Announcements

Updated Feature | Birthday Freebies and Deals Database

by Beth Montgomery on April 17, 2012 · 0 comments

Along with the Restaurant Coupon and Deal Database, the Birthday Freebies and Deals Database got a makeover this weekend to make it more user-friendly!

It’s also now in the same format as the Free Stuff & Samples Database, allowing you to see multiple freebies at once, search the database, and easily compare the best birthday offers to see which ones you’d like to sign up for to help celebrate your special day

How to Use the Birthday Freebies and Deals Database

Get the Gift

When you find the perfect gift to help you celebrate, click the link under “Get Gift” that describes the type of celebration gift you’ll get.

Some of the freebies listed in the Birthday Freebies and Deals Database aren’t just to celebrate birthday. You may find Anniversary and Kids’ Birthday freebies and deals as well.

Sort the Database

Use the small up and down arrows next to the column headings to sort the Birthday Freebies and Deals Database. Sort by Location, Get Gift to sort by gift types, or Gift for description of the gift.

Click the arrow next to a column heading once to sort A to Z and click it twice to sort Z to A.

Search the Database

Type keywords into the Search Box to search by specific keywords. The database instantly starts filtering as you type.

Name: Search for the restaurant, brand, or store name to find specific restaurant coupons.

Type: Search by Birthday, Anniversary, or Kids’ Birthday to see a specific type of birthday deal.

Keyword: Search by keyword like free dessert or surprise treat to limit your results.

See More or Less Coupons (or Deals)

You can use the Show Entries drop down to show more or less deals per page. Adjust it to 10, 25, 50, or 100 freebies and deals per page.

Browse by Page

Scroll all the way down to the bottom to find two arrows in the right-hand corner of the database. Click the right arrow to scroll forward through the pages of freebies and the left arrow to scroll backwards.

Report Errors & Issues

Keeping the databases up to date is a full time job. If you see an error with a freebie please use the error button that directs you to a short form to report it to us, so we can fix it. Share with us any error from typos to deals that are no longer available. This will help us make sure the database is as up to date as possible.

Submit Birthday Freebies and Deals

Find a great deal or coupon for the Birthday Freebies and Deals Database? Scroll down to the bottom of the database to find the link to submit a deal to share. As I said, it’s a big job keeping the databases up to date, so we appreciate any help you want to offer!

Get Started

There are currently over 110 valid freebies and deals for restaurants and dining out, so check out the Birthday Freebies and Deals Database now to save on your next meal.

Love this deal? Find more ways to save!

Restaurant Coupon and Deal Database
Kids Eat Free (Indiana & Nationwide Deals)
Freebies & Samples

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My Coupon is Missing a Barcode: New Coupon Barcode System

by Beth Montgomery on February 2, 2012 · 2 comments

in Announcements, Coupons & Rebates,

New GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked Barcode

For a while now, you’ve been use to seeing two barcodes on your coupon, like in the image above. What many don’t realize is that this isn’t the standard coupon barcode. In fact, it’s a transitional barcode launched in 2008 that was designed to help during the transition from the old UPC Barcode to the new GS1 Databar Expanded Stacked Barcode.

Many questions have been rolling in since New Years, because 2012 is the beginning of the final phase of this transition and many coupons on popular printable coupon sites and in inserts are now sporting the new and improved barcode.

Transition to New Coupon Barcode System

Why the change?

Notice how I said the transitional coupon barcode system was launched in 2008? That means, contrary to popular belief, this isn’t the fault of TLC’s Extreme Couponing. The powers that be have been aware for a while now that the current coupon system was flawed and needed some changes.

Why are the new barcodes better?

New GS1 DataBar Expanded Stacked Barcode

The new barcodes have the ability to code a large amount of information into a very small area for complex coupon offers such as size/weight restrictions, quantity requirements, and expiration dates.

In addition, instead of limiting companies to a choice of 100 different values, the new barcodes allow companies to code coupons in any dollar amount up to $999.99 and help companies with prefixes greater than 6-digits. And, finally, with the right equipment, the new barcodes should be easier to scan, making checkout faster.

Basically, the new system will cut down on the misuse of coupons and coupon fraud, making sure consumers use them before they expire and on the product for which they were meant.

What does this mean for me and my shopping trips?

Now, more than ever, it’s important to read the fine print on your coupon. As I’ve said, a coupon is a contract, and you’re agreeing to that fine print when you use the coupon. These coupons may be coded in detail, so it’s all about what the coupon says!

My stores aren’t taking my coupons! What do I do?

Stores have had since July 2011 to upgrade their systems, but many customers are having issues. Some stores are holding onto their old system and some seem to be completely unaware of any changes.

If you’re holding onto coupons with the new barcode and struggling to redeem them, here’s some tips to help.

Remember, be nice, not confrontational. Cashier and managers tend to respond better to kindness.

Call your local store to see if they’ve updated their system and are accepting the new barcodes before shopping.

Print the Barcode Graphic page to keep in your coupon binder to help cashiers and managers understand your coupon is valid. Or better yet, show them on your phone.

I’ve heard these coupons are meant to scan with the hand scanner and not with the product scanner, so if your coupon isn’t scanning, ask your cashier to try the hand scanner.

If the store does not have the new scanner, the coupons may be entered manually, so ask your cashier to manually input the coupon.

Ask for a manager, who is more likely to be informed about the barcode changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here’s a few of the questions coming my way and what I’ve found out for you:

What about double and triple coupons?

The old 5 and 9 system is gone, which allowed some coupons that said “do not double” to double regardless. Here’s what I’ve been told about the new system:

Some coupons say “do not double” in the tiny fine print, so read your coupons carefully.
If your coupon says “do not double”, you should expect the coupon not to double.
Depending on the store’s software, the new barcode MAY prevent coupons that say “do not double” from doubling.
Coupons that do no say “do not double” should double as normal.

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In Good Cents – New Site Design & Features

by Beth Montgomery on January 30, 2012 · 0 comments

in Announcements

Have you checked out In Good Cents today? There is a lot going on!

As you can see Sharon Hujik and I have been busy behind scenes. Sharon is the one to thank for the beautiful new look and feel of the site, while Ashley, Elizabeth, Susan, and I have been stockpiling deals for you!

The goal of the new site design is to make In Good Cents a resource for you to save money on everything on family necessities.

In addition to the great deals shared each day on the site and in the daily newsletter, we’ve now added easy-to-use databases filled with ways to save money:

While these databases come stocked with deals, like the Freebies & Samples database that started with only 100 free things and now includes over 300, they will be growing, so keep watch.

More Features

Keep watch for the red “Sorry Expired” note, to let you quickly know if a deal is no longer available.

Easily search the entire site for deals and money savings tips, including most databases!

Get social with us on all your favorite social media sites by clicking the icons on the top of the page.

Highlighted top deals and popular articles, so you can see what is hot right now!

Quickly print and share your favorite deals with your friends and family on social media sites.

Check the calendar for local frugal events like dining deals, family and fun, consignment sales, and more!

More Coming Soon!

In Good Cents Mobile App
In Good Cents Update Toolbar
Add Your Frugal Events to the Calendar
Printable Resources
Local Coupon Classes

Keep watch!

If there’s anything else you’d love to find on In Good Cents, let me know! Suggestions to help make this site more valuable to you are always appreciated.

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When is a Coupon Not Fraudulent or Counterfeit?

by Beth Montgomery on January 26, 2012 · 4 comments

in Announcements, Coupons & Rebates, Tips & Basics

One the heel of the Brita rebate fiasco, Facebook is once again a buzz with news of a fraudulent Kingsford coupon found yesterday on Coupons.com.

For a while now, I’ve been making excuses for companies. While coupons have been around since 1887, they have become increasingly hot in the past few years. Many companies, eager to give their customers savings, jumped on the coupon train before fully doing their research.

Couponing isn’t going away. It’s only getting more popular. And, with so many well publicized mistakes, it’s time for companies to step up and educate themselves and their employees on how coupons work.

Common Coupon Mistakes Companies Make

Read the full article…

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Endorse: Services Stopped Until Relaunch

by Beth Montgomery on January 25, 2012 · 0 comments

in Announcements, Earn, Target, Walmart, Whole Foods

Endorse was a great way to get some cash back on purchases we made every day both in store and online. Unfortunately, the beta program has ended and after evaluating, Endorse has decided to suspend all services until the launch of Endorse 2.0.

You have until Monday, January 30, 2012 to get all receipts for purchases made before January 15, 2012 to Endorse to receive your cash back. Everyone with an outstanding balance, regardless of the balance, will be issued a check after that time.

Keep watch for Endorse 2.0! Hopefully, it will provide the same great service.

Find out all about Endorse and how it works! And find out all the ways I recommend earning cash back!

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SOPA and PIPA Affects Us All. Take Action Today!

by Beth Montgomery on January 18, 2012 · 0 comments

in Announcements

Imagine you went to your favorite website, the one you visit every day, and it was gone.

No explanation.

Nothing.

Just black.

This may be the future.

Currently, there are two bills going through Congress and Senate that could make this a reality. While these bills are meant to stop online piracy of movies, music, and other copyright content, especially overseas, the wording is so vague that, should these bills pass, the possible ramifications could affect us all.

SOPA and PIPA

In America, we’ve always been innocent until proven guilty. These bills could cause any website suspected of linking to possible infringing material to be shut down.

Keywords

Suspected – Yes, suspected. Not proven.

Linking To – The content doesn’t have to even be on their site. It could be on a site they link to.

Not just shut down – Their IP address could be blocked from search engines, advertisers and income removed, and face possible fines and even jail time. They’d disappear off the internet.

SOPA goes as far as to include those who don’t understand the law, not just those ignoring it.

Why should we care?

It turns us all into criminals.

I’d like to think people in power wouldn’t abuse that power, but they already have. And, this bill would give them even more power. Simply sharing our lives and expressing ourselves could become illegal.

Moms could face a lawsuit for sharing family videos of their babies dancing to a copyright song.

You could get sued for sharing your wedding video on Facebook or YouTube if a copyright song plays in the background.

Your 12-year old could face up to $150,000 in fines for using a service you pay for monthly and didn’t realize wasn’t 100% legal.

Vindictive people could use the bills to take revenge against websites and blogs and most definitely would.

Justin Bieber could have ended up in jail for 5 years, instead of becoming a teenage heartthrob.

Sites like Greenpeace would disappear in the United States, instead of winning lawsuits against large corporations who aren’t happy about the use of their logos in Go Green and activist campaigns.

Sites like Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia, YouTube, MySpace, and blogs where users contribute content would become responsible for comments and content shared by users. They’d eventually cease to exist or have to censor every comment, photo, and video by every user.