Freebies and free stuff

EDIT: This is no longer available.

When signing up for this free Secret Clinical Strength deodorant, it asks why you don’t currently use the product and one of the options is “I don’t know what clinical is.” Is there a clinic somewhere with nothing but people in lab coats sniffing underarms? If so, how do I make sure to never get that job? Can I just put that on my resume?

• Hard worker
• Learns new tasks quickly
• Doesn’t enjoy sniffing armpits

[thanks Amber!]

EDIT: Samples are no longer available.

I’ll admit I got excited when I saw this free Old Spice Odor Blocker body wash sample this morning. Why? It probably has something to do with their commercials. I can’t get enough of them. At least ten times a day I randomly scream “Building kick! Explosioooooon!”

I still can’t figure out why I’m single.

[thanks Deal Seeking Mom!]

If you have a texting plan on your cell phone, text 1795 to 283-786 and you’ll receive a Jose Cuervo recipe along with a link to a website where they’re giving away Jose Cuervo freebies. Oh man, don’t talk about alcohol right now. Let’s just say that after hanging out with my mom last night, I’m craving some major hangover food right now.

The freebies change daily, but you can sign up once per week through September 15. Today’s options include:

• Margarita Shakers
• Salt Rimmer
• Music Download
• $5 mail in rebate coupon on Jose Cuervo Especial Gold

Past freebies have included margarita glasses and pitchers as well. I suspect that they have a verification system in place to see if people have actually texted them or not, but feel free to try your luck if you don’t have a cell phone.

Also, the giveaway is void in TX and TN, which seems like a shame. I have a feeling people in those states enjoy Margaritas just as much as the rest of us.

[thanks Zachary and Sabra!]

John Frieda has given away hair care for brunettes and red heads in the past, but now blonds can get in on the action with some free Sheer Blonde hair care.

I can never tell what color my hair is. Is it brown or black? Then I start to wonder if I see colors like everybody else. What if my version of green is really purple to others? Heck, what else does my body interpret incorrectly?! Five hours later, I’m usually curled up in a fetal position and muttering to myself.

[thanks to everybody who sent this in!]

EDIT: Here’s a link to the new Sample Showcase site. If you received one, I’d suggest filling out their “survey” to help encourage them to send more of these in the future.

Like many others, I received my Sample Showcase pack this week and oh yeah! I don’t know who at the US Postal Office came up with this idea, but give them a raise. On second thought, go ahead and promote them straight to Postmaster General. They can then use their new power to slowly replace junk mail and bills with nothing but bountiful freebies.

The Showcase isn’t available anymore. In fact, I think it was a trial run or something, but trust me, I’ll keep an eye out for it’s (hopeful) return.

Freebies Received

• US Postal Office Sample Showcase
• Secret Clinical Strength deodorant
• Aveeno Positively Ageless lotion
• Aveeno Positively Ageless night cream
• Shower to Shower Sport body powder
• Shower to Shower Shimmer Effects body powder
• Splenda sweetener
• Aveeno Nourish+ Moisurize shampoo
• Aveeno Nourish+ Moisurize conditioner
• Dove peanut butter chocolate bar
• Two Nescafe Taster’s Choice instant coffee
• McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak marinade
• Bengay Moist Heat therapy
• Shutterfly Wink photo bookmark
• May 17, 2010 issue of OK Magazine
• June 2010 issue of Woman’s Day magazine
• June 2010 issue of Town & Country magazine
• May 2010 issue of Harvard Business Review magazine

So, did anybody else get the Showcase pack or something else they enjoyed?

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, so if you’re like me, you have one day to start shopping. If you’re struggling to find a gift, you can always start by using some of the gift-worthy coupons listed below (like the Ghirardelli chocolates or Good Earth tea). Whatever you do, don’t get your mom the Nivea Good-Bye Cellulite lotion as a gift…believe me, I learned the hard way!

Grocery Coupons

Aquafina: $1/1 six-pack of Aquafina FlavorSplash flavored water [ff] [ie]

Dole: $0.75/1 pack of Dole Fruit Crisp bowls [ff] [ie]

Drumstick: $1/1 box of Nestle Drumstick Lil’ Drums

Ghirardelli: $1/2 bags of new Ghirardelli Intense dark chocolate squares

Good Earth: $1/1 box of Good Earth tea

Morningstar Farms: $1/1 Morningstar Farms vegetarian product

Pepperidge Farms: $0.55/1 pack of Pepperidge Farm Deli Flats thin rolls

Starbucks: $1/2 pints of Starbucks ice cream

T.G.I. Friday’s: $2/1 Complete Skillet Meal [ff] [ie]

Tropicana: $1/1 Tropicana Pure Premium or Trop50 juice carton (59 oz)

Wholly Guacamole: $1/1 container of Wholly Guacamole or Salsa

Health & Beauty Coupons

Bic: $2/1 pack of select Bic Soleil razors for women [ff] [ie]

Nivea: $2/1 Nivea Good-Bye Cellulite product

Retail Coupons

Bath & Body Works: $10/$30 coupon expires 5/9

Bloomingdales: $25/$100 coupon expires 5/9 [thanks Be Centsable!]

JCPenney: $10/$50 or $15/75 coupon expires 5/9

Michaels: 40% off any regular price item expires today, 5/8!

Yankee Candle: $10/$25 coupon expires 5/9

Miscellaneous Coupons

Armor All: $2/1 Armor All auto care product when you “like” Armor All on Facebook

Meow Mix: $1/3 Meow Mix market select cups [ff] [ie]

EDIT: This is now dead, but hopefully it comes back soon like before.

Walmart has a new free Dove hair care sample available. This was actually available yesterday, but then died while I was in the middle of typing up a post, so this might go quick again today.

Isn’t calling this “hair care” a little redundant? Does Dove even have a hair product that does anything but care for your hair? I’m not sure I’d want to use a shampoo that would bleach my hair, frizz it up, and then make it fall out.

If you’re interested in any of the freebie below, make sure you check out the corresponding links to see if there are any required coupons.

Bob Evans: BOGO wrap, side, and beverage priced at $5.99. Make sure to like them on Facebook so you can print the coupon.

Champps: Mom’s not only get a free BOGO meal, but they also get a $165 gift card that lets them get a free meal, up to $15, each month through April 2011.

Colgate: Enter to win one of 50,000 free 10 minute phone cards and for the grand prize of free phone calls for a year. It took me a whopping two days to win.

Denny’s: This free pancake puppies sundae doesn’t look even remotely healthy. But to heck with it, spoil yourself since it’s a holiday!

Hydromassage: Get a free massage at over 900 participating locations.

IKEA: Mom’s get a free Mother’s Day breakfast, which consists of a coffee, potatoes, eggs, and bacon. If I was making it, it’d also include egg shells, plastic wrap from the bacon, and probably some coffee grounds.

Pei Wei: Take in this coupon for a BOGO entree.

Ruby Tuesday: Reserve a table for Mother’s day and receive a free mystery gift. Will it be a coupon? A free meal? All we know is that it won’t be a wooden spoon, which is great because the last thing my mom needs is something new to hit me with.

Six Flags: Coldstone has teamed up with Six Flags to let folks buy any park tickets for the price of a kids ticket! You can use them through Oct. 11, but there’s a limit of four per customer.

Smokey Bones: Mom’s get a free meal with the purchase of another meal.

Tasti D-Lite: Mom’s get a free small cup or cone, but unfortunately they only have locations in a few states.

TCBY: Moms can stop by and get a free cup or cone of frozen yogurt. Call ahead to make sure your local store is participating.

There are a lot of regional companies that are offering freebies and deals as well. Check out this Slick Deals thread to see a rather comprehensive list of them all.

Thanks to everybody who sent in some of these!

EDIT: This is no longer available.

Does anyone else ever get a free pedometer and then vigorously shake it for a few minutes to make it look like they’ve been more active than they have? No, just me? Okay, carry on.

Being that today is Friday, it’s Mega Swagbucks Day. Basically, on Fridays, they ramp up the number of prizes awarded throughout the day. However, as a bonus to people who haven’t already registered, you can also enter code SWAGNATION5 while signing up and get an additional batch of 50 free points. The code expires today at 3:00 EST, so don’t procrastinate like I would!

Never heard of Swagbucks? Check out this review we did on the site. Long story shorts, it’s Google + prizes. Every time you search for something on Swagbucks, you have the opportunity to win points. Those points can then be saved and cashed out for prizes like Amazon giftcards or money via Paypal.