and Yahoo specifically for your coupons. This will keep your personal email account from getting too clogged.

 * Take the time to figure out what works best for you. Where is the best place to find your coupons? Which websites feature the deals you’re most interested in? It can take a few weeks to become established.

* Donate any items you don’t need, whether they’re from your stockpile or freebies you stumbled upon. Consider donating food to local food pantries, hygiene products to shelters and pet food to animal shelters.

* Always make a list of what you’re shopping for, but keep your coupons handy for other deals you come across. Making a list will keep you from spending extra money. However, always have your coupon binder or envelope with you for unadvertised deals or clearance items.

 * If a store is out of a sale product you’re interested in, ask for a rain check. This will guarantee the sale price for you when the retailer gets the merchandise back in stock.

 * Factor register rewards into your savings. Also, be aware that rain checks will give you the sale price on an item, but usually not the register rewards at a later date.

 * Learn the coupon policy of your favorite stores. Joann Fabric, for instance, accepts competitor’s coupons, and Kohl’s allows you to stack coupons for dollars and percentages off (you can combine multiple dollar-off coupons or a percent-off coupon with dollar-off coupons, but not multiple percentage-off coupons). Most grocery stores and drugstores allow you to stack store coupons and manufacturer coupons.

 * Send any expired coupons to military families, where they can use the coupons for up to six months after they have expired. Check out www.operationexpiration.net or this column I did a while back for more information.

Know of any more couponing secrets? Share them below!

Each month of the Chick-fil-A calendar includes coupons for freebies. Photo courtesy of shopchick-fil-a.com/.

Lately I’ve come across lots of foodie deals to share, but just haven’t gotten the time to post them! So here you go, a fresh batch of coupons to satisfy your belly:

*The Chick-fil-A 2012 calendar is now available, and for the small price of $6 you’ll receive coupons good for every month. The calendar features silly cow pictures for each month, too, but there’s nothing silly about the freebies you’ll get. You can easily earn back the money spent on the calendar with the coupons.
In the past, they’ve included free drinks, free sandwiches, free breakfast items and more. The coupons are great to keep on hand for quick snacks or meals while you’re out. You can order these calendars online, or find them in local restaurants.

*“Like” the Pilot Travel Centers on Facebook and you can access a printable coupon good for a free hot beverage. This coupon is good through the month of November, so it’s ideal for anyone hitting the road for Thanksgiving.

*Throughout the month of November, Subway is offering 6 inch subs buy 1, get 1 free every day before 9 a.m. There are a number of combinations with this deal, but it does mean you could get a breakfast sub and a free sub for lunch (or two breakfast subs, or two regular subs…you get the idea). Even better: There’s no coupon necessary to get this deal.
I can’t guarantee all locations will be participating, so ask your preferred location before ordering.

* In other Subway news, SaveMore (a daily deal site) is offering $10 Subway gift cards for only $5. These gift cards are good nation wide, but there is a limit of 1 per household. Also, this deal isonly available to new SaveMore customers.

*Click here for a new printable Quiznos coupon offering a free sub when you purchase a sub of equal or greater value, plus a regular fountain drink. There are some exclusions, but this is still a pretty good deal. This coupon is good through Nov. 14.

November is a busy travel month, so take advantage of these deals while you’re running around visiting with family and friends.

Know of any other deals I missed? Share them!

Doesn't everyone have a box like this at their house? Trade-in your old lights and get something shiny and new at Home Depot.

Now through Nov. 13 (this coming Sunday), you can take up to 5 strands of old Christmas lights to Home Depot and get a discount on new lights.

In return for your old lights, you’ll get $3 off of Home Accent LED lights, $4 off Martha Stewart Living or GE LED lights or $5 off Ecosmart or Lightshow LED lights with this coupon.

You’ll receive a discount for each string you trade-in (up to 5), so take advantage of this deal if you have a string that mysteriously won’t work (or does that just happen to me?) or has a lot of burnt out bulbs.

You will receive up to two coupon booklets in the paper today: one SmartSource and one Redplum. They’re both stocked with coupons that will come in handy with any holiday cooking you’re prepping to do.

You could also receive restaurant fliers, all containing coupons, for Outback Steakhouse, Logan’s Roadhouse and Smokey Bones.

Toys R Us sent out their big toy book last weekend, so now it’s Walmart and Target’s turn.
Check out Walmart’s toy selection, and remember to use the Christmas Price Guarantee through Dec. 25!

Target has a big toy book, too, and there are over $350 of coupons inside. The prices in this book are good through Nov. 23, which is just before Black Friday.
Some of the best deals at Target throught the rest of the store this week will be on Blu-ray movies, you’ll get a free $10 gift card when you buy two select titles, and apparel. Cifco mix & match items for kids are $4.50, sweaters for girls are $15, skirts and pants for kids are $12, and Merona wool-blend peacoats for women are only $30.

Autumn crafts and decor are a distant memory at AC Moore, Michaels and Joann Fabric. Now is the time for greenery, ornaments and other wintery crafts.

Michaels has their Christmas trees $80 to $100 off. Christmas trees sell fast when there’s a good sale, so go early if you’re interested. Christmas ornaments and floral picks are 40% off, and holiday ribbon is 50% off.
For 5 days only, today through Thursday, solid color ribbon spools are 4/$1, Christmas stock paper is 6/$1, foam brushes are 20/$1 and christmas stems and bushes by Ashland are 99 cents.  Pre-lit, 4 ft. trees are only $19.99, bakeware is buy 2, get 1 free and Christmas village collections are 50% off.
Of course there are coupons, too: One for 50% off a regular priced item today through Thursday, one for 25% off your entire purchase Nov. 11 & 12, 25% off your entire frame purchase and 25% off a custom framing order Nov. 6 through 12.

AC Moore is having a big 4-day sale with select frame 60% off, the entire stock of Crayola 50% off, select garlands and wreaths for $1.99 and Poinsettia pots for $3.99.
All week winter stems, fashion and velvet ribbons and bows, Christmas tabletop and wall decor and ornaments are 50% off. Goods for cake and candy making will be 30 to 40% off all week, too. Christmas papercrafting, holiday arrangements, wreaths and winter baskets will be 40% off.
There’s also information about the store’s new rewards program, and coupons offering 25% off your total purchase tonight only, 40% off any regular priced item today through Wednesday and 50% off any regular priced item Thursday through Saturday.

Joann Fabric is having a Veteran’s Day sale, and all week anyone who can present proof of military service, past or present, will receive 20% off their total purchase.
Plenty of holiday items are bargains here too. Gift wrap and ribbon spools, Christmas bushes, garlands and picks, outdoor decor and ornaments are all 50% off. Various fabrics will also be on sale for 25 to 50% off, including fleece prints.
You’ll have coupons for 40% off any regular priced item, 10% off your total purchase and 50% off your custom framing order, but remember that Joann takes competitors coupons as well!

Big Lots has a special deal for Veterans on Nov. 11 — 10% off your entire purcahse with a Military ID.
Other deals throughout the week include DVD titles for $2.88, Christmas trees from $44 to $60, Christmas lights from $1.88 to $9, select video games for Wii, Xbox and PS3 for $10 and various brand-name toys and games for only $10.

Belk’s Veteran’s Day sale includes a coupon for $10 off your first $50 or more on regular or sale priced merchandise today through Thursday. Red dot clearance is 65% or more off original ticketed price, and various apparel for the family 40 to 50% off throughout the store. Holiday dinnerware and decor will be 30 to 50% off.

JC Penney is claiming to have “The Biggest Sale of the All” today and Monday – hopefully that’s true! Everything in the store is on sale, plus there’s a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $25 or more with very limited exclusions, or 10% off all furniture and mattresses.
Some of the sale items include Okie Dokie kids’ clothes for $5.99, boys’ and girls’ Arizona tops and jeans 40 to 50% off, women’s dresses 40 to 50% off and men’s Stafford shirts for only $14.99.

Toys R Us has tons of great deals this week, and on top of that tons of opportunities to earn freebies with purchase. Board games range from $1 to $20, and there are buy 1, get 1 50% off deals on play sets like Mega Bloks, Totally Me!, real food sets and more. There are too many free gifts with purchase to cover, but I’ll just say that there’s probably something for every kid.
Don’t forget the coupon on the cover offering a $10 gift card with a qualifying purchase of $75 or more.

Walgreens has tons of in-store coupons available in their ad this week, and many of the sale items have manufacturer coupons available, too. Remember to stack those in-store and manufacturer coupons for the best deal! Some of the top bargains include Progresso soups 4/$5, Scotch tape for 99 cents (gift wrapping season is coming!), Renuzit air fresheners 3/$1.99 and various kitchen staples for only 99 cents.

The free gift card promotion continues through this week at CVS, so be aware of what items you need to spend $30 on to get your free $10 card. Other good deals throughout the store this week include various grocery items (like Gatorade, 7Up, Emerald Nuts and Bumble Bee tuna) 10/$10, Jif peanut butter or Smucker’s fruit spreads 2/$2, an automatic free $10 gift card with the purchase of an Entertainment Coupon Savings Book, $3 in ExtraBucks with the purchase of 3 American Greetings cards, and buy 1, get 1 50% off all Neutrogena skin care and cosmetics.
If you’ve stocked up on diaper coupons, there’s a great chance to save. Buy 6 jumbo packs of Huggies, CVS brand, Luvs or Pampers diapers and you’ll get the 7th free.

Staples and Office Max both have some great deals $5 and under this week
At Office Max you’ll find binders, legal pads, desk pads and peel-to-seal envelopes for $5, Scotch tape 3-packs or Post-It Note 4-packs, Pentel pens, Scotch shipping tape and Office Max envelopes for $3, and Scotch tape designer despensers, Expo markers and Post-It 2-packs for $1.

Staples is offering composition books, fashion notebooks and dry-erase erasers for $1, Clorox wipes, Scotch super glue 4-packs and dry-erase board cleaner for $2, cork tile 4-packs, Post-It 12-packs, Sharpie 12-packs and Expo washable dry-erase marker 6-packs for $5.
Also, there are various mix-and-match buy 3, get 1 free deals for $5 and under on the back of the ad.

Kroger has a new batch of items participating in its buy 10, save $5 Mega Event, including Del Monte vegetables, Campbell’s cream of mushroom or chicken soups, Swanson broth, Steamfresh veggies, Pepsi sodas, Kraft salad dressing and Kellogg’s and Quaker cereals.
There’s also a sale on packaged meat, including Oscar Mayer, Gunnoe’s and Kroger brand products.

Remember, all of these ads may not appear in your paper. However, many retailers post their ads online, so always check there if you’re interested in finding out more details. You can also get printable coupons at both SmartSource and Redplum websites.

You will receive up to two coupon booklets in the paper Sunday, as well as up to three restaurant fliers containing coupons.

Toys R Us sent out their big toy book last weekend, so now it’s Walmart and Target’s turn.
If you buy from Walmart, remember to use the Christmas Price Guarantee through Dec. 25!

Some of the best deals at Target throught the rest of the store this week will be on entertainment and apparel for the family.

Autumn crafts and decor are a distant memory at AC Moore, Michaels and Joann Fabric. Now is the time for greenery, ornaments and other wintery crafts. Of course, all three will have coupons available, too.

Big Lots has a special deal for Veterans on Nov. 11, so be sure to stop by and take advantage of the savings.
Other deals throughout the week include entertainment products, and some Christmas decor items.

Belk’s Veteran’s Day sale includes sales throughout the store, plus a coupon for additional savings.

JC Penney is claiming to have “The Biggest Sale of the All” on Sunday. That’s very possible, with almost everything in the store on sale, plus a coupon.

Toys R Us has tons of great deals next week, and on top of that there will be tons of opportunities to earn freebies with purchase. There’s also a coupon to combine with all of those sale prices.

Walgreens has tons of in-store coupons available in their ad next week, and many of the sale items have manufacturer coupons available, too. Remember to stack those in-store and manufacturer coupons for the best deal!

The free gift card promotion continues through next week at CVS, so keep an eye out for the new items you’ll need to spend $30 on to get your free $10 card.
If you’ve stocked up on diaper coupons, there will be a great chance to save here.

Staples and Office Max both have some great deals $5 and under next week. There haven’t been sales like this here since back to school time. Seems like a long time ago now, doesn’t it?

Kroger has a new batch of items participating in its buy 10, save $5 Mega Event next week. Think about what holiday cooking needs you’ll have in the coming weeks before shopping!

Remember, all of these ads may not appear in your paper. However, many retailers post their ads online, so always check there if you’re interested in finding out more details. You can also get printable coupons at both SmartSource and Redplum websites.

Regal Cinemas was releasing weekly coupons this past winter, but mysteriously stopped during the summer months.

Well, good news! The weekly coupons are back, and you can expect to see something new every Tuesday.

I loved these coupons before because they really are great bargains.

For example, this week you can download this coupon  to your mobile phone and get a small drink and a small popcorn for $2 each. If you’ve been to the movies in the past 10 years, you know that the price of the extra goodies for snacking can be sky-high. A price like $2 is much more manageable.

Now, obviously this deal isn’t quite as good as the old system because they’re not accepting printed coupons. You must have a browser enabled phone to get the deal, so unfortunately that excludes a lot of people — even myself at this very moment.

I’ll try to keep you updated on the new coupons each week. They’re good Tuesday through Sunday each week, and the closest location for most readers is the Regal Valley View 16.

A day at the spa is one of the most relaxing ways to spend your time, but that relaxation can be immediately offset when it comes time to pay the bill. With your basic manicure running at least $20 these days, most of us are treating ourselves less and less.

Luckily, at-home manicures, pedicures, facials and hair treatments are easier than ever. Most of us have the ingredients for these remedies in our pantries, and drugstore aisles are stocked with products that have greatly improved over the years.

A co-worker of mine has incorporated a French manicure kit into her beauty routine, and it only runs about $6 per box. These plastic nails glue directly to your nail and last about a week before they need replacing. You can choose to file down nails that are too long for your liking, but she pointed out that Broadway now makes “petite” nails with no filing required. Try a few different brands to see which fits your nail bed the best.

I’ve personally had great luck with the Sally Hansen French Manicure Kit, which you can find anywhere between $5 and $10, depending on which kit you purchase. These kits include stickers that can be used as stencils to get a crisp line on your tips, plus your basic white and pink, or clear, coats for painting. The process is surprisingly easy if you follow the directions and allow plenty of drying time (which is the biggest challenge for me).

The Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail polish strips have also worked for me in the past. These strips run about $8 and last about two weeks. They’re great for someone who wants to liven up their nails, as many of the strips have designs printed on them (which would cost extra in a nail salon). A benefit: These strips also don’t require any drying time.

Sally Hansen often has coupons available both online in print, too, making these two products even more of a bargain.

Masks, oils and scrubs are also much more affordable when you apply them yourself instead of making a trip to the spa. Pick up any of these treatments in the beauty aisles of the drugstore, or consider making them yourself. The ingredients for these products, such as honey, yogurt, milk, cucumbers, oats, lavender, sugar, salt, almonds and various oils (including coconut and tea tree, as well as olive oil), are affordable, and possibly in your kitchen right now.

A quick Google search provides endless recipes for treatments that are great for your scalp, dry skin on elbows, knees and feet, removing unwanted facial oil and other side effects of dry, winter air.

A basic mixture of one part oil (baby oil or coconut oil are my favorites) and two parts sugar or sea salt can be an easy solution for troubling dry skin areas. Salt can be harsher on the skin and can cause more dryness if you don’t moisturize afterward, so consider using sugar if you have sensitive skin.

What do you do to pamper yourself at home?

Share your own tips, tricks and recipes and you’ll be entered to win an Ecotools gift set.

To win the gift set, which includes a bath brush, bath & shower gloves and a hanging travel bag, just leave your tips and/or recipes by Friday at 4 p.m. A winner will be announced that afternoon.

Now, give these beauty treatments a try next time you’re in need of some pampering:

These recipes are courtesy of Erika Katz, author of “Bonding Over Beauty.”

Strawberry Scrub

The strawberry exfoliating scrub smells sweet and truly exfoliates dry flaky skin. Strawberries are also rich in salicylic acid and will help prevent breakouts.
4 pureed strawberries
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
4 Tbsp. sugar
Mix all the ingredients and store in an air-tight jar.

Bath Salts

2 cups Epsom Salts
1⁄4 cup Cake Mate Red Sugar Crystals (the kind you use to decorate cupcakes)
8 drops essential oil (like lavender, orange or grapefruit)
Place the salt into a bowl. Add the sugar crystals and mix well. Add the essential oil and mix well with a fork. Place the salts in a jar with a tight fitting lid to keep the oils intact. (Canning jars work beautifully.) After a day, mix well again to ensure that the oils have blended.

Banana Hair Mask
1 mashed banana
1 egg
3 Tbsp. milk
5 Tbsp. olive oil
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl. Using a wide-toothed comb to apply the mask to your hair from the roots to the ends. Let the mask soak into your hair for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse out the mask with cold water, then shampoo and condition hair as usual.

Believe it or not, Amazon’s Countdown to Black Friday started this morning. It seems so early, doesn’t it?!

This yearly countdown always sucks me in. There are new deals introduced almost every hour, but you have to grab them up quick — there’s only a limited number of each product available.

These discounts are huge. For example, right now you can pick up the complete series of “Arrested Development,” (3 seasons) for only $28.99 ($89.98 value). 

I’m an avid Amazon shopper throughout the year, but November is a whole new game. From the beginning of the month through Cyber Monday, there are killer deals to be found throughout the site.

If you’re shopping for movies and video games you can get some especially good deals. While they don’t tell you exactly what’s coming up in each sale, they give pretty good hints — if it sounds like something similar to what you’re looking for you know exactly when to check back later.

I don’t go to the stores on Black Friday, but I do stalk these deals down throughout the month.

Which do you prefer? Have you had success with Amazon’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals?

If anyone is about to take on potty training with their child, click here to order a free interactive potty training DVD from Pullups. The description says the DVD will help you ”discover techniques, tips, songs and games to help you and your child succeed.” I think anything that can make this process easier, especially a freebie, is great.

Bath & Body Works is offering $10 off of a $30 purchase now through Nov. 20 with this printable coupon or the code TENSHIP online. Bath & Body is a great place to stock up on Christmas gifts, so remember to print this coupon before heading to the mall.

Downy has a new batch of printable coupons worth $10 here. Print them before they disappear!

Target has new toy coupons here, and since they’re by Target it means you can stack them with manufacturer coupons — like the printable Fisher Price coupons I posted about before.

Also, remember to visit Coupons.com, Redplum and SmartSource to print out the new batch of coupons for November. Some coupons reach their print limit very quickly, so check it out ASAP.