As you know, college students – and their parents – are stretched thin these days. Tuition prices continue to rise, even as the economic recession has left more and more families with less savings stacked away for their kids’ education.

The good news is that there are options out there to help ease the burden of some costs associated with college. One of these options is the growing trend of textbook rental.  Cengage Learning, the country’s second largest textbook publisher, recently launched CengageBrain.com, a website with more than 1,200 Cengage Learning titles for rent – at up to 70 percent less than the suggested retail price. CengageBrain.com also offers e-textbooks, individual e-chapters, and audio books, as well as homework and study tools.

The rental process through CengageBrain.com is simple and convenient for students. When renting a textbook, students get immediate access to the first chapter of the book in e-book format and a choice of shipping options.  Once the rental term is complete, students can either choose to print a return label from CengageBrain.com and ship the textbook back, or purchase the title.

CenageBrain.com is not only for college students…there are plenty of books and study guides geared towards any age.  CengageBrain.com is one lucky reader a $150 gift code for your next purchase or rental!

To enter to win (each counts as a separate entry, so leave a separate comment!)

1. Leave a comment letting me how you are savings for your child’s education and if you think a service like CengageBrain.com would be useful in helping you do so.

2. Subscribe to my feed via Reader or email subscription to get all of the deals that I post and leave a comment that you have subscribed. If you already subscribe (thank you!), leave a separate comment letting me know.

3. Promote this giveaway.

If you have a blog, write a post about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with a link.

If you don’t have a blog, you can Tweet (and make sure that you are following me on Twitter!) about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know that!

You can post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page or favorite forum!

For each one of these that you do, leave a separate comment for another chance to win!

This giveaway will remain open until August 23 at 12:00pm EST at which time I will pick a winner using random.org and notify the winner by email

Good luck!

Stop by these blogs for more chances to win:

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Bargain Briana
Common Sense With Money
Coupon Cravings
Mommin It Up
Mommy Snacks
Passion for Savings
Saving Cents with Sense
Southern Savers
Stretching a Buck

This giveaway was sponsored by CengageBrain.com as part of Win Giveaways Back to School Bash. This Post was written by me and was not edited by the sponsor. Read more on my Disclosure Page. Find more information on the terms for this giveaway on the Win Giveaways Facebook page.

I have been posting deals and coupons for Bar-S foods (especially the hot dogs when they go on sale for $1) for quite some time now, but it is only recently that they finally started showing up in the stores near me.

Most people think “hot dogs” when they think of Bar-S, but did you know that Bar-S  has a line of premium lunchmeats? The Bar-S Bologna even won the 2010 ChefsBest Award for BEST TASTE!  It’s no secret that school lunches are horrible for you…why not pack the kids a turkey sandwich on wheat bread and loaded with lettuce and tomatoes? Use this $1 off 2 printable coupon to get you started!

Bar-S is currently offering Back to School Sweepstakes (through September 30).  Enter for your shot at the $10,000 Grand Prize and play daily for many other prizes up to $500 from Amazon.com.

You can also become a fan of Bar-S on Facebook.  Every two weeks Bar-S selects two lucky fans to be featured as the Fans of the Week and receive a week of Free Bacon.

Bar-S wants to help you finish up getting ready for Back To School with a $150 Staples Gift card AND 2 $5 VIP coupons for Bar-S foods!

To enter to win (each counts as a separate entry, so leave a separate comment!)

1. Leave a comment letting me know if you have ever tried Bar-S lunchmeats and what you typically feed your children (or yourself) for lunch

2. Subscribe to my feed via Reader or email subscription to get all of the deals that I post and leave a comment that you have subscribed. If you already subscribe (thank you!), leave a separate comment letting me know.

3. Promote this giveaway.

If you have a blog, write a post about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with a link.

If you don’t have a blog, you can Tweet (and make sure that you are following me on Twitter!) about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know that!

You can post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page or favorite forum!

For each one of these that you do, leave a separate comment for another chance to win!

This giveaway will remain open until August 23 at 12:00pm EST at which time I will pick a winner using random.org and notify the winner by email

Good luck!

Stop by these blogs for more chances to win:

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Bargain Briana
Common Sense With Money
Coupon Cravings
Mommin It Up
Mommy Snacks
Passion for Savings
Saving Cents with Sense
Southern Savers
Stretching a Buck

This giveaway was sponsored by Bar-S as part of Win Giveaways Back to School Bash. This Post was written by me and was not edited by the sponsor. Read more on my Disclosure Page. Find more information on the terms for this giveaway on the Win Giveaways Facebook page.

If there is one problem that most teens have, it’s acne.  Whether it is the occasional blemish or full-blown “pizza face”, teens are always looking to put their best face forward and that includes having a clear complexion.

I first heard of ProActiv when I was at my sisters house and the complete “system” was sitting on her bathroom sink.  Both of my nephews were using it and it was working really well for them.  While most companies can make claims of how well their products work or get celebrity endorsements, everything I have heard from ProActiv users indicates one thing…..it works!

If you are looking to try ProActiv (or have used it in the past), there is a great deal on the starter kit right now through Shop At Home….they are offering 40% cash back on the starter kit (priced at $19.95) AND you can get a $5 bonus cash back if you are new to ShopAtHome.

That means that you can get it for as little as $6.99! (please note:  this will sign you up for their auto-ship program, but you can cancel at any time!) To take advantage of this deal, just Log In to your ShopAtHome account (or register, if you are new to them) and use the search bar to find ProActiv!

One lucky Moms Need to Know reader will win a ProActiv Skin care package that includes the following:

• 30 day Proactiv 3-step kit w/ free Refining Mask and Green Tea Moisturizer ($77 retail value)
• Daily Protection Plus Sunscreen SPF 30 ($19.00)
• Oil Blotter Sheets ($11.00)
• Advanced Blemish Treatment ($18.00)
• Clarifying Night Cream ($27.00)

To enter to win (each counts as a separate entry, so leave a separate comment!)

1. Leave a comment letting me your biggest skin care challenge.

2. Subscribe to my feed via Reader or email subscription to get all of the deals that I post and leave a comment that you have subscribed. If you already subscribe (thank you!), leave a separate comment letting me know.

3. Promote this giveaway.

If you have a blog, write a post about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with a link.

If you don’t have a blog, you can Tweet (and make sure that you are following me on Twitter!) about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know that!

You can post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page or favorite forum!

For each one of these that you do, leave a separate comment for another chance to win!

This giveaway will remain open until August 23 at 12:00pm EST at which time I will pick a winner using random.org and notify the winner by email

Good luck!

Stop by these blogs for more chances to win:

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Bargain Briana
Common Sense With Money
Coupon Cravings
Mommin It Up
Mommy Snacks
Passion for Savings
Saving Cents with Sense
Southern Savers
Stretching a Buck

This giveaway was sponsored by ProActiv as part of Win Giveaways Back to School Bash. This Post was written by me and was not edited by the sponsor. Read more on my Disclosure Page. Find more information on the terms for this giveaway on the Win Giveaways Facebook page.

Next up the the Back to School Bash is an Acer Aspire 4820T laptop computer, courtesy of the people at Intel! 

While Brad promptly claimed this computer for himself once it arrived, I’ve had the chance to use it quite a bit and he and I may have to renegotiate…because this laptop is AWESOME.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I would like the 14″ screen (I have a 15″ one), but the quality of the picture is so great that you don’t even notice the 1″ difference.  Another fantabulous thing about this laptop?  This sucker is LIGHT.  At under 5 lbs, the Acer Aspire 4820T was the perfect computer to take to BlogHer.  Add to that the fact that the battery lasts 8 hours, and this computer is absolutely perfect for college students to take to class, for moms to take on the road and for just about anyone!  (and as a side note, I even love how the battery doesn’t lay flat…when installed, it props the back of the computer up by about an inch, making it more ergonomic)

So when I received the computer, I participated in a conference call with the people at Intel as they described the many features of the Acer Aspire 4820T.  I have to say, much of what they said was completely “over my head”, so I asked them if they could provide me some of the key features in “computer-idiot-speak”:

The first question anyone should ask themselves when buying a new PC is “What am I going to do with it?”  This will determine if you want a thin and light laptop, a full featured laptop, a desktop etc.

You need to consider your budget and then prioritize within that budget.  Besides the type of system (laptop, desktop), you should look at features like storage, memory and the processor.

We encourage people to buy the best they can. We call it “investment protection.”  It’s like a milk expiration date.  The better the system, the longer the expiration date is.

The latest processors are the Intel Core i3, i5 and i7.  It’s like buying a BMW – the 3, 5 and 7 series.  You know that 3 is always entry level, 5 is solid and 7 is the best/supreme.  It’s the same with the processor and can act as a guide in your buying process.

For the majority of today’s students we recommend the Intel Core i5.  This is the processor that powers the laptop we sent to you.

Students are doing lots of multi-tasking, and the laptop needs to be their entertainment and work center all-in-one.  The Intel Core i3 is an entry level system and the Core i7 is a great high-end system (hard core gamers love it, for example). The Core i5 powered laptop meets the needs of most of today’s students because they 1) require mobility and great battery life (they are moving around the campus, at home, the library etc.); 2) they need performance to multitask without getting the dreaded hourglass (taking notes, listening to music, IM’ing friends, watching video/TV etc.; and 3) they need “power” for things like video and photo editing.

Intel works closely with software, hardware and application companies (think itunes, Microsoft etc.) to make sure that the processor and the hardware/software offer the best combined experience.  This includes:

Geeky names like Intel turbo boost and Intel hyper-threading; but what does it mean?

Bottom line is less of the hourglass and time wasted waiting on your computer to catch up while you do the things you want to do.

In more detail…

The PC is “smart” and can “power up” when you need performance (like editing) and can “power down” when you don’t need it (i.e. you are just doing email).  When it powers down, it saves energy which equals longer battery life.

In a car, “turbo boost” gives the driver extra zing to pass that slow truck on the road.  Turbo boost in the Intel technology does something similar – a boost when you need it for processor intensive applications.

This is a “dual core” computer or like having two brains in one.  One brain can focus on one task and the other brain can focus on another task – all at the same time. This is important for multi-tasking (or doing many things at once on your computer). It’s like a cook in the kitchen.  If you have two cooks instead of one you can get more done in a shorter amount of time.  That’s what our technology does, enable you to do more quickly.

The Acer Aspire 4820T is priced between $720 and $900 at most stores…and now, one of you lucky readers has a chance to win one of these!

To enter to win (each counts as a separate entry, so leave a separate comment!)

1. Leave a comment letting me know who in your family could use a new laptop the most, and how you plan to use it (gaming, surfing the internet, work?)

2. Subscribe to my feed via Reader or email subscription to get all of the deals that I post and leave a comment that you have subscribed. If you already subscribe (thank you!), leave a separate comment letting me know.

3. Promote this giveaway.

If you have a blog, write a post about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with a link.

If you don’t have a blog, you can Tweet (and make sure that you are following me on Twitter!) about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know that!

You can post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page or favorite forum!

For each one of these that you do, leave a separate comment for another chance to win!

This giveaway will remain open until August 23 at 12:00pm EST at which time I will pick a winner using random.org and notify the winner by email

Good luck!

Stop by these blogs for more chances to win:

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Bargain Briana
Common Sense With Money
Coupon Cravings
Mommin It Up
Mommy Snacks
Passion for Savings
Saving Cents with Sense
Southern Savers
Stretching a Buck

In accordance to the FTC Guidelines and WOMMA Code of Ethics, I am disclosing that Intel Corporation has provided me with the Acer TimelineX Series, as well as one for the contest winner. There is no direct or implied obligation on my behalf to write about the product.  This giveaway is part of Win Giveaways Back to School Bash. This Post was written by me and was not edited by the sponsor. Read more on my Disclosure Page. Find more information on the terms for this giveaway on the Win Giveaways Facebook page.

I spend most of my day on my computer, so caring for it properly is important to me!  Belkin put together a great “Care Kit” for my laptop and I have been impressed with it so far.

Laptop bag:  of course, you need to have a good laptop bag…..not just for traveling, but to keep your laptop safe when not in use at home.  The Belkin Messenger Bag is well-padded yet lightweight.  Separate compartments can store your laptop as well as files, power cords and more. It is available in a variety of stylish colors and can hold a laptop up to 15.4″.

Cooling pad:  Using a cooling pad can extend the life of your computer and the Belkin Laptop Cooling Pad is an inexpensive, effective way to keep your laptop from overheating.

• Gentle slope for improved typing comfort and reduced wrist strain
• Raised screen height to help reduce neck strain
• Fits conveniently inside a laptop bag

Wireless Mouse: I have never liked using the track pad on my laptop…I am SO a “mouse user”!  The Belkin Wireless Travel Mouse is perfect for taking on the road-no messy cables to get tangled, and more comfortable to use than your laptop’s track pad. (and as a side note, Brad was very happy that I got it in Techno Blue….now he doesn’t have to use my pink mouse any longer!

Would you like to win a Belkin Laptop Prize Pack?  Well, I have one to give away!

To enter to win (each counts as a separate entry, so leave a separate comment!)

1. Leave a comment letting me know how you care for your laptop?  Are you “good” and use a cooling pad and store it in a padded bag?  Or does your laptop look like it’s been dipped in Goldfish cracker crumbs?

2. Subscribe to my feed via Reader or email subscription to get all of the deals that I post and leave a comment that you have subscribed. If you already subscribe (thank you!), leave a separate comment letting me know.

3. Promote this giveaway.

If you have a blog, write a post about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with a link.

If you don’t have a blog, you can Tweet (and make sure that you are following me on Twitter!) about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know that!

You can post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page or favorite forum!

For each one of these that you do, leave a separate comment for another chance to win!

This giveaway will remain open until August 23 at 12:00pm EST at which time I will pick a winner using random.org and notify the winner by email

Good luck!

Stop by these blogs for more chances to win:

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Bargain Briana
Common Sense With Money
Coupon Cravings
Mommin It Up
Mommy Snacks
Passion for Savings
Saving Cents with Sense
Southern Savers
Stretching a Buck

This giveaway was sponsored by Belkin as part of Win Giveaways Back to School Bash. This Post was written by me and was not edited by the sponsor. Read more on my Disclosure Page. Find more information on the terms for this giveaway on the Win Giveaways Facebook page.

If there is one thing that every child needs for Back To School, it is a backpack.  As parents, we want to make sure that the backpack that we buy for our children will survive the bus ride, being loaded up with books, artwork, etc and even the occasional swinging it at your sister.

Lands End has been making high-quality backpacks for years.  They are sturdy yet stylish and will last you for years….best of all, the are priced at about $30, making them super-affordable.

The ClassMate SmallHaul Backpack is the perfect size for children ages 5 to 8.  Other features include:

• Double-strength base for extra durability
• Removable organizer pouch keeps school supplies straight
• 360° reflective trim helps keep kids visible
• MP3 player pocket and cord port for tunes
• Glow-in-the-dark zipper pulls on main compartment
• D-ring to clip on lunchbox

To enter to win a ClassMate SmallHaul Backpack (each counts as a separate entry, so leave a separate comment!)

1. Leave a comment letting me what you look for in a backpack.  Cost?  Quality?  Having a character on it?

2. Subscribe to my feed via Reader or email subscription to get all of the deals that I post and leave a comment that you have subscribed. If you already subscribe (thank you!), leave a separate comment letting me know.

3. Promote this giveaway.

If you have a blog, write a post about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with a link.

If you don’t have a blog, you can Tweet (and make sure that you are following me on Twitter!) about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know that!

You can post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page or favorite forum!

For each one of these that you do, leave a separate comment for another chance to win!

This giveaway will remain open until August 23 at 12:00pm EST at which time I will pick a winner using random.org and notify the winner by email

Good luck!

Stop by these blogs for more chances to win:

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Bargain Briana
Common Sense With Money
Coupon Cravings
Mommin It Up
Mommy Snacks
Passion for Savings
Saving Cents with Sense
Southern Savers
Stretching a Buck

This giveaway was sponsored by Lands End as part of Win Giveaways Back to School Bash. This Post was written by me and was not edited by the sponsor. Read more on my Disclosure Page. Find more information on the terms for this giveaway on the Win Giveaways Facebook page.

So there is one thing that I have learned in my (oh-my-Gord-I’m-old) years….the right smile can change your entire day.  It could be a random smile from a stranger, or it could be the smile that you give that stranger, knowing full-well that you are putting your best smile forward!

I was born with 2 front teeth that genetically turned in to look like a teepee. I was self conscious throughout elementary school, and then I got braces in junior high school.  Aside from the fact that when I was in high school, braces were a veritable torture device (seriously – I had bands around ALL my teeth along with wires that ensured I couldn’t eat anything “fun” and then rubber bands that would shoot at innocent people without warning.  And then when it came time to take them off?  I swear that he went to Home Depot and bought a chisel for me!) compared to what they are now, when the braces came off, I had an unbelievable amount of confidence in now having a fantabulous smile (oh yeah – did I ever mention how modest I was?).

And that’s what braces can do for you….they may be un-fun while you have them, but the end results are COMPLETELY worth it.  There is nothing like people saying “you have the best smile” to boost your confidence and make you happy!

What are the benefits of Invialign?

1.  For about the same cost as regular metal braces, Invisalign Teen effectively straightens teeth without ‘brace face’

2.  Virtually invisible braces means you don’t have to hide your smile and no one even has to know you are in treatment

3.  Clear, removable braces fit with active teens lifestyles – won’t interfere with sports, music or other activities

4.  Since teens can take the aligners out to brush and floss, they can maintain normal, healthy hygiene during treatment – they can eat what they want, no forbidden foods

5.  Developed with leading orthodontists

6.  Over 2 million cases completed and 96% customer satisfaction rate

Invisalign is also running a back to school sweepstakes for kids to “Gear Up From Head to Toe” to get ready for school. It ends 9/20/10 and the grand prize winner will receive FREE Invisalign treatment and a $500 shopping spree at Journeys.

And now, Invisalign wants to give you a $100 AmEx Gift card for you to discover what makes you happy!

To enter to win (each counts as a separate entry, so leave a separate comment!)

1. Leave a comment letting me know  what gives you confidence.  Is it a great smile?  A new purse?  Just breaking out of the “mom-wardrobe” and wearing a skirt?

2.  Subscribe to my feed via Reader or email subscription to get all of the deals that I post and leave a comment that you have subscribed.  If you already subscribe (thank you!), leave a separate comment letting me know.

3. Promote this giveaway.

If you have a blog, write a post about this giveaway and leave a separate comment with a link.

If you don’t have a blog, you can Tweet (and make sure that you are following me on Twitter!) about this giveaway and leave a comment letting me know that!

You can post a link to this giveaway on your Facebook page or favorite forum!

For each one of these that you do, leave a separate comment for another chance to win!

This giveaway will remain open until August 23 at 12:00pm EST at which time I will pick a winner using random.org and notify the winner by email

Good luck!

Don’t forget to check out the Back To School Giveaways on the other bloggers in the Back To School Bash!

Balancing Beauty and Bedlam
Bargain Briana
Common Sense With Money
Coupon Cravings
Mommin It Up
Mommy Snacks
Passion for Savings
Saving Cents with Sense
Southern Savers
Stretching a Buck

This giveaway was sponsored by Invisalign as part of Win Giveaways Back to School Bash.  This Post was written by me and was not edited by the sponsor. Read more on my Disclosure Page. Find more information on the terms for this giveaway on the Win Giveaways Facebook page.