Rock-Bottom Holiday Prices Using Modern Coupons
You can dramatically cut your costs for gifts, clothing, holiday essentials and entertainment this holiday season by using coupons.
And these ain't your grandmother's coupon deals, either, stressed Heather Wheeler on "The Early Show."
Wheeler, co-author of "Pick Another Lane, Honey," and co-creator of The Krazy Coupon Lady website.
This is couponing for the modern age, Wheeler pointed out, which means combing in-store and online coupons, mail-in rebates, gift card purchases and coupon codes to get rock-bottom prices.
Some of the deals can seem a little complicated, but the savings are worth the work!
According to the American Consumer Credit Council, the average American spends $935 on holiday shopping each year. But Wheeler showed viewers how to do it for far less - much less.
Last year, when users of the Krazy Coupon Lady site were polled, 57 percent of respondents said they spend $400 or less on their family for Christmas. Many were spending under $200!
GIFTS
"A Christmas Carol" 4-movie pack for only $4.99
Shopping at Target starts this process -- purchasing this special "A Christmas Carol" 4-Pack which is regularly $29.99, but we can get it for only $4.99 (and don't forget, you can break up the 4-pack and give the various copies to 4 different people on your holiday shopping list!) This deal is valid through 11/20. (The 4-pack includes "A Christmas Carol" with Jim Carrey on Blu-Ray 3D, Blu-Ray, DVD and a Digital Copy - which you could put on your MP3 player.)
How did we get it for only $4.99 at Target?
First, we logged onto Disney's Movie Rewards site and printed out this special $10 off coupon for Disney Go Rewards Members (membership is free. You just have to sign up: $10.00/1 - Disney's A Christmas Carol 4 Pack Combo Packs - (Disney.GoRewards.com)
That lowered our cost to $19.99, but we didn't stop there. We then submitted 2 mail-in rebates. One for $5 at a popcorn seasoning's website and another rebate for $10 on the Butterball website. Both of these rebates require other purchases, the rebate forms and upc codes from the movie's packages.
Final cost is $4.99 for the 4-pack!
The rebates:
$5 rebate when you buy Kernel Popcorn Seasoning and A Christmas Carol on Blu-Ray & DVD
$10.00 Rebate when you buy Butterball Turkey and a Christmas Carol Blu-Ray or DVD
Sony Blu-Ray player for only $59!
Here's how to get a Sony Blu-Ray player, which regularly costs $199.99 for only $59 (plus shipping + handling)! Basically by buying 5 eligible Blu-ray combo packs, you can unwrap a great gift for the entire family. The Sony Blu-ray player features full HD 1080, DVD playback, BRAVIA Internet Video streaming, 3D Blu-ray Disc playback capability, iPone/iPod touch remote control and Quick Start / Quick Load, Wi-Fi adapter ready.
More information can be found at Disney's Sony Blu-Ray Promotions Page
How did we do it?
You can use "A Christmas Carol" (from our last deal), then you just need 4 other titles. There are 20 Disney Movies to choose from. Once you have your 5 eligible movies, you log onto the Disney's Movie Rewards site again and enter in the "Magic Codes," (which are similar to upc codes on the back of the movie cases). Then the site will take you to the ordering page - $59 plus shipping and handling. This deal is valid from 11/10/10 - 1/31/11 and while supplies last.
There are 20 eligible Blu-Ray titles that work for this deal:
A Christmas Carol
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Fantasia
Santa Paws
Alice & Wonderland (Johnny Depp)
Beauty & the Beast
Prince of Persia
Toy Story 3
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 1
A Bugs Life
Monsters, Inc
Camp Rock 2
Cars: Mater's Tall Tales
The Crimson Wing
Oceans
Bolt
Tinkerbell
Tinkerbell and the Lost Treasure
Tinkerbell and the Great Fairy Rescue
7 Books for $7 each!
Books make great holiday gifts! And knowing where and when to buy them will offer you the lowest prices. We got these 7 best-sellers, a $155.79 value, by only spending $50.66 (making each book roughly $7.23 cents, plus tax!) Borders is also a great place to shop because they discount many of their books. For example "Eat, Pray, Love" list price is $15 , but Borders offers it for only $8.06.
How did we do it?
First, head to Borders and purchase a $50 gift card (which you won't give away, but spend on your own later purchase.) By buying a $50 gift card, you'll receive a free $10 gift card. (You need be a Borders member, but signing up is free.)
We then bought 7 best-sellers.
Here's our shopping cart:
Eat, Pray, Love $8.06 ($15 list price)
The Confession hardcover by Grisham $15.48 ($28.95 cover price)
Stop Dressing your Six Year Old like a Skank $13.95 (-33 percent off coupon)
Light From Heaven $5.99 ($26.95 list price)
The Sixth Target $5.99 ($27.99 list price)
A Lion Among Men $6.99 ($26.95 list price)
Inside of a Dog $8.80 ($16.00 list price)
Our subtotal was $60.66 (saving $95.13 off of list prices)/ We then used our $50 gift card and our $10 gift card. And we used a 33 percent coupon (which is valid on one full price item.) and applied it to one of the books. That gave us a grand total of $50.66 + tax (which makes each book roughly $7.23 cents, plus tax!) (a value $155.79)
Yearly Magazine Subscription for roughly 33 cents an issue!
Various magazines (Elle, Marie Claire, Seventeen, Men's Health)
Magazine subscriptions make great holiday gifts (no one really likes to buy magazines for him or herself. Knowing where and when to buy them will offer you the lowest prices. Head to BestDealMagazines.com and use online coupon code to save even more!
How did we do it?
Log on to BestDealMagazines.com, check out the magazine subscriptions that are $4.69. Then use Coupon Code: PXCJ1114 to take an extra 15 percent off, making them $3.98 which makes this Elle Magazine, for example, each issue roughly 33 cents an issue!)
Bargain bonus tip: Each day, one magazine is discounted on their site further to $4.39/year. For that, you can use discount code: PXCJ1114 and get it for only $3.73.
BestDealMagazines.com. All below magazines $4.69 each, everyday price:
Elle (12 issues / yr)
Harper's Bazaar (11 issues / yr)
Men's Fitness (10 issues / yr)
Marie Claire (12 issues / yr)
Parents (12 issues/ yr)
Seventeen (10 issues / yr)
Woman's Day (15 issues / yr)
For word on deals on clothing, holiday essentials and entertainment, go to Page 2.
CLOTHING
Gap Pajamas for less than $14
Gap is giving out coupon booklets to customers in store with a '40 percent one regularly priced item' coupon valid each Wednesday (or Thursday, depending on the booklet) for November through December (depending on which booklet you receive). If you have a Gap, Old Navy or Banana Republic card, you'll receive 45 percent off.
How did we do it?
Adorable child's 2-piece pajama set is regularly $24.50 and we used our 40 percent in store coupon and our Gap credit card saving us a total of 45 percent. That means we only paid $13.48 a set! That's nearly half-off!
Kohl's Clothing and a nearly $100 dollar saving!
Kohl's is known for their low prices, but their clearance sales are not to be missed. I got $136 worth of clothes, for only $50.60!
How did we do it?
We bought:
Boys' Shirt and Pants $18.40 paid (originally $46)
Girls' Shirt and Pants $19.20 paid (originally $48)
Men's Sweater $18.00 (originally $42)
That gave us a subtotal of $55.60. I used a $5.00 off coupon, which I got for signing up for Kohl's email alerts. I also received a $10 Kohl' s Cash Card for the purchase! So, by shopping clearance sales, with the coupon and the store promotion (Spend $50, Receive a $10 Kohls Cash Card) we saved $95!
Link to sign up for Kohl's sale alerts and for $5 off your next in-store purchase.
Save over $200 on 3-Items of Women Clothing
Black Friday is one of the most anticipated shopping days of the year. But what if I told you that you can save ever more on Black Friday! Most people don't realize that you can save even more by bringing along a coupon! For example at JCPenney on Black Friday you can get these 3 items (regularly for $270) for only $63.44!
How did we do it?
We plan to shop for these items on Black Friday:
Women's Pea Coat on sale $49.88 (reg $200)
Women's Liz Claiborne Sweater on sale $14.88 (reg $44)
Women's Shirt on sale $9.88 (reg $26)
The regular price on these three items is $270! But with the Black Friday Sales prices (listed above) and a 15 percent off printable coupon- our total will only be $63.44 .
Link to printable online coupon
HOLIDAY ESSENTIALS
80 Batteries - And We Earn Money!
We bought 80 batteries, paid $41 and got $51 back in rebates! This sounds too good to be true, right? You're actually going to earn money for buying a holiday essential - batteries - but it's real! (And…as any parent will tell you. you can't have enough batteries around the house at the holidays. You'll need them for nearly every toy, plus many holiday decorations require batteries, so stock up!)
How did we do it?
This deal only applies to Worklife Rewards Members (that's Office Depot's frequent shopper program), but it's free to join. We bough 2 sets of AAA batteries (20 pack, $12.99 each) and 2 sets of AA batteries (20 pack, $12.99). That gave us a sub-total of $51.96. We used our $10 coupon off a $50 purchase (which we found on-line and printed from home.). That means we got $51.96 in WorkLife Rewards (which we can be redeemed in-store, online or by phone).
Final Price: $10 Money-Maker!
Links to look for: $10 off a $50 purchase coupon
ENTERTAINMENT
Restaurant Meals for only $2
After all the shopping, wrapping and entertaining of the holiday season, you'll be more than ready to have someone else do the cooking! For a night off from kitchen duty, or for a special evening out, head to Restaurant.com - where they sell $25 Restaurant Gift Certificates that you can print immediately from home every day for $10.
How did we do it?
The only catch is that there is a minimum purchase requirement (usually $35, excluding alcohol). BUT, we've got an 80 percent off code: KRAZY that will take your total down to $2.00 (valid through 11/30)! You can buy as many gift certificates as you like to any participating restaurant in your area! That means you're getting $25 worth of food, for only $2 bucks! And with 15,000 participating restaurants nationwide, you'll be sure to find some good eats! NYC search page
Buy One, Get One Free Bowling
The kids will be off for holiday break, so what can you do as a family? How about bowling. It's a fun family indoor activity, but can be pricey since you pay per person (not per bowling lane.) We have a coupon offer that will save you 50 percent.
How did we do it?
Sign up to receive special offers from AMF.com and print a coupon for: Buy One Game, Get 2nd game free of bowling! Keep in mind, the coupon expires in 5 days, so don't sign up until you've got a free evening for a great family night! (You must register to get the deal)