$10/$50 Cabelas - Anchorage Opening 4/10

I saw this & it may be of interest to some of you.  I am not a hunter or fisher, but Cabelas is amazing!

Flying Frugally

Frugally Flying

So, you are ready to book your family vacation.  You hop online, find the cheapest fare for your travel dates, and book.  Think you’ve gotten the best deal even though you’ve searched every rate online?  Maybe not!  Here are some helpful hints to consider.

Committing to the ticket

There are many places to find  ticket prices online.  You can book directly with the airline site or use comparison websites like www.kayak.com or http://www.orbitz.com/.  Each site has its won unique features and options.  I will not review all of those here.  Just be aware there are many places to search for rates and then factor in all my other hints.

My personal preferred method after working in the hospitality industry is using the comparison sites to find a great price and then booking directly with the airline.  Sometimes booking with broker sites such as Expedia makes it harder when you have to make a change to the reservations.  They may charge change fees or give you a hard time if you have to cancel a flight.  I just find it personally easier to deal with the companies directly.

Found the cheapest rate?  Don’t book it yet!!!  You need  to consider these factors:

Your dates: 

Try to be a day or 2 flexible with your flying dates if you can.  Rates for each day of the week can be different.  Typically, midweek (Tuesday – Thursday) will be cheaper.  More business class folks fly on the other days.

Here is an example for a search I did for Tickets from Baltimore to Anchorage:

Sunday: $724

Monday: $688

Thursday $650

So, if you are flexible with your date dates, you can save a few bucks.

Also, some websites may offer a price guarantee.  If the ticket goes on sale for a lower price, they will refund that money.  Make sure you take advantage of that offer if your method of booking offers it.

Your airport: 

Depending on the area you are flying in and out of, you may have airport options.  I live near Philadelphia and Baltimore, so I always get prices for departures from each airport.  There can be a hundred dollar difference between the two cities.  Make sure you consider this for both departure and arrival cities!

For my example again on a Thursday:

Baltimore: $650

Philadelphia: $604

So, if we can fly from Philly on a Thursday instead of Baltimore on a Sunday, that is $120 dollars saved on ticket price

Luggage

Luggage is the huge hidden price that can get you.  This is one of the main factors that you need to consider before you simply pick the cheapest ticket price.  Since airline policies change so readily (just heard one today for United Airlines), I will not list the current policies here.  Just know you should check them out before you book.

I am flying in May.  My mother in law booked us the cheapest flight from Philadelphia to Montana.  She did not factor in the rate to check baggage on this airline.  There are 3 of us flying – My husband, 16 month old daughter and I.  I am thinking we will need to check 2 -3 bags.  That will cost us $60 each way.  $120 in hidden fees!  Perhaps an airline that does not charge for baggage would have been a cheaper option for us.

If you are flying with small kiddos, it is good to know each airline’s policies on children, especially under 2 years.  Many children under age 2 may ride for free if it is on the parent’s lap.  Some companies may even let you check car seats and/or bassinets for free. Diaper bags may also be checked for free.  It is important to factor these things in when flying with children.  It can save you money on renting this gear at your destination.

Other factors:

Always sign up for the frequent flyer programs.  You may not regularly fly, but airline miles can rack up.  Many Frequent Flyer Programs have additional ways you can earn miles.  For example, Safeway in Alaska offers miles for Alaska Airlines.  You can earn airway miles and get more bang for your grocery buck.

You may want to know what amenities your flights offer.  Will dinner be served or will you have to buy something at the airport and bring it on board?  Wil you have to pay for movies or other in flight entertainment?  These are small factors, but may add to the price of your trip.

This is just the first in a series of articles I plan to compose about traveling cheaply.  If you have any ideas that I can add or any topic suggestions, please let me know.

Target Mobile Coupons - STORETRIP

There is a new code to text to Target.  Just text STORETRIP to 827438 for the following coupons:

• $2 off Fresh fruit purchase of $5 or more
• $1/1 Market Pantry frozen chicken item
• $2 off Deli Purchase of $5 or more
• $1/2 Simply Balanced chips
• $1/2 Archer Farms salsas or dips
• $1/2 Market Pantry crackers (excludes single-serving size)
• $1/2 Market Pantry apple juices (64 oz or larger)
• $1/3 Market Pantry cheeses (exclude single-serve or stacking cheese)
• $.50/2 Market Pantry canned vegetables or fruits

Mobile coupons can be redeemed once for each item.  (The rest of the coupons on the link are valid after you use others!)  These coupons can be combined with both Manufacturer and Cartwheel savings.

Other active codes include:
OFFERS - Reoccurring standard offers.
BABY - Reoccurring standard baby offers. 
CLEAN - EXP 9/7/14
SPRING - EXP 4/23/14
THANKS - EXP 4/23/14
DECORATE - EXP 3/22/14
STORETRIP - EXP 4/5/14
APPAREL - EXP 3/22
PETS1 - EXP 3/22

Thanks to WUC for a heads up on the new code!

***When I first tried getting Target Mobile Qs, I wasn't receiving them. I had to call GCI and get them to allow the texts. Companies like this are sometimes marked as spam. It was a quick call to GCI customer service to allow them.

Carrs Coupon Match Ups: 3/19 - 3/25

Another skinny weeks for sales at Carrs this week.  I think I am only excited for California Pizza Kitchen....

$5 Fridays

(Make sure to check out the full Ad.  I am omitting Safeway brand items and items for which there are no coupons from my list!)

California Pizza Kitchen 13.4-17 oz - $5.00

$1.50/1 California Pizza Kitchen Frozen Pizza printable
Final Price: $3.50 each

Charmin Bath Tissue or Bounty Towels 8 Roll or 6 Roll - $5.00

$0.25/1 Charmin Product, exp. 3/31/14 (P&G 03/02/14)
$0.25/1 Bounty Napkins or Towels, exp. 3/31/14 (P&G 03/02/14)
Final Price: $4.75 each

Fruit by the Foot Fruit Snacks 4.5-5.4 oz - 2/$5.00 (Or $2.50 each)

$0.50/2 Betty Crocker Fruit Shapes, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers or Fruit Roll-Ups printable
$0.60/2 Betty Crocker Fruit Shapes, Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups, Fruit Flavored Snacks, Ocean Spray Fruit Flavored Snacks, Mott's Fruit Flavored Snacks, Sunkist Fruit Flavored Snacks or Fiber One Fruit flavored Snacks printable
$0.50/2 Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks, exp. 5/10/14 (SS 03/16/14) 

Final Price: $2.20 each WYB2

Milk Bone Biscuits or Pup Peroni Dog Treats 18-24 oz or 5.6 oz - 2/$5.00 (Or $2.50 each)

$1/2 Milk-Bone Original Medium Biscuits, exp. 4/6/14 (RP 02/09/14)
Final Price: $2.00 each wyb 2

Fresh Express or Safeway Farms Family Size Salads 10 oz - 2/$5.00 (Or $2.50 each)

$1.50/2 Fresh Express Bags, exp. 3/31/14 (SS 01/05/14 #2)
Final Price: $1.75 each wyb 2

Coca Cola 6 pack 16.9 oz bottles - $2.50 each (Limit 6)

*There is a tooth paste deal.  It works out being $2 per tube.  Never pay that much for toothpaste!!!!

All Week:

Green Giant or Birds Eye Steamfresh Frozen Vegetables 7-10 oz or 10.8 oz - $1.49 With In-Ad Coupon (Limit 4)

$0.60/3 Green Giant Frozen Boxed Vegetables, exp. 3/29/14 (SS 01/05/14 #3)
Final Price: $1.29 each wyb 3 Green Giant

Garnier Fructis or Herbal Essences Hair Care 10.1-13 oz or 5-8.5 oz - $3.00

$1/1 Garnier Fructis Style Product, exp. 3/29/14 (RP 02/02/14)
$2/1 Garnier Shampoo, Conditioner, Treatment or Style Product, exp. 4/12/14 (RP 03/02/14 R)
$3/2 Herbal Essences Shampoo, Conditioner or Styling Product, exp. 4/30/14 (SS 03/09/14)
$15/$50 MIR P&G Beauty Product Purchase, exp. 4/30/14 Mail-in Rebate
Final Price: As low as $1 WYB Garnier Shampoo

All Detergent - 100oz - $6 Each

$2/2 All Laundry Detergent, exp. 3/23/14 (RP 02/09/14)
$2/2 All Product, exp. 4/13/14 (RP 03/02/14)
Final Price: $5.00 WYB 2

(May be a Check 51 Deposit Available if it renews!)

Possible Good Deal on Dial at Fred Meyer Through 3/22 - Ala 75 cents each

I love it when I can triple stack deals!  This week there is an okay deal with Dial when you combine Discounts.

This week:

Dial, Tone or Right Guard Body Wash - 3.50
In store Manufactuer Coupon: $2/2
Final: $2.50 each

Rebates:

Save $5.00 when you spend $15.00 on any Henkel® Personal Care Products including all Dial®, Tone® and Right Guard® Body Wash

(This total is pre-manufactuer coupons!)

 IBotta Deposit: $1/1 Dial Bar Soap 6 ct pack or larger 
Ibotta Deposit: $1/1 Dial Body Wash 11.75 oz or larger 
Ibotta Deposit: $0.50 When you redeem the two above Dial offers 

Deal Idea: 
Buy 4 Dial, Tone or Right Guard Body Wash - any combo, but must buy 1 Dial Body & 1 Dial 6 pack Soap = $14 
Buy 1 dial Hand Soap (price varies - Try Hello Kitty Kids soap with in store coupon) = Around $1.25 (I'll update firm price when I do the deal tomorrow!) 
Total: 15.25 
Use two $2/2
In store MQ for Dial 
Pay: 11.25ish 
Submit For: $2.50 total in Ibotta Deposits
$5 will be added to your Savingstar Account 
Final: $3.75ish or about 75 cents each!

 Buying milk this week? If you do the above deal & submit that receipt to Ibotta as well as a Milk receipt, you'll earn $0.50 for the milk and another $0.50 rebate for redeeming milk & two other offers. Score!

 New to Savingstar? Savingstar is a simple rebate type program. In Alaska, it is only valid at Fred Meyer. Basically, you register your Fred Meyer card & load offers. After you buy the specified items, Savingstar will add those funds to your account. You can cash that money out for Paypal, Amazon, Starbucks, and other great offers. I've been able to save lots of additional money with Savingstar.

Ibotta works similairly, but its a little more work.  You download the App on your phone.  Do simple tasks to activate offers.  Buy the items.  Upload the reciepts.  The money is deposited into an account that you can cash out for Paypal or Amazon.  Love it!

Some Decent Target Deals & Matchups (3/16 -3/22)

A little late, but here are some Okay deals for this week at Target:

Downy Unstopables - $9.99 - Buy 3 get a $10 Gift Card
Idea:
Buy 3 Downy Unstopables -29.97
Use (3) $1/1 Unstopables Target Q - $3.00
Use (3) $1/1 Unstopables MQ IP (zip 77477) - $3.00

5% Cartwheel on the Unstopables - $1.50

Pay: $22.47, Get $10 GC back

Final: $4.16 Each WYB 3  (I love this stuff!)

Cheez-It Grooves - $2.69

Pay: 2.69

Submit or $0.75 Ibotta Rebate

Final: $1.94 After Rebate

Buy 2 DiGiorno Multi-Serve Pizza $14.42 (PC thru 4/19)
-$2 off two DiGiorno Pizzas 14-oz. + Target Coupon x4/2
-$.72 (use 5% Off DiGiorno Pizza Target Cartwheel x4/5-$2.00 off any TWO (2) large DIGIORNO pizzas
= $9.70 for 2 or $4.85 each

Thanks to Totally Target & WUC for heads up on some of the deals!

Enter for a Chance to Win a Set of Tires From Midas Alaska

Head on over to the Midas Alaska Facebook Page.  Make sure you like them.

Look for the post with the above picture.  Like the post and you are entered.  Easy Peasy!