Owenfinn16/flickr
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.
A watery glass of luke-warm coffee is a bummer. A good cup of coffee is a treat. A glass of perfectly made iced coffee is a spiritual experience!
Years ago a barista taught me the secret of correctly made iced coffee. The secret is so simple and easy that it is a constant wonder to me that so few coffee shops make so-so iced coffee. Learn my secret and save yourself a few bucks while sipping a delightful beverage.
Here is the secret:
T Hoffarth / Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Have you ever caved into buying an item at a higher price because you didn’t want to be perceived as cheap? Last weekend, I did just that at the Santa Monica Pier, a major tourist attraction in California.
My family and I headed to Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf to grab drinks. At the front of the line I was faced with a major decision.
JenK ♥ / Flickr
I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.
Rejoice, caffeine junkies! Coffee prices are on their way down. You’ll now be able to enjoy your java for less. (CNN Money)
Need to getaway? Plan a budget-friendly getaway before school starts. (CollegeCandy)
Dress your man on a budget. Find out what wardrobe staples every men should own to look great on a dime. (WiseBread)
Does your credit score have some blemishes? Here are 5 ways to repair your credit score. (Time Moneyland)
Off season shopping can save you a bundle. As fall approaches, end-of-summer bargains are just around the corner. (Fabulous and Frugal)
Filter your coffee - and email - for best results. Credit: tuchodi/Flickr
Longtime reader Diane shares her tip for never missing a BargainBabe.com email (emphasis mine). Setting up a filter will help you keep track of all Bargainbabe.com’s money saving tips. It’s easier than you think and saves so much time! Thanks for your readership, Diane!
I want to report that there are some days, like today (May 24), when I don’t get my daily BB e-mail. When this dawns on me, I know I can go to BargainBabe.com, but sometimes I don’t realize until a day or two later that I didn’t receive it. To help me, I have created a filter that does the following to each day’s blog: Star it, Apply label “Bargain Babe”, Never send it to Spam, Mark it as important, Exclude from SmartLabel categorization. This way, if I haven’t received it, I know specifically where to look for it. If I still can’t find it, I know it wasn’t sent and then can go to the URL.
I wonder if any of the other readers also have noticed some skipped days. ~Diane
It sounds like Diane uses Gmail, which is free and a great tool for reading and managing email. Other programs, like Outlook, may offer similar filtering options. MakeUseOf.com has tips to set up email filters in Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo.
Rejoice! Starting today Starbucks is offering free WiFi to its customers. Previously, it was a complete pain in the neck to get WiFi at Starbucks, requiring you to jump through all sorts of hoops or pay for a connection. This move will certainly attract more customers and maybe win back those who switched to McDonald’s for their cheaper coffee and free WiFi. Here is a full list of places to get free Wifi.
jekert gwapo/Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
I have a confession to make. I am addicted to coffee – the pricey frapps and ice blended drinks. But that’s not my only problem. In order to keep up with my caffeine addiction I’ve been charging the drinks on my credit card. Not smart at all, especially when I carry a balance.
I didn’t realize how bad it had gotten until I was reviewing my e-bill and noticed almost half the charges made were at coffee shops. My addiction began about six months ago when I took on more responsibility at work and couldn’t get out of the newsroom until 10 or 11 p.m.
Waking up extra early didn’t help either. By 3 p.m. I needed a pick me up and walked to a local coffee shop for my fix. If I didn’t have cash on me I would simply charge my $4 drinks. In no time my habit added up to $20 a week. Now I pay for my indulgence plus interest.
I shared my dilemma on the Bargain Babe Facebook page and many readers offered solutions that I am implementing. Here’s my plan. First, I’m going cold turkey. I had my last ice blended drink this weekend. I am not frequenting any coffee shops for a while and most importantly I am working hard to pay off my credit card debt. Note to self, don’t use plastic to pay for food or drink!
I am also fighting my expensive coffee addiction one tea bag at a time. Compared to coffee, tea is less expensive and doesn’t add extra calories (unless you add cream). I am using my coffee maker at home more often, as reader Janna suggested:
“I make my own cappuccinos now. I have a Senseo, which I *love* ($.25 per cup). I warm up some milk in the micro, then foam it up with an Aerolatte; simply awesome. For the counter space saved over a home espresso maker and the cost you can’t beat it.”
Having worked at a juice bar, I have enough experience to tackle making coffee at home. I also have an Aerolatte so I just need to commit to doing it myself.
Related posts:
What tempted me to use my credit card this month
TheConsumerist.com
Jetblue is selling a bunch of flights from JFK for $10 each. The site was getting hammered last time I checked so give the pages time to load.
New customers can get a free photobook from Picaboo or, if you already have an account with them, there is a BOGO free coupon that is good through March 31, 2010.
Use this Gap coupon code to get jeans at 30 percent off. Just trade-in an old pair by Sunday, March 14, 2010.
Snag a bag of free dog treats from Science Diet when you share your name, email and address.
Coldwater Creek coupons! Get 20-25 percent off when you buy $100 or more. Good in stores and online.
Do you live near a Dunkin Donuts? Then get free coffee every Monday in March.
Get a free 8-ounce Coffee Freddo at Peet’s Coffee Friday, Aug. 7, 2009 from 2-3 p.m. only. There are two types of Freddo drinks, cafe or mocha, but basically they are a blended drink with coffee, milk and ice.
See details here, though no coupon is needed. Find a Peet’s near you.
Caveats: excludes airport, grocery, and BART locations. One per person. No rainchecks.
