This gardening post was brought to you by the UK’s Pond Liner Website. Bradshaws Pond Liner company stock a wide selection of garden pond filters and pond pumps including the Oase Pond Pump and the Hozelock Pond Pump. Check it out for some seriously good bargains on any garden pond liner or automatic fish feeder.
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
Muffet/Flickr
One of my greatest pleasures is working in my garden. Not only do I get Vitamin D from the sun, but I also get exercise, fresh air and the occasional fresh fruit or veggie. Although each individual seed packet or plant doesn’t cost a lot of money, the expenses DO add up.
Here are five of my favorite sites to help you with your garden schedule and budget:
- KinderGARDEN is a wonderful site chock full of links to help you garden with kids. I had a great time (more…)
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
This list now includes grocery coupons for Harris Teeter!
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, including 85% lean ground beef for $1.99/lb, split chicken breasts or whole legs for $.99/lb, and Albertsons canned tomatoes or beans for $.50 each. Great prices all around!
Whole Foods - Get Whole Foods coupons later today.
Publix – Southern Savers posted this week’s Publix grocery coupons. Highlights include Mueller’s pasta for free with coupons and sale, Giant Green Vegetables for $.14-$.39 each with coupons, and Pam Cooking Spray for $.89 with coupons. (more…)
Ten freebies and coupons today!
Saturday only! Free coffee at Barnes & Noble - Get a free cup of Starbucks coffee when you look at a Nook Color.
Free glasses to TX – If you live in Texas, you can get a free pair of prescription glasses through CoastalContacts.com this Friday, Feb. 2, 2011 starting at 10 a.m. CST. To get the deal code, “like” the company’s Facebook page.
Free shampoo and conditioner – Get a free sample of Kirkland Shampoo and Conditioner. You do not need to be a Costco member.
Free business cards - Get 20 free business cards from Vista Print when you pay shipping (about $5). Ends today! (more…)
An example of a Groupon voucher.
I occasionally feature Groupon deals and “social coupons” from similar sites like LivingSocial, FamilyFinds, and more. But I’m not sure if anyone is taking advantage of them. Are you interested in seeing more Groupon deals?
I like Groupon because I pay upfront for the discount – locking my savings – then have a few months to redeem the voucher. Most recently, I got a fantastic Groupon deal at The Body Shop. The deals are usually for at least 50% off the service or product and sometimes the savings are as much as 90% off. If you’re wary of Groupon, there’s nothing to be worried about. Just read the The Fine Print on the deal page to make sure to can comply with the terms. They are often very reasonable.
Here are a few current deals from Groupon and other deal sites.
- NYC: $15 for $30 worth of services at World Class Cleaners
- Dallas: $15 for $30 worth of gardening supplies at Redenta’s Garden
- Houston: $25 for two seats to hocken game, parking, and other perks
- San Clemente, CA: $15 for $30 of groceries at gluten-free market
- Los Angeles: $65 for massage and acupuncture or chiropractor treatment
- San Diego: $14 for two rounds of nine holes of golf
So, are you interested in seeing more Groupon deals? Let me know by leaving a comment, otherwise I may faze them out. Thanks for your feedback!
Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com.
SCA Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget/Flickr
Angela shared a tip for a site where she found good prices on home care items. She writes:
As I’ve become an expert on incontinence items since my grandma’s stroke, I wanted to pass along a great website I found where consumers can find all different kinds of incontinence items at reasonable prices. It’s called www.wellspringdirect.com. They also offer free shipping on orders over $50.
I’ve not used this site but wanted to pass along Angela’s experience. Got a money-saving tip? Email me your story.
blmurch / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Tax season is upon us and if you are contemplating doing your taxes to save money, think again. Doing your own taxes may not save you money, especially if you don’t know the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction. Here’s how to find out if you should be doing you taxes or paying someone else to do them for you.
Consider this: If the time and money you spend doing your taxes costs more than hiring a professional, then (more…)
This post is brought to you by the truck accessories sold online for great prices at BuyAutoTruckAccessories.com.
Kind of a slow day today. Got any hot coupons or freebies to share?
Free kids swap – A new through-the-mail kids and maternity clothing swap company is offering free membership to newbies!
TGI Friday’s coupon – Get $5 off $15 with this TGI Friday’s coupon.
Five DVDs $2 – Rent five DVDs from Blockbuster Express for $2 with this Groupon movie rental coupon.
Peet’s coupon – Get free shipping at Peet’s Coffee when you spend $50, buy Rwandan coffee, and use coupon code 11RWA50. Expires Mar. 9, 2011.
$10 Amazon credit – Get a $10 Amazon credit valid sitewide when you buy $20 worth of magazines. That’s a hot Amazon coupon!
Restaurant.com 80% off – Get 80% off with Restaurant.com coupon code DINE, good through Feb. 28, 2011. That makes a $25 gift certificate just $2.
Digital Vincent/Flickr
Kim emailed me saying she is selling things her family doesn’t need to bring in extra income. I failed at selling my crap on eBay so I had to know how Kim is doing it. She writes:
My husband is recently in the job market, so the family finances needed a boost. He had been an avid dvd collector and my #1 son told me to sell off some of the dvds that we weren’t interested in watching again. I just put in the serial number on the back and the website told me whether they were selling or not, and approximately what price they would sell for. We keep about 40 on Amazon
at any given time, and have sold just over 100 in six weeks. Some of the best sellers were (more…)
Start early, and your IRA will grow into a mature account. Credit: Rev Stan/Flickr
I want to give my little brother his very own IRA retirement account as a college graduation present. Just what every new grad needs!
He just started a new job and is working on creating a budget that fits his $513 a week salary. One of his main goals is to get his car on the road, but I’m gently trying to persuade him to buy a monthly bus pass and contribute to an IRA retirement account. This may well be his quickest way to become a millionaire. (In case you wondered, he said my post about his new budget was “legit.”)
I waited far too long to establish an IRA (mid-20s) and regret I did not begin contributing as early as possible. In fact, I don’t know of any age (more…)
A college student can be worth $2,500 under the American Opportunity Credit.
Last week I wrote about three educational and energy credits that reduce your taxes. I mentioned one deduction, too. So what’s the difference between a tax credit and a tax deduction?
A tax credit directly reduces the taxes you owe. So if you do your taxes and owe Uncle Sam $5,000, a $2,500 tax credit means you pay just $2,500 in taxes.
A tax deduction reduces your taxable income, which is what determines how much tax you pay. So if your gross income was $45,000, a $2,000 tax deduction means you pay taxes on $43,000.
In short, a tax credit saves you a lot more money than a tax deduction, so never skip a chance to claim a valid tax credit. Got questions? Leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer.
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
This post is brought to you by Aqua Master Watch, which are available for 88% off on ItsHot.com.
Lots of great freebies at CVS this week, including opportunities to stock up on Easter candy! Target has hot deals, too. This list now includes Staples coupons each week!
Target - This week’s list of Target coupons includes Wolfgang Puck’s Organic soup for free with coupons, 10 4 x 6 inch coupons for free with coupon, and Seventh Generation liquid dish soap for $.79 after coupons. (more…)
TriggerHappyDave/Flickr
There are 13 total coupons and deals today!
Free Ski magazine – Get a free subscription to Ski Magazine through Mercury Magazines.
Mega Swagbucks day - Today is Mega Swagbucks day. That means you can earn swagbucks for using the Internet, then redeem them for gift cards and prizes.
Restaurant.com 70% off - The newest Restaurant.com coupon EAT gets you a $25 gift certificate, gift card, or dinner of the month club for just $2. Ends Monday Feb. 21, 2011. (more…)
rayb777/Flickr
I’m taking Monday off – it’s President’s Day – so I’ll see you all Tuesday. I’m going to renovate my kitchen (stage 1: rip up ugly linoleum floors) and go to improv comedy. What about you?
Have a great weekend everyone!
~Julia
aka Bargain Babe
CommonSenseWithMoney.com
Seven retailers on the brink - My fellow WalletPop blogger Laura Heller has the low down on seven retailers struggling to stay afloat.
Spring break guided tours – EF College Break is a company that creates low-budget guided tours for college students or anyone aged 18-26. The site bills itself as the “perfect alternative to backpacking through Europe or elsewhere in the world.” Ah to be young and have $1,670 for a 9-day trip to Ireland! Sigh. Thanks, Tina!
Want more freebies? Every Friday Bargain Briana has one of the biggest collection of freebies on the web. If you have your own freebie, you can even post it on her site.
Taxpayers to receive refund as a debit card – Bargaineering has the skinny on a pilot program to send tax refunds that are plastic, not paper.
Chocolate covered oreo recipe – If you need more sugar in your life, check out this recipe for chocolate covered oreos.
Jeff Keen/Flickr
Emily emailed me with plans to save money this month starting on Tuesday. She wrote:
I have decided to make your spending Moratorium an annual adventure, and this time, I have decided to include my new boyfriend (his choice, not mine!) Of course, we will still pay for essentials (including my allergy shots) but only what is absolutely necessary. I just wanted to let you know, and thank you for your inspiration.
Best of luck Emily! I admire your boyfriend for joining in and really glad you didn’t push it on him. Forcing your spending decisions on another person is a recipe for breakups and a big difference between being frugal and being cheap! He must be quite a catch, at least financially!
Is anyone else going on a spending moratorium? Or maybe a spending spree?
