The Coupon Clipper magazine that comes in the mail every few weeks is now available online.
Coupon Clipper has more than 50,000 coupons for restaurants, beauty products, medical and dental treatments, retailers, home improvement, professional services, and automotive services.
The site has deals and discounts for many cities across the country, including Sacramento, Portland, Dallas, Tampa, New York and Chicago.
Thanks, Marie-Helene!
TheStreet.com has a list of places that will cut you a break if you get laid off, including the YMCA, Hyundai, and JetBlue. Very cool.
My step-father joined the Disney Insider email list, run by the theme park, in hopes of getting a coupon or discount. (He really wants to take his grandsons on their inaugural trip to Disneyland.) But so far all he receives are emails about contests. Has anyone had the same experience?
In case Disney Insider never yields a discount, here are a few other sources of deals:
Mouse Savers is my top recommendation to save money on all things Disney. You can search by type of deal, sign up for a monthly newsletter, or scan the latest discounts.
Military families with proper paperwork can get steep discounts on multi-day passes.
Mouse Misers lays out how much various hotel, park, and cruise packages cost.
Disney Discounts shares coupon codes for various parks.
The parks will let you in free on your birthday in 2009 (of course, everyone else in your party has to pay to get in.)
If all else fails, read Secrets of the Mouse for how the magic works behind the scenes. It won’t save you money, but you will know more about how the park works.
UPDATE: The show is being moved to FRIDAY. Otherwise, same bat time, same bat station.
PREVIOUSLY: I’m going to be a guest on Marc Germain’s Internet radio show again this Thursday, March 19, 2009. The show starts at 8 p.m. and I will be coming on about 9:30 p.m. (it varies by a few minutes).
To tune in go to the Talk Radio One web site and look for the 3/19/09 show. If you want to call in with a question, the number is 213-341-4353.
To listen to the show afterward click on the Audio MP3 file for 3/19/09. The MP3 will start at the beginning of the show so move the place bar to the right little by little to find where I come on.
You can also hear me on the podcasts for the 3/5/09 show and 2/20/09 show. Thanks for listening!
I recently came across an expert mystery shopper named Nicole Wiseberg, who writes the blog Nicole’s Nickels. So much about mystery shopping is a mystery so I pounced on the opportunity to de-mystify the job, which is a great way to supplement your income in these troubled times.
How long have you been a mystery shopper?
Since April 2008.
How much money to you make mystery shopping?
Easily $300 a month. That is for about 6 hours of work.
If I want to be a mystery shopper how do I get started?
All at one time sign up for 10 mystery shopping agencies because you never know which ones will have shops in your area. The more you sign up, the more shops are going to come your way. Start small, do a $10 or $15 assignment to start off with. If you don’t follow their directions they’re not going to pay you. So if you’re not a detail-oriented person or follow directions well, mystery shopping may not be for you.
Should I ever pay to become a mystery shopper?
Never pay to join a company. The ones that you pay for are a scam. The Mystery Shopping Providers Association of America lists legitimate companies.
Can you give me an example of a typical assignment?
At a grocery store I had to find where there was an empty thing on the shelf and ask for that product to see how the employee would deal with it. Another time I had to buy a pet toy and see if the employee gave me their pitch for dog food. It is often companies testing their employees. Sometimes competitors test each other. Some places have in-house mystery shoppers.
How long does it take to fill out a mystery shopping survey after visiting a store?
For a pet store, I might get paid $7 for the report and get $5 a reimbursement for buying a product. If I am going to pet store anyway, I ask a few extra questions. The report for the pet store may only take 10 minutes. So I earn $12 for 10 minutes.
What types of shops have you mystery shopped at?
Theme parks, zoos, delis, bakeries, grocery stores, pet stores and restaurants.
What is the payment structure?
There are two ways you get paid. Fees and reimbursements. Some companies just reimburse you. Others pay you a fee for the survey and reimburse you up to a certain amount to buy something. For restaurants I may get reimbursed for up to $150 worth of food. Sometimes they specify what you have to order, like at least one appetizer, two different entrees, and one alcoholic drink. For fast food, they tell you exactly what to order with no substitutions. You are better off tax-wise with just a reimbursement. Payment is income, which is taxed.
How quickly will I get paid if I become a mystery shopper?
Some take 90 days to pay, others send you a check within weeks.
Why do companies ask you for your social security number to join?
It’s for tax purposes. If you earn over $600 in a year, they have to send you a 1099. Some let you give your social security number when you get closer to earning $600.
How do you get the better paying assignments?
They give you one and if you do okay, they give you another. If not, they kick you off the system. A lot of companies want you to earn your way up to higher-paying assignments. Do three really well written reports to establish yourself. They keep an internal ranking of you. They rank you for reliability, precision, and detail.
Why do you like mystery shopping?
I think it’s a great way to earn money. For people who are detail-oriented, when you see something in a store that bothers you, here is your chance to report it to someone who cares. Also, we eat out a lot so if I’m going to eat out I may as well spend an hour on the back end doing a survey and eat free. My frugal mindset is if I’m going to do it I might as well get paid for it.
What are some pitfalls of mystery shopping?
You have to submit a very detailed report about what you did and scan in your receipts and submit it within 12-24 hours after you visit a shop. You want it to be really soon or you will forget.
Do you end up buying more stuff because you are out in the stores more often?
I don’t do a lot of stores. I do a lot of restaurants. That’s my own preference. I pick stores I shop at.
What is your day job?
I am a lawyer.
Thanks, Nicole!
I was trying to persuade a friend to buy a $.47 cent green hat (nearly all of you guessed correctly!) at Old Navy when she confessed why she had to say no. She only buys one accessory and one item of clothing each month. And while the hat was a great bargain, it was not worth $.47 to her.
Her rule – a new year’s resolution which she intends to keep year round – has helped her save hundreds of dollars each month. Shopping is one of her main methods of de-stressing. But with this plan, that has changed.
“Now that I have the pressure of only buying two things a month, nothing looks as appealing to me,” said my friend Sarah. “What if later in the month I find something really amazing?”
I happened to be with her when she found her clothing purchase for March – a cute floral top at H&M that was a throwback to the 70s. Definitely worth it.
The price was $15.90. If the price was particularly low one month did she let herself buy an extra item, I asked. No, because then you get into a gray area that allows you to justify more spending, she said.
I think Sarah’s system is brilliant because it is very clear cut, which takes the emotion out of shopping. Falling in love with clothes does terrible things to your wallet.
My friend’s system does leave room for big splurges, however, because she does not set any price limits. This has not been a problem for her, but it would get me into trouble. One purchase at Nordstrom and I would spend more money than if I let myself buy a few low-cost items each month. But perhaps it will work for you!
Hi folks,
I am having problems with the newsletter software, which is why the email update did not go out Tuesday. I apologize and appreciate your patience. I hope to have this issue resolved by Wednesday.
~Julia
aka Bargain Babe
This post is brought to you by UK Commercial Cleaning, carpet cleaning and kitchen cleaning specialists.
Most non-toxic natural cleaning products involve some combination of vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. Three super cheap items you probably have on hand. But do they work?
I put homemade cleaners to the test in two of the dirtiest areas of my home.
My kitchen sink gets orange stains
Spraying my sink with a diluted bleach solution leaves it perfectly white. The natural method involves scrubbing my sink with baking soda. I’m guessing it won’t work or will require 30 minutes of scrubbing. But after less than two minutes of scrubbing a few tablespoons of baking soda into my sink with with steel wool the orange stains washed away leaving a crisp, white sink!
Since I already use diluted bleach I’m not sure that baking soda is cheaper, but this way I don’t have to breathe in toxic fumes. I’ll definitely clean with baking soda in the future.
The black tile in my bathroom is perpetually covered in white drip marks
I was surprised that baking soda matched the power of bleach in my sink. But even the strongest, most toxic cleaners have been powerless to remove the white soap scum from my bathroom tile. Don’t ask me why my landlord chose black tile, a color that shows every trace of dirt.
I went to work with a damp sponge and plenty of baking soda, which seemed to take most of the white marks from the wall tiles. But you cannot tell until the tile fully dries.
Here are the before and after pictures!
If this is not enough to convert you to cheap, natural cleaners, I don’t know what will. I’m convinced!
More green cleaning ideas from Life Learning Today. Thanks, Shasta!
Here are some ideas to freshen your home post spring-cleaning.
Make your own curtains using a light-colored material from a fabric store.
Join the Freecycle network and get free stuff! Each network is a Yahoo! group based on geography. So everything listed is free – and nearby!
Better Budgeting recommends lining up 5 or 7 clear glass jars and bottles on a windowsill, counter top, or shelving. Place one flower in each bottle. This works in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and front porch!
Apply a fresh coat of paint to one room. You can accomplish a lot in one weekend without spending too much moolah. Borrow re-useable supplies from a friend if you can.
Browse the Craigslist free pages. Click on your city, say Minneapolis, then under “for sale,” click on free. Co crazy!
Quick and Simple recommends inserting cute note cards into a picture frame with multiple slots, above. Use cards you received for sentimental value.
Head to a garage sale with a targeted list and limited cash. I like to leave my wallet at home and instead bring $10, which can go a long way at a garage sale. And then while haggling you can honestly say, but I only have $10!
Quick and Simple recommends covering a canvas (blank or one you are bored of) with fabric that you like. Group multiple canvases for an artsy look.
Paint a few old pots in a bright color of high-gloss varnish (shellac), which you can buy at art stores and home improvement stores. Plant something in them or use them as an accent on bookshelves. If your budget allows, use different colors of varnish.
The craft store JoAnn’s has tons of project ideas. Join their email list for regular coupons via email. Michael’s also has cheap home decor ideas.
Check out these $59 fares on Southwest airlines. They are for flights booked at least 21-days in advance for travel everyday but Friday and Sunday. Departures from 28 cities across the country. Best flights will go QUICK!
I went shopping with a friend who spotted this super soft polyester hat at Old Navy. It was so cheap I had to buy it!
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Answer in tomorrow’s blog.
There are many items in your home that you can sell or donate for a tax write off instead of tossing in the dumpster.
Sell valuable items a la carte
1) Sell your old iPod or other electronics on BuyMyTronics.com.
2) Sell your unwanted clothes at a consignment shop or head over to your local thrift store.
3) Sell old cell phones through SimplySellular.com, which gives you an estimate online then sends you the cash in about 45 days. (My old RAZR is worth $12.)
4) Sell books to your local used bookstore. (I received $19 in cash for a short stack of books from my Mom’s attic. Recent books in good condition got the best rates.)
5) Vintage electronic equipment and furniture can fetch nice prices on Craigslist.
6) Sell unwanted gold jewelry to a local pawn shop.
7) Sell the rest at a garage sale
If priced right you can sell file cabinets, new office supplies, decorative pillows, dishes, cups, utensils, small appliances, pots and pans, chairs, gently used furniture, electronics, CDs, books, artwork, mirrors, clothes, bicycles, musical instruments video games, toys. At a garage sale, pretty much anything goes.
To guarantee success:
- Make sure items are very clean and well organized.
- Advertise at major intersections and on Craigslist. Mention specific brands and other salient details in your Craigslist post.
- Join forces with a friend if your location is poor or if you don’t have too much to sell.
- Price items at no more than 50% of what you paid or at 25% or less if the item is clearly used.
- Be flexible if buyers want a deal. Remember how good it feels to talk someone down in price? Allow some room for dropping your prices.
- By 11 a.m. if traffic slows cut your prices by half. Wouldn’t you rather sell a shirt for $.25 than drag it to Goodwill?
Donate whatever does not sell
Call your local house of worship or school to check if they are collecting items.
Sign up for my free email updates by March 23, 2009 and you have a chance to win one of two $25 Starbucks gift cards!
I am giving away the cards to celebrate Bargain Babe’s one month anniversary. Sign up on this page.
Once you sign up you will get one email each weekday from me. You can unsubscribe at any time. Thanks!
Get $5 off a photo order of $15 or more at Walgreens with coupon code HIGH5. You can use it five times per account. Expires March 21, 2009. Some caveats.
Order 50 or more 4″ x 6″ prints through Snapfish and pay $.10 a print when you pick them up at Walgreens. Use coupon code WAL4X6. Expires March 29, 2009.
Get the first 10 pages of a 20+ page photo book for free at MyPublisher through March 23, 2009. That equals $10 off for a classic photo book or $30 off for a deluxe photobook. Use coupon code MPFREE when checking out.
Get a buy one get one free coupon for a photo book from MyPublisher when you share your email and download their latest photo sharing software. New customers only. Must be for two copies of the same book. Read all the rules here.
Thanks, Marie-Helene!
My post Friday about WaMu’s offer to give $100 to people who opened a new account generated some really interesting comments and brought up a question that often arises for bargain hunters like you and me. When does taking advantage of a deal become unethical?
With the WaMu deal, Pam said:
I agree that it is somewhat against my ethics to only sign up and not give the bank a fair shot at earning your trust and business–I wouldn’t sign up only for the bonus without honestly giving them a try.
Judy went a step farther:
Whether it followed WaMu’s guidelines or not, it is taking advantage of a situation – stealing.
Other readers said taking the $100 was fine, like Louise:
It is NOT stealing…WaMu offered to give him the money.
Pere applauded Glenn’s decision:
Taking advantage is the American Way. It’s also very shrewd. Quite commendable, actually.
Ethics and bargain hunting come up often. I easily thought of two more situations that leave room for customers to “take advantage” or “scam a company,” depending on your perspective. Chain drugstores frequently offer $25 or $30 to transfer a prescription. Is it unethical to continually transfer the prescription from one chain to another?
If you shop at Costco, you know that the warehouse has a very generous return policy, including a 90-day no questions asked policy for electronics. Is it unethical to purchase a TV or other new gadget if you are not entirely convinced you are going to keep it, but use Costco’s return policy to test out the product?
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