kenteegardin / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
With bank fees increasing due to debit card swipe fees getting capped, it’s time to take these four easy steps to avoid bank fees.
- Give your bank a call- I called my bank and requested my personal schedule of fees and deposit agreement. Didn’t get charged for this, thank goodness! It contains a list of all the bank fees I could end up paying if I’m not careful. Now I know that if I lose my card, I’ll have to pay $5 for a replacement. I could also get slapped with a $20 per hour fee for research (more…)
Dan_OHYEAH/Flickr
Just got this email Emily Sweet, a casting producer in Los Angeles:
I’m a casting producer in Los Angeles working on a new TV show about families that are serious bargain hunters! I came across your website and thought that you or some of your readers might be perfect for our show! Our show information is listed below. I would love to chat with you more about this and also see if there is anyway for you to help us spread the word about this exciting opportunity!Is your family the thriftiest in America? Do you refuse to pay full price? Are you always on the lookout for the best deals?
Calling all coupon experts, yard sale fanatics, thrift store wizards and super savers for a brand new show on a major network! This show will be the chance to put your skills to the test in a fun competition and prove once and for all that you and your family are the ultimate bargain hunters!
If you live in the Los Angeles area and your family will do anything to save a buck please email your story and a family photo to Ellen Rakieten Entertainment: familycasting@rrstaff.com.
I’m guessing a lot of you fit the bill!
Assemble wine corks into a bath mat. Credit: dawgbyte77/Flickr
Just flipped through the summer 2011 issue of FreshHOME, a mag that is a cross between Real Simple and Better Homes & Gardens. Unlike some magazines (ahem, Dwell), the projects in FreshHOME seem doable. I summarized two easy home redecorating projects that caught my eye.
Wine cork bath mat
Start collecting wine corks or head to your a nearby wine bar, restaurant, or vineyard to ask if they have extras. Once you have about
BOGO free coupon for Carvel below.
There are 25 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, check if there is a cash back rebate for shopping through Ebates or Shortcuts. It’s free to join and you can save a bit extra.
Free OB tampons and case – Get a free sample of OB tampons in a cute carrying case. While supplies last. Thanks, Free Sample Freak!
Free slurpee - 7-Eleven celebrates its anniversary every year by giving away free 7.11-ounce slurpees and the freebie day is coming up – July 11, 2011!
Free Skillet Queso & Chips – Get a coupon for a free Skillet Queso & Chips at Chili’s when you join its email list.
Don’t forget to check out Who Can Fix My Car, the UK’s specialist in Car Repairs, which brought you this post.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Robert Couse-Baker/flickr
Several years ago I had a minivan that I LOVED. It was the first car that I had ever purchased myself. Unfortunately, one part kept breaking. I must have fixed it four times. I finally just gave the car away. A few months later, I was talking to a mechanic and mentioned how many times I had fixed that part. “Oh yes,” he said, “that part was a factory recall.”
“A factory recall?” What is that?
Turns out that every car has a list of problems that so many people have had with that particular year, make and model, that the factory agrees it screwed up and will replace it FOR FREE!
Instead of paying to fix a part four times, I could have
Get online coupons for these stores below.
Target - This week’s list of Target coupon deals includes Kraft Mac N cheese veggie Pasta for $0.54, Kraft Salad Dressing for $0.59 – $0.73, and Gerber Graduates Healthy Meals for $0.79.
Staples – Hip 2 Save lists the hot Staples coupons later today.
CVS - Bargain Briana has all the CVS coupon deals for this week, including free Reach Toothbrush (2 pack), free Oral B Advantage or Cross Action Toothbrush, and free Oral B Pulsar Toothbrush. (more…)
Southwest just launched a $59 fare sale. See below for details.
There are 19 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, check if there is a cash back rebate for shopping through Ebates or Shortcuts. It’s free to join and you can save a bit extra.
Free smoothie - Get a free smoothie from Panera Bread when you sign up for a My Panera card or register one you already have. Thanks, It’s Hip to Save!
HOT! Shoe sale – All Zealand sandals, bags, and slippers are 70% off today only on The Walking Store. Ends July 1, 2011.
Travel deals – Travelzoo has a new page dedicated to local travel deals around the country, from $7 half-price tickets to Boston’s Harbor Islands to $15 whale watching from Newport Beach and $30 Cirque du Soleil tickets in Chicago.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
Swag bags from the Frugal Festival Food!
I had such a good time at the Frugal Festival Food! Between running the food swap, listening to good music, making new friends, hanging out with the FaceMaker face painters and eating amazing food, I also received an Envirosax nylon bag.
When Julia wrote her article about receiving the bags and how cool they were, I must admit I was a bit hoo-hum. Factually, I have an entire closet full of reusable bags. So what was the big deal with this bag? Well, I found out.
Here are my seven reasons why I love my Frugal Festival Food! Envirosax nylon bag:
- I chose the light green color. This is unusual for me since I don’t normally like green, but this color is cool, calming and inviting.
- I love the texture. It’s so soft and subtle.
- It’s super light-weight. I carry this bag in my purse. It is so light that it doesn’t make my already overstuffed satchel even heavier.
- It’s fun to fold. The whole concept of this bag is that you fold it into a small shape that snaps. It comes with picture instructions. It’s fun to make the bag turn into a little ball of fabric.
- It’s fun to unfold. It’s even more fun to unsnap the ball of fabric and shake it out into its full shape.
- The bag is actually fairly large and holds several items. So many of the small bags are just too small to make it worthwhile to use. This bag is big enough to hold a large box of tissues, several tubes of toothpaste, a large bottle of shampoo, a magazine, a bag of pretzels and a pair of socks. That’s a pretty impressive bag.
- The best reason that I love my new bag is because I USE IT! Since I carry the bag in my purse, when I go to pay for my items at the store, I see the bag and pull it out. This is truly the only reusable bag that I consistently reuse.
Thank you, Julia for finding these bags and making them part of the Frugual Festival Food! for all of us.
Pinapple pops. Credit: jamieanne/Flickr
These recipes come from a PR lady working with Eagle Sweetened Condensed Milk, which, no surprise, is an ingredient in both these recipes. I’m such a big fan of DIY-ing and ice cream, however, that I couldn’t help sharing. I’m even considering making ice cream for a July 4th party this weekend!
Pineapple and Chipotle Ice Pops
1 – 20 oz. can crushed pineapple in pineapple juice, undrained
1 – 14 oz. can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
3/4 cup pineapple juice
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
1. Puree pineapple in food processor. Combine with sweetened condensed milk, pineapple juice, lime juice and chili powder in large bowl and mix well.
2. Spoon
Leftover lotion? Credit: shawncampbell/Flickr
Linda wrote in with a question about leftover skincare items. What would you do?
I have sensitive skin and am a savvy shopper (try to be anyway) so I’m afraid to buy new products in fear of my skin not liking it and then not being able to return it – even drugstore types. Do you have any tips on other uses for cheap or expensive facewashes and moisturizers so that they don’t go to waste?
I have tried swapping on sites such as MakeupAlley but they do take a while to swap away, if ever.
Thank you!
Linda
I buy most of my skincare products from The Body Shop, which accepts returns if something causes your skin to break out. I would be surprised if other major retailers, like Target or the chain drugstores, did not act similarly.
However, if you opt not to return an item you are unhappy with, perhaps you could use them on other parts of your body that are not as sensitive, like your legs. You could also offer them to friends or organize a small beauty swap among friends.
Readers, what would you do with leftover facewash and moisturizer?
MaryLane / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Tired of receiving tons of emails from daily coupon sites? It would be nice if there were a daily coupon aggregating site. There is. (Daily Dibs)
Save money on food by cooking ahead these 10 things on your day off from work. (Wisebread)
Do you fib about your finances? Find out how financial infidelity is taking a toll on marriages and how you can spot telltale signs of the financially unfaithful. (CNN Money)
If you like Groupon and Living Social, check out The Dealmap. (The Dealmap)
Unemployment has Americans spending more time sleeping, watching TV, and brewing beer. What are you spending your time on? (Time Moneyland)
Bonus: Rudy Park, the comic strip, occasionally features Rudy’s tightwad boss. Reader Diane said this strip from June 17 reminded her of a male Bargain Babe!
