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Saturday, January 8, 2011

Saveur and Parenting Early Years Magazines on Tanga

Here's two great Tanga magazine deals for you today:

Get a one-year subscription to Saveur Magazine for only $4.99 when you use coupon code FOOD at checkout.

Get a two-year subscription to Parenting Early Years Magazine for only $4.99 when you use coupon code EARLY at checkout.


Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Day 8: Ways to Save on Books

I will admit it, I am a total book addict. There is something so satisfying to me about sitting down to read a great book, no matter the topic. But books are expensive and they are continuing to get pricier. The average novel now runs anywhere between $10-$20 new...and those can add up fast! Want to get books about crafts, history, or business? These cost even more.

Here are some easy ways to save on books:

  • Get a local library card. These are free to residents and require just a simple application. You usually get books for 3-4 weeks depending on the location and they tend to carry new releases, especially when they are best sellers. You also can use this as a free way to browse magazines.
  • Head over to your local bookstore. If there is something specific you wanted to quickly look at the bookstore is another great source. You can also use this as an opportunity to preview books before you buy. I can't tell you how many times I've ordered a book off Amazon thinking it would be great, but found myself disappointed in the content. I could have saved myself a lot of disappointment by having a chance to look the book over first.
  • Price Shop. Remember your local bookstore, while convenient, may not offer the best price for the books you want. Be sure to price compare with Amazon, which usually offers books at a significant discount (and there is a great Amazon app that lets you scan the barcode of an item to check its price on Amazon). 
  • Hit up local book sales. Most public libraries have annual or semi-annual book sales where you can get great books for as little as $0.10. Prices generally run from $0.10 - $3 a book.
  • Swap Books. There are some websites that allow users to swap books they have for books they want. You can also start a book swap with your friends.
  • Free Book Downloads. The internet is a great source of free books, especially classic books. One way to get free books is to download the Amazon Kindle application for your computer and search for free books. You can then create your own virtual library on your PC.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Friday, January 7, 2011

Day 7: Make Use of Loyalty Programs

For the longest time I never bothered to sign up for store loyalty programs. I went years without a CVS ExtraCare card (I know, shame on me!). I think the biggest reason why was that I had no idea about how the cards worked or the amount of savings that could be realized by using them.

Store cards are an important part of saving on the things you buy everyday. At most stores the best deals are only available to those with the store rewards cards. Grocery stores for example have the shelf price, the sale price, and the club price -- the club price with your store card will always be the best deal. The cards also give you access to coupons, additional promotions, and even money back to use on your next purchase. The best part -- they are FREE to sign up for and it only takes a few minutes of your time.

Here's a list of FREE store rewards programs and links for more information:

Drug Stores



Grocery Stores

Craft Stores
Retail Stores
Think a store is missing from this list? Let me know and I will add it!


It should be noted that other stores have rewards programs that charge you a small fee up front, but then give you a significant discount throughout the year (for example Lids and GNC).


Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Real California Cheese: Pair Savvy App for iPhone and Android

I don't know about you, but I love a good wine. My hubby and I have recently gotten into wine tasting as a hobby and we have brought home some amazing bottles. What I always struggle with though is what do I pair with my wine? I am really bad about knowing which cheeses go with which wines and I've ended up with some really funny tastes. Enter Pair Savvy, a phone application from Real California Cheese.




I recently found out about Pair Savvy through an opportunity with the One2One Network. Pair Savvy is a free, user-friendly application available for iPhones and Android devices. The application matches over 250 varieties and styles of Real California Cheese and pairs them with your favorite wines and beers. You have the option to search by wine, beer, or cheese. And for some items, it will also give suggestions for complementary fruits so that you can make a platter. You can also save your favorite pairings and rate pairings after you've tried them. If you're being adventurous, you can also request a surprise pairing and it will generate one at random. This is a nifty little app that makes playing hostess so much easier!






You can download the app by searching for Pair Savvy in the iPhone App Store or the Android Market Place or by going to the site directly on your smart phone at pairsavvy.realcaliforniamilk.com.


I received information about this product and the opportunity to review it through the One2One Network. All opinions expressed are my own, honest opinions.


Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Special Post: Heart of Haiti

With all the deals, freebies and money-saving that we do, it is still important to remember to give back. I always try to use some of my extra to support causes and charities. A little bit can go such a long way.


As I'm sure many of you remember, in January 2010 Haiti was struck by a devastating earthquake and has since been struggling to rebuild and find stability. This has made it especially difficult for Haitians to find sustainable income to help rebuild their homes and feed their familiesMany efforts have been made to support the people of Haiti throughout this process and today I want to share with you the Heart of Haiti.





Founded by Willa Shalit, Heart of Haiti helps Haitian artisans to make a living by selling their unique, handcrafted items to a mass market and they receive 22% of the proceeds. By providing this opportunity it allows the artisans repair their homes, feed their families, and rebuild their communities. Heart of Haiti is also creating opportunities for artists to work with US designers. This program is promoting the sustainability of traditional Haitian arts and culture, while helping the people to rebuild their lives. For more information on Heart of Haiti, please go here.




You can help support the Heart of Haiti project by purchasing one of the creative masterpieces that are handcrafted by Haitian artisans for yourself or to give as a meaningful gift. You can find the items online at the Heart of Haiti page at Macy's. 


My favorite item is the Heart of Haiti Bowl, Fire Bird ($45). It is a beautiful and intricately detailed bowl made from steel cut from recycled drums. It would be a great conversation piece on any coffee table.






I was selected for this very special “CleverHaiti” opportunity by Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity. All opinions are my own.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Harris Teeter Shopping Trip 1/6

Harris Teeter is doing Super Double Coupons again meaning they are doubling them up to $1.98! Here are the deals I found! (Note: all coupons I used doubled)

2 Lysol Wipes
- on Sale 2/$4
- $1/2 MFQ from 1/2 SS
= $2 or $1 each

4 Hunts Pudding Snack Packs
- on sale 5/$5 or $1/each
- $1/4 Hunt's Snack Pack MFQ from 1/2 ads
= $2 for 4 or $0.50 each

2 Mueller Pasta
- $1.59
- 2 $1/1 Mueller Pasta printable coupons from Muellerspasta.com (have to register)
= 2 for FREE

Quaker Old Fashioned Oats
- $2.85
- $1/1 Any Quaker Oatmeal MFQ
= $0.85

French's Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
- on sale for $1.99
- $1/1 internet printable coupon
= FREE

2 Maruchan Yakisoba Japanese Noodle Trays
- $1 each
- $1/2 MFQ
= 2 for FREE

4 Campbell's Chunky Soups
- on sale BOGO or 2/$2.45
- $1.50/4 internet printable coupon
= 4 for $1.90 or $0.47/each

Regina Red Wine Vinegar
- $2.35
- $1/1 internet printable coupon
= $0.35

Harris Teeter Italian Bread Crumbs
- On sale for $1.17
- no coupons =(
= $1.17

Barilla Plus Pasta
- on sale for $2.50
- 1 Free Box of Barilla Plus Pasta Coupon from Viewpoints
= FREE

Muir Glen Tomato Paste
- $1.55
- $1/1 Any Muir Glen product internet printable
= FREE

7th Generation All Purpose Cleaner
- on sale for $2.50
- $1/1 Any Seventh Generation Product from their website
= $0.50

2 Colgate Total Gel Toothpaste (4 oz.)
- on sale 2/$5
- 2 $1/1 MFQs from 1/2 SS
= 2 for $1 or $0.50 each

Reach Mint Dental Floss
- $1.65
- $1/1 Reach Toothbrush or Dental Floss internet printable
= FREE

3 Packs Boneless Chicken Breasts
- on sale Buy 1 Get 2 FREE
= total paid 9.61 for 3 packs

2 Weight Watchers Baked Goods
- $3.99 each
- on sale B1G1
- 2 $1/1 Weight Watchers Baked Good from coupons.com
= FREE

Buitonni Fresh Pasta
- on sale for $2.59
- $1/1 internet printable
= $0.59

Coffemate French Vanilla 16 oz. Liquid Creamer
- on sale fore $1.67
- $1/1 Coffeemate Creamer 15 oz. or larger internet printable
= FREE

Bayer Aspirin
- on sale for $2.99
- $1/1 Bayer Aspirin Printable
= $0.99

Note: Bayer Baby Aspirin was on sale for $1.99 so that would have been free.


TOTAL PAID: $20.23

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Day 6: Watch for Coupon Promotions (Double, Super Double, Triple!)

Couponing is probably the most common method of saving money and being frugal. There will be more posts in the coming days about starting up couponing, where to find coupons, and making the most of them.

I know it's a little premature to talk about store coupon promotions before giving you all the details on using coupons, but this post is motivated by my own experience today. Our local Harris Teeter is doing it's Super Double Coupon promotion where they double coupons with a face value up to $1.98 (up to 20 coupons per day). After doing some matchups with the sale ads, the hubby and I headed over coupons in hand and saved nearly $110 on our purchase by combining the store sales and our doubled coupons!

Here's the lowdown on store coupon promotions:

  • Some stores double coupons up to a certain amount every day. For example, Safeway, Harris Teeter, and Superfresh generally double coupons up to $0.99
  • Stores will usually advertise coupon promotions on their weekly circulars or on their website
  • At some store (like Bloom) the promotion only lasts for a day, whereas at others (like Harris Teeter) the promotion lasts for a week
  • Coupons marked Do Not Double will generally not be doubled unless the store elects to double them anyway (this is not common, but it is rumored some Harris Teeter locations do double them anyway)
  • Types of store promotions:
    • Double Coupons: stores that do not generally double coupons will double coupons for the stated period
    • Super Double Coupons: the store will double coupons beyond its normal doubling amount (like Harris Teeter doubling coupons this week up to $1.98 instead of just $0.99)
    • Triple Coupons: If you are really lucky, you will live near a store that does a triple coupon promotion every once in a while and they will triple the value of the coupon up to a stated face amount
  • Always be sure to try and matchup your coupons that will double with store sales -- this usually lead to free products!!!
    • Likewise always be sure to look for store specific coupons that you can stack with your manufacturer coupons that will double for even greater savings
      • Note: store specific coupons generally do not double



Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Derek Close Music Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations Sara! You are the winner of the Derek Close Music Giveaway. I will be emailing you shortly and you have 48 hours to respond and claim your prize =)

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

*HOT* 3 Free Bottles of Zoya Nail Polish


Head on over to Zoya and pick out three of your favorite nail polishes and add them to your cart. When you go to checkout enter promo code FB2011 and they'll be free! You do having to pay shipping, which is $6.95 (less than the cost of one nail polish). If it helps, think of it as buy 1 get 2 free =)

I am really loving the Zoya Nail Polish Karina. It is the right balance of a sexy red and a sassy bit of sparkle. I love that it has flecks of color in the crimson base. When the light hits it, you're nails are sure to be the life of the party. Perfect color to ring in the New Year.



Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.


Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Target Trip 1/5

Today the hubby and I swung by Target just to see if they had any good holiday leftovers on markdown...and boy did we luck out! I had to dig through the clearance racks for quite a while, but here is what we got:

  • Jingle Bell Earrings $0.69
  • Set of Men's cuff links, collar points, and tie pin $1.00
  • Cocktail Mix Gift Set (with cocktail tools included) $1.49
  • Large Ice Tub $1.50
  • Salsa Cheese Ball Mix $0.29
  • 2 Tumbler Glasses 4 packs $0.19 each
  • 4 Dinner Plate 4 packs $0.19 each
  • 4 Large Serving Bowls $0.19 each
  • 4 Cereal Bowl 4 packs $0.19 each
  • Dinner Knife Set (12 ct) $1.49
  • 2 Set of Boxed Glass Ornaments $0.80
  • Mr. Stocking Holder $1.00
  • Mrs. Stocking Holder $1.00
  • Cat Photo Stocking Holder $1.00
  • Round Ceramic Ornament $0.20
  • Hockey Player Ornament $0.20
  • Old Fashioned Lights Ornament Set $0.50
  • 3 Packs of Raffia $0.29 each
  • Gold Ribbon $0.10
  • Holiday Card Set $0.89
  • Patterned Index Cards $1.00
Total (with tax): $18.64. We saved a total of $152.70 off the original prices for the total purchase!

For more on shopping the holiday sales, see my 365 Days post here.


Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Day 5: Shop After Holiday Sales for Holiday Items

Shopping the post-holiday clearance racks might just be one of my favorite things to do. Use the opportunity to stock up on holiday decorations for the next year or for gifts that you won't be giving to people until you see them after the holidays (my friends and I usually exchange Christmas gifts when we catch up sometime in January). Or I buy the holiday decorations that I would never pay full price for -- one instance being Mr. & Mrs. stocking hangers that my hubby and I wanted, but didn't want to pay $10 a piece for. Today we scored the set for only $2 at Target in their 90% off holiday clearance aisle.

Knowing your local store's method of discounting items is key to finding great deals. For example, Target marks their holiday merchandise down by 50% the day after the holiday, then to 75% off a few days later, and after about 7-10 days it goes down to 90% off! To find out what it is at your local store either check in a few times after a holiday to get a feel for the markdowns or ask a manager or a store clerk. As long as your polite about it, they are usually more than happy to let you know when the next markdown is scheduled to take place.

Also, as can be expected in the shuffling of holiday merchandise, you may find the item your longing for missing a price tag (this happened to us today -- no bar code or anything!). If this happens to you, first try to find another one of the item to take to the front (maybe even a different color). If that doesn't work, try to see if you can find one of the store's shelf tags for the item. Next, try taking a similar item with you to the register. If it's a Christmas ornament, try to find one similar in shape and size. When you get to the register explain the situation and see if the cashier or manager is willing to accept the price of the similar item. If all else fails, head on over to customer service and see if they will price it for you. They want to get rid of that holiday merchandise as much as you want to buy it. As long as your being reasonable and they can find some basis for a price, they will likely sell it to you.

The clearance aisle is a treasure trove of great deals waiting to be found. I've snagged Halloween and Christmas cookie jars for as little as $1.29. But more than that, you can find every day items that are on sale just because they are in holiday packaging. Today I found recipe cards, scented oil diffuser sets, acrylic plastic reusable plates, bowl, and cups, and even a set of dinner knives that were only $1.49! Take a look at my post about today's post-holiday shopping trip to see more.

You can also stock up on gift wrap, ribbons, craft supplies, candles and more items that are just useful to have on hand for when you need them.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Surfing Magazine Subscription only $2.99



Same deal with Tanga, different magazine. Right now get one-year subscription to Surfing Magazine for only $2.99 when you use coupon code WAVE.




Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Subscription to Entrepreneur Magazine only $1.99


I have to say, I am absolutely loving these Tanga magazine deals. One of today's daily deals is a one-year subscription to Entrepreneur magazine for $19.99, but when you use promo code NEWYEAR the price drops to only $1.99. I definitely just snagged this up, what an awesome deal (and hopefully ideas in the magazine will help you make some money for an even bigger return)!

Remember, that when you order magazines through Tanga it can take 8-14 weeks for your first issue to arrive. Small wait for the serious discount.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Day 4: Use Coupon Codes

Online shopping has taken the place of many brick and mortar stores and retailers are well aware of this fact and are striving for your business. One of the MAJOR ways they do this is by sending out coupon codes. Coupon codes (or promotional, promo or discount codes) are codes that are usually a series of letters and number or a word that is entered at checkout on a retailers website in exchange for some kind of discount. They are basically the internet retailer's way of providing coupons and you can reap some major discounts with them!

Commonly coupon codes are for a certain percentage off a particular item or in some cases your entire order, they may also be redeemed for free products or free shipping. Coupon codes abound on the internet and savings just waiting to be found.

Before you buy anything online, I strongly suggest that you look for a coupon code. I save over $150 when I was ordering my wedding albums on Shutterfly by using coupon codes!

But now you ask, where do I find them?

  • Retailmenot.com: this is by far the best coupon code website out there. It covers just about every online retailer and is fully searchable. It also shows you details about what you can get with the code and other peoples success rate in redeeming it. This is where I have found the majority of my coupons. 
  • Google searching: I know this may seem like a "duh" one, but do a google search with the name of the company or website and coupon code. For example, for my wedding albums I would do a search for "Shutterfly + coupon code". Don't forget to be creative with your search keywords, also look for: discount, promo, promotional, sale, and code.
  • Frugal Blogs: these are a treasure trove on the internet. Find some blogs that are in the niche of products you are looking to buy and check those for coupon codes (ahem, The DC Frugal Girl). The authors of these blogs are more than happy to share the great deals they find! 
  • Sign up for mailing lists: if you sign up for the mailing lists of your favorite websites, they will usually email you the most current (and sometimes exclusive) promotions, including coupon codes and great offers.
These are just a few of the ways you can find coupon codes to use in your online shopping. And if you think it might be a hassle to look them up, think about how much free shipping and 20-40% off yours online adds up to over the course of a year? A whole lotta savings!





Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Entertainment Books Only $20.11!

Earlier this week I wrote about the value of Entertainment Books as part of my 365 Days of Frugal Ideas (Day 2). Well today I received an email from Entertainment Book and right now ALL of their books are on sale for $20.11 and you get free shipping! (the books usually retail for $35). Check it out here.

This is a great deal, so be sure to snag yours up so you can start your New Year's savings!


Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Monday, January 3, 2011

New Coupons at Coupons.com

Check out these new coupons available on Coupons.com. If you find any good match-ups be sure to comment and let me know!




Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Day 3: Monitor Your Budget with Mint.com

On Day 1, I talked about creating a realistic budget that accounted for all of your needs and wants and that the most important part of having a budget is sticking to it. One of the best ways I have found to monitor your spending and keeping track of your budget is Mint.com.



Mint.com provides free personal finance software that is linked to your accounts and automatically monitors and categorizes your spending. It provides you with a breakdown of how much your spending in each area, your current net worth, and other important details about your finances.

If you're anything like me, you're probably pretty skeptical about allowing a service access to your personal finance information. But after doing some research I found out that Mint.com has the stamp of approval of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and ABC News just to name a few. After establishing the reputation, I tried it out for myself and it worked great. I never had a problem with the service and never experienced a security breach with regard to any of my financial info.

Mint.com provides an invaluable FREE resource to those trying to stick to a budget, monitor their spending, track investments, save for the future, and reach other financial goals. From experience, Mint.com has opened my eyes to my actual spending habits -- which were far different than what I perceived them to be. What I also love is that it tracked all my accounts in one place. I no longer had to log on to each different online banking account to view my checking, savings, and credit cards and it consolidated its breakdown of my spending across all my accounts not just each individual one.

I highly suggest tying out Mint.com to track your newly formed budget. I hope you find it as useful of a tool as I did.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

European Car on Tanga as well $5.99

Yet another Tanga magazine deal. Get a one-year subscription to European Car Magazine for $5.99 when you enter coupon code EURO at checkout.


Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Shape Magazine on Tanga for $3.99!

Here's another Tanga magazine deal. Get a one-year subscription to Shape magazine for only $3.99 when you enter coupon code SHAPE at checkout.

Enjoy!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Reader's Digest Subscription on Tanga

Reader's Digest subscription is available on Tanga as a daily deal. Enter coupon code DIGEST at checkout and the price will drop from $24.99 to just $2.99.

Enjoy!


Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Day 2: Get an Entertainment Book


I have written about Entertainment Books before, but in case you missed it these are gold! Entertainment Books used to be sold as part of a fundraiser, but now you can buy them at any major bookstore (Barnes & Noble and Borders carry them) and some drug stores (our local CVS has them). They are usually $35 retail, but if you go on the Entertainment Book website you can usually get them for a better deal. And they are well worth the initial investment if you use them right.

The Entertainment Books are filled with coupons for everything from dine in restaurants to fast food and takeout, travel, shopping, movies, buying flowers online and a whole lot more. The coupons vary from year to year based on what retailers are willing to offer and the books vary by region, so be sure to by the one for you area.

Our local Entertainment Book has saved us on restaurants (usually 2 for 1 dinners), movies tickets (set price for movies! usually $6.50 or $7.50 at the different theaters), mall stores (New York & Company, Wet Seal) and last year there were even Safeway coupons for $5 off your purchase. It also has coupons for activities like mini-golf, Dave & Buster's, and other recreational facilities (golf courses, rock gyms, etc). You might even find coupons for sporting events and local playhouses (ours had a few).

In addition to the coupons in the book, when you register your Entertainment Book online with the unique membership number on the card that comes in your copy, you'll get access to additional coupons and deals. Some online goodies are free Snapfish prints, Target and Best Buy deals, and additional local area deals not in the book.

The price you pay is well worth the money you'll save. Better yet ask for one as a gift!


UPDATE!: I received an email today (1/3/11) from Entertainment Book and right now ALL of their books are on sale for $20.11 and you get free shipping! (the books usually retail for $35). Check it out here.

This is a great deal, so be sure to snag yours up so you can start your New Year's savings!

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

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