Smashbox - Here are three Smashbox beauty coupons you may be able to combine for a triple savings whammy!
Back to school deals - Here is my latest round up of back to school deals through August 7, 2010, including a free backpack at Office Depot with a $10 purchase. Nice!
Free kids clothes swapping trial - Here is a swapping coupon for a free trial membership at ThredUp, and online site that facilities the swapping of children’s clothes.
Check back this afternoon for the latest coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
Yazmin Cruz
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The Frugal Festival was the first time I had been to any kind of swap. That day, as volunteers and I sorted through clothes, the anticipation built in the room. Come the swap start the anticipation turned to excitement as hundreds of people rushed in the doors to swap. I didn’t swap then, but got my first swapping experience this past weekend.
I was invited to a garden swap in the Milagro Allegro Community Garden in Highland Park, California where gardeners exchanged everything from tools to produce.
I must admit I was a skeptic. I didn’t think I’d end up liking it as much as I did. I don’t even like participating in Secret Santa come Christmas time because I usually end up with the worst gift. But not this time.
The swap was free of charge and was organized much like the Frugal Festival. There was a specific area for everything people brought to swap like plants, seeds, magazines, produce and “worm tea,” which is worm pee used for fertilizing.
I arrived a little late but was still able to exchange the seeds I had brought with me. I had all kinds of seeds including dill, broccoli rabe, kale, and lima beans. I also had seeds that I’d harvested myself like basil and cilantro seeds.
Here’s my haul and approximately how much I saved:
- “Organic Gardening” magazine – $3.99
- “Sunset” magazine – $4.99
- Heirloom cucumber seeds – $2
- Organic Plums (10) – $6.90
- Organic Tomatoes (2 lbs.) – $5
- Aloe Vera plant – $4
- Organic Bay Leaves – $4
- Organic Pineapple Sage – $2
Total Saved: $32.88
My goods.
I am now a believer – swapping is the new shopping. If you’ve never participated in a swap, you must. BargainBabe.com writer Bobbi wrote a post on how to get the most out of a swap that is essential to read before heading to your first swap.
I already leafed through my magazines and found yummy recipes using my tomatoes and bay leaves, and I can’t wait to try my pineapple sage tea, which I hear is good for anxiety. The only thing I wasn’t able to get was the worm tea, but I hear the community garden is looking to have swaps every last Sunday of the month and you know I’ll be there.
What kind of swaps have you participated in and how much money have you saved?
If you are new to clothing swaps or missed the Frugal Festival, this video explains what a swap is and how they work, plus shows you how much fun this year’s event was. If you attended the Frugal Fest on June 19, look for your cameo. There are a lot of them! Click on the video below to watch.
I literally jumped out of bed at 6:43 a.m. this morning because I realized there are only FIVE DAYS UNTIL THE FRUGAL FESTIVAL! Breathe deeply, everything will be fine…
AAAAAAAAAAG!
To prepare for the one-day clothing/media/housewares swap we wrote a post about how the swap actually works (there are many ways to run a swap) on the Frugal Festival blog. Tip: you can take home whatever you can stuff into the free reusable bag you will receive with admission.
We also negotiated a hot 10% discount at the nearby thrift shop Someone Else’s for Frugal Fest swappers. Just another reason to come to the swap this Saturday, June 19 at the NoHo Performing Arts Center at 11020 Magnolia Blvd in North Hollywood. Drop off is 10 a.m. to noon. The swap starts at 1 p.m. SHARP.
Buy your Frugal Festival ticket through Goldstar.
Just one week until the Frugal Festival Summer Swap June 19. I am so excited! Goodies and prizes from sponsors WalletPop, Savings, Lozo.com, Free Fun La, Holiday Inn Santa Monica, Yelp, Restaurant.com, and others are arriving everyday. We just got word at Mani-Kir Royal salon is raffling off a $25 gift certificate!
I’m making a stash of my stuff to swap, including…
- Two pairs of pumps, including one pair I wore twice five years ago. Psst, it’s okay to swap/buy used shoes.
- A gently-used copy of California Camping by Tom Stienstra
- A brand new pair of size 8-9 hot pink animal stripped slippers, above
- A handful of tops, blouses, sweaters, and other clothes
- A slim leather black belt with white stitching (actually, I’m on the fence about this)
What are you going to swap?
Details: the swap is June 19, 1-3 p.m. at the NoHo Performing Arts Center, 11020 Magnolia Blvd in North Hollywood. Drop off is 10-noon same day. Tickets $5 if you have swappables, $10 if not, or $15 for a VIP ticket. Tickets sold exclusively through Goldstar.
I updated the list of goodies you’ll find in the reusable bags we are giving to every swapper, including a $25 Restaurant.com gift card in every bag! SOOO worth the $5 admission, in my humble opinion.
The free raffle works a bit differently this year so make sure to be present for the drawing at 2 p.m. on June 19. Every swapper gets one free ticket with admission.
Where to park at the Frugal Festival June 19? I scoped out the situation.
See you at the Frugal Festival Summer Swap June 19 from 1-3 p.m. at the NoHo Performing Arts Center, 11020 Magnolia Blvd in North Hollywood. Buy your ticket here.
Go straight to the Frugal Festival blog to get all the latest info.
We’ve got some amazing raffle prizes in store for the swap, including a two-night hotel stay at the Holiday Inn in Santa Monica, a waterproof iPod boombox, and an 8GB iPod in hot pink! Everyone who comes to the swap will receive one raffle ticket with admission, which is $5 if you bring clothing/media/housewares to swap and $10 if you come as you are. VIP tickets, with front-of-the-line passes, freebies, and more, are $15. Tickets are being sold exclusively through Goldstar. Admission is free at 2 p.m.
Drop off your swappables from 10-noon, then chill while we organize and sort everything from noon-1. The swap is from 1-3 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2010. What to do while we are sorting your swappables? There are a ton of restaurants, thrift shops, and stores within walking distance of the NoHo Performing Arts Center, 11020 Magnolia Blvd in North Hollywood, where the swap is being held. I compiled a list of places to eat and things to do.
Directions from every direction! You shan’t get lost on your way to the swap with these guidelines.
Read all about the Frugal Festival raffle prizes, things to do after dropping off your swappables, and get directions on the Frugal Festival blog.
There is a new post on the Frugal Festival blog about this year’s event on June 19, 2010. Please check it out!
I am in the process of updating FrugalFestival.com so if you see a posts dated 2009 it means it is from last year’s event.
