Blog Archives

A Note About Expiration Dates

January 5, 2012

Dear Suddenly Frugal Readers:

I do my best to share with you the best freebies, discounts, and deals that I find on the Internet or hear about through my affiliate relationships. However, as that old saying goes, all good things must come to an end. Which means there is the chance that you will click through to an older post, only to discover that whatever freebie, discount, or deal I’d highlighted is no longer good. Like all deals, these things expire. I hope that in order to avoid disappointment that you focus on the most current posts when looking for freebies, deals, and discounts. Thank you.

Leah Ingram
January 2012

Watch Me on the “10! Show” Today!

January 5, 2012

Just wanted to give my blog readers a heads up that I’m going to be on the “10! Show” on Thursday, January 5th, to talk about frugal New Year’s resolutions. The show broadcasts at 11:30 a.m. Eastern on Channel 10 on NBC 10 Philadelphia.

Later in the day I’ll post a recap of the tips I shared, and when it becomes available, I’ll include a link to the video from that segment. Can’t wait to see my buddy Bill Henley!

Suddenly Frugal Seal of Approval: MyFitnessPal

January 4, 2012

Like most Americans I couldn’t get away from all the commercials for weight loss products and programs in these first few days of 2012. I saw ads for Jenny Craig (now just called “Jenny”), Nutrisystem, and Weight Watchers.

Technically, I am a Lifetime Weight Watchers member, having reached my goal weight more than a decade ago and then maintained it for quite sometime. But then last year Weight Watchers introduced the Points Plus program, and everything I loved about Weight Watchers disappeared. The new Points program simply didn’t work for me and, a year later, I was no longer at my goal weight. That meant that like millions of others who have made a New Year’s resolution to lose weight, so have I. Read more »

College Bowl = Free Wings at Hooters

January 2, 2012

I don’t love the notion of Hooters, the restaurant, but I fully understand that many men do. (My husband claims they have the best burgers. Ahem, yeah, whatever.) What I do love, however, is my husband (natch), anything that I/you can get for free, and college football, especially if it involves Michigan–Go Blue!

Considering the College Bowls being played between now and January 9th, and that aforementioned freebie, which is via Hooters, here’s how you can get it.

Head over to this Hooters website, and “log in” to the site using your Facebook sign in. Once you do, you’ll be asked for some additional information about yourself, such as your favorite wing sauce, and then you’ll get a coupon good for 10 free wings when you purchase 10 wings. Again, this coupon is redeemable at Hooters during the upcoming College Bowl games only.

Freebie Find: Kids Eat Free at Chili’s

January 2, 2012

How’s this for a great New Year’s freebie? Kids eat free at Chili’s, from January 2-4, 2012, with the purchase of an adult entree.

To cash in this freebie, be sure to print out this coupon and bring it with you when you visit Chili’s between today (1/2/12) and Wednesday (1/4/12). Keep in mind that this kids eat free deal is for children ages 12 and younger.

Also, since you are printing out a coupon for this freebie, you should be able to print and redeem this multiple times. Just make sure you don’t try to do that on the same day or at the same meal.

(Thanks, Houston on the Cheap, for a heads up on this freebie.)

Freebie Find: Free Music from NPR

December 31, 2011

Normally, I think of NPR as a go-to source for well-reported news, but it’s also expanded into sharing great music. There have been a number of times in the past year that I’ve clicked over to the NPR site to listen/watch the “Tiny Desk Concerts” from the All Songs Considered section. My favorites have been performances from Adele and Beirut.

Now NPR is sharing some of its favorites from 2011 with a free download of 11 songs. It’s not clear if each of these artists has had its own “Tiny Desk Concert” but I love the notion of not only new music but free new music.

Note: When you download the zip file, identify iTunes or whichever music-playing app you have in your computer as the designated “destination” for the file. When I didn’t do this, the files didn’t download, open, or play properly.

Free Tow on New Year’s Eve

December 31, 2011

Good news if you live in Florida, Georgia and parts of Tennessee, and you have plans for tonight, New Year’s Eve. Thanks to the partnership with Budweiser and the American Automobile Association’s Tow to Go program, you can get a free tow home on New Year’s Eve if you find yourself unable to drive.

With this freebie, you don’t even need to have a AAA membership to participate. If you find that you’ve had too much to drink and you have a car you need to get home–and no designated driver to help–you should call 1-800-AAA-Help. A tow truck will take you and your car home, no questions asked.

The Tow to Go program used to be offered via AAA offices nationwide, but too many people abused it by using the program for a free ride home without good reason. So many of the AAA affiliates stopped participating. That is why it is limited to Florida, Georgia, and parts of Tennessee only now.

BOGO Free Coffee at Caribou Coffee 1/1/12

December 30, 2011

NEW YEAR’S DAY FREEBIE: Ring in the New Year with some free caffeine, thanks to a BOGO offer at Caribou Coffee. If you print out this coupon and bring it with you–or show the image on your mobile phone–when you visit Caribou Coffee on New Year’s Day, you’ll get one free cup of coffee when you buy one cup of coffee. I just found out about this freebie otherwise I would have included it in this week’s Freebie Friday. (Thanks to Cities on the Cheap for info about this freebie.)

Look for $95 Worth of Coupons This Sunday

December 30, 2011

P&G is promoting its upcoming Sunday coupon circular–appearing in Sunday papers on January 1st, 2012–as having $95 worth of coupons inside of it. Even better, for every coupon you use, P&G will donate $.03 to the Special Olympics.

We’re big fans of the Venus razor, a P&G product, so I like to stockpile those coupons whenever they appear in a circular. The coupons are usually quite generous, too–like $3 off a razor. Granted, the razors are pretty pricey (but worth it), and when I can combine the P&G coupon with, say, an Extra Bucks Reward from CVS, I can pay pennies for these favored razors!

If you, too, like P&G products, why not sign up for their freebie program called “Have You Tried This?”

Freebie Friday New Year’s Eve 2011/2012

December 30, 2011

In addition to posting a week’s worth of regular freebies in this edition of Freebie Friday, I’ve also attempted to put together special New Year’s Eve freebies that I hope will make your New Year’s celebration frugal and bright. If I come across any additional freebies after this post goes live, I’ll do an update. Additionally, if you know of New Year’s Eve freebies that I haven’t included here, please post a comment with that information. Read more »

Top 10 Suddenly Frugal Posts for 2011: Number 1

December 30, 2011

For the third year in a row, my post from way back in 2009 on making your own laundry detergent has come out on top again. I noticed this year that someone over on Pinterest.com liked the post and the ingredients I was using–and was sending a ton of traffic to my blog. (Mystery Pinterest person, thank you so much.) In case you’re not aware of Pinterest, it seems to be an Etsy-like site for DIYers.

Drum roll please…..the #1 post for the 2011 Best of Suddenly Frugal is…. Read more »

Save on Wine at Safeway

December 29, 2011

Safeway is offering 30 percent off all wines priced $20 or more (excludes sparkling and champagne). If you have a Safeway Club Card, you’ll save even more: Shoppers with a Club Card will receive an additional 10 percent savings when they purchase 6 or more bottles. (Remember: Safeway Club Cards participate in the Cellfire coupon program.) Stock up through January 8,2012 at Safeway stores. Unfortunately, these savings apply to all Safeway locations except those in Denver, Eastern, and Genuardi’s locations.

Loading Coupons On Your Loyalty Card

December 29, 2011

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I’ve been trying to read up more on couponing by reading books about couponing that other people have written. I did my review of Supershop like the Coupon Queen: How to Save 50% or More Every Time You Shop by Susan Samtur earlier this month, and now I’m in the middle of reading The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half by Stephanie Nelson. So far, so great. I don’t think I’ve highlighted this much in a book since I was in college! There’s so much great stuff in this book.

One of my takeaways so far from The Coupon Mom’s Guide to Cutting Your Grocery Bills in Half is the notion of being able to load coupons onto your loyalty card. I’d first heard about this option when I signed up for an affiliate account with Cellfire, one of those companies that offers this service and pays bloggers like me a small commission to share links with readers. I didn’t pay much attention to Cellfire because the supermarkets that Cellfire works with weren’t located near me. Those supermarkets included Safeway and Kroger–be still my heart; I used to live in the Midwest and still miss shopping at Kroger.

Then I discovered that starting in 2012 ShopRite is joining the Cellfire network. And, I discovered, that Safeway owns a supermarket chain in my area called Genuardi’s. So if I wanted to, I, too, can join the Cellfire network by signing up my loyalty cards for both ShopRite (Price Plus Card) and Genuardi’s (Club Card), and start loading coupons onto those loyalty cards. (My only question: how do supermarkets handle the doubling of coupons when the coupon redemption is done electronically or virtually?)

Now that Cellfire has caught my attention, I figured I’d share this list of deals that will be available via Cellfire starting this week–ShopRite comes online on 1/1/12–and at the following supermarkets: Read more »

Top 10 Suddenly Frugal Posts for 2011: Number 2

December 29, 2011

If you were to highlight phrases and terms that best describe some of the trends in 2011, I would think that “extreme couponing” would be in there. I know that extreme couponing is on my radar 24/7 these days, as I try to learn more about how to spend less at the store using coupons, and clearly I hit a nerve with this #2 post from 2011. It’s about extreme couponing and self esteem. Not only did this post from June 2011 generate a lot of comments, but also it got picked up by other media, including CBS Moneywatch. Read more »

New Frugal Coupons

December 28, 2011

Here are some new frugal coupons to help you with any after-Christmas grocery or supply shopping you may be doing in the next few days! I know I’ll be using the coupon below for Snausages for my dog Buffy, if the price is right. We can never have enough dog treats in our house!

One of my goals for 2012 is to make Suddenly Frugal similar to other frugal blogs by posting more couponing opportunities as they come across my desk–whether via affiliate links (as these ones are) or just word of mouth. So expect that I’ll be posting more often throughout the day, rather than just the single editorial blog post that comes to your inbox each morning.

What? You don’t get Suddenly Frugal by email? Click in the box on the upper right hand corner of this page, where it says “Subscribe Here: Get Suddenly Frugal by Email” and sign up! While you’re at it, don’t forget to follow me on Twitter; I’m @suddenlyfrugal! Oh and “Like” us on Facebook, too! Scroll down for the coupons! Read more »

Top 10 Suddenly Frugal Posts for 2011: Number 3

December 28, 2011

I hope by now you took advice from my posts on finding free and low cost flu shots in 2011, and have gotten your flu shot. (I got mine at the beginning of November.) If not, hopefully the information in this #3 post on the Best of Suddenly Frugal list will help you to find a last-minute flu shot that won’t cost you a lot of money! This post first appeared in September 2011. Read more »

New Year’s Resolution: Extreme Cheapskate?

December 27, 2011

There are a number of New Year’s resolutions that you can expect many Americans to make each year–lose weight, quit smoking, eat better, save money. As far as that last resolution goes, I expect that in 2012 we’re going to start hearing more about a new kind of saving money–becoming an extreme cheapskate.

Yes, first there was extreme couponing–the practice and the show on TLC. Now TLC has upped the “extreme” ante with its new show called “Extreme Cheapskates.”

Some of the antics of these extreme cheapskates include reusable toilet paper and asking strangers at a restaurant if you can take home their leftovers. (Um, if you’re really a cheapskate, what are you doing eating out at a restaurant, unless you’re also an extreme couponer and you’re eating out for free, thanks to coupons.) Hearing this makes me think of the ultimate cheapskate bible from way back when–The Complete Tightwad Gazette.

Finding out that TLC is focusing a show on cheapskates brought me back to a blog post I wrote nearly four years ago, in which I discuss the differences between frugality, cheapskates, tightwads and others.

What inspired this long ago discussion? A survey from Wharton Business School that asked, “Are you a tightwad, frugal or a spendthrift?” In surveying 13,000 Americans about these three “labels,” they determined that people who fit into one of these categories have very different personality traits. Here are some of their findings: Read more »

Top 10 Suddenly Frugal Posts for 2011: Number 4

December 27, 2011

It’s amazing that two of the top 10 blog posts from 2011 focused on cooking using a Crock Pot or slow cooker. This post is from 2010 and focuses on making French toast in your slow cooker. Yum! It’s one of my favorite recipes–still! Read more »

Top 10 Suddenly Frugal Posts for 2011: Number 5

December 26, 2011

In my opinion garage sales, yard sales, tag sales–whatever you like to call those treasure hunts that you embark on during warm-weather weekends–have always been popular with shoppers in America. However, with the economy the way it has been, I think they are even more popular with folks looking to make extra cash from their stuff–the topic of my most recent book Toss, Keep, Sell!: The Suddenly Frugal Guide to Cleaning Out the Clutter and Cashing In. Not surprisingly, my 2010 post about organizing a yard sale appeared in the top 10 for 2011. Actually, it’s #5. Read more »

Freebie Find: Kids Eat Free at IKEA

December 25, 2011

From 12/26/11 through 1/1/12, kids eat free at IKEA. What’s great about this freebie is no adult food purchase is necessary. Your child, age 12 or under, can choose from a variety of kids’ meal options, including meatballs, mac and cheese, and peanut butter and jelly. All will be free.

Best of all, there are always two days a week when you can eat for free at IKEA. On Mondays, breakfast is free–the $.99 version, that is. And on Tuesdays, kids eat free.

Good to know that if you’re planning to hit the after-Christmas sales at IKEA, you can get a meal on the cheap as well.

Ugly Sweater Party

December 24, 2011

ugly sweater

This sweater won an ugly sweater contest last year

My high school-aged daughter is currently planning to have an ugly sweater party with her friends. Most ugly sweater parties are held around Christmas or involving Christmas sweaters as hers will be.

At first I was panicked because, thanks to my excellent sartorial taste, no one in our family owns an ugly sweater–Christmas or otherwise. The closest we can come to that “ugly” status is a navy blue Izod sweater that my husband held onto from the preppy 1980s. And even so, I’d say it’s more “vintage” than “ugly.”

What that means is that soon enough my daughter will need to go out and, purposefully, purchase an ugly sweater. Really? That’s how she’s going to end up spending her hard-earned babysitting money? I mean, people have launched full-blown businesses supplying ugly sweaters to party goers. I’m thinking UltimateUglyChristmas.com and UglySweaterStore.com, where you can find ugly sweaters, to be sure, but for about $45 a pop. I want my daughter to be “well dressed” for her ugly sweater party but not at that price.

Thankfully, my panic was short lived as I discovered there are a number of ways to acquire an ugly Christmas sweater without blowing your budget. Here are my 5 tips to outfit yourself, on the cheap, for an ugly sweater party. Read more »

Freebie Find: Free Drink at Regal Cinemas

December 23, 2011

Let me ask you a few questions:

Are you planning to go to the movies between now and Christmas Day?
If so, will you be visiting a Regal Cinemas location?
Are you on Facebook?
Do you have a Smartphone?

If you answered “yes” to all 4 questions, you can qualify for a free small drink, with a popcorn purchase, at Regal Cinemas.

To get this freebie, you need to visit the Regal Cinemas pages on Facebook, “Like” them, and then have that coupon sent to your mobile phone. Show that coupon on your phone at the Regal concession stand and, voila, free drink with a popcorn purchase.

According to the Cities on the Cheap blog, Regal Cinemas is offering new mobile coupons each week via Facebook. So this may be the first of many deals that you can get at Regal Cinemas via Facebook and your mobile phone.

Freebie Find: Free Wi-Fi on Delta Flights

December 23, 2011

Flying Delta over the holidays? Then you’ll want to know about this freebie. Between now and January 2nd, you can get 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi on certain Delta flights through GoGo, the company that provides in-flight Wi-Fi to many airlines. eBay is sponsoring this freebie.

Normally, you would pay about $30 per flight for in-flight Wi-Fi–I almost learned this the hard way on a recent USAirways flight–so if you’re on a short jaunt, this is a terrific deal. The Cities on the Cheap blog did a great post, explaining exactly the best way to take advantage of this freebie on your next Delta flight.

Freebie Friday (December 23-29, 2011)

December 23, 2011

Wow! The next Freebie Friday post that I write will be for a date in 2012. I still remember being a kid and thinking about what it was going to be like when the year 2000 arrived. Now we’re staring down 2012. Unbelievable how fast time goes.

But my purpose isn’t to reminisce about days gone by. My purpose is to share with you all the freebies I could find for the coming week. Here you go!

Free Stuff

You’ve got two more days to take advantage of the free holiday music that you can download from Amazon.com. Every day in December, another song has become available, and December 25th is the last day for the 25 Days of Free Holiday Music on Amazon. Sure, you could listen to a holiday station on Pandora but why not download music to keep for free?
Get free Procter & Gamble products when you sign up for the P&G “Have You Tried This?” program.

Free Food

This printable coupon entitles you to a free medium fries at McDonald’s when you purchase a beverage.
Get free coffee and two free donuts at Dunkin Donuts locations in the Pittsburgh area, on Monday December 26th, from 8 a.m. to 12 noon, when you participate in the “Great Dunkin’ Donut Holiday Gift Exchange” to benefit the local chapter of the Vietnam Veterans of America. “Folks should take that new sweater, book or other unneeded gift to their local Dunkin’ Donuts restaurant where they can donate it to a good cause,” said Nick Spencer, Dunkin’ Donuts Pittsburgh Marketing Manager. “In exchange, they’ll receive a free, freshly brewed medium-sized coffee and two great tasting donuts of their choice.” All new gifts donated must be in original packaging and/or with tags and hold a minimum retail value of $10.

Top 10 Suddenly Frugal Posts for 2011: Number 6

December 23, 2011

Yet another popular post for 2011 that first appeared on Suddenly Frugal in 2010. This one, number 6, focuses on spare change.

Since you won’t hear from me again until Monday, Merry Christmas to my reader who celebrate Christmas! Read more »

Top 10 Suddenly Frugal Posts for 2011: Number 7

December 22, 2011

As you know from my various posts on coupons this year, including my decision to start reviewing coupon books, one of my goals for 2011 was to get better at couponing. Clearly, Suddenly Frugal readers had similar goals, as this is one of a handful of posts on couponing that appear in this “Best of Suddenly Frugal” series. Additionally, this post first appeared more than two years ago. Read more »

Old Navy 50% Off Groupon is Back

December 21, 2011

That awesome Old Navy Groupon is back and up for grabs on Groupon. Through Saturday you can spend $10 on a Groupon, and use it to get $20 worth of Old Navy merchandise. (I bought this Groupon this summer, and it helped me get my kids the clothes they needed to go to camp, and at a discount!)

This has got to be one of the most popular Groupons out there, and I understand that there is a limited quantity available so click through my affiliate link and buy this Groupon right away, if you like shopping at Old Navy. (I know I do.)

Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like you can use the Groupon when shopping online at Oldnavy.com (correct me if I’m wrong), but you can use it in the stores through January 28, 2012. This is a great holiday gift to give yourself or someone else. In fact, you are allowed to buy this Old Navy Groupon for yourself and one other person only.

Top 10 Suddenly Frugal Posts for 2011: Number 8

December 21, 2011

This 8th most popular blog post in the 2011 “Best of Suddenly Frugal” is on a topic that shows up frequently in this year’s top 10 list–cooking with a Crock-Pot or slow cooker. Read more »

Freebie Find: P&G Products

December 20, 2011

Procter & Gamble has a great freebie program that includes lots of coupons, if you sign up through its “Have You Tried This?” program.

During December you can sign up for Crest 3D White Strips and Herbal EssencesTouchably Smooth via the P&G brandSAMPLER through the Have You Tried This Yet? website. You can also opt-in to receive coupons from Bounty ExtraSoft and COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Silk Foundation as well as many other high performing products. (FYI, only one request per household is allowed for samples. Your samples will take four to six weeks to arrive.)

In addition to the P&G brandSAMPLER via snail mail, you can download P&G eSAVER coupons to your online shopper card–this feature is new to me. I’m going to have to check this out. You should, too, since the coupons total more than $54 dollars. However, you should do this downloading soon as the coupons expire on 12/31/11.

Speaking of coupons that you can download to your shopper card, here are two others worth checking out (these include my affiliate link):

Save grocery coupons directly to your supermarket savings card with Cellfire.
Save on your groceries with SavingStar! SavingStar is a new eCoupon service that’s totally paperless – so there’s nothing to clip or print. Get over 30 eCoupons worth over $50!

More on Free Holiday Music from Amazon.com

December 20, 2011

I just got word that singer Macy Gray has recorded an original Christmas song that will be #25 during the 25 Days of Free Holiday Music on Amazon. That’s right–Macy’s song will be the last in the list and will be available on Christmas Day.

In case you hadn’t gotten the chance to check out the music from the 25 Days of Free Holiday Music on Amazon, here is the free holiday music that is available so far:

Dec. 1: “Ave Maria” by Celtic Woman from their forthcoming album Believe
Dec. 2: “Peace on Earth” by Brian Wilson from his album In the Key of Disney
Dec. 3: “Adeste Fideles” by Bing Crosby from the collection Joy To The World 50 Greatest Christmas Songs of All Time
Dec. 4: “My Dear Acquaintance [A Happy New Year]” by Regina Spektor from the collection Gift Wrapped: 20 Songs That Keep On Giving
Dec. 5: “Greensleeves” by Mannheim Steamroller from their album Mannheim Steamroller Christmas Symphony
Dec. 6: “Angels We Have Heard on High” by Bayside
Dec. 7: “O Holy Night” by Leigh Nash from the compilation album A Winter’s Night 2011
Dec. 8: “Deck the Halls” by Twisted Sister from their album A Twisted Christmas (this cracks me up!!!)
Dec. 9: “Jingle Bells (Robbie Hardkiss Remix)” by Duke Ellington from the compilation album Christmas Remixed – Holiday Classics Re-Grooved
Dec. 10: “The Lights and Buzz” by Jack’s Mannequin from the collection Gift Wrapped: 20 Songs That Keep On Giving
Dec. 11: “Wexford Carol” by Michael McDonald from his album This Christmas
Dec. 12: “Emmanuel” by Laura Story
Dec. 13: “Deck the Halls” by 11 Acorn Lane from their album Happy Holy Days
Dec. 14: “A Change at Christmas (Say it Isn’t So)” by Flaming Lips from the collection Gift Wrapped: 20 Songs That Keep On Giving
Dec. 15: “Fruitcake” by the Superions from their album Destination… Christmas!
Dec. 16: “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by RTV Moscow Large Symphony Orchestra from the collection 50 Most Essential Christmas
Dec. 17: “The First Noel” by Neil Sedaka from his album The Miracle of Christmas
Dec. 18: “Xmas Lights” by Radar Brothers from their album The Illustrated Garden
Dec. 19: “Santa Stole My Lady” by Fitz and the Tantrums.
Dec. 20: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” by Shonen Knife from their single Sweet Christmas
Dec. 21: ?
Dec. 22: ?
Dec. 23: ?
Dec. 24: ?
Dec. 25: “What I Want For Christmas ” by Macy Gray

In case you’re interested, here is my take on the top 10 best holiday rock songs of all time. This includes songs for both Christmas and Chanukah!

Top 10 Suddenly Frugal Posts for 2011: Number 9

December 20, 2011

Here is the 9th most popular Suddenly Frugal blog post for the “Best of Suddenly Frugal” series. Ironically, I wrote and posted this piece on thrift store shopping back in 2009!

With Chanukah starting tonight, I hope that my Jewish readers have a blessed and happy eight days of the Festival of Lights! Read more »

Two Triaminic Coupons in Time for Flu Season

December 19, 2011

My kids have already been sick this fall, but thankfully not with the flu–just colds. I’m sure getting them flu shots has helped, and I hope that no one in our family ends up ill this winter.

Even so I always like to plan for a worst-case health scenario and tend to keep lots of cold and flu medicine on hand at home–especially when I can stock up when things are on sale and I have coupons.

Based on that logic, now could be a good time to stock up on Triaminic medicine. That’s because you can get a great deal on Triaminic medicine, using my affiliate links below to Coupons.com and by shopping at CVS.

These coupons are for $3 off 2 Triaminic products, and $1 off 1 Triaminic product. I highlight CVS because this week at CVS, when you buy Children’s Triaminic, you’ll earn $3 ExtraBucks Rewards. Here’s how those savings could add up for you.

Children’s Triaminic 2 for $12
Get $3 Extra Bucks
Use $3 off 2 Coupon
Your final cost for two containers of Triaminic is 2 for $6 or $3 each

Note: You may even be able to throw in that extra $1 off coupon in the transaction as I’ve found that CVS allows you to use more than one coupon per product. If that turns out to be true, your final cost will be 2 for $5 or $2.50 each.

Here are links to those coupons:

Top 10 Suddenly Frugal Posts for 2011: Number 10

December 19, 2011

In this edition of Best of Suddenly Frugal, we start with #10 on the Top 10 list, a blog post from 6 months ago called “My Extreme Couponing Moment.” Read more »

Top 10 Posts for 2011 Countdown

December 18, 2011

Each year at about this time, I like to do a top 10 list of the popular posts from the previous year. That is, the posts that have gotten the most traffic in the past 365 or so days, which I called the “Best of Suddenly Frugal.” I figure it’s a great way to recap the year and reprint some of the posts that Suddenly Frugal readers enjoy reading.

So starting tomorrow (Monday, December 19th) and running for the next 10 business days–ending on December 30th–I will be doing a top 10 countdown of the Best of Suddenly Frugal. We’ll start off with the 10th most popular blog post on Monday, 12/19/11, and working our way, each weekday, until we get to the number one most popular blog post, which will appear on Friday, 12/30/11.

I’ve already reviewed the top 10 posts from the year, and some interesting trends have emerged, based on the topics of these popular posts. Clearly, Suddenly Frugal readers enjoy blog posts on the following topics:

Free stuff
Extreme couponing (or coupons in general)
Cooking with a Crock Pot or a slow cooker

Given this unscientific survey, I should write more posts in 2012 on these various topics!

VIDEO: Holiday Shopping Tips

December 17, 2011

Enjoy some of my holiday shopping advice, courtesy of ING Direct, FedEx Office, Nextag.com, and Microtel Inns and Suites.

FYI, as a follow up to the advice I offer, my mother ended up shipping her gifts to us here–rather than take them in a checked bag–and it cost half what a checked bag costs to send that box to my house. And it’s already here. Now she can take carry on luggage and save baggage fees all together.

Also, thanks to Nextag I discovered that Zappos.com and Lord and Taylor had the best prices/selection on Ugg boots.

Now to the video…

Great Coupon for Candy Canes

December 16, 2011

Check out one of the newest coupons on Coupons.com this week for Wonka Candy Canes. The coupon is $1 off 2 boxes. (Note: if that coupon doesn’t come up right away when you click my affiliate link, click on “food” in the left column and then scroll to the second page, which is where I found the Wonka Candy Canes coupon.)

I know that this is the time of year when many people stock up on candy canes, especially if they have little kids and need candy canes for class parties. Additionally, this is the time of year that you’ll likely find a great deal on candy canes in the stores.

For example, other deal bloggers have found Wonka Candy Canes on sale for about a buck a box at places like CVS, Target and Walmart. With the $1 off 2 coupon, that makes each box about $.50 each. If you’d like to wait until after-Christmas sales to get even better bargains (assuming there is Wonka Candy Canes inventory left), you can use this coupon then, as it doesn’t expire until late December.

Either way, this coupon offers a great deal in my books, and I’m sure yours, too.

Today is Free Shipping Day

December 16, 2011

Free Shipping Day is finally here. Are you going to be taking advantage of it? At this point I believe that there are hundreds of retailers participating with free shipping offers, which is great if you plan to finish up your shopping online.

Thankfully, I’m done with my online shopping, and I did all of it going through the Ebates shopping portal–except for Zappos.com, which does not participate in Ebates. Hello, Zappos? Could you change that please?

Anyway, going through Ebates means that I earned cash back for all of the purchases I was going to make anyway. In fact, as of today, I’ve earned nearly $31 for doing my online holiday shopping through Ebates.

Now I realize that $31 isn’t get-rich money. But $31 will buy me almost 10 gallons of milk–or more than a month’s worth–or about 30 loaves of bread. That means that I can make lunches for free for the rest of the year.

Why aren’t you doing your online shopping through Ebates?

Note: These are affiliate links to Ebates that I’ve shared here.

Freebie Friday (December 16-22, 2011)

December 16, 2011

It’s almost Christmas and Chanukah. Well, actually Chanukah begins on the night of December 20th. Nonetheless, I can’t believe both holidays are nearly here and, before we know it, we’ll be counting down to New Year’s Eve. Speaking of which I totally want to see that movie “New Year’s Eve.” It’s look hysterical. Guess I should catch a frugal matinee sometime during Christmas week. But I digress. You’re here for the freebies. So here’s what I’ve got for you this week!

Free Stuff

Hurry! You can get free batteries at Staples through December 17th. Basically, you spend $12.99 on a multipack of batteries, and then through Staples Rewards, you are refunded your $12.99 purchase in the form of a rebate. Final cost for batteries? Free! (Thanks Krazy Coupon Lady for a heads up on this awesome freebie.)
Don’t forget to check in on Amazon.com so you can take advantage of the free holiday music that you can download from the site. Each date another song becomes available, until we’ve gotten to 25 Days of Free Holiday Music on Amazon.

Get 2 Pairs of Glasses for $99

December 15, 2011

I’ll admit–this wasn’t very frugal of me. But, I just spent $250 for a new pair of glasses for my daughter. That was for frames and lenses, and it was a Christmas gift so I’d budgeted a bit more.

Clearly, you don’t have to spend as much as I did, if you take advantage of this deal–two pairs of glasses for $99 via EyeMasters/VisionWorks locations, plus you’ll get $10 off with this coupon.

Note: This is an affiliate link I’ve included here.

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