Freecycling

One man's junk really is another man's treasure.

Freecycle.org is a fabulous website for both getting rid of perfectly useful (and even useless) things you have taking up space in your home and then filling that freed up space with the things you find that someone else no longer has use for. The ultimate goal for is to keep materials out of landfills and occasionally to keep pets out of shelters.

Each "group," which is broken down by geographic area, is run a little differently based on the preferences of the moderator, but here is a brief Freecycle 101.

You'll see two types of listings, Offer or Wanted. Pretty self explanatory.

Usually moderators want Offers to be listed like this - Offer: Box of Romance Novels 63126. Start with Offer give a brief description and end with the zip. This is so people can instantly decide if they wan to read more and if it is close enough for them to travel to pick up. More details should be given in the body of the message. People interested can respond to the message and the person offering will receive their response as an email. Sometimes, Offer-ers will give the item to the first person to respond. Other times, they will state in the message that it goes to the person who can be there soonest "earliest pickup."

Wanted messages should start with Wanted and give a description. A zip code isn't necessary, but in the message give an idea of how far you would travel to pick something up. Don't include a sob story.  Just say what you need.  Some people actually skip posts with sob stories, so while you might think you're making a great appeal, you might be costing yourself something you could have used.

Other messages you might see are PPU: lawn mower 62128 - meaning the lawn mower in 62128 has already been spoken for, but hasn't been picked up yet. ReOffer: lawn mower 62128 means the lawn mower wasn't picked up at the agreed upon time so it's up for grabs again.

Freecycle Safety
Use common sense when arranging for someone to pick up something you've offered or when you go pick something up.  Do pickups during the day. Make sure someone knows where you are going and when.  Don't take kids with you.  They're better off safe at home or school if God forbid something happens to you.  Take another adult with you.  Safety in numbers isn't just for kids.  Only pick up from outside locations.  Don't go into a strange home or building.  Don't go into neighborhoods you don't know or neighborhoods you consider dangerous.  Trust your instincts.  If you're gut tells you it's a bad idea... it is!  Your gut is telling you what your brain should know.  When someone is picking up, get their full name, phone number and address.  Consider doing a reverse search of their phone number at anywho.com.  If the phone is a landline, this will tell you who the phone number belongs to, in other words, if they are who they say they are.  Unfortunately, this won't work on cell phones.  If someone picking up doesn't want to give their address, tell them it a no deal.  There's something suspicious about someone who wants your address but won't share theirs. Remember, ultimately you're responsible for your own safety.

Beech Nut/Pampers Deal

If you're taking advantage of any of the deals on Pampers this week, be sure to clip the 5 Free 4oz Jars of Beech Nut baby food coupon in the 12/6 SS.

I have seen the 4oz jars at Schnucks, Deirbergs and Shop N Save. I have seen other Beech Nut products at other stores, but not the 4oz jars that qualify under the coupon.

If your little one no longer eats baby food, consider taking advantage of the deal and donating the jars of baby food.

Diaper & Wipes Deals Week of Dec 27

Below are all St. Louis area advertised deals on national brand diapers and wipes. Coupon match-ups are shown when they apply.

Food for Less (Sugar Creek Rd, Fenton) Prices good through 1/4/10
Huggies Wipes 32ct $1.89

Schnucks Prices good through 1/3/10
Pampers Wipes 60-77ct packages $1.99
Qualifies for $5 on next shopping visit wyb $25 PG products
$0.50/1 12/27 PG
Final price $1.49

Pampers Jumbo Packs $8.97
Qualifies for $5 on next shopping visit wyb $25 PG products
$1.50/1 11/29 PG (expires 12/31)
$2/1 12/27 PG
Final price $7.47 - 6.97

Shop N Save Prices good through 1/3/09
Pampers 56-96ct Sizes 3,4 & 5 $19.98
Qualifies for $10 on next shopping visit wyb $25 PG products
$1.50/1 11/29 PG (expires 12/31)
$2/1 12/27 PG
Final price $18.48 - $17.98

Target Prices good through 1/2/10
Pampers Get a $10 Gift Card wyb 2 of the following
92- to 140-ct. Cruisers, sizes 3-6; 160- to 180-ct. Swaddlers, sizes 1 and 2
Stack with $1.50/1 11/29 PG (expires 12/31) or $2/1 12/27 PG

Pampers Cruisers Special Purchase $35.99
Qualifies for the buy 2 get a $10 Gift Card promotion
$1.50/1 11/29 PG (expires 12/31)
$2/1 12/27 PG
Final price: $34.49 - $33.99

Toys R Us
See separate post here

Walgreens Prices good through 1/2/10
Pampers Diapers Jumbo Pack 2/$20
Earn a $3.50 RR wyb 2
$1.50/1 11/29 PG (expires 12/31) (use 2)
$2.00/1 12/27 PG (use 2)
Out of Pocket cost: $17 - $16 plus $3.50 Register Reward

All You Exclusive Coupons

All You Exclusives
$1/1 12oz or 20oz bag Starbucks Coffee
$1/1 Marie Calendars Home Style Creations
$1/1 Healthy Choice
$1/1 Stacy's Simply Naked Pita Chips
$1/1 Ore-Ida Steam & Mash Potatoes
$1/1 Tazo Tea or Tea Latte
$1.50/1 Nancy's Frozen Appetizers or Desserts
$1/1 Rimmel London Mascara
Bogo Pounce Cat Treats
$0.55/1 22oz Weight Watchers Yogurt
$3/1 Faith Hills Fragrance or Gift Set
$1/1 issue Cooking Light Magazine
$5/1 Breeze Cat Litter System
$3/1 Alpha Betic Diabetic Nutrition System
$2/1 Carvel Ice Cream Cake
$2/1 Black Diamond Stoneworks Wood or Laminate Floor Cleaning System

Toys R Us Coupons

Toys R Us has coupons available in their circular this week. They are printable here. Below is a list of coupons and any manufacturer coupon matchups.

Free $10 gift card when you buy any 2 Pampers or Huggies value boxes
Stack with the following manufacturer coupons (use 2):
Pampers $2/1 12/6 RP
Pampers $1.50/1 11/29 PG (expires 12/31)
Pampers Swaddlers $2/1 11/29 PG (expires 12/31)
Pampers $2/1 12/27 PG
Huggies $1.50/1 11/15 SS (expires 12/31)
Huggies $2/1 11/29 Parade Magazine (expires 12/31)
Huggies Pure and Natural $3/1 11/15 SS (expires 12/31)
Huggies $1.50/1 11/15 SS (expires 12/31)
Huggies $2/1 Box here (expires 12/31)
Huggies $2/1 Any here (expires 12/31)

Save $2 on All Seventh Generation, Earth’s Best or Huggies Pure and Natural packs of diapers
Stack with the following manufacturer coupons:
Huggies $3/1 11/15 SS (expires 12/31)
Seventh Generation $1/1 here
Seventh Generation $2/2 here

Save $2 on All brands of value box diaper wipes
Stack with the following manufacturer coupons:
Huggies $0.50/1 11/15 SS
Seventh Generation $1/1 here

Save $6 on Any Two Similac, Enfamil or Good Start ready-to-feed formula

Save $3 on Any Two 21.2 oz or larger powder formula
Stack with any of the following:
Similac – get 64ct pampers wipes free (use 2) 12/6 SS (can be used w/ manufacturer coupons for $off formula) (expires 12/31)
Similac - $2/1 (use 2) 11/15 SS (expires 12/31)
Similac - $5/2 12/6 SS (expires 12/31)
Good Start - $5/1 by making a pledge here
Enfagrow Premium - $5/1 (use 2) here coupons.com

Save $5 on All Tide or Dreft 40 load or larger
Tide $0.35/1 (expires 12/31) 11/29 PG
Tide - $1/2 (expires 12/31) 11/29 PG
Tide - $1/1 12/27 PG

20% off Any regular priced baby item




Note: I was having problems printing the Toys R Us coupons this afternoon. If you have problems too, please keep trying.

Walgreen's January Coupon Book

Below are the coupon's you might be interested in for your infant or toddler. You'll find these coupon books in the rack near the door with the weekly ads. You really only need one book because you can leave the coupon you want in the book and have the cashier scan it, which allows you to keep it to use later. However, I usually pick up an extra one in case I run into a cashier who insists on having the coupon. I'll keep my eyes open for coupon matchups and post them when I find them.

$5/1 Spectrum DHA Toddler Liquid 1.8 oz
$1/1 PediaSure 6 ct 8 oz each
$2/1 Humphreys Teething Strips 18 pack or Tablets 135 ct
$1/1 Little Tikes Baby Accessories
$1/1 Hyland’s Teething Tablets 125 ct

For a full list of coupons in the book, visit the post by VioletFringe at AFullCup.com.