OK so first I must apologize at length (yep, very bad pun intended!) for the Trojan ad Google saw fit to post on my blog...not sure where that... (never mind...nothing I say here is going to sound right...lol!)

But that aside, see the info I've posted for Pei Wei...great free Chinese food deal!
I am off to Seattle tomorrow and on to Sunnyvale, CA on Wed...home again Thurs, but rest assured I shall make blog time!

Pennies from...?

In line with penny pinching, here are a few really simple ways to put some money into your savings...(thanks to Woman's Day, 1/08 issue)!

$ = for the next 12 months, when you eat out, ask for water instead of soda or an alcoholic beverage. Each time you do this, put $2 into savings!

$ = Eat one less meal out per week; put $20 into savings each time you do this!

$ = Rent a video instead of going to the theatre...add $15 into your savings!

You get the general idea...you save some cash then put it in savings!

Top 5 Coupon Sites

SmartMoney.com cited its top five coupon sites as follows (I don't believe I thought to put this in order...but they are all in the top 5!):

RetailMeNot.com
SmartSource.com
CouponMom.com
CouponCabin.com
Coupons.com

Happy "clipping"!

Recipes for free!

When you want to liven up your menu or freshen your cooking skills, don't run out and buy a $35 cookbook! Checkout websites filled with recipes for everyone:

www.weightwatchers.com
www.foodnetwork.com
www.cookinglight.com

...and no doubt hundreds of others...Google your favorite food type & "recipes" and see what goodies you can find!

Also, check your grocery websites...such as www.safeway.com, etc. for recipes and corresponding coupons!

If you find a really good recipe, please post it for us!

Saving on Power...

Yes, I know...another late post, but still on the right date...blame it on the wisdom teeth!

Our local magazine, "AZ", has some ways to save money and power on your heating and cooling:

* Upgrade your windows (expensive but helpful in the long run)
* Use mesh shade screens and/or awnings on your windows.
* Caulk around your windows and use weather-stripping around your doors (this is less expensive and a definite DIY deal!)
* Insulate & tighten up AC ducts
* Set your water heater temp to 120 degrees
* If you have an attic, make sure it is well-ventilated
* Use ceiling fans

Start with the easy ones and save for the bigger projects!

Recommendations earn savings!

We often forget that by recommending our stylist, car salesman (mmm...maybe not!), trainer, daycare, etc...we can get discounts ourselves. This was brought to mind when someone we frequently visit at our salon moved to another salon. She cleverly passed along an initial discount coupon for us to visit her there, but also gave out her business cards so that anyone who comes in with one from us, gets a discount and so do we! If they aren't doing this, suggest it! What goes around, comes around!

Get in the Game!

Hey football fans! Get NFL jerseys for as little as $15...official gear! Go [insert team name here]!!!! Rah!

http://shop.fanhouse.com/NFL-Gear-_-131222321_BW.html?sourceid=welcomescreen

And speaking of shopping...(yes, I was!)

A few more sites for great deals:

CellFire.com sends coupons directly to your cellphone or mobile device so they can be scanned at the checkout!

RedPlum.com lets you enter your zip code, items you want to buy or favorite stores and then comes back with discounts available!

Check out FreeShipping.org for free delivery codes for website shopping sites!

When to buy...

As you may have noticed, one of my favorite info sources for savings is "Family Circle"...in the Sept.'09 issue they provide a great resource about when the best time to buy everything from appliances to cars to cookware to clothing is. Check out: www.freeshipping.org/blog/best-time-to-by-guide

So as not to miss a post... :)

OK...so as to avoid missing a day and messing up my "record" this will be my next plea for suggestions, comments, snarls and kudos! I really need to know what "saving money" topics you'd most like me to write about...Please post some ideas, ok? Thanks!

Cash is the way to pay!

Paying with cash can give you better deals...if you walk into a retail store with cash and offer less than a large ticket item price, they often will accept a lower amount in cash just to have payment upfront! And think of all the gas stations offering lower prices per gallon for cash payment...Every little bit of savings helps!

Get Some Pink and Save Some Green!

Get a free 1-ounce Victoria's Secret Pink Body Lotion sample by printing an online coupon at the store and bringing it to any Victoria's Secret store, excluding outlet stores.

The free body lotion sample is available through Sept. 7 and is limited to one per customer while supplies last. (If you won't use it yourself, it will make a great stocking stuffer!)

The address for the coupon is:

http://ebm.cheetahmail.com/c/tag/hBKhrKvAcckdyB7uqHy-Piizp3LY/

Have iPhone, Will Travel!

Got an iPhone? Love to travel?

Well, USA Weekend offered five inexpensive (or free!) iPhone travel apps. I don't have an iPhone, so despite frequent travel, won't be testing these. Let us know if you do:

AroundMe - FREE!
Yelp - FREE!
WorldMate - FREE!
Packing - $0.99
FlightTrack - $4.99

Ouch!

OK, so first of all, it is still technically Aug.18th so I haven't missed a day yet!
But I do have an excellent excuse for being late (and no, my dog didn't eat my computer!)...I have a horrendous toothache and get to spend Thurs. AM at the dentist...re: both the tooth and the bill, I repeat "Ouch!"

But this brought to mind a topic I haven't covered yet! Did you know that in many areas near universities with dental schools, you can get very low-cost dental treatments? If you are willing to let students work on you (well-supervised naturally!), the savings are amazing.

For sports physicals and minor ailments, check out the new onsite clinics as Walgreen's stores. You can drop in, get quick and inexpensive (well, relatively inexpensive) appointments and the pharmacy is two steps away!

And, while this isn't medical treatment, it does wonders for your spirits (or at least mine). If you are looking to cut costs on stylists, manicures or massages, then check-out local schools teaching these subjects as well! Students need to get real-life experience and you get to save some money!

...and one more thing about IKEA!

For those of you not entirely familiar with IKEA, I did neglect to mention in last Saturday's post that most of their furniture and certain other items do require some
assembly...just so you are aware!

Free Resume Tool

Here's a handy tool for our fluctuating economy! Go to Emurse.com for free resume tools and trackers! I haven't tried it (just got a job thank you!) but it looks user-friendly...let us know if you try it out!

IKEA deals!

Depending on where you live, you can stroll through IKEA and check out the deals in-person, but if not, check them out at IKEA-USA.com. The 2010 catalog just came out and they always have fun stuff at reasonable prices (or better than reasonable)!

Share the (Book) Wealth!

Great advice from Family Circle magazine (9/09 issue) - Here are some great book-sharing sites for you avid readers:

BooksFree.com

AmericasBookShelf.com

BookMooch.com

BetterWorldBooks.com

BookCrossing.com

These are fun and inexpensive ways to find a favorite "read" or share yours!

Enjoy!

Office & School "Steals & Deals"

When looking for school supplies or just some necessities for your home office, skip the office supply stores and check out the Dollar Stores or $1 sections in Target or Michaels! You will get great deals on markers, pens, pencils, funky folders, erasers, notebooks and lots of other cool stuff! You will likely end up with something a bit different than everyone else and save a bunch of money meanwhile!

So...what do YOU think?

You may notice a few changes starting with my blog today! Personally, I like the added touch of color, but hopefully you will all find the blog search tool helpful...please give your yeas/nays in the comment section or forever hold your peace! :)

Another way to help your community!

FamilyCircle magazine and its advertising partners are helping Goodwill collect 5,000,000 (that's 5 million if the zeros are too much to deal with before your AM coffee!) pounds of gently used children's and adult-sized cloting. Learn how to help and/or set up a local Back-To-School Clothing Drive by going to:

www.shopfamilycircle.com/goodwill

FREE FOOD...are you interested?

So how do you feel about FREE FOOD? Schwann's home food delivery company is providing free food (well ok...$10 worth!) to the first 500,000 new customers. Now naturally you don't get much for ten bucks, but their prices are reasonable...no contract is required and this intial (or one and only!) delivery is free of their usual delivery charge. Check it out at www.schwans.com/FREE!

Pause for a "humor break"!

You probably all have seen the video of the bride "rocking out" down the aisle at her wedding - either on YouTube or the news or wherever...but this one will have you rolling in the aisle! Check out this clever spoof - and some great moves too!

Coupons, coupons...had enough yet?

I know, I know...yet another coupon site, but this one includes both regional and national deals and, as they trumpet in their ad, you can "choose from over 70,000 coupons" (and print them out too)! Have I done this yet? Nope...too busy telling you about it! But it is free, so it's a safe bet I will be trying (and reviewing? hmmm, stay tuned) it soon!
Cheers!

A Safer Dawn is Coming for Wildlife!

Buy a bottle of Dawn liquid dishsoap and P&G will donate $1/bottle to save wildlife (they will donate up to $500,000!). Visit dawnsaveswildlife.com to activate your donation. It's always nice to see corporations give back!

It's Show Time!

I've given you lots of free or cheap movie options, but here is another for the list.
My daughter told me about www.freefullmovies.net - You can pull them up and watch them (not save though!)on your PC or laptop. Some are even still out in theatres!
The upside - they are free! The downside - the files take awhile to buffer...you watch a few scenes...wait...a few more...wait again...you get the idea! But, hey, it gives you time to make that popcorn!

Lonely...oh so lonely...(yeah, I know I've got the lyrics wrong, but you get the gist of it!) What does it take to bring in more regular readers? What topics should I cover that I'm missing? What is my problem...? OK...digging just a bit too deep here, but c'mon folks! I need to know what you want to hear about...budgeting? deals? freebies? travel? You name it and I will figure out a way to get you info! But talk to me please! :)

Party Tunes!

Looking for music for a party? Here are some free (or at the very least, inexpensive) options:

* The old-fashioned way - get your music and some from your friends and/or family to make a mix on your own!

* Check out free online music sites like Pandora.com or Last.fm - you can't copy the songs but you can stream them during the party!

* Downloads for MP3s from iTunes, Rhapsody and emusic - (ok...still partial to iTunes)

* Check out professional DJ's online playlists on their websites...some post mixes you can share! (one 80's mix is at zshare.net/download/617021066445c95f)

Party on!

Add a Little Chill to Your Summer!

Check out fsis.usda.gov and foodsafety.gov for some tips for freezing meals to save time during the week!

A few important notes - don't freeze:

...anything containing mayonnaise, cream sauce or lettuce
...canned food or eggs in shells
...cottage cheese, cream cheese, aerosol whipped cream, pudding, sour cream or tube cans of rolls or biscuits
...pre-stuffed, uncooked pork chops, lamb chops or chicken breasts.

Be sure to label and date packages you freeze to ensure that they are used in a safe time frame! To defrost, do so in your fridge, cold water or micorwave. Raw or cooked meat, poultry or casseroles can be cooked or reheated directly from the freezer without thawing first.

Just a few hints to keep your hectic schedule running smoothly!

Clean-up and get free movies!

You may recall my post re: cheap movie rentals and comparing your options...? Well, here is a way to test Redbox for free while getting shopping deals...a total "steal"!

...or Hardly Studying?

And to go along with yesterday's post about more study sites, I thought I'd toss a few out here for some fun and games and tunes!

www.popcap.com
www.lyrics.com
www.arcadepod.com
www.allmusic.com

Everyone needs a break now and then!