Jill Cataldo


Nationally-syndicated money-saving columnist
Blogger, workshop instructor & savings enthusiast
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Drop Down Deals $500 Giveaway Week 1… Hot Dog Toasters!

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UPDATE: WEEK 1 GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED! WINNERS are MoscatoMomma (blog,) Kmfanning (blog,) and Melissa Hahn (Facebook.) Congratulations to our winners, and thank you to everyone who entered!

Super-Couponers, have I got an incredible MONTH of giveaways for you… as well as a cool new way to save on lots of online purchases!

Have you ever heard of Drop Down Deals? It’s a free, little browser plug-in that tracks thousands of discount codes for you. Instead of having to use a search engine or coupon-code website to look for percentages off, free shipping, and dollars-off discounts, Drop Down Deals automatically shows you any available coupon codes for the site you’re shopping on.

It’s not invasive, and it’s safe to use. Norton AntiVirus, CNet, and many other reputable online agencies have approved of and endorsed it. It doesn’t collect any information about you, either — it just recognizes what site you’re on and automatically checks if there are coupon codes available for that site for you.

Recently, the makers of Drop Down Deals got in touch with me and asked if I would like to try out their service for one month, shopping online and using Drop Down Deals to find coupon codes for the purchases I’d be making. I’m always on the lookout for new ways to save and new technologies in the couponing world, so I was intrigued.

But that wasn’t all. They offered to give me $500 to spend on whatever I want over the course of one month (and keep everything I bought!) as long as I used discount codes that the Drop Down Deals browser provided to me while shopping online… and of course, shared my shopping experiences using the Drop Down Deals plug-in with my readers.

Well… while the allure of shopping for $500 worth of free stuff (with online coupons, no less) sounded like fun, I wasn’t sure how much fun that would be for you to read about.

So, I proposed a different plan. I want to try out their browser plugin, and I’d love to deal-hunt with $500, but it would be MUCH more fun for my readers if I gave away everything I’m going to be buying… to you!

So that’s exactly what I’m going to do.

Here’s where the fun begins. Over the next month, each week, I’ll be shopping with Drop Down Deals and buying all kinds of gear at a discount. And, I’ll be giving everything that I buy away to my readers. Since this is such a large, lengthy giveaway, there will be FOUR ways for you to enter each week:

  • 1. Reply to each week’s Drop Down Deals giveaway post on my blog. Just like every giveaway I host… post a comment under this story, and you’re entered!
     
  • 2. Become a Facebook Fan of Super-Couponing, if you’re not already, then posting under my weekly Drop Down Deals writeup on my Facebook Wall.
     
  • 3. Follow me on Twitter, if you’re not already.
     

(You will get an additional entry into the contest for EACH of these, so if you’d like to do them all, that’s three giveaway entries for you this week.

Which that brings us to #4…

I’d also love YOUR help in deciding what to buy!

  • If you’d like to install the Drop Down Deals browser plugin too, feel free to post any great coupon codes, deals, and potential prizes that you find in the Comments below this article! For every deal that you post that includes a coupon code you found on Drop Down Deals, you will receive ANOTHER entry into that week’s contest. If you spot five great deals and post about them, you just picked up another five entries! (Each deal needs to include the URL of the online store, the product that’s on sale, and the discount code you found with Drop Down Deals for the product. Limit 10 prize-suggestion posts per person per week.)

If you want to help me shop, click the banner below to download Drop Down Deals’ browser plugin:

I created a little video blog to share more about Drop Down Deals, this giveaway, and what I’ll be buying…

Whew! So let’s get started with the giveaway. I did a little shopping last week, purchasing small kitchen appliances that I’ve long been fascinated with… Hot Dog Toasters!

Imagine, the convenience of popping two hot dogs and two buns in your new hot dog toaster, then having them both pop up, cooked to perfection! Yum! I purchased THREE hot dog toasters online at Sears.com, and Drop Down Deals offered a $5-off-$50 coupon while I was shopping, which I used.

Want to win one? This Drop Down Deals / Three Hot Dog Toaster Giveaway begins TODAY, March 28th, and will run for one week. Next Monday, April 4th, I’ll announce the three winners of the toasters, and I’ll kick off Week 2 with another round of prizes for you!

Remember, there are FOUR ways to enter:

  • 1. Reply to each week’s Drop Down Deals giveaway post on my blog.
     
  • 2. Become a Facebook Fan of Super-Couponing, then post under my Drop Down Deals writeup on my Facebook Wall.
     
  • 3. Follow me on Twitter.
     
  • 4. Install the Drop Down Deals browser plugin too, then post any great coupon codes, deals, and potential prizes that you find in the Comments below this article! For every deal that you post that includes a coupon code you found on Drop Down Deals, you will receive ANOTHER entry into that week’s contest. (Each deal needs to include the URL of the online store, the product that’s on sale, and the discount code you found with Drop Down Deals for the product. Limit 10 prize-suggestion posts per person per week.)

Good luck and happy deal hunting!

Legal: This giveaway is sponsored by Drop Down Deals. Posting a response in the Comments area under this story qualifies readers to enter to win one (1) of three (3) Nostalgia Electrics Pop-up Hot Dog Toasters (Sears item #00813620000.) Readers can also gain additional entries by becoming a fan of Super-Couponing on Facebook, then posting in the weekly Drop Down Deals writeup; following Super-Couponing on Twitter; and installing the Drop Down Deals plugin and posting shopping suggestions that include website URL, product, and coupon code found via the Drop Down Deals browser plugin. There is a limit of 10 shopping suggestions giveaway entries per week per person. This week’s contest began at 12:00am CST on March 27, 2011 and will end on April 3, 2011 at 11:59pm. Three winners will be chosen via random-number generator. Winner will be contacted via the Private Messaging feature of JillCataldo.com and via email; or via Facebook messaging; or via Twitter. If winner does not reply to the message within one week (7 days,) the winner will forfeit the prize, and a new winner will be chosen. A $500 American Express gift card has been provided by Drop Down Deals for the purpose of utilizing the site’s discount code browser plug-in while shopping for merchandise online. I have been compensated for this post. I have received information to help promote Drop Down Deals as part of this giveaway. All opinions and experiences with Drop Down Deals expressed either in writing or verbally are my own. To date, I have spent $62.28 of the $500 stipend provided to me. In the event that, on the last week of the giveaway, there is not enough of a balance remaining on the gift card to purchase another prize for this giveaway, the remaining funds will be used to offset the postage costs of shipping prizes to the winners. This giveaway is part of a larger, month-long giveaway series. Next week’s giveaway will begin on April 4th, 2011. The giveaway series will conclude after one month. Good luck to everyone!

Comments

  1. No one has ever offered me $500 to shop for a month!! Can’t wait to see how it works :)

  3. Very fun and creative give away! We all win, because we learn a new way to save!! Thanks as always for ALL you do!!!

  4. Wow Jill, this is an awesome giveaway and you are so generous to share with us, your readers. Have fun shopping!

  5. We got a hot dog cooker/steamer for Christmas one year and loved it until it broke! It was so easy even the kids could use it. Thank you for all that you do Jill! These contests are just a really fun perk!!

  6. I have never heard of a hot dog toaster – but sign me up. I have to say, when it comes to kitchen gadgets, I’m fascinated with those “one cup” hot drink machines that make everything from coffee to tea to hot cocoa in one shot. . . no one in my family likes the same drink.

  7. What a neat concept. I have never heard of Drop Down Deals before, sure to be a hit amongst the couponers!

  8. I too have never heard of the hot dog toaster, but would love to try it. Hot dogs being my of my favorite indulgences.

  11. I love that you are always giving back to your readers instead of keeping all the perks to yourself. See you Saturday!!

  12. Wow – I am sure my son would love that!!! I also agree that you should try it and let us know how it works.

  15. I’m always skeptical about these sort of things. Okay, it passes the anti-virus/malware check… so what’s the real catch? The golden age of the internet is long past. Nobody just gives away free stuff on the web anymore. Even this contest in itself while appearing as “free” is still being paid for by giving up our facebook/twitter personal info.

    That said, if you really do want to throw a hot-dog toaster my way (another concept of whose practicality I’m highly doubtful) I suppose I wouldn’t say no…

  20. The perfect gadget for my 6 year old son who would eat hot dogs every day if I let him! Thanks, Jill!!!

  21. What a fun way to share not only the giveaways, but also more knowledge of new concepts in the world of coupons/deals available on the internet. Thanks for all you do Jill. You truly are a blessing to us all!

  23. I would absolutely love one of these hot dog warmers! My kids live on hotdogs! Also wanted to mention that I love this Drop Down Deals site. I never shop online without coupon codes! Who would, when there is so much money to be saved!?!

  24. What a neat little appliance! It would be fun to win. You are the best, Jill.

    How about buying a Kitchen Aid mixer too?

  29. I would love to try this Hot Dog Toaster in my kitchen! Thanks for including us in another great deal!

  31. My friend has one of these. The kids love it because they get to make their own meal. My friend loves it because the kids love to make her lunch with it.

    They even made me and my son lunch, once. He has been asking for one ever since.

  33. I have been spring cleaning and organizing our house and they have a ton of (well 5 guess that isn’t a ton) of coupons listed on their web site for https://www.shopgetorganized.com.

    The codes are:

    AFPRCD20 – 20% off entire order
    NETBRD20 – 20% off entire order
    DEALTK20 – 20% off entire order
    WHALES20 – 20% off entire order
    GETORGNZ – 15% off entire order

    I can easily spend a lot of money here so I am happy to have some codes.

    Have a good day!

  42. my kids think this is the coolest. my youngest doesn’t like the lines the grill leaves on the hot dogs, lol

  46. Sounds like a neat and easy appliance to use, especially on those “busy” nights.

  52. THANKS JILL
    YOU ARE AN INSPIRATION TO ME TO GIVE BACK. YOU’VE CHANGED MY WORLD-THANKS!

  57. I’ve seen these in the Sky Mall Magazine and have wondered if they’d be fun to use. Hopefully, I will win one and find out! Thanks for sharing!

  58. This is the first time I’ve heard of a hot dog toaster! That’s neat.

    Ok off topic question, how do I become a fan of Jill’s facebook? I am only 25 you’d think I would know how to do it.

  59. My grandchildren would have sooo much fun with this. I’m already having a ton of fun learning and shopping. I’m new at all of this (5 weeks now) and I’m still in awe of the rest of you.

  64. Yes! Even more autonomy in the kitchen for my kids – and no learning curve. They already know how to use the toaster. :)

  74. I think you are going above and beyond. You have already shared your knowledge and experience and even given away secrets very few of us would ever think of. You could just as well keep everything from your 500.00 shopping spree because the offer was made to you personally (and you have more than earned it too). Instead, this really shows how generous you truly are.

  77. Happy “Free” shopping Jill–that’s one of my favorite words. Thank you for your giving spirit.

  80. looks like there will be some great items here! Thanks Jill. Hoping to win, but then again I always win now that you have taught me to shop this way!

  81. Jill- You’re an extremely generous person! And thank you so much for makingn a difference. You definitely ‘pay it forward’!!

  82. We cooked 288 hot dogs for the office yesterday….this would be neat for the kids at home!

  83. I always wanted to try one of these. It would be great for picnics. Jill thanks for all that you do.

  85. So generous that you offered to give away all you can buy!! You are a blessing to many people.

  87. My brother bought one of these about 8 years ago and my husband always tries to steal it from him…
    This is a great way to learn a new money and time saving technique and also share your findings with everyone.. Thank you

  88. I keep getting a message that it has been removed or is not available? I would love to download it!!

  90. My kids would think I’m the BOMB if I came home with a hot dog toaster!!

  103. What a great idea! I am a new super couponer and I love your website.
    Learning all the tricks slowly!
    Thanks for the tips!

  104. I love deals and would love to win some things with your drop down deals.
    Thank you

  105. I have never seen an appliance like this before. Looks like a real time saver for hungry kids.

  106. I love getting deals and love your website. I wish I would have been able to go to the workshop when you were here in Charleston, SC

  108. I just installed it and created my account on your site, which I’ve been using for almost two years now! Thanks for all of the great info!! The hot dog toaster looks fun!

  109. I am so grateful for your website and blog. I have started using many of your tips and every week I check out your Deals of the Week for even more savings. I have saved so much money since I was introduced to your blog. Thanks! and Please keep the deals coming!

  114. Love the Drop Down Deals…I downloded it right away and found a great deal on a Keter – cool blue cooler for only $50 at K-mart!! item #043w019275770001 Model #17186745. Such a great deal for such a unique item…very cool!!
    Thank you!!
    Karen from Illinois

  115. I don’t even eat hot dogs but my son & hubby love them so this would be a great gift for them! :-)

  116. you rock Jill! THanks for sharing this and can’t wait to try out DROP DOWN DEALS :)

jillcataldoheadshotI'm Jill Cataldo, founder of Super-Couponing® workshops and author of the nationally-syndicated newspaper column and video series "Super-Couponing Tips" enjoyed by over 20 million people each week.

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