Saving Money Everyday with Free Products

A couple of years ago I responded to someone saying "you don't ever get anything for nothing" by posting what I got, for free in the mail, each and every week for about five months. By then I figured I may have convinced them that they were wrong.  Today I've decided to show you the free products I am using daily, in my regular routine. 

I got the shampoo and conditioner from BzzAgent.  I was using Pantene products before but I really like the new Expert line, and find the Age Defy is perfect for me.

 It gives my hair body and shine, and I definitely see an improvement in my hair since I've started using it.  I'll be buying more when this is gone.

The body moisturizer I use came from Yves Rocher, as a bonus when I ordered something else.  It's a full size tube, instead of a tiny packet sample they often send, and I can tell you they will make their money back on me as I think it's the best body lotion I've ever used.

When it comes to my face, I start with Vichy ProEven Dark Spot Corrector (the white tube in the picture), which I got from Chick Advisor. They sent it to me to try. I was then supposed to write a review on the product, and how I liked it.  The time frame I was given was not enough to really see the difference it made in my age spots, so I had put that I likely wouldn't buy it.  I've now changed my mind, and cannot imagine starting my day without it.  I particularly like that I can use any of my regular products over top of it, and it's still effective.

I have a jar of L'Oreal Age perfect that I used daily for a while.  I got it when Glow Magazine chose me to take part in the You Tried It program.  I do like it, but now that the weather is warming up, I may do without moisturizer for the time being, or switch to a lighter formula.

Yves Rocher BB Cream was also sent to me as a bonus.  I've been using it for the past couple of years and so they knew it was something I would like.

I have a tube of the Vichy ProEven Night formula (the blue tube in the picture above)  which was sent to me in error, when they meant to send the previously mentioned product. I use it as part of my evening routine, when I remember. I love the texture of this product, and if I were actually just going to use one of them, this might be the one I'd choose.  It's a clear gel and spreads easily.  You can, if you wish, even put it on thicker for a short period of time, to get the effects more quickly.

For a night cream, I'm still using the StriVectin that also came in the Glow box of things to try before you buy.  I loved this stuff immediately, and checked out the price of it, shortly after I got it. It's really expensive, but it's lasting a lot longer than I'd expected, so that may substantiate the cost when it comes time to replace it. It does something magical to my skin.


Many manufactures offer free products.  All it takes is a few moments to sign up to the various sites, and then jump on the offers when they arrive.


The latest parcel to arrive is from Sample Source.  While some of the samples are....well, sample size, not everything is.  I'm currently testing out the Pronamel toothpaste, from the Sensodyne people.  I do like the way my teeth feel nice smooth after I've brushed.

The VH sauces are good too, as long as you realize these pouches are made for two servings. That's actually perfect for us. I noticed some people got more than one, as their family is bigger than ours.

You can't go wrong with Brookside Chocolate either, though this particular bar has almonds in it, so I'll have to give it to my hubby. He'll be pleased to test that out.

I used the coupon for a free box of Catelli SuperGreens yesterday.  I got Rotini and will make some sort of pasta salad to eat in all this heat.

I'll have to fill out a short survey about how I liked each of the items Sample Source sent me, and whether I've bought more or not. I find that well worth the effort, since I've discovered several things that have become family favourites through Sample Source that I may never have known about otherwise.

Anyway, I think you get the idea.  You can get along quite well using free things if you take a moment to go looking for them.  What are you waiting for?

Too Many Choices

Once upon a time you could go shopping for what you wanted without having to make a lot of decisions. If you wanted clean hair, you bought shampoo. If you wanted a skin cream you bought a moisturizer. If you wanted an appliance, you just asked for one that did what you wanted it to do, and the salesman showed you the right model. Things have changed.  Now we are faced with entire walls of shampoos and skin creams and when it comes to appliances, well, it's too confusing for words.

There are not only a multitude of shampoo brands to pick from, you have to narrow it down to whether you want to build body, control frizz, repair damage, protect colour or even enhance grey. There are shampoos that are organic, sulphate free, offer thermal protection, are fortifying, nourishing, hydrating or clarifying.  There are shampoos for children, oily hair, thin hair and some that prevents hair fall. There are dandruff shampoos, dry shampoos, pet shampoos, and 2 in 1 shampoos that combine the conditioning with the cleaning power.

I'm thrilled when I get samples and find something I like without having to face that wall of decisions and take a chance on spending money on something not right for me.  I just have to locate the one I want next time I go to the store, though even that isn't always easy.

For face care there are cleansers, exfoliators, toners, serums, gels and  moisturizers.  There are day creams, night creams, eye creams, and throat creams. There are things called BB creams and CC creams. There are products that protect, nourish, clarify, lift, rejuvenate, brighten, illuminate, and erase blemishes and dark spots. Oh and let's not forget the ones that promise to prevent or diminish wrinkles.

A friend called recently to ask what I use on my face. She admitted that she was never one to use moisturizers and such, and had come to the conclusion that it was time to try to do something about what nature does to us all over time. I've been using moisturizers of one sort or another since way back when I even washed my face with Noxzema in my early teens. She said when she looked at the wall of products available, she had no idea of where to start.  I'm not sure any of us do. 

Really, I believe that more is not necessarily better, and that comes to choices too.  I can't tell you how many times I have considered trying a new brand of makeup and found that I couldn't decide on what to pick because there were too many brands, with too many different lines, and too many shades in each. I found this site where you could match the shade you currently use with others available on the market. It didn't work for me though as I've been using Yves Rocher products for years and that brand is not listed.

I'm not sure why any one brand would make so many different lines of things that do so many different things. Sure that would create something for everyone, but  I would think that would also cost them more in development, production, packaging and advertising than if they just created a few good products and put them where we all could find them. I'm sure that added cost gets passed on to us, the consumer.

Once again, I'm glad that so many samples are offered online these days. I've discovered some marvelous products over the past few years that I likely never would have purchased, or even known about otherwise.  Facing that wall of decisions every time I need to make a purchase has, on occasion caused me to walk away with nothing. I know I'm not the only one that has reacted that way. The companies can't make any money that way.

Keep it simple, I say. The population is aging, and there are days when we don't want to have to read a million labels just to buy some every day product.

De-Cluttering Week 19 - Changing Seasons

Our overnight temperatures went below zero a couple of times this week.  I'll take the blame for that. I finally put away the winter coats, and then Mother Nature decided to show me who's the boss.  No problem. If you wait a few hours it warms up enough so you can go out in your spring jacket after all, or maybe even without it.  I've seen several people in sandals and even one lady in shorts today, so I guess it's okay to have put the winter stuff away this week after all.  

I sorted through all the hats, gloves and scarves, and separated the winter things from the spring and summer stuff, and put them in separate baskets.  I had way too much winter stuff, so I had to find another way to store most of that.  I just left the most frequently used pieces in the basket, which I placed in the back corner of the closet shelf, and put the rest into another one of those plastic zippered containers I got from Yves Rocher earlier this year.  I took that to the basement, where it may never be seen again unless I seriously start

de-cluttering down there soon.  Oh yes, I did remove a few items I absolutely never wear, and put them aside for donation.

While I was in the mood to get winter wear out of our lives, I decided it was a good time to swap our flannelette sheets for regular ones too.  When the temperatures dropped during the night, I wasn't so sure that was a good idea, but I expect we will be entirely too hot very soon.  One can dream, right?

The other thing I did this week was corral all the important papers into one place.  The scare I had last weekend got me to finally get around to doing that.  The first thing I had to do, of course was clean out the lock box I intend to store those papers in.  I just sorted stuff into piles for either filing or shredding.  Now, of course now I have to file and shred, but I'm learning to do one job at a time, and deal with the messes I make in the process at some later date. 

That reminds me......I still have not sorted through that box of stuff I took off the desk when I started all this.  Sigh.........  The last time I mentioned cleaning out that box was in February.  I guess it will definitely have to be next week's project.  I'm sure cleaning that out will just add to the things that need filing that I took out of the lockbox this week. 

One thing always leads to another, I find. But the idea is to keep going.  Every week, pick one project you have been putting off, and join me in this clean up.  I'd be happy to hear what you've done.

An InLinkz Link-up

Cleaning Up the Cleaning Supplies

It's always a good idea to keep all your cleaning supplies in one place so you can find what you need, when you need it.  I reached for a clean rag the other day and discovered I had way more of them than anyone would ever need.  In fact, the whole cleaning supply cubby hole needed to be cleaned out.

First I went and got the vacuum cleaner, because, if I'm taking things out of that cupboard, I might as well get rid of the dust bunnies that have been breeding in there.  I then went and got a zippered storage container that the Yves Rocher people sent me with my last order (actually they sent me four, in assorted sizes). I thought I'd put the rags in it, which would help make the space a lot neater. After digging out all the rags, and sorting them according to types, and disposing of the really ratty ones, I still had more than anyone needs.  How did I get so many?  Well, if a tea towel, dish cloth or face cloth gets a hole in it, it becomes a cleaning rag. I also like bits of flannel and old t-shirt material for dusting with.  Then there are sturdier cloths that my hubby likes to use as work rags. 

Hmmmmm.......there were lots of those. I kept a few for such things as cleaning the oven and put the rest in the zippered container.  It went to the basement to a place where my mechanical hubby can find them when he needs them, and they are much more neatly contained than they have ever been before.  I had decided that container was too big for my cubby hole anyway.

I put my remaining rags into a plastic basket, and made myself a promise that if I get more than what fits in that container, I have to dispose of some. The cardboard box in the photo, in case you noticed it, is the perfect size to hold 6 roles of toilet paper. I've been using that same box for many years.  A little rearranging of supplies and the whole space is so much more tidy, it's amazing. 

Other than that, I had decided to send Bonnie at Jasper's Gems an envelope full of stamps, just to get rid of them.  I know she collects them for some needy cause.  I packaged them all up, and took them down to the post office.  They will now be delivered to a local place that uses them instead, since Canada Post had the nerve to tell me they wanted $9.48 just to mail off a 6 x 8 inch envelope of used stamps.  I said, "You must be kidding," and when they assured me they were not, I just told them to forget it. Sorry Bonnie, but they will go to a good cause in my own area now. They are still leaving the house.

This is week 12 of this de-cluttering project. I took a look around to see if I have maintained what I have previously cleaned.  Well, there is a "little pile of paper on my desk that needs to be dealt with, but nothing serious, The key words there are "dealt with" as each one requires me to take some action before I can put it away.  The top of my storage unit and book case have remained neat, other than one envelope full of photos I intend to give to the people in them. A couple of things have landed on the box behind me this week, but they are there only until tonight, then they will be gone. The part of  the spare bedroom that I tidied up is still good, even though, or perhaps because I've had overnight visitors twice since then.  The linen closet remains neat and organized, though I've discovered I am in bad need of some new pillowcases.  The jewelry is so organized, I can't see there ever being a problem with that until the storage unit starts to fall apart.  Hopefully that won't happen for several years.

The refrigerator is an ongoing project, of course, but it tends to get cleaned out the day before garbage day. I do, of course still have all the other cupboards and drawers to clean out, over time. And there is still all the stuff that is hidden beneath the spare bed (magazines, paintings, spare frames, etc).  I'm sure though, with this ongoing project, I'm bound to get to these things sooner or later.  With the warmer weather coming (please God) I will also have de-cluttering to do in the basement, garage and garden. Normally that idea would have me feeling overwhelmed, but I'm learning that even one extra chore a week does get things done.

What did you do this week?

 

An InLinkz Link-up

Birthday Deals

Each year, as my birthday approaches, businesses reach out to make special offers as a way of helping me celebrate.

Yves Rocher sent me two different birthday deals.  Actually it does that every year, and while I think I may have two separate accounts, the deals are never the same.  The first one offered me a free product, but they chose it.  They said it was one of my favorite products, but I've only ever used it once before. I'm sure it was a gift then too, as it's not the product of this type that I normally buy from them.  They would also give me a multi-strand jewelry set, which was pretty, and kind of tempting.

The second offer was for a new pair of sunglasses. I don't need those as I already have three pair.  I could have had three trial sized products instead, but I don't know what they would have been and I've probably had a sample of just about everything over the years. Now, if my purchase hit the $25 mark, they would also have included a beautiful tote bag, with some pretty flowers on it.

The thing is, to get any of this free stuff, you need to send an order. There was only one thing I wanted and it wasn't offered in either of these campaigns.

Oh, and while I was trying to figure all this out, Yves Rocher sent me a third offer, but I would have had to make a purchase in an actual store to get that one.  And though I could pick the category of products, it would still be a mystery until I got it. I was not even tempted.  I seldom shop in their stores anyway, as I really think I get better deals through the mail, postage and all.

What I wait for each year, though, is the restaurant birthday deals.  So far I've heard from Buds on the Bay, in Brockville, where, if I make a reservation for four, I can eat free. They will even supply the cake.  Joey gives an age discount.  They will take a percentage equivalent to your age off the entire table's bill, up to a maximum of $25.  They'd likely lose money on me these days, but that deal has only been offered to me at the Cornwall location. I don't expect to go there before the expiry date. Quiznos will generously give me a free cookie with the purchase of a sandwich, while Boston Pizza always thrills me with the offer of free pasta or dessert.  Their pasta dinner that I like is around the $16 mark and I've taken them up on this deal a few times over the years.

This year there is an even better offer from one of my friends. She is baking me a cake and has told me to invite a few of my friends to join us at her place to share it.  That might just be the best birthday offer I've ever had, and I'm really looking forward to it.

Freebie Friday - March 15

After a quiet week last week, the flood gates broke and I got all kinds of free stuff this week.

First to arrive was a package full of all occasion cards, some stickers, a notepad and a pen, all from the Heart and Stroke Foundation. They hope for a donation, of course, but I've done that already recently, so I count this stuff as freebies.

Next came a sample of Cream of Wheat.  Since I tend to keep a box of the regular stuff around for one of my pancake recipes, I chose to sample a new one called Cinnamon Swirl. I'm not sure why I picked that. Cinnamon seems to be giving me a bit of a problem these days so I have not tried it yet. The sample came with a 75 cent off coupon for a variety pack. I guess that's to encourage us to try other new flavours too, but I wish they would take a cue from some other companies, like Kashi, that sometimes offer $2 off.

Then I got a free copy of Kraft's What's Cooking and a catalogue from Herrschners. I've never heard of them before, so this catalogue is new to me.  It has a lot of different crafts in it, and while there is something I've been meaning go purchase, adding the shipping costs on top of that will just make me look harder for it in the shops.  If all else fails, I now know where to get it.

And lastly, my latest Yves Rocher order arrived, and, as usual, there were plenty of gifts to make up for the shipping costs of that.  Not only did they send 3 little samples, but also a full sized lipstick. I even got to pick the colour when I placed the order.  The gift for ordering within 10 days was a cute little clock.  It not only tells the time, but the temperature too. It has an alarm, and a "snooze" function, which will cycle the white part of the clock though a series of colours, lit from within. And while it does that, it plays your pick of several nature sounds.  Very cute.  I just wish the face also had some light as it's impossible to see the time in the dark.

It's been a very good week for freebies, if nothing else.  See my previous post for more on that.

Freebie Friday - Jan 25

While it was never my intention to let this Freebie Friday thing take over my blog, I am at least glad I committed to it as otherwise you would likely not have heard from me in the past month.  The only other thing I have wanted to tell you about can't be put on here yet. It's a surprise. 

I got involved in a Pay It Forward project.  Someone on Facebook offered to send something they had made to the first five people who responded, on condition that they post the same offer on their page. I jumped in with both feet, not really knowing just what it was I would create.  I just knew I wanted to do it.

I got four takers on my offer, and somehow, luckily, I got in on their offers too, so, in reality, I'm exchanging things with these four talented people.  I have now finished two of those four projects (I think) and I'm itching to show them to you. If I did that now it that would ruin the surprise, not only for those who they are intended for, but perhaps also for those whose projects I have not started yet.....even though I expect those will be somewhat different.  In the meantime, I found out I could do something I didn't know I could do...but like I said, I can't tell you yet.
So I'm here, once again, to tell you what landed in my mail box this week.  I got five free things, all of which came from the same company, in the same box.  I had put in a little order to Yves Rocher, just for a lipstick and a new bottle of liquid hand soap. They always send samples and free stuff, and I do try to wait until I like what they are offering before putting in my order, just so I feel like I'm getting something for my postage charges.  This time I think I did very well. 

I got three small samples. One was a perfume, and the others were new face products, designed to keep me young looking.  I'm looking forward to testing those out.  The company wanted to start my year out right by giving me what they referred to as my "favorite product".  I'm not sure about that, but they did pick the most expensive thing I've ordered in the past year, so I'm very happy to have a new full sized bottle of the foundation makeup I use.  And finally there was a lovely light weight fold up nylon shopping bag for my purse that they referred to as my bonus gift.  All these freebies more than covered the shipping cost. 

Now if the new creams actually make me look younger, I'll be thrilled.