ArtsCow.com: FREE Credits for Calendars and Prints

January 4, 2014 by Tracy

ArtsCow.com: Personalized Calendars under $10

Photograph Credit: ArtsCow.com

My favorite photo service is ArtsCow.com. In using the FREE credits and discounts, I only pay for shipping when needing calendars, prints, and gifts. With over 100 FREE print credits per month through 2021, I only need to remember to order the pictures.

Currently ArtsCow.com has coupon codes for 19 FREE calendars and 1200 FREE prints. You do not need to order all these items. In fact, I tend to order the 11” x 8.5” wall calendars and ignore the other calendar options. If I need more than 5 calendars, then I save the project and wait for more credits and discounts because they will come.

If you are not currently an ArtsCow.com customer and would like to see what credits and discounts you can earn, then try it out. If you could use FREE credits for calendars and prints, then check out the following options at ArtsCow.com.

Registration

If you are interested in saving on your photo prints and using the services of ArtsCow.com, then register for free.

1. Go to ArtsCow.com.

NOTE: This is my referral link. By registering through this link, Using Time Wisely gets compensated without any cost to you. Your support of Using Time Wisely is greatly appreciated. For more information on my affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure policy.

2. At the top of the page, click on MY ACCOUNT.
3. Choose the green CONTINUE button under NEW MEMBER?
4. Complete the required fields, word verification, and click JOIN NOW.

Add Coupon Codes

Once you have joined, you can add the current coupon codes for up to 19 FREE calendars and 1200 FREE prints. These coupon codes expire on Monday, January 6 (Hong Kong time). Since ArtsCow.com is 13 hours ahead of EST, I complete these offers, at the latest, a day earlier than the expiration date.

You do not need to order your calendars and prints by Sunday, but you must validate the coupons by the deadline. The FREE calendars and prints will show in your list of credits with the expiration date. To add the coupon codes, you will need to access the CREDIT AND DISCOUNT page.

1. Go back to the HOME page (just click on ARTSCOW in the top left corner).
2. Go to MY ACCOUNT at the top of the page.
3. Login with your e-mail account and password.
4. On the left sidebar under Members Area, click on the 4^th option down, CREDIT AND DISCOUNT.
5. Add the coupon code WELCOMENEWYR and click VALIDATE. You will see the following in your list of credits:

5 Wall Calendars 11” x 8.5” (12-Months)
5 Wall Calendars 8.5” x 6”
3 Desktop Calendars 8.5” x 6”
3 Desktop Calendars 11” x 5”
3 Desktop Calendars 6” x 8.5”

6. Add the coupon code NEWYEARPRINT and click VALIDATE. You will see the following in your list of credits:

50 Prints 5″ x 7″
100 Prints 4″ x 6″
100 Prints 4″ x 6″
50 Prints 5″ x 7″
50 Prints 5″ x 7″
100 Prints 4″ x 6″
100 Prints 4″ x 6″
50 Prints 5″ x 7″
100 Prints 4″ x 6″
100 Prints 4″ x 6″
50 Prints 5″ x 7″
50 Prints 5″ x 7″
50 Prints 5″ x 7″
50 Prints 5″ x 7″
50 Prints 5″ x 7″
50 Prints 5″ x 7″
50 Prints 5″ x 7″

Using ArtsCow.com to order our photo prints, calendars, and gifts with our credits and discounts has helped to stretch our hard earned dollars. For more details on ArtsCow.com, check this introductory post and this post on how to place an order.

Once you have joined ArtsCow.com, you will get periodic credits and codes. When you get the codes, add them to your CREDIT AND DISCOUNT page and validate. You will then have the credits to order your prints and gifts.

The ArtsCow.com company produces great photos and calendars. Just know that shipping takes time, so order at least a month in advance of needing the ordered items. Happy savings!

Question: How do you stretch your dollars when purchasing photo prints and gifts?

CVS: FREE M&Ms through January 11, 2014

January 11, 2014 by Tracy

Ignoring most of the FREE and inexpensive deals at the drugstores for most of 2013, I was lured into CVS this week by the FREE chocolate.

Limiting my CVS trips to great sales on diapers, pull-ups, and Mountain Dew last year, I was glad to snag a freebie. You, too, can pickup FREE M&Ms through January 11, 2014, by combining a sale with a store coupon.

Miss 3 and I planned to stop by CVS on Wednesday morning, but one of our other errands took a bit longer than expected. So, we bumped that errand to Thursday morning where we stopped at a local CVS location.

Finding the Coupon Machine

With my keychain, housing my CVS loyalty card, in hand, Miss 3 went to the red coupon machine and scanned our card. She then waited beside the output slot for the coupons to emerge. After getting the coupons, she scanned the card again, but no more coupons printed.

Photograph Credit: CVS (from e-mail message)

Gathering the Product

Looking over the coupons, we received the $.75 off Mars Chocolate Singles.

Though we could have chosen a Snickers, Twix, 3 Muskateers, or Milky Way bar, Miss 3 chose her favorite plain Nim&Nims (M&Ms).

The Nim&Nims is a cute “–ism” that we enjoy and are not yet ready to correct. 😉

Using the Coupon

Teaching Miss 3 how to use her coupon, I helped her organize her items. She proceeded to checkout with the loyalty card, her coupon, and Nim&Nims. As we shop during non-peak hours, we had the place to ourselves, so we could take our time.

The cashier enjoyed her 3-year-old customer, who proudly presented the items in the correct order

Loyalty card
M&Ms (on sale for $.75)
Coupon (store coupon for $.75 off)

Smiling, the cashier took her items, gave her the receipt, and thanked her for shopping at CVS. As Miss 3 was admiring her package of M&Ms, I retrieved my keys before leaving CVS.

I enjoyed this shopping trip as Miss 3 is gaining confidence in using coupons. She completed the transaction without needing money while getting a reward for her efforts.

If you are new to couponing, are teaching someone how to use coupons, or just need a chocolate pick-me-up, then swing by your local CVS to see if the coupon prints for you. Our coupon had an expiration date of January 17. However, the Mars singles are on sale through Saturday, January 11, 2014 at the $.75 price which makes the item FREE.

TIP: As CVS limits the number of prints for store coupons, you may or may not get the $.75 coupon from the coupon machine. When the print limit is reached, that coupon will no longer print. I share this because sometimes the limit is reached before the sale is over.

In using time wisely, this deal may not fit into your schedule. If that is the case, then let it go. There will be other deals. Believe me, I passed on so many great deals last year, and we still saved more than we spent in 2013. I’ll be sharing those results in tomorrow’s post.

Getting back into coupons, I was glad to have a very easy transaction that resulted in Miss 3’s confidence, a few minutes of time, no out-of-pocket cost, and a reward to share. In stretching our dollars, I couldn’t pass up FREE chocolate and a teachable couponing session. Happy savings!

Question: If you went, did you get the FREE Mars Chocolate coupon?

U.S. Postal Service: Increasing their Rates on January 26, 2014

January 13, 2014 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: USPS

We are almost in the middle of January, and I still haven’t written the first thank you note from Christmas. As our home renovation has set me back a bit from our normal routine, I am taking it one step at a time.

Though I am not yet ready to mail any letters, I will stop by the post office or our shipping store to stock up on stamps. You see, the U.S. Postal Service is increasing their rates on January 26, 2014.

The price of a first-class postage stamp is rising from $.46 to $.49. As I am almost out of stamps, I would like to stock up on a coil of stamps (100 ct.) while I can save $.03 per stamp.

The increase is across the board. If I can get my act together, I would like to ship out my sister-in-law’s birthday gift a month early. This way, she will have her present, and I can pay the shipping before the prices go up.

NOTE: If you stop by a shipping store, ask if they charge post office prices. A few of our local shipping stores include an up-charge to the postal products. I always ask before purchasing as some charges are $5-10 more than the post office price.

If you know you will need stamps or have packages to mail, then join me and get stamps or mail your packages before Sunday, January 26, 2014. Keep stretching your dollars while using time wisely!

Question: How do you prefer purchasing stamps?

Chick-fil-A: Calendar Card

January 24, 2014 by Tracy

Last year, our family purchased a Chick-fil-A calendar for $6 and then received another calendar as a Christmas gift from a neighbor.

As Paul and I carried our cards and used them each month when we visited Chick-fil-A, we found the cards a great addition for our family.

This year, we purchased 4 calendars at $6 each which will save us all year long. When we combine a FREE family activity using our current membership with our Chick-fil-A calendar card freebies, we stretch our dollars and extend our family activity into a meal or snack.

For the details, each calendar card, located inside a plastic packet on the front page of each calendar, needs to be activated. Since we have 8-10 different e-mail accounts, we did not have an issue using a different e-mail address for each card.

Also, the monthly freebie is only good from the start of that month until the end of that month. So, the January offer of a FREE medium bowl of soup is valid from January 1 – 31, 2014.

We tried the chicken tortilla soup and found it a bit spicy. Now to clarify, our family does not care for fiery dishes, and the Chick-fil-A advertisements warn that it has a kick. We took a risk and tried it. It was good, but we needed part of a sandwich to squelch the sting. Yes, we are wimps when it comes to spice, but we make a mean mild chili. 😉

When we use the other 3 cards this month, we will opt for the Hearty Breast of Chicken soup as it will probably be more to our liking. Thankfully, most of the offers give customers a choice. The list of offers for the Chick-fil-A calendar card is as follows:

2014 Chick-fil-A Calendar Card Offers

January: Medium bowl of soup

February: Large waffle potato fries

March: Fan favorite classic entrée

April: Large Coca-Cola soft drink of your choice

May: Entrée salad of your choice

June: Mystery offer

July: Small hand-spun milkshake

August: Large Coca-Cola soft drink of your choice

September: Any breakfast entrée, plus large Coca-Cola soft drink of your choice

October: Large Coca-Cola soft drink of your choice

November: Mystery offer

December: Spicy chicken sandwich

This year, there are some different options. For example, the March fan favorite is via a vote. When registering each card, the cardholder gets one vote. At the time I voted, the Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich was winning among 8-piece nuggets and 3-piece chicken strips.

Side Note: Ordering a 3-piece chicken strip entrée with 2 buttered and toasted buns will net you 2 Chick-fil-A sandwiches at about half the price. 😉

Another new option is the mystery offers. As Chick-fil-A communicates via the e-mail address provided at the time of registration, they will probably send information about that offer closer to that month.

For the FREE Coca-Cola drinks, most Chick-fil-A’s will give you whatever drink you want, even a sweet tea. 😉 If you prefer to swap out your offer for another, just ask. Some stores allow it while others do not.

As our family loves the family events at our local Chick-fil-A locations which include crafts, puppets, balloons, food, and games, we get much use out of our Chick-fil-A calendar cards. If you have your Chick-fil-A calendar card, be sure to register it, and then get your FREE bowl of soup on or before January 31, 2014. Happy savings!

Question: Have you tried the Chick-fil-A calendar card?

Medical Bills: Save on Radiology Tests

January 25, 2014 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Fotolia

Realizing how very fortunate we are to have kept our health insurance, we have been able to keep our doctors and our monthly premiums did not increase for 2014.

Though there are many benefits to still having private health insurance, we did see some changes in our copays and coinsurance.

Radiology Test with the Copay

Last year, the two main radiology centers moved into the two large hospital systems. Not realizing that continuing to use their services would incur a $75 hospital copay, I had my knee X-ray done at one of their locations.

I had been seen at their center before (prior to their relocation at the hospital) and had not been charged the copay. As our insurance had not changed, I just went back to the center at the new location.

Well, when the bill came in, my $708 bill was adjusted down to $81 of which $75 was the hospital copay. Ignoring the inflation of services, my $6 bill cost us $81 because of where I had the X-ray done.

To say I was not happy is an understatement. However, it was done, and my knee was fine. We paid the bill, and then I took the time to find an alternative to save on radiology tests. Locating an independent radiology group that was on our plan, I noted their information for future reference.

Radiology Tests without the Copay

As I turned 40 last year, I needed radiology services for my annual mammogram. This time, I went to the independent group and did not incur the $75 hospital copay. Also, Paul is needing a radiology test done, and he will go to the independent group to prevent the extra $75 fee.

In navigating the murky waters of medical bills and healthcare, we found a way to save on radiology tests by using an independent service. Thus far, we have saved $150 for a few minutes of research time.

I know others have found medical schools that offer FREE or discounted radiology tests for those who allow supervised students to conduct the tests.

With healthcare changes occurring very quickly, keep up with your policies, copay changes, and deductibles. Though medical bills and tests are expensive, there are ways to save on radiology tests, procedures, and healthcare to stretch our dollars while using time wisely. Happy savings!

Question: Do you have any tips for how to save on radiology tests?

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