Posted by Erin Gifford of Coupon Cravings.

In today’s economy, more and more people are hitting the web in a daily quest to save money. Here are a few not-to-be-missed sites for money-saving coupons.

Printable Coupon Sites: These sites, including Coupons.com and SmartSource.com, let you print out grocery coupons to use wherever you shop for groceries.

Brand Web Sites: Frequent the web sites of your favorite brands, like Colgate.com, and Pillsbury.com, to find money-saving printable coupons right on the sites.

Loadable Coupon Sites: The newest trend is grocery coupons that can be loaded right onto your store loyalty cards (no printing required!). Check out Shortcuts.com or a store-specific site like Kroger.com.

Deal Forums: There are a variety of deal-discussion communities where members share the latest coupons for grocery and retail store. Head to HotCouponWorld.com and Spoofee.com.

Coupon Code Aggregators: Several online sites aggregate coupon codes for free shipping and percent-discounts, like Rather-Be-Shopping and CouponCabin.

You can read more here to get the full scoop on finding coupons online.

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I don’t know about you, but I take snack time very seriously. It’s not always easy to find something tasty and healthy that doesn’t leave me hungry 10 minutes later—and the office vending machine full of salty and sugary treats sure doesn’t help! So what’s a girl to do? Personally, I keep a stash of snacks in my desk drawer. My two current favorites are Lara Bars and Raw Revolution bars. Both are chock-full of healthy ingredients, like nuts and dried fruits, and neither has artificial sweeteners, high-fructose corn syrup or anything I can’t pronounce. Some might balk at the amount of calories and fat in these bars (Lara Bars have around 200 calories and 8g fat; Raw Revolution have around 200 calories and 10g fat for the 1.6-oz bars and around 270 calories and 15g fat for the 2.2 oz. bars), but 1 Lara bar has a full serving of fruit, and both brands are good sources of fiber. Plus, the fats in these bars are heart healthy, and both are truly satisfying. And with flavors like Cherry Pie, Chocolate Coconut and Gingersnap (Lara) or Raisin & Chocolate, Tropical Mango and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (Raw Revolution), your sweet tooth will be happily silenced. Give them a try!
Posted by Beth Lipton, Food Editor

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Is it just me, or does it seem like there have been a lot of food recalls in the last few months? I find it hard to keep up sometimes, between all the health studies and other stories about food out there. If you’re feeling nervous or uncertain about what you’ve heard on the news or from a friend, click on recalls.gov. This site lists recent product recalls in consumer products; food, medicine and cosmetics;  meat and poultry products and more, as listed by government agencies such as the FDA and USDA. Don’t listen to rumors: Get the facts!

Posted by Beth Lipton, Food Editor

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Posted by Erin Gifford of Coupon Cravings.

It’s tough to hit the mall with sky-high gas prices and a stroller to maneuver, so I’ll be shopping online this year to make most of my back-to-school purchases. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before you kick your online shopping into high-gear.

* Check Out Shipping Charges First: Look for free shipping or at the very least flat-rate shipping right at the start.

* Shop at “Cash Back” Sites: Check out Big Crumbs or Ebates to get cash back every time you shop any one of hundreds of online stores.

* Compare Prices: Sites like Shopping.com and PriceGrabber.com let you easily compare prices across the web.

* Never Shop Without a Coupon Code: Visit a coupon code aggregator site like RetailMeNot.com for the latest promo codes or simply Google “coupon code” and the store you plan to shop at.

* Take Advantage of Price Protection Polices: Many retailers have not-very-well-advertised “price protection” policies. Track the prices of your purchased items at PriceProtectr.com to get money back if the price goes down within 30 days.

You can read more here to get the full scoop on saving while online shopping.

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L.L. Bean’s Thursday morning markdown is bathing suits. Stock up on suits for next year, or get in a few wears before the end of summer.  Some bathing suits as low as $13. Prices are only good while supplies last.
Posted by Dwyer Paulsen, Associate Editor

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Pottery Barn’s biggest sale of the year is on now. Prices are slashed by as much as 75 percent on items ranging from furniture to lighting. Check out these great finds all for under $10.

Ikat pillow cover

Chainlink Vinyl Curtain Shower

Colored Candlepots

Office Accessories

Glass Fish Platter

Regatta Melamine Appetizer Plates

Posted by Dwyer Paulsen, Associate Editor

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Throwing an end of summer party? Stock up on the new Martha Stewart crafts at WalMart. Use lovely lights on a covered patio or hang paper lanterns in your trees. You can even send guests home with favor boxes filled with summer favorites like salt water taffy or brightly colored jellybeans. And to top it off shipping is only 97 cents!

Posted by Dwyer Paulsen, associate editor

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Don’t let spills or rips ruin your look when you’re on the go. You can fix style snags in a flash and tackle fashion disasters with this easy-to-assemble kit. Store these lifesavers in a clear cosmetics bag; then stash it in your purse or car glove compartment. (There’s links to buy all the products, but because of shipping fees, you’re probably better off picking these up at your local store.)

Stain remover towelette: Make splatters disappear. Wherever you’re eating, you can dab the stain away with these handy towelettes.

Lip balm: It’s not just good for chapped lips. Use it to groom brows in a pinch.

Read the rest of this entry »

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It’s never a good time to have to replace a major appliance. Suddenly needing a new refrigerator will always put a crimp in your budget plans. But, if your appliances are old, they’re drawing way more power than newer models that are Energy Star approved. For example, an Energy Star qualified refrigerator will use about half as much energy as a model built before 1993, saving you around $65 a year. Plus, you’re conserving energy and helping the environment. Energy Star is not a commercial venture; it’s a joint program between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. According to their web site, with the help of Energy Star, Americans saved enough energy in 2007 to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 27 million cars. Go to their web site to learn more about energy-efficient appliances, as well as possible tax credits you can earn by using Energy Star products.

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Posted by Erin Gifford of Coupon Cravings.

There’s free pet food all around today, including Mighty Dog, Meow Mix and Friskies! Don’t have a dog or cat? Visit Pets 911 and type in your zip code to find the closest animal shelter or rescue organization that could use freebies. Or, donate the food to your local food pantry. This is another great way to help out pet owners in need.

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