[Source: Daily Savings from All You]
Love this deal? You may also enjoy:

• Affordable Recipes
• Browse the Freebie & Sample Database
• Search the Grocery Coupon Database

** Grocery Store GPS from All You was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Photo courtesy of elhombredenegro.

As deal seekers, we’re often giving access to Facebook apps to get a FREE sample, grabbing up free-for-a-day mobile apps before the price increases, and signing up for many sites to get exclusive savings.

What is the cost of these great deals?

While I’m all for snagging freebies and deals, it’s the things that we hand over to get these deals that is starting to concern me. I recently found out I wasn’t so safe, when my credit card information was stolen. While that wasn’t fun, my credit card company did protect me and I wasn’t responsible for any of the charges made.

Fruit Ninja App Permissions: Amazon (May 2012)

That same day I was upgrading apps on my mobile phone, when I noticed that a popular FREE app my daughter and I often play was suddenly requesting control of my camera and access to my contacts.

And then someone asked me to sell my friends and readers.

Okay, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but a new website pitched me their site as a potential story, explaining that they offer the ability to give your Facebook friends and family FREE gift cards from popular retailers.

I get many pitches. Some are serious. Some are not. I always reply with a “thanks, here’s what we can do” email to weed out those who are serious. It saves me a bit of time researching sites to make sure they are legit.

This website got back with me quickly, ready to discuss advertising and let me tour their site.

Before I get excited, at this point, I always stop and do my research. At first glance, a search brought up tons of glowing reviews in newspapers and blogs, but FREE gift cards? What’s the catch?

So I researched a bit deeper and what I found was a bit disturbing.

There's more! CLICK HERE to read all of Internet Safety | Would Your Friend Sell You for a FREE $5 Gift Card?

** Internet Safety | Would Your Friend Sell You for a FREE $5 Gift Card? was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Photo courtesy of elhombredenegro.

I recently confessed that my credit card information was stolen and talked about the importance of Internet safety while shopping online, but it wasn’t the credit cards that got me started. It was actually a snowball of events that happened one day, including the credit card.

It started when I was upgrading apps on my tablet for my daughter. Like usual, I was approving the upgrades,  barely paying attention to what they were asking in return, but something caught my eye.

A popular app that my daughter and I love to play, Fruit Ninja, was requesting a lot more permissions, such as camera control and access to contacts, than it had in the past. A little research showed that I wasn’t the only one concerned.

Fruit Ninja App Permissions: Amazon (May 2012)

As deal seekers, we’re often giving permission to Facebook pages to get a hot coupon and downloading free-for-a-day apps, it’s important to be aware of what you may be handing over to take advantage of these deals.

Why To Be Concerned

It’s starting to get scary. Logging onto websites with other accounts and accepting permissions to download apps or interact on Facebook is becoming a way of life. As we become immune and fly by these pages with barely a glance, companies are getting bolder.

You can’t count on marketplaces to protect you.

Unfortunately, you can’t always count on marketplaces to protect you. The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning back in February that smart-phone apps are invading children’s privacy taking contacts, call logs, phone numbers, locations and more. While iTunes, Amazon, Apple, Google, and other large app distributors agreed to take steps to help protect your personal privacy, such as requiring privacy policies, that only requires apps to disclose, not to stop.

Revoking permissions later may be too late.

I can’t count the number of times I’ve given access to an app on Facebook to quickly print a coupon or grab a freebie, then I remove the app, assuming that made me safe. I didn’t realize until today that it might just be too late.

There's more! CLICK HERE to read all of Internet Safety | What Information Are You Handing Over Online?

** Internet Safety | What Information Are You Handing Over Online? was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Today, we’re taking the time to say thank you to Starbucks.

As a savvy shoppers, it’s nice to give back to the companies we love.  Each week, we take the time to say thanks to one company for the savings they provide, providing us with great products, or just general things we love about them.

Some companies may send us a gift just for being a loyal fan and taking the time to show our appreciate.  Since it’s nice to be appreciated back and it’s important to realize that being kind can help you save even more, we’re tracking who we’ve thanked and how (or if) they’ve showed appreciation in return.

How it Works

1. Write an honest message expressing your thanks to the company or brand.  It doesn’t have to be long.  Short and sweet works too.
2. If you don’t like a particular company, don’t force it.  Just skip this week and participate again next week.  Only thank those you truly appreciate and want to thank.
3. Make sure to include your address in case they decide to send you something to show their own appreciation to you.

Say Thanks To…

Starbucks Coffee Company

Why We Love Them

Need some ideas to get you started?  That’s okay.  Here’s a few reasons I love [COMPANY] to inspire your own thank you message.

• Something for everyone (Kids and grown ups)
• Great place to meet friends or have a special time with kids or grandkids.
• Calm Tea!!!  (or Calm Tea Lattes with a splash of vanilla)
• The gift everybody loves
• Great products in stores also

Don’t forget to check out status updates to see who has shown their appreciation back.  Remember, not every company will send something in return, but this is more about saying thank you, so have fun with it!

Love this article? Read more like this…

• Who We’ve Thanked So Far
• Thank You Status Updates
• Grocery Store Deals & Coupon Matchups
• Latest Coupons & Rebates
• Browse the Grocery Coupon Database

** Say Thank You to Starbucks Coffee Company was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Thanks to Sherri Ohler at The Painted Life for the following guest post:

The temptation here is to see ‘Handmade’ and click on to the next read, but don’t,  keep reading, your friends will thank you!   Stick around, be informed, and hopefully a bit entertained, as I seek to enlighten your senses with a new outlook on the subject of buying artisan.  Straight from the source.  (That would be me, for I am a self proclaimed Handmade Entrepreneur & Junkie!)

Vintage Style Dangle Earrings in Lemon Chiffon by Trinkets N Whatnots~$12

With no further ado, the top 5 reasons you should buy handmade are…

#5-Because you can.  Contrary to popular myth, buying Artisan can absolutely be affordable.  The days of having to visit a gallery while donning your luxury mink in order to buy something one of a kind are gone.  If

Vegan Peach Mango Salsa Shea Soap by Cassia Aromatics~$6

your frugality alarms are going off as you ponder this kind of luxury for yourself-even if it is totally affordable, then gifting is the way to go.  If we all gifted handmade to each other, then we would all have a little much deserved luxury in our lives!

Felt Owl Baby Shower Favor Plush Toys by Andralynn~$4

#4- Because your loved ones deserve something as unique and beautiful as they are, and no offense, but Wal-mart doesn’t quite send the ‘I think you’re amazing’ message.  You may find something that aesthetically sends that message at HomeGoods or Marshall’s, but so did your sister, her Mother-n-law, her neighbor and the mail lady.  You can do better.  You can be a gifting ROCKSTAR and no one will ever forget it-you.
#3- Because Artists are people too.  A lot of us are work at home moms like you, or work-outside-the-home-and-then-come-home-and-work-some-more moms like you.  Buying handmade let’s you be a part of someone else’s dream and that my friend, is paying it forward in a big, warm, fuzzy way. Thank YOU.

Tie cardigan w/ Floral Rose Print by Jrotem~$34

#2- Because our American economy needs you.   I may not understand all of the ins and outs of the financial state of the US, but I do know that when somebody buys one of my paintings, it helps me cover the cost of my family’s well-being in one way or another.  You could give that same money to Target, who will give a lot of it to China, and that isn’t all bad I guess, but if we all bought from each other-maybe American small business’s could thrive again and American families could rest without fear of losing their homes.  And that sounds like a darn good thing to me.

#1-Because Etsy, the handmade market mega mall, is like a treasure hunt and makes you feel like a kid again!  And some of us pirates-er- Artists are having a sale-JUST FOR YOU.  A bunch of my Artisan Group Etsy friends & I are getting together to offer deals just for In Good Cents readers!  Here’s how to find them…go to Etsy.com, click ALL ITEMS in the drop down search menu.  Type GOODCENTS in the search bar-that’s it!  All of the items/shops that you see are offering specials-each special is different, but the coupon code is the same for all shops!  Use code GOODCENTS when ordering to see what your treasure holds!  Some shops will have the special listed under their shop banner so look for that as well.  Have fun and thank you again for buying and supporting Handmade-we SO appreciate you!

xo,
Sherri@sdg

No.16 Caboose Home Decor Print by The Jdawg~$30 Tell us about the treasures that you scored and/or put on your ‘wish list’ while perusing Etsy or your local art fair!  Go ahead, get your brag on and give yourself a little written pat on the back in the form of a comment, we’d LOVE to hear about it!

Azure Peacock Print w/Emily Dickenson Quote on Ribbon or Rings by S.D.G. Artistry~$18

About the Author: Sherri Ohler knew she wanted to grow up to be an artist from her earliest memory. Still working on that dream as a career muralist she transitioned to studio work under the brand name S.D.G. Artistry in 2008. The Latin initials standing for ‘Soli Deo Gloria’, or the ‘glory to God alone’, are living testimony to her Christian faith. The first series of paintings for S.D.G., The Alphabet Line, has grown to include over 100 mix & match collectable pieces and is still growing! Sherri lives not far outside of Chicago with her husband Randy. Her perfect match and an artist himself, he designs & builds furniture under the name Urban Hillbilly Furniture. Two beautiful daughters, October 21 & Ivy 15, call her mom and one spunky 10 year old named Cheney, is happily teaching her to be a better Step-mom. Sherri writes about her quest to ‘create small joys’ in life & S.D.G. at www.thepaintedlife.com.

** Top 5 Reasons to buy Homemade | Guest Post by Sherri Ohler was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Today, we’re taking the time to say thank you to Nestle for Digiorno Pizza

As a savvy shoppers, it’s nice to give back to the companies we love.  Each week, we take the time to say thanks to one company for the savings they provide, providing us with great products, or just general things we love about them.

Some companies may send us a gift just for being a loyal fan and taking the time to show our appreciate.  Since it’s nice to be appreciated back and it’s important to realize that being kind can help you save even more, we’re tracking who we’ve thanked and how (or if) they’ve showed appreciation in return.

How it Works

1. Write an honest message expressing your thanks to the company or brand.  It doesn’t have to be long.  Short and sweet works too.
2. If you don’t like a particular company, don’t force it.  Just skip this week and participate again next week.  Only thank those you truly appreciate and want to thank.
3. Make sure to include your address in case they decide to send you something to show their own appreciation to you.

Say Thanks To…

Nestle for Digiorno Pizza

Why We Love Them

Need some ideas to get you started?  That’s okay.  Here’s a few reasons I love [COMPANY] to inspire your own thank you message.

• Thick and tasty pizza.
• Lower cost then ordering out and just as good.
• Sides included!!!!

Don’t forget to check out status updates to see who has shown their appreciation back.  Remember, not every company will send something in return, but this is more about saying thank you, so have fun with it!

Love this article? Read more like this…

• Who We’ve Thanked So Far
• Thank You Status Updates
• Grocery Store Deals & Coupon Matchups
• Latest Coupons & Rebates
• Browse the Grocery Coupon Database

** Say Thank You to Nestle for DiGiorno Pizza was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Today, we’re taking the time to say thank you to Kashi.

As a savvy shoppers, it’s nice to give back to the companies we love.  Each week, we take the time to say thanks to one company for the savings they provide, providing us with great products, or just general things we love about them.

Some companies may send us a gift just for being a loyal fan and taking the time to show our appreciate.  Since it’s nice to be appreciated back and it’s important to realize that being kind can help you save even more, we’re tracking who we’ve thanked and how (or if) they’ve showed appreciation in return.

How it Works

1. Write an honest message expressing your thanks to the company or brand.  It doesn’t have to be long.  Short and sweet works too.
2. If you don’t like a particular company, don’t force it.  Just skip this week and participate again next week.  Only thank those you truly appreciate and want to thank.
3. Make sure to include your address in case they decide to send you something to show their own appreciation to you.

Say Thanks To…

Kashi

Why We Love Them

Need some ideas to get you started?  That’s okay.  Here’s a few reasons I love [COMPANY] to inspire your own thank you message.

• Seven Whole Grains on a Mission
• Kashi provides us with many healthy and great tasting products
• Makes my mission to become healthier much easier.

Don’t forget to check out status updates to see who has shown their appreciation back.  Remember, not every company will send something in return, but this is more about saying thank you, so have fun with it!

Love this article? Read more like this…

• Who We’ve Thanked So Far
• Thank You Status Updates
• Grocery Store Deals & Coupon Matchups
• Latest Coupons & Rebates
• Browse the Grocery Coupon Database

** Say Thank You to Kashi was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Today, we’re taking the time to say thank you to Chobani.

As a savvy shoppers, it’s nice to give back to the companies we love.  Each week, we take the time to say thanks to one company for the savings they provide, providing us with great products, or just general things we love about them.

Some companies may send us a gift just for being a loyal fan and taking the time to show our appreciate.  Since it’s nice to be appreciated back and it’s important to realize that being kind can help you save even more, we’re tracking who we’ve thanked and how (or if) they’ve showed appreciation in return.

How it Works

1. Write an honest message expressing your thanks to the company or brand.  It doesn’t have to be long.  Short and sweet works too.
2. If you don’t like a particular company, don’t force it.  Just skip this week and participate again next week.  Only thank those you truly appreciate and want to thank.
3. Make sure to include your address in case they decide to send you something to show their own appreciation to you.

Say Thanks To…

Chobani

Why We Love Them

Need some ideas to get you started?  That’s okay.  Here’s a few reasons I love Chobani to inspire your own thank you message.

• Creamy Greek yogurt
• The only Greek yogurt I really like.
• A Variety of tasty flavors

Don’t forget to check out status updates to see who has shown their appreciation back.  Remember, not every company will send something in return, but this is more about saying thank you, so have fun with it!

Love this article? Read more like this…

• Who We’ve Thanked So Far
• Thank You Status Updates
• Grocery Store Deals & Coupon Matchups
• Latest Coupons & Rebates
• Browse the Grocery Coupon Database

** Say Thank You to Chobani was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Today, we’re taking the time to say thank you to Stretch Island Fruit Company.

As a savvy shoppers, it’s nice to give back to the companies we love.  Each week, we take the time to say thanks to one company for the savings they provide, providing us with great products, or just general things we love about them.

Some companies may send us a gift just for being a loyal fan and taking the time to show our appreciate.  Since it’s nice to be appreciated back and it’s important to realize that being kind can help you save even more, we’re tracking who we’ve thanked and how (or if) they’ve showed appreciation in return.

How it Works

1. Write an honest message expressing your thanks to the company or brand.  It doesn’t have to be long.  Short and sweet works too.
2. If you don’t like a particular company, don’t force it.  Just skip this week and participate again next week.  Only thank those you truly appreciate and want to thank.
3. Make sure to include your address in case they decide to send you something to show their own appreciation to you.

Say Thanks To…

Stretch Island Fruit Company

Why We Love Them

Need some ideas to get you started?  That’s okay.  Here’s a few reasons I love Stretch Island Fruit Company to inspire your own thank you message.

• Good for you snack (1/2 serving of fruit and no sugar added)
• Variety of tasty flavors
• Easy to take with you or throw in a lunch bag

Don’t forget to check out status updates to see who has shown their appreciation back.  Remember, not every company will send something in return, but this is more about saying thank you, so have fun with it!

Love this article? Read more like this…

• Who We’ve Thanked So Far
• Thank You Status Updates
• Grocery Store Deals & Coupon Matchups
• Latest Coupons & Rebates
• Browse the Grocery Coupon Database

** Say Thank You to Stretch Island Fruit Company was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Today, we’re taking the time to say thank you to Ella’s Kitchen.

As a savvy shoppers, it’s nice to give back to the companies we love.  Each week, we take the time to say thanks to one company for the savings they provide, providing us with great products, or just general things we love about them.

Some companies may send us a gift just for being a loyal fan and taking the time to show our appreciate.  Since it’s nice to be appreciated back and it’s important to realize that being kind can help you save even more, we’re tracking who we’ve thanked and how (or if) they’ve showed appreciation in return.

How it Works

1. Write an honest message expressing your thanks to the company or brand.  It doesn’t have to be long.  Short and sweet works too.
2. If you don’t like a particular company, don’t force it.  Just skip this week and participate again next week.  Only thank those you truly appreciate and want to thank.
3. Make sure to include your address in case they decide to send you something to show their own appreciation to you.

Say Thanks To…

Ella’s Kitchen

Why We Love Them

Need some ideas to get you started?  That’s okay.  Here’s a few reasons I love [COMPANY] to inspire your own thank you message.

• Organic Baby Food
• Convenient packaging thats great on the go and easy to keep on hand.
• Great tasting – Even us grownups love them.

Don’t forget to check out status updates to see who has shown their appreciation back.  Remember, not every company will send something in return, but this is more about saying thank you, so have fun with it!

Love this article? Read more like this…

• Who We’ve Thanked So Far
• Thank You Status Updates
• Grocery Store Deals & Coupon Matchups
• Latest Coupons & Rebates
• Browse the Grocery Coupon Database

** Say Thank You to Ella’s Kitchen was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Today, we’re taking the time to say thank you to Green Mountain Coffee.

As a savvy shoppers, it’s nice to give back to the companies we love.  Each week, we take the time to say thanks to one company for the savings they provide, providing us with great products, or just general things we love about them.

Some companies may send us a gift just for being a loyal fan and taking the time to show our appreciate.  Since it’s nice to be appreciated back and it’s important to realize that being kind can help you save even more, we’re tracking who we’ve thanked and how (or if) they’ve showed appreciation in return.

How it Works

1. Write an honest message expressing your thanks to the company or brand.  It doesn’t have to be long.  Short and sweet works too.
2. If you don’t like a particular company, don’t force it.  Just skip this week and participate again next week.  Only thank those you truly appreciate and want to thank.
3. Make sure to include your address in case they decide to send you something to show their own appreciation to you.

Say Thanks To…

Green Mountain Coffee

Why We Love Them

Need some ideas to get you started?  That’s okay.  Here’s a few reasons I love [COMPANY] to inspire your own thank you message.

• Last week I thanked Celestial Seasonings and they wrote back to me stating Green Mountain Coffee makes their KCups.
• A variety of quality coffees and teas
• KCups have made enjoying our favorite drinks much easier.

Don’t forget to check out status updates to see who has shown their appreciation back.  Remember, not every company will send something in return, but this is more about saying thank you, so have fun with it!

Love this article? Read more like this…

• Who We’ve Thanked So Far
• Thank You Status Updates
• Grocery Store Deals & Coupon Matchups
• Latest Coupons & Rebates
• Browse the Grocery Coupon Database

** Say Thank You to Green Mountain Coffee was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Is this still good? This is one question that you should know how to answer, but don’t always know the answer to. At least, I don’t always know without hunting for expiration dates. And while I have a very modest stockpile I still like to make sure that I go through and donate things if they are close to expiration date.

One of my tricks has been to keep a Sharpie in the kitchen and write the expiration dates large on the box so I can see it easily. But what about those things that don’t have an expiration date on them? All You Magazine has made it easy with this nice chart. I am definitely printing this off and taping it inside my kitchen cabinets for an easy reference for the family. Now for some of those questionable items it will be as simple as jotting down the date they are put away instead of hunting for those impossible to find expiration dates!

[Source: Daily Savings from All You]
Love this deal? You may also enjoy:

• Affordable Recipes
• Browse the Freebie & Sample Database
• Search the Grocery Coupon Database

** Should I Toss It Out? was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Today, we’re taking the time to say thank you to Celestial Seasonings.

As a savvy shoppers, it’s nice to give back to the companies we love.  Each week, we take the time to say thanks to one company for the savings they provide, providing us with great products, or just general things we love about them.

Some companies may send us a gift just for being a loyal fan and taking the time to show our appreciation.  Since it’s nice to be appreciated back and it’s important to realize that being kind can help you save even more, we’re tracking who we’ve thanked and how (or if) they’ve showed appreciation in return.

How it Works

1. Write an honest message expressing your thanks to the company or brand.  It doesn’t have to be long.  Short and sweet works too.
2. If you don’t like a particular company, don’t force it.  Just skip this week and participate again next week.  Only thank those you truly appreciate and want to thank.
3. Make sure to include your address in case they decide to send you something to show their own appreciation to you.

Say Thanks To…

Celestial Seasonings

Why We Love Them

Need some ideas to get you started?  That’s okay.  Here’s a few reasons I love Celestial Seasonings to inspire your own thank you message.

• Sleeptime Tea!!!
• Variety of flavors
• K-cups make it even easier to enjoy my favorite tea

Don’t forget to check out status updates to see who has shown their appreciation back.  Remember, not every company will send something in return, but this is more about saying thank you, so have fun with it!

Love this article? Read more like this…

• Who We’ve Thanked So Far
• Thank You Status Updates
• Grocery Store Deals & Coupon Matchups
• Latest Coupons & Rebates
• Browse the Grocery Coupon Database

** Say Thank You to Celestial Seasonings was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

For Christmas, my mom got me a Keurig, which my entire family is madly in love with.  But, after we flew through one box of coffee and two boxes of hot chocolate shockingly quick, I started to realize this was going to be costly.

K-Cups can cost anywhere from $0.70-$1 per cup, but average around $0.89.  I’ve found that anything less than $0.50 each is a good deal, but I’ve been picking them up for as low as $0.40-$0.49 each.  Sometimes, I’m even lucky enough to find them lower!

I’ve found a few ways to save on K-Cups, but I’d love to hear your own thoughts too!

Watch Clearance. Almost everyone sells K-Cups now, so check the clearance section whenever your out shopping. I’ve found a few on clearance at amazing prices and with the K-Cup coupons found online and in newspapers, it’s an even better deal!  I’ve heard that Bed, Bath, & Beyond is a great place to find K-Cup deals, but I often find mine at Target and Kohl’s.

Amazon.com. I’ve found the best prices for K-Cups on Amazon when you buy in bulk.  First, I can use my SwagBucks and Superpoints to get FREE Amazon gift cards to help cut my costs, plus if you watch for Subscribe & Save deals that give you an extra 15% percent off, you can save even more.  Remember to cancel the Subscribe & Save order though or you’ll be charged each month.  Remember to aim for ones that offer FREE shipping and consider an Amazon Prime membership.

Register Your Keurig. My brother just found out recently that if you register your Keurig online, you’ll get a really great buy two, get two FREE coupon to help save.  It ended up to be a great deal for him and my mom, so I can’t wait to try this.

Reusable K-Cups. Invest in a reusuable K-Cup to use with your favorite coffee.  This has cut my costs by more than half, so it’s well worth the investment.  Basically, it’s a tiny coffee filter that fits right into your Keurig turning it into a standard coffeemaker.  (P.S. the Ekobrew cups are on sale right now, which is what I have and love!)

Don’t be Brand Loyal. Unfortunately, that’s hard for some, but when it comes to K-Cups, keeping an open mind can save you the most.  Try new brands and flavors as you find them on sale and make note of your favorites to watch for deals.

How are you saving on your K-Cup purchases?

Love this deal? You may also enjoy:

• Free Amazon Gift Cards from Swag Bucks
• Online Shopping Coupons
• Latest Online Shopping Deals
• Latest Online Coupon Codes

** How to Save on K-Cups for Your Keurig was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Recently I hit upon a hot topic, Zip Code Couponing, and broke down the arguments for with the matching arguments against this saving tactic.  I got some interesting comments and emails that made me start thinking about something else – trust.

I’ve heard so many argue, “Well, the store took the coupon, so it’s okay.”  But, is that how it really works?

If I stick a pack of gum in my pocket and walk out of the store, is it okay? Is it okay to steal, if the store doesn’t stop me?  Is that on my shoulders or theirs?  For me, the answer is simple – mine.

Being an ethical couponer  isn’t just about following a law.  It’s takes so much more than that.  It’s a mixture of doing good research, understanding coupons, common sense, trust, and remembering The Golden Rule.

And, yes, I strongly believe we should think of others when using coupons – other customers, the cashiers, the manufacturers, and the store manager.  And, we should treat them the way we’d want to be treated.  Because couponing is really a team effort.

Trust in Couponing

Trust has to play a big part in couponing and when trust breakdowns stores tighten policies, manufacturers add more fine print, and everyone throws up red tape.  The result is that couponers are treated like criminals, instead of customers.

While it is important for stores and manufactures to make sure they understand how coupons work, know their own policies, and stay current on popular tends, it’s not their job to baby sit us.  And they shouldn’t have to!

Stores and manufactures have to trust us to obtain and use coupons as intended.

Can the stores and manufacturers trust you?

• You know, understand, and adhere to the store’s coupon policy.
• You’ve read your coupon and make sure you’re using it on a product that fits the description.
• You don’t use expired coupons, unless the store states they allow that.
• You don’t copy, edit, or alter coupons.
• You research how coupons work to make sure you’re doing it right.
• When something feels wrong, you stop and double check that it’s not wrong.

If you can answer no for any reason, it might be time to start making some changes.  Remember, there are enough deals in the world, there’s no need to trick the system, no matter how tiny or harmless the trick may seem.

If couponers could get together and start becoming a trustworthy group, stores and manufactures may lighten up once again and offer us even more deals.  But, unfortunately, a small few can ruin it for the rest.

Can other couponers trust you?

Other couponers should be able to trust you too.  Because, no matter what you’re doing, being respectful to others is important.  And, when saving money, being respectful will get you a lot farther than only being in it for yourself.

• You take only the coupons and products you need.
• You only take coupons and products you’ll use in a reasonable amount of time.
• You share in the bounty and make sure others get great deals too.
• You teach those around you ethical coupon use.
• You use coupons and shop exactly as you’d want others to do.
• You feel only pride in your savings and no guilt for how you’ve saved.
• You’re respectful of other customers and those around you.

So, I have one very important question to ask you…

Are you a trustworthy couponer?

** Are You a Trustworthy Couponer? was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Thanks to Chrissy for the following guest post:

We all know the economy is still in the mud (geez, that puddle sure is deep!), but that isn’t stopping smart mamas from digging up extra dollars by perfecting their consigning skills. Many swap savvy ladies literally hit pay dirt pocketing checks with four-digit totals every sale season—I call these wise women Power Sellers.

Power Sellers have one thing in common—they’ve all cracked the children’s consignment sale code. They know where to sell, what to sell and how to price items to bring home the big bucks. You can become consignment selling super star too by simply following the five P’s of Power Selling:

Plan your selling strategy

Research your area children’s consignment sales to see which offers the best split to the seller (look for 70 to 80 percent), draws a significant amount of traffic and has earned kudos from past shoppers. Some sales offer volunteer or referral opportunities to increase your percentage returns.

Pick the perfect items to sell

The secret to getting the biggest paycheck is picking the best sellers. Our community of consignors says they have the best luck selling large outdoor toys like Little Tikes Playhouses or Cozy Coupe cars and boutique, brand name, or new with tags (NWT) kids’ clothing. Children’s shoes, books and DVDs also are hot commodities.

Photo Courtesy of ConsignmentMommies.com

Purchase your picks

Selling your kiddos’ clothes and toys will work, but Power Sellers know how to find deals to add to their resale merchandise and boost their returns. Seek out deep clearance racks, peruse local thrift stores and drop by area yard sales. A good rule of thumb is to think 1-to-3. Will you be able to sell the item for three times what you paid? If you can, it’s a deal. If you can’t, it’s a dud.

Some moms also get great resalable items for free. They beg and barter with friends and family, join area Freecycle groups where locals literally give things away at no cost, and seek out free finds on Craigslist.

Prep your purchases

Power Sellers know the littlest details count. Ensure your items stand out among the rest by paying close attention to packaging and presentation. Scrub away goop on toys, launder and iron children’s clothing and replace worn shoelaces.

Price your way to a paycheck

Pricing is key to selling on consignment. You don’t want price too high and you certainly don’t want to go too low. Price items 1/3 of what you paid at retail or check out the ConsignmentMommies.com Pricing Guide for more help.

About the Author: Chrissy Freeman is the founder of ConsignmentMommies.com, the leading online resource for all things kids consignment. Freeman launched ConsignmentMommies.com in 2009 to empower moms to help other moms save and make money through children’s consignment. Today, ConsignmentMommies.com features a national directory with more than 1,700 sales and 750 stores rated and reviewed by actual shoppers and sellers. The site has become the go-to-source for shoppers and consignors to get advice and share ideas.

** Bring in Big Bucks Selling at Children’s Consignment Sales was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Zip code couponing. I’ve mentioned it before, but it always comes up again and again.

It sounds official, doesn’t it? Like a type of coupon fraud. Or maybe like a trick you need to learn to save more money.

Which is it? I think that’s up to you.

What is zip code couponing?

Zip code couponing is simply entering a zip code outside of your shopping area to get printable coupons not available in your area on printable coupon sites.

Zip Code Pop-Up on SmartSource.com

Most legitimate printable coupon sites offer you the option of entering a zip code to get more coupons, such as coupons only available in your area or for local products and services. However, if you enter other zip codes, you can often find higher-value or rare coupons not otherwise available to you.

I get asked almost daily what zip code I used to find a coupon or to include zip codes with coupons, but I never do. I do have my own personal reasons.

The Debate

Zip Code Couponing on In Good Cents

Coupons.com Terms of Use as of March 6, 2012

There is a huge difference between you printing coupons from another zip code and me encouraging the thousands of readers who visit In Good Cents daily to do so.

I realize it’s probably not being “policed” right now. But, if, in the future, they do decide to enforce this term, you’re simply at risk of losing your account or privileges on a website. However, by publicly telling others to violate any website’s Terms of Use, I could potentially be opening the door to a law suit.

For that reason, and because I’ve built relationships with many of the coupon sites and manufacturers and want to honor those relationships by respecting their decisions, I do not share zip codes on In Good Cents. And, to protect myself and my readers, I do delete, or edit any comments or posts sharing zip codes on In Good Cents’ outlets including Facebook.

My Personal Opinion

There are so many things in this world that horrible, but printing coupons from other zip codes doesn’t really make a bleep on my radar. If you choose to do so, I won’t judge. I really don’t care at all. I think it’s a personal decision. One you should make, based on your opinion of this debate. I’ve heard all sides and they all have great points.

However, in case you were wondering, I do practice what I preach. Many readers have looked over my shoulder to check out my coupons when I’m at a grocery store. I don’t mind, but I want to avoid the awkwardness of being seen with these types of coupons. Especially since I don’t share zip codes on In Good Cents.

For that reason, I do tend to be a bit strict on myself when it comes to couponing ethics and always pick the road that appears safest (though I do make mistakes, since I’m only human). And, to be completely honest, there are so many deals available, missing the few coupons not available in my area does not hurt me or my family (or our budget) at all.

What are your thoughts on zip code couponing? Is it unethical?

** Zip Code Couponing | Is It Right or Is It Wrong? was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

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

There's more! CLICK HERE to read all of When is a Coupon Not Fraudulent or Counterfeit?

** When is a Coupon Not Fraudulent or Counterfeit? was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

How much time on Pinterest is to much??  Well I’m sure I am over the limit, but it has been fun.

This week’s top 10 things on Pinterest:

10.  Make your own Taco shells. Looks like they would hold a little more the the store bought ones.

9. I would need to make this a little larger to hold all my single socks.  Cute idea though.

8. This is a great way to reduce the clutter.

7.  Rainbow Slush Punch made from freezer pops.  Looks Yummy!!

6.  Remember this the next time you hug someone and hug a little tighter and longer.

5. I love grapefruit juice and now I can have it with a little kick.

4.  Looks like it is time to visit Goodwill or some yard sales.  This will look great in my bedroom.

3. Healthy sweet treats.  Fruit and juice or Crystal Light.

2.  You could make these to match any outfit so easily.  All you need is buttons and elastic thread.

And my number one find on Pintrest this week…

1. Oh my!!  These looks delicious.  Add a little peanuts and they would be like a Buster Bar.

Want more? Follow Susan and Beth on Pinterest for frugal recipes, FREE printables, ideas for  organizing your home, stuff that makes us laugh, and more!

** Best of Pinterest: Chocolate Dessert, Button Bracelets, Organizing and Decorating Ideas & More was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Well it is Monday again.  Hope you all enjoy your day!!

Free David Yurman Perfume Sample

You can get a free sample of David Yurman Perfume. The Essence Collection.

Muffin Tin Monday
While enjoying my Pinterest adventures I came across Muffin Tin Mom and Muffin Tin Mondays. Cute quick meals served in a muffin tin.  I am even thinking about packing my lunch for work this way.  A cute muffin tin with a variety of foods seems like a great way to brighten up your day and control your calorie intake.  Well I probably won’t make my food look like animals or creatures (people might start to talk :o) But the Grandkids would love this.

Old Navy
Check out OldNavy Clearance and get an extra 15% off any purchase or 25% off you purchase of $100 or more. Use discount code ONBIGSAVE at checkout or print this coupon for instore savings.  This sale ends today.   I bought this shirt the beginning of the season and love it and now it is on sale for $6.97 before discounts.                                                                          

Help With Housework

Parent Squad has a list of 43 jobs kid 18 months to 7 years can do.  Yes, still at the age where most kids think it is cool to help around the house.

Before you shop online, always search the online coupon code database for FREE shipping coupons and other great retail coupon codes to help you save.   Need more frugal ways to pamper mom?   Indulge in the latest magazine offers and restaurant deals!

** Monday For Moms – Free Perfume Sample, Muffin Tin Mondays and Chores for Kids and More was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Well, Since I have become a “Pinterest addict” I thought I would share a few of my favorites each week.  Maybe since I am posting them for you is will justify all the time I have spent pinning all of these great finds.

Here you go. Hope you enjoy this as much as I have.

I love the smell of coffee in the mornings!!  Great aroma therapy.

This could make our card game time much shorter. Those little hands always have a hard time holding the cards.

So true.  Live for the future and don’t dwell on those unpleasant things that happened in the past.

Well  its the simple things that you never realized could make life easier. I can think of so many uses for this.

Jet Packs!!  -  I think Daelan would love these. I can just picture him flying around the house.

Great way to recycle those plastic grocery bags.

This looks delicious and so easy to make.  Like a big blueberry muffin.

Wow!! Cook the bacon in the oven while you make everything else. Cuts down time and mess.

Cute nail design you can do very easily at home.

Hey! A good use for all those free Aspirin I have in my stockpile. Aspirin Facial.

Want more? Follow Susan and Beth on Pinterest for frugal recipes, FREE printables, ideas for  organizing your home, stuff that makes us laugh, and more!

** This Week On Pinterest: Home Nail Design, Aroma therapy, Home Facial, Recipes & More was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

This sponsored post was written by me on behalf of eCampus.com. Regardless of compensation, all opinions are 100% my own.

At college, I always bought used books at a store on the Ball State Campus.  I compared prices between the two local book stores and made sure to go early to get my books at the lowest possible price.  I thought I was being so frugal.

I don’t have kids in college yet, but I clearly remember the shock I felt when I saw that college textbooks were a lot more than any other book I’d ever bought in my entire life.  So, when my kids hit college, I don’t even want to image what that price will be!

A lot of bookstores, even those on campus, offer different options to help you save – buy new, buy used, rent new, or rent used.  So, you’d think that you’d get the best price right there, locally.  At least, that’s what I assumed.

When eCampus asked me to write a bit about saving money with services that let students rent college textbooks online, I was skeptical to be honest.  But, I tested it out by searching for books for a few basic classes and compared the prices at the bookstore I shopped at Ball State University to eCampus.

The truth was painful – I wasn’t so frugal after all.

Can you believe some of those price differences? And it seemed, at least for me, that the more advanced the courses got the more expensive the books were.  Especially, since most of those books weren’t available to rent or sometimes even used. But, on eCampus.com, it seemed the exact opposite for the books I searched.  Many that I would have to buy at the local bookstore, I could simply rent on eCampus for a fraction of the price.

Then there’s the end of the year.  I would always rush to sell my books to get money back, but sometimes those books weren’t being used again and they bookstore wouldn’t buy them.  I’d be stuck with a book, I’d probably never open again.  But, with eCampus, you aren’t stuck with books at the end of the year ever!  They always go back.  But, if you really want to sell used textbooks, you can do that on eCampus too!

Oh, and did I mention that shippings is FREE for all purchases of $59 or more? That’s about the costs of one college textbook, so it won’t be hard to hit that minimum.

What’s the most expensive textbook you bought in college?  Can you remember?

Sponsored by eCampus.com and conducted by In Good Cents. For more information, please read our terms & conditions and disclosure policy.
*Prices compared to T.I.S. College Bookstore on Ball State University Campus.

** Saving Money on College Textbooks was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

Dave Ramsey is amazing!  He has brilliant ideas and can teach you things that really will help you overcome debt and live a more financially-healthy life.  Right now, download his audio lesson “Dumping Debt” FREE!

Protect yourself! I highly recommend using a FREE Google talk voice-only phone number and alternate FREE e-mail address, like GMail or Yahoo, when signing up for FREE stuff online to avoid spam and unwanted calls.

Who said that nothing in life is FREE? Checkout the FREE stuff & FREE samples to get more stuff for FREE!

** FREE Dave Ramsey “Dumping Debt” Audio Lesson was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

TLC’s Extreme Couponing is back for a 2nd season tonight and you know what that means…

• Unrealistic shopping trips
• Stores waiving their policies for the show’s guests
• Some questionable (and sometimes illegal) coupon practices
• And, stores freaking out and tightening their coupon policies (with good reason, I might add)

To be honest, I never watch the show, because it makes me want to throw stuff at my television and violence is never the answer (just kidding… I do have more control than that).  But, since the show always brings a rush of visitors who want me to teach them how to get $1,000 worth of groceries each week for only $3, I do have a few things to say on the subject.

TLC’s Extreme Couponing is a “reality” television who with very little reality.  Is it realistic to expect to save 100% every time you grocery shop?  No!  Is it realistic to expect to save 90% every week?  No!  Is it realistic to expect to save 50-60%? Yes!  And, that’s my own personal goal when I shop.

Extreme couponing takes a lot of time and a lot of money spent on extra newspapers and purchasing coupons.  Is all that invested time worth it?  I’d much rather spend that time with my family.  By using realistic couponing and  spending  about an  hour preparing to shop each week, plus the time shopping, I’ve estimated that I save about $60 or so an hour.  For me, that’s a great hourly wage and definitely worth it.

Before you check out TLC’s Extreme Couponing, check out the videos below to help you learn to coupon the right want and with grace.

More Resources

• Saving Soiree: FREE Grocery Couponing eCourse
• That’s Coupon Fraud!
• Ethics: Couponing with Grace

** Extreme Couponing is Back, But I’m Still a Realistic Couponer was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.

The following is a guest post from Lori, owner of the Indy Kids Consignment:

We are heading into the consignment shopping season. Prepare yourself to find tremendous bargains!  Here are IKC’s top five tips cool moms need to know about consignment shopping:

1.) Shop for a season.  At consignment sales you can buy a season’s worth of clothing for your kids at about 90% off the retail price. And, because there is such a huge selection, your kids won’t be wearing what all the other kids are wearing. Holiday and special occasion clothing are great buys at consignment sales. Christmas and Easter clothing as well as Halloween costumes are usually in excellent condition because they have only been worn once.

2.) Toys are a bargain.  Toys are, of course, are another great bargain at consignment sales. We all know that kids are picky when it comes to toys. They play with some over and over while others just sit in the corner and see very little play time. The selection of toys at most consignment sales is so huge that you are bound to find something your child will like and even if it does turn out to be one of those toys that doesn’t get much play time, you will be glad that you only spent $3 on it.

3.) Prepare for Gift Giving. Many people don’t think to look for at consignment sales are gifts. All sales will have tons of items that are brand new with tags still on. Think outside the box and make a list of the gifts you might need in the next several months. Birthdays, Christmas, baby showers, etc. and you will be able to cross some of those gifts off your list.

4.) Go Green! Consignment shopping is cool and green. More and more savvy moms are jumping on the consignment bandwagon because it’s such a practical and green approach. Americans waste so much each year and consignment shopping is a great way to reduce and reuse.

5.) Shop with a Friend. Consignment shopping is so much fun to do to with girlfriends. We get excited for each other when we find great bargains. So, if at all possible leave your kids at home. If you do bring them make sure you check out the sales website. Many sales have times when kids and strollers are not allowed.

Mark your calendars! Indy Kids Consignment will be holding its 12^th sale at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Noblesville, IN on September 15-17^th, 2011 and expects to have over 300 consignors with 40,000 bargain items to choose from.

About the Author: Lori has been involved with Indy Kids Consignment for seven years and been a part of running it for three years.  She is a thrifty mom and loves helping to provide the community with great consignment opportunities.

** Consignment Shopping Season: 5 Tip for Cool Moms was first published by In Good Cents. ©2012 In Good Cents, LLC. This feed is for personal non-commercial use only. This post may contain affiliate links. When you use them, you help support this site. For more information, please read the disclosure policy.