New Deal Friday: Coupons For Your Pets

This week we’ve got lots of promo codes and discounts for loving pet owners from top online retailers PETCO and 1800PetMeds to share.

First of all, if you’re looking for a healthy discount on pet food, you’ll save 10% on your favorite brands with our coupons. All of the top brands are here, including Purina, Pedigree, Science Diet, Iams and more.

For premium nutrition in every bite, and prebiotics to help your dog’s digestive system function properly, try the high quality dog food that expert trainers trust to promote top performance – Eukanuba. They offer a huge variety of dietary choices for your dog, including soft and hard foods as well as a wide array of yummy and nutritious treats. Our Eukanuba Coupons will save you 10% on your purchase at PETCO.com.

Looking for quality nutrition your cat will love? Meow Mix tastes so good, cats ask for it by name! With great flavors and only the highest quality ingredients, ensuring that your cat gets complete nutrition for a happy, healthy lifestyle is easy with Meow Mix cat foods, and our Meow Mix coupons get you 10% savings on your purchase. Original Choice, Seafood Medley, Market Select or pouch meals, Meow Mix has something for the most discriminating cat.

Protect your dog with Iverhart Plus. Any dog can be infected by potentially deadly heartworms. Iverhart Plus is easy to give, and once a month will keep your dog safe from heartworms, roundworms and hookworms. It contains the veterinarian preferred medicine for heartworm prevention, and is approved safe for dogs, for puppies as young as six weeks, and even for pregnant or nursing dogs. Dogs love the flavored chewable, so administration once a month is not problem. Use our Iverhart Plus Coupons to save 10% on your purchase at 1800PetMeds.

You’ll find something for every animal in your life with our discount pet supplies category, even Adequan Equine for your horse’s joint health. Large or small, regardless of species or breed, MEVIO is the place to go for savings on everything you need to keep your animal companions healthy and happy.

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Free? That’ll Cost Ya.

The word “free” is surely one of the most appealing in the English language, in many contexts. The allure of free goodies is a powerful draw for most of us, and a powerful tool for legitimate marketers online and off. Unfortunately, it’s also used by villainous sorts to hook unsuspecting consumers into scams of various types. Here are some tips to avoid being sucker punched by free offers that aren’t really free on the Web.

Take a close look at the site. Does it have a professional look and feel? Do the links work? Does it load properly? Does it use proper grammar and spelling? Although these aren’t proof that the site is legitimate, the absence of them is a sure sign of trouble. Stick to well-known sites, companies and brands. Also, check for things like copyright statements, privacy policies and terms of use on the site. Again, though they’re no guarantee of legitimacy, they are usually missing from scam sites.

Beware the pop-up. Although many legitimate sites and services use pop-up windows for one reason or another, be extra wary when following a pop-up advertising something free. Once you arrive at the site, if attempts to get more information about the free offer lead you to more pop-ups or to other sites, it’s time to click close.

If it’s free, why do they need your bank account information? Be extremely cautious about entering personal financial information on a website. Don’t do it unless you trust the site and know that it’s secure. For instance, you might be given the option to link your bank account to a credit card account that you manage online in order to pay your bill electronically. That makes sense, but giving your banking or credit card information to a site you found through a pop-up ad or an unsolicited email? That’s a sure way to lose your money. Don’t. Do. It. Period.

Don’t pay to play. If a site requires you to pay a fee or charge of some sort in order to claim the free service, how is that free? Some legitimate deals offer “free when you pay shipping and handling” but even with those you need to check all of the details and amounts up front to make sure that it’s actually worth what they’re charging for your “free” item. Also, be alert to offers of something free that require you to purchase something else or to sign up for a monthly service or other such ongoing commitment. Some of these (like our Perfect Match Coupon offer) are worthwhile deals, just make sure you understand the fine print, including any cancellation details, before you sign up.

Also, be aware that some scam operations put up new sites and take old ones down every day. You sign up for a free trial, and when you go to cancel before your credit card is charged you find that the site doesn’t exist and the phone number you have for cancellation doesn’t work either. Once again, stick to well known brands and sites.

Follow your instincts. The old cliche “if it seems to good to be true then it probably is” holds true more than ever on the Web. If your gut or common sense is ringing warning bells, don’t let your desire for something free drown them out.

You’ve got mail! Be especially suspicious of unsolicited offers you receive by email. Sometimes when you follow a link nothing seems to happen. This is often just a way for scammers to collect valid email addresses to sell or to use with other scams. Also, never send your personal financial information via email. Legitimate sites use secure methods for exchanging private information.

Do your homework. Be sure to read all of the terms and conditions for an offer before you sign up, and check around with other reliable sources for information. Simple searches on the Web about your offer will often reveal current scams. Check with others online that you trust, and see what deals they recommend. Scammers, as well as legitimate online businesses, will usually have a reputation if you take time to seek it out.

Quality businesses often use free goods or services to help market their products. Just make sure you know who you’re dealing with and understand all of the terms and conditions upfront. More than anything else, pay attention if there’s ever a little voice inside your head screaming “RUN! YOU FOOL!”

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New Coupons, Promo Codes and Discounts This Week

In the news this week we were thankful for an ever so tiny ray of hope for an improving economy, but let’s face it, times are still tough and every dollar counts. Even in good economic times, what’s the sense in paying more for products or services than you have to? Well we’re doing our part to help you save. Every week there are new offers from MEVIO show sponsors being made available for discounts on just about everything you can imagine. We plan on highlighting some of them here on the weblog each week. Let’s call it “New Deal Friday.”

Here are this week’s new offerings.

We’re pleased to welcome PerfectMatch.com to MEVIO.

Perfectmatch.com® has helped millions of adults seeking successful, lasting relationships. Their Duet® Total Compatibility System (co-developed by renowned relationship expert Dr. Pepper Schwartz) takes into account personality, values and ideals, lifestyle, preferences, even “love and money” to identify the person right for you.  Now you can try it out at half price. Buy two months of membership and get an additional two months for free with our Perfect Match Coupon. Find lasting love today at PerfectMatch.

Already in love? Why not send some flowers?

Who can resist a beautiful bouquet of flowers? With our Fleurop.com coupons you’ll save 20% on your next purchase of top quality flowers or gifts. For a century now Fleurop has been recognized for the finest quality in floral products, as well as excellence in customer service around the world. With same day florist delivery to over 150 countries, you can make somebody happy, anytime, anywhere, with flowers from Fleurop.com.

Don’t forget the pets!

We’ve been adding steadily to the already wide variety of pet coupons available through MEVIO show sponsors PETCO and 1800PetMeds. From top food brands for your dog or cat like Pedigree and Fancy Feast to innovative products like the PediPaws pet nail trimmer, you’ll find everything you need to help your pet stay healthy and happy.

Whenever you shop online, whatever you’re shopping for, check our site first for the latest coupons and promo codes. All of our offers are guaranteed to work, with any restrictions or exclusions spelled out right up front and in plain English. Just like the New Deal eagle says “We do our part!”

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Hey Bob-A Rebates!

For those of us who are into coupons and discounts, nothing rings our bell quite like a huge rebate on a major purchase. And for we geeky oriented savers, rebate nirvana can be reached fairly often. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly a third of all computer related products are sold with some sort of rebate nowadays. For consumer electronics products, it’s only a bit lower at around one-fifth.

Why, you might ask, are companies giving away stacks of cash to entice you to buy their products? Or why don’t they simply set the product’s price lower rather than setting it higher and offering a rebate? We’ve got two words for ya. “Human Nature.” Although offering a rebate may indeed help someone decide to make a particular purchase, according to estimates somewhere between one-third and one-half of rebates are never claimed!

You don’t want to be in the group that fails to collect, do you? Of course not. Here’s a quick primer on rebates and how to make sure you get those stacks of cash back after your purchases.

There are basically two types of rebates available, the instant rebate and the mail-in rebate. Although called a rebate, the instant variety is more or less like a coupon, except usually with a higher value. When you purchase the item the rebate amount is deducted then and there, lowering the price you pay. These also have the added advantage of lowering the amount of sales tax that you pay, since you’re only charged tax on the discounted price. Pretty simple, eh?

The mail-in rebate, on the other hand, requires that you pay full price for the item and then receive a refund in a certain amount later on – usually after jumping through more hoops than a tiger in the circus ring.

First, some good news. Your rebate check won’t be counted as income for tax purposes. The bad news is that since you’ll be paying full-price up front, you will also be paying sales tax on the full purchase price, and you won’t get that money back with your rebate. It’s pennies on the dollar, but still something to consider when making your purchase decision.

Whether you find your rebate offer online, in a store, by direct mail or even in the packaging of the item being purchased, it’s important to read the fine print and understand all of the restrictions and requirements before you make the purchase. Is there an expiration date? Does it only apply to purchases made at a particular store or online site? If you’re buying online and the rebate requires you to send in the original UPC code within so many days of purchase, are you sure the item will even arrive at your home in time? Does the offer require you to make an additional purchase of some sort? Take a look at all of the requirements and make sure you are willing and able to meet them.

Once you’ve made your purchase, carefully follow all of the instructions on the rebate offer. Complete the form in its entirety according to directions. It may ask for serial numbers or item stock numbers or a variety of other information about the product. It may also ask for fairly detailed information about where you made the purchase, as well as all of your own personal information. You may have to highlight or circle the item on your store receipt, and may have to include other original documentation such as the UPC code from the product packaging mentioned earlier. Follow each and every requirement to the letter. If it asks for your original receipt, don’t send a copy, etc. With rebates, you have to make sure you dot every i and cross every t or you’re likely not to get your money.

Be sure to make copies of everything before you send it in so you’ll have the information you need to pursue a claim if your rebate doesn’t arrive. Remember that you may be waiting a long time for it to come, sometimes as long as 90 days, so make a note on the calendar as a reminder of when to expect it. Otherwise, you might forget it altogether and fail to follow up if it doesn’t arrive.

Some offers will have a website where you can register your information and track the progress of your rebate. Remember that registering on the site is not the same as submitting the rebate. It’s usually in addition to the rest of the process.

Also, don’t plan on making a purchase, getting the rebate, and then returning the item for a full refund. You’re very clever, but you’ve already sent in the UPC and original receipt, remember? Who needs the bad karma anyway?

Here’s the best tip of all. Don’t buy something you don’t really need just in order to receive a large rebate. Even “free after rebate” mail-in offers will cost you sales tax on the initial purchase, not to mention your time and effort spent jumping through the hoops. Do you really need that new multi-blade razor handle or gel pen just because it’s “free?” The replacement cartridges are gonna cost you big time. Think about whether the product is something you really want or need before you buy it just for the rebate.

Rebate shopping can be fun and it can help you save big on major purchases, so long as you keep your head when making the purchase decision and jump through all the hoops, and above all remember to submit your claim!

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The World Of Printable Coupons

By the middle of the 20th century, more than half of the households in the United States were clipping coupons to help save on household expenses, and by the mid-1970s that number had risen to three-quarters, where it has remained for consumers in nearly all household income brackets ever since. Of course, in addition to coupons offered in stores, in newspapers or magazines and by mail, more and more people are finding their coupons online these days. In fact, dozens of millions are now using coupons available on the Internet. Many of these coupons can be used directly online, but there are also many that can be printed off and redeemed the old fashioned way in a brick and mortar store. Here’s how to find and use coupons of that sort.

Do a simple search. Use your favorite search engine to look for “printable coupons” and you’ll get a return approaching 20 million pages, so the biggest problem you’ll have is in determining which sites are legitimate and have the best and most current offers. Many of the more prominent sites have active communities and forums so take a look at what others are saying to help you decide which sites are best and which to avoid.

Do a little more complex search. If you’re looking for a coupon to use on a specific product, add that product name or the parent company name to your search. For instance, “printable Gillette coupons” just gave me a return of nearly two million pages in Google, and several of the returns on the first page brought me to legitimate coupons on Gillette products.

Visit Brand Websites. A quick visit to Colgate.com just now showed me $1.00 off coupons for four or five of their products within a click or two. You can also register on many brand or retail sites to receive emails with special offers and coupons. The email I receive each month from Procter and Gamble, for instance, links to coupons and samples for everything from personal care products to dog food to water filters. They’ve even got coupons available by RSS feed!

Use a specialized coupon search site. Sites like Retail-Me-Not, Slick Deals, Coupon Cabin, Wow-Coupons and others allow you to search for printable coupons for a particular product or retailer. Some sites require registration or have other requirements, so check terms of use before you begin.

Here are a couple more tips for using your printable coupons. Be sure to print the entire coupon page out (including the website URL, etc.) when you do find it so you’ll have fewer questions about validity when you go to use it. Also, some merchants have a policy not to honor home-printed coupons at all due to fraud. You may want to ask about any restrictions or policies at the store’s service desk before shopping.

Welcome to the world of printable coupons!

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Play The Percentages With Online Coupons

Even the most knowledgeable and disciplined exponent of any particular game of chance is likely to fall prey to emotion from time to time. Rather than sticking to safe bets, it’s tempting to follow a hunch, or put too much confidence in a “hot streak.” The really smart folks, however, know that in the long run the laws of probability rule. They always know the percentages, and they always play accordingly.

It’s the same with online coupons. You might see a very attractive offer of a generous percentage savings, alongside an offer that saves you only a buck or two. Be careful. You may be comparing apples to oranges. Before you jump on the offer that appeals to your gut instinct, be sure to take a look at the actual percentages involved.

For example, let’s take a look at several offers from the same online storefront. “Offer A” gets you 10% off any order. “Offer B” gets you $5 off an order of $30 or more. “Offer C” gets you a product that normally sells for $10.69 at a discounted price of $7.49 (a savings of $3.20). How do you decide which offer to choose?

Well, first of all, let’s say you’re not interested in the product available through Offer C. We’ll come back to it in a moment. First let’s do a comparison between Offers A and B.

• If you’re order is under $30, you’ll have to use Offer A, since B isn’t available to you.
• If your order is exactly $30, ten percent would be only $3, so if you choose Offer A, you’re cheating yourself out of an additional $2 you’d get with Offer B.
• At $40 total, B is still the better choice, saving you 5 bucks rather than the 4 you’d save with A.
• By the time your total is $50, either A or B gets you the same $5 discount. Obviously, anything over $50 you’d be smart to use Offer A, since it gets you more than the $5 available with B at that point. Got it?

Now let’s throw Offer C into the mix. If you’re planning to buy 4 of whatever product is available under C, your total before the discount will be $42.76, so you want to use Offer B, yes? WRONG!

Your savings using Offer B would be $5. Using Offer A, it would be $4.27 (10%). But Offer C saves you a whopping $12.80! That’s more than twice what Offer B saves you and almost three times as much as Offer A.

See why you have to play the percentages?

It pays to take a little bit of time to compare the various offers so you’ll know which one to select. In our example above, you could either convert everything to dollar savings as we did for the comparison, or you could convert it all to percentages. So Offer A always saves you 10%. Offer B saves you 16.6% on an order of $30 (decreasing to 10% on an order of $50). Offer C saves you almost 30% on a particular item.

You might have to do a little research to find out what the usual price of an item is in order to determine the amount or percentage of savings if it’s not mentioned in the offer, but the extra effort is often worth it.

By the way, if the offers given for example seem familiar to you it may be because they are among the discounts available right here from Mevio Offers for products and services at GoDaddy.com.

Now, if somebody could remind me that just because the last guy hit on red fifteen times in a row, that doesn’t mean i should put my money on black. Hoo boy…

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When Good Promo Codes Go Bad

We’ve all had the frustration of finding out about a great promo code offer for a product we want, only to learn that the code doesn’t really work when we try to use it. Maybe it was from an outdated source and had expired. Or maybe there were strings attached and nobody mentioned them. Or maybe it simply wasn’t a valid code in the first place, and some unscrupulous person promoted it just to get you to their site. Whatever the reason, we learn after awhile to be aware of the warning signs and be on the lookout for bad codes.

But what about the good promo codes that ought to be valid and are from a reliable source but they don’t seem to work when you go to use them? Here are some of the reasons that a bonafide valid promo code might not work.

1) It’s a private offer. These are meant to be used only once and by a particular customer. Sometimes merchants send these out by email to those on their permissions lists. They may be set up to only work when that individual customer is logged on to their site. If you got it as an email forward from someone, even your spouse or another household member, it might not work for you. It’s a valid code or coupon, but only for the original recipient.

2) It’s a restricted offer. Some coupons or codes will contain exclusions of certain items. Often, these are items that are already discounted in some way, or particular product lines or brands. Or maybe the code only applies to purchases of a certain dollar amount. It’s important to read the fine print to make sure you understand the restrictions on a code before you try to use it. Look for expiration dates too while you’re at it.

3) You’re being greedy. Just kidding. We all want to get every discount we can, right? But many offers can’t be used in combination with other discounts or coupons. If you have multiple valid promo codes available for a particular purchase, you’ll probably have to pick which one is going to save you the most and stick with it.

4) You took a wrong turn somewhere. Maybe you have a valid code, but you’re trying to use it at the wrong site. Not that you’re prone to confusion or anything. Just sayin’…

5) Transposing: good for singers, not so much for promo codes. Keyboards and memory being what they are, I’ve sometimes transposed two characters in a code (or remembered it incorrectly) when trying to enter it. It happens. Best to either copy and paste the code when you can, write the code down carefully, or refer to teh source where you received the promo code when you’re ready to enter it.  And yes, that “teh” in the previous sentence was intentionally transposed. It’s called iorny.

So in addition to finding valid promo codes from credible sources, take a little time to understand what’s being offered and whether there are restrictions, and also be precise as you apply your codes and they’ll never break bad on you. Okay, maybe a little rowdy, but hey, codes will be codes.

By the way, you’ll find that all of the promo codes and clickable coupons here on Mevio Offers are always valid, public and sharable. We also go out of our way to let you know right up front about any restrictions, and you’ll always see codes and links prominently displayed for your reference. We don’t like to brag, but we’re pretty proud of all that.

So keep your codes on the sunny side, and if you’ve got tips or tricks to share, feel free to leave a comment.

Happy promo code hunting!

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All About SSL Certificates

Save on all your purchases at the world’s number one domain name registrar, including Standard SSL Certificates, with our GoDaddy Coupons.

When you’re either shopping online or using a site that requires a login, have you ever seen the little padlock down in the right hand corner of your browser? Or maybe you’ve noticed that the address of a site starts with “https.” Perhaps you’ve even received a warning from your web browser that you’re about to send data over an “unencrypted” environment. All of these signs tell you whether or not a site is using a secure connection with your browser, called a “Secure Socket Layer” or “SSL.”

SSL is the standard means on the Web for creating a secure, encrypted link between a Web server and a browser. It ensures safe passage of sensitive information, such as credit card numbers, login information, etc. Sites use SSL as a means to protect online transactions with their users or customers. Encryption simply means that the data is scrambled into a sort of code that can only be unscrambled by the proper “decryption” key.

An SSL certificate is a digital record that verifies the identity of a site and encrypts information sent to the server using SSL technology. It serves as a sort of electronic “passport” that establishes an online entity’s credentials for your browser. When you attempt to send confidential information to a Web server, your browser accesses the server’s digital certificate and then establishes a secure connection.

An SSL Certificate will include the name of the certificate holder, a serial number and expiration date, a copy of the certificate holder’s “public” encryption key and a digital signature from the authority that issued the certificate. Your browser inspects all of that information in the background every time you enter a secure site. Conversely, if you try to submit personal information to an unsecured Web site, your browser should warn you that the site is not secure and that sensitive data might be intercepted by third parties on the Net.

If you’re doing secure transactions online as a user or customer, you should be aware of the security status of a site based on messages from your browser, and the presence or absence of the padlock icon and “https” in the address. If you’re a business doing commerce online, your customers will be doing the same. A valid SSL certificate from GoDaddy.com can make all the difference in letting your customers know that it’s safe to send personal information over the Net to your site.

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Keep Your Pet Safe This Halloween

As Halloween approaches, it’s time for pet parents to give some thought to a few simple things we can do to keep our four legged friends safe from the dangers of the season. No, we’re not talking about ghouls and goblins. We’re talking about the very real threats that face thousands of pets every year amidst the revelry of Halloween.

According to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, calls about pets who have become ill after eating chocolate spike their highest around Halloween, with several thousand such calls every year. Dogs are particularly susceptible, since cats tend to be “tasters rather than eaters” while a dog might consume an entire bag of candy, wrappers and all. As little as four ounces of dark chocolate can cause seizures or even death in a dog weighing 40 pounds.

Along with danger from treats, there are several other possible threats to consider this Halloween. Here are the ASPCA’s top ten safety tips.

1) Keep the candy away from your pet. Chocolate in all forms, but especially dark or baking chocolate, can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, as can the artificial sweetener xylitol. Even foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be a choking hazard.

2) Watch those decorative plants. Pumpkins and decorative corn are relatively nontoxic, but can produce gastrointestinal upset or intestinal blockage should pets ingest them.

3) Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets. Both the glass from the bulbs and the electrical current constitute a hazard.

4) If you place a lit candle inside a jack o’ lantern, remember that pets (particularly curious kittens) may stray too close causing danger to themselves and others.

5) If your pet doesn’t seem at ease in a costume, don’t force it to wear one.

6) Make sure than any pet costumes don’t constrict the animal’s movement or hearing, or impede the ability to breathe, bark or meow. Try on costumes before the big night to make sure everything is alright.

7) Avoid ill-fitting costumes (too tight or too loose) for your pet or costumes with dangling pieces that can be chewed off and become choking hazards.

8) Keep your pet confined during visits to the door from trick ‘r treaters. Too many strangers may be scary or stressful.

9) Watch the door during trick ‘r treating so that your pet doesn’t dart outside.

10) Collars and tags are a must at all times. Halloween is no exception.

One last tip. If you do suspect your pet has ingested a potentially dangerous substance, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

With proper planning and observation of these tips, Halloween can be a festive occasion for both you and your pet. A little attention to safety can make a big difference in keeping your pet safe over the holiday.

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For the best selection of costumes for both you and your pet, visit BuyCostumes.com and use our coupon codes to save 12% on your order.

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What To Do With A Bad Kisser

From a platonic peck on the cheek to a gentle liplock or a full on passionate french kiss, there’s an art to smooching that goes beyond a couple’s chemistry. Sometimes, no matter how much you care about another person, or how much they care about you, their kisses just aren’t right. Here are some tips for getting your pucker partner on the right track.

First of all, try to figure out exactly what it is that you don’t like. Is it sloppy? Too smothering? Too timid? Whatever the problem may be, the more specific you can be in understanding what doesn’t work, the more likely you’ll be to succeed in encouraging what does.

The easiest way to help guide your partner to the kiss you want is to set an example. Kiss unto others as you would have them kiss unto you. Since kissing is a two-way street, there will be moments when you’ll be in the driver’s seat. Make the most of those moments by modeling the type of kiss you’d like to receive.

You can also give cues to your partner about what’s working for you and what’s not. Remember the old game of “you’re getting warmer?” It’s kind of like that, except more subtle. Something you like? Pull in closer or sigh a little. Something you don’t? Pull away a little. Simple as that.

Of course, you can also be direct and tell your partner what you like best, or be even more direct and tell him what you don’t like. Depending on the level of trust in your relationship, this may or may not be an effective strategy.

In an ideal world, of course, love conquers all and the quality of kisses relates directly to the quality of the relationship. Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world. Sometimes experience has more to do with a person’s ability to set off fireworks with a kiss than the passion or compatibility of the partners involved. Patience and understanding goes a long way when you’re searching for that perfect kiss.

If you’re on the other side of the equation and think you might be a bad kisser, take some advice from eHarmony.com and their list of top kissing complaints.

And if you’re looking for that special someone to pucker up with for the rest of your life, our eHarmony Coupon will save you 25% on a four month subscription.

xo xo xo!

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