Hold onto your hats, folks... I've now had it confirmed by two different people in our area that Kmarts are preparing to launch a SUPER DOUBLES promotion Oct. 1 through Oct. 5. I am still unclear on whether it's all of our Kmart stores or only certain ones. But it seems definite that at least some of them will participate.

Let me explain for those of you who are fairly new to couponing... Super Doubles is a promotion that stores used to do a lot, where they will double the value of your coupons up to and including $1. In the Kmart case, I hear it's going to be up to and including $2.00, which is really incredible! So your $2 coupons will double to $4! 

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You all know how much I like free samples...

So of course I thought this story from Business Week about the effectiveness of giving out free samples was really interesting. The story discusses a study that showed that more than one-third (35 percent) of customers who tried a sample bought the product during the same shopping trip. Fifty-eight percent of those surveyed reported they would buy a product again after trying it.

What product have you found through sampling? 

There was an interesting press release this morning from the National Retail Federation. After doing its annual study about what consumers are planning to spend for Halloween, the NRF reports that spending will be up... with the average consumer planning to spend $66.54 on Halloween, more than the average $64.82 spent last year. I wonder if we're all so upset about the recent economic doom and gloom that we're allowing ourselves a little leeway for Oct. 31.

Anyone have any thoughts?

If you want to attend my next coupon class on Nov. 5, don't dally in signing up. I just got an update, and the session is already two-thirds filled. Click the link over on the left-hand side of this page to get to the registration Web page. The event is free but you must be an N&O subscriber to attend...

Those of you who watch the NBC show "The Biggest Loser" may have glimpsed a local restaurant on this season's show. Local contestants Ed and Heba (the orange team) were dining at popular Glenwood South restaurant Hi-5 when personal trainer Bob Harper, co-host of “The Biggest Loser”, appeared on one of the television screens in the bar and invited the couple to participate in the show.

The full episode is available on NBC's Web site here.

If you do not already get the Lowes Foods weekly e-newsletter, here's a new incentive. If you enroll now, you will be entered in the weekly drawing to win a $100 gift card. Lowes for You is like other e-newsletters by other grocery chains. They use your loyalty card information to generate an e-mail highlighting items that you usually buy that are on sale that week. To me, they can be helpful, and sometimes they come with an extra bonus offer, too.

Every year, retailers say that they are having a make or break holiday shopping season. That's because many of them really do make 25 percent to 30 percent of their sales during just November and December. But this year, it really does seem like the season will be a true make or break kind of event. If a chain doesn't do well, it could very well go out of business in January or February. Scary times, scary times... Check out this New York Times story for more...

You can request one here...  not sure if it's a printable or if they'll mail it to you...

Thanks to Sarah over on our Mom2Mom site for pointing me to this deal... In 2009, Walt Disney World will give you free admission to the park on your birthday!  Click here for the details... Sarah has also started a page on Mom2Mom where you can share your Disney savings tips. If you are registered with newsobserver.com or Triangle.com, your login info will be the same for Mom2Mom.

With a lot of items, I have a "threshold price." In other words, a price that I think is fair and that I like to pay for that product. With photo prints, it tends to be about 10 cents per print. And now through Oct. 4, Walgreens is offering you that price when you buy 50 prints or more and use the code DIME when you check out.

A Morrisville company called Devmir has partnered with the Sierra Club to create a new line of socks made from a combination of organic cotton, soy, bamboo and other eco-friendly and sustainable yarns. The socks will debut during a November fund-raiser called "Change your socks, change the world." Purchases can be made online at www.sierrasocks.com. And if you just want a good chuckle this morning, check out this spoof called "The Sockfather."

If this is a topic that interests you, you might want to check out the class by the same name at the Chatham Marketplace Co-op in Pittsboro on Wednesday, Oct. 1. The class will run from 2 to 3 p.m. and is free to attend. Chatham Marketplace is located at 480 Hillsboro St. in Pittsboro.

The Web site is: www.chathammarketplace.coop 

Or, feel free to share your own tips on shopping for nutrition on a budget right here! 

There were a lot of good coupons today (we always seem to have more in the fall).

And there are also 200-plus coupons expiring in two days.

So take some time to organize, clip and file in the next few days...

As always, if you would like to have the database in an Excel spreadsheet, you can download it below.

Happy clipping!

Today is the final Sunday that Cameron Village will be giving away free ice cream. Customers are asked to bring the coupon from the N&O or the Cameron Village Web site to either the Baskin-Robbins shop in Cameron Village or the special "Cone Cafe" set up on Clark Avenue near the Party Shop and Accipiter. (If it rains, the Cone Cafe plans will be scrapped, and scoops will be available only at Baskin-Robbins.) The promotion runs from 1 to 5 p.m., but I'd get there early to make sure you don't miss out...

I don't know how many of you will want this one, but you know I like to post rebates when I see them. There's a mail-in rebate offer on Physicians Formula CoverToxTen50 Wrinkle Therapy Foundation, up to $12.95 in value. The purchase must be made by the end of this year and received by the end of January. You'll need the rebate form below...