PYP Blog

We all know that there are lots of ways to save money if you're willing to put forth a little time, but what about ways to save time, money and effort that don't require any extra work on your part? Here are five free time and money saving technologies that I use every day. They're seamless, easy-to-use, and take just a few minutes of setup before they become an automated everyday convenience.

1. Picasa's screenshot function. Even if you're not into Picasa's photo-editing services, I still recommend that every online shopper or online bill-payer have Picasa. Why? Because when Picasa is running, all you have to do is press the "print screen" button on your keyboard and Picasa automatically takes, saves, and files an image of your computer screen. Unfortunately, I learned about this function after my bank charged me an eighty-dollar late fee for a bill that I had paid on time, but of which they had no record and I had no proof (other than the entry I had made in my check ledger). Now I have Picasa set to automatically start whenever I turn on my computer, and I take screenshots of every order I place and every bill I pay with the press of just one button. Next time I need to consult a record of my online financial activities or an online order, it'll all be right there waiting for me with no extra effort on my part.
2. Craigslist's photos plugin. Do you shop on Craigslist? If so, you've probably spent more than a few minutes clicking on multiple search results to look at pictures of advertised items. Well click no more! This plugin from Craigstoolbox causes listing photos to load within the search results. No more clicking on every hit that contains the word "loveseat" in order to see if one of them is the color you're looking for. Just search, skim the photos that automatically load, and only click on the listings that have photos you like.
3. Library Elf. Library Elf's free basic service sends an e-mail when your items are almost due. For a scatterbrain like me, this is a huge money saver. No more late fines! To see if your library is supported, click here. And if you want additional services like notifications of books on hold or subscriptions to multiple libraries or library cards, those are available for a small annual fee.
4. 1-800-goog-411. This ad-free (and cost-free) directory service will search for and automatically connect you to any business. I barely even use Internet directories any more; it's much easier to simply dial this memorized number and tell the phone what business (Dominos? The doctor? The pediatric dentist? The craft and frame store? All the craft and frame stores?) I'd like to access. This is particularly convenient when I need to call the pediatrician and clean up kid puke at the same time.
5. 1-800-FREE-411. This service requires that you listen to an ad and it doesn't auto-connect you to your requested phone number like GOOG-411 does. However, it covers residential and government listings as well as business listings. Great for when you're out and about and you need to find a friend or government office's phone number quickly.
   

Earlier we talked about basic coupon-related lingo. This post addresses lingo that appears in the PYP forums, but isn't necessarily related specifically to couponing. Between these two posts, you should be able to decipher any forum post.

Terms related to PYP and how it functions

Admin: Any of the three administrators or owners of PYP: Thad, Karin and Shelley.
BRB: Be right back, a term used in the chat room.
Bump: Making a short post, often just using the word "bump," to cause that post to appear that the top of the forum page. Threads are usually bumped by people who have listed items in the "classifieds" section and want to remind people that those items are still available, or by an admin or moderator who wants to remind people of a rule or regulation-related thread.
Mod: Moderator

Terms related to coupon trading and discussion

BRU: Babies-R-Us coupon
BTFE: Box tops for education certificate found on General Mills packages.
CGS: Carnation Good Star formula coupon
CKS: Formula checks, discount checks sent through the mail by formula companies.
CRT: Cash register tape or receipt, often required to complete a rebate.
DCRT: Dated cash register tape, often required to complete a rebate.
DCRTC: Dated cash register tape with the price circled, often required to complete a rebate.
DND: Do not double, indicating that that coupon being discussed has a "do no double" instruction at the top of it.
ECB: Extra care bucks. Customer rewards at CVS pharmacies. Learn more here.
Feedback: A thread where PYPers who have traded with each other can leave feedback regarding how well the trade went. Each trader has his or her own feedback thread.
FL: Food Lion.
Free-standing inserts: The actual inserts that contain the weekly coupons. The three major free-standing insert types are Smart Source, Redplum, and Procter and Gamble.
FSOT: For sale or trade.
FT: For trade.
G/C: Gift card or gift certificate.
H: Haves. The "H:" preceding a list of coupong indicates that these are the coupons the person has and is willing to trade.
HBA: Health and beauty items or the health and beauty section of a store.
HDA: Hot deal alert.
HT: Harris teeter.
IDSO: In dire search of. The person really wants a particular coupon.
IP: Internet printable.
ISO: In serach of. The person would like to trade for a particular coupon.
IVDSO: The person really really wants a particular coupon.
KRU: Kids R Us coupon.
LED: Long expiration date. The coupon under discussion has a longer than average expiration date.
LTD: Usually referring to quantity available or quanitity eligible for discount or rebate.
NAZ: Name, address, zip code, describing what information a person needs in order to mail a coupon or rebate.
NED: No expiration date.
Nfp: Refund form found in newspaper.
NT WT: Net weight.
OAS: A coupon that is good on all sizes.
OOP: Out of pocket cost. What someone paid for their deal.
OSI: On a single item.
POP: Proof of purchase, usually the receipt or barcode.
PPHF: Paypal handling fee, a fee paid through paypal, usually for someone's time and effort in gathering, clipping, and mailing coupons.
Printables: Coupons you can print from the Internet
PTS: Points off of packages.
Q: Qualifier. The proof of purchase (POP) that is on the packaging of the item itself.
RAOK: Random act of kindness. Giving a coupon away.
RP: Redplum (formerly Valassis) coupon insert.
SASE: Self-addressed stamped envelope.
SCR: Single check rebates offered by RiteAid
SF: Store form. A rebate form found in the store rather than the newspaper.
SMP: Specially marked packages.
SS: SmartSource coupon insert.
Super doubles: When a store will double coupons that are greater than one dollar in value.
Sweeps: Sweepstakes form.
T/L or H/L or H: Things you have for trade.
TMF: Try me free.
Triple coupon (triples): When a store will triple a coupon's value.
TRU: Toys are us.
UPC: Universal product code.
W: Want. Coupons the person wants to trade for.
W/C: With coupon
W/L: Wish list. Coupons the person wants to trade for.
WD: Winn Dixie
WSL: While supplies last.
WYB: When you buy.
YMMV: Your mileage may vary. An offer's success is variable.

Terms commonly used in social discussion
BFF: Best friends (forever)
B/D/S/F/MIL: Brother/daughter/sister/son/father/mother-in-law
Cherry-pickers or cherry-picking: Purchasing only the lowest priced items at the best deals, often shopping at multiple stores in order to "cherry-pick" them all.
DD: Dear daughter
DH: Dear husband
DS: Dear son
DW: Dear wife (we use these terms to reference family members even if they're not particularly dear at the moment).
DR: Dave Ramsey, a personal finance expert whose advice and methods some PYP members, particularly in the financial support group (FSG), discuss and follow.
ETA: Edited to add. The person added additional comments to their original post.
Forum: Where threads are organized by topic groups.
FSG: Financial support group forum on PYP.
FWIW: For what it's worth.
FYI: For your information.
GF or BF: Boyfriend or girlfriend.
HTH: Hope this helps, usually accompanying information or explanation a person has given in response to another poster's query.
IMHO (IMO): In my (honest) opinion.
LMK: Let me know.
LOL: Laugh out loud.
OOP: Out of pocket or what someone paid for their deal.
OP: Original post, or original poster.
PLMK: Please let me know.
PM: (noun) a private message (verb) to send someone a private message
Post: Comment or new thread made in the PYP forums.
PP: Purchase price.
PYP: Pinchng Your Pennies website
PYPers: PYP members
ROFL: Rolling on the floor laughing
Siggy: User's signature line that automatically appears beneath each of their posts.
Thread: A series of posts all displayed in linear fashion in which PYPers discuss a particular topic.
SO: Significant other.
TIA: Thanks in advance.
TMI: Too much information. This term is usually used to warn other PYPers that the thread contains information of a more-than-usually personal, medical, biological, or sexual nature.
TTYL: Talk to you later. Used in the PYP chat room.
WB: Welcome back. Used in the PYP chat room.

Thank you to PYP mod momtonathandtwins. Discussion here.


MAY
20 - Free Chocolate Malt Swirl Shake with any sandwich purchase
27 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase

JUNE
3 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
10 - Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
17 - Free Regular Sidekickers® with any sandwich purchase
24 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase

JULY
1 - Free Regular Beef 'n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase
8 - Free Orange Cream Swirl Shake with any sandwich purchase
15 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
22 - Free Roastburger with any soft drink purchase
29 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase

AUGUST
5 - Free Regular Roast Beef with any soft drink purchase
12 - Free Roast Chicken Club with any soft drink purchase
19 - Free Iced FruiTea with any sandwich purchase
26 - Free Regular Beef 'n Cheddar with any soft drink purchase

(As always, check with your local restaurant to see IF they are participating.)

From: http://www.utarideshare.com/displayFull.asp?articleID=102

Bring the entire family and join us once again at Gallivan Plaza in downtown Salt Lake City Friday, May 15 for an evening of fun, food and prizes! From 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. visit vendor and information booths, have your bike tuned, and pick up your packet for the Salt Lake Century Ride.
Free helmets will be given away to the first 75 kids, and prize drawings will be held approximately every 15 minutes for a variety of prizes including helmets and cycling gloves courtesy of Salt Lake City Bicycle Company.

Enjoy a slice of Pappa John's Pizza and stop by our Creamies Ice Cream booth while you check out the various activities taking place all evening. A student Bicycle Art display will be placed throughout the venue. From 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. take part or just enjoy watching the Tricycle Time Trials. This event is for kids of ALL ages and will be held in the arena area. Starting at 5:30 p.m. until approximately 7:00 p.m. you can demo modified bicycles at the Cyclo Show and Go. Note: Waivers and helmets are required of all who demo these bikes.

And, at 7:00 p.m. Utah's very first Cycle Style Show will take place and will feature a variety of bicycles, and the latest in cycling and commuter apparel and gear. Come see how easy it is to ride your bike to work and be stylish at the same time!

At approximately 7:30 p.m. (after style show) prizes will be awarded to the student bike art contest winners! We will also a hold the drawings for the following prizes:


* Electric Bike Kit by Eco Moto

* Two bicycles courtesy of Specialized

* Cargo Bike courtesy of Madsen Cycle

For information about other Utah Bike Month events taking place in Utah visit the new bike month website.

Bike Bonanza contact - Pat Dierks -801.287.2062 or pdierks@rideuta.com.


www.utahbikemonth.com

My 13 y.o. daughter told me about this cool freebie (sometimes we do communicate)! Today only, you can download Coldplay's new LIVE album FREE from Coldplay.com

Looks great!

Does this sound like Latin to you?

"Help! I'm IVDSO the mfr. .75/1 Kraft coupons from SS 4/16. H: Doublers from Albertsons 4/16 and assorted MIRs and beer rebates. PM me?"

If that made your head spin, you're not alone. Even us veteran couponers remember a time when that kind of talk made us feel like we had just walked into, well, strange-coupon-talkville. Don't worry though. Here's your language dictionary to help you make meaning of this crazy coupon code. The next post will address some of the forum related and PYP specific terms so that you'll be able to follow any conversation you stumble across. Enjoy, and we look forward to having you be fluent in the language of massive savings! As always, comment with any questions and I'll be sure to answer quickly.

TYPES OF COUPONS:

Blinkie: A manufacturer coupon that is found in red or black machines with blinking red lights on them attached to store shelves.
Catalina/Register Rewards/ECB/Checkout Coupon: These all refer to a coupon that prints from a small machine next to the cash register when you buy certain products. Different stores call them different names, but they're all the same thing.
Doubler: A coupon which allows the consumer to have the discount provided by a manufacturer (mfr.) coupon doubled. Thus, a couponer might say that she "combined doubler with a 75 c/o coupon to get a 1.50 discount.
Hangtag: A manufacturer coupon hanging around the neck of a product.
Mailer: A store or manufacturer coupon that was mailed to consumers.
Mfr/mfg: A manufacturer coupon, usually found in the newspaper insert.
MIR: Mail-in rebate, a piece of paper that must be filled out and mailed to the company, usually with your cash register receipt, in order to get a check for the advertised discount.
Insert coupon: A coupon that was found in the inserts in the Sunday newspaper.
Peelie: A manufacturer coupon in the form of a sticker on a product.
Printable: Coupon that can be printed from the Internet. Printable coupons cannot be photocopied.
Store Coupon: A coupon offered by the store as opposed to the manufacturer. These are most often found in store flyers and advertisements, and can also be received in mailers. Store coupons can generally be combined ("stacked") with manufacturer (mfr.) coupons.
Winetag: A coupon found on a wine bottle. Winetags are either NWPN (no wine purchase necessary, meaning that you don't need to buy a bottle of wine to use the coupon) or WPN (wine purchase necessary, meaning that you must buy wine in addition to the advertised item in order to use the coupon).

COUPON-USE VOCABULARY
B1G1: The coupon offer is that when you buy one of an item, you get a second of that item for free.
c/o: The coupon item is for cents off the item, as in "75 c/o" or a "c/o coupon"
OYNO: On your next order. Describes register reward/catalina coupons which are good for a discount on your next purchase at the store that dispensed the coupon.
PG: Proctor and Gamble insert. Usually distributed on the first Sunday or each month, but sometimes more often.
Rolling a catalina or register reward coupon: Buying an item which triggers (causes to be printed) a coupon good on the same item that caused the coupon to print, and then using that coupon to purchase the item at a discounted rate, thus causing yet another coupon to print.
RP: Redplum insert. Less commonly distributed than the Smart Source insert, the Redplum insert is not available in all areas.
Stack: Using a manufacturer coupon with a store coupon on the same item for a greater discount. Manufacturer coupons cannot be stacked with each other.
SS: Smart Source coupon insert. This is the most commonly distributed and usually the largest insert.
TMF: Try me free. A mail-in rebate (MIR) for the full cost of the item, intended to let the consumer try to item for free by refunding the customer the full cost of the item.

TERMS RELATED TO STORES, PROMOTIONS AND SALES
AC: After coupon. The advertised price is available after the use of a store coupon (defined above), usually found in the store's weekly ad.
Albies: Albertsons
B1G1: As with coupons, this indicates that the promotion is to buy one of an item and get a second of that item free.
FM: Fred Meyer, an Idaho-based Kroger store.
RC: Raincheck, a paper which states the the store will honor the advertised price on a sale item they were out of.
WSL: While supplies last, meaning no rainchecks will be given on the sale item.
WM: Wal-Mart
YMMV: Your mileage my vary. The success of the deal will depend on factors like sales and coupon policies at the store.

Ready for more? See Couponese 102: Social and Trading Lingo

Donating to one's local food bank or communtiy food pantry is easy through this prgram.

1. Simply place non-perishable food items in a grocery sack (many letter carriers already have providied these) by your mailbox on Sat. May 9th.
2. Your letter carrier will pick up your sack and others in your neighbhood to be delievered to your local food bank. Here they will stay in our to help feed our own.

To help out our local food banks and be sure that our postal carriers have something to pick up today, PYP's blog is having a little contest. SHARE YOUR STORIES! In the comment section today!

The best story of donation, whether funny, original, crazy or just heartfelt will be our winner. Usual PYP rules apply with a few more, incl:

*must be a PYP member with at least 25 posts
*the incident/story must be told here (Not forums) in the comment section of this blog entry
*no obscene language, profanity, tall tales, etc.
*story must be TRUE
*story must be from this year
*a team of judges made up from PYP food bank experts will be making the final call
*all decisions are final
*deadline for submission is Sunday 12 noon MDT

There will be 3 prizes (small but FUN!)

1st- $15 Target Gift card
2nd- $10 Albertsons Gift card
3rd- $5 Target Gift Card

Good luck and lets open our hearts and our usable food storage!

Please note: This is a repost of a blog entry that I posted on 4/6, but since summer is a month closer AND I believe the tickets are NOW on sale, the information is now more revelant.

It might seem early to some to start thinking of cheap summer entertainment for the kids, but this movie program is one of my family's favorite and is a yearly tradition.

Details at the Cinemark website, but here are the basics:

The Cinemark Movie Theater chains offer this great deal. All movies are all G or PG flicks, most are animated.

•10 Weeks Of Fun Films For Kids•
•A Different Movie Every Week•
•Weekday Mornings This Summer•
*$5 pass for all 10 movies or $1 per individual movies*
($5 Series punch cards are limited and are available while supplies last.
Admission with a series punch card is limited to one person per card per movie.)

Check out website for a theater near you and movie schedules.

There will be a FREE PYP coupon class this Thursday, May 7th at 7 pm at the Standard-Examiner building in Ogden. (332 Standard Way, Ogden)

Call Mike Eames at 801-625-4415 or email him at meames@standard.net to reserverve you seat.

This is a fabulous opportunity to learn more about saving money with coupons and shopping smart, or to introduce your friends and family to couponing!

These classes are a lot of fun and very informative. PLUS there will be a fantastic grocery give-away!

PYP's Discussion thread!

Hope to see you there, and bring a friend!

This is one of the BEST internet printable/online freebies I have seen in a while.

ENJOY!

FREE 2 pc. KFC grilled chicken meal
(includes 2 sides and a biscuit)

Printable coupon at this link:

http://www.unthinkfc.com/

The site is currently allowing you to print 4 coupons! (Be sure to play by the rules, heed the limit 4 per household. Thanks!)

Valid 5/5/09-5/19/09 (excluding Mother's Day)

Post has been edited to add PYP discussion thread, particularly helpful IF one is having printing issues.

Many, many thanks to Superstar PYP moderator Deweyville for keeping atop all of these great printable cpns. (Please check with your local market to make sure they will accept internet printable cpns.)

* HOT May coupons have reset! Sites like coupons.com, Smartsource.com, Pillsbury & Betty Crocker items. Discussion & links!

* $1/1 Wet One Wipes. Link & PYP discussion.

* $1/1 Kelloggs Cereals (huge variety available) Link & PYP discussion.

* $1/1 Starbucks Frappuccino 9.5 oz beverages. Link & PYP discussion.

* $1/12 pack of Cherry 7-Up Link & PYP discussion

* $1/2 Treetop Juice (Use at Albies to get $ .50/ 3 pack juice boxes. These are on sale til 6/4/09) Link & PYP discussion

Be sure to check out PYP's Printable Cpn Forum daily to see all the HOT internet printable coupons available. This will ensure that you don't miss out on ANY of the great deals that PYP's best and brightest have found for us. Again, thanks Dewey!

I've missed you all so much while on my blogging haitus, but I'm back and I'm excited to talk about one of my favorite topics: secondhand shopping!

This video is part one of a three-part series on how to maximize this year's yard sale season. The first two parts are on how you can hold a successful yard sale. This part focuses on advertising, which is a surprisingly important part of holding your yard sale. I hope it helps, and let us know how your yard sale goes!

As a thank you, the Utah Museum of Natural History is offering FREE admission tomorrow, Monday May 4th. (this one is ongoing the 1st Monday of each month! My family did this last month and had a blast! Be sure to check out the new Todally Frogs Exhibit. Way cool!) Details Also note, how to park free!
AND

The Utah Museum of Fine Arts is offering FREE admission on Wednesday May 6th. Details (look under Museum Accessibility for exact details/limitations)

For MORE ideas of FREE activities in Salt Lake county and the Wasacth Front, check out NowPlayingUtah.com Lots of fun summer activities coming up!

There will be 3 coupon inserts in Sunday May 3rd's newspapers. 1 SmartSource, 1 Red Plum & 1 Proctor & Gamble. Might be a good week for multiple copies of the paper.

Thanks to PYP mod Kristi for the heads up about Walgreens May Register Rewards. Check out the deals!

Thanks to PYP member Pamcamrillo for posting this:

Text the word "ROASTBURGER" to 27297 and receive a coupon on your cell phone for a free roastburger with any soft drink purchase.

you must show on your cell phone the coupon received via text message at any participating Arby's in order to redeem. Offer expires 5/31/2009

Original thanks goes to PYP member PinkyPoodles for posting this, but the state of Utah is offering an online at home preschool called UPSTART. Currently the program is at 60% capacity.

Details from the Salt Lake Tribune:

UPSTART has room for 1,300 kids, including 390 students from low-income families who can also temporarily get computers for free. So far, about 60 percent of the program's slots are filled, said Kathy Maksimov, product management director for Waterford Institute, the Utah-based company that created the game.

Children ages 4 and 5 are supposed to use the program for 15 minutes a day, five days a week, until they enter kindergarten. A cast of cartoon characters guide kids through short exercises about counting, sorting, letter sounds and vocabulary, among other things.

Testimonials from parents who are using or about to use the FREE program:

Some families have already started using UPSTART and couldn't be happier about it.

"It's great -- totally interactive," said Brenden's mom, Rebecca Gleason, as her son recently went through his UPSTART exercises for the day -- spelling his name, counting, learning how to read a calendar. She's hoping the program, combined with preschool, will help prepare Brenden for kindergarten, where he will be one of the youngest students in his class. She said her son wakes up in the morning asking when he can use the program.

Parent Jeanne Hock said she's eager for her daughter to start using UPSTART, which is scheduled to arrive at her door any day now. Unlike Brenden, Hock's daughter will be one of the oldest children in her class when she begins kindergarten in fall 2010. Hock's daughter is already 4 years old, and her mom wants to make the most out of the year she has left before kindergarten.

"She really has a love for learning, and I thought, 'Why not feed it?' " Hock said. "If something is free and educational for your child, it can't be all that bad."

There is criticism from the Utah Education Association as the funding of this program could be used to fund teacher salaries, supplies of existing school programs OR other UEA approved educational goals.

But in this blogger's opinion, the verdict is still out and let's give UPSTART a chance.

Interested in enrolling your preschooler? To find out more go to http://www.utahupstart.org or call 1-800-669-4533.