Free Reusable Shopping Bag at Target

Have you ever run into a store only needing a few things but you forgot your reusable bag(s)? Don't you hate it?

I hate buying more bags because I know i'll just end up forgetting about those too, but I really hate just staring at all of those plastic bags in the junk cabinet, just waiting for me to take them to be recycled. (... sooooo ... lazy ...) ((*my community doesn't have a recycling program; it'd be different if we had one of those bins that you put out with the garbage, because i'm not that lazy; but if I'm the one at the store re-buying more of those damn flimzy totes for $1 because I forgot mine at home you can be damn sure that i'm also the one driving around with a trashbag full of the plastic bags in my trunk because I keep forgetting to take them inside the store, to be dropped off to be recycled.))

SOOOOO here is a way to get a few for free.

Target is famous for having creative gift cards that are more than just plastic rectangles that hold a store balance. (I have one that is not only a picture of Barbie shopping in a SuperTarget, but it also came with a limited edition Barbie dress. I'm also 25 going on 7.) This gift card in question (can you guess where I'm going with this?) COMES with a somewhat small - yet really sturdy - reusable bag that once folded can be ziped up into itself (like an anorack pullover) and is the size of the gift card - perfect for keeping in a purse or possibly on a key chain.

How to get it for free? If you find them at your store (look for them by the greeting cards or makeup), buy the giftcard in a first transaction (put like, $1 or $5 on the card), then either go and shop or if you've already done so, just turn around and use both the bag and the gift card in a second transaction, much like how one would roll a Walgreens Register Reward or a CVS Extra Care Buck.

Is it worth it to go through the trouble? For some, not so much. For those hung up on freebies and these bags, sure. Just think, you'll also be saving the environment (one plastic bag at a time; although you'll eventually have to deal with the old gift card and the thing in which it comes ... hum ... ) BUT more importantly (for some) you'll get your nickel discount per bag. Score!

Happy Shopping!

~K

PS - here is what the *free* bag looks like once unfolded; the cardboard holder said it can carry UP TO (so not all at the same time) two 2-liters of soda, four loafs of bread, 10 sticks of deodorant, etc etc etc. So again, perfect for light trips.

Nabisco Facebook Cookie Coupon Rant

A lot of people are pretty *p*i*s*s*e*d* about the new rules to the Nabisco facebook cookie coupon - now you have to buy one pack of cookies, one gallon of milk AND another thing of milk to get the free pack.

I'm just one person and occasionally the boy will drink milk with me but I can't get enough of this coupon. I specifically buy milk around this coupon and while I know that it can't be that way for everyone, here is what I have to say. (Take that, complainers!)

1) I understand that the new inclusion that can be hard for some - but the second thing of milk stipulates that it can be ANY size - so go for a single serve bottle or juice-box size container, which often sell for around a $1. AND there are so many coupons for them - both Hershey's and nestle quick have $off q's out there to sweeten the deal.

2) Yes, you have to buy a gallon - but it can be any kind of milk. Chocolate, soy, almond, strawberry, organic.

3) AND the coupon doesn't say "buy one 1-gallon of milk" - it says "buy one gallon of milk". Semantics? Yes. Loopholes? Hell Yes! I purchase one HALF gallon of Horizon Organic Skim (for me) and one HALF gallon of Chocolate milk for the boyfriend (who is 25 going on 7). And since this is a manu q from Nabisco it doesn't beep due to my splitting it up that way because NABISCO DOESN'T MAKE, MANUFACTURE, or even SELL it's own brand of milk. Last month I accidentally only purchased one half gallon of milk (I swear I put the damn chocolate in the cart, really I did) and it still went through just fine. I'm not condoning coupon fraud - and I really don't feel too badly about it because the milk I buy is 3X more expensive than normal milk - but still; the Q won't beep because it's not coded for every single brand, variety, flavor and size of milk on the market - Nabisco just kind of puts us on the honor system and hopes that we're either honest or that the cashier catches everything.

4) I have soooooo many packs of cookies because I have two computers, so four coupons per month, that the thing I hate buying is the first pack to get the 2nd free. I'm always buying milk and I want the free cookies ... but what to do? Ready for this tip ... look at the coupon. It says buy any pack 4oz - 28oz, the buy the milk, then get a pack, 4oz - 28oz free. I buy a single serve pack of Oreo's or Animal Crackers or Chip's Ahoy! for around $1 and then I get a free pack of cookies.

5) You don't have to buy oreo's as either the one you're paying for or the one you're getting free. I don't know why everyone is confused by that - but it clearly states ANY Nabisco cookie. I go for the fig newtons personally, but I have 4 packs of those stocked as of now and I'm pretty sure that's more than I've eaten in the past 3 years combined.

Now,

If you're not like me in that you want the fancy-pants milk, do this. Buy 1 gallon of milk ~$2.50 (if you can wait for a sale.) + 1 other size milk ($1 - any coupons, if you have one) + $1 for the single size cup or bag = $4.50 and then you can get the biggest pack of cookies (up to 28 oz) for free. (tip: go to the lunchbox/individually wrapped aisle/section.)

FREE FULLSIZE Product at Sephora with "SkinCare Challenge"

Sephora has a promo called the "Skincare Challenge" running now through the end of the year (score!) where if you buy four (4) skin care products (moisturizers, wrinkle treatments, cleansers, toners, tanning creams/lotions, basically anything that you can put on your skin) that are priced at $20 or more you'll receive the 5th product - of your choice* - absolutely free!

The best parts?!?

1) you don't have to purchase all four products in one transaction, just as long as you've done so by the end of December.

2) if you are a beauty insider Sephora will keep track of what and how many products you've purchased towards the reward so it's one less "rewards/stamp" card to carry around in your wallet! (So make sure to log in when ordering online and always give your email when you purchase in store.)

AND

3) you can redeem up to 5 "rewards" per BI account. (if you run over that limit then create a new email account and register it for its own account, etc etc.)

If you're new to Sephora, the Beauty Insider program is one of the ones you need to belong to - you'll earn a point for every dollar that you spend which can be redeemed for a "generous sample size" product after every 100 points OR you can save them for a free full-size product (of Sephora's choice, which changes regularly) after every 500 points. AND AND AND you'll get a birthday gift, which this year is a eyeliner, eye shadow and mascara combo pack for women and ... something else for guys. (also, whenever you order online, you get 3 samples of your choosing and they usually offer up some really great shipping deals.)

*the website says that you can buy ANY skincare product over $20 to qualify for the free product, but the free product must come from one of these lines: Bliss, Boscia, Dr. Frandt, Caudalie, Clinique, DDF, Fresh, Kate Somerville, Kinerase, Korres, Murad, Ole Henriksen, Perricone MD, Philosophy and Peter Thomas Roth.