Recycle to celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is April 22, so here are some ways to recycle AND help your wallet at the same time.

Staples accepts empty ink cartridges in exchange for giving you a $2 credit. Any brand is accepted, with a limit of 10 per month. You must be a rewards member to receive the credit. If you're not, you can sign up FREE in store.

Starbucks offers a 10c discount to customers who use re-usable mugs at their visit. If you're dining in, you can request a ceramic mug be used at no extra charge.

Dixon Golf offers 50c for every golf ball of any brand, and $1 for their own brand when recycled at one of their participating store locations.

CVS' GreenBag Tag initiative offers a bonus each time a customer brings their own bag or refuses plastic bags. Earn $1 in Extra Bucks for every 4 scans.

Best Buy accepts old video games, musical instruments and electronics in exchange for gift cards. You can ship items to a trade in center (get a pre-paid shipping label) or take them to your local store.

MAC cosmetics will give customers a FREE lipstick when they return 6 packaging containers to one of their counters.

Costco has a trade in program which accepts laptops, cell phones, cameras, MP3 players, Blu-Ray discs, games and more, in exchange for a gift card.

Many stores offer cents off when you use your own bags: Super Fresh, Super Giant, Target

Loyalty savings cards

There are so many stores out there who offer loyalty and/or savings clubs, that I thought I’d highlight a few of them.

Rite Aid—Wellness + program, sign up in store, earn up to 20% off almost every item in the store as well as free health screenings and members only coupons

Food Lion—MVP card, sign up in store, offers extra savings on different items each week

Super Fresh—Club Fresh card, sign up in store, offers extra savings on different items each week. You must have a Club Fresh card when a triples event is going on in order to get triple coupons. Baby Club, automatically signed up when you sign up for the Club Fresh card, earn points on all baby items purchased, once you reach 250 points in a certain time frame, you will earn a $20 coupon good for your next order

Super Giant—Bonus Card, sign up in store, offers extra savings on different items each week.

Toys/Babies R Us—sign up in store, earn points for every purchase, once you reach 250 points special savings coupons are mailed to you.

Staples—sign up in store, must present this card when turning in empty ink cartridges for credit

Best Buy—Reward Zone card, sign up in store, earn points for all purchases, once you reach a certain amount (chosen by you), receive savings coupons/certificates by email or postal mail

Kmart/Sears/Lands End—sign up in store, earn points for all purchases, sometimes double/triple points on certain items, once you reach a certain amount of points you will automatically receive coupons with your receipt, during a “super double” coupon promotion at Kmart you must have the card in order to get double coupons

Ace Hardware—sign up in store, earn points for all purchases, once you reach a certain amount, rewards coupons/certificates are mailed to you

Jiffy Lube—register in store or online, per vehicle (not per household), get 3rd oil change at ½ price

Big Lots—Buzz Club, sign up in store or online, make 10 $20+ purchases and earn 20% off your next purchase

Hallmark—Gold Crown card, sign up in store, earn points for every item (including cards) purchased, rewards certificates are automatically mailed to you when you reach a certain point amount, has different “levels” (silver, gold, platinum) based on how much you spend within a certain time frame

Best Buy Electronics Trade-In

Do you have a collection of old elctronics piling up at home, because you don't know how to get rid of them in a "green" way? Well, Best Buy has a new Trade-in program that allows you to trade-in old electronics such as iPods, laptops, mobile phones, computer monitors, etc, in exchange for Best Buy gift cards or a mailed check. If your item doesn't qualify for a trade-in "refund", then you can still leave your item with them for recycling.

Go here for more information on how to receive Best Buy giftcards in exchange for your old electronics.

Ahhhh, retail therapy!

Yesterday, sweet hubby of mine kept the kids while I went in town to get a (much needed) haircut.....I called the salon on my way to town, hoping that my stylist was working, and surprisingly, she was! I was able to make an appointment for 430p, which left me with a little time to kill, so I walked the mall before my hair appointment.

I went into JC Penney to buy some new pillows for us....Armed with a $5 JC Penney reward certificate and a $10/25 coupon, I found a twin pack of queen pillows for $23.99. There was a sale going on where you bought 1 pillow (or pack of pillows) and got the second for $1. I also picked up a long sleeve shirt for hubby, which was on clearance fror $5.99. After it was all said and done, I paid $16.xx for 4 pillows and a shirt! I was thrilled!

After my hair appointment was over, I walked around some more, enjoying the "me" time. I went into Bath & Body Works, which I had a coupon for a free item when you purchased another, so I replenished my Sweet pea body cream supply & also picked up a travel size of Butterfly flower scent for $1. I got 3 things for $13.xx plus another coupon to use in April for a free candle.

Off to Gymboree to see what they had for me to buy, since I have a 20% off coupon for there as well. The cashier told me that they were having a sale and everything $32.95 and less would ring up as $19.99 (unless it was already marked down). I didn't find anything that really jumped out at me, but I did buy Caroline a cute little pair of leggins for $2.xx

I went in Victoria's Secret on my way back out to the car, hoping to cash in a freebie coupon I have, and buy some panties. Unfortunately, they were in the middle of taking inventory and were less than willing to check in the back to see if they had more of what I wanted, so I walked out without buying anything.

After leaving the mall, I headed to Target to use some baby coupons that were soon expiring. I bought Pampers diapers (on sale $9, used $1 Target coupon, $1.50 manuf coupon =$6.50), Luvs diapers (7.99, used $1 Target coupon, $1 manuf coupon = $5.99), 2 packs Huggies Gentle Care wipes (used 2 $5 IPs = 99c each pack watch the wording on these though, some were specifically for Gentle Care diapers & should only be used on diapers), travel size Satin Care shave gel (99c - $1 manuf coupon = FREE), 4 Johnson's Buddies (97c - $1 manuf coupon = FREE), Lucas' easter basket (a Tonka truck!), a CD for me to listen to at work (soothing piano music), and a shirt for each kid to wear on St Patrick's day. I was pretty pleased with my total, though I don't remember what it was right off hand.

Since I was right there, I ran into Best Buy & picked up a paper shredder since ours broke a while back (I tried to feed it too many sheets at once!). No coupon, but it was on sale for under $30, plus I get points towards a Rewards certificate.

A quick trip to fill the car up with gas at Sam's club completed my trip, but not before I checked to see if Staples was still open (it wasn't), since I had an ink cartridge to turn in, and some $1 sale items I wanted to pick up....guess that will have to wait until later this week.

Definately refreshing to get out by myself for a few hours, and even better to spend some money, yet save at the same time!