My Dollar Plan» Frugal on My Dollar Plan

How Far Would You Go to Save Money?

Jill — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:29:35 +0000

A year ago, I moved into a new apartment building. It’s a luxury building, and I was the very first tenant to occupy the 600 square foot space with granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. At the time, the brand new building was offering 2 months free rent, bringing the pro-rated monthly total to just within my price range. Fast forward 12 months and my lease is up. The rent is going up $90 per month and my two free months are last year’s news. Needless to say, the apartment is no longer renting for a price I feel comfortable paying.

Searching for Something New

I live in the greater DC metro area, which is a very expensive place to rent. I had a roommate for the first two years out of college, but have lived alone for the past year. I would be willing to share an apartment with a friend, but am not really willing to live with a stranger. Since all of my friends are locked into situations they’re happy with, I was once again searching for an affordable studio or 1 bedroom.

I found a newly converted basement apartment in a great location. All utilities and bills are included, down to cable and internet. I would be saving a total of 41% of my current housing and utility expenses. With the money I will save, I can likely pay off my student loan balance (my only outstanding debt) in the next 12 months – a full 11 years ahead of schedule. The cons: shared laundry with the homeowners and a kitchenette with only 2 burners and a convection oven. The apartment is probably 30% smaller than what I have now. The walk to work is longer, but the walk to public transportation is shorter.

Things to Consider

Before deciding whether to make this leap and sign a lease on this apartment, I came up with a list of major considerations:

I spend most of my non-work time at home. It’s probably worth being comfortable!
Housing is one area where it might make more sense to spend money up front to save money in the long run. With a reduction in kitchen size, I might be tempted to eat out more, thus erasing some of my savings.
Paying off debt ahead of schedule is always preferable to the alternative.
I’ve enjoyed living alone and would like to continue doing so.
Since graduation I’ve lived in managed buildings with on-site maintenance, secure entries, pools and fitness centers. On the other hand, I’ve used the latter fairly irregularly, the basement is part of a house in a very safe neighborhood, and maintenance needs are likely to be minimal since the unit is brand new.

The Big Decision

So my question for you is – how far would you go to save money? Does the answer differ depending on whether or not you have debt to pay off? What would you give up to eliminate your debt? Would you take a substantial decrease in your standard of living? Would you switch your diet to consist of slow cooker, one-pot, or microwaved meals? Would you give up cabinet space, closet space, and living space? Or would you suck it up and pay the money to keep what you are used to? Alternatively, would you live with a stranger in a nicer building?

I’m getting close to needing to make a decision, as my lease ends at the end of this month. I’d appreciate any help you all can offer before then!

Written by Jill

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Uncovering Rewards Programs for Every Purchase You Make

Amanda — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:10:26 +0000

As I mentioned in a recent article about how the recession has changed consumerism in America, consumers (that’s you and I!) expect to be paid for our loyalty now.

And shouldn’t we? With all of the rewards programs out there—and there are some really interesting ones—why should we spend our money just to get the product itself?

Reward Programs for All Your Purchases

Below is a taste of the free rewards programs available. Peruse and sign up for some!

Diapers: There is Huggies Enjoy the Ride Rewards Program, and Pampers Gift to Grow Rewards Program. Rewards include magazine subscriptions, coupons for more diapers, baby items, and movie theater tickets. Check out Money Saving Mom’s website as she often posts free codes for you to enter into your account.
Coca Cola: Paul and I are part of the MyCokeRewards program, and have so far cashed in our points for 4 movie theater tickets, and two years worth of subscriptions to the Oprah O Magazine.
Electronics: Like electronics, DVDs, etc.? Best Buy has the Reward Zone program where you earn one point for every dollar spent in their store and redeem the points for gift certificates to spend at the store. Sony also has a rewards program.
Hardware: True Value Rewards Program allows you to earn points for purchases made that you can redeem for gift certificates on your future purchases. Ace Hardware has a rewards program as well.
Movies: Earn points for purchasing Disney Movies as well as watching them in the movie theater. AMC MovieWatcher, Cobb Theater MovieGoer, Regal Crown Club are all movie theater rewards programs that help you earn free tickets, which is great since movie theater tickets are so pricey.
Office Supplies: Staples rewards program, Office Depot’s Worklife Rewards and Office Max’s MaxPerks are all programs to help you score free office supplies.
Coffee: My Starbucks Rewards, and Dunkin’ Donuts DDPerks will help to make sure your coffee addiction (or doughnut, for that matter) rewards you back.
Chocolate: Godiva has a rewards program where you get one free piece of Godiva chocolate per month in-store.
Credit Cards: Rewards credit cards let you earn points for all your purchases. In addition, many offer bonus rewards on certain categories like gas and hotels with cards like the Chase Freedom.
Books: Borders Rewards Program allows you to earn points towards in-store redeemable gift certificates, as well as signs you up for weekly coupons (my favorites are the 40% off any book).
Orange Juice: Tropicana Juicy Rewards will reward you with experiences for purchasing their product.
Yogurt: Join My Stonyfield Rewards Program and earn points to spend on more Stonyfield products.
Airfare: Various airlines let you earn points to redeem for free travel.
Toys: Toys’R’Us has the Rewards’R’Us program where you get a $5 gift certificate to spend in store for each $150 in purchases made. GameStop PowerUp rewards will help you earn money towards new video games and equipment. GamersGate offers a rewards program as well.
Vitamins: NatureMade’s reward program helps you earn points towards coupons for future purchases, yoga equipment, and other wellness items.
Department Stores: Join JCPenney’s rewards program to earn gift certifications to use in store with each purchase. This one is also great because they periodically send you $10 off $10 or more purchase coupons that can score you some really cheap stuff! Accumulate points using FamousFootwear’s rewards program to earn free shoes.
Yarn: Jimmy Beans Bucks offers knitters a way to earn cash back on their purchases, as well as one free shipping coupon at the end of each quarter.

What are some of your favorite rewards programs?

Written by Amanda

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Back-to-School Shopping Tips to Stretch Your Budget

Amanda — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:29:49 +0000

As a child my mother would take me, my sister, and our brother back-to-school shopping every year around August. It was quite the exciting time because we never got to the stores otherwise, so it was the only time of year that clothes, shoes, or other non-food essentials were purchased for us.

I remember gearing up ahead of time by looking through the JCPenny catalog, taking note of any current trends on television, and making a list of what I was looking for. After all, back then I felt that clothes and the items I possessed really defined who I was, and could catapult me from the unknown category into instantaneous popularity! (Boy am I glad I grew out of that phase).

Since the internet was non-existent back then, my mother could not have known of all the great deals that were out there, and so we normally had to shop at the $9.99 store. Had the internet been around, she would have known that you can buy name brand, quality items for both school supplies and clothing and still stick within your budget. And I’m here to show you how to do just that: stretch your back-to-school budget to its breaking point.

Note: Even if you are not a parent, this is a great time of year to stock up on your own office supplies, or to purchase items to donate to school aged children.

School Supplies: Paper, Pencils, Notebooks, etc.

Purchase the Sunday Paper: The deals have all ready started flowing in the Sunday papers, including the famous 1₵ sales from the office stores. Each week you will see a new set of office supplies on sale for a ridiculously low price, sometimes with a minimum purchase, but most times without. Be disciplined enough to go into the office store once a week for the next several weeks and take advantage of only the ridiculously low-cost items. If there is a $5 minimum purchase, you can normally purchase $5 worth of the really cheap items to meet the threshold—go ahead and stock up on these for next year or donate them.
Be on the Lookout for Rebates: Many of the big box office stores offer free items after rebate this time of year, for items such as calculators and printer paper. The rebates are oftentimes in the form of a gift card to use at the store or a prepaid visa gift card, so if you start shopping early enough you can purchase some of these more expensive items and then use the rebate to purchase the much cheaper items. This will really stretch your budget.
Purchase from Dollar Stores: Many items at the Dollar Store are not worth the money because of the poor quality, but things like rulers, reusable binders, notebook paper and index cards are safe. Recently I saw a coupon in the Family Dollar circular in the Sunday paper for $5 off a $25 purchase, so be on the lookout for more and bundle your purchases together to meet that $25 threshold. Remember, you can use coupons at dollar stores.
Drugstore Game: Have you heard of the drugstore game? In a nutshell, you purchase products at CVS and Walgreens and receive ExtraCare Bucks or Register Rewards back to spend at the store. Instead of using money to purchase things the next week, you use the ExtraCare Bucks (ECBs) and/or Register Rewards (RRs) on items that will earn you more ECBs/RRs, thus “rolling” the ECBs. Once you build them up, you can use them to pay for most of your school supplies.

Clothing

Most of your budget will be spent on clothing your child/children, and so this is definitely an area to use some strategy on. Fortunately for back-to-school shoppers we have been in a recession and the deals on clothing are just fantastic this year.
- Before you begin shopping, take a look at your child’s wardrobe and pick out items they can no longer wear to donate (make sure you get a receipt for an end-of-year tax deduction). Take another glance at these items and make sure they are non-repairable or do not fit. Perhaps your son still fits into his sneakers, but the sneakers need a little shining up with sneaker paint and soap. If sneakers are worn but still fit, you could purchase a pair of Dr. Scholl’s inserts to increase their support instead of purchasing a brand new pair of shoes.
- For teenagers who have stopped growing (but really, really want new clothing), keep main components of their wardrobe and update what is left. For example, anything that can layer should be kept, such as cardigans and vests, because you can purchase a few new shirts to go underneath of these items for a new look. Keep pants, but purchase new shirts.
- The Department Stores generally have weekly coupons in the Sunday paper for an extra 15%- 20% off of clearance items—I would start there, as I am amazed time and time again at what you can find in a store’s clearance section. Children’s Place, Old Navy, and Kohl’s have also been having spectacular sales over the last several months, with many seasonal items in their clearance sections either online or in the store.
- Check out the following blogs for weekly and daily deals for clothing, office supplies, and anything else you may need: Money Saving Mom and The Krazy Coupon Lady.
- Remember that when you are shopping online, you can normally have the items shipped to the store nearest you for no shipping costs. Also, do a google search for online coupon codes for that particular store to see what you might find.
Written by Amanda

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Father’s Day Freebies

Madison — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:28:23 +0000

Time to celebrate Father’s Day on Sunday with…. Father’s Day freebies! Here are some freebies and deals you’ll want to check out.

Father’s Day Freebies

TCBY: Free cup or cone for Dad. Ask at each location for the details.

Denny’s: Free ice cream float when you make a card on Denny’s facebook site.

Ikea: Free breakfast and coffee for Dad on Sunday.

T-Mobile: Free phone at T-Mobile on Saturday, June 19, 2010 only. New activation on a qualifying family plan with a 2 year plan required.

Smoky Bones: Free meal for dad with the purchase of another meal when you join the bones club.

Walgreens: Free 8 x 10 photo collage with the code GOBIG8X10 valid until Saturday, June 19.

Applebee’s: Free appetizer coupon for your next next visit. The coupon will be good until July 18, 2010.

Also, be sure to check out your local area. Our city is hosting a free fishing day event for dads and kids on Sunday.

Father’s Day Deals

Didn’t see anything that will work for your Dad? Check out Amazon’s Father’s Day deals for some inspiration. You can sort by personality, discount, or category.

We’ll be back to the regular edition of Free Money Friday next week!

Written by Madison

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How to Save Money on a Wedding, From a Future Bride

Amanda — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:29:04 +0000

Planning a wedding is one of the most fun, and financially stressful events of my life! I feel that I am constantly balancing traditions, ‘must-haves’, wants, and our budget.

I find that if I remember what the day is actually about—love, the union of two people, choosing to spend the rest of my life with someone—and that saying “I Do” is merely the beginning of a long and exciting journey, then it becomes much easier to prioritize spending and get past a lot of the wedding hype. After all, it only takes a bride, a groom, an officiant, a certificate, and some rings to get married. The rest is all extra!

Here are some ways I have found to save money without sacrificing quality to us.

Unconventional Saves You Money

If you choose any month other than peak wedding season—typically the summer months—then you can save money. We are choosing to have our wedding in April of 2010, and were able to negotiate a 17% discount off of the reception and catering costs solely because this is a tougher month for the venue’s director to attract business. On top of having this discount for our reception and catering, we are also in a great negotiating position for our other vendors, such as a photographer and a florist due to lower demand for services.

You can rent purses, and rent textbooks now, why not rent your bridal gown? Sure, you won’t be the first spring chick to wear it, but the quality will still be impeccable, and there is normally an option to buy it at a discount from what you would pay if it were brand new. If you feel like buying new, I tried on probably around 20 fantastic and gorgeous gowns for under $500 at David’s Bridal.

If you do decide to purchase a gown, don’t forget you can donate the dress after the ceremony for a tax deduction.

Buy Hardware Online

There are many online sites with great reputations that sell engagement rings and wedding bands at severely discounted prices, like upwards of 50%! You can try different styles of rings on at jewelers, and have your ring finger measured. Then go online to sites such as Amazon and Sea of Diamonds. If you are squeamish about purchasing fine jewelry online, know that many sites give you 30-60 days to return the jewelry for a full refund (although customized jewelry may not be returnable), and you can use this time to get the metal and gem verified by a jeweler.

Hire Amateur Service Providers

What do Donald Trump, Sam Walton, and Stephen King all have in common? They all began as amateurs in their individual industries. It took people with faith to employ them, and purchase their products for them to develop their talent and evolve into the household names they are today. You can use amateurs in your wedding as well at a fraction of the cost you would pay normally. Check out trade schools in your area, and interview a few seniors in photography to use for your wedding day. Let them know what your photography budget is, and see if they are willing to accept a paid position for a few hours on a Saturday. You can find a florist this way as well.

One of my friends even used one of her friends who had an interest in photography. The form of payment? They bought their friend a nice camera for several hundred dollars in exchange for her taking all of their wedding photography. The pictures were stunning.

Potluck Rehearsal Dinner

Rehearsal dinners are a nice, informal way to show your bridesmaids and groomsmen how much you appreciate them, and also for everyone to get to know one another and enjoy themselves! Instead of footing a restaurant bill, ask your parents to host a potluck rehearsal dinner at their home. Having this at someone’s home will keep the spirit of the dinner light and joyful, as well as help to create relationships between the two families. If only one or two of your parents is footing most of the bill for the food, offer to pay them for the ingredients and other necessities, which should still save you over half the cost of taking everyone out to a restaurant.

Gift Card-Purchased Attendant and Parent Gifts

One of the best things that you can do to save several hundred dollars is to open up a credit card that earns you points for your purchases. Then, charge everything for the wedding to this card—being sure to pay off the balance each month—and use the points to buy you gift cards. It will take you several months to earn enough for substantial gift cards, so perhaps the best way to use them is to purchase gifts for your attendants and parents leading up to the wedding.

Written by Amanda

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5 More Ways to Earn Some Extra Cash

Amanda — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 14:29:05 +0000

Who couldn’t use some extra cash? Perhaps you are planning a trip this year or next, your bills seem to have ballooned out of control, or you are building up your emergency fund. For me and my fiance, we are getting married in April, taking a honeymoon afterwards, and building up our savings after depleting it for the home that we bought. In other words, we could use a lot of extra cash.

As a follow up to 10 Surprising Things You Can Turn Into Cash, I’d like to offer 5 more surprising suggestions for how to make extra money for the goals that you have in your own life. Here they are:

Rent Out Space in Your Home: If you have a spare room you rarely use, basement space, attic space, etc., you can rent your space just like a storage unit. Check out Sparefoot and list your space for rent. Another way to find a renter is through the newspaper, or by posting an ad in an apartment complex. Strike up a contract with your renter, and get paid by check or paypal each month (or charge for a set number of months). Be sure to have adequate homeowners insurance on the belongings in your home to cover your renter’s property, or put a term in your contract that absolves you of any obligations or penalties should something happen to the renter’s property.
Rent Out Your Parking Space: Is your home located near a stadium, an annual festival, or public transportation? If so, you can rent out a parking space to one person by contract, or to people as needed. You can attract people by advertising a rate at half of what they may pay for a parking spot otherwise. Google a sample lease agreement for parking spaces and modify it as necessary.
Raise Guinea Pigs and Sell Them to Pet Stores: Kittens or puppies take up a lot of space, so raising them to sell may not be ideal for many. However, raising guinea pigs takes much less space, and are also a great way to earn extra money. In particular, you can raise them and sell them to pet stores. You can also find brokers who will buy the guinea pigs from you and then sell them to places like PetSmart. Check with a pet store that you would like to sell to because there will be certain qualifications. Typically a guinea pig litter yields four, and it takes about six weeks before they can be sold. What a fun project if you have kids!
Sell Ad Space on Your Car: There are companies that are willing to pay you up to several hundred dollars per month for your prime advertising space: your vehicle. Based upon your use of the vehicle, and the city/state/etc. that you live in, you could be chosen to wrap your vehicle in a banner and become an ad as you drive your kids to school and yourself to work. Check out Driven Media, or Miles of Marketing (for mothers).
Medical Testing: This one typically conjures up images of rashes and strange pills, but I am here to tell you that there are many medical tests that are completely safe and easy to make money from. If you live near a university, you can typically find medical tests that can range from psychological questioning to a blood sample. Check out college newspapers or bulletins to find these. Also, check out Craigslist or the ad section of your newspaper.

Written by Amanda

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9 Tips to Stretch the Life of Common Household Items

Amanda — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:29:19 +0000

Look around the house and you’ll find many items that are wearing out faster than you want. Ever wish you could make them last longer? With a little bit of care, you can stretch out the life of many household items.

How to Make Household Items Last Longer

Printer Ink Cartridges: Start by using an eco-friendly font called the Ecofont, which uses less ink with the same print results. You can download it for free here. When your cartridge is near the end of its life, take it out of your printer and use your hairdryer to ‘melt’ clunked ink and make it usable. I did this, and my ink cartridge lasted another three months! It also helps to buy your ink cartridges from discount ink printers like 123 Inkjets.
Bras: Bras can be very expensive! I have had success with keeping mine for 6+ years by keeping a pair of plyers in case I need to bend the clasps back into place, and hanging them to dry instead of putting them into the dryer, which will increase the wear and tear. You may want to use a cheap mesh laundry bag to put them into before putting them in the washer in order to decrease the distress. Also, I have found that if the wiring bends, you can simply pull it out of the bra, and the rest of the material is still usable for several more years!
Sink Sponges: If your sponge starts to look gross, simply wet it and put it in the microwave for one-two minutes to sterilize it and give it a new life. Once it has reached its end in your kitchen, make this sponge your new bathroom cleaning sponge to stretch its life even further.
Vacuum Cleaner: The key to stretching the life of your vacuum is maintenance. Periodically check the beater bar (the rotating part with the brushes) and cut off any hair/carpet fibers/etc. straining the motor. If your vacuum is not working as efficiently as before, you may just need to change the belt. You can do this yourself (refer to manufacturer’s instructions), or take it to a vacuum repair shop and it should cost you less than $15. If your vacuum has a filter, clean it periodically by filling a bucket with warm water and mild soap and let it soak. Rinse the filter in cool water and let it dry air.
Mattress: Using the brush tool on your vacuum cleaner, vacuum the top and sides of your mattress several times a year to remove dust mites and bacteria. If you feel a lag in the mattress, flip it over for a firmer and newer feel. If the mattress is still sapping too much, purchase a few 2 X 4’s and cut them to fit into the metal bars of your bed for extra mattress support.
Sneakers: To keep your sneakers clean, take the shoe laces out and simply throw them into your washer and dryer. Also, when the interior begins to breakdown, purchase inserts for less than $20 to stretch the life of your sneakers by six months or more, depending upon how you use them.
Couch Cushions: The trick here is to rotate the couch cushions. Once a month, move the cushion from the left and put it on the right. Then once every few months, rotate couch cushions from different chairs (if you are able to). That way, the cushions that get the most use (we all like our spots!) will not become completely deflated while the other cushions stay plump.
Razor Blades: Drying your razor blades after use can dramatically extend their life.
Laptop Battery: Decrease the number of programs that you have running in the background while doing other work. Dim the light on your monitor to a level you are comfortable with. Hibernate your laptop while not in use instead of using standby. Turn the volume down, or mute it when not in use. Also, periodically defrag your hard drive.

With just a few quick tricks you’ll be able to stretch the life of many household items.

What tips do you use to make things last longer?

Written by Amanda

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Throw a 50th Wedding Anniversary on a Budget

Amanda — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:29:23 +0000

Over the holidays I had the privilege of being a part of a very momentous occasion: my grandparents’ 50^th wedding anniversary. Celebrating 50 years of love, triumph, children, tears, and joy was such an overwhelmingly wonderful feeling, and one that I hope all of you can experience in either your own milestone anniversary, or through the celebration of others’.

For the occasion our family all chipped in and threw a party with 120+ guests (a couple meets many friends and acquaintances over 50 years of marriage!) We basically threw a second wedding, complete with a DJ, mini-bar, food and slide show. We did not set an overall budget; however, each of us found very effective ways to keep the costs under control. Below are some suggestions for how to throw a successful anniversary party for someone that you love.

Divide and Conquer

The first step is to decide who can chip in with money, and how to delegate the tasks. For our family the daughters and sons took care of the food/bar, cake, DJ, location, while the grandchildren (we are all in our 20s or older) all chipped in for the favors and decorations. After reading through the rest of this article, and getting an idea of what you want the party to be like, sit down with the people who can chip in and figure out a loose budget to work with. Instead of setting a budget, you could also get a commitment from everyone on how much they can contribute, and plan the party from there.

Food for an Army

Perhaps for their actual wedding our grandparents had their food catered, but to save on costs each of my aunts and uncles cooked a dish with enough servings to feed 120+ guests. Two long tables were set up for a buffet, and we borrowed catering heating trays to keep the food warm. Dishes that are inexpensive to make, will fill up a hungry crowd, and just plain taste great, include: macaroni and cheese, meatballs and fresh parmesan cheese for meatball sandwiches, turka cabbasta (okay, that is phonetically spelled; it is a traditional Hungarian dish in my family that is basically pigs in a cabbage blanket with ground up meat, rice, tomato sauce, etc.), potato salad, pasta salad etc.

A three-tiered cake was purchased at a grocery store bakery for a fraction of the cost of a comparable cake from a bakery (and yes, the icing was real and not imitation whipped). A way to save even more money on the cake would have been to get a sheet cake versus the tiered cake.

Decorations on a Budget

The traditional 25^th anniversary color is silver, and the traditional 50^th anniversary color is gold. Both of these colors are abundant around Christmas time, and thus decorations in these two colors are severely discounted each year in January. We took advantage of an abundance of discounted votive candles, gold pillar candles, gold Christmas balls, gold charger plates, and tulle fabric. The centerpiece for each table was the charger plate with candles, gold balls strung and clustered together then wrapped with tulle fabric to soften the gold color. White plastic tablecloths were purchased at the Dollar Store.

Flowers

The only flowers that were purchased were the boutonnieres for our grandparents. The morning of the party we went to Wal-Mart and purchased two red roses. Gold leaves were hot glued to the backs of each of the red roses to frame them, and each was pinned onto the guests of honor when they arrived.

Music and Entertainment

In order to keep costs low, a friend of my parents offered to bartend the event, and another friend of my parents offered to play photographer for the night. Even though a DJ was hired, it is also an option to set up an iPod or MP3 player, borrow some speakers or a sound system from someone’s home, and play special music all night long.

We also had two DVDs made from photos representing 50 years of memories. This movie of photos played on a wall throughout the party. Periodically during the year you can find sales at drugstores such as Walgreens or CVS to make these types of DVDs cheaply. You can collect photos from family members, or snag the photo albums from the couples’ home (like we did). To create a screen, you can tack white sheet paper or even a white sheet onto a wall.

The Thought That Counts

No matter what time, energy, and money you are able to put into this, remember that it is truly the thought that counts. Your friends, parents, grandparents, or other family members will be absolutely surprised and feel loved when they find themselves in a room surrounded by people who want nothing more but to celebrate their love, and the family and lives they have created. Enjoy!

Written by Amanda

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Score Free Stuff on Your Birthday

Amanda — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:44:13 +0000

Birthday freebies and free stuff for your birthday! Birthday gifts and surprises are not just for kids. After all, why should they have all the fun?

My birthday is coming up, and I thought this would be a great opportunity to share with you lots of companies who offer freebies on your birthday each year. Here is a list that you can sign up for at anytime of the year so that your next birthday is full of lovely recognition and birthday freebies!

Birthday Freebies

Cold Stone Creamery: Free Ice Cream
Disneyland or Disneyworld: Free Admission into the park
Sephora: Free Lip Gloss Trio (visit the store with no purchase necessary, or order something online)
Red Robin: Join the eclub, and get a free burger on your birthday
Academy Sports: Free $5 gift card
Baskin Robbins: Join the birthday club for a free ice cream
Buca di Beppo: Free dessert (ooohhh—tiramisu sounds great to me)
Fuddruckers: Free 1/3 Burger
Houlihan’s: Free entrée
Qdoba Mexican Grill: Free burrito
Medieval Times: Free ticket for a show and dinner
Philosophy: Birthday gift each year (doesn’t specify what it is—a true surprise!)
Benihana: Join the Chef’s Table and get a free $30 gift certificate
DSW Shoe Warehouse: Free $5 gift certificate

Also, here is a great website to sign up for in order to find local birthday deals and more freebies on your birthday: Birthday Freebies. Enjoy!

Know of more birthday freebies? Share them in the comments below!

Written by Amanda

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Plan Now to Make the Most of Post Holiday Sales

Amanda — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:20:16 +0000

I think there should be a song titled “The 12 days After Christmas”. What a fantastic time to purchase gifts for others or yourself, seasonal items for next year, and other great items at 50-75% off of the price these same products were just two weeks earlier!

Retailers are very interested in getting you into stores after Christmas because they cannot count gift card purchases in their sales figures until the gift card is redeemed. It’s a win-win situation for both consumers and merchants: merchants can move some seasonal and regular merchandise off of shelves before new stock arrives for February, and consumers can find great deals!

Where to Find Post Holiday Sales

For decorations, wrapping paper, etc., you will find the steepest and quickest mark downs at stores that do not typically carry large amounts of seasonal merchandise, such as the aisle in Walgreens, CVS, or Rite Aid that turns into a Christmas Wonderland in late October, or in your grocery store.

Dealnews is a great website to keep you on top of steep discounts from a variety of stores. If you are looking for deals at a particular store, it’s a great idea to go to the ‘clearance’ section of their website, or visit them directly and take a look around at what is on sale.

Play Chicken with Retailers

Are you the type who wants to rush out to stores the day or week after Christmas to snatch up some deals? Perhaps there is something in particular this year that you have been waiting to purchase. I am here to tell you that you should wait some more.

Stores will typically put items on clearance for 25-50% off for the week after Christmas. But if you wait another week, you can get the same items at a deeper discount. What if you were to wait until three weeks after Christmas? Stores will generally keep merchandise on sale and make steeper and steeper reductions on prices until the last week of January. February is the month when the shelf space is needed for new products and so old merchandise is moved out whether it was sold or not.

Are you willing to play chicken with retailers to get upwards of 75% off? The only issue with doing this is if there is something specific item that you want; someone else may buy it, or the store may pull merchandise before you have the chance to purchase it yourself.

Best Stores in Years Past

While past sales are not necessarily a predictor for future ones, there are several stores that tend to give the steepest discounts on their merchandise after the holidays. Here is a worthwhile list for you to check out this year to score some great deals:

Old Navy
Target
Walgreens
JCPenney’s

Where do you plan to shop after the holidays?

Written by Amanda

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Frugal Gifts and Holiday Deals

Jill — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:29:38 +0000

Are you still frantically looking for holiday gifts? Luckily, it’s easier than ever to shop from the comfort of your home, and get great deals in the process! Many online retailers are offering free shipping, and even more are offering BIG sales in an effort to drive revenue. The deals are-ever changing, so instead of highlighting specific items, I’ve listed my favorite items and go-to places for deals this holiday season.

Frugal Gift Ideas

If you’re not into homemade or alternative gift ideas, there are still items to be purchased without breaking the bank. These are some of my go-to items this year:

Magazines: I’ve really embraced the idea of giving magazine subscriptions as gifts. These are great for people of all ages – kids LOVE getting mail, and adults love getting their favorite magazines without having to shell out for them. Some of my favorite memories as a child involve waiting eagerly for the latest issue of Highlights to arrive, courtesy of my uncle. For women, Real Simple is always a good option, and men might enjoy Sports Illustrated. Of course anyone can benefit from a subscription to Money or Smart Money! Be sure to check out Hearst, which is offering many titles for just $5, and Amazon.com, which is offering up to $10 off certain subscriptions.
Ornaments: My family has always enjoyed giving and receiving Christmas ornaments. We even give them for birthdays or other holidays! Ornaments can be an inexpensive way to commemorate a special event, such as a wedding or birth, or symbolize an interest such as a sport or musical instrument. We often purchase them for as little as $5 at Marshall’s. You can also find good deals on eBay.
Food: When in doubt, give food! Who doesn’t like to eat?? My grandfather loves chocolate-covered cherries, which can be purchased inexpensively at any grocery store. You can go fancier, ordering a basket from Harry and David or a similar site. But the most frugal thing to do is put a little basket together yourself – purchase an inexpensive basket at the dollar store or a store like Big Lots and fill it with items for hot chocolate and s’mores, wine and cheese, or popcorn and movie candy.
Home items: Home items are both practical and fun – often you can find something that is very usable, but that the recipient wouldn’t generally buy for his or herself. I like slow cookers for college students or young professionals, and serving dishes or tablecloths for more established people. These items do not have to be expensive, though they can be – do some research to find the best quality for the lowest price.
Money savers: To add more of a personal finance angle to this post, consider giving people things that will save them money in the long run. An example is a bread maker or a Netflix subscription. I also like giving cookbooks to people who don’t currently do much at-home cooking.
Books: Like many items on this list, books cost as little or as much as you want them to. Amazon was running a deal last week where you could buy two paperbacks and get one free. You can often find $5 books at Barnes and Noble or Borders. Giving books allows you to share a favorite with a friend, encourage an interest of the recipient’s, or pass along knowledge that you know might be useful. When my cousins get a little older I’ll definitely be sharing my favorite personal finance book with them – Suze Orman’s Money Book for the Young, Fabulous, and Broke.

Red Hot Deal Sites

I’m always on the lookout for a good deal, but when in doubt a combination of these sites can usually get me what I want at the right price:

Google: I like Google Shopping for item comparison. Once I settle on a specific item, I quickly type in the name to Google’s shopping page to see if there’s a better deal. Google factors in taxes and shipping costs when calculating, which is great. I’ve saved up to $20 per item this way.
Cash back sites: Once you’ve settled on the item and the retailer, begin your transaction at cash back sites like Ebates or UPromise to get cash back on your purchases. If you belong to multiple sites, compare the reward for each purchase you make – the same site is not always the best deal!
Amazon.com: At Amazon you can find daily and sometimes hourly “Gold Box Deals,” where they offer certain items at deep discounts for a limited time. I keep this page open and refresh constantly. Amazon is also offering toys for up to 50% off.
Old Navy: Old Navy has long been one of my favorite places to buy gifts. Here, you can get clothing, outerwear, pajamas, and sometimes even toys or novelty items. I especially like their “gift guide” where you can shop by price – some items are as low as $5!
Target: Target always has good deals around the holidays, and this year is no exception. They have a whole section of electronics for under $100, and are also offering free shipping on certain items over $50.
Coupon sites: Lastly, before you pay for your items, make sure to check out CouponCabin or your favorite site for coupon codes. I usually just Google the website I’m on and “coupon code” (e.g., Old Navy Coupon Code) to find the best deals available – I can almost always get free shipping and sometimes find coupons for up to 25% off!

Restaurant Deals

If none of the above gifts interest you, or you just want to buy some gift cards and be done, consider restaurant gift cards! You’ll make your shopping easier and save your recipient money on a meal out. I’ve seen a ton of restaurants offering great deals on gift cards this year. $100 may sound like a lot, but it could be 5 $20 gifts or even 10 $10 gifts for coworkers, your children’s teachers, or stocking stuffers. If there’s a deal offered at one of your family’s favorite restaurants, you can also use these deals as a chance to stretch your dollars a little further.

California Pizza Kitchen: Buy $100, get $20 free
Cheesecake Factory: Buy $25, get a free slice of cheesecake (must purchase gift card in restaurant)
Chevy’s: Buy $50, get $10 free
Denny’s: Buy $25, get $5 free
Outback Steakhouse: Buy $100, get $20 free

Many local restaurants are offering holiday deals on gift cards as well – make sure to check with your favorites!

And don’t forget…

Buying the gifts is only part of the battle! Save even more with our frugal gift wrap ideas, and take your bargain hunting one step further with this $5 coupon good on any purchase at Hallmark Gold Crown Stores.

Written by Jill

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5 Alternative and Creative Gift Giving Ideas

Amanda — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:29:19 +0000

It is tradition in my family to purchase a gift for everyone. This includes grandparents, parents, siblings and their children, significant others, friends, etc. I love to purchase gifts throughout the year that fit each of the people on my list, and also to get great deals as sales come up seasonally. But year after year, my gift-giving list just keeps growing!

Gift-giving should not be a stressful event, nor should it divert your financial efforts for several months into the New Year. If you find yourself with a large list of people to purchase for, I am here to tell you that you do not need to feel overwhelmed. Keep the spirit of the season in mind, and use one of the following alternate gift-giving ideas below to spread some cheer, keep things interesting, and make everyone happy.

Alternative Gift Ideas

Put Money Into Savings for a Shared Goal: Instead of purchasing a gift this year for your significant other, close friends, etc., you can both contribute money into savings for a shared goal. For example, if you and your friend have always talked about taking a yoga or cooking class together, or you and your spouse are saving towards a long weekend getaway, you can both contribute money into an account to help pay for this future gift.
White Elephant Exchange:This is a great idea for large families, or businesses/organizations, etc. Everyone purchases a gift (within a specified money limit), and brings it to an event wrapped. All gifts are placed on a table, and each person who brought a gift chooses a number out of a basket. Starting with number 1, that person chooses a gift from the table. Each person thereafter (starting with number 2, 3, etc.) can either choose to steal a gift that someone else has chosen, or to take a gift from the table. In the end, everyone has a gift, and the crowd is usually dying to know what is under all the shiny wrapping paper of an especially interesting-looking gift or two. It’s a lot of fun!
Donate to a Charity in a Person’s or Family’s Name: Just Give has a great option for a holiday gift. You can purchase the GiveNow gift card to give to another person or family as a gift. They then log onto Just Give, choose from over 1.5 million charities in the database, and click to make the donation!
Family Gift or Experience: If you have sisters, brothers, or friends who have children of their own, instead of purchasing one gift for each family member, purchase a gift for the entire family that will help to bring them closer together. This could be a badminton net or horsehoe set, a gift certificate to the movies, or a blockbuster gift card and a tin of gourmet popcorn. Get creative!
Secret Santa: Several weeks before the holidays, pick names out of a hat to determine who each person will purchase a gift for. This remains a secret until the gift is exchanged, which can either be at your holiday dinner/gathering, or in a secret, spontaneous way (think sneaking it into the driver seat of their car, in their mailbox/front doorstep, waiting for them on their desk at work, etc.)

Have fun, get creative, and enjoy this holiday season with your loved ones. Who knows, this may be the year that you start a new, cherished tradition!

Written by Amanda

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How To Save Money on Gift Wrap

Jill — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:29:51 +0000

If you completed your holiday shopping on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, it’s time for the next step…wrapping! So many times I’ve set a budget for a gift and stayed within it – only to spend a fortune buying the perfect wrapping supplies. If you’re trying to save money this holiday season, consider some of these frugal gift wrap ideas.

Wrapping Paper Alternatives

Wrap in comics or relevant newspaper: I once wrapped kitchen items in grocery ads. You could use the sports section to wrap athletic equipment, or the real estate section when giving items for a new house. Glossy magazine ads also make good wrapping, especially for small items.

Use jars, tins, or other containers: If you’re gifting edible items, tins or jars serve a dual purpose of holding in freshness and a nice presentation. Plus, the “wrapping” can be reused once the gift inside is removed! My aunt once gave me a gift card inside a beautiful gold painted box, with a nice bow on top. It was perfect for storing holiday items throughout the rest of the year.

Make the wrapping part of the gift: Give gift cards inside of small items from that place (e.g., a Starbucks card inside a small mug). Give money, gift cards, jewelry, or other small items in a purse. Give school or office supplies in a tote, and dorm room supplies in a trashcan or laundry basket. You can also use reusable grocery/shopping bags to hold your gift of choice.

Create your own wrapping: Start with brown packing paper, white butcher paper, or the white side of old wrapping paper. Add stamps, paint, or markers and your imagination! Be creative with a holiday design or something personal to the gift recipient.

Use bags: Cellophane bags with colored paper and a festive ribbon are a fast and frugal way to present a gift. You can also use brown paper bags, then punch holes and thread ribbon through the top. Either can be purchased very cheaply in bulk, and used for various purposes around the house. If you have kids, let them decorate the brown bag before wrapping.

Dress it Up

Once the wrapping is done, you might want to add a little something to make your gift stand out. Here are some ideas for gift embellishments:

Create your own tags: You can use simple peel-and-stick address labels to create your own gift tags, at home or on the computer. You can also cut fun shapes out of felt, construction paper, cardstock, or leftover scraps of wrapping paper mounted on cardboard.

Recycle supplies: In my family, we like to save ribbon and reuse it from year to year. Last year I had a whole shoebox of ribbon from the year before! You can also cut out large shapes from old Christmas cards, and use them as gift tags – just write the “to” and “from” on the back.

Make your own bows: If you have extra magazines or newspaper lying around, you can make some really festive bows to adorn your gifts. Miss M has a nice tutorial to show you how.

Add trinkets to the top: If you’re giving a small item such as a key chain or small ornament as part of your gift, tie it to the main gift with some rope, twine, ribbon, or raffia. Personalized key chains or ornaments can double as gift tags.

When it comes to frugal gift wrapping, the sky’s the limit! The trick is to take a look at items you have around the house, and think of ways to repurpose them for wrapping. Set aside a little time to be creative and you might surprise even yourself.

What are your favorite ways to wrap gifts?

Photos by Cuttlefish, E. Bartholomew, loose punctuation, and Mae Armstrong via Flickr

Written by Jill

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3 Do It Yourself Tasks to Save $170 Per Year

Amanda — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:29:49 +0000

Do-it-Yourself (DIY) has become a new and exciting movement in the United States. Of course, for us frugal people, it’s been a core in our lives since we first made the realization that paying someone else usually comes with a premium.

Below are three things that you can do for yourself at home in order to save at least $170 in the upcoming year (and probably much more, depending on your lifestyle and needs).

Restaurant Secret Recipes Created in Your Own Kitchen

On Friday nights, do you get a craving for Hooters® Buffalo Chicken Wings, or perhaps a piece of the Cheesecake Factory’s® pumpkin cheesecake? Instead of leaving your home, you can make these recipes in your own kitchen.

There are chefs out there who have made it their business to debunk some of America’s favorite recipes (such as Olive Gardens’® famous Italian dressing!) and have made them available to you with specific directions from ingredients, to instructions on how to make it look just like you ordered it at a restaurant.

You can use the Top Secret Restaurant Recipes cookbook, or check out the Top Secret website where they post many of these secret recipes for free.

Cost Savings: Varies between $5 -15 per meal.

Lawnmower Tune-ups

If you live in a seasonal area, you will typically need to tune-up your lawnmower once a year. Instead of carting it to the shop, why not do it at home? Purchase an air filter specific to your model and brand, oil, and borrow/purchase some sharpening tools.

Cost savings: $80-100 per year.

Disconnect your spark plug wire so that there is no chance of the mower starting while you are working on it. Check out this website (scroll down) to see a photo of how to remove the spark plug wire.
Prop the mower up on two cinder blocks.
Remove the old air filter by unscrewing the compartment it is held in. Clean out around the compartment where there may be grease and grime build-up. Replace with new air filter and reattach the compartment. (Check this article out for photos and more detail).
Now, place the lawnmower on its side, and carefully (wear working gloves to do this), unscrew and remove the blades. You can wedge a block of wood or a crowbar in between blades in order to increase safety. Once removed, place the blades into a vice to secure them, and use your grinder, or a metal file to sharpen them. In order to keep the balance of the blades (so that your blades cut grass evenly), use the same number of sharpening strokes on each of the blades.
Find your oil plug (usually above where the blades were, but check your model), and drain the old oil out of the mower into a pan. Check out this website for a photo of where to find yours.
Put the oil plug back into the mower, and then fill with oil (using the dipstick as a guide to make sure you do not under or overfill).
Reattach the sharpened blades (with care…they are now very sharp!)

File Your Taxes

Here’s a great thing that many people don’t know about: you can call the IRS help hotline to get an answer to any question you may have while filing your taxes.

There are many free online ways to efile taxes (we use Turbotax), and while you are working on your forms, take a pad of paper and write down any and all questions you have (IRS Tax helpline Info Page).

Also, online websites like Turbotax have specific, simple questions built-in that will trigger various forms to fill out depending upon whether you answer yes or no. With help like this, filing your own taxes for free has become a viable alternative to working with an accountant during tax season.

Cost Savings: $80+ per year

Written by Amanda

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Black Friday 2009 Free Stuff

Madison — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:00:40 +0000

It’s one of the most exciting Free Money Fridays! Back by popular demand is the Black Friday 2009 free stuff list!

I searched through all the sites that I listed yesterday as my favorite Black Friday Shopping Resources to compile the list. It’s separated by free, free after rebate, and free with purchase. Be sure to check the ad scans for accuracy, and verify what time the price ends in your area. You can see last year’s list of Black Friday 2008 Free Stuff.

Free

Half Price Books

Free Tote Bag & $5 Gift Card to First 100 Customers

Ikea

Free Breakfast & Coffee Until 10:30 am

JCPenney

Free Disney Snowglobe While Supplies Last

Sports Authority

Free Bonus Bucks Card for First 80 People in Line

Target

Free Marcel Wanders Shopping Bag for First 500 People

Free After Rebate

Ace Hardware

Ratcheting Screwdriver 38-Piece Set
Stanley Staple Gun

CVS

Magnavox Universal Remote
Philips Earbuds
Hershey’s/Reese’s Singles
Mars King Size Bars
Degree Ultra Clear for Women
DynaPop Energy Shots
Just For Men Touch Of Grey
Right Guard Sport 3D
Vasoline Sheer Infusion Lotion

Menards

6-in-1 Screwdriver or 16′ Tape Meausre

Office Depot

Interior Design Software
Photo Explosion Software
Print Master Software
Scrapbook Factory Software
$1000 in Software with Microsoft Office or Windows 7 Purchase
HP Printer with Any Computer Purchase

Staples

Duracell Batteries 20-Pack
GE 4-Device Universal Remote Control
Sharp Handheld Solar Calculator
Peachtree Pro Accounting Software
Canon Printer with Purchase of Any Digital Camera
HP Printer with Any Desktop or Laptop

Walgreens

Aquafresh Cavity Protection Toothpaste
Dove Ultimate Visibly Smooth Deodorant
Infusium 23 Hair Care
Johnson’s Softwash
Nivea for Men Shave Gel
Right Guard Sport Deodorant

Free With Purchase

Babies R Us

Summer Infant Audio Monitor with Purchase of Handheld Color Video Monitor

Best Buy

LG Chocolate Touch with 2 Year Verizon Contract
$10 Gift Card with $40 Ink Purchase
$5 Napster Card with any CD Purchase $5 and up

Build a Bear

Mini Moose Pair with Any $30 Purchase

Gander Mtn.

$20 Gander Cash with Each $100 Purchase (Thursday 3 – 9 pm)

Half Price Books

$5 Coupon with $25 Gift Card Purchase
Half Price Books Calendar with Any $25 Purchase

K-Mart

Handy Manny Talking Tool Box with Repair Shop Purchase
Xbox 360 Halo 3 ODST with Xbox 360 Elite Bundle Purchase

Kohls

$10 Kohl’s Cash for Every $50 Spent
Tote with $25 Fragrance or Cosmetic Purchase

Lowes

6-Piece or 3 Piece Wood Handle Tool Set with Tool Chest Purchase

Meijer

Neoprene Sleeve and Microsoft Wireless 3000 Mouse with HP Mini 1020 or 1030 Netbook Purchase
2 Buy-ray Movies and 2 Video Games with PS3 120GB Slim Console Purchase
Grand Theft Auto IV and Halo 3 with Xbox 360 Game System or Bundle Purchase

Old Navy

Lego Rock Band Game with $20 Purchase
Rock Band Guitar with Rock Band 2 Software Purchase

Sears

$70 Gift Card with Purchase of 4 Select Tires
Jewelry Box with $35 Fragrance or Cosmetics Purchase
Craftsman 100 watt Work Light with Purchase of 1000 Watt Tripod Worklight
Craftsman Air Tool Kit with Craftsman 33 gal Air Compressor purchase
Craftsman Air Tool Kit with Craftsman 33 gal Air Compressor purchase
Nintendo Wii Nerf Racing Wheel with Wii System Purchase
Sony PS3 Blu-Ray Remote with Playstation 120GB System
Whirlpool Micowave with purchase of Gas or Electric Range
Xbox 360 Live 12 Month Gold Card with Xbox Elite Bundle purchase

Sports Authority

$25 Gift Card with Purchase of a Golf Buddy GPS

Tanger Outlets: Dress Barn

Cosmetic Bag with $50 Purchase

Target

$10 Gift Card with $100 Purchase
$10 Gift Card with Purchase of Selected Video Games

Toys R Us

$50 Gift Card With Any Apple iPod 8GB Touch
EVA Sleeve Kit With Any DSi Holiday Bundle
Bendaroos 100 Piece Set With Any 500 Piece Set Purchase
Easel Starter Kit With Any Imaginarium Deluxe Wooden Art Easel Purchase
Imaginarium Big Train Set With Any Arch Train Table Purchase

If you find more, please post them in the comments.

Written by Madison

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My Dollar Plan» Frugal on My Dollar Plan

How Far Would You Go to Save Money?

Searching for Something New

Things to Consider

The Big Decision

Uncovering Rewards Programs for Every Purchase You Make

Reward Programs for All Your Purchases

Back-to-School Shopping Tips to Stretch Your Budget

School Supplies: Paper, Pencils, Notebooks, etc.

Clothing

Father’s Day Freebies

Father’s Day Freebies

Father’s Day Deals

How to Save Money on a Wedding, From a Future Bride

Unconventional Saves You Money

Buy Hardware Online

Hire Amateur Service Providers

Potluck Rehearsal Dinner

Gift Card-Purchased Attendant and Parent Gifts

5 More Ways to Earn Some Extra Cash

9 Tips to Stretch the Life of Common Household Items

How to Make Household Items Last Longer

Throw a 50th Wedding Anniversary on a Budget

Divide and Conquer

Food for an Army

Decorations on a Budget

Flowers

Music and Entertainment

The Thought That Counts

Score Free Stuff on Your Birthday

Birthday Freebies

Plan Now to Make the Most of Post Holiday Sales

Where to Find Post Holiday Sales

Play Chicken with Retailers

Best Stores in Years Past

Frugal Gifts and Holiday Deals

Frugal Gift Ideas

Red Hot Deal Sites

Restaurant Deals

And don’t forget…

5 Alternative and Creative Gift Giving Ideas

Alternative Gift Ideas

How To Save Money on Gift Wrap

Wrapping Paper Alternatives

Dress it Up

3 Do It Yourself Tasks to Save $170 Per Year

Restaurant Secret Recipes Created in Your Own Kitchen

Lawnmower Tune-ups

File Your Taxes

Black Friday 2009 Free Stuff

Free

Free After Rebate

Free With Purchase