Extra iHerb Savings!

This post contains my iHerb referral link. You'll save money using it (even existing customers), and I may be compensated by iHerb. It won't cost you extra - but it WILL save you money!  I've promised to share iHerb deals whenever I hear about them, so none of you will miss out on the extra savings! So here's the current deal: Get ready for summer with a 10% extra discount off your next order! Please note that this coupon is limited to one order per customer and ends May 23rd at 10:00 am PST. Don't miss out! Be sure click on this link to activate the discount! If you see that it's not active, just add these two codes to your cart: QEJ101 and ISTEN to activate your one-time 10% discount. If you use Shipping Savers, you can get really affordable shipping, even if you choose DHL Express shipping (I highly recommend this shipping method, it arrives really quickly)! You can sort for Shipping Savers on iHerb by clicking the Shipping Saver checkbox on the left-hand side of the page. Check out my Shipping Saver suggestions, too! Not sure if shopping at iHerb makes sense? I shop there pretty often, as you may already know. I find it makes life easier for me - not only do they make it easy to find some "hard to find" products my family needs (like fragrance free shower products), but I save a significant amount of money on things like vitamins and probiotics. So many products are definitely less expensive at iHerb than at my local stores, and shipping is VERY affordable as I mentioned above. Here are some of the things I like to buy at iHerb: Palm Oil (this eco-friendly version is not available in Israel at all, and is perfect for making frosting or fudge) Magnesium Tablets (these and many other supplements are quite pricey in Israel and iHerb is a great way to save!) Stash Teas (I buy these when they are on sale, as the sale price comes out to less than the lowest price I can find herbal teas for locally, and these are just SO MUCH HIGHER quality than teas I can find for an affordable price!) Vitamin D (so many people are deficient, it turns out! And my doctor prescribed a rather high dose, and what's sold here is very low dose and more expensive) Probiotics are far less expensive from iHerb than any I've found in Israel, and they don't weigh much! Many of these are "shipping savers" - so they'll lower your shipping costs for the whole order if you add them in! EO shower gel (we like this kid friendly all-in-one shower product that doesn't irritate our skin!) Ricola throat drops (these work out to be only slightly less expensive than the local price, so I use them as a "filler" product, never as my "reason for buying") Witch Hazel (it's really difficult to find witch hazel products locally, and if you love witch hazel, you'll be thrilled with iherb's price. This one is a toner with alcohol in it - some people like the alcohol in it, but if you don't, they also have plenty of no-alcohol witch hazel products) Coffee Filters (unbleached) - I can find the #4 size locally, but I use the #2 size, and can't always find unbleached, and it's so easy to order it, rather than running around town! Brown Rice Pasta (I only buy these when they're on sale though. Great for people who don't eat wheat! The local equivalent is more expensive unless there's an amazing sale going on) Grapefruit Seed Extract (similar product, 1/4 of the size, cost more than twice as much at my health food store, and many people are convinced this keeps colds away,!) Essential Oils (I use them in homemade cleaners) - for a fraction of the price here in Israel! Yes, they are real and natural (and very importantly, not an MLM)! Soy-free Teriyaki Sauce (for my soy allergic child) Calendula Cream (so soothing and wonderful for eczema!) Aquaphor Ointment - impossible to buy locally! When it's not available, you might find CeraVe to be a good alternative. I also regularly check the Specials Page to see if products I use are on sale and work out to a better deal thru iHerb during a sale, and I also occasionally will order a hard-to-find spice. Let me know what your favorite deals are! Don't get surprised by import taxes! If you are ordering items from overseas, be sure to familiarize yourself with the most recent personal import regulations!

What do I order from iHerb?

Here in Israel, there is a special allure to ordering products online. It's generally a money-saving move, if you know where to shop, and what's worth importing. That is the key to feeling like you got a great deal! And don't forget shipping charges - one of the things that often trips people up is shipping. Make sure you order from retailers that ship using the postal service, not FedEx and UPS, that way you'll avoid all sorts of extra fees!

A favorite site among ex-pats and native Israelis is iHerb. They sell natural products, vitamins, supplements, etc - usually for less than the equivalent at local health food stores, and they have a far wider selection. And right now, they have flat rate shipping to Israel for just $4 per order (max weight per order is 4.0 lb, shipping special ends Sept 30)! **UPDATE** they continued this flat rate shipping indefinitely.

I often get asked, what's worth buying at iHerb? So I put together a list of my favorite things to order from them to help get you started. Many of you out there will have DIFFERENT favorites, and that's totally ok, because they carry so many products that each person can find his/her own unique way to save while getting what's needed! 

(If this is your first time ordering from iHerb, any of these links will automatically load a $5-$10 discount into your cart, depending on the total cost of your order!)

So here's my list of favorites, in no particular order:

Palm Oil (this eco-friendly version is not available in Israel at all, and is perfect for making frosting or fudge)

Magnesium Tablets (these and many other supplements are quite pricey in Israel and iHerb is a great way to save!) 

Stash Teas (I buy these when they are on sale, as the sale price comes out to less than the lowest price I can find herbal teas for locally, and these are just SO MUCH HIGHER quality!)

Vitamin D Tablets (so many people are deficient, it turns out! And my doctor prescribed a rather high dose, and what's sold here is very low dose and more expensive)

EO shower gel (we like this kid friendly all-in-one shower product that doesn't irritate our skin!)

Ricola throat drops (these work out to be only slightly less expensive than the local price, so I use them as a "filler" product, never as my "reason for buying")

Stain Remover (this Ecover product is GREAT, and iHerb's price is slightly lower than I can get it for locally when there's a sale, but again, I just use it as a "filler product" when I'm ordering other things and there's space left in the order)

Witch Hazel (it's really not easy to find witch hazel products locally, and if you love witch hazel, you'll be thrilled with iherb's price. This one is a toner with alcohol in it - great for teens' skin issues - but they also have plenty of no-alcohol witch hazel products)

Coffee Filters (unbleached)

Brown Rice Pasta (only when they're on sale, great for people who don't eat wheat! The local equivalent is more expensive unless there's an amazing sale)

Grapefruit Seed Extract (similar product, 1/4 of the size, cost more than twice as much at my health food store, and so many people are convinced this keeps colds away!)

Essential Oils (I use them in homemade cleaners)

Soy-free Teriyaki Sauce (for my soy allergic child)

Calendula Cream (so soothing and wonderful for eczema!)

I also regularly check the Specials Page to see if products I use are on sale and work out to a better deal thru iHerb during a sale, and I also occasionally will order a hard-to-find spice.

If you haven't ordered from iHerb, now is the perfect time to check it out!
And please let me know what your favorite deals are!

p.s. if anyone wants to try out Vitacost for similar products - you can get a $10 coupon toward your first $30 purchase using my referral link!

This post contains affiliate links, thanks for your support!

Online Shopping

I just spent $34.83 ordering some things online (that includes shipping charges). And I'm agonizing about whether it was a smart purchase or not! $34.83 is 130.27NIS
I ordered from two websites, iHerb.com and Vitacost.com, (for Vitacost, I started my purchase at Big Crumbs, but I don't expect much of a rebate. Total amount of my purchase, after coupons, and before shipping was only about $3. Check out Ebates if you want rebates on Vitacost purchases, since Big Crumbs is now defunct.) I managed to get very close to the maximum allowed size for each site, 3 lbs for Vitacost (my order weighed 2.98 lbs) and 4 lbs for iHerb (my order weighed 3.98 lbs). What on earth weighs only 0.02 lbs that could have been added? Total shipping charges were $16.99, almost half the total amount I spent (although I must disclose that had I not had Vitacost credit coupon, my purchase would have cost an additional $20).

Did I get my money's worth?
To be honest, I have no idea. Some of the things I ordered are really not available in this country...

Here's what I got

Eco-friendly dishwasher tablets (20 pack) comparable to a product (different brand) at the health food store for about 35 NIS

Tom's of Maine Cinnamon Clove toothpaste, not available here as far as I can tell (we need a new, unopened one for Pesach!)

Tom's of Maine Baking Soda Mouthwash (haven't seen this here, have you?) (also for Pesach!)

Herbal Tea (I got the peach flavor) - oddly it is cheaper to order tea from the States than to buy Wissotsky fruit teas here. And we drive past the Wissotsky production plant all the time. Talk about a local product...

Dried blueberries - MAJOR splurge, but I really wanted them.
Organic Milk chocolate bar (Splurge, again. but it was almost the exact weight i needed to fill up my box!)

Baking cups - unbleached, natural silicone coated, in 2 sizes. I have been baking a lot of muffins lately and while these are not necessary, the do make it so much easier!

Jason Tea Tree Shampoo (haven't seen this here. I have seen similar products in bottles half the size for about 40 NIS)

1 bag organic whole wheat pastry flour - 1.5 lbs (I have always used this for my hamentashen. And I really wanted to make them this year!)

Free samples: toothpaste, lip balm

So - did I waste my money or did I do ok? What do ya'll think?