Going for Not Broke

Birthday Surprise I got a coupon via email for a $5 discount on my next order from ArtBeads.com . I recommend anyone who enjoys beading to sign up to receive offers in your email inbox, too, so that you don't miss discounts such as this. Five dollars will buy a lot of beads! (Well, seed beads ... ) Cat Food I came across this offer for a free sample of Sheba cat food at Walmart.com. I have no cat, but if I did, I'd be signing up. Dieting Atkins offers a free starter pack that includes three bars (yum), a quick start guide and calorie counter. I got mine more than a year ago and was pleasantly surprised recently to see that it still offers the deal. It's limited to one per household per year while supplies last, so I just requested a second pack.

I saw a commercial today for Kmart  that says that the store will double coupons up to a $1. I would LOVE to be able to get my coupons doubled, at any local store. Too bad we no longer have a Kmart in my area. We had one for years. In fact, my very first job was at a Kmart back in 1989. Back then, it was bustling with people, but around the time our local store shuttered for good -- probably around 2009 -- I would get the feeling I had the whole store to myself. Even though I can't benefit from the savings myself, I figured I'd pass the tip along to others.

My college roommate was the first person I knew who was a big-time couponer. One of our local grocers tripled coupons on Wednesdays, so each week in preparation, she's clip whatever she could from the Sunday papers. I can still see her sitting on the floor in our apartment literally giggling in anticipation of the savings she'd get. After her shopping trip, she'd walk in the door with four or five sacks -- the paper ones, not the plastic ones most stores use now that hold just a handful of items -- for about $15. She got a high out of it, and if I had ever been able to duplicate her success, I probably would've, too, but I never could. What got me was that she would buy things like coffee and dog food, just because she had a coupon, while neither of us was a coffee drinker and we had no dog. She would give those items to other people she knew who could use it, but I never understood being able to get any kind of savings out of buying stuff you don't need. ...

My browser screen is only so big, and rarely do I ever scroll down from the landing page when I visit a store's page, so it's quite possible that the rest of the world -- or at least those who do bother to scroll down -- already know that Target has extra coupons posted on its website. Customers can find and print coupons in lots of categories, including baby items and supplies -- right now, there is a coupon for 20 percent off Carter clothing -- health and beauty, entertainment, grocery, furniture and other departments.