101 ways to shave $$$ off your food costs

Hi everyone!
Life has been more than crazy busy, so I haven't written a "Sister Thrifty" newsletter in quite awhile. Sorry about that! Food prices have been increasing all of the world and just this week we're hearing about riots in Haiti and Egypt where there is a frightening shortage of food. I found a terrific list of 101 ways to stretch your food dollars that I wanted to share with you. It was written by Valerie Phillips at Deseret News:

Food prices are going up. But here are lots of ways — 101 of them — to shave off pennies, dimes and dollars from your food costs.
Not every tip fits every situation. A vat-size container of salad dressing is cheaper per ounce, but not if it sits in a single person's fridge for months on end. Remember, the most expensive food you can buy is the food that goes to waste.

Before you go

1. For a week, track what your family actually spends on food. Don't forget to include work lunches, restaurant meals, vending-machine snacks and convenience store stops. These add up quickly.

2. Have a plan. Jot down simple dinner menus for the week, using the weekly grocery store ads so you can take advantage of what's on sale that week. Having a plan ends the 5 p.m. "what's for dinner?" plight.

3. Make a shopping list from your menu. Having the ingredients you need for the week eliminates extra trips to the supermarket, where more incidental items can end up in your grocery cart.

4. To save time, compile a basic shopping list of things you usually buy on a weekly basis, such as milk, lettuce, etc. Organize the list by the store layout and make lots of copies. Then each week it's just a matter of penciling in the extra ingredients from your menu.

5. Get out of the dinner rut. Check out cookbooks or magazines from the library or attend local cooking classes for new ideas.

6. For low-cost, nutritious recipe ideas, check the Food Stamp Nutrition Connection at recipefinder.nal.usda.gov. The recipes have cost-per-serving and nutrition data.

7. Consider making from scratch many of the things you usually buy in prepared form, such as brownies or salad dressing.

8. Time is a valuable resource. It's usually not worth the time (or gasoline) to hopscotch from store to store to save a few dollars.

9. Consider the advantages when you choose where to shop. Some stores offer credit cards with rebates, discounts on gasoline, special coupons and so on.

10. Club warehouses can save money, but be judicious. Can you use 18 cartons of yogurt at a time? Often you can find similar good buys and a better selection at a regular grocery store

11. Sometimes you're lured into buying things that lose their appeal and end up sitting on the shelf. To cure yourself of impulse shopping, every so often force yourself to make a meal out of those items in the cupboard.

12. Consider group strategies. A neighborhood group or extended family might save by buying in bulk directly from wholesalers and farmers.



Shopping

13. Try shopping with cash, taking only an allotted amount to the store.

14. Statistics indicate that people buy more when they are hungry or accompanied by others, especially children. (However, grocery shopping can be a good learning experience for kids; let them find all the coupon foods and comparison shop with you.)

15. Don't dawdle. The longer you're wandering through the store, the more chance of impulse buys.

16. Avoid convenience stores. They have higher prices and very few specials.

17. Guard against nonfood impulse buys that could end up in your cart, such as the latest DVD, perfumes or toiletries. Do you really need them?

18. Limit trips to the store. Multiple trips usually mean more incidental items added to the cart.

19. Try "catch-and-release" shopping with high-end items. Put that bottle of name-brand, extra-virgin olive oil in the cart, and while you finish the rest of your purchases, ask if it's something you can live without. Then before you check out, put it back on the shelf. After all, dreaming is free. (However, if you end up convincing yourself to buy these things, or you forget to put them back, this method isn't for you!)

Coupons

20. Use the coupon inserts in your Sunday newspaper ads.

21. To maximize coupon savings, use resources such as Pinchingyourpennies.com, the Grocery Guru at www.gurusdeals.com, or Couponsense.com, which help you to coordinate coupons with sales at local grocery stores. By using the coupon with the sale price, you can get items for a fraction of the cost.

22. Multiply the savings. Some people take multiple Sunday newspaper subscriptions for the coupons, and you can also ask your neighbors or relatives for the coupons from their paper.

23. Check other sources for coupons: the "blinkies" in the red boxes on grocery store shelves, home mailers, "peelies" that are peeled off the product itself and printables off Web sites.

24. Be wise about coupons. Sometimes a brand name with a coupon is still more expensive than a generic brand. And resist buying things you may not use just because you have a coupon.

25. Some grocery stores match competitor coupons if you have the advertisement with you.

26. Organize your coupons so you can use them efficiently. Bonnie Childress of Ogden uses a three-ring binder with clear photo pages or baseball card pockets. Others use a filing box and take out the coupons they will be using and clip them to their shopping list on their way to the grocery store.

27. Send in rebates. Teri Radmall of Eden puts all the money she receives from rebates in a separate account, and she's now up to $200.

Cereals & baked goods

28. One reason people avoid buying cheaper bagged cereals is because they're hard to store and pour. Store them in a plastic pitcher with a pour spout.

29. Consider how much you can save by cooking whole grains for breakfast instead of cold breakfast cereal. Homer Cook of Layton said as a welfare volunteer, he helped a single mother of three cut her breakfast costs from $1,000 per year to $58 per year by cooking cracked wheat (based on Honeyville Grain prices).

30. Buy whole-grain cereals and breads. They're more filling, so you are satisfied with less. And they're better for you.

31. Go '90s retro and pull out your old bread machine. Besides bread, it can be used for rolls and pizza dough.

32. Make croutons or bread crumbs from day-old bread or hotdog buns. The crumbs can be seasoned and used as a "shake-and-bake" chicken coating.

33. Seek out day-old bread "thrift" stores. But be wary of the temptation to overbuy empty calorie items such as cupcakes, potato chips and doughnuts.

34. Bake a batch of muffins from scratch for on-the-go breakfasts. Even if you use a mix, you'll still save over bakery prices.


Produce

35. Buy fruits and vegetables in season when they're cheaper and taste fresher. When compared to the price per pound of meat, cheese, chocolate, etc., they're a nutritional bargain.

36. If you're preparing a commercial meal kit (such as Hamburger Helper or a frozen pasta dinner), toss in a few more vegetables. Chopped bell peppers or celery, and frozen broccoli or peas add color, flavor and nutrition to what is usually a lot of starch, sauce and salt. They can also stretch the meal into more servings.

37. Ready-prepped veggies cost more but may be worth it if you actually use those peeled carrots or sliced mushrooms. A huge percentage of fresh produce goes to waste sitting in refrigerators.

38. A pound bag of chopped iceberg lettuce salad costs more (about $2) than a head of iceberg lettuce (approximately $1 per pound) that you clean and chop yourself. But if bagged salad greens keep you from buying restaurant salads, there's still a savings.

39. If lettuce prices are up, vary your veggies. Consider cabbage, spinach, carrot or broccoli salads.

40. Grow your favorite herbs year-round in your kitchen window. It's convenient to be able to cut a few sprigs as needed, and packets of fresh herbs can cost $1.50-$2 in grocery stores.

41. If you're not up to planting a garden, add a few strawberry or tomato plants to your flower beds. You have to weed and water them anyway. Or add a fruit tree to your back yard.

42. Yellow onions are often 40 cents to 50 cents less per pound than red (purple) onions.

43. When your favorite fresh vegetables are offseason, look for canned and frozen versions. Do the math and figure out which offers the best price per serving.

44. Beans are an inexpensive protein. Add them to tacos, casseroles, salads, etc., so you can use less meat.

45. Dried beans, per cooked serving, are often less than half the price of canned beans. But they take a lot of time to cook. Soak a batch overnight in your slow cooker on low heat, then portion and freeze for later use.

46. Vegetables frozen in butter sauce usually cost more than plain frozen vegetables, and they have more fat and calories.

47. Price fruits with an eye on the cost-per-edible serving. If you are buying by the pound, you are also paying for any inedible seeds and rinds.

48. When buying fresh greens by weight, be sure to shake off the excess water before you put them in your cart. Water hidden in between the leaves adds weight and raises the cost.

49. Serve a vegetable "medley" when you have small amounts of several different vegetables. Mix together and microwave, and top with a little cheese or a sprinkle of nuts.

Dairy

50. Unless you buy powdered milk in bulk for a price break, you won't save money over fresh milk. On a recent shopping trip, the Deseret News found that a box of generic-brand powdered milk that yields 31 cups of milk was $6.49. If you can buy fresh milk at $3 a gallon, you can get 32 cups for $6.

51. Buy a large container of yogurt and divide it into portions yourself. A 32-ounce container, at $2.79, yields four 8-ounce portions at 34 cents a serving. The same brand in single-serve containers was 50 cents each.

52. Milk fat costs. You can often save about 10 cents to 20 cents per gallon by dropping from 2 percent to 1 percent or skim.

53. If you use margarine instead of butter to cut costs, don't use anything less than 100 percent margarine for baking. The lower-fat spreads have water and fillers that bake up poorly (and when poured over popcorn turn it to mush). Real butter is approximately $4 per pound; 100 percent margarine (such as Nucoa) can be $1.50 to $2 per pound. Save the less-expensive spreads for your toast.

54. Consider home delivery of milk and bread. It costs more, but it might save on extra trips to the store.

55. There is no nutritional difference between brown and white eggs; it has more to do with the color of the hen. White eggs usually cost less.

56. Freeze butter to keep its fresh flavor. Grate it, frozen, over toast, baked potatoes, etc. for portion control.

57. Finely shred cheese when topping pizzas, grilled ham and cheese, etc. You'll use less.

Meat

58. Unless they're on special, breasts are the most expensive part of the chicken. Boneless, skinless thighs offer the same convenience for less, and dark meat is more moist and flavorful anyway.

59. Take a cue from restaurant chefs who can make a small portion of meat or chicken look plentiful. They slice it thinly and fan out the slices on top of a mound of rice or potatoes.

60. Tough cuts of meat are usually cheaper. Place a beef brisket in you slow cooker in the morning and by dinner time you'll have tender beef (and a tantalizing aroma in your kitchen).

61. Don't throw out your bacon drippings. Some suggestions from Every Day With Rachael Ray magazine: Stir it into grits, use in place of oil when popping popcorn, saute bread cubes in it for croutons, add to cornbread batter, add to barbecue sauce and brush on ribs or chicken while they're cooking.

62. Compare meat costs by servings, not pounds. Bony meats are cheaper per pound, but they yield less edible meat per pound.

63. Likewise, a large store-cooked rotisserie chicken at $6 is cheaper than buying a raw, 5-pound whole raw chicken at $1.30 per pound and cooking it at home. As a bonus, you can use the carcass and bits of meat on the bones to make chicken broth.

64. Although the price of eggs has nearly doubled in the past year, a $2 carton of eggs can still supply a protein-rich meal for a family of six. Scramble them with leftovers such as chopped ham, crumbled bacon, chopped peppers, onions and so on.

65. Buy ground beef in bulk quantities to get a better price. When you get home, divide meal-size portions in zip-lock bags and freeze.

Canned goods

66. Big cans are often cheaper, but not always. Check the price per unit guide on the grocery shelf, which shows the cost per ounce. Also, consider how you use the product. If you buy a big can of tomato sauce, use a little and end up wasting the rest, you're better off buying the small can in the first place.

67. What to do with the last of the jam or jelly jar: Pour in some milk, refrigerate for a little while to loosen the jam stuck to the jar sides, and shake into a flavored drink.

68. Generic brands can save money. But try one can first before you invest in a whole case to make sure it appeals to your family.

69. Stockpile pantry items you normally use, such as spaghetti sauce or pasta, when they're on sale. Keep a list of quick-fix possibilities on the inside of your cupboard door, such as spaghetti, meatball sub sandwiches, baked tortellini, etc.

Snacks

70. Invest in a popcorn popper. You can make 10 times as much popcorn for the same price as microwave popcorn. A three-pack box of microwave popcorn yields about 10 1/2 cups of popcorn for $2 to $3, depending on the brand. A $1.99 bag of regular popcorn yields 113 cups. You'll have to add you own butter and salt, but you have more control over the amounts.

71. When making s'mores, instead of buying chocolate bars and graham crackers, place the marshmallow between two chocolate-striped cookies. A package of Keebler Fudge Shoppe cookies is approximately $3 and makes 15 s'mores. You'd spend at least that much money on chocolate bars alone.

72. Break the soda pop habit. If you normally drink a can per day, at 50 cents per can, you could pocket more than $180 a year.

73. Every time you have a few leftover strawberries, peach slices, etc., store them in the same zip-lock bag in the freezer. Then every so often, whir them all together in the blender for a smoothie snack.

74. If you like the look of designer bottled water, buy it once and keep refilling with tap water, which is free. Many bottled waters cost more per gallon than gasoline.

75. Use food as a reward sparingly. Make treats more significant by using them only for special occasions. With obesity on the rise, most people don't need them on a regular basis.

76. Nip nighttime snacks. Go to bed a half-hour early and keep yourself from wanting a handful of chips while watching David Letterman. Your waistline will thank you.

Storage

77. Keep an eye on your pantry inventory so you use up all the pancake mix or corn syrup before buying more.

78. Oil goes rancid fairly quickly. Unless you use it often, buy in small quantities or refrigerate after using.

79. Post a "must use" list on the fridge to remind yourself of the half-empty can of pineapple, three hot dogs, etc. that will go bad quickly.

80. Label leftovers with date and contents before putting them in the freezer. You'll actually use these things instead of having mystery containers stuck in the back of the freezer.

81. Use and rotate your food storage. If you aren't using it, it is basically a waste of space and money. Rule of thumb: Store what you use and use what you store.

In the kitchen

82. Use smaller plates. Studies show that when people are served on larger plates, they take larger servings, whether they're really hungry or not.

83. One night a week have leftover night. Pull out all the leftovers from other meals — the half-cup of spaghetti sauce, the slices of ham or stray chicken breast, the chunk of cheese, the corn or peas. Bake some potatoes and let everyone pick the leftovers for toppings.

84. Pack a lunch for the next day from dinner leftovers instead of eating out.

85. Use meals to stretch your entertainment dollars. Go on a picnic in a park or get out the Dutch oven pots, have a hot dog roast or go fishing and then cook your catch.

86. When serving buffet-style, put the low-cost items, such as salad or rolls, at the beginning of the line and the most expensive item — meat — near the end.

87. Have meatless Monday meals.

88. Homemade soups are a good way to use leftover meat and vegetables. Their liquid content also makes them more satisfying.

89. Pasta or rice can also stretch small amounts of food into a meal. Throw in chopped pepper, ribbons of spinach or basil, chopped tomatoes or chicken or ham.

90. Instead of serving fruit punch or juice at meals, use a pitcher of ice water with a few lemon or lime slices floating on top.

91. Use small appliances, such as the microwave, slow-cooker and electric frying pan; they use less energy than a stovetop.

92. Use the dishwasher only when completely full. Washing dishes by hand can cost more than one load in the dishwasher. Let the dishes air-dry rather than using the "dry" cycle.

93. Don't open the oven door to preview baking food. Each time you open it, the temperature drops by 25-50 degrees. It takes longer to cook your food and adds to your energy bill.

Dining out

94. Use your gift certificates soon after getting them. Many have expiration dates.

95. Use frequent-diners' cards. Some restaurants offer punch cards — if you buy 10 meals, the next one is free. For a family of six, it takes only two visits to earn a free meal.

96. Go out to lunch when entree prices are often a dollar or two less than dinner.

97. If a full-course dinner comes with soup, salad, drink and dessert, it's only a great buy if you really want (or need) all that. You may be satisfied ordering an a la carte entree without the extras. Ditto combo meals in fast-food restaurants.

98. Guard against up-sell, when you're asked if you want guacamole with your taco or extra cheese for the fondue. If it costs extra, you might not want it that much.

99. At fast-food restaurants, order a kids' meal for yourself (if there's no age limit). Most of the time, you're getting a more appropriate portion of food (and a toy to boot!).

100. Watch beverage costs. Alcoholic drinks can double your tab, but even soft drinks can add $10 to $15 to the bill for a family of six. Water is a healthier choice anyway. Be sure to specify "tap" water, some restaurants may bring you bottled water at $3 or $4 per bottle.

101. If you feel you can't afford to tip, choose a fast-food or fast-casual eatery where tipping isn't expected. In sit-down restaurants, servers' salaries are less than minimum wage. Tips make up the difference.



Happy Shopping!

CENTSerely,

Sister Thrifty

High Definition TV & foreclosures

Hi everyone!

HDTV
We had dinner at a friend's house recently who was thrilled to show us his cool high definition TV. Very impressive! Clark Howard is one of my favorite consumer gurus and this is what he had to say about HDTV:
This is going to be a great year for high definition on your TV set. According to new statistics from the electronics industry, 25 percent of households are now hi-def. Just 18 months ago, that number was probably seven or eight percent. There's more hi-def programming being churned out, too. The Discovery Channel made a big ratings comeback thanks to Discovery HD, which features incredible photography that renders beautifully in hi-def and has really captivated viewers. Now, Direct TV's goal is to have 100 HD channels before the end of the year. What's happening there is that they're scared of the triple-play packages from the cable companies -- where you get cable, Internet and phone -- so they're fighting back with this promise to offer more hi-def programming. Clark's approach to hi-def is to let the early adopters get in the game and drive the price down as the quality of programming up. That's already happening. Many of the major TV networks now put out hi-def transmissions in addition to regular broadcast signals. Meanwhile, a plasma TV today costs a quarter of what it did 36 months ago. And this Christmas, you can get a hi-def set for under $500 bucks. Still too expensive for your taste? The irony here is that you get a better picture from a hi-def transmission if you use conventional rabbit ears on your old TV set than if you actually pay for the hi-def programming and equipment. On the retail front, the way people purchase hi-def equipment is changing as well. Electronics retailers like Circuit City and Tweeter are in trouble because people buy their equipment at Wal-Mart, Costco and Sam's Club. In fact, the only electronics retailer doing well in hi-def sales is Best Buy.


FREE TIX!
My twin sister lives in Las Vegas and discovered this great web site: http://www.vegasseatfillers.com/ It's a company that gives away free show tickets to help theaters fill their seats so their show looks like a big hit. If you're planning a trip to Las Vegas, check it out!

FREE BOOKS!
The author of "Chicken in the Headlights" (Matthew Buckley) told me about this great web site: http://www.bookmooch.com/ that kind of works like a barter system for avid readers. You put books on your list that you're willing to give away for free. For every book you give away, you're eligible to request a book from somebody else. You pay shipping when you send a book, but not when you get one.

FORECLOSURES
The country has seen a surge in foreclosures lately due to the secondary loan market. Facing foreclosure can be a scary thing. It doesn't have to end as terribly as you think it might. Instead, try to arrange for a "short sale" with your lender to actively market your property. It can help pull you (and the lender) out of the hole. Never heard of a "short sale" before? In the case of a short sale, the lender agrees to accept less than the loan balance if you can get the place sold. Why would a lender want to do this? Well, it turns out that it costs a lender $70,000 on average to foreclose on one home, according to industry estimates!!! So a short sale is something of a win/win situation for lender and borrower alike. The neighborhood also wins in this situation because for every house foreclosed on, the average selling price of other homes in the immediate area drops 1.5 percent. Foreclosure is like a cancer that spreads in a neighborhood, but it can be healed with prevention by contacting your lender and setting up a short sale to actively market the property before the fact. An answer of "no" today may be "yes" tomorrow, as the lender may have to first get a waiver from someone they sold the loan to in order to permit that short sale.

Ok, on to happier subjects! I found this interesting article about saving tons of money on groceries. Check it out! http://www.grocerycouponguide.com/saving-90-percent-on-groceries.html

And now for some fun freebies:

1 year free subscription to DIET & NUTRITION MAGAZINE https://www.gvpub.com/subscribe/tdn_subscribe243.shtml

SUNSWEET DRIED FRUIT SAMPLES http://www.sunsweet.com/products/samples.asp

Free hearing aid batteries: http://offers.energizer.com/perfpack/default.aspx?flowerpower

Alrighty, that's it for now. Have a wonderful week!

CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

Back to school & Cell phones

DEALS THAT ARE Nifty by Sister Thrifty
Yikes! Time sure flies! It's been way too long since I've sent out a newsletter because life has been so busy! Besides the normal amount of mayhem in my home, two highlights were that my 6 th book hit stores last month and I took my first son to college! He earned a 4 year academic scholarship and is going to save us a bundle in tuition & housing! Woohoo! Now that's thrifty! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that his 3 brothers will follow his great example! If you have kids going to college then you know how expensive it is just to pay for all those doggone textbooks. A great way to lower those costs is to buy used textbooks online at some of the following sites: CheapestBookPrice.com, AllBookstores.com, Biblio.com, AbeBooks.com, A1Books.com, BookFinder.com, ValoreBooks.com and Textbook411.com are all good sites for this purpose. Amazon is also doing big business selling college text books, and there are some British book websites that offer science textbooks for about 40 percent off the domestic price (even when you factor in the cost of international shipping.) Don't buy your books before class starts. Go the first day and ask your professor if you can buy a prior edition and try to find it used.

Back when I was in college we didn't have cell phones and so all of my roommates and I would share the cost of a phone. Here are some great tips on saving money with your landlines and cell phones:

Phone companies charging fees to not use long distance
Do you need yet another reason to dump the three monopoly phone companies -- Verizon, AT&T and Qwest -- and their outdated landlines? Well, here it is: Verizon is playing dirty pool by getting into the AT&T game of charging customers a fee for long distance even if you don't use long distance. The Verizon fee is a couple of bucks a month, but AT&T had been charging people between three and five dollars to not use long distance! So unless you absolutely need a landline, why not liberate yourself? Here's the problem the phone companies are facing: They fought very hard to be able to sell long distance, but then people started using their cell phones, pre-paid cards, the Internet and/or cable phone companies to make their long distance calls. In fact, the cable companies usually offer unlimited long distance. So now the monopoly phone companies are fighting a losing battle.

Metro and Cricket eyeing merger
Metro PCS and Cricket may be getting ready to merge. These companies are like the Southwest Airlines of the cell phone business. They run extra-lean operations and undercut traditional cell phone operators by a handsome margin, passing the savings on to customers. With Metro and Cricket, flat-rate calling usually starts at $30/month for unlimited calling. The only problem is that if you travel, you may or may not be able to use your phone because Metro and Cricket don't have coverage across the country. Metro is now looking at the possibility of buying Cricket's parent company. If this happens, it would create a fifth major player in the telecommunications industry.

Free e-mail on your old cell phone
What if you have a regular old cell phone that doesn't get e-mail and you want it on your phone without all the extra fees and having to buy a new phone? There is now a service called Teleflip that sends your emails to your regular cell phone for free. You can also send e-mails for free. Make sure you have unlimited text messaging when using this program though because each e-mail is logged as a text. Go to TeleFlip.com and try getting free e-mails on your regular phone.

And now, for this week's fun freebies!

Free Sample Of BIZ Laundry Detergenthttp://tinyurl.com/5xr89

Help your children develop healthy bedtime habits and receive a free manual character toothbrush. Choose from Dora the Explorer, Diego, SpongeBob, Shrek or Superman. Simply fill out your washing,brushing and reading log to earn rewards. **See site for details**http://tinyurl.com/2vz388


Free Bottle of Bath & Body Works Lotion **Must Complete A FREE Offer** EasyNo CC# Required, Nothing To Purchase**http://tinyurl.com/an3po Free Sample Purex Natural Elements Laundry Detergent http://tinyurl.com/ywhj36

2 Free Cups Of Soyogurt From Wildwood Foodshttp://tinyurl.com/2n3nm5Free Sample Of Tasters Choice Coffee http://tinyurl.com/lx97hFreeAmino Vital Golf Samples( For Energy/Hydration)Includes:2 packets of Amino Vital Mix & Shake 2 packets of Amino Vital Pro Charge powder 2 packets of Amino Vital Fast Charge capletshttp://tinyurl.com/2afq3e

I hope you all had a great summer and are enjoying the Back To School excitement. Remember to share your steals and deals with me so I can pass on the savings to everyone else. When you enter the contest online at http://www.sisterthrifty.com/ you can win free dinner certificates each month!

CENTSerely,

Sister Thrifty

6/25/07 Newsletter

DEALS THAT ARE NIFTY by SISTER THRIFTY

Hi everyone! School is finally out and the summer fun has begun! Since you're probably going on vacations out of town or driving the fam around for entertainment, I thought you'd like to know where to find The cheapest gas prices in town. Try the link below. MSN updates this information every night. Just enter your zip code and get a display of the cheapest and most expensive gas stations in the area.
http://autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx?zip=&src=Netx

Seems like everyone I know is traveling abroad this summer. As Napolean Dynomite would say "Lucky." If you're one of the lucky ones, you might be interested in Cheap to free International calls. JaJah and Rebtel are two communications companies that are changing the international communications game. They are both offering cheap to free international calling. You can go to their websites at www.Jajah.com and www.Rebtel.com to see exactly how they work. They are easy to use and can save you tons so check them out.

How to identify a phony freebie site
I love freebies, but how do you differentiate between a free sample from a legitimate company that's trying to solicit new customers from a data harvester that will lead to lots of spam and never send you any freebie? Here are a few questions to ask about a site before you give them any of your information. 1) Who runs the site? If there is no contact information or just a free email address, be suspicious - most places WANT customers to be able to contact them & order things, and real businesses don't conduct transactions things via hotmail. 2) Does the site look shoddy?Even small companies want to maintain a professional appearance. If a site has spelling mistakes or just an overall amateur appearance, be skeptical - it may have been thrown together that same week using a template & free stock images. Spam sites appear out of nowhere, collect as much data as possible in a short time, and then vanish before the authorities catch them. If a site is full of Google or popup ads, another warning bell should be ringing. If you were promoting something, would you have advertisements for a competitor on your site? 3) Why are they giving away things for free? A retailer or wholesaler may give something free as an incentive to get customers to buy more. A manufacturer may give something away for free to promote brand awareness & attract new markets. If a site isn't selling any products, it doesn't produce any products & it isn't an advertiser for a company that makes those products, how would it earn money by spending thousands on merchandise & shipping? Why would you buy 50,000 coffee cups then mail them to people all over the world that you were never going to hear from again? Here are a couple of sites where companies can be checked:http://www.whois.nethttp://www.uwhois.com

And now for a legitimate freebie!
Free 5×7 enlargement or collage at CVS/pharmacy


http://www.cvs.com/CVSApp/cvs/gateway/promotion?pid=6010&step_nbr=160

I hope you're enjoying your summer!!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

6/13/07 Newsletter

Deals That Are Nifty by Sister Thrifty Newsletter

SUMMER MOVIES FOR THE KIDSAMC Summer MovieCamp F*R*E*E movies from June 27 – August 15 (excluding July 4) on Wednesdays starting at 10:00 AM. Cinemark Summer Movie Clubhouse 10 weeks of movies on weekday mornings. Tickets for all 10 movies can be purchased in advance for $5 or can be purchased individually at the box office for $1 each.Classic Cinemas $1 movies for 8 week from June 13 to August 8 (excluding July 4) on Wednesdays starting at 10:00 AM.SIGN UP FOR THEIR EMAIL AND GET:A FREE popcorn as a thank-you for subscribing, A FREE movie ticket sent to you on your birthday, A FREE popcorn in honor of Popcorn Month in October, and Other special offers that can include FREE soft drinks, FREE candy, two-for-the-price-of-one movie tickets or more FREE popcorn. ClearView Cinema's Kid's Club An 8 week series with F*R*E*E admission every Thursday at 10:30 AM beginning July 5thCrown Free Summer Kids Film Festival Bring your GOOD GRADES in and get F*R*E*E movie ticketsall A's = 2 tickets, A&B = 1 ticket , all B's F*R*E*E popcornMarcus Theaters Kids Rule Summer Series: $2.50 movies (includes F*R*E*E popcorn) at 10:00 AM Wednesday and Thursday Regal Free Family Film Festival United Artists theaters and Edwards theaters F*R*E*E movies for 9 week on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:00 AM


ENJOY!!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

6/6/07 Newsletter

Deals That Are Nifty by Sister Thrifty Newsletter
Breaking News:
Throw the kids in the car and get a FREE rootbeer float at Sonic Drive In nationwide on June 7 from 8pm until midnight. To find a location near you go to http://www.sonicdrivein.com/

Enjoy!
C ENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

6/1/07 Newsletter

Deals That Are Nifty by Sister Thrifty Newsletter
Hi everyone! I finally finished writing my next book, so now I'll be able to get back to writing this newsletter! Whew!
This article came across my desk today, so I thought I'd forward it on as this week's consumer tips!
Have a wonderful weekend!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

The best time to buy -- anything
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/TheBestTimeToBuyAnything.aspx?page=2
Did you know that airlines change their fare schedule three times a day? Or that cars are more likely to be a bargain at the end of the month?
By Bankrate.com
If you're waiting until your refrigerator gasps out its last breath of cold air to shop for a new one, you could be missing out on a chance for big savings. Timing your purchases to coincide with manufacturer discounts, clearance sales and off-season discounts will take out the stress of finding a good price on almost anything.
We spoke with a few experts to get the inside scoop on the best times of the year to shop.
Airline tickets
Best time: It depends
There really is no best time of the year to buy plane tickets. But if you expect to travel around the holidays, always plan ahead because deals are hard to come by.
"If you can get a good deal for Thanksgiving and Christmas at any time, buy it. That is their peak period, and airlines have a limited inventory," says Neil Bainton, the chief operating officer of Farecompare, a travel-planning Web site that tracks airline ticket prices.
For non-holiday domestic travel, Bainton recommends that travelers never buy tickets more than 90 days away from their departure date. "You want to watch the 21-day mark because some carriers will file their lowest fares as a 21-day advance purchase. And then the next window is at 14 days, which you really don't want to go by unless you're feeling lucky," Bainton says. Getting a good ticket price depends on the competition in the markets you're flying to and from and the supply of seats versus the demand.
Airlines file updates to their fares three times a day: 10 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. weekdays, with one filing –- at 5 p.m. -- on Saturday and Sunday. (All times are ET.) "Most of the lowest fares are filed Tuesdays, Wednesdays and sometimes Saturdays. It depends on the carrier and the market," Bainton says.
Air conditioners
Best time: winter
Common sense prevails in the air-conditioner market, according to Diane Ritchey, editor of Home Appliance Magazine.
"Think about when they're most in use: May through September. People feel the heat and they start to buy. The stock gets depleted, the demand is higher and so is the price. When cool weather comes around, most people just aren't into air conditioner purchasing, so the demand drops, as does the price," she says.
Big appliances
Best time: September and October
Just like the fall clothing influx, new models of major appliance models such as ranges and washing machines hit showroom floors in September and October, says Home Appliance Magazine's Ritchey. About the same time, last year's models go on sale to make room.
"Critical timing and seeing the patterns of the retail world can make a huge difference in appliance shopping," Ritchey says.
Bicycles and outdoor gear
Best time: January
"If you want the newest stuff, the time to look is in February and March, when the season's models come out. The stores start replacing fall and winter stuff with spring and summer models, and that's true for most all outdoor gear from shoes to bikes, hiking gear, everything," says Dennis Lewon, senior editor for Outside magazine.
Some companies will send out special holiday items that will land in the discount section after the season. "In general, most of the new products come to stores in February," Lewon says. "January is good for looking for the old models in the classic post-holiday shopping period."
Boats
Best time: January, February and March
According to Thom Dammrich, the president of the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the winter boat-show season is the time to get a good price on a new boat.
"The primary winter boat show season is January, February and March. Going to a boat show is the easiest way to see the latest model of boats for many manufacturers, and compare features," Dammrich says. "Also, dealers typically offer their best pricing during boat shows."
Cars
Best time: September
New model years begin appearing at dealerships in the fall, making September an ideal time to snatch up the previous year's model at a discount. By the end of the year, inventory dwindles, so acting earlier assures a determined buyer of the best selection.
Video on MSN Money

Video: Smart haggling If you'd like to pay less than retail when shopping, try these bargaining tips.
Another tip for buying a new car: "Monitor the number of days that a truck or car sits on a lot. Anytime a car or truck isn't selling well, you can get a good deal," says Phillip Reed, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com and a co-author of " Strategies for Smart Car Buyers."
Shop on a weekday to get the undivided attention of the sales staff and go at the end of the month when they're trying to make quotas. Be sure to go early in the morning or early in the afternoon and show up well-rested and with a full belly.
"You don't want to be hungry or tired," says Reed, who also recommends using the Internet department to broker the deal. You'll save money and skip the high-pressure negotiations in the finance and insurance office.
"Often the person who delivers the car to you isn't even a salesman but a porter. You just sign the papers, and it's done," Reed says.
Cell phones
Best time: any time
A new cell phone comes out approximately every five minutes. Obviously, that's hyperbole, but John Morris, the editor of home and entertainment coverage for CNET.com, says the team reviewing cell phones can barely keep up with the steady stream of new models being offered.
"The market for cell phones doesn't follow any seasonal trend or technological advances. Also, their release schedule is dictated by carriers as well as manufacturer, which makes it a little more complicated," Morris says.
Computers
Best time: July and August
If you're shopping for a low price on a computer, buying slightly older technology can save you some money. Following the release schedule of chip makers Advanced Micro Devices and Intel will offer some clues as to when computer manufacturers will offer updates and redesigns, says CNET's Morris. Chip manufacturers turn out upgrades quickly, about every three months, with major computer manufacturers following suit.
Otherwise, a good rule of thumb to follow is to buy in the middle of the summer to take advantage of the back-to-school sales or the winter holiday markdowns.
Cookware
Best times: April and May; October and November
"There are two big seasons for cookware and cookware promotions," says Hugh Rushing, executive vice president of the Cookware Manufacturers Association. "One is in the spring, in April and May, coinciding with the graduation and wedding season. The other is in October and November, with promotions in regard to the holidays."
Furniture
Best times: January and July
New furniture hits the showrooms after the holidays, in February, and again in August. Jackie Hirschhaut, the vice president of public relations and marketing for American Home Furnishing Alliance, says there are two times of the year for guaranteed low prices.
"After the holidays, in January, stores have clearance sales to make room for new inventory coming in February," she says. "And in July, the same thing happens with fall inventory. For instance, it may be the same wooden frame for sofas with different upholstery in new colors for fall."
Gas grills
Best time: winter
Ritchey says that, when it comes to gas barbeque grills, timing for the best deal is the same as shopping for air conditioners.
"Most people buy in May, June and July for backyard barbecues," Ritchey says. "But wait until winter comes to buy, when demand is low."
Jewelry
Best time: Avoid the holidays, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day
For jewelry, it's more a matter of when not to buy if you're focused on getting the best deal possible.
"You're going to pay closer to full price around the holidays because most jewelers generate one-third of their annual revenues and almost 100% of their annual profits in those two months," says Ken Gassman, the founder and president of the Jewelry Industry Research Institute. "You're going to get great value the other eight months of the year." In general, avoid the fourth quarter, that's when most of jeweler's yearly profits are made.
Linens and bedding
Best time: January
The white sale was a marketing strategy originally devised by John Wannamaker in 1878 and it was so successful that retailers still follow his lead today. "January is kind of an industry standard," says Deb Dyer, of upscale bedding cataloger Cuddletown. "That is the time of the year when you are going to see a lot of white sales by everyone -- retailers, cataloguers, everything. Linens do come out seasonally, so you'll see new colors in stores for spring and summer and then fall and winter."
Just as with clothing, bargains can be found on the previous season's styles.
Mattresses
Best time: always
Is it always a good time to buy a mattress? It is if you ask Nancy Shark, the executive director of the Better Sleep Council, a consumer education project supported by the mattress industry.
Video on MSN Money

Video: Smart haggling If you'd like to pay less than retail when shopping, try these bargaining tips.
"There really isn't one best time to buy a mattress. Retailers always have sales and are always doing their own thing," she says. "The emphasis should be on looking for the best level of comfort and support within your budget. A mattress is a really personal choice based entirely on individual preference. In terms of shopping, look for store services, delivery and removal of old bedding and be sure to test out the mattress before buying."
Real estate
Best time: spring
Buying and selling season starts in March and goes through the summer. Spring invigorates the real estate market, meaning there are more homes to choose from. "In the spring market, homes look the best, grasses are green, flowers and trees are in bloom. There's a whole new energy out there after the beginning of the year," says Tom Stevens, president of the National Association of Realtors. Because spring is historically the time of the year when inventories are highest, competition is at its peak as well. Contrarian shoppers may find negotiating more to their liking in the fall and winter.
Recreational vehicles
Best time: fall and winter
The market for recreational vehicles works somewhat like that of autos.
"The model years change over like cars, so there is some special availability of the previous years product during the fall," says Phil Ingrassia, vice president of communications for the Recreational Vehicle Dealers of America. Throughout the winter there may be some show specials that dealers offer or other incentives to entice people to buy.
Toys
Best time: October and November
Retailers open up the toy chest in October and November to kick-start their moneymaking season, says Reyne Rice, a toy trend specialist of the Toy Industry Association. "This is the time of year for games and puzzles," she says. "Retailers will usually do a buy-one, get-one-free promotion."
If you're buying a gift for someone, the important thing to consider is whether it's appropriate for the recipient rather than its status as the hottest new item. "It's more important to buy something that they'll love," Rice says.
TVs and home theaters
Best time: winter holiday sales and January
For home theater items, in general, the holidays are a good time, says CNET's Morris. New TV models that were announced earlier in the year at the consumer-electronics show in January arrive in stores in August and September. They drop in price a few months after their debut as well as knocking down the price on the older models.
Vacuum cleaners
Best time: April and May
Most new vacuum models come out in June, Ritchey says. The prices on the older models start winding down as winter comes to an end, just in time for spring cleaning.
Wedding
Best time: winter
Getting married during the off-season can net big savings. Demand for wedding services wanes during the very cold months -- or if you happen to be in a tropical climate, the very hot months -- and that can work to your advantage. Read " 7 ways to save on an off-season wedding" for tips on a winter wonderland wedding, or sweltering summer nuptials, as the case may be.
This article was reported and written by Sheyna Steiner for Bankrate.com.

5/15/07 Newsletter

"Deals that are nifty by Sister Thrifty"

Yahoo! Kills Off Photo ServiceFlickr won. That's the word from Yahoo!, where the older-style Yahoo! Photos is about to be shut down in favor of Flickr. It's an odd move, although with Photobucket growing so quickly, understandable. What will Yahoo! Photos customers do? Well they can always move to Flickr, but Yahoo!'s offering up other services as well. Check this out for more info: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2125982,00.asp
Now that the price of stamps just went up you might be interested in some free address labels to save your pennies. All of the web sites below offer free address labels:
http://www.cff.org/GetInvolved/MailingLabels/http://www.diabetes.org/main/mailinglabel/mailinglabel.jsphttp://www.makersmark.com/addresslabels/http://www.nfcr.orghttp://www.pva.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=1701&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS
More free ice cream! Today (May 15) Haagen-Dazs is giving everyone a free scoop of their new flavors at all stores nationwide from 4:00 to 8:00 pm. Go to http://www.haagen-dazs.com/newflavorday/ to find a location near you.
I hear Hancock Fabric stores are going out of business, so if there is one near you, swing by and check out their clearance items! www.hancockfabrics.com
For a free Diet 7UP two liter bottle click on http://7up.com/Diet/Registration/CouponTwoLiterRegistration.aspx
A friend of mine is producing a new television series called Real Families, Real Answers. She's searching for families nationwide of all sizes, faiths, ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds, who are willing to share their life experiences. The series covers topics such as strengthening marriage, parenting, blended families, single parenting, protecting family time, dealing with loss, and more. If you or someone you know might be interested, please visit www.realfamiliescasting.com to apply.
That's it for now. Another quickie email until I finish the doggone manuscript I'm working on! Have a great week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

5/8/2007 Newsletter

"Deals that are nifty by Sister Thrifty"
Hi everyone! I'm busy finishing up a manuscript for my next book, so this e-newsletter is going to be SHORT! But sweet…

I just discovered this great FREE card that could possibly save your family tons of money on prescription medications. See if you qualify for it at http://tinyurl.com/3xg6y2

My hubby's birthday is coming up soon and I discovered a great web site that lists all of the restaurants in your area that will give you a free meal or dessert on your birthday. Check out http://tinyurl.com/3po8s Bluebell Ice Cream company will also give you a free half gallon of ice cream on your birthday by going to www.bluebell.com/Registration.aspx

Even if it's not your birthday you can get a free ice cream cone from Dairy Queen for joining their "DQ Crew" online at http://thedqcentral.com/

And finally, if you're busy planning a wedding this spring or summer, check out all these wedding freebies:
Free Sample of Wedding Magnetshttp://www.magnetstreet.com/request/requestweddingpack/market/517/
-Free Organic Wedding Invitation Sampleshttp://www.organicweddings.com/wedding_invitations/paper_request.html
-Free Samples for Brides - Join Mailing List http://www.romanticflowers.com/samples_freesamples.html
-Free Wedding Invitations by Dawnhttp://www.invitationsbydawn.com/Custom/DawnUS/DD_Samples.cfm
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-Invites Galore Free Sampleshttp://www.invitesgalore.com/samples.htm
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-Free Silk Rose Petalshttp://www.iblossom.com/_contact.html
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email: samples@weddingflowersandmore.com
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-Free Wedding Favor Sampleshttp://www.sophiesfavors.com/samples.htm
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OD /weddingfreebies/Wedding_Freebies.htm
-Free One Year Subscription to Marriage Todayhttp://www.marriagetoday.org/site/PageServerpagename=magazine_subscribe
Free Brides Guidehttp://www.bridesguide.com/subscribe.cfm
-Free Macy's Wedding Dream Bookhttp://wedding.weddingchannel.com/promo/wishbook/order.asp
-Free Nancees Designs Wedding Plannerhttp://www.nanceesdesigns.com/Forms/register.html
-Free Ring Sizerhttp://www.weddingbands.com/ringSizer.asp
-Free Wedding Plannerhttp://www.sf.pii.orders.com/Events/Marriage/RP_Marriage/
-Free Wedding Songs CD when You Registerhttp://www.theknot.com/may_locations.html


That's it for this week! Gotta run!
Happy Mother's Day to all of you magnificent women out there!!!

CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

4/28/07 Newsletter

"Deals that are nifty by Sister Thrifty"

Years ago I created a big spreadsheet for all the grocery stores around town, trying to decide which store was the least expensive. Of course, the price of items changed from week to week, making one store the better deal one week and a different store less expensive the next, depending on sales. One thing I noticed was that some of the best deals to be had consistently were found at the big warehouse clubs. My favorite is Costco. A study by the Economic Research Service at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture shows that you save a substantial amount of money shopping at warehouse clubs and Wal-Mart Supercenters. Hey, anywhere you can buy tires and cool whip is quite a store.

The study was done over a five-year period, and, on the same quantity of an item, you will save from 5 to 20 percent. As a result, those stores represent about a third of grocery store spending these days. Costo even pays cash back at the end of the year up to 2% of purchases. Alternatively, regular supermarkets use "high-low" pricing, where some items are extremely cheap and others are marked up significantly. The supermarkets tout the low, sale items in advertisements to lure you in, but they hope you'll buy the higher-priced ones when you're there. The only bad thing about the big clubhouses is you have to be able to resist some of that great stuff and be be able to control impulse buying.

What's going on with Vonage these days? People who have loved the service are upset that the company may go under. Some say it's highly likely that the company will go bust. Not only is Verizon attacking the company in court, but Vonage has also done a poor job of satisfying customers in recent months. You probably want come up with a back-up plan for when the company shuts down, and you might want o check out sunrocket.com. Sunrocket has a different business model, whereby you pay for a year up front. It's $199 a year, plus junk fees, and you get unlimited calling. It works out to about $17 a month. The one unknown is how people will port their numbers once Vonage goes bon voyage. The company won't be concerned with helping people port their numbers to another company once they've gone under. So, you probably want to make the switch now. Other VOIP services are Packet8 and Lingo. Check them out.

May 1st is National Pizza Day at Pizza Hut. They are giving away one slice of pizza (cheese or pepperoni) per person between 3 and 5pm. This is going to be nationwide, with advertisements on TV and in USA Today on May 1st.

This week's freebies features a ton of stuff for your car:

Automotive Lubricant Sampleshttp://www.nyeautomotive.com/ask.htmSample Kit from Caplugs.comhttp://www.caplugs.com/kits.aspFree Car Care Guideshttp://www.carcare.org/car_care_guide/consumer2.shtmlCar-pons - Free Automotive Couponshttp://www.car-pons.com/Free Car Keychain for Surveyhttp://autosurvey.hitart.com/Sample of Armour All Glass or Cleaning Wipeshttp://www.aa-ownercenter.com/index.phpFree National Corvette Museum Magnethttp://www.corvettemuseum.com/freegift/Sample Bottle of Dri Wash 'N Guardhttp://www.waterless.8m.com/request.htmlFree Cheap Car Insurance Quoteshttp://usaautoinsurance.org/Automotive Interiors & Accessories, Inc. - Sample Request http://www.automotiveinteriors.com/samples/carpeting_$3.htmFree Auto Carpeting Sampleshttp://www.autostyles.com/acsallsamples.htmFree 2007 Fuel Economy Guide http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/altfuel/feg_orderform.htmlSample of Knight Shield Professional Car Care Productshttp://www.knightshieldinc.com/ContactUs.htmFree MagnaFine Auto Air Freshenerhttp://www.magnefine.com/forms/form.htmlPennzoil More Miles Club http://www.pennzoil.com/moremilesclub/default.htmlSample of Speed Brite Auto Wax & Cleaner http://www.galladechem.com/speedbrite/sample.htmFree Tire Gauge Keychain for Car Ins Quote Survey http://yourcar.headplug.com/Free Automotive Film Sampleshttp://www.gilafilms.com/free-samples.htmFree Car Air Freshener Sampleshttp://airfresheners.homestead.com/Sample2.htmlFree Samples for Auto Body Shopshttp://www.autobodyonline.com/samples.cfmFree Swissol 60 Page Car Care Handbookhttp://www.swizol.com/E/US/KontaktHandbook.htmFree Water Washable Air Filter Oil Samplehttp://www.qwiktimeproducts.com/page2.html

That's it for now. Have a GREAT week!
CENTSerely,

Sister Thrifty

4/21/07 Newsletter

"Deals that are nifty by Sister Thrifty"

Did you all survive tax season? Whew! Would you believe that roughly 50 million Americans pay no income tax? You might assume that it's the rich who aren't paying, but you'd be surprised. If you make about $50,000, you've paid all of your taxes to the government after you've worked til April 30. If you make $100,000, you are done paying federal, state and local taxes on June 20. If you make $1 million, you're done paying August 3. So, if you look at people who make more than $100 grand, they're paying taxes at least about half of the year!
Does this week's Dow news mean anything?
Big news in the financial world is the Dow Jones Industrial Average hitting an all-time record. But what is the Dow and should it make any difference to you? First of all, the Dow is not the stock market. It's a historical symbol that is not really important to regular investors. It represents the value of the 30 largest companies in the U.S. The S&P 500 is much more important in terms of financial outlook of the company. The most important thing is that you are diversified in your investments. Too often people go after one industry or what's considered the hot money trail, meaning "emerging markets." Back in the 90s, the hot thing was tech stocks. Then, we hit 2000, and people saw their stock values drop as much as 99 percent. You have to decide whether you are an investor or a gambler. A lot of people in the financial world want you to think it's too confusing or hard to figure out what to do with your money. The best thing to do is diversify: put your money in index funds, real estate, and actual gold & silver you can hold in your hands. Don't forget to keep some cash in a fire safety box somewhere in your home for emergencies too.
I just discovered this great web site where you can find free attractions anywhere in the country. Find out where to take the family for free near you or where you plan on going on vacation! Check out http://www.free-attractions.com/
Check out this article on how to save money on gasoline for your car: http://www.SavingSecrets.com/article_gasoline.html
There is an article in last week's Los Angeles Times that says the average person in the US consumes about 12 pounds of chocolate per year. (They haven't met some of us!) The article goes on to say that two confectioners, See's Candies and Guittard Chocolate Co. (with the support of Chocolate Manufacturers of America), are battling with the FDA to be allowed to put cheaper ingredients into their chocolate, like vegetable oil instead of cocoa butter and milk protein concentrates instead of whole milk. They say it won't taste "much" different but that it wouldn't be as intense and will have a waxy taste. Who needs it? Chocolate lovers arise! Go to http://www.dontmesswithourchocolate.com/ by April 25 and express your opinion to the FDA.
And now for some fun freebies!....
Don't forget Free Cone Day at Ben & Jerry's nationwide on April 25th!
Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors is holding their 31 Cent Scoop Night on May 2nd nationwide from 5 pm - 10 pm. http://www.baskinrobbins.com/Promotion/31cent.aspx
Free Smoothie at Smoothi King! http://www.fishbowl.com/clt/smoothie/lp/join/join.asp
If you live near a Sonic you can print out this coupon for free Tater Tots http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/681/cpnprttotsbdrb0.jpg Sign up your children for their Wacky Pack Birthday club and you'll get a free kid's meal for your child's birthday at http://wackypack.kidsbirthdayclub.com/sign_up.cfm

Free stuff for Troops anbd their families at www.operationhomefront.org/Info/info_troopstuff.shtml
Check out the free summer camps for deployed parents at www.nmfa.org/site/PageServer


Clinique will give you a free Purse Size Perfume Spray (US) when you send an e-card:
http://www.clinique.com/happy_ecard/happy_video_landing.tmpl


Free 14-Day Supply Of Nature Made Multi Complete Multivitamins
http://www.naturemade.com/specialcoupon/entry.asp?ID=11&A=MEMBER
Free samples of Dove Cool Moisture shampoo & conditioner http://tinyurl.com/yq4osy

Get a free toilet scrubber (not that you WANT to scrub the toilet) at http://scotchbright.com/

Free Samples of Mountain Green All Natural Laundry & Cleaning Products
http://www.mountaingreen.biz/sample.html
That's it for today!
Have a terrific week!

CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

4/18/2007 Newsletter

Hi everyone!
I'm writing for a media company that sends insider info and top selections about what's going on in the city each week onto your cell phone. For a time they're offering the service for free and they want to get as much feedback from "subscribers" as possible. I write a "channel" which is delivered 3 times per week via text message. The service is free, but normal text messaging fees from your wireless carrier might apply. There are over 70 other "channels" about various topics in 15 cities, so one of them is sure to be something you'll like! Right now our company is having a contest to see who can get the most subscribers by April 25 th. I told them I was going to win because I had so many great friends who would check it out! So…..click onto this link and sign up! http://www.80108.com/?c=224&s=60
You can always cancel the service later if you don't like it (or when they start charging later on.) I hope you enjoy it!
http://www.80108.com/?c=224&s=60

4/18/07 Newsletter

"Deals that are nifty by Sister Thrifty"

Those lucky pennies have finally paid off...Spirit Airlines just released an incredible "one cent fare" sale. We're not kidding. You can actually fly between many U.S. cities and even the Caribbean for just a penny! Hurry -- though this sale was just announced, you must book your tickets by midnight tomorrow
(Thurs., April 19).
Do keep in mind that flights are available on very select dates April 21 - Sept. 30. You'll often find you can fly one-way for a penny but the return trip will be higher. Regardless, you'll be getting a terrific deal.
Sample one-cent fares:
Ft. Lauderdale to Cancun, Mexico ... $0.01
Ft. Lauderdale to Kingston, Jamaica ... $0.01
Atlantic City to Ft. Myers ... $0.01
Detroit to Boston ... $0.01
Detroit to New York ... $0.01
Myrtyle Beach to Detroit ... $0.01 Travelzoo Tip: Due to a high volume of traffic the booking engine may taking longer than usual to load.
For a complete list of fares and to book online http://www.spiritair.com/welcome.aspx?pg=salesinformation&number=294or http://tinyurl.com/28f766
Spirit Airlines
* Terms/Conditions:1 cent and $8 fares must be booked on spiritair.com between 10:00 AM ET on April 18, 2007 and 11:59 PM ET on April 19, 2007 for travel on the dates as specified by individual market and by market direction. Fares are for Deluxe Leather class travel and reflect the spiritair.com discount. Fares are each way based on roundtrip purchase, and roundtrip travel is required, but these fares may be combined with other valid and applicable Spirit Airlines fares on other days of the week. Three (3) Million Seat claim is based on the number of seats available at a $9 discount to the generally available selling price at the Spirit Airlines Reservations Center only for fares for travel April 22, 2007 to February 13, 2008 and when booked on spiritair.com. All fares listed on spiritair.com are per customer for each way of travel and include the base fare plus a federal excise tax. Fares do not include (a) a segment tax of $3.40 per U.S. domestic flight segment (a flight segment is defined as one takeoff and landing) of a passenger's itinerary; (b) up to $18 per round trip in local airport charges; or (c) a September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement originating at a U.S. airport. International itineraries do not include governmental taxes and fees (including U.S. government excise tax) of up to $125 per round trip. Additionally, if sold in, or travel originates in a country outside of the U.S., additional taxes may apply (up to 22% of the fare value per country). Fares are capacity controlled and subject to availability, and will be highly restricted around certain holiday periods. Previously purchased tickets may not be exchanged for these new sale fares. Certain restrictions apply. For best results, please book early. .

4/11/2007 Newsletter

"Deals that are nifty by Sister Thrifty"
Hi gang!
The kids are on Spring Break this week, so this newsletter will be short and sweet:
Google has released a new product called Goog-411, which is a free telephone based information service that could replace toll 411 calls. This is great if you are driving around and want to call ahead to make a reservation at a restaurant or something. By calling the toll free number from your cell phone, you say the business you are looking for and they will connect you for free. http://labs.google.com/goog411/ There are many people who are not into computers or the Internet, but they make a lot of long distance calls. So, how can you get unlimited long distance calling without using Internet telephony? There is a gadget called the "Chatterbug" that hooks into your phone jack and it is always $9.95 a month. You don't need a computer or any other lines or wires. All you need is the jack. If you have questions, you can call customer service at 866-690-3919. Lots of retirees have two homes. You're allowed to register two addresses and you never pay more than $9.95 a month as long as you take the device with you to each place.
Tuesday, April 17 - 12:00 Noon - 8:00 p.m. is Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day! Every year two real guys named Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield celebrate the first anniversary of their ice cream shop by giving away free ice cream as a way to say Thank You to their customers. This year, over 350 Ben & Jerry's shops around the country will celebrate Free Cone Day. To find a location near you click on
http://www.benjerry.com/sugarland/index.cfm
The YMCA is also making April 17 special by celebrating health and wellness of young people through a variety of fun, physical activities. YMCA Healthy Kids Day encourages kids and their families nationwide to stay active, connected and healthy. The YMCA Healthy Kids Day event is celebrated annually. Activities at participating YMCAs will vary and may include games, sports, health screenings and more. http://www.ymca.net/about_the_ymca/ymca_healthy_kids_day.html
Not to be outdone, throughout the month of April, get 2 knives sharpened for free at your local Sur La Table.
Bath and Body Works is having The Ultimate Beauty Cravings Event on April 14 from 9-11 a.m. Pamper yourself while sampling the best products and learning tips and tricks from our own beauty experts. You'll receive complimentary breakfast treats and a Free gift (over a $20 value) just for attending. For more info check out http://www.bathandbodyworks.com/home/index.jsp
Have a WONDERFUL week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

April 2, 2007 Newsletter

"Deals that are nifty by Sister Thrifty"

Happy Easter!!
The Easter Bunny wanted me to give you this special gift for Easter…a $10 gift certificate for Ted's Montana Grill, just for being you! Hopefully you have one near you so you can enjoy this! http://www.tedsmontanagrill.com/tmg_adv_wp.html
And now for a few items to help you and the Easter Bunny be ready for this Sunday:
$1 coupon on any Wonka Golden Egg Product for Easter


http://www.verybestkids.com/celebrationcorner/

Free Personalized Letter From The Easter Bunny
http://www.icontactedyou.com/Easter.htm

$1.50 coupons for Hershey's Easter Candy.


http://www.hersheys.com/easter/

Ashley Cardell: Free Godiva Chocolate Pearls (US &Canada) http://www.ashleycardell.com/gourmet_chocolate.html

15 Unique Easter Egg Hunt Ideas
1. Hidden Easter Basket Clues:
When your children get up on Easter morning don't just let them search for their Easter basket- give them a plastic egg with a clue inside. This should lead them to another plastic egg, which leads to another and so on, until finally leading them to their basket. Use up to about a dozen eggs per child. They'll have so much fun they'll almost be disappointed when they get to the basket at the end. When they get older have them make up clues for each other.
2. Hidden Easter Basket Spider Web:
While your children are sleeping, hide their Easter baskets in the house and tie a long string to each one. Loop the strings throughout the whole house, around and over and under furniture so it looks like a huge tangled spider web eventually leading to their rooms. Tie the end of each string to the doorknob of the child whose basket it's attached to, so when they come out of their rooms on Easter morning they can follow their own string throughout the house to find their Easter basket. Place some extra treats along the way to make it extra fun.
3. Odd or Even Egg Hunt:
For this game you must write ODD or EVEN numbers on each egg. When the kids are lined up for the egg hunt give each an odd or even number assignment. They can only get eggs in their assignment
4. Math Egg Hunt:
Hide plastic eggs with numbers in them, ranging from maybe 1 to 5 then, limit the children to how many they can find, like maybe 6 or something then after they're all found, total up the numbers that are in their eggs and the one with the highest number wins a prize. Have candy in the plastic eggs too, so that everybody will end up with something
5. Color- Coded toys:
Hide small toys inside plastic eggs. If your gifts are child exclusive ( such as Matchbox car for a boy or Barbie accessories for a girl) give them a special color egg to find. If they find colors not intended for them, they must be quite about it, and they'll think they are in on a special secret.
6.Secret Prizes:
Hide plastic Easter eggs with little notes inside, telling what the prize is. It can be in the form of a poem or just a clue (like this hippety hop). Buy little items such as candy eggs, toys, or little stuffed bunnies or chicks for prizes. Make sure everyone gets at least one prize.
7. Secret Notes:
Put little notes in plastic eggs. Things like "You have to give Aunt Mary a big hug" or "You get to take a piece of candy out of Andys basket" or "You must do one favor for uncle Tom". Have some prize eggs too that have numbers inside which match a gift.
8. Designated Color Egg Hunt:
Keep your egg hunt equal for all of the kids by painting ONE color of egg child. At the start of the hunt, give each child a different colored egg for their basket. Tell them this is the color that they're supposed to hunt for (any other colors don't count) and also the number of eggs that are hidden. The first child to find their eggs wins a special prize.
9. Find Your Name Egg Hunt:
Before your party write each person's name on one egg. The person that finds their first wins a prize.
10. Winning Numbers Egg Hunt:
Fill plastic eggs with small toys, temporary tattoos, stickers and wrapped candies for the hunt. Along with plastic eggs, hide a few real colored eggs. These eggs should have numbers painted on them and whoever finds one can exchange it for the corresponding numbered prize (stuffed animals, chocolate bunnies, Easter books ,etc.
11. Checklist Egg Hunt:
For large Easter Egg Hunts, make checklists for each child. Give each child a basket with a checklist and pencil in it and instruct the kids to find ONLY what is on their checklist and no more, otherwise someone else would be without enough. Make all of the checklist the same for each child and make sure you have enough eggs hidden so that everyone can complete theirs. You can have a grand prize too, for whichever child completes his checklist first by finding all of the items on it the fastest! The checklists could read something like this. ___Find 2 blue eggs___Find 3 pink eggs___Find 1 yellow egg___Find 2 orange eggs___Find 4 purple eggs___Find 3 green eggs
12. Indoor Egg Hunt:
Is rain going to ruin your Easter egg hunt? Just hide jelly beans inside the house and have your adults or kids hunt for them. Depending on the egg of the participants you can make the hunt easy or hard. Ever try and see a black jelly bean on a black object? Have fun!!
13. Night-time Egg Hunt:
For older kids (or adults), try an egg hunt in the dark! Give everyone a cheap flashlight to look for their eggs. Or try a glow in the dark egg hunt and paint every egg with glow in the dark paint.
14. Reverse Egg Hunt:
Have your children make at least five eggs each and hide them around the house. When they are done hiding them, the parents look for them and the child whose egg is found last wins a prize.
15. Treasure Map Egg Hunt:
Make up treasure maps for your egg hunt. Draw the maps to scale with each tree, bush and flower on the map and let the children plot out the hiding spots of all the eggs they find on their maps. Or you can plot the hiding spots on the maps when you hide the eggs –then give a copy of the map to each of the children and let them go to town finding the eggs by using the map. Obviously, this works out best if you are using large area for your egg hunt.
Have a GREAT Easter!

CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

3/26/07

Banks are reducing the rewards you normally get for using their credit cards. So, it may be time to find a better card. Fidelity Investments used to offer a card that paid 2% of all your charge volume into a college savings plan. Well, that program is no longer available to people other than those who already have the card. Now, the company has reduced the benefit to 1.5%. And there is now a cap on how much you can earn each year for your child's education. Unfortunately, many other banks are following this trend. That doesn't mean you should close the accounts you have. Keeping them open helps your credit score. Just don't use that card anymore. On another note, Fidelity has a new Visa card that gives you 1.5% back into a Fidelity investment account. There is no limit on earning power. Capital One has a card that earns you 1% each month, plus an additional. .25% at the end of the year. Of course, that could change too. Always keep your options open.
Lenders and borrowers are both drowning these days. One in eight people are delinquent in mortgages these days and typically they are people who put no money down on their homes. They borrowed 100 percent of the purchase price and now they can't pay it back. So, lenders are not getting paid and are having to foreclose on those properties – something they hate to do. As a result, the pendulum is swinging back toward more stringent policies and requirements for borrowing. The likelihood of putting no money down, for instance, is dwindling. Countrywide, one of the largest lenders out there, is telling customers already that they will need at least 5 percent. If you're thinking of buying a home, remember that. It's protection for you and the lender. Whatever you do, do NOT get a "Pay Day Loan." They're so damaging to you they have been banned in several states!
Saving for retirement has become so confusing these days that it's very possible for people to get scammed by con artists. The biggest targets are senior citizens and people who are close to retirement. Insurance companies and brokerage houses are duping older people out of their hard-earned money in trashy variable annuities. There are stories published about this all the time. The latest one is going on in Massachusetts, where "certified senior advisers" were putting older folks into garbage annuities. One 82-year-old got taken in an annuity sale and her money was locked up for two years. She had no money on which to live as a result. Annuities have massive commissions and horrible tax treatments. You are the only cop on the beat in this game because there are no laws preventing what these people do. Don't go to any free breakfasts, lunches or dinners where salespeople try to help you with your money, and don't let your loved ones go.
February 17, 2009 will be the last day TV stations can broadcast analog signals and must go entirely digital. For many people with older TVs, they will no longer be able to pick up signals over the air without a digital-to-analog converter. The government has been fussing around with the idea of converter rebates and coupons for people who want to keep using their old TVs. Now they have a plan -- to give each household a max of 2 coupons for $40 each (with a 3-month expiration date) starting next year. No one's saying yet how much each converter will cost. Here are the details: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/otiahome/dtv/DTVconsumers.pdf . If you are in the market for a new TV, don't be fooled by low prices, make sure you get a digital TV!
And now for some fun freebies:
Sea World and Busch Gardens are inviting active military and their families to enjoy their theme parks for free for one day. Click on this link for more information go to: http://commerce.4adventure.com/store/os_application.asp

For a free travel bag with sunscreen, hand gel & bandages for kids go to http://www.choc.org/funbag/
If you've always wanted to become a writer, then you might be interested in the free course M.I.T. is offering now. You don't get college credit, but you get some great instruction. Check out http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Writing-and-Humanistic-Studies/index.htm
For a 1 year free subscription to "Computer Shopper" go to http://www.magsforless.com/pd_computer_shopper_magazine.cfm
And finally, register for a free child's first aid kit at First Register at:http://www.healthpromotionsnow.com/Pages/HomePage.asp?Selector=ProductSamplesThen go to: http://www.healthpromotionsnow.com/Pages/HomePage.asp?Selector=Step1_Regular&P_ID=75586and click on Request Sample
Wal-mart will send you a free sample of Alavert (allergy medicine) by clicking here http://walmart.triaddigital.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid11998.aspx
Wal-mart will also send you a free sample of Curel Cream by clicking http://walmart.triaddigital.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid11732.aspx
Domino's will give you some free MP3's at http://www.dominos.com/home/dtPlayer.jsp
And finally, if you love to throw parties then check out this offer for a free Presidential Debate House Party Kit! (It includes coasters, cocktail napkins, stickers, and more) http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/take-action/house-party/

Have a terrific week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

3/11/07 Newsletter

Hi everyone! There is a new website ( www.CustomerServiceArmy.com) whose mission is to stop the advance of bad customer service. Anyone can enlist and fight to improve the customer experience. Customers can go to the website to write reviews about their customer service experience for any business, organization or government agency within the United States whether it was in person, over the phone, or online. Businesses can also use the website to measure their real-time customer satisfaction for free. Currently, there are 1,173 "soldiers" on active duty. Yay!

It's gardening season and I found a neat web site that is filled with money-saving ideas for your garden this year. Go to http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17661597.tip.html It also has tons of thrifty ideas on pretty much everything else you can think of! You might want to bookmark that site as a great frugal resource!

I found a quaint magazine about country living that includes tips on gardening, animal-care, simplifying your life, etc and the best thing about it is that you can get a free three year subscription! Check out
https://secure.livingthecountrylife.com/bhg/store/checkout/partner/index.jhtml?promoCode=I6055LD12&_requestid=20854

Planning spring break in Florida this year? Here's a great deal: Stay 4 or more nights at any of the 3 Universal Loews Hotels, and get 2 FREE TICKETS to Universal Studios
Florida and Islands of Adventure theme parks PLUS admission to the Universal CityWalk clubs. Just show your hotel room key and bypass the regular attraction lines** at both theme parks!
Rates start at $209 per night.Two (2) free adult tickets per room. Passes are valid for up to seven (7) consecutive days of unlimited admission to both Universal Orlando theme parks from the first day of use. Promotion applies to rack rate only which varies by season and is not combinable with any other offers or discounts. Subject to availability. Blackout dates and restrictions may apply. Go to http://www.universalorlando.com/promo_unlimited.html?__source=from

And now for some fun freebies. This week they're all about pets:
Free Desktop Kitty from Meow Mix http://www.meowmix.com/getfunstuff/meowpal.asp

Free Doggie Bag Belt Cliphttp://www.noworms.com/giveaway_form/index.cfm

Free sample of wagging dog treats

http://www.waggingd.com/frill%20sample%20form%201.htm

Free sample Yappy dog treatshttp://www.yappytreats.com/free_gift.htm

Free feline greenies cat treats sample http://www.felinegreenies.com/en_us/2k6sampling/feline.asp

Free nature zone reptile snackshttp://www.naturezonepet.com/samples.html

Benny Bully's dog or cat treat samplehttp://www.bennybullys.com/samples.php

Gourmet cat food sample http://petitecuisine.com/~freesample/

Have a GREAT week! Ta ta for now!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

3/5/07 Newsletter

Last week I mentioned the vacuum rating done by Consumer Reports. They have just recently published their famous annual auto issue. The issue is considered one of the most reliable and thorough sources when reporting on which cars to buy and not to buy. Surprisingly, the least reliable of all cars this year is Mercedes. It has been moving slowly down the list, and this year the German automaker – with its 36 brands – is dead last. In fact, the report stated that a 10-year old Lexus is more reliable than a new Mercedes. Next to last was Land Rover, preceded by Hummer, Jaguar and Cadillac was fifth from the bottom. So, what are the most reliable brands? The top five are either Toyotas or Hondas. The No. 1 most reliable brand is Toyota, No. 2 is Honda, No. 3 is Scion, No. 4 is Acura and No. 5 is the Lexus. The cars that retain the most value over time are Toyotas and Hondas, so the cost is actually less than what it appears to be.

Citigroup, the country's biggest credit card issuer, has initiated two customer-friendly initiatives. You may have heard about credit card companies raising rates whenever they want for any reason. It may have even happened to you personally. Credit card terms of service usually include a clause saying the bank can do that anytime. Well, Citigroup, which now goes by Citi, is doing away with that practice. Secondly, the company is no longer going to use what's called "universal default" to boost your rate. Under a universal default clause, a company can jack up your interest rate significantly if your credit report shows any late payments. That means you could pay your electric bill a few days late and your credit card company increases your rate because that late payment is on your credit report. Citi is eliminating its universal default clause, which is great for the consumer. YAY!

The cruise industry is struggling these days. The industry just wants to cover the most basic expenses in what they charge you for the room. That's because the real money is made once you get on board. Shore excursions, drinking and gambling are just a few of the activities that will cost you much more on a cruise. But, with all the bad press of late, people aren't cruising. As a result, companies are heavily discounting cabin costs. Ten-night Caribbean cruises are as cheap as $75 a night, according to the Miami Herald. Ocean-view rooms are minimally more for ten-day and weeklong cruises. So, if you've never been on a cruise, this could be your chance. If you've never gone on a cruise and have minimal knowledge of the industry, you may want to pay a bit more and sit down with a cruise travel agent. If you've been before, have at it. To hear the good, bad and ugly about different cruise lines go to cruisecritic.com. To book travel and save money check out http://www.trinastravel.globaltravel.com/
And now, for some fun freebies:
Free Almay hydracolor lipstick


http://walmart.triaddigital.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid11566.aspx
Free Set of Gamma Asterisk 16 Gauge Tennis Strings
http://www.asteriskstrings.com/registration.cfm
Free Head & Shoulders Restoring Shine Shampoo and 2 in 1 sample


http://walmart.triaddigital.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid11414.aspx

Free Pantene Texturize Shampoo and Conditioner sample



http://walmart.triaddigital.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid11358.aspx

Free Makeup Sponges and Cloths



http://www.alconeco.com/free_samples_sponges_and_cloths

Ultra Downy Experientials Tahitian Waterfall or April Fresh Sample



https://ultradowny.offerprocessingcenter.com/
Snail Mail Minute Maid Couponhttp://www.jjsnack.com/minutemaid/couponform.asp

Have a great day!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty