A reader named Carrie claimed the second and final $25 Starbucks gift card, which I gave out to celebrate Bargain Babe’s one month anniversary. The contest ran over the past month so now the site is two months old. Congrats, Carrie!
You can still sign up for my free email updates, even though the contest has ended.
Carrie was sweet enough to share some of her favorite deals when claiming her prize. She writes:
Just thought I would take this opportunity to thank you for all the information you have passed on to me and the other “bargain hunters” out there. I especially appreciate the Amazon “Subscribe and Save” information you mentioned in a Bargain Hunter blog. I wasn’t sure if you wanted ideas for other bargains, so I’m passing these ideas to you for consideration.
Freedom Gardens – My husband and I have been working on a “Victory Garden” since last year, slowly converting our garden into edible landscape. I have found an amazing resource through freedomgardens.org (kind of a facebook for gardeners all over the world). It has allowed us to connect with like-minded local urban homesteaders. Once you join FreedomGardens.org (for free), you select the groups you want to participate in. Our local “SoCal Gardeners” group on that site hosts a monthly vegetarian potluck, swap, movie, and chance to connect with like-minded locals for $10 per person.
Path to Freedom – The creators of Freedom Gardens.org are an inspiration in themselves. Check out pathtofreedom.com to learn more about their “Little Homestead in the City”, or see them on You Tube “Homegrown Revolution — Radical Change Taking Root: http://www.youtube.com/user/dervaes. Positive answers to how to live more green, and be more self-sufficient one-step-at-a-time.
Oh Fancy That! – I hate that our economy is making things tough on little shops around our country, and would encourage customers to support those shops — the ones you don’t want to disappear. One of my favorite shops is Oh Fancy That! a fantastic source for British imports. Jean Karasek’s shop carries an assortment of British foods, knickknacks, greeting cards, china and teas including PG Tips (my favorite). Quite a few people get their British “comfort” foods there—many things you can’t find in local stores — and seasonal merchandise like crackers (those popper-things that have treats inside). I got a children’s tea set in a carrying case for about $20 around Christmas. Oh Fancy That! is located at 18399 Ventura Blvd. in Tarzana. 818-996-4405.
If you are a homeowner struggling to pay your mortgage, check if you are eligible for lower payments under President Obama’s mortgage modification plan using a calculator from MainStreet.com.
To be eligible, all of the following must be true:
- Is the property owner-occupied?
- Is the unpaid mortgage balance less than $729,000?
- Did the mortgage originate on 1/1/09 or earlier?
- Are you having trouble paying the mortgage?
If you answered yes to the above four questions, continue using their calculator. If you qualify, the calculator also tells you what your new payment would likely be under Obama’s plan.
There are a ton of sites out there where you can get coupons. Here are a few of my faves. Add yours by leaving a comment!
Retailmenot is the motherlode of coupons sites with discounts at more than 20,000 stores. Downside is nearly all the coupons are for online, so for in store shopping check their printable coupons.
Wow-Coupons has special pages for travel, rebates and restaurants, but they are strongest when it comes to groceries and retail.
Coupon Cravings has freebies and coupons for items around the house, like contact lens solution or disposable women’s razors.
Free Printable Coupons ain’t the prettiest site out there but it gets the job done. Expect food and retailer coupons.
Bargain Briana hosts Freebie Friday with links to many products that are gratis, of course!
For shipping coupons, look no further than FreeShipping.org, a site I have been a fan of for some time.
Get 40% off the list price of one regular-priced item at Borders today through Saturday, March 28, 2009. Good in stores but not online. One per customer. Join their free membership program to use the coupon if you have not already. Print the coupon here.
Caveats: cannot be combined with any other offer or discounts, excludes previous purchases, non-stock special orders, gift cards, newspapers, magazines, comics, coupon books, eBooks, digital downloads, vinyl LPs, self-publishing programs, Smartbox products, Rosetta Stone® software, shipping, and all electronics, including but not limited to the Sony® Reader and the Zune™.
Find a Borders near you.
Get 10% off your purchase of $50 or more at Target and get free shipping on select items now through Mar. 28, 2009. Qualifying items have a “free shipping” logo. Clothing for women, men and children are eligible, as are accessories, jewelry, and fragrances. Go to this page and scroll down for details. No coupon code needed.
Caveats: online purchases only, for items shipping via standard shipping to the 48 contiguous states.
This is a bargain I have been saving up for sometime, but last night I saw proof and had to spill the beans.
Land’s End return policy allows customers to return clothes and other items purchased through the catalog or over the phone at Sears, which then sells the items at bargain basement prices.
My Uncle, who loves a deal as much as I do, proudly showed me a lined red Land’s End coat he found for $69.99 (orig. $100) at his local Sears. He passed on the deal – only 30% off! – until he went up to the cash register to buy a long-sleeve mock turtle neck that was on sale for $10.
The turtle neck rang up for $3. Huh?
Turns out Land’s End gear was another 70% off. So he went back for the red coat, which looks similar to the one above, and paid $22 for it. What a bargain!
Thanks, Pete and Joy!
Getting a lender to modify your mortgage to make it more affordable is a complicated process. A recent story in the LA Times explains the ins and outs of the $75 billion federal program to help struggling homeowners.
If you have been fantasizing about negotiating lower mortgage payments, the story may well disappoint. “Loan modifications, with rare exceptions, can be obtained only by borrowers who can show there’s a substantial chance their troubled mortgages can get back on track.”
To be eligible for a mortgage modification:
- The home must NOT be an investment property
- The unpaid loan balance has to be $729,750 or less
- Loan must have been made before Jan. 1, 2009
- You must be employed or have a new job lined up
Read the full story here.
This post is brought to you by UK Commercial Cleaning, carpet cleaning and kitchen cleaning specialists.
Most non-toxic natural cleaning products involve some combination of vinegar, lemon juice, and baking soda. Three super cheap items you probably have on hand. But do they work?
I put homemade cleaners to the test in two of the dirtiest areas of my home.
My kitchen sink gets orange stains
Spraying my sink with a diluted bleach solution leaves it perfectly white. The natural method involves scrubbing my sink with baking soda. I’m guessing it won’t work or will require 30 minutes of scrubbing. But after less than two minutes of scrubbing a few tablespoons of baking soda into my sink with with steel wool the orange stains washed away leaving a crisp, white sink!
Since I already use diluted bleach I’m not sure that baking soda is cheaper, but this way I don’t have to breathe in toxic fumes. I’ll definitely clean with baking soda in the future.
The black tile in my bathroom is perpetually covered in white drip marks
I was surprised that baking soda matched the power of bleach in my sink. But even the strongest, most toxic cleaners have been powerless to remove the white soap scum from my bathroom tile. Don’t ask me why my landlord chose black tile, a color that shows every trace of dirt.
I went to work with a damp sponge and plenty of baking soda, which seemed to take most of the white marks from the wall tiles. But you cannot tell until the tile fully dries.
Here are the before and after pictures!
If this is not enough to convert you to cheap, natural cleaners, I don’t know what will. I’m convinced!
More green cleaning ideas from Life Learning Today. Thanks, Shasta!
Here are some ideas to freshen your home post spring-cleaning.
Make your own curtains using a light-colored material from a fabric store.
Join the Freecycle network and get free stuff! Each network is a Yahoo! group based on geography. So everything listed is free – and nearby!
Better Budgeting recommends lining up 5 or 7 clear glass jars and bottles on a windowsill, counter top, or shelving. Place one flower in each bottle. This works in the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and front porch!
Apply a fresh coat of paint to one room. You can accomplish a lot in one weekend without spending too much moolah. Borrow re-useable supplies from a friend if you can.
Browse the Craigslist free pages. Click on your city, say Minneapolis, then under “for sale,” click on free. Co crazy!
Quick and Simple recommends inserting cute note cards into a picture frame with multiple slots, above. Use cards you received for sentimental value.
Head to a garage sale with a targeted list and limited cash. I like to leave my wallet at home and instead bring $10, which can go a long way at a garage sale. And then while haggling you can honestly say, but I only have $10!
Quick and Simple recommends covering a canvas (blank or one you are bored of) with fabric that you like. Group multiple canvases for an artsy look.
Paint a few old pots in a bright color of high-gloss varnish (shellac), which you can buy at art stores and home improvement stores. Plant something in them or use them as an accent on bookshelves. If your budget allows, use different colors of varnish.
The craft store JoAnn’s has tons of project ideas. Join their email list for regular coupons via email. Michael’s also has cheap home decor ideas.
There are many items in your home that you can sell or donate for a tax write off instead of tossing in the dumpster.
Sell valuable items a la carte
1) Sell your old iPod or other electronics on BuyMyTronics.com.
2) Sell your unwanted clothes at a consignment shop or head over to your local thrift store.
3) Sell old cell phones through SimplySellular.com, which gives you an estimate online then sends you the cash in about 45 days. (My old RAZR is worth $12.)
4) Sell books to your local used bookstore. (I received $19 in cash for a short stack of books from my Mom’s attic. Recent books in good condition got the best rates.)
5) Vintage electronic equipment and furniture can fetch nice prices on Craigslist.
6) Sell unwanted gold jewelry to a local pawn shop.
7) Sell the rest at a garage sale
If priced right you can sell file cabinets, new office supplies, decorative pillows, dishes, cups, utensils, small appliances, pots and pans, chairs, gently used furniture, electronics, CDs, books, artwork, mirrors, clothes, bicycles, musical instruments video games, toys. At a garage sale, pretty much anything goes.
To guarantee success:
- Make sure items are very clean and well organized.
- Advertise at major intersections and on Craigslist. Mention specific brands and other salient details in your Craigslist post.
- Join forces with a friend if your location is poor or if you don’t have too much to sell.
- Price items at no more than 50% of what you paid or at 25% or less if the item is clearly used.
- Be flexible if buyers want a deal. Remember how good it feels to talk someone down in price? Allow some room for dropping your prices.
- By 11 a.m. if traffic slows cut your prices by half. Wouldn’t you rather sell a shirt for $.25 than drag it to Goodwill?
Donate whatever does not sell
Call your local house of worship or school to check if they are collecting items.
Get $5 off a photo order of $15 or more at Walgreens with coupon code HIGH5. You can use it five times per account. Expires March 21, 2009. Some caveats.
Order 50 or more 4″ x 6″ prints through Snapfish and pay $.10 a print when you pick them up at Walgreens. Use coupon code WAL4X6. Expires March 29, 2009.
Get the first 10 pages of a 20+ page photo book for free at MyPublisher through March 23, 2009. That equals $10 off for a classic photo book or $30 off for a deluxe photobook. Use coupon code MPFREE when checking out.
Get a buy one get one free coupon for a photo book from MyPublisher when you share your email and download their latest photo sharing software. New customers only. Must be for two copies of the same book. Read all the rules here.
Thanks, Marie-Helene!
Is it too early to get your hands dirty and plant something? Depends on where you live. If you are starting to plan your spring or summer garden and live in California, consider buying your plants at OSH.
OSH gives store credit for plants bought from them that have died with the receipt. When I returned a dead plant the salesperson did not blink an eye before pulling out a black plastic bag and instructing me to dump the remains.
Live outside the Golden State? Perhaps a regional chain has a similar policy. It never hurts to ask.
Here is a recommendation for the best garden store in Chicago. Here a top rated garden store in Baltimore. Citysearch provides a roundup of garden stores in Seattle.
More gardening posts:
How a garden can save you $500
Reader tips on recession gardens
A loyal reader named Glenn writes in with this story:
Hi Julia. I’m sure that you remember the $100 promotion WaMu was offering not too long ago. I don’t know if you decided to give their offer a try, but I did. Guess what? I collected my $100 bonus today and closed out my accounts. I didn’t write any checks, use the ATM, or make any withdrawals of any kind during the promotion phase. Basically, I just put the money and the accounts out of mind. That was my plan from the very beginning. Keep the money there long enough to earn the $100 bonus then take the money and run.
I opened my account back on January 8. The day before yesterday, I received my checking account statement in the mail showing me that the $100 bonus was deposited into my checking account back on February 11. That’s a full 8 weeks faster than the 12 weeks I was anticipating. Did any of your other readers inform you that they got their bonus money?
And I won’t forget to report the $100 on my 2009 tax returns. Keep up the good work.
Glenn
Google is making an enemy out of the telecommunication industry, but if it means offering free services to consumers, I’m okay with it. Google Voice, a rival to Skype (owned by eBay) and traditional phone companies, lets you synch your phone numbers so that your work, cell, and home phone ring simultaneously. You can call one voicemail number to check all your messages and get a transcript of your messages.
The service is an expansion of a company called GrandCentral that Google purchased in 2007. Existing GrandCentral users will get access to Google Voice first. The rest of us can jump on the bandwagon in a few weeks.
I’ll update the blog when Google Voice becomes widely available. For more details, read a NY Times story about Google Voice.
Customers of The Gas Company may be eligible for a 20% discount on their gas bill through a program called CARE. To qualify you or a person in your household must receive benefits from Medi-Cal, Food Stamps, TANF, Women, Infant & Children (WIC), Healthy Families Category A & B, or LIHEAP.
Or you can qualify if your income is less than $30,500 for up to two people in the home, $35,800 for up to three people, $43,200 for four, $50,600 for five, or $58,000 for six. For each additional household member add $7,400.
If you apply and are accepted the discount starts within 90 days. For details and an application, download this form. (It is a pdf so give it time to open.) For applications in Spanish, Korean, Vietnamese, Japanese or large print English, go to this page and look for the appropriate link.
Thanks, Tina!
