There’s not much happening at CVS this week, although I’m looking forward to some free cereal:

Kashi Go Lean Cereal, 2/$6
Use $3/1 from the Vocalpoint home mailer (I got TWO of these coupons!)
Final cost=both FREE after coupons!

Love getting coupons or samples in the mail? Here are some programs you might want to be a part of, if you’re not already signed up:

Vocalpoint - Vocalpoint is a community for women that provides valuable and interesting insights about new products, surveys, daily tips, articles, and coupons/samples. In the last month, I have received high dollar and/or FREE coupons for Kashi cereal (two different kinds!), information on the FluMist, information about a new iPhone application called “DinnerTool.com” even though I don’t have an iPhone, and in today’s mail, I just received a sample (and several $2 coupons!) for Secret Clinical deodorant! I’m also expecting a sample of Olay Professional Pro-X anyday. If I had been faster in responding to my email, I could have received a sample of the new Bounce dryer bar to try, but they were gone before I got there. If you’re not already signed up for Vocalpoint, it will be worth your time to do so. Vocalpoint is a Proctor & Gamble company, so you know their coupons and samples will be top notch.

Pssst - Pssst…is all about some of the best known food and consumer brands in the country, namely General Mills products. If you would like to receive news about new products (and even samples and coupons from time to time), you can become a member. I haven’t gotten as much from them as I receive from Vocalpoint, but the samples and coupons they do send (many coupons are sent by email) are much appreciated. Just like Vocalpoint, it’s free to join.

House Party – of the three I’ve talked about, this one is my favorite. Anyone can apply to host a House Party which is sponsored by major manufacturers. I’ve hosted two House Parties so far, with a third one coming up in a week or so. The first was last year for Canon, the company that manufacturers picture products. Just for hosting the party to demonstrate their new portable picture printer, they GAVE me one to keep! Woohoo! This last party, at the end of September, was sponsored by “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter.” It was designed to promote their product in conjunction with a bake sale fundraiser for the non-profit organization of my choice. I chose our Christian school as my non-profit organization, began planning the details, shared the free goodies they sent with my bake sale buddies, and we’re now scheduled to have a bake sale on the morning of October 24 at the Winchester Wal-Mart, courtesy of ICBINB!

The party coming up on October 22 is to help launch Windows 7, a brand new operating system that I can’t wait to start running on my laptop so I can get rid of Vista. Best of all, they GAVE me the new software so I can load it and start playing with it before the big day, when I get to demonstrate some of the cool features it has! I don’t even want to think about how much I would have had to pay for it, and now, I’m getting it FREE! They even sent me streamers, balloons, tote bags, and lots of information for me to give to my guests.

There are tons of different types of parties on the House Party website (baking, scrapbooking, baby gear, etc.), and they’re all FREE! It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved. It’s also an easy way to practice hospitality on a shoestring budget. If I can do it (my mom is the ultimate hospitality person, but I’m convinced that trait skipped a generation!), I know you can do it. Try out House Party, and let my readers know what you think!