Sign up for the LOULOU Shop 'Til You Drop event (Toronto, Montreal, Burnaby)

LouLou and MasterCard team up annually for the "Shop 'Til You Drop" shopping extravaganza event and exclusive contest to win a shopping spree plus other fabulous prizes. It's one night of spectacular savings plus exclusive deals for MasterCard holders.

This year there are 3 venues, including: Toronto, ON on September 21st; Montreal, QC on September 22; and Burnaby, BC on October 6. But you don't have to wait until then to save, the Nationwide exclusive offers begin on August 17th.

VIP Shopping Days Nationwide exclusive deals for Mastercard holders include:

• Save 30% off at Cake Beauty,  when you pay with MasterCard, valid August 26 to Sept 2, 2011
• Save 25% off at Foxy Originals, when you pay with MasterCard, valid Sept 2-23, 2011
• Save 20% off French Connection, when you pay with MasterCard, valid Sept 9-16, 2011
• Save 30% off Espirit (in-store), when you pay with MasterCard, valid Sept 16-23, 2011
• Save 25% off Fruits & Passion Eaux de Toilette (in-store), when you pay with MasterCard, valid Sept 23 to Oct 9, 2011

When you sign up and attend the Shop Til You Drop shopping night, you'll enjoy bonus experiences and VIP activities as a MasterCard cardholder. Such as: free valet parking, gift with purchase, fashion consultations, personalized fashion illustration, an after-party too and more!


RSVP now at ShopDropLouLou.ca

Rexall Pharmacies Coupon Acceptance Policy - February 2011

Rexall Pharma Plus is another great store to rack up lots of bonus Air Miles reward miles and they were high on our list of stores to contact for their coupon acceptance policy. This coupon acceptance policy covers all Rexall brand of pharmacies, where some do not accept the Air Miles Rewards Card.

Here's the reply to our query:

Firstly, I wanted to thank you for writing to us here at Rexall head office, as your comments and inquiries are highly valued.


Secondly, to respond to your inquiry, yes Rexall-Pharmaplus locations do indeed accept various types of coupons. The main two types accepted at almost all locations are :

1) manufacturer coupons(i.e. a coupon for an externally vended product such as Coca Cola) or 2) flyer/store related coupons(ie. coupons which can be found in our weekly paper or e-flyer). Whereas the use of flyer coupons are accepted at all locations, the acceptance of manufacturer coupons varies upon store location.

Store coupons are available regularly in our paper flyer, e-flyer, or coupon books, which are available at www.rexall.ca or at any Rexall-Pharmaplus location. In addition to this coupons may not be used in conjunction with one another or in conjunction with any current promotion or sale prices.

If you had any additional questions or concerns regarding these policies, please feel free to call out help desk back at 1-877-378-4100.

I hope this helped answer your questions.

All the best,

Sean

Rexall family of pharmacies

Customer Service

Another simple and easy to understand coupon acceptance policy. Personally, I would like to see more stores accepting the manufacturer coupons. Perhaps more manufacturers need to start using security seals on their coupons so that store clerks know they are real and companies do not fear that they won't be reimbursed. Thanks Rexall for having a coupon acceptance policy in place.

Metro Grocery Stores in Ontario - Coupon Acceptance Policy - February 2011

Since Metro offers the highly sought after Air Miles, we decided to contact this grocery chain next for their coupon acceptance policy. This is valid at Ontario store locations only.

It's short and to the point but doesn't offer nearly as many redemption offers at London Drugs does.

Here's the reply to our contact message:

Thank you for your e-mail.

We accept only one valid coupon on the item purchased. The one coupon redeemed is not valid with any other offer.

We accept coupons issued by our Company and printed from our Company website http://www.metro.ca/ - Ontario. We also accept coupons (which feature our Company logo) for specific offers from http://www.airmiles.ca/ for Bonus Air Miles Reward Miles for our participating Metro Stores.

We do not accept coupons that are printed from the internet from any other websites.

Regards,
Metro Customer Care

There is a new Facebook page for fans to print coupons for Metro Ontario stores as well which came off of one of their newsletters, so hopefully they are included in the above policy.

When Metro (Ontario stores) were still A&P, the coupon policy was much better...allowing for a wider range of coupons to be used. It would be nice for Metro to reconsider other manufacturer coupons that are requested off the Internet, such as Brandsaver.ca, Save.ca and Websaver.ca.

London Drugs Coupon Acceptance Policy - February 2011

With more and more consumers using coupons to make ends meet, we thought we would round up some coupon acceptance policies to help consumers easily identify where they can and cannot use coupons.
The first store on our list was London Drugs in Western Canada, located in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Check the store locator for a location near you.

We contacted London Drugs and this is their reply:

Thank you for your inquiry.

Our policy is as follows:

We do not price match with retailers who require you to have a club card.

The following coupons may be accepted at London Drugs:

 *  Manufacturer's standard coupons
 *  Manufacturer's coupons exclusive to London Drugs
 *  London Drugs issued coupons

Number of coupons accepted:

* More than one coupon may be accepted for a product, if each coupon comes from a different media source and has different UPC codes. The different media sources may include coupons from a newspaper, magazine, internet (maximum of $3 & only one accepted per visit), bottle caps or in-store manufacturer's exclusive coupons.
* Upon redemption of a manufacturer's coupon, applicable taxes apply to the full selling price of the item.  Upon redemption of a retail issued coupon, applicable taxes apply to the net amount of the item.
* If the coupon states taxes included, the manufacturer is meaning, taxes are included in the value of the coupon. Therefore, the customer is still responsible for paying the taxes on the product.

Coupon Acceptance; the following requirements have to be met:

*   Expiry date has not been exceeded
*   Redeemable in Canada
*   The product named on the coupon has been purchased.
*   The size and/or flavor of the item, as stated on the coupon, have been purchased.
*   The required number of items has been purchased.
*   In regards to buy 1 get 1 free, coupons can be used on the item being purchased but coupons can not be used on the free item.

Any coupons you print off your computer, are considered internet coupons and only one will be accepted.

Price Matching Policy

It is required that the retailer be within the market area, have a flyer with the pertinent information from the competitor, must be the exact item (model # etc) the retailer must have stock available of the product. A call will be made to verify stock. We are only required to price match one item at that price, anything over that is at the discretion of Management.  We do not price match prescriptions, one hour photo finishing and internet pricing.

Sincerely,
Lynn
Customer Service Administrator
London Drugs Limited

It's great when companies have addressed the areas of concern and need of their customers. London Drugs has a very fair coupon policy that it is well written and easy for consumers to understand. Thanks London Drugs for taking the time to reply to our query and for developing such a clear cut policy. :)

For our Canadian Coupon Club members who shop at London Drugs, print this out and keep it with your coupons just in case you need to refer to it when shopping! Hope this helps! Have fun saving money!

Reducing your Expenses even Further!! Making your money count!!

We've been offering suggestions for saving money, reducing expenses and making some extra cash to help people fly through the recession with little turbulence. We have more ideas that may help those struggling or juggling!

1. Take advantage of the newly introduced TFSA (tax-free savings account). Keep your interest earnings sheltered from taxes. Even if you only have a little savings account, keep your money by earning interest tax-free. There's a maximum deposit amount of $5000 per year per person.
2. Stop wasting food and get creative with leftovers. Meats can be used in fajitas, burritos, wraps, pitas, quesadillas or as pizza toppings. Vegetables can be used in salads, dips, quiches, omelets, soups, can be barbecued, grilled or used in the slow cooker. Extra breads (unbuttered) can be used for croutons, bread puddings or in French onion soup. Extra pasta can be turned into a pasta salad. Leftover wine can be frozen in cubes and later used in sauces, gravies and marinades or for simmering foods in. Leftover rice can be put into soups or in rice pudding.
3. Plan meals around foods that are currently in season. In-season foods cost less because they don't have to be transported from other locales.
4. Ask stores for a discount. My friend always asks "Is there anything free today?" and surprisingly enough at least 75% of the time my friend gets something thrown into the purchase or is given a discount. For the other 25% that he is turned down, it never hurt him to ask. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!
5. Buying store brands can be helpful in reducing costs, but be careful, some prices can be higher than brand names products. Store brands are comparable in quality but easier on the wallet.
6. Car pool to work with co-workers. Ride a bicycle to extra curricular events. Walk to the store instead of driving you car. Look for ways to reduce your car use and save a bundle of cash.
7. Baking soda and white vinegar are great natural cleaners and are less costly than using store purchased cleaning products. Make your cleaning products for pennies at home and reduce your grocery bill each year by hundreds!
8. Use reusable grocery bags to avoid store fees for plastic bags and get a possible discount for using the bag, depending on the store where you shop.
9. Use travel mugs at Starbucks or Tim Hortons and your coffee price is reduced by 10 cents. It doesn't sound like much for 1 coffee but how about 1 coffee every day for a year, and you've saved $36.50, 2 coffees every day is $73.00 savings each year! Plus as an added bonus, you're helping to reduce extra waste in the environment.

There's many ways to help you reduce your cost of living, stretch your dollar and live more frugally; we'll cover more ideas and tips again.

More Ways to Help You Cut Your Expenses and Put Money Back Into Your Pocket!

Here's more money-saving tips to help you find hidden cash when it's needed most. Don't let hard times bring you down, implement some practical tips to help carry you through financially difficult times.

1. Don't go shopping with friends who overspend or generally spend more that you do, as it may influence you to spend more than you intended to.
2. If you have kids, when travelling choose hotels and resorts which offer free stays for children. As well as restaurants which offer free meals to kids under a set age. These strategies can significantly reduce the total cost of your trip.
3. If you have pets, bathe and groom them yourself. You know how to do it for yourself, so do it for your pets and save yourself a bundle of money.
4. Control and monitor your daily spending habits. Put yourself on a weekly allowance and stick to it. If you are reaching your limit often, check your recipts and see what spending habits you can eliminate.
5. You can save hundreds of dollars by raising your insurance deductibles for automobile, tenant or homeowner's insurance policies.
6. Scrutinize all store receipts and all incoming bills to ensure accuracry. Mistakes do happen and can be fixed if found promptly.
7. Take advantage of the 'Pay What You Want' restaurants popping up in Canada.
8. If you enjoy reading magazines but find they are too expensive to subscribe to then start magazine sharing in your community to swap with others. Another option is to read free online versions of magazines.
9. Instead of going to the movies or renting them check your local library for DVD movies. Why pay when you can borrow it for free?
10. If you are a senior, ask the places where you spend money if they offer a discount. Check your bank, insurance companies, pharmacy, restaurants, malls, cinemas, recreation centres or other places you make purchases from.

Please leave a comment with your suggestions for lowering expenses, I'd like to hear your ideas and tips!

More tips for cutting your expenses and saving your money

There's a vast array of innovative and conventional ways of saving money and reducing your expenses. I'll continue to share ideas and tips that I have over the next week or so. I would like to hear what you think of these ideas, plus any tips that you may have.

1. Know your prices and watch your purchases being scanned. If the price scans higher than the marked price, take advantage of SCOP if it applies to the store you are shopping at. (More info on SCOP - Scanning Code of Practice - If the scanned price of a non-price ticketed item is higher than the shelf price or any other displayed price, the customer is entitled to receive the first item free, up to a $10 maximum).
2. Coupons are a great way to save money, but smart shoppers know that you can often get the same item for cheaper without a coupon if you buy generic brands. Always check the prices of competing brands to see if you can beat the couponed price.
3. Make your own baby food. Prepackaged baby foods are certainly convenient but not without cost. Learn more about making baby foods from Wholesome Baby Food and save some of your hard earned money.
4. Send away for manufacturer rebates; except when the cost of postage outweighs the rebate savings.
5. Buy clothing at consignment shops. You can get designer and brand name clothing at a fraction of the MSRP (manufacturer's suggested retail price). Often clothing found at consignments shops are still new with tags. Alternatively, you could take advantage of consignment shops by offering clothing items that you don't wear to them to sell. Perhaps you could make some extra dollars and lighten your closet load at the same time!
6. Sign up for the mailing lists of the stores where you shop. They will send you advance information of sales and special promotions. If they do not have an online site, ask the cashier of your favourite stores.
7. Replace a broken or lost button promptly. It just takes one lost button to put a piece of clothing out of commission. Which in turn could lead to spending money that you cannot afford. All you need is a small touch up sewing kit for button repairs.
8. Make a list and stick to it when shopping. Resist the temptation to impulse buy. A list will allow you to pick up the items you need systematically and help you avoid the aimless wandering around the store looking at everything they have to offer.
9. If you enjoy burning candles, an easy trick to make them last longer and cost you less over the long-run is to freeze them before burning.
10. Bank your savings! When you buy something on sale, use a cents off coupon or a free product coupon; take the money you saved and bank it! Take advantage of a tax-free savings account (TFSA) to maximize and shelter your savings from tax.

NOTE: Scanning Code of Practice is voluntary and has over 5,000 retailers across Canada participating in the Scanner Price Accuracy Voluntary Code endorsed by the Competition Bureau.

PLUS...don't forget to check out the first 10 cost cutting suggestions.

Canadians can save loads of money using coupons!

Many of my friends have told me that they DO NOT use coupons. My only question to them is WHY NOT? Some people just don't realize the savings potential that using just cents off coupons will benefit them. Now add in free product coupons and your savings could amount to hundreds of dollars each year!

To make your savings mean even more from these coupon redemption purchases, try to bank the money you've saved for a large future purchase. Such as a vacation, down payment on a home, etc.

I faithfully use coupons ONLY for products I would normaly purchase or for new products I want to try out. Don't buy items just because you have a coupon, that defeats the purpose of saving money.

There's many ways to obtain coupons to help save you money. Here's where I go to get my coupons:

1. P & G offers manufacturer coupons several times per year at http://www.brandsaver.com/. The next offering date is April 4/09.


2. Save.ca is a great place for money off coupons and free product coupons from manufacturers. You just order them online at http://www.save.ca/ and they mail your coupons to your home within a couple of days.
   
3. The Healthy Shopper is a cool website for getting printable coupons for Health Food and Natural Products. Sign up at http://www.thehealthyshopper.ca/ and then start printing the coupons for products that you consume.
   
4. Shoppers Drug Mart has many bonus Optimum Points offers which you print coupons and redeem with purchase. View offers at Freebies Deals And Rewards.
   
5. Here's another website offering printable coupons for Canadians http://www.saveumoney.ca/.
   
6. Offline you can get coupons on product shelves, in magazines and newspapers, via admail, through Smart Source or Shop & Save Coupon Flyers, on or inside product packaging.

Another way to get coupons is to request from companies via telephone or email; also visit their websites to see if they have any coupon offers or special promotions posted.

I ALWAYS make a habit of making a list before going shopping and seeing if I have coupons for the items I wish to purchase. When buying online, I search for a coupon code first. Remember to put the money away that you've saved to be a true SAVER!

Where do you find coupons and what do you do with the money you save? Please leave your comments, we love to hear from you!

Trying to Cut Costs? Learn Ways to Lower Your Expenses!

During difficult times you shouldn't agonize about money rather you need to economize! If you're like most people, you're probably looking for ways to trim your expenses and reduce overall spending. Every week I'll be sharing the ideas I have for saving money and I'd like to hear what strategies you use to reduce spending habits.

1. Need string to tie up the plants in this year's garden? Cut unwearable pantyhose into strips and voila! you have string.
2. Don't toss that old pair of oven mitts just yet; recycle them into gardening gloves to use when working with thorns and other prickly plants.
3. Make sure that you're receiving interest on your security deposit and/or last month's rent deposit if you rent a home. It's not a lot of money but you're entitled to it, so when you get it, put it in a tax-free savings account.
4. Plant trees to save energy which in turn will save you money. If you plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your home, they will provide necessary shade in the summer and in the winter allow the sun to shine through.
5. Use a toaster oven or convection oven rather than a traditional oven to save energy and money on your electricity bill over the long term.
6. Install water saver shower heads. Some municipalities even offer free kits on occasion.
7. Wrap your hot water heater; you will see that your heating bills will be lower.
8. Don't let that tap drip. Fix dripping faucets immediately, especially if it's dripping hot water.
9. Install a programmable thermostat to automatically adjust temperature settings when you're away from the house or sleeping. This is easy to do yourself and the savings can be dramatic
10. Don't use directory assistance with your local telephone company; use Google 411. Call 1-800-GOOG-411.

Please leave me a comment with your suggestions to keeping more dollars in your pocket. Be sure to return soon for more cost cutting ideas!

Save Money with These Fuel Economy and Fuel Reduction Tips

Find a variety of fuel saving and fuel reducing tips from Canadian Tire and Part Source here.

These easy auto tips can help reduce your fuel costs and stretch your dollar further!

Contributed by sandy at Freebies Deals And Rewards forums:
http://freebiesdealsandrewards.com/forum/showthread.php?t=782

Visitng Orlando Florida? Get an Orlando Preferred Visitor Magicard - Discount Savings VIP Card

The Orlando Preferred Visitor Magicard offers great savings on a variety of area attractions, accommodations, restaurants and shops.

So make your next visit to Orlando the best ever... use the Orlando Preferred Visitor Magicard and save! Get a Magicard.

If you don't live in Orlando, you can download and print a Magicard or request a Magicard online and we'll send you one, along with our comprehensive Destination Guide so you can plan your trip.

Present your Magicard to any of the participating members at the time of your purchase.

A great way for you to save money travelling and see more sights for less.

Source

EXPIRED...FREE admission to the Photographic, Video and Digital Imaging Show

Henry's is inviting you to attend the Photographic, Video and Digital Imaging Show at the International Centre in Mississauga on October 17th, 18th and 19th, 2008.

Regular admission is $15 and this complimentary pass will get you into the show all weekend; all you need to do is retain your stub.

Print your FREE admission tickets and head down to the show. Henry's School of Imaging is presenting unlimited FREE seminars throughout the weekend with plenty of seating.

Location:
International Centre • 6900 Airport Road, Hall 5 • Mississauga

Hours:
Friday, Oct. 17th........10am - 7pm
Saturday, Oct. 18th....10am - 7pm
Sunday, Oct. 19th......11am - 5pm

Admission:

Children under 12................FREE!
Adult..............$15.00 all weekend! (FREE when you print the ticket above)

This is a great learning opportunity for the novice digital photographer and novice videographer.