4 Free Kindle Books 3/25

These books are free for a limited time, so double check to make sure they are still free before buying them.
Crafty Girls Talk - Jennifer Forest

How to Crochet - Beatrice Crimbleton

Naomi's Story - Melanie Schmidt

A Warrior's Redemption - Guy Stanton III

Free Kindle Books 3/19

Always check to make sure these are still free before "buying."  If you accidentally purchase one, you can return it to amazon within a week, check your "manage my kindle" page on amazon.com for info.

The Children's Busy Book - Trish Kuffner

Penumbra (YA inspirational fantasy) - Samantha Bennett

The Seasons on Henry's Farm - Terra Brockman

The Secret Garden - Francis Hodgson Burnet, plus you can get the audible version with this for only $2.49 more

The Unlikely Missionary - Dan King

Free Kindle Books 3/16

Always check to make sure these are still free before "buying."  If you accidentally purchase one, you can return it to amazon within a week, check your "manage my kindle" page on amazon.com for info.

How the Gospel Brings Us All the Way Home - Derek W. H. Thomas

How to Believe - Tommy Tenny

Intimidation - Wanda Dyson

Plain Living - Rachel Bauer



Independently Published with at least 4 star review rating

Claire's Prayer - Yvonne Cloette

The Mystery of Hurtleberry House - C. L. Ragsdale

The Proof - Cheryl Colwell

The Truth About the Sky - Katharine Grubb

Unmending the Veil - Lisa Heaton

Free Kindle Books

Always check to make sure these are still free before "buying."  If you accidentally purchase one, you can return it to amazon within a week, check your "manage my kindle" page on amazon.com for info.

Cold-Case Christianity - J. Warner Wallace

Enough - Will Davis Jr.

Fresh Air - Chris Hodges

The Vigilante's Bride - Yvonne Harris

When We Have Failed - What Next? - K. P. Yohannan

Who is the Holy Spirit? - R. C. Sproul


Independently published but has at least 4 star reviewer rating

Amish Neighbor - Melody Schmidt

Desiring God - Bernice Aquilera

Gift of Water - Franklyn McInnis 

Johnny Came Home - Tony Breeden

Love is Patient - Holli Rebecca Burnfield

Mama B - A Time To Love - Michelle Stimpson

The Red Collar - Colette Makray 

Mail Call!

Today I got a few fun things in the mail:

1. My Ace Rewards key fobs to help me save there and to get a Birthday deal.
2. Family Circle magazine or which I paid nothing for, and there's a little packet of coupons inside.
3. $10 Target gift card from ebates!  I wasn't expecting this at all, maybe I missed seeing the offer.  But I'll take it!  And I'll add it to my stash of discounts and freebies that I'm saving up to use on my birthday.  Sign up for ebates here and see if you can get one too!

Wagging for Walgreens

Today, my dog and I went shopping at Walgreens.  He had to stay in the car, but he was sure to sniff my coupons and nose my bags when I came out.  Finally, a beautiful day and a score of a haul at Wags, I mean Walgreens.  (The pic above was taken last summer, but the view was the same.)

All I needed was Tylenol but you know that I had to get other stuff to get them for a good price.  I took

When to use a Free Coupon

I've recently gotten a few free item coupons in the mail when manufacturers offer them online.  These are manufacturer coupons and can be used at any store that stocks those items.  Instead of redeeming these coupons on my next shopping order, I save them for when they can

Free Kindle Books

Always check to make sure these are still free before "buying."  If you accidentally purchase one, you can return it to amazon within a week, check your "manage my kindle" page on amazon.com for info.

Once Upon A Summer - Jeanette Oke

An Open Heart - Harry Kraus

How Sweet the Sound - Amy K. Sorrells

Dakota Dusk - Loraine Snelling

Edge of the Wilderness - Stephanie Grace Whitson

Romance on the River - Mary Ellis (Pre-order)

Yes There's A Free Lunch, Just Not at Chipotle

There's a new hoax going out around facebook that if you follow, post and tag a photo, Chipotle will give you a free meal.  As much as I'd love this, it's not true.  Chipotle has been replying to many questions about this recently, here's one:

The poster asks a good question.  If there is such a good coupon, wouldn't the company want more people to know about it and post it on their facebook page?  Which is also something we should all think about.  Even if your friend, whom you trust post something - it doesn't mean it's true.

Although there's no free burrito, there are other free lunches and offers out there.  Check out this list of birthday freebies.  Many of them will give you something just for signing up, so no need to wait until your special day!  Last weekend, I got a free sandwich including side from Famous Dave's just for signing up, we just needed a $5 additional purchase.  We also were able to get up to 3 free meat & potato burritos from Taco John's with no other purchase and I got a free Arby's roast beef with purchase of small drink.

There are places with free or nearly free lunches out there, but Chiptole is not one of those places.  But if they do have a free lunch offer, I'll post it when I see it.

Just Running Errands

The fruits (veggies?) of my labor

I told my husband that I was dropping off stuff at the food shelf and then running a couple errands.  Two stores, two hours and some amazing deals later, I returned home with a bounty of things, spent less than $25 OOP and still have $20 in gift cards from Target, earned over $5 in BR at Walgreens plus have $4.50 in RR.  Plus, I have $17 in rebates to submit.  A money maker morning!

Here's how it went down:

Stop #1 - Buffalo Food Shelf

Walgreens Balance Rewards Redemption Time

It took me about 6 weeks to accumulate 40,000 Balance Rewards at Walgreens which is worth $50.00.  I did redeem some points during that time too, but I did save the bulk of it up for a big shopping trip.  For the last few weeks, I combed through the ad to see if there were enough sale items that I wanted to get for this trip, and it finally came together during their 2-day Memorial Day sale which ended yesterday.  I had a few guidelines:

1. Because Walgreens regular prices are higher than Cub, I would not get anything at full price to maximize my savings
2. I would not get anything that earned Balance Rewards, since I can't earn BR when I redeem them

I got out a spreadsheet and calculated the costs including coupon savings, to a total around $51.00.  I also had a couple store gift cards to use which would make anything over $50 at no out of pocket cost.

At the store, I noticed only 1 familiar face and realized that most of the regular Monday staff were probably taking a much deserved break.  I sure hoped the cashier I got would be coupon friendly or this wouldn't work.  There were also a few items that were not in stock or were not priced like I thought they should be, that I passed on.  I opted for a few other items instead to get my totals back up.

I finally got everything and went up to the registers - but first I needed to do a price check.  The Off! spray wasn't marked on the shelves, but they were in the ad and in the picture of the ad.  So I asked the cashier, an elderly man to price check before I started my large transaction.  If the spray wasn't the right price, I'd end up paying $8.00 too much and it wouldn't be a deal.  Another cashier came along, the cosmetic lady and helped me out.  Turns out, the spray should've been on sale but it wasn't.  I brought it to the store's attention.  Yep, I'm becoming that kind of customer.

I checked out at the cosmetic counter, which is always my first choice!  She told me that she's glad she checked me out, because the other man wasn't very good with coupons and it would stress him out.  We had a win-win situation!  Yes, it does help to get the right cashier.  The cosmetics counter is so much nicer because they usually know more about coupons and deals and there is rarely a line forming behind me.  

Everything worked perfectly, and my total was $54.86 with tax.  I redeemed 40,000 points for $50.00, then used a gift card balance for the rest = TOTALLY FREE!

Here's what I got:

• 2 - Samy Fat hair sprays - b1g1 1/2 off
• 3 - bags of chips $1.99 ea
• Indiana popcorn $1.99
• 3 - 24 pack water $1.99 ea
• Bread $.99
• Lipton stix black tea lemon, clearance for $ .94 (filler item)
• 2 - All 28 load detergent $3.49ea
• Steakhouse jerky, clearance $1.19 (filler)
• 2 - Kellogs fruit crisps $2.50 ea
• 3 - Triscuits $2.99 ea
• Oral B toothbrush $2.99
• Heinz ketchup $3.79 (wasn't on sale but I needed it and had a coupon)
• 2 - Nice! lunchmeats 2/$3
• 2 - Off! Deep Woods spray $4.99ea
• 2 - Simply lemonade 59oz $1.99 ea

Balance Rewards savings: $31.87

Store coupons: $5.98

Store savings: $6.45

MQ's: $11.75

= $109.03 worth of groceries

Plus, I received $2 in RR from the Oral B brush and still have 4,050 BR points left

I love my Wags!

I Just Needed Bread...

You know when you go into a store and just need 1 thing, and come out with a whole bunch more stuff?  Usually when this happens, I end up spending a lot more than I had planned on.  But not today.  Today I spent nothing out of pocket at Walgreens.

First, I transferred a prescription.  With an online coupon, I received a $25 store gift card.

Then, I started shopping for free stuff.

• Sally Hansen nail colors B1G1 1/2 price.  I had 4 - $4 coupons, making them all free
• 2 - Oral B toothbrushes on sale for $3.49 each, applied 2 - $1 coupons for $2.49 each PLUS earned 3,000 BR points (worth at least $3, see note below on this one)
• 4 - Starbucks frappucinos, on sale for 4/$5, applied 2 - $1/2 coupons = 4/$3
• Wondering how this adds up to free?  Keep reading...
• Calagel first aid, itch lotion $6.79, applied $1 coupon PLUS received $5 coupon for next shopping trip = $ .79
• 1 dozen eggs $ .99
• Loaf of bread $ .89
• Used $1.50 RR coupon from previous transaction
• Used $4.00 RR coupon from previous transaction

= $2.03
Applied gift card
= $0.00

This would have been great without the gift card too, I saved 98% or $48.75 (including card discounts) and would have been happy to pay only $2.03.  But free is better.

To top it all off, I received 2 more store coupons and disounts:

• $5 off my next store purchase (mentioned above from Calagel cream)
• $10 off purchase of $35 or more valid Friday-Monday
• PLUS 3,000 BR points which brings my total to over 40,000 which means $50 credit on most everything
• Side note: I didn't initially get my 3,000 points at the register, I called Walgreens to check this out.  Looks like I can't earn points when using my "store credit/gift card."  But they were nice and gave them to me anyway.
• And, I have $22.95 still on my gift card

= $87.95 in store credit!
Pretty good deal for just needing to get bread.

Looks like I'll be shopping there again on Sunday!

Free Bounce at Target

With the coupon in yesterday's P&G insert and one from Smart Source (SS) 4/14, you can get Bounce dryer sheets for free at Target.  Here's how you do it:

1. Buy the smaller boxes of Bounce that cost $1.97 and get 3.
2. Use the P&G $3 MR coupon off WYB 3 Tide, Gain or Bounce
3. Use the SS 4/14 Target coupon, $3 off WYB 3 Tide, Gain or Bounce

= 3 free boxes of Bounce

I should be able to do this deal about 8 times, which is 24 boxes free.  Since Target only allows 4 like coupons per transaction, I'll need to split it into 2 separate orders.  This will give me some more things to donate to our local food shelf the next time I go.