Walmart.com has quite a few $1-2 items you can have shipped for free site to store. It’s worth a look.

Sometimes, on a date night, my husband and I will hit a book store. Which one we hit can vary date to date. Also, if I need some alone time I frequent book stores. Here’s a sweet little deal to add to the sweetness of the time spent together, or the time spent alone.

Just buy any 20 oz. or larger drink and get a free bakery or dessert item. Just show them this coupon. Good 11/21-11/23 (Friday-Sunday).

Here is the link to the sale ad which starts this weekend. If you’re new to shopping at CVS for free, go here to learn all about it. You can hunt down your own deals by looking at the sale ad, but there are plenty of sites (like this one) with lists that apply coupons if you don’t want to do the hunt yourself. I love the lists when I’m feeling a little lazy.

Will you be shopping online for Christmas this year? No matter when you shop online, you should always check out these sites. Every store offers coupons. Sometimes you have to wait for one, but they do come.

CouponCabin.com
RetailMeNot.com
FreeShipping.org

These sites offer online coupon codes, for both shopping and shipping, to use at check-out. I really should create a page with all my favorite money-saving sites.

A sweet friend of mine passed along this information.  This is a great idea for the whole family to participate in.

The American Red Cross is sponsoring a national “Holiday Mail for Heroes” campaign to receive and distribute holiday cards to service members and veterans both in the United States and abroad.

Holiday Mail for Heroes, which began Tuesday, Veterans Day, is a follow-up to the 2007 effort that resulted in the collection and distribution of more than 600,000 cards to hospitalized service members. This year’s program will expand its reach to not only wounded service members but also veterans and their families. The goal is to collect and distribute 1 million pieces of holiday mail.

“As we enter this holiday season-a time to celebrate with family and friends-it’s important to remember the thousands of men and women who serve our nation in harm’s way and those who are recovering in military and veterans hospitals,” said Army Col. Norvell V. Coots, commander, Walter Reed Health Care System. “The Holiday Mail for Heroes program is a wonderful outreach effort and a great way to acknowledge the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform.”

Holiday cards should be mailed to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD. 20791-5456

All cards must be postmarked no later than Dec. 10. Cards should not be mailed or delivered to Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

For more information, visit www.wramc.amedd.army.mil or www.redcross.org/holidaymail for Holiday Mail for Heroes program guidelines.Walter Reed is not accepting mail addressed to “A Recovering American Soldier.”

Remember, these stores can vary slightly by region. Your sale ad is the best place to look, but sometimes these incredible ladies come up with things I missed. They also match printable coupons to sale items making those deals extra sweet.

For Target Deals go here.
Walmart deals are here.
Albertsons has a good baking sale going on right now. Details here.
Meijer deals are here.
Kroger deals can be found here.
Here for Safeway/Tom Thumb.

I will continue to update this post today as deal match-ups come in.

Macy’s is having a sale today and tomorrow (Nov. 18th & 19th) where you can use this coupon at most locations (read coupon).

Now, if you’re looking to buy bath towels for yourself or to give as a gift, the below Ralph Lauren towels have been marked down and marked down. Check out the links (Thanks to Slick Deals).

Lauren Ralph Lauren “Estate” Bath Towel, 30×58″ Orig: $27.00 Was $19.99 NOW $8.99
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/pro…8dqkvAt7bA

Lauren Ralph Lauren “Estate” Hand Towel, 16×32″ Orig: $22.00 Was $15.99 NOW $6.99
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/pro…VD86as9R5A

Lauren Ralph Lauren “Estate” Wash Towel, 13×13″ Orig: $11.00 Was $7.99 NOW $2.99
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/pro…Kc5.zmbpPw

Lauren Ralph Lauren “Estate” Bath Sheet, 35×72″ Orig: $50.00 Was $34.99 NOW $14.99
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/pro…620bxs7kEg

Lauren Ralph Lauren “Estate” Tub Mat, 25×38″ Orig: $38.00 Was $24.99 NOW $10.99
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/pro…mYVk0bE3WA

Until midnight tonight you can rent a DVD for free through Redbox.com. Just use the code 57DRW3.

No frugal mom would ever go for this deal, but those wonderful aunties and grandparents who completely overdo would flip over it.  It’s great if you have multiple little girls to buy for at Christmas.

Spend $100 on Barbie products (*listed on the site), and you can get a $50 Barbie pre-paid Visa card.

Just print the certificate, shop online or at a retail store, save receipt and upc, complete certificate and send it all in. Expires 12/31/2008. Available only in the US.  Details here.

If you frequent any of these places, it might behoove you to buy a gift card for yourself.

Buy a $25 gift certificate and receive another $5 off which may come as another gift card good immediately or next visit. Deals may vary slightly.

Applebee’s, Denny’s, Uno, O’Charley’s, Logan’s Roadhouse, Buffalo Wild Wings, Stake N Shake, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Red Robin, Taco Cabana, Texas Roadhouse, IHOP

Now I haven’t confirmed all these deals, it’s just internet buzz. You might want to call before you go. Also, check to see if there is an expiration date. It would be a great idea to start asking at every restaurant you frequent. These deals are always on.

Borders.com has a deal going on. Here are the coupon codes.

DMB5387A 40% off any book
DML5388Y 30% off any item (#1)
RMA1116Z 30% off any item (#2)
BRR5489A 30% off any item (#3)
RMX1116Y 30% off any item (#4)

Coupons take discounts off “list price”. Borders never offers free shipping codes, but shipping is free if you have it shipped to a store near you. Great offer, but I would suggest you still check Amazon.

Hey, couple this deal with the current Coinstar deal and you’ll get an extra $10 gift certificate! Just trade in your coins for a Borders gift certificate. Check the Coinstar website though. Not all machines give out Borders gift certificates.

As consumers are tightening a grip on the old pocketbook, manufacturers aren’t necessarily raising prices, but they’re skimping on coupons, and changing their packaging which is even more irritating to frugal shoppers like us. Have you noticed how the coupons have changed over the last six months? Even worse, though is this new marketing tactic.

Here is an example (Skippy peanut butter) of how items may still appear the same, but after a close inspection, you will see how we’re still paying the same price, but receiving less product. Doesn’t that just irritate you?

Starkist is another offender – downsized their 6oz. can to a 5oz. can.

Apple Jacks cereal has gone from an 11oz. box down to an 8.7 oz. box, but the box is actually the same size.

Tropicana OJ has gone from 96oz. to 89oz., and the bottle is still as tall as it was before.

Sparkle paper towels have a Big Roll (90 sheets) and a new Giant Roll (84 sheets). Since when is Big bigger than Giant?

Breyers ice cream still has the same package size, but instead of getting the old 1.75 quarts, we’re now getting 1.5 quarts.

Tubs of Country Crock still look the same, but they’ve gone from 3lbs. to 2lbs., 13oz.

Bars of Dial Soap for Men have gone from 4.5oz. to 4 oz.

Okay, if this doesn’t chap your hide (no pun intended) nothing will. Scott brand toilet paper is still 1000 sheets, but the sheet size has changed! That’s right. Instead of a sheet being 4 inches long, it is now 3.7 inches long.

And don’t even get me started on products which are getting watered down (like the larger size Act mouth wash, packages of cooked ham/pork, etc.). Who wants to pay for water?

Not all manufacturers are guilty, but the list of examples is far more extensive than what I’ve listed. Yes, it’s all legal and up to the shopper to realize. Yes, people will still pay for that which they want, but I’ve got to tell you…it’s irritating!

Sites like mouseprint.org help us remain savvy, frugal shoppers.

That’s enough of my Saturday morning, non-PMSing rant. You may join in with a comment if you’d like.

If you have the change and a Coinstar machine around, what a deal!  Look here for more info and to find a change machine in a store near you.

Click here for particulars and the link for the coupon.

There is a store called Terry’s Supermarket that has incredible sale prices. You can go online and look at their weekly sale ads, or stop by their stores and pick one up. If you live in the following cities (or near one), your Walmart should match their prices. Sign up to receive their sale ads via email.

Cities served: Grand Prairie, Ft. Worth, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Lewisville, Irving, Plano, Mesquite

When you look at the ads online, you don’t get pictures. I’ve gotten great fruit and meat discounts, and have scored some hygiene freebies when coupled with coupons. Don’t overlook this weekly sale ad.