For the average consumer, it’s hard to understand the different types of online coupons and deals. Tricia Meyer and Ashleigh Ball talk about the different types of codes and how to get the best deals shopping online. Find Coupons and Discounts for hundreds of merchants at Sunshine Rewards.

Show Notes

• Compare free shipping (minimums, no minimums) with flat rate shipping and figure out when they are good deals and when they are not.
• Percent off coupons and dollar off coupons from the same merchant can be confusing. Do the math to figure out which is better for you. Spending more to save more isn’t usually worth it.
• “Stacking” coupons is the best deal when it is possible. Not all merchants allow it but it is worth trying.
• “BOGO” can be “Buy One Get One Free” or “Buy One Get One Half Off” depending on the merchant and that makes a big difference. Payless ShoeSource often does the Buy One Get One Half Off.
• Read the fine print for exclusions such as brands or previously reduced merchandise.

Now that we have done the “spring forward” thing with the clocks, it is time to start thinking forward to spring shopping. For most of us, that means changing out our beauty products, skin care products, and wardrobes. In this episode of She Shops Around, Tricia and Cindy talked about various merchants where you can pick up some great spring products at good prices. Don’t forget that you can get cash back (and maybe even coupons!) on all of these merchants through Sunshine Rewards.

Show Notes:

* Tricia loves lip venom and tinted moisturizer for spring and has been buying them at glow.com and Sephora.
* Cindy and Tricia talked about the importance of cleansers and exfoliators (check out Mario Badescu and Dermstore and the products that Cindy and Tricia use).
* New nail polish colors are out and you can get good deals on OPI (including the Alice in Wonderland colors) at HairCareDiscounters.com.
* Sunscreen and self tanning is big in the spring.
* Cindy loves her Crocs and they have a number of different styles and colors that do not look like traditional Crocs.
* New clothes are a must for the warmer weather!

This week starts some changes to the She Shops Around podcast that hopefully everyone will like. The first change is that instead of focusing on just 3 merchants, we are spreading the love around a little more and talking about many different merchants that fit the topic.

With the release of the second movie in the Twilight series coming this month (Twilight Saga New Moon on November 20), we decided to focus on all things Twilight. Cindy hasn’t seen the movie or read the books, which balanced out Tricia, who is a little addicted.

Show Notes:

* Official Twilight Merchandise. We talked about places where you can buy the most official Twilight merchandise including Amazon, Hot Topic, Nordstrom, Entertainment Earth, and Toys R Us.
* Fan Made Merchandise. Tricia’s favorite place for fan-made Twilight merchandise is CafePress, but you can also find some great items at Zazzle, Customized Girl, and eBay.
* Odds and Ends. Although they don’t have a lot of items each, there are a number of merchants with just a few items worth mentioning. Some of them are AllPosters.com, Skinit.com, Emitations, Fandango, TFAW.com, and Celebrate Express.
* Costumes. We could have spent hours on this topic but touched briefly on BowlingShirt.com, Chickdowntown, Coastal Contacts, and PacSun.
* General Twilight gift ideas for the Twilight fan in your life.
* Highlighted how you can all of the Twilight merchandise you could ever want at BuyTwilightStuff.com.

On the next podcast we will start looking into holiday shopping bargains with an eye toward some guests joining us after the New Year.

In the absence of a good theme this week, we decided to talk about the last place that each of us shopped online. Interestingly, we had all shopped at the places that the others had last shopped (that sentence seems weird). It was our second week using the free conference calling site instead of Skype and it went well.

Show Notes:

* Cindy explained why she shopped at KraftyKid.com despite the fact that she has no kids at home. She got so caught up in the excitement of everyone else buying the craft grab bags that she ended up buying some for her grandsons. (Earn 10% cash back at Sunshine Rewards)
* We’re hoping that KraftyKid.com will be able to stay in business even though their site says that they are no longer doing the Craft of the Month clubs. The grab bags are terrific.
* Tricia talked about drugstore.com and the volumizing hairspray that she purchased there the other day. Everyone was in agreement that drugstore.com has a huge selection of different types of items as well as regular coupons and discounts. (Get drugstore.com coupons and earn 5% cash back).
* Cindy loves the “BOGO.” Angie thought Tricia’s talk about the Sexual Well Being section was TMI.
* Angie introduced Restaurant.com and everyone talked about what a great deal their restaurant gift certificates are as well as how it helps you to try out new restaurants. (Shout out from Tricia to Mudsocks in Noblesville, Indiana!) (Get Restaurant.com coupons and earn 7% cash back)

Next time we will be back to a more traditionally themed podcast. Maybe.

With summer weddings and anniversaries on the horizon, we took an opportunity to talk about wedding gift ideas. With about 55 years of marriage total between the three of us, we had a lot to talk about! Even if you don’t have any weddings on the horizon, you don’t want to miss this review of three great merchants.

Show Notes:

• History and tradition of June weddings (ladies…are you ready to help with the harvest?).
• Main types of wedding gifts: cash, registry, non-registry.
• Cindy walks us through the Personal Creations website and the types of personalized gifts to give for weddings, anniversaries, and wedding attendant gifts. Personal Creations offers a lot of coupons throughout the year.
• Tricia discusses MyWinesDirect and the different between it and other online wine sites. Quality wines at lower prices but they may not be brands that you necessarily know.
• Angie talks about Kohls and the Kohls wedding registry program. Great for household gifts and decor.

Check out our entire Wedding and Anniversary Gift section. Next podcast, Father’s Day ideas!

As May draws close to June, we start seeing more about graduations. Whether the graduation is from preschool, kindergarten, high school, college, or even grad school, we are all looking for the perfect gift and party ideas. Today the She Shops Around ladies reviewed three merchants that you do not necessarily think of first when you think about graduation: TheFlip.com, Shindigz. and Magazines.com.

Show notes:

• Tricia and Cindy relived Tricia’s high school graduation and the fact that Cindy repainted the whole house.
• Cindy reviewed TheFlip.com, the official store of the Flip videocamera. Who does the Flip make a great graduation present for? Pretty much everyone on your list.
• The ladies talked about the different ways that they use their Flip cameras, including for fun, work, and school projects.
• Angie walked us through the Shindigz website. In addition to party supplies, they have tips for throwing parties and party activities. Check out these Shindigz coupons and videos.
• Tricia discussed Magazines.com and how to find a magazine that fits for your graduation gift recipient. Get Magazines.com coupons plus GREAT cash back through Sunshine Rewards.

No major glitches today. Next podcast: weddings and anniversaries.

Mother’s Day is May 10, which means that there is no time like the present to get Mother’s Day gifts ordered. It’s not too late to order even personalized gifts. But if you don’t want to pay a fortune for shipping, you should get your orders made quickly. The three moms at She Shops Around are Mother’s Day gift experts! At least we think we are, given all of the Mother’s Day gifts that we have both sent and received over the past years.

Show Notes:

• Favorite Mother’s Day gifts from the past? Cindy can’t remember most of them. (What does that say about the gifts?) Angie likes gifts with a personal touch.
• Cindy reviewed her favorite online jewelry store, My Jewelry Box. High points are their quality, selection, and good prices.
• MJB often runs coupons and free shipping specials and includes a gift box with every purchase. Right now you can get a free pearl necklace with $50 purchases. (Current Sunshine Rewards MyJewelryBox coupon: MyJewelryBox.com free shipping and 15% off My Jewelry Box Use code SW045115PA)
• Tricia gushes profusely about Sephora and considers herself a Sephora junkie. Great gift ideas for mom? Philosophy gift packs with a variety of scented shampoo, gel, and bubble bath choices.
• Sephora ships all purchases with a gift bag as well as free samples. Be sure to look for gift with purchase coupons and free shipping. (Current Sunshine Rewards Sephora coupon: Free shipping over $50)
• Angie led a discussion about Canvas on Demand. Have your family pictures (or animal pictures if you are Cindy) made into beautiful canvases.
• Operation: Hi Mom is a chance for 500 military men and women to have a free canvas sent to their moms this Mother’s Day. It’s terrific to see a company supporting the military like that.
• Canvas on Demand gifts are personal and affordable and actually shop very quickly (less than a week).

Everyone loves Spring, but who loves Spring Cleaning? The ladies at She Shops Around got together this week to talk about merchants that can help with all of the various aspects of spring cleaning.

• Angie reviews Get Organized. It’s amazing all of the things that you can find to buy that you didn’t even know existed. They also have an extensive collection of As Seen on TV items. Use our Get Organized coupon for 15% off all products.
• Aqua Superstore is one of the best pool supply stores out there. Cindy and Tricia rave about their Hayward pool cleaners. Check out Tricia’s Pool Vac Ultra automatic pool cleaner by Hayward video.
• Cindy leads the discussion of Gaiam and their “green” cleaning products. Find everything from health and wellness items to eco-conscious clothing and home items. Find Gaiam coupons for money off or free shipping.

You can shop at these merchants and more in the Sunshine Rewards Spring Cleaning promotion.