Samples, Samples, Samples!

I am so happy!  We have a new roof on our house!  The high winds we've experienced this spring caused a lot of damage to our roof, and our insurance adjuster decided it should be replaced.  The roofers arrived early one morning last week, removed the old shingles and repaired some damage, then started installing new shingles.  By 6:30pm, they had completed the roof, cleaned up any nails and trash in our yard, reset our satellite dish and headed on their way.  Unless you have dealt with a damaged roof, you can't imagine how good it makes you feel to know that you have a new roof over your head.

Can you believe that Mother's Day is next Sunday and school year will end in  a couple of weeks?  It seems as though Christmas was just a few days ago!  When did time start flying by so quickly?

In my mailbox:
I've received several wonderful surprises in the mail during the past few days.  Today I received a box labeled "Estee Lauder."  Some people might take Estee Lauder products for granted, but not me.  Having something from Estee Lauder is indeed a treat!  In the box was a full size bottle of "Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator" and a note from O, the Oprah Magazine.  I'm to test the product and then let them know how I like it.  NO PROBLEM!  Glad to oblige!

Are you a member of the ALL YOU Reality Checkers? I am and I've just received a pair of Sally Hansen tweezers to test.  You can sign up to become an ALL YOU Reality Checker too.  While you are at it, be sure to look around the website.  You can find helpful tips, valuable coupons, recipes, giveaways and more.  One of the best things about ALL YOU is their daily free samples, and you do not have to be a Reality Checker to get these.  Click this link and look for the pink circle that says Daily Free Samples in the left column.  This will take you to the current free sample.  Be sure to enter your email address to receive an alert in your email each day. 

EOS sponsored a giveaway for their Everyday Hand Lotion, and I received a bottle and some coupons.  This is the third product I've tried from EOS, and each one has been WONDERFUL!  I love their lip balm and shaving cream, and I love the lotion.  THANK YOU EOS for choosing me!

Several other samples have arrived in my mailbox:  a Dove body wash and deodorant for hubby, a can of juice from Ocean Spray, and a Kirkland shampoo and conditioner sample from Costco.

Did you sign up for the USPS Sample Showcase?  My box came last week and inside I found samples of Coffee-mate, GUM Soft-Picks, Secret Clinical deodorant, Wisk and Nonni's Biscotti.  Also, coupons for Starbucks coffee and the GUM Soft-Picks.  When you sign up for the Sample Showcase, be sure to check out the free samples.  Look for a tab at the top of the page that says "Samples."  The tab will take you to a page just FULL of samples for you to sign up for.

Where do you get your free samples?  Do you know of a website you'd like to share?

My Walgreens Challenge

Alyssa over at Keeping The Kingdom First writes about The Walgreens  $5 Challenge.  Basically it involves seeing how much you can buy with just $5.

There are several blogs and websites that share tips and strategies for "extreme Walgreens shopping" but I only purchase items for which I have a specific use.  

Many thanks to Melissa at The Consumer Queen for providing the scenario to help me get started.  I worked the ad, and realized that by spending a couple of dollars more and rolling my Register Rewards, I could purchase a decent haul of merchandise.

I walked in to Walgreens with $7 in my hand and my hope was to walk out of the store with money left over. OK here we go:

My shopping trip involved three transactions. The first transaction I purchased
Luster White 7 Toothpaste, 2.6 oz  for $4.99 and  Carefree Pantiliners 22-ct for $.99.  I used a coupon for $1.50 from Smart Source insert 4-3-11on the toothpaste and a coupon for $.50/1 any Carefree product from Red Plum insert 3-27-1. Then I paid out (this is the secret to getting so much for so little).  Total with tax was $4.51.  I received two register rewards, one for $4 (toothpaste) and $1(pantiliners), which gave me $5 to pay toward my next transaction.  Total savings on this transaction, with coupons and sale prices, was $4.50.

Next, I purchased Biore Pore Strips 14 pack, on sale for $5.99 and Biore Cleanser 5 oz. also on sale for $5.99.  I used a coupon from Smart Source 3-6-11 (Buy strips, get cleanser free).  I added one of the pencils on sale at 8/$1 (costing me $.13, because I needed a filler item.  A "filler" is needed when you have more coupons than items.)  At this point, I owed $6.12, and then I handed the clerk the two Register Rewards I had just earned from the toothpaste and pantiliners. My total for the three items was $2.19.

OH NO!  How could this be?  In my head, I was calculating that I owed $.99 for the Biore products and $.13 for the pencil, and those numbers did not add up to $2.19.  Then I realized what the problem was:  the store was charging TAX on the price of the items BEFORE coupons costing me an additional $1.07.  This would have been good information to know BEFORE I started working this project!

Anyway, there was nothing I could do other than abandon the whole project, so I paid.  As soon as I paid out, I received another Register Reward for $5 (from the Biore sale in the Walgreens ad).  Total savings on the transaction, with coupons and sale prices was $16.99.

Finally, I made my last transaction.  I had a quarter and a nickel left out of my $7.  I purchased two bags of Mars Easter Candy on sale 2/$5.00, using a coupon for $2.00/2 any Mars Easter Products from "All You" magazine April 2011 and a $1.00/2 coupon found in the Walgreens April Booklet.  This made cost of the candy $1 per bag!  What a deal!

Also 2 cans of Carnation Evaporated Milk on sale for $.99 per can, and used a coupon for $.50 off found in 03-27-11 Red Plum.  Cost of the milk was $1.49.

And, 2 packs of Trident Layers gum, on sale for $2 for 2.

Having more items than I did coupons, I didn't need to add a filler this time.  I handed the clerk my $5 Register Reward from the Biore, and my total rang up at $1.27.  Only having $.30 in my hand left to pay with, I did what I had walked into the store hoping not to do - I opened my purse and got out another dollar. Savings on this transaction from sale prices and coupons was $13.00.

Total retail before sales & coupon: $42.46
Total out of pocket: $7.97 including tax for roughly 80% savings

There are others who can play the game and save 90%.  I'm just learning and by no means am I a Couponing Pro; I'm just very thrifty.  I only buy what I can use, and I'll pass up a deal if its not something that we "need."  Will I play the game again?  Probably so.  What about you?  Have you taken the Walgreens Challenge?

Spring is here and hubby brought me a bouquet of Lilacs today!  I love lilacs! 

With the high price of scrap metal, we've been loading and hauling away old equipment from the junk hill on a farm we've bought, and my internet time has been limited. 

In my mailbox:  I've received several checks from survey companies, as well as a couple of product tests.  I can't mention what the product tests are (due to the confidentiality agreement) but I can say that if you haven't participated in a product test, you are really missing out.

Basically, as you are working through a survey, and near the end, you will be presented a question that asks something to the effect of "if we were to send you some of "XYZ product" would you be willing to try it and tell us what you think of it."  Of course you reply yes, enter your mailing address, and wait anxiously patiently for the mail or UPS to deliver a box.  Inside the box you will find the product  and instructions on how you are to use it.  Soon, you are sent a follow up survey to share your opinions about the product.  Sometimes you are paid for testing the product, and other times, the product itself is your payment.  You get to keep whatever product is left over after the testing period is done.  Easy breezy!

In my inbox:  Recently I qualified for another online focus group.  Again, I signed a confidentiality agreement, and cannot discuss the details of the group, but can share that at times, I wonder what I've gotten myself in to.  Each day there are a half dozen or so essay type questions to answer, and some of the questions make absolutely no sense at all.  I always thought I could write something about anything, but these...well lets just say that I'm earning every penny of the generous compensation they are paying.  OH - and if you do not "fully participate" then you will not be "fully compensated."  That is motivation enough.  

Giveaway entered:  Deb over at Just A Mom's Take on Things is hosting a giveaway for a Kodak PULSE Digital Picture Frame.  This digital frame is more advanced than any that I have seen in the past. 

Kodak states that the frame has a touch screen and is WI-Fi enabled.  As soon as I saw it, I thought what a wonderful gift this would make for my parents!  They are older, but enjoy keeping up with their grandkids and great grandkids, and by being Wi-Fi enabled, we could all upload our pictures wirelessly no matter where we were. 

Entries close for the giveaway on Thursday, March 31st at 11:59 pm EST.  Thanks Deb for hosting such a great giveaway, and I'm crossing my fingers that one of my entries is chosen!

Its been awhile since I was able to update.  To make a long story short, we changed internet service providers.  Shortly thereafter, we experienced a blizzard and 50mph winds which damaged the ISP's equipment and tower.  This left me without internet for two weeks.  I got plenty of house cleaning done but I missed being able to communicate online.

In my mailbox:  I received the final $150 payment from the focus group I participated in over the Christmas holidays.  I also received $75 from participating in a focus group on Healthy Lifestyles, and survey checks from Pinecone and Mindfield. 

Awhile back, I was a winner in the daily drawing at iNetVideo and I recently received my prize, which was a blu-ray dvd of "Boiler Room."  Thanks iNetVideo for choosing my entry!   INetVideo sells movies, music cd's and video games.  Their prices are very reasonable, and you should stop by and check them out.  While you're there, be sure to enter their giveaway of the day!

One day I received a mystery package with nothing on the label or inside the package to identify the sender.  I wasn't expecting any samples or prizes, but the package contained two small computer speakers.  The speakers were shipped flat, but pop into a box shape for use.  How neat is that! 

In my inbox:  When my internet was restored, I had over 200 survey invitations waiting for me.  It's so overwhelming, but I'm dealing with them as quickly as possible.  We don't realize how much a part of our lives that the internet is until we lose it.  Then...we clean house.

In my house:  During the blizzard and the days following while I had no internet, I cleaned.  I cleaned my house from top to bottom, and everywhere in between.  I bragged to my husband that my kitchen floor was so clean that one could perform surgery without fear of dirt or germs.  I vacuumed the floors so much that I was emptying the dirt canister daily.  I washed walls, polished paneling, cleaned light fixtures, sorted through "stuff" and weeded out unneeded items.  The pile of items to donate grew bigger and bigger and the more I sorted out, the better I felt.  Soon, I had enough items to fill my SUV twice and as soon as the roads were cleared, I took the items to the thrift store, so I wouldn't have an opportunity to "change my mind."

Giveaway entered:  PinchingAbe over at Making Ends Meet is hosting a General Mills and Hot Wheels Breakfast Fun Giveaway.  The prize is five boxes of General Mills cereal that have Hot Wheels racers inside.  I'd love to win this prize, and share a box with each of the Wonder Kids.  The giveaway ends on February 20, so hurry on over and enter!

I can't believe how time has flown by.  My mailbox has been full of bad things (bills) instead of good things (checks, prizes and samples), and my inbox hasn't had anything great to share either.  However, today, the mail-fairies finally smiled on me and I have good things to report:

In my mailbox:  It was certainly my day today.  I had a coupon worth $3.50 off of Excedrin PM, a coupon for a free bottle of Extra Strength Excedrin, a sample of dog food which also contained a $2 coupon, a $20 check from Toluna, and a $10 check from Synovate.

In my inbox:  This week I received codes from various survey sites for Amazon gift cards totalling $16.

In my mailbox:

I received the giveaway prize I had won in December from Deb's Finish Quantum and JET-DRY Turbo Dry giveaway.  THANKS DEB!

Do you love free samples?  Then don't forget to check All You Magazine, Target and Walmart.  Today I had a sample of dog food from Target in my mailbox. 

Giveaways Entered:   I entered another bloggy giveaway today:  Mary Beth over at Oklahoma Pastry Cloth emphasizes cooking from scratch, and has delightful recipes complete with pictures.  I can't wait to try her English Muffin recipe!  She's giving away an assortment of items any scratch cook would love to have:

• Ball Canning Blue Book
• Ball Brand Canning Utensils
• Tea Kettle Timer
• Onion Holder
• Oklahoma Bedre' Chocolate Crisps
• Box of Fortune's Blueberry Tea

Click the link above and scroll down  to the end of the "Deserve" blog post to enter your comment.

Another wonderful blog I found today is Lady Lydia speaks about Home Living. This blog is both inspiring and beautiful, and the amount of information shared on this blog is amazing. 

In my mailbox:  Today I received a check for $150, which is half of the payment for participating in an online focus group.  Also another check from Pinecone Surveys.  YEA! 

In my inbox:  Last week I redeemed Swagbucks for two $5 Amazon Gift Card codes.  Today the codes arrived in my email.  If you're not a member of Swag Bucks, give it a try.  I've purchased almost $200 worth of Amazon Gift Card codes with free Swagbucks during the past year.  Sign up here!

In my mailbox:  Another check from Pinecone.  I love Pinecone surveys.  If you ever have an opportunity to join Pinecone, DO IT!

In my inbox:  I was thrilled to hear from Deb of Just A Mom's Take on Things informing me that one of my entries was chosen as a winner in her FINISH Quantum and JET-DRY Turbo Dry giveaway.  Thanks Deb!

In my mailbox:  Today I was thrilled to find checks from Toluna and Pine Cone survey groups.  That's more money to apply toward a new computer.

In my inbox:  I qualified to participate in another online focus group. The only drawback I can see is that the discussions will take place during Christmas week, and that is a busy time.  

Giveaways Entered:   I entered a couple of giveaways today.  First of all I visited "Just a mom's take on things" and entered Deb's Finish Quantum and JET-DRY Turbo Dry giveaway.  The giveaway ends 12/12, and 5 winners will be chosen.  Let's hope the Random Number Generator smiles down on one of my entries!

I also visited "3 Kids and Us" and entered her ROKU giveaway.  I've been wanting a ROKU box ever since I first read about them but our internet speed was just too slow for streaming media.  Not so now!  With a recent upgrade by our ISP, we are faster, and my desire for a ROKU is even greater!  Cross your fingers for me - evidently a LOT of people are wanting to win because many have entered.