new blog

I'm archiving this blog in my new one--Just J. Check it out at justjoshields.blogspot.com; Crazy Savers will disappear soon.

Bright Ideas Online Community - Join Now!

I can't believe I have neglected this blog the entire summer! I direct a summer camp, so that's why--it takes over my life from June until August, and then school starts back, and I teach... so September is when life calms down. I essentially took the summer off from crazy-saving, limiting my cooking to easy things I had already stocked up on (like pasta) and my purchasing to, well, Costco and fast food. I experienced what they call "coupon burnout" after several months of trying to grab every deal every week. With camp over and school finally getting settled in (on a different schedule than last year--I'm traveling between two schools each day now, yikes), I'm back into the swing of regular shopping trips, but I have seen the stress "too much saving" can cause, so I'm moderating. Just a couple stores a week, and I'm set with the things I need.

Now, the reason I chose to post today... I'm excited to share this!

Way back when, I wrote a post about the Bright Ideas Community. This is my favorite community by far. It's forum-based, and I find the topics quite interesting. It asks members for input on anything around the home--products, concepts, stores, recipes, projects, pets, deals, you name it. I have even received coupons for free products through Bright Ideas--and don't we all love free stuff? But here's the cool part--members who post at least once a month get paid $10 (either an Amazon gift code, or a Paypal payment). You can answer one simple question during the month and get your $10 at the beginning of the next month. I love this--my husband is obsessed with books, so I just send him all my Amazon codes.

I don't even remember how I got hooked up with Bright Ideas, but I wanted to tell everyone about it as soon as I joined. However, they weren't accepting new members... until now! New members have to be referred, but there is no referral link. So if you are reading this and you'd like to give just a little home-related input for $10/month, send me an email (to jnoshields@gmail.com) with your name and age (over 18 only), and I can send it along to Rikki, my moderator, who will then contact you about joining the community. Feel free to pass this on to anyone you think would enjoy the community as well!

Free Chick-Fil-A Spicy Chicken Sandwich

It has been far too long since my last post. Chalk that up to my job as a teacher and the fact that it is May. The entire month is utter insanity.


I've not been doing a lot of crazy-saving lately, though I can certainly say there are many things I haven't had to shop for in quite a while, thanks to stocking up when things were on sale. It pays off.


I wanted to pass this along while it's still good. Chick-Fil-A (one of my favorite fast-food restaurants) is coming out with a new spicy chicken sandwich, and you can reserve one free to try during its first week. 





Each restaurant is allotted a certain number of sandwiches to be reserved. Choose your local restaurant and fill in your contact info, and a link to a coupon will be emailed to you. You also have to choose the day and time frame you would like to redeem your coupon. I'm looking forward to trying this--and it's free, so it makes it that much better!

Lunchables "Field Trips For All" Promotion

Okay, this is not a freebie or a deal, and it doesn't have to do with coupons, but it's awesome nonetheless and I want to share it.

Lunchables is sponsoring a field trip giveaway to 50 classes who are nominated as deserving. Anyone age 6 and up can nominate a class, and any class in 1st-8th grade is eligible. 

I teach in a low-income area, and my students don't get too many opportunities to go on field trips outside our immediate area of the state. I did my student teaching at an award-winning school in a more "well-off" area of a larger city, and the students there were always going on trips. The fifth grade (the grade level where I student taught) took all six of its classes on a three-day, two-night trip to an amazing environmental education program at a barrier island; the program was perfectly aligned with SC standards for fifth-grade science, and the kids learned so much firsthand about ecosystems and oceans/landforms. It was an amazing experience both for them and for me. I can think of so many brilliant students at my school in the fifth grade that would be so grateful and so impacted by a trip like this, but I just don't think the funding for such a big trip is available.

There are so many students in my state alone who are currently suffering the consequences of the recession and the subsequent school budget cuts. What a trip like this would mean to them (and to their teachers) at such a time... well, I know it would be something they would never forget.

Please nominate a class you care about. If you can't think of a class, let me know if you'd like the information for the fifth-grade science class I nominated at my school. I figure multiple nominations can't hurt.

Frappuccinos Half-Price at Starbucks starting Friday

I've been absolutely terrible about posting lately. Welcome to the last month of school for a teacher! I haven't even had a good shopping run in several weeks. But the fact that my cupboards, frige, and freezer are still full definitely attests to the benefits of couponing and sale-shopping! Even though I haven't shopped in a while, I'm stocked up.


I'm breaking my hiatus to share something that's not free... but half-price isn't bad!

I love Starbucks Frappuccinos. Always have, always will. It's one of my guilty pleasures. And to celebrate the new "fraps your way" promo, May 7-16 from 3-5pm is half-price Happy Hour on all fraps. Not a coffee fan? Good news for you, too--"frap" also includes creme-based beverages in strawberry, vanilla, chai, green tea, chocolate chip, or choose any syrup flavor and they'll make it into a creme frap.


Starbucks has always offered a variety of flavors and customization options, but now they're making a big, public deal about being able to personalize your beverage--not just the flavor, but the option to have it light (for most coffee-based beverages), choose your type of milk, extra coffee or espresso, whip or no whip, drizzle or chocolate chips on top... so now ordering a Frappuccino can be just as complex as ordering any other kind of coffee! I'm reminded of Tom Hanks' great line from You've Got Mail: 

"The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what... they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino."

Spartanburg Herald-Journal Coupons 4/25

It's not a week to get too excited about in Spartanburg... of course, the released list didn't really hold anything particularly exciting, either. There were some coupons for Margaritaville products I would have liked to try, but they didn't come to S-burg. Oh, well!

SmartSource 4/25

$1 off Air Wick Aqua Mist  (exp 6/6)
$4 off Air Wick Freshmatic Compact i-Motion Starter Kit (exp 6/6)
$4 off Air Wick Scented Oil i-Motion Starter Kit  (exp 6/6)
$1 off Air Wick Scented Oil Twin Refill Pack (any 1) or any (2) single refills (exp 6/6)
$1 off Archway Brand Cookie Variety (exp 5/31)
$5 off Aveeno Ageless Vitality product  (exp 5/31)
$1 off Aveeno product (exp 5/31)
$10 Rebate wyb any Aveeno Ageless Vitality product by 5/31/10$1 off Benefiber Orange product (exp 5/22)
$1 off Benefiber product (exp 5/22)
$4 off Bufferin product, 130ct  (exp 6/20)$1 off Colgate 360 Sonic Power Toothbrush  (exp 5/15)
.75/1 Colgate Adult or Children’s Toothbrush, (exp 5/15)
.50/1 Colgate Kids Toothbrush (exp 5/15)
.50/1 Colgate Kids Toothpaste (exp 5/15)
.75/1 Colgate Total, Max White, Max Fresh or Sensitive Toothpaste, 4oz+ (exp 5/15).75/2 Dole Gel Fruit Bowls  (exp 6/30)
.75/2 Dole Fruit Bowls or Parfaits (exp 6/30)
$1 off Edwards Singles (exp 7/31)
$5/3 Ensure Shakes 6pk (exp 6/27)
$1.50 Ensure Shakes 6pk (exp 6/27)
$1 off Excedrin product, 20ct+  (exp 6/27)
$1.50 Excedrin product, 80ct+  (exp 6/27)
$2 off Gas-X Prevention (exp 7/10)
$1 off Gas-X product  (exp 7/10).55/1 Hershey’s Bliss Chocolate Bar, 1.3oz  (exp 7/25)
$1 off Hershey’s Bliss Chocolates, 8.6oz+ bag  (exp 7/25)
.50/1 Irish Spring Body Wash or any (2) Irish Spring Multbar Soap Packs, 3bar+ (exp 5/15)$1 off Jose Ole 16oz+, includes Taquitos, Mini Tacos, Mini Chimichangas, Quesadillas  (exp 6/30)$2 off LamisilAT product (exp 7/30)$1 off Maalox Advanced or Total Relief product (exp 7/10)
$2.50/2 Maalox Advanced or Total Relief product (exp 7/10)$2 off Marcal Small Steps Bath Tissue, 4-roll+ (exp 5/31) *Limit 1 coupon per person
Free Marcal Small Steps Single Roll Bath Tissue or Facial Tissue or $1 off off (exp 5/31).55/1 Mentos Gum, bottle (exp 7/31)
$1 off NoDoz product (exp 7/30).75/1 OxiClean MaxForce Gel Stick or any OxiClean Spray (exp 6/30)
$2 off OxiClean MaxForce Power Paks or Liqui-Gel (exp 6/30)
$1 off OxiClean Versatile Powder, 56oz+ (exp 6/30)
$1 off Oxydol, 50oz+  (exp 6/14)
.70/1 Palmolive Liquid Dish Soap, 20/25oz  (exp 5/15)
.75/1 Palmolive Pure + Clear or Pure + Caring Dish Soap (exp 5/15)$4 off Prevacid 24HR exp 5/22)$1.50 Red Baron Pan Pizza or Pan Pasta product  (exp 6/25)$1 off Rubbermaid Premier, Produce Saver, Lock-its, or Easy Find Lids Container or Set (exp 6/26).50/1 Speed Stick or Lady Speed Stick Antiperspirant/Deodorant,  (exp 5/15).50/1 Tabasco brand Family of Flavors product, any size/flavor (exp 6/6).55/1 off Tostitos Tortilla Chips, 9oz+ AND Tostitos Dip, 15oz+ (exp 5/26)
.60/1 Viva Paper Towels Big Roll (exp 6/6)
$1 off Wholly Guacamole or Wholly Salsa (exp 6/6)
.50/1 Yoplait Delights Yogurt Multipack (exp 6/19)
.40/6 Yoplait Yogurt Cups, Original or Light Smoothies (exp 6/19)
.50/8 Yoplait Yogurt Cups, Original or Light Smoothies (exp 6/19)$1 off Pepperidge Farm Petite Cake (exp 7/31)
$3 off Rayovac Hearing Aid Batteries, 8, 16, or 24 pk (exp 6/25)
$1 off Tyson Frozen Breaded Chicken, bag (exp 7/24)
$2 off Revlon Color Cosmetic Product (exp 5/30)
$1/2 Velveeta Shells & Cheese Cups (exp 5/25)
$1/2 Tony's Crispy Crust Pizza or Tony's Pouches Twin Pack (exp (7/31)
$2 off Similasan (exp 7/31)

Red Plum 4/25

$4 off Bausch & Lomb Alaway Anti-histamine Eye Drops (exp 6/30)
$1 off Bausch & Lomb Opcon A Eye Drops (exp 6/30)
.75/1 Bertolli Pasta Sauce (exp 5/23)
$10 off Breeze 2, Contour, Contour USB or A1C Now Selfcheck Monitor (exp 8/31)
$1 off Cheer BrightClean (exp 5/31)
$20 off Contour or Breeze 2 test Strips 50ct + (exp 8/31).75/2 Degree Men Adrenaline Series Antiperspirant & Deodorant (exp 5/23)
.75/2 Degree Men or Women Antiperspirant & Deodorant or Body Mist (exp 5/23)
$1 off Degree or Women Natureffects Antiperspirant & Deodorant or Body Mist (exp 5/23)
$1 off Dove Deodorant or Body Mist (exp 5/23)
$1 off Eucerin Hand or Body Product (exp 6/30).75/1 Folger’s Coffee, Folger’s Singles and Pods
$1 off Fungicure (exp 5/31)
$1 off Gain Detergent (exp 5/31)
$1 off Gain Fabric Enhancer (exp 5/31)$1/2 Land O’Frost Bistro Favorites (exp 7/31)
$1 off Land O’Frost Sub Sandwich Kit (exp 7/31)
.50/1 Mahatma or Water Maid Rice (exp 7/31)
.75/2 Mahatma Rice Mixes (exp 7/31)$1 off McCormick Seasoning Blend, Spice, Herb, Extract or Food Color (exp 5/23)$2 off Pedigree Dentastix Treats for Dogs (exp 6/20)
$2 off Pedigree Food for Dogs - 8.8lb Bag or larger (exp 6/6)
$1 off Pedigree Good Bites Treats for Dogs (exp 6/20)
$1/2 Pedigree Little Champions Pouch Variety Packs (exp 6/20)
$1 off Prosacea (exp 5/31)
$1 off Psoriasin (exp 5/31)
B1G1 Pure Protein Bar (exp 6/5)
$1 off Pure Protein Powder or Drink Shake (exp 6/5)
$3 off Soothe or Soothe XP (exp 6/30)
$1/2 Tropicana Pure Premium or Trop50 - 59oz or larger (exp 6/30)$1.50 Whiskas Dry Cat Food
B1G1 Whiskas Tray
$1 off Woolite Heavy Traffic (exp 7/31)
$3 off Woolite Rug Stick (exp 7/31).55/1 Sara Lee Delightful Bread, Buns or Bagels (exp 6/12)
$1 off Real Simple magazine (exp 5/21)
$1 off Land O'Frost Premium One Pound (exp 7/31)
$1 off Smooth Away or Smooth Away Vibe (exp 8/31)

Spartanburg Herald-Journal Coupons 4/18

Running super late this week. Soon I'm going to do a post on couponing burnout--those off days when you can't find the motivation! I've been feeling it a little lately. But, we press on! : )

Smart Source 4/18

.55/1 A.1. Steak Sauce or Marinade (exp 5/16)
$1 off Act Mouth Wash, 18oz+ (exp 5/31)
.40/1 Ban product (exp 6/5)
$1 off Ban Solid (exp 6/5)
$3 off Bic Flex4 Shaver 3pk, Comfort 3 Advance 4pk or Hybrid Advance Shaver  (exp 5/30)
.50/1 Birds Eye Bag or Box Vegetables, excludes Steamfresh varieties (exp 5/16)
.50/1 Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables, Rice or Pasta, bag  (exp 5/16)
$1 off Brita Multipack Filters (exp 5/30)
$4 off Brita Pour-Through or Faucet Mount System (exp 5/30)
$1 off Burt’s Bees Natural Toothpaste (exp 7/11)
$1 off Burt’s Bees Non-Lip product (exp 7/11)
$1/2 Bush’s Grillin Beans only  (exp 5/16)
.50/1 Chex Mix Bars, box  (exp 6/12)
.50/2 Chex Mix or Chex 100 Calorie Snack, 4.5oz+  (exp 6/12)
.50/1 Chocolate Cheerios Cereal, box  (exp 5/29)$2 off Claritin Non-Drowsy, 10ct+  (exp 5/16)
$5 off Claritin Non-Drowsy, 24ct+ (exp 5/16)
$7 off Claritin Non-Drowsy, 24ct+ (exp 4/25)
$2 off Claritin-D Non-Drowsy, 10ct+  (exp 5/16)
.50/1 Cottonelle Flushable Wipes, (2) 36ct Tubs or (2) 42ct Refills or (1) 72ct+ Refill (exp 5/29)
.50/1 Cottonelle Toilet Paper, any (2) 4pks or (1) 12pk+ (exp 5/29)$1 off Dole Fruit Crisp 2pk (exp 6/13)
.55/1 El Monterey Family Pack Burritos (exp 7/17)
$1 off El Monterey Taquitos (exp 7/17)
$1/12 Fancy Feast Gourmet Cat Food Elegant Medleys, 3oz cans, (exp 7/18)
$1/24 Fancy Feast Gourmet Cat Food, 3oz cans, any vareity  (exp 7/18)
.75/1 Fiber One Cereal (exp 5/29)
.50/2 Fiber One Chewy Bars, boxes  (exp 6/12)
$1.50 GoodNites Underpants, jumbo pack+  (exp 5/16)$1 off Grande Tortilla Chips  (exp 7/31)
$1.50 Green Works Laundry Detergent (exp 5/30)
.50/1 Green Works product  (exp 5/30)$1 off Hershey’s Extra Dark Chocolate Bar or Bag 3.5oz+ (exp 6/13)
B1G1 Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate or Special Dark w/ Almonds Bar 1.46oz (exp 5/30)
.50/1 Huggies Baby Wipes, 64ct+ (exp 5/15)
$1.50 Huggies Diapers (exp 5/15)
$1.50 Huggies Little Snugglers or Little Movers Diapers (exp 5/15)$2 off L’Oreal Healthy Look Haircolor  (exp 7/11)
$1 off Lea & Perrins Thick Classic Worcestershire Sauce  (exp 6/30)
$1 off Lightlife Veggie Entree  (exp 5/31)
.40/1 Nature Valley Granola Bars, box  (exp 6/12)
.50/1 Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters, bag (exp 6/12)
.75/2 Ortega products (exp 7/31).50/1 Philadelphia Cream Cheese Minis, 4pk  (exp 5/16)
$1 off Physician’s Formula Cosmetic product (exp 7/31)
$1 off Pieces Candy, 10oz+  (exp 7/18)
$1 off Pull-ups Flushable Moist Wipes  (exp 5/16)
$1.50 Pull-ups Training Pants, jumbo pack+  (exp 5/16)
$1/15 Purina Friskies Cat Food, (15) 5.5oz cans, (2) 12ct or (1) 24ct+ (exp 7/18)
$1/6 Purina Friskies Selects Adult Cat Food, (6) 5.5oz cans or (1) 12ct (exp 7/18)
.75/1 Reynolds Wrap Foil, excludes 20, 25 or 30 sq.ft  (exp 5/31).75/1 Sargento Reduced Sodium Natural Cheese, 5oz+ (exp 7/18)
.50/1 Scott Flushable Wipes, tub or refill  (exp 5/30)
$1 off Scott Naturals Bath Tissue 4+ rolls (exp 5/30)
$1 off Scott Naturals Paper Towels  6+ rolls (exp 5/30)25% off Sherwin-Williams Paints and Stains (exp 4/25)
$4 off off Sherwin-Williams CS Soft Woven 3-pk Roller Covers 9″x3/8″, (exp 4/25)
B1G1 Sherwin-Williams .4 Mil Plastic Drop Cloth 9′x12′ (exp 4/25)
$1 off Spot Shot Instant Carpet Stain & Odor Eliminator product  (exp 7/31)
$1/5 Totino’s Crisp Crust Party Pizza products (exp 7/10)
.40/2 Totino’s Rolls Snacks (exp 7/10)
.75/2 Yoplait Go-Gurt or Trix Mulitpack Yogurt  (exp 6/12)
.351 Yoplait Go-Gurt, Kids Cup Yogurt, Kids Yogurt Drink, or Trix Multipack Yogurt (exp 6/12)
.40/6 Yoplait Yogurt Cups, Whips or Yoplait smoothie (exp 6/12)
.50/1 YoPlus or YoPlus Light Yogurt 4 pk  (exp 6/12)
$4 off Zegerid OTC, 14 ct + (exp 6/13)

Get 2 Free Black & Decker LightsOut AutoSwitches Mail in Rebate

.75/1 Banquet Family Size (exp 5/30)
$1 off Marie Callender's Home-Style Creations (exp 6/15)
$1 off GE Energy Smart, Reveal or GE Edison Halogen product (exp 6/16)
$1 off Krunchers Kettle Cooked Potato Chips (exp 7/31)
.55/1 MoonPie Crunch, MoonPie, or Mini MoonPie carton (8, 10, or 12 ct) (exp 6/30)
$2 off Bio-Oil 2fl.oz. or 4.2fl.oz. (exp 6/30)

Red Plum 4/18

$3 off Acne Free Kit, Clear Skin, Sensitive Skin, Severe to Clear or sport Clear Skin Systems
$6 off Adult Zyrtec - 24 ct +.55/1 Aunt Millie’s Fiber for Life Bread
.55/1 Aunt Millie’s Hamburger or Hot Dog Buns$1 off Best Life Buttery Spread or Buttery Spray
$1 off Cesar Chewies Prime Rib Flavor
$1 off Cesar Treats
$4 off Children’s Zyrtec$1 off Del Monte Chillers Cups or Tubes
$1 off Del Monte Fruit Chillers Cups or Tubes
$1 off Dole Sensations Lemon Lime or Watermelon$5 off Facelift Wrinkle Free, Brow Patch or Youth Serum Syn-ake.75/1 Florida Crystals Sugar Product
$1 off Grain Berry Antioxidant Cereals
$1 off Grain Berry Antioxidant Snack Crackers
$1 off Grain Berry Pancake or Muffin Mix
.50/1 Grill Mates Blend, Marinade or Spice Rub
$2 off ICAPS Vitamin Formula - 10oz or twin pack.55/2 Keebler Cookies 8.5 oz +
.55/1 Keebler Sandies 9.5 oz +
$1 off L’Oreal Vive Pro Glossy Style StudioLine Styling Product
$1 off L’Oreal Vive Pro Shampoo or Conditioner
.50/1 Lawry’s Marinade
.50/1 Lawry’s spice Blend
$3 off Motrin PM
$1 off Acne Free Treatment, single non kit item
$1 off Olay Facial Moisturizer or Facial Cleanser
B1G1 Old Spice Body Wash
B1G1 Old Spice Fresh Collection Invisible Solid
$4/2 Opti-Free Solution 10oz or twin pack
$1 off Pedigree Jumbone Treats for Dogs
$1 off Pedigree Marrowbone Treats for Dogs
$2 off Purex Complete 3-in-1 Laundry Sheets - Excludes 2Load To-Go Pack
.35/1 Purex Ultra Concentrate or Natural Elements Liquid Laundry Detergent
.55/1 Purex Ultra Detergent or Classic Fabric Softener
$2 off Purina ONE Dry Cat Food$1 off Real Simple Magazine
$1 off Renuzit Pearl Scents or Super Odor Neutralizer Fine Mist Air Freshener$1 off Rimmel Lipcolour SPF 18
$1 off Rimmel Products
$2 off Smart Balance Milks$1 off Sun Crystals All Natural Sweetener
$2 off Systene Product
$1/2 Temptations Treats for Cats 2.1-3oz
$1 off Temptations Treats for Cats  2.1oz
$2 off Zyrtec Itchy Eye Drops$1 off NYC New York Color product $1.72+ (exp 5/16)$1 off NYC New York Color IndividualEyes Custom Compact or Eyeshadow Product (exp 5/16)$1/2 Hillshire Farm Smoked Sauage (exp 5/16)
$1 off Purina Yesterday's News cat litter (exp 7/18)
$2 off Nice 'n Easy hair color product (exp 5/31)