Follow Me Monday
Hip2Save Christmas Toy Donation…
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Thursday, December 23rd, 2010 at 3:03 pm.
I am so excited to post this video today. Just yesterday, I was able to go to the Amarillo Downtown Women’s Center to donate over $1,250 worth of toys to Toys for Tots! These toys were chosen by the 25 lucky readers who won the Hip2Save Christmas Giveaway. In addition to the toys that were purchased via Amazon.com, Jasmere was nice enough to donate several vouchers throughout the last few months that I used to purchase items for today’s donation as well. Thanks, Jasmere!
*If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.
* If you have toys that you would like to donate to Toys for Tots, head over here to find a drop-off location.
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"Follow Me Monday": Holiday Challenge Week #4
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Monday, November 15th, 2010 at 5:10 pm.
Welcome to Week #4 (the final week) of the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge! Hopefully, you have a freezer full of delicious meals from Week #1 and Week #2. In addition, I hope you have been able to check several Christmas gifts off your list thanks to your home-made creations from Week #3. The final challenge for this week focuses on something a little different. This week’s challenge is all about paying it forward and the powerful impact that random acts of kindness can have on your own life and the lives of those around you.
So watch the video and join me in the challenge!
**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.
Hope you enjoyed the video and are inspired to head out the door to pay it forward to a stranger and/or a friend/family member! Please keep in mind that to participate in this challenge (as detailed in this post), you are NOT required to spend any money. All I ask is that you pay it forward with 3 different random acts of kindness. If you are selected as a winner of this final challenge, then you WILL be required to email me the details about these 3 random acts (essentially, this is the honor system as taking pictures of your random and usually anonymous acts of kindness defeats the purpose of the challenge in my opinion).
As I stated, I do not expect you to go to Starbucks and hand over hundreds of dollars in cash. Instead, here are some ideas to Pay it Forward that can be done by just about anyone (young or old, rich or poor)…
* Walk someone’s dog
* Shovel someone’s walkway
* Babysit for free (gotta love that one 
)
* Clean someone’s house
* Rake someone’s leaves
* Give a lottery ticket to a stranger
* Treat a police officer to a cup of coffee
* Bring some goodies to the fire station
* Pay the highway toll for the person behind you
* Invite the less fortunate for Thanksgiving dinner
* Donate food, clothing, and money to the needy
* Buy presents and take them to a children’s hospital and/or read stories in a children’s hospital
* Smile at every person you meet today
* Raise money for a person who lost their home to natural disasters or fire
* Hold a garage sale and give the proceeds to an organization who helps others
* And the list is endless…
If you prefer to Pay it Forward through a donation program, check out this wonderful organization below…
Operation Christmas Child
Click here for all the details regarding packing a shoe box with special items for a child. Then enter your zip code here to find a drop-off location near you. You can even discover the destination of your shoe box…how cool is that?!
Are you planning to join me on the challenge this week? If so, click on the “enter this giveaway (i.e. challenge)” button below and state one act of kindness that you would personally like to receive. And then, go Pay it Forward! 
…AND stay tuned for some fun prizes!
I truly believe what goes around comes around. With that being said, may you experience lots of joy AND kindness in the next few days and always! 
(Thanks to I am Thankful and The 365 Ways Blog for many of the Pay it Forward ideas above! Also, thanks to Jessica, Karin and Lauren for passing on info about Operation Christmas Child!)
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"Follow You Monday" to Alberstons in Portland
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Monday, November 8th, 2010 at 3:44 pm.
As many of you may remember, I was lucky enough to be able to travel to Portland, Oregon over the weekend of October 22nd-24th in order to film a shopping episode at a West Linn, Oregon Alberstons store. Why West Linn, Oregon and why Albertsons you may ask? Angie, Hip2Save’s 3rd “Follow You Monday” winner, lives in Oregon and requested to shop at Albertsons… so off we went!
We had a great shopping experience thanks in part to the wonderful customer service we received, so a BIG thank you to Wayne, the Albertsons manager who welcomed us into his store, answered all of our questions and even gave us more than a few coupons! 
And a BIG thank you to Angie who came equipped with her coupon binder, a great attitude, and lots of patience to deal with me, my sis, and my grandma. …So on to the video!
Enjoy!
*If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.
Albertsons Coupon Policy
It is always important to familiarize yourself with a store’s coupon policy. Here is a quick breakdown of Albertson’s Coupon policy. Albertsons will accept the following coupons…
(1) Manufacturer Coupons
(2) Store Coupons: These are discounts offered by Albertson’s directly for purchases within their store. Keep in mind that some store coupons will only be valid with your Preferred Card.
(3) Internet Coupons: Keep in mind that Albertsons will NOT accept internet coupons for any item offered free, any coupon redeemable for excess of $5, or any coupon where the UPC bar code is either absent or unreadable.
(4) Catalina Checkout Coupons/Rebates printed from an Albertsons store: Keep in mind that Albertsons does NOT accept Catalina coupons from competitors.
(5) “Twice the Value” Coupons (aka Doublers): Doublers can be used to “double” the value of any manufacturer coupon up to $1 in value. For instance, if you have a 99¢ manufacturer coupon, you can use the doubler coupon to save $1.98 (double the value of the 99¢ coupon). “Twice the Value” coupons are typically only available to be used during certain days and are not available every week (and sadly, they were not available during this filmed shopping trip 
). They are usually found in the Sunday paper and/or in the store ad.
In addition to a wonderful shopping adventure, I also hosted an awesome reader dinner in Portland on October 22nd. Thanks so much to all the readers who attended… it was so great to meet all of you! Hope you enjoy the pictures below!
*Note: I will not being doing the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge this week due to my hubby having surgery on Thursday. The Final week of the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge will start on Monday, 11/15. Thanks for your understanding.
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"Follow Me Monday": Holiday Challenge Week #3
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Monday, November 1st, 2010 at 4:38 pm.
Welcome to Week #3 of the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge! Hopefully, you have finished baking and preparing the breakfast recipes from Week #1 and the lunch/dinner recipes from Week #2. The challenge for Week #3 focuses on something a little different. Rather than preparing more freezer dishes, this week focuses on making homemade gifts for Christmas that don’t break the bank.
So watch the video and join me in the challenge!
**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.
Please keep in mind that to participate in the challenge (as detailed in this post), you are NOT required to make the same homemade gifts that I have chosen to make in this video. All I ask is that you make 3 different homemade gifts and that you take photo(s) of your finished gifts. You do NOT need to email me the photos; however, if you are selected as a winner of an upcoming Holiday Challenge Giveaway (and there will be lots!), then you WILL be required to email a picture to confirm your participation, so be sure to save your pictures .
CRAFT #1: Mason Jar Cookie/Brownie Mixes
Oatmeal Raisin Spice Cookie Mix
Butterscotch Chip Cookie Mix
Brownie Mix
(Thanks, All Recipes!)
CRAFT #2: Inexpensive Movie Lover’s Gift
I used paper popcorn holders that I purchased from Michael’s Craft Store. Sign up for the Michaels’ email newsletter and you’ll snag a welcome coupon for 40% off. Fill the popcorn holder with yummy movie treats like candy bars, Twizzlers etc. Then check out all the awesome movie ticket deals on Hip2Save… several weeks ago, Groupon offered 6 movie tickets for only $30 (these offers come available all the time, so you stay tuned). Consider adding a restaurant coupon (I chose a B1G1 entree coupon that I recently received in the mail from Ruby Tuesdays) and/or a Restaurant.com certificate.
CRAFT #3: Car Emergency Kit
Consider filling a Rubbermaid container with some or all of the following items: Snack bars, drink mixes, medicine like Rolaids, dental floss, gum, candy, cough drops, nuts, raisins, deodorant, and even a Bounce dryer sheet to help freshen up the car.
Are you planning to join me on the challenge this week? If so, click on the “enter this giveaway (i.e. challenge)” button below and share your most favorite holiday gift that you ever received. And then, get to crafting! …AND stay tuned for some fun prizes!
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"Follow Me Monday": Holiday Challenge Week #2
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Monday, October 25th, 2010 at 3:31 pm.
Welcome to Week #2 of the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge! Hopefully, you have finished baking and preparing the breakfast recipes from last week’s challenge. Is your freezer starting to fill up? If so, be sure to leave some space in your freezer to accommodate the delicious recipes from this week’s challenge. The challenge for week #2 focuses on preparing meals for lunch/dinner.
So watch the video and join me in the challenge!
**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.
Please keep in mind that to participate in the challenge (as detailed in this post), you are NOT required to follow the recipes I have chosen to make in this video. All I ask is that you make 3 lunch/dinner related recipes that can be placed in the freezer and that you take photo(s) of your finished products. You do NOT need to email me the photos; however, if you are selected as a winner of an upcoming Holiday Challenge Giveaway (and there will be lots!), then you WILL be required to email a picture to confirm your participation, so be sure to save your pictures .
RECIPE #1:
Spaghetti Sauce
RECIPE #2:
Broccoli, Rice, Cheese and Chicken Casserole
RECIPE #3:
Burritos with Mexican Rice
Are you planning to join me on the challenge this week? If so, click on the “enter this giveaway (i.e. challenge)” button below and share your biggest challenge in the kitchen. And then, get to cooking! …AND stay tuned for some fun prizes!
(Thanks to AllRecipes.com for the wonderful recipes!)
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Follow Me Monday: Holiday Challenge Week #1
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Monday, October 18th, 2010 at 2:32 pm.
Welcome to Week #1 of the Hip2Save Holiday Challenge! This week’s challenge focuses on preparing breakfast foods (i.e. breads, muffins, and pancakes) that can be placed in your freezer and used at a later time. This is definitely a challenge for me as I struggle with baking and cooking in general. So watch the video and join me in the challenge!
**If you can’t see this video, then go here to watch it.
Please keep in mind that to participate in the challenge (as detailed in this post), you are NOT required to follow the recipes I have chosen to make in this video. All I ask is that you make 3 breakfast related recipes that can be placed in the freezer and that you take photo(s) of your finished products. You do NOT need to email me the photos; however, if you are selected as a winner of an upcoming Holiday Challenge Giveaway (and there will be lots!), then you WILL be required to email a picture to confirm your participation, so be sure to save your pictures .
RECIPE #1: Pumpkin Zucchini Bread
RECIPE #2: Blueberry Coffee Cake Muffins
RECIPE #3: Buttermilk Pancakes or Fluffy Pancakes
Are you planning to join me on the challenge this week? If so, click on the “enter this giveaway (i.e. challenge)” button below and share your favorite baking/freezing tip. And then, get to baking! …AND stay tuned for some fun prizes!
Need some tips on freezing bread, muffins and pancakes? Check out these tips and tricks below…
* Allow breads to cool completely before placing them in the freezer.
* Be sure to press out as much excess air from the bag.
* If you are planning to leave your bread in the freezer longer than a month or two, wrap the bread in heavy duty aluminum and then place it in a plastic bag (you can then leave the bread in the freezer for up to 4 months).
* When you are ready to use the bread, take it out of the freezer and allow it to thaw on the counter at room temperature (this usually takes about 3 hours).
* Stack pancakes between sheets of wax paper and slide them all into a plastic bag for freezing (consider using an old bread/bagel bag versus a new Ziploc bag). Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you are ready to use them, take them directly from the freezer to a preheated oven and bake 2-3 minutes.
* Place trays of muffins in the freezer until firm and then transfer them to a Ziploc bag for freezing. Muffins can be stored in the freezer from 6 to 12 months. Muffin batter can be frozen right in the tins for up to 3 weeks for later baking.
* Consider flash freezing muffins (i.e. place individual muffins on a tray in the freezer, freeze them until they are firm and then store them in more space-efficient freezer bag).
* Always label bags with the date.
(Thanks to AllRecipes.com and FoodNetwork.com for the wonderful recipes!)
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"Follow Me Monday" The Taste Test (Part 2)
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Monday, October 4th, 2010 at 4:38 pm.
Join me today for part II of my Taste Testing adventure with my very special guest. If you didn’t have a chance to view part I, then head over here. In this final episode, you’ll see me and my guest taste test macaroni & cheese, graham crackers, my favorite snacks (Wheat Thins), chocolate bars, and yogurt. As you’ll see, some of the results were very surprising. I pride myself in being a “Wheat Thins guru” so watch to see if I can distinguish between the store-brand Wheat Crackers and Nabisco Wheat Thins.
Note: I apologize in advance for the lighting on this video… it’s not the greatest.
**If you can’t see the video, go here to watch it.
Now that you’ve watched my two-part video series, consider hosting a taste test with your family. Here are my tips to hosting a successful taste testing adventure of your very own…
* Start with an empty stomach (i.e. do not eat an entire hamburger right before the testing begins )
* Taste test products that you eat on a regular basis and/or products that you like
* Maintain an open mind
If you do decide to host your own taste testing adventure, please come back and leave a comment letting us know what you discovered.
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"Follow Me Monday": Girls' Day Out (on a Budget!)
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Monday, September 20th, 2010 at 4:20 pm.
Who doesn’t love to have a girls’ day out?! Even better, how about a spending a whole girl’s day out on a $10 budget? Well, that was the challenge I faced in today’s “Follow Me Monday” video. Do you think me and my 3 year-old daughter, Piper, can stick to my $10 budget? Well, watch the video and find out…
**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.
Wanna plan your own girls’ day out on a $10 budget? Below are some tips to help you get started…
* Planning ahead is key! Decide what stores/restaurants you would like to visit and then sign up for their email newsletters/clubs. Most stores and restaurants will then email you coupons/special offers that will help you have an affordable girls’ day out. To quickly and easily sign up to receive special offers from your favorite stores and restaurants, check out Hip2Save’s extensive Birthday Freebies list. Not only will you receive special offers on your birthday, but you will also receive great coupons and freebies throughout the rest of the year! Below are direct links to some of the stores/restaurants that I visited in the video:
Justice: Sign up for Justice emails and you’ll receive special offers (and even a birthday gift) like the 40% off coupon I used in the video to snag Piper a purple flute for only $0.66! This flute is responsible for the wonderful background music that you will hear throughout the video .
Kmart: Sign up your kiddos for the Kmart Birthday Club and they’ll receive $5 Birthday bucks, a birthday crown, a Happy Birthday certificate AND a birthday fun pack. You can use the $5 Birthday bucks to save $5 off any toy purchase of $5 or more which could mean a FREE toy! I was able to score an adorable My Little Pony gift set on clearance for $6, so only $1 + tax after the coupon!
Sonic: Sign up to be a Sonic Cruisers member and you’ll snag a surprise on your birthday (choice of a FREE medium Tots, a regular CreamSlush Treat or a medium drink). I used my birthday coupon to snag a FREE Cream Slush for my daughter in the video!
Bath & Body Works: Go here to print a coupon valid for a FREE Signature Collection Travel Size Item with ANY purchase (up to a $5 value)! This coupon is valid thru September 22nd. Remember, this coupon states ANY item, so look for an inexpensive product. Think clearance, a small hand sanitizer, nail file or any other product priced around $1-$2! In the video, Piper picked out anti-bacterial hand gel for a $1 and then we snagged our free travel-size product for free with the coupon!
Auntie Anne’s: Sign up for Pretzel Perks and get a different coupon every month plus snag a Buy 1 Get 1 Free pretzel coupon when you first register. I used this coupon in the video to snag 2 delicious pretzels for $2.79!
Captain D’s Seafood Kitchen: Join the D’s club and you will snag a welcome email with a coupon good for a FREE Fish & Fries or a FREE Chicken & Fries, just for joining! Plus, you’ll receive a coupon for one of 3 select free dinners of $5 off any dinner or platter on your birthday. In the video, I used the welcome coupon to snag FREE Fish & Fries for lunch…and it literally was free. I did not even pay tax!
* Sign up for Swagbucks! You can earn Swagbucks by searching the web, shopping at your favorite retailers, and by engaging in other activities like phone recycling, submitting polls, and completing special offers. You can then trade in your Swagbucks for cash or gift cards like the Starbucks card I used to score FREE coffee in the video!
* Be on the lookout for spare change! We spotted 2 quarters on the ground by the shopping carts at Kmart which meant a FREE Merry Go Round ride for Piper.
Do you have any tips for having a budget friendly girls’ day (or night) out?! If so, please share them in the comments below!
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"Follow Me Monday" to Rite Aid…
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Monday, September 13th, 2010 at 4:45 pm.
Yippee! I am so excited about this “Follow Me Monday” video. First, because it’s my first real “Follow Me Monday” video since taking a break this summer and second, because I get to shop at Rite Aid– one of my favorite stores!
Thanks to Rite Aid, I was able to get permission to film at my local Jacksonville, North Carolina Rite Aid. The video below highlights all the great deals that I was able to score (keep in mind that this video was filmed back in August, so the deals are not available anymore) and also shows how the +Up Rewards program works. In addition to the video, please read through the outline below which will help you to become a very “Hip” Rite Aid shopper (this outline will be especially helpful for new couponers or those of you who have not yet shopped at Rite Aid)!
(1) Head over to Hip2Save and check out the weekly Rite Aid store deals. These deals highlight all the current Single Check Rebates, +Up Reward items, and sale items paired up with manufacturer coupons, Rite Aid in-ad coupons, Video Values coupons, and total purchase coupons (if applicable). Click on the print icon (located to the right of the post title) for the Rite Aid weekly deals and you can print out your own personalized list to take with you into the store. Pay special notice to the deals that I have highlighted in red as these are my favorite deals for the week.
(2) Get to know the Rite Aid Video Values program. This program allows you to watch a quick video advertisement (usually 30 seconds-several minutes) and then be rewarded with a coupon for the advertised product. These Video Values coupons are actually Rite Aid store coupons and CAN be stacked with manufacturer’s coupons! Keep in mind that your coupons can only be printed once. To print coupons, go to the My Rewards tab, check the box of the coupon(s) you want to print, and then click the print coupons button. When you have watched 20 video credits, you will earn a bonus coupon of $4 off any purchase of $20 or more (this bonus coupon is limited to one per customer per month).One of the best perks about the Video Values coupons is that they typically do not expire until the end of the following month AND they do not have to be printed immediately. For this reason, I recommend that you watch all of the available Video Values programs each month… you will then have access to all the coupons in the My Rewards tab, so that you can print them at a later date if you need them to snag a great deal.
(3) Get to know the Single Check Rebate program. This program allows you to buy participating Single check Rebate products, then submit your receipts online and get a check in the mail. Each month, Rite Aid will release a new rebate booklet in-stores advertising all the current Single Check Rebate items; you can also go here and browse through the rebate offers online. Keep in mind that some Single Check Rebates are only valid for one week, while others may be offered for the whole month. Make sure to check the dates closely for each participating Single Check Rebate item.
As you make purchases throughout each month, you can save your receipts and enter them online all at once at the end of the rebate program period (typically this is the end of the month). If you prefer, you can enter your individual receipts each time you make a purchase throughout the month (there is no limit to the number of receipts you can enter); I prefer this option as there is less of a chance that I will lose the receipt(s) or forget to enter it. At the end of the month, request your rebate by clicking the request rebate button. Do NOT click the “request rebate” button if you are planning on purchasing more Single Check Rebate items before the rebate program period has ended as Rite Aid ONLY allows one submission per household.
(4) Become a Wellness + Rewards member…it’s FREE and necessary to be a savvy Rite Aid shopper! You’ll earn points each time you shop that will enable you to snag special discount passes and more. Be sure that the cashier scans your Wellness + card prior to you checking out (if you forget your card, just give them your phone number).
(5) Get to know the +Up Rewards program exclusively available to Wellness + Rewards Members. Each week, you can browse the Rite Aid weekly ad for featured +Up Rewards products (or just check out the weekly deals at Hip2Save). Buy these products using your Wellness + card and you’ll receive a +UP Reward which consists of a coupon or a number of coupons that print at the bottom of your receipt and can be used on your NEXT purchase like cash. Each advertised +UP Reward is limited to 1 per wellness card (unless otherwise stated). And here’s the best part… there is no limit to the number of +Up Rewards redeemed in a single transaction as long as the pretax total is greater than the combined value of the +UP Rewards.
(6) Read through the Rite Aid corporate coupon policy. I always recommend that you print a copy of this policy and bring it with you while you shop. If any issues should arise, this coupon policy should definitely help clear things up!
Now check out this new “Follow Me Monday” Rite Aid shopping video… Enjoy!
**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.
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Follow Me Thursday as I Finish off My Very Interesting Phone Calls to Walgreens…
This Hip2Save.com Deal was hand-posted on Thursday, July 1st, 2010 at 4:15 pm.
Are you eager to see Part 3 of my 3 part video series that highlights phone calls I made to Walgreens stores across the country?! Well, first, if you haven’t already, make sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2. I ended the video yesterday in the middle of a oh so helpful conversation with a Walgreen’s customer service rep at the corporate level. Today’s video will highlight the remainder of this interesting phone call! Enjoy!
**If you can’t see the video, then go here to watch it.
*Please note that I contacted Walgreens managers in the following 4 states: Idaho, North Carolina, Missouri and Texas; and I called the Walgreens Corporate Customer Service Center in Alabama. Because these states only require one party consent to record a telephone conversation, I was able to record these phone calls legally!
Video: The secret to discounted produce: Ask!
