Calling all bargainers! Credit: silverfox09/Flickr

I receive a decent number of emails from folks casting a new TV show related to saving money. But the guy casting this Pro Bargainers show actually called me and asked me for feedback and answered my questions about the show he described. My take: two thumbs up.

So if you’ve thought about responding to a casting call but hesitated, don’t miss this opportunity. Email Zach at tv_casting19@yahoo.com for more info. You can always opt not to participate later! He is mainly looking for folks in the LA or NY area.

Well-known TV production studio with top-rated, successful shows airing on Fox, A&E, and TLC is looking for the top PRO BARGAINERS to show off their negotiating skills in a brand-new reality series!

If you are someone who never accepts the retail price for anything, and believe there is room for negotiation whether shopping for cars or furniture, to everyday groceries like cartons of eggs or tubes of toothpaste, we would love to hear your story, and put your skills to the test for all to see!

This is your big chance to be cast in the next reality TV sensation! Let us know what makes you the best bargainer around! Contact: tv_casting19@yahoo.com

I was invited onto NBC to talk about the Festival the night before (June 24, 2011). Check out my conversation with Ana Garcia on Nonstop LA!

View more videos at: http://www.nbclosangeles.com.

Split the cost of owning a horse on SplitStuff.com.

Cool new website alert! Reader Annette shared a new site called SplitStuff.com that her husband started and that is most active in the Los Angeles-Orange County area. It’s still very new, so there’s not a ton of activity, but the basic premise is pretty neat so I wanted to share it. Annette writes:

It’s for people who want to get together and buy in bulk to save money. I use SplitStuff mostly to get my produce from local farmers. My friends and I get bulk prices and we take (turns) making the pickup. Other people use it to organize childcare co-ops, get group discounts on classes, or even buy a lawnmower that will be used by three or four neighbors.

I saw splits for charter cruises,

mulch and compost, wine, dog food, wedding supply re-use items, a car lease, cattle feed, vacation homes, and a horse share. On the Splits tab you can also search for items or look at more detailed categories than the three main ones on the homepage (goods and supplies, durable items, and services and projects). Once you register, you can either create a split or join one that already exists.

The split for a horse, see image above, came with this plea:

My girl has been begging for a horse, but that’s a lot of responsibility for one kid. What say we get a bunch of families together and share the costs and responsibility involved?

I would stick to food and other everyday items because the site offers no legal protection and recommends you evaluate co-splitters just like you would screen and interview business partners. In other words, meet in person, get a lawyer if contracts are involved, and don’t think that just because they signed up for SplitStuff they are your friend. SplitStuff was launched in Nov. 2010 by Steve Ruttenberg, who lives in Topanga, CA.

I could see SplitStuff taking off as it speaks to both eco-consciousness and savvy-spending, but if you’re really eager to make a bulk purchase, why not just ask friends?

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!

Just two days to Frugal Festival Food! Saturday 6/25 in LA!!!!

Two days to Frugal Festival Food!!! I flew in yesterday and am running today around making last minute preparations for the Festival Saturday. Can’t wait to see you there!

Frugal Festival Food! is all over the news! Check me out Friday night at about 7 p.m. on NBC 4 for a preview of raffle prizes and more!

Winners of The Coupon Wallet swag have been announced!

Get your tickets now!

Did you win one of two copies of “Money-Saving Recipes” in yesterday’s giveaway? Winners have been announced.

Final ONLINE Festival cookbook giveaway is today for “$5 Dinner Mom.” We saved a good one for last.

Get your tickets now!

Are you a coupon clipper? Test your skills to win a $300 gourmet gift basket!

Today’s cookbook giveaway is for “Money Saving Recipes,” which you can also nab as a door prize at Frugal Festival Food! this Saturday in LA if you get there early (doors open at 11 a.m.)

The winners of Friday’s giveaway of “Wildly Affordable Organic” have been announced!

Test your coupon know-how in the Albertsons and Shortcuts Coupon Challenge at the Festival! Guess what the prize is?

Get your tickets now!

Win a $100 Target gift card in the 11:30 am raffle on June 25 at Frugal Festival Food! Credit: Mattastic!/Flickr

Door prizes are first come first serve starting at 11 a.m. on June 25 at Frugal Festival Food! For a timeline of important Festival events, like the 11:30 a.m. $100 Target gift card raffle, go here.

I totally want to win the cookbook in today’s giveaway! Here’s your chance to win “Wildly Affordable Organic.”

The winners of “Gluten-free on a Shoestring” have been announced!

Get your tickets now!

Win this book today at FrugalFestival.com

WE ARE HAVING A FOOD SWAP AT FRUGAL FESTIVAL FOOD! on June 25 in LA. Wahoo!

Don’t forget to enter your recipe in our contest to win fabulous prizes!

A new site makes saving money on groceries easy and helps you plan your grocery trips.

The winners of yesterday’s contest for “Vegan on the Cheap” have been announced!

Today’s lightening giveaway is for “Gluten-free on a Shoestring.” Don’t miss out!

Get your tickets now!

Bring your homemade jam, bread, herbs, and other goodies to swap! Credit: jeffreyw/Flickr

We are super psyched to announce there will be a food swap at Frugal Festival Food on June 25!!! Make sure to reserve a spot now.

Tips on preserving summer fruit at the Festival!

Want to learn how to preserve summer produce that is ridiculously low-priced? Albertsons specialist Heidi Diller will show you how at Frugal Festival Food! on June 25 in LA.

Today’s book giveaway is for “Vegan on the Cheap.” Contest ends tonight at 11:59 p.m. EST so make sure to comment today for a chance to win.

Comments poured in for yesterday’s contest to win “Poor Girl Gourmet.” The five winners have been announced!

Don’t miss the first ever festival to save money on food! Frugal Festival Food! is June 25 in LA and supports the LA Regional Food Bank. Get your tickets now!

These bacon-wrapped scallops were the closest thing I could find! Credit: Fuzzy Gerdes/Flickr

The five winners of “Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half” have been announced on the Frugal Festival site!

Today’s book giveaway is for “Poor Girl Gourmet,” a cookbook that sticks to a $15 per meal budget.Contest ends 11:59 p.m. EST tonight, June 14, 2011.

More free food announced at this year’s Frugal Festival Food! Libertine will be passing out bacon-wrapped tater tots at the in-person event June 25 in Canoga Park. That line is going to be long!

Get your tickets now!

The original pizza salad

The ONLINE Frugal Festival kicks off today with two events:

• A Recipe Contest to win $25 Restaurant.com gift cards, AllRecipes memberships, and a copy of the Frugal Festival eCookbook.
• A Daily Book Giveaway to win Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half. FIVE WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED TOMORROW!

I couldn’t help it, but I already entered a recipe for pizza salad, pictured above, into the contest. All details for how to win the Recipe Contest and Daily Book Giveaway are on the Frugal Festival event website. Use the above links to access them.

If you are in LA on June 25, make sure to get tickets to the in-person Frugal Festival Food!

Check out the free Festival bags!

Swag bags for Frugal Festival Food! on June 25 just arrived!!! Man, these Envirosax reusable bags are niiiiiice. I’m surprised they only sell for $9. You get one free with admission!

Plus, here’s where to park for free at the Festival.

Frugal Festival Food!
Canoga Park High School
6850 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Canoga Park, CA 91303
June 25, 11am-2pm

Get your tickets now!

Win one of 100 books at Frugal Festival Food!

We have 100 amazing books to give out at Frugal Festival Food!

• 80 are door prizes for the event June 25 in Canoga Park
• 20 are recipe raffle prizes for the ONLINE event June 13-24

Plus, we’d really like to borrow your megaphone and/or two large water cooler/dispensers (like the ones you see at sporting events) so we can serve free water and lemonade.

Get your tickets now!