A new month means new printable coupons are available online. If you haven’t yet, go now and print your coupons while they’re still available.

Here’s a run down of all the sites to visit:
*Coupons.com
*Redplum
*Smartsource
*Coupon Network
*Target
*P&G

Heads up CVS shoppers!

If you are a pharmacy customer, head over to the website now and sign up for an online pharmacy account. Once you create your account you’ll be rewarded with a coupon offering $3 off your next shopping visit.

You can also earn ExtraBucks by managing your prescriptions online. Read more details in this blog post from January.

If you’re a regular Kroger customer there’s an easy way to earn two times the gas points while shopping on weekends through June.

Download this digital coupon to your Kroger card now, and you’ll immediately start earning twice the gas points on grocery purchases made Friday through Sunday now through June 30. You only have to download the coupon once to earn more points each weekend.

Exclusions from this deal include pharmacy and gift card purchases. Additional restrictions may apply.

You may have noticed the coupon in Wednesday’s paper as well (apologies for not pointing it out sooner, I was just returning from vacation), so feel free to use the hard copy instead of downloading the deal if you still have yesterday’s newspaper.

It’s that time again — I have a new list of restaurant freebies and deals. Know of any others? Share them in the comments section below!

Now through Friday (May 17) you can use this printable coupon to get a $5 bottomless lunch bowl at O’Charley’s until 3 p.m. daily. This offer is valid on dine-in purchases only.

Outback Steakhouse also has a new printable coupon offering $8 off the purchase of two entrees or $4 off the purchase of one. This offer is valid on both dine-in and Curbside Take-Away purchases through May 21.

You can also get $5 off the purchase of two lunch entrees from Outback Steakhouse with this printable coupon. This offer is valid on both dine-in and Curbside Take-Away purchases through May 19.

Today and tomorrow you can use this printable coupon to get a free flavored waffle from Waffle House. You can choose from chocolate chip, peanut butter, blueberry or strawberry. This coupon is valid on dine-in visits only.

According to the Smokey Bones Facebook page, when you pick up a $25 gift card you’ll get an additional $5 credit for free.

As many of you know, Steak n Shake opens in Roanoke on Thursday. Here are a couple promotions to keep in mind:
*With the purchase of every $8 spent, kids can eat free on Saturday and Sunday. Kid plates exclude drinks and shakes.
*From 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. customers can get drinks and shakes for half-price during happy hour. 
No coupon is necessary for either of these promotions.

Ruby Tuesday is offering a free $15 bonus coupon when you purchase a $50 gift card now through June 16. Gift card purchases can be digital or plastic.

Also, don’t forget about these gift card promotions that I posted about last week:

Outback Steakhouse : From now through June 16 with every purchase of a $50 gift card you’ll get a free $10 bonus card that’s valid May 13 through July 15. Give the free bonus card with the gift card or keep it as a special treat for yourself.

Applebee’s : With each $50 gift card purchase — digital or hard copy — you’ll receive a free $10 Applebee’s bonus card now through July 1.

How will you be celebrating mom on Sunday? Here are a few freebies and deals I’ve found to help you save a few dollars:

O’Charley’s is offering moms a free slice of pie on Sunday. Brunch starts at 9 a.m., so you have all day to take advantage of this deal.

Shoney’s is catering to those with a sweet tooth, too, by offering a free slice of strawberry pie to moms on Sunday with the purchase of a meal or entree.

If Mom is a fan of Outback Steakhouse they have a great gift card deal. From now through June 16 with every purchase of a $50 gift card you’ll get a free $10 bonus card that’s valid May 13 through July 15. Give the free bonus card with the gift card or keep it as a special treat for yourself.

Applebee’s has a similar promotion going on now. With each $50 gift card purchase — digital or hard copy — you’ll receive a free $10 Applebee’s bonus card now through July 1.

Walgreens is offering shoppers a free 8X10 print now through May 11 when you order online and use the code COLLAGE4U and choose in-store pickup.

Know of any other great deals? Share them below!

Yesterday Kroger shocked some shoppers when it posted this message on its Facebook page about how the grocer will no longer be doubling coupons:

“In an effort to provide you with the most value for your dollar, we are updating our coupon policy and implementing a New Lower Prices program. Effective May 12, 2013, we are discontinuing our practice of doubling (up to 50 cents) manufacturer coupons in the Mid-Atlantic region. We will continue to accept manufacturer coupons and other coupons at face value, including: digital coupons, e-coupons, …Catalina coupons and printables. We will also be investing additional resources into lowering prices for our customers on everyday items. We understand that this is a significant change. We hope that you come and see our new low prices – as well as the many other ways to save — for yourself.
• Downloadable, clip-free coupons daily on www.kroger.com
• Special sales events such as Mega Event and Cart Busters
• Fuel savings program that offers up to $1 off per gallon at Kroger Fuel Centers
• 10¢ off per gallon gas savings opportunity at participating Shell stations
• Loyal Customer Mailings containing customized coupons.
• $4/$10 generic drug pricing (see Pharmacy for details)”

Amanda Codispoti has more about this announcement and the retailer’s lower prices on the Storefront blog.

I’m interested in knowing what this means for your shopping habits. Will you continue to be a Kroger shopper?

The gas points are still valuable, but is that enough? The digital coupons Kroger is promoting so heavily can’t be combined with manufacturer coupons, unlike the paper store coupons Food Lion offers. Will that encourage you to switch, or is the New Lower Prices program enough to keep your business?

Lately there have been some news stories about the decline of coupons (like this USA Today story). Over the past year coupon values have dropped, the number of coupons available has dropped and the number of coupons redeemed in stores has dropped. If shoppers aren’t using as many coupons, will this change at Kroger be a big deal for shoppers?

Tell me your thoughts in the comments section below.

Here are some new printable deals for local restaurants and retailers. Be sure to check the expiration dates — some expire soon.

Retail
*Old Navy: $15 off a $75 purchase (Expires April 24)
*JC Penney: 20% off purchases in store or online or 10% off furniture (Expires April 17)
*JoAnn Fabric: 50% off any regular priced item (Expires April 20)
*Michaels: 40% off any regular priced item, 50% off regular priced purchase of Jolee’s embellishments, or 50% off + 30% off custom framing (Expires April 20)
*AC Moore: 50% off any regular priced item and 60% off custom framing (Expires April 20)
*Kohl’s: 20% off everything in stores and online (Expires April 17)
*Belk: $20 off a purchase of $100 or more of Karen Kane products (Expires April 19)
*Belk: 20% off fine jewelry (Expires April 20)
*Ulta: $3.50 off a purchase of $10 or more (Expires April 20)

Dining
*Sbarro: Free skinny slice with the purchase of any pizza slice or stromboli at (Expires April 30)
*Bruster’s : 75 cents off a waffle cone and 99 cents for a kid’s dino or dirt sundae (Expires April 17)
*Olive Garden: $3 off two adult lunch entrees (Expires April 25)

Other dining promotions to remember:

Now through May 5 Olive Garden has brought back the “Buy One, Take One” offer. With this deal you can get one entree with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks in restaurants, plus you get a second entree to take home all for $12.95.  For more information, click here.

Remember that all month long at Subway you can get 6″ subs buy one, get one free before 9 a.m. Mix and match breakfast sandwiches and deli sandwiches at participating locations.

On April 26 Pretzelmaker will be celebrating National Pretzel Day by giving away free salted or unsalted pretzels. There’s no coupon necessary to get this deal, just mention National Pretzel Day when you visit.

The P&G family of brands. Graphic courtesy of P&G.

SmartSource and RedPlum, both regulars in your Sunday paper, have offered printable coupons for some time. P&G has been great about offers for coupons via mail, but unfortunately it didn’t have any printables online — until now!

Now you can visit the P&G Everyday website and print coupons for brands like Crest, Vidal Sassoon, Pampers, Tide, Covergirl, and more. Coupon values range from 40 cents to $2.

What’s your favorite printable coupon site?

Here are some new dining deals that don’t require a coupon:

First, don’t forget about Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry’s — which is happening today.

Also, today you can get a free order of coconut shrimp at Outback Steakhouse. Just mention TourneyTizer to your server to get the deal.

Now through May 5 Olive Garden has brought back the “Buy One, Take One” offer. With this deal you can get one entree with unlimited soup or salad and breadsticks in restaurants, plus you get a second entree to take home all for $12.95.  For more information, click here.

Remember that all month long at Subway you can get 6″ subs buy one, get one free before 9 a.m. Mix and match breakfast sandwiches and deli sandwiches at participating locations.

Now for some coupons:

*$5 off a $15 purchase at Smokey Bones (Expires April 14)
*Free skinny slice with the purchase of any pizza slice or stromboli at Sbarro (Expires April 30)
*Half-price Lobsterfest entree when you buy a full-price entree at Red Lobster (Expires April 14)
*$1 pretzel from Aunti Anne’s (Expires April 9)
*75 cents off a waffle cone and 99 cents for a kid’s dino or dirt sundae from Bruster’s (Expires April 17)
*Free curly fries or potato cakes in honor of Tax Day from Arby’s (April 15 only)
*Free 16 oz. shake with the purchase of a regular priced sandwich from Arby’s (Expires April 9) 
*$1 off any regular or large sub from Quiznos (Expires April 16)

Know of any other great foodie deals? Share them!

(UPDATE: The print limit has been reached. Thanks to reader Jodie for the heads up.)

Head over to the CVS website now and print this popular CVS Deal of the Day: A printable shopping pass offering 20% off all regular priced purchases.

This coupon is valid today and tomorrow.

A limited number can be printed, so if you’re interested get your’s now!

We’ve got a holiday weekend on the horizon, which for some might mean you’ll be busy, busy, busy visiting family, preparing meals and helping out the Easter Bunny.

If that’s the case, take advantage of these dining deals and treat yourself.

First, here are two deals that I posted before that are still available:

Waffle House has a new printable offering a free bowl of oatmeal. This offer is good Monday through Friday for dine-in only, but no other purchase is necessary. This coupon expires April 2.

Sbarro has a new printable Facebook offer for $1 off a slice of pizza. This coupon expires on April 7.
There’s also this printable coupon offering a free skinny slice with the purchase of any pizza slice or stromboli. This coupon expires April 30.

Now, here are some new deals to check out:

Visit Red Lobster’s Facebook page where you can find a coupon for a half-price Lobsterfest entree when you buy a full-price entree. The coupon will be emailed to you after you click the “claim offer” link. This coupon expires April 14.

Use this printable coupon from Olive Garden and you can get $5 off the purchase of two adult entrees. You can pair this coupon on the 2/$25 dining deal — a dinner for two for $20 is awesome! This coupon expires on April 4.

Outback Steakhouse has a couple different deals going on now.
*First of all, this Sunday (March 31) kids can eat free with the purchase of an adult entree. No coupon required!
*Another great deal that doesn’t require a coupon is the “TourneyTizer” promotion that’s going on now. Click here to go vote for your favorite appetizer, and then on April 2 you can visit Outback and get a free grilled shrimp or chicken artichoke flatbread appetizer (whichever wins the website contest) with any purchase. Just mention “TourneyTizer” to your server.

Another steakhouse deal comes from Long Horn Steakhouse. Use this printable coupon on your next visit and you can save $3 off the purchase of two adult lunch entrees. This coupon expires on April 13.

Fans of Smokey Bones will appreciate this coupon offering $10 off a purchase of $25 or more. This coupon expires March 31.

Next time you’re at the mall and need a snack make sure you have this printable coupon from Auntie Anne’s offering a pretzel for just $1. This coupon expires April 9.

Barnes & Noble has another special Starbucks coupon available here offering two-for-one espresso beverages from the time the store opens until noon. This coupon expires March 31.

Blimpie has a new Facebook offer for BOGO six-inch subs with the purchase of a 22-oz. drink. This coupon expires March 31.

Craving something sweet? Use this coupon from Baskin Robbins to receive $3 off any cake priced $15 or more. This coupon expires March 31.

Also, don’t forget about these offers from 7-Eleven I posted earlier this week.

Know of any other great dining deals out there? Share them!

If you need a daily chocolate boost, check out this offer from 7-Eleven.

Just click here to download the store’s app, and then you can access an exclusive coupon offering a free Snickers bar today only.

Some other goodies 7-Eleven is offering include $1 coffee on Wednesdays and a free 16-oz. Pepsi with the purchase of any fresh sandwich (both of these offers are good for the remainder of March).

Customers can also score a free MiO Liquid Water Enhancer in stores on April 23.

Start your holiday weekend off right with these new printable coupons:

Arby’s is offering customers Reuben sandwiches buy one, get one free Friday through Sunday with this printable coupon.

If you’ve already caught spring fever and can’t wait to get out in the yard, be sure to print out this Lowe’s coupon offering $10 off a $50 purchase. The coupon doesn’t expire until May 18, but you never know when it will disappear online.

Starbucks is offering customers a free tall caramel or hazelnut macchiato with this printable coupon. You’ve got some time to use it, too — this coupon doesn’t expire until March 31.
Meanwhile, at Barnes & Noble Starbucks locations you can get espresso beverages buy one, get one free with this printable coupon from opening until noon, now through March 31. (There are also some other B&N coupons at that link.)

Olive Garden has a sweet new deal for families. Click here to print a coupon offering a free kid’s meal with the purchase of an adult entree. You can get up to two kid’s meals free with the purchase of two adult meals per coupon, and it doesn’t expire until March 21.

Kohl’s is having a Friends and Family Sale this weekend, and you can save even more with this printable coupon offering an additional 20% off your entire purchase in stores and online. This coupon is valid Friday through Sunday.

This weekend at Macy’s you can get an additional 10% to 15% off select sale and clearance purchases with this printable coupon. This coupon expires on Sunday.

Hungry? Denny’s is celebrating bacon in its restaurants right now, and you can sign up here to get a coupon for two free bacon strips next time you dine. You can also use this printable coupon to get 20% off your entire check. This coupon is good through March 23.

Craving something different? Smokey Bones is offering customers $5 off a $15 purchase with this printable coupon, which is valid through Sunday.

If you’re thinking of hitting the mall this weekend, be sure to print this coupon from Aeropostale offering $10 off any purchase of $50 or more.  This deal is good through Sunday.

Don’t forget this printable coupon from The Limited too — you can use it to get $50 off a $150 purchase, $30 off a $100 purchase or $15 off a $30 purchase. This coupon expires March 19.

This is a fun freebie from Ulta: Print this coupon and you can get a free travel size of Redken hair spray. This coupon is good through Saturday, and no other purchase is necessary.
Additionally, you can use this printable coupon at Ulta to save $3.50 off of a purchase of $10 or more now through March 30.

Also, don’t forget about the return of JC Penney coupons, which I posted about yesterday.

Know of any other great coupons I missed? Share them!

(Update, 11:40 a.m.:
I received this message from Kate Coultas, a JC Penney representative:

“…Along with a return to targeted, meaningful sales offering even lower prices – which we announced in January – we will now also be offering coupons as an extra shopping incentive around key shopping periods and as an invitation to welcome customers to check out the exciting new brands and shops now available at jcpenney. Today’s coupon is great timing as our new Joe Fresh shops open this week.  While we are not disclosing the exact number of planned coupons for competitive reasons, we won’t feature nearly as many as we used to do before the transformation. The purpose of our renewed promotion strategy is very simple: drive traffic to our stores by reconnecting with our core customers and enticing new customers to try jcp.”

For more information about the Joe Fresh shop, click the link below to read my column from March 2 or visit Amanda Codispoti’s Storefront blog.
End update)

Well, something must have changed between now and my update on JC Penney on March 2 — there’s a new JC Penney coupon available today.

Click here and you’ll find a coupon offering $10 off a $50 purchase. Print the coupon out to use in stores or use the code SPENDIT for online orders. This coupon expires on Sunday, March 17.

I’ve contacted a JC Penney rep and hope to have more information about the return of coupons by this afternoon. I’ll update as I learn more.

(Update: It looks like CVS had a print limit on this deal and it has already been reached. That was fast! Congrats to those of you who jumped on it early. If the retailer decides to add more I’ll update again.)

If you’ve never checked out the Deal of the Day section of CVS’ website, today would be a great time to start.

Head over there now and print your coupon for $2 off a purchase of $10 or more. This coupon won’t be available after midnight, so print it now before you forget.

This coupon is valid on purchases today and tomorrow (March 12 and 13) in stores only. Exclusions include alcohol, gift cards, lottery, money orders, prescriptions, postage stamps, pre-paid cards, tobacco products or items reimbursed by a governmental program. Additionally, this coupon cannot be combined with any other CVS/pharmacy coupons (like a percentage off coupon, it should still work with Extra Bucks).

Note: This is a popular deal so the website is moving pretty slow. Be patient and it will eventually load.

Good news — you don’t have to wait until Sunday for your coupon fix. On page 5 of today’s newspaper you’ll find three Stein Mart coupons.

*30% off entire purchase of red dot clearance
*20% off any one sale item (there are two of these)

All three coupons are good today and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Stop in for savings up to 80% off the retailer’s original discount prices.

(Updated: Red Lobster is now in the mix with this Facebook coupon offering $10 off with the purchase of two Lobsterfest entrees. Click “Get offer” and the coupon will be emailed to you. This coupon expires March 24.)

In light of the forecast calling for chilly rain and snow showers over the next day or so, I thought it might be nice to shower readers with some printable coupons. (Click the links to find your coupons.)

Foodie:
*Outback Steakhouse: “Like” the restaurant on Facebook and you’ll find printables offering $5 off one dinner entree or $10 off two entrees. Your coupons will be emailed to you after signing up and expire March 31.

*Carrabba’s: The restuarant currently has a page of three coupons that all expire April 13.
-$10 off the purchase of any entree with the purchase of an additional entree (there are two of these)
-Save $3 on Amore Mondays (choose from the $15 or $18 price fixed menu)

*Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet: $1 off each dinner buffet (up to 4 people) with the purchase of a beverage. This is for dine-in only and excludes kids and senior prices. This coupon expires March 19.

*Subway: Buy any 6″ or foot long sub plus a 30 oz. drink and get a second sub (of equal or lesser value) free. Not valid with double stacked or premium sandwiches. This coupon expires March 19.

Retail:
*Kohl’s: $5 off a purchase of $25 or more in stores. This coupon expires March 10.

*Radio Shack: Click “get offer” and a coupon offering $10 off a purchase of $20 or more will be emailed to you. This coupon expires March 30.

*Old Navy: $5 off a purchase of $25 or more. This coupon expires March 13 and is valid in stores only. 

*Toys R Us and Babies R Us: 20% off any regular priced item. There are some exclusions and this coupon expires March 9.

*Ulta: $3.50 off a purchase of $10 or more in stores or online. This coupon expires March 9.

*Yankee Candle: $20 off your next Yankee Candle purchase of $45 or more from Yankee Candle or participating retailers (excluding Target and Kohl’s). This coupon expires March 17.

Easter is just one month away — hard to believe, right?

If your household will be dying eggs this year, here are a few coupons that will make you happy.

Visit the PAAS Facebook page and “like” it to unlock printable coupons offering $1 off two egg decorating kits, or $1.50 off of three egg decorating kits. These coupons don’t expire until April 1.

Then, head over to the Incredible Edible Egg where you can print a coupon offering 55 cents off the purchase of any two one-dozen cartons of eggs. This coupon doesn’t expire until March 29.
Hint: After printing the coupon click your browser’s “back” button three times to print it again.

The hype around extreme couponing seems to have slowed recently, maybe because shoppers are returning to their normal habits, especially those who are only shopping for one or two.

That’s the category I fall into. As a 20-something woman who only shops for myself and the occasional visitor, I have certain items I keep back-ups of and hunt for certain coupons, but I don’t have (or need) an entire room dedicated to a stock pile of stuff.

So, what are some ways you can reach this happy medium of couponing and saving money without going overboard? It’s pretty simple.

Coupons

I don’t just write the weekly blog about Sunday inserts for show. I comb through my Sunday paper just like other bargain hunters scoping out the best deals of the week. I clip the coupons I need and at times will do a little trade with my mom. She takes the pet coupons I have no use for and I get coupons for snacks and beauty products in return.

I also print coupons from time to time. Once every week or two I’ll browse through Coupons.com, AllYou.com, Smartsource.com, Redplum.com and Target.com. In an effort not to waste paper I don’t print all the coupons available (there always seems to be an option for that), but instead flip through each page of each site and select which coupons I can actually use. This creates less trash for me and only takes a few minutes.

In addition to the websites, I’ll also check the Facebook pages and websites of my favorite brands when I’m about to run out of a product. More often than not I luck out and find a coupon waiting. It’s especially nice when I find store coupons on Target’s website, as those can be stacked with the manufacturer coupons found elsewhere.

Stocking up on basics

If there’s something on sale that I use a lot, usually pantry staples like chicken broth, diced tomatoes, and various sauces or spice packets, I’ll buy a few — especially if I have the coupons.

I don’t obsess over stacking coupons with sale prices but I do take advantage of the savings if I can. If a product is on sale and I have three coupons for it, I’ll go ahead and buy three to stock up. If it’s not on sale but I need it, I’m still saving a little with my coupons.

I always make a point to stop by the clearance racks. These are the absolute best places to find great deals. I have the most luck clearance shopping at Target and Kroger. More often than not the items I’m interested in purchasing also have coupons available. Most recently I’ve stocked up on Febreze candles, Sally Hansen nail products and Oral B toothbrushes all for about 80 percent off their normal retail price.

Meat is another product I’ll keep stocked. Products that freeze well like chicken breasts, turkey cutlets, ground beef and pork tenderloins can frequently be found discounted. I love finding these deep deals and storing them in my freezer for a future quick dinner. They’re on sale so often I usually just pick up one at a time and replace the product once I’ve used it up.

Luxuries

If I’m shopping for apparel, accessories, home decor or electronics it’s an extreme rarity that I ever pay full price. I love discount retailers like TJ Maxx and Marshall’s. I’ll also scour the clearance racks at Macy’s, Belk and other stores at the mall. If it’s a retailer that frequently offers coupons, I’ll try to hold out for those extra savings, too.

I’ve found that comparing prices to online retailers is a good idea. These websites can be much cheaper than brick-and-mortar stores and seeing the price difference helps me decide on a price point I’d be happy with.

If the product isn’t new on the market, I’ll also check out eBay or the used section on Amazon. Online “outlets” are a good option, too. Sears, Best Buy and Amazon are just a few retailers that offer outlet sites filled with close-outs, refurbished, overstocked, as-is, and returned merchandise.

Shopping around

As I’ve already mentioned, Target and Kroger are my go-to retailers to clearance shop. Once you get in the habit of checking the clearance racks, you’ll really start to save. It also puts the regular retail price of merchandise in perspective.

I also save on my health and beauty products at CVS because of its Extra Bucks rewards program. With the Extra Bucks, store coupons, manufacturer coupons and sale prices, the retailer, whose normal prices can be higher than other retailers, becomes an affordable option.

I’m also a fan of Dollar Tree. This is another spot you have to check frequently because of the always-changing selection. Storage containers, Softsoap and certain frozen foods are a steal at $1 each if you can catch them — especially if you’re lucky enough to have a coupon as well.

Extras

I’ve also figured out a couple of extra little things I can do from day to day to save. Kroger is my most convenient grocery store, so I try to stick to buying Kroger gas because of the savings earned with gas points. I make sure I use my cash rewards credit card for gas, too. The cash back rewards add up surprisingly quick.

I also shop around for just about everything. Unless it’s an absolute necessity that I need immediately, I’ll visit various stores as well as online retailers before making a purchase. As an Amazon Prime member and Shop Runner account holder, I’m able to save on shipping if I do make an online purchase.

For me, it’s most important to pay attention to where my money is going and then decide whether a purchase is worth it. I admittedly buy plenty of everyday items full price, but if there’s any possible way to avoid that I will. For luxury or fun items, the thrill of searching for the best price just makes them that much sweeter once the products are mine.

What are your day-to-day money saving habits?

Good news shoppers, Proctor & Gamble has a new rebate offer available.

Spend $50 on P&G products now through April 30 and you could be rewarded with a $15 rebate. The rebate will be given as a pre-paid card and sent to you within 6 to 8 weeks.

Here are the important details:
*Print and fill out this rebate form
*Include the original UPC labels from each package and the original dated sales receipt with store name and product purchase price circled
*Mail by May 31

One nice aspect of this offer is that the $50 purchase price is the subtotal before coupon redemption — so you can really save some cash by buying items that are on sale and using a coupon. Also, you can submit multiple receipts, your $50 doesn’t need to be spent in one shopping trip.

I prefer rebates that pay off in the form of a check, but if you’re an avid P&G customer you can’t argue with getting money back.

What do you “like”? Graphic by Wikimedia Commons.

I must admit, I have a Facebook acount just for “liking” pages and getting deals (you can find me here, btw). This keeps my personal feed clear of clutter.

Some of the most rewarding pages I’ve come across include Target (though unfortunately it will no longer be giving out beauty bags), Polished by Claire V., CVS, Edible Arrangements and Old Navy. Of course, that’s just a small sampling — Facebook has a seemingly endless supply of pages offering coupons and deals.

In the past some readers have expressed concern over “liking” certain pages for fear of spam or companies selling your information. You should always be careful about sharing certain details, but if you’re smart about it you can still get big savings. The easiest way to avoid spam is to create a separate account with an email address dedicated to coupons and bargains like I have.

So what are some of your favorite pages? Let me know what they are so I can “like” them and help spread the word of the best deals around.

The Super Bowl is this Sunday, and whether you’ll be watching for the commercials, the half-time show or the actual game there’s a good chance you’ll be doing so with friends and family.

 Here are some money saving party tips for hosts and guests:

*Don’t stress over what to bring the host or prepare for guests, there are some great party foods that don’t require many ingredients (we’re talking 5 or less). Such as: these simple lemon bars, avocado hummus, pumpkin brownies, caramel apple grapes, Snicker salad, beer-cheese fondue , honey mustard chicken bites and pimiento cheese rolls (just to name a few).

*Skipping the prepared food in the grocery store will definitely save you some bucks, but if you’re really short on time (like, on your way out the door as you read this) check out these Hormel coupons on Coupons.com. There are coupons for Hormel chili, pepperoni, party trays, deli meats and more — tons of products that can be transformed into tasty game day treats in a hurry. There are also some great offers from other brands. If you can find any of this stuff on sale and use a coupon you should get a Super Bowl ring of your own.

*I’m usually not a big fan of “buy more, save more” sales because they can trick shoppers into spending more than they should, but that’s not always the case with beer or wine.
Kroger will give you 20% off wine when you purchase six bottles that are 250 mL or larger. Similarly, you can get 20% off beer when you buy four six-packs. If you’re stocking up for a party or would like to give the host(ess) a treat, this is a great deal.
It’s also possible save by purchasing larger cases, or buying your beverages at Sam’s Club. As always, be sure to drink responsibly.

*Invest wisely in your party. Let the TV be the main event and go minimal on the decor. What’s most important for a Super Bowl party? Plenty of seating, cups, ice, plates and napkins. Don’t be shy about asking guests to bring a little extra of a specific item or BYOB if necessary.

*If you do feel the need to dress up your home a little for the event check out the clearance section at Walmart, the dollar store or the grocery store. I’ve seen football-themed items on sale already and they’ll keep getting cheaper as we inch closer to Sunday.

 *Outside of Black Friday, the best time to buy a TV is around before the Super Bowl, and it’s no coincidence. If you’re dying for a new big screen or a fancy smart TV take this opportunity to pick one up and show it off during the big game.  For more details, check out this article from The Wall Street Journal.

If you use the pharmacy at CVS, you could be on your way to earning even more Extra Bucks.

The new Pharmacy & Health Rewards program is offering CVS customers $5 in Extra Bucks for every 10 pharmacy credits a customer earns. Combine this with any rewards you receive with your Green Bag Tag and you can really rack up the rewards by visiting the pharmacy. 

This new program reminds me of the new Walgreens Balance Rewards program, which is also based on points.
Here’s the break down:
* New prescription = 1 credit
* Refilled prescription = 1 credit
* Fill or refill a 90-day prescription = 3 credits
* Get a flu shot or vaccine from a pharmacist = 1 credit
* Add prescription management and take care of prescriptions on CVS.com = 3 credits
* Sign up for prescription text alerts = 1 credit
* Sign up for refill reminder emails = 1 credit

So, the easiest way to get your points/Extra Bucks is to fill 10 prescriptions, and by signing up for any programs you’re intrested in on cvs.com.  You do have to enroll in this program to get your points – click here to do so.

I don’t love that this system is based on points, it makes me worry that other changes are on the way, but it seems simple enough.

Will you be taking advantage of this new offer?

I’m usually not a fan of digital coupons that are loaded onto a shopper’s card, but this one I like.

Click here to sign up for a digital coupon from Kroger offering $3 off a purchase of $10 or more on health and beauty items. That’s a great opportunity to stock up and save.

This coupon doesn’t expire until March 12, so you’ve got some time to use it. If you’re interested, load it on your card now — you never know when it will disappear.

Whether you prefer printable coupons or coupons by mail, I’ve got a little something for everyone today.

P&G has a new Home Made Simple: Organize In Style coupon book available here. Sign up to receive this booklet by mail and soon you’ll be saving on products like Cascade, Febreze, Mr. Clean and Swiffer. There are $17 in savings in this one little book.
Sign up soon, these get scooped up quick!

We’ve seen offers from Healthy Essentials before, which has loads of offers on Johnson & Johnson products.
Well, the site is back with over $75 in printable coupons. There are printables available for products like Aveeno, Roc, Clean & Clear, Johnson & Johnson baby products, Listerine, Neosporin and more.
If you’re not into printables, you can also sign up for a rebate coupon book by mail at the bottom of the page of printables. Just look for the text that says “Get over $25.00 worth of coupons. Save your Receipts. Get over $25.00 in coupons by mail, offer expires 03/07/13.”
This is the rebate form that needs to be printed. From there, just spend $25 (before tax or coupons) on participating Johnson & Johnson products and save your receipts. Then, mail in your receipts and the rebate form in by March 7. A few weeks later you should receive your coupon book.
Now, this offer isn’t for everyone, but if you purchase a lot of Johnson & Johnson products it’s a nice opportunity.

You can find coupons for these products at CVS pharmacies. Photo courtesy of CVS Minute Clinic.

Visit your local CVS pharmacy now and you can find coupon books worth up to $9.

These books are full of coupons for cough and cold products — something many people are in need of during this vicious flu season.

You’ll find savings for products like Tylenol Cold, Motrin, Children’s Tylenol, Zyrtec and Sudafed in each book.

If you’re interested in this offer, I suggest you swing by your preferred location soon. Coupons tend to get scooped up pretty quickly, and there’s a limited supply. For more information, click here.

P&G doesn’t offer printable coupons, so whenever there’s a new batch of goodies from the P&G Everyday site I jump on it. I’ve received some great packages from the company full of samples and coupons, and this month there are more things available than in the past.

This time around you can get samples and coupons for:
*Crest^® 3D White Arctic Fresh toothpaste
* Pantene Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner
* Crest^® 3D White^™ Intensive Professional Effects Whitestrips
* Tide Boost^™ Vivid White + Bright^™ Pacs
* Downy Infusions^™ Honey Flower
* Tide Pods and Downy Unstopables

There are also coupons for:
* COVERGIRL + Olay^® Tone Rehab^™ 2-in-1 Foundation
* Olay^® Smooth Finish Facial Hair Removal Duo
* Crest^® 3D White Multi-Care Whitening Arctic Fresh Icy Cool Mint Rinse
* Oral-B^® 3D White Action Rechargeable
* Charmin Freshmates
* Oral-B^® 3D White Advanced Vivid Toothbrush
* Charmin Ultra Strong^®
* Oral-B^® Glide 3D White Radiant Mint Floss Picks
* Duracell^® Ultra Power^™
* Swiffer^® WetJet^® Extra Power Pad with the scrubbing power of Mr. Clean^® Magic Eraser
* Gillette^® Venus & Olay^™ Razor
* ZzzQuil^™
 *Head & Shoulders^® Damage Rescue Shampoo or Conditioner
* Herbal Essences

If you’re interested, I suggest you sign up ASAP. These will run out!

It’s been a while since I’ve had a big batch of printable coupons. Why not end the year with big savings?

Aeropostale 
* $10 off a purchase of $40 or more in-store through Jan. 3

Bath & Body Works
*  $10 off any purchase of $40 or more in stores and online  through Jan. 13

The Children’s Place 
*  20% off your entire purchase through Jan. 7

Old Navy
* $10 off a $50 purchase through Jan. 2

Burger King
* Buy one Whopper, get one free through March 3

Ruby Tuesday
* $5 off two entrees (no listed expiration date)

Also, don’t forget that sites with tons of printable manufacturer coupons like SmartSource , Redplum , Coupon Network and Coupons.com will be resetting their coupons and adding new printables on Jan. 1.

If you’re on the J.Crew Clearance Store email list, this is old news to you. (Hint: You should sign up by calling 434-316-6324.)

Recently two coupons valid at the J.Crew Clearance Store (23 Millrace Drive, Lynchburg) were sent out.

Coupon #1 offers 20% off a purchase made from Dec. 14-23.
Coupon #2 offers 15% off a purchase made from Dec. 27-Jan. 5.

It’s important to note that all sales are final and there are no returns or exchanges available. No buyer’s remorse allowed here!

To print these coupons, click the graphic below. Then, on the next screen, click the graphic again for a large, printable version.

If you’re starting off your weekend by shopping or dining out you might want to pick up today’s paper. Here are some of the goodies inside:

Macy’s
* 20% off select sale and clarance apparel and jewelry, and 15% off all sale and clearance watches and home items (valid today through Monday)
* $10 off a purchase of $25 or more (valid today and Saturday)

Stein Mart
* 20% off any sale item today and Saturday (there are two of these coupons)
* 40% off entire purchase of red dot clearance today and Saturday
* 50% off entire purchase of home red dot clearance today and Saturday

Frank’s Italian Restaurant (5933 Williamson Road, Roanoke)
* 2 slices of pizza (one topping) and a drink for $6
* Choice of pasta, salad and a drink for $10
* 2 large one topping pizzas and a two-liter of soda for $17

Ruby Tuesday
* $10 off two entrees (valid through Dec. 23)

Cinnabon (NRV Mall)
*$1 off a Classic Cinnabon (valid through Dec. 31)

Ben & Jerry’s (NRV and Valley View)
* $1 off a small or large ice cream (valid through Dec. 31)

Lauren Ellerman has a vivid childhood memory of singing in a choir with her brother during Christmastime at a men’s clothing shop. She recalls her parents browsing for gifts while local families did their own holiday shopping, and everyone seeming so happy and spirited.

This is exactly the scene Ellerman, 33, is trying to recreate during the inaugural South Roanoke Holiday Open House from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday.

During the event, locally owned shops and restaurants on Crystal Spring Avenue in Roanoke will offer discounts on food, beverages, clothing, jewelry and housewares. Ellerman herself is one of the owners of The River & Rail Restaurant, so she has a direct interest in inspiring folks to shop local this season.

Ellerman explained, “One of the major focuses of our restaurant is supporting local farmers. Supporting local [business] is one of the cornerstones of our own business, so it made sense to have our neighborhood support all of its local shops.”

There are 10 participants in the open house, all offering a variety of deals. Shoppers can get these special offers by purchasing a coupon book for $15 at any participating location now through the evening of the event.

The deals include:

* Garland’s on Crystal Spring: 10 percent off total purchase (except for Barbour brand) during the event.

* The River & Rail Restaurant: $50 gift certificates for $40 during the event.

* Fork in the Alley: Free s’more with the purchase of an entrée during the event, and $5 off a $20 purchase until Jan. 15.

* Tinnell’s Finer Foods: Half-off a pound of Benton’s Bacon until Jan. 1.

* The Second Yard: 10 percent off framed art and lamps during the event.

* Goldsmith’s Jewelers: Free cleaning and inspection of jewelry during the event and a $50 gift certificate for $25 (must be redeemed by Dec. 31).

* 7-Eleven: $10 off a case of wine and a free small Slurpee during the event.

* Bubblecake: Cupcake cards offering five cupcakes for $10 during the event.

* Stedman House Interior Design: 10 percent off during the event.

* Eric Fitzpatrick: The artist will be selling paintings in the Stedman House Building during the event.

It’s not all about the shopping, though. Ticket proceeds will benefit Family Promise of Greater Roanoke, of which Ellerman is a board member. The organization provides shelter to homeless families.

“The basis of Christmas is ‘there’s no room at the inn,’ and here we are providing shelter to people who need it,” Ellerman said.

If the event is held in the future another charity may be chosen, but the partnership seemed fitting and the selection was supported by other participants of the event this year.

So far, the response from participating businesses and neighborhood residents has been positive.

“Grandin has a wonderful holiday parade, Old Southwest has the parlor tour, downtown has Dickens — I thought it was about time for South Roanoke to do something neat for our neighborhood. I hope folks from all neighborhoods will come,” Ellerman said.

If the event is successful, she plans to hold it again next year.

For now, Ellerman is just hoping the finished product resembles that memory from her childhood.

“Next year I really need to get some cute kids singing I guess, to really make it complete.

For more information about the South Roanoke Holiday Open House, visit the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SouthRoanokeHolidayOpenHouse.

South Roanoke Holiday Open House
When: 6 to 9 p.m., Monday
Where: Crystal Spring Avenue, Roanoke
Cost: $15
Contact: 400-6830 or www.facebook.com/SouthRoanokeHolidayOpenHouse

This would make a great stocking stuffer.

Like the CVS MinuteClinic on Facebook and you can get a coupon for a free purse size Essence of Beauty hand cream.

The email will be emailed to you shortly after signing up and is good through Dec. 31. Registration for the coupon is open through Dec. 27, or while supplies last. I suggest signing up sooner rather than later.