Chandra Bun
Pinkberry, the overpriced hip frozen yogurt chain that I have a very weak spot for, just announced two deals.
- The new summer flavor, watermelon, is half off during Pinkberry’s happy hour, 5-7 p.m. daily beginning Friday June 25. Unclear when this deal ends.
- Get half off any one Pinkberry product when you bring in your receipt from the day before. The fine print is a little unclear – it’s possible the discount is valid two or three days after your original purchase.
Pinkberry has tons of locations in California, and a few in Colorado, Connecticut, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina, New York, Tennessee, Texas and abroad. Find one near you.
Become a Pinkberry Groupie if you want to find out about deals like this.
Best website logo ever.
Here are four cool new money-saving sites I’ve been meaning to share with you, plus a link to a explainer piece on invite-only shipping sites like Gilt Group.
Clicker.com – the site’s motto – “what’s on online” – had me fantasizing about finding free episodes of my favorite TV show, 30 Rock. Sadly, Clicker.com is so comprehensive it took me 8 minutes to find the show’s homepage. Once there, I see glorious links to every episode ever with links to watch. Many are paid, i.e., require me to pay for access.
Clicker.com has similar pages for movies, music, web originals, live TV (FIFA World Cup, for instance), and there is a page for trends. You can create playlists and get a notification when a new episode is available. Clicker.com is a bit confusing at first, but I recommend setting aside 15 minutes to familiarize yourself with the site. If you are really confused, scroll over the teeny tiny arrow to the right of each tab, and when that teeny tiny arrow expands into a drop down menu, click on the “browse by alphabet” link.
SiteJabber.com -this site aims to inform consumers about websites and online businesses to avoid fraud by collecting reviews from regular folks like you and me. It also has tips for consumers on evaluating sites, which I wish more people did. Plus, SiteJabber.com has one of the best slogans ever, pictured above. This site is supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation.
HalfOffDeals.com – this is an oldie, actually. HalfOffDeals sells gift certificates for restaurants, spa, golf courses, and a lot more for 50% off flat. The discount isn’t as big as say, Restaurant.com, but there are many fewer restrictions. In Los Angeles, a $50 certificate to La Fonda Restaurant, which is renown for its mariachi show, is $25. You can search for deals within 10, 30, and 60 miles of a particular zip code. The site makes a cut of each certificate sold.
BillShrink.com – also an old site, but it has a new feature that may apply to you. The site, which suggests credit cards and phone plans that save you money over your current ones, now lets you compare the price of TV services in your area. The site earns a referral fee for each person who signs up for a new service through the site.
Bonus: Curious about how invite-only shopping sites like Gilt Groupe work? Switched.com explains how they work and reviews the major ones.
There’s nothing I love more than fresh food, whether it be healthy or deliciously fatty. The Seventeenth Street Cafe in Santa Monica prides itself on fresh baked goods and California fusion cuisine. I’ve never eaten there, but this Daily D for $38 worth of food for $18 is tempting my taste buds.
This deal expires Monday, June 21 at 11:59 p.m. PST or as soon as the 100 discounted vouchers are purchased. The vouchers do not have a stated expiration date, but I would use it within three months to be on the safe side. Limit one voucher per customer and one per couple at the restaurant. Tax and gratuity are not included.
Caveats: not valid with other offers. You have to use the full value of your voucher in one visit, unless the voucher specifically says otherwise. Vouchers can be for wine or alcohol, unless the voucher says it can’t. That information will be posted on the screen when you purchase the Voucher, before you purchase it.
This is not paid content, however I earn a commission on every purchase made through Daily D.
Will look cute for food.
The 25 VIP tickets to the Frugal Festival are sold out! However, you can still get a ticket to the clothing swap this Saturday, June 19 at the NoHo Performing Arts Center, 11020 Magnolia Blvd. in North Hollywood.
Raffle prizes and goodies for the reusable bags each swapper receives are arriving everyday in the mail! Today my two dogs nearly bit the FedEx delivery guy when they accidentally escaped. They look sweet, above, but have uncontrollable mailman phobias. Also, they only sit for photos when bribed with kibble.
Cathy of Chief Family Officer shared four great grocery deals at Ralphs this week. These prices assume coupon doubling up to $1. New to coupons? Check out my post on coupon clipping basics. If you want to take advantage of these deals, make sure to save the coupon inserts you receive in the mail or with your Sunday newspaper. Here’s a great suggestion for how to handle coupon organization.
Farmer John Sliced Bacon on sale for $3.99
Use $1 off 1 Farmer John Bacon printable coupon
$2.99 after coupon
Green Giant Boxed Vegetables on sale for $1
Buy 2 and use $.50 off2 Green Giant Boxed Vegetables printable coupon
$.50 cents each after coupon
Pillsbury Sweet Moments Brownies on sale for $2.50
Use $1/1 Pillsbury Sweet Moments printable coupon
$1.50 after coupon
Ronzoni Pasta on sale for $1
Use $.75 off 1 Ronzoni Smart Taste printable coupon here and here
FREE after coupon
Read the rest of Cathy’s Ralph’s grocery deals.
nutmeg/Flickr
The Quiznos $3 coupon for a small sub, chips, and soda is ending Tuesday, June 23, 2010.
Live near a Tasti D-Lite? Stop in on June 20, 2010 for a Father’s Day freebie.
Get a $10 Amazon credit for Video on Demand when you follow @AmazonVideo on Twitter. If Twitter seems like a complicated, time-sucking new technology to you, just remember you are missing out on a lot of deals!
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
seq/Flickr
Laundry is inevitable, but wasting money isn’t. A couple years ago, I realized I was spending too much money getting my clothes to smell like a summer breeze. Since then, I have completely changed my habits in the laundry room. Here are some tips sure to save you cash.
Use cold water – There is no need to pay for heating water when you don’t need it. I used to love washing in steaming hot water because I thought it was the only way to get rid of germs, but it is not. Use cold or warm water depending on what you’re washing. Aside from saving on heating water, I find my jeans do not fade as much, which cuts down on my shopping expenses.
Forget the fancy laundry products – Multi-tasking detergents with additives such as bleach and stain removers are more expensive than plain detergent. Instead, use natural cleaners that you may already have in your arsenal like baking soda to whiten, borax to remove stains and vinegar to rinse your clothes. Natural cleaners and a little elbow grease can work wonders and are much less expensive than fancy laundry products. When adding soap, don’t follow the manufacture’s instructions; instead experiment to find the right amount for your clothes. Often, the amount of soap you need is less than directed. Making your own soap is also inexpensive but time consuming. Savings: cost of fabric softener, stain remover and bleach approximately $3 to $4 per bottle.
Stop using drier sheets. Every time you toss a dryer sheet in the trash it is like throwing money away. Instead, consider going without or use drier balls. I recently bought a set of drier balls for $4 and like the results.
Do full loads, back-to-back – Doing laundry throughout the week is a bad idea if you want to reduce your electricity bill. When you wash and dry all your clothes in one day you are using less energy to heat up the drier because it is warm from the previous load. Also, make sure you use the right settings for your washing machine to avoid using extra water or time for lightly soiled clothes.
Ditch the dryer – Whenever possible use a clothesline to save on your utility bills. If you do not have room outside, try an indoor drying rack or use extra hangars. If you want your clothes soft, toss them in the dryer for 5 minutes after taking them off the drying rack. Clothes dry incredibly fast outside mid-day.
Wear clothes more often – The most effective way to save money on laundry is to just do less of it. Wearing your clothes more than once before tossing them in the hamper is the first step. Jackets and sweaters can be worn more than once. I won’t tell you how long I wear my jeans before tossing them in the hamper – that’s my dirty little secret – but I can tell you that washing clothes less often cuts down on doing laundry and its cost and extends the life of your clothes.
Now that you’ve read my dirty laundry secrets, share yours! What tricks do you use in the laundry room to save money?
Act quick to get a cheap flight on Southwest for a summer vacation. You have to buy your tickets by June 17 and travel by September 2, 2010. The fares are good for travel on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday.
One way sample fares include:
- Burbank to Oakland, Vegas, San Jose, or Phoenix for $59
- Orlando to Ft. Myers for $53, or to Ft. Lauderdale for $69
- Jackson to Houston for $69
- Long Island or New York to Baltimore for $69
- San Diego to Vegas, Phoenix, or Tuscon for $59
- San Francisco to Vegas, Orange County or Los Angeles for $59
- See all the cheap flights on Southwest
Caveats: 14-day advance purchase required, purchase by June 17, 2010 at 11:59 pm PST, fares do not include federal excise tax of $3.70 per takeoff and landing, airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9, and government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5 one-way.
Jack Dischner/Flickr
Tomorrow only! Five berry-flavored smoothies are just $1 each at Jamba Juice Wednesday, June 16, 2010. No coupon needed!
Get free samples of citrus flavor packets for water, tea, and recipes from True Citrus. I’ve never tried these but they sound interesting.
Father’s Day gifts, specifically magazines, are on sale for $5-$10 on Amazon through June 20, 2010.
Do you live near a Whataburger? If so stop by June 22 for a free Whataburger “breakfast on a bun” Tuesday, June 22, 2010.
Check my WalletPop blog this afternoon for two Borders coupons for 40% off and more deals.
Finally, Starbucks came to its senses. The ubiquitous coffee giant will begin offering unlimited free WiFi starting July 1, 2010. Previously, you had to register your Starbucks card, maintain a certain balance, and have used it regularly to get a free connection, and then only for two hours.
This move will certainly attract more customers and maybe win back those who switched to McDonald’s for their cheaper coffee and free WiFi.
Other places to get free Wifi:
Barnes & Noble – no purchase necessary
Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf – technically no purchase necessary as WiFi code appears in super small font at the bottom of their TV monitors, but you’ll probably end up buying a drink or pastry
Peet’s Coffee – purchase necessary as WiFi access code is printed at the bottom of your receipt
Panera Bread – technically no purchase necessary but you’ll probably buy a sandwich anyway
Cosi – same as Panera
Readers added these suggestions:
Your local library
McDonald’s
Local indie coffee shop
Community centers
Colleges and universities
Where do you go for free WiFi?
koka_sexton/Flickr
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
I recently received an email that asked:
“We are moving and will have to get some things to make our new place work. Any ideas on where to get any of this, as affordably as possible, would be greatly appreciated. Of course we want beauty, environmental excellence and very low cost. Natch.”
My response:
Everything that you are wanting is available for free or drastically reduced rates on Freecycle, Craigslist, Recycler, thrift stores, or yard sales. Shameless promotion: you’ll also find a lot of housewares at the Frugal Festival Summer Swap this Saturday, June 19 in North Hollywood.
The biggest thing is that you MUST have access to a van or truck to be able to easily pick them up (especially with freecycle.) People move all the time and practically give away their furniture because it is cheaper to give it away than to move it or store it.
It is also important that you know your color scheme. If this is something you care about, then carry color swatches with you at all times.
Measure the space you have available for your items (couch, bookshelf, etc) and have this information with you. Measuring includes knowing the size of the doorway or hallway you have to fit the item through. There is nothing worse than finding out that your new couch or fridge doesn’t fit through any of your doors. Big bummer! Have a tape measure in your purse or car so you can get the exact dimensions of a potential item when you come across it. You never know when you will happen upon a desk with a free sign or a random estate sale.
You should easily be able to pick up the following items for no more than 10% of the original price:
- Tables and desks
- Chairs
- Headboards
- Chest of Drawers
- Refrigerators & Stoves
- Bookshelves
- Lamps
- Fans (in the winter)
- Heaters (in the summer)
- Kitchen items
- Flower vases
- CDs & DVDs
- Books
- Clothing
- Knick-knacks
- Picture Frames
- Couch
- File Cabinets
I suggest you do not buy the following items used because they could carry pests:
- Rugs
- Mattresses
- Pillows
Have you found great stuff for your home or apartment for free?
I literally jumped out of bed at 6:43 a.m. this morning because I realized there are only FIVE DAYS UNTIL THE FRUGAL FESTIVAL! Breathe deeply, everything will be fine…
AAAAAAAAAAG!
To prepare for the one-day clothing/media/housewares swap we wrote a post about how the swap actually works (there are many ways to run a swap) on the Frugal Festival blog. Tip: you can take home whatever you can stuff into the free reusable bag you will receive with admission.
We also negotiated a hot 10% discount at the nearby thrift shop Someone Else’s for Frugal Fest swappers. Just another reason to come to the swap this Saturday, June 19 at the NoHo Performing Arts Center at 11020 Magnolia Blvd in North Hollywood. Drop off is 10 a.m. to noon. The swap starts at 1 p.m. SHARP.
Buy your Frugal Festival ticket through Goldstar.
eliazar/Flickr
Expires today! A Brooks Brothers sale has sports shirts 40% off today only. Gift for Father’s Day, perchance?
Restaurant.com gift certificates are 70% off for Father’s Day.
Tomorrow only! Hot Dog on a Stick is giving out free hot dogs to celebrate its 60th birthday Tuesday, June 15, 2010.
Become a fan of Redbox on Facebook and you will get a free movie rental code that is valid June 21, 2010 only. Plan ahead and save a buck.
Expires today! Use this Borders coupon to get 25% off books and some other stuff. Expires Monday, June 14, 2010.
The Bev Mo nickel wine sale is on! Unclear when it ends, however.
Denny’s has a sorta free deal for Father’s Day that gets you a free ice cream float when you spend at least $2.
Check out all the coupon and deals on my WalletPop blog.
cdsessums'/flickr
By Mike Barclay of 10centsworth.com
Everyone loves to save money, but are we really saving ourselves money or are we scrimping pennies just to say we saved a few bucks? There is a difference between being frugal and being cheap. To be frugal requires common sense and effort whereas being cheap is looking at the surface value of what you’re buying.
Being frugal (there are two types) is looking at something from the perspective of value. Value comes in many different forms. Money, time, energy, etc. For example: A frugal person will go out and get the proper tools necessary for a maintenance project (spending a little bit of extra money if needed) so they can get it done correctly and efficiently the first time. A cheap person will try and use makeshift tools (like a piece of wood for a hammer) and cut corners to save money. The cheap way may seem like it’s saving you money but when you factor in the extra time and effort, not to mention the future maintenance you’ll probably end up having to do because your first attempt was shoddy, it ends up costing you more.
What about when you go in to a mechanic to get a new set of tires? They offer you a warranty in case anything happens, but it’ll cost an extra $100. Initially you might pass on it. Why spend an extra $100 when you don’t need to, right? Let me pose this next scenario as a remedy for those types of thoughts.
Car tires usually aren’t supposed to be replaced one at a time. It throws off the axis and adds wear and tear to the other tires. If you blow out one tire and go back to get it changed and they tell you you’ll need to change out all 4 tires (averaging around $400) suddenly that warranty doesn’t look so bad, does it?
One thing I see a lot of currently involves laptop purchases. I’ve noticed people going through alternate avenues to buy a computer, like eBay or Craigslist. Second hand computers may be cheaper in the initial purchase, but you’re losing out on a few things. First of all, the warranty you’d get buying a new computer is null and void. This means that any repair you need comes straight out of your wallet. Purchasing second hand also means you don’t know what condition you’re receiving the laptop in is. So those repairs could come sooner than you’d like.
A frugal shopper will do their research, and spend the extra money to get the most out of his or her purchase rather than focusing just on the price tag. It all comes down to perceived value and actual value. Which category are you in? Frugal – or just plain cheap?
If you saw my two-page photo spread in the July issue of Better Homes & Garden, welcome! BargainBabe.com’s mission is to help you save money on everyday expenses like groceries, gasoline, and gifts. Because the little stuff adds up – and is almost impossible to avoid!
Some recent posts you might be interested in:
What happens when cheap food backfires
How to make money by holding a garage sale
If you are in LA, check out the Frugal Festival Summer Swap June 19 in North Hollywood. At this one-day swap of clothing, media, and housewares we’ll have a free raffle with prizes like an 8GB iPod, a DJ spinning tunes, and free reusable bags stuffed with goodies like a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate for each swapper!
Like what you see? Sign up for my daily or weekly email to get more savvy-spending tips. Thanks for checking out BargainBabe.com!
~Julia
aka Bargain Babe
