Fru-Gal Column December 9

This weekend my family and I ventured out to get a Christmas tree. When I was going through my Christmas decorations discovering the handmade ornaments from my boys made me smile. It brought back many holiday memories, those memories where not of expensive presents I received but of skating parties, sledding and spending time with my family. As you are shopping remember this piece of advice, a gift is more precious when it comes from your heart.

Use the internet to your advantage. There are many easy-to-use sites that you can earn bonus bucks when you buy everything from household essentials to the lastest high-tech gadgets. Take the time to view these sites especially if you are shopping online for your holiday presents.

At ShopatHome.com you can receive 2 to 12 percent back from an enormous selection of online sellers including Walmart, Bath & Body Works, and Ralph Lauren. Once you accrue $20 in savings, the company mails you a check. www.shopathome.com

Use the comparison-shopping tool from Extrabux.com this website will display all the merchants selling the item you want with retail prices, valid coupon codes, and cash-back amounts, which range from 1 to 30 percent, depending on the retailer. Request your earnings, paid by check or via PayPal, at any time. www.extrabux.com

Get coupon codes from Ebates.com for free shipping from 1,200 retailers, including Nordstrom and Sephora, in addition to earning as much as 25 percent cash back. When you make your first purchase, the site will deposit an additional $5 into your account. Checks are mailed quarterly. www.ebates.com

Receive email alerts from Fatwallet.com when a new deal is posted for a specific brand or product. Shoppers can get 1 to 40 percent back on their buys from merchants as varied as Sony, Orbitz, and Athleta. Once you earn $10, receive your money by check or via PayPal at any time. www.fatwallet.com

This holiday season, when you purchase anything at Toys R Us use your reward card to earn 10% back on all your purchases. Just think get a $1 back when you make a $10 purchase, sign up now for Rewards “R” Us. http://rewardsrus.toysrus.com/enroll.cfm?csm=172353096&csc=1244572&csa=172345574&csu=1245295&camp=CME:20101206_Em_RRU_10pct_Back
Cash in $40 or more at any Coinstar Machine to receive an eCertificate or gift card. Get a promotional code for a $10 bonus that will be on your receipt. Basically it is like getting $50 for $40 worth of change. http://www.coinstar.com/us/html/Promo4050

Join Upromise now to help get money for college bills and student loans buying things you need like groceries, shop online, filling your gas tank and much more. Even though you may not get cash in hand you will receive a check toward college bills or money towards paying down a student loan. Upromise even loads digital coupons to your shoppers card and the savings goes toward your college account.
http://www.upromise.com/acquisitionLanding.do?aqid=moneyforcollegevis&ax=cj3122725&cm_ven=cj&cm_cat=cj&cm_ite=cjhome&cm_mmc=CJ-_-2425588-_-3122725-_-6-12-06_Upromise_Everyday_Spending

Donate your football cleats, gloves and NFL merchandise to receive a $10 cash card from Sports Authority http://www.sportsauthority.com/shop/index.jsp?categoryId=10948925&csu=621122&csc=620925&csm=171609724&csa=171610338

If you are going to the Fayette Mall to do your shopping make sure you pick up your own Book of Savings from customer service. Remember before you go to any mall visit their website for any online coupons available. http://www.shopfayette-mall.com/shop/fayette.nsf/Custom/Holiday+Book+of+Savings

HOLIDAY PARTY DEALS
If you are planning a party get 50% off one item at PartyCity http://hostingsource.bm23.com/14963/public/images/default_branding/pc/Welcome_50off_Email_Barcode11_5.gif?utm_source=Marketlive+Email&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Welcome+to+Party+City%21+Get+50%25+Off+Any+One+Item&utm_content=Welcome+to+Party+City%21+Your+50%25+Off+Savings&utm_campaign=EmailSignup

Every day through Christmas, Amazon will unveil a new holiday song available for free download. http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&ref_=amb_link_354706082_2&docId=1000453281

Rite Aid is offering a great deal on Holiday Candy. Buy three packages of Hershey Kisses for $6 then use buy two get one free coupon from 12/5 Sunday paper along with $1 coupon from Rite Aid Video Values to bring price down to $1 each but you will then receive a $1 UP reward to use towards your next shopping trip. http://my.adperk.com/offer/d30b50da#vo

HSN is offering a holiday deal for first time users. Save $20 off your first purchase of $40 or more. Just use promotional code 988048 when ordering. Watch HSN and call 1-800-284-7171 to order.

Learn Out Loud is offering a free download of The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens http://www.learnoutloud.com/Free-Audio-Video/Literature/European-Classics/A-Christmas-Carol/29311

Don’t forget that we have started a new month. So now is the time to go through your coupons and throw away all expired coupons but also the time to go online and load new digital coupons on your Kroger Plus Card. They have just added a $5 coupon when you buy 5 Keebler products at Kroger.com. This means that you will get a $1 off each item pair this with the mega sale and you can get Keebler Fudge Shop Cookies for 49 cents each great for a holiday party.

Take $10 off your photo gift order of $20 or more purchase at Walgreens. Enter coupon code CREATIVE at checkout thru Saturday, December 11. http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/store?tab=photo_gifts

Use coupon in 12/5 Sunday Parade for two free 5x7 HP photo greetings card.

Digital Coupon Websites
www.kroger.com www.cellfire.com www.shortcuts.com
www.upromise.com
Santa’s reindeer will be at Lexington Green Mall off Nicholasville Rd on December 11 from 10am to noon. If you are a restaurant employee bring your pay stub to get a free 4x6 picture with Santa. http://www.santalexgreen.com/

Lexington Public Library at Tates Creek Branch will have holiday storytime and craft on Saturday, December 11 starting at 11am. Ages 4 & up. Registration required call 859-231-5580.
Lexington Public Library at Beaumont Branch will have holiday fun storytime and craft on Wednesday, December 15 from 3:30-4:30pm. Ages 6-10. Registration is required just call 859-231-5570.

Join Clark County Library at 370 S. Burne Avenue in Winchester on Saturday, December 11 from 10am to 12pm to meet Santa. www.clarkbooks.org

If you know anyone in the military that you would like to have a gift pack sent to them from SCION http://www.scion.com/militarycarepackage/

Receive a $5 rebate from Real Simple Magazine when you purchase $15 of qualifying products http://www.timeinc.net/rsn/seasonofsavings/