Frugal Column and Extras July 7

Now is the time for change. If you haven't realized it yet we are half way through 2011. I had someone ask me if I actually do everything that I write about. I am guilty of not following through with all my advice but I do try. I understand that we all have very busy lives but simple steps can help you save money. Every place you go nowadays has reward cards, you need to sign up. These reward cards enable you to get sale prices, earn rewards, get prizes or even give you money back when you make a purchase. Take the time to check this out. For example our local grocery store Krogers has a reward card called the Kroger Plus card this card not only gets you the sales pricing on items but also can get you 10 cents off a gallon of gas at Kroger gas stations or even at the Shell stations. If you get your gas at a Speedway station sign up for their Speedy card this will reward you with free products. Anything you can get extra when you are going to make a purchase anyways is just a nice perk. I do know that it is hard to keep track of all those reward cards so today I took a step on my smartphone by loading all the cards on the free app called Cardstar. Remember if you don’t have your card on you most places will be able to access your account by just giving your phone number. If you use credit cards make sure you are getting all your benefits. My card gives me points that I can get money back or gift cards. I personally buy everything on my credit card and try real hard to pay off my balance every month. When I know I need a present, I use my points to get a gift card. Ok, now I am going to be completely honest with you, I don’t have a written down budget of my daily expenses. I do use Microsoft Money to balance my checkbook that gives me a breakdown of all my expenses. It can be really scary to actually see what you are spending but it can help you to acknowledge your spending habits. One course of action that I do every couple of times a year is make sure all the services I signed up for are the most appropriate for me. This means call about your phone bill, your insurance rates, your cable bills, and any other monthly expenses that can fluctuate. I just called the phone company, I didn’t get a deduction in my bill but I had more services put on for free. What I can’t stress enough is to be proactive with your money. When you have to have something today it is going to cost you more. Think about what special events are coming up, or home projects so you can start planning now allowing you to make smarter purchases. I tell you all the time how to make great personalized photo gifts for close to free or even greeting cards for free. Snapfish is offering a free 5x7 personalized soft cover photo book when you enter seven photos throughout the month. . Get 3 free 5x7 folded greeting cards from Snapfish with coupon code TRY3CARDS plus sales tax and shipping. www.snapfish.com You also can create 99 4x6 prints at Snapfish for just a penny apiece when you enter promotional code JULYPENNY99. Do you belong to a gym? Check out your insurance to see if they will pick up any of the cost. Many insurance plans have a preventive health plans that will help you with your gym membership costs. If you are part of a Medicare health plan or a group retiree you may be eligible for SilverSneakers. SilverSneakers is a fun, energizing program that helps older adults take greater control of their health for FREE. HealthwoRx on 161 Lexington Green Circle Suite B2 is now offering the SilverSneaker program http://www.silversneakers.com/. Believe it or not most everything you do you can get a deal on by just asking if there are any discounts or deals. You can save money by being a senior on the first Wednesday of the month at Krogers where you get 10% off your bill. If you belong to any clubs check out what discounts they offer, for example: AARP members receive a coupon for $5 off your next purchase at Walgreens when you spend $20 or more until July 30. Being a student can give you additional discounts at area businesses. I just got my oil changed at S & S Tires where I brought in a coupon from another business and they matched the price. All I did was ask. If the place wants your business they will accommodate you. Take the effort in the second half of 2011 to start saving don’t let the rest of the year go by.

Snag these little known credi t card discounts:

· Bank of America card gets you in free at 150 museums, zoos, and aquariums across the country the weekend of every month in 2011.

· American Express cards offer up to 50% off hundreds of sporting events, concerts, and plays in major cities.

· Continental Airlines OnePass Plus from Chase and Delta Skymiles from American Express let you and up to eight companions escape the checked-bag free for your first suitcase.

· Most issuers offer online shopping deals, but Discover card hooks you up with the biggest discounts from more than 200 retailers

School Supplies Deals from Staples:

· Staples Photo Supreme Paper 50 pk $14.99 submit for $14.99 Staples Easy Rebate

· 5 pack Brite Liner Grip Yellow Highlighters $4 submit for $4 Staples Easy Rebate

· Lots of 50 cents deals available at Staples.

Get up to $8 off on one admission ticket to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 when you buy any of the participating Harry Potter movies on DVD or Blu-Ray (in store only) at Best Buy. http://bestbuy.shoplocal.com/bestbuy/default.aspx?action=entryflash&adref=header

Check out Jazz: Live at the Library downtown on the second Thursday of every month at Central Library 140 E. Main Street from 7 to 8:30pm. http://www.jazzartsfoundation.org/

Southland Jamboree has started on Tuesdays evening at 7pm on 205 Southland Drive, Collins Bowling Avenue call 859-276-4692 for more information.

Purchase one 20oz Jamocha Oreo Shake at Arby’s get one free coupon http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=6tgQ8&m=JbBjTDJyS3yANL&b=Kzm99D7Nx.Fhas.HwhcpAg

Over the counter and prescription drugs can harm the water supply if flushed down the drain. Local pharmacies across America will help you dispose of your meds. Find a participating pharmacy near you at www.sharpsinc.com/locator .

No More Rack is a daily deal site and things go really fast. When you sign up get a $10 credit into your account. http://www.nomorerack.com/?cr=60303

Free magazine subscription to Maxim
http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/maximgd/tgs_maxim_pg3gd.htm

Free magazine subscription to Newsweek
http://www.freebizmag.com/tweetnewsweek01welcome.htm

Get your free Beech-Nut Stage 4 Toddler Welcome Kit
http://www.beechnut.com/toddler1/index.asp?sourceID=111

Get a "We Can" wristband to enhance children's activity from National Heart Lung and Blood Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan_mats/wristband_y.htm

Sign up your child for Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic this Saturday starting at 10am. They will be building a Tow Truck that they will be able to take home with them. Sign up online.
http://www.lowesbuildandgrow.com/Home.aspx

Join the iScream Team at Blue Bunny Ice Cream. Sign up for free access to share recipes, receive coupons and offers. https://www.bluebunny.com/iScreamTeam/Login.aspx

This Friday at Whole Foods get organic cherries for $2.99lb.


Rite Aid Deal-
Buy two Jergen Natural Glow products $2.49 (look in trial size area)
Print out two $1 printable coupons (hit the back button a couple of times for it to print again)

Receive $5 in UPs rewards
Final cost = MONEYMAKER
I just did this deal at my RiteAid and it worked

Today SaveMore has Nail Polish Strips on sale 50% off so just $6. Sign up for SaveMore today and receive a $10 credit making this purchase FREE.

Frugal Forum July 6

Like Quaker on their facebook page for a free sample of Oatmeal Squares


The site MyHabit, the Amazon Daily Deal site, is offering a free $25 credit throughout the month of July. Just enter promotional code SUMMER25 at checkout.

$5 Purina ProPlan dog food coupon from their facebook page

Free online reading of Splish, Splash, Splatt! by Rob Scotton read by Molly Ringwald. Cute from Barnes and Nobles.

Save an extra 30% off Kellogg products at Amazon just enter promotional code KELLSNAX at checkout.
Save an extra 40% off Taster's Choice Coffee at Amazon just enter promotional code TASTE345 at checkout. http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&ref_=amb_link_356695402_8&docId=1000698261&t=slickdeals#

Save an extra 30% off Mighty Dog at Amazon when you enter MIGHTDOG at checkout.

Free Value meal item at Arby's with any purchase coupon

Free samples from Great Canadian Soap Company just fill out quick survey

Like P.F. Chang's on their facebook page to get a coupon for free lettuce wraps today.

Family Fun Magazine subscription for just $3.50. Just enter promotional code DISNEY at checkout. I always got this magazine when my kids where younger they have great ideas. Good gift to give somene also.
The price does go higher throughout the day so if you want it get it sooner than later.

Through Saturday, July 9th buy one game or accessory and get one free from Amazon.

Exclusive Umizoomi Coloring Book printables from Nick Jr. (I don't know what Umizoomi are but they look like they might be the up and coming new show to watch)


Free blowout and style at Ultra today starting at 3pm and tomorrow starting a 4pm.

If you haven't joined York Photos get 40 free prints when you register.

The next six days Fiber One is giving away free boxes of Fiber One 90 Calorie Brownies on their facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/fiberone?sk=wall&filter=2

Sign up to receive 55 cent Mueller's pasta coupon. It is 99 cents at Meijers or wait for a sale it always goes on sale for $1.

Take the pledge to put your skin health first at Eucerin facebook page and receive a free sample


3M coupons print them out great way to save on supplies. I was told that Scotch Magic Tape is $1 at Target use the $1 coupon to make it free. I haven't checked this out yet. Get ready for the holiday wrapping season.

Free subscription to Entrepreneur magazine

Here is a picture of my deals from yesterday.

I started in KMart because they had hot dogs on sale for 88 cents. They did run out but I got a rain check if they get them back in stock again. When I entered KMart they had a $40 coupon booklet right next to the sale flyers. I picked one up and inside there was a coupon for free hand sanitizer a savings of $2.49. I also had four of the free Seattle coffee drink coupons that they have a KMart. Kroger has a mega deal going on where you buy ten participating items you get $3.00 off your order. Kraft BBQ sauce is on sale for 99 cents but after mega sale 69 cents. I had three get $2.00 off coupon when you buy two BBQ sauce and Kool-Aid powered drink mix. The Kool-Aid mix was part of the mega sale costing me around $1. I also purchased one box of M&M's for mega price 89 cents but when I entered the code inside the box I received a coupon for $3 off a movie ticket. The Skittles was purchased with $1 coupon at www.coupons.com that I posted previously, they were on sale for $1.50 costing me just 50 cents. The two bottles of Snapple were purchase for just 29 cents each because when I was on vacation last week I went into one of the gas station there and they had 50 cents off Snapple coupons. I got two and waited to use them at a place where they double coupons. I then visited Krogers Wine Shop where they have a new vodka Pucker on sale for $11.99 but there is a tag on the product for $10 mail-in-rebate making the bottle just $1.99. I purchased two doing separate transactions which I will mail to two different addresses. After rebates my purchase only cost me around $6 but remember I also received a $3 coupon for a movie ticket.

The coupon for $2 was from a previous purchase of Kraft BBQ sauce and there was a peelie on the bottle. Checking out gas stations for coupons is a great way to get drink coupons plus more. I also got two Ben and Jerry Ice Cream $1 coupons that I used last week at Walgreens when they had the ice cream on sale for buy one get one free making each pint of ice cream just $1.50.

Talking about the mega sale go to Kroger's website and load the digital coupon for Country Time Lemonade purchase it with nine other mega deals making it free.

Ending tonight the Disney store has 40% off clearance clothes, 30% off clearance toys and 20% off clearance collectables. Just go to their website for all the promotional codes and see some great deals. Think presents. www.disneystore.com

Like Old Navy on their facebook page and receive a coupon for $5 off $25 purchase
https://www.facebook.com/oldnavy?sk=app_202603343084972

Like Wholly Guacamole on their facebook page and receive a $1 coupon
https://www.facebook.com/WhollyGuacamole?sk=app_204321749589854

Sign up to receive over $35 worth of P&G coupons in the mail
https://www.thepromotionaloffer.com/hmsdrtv/?source=dawnultra

Snapfish is offering 99 4x6 photo prints for just 99 cents so 1 cent a print. Just enter promotional code JULYPENNY99 at checkout this deal expires July 8
http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/storepage/storePageId=store-summer-penny-prints/otsc=res/otsi=2011_07_02_PennyPrints_purchasers

Free download on iTunes of Dave Matthews Band Caravan
http://www.dmbcaravan.com/caravan-sampler/

Like P.F. Chang's on their facebook page and download a coupon on July 6th for free lettuce wraps.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150303733335575&set=a.108798140574.126012.107436500574&type=1&comments

75 cent coupon for Macaroni & Cheese Veggie Pasta
http://bricks.coupons.com/Start.asp?bt=vi&tqnm=ygaobms2193547&o=88832&c=KR&p=w9SzRHvl

Walgreens has a photo deal purchase 40 prints get 40 prints for free. Just enter STRIPES at checkout expires July 9. http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/storepage/storePageId=Print+Offer

Free Cheeseburger Roller Bite for facebook fans of Thortons
Free iChill Relaxation Shot at Thortons
https://www.facebook.com/thorntonsinc?sk=app_176217385757369#!/thorntonsinc?sk=app_163849080647

Save up to 70% off photo gifts on Snapfish until July 8
http://www.snapfish.com/snapfish/storepage/storePageId=store-summer-bestsellers-sale/otsc=res/otsi=2011_06_29_Bestsellers_70_percent_off_purchasers

Get 70% off Photo Collage Canvas Print when you use promotional code CANVAS70 at checkout. www.snapfish.com