Column May 6

My mother was a tremendous influence on my spending habits. All you had to do was ask her for something and she could find a deal. Now with social networking and computers I can go even farther with savings. Before you buy anything spend time to research the product and price. If you are brand loyal to one product make sure you go to their website for coupons or their newsletter. You can also tell them that you love the product. You may end up with some free coupons. I do recommend to use an alternative e-mail address so your main account isn’t overwhelmed with ads and special offers.

Before you hit check out at any online merchant check out these sites.

Promotionalcodes.com has thousands of codes for popular retailers.

FreeShipping.org will tell you which merchants ship for FREE or receive a free shipping code.

RetailMeNot.com has more than 400,000 coupon codes for more than 100,000 retailers.

RedPlum.com not only has online discount codes but also a database of printable coupons for local merchants. Just click on Shop Online and sign up by entering your name, e-mail address and zip code, then hunt for exclusive offers.

Ebates.com supplies discount codes, but also offers cash back at over 1,300 stores when you start your shopping trip there. For instance, if you splurge at Victoria’s Secret, you’ll get a check from Ebates for 2% of the total order. Checks go out every three months.

Remember many websites let you put in more than one promotional code. This may enable you to get percentage off your order plus free shipping.

Visit P&G Everyday Solutions at pgeverydaysolutions.com to enjoy benefits such as free personalized emails full of updates, tips and special savings just for you. Get free samples of the brands you know and trust from P&G.

Google’s free Short Message Service, will let you text specific queries to GOOGL (46645). Lets say you text a movie title and a zip code, you will get back a listing of nearby show times in seconds. You also can receive step-by-step directions to anywhere if you send from and to locations. Go to www.googletutor.com/category/sms/

Install a FREE safety net on your computer from Norton. Go to www.onlinefamily.norton.com and set up an account with names and icons for your children, then download the application. You can track internet activities in real time on any web-connected device.

Just for you to know but any web page asking for sensitive data should begin with https, not http, to indicate that it’s secure. There also should be a padlock in a corner of the browser window to indicate it is safe.

Consolidate your reward cards with CardStar application for FREE. Enter your membership numbers for more than 350 stores, including CVS, Petco and Kroger, and instead of scanning your card, the cashier scans your phone to add up your rewards. Get it on the iPhone; it scheduled to arrive soon for Google Android and BlackBerry.http://www.mycardstar.com/whatwedofaqs.html

FACEBOOK FREEBIES

Disney Music will be offering up to 50 FREE days of music downloads via Facebook.http://www.facebook.com/disneymusic

Become a fan of Green Works (hit like) and receive a $3.00 coupon. http://www.facebook.com/greenworks

Become a fan of Oscar Mayer and get a $2 coupon for lunchmeathttp://www.facebook.com/OscarMayer?v=app_10442206389#%21/OscarMayer?v=app_10442206389

MOTHER DAY DEALS

FREE 8x10 Collage Print from Walgreens Enter coupon code GOODTHOUGHTS at checkout
http://photo2.walgreens.com/walgreens/storepage/storePageId=SpecialOffer?stop_mobi=yes&ec=hn8269_free8x10&ep_mid=70922810&ep_rid=2959930775

Give 4 of your favorite moms a year of Family Fun magazine for just $20- ($5 each). Order your subscriptions at www.familyfun.com/4friends510A

All You magazine has some unique coupons that you will not find online anywhere else. $3.00 coupon for Halle Berry Fragrance. The purse size is $4.99 at CVS.http://coupons.allyou.com/Couponweb/Offers.aspx?pid=14803&nid=10&zid=rd17

Mother Day special at www.restaurant.com. Save 70% off $25 gift certificates and receive $15 off a Proflowers order. Use code MOM and pay just $3 through 5/9/2010.

Get a coupon for $10 off a $30 purchase at Bath & Body Works or if ordering online use coupon code: TENOFFSHIP1. http://ebm.cheetahmail.com/r/regf2?aid=528207786&a=0&n=44&cm_mmc=CH-_-20100430STORERDM-_-9000201-_-mainPrintCoupon&cm_lm=

FREE Beauty Rush Lip Gloss from Victoria Secret with any purchase coupon.http://ebm.cheetahmail.com/c/tag/hBL2a5CAcckdyB8HhJBNHKZYQQP/doc.html?RAF_TRACK=&&i_exp=0&cm_mmc=di-_-100325POS-_-V01-_-v2&cm_em

Save $10 on any Yankee Candle product purchase of $25 or more coupon.http://www.yankeecandle.com/yc/images/retail/email/registrationEmailInStoreOfferCoupons.gif

Take an extra 20% off any one regular or sale price item at Stein Mart couponhttp://www.steinmart.com/coupons_preferred.stml

Staple $1 coupons for some great office supplies http://akimages.crossmediaservices.com/listingimages/Retailers/Staples/event_images/175x175_060131_New_Site/5_2_Page0_MajorityofStores.pdf

Request a free sample of Hugu Boss fragrance for yourself or send a free fragrance postcard with a personalized message to friend. http://www.hugo.com/freesamples

Sterling Silver Pendant, Boy or Girl from Macy’s originally $100 now only $19. Use code MACYSFF for an additional 25% off and shipping is $5.95. http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?upc_ID=1622184&ID=376941&Quantity=1&EXTRA_PARAMETER=BAG&PseudoCat=ba-xx-xx-xx.index

Michael’s Craft Store is having Mother’s Day Events, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Thursday, May 6 from 6pm to 8pm purchase a t-shirt of choice then let your child use Tulip Soft Fabric Paint to decorate.Friday, May 7 from 6pm to 8pm purchase a picture frame for your child to decorate with Plaid paints.Saturday, May 8 from 10am to noon have your child make mom a personalized Mother’s Day card.Saturday, May 8 from noon to 1pm let your child decorate a special cookie treat for mom.

May is Bike Month. Start a frequent cycler program. Reward your kids with a coupon for a special activity when they spend time on their bikes. For coupons go to www.familyfun.com/magazine.

Celebrate National Children’s Book Week, Tuesday May 11 from 5:30 to 7:30pm at Carnegie Center on 251 West Second Street. Bring your favorite children’s book to share with others. Learn to make your own book and participate in storytelling activities and crafts. Call 859-254-4175 to register.

National Train Day is May 8. Join Historic Rail Park & Train Museum in Bowling Green, Covington and Louisville to celebrate with tours, reduced admissions, and exhibits. Go to www.nationaltrainday.com for more information.

Your child can earn a FREE book when he/she reads 8 books this summer with the 2010 Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program. Bring in your completed Passport to any Barnes & Noble store between May 25 and September 7, 2010 then choose your FREE reading adventure book from the featured list.http://images.barnesandnoble.com/pimages/resources/events/2010/summerreading/pdf/2010_PassporttoSummerReading.pdf