Monday, November 24, 2008

How To Save Money Shopping For Gifts This Christmas


Here are some shopping tips for discount gift giving this Christmas:

First of all, make a Christmas shopping budget and stick to it. Have a plan for all the gifts you are buying and how much they will cost.

Shopping for Christmas gifts on sale is a great way to save some money. Many stores are starting their Christmas sales early this year so you may find some good gifts this way.

Shopping online may save you not only time, but money as well. Check with discount web sites such as Overstock.com and even ebay. Also consider looking for Christmas gifts on Craigslist as many people have brand new items they could be selling at a great discount.

If you have any discount stores in your area it may be a good idea to see what Christmas shopping you can do there . Dollar stores, grocery outlets, and surplus stores such as Big Lots are full of gift ideas and smaller items you can put together to create a gift basket.

Look around at what you already have. Use a basket you might already have to fill with items and give as a Christmas gift. Make copies of photos and put together an album for friends or family.

If you're crafty make gifts or if you're a good cook give home made food items as Christmas gifts.

Give the gift of time. Take elderly people shopping, on errands or just out for the day. Take the neighbors trash to the curb and back for a month, offer to do yard work or walk and pick up after their pets. A great Christmas gift for those who have kids is to offer to babysit. Not only are these gifts appreciated, but you don't have to go shopping and it's pretty much free.

Christmas shouldn't be about money and gifts. Just enjoy spending time with family and friends.

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Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Save Money On Your Thanksgiving Dinner


Thanksgiving is about spending time with family and friends while enjoying good food. Here are some tips that will save you time and money so you can focus on celebrating this holiday and not worry about going broke.



  • Plan ahead. Make a list of items you'll need to buy, how many people will be coming, how many place settings of dishes you'll need etc. This way you can set a budget and are less likely to be caught off guard having to make a last minute overpriced purchase.

  • Make the feast potluck. Have each guest bring a dish. This not only saves money for the host but will also save time and each person feels like they are involved in the celebration. Make sure to delegate a dish to each guest or some how keep track of what each party is bringing to avoid too many, or not enough, of each item.

  • Buy a larger turkey. Butchers at most grocery stores will cut the turkey in half for you, even if it is frozen. Larger turkeys are usually cheaper per pound, so you can save money by either sharing the turkey with a friend or relative, or saving the other half for Christmas or New Year’s.

  • Shop early and take advantage of sales. Stick to your menu plan and buy only what you'll need. Start looking at local grocery store flyers and websites to see if there are any good deals or coupons offered.

  • Do not buy unnecessary decorations. Make your decor from nature using twigs, leaves, pine cones etc. If you must buy items like a tablecloth, search your local thrift stores and try not to make it too holiday specific so you can use it over again after the holidays.

  • If you really want to save money and contribute to the meaning of Thanksgiving, consider spending this holiday volunteering at a local soup kitchen. You will be helping people less fortunate while sharing in the meal. This may become a new tradition for your family.

  • Finally, think about inviting an elderly neighbor, military family or member, or other people who have no one to share Thanksgiving with to join you. This is in the true spirit of the holiday and you'll get more from this than any amount of money could buy.
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Thursday, October 30, 2008

How To Get Cell Phone Service For $5 A Month


Did anyone see that Oprah episode a few weeks ago about saving money and there was a woman on there who said she paid $5 a month for her cell phone service? Well everyone on the Oprah forum was going crazy trying to figure out where she got this phone, because they never said on the show. Figures - Lol!

So anyway, I finally found it! If anyone is interested, it's the Virgin Mobile Pay As You Go Phone. You go to Target, Walmart etc. and buy the Virgin Mobile Pay As You Go Phone that you want. I got one for $9.99 at Target. Then do NOT buy the minute cards there. Go home, get online and set up your phone online. Choose the "automatic top up of $15 every 90 days" charged to your credit card, Paypal account or I believe you can have it deducted from your bank account. This is how it comes out to $5 a month!

They do not really advertise this, but if you read the fine print as you are setting up your phone you will see it. I was a little worried because when I got my confirmation email it said I had to have a minimum of $20 every 90 days to keep my account active, but I called and asked them and sure enough - if you do the automatic $15 top up you are okay.

This is a good deal for an emergency phone. Basically you get 25 minutes a month for this because it's $0.20 a minute. So for you Gabby Abbys out there this would not work for you - sorry!

Also if you are signing up online it will ask if you have a promo code. You can find these all over the internet by searching for Virgin Mobile Promo Code. Most of the time this will get you an additional 60 minutes for free.
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Saturday, October 25, 2008

Where To Find Grocery Coupons



Food costs have risen, but you can keep your grocery spending in check by using coupons. Combine this with using the store's discount card, planning your weekly meals from the store's sales flyer along with sticking to a shopping list and you may find your spending less than ever.

There are many resources for finding coupons. Your local Sunday paper is likely to have coupons and is worth checking if you subscribe to it, but there are other sources.

  • Your Grocery Store's Website - You may find some great offers you can print off from here. Also many stores offer electronic coupons you can put on your store discount card, so they are automatically deducted when you go shopping.

  • Manufacturer's Websites - Look on the Manufacturer's website of the brands you buy to see if there are coupons you can print off.

  • Email the consumer division of your favorite companies, tell them how much you enjoy their products and ask if they can mail you coupons. Be sure to include your mailing address.

You may want to consider using a coupon clipping service. These are places where you are paying for the coupons to be clipped and mailed to you. Usually the fees and shipping costs are small, but there is a minimum order amount. This can save you time and is great for getting several coupons for the same item. Use these coupons for stocking up on items you purchase regularly. Some sources for this include online auction sites such as ebay and these websites:

There are several websites where you can print off coupons for free:

Be sure to check with your store to see if they accept coupons printed out from online. Be aware of expiration dates ad limitations.

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Monday, October 20, 2008

Halloween Finds



Halloween is almost here! Check out these great websites and deals:



  • HauntedHouse.com Great site with listings for haunted houses and spooky attractions across the US. Also has links to Halloween trivia, decorating ideas, movies and pretty much everything else having to do with Halloween
  • Peanuts.com Halloween just wouldn't be complete without a little Charlie Brown
  • Wendy's & McDonalds $1 Halloween Books as discussed in this post here on Thefreebieblogger.com - Thanks Wendi!
  • Caramel Apple Recipe C'mon - who doesn't like caramel apples?
  • Candy Apple Recipe See step 5 for making these with a Halloween twist
  • Ravensblight.com Free creepy paper toy patterns
  • TheToyMaker.com Free not so creepy paper toy patterns

Happy Haunting - Cheap Cindy

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Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Reaping Rewards


There are many companies who offer rewards to their repeat customers. These programs are worthwhile, especially if you purchase products from these companies on a regular basis anyway. Usually you will be asked to sign up for the particular companies rewards or loyalty program and enter codes found on the products you've purchased. Your codes then accumulate points that can be redeemed for items such as discounts, gift cards, clothing, electronics etc.
Membership is free, so what have you got to lose?

Here are links to some rewards programs:

Also many restaurants have added frequent diner programs where you sign up for a membership card and use it every time you dine. You rack up points and receive discounts or special offers. Check and see if any restaurants you frequent have a program and what they offer.

Be sure to note some reward programs may only be available in certain locations and many are only offered for a limited time so be sure and find out when the offer expires.

I hope you have found this post rewarding! - Cheap Cindy

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Monday, October 6, 2008

Host A House Party & Get Free Stuff


If you like to have get togethers with friends but are low on funds, this might be just the thing for you. Sign up with Houseparty.com to host a party where sponsors send you free food and other products.

An example of a recent party package sent out from Barilla included:
  • Frommer’s Italy book (1/kit)
  • The Best of Andrea Bocelli Vivere CD (1/kit)
  • Barilla Pasta (2 boxes/kit)
  • Sauce coupons (8/kit)
  • Barilla corkscrew (1/kit)
  • Recipe cards (8/kit)
  • Mealtime Magic (8/kit)
  • Mini Farfalle Timers (8/kit)
  • Hackey Sacs (8/kit)
  • Italian Magazine (1/kit)
  • Wine Glass Charms (1 box/kit)

Plus they give you party planning ideas and tips. Now doesn't that sound like fun?

Party on. - Cheap Cindy

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Thursday, October 2, 2008

Free Pumpkin Carving Stencils



Good grief, it's that time of year again. Soon Linus will be sitting in the pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin to appear. Why wait? You can make your own great pumpkin with the help of these free pumpkin carving stencils. Enjoy.

And if these don't satisfy you, search Google images for free pumpkin patterns & you'll find oodles of free designs.
Better head off to your local pumpkin patch and warm up the oven - looks like we'll be eating lot's of pumpkin pie and toasted seeds this year.

Have fun! - Cheap Cindy
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Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Kids Eat Free Restaurants



Times are tough and more restaurants are offering Kids Eat Free nights to get your business. Here are some ways to find these offers:




Keep an eye out in your area for signs posted at your local restaurants. Other ways this might be advertised is inside of the restaurants, on the menu, in newspapers or other advertisements or online through the restaurant's or other web sites.

Look for online resources where you can search for places in your area with kids eat free nights. These will tell you what offers are available on specific days of the week, etc. Some examples of websites you can use are:


Some nationwide chains currently offering kids eat free promotions are:


Another way to find free kids meal offers is to find out if the restaurants you frequent have a kids club you can sign up for. These normally offer free birthday meals or other discounts.

Be aware, if you find a national listing for a restaurant chain advertising kids eat free nights, it is up to each individual restaurant whether or not they want to participate. Always check first with the restaurants in your area. It is likely you will be required to purchase an adult meal to get the free kids meal. Check with each restaurant for their restrictions and requirements.


photo: polska1, sxc.hu
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Make Some Extra Money



Here are some ideas on how to make a little extra money:

Participate in Surveys or Focus Groups. Surveys are usually done online. Focus Groups tend to be in person.

Some examples of websites where you can sign up for surveys are:



  • Opinion Outpost Surveys are paid in points which can be redeemed for cash once you meet the minimum cash out amount
  • ClickIQ e/visor Panel Surveys are paid in points which can be redeemed for cash once you meet the minimum cash out amount
  • SurveySpot Some surveys are cash rewards, some are rewarded with entries into sweepstakes. Minimum cash out amount is $5
  • MySurvey Surveys are paid in points which can be redeemed for cash once you meet the minimum cash out amount
  • Esearch pays in cash to your Paypal account
  • e-Rewards you can redeem rewards for misc. items and discounts
  • HCD Surveys Surveys are paid in points which can be redeemed for cash once you reach the minimum cash amount - currently $10


These are just some that I have used. No, you will not get rich, but if you've got some spare time you might make a few extra bucks. You can find a lot of people discussing various reward and survey programs here: BigBigForums

Focus Groups tend to pay better than survey sites. Usually $25 - $100 for a few hours. You usually have to travel to where the focus group is being held, but some do take place online. You can find out what Focus Groups are in your area by checking these websites:

If taking surveys and sitting through Focus Groups isn't your idea of fun, consider making some extra cash doing something you enjoy. Maybe you can turn your hobby into cash. Are you into photography? There are places you can sell your photos such as:

Do you like to write? Sell short stories, articles and other "fillers" to magazines, newspapers and websites. There is a great article on how and where to sell fillers here:

You can also get paid for writing articles on eHow and AssociatedContent.com .

See examples by viewing my eHow articles here .

Are you crafty? You can sell your wares on ebay, at local craft fairs and holiday bazaars or on the website Etsy .

Other ideas for making extra money:

  • Get a part time job. Consider delivering pizzas on weekends - the tips are good and you'll likely get free food as well.
  • Be a sign waver or sign placer. Check with your local new housing developments, as many hire people on weekends to "wave" signs directing people to their developments or to put out and take down signs along the roadway.
  • Charge people to walk their dogs, pet sit or pick up dog droppings in their yards.
  • Have any skills? Teach a class on your favorite craft or hobby, a language, how to sell on ebay, or coach a sport. Charge to make a website or teach computer skills.
  • Have a large piece of land? Rent out space for people to store their Boats, RV's, etc. Rent out areas people can use to grow their own gardens.
  • Have a large house? Rent out a room or host a foreign exchange student.
  • Sell your stuff on ebay or craigslist (see my post "Turn Your Trash Into Cash").
  • Sell your blood plasma or consider participating in clinical studies.

Finally, check to see if your owed money. See my eHow article here:

How to Use Free Sources To Find Money, Unclaimed Property, Refunds and More

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Thursday, September 11, 2008

Free Stuff on Your Birthday from Over 100 Places!



You say it's your birthday? There are several places that will give you free stuff in honor of your big day. Here are over 100 restaurants and more where you can get free stuff on your birthday - and several places that give you free stuff just for signing up - so what are you waiting for?

***Updated 3/22/2017***


Sign up in advance as some of the free birthday stuff offers are mailed to your physical address. Be aware that by signing up you are agreeing to receive ongoing emails from these companies. (Which can be a good thing, since many send coupons and other free stuff offers year round!) Check with specific restaurants in your area to make sure they are participating in these free birthday offers.
This list will be updated frequently - so check back often.
Happy Birthday!
photo: nazreth, sxc.hu
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