More Inexpensive School Supplies at Kmart

Everyone seems to be rolling out the school supplies this week, maybe in the hopes that we'll also stock up on other essentials while we're in the store. Well, the great deals on school supplies at Kmart include: a 10-pack of wooden pencils, a 24-count box of Crayons, a 2-pack of Elmer's glue sticks and a 12" shatterproof ruler, each for only $.25, with a limit of four.

For $.50, you can buy a 7-piece eraser set of stretchable book covers. And for $1, you can buy a 10-count box of Crayola markers or 12-count box of Crayola colored pencils.

Free Colgate at Walgreens

There are several good deals at Walgreens this week, but the only completely free item is Colgate Total Advanced Toothpaste, which is $3.49 and offers a $3.49 register rewards. That means your cost after rebate is $0, but if you can use one of the $1 Colgate coupons that are floating around, you may also make money on this deal.

Since you can earn multiple register rewards during the week, but only one per visit, you may want to make a habit of stopping into Walgreens on a regular basis this week. By Saturday, you could have quite the stockpile of toothpaste.

Just remember not to roll those register rewards; meaning, do not try and use them to buy your next tube of Colgate. Using a Colgate reward will prevent a new one from printing. So save those rewards for other visits, when you're not buying toothpaste.

Cheap School Supplies at Staples

Every year before Labor Day, Staples has typically offered a variety of school supplies at bargain prices. This year appears to be no different.

This week, through Wednesday (7/21) only, you can buy Staples school glue for $.01, as well as Bic mechanical penciles for $.25, slider pencil cases for $.25, Staples 3x5" index cards for $.25, Staples 4x6" photo paper for $.25 and HammerMill CopyPlus copy paper for $1. These are all after EasyRebates, which you complete online after your purchase to earn a rebate check within a few weeks.

There is also a coupon on the front page of Sunday's flyer offering 50% off any notebook or journal, which is a good deal, too.

Free McDonald's Smoothie or Frappe

Don't miss out on the coupon for a free McDonald's smoothie or McCafe frappe, which is attached to page 13 of today's (7/18) USA Weekend. That is the Sunday newspaper insert many papers receive; there may be one in the Parade insert, too, so be sure and check.

Free movie ticket - and more - at Walgreens

If you're a woman who uses feminine products, or have other women in your house who can use them, you'll want to take advantage of the current deal at Walgreen's. This week, when you buy three U by Kotex products for $10, you'll receive a Catalina coupon printed at the register for a free movie ticket worth $12.

While that's a great deal, you can make it an even better deal by purchasing three boxes of liners, rather than tampons. When you do, you'll receive a coupon for a free package of Always pads - for each box of liners you buy. It may also work when you purchase pads, but I didn't try it.

So for a total of $10, you'll receive three boxes of U by Kotex pantyliners, a free movie ticket and three coupons for a free package of Always pads.

Free 6-pack of Snapple

I just found a terrific rebate form at my local Tops supermarket that you'll definitely want to watch for. The rebate refunds your entire purchase price for a 6-pack of bottles of Snapple. It's not a satisfaction guarantee so you don't have to pretend to dislike it, it's just an incentive to get you to try it.

The pad of forms was on a cardboard display above a wall of 6-packs of various Snapple flavors near the front of my local Tops. I suspect this is a national promotion, so keep a watch for a new promotional display.

My purchase price was $5.99, which I will get back in 4-6 weeks.

20% off coupon at Target in Parents

Check out the June issue of Parents magazine, between pages 60 and 61, for a postcard coupon bound into the magazine worth 20% off a Merona item at Target. Merona is one of the store's clothing, shoe and accessory brands. Through July 15, 2010, you can take 20% off one Merona item at any Target.

I don't know about you, but I buy a lot of Merona basics, like long-sleeved t-shirts, turtlenecks, shorts and sandals. They're reasonably-priced to begin with but even more so at 20% off.

Happy shopping!