It's Back! Sample Showcase

Just about a year ago I posted about a new program that the USPS was sponsoring with boxes of sample products and coupons that you could sign up for.  You can see my original post here.

If you are a regular reader you will remember that relatively quickly I received the box that I signed up for.  You can see what was included in that box here. 

Well, it's back again!  Go here to sign up to see if you qualify for a box.  I just logged in today to find out that I qualified again.  If it's anything like last time, in about 20 days I should be receiving my loot.  I will be sure to post all that is included. 

Last year, my blog was featured on the Start Sampling website for my review of the samples.  Check out my post and link to that feature here.

Good Luck, I hope you qualify too!

ALL YOU Reality Checker - Goody Bag

If you like trying out new products (for FREE) and offering your review,  participating in surveys, giving advice and want a chance to appear in All You magazine, I highly suggest you sign up here to become an All You Reality Checker. This is a great online community that offers free samples with coupons and lots of great advice as well as an opportunity to have your voice heard. 

Trust me, it's well worth signing up!  Over the summer months I received FREE clothes to try out and review.  You can find my original post here.  And there was the Starbucks Cinnamon coffee here.   The only thing this costs you is a little bit of your time. 

Today, Fed-Ex dropped off a goody bag from All You as a Thank You for being a Reality Checker.  Inside was a nice letter and all these goodies:

It was a nice surprise and shows me that they truly appreciate my opinion and participation in the All You community.  Not only is All You a great magazine with TONS of awesome, high value coupons but they offer great advice and informative articles.  I can't wait to see what All You has to offer for 2011!

Sample Showcase Blog Feature!

This morning I received an e-mail to take a survey about the Sample Showcase that I received awhile back from the USPS.  I like to take these surveys so that these companies know we are interested in continuing to receive these great samples and coupons and that we really appreciate them. 

After I took the survey, I was directed to a "thank you" page that shows a compilation of what the survey results are so far.  As I kept reading the page, I noticed that on the right side there was a box where certain money saving blogs that mentioned the Sample Showcase were being highlighted.  I saw a couple blogs that I recognize and ones that I regularly read (Money Saving Mom, Deal Seeking Mom)...and then this one came up!  I was shocked to see it!   I couldn't believe that my little blog was featured here - what a nice surprise!  Here's a link so you can take a look.

Prilosec OTC FREE Sample

Sign up here for a FREE sample of Prilosec OTC 24 hour acid reducing heartburn medicine.  Remember, samples usually come with high value coupons!

Samples and Coupons with my Local Newspaper

This is why I still keep my local newspaper subscription:

Even though I have two subscriptions to the Chicago Tribune, solely for the coupon inserts, I still keep my subscription to my local county paper.  It's a small paper with local news and it does have coupon inserts on Sundays.  It doesn't always have the best coupon inserts like the Tribune, but it still has the inserts with good coupons and lately I have been getting goodies in my bag with the paper.  Every couple of weeks I get a new sample of products and extra coupons.  This is what I received this week, and a couple weeks back it was a full pot of coffee sample with coupons.  I guess this makes up for not getting the "good" coupon inserts!  :)

ALL YOU Reality Checker

If you are signed up at the ALL YOU website you may get asked to be an All You Reality Checker. 

Once you agree to be a Reality Checker you will get surveys and the opportunity to have input for upcoming issue of the magazine.  You will also have the opportunity to try out new products.  This is what I received in the mail today for being an All You Reality Checker:  

This is a full size sample of NEW Starbucks Natural Fusions Cinnamon coffee delivered right to my door via UPS.  All You has asked that I try this coffee and give my feedback.  That's it, no other strings attached!  I highly recommend signing up over at All You! 

Dove Damage Therapy Daily Moisture Conditioner

Being a Dove Hair Ambassador has it's advantages - for me and for you!  Today I received this in the mail:

I have been using this conditioner for awhile now thanks to a past deal at Walgreens.  I really like it so I am glad that I received another free bottle of it.  This conditioner has a really nice, fresh fragrance to it.  It conditions my soft, fine hair really well without leaving it feeling heavy and weighted down.  It's weightless formula really works on limp hair.  I need all the help I can get in that area so I am glad this does the trick. 

I have FIVE samples to hand out to my blog readers.  Enclosed in the sample packets are TWO samples of the Dove Hair Care Intensive Repair Formula conditioner and a $1.00 coupon on any one Dove Hair Care product (excluding trial sizes).  The coupon expires 8/31/10. 

Leave a comment or send me an e-mail and these samples will go to the first five local readers to do so.  I will get your sample to you the next time I see you!  If you miss out on these samples you can still go to the Dove website here and request a sample to be mailed to you. 

Sample Showcase!

Wholly Guacamole!!  Remember the Sample Showcase I posted about here?  I signed up on 4/21 and mine arrived in today's mail!!  Take a look:

There is some really great stuff in this box!  I hope you signed up and get a box for yourself also.  This is what's included:

1 trial size Secret Clinical Strength waterproof deodorant

1 trial size Aveeno Postively Ageless night cream

1 trial size Aveeno Positively Ageless firming body lotion

1 trial size Aveeno shampoo & conditioner

1 $2.00 coupon for ANY Aveeno Active Naturals product

1 $1.00 coupon for Aveeno Nourish hair care collection

1 full size Grill Mates - Montreal Steak Marinade

1 full size Dove chocolate bar

2 packets of single serve Taster's Choice freeze dry coffee

2 trial size Shower to Shower body powder

2 single serve packets of Splenda

1 $1.00 coupon for any Splenda

1 Bengay Moist Heat Therapy air activated pain relieving pad for neck, arms and abdomen

WOW!!  That's a lot of stuff for one sample box!  I am so impressed at how quickly this arrived and so glad that I signed up. 

Sample Showcase Sign-Up

Want the mother-load of samples?  The USPS is sponsoring product samples to generate more mail volume - talk about creating job security!  Go here and see if you qualify (I did!). 

Gina left a comment over at DealSeekingMom.com and here's how she got approved to participate in this sampling:

My first try I did not qualify. If this happens to you, here is what you need to do to get another chance: first exit your web browser, then go to your internet options and delete your browsing history and cookies. Open your browser back up and add this link again, you'll get another chance. You can do this a million times if you want. What qualifies you is a very high income. The more children you say you have the higher your income needs to be. Do not put anything under $75,000. Hope this helps some of you :)

After being approved, I received a message stating that my sample box should be delivered in early May sometime.  I can't wait to see what they send and if there's coupons!  Stay tuned...

(If my link above doesn't take you to the right page to register, go here and look for the link in comment #41 - for some reason the link is being uncooperative!)

Kotex Sample Packs

Go here to request your choice of four different sample packs from Kotex.  Remember, samples sometimes come with high value coupons!

FREE Dove Daily Treatment Conditioner Sample

I am a Dove Hair Premier Ambassador.  Unilever, the makers of Dove, has asked me to share this sample with you.  Head on over to the Dove website here to get your FREE sample of the new Dove Daily Treatment Conditioner.  Remember that samples usually come with high value coupons. 

If you would like to sign up with Dove and Unilever, you could get invited to become a Dove Hair Premier Ambassador also.  Just go here and sign up if you aren't already a member.  I have also added a link to this under the Sign Up page on The Basics.  Being a Dove Hair Premier Ambassador you will get to try new products for FREE and get samples and coupons to share with your friends.

Samples from Hilander/Kroger stores

If you have a Hilander Plus Shopper's Card, head on over to their website here for some FREE samples.  I signed up for the FREE sample of Orville Redenbacher's Cheddar Cheese Gourmet Popping Corn - YUM!  I am guessing that these offers change periodically so check back often, you never know what you might find.  Remeber, FREE samples usually come with high value coupons!

Purex 3-in-1 Sample and a Coupon

Go here to sign up to receive a free sample of Purex Complete 3-in-1 laundry sheets.   These contain the detergent and fabric softner all in one handy little sheet.  No more spills or gooey messes on your hands from pouring out liquid detergent or softner.   It goes into the wash and then gets transferred to the dryer with your clothes. 

I received my sample earlier this week and it came with two sheets to wash two loads of laundry and a $1.00 off coupon. 

Burt's Bees Natural Toothpaste Sample

Here's a link to request a free sample of Burt's Bees Natural Toothpaste.  Remember samples sometimes come with really great coupons, hurry because quantities are limited!

Free samples and coupons @ Wal-mart.com

If you head on over to the Walmart website you can request some new free samples.  Olay Total Effects body wash, Tide plus Febreeze, UnderJams, Crest 3D whitestrips and Fekkai hair products are the current samples that you can request.  Remember that great coupons usually accompany these free samples, so even if you aren't excited about the free sample, the coupons are worth it.  Every so often Walmart surprises me and sends a full size sample when I request their samples.  Don't forget that you can request two samples if you have an extra address that you can use.

FREE Aveeno Full Size Sample

Head on over to the Aveeno website for a free full size sample of their Stress Relief Body Lotion.  If you aren't already registered with the Aveeno website you will have to sign up to take advantage of this sample offer.  Remember that samples also usually come with great coupons!

Getting Started: More ways to get great coupons

There's a few more ways you can get great coupons for products that you need or use. 

If there's a product that I use but don't generally see a lot of coupons for I contact the manufacturer directly.  I go to their website and find the "contact us" section.  I send a nice e-mail telling them that I have been a long-time customer of their products and that I try to save money and help meet my family budget by using coupons.  I include my name, address and contact information.  Usually they will respond by mailing you some great value coupons.  They wouldn't want you buying a different manufacturer's products if you find coupons for the others and not theirs.  Sometimes they will tell you that they don't keep mailing lists for customers for coupons and that they put coupons on their website or in the inserts, but "nothing ventured, nothing gained" is the way I see it and it didn't cost me anything to ask, so if they can't or don't send me any coupons I am not out anything but the few minutes of my time it took me to send that e-mail.  It really doesn't hurt to ask!

Another great way to get high value coupons is by signing up for free samples.  You can find these offers at manufacturer websites and store websites.  Walmart and Sam's Club usually offer samples at their websites, and so does Costco.  You will receive the samples, which are usually the small trial size items but along with those trial sizes are some great coupons.  I have never received a trial or sample that was not accompanied by great coupons. 

You will want to watch packaging for additional coupons as well.  A lot of the time, manufacturers will print coupons on the inside of boxes and other packaging.  We do see a lot of those "peelie" coupons on the outside of packages but we often forget to watch the inside of the package for coupons.  Sometimes if there's an insert in the package there will be coupons printed on that.  Make sure you check all the packaging before tossing it into the recycle bin!

Magazines other than All You have manufacturer coupons printed in them along with advertisements.  Some of the more popular ones that I have noted recently with great coupons are Parents Magazine, Country Living and Prevention.  Keep your eyes open in your magazine subscriptions or when you are sitting the doctors or hair-dressers waiting rooms!

Pssst

Pssst is a General Mills Company and if you sign up here you can get samples, offers and great coupons.  Just recently, I received two full size meals from Pssst, along with some great, high value coupons.  I received one Macaroni Grill meal and one Wanchai Ferry meal to cook for my family and then give a review.  Head on over and sign up to start getting free samples and coupons!

VocalPoint

VocalPoint is a Procter & Gamble company that sends out samples and REALLY good coupons.  You can go here to read more about it and sign up.   They just ask that you periodically give feedback on the products they send you.  Some of the samples are small, travel size items but sometimes they send you full size products to try.  Just recently I received the new Olay ProX wrinkle reducing cream in a full size bottle with several high value ($10) coupons. They send you several coupons in hopes that you will pass them out to friends and family.