Free Case of Water at Staples

Today and tomorrow (Expires October 19, 2014) you can get a free case of spring water at Staples with the coupon. It doesn't appear to have a minimum purchase requirement so you can walk into your local Staples and just get the free case of water. The brand of water that you will get depends on your local area.

Valid 10/18/14–10/19/14 in Staples® U.S. stores only. Discount applies to regional spring water, cases only, item nos. 322918, 383829, 395312, 396724, 396936, 396727 and 452168. Not valid in NYC metro markets. While supplies last. Plus tax and deposit where applicable. Limit one coupon per customer, nontransferable. Each item purchased can only be discounted by one coupon, applied by cashier in the order received and prior to tax. Coupon not valid if purchased or sold and must be surrendered. No cash/credit back. Not valid on prior purchases or purchases made with Staples® Procurement or Convenience Cards.

Free Wholly Guacamole Products

Wholly Guacamole wants feedback from its fans and their willing to reward you for your time. Just complete a short survey about Wholly Guacamole products and you will get a coupon for a free Wholly Guacamole product.

We want your scoop on our products. It'll only take 5 minutes- we promise!

To say thanks, we will mail you a coupon for a FREE Wholly Guacamole product! Make sure you provide your mailing address at the end of the survey to receive your coupon! Coupons will be mailed 6-8 weeks after the survey has been completed. And don’t worry, we never, ever give away or sell your info.

Get Ingredients for Four Meals for $15

Have you tried any of these dinner websites yet? I've seen a few pop up that help you create a menu and send you the ingredients needed to make the meals.

Plated is one of these new websites and the food look wonderful. For just $15 per plate, you can get everything you need to make a good dinner. Right now, you can use the promotional code 4freeplates to get four plates free. You will still need to pay the delivery fee which is $15 (might differ for other zip codes).

All recipes come in increments of two servings so you can buy either one or two different meals with this four plate promotion.

Each week, the company features different recipes. If you plan on using the site a lot, a membership is available for $10 per month and offers a $3 discount per plate. Therefore it will save you money on your fourth plate and beyond during the month.

OMGuac Your Lunch!

All my readers know that Wholly Guacamole is one of my favorite products. Those 100 calorie packs are the best way to add a little flavor to a dish without the rest of the container turning brown, since they're individually sealed.

Check out their latest promotion, OMGuac Your Lunch! to score a $1 off any Wholly product coupon. You can also check out some cute lunch ideas for work or school. Some are listed for adults, and others for kids, but all the ideas look delicious.

Remember to snap a picture of your Wholly lunch to enter the contest. One picture will win a $100 and a cooler full of Wholly products.

A panel of Judges selected by Fresherized Foods (“Judges”) will judge all eligible entries based on the creativity and originality of each entry. A predetermined specific amount of winners will be chosen each week. Sponsor reserves the right in its sole and unfettered discretion to disqualify any entry that it believes contains obscene, offensive or inappropriate content, that does not comply with these Official Rules or that is not consistent with the spirit or theme of this contest. The decision of the Judges is final and binding on all matters relating to this contest. Odds of winning a prize depend on number of eligible entries received and the quality of the entries received, as judged pursuant to these Official Rules.

Disclaimer: I received coupons for free Wholly Guacamole in exchange for this post. I did not receive any other compensation and all opinions are 100% mine.

Free Sample of Ovaltine

Right now on Facebook, you can request a free sample of Ovaltine.

Offer good in the U.S. only. Offer valid only while supplies last. Limit one (1) sample pack affixed with (2) stick samples per person. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. Offer may not be republished without written consent from NESTLÉ®. Void where prohibited or restricted by law.

Free Delivery from Fresh Direct (Philadelphia Area)

Fresh Direct is currently running a promotion for new customers in Philadelphia. Until August 31, 2013, you can get free delivery on your order. I just placed an order for delivery tomorrow and it was really easy. The prices were similar to the local grocery stores and I won't have to deal with the craziness.

I really liked that when you order meat, you can have it vacuum sealed. This makes it simple to throw the meat directly in the freeze without worrying about freezer burn so you can stock up during sales.

Terms and Conditions for Fresh Meets Free Promotion:

This offer for a waived delivery fee is good on your next residential web order in the Greater Philadelphia delivery area. Delivery fee will be removed automatically at checkout for orders delivered by 8/31/2013, no promotion code necessary. DeliveryPass members will receive one (1) additional week of DeliveryPass in lieu of a free delivery. Offer excludes surcharges. All standard customer terms and conditions apply. FreshDirect reserves the right to cancel or modify this offer at any time. Offer expires at 11:59pm ET, August 31st, 2013 and will be removed from orders that are modified after this time. Offer is nontransferable. Void where prohibited.

If you live in another area that is serviced by Fresh Direct, check if they are running any promotions.

Shared Reading: Insider Shopping Tips From a Grocery Store Cashier

We already know to compare the unit prices when we go food shopping to make sure we're getting a good deal, but there are tons of other ways to save at the grocery store. Daily Finance created a list of suggestions for their column, The Savings Experiment.

Don't put mixed-priced things in one bag. The main offenders are sweet peppers -- if green peppers are $0.99/lb, orange peppers are $1.99/lb and you put them in the same bag, I'm charging you $1.99/lb for the whole thing.

This doesn't just apply to vegetable but any items that are sold by the pound. Some people think they are being sneaky when they create a bag of mixed nuts but that's not the case. Cashiers must charge you for the most expensive item in the bag/container.

Other suggestions include purchasing in bulk and skipping the pre-cut items which are marked up in price. I don't agree 100% with the pre-cut suggestion. While it costs more per pound, you're also not throwing parts (like the rind) out. You're also not spending the time cutting the fruit out. It's similar to the price difference in regular chicken and boneless chicken, sometimes it's worth a few cents more per pound.
 
Read the full article at Daily Finance.

Hidden Values at the Grocery Store

I don't know about you, but I love baking. The problem is that things like chocolate chips can get pricey if you want the real thing. Sure you can buy those "chocolate flavored" chips, but they're not fooling anyone. Recently I saw this really cool kit in the bakery aisle for fudge. The Carnation Famous Fudge Kit was on sale for $1.50 and I thought it sounded interesting so I bought it. Call me surprised when I got home and found that the box included a full size bag of Nestle chocolate chips which I could have pulled off the shelf for $3, a can of Carnation evaporated milk, and a few other ingredients.

I actually went back to the grocery store and bought a few more of these kits so I would have chips for my baking. I don't use evaporated milk often, but I added the cans to my pantry and will donate them next time there's a can drive. Instead of paying $3 or more for the chips, I spent less and got more. For those who are wondering, I did actually make a batch of the fudge and everyone that tasted it thought it was great.

This experience made me wonder when else can something as silly as a fudge kit end up saving you money. How many other times have we spent more for less just because we didn't look closely or dismissed something easily. If you are preparing for a picnic or bbq, look for packages that offer all your condiments instead of buying ketchup and mustard separately. It won't always save you money but it often can.

Have you seen any of these surprise deals? Leave a comment and share your finds with your fellow Making Cents of It readers.

Giveaway: Onion Crunch

Last month I posted a product review for Onion Crunch. I had to delay the attached giveaway because of technical problems but I figured it out now. This giveaway will end on February 17, 2013 at midnight (est).

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: Onion Crunch sent me a sample of their product along with an additional sample to give a reader. All opinions are 100% mine.

Free Cookbook from Eggland's Best Eggs

Eggland's Best Eggs has released a Top 20 Recipe eCookbook. The ebook will eventually sell for $9.99, but right now Facebook fans can get it through this exclusive promotion for free.

The free download offer is only available through February 15, 2013 and it not listed on Eggland's Facebook page. It is a special offer for bloggers to share with their readers.

Eggland's Best is America's #1 egg, and cooking with Eggland's Best has never been more nutritious! Compared to ordinary eggs, Eggland's Best eggs have:

• 25% less Saturated Fat
• 10 times more Vitamin E
• 3 times more Vitamin B12
• 2 times more Vitamin D
• More than double the Omega-3
• 35% more Lutein

Source: Eggland's Best Superior Nutrition

Disclaimer: By posting about this promotion, I have a chance to win a free year supply of Eggland's Best Eggs. I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are 100% mine.

Product Review: Onion Crunch

Back in November I posted about discounts for green bean casserole. At the time, I mentioned a specific brand of onion because it was the most common and had a coupon available. After making that post, I was contacted by Onion Crunch that told me about their great product and offered me a sample to try and a second bottle to give a lucky reader.

Onion Crunch is a different brand of crunchy onion and I was intrigued when they arrived. The bits look more like real onion pieces than the other brand. Since I only really make casserole for the holidays, I decided to try one of the other suggestions that Onion Crunch offers. I put their onions on a hamburger. I've been known to put sauteed onions on a burger and I've been known to put potato chips in sandwiches (don't laugh) but this crunchy onion was a nice addition to my burger. It added both that onion flavor and that crunchy texture.

I can't really compare the prices because Onion Crunch is only sold at one chain of grocery stores near me and it's not one I frequent unless they're hosting a really good sale. When I compared pricing on Amazon, the Onion Crunch is $3 cheaper for a 12oz package than the other brand.

A giveaway to go along with this review will be coming soon. I had some trouble with Rafflecopter on the last giveaway so I'm trying to decide if I will use it again or go back to comments with random.org selecting a winner. Keep an eye out for the giveaway very soon.

Disclaimer: Onion Crunch sent me a sample of their product along with an additional sample to give a reader. All opinions are 100% mine.

Just a Laugh: Grocery Store Map

Almost all grocery stores are set up in exactly the same way. They say that if you want to avoid pricing traps, only shop the perimeter: produce, butcher, dairy, and the bakery.

Source: Consumerist

Possible Free Nabisco Cookies at Dollar Tree

What's better than cheap cookies? How about free cookies. There is currently a coupon available on SmartSource for $1 off any two Nabisco cookies or crackers. Many Dollar Tree locations have these cookies currently on a two for $1 sale ($0.50 each) which would make them free after the coupon.

If you haven't already read Dollar Tree's new coupon policy, check it out on their website before going.

Get 10 SmartOnes Meals for $0.99 Each at Target

Target is running a promotion this week on SmartOnes frozen meals. When you buy ten meals at $1.89 each, you will get a $5 Target gift card back. That means you'll get 10 meals for $1.39 each. Already that's a cheap price for frozen meals but there is a coupon available to make this deal even better.

Head over to Eat Your Best to print a coupon for $4 off 10 SmartOnes frozen entrees. You will be prompted to create an account, but it's free.

After the coupon, your total out of pocket will be $14.90 and you'll get the $5 gift card. So the final cost for the 10 meals will be $9.90 or $0.99 each.

What's for Breakfast?

Ever since we were children, it's been hammered into our brains that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. I don't know about you, but I tend to wake up late and rush to get ready for work before heading out the door. Often, I stop at a drive thru to grab something for breakfast.

How much money can I save a week by making breakfast at home? A lot. Think of a bagel with cream cheese. At the local coffee shop it costs $2. If I buy bagels and cream cheese at the grocery store it's about $0.70 per bagel, less if I buy on sale, and about $2 for a brick of cream cheese which will cover about eight bagels. That's about $0.95 compared to the $2 of eating out.

What other breakfasts can be made quick to run out the door? There are tons of options. You can even make a few breakfasts on Sunday and just pull them out of the fridge. A dozen eggs can cost about $1. Boil the eggs and leave them pealed in the fridge for a fast breakfast. Oatmeal takes less than two minutes to cook in the microwave and you can even make it at work.

No matter what I have for breakfast, milk is always something I need to pull out of the fridge.  Whether I'm pouring it over cereal, in my coffee, or just drinking a quick glass on my way out, I always make sure to have a bottle in the fridge. I think it's just another thing that's been hammered into our brains. As a kid, I collected the milk mustache ads from magazines. Anyone remember the Rugrats chocolate milk mustache ad?

So what cheap and easy breakfasts can you think of to make at home before running out the door? Leave a comment.

Disclaimer: By writing this post I am entered to win a pre-paid Visa from @MilkMustache.  All opinions are 100% my own.

$1 Off Tyson Fresh Chicken

Coupons for fresh meat are rare, so quickly grab this coupon for $1 off one package of Tyson Fresh Chicken before it disappears.

Source: Surviving the Stores

Free Sample of Mrs. Dash

Right now on Facebook, you can get a free sample of Mrs. Dash. Mrs. Dash makes salt free seasonings which means that they are a healthy way of adding flavor to your favorite dishes.  The free sample is limited to the first 30,000 people so hurry over before they run out.  It might sound like a large number, but it will go fast.

Earth Day Deals

Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22. Since the 1970's Earth Day has inspired awareness and appreciation for the environment. In some areas, the entire month of April or the week surrounding Earth Day are celebrated in schools and communities.

Below are all the Earth Day promotions I was able to verify. If you know of others, please leave a comment.

Paperback Swap - Not actually an Earth Day promotion, but Paperback Swap is a great way to save money on books and help the environment. You can trade books with other people. (Ongoing)

National Parks - Free entry this weekend to national parks across the country. (April 21-29, 2012)

Target - Free reusable shopping bag with any purchase. (April 22, 2012)

Disney Store - Free reusable shopping bag when you bring five plastic bags to recycle. (April 22, 2012)

Disney Movies - Disney continues their annual tradition of releasing a Disney nature film the weekend closest to Earth Day. If you Chimpanzee between now and April 26, 2012, Disneynature will contribute $0.20 per ticket to the Jane Goodall Institute for the Disneynature Tchimpounga Nature Reserve Project (minimum $100,000). They will also make a $1 donation for every purchase of a chimpanzee plush toys between now and May 13, 2012.

Origins - Bring in an empty cosmetic container and Origins will trade it for a full size moisturizer. (April 22, 2012)

Grocery Stores - Many local grocery stores will be giving away reusable bags. There are too many chains for me to list them all, but check your Sunday ad to see if you're store is running a promotion.

$1 Off Two 2 Liter Bottles of 7Up

7Up products often go on sale for $1 per bottle.  Print out this $1 off two 2-liter bottles of 7Up brand soda now so you'll have it when the next sale starts.

I personally love the cherry 7Up and always keep a few bottles in my pantry.

Try it Free: Pam Non-Stick Cooking Spray

If you like to cook, then this is a great rebate for you. Pam is offering a money back guarantee right now which means if you don't think they offer the best non-stick cooking product they will refund your purchase price. You must make your purchase before April 27, 2012 and postmark the rebate request by May 27, 2012.

Source: Surviving the Stores