Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
This morning I picked one winner and three runner ups with the help of Random.org for the kitchen gear giveaway. The prize includes $110 worth of brand name kitchen gear from Pyrex, Corningware, and Chicago Cutlery, donated by World Kitchen.
Interestingly, three of the four readers who were selected are on the weekly list. Congrats to everyone who opted to receive my money saving tips for a chance to win. I promise there will be more contests coming soon!
And now for the winners…
First place goes to mnmsunshine67@, who joined BargainBabe.com last month!
The first runner up is andreataylor1@, who sign up for BargainBabe.com in Jan. 2010.
The second runner up is r3sns@aol.com, who also joined in Jan. 2010.
The third runner up is anelysium@verizon.net, who has been reading BargainBabe.com since June 2009.
UPDATE: The winner has already claimed her prize! She writes “I never win anything! You have totally made my week!!”
Stay on top of future contests by signing up for BargainBabe.com’s strategies, coupons, and inspiration to save money everyday.
SurvivalInsight.com strives to answer a question many of us are asking: how can I survive financially? The site goes about answering this question in a way that is useful and practical.
Each day the site has a freebie, from free lotion to free ice cream. The site goes out of its way to answer reader questions, many of which are interesting even if you’re not going through the same thing. Here is one question I read the answer to. “My credit score is a 508. I have several collections on my credit report. I have a bankruptcy from 2003. If I pay off all of my collections, the collection agencies say they will delete them from my report. How much will my score increase if this happens?”
SurvivalInsight.com also shares great tips for living on a budget, from fun things to do with your family to vacations to saving money on everyday expenses. You can sign up for a newsletter if you want the tips delivered to your inbox. The site’s Facebook page has additional stories, like how to get maternity clothes on a discount. Sounds a lot like BargainBabe.com!
On top of saving money, the site focuses on making money, planning your finances, and dealing with debt. I found it quite useful!
This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my Advertise page.
The reader giveaway contest to win $110 worth of kitchen gear from Chicago Cutlery, Corningware, and Pyrex ends Monday, Oct. 11, 2010!
To win, join my daily or weekly email list. If you are already on my email list and receive emails from me, you do not need to do anything. You are already fully eligible, I promise. One winner and three runner ups will be chosen randomly. Join by Monday, Oct. 11 at 11:59 p.m. to be in the running.
The prize includes a Chicago Cutlery Landmark Chef Knife with a reusable protector, a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup, a Pyrex large cookie sheet, a Pyrex 8-piece glass mixing bowl set with lids, and a Corningware SimplyLite 10-piece set. World Kitchen, which manufacturers and markets these brands, donated the prize.
I’m taking Monday off to go camping with friends. We’re going to be on the side of a Massachusetts mountain for two nights so I am packing my heavy duty winter gear for this trip. Hello mittens!
Have a wonderful weekend and see you all Tuesday.
Julia
aka Bargain Babe
Homemade greenhouses to protect fall seedlings.
I started a fall garden in August and so many sprouties popped up that I had to transplant some of them outside prematurely. I was resigned to seeing the outdoor seedlings die because they are not hardy enough, until I mentioned my dilemma to a gardener friend.
Cut a clear plastic bottle in half, remove the label and cap, and you’ve got a mini-greenhouse, she said. Brilliant!
The hole at the top lets air in and moisture out, while keeping the seedling a few degrees warmer. The mini-greenhouse also protects from harsh winds and rain storms.
You can use bottles of soda, seltzer, water, or anything else that comes in clear packaging (to let the sun through). I bought two bottles of seltzer for $.50 each and made four mini-greenhouses, three of which are pictured above. For the bottom half of the bottle, I was not able to cut a hole in the center because the plastic was too thick. Instead, I cut a hole off to the side of the bottom, where the plastic is (more…)
KaCey97007/Flickr
This post is brought to you by Savings Account Comparison, who compare high interest savings accounts.
Every Friday I link to my favorite stories and blog posts about saving money.
To rent or buy? WalletPop looks at the top five markets to rent and the top five markets to buy. If your city is not listed, the writer explains how to figure it out. She ranks Los Angeles as No. 37 on the rent or buy index, which means it’s still cheaper to rent.
Money saving iPhone apps. Erin at Coupon Cravings regularly writes about iPhone apps that help one save money. Her latest post is on five apps that make it easier to eat out, like Meal Tickets, which searches for coupons at nearby restaurants.
Five activities to improve your finances. Frugal Dad’s advice is simple and practical. I like! From keeping a spending journal to developing a passive income, he will get you thinking about your money and what you want to do with it.
Could your job be outsourced? Digerati Life lists the top 10 most vulnerable jobs and the 10 safest. Some jobs on the likely to be outsourced list don’t make any sense, like pharmacy technician. How is someone going to fill my prescription in India?
Have you raided your piggy bank lately? I sure have been thinking about it and apparently a lot of Americans are, reducing the demand for new coins, including the new set of quarters honoring our national parks.
Sign up for the BargainBabe.com email list to receive more strategies, coupons, and inspiration to save money everyday.
buyalex/Flickr
Free Tide sample – Get a free sample of Acti-Lift Tide when you share a little info about yourself. Unclear how long this will last for.
HP ink coupon – Get 20% off HP ink and toner cartridges using this HP coupon. You have to share a story about using off-brand toner or take a three-question quiz about brand v. generic toner to get the coupon.
Borders coupon – Use this Borders coupon to get 40% off for two days! Expires Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010.
Check out all the deals and coupons on my WalletPop blog, including a free coffee sample and Coach Factory coupon later this afternoon. Sign up for the BargainBabe.com email list to receive more strategies, coupons, and inspiration to save money everyday.
Credit: Family Fun Magazine
Below are more Halloween costume ideas, plus each week I’m updating this list of Halloween coupons!
Reader Wendy shared this idea for a giraffe costume, above. “Can’t post a photo on the blog comments, but just had to send this to you. Sweats, masking tape, construction paper ears taped to hood, and horns made from foil and covered with electrical tape for the giraffe. So frugal! I liked Bubble Bath, too (see below). Both from the Family Fun magazine website at familyfun.go.com.”
My blogger friend Collin at Hip2Save shared her idea for a John Deere tractor costume, plus her readers left comments with costume ideas to be a ballerina, Jedi, Mickey Mouse, and a chicken.
Many of the frugal costumes CouponSherpa shared a year ago are still (more…)
Big C Harvey/Flickr
If you haven’t joined Groupon, here is a peek at some of the deals this “social coupon” site offers. If you live in a big city where there are literally DOZENS of similar sites offering similar deals, sign up for Yipit.com, which aggregates all the deals in your town.
Los Angeles - Pay $14 for $30 of vegetarian and vegan food from Rahel Ethiopian Veggie Cuisine. I’ve only eaten Ethiopian food once (and not at this restaurant) and it was very good but extremely spicy!
San Diego – Pay $3 for two original chicken sandwiches at Chick-fil-A. (more…)
scubadive67/Flickr
Restaurant.com coupon – Get 80% off your next restaurant tab with this Restaurant.com coupon for 80% off. Expires Oct. 12, 2010.
Free DVD – Utah Sun Ovens is giving away free solar oven DVDs that normally sell for $13. Unclear how long this freebie lasts.
Free cookie – Snag this Quiznos coupon for a free cookie. Gotta be part of their free QClub and take a 10-question survey. Took me 3 minutes. Expires Oct. 18, 2010.
Check back this afternoon for more coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog, including a free sample of Tide detergent. Sign up for the BargainBabe.com email list to receive more strategies, coupons, and inspiration to save money everyday.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains
graymilkn/Flickr
It doesn’t matter if I am going to Disneyland for the day or to a local park for a few hours, I always take a thermos of water and a picnic basket with me. If you follow my advice, you can save well over a thousand dollars a year just like I do.
“But Bobbi, why would I go to all that trouble when I am just going on a few errands?” You go to that trouble because if you don’t, you might find yourself spending up to $50 for a nutritious lunch for you and one or two of your kids. (Or $20 for sugar and fast food.) Buy an unplanned meal at a restaurant once or twice a week and you’ve busted your budget for sure.
“Well, then I will just tell the kids (more…)
One of the prizes is a "read from above" Pyrex measuring cup.
Don’t forget to enter the kitchen gear giveaway for $110 worth of Chicago Cutlery, Corningware, and Pyrex. World Kitchen, which manufacturers and markets these brands, donated the prize.
To win, join my daily or weekly email list. If you are already on my email list and receive emails from me, you are eligible to win and do not need to do anything. One winner and three runner ups will be chosen randomly. Join by Monday, Oct. 11 at 11:59 p.m. to be in the running.
The prize includes a Chicago Cutlery Landmark Chef Knife with a reusable protector, a 2-cup Pyrex measuring cup, a Pyrex large cookie sheet, a Pyrex 8-piece glass mixing bowl set with lids, and a Corningware SimplyLite 10-piece set.
norwichnuts/Flickr
Free health care checkups – This Saturday Sam’s Club is offering free health checkups to members and non-members. Flu shots are extra, about $24.
Safeway/Vons free delivery – Get $15 off your next online grocery order plus get free shipping at Safeway, Vons or Genuardis. Unclear when this deal ends.
Borders coupons – Today through Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010 is Borders’ teacher appreciation week. Use this Borders coupon to get 25% off. For non-teachers, there is a 33% off coupon.
Free waffle – Do you live near a Waffle House? If so print this Waffle House coupon for a free waffle. Expires Nov. 1, 2010.
Starbucks coupon – Get a free small coffee drink at Starbucks when you buy a 6-pack of the new VIA flavored instant coffee. Starbucks coupon here.
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
Change: that's punny! Credit: brad montgomery/Flickr
I’m extremely excited to let you all know that I’m changing the way blog posts are organized on BargainBabe.com, thanks in part to reader suggestions. When the change is complete, it will be much easier to find what you are looking for.
What is changing
The category links (under Topics) have been hiding on the lower right side of BargainBabe.com ever since January 2009. They are going away, only to be reincarnated across the top of the blog. (more…)
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
Ralphs - The Mega Sale is back! Get $5 off when you buy 10 participating items. Prices below are after Mega Sale discount. Philadelphia Cream Cheese is $.49, DiGiorno Pizza is $2.99, Kraft Easy Mac or Velveeta Cups are $0.49, and Vitaminwater is $0.49. The Ralphs prices assume coupon doubling up to $1. Get all the Ralphs coupons.
Safeway/Vons - Check back this afternoon for the latest Safeway and Vons coupons.
Albertsons - Albertsons is having an 8-hour sale on Thursday, Oct. 7 from 1-9 p.m. Here are the deals they will have during (more…)
Kevin McShane / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I love to cook and eat well, but sometimes I come home to a fridge with nothing but leftovers. I used to throw away food that hung around for awhile, but I changed my habits because trashing leftovers is wasteful and expensive. Now I give my leftovers a makeover, using these tricks to eat like a queen.
If you have leftover…
Cooked rice
If you’re in the mood for something sweet, make rice pudding. If instead you want something savory, try (more…)
