Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving and most of us won’t be hanging out around the computer I thought we should do our weekly Open Mic one day early.
Do you find yourself with questions about saving money for the holidays? About getting out of debt? About coupons? Or do you have a money-saving tip that you’d love to share with others.
This Open Mic post is a chance to ask, share, listen and learn in a money-saving community where we are full of vigor, creativity, and great ideas to help you in your journey to financial freedom. Please leave your question or tip in the comments and read through what others are saying, then join in!
Your turn: Ask your questions or leave your thoughts in a comment. For those that read this email in a blog reader or through email, just click on the title “Open Mic Early Edition 11/25/09″ and you’ll come to the website where you can join in (and no registration is required!)
At wags I did the therma care deal and had the two three dollar off coupon but didn’t get any rr rewards? What happens to my coupons if I take them back? Then a cashier wouldn’t take a $1. Coupon on a $.96 item. Arn’t the supposed to adjust down?
PJ – You should be able to return the items and get full price back since the store will still get the reimbursement for the coupons. You won’t get the coupons back, but you won’t be out that money either. It’s probably worth a phone call to your local Walgreens before you go in to clearly understand how they’ll handle rthe situation.
no RR rewards printed for Triaminic for me earlier this week – tell the cashier immediately before leaving the store. Sometimes the manager will give you a gift card or cash refund for the missing RR. Sometimes, they will take you to a different register to re-ring it. That’s what happened this week for me.
With Walgreen’s you need to make sure that the store where you are buying the item is actually participating in that particular month-long register reward. If there is not a sign by the item, they are probably not participating at that time. I have had it happen where I will go to one store and they have the month-long register reward going, but another Walgreen’s that I go to will not. So, buyer beware, it doesn’t look like all of the stores have to participate in the RRs that are not in the weekly flier.
I have a coupon for $10 off PlaySkool Musical Sit and Spins. Does anyone know of a twin cities store where it is in stock and on sale?
Besides Holidazzle, are there any other free or low cost holiday activities out there?
We bring the kids to the 8th floor display at Macy’s in Minneapolis. It’s free and fun!
I love going to the Como Park Conservatory. The flowers and plants and warmth are a welcome break from the grey of the sky of November and December!!!
The Walker Art Museum is free on Thursedays. The Minneapolis Art institute is always free. MCTC does a lot of plays and the entrence fee is a can of food. Also Ice Skating is always fun.
Just a vent time here. It seems everytime I go to Rainbow and checkout, I give the cashier my coupons in order to be rang(obviously $1.00 ones first) but sometimes the computer printed ones don’t ring easily. So, they will put those aside and continue to ring which doubles my smaller coupons and not the $1.00 ones they have to type in manually. It’s not much money overall and i only do 1 transaction for about $18 with only 5 or 6 q’s but it is real money. I could buy 4 cans of soup for missed double opportunity. bummer!
Jessica – I would resort to handing ONLY your five coupons that you want doubled to the cashier and then only AFTER she has completely finished with them would I hand over the other coupons. I have had many experiences with cashiers skipping coupons or dropping them on the floor, etc., so I have just taken the initiative to handle my coupons in a way that will guarantee I accomplish what I am trying to do . . . . save money. I am now in the habit of handing 5 coupons at a time to the cashiers and then I don’t come home frustrated when I know not all of them were counted and I paid more money than I should have.
Question on Target’s price matching policy. I am looking at purchasing a TV on Black Friday. I would like to price match a Sears price at Target. It looks like it will not work for two reasons. The ad is for a “Timed event”, Friday and Saturday. And it is while supplies last, “Items advertised as limited time/limited supply/limited quantity”. Am correct in assuming I wouldn’t be able to price match?
Jen V – According to a post from Carrie in mid october, you might want to check Fleet Farm for the sit and spin.
http://www.pocketyourdollars.com/2009/10/gift-idea-sit-spin-for-5-98/
someone posted last week a website where you can get All you magazine for two years for $20. I can’t remember where the post was. Can you repost the info. Thanks.
Ann – you are correct. They won’t price-match doorbuster deals. Bummer huh? But check and see if the TV you’re looking for is online at Sears for Black Friday. Many places are starting their online Black Friday sales on Thursday sometime… AND some places are either throwing in free shiping, or offering free “site to store” shipping, so you could just go pick it up instead of fighting the crowds! We’re doing that with a TV at Walmart.
I filled out the request form for the luggage tags from and airline—sorry I don’t remember the name–and have never gotten the tags. The info was posted here. Has anyone gotten them? I know the closest location for the airline was in Chicago so maybe that’s why they have never come.
Nancy,
I just received my luggage tags last week (through KLM.) Hopefully you’ll receive yours soon :)
We got our luggage tags at least two weeks ago. As a matter of fact, we got two sets which I feel bad about. Just as I was finishing the request the first time, something went wrong and I got one of those error screens. Figuring it didn’t go through, I started over and got the confirmation. But both sets came. I hope yours come soon! Thank you, Carrie, for providing so many opportunities for freebies. We really appreciate it!
Jae- another fun activity is taking the kids to Rice Park, in St Paul. Its beautifully decorated and there is a free ice rink. They are having a tree lighting ceremony this Saturday. November 28th. I believe it starts at 5pm. I would get there early – we missed the actual lighting last year.
If you bought something before Black Friday and it is going to be on sale what would you do? It is at Target.
I received my luggage tags too.
Nancy, I received my luggage tags a week or more ago–and I was so happy! I didn’t think the website had processed my order as I’d been bumped out during the process, then when I tried to re-enter it I got an error code. Hope yours come soon!
How many “$’s off your next shopping trip” register printed coupons will Rainbow take per transaction? Thanks!
Thanks for all of the replies about the luggage tags. I love this site and all of Carrie’s hard work. I am not a hardcore shopper but enjoy the bargains. Thanks for the whole community and all of the good info.
Marie ~ I recently got All You for $22 for 2 years from http://www.landofmags.com. Not sure if they are still running the promotion (buy one year, get the second free).
Gennifer – I went to Target this week and asked that exact question and got 2 answers. The customer service desk said to bring in the ad and your receipt and they will give you your money back (you need to go in during the hours of the sale though). Another girl said that they will not price-match the special weekend prices, but what you could do is bring in the item and RETURN it and EXCHANGE it for the new price. Haven’t tried it yet.
Jessica – I am the “meanie” who hands the cashier one coupon at a time and I watch to make sure they all go through. It is just my way of not missing something. Most cashiers do not mind, I just feel “patronizing” sometimes doing it.
“someone posted last week a website where you can get All you magazine for two years for $20. I can’t remember where the post was. Can you repost the info. ”
My daughter’s school magazine drive had this offer. 24 issues for $20. You can buy from different magazine drives at http://www.qsp.com. Enter a school you want to support and they will probably be participating. The school gets 40% of the price of the subscription.
I have the found the Target I go to is great at the Customer Service desk and several of the checkout ladies. Last night I must of had close to a hundred coupons and the cashier was very patient and did each one at a time. I admit I’ve never used that many in one transaction before so I was nervous. All said and done my bill went from over $160 to $50!!!
Anyone know where to find ads for CyberMonday Deals? Thanks!