If you’re prepping for a Labor Day cookout, there are plenty of coupons and deals this week to inspire you.

There are up to three coupon booklets available: Redplum, Smartsource and P&G Brandsaver.

There are potentially huge savings to be found at Kroger. Many products are 50% off, including Welch’s juice, Ken’s salad dressing, PictSweet vegetables, French’s mustard, Orville Redenbacher’s popcorn, Keebler cookies and more. Combine the half-off prices with coupons and you can save a lot.
Also, when you buy 10 select Gatorade, Lifewater, Sobte, Propel or Lipton drinks, you’ll get 5 more for free.
Some impressive 10/$10 deals include Popsicle frozen treats, Gwaltney boloney or hotdogs, Sweet Baby Ray’s sauce, Minute Maid punch or lemonade, Cool Whip, and various Kroger brand products.
A similar deal has been around for wine, but now when you buy any four 6-packs of beer (mix match cans, bottles and brands), you’ll automatically receive 20% off.

Kmart has clearance apparel starting at $3.99 for kids and $6.99 for adults, so stock up for next season.
There are also some nice back to school deals, including Elmer’s glue, #2 pencils and RoseArt crayons for 75 cents; Bic markers for $4.50; folders for 25 cents; and InkJoy pens, Westcott scissors, and Sharpie highlighters for $2.

CVS has brought back the free gas card promotion this week. Spend $30 or more on participating items (like Pampers, Crest toothpaste, Pantene, Bounty paper towels, Charmin, CoverGirl or Tide) and you’ll be rewarded with a free $10 gas gift card.
All summer clearance throughout the store, except fans, is 50% off this week, including chairs, umbrellas, cookers, pool toys and more.
If your child likes clothes from Aeropostale, check out this deal: Buy two select Aeropostale gift cards, get $10 in Extrabucks — that’s like free money!
Also, backpacks and lunch boxes are buy one, get one 50% off.
If you plan to get a flu shot this year, consider having it done at CVS. When you get your shot at the pharmacy, you’ll get a 20% off shopping pass for your next visit.

Toys R Us has tons of free gift cards with purchase. One of the best deals is the free $5 gift card with the purchase of two Duracell battery packs. Combine this deal with the Duracell manufacturer coupon in the P&G booklet for big savings.
There are also some good prices on Crayola. You can get 24-count Crayola crayons for $1, plus all Crayola markers and crayons are buy one, get one free.
Check out the baby coupons on the back:
* Save $8 on all Pampers 88-count or higher, or Huggies 100-count or higher
* 15% off one regular priced baby item
Additionally, now through Sept. 16 you can trade in your car seats, strollers, travel systems, high chairs, play yards, bassinets, swings, bouncers, entertainers, walkers and activity jumpers for 25% off new baby gear — there’s no limit, so trade in as many as you want!

During Michaels Craft-A-Palooza you’ll find various products 30 to 50% off, plus other products on sale. There’s also a new coupon offering 40% off any regular priced item.

AC Moore also has products throughout the store 30 to 50%  off this week, as well as coupons.
* 40% off any regular priced item (today through Thursday)
* 50% off any regular priced item (Friday and Saturday only)

Rack Room Shoes has a new coupon available today offering $10 off a minimum purchase of $60. Combine the coupon with their everyday offer of buy one, get one half off for the best savings!

Belk begins it September Home Sale today. With the coupon from the ad you can save an additional 15% off your entire regular and sale priced home purchase now through Tuesday.

Football season is almost in full force, and if you have a cheerleader or player in the making check out Target. The retailer has toddler NFL or NCAA jerseys and cheerleader sets for $17, or youth NFL or NCAA jerseys for $19.
Additionally, Embark fashion lunch kits are on 30% off, making them $1.88 to $9.79.

Walgreens has a reminder in their ad this week asking you to look for their September coupon booklet in stores — it contains over $230 in coupons! Even better, these store coupons can be combined with manufacturer coupons for big savings.
The retailer also has some great back to school deals, like Mead portfolios or notebooks buy one, get one half off; multi-packs of Sharpie markers for $4.99; backpacks buy one, get one free; and lunchboxes for 33% off. There are also tons of store coupons offering discounts on supplies on page 7.

Dicks Sporting Goods has a new coupon offering $15 off any pair of athletic footwear priced $59.99 or more. You can use this coupon online  as well with the code FTWRA26.
Also, the entire stocks of Crocs and women’s Nike Tempo shorts are buy one, get one half off. Clearance golf apparel and footwear for men and women is an additional 25% off.

As usual, Office Max has big back to school deals this week.
Deals for $1 or under include Paper Mate pens, Paper Mate erasers, Westcott scissors, Schoolio folders, Office Max glue and ring binder rulers.
With a purchase of $5 or more you can also earn a free notebook this week (up to 5 free per household).
There are also a lot of BOGO deals this week on popular brands like Crayola, Expo, Elmer’s and Avery.

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 these websites: SmartSource , Redplum , Coupon Network and Coupons.com.

If you have goodies to buy for a Labor Day cookout you may want to wait for Sunday — there are up to three coupon booklets on the way!

There are also potentially huge savings to be found at Kroger, where you’ll get a big discount on many products without even using a coupon. There’s also a new deal on certain adult beverages.

Kmart will have big price cuts on apparel for the family next week. There are also some new back to school deals.

CVS brings back the free gas card promotion on Sunday. Additionally, there are deals on summer merchandise, select gift cards, school supplies and flu shots.

Toys R Us will give shoppers the opportunity to earn freebies with purchase next week. There are also some nice deals on school supplies and new baby bargains.

Michaels  starts its Craft-A-Palooza on Sunday, meaning you’ll find tons of bargains plus a new coupon.

AC Moore has a similar sale going on next week, plus two new coupons.

Rack Room Shoes will have a new coupon available Sunday. Combine it with their everyday BOGO deal for the best savings!

Belk begins it September Home Sale Sunday, and there’s a coupon for extra savings in the ad.

Football season is almost in full force, and if you have a cheerleader or player in the making check out the Target ad Sunday.

Want over $230 in coupons? Check out the Walgreens ad Sunday for details on how to get them.

Dicks Sporting Goods will have a new coupon on Sunday, as well as some bargains on apparel and footwear for the family.

As usual, Office Max has big back to school deals next week.

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 these websites: SmartSource , Redplum , Coupon Network and Coupons.com.

Reminder: Today is the last day of Virginia’s tax holiday. Read up on what qualifies as tax exempt here.

There are up to three coupon booklets available today: One from Redplum and two from Smartsource – one is full of coupons for products that participate in the Box Tops for Education program. Today only, you can also get five free eBoxTops by visiting btfe.com/free.

We’ll be seeing ads full of back to school savings between now and September, so I’ll cover those first.

Toys R Us has all Crayola products buy one, get one free. Plus, you can get a free Crayola game set with a Crayola purchase of $19.99 or more.
The retailer is still offering free lunch kits ($9.99 value) with the purchase of any backpack priced $12.99 or more.

Office Max has more deals $5 and under this week. Protractors and two-pocket folders are 5 cents, Schoolio markers and Just Basics erasers are 25 cents, Paper Mate mechanical pencils are 75 cents and Lexar flash drives are $4.99.
With a minimum purchase of $5, you can also get a free composition book this week.
Also new are the store coupons offering additional savings off of sale prices. Products like #2 pencils, one-subject notebooks, staplers, highlighters and more all have coupons in the ad.
Look out for BOGO deals this week as well. Brand names like Crayola, Post-it, Avery, Elmer’s and more all qualify for buy two, get one free deals.

Kmart has a big sale on Crayola, too. Crayons (24-count) are 49 cents, markers are 99 cents, watercolors are $1.49 and colored pencils (24-count) are $1.99. All lunch kits and backpacks are also on sale, ranging from $5.99 to $18.
Additional savings include: Avery binders for 20% off, Elmer’s glue and #2 pencils for 50 cents, and Sharpie highlighters, Post-its and composition books for $1.50.
Check kmart.com/coupons for extra back to school coupons and savings.

Supplies for $1 or less are great finds, and this week Staples has plenty. Just to name a few: filler paper is one cent; select Post-its are FREE after rebate; BIC pens, Pentel erasers and mini composition books are 25 cents; Paper Mate mechanical pencils, pencil boxes and BIC white out are 50 cents; Crayola markers and poly binders are 75 cents; and BIC dry-erase markers, Sharpie markers and copy paper are $1.
To save even more, you can recycle your old binders and save $2 on the purchase of a new binder instantly.
It’s not too late to pick up your Back to School Savings Pass for $10. It will save you 15% on qualifying back to school purchases through Sept. 15.

AC Moore has their stock of Crayola products for 40% off this week. There are also kids craft projects starting at $1.

Big Lots will be celebrating Teacher Appreciation Day next Saturday (August 11). That day, teachers will receive an additional 10% off purchases of $50 or more with a valid school ID. Plus, teachers will get $10 off a purchase of $50 or more from August 12 to 25.
The retailer also has some savings on school supplies. Two-pocket portfolios are 14 cents, one-subject notebooks are 17 cents, BIC pens are 49 cents, filler paper is 74 cents, 1″ binders are $2, select backpacks are $9 and more.

In addition to their multiple deals $1 and under, Walgreens has an awesome promotion on backpacks and tote bags — they’re all buy one, get one free.  If you have multiple kiddies to buy for this could save you a lot.
Other great deals are composition books 6/$1; 1″ binders for 99 cents; one, three or five-subject notebooks buy one, get one free; filler paper for 69 cents; two-pocket folders for 12 cents and more.

Target has Post-its, Mead notebooks and Sharpie markers for $1 this week, as well as various backpacks on sale. Tons of other school supplies range from 49 cents to $3.

CVS has several school supplies for $1, like permanent markers, book covers, erasers, filler paper, pencil boxes, rulers and one-subject notebooks.
There’s also a big buy one, get one 50% off sale, which includes backpacks, lunch boxes, Post-its, G2 pens, locks, Elmer’s glue and Scotch tape.

Now onto the other deals available this week:

In addition to back to school savings, Toys R Us is offering tons of toys buy one, get one 40% off. There are also a lot of free toys with purchase throughout the school.
As usual there’s a baby coupon in the ad: $10 off any Pampers value box and any Pampers value box of wipes.

Kmart is offering Shop Your Way Rewards Members free flu shots with qualifying purchases of $100 or more. If you haven’t signed up for the rewards program, it’s free — click here to sign up.
Football season is coming up (about time!) and the retailer has 20% off team apparel for the family this week, so start prepping for game day.
Everyone needs socks and undies, and if you stock up on Fruit of the Loom (buy 3 qualifying products or more), you can get a coupon for $5 off your next purchase.

AC Moore has plenty of coupons this week, adding up to big savings.
* 50% off any regular priced item (Tuesday only)
* 40% off any regular priced item (next week)
* 40% off any regular priced item (this week)

Michaels has their share of coupons as well:
* 40% off any regular priced item (this week)
* 25% off the entire purchase of wall and tabletop frames, framed art and display cases (this week)
* 25% off entire regular priced purchase of ribbon (this week)

Walgreens is still offering a free $25 gift card when you transfer a prescription to their pharmacy. Additionally, there are over $43 in register rewards available in the pharmacy section of the store.
Order your contacts from Walgreens and you can receive 20% off with the promo code ACTIVE20. This code is valid through Sept. 22.

Visit the CVS Coupon Center this week for a coupon offering $5 off a cosmetics purchase of $15 or more. This coupon can be combined with manufacturer coupons, so stock up!
Summer merchandise, like coolers, flip flops, picnic accessories and more, are all 25% off.

Sears is offering Come Back Cash again this week. When you spend $50 or more in clothing, accessories, intimates, fragrances, cosmetics and home fashions you’ll get $10 in Come Back Cash. When you spend $100 or more in fine jewelry, luggage and household goods you’ll get $20 in Come Back 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 these websites: SmartSource , Redplum , Coupon Network and Coupons.com.

Today’s papers are heavier than some we’ve had recently — which means good things are tucked inside for bargain hunters!

There are tons of coupons this week. Redplum, P&G Brandsaver and SmartSource all make appearances. There are also some awesome Target store coupons — combine them with manufacturer coupons for huge savings.

First of all, let me run through the best back to school deals. Remember, this coming Friday – Sunday are part of a tax free holiday on qualifying school supply and apparel purchases. Read up on the details here.

Walgreens is offering Mead Five Star notebooks buy one, get one free. Other deals for $1 and under include: Sharpie highlighters, BIC pens, Ticonderoga pencils and Fiskars pencil sharpeners for 99 cents; colored pencils for 69 cents; Wexford glue sticks for 49 cents; index cards and pencil cases for 39 cents; scissors for 49 cents; and portfolios 3/$1.

Target has Paper Mate erasers and pens, RoseArt water colors and markers, wooden pencils and pencil sharpeners for $1 each this week. For $3 you can get Pentel colored pencils, three-subject Mead notebooks and Elmer’s glue sticks. For $2 you can get 1″ binders, Crayola crayons, pencil cases, and one-subject notebooks.

CVS has these products buy one, get on 50% off: BIC pens, markers and wite-out; G2 and B2P pens; select Caliber stationary; and all Post-It and Scotch Tape products. For $1 you can get composition books, scissors, pencil boxes, wooden pencils, rulers, high lighters and one-subject notebooks. Also, if you spend $15 on Crayola products, Five Start notebooks or select Expo or Paper Mate products you’ll receive $3 in ExtraBucks.

Kmart has all back packs 25% off and all lunch kits regularly $11.99 to $12.99 marked down to $9.99. Additionally, when you buy any backpack, messenger or sling, you’ll get a free cinch sack ($5.99 value). There are also these $1 deals: Crayola markers and colored pencils, Sharpie markers, pencil boxes, Paper Mate pencils, index cards and composition books.

Kroger has some back to school deals of their own for under $1. Top Flight spiral notebooks are 19 cents, Crayola crayons are 39 cents, Top Flight composition books are 50 cents and Office Works pencils are 50 cents. You’ll also find lunch kits for 25% off.

Toys R Us is having Crayola Dollar Days this week. Crayons are 4/$1; colored pencils, scissors and the Beginning Alphabet and Numbers pad are $1 each; construction paper, large crayons and art smocks are $2 each; dry erase markers, washable markers, jumbo crayons and colored pencils are $3 each; and Pip-Squeaks, 64-count crayons, Twistables and watercolors are $4 each.
Shoppers can also get a free lunch kit when they buy any backpack priced $12.99 or more.

Office Max has free crayons, a ruler and a pencil sharpener (up to 2 of each) available to shoppers after they spend $5 in the store this week. You can really stock up with so many deals for $1 or less at the retailer this week. Dixon #2 pencils and Paper Mate pens are 10 cents; Office Max glue sticks, folders, binder pockets and filler paper are 5o cents; Office Max folders and one-subject notebooks are $1; and Schoolio index cards are $2. There are also numerous BOGO deals and bargains under $10.
One especially good offer is the offer for Swissgear backpacks. You’ll pay $69.99 for the backpack, but receive $69.98 back in MaxPerks rewards — that’s like getting the bag for one cent! If you’re a regular Office Max shopper this is a great deal. 

Staples has some great deals for $1 or less this week, plus a new coupon offering $5 off a purchase of $50 or more. Paper clips, folders, pocket tissues and 1″ binders are only one cent; BIC mechanical pencils and Prang chalk are only 25 cents; and composition books and one-subject notebooks are only 50 cents.
There’s also a notice of Teacher Appreciation Day, which is happening in Roanoke stores on Aug. 18. On this day teachers who come in to shop will receive a free gift bag and a coupon for additional savings.

At Kmart this week you can get a coupon good for $10 off grocery, health and beauty purchases when you purchase $30 worth of P&G products. You could really stock up thanks to the P&G coupons in today’s paper.
Shoppers can also get a coupon for a free flu shot with a qualifying purchase of $100 or more. There are also freebies with purchase throughout the store.

Kroger has new 10/$10 deals throughout the store, and a Cart Buster Savings Event with big savings on popular products like Coca-Cola drinks, Brownberry Bread, Keebler Cookies, Pop-Tarts, Hillshire Farm lunch meat, Chobani yogurt, MorningStar Farms entrees, Eggo waffles and more.

CVS has a $10 rebate offer for shoppers who purchase $30 of Olay products, good through Aug. 31. There are also some big BOGO deals throughout the store. Some participating brands include: Aveeno, Listerine, Rembrandt, Johnson’s, Neutrogena and Visine.

Belk is having an August Home Sale now through Tuesday. In addition to the sale prices, there’s a coupon good for an extra 15% off your entire regular and sale priced home purchases.

Target is having an End of Summer Sale this week and apparel for the family has been marked down. There are also numerous free gift cards available with select purchases. One of my favorite deals this week is on iTunes gift cards — they’re 15% off this week at the retailer. That’s like free music!

Walgreens has a reminder about their August coupon books, which you can find in stores. These books have over $370 in store coupons, which is huge.
Throughout the rest of the store there are great BOGO deals. Some participating brands include Nature’s Bounty, Maybelline, Covergirl, Dove, Caress and more. 

Kohl’s has 3-day specials starting today. Shoppers will get $10 in Kohl’s Cash for every $50 spent. Additionally, if you open a Kohl’s charge in-store from today through Tuesday you’ll get an extra 20% off your first day’s purchases.

Dick’s Sporting Goods has men’s Walter Hagen polos buy one, get one free — that’s a savings of $50. Shoppers will also receive a $10 cash card with a backpack purchase of $59.99 or more now through August 4.

Rack Room Shoes has a new coupon good for $10 off a $60 purchase this week. Combine it with their everyday buy one, get one half-off deal for the most savings.

In the JC Penney ad you’ll find another reminder about the free kids’ haircuts for the month of August. Book yours now before time runs out!

Sears has a coupon good today through Aug. 4 offering an extra 15% off clothing and accessories (plus an extra 5% off with a Sears card), or an extra 10% off intimates, footwear, home fashions, housewares, fine jewelry, watches and luggage (plus an extra 5% off with a Sears card).
Combine this coupon with the sale prices throughout the store for the biggest savings.

Don’t miss the coupon on the back of the Toys R Us ad this week — you could save $8 on all Pampers value boxes of diapers with it.

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 these websites: SmartSource , Redplum , Coupon Network and Coupons.com.

Today’s papers are heavier than some we’ve had recently — which means good things are tucked inside for bargain hunters!

There are tons of coupons this week.. You could find up to four coupon booklets, plus some special store coupons from a certain retailer.

Remember, this coming Friday – Sunday are part of a tax free holiday on qualifying school supply and apparel purchases. Read up on the details here.

Walgreens, Target, CVS , Kmart , Kroger , Toys R Us , Office Max and Staples all have big back to school deals.

Also, at Kmart this week you can get a coupon good for $10 off grocery, health and beauty purchases  with select purchases, plus there are also freebies with purchase throughout the store.

Kroger will have new 10/$10 deals throughout the store, plus a Cart Buster Savings Event.

There will be a special rebate offer at CVS , plus some big BOGO deals.

Belk starts its August Home Sale on Sunday, and there’s a coupon for extra savings in the paper.

Target starts its End of Summer Sale Sunday, with some especially good prices on apparel. There’s also a sweet deal on gift cards.

Remember to look for the August coupon book at Walgreens . Also check out the BOGO deals come Sunday. 

Kohl’s has 3-day specials starting Sunday.

Dick’s Sporting Goods has a great deal in men’s apparel starting Sunday, plus a special promotion on backpacks.

Rack Room Shoes will have a new coupon on Sunday.

In the JC Penney ad you’ll find another reminder about the free kids’ haircuts for the month of August. Book yours now before time runs out!

Sears will also have a coupon that will get you extra savings in addition to sales prices starting Sunday.

And don’t miss the coupon on the back of the Toys R Us ad.

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 these websites: SmartSource , Redplum , Coupon Network and Coupons.com.

Ready or not, it’s almost time to go back to school. Prepare to see kids everywhere rolling their eyes and bemoaning the task in the coming weeks, but the time has come to start shopping for school supplies and clothes.

To help you save a few bucks, keep in mind that Virginia’s tax holiday for school supplies and clothing is next weekend, Aug. 3-5. Throughout the weekend, qualifying school supplies of $20 or less and qualifying clothes and footwear of $100 or less will be exempt from sales tax.

Some clothing purchases that are excluded consist of sporting equipment and footwear used primarily for athletic activities, as well as clothing designed for protective use and not considered appropriate for everyday use. Accessories are also excluded from the sales tax holiday.

Some products you may consider school supplies do not qualify as tax-exempt products.

Computers and computer supplies, defined by the Virginia Department of Taxation as “items commonly used by a student in a course of study in which a computer is used,” and textbooks are not tax-exempt.

However, school art and music supplies are considered school supplies and won’t incur sales tax.

Rebates that lower the price of an item cannot be used to make a product tax-exempt. For example, if a pair of shoes is priced at $120 and the manufacturer is offering a $20 rebate (to be mailed after purchase), the shoes are still not tax-exempt despite their after-rebate price of $100.

There are also some special guidelines for exchanges, layaway, rain checks and returns.

If you need to exchange an item purchased over the sales tax holiday, you will not owe sales tax on the new item.

Qualifying purchases put on layaway over the holiday will be exempt from sales tax, and any future payments on the layaway order are also exempt.

Rain checks that are paid for after the tax holiday are not tax-exempt. However, if an item is paid for during the sales tax holiday but delivered at a later date, it is still exempt.

Make sure you hold on to your receipt after making any supply purchases past Aug. 4. For 60 days after the tax holiday, any returns on tax-exempt products without a receipt will not receive credit for sales tax.

The only way to receive a refund for the price of the item plus any sales tax paid is to present an invoice or receipt. This applies to purchases made before and after the sales tax holiday.

Phone, Internet and mail orders are also affected by the holiday.

Qualifying purchases made via phone, Internet or mail order can be considered tax-exempt if the customer pays for the order and the seller accepts it for immediate shipment during the tax holiday (which excludes custom orders).

During the sales tax holiday, retailers may also absorb the sales tax on other products, so keep any eye out for those deals as well.

For more information on the sales tax holiday, visit http://tax.virginia.gov or call the Virginia Department of Taxation at 804-367-8037.

To see a full list of tax-exempt items, click here.