Are you using shopkick to rack up shopping incentives you can trade for mobile gift cards? You should be! Because then you can stack your shopkick mobile gift cards with your SnipSnap mobile coupons. Today, 5/24, you can earn 200 walk-in kicks at 5 stores in the shopkick app: Target, American Eagle, Old Navy, Best Buy, and Macy’s. That’s 1,000 kicks in total, enough to immediately trade in for a $2 gift card to Target and (almost) enough for a $5 gift card to Macy’s.

Headed out to shop and collect some kicks this evening? Make sure you SnipSnap some store coupons to take with you. Check out this coupon I snipped today for 40% off everything in-store and online at American Eagle:

And this deal for an extra 15% off at Macy’s:

I love collecting kick while I’m out and about shopping. On days like today, I can earn enough to score a free drink at Starbucks and fuel my shopping spree for free! And you can’t beat 40% off at American Eagle. Summer Wardrobe: you’re about to get a whole lot bigger!

Happy Friday, everyone!

I hope you’re gearing up for a successful weekend of holiday shopping, eating, and entertainment. Yesterday, I blogged about some of my favorite Memorial Day deals and I’m super-excited to use them! Whether you’re hanging out at the mall, by the pool, or ocean-side, don’t get swept up in the holiday frenzy and spend a ton of money. Plan your weekend around coupons, and you could end up dining and doing fun things with your family for free!

Today, I’m bringing you the second installment of a series that will change the way you think about shopping forever. My absolute favorite way to use my SnipSnap app is to stack all the serious deals with other money saving apps and strategies. I love using shopkick to score shopping incentives, Wrapp to receive mobile gift cards from my Facebook friends, and Endorse to make mobile money back on every day items I buy at the grocery store. Recently, I learned about the world of discount gift cards. GiftCardRescue.com is a frugal shopper’s must-have site; with Gift Card Rescue, you can sell gift cards to stores you never shop at for cold, hard cash, and then buy gift cards to stores you love at a seriously discounted rate. Best part about GiftCardRescue.com? You can combine the savings with coupons to take a serious chunk out of your shopping bill. Check out how you can save with mobile coupons and discount gift cards at these 5 hot restaurants and retailers!

American Eagle Outfitters:

Discounted American Eagle Outfitters gift card -> Purchase discounted $100 gift card at 20% off -> Paid $80

Savings of $20

Purchase AE Sparkle Chiffon Dress -> Original $59.95 -> On Sale $49.99

Savings of $9.96

SnipSnap $10 off $40 purchase American Eagle Outfitters coupon -> Original $49.99 -> With coupon $39.99

Savings of $10

Total Savings with SnipSnap, store sale, and Gift Card Rescue -> $39.96

Michaels:

Discounted Michaels gift card -> Purchase discounted $40 gift card at 20% off -> Paid $32

Savings of $8

Purchase Recollection Scrapbook album -> Original $29.99

SnipSnap 50% off regular priced scrapbook purchase Michaels coupon -> Original $29.99 -> With coupon $14.99

Savings of $15

Total Savings with SnipSnap and Gift Card Rescue -> $23.00

Longhorn Steakhouse:

Discounted Longhorn Steakhouse gift card -> Purchase discounted $60 gift card at 10% off -> Paid $54

Savings of $6

Purchase -> Cowboy Pork chops entrée $15.99 and Longhorn Shrimp & Lobster dip appetizer $9.49

SnipSnap Longhorn Steakhouse free appetizer coupon -> Original $25.48 -> With coupon $15.99

Savings of $9.49

Total Savings with SnipSnap and Gift Card Rescue -> $15.49

Barnes & Noble:

Discounted Barnes & Noble gift card -> Purchase discounted $80 gift card at 15% off -> Paid $68

Savings of $12

Purchase -> Dan Brown Inferno -> Original $29.95 -> On Sale -> $17.97

Savings of: $11.98

SnipSnap 15% off any item Bares & Noble coupon -> Original $17.97 -> With coupon $15.27

Savings of $2.70

Total Savings with SnipSnap, store sale, and Gift Card Rescue -> $26.68

CVS:

Discounted CVS gift card -> Purchase discounted $100 gift card at 8% off -> Paid $92.00

Savings of $8.00

Purchase -> Crest 3D Whitestrips Vivid Dental Whitening Kit -> $31.99

SnipSnap 20% off purchase CVS coupon -> Original $31.99 -> With coupon -> $25.59

Savings of $6.40

Total Savings with SnipSnap and Gift Card Rescue -> $14.40

We’re heading into the 3-day weekend stretch! What do you have planned this Memorial Day holiday? Whether you’re staying local to BBQ by the pool or headed to the shore to soak up the summer sun, there are tons of opportunities to save in the SnipSnap app. Check out my top deals for food, drink, and entertainment this holiday weekend – because it’s not really a holiday without free eats and delicious discounts.

Need last-minute BBQ essentials? Save $5 on everything at Target:

Traveling to the shore? Grab a free Big Mac lunch on the road:

Still shopping for a swimsuit? Save on stylish swim essentials at H&M:

Need a way to entertain the kids? Save 20% on above-ground pools at Toys”R”Us:

Headed out to eat? Score free food at Buca di Beppo:

…and Houlihans:

…and Zinburger:

Headed to the beach? You’ll need a beach read:

And who could forget ice cream! Buy one, get one free:

Have a safe, wonderful, fun, and frugal holiday!

Money: we all want more of it and most of us need more it it. Life is expensive! The average American family spends $7,000 a year on food alone; that’s a ton to pay for groceries. Life’s full of other money eaters too: dental visits, hair cuts, clothes, and personal fitness can zap the dollar bills out of your wallet faster than you can bat an eye and, most of the time, you don’t even think twice about how much you pay for things because you’re convinced you have no other choice.

But, when push comes to shove, you can halve the price your groceries, have your hair cut and your cavities filled for free, get fit and even go on vacation for prices so low you have to live through the experience to believe it. Yesterday, Katie Couric hosted an amazing episode of Katie called “Secrets of the Supershoppers.” This episode is about everything money : how to make more of it and how to hold on to what you have. Top money experts from The Food Network’s Melissa d’Arabian, to consumer savings expert Andrea Woroch, to investor Daymond John of “Shark Tank” convened to share their best money saving tips.

The highlight of the show? One of Andrea Woroch’s hot grocery shopping secrets is her SnipSnap app!

The SnipSnap coupon app allows you to take pictures of paper coupons. I know I always forget to bring my coupons to the grocery store with me. This way, you have them on your phone!

Check out the video of Katie’s segment with Melissa and Andrea below and remember these top shopping tips:

• Pick a Small Cart: Studies show that bigger carts lead to bigger grocery hauls. When you go shopping, pick the smallest cart offered and fill it up with lots of healthy, low cost produce
• Eliminate Waste: Saving doesn’t just happen in the grocery store; it happens at home, too. The biggest money-wasting ingredient in your kitchen is the one you throw away. Keep produce and other perishables where you can see them (instead of throwing them in the back of a refrigerator bin) so you’re reminded to use them up before they go bad.
• Shop Wednesdays: Wednesday is the day grocery stores release new circulars, while still honoring the previous week’s deals, so you have the absolute best and most opportunities to save mid-week.
• Buy Generic: Buying generic wherever you shop can save you a ton of money. You can save up to 30% when you buy the generic brand at Target!

Happy Hump Day! My car told me it’s 92 degrees in Philadelphia. And I believe it. Because it’s just. so. hot. It’s oppressive and, it seems, that no amount of caffeine can give me the energy boost I need (I think because I’m already dehydrated). So, instead of heading to Starbucks for my usual caramel frappucino this evening, I’m going to give one of these bad boys a try:

They’re Starbucks’ brand new Evolution Fresh juice beverages and I am seriously very excited about them. Especially the “Vegetable” drink, which is loaded with green goodness at only 40 calories and the “Hydration” drink, which is a slightly sweetened blend of pineapple and coconut water for a (not) whopping 60 calories. Hooray for post-running hydration!

Doubly hooray for coupons! I received a couple of coupons for a dollar off one of these beverages now, through June 4th, so I decided to SnipSnap one so I don’t forget it – especially since I’m planning to grab one after today’s 90 degree + run and I’ll be carrying nothing but my phone.

I’m really invested in good nutrition because I’m an athlete and I want to live forever. So I’ve been collecting affordable green and fruit smoothie recipes to carry me through the summer, while providing tasty nourishment and detoxifying all the bad stuff from my tired cells. I’ve gathered my top 5 new favorite smoothie recipes here for you to try, too. Smoothies are just about the best thing you can do with frozen fruit (and fresh fruit that’s about to expire). Never waste a rapidly ripening banana again and your body and the earth will thank you for it. Without further ado:

Colorado Moms’ Frugal & Fruity Freeze Ahead Smoothies: Emily Vanek from Colorado Moms shows you how to make freeze ahead fruit and yogurt smoothie bags that are ready to go when you are. Just add milk and blend away!

Green Thickies’ Sweet Almond Surprise (Frugal Full Meal Green Smoothie): Katherine from Green Thickies shows you how to crush fatigue and amp up your natural energy with thick, luscious green smoothie meals. I can’t wait to try this sweet variation (which is cheap enough to make, even if you’re below the poverty line!)

The Frugal Greenish Mama’s Yogurt and Fruit Bar Smoothies: Amanda from The Frugal Greenish Mama shows you how to transform store bought fruit bars and Greek yogurt (great for added protein!) into easy, delicious, frugal  fruit smoothies kids and adults will love.

With Style & Grace’s Healthy Limeade Smoothie: Lisa Thiele from With Style & Grace shows you how to whip up a body ph balancing “alkaline” green smoothie, sweetened with stevia so it’s sweet and light on calories.

{never} homemaker’s Chocolate Milk Smoothie: Ashley from {never} homemaker is a runner after my own heart, so, naturally, she’s created a delicious chocolate milk smoothie recipe that will knock your running socks off. There’s maple syrups in this smoothie. YUM.

This time of the year can be kind of chaotic. If you’re a parent, the kids are ready to transition from days at school to a long stretch at home with you (or at soccer camp/dance school/whatever activity you have to organize). Lots of families and couples are planning summer vacations too, which require a whole lot of cleaning/getting ahead on work/paying bills/packing (read: a whole lot of NOT fun) beforehand. For the first time in forever, there’s yard work to do and it’s way hotter than we’re used to. What’s the solution to the busy, sweaty mess? Sweet, delicious iced tea.

There’s nothing like a giant serving of crisp, cool, caffeinated sweet tea to take with you while you’re running errands and pulling weeds, so I’ve SnipSnapped lots of sweet tea deals for some of my favorite fast food restaurants (and my favorite special-tea store, Teavana). Check out how you can score your next fix for free!

Save $10 off $30 Purchase at Teavana:

Free Medium Sweet Tea and Medium Fries with Purchase of Premium McWrap at McDonald’s:

Free Small Tea and Fries with Purchase of Baconator or Son of Baconator Sandwiches at Wendy’s:

(If you use this coupon at Wendy’s, make sure you give the strawberry tea a shot!)

Free Any Size Tea at Dunkin Donuts:

BOGO Fruit Tea Fusions at McDonald’s:

It’s only Tuesday and already I’ve snipped a ton of amazing deals in the SnipSnap app this week. What am I shopping for lately? For starters, I’m constantly on the hunt for summer clothes since my summer wardrobe is old and I’ve donated many things to charity. I’m also on a continuous caffeine kick (what else is new?) and I have a few BBQs and get-togethers coming up, so coffee and low fuss party food coupons are a must. And, in addition to revamping my wardrobe, I’m also cleaning out the old makeup bag and searching for new beauty find to take me into the summer season. With everything I’m shopping for, I”m definitely in luck: my Mall, Coffee, and Beauty coupon bundles are bursting at the digital seems with amazing deals. Check out this week’s best coupons for a beautiful summer.

FREE Cotton Low-Rise Hiphugger at Victoria’s Secret:

$10 off $50 Purchase at Aeropostale:

$5 off $25 Purchase at Old Navy:

FREE Small Cherry Berry Chiller or Frozen Strawberry Lemonade at McDonald’s:

FREE 25 Munchkins with Purchase of 25 Munchkins at Dunkin Donuts:

$25 Hair Cut for First Time Clients at Ulta Salon:

50% off Lenses with Frames Purchase at LensCrafters:

$2 off any Sally Hansen Cosmetics Purchase of $10 or more at CVS:

$10 off Aquafresh Teeth Whitening Trays at Walgreens:

2/$4 Starbucks Coffee at Walgreens: