F Valpak.com Shopper & Coupon Blog: March 2006

Valpak.com Shopper & Coupon Blog

Friday, March 31, 2006

Beauty Savings Abound Online

  • Try the body butter line from The Body Shop and get 2 items fro $26! They are also offering buy 2 get 1 free on select make-up items.
  • MAC Cosmetics offers free shipping on any online order $50 or more.
  • Save 40% on Avon’s True Color Eyeshadow Duo.
  • Go to Sephora and get up to 3 free samples of select products with your purchase.

posted by Cara at 8:46 AM | 0 comments

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

When Bad Things Happen In Your Good Name

Identity theft is the crime of our times, a crime so widespread, with an impact so great, it destroys lives. More than ten million people were victims in 2002 alone, for a total loss of over $53 billion dollars.

The Federal Trade Commission defines identity theft as stealing personal information such as your name, credit card number, drivers license number, or other personal identifying information to commit fraud.

A Few Tips to Protect Yourself While Shopping Online
  • Use A Secure Server - Make sure you are using a secure server and browser with industry security standards before you enter credit card information online.

  • Use Companies You Know - Anyone can open a store online in minutes and be gone tomorrow. Make sure you either know of the store or you should research it.

  • Compare Prices Before Buying - If the price is too low there may be something wrong like it is used or it may be a bait and switch deal.

  • Check the Return Policy Before You Order - Check the company's return policy before you order online so you will know what to expect before you order.

  • Use a Credit Card - Don't use debit cards to shop online - they don't offer the protection of the Fair Credit Billing Act which protects you.

  • Consider Calling In The Order - you don't feel comfortable entering your credit card information online, then call the company and place your order.

  • Print and Keep Information About Your Order - Print out information on your order when you place it and keep the copies.

  • Use Secure Passwords.

  • Trust Your Instincts- If It Sounds Too True To Be Good.


    • To read more in depth, visit Tips to Protect Yourself While Shopping Online

    posted by Anna at 5:07 AM | 0 comments

    Friday, March 24, 2006

    Coupon Codes

    Next time you're shopping online, go to check out and asked for a coupon code you don't have, hurry over to Current Codes to find the one you're looking for. Coupon codes offer you a percent or dollar amount off of your purchase and if you don't have the code, you can't take advantage of the discount. Current Codes has an extensive list of shopping sites and offers codes for all of them. You'll find names such as Barnes & Noble, Staples and Hickory Farms. Simply go to their home page and find a list of the most recently added codes. Never find yourself disappointed for missing out on super savings again. Check them out!

    posted by Cara at 1:48 PM | 0 comments

    Wednesday, March 22, 2006

    Coupon Lingo

    Here are some terms you need to know!
    B1G1F: "Buy 1, Get 1 Free"
    BTFE: Box Tops for Education
    C/D: Complete Deal. A refund form with all the proofs of purchase needed to send for the refund.
    C/O: cents off coupon, or cash off coupon.
    CRTC: cash register tape
    DCRT: dated cash register tape. Must show the date of purchase on the tape.
    LSASE: long self addressed stamped envelope
    NED: No Expiration Date
    OAS: "one any size" Some coupons specifically state on them that they can be used on any size product.
    POP: Proof of Purchase. This is the upc symbol on the package.
    P/H: postage and handling
    SAE: self addressed envelope
    SASE: self addressed stamped envelope
    SMP: specially marked package, meaning a package you find in the store that has been printed with a refund offer on it.
    UPC: "Universal Product Code". It is that box of black lines that the checker passes over the scanner at the checkout.
    WSL: while supply lasts

    posted by Vicki at 5:53 AM | 0 comments

    Tuesday, March 21, 2006

    General Tips For Shopping From Home

    You can order all kinds of things from the comfort of your home using the telephone, mail, or a computer. To avoid problems and to make it easier to resolve them when they do happen, be sure you follow the advice in the Before You Buy checklist.

    In addition:
  • Know your seller
  • Be wary of post office boxes and sellers in other countries.
  • Check the total price
  • Make sure you are clear on what you are buying
  • Protect your personal information
  • Never send your credit card number by e-mail
  • Give your credit card, debit card, or bank account number only if you’re using that account to pay.
  • Keep a record of your purchase
  • Keep track of your order


    • To read more of the tips above, visit Shopping from Home – General Tips

    To know more about shopping on line, visit Consumer’s Guide to E-Payments and/or SafeShopping.org .

    posted by Anna at 7:26 AM | 0 comments

    Wednesday, March 15, 2006

    Five Tricks To Stop The Shop-Till-You-Drop Habit

    The act of shopping, particularly the act of buying something you really want, brings on a rush of dopamine, what scientists call the brain's pleasure chemical.

    5 Great Ways To Start:
    1. Monitor your moods
    2. Notice which environment gets you going
    3. Focus on the long term
    4. Swap in a cheaper substitute
    5. Find little tricks to play on yourself

    To read more Five tricks to stop the shop-till-you-drop habit

    posted by Anna at 6:35 AM | 0 comments

    Monday, March 13, 2006

    Gear Up for Spring

    Spring is right around the corner, which means time for fun in the sun!
    • Capture those outside adventures with a new digital camera and save 12% when you buy the camera online from Circuit City.
    • Look for patio furniture at the Sears Spring Sale and receive an extra 10% off for their one year anniversary.
    • Don’t let the sun ruin your skin. When you go to the Body Shop and buy two skin care products and you get the third one free!
    • Finally, receive FREE shipping on new spring apparel when you purchase $100 or more using your Macy*s card.

    posted by Cara at 2:00 PM | 2 comments

    Thursday, March 09, 2006

    Craving Some Savings and Something Sweet?

    Curb those cravings by saving with Betty Crocker and trying a great recipe.

    White Chocolate Lime Bars

    Take a break from dark, heavy chocolate to create a citrus and white chocolate pleaser.

    Bars:
    ¾ cup Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
    ¼ cup sugar
    ¼ cup butter or margarine, softened
    ¼ cup finely chopped pecans
    ¼ teaspoon salt
    1 egg yolk
    1 cup sugar
    1 tablespoon Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
    2 teaspoons grated lime peel
    3 tablespoons lime juice
    3 eggs

    For the entire recipe Click Here.

    Visit BettyCrocker.com for money-saving coupons.

    posted by Anna at 7:32 AM | 0 comments

    Tuesday, March 07, 2006

    Save Money by Reducing Tax Payer Mistakes

    It’s tax season! We all know how much fun this time of the year can be. Check out the top four mistakes tax payers make and how to avoid them.

    • Bad Math: Mistakes in arithmetic or transferring figures from one schedule to another result in an immediate correction notice from the IRS. If there is a tax deficiency, you will automatically receive a bill for the amount. If you overpaid, the excess is applied to future taxes, credited or refunded at your request.
    • Forgetting About Interest and Dividends: Interest and dividend payments are reported to the IRS by banks, brokerage houses and other financial intuitions and are cross-checked in about 96% of the cases. As a result of this cross-checking, the IRS sends out notices for taxes and interest on overdue taxes for income and other payments that were not reported.
    • Not Tracking Investment ‘Basis’: A basis is the original value of your investments. When you sell these funds, your gain will be the difference between what you receive on the sale and your “basis”. The basis actually increases once any financial gains you reinvested are taxed. If you reinvested taxable gains from these funds, those gains are added to your basis to reduce your gain. To make sure you have the right basis check with your Fund Company or broker.
    • Getting Married: High-income earners who marry will lose write-offs for personal exemptions faster than their single counterparts. Marriage may also wipe out potential IRA deductions. Of course, if only one partner is employed, marriage would provide tax savings.

    For more tax payer mistakes please read Unlucky 7: The Top Tax Payer Mistakes.

    posted by Cara at 1:28 PM | 0 comments

    Friday, March 03, 2006

    Expired Grocery Coupons Can Help the Military

    Don’t throw out your expired manufacturer coupons! Send them to military bases instead and you’ll be helping members of our military and their families.

    The Overseas Coupon Program is a non-profit organization that encourages you to ‘adopt’ an American military base overseas by sending them your expired coupons. They’ll make them available to needy families as long as they are not expired past 6 months. Coupon donations go directly to the family service centers where they are either placed on tables at the PX and Commissary, or handed out for use by military members and families on base. OCP has been helping distribute coupons since 1992. In 2005 there was $2,422,697.71 worth of coupon contributions reported!

    Read more to learn how to participate and which bases will accept your coupons.

    posted by Anna at 8:01 AM | 0 comments