Thursday, May 31, 2012

Which gift card is the best value on Swagbucks?

Search & Win

Welcome to this week's Frugal Follies Frugal Tip!

I had an interesting dilemma related to Swagbucks this week.

I had earned 450 Swagbucks, so I went to get a $5 Amazon.com gift code with my points.  But I couldn't!

You see, Swagbucks only allows you to get 5 of the same prize per month.  And thanks to lots of great search wins by myself as well as those of you who have used my referral link, I had already gotten five $5 Amazon codes.  (I'll have a giveaway soon for these codes - stay tuned!)

This is the first time this had happened.  So I had a dilemma - what should I get with my points?

I decided to figure out which gift cards were the best value.  I checked the values of the cards for Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Target, and Alice.com (a household products purchasing site), as well as PayPal cash. I ranked them in order of how many Swag Bucks you would need to buy $1 of card or cash value.

 Here's what I found:

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Cheap pH meters

Looking to purchase a ph meter and want to save money?  Here are some ideas:

  • Definitely check out eBay.  They have pretty much everything there!  If a used pH meter meet your needs, you'll be able to find them there.
  • Amazon.com is another place to look.  They, too, have pretty much anything you can think of.  If you use Swagbucks, you can earn $5 Amazon.com gift cards for free.  That will defray the cost of the meter you need.
  • Check online for sources for pH meters.  Sign up for their mailing lists - they may offer discounts at certain times.  And check for online coupon codes for those retailers.
Hope this helps you find an inexpensive pH meter!

    (This is a sponsored post on behalf of Affordable PH Meters. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Publix: Stocking up for summer


    When I checked out this week's deals with the coupon database, I noticed that a lot of deals this week required the Publix Stock Up for Summer savings book.  The problem was, I didn't have it!

    So I decided to plan as if I had it and hope that I'd find the book at the store.  I hadn't seen it at my local store, so I decided to shop at a different store.  This store is actually a little closer to my house than my usual Publix, but it is smaller and much older and not on my usual routes.  But that store often has coupon booklets that mine doesn't.

    I went there and, yay! the booklets were there.  So I was able to shop according to my plan.  Since I bought $25 worth of the participating products, I'll be able to send in for a $10 Publix gift card!

    Here's what I got:

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    ALDI: Biscuit deals


    I headed over to ALDI to get the usual stuff and to look for great deals in the discount aisle.

    I didn't find any there, but in the refrigerated case, I found biscuit dough for 19 cents each!   I don't usually buy refrigerated biscuit dough, but for 19 cents, I figure I can find some use for it.

    Here's what I got:

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    Chicken, sugar, and bananas



    Today I went to four, count 'em, four grocery stores.  Two of them were just quick trips to get a couple of things.

    I went to Western Beef to get a deal on sugar: 4 pounds for $1.50.  That's a great deal and I didn't even need coupons!  I also picked up bananas there.  And I went to the kosher butcher to pick up some chicken.  Yes, the numbers below are the real prices.  Kosher meat is very expensive - one of the reasons I coupon is so that I'll have enough money in my budget to afford to buy the meat.

    Here's what I got:

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    Three coupon inserts this weekend!

    How many inserts will there be in your newspaper this Sunday?

    According to the Sunday Coupon Preview, we'll have three coupon inserts: one Smartsource, one RedPlum, and one Procter & Gamble.  Thank goodness - I really missed my coupons last week!

    I'm excited about the Daisy cottage cheese coupon.  I love it when there are coupons for dairy items!

    Which coupons are you most excited about?  Check Sunday Coupon Preview and leave a comment!

    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Glad coupons

    Are you glad when there are new coupons?  Then you'll be glad about these Glad coupons!



    $0.75 off on any Glad Food Storage container

    $1.50 off When you buy Hidden Valley and Glad


    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Wednesday, May 30, 2012

    Cheap dieting

    Whey you're couponing, you're often able to get lots of food for pennies on the dollar.  But when you buy food laden with sugar, carbohydrates, unhealthy fats, and salt, it often means that you can gain weight.

    I definitely recommend being careful with the items you choose to buy using coupons.  And just because you're able to have a huge amount of products in your stockpile, you should continue to eat them as if you're only able to buy one at a time.

    You should be able to save enough on non-food items with coupons that you can afford to spend a little more on healthy food, such as quality meats, seafood, and produce.  Make these foods the basis of your diet; don't rely on processed food.

    I definitely do not recommend purchasing diet drugs - they are expensive and don't do anything more than diet and exercise can do by themselves.  For instance, click here to find out more about fenphedrine

    I also don't recommend diet programs which require you to purchase packaged food or supplements.  Instead, find support from friends and family who also want to lose weight.  Let your Facebook friends know about your goals.  Take pictures of your meals and post them on Pinterest.

    There are lots of ways to diet without spending extra money - don't fall for claims and spend unnecessarily!


    (This is a sponsored post on behalf of Side Effects of Diet Pills. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Mushroom & Red Pepper Sorta-Risotto (Frugal Food Thursday)

    red pepper risotto

    Welcome to Frugal Food Thursday!  If you have a great frugal recipe, please link up below! 

    This week, I'm featuring my Mushroom & Red Pepper Sorta-Risotto!

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    Epic Sports $5000 Cash Sweepstakes Giveaway

    Epic Sports, one of the nation’s leading sporting goods retailers, is giving you one more reason to visit their Website!  As if the 20-40% savings on sports gear wasn’t enough, now you can enter to win cash in the Epic Sports Win with Friends Sweepstakes.

    One winner in the Epic Sports Win with Friends Sweepstakes will win a $2500 cash prize plus get to select up to 5 friends who also entered to win the “friend prizes” of $500 each! 


    Entering is easy.  Just click the sweepstakes banner on the Epic Sports Website (http://soccer.epicsports.com/?trk=34136) to go directly to the entry form.  Then complete the short entry form which only takes about a minute to complete, anytime between now and June 25.  Choose to “share” on your Facebook wall or “invite” friends to enter and receive an extra entry for every friend who enters.

    For complete details, check out the “Official Rules” at http://soccer.epicsports.com/win-with-friends-rules.html/?trk=34136.

    (This is a sponsored post on behalf of Epic Sports. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    éclos Skin Care Review / Giveaway #EclosBeauty

    This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of éclos Skin Care for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
    Eclos_StarterKit.jpg
    Skin care, me?  Usually not.  I wash my face, maybe use a little moisturizer in the winter, and... well, that's about it.

    So I'm probably not the best candidate to give the éclos Skin Care Starter Kit a try.  But I figured, why not?  Although I think that my skin is in pretty good shape for someone my age, I am developing those fine lines that come with age.  Why not give this kit a try to see if it improves my skin?

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    Tuesday, May 29, 2012

    Cheap eyeglasses

    Looking to save on prescription sunglasses?  Here are some ideas:

    • You might want to purchase from your ophthalmologist or optometrist, but often this is the most expensive place to get glasses.
    • Check your health insurance to see what coverage you can get.  Make sure that the place where you get your glasses takes your insurance.
    • Keep your sunglasses simple - avoid designer frames.
    • Check all the local places in your area which sell prescription sunglasses.  Be on the lookout for coupons in local newspapers and magazines.  Sign up for their mailing lists to get coupon codes.
    • If you look online, check lots of different sites.  Be sure to find out how long it will take to receive your glasses.  Look for online coupon codes as well.

    (This is a sponsored post on behalf of Great Eyeglasses. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Great drugstore savings (Wednesday Weekly Shopping)

    Coupon Shopping
    I invite you to link up to your best grocery deals below, to inspire others to save more! 

    This week, I had some great drugstore savings.  Earlier in the year, I was having trouble finding good deals there - so much so that I often skipped the drug stores entirely.  But now they seem to have gotten better.  I'm so happy to be back in the drugstore groove!

    Here's what I got this week:

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    Monday, May 28, 2012

    List and Enter Giveaways 5-29-12 (Fortune Follies Tuesday)

    Welcome to Fortune Follies Tuesday for May 22nd, where bloggers can list their giveaways, and readers can enter them!

    Be sure to enter these giveaways hosted by Frugal Follies:

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    Cheap limousines

    Looking to rent a limousine cheaply?  Here are some ideas:

    • If you're going to the airport, look into parking options - it may be less to park your own car than to get a ride there and back.  You can ask a friend to drive you.  Or look into shared airport shuttle.
    • If it's for the prom, just use a regular car.  There is really no need for such indulgence at such a young age, in my opinion.
    • If it's for a wedding, I can understand the desire for fancy transportation on such an important day.  But think about the expense and consider what else you and your new spouse could use the money for.  Could you save it to make a downpayment on a house, or use it to pay off debt?
    • If you still want to rent a limo, call local businesses to get the best deal.  Look out for discounts in ads in your local paper or magazine.  Check online - for instance, if you're in Tampa, do a search for "tampa limo service" to find limo companies in your area.  Ask for the best deal, and compare many companies.

    (This is a sponsored post on behalf of Pure Limos. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Dole fruit coupons and more!

    SavingStar
    Here are the latest e-coupons from SavingStar. Visit now and download these coupons to your store loyalty card - when you purchase the products, you'll earn in your SavingStar account.


    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    More Lean Cuisine coupons

    I know all of you love those Lean Cuisine coupons.  Here's another for you!

    55¢ off when you buy THREE LEAN CUISINE® varieties

    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Coffee and tea coupons


    Here are some great coffee and tea coupons from Coupon Network!


    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Win a Kindle Fire!

    I know all of you love to enter giveaways, right?  Would you like to win a Kindle Fire?

    Maple Casino, home of over 500 thrilling games and loads of exciting, interactive poker tournaments to choose from, is hosting a giveaway for a free Kindle Fire!  Become a fan of Maple Casino on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

    Here's a description of the prize.  Entries will be accepted through May 30, 2012.  The winner will be drawn and announced on May 31, 2012.  The giveaway is open to entrants in the US and Canada; however, as Maple Casino is based in Canada, the prize includes free shipping to Canada-based entrants only. Shipping outside of Canada may incur an additional charge.

    For more information on the giveaway, head over the Maple Casino Kindle Fire giveaway page.

    Or, you can enter here via Rafflecopter!  Keep in mind that this is a shared Rafflecopter giveaway, so if you've entered this giveaway elsewhere, you won't be able to enter here.  But if you haven't, please enter now!  I'd appreciate it if you would leave a comment letting me know that you've entered; however, that is not required to enter the giveaway.

    Good luck!

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    Sunday, May 27, 2012

    Menu plan 5-28-12: Short week for meal planning


    This week starts with us being guests at a Memorial Day barbecue, so it's a short week for menu planning!  With the end of the school year coming up quickly, we also have a lot of things going on.  So we'll keep meals simple!

    So here are my dinner plans:

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    Coupons for baby products


    For those of you with babies - aw, so cute! - here are some coupons to help you save when you care for your little one!

    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    YoCrunch coupon

    I try to go to the grocery store by myself.  Partly because it's just faster and I can concentrate on getting the right deals, but also because when I bring my children, they always want to get stuff.  Things that I wasn't planning on buying, and of course that I don't have a coupon for.

    The kids love the YoCrunch yogurts with the candy or cookies to add in, and of course I usually say no when they ask.  But now that there's a coupon for 65¢ off when you buy any FOUR YoCrunch® Yogurt Cups Granola, Candy/Cookie Crunch or Parfait, I just might say yes!

    65¢ off when you buy any FOUR YoCrunch® Yogurt Cups Granola, Candy/Cookie Crunch or Parfait

    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    New toy coupons!

    Here are some new toy coupons from Coupons.com.  Pair them with a sale from a national chain store to save even more!


    $2.00 off (1) BARBIE FASHIONISTAS Doll

    $1.00 off (1) UNO Card Game

    $2.00 off (1) WWE Elite Collection Figure

    $3.00 off (1) Laugh & Learn™ Love to Play Puppy


    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    CVS: Cheap white tuna and free candy bars

    cvs deals 05-27-12

    I decided to go to the drug stores earlier in the day this week - and it paid off!  I was able to get the free Ecotrin at Walgreens, which probably would have been sold out had I waited another hour or two.  And I was able to find four boxes of Kellogg's Raisin Bran at CVS so I could get that deal as well.

    Here's what I got at CVS:

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    Walgreens: Free Ecotrin and cheap Jell-O

    walgreens deals 05-27-12

    I headed out to Walgreens today to get three deals.  I was really excited about the Ecotrin and Jell-O deals there.  I also wanted to get this Kellogg's Crunchy Nut Register Rewards deal:

    2 Kellogg's Crunchy Nut cereal @ $2.50 = $5.00 (receive $2 RRs)
    - 2 $0.70/1 Kellogg's Crunchy Nut Cereal printable
    (here's how to get a second printing of that coupon)
    = $3.60 for two, or $1.80 each (80¢ each after RRs)

    ...but my Walgreens store didn't carry Kellogg's Crunchy Nut cereal.  Bummer.

    I also picked up some bottled water.  You're probably asking, why would a frugal person spend money for bottled water?  Because my area is currently under a boil water order - signs of E. coli were found in the city water system.  Of course I boiled some water for drinking, cooking, and washing dishes, but it's good to have some bottled water on hand as well for this as well as for future emergencies.

    My total came to $2.83, but I only had a $3 RR from last week.  Instead of buying something else to use the $3 RR, I decided to save it for next week and just pay out of pocket.

    Here's the details on what I got:

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    Friday, May 25, 2012

    Delve Into Your Finances in 2012 May update

    Welcome To Delve into Your Finances in 2012!

    This year, my goal is to pay off my home equity line of credit once and for all!

    This month, we continued to make a nice large payment toward the debt.  More than in April, not as much as in March, and a lot more than in January and February.

    So we have now paid off 23% of the amount we owed on December 31, 2011, and 73% of the total debt that we had incurred on our home equity line of credit in the years that we used it.   We haven't used it in several years, and though I won't close the account once it's paid off, I hope to never need to use it again.

    Next month I'm hoping for another big payment - my husband is paid every other week, so twice a year he gets three paychecks in one month.  June has three paychecks, so I'm hoping to devote one full check to debt reduction, plus a portion of the other two as well.

    How are you doing on your 2012 financial goals?  Leave a comment below!

    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Free Eat Smart bar and more

    Here are some of the latest free samples from Freeflys!

    eat smart bar

    periodontal floss

    natural balance dog food

    pet n shape

    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Print these coupons before they expire!


    These coupons are about to expire at the end of the month - why not print them now while you're thinking about it, before the big holiday weekend?

    Beverages
    Foods
    Health Care
    Household
    Personal Care
    Pet Care
    Toys & Games


    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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    Ore-Ida sweet potato fries coupon

    My kids, like pretty much all kids, love French fries. I don't like to get them too often; I'd rather have healthier side dishes. But sometimes we get sweet potato fries. The kids like them because, well, they're fries! But I like them because they're just a little healthier.

    Here's a coupon for Ore-Ida sweet potato fries that will make these indulgences just a little more affordable.

    $1.00 off when you buy any TWO ORE-IDA® SWEET POTATO FRIES

    (This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.)

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