Mr. Cheap Stuff» Jennifer

Too Broke For Turkey? Top Tips For A Cheap Thanksgiving

Jennifer — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:42:19 +0000

Has the economy bit you hard this year? You’re not alone. Thanksgiving is a great holiday but a big spread of food can really set you back. Fortunately there are ways to put a turkey and the trimmings on the table without going broke. Keep in mind, if you are truly poor, first try to find a free turkey or free holiday meal – usually these are offered by churches, the Salvation Army, food banks, civic groups, etc. Certain places may require proof of low income. Again, this is only for those who are genuinely poor; don’t take advantage of charity if you don’t honestly need it.

Now, assuming you do have a few dollars to spend on your meal, here are some great ways to save:

First, find the bargains. One of the best overall deals is at Wal-Mart, where they are selling a "$20 Thanksgiving feast" that feeds eight. The recession-busting deal includes:

One 12-pound Grade A turkey, 40 cents a pound at most Wal-Mart stores (Prices and availability may vary in AK, HI, OK, NM, WI)
Three 11 to 15.5-ounce cans Green Giant vegetables
Two 14-ounce cans Ocean Spray cranberry sauce
Three 6-ounce boxes of Stove Top stuffing
One 5-pound bag of red potatoes
One 12-count package of Sara Lee dinner rolls
One 22-ounce pumpkin roll cake

Limit two turkeys per customer; weights and brands vary by store. Find your nearest Wal-Mart: Store Locator

Wal-Mart is not your only choice; there are other discount groceries such as Aldi Foods: Store Locator

Aldi’s turkeys cost more than Wal-Mart’s, but their side dishes are very cheap. Check out any other discount grocers in your area, and comparison shop all the sales fliers you get.

No matter where you buy your Thanksgiving food, there are numerous other ways to keep your costs low:

Don’t do it all yourself! Make it a potluck and have each guest bring a different dish.
Make a list and stick to it tightly. Supermarkets are hoping you’ll be tempted to buy lots of unnecessary items while you’re there for the turkey. Don’t succumb.
Prune the menu. Do you really need that many side dishes?
Check online for coupons for the items on your shopping list, such as cranberries, pumpkin, etc.
Ask yourself: do you really need to generate a refrigerator’s worth of leftovers? Too often people throw out leftovers instead of finishing them. Make a realistic estimate and don’t buy more food than that

Photo courtesy of Flickr

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Too Broke For Turkey? Top Tips For A Cheap Thanksgiving

Free Taster’s Choice Gourmet Single Coffee Sample

Jennifer — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:01:13 +0000

Get a free sample of NESCAFÉ Taster’s Choice gourmet coffee single-serve varieties. To receive your complimentary sample pack, enter your email address at their site. Offer good in the US only. Offer valid only while supplies last. Limit one sample pack per person and maximum two samples per household or address. Flavors: Original, 100% Columbian, Hazelnut, Vanilla and Decaf.

Usually I don’t love instant coffee. My kind of coffee is strong enough to make your spoon stand up. But hey, this instant stuff is free and the flavors sound good. This would be nice to stash away at the desk for those days you are so rushed that you forget your coffee. I know I can’t get my day started without that caffeine rush.

Expiration Date: unknown

Free Taster’s Choice Gourmet Single Coffee Sample

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Free Taster’s Choice Gourmet Single Coffee Sample

Gap Give And Get Discount – 30% Off

Jennifer — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:14:27 +0000

Get 30% off all purchases in-store at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy. Plus, 5% of your purchase amount will be donated to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Offer valid in-store only and expires on 11/15/09. Use the coupon as many time as you want before it expires. Certain restrictions apply, see store for details.

Well, I know where I will be this weekend…out scoring some bargains! This is the perfect time for some early holiday shopping or just to stock up on useful things for myself like jeans (Gap) dress shirts (Banana Republic) or sweaters (Old Navy). And there’s always gloves and socks to replace the ones I always lose.

Expiration Date: 11/15/2009

Gap Give And Get Discount – 30% Off

Free GNC Sun-Rype Fruit Source Bar Sample

Jennifer — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:31:25 +0000

Get a free Sun-Rype Fruitsource nutrition bar from your nearest GNC. There is also a coupon for $2 off a box of 15 Sun-Rype bars. These bars are 100% fruit, all natural, and no extra sugar. They come in flavors such as strawberry, blueberry-pomegranate, and raspberry.

I’m a fruit addict. I just love fresh fruit but sometimes that’s not a convenient option. These fruit bars count as two servings of fruit and they’re good anytime, anywhere.

Mark writes:

My dad bought this from Costco and I ate the Strawberry and Blueberry-Pomegrante flavors and eat it like fruit roll ups. This helps me with eating a little healthier than I normally do.

Expiration Date: unknown

Free GNC Sun-Rype Fruit Source Bar Sample

10 Things Parents Should Teach Their Kids About Money

Jennifer — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:55:58 +0000

Yes, it doesn’t grow on trees…but there’s a lot more to tell kids about money. Get your children on the right foot early in life and establish thrifty habits that will always serve them well. Here are ten tips:

1. It’s never too early to start learning about money. Even a preschooler can be told there is such a thing as a job. I remember explaining to my young son about how Mommy and Daddy needed to go to their jobs, because we earned money to pay for food, clothes and toys for him.

2. Ben Franklin once said, "a penny saved is a penny earned." Start a savings habit early. A good old-fashioned piggy bank is a fun teaching tool. Give your child a goal – a special toy or treat to save up for, and help him or her track the savings.

3. Teach them how to curb spending. Take your kids grocery shopping and show them how you compare prices and use coupons. Bring a calculator so they can keep a running total and see if their numbers are accurate when you reach the cashier.

4. Tie allowances to chores, so your kids earn their money and get an understanding of the rewards of work.

5. Have family meetings to talk about family finances (e.g., paying for the house, food, gas, vacations, etc.).

6. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. Kids may not realize that pizza delivery and restaurant meals cost your hard earned cash. Point to the prices on the menu, show them the bill at the end of the meal, and explain how tips and taxes are added to it. They may be amazed at how much it costs to eat meals out.

7. Turn a bank trip into a learning experience. Teach the kids that money doesn’t just magically spit out of ATM’s for free, it comes from your paycheck and goes into the bank before it comes out of the machine. Inside a bank, explain what they do; show your safe deposit box too, if you have one.

8. By the time a kid is in high school, he or she should have, and know how to use, a savings account and be taught how to use checking accounts and ATM’s.

9. Ben Franklin also said there is nothing certain in life except death and taxes. When they’re teens, show your kids how to fill out a simple tax return such as the IRS EZ form.

10. Knowledge isn’t cheap, if you want college credit for it. Kids need to prepare for the cost of college; go on www.collegeboard.com or other sites with your kids to research and plan for the costs of the colleges they may want to attend.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

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10 Things Parents Should Teach Their Kids About Money

Free Lysol Healthy Habits For Kids Activity Booklets

Jennifer — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:15:08 +0000

Get free downloadable (or mailed to you) activity booklets that teach kids how to wash their hands and avoid germs, eat properly, brush their teeth and stay safe. These booklets have puzzles and games to make it fun for kids to learn, plus a cute dog mascot named Scrubs. The booklets are offered by the makers of Lysol in conjunction with the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP).

Sounds logical that the Lysol folks want to teach us how to avoid germs. And with flu and H1N1 a big concern now, especially in schools, this is timely advice. It’s sound, basic stuff like telling kids to wash their hands after sneezing and before eating. The free publications don’t push Lysol products; they seem pretty objective and it helps to have a respected nurses’ organization involved.

Expiration Date: unknown

Free Lysol Healthy Habits For Kids Activity Booklets

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Free Lysol Healthy Habits For Kids Activity Booklets

Boston Market $1 Real Chicken Meal and Coupons

Jennifer — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 08:14:24 +0000

Get a 3 piece dark chicken or quarter white chicken meal with mashed potatoes and cornbread at Boston Market for only $1. Good through 11/1/09. Taxes extra. Also, through 11/28/09, get coupons for $1 off one meal, $2 off 10 purchase, and $4 off a $20 purchase. Find your nearest Boston Market here.

An entire meal for only a buck? Holy cow…er, I mean, chicken. What a great deal for a quick meal out this weekend, and it’s a full serving, not just a small sample size portion. Plus you can always use the other coupons later.

Expiration Date: 11/1/2009

Boston Market $1 Real Chicken Meal and Coupons

Sears Halloween Free Mattel Toy – $5 Off Coupon

Jennifer — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:17:16 +0000

On Oct 31st, bring your child dressed in their Halloween costume to the new Sears Toy Shop and receive a FREE Mattel toy, while supplies last. Also, print out the page for $5 off $20 toy purchase for regular priced merchandise in store only.

I don’t know what sort of toy they’re giving away, but the important thing is, it’s free. So if you can, swing by the mall at stop in Sears before or after you take your child hunting for candy. The toy will be a nice extra little treat and it won’t cause cavities.

Expiration Date: 10/31/2009

Sears Halloween Free Mattel Toy – $5 Off Coupon

White Castle BOGO Cheeseburger Sliders Deal

Jennifer — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 07:45:22 +0000

White Caste is offering buy one Cheeseburger Slider, Get One Free. Get their signature burger with cheese, steamed onions and pickle, with this printable coupon. Besides burgers, they have french fries, chicken rings and onion rings. You can also find White Castle products in the Freezer section of your nearest Grocery Store.

White Castle burgers are small, so it’s a good idea to get two of them to fill yourself up. Regrettably, there aren’t any White Castles in my area so I’ll leave this for others to enjoy.

Mark writes:

I always wanted to try White Castle burgers, because I love to eat hamburgers. I seen White Caste on Ugly Betty and Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. When I go to California or Las Vegas, I have to make a stop to In and Out Burger, just to satisfy my burger craving.

Expiration Date: 10/31/2009

White Castle BOGO Cheeseburger Sliders Deal

13 Vampire Energy Sucking Devices In Your Home

Jennifer — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:43:35 +0000

Did you know there are vampires in your home right now? This is not a Halloween story. It’s real. They are sucking the life out of your household energy budget. I’m talking about energy vampires, the gadgets and appliances that drain your electricity and your wallet even when you are not using them.
There are so many devices that have a standby mode, which means they use up energy even when turned off. Vampire power can cost you up to 10% of your electric bill. In fact, on a national basis, standby power accounts for more than 100 billion kilowatt hours of annual U.S. electricity consumption and more than $10 billion in annual energy costs.

The first challenge is to identify products that draw standby power. Here are clues to recognizing products that draw power continuously:

    * Remote control
    * External power supply
    * Digital display, LED status light, or digital clock
    * Contains a battery charger
    * Has soft-touch key-pad

A product with one or more these features will have standby power use; however, other products won’t have any of these and may still have standby. The only way to be sure is to measure them with a meter.

Here are the 13 worst energy suckers, followed by ways to drive the proverbial stake through the heart of their vampire-like behavior:

1. Set-top box for TV (such as a DVR, VCR or cable box)

2. Television – rear projection and plasma TV’s are the worst offenders

3. Desktop and laptop computers

4. Audio systems – powered subwoofers are the biggest energy suckers

5. Printers and scanners

6. CD and DVD players

7. Cordless telephone

8. Fax machine

9. Wireless router

10. Microwave oven

11. External USB hard drive

12. DSL modem

13. Computer monitors

EASY WAYS TO SLAY THE ENERGY VAMPIRES

Use a power strip as a central "turn off" point when you are done using equipment, which completely disconnects the power supply. You can use one for your computer and all peripheral equipment, and another for your home electronics (TV, VCR, DVD, stereo, gaming). Keep in mind, however, that if you’ve set a timer to wake up a product, such as programming a DVR or VCR to record a program, then the product must remain plugged in (and able to draw standby power) to function as intended.

Unplug your chargers: cell phone chargers, camera chargers, battery chargers or power adapters, etc. These are drawing some amount of energy even when not in use (and even when not connected to an end-use product).

Buy low-standby products if you can find them. Look for products labeled Energy Star, which means they meet certain government guidelines for energy savings. Get more help from the U.S. Dept. of Energy at: www.energystar.gov

Photo courtesy of Flickr

Free Kentucky Grilled Chicken Sample

Jennifer — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:52:39 +0000

Get a free piece of grilled chicken from KFC on 10/26/2009 – and they hope that this time, there won’t be any problems to squawk about. You may remember KFC had this giveaway in May. The chain was overwhelmed with responses, and some stores ran out of chicken and they gave out rainchecks instead. Click here to find your nearest KFC restaurant.

Grilled chicken was introduced only this year at KFC and already it accounts for more than 30 percent of sales. If you haven’t tried it yet, here’s your chance to do it for free and see if it’s worth all the fuss.

Mark writes:

This would be great, if it was valid in Hawaii, because the last time, the Oprah effect, took over everyone got a free meal, except me. I would love to try it, but I really go to KFC for their original recipe fried chicken, biscuits and hot wings.

Expiration Date: 10/26/2009

Free Kentucky Grilled Chicken Sample

Oriental Trading Halloween Specials

Jennifer — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 08:07:31 +0000

You can find amazing deals on Halloween gear for both kids and adults at Oriental Tradings. They have a sale with prices starting at $1.49 for accessories (such as a "vial of blood") and starting at $3.99 for costumes. Also, enter code FREEOCT at checkout to get free standard shipping on any order within the contiguous U.S., through 11:59 Central Time on October 19th. Sizes and quantities are limited, so act quickly.

I’m still a kid at heart, and I love dressing up for Halloween parties. But I don’t want to drop a lot of cash for something I’ll only wear once a year. Oriental Trading has a pretty nice selection and the prices are definitely not scary.

Expiration Date: 10/31/2009

Oriental Trading Halloween Specials

10 Reasons You Should Cancel Your Cable TV Right Now

Jennifer — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 20:06:52 +0000

1. Cut bills - Depending on your options, cable TV can cost from about $30-90 per month, averaging about $60. That’s $720 a year that you could save up or spend on something else.

2. Save electricity – Not a large amount, but still, you could save $20-50 per year by turning off the TV.

3. Skip commercials – They pay the bills – for the sponsors, not for you. Don’t be tempted to buy more just because you see it advertised.

4. Get more free time - The average American spends more than five hours a day watching TV. Five hours! Imagine giving up some of that time and doing so many other things instead – spending time with family, getting exercise, reading a good book, pursuing hobbies or maybe earning extra dollars with a second job.

5. Cut stress - When you spend five hours a day watching TV, you have to squeeze the rest of your life into the remaining, limited time. With less time watching TV, you can accomplish other things at a more leisurely pace instead of feeling so frantic.

6. Eat better – Lots of TV watching leads to fast food, convenience food and fatty snacks in front of the tube. Skip a show and spend the hour cooking a healthy meal.

7. Improve your health and fitness - Obviously, watching TV is sedentary, plus it means you have less time available to exercise.

8. Communicate better – TV takes the place of conversation in too many households. Watch less, talk more, and feel closer to your family.

9, Get romantic - It’s so easy for couples to fall into the trap of TV watching, instead of making time for each other.

10. Be more informed - TV news can be useful on occasion, but too often it promotes pundits and sound bites instead of real facts and information. Get your news online and/or through newspapers and radio.

Okay, so now you know why you should cancel your cable. But it doesn’t mean forgoing your Dancing With the Stars fix (or whatever show you prefer) – nothing wrong with the occasional show, just not five hours a day! There are some great options for watching TV free and legally online:

Hulu — Hulu is the big name in streaming video for a reason, carrying shows from Disney, Fox and NBC.

TV.com — TV.com is CBS’s answer to Hulu. The site has current shows, classic old shows, and news.

Fancast — Fancast is from Comcast but you don’t need to be a Comcast customer to access the site. It pulls together content from a lot of other web portals including Hulu and TV.com. There are also full-length movies available.

TVGuide.com — TV Guide offers lots of full-length TV episodes, clips and exclusive interviews on its website.

YouTube — Online video king YouTube now carries some full length TV shows, along with the usual viral videos of laughing babies and such.

SlashControl — AOL’s new SlashControl offers content from a lot of different sites including TV.com, Hulu and Fancast. The site also offers full-length movies.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

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10 Reasons You Should Cancel Your Cable TV Right Now

Free L’Oreal Hair and Skin Care Samples

Jennifer — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 08:43:39 +0000

Get a free sample of L’Oreal Advanced Revitalift Deep-Set Wrinkle Repair and a free sample of L’Oreal Everpure hair care. You’ll need to register for a free account, then click on "My L’Oreal" and then "Special Offers" to request these samples. There are also several coupons available to print. You should receive your sample in 8 to 10 weeks.

I recently bought L’Oreal Everpure shampoo and conditioner, and it’s great stuff. Recently, I changed my hair color and I was concerned about preserving the new shade. Everpure products are sulfate-free so they are more gentle than regular shampoos and won’t strip your hair or your hair color.

Expiration Date: unknown

Free L’Oreal Hair and Skin Care Samples

Broke College Student? 25 Ways To Save Money In College

Jennifer — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 09:36:44 +0000

College is expensive but hopefully with these tips you can get the most bang for your buck. Feel free to leave a comment on your own college money savings tips.

1. Get a free checking and savings account. Many banks offer “student” accounts that don’t charge the fees that some other accounts have. Look for free online banking and bill paying.

2. Always keep your check register with you, to track your balance and make sure to avoid overdraft fees, which happen when you don’t have enough in the account to cover your checks. A lot of banks also offer mobile phone websites or apps, so you can bank from anywhere.

3. Empty your pockets and save that spare change. Count it yourself…come on, you’re in college…not as if you need to pay for those coin-counting machines.

4. Don’t drink. That’s a surefire way to flush your money down the drain.

5. If you decide to drink anyway, buy the cheap brands.

6. Take advantage of specials at college bars and dance clubs. If you don’t have to get up early for class the next day, you can to go out on a weeknight and enjoy lower prices then, too.

7. Other people’s parties – be there.

8. When you go out, don’t bring your whole wallet or purse. Ration out a small amount of cash to limit your spending.

9. Why buy new? Before you shell out for a textbook, borrow one if possible.

10. If you can’t borrow, buy used college textbooks. Try Amazon or Barnes and Noble online.

11. Cheap college food in two words: ramen noodles. If you can afford it, thrown in some vegetables and/or meat, and you have a complete meal.

12. Take advantage of your campus meal plan – eat at the college cafeteria, or if you have a declining cash balance plan, make sure you use up those dollars at approved dining locations; some schools don’t allow you to carry over dining dollars to the next year.

13. Save $2,000 during your college career by brewing your own coffee. Buy a decent coffee maker or ask for one for as a gift.

14. Skip the fast food and late night take-out. Keep healthy, affordable snacks in your dorm room or apartment – cheese, whole wheat bread, instant oatmeal, peanut butter and fruit are all good choices.

15. Avoid high-end gourmet markets; find out where the poor people shop, such as discount groceries. Don’t forget to clip coupons, too.??

16. For a date, kick your roommates out for the evening, and prepare a simple candlelight meal.

17. If you’re buying a computer, save by shopping the student specials; discounts, rebates and back to school specials. Apple Computer offers student discounts and rebates to students and teachers. And many schools negotiate special deals with manufacturers; check with your college store or the college IT department.

18. Forget about the TV; just watch cable television through your computer. Make sure your desktop or laptop has a DVD/CD player and you can also watch your favorite movies.

19. You also don’t need a stereo. Get a good set of computer speakers, preferably with a separate woofer to boost the bass. Then play away from your iTunes music library.

20. Why pay high movie ticket prices? Take advantage of your flexible schedule and hit the weekday matinee showings, which are cheaper. Also look for free movies on campus.

21. Offer your services as a tutor. Pick your best one or two subjects. Try posting your services on Craigslist.

22. It costs little or nothing to enjoy a picnic, a long walk, flying a kite, a pick up game of basketball, soccer or football, a card game or reading a good book which you can find in your college library.

23. Check your college paper and local websites for free upcoming events such as concerts, arts and crafts fairs, theater, festivals, art galleries, and museums.

24. Living on an upper floor will typically keep you warmer in the winter, but it’ll get hotter in the summer. If you go to school in a region where winters are longer then upper floors are smart, otherwise live low.

25. When it’s time to head home, check Amtrak or Greyhound for student discounts.

Dean writes:

Being broke in college brings back fond memories. It also makes me realize I’m getting older. Here are some of my personal favorite money saving tips from college

I never did this but I have heard of people scanning text books so they don’t have to buy them.
Always try to carry with you a nice reusable water bottle so you don’t get tempted to buy soft drinks or bottled water.
House or dorm parties are a lot cheaper than going to the club.
Try going to discounted college theater play or sports game for a cheap date.
Sport drinks are nice after working out but so is water. Buy a water filter and use it.
Your college ID probably gets your deals at restaurants so use them to cheap meals.

Photo Credit via Flickr

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Broke College Student? 25 Ways To Save Money In College

Free Tall Starbucks Brewed Coffee VIA Sample

Jennifer — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 07:14:42 +0000

From Oct. 2 – 5, Starbucks invites customers to join the Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Taste Challenge at their favorite U.S. Starbucks location. Participants can taste Colombia Starbucks VIA, a new instant coffee product, next to fresh-brewed Pike Place Roast and challenge themselves to guess which one is Starbucks VIA. Taste Challenge participants will receive coupon for a complimentary Tall brewed coffee on their next visit as well as an offer for $1 off a Starbucks VIA Ready Brew purchase.

Starbucks VIA Ready Brew is 100 percent natural roasted arabica coffee. It can be made by adding hot (or cold) water which brews the coffee in an instant. Starbucks claims this new instant coffee is rich and full bodied like a fresh-brewed regular cup.
Starbucks VIA Ready Brew is pre-portioned into single-serve packets and is packaged in books of three or boxes of 12. It is available in Italian Roast and Colombia flavors.

Expiration Date: 10/5/2009

Free Tall Starbucks Brewed Coffee VIA Sample

Free Bear Naked Grain-ola Cereal Sample

Jennifer — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 09:10:58 +0000

Get a free sample from Bear Naked. Your choice of Grain-ola or Cereal. Cereal is available in Cranberry Raisin or Banana Nut flavor. The Grain-ola Bar is available in Tropical Fruit, Chocolaty Cherry or Fruit and Nut. Valid until 12/31/09 or while supplies last. You must be 18 or older to receive a sample. Limit one sample per family, household, address or email address.

Bear Naked says its cereal bars and granola bars are all-natural, with ingredients such as: whole grain oats, honey, raisins, nuts and real vanilla flavoring. I like to tuck one into my purse or tote bag for a quick snack after a workout or when I’m too busy to stop for a meal.

Expiration Date: unknown

Free Bear Naked Grain-ola Cereal Sample

Free New Yorker 2010 Calendar

Jennifer — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 07:36:56 +0000

Get a free 18" x 26" poster-style 2010 calendar from The New Yorker Magazine. It has four mock New Yorker covers with artwork depicting each of the four seasons, plus all the months on display. No purchase necessary; while supplies last.

Now here’s a nice way to class up your home or office with an attractive calendar. The New Yorker is a very literate, sophisticated magazine so people will think you have pretty erudite tastes.

Mark writes:

I should have taken a look at the new yorker for events and things to do in their goings on about town section. When I went to New York, earlier this year, I went to Yankees Stadium, Serendipity 3, Citi Field and saw Central Park. I could have done more cultural stuff at night, when I had free time.

Expiration Date: unknown

Free New Yorker 2010 Calendar

Walgreens NEWSITE Coupon – $15 Off

Jennifer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 08:57:54 +0000

Walgreens is offering $15 Off $60 orders. Use coupon code NEWSITE. Coupon code valid for up to 5 uses per account through September 26, 2009. Discount does not apply to pharmacy or photo orders, gift card purchases, taxes or shipping charges. Orders must be placed by logged-in customer by September 26, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time to qualify.

This is a great discount, as $15 off $60 equals a 25 percent savings. Walgreen’s is sure to have something you could use. You can stock up on shampoo and soap or other health and beauty items, or they also offer some non-drugstore products such as printer ink and workout equipment.

Expiration Date: 9/26/2009

Walgreens NEWSITE Coupon – $15 Off

Ten Cheap Ways to Update and Decorate Your Home

Jennifer — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 02:54:27 +0000

I love to look at decorating magazines – until I see the price tag of all those decorator items! Custom-made furniture? Hand-woven oriental rugs? Marble countertops? Not on my budget. Here are ten cheap ways to make your home look great.

1. Paint: A new color on the walls can give you a dramatic new look, or a subtle change. Most rooms will only need one or two gallons, and at about $20 per gallon for affordable paint, that’s a real decorating bargain.

2. Art: Of course, real art costs real money. But you can save by scouring garage sales and flea markets. Or buy some budget frames and use them with an interesting poster or photograph. Or make a fabric wall hanging: buy four ’stretcher bars’ (wood frame pieces), assemble them into a frame, then staple-gun the fabric onto it.

3. Accents: Small accents in lively colors will add a whole new look to your room. Try new pillows, vases or candles.

4. Lighting: Some lighting can be costly, but not all. Ikea is one good source of interesting and affordable lamps and fixtures. Try your local shops, too. I picked up some really cool looking lamps for only $10 each from a store in my town.

5. Refinish: Strip and refinish wood pieces in a different stain. Or paint them a new color.

6. Replace hardware: I added brass handles to my previously handle-less oak kitchen cabinets for about $30 and the kitchen looks way more elegant and expensive.

7. Rugs: Find an interesting, small accent rug. Ikea and West Elm are two good sources for these, but there are many others.

8. Curtains and blinds: Who needs pricey drapes? Get a great look with curtains or blinds in interesting colors and textures. Try Linens ‘n Things or Bed Bath & Beyond for some good selections.

9. Furniture clearance centers: If you do plan to buy furniture, stretch your dollars with a clearance center. Most large furniture stores and chains have a clearance center or possibly a clearance room where you can buy floor samples and discontinued items. If you don’t mind a few scratches you can score some amazing deals.

10. De-clutter: This tip costs zero dollars but the results are priceless! Go through your rooms and really clear out the stuff you don’t need – the ugly knick knacks, piles of papers and random junk. Throw things out ruthlessly. If you have anything a little more valuable, sell it or donate to a thrift shop and take a tax deduction – so you’ll actually make money by following this tip! Your clean, uncluttered house will look dramatically better too.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

The Broke Woman’s Guide To Fashion: Nine Smart Ways To Save

Jennifer — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 02:11:11 +0000

SET UP SHOPPING STRATEGIES
When you’re on a tight budget, you can’t just buy random items on impulse. Here’s the plan I usually follow: twice a year (spring and fall), I read fashion magazines and browse in stores (without buying yet) to get an idea of what is in fashion, and how much it costs. Then I check my closet at home to see what I already have, and identify a few key pieces that would update my wardrobe for the season, and also decide what colors I need. I set a budget for these items. Then I wait…until the season is underway and there are some clearance sales. That’s when I hit the shops or go online and search for what I need.

SALE, SALE, SALE
Okay, we all like sales. But wait for the best ones. 20% off is not
enough. Look for 50% off sales, and scour clearance racks which are
sometimes as much as 80% off regular price. But don’t waste your
money on something that doesn’t suit you, no matter how little it
costs. And by the way, pay cash. Credit cards will tempt you to
overspend.

SMART AND SMARTER BARGAINS
Check out the Mr. Cheap Stuff coupons to save extra at Smart Bargains
and at Overstock.com. Both sites are excellent places to find name
brand and designer clothes at low prices. Remember to check these
sites fairly often because the product offerings and available sizes
always change.

Get Smart Bargains Coupons
Get Overstock.com Coupons

SAVE MORE WITH COUPON CODES
Before you buy online, see Mr. Cheap Stuff’s long list of coupon codes
to enter at checkout, and save.

Save With Mr. Cheap Stuff Coupons

SWAP MEET
Invite your friends to bring all the clothes they don’t want anymore.
Then have fun swapping clothes and accessories. Whatever is left
over, donate to a thrift store and get a receipt to use for tax
deductions.

SECONDHAND
Thrift and consignment shops can yield amazing treasures. Sometimes
you can find clothes that were never even worn, with the tags still
on! Even if you cannot find clothes in your size, there are always
accessories. A scarf or pair of earrings will cost only a couple of
bucks at a thrift shop, and will give your outfit a new look.

SEW OR MAKE IT YOURSELF
Sewing your own clothes is not much of a bargain anymore, thanks to
the proliferation of cheap imported clothing. But you can still
employ your skill with a needle or sewing machine to liven up your
wardrobe. You can shorten or narrow skirts and pants, or add
decorative buttons, ribbons or bows.

BRAND NAME OUTLETS
Many brand name designers have retail outlets that sell their products at fraction of the cost it would sell for in their regular stores. Just don’t get carried away when shopping at outlet stores because everything is so cheap it’s easy to buy items that you will rarely ever use.

BUY OUT OF SEASON
Retailers often greatly reduce the prices at the end of a buying season to make room for new merchandise. To take advantage of these price reductions try to look for summer clothing in August, spring sportswear in June, and winter clothing in March, etc.

Photo courtesy of Flickr

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The Broke Woman’s Guide To Fashion: Nine Smart Ways To Save

Free Navigating Your Health Benefits For Dummies Book

Jennifer — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 08:25:24 +0000

Receive your free copy of the 2nd Edition of the Navigating Your Health Benefits For Dummies guide, offered by Aetna and the Financial Planning Association. You will be sent the guide in the mail, or you can choose to download it. You are eligible for ONE free copy of the guide.

With this guide, you can learn how to:

Maximize your health benefits in a tough economy
Choose health benefits during Open Enrollment
Buy your own benefits
Use tax-advantaged accounts
Get paid to get fit

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that health care is a hot topic these days. Who knows if our healthcare system will change…but meanwhile you need to know how to navigate the one we have now. We could all use some help wading through the morass of deductibles, claim forms, and medical mumbo-jumbo.

Expiration Date: unknown

Free Navigating Your Health Benefits For Dummies Book

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Denny’s Grand Slam Breakfast Discount – 20% Off

Jennifer — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:41:24 +0000

Build your own Grand Slam breakfast from a choice of 17 items, and slice 20% off your entire breakfast check. Offer valid 5 AM – 11 AM daily through 10/10/2009. Click here to find your nearest Denny’s Restaurant.

I love breakfast but I don’t care much for cooking it. All that bacon grease, and the work of making pancakes, I would just as well leave to someone else. Denny’s does a great, cheap breakfast and with the coupon, it costs even less. Now if I could just drag myself out of bed earlier on the weekend…

Expiration Date: 10/10/2009

Denny’s Grand Slam Breakfast Discount – 20% Off

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Denny’s Grand Slam Breakfast Discount – 20% Off

Smarter and Cheaper: Educate Yourself at Little Or No Cost

Jennifer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:41:20 +0000

It’s back-to-school time, and while the kids are boarding those big yellow buses, we adults also can learn new things from the comfort of our own computers. Maybe you need to upgrade your business skills or learn new software. Maybe you never graduated high school and need a diploma. Or maybe you’re planning a trip and want to learn a new language. Whether you have a goal, or just want to learn something new for fun, there are are online courses for you, and most of them are free. Here is a list of 10 places to get a top quality online education at little or no cost.

1. iTUNES U
The most well-known functions of iTunes are its music and video store and organizing features. But did you know it’s also a pretty amazing resource for free education? Simply access the iTunes Store and click the link for ITunes U. There are lectures from the world’s top universities. I found an anthropology lecture from England’s Oxford University, engineering and computer courses from Yale, and more, all of them 100% free.

iTunes U

2. Free-Ed.net
Free-ed.net offers online courses on just about any subject but especially focuses on career-oriented courses such as computers, hotel management, and building trades. You also can study here for your GED (high school diploma equivalent).

Free-Ed.net

3. Berkeley.edu
University of California Berkeley is a great school, and very tough to get into for a degree program. However, dozens of courses (not for credit) are available online each semester, all free, and no application required.

Berkeley Courses

4. University of Washington
UW’s educational outreach program offers lots of interesting, free online courses ranging from American History to computer science and many others.

University of Washington Courses

5. MIT
I think MIT only admits 5 or 10 percent of its degree applicants. But if you want to challenge your brain and don’t need course credits, just check out their online courses, which are open to everyone. Lectures, notes and exams for more than 1800 courses are all offered for free, so you can learn to be a rocket scientist in your spare time. (They also have an online business management school.)

MIT Courses

6. Princeton
Do you dream of having an Ivy League education? Get one with online archived lectures at Princeton University.

Princeton Lectures

7. BBC Languages
The BBC (British Broadcasting Company) provides news from around the world – so it makes sense for them to teach you new languages. Learn French, Spanish, Italian, German, Portuguese, Chinese, Gaelic, Urdu, you name it. The more popular languages have a conveniently organized 12-week course.

BBC Languages

8. News University
Check out more than 85 online courses to help you learn reporting and writing skills, and there are also courses for software such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. This site is supported by many respected organizations such as the Society of Professional Journalists. Some courses are free and some are not.

News University Courses

9. Cooking Classes
So, your cooking knowledge is limited to making peanut butter-and-jelly sandwiches? Or maybe you need to figure out what you can make for dinner with leftover chicken, in 15 minutes or less. It’s all here at the Food Network, with free recipes and videos to show you how.

Food Network Cooking Classes

10. NY Times
It makes sense that one of the world’s most well-known newspapers is reaching out to teachers and students. They have a nice educational section on their website. Learn the word of the day, explore current events and various topics in depth, and enjoy their famous crossword puzzles.

New York Times

Dean writes:

Recently I have been learning how to play the guitar. I found that Youtube.com is one of the best resources in learning songs and getting free lessons. I know there is a bunch of time wasting Youtube videos but at the same time I’m sure you can useful Youtube videos in just about niche you would like to learn.

I have used Youtube to learn the following:

Recipes of my favorite dishes
Japanese language
Before traveling I like to check out videos of the locations I will visit
How save on gas and drive efficiently
How to cool my home efficiently
Tips on how to improve my golf swing
How to whiten my teeth effectively and safely

Again, be careful Youtube is a dangerous time waster if not used properly.

Currently I’m trying to learn how to play this song:

With Or Without You – Acoustic Guitar

Please note: these courses are not applicable to degree programs. If you want a degree for little or nothing, that’s another story; you’ll need to apply (and qualify for) financial aid and scholarships, as well as meeting testing and admission requirements for your chosen college.
For general college information and testing requirements, start here: College Board
To apply for federal student aid: FASFA Student Aid

Photo Courtesy of Flickr

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Free TGI Friday’s Buffalo Wings

Jennifer — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 08:51:44 +0000

To kick off the football season, TGI Friday’s is offering six free wings (in the bar only) at their football watching parties on September 10, 13 and 14. Your choice of boneless or regular wings, served with celery and your choice of bleu cheese or ranch dressing. Additionally, there will be special game day menus such as a half rack of baby back ribs for $7.99.

Football fan or not, why turn down free chicken wings? In all fairness, you’ll want something to wash them down with though…at least that’s what Friday’s is hoping. Drinks are far more profitable to sell than food is.

Mark writes:

I wish I could try these buffalo wings for free. I only see this in the freezer of stores and wonder if it would taste better fresh. My cousin and I had a hot wing eating contest at KFC, a while ago. I think I won, but my cousin seems to differ.

Expiration Date: 9/14/2009

Free TGI Friday’s Buffalo Wings

How To Get The Best Deals Faster, With Twitter, RSS, and Facebook

Jennifer — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:42:36 +0000

FIND GREAT BARGAINS WITH TWITTER

Basically Twitter is a site where you and others can provide quick, short (less than 140 characters) descriptions of what you are doing, or share interesting informational tidbits and links. It’s a lot like text messages, except that Twitter is more public and you can access it on the Web; you don’t need the other person’s phone number and they don’t need yours. You can simply visit someone else’s Twitter page to see their messages, or, if you sign up for a Twitter account, you can ‘follow’ someone else’s Twitter. If you follow someone, then every time you visit your Twitter homepage and sign in, you’ll see the mess ages (known as Tweets) from the people you are following.

TO VISIT OR FOLLOW MR. CHEAP STUFF ON TWITTER

To visit, just go to Mr. Cheap Stuff on Twitter
To follow, Visit Twitter.com, create a free account, and sign in
Then visit Mr. Cheap Stuff on Twitter and click ‘follow’
To receive Twitter messages on your cell phone: go to Twitter Account Settings, click the “devices” tab and follow the instructions to set up. Keep in mind that Twitter messages will cost you just like any other text messages.

USE RSS FEEDS TO SCORE CHEAP DEALS

Subscribe to Mr. Cheap Stuff

If you’re a fan of Mr. Cheap Stuff, then maybe you are in the habit of visiting this site on a regular basis to see all the best deals and bargains. If you don’t visit this site, you’ll miss out. But what if you’re a busy person or have many websites you like to visit, and it’s hard to remember or find the time to do it?

RSS is your answer. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication. You don’t need to know what that means, technically. The important thing is that it is a type of programming which allows you to ‘subscribe’ to automatically receive headlines, links and updates from your favorite websites and blogs. You will know, without even visiting a site directly, that the site has posted new articles, so you will know whether there is something of interest to you. The little orange symbol on a site provide you the link to that site’s RSS ‘feed’. But how do you set up your computer to use this feed?

There are several ways but my favorite is My Yahoo. Basically this is a free service from Yahoo! which allows you to create a customized news page containing the content that you want.

HOW TO SET UP MR. CHEAP STUFF RSS ON MY YAHOO!

If you don’t already have a Yahoo! Account, sign up at Yahoo.com to get a username and password. You’ll also be provided a Yahoo! Email address but you need not use it if you already have another email provider.
Sign into Yahoo! If your browser asks whether it should remember your password, answer yes
Go to My Yahoo.com
Make this your homepage; there’s a link at the upper left, or go to your browser’s internet options and choose “set current page as homepage”. This way, whenever you open your browser or go “home”, you’ll see your customized page.
Now go to Mr. Cheapstuff and click the RSS orange icon
You should see a box that asks you whether you want to add this feed to “My Yahoo” , click yes
That’s it – now, Mr. Cheap Stuff’s headlines will be automatically displayed and updated on your new homepage. You can click links to go directly to any article that interests you.

But the fun doesn’t stop there. You can add other information to your new My Yahoo homepage, too.

Click the upper-left link that says “add content"
There are many pre-programmed choices to add, such as weather, horoscopes, top stories, etc.

Now you have a great new homepage that displays exactly the information that interests you the most.

FIND FABULOUS DEALS ON FACEBOOK

Facebook is mostly for keeping in touch with, and seeing pictures of, your friends and acquaintances. But did you know you can also find great deals on it? Many companies have a Facebook site where they share special offers that you might not find elsewhere. Starbucks is one of the biggest examples – they’re the number one most popular brand on Facebook, with over 3.8 million Facebook fans as of now, and counting. Recent offers included a free pastry with beverage purchase. To score these deals you need to join Facebook and become a “fan”. Here’s how:

Go to Facebook.com and sign up for an account if you don’t already have one. It’s free.
Sign in to your account and answer ‘yes’ if your browser asks whether to remember the password. If you plan on using Facebook for social purposes as well, then take some time to fill out your profile and upload pictures. By the way, you can adjust the privacy settings to restrict access to your profile.
Go to: www.facebook.com/starbucks and click ‘become a fan’. Then, whenever you sign in to Facebook, you’ll automatically be informed of any news and deals from Starbucks. You can do this for other companies’ Facebook pages as well. For example, I became a Facebook fan of iTunes and scored a really nice alternative music compilation with some great songs.

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How To Get The Best Deals Faster, With Twitter, RSS, and Facebook

Ruby Tuesday’s Buy One Get One Free Entree

Jennifer — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 08:05:25 +0000

Ruby Tuesday’s Restaurants is offering buy one entree, get one free, up to a $10 value. The coupon is only good for: specialties, seafood, Fork-Tender Ribs, or Handcrafted Steak. Each coupon is good for one free entree and cannot be used multiple times.

I like Ruby Tuesday, they’re moderately priced and the food is usually good and fresh. Fast food has gotten expensive to the point where it won’t cost much more – and is usually healthier – to eat at a decent sit-down place.

Expiration Date: 9/12/2009

Ruby Tuesday’s Buy One Get One Free Entree

Barnes & Nobles Textbook Special – 30% Off

Jennifer — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 08:37:37 +0000

Barnes and Noble is offering up to 30% off textbooks and free shipping. They have over 100,000 titles available in history, business, social science, journalism, computer science, medicine, engineering and many other categories. Offer is good through 2:59 a.m. EST 9/25/09.

I remember how expensive textbooks were when I was in college…and it’s still true. If you need textbooks, it’s always a good idea to go online and check deals like this, to see if you can beat your campus bookstore prices. B&N also buys back your used textbooks, so you can get everything done on their site.

Expiration Date: 9/25/2009

Barnes & Noble Textbook Special – 30% Off

A Dozen Free and Cheap Ways to Get Fit

Jennifer — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:54:02 +0000

GET FIT FOR FREE

1. Walking and running – As long as you have a decent pair of shoes, you’re ready to go. Walking is especially suitable for just about anyone of any age. You can always start with a short distance and work your way up to longer treks and faster strides.

2. Library – Try your local library for an amazing selection of fitness DVD’s, tapes and books to keep your workouts varied.

3. Online – You can find some excellent, free and full-length streaming workout videos online at the Exercise TV site.
Try everything from boot camp to dance to Pilates, with the same well-known instructors who appear on for-sale DVD’s.

4. Podcasts – First make sure you have iTunes. Install iTunes and then enjoy their numerous free podcasts. You can search on keywords such as “fitness” or “workout”. I found a nice workout podcast from Prevention Magazine. The beauty of podcasts is that you can subscribe to them, which means they’ll get automatically downloaded whenever there is a new episode.

5. Playground – Who says the monkey bars are just for kids? Go back to your childhood and enjoy some fun with your workout.

6. Park – Enjoy the green grass, the trees and the scenery while you walk, run or hike. Depending where you live, there might be some added attractions, such as a lake, woods or mountains in some local parks. Or maybe even learn some history, as I do when I go for walks at Valley Forge National Historical Park.

7. Stairs – Skip the elevator and get a workout at your office building, or at home if you live on more than one level.

8. Dancing – It doesn’t cost a thing to throw on some music, dance around your house, and burn some calories. You might also be able to find local dance clubs that don’t charge a cover (but of course you’ll have to pay for drinks if you buy any).

9. Meetup groups – Check out Meetup.com and search for fitness/sports/workout interest groups to join. You’ll make new friends while getting fit.

10. On TV – Fit TV is a channel devoted to fitness and workout programs, everything from toning to dance to kickboxin g and a lot more. Check your local schedules here: Discovery.com You’re already paying for cable, so you might as well get the most use out of it. Also check your cable provider’s free, on-demand videos for any fitness-related ones.

GET FIT FOR CHEAP

11. Garage sales – Think of all those people who bought treadmills and never used them. And there are many others who need to sell weight sets, videos and other things that are gathering dust in their homes. Check your local newspaper classifies for garage sale listings, and also just cruise around your neighborhood looking for garage sale signs.

12. Craigslist – Craigslist is a great marketplace and it’s also another way to find those garage sales. Simply search the “for sale” category by keyword. Just like a garage sale, bring your cash and be prepared to haul it away. You’ll save on everything from home gyms to yoga mats. Craigslist.org

PBS Store Discount – 25% Off

Jennifer — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 08:29:11 +0000

Get 25% off your order at the PBS store. Use Coupon Code: THANKS25. This coupon expires 8/31/09. Public Broadcasting Station airs Curious George, Barney, Frontline, Sesame Street and Ken Burns programs. They also have a Clearance Sale with discounts up to 70% Off.

This is a great opportunity to stock up on some quality entertainment to enjoy or give as gifts. The PBS store also has a lot of educational materials for teachers or for parents.

Mark writes:

My nephew loves to watch PBS, because they show Super Why?, Between the Lions, Dragon Tales and of course, Thomas the Tank Engine. It helps him learn words, colors and shapes.

Expiration Date: 8/31/2009

PBS Store Discount – 25% Off