Sunday, July 1, 2012

Debbi's Frugal Forum July 1, 2012


A friend of mine was cleaning out her basement when she came across a box of old newsletters called The Tightwad Gazette, Promoting Thrift as a Viable Alternative Lifestyle written in the 90’s by Amy Dacyczyn. I am going to call Amy the first Fru-Gal. She did reach a level that I have not gotten to and probably do not want to get by reusing vacuum cleaner bags or calculating the cost of drying a load of laundry. The best was seeing how many years she could go without buying wrapping paper. In one article she breaks down what it takes to incorporate many basic lifestyle changes that will produce immediate results, remember this is from November 1994.

1.      Making school lunches every day.

2.      Cooking from scratch. She also figures the cost of meals and records it on recipes cards.

3.      Going to garage sales.

4.      Reusing many common household items including Ziploc bags, aluminum foil and bread bags.

5.      Using a price book for purchasing groceries.

6.      Using a freezer.

7.      Buying in bulk.

8.      Setting up and using a pantry under the basement stairs.

9.      Using the library much more.

10.  Buying kids’ shoes used.

11.  Being more creative about birthday parties.

12.  Haven her kids make economic choices. For example if her children wanted something extra they would have to make up a plan to either work for the money or sell something of theirs.

13.  Entertaining themselves, spending little or no money.

14.  Gardening.

15.  Cutting her family’s hair.

These examples of her frugal ways still hold true in 2012. We do have more resources available to us using the internet but the philosophy is the same. Imagine if everyone started her tightwad lifestyle back in the 90’s our economy would be in a different place.

Do you have old textbooks, electronics, video games and movies collecting dust on your shelves or taking up space in your closet? If so, you may want to take note of Amazon.com’s Trade-In Program. Simply trade in eligible books, electronics and more and Amazon will give you a gift card in return. http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/display.html/ref=sr_1_1_acs_h_1?ie=UTF8&nodeId=200302910&qid=1340822856&sr=8-1-acs

Exchange your gently used electronics for a gift card at Best Buy using their trade in program. If they have carried that brand they will take it no matter where you bought it. http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Electronics-Promotions/Online-Trade-In/pcmcat133600050011.c?id=pcmcat1336000

Receive $10 in Movie Cash to the Amazing Spider-Man when you buy one Blu-Ray DVD of Spider Man 1, Spider Man 2, or Spider Man 3 at Best Buy. Offer expires August 13, 2012.

Buy any Blu-Ray Spider Man 1, Spider Man 2, or Spider Man 3 DVD at Amazon between now and August 3, 2012 and receive one admission to see The Amazing Spider-Man between July 3, 2012 and August 3, 2012 at participating theatres. http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&docId=1000809921&linkCode=ur2&tag=myfrugadve-20

Print out Staples coupon for a free eco reusable bag that you can fill up with ink, paper, clearance items and more to receive 15% off your fit in bag purchase. Good until July 4, 2012. http://f.e.staples.com/i/25/2068345218/19904_ecobag.pdf?cm_lm=morrisjjm103@aol.com&cid=EM:CM:_BP6wU7B8ju6ar4&om_rid=morrisjjm103@aol.com

Create a FREE personalized greeting card at Cardstore.com and send it to yourself for FREE when you use the code CGH2626 at checkout. This offer is good through July 2, 2012 or until supplies run out. www.cardstore.com

Free sample of K-cup Starbucks coffee from Target http://samples.target.com/

Check out Bluegrass Fair at Masterson Station Park July 12 – July 22. Save up to $9.00 by buying an Advance Sale Ticket-good any day during the fair! The ticket includes admission and unlimited rides. Tickets go on sale starting June 18, 2012 at area Kroger, Walgreens or Whitaker/People Bank locations. Sale ends July 13 (at end of business day!)

Check out some contests sponsored from University of Kentucky Fayette County Extension Office-

July 21 Bluegrass Cupcake Challenge, July 20 Antiques Contest, July 19 Food Preservation Contest, July 17th Quilt Contest, July 17 Basket Contest contact Diana Doggett at ddoggett@uky.edu for more information

Before you start canning this summer if you have a canner with gauges the Fayette Extension Office will give it an annual checkup for free, Monday thru Friday between 8am and 4pm. Call (859) 257-5582 for more information.

CVS Deal good until July 3

Spend $30 on qualifying items and receive $10 Gas Card.

Buy Tide detergent for $5.97, Charmin basic 12pk for $5.99, Dawn Hand Renewal for 97 cents, two Crest Whitening toothpaste for $5.50, Bounty Basic paper towels 8 pk for $6.49 and two Pantene shampoo or conditioner for $6.50 use Sunday paper coupons 25 cents for Charmin, $1 for Tide, 25 cents for Dawn, $1 for Pantene making the final price after $10 Gas Card just $18.92 for everything.

Receive $5 in extrabucks rewards when you spend $10 on participating Oral-B products. Match up Sunday paper coupons for 75 off Oral-B Glide Floss or picks and 75 cents off Oral-B manual toothbrushes to sweeten this deal. Remember the $10 purchase is before coupons by using coupons you can bring the price down and get the $5 extracare bucks.

Buy two Head & Shoulders Shampoo or Conditioners on sale for $9 use buy one get one free coupon in Sunday paper.

Walgreens Deals:

Metamucil on sale for $10.99 receive $1 register rewards plus use $1 Sunday paper coupon

ZzzQuil on sale for $4.99 receive $1 register reward plus use $2 Sunday paper coupon

Oral-B Pro-Health Clinical Pro-Flex Toothbrush on sale for $3.49 receive $2 register reward plus use 50 cents Sunday paper coupon

Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor on sale for $10.99 receive $4 register rewards plus purchase Fusion razor cartridges to receive an additional $3 register reward also use $3 Sunday paper coupon.

Old Spice products on sale for buy one get one 50% off use $2 Sunday paper coupon

Rite Aid Deal:

Olay products on sale for buy one get second one 50% off plus when you purchase $20 of participating Olay products you receive $5 +UPs reward use $3 Sunday paper coupon for facial moisturizers and $3 off two Olay Bath products to sweeten this deal plus if you spend up to $30 on Olay products you can get an additional $10 rebate available at www.olay.com.

Crest Rinse $4.99 receive $3 +UPs reward use 75 cents Sunday paper coupon

Buy two Gillette Body Wash for $8 receive $2 +UPs rewards plus use $2 Sunday paper coupon


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