Sunday, May 31, 2009
Free Landscape & Garden Design Programs
My backyard needs a serious makeover. I'm not one of those people who can visualize something; I need to see it drawn out - which I'm no good at either. So here's some free landscape & garden design programs I found online.
Better Homes and Gardens offers plan-a-garden. You have to register as an online member, but it's quick and easy. The program is pretty basic and limited, but it works well for planning simple layouts. The website also offers free garden plans and other helpful tips and ideas.
Gardener's Supply Company offers a simple Free Garden Design Planner that is a must have when planning your vegetable garden layout. This website also offers valuable free advice on planting and care.
A more elaborate program is the Showoff Free Landscape & Outdoor Living Software. You can upload your own photo, select your region's hardiness zone to see plants that grow in your area and more. You do need to register and install the free software. The program does have it's limitations, and of course you can get more functions if you pay to upgrade. The free version is fine in my opinion.
There's an app for that. iScape Free Landscape Design app gives you the opportunity to test drive the paid version at no charge. Take a picture or upload your own photo from your photo library. Use the tools to add grass, pavers, flowers, trees, walkways, patio furniture, etc. You can save and share your design via Facebook, email or print.
For designing decks, here is a Free Deck Designer from Lowes. Decks.com also offers a Free Deck Designer and Free Deck Plans. You must register at these sites first.
Well I hope you find these as helpful as I did. Now if you know of anyone willing to do the actual labor of putting in the landscape or building a new deck for free, you let me know ok?
photo: micnae65, sxc.hu
Friday, May 22, 2009
Save Money this Summer
Start with the flip flops. If you haven't seen the commercial, Old Navy stores are offering solid color flip flops for the entire family for only $1.00 a pair, tomorrow only May 23, 2009. Or, try for a free pair of Havaianas flip flops from the Seventeen Magazine Giveaway on June 6, 2009. You can see the official rules at Seventeen.com or they can be found in the upcoming July issue.
Take advantage of free summer fun in your area. Many cities offer events such as free outdoor music concerts, local summer festivals, craft fairs and even free movie nights. (If you missed my earlier post, select Regal theatres are offering a Free Family Film Festival this summer.)
Check out the community events section in your local newspaper, see what free summer programs your local library may be offering or enjoy free amenities such as parks and local beaches if you have access to them.
Look for free stuff that kids can do this summer, such as the 2009 Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program. Listen to The Consumer Queen's recent BlogTalkRadio show Free and Cheap Things to do With Kids this Summer for more great ideas.
Save money on your summer vacation by looking for great travel deals posted on the FatWallet Travel Deals Forum. You can also find money saving tips in my article How to Find Hotel Discounts and Travel Cheap. Save tons of money this summer by opting for a summer vacation closer to home. Go camping as a classic way to enjoy summer on the cheap, or opt to Vacation Cheap with a Staycation this year.
Go frugal treasure hunting at garage and yard sales, or make some extra money by having your own. Get the kids involved by letting them set up a lemonade stand, or better yet, make a killing having them set up a concession stand made up of items such as snacks and bottled water bought at local warehouse or discount stores. In my area, even I have been suckered more than once into paying $1.00 for a bottle of water at a yard sale on a hot summer day.
Have a GPS? Go on a high-tech treasure hunt this summer with Geocaching. Even if you don't have a GPS, consider creating your own scavenger hunt with family, friends and neighbors. Make a list of things people have to collect or find around town. Give clues and make riddles they have to solve in order to find the items. Play just for fun, or offer a prize such as the winner gets their garbage taken to the curb for a month by the losing players, etc.
What are you doing to save money this summer? I would love to hear your ideas.
Till next time - Cheap Cindy
photo: zenner, sxc.hu
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Happy Friday Freebies!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Free Stuff For Moms
Free Cup or Cone For Mom From TCBY Mother's Day, May 10 2009 at Participating Locations
The Mother's Guide to Self Renewal Free Book Download May 8-10 2009
Use Code UNDONEFREE at Checkout for a Free Undone! ebook from Harlequin, good until May 31, 2009
Free 12 issue Subscription to Working Mother Magazine (hurry, these go fast!)
photo: bies, sxc.hu
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
More Freebies
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Free Kentucky Fried Chicken and More
Enjoy several Free Samples from ViveMejor.com which currently includes Hellmann's Light Mayonnaise, Caress Skinware products, Degree Women Fine Fragrance and Ponds Rejuveness.
Watch or download The 2009 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Show courtesy Amazon.com
And just for fun, upload a photo of your child - or yourself - into the Kideo Starmaker Demos. Here's one I made: Barney Starmaker Sample Starring "Cindy". (Ok, so that's not me, but you get the idea.)
Friday, May 1, 2009
Free Comic Books
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Free Hallmark Cards and More
(Use code APRILCARD to get another Free Hallmark Card of your choice!)
Sign up to become a myStoneyfield community member and fill out the form for a Free One Year Subscription to Organic Gardening Magazine from Stoneyfield Farm.
Get a Free Sample of Nivea Touch of Happiness Body Wash from Walmart.com
Use the code LUCKY at Restaurant.com to receive an additional 80% off their already discounted gift certificates
photo: bies, sxc.hu
Thursday, April 23, 2009
How to Calculate Take Home Pay After Taxes
Monday, April 20, 2009
Free Stuff for Your Pets
Pets like Freebies too!
Get your dog a free sample Smokey Bacon-Flavored Better Than Ears Treat from Walmart.com
Get your cat a Free Can of Petite Cuisine Cat Food on their birthday
Take your pets to the PetSmart Pet Birthday Party April 21, 6-8pm and get a Free Goodie Bag and Free Digital Photo with Frame
Get a Free 8 X 10 Photo from Canon . Use "Try MyPhoto", a free service from Canon where they will print an 8 X 10 of your image using the printer you select and mail it to you for free. Okay, so this doesn't have to be used for your pet's photo - but I recommend it.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Do You Swap & Barter?
Monday, April 6, 2009
Free Audio Books for Kids & Free Online Books for Everyone
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
April 1st Free Stuff Finds
It may be April Fools Day, but this free stuff is the real deal:
Several freebies from Walmart
Each week in April if you are one of the first 10,000 people to take the Earthbound Farms Earth Day Pledge, you'll receive a free reusable shopping tote
Get free samples of shampoo including Aveeno Nourish and Dove New Therapy System Hair Care
So don't be a fool - hurry and sign up for these great free offers!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Free Antivirus Software & More!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
A Wee Bit O'Freebies
Happy St. Patricks Day! I tried to find you all a free pot of gold, but didn't have any luck. Here's some free stuff I did find:
17 Free St. Patricks Day MP3s from Celtic MP3s Music Magazine
Free George Killian's Brewmaster's Tasting Kit: Once you enter the site click on "Begin Journey", go to the Free Brewmaster's tasting Kit offer found in the lower left corner, click on "I don't have my drink kit" and use one of these codes: P3W9L4T or M9N7K3K.
Free BreadBreakthrough Recipe Book from Fleischmann's Yeast
Get ready for Easter with this Free Personalized letter From The Easter bunny
Wishing you all the luck of the Irish - Cheap Cindy
photo: eanbowman, sxc.hu
Friday, March 13, 2009
Lucky You! Free Undies, Cream of Wheat, Oprah eBook and Language Lessons
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Free Socks and Other Goodies!
Here's a few freebies and such:
Free 2-Pack of Training Socks Coupon - Bring to any Lucy Store to redeem, $14 value, Good till 03/22/09 or while supplies last
Free Quaker True Delights - Tell them your True Delight and they'll send you one of theirs
Free Sample Caress Evenly Gorgeous Exfoliating Body Wash
Restaurant.com 80% off by entering the code MENU at checkout, expires 03/15/09
And if your like me and never got any free calendars for this year, see my article How to Get Free Printable Calendars
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Free Stuff For Kids
Thursday, February 26, 2009
More Free Stuff!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Free Starbucks Instant Coffee Sample
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Download Some Free Love From Amazon
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Create a Free Luvicon
Friday, February 6, 2009
Free Curly Fries At Jack In The Box
Hang In There Jack
Hey, free food. (Does this qualify as real food?)
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
My First Award!
A big fat thank you to Faith over at the That's Just Freaking Lovely! blog for giving me The Lemonade Award. This award celebrates good attitude and gratitude. (My hubby thought it was because I'm such a sour-puss. Thanks hun.)
I am passing this award along to 10 other bloggers who I think represent good attitude and gratitude, and because I enjoy reading their blogs. Check them out, you'll like 'em too. The award goes to:
1. Motor Mouth Mandi
2. Freebie Fanatics
3. The Trashy Side
4. A Common Street Peddler by Eboni
5. Homestead Recipes
6. Frugal Patti
7. Cheaply Yours
8. All Things Frugal
9. Money Saving Methods
10. I'm Not Cheap...I'm Frugal
Congratulations! Now it's time for you winners to spread the love. Here's what you do:
1. Put the lemonade logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate 10 other bloggers who you think demonstrate good attitude and/or gratitude.
3. Link to your nominees within your post.
4. Comment on their blog to let them know they have received this award.
5. Link back to this post and the person whom you received this award from.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Free Turbo Tax Online
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Eating Out Cheap - Half Price Or Less
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Did Someone Say FREE Coffee?
Must...
have...
more...
cofffeeee...
Is it just me, or is everyone craving more coffee these days? Maybe it's the extra cold weather where I am, or it could just be the caffeine addiction's getting stronger. Whatever it is I've been hunting down free coffee offers to help with my fix and here's what I've found:
Seattle's Best Coffee Purchase a beverage and receive a free pastry or second beverage with coupon
Dunkin' Donuts Sign up to receive a free coffee sample by mail
Peet's Coffee Get your friends to sign up for the Peet's newsletter and they get a free drink (Well I've always heard you should be your own best friend, maybe I can sign myself up)
Tully's Free beverage with purchase of another beverage if you sign up for their email club. Will also send you an email for a free drink on your birthday
Biggby's Sign up for E-wards and they will send you coupons by email each week. They will also give you a special treat on your birthday
Hopefully we can get some free coffee from these offers. I don't know about you, but trying to re-brew using yesterday's coffee grounds just isn't working for me.
Here's more cheap coffee tips:
For those times when you can't afford to go out for fancy coffee but you want to pretend that you can, here are some recipes:
How To Make A Poor Man's Mocha
And if you want free coffee everyday maybe you can open your own coffee shop:
How To Start An Independent Coffee Shop
Till next time - Cheap Cindy
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Free 3 year subscription to Diet & Nutrition Magazine
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Inauguration Day Freebies
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Watching Free Movies Online - Legally
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Hey - Gimmie Back My Money!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Free Entertainment Book Online Trial
Entertainment Book Free Trial
Monday, December 29, 2008
New Year , New You? Free Online Makeover!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Swagbucks anyone?
I have no idea how long this is good for, so HURRY!
Don't know about Swag Bucks? Your missing out on all the fun. See my article Get Free Stuff With Paid to Search Websites for more info.
You can also click on the "Search and Win" ad on the right sidebar.