Tackle financial resolutions with Mint

There are 31 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase through Ebates. Free to join! Don’t miss exclusive coupons we share on the BargainBabe.com Facebook page. “Like” us today!

Free cat food - Get a freebie sample of Meow Mix cat food via Walmart. US residents only. You must be 18 or older. One per household.

Free cappuccino - Get a free sample of Hills Bros cappuccino though Facebook when you “like” their page. While supplies last.

Freebie American Baby mag – Get a free subscription to American Baby magazine when you fill out a simple request form. The number of free issues you will receive depends on your due date and birth date.

Free recipes - Get 20 healthy and light recipes free from Mr. Food.

Free mags - Get free magazine issues of Transworld Surf, Saltwater Fisherman, Yachting, and Sport Fishing in digital format through ValueMags.com. No purchase necessary! I’ve got many free subscriptions through this site. The offers for Cosmo, Working Mother, Out, Flying, Seventeen, and Bridal Guide are still valid.

This weekend! Free museums with B of A card - Get into more than 150 museums nationwide on Jan. 7-8, 2012, the first full weekend of every month, with your Bank of America/Merrill Lynch debit or credit card as part of its museums on us program. The freebie includes general admission and excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows and fundraising events. Only the cardholder gets in free.

Free makeup w/$25 - Pick out two freebie makeup samples from Sephora when you spend $25 or more and use coupon code 2012. While supplies last.

Free glam tote w/ $45 - Spend $45 and get a free glam tote using Sally beauty coupon code 444645 now through Jan. 31, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. EST>

Free Tee with $100 - Get a free technical Tee that says “I love running” plus free shipping when you spend $100 or more and use this click through Brooks Running coupon.

Crafty daily deal site - Talk about specialized daily deal sites! This one is for crafters who knit, sew, crochet, quilt, and make jewelry. Sounds kinda cool! Sign up for Craftsy to get their daily deals.

Harbor Freight sale - The New Year’s tool sale is now happening at Harbor Freight. Many items are 22-62% off. Ends Jan. 12, 2012.

HOT! Reebok coupon - Get 30% off all running footwear with Reebok coupon code RUN30 Jan. 6-12, 2012. Not valid on shoes that end in $.98 or on gift cards. Shipping is free on $79 or more, no coupon code needed.

Bloomie’s white sale - The white sale is going on at Bloomingdale’s in stores and online through Jan. 12, 2012. Get 20-55% off sheets, towels, and more.

Beef sale - Whole Foods is having a sale on beef roasts Jan. 6-8, 2012. Boneless chuck, bottom round, rump roast and more cuts will be $3.49/lb., a savings of around $2/lb.

Land’s End coupon - The warehouse sale is on! Get up to 66% off and free shipping with $50 or more using Land’s End coupon code SNOWMAN and PIN 7110. Expires Jan. 12, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. CST.

TCBY coupon - I just received a $1 off coupon for TCBY because I’m on the email list. Subscribe to get your coupon!

Elizabeth Arden coupon - Get 20% off your entire order with Elizabeth Arden coupon code NEWYEARS20. Expires Jan. 9, 2012.

Danskin coupon - More than 80 styles are 40% off as part of this Danskin sale going on. No end date given. No coupon code needed.

Ends today! Kohl’s coupon - Today, Jan. 5, 2012 is the last day to use this Kohl’s coupon for 15% off if you spend less than $100 or 20% off if you spend more than $100. Use coupon code HAPPYNY15 or NEWYEAR20, depending on your total. Shipping is $.99 per item or free with $75 or more.

Shoe clearance - Check out the shoe sales and clearance pairs at the Walking Company. Up to 60% off on women’s and men’s shoes.

Financial resolutions - Get on top of your financial resolutions with the many, many FREE tools from Mint.com.

Entertainment book deal - Get all 2012 Entertainment Books on sale for $20.12, plus shipping is free! Ends Jan. 6, 2011. Entertainment Book – Save an extra 25-35% in cash back when you shop through Ebates.

Restaurant.com coupon - Pay $4 for a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate with coupon code FUN. You get a free $10 gift card with each order. Code expires Jan. 10, 2011. Gift cards are not eligible for this promo code. Here’s how Restaurant.com works.

Pottery Barn Kids sale - Kids furniture is 15-30% off now through Jan. 9, 2012. In store and online. Shipping surcharges still apply.

GQ mag $4.50 - Get a year of GQ mag for cheap when you subscribe Saturday, Jan. 7 through DiscountMags.com and use promo code 9040.

Glamour $4.50 - Get a year of GLamour mag at a discount, just $4.50, when you subscribe through DiscountMags.com on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, and use promo code 5997.

Mother Jones mag deal - Get a year of Mother Jones magazine from Best Deal Magazines for $5.29 (6 issues) today only! That’s 73% off cover. Expires Jan. 5, 2012.

Grocery coupons - My Coupon Database searches dozens of coupon sites for all grocery and drugstore coupons available, including Coupons.com, mobile coupons from Cellfire, Redplum, CouponNetwork, SmartSource, and lots more. Totally free!

Coupon lessons - Grocery University is a comprehensive, 19-lesson set that will take your coupon skills (if any) to the next savings level. Sign up for these coupon lessons now and see your grocery bill drop!

Free Target events - In 34 cities across the country, Target sponsors free museum days and cultural events. Search by city to see what’s happening near you.

Groupon travel deals - Find hot travel deals leaving from your city.

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com. This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.

catd_mitchell / Flickr

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

Seems like every year we make resolutions only to break them, but could it be that in the end we are saving money by not sticking to them? Below I calculate the amount of money spent on meeting New Year’s resolutions and share tips to getting them done on a budget.

I will get fit.

A gym membership costs about $40 a month (if not a lot more). In a year, you’ll spend $480! Can’t afford the gym? Get in shape on a budget with our tips. Heck, you can even make money while you exercise. How about taking up a part-time job as a dog walker?

I will read more.

New books cost $10 – $20 at bookstores. If you buy one every month you’ll spend between $120 – $240 a year. The solution? Head to the library for classics and new books for free – as long as you return them on time. You can also download the classics for free on your iPad, iTouch, or iPhone. I recently downloaded Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice for free! Have a Kindle? Here’s how to get free ebooks for your Kindle.

I will quit smoking.

Not only is this good for your health and those around you, but it will cost you. I did a search online for Nicorette Gum and found it for $68. NicoDerm Patches cost $156. Together it cost $224 and depending on how long it takes you to quit it will keep adding up! Don’t make this a reason not to quit. Smoking costs you lots, too. Bobbi shared a while ago how quitting smoking can save thousand of dollars a year. To lessen the cost of quitting smoking, keep in mind that some health care providers will cover some of the costs of quitting.

I will work on my finances.

Getting your finances in order can be a daunting task that’s why many rely on the expertise of financial advisers. Working with a CPA can cost up to $1,500 a year. Though this may seems like a hefty price to pay, keep in mind that professional advice can save you money. Planning for the future? Here are six cheap ways to stay on top of your finances and financial management tools to track where your money is going.

Although many of these resolutions carry a high price, look at the long-term benefits. To make it easier on your wallet, tackle one resolution at a time. What do you want to accomplish this year?

This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA.

Sweet, sweet rebate check! Credit: Rick/Flickr

Longtime reader Glenn shared his discovery of a money-saving website.

Hey, Julia. Do you know about this site?

I spent about 2hrs rifling through all their free sample offers, printable mail-in rebate forms and coupons. Just click on the link and see for yourself.

http://mail-in-rebate-forms.blogspot.com/

Score,

Glenn

This site, MommySavesBig.com, has a neat and tidy listing of dozens of rebate offers. So if you recently bought something and want to check if there is a rebate for it, or misplaced your rebate paperwork, this site will really come in handy!

It also has plenty of printable and online coupons, freebies, and stuff that you can find many places online.

Got a hot tip or big score? Email me.

Make a gift through Kidworth this Christmas.

As a kid, I loved discovering a mound of presents choking the tree on Christmas  morning. But I can’t help but wonder, now that I’m familiar with the website Kidworth, if some of those gifts could have been given as investments.

Did you know that the average child, according to Kidworth founder Rudy DeFelice, comes across $25,000-$30,000 in gifts by the time they are 18? And yet, how many 18-year-olds do you know that have more than a few bucks to their name?

So if you’re still looking for a Christmas or Hanukkah gift for a special child in your life, check out Kidworth.

Kidworth is about channeling gifts, allowance, earnings into an account (that parents create for their child) that encourages them to set up save goals, spend goals, and share goals. So it’s got two purposes. Kidworth helps kids save money (instead of receiving a bunch of plastic toys on every occasion) and it teaches them what to do with money. Earlier I wrote about Kidworth in the context of using the site to help my soon-to-be-born daughter save and manage money.

You can start an account no matter how young your kid is, and the older they get, the more you can involve them.

There are all sorts of privacy controls so your kid’s personal information never gets out there. On a practical level, parents can use Kidworth to send out birthday invitations and holiday cards, a big opportunity to share their kid’s goals. Wink, wink. For Christmas, little Bobby would really love a contribution to his 529 college savings account. When you kid is old enough, they can chime in and ask for ice cream (or whatever their heart desires).

If you would like to temper the onslaught of gifts this holiday season, sign up for Kidworth and put the generosity of your friends and family to good use!

This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our blog marketing page.

This laptop is on super sale at Office Max today only! Credit: Office Max

There are 31 coupons and freebies today. If you shop online, get a cash back rebate on every purchase through Ebates. Free to join! Don’t miss exclusive coupons we share on the BargainBabe.com Facebook page. “Like” us today!

THIS WEEKEND! Free museums with B of A card - On the first full weekend of every month, get into more than 150 museums nationwide with your Bank of America/Merrill Lynch debit or credit card as part of its museums on us program. The freebie includes general admission and excludes special exhibitions, ticketed shows and fundraising events. Only the cardholder gets in free.

$25 mag credit - Join the online magazine newstand Zinio and get a $25 credit that you can use to buy any of their 5,000 titles. It’s all in digital format, so you can read your mags on your Kindle Fire, iPad, Android, and many more. Ends March 2012.

Free holiday music - Amazon has plenty of free holiday music to download. Check back because the selection changes frequently.

Freebie glasses cloth and cleaner – You can still get a coupon for a freebie cloth and cleaner for your glasses through Walmart.

OUT mag free - Get 10 free magazine issues of OUT in digital format through ValueMags.com. No purchase necessary! I’ve got many free subscriptions through this site.

Free coffee w/purchase - Buy one drink and get a second free with this Peet’s coupon. It is valid Dec. 1-4 from 2-5 p.m. each day. Not valid at BART, airport, and supermarket locations. Excludes bottles beverages.

Movie free w/$2 - Rent two movies at any Blockbuster Kiosk and get a third rental free (or $1 towards a higher-priced rental) with coupon code HOLIDAYFUN. Expires Dec. 4, 2011.

Free tax advice TurboTax - TurboTax customers can get free tax advice daily from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. PST.

Target coupons - Spend $75 on children’s and infant clothes, get 20% off with this click through online Target coupon. Disney princess toys are buy one get one 50% off with this Target coupon. Same deal on Thomas and Friends. Buy select Kinect bundles and get a $50 Target gift card free. Shop through Ebates for an extra 3% off.

Applebee’s gift card deal - Get a free bonus $10 gift card when you spend $50 or more on Applebee’s gift cards.

Gap coupon - Get 30% off new arrivals with Gap promo code GAPCHEER. Online only. Expires Dec. 4 at 11:59 p.m. EST. Get an extra 2% back when you shop through Ebates.

TODAY! Laptop deal - Today only Office Max is selling the HP Laptop (2000-353NR) for $339.99, (orig. $479.99). The deal expires Dec. 2, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. CST. The laptop has a 15.6-inch HD LED-backlit display, a 500GB hard drive with a built-in Wi-Fi, digital media reader, integrated webcam, and microphone and more. Get it online at Office Max holiday deals or in stores. Get an extra 3% back when you shop through Ebates.

NYT deal - Get 50% off the New York Times home delivery with this newspaper deal for 12 weeks. When you subscribe to the paper, even for just one day a week, you get complete access to nytimes.com. Check your zip code to see if this deal is available.

Old Navy coupon - Get $10 off $50 online and in stores with this Old Navy coupon that is accessible through its Facebook page. Get an extra 3% back when you shop through Ebates.

$.99 holiday deals - The 99 Cents Only store has many holiday items for less than $1, including holiday cards, ornaments, wreaths, stockings, garlands, gift wrap, and gift bags. Expect many similar items at other dollar stores, like Family Dollar.

Dell coupons - Dell has rotating computer and laptop deals as part of its 12 Days of Dell sale. Everyday there are new PC deals, each one lasts for 48 hours only. Free shipping, too! Ends Dec. 13, 2011. Get an extra 2% off when you shop through Ebates.

Kmart sale - This Sunday, Dec. 4 Kmart is having an online customer appreciation holiday sale with almost everything an extra 5-10% off. Shipping is free with $49 or more. Sale happening online only. Get an extra 6% back when you shop through Ebates.

Ghirardelli coupon - Everything ships for just $5 flat when you buy chocolate with this click through Ghirardelli coupon. No expiration date given. Get an extra 5% back when you shop through Ebates.

Kodak coupons - Spend $100 and get $25 off your Kodak Gallery photo order. That is a nice 25% discount on holiday cards! Get an extra 7.5% back when you shop through Ebates.

Cheap glasses - Get a pair of prescription glasses for cheap from CoastalContacts.com with the following coupons, which sadly cannot be combined. Use coupon code DOORCRASHER to get any of the frames within the Door Crasher Glasses category for $10. Or use coupon code 40PCYBER to get 40% off and free shipping on any eyeglasses order. Lastly, use coupon code 10CONTACTS to get $10 off plus free shipping any contact lens order over $150. Expires Dec. 4, 2012. Get an extra 5% back when you shop through Ebates.

REI free shipping - Now through Dec. 31, shipping is free at REI with no minimum. Hot stuff! Get an extra 6% back when you shop through Ebates.

Restaurant.com coupon - Pay $3 for a $25 Restaurant.com gift certificate with coupon code SNOW. Expires Dec. 4, 2011. Not valid with gift cards, egift cards, and dinner of the month. Here’s how Restaurant.com works. Save an extra 25% off when you shop through Ebates.

Kohl’s coupon - Print this Kohl’s coupon pass and save 20% off through Dec. 5, 2011. Online use coupon code HOLLY20. Shipping is free with $50 or more. Get an extra 4% back when you shop through Ebates.

Grocery coupons - My Coupon Database searches dozens of coupon sites for all grocery and drugstore coupons available, including Coupons.com, mobile coupons from Cellfire, Redplum, CouponNetwork, SmartSource, and lots more. Totally free!

Land’s End coupon - Get free shipping with no minimum with Land’s End coupon code STAR and PIN 3013. Expires Dec. 2 at 11:59 p.m. CST. Get an extra 6% cash back when you shop through Ebates.

Coupon lessons - Grocery University is a comprehensive, 19-lesson set that will take your coupon skills (if any) to the next savings level. Sign up for these coupon lessons now and see your grocery bill drop!

Container store coupon - Spend $100 and get free shipping through Dec. 4, 2011. No code needed.

Free Target events - In 34 cities across the country, Target sponsors free museum days and cultural events. Search by city to see what’s happening near you.

Groupon travel deals - Find hot travel deals leaving from your city.

Mega Swagbucks – It’s Friday and that means it’s Mega Swagbucks day, when you earn even more swagbucks for your normal Internet searching. Get 30 Swagbucks just for joining. This site feeds my Starbucks habit!

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com. This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.

Spirit Hoods are a unique gift. Credit: SpiritHoods.com

I find teens are the easiest people to buy presents for because when you ask them what they want, they have a long list! Day five of the Bargain Babe Hot Holiday Gift Guide is devoted to buying for these almost-adults.

We’ve also suggested electronics gifts, gifts at Sears, toys for kids, and mens’ shavers. Coming up are gifts for kids, teens, men, and women. There will also be a day devoted to unique and quirky gifts, and we’ll finish the gift guide on Dec. 9 with a roundup of the best overall gifts.

Don’t forget to enter to win a $100 Sears gift card as part of the Gift Guide! Contest ends Monday, Dec. 5!

What is it with teen girls putting

brightly colored feather extensions in their hair? I understand hairstyles are a powerful expression of self, but I’m too old to get on this bandwagon. Luckily, feather extensions start at $2.49 plus shipping on Amazon. This gift is gentle on the wallet!

TOMS shoes are in style.

Take hair feathers to the next level with a faux fur animal hoodie, above. These are not hoodies in the traditional sense, but are over-sized head coverings with limb-like extensions that hang down, forming pockets. Many of the hoods sell for about $30 on Amazon, while you can find more realistic looking ones for $129 and up at Spirit Hoods. (Kids sizes start at $79). Buy a Spirit Hood depicting a wolf, polar bear, panda, or snow leopard, and 10% of profits go to helping that particular animal.

An iTunes gift card is a no-brainer for a generation saturated with media. They can spend it on music, movies, TV shows, and audio books. If you are a Costco member, you can usually find a pack of iTunes gift cards for slightly less than retail (pay $45 for $50 in gift cards, for example).

At $33-$60, TOMS shoes are overpriced, in my humble opinion, but these simple shoes are uber popular right now. The basic model has a rubber sole and canvas top, above. For every TOMS bought, a pair of shoes is given to a child in need. Reviewers say the shoes are extremely comfortable but sizes may run a tad small.

Movie passes through Fandango are super versitile.

Movie passes are another no-brainer. I mean, what teen doesn’t jump at a few hours away from the ‘rents? Giving movie tickets through Fandango makes it easy for them to redeem at more than a dozen theaters, including AMC, Carmike Cinemas, Century Theatres, Cinemark Theatres, Edwards Theatres, Regal Cinemas and United Artists Theatres, American Cinematheque, Brenden Theatres, CineArts Theatres, Cinebarre, Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, Cobb Theatres, Hollywood Theatres, IMAX, Kerasotes Theatres, Majestic Crest Theatre, Premiere Theatres, R/C Theatres, Wehrenberg Theatres and Winchester Theatres. The teen can use Fandango cash to see any movie available for ticketing on Fandango.com. When I checked this morning, the options included Breaking Dawn Part 1, The Muppets, The Adventures of Tintin, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, among many others. Give movie tickets through Fandango now.

Money is last on the list of gifts for teens. Perhaps you want to earmark it for a school trip, sports equipment, 529 plan, or other event in the teen’s life. I recommend cash over pre-paid bank cards, which almost always have fees and surcharges just to spend the money! Giving cash does not have to be tacky. It’s all about including it in a thoughtful card with a hand written note supporting the teen.

Electronics gifts – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 1
Value gifts at Sears – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 2
Toys for kids – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 3
Mens’ shavers – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 4
Gifts for teens – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 5
Unique and quirky gifts – Hot Holiday Gift Guide Day 6

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com. Thank you for helping make blogging my full time job! This post is copyrighted by BargainBabe.com. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA.

Earn $10 for joining Kidworth!

With a baby on the way, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to raise my kid so that she is savvy with money. How do I show her to save money, to live frugally, and to make savvy spending decisions? When should we first give her an allowance? How do I instill in her the pride I take in donating money to help others?

Enter Kidworth, a new website founded by a father who was tired of going to kids’ birthday parties and witnessing hundreds of dollars wasted on “plastic junk.”

So this father, Rudy DeFelice, did some research and discovered the average kid comes across $25,000-$30,000 in gifts by the time they are 18. Holy *$(%*#! How many 18-year-olds do you know that have more than a few bucks to their name?

“The way we treat kids reinfornces mindless consumption,” Rudy told me. He wanted a way to counter balance that consumerist message. He wanted a way to train kids to deal with money that would give kids a better chance.

Kidworth is not about creating more money, but about using resources – gifts, allowance, earnings – in a better way. Parents create an account for their kid, from babies to teenagers, and set up save goals, spend goals, and share goals. Depending on how old the kid is, they can get involved, too.

On a practical level, parents can use Kidworth to send out birthday invitations and holiday cards, using the opportunity to share their kid’s goals. It’s a not-so-subtle way to ask for specific gifts and donations, instead of the aforementioned plastic junk.

When you visit a kid’s page, family and friends can see what kind of progress the kid and what the kid is doing with their allowance, gifts, and earnings. Only first names are used, and no identifying information is shared or asked for. Pages do not show up in search engine results, but parents can share their kids’ pages with whomever they wish.

Kidworth is totally free to use, though sending an egift card costs $2.50 and sending a physical card costs $5. Both fees go to covering credit card processing fees.

If you’re dreading an onslaught of unwanted gifts this holiday season, sign up for Kidworth! The next 100 people to sign up via Kidworth’s Facebook page will earn a $10 credit when they create a goal in their Kidworth account.

Winner and runner ups announced below!

Visiting family and traveling were the two retirement activities most desired by the 42 readers who entered our contest to win “Can I Retire?” by Mike Piper, a self-published blogger who I met at a conference recently. Olivia made me laugh out loud when she said her priorities were “God first, then family, and finally fishing.” But I decided to declare as the winner…

Rhonda Fedro, who dreams of helping others like her:

I want to be able to relax and enjoy each season. . maybe find a husband since I’ve singled parented my kids there was no time. I also would LOVE to volunteer with single moms and help them develop a career path – i sew so maybe i could fit them for attire from goodwill .. that would enable them to join the workforce in style .. along with helping them budget, I love trying to budget, and for me it’s harder and harder w/prices higher and higher .. So those are my goals, I’m just hoping health holds out as I age.. Thank you!

First runner up is Diane Phillips:

I am looking forward to retiring so I can do all of the things I have always wanted to do but had to work instead. Volunteer at the local animal shelter, become a docent at the local zoo, spend more time with my family, audition for the philharmonic are just a few. I want to get more exercise, read more books and see Greece and Australia. Hopefully I will be blessed with enough retirement years to accomplish them all.

Second runner up is Sonia Lites:

I would like to enjoy my retirement by not worrying about anything financially

Third runner up is kim:

I would spend some of my retirement hours volunteering at my local food bank and at the public library helping an adult learn to read.
I currently volunteer at a soup kitchen several times a year in addition to my fulltime+ hours as a dialysis RN. Also involved at my church and community organizations. My dream would be to take a special vacation every year expanding my horizons. Hey wait, I can do that now! Show me that retirement money!!!

Winner and runners up have been notified by email. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, the book goes to the first runner up, and so on. Runners up will receive a “I BRAKE FOR BARGAINS” bumper sticker. Thanks to everyone who participated!!!!

If you didn’t win, buy Can I Retire? on Amazon for $10.20 (orig. $15). The Kindle version is just $5!

Behold, the gyrobowl! Credit: BuyGyrobowl.com

I have lost the right to call myself the Bargain Babe.

To my horror, an item on my baby registry is being sold in a catalog I recently ridiculed for it’s high prices and absurd products – SkyMall!

How did this happen? At Babies R Us, my husband caught sight of the Gyrobowl, a small dish kept in balance by a gyroscope. In theory, the tot eating from it never spills her

food. Hehehe, yeah right. But gullible, er, practical man that he is, my husband was sold. On the registry it went.

Weeks later on a flight to Austin for a wedding, I spotted the Gyrobowl over his shoulder in SkyMall.

Heavens, no! My GyroBowl in SkyMall? In the company of a $380 aquarium slash coffee table, a $99 NetiPot, and a $250 stainless steel wall mount fireplace? For shame!

I contemplated nixing it from our registry, but then I noticed the SkyMall price was exactly the same as at Babies R Us. My dinged pride was partially restored.

A good number of readers said they enjoy SkyMall for its entertainment value and because the products are so quirky. But it is one brand I refuse to give my dollars to. Are there any brands or companies you refuse to patronize? I know reader Evie is boycotting Target.

Survey says...get paid for your opinion! Credit: dno1967b/Flickr

I’ve been getting a bunch of offers to make money and earn rewards by taking online surveys, being a mystery shopper, and reviewing products. I know readers have asked for more ideas about making money online, so here you go!

Note, I have not used any of these companies so make sure you know what you are signing up for. Do NOT register if it requires sharing your credit card info or paying for anything. Legit survey and mystery shopping companies are free to join. Get the low down on mystery shopping from my expert Nicole of Nicole’s Nickels.

Ipsos I-Say Survey is looking for three different demographics to take surveys. Sign up here if you are a young adult, here if you are African American, and here if you are Hispanic.

Valued Opinions offers rewards for giving your opinions. You’ll have a chance to win a $500 Amazon gift card just for registering to share your opinions.

InboxDollars pays members to read e-mail, take surveys, play games, shop online, and more. Join Inbox Dollars now.

Shadow Shoppers is just what it sounds like – a mystery shopping company that is looking for secret shoppers.

Vindale might not be a company you’ve heard of, but they will pay you for your opinion.

A post from March 2011 has even more survey opportunities and lots of reader comments about which companies are the best.

Clicking on these links supports BargainBabe.com!

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.

“Hi. I’m getting three regular sized drinks – a latte, a Mocha Ice Blended with whip, and hmm…where is it?” I asked.

“What drink?” responded the barista, looking at the menu.

“Oh there it is! My usual Black Forrest, please. Wow, it’s $5.75. Did your prices go up?”

“No, we’re at the pier. Your total is $18.03.”

I grinned nervously and turned to my dad, who I could tell disapproved of me forking over almost $20 for coffee.

“That’s not what we usually pay,” he whispered.

“We’re at the pier,” I heard myself respond as I handed over my debit card.

I didn’t notice the prices till I was ordering, and felt uneasy about canceling my order and walking out. What was I supposed to say? I was being charged 50% more just because we were in a tourist area. Should I have asked for a discount?

I still can’t left it go. At the time, I felt as if everyone was watching me because I was holding up the line. I didn’t want them to think I was a big cheap-o or worse, that I couldn’t afford the drinks! I also didn’t want to mortify my teenage sister like Julia embarrassed her friends when she haggled for cupcakes. So I paid up. Was I wrong to cave in?

I know there are a couple of things I could have done differently. I could have used my Swagbucks account to get a gift card to Starbucks and skipped the overpriced temptation at the pier. Alas, I failed to plan ahead.

What would you have done: haggled, walked out, or paid up?

Comment today for a chance to win this book!

Today is your last chance to win our review copy of “Money Secrets of the Amish,” by Lorilee Craker. So far 41 readers have entered. The title tickled our curiosity about the Amish way of life. How frugal are they?

Craker wanted to learn more about the Amish after hearing they were thriving during the recession on NPR. Being a Mennonite and a journalist, she wanted to know more as her own financial situation tightened. Craker writes:

In contrast to my paranoia about being overleveraged and underfunded, the Amish were at peace, unruffled, and rich in contentment. As I dug deeper, I realized that these Plain people could teach me a thing or two about money, and what I could do, not only to hold on for dear life during this recession, but to actually thrive.

In the 224-page book, Craker learns about the money decisions Amish people live by and pass down. She interviews several people about their savvy spending habits. She’ll teach you tips for secondhand shopping, saving for a rainy day, and more. My favorite chapter in the book is about talking to children about money to show them self control and delayed gratification. The book is an easy read as it’s not a traditional financial book.

To win our review copy, let me know how the recession changed your financial situation. Can’t wait to read the book? Buy it on Amazon for $10.87 (orig. $15.99). Comment by today, Thursday Oct. 20, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST to be eligible to win. The winner will be announced Friday!

Winner and runner-ups announced below!

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

The winner of “The Problem with Money? It’s Not About the Money!” by Jane Honeck is reader Kellee. She admits her rocky relationship with money comes from not being taught to manage money at an early age. She wrote:

I was never taught to prepare for the future. My mom lived from check to check, so do I. I need to get something started because I am already 10k in the hole from previous unemployment.

Kelle, I hope this book helps you build a healthy relationship with your finances. Honeck, who has 30 years of experience as a CPA, will take you set financial goals. Send me an email with your mailing address within 48 hours so I can send you the book.

Honorable mentions go to Budget Buster who cried for help. Budget Buster has trouble keeping a budget and saving for retirement. The second runner-up is Kelli who admits she has trouble planning for the future because she loves the instant gratification of spending money.

In you didn’t read my review, the premise of the 123-page book is that many people hold beliefs that negatively impact their relationship with money. Honeck includes tools to help you become financially conscious by dispelling such beliefs as money is evil.

Win this book!

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

The premise behind “The Problem with Money? It’s Not About the Money!” by Jane Honeck is that we all hold unconscious beliefs about money that strongly influence how we handle money. Honeck, who has 30 years of experience as a CPA, explores the negative beliefs that haven’t allowed your money grow.

The 123-page book is intended for

those who know how to spend money wisely, but just can’t stop making the same money mistakes over and over again like not saving for retirement or not having an emergency fund. Honeck will change your attitude and beliefs about money and set financial goals that you can keep.

Honeck reveals that although she was trained as a CPA, she held onto beliefs that negatively impacted her money. Her goal is to remove that blindfold from readers’ eyes and have them lead financially conscious lives. Honeck writes:

During our time together, you’ll be doing exercises to unearth your money beliefs. Have a journal or notebook at your side as you read this book. You’ll use it to answer questions and to jot down things you notice as you start living a financially conscious life. Take lots of notes along the way. Being conscious with your money isn’t automatic — the notes will remind you of where you’ve been and where you’re doing.

To win my review copy, comment with what you have trouble doing financially, even though you know what you should be doing. Or buy a copy from Amazon for $15.56 (orig. $19.95). Comment by Thursday Oct. 13, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. EST to be eligible to win. A winner will be announced Friday!

A fancy Vegas hotel room. (Not where our reader stayed). Credit: prayitno/Flickr

The Unethical Man wrote in with another money morality dilemma (he seems to run into them often):

Sorry, I got one more question for you. As you may already know, I go to Vegas quite a bit. I try to take advantage of as many free room night offers as I can. Why? Because when traveling out of town, one of the incidental expenses is the room. My question is whether you think it is unethical to accept an offer of free rooms from a property but not gamble there or eat there? You hardly spend any time at the property except for showering and sleeping. At checkout time, the bill reads $0.00 on the TV screen.
Ethical or unethical?

I think you are in the clear as long as part of the agreement for the free hotel room does not include a promise to spend time at the hotel eating or gambling. I’m sure that’s what the hotel wants, but it can’t force you to gamble any more than it can force you to starve.

More money morality posts:
Freebie tacos a deal or a steal?

Is BB a good Samaritan or greedy stranger?

Dilemma: Neighbors gave us cash we don’t want