Retail Me Not is the largest online coupon website, with a huge database of online coupon codes, printable coupons, free shipping codes and special offers. RetailMeNot.com is a community-driven resource for savings, where users can vote on the reliability of coupons, so you have a better idea that the coupon is valid.

There are more than half a million online discounts at retailers that offer perfect Valentine’s gifts, such as Bath & Body Works (average discount 12%), Victoria’s Secret (average discount 19%), and Blue Nile (average discount 86%). RetailMeNot also makes it easy to search for deals at specific stores, simply type in the name of the store in the search bar and you get a list of relevant stores, along with the coupons and promotions available.

So this Valentine’s, don’t leave your significant other with stale conversation hearts and wilted flowers, thinking you couldn’t afford more. Enjoy 10- 15- 20% savings at popular retailers and spice up your Valentine’s Date!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contest so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The Mom Buzz did receive a holiday gift guide with items and comparison prices.

They have an interesting program that helps lower tuition and book fees called a Scrips program, where you buy gift cards through retailers and a portion of that goes towards the school and will also lower the overall amount we have to pay yearly. It took some time for me to get used to it, but now I just buy gift cards for everything knowing that those little pennies and few dollars are adding up.

That took me under a year to get used to. And if I can do that for his elementary school education, then how about if something similar was available for higher education – a way to shop “like normal”, but you get rewarded for shopping by having a few extra pennies and dollars be saved into an educational savings account for you.

Well, lucky for you (and me), there is a website that does JUST THAT! It’s called Mission Tuition. This isn’t like those check accounts, where if you spend $5.51, they round up and put 49 cents from your checking account into a savings account. In this instance, you can see that each retailer has a rebate amount. If you buy $51.39 from Target, you spend $51.39. But 5% of your purchase will be put into that educational savings account. So it’s not extra money out of your pocket! How cool is that?

And yes, Target is on the list of retailers. So is Sams Club, Best Buy, Marriott and more! And it’s not just rebated into your educational savings account, members also enjoy discounts up to 50% and grocery coupons for popular brands.

It’s free to join Mission Tuition. It took me 9 months to get used to the similar program offered through my son’s school, so give yourself that time to at least try it. And one big tip is to always do holiday shopping through Mission Tuition, there is no reason not to with such a huge list of retailers. Before long you’ll see your college rebates adding up and you’ll be happy to know you will be able to give your children a college education! The average American family can save $1,200 a year for their children’s college education.

Join for Free at MissionTuition.com.

Cancelled my home phone line. Hullo VOIP! (Can you hear me now?)

Immediately one of my friends FB’d me telling me she has been using VOIP for 10 years successfully! Think of the money she has saved, no longer having that monthly phone bill! The average consumer spends $40/month on a landline. By cutting ours, we will be personally saving around $25 a month.

We only have to pay taxes and fees, which is approximately $3.50 a month. The average consumer will have to pay $3.98 in local fees. You can see how much taxes would be for using a VOIP in your area by visiting www.ooma.com/taxes. And I have to say, I’d rather pay $3.50/month for a seldom used landline compared to $25 – $40/month!

By using Ooma Telo, the average customer will save $432 a year! Personally, we will save $258. A basic Ooma Telo system retails for $199. (A wonderful gift idea for a parent, spouse and sibling!)  So let’s say you are the average customer, your system will pay for itself in less than 6 months!

Now, I had my husband install the Ooma Telo, because he does all the tech in the house. He has been trying to get rid of the landline for ages and just use the cells, but I feel more secure having the landline since the kids may need to dial out and they don’t have cell phones. This is what my husband has to say:

KEVIN’S TECH REVIEW:

We finally made the plunge and disconnected the copper home telephone line for VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) aka – using the internet as a telephone.

There are a lot of options in terms of companies that offerVOIP, but the costs seem to add up and the savings aren’t quite there. Ooma Telo makes the cost savings worthwhile and the transition to set-up the device takes about ten minutes.

Setting Up

Setting up the device was pretty easy and it took a few steps – unlike other devices that typically involve a lot of troubleshooting and tooling around with wires, plugs, software or typical craziness. This was fast and easy.

• Step 1: Log onto Ooma, input the device number and register the device. You’ll need a Credit or Debit card to allow payment for taxes and additional features if desired.
  During this process you have two options.
  • Transferring your old line, which is not immediate
    or
  • Get a whole new phone number – which is practically instant and calls can be made within five or so minutes..
  • Step 2:  Plug-in the Ooma device to the Router and the telephone line.
  • Step 3: Make a call – overall easy and the quality of the call is pretty good. Erin’s mother didn’t know the difference in the call.

At our house, I’m considered in-house IT support and I can breakdown pretty much any device, hook it up, build it and re-configure code.  This was about the easiest device hook-up I’ve done. In terms of simplicity – I consider this about as user friendly as some of my Apple Devices (plug and play)

Requirements:

High Speed Internet Access:

Additional Features and Dimensions:

The device itself is pretty compact measurements are 5.5 x 2 x 7.5 and weighs in at a light 14.1 ounces.

Beside the basics you have the option for additional features.

• Telemarketing Black Lists – “Community blacklist allows you to tap into Ooma’s extensive list of telemarketers and phone spammers. Choose what message you want played to the caller or have the call sent directly to voicemail.” – there is also an option to personalize this feature.
• Call Forwarding
• Google Voice – still in beta, you can choose a dedicated line just for Google Voice
• Ooma Mobile – “Ooma Mobile allows you to use your mobile device to make phone calls using Ooma outside of your home”  The feature is currently supported by the Apple and Android products.  Ooma Mobile Faqs
• Options to block your caller ID number – assisting in further privacy.
• Voice-To-Text – Have your voicemail texted to your mobile phone.
• Ooma Premier
  • Instant second line
  • Personal / Community Blacklists
  • Call Forwarding and multi ring
  • Enhance Voicemail
  • Over 20+ features  

International calling, you can bundle minutes to over 60 countries. 

•  500 minutes of international calls – $4.99.
• Prepaid Plans – based on your budget

Cost:

Basic Service for our house added up to $3.47 per month – just taxes. To figure out what your payments would be click on http://www.ooma.com/taxes

The Ooma device can be found at several retailers – so far the best price I’ve found for their latest Ooma Telo device is $191. Amazon has the most competitive prices in the neighborhood.

Kevin’s Thoughts:

Once we finished installing Ooma, we tested out the line and had a little fun calling the house and chatting with the boys. Erin called Brighthouse and canceled our landline. Through the process, they asked what service we planned on using to replace the phone line.  The response was Ooma Telo – which caused a little confusion.  Ever being the promoter, Erin began selling phone services to the salesperson from Brighthouse and I believe they were more than just interested when she was done.

BACK TO ERIN & PURCHASING INFO:

We just received the basic Ooma Telo ($191 on Amazon) to get started. There are additional Ooma Telo devices that can help bring together your in-home communication hub. There is the Ooma Telo with handset ($249), Ooma Telo with BlueTooth Adapter ($229) and Ooma Telo Air ($249). You can purchase these items direct from Ooma.com, Best Buy and Amazon.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contestsso you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz. The MomBuzz did receive the products above for review.

Signing up is easy! Visit this link: MasterCard Holiday Rewards Program

Instructions: To receive your $20 MasterCard gift card, go to the link above, enroll with your MasterCard card (credit or debit) and e-mail address, and shop online with that card between November 15 and December 31, 2011. After spending $200 online you’ll receive and e-mail where you can redeem your gift card reward.

Happy Holidays!

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. This is a compensated post, featuring a real deal! Other people may have different experiences with the products and websites described. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

FOLLOW THE CHRISTMAS CHAMP:
First off, every year we can look forward to the overly ambitious Christmas Champ, Maria. Well, you can bet she is getting prepped for Target’s 2-Day sale (November 24 – 26th) that’s happening online and in-stores … and she’s tweeting her favorite deals to her followers on Twitter! So be sure to follow Maria @ChristmasChamp.

TARGET HOLIDAY GUIDE:
If you are looking for current shopping deals, the Target Holiday Guide is online with over $350 in savings! Prices in that guide are good until November 23rd.

HOLIDAY HOURS
In addition to opening at midnight on Black Friday, Target is also extending store hours throughout the season. Store hours on Black Friday, Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas will be as follows:

• Nov. 25: Midnight to 11 p.m.
• Dec. 24: 7 a.m. to 7 or 8 p.m. *
• Dec. 26: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

*Varies by location; guests should visit Target.com for their local store’s schedule.

PRICE MATCHING
Target’s Price Match is simple and helps guests save time and money. If guests find a lower price on an identical item advertised locally by a competitor, Target will match that price during the effective date of the competitor’s advertisement. Guests can bring their receipt and the competitor’s current printed advertisement within seven days of purchase and Target will reimburse the savings. The policy is enforced in all stores throughout the year.

PRICE ADJUSTMENT POLICY
Target’s Price Adjustment policy assures guests receive the best value. If a guest purchases an item at Target, but sees it advertised by Target at a lower price during the same week of the purchase, or the week following the purchase date, the guest can bring the original receipt to the Guest Service desk and receive a price adjustment. A guest has up to 90 days from the day of purchase to take advantage of the Price Adjustment policy.

Target REDcards

Target REDCards save holiday shoppers an additional 5 percent on already low prices at Target and Target.com throughout the holiday season. Guests who shop with a Target REDcard (Target Visa Credit Card, Target Credit Card, and Target Debit Card) or Target Business Card experience even greater value on all holiday purchases with no minimum purchase and no membership fee.

Throughout the season Target will also offer a variety of holiday promotions that will give guests even more ways to save.

This information was provided to the Mom Buzz as a press release. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was not compensated for this buzz, but was surprised by cookies from the Christmas Champ. Since many readers know I don’t eat cookies too often, you must know that didn’t influence me in writing this buzz. But FTC rules say I should mention the connection.

Well, here is a fab program for anyone who has a MasterCard. Enroll your MasterCard as part of the Holiday Rewards Program, do your holiday shopping online (hello, CyberMonday Deals!) and after spending just $200, you will receive a $20 MasterCard Gift Card. So let’s say you are buying a game system, you’ll get a gift card that can be used towards a game. Or if you are buying a Blu-Ray Player, you’ll get a gift card that can be used for a Blu-Ray Disc. Or you can just treat yourself with something FABULOUS for participating in some smart shopping!

Here is the link that will let you enroll, starting today: MasterCard Holiday Rewards Program

Detailed Instructions: To receive your $20 MasterCard gift card, go to the link above, enroll with your MasterCard card (credit or debit) and e-mail address, and shop online with that card between November 15 (today!) and December 31, 2011. After spending $200 online you’ll receive and e-mail where you can redeem your gift card reward.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. This is a paid post, featuring a real deal. Other people may have different experiences with the products and websites described. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products!

If you are on the search for a Holiday Card, I am sharing the one I chose, along with two other favorites. And also, I want to share why I was really THRILLED by the Minted.com Proof Process.

Now, there are 247 (more or less) Christmas Photo Cards to choose from. This does not include the broader “Holiday Photo Card” section or the Hannukah and New Years Photo Cards …. or the non-photo Holiday Cards. So there are HUNDREDS to choose from. So narrow down when you get the chance. You can narrow it further by the number of photos you want to include, style, subject and more. I personally like cute/funny cards – but you might want a more vintage style. So narrowing down really helps out with the process. And I am narrowing it down further with my top picks.

1. Naughty or Nice? This is the one I chose. I was able to upload a photo of my boys and of course chose to maintain the main text of the card. I did change the name to reflect our family and double-checked the year. I could update all sorts of options with this card, making it as fancy or economical as needed. I chose Signature Paper, which is thick, sturdy card stock. But there is also Premium Recycled Paper and Pearlescent Paper. I chose a flat card, easier for putting in a photo album. But you could also do folded or a storyboard/timeline interior. You order this card in incremental amounts of 25. I was going to get 25, but my hubby wanted 50.  The more you order, the better the price per card.

PROOF PROCESS: Since this is the card I ordered, let me tell you about the proof process, since I was impressed. I uploaded my photo and chose to keep most things as-is. I didn’t notice that the white text got lost on my pictures background. So they sent me two proofs – one the way I set it up … and the other with the text maneuvered slightly so that it could be read easier. Of course I chose their improved option! And I was thrilled that they improved my card with such a great catch!

2. All Aboard Christmas I like the vintage feel of this card. You can personalize with your own photo, text and even change the color of the conductor’s scarf from “tomato” red to “cerulean” blue. You can personalize the backer, the label and the interior of the card.

3. Holiday Thoughts I was really stuck between Holiday Thoughts or Year in Review. I didn’t want to feature both, since they are so similar. But I’ve seen other companies do Year in Review before, but this is the first time I saw Holiday Thoughts – so it was the better pick as something fresh and new, in my opinion. Holiday Thoughts is a great way to feature two children, you and your spouse, or even your pets. There are only two photo spots if you choose a FLAT option, though, so you may have to be creative. Maybe put a photo of you and your spouse on one side, with the kids on the other, if you want to feature more “people” and “thoughts”. Of course, you can increase the room of the card by choosing the Storyboard or Yearline interior. This card is MADE for that option. Under each photo there is room to share what the people in the photo thought of the previous year. You can personalize the text, of course. And you can also change-up the color of the notes section – Light Aqua, Poppy or Blue Green Sea.

Ready to order one of the cards I featured? Or maybe one of the unique cards out of the HUNDREDS available to you? Well, don’t forget to SAVE 15% off your holiday Minted purchase between now and 11/28/11.

Discount Code: READERS21

Savings: 15%

Ends: 11/28/11

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was provided with a gift code to facilitate this review.

But there is another solution to reducing the amount you spend on college books, other than buying used or off campus. You can rent them from CampusBookRentals.com. How does it work?

• First, you order online and save up to 90% off the cost of the textbooks
• You will get FREE SHIPPING
• Use the book as you normally would – highlight, make notes, etc.
• Return the books when you are done (FREE RETURN SHIPPING!)
• Repeat!

It’s THAT easy! Oh, and if you drop a class, you can return the book within 30 days for a complete refund. If my boys were in college, I’d definitely be saving them (and me) money by going this route. You can rent by semester, quarter, or summer. You can do extensions if needed and re-rent books for 30% less than the original rental price. No matter how you look at it, you are saving money over and over with this process.

If you know what classes you are taking next semester, go ahead and search for those college textbooks you will need online at CampusBookRentals.com. You can search by author, ISBN, author and keyword. Don’t spend any more than you need to for college textbooks!

Learn more about the process of renting text book here: Rent College Textbooks

For EVERY book rented, CampusBookRentals will donate a portion of the proceeds to Operation Smile.

No More Photoshopping White Teeth: Okay, I can’t be the only one that does this. I know a friend used to photoshop the wrinkles from around her eyes – making it look a little smoother. Me, I like to whiten my smile digitally. But I just got accepted to participate in a campaign I am excited about! I will be trying Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express Whitestrips (what a mouthful) to whiten my smile and remove Starbuck/DD Coffee Stains. Why? So I can be more confident when I talk, smile and go about my day-to-day. So here is my before picture. I will post my after picture tomorrow!

Well, here are the pictures. What do you think! No photoshopping done! The top is my picture that I have photoshopped in the past to give myself a brighter smile. And right below it is the picture I just took!

The process was easy enough, but it takes TWO HOURS. I started this at 7:40 pm last night and took it off at 9:30pm – my bedtime. The taste was SO MUCH BETTER than other white strips I’ve tried. In fact, minimal to no flavor. Every packet contains the strips for your upper and lower teeth. You take it off the backing and apply the gel side to your teeth.  I noticed a teeny bit of tingling, really barely noticeable – but it was there.

So what I liked. First, I liked that I could see IMMEDIATE results. Putting strips on day-after-day is just such a PITA for me. If I can do it once and see a difference, I am thrilled. I also liked that there was minimal to no taste and that my teeth felt healthy afterwards. It didn’t feel chemically.

How does it work? Well, the 3D Whitestrips use peroxide-infused gel to remove stain build-up below the tooth’s surface. The strip keeps the gel against your teeth to work. You can learn more at the product FAQ page here: Crest 3D White Strips FAQ

Now, I got to try these Crest Whitestrips as part of a campaign. And they wanted to know why I wanted whiter teeth – for an event or something special? But I want whiter teeth to feel better about myself. I felt ashamed of my stained teeth. But now I can present myself with confidence at my son’s school, playdates, when I volunteer and for all the upcoming holiday events. So what would I whiten for? Day to Day Life!

And my box of Crest 3D WhiteStrips has 3 more packets in there to keep my smile bright until the end of the year! One box contains 4 whitening packets, which you can use throughout the year – depending how stained your teeth get. It retails for $55.99, but you can download coupons off the Crest Coupon Page to save you some dough.

Win a pack of Crest 3D Whitestrips ($59.99 Value)

FIRST: MANDATORY ENTRY:

• What event would you whiten for in just 2 hours?

SECOND: EXTRA ENTRIES:

To receive these extra opportunities for entries, you must fulfill the first REQUIRED/MANDATORY entry. But for extra entries, you can do the following – leave a comment for each:

• Add theMomBuzz to your Twitter
• Share this contest on your Facebook page – Link it to @theMomBuzz – Here is the text:

Win a Whiter Smile @theMomBuzz – Give-away ends 9.20.11 http://themombuzz.com/?p=18083

• Tweet the contest. Here is an example – can be done daily:

#win a Whiter Smile at #theMomBuzz – Visit http://themombuzz.com/?p=18083

• Leave a comment on any other post/contest on theMomBuzz
• Stumble any review or post on theMomBuzz.com (Please don’t Stumble Give-aways). Let me know what you Stumbled!
• Add the Mom Buzz to your blogroll (Feed: http://themombuzz.com/feed/)
• Put the Mom Buzz button on your site! See code for bottom on footer of theMomBuzz.com (2 entries, leave 2 comments)

Contest ends 9/20/11. This is open to the USA. Please refer to complete contest rules. The entries listed above are the ONLY entries for this contest. Winners will be notified by e-mail (if supplied in the entry or on profile page), as well as on the Winner’s Wall.

This is solely the opinion of the Mom Buzz. Other people may have different experiences with the product. And don’t forget to enter my other hot contests so you can win and try buzzworthy products! The Mom Buzz was invited to participate in this compensated campaign, which includes a product sample. This campaign was organized by the One2OneNetwork with Crest. Crest and One2OneNetwork are not responsible for choosing the winner or promoting this reader give-away.