Cool Mommy Product Reviews

 Earlier this week, I gave a Staples 101 on the “why’s and how to’s” of having a membership. Today, I’d like to post on a few tips and strategies on using Staples to the best advantage.

1. Frequently check your online account. Look to be certain all your purchases are recorded so your rewards are properly credited. This is especially important at the close of a quarter. You don’t want to wait another three months to get your savings, do you?
2. Keep your Staples receipts in a safe place. Important due to above reason and also for tax purposes. Office supplies can count toward tax credits. New changes in tax laws will allow you to deduct ink, paper, computer, printer expense for college students. See your tax advisor for details.
3. Check email that’s tied to your Staples account for extra reward offers. Recently, Staples sent an email offering a $5 coupon for savings on flu prevention products. You’ll also find alerts on extra points and sales in these emails.
4. Watch your credits. You need to earn $10 each quarter (which means purchasing $100 plus dollars a quarter @ 10 percent rewards) to obtain a rewards certificate. If you are under by a few dollars and in need of some item, it’s best to buy before the close of a quarter.
5. Make a purchase and forgot to use your Rewards card? That’s ok. You can take your receipt and enter it in online. Go to membership spot. Select, “Customer Service” tab, then “Add a Receipt”.
6. Have a problem or question? Staples really does seem to respond to queries in a fair amount of time. Email them or call 1-877-878-3331. The site promises an email response in 3-5 business days. But in my personal experience, Staples always responds quicker than advertised with an answer or a follow up.

On another note here’s a sale not to miss.  For those that say, “there’s nothing free in this world”- think again! Below you’ll see the receipt from the Walgreens sale I posted on earlier. Not only did I get my items free, I also gained money by purchasing! If you’ve not partaken of the sale this week at Walgreens, get out and take advantage of the deals before Saturday 10/10 at Midnight.

 You’ll see that I bought:

Gillette Fusion MVP razor on sale for $8.99

Used a $4.00 off coupon (from the P & G Saver in 9/27 Sunday paper insert)

 Trident Layers Gum on sale 2/$2

Used two $.75 off coupons (available online from Trident site)

 Paid $6.68

Received back $7.00 in Walgreens Register Rewards to be used like cash on future purchases.

Introduction

Are you wondering what all the fuss is about Staples Rewards? At first glance, they are not any cheaper than Wal-Mart. Why is Staples mentioned in nearly all savings sites online? 

Here’s the skinny on Staples 101:

1. Get Rewarded. There are multiple ways to earn at Staples. The first thing you’ve gotta do is to apply for and get a Staples Rewards card. These are free, offer no credit checks and are simple to do. Just fill out a form in the store or online and “bam” (that was “easy”) – you’re in the Staples family.
2. Now what? The next step is become familiar with sales and deals via sales flyers or online at Staples.com. You’ll see a host of products offered at discounts and sales. Pay attention to are the items that offer extra or bonus “Reward Points”.For example; Currently Staples is offering 50% back in reward bucks on cases and half cases of paper. This is significant. If you pick up $44.00 worth of case paper in the store, you’ll earn $22.00 in rewards for that quarter. 
3. Check Weekly Deals. Every week a flyer comes out, which you can view online, in stores, or in the Sunday paper. Some sales, like this case paper double back deal, are offered for a few weeks. Others appear and disappear in a mere seven days. This is why you’ll need to check often to catch these deals.
4. Cash back adds up. Not to slam Wal-Mart, but buying certain items from Staples is usually a savvier bet. Even if you find an office need, (like a printer cartridge) a few bucks cheaper elsewhere, you won’t rack up the extras like you will from Staples. Try getting $22 bucks back from Wal-Mart to test this theory.
5.  Recycle for Greenbacks. Staples offer additional means to earn rewards. Recycle your ink by dropping it off, let the cashier scan your card, and check your online account in a few days. You’ll see a tab on the Staples Rewards account page for recycle rewards. Each cartridge is worth $3.00 in rewards points to you. You can recycle up to 10 a month, unless you make 1K in annual purchases from Staples. After that, you’re kicking into their “Premier” rewards program. Then your recycle ante  is upped to 20 cartridges a month and you’ll get free delivery on all orders (unless it’s a custom product). Until you quality for Premier Rewards, prevent online delivery charges by placing orders of fifty bucks or higher, unless Staples is having a special promotion.
6. Monthly & Quarterly Rewards. Keeping track of this can be challenging till you get the hang of it. With ink recycling rewards expect a refund in the way of email or snail mail (you can set this to your preference) about 23 days into the following month. September’s recycle rewards, for instance, will be sent on October 21-23. Quarterly, any qualifying purchases you’ve made, (usually ink, toner, paper or printing) acquires points. These vary depending on the deal’s offered,  but usually average about 10% or more. Spend a hundred bucks in a quarter on qualifying purchases- you’ll get a rewards check for $10 back. You need at least ten dollars in rewards to get a quarterly check mailed. If you don’t have enough, it will rollover into the next quarter. Quarters are as follows: Jan- May, April- June, July- Sept, and Oct- Dec. Rewards checks are not cash. Instead they are vouchers to be used online or in the stores like cash.
7.  Special coupons and offers to members. From time to time, you’ll find special offers and coupons or sales sent to you via mail or email as a member.

My current quarterly transactions include a $10 check and a recycle check of $18 for September. Not bad, given I changed accounts in August and these rewards are only reflective of one full month of use. Tomorrow I’ll give some FAQ’s and pointers on making the most of your Staples Rewards Program.

Introduction

There’s always a ton of great coupon deals offered, especially by our friends at CVS. This week, though, some of the best savings can be found in their store brands. Stay well or hasten a recovery by using their products at super savings! Some of the best picks to be found are the “Prevent or Treat the Flu” section of the weekly saver flyer.

On the short list of several healthy goods:

1. CVS Brand Vitamin C- 250 ct/500mg- $5.99
2. CVS Bleach- $1.99
3. CVS Spray Disinfectant- $3.99
4. CVS Hand Sanitizer- 8oz- $.50
5. CVS Exam Gloves- 40-50ct- $7.49
6. CVS Disinfecting Wipes- $1.99

 On the short list of Treating Flu Symptoms:

1. CVS “Tussin” 8oz- $4.99
2. CVS Decongestant or Cold and Allergy Relief- $5.99
3. CVS Digital Thermometer- $4.99
4. CVS Facial Tissues- $1.49
5. CVS Cough Drops- $.99
6. CVS Daytime or Nighttime Cold/Flu Relief- $7.99
7. CVS Acetaminophen- 100ct or PM 80ct- $5.00
8. CVS Anti-Diarrheal Meds- 24ct- $6.99
9. CVS Chest Congestion Relief – $7.99
10.  CVS- Children’s Pain Relief- (Infants drops, tablets, caplets or liquid) $3.99

 Remember to use your CVS card to get the sale prices. All purchases go toward your bonus points and extra rebate rewards to be issued January 01. These are in addition to any other savings or deals you acquire at CVS along the way. While you’re there, grab the new October “clip free” coupon book, which has month long sale deals you can reuse again and again, simply by using your CVS card in October.

Introduction

Beginning of the Month Deals, Savings and Rebates

The beginning week of the month always has some great perks attached to it for savings shoppers. There are rebates coming your way for those who participate in those programs, new sales and promo codes and coupons.

Here’s a few of each to quench your savings soul:

Rebates:

1. Drugstore.com awards their rebates on the first of the month. Check your account for credits. If you don’t have an account, get one! Their regular prices are higher than CVS, but the use of coupons, sales and reward money, along with free shipping, makes it a savings steal. (And Ebates regularly awards a second rebate of 6% on orders, so your savings really add up quick if you use both accounts).
2. CVS has their summer rewards ready in your account to be accessed and printed out, or used like cash for online orders. Unlike Drugstore.com, who gives monthly awards, CVS does so quarterly. September 30^th ended the CVS summer quarter, which means your ExtraCare Bucks are awaiting you. These are figured on 2% of purchases plus $1.00 for every two prescriptions filled with your CVS card.
3. Staples will soon update (they have a two day lag time on updating accounts) your end of the month rewards account. Once they do, you’ll be able to see your rewards for September in full. These are sent out by the end of the month, while cartridges recycle rewards are sent via email or mail around the 21-23 of each month. But you’ll be able to check and see the quarter right now.
4. Ebucks (the Rewards Program on Ebay) has your quarter calculated and will award your bucks on the 9th of the month, so be ready to use these valuable rewards on this month’s Ebay purchases.

New Sales:

1. Wet Seal has an online and in store sale for buy one, get one 50% off- ENTIRE STORE! Don’t miss that, especially if you have teens!
2. Torrid- In stores, for October’s Breast Cancer Awareness month, by donating a buck, you’ll save 10% on your entire purchase.

Coupons:  Gotta love these GREAT deals!!!

1.       JC Penney’s: Click on the link and get a printable coupon for $10 instant money on a ten dollar purchase at Penney’s.Expires 10/13

                      http://f.jcpenneyem.com/i/2/95827765/main_20090907_welcome.html

2.       Limited: Weekend Extravaganza- Use link to get a $30 off a $100 purchase or $20 off a $60 purchase!!! WOW! Expires Monday (can be used online also by entering code 830 at checkout or print and use in store)! http://f.chtah.com/i/5/1385098083/20090921_coupon.html

3.       Macy’s- Red Hot Sale Coupons-Good for %15 off a purchase or $10/off 50, 15/off 75, 25/off 100 on purchases! http://www1.macys.com/r59×35_popup_1.jsp?cm_sp=NONE-_-ABOVE_NAV_POOL-_-ADVERTISEMENT — 508395 — 0930 Red Hot Dollars GNA

Fall is shaping up to be a sweet season, isn’t it?

Introduction

 Here are five tips for shopping at Walgreens:

 1. Don’t assume the price, (even the sale price), is the bottom line cost. Walgreens offers coupons in their Sunday paper that must be clipped and applied to get the lowest price.

 2. Read the small print on quantities allowed on Walgreen’s store coupons. Example, this week, imperial sugar was on sale for $1.99. Limit two. Other items, such as Starkist Tuna, the limit was 4. This limit can vary depending on the item. Every week, you should clip coupons and check limit on coupons.

3. Walgreens offer rewards bucks. Every week they feature products that produce reward bucks at the register you can spend like money toward future purchases. However in most Walgreens redeeming these have a few tricks. Remember to ask the store what their policy is. In my Walgreens, you have to use an equal number of reward coupons to purchase an equal number of products- i.e. Use four reward bucks, buy four products. (This is quite different than CVS, who has no requirements on quantity). You can pick up any item, such as a .30 caramel to count as filler toward using those purchases to use up your rewards bucks on a large item.

 4. Usually Walgreens has special sales that are in addition to regular sales for the first two or three days or mid-week. Watch these dates by looking at the sale flyer. You’ll earn extra rewards or extra bonuses this way.

 5. There is no reward card used to track purchases at Walgreens. This means you can go and pick up multiple purchases of these specials if you’d like. For example, I picked up two of the Vaseline body lotion on a recent sale- at a buy one, get equal to purchase reward bucks- in multiple purchases. I accumulated $14 in reward bucks by purchasing these. Most Walgreens won’t let you buy just one item that’s giving reward bucks, so you’ll need to ask the store. At my local store, you must have at least three items to buy reward products.

You should watch your sales at Walgreens. Without considering sales and coupons, Walgreens is more expensive. But if you figure those free products offered weekly and the coupons to clip and use- Walgreens has some great perks and will save you money. Remember, they allow you to use one manufacturer’s coupon plus one store coupon for all purchases, even those that are offered for free with reward bucks. This means you’ll really do well there by following these tips.

Introduction