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Friday 15 November 2013

Save on select Disney Blu-Ray DVDs


At gocoupons.ca you can order coupons to save $7 on a Disney Blu-Ray DVD when you also purchase any Multivitamin Gummies featuring Disney characters.  The offers are for Monsters University, Planes, or The Little Mermaid.
See details and order the coupons here.


                             

Monday 11 November 2013

Advice from Mrs January




MrsJanuary is one of my favourite Canadian bloggers to follow for information on Canadian coupons and retail deals.  She also posts good advice about living frugally and sticking to a budget.


Today, I recommend you head over to her site and read her post Celebrating Christmas Without Going Broke.


Celebrating Christmas Without Going Broke

Tuesday 5 November 2013

Toy Coupons 2013

I will update this post as new toy coupons become available over the next few weeks.

Fisher Price is offering coupons for a variety of toys right now through the coupon provider Websaver.ca  Head on over there and sign up for a free account and you can select coupons to be mailed to you, or to print off and use.  While you're there, you may find some household coupons you're interested in as well.  Check back with the websaver site over the next month, as there may be other coupon offers from Fisher Price or other toy manufacturers as we draw closer to the holidays.

Hasbro has once again partnered up with Kellogg's for the holidays and is offering $10 coupons through specially marked family sized boxes of cereal.  Find a PIN code printed inside specially marked boxes of Kellogg's cereals, enter the code on their website and then receive a coupon by mail for $10 off a select toy from Hasbro -- there are 14 toys to choose from! 
UPDATE:  This year, the coupons are printed on the Kellogg's package, just cut out the coupon to redeem it.  Get $10 off the purchase of any Hasbro toy or game (minimum $25 purchase before tax).  There are a few exclusions.  See details about this offer on the Kellogg's website.

Specially marked packages of Orville Redenbacher popcorn have coupons inside to save on Hasbro games.  The coupons include:  Save $5 off $10 worth of Hasbro board games (some exclusions apply).  $5 off Jenga Tetris, and $10 off Draw Something Party Game.

Monday 4 November 2013

Invest a Little

Sometimes, it can make sense to spend a little bit more on an initial holiday purchase, knowing that it will last multiple years and save you money in the long run.

This could be a matter of quality ... when you buy Dollar store decorations, sometimes you get what you pay for, and it will fall apart by the end of the season. It may be worth your while to spend a dollar or two more for garland that will last you several seasons.

Purchasing an artificial Christmas tree will probably start saving you money over a real tree by the second or third year to buy it, depending on the cost of the artificial tree you purchase.  Again, don't completely cheap out here ... saving $25 on a  tree that you then have to replace in 3 years, instead of 8 to 10 years, won't turn out to be that much of a savings after all!

It can also be a matter of choosing something disposable.  Reusable Advent calendars that either come with no requirement to be filled each year, or which allow you to choose yourself what goes into them, can also be a good long term savings.

Fill your own Calendar at Lowes $25
Calendar $19 at Real Canadian Superstore












Other items for consideration:
- Cloth Christmas napkins
- A tablecloth in the largest size you are likely to need, in a neutral solid colour  colour (red, white, green, burgundy) rather than a pattern that will date.  You can  fold it over in years you have a smaller gathering to make it fit a smaller table size.  Pick a colour you will use for other special occasions.
- Make sure tree lights and outdoor lights are energy-efficient LEDs.
- Consider investing in silk poinsettia arrangements
- Choose Christmas stockings you expect your children to use until adulthood (think both quality and what they look like), so you don't have the expense of replacing them routinely.


Any suggestions of your own?  Share them in the comments!

Sunday 3 November 2013

Canadian Toy Testing Council "Toymendous" Sale













Each year the Canadian Toy Testing Council enlists help from real kids and families to try out a variety of toys and then reports the findings to the public in early November.  Then the toys used in their toy-testing program are offered up for sale at discounted costs in their annual Toymendous Sale.  

The toys are usually gently used, and may have some damage to the boxes and packaging from having been used, but are in good shape and generally have seen less wear and tear than toys you might find at a garage sale or second hand shop. 

Here's the info on the sale, from the website of the Canadian Toy Testing Council


Toymendous Sale
Tuesday, November 5 (1-3pm and 5-8 pm)
Saturday, November 9 (10:30am - 3pm)

Centurion Conference and Event Centre, 170 Colonnade Road S., Ottawa

Save between 30-50% on hundreds of new and gently used toys, including this year's award winners.
For safety reasons, no children will be admitted to the sale.  

Parking is FREE
Bring your own bags/boxes
VISA, MC, and cash payments are accepted.

Free K-cup sample pack


Van Houtte coffee is offering free sample packs of their coffee k-cups through their facebook page.

Order a free sample to use as a stocking stuffer, include in a gift basket, use when entertaining, or give as a small gift of thanks at Christmas time.

Click HERE to go to their facebook page, "like" their page, and follow the steps of the offer.



Friday 30 August 2013

Christmas season 2013

With September peering around the corner, we're less than 4 months away from Christmas, so if you celebrate the season (or other religious or cultural holy days or holidays around that time such as Diwali, Kwanzaa, Chanukah), now is the time to start planning.


Last year's advice still stands, but I'll be adding new tips and ideas as well as sharing savings opportunities as they come up over the next months. 

For those of you joining us for the first time for the 2013 season, or who may want a refresher, I suggest you start off with these two  blog entries:

Begin with a Budget 

Shorten the Gift List

Cheers,  and here's to a Debt-Free Christmas in 2013!