Madmoiselle Lavender / Flickr

I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.

Save time, money and energy by making killer meals at home by following these 7 time-saving kitchen tips. (WiseBread)

Get vaccinated for free. Starting this year, your insurer must cover 100% of the cost of 10 vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (CNN Money)

Get away on the cheap with these secrets for scoring cheap airline tickets. (Time)

Use your smartphone to book a hotel. Mobile hotel booking is now a possibility with a free app. (Hotel Tonight)

Payday may be the deadliest time of the month. (MainStreet)

Charlie Brewer / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Earlier I wrote about three phone alternatives to a landline that can save you money and reader Lore suggested Gmail Voice. I am a Google fan and can’t believe I didn’t mention the company’s phone feature, which you can access through Gmail and Google Talk.

Google Talk is a free Windows and web-based application for instant messaging that also allows you to make calls to others with Google Talk only. Google Voice is a free Google Internet service that uses voice over internet protocol (VoIP) to enable users to make and receive calls for free. You don’t have to be at your computer and can call any number. In this post we’ll explore how using Google Voice can cut down your phone bill.

Google Voice is similar to Skype in that it enables you to make a call and video chat. To make calls you will need a Gmail or Talk account (signing up is free). To video chat, you will need to download Google’s video plug-in, have a working microphone and speakers.

To start, open Gmail or Talk and look in your chat list for “call phone.” When you click the button, a number pad pops up. Dial a number or enter the name of someone in your contact list to call them.

Google Voice lets you make calls to landlines and mobile phones in the U.S. and Canada for free. International calls start at $.02 per minute.

You will be able to receive calls if you have a Google Voice account. The account is free and all you have to do is pick out a phone number. The number will be display in others’ caller IDs when you make a call. You can set up the account to forward calls to another number and also set up a voicemail.

The sound quality for outgoing calls is better than I expected. It actually sounds better than making calls on my cell phone when I have little reception. The only drawbacks that I could find is that Google Voice is not able to place or receive emergency calls and if you didn’t reserve a number in your city when this featured rolled out, then you’re out of luck. I tried making a Google Voice account but there weren’t any Los Angeles  phone numbers available. To learn more about the cost of replacing your landline with other VOIP services, check out Bargain Babe’s take on the subject.

biblicone / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

I know a lot of people who gave up their landline because they didn’t want to pay a monthly bill for a phone they were rarely using. Now, they solely rely on their cell phones.

If you’re looking to save money by giving up your land line, consider Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers like Vonage, Skype and magicJack. To use these services, you must have access to a computer with Internet and contrary to popular belief, some allow you to make emergency 911 calls. Below is a price comparison of their services and a description of how they work.

Vonage
A phone, high speed Internet and Vonage adapter is needed to use this service. Before purchasing the equipment, log onto their site to test whether the speed of your Internet connection is ideal. I have DSL and my Internet did not pass their Internet speed test. To receive or make incoming calls, your computer doesn’t have to be on. You can make local and long distance calls, and make emergency calls. Some plans cover international calls. Vonage World includes calls to Italy, France, Spain, United Kingdom and Ireland. Vonage Pro includes calls to 60 countries including Mexico, China, Russia and more.

magicJack
The magicJack is a USB adapter you connect to your computer whenever you want to make calls. After plugging in the magicJack you’ll be able to make and receive calls only when your computer is on. Voice mail and call forwarding will work when your computer is off and your magicJack is plugged in. Voice mail will receive an incoming call if your computer is off and your magicJack is plugged. You can call 911 with magicJack, but you won’t be able to make a the call in case of a power outage.

Skype
To use Skype, you must download the free software to your computer and create an account. Like Vonage, Skype has several plans. For a full list of prices, visit their website. Below I’ve compared Skype’s most popular plans. I’ve used Skype for free before to make video calls and send instant messages. I’ve used it from my laptop and cell phone (the Skype iPhone app lets you check voicemail remotely). You cannot use Skype to make emergency calls.

Google Voice – We’ve got the skinny on how Google Voice works, too.

At $40 for the first year and $20 per year after that, the cheapest route is magicJack. This option precludes international calls, instant messaging, and video calls, however. Vonage has the highest cost, but does not involve computer downloads and you can make good use of your existing touch tone phone. Skype carries a moderate price, but you’ll be tethered to your computer for calls and will need to buy a headset if you don’t already have a compatible one.

Which plan suits you? These companies usually have specials so check their sites often for free trials.

mirimcfly/Flickr

This question just came in from a reader in Southern California:

Can you suggest sources of quality dresses to wear on job interviews? Most stores don’t seem to carry business dresses anymore. The key factor wanted is QUALITY with conservative designs. Would like to pay no more than $100 for an interview dress, if possible. Pantsuits are not the best choice for my field and age group, but skirted suits are ok. Any ideas? I am a mature job applicant who does not look appropriate in wild, trendy styles.

My immediate answer was thrift stores, which always have business clothes. I’ve seen current and classic name brand suits at my local thrift store for $19.99. These suits HAD to be over $200 new. Most thrift stores even have a sale day so you can get an even better price. If you are uncertain that you can get quality merchandise at a thrift store, watch this video on  Goodwill Bootcamp.

The best way to find thrift stores in your area is The Thrift Shopper National Thrift Store Directory. If  you are looking for designer labels, check out the stores in the more upscale towns.

Another good way to get business clothes is to find or run a business attire swap. There are lots more swaps happening.  Search the internet for “clothing swap” + “your town,” such as “Long beach clothing swaps.”

You are sure to come up with something. If you don’t find a swap, then run your own. It can be as simple as contacting girlfriends who wear the same size, having them clean out their closets, and come over to your house. Or you can create something much bigger like Bargain Babe’s Frugal Festival.

If you are not working and are looking for a job, that is definitely NOT the time to go retail shopping for a new outfit.  If none of the above options work for you, maybe your friends will open up their closets for you to borrow some perfect outfits. We all have clothes that we don’t wear that we would gladly share with our friends.

So, what do you think? How have you put together killer outfits on a meager budget? Any ideas I haven’t thought of?

GoldenEel/Flickr

I share five must read blog posts about saving money every Friday.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery – and a money grab. Walmart launches a Groupon-style “deal of the day.” (Walletpop)

Like KFC? Dress up as Col. Sanders on Halloween, email KFC a picture by Nov. 4, and you could win a lifetime supply of KFC. (OC Deals)

True and simple rules for house sitting (Surviving and Thriving)

Want to change your financial situation, weight, or career? Stick to one simple rules and you’re golden. (The Simple Dollar)

Feed your family of four for a month for $30 through Angel Ministries. Whoever heard of such cheap groceries without coupons?  (Faithful Provisions)

Stay on top of the latest strategies, coupons, and inspiration to save money everyday with BargainBabe.com’s email list.

Kirk's Original Coco Castile Soap

By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains

I love natural, unscented soap products. For many years, I used a wonderful face soap from Origins. The last time I went to the mall specifically to get this product, I was told that it was no longer manufactured. I was given a phone number for the Origins “Gone but Not Forgotten” department, which will scour the warehouse to look for your no-longer manufactured product. I had to pre-approve the payment on my credit card for the soap and shipping just in case they found any bars. Plus, there was no discount! I was paying full price – $20 per bar. I REALLY like this soap. However, I even if they find the soap in the warehouse, they will be manufacturing no more of this soap.

In search of a new soap brand, I was looking at a huge row of soaps in the supermarket and happened to notice (on the bottom shelf) a bar of Kirk’s Original Coco Castile Soap. The name rang a bell, perhaps because the company has been manufacturing this soap since 1839. I have never used the product before  but was willing to take a chance. After all, it is hypoallergenic, contains no animal by products, no synthetic detergents, is biodegradable and is never tested on animals. Plus it moisturizes your skin.

I grabbed up Kirk’s cute little red, white and blue package and invited it to take a shower with me.

I love this soap. And this isn’t even the unscented version, which I am going to try next. The scented version had a very mild scent. It created a great lather, yet the soap rinsed off easily and completely leaving my skin feeling soft and silky (just like the ads say.)

Cost of this wonderful of bar of soap? $1.99.

How can this fabulous bar of soap be so cheap and yet, so good? I don’t know. But, I do know that this soap isn’t alone. Kirk has a line of shampoos and conditions that I am certainly going to try.

For other hard to find and long lost items, check out The Vermont Country Store, which specializes in practical but hard to find products. The prices aren’t super cheap, but at least you can find them.

Do you have an affordable natural product?  Share your secret with the rest of us.

boulter/Flickr

By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.

The day I got my driver’s license my mother bought me an Automobile Club of America (AAA) membership. She continued to gift me the renewal fee on that membership for many years.  Her gift, thankfully, kept me from being stranded on the road many times.

Every time I whipped out my AAA card and called for a service truck, I always thought of my mother. I would call and thank her while I waited for the tow truck to arrive.  I think she planned it that way.

I have used my membership privileges (this link opens a word document) to get help:

• jump starting my battery in the dead of winter
• changing a flat tire in the blazing sun
• opening a locked car door when the keys were still in the car and I was not
• towing my car to a mechanic when I broke down in the middle of nowhere
• registering my car with the DMV without having to GO to the DMV (priceless)

A basic AAA membership averages a $1 a week.  (Prices vary in different parts of the country.) Any one of the above services would have cost more than I paid for my yearly membership.  Upgrades to the membership give you additional benefits including a much larger free towing radius. Check to see if there are current coupon codes available before signing up.

You can even use your card to get roadside help if you are just the passenger in the car.  This is the biggest difference between AAA and other roadside assistance programs. A gift of an AAA membership is a great way to help out a low income friend.

Without a doubt, I have gotten my money’s worth from this company.  Besides the roadside services, you can also get discounts on phone service, amusement park tickets, air fares, free maps and atlas’, hotel and food discounts, discounted car rentals, free reviews of auto repair shops, passport services, and international driving permits.  Check out the discounts in your area.

I never fully appreciated the value of my AAA membership until the day that my son got his driver’s license.  I realized that he was about to hit the road and I wouldn’t be there to watch over him.  On that day, I purchased his AAA membership.  Maybe someday he’ll call me and say “Thanks Mom.”

brianjmatis/Flickr

This post is brought to you by Codero, which provides managed hosting services designed to reduce your total administration costs while improving server efficiency.

Get ready for tax season! Preparing will be a little easier knowing you can file for free thanks to a partnership between the IRS and the Free File Alliance LLC, a group of private sector tax software companies. The site does not go live for 2010 until Jan. 15, so this is really just a heads up.

Here’s how it worked for 2008 taxes filed last April. I expect the free filing options to be very similar for 2009 taxes.

Option No. 1. You can file your federal returns for free using the traditional Free File, which offers step-by-step help, if your adjusted gross income is $56,000 or less (this number could vary slightly for 2009). The software puts your answers directly into the forms and does the math for you. You can get a refund as quick as 10 days if you opt for direct deposit. This service is available in Spanish.

Option No. 2. You can fill in your own tax forms without the help of software using the Free Fillable Forms. This hands-off approach lets you prepare and e-file your 1040, 1040 A and 1040EZ federal returns. There are no income limits, as with Option No. 1. State forms are not included.

Both of these options make it possible to file your federal tax forms for free. State forms are not included, however. Does anybody know a way to file state taxes for free?

Thanks, Tina!

The coolest thing about BargainBabeLA.com is that EVERYONE can share a deal. Here’s what I mean:

The Unethical Man shared a deal to get 5 free listings/mo on eBay.

Amygrahek shared info about a free concert series in Culver City that features Barbara Morrison and The Young Dubliners.

So_Cal_Retail_Slut shared info about free buses to Venice beach, Playa Vista and Marina del Rey that are operating through Sept. 7.

I posted a quick review of a fabulous burrito joint in Long Beach.

Check it out and don’t forget to celebrate the launch of BargainBabeLA.com with me on July 26, 2009 at Frugal Fe$tival! One lucky person will walk away with a $100 cash prize. Not joking.

Military spending may seem like far-off dollars that will never see your pocket, but military-based discounts are everywhere. They just aren’t usually displayed in storefront windows.

As a dependent of my dad who retired from the air force,  I received tons of discounts all throughout high school and college on stuff like movie tickets, flowers, and hotel reservations. The only time I had to step foot on a military base was to get my military ID card, a process which can take a couple hours but is well worth it.

Sometimes the hardest part is just remembering to ask about these discounts. Who would have thought I would save 15 percent on my lift ticket and ski rental last winter? Oh, and not just for me, but my two friends as well. If you know somebody with a military ID, be sure to remind them of possible discounts.

And flowers! Are flowers expensive or what? I was able to get a discount on Valentine’s Day flowers online because I have a friend in the active military. I showed him Military.com, a site that lists companies with military discounts, and he hooked me up with some of the exclusive coupon codes.

Some places are a little less accommodating. They have strict rules about offering their discounts only to those serving active duty, meaning nobody who is retired or simply has a parent in the military is eligible. Should you try to get your discount anyway? Knowing you’re not active military that’s up to the individual. The average behind-the-counter-guy/girl is not going to be up to speed on the differences between military ID cards, but that may change. Knowledge is power I say, use it with everyone in mind.

The savings don’t stop at the storefronts, though. I was once pulled over for an illegal U-Turn as well as impeding traffic. The cop started writing me up before he noticed the military ID in my wallet as I showed him my driver’s license.

He still wrote me up for a basic traffic violation, but made it clear that he could have done worse. Did he hold off because of the military affiliation? Maybe. Something tells me picking up that military ID card on the base was worth the time. It expired years ago, but still comes in handy.

Check this eHow page to see if your relationship to somebody in the military makes you qualified for special discounts.

1. Compare prices. Start the buying process by getting an idea of what a “good” price is for the item you want. Check out PriceSpider.com (click on an item to see its price over the past 6 months or sign up for an email alert when prices drop), DealAlerter.com (similar to PriceSpider, powered by PriceGrabber.com), and Nextag (general price comparison from various retailers)

2. Search for coupon codes. Quickly check for coupon codes at RetailMeNot.com, SlickDeals.net, and FatWallet.com. It’s also a good idea to search Google for “product + coupon codes” or “product + promo code.” If there aren’t ANY coupon codes, sign up for the email list of the retailer you are going to buy from. Newbies often get a welcome discount.

3. Make sure to get an automatic rebate. There are three major sites that give shoppers an automatic cash rebate for shopping “through” their sites: eBates.com, Cashbaq.com and Extrabux.com. Each one requires you register on their site and they all have different deals with each retailer. So the percentage cash back you get can vary from 1% to 50%. Before you buy, log-in at one of the rebate sites and click through to the retailer from their site. They track your purchase and later send you a check. Note, the delay can be as long as 3 months.

4. Check for a free shipping code. FreeShipping.org is my favorite place to check for free shipping codes. Also check ShipGooder.com to compare which shipping method is cheapest.

Today I am unveiling an exciting new website – BargainBabeLA.com!

This site helps people save money in their neighborhood using Google maps. Current deals on the site include free yoga classes on the Santa Monica beach, a $1 grocery sale in Buena Park, and $6 Angels tickets. Wahoo!

The most exciting part about BargainBabeLA.com is that EVERYONE can share a deal, be it a clothing sale they spot on their drive to work, a restaurant discount they come across while ordering take out, or a free event coming up nearby. The goal is for everyone to be able to get the deal you saw!

After you register on the site you can start sharing your favorite deals. You’ll see a few of my ardent bargain hunting friends have already shared their favorite deals. Remember to add a location for your deal otherwise the software randomly locates your deal in the ocean. No joke, a friend shared a deal that ended up off the coast of Africa. If it’s a chain store, pick one of their locations in the LA region like Culver City, Glendale, or Sherman Oaks.

I’m installing a cool box on the upper right hand of BargainBabe.com to remind you of the exciting deals on BargainBabeLA.com. Click on it to visit the new site.

If you live outside of LA and are insanely jealous, email me. Maybe we can start a deal site in your city.

1. I paid $.68 for a Twix bar at CVS on my way home from the library. (To me, candy should still be $.50. I won’t miss paying retail.)

2. I charged $31.65 for a Thai dinner after my dancing lesson with Hubby. Had some very tasty fresh spring rolls and curry at Chili Thai in LA.

3. I spent $12.61 filling up my gas tank at the 76 station. I’ve got a full tank to last me the month – roughly 400 miles.

Now it’s no more spending for a month!

Two brave souls stepped forward to join me on this frugal experiment.

Emily said:

I will be joining you on the Moratorium although I will have slightly fewer restrictions as I have recently moved and am not ruling out the possibility of unexpected expenses.

Tamara said:

I am going to join you on your spending moratorium for the month of July! I do have one question though, and I will post it in the comments, what do you think about buying wedding gifts? I have two weddings to attend in July and am not sure how to proceed with “counting” the spending on gifts.  Am I allowed to, or not?

I wanted to make it easy on Tamara so I put her question into a poll.

[poll id="29"]

Related:

BB considers going on a spending moratorium

Votes are in! BB goes on a spending moratorium

Spending moratorium starts Wednesday

When I last checked there was a coupon for $25 off an order of $75 or more at Lane Bryant, a 50% off deal for any one item at Hanes, and up to 8% off at Apple for teachers and students. Not too shabby.

I hope these coupons make BargainBabe.com even more useful to you. When you use them, you are supporting BargainBabe.com because I earn a small fee from each sale.

~Julia

aka Bargain Babe

Caveats: not all credit cards have the perks mentioned.