Summer has started and the kids will soon be out of school. now begins the quest for our Annual Budget Friendly Summer Outing.

I am on the fence right now but I am thinking African Lion Safari or The Toronto Zoo.  African Lion Safari is $29.95 plus HST per adult and $24.95 plus HST per child. It would cost my family of four $124.07 just to walk through the gate.  Add in the cost to take the tour buses through the park for an additional $4.95 per adult and $4.75 per child.  The tour bus may seem optional but I always think it’s a a must do for the trip.  Discounts are available through Costco, so I’ve heard, but overall this is still a pricey outing.

Speaking of discounts, CAA is excellent place (if you’re a member) to get attraction tickets at reduced prices.  While researching for the Toronto Zoo I found out that I can receive and additional 10% off regular Zoo Admission at the gate.  The Zoo seems to be the most budget friendly of the two choices I have in mind.  With adult admission at $23.00 and the child admission at only $13.00 my family of four can travel there for $72.  Even add on the $10 cost of parking at the zoo and extra gas to get to and from I am sill saving the amount of an admission ticket.

Additional thoughts for savings:

• Pack a lunch
• Set a limit on souvenirs BEFORE you go
• Make it a group outing (carpool)
• Hit the Library before going for commuting activities
• Load up the iPod with facts and trivia related to the location you are going (virtual tour guide?)

There are of course some places I simply cant even begin to come to terms with the cost versus the reward.  My best example, and feel free to disagree below, is Marineland.  Don’t get me wrong I would love to take my girls there and they have seen the commercial enough time to be begging for it but the cost? In my opinion it is far too much considering the experiences in the park.

What are your summer outings and how do you save?

Save 20% on your next $50 purchase or 30% on your next $75 purchase.

Sale ends July 17th, 2011, in-store or online.

We’re right into Bridal Shower/Bachelorette Season, so great time to pick up something for the Bride-To-Be in your life…and maybe even something for yourself!

Click here to start shopping.

Until this Friday, June 24th, purchase an unlimited number of coupons, for $24/each for $50 worth of merchandise redeemable in-store at any FCUK store across Canada. Purchase as many “coupons” as you want, but you can only use a max. of 2 per purchase on regular priced merch only.

Coupons expire September 30th, 2011.
***email actually states, 31st, but I guess they mean the end of Sept.***

This is a great deal if you were planning to buy something anyway &/OR know someone who likes FCUK.

Click here to purchase coupons and to see a list of all the FCUK locations in Canada!

Yeah for free cereal!  Shreddies is giving away boxes of their cereal via Facebook.  This freebie is sure to go very quickly once it goes live so be ready.  You have to “Like” their page in order to get this promotion.  It’s going to link you to a websaver page to order your coupon.  They also have a section on their page with recopies that is pretty good, you can check it out while you wait for this awesome freebie to go live!  Thought I should give everyone the early heads up on this one!

Click here to go to the Shreddies Facebook page.

Thanks to vincent17 for posting this freebie nice and early for us!

This is an exciting promo to announce because in involves one of my favourite companies and charity!

Starting at noon, on June 23rd, in-store and online, 100% of Kiehl’s proceeds will go towards the Canadian Association of Pediatric Oncology Camps (CAPOC/ACCPO). Promotion will last 160 minutes.

I received an email about it yesterday and confirmed with Kiehl’s Canada’s Facebook page. I’m currently confirming on whether or not gift certificates are included as well. I’ll keep you posted!

It is always great to hear that such a big company is donating their proceeds to a charity. And personally, this promo is quite timely as there are some things that I’ve been wanting to get, so this just makes me DO IT, during this specific date/time frame!

Click here to read about the charity!

And here to do some pre-shopping before tomorrow’s window!

Update: Just confirmed by Kiehl’s Canada’s Facebook page, gift certificates are included as a part of the donation!

Meow Mix is offering a free cup of their market select cat food.

” Sign up for the latest Meow Mix* news, promotions and special offers including a FREE Meow Mix* Market Select* cup. Your cat will love this great mix of tastes -and it’s on the house!”

Click here to sign up

 Thanks Angala for the heads up

(And please don’t say, “crisp”! 😉 )

I am at a “coffee crossroads”. After a terrible cup of Joe this morning, using a stovetop espresso maker, some changes have got to be made. I’ll admit that I chintzed out on the coffee, pre-ground by President’s Choice. So I’m sure that a bulk of my issue stems from the grinds themselves!

Despite the sub-par grinds, the espresso maker itself leaves some kind of an aftertaste, so I need a new brewing method. I am the core coffee drinker in my house, and lately, I find that it is even difficult for me to go through 0.5lb bag within the 2 weeks that it remains “fresh”, after opening. <– This is according to a friend who is a manager at Starbucks.

So keeping this all in mind, what’s the best way for me to brew fresh coffee? In addition to better beans, should I switch to a Bodum, brewing 1 cup at a time? (Cleaning all those soaked grounds is sorta gross!) Are Keurig/Tassimo machines cost-efficient in the long run, factoring in the cost of those discs? (I am also skeptical that fresh coffee can come out of those sealed, preserved pods.) As the lone drinker in my house, it’s safe to say that an industrial size, expensive, Italian-made coffee machine that grinds/brews is out of the question!

So to all the coffee drinkers, how do you ensure a perfect cup for yourself?

Until June 30th, receive 15% off your purchase when you enter the code: MAKEOVERCA.

Apparently, AA has just redesigned their website, so they want you to check out their new features!

Click here to start your shopping!

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, June 22nd – Monday, July 4th, Sporting Life will be holding a massive tent sale with 50-70% off their regular prices.

They’re renovating their Yonge/Eg location, adding a second floor, so I guess they’re trying to recoup some of their loss!

When
June 22nd – July 4th
***Actual store will be closed on Canada Day, Friday, July 1st, but tent will be open 10am-5pm***
Monday – Friday open from 9:30am-9pm
Saturday from 9am-6pm
Sunday from 10am-6pm

Where
2665 Yonge St., Toronto, 6 blocks N of Eglinton

From now until Friday June 24 you can save 20% on your entire purchase at Michael’s.  This includes sale items but not clearance ones. I bought a lot of stuff at Michael’s when I was getting stuff together for my wedding and again for my baby shower.  Saved a ton of money doing invitations, favors and all the other party stuff this way and all their coupons helped too.

Click here to print your coupon.

Hurry on over to the Living Well website to sign up for the newest trial offer.  This time it’s for Nicorette Extreme Chill Gum.  There are 9863 left at the time of this post, but they will go very quickly, so if you are interested don’t dilly dally!  I believe you have to log into your account to get it, but you can register for an account for free if you don’t already have one.

Click here to go to the Trial Offer at Living Well.

*Try this one in IE (Internet Explorer).  The security code doesn’t seem to like other browsers.

Yeah, new Pampers Coupons!  There are 4 new coupons available through Pampers and Brandsaver:

• $1.oo off Pampers wipes
• $2.00 off Baby Dry, Swaddlers or Cruisers
• $4.00 when you buy any diapers and wipes
• $4.50 off Easy Ups, UnderJams or Splashers

With Summer here we can really use the Splashers coupons.  If you can get the 2 for $20 sale at Walmart and can get your hands on 2 of the $4.50 coupons, you’ve got a fantastic deal!  Hopefully the Canada Post strike ends soon so we can all start getting our coupons again.

Click here to order your Pampers coupons.

Thanks to quebe for finding and posting these coupons!

To celebrate the Summer Solstice, Old Navy is giving us all a discount of 24% on all online purchases.  This coupon does work on sale and clearance priced items (just gave that a go to make sure).  All you have to do is fill your shopping cart and enter coupon code SOLSTICE24 at checkout.  So easy and so awesome!  Also, shipping is free on orders over $50.

Click here to shop at Old Navy Canada.

*Offer valid until July 3, 2011 in-store only at all Chapters, Indigo, Coles, Indigospirit, World’s Biggest Bookstore, Smithbooks, and The Book Company, except in the province of Alberta. Free book or magazine must be of equal or lesser value. Excludes eBooks and newspapers.

Since the free book/magazine has to be of equal or lesser value, it would be best to get four items priced equally, which works out to be 25% off your purchase. If you have an iRewards card, you’ll save an extra 10%.

“Like” Always on Facebook and receive a coupon for a free box of Always Infinity pads. Limit of 20,000 coupons. One per household, multiple submissions will not be acknowledged. Must be 18 or older. Not available in Quebec.

Click here to get your coupon.

Thanks shopeasy!