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August 2009

I love these FREE card offers. This one is completely free from cardstore.com- you create the card, add a photo and personalization and then tell them who to send it to. They’ll send it FREE of charge and help you make someone special’s day brighter! The offer starts tomorrow so make sure to log on and get your card completed!


The folks at cardstore.com created The Hope Collection of cards in support of The Week of Hope, a campaign to lift the nation’s spirit by the sending of greeting cards. The goal is to send 300 million messages of encouragement from September 1 to September 7. The people at cardstore.com are helping to reach this goal by offering their Hope Collection cards for FREE!

It’s simple to make your own FREE card. Just log on between September 1 and September 7 and choose a card from the Hope Collection. Add a photo and personalization and use the code SENDHOPE when you check-out. Please note that at the top of the checkout page it will ask for a credit card – just scroll down and add the promotional code then apply and you won’t need to enter the credit card information! They will print the card, and mail it to your designee.

PLUS – if you post a message on cardstore.com’s Facebook fan page wall about how you did this offer, you’ll be entered to win a personalized stationary set!

The fine print of the offer: “Free card offer is valid for one card per customer from the designated Hope Collection. The shipping option must be direct mail to your recipient. SENDHOPE coupon code is valid from 9/1/09 at 12:01 ET to 9/7/09 at midnight PST.”

Check out HOT Amazon deals on your favorite items!

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Piggy Paint Review & Giveaway

by Nicole on August 31, 2009

I remember having my nails painted as a little girl and loving it! Well, times have changed and now people are much more careful about using polishes and polish removers on kids. If you’ve been fearful before, Piggy Paint is here to allay those fears! Piggy Paint is a new product line of all-natural, non-toxic nail polishes and removers.


Piggy Paint has an extensive line of nail polishes in a wide array of colors. They even have their own nail polish remover. I was sent a bottle of the “Girls Rule” color which was a bright and shimmery magenta and a bottle of the nail polish remover. I was amazed that neither of these products has a smell to them. They bill themselves as “safe”, “odorless” and “hypoallergenic”. I had read about them in OK Magazine (a guilty pleasure of mine) and was thrilled to be able to try out the product. It worked just like regular nail polish and remover without any of the chemicals!
As a special to Nicole’s Nickels readers, Piggy Paint is offering a special coupon code (NICKEL15L) that you can use through September 30, 2009 to get 15% off the entire website, including sale items! If you spend over $25 shipping is FREE!

The awesome folks at Piggy Paint have graciously decided to give one (1) of my lucky readers their own $20 code to the Piggy Paint website. To enter, you MUST visit the Piggy Paint website and then leave a comment telling me what your favorite nail polish color on the site is. Make sure to leave your email address so I can contact the winners. This is a mandatory entry and the extra entries will not count unless you do this entry.

There are six (6) “extra” ways to enter (each one below gets you one additional entry):

1. subscribe to my blog (either via email using the box in the left sidebar OR via RSS feed). If you already subscribe leave a comment saying you do. If you subscribe by email you MUST confirm your email and activate the subscription.

2. follow me on Twitter (http://twitter.com/NicolesNickels) and tweet about this giveaway. If you already follow me that’s fine, just comment with a link back to the tweet about this giveaway. You must tweet about the giveaway for this entry to count.

3. blog about this giveaway (leave the link in the comment)

4. email 5 people about this giveaway (please cc me on this email – nicolesnickels at gmail dot com and leave a comment saying you sent the email)

5. grab my button for your site (leave the link to where the button is in the comment)

6. add the link to this giveaway on a Mr. Linky about giveaways or on a blog giveaway site, blog carnival or forum or yahoo group (leave link to where you did this in the comment)

You MUST leave a comment answering the question above as your first entry and then additional entries are governed by the terms above. You MUST leave a separate comment for each entry you are able to make. Feed and email subscribers will need to click on to my actual blog to leave a comment. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only, 18 years old or over, and the winners will be chosen by random.org. This giveaway will be good until September 9 at 9:00 pm Eastern time and a winner will be announced soon thereafter. If the winner does not respond to my email within 48 hours then I will pick a new winner. Good luck!

Check out HOT Amazon deals on your favorite items!

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Best Deal Magazines, Week of 8/31

by Nicole on August 31, 2009

Here are this week’s hot deals of the day and coupon codes for Best Deal Magazines, my go-to for holiday and birthday gifts!

Here are this week’s coupon codes:
15% Off Most Titles (Code: PXSS96 Offer Expires September 6, 2009)
$5 OFF $30 (Code: MNDSS96 Offer Expires September 6, 2009)
$7.50 OFF $40 (Code: MQQSS96 Offer Expires September 6, 2009)
$10 OFF $50 (Code: MQPSS96 Offer Expires September 6, 2009)

Weekly Specials:
Everyday with Rachael Ray – $9.00 for 1 year with coupon code RAY 50

This week’s deals of the day are:
Monday – American Rider, $8.49
Tuesday – Consumer Reports, $20.49
Wednesday – Mac Life, $5.29
Thursday – Family Fun, $4.29
Friday – Disney & Me, $12.39
Saturday – Dog Fancy, $11.69
Sunday – Yoga Journal, $3.89

Check out HOT Amazon deals on your favorite items!

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Allure FREEBIES, Today ONLY!

by Nicole on August 31, 2009

Each weekday for the month of August, each hour from 12 pm until 6 pm Allure is giving away fabulous FREEBIES! Today is the last day of the month and the last day for these FREEBIES!

All times are eastern. You can get a reminder on your cell phone if you text “FREESTUFF” to Allure (255873).

Here is the link to click.

Monday, August 31
12 pm Nine West Ankle Suede Boots ($129)
1 pm Ardell Fashion Lashes Starter Kit #110 ($5.99) First 500
2 pm VMV Hypoallergenics Illuminants Body Brilliance and Body Lotion ($65) First 150
3 pm Shu Uemura Pressed Eye Shadow in Me Purple ($20) First 10
4 pm Ojon Restorative Hair Treatment – ($65) First 50
5 pm Davines Solu Refreshing Solution Shampoo ($48) First 50
6 pm FX Special Effects Curl Booster Scrunching and Curling Spray ($8.99) First 500

Thanks, Frugal Plus!

Check out HOT Amazon deals on your favorite items!

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KMart Super Doubles is back this week!

by Nicole on August 30, 2009

Kmart Super Doubles is back this week! I know the last one just barely ended but they are doing it again. The rumour in the blogosphere is that this is the last Kmart super doubles event until after the first of the year! That is a long time away.

I have a few coupons set aside to head to Kmart this week during my lunch but I did my big shops during the last event.

To see coupon and deal match-ups check out the following blogs:

Hip2Save

My Frugal Adventures

Coupon Clippin’ Mama

These ladies have extensive lists with many printable coupons so even if you don’t get the Sunday newspaper you can save big this week! Remember, not every Kmart participates – your best bet is to call your local store and ask!

Check out HOT Amazon deals on your favorite items!

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CVS, 8/30-9/5

by Nicole on August 30, 2009

Karen at Frugal RI Mama has this week’s hot CVS deals and match-ups. I’m highlighting a few below but you’ll want to read her full post for the rest of the list!

If you’re new to CVS deals shopping, please read my CVS 101 post.

This is a good week at CVS and I had $11.99 in expiring ECB’s so I went to CVS this morning. The deals are first and then my transaction follows. Happy shopping!

Clairol Loving Care Hair Color, On Sale $4.99, Get $2.00 ECBs (limit 1)
Use $4.00 cpn in 8-2-09 P&G insert
Final Cost: FREE + $1.01 overage after ECB’s

Bayer Contour Monitor, On Sale $14.99 Get $5.00 ECB’s (limit 2)
Use up to $30 cpn in 2-10-09 RP, 3-22-09 SS
Final Cost: FREE + $5.00 overage after ECB’s

Aquafresh Iso-Active Whitening Toothpaste, On Sale $4.99 Get $3.00 ECB’s (limit 1)
Use $1.00 printable coupon
Final Cost: $.99 after ECB’s

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My Transactions

Transaction 1
Glade Scented Reed Diffuser, On sale for $6.99, Get $6.99 ECB’s
I used the $2.00 RedPlum printable coupon

Sensodyne Iso-Active Toothpaste, On sale for $4.99, Get $3.00 ECB’s
I used the $1.00 printable coupon

Softsoap Nutriserums Body Wash, On sale for $4.99, Get $2.00 ECB’s
Used $1.00 off coupon from September All You Magazine

I used $11.99 in ECB’s and paid $2.09 out of pocket. I got back $11.99 in ECB’s

Transaction 2
5 small (4 oz) packages of Nabisco cookies, On sale 4 for $5, Get $1.00 ECB’s
(I bought 2 Nutter Butter, 1 Oreo, 1 Lorna Doone, and 1 Chips Ahoy)
Used 2 of the $1.00 off 2 Nabisco cookies from the $55 in Nabisco coupons booklet

Total was $3.00, used the $3.00 in ECB’s from the toothpaste purchased in Transaction 1 and paid 0 out of pocket. Got back $1.00 in ECB’s.

Note that there are also $.75 off 2 Nabisco cookies coupons from the 8/23 SS insert if you don’t have the Nabisco booklet

I ended up buying 8 items, paying $2.09 out of pocket, and still having $9.99 in ECB’s for future weeks!

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Newbie Transactions

In just 3 easy transactions you’ll pay NOTHING out of pocket, get 8 items, and still leave with $4.00 in ECB’s!!

Transaction 1
Buy 1 Bayer Contour Monitor, On Sale $14.99 Get $5.00 ECB’s
Use up to $30 cpn in 2-10-09 RP, 3-22-09 SS
Pay 0 out of pocket, get $5.00 in ECB’s

Transaction 2
Buy 1 Glade Fragrance Collection Scented Reed Diffuser 1.62 oz or Soy Candle 4.9-10oz $6.99, Get $6.99 Ecb (limit 1)
Use the $2.00 RedPlum printable coupon
Use the $5 in ECB’s from Transaction 1
Pay 0 out of pocket, get $6.99 in ECB’s

Transaction 3
Buy 1 Aquafresh Iso-Active Whitening Foaming Tooth Gel $4.99=$3Ecb (limit 1)
Use the $1 coupon from here

Buy 5 small (4 oz) packages of Nabisco cookies, On sale 4 for $5, Get $1.00 ECB’s
Use 2 of the $1.00 off 2 Nabisco cookies from the $55 in Nabisco coupons booklet

Use the $6.99 in ECB’s from Transaction 2
Pay 0 out of pocket and get $4.00 in ECB’s!

You can keep rolling the ECB’s but I wanted to limit it to 3 transactions this week. There are so many other great ECB deals this week!

Check out HOT Amazon deals on your favorite items!

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Walgreens 8/30-9/5

by Nicole on August 30, 2009

My friend Karen at Frugal RI Mama brings you the best of the Walgreens deals and coupon match-ups. I am going to highlight the best (IMHO) below but you’ll want to read her full post for the rest.

For information on how to shop wisely at Walgreens please read my Walgreens 101 post.

I haven’t been able to get back into shopping at Walgreens for some reason and I don’t have any RR’s. My stockpile is really large at the moment and my parents and brother are definitely well-stocked too so I probably won’t be shopping there this week. That being said, there are some good deals you may want to take advantage of!

Rembrandt Toothpaste, On Sale $5.00
Get $5.00 RR
Final Cost: FREE after RR

Carefree Ultra Protection Ultra Protection Pantiliners 16ct, On Sale $1.99
Get $1.00 RR
Use $1.00 printable coupon
Final Cost: FREE + $1.00 overage after RR

Men’s Zone 6 Blade razor system, On Sale $3.99
Get $3.99 RR
Final Cost: FREE after RR

Colgate 360 ActiFlex toothbrush, On Sale $2.99
Get $2.99 RR
Final Cost: FREE after RR

Theraflu Cold, Cough or Sinus relief, On sale $4.99
Get $3.00 RR
Use $2.00 printable coupon
Final Cost: FREE after RR

Check out HOT Amazon deals on your favorite items!

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School Supplies Sales!

by Nicole on August 30, 2009

Because different parts of the country start school at different times, there are still some great school supplies deals this week! Here’s what I see from Staples, Office Max, and Office Depot this week.
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Staples

15 cents (Sun-Wed, limit 4)
1 subject notebooks

50 cents (Sun-Wed., limit 2)
#2 pencils, 8 pack
Pink cap erasers, 12 pack
Bic pens, 10 pack
Glue Sticks
Copy paper, 500 sheet ream ($5.79 less $3.79 instant savings less $1.50 easy rebate)

************************************************************
Office Max

1 cent (limit 3)
Crayons, 24 pack
Protractor
Metal compass

20 cents (limit 3)
1 subject wide or college ruled notebooks
Ballpoint pens, 12 pack

50 cents (limit 3)
Pink erasers, 3 pack
laminate or 2 tone folders

BOGO FREE
Any Sharpie Permanent Marker, Accent highlighters or Expo dry erase markers

************************************************************
Office Depot

FREE when you spend $5 or more (excludes tax and value of free item)
Acrylic ruler
Eraser caps, 12 pack

10 cents (limit 3)
Compass

20 cents (limit 10)
Glue sticks, 4 pack

25 cents (limit 3)
Sharpie highlighter

30 cents (limit 3)
Papermate pens, 10 pack

50 cents (limit 3)
1 inch binder

99 cents (limit 3)
Magnetic rubber calculator

There is also a large assortment of items that you get a FREE bonus item on each pack

Check out HOT Amazon deals on your favorite items!

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FREE $10 Giftcard to Participating Malls!

August 29, 2009

Participating malls around the country are offering a FREE $10 gifcard to customers! Check out this list of participating malls and the rules regarding the promotion. Just find the mall local to you on the list, then log on to that mall’s website (google to find the mall website). Then find the icon that says [...]

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Sunday Coupon Preview, 8/30

August 29, 2009

The Sunday Coupon Preview has all of your information on coupon inserts in tomorrow’s paper. In tomorrow’s paper there will be three (3) inserts, 1 Smartsource (SS), 1 RedPlum (RP) and 1 Proctor & Gamble (P&G).

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Top 10 Giveaways, 8/29

August 29, 2009

Don’t forget to enter my 2 current giveaways (both end August 30)1. Pillsbury…simply Cookies2. Fiber One YogurtHere are this week’s top 10 giveaways! Please read each blogger’s giveaway post carefully as instructions may vary. Good luck and let me know if you win! 1. Mommy Enterprises – Yoplait Thick and Creamy prize pack (ends August [...]

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Winn-Dixie, 8/26-9/1

August 28, 2009

Sheri at Swaggrabber has this week’s Winn-Dixie match-ups and deals. I’m highlighting what I think are the best below but for the whole list (and an explanation of her abbreviations) please visit her full post here. If you don’t have a Winn-Dixie near you, visit The Grocery Gathering at Be Centsable to find match-ups for [...]

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Join Nielsen HomeScan!

August 28, 2009

I blogged before about Nielsen HomeScan and am happy to announce that they have reopened their applications! I have heard from several readers who tried again to apply and were accepted this time after being denied the first time. Don’t be discouraged if you aren’t accepted – just try again in a month or so. [...]

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Friday FREEBIES and great deals, 8/28!

August 28, 2009

Here are this week’s FREEBIES and great deals: FREE sample of Fancy Feast appetizer for cats FREE sample of Iams cat food FREE Hallmark card FREE sample of Always Flexi-liners FREE sample of Nicoderm CQ FREE sample pack of DinoVite for pet itching and scratching FREE Beech Nut baby food starter kit FREE Dentaburst Freshening [...]

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Dell Vado Handheld Video Camera for $39.99 PLUS 4% cash back!

August 27, 2009

It’s not too early to think about holiday gifts! Here is one that’s sure to please just about anyone on your list! You can get Dell’s Vado handheld video camera in your choice of silver or pink for just $39.99 with FREE shipping! When you add your ebates 4% cash back, it makes the deal [...]

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Publix 8/27-9/2

August 27, 2009

Michelle at I Heart Publix is your girl for all things Publix! I’m posting the highlights (IMHO) but definitely check out her full match-up post and her Super Deals. Don’t have a Publix near you? No big deal – just head over to The Grocery Gathering at Be Centsable to find the match-ups for the [...]

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NEW Red Plum Printables!

August 27, 2009

Along with a new month comes a new batch of printable coupons on Red Plum! You can access Red Plum by clicking here or by clicking the widget on the right hand sidebar underneath the other 2 coupon widgets. Remember, you can usually print two (2) of each coupon. You never know when coupons reach [...]

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Join Panera’s Community!

August 27, 2009

I often blog about how much I love loyalty programs and online communities affiliated with my favorite retailers. Here is one for the Panera Insights Community that I had never seen but was happy to sign up for as I really enjoy Panera! It’s FREE to join and you’ll be asked to give periodic feedback [...]

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Mystery Guest, Inc.

August 27, 2009

I’ve had Mystery Guest, Inc. on my to-blog about list for several months and I’m excited to tell you about this company. I have completed several shops for them (for me, their only shops are a big name “chain” of restaurants that most everyone I know LOVES) and find their reports to be very straightforward [...]

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Coffee Deal!

August 26, 2009

Calling all coffee lovers! You can get 3 boxes of Gevalia Coffee (your choice of flavors) PLUS a stainless steel travel mug for just $3! That is an incredible price for high-quality coffee. There is NO obligation with this – you will be signed up for their auto-ship program but can cancel anytime you want [...]

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