Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce Review & Giveaway - Closed

This giveaway is now closed -

Both entries will receive a bottle of County Bob's All Purpose Sauce!!! Congratulations y'all!

Barbecue sauce is kind of a way of life here in the South. That is why I was so excited when I was asked to review Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce. I had seen this sauce on the shelf at a local grocery store but I had never taken any home. Country Bobs sent me a complimentary bottle in exchange for my honest review. This review is my honest opinion and experience.

I am no culinary genius and I'll be the first to admit that. I look for easy recipes that are quick and filling. I decided to cook a pork tenderloin in the crockpot. I cooked the tenderloin on low while I was at work so when I returned home it was ready. I drained the excess liquid and poured the entire bottle of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce in the crock with the tenderloin. I then took my kitchen shears (cheap, kitchen scissors) and chopped the tenderloin into shreds.

The aroma brought my husband into the kitchen before dinner was even ready he could not resist stealing a sample while he thought I wasn't looking. Now, I'm not a fan of thick, ketchup-based sauces. I have nothing against those types of sauces I just prefer thinner, vinegar-based sauces. This sauce was the perfect consistency.

I made barbecue sandwiches on wheat buns. This sauce has a mild bite and a slight pepper taste. It is not too hot, too thick, too sweet but rather just right. This sauce would be perfect on wings and burgers This sauce reminds me of family reunions many years ago. I remember my uncles cooking barbecue on a sunny October afternoon.

Would you like an opportunity to try Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce? I was sent an extra bottle to give away to one of my readers. They also sent extra recipes that I will send to the winner. Entering this giveaway is easy.  You must "Like" Coastal Couponer on Facebook or "Follow" me with Google Connect. Leave me a comment to let me know that you have done this. Then visit http://www.countrybobs.com/  and come back and post a fact that you learned.  This can be as simple as giving me the address, or phone number of the company or the year Country Bob perfected the sauce of his dreams.

This giveaway will end on April 10, 2011 at midnight. Each comment will be assigned a number. I will then use a random number generator to choose a winner. You must leave me an e-mail address or link so that I may contact you if you are the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to claim their prize or another winner will be chosen. The winner will be announced on April 12, 2011 at the top of this post. This giveaway is open to all US residents and residents of Canada.

Are Rebates Worth It? 7 Tips to Successful Rebates

Do you take the time to fill out rebate forms?  Have you ever been denied a rebate because of one tiny error?  Do you even know where to find rebates?  Many people think rebates are a waste of time. However, they can add up if you complete the forms correctly and take the time to track them.

You can find rebates by doing a search online.  There are companies that put rebate tags on their products and websites devoted to finding rebates.  I know this all sounds so time-consuming but rebates really do add up. Just this year I have received over $395 in checks, coupons, and free products. Here are some tips to help you make the most of rebates without taking too much of your time.

Read the terms of the rebate. Make sure you know exactly what product you have to purchase and what you must save from the purchase of that product. Some rebates require you to send in the UPC code along with the form and receipt. Other rebates only require the form and circled receipt.  Some even require you to make all your purchases at the same time.  Many will let you send in more than 1 receipt.

After reading the terms you can decide if the rebate is worth your time and effort. If the rebate is worth going after take the time now to complete the rebate form. I even address the envelope and attach it to the form with a paperclip. I don't recommend putting a stamp on the envelope since you may later decide not to go through with the rebate which would waste a stamp. File the rebate form and envelope where you will be able to find it later. I use a regular file folder.

Use a 3 x 5 card or if you prefer, a small notebook, to make a note of the following: the product you must purchase, the purchase dates, the rebate deadline, and any coupons you may have for this product. Pull the appropriate coupons and attach them to the card. I carry this card with me at all times. I keep my cards in a small coupon organizer. Something that will fit in your purse or back pocket if you're a guy will work.

I have found several products on clearance and have been able to fulfill the purchase requirements for next to nothing. I did this last month to get a free bottle of Aveeno body lotion.  You were required to purchase two or three products to get the free bottle of lotion.  I purchased all three products on clearance for under $1.50 and using my ECBs from CVS I only paid tax.  I received a coupon back in the mail for a free bottle of Aveeno lotion that normally runs $9.00.  The required products were items that I use on a daily basis.

Once you have made the required purchases you can then proceed with mailing the form.You want to make sure that you double check the form to confirm that you purchased the correct product. Make a copy of all required documents including the UPC code and receipt.  I've even made a copy of the envelope to show that I mailed it to the correct location. After you mail the form and documents make a note of the date you mailed the rebate and the expected return date.

There is actually rebate tracking software available for free on the Internet. I prefer to track my rebates in an Excel spreadsheet. I record the type of rebate whether it's money or product, the company offering the rebate, the required purchase, deadline date, expected return date, the amount of the rebate, and the date I receive it back. This way I know which rebates are still outstanding and which ones I have already received.

This doesn't take up much more time in my schedule. When I plan my shops for the week I review my rebate list and make a note on my shopping list of any rebate items. Once a week I review my rebate spreadsheet to see which rebates will be ending soon. Doing this will remind you to send in the rebate before it expires.

Now, don't go out and buy products that you don't need or use or want just to receive a rebate. That would be a waste of money. If there is a rebate on items that you may not use but the rebate would make that item a moneymaker it might be worthwhile. You can later donate the item that you don't use to a family member, friend, or shelter. I did this with the product in January. The product retails for $12.99 in the store. A certain store had this on sale for $9.99 and I had a coupon that made this item free up to $9.99. I had been holding this coupon for over six months waiting for a deal. This deal became even better when I learned there was a rebate for this particular product. I bought this product and paid $.70 tax and got back a check for $9.99 thus making this a nine dollar and $9.29 moneymaker.  Now I don't color my hair but I gave the product to someone who does and boy did they appreciate it.

Follow up with the companies if you don't hear something in the allotted time. If the form states you should receive your rebate within 6 to 8 weeks and you haven't heard anything in 12 weeks pull out your file and give the company a phone call. I have only had to do this once. When the company realized that I had copies of every piece of paper I mailed them, they were happy to send me my rebate. Apparently my rebate form had gotten misplaced. If you maintain copies of your paperwork including the date you mailed your rebate you should have no trouble.

So let's review our tips:
1.  Understand the rebate
2.  Combine the rebate with store sales and coupons
3.  Shop with the rebates in mind
4.  Make copies of all your paperwork
5.  Follow the requirements carefully
6.  Track the status of your rebates either online, on your computer, or in a notebook
7.  Follow-up

I hope you enjoy rebating as much as I do!

Where Has Coastal Couponer Been?

So, you may be wondering where I have been and why you haven’t received any updates lately. I have been trying something new with my blog. I thought about hosting my own blog. Currently, I use blogger to host my blog. That means I’m at their mercy and they can delete my blog anytime they want.

I had an idea to host my own blog and I found a great company but it hasn’t turned out like I thought. So, rather than hold you in suspense any longer I decided to forgo the self-hosting idea. It just makes sense to keep using the current host rather than pull all my hair out.

To make it up to you for being gone so long, I have decided to post a few giveaways. In the coming weeks I will be reviewing several products and giving you the opportunity to try those same products. All you have to do is let me know you are still a fan of Coastal Couponer.

To give you an idea of what you may be seeing as far as prizes go I will give you a few hints. Philadelphia Cooking Cream is delicious and easy to prepare. Yoplait yogurt is very healthy and a great ingredient to use in smoothies. There’s nothing like a barbecue sandwich.  I'm also getting ready to place an order at CSN stores. If you are curious as to what I will be ordering, stick around.

I do hope you will continue to read Coastal Couponer and enter the giveaways. I know you have choices when it comes to blogs that you read. I do not intend to make this blog one of match-ups like several others. My intent is to help you use coupons wisely and be able to stockpile without breaking the bank. I am not talking about becoming a hoarder. I am talking about being prepared for anything from a job loss to a hurricane.

I will continue my posts on what you can get free at the big three drugstores. I’ve had many comments about how helpful that post is to so many people. I will also be posting great deals in this area of Georgia. From time to time you may have to deal with a post about my garden if you don’t mind. I am very proud of my little garden in my backyard. I will give you a heads up when I find out about a good deal. I will also give you links to printable coupons you may need in the future to score some pretty good deals. If you are interested in earning a little extra money on the side be sure to read my posts about mystery shopping and getting paid to eat out.

So consider this a warning. The blog you are about to read will be an eclectic mixture of getting the best deals and keeping more of your hard earned money.

I would like to hear from you. Some of you know me personally and some of you know me from weusecoupons.com, and some of you have no idea who I am but you are familiar with my blog. What have you read here that you have found to be most helpful? What would you like to know about using coupons, backyard urban gardening, finding good deals, or just being prepared? Please leave a comment and let me know. Remember, comments are always moderated to keep them PG rated since this is a family-friendly site.