ecastro//Flickr
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
If you are reading this post, you probably a frugal person or a frugal-person-in-training. Perhaps your frugal ways have been called “cheap” or caused embarrassment. This article clears up any confusion between the two terms.
Per Webster’s dictionary:
frugal: characterized by or reflecting economy in the use of resources
cheap: stingy (not generous or liberal: sparing or scant in using, giving, or spending)
These two definitions do not mean the same thing. Here are five examples that make the difference very clear. (Bargain Babe provided her own definition of being frugal versus being cheap more than a year ago). (more…)
Free Super Bowl picture frames – Get a free digital picture frame in Steelers or Green Bay colors to celebrate the big game Sunday.
Free Broadway for kids - Don’t forget to take advantage of this promotion to get free Broadway tickets for kids if you live near NYC.
Kids coloring pages – Keep your kids busy during the Super Bowl this Sunday with free kids coloring pages.
Restaurant.com 70% off – Get 70% off with Restaurant.com coupon code HEART valid through Feb. 7, 2011. That makes a $25 gift certificate just $3. Thousands of restaurants to choose from!
Coming this afternoon! Get $20 of books for $10 at this national book store through Groupon. This deal will be snapped up quickly! Details to come!
Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com.
kejadlen/Flickr
A shopping website called ShopRunner emailed me its top five worst Valentine’s Day gifts, which naturally got me thinking about the best frugal V-day gifts. Here are my best and worst Valentine’s Day gifts. What’s on your list?
Worst Frugal Valentine’s Day Gifts
1. Nothing at all. Not even a card!! (more…)
Ready to watch the game. Credit: wwworks/Flickr
Longtime reader Dave shared – ok, bragged – about the discount he got on a new TV just in time for the Superbowl! He writes:
I just bought a new 47″ Big Screen TV at a tremendous price.
Vizio M470NV model. ALL the “Bells & Whistles” including Wireless Internet Access (Netflix streaming of movies, Facebook, Twitter, etc.). LED/LCD, surround sound, blu-ray remote with keyboard, etc, etc.
Price at Vizio.com = $1429.99 (MSRP)
Average “best price” = $999
Price at Sam’s Club = $948
“Instant Discount” currently at Sam’s = $150
Price at Sam’s thru 1/30/2011 = $798
Dave got the TV for 44% off the MSRP – a fantastic deal! Did you buy a new TV for the Superbowl? Looking for a Superbowl party menu under $25? I’m going to be flying during the Superbowl this Sunday so the plane will be empty (yay!) but I’ll also miss the commercials. Hehehe.
Win a free bumper sticker!
The first giveaway of “I BRAKE FOR BARGAINS” bumper stickers was so successful I’m giving away even more stickers! To win a sticker, leave a comment on this post AND email me an address where I can mail it to. Make sure to mention the bumper sticker in the subject so I can keep track.
The giveaway ends Sunday, Feb. 6, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST. I’m waiting for the ice to melt to put one on my own bumper. Your bumper sticker will take 4-6 weeks to arrive in the mail.
Caveats: While supplies last. Up to 1,000 stickers will be given away. One per person and up to two per household. Open to residents of the U.S. only. You must be 13 or older to receive this prize.
Mike Kline/Flickr
From time to time I like to let y’all know how to use this site better. Today I’m focusing on the Lijit Search box that appears in the upper right hand corner of BargainBabe.com. See it? The box has a thin hot pink border and a light pink background where the words Lijit Search appear. (Lijit Search is the name of the company that provides the searching capabilities.)
Type any keyword into this box and you’ll get all the posts with that keyword in the results. I recently switched from Lijit’s in-house search to their Google search and the results have drastically improved. If you have never used the search box, or haven’t used it in awhile, I urge you to try it. It’s a great way to find coupons and money-saving strategies on BargainBabe.com.
The other way to find deals is through the new navigation tabs that appear across the top of the site.
Don’t forget to join the $300 Visa gift card giveaway sponsored by Cheep to win $50, $100, or $150. Use the winnings on a Valentine’s Day gift if you like! Cheep makes shopping online more fun and helps you find the best bargains. You can share your shopping activity and “follow” other savvy shoppers to see what deals they are getting. When you sign up, download the Cheep browser-add on to get price comparisons, as well as reviews and ratings from the Cheep community about specific products you search for. It all adds up to a fun new way to save money.
To enter to win, sign up for Cheep using your Facebook login or create a new account. Then comment on one (or more) products you viewed or purchase you made or that another Cheep user made on the Cheep site (www.getcheep.com). The contest is open to new Cheep users only. (If you are already on Cheep and really want to win, why not create a second account?)
Note, you must sign up for Cheep through the above link to be entered into the contest. If you don’t use the above link, we won’t be able to track your entry. So don’t miss out! Join Cheep and comment by Sunday, Feb. 6 at 11:59 p.m. EST to be eligible to win.
Krispy Kreme
There are 12 freebies and coupons total today!
Free Krispy Kreme - Buy a dozen Valentine’s-theme donuts and get 12 cards that have coupons for free donuts, coffee, or hot chocolate. Ends Feb. 14, 2011. Look for heart-shaped donuts with sprinkles, a chocolate iced donut with sprinkles, or a chocolate iced heart with red drizzle. At participating U.S. and Canadian stores.
Free pizza? If the Superbowl goes into overtime, Papa John’s has promised a free pizza to every American. Catch is you gotta register on the site by Feb. 5, 2011. (more…)
USACEpublicaffairs / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
In a comment, Susie A. suggested we find organizations that facilitate sending items to soldiers overseas. Care packages include items soldiers need or enjoy while they are away from home. To create inexpensive care packages you can buy items in bulk, organize a collection in your community, or use coupon matching to score free items like toothpaste. If you have a loved one in the military, don’t forget to take advantage of military discounts. For those that would like to send a letter or care package to service members overseas, here are three organizations that help you do so. (more…)
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
This list now includes grocery coupons for Wegman’s, as per Ellen’s request! Some of my blogger friends a little behind putting together the weekly grocery deals, so check back this afternoon if they have not been posted.
Ralphs - The Ralphs prices assume coupon doubling up to $1. Get all the Ralphs coupons later today.
Safeway/Vons - Get all the Safeway/Vons coupons and deals later today.
Albertsons - Get the full list of Albertsons coupons later today.
Whole Foods - Get Whole Foods coupons later today.
Publix – Southern Savers posted this week’s Publix grocery coupons. There are a lot of products included in a buy one get one free sale, Lay’s potato chips, Pepsi products, Margaritaville shrimp, tea, salsa, mayo, pickles, and lots more! (more…)
missmeng/Flickr
I’ve watched .30 football games this season, but I’m keenly aware of how fun it can be to host or attend a Superbowl party. Who doesn’t enjoy good food, drinks, and friends? Oh yeah, and the game is on. If you are having folks over or going to a Superbowl party, what is your favorite dish to prepare?
Tip: Eighty percent of people plan to watch the Superbowl from home this year.
I like to make baked brie. It’s one of those “fancy” dishes that takes 10 minutes of work. Here’s how: (more…)
F. Montino/Flickr
Reader Sharon wrote in with how she used coupons, bonuses, and a price comparison app to save enough money to cover her Droid cell phone bill this month.
Also, just HAVE to share with you how I’m making my new Droid 2 pay for itself – I downloaded the “red laser” app that scans the bar code and when I check out I ask if they’ll match the price. Last week I got something at Office Max for ½ the price, saving $15! Then I went to JC Penney’s and there was an AWESOME Cuisinart can opener on sale for $59.99 down from $79.99. Now, I would NEVER spend $60 on a can opener, even though I’ve been going through cheap ones like crazy and my hands no longer can turn the hand held ones. So I decided to scan the bar code and found it online for $39.99! PLUS I had $20 rewards for JCP, so I paid a total of $19.99 for my new WONDERFUL, one touch Cuisinart can opener – and the FIRST Cuisinart product I’ve ever owned! YEAH! So…I’m well on the way to paying my monthly phone bill in just one day buying things I need. Feel free to share.
Gotten any hot deals lately?
Wow – 10 deals total today!
Free makeup – Get a free sample of of liquid foundation from Maybelline. Won’t last long!
Free coffee in NYC, D.C., and Boston – Get free coffee today through February in New York City, D.C., and Boston as part of a promotion for a food delivery website. Check for specific locations near you.
Free map of MLK’s trip itinerary – In honor of Black History Month, Lonely Planet is offering a free PDF of the trip Martin Luther King Jr. took across the American south before he was assassinated on Apr. 4, 1968.
Gap 40% off - Use this Gap coupon to get 40% off tomorrow, Feb. 2, 2011 only. (more…)
Reader Linda shared how she has saved $600 a year on prescriptions. Note, I have never used this site.
I follow your blog and am grateful for all savings advice and contests that you run. I found this amazing website and I use it all the time. I saved my mom $600 last year. She takes Nexium and was able to save $50 a month on her prescription. My sister told me my brother-in-law had to go on Lipitor and I directed her to www.internetdrugcoupons.com. She will be able to save $120 this year on his prescription. Share it with your readers so they can save too! Keep up the great work you do with your blog and have a great year.
Linda is not affiliated with this site, which frankly, looks spammy. If you only print coupons from the site, fine. But I would be vary about sharing ANY personal info. The site purports to have a free membership card (similar to AAA) that gives you discounts of 10-45% off on prescriptions not covered by health insurance. But AAA costs money to join. Why would drug companies and pharmacies give you a discount just for printing out this card? Sketchy.
At the bottom of the homepage I noticed this note from the webmaster that partially restores my trust.
This site is just a glorified list of links to drug coupons with descriptions of the offers. We do not issue or fulfill any of the offers. All offers come from the drug companies, not us. InternetDrugCoupons.com does not have any relationship whatsoever with any drug company.
I put together this site as my small contribution to help the American people save money on their drug bills during these difficult economic times.
We make money from advertisements on the site and advertisements are clearly marked. - Webmaster
For more info, read the site’s mission statement on the About page. Have you used this site? Are you curious about getting coupons for medications and prescriptions from the Internet?
JD Hancock/Flickr
I compiled seven tax tips from the IRS, CompleteTax, and H&R Block, including how to file for free, and what you can deduct while job searching.
1. File for Free. If you make less than $58,000, you are eligible to file your federal taxes for free using the IRS Free File program. That makes about 98 million Americans eligible. To file your taxes for free click on the above link, then click on “Free File” in the right column. Choose one of the Free File Alliance members that comes up that meets your tax needs. Once you pick a company you’ll be transferred to the company’s website to work on and file your taxes. Speak Spanish? Three of the 19 participating software companies also offer this service in Espanol. If you do not have Internet access at home, there are 29 locations across the country where you can use the Free File software.
2. Another free filing option. (more…)
