Back To School Without Breaking the Bank

Hello everyone. I just wanted to share with you another article I wrote for FUSION magazine. It's very timely considering that school is starting back. In fact, in my area, Tax Free days start tomorrow, which is another great way to save. Here's to another great school year.

*If you are unable to view the article in this post, please click here*

Shutterfly Giveaway - 3 Winners! [CLOSED]

**This giveaway is now closed. Winners announced here.**

I love sending out Christmas cards. This is one of the first things I try to check off my list. I love getting cards too, especially Christmas photo cards. I mean, it's really nice if you send me a heartfelt card but I particularly enjoy seeing how my family and friends and their children have changed and grown over the past year. A part of my decorating routine is to look back over the cards of the previous year that I safely tucked away in the bins with tree decorations.

Last year Shutterfly offered me some complimentary holiday cards and they turned out beautifully. We used our picture from Thanksgiving at Disney and I thought it looked fantastic. They were the 5x7 cards and the paper was nice and thick. It's my favorite! This year I am planning to order from Shutterfly again. We are having family pictures in just a few weeks where we will be sporting T-shirts from our favorite football team. We are a house divided (Me: Go Bama! - Hubby: War Eagle!). It might be no small feat to select an appropriate card for that photo, but with hundreds of designs to choose from, I'm sure I'll find one that is perfect! Shutterfly also has photo gifts, which make great presents. My grandmother looks forward to her calendar every year.

Are you a blogger? Want a chance at 25 free cards this holiday season? Register here: http://goo.gl/DDw7Q

Shutterfly isn't just treating bloggers to free cards this year. They are also offering 25 cards to 3 of my readers. Complete the form below for your chance to win (Email subscribers will need to visit the site in order to complete the form).

Required entry:

• Let me know how many holiday cards you usually send out.

Bonus entries (will be verified): Current subscribers are eligible too.

• Subscribe to Coupon Queen Diaries Email Updates or RSS Feed.
• Go over and "Like" Coupon Queen Diaries on Facebook.
• Follow me on Twitter AND Tweet the following: "Check it out! @bishopstaci is giving away 25 holiday cards from @shutterfly. Enter to win! Three winners. http://bit.ly/tETvoB"

Details, Details, Details:

• This giveaway is open to residents of US & Canada only.
• Comments will not be counted. You must fill out the form below. One entry per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted.
• This giveaway will end on November 3, 2011 at 9 PM. Winners will be selected by Random.org and posted on Coupon Queen Diaries.
  
• After the winners are selected, I will send the promo code within 72 hours to the email address provided.
  

Good Luck!

Disclaimer: Shutterfly has offered me 50 free cards in exchange for this post. However, all opinions are my own.

4x6 prints for $0.01 at Snapfish!

Snapfish is running an amazing promotion right now in honor of Independence Day. You can get 99 prints for just $0.99! That makes them a penny each.

I'm way behind on ordering. I had to go back to my Christmas albums to get caught up. Eek!

99 photos for under $1.00 is a great price!! Go here to order yours and use code JULYPENNY99

FREE Father's Day Cards

I've got 2 great deals for ya on Father's Day cards. They're so great, they are FREE!

• Card Store - Get a FREE Father's Day card using code SENDDAD. Send it to your recipient for FREE too!
• Tiny Prints - Get 2 FREE Father's Day card using code FDGIFT and FREEFD. Ship it to yourself for FREE or to your recipient for $0.44.

I went ahead and had mine shipped directly to their recipient because you could pick the mailing date. One less thing to worry about, right?! They were quick and easy to make and I personalized them with my own photo(s).

Remember, Father's Day is June 19th.

If you are looking for a cool gift to put inside your card, check out this deal.

Monkey Joes & Pump It Up Deals

It's the 1st official day of summer round these here parts and kid's entertainment deals are popping up left and right. Today, at Living Social, you can score deals from Monkey Joes and Pump It Up.

MONKEY JOES - Get yours here.

• Choose from 2 locations (Brentwood, Rivergate)
• $5 gets you 1 admission + a popsicle.
• You can buy up to 5.
• Expires 10/03/11.

PUMP IT UP - Get yours here.

• Choose from 2 locations (Brentwood, Mt. Juliet)
• $14 gets you 4 admissions. May be used on mulitple visits.
• Limit 1 per person.
• Expires 10/09/11

If you are new to Living Social, you will get a $5 credit when you sign up here. The best thing I like about LS is that if 3 friends also purchase the same deal, you get yours FREE!

*HOT* Old Navy Groupon

Groupon released a new deal late this afternoon but it's not too late to snag it. But you better hurry as I doubt this will still be around tomorrow.

You can get a $20 gift certificate for only $10. You have until 7/31 to use it (in-store only). I'm grabbing this and hoping to maybe use it for uniforms when they go on sale (Groupon is valid on sale merchandise).

• If you are new to Groupon, you will need to sign up here. Plus, new members get a $5 credit.
• Current members can go here to score this deal.
• Limit 1 per person.

Vacation for a Fraction of the Cost

We are just 3 short weeks away from a little trip I like to call "School's Out For Summer." We will be spending a weekend in Chattanooga and I'm already scoring deals left and right.

Here's how you can have a fun vacation on the cheap too.

• Plan. My husband has a very laid back approach to vacationing but, in the back of his mind, he has a list of things he would like to do. I'm the exact opposite. I would be perfectly fine with a scheduled itinerary for every day of the trip. However, in order to save some money we have to meet in the middle because, typically, deals don't just fall in your lap after you show up. You gotta find them before you go.
• Hotel. Reservations are necessary to ensure you have lodging. I used Hotels.com to score a great price on a hotel that also serves complimentary breakfast. Be sure to look for those extra perks when you choose your accommodations. Also, Hotels.com has a reward program that earns you 1 FREE night for every 5 nights you stay (does not have to be consecutive).
• Dining. Hotel will have breakfast taken care of but we know that we will need at least 5 meals (2 dinners + 3 lunches) while we are at our destination. I've been following daily deal sites like Groupon & Living Social (new subscribers get $5) in my destination city, as well as Restaurant.com to find gift certificates for half price or less.
• Attractions. For this trip, we decided on 2 big things (1 each day) that we definitely wanted to see or do. I've been scouring Ebay & Craigslist for deals on those attraction tickets. So far, I've been able to save at least 50%, which is huge because these attractions are pretty pricey.
• Snacks. We are all big snackers. To save us from having to purchase these on the road, I will be packing a small cooler with food and drinks. I also plan to prepare small baggies of snacks to take with us while we are out and about each day.
• Gas. There isn't a whole lot you can do here and it always seems that gas prices rise in the summer. :( I like to take advantage of the Publix gas card coupons that will save you $10 off a $50 gift card to BP or Shell. They run these promotions about once every 4-6 weeks. I also use the Gas Buddy app on my phone to locate the cheapest gas in whatever area we are traveling. Sometimes it's worth it to go just one more exit.
• Cash Back. If I'm doing any sort of online purchase, I always go through Ebates. All of the retail links above can be shopped through Ebates where you earn a percentage back on your purchase. For example, right now, they are offering 15% cash back at Restaurant.com when you shop through their site.

A little planning really does go a long way as far as saving money on vacation. At this point, we know what attractions we are going to see and where we are going to eat but I'm leaving the WHEN up to hubby. See, I can compromise. :)

Do you feel like any of the above tips will help you save money on your summer vacation?

Have a Great Vacation on the Cheap

Are you taking a family vacation this summer? Are you looking for ways to save? Here are my top 10 tips for finding deals and saving on a great family vacation.

1. Airfare - Personally, if Southwest doesn't fly there we just don't go. They are my favorite airline by far. DING! is an application that you download which will notify you of deep discounts on Southwest airfare.
2. Frequent Flyer Card - No matter what airline you fly, you should definitely make sure you are registered for their frequent flyer program. Eventually all those flights can add up for a FREE one. This is also a great way to earn other rewards (drink tickets, discounts, ect.) depending on the carrier.
3. Hotels - My favorite site for getting the best deal on accommodations is Hotels.com. They also have a reward program that earns you a FREE night once you stay 5 nights anywhere.
4. Entertainment - A great way to save on activities and entertainment is by watching the Groupon deals for the city you plan on traveling to. You can save at least 50% or more by purchasing these in advance.
5. Food - For restaurant deals you can check Restaurant.com and save 50%-90% on food gift certificates.
6. Use your current memberships - If you have a zoo or discovery center membership, find out if they are part of a national program. Often times, you will receive FREE admission to the same establishment in another city or at least a discount.
7. Get paid to vacation - When booking any sort of flights, car rentals, or accommodations I always shop through Ebates first. For example, when booking at Hotels.com you can also earn 4% back!
8. Choose your dates - The best rates are generally during the off season and during the week. If possible, plan your vacation during these times.
9. Look for blogs - Search for specific blogs or websites that specialize in your travel destination. When I was planning our Disney vacation one of my favorite sources of valuable information was Mouse Savers.
10. Check with friends - If you know of someone who has been to your destination before ask if you can pick their brain for details. They may be able to offer valuable advice on things to avoid, which may not be worth the cost. They also may be able to suggest activities that were totally worth it!

Do you have any tips for finding vacation deals? Share them in the comments below or let me know where you will be vacationing this summer.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Alamo blogging program, for a gift card worth $25. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

Manage Your Money for FREE

I love the fresh start of a new year. This year I wanted to try to simplify my process of tracking and handling our finances. In the past I have used my own spreadsheets, which allow me to track down even the tiniest detail, but it was time-consuming to transfer every transaction from our checking account.
At the end of 2010, I came across Mint.com. It's an online program and it's FREE! I researched and learned that it comes with some amazing reviews. Time, PC Mag, and Money Magazine give it extremely high marks for security, functionality, and ease of use!

I decided to try it out and I LOVE it! Mint.com automatically transfers the transactions from my checking and savings accounts. You can also set it up to track your credit cards and other debt too. I can set up my own categories (or use theirs) and I can create my own budget (or let it suggest one based on your spending). There are also features that help you set goals (vacation, college savings, ect) and track your progress.
My favorite feature is splitting transactions. Let's say I get groceries but also pick up a gift card in the same transaction. With Mint.com, I can split that transaction so the appropriate amount gets allocated to the right category.
I also love that my account is managed online so I can access it from any computer at home or while I'm traveling. Mint.com also has an iPhone and Android app for access on the go. I've tried the Android app and it works perfectly!
So much easier. And did I mention that it was FREE? Check it out for yourself. Let me know if you like it as much as I do.

Enjoy The City Savings Book (Nashville) $20

My daughter's school is selling Enjoy The City (Nashville) books as a fundraising opportunity. I wasn't familiar with this book but it has some AWESOME deals. No kidding! For example, lets start with the FREE items. These are just plain ole FREE with no other purchase required. Nice!

FREE Oil Change from Firestore
FREE Medium Pizza from Papa Johns
FREE Small Deep Dish Pizza from Jet's Pizza
FREE Ice Cream Cone from Krispy Kreme

The oil change alone will pay for the book. Don't believe me? Look:

The book is also full of BOGO dinners and entertainment deals. My favorite page in the whole book is probably the one with kids entertainment deals from Peek-A-Boo Playtown and Pump It Up.

Listen up Publix shoppers. If your store accepts GFS as a competitor then you need this book. There are SIX $5 off $50 purchase coupons ($30 value).

You can also see a complete preview of the book.

****If any of you locals would like a book, please email me at couponqueendiaries@gmail.com so I can send you my mailing address. Checks should be made payable to Stanford Montessori PTO and books will be mailed to you around Feburary 4th.****

Plus, for every 10 books that sell, I will give 1 away on Coupon Queen Diaries starting on January 21st (when orders are due).

Thanks for helping to support the little school that we love. Plus, it's a heck-of-a-deal for you too

Earn Swagbucks when you buy Groupons or Living Social Deals

Guess what! You can now earn Swagbucks when you buy Groupons. It's a double win!

Here's how. First things first:

If you are new to Groupon, you will need to sign up.

If you are new to Living Social, you will need to sign up.

If you are new to Swagbucks, you will need to sign up. (Learn more here)

Now, when you are looking at the Swagbucks homepage toolbar (at the top), go to Earn>Daily Deals. Scroll down and click the tab for Local Deals. Click on any deal you want to buy and follow the steps to complete your purchase.

I am a BIG fan of Groupon and Living Social and Swagbucks. I was thrilled when I learned that I could work both programs for more savings!

75 FREE Prints from Snapfish - TODAY ONLY!

Here's another awesome photo deal!

Use code ISTOCK75 at Snapfish to get yourself 75 FREE 4x6 prints!! This deal is valid TODAY ONLY.

If you are an Ebates member, shop through them to get 11.5% back.

Note: Shipping is $4.42 making this about $0.05 per print. Still an awesome deal!

Thanks Faithful Provisions!

Merry Christmas... from Disney!

It's November which technically means it's okay to start talking about Christmas cards, though I have been thinking about our 2010 card for a while now. See, I have it all pictured in my mind as to how it will look.

We are going to spend our Thanksgiving at Walt Disney World and you know I want a family shot in front of Cinderella's big, beautiful castle! Of course I'm gonna slap that photo on the front of our 2010 Christmas card.

Have you seen the new holiday card collection from Shutterfly? Their new Christmas cards are so awesome! They have tons of different styles and sizes.

My favorite part of the selection process is that Shutterfly gives you options for colors, # of photos, designer, price, ect. By simply using the checkboxes, it narrowed down the choices to reveal the perfect card for us! It's called Paper Snowflakes. It's a simple design with a little blue outline which I think will tie in perfectly with the infamous blue castle. :)

Are you hosting a Christmas party? You might want to check out their invitations as well. They have trendy and traditional and just plain cute designs.

I can hardly wait to send out this year's Christmas card. This trip to Disney is really a dream come true and I'm dying to share this special memory with our family and friends.

*I was compensated by Shutterfly to write a post promoting their new holiday designs. However, all opinions are my own. Are you a blogger? You can also sign up to earn 50 free photo cards.

FREEBIE: $3 Amazon MP3 Credit

Use code STUDENT3 to get $3.00 in Amazon MP3 credit. Since most songs are $0.99 this will get you 3 tracks. You can also use this credit toward the purchase of an album. This promo code ends tonight (Nov.1) at midnight.

I saw several Christmas albums for $5 and the new Taylor Swift album is only $3.99. You will need to enter the code in your account and then Go here to start shopping.

Save 65% - Radio City Christmas Spectacular!

Radio City Christmas Spectacular

November 19-December 24

Grand Old Opry House

For the locals or those planning to visit Nashville, there is a 24-hour sale going on right now where you can get tickets for any seat/any show for only $24. Main floor level seats are $66 so this is a big discount!

This sale is TODAY only and ends at midnight.

Go here to order your tickets and use code RCCS24. This is limited to 14 tickets per person.

We went a few years ago and the show was fantastic. You will love it!

Get $200 in Murad Products for only $10!

Murad just released their new book The Water Secret. With the online purchase of this book they will send you a gift bag with up to $200 in FREE products.

1. Purchase the book on Amazon for $10.42.**
2. Then, simply forward your email confirmation to TheWaterSecretGift@murad.com.

**Don't forget to sign up for Amazon Mom so that you get FREE 2-day shipping.

**I also used Amazon Gift Cards that I earned from Swagbucks!

Thanks Spend Less and Save More!

Cashbaq Vs. Ebates

I do a lot of shopping online, especially at Christmas time. Online shopping is even better when you get rewarded for it. Today I want to give you some information regarding Ebates and Cashbaq. Both companies will reward you by giving you back (in CASH) a percentage of your purchase amount when you shop through their site.

• You get a $5 credit just for signing up.
• Choose from over 2900 stores to shop at.
• Payout is on the 20th of each month via PayPal or Check.
• You can receive a payout when your account reaches $10.
  
• Your transactions may remain in a "pending" status for up to 3 months.
• Percentage values range from 1%-50% back.
  

• You get a $5 credit just for signing up.
• Choose from over 1200 stores to shop at.
• Payouts are given quarterly via PayPay, Check or Donation to Charity of your choice.
• You can receive a payout when your account reaches $5.01.
• Transactions are posted within 48 hours.
• Percentage values range from 1%-25% back.
  

Tips and Tricks:
I have both companies bookmarked in my browser. I simply visit their site to link to the store I want to shop at. Get into this habit right away. With almost 3000 stores to choose from, it is almost guaranteed that they are affiliated with the online store you plan to shop at. It's not just for retail merchandise either. Think travel, magazine subscriptions, gift cards and more! Basically, if are going to be buying it online, you should be getting rewarded for it. I do!

Don't miss another chance to be rewarded for shopping online. Sign up for Cashbaq and Ebates. Happy Shopping!

Movie Tickets for $5!

Here's another great deal and this one is valid nationwide. Get 4 movie tickets for only $20 through Living Social. These tickets can also be redeemed for IMAX movies!!

1. If you are new to Living Social, sign up here. You'll get a $5 credit for becoming a new member.
2. Current members can go here to purchase this deal. Search for Nashville.
3. Tickets need to be claimed at WeeklyCinema.com within 90 days.
4. Redeem your tickets at Fandango.com within at more than 15,000 theaters nationwide.

*This deal is valid nationwide so you do not need to be a Nashville resident to purchase. The fine print also specifies that you do NOT have to purchase a monthly membership to Weekly Cinema.*

Thanks Stephanie!

Get Cheap Toilet Paper, Paper Towels & more!

The Atlanta Groupon for today is a $20 gift certificate to soap.com for only $10. That's saving 50% right there! The code also gets you FREE 1-2 day shipping. If you are a first time customer, you can also use code SOAPSPLASH to save an additional 15%.

Soap.com has WAY more than just soap. They sell...

• paper products
• cleaning products
• bath & body
• hair and skin care
• makeup
• medicine & vitamins
• and more!

Here's how to take advantage of this deal.

1. Are you new to Groupon? Sign up here.
2. Current Groupon members can sign in here and search for Atlanta.
3. Purchase your Groupon. It is valid from 9/30/10 - 12/28/10.
4. Don't forget to shop through Ebates to get up to 5.5% cash back. (New members, get $5 to start!)
5. Shop soap.com and use code SOAPSPLASH. Make sure you have at least $20 in your cart after the code.
6. Use your Groupon at checkout!

Because soap.com is an online company, it does not matter if you don't live in Atlanta. This will work nationwide.

Thanks iGoBOGO and Wild for Wags!

$10 off $10 purchase at JCPenney + FREE Shipping

Take $10 off a $10 purchase right now at JCPenney with code LIZ4YOU. They also have FREE shipping on ALL shoes.

For example, by combining these two offers you can get these shoes for only $10.91 after tax. These were on sale for $19.99, so any shoe in that price range would work out the same.

Don't forget to shop through Ebates to get 3% back!

Thanks Faithful Provisions!