Please remember to "coupon it forward" this Christmas season

As you shop this holiday season, please keep in mind those in our community who may be having a difficult time putting food on the table. Consider adopting a family for Christmas, and providing the family not just with gifts for the kids, but also with food for their Christmas meal and beyond.

When you come across one of those "too-good-to-pass-up" sales on an item you know you have a coupon for (but also know your family will not use), please consider purchasing it anyway - often for a few pennies - and dropping it in one of the Food For Giving boxes (or something similar) that are at the front of many grocery stores this time of year.

Coupon it Forward to help those in need, and you receive the best gift of all: that warm glow you get from giving from the heart.

Take advantage of "gift with purchase" gift card deals!

Christmas is fast approaching, and that means the season of gift cards is upon us as well! Many restaurants offer incentives to purchase gift cards...here is a sampling of offers that are out there, although there are many, many more - be sure to Google your favorite restaurant and see what kinds of deals they may be offering!

• Ted's Montanta Grill: $20 gift card with purchase of $100 gift card or any number of gift cards adding up to $100 (for example, 4 $25 gift cards)
• Pappadeaux's: $10 gift card with purchase of $50 gift card
• Fuddrucker's: $5 gift card with purchase of $25 gift card
• Outback Steakhouse: $20 gift card with purchase of $100 in gift cards
• Chili's: $5 gift card with purchase of $25 gift card

As I said, these are only a few of the many offers that are out there. And if there's a restaurant you frequent, it would make sense to buy YOURSELF a gift card to use when you dine there, and then enjoy the bonus gift card as well!

Free Rubbermaid storage containers!

Pictured above are the FREE Rubbermaid storage containers I got by combining a recent store sale at Publix with store coupons and manufacturer coupons, a process called "stacking."

Publix is one of many stores that allow you to "stack" store coupons with manufacturer coupons.  Publix also has weekly sales, in addition to "green advantage" and "yellow advantage" sales with specials that last for about a month.  There are circulars in the front of the store advertising these specials, and there are also coupons in each of the circulars (green/yellow). 

These Rubbermaid storage containers were obtained using the following process: the Publix "green advantage" sale circular included a coupon for $1 off any one Rubbermaid food or beverage storage container. (Remember, this is a store coupon). Rubbermaid products were on sale that week for 40% off, and there was also a coupon a couple of weeks earlier in the Sunday paper for $1 off any Rubbermaid easy-find lids lock-its, produce saver or premier containers - a manufacturer coupon. Using the "stacking" method, I combined a store coupon with a manfacturer coupon for each set of storage containers, and that - along with the 40% off sale - meant they were FREE.

How was I able to get so many storage containers? By asking friends, family, and neighbors to save unused coupons for me, and by watching the sales and keeping a sharp eye out for store coupons. You can find free deals like this almost every week. It CAN be done - just do your homework, and keep checking back at this blog, where I will be posting "live" sales so that you, too, can take advantage of these great deals.

Earn Coke Points and Score FREE Gift Cards and Other Deals!

Do you or someone you know drink Coke products? Coke now has a Rewards program that allows you to earn points and get some pretty valuable "prizes." Here's how it works: Earn Coke points by collecting caps from any Coke product, including Powerade; if you purchase 12-packs instead of bottles, you can earn points as well. You max out each week at 120 points, so if you collect more than 120 you can save the additional points for the next week.
The soda/Powerade caps are worth 3 points each...a 12-pack is worth 10 points...and the 24-packs are worth 20 points. I don't personally drink enough Coke products to max out on points each week, but    I have friends and family members who save them for me, so I always manage to reach the 120 point weekly cap.
What kind of freebies can you score with Coke points? Well, I just received a $25 Home Depot gift card by cashing in 500 points. Other deals right now include 2 movie passes + 2 free sodas for 400 points...or a $5 Chili's gift card for 140 points.
Also - currently some of their gift cards are "on sale" for half the points....for instance, normally a $50 Nike gift card is 2000 points, but right now you can get it for 1000 points. They also have been running a Wednesday special each week - sort of a "deal of the week."
Start saving Coke points today, be diligent about posting them each week, and before long you'll be cashing in for cool prizes! Here's the link to the Coke Rewards site:
https://secure.mycokerewards.com/register.do?rsrc=gg_mcr_br&WT.srch=1

Time to lock in gas rates for savings of 40% or more on heating bills!

Winter is coming...time to check your current gas therm price.  Do you know how much you are paying per therm for natural gas for your home? You can save 40% OR MORE if you are on a variable rate right now - and if you haven't done your research, you probably are!
My price per therm was locked in last year at $0.79/therm for one year. I just got $0.629/therm through Scana Energy with a 1 year contract.  Now, typically I am not a fan of contracts for services, but I decided 3 years ago - after much research! - that it was the best route.  If you don't have a contract, you are automatically placed on a variable rate plan which changes each month, based on demand and wholesale prices. 
My co-worker (who also has Scana) was on a variable rate plan, and she has been paying anywhere from $0.99/therm - $1.20/therm for the past year!  She called Scana yesterday and locked in with a 1 year contract for $0.629/therm - a savings of over 40%! With winter right around the corner, it's a good idea to check your service and see what YOU are paying per therm.

Secret Invisible Deodorant + 2 Bars of Olay Soap for $0.28!

If you live in Atlanta - and possibly elsewhere: there was a $5 coupon in Sunday's paper in the P&G (Proctor & Gamble) coupon insert for $5 off any Olay product.  I stopped at Publix yesterday and they had several scenarios where you could get free or cheap Olay products. Here's one of those scenarios:

Secret invisible solid deodorant - 2.6 oz is $2.49
Olay 2 bar soap - $2.79

$5.28 for both...less $5 coupon makes it $0.28 cents for the soap/deodorant combo!

Check out my Coupon Tips on the Nate Berkus web site!

I was recently asked to appear on The Nate Berkus Show to share my tips on "couponing it forward." Since public speaking is NOT my thing, I was very nervous, but the staff at The Nate Show were so helpful and it was such a pleasure to work with them!
Please click on the link below to visit The Nate Show's web site to view 10 coupon tips I shared with them. And don't forget to "coupon it forward" when you shop this week!

http://www.thenateshow.com/tipsandtools/detail/coupon-tips