MY FAVORITE "F" WORD

FRESH NEW LOOK!

2011-09-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

Change is good, right? Well I think so and this has been a big year of change for me!

My Favorite "F" Word will be under going some change and getting a fresh new look!

Bear with me as we move forward with a new focus!

In a continuing in the spirit of my "Year of Jubilee" - I decided it was time to re-visit my blogs.

Moving on............

Keep calm and carry on!

25 FREE RECYCLEBANK POINTS!

2011-04-03T10:58:00.000-07:00

25 Free RecycleBank Points

Follow the steps below to get 25 FREE RecycleBank points.

Take a short quiz for FREE 25 points

FREE REDBOX CODES

2011-04-03T10:51:00.000-07:00

FREE REDBOX MOVIE RENTAL CODE WITH PURCHASE!

Right now, Walgreen's has a special going when you buy two (2) 2-liter Pepsi products (currently on sale for 4/$5.00) and one (1) Tostito's or Frito Lay products - you get a Redbox Movie Rental Code at check out.

Got a coupon? Sweeten the deal!

I picked up chips and soda last night - did two separate transactions and got two separate codes! Love Redbox!!

FREE AUDIO BOOK DOWNLOAD!

2011-04-03T10:44:00.000-07:00

Each month Christian Audio gives away one premium audio book download for FREE .

How does it work? They give away one audio book download (that they have published or that a partner has allowed them to give away) absolutely free; available only during that month and only once, ever. There are also hundreds of other free audiobooks, lectures, sermons, interviews and podcasts here too!

This month download the audio book THE HIDING PLACE by Corrie Ten Boom. This download is courtesy of Christian Books.

This download is available through 4/30.

I enjoy audio books so much! GREAT for commuting or adding to my iPod for listening convenience.

SAVY SHOPPING

2011-03-31T17:59:00.000-07:00

War and tribulation seems to be everywhere. These and other economic factors equals stress on the pocket book as rising costs of fuel and general merchandise continue. It's depressing some times but on the flip side, I'm grateful for my frugal living skills, creativity and ingenuity.

My girlfriends and I attended a quilt show this past weekend. We were able to get in for free (got VIP tickets good for all three days from local sewing center) and we all rode together to conserve fuel and parking costs. As we roamed the rows of booths it was evident that 'deals' were going to be few and far. I brought my camera and took advantage by grabbing some pictures of items to perk my memory for ideas of my own along with pictures of wanted items that I could research pricing once I was home. The resounding theme we kept hearing was "Cotton prices are going up" - yuck!

Cotton fabric is a staple for most quilters - if you quilt, you know what I'm talking about - you can never have enough fabric!! So I began to put on my thinking cap on how to save money on my hobby aside from the obvious "sale" and "coupon" techniques.

I went to my local thrift store in search of fabric - and also cotton sheets. Yes, cotton sheets!! I picked up several pieces of large quantity fabric and sheets (along with some sewing patterns and brand new never used items) all for $20.00 (which was my budget). That included local sales tax. One piece will be a perfect backing for a quilt I'm making now for my grand-niece's birthday!

Before tossing out unwanted clothing - think "repurpose" - have a hobby (like quilting) that can benefit from those clothes? Often skirts and blouses (cotton ones) have plenty of material to lend themselves to a 'second life' as a quilt. What about those buttons? Can you reuse them? If you're using the fabric from your unwanted clothing consider snipping the buttons and storing in a mason jar. Once the jar is full - put it on Craigslist or eBay - many people use buttons for numerous projects.

Waste not, want not. Hobbies are fun, but they don't have to be expensive.

FREE MARDI GRAS EMBROIDERY PATTERN

2011-03-15T22:30:00.000-07:00

THIS AIN'T YOUR GRAMMA'S EMBROIDERY!

I LOVE to embroider and I LOVE Jenny's stuff!LONG time follower of hers and it's been amazing to see her grow her business and her passion.

Go HERE to get a FREE Mardi Gras pattern for embroidery. While you're there - check out her stuff! You'll be hooked!

I went into JoAnn's today to get some quilting fabric for a quilt I'm making for one of my besties, and there on a rack when you walked in was "HOW TO" free project sheets. This one caught my eye...I was like "Wait, I know that pattern - I have it! That looks like a Sublime Stitching pattern" and sure enough as I turned over the sheet - there it was! Pretty cool!

My poor attempt at a photo (from my iPhone, mind you) doesn't show well what it says:
"Sublime Stitching items: Camp Out embroidery transfers available at JoAnns.com"

WTG, Sublime Stitching! Ya come a long way baby!!

FREE eBOOK LINK ON AMAZON.COM

2011-03-15T20:33:00.000-07:00

Did you know there are literally hundreds of FREE eBooks on Amazon.com??

CLICK HERE and begin your search!

2 FREE CANS OF FRISKIES CAT FOOD

2011-03-15T20:18:00.000-07:00

Recycle Bank is offering a coupon good for 2 FREE cans of Friskies cat food for just 75 recycle bank points.

New to Recycle Bank? Sign up HERE and earn points to redeem for coupons, magazine subscriptions, samples and more. FINE PRINT: This is a mailed reward. We'll use first class mail to send this reward to you.

Want the cat food but need more points?
Take the quizes here and here to receive 60 FREE Recycle Bank points.
If you have taken these quizes in the past you should be awarded 60 additional points by taking them again.
This offer is available to the U.S., while supplies last.

FREE VARIETY STICKER PACK

2011-03-15T19:35:00.000-07:00

Send an email to info@customstickermakers.com with the words “sample sticker request” in the subject line. Then put your mailing address in the body of the email.

The offer is mentioned here on the right of the page, about 2/3 down. They do not mention where these ship to.

FREE MP3 DOWNLOAD

2011-03-15T19:34:00.001-07:00

Lipton is offering a FREE eMusic MP3 download . This offer is available to the first 50,000 people. Once you "LIKE" them you will receive your code which is redeemable at eMusic within 7 days of receiving your code.

FREE eBOOK - ACT FAST! THEY DON'T LAST!

2011-03-15T19:19:00.000-07:00

Amazon.com is offering a FREE download of the eBook "Living Rich by Spending Smart" by Gregory Karp.

Act fast - these often don't last long - At the time of this post, I was able to get this for $0.00.

You can read this book on Kindle device or download free programs to read other places: PC, MAC, Blackberry, Android, iPhone or iPad.

I successfully download these eBooks using the Kindle App for my iPhone.

This offer is available for a limited time only.

FREE MUSIC ALBUM DOWNLOAD

2011-03-15T19:17:00.000-07:00

Spin Magazine is offering a FREE SXSW 2011 Mixtape Download when you "LIKE" them on Facebook.

Once you "LIKE" them, it will allow you to do the download.

This offer is available internationally, for a limited time.

FREE PORTRAIT!

2011-03-15T19:15:00.000-07:00

Go HERE for full details!

SMASHBOX FREEBIES! TUES & THURS

2011-03-15T18:03:00.000-07:00

I am in need of a few new makeup pieces.

If you love professional make up (like Mac) you will love Smashbox.

Head over to Smashbox during lunch every Tuesdays & Thursdays and you'll receive a FREE gift with purchase from 9AM – 2PM PST (12 pm to 5 pm EST) The FREEBIE will be added to your shopping cart. Each purchase also gives you a deluxe sample – so two freebies!

Deal Ideas:

Check out Curtain Call for items on sale. I usually go for the cheapest thing... Buy the item and get the other freebies on top of it!

Make sure to join the Pretty Points reward program and you’ll get a Bonus Deluxe Sample every time you shop AND a gift on your birthday!

Head to Smashbox to see what you can find and if you go through Ebates you'll get an extra 4% back!

ORGANIC BROWN RICE FLOUR DEAL!

2011-03-15T17:47:00.000-07:00

Bob's Red Mill Organic Brown Rice Flour, 24-Ounce Packages (Pack of 4) NOW $8.87 w/Subscribe and Save feature on Amazon.com. THAT'S $2.21 PER PACKAGE OR .09CENTS PER OUNCE!

You save an extra 15% with Subscribe & Save: Sign up to have this item delivered at a regular interval of your choice, and the current price drops to $8.87 ($0.09 / oz) . Shipping is always free. No fees, no risks, no obligations.

Product Features

Case of four 24-ounce packages (96 total ounces)
Made from pure organic brown rice
An excellent source of protein, fiber, and minerals such as magnesium and selenium
A mild, nutty flour ideal for gluten-free baking
California-grown and packaged in Milwaukie, Oregon

Certified Organic

This product contains only organically produced ingredients.

Subscribe and Save Details: When you order through Subscribe & Save, you'll automatically receive a new shipment of the item in intervals you select at a discount on our everyday price. Plus, all subscription orders ship free. We'll charge your credit card for each order only when the item is shipped, and you may cancel at any time.

To start a subscription for this product, choose a quantity and delivery schedule, then click "Subscribe now". You'll be asked to provide a delivery address, payment method, and billing address. Once the order has been placed, your first order will be processed and your subscription activated.

GIRLS SUNGLASSES! SWEET DEAL!

2011-03-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

Graveyard Mall has 6 pairs of Girls’ Sunglasses for $2.99. These would make super party favors!

Even still $9 for 6 pairs is a great price. That's about $1.50/pair shipped!

The set is for girls ages 3 to 5 and includes Barbie, Winnie The Pooh and others.

CLICK HERE to pick up yours! HURRY! While supplies last!

GREAT DEALS ARE HERE!

2011-03-15T17:32:00.000-07:00

If you have not taken advantage of the 250 FREE Business Cards from Vistaprint you are missing out.

Think 'outside the box', people! These aren't "JUST" business cards for work - no way! How 'bout gift tags! Just punch a little whole in the corner add a cute matching ribbon and 'whalah'!

There are additional 'premium' designs that you can pay an additional amount for (but it's nominal) - the premium designs come with advance editing abilities.

Shipping is usually around $5.

FREE WITH ANY PURCHASE

2011-03-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

As seen on Facebook, stop by your local Disney Store and get a FREE Tangled Reusable Shopping Bag with any purchase of a Tangled product.

SPRING HAS SPRUNG GIVEAWAY!

2011-03-15T10:02:00.000-07:00

Whoohoo! Walgreens has a new instant win game! To get started:

1. Go here and enter your email address.

2. Enter additional requested information.

3. Play the game!

A total of 200 winners will instantly win $10 Walgreens gift cards, 15 will score $50 Walgreens gift cards, and another 30 will score $25 gift cards! Plus, 5 grand prize winners will each snag a $100 Walgreens gift card!

Limit one entry per day through April 5th.

Thanks, Wild for Wags!

READYSETEAT COUPONS & NEWSLETTER

2011-03-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

When you sign up for the FREE Con Agra Ready Set Eat Newsletter, you will get coupons and other alerts to special savings and promotions delivered to your "in" box based on your local grocery stores. They also offer quick and easy recipes.

Con Agra makes popular products like Peter Pan Peanut Butter, Marie Callender’s, Healthy Choice, Swiss Miss and many others. Just go HERE and fill out the short form that pops up to get this free newsletter.

Thanks, Totally Target!

CVS: "ALMOST" FREE MILANO COOKIES!

2011-03-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

CVS has 7 pack Pepperidge Farm Milano cookies for just $1.

If you use the $0.75/1 Pepperidge Farm Cookies from the 2/13/2011 Smart Source (SS) insert, the net cost is just $0.25.

You can bet I'm not sharing! Hehe!

Check your local listing for availability of above price.

FREE RECIPE BINDER

2011-03-15T09:37:00.000-07:00

Go HERE to sign up for your FREE recipe binder from the Food Network.

Click the link above, fill out your information - and whalah! it should be on it's way!

PHOTOBOOK DEAL!

2011-03-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

Need a deal on a photobook? Jump over to my other blog "Pictures for Pennies" and get the details!

3 FREEBIES FROM CHILI'S

2011-03-15T08:51:00.000-07:00

The Monday after Daylight Savings is always a little rough. You loose an hour of sleep, the sun is not up when you get out of bed—it takes some getting used to. To make up for the loss of sleep, Chili’s has 3 days of freebies for you.

1. Monday, March 14, kids got to eat free with the purchase of an adult entree.

2. Tuesday March 15, any purchase of an entree nets you a FREE fried cheese appetizer

3. Wednesday, March 16, finish your meal with a free molten chocolate cake.

As always, check with your local Chili’s to make sure they are honoring this deal.

Original post on March 14th, 11 by dailysavingsfromallyou

$2.00 OFF ANY VISINE PRODUCT!

2011-03-14T11:53:00.000-07:00

Check out $2.00 off Any Visine Product! . This is a rare coupon, and could score you FREE product… so hurry to print this one and keep it with you in case you stumble upon a great find! It does not specify a size! Yeah!

UPDATE: The coupon does not appear to be working on the initial link I sent - I have updated the link to go to the coupon offer on Visine's Website. There are $1.00, $2.00 and $3.00 coupon options available on their site. Just click on the SPECIAL OFFERS tab!

The $1.00 coupon says "ANY" product and the $2.00 and $3.00 are product specific. They all state "excludes trial sizes".

3:00PM - PST - RedPlum has the $2.00 any product coupon now!

ATTENTION FACEBOOK FANS!

2011-03-14T11:19:00.000-07:00

Baskin Robbins is having a Mini Parfait Giveaway on Facebook. They will have 9 giveaways between 3/14/11 at 1:00 P.M. ET and 3/31/11 at 11:59:59 P.M. ET. Be one of the first 50 people to respond when they put up a giveaway alert and you will receive $10 in gift certificates to be used towards the purchase of 4 Mini Parfaits. This offer is available to the U.S. only.

LOOK! P&G ORGANIZE IN STYLE BOOKLETS!

2011-03-14T10:09:00.000-07:00

LOOK!! New "Organize in Style Coupon Booklets" to request from Proctor & Gamble! There are a total of 6 links you can request them through! SIX! SWEET! What's nice about these booklets is you get some great coupons for products by P&G that you don't always find elsewhere. You can sign up at each of the sites below to request a booklet (do every 30 days).

You should receive your booklets within 4-6 weeks!

Thanks, Couponing to Disney!

FIELD AND STREAM MAG - $5.00/YEAR!

2011-03-14T09:58:00.000-07:00

Amazon has a deal on a 1 year subscription (through auto-renewal) for Field & Stream.

Right now, 1 year is just $5.00! Think Father’s Day, which is not that far away or maybe a “just because” gift.

You do NOT have to re-subscribe with auto-renewal. You can go in and cancel that feature (once it posts to your account), by doing the following:

Log into your account.
Click on 'Manage My Subscriptions'
Turn off the auto-renewal feature

Whalah!

Wait! If you're like me and are a SWAGBUCKS member, this could be FREE! 450 SB gets you a FREE $5.00 Amazon.com gift card! I'm just sayin'..........

BATH AND BODYWORKS EVENT

2011-03-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

This Saturday, March 19th, Bath & Body Works will be having an I Love Fragrance event at their stores from 1 pm – 5 pm. When you attend, you will receive the following:

Get a FREE Tote* and Full-Size Country Chic Body Lotion w/ any full size Signature Collection Purchase!
You can take the fragrance personality quiz
Consult with fragrance experts
Vote for the next BBW fragrance

*Purchase value $15.50. Available while supplies last. Limited 1 per customer.
Thanks, CouponDivas.

CVS: B1G2 FREE M&M'S

2011-03-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

This week's Red Plum insert (Sunday's paper) had a B2G1 Free M&M's coupon in it. You can print a B2G1 Free M&M's coupon on Red Plum if you don't get the newspaper. Hurry, as these coupons aren't always available "forever" - so act fast.

Now, head on over to CVS and you can get two (2) bags for FREE! This week they have B2G1 Free on M&M candy.

So "How" do you get TWO FREE and pay for just one?

Well, the coupon requires you to purchase 2 bags and you get 1 for free. Since CVS requires you to buy 2 to get 1 free as well, the one you get free from the coupon is deemed to be one that you purchased. That means that you can pick up 3 bags and just pay for only one of them!

FREE BLOCKBUSTER RENTAL!

2011-03-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Get a FREE Blockbuster Express Rental with the code MONDAYFREE.
This code is good on 3/14/11 (TODAY) only.
Click here to find a location near you.

FREE AFTER REBATE!

2011-03-14T09:27:00.000-07:00

Pep Boys has Champion Spark Plugs on sale for $1.50.
Do the mail-in rebate (limit 16).
Sale ends 3/19/11 - check your local listings.

FREE PUREX SAMPLE

2011-03-14T09:19:00.000-07:00

Try a FREE sample of Purex Complete with Zout.

To request your sample:
1. Fill out the contact information.
2. Click "Get my free sample".

They will be offer you the option to get a coupon instead if you prefer.

FREE COOKIE AT PILOT TRAVEL CENTERS

2011-03-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Get a free cookie through March 14, 2011 and a free coffee, hot chocolate, tea, or cappuccino through Apr. 30, 2011 at Pilot Travel Centers.

"Like" the company's Facebook page to get access to the coupons through the above link.

Print them and bring them into a participating location to get your freebies. One per person. Not accepted at Pilot Food Marts or Restaurants.

Thanks, Wallet Pop!

FREE MASCARA!

2011-03-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

Stop by the Sephora makeup counter inside any JCPenney, ask for a free Express Service, and you'll get a free Sephora mascara, called 7-in-1 Full Action Mascara.

The deal expires Apr. 7, 2011.

An Express Service is a quick makeup lesson on topics like smokey eyes, foundation, faux lashes, lips and concealer. Sounds like a great way to learn how to apply makeup and get a free mascara.

You must print out the coupon through the above link to get the free mascara. One per person. If the Sephora counter is out of Full Action Mascara, ask for a free custom sample of another product.

I got my sample and the gals at Sephora were so helpful! I got a couple of other samples (fragrance and foundation primer) just for the asking!

FINE PRINT: Not valid at freestanding Sephora stores, at Sephora.com or JCP.com/sephora. Cannot be combined with any other offer or discount. Not redeemable for cash or credit.

Thanks, Wallet Pop, for this one!

FRUGAL LIVING: PASSION OR PITFALL

2011-03-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

I believe being "frugal" is a part of responsible living - after all we are called to be "good stewards of our time, MONEY, and our talents" - HOWEVER, responsible living is also about "BALANCE".

I've written about this before but got to thinking about this again when I read an article from MSN Money called "17 Signs That Frugality Has Gone Too Far". I know, I know - some of you might be saying "Really, it can go too far??" and to that I say "ABSOLUTELY"!

You've heard me say time and time again that my long time frugal living mentor, Anjie, always says "Never, never, never a price for anything" - to which I will concur completely! I have too - it's permanently etched into my brain! BUT - "living for" FREE stuff or pinching pennies - umm, not sure that's healthy.

There is a certain 'rush' of excitement that is generated when you first begin your quest for a more 'frugal' lifestyle - but it evens out as time goes on and you learn what is useful and good for you and your family's lifestyle. If it becomes all you think about and talk about - well...time to reconsider your life choices a little - in my opinion, humble as it may be.

Below are a few things from the article that stood out to me:

You spend many, many hours a week on frugality. Been there, done that!! I use to spend most of my Sunday clipping coupons, combing the Internet and Sunday paper for coupons, organizing and coordinating coupons with the current ads. What did I eventually figure out? MOST of the stuff I got I really didn't NEED! It was blatant out of control 'consumerism' at work. Do I still use coupons? You betcha! I have a few questions I ask myself now: 1) Do we need this product? 2) Does this product fall in line with my beliefs on healthy living (i.e. is there a 'fresh' version of this available) and 3) Does this product match up with my belief on packaging of products (i.e. recyclable or little to no packaging). I decided my time was valuable too, so at what cost were these coupons taking on my life? Check out Couponing 101 for more information.
You hoard items just because you get a good deal on them. This goes hand in hand with my comment above. Just because it's a dollar or less or FREE, if you don't need it or don't have someone in mind that DOES need it (emphasis on NEED) - that is not being frugal - it's poor stewardship. Again, it's about balance. I do plan ahead - I have a 'stock pile' (sorta) of things I have picked up because they were a fabulous deal - BUT, they have a purpose! Birthday gifts, baby shower gifts, toothpaste, shampoo, et al. At one point I had to step back even on that point - just how much toothpaste and shampoo does one person need to stock up on? Seriously! There is the whole issue of having to "manage" the "stuff" you're getting. I'm a pretty organized person and even I had to step back and say "Whoa, Nelly!" If you have to go out and buy bins and boxes and shelving just to manage your "stuff" - you've gone to far! In fact, you could be bordering on hoarding.
You have no social life. Even the most frugal among us find a way to invite friends over for movie night–$1 movie from Redbox, potluck dinner to keep things affordable, etc. Frugality should not come before friends or events. If you sit at home and indulge yourself with bad habits (i.e. cable TV movie charges, cigarettes, liquor etc) but say you can't afford to do something with friends - step back and check out your priorities. No judgment here, necessarily, everyone is entitled to their own choices but I'm just sayin'...For example: This last week one of my besties and her husband went with us to a FREE screening of a new movie that just came out. We had a good time and spent $1.09cents! I took snacks from our cupboard and bought a large soda at McDonald's for $1.09cents and put it in my reusable stainless steel bottle to drink in the movie! The theater was minutes from home and we even scored additional FREE movie passes for an upcoming movie while we were there!
You compromise your safety. The MSN article talks about people who choose to eat 'expired foods' to save money! Not wise! Neither is forgoing the replacement of batteries in your smoke detector or home alarm system simply because you can't find a 'deal' or coupon on the batteries! Complete non-sense! Seek out the best option for purchase and do it...else you may find all those coupons and extras going up in flames!
You never treat yourself to something indulgent. After becoming a mom and having to put their needs in front of my own, I think one of the hardest things for me was to remember to spend a little time and money on myself. I have learned to indulge myself frugally though and I do it through deals and rewards programs. I watch, I wait and I pounce when the time is right! Free movie here, Amazon.com gift cards there, free tickets to concerts and events, etc. I enjoy Starbucks on occasion, pedicures, events and more. We eat out at restaurants but we always (well at least 99% of the time) do it frugally. If you're not already signed up for GROUPON or LIVING SOCIAL do it now - that way you can indulge yourself at a discount! You can check out other reward programs HERE for ways to 'indulge' without breaking your budget.

Frugal is great! Free is great! Fun is better! Family and Friends are best! My Favorite "F" Words!

REDBOX RENTALS ROCKS!

2011-03-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

Redbox is the best - you can rent DVDs for $1 a night with no membership fees!

You should try it out.

If you click on my link AND it's your first time renting online (umm, think new email address??), they'll give you a free one-night online rental credit. And I'll get a free rental each time you rent via my link through 3/17/11.

After you've signed up - sign up to get their mobile texts and you'll get a FREE movie rental code the first Monday of each month!

FREE PET FOOD SAMPLE AND MORE!

2011-03-13T09:51:00.000-07:00

CLICK HERE to request a FREE sample of Purina ONE Beyond dog food! You can also go HERE to print out a $2 off coupon from Target & HERE to print out another $2 off coupon from Petsmart PetPerks (must be a member but it’s easy to register and sign-up, and it’s FREE!)!

I got a coupon in the mail for a FREE bag of this and chose CAT food - my cat is finicky and she liked it! I was amazed!

Check your Sunday’s newspaper for a $3 off coupon for this food and you can combine with the Target coupon and/or the Petsmart coupon! (Be sure to take your Target Coupon Policy with you - clerks can be a little "uneducated" sometimes)

Don't have a pet? Well consider collecting these samples and donating them on a regular basis to your pet shelters or SPCA.

Get a FREE printable dog recipe cookbook from Castor & Pollux!

This is a GREAT book and I'm looking forward to trying some of these recipes for Xoe and Scrappy!

ATTENTION FACEBOOK FANS! Go HERE to request your FREE ‘Save My Pet’ Window Cling!

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons = SAVING $$'s

1. Go HERE to Purina’s Facebook page the "LIKE" them and you’ll be able to print a $5 off coupon!

2. Go HERE to request a $3 off coupon any one bag (does not apply to trial size)!

3. Got a new puppy?? Go HERE to request an $8 off coupon for Eukanuba Puppy Food by mail!

4. Head over HERE for a printable Petsmart coupon for $5 off your $10 purchase of Dentley’s dental chews! Sold exclusively at Petsmart. Expires 5/31/11.

5. Save $3 with your Petsmart PetPerks card on select varieties of Nutro Natural Choice dog food, and while you’re there picking it up go ahead and use this $5 off coupon HERE for the Grain-Free variety! That’s a total of $8 off a bag of dog food!

6. I've taken advantage of this coupon already - GREAT deal! Click HERE. If you're registered to receive coupons, go HERE to confirm your registration to get a coupon for $3 off your next purchase of Greenies!My dogs LOVE these!

FREE AMAZON.COM GIFT CARD

2011-03-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

ViewPoints is offering a FREE $5 Amazon Gift Card to those who write 5 reviews (info is in the box on the right of the page). Qualifying reviews must:

• Be written by 3/21/11
• Be at least 700 characters
• Fall within these categories: Home & Garden, Family & Pets (excluding toys), Health & Beauty, Kitchen (excluding food and beverages), Computers and Electronics
• Be about real products; inappropriate or bogus content will be removed

Gift cards will be sent out within 30 days of the program conclusion. U.S. only.

FREE SANDALS STARTING 3/15

2011-03-13T08:51:00.000-07:00

Beginning March 15, 2011, CLICK HERE and enter the code SHOES to receive a gift card for a pair of lulus.com sandals. This offer is available to the first 3,000 people. U.S. only. Link will not work until 3/15/11. (photo is not indicative of the pair you will receive)

FINE PRINT: The official rules as stated on the Seventeen.com website state:NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sponsored by Hearst Communications, Inc. Must be female, between the ages of 13 and 29, and a legal resident of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, or Canada. Void in Puerto Rico, Quebec Province, and where prohibited by law, unless otherwise noted. http://www.seventeen.com/fun/articles/official-rules

GDA! AMAZON.COM - NINTENDO STYLUS 4pk $1.52 SHIPPED!

2011-03-10T08:09:00.000-08:00

If one of your kids or grand-kids owns a Nintendo DS Lite, you may be interested in checking out this deal on Amazon. You can currently score a 4-Piece Pack Stylus for Nintendo DS Lite (Random Color assortment) for just $1.52 (regularly $12.99!) + FREE shipping!

And, if you're like me and have racked up Amazon.com gift card credits for using SWAGBUCKS, it will be FREE to you!! Woohoo!!

Thanks Hip2Save.com for this!

GREAT GAP DEAL! $25 OFF $50

2011-03-10T08:02:00.000-08:00

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE IT!!

Gap is offering $50 worth of merchandise for only $25.

CLICK HERE and submit your mobile #.

They’ll text you a code to use in-store.

Just show the cashier your code when you check out! This offer is available March 10-16.

FINE PRINT: Offer valid from 3/10/2011 through 3/16/2011 at Gap, Gap Kids, Baby Gap and Gap Body stores in the US (including Puerto Rico) and Canada. Customer must show the code on their mobile device to receive the discount. Not valid at Gap1969 stores located on Robertson Blvd and Spring and Broadway, Gap Outlet, Gap Factory Store, The Gap Generation, online or on Junk Food ® merchandise. Discount is allocated across items. Gift cards, packaging, taxes and prior purchases do not qualify toward the minimum purchase requirement and code cannot be applied to such items. Offer limited to one time use only. Cannot be combined with other offers or discounts except for Gap Reward Cards and 10% Gap Card Tuesdays. Gap Inc. employees not eligible. Offer is not transferable. Not valid for cash or cash equivalent.

Thanks, Savings & Stewardship for this one!

$30 CREDIT TO SHUTTERFLY

2011-03-09T23:46:00.000-08:00

PhotoWorks is closing its site! Get a $30 credit to Shutterfly by transferring your photos from PhotoWorks to Shutterfly and they'll email you a code worth $30 to use on anything you'd like from Shutterfly! Plus, free shipping starts at $30, so you'll be able to score a completely FREE transaction out of this deal!!

Chances are that, if you've been in the "frugal" world for awhile, you probably have some photos on PhotoWorks from past promotions they've done, so be sure to check to see if you have an account!

Here's how to get your $30 credit ...

Log in to PhotoWorks
Click on the red "Transfer My Photos" button (right under the main flashing ad)
Log in to your Shutterfly account (or create one) & they'll begin the transfer
Once the transfer is completely (up to 48 hrs), you'll be emailed a code for $30 on Shutterfly.

THANK YOU, SAVINGS & STEWARDSHIP for this one!

FINE PRINT:
To receive the credit, you must transfer your images from PhotoWorks to Shutterfly before 11:59pm EST, May 2, 2011. Shutterfly reserves the right to cancel or modify this offer should the promotion be compromised in any manner, including but not limited to computer system errors, unintended use or any fraudulent activity.

You will not be able to access your PhotoWorks projects after Monday, April 4, 2011. Please view your projects to complete or re-order prior to Monday, April 4, 2011. After Monday, April 4, 2011 you will only be able to transfer your photos to Shutterfly. Your PhotoWorks photos will be deleted if you do not transfer them to Shutterfly before 11:59pm EST. May 2, 2011.

If you have questions, please read our Frequently Asked Questions or for more information, contact us via email.

TODAY'S SAVY SHOPPING!

2011-03-09T23:24:00.001-08:00

The morning hours today began rather grim, then came a phone call from one of my 'besties' saying "Ready to do some shopping?" Although she couldn't see me roll my eyes over the phone lines (as in 'we have nothing extra for "shopping"..kind of eye roll), I sighed and said "Ummm...not unless it's FREE". As I recanted my "joyous" current life happenings she said "I'll be over to cheer you up shortly".

Once she was here, we gathered coupons, club cards and the like and headed out with our "map" (to ensure efficient time and gas consumption...Hahaha) in hand of our intended itinerary.

First stop: Panda Express for a FREE entree (and complimentary fortune cookie) of their new Shrimp dish.

Second stop: CVS where the first thing we did was scan our club cards to see what current coupons they were offering. $1.00 off Dove candies. PERFECT!! Why? Well, we had already printed a coupon good towards ANY candy or soda "up to $2.00" for FREE. Dove was on sale for 2/$6.00. Walked out with the a nice large bag of Dove Chocolate - the perfect prescription for a crummy day!

Next stop: RC Wiley - where we received a brand new full-size bed pillow absolutely FREE!

The Galleria Mall was our next stop:

Sephora brought us FREE mascara and samples of perfume and foundation primer.
Victoria Secret - FREE pair of panties!
Aveda - Full size bottle of Body lotion - FREE!
Yes, we hit up another Panda Express in the mall - bingo!

Across the mall in The Fountains shopping area:

Boudin Bakery: I bought one 1lb. loaf of sourdough bread (they sliced it for free) and 1 chewy chocolate chip cookie - minus a $5.00 voucher for doing survey - Out of pocket cost .18cents. I received a 2nd loaf of sourdough bread (sliced) for FREE for belonging to their rewards program.
Vera Bradley: They sent my hubby a $20 gift card for his birthday which he so lovingly gave to me saying "have fun" and I coupled that with another gift card I had from a previous deal and got a new beach towel and journal for $2.03 out of pocket. Then I did a return for $22.00 and some change making it a net gain of $20.00 to me!!

I scored two FREE movie premier tickets for "BATTLE: LA" for tomorrow night which will be a fun thing to do...gotta love a FREE movie!!

At the end of the day, we enjoyed our FREE Panda Express dinner and a handful of chocolates for desert...and I was reminded as I wrote this post how fortunate I am for good friends who always lift my spirit when it's needed the most!

TGIF FREEBIES AND MORE!

2011-03-04T07:06:00.000-08:00

Sign up to receive a FREE SweetLeaf Sweetener Sample & Pocket Pack (form is at bottom of page). This offer is available to the U.S., while supplies last.

DON'T FORGET! - Participating Chick-fil-A restaurants will be giving away FREE medium waffle potato fries on 3/4/11 from 2 to 4 PM. Click here to find a location near you.

FREE full-size Hyland’s Cold ‘n Cough

One of my favorite magazines and it pays for itself!!

Today only get 51% cash back at Magazines.com when you go through eBates! All you need to do is:

1. Sign up for eBates.**
2. Search eBates for Magazines.com and click on "SHOP NOW". There will be a new window that will open with the tracking ticket and taking you to Magazines.com
3. Find the magazine of your choice and then check out.

ALL YOU Magazine will be $19.97 so just $9.98 after rebate. **In addition, if you're new to eBates, you'll get $5.00 in your account with your 1st purchase!

Look around - there are some other great magazine deals as well.

TODAYS FREEBIES

2011-03-03T10:16:00.001-08:00

FREE HUMAN RIGHTS STICKER HERE

Show your support for your local hunting community with a free sticker from 'The Buck Barn'.

While your there, enjoy participating in the community of hunters on their unique forum. GO HERE and then click the link in the upper left hand corner to order yours!

Free Clean & Clear Body Wash Sample

Get a FREE sample of Clean & Clear Morning Burst Body Wash when you text the word BODY to the number 467467. This offer is available to the U.S., while supplies last.

FREEBIES AN D MORE!

2011-03-02T09:04:00.000-08:00

Here’s a on deal on movie tickets from Living Social:

I GOT MINE TODAY!! GREAT DEAL!! GO NOW!!

Pay $9 for two (2) Movie Tickets from Fandango.com !

*Limit 1 purchase per customer only. Promo Codes are valid only for Internet purchases made at www.fandango.com and are not redeemable at theater box office, via Fandango’s telephone or mobile services or

through any other website operated by third-party merchants. Both tickets must be purchased for the same movie and show time in a single transaction. Promotional value of Promo Codes expire June 6th, 2011.

FREEBIES!!

FREE Healthident Dog Treat Sample. This is through Walmart.

FREE sample of Purina ONE beyOnd Dog or Cat Food. Wait for the banner to show this offer.

FREE sample of Eucerin Daily Skin Balance. Go "LIKE" Eucerin US on Facebook page and click on “Get Sample Now” button.

TOMORROW - MARCH 3RD - MARK YOUR CALENDARS! ATTENTION FACEBOOK FANS Tide is offering another free sample for those who have not received a free sample of Tide by way of their Facebook page. Tide loves clean clothes. This free sample will be available on March 3rd at a noon Eastern Standard Time.

Dairy Queen is going to have a big giveaway on 3/9/11. "Sound the alarm, let the fireworks fly, shout from the rooftop, scream at the top of your lungs. The countdown to the biggest giveaway in Dairy Queen history has begun! If you like free stuff, you’ve come to the right place! In celebration of the Mini Blizzard Treat we’re giving away so much free stuff, we don’t even know what half of it is. OK. We do know what it is, we just like keeping you in suspens

e. The clock’s ticking. Get ready, the Mini Blizzard Treatment is about to go down!"

FREE Givenchy Fragrance Giveaway at JCPenny: Stop by Sephora inside JC Penny for a free 10 minute Express Service, and take home a sample of Givench Play for Her CLICK HERE

SUPER DEAL!! FRESH HOME MAGAZINE!

Right now you can get a sweet deal on Fresh Home Magazine.

A one-year subscription is on sale for $3.76 when you enter the promo code WKLYSPEC. This deal is only good through 3/6, so head over HERE to snag your subscription.

HOLY COW! FREEBIES!

2011-03-01T07:38:00.000-08:00

If you do not have any plans this evening, you may want to consider heading to your local Lego Store. On the first Tuesday of every month-TODAY-kids ages 6-14 can learn how to build a cool mini model AND take it home – for FREE! Quantities are limited and the offer is good while supplies last only. Tonight’s FREE mini-model is a LEGO Mini-Bird…this event appears to start at 5PM at most LEGO stores; Contact your store for specific details. Have fun! ~Thanks Hip2Save for this one!!

Nature Valley 4 ct Granola Bars (Look for these in the dollar spot) $1

1. Buy three 4 ct boxes for a total of $3.00
2. Use the $1.50/3 Select General Mills Food Items Target store coupon found here
3. Plus, use the $1/2 coupon found in the 2/13 General Mills insert
AND use the $0.50/1 coupon found here or here
Final cost – 3 boxes for FREE!
Thanks again, Hip2Save!
P.S. Don't forget to take your Target Coupon Policy with you - you'd be surprised how many clerks are NOT familiar with their policy.

IHOP will be celebrating National Pancake Day TODAY by giving everyone a Free Short Stack of Pancakes between 7am - 10pm. Check your local branch to be sure they're participating before you make a special trip. No coupon or purchase required. * They'll be collecting donations for Children's Miracle Network as a token for the free pancakes ~Thanks, Savings & Stewardship for this one!

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf store is offering a FREE 12oz Spring Peach Tea Latte, Spring Peach Iced Tea Latte, or Peach FruTea tomorrow, March 1st, from 4PM-7PM.

* Offer valid only at participating The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf® retail locations store locations in AZ and CA. Excludes all Ralphs stores, military base, casinos, campus or airport locations. Cannot be combined with other offers.

Chipotle Mexican Grill
Head on over to the America's Next Great Restaurant page on FACEBOOK and "LIKE” them, then click on the “Chipotle” tab to access a buy one get one FREE coupon, good for any burrito, bowl, salad or order of tacos! Please note: You'll need to watch the video in order to access the coupon. Limit one offer per person or Facebook account. GOT MINE LAST NIGHT! YUMMY!! Promotion runs through 3/6/11 so Hurry!!

Del Taco
Use the coupon here to snag a FREE shrimp taco with any purchase at participating locations (expires 3/4/11).

FREE U By Kotex Sample! Just CLICK HERE, scroll down and click on the “Try U Free” link to request yours!

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE to get a FREE sample of Fekkai!

CLICK HERE to get a FREE Kirkland Household Surface Wipes Sample! You do NOT need to be a Costco member to sign up for this freebie. Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.

GO HERE to send a FREE sample of Quaker Oatmeal Squares to up to 10 of your friends. Just enter your friends’ email addresses and Quaker will email them a form to complete for a FREE sample box.* Limit 1 sample per person per household.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWAGBUCKS!

2011-02-28T11:45:00.000-08:00

Let me start by saying, I don't know why anyone wouldn't join SWAGBUCKS - I’ve earned so many $5 Amazon e-gift cards, it's incredible! Why not get something for doing what you already do, eh??

Today is a special day for Swag Bucks because it’s their 3rd Birthday! They are celebrating all day. So, be on alert for any extra Swag Bucks codes.

Not a member yet?? Well, today is the day to JOIN!! When you join, new members automatically get 30 FREE Swag Bucks. BUT because it’s their 3rd Birthday today…new members can also get an extra 50 Swag Bucks when you join Swag Bucks today ! All you have to do is enter code 3rdBirthday130.

IMPORTANT: This code is only valid today, 2/28.

So new members snag 80 Swag Bucks!

Interested?!? Join HERE!!!

(What is Swag Bucks? Swag Bucks is a site where you earn swag bucks (digital dollars) that can be redeemed for prizes, such as a gift card. You can earn swag bucks by just searching the Internet. Read HERE for more info)

FREE FOOD AND MORE!

2011-02-27T13:31:00.000-08:00

1. Wienerschnitzel has a coupon offer for their new bacon wrapped hot dog FREE when you purchase a fry and a drink! Click HERE to print yours. Offer good thru 3/31/11

2. Chick-Fil-A - Celebrate the national launch of Heinz^® Dip & Squeeze™ Ketchup at your local Chick-fil-A! On Friday, March 4, 2011, from 2 to 4pm get one free medium order of Waffle Potato Fries™ when you mention you're there to try the new Heinz Dip & Squeeze.

3. Facebook Fans - go to America's Next Great Restaurant and watch the video which will unlock a coupon for B1G1 Chipotle offer! Hurry - unknown how long this will last - I got mine and it says it's good through 03/03/11!!

4. Another Facebook Freebie: Lancome is offering a FREE 7 days sample of Teint Miracle foundation. Just allow the Facebook app here and fill out the form to receive a printable certificate good a participating Lancome counters. The certificate will be available through 2/28/11.

FRESH PRODUCE TIP

2011-02-25T10:20:00.001-08:00

We LOVE broccoli. It's expensive. When I see a deal on it, I like to stock up a little bit - but because it's perishable and we have such an unpredictable schedule, some times my best laid dinner plans don't always happen.

Well, today while reading the Dollar Stretcher, I read a VERY interesting tip on keeping broccoli fresh! Even me, the "home ec major" didn't know this one! I can't wait to try it.

It comes from "Carla C." and I quote:
"Broccoli is a delicious, nutritious vegetable, but it is expensive. I originally discovered how to keep broccoli fresh when I pulled a limp, but still green crown of broccoli from my fridge. It obviously wasn't going bad, but it literally sagged in my hand. On a whim, I tried crisping it in ice water, and it worked!

Now when I buy broccoli, I trim off the bottom end and store it in a cup or pint jar of water in the fridge. It is set so that it can "drink" water while it's stored. It is just my husband and me, so we can't eat a whole crown of broccoli at a single meal, which means keeping it for a while. As I use part of the crown, I trim off another 1/8 inch off the end of the stem and replace the old water in the jar with fresh. I also loosely bag it, cup and all, into a used produce bag to keep it from drying out. I keep broccoli green and crisp for weeks this way, and it always tastes good!
Carla C." - from the 2/22/11 Dollar Stretcher Newsletter

Sign up today for the Dollar Stretcher. Just click the image to the left and you'll be all set. If you're interested in delving into the archives you may even find my article on prescription savings! Hehe!

A COUPLE MORE FREEBIES!

2011-02-24T14:45:00.000-08:00

As posted on my other blog, Pictures for Pennies, Walgreen's is giving away 1 8x10 collage during their "7 Days of Deals" promotion. Hurry, the free collage is today's deal only. Sign up HERE to get emails with additional promotional deals.

Facebook Fans - go to Mission and "LIKE" them and be entered to receive a coupon for chips (not sure if it's a free bag or $'s off - March 4th is the redemption date for the coupon

SAVVY SHOPPING

2011-02-23T17:48:00.001-08:00

"Neva, Neva, Neva pay full price on anything" - the mantra of my wonderful frugal living mentor, Anjie Henley - author/owner of the Frugal Freelancer - resonates loudly in my head - she has taught me well!

This week's savvy shopping includes:

1. Petco: B1G1 coupon for Greenies dog treats (I have two dogs), cute - cute - cute 'jeweled' dog leash for my female (everyone always things she's a boy) for $3.00 (Reg. $17.99), Nutro dog treats less $2.00 coupon, The World's Best Cat Litter less $1.00 coupon.
2. Big Lots: Carver's Chicken Dog Treats - $4.00 each - big bag; Ghiradeli Caramel chocolates - 50% off due to V-day packaging .75c each
3. RiteAid: Ibuprofen - B1G1 (100ct), Acetaminophen - B1G1 (100ct), Russell Stover Strawberry Cream eggs - 2/$1.00 (Valentine's Day and Easter are the only times I can get the strawberry cream which is my favorite - this brand only)
4. McDonald's (yes, we caved and had to get a quickie lunch) - B1G1 sandwich plus Buy a large sandwich, get Med Fries and Med drink for Free.
5. Petsmart: Purina One 3.5lb cat food - FREE with coupon; B1G1 Greenies dog treats, 1/2 off dog toy
6. Used Gasbuddy.com to find cheapest gas where I was - saved 4cent/gallon over getting it in the 'hood'
7. Whole Foods - .75c off Earthbound Farms romaine lettuce, $1.00 Challenge butter
8. Boudin Bakery - 2 loaves of fresh San Fran sourdough bread - FREE
9. RiteAid: (different store) Nice and Easy hair color - FREE, NYC nail polish - FREE, Planters Almonds - FREE (I paid .56 sales tax out of pocket)
10. Sobe Lifewater - 20 for $20.00 - less 2 $5.00 gift cards - used one to buy Downey fabric softner for $5.07 w/tax - .07cents out of pocket. $5.00 g.c. still on hand for next purchase.
11. Amazon.com - Cisco Linksys Wireless N-Router - $29.99 (refurb) FREE shipping - $20.00 gift cards from Swagbucks - $9.99 out of pocket (Our current WiFi router is ancient and we're always having to reboot it - time for a new one)
12. FatQuartershop.com - 24 ct. fat quarter set - on sale $33.00 - 3 yards of additional fabric at 50% off - FREE shipping

I also checked out two books from the library instead of buying them.

My daughter got $'s for her b'day and decided on an iPod touch - she's worn out her little shuffle she's had for years now - and with FREE shipping, a $100 promotional code and her gift cards - we supplemented it for $30.00 out of pocket! She's elated!

13. Victoria's Secret: Free panties! (my daughter scores again!)
14. Panda Express: Free additional entree with purchase
15. $10 off $10 at JC Penny - more undies!! =)
16. Bath and Body Works - FREE monthly item

New offers for next shopping spree:
1. $5.00 voucher to Boudin Bakery (that's almost a free sandwich!)
2. $2.00 off $5.00 at Petco (someone getting a new toy!)
3. $10 off $50.00 at Victoria Secrets (gift giving time approaches)
4. $10 off $30.00 at Bath and Body Works (more gifting savings)
5. Free entree at Panda Express (yummy!)
6. 10cents off per gallon of gas @ Safeway (Oh yeah!)
7. $40 off at Vera Bradley (this will be a nice savings on a purse I've been wanting)
8. $13.00 off $25.00 at ToysRUs (kids birthdays are approaching)

Enough, enough - I think there is more but I can't remember at this point. The week isn't over yet! I still have menu planning to do with a goal of NOT having to go to the grocery store for a week unless it's for 'essentials' (milk, bread, eggs)

Like always, I always welcome hearing about your frugal finds and savvy shopping techniques!

FRUGAL FINDS

2011-02-21T15:47:00.000-08:00

1. This week Target has Sobe Lifewater on sale for 10 for $10.00 - $5.00 gift card with purchase. This makes them .50c each!

2. SWAGBUCKS fans! Get 5 Blockbuster Express movie rentals for $2.00 - HURRY! AND earn 85 swagbucks for doing it!

Not a SWAGBUCKS member? It's FREE with nothing to buy! Follow these steps:

1. SIGN UP CLICK THE BOX BELOW

2. CLICK HERE to get your 85 Swagbucks and your Blockbuster deal

12 FREEBIES TO BEGIN THE WEEK!

2011-02-21T14:58:00.000-08:00

As always, freebies come and they go - so no 'blasts' if they are over. Most all are "while supplies last" - Good luck!!

1. Get 20 pre-selected FREE songs on itunes!
2. FREE shampoo sample from Costco - no Costco ID# required.
3. COVERGIRL TEXT-TO-SAMPLE FREEBIES begins 2/22/11.

Text LUXE to 467467 to receive your free sample of New Covergirl Natureluxe gloss balm

Text LIP to 467467 to receive your free sample of New Covergirl Lip perfection

Text FUSION to 467467 to receive your free sample of Covergirl Lashblast Fusion mascara

Allow 6 to 8 weeks for delivery.The first 375 texts received will receive samples. Must be a legal resident of the 50 United States or district of Columbia. Limit one sample per person per household. Available from February 22nd to March 29th 2010.

I don't know if this is 375 PER DAY or TOTAL. If it's available for over a month I'm wondering if it's per day? If anyone knows, please post a response.

4. 19 Tracks From SPIN's March Issue - CLICK HERE

5. FREE McDonalds Fruit & Maple Oatmeal coupon in the Redplum supplement in Sunday's Paper. Yesterday, I got a Redplum supplement in with my weekly store ads (not a newspaper subscription). The back page had McDonalds coupons, Sacramento, CA area. It appears they are showing up several places - different versions of the same.

6. FACEBOOK Fans - Get a FREE Redbox movie rental code for Feb 24th ONLY use. Go to FaceBook and "LIKE" Redbox - then on the "FREEBIE" tab there will be a spot for you to get your unique code. IF you've previously "LIKED" Redbox the "FREEBIE" tab will already be available for you to get a code!

7. Get a FREE Blockbuster Express Rental with the code FRMOVIE. This code is good on 2/21/11 only. Click here to find a location near you.

8. FACEBOOK Fans - Another FREE sample available from Ocean Spray - they just opened up the sample tab about 3 hours ago - so HURRY - I got mine!

9. FREE iPhone App - Fly Kiwi, Fly! for the iPhone is FREE! Average 3.5 star rating out of 8799 reviews. It has only been free one other time, and that was 9 months ago, so get it before it goes back to paid!

10. Free Valspar Paint sample + $5 coupon (Available daily for first 1000 for 100 days.) Includes a coupon for $5 off one gallon with the sample.

Promotion goes for 100 days.(Started 01-12-2011) -The store now reopens every day at 9 am CST. Choose any one of thousands of rich beautiful colors to receive a free sample. Available daily (first 1000) while supplies last.

11. Sign up to receive a FREE Miracle Whip Sample. There will be a banner at the top of the page and click on "FREE SAMPLE". This offer is available to the U.S., while supplies last. I got mine a few minutes ago - so they are still available.

12. Another FACEBOOK Freebie: I got mine - hurry! Cheez-It is offering a FREE sample when you vote for a cheese on their Facebook page. This offer is available to the U.S., while supplies last.

TODAY'S FREEBIES!

2011-02-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

FREE Potholder from Pyrex - go HERE to order yours!

GET YOUR FREE Shout Color Catcher HERE

Thanks, Michelle, for these!

FIVE FREE MP3 DOWNLOADS - SUPERBOWL 2011
Johnsonville is offering 5 FREE MP3 Downloads for the Super Bowl: "This is where the party’s at", "Get ready for the big game", "Welcome to the show", "Heart of a champion", and "Crank it up". This offer is available internationally, for a limited time.

FREE REDBOX RENTAL
Get a FREE Redbox rental with the code QM4KTX6. Code seems to work at most locations. I don’t know when it expires. Click here to find a location near you.

YEAR OF THE RABBIT!

2011-02-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

GUNG HAY FAT CHOY!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE EVENTS!

THE CHINESE NEW YEAR PARADE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA

CONTEST! ENTER TO WIN TICKETS TO FESTIVAL & PARADE!

PANDA EXPRESS FREEBIE

2011-02-02T12:31:00.000-08:00

TOMORROW, TOMORROW! YUMMY, YUMMY!

FREE FIRECRACKER CHICKEN BREAST SINGLE SERVE ENTREE!

GO TO WEBSITE AND CLICK ICON TO PRINT YOUR COUPON.

FRUGAL LIVING FINDS

2011-02-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

I've been otherwise occupied with my husband's knee injury for the last week but this week I'm back in the saddle.

My frugal living finds this week weren't anything spectacular but nonetheless fun:
1. RiteAid: It's that time of year when I can get Russell Stover's Strawberry cream - LOVE IT! It's an indulgence, yes...but hey - sue me! Ha! I picked up two Chocolate Strawberry Cream Hearts @ .50cents each. I had a $1.00 "UP+" coupon so they ended up FREE to me!
2. RiteAid: Excedrin Migraine 24ct Tablets - $3.99 and 2 more Chocolate Strawberry Cream Hearts @ 50cents each - Less Manufacturer's coupon for Excedrin Migraine tabs $4.99 - total out of pocket: .35cents for tax!
CASHED IN ALUMINUM CANS - RECYCLING CENTER - 11LBS - $20.35
3. Petco: Dog treats - on sale: $6.49, Cat food - on sale: $7.99, Cat food - reduction bin: Reg. $3.00 - sale price: .50cents - two doggie collar charms (for fun) - on sale: .20cents each - 10% off Petco Discount coupon - total out the door: $15.05 (including tax)
4. Starbucks: Grande and Tall mocha frappacino's, bagel and scone: $10.90 - used FREE Starbucks cards from special offer - $0.00 out of pocket ($4.00 left on card)
5. Starbucks: Picked up free music download cards while there
6. Big Lots: Picked up Wii Game accessories for $5.00 each (golf club, baseball bat, hand gun), Hallmark photo albums, recipe books - $4.00; Martha Stewart stickers - $1.00
7. Dollar Tree: File folders (for my organization project), Dog treats for skin/coat $1.00 each
8. Bath and Body Works: Votive candles (3) FREE, antibacterial hand sanitizer FREE, full size hand soap, antibacterial hand sanitizer and hand bac holder FREE
9. Eco-thrift: TONs of fabric - $1.50 will be great for quilting, 2 canning jars .45c and .33c, 2 dog collars (1 leather studded) $1.50, Ceramic dog treat jar - $7.50 (equivalent retail $29.00), gift box .75c, 12 cloth napkins - will use for quilting project - .75c, decorative pillow - will use for form and recover - $1.50, iDog - .75c.
10. Big 5: $27.00 Swiss Army Knife - $12.00
11. Aaron Brothers: 2 frames B1G1 for 1cent - net price, $8.00 for two wooden 5x7 frames - one is for gift, the other for another time.
12. Panda Express: Two free entrees for survey

To quote my frugal living mentor, Anjie - "Neva, neva pay full price for anything".

A COUPLE MORE FREEBIES!

2011-01-25T11:42:00.001-08:00

Thank you, fellow freelancer, Marie for this one:
Get a free sample seed packet by going HERE and requesting yours today.

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Another FaceBook freebie, courtesy of RedPlum:

Free Bagel & Shmear at Einstein Brothers!

Okay carb-avoiders, the lovely folks at Einstein Brothers are ready to indulge your need for bread-y deliciousness, with a little less guilt. Well, actually, a lot less guilt since it’s also free! They’re giving you a free bagel thin and shmear with a printable coupon, through February 20. So you can get your bagel fix with less carbs and only about 200 calories—plus at no cost! You will have to buy a beverage to get the freebie, though. Simply head to their FaceBook page to print the coupon, then head on in to redeem.(Note that when you click "Print the Coupon" on their FaceBook page, you'll be prompted to post a note about the coupon to your page. After you do that it will take you straight to printing the coupon. It seems that if you skip that step you're not able to get the coupon. At least that was our experience!)

FACEBOOK FREEBIES

2011-01-25T11:17:00.000-08:00

Tide will be giving away FREE laundry detergent to the first 5,000 people to sign up on 1/26/11 at 2 PM ET (11:00 AM PACIFIC TIME!). A link will be posted on their FaceBook page when this goes live. This freebie is available to the U.S. only.

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Suave will be giving away a FREE styling product to the first 30 FaceBook Fans at NOON ET (9:00 AM PACIFIC TIME) through 1/28/11. This offer is available to the U.S. only. Log in to FaceBook and "LIKE" Suave and sign up.

FREE QUAKER OATS CEREAL

2011-01-25T11:15:00.000-08:00

GO HERE.
ENJOY!
Hurry. These go quickly.

FUN QUIZ WITH A POSSIBLE PAY OFF!

2011-01-24T09:13:00.000-08:00

Take this little shopping quiz from RedPlum and not only will you find out what kind of saver you are, but you'll be entered to win a year of free movie tickets! Now who doesn't love a free movie! Woohoo!

My quiz result was:
Frugal Felicity: You have tons of tricks for saving money, from cutting dryer sheets in half to getting free shipping on anything. If someone tells you a deal, you’ll top it. Every little bit adds up, so you’ll stop at nothing to find the lowest price. You’re cheap and you’re proud of it!

SUPER FREEBIE MONDAY!

2011-01-24T08:29:00.001-08:00

Here are some great freebies to start the week off right.

1. Get FREE chips and a FREE fountain drink HERE when you buy a sandwich or salad. Gotta love saving money when eating out! MUST hurry - good through tomorrow - 1/25/11

2. Gotta be quick this a.m. - Starting at 9:00AM PT (Noon ET) Get a free box of Nice 'N Easy Color Blend Foam from Clairol. Clairol is giving away 25,000 samples each day (Jan 24 - 27th) starting at 12:00 EST. To request your sample, "Like" Clairol on Facebook and then click the "Get a free box" button on their Facebook Fan page. If you don't get one today, try again at Noon EST tomorrow or later this week.

UPDATE ON THIS FREEBIE: Their servers are slammed! Be patient - you need to keeping refreshing your browser and may have to try again tomorrow.

Since we're talking FREEBIES you should go HERE and mid-way on the page you will find a place to sign up for DAILY FREE SAMPLE alerts.

3. Got a project brewing? Well nothing like free paint sample. Valspar paint is having 100 days of Color Free Sample Giveaway and you'll get a $5.00 coupon. 1,000 given away daily. This offer goes 'live' every night at 1am EST. It comes with a 7.7fl oz of paint, a roller brush with extra roller, tray and your coupon by FedEx! SWEET!

GIVING IS THRIFTY

2011-01-17T10:46:00.000-08:00

Today is a day to celebrate the great civil rights movement leader Martin Luther King. It's also Benjamin Franklin's (the American apostle of thrift) birthday, once an occasion to promote thrift and the "waste not, want not" ethos.

From the early part of the last century until 1966, Americans celebrated 'National Thrift Week," and there's a movement afoot to bring it back.

In the spirit of that movement today would then mark the first day of Thrift Week! Go HERE to read more about this movement and HERE to "Like" them on Facebook.

Today's theme: Giving is Thrifty!
Therefore, your thrift tip of the day is: Volunteer! This MLK Jr. Day, join thousands of others who will be giving their time, effort, and resources to serve others.

FREE PHOTO CALENDAR! NO STRINGS ATTACHED

2011-01-16T12:08:00.000-08:00

HURRY THIS ENDS TOMORROW!!

Happy New Year! Ring in 2011 with an absolutely free 12-month Jumbo Photo Calendar. Not only can you enjoy your photos all year long, you can even customize birthdays and special events with photos and captions to keep you organized.

Normally priced at $22.95, this 12-month Jumbo Photo Calendar is yours for FREE through January 17. Use your exclusive code 919-0JUV at checkout. Simply click HERE to redeem your calendar.

BUY IT OR DIY-IT?

2011-01-16T11:42:00.000-08:00

My post today on my other blog, Get Your Green Jeans On, seems rather appropriate for here, also.

While re-purposing things is an eco-friendly thing to do - it is often a money saving action as well.

GO HERE to read about projects that can save you $'s by Doing It Yourself.

D.I.Y. Vase (in photo)-courtesy of Country Living Magazine
Floral foam and glass marbles aren't the only ways to hold flowers aloft. Instead, a bunch of vintage milk bottles gives this arrangement—featured in Decorating with Flowers—its structure. Simply line up nine same-size vessels in three rows of three. Then wrap gardener's twine around the grouping twice and tie the ends. Finish the blooming display by placing two to three stems in each container.
My Comments (of course I have to add one...): Don't have vintage milk bottles? Try glass bottles from beverage drinks like Lipton Tea, Sobe, Izzie - remove the labels and whalah!

FRUGAL LIVING THIS WEEK

2011-01-15T17:37:00.000-08:00

Not too exciting this week, but nonetheless a 'good' week. Despite the rain and the fact that the Sun decided not to show up this week, I still drudged along.

Shopping highlights:
JoAnn's Fabrics - 4 small spools of ribbon (needed to complete a project) .50c each for 3 yards
Office Depot - 40% off printer ink - got a 'double pack' (with 100 photo printer papers) for $30.00 (including tax).
99c Store - Campbell's onion soup mix (can't wait - I have a pot roast in the freezer),. Sargento grated cheddar cheese, I bought 12 1/2 C containers of fresh blackberries and canned 12 pints of jam today! Yum! My hubby will be a happy camper.
Panera Bread - Large cinnamon roll - FREE
Wendy's - Two (2) French Fries - FREE
Boudin Bakery - Two (2) loaves of sourdough bread - FREE
Sephora - Bare Minerals face powder, primer and travel brush - FREE
Big Lots - Raspberry Muffin mix - .50c
Eco-Thrift - Fabric galore - $3.50 - over 10yards; will be generating several projects from this

Fun, fun - even without the sun! Love, love finding frugal deals!

FREE PARK ADMISSION

2011-01-14T11:30:00.000-08:00

I love national park freebies!

America's Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better with several fee-free days at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees.*

Several times per year the National Parks Service throws open the doors to 100 or so parks that normally charge admission and offers gratis entry to families across the county.

January 15-17, Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday weekend, is another one of those times. So if you live near a national park, or within a nice day trip of one, plan ahead to take advantage of this excellent deal!

Mark your calendar for these other fee-free days in 2011:

April 16-24
(National Park Week)
June 21
(First day of summer)
September 24
(Public Lands Day)
November 11-13
(Veterans Day weekend)

Making the fun even more affordable, many national park concessionaires are joining the National Park Service in welcoming visitors with their own special offers.

Here’s a tip – many of your 394 national parks NEVER charge an entrance fee. So start Planning Your Visit!

Before you go watch the DVD/series America's Best Idea, a breathtaking documentary by Ken Burns about the history of our national parks. This is available for download on iTunes (and other sources.

Inspired? Started planning your trip? Well, while you're visiting the National Parks website you might wanna:
1) Join the National Parks Foundation - it's free!
2) Download your National Parks Owner's Guide
3) If you're a Facebook user, don't forget to "LIKE" the National Parks Service!

*Fee waiver includes: entrance fees, commercial tour fees, and transportation entrance fees. Other fees such as reservation, camping, tours, concession and fees collected by third parties are not included unless stated otherwise.

COUPONS 101 - UPDATE

2011-01-13T13:39:00.000-08:00

If you're like me - you don't want to leave one unnecessary penny on the table if you don't have to...but on the flip side, there is the balance of time involved in finding the savings. As I reviewed what was working for me and what wasn't in regards to coupons here's what I learned.

1. "Let Your Fingers Do The Walking, It's a Snap"
Remember that ol' Yellow Pages jingle? Well, basically the concept is right there - "at your finger tips"! I love my iPhone, what can I say. The following Coupon Apps can help you organize and store your coupons as well as compare prices on items.

RedLaser for iPhone or Android - this app lets you quickly and easily scan bar codes to help you know if you're getting the best deal available. Using your phone's camera, you point at the product bar code to get a list of prices from nearby stores. The other cool thing this app does is helps you find books at local libraries. If you're like me, why buy the book if you can get it from the library? Along with email capability to check out items later, RedLaser allows you to check out food allergens and even lets you enter the barcode manually if you're having trouble scanning it.

Card Star - this app is available for iPhone, Android, Blackberry - I don't know about you, but I like taking advantage of all the Rewards Programs out there - however, keeping track of my cards (which are many now) isn't my favorite thing. I have a long 'business card folder' that I was keeping my cards in (alphabetically) and then I had a lanyard with all the little keychain size cards on it (so I didn't bog down my key ring with them) - however, not all cards had the keychain size available and it was a pain toting around the larger folder. This app allows you to keep track of your rewards cards. You just enter your information and then let the sales clerk scan the bar code from your phone so you can receive your rewards.

Groupon - this app is available for your iPhone or your Android.
Purchase, manage, and redeem Groupons directly from your mobile device.

Browse unbeatable deals on local adventures
Get any deal with the touch of a button
Search nearby Groupons using GPS
Keep track of all your Groupons by location, date and expiration
Save trees with paperless redemption

2. Simplify, Simplify, Simplify
I've spent countless hours combing the Internet, newspapers and magazines for the best deals. These days - why would I? Everyone and their mother has a blog or website dedicated to saving money with coupons and rewards programs - so I just let them do the work for me!! Some of my favorites are:

RedPlum.com - I get emails from them with coupons and freebies.
Coupons.com - Like RedPlum.com I get emails from them with coupons and deals for my area. Since I can access my email from my iPhone I always have a reference to these deals if I find myself needing access at the spur of the moment.

I just read in a magazine about a site called www.ppgazette.com which aggregates coupons from the two I've listed above along with SmartSource.com (which I've used before, but for some reason I always have trouble printing from their site, so I stopped using them) and Valpak. Valpak is a source I've also used, but not online - I get coupons by regular mail from them. I have not used this site yet, but will be checking them out.

The coupon aggregator I've been using is called Yowza and it's an app on the iPhone. I think it may be primarily for iPhone's, I'm not sure - there may be something similar for other smartphones, but I'm not sure. This app is great! It allows me to create a list of all my favorite stores and updates me on coupons available. So if I'm at a particular store for a last minute find - I check the app first, make sure I'm not leaving any money on the table - and if one is available I can have the cashier scan the coupon right from my phone. Sweet!

3. Paper Coupon Organization
I still get paper coupons, for sure. Facebook is a great source for retailers trying to get their lion share of consumers time and money. Most of the coupons come to you in the mail. I also get coupons for food etc. as a result of birthday clubs. I still keep my coupon wallet which is organized alphabetically by product name. I keep paper coupons with "no expiration" date in a separate section lumped together. The coupon wallet is my favorite - I've had it for a VERY long time; it was given to me from my wonderful freelance friend and frugal living mentor, Anjie Henley. Anjie hosts her own frugal living website and blog: http://www.flybu.com

With much of my food purchases now being done at farmer's markets, 99cent Stores and local farming sources, my need for coupons has decreased. My consumption of products from the retail shops has decreased as well and has been replaced a handful of products with multiple uses. I shop thrift stores and second hand shops. My couponing habits have changed - I've streamlined and simplified to help bring my frugal living desires into balance with my desire for a more quality lifestyle spent enjoying my time and resources rather than just managing them.

25 THINGS GRANDMA NEVER PAID FOR

2011-01-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

By Sally Herigstad

NOTE: I found this article today in my email from RedPlum and felt it worthy of sharing. I've added my "two-cents worth" in places, as well. Good article!

Our grandparents could live on very little money compared to what it takes to keep us going these days. We may not want to live without those modern conveniences and vacations Grandma wouldn't have even dreamed of. But once in a while we should at least remember what we're spending money on that Grandma seemed to be able to live without!

How many of these things did your grandparents never pay for?

1. Air conditioning - at home and in the car.

Ok, so most of us won't let this go - but at minimum look into a programmable thermostat for your heating/air conditioning system at home and before you flick on the A/C in your car (or heat for that matter) ask yourself if rolling down the windows and letting in the fresh air would be just as soothing/AH

2. Plastic bags that zip up.

aka Ziplocs! Ziploc bags are convenient and disposable. They can be used for toting food to school or work, for keeping leftovers fresh and for storing frozen foods. The trouble is, Ziploc bags can also get expensive, and they are not good for the environment. Fortunately, several other convenient storage options are re-usable, green-friendly and cost you less money in the long run. I just had this conversation with my mother over the holidays. Waxed paper was used all the time for wrapping sandwiches, cookies, etc. going into lunch bags. No plastic wrap was used or sandwich bags.

If you use Ziploc bags for sandwiches and snacks, replace them with reusable cloth bags and SAVE MONEY while you protect the environment. Reusable bags need to be washed regularly, but varieties with plastic linings are easy to wash with soap and water. Reusable bags are convenient for school lunches and picnics, and come in a variety of colors, styles and sizes/AH

3. Movie rentals.

First of all my grandmother did without this service because this service wasn't available - however, the principle is there. I subscribe to REDBOX and get once a month text message to my iPhone the first Monday of every month which provides me with a 'code' for a FREE movie rental. I recently got in on a deal through GROUPON that gave me 3 rentals through Redbox for the price of one ($1.00). This is how I rent movies. I do love movies, don't get me wrong, but as the example I just related shows, there are other means now of seeing movies that don't cost you money. Many municipal libraries have movies you can check out. Be sure to return them on time or your FREE movie rental won't be so 'free' (as true with RedBox, as well/AH

4. Cruises.

5. Cell phone service. If she wanted Grandpa to come in from the back yard, she had to actually step out back and wave at him. Or just wait.

6. Canned vegetables. That backyard garden was no trendy hobby. She used it to fill hundreds of glass jars with green beans, tomatoes, and other good food, ready for winter.

7. Gym memberships. By the time she got done working in the garden and tracking down Grandpa without a cell phone, she didn't need the gym.

8. Computers, laptops, upgrades, new mice, and other accessories. Certainly not.

9. Internet service. Ditto.

10. Cable. If it wasn't on TV, forget it. (Fiddling with rabbit ears - now that's a vanishing skill!)

11. Pedicures.

12. Eating out, except for special occasions like birthdays. Imagine Grandma saying, "I don't feel like cooking - let's eat out!"

I lived and grew up in a small rural farming/logging town where fast food consisted of A&W (yes, they brought it out to your window on trays) and DairyQueen. We had a pizza parlor (not a chain) and a Chinese food restaurant and one (that I can remember) family style restaurant/bar and grill. I think there may have been a couple more like that. But nonetheless, there wasn't a stream of fast food joints lining a strip of pavement in town or a McD's lining the corners downtown. We ate at home. Special occasions like Mother's Day or Father's Day would warrant a trip to 'the bay' as we'd say where choices of eating establishments were more. As the article writer suggests, tho' - there was no "oh I don't feel like cooking, let's eat out". If for some reason my mom couldn't cook (sick or injured, my dad did it or us girls cooked). I'm so thankful that I learned to cook at an early age. I'm continuously amazed at how many girls/young women make it to married life and can't cook! I mean something beyond popping pre-packaged food in the microwave or oven. It's amazing. /AH

13. Massages. She'd have looked askance at that.

14. Hair foils.

When I was little my mom would rinse my hair with lemon juice, after washing it,and I would sit and let it dry in the sunshine to get streaks of blond running through my hair. Now what a money saver that was!/AH

15. Housecleaning services.

I've never paid for housecleaning services myself, but I know people that have. Again, "back in the day" (as they say) I use to dust all the glass/ceramic birds in my great-grandma's bedroom and she would pay us (my sister and I) each $5.00 for dusting her room. A fond memory and a great lesson of how we learned to work for money at a very young age./AH

16. Child care.

17. Life insurance on her children.

18. Having a tailor change a hem or sew on a button.

19. Feng shui consultations.

Ha! I can hear her now, "Feng what?" - She probably thought it was a dirty word!

20. Catering.

21. A second car.

My grandparents did have the luxury of a second car.

22. Frozen pizzas.

23. Delivered pizzas.

There was no pizza delivery, not even in our small town...not when I was growing up and not when my mom was growing up. I remember moving to the "big city" as my family calls it and one of the things I use to love to do was have my pizza delivered. It didn't matter what hour of the day or night it was, you could find a pizza joint open that delivered!/AH

24. Dog grooming.

My grandma did need to pay for dog grooming - she had two granddaughters to do it! /AH

25. Health insurance for pets.

UP FOR GRABS! FREE MILK COUPONS!

2011-01-11T19:28:00.000-08:00

This is a great giveaway—the "Pour One More" sweeps from the milk board.

You can win one year’s worth of milk—52 coupons for free milk of any brand to redeem anywhere milk is sold.

Plus in conjunction with Feeding America a needy family in your community will get their own set of free milk coupons if you’re one of the winners.

In conjunction to the sweep's, there’s an instant win component as well. Some lucky entrants will get a coupon for one free jug of milk, just for entering.

Play daily! You'll have a chance at winning when you enter today. Ends 02/09/2011

A total of 120 winners will be awarded the free year of milk!

Get Your Free Milk

FREE DOG/CAT TOY + $5.00

2011-01-11T09:03:00.000-08:00

You can get a FREE dog or cat toy by signing up with this site.

Please put in my email address in as the friend that referred you alikatt679@yahoo.com

CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS!

Refer friends of your own and get $5! Yeah!!

FUN, FRUGAL AND FABULOUS!

2011-01-09T19:45:00.000-08:00

I put my new thinking to the test over the holidays while we were on vacation in Oregon. We spent ten days with family in the town I grew up in which has struggled over the years to survive. It's a small rural community with a population of around 4,000. There are new chain big box stores (with exception of a Safeway and a few 'name brand' gas stations) and you have to drive 20 miles to find the nearest shopping mall.

I boycotted Black Friday this year. I couldn't come up with ONE thing I felt my family or I "needed" and I wasn't interested in fighting the weather (it was very cold and majorly blustery), wasting gas and bumping elbows with people just to "find out" if I was missing anything major on sale. Nix! Nah! Nope! Didn't wanna do it!

Instead, my mom and I shopped "local" - very local! We picked two antique stores (aka junk shops) and spent a few hours picking through some great things that took us down memory lane at times and provided awesome entertainment. I ended up 'investing' in my little home town economy a couple of different times. How fun it was. Some of my 'finds' were:
-beautiful yardage for quilt making (no sales tax! Woohoo!) at well under the regular retail prices
-some fabulous old postcards with postmarks dating back to 1910!! These will make wonderful Valentine's Day cards and the like
-vintage glass - collectible which I may keep or sell for profit

We went out to dinner for New Years and I saved money by sharing a meal with my daughter. We were both stuffed! Go figure!

We used gasbuddy.com to find the cheapest gas along the drive home.

This last week I did some shopping - 99c Store of course and Eco-Thrift. My grandsons were with me and they entertained themselves at the stuffed animal bin for almost 45 minutes. Eight (8) stuffed animals for 99cents! They were in heaven!

We went to the movies - matinee of course - bought my tickets online and earned movie points. We shared a large popcorn and large drink between the three of us and were stuffed when we left! I got an invitation for movie premier next week while in line at the concession stand! Yeah! Free movie for two!

I cashed in points on Swagbucks for two $5.00 gift cards to Amazon.com - I coupled those with a gift certificate from my sister and her family and was able to pick up four items off my Wish List - free shipping!

I didn't renew my Franklin Planner pages this year - extra paper and too expensive. I found a 16 mth pocket calendar that is purse sized and a small lined notepad for 'to do' lists. I'm training myself to use my "smart phone" calendar and notepad with alerts, etc. We'll see how that goes.

What I managed to bring 'new' in the house was balanced out by a trip to Goodwill this weekend dropping off some "old" (but still usable) items. I like Goodwill as they do not charge sales tax and any 'donations' you make help support employment and other training programs for the community.

I am looking forward to my new "Year of Jubilee" and all that it is in store. I'm moving forward with the pretense that frugal is good, free is fabulous but not at the expense of waste to my time, my resources or the environment.

I encourage you to subscribe to my Get Your Green Jeans On blog and join my endeavors for more responsible consumerism.

Cheers!

TRYING TO FIND THE BALANCE

2011-01-09T19:21:00.000-08:00

Another year gone, new beginnings in store. After revising the blog some last year (which I still have some fine-tuning to do) I haven't posted much as I seem to be experiencing another "F" word lately - FUNK! Yep, I've been in a funk.

How come? Well, I've been trying to find a balance between great bargains and 'free' stuff and cutting back on "stuff".

As I begin my "Year of Jubilee" I am torn between getting good deals and spending time on just more "stuff" - is that what I want? Even if things are "free", you still have to manage the 'stuff'.

In my other blog called "Get Your Green Jeans On" I talked more about our obsession with over consumerism and wasteful behavior. I try to be frugal, fun and waste as little as possible however, some of that comes with a price - my time!

Sundays were consumed with snatching up the Sunday paper as soon as it was delivered and rummaging through the ads and coupons. Following that came the coupon clipping, sorting and filing. Next came the 'search and destroy' mission for the best price (before coupons) and then the list generation of "free stuff" and "wants". I was saving a lot of money but was it really worth the time, energy and often times stretch of our cupboard space? Not to mention our increasing waste lines? There had to be a balance. Some where. I was determined to find it.

I began to look at things differently. I began asking important (or what I feel is important, rather) questions about my shopping practices. Simultaneous to this new line of thinking I began to shop for organic, raw food as much as possible. Local food. Limiting pre-packaged and microwaveable items as much as possible. My next challenge was to eat 'fresh food' whenever possible.

As I began to strive towards this goal, I've found less and less need for coupons. We are fortunate here to have 99c Stores which carry fresh produce (much of which is organic) . My bench mark for shopping now is the 99c Store. If I can get it somewhere else for less then, ok - otherwise it's my 'go to first' place. Three days last week I fed two children and three adults dinner for $4.00 - total!!

I've made ecological choices to cut back on things like napkins, paper plates, and other 'disposable' items. Again, my need for coupons has dramatically changed. As I finish off cleaning solutions, etc. that I have back stocked, I'm replacing them with more ecological alternatives like vinegar and soda. Yes, I can get vinegar at the 99c Store.

I think I surprised my 10 year old grandson this week when we went to the 99c Store and walked out with several name brand items. He said, "Gramma, alot of kids I know say that there isn't anything but junk at the 99c Store - and the products are cheap". As we walked in the door he saw many brand name things and quickly changed his opinion.

So as the days move on, I am continuing to find frugal and free deals whenever possible but I am trying to find a balance with being ecologically responsible as well. This is in keeping with my belief that God has given us this earth and the creatures that dwell in it to manage and take care of...not to exploit. We are to be 'good stewards of our time, money and talents' - so these will be my driving passions during this next year.

Don't get me wrong I'm not warding off shopping or 'consuming of goods' - I'm just rethinking things a tad and opting to find a balance of 'needs vs. wants' and asking myself if there are alternative ways of achieving what I want for less all the while improving my world a little bit, even if just by small things.

FREE 8 X 10

2010-10-22T17:02:00.000-07:00

Walgreen's is offering a free 8 x 10 photo.

CLICK HERE for details.

HURRY! ENDS 10/23/2010

DOVE SAMPLE

2010-10-22T16:57:00.000-07:00

Costco Members can sign up to receive a FREE sample of Dove Go Fresh Deodorant. This offer is available to the U.S., while supplies last.

FREE eBOOKS

2010-10-22T16:13:00.000-07:00

Amazon is offering the following free eBook downloads:

“Sandman Slim” by Richard Kadrey.
"Once a Cowboy" by Linda Warren.
"Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch" by B.J. Daniels
"Homespun Bride" by Jillian Hart

There are several more if you look the section that reads "Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought" at no cost.

You can read this book on a Kindle device or download free programs to read other places: PC, MAC, Blackberry, Android, iPhone or iPad. This offer is available for a limited time only.

FREE WEEKEND EVENTS

2010-10-22T15:38:00.000-07:00

Barnes & Noble will be having Halloween story time on 10/23 at 11 AM.

Bass Pro Shops are having an “It’s A Great Pumpkin” Halloween Event, 10/22-10/31. Click the link for more info.

Lakeshore Learning Centers will have crafts for kids ages 3 and up on 10/23 from 11 AM to 3 PM. They will be making a Jack-O-Lantern Wind Sock.

Lowes will have a Build and Grow Clinic for kids on 10/23 from 10 to 11 AM. They will be making a flapping bat.

Michael’s will have Halloween Glow Explosion Make-It Take-Its on 10/23 from 2 to 4 PM.

Michael’s will have a Bead Event with make-it, take-its. This will take place on 10/24 from 1 to 4 PM.

Petsmart is having a FREE Howl-O-Ween Event on 10/23 from 3-5 PM. The event will include a costume contest and photos.

Pier 49 is giving customers a FREE slice of pizza (no purchase necessary) at participating locations on 10/23 from 12-5 PM.

Pinkberry is offering mini pumpkin frozen yogurts with their recommended toppings for FREE on 10/22/10 from 4 to 7 PM.

Pottery Barn will have an Entertaining with Style Class on 10/24 at 10 AM. Please RSVP.

Pottery Barn Kids will be having a special Halloween story time on 10/23 at 11 AM.

Pottery Barn Kids will be having an Affordable Decorating Ideas for Kids Rooms class on 10/23 at 10 AM. Please RSVP.

The Disney Store is having a Halloween Dress Rehearsal Party on 10/22 at 4:30 and 6 PM and 10/23 at 11 AM and 12:30 PM. Kids wearing a costume will receive a free gift. Ages 3 and up. There is a limit of 50 kids per time slot.

The Home Depot is having free painting, flooring, energy saving and fire safety classes on 10/23. Click the link for more info on each event and to reserve a spot.

Toys R Us is hosting a special event Saturday, October 23 from 12-2pm where kids can build a free Lego Car complete with free Lego Driver’s License!

Williams-Sonoma will have a Breads and Spreads for the Holiday Table Cooking Class on 10/24. Call your local store for the times.

FREE MUSIC ABOUNDS!

2010-10-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

Spin Magazine is offering a FREE 15 song sampler download on iTunes. Offer expires 11/30/10. U.S. only.

Urban Outfitters is offering 25 FREE song downloads through 2/28/11. You must download iTunes to be able to download these songs (this is also free). U.S. only.

One Condoms is offering up to 5 FREE music downloads from the artists listed on their website. You get a FREE download each time you do one of the following: Join the Mailing List, Become a Fan on Facebook, Follow on Twitter, Sign the Oath and Take a Survey About Safe Sex. This offer is available internationally, until they have given away 1 million free downloads.

REMINDER:
iTunes offers a FREE download each week. You will find the freebie about 1/4 down the page. This offer is available to the U.S. only.

STARBUCKS:
Don't forget to check your local Starbucks for free download cards when you go in to get your caffeine fix for the day!

ZingGo FREE 4 LIFE BAR

2010-10-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

ZingGo4Life is offering a free 4Life Bar, which comes in Peanut Butter or Chocolate Raspberry. To request yours go HERE and choose your bar, put in your information and at checkout put in code fb9898. Shipping is also free.

Thanks Jessica's Coupons by way of Bucktown Bargains

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS FOR UNDER $1.00

2010-10-08T11:25:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! I made a pack with myself some time ago that as much as I LOVE magazines - I wasn't going to spend more than $5.00 for a 12 month subscription and that was under extreme exception - my ideal goal was no more than $1.00 or FREE!

I scored today! Thanks to Couponing to Disney by way of Jessica's Coupons I snagged a 1 yr subscription to Better Homes and Gardens for .99c out of my pocket! Woohoo!

HOW?

Well, I JUST redeemed my latest Amazon.com gift card which I earned from (CLICK ON SWAGBUCKS IMAGE TO START SIGN UP) and redeemed it on the deal below! Sweet!

Amazon.com has a great deal on the 1 year subscription to Better Homes and Gardens. You can get 12 issues for just $5.99.

IMPORTANT NOTE: To get this price you are agreeing to the "auto renew" subscription - so be sure to set a reminder to yourself about 6 weeks before your subscription end to contact them and cancel - unless, of course, you want to continue.

FREE eBOOKS!

2010-09-01T18:52:00.000-07:00

1. Amazon is offering a FREE download of the eBook “Sharp Writing: Building Better Writing Skills” (a $4.99 savings).

Sharp Writing is a compact guide with all the information you need to increase your grasp of language and boost your writing skills using Kaplan’s easy-to-follow Building Block Method.

You can read this book on a Kindle device or download free programs to read other places: PC, MAC, Blackberry, Android, iPhone or iPad.

This offer is available for a limited time only.

2. Amazon is offering a FREE download of the eBook “Hide in Plain Sight” by Marta Perry (a $5.50 savings).

You can read this book on a Kindle device or download free programs to read other places: PC, MAC, Blackberry, Android, iPhone or iPad.

This offer is available for a limited time only.

About the book: “Please God, if you’re listening, keep Rachel safe.” She couldn’t turn her back on her family in their time of need. So when her sister was injured, financial expert Andrea Hampton traded the big city for Amish country to help turn her grandmother’s house into an inn. But life with the Plain People took a treacherous turn when a string of accidents and pranks threatened her family. Someone didn’t want the secrets the old house harbored to come to light. Trusting anyone-even the handsome carpenter who seemed so genuine-was a battle for Andrea, but her life depended on her ability to find the truth.

3. Amazon is offering a FREE download of the eBook “Hour of the Hunter” by J.A. Jance.

You can read this book on a Kindle device or download free programs to read other places: PC, MAC, Blackberry, Android, iPhone or iPad.

This offer is available for a limited time only.

4. Classics Download:

You don’t need to buy an expensive Kindle device to read the free (and not so free) ebooks on Amazon. Amazon offers free downloads for PC, MAC, Blackberry, Android, iPhone and iPad for you to read these books on.

Once you download the FREE software above, check out the classic books below you can download for FREE:

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

Alice’s Adventure’s In Wonderland

Sense and Sensibility

War and Peace

Little Women

5. From a Distance (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 1) [Kindle Edition] by Tamera Alexander

FREE MAGAZINE COVER AT RITE AID! ENDS 9/3/10

2010-09-01T18:37:00.000-07:00

Get a FREE magazine cover with this printable coupon here.

Order your magazine cover here using Days Service in Specialty Prints.

Pickup the photo in-store and present the coupon to the Rite Aid Photo Lab at checkout.

Coupon is good 9/2 and 9/3 only.

I've tried to locate the item via the instructions noted on the coupon but have not had any luck as of the posting of this offer. I will try again tomorrow.

FREE DISNEY MOVIES ON DEMAND! ENDS 9/6/10

2010-09-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

If you have Comcast, Verizon, AT&T, Cox, TVN, Blue Ridge, Sudden, or Charter Cable TV service, you can watch FREE Disney Movies on Demand, September 2nd through 6th.

RECIPE eBOOKS!

2010-09-01T18:24:00.000-07:00

I love to cook and I love to try new recipes!

Here are some Recipe eBooks for you to download:

1. SMART SCHOOL TIME RECIPES by One Frugal Foodie
2. Summer Fun: 19 Wonderful Chicken Salad Recipes Free eCookbook from RecipeLion
3. Let's Get Grilling by Mr. Food

Do a search on "Free Recipe eBooks" for more downloads!

REFRESH YOUR iPOD WITH FREE MUSIC!

2010-09-01T18:04:00.000-07:00

Gotta love free music!! DOWN LOAD YOURS NOW! HURRY!

iTunes is offering a FREE Lilith Fair Sampler.
This offer is available to the U.S. and Canada, through 9/30/10.

Urban Outfitters is offering 24 FREE song downloads from independent artists. Just click “Download on iTunes” on the top right of the page. Offer ends 12/31/10. International.

BCPowder.com is offering a FREE download of the song “Shake it Off” by Trace Adkins. Just enter the code SIO2010 in the box at the bottom right of the page here. This offer is available internationally, for a limited time.

Get a free download of Taylor Swift’s hit song “You’re Not Sorry”. This offer is available for a limited time. International.

Amazon.com is offering a free Sargent House Alternative Rock Sampler Download. There are a total of 12 songs that can be previewed before downloading. This offer is available internationally, for a limited time.

Amazon is offering a FREE download of Ultra All Stars. This album features 6 dance/techno songs. This offer is available internationally, for a limited time.

Amazon is offering a free download of “Rock Steady” from Bad Company’s Hard Rock Live album. This offer is available for a limited time, internationally.

Amazon is offering a FREE album download that has seven song from TBD Records artists. The album has rock/alternative music that may have explicit language. International.

Spin is offering a free 16 track album download of Campfire Jams Bonneroo 2010, the annual celebration of music in the Tennessee countryside. This offer is available for a limited time.

Amazon.com is offering a free So Indie It Hurts: Roir Rocks Volume Two album download. This offer contains 13 songs and is available internationally for a limited time.

Get 8 free Matthew Mayfield song downloads when you subscribe to his eNewsletter. You will see 8 different albums to download from in the link. Click on an album to see which songs are available for download off that album. You can download just one song or all 8, but you must sign up individually for each one. This offer is available for a limited time.

SATURDAY FREEBIES ROCK!

2010-08-07T10:00:00.000-07:00

Get a FREE Glitter Ball (any size or color) at Border stores with the following FREE Glitter Ball Printable coupon. NOTE: You must be at Borders Rewards member to take advantage of this one but you can sign up HERE if you're not a member yet - it's FREE!

Valid until 8/8/10. Hurry! Ends Tomorrow!

Request a FREE pack of Wrigley EXTRA Sugar-Free Dessert Delights Gum.

Choose from Key Lime Pie, Mint Chocolate Chip or Strawberry Shortcake. (I got the Strawberry Shortcake!)

Use promo code 353637 to get this deal.

Get a FREE Refreshe Water, Soda and Mixe rs sample!

CLICK IMAGE above to order your FREE Pedometer today!
I've been wanting one of these!!

CLICK HERE to request sample of FREE Adult Gummie Vitamins from Nature's Bounty!

$10 OFF $10 AND FREE SHIPPING!

2010-08-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

JCPenny: $10 off a $10 Purchase, FREE Shipping on Shoes

JCPenney has a great new $10 off a $10 or more purchase Coupon Code. Make sure to type in the code TEN2YOU at checkout. PLUS, JCPenney is offering FREE standard shipping on all their shoes!

Double your deal savings by using MyPoints or eBates for your purchase! It's easy to sweeten the deal!

HURRY THINGS ARE SELLING OUT QUICKLY!!

OFF TO A GREAT START

2010-08-05T10:33:00.000-07:00

Wow! This week is off to a GREAT start with freebies!

MONDAY:
There's nothing like a good long belly laugh to start your week off right! My dear hubby and I rented a copy of "She's Out Of My League" on Monday using a FREE movie code I receive each month from RedBox! We used their online service to find the most convenient location to pick up the movie (which was 3 blocks away) and used their outside kiosk to get the DVD. Out and back in less than 10 mins!

S IGN UP HERE to get your FREE RedBox Rentals each month!

Monday's mailbox receipts were great, too!

Shampoo and Conditioner from John Frieda
Three (3) Emergen C packets
Two (2) bags of Snikiddy Snacks

TUESDAY:
Tuesday I cashed in Disney Reward Points for a FREE 8 x 11" Photo book from Snapfish. Their photo book software is excellent and second only to Shutterfly.

Interested in joining Disney Reward Points program??
Leave me a comment with your email and I will send you an invitation to join! A win-win for both of us!!

If you don't have a Snapfish account, now is a GREAT time to get one!
New members get 50 FREE 4x6 prints - perfect for those summer activity photos you've been taking!
Don't have a Snapfish account??
Leave me a comment with your email and I will send you an invitation to start your Snapfish account! Again, sometime for you and something for me! Love it!

Attention Facebook Members!!
Now through August 31st, when you "LIKE" TLC and "LIKE" Snapfish - you will receive a prize worth up to $100 from Snapfish! Log in to your Facebook account - go to the TLC page and follow the information under the "TLC Summer Moments" tab!
Leave me a comment on what you won! Good luck!!

Tuesday's Mailbox receipts:

Dove Haircare Samples
Prilosec OTC Samples
Southern Living Magazine

WEDNESDAY:
Freebies were the only thing that went "right" for me yesterday! Boy, howdy! I haven't had such a rash of 'hardship' in one day like I did yesterday! Wow! However...good on the freebie front!

50 FREE Contact Photo Cards from KodakGallery.com! These were great and so fun! I can use these for so many things! I think XOE is going to get a set of her own, even! There are so many applications for these cards - I'd love to hear how you'll be using yours!

CLICK HERE to get started creating yours!

There's nothing like a evening at the Fountains! Had a great time at the Vera Bradley event and scored a cute little coin purse in the new Barcelona pattern will go nicely with my other Night and Day pattern pieces.

My girlfriend and I hit up Boudin Bakery where I got my dear hubby and I dinner consisting of their new Artisan sandwiches on a B1G1 Free coupon which scored me 5 additional points on my Boudin Frequent Buyer's Card.

Using my card I also picked up my FREE loaf of Sourdough bread and had them slice it for me! This stuff is the yummiest!

Wednesday's Mailbox receipts:

Lots of catalogs
Thank you note from friend
$10 off $10 @ JCPenny coupon

Today's freebies are yet to be determined - can't wait to see what the freebie fairy has in store for me the rest of the week!

I'd love to hear from you!

SNAG! I LOVE IT!

2010-07-29T12:12:00.001-07:00

I love it when a plan comes together!

I cashed in 900 SwagBuck points for two (2) $5.00 Amazon.com gift cards.

I turned around and used the $10.00 for a free magazine subscription from Amazon.com!

Not only do I enjoy magazines but I get tons of coupons and other offers and ideas from them!

Snag!! Nice!!

Just another frugal idea from me to you!

Sign up for SwagBucks if you wanna! Just click the box below!
Whatta ya got to lose! Nada!

FREEBIES FOR THIS WEEK! HURRY! SOME END SOON!

2010-07-29T11:48:00.000-07:00

You can never get enough freebies, right? Hehehe!

Here are a few goodies for this week. Gotta hurry, tho'....

Free Movie Rental: Want to take a new flick for a spin without even dropping the $1 it would cost you at redbox? You're in luck.

Through 7/30 (tomorrow) you can grab a FREE rental from Blockbuster Express using the rental code GT17A.

Find your closest Blockbuster here.

Free Birthday Kit: Have a birthday happening soon in your house? Get the birthday boy or girl set up with a sweet deal from Kmart.

Kidlets sign up for the Kmart Birthday Club and when their day rolls around they'll receive $5.00 in Kmart Birthday Bucks, a birthday crown, and a 'birthday fun pack' full of 'surprise goodies.'

For the parents, Kmart also throws in a list of age-appropriate toy and gift suggestions, information on developmental milestones from 6 months through 12 years and tips and advice for planning a memorable birthday celebration. Sign up here.

Free Dog Treat Sample: Walmart's sampling program is currently doling out something your pup will surely like--free samples of Better Than Ears dog treats (their cute slogan says they're endorsed by pigs everywhere...). If you're worried about Fido's waistline these vittles have 50 percent less fat than traditional pigs' ear chews and come in resealable packs. Allow four weeks for them to arrive by mail. Sign up for your sample here.

Free Burgers: For Texas, Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma readers only.

Whataburger's 60th anniversary is giving us all a reason to celebrate! To mark the occasion they're holding "Orange Night Out" Tuesday, August 3 from 5 to 8 p.m. Dress in the company's signature orange and you'll score yourself a free Whataburger. With more than 700 locations in 10 states, you may just have one near you. But call first to verify that your location is participating.

Find your closest Whataburger here.

Free Backpack:

If you haven't grabbed this deal yet, do it now! The deal lets you buy any backpack (yep, any one!) between now and July 31 and get 100 percent of the purchase price back in the form of a free gift card.

It's like getting the backpack free!

Head into any Staples store nationwide, buy a backpack, and fill out and return a rebate form. You'll then get 100% of the purchase price back in the form of a free Staples Gift Card.

Backpack purchases may be made in-store, by phone or online to qualify.

While the deal may seem too good to be true, the details have been confirmed with Staples.

The only things to be aware of are that the deal can only be used once per household, and the gift card can be used only for a future purchase. t more info from the Staples Web site here.

21 THINGS YOU SHOULD NEVER BUY NEW

2010-06-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

This is a great article with some very useful insights - with links:

Wise Bread, On Monday June 28, 2010, 10:24 am EDT

If you're looking to get the most value for your dollar, it would do your wallet good to check out secondhand options. Many used goods still have plenty of life left in them even years after the original purchase, and they're usually resold at a fraction of the retail price, to boot. Here's a list of 21 things that make for a better deal when you buy them used.

[Slideshow: 10 Things to Splurge on This Summer.]

1. DVDs and CDs: Used DVDs and CDs will play like new if they were well taken care of. Even if you wind up with a scratched disc and you don't want to bother with a return, there are ways to remove the scratches and make the DVD or CD playable again.

2. Books: You can buy used books at significant discounts from online sellers and brick-and-mortar used book stores. The condition of the books may vary, but they usually range from good to like-new. And of course, check out your local library for free reading material.

3. Video Games: Kids get tired of video games rather quickly. You can easily find used video games from online sellers at sites like Amazon and eBay a few months after the release date. Most video game store outlets will feature a used game shelf, as well. And if you're not the patient type, you can rent or borrow from a friend first to see if it's worth the purchase.

4. Special Occasion and Holiday Clothing: Sometimes you'll need to buy formal clothing for special occasions, such as weddings or prom. Most people will take good care of formal clothing but will only wear it once or twice. Their closet castouts are your savings: Thrift stores, yard sales, online sellers and even some dress shops offer fantastic buys on used formalwear.

5. Jewelry: Depreciation hits hard when you try to sell used jewelry, but as a buyer you can take advantage of the markdown to save a bundle. This is especially true for diamonds, which has ridiculously low resale value. Check out estate sales and reputable pawn shops to find great deals on unique pieces. Even if you decide to resell the jewelry later, the depreciation won't hurt as much.

6. Ikea Furniture: Why bother assembling your own when you can pick it up for free (or nearly free) on Craigslist and Freecycle? Summer is the best time to hunt for Ikea furniture--that's when college students are changing apartments and tossing out their goodies.

7. Games and Toys: How long do games and toys remain your child's favorite before they're left forgotten under the bed or in the closet? You can find used children's toys in great condition at moving sales or on Craigslist, or you can ask your neighbors, friends, and family to trade used toys. Just make sure to give them a good wash before letting junior play.

8. Maternity and Baby Clothes: Compared to everyday outfits that you can wear any time, maternity clothes don't get much wear outside the few months of pregnancy when they fit. The same goes for baby clothes that are quickly outgrown. You'll save a small fortune by purchasing gently used maternity clothes and baby clothes at yard sales and thrift stores. Like children's games and toys, friends and family may have baby or maternity clothing that they'll be happy to let you take off their hands.

[See 20 Things You Should Never Buy Used.]

9. Musical Instruments: Purchasing new musical instruments for a beginner musician is rarely a good idea. (Are you ready to pay $60 an hour for piano lessons?) For your little dear who wants to learn to play an instrument, you should see how long his or her interest lasts by acquiring a rented or used instrument to practice with first. Unless you're a professional musician or your junior prodigy is seriously committed to music, a brand new instrument may not be the best investment.

10. Pets: If you buy a puppy (or kitty) from a professional breeder or a pet store outlet, it can set you back anywhere from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. On top of this, you'll need to anticipate additional fees and vet bills, too. Instead, adopt a pre-owned pet from your local animal shelter and get a new family member, fees, and vaccines at a substantially lower cost.

11. Home Accent: Pieces Home decorating pieces and artwork are rarely handled on a day-to-day basis, so they're generally still in good condition even after being resold multiple times. If you like the worn-out look of some decor pieces, you can be sure you didn't pay extra for something that comes naturally with time. And don't forget, for most of us, discovering a true gem at a garage sale is 90% of the fun!

12. Craft Supplies: If you're into crafting, you probably have a variety of different supplies left over from prior projects. If you require some additional supplies for your upcoming project, then you can join a craft swap where you'll find other crafty people to trade supplies with. If you have leftovers, be sure to donate them to your local schools.

13. Houses: You're typically able to get better and more features for your dollar when you purchase an older home rather than building new. Older houses were often constructed on bigger corner lots, and you also get architectural variety in your neighborhood if the houses were built or remodeled in different eras.

14. Office Furniture: Good office furniture is built to withstand heavy use and handling. Really solid pieces will last a lifetime, long after they're resold the first or second time. A great used desk or file cabinet will work as well as (or better than) a new one, but for a fraction of the cost. With the recession shutting down so many businesses, you can easily find lots of great office furniture deals.

15. Cars: You've probably heard this before: Cars depreciate the second you drive them off of the dealership's lot. In buying a used car, you save money on both the initial cost and the insurance. It also helps to know a trusty mechanic who can check it over first. This way, you'll be aware of any potential problems before you make the purchase.

[See 20 Tips for Cleaning on the Cheap.]

16. Hand Tools: Simple tools with few moving parts, like hammers, hoes and wrenches, will keep for decades so long as they are well-made to begin with and are well-maintained. These are fairly easy to find at neighborhood yard or garage sales. If you don't need to use hand tools very often, an even better deal is to rent a set of tools or borrow them from a friend.

17. Sports Equipment: Most people buy sports equipment planning to use it until it drops, but this rarely happens. So when sports equipment ends up on the resale market, they tend to still be in excellent condition. Look into buying used sporting gear through Craigslist and at yard sales or sports equipment stores.

18. Consumer Electronics: I know most folks like shiny new toys, but refurbished electronic goods are a much sweeter deal. Consumer electronics are returned to the manufacturer for different reasons, but generally, they'll be inspected for damaged parts, fixed, tested, then resold at a lower price. Just make sure you get a good warranty along with your purchase.

19. Gardening Supplies: This is an easy way for you to save money, and all you need to do is be observant. Take a look outdoors and you'll likely find such gardening supplies as mulch, wood, and even stones for free or vastly reduced prices. Used garden equipment and tools are also common goods at yard sales.

20. Timeshares: Buying timeshares isn't for everyone, but if you decide that it suits your lifestyle, purchasing the property as a resale would be a better deal than buying it brand new: on average, you'll save 67 percent on the price for a comparable new timeshare. If you're new to timeshare ownership, give it a test run first by renting short term.

21. Recreational Items: It's fairly easy to find high ticket recreational items like campers, boats, and jet skis being resold. Oftentimes, they're barely used at all. As long as they're in safe, working condition, they'll make for a better value when purchased used than new.

Lynn Truong is the co-founder and Deals Editor of Wise Bread, a blog dedicated to helping readers live large on a small budget. Wise Bread's book, 10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget, debuted as the #1 Money Management book on Amazon.com.

FREE TEA SAMPLES!

2010-06-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

Yummo! I love tea! This is great tea, too! A REALLY great sample deal. I really like FREE samples!

True, they may not provide the instantaneous reward feeling as a coupon for something free does, but there is something alluring about getting samples.

In my early days of "sampling" I use to try to keep track of the things I'd ordered and/or sent away for and it was just way to burdensome - not to mention that set me up to get frustrated when something didn't arrive - after all, most 'freebies' are subject to "while supplies last" and/or the offer can be discontinued at anytime.

Now, instead of keeping track I just sign up for the offers, then a few weeks (sometimes not that long) go by and I've forgotten all about it and PRESTO! I've got cool mail!

CLICK HERE to request your tea samples today! Mine turned out to be a $6.90 value! Sweet!

JUNE 4TH ALLURE CONTEST!

2010-06-03T15:08:00.001-07:00

June 4: Biosilk Beach Texture

All the tousled sexiness of beach hair minus the dryness, thanks to silk extract and panthenol, along with a small dose of texturizing Dead Sea salt. The first 500 Allure readers to sign up at noon EDT will win.

Enter June 4

FREE MOVIE RENTAL!

2010-06-03T14:54:00.001-07:00

Free RedBox Rental on Monday

Netflix rocks, for sure. But sometimes it's nice to be able to decide you want to watch a movie and grab it that night--even if it's not available on demand or online.

If it's free, well obviously that's even better. I've been doing this for over a year now and I love the new program from RedBox that gives you a code for a free movie monthly! That's 12 movies a year - for FREE!

The catch is, this is a code just for you and it's a "works one time only" (each month) kind of code. That means you will have to hit the RedBox Web site and create an account, subscribing to receive text messages to get the Monthly Movie Monday free codes! It's painless! It's easy.

There's even an "app" for that! Check out their mobile app!

ENJOY!!

FREE PAINT SAMPLES FROM GLIDDEN!

2010-06-03T14:46:00.000-07:00

2 Free Paint Testers From Glidden

Want to test out a couple possible colors for a room your planning to repaint? Or just grab some free supplies for a craft project? Then you're in luck. Through June 7 (or while supplies last) you can sign up to get two free paint bottles, with a brush attached to the lid, and enough paint to cover three square feet from Glidden during their "Get Color, Give Color Giveaway."

You will use their online color picker to choose two sample colors from Glidden’s 282 shades. Drag and drop the colors onto two images of the tester bottles, and boom, you’ve picked the testers that will be mailed to your house. Next you can sign a friend up to get two free samples, as well. Provide their name and e-mail address and Glidden will e-mail them an invite to activate their two free samples, in colors of their own choosing, of course! We’re told the samples will arrive in two to six weeks.

I ALWAYS LOVE FREE MUSIC!

2010-06-03T14:41:00.000-07:00

Get 10 Free Songs on iTunes Courtesy of Starbucks

At this point Starbucks has so convinced us that coffee and music go hand-in-hand, we're not even questioning whether it makes sense to have a "Frappuccino Beverage Music Mix." Years of grabbing a card for a free MP3 download every time we get a latte and thumbing through Starbucks-produced CDs at the register as we wait to order has us thinking that Starbucks is indeed an arbiter of musical tastes. So when we heard they were giving away 10 free songs on iTunes to promote the new any-way-you-want-them Frappuccino's we were happy. It's a pre-chosen list, so you're not simply getting a credit for songs to spend as you wish. But it will let you try out some new music, by bands you may not be listening to yet. Visit frappuccino.com/itunes to get the songs.

NEED TO RESTOCK YOUR TRAVEL BAG?

2010-05-30T10:17:00.000-07:00

With all the traveling I've done lately, I've depleted alot of my "back stock" of travel size items...time to RESTOCK! How 'bout you??

Try these:

1. JOHN FRIEDA SHEER BLONDE GIVEAWAY
2. AVEENO HAIR CARE SAMPLE
3. DOVE GLOW SAMPLE - NOTE: This offer was found on Univision and the page was in Spanish, so I had it translated for you.
4. DOVE DAILY TREATMENT CONDITIONER SAMPLE
5. LANCOME 10 DAY FOUNDATION SUPPLY
6. BORBA AGE DEFYING CONCENTRATE
7. BIOFREEZE:

Get a free sample of Biofreeze spray for pain relief when you send an email to:
web@biofreeze.com
or
call 1-800-246-3733 and ask for the Consumer Department.

Included will be a brochure on the product itself, a 5-gram trial packet for you to try and also an ordering form for future reference in case you ever find it difficult to locate the product in your area. Go down to the 7th question on the FAQ list for this offer. It's unclear what areas this offer is valid in.

As of the writing of this post, all offers above were valid.

REWARDS PROGRAMS

2010-05-26T12:49:00.000-07:00

I'm going to tell you about some Rewards Programs that I am currently using. Be sure to check back regularly as I will be posting program offers, etc. frequently. BETTER YET ~~> SIGN UP TO RECEIVE EMAIL NOTICES WHEN I POST NEW ENTRIES ON MY BLOG! You'll stay up to date and won't miss a thing that way!

Swag Bucks

SWAG BUCKSTM is a site you join and use as a surf browser. While browsing sites from the Internet using SWAG BUCKS you earn "bucks" or cyber cash that can be redeemed for prizes. You earn swag bucks by searching the Internet, entering codes and answering polls.

SEARCH. EARN. REDEEM. EASY!

Because SWAG BUCKS are awarded randomly, you won't be getting "bucks" every time you search, however, the more you use SWAG BUCKS, the higher your chances for being awarded bucks!

Here's what I did:

1. First, I downloaded their tool bar; got bucks for that!

2. Second, I changed my "home page" from Yahoo! to SWAG BUCKS!

3. Third, I now use SWAG BUCKS each and every time I go ANYWHERE on the Internet - including signing in to FACEBOOK, TWITTER, Yahoo! mail, Gmail or any other frequently used site! For example, instead of typing in "www.facebook.com" or "www.yahoo.com" I type in "FACEBOOK" or "YAHOO MAIL" into the SWAG BUCKS browser box and whalah!

4. Next, I signed up to be a FACEBOOK "Fan" (Like) of Swag Bucks. I get text alerts on my phone of possible codes and other options to earn "bucks".

5. Follow Swag Bucks on TWITTER which will alert you to swag codes.

6. Install the Swag Buck widget. Many times there will be a swag code there also.

Ok, so now you're asking, "what's the point of all this?" Well, why not get something of value for something you are already doing anyway? (Surfing the web) It's soooo easy! Why not? And, it really works! I've been doing it for just a short while now and have already earned enough "bucks" for a FREE Amazon gift card. I don't know about you, but FREE money is awesome!

TO SIGN UP - CLICK HERE

You’ll start off with 30 Swag Bucks for just for joining!

Happy Swagging, Future Swaggernaut!
Good Luck!

Starbucks Rewards

My Starbucks Rewards is a program where you earn 1 Star every time you pay with your Starbucks Card/Gift Card.

If you don't have a card yet, you can find that at any Starbucks Coffee Outlets and at many companies that issue gift cards. Simple to use and simple to earn. Just reload your Starbucks card when your balance is zero or almost zero.

Click the image below to register to your card.

As you collect Stars you are eligible for various benefits.

For more information on their rewards program, go HERE.

It's easy to do and a fun program!

My Coke Rewards

Are you a Coca-Cola Drinker? Well this program is for you! Did you know that EVERY (almost every) Coke product you purchase has a "rewards code" on it which you then enter into your account and then 'spend' for gifts and other rewards. It's easy and another "gimme" for something you're already doing - Buying Coke!

If you're interested in signing up for this program - please leave me a comment with your email address and I'll send you an email with "COKE REWARDS REFERRAL" in the subject line and a referral link. When you reach 50 points, I get 10! Win, Win! Once you've signed up, you can do the same and refer your friends for extra points.

I recently just cashed in points for a FREE 8" x 11" photo book from Snapfish! Yeah!

Disney Movie Rewards

Disney Movie Rewards is a program that Disney offers that earns you points when you purchase DVDs, CDs, or when you watch a Disney movie in the theater.

The points can be redeemed for a variety of prizes.

With several of my friends being Disney fans, it's a great way to earn prizes that make great gifts!

They often have bonus points offers (where they give you free points).

I get points sometimes in the mailers that come with my Disney Movie Membership also.