Living Happily on a Shoestring: Beautiful Deals of the Day

by Christine Wilkinson

Afternoon Joe! Starting today (11/18) Starbucks is running a special holiday BOGO promotion. That’s right -- Starbucks is offering a Buy One Get One Free special. Here are the conditions: Between the hours of 2:00 – 5:00pm (you know...that time of day when you dip and need caffeine to carry you until quitting time), you can buy one of the following holiday drinks and get one of equal or lesser value for free: Peppermint Mocha Latte, Caramel Brulee Latte, Gingerbread Latte, Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha, Peppermint Hot Chocolate, Egg Nog. This promotion runs for just four days, so go soon (ends after 11/21). And the specials don't end there: a new Twelve Day promotion begins December 1st. Text 12DAYS to 29943 and each day you’ll receive a text message of Java deals! Now that our insides are feeling charged, let's think about the outside.

Here's my best tip for the day: Take advantage of Drugstore.com's 20% off all skin care products. I swear by Oil of Olay Regenerist -- as do the top consumer reports; Olay products consistently beat out those designer, fancy-schmancy lotions that sell for over $400 an ounce! Olay products at Drugstore.com are already reduced by 15%, so you get 20% on top of that.
But here's the really good part. Oil of Olay is offering a rebate for $20 cash back when you spend $50 on qualifying purchases. Click here for the page that links you to the rebate form.

Here's what I just accomplished: I ordered 5 products (that I do use and highly recommend):

1. Olay Total Effects Advanced Anti-Aging UV Skin Care
2. Olay Regenerist Thermal peel
3. Olay Regenerist UV Defense (the UV is a recurring plight of the fair-skinned Irish in me)
4. and 5.Two boxes of Olay Micro-Exfolilating Wet Cleansing Cloths

Without the the markdowns, my total would have been $72.38, but with them I just made the $50 minimum needed to qualify for the rebate. My grand total came to $50.39.

But I'm not done! As soon as that box arrives from Drugstore.com, I will fill out my rebate form pronto to get my $20 cash back.

In the end, I will have spent $30.39 on $72.38 worth of high quality skin care product (a savings of nearly 60%). And shipping is free. If you like what you've read, share this article on your Facebook page! No one should keep a good deal a secret.

Be Beautiful, But Be (Penny) Wise!



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Christine Wilkinson is a veteran middle school teacher, who holds a Master's degree in Education and is currently job hunting. Christine is also a freelance writer who has had articles published in the Raleigh News and Observer and most recently in the Washington Post. She has lived most of her adult life in the DC-Baltimore area, although she recently returned from a three year detour in the South (Raleigh, NC). She is married with a 7-year-old daughter, which prompts her to observe: "While I may be struggling in this economy, I lead a rich life blessed with a great family and amazing friends."

Christine welcomes your comments below.