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Freebie Friday: March 23, 2007

Friday, March 23rd, 2007

Here are a couple of tips from our readers- thanks so much for sending these to me! I really appreciate it! Keep those tips coming- it really helps a bunch!

Hi!

My sister, Monica (homespun heart), steered me to your blog. I just got on for the first time last week, but I’m already hooked. Thanks for the great ideas and advice, and also for researching all those free offers—I clicked on several last Friday and am excited to watch and wait for them to come in the mail.

Monica recommended your Pizza Hut dough recipe to me, and I made it over the weekend. Delicious!

Here’s a possible free offer to post on Friday: http://www.3m.com/us/home_leisure/scotchbrite/tsoffer.html

Thanks again—I’m excited to have found this on-line community of others who are interested in being frugal homemakers!

Blessings,
Carrie

Amy,

I got this link from an Orville Redenbacher newsletter. Though it isn’t completely free, 2 upc’s are required – it’s pretty close. It’s for a popcorn bowl
http://www.orville.com/promotions/freebowl_form.pdf

No shipping & handling!

Thanks for all you do,

Jennifer

Claim a complimentary one-year subscription to Philadelphia Style Magazine which covers lifestyle, retail, fine dining, home design, the arts and fashion with an innovative & cutting-edge approach. Each issue profiles interesting local & national personalities and offers complete guide to upscale living for the Philadelphia area. You can answer, “No, thank you!” to all of the offers.

American Diabetes Association is offering a Wizdom kit for children with diabetes.

Target is offering a free sample of Fruit Ripples and a free 8×10 with no sitting free from their portrait studio. This is great for all of those Easter photos!

Membership in the Amato’s Tamatos Club entitles you to some truly fantastic benefits including special coupons and a newsletter with exclusive discounts and contests that only club members can win. Join today and we’ll send you a certificate for a FREE Real Italian Sandwich! They also send you freebie coupons on your birthday. (Amatos is only in certain states, however, they allow NH, ME, VT, RI, MA and CT to join the club even though there may not be a franchise in that state)

This is a great freebie to help you raise financially aware kids. It includes thinking games to paly with your children, free kid card fold-out poster, & free blue mesh carrying bag. Please call the toll free number listed at the top of the page for this freebie.

Claim a complimentary subscription to Beautiful Woman Magazine.

Claim a complimentary one-year subscription to Boating Life Magazine. You can answer, “No, Thank You!” to all the offers.

Sign up to receive a free six ounce bag of Purina Naturals Cat Chow. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery.

Sign up to receive a free sample of Aquaphor Healing Ointment for baby. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery.

Get a free sample of Dove Energy Glow which contains a subtle self-tanner. (Note: If you set up a registered account with Dove, obtaining freebies from this company goes a lot quicker!)

Sign up for a free sample of Carnation Instant Breakfast. Please allow four to six weeks for shipping of this freebie.

Request a free sample of 3M Print to Last Paper.

Don’t forget to sign up for free tickets to see The Peaceful Warrior. You can receive up to ten free admittances to this show.

Get a free sample of Ultra Downy. They offer two sample choices, Experientials Tahitian Waterfall or April Fresh scent.

Try the new Calgon Vanilla Swirl Body Mist.

Get a complimentary sample of Nautica Island Voyage.

Get two free luggage tags with your picture placed on them. One set of two labels per person.

Order a free Breast Self-Exam Shower Card. Please limit one per household.

You must live in Orange County, CA or in the surrounding area to be considered for this freebie. This is a summer fun bag filled with items you will need for the summer. Please apply only if you live in this area.

Request a free Crossed American Pin. You must supply an explanation for why you would like to be considered for this freebie.

This offer is good for Canadians only. You can try the new Kirkland Signature Premium Diapers from Costco for free. This sample will arrive within three weeks.

The Children’s Place offers a free birthday club. They will send you a special surprise on your day and your child’s big days.

Use this printable coupon for a free ten dollar haircut at Master Cuts. This coupon expires on 06/30/2007.

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Ask Frugal Momma: Happy Homemaking the Homemade Way

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

I am not going to launch into a preachy prose about how bad commercial cleaning products are today when it comes to cleaning your home. It is common knowledge that a healthy home is not doused in heavy-duty bleach and preserving our environment should be tops on our priority list. The truth is, if you peeked inside of my caddy of cleaners though, you would see some of these harmful products in there. The fact is that I am trying to rely less on these cleaners and rely more on homemade cleaners. I am in the process of making the transition over to using only healthy homemade cleaners, and I feel a lot of pride when I take the time to do this. I know how much better it is for our environment….and for my wallet!
Making cleaners does not mean that you need to purchase a ton of items; in fact, most cleaners can be made from things you already have in your house. The main components that I like to work with are white vinegar, baking soda, liquid dishwashing soap, and lemon juice. One purchase that you may need to make though, to begin getting started, is purchasing a few spray bottles. I pick these spray bottles up from our local dollar store. These clear spray bottles will make it easy to measure and label your new cleaners in your house.
If you do decide to use these types of cleaners regularly, I would suggest making a trip to your wholesale club to buy the ingredients. A small box of baking soda can cost around fifty cents at your local grocery store. The same baking soda, in a twelve pound bag, from Sam’s Club costs about $5.42. What a savings! All of these products can be purchased in bulk and once you begin using them regularly, you will go through them quickly.
While you are at the warehouse store, be sure to swing by the automotive section and pick up a bag of microfiber cloths. The cloths sold at the warehouse store are larger and thicker than the ones you can get in other stores, and these are great for all of the jobs around your house. You can use these wet or dry. You can also use these just using water and not even bothering with a cleaner because they are that amazing.
Be sure when you launder your microfiber cloths that you do not use any type of fabric softener and use a very little amount of soap or cleaner on them. If you overload them with cleaning products, they will become less and less effective, particularly when you are trying to attract dust towards them.
Because these cleaners are homemade and use less harsh ingredients, they will require a little more elbow grease than your commercial products. There are lots of great recipes on the internet though and typing in the search phrase, “homemade cleaners” should you give you lots of different ideas and give you an array of recipes to choose from to find which one works best for the jobs you have around your house. Everyone uses different measurements; it just depends on the difficulties of the jobs around your house.
Here are some of my tried and true recipes that we use in our house:
All-Purpose Cleaner- Mix together two tablespoons of mild dishwashing soap and two cups of water in a spray bottle and give it a shake. Use these anywhere that you would use a commercial all-purpose spray. This cleaner is particularly great for countertops, bathroom surfaces, and high chairs.
Glass Cleaner- Mix together one part white vinegar to one part water in a spray bottle. Spray this solution on your mirrors and windows and dry your windows with newspaper. The newspaper is great for lint-free drying and is a great way to repurpose some of those old papers you have laying around.
Homemade Oven Cleaner/ Deep Kitchen Cleaner- Mix a paste of three parts warm water to one part baking soda to clean away kitchen stains or to clean your oven.
Bathroom Cleaner- Mix dishwashing liquid with baking soda until you have a thick paste and use this throughout your bathroom.
Toilet Bowl Cleaner- No measuring is required with this recipe. Sprinkle a little baking soda into your toilet bowl and then pour a little vinegar in and watch it fizz it up. Give it a swish with your toilet brush and then flush.
Floor Cleaner- Add ½ cup of vinegar to a gallon of water. The scent of the vinegar will fade in approximately an hour, but you can also add a couple of drops of essential oil to help with the scent. I like the smell of Tea Tree Oil, but you can buy any essential oil that smells best to you. Essential oils can be picked up at stores offering nutritional supplements or can be purchased online.
Furniture Polish- Mix ¼ cup olive oil with four tablespoons of vinegar and two teaspoons of lemon juice. Pour into a spray bottle and shake well before using. If you do not use all of it in one cleaning session, store the remainder in the fridge, as the lemon juice can go sour. You can also substitute the lemon juice with twenty to thirty drops of lemon essential oil and then you won’t have to refrigerate it. Using the essential oils though will up the price a bit on your homemade product.
Silver Cleaner- Although I don’t polish silver very frequently, this is a great to have in your bag of tricks. This will clean all of those nooks and crannies that are hard to reach in more detailed pieces and is great if you have a big batch of silver that needs cleaning. In a large bowl (or you can use your kitchen sink) place strips of aluminum foil in and place the silver pieces on top. Cover the silver with boiling water and then add three tablespoons of baking soda and soak for ten minutes.
By making your own cleaners, you will save hundreds of dollars over the course of the year. For example, a bottle of window cleaner will usually run you around two or three dollars. A bottle of your homemade window cleaner though, will cost you about five cents. What a difference that will make to your grocery budget and helping the environment is a wonderful benefit of your fabulous frugalness.
For more tips visit the following links:
Next week, I have received a request to discuss cleaning out the fridge so I will share some tips for that next week. Please, please send me your questions about anything! Email your questions to amy@momadvice.com and I will be sure to add your requests to my list. Without
your requests, this column wouldn’t be possible and I would love to keep this going. I have enjoyed sharing through this format and it helps me come up with more content for our site. The answers will be added to our website as articles for quick reference!

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Freebie Friday: March 16, 2007

Friday, March 16th, 2007

Olay and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery proudly present “Bring a Buddy” Free skin cancer screenings. That’s two potentially life-saving screenings for the price of one all during May! For more information please visit their site.

Who can resist a “Hot Mom Driving” bumper sticker for your car?

Register as a free member of CBS Games and get a free deck of cards.

Get a free subscription to In Motion from Castrol, designed specifically for those whose businesses depend on their trucks.

Claim a complimentary one-year subscription to Sweet 16 Magazine. You can answer no to all offers, making this truly free!

Claim a complimentary one-year subscription to Flying Magazine. Again, you can answer no to all offers.

Register to receive free samples of Avalon Organics products made especially for baby. You must put the word SAMPLES in the comments section. These samples should arrive within the next two weeks.

Sign up to receive a free sample of Kodak Inkjet Photo Paper. This offer is valid only while supplies last and please limit one per household.

This is a great freebie for those of us who suffer from allergies. Get a free $6 coupon for a 6-count box of Alavert Orally Disintegrating Tablets or you can use this coupon on any other Alavert product. This valid is good through April 9, 2007.

Do you have a university student in your household or are you part of the faculty? New York Times Select is now available to university students for free. You will need a valid college or university email account for this freebie.

Get a free sample of Purina’s Fancy Feast Elegant Medleys. This sample will arrive within four weeks. Just click on the Free Sample button.

I have not tried this freebie yet, but the site is called PoshPoints. It is a trading community that is free to use and they offer fifteen free points for signing up. This looks like something that I will be checking further into!

This freebie is just for educators. A&E; is offering a free subscription to, “The Idea Book.” This is a biannual teacher’s magazine of ideas for your classroom.

Receive a free sample of Natural Liquid Organic Fertilizer. Please limit one per household.

Best Buy is offering up to ten free tickets to see The Peaceful Warrior. IT will take a few minutes for the page to load, but be patient. These tickets are good for the opening weekend only, March 30-April 1. Come early to guarantee a seat at the show!

This freebie is good for California and New York Residents only. From Parenting Magazine- Join us for the Parenting Film Festival at The Pacific Northridge Theater on March 24th and at Clearview Cinemas on April 14th for FREE movies, entertainment, and giveaways for your family. To RSVP, call 310-268-7104 in Los Angeles or 212-522-4551 in New York. For more information, visit this site.

This is a fabulous freebie! Receive a printable certificate for free GNC Mega Men Multivitamins or GNC Women’s Ultra Mega Multivitamin. This offer is good through March 18th or while supplies last. This freebie is an $8.99 value!

Just a reminder that Dunkin Donuts is offering the FREE iced coffee on March 21st all day and all evening! Don’t forget to cash in on this freebie.

SoyJoy Bars are offering three free nutrition bars. Enjoy a freebie for yourself and give two to friends. That is a nice freebie! These will arrive within three to four weeks.

Johnson & Johnson is offering a New Parents Pack. You will need to call for this freebie. Call 1.800.526.3967. Selection options 1, 1, & then 1 again!

Get a free one-year subscription to PC Magazine by filling out the survey. I have had trouble with this free magazine site before since the magazine offers are based on occupations, but it is worth a shot!

This freebie comes from Mr. Cheap Stuff, for the men out there! You can watch the NCAA March Madness online for free. Visit his site for the scoop!

That’s it, folks! Hope you are enjoying all those freebies! This has been a busy week for my blogs so if you only come for the freebies, please take a look around. I just completed an Iron Chef Moms Challenge that is great for anyone who is looking to eat on the cheap.

Don’t forget to submit your questions to, “Ask Frugal Momma.” You can ask me anything. Honestly. Can’t say I will always have the answers, but I promise to try to hunt them down for you. Submit your questions to amy@momadvice.com

I have already received four great requests so I will be adding these to my week!

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Freebie Friday: March 9, 2007

Friday, March 9th, 2007

Cue the Rocky theme music…Have you heard about the big competition coming up? I have already started lifting weights and practicing my mad knife skills to compete against Meredith in a little money-saving challenge. Meredith and I will be facing off in a fight for our lives (or, um..whatever!) to see who can save the most money- someone who shops the sales fliers or someone who just does their shopping at Aldi Supermarket.

I have to admit, I am getting a teensy bit nervous after reading a half dozen blogs this morning talking about it. Meredith is one smart cookie and she knows how to make her dollars scream for mercy. She is going to be tough competition so I am going to have to really be working hard this weekend to try and come up with some brilliant menu plans. My husband suggested carrots for dinner one night and a piece of bread the next night. He thought this would be the best way to keep the budget on track. This displays what type of family we are..we aim to win!

For the full scoop on the contest, please visit this entry or visit Meredith’s entry for her take on the contest.

In all seriousness, I am looking forward to sharing some of the ways we save on my new blog, “the Aldi Queen.” Be sure to check there for this week’s planner and grocery list!

Now on with the freebies for the week…

Get a free Sausage McGriddle from McDonalds if they have a Society for the Morning Impaired in your area. (Note- if you live in Michiana, they do not have a group currently, but you can submit an email address should they start a group).

Request a free sample of Honey Bunches of Oats cereal. Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery of this freebie.

Wal-Mart is giving away a free sample of Garnier Nutritioniste. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery and a limit of one sample per household.

If you have a TiVo DVR, you can register with Amazon Unbox and get $15 in videos free. This offer expires on April 30th. This offer is not available for Direct TV subscribers.

Sign up to receive a free one year subscription to Blender Magazine. I am pretty excited about this freebie because this is a magazine that my husband & I both enjoy!

Sign up to receive a free sample pack of shampoo, conditioner, & detangling shine spray from Sunsilk. Please allow six to eight weeks for these samples.

Wal-Mart is giving away free samples of the new Almay HydraColor Lipstick. Please allow up to four weeks for the delivery and there is a limit of one sample per household.

Sign up to receive a free magazine subscription to, “Living the Country Life.”

Sign up to receive a sample of the Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners. Click on the free sample link in the yellow box to sign up for this freebie.

Don’t forget that there are free coffee days coming up! March 15th is free coffee day at Starbucks (between 10-12) . Dunkin Donuts will be having a free iced coffee day on March 21st (offer is good for 24 hours- I miss my Dunkin Donuts!)

Billy Graham is offering another free Christian book. I hope you didn’t miss last month’s which was an awesome book by Beth Moore (one of my favorite Christian ladies!) This book is, “Lessons I Learned in the Dark: Steps to Walking by Faith, Not by Sight,” by Jennifer Rothschild. This is an actual book, not a pamphlet! You will need to confirm the request, so be sure to check your email for the confirmation letter to click through.

If you live in Florida, you can get a free 145 load box of Surf Laundry Detergent. Use the following code: STR553659A to receive this freebie.

Register to receive a “Complaint Free World” bracelet. This is sponsored through Christ Church Unity and they will provide an envelope, if you would like to make a donation to their cause.

Rita’s Ice is giving away a free regular Italian ice on March 21st, to celebrate the first day of spring.

iTunes is offering free children’s downloads. There are six Sesame Street Videos that range from 17-42 minutes each. A Is for Asthma, Music Works Wonders, Lead Away, Happy, Healthy, Ready for School
Talk, Listen, Connect, & You Can Ask.There is also 1 for the older kids from Nickelodeon. A show called El Tigre-Sole of a Hero / Night of the Living Guacamole.

LibriVox provides free audiobooks, read by volunteers and available for free to download.

Complete the quick questionnaire and receive a coupon for a free bag of 5 pounds of Natural Choice Dog food or 4 pounds of Natural Choice Complete Cat Food. This offer expires on March 31, 2008. Please allow three to six weeks for delivery of the coupon.

Order a free magnetic frame that has temperature guidelines on it for food safety.

Request a free sample of Petite Cuisine Gourmet Cat Food. Please allow seven to ten days for delivery.

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Freebie Friday: March 3, 2007

Friday, March 2nd, 2007

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Friday Features:

Visit “the Aldi Queen” blog where you can get free menu planners, recipes using Aldi ingredients, and great dinner ideas for your entire family!

Get in the spring cleaning mode and read our articles on, “Frugal Storage Solutions” & “Spring Cleaning for Today’s Mom.” Do you need to reorganize the entire house? Just visit our Organization section for inspiration on how to tackle each room in your home and create a routine that you can live with.

Are you missing any important records in your house? Find out where to go to replace these priceless documents.

Freebie Friday Samples & Offers:

Get a free sample of Nicorette Fruit Chill & a $10 coupon towards your next purchase.

Stainmaster Carpet is offering a free subscription to Savvy Home Design Magazine. This is a quarterly source for home interior style solutions. Sign up and you will automatically begin receiving this publication.

CVS Pharmacy is offering thirty free prints on their website, if you order your prints online.

Sign up for a subscription to Custom Home Magazine. This is for construction professionals, professional architects, or those of you who are planning to build your own home.

If you sign up for a MyPoints.com account, they will give you 500 United Airlines bonus miles for creating this free account.

Take a short survey and receive a free sample of Secret Clinical Strength Deodorant. This sample will arrive in six to eight weeks.

Join the LongHorn Restaurant email club and receive a complimentary appetizer.

Sign up for Culver’s eClub and receive a free gift for signing up.

Get a free 2-load sample of the new Snuggle Exhilarations Fabric Softener. Please allow six to eight weeks for this freebie to arrive and limit one entry per household.

Sign up to receive a free subscription to Games for Windows Magazine. You can sign up for one or two years to this publication.

This is a great freebie for the cooks out there. Cooking Light Magazine is offering a free DVD and mini-cookbook to aid you through the process of hosting a Supper Club. Just sign up for their monthly newsletter full of tips & ideas, and you will receive this freebie. This freebie should arrive by the beginning of August.

Receive a free sample of Cutivate Lotion made especially for people who suffer from eczema. You will also receive a $20 coupon towards your next prescription of this lotion.

Get a free sample of the new Dove Cream Oil Body Wash. Simply click on the, “Free Sample” link for this freebie. This offer is good only while supplies last. This free sample should arrive in six to eight weeks.

Join the Family Fun Magazine Reader Panel where you can share tips and ideas with their readers. If you answer just two of their email questions, you can receive either one of Family Fun’s newest craft kits or a one year free subscription to their magazine. This does have a quick survey that you will need to fill out in order to qualify for their panel.

Receive a free six ounce sample pouch of Naturals from Purina Cat Chow Cat Food.

Join the OJ Quench Club from Orange Julius and they will send you a coupon for a free treat and special coupons just for members.

Delta is offering 250 bonus Delta SkyMiles if you take their short survey.

If you are planning a trip to Disney World, this is a great freebie. Disney is now offering Customized Maps where you can receive a free, full-color, keepsake quality map of the park you will be visiting.

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore is offering a free day on March 3rd & 4th (tomorrow & Sunday), in celebration of their opening weekend. Visit their site for more information on these free days.

Franklin Park Zoo, in Boston, is offering free admission if you share your past experience visiting their zoo. Complete their survey and they will send you a free guest admission. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the link under, “Guest Experience Survey.”

Receive a free sample from Godiva’s new chocolate line, “Chocoiste.” Just take a quick survey and choose your favorite type of chocolate. This is a free 1.5 oz tin! Please allow six to ten weeks for delivery.

Are you a yoga or pilates instructor? Do you know someone who is? They can register to receive a wonderful YogaFit gift pack full of information and freebies! Check this link for all the details. The form was not showing up for me, but it does offer an email address and phone number where you can make your request.

Have someone in your life who is getting married? Have them register for the Macy’s Wedding & Gift Registry Dream Book.

This is not technically a freebie, but it is a great buy one, get one free offer. Mrs. Smith’s is offering a take the cake challenge. You can receive a coupon for a free Mrs. Smith Pound Cake if you purchase one and get your rebate in by March 31, 2007. Visit this link for more details.

Register to receive a coupon for one free Atkins Advantage Nutrition Bar.

Claim a complimentary subscription to Charisma Magazine. This does have a survey, but you can reply, “No, Thank You” to the offers listed.

Visit this site to print your own free customized Warning labels for your home.

Sign up to receive a free can of Mighty Dog Food. The link is in the bottom right-hand corner of the website.

Happy Friday, everyone!

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Freebie Friday: February 23, 2007

Friday, February 23rd, 2007

Friday Fun Question: What is your best tip you have for saving money?

Join the Doodlebops Fan Club and receive a free goodie. Click on, “Fan Club” to complete the form.

Claim a complimentary one-year subscription to Positive Thinking Magazine. You can just answer, “No, Thank You” to the offers.

Claim a complimentary subscription to Smart Spot Magazine. This is a Quaker Oats publication filled with recipes and tips for healthy eating.

Fill out this form to receive a free Intuit Beauty Headband. This freebie will arrive to you shortly.

Sign up for a free sample of Aveeno’s Positively Ageless. This freebie will also include a coupon for your next purchase of the product. This sample will arrive in a few weeks.

Teachers can receive a free classroom kit for National Poetry Month. Please allow two to four weeks for delivery on this freebie.

Sign up to receive a free sample of Head & Shoulders Restoring Shine 2-in-1 Shampoo. Please allow up to four weeks for delivery.

Choose a free sample of Downy. They offer two sample choices- Ultra Downy Experientials Tahitian Waterfalls or Ultra Downy April Fresh scents. Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery on this sample.

For the gardeners on the site, this freebie is just for you. Join the Proven Winners Circle and receive a gardening publication detailing different gardening tips, new varieties, and information from the experts. You will receive your copy within approximately two weeks.

Sign up to receive a free bag of Mommy Loot. I could not find any details of what was included, but they have a lovely list of sponsors so I am sure this is a great freebie.

Get a free sample of Pantene Texturizing Shampoo & Conditioner. Please allow up to four weeks for the delivery on this freebie.

If you are a State Farm customer, you can use Turbo Tax free, and e-file free. Go to their site, www.statefarm.com, once you are registered, you will have to input your information into the site for home/auto/banking etc., it doesn’t automatically pull up for security reasons. You have to input your policy number. It can take up to 7 days for it to process. After that you can log in, and under ‘additional links’ you will see the Turbo Tax button.

Get a free “Soccer Mom Short-Cuts” cookbook from Ragu. The cookbook should arrive within four to six weeks.

Planning a trip? Don’t rely on MapQuest or Google for map-planning directions. AAA once offered their TripTik Travel Planner only to their members. They now have recently opened the playing field and are allowing anyone to take advantage of this freebie whether you are a member or not. For the full scoop on this great offer, please visit this review from Susan Breslow Sardone at About.com. This will be a great tool for anyone who is planning a trip during Spring Break or a summer vacation!

Photoworks.com is giving away 30 free photo prints. This is a great chance to print out those memorable photos stuck on your computer or camera. Use PhotoWorks coupon code: C622-38-5144-71 at checkout to get your free photos. You also get an additional 25 photo prints when you sign up today. This promotion ends on 2/28/07.

Request a free “Too Smart to Start” game to help you talk to your children about underage drinking and how you can prevent it. The goals for the game include increasing the number of conversations about the harm of underage alcohol use and increasing the percentage of children and adults who view underage alcohol use as harmful. The game can be played with two to six players, but works best when both youth and adults play.

Complete the quick form to receive a free sample of Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste. Please limit one per household.

Happy Friday, everyone!

***Can you not get enough freebies? Have trouble waiting until Friday? Please visit our Freebies Galore board to get more freebies in your mail box. Share the freebies that you have received and post your own freebie deals! If you just want to chat and meet other moms, visit our Forum where you can share amongst friends! You will meet some of the most amazing ladies on our board who are happy to share recipes, organizational tips, and help you network with work-at-home moms too!

Are you new to Freebie Fridays? Did you miss your freebie fix last week? Under each entry are keywords that you can search under. Click on the word Freebie and it will direct you to all of the past offers. ***

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Frugal Storage Solutions

Sunday, February 18th, 2007

The time for cleaning and organizing is upon us as we approach that lovely time of renewal in our homes. You will notice that the stores recognize this season too, as the time for sales on expensive organizers occurs. They know that naturally as consumers, we realize that this is the season and we will run out and buy tons of storage containers, which will later gather dust in our basement and our garages. There is a cheaper alternative to organizing than just buying new items. Challenge your creativity and realize that you can organize your home in a frugal way, rather than emptying your wallet. Here are a few inexpensive alternatives:

  • Look at the items that are already being stored. Open the containers and rediscover what you have been storing. Is there a need to store it anymore? Will you actually use the items in the containers? If you won’t, donate the items to charity and free up some space in the organizers you already have. Condensing items into containers and donating the items that you no longer need will give you new room to use for storage.
  • Do you have photo boxes gathering dust in your home? Weed through the duplicates and unload the photos that will never make it into photo albums. Share photos with friends and relatives and repurpose these boxes. Photo storage containers are one of my favorite storage items because they are inexpensive (at craft store sales they can run as little as $1.50 each) and they disguise the mess in your home. These containers make the perfect storage for spices in your kitchen, a great location for storing your medicine, a place to house your DVD or CD collections, and are a great way to store sewing kits or craft supplies.
  • Mason jars are an inexpensive way to organize many things in your home and you may already have some of these lying around in your house. They are a great way to store items that are gathering dust in your pantry. I love to use these for pastas, rice, cornmeal, and baking soda. If you make your own mixes (pancake mix, biscuit mix, bread machine mixes, or pizza mixes) these can be a great place to store these mixes and make them accessible to you when the dinner hour rolls around and you have nothing ready to go. Something about those clear jars stirs your memory quicker than items thrown to the back of the pantry in boxes. They can be found for mere quarters at the thrift store and lids are can be picked up at your local discount store.
  • Think outside the box. When you run out of an item in your fridge, throw your empty containers into the dishwasher to be used for storing children’s items. I love the plastic coffee canisters, butter containers, and yogurt containers for storage. They can be a great way to store puzzle pieces, Matchbox cars, and tiny Barbie accessories. I also love to give these containers to our kids for pretend play. The grocery food sets in stores are often not durable. I instead save these items for our children to use to do their “grocery shopping”. Boxes from food items and butter tubs are great items for them to play with. There is no crying if the box gets smashed because I can always come up with another one.
  • If you have a growing collection of baskets, find a new use for them. They can be used for storing all sorts of clutter lying around your house in an attractive way. I use baskets for storing out of season items and small items that can get lost in the day-to-day shuffle in our basement.
  • Shoe boxes are great for storing items and can be creatively disguised using wallpaper remnants, gift wrap, or scrap fabric. Use these to store belts, panty hose, ties, or other small items that can be easily lost in your closet. Decorating these boxes can be a great craft project to do with your children and your children can also use these to store items that are lurking in their closets or toy bins.
  • Dishwashing tubs are my favorite storage solution because they can be purchased for a dollar at any store and the possibilities are endless. While not as attractive as other storage containers, they are extremely functional and can be used for so many different things. We use dishwashing tubs for organizing items in our bathroom closet. Labels are made for the front and make instant organization for health & beauty items. We also use these for first aid kits, organizing underneath sinks, library books, or school books- the possibilities are endless! If you discover you no longer need one of these containers, they make wonderful gifts for a high school graduate. Fill these up with plastic cutlery, plastic plates, plastic cups, a sponge, and dishwashing soap and stick a bow on the front. This makes a functional and fun gift for the soon-to-be college student.
  • Thrift stores are a goldmine for storage containers. They always have lots of baskets that have been donated and they can also house creative items that you would not think of for storage. Try to go in open-minded and you will find a world of ideas.
  • If all else fails and you have to run out to get containers, don’t overlook your local dollar store. You’ll love finding cute storage solutions for much less than in other stores. Always visit the dollar store first before any other because you will be surprised to find how many items you can get there without spending the big bucks.

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Freebie Friday: February 16, 2007

Friday, February 16th, 2007


Friday Fun Question: What is the best freebie you have ever gotten?

Freebie Friday Samples:

Receive a free sample of Oil of Olay Total Effects Daily Cleansing Treatments. Limit one sample per household.

Get a free subscription (print or digital) of Massive Magazine. This magazine is for gamers. There are limited quantities available on this freebie.

Educators have the opportunity to receive a free sample from Crayola and be entered to win a classroom full of Crayola Classpack assortments.

Claim a complimentary one-year subscription to Spin Magazine. You can answer, “No, thank you!” to the offers and receive the magazine with no strings attached.

Receive free candy from Mike & Ike’s. Please allow six to eight weeks for delivery.

Request a free DVD of Discovery Channel’s, “Babies: Special Delivery.”

This is a great freebie! Print out the coupon to receive a free issue of Quick & Simple Magazine. This coupon expires on 03/31/2007.

Try a sample of Oasis Mouthwash, specially formulated for dry mouths. Please allow up to four weeks for this delivery. Click on the free sample button at the bottom of the page to access this freebie.

Have a blog? You can receive a free $5 Starbucks Gift Card for sharing a link to the Vitabase website. Read the requirements for participation on the Vitabase site.

Claim a complimentary one-year subscription to Art in America Magazine. I am signing up for this freebie as it would make a beautiful magazine for your coffee table and who knows what art could be taken from it for framed art for your home? Answer, “No, Thank You” to the offers on this one.

Marie Claire is offering free samples of the new Always Clean! Maxi Pads.

There are a limited amount of t-shirts each day, but Starbucks is giving away t-shirts starting tomorrow at 10 AM PST. These will be given away each day until February 28th. If you want to give this freebie a try tomorrow, here is the link.

Claim a complimentary one-year subscription to Popular Photography & Imaging Magazine. This would be a great free way to learn how to take better pictures of your kids! Again, you can say, “No , thank you” to provided offer links.

This one would have to be provided by your doctor, but it is a great freebie should you qualify for this medication. How about a free seven day trial of Ambien CR Sleep Medication? Does a screaming teething toddler make me qualify? I sure hope so!

“Gmail sign-ups are now open worldwide! No more waiting for someone to invite you – just create an account directly at http://www.gmail.com.

Although not technically free, this is a great BOGO freebie. Buy one Scotch Lint Roller Sheets (available at Target), receive another one free. Go to this Scotch website page and click on, “Get a Coupon.”

Another BOGO freebie, but this one is from Cold Stone Creamery. Buy One Love It Create Your Own (which technically means, pick an ice cream with one mix-in) and get one free. This coupon expires on 02/28/2007.

Request a free catalog & free samples of Murad Skincare Products.

And a few freebies courtesy of Monica & her mom! Thanks to Monica’s mommy for always passing these on to us!

My Mom sent me an article with some freebie sites on it: www.giveawayoftheday.com www.freecycle.org www.freebies.about.com

Have a great day, my friend!

Monica

***Can you not get enough freebies? Have trouble waiting until Friday? Please visit our Freebies Galore board to get more freebies in your mail box. Share the freebies that you have received and post your own freebie deals! If you just want to chat and meet other moms, visit our Forum where you can share amongst friends! You will meet some of the most amazing ladies on our board who are happy to share recipes, organizational tips, and help you network with work-at-home moms too!

Are you new to Freebie Fridays? Did you miss your freebie fix last week? Under each entry are keywords that you can search under. Click on the word Freebie and it will direct you to all of the past offers. ***

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Freebie Friday: February 9, 2007

Friday, February 9th, 2007
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Hi all and welcome to this week’s freebie edition I am so glad you stopped by. If you only visit for the freebies, I hope you will take a look around. I blogged my little heart out this week and would love your comments.

Well, if anyone does not believe that I am sincere about being a freebie junkie, you would have enjoyed a newscast that I got the opportunity to participate in at WSBT-TV. They had a free screening of the movie, “The Secret” at their studio and had opened the invitation up to me. I, of course, rushed over after dinner to see the movie and then got the opportunity to be interviewed about my impressions of the film. When asked if I had planned to purchase the film at our local Borders, I had responded that I wouldn’t be buying it because I got to see it for free. The anchorwoman laughed when I said this and then proceeded to ask everyone else if they would be buying the film and their impressions of it.

We stayed up late last night to watch the broadcast. Very little of what I had said made the piece, but at the end they were chatting about the movie and someone asked if everyone was planning to run out and buy the movie. The anchorwoman stated everyone except for one woman who said she saw it for free so she wouldn’t be buying it. I think I laughed until I almost cried. In case anyone has missed it, I love a freebie and I love to share them with everyone. At least you know I am who I say I am! There are no mysteries here!

Here are a couple of letters from our readers for this week. Thanks to all of our tipsters for sharing with all of us. It is greatly appreciated!

Hi,

First of all, thanks for all the great freebie links, I literally can’t wait for Fridays to come so I can see what new links you have. Anyway, this may be something you already know but, if you go to www.kraftfoods.com and click on their food & family magazine link, you can sign up to receive the magazine absolutely free. There are five issues a year (fall, holiday, winter, spring and summer) complete with great recipes, coupons, previews of new Kraft products, and (occasionally) a sample of tea or some other mail friendly product. Clearly the idea is to use all these Kraft products for your family’s meals but you can easily substitute whatever brand you choose. Hope this helps!

Sincerely,
Natasha M.

Hey Amy-
I’ve been reading your blog/site for a while now and really appreciate all of the great tips on frugality! A friend of mine told me about a website where you can upload songs and pictures from your computer and send them to your phone as ringtones and pictures for wallpaper for FREE! I tried it today. All you have to do is register at the site (also free), put in your phone number, and upload pics or music. check it out! Here’s the site: http://www.myxertones.com/default/

Sarah

Free Gorton’s Shrimp Temptations. This offer is valid only on Valentine’s Day. TO RECEIVE YOUR GORTON’S SHRIMP TEMPTATIONS REBATE:1) Purchase Gorton’s Shrimp Temptations on Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2007). Cash register receipts must be dated 2/14/07. 2) Include this rebate form, the original receipt and the original UPC bar code from the package. Claims must be postmarked by 3/31/07.3) No photocopied, altered, faxed, substitute or counterfeit receipts will be accepted.4) Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery of rebate check. Gorton’s, its affiliates or agents are not responsible for mail not received as a result of loss, damage or delays by the US Post Office. All disputes and claims of non-payment will require you to provide a photocopy of your entire submission. Not valid in conjunction with any other discount offer. Gorton’s will give away up to $100,000 worth of FREE* Shrimp Temptations! 5) Complete and return this form in an envelope along with your receipt and the original UPC bar code from the package.

Print out a coupon for a free Choxie Bar from Target. The coupon expires on 03/03/2007.
Get a free Discover Healthy Living DVD from Del Monte. This offer expires on 04/30/2007 or good while supplies last.

Claim a complimentary one-year subscription to PC Magazine. Answer, “No, Thank You” to the offers listed and this magazine is a complete freebie.

Get a free sample of The Healing Garden’s Sensual Therapy Passion Rose. Please allow four to six weeks for delivery.

Request a free sample of Purina Pro Plan Selects Dog Food. The sample is 12 ounces and will come in a Turkey & Barley flavor.

Request to receive a Green Dot Pacifier, which alerts you when your baby has a fever. Please visit this site and use the provided email address to contact them for a sample.

Mark your calendars, everyone! Starbucks will be offering a free tall coffee on March 15th from 10AM-12PM. This information was located in this month’s issue of Parent’s Magazine on page 28, so be sure to cash in on this freebie!

Show your phone some love and download some classic love songs on your mobile phone. Visit AOL Mobile for the free song selections to choose from. They currently are only supporting the following wireless carriers: AT&T;/Cingular, T-Mobile, & Sprint. Unfortunately, we are under Verizon so I can’t take advantage of this freebie!

Looking for free Mac Software? About.com offers a whole slew of free downloads for your Mac, visit this page for the list!

OS-CAL is offering a free Multi-Compartment Pill Case. Click on the link for the free pill case and it will take you to a PDF form that you can print and mail to the company. New offers will be added to this page regularly, so please check back!

The Big Comfy Couch has a Clowndergarten Kids Club that you can sign your child up for. When you join you will receive a membership certificate, activity & coloring pages, autographed photo of their favorite character, sticker sheet, & official kids club wallpaper. This freebie should arrive within six to eight weeks.

Join the Go Red for Women movement and become a part of the fight against heart disease. By joining this free club, you will receive a free red dress pin, a monthly newsletter, and a shipping discount from Macy’s.

Print a copy of this form and take it to your Torrid store for a free Electric Valentine
Red Lipstick.

Sign up to receive a free sample of K-Pak Shampoo & Conditioner. Please note that the Cell Phone field on this form is optional.

Can you not get enough freebies? Have trouble waiting until Friday? Please visit our Freebies Galore board to get more freebies in your mail box. Share the freebies that you have received and post your own freebie deals! If you just want to chat and meet other moms, visit our Forum where you can share amongst friends! You will meet some of the most amazing ladies on our board who are happy to share recipes, organizational tips, and help you network with work-at-home moms too!

Are you new to Freebie Fridays? Did you miss your freebie fix last week? Under each entry are keywords that you can search under. Click on the word Freebie and it will direct you to all of the past offers.

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Posted in Freebies | 2 Comments »

Freebie Friday: February 2, 2007

Friday, February 2nd, 2007

Before I start with this week’s freebies, I just wanted to direct your attention towards our latest article on our site. If you are stumped for frugal gift ideas for this Valentine’s Day season, please head over to my article where we share ways to show your love on a budget. I hope you will enjoy this new addition to our site!

Now it is time for me to show you guys some love and share this week’s freebies!

Claim a complimentary one-year subscription to Car & Driver Magazine. As with most freebie subscriptions, the form is long and tedious. You can, however, answer, “No” to any of the offers listed.

Try the new Luna Tea Cakes for free. Good only while supplies last and please allow eight to ten weeks for delivery.

Get a free download of H&R; Block’s Deduction Pro software.

Get a free two week VIP Membership to Gold’s Gym, sponsored through Self Magazine & Gold’s Gym.

Download a coupon for a free Auntie Anne’s Pretzel (not to be confused with past offers, this is good for a Valentine’s Day freebie).

Sign up today and receive a free sample of Member’s Mark Soy Infant Formula.

Pantene is offering free samples of their new Pantene Pro-V Restoratives. They offer three different types of samples to choose from. This sample should arrive within six to eight weeks. I was getting a server busy message, but you can try connecting to this one.

Sign up to receive a free sample of Dove Pro-Age. They are offering three different types of samples in this freebie.

Kmart has started a site called, “New Day Your Way.” They are offering incentives and rewards for meeting your weight loss goals this year. Visit their site to sign up and get more information.

Sign up to receive a one-year subscription to Games for Windows Magazine.

Enter for a chance to win the Livin’ Lodge Xperiment and receive a free Schick Quattro Titanium Razor for your own experiement. Please allow eight to twelve weeks for delivery. This offer expires on 02/28/2007.

Sign up today for First Look Kids and read and review books before they are available in stores! Each month, HarperCollins Children’s Books will offer Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) of great books that you will have the chance to read and review before they are available in stores. Reviewers are selected at random but you must be a member of the program to be eligible. And, best of all, First Look is completely free!

In celebration of Babies Online’s 10 year anniversary we are giving away free pregnancy wristbands to all expectant mommies in the U.S! This trendy bracelet can also alert emergency personnel to your pregnancy status if you are not able to communicate after an accident. Help us celebrate 10 wonderful years by requesting your free wristband today!

Sutter Home Winery is offering a free corkscrew to anyone who votes for their favorite blush wine. Good only while supplies last. Click on enter. Then click on “Vote now” at the bottom of the next page. Fill out the form and vote for your favorite Sutter Home blush wine. You will be shown the corkscrew that you will receive after submitting the form.

This offer has been posted before, but just in case you haven’t gotten it, I am posting it again. Fill out the request form below to receive a Free Meeting Solutions Sampler Kit which includes…- Post-it Pop-Up Notes- Post-it Super Sticky Notes- Post-it Flags- Post-it Durable Tabs- Post-it Wall Pad samples. This freebie is good through March 31, 2007.

If you have an ULTA cosmetics (which I am wildly jealous if you do!) this freebie is amazing. Simply print out the gift certificate and redeem in stores. You will receive a free gift from Smashbox which includes stunning lip gloss shades and a palette of their best-selling Photo Finish Foundation primer in a carrying pouch. This gift is available February 2-4, 2007. Basically, you will need to head over there after your husband gets home for work or before picking up the kids!

Clinique is currently offering three types of in-store events that include free samples:

Offer One: Indulge in colour and receive two free deluxe gifts at Clinique’s Colour Cravings makeup event where the Clinique Consultant will create a new fall look just for you in luscious tones of red, pink, violet and nude. Come to Clinique’s Colour Cravings makeup workshop and get step-by-step instructions from the expert, plus free gifts:
Your choice of Glosswear for Lips in Nudey, Mystic or Cabana Crush plus
Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips
One per customer. While supplies last. Call or stop by the Clinique counter nearest you to book your appointment today and get the look just perfect for you! To find the nearest “Colour Cravings” workshops click here.

Offer Two: Learn all you need to glow at Clinique’s Get Radiant event. Let the Clinique expert show you how to get fresh, glowing skin and play it up with luminous makeup. You’ll leave with a radiant new look plus free gifts:
Your choice of a full-size Long Last Lipstick in Glow Bronze, Berry Freeze or Pink Spice plus
Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer
One per customer. While supplies last. Call or stop by the Clinique counter nearest you to book your appointment today and get the look just perfect for you! To find the nearest “Get Radiant” workshops click here.

Offer Three: A little makeup know how can do wonders. Come to Clinique’s Artist Eyes event and choose a new eye look created by Clinique’s top makeup Consultants then learn how to do it yourself with help from the expert. Plus, take home two free gifts:
Your choice of Colour Surge Eye Shadow in Taupestry or Lucky Penny plus
All About Eyes or Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream
One per customer. While supplies last. To learn even more and watch the Artist Eyes Video, click here. Call or stop by the Clinique counter nearest you to book your appointment today and get the look just perfect for you! To find the nearest “Artist Eyes” workshops click here.

P.B. Loco Cafes are offering free stuff on their website. In the right-hand corner is a link to sign up for free stuff from the company. The coupon they will send you is not technically free, but if you purchase
five or more jars of peanut butter, the sixth jar will be free. This offer will expire on March 15, 2007.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art (in New York) is offering free passes to their museum, good for the month of February. You can bring up to six people using this pass.

Get 5 issues free of Experience Life Magazine(this is a fitness magazine).

Did you get your free bag of cat or dog food from Purina One? Make sure to sign up for this freebie. They will send you a coupon in the mail.

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