Free EcoEasy Bag and 20% off Your Purchase at Staples

Staples has another great coupon out. You can currently fill up one of their eco-friendly bags with any office supplies not listed as excluded. When you get to the register, just present the coupon and you will get 20% off the contents of the bag. Plus you'll get to keep the bag for free. The coupon is good until June 22, 2013.

*Valid through 6/22/13 in Staples® U.S. stores only. Discount on Staples® EcoEasysm bag will be taken at register at time of purchase, item no. 708691. Limit one coupon per customer per day. While supplies last. Cannot be combined with any other coupons or Back-to-school Savings Pass. Discount applies to products that fit within the customer’s Staples EcoEasy bag only. All chairs, furniture and clearance items are included in this promotion. Not valid on Back-to-School Savings pass, desktop or laptop computers, tablets, netbooks, Apple® products, Bose® products, Amazon Kindle®, NOOK®, Epson ink and toner, HP ink and toner, Keurig® coffee brewers, printers, fax and copier machines, business machines, laminators, storage, all case paper, cases of water, all Copy & Print Center orders, Staples® EasyTechsm professional-grade and on-site services, extended service plans, depot repair and parts, gift cards, mobile phones and mobile phone services, phone cards or postage stamps. Each item purchased can only be discounted by one coupon, applied by cashier in order received and prior to tax. Coupon not valid if purchased or sold and must be surrendered. No copies/facsimiles. No cash/credit back. Not valid on prior purchases or purchases made with Staples® Procurement or Convenience Cards.

$10 off $15 on Living Social for Father's Day

Today only (June 16, 2013), you can get $10 off your Living Social purchase of $15 or more. Just use the promotional code DADSROCK when you check out.

Movie Review: Man of Steel

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's... The Man of Steel? Yes boys and girls a new Superman is gracing the movie screens across the nation but you won't hear him referred to as Superman this time. While someone asks him what the "S" stands for, the response is different than previous incarnations.

Whether or not you know anything about the mythology surrounding Superman, Man of Steel starts from the beginning. After learning about Krypton, the viewer will see how and why Kal-El, aka Clark Kent, crash lands on Earth. Jump forward to the current time, we then learn more of his history with well placed flashbacks throughout the film.

Henry Cavill did a great job as Clark Kent. Although he is not American, this Brit did a wonderful job playing a character that grew up in Kansas. Following a mockable performance in Les Mis, Russell Crowe redeemed himself with his performance of Jor-El, father to Kal-El during his many scenes. He reminded us that although he is now older, he can still play a warrior. The rest of the actors were well casted and did a wonderful job in their specific roles.

The sets, costumes, and special effects were well done. I liked the more modern spin on Superman's outfit and how it matched with the warriors from Krypton. The Krypton sets were designed in a way that showed us a foreign, yet habitable planet. The sets on Earth were designed in a why that felt current without being old fashion or futuristic.

My only major complaint about this film was Lois Lane. Amy Adams did a wonderful job with the role but I wasn't impressed with the character and how she learned information. It greatly differed from other timelines of their relationship. Granted, this new relationship played a key role in many of the situations the characters found themselves in so I can understand the writer's direction. My minor complaint is that the action scenes when slightly long. I understand that this is an action/superhero movie but the rest of the movie seemed so well paced that I just felt they played it out longer than necessary.

My personal opinion of Man of Steel is that it not only lived up to the hype, it surpassed it. The screening I attended was in IMAX 3D and I must say that I loved it. I'm not sure how much it will differ in 2D or regular 3D but I can honestly say this is the movie that might be worth spending a few extra dollars.

Man of Steel will be released nation wide on June 14, 2013. Check out my weekly post, Making Cents with Cori, on Cinemit for weekly specials on tickets and concessions.

Movie Rating for Man of Steel

The passes for this pre-screening were won through Cinemit. Follow their Facebook page to attend free screenings near you. Check out my information post for more information about free movie screenings.

Always Save Your Receipts

Almost exactly three years ago, my car wouldn't start and it turned out to be an issue with the battery. I'm very lucky I saved my receipt in the glove compartment because today when I left work I found my car stalled in the parking lot. As I waited for AAA, I thought back to when this happened. Then I thought about the fact that I remember the guy trying to upsell me on the battery but I took the cheaper one thinking that I would probably be buying a new car before the six years were up.

I pulled out the receipt and saw June 2010 so I called Pepboys and asked. The battery had a 24/72 warranty on it. This means that if it goes within 24 months it would be replaced for free but if it had 72 months it would be discounted for a replacement. After AAA jumped the battery, I drove to Pepboys and am now sitting in their waiting room while they replace my battery at a fraction of the cost.

The point of this post is to always save receipts until after the warranty expires. I purchased the battery in a different state so it wouldn't be in this store's computer. Thanks to the receipt I was able to prove the date I purchased the last battery.

I would also like to give a shout out to Kenny from AAA in Philadelphia because I was so upset sitting in a car that wouldn't start but he not only showed up quickly, he was funny and friendly as he jumped the battery and tested a few other things that might have caused the problem. If you don't already have an AAA membership it's one of my favorite money saving tips. Even if you don't drive, the AAA membership will save you money when traveling and shopping. If you do drive, they will help you 24/7 if you get stranded on the road (or parking lot).

Free Flatbread from Chilis

If you're not already on the e-mail list for Chili's, what are you waiting for? Members of Chili's Email Club get great coupons. Right now they are offering one million people a free Flatbread when you join through Chilismillion.com.

This deal gets even better because even current members of the Email list can request the free coupon. Just scroll down the page a little and you'll find the right spot.

Free Country Music Sampler from People

The new issue of People Magazine's country special is out and with it comes a new free country sampler on iTunes. The promotional code is one time use, but just head over to People's website for a fresh code.

• Brett Eldredge - Don't Ya
• Tyler Farr - Redneck Crazy
• Hayden Panettiere - Hypnotizing
• Travis Tritt with Tyler Reese - Sometimes Love Just Ain't Enough
• Kristen Kelly - He Loves to Make Me Cry
• Gwen Sebastian - Suitcase
• Krystal Keith - Daddy Dance With Me
• Jared Ashley - Stained

Great Drunk Driving PSA/Prank

A friend of mine posted this prank on Facebook and I thought I would share it with my readers. A bar set up a prank in their bathroom to show men the dangers of drunk driving. While you'll laugh at the video, the message is very clear. Never let a drink ruin your night or your life.

15% Off at Petsmart All Weekend

Through tomorrow (June 9, 2013) you can get 15% off at Petsmart with a coupon. The coupon is good for your entire purchase of merchandise but can't be used for services such as grooming. If you are spending over $60 online, you can use the promotional code 15OFF60 to save 15% off your online purchase.

There is also a coupon available for $10 off pet training.

Buy One, Get One Free Movie Tickets on Fandango

Use the promotional code RAV4WishGranted to get a free ticket when you purchase a ticket at Fandango.

There is also a promotion on Fandango for a free music download when you buy a ticket to see Man of Steel.

UPDATE: I was just informed by a Twitter follower that the promo code is not working. I'm sorry for not testing it first but I didn't buy any movie tickets today.

Hidden Values at the Grocery Store

I don't know about you, but I love baking. The problem is that things like chocolate chips can get pricey if you want the real thing. Sure you can buy those "chocolate flavored" chips, but they're not fooling anyone. Recently I saw this really cool kit in the bakery aisle for fudge. The Carnation Famous Fudge Kit was on sale for $1.50 and I thought it sounded interesting so I bought it. Call me surprised when I got home and found that the box included a full size bag of Nestle chocolate chips which I could have pulled off the shelf for $3, a can of Carnation evaporated milk, and a few other ingredients.

I actually went back to the grocery store and bought a few more of these kits so I would have chips for my baking. I don't use evaporated milk often, but I added the cans to my pantry and will donate them next time there's a can drive. Instead of paying $3 or more for the chips, I spent less and got more. For those who are wondering, I did actually make a batch of the fudge and everyone that tasted it thought it was great.

This experience made me wonder when else can something as silly as a fudge kit end up saving you money. How many other times have we spent more for less just because we didn't look closely or dismissed something easily. If you are preparing for a picnic or bbq, look for packages that offer all your condiments instead of buying ketchup and mustard separately. It won't always save you money but it often can.

Have you seen any of these surprise deals? Leave a comment and share your finds with your fellow Making Cents of It readers.

Free Year of ShopRunner for American Express Card Holders

Have you tried ShopRunner for free 2-day delivery? I signed up back in December and have already saved over $30 in shipping and delivery fees this year. There is a new promotion for American Express card holders to get a free year membership. The American Express promotion is valid for new and current users. If you are a current user, log in to your account and you'll see the offer's details on your account page. New members will need to first sign up for the free 30-day trial of ShopRunner, then follow then log in to your account and see the offer's details. Either way, the promotion will extend your current expiration date to the next year.

If you are a new member, you can deselect the auto-renew option on your account page. This way you won't get a surprise bill next year. If you decide the savings were worth the cost, you will have the option next year to extend your membership.

Free Ream of Paper at Staples

If you missed out on last week's coupon, Staples has released a new coupon for easy rebate for a free ream of paper. You must print the coupon out before you go. The coupon will not give you any instant savings but it will signal the register to print the rebate for out. The coupon expires on May 27, 2013 and is a limit of one per household.

Free Country Music Sampler from People

The new issue of People Magazine's country special is out and with it comes a new free country sampler on iTunes. The promotional code is one time use, but just head over to People's website for a fresh code.

• Randy Houser - Goodnight Kiss
• Kacey Musgraves - Step Off
• Tate Stevens - Power of a Love Song
• The Henningsens - American Beautiful
• Greg Bates - Fill In the Blank
• The Mavericks - Back in Your Arms Again
• Holly Williams - The Highway
• Joel Crouse - If You Want Some
• Ashley Monroe - Like a Rose

Free Screening of The Internship (Select Cities)

Regal Crown Club members are being treated to a free screening of The Internship. Times and dates may vary based on location. You must be a member of the free Regal Crown Club to attend the screening.

Free Passes to a Screening of The Heat

The Regal Crown Club wants to hook its members up with a free screening of The Heat. There are a ton or available cities so I'm not going to list them all. if you're not a member of the Regal Crown Club it is free to join. Enjoy the movie.