I didn't even know you could make a photo poster, but apparently you can. Walgreens is offering $5 off through Oct. 18 when you use the code BIGPIC during checkout. You can custom design your own poster using up to 30 photos. The posters cost between $9.99 and $19.99 depending on size. If you get a small one, it could be a nice, cheap Christmas gift with a personal touch. See this Web site for more details...

So, I stumbled across this Web site where you can sign up for Kmart e-mail updates and also get two $5 coupons for signing up. That might be a really wise thing to do, not just for the savings, but because I hear Super Doubles may be making a return at some point before the holidays... 

Thanks to my friends over at The Consumerist for pointing out a new survey about coupon users.

The researchers had people watch someone else use coupons at a store and then asked them questions about the coupon user. The study showed that people see coupon users as being less cheap if they know the person, if the coupon is of a high value or if the coupon user is a hottie. Oh well...  two out of three isn't bad, right?

Normally I'd wait until Friday, but I'm not sure this one will last that long... you can request a sample of Redken Real Control shampoo and conditioner here... 

I'm one of those people who never carries cash. In fact, a co-worker recently asked me if he could borrow a dollar, and I didn't have one to lend him. But apparently, I'm not alone. Convenience Store News reports that 63 percent of transactions are now made electronically. That seems like quite a lot since I remember the days when everyone at the food store paid either cash or check. And I am not that old...

I've posted this here before, but if you have a Linens N Things gift card, please go use it. Very soon.

As Reuters reports here, the company is still trying to find a buyer for its remaning stores. But if no buyer is found, it does appear that plan B is to close the whole chain down. Linens N Things, which has already filed for bankruptcy and closed some stores, asked a judge for permission to auction its remaining stores and start liquidation sales. So unless there's a last-minute deal, those remaining gift cards could be pretty much worthless in just a few short weeks. And, even if there is a deal, the new owner may very likely go ahead and liquidate the chain anyway. Please don't get stuck holding one of those cards!

Last week, I posted an item about Harris Teeter pharmacies offering flu shots. But it seems that Food Lion and Rite Aid are offering them too in select stores. In both of those cases, it's probably best to call your local store directly for information about the times that those shots will be available. Does anyone know of any other retail stores offering flu shots this season?

We may think of Starbucks for coffee, but some people are thinking of the chain for oatmeal now.

The company's new oatmeal product, which was introduced as part of its new line of food items, has become the chains top-selling food item. It comes with the choice of nuts, dried fruit and brown sugar for toppings. The oatmeal retails for $2.50, but customers seem to be loving it. To read more about this unlikely trend, check out this story in AdAge.

Mark you calendar... On Thursday, Crescent State Bank is hosting a "Fighting Fraud" at the Cary Chamber of Commerce office on Academy Street in downtown Cary. The event is free and open to the public. It begins at 4 p.m. with a shred-a-thon. You are invited to bring your personal documents to be shredded.  At 5:30 p.m. there will be a brief discussion about current fraud trends, what to watch out for, how to protect yourself and your family. There's more information on the bank Web site here.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who has submitted money-saving ideas over the past few weeks on this blog. We ran a lot of your tips in our Work & Money section this morning in a feature called 101 Ways to Save.

Click here to read it online!

For those of you with a hunter in the house, you may want this mail-in rebate from Winchester. Depending on the type of ammunition you buy, you can get up to $15 back by mail. The rebate is good on purchases from July 1, 2008 to Jan. 31, 2009. You'll need the receipt, UPC codes and form available below. Also, Winchester has a number of mail-in offers on its Web site here.

If your kids like Clif Bar products, the company is offering an October special on its Web site. Use the code SPOOKY8 at the checkout between now and Oct. 31 and you will save 15 percent on all Clif Kid products. You can check them out here... Of course, you'd probably have to order a few boxes to make the shipping worth it [fees start at $5.95 for orders up to $19.99], but maybe your kids eat a lot of these and it's worth it! Or you could always get together with a few friends, place one order and split the shipping fee...

Good morning everyone! Today's coupons have been added to the database!

I always tell people that the P&G Brandsaver insert comes on the first Sunday of every month, so I was kind of baffled by today's P&G coupons. But, the expiration dates on them are 11/30, which means you have six weeks to use those instead of the normal four. So I am not complaining! I have no idea about whether this mid-month coupon release will become a new thing. I certainly hope so!

As always, you can download the Excel version of the updated database below if you would like. Happy clipping!!

Here's another bad sign for the economy: teens are curtailing their spending, too. Usually teens are seen as almost recession-proof, since often their money comes from mom and dad and they have fewer bills to pay. But the latest research I received from WSL Strategic Retail in New York says 84 percent of teens say they are being affected by rising prices. Thirty five percent are buying less expensive brands of clothing; 28 percent are buying less expensive brands of beauty products; 20 percent are cutting back on salon manicures and haircuts; and 19 percent are having had to cut back on sports and lessons that cost money.

We always think of kids as being "spendy" but I'm actually encouraged to see kids making adjustments so that they are living within their means...