BETTER THAN FREE Capri Sun big pouch!

You can MAKE MONEY by purchasing Capri Sun big pouch juice drinks using Ibotta.  These run about 88c at Walmart & right now, you can get $1 back when you purchase at a participating retailer and use the Ibotta phone app. I also paired my purchase with the B2G1 free coupon that was available not too long ago.

Not an Ibotta user yet?  Sign up here, it's FREE!  I've already had $13+ sent to my PayPal account!

Frugals spring publication is available!

Wow!  We went from winter to summer over the weekend, huh?!  Surely it will snow next weekend here on the shore…It’s time for you to pick up the newest Frugals, the FREE publication featuring TONS of local coupons!

Truth of the matter is though, now that spring is officially here, summer is just around the corner, which means it’s pool season!  Prism Pools & Spas in Onancock, VA is hosting their Spring Open House on Friday, April 19 & Saturday, April 20 starting at 830am.  Don’t think they just deal in pools though; they have small dump delivery, concrete patios, and can even assist you with the weekly maintenance of your pool or spa.  Don’t forget the coupon on the inside cover good for $25 off your purchase or service over $50.  No pool of your own?  No problem…Green Hill Yacht & Country Club has a family pool membership for just $400 for the entire summer season!  While you’re there, enjoy some of the yummy treats at the grille, and an extra 15% your food purchase with the coupon on page 13.

In addition to pool season, summer is known for its many festivals and carnivals here on the Eastern Shore.  No matter what your interest, there’s bound to be something for you! 

Pork in the Park is just a few days away!  Winterplace Park is the place to be for yummy pork barbeque and great music.  Admission is just $5 for adults and kids are FREE!  The Salisbury Festival runs from April 26-28^th in downtown Salisbury and Riverwalk park.  There will be live entertainment, local shopping, carnival rides/games, a farmer’s market & much more.  You can enjoy FREE admission and FREE parking in the City parking garage all weekend long!  The Hebron Carnival begins on May 29^th, offering family fun for all ages with rides and games, and yummy food including their famous oyster sandwiches.  You can find a $4 coupon good for rides on page 3.  Right after Hebron Carnival closes, the Chincoteague Fireman’s Carnival opens on June 28^th.  They offer FREE admission, rides and games, raffles, and official CVFC merchandise.  A $3 coupon for their ride wristband is on page 5.  As if that wasn’t enough, there’s also a Blueberry Festival in Chincoteague running from July 19-21^st.  Enjoy $1 off adult admission with the coupon found on page 42.  A trip to the Salisbury Zoo is always exciting for the young ones.  Now you can get a FREE drink with a hot dog/chip purchase at The Beastro located inside the zoo (page 15). the Princess Anne & Mt Vernon fire companies are hosting their very first Firemen’s Fest on June 8^th at the Princess Anne Civic Center.  There will be food, a classic car show, fireman’s muster, art & crafts vendors and concerts all day long, including the Nathan Pinchak band and the Chris Lane band!  Children 6 and under are FREE, ages 7-12 are $7 and adults are only $15 for ALL DAY! 

Music not your thing?  What about the sound of loud engines roaring as they battle for the longest tractor pull length?!  The Lucas Oil Pro-Pulling Tractor Pull is a sell-out event held at the Pocomoke Fairgrounds on June 22.  Tickets start at just 8, but be sure to go early for best seating.

OK, if music or loud engines aren’t your style, then perhaps arts & crafts are…The Spring Arts & Crafts show is scheduled at the Ocean City Convention center Memorial Day weekend, with FREE admission!  Vendors from 7 states will feature their creations, so be sure to check them out.  You’re sure to find something unique to fit your style.

Looking for somewhere different to go this summer, but not spend too much money?  Try a Tangier Island cruise aboard the Steven Thomas.  You can get $2 off your cruise ticket with the coupon on page 6 or $1 off a souvenir mug.  If you’re more of the adventurous type and want a hands-on experience, try a rental from the Pocomoke River Canoe Company.  They have paddle boards, canoes, motor boats and kayaks available.  Use the coupon on page 36 to save $5 off your rental.  Why not take a day to relax and sip some wine at the Bordeleau Winery in Eden, MD.  Their tasting room is open Wednesday thru Sunday, and you can save 15% off a wine purchase of $15 or more (page 12).

If travel is on your agenda, and you happen to be flying out of BWI, consider staying at the BWI Ramada where they have a park, sleep & fly package complete with a FREE continental breakfast and round trip shuttle service to the airport.  Mention the Frugals ad  on page 16 to save $20!

Spring is the time for flowers and getting those yards ready for the sun.  Johnson’s Seed & Feed in Salisbury has all your garden and pet supply needs, and offers 15% off your purchase when you present the coupon from page 14.  Need to update your house?  Check out the Habitat for Humanity ReStore in Salisbury.  You can find almost anything from appliances, furniture, flooring, lighting, building materials and more!  You can save 20% off their already reduced prices with the coupon on page 14.  If you’re not looking to buy, consider donating your used items.  A FREE pick-up service is available for larger items.  If you’re looking for handcrafted, solid wood furniture, check out the Dutch Country Heirloom Furniture and Market in Laurel, DE.  On page 11, you will find money saving coupons for both furniture and food to fit your fancy!

It will soon be too hot to cook, so why not try a local eatery for dinner tonight?  Pocomoke Diner is offering 15% off your total check of $10 or more (page 31).  Saladworks in Salisbury has a coupon good for 10% off an entrée (page 20), and they even offer catering, online ordering and delivery.  Did you know that just for visiting The Crab Place online, you can earn a $10 gift card, see page 29 for more details.  After eating crabs, my family always follows it up with ice cream.  There’s nothing more satisfying than a big, cold ice cream cone after gorging on hot steamed crabs.  If you haven’t already tried Chesapeake Bay Dairy, you have got to get yourself to 1 of their 2 locations (Berlin or Pocomoke)!  Don’t forget the buy one get one free coupon on page 33.  If those locations aren’t close enough, then head to ColdStone Creamery and enjoy their 2/$5 coupon deal on page 12.  Not too long ago, I entered a contest on Facebook and won a pan of brownies from The Deli at Pecan Square.  They were the most delicious brownies I have ever had in my entire life and the other ladies in my office raved about them the rest of the week.  In addition to their brownies, they offer an everyday special of any large sub with fries and a soda for $9.99.  No coupon necessary.  See page 24 for more details.  On Friday nights, my family likes to eat out.  The kids usually want McDonalds, but this momma gets tired of the same old thing, so I head to Subway for my dinner.  You can bet that I’ll definitely be using the coupon on page 40 to get my entire meal, including chips & a drink for only $5!

We all know that spring and summer are busy times for photographs, think weddings and graduations.  KB Fotography does any occasion and offers wedding packages starting at only $250!  Wish I’d known about them when I got married!  See their ad on page 34 for contact information.

OK, so I’ve only highlighted some of the awesome deals in the current Frugals publication.  If you haven’t read about something that strikes your fancy, pick up your own copy, I know you will find at least one in there to use before it expires.  Don’t forget to sign up for the coupon class being led by myself on May 13 & June 24.  Space is limited, and this event is being sponsored by Frugals and held at Mister Paul’s Legacy.  Hope to see you there!

Guest Post: The Fallout of TLC's Extreme Couponing (Morgan Wright)

Morgan Wright is a stay at home mother of two and a freelance writer. Through her writing, she helps her friends and readers find the best available ULTA coupons and other beauty products. Apart from writing, Morgan enjoys experimenting with different dishes. 

Since TLC’s Extreme Couponing show gained popularity, many couponers are complaining that manufacturers have been stricter with their coupons. They accuse TLC of exposing their secrets to the masses, ruining potential saving in the future. But is there any hard proof of this, or is it all purely anecdotal evidence?

Despite these concerns, more people than ever are trying their own hand at couponing. If you’re interested in trying for extreme savings yourself, try out these beginner tips!

Look Online
While those little weekly flyers still weigh down the Sunday paper, and there are still the little coupons at the grocery stores, online coupons have been gaining popularity. Looking online for coupons can be more convenient than keeping track of piles of shiny bits of paper. Coupons can be found all across the internet for almost any item you can think of; from department store merchandise, to large electronic items, there is literally a coupon for everything.

Heck, you can even get coupons on your smartphone with services like Groupon and like-minded companies. Even sites that already sell marked down items can have extra savings if you just take the time to look, like these Overstock.com coupons for example. Even branded items like Levi’s, or specialty companies like 1-800-Flowers. Almost any established online retailer will have online coupons that will net you extra savings.

If You Can’t Lick ‘em, Join ‘em! 
Go to TLC, grab your handy notebook, and write down those couponing tips that catch your eye. While you might know all about dumpster diving to score extra coupons, I bet you’ve never tried it because you think you’re above it even if it’s a great (albeit dirty) tactic! And what about multiple transactions? While some coupons require this extra step that can be a hindrance, the savings can more than make up for the multiple transactions. There are plenty of tips to gleam from the TLC show. Yes, some are extreme, but some can still help even a regular couponer score extra savings.

Recognizing Coupon Fraud 
This one is serious and TLC’s show exposed a woman who intentionally chose to defraud the system by using coupons that didn’t match the items that she was purchasing. How serious is this? It is fraud and a criminal offense. Worst of all, it reflects poorly upon those of us who are sincere in our couponing efforts.

Knowingly purchasing items that do not match coupons is a big no-no and as a result manufacturers have changed their bar code policies directly due to participants on Extreme Couponing.

At the end of the day, extreme couponing isn’t for everyone. As a matter of fact, couponers are a rather rare breed. They are great at spotting sales and savings, and are not afraid to flash that coupon binder at a moment’s notice. If this sounds like you, don’t forget couponing hasn’t, nor will it ever, go out of fashion. After all, couponers and manufacturers have a symbiotic relationship. One is necessary for the other’s survival.

Be smart, savvy, and keep the coupons clipping.

I got all this for only $1!

Went inRite Aid tonight to spend some Up Rewards that were expiring & here's what I bought:

1 RA brand baby shampoo  $3.03
2 NYC caramel lipstick   $2.38
2 NYC gold lipstick  18c
1 Tic Tac  99c
---------------------------------
Total before coupons $6.58

Coupons used:
(2) $1.99 Up rewards
$1 Up reward

Total OOP = $1