Checkout 51 iPhone App Review

I am always looking for ways to save money on our groceries, from coupons, to shopping sales, bulk foods and meat orders. We usually stick to our small food budget for the week and still have plenty of tasty food. Recently I was introduced to another way to save money while out grocery shopping. This is a bit different from the usual and it is only available to Canada and at the moment iPhone users - Checkout 51.

This is a user friendly app that has specials each week starting on Thursday at 12am EST. Getting started is very easy, add the app to your iPhone, sign in with a Facebook account or make an account with an email address.  

Check each week for the products that are available to save money on. It is sort of like couponing but you don't clip you just need to save your receipt. Then you upload a photo of your receipt in the app and check off which products are on that receipt. Each product can be claimed only once during the time frame (Thursday - Wednesday). You can use it even if you use a coupon in store or the item is on sale, add bonus!

When your account hits $20 you will be mail a cheque!

This week you can save on the following:  

• Delissio pizza, any variety, excludes garlic breads. Cash back: $1.50
• Tostitos Salsa, any size, excludes dips and Salsa Con Queso. Cash back: $1.00
• Popchips, 85 g or more, any flavour. Cash back: $1.00
• Club House products, any Club House product. Cash back: $0.50
• Unico olives, 375 mL or more in cans or jars. Cash back: $0.50
• Gay Lea Sour Cream, 250 mL or more, any variety. Cash back: $0.50 
• Carnation Evaporated Milk, 370 mL, any variety. Cash back: $0.50
• French's Mustard, any variety. Cash back: $0.50
• Ocean Spray Cranberry Cocktail, 1.89 L or more, any flavour. Cash back: $0.50
• VH sauces, any variety. Cash back: $0.50

My thoughts: I find this to be a super easy app to use and a great way to add some extra savings to our grocery budget. I figure with the check we will either add it to our savings/date night or throw it back into groceries when we want to spend a bit more or have a special meal. It is a 3 step process - check app, shop and submit receipt, just minutes. Also the people behind Checkout 51 have been super nice and helpful. They quickly helped me fix my account after losing my facebook (which is how I signed into the app).
 
Grab the Free app on iTunes today. Don't forget to follow Checkout 51 on Twitter @Checkout51 and on Facebook.

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Online Shopping Tips for the Summer

Every fashionista knows that the best shopping deals are found online. No need to pound the proverbial pavement looking for the biggest saves on all of the things you want to buy; just grab your laptop and your credit card. In addition to being more convenient and more economical, shopping online also gives you the ability to compare prices from many different sellers at once. For more tips on how to be stylish and thrifty, keep reading.

Set a spending limit for yourself. First things first; make sure you put a cap on how much you plan to spend before you open the web browser. Getting carried away on a virtual shopping spree is just as easy as doing it in person. Especially when you’re sifting through so many great “deals,” it can be easy to forget how much you’re racking up on your credit cards.

Sign up for sale alerts. This is like having a personal shopper without having to pay for one. If you find an online retailer that you really love, join their email list so that you know when virtual shopping sales take place. In some cases, you can even get sale alerts for a particular item so that you know when the price has been slashed. No more agonizing over when you’ll be able to afford that chiffon blouse or those snake skin pumps!

Try finding the same item on other web sites. Another great tactic to use is to search for a particular clothing item, accessory, or home appliance using a common search engine such as Google. You will get thousands of hits, and with any luck, one of those search results will take you to another online merchant who sells the same thing for a lower price.

Use Ebay, Overstock, or Amazon. From electronics to clothing items, these sites most likely have exactly what you are searching for for less. Sites like Overstock take advantage of the deep merchant discounts that they get and pass them on to consumers. And Amazon and Ebay allow regular people to post brand new and slightly used items that they no longer want or need so that others who can benefit from them have a place to buy them.

Always shop securely. No matter what sites you choose to shop with, always make sure that their system is secure from fraudsters who would love to get their hands on your credit cards or prepaid credit cards. Look for a padlock either in the status bar or the address bar and/or a web address that begins with “https://”. These are signs that it is safe to enter your card information to finalize a purchase.

Now that you’re well-versed on how to shop responsibly, you can indulge in your spending habit without worry.

 

~*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored guest post written by ratesupermarket.ca*~

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Empire Theatre Holiday Gift Idea

Yikes only 12 more shopping days left before Christmas! Are you ready? I always say this year will be different. I will be done shopping and wrapped the week before Christmas. So do you think I am ready? No, I still have 3 more people to buy for and stocking stuffers to get.

Why am I behind this year? Well it's just some people are hard to buy for. We are having a hard time figuring out what to get my father in law. He is the man that has everything. For his birthday this year we opted for a Home Depot gift card. This went over really well as he love Home Depot and can now take a trip to one of his favorite stores and choose what he wants and needs.

I have also thought maybe the best thing for my brother in law is a gift card. I used to think gift cards where not a good gift at all. I used to feel that a person really didn't take the time to be creative and come up with a great gift. Now that I am older I have a great appreciation to gift cards!

Speaking of gift cards, Empire Theatres is offering a great gift idea for that movie lover on your list! How about the couple with a new baby or young children that is on your list. What better gift than a date night idea, add in an I owe you a night of free babysitting while they use the gift card. I would also give the coupon booklet to the couple and it may just be an extra push to get out for more date nights.

Pick up the Holiday Duo - Buy 30, Get 30 from Empire Theatres. When you buy a $30 Gift card you will receive a bonus coupon booklet worth $30. If you buy $60 worth of gift cards you will get 2 coupon booklets. What a great deal!

The Coupon booklet includes:

• BOGO Admission (January 9 to January 31,2012)
• $2.00 off any Combo - excluding Kid's Pack (January 9 to January 31,2012)
• $9.99 (Admission, Regular Drink, Small Popcorn) (February 1st to February 29th,2012)
• Buy a Large Popcorn, get a Large Drink Free (March 1st to March 31st,2012)
• $6.99 General Admission (March 1st to March 31st,2012)
• Get $4.00 off a General Admission Ticket (April 1st to April 30th,2012)

The Holiday gift tin is available this year to wrap your gift cards in. It sells for $1.00 plus taxes with net proceeds going to the Kids Help Phone.

Can't get out to Empire Theatres to pick up the Holiday Duo for your gift, it is available online until December 18th,2012. I love to shop online instead of battling the crazy stores this time of year. If you do have time to make it to the theatre it is available until December 24th,2012 to be picked up!

Want to join in on the conversation on Twitter? Use hashtag #EmpireHolidays and Follow @EmpireTheatres.

 
~*Disclaimer: This post was written by Canadian Coupon Mom. I am participating in the Empire Theatre Gift Card Holiday Campaign by Mom Central Canada. I received compensation for my participation in this campaign. All opinions are honest and my own.*~

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