Free Samples of Minties

Just "like" Minties on Facebook to get a FREE sample!

Even if you don't own a dog, you can throw this one in with your bag of items to donate to your local shelter.

Free Pantene Shampoo & Conditioner

Here's an easy freebie for you:

Free Pantene Pro-V Sample

They will go quickly so be sure to sign up right away if you'd like some!

End of Season Sales at Zulily

Hey ladies!

There are some super-cute sweaters, leggings, ponchos, and more on sale at the daily deal site Zulily today! These sales go fast, so if you think that you like something, be sure to get it right away. (Don't leave it in your cart "until tomorrow," like I tend to do -- I've missed out on some great stuff!). You can also get free shipping until midnight tonight.

First, please sign up through my link here (I would really appreciate it!):

Give me great deals from Zulily

...and then check out this page:

I Need it Now: Womens Sweaters

Is anyone else loving the ponchos with leggings?? 

Super-Easy Free Samples

Hello all!

Today I have a few free sample offers for a few of my favorite products for the coming winter months. It gets cold here in the Midwest, and these are items I love to have on hand for a dose of extra comfy-coziness. :)

First of all, go to the Eucerin Facebook page for a sample of their ultra-moisturizing lotion. These always come in the mail quickly in little packets that are the perfect size for your purse.

Then visit the Emergen-C website for free packets of their fizzy feel-good vitamins. I love to have these on hand when my family or I feel like we're getting a cold.

Also try Centrum Flavor Bursts to build up your immune system for cold and flu season. In any case, they taste good, and isn't it fun getting mail that isn't a bill?

Couponing -- Work, but Worth It!

Hello readers! What I have for you today is a few tips on couponing. I find there's a big learning curve involved, and I'm still perfecting it -- so feel free to share your own advice with us in the comments section!

First of all, resist the temptation to run out to the stores with your freshly-clipped coupons. Instead, spend more time planning the trip -- this means organizing your coupons, watching the circulars for sales, and finding manufacture coupons you can pair with store coupons, called "stacking." (Good stores for opportunities to stack coupons include Target, Walgreens, and Hy-Vee.) This will help you avoid buyer's regret when you see that spaghetti sauce on sale two weeks later and think "Aw man, I should have waited!" Last month I spent a good part of two weeks planning a trip to Target and felt downright giddy when my bill shrank from $130 to $42! Even the family in line behind me commented, "We need to start couponing." :)

Secondly, if you have a coupon, getting the smallest-sized product the coupon allows will give you the best deal. A dollar off the $6 bottle of lotion is a less than 17% savings, but find a smaller $2 bottle and you're getting half off! Print multiple online coupons to get multiple products (most sites let you print two). Smaller containers of products like shampoo are easier to handle in the shower and can be placed in multiple bathrooms, sent with your kids to the pool, or kept in your gym or travel bag.

And lastly, I used to be that woman frantically digging through my coupon wallet with little pieces of paper flying everywhere, saying "I know I have a coupon for that!" It was frustrating and I was ready to quit the whole thing... until I realized I'd outgrown the wallet. I bought a cheap three-ring binder and some baseball card holder sheets at Wal-Mart. (Staples also sells coupon sheet protectors for this purpose). Now I clip all my coupons and organize them alphabetically, routinely going through to throw out expired ones. Now if I see a sale on Huggies, I can flip right to the H's and find out if I really do "have a coupon for that!"

Product Testing = FREE Stuff in the Mail

Just in the past week I've received a full-sized box of Cheerios, a package of Keebler Fudge Stripe cookies, and four containers of Gerber baby food in the mail to try (and got paid to do it!). When you're taking surveys, you never know when they're going to offer to send you the product in the mail -- it's one of my favorite perks of the "job." :) I've tested everything from Gillette razors and Tide detergent to diapers and Kraft macaroni & cheese. It feels really good to feed my family a meal that I not only got for FREE but got PAID to eat, or do laundry with detergent I got paid for, etc.

Check out my other blog, Money-Making Mommy, to get started taking surveys!

Free Sample -- Milk-Bone Trail Mix

"Like" the Milk-Bone page and pledge to take your doggy on a walk on June 2nd, and they'll send you a FREE sample of their new Trail Mix dog snacks... which I personally think should have been called Tail Mix, lol. :)

Remember that if you don't have a pet, this is another one to throw in your bag of items to donate to your local shelter!