Coupon Chief--Save Money and Make Money!

Coupon Code can save and make you money!

I have found a great website that is right up my alley. It's Coupon Chief.

Coupon Chief saves you money and is an unique way to make money, as well.


Here is a peek at how it works to save you money:

• search for your store to find coupon codes to use at checkout when shopping online
• search for the item you are shopping for (i.e. curtains, clothes, shoes) and find stores that carry your item, along with coupon codes
• sign up for their email newsletter to get customized emails of the stores you are interested in. You'll know when a new coupon code is available!

And this is how you can make money at Coupon Chief:

• if you have an online store, you can submit your site for free!! You can get improved placement and control your promos and coupon code listings, driving traffic to your store!
• submit a coupon code using their Pays-2-Share program. Every time someone uses your coupon, you get 2% of the sales. No kidding!! You get paid via check or paypal.

In case I've just confused you, there is a video tutorial on Coupon Chief which makes all of this easy to understand.

I know some online coupon code sites have coupons for stores I've never heard of. So in case you're wondering, Coupon Chief has great coupons for stores like Sears, Home Depot, Best Buy, Macy's, Ann Taylor Loft, and Amazon. So, really, really good stores.

As their blog points out, only 96 Shopping Days until Christmas, so it may be a good idea to get Coupon Chief shopping now!


Photo credit: stopnlook

The Critter Journal Part 2: EcoSmart Product Review

Day 25

I received a sample pack of EcoSmart environmentally friendly insect control products today in the mail!!

EcoSmart products are Home Pest Control, Ant & Roach Killer, Insect Repellent, and Flying Insect Killer.

Seriously, great timing, as the ants have now split into separate colonies: one in the family room and one in kitchen. I have also noticed a small group of pioneer ants near my front door.

I sorted the products and realized I had two products to use on the ants. I will hit them with a double whammy.

Day 26



The first product I tried was for both indoor and outdoor use. Glory day! It is called EcoSmart Organic Home Pest Control for indoor and outdoor use. It is non-toxic, safe around kids and pets. It kills and repeals over 100 home invading pests. Definitely what I need.

I sprayed it along a baseboard in my family room, as well as along the outside of the house in that same spot. It is a pump spray bottle. In the house, I think I may have sprayed a bit much, as it pooled a bit on the floor. So, I just dabbed it with a paper towel.

I immediately noticed a strong odor, something like rosemary, but a little sweeter. Even though I am oversensitive to odors, this was actually not bad. However, it did permeate the first floor, so I decided to let that dissipate a bit before using the other product, EcoSmart Organic Insecticide Ant & Roach Killer.

Day 27

I refuse to access the ant count today as I am still in the middle of my EcoSmart application.



Today I used EcoSmart Organic Insecticide Ant & Roach Killer. It non-toxic, plant based and safe around kids and pets. The can also says it is water based and university tested.

It is an aerosol can and was a bit easier to apply. I used it inside only in the kitchen and by the front door. This odor was much stronger and very cinnamon-y. It really made the house smell good, but since it was so strong, I opened all the windows and we all went outside for awhile.

Day 28

The odors are completely gone and guess what? Zero ant sightings! Zero! After fighting with them for the last four weeks using every homemade concoction I could think of, here I used EcoSmart for two days the problem seems to be solved. Wow!

Update: Day 42

It's been two weeks since the application of EcoSmart and still no ants!! I am planning on using EcoSmart Organic Home Pest Control on the whole perimeter of my house now and again in the spring.

I have plans for the rest of their products, too:




EcoSmart Organic Insect Repellent is DEET free, non-toxic and keeps away mosquitoes, ticks, and gnats. I am really excited about this and plan on using this on our campfire night, which is always a mosquito fest.

EcoSmart Organic Insecticide Flying Insect Killer is safe around kids and pets and is a plant based insecticide. I am beginning to notice bees randomly flying around my backyard since my neighbors bleached (yes, bleached) their ground hives. I wonder if they are looking for a new home. The Flying Insect Killer will definitely come in handy.

Finally there is EcoSmart Organic Garden Insect Killer. It is also safe around kids and pets. Ut us non-toxic and environmentally safe. It can be used on fruits,vegetables, flowers, ornamentals, trees and shrubs. I plan on using this on my roses next year, as something beetle-ish ate all the petals! I also plan on using it on my one tomato plant next season. It didn't do too well and I'm thinkin' it was infiltrated.

Negatives
So far, I am loving what I am seeing. I did have some minor issue with the smell and wonder if, in the winter, I might need to spray this before we leave for the day.

Since I am particular (some would say anal), I did web searches on all the ingredients in these products that I didn't recognize. I found them to be listed as either pesticide-free or EPA certified safe for use around food and people.

I do think it might be better if some of the products were available in both aerosol and spray bottles so people could just pick what they wanted.


Who Should Buy this Product?

Anyone who needs fast relief from pests. I think I would recommend this product to the environmentally conscious and the non-believers alike. It seems to be that effective that there is nothing to give up here.

Come back tomorrow for a chance to win the EcoSmart Product of your choice!!

Clorox Natural Laundry Detergent Product Review

Prior to Blogher '09, I received a good size sample of Clorox Green Works Natural Laundry Detergent and sample of their Green Works Natural Laundry Stain Remover. The samples came with a note that encouraged me to try the items before BlogHer '09.




Clorox Green Works Laundry Detergent

• 95% natural,
  
• safe for the environment,
  
• phosphate free
  
• 45 oz container, 2x concentrated for 30 loads.

Results

I have been using the product off and on for the last few months. I have tried to use in a variety of situations: cold wash/rinse, hot wash/rinse, whites (with bleach and without), darks and stains, you know, blah, blah, blah. I found it worked just as well as my usual detergent in all these situations.

However, the smell was really strong, not a bad smell, but strong to me. Now I have to say I am used to fragrance free laundry detergent due my oversensitivity to odors. To be fair, it was supposed to be scented and it didn't give me a headache or do anything to my skin. However at BlogHer, I did ask if they had an unscented option and they do. So maybe this is a moot point.



Clorox Natural Stain Remover

• 99% Natural

• 22 fl. oz.

Results

So far, far out! It worked REALLY well on red dye that bled onto a white shirt, that had been through the dryer. It also has a scent, which, again, may just be my sensitivity issue.

I have not had too many other stains to test this on, but I did try it on a mold stain, which let's face it NOTHING can get out. It didn't get it out, either.


Who should buy this product?

The Green Works Products are for people who want a green product that's available in thier regular store. It's convenient and doesn't hurt the environment.

Negatives

The only negatives I can see are the containers in which this product is used. For a green product, the laundry detergent jug is 25% recycled plastic. There is no indication on the Green Works Stain Remover bottle whether it contains any recycled plastic. It would be great if the jug was made with a collapsible, recyclable container. And for the spray bottle, I suggest a smaller concentrated bottle that one could add to their own spray bottle with water.

What Time Is It?

So, the kids are back in school, the weather where I live is unseasonably cold and the Dollar Store has it's Christmas stuff out. Although there must be something wrong with my calendar because it's telling me it's still AUGUST.

And now I am thinking about the Holidays and what to get for certain, nameless, difficult figures in my life. Let's just say there is an older woman, an older man and a guy just about my age who are always big problems for me to buy for every year.

It's like this. They already have whatever they need and when I ask for ideas, I am told they don't need anything. Of course, this is a big, fat lie. They really do want something. And it needs to be good.

And so, I am thinking watches for everyone! I have checked out casio G-shock.

They have something for the older lady:

The older man:

And the youngish guy:

I had kind of forgotten what a great gift a watch can be. And besides glasses, watches are are the only accessory that's actually useful. (Though one could make an argument for cuff links, too, I guess.)

Blue dial has watches for every use and occasion. Know a sporty executive? Or a trendy cheerleader? A deep sea diver or a school teacher? There is something for everyone. And these are NICE watches. Not something you will find at the local drug store.

Not that I've EVER, EVER gone shopping for watches in a drug store. Well, maybe that one time on Christmas Eve, but I was about to break up with him. That's another post for another time.

BTW, buying these watches now will mean I am an organized, efficient person. That may have been my New Year's Resolution but I'm not sure, I lost the list.

Acai Berry Supplement Review

Has anyone thought about trying Acai Berry to lose weight? I found a site that has reviewed the top three supplements and has links for FREE trials of each. Click here to visit. Let me know what you think!



gurucrusher

how to find the right satellite TV provider

Those of you who read your nontoxic life regularly know I have cable tv company issues. In fact, I have changed companies and am still having issues. I get offers from satellite tv companies all the time, but I have no idea which company has the best customer service, which has the best deals and which has the best reception. Also what the heck is the difference between direct vs. dish?

However, I have found a company called Kaptain Satellite and they helped me figure things out.

Their site gave me the facts about direct vs. dish and showed me a side by side comparison that actually made sense! They also showed me the best deals for where I live.

Best part, they are not at all annoying like the cable people!

If you have had it with cable, check them out. Let me know what you think.

sweet smells

I have to admit to having a certain sensitivity to odors.  I can detect a bad odor from a mile away and am especially adverse to bad breath and bathroom odors.  

I am actually a little proud of my ability to detect cigarette smoke from another driver from inside my car.

This freakish sense of smell actually served me well when I began a quest for a steady perfume.  I was in my 20's and had experimented with everything from Jean Nate and Loves Baby Soft to Liz Claiborne and Musk Oil.

I was working in a retail store and on my way to my area I would pass the cosmetics department.  One day, I passed a most lovely odor.  It was sweet, but not obnoxious.  An interesting sweetness.  A scent that actually haunted me.  I passed by again on my way to break.  The scent stopped me and I asked to see what it was.  It was something called Tresor.  It was a new perfume.  It was also EXPENSIVE.  The girl gave me a scented petal to take as a sample.

I left work that day and drove home.  I had the petal in my coat pocket.  I went into the house and put my coat in the closet.  I went up to get ready for bed and returned down for a snack.  The smell from that petal hit me like a ton of bricks.  I took the petal out of the coat in the closet and put it in my bedroom.

The next day when I got in my car, I again smelled the scent.  I was hooked.  I saved up for literally months and finally got my Tresor.  20 years later, I have never turned back.  I have become one of those old ladies who always used their "special scent" until they died.

I will also die with this perfume.   Is there any perfume you would die with?  Please comment about it, I'd love to hear your story.

 

ebates: a way to make money while shopping

In my quest to afford things (read: make money and budget) I have found a useful little website called Ebates. This site allows users to sign up and shop their regular online stores, while getting a little something back.  It's usually a 2-5% rebate, but can also be instant savings with a coupon code or both.

I actually checked out Ebates and the site does actually send you a check once your  balance reaches $5.  With my shopping habits, this amounts to about $250 at participating stores.  Please note: they only send out checks quarterly, so the money is a bit slow in coming.  I like this idea and plan on maximizing my rebate over during the Spring, when almost everyone in my family celebrates a birthday.

This has been an endorsed post.  (My own personal economic stimulus package.)  But I really do recommend you check Ebates out!