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Saturday, January 15, 2011

Free Sample of Cinnabon Cream of Wheat


Head on over to the Cream of Wheat website and look for the button on the bottom right matching the screen shot above. Click it and the form will pop up to enter your information. This sample looks super yummy! I can't wait to try it.

While you're there, be sure to also snag the $1 off coupon!

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

$10 Gas Card from BP

If you regularly stop at BP stations to fill your tank, they are currently doing a new promotion where after you fill up 5 times (8 gallons or more) they will send you a $10 BP Reward Card. Each time you fill up you will get a loyalty card with a scratch off number that you enter online. When you enter 5 codes, you'll get the $10 card. Be sure to read all the details on their website.

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

Peace and Plenty Book Review

First of all, a big thanks to Anna over at Hachette Books for providing a wonderful title to review! Peace and Plenty: Finding Your Path to Financial Serenity is a new book by New York Times Bestselling Author, Sarah Ban Breathnach.


This book takes you through Sarah's wonderful exploration of financial journey. It walks you through the ups and down of financial responsibility, understanding thrift, educating yourself, and starting over when necessary.

From the introduction, Sarah hits the nail on the head by astutely observing that "Peace and Plenty is about women and money. It's an emotionally volatile relationship for most of us. It's also the most complicated relationship we have -- and the one that controls our lives, because we let it." This brief passage sets the stage for the theme that runs through the rest of her work - understanding a woman's relationship with money and finding ways to improve that relationship and make it more healthy. Through a mix of advice from varied sources and her own personal anecdotes, Sarah has created an inspiring work that nearly every reader can identify with. Her work helps you to overcome the fear of financial uncertainty by adjusting your mindset and maintaining control over your spending and emotions by focusing on what you have and how to make the best of it. 

The optimism of this book will resonate with you long after you've finished the last page. As Sarah so aptly notes in her introduction there is "the luxury of enough by counting our blessings as well as our cents and celebrating the feminine art form that [she calls] 'the thrill of thrift.' " I would highly recommend that any woman who is trying to live the frugal life, while struggling to make ends me, and keep a positive attitude all at the same time take a day to relax and absorb the wisdom imparted in Peace and Plenty and find yourself re-energized and ready to approach your finances with a positive outlook.


FTC Disclosure: This was not a paid post. I received a review copy of Peace and Plenty from Hachette Books for writing this review. All opinions on the book are 100% my own, honest opinions.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy for more information.

Day 15: Save for College with Upromise


Upromise - Join Now 125x125


College is expensive. Tuition prices are rising every year making the cost of education a huge financial commitment -- trust me after 4 years of undergrad and 3 years of law school I should know! Starting to save for college early is so important. One of the easiest ways to start saving is to join Upromise. It is free to join and you designate a beneficiary of the money you save (it does not have to be your child, more than one person can be named and you can allocate the earnings, and it can be changed).

Upromise helps you save money for college by giving you a return on the things you already buy. This might be gas, eating out, specially marked products, online shopping, etc. They keep track of your earnings by having you register your loyalty cards and credit cards so that when you buy participating products or shop at participating locations, they can credit your account accordingly. They even offer coupons that will add value to your Upromise account when redeemed at the store for products you would have to buy anyway.

You can also invite your friends and family to help you save. You send them an invitation and they register through the link and set up their account with their respective information. The earnings will then be pooled and distributed among the beneficiaries as you've indicated. You can also invest the money in a college savings program.

These earnings probably won't pay for the cost of tuition, but they might pay for books and maybe a little more depending on how early you start and how much you take advantage of the program. I started the account for my cousins about a year ago, and we have almost $200 just from things we already buy without using any of the extra coupons or their online links. Now, just think if you add in your family members and friends who go through the Upromise links for their Christmas and birthday shopping and update their store cards. You could get a significant return without spending an extra cent!

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

Friday, January 14, 2011

$20 to Shutterfly when you Sign up for OurWeddingDay.com

Right now, all new registrants at OurWeddingDay.com get a $20 credit to use a Shutterfly. Shutterfly is a fantastic and affordable source for save the dates, announcements, thank you cards, and albums! We made our wedding announcements and our wedding albums through Shutterfly and everyone loved them. They even have a 100% satisfaction guarantee, so if you don't like a product your receive for ANY reason, they will replace it or re-credit your account so you can make it again!

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

National Eversave Deals




Today's Save: Personalized Wine Gifts

Today's Save:$25 for $50 worth of custom wine gifts and accessories from PersonalizedWineGifts.com

Expires 11:59 PM - Jan 17, 2011




Bonus Save: Ice-Qube

Last Chance:$28.50 for $50 worth of emergency-preparedness products from Ice-Qube.com (free shipping is included)

Expires 11:59 PM - Jan 14, 2011




Bonus Save: Harvard Sweet Boutique

Today's Save: $15 for $30 worth of delectable desserts from HarvardSweetBoutique.com

Expires 11:59 PM - Jan 15, 2011


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

Free Celebrity Fit Club Fit Club Boot Camp Workout on Amazon


Right now on Amazon on Demand you can download the Celebrity Fit Club Boot Camp Workout - 30 minute Rock Workout for free! Underneath the viewer window and above the episode list you should see a button that says to Buy the Series for $0.00. Just click that and enjoy!

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

Day 14: Indulge a Little

Being frugal can be exhausting! It is a lot of hard work and sometimes requires giving things up or making sacrifices. So in your quest for the frugal life, be sure to indulge yourself every once in a while. Maybe you treat yourself to a mani/pedi after completing a big project or work or go out for a nice date night with the hubby or maybe you invest a few wardrobe staples.If you are really strapped on money, maybe you indulge yourself by buying the more expensive chocolate bar or get your favorite latte guilt free! This is perfectly acceptable! I would even say it's necessary. It prevents you from feeling deprived and burnt out and it actually feels like a treat!

So how do you indulge?


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

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Day 13: Set Goals

Being frugal on its own is great -- you save money, get free stuff, and get the high from knowing you found a great deal. But after a while trying to budget, coupon, and penny pinch can get a little overwhelming or sometimes even discouraging.

When you're transitioning to the frugal life, one of the best things you can do is set goals for yourself. Maybe there is a GORGEOUS pair of shoes that are well worth the hefty price tag you want to save for or maybe your goal is to save $10 a week on lunches or $50 off your grocery budget.

Setting simple goals like these will help keep you motivated and on track with your money saving efforts. It will be so fulfilling when you reach those goals and then you can set the next ones. This gives you something to constantly be working toward and it gives you an awesome benefit in the end.

My first goal was to cut $100 off our monthly grocery budget, which I have successfully been able to do for the last two months. Now I am trying to save for an iPad. It's going to take a while, but boy do I want one!

What's your goal?

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

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Free Atkins Starter Kit

If you made a New Year's Resolution to diet or live healthier, then you might be interested in this FREE Atkins Starter Kit.  The Kit includes 3 Atkins Bars, a the Atkins Pocket Comprehensive Carb Counter and Acceptable Food Lists, Atkins Chef Recipes, Atkins Quick Start Guide, and a rebate coupon for $3 off the new Atkins book. When you sign up you also get free access to the Atkins online community.


I received mine in the mail today and it looks great! The contents are very informative and the bars actually taste good. Snag this one up!


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

Day 12: Eat Out During Lunch or Happy Hour

If you're a foodie (or just don't want to cook!), I'm sure you know how expensive eating out can be. The best time to eat out and save money is during lunch or happy hour. These are the times when restaurants offer the best specials and deals.

During lunch you will usually find meal deals. The entree, a side, and a drink for a reduced price. Some restaurants even do power lunches where you can be in and out with a great deal in 30 minutes. You may also find prices are a bit less than dinner. Some are our favorites at a local thai restaurant are $2 less at lunch than dinner and the portion size is the same! Lunch generally runs from 11am to 3pm at most restaurants, but be sure to check in advance if you're hitting the end of the window. On your way and not going to make it in time? Call ahead and put in your order before the menu changes over, they will usually still give you the lunch price!

During happy our drinks are usually at least half off and sometimes as little as $1 a glass. Appetizers are often also reduced (usually half price) and sometimes you will find entrees that are on special or a less pricey dinner menu.

A little bit here and there can definitely add up if you are frequent restaurant visitor.

My favorite happy hour treat? Black Pepper Chicken Spring Rolls from Ping Pong Dim Sum in DC's Chinatown. These are only $3 during happy hour, but have $100 worth of flavor in them. So delicious.





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

January P&G Brand Saver

Here's a list of the coupons in this month's P&G Brand Saver. All coupons expire 2/28/11.

  • $1 off any two Zest Bodywashes or three Zest or Safeguard Bar Packs or two Safeguard Liquid Hand Soaps
  • $1 off any two Ivory Body Washes, two Liquid Hand Soaps or three Bar Packs
  • $3 off one Olay Regenerist Facial Moisturizer or Facial Cleanser (excludes trial sizes)
  • $1 off one Olay Facial Moisturizer or Facial Cleanser (excludes trial sizes)
  • $1.50 off one DayQuil Product
  • $1.50 off one NyQuil Product
  • $1.00 off one Vick's Product
  • $1 off one Prilosec OTC (there is also a rebate offer for $25 back when you buy 2 Prilosec OTC Packages -- see the insert for full details)
  • $10 off one Crest 3D White 2 Hour Express or Professional Effects Whitestrips
  • $1 off oneCrest toothpaste 4 oz. or more or liquid gel (excludes Crest Cavity, Baking Soda, Tartar)
  • $1 off one Oral-B Pulsar, CrossAction, Advantage or two Indicator or Cavity Defense Manual toothbrushes
  • $4 off one PUR or PUR Flavor Options System (pitcher or faucet mount)
  • $2 off one PUR Pitcher or Faucet Mount Multi-Pack Replacement Filters or PUR Refirgerator Filter
  • $1 one Cheer Detergent
  • 20¢ off one Gain Dishwashing Liquid
  • Buy one Febreeze Fabric Refresher, get one Frebreeze Air effects or Fabreeze Fabric of Equal or Lesser Value Free (excludes bundle packs)
  • Buy one Febreeze NOTICEables Refill Get on Febreeze NOTICEables Warmer Free
  • $1 off one Febreeze Candle
  • $5 off one Febreeze Flameless Luminary Starter Kit
  • $2 off one Febreeze Home Collection Diffuser
  • $2 off one Febreeze Home Collection Candle
  • $1 off Two Pringles Super Stack cans (180g or larger)
  • $1 off two Pringles Snack Stack or Stix
  • $1 off two cans Fat Free Pringles (165g or larger)

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

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Free Sewing Kit

What frugal girl hasn't had a sewing emergency? A falling hem, lost button, broken strap? Well check out this great little problem solver. Small enough to fit in your purse or glove compartment.


Hallman's is giving away FREE sewing kits to those who sign up! You get your choice of blue or red. Sewing kits are limited to one per household and only fully and correctly completed forms are accepted. Says kits should arrive within 4-6 weeks.

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

Day 11: Sign up for Stores' Electronic Circulars

Part of saving money, especially at the grocery store, is knowing what's actually going to be on sale once you get there. I don't know about you, but my sale papers tend to come in the mail midway through the sale cycle (if they come at all!) and by the time I get to the store there is only slim pickings left on the good deals.

One way to be ahead of the game with your grocery planning is to sign up for your local store's electronic newsletter or circular. You will get the week's deals delivered straight to your inbox the day they are released instead of having to wait for them to arrive in your mailbox or the Sunday paper. If you are worried about getting bombarded with emails, set up a second free email account just for this purpose. My favorite by far is Gmail so mine would be something like danasgroceries@gmail.com.

The same holds true for other stores. If you want to know their best deals sign up for their electronic sale alerts or newsletters. You will find out about the sales well in advance and be able to snag the best deals! Some website even let you watch certain items or you can set an alert for when things go on sale. Make use of these -- if you don't need the item asap it will save you in the long run!

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

Free Redbox Codes

It just started snowing here so before it got too bad the hubby and I went out to grab some thai food and RedBox movies. As a reminder you can get free Redbox rentals by using Redbox promo codes!

Here are two that currently work at ANY Redbox and each are good for one free night's rental (DVD only, Blu-Ray will cost $0.50 with the code).

  • BREAKROOM
  • DVDONME
You can only use one code per transaction, so if you wanted to rent to movies you would have to rent one and then start a new session to get the second one. You can also use them only once per account. Your account is determined by your credit or debit card number you swipe. So I was able to use both and then he was able to use both as well.

Enjoy!


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

Monday, January 10, 2011

Harris Teeter Round 3 (1/10)

Here's my last trip to Harris Teeter for Super Double Coupons. The promotion ends tomorrow if you still wanted to take advantage!

6 Mahatma Rice Mixes
- On sale 3/$2
- 2 $1/3 Mahatma Rice Mixes MFQ (unsure of source, Dec. coupon insert)
= FREE

Doritos Spicy Nachos
- B1G1
= $3.99 for 2; $1.99 each

2 Kikkoman Soy Sauce
- On sale 2/$4
- 2 $1/1 Any Kikkoman Product internet printable
= FREE

2 Kikkoman Terriyaki Sauce
- On sale 2/$4
- 2 $1/1 Any Kikkoman Product internet printable
=FREE

2 French's Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
- $1.99 each
- 2 $1/1 French's Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce from Campbell's Kitchen
=FREE

8 Cans of Campbell's Chunky Soup
- B1G1 and $2.45 each ($9.80 for 8)
- 2 $1.50/4 Campbell's Chunky Soup from Campbell's Kitchen
= $3.80 for 8 or $0.48 each

Bag of Snyder Eat Smart Crisps
- On sale for $2.50
- $1/1 Eat Smart Crisps from 1/9 SS
= $0.50

2 Tony's Pizzas
- $1.17 each
- $1/2 Tony's Pizzas from the Tony's website (registration required)
= $0.34 for two or $0.17 each

2 Activia Yogurt 4 Packs
- On sale from $2.39 each
- 2 $1/1 Activia coupons from 1/9 SS
= $0.78 for 2 or $0.39 each

No coupons, but also bought
- 2 Harris Teeter cream cheese
- 1 Daisy Sour Cream

Total Spent: $14.80
Total Saved: $50.00 or 77%


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

Target Deals!

I swung by Target today to get supplies to revamp my coupon binder (more to come on that) and found some great deals to share!

Maalox
- On sale for $3.79 and up
- $5/1 Any Maalox coupon from 1/9 SS
= FREE

Shout Wipes 4 pack (in the travel section)
- $0.97
- $0.55/1 Shout Laundry Product from 1/9 SS
- $0.50/1 Shout Laundry Product Target coupon
= FREE

Hartz Crunch n Clean Cat Treats
- On sale for $1.49
- $1.50/1 MFQ from 1/9 SS
= FREE

GE Reveal Light Bulb 4 Pack
- $2.69
- $1/1 Reveal Light Bulb Coupon from 1/9 SS or Coupons.com
- $1.50/1 GE Reveal Light Bulb Target Coupon
= $0.19




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

Day 10: Fill Your Mailbox with Freebies!

Let's face it, companies want you to try their products and more so they want you to buy their products. This is why so many companies are willing to send you free samples (or in some cases full size versions) of their products. You can request freebies for anything from cleaning supplies and health and beauty samples to magazines, pet toys, and much more.

If you google "freebies" or "free stuff" you will be inundated with sites, but be careful about finding legitimate sources of samples. Here are a few of my favorite websites for finding freebies that I've used with great success:

Free Stuff Times
www.freestufftimes.com
They make a huge effort here to only post legitimate deals and it is updated throughout the day as new finds come up and others expire. A great resource and the guy who runs it is great.


Freebie Depot
Updated almost every day with a roundup of freebies to be requested from around the web.


TeenFreeway
www.teenfreeway.com
I found their ad in the back of a copy of Seventeen magazine when I was 12 or 13 and have gotten countless freebies I've found through them over the years. They tend to be geared toward a younger audience, but still some great finds.

Some others to check out are MySavings www.mysavings.com, Shop4Freebies www.shop4freebies.com, and the Free Stuff Forum at Fat Wallet http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/free-stuff/




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

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Day 9: Comparison Shop

I know, I know it's so tempting to just buy everything at the same place. It's convenient, you're already there, and really how much would you save going to another store? Well on one thing here or there the savings might not be that much, but on big purchases or long shopping lists you may be able to save a bundle by comparison shopping before you head out! From groceries to electronics to that camisole you need to go under your work blazer, stores are competing for your business and often are competing to give you the best price.

Here's my how-to's for comparison shopping:

  • Start by making your shopping list. Whether it's groceries, a new DVD player, socks or a combination of all of the above.
  • Do your research BEFORE you head out.
    • Check out your weekly sale papers. These advertise the special deals and biggest discounts (or loss leaders).
    • Also be sure to check online! Most stores have sale ads on their websites or can at least give you a rough price comparison store to store.
    • There are also smart phone apps that will allow you to compare prices by scanning an item's barcode and seeing what other stores in the area are charging for the same item.
  • Make a plan. Plan out your shopping trip in advance. Make lists of what you will get at each store and know what order you will visit them in. I know when I go grocery shopping there are 5 different choices in my area. I don't visit them all every trip, but I do tend to go to two of them in order to save on my grocery bill. By planning your trip in advance you will save time and money in the long run. You can pop into each place, get what you need, and be on your way without wandering the aisles.
  • Pay attention when you're in the stores week to week. This especially applies to groceries. I try to keep track of what the prices are of my favorite items store to store so that I know when I am actually getting a good deal and where I should buy one.

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

Frederick's of Hollywood Sale


I was at Pentagon City today and Frederick's of Hollywood had tons of clearance items and the clearance section was an additional 75% off! I managed to find 4 great bras and paid only $15.75. If you have one nearby I definitely suggest checking it out. Some of the clearance items were marked down to as little as $0.99 after all the discounts.


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

Harris Teeter Round 2 (1/9)

For those of you who missed my post a few days ago, Harris Teeter is Super Doubling coupons until Tuesday 1/11. They are doubling coupons up to $1.98 and up to 20 coupons per day. This means that $1 becomes $2, $2.50 becomes $3, etc.

Here is what I got today:

  • 3 Mahatma Yellow Rice Mixes
  • 1 16 oz. Package of Mahatma White Rice
  • 2 Ziploc Container 5 packs
  • 2 Boxes of Mueller Pasta
  • 1 French's Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
  • 2 Jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter
  • 4 Cans of Campbell's Chunky Soup
  • 1 V8 Fusion + Tea (48 oz.)
  • 1 Regina Red Wine Vinegar
  • 10 64 oz. Bottle of Old Orchard Juice
  • 1 Bag of Tortilla Chips
  • 2 Boxes Weight Watchers Bakery Snacks
  • 1 Wholly Guacamole Classic Queso
  • 2 Tony's Personal Pizzas
  • 1 Activia Yogurt 4 pack
Total Spent: $24.05
Total Saved: $71.14

How'd you do?

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

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