Have you ever wished you had a girlfriend who would keep you
informed of all the steals and deals around town so you could
keep more of your hard-earned money?
Now you do!
Sister Thrifty will give you the scoop on great bargains and
where to go to get more for less every week.
Now you can get "Deals That Are Nifty" several ways:
* Receive e-newsletter automatically when you register for free
at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sisterthrifty
* Subscribe to the free weekly blog at
www.sisterthrifty.blogspot.com
* Read the column posted at www.homemaking-cottage.com
informed of all the steals and deals around town so you could
keep more of your hard-earned money?
Now you do!
Sister Thrifty will give you the scoop on great bargains and
where to go to get more for less every week.
Now you can get "Deals That Are Nifty" several ways:
* Receive e-newsletter automatically when you register for free
at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sisterthrifty
* Subscribe to the free weekly blog at
www.sisterthrifty.blogspot.com
* Read the column posted at www.homemaking-cottage.com
Look for stores in your
area with the "Sister
Thrifty Seal of Approval"!!
You'll see where she does
her own shopping to save
money!
area with the "Sister
Thrifty Seal of Approval"!!
You'll see where she does
her own shopping to save
money!
This Month's Contest !!
The winner of last month's contest
received gift certificates for two
FREE kid's meals at TGIFriday's
restaurant!
Thanks for sharing! Keep those
tips coming!
received gift certificates for two
FREE kid's meals at TGIFriday's
restaurant!
Thanks for sharing! Keep those
tips coming!
So what else can you do with all your hard-earned money
besides save it, you ask? How about making this cool shirt!
Someone with some serious time on his hands must have
figured this one out. For instructions on how to fold a dollar
bill with helpful pictures,
besides save it, you ask? How about making this cool shirt!
Someone with some serious time on his hands must have
figured this one out. For instructions on how to fold a dollar
bill with helpful pictures,
Money-saving tips from past newsletters:
October 15, 2009
As always, Sister Thrifty's consumer newsletter is intended to be a sharing forum where
we can all give each other the "head's up" on the latest steals and deals around town,
so feel free to chime in! Here is this week's letter:
This week, I thought I'd talk about one of the most important things in the world....MOM!
When Mom is happy and healthy, then all is well with the world. Moms truly are the
heartbeat of their families, so it's important to take care of yourself. The bad economy
doesn't mean you have to skimp on your health. Here are a few no-cost screenings that
everyone can afford:
* October 16th is National Mammography Day. I know, that's just about as much fun as
sticking toothpicks in your eyeballs, but it's gotta be done. You can find a clinic that
offers free testing at http://www.nbcam.org/ While you're thinking about "the girls" you
can exercise for free at one of the many Breast Cancer Awareness runs/fitness walks
around the country.
* Your heart is full of love for your family, so let's keep it healthy too. You can get free
heart-health screenings year round at participating clinics nationwide found at http:
//www.sistertosister.org/
* You're probably outside a lot, watching the kids' soccer games, serving as lifeguard at
the pool, and taking the dog on walks, so let's make sure your skin is healthy too. Skin
cancer is one of the easiest types of cancer to get, but also to prevent. To find a clinic
that offers free skin cancer checks year round go to www.aad.
org/public/exams/screenings
* You kiss your kids goodbye when they get on that school bus; now it's your turn to get
on the bus. Walgreens sponsors a tour bus that travels around, offering free health
testing for bone density, glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure and body composition. To
find out when it will be rolling into your town check out www.aarpwalgreens.com/tour
Moms, the world needs you, so take a few minutes for yourself and be healthy!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
September 11, 2007
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 6th 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 no 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 Detergent
http://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** Easy
No 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 Foods
http://tinyurl.com/2n3nm5
Free Sample Of Tasters Choice Coffee
http://tinyurl.com/lx97h
FreeAmino 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 caplets
http://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 www.sisterthrifty.com
you can win free dinner certificates each month!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
March 26, 2007
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=ProductSamples
Then go to: http://www.healthpromotionsnow.com/Pages/HomePage.asp?
Selector=Step1_Regular&P_ID=75586
and 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
March 18 2007
Best Buy is in some really hot water these days, you might have heard.
There are now civil and criminal investigations going into practices at
Best Buy, according to the Hartford Courant, which broke the story. It's
being reported that Best Buy had a fake Web site in its stores that was
charging much higher prices than those found on the Web site accessed
from a home computer. Both sites have the name bestbuy.com, but the
in-store site was a bait and switch ploy, according to the Courant. When
people came in and asked about the lower price they saw on their
computer, they were told that the sale ended yesterday. At the worst, this
was a criminal act. At the least, it was an extremely foolish move.
Is your 401k plan ripping you off?
The Government Accountability Office has found out that 401k plans are
ripping off workers investing in them by swiping massive fees from you
each year. Some of them are taking as much as 5 percent a year off the
top. Under law, there is no requirement that you be told what you're
being charged for "maintenance and fees." So, it's allowed insurance
companies to take advantage of investors. If you own a business, you
need to ask point blank exactly what you're being charged. If you're an
employee and you think your account isn't increasing as much as it
should, you want to ask your human resources department what the fee
schedule is. If it turns out that the plan is a rip off, you should consider
moving your money into a Roth IRA. The best way for business owner to
tell if they are getting taken is if your plan is from either an insurance
company or stock brokerage company. You may want to consider setting
up with Fidelity and Vanguard, the two biggest 401k administrators in the
country. You can't go wrong with either one, but Vanguard is definitely
the least expensive. You should always save for your own retirement.
And here's another company that's ripping off their customers :
Comcast. What's going on with all these companies?!!?? Customers
are getting a letter from the company, warning them that if they use their
high-speed Internet too much they will be cut of. But the company
doesn't tell people what "too much" means. Customers have even called
the company to ask what "too much" is and they've been told it's a joke
and not to pay attention to it. Then, those folks have had their service
cut off without warning. A less expensive option is Clearwire, but it's
only available in certain areas. Sprint is currently spending $4 billion to
build a Wi-Max service around the country, so hopefully that will improve
competition, which always lowers prices and improves services.
Enough bad news! Here are some fun freebies:
I actually won a package of Pepperidge Farms cookies at this website!
100 packs of PEPPERIDGE FARMS COOKIES given away DAILY
expires APRIL 1 http://www.artofthecookie.com/
NO COST AFTER REBATE KEYBOARD
blue, black or silver available http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-441747-
10440897?
expires 3/31/07
blue ITEM #N82E16823204006
black ITEM #N82E16823204005
silver ITEM #N82E16823204004
SEARCH AND ADD ITEM TO YOUR CART PRINT OUT REBATE from LINK
ON ITEM DESCRIPTION PAGE
S&H IS $6.13 for me which is your out of pocket cost after rebate GREAT
GIFT ITEM!
Free smoke alarms for seniors
http://www.ucan.
org/forum/forums/san_diego_freebies/smoke_alarms_for_seniors
Free $5 Calling Card from DialBug.com
http://www.dialbug.com/couponcode.html Free Calling Card worth $5
(equivalent to approx. 1hr to India or 4 hours to USA, Canada or China)
NO COST AFTER REBATE IPOD CASE/ COVER/ SKIN
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BV7ZPG/freelancebyu
$19.99 SHIPS AT NO COST WITH $25+ purchase mail in rebate on item
description page
Price After Rebate: F-r-e-e
HERE IS ANOTHER ONE FOR THE NANO NO COST AFTER REBATE
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000IZC19A/freelancebyu
SAME DEAL NO COST AFTER REBATE + NO S&H if you buy $25+
Coupon code: Trial$5
Free sample of BodiHeat therapeutic self-heating pads http://www.
beyondbodiheat.com/htmls/pre_free_sample_new.asp
Avalon Organics - Free Baby Lotion Samples (US)
http://www.avalonorganics.com/index.php?title=baby+samples
Free Ensure single bottle & coupon
https://ensure.com/registration.aspx?s=sample
Free Sample Lactaid® Fast Act
http://www.lactaid.com/
Free National Parks Pass for People w/ Disabilities
http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
Have a WONDERFUL week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
March 5, 2007
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 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
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 Coupon
http://www.jjsnack.com/minutemaid/couponform.asp
Have a great day!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
February 26, 2007
Buying a vacuum cleaner these days can be confusing and overwhelming with so many
brands and models to choose from. Three cheers for Consumer Reports who just made
shopping for your next vacuum much easier. And they have good news for us too…the top
vacuum out there costs just $150. It's a Eureka and it's CR's "Best Buy." People will pay up
to $400 for a vacuum cleaner, but the affordable Eureka brands are the second most reliable
out there. The Boss Smart Vac Ultra 4870 model had the highest rating for cleaning carpet
and bare floors. It also got the highest rating for sucking up cat hair. It was one of only three
that scored tops in all three categories, and it's the least expensive at $150. So, what were
the worst models? Some of the most expensive ones - $900 to $1,000 – were the least
reliable. What about the Dyson, which has gotten so much press? It was in the middle of the
pack. For a fairly expensive machine, it got mediocre ratings.
If you're interested in doing an online survey that pays $20 for only a few minutes of your
time go to www.nutritionfun.org The survey is about eating fruits & veggies.
Gmail is now free for everyone! Back in 2004 Google introduced Gmail but people could
only use the service if they were extended an invitation by a member. Now you're invited to
the party! Go to http://mail.google.com to get 2 GB of space, join chats, use their cool new
calendar, and tons of other cool stuff. Notice….Sister Thrifty's address is
sisterthrifty@gmail.com !
I just discovered www.Daveramsey.com and thought I'd share some of his money tips. He's
a radio talk show host and columnist in Tennessee who has created money management
products entitled "Financial Peace University." His "Baby Steps" to financial freedom are:
1. Set aside $1000 to start an Emergency Fund
2. Pay off all debt starting with credit cards
3. Have 3-6 months of expenses in savings
4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth AIRAs and pre-tax retirement
5. Set aside college funding for children
6. Pay off your home early
7. Build wealth and give to others
8. Invest in mutual funds and real estate
Well, those tips are pretty general, so I assume if you buy his products you'll get more
details. My point in bringing this up is that now, while we're all working on our taxes, is the
time to analyze our finances, evaluate how we're doing, and make changes.
And now for some fun freebies:
Every time Matt Kenseth wins a race, Arby's will give away free medium Curly Fries every
Monday following the race weekend. They're calling it "Matt's Monday." Go to www.rtminc.
com/about/news.php?yr=2007&sid=1320
Free 6 month membership to Sears Portrait Studio at http://www.searsportrait.com/cpi/img.
ashx?p=/Resources/cpi/en-US/email/07/0222/v8.htm
Free tire rotation and brake inspection at Big O Tires printing the coupon at www.bigo.
com/coupons.asp
KOA is offering a free night at their participating campgrounds in May. Check out www.koa.
com
That's it for today! Have a good one!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
February 20, 207
Hi everyone! I try to get these newsletters out to you on the weekends, but I
was busy being sick sick sick. Bleh. I'm still not feeling great, but I wanted you
to get some of this great information (and sitting at my computer will hopefully
distract me from feeling sick sick sick.)
Since I'm thinking health (or lack thereof) these days, I wanted to let you know
about an interesting web site I found that you can use to order your own
medical tests instead of paying whatever the doctor or hospital charges.
Insurance will not pay, but if you don't have insurance anyway or your
reimbursement stinks then this could save you a ton of money. Check out
www.directlabs.com/index.php Just use good judgment when dealing with
your health care.
There are a number of prescription programs that will save you money. To find
the Rx program for your state go to www.pparx.org Low-income seniors who
qualify can get the "Eli Lilly" card and really save on their medications. Call 1-
877-RX-LILLY. For a $10 fee, Rxaminer will permit users to enter all current
prescriptions and returns a list of available generic or other suggested brands
for less money.
Go to www.rxaminer.com/consult/index.asp
Here are some freebies that have to do with health and wellness.
GlaxoSmithKline is offering all kinds of free samples when you register: http:
//healthyspecials.com/Default.aspx They are also starting the "Orange Card"
program, which gives elderly people who qualify 25% off their prescriptions. To
read an article about their plan click here: http://www.intelihealth.
com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/333/335569.html
Here's a free mouth wash sample: http://walmart.triaddigital.
com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid11366.aspx
Click on here and you'll get a coupon for free veggies from Green Giant:
http://www.bettycrocker.com/Products/Green-Giant/green-giant-offers.htm
Free skincare samples from Chamonix:
http://www.betterskintoday.com/requestsample.htm
Free sample of Palmer's Cocoa butter formula with vitamin E lotion. Go to "Like
Some?" http://skinisfashion.com/
You're probably working on your 2006 taxes by now and I want to make sure
you know about the special one-time federal excise tax credit in 2006 rebates
tax overpayment on phone bills. What do taxes have to do with health? Well, if
you don't pay them you'll be sick when you get audited and have to pay
penalties! Everyone is allowed to get this deduction this year only, but you
have to make note of it on your tax forms or you'll miss it. To read more about
it and how to claim it check out this link:
http://www.snopes.com/business/taxes/excise.asp
That's it for today. Take care of yourselves!!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
February 10, 2007
Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you feel loved, appreciated and get a
romantic kiss from someone you love! Auntie Anne’s Pretzels will send
your loved one a coupon for a free pretzel when you send them a
Valentine’s e-card using one of their links. You know, they’re the
company that sells those big, yummy pretzels inside the malls. There are
several designs to choose from and the free pretzel coupon is good for a
month. Sweet!
http://www.aloveyoucancounton.com/?page=2
http://funkyvalentine.com/
http://cupidsdiet.com/
http://loveisforthedogs.com/
http://itwasworthit.com/
http://apairofmonkeys.com/
Here’s another sweet freebie treat for Valentine’s Day: a free Mrs. Smith’
s Pound Cake!
http://www.mrssmiths.com/poundcake/pdfs/TakeTheCakeForm.pdf
Click on this link to get free aromatherapy fragrance cards:
www.mandala-aroma.com/samples/index.asp
Here are some great web sites where you can get some great ideas for
inexpensive ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
For Couples
http://www.frugalfun.com/f10.html
Frugal Valentine Craft Ideas
http://www.mommysavers.com/frugal-holidays/frugal-valentine-craft-
ideas.shtml
Romantic Frugal Valentines Day Gifts
http://www.frugalmom.net/fa%20frugal%20valentines%20day%20gifts.htm
Making Valentine's Day Special on a Shoestring
http://www.cbn.com/family/marriage/frugal_valentine_ideas.aspx
Heart4Home :: Simple to Make Sweet Treats
http://www.frugalhomemaker.com/simple_sweet_treats.htm
In honor of National Pancake Day on February 20th, IHOP will give you
one FREE “Short Stack” of pancakes. See www.ihop.com/tellafriend.php
Have a wonderful week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
February 2, 2007
Happy Groundhog Day!
According to Puxatony Phil, spring is just around the corner. He actually
may be right this time because starting in 2007, daylight saving time is
going to start the second week of March and end the first Sunday in
November. It means we'll get a month more of daylight each year we keep
in place the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Alarmists are going a little nuts
over the act, saying the change could disrupt time sensitive machines
and systems such as ATMs, but I'm gonna be lovin the sunshine!
Credit cards may be signing you up to pay!
Have you heard of "Buyer's Advantage?" Supposedly, it's a marketing
program sponsored by certain banks and credit card companies that
allows you to get discounts on merchandise. But that is a bunch of
hooey. It's really an excuse for companies to remove money from their
customer's accounts. Chase and Bank of America are soliciting for
Buyer's Advantage and it's one of the worst schemes out there. The
banks will send you a $10 check or "account credit" that signs you up for
Buyer's Advantage. The problem is that when you sign and cash the
check or take the credit, you are agreeing to pay an annual fee of $150
for nothing. The money is usually a small monthly deduction from
checking accounts, and people just don't notice it. So, check your
statements and if you see something questionable, dispute it right away!
Do you know your credit score?
According to a recent survey, only 3 percent of Americans know what a
credit score is. Worse yet, less than 15 percent of people are checking
their credit reports each year. Credit scores are like a grade that tells you
whether your credit is poor, fair, good or outstanding. But, unlike school
where you get one grade per class, there are three credit scores you can
obtain. First, the industry-accepted standard score is called a "FICO"
score, which is between 400 and 800 points. Each credit bureau
(Experian, Transunion and Equifax) has different information on you, so
they compute your score differently. Your interest rate can change
depending on which bureau a lender uses. You must check all three of
your credit reports and all three of your credit scores four to six months
before you're going to buy a house. If you're planning to buy a house in a
month, GET THEM NOW! One in three people find mistakes in their
reports, so it's imperative that you do this. The one place to get your
credit scores is myfico.com. There are other legitimate sites and other
ripoff sites out there, but telling them apart can be difficult. There is only
one site where you can get your free report: annualcreditreport.com.
Book lovers save money
I just discovered www.booksfree.com . They have an entire inventory of
mass market paperbacks you can borrow for free by paying a monthly
fee for shipping and handling of $6.99, which is less than the cost of one
book. They'll ship you two books at a time. When you're done reading
both ( no due dates, no late fees ), return them in the pre-paid mailer they
came in. Automatically you will receive the next two books on your
reading list. It's just like Netflix, but for books!
And now for some fun freebies:
Turbotax Online free edition http://dealnews.com/deals/Turbotax-Online-
Free-Edition-for-free/151606.html?ref=alert
Free Olay Definity sample
http://olaydefinity.offerprocessingcenter.com/?source=Definitycom
Tums Sample http://calciuminfo.com/promotions/Sample.aspx
Creative packaging samples www.bubblope.com/pages/2/index.htm
Free kid friendly sponge from Dawn http://tinylink.com/?l05ivjOOBN
Free scrapbook software, free embellishments and more
http://tinylink.com/?l05ivjOOBN
Have a wonderful week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
January 27, 2007
Security breach at T.J. Maxx could affect you
There have been so many security breaches at companies lately that
people are almost immune to them. The latest one is so large and
potentially dangerous that I wanted you to know about it. TJX, which
owns T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods and A.J. Wright, is the latest
company to announce that customers' credit card, debit card and check
information has been compromised. Apparently, the breach happened
several years ago without the company's knowledge, so it has affected
millions of people over the last few years. The hackers broke into the
company's computer system in 2003 and it has been going on ever since.
The breach could be especially detrimental to people who have used their
debit cards at these stores. The company is asking customers to check
their statements carefully. So far, no major issues have occurred, but if
you've shopped at any of these stores you want to check your
documents very carefully! This kind of thing can happen anywhere,
anytime. The question is why aren't companies doing more to prevent
it? Speaking of clothing stores….
Clothing is a steal at most retailers
You may have heard that retailers had a lousy Christmas last year,
especially those in the clothing market. Consumers were all about
electronics this holiday season, and that includes women and men.
Digital cameras, televisions and HDTVs were the popular picks for
everyone. Add to that the fact that it's been a pretty mild winter, which
keeps people from buying the warm clothing they normally would. The
upside to this news is that retailers will have fantastic deals on clothing
in the next few weeks. In fact, "past season" or winter clothing is going
to be extra cheap, so you can stock up for next winter. Retailers are
basically dying to get rid of this inventory to make room for the spring
and summer clothes. The only retailers that had a good Christmas were
Costco Wholesale, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Guess. So,
you won't find the deals at those places. But nearly everywhere else you
go will be a steal.
Why extended warranties are a rip
Consumer Reports' latest edition is all about what a waste of money
extended warranties are. Every dollar you pay for an extended warranty,
you're really only getting about 15 or 20 cents on it. Why is that? First of
all, the quality of the electronics and appliances is so good these days
that the chance of them breaking is miniscule. Secondly, if something
does happen it will probably be after the warranty runs out. In addition,
although the products are high quality, they will lose value with each year
you own them. And you never want to insure a rapidly decreasing
product. Also keep in mind that when you buy an item on a major credit
card, you usually extend the manufacturer's warranty by one year. So,
extended warranties and service contracts simply aren't worth it.
Jellyfish.com could save you dough
The latest invention to save you money online is called Jellyfish.com. It's
a comparison shopping site like the others, but Jellyfish also gives you a
direct discount off your purchase. Usually it's about two percent. But
what you need to remember is that no site will always have the best deal.
You always want to shop around.
And now, for this week's fun freebies!
Free samples for your baby at http://www.babiesonline.com/offers
Free $5 prepaid mastercard http://yoitsme.com/free/
Banquet Frozen Foods free coupon booklet
http://www.conagrafoods.com/promotions/banquet_promo.jsp
Free Advance Copy Children's Books from HarperCollins Publishing
http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Members/firstlook/index.aspx
Printable Coupon for Free Movie from Movie Gallery
http://www.moviegallery.com/coupons/conh49a7.aspx
Free $15 GC from American Gem Society
http://www.americangemsociety.org/cnn/index.php
B1G1F Progresso Soup coupon
http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/progresso-coupon-dvr.
htm?RedirectURL=TiVoDVRDealURL
Free Olay Definity anti-aging facial moisturizer sample
http://walmart.triaddigital.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid10250.aspx
Scotch-BriteT Carpet Touch Up Roller Try Me FREE Offer!
http://mmm.apfco.com/w1231/pdf/ScotchBriteRebate.pdf
Free Diabetic Meter and Test Strips
http://iw.rtm.com/ADCSample/register.asp
Have a great week out there!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
January 21, 2007
It's only January but tax time is already on my mind. I guess with New
Year's resolutions and all, I've been evaluating all of my family's
expenses again, trying to cut back. It's a good idea to annually review
your bills and compare other options that might be out there. If you're
thinking about tax time too, you'll be happy to know the free filing
program from the IRS is available once again. So, who's eligible? If your
income is more than $60,000 a year, you might not qualify. So, it's a good
thing to figure out your adjusted gross income (AGI) before you start the
process. Your AGI must be less than $52,000 a year to use the free
program. That covers about 70 percent of all income earners. And there
is a special rule that applies just for this year. You will get an extra tax
break if you wait until after Feb. 3 to file. Waiting specifically benefits
people who live in states with no state income tax. The IRS free tax filing
has changed every year for the past three, so read the fine print carefully.
I found this little web site that could help you trim expenses on meal
time: www.eatingonabudget.com
I hate getting charged for calling 411, so I was thrilled to find this nugget
of information: Call to get phone numbers to businesses or residences
for FREE! It is for anyone who doesn't have information directory on
their phone but anyone can use it. Here is the number 1 800 373 3411.
An easy way to remember it is 1-800-FREE-411.
Still getting those pre-screened credit card offers in the mail? You have
the option of opting out of those offers for 5 years, or permanently. You
can go to www.optoutprescreen.com or you can call 1-888-5-OPTOUT.
Requests are generally processed within 5 business days, but it can take
up to 60 days for you to stop receiving offers.
Produce prices are on the way up. Weather is hitting us hard these days,
and our crops have suffered. Many crops were wiped out by the freezes
going on around the country, so demand is high. If you like fruits and
vegetables, or you enjoy eating a salad every day, you're going to pay a
lot more for these.
Student loan rates are dropping! What's up with the current student loan
system these days? Well, federal subsidized student loans are dropping
to about 3.4 percent! Interest rates had been bumped up to more than 7
percent by the last Congress, and it was part of a corrupt, political move
to pad the pockets of bankers. Thankfully, the new Congress is reversing
that. As you probably expected, banks are livid. They want rates to be
higher so they can make more money. But the outcry of the people will
hopefully prevent them from winning out. This is for people taking out
money going forward, so shop around before you settle for a rate.
Several of my friends are considering out-of-state moves for job offers. I
found this cool Cost of Living Calculator that helps evaluate how far your
money will go if you move. I found a huge difference in our expenses
when we moved from Georgia to California!. Give it a try.
http://swz.salary.com/costoflivingwizard/layoutscripts/coll_start.asp
And now for some fun freebies!
Free coupon for free Tropicana
http://www.tropicana.ca/indexFlash.html
Sample Of Fibersure
http://www.fibersure.com/index_flash.shtml
Free Travel mug from GM
http://www.whygas.com/
Free Sample Healthy Futures Snack Bar
http://healthyfutures.net/nlrc/products/free_sample.php
Free Wake Up In The USA Stickers
http://www.wakeupintheusa.com/friend.html
Free Almond Snack Tin From California Almonds
http://tinylink.com/?vVMlkogYdp
Remember, if you have recently started receiving "Deals That Are Nifty by
Sister Thrifty" you can read past newsletters in the archive found at
sisterthrifty.blogspot.com Have a great day!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
January 14, 2007
Hi everyone! Happy Martin Luther King Day! I have a dream......to save
more of my hard-earned money!!! I'll bet you have that same dream
since you signed up for the "Deals That Are Nifty" newsletter!
So, did you declare a "New Year's Resolution" to start saving more
money in 2007? Like any resolution, unless some action is taken on your
part, nothing will ever change. The key to making your resolution
become a reality is to set a goal. In other words, what do you want the
'extra' money for? Are you saving for a new car stereo system? What
about a family trip?
Point is, when you have something to strive for, saving money becomes
ten times easier. This goal is something you really want, so you will do
what is necessary to be successful. Adopt The "Do I REALLY Need This"
Approach Before you purchase ANYTHING, ask yourself if you REALLY
truly need to have it. Whenever you are tempted to buy something, ask
yourself "Do I REALLY NEED this new item, or do I just WANT it?" You
may be surprised to learn that some of the purchases you make, you
simply WANT to have and can probably get by without it (at least for
now).
Take time to reflect on your current situation. Analyze your expenses to
see where you might be able to cut-back to save more money.
Remember, you and only you control the amount of money you save in
2007.
Below are some fun freebies to get you started on your other
resolutions: cleaner house, lose weight, laugh more with the kids and
spouse more, take better care of my health, etc. I love FREE!
Free Swiffer Duster! http://www.startsampling.
com/partners/familycircle1/
90% off plus free shipping! Stock up on BAGS, RIBBONS, NICE paper,
tissue paper, stuffed animals, christmas cards. http://www.
papyrusonline.com/category/sale.do Use coupon code WFS06 for free
shipping.
Two-Week FREE Trial Membership to any
Participating Curves location & Free Headband
http://www.proline-intl.com/CurvesPromo/sign_up.cfm
Free Latin Salsa Band CD
http://www.sontumbao.com/hsb_DemoCDForm.aspx
Free Sample of Del Mar.Fragrance for Men
http://tinylink.com/?azcwePWUyb
Free Noxema 4 Blade Shaver
( Click On Savvy Shaving Then Promotions)
http://tinylink.com/?GT68Bo7lQf
Free DVDPlay Kiosk Movie Rental- in safeway/Vons stores
http://www.dvdplay.com/kiosk-promos/free-movie.html
Free Local Telephone Number to Use Online
http://tinyurl.com/yy4536
Great to use when signing up for freebies & contests! Can store up to
10,000 voicemails. You'll never have to give out your home phone
number again & it's totally Free!! Get a number in a different city for
work, or to be local to out of town friends and family. Pay no long
distance to send messages back and forth.
Alrighty, that should keep you busy for a few minutes! Enjoy!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
January 7, 2007
Hi everyone!
Did you take a ton of holiday photos this year? Here are the latest offers
I can find for getting prints of your digitals at little to no cost! Most of
these do require you pay S&H which is minimal really, for the amount of
photos you can get!
MOST OF THESE ARE FOR NEW CUSTOMERS to the site
some have additional OFFERS for both returning and new customers
have some fun!
AdoramaPix - 25 Free Prints
PROFESSIONAL QUALITY!
Clark Color Labs - 20 Free Prints
PLUS 9c per print offer! WOWZA
ClubPhoto - 20 Free Prints
CVS (pick up in store) - 10 Free Prints
DotPhoto - 50 Free Prints
NO COST SHIPPING with order of $24.99+
Fotomat - 15 Free Prints
Kodak EasyShare Gallery - 20 Free Prints
MyPhotoAlbum - 20 Free Prints
Mystic Color Lab - 20 Free Prints
PhotoMama - 10 Free Prints
PhotoMax - 20 Free Prints
Photosite - 10 4x6 prints
PhotoThru - 20 Free Prints Plus 2 Photo CD’s through link
PhotoWorks - 25 Free Prints through link
SMALL PHOTO BOOK no cost w/ any purchase: Coupon code: C446-38-
5153-41
NO COST S&H w/ any purchase Coupon code: C609-38-5164-21
RitzPix - 10 Free Prints Code: free4×6
Shutterfly - 15 Free Prints through link
Coupon Code 17AF-PTWN Spend $20 and get a free 8x10 print Offer
Expires Jan 09 2007
Snapfish - 20 Free Prints through Link
Coupon Code FREESHIPJAN Free shipping on up to 100 4x6 prints Offer
Expires Jan 15 2007
15% off ANY ORDER Coupon code: BARGAINB1511
Sony ImageStation - 20 Free Prints through link
Target (pick up instore) - 10 Free Prints through link
WhoBlinked - 50 Free Prints Code: Whobwelcome ($1.99 s/h)
Winkflash - 50 Free Prints Code: WF23EA73 (99¢ s/h)
Yahoo (pick up at Target or mail) - 20 Free Prints through link (no s/h for
10)
Have a great week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
January 1, 2007
Happy New Year!!
After my computer crashed and my typing fingers were broken and in a
cast, Sister Thrifty is finally up and ready to save money again! Yay! I
hope your 2006 was great and that your 2007 will be even better! Two of
the most popular New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight and to save
more money. Well, here are a few tips to help you with both of those
today!
Personal trainers are very hot these days. But how do you know if the
person who is training you is legitimate? A TV station in Boston wanted
to find out so it had reporters try to get “certified.” One reporter was
able to take a two-hour online test and within a week she had her
certification in hand. There are only a handful of accredited organizations
that legitimately certify personal trainers. They are:
• American Council on Exercise
• National Council on Strength and Fitness
• National Strength and Conditioning Association
• National Academy of Sports Medicine
• National Federation of Personal Trainers
To get a FREE Pedometer from “Keep Moving” click here:
http://tinylink.com/?yHulkdlcZR
With all the walking you’ll be doing with your new, free pedometer you
might want to check out the bargain sales on shoes at “MARTYS
SHOES” **Free Shipping On Orders Of $29 & Up**
Womens Shoes 75% Off
Mens Shoes 50% Off
Kids Shoes 50% Off
Shoes Priced Under $10 A Pair
http://tinylink.com/?gB3xD8q1Qq
If just thinking about dieting is enough exercise for you then click here
to get a FREE chocolate bar from Lindt – their truffles are the best!
http://hwoa.info/dec/free_promotion.php
Here’s a FREE 2007 Roadsides In Bloom Calendar
http://tinylink.com/?Hf2udvEOpy
If you have international travel plans for 2007 then you need to know the
rules have changed again. For people who are flying to Canada, Mexico
or the Caribbean, you must have a passport starting Jan. 23. You don’t
want to spend money on a trip and lose it because you’ve forgotten to
get your passport. If you’re wondering why this is happening, it’s
because of the threat of terrorism around the world. The next phase in
the new rules concerns auto travel and cruises, but that won’t go into
effect until January of 2008. Getting a passport takes several weeks, so
be sure to plan ahead!
Good luck with all of your New Year’s resolutions. Remember, a goal not
written down is only a wish. Make it happen this year!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
NOVEMBER 15, 2006
Hi everyone!
I just discovered www.goodsearch.com , a brand new Yahoo powered
search engine which donates 50% of its revenue to the charities listed on
its site! Every time you want to search for where to get a flu shot or how
toothpaste was invented or whatever, you just use their site to find the
answer and Yahoo donates money to the charitable organization or
school of your choosing! What an easy way to earn money for your
favorite cause! Be sure to let your kids' schools know about it so they
can register. It will only take them a minute to apply online.
Wal-Mart is feeling the effects of all the bad press out there, having just
reported its worst sales month in years. As a result, the mega-retailer
launched its "Black Friday" early this year. If you’re not familiar with
Black Friday, it’s the Friday after Thanksgiving and it usually kicks off the
holiday shopping season. But this year Wal-Mart started Black Friday last
weekend! The deals will continue through the holiday season - or until
the goods are gone! The company is going to discount 10,000 items,
including a $398 Compaq laptop computer that normally retails for much
more. Check out sites like www.gottadeal.com and www.bfads.net for
items. The sale will put pressure on other retailers to offer up their deals
early, so keep an eye out over the next two months!
Interested in a new car for Christmas? Edmunds.com has done an
analysis of GM, Ford and Chrysler and has come up with news that is
entirely different than the industry report most people see. Edmunds
found that it would take at least three months to sell the cars sitting on
dealer lots at these three companies if no more cars sold. That is a huge
inventory and these companies have to pay when cars are sitting on lots,
taking up space. On the other hand, Toyota has almost no cars sitting on
its lots. So, what does it mean to you? American and German-made cars
are a steal. What you don’t want to do is sell your somewhat new
American car to buy a GM, Ford or Chrysler.
Well, that’s the scoop for today! Oh, how could I forget? Safeway is
selling gigantic turkeys for only $5.99!
Have a great day!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
Hi everyone!
My email computer woes have not been entirely solved yet, which is why
the weekly newsletter still hasn’t been going out regularly, however I
wanted to make sure you knew about this fun deal. Every year stores
nationwide prepare for the biggest shopping day of the year: the day
after Thanksgiving! Would you believe there is actually a web site that
specializes in this? (There is a web site for EVERYTHING these days!)
Click on and you’ll find out which stores in your area are offering the
best steals and deals that day. True Sister Thrifty fans get up extra early
to be the first in line to get those special discounts. What does Sister
Thrifty do?....she usually sleeps in to recover from all the pumpkin and
pecan pie she overindulged on Thanksgiving.
http://bfads.net
Have a great day!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
October 15, 2009
As always, Sister Thrifty's consumer newsletter is intended to be a sharing forum where
we can all give each other the "head's up" on the latest steals and deals around town,
so feel free to chime in! Here is this week's letter:
This week, I thought I'd talk about one of the most important things in the world....MOM!
When Mom is happy and healthy, then all is well with the world. Moms truly are the
heartbeat of their families, so it's important to take care of yourself. The bad economy
doesn't mean you have to skimp on your health. Here are a few no-cost screenings that
everyone can afford:
* October 16th is National Mammography Day. I know, that's just about as much fun as
sticking toothpicks in your eyeballs, but it's gotta be done. You can find a clinic that
offers free testing at http://www.nbcam.org/ While you're thinking about "the girls" you
can exercise for free at one of the many Breast Cancer Awareness runs/fitness walks
around the country.
* Your heart is full of love for your family, so let's keep it healthy too. You can get free
heart-health screenings year round at participating clinics nationwide found at http:
//www.sistertosister.org/
* You're probably outside a lot, watching the kids' soccer games, serving as lifeguard at
the pool, and taking the dog on walks, so let's make sure your skin is healthy too. Skin
cancer is one of the easiest types of cancer to get, but also to prevent. To find a clinic
that offers free skin cancer checks year round go to www.aad.
org/public/exams/screenings
* You kiss your kids goodbye when they get on that school bus; now it's your turn to get
on the bus. Walgreens sponsors a tour bus that travels around, offering free health
testing for bone density, glucose, cholesterol, blood pressure and body composition. To
find out when it will be rolling into your town check out www.aarpwalgreens.com/tour
Moms, the world needs you, so take a few minutes for yourself and be healthy!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
September 11, 2007
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 6th 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 no 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 Detergent
http://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** Easy
No 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 Foods
http://tinyurl.com/2n3nm5
Free Sample Of Tasters Choice Coffee
http://tinyurl.com/lx97h
FreeAmino 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 caplets
http://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 www.sisterthrifty.com
you can win free dinner certificates each month!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
March 26, 2007
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=ProductSamples
Then go to: http://www.healthpromotionsnow.com/Pages/HomePage.asp?
Selector=Step1_Regular&P_ID=75586
and 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
March 18 2007
Best Buy is in some really hot water these days, you might have heard.
There are now civil and criminal investigations going into practices at
Best Buy, according to the Hartford Courant, which broke the story. It's
being reported that Best Buy had a fake Web site in its stores that was
charging much higher prices than those found on the Web site accessed
from a home computer. Both sites have the name bestbuy.com, but the
in-store site was a bait and switch ploy, according to the Courant. When
people came in and asked about the lower price they saw on their
computer, they were told that the sale ended yesterday. At the worst, this
was a criminal act. At the least, it was an extremely foolish move.
Is your 401k plan ripping you off?
The Government Accountability Office has found out that 401k plans are
ripping off workers investing in them by swiping massive fees from you
each year. Some of them are taking as much as 5 percent a year off the
top. Under law, there is no requirement that you be told what you're
being charged for "maintenance and fees." So, it's allowed insurance
companies to take advantage of investors. If you own a business, you
need to ask point blank exactly what you're being charged. If you're an
employee and you think your account isn't increasing as much as it
should, you want to ask your human resources department what the fee
schedule is. If it turns out that the plan is a rip off, you should consider
moving your money into a Roth IRA. The best way for business owner to
tell if they are getting taken is if your plan is from either an insurance
company or stock brokerage company. You may want to consider setting
up with Fidelity and Vanguard, the two biggest 401k administrators in the
country. You can't go wrong with either one, but Vanguard is definitely
the least expensive. You should always save for your own retirement.
And here's another company that's ripping off their customers :
Comcast. What's going on with all these companies?!!?? Customers
are getting a letter from the company, warning them that if they use their
high-speed Internet too much they will be cut of. But the company
doesn't tell people what "too much" means. Customers have even called
the company to ask what "too much" is and they've been told it's a joke
and not to pay attention to it. Then, those folks have had their service
cut off without warning. A less expensive option is Clearwire, but it's
only available in certain areas. Sprint is currently spending $4 billion to
build a Wi-Max service around the country, so hopefully that will improve
competition, which always lowers prices and improves services.
Enough bad news! Here are some fun freebies:
I actually won a package of Pepperidge Farms cookies at this website!
100 packs of PEPPERIDGE FARMS COOKIES given away DAILY
expires APRIL 1 http://www.artofthecookie.com/
NO COST AFTER REBATE KEYBOARD
blue, black or silver available http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-441747-
10440897?
expires 3/31/07
blue ITEM #N82E16823204006
black ITEM #N82E16823204005
silver ITEM #N82E16823204004
SEARCH AND ADD ITEM TO YOUR CART PRINT OUT REBATE from LINK
ON ITEM DESCRIPTION PAGE
S&H IS $6.13 for me which is your out of pocket cost after rebate GREAT
GIFT ITEM!
Free smoke alarms for seniors
http://www.ucan.
org/forum/forums/san_diego_freebies/smoke_alarms_for_seniors
Free $5 Calling Card from DialBug.com
http://www.dialbug.com/couponcode.html Free Calling Card worth $5
(equivalent to approx. 1hr to India or 4 hours to USA, Canada or China)
NO COST AFTER REBATE IPOD CASE/ COVER/ SKIN
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000BV7ZPG/freelancebyu
$19.99 SHIPS AT NO COST WITH $25+ purchase mail in rebate on item
description page
Price After Rebate: F-r-e-e
HERE IS ANOTHER ONE FOR THE NANO NO COST AFTER REBATE
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000IZC19A/freelancebyu
SAME DEAL NO COST AFTER REBATE + NO S&H if you buy $25+
Coupon code: Trial$5
Free sample of BodiHeat therapeutic self-heating pads http://www.
beyondbodiheat.com/htmls/pre_free_sample_new.asp
Avalon Organics - Free Baby Lotion Samples (US)
http://www.avalonorganics.com/index.php?title=baby+samples
Free Ensure single bottle & coupon
https://ensure.com/registration.aspx?s=sample
Free Sample Lactaid® Fast Act
http://www.lactaid.com/
Free National Parks Pass for People w/ Disabilities
http://www.nps.gov/fees_passes.htm
Have a WONDERFUL week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
March 5, 2007
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 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
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 Coupon
http://www.jjsnack.com/minutemaid/couponform.asp
Have a great day!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
February 26, 2007
Buying a vacuum cleaner these days can be confusing and overwhelming with so many
brands and models to choose from. Three cheers for Consumer Reports who just made
shopping for your next vacuum much easier. And they have good news for us too…the top
vacuum out there costs just $150. It's a Eureka and it's CR's "Best Buy." People will pay up
to $400 for a vacuum cleaner, but the affordable Eureka brands are the second most reliable
out there. The Boss Smart Vac Ultra 4870 model had the highest rating for cleaning carpet
and bare floors. It also got the highest rating for sucking up cat hair. It was one of only three
that scored tops in all three categories, and it's the least expensive at $150. So, what were
the worst models? Some of the most expensive ones - $900 to $1,000 – were the least
reliable. What about the Dyson, which has gotten so much press? It was in the middle of the
pack. For a fairly expensive machine, it got mediocre ratings.
If you're interested in doing an online survey that pays $20 for only a few minutes of your
time go to www.nutritionfun.org The survey is about eating fruits & veggies.
Gmail is now free for everyone! Back in 2004 Google introduced Gmail but people could
only use the service if they were extended an invitation by a member. Now you're invited to
the party! Go to http://mail.google.com to get 2 GB of space, join chats, use their cool new
calendar, and tons of other cool stuff. Notice….Sister Thrifty's address is
sisterthrifty@gmail.com !
I just discovered www.Daveramsey.com and thought I'd share some of his money tips. He's
a radio talk show host and columnist in Tennessee who has created money management
products entitled "Financial Peace University." His "Baby Steps" to financial freedom are:
1. Set aside $1000 to start an Emergency Fund
2. Pay off all debt starting with credit cards
3. Have 3-6 months of expenses in savings
4. Invest 15% of household income into Roth AIRAs and pre-tax retirement
5. Set aside college funding for children
6. Pay off your home early
7. Build wealth and give to others
8. Invest in mutual funds and real estate
Well, those tips are pretty general, so I assume if you buy his products you'll get more
details. My point in bringing this up is that now, while we're all working on our taxes, is the
time to analyze our finances, evaluate how we're doing, and make changes.
And now for some fun freebies:
Every time Matt Kenseth wins a race, Arby's will give away free medium Curly Fries every
Monday following the race weekend. They're calling it "Matt's Monday." Go to www.rtminc.
com/about/news.php?yr=2007&sid=1320
Free 6 month membership to Sears Portrait Studio at http://www.searsportrait.com/cpi/img.
ashx?p=/Resources/cpi/en-US/email/07/0222/v8.htm
Free tire rotation and brake inspection at Big O Tires printing the coupon at www.bigo.
com/coupons.asp
KOA is offering a free night at their participating campgrounds in May. Check out www.koa.
com
That's it for today! Have a good one!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
February 20, 207
Hi everyone! I try to get these newsletters out to you on the weekends, but I
was busy being sick sick sick. Bleh. I'm still not feeling great, but I wanted you
to get some of this great information (and sitting at my computer will hopefully
distract me from feeling sick sick sick.)
Since I'm thinking health (or lack thereof) these days, I wanted to let you know
about an interesting web site I found that you can use to order your own
medical tests instead of paying whatever the doctor or hospital charges.
Insurance will not pay, but if you don't have insurance anyway or your
reimbursement stinks then this could save you a ton of money. Check out
www.directlabs.com/index.php Just use good judgment when dealing with
your health care.
There are a number of prescription programs that will save you money. To find
the Rx program for your state go to www.pparx.org Low-income seniors who
qualify can get the "Eli Lilly" card and really save on their medications. Call 1-
877-RX-LILLY. For a $10 fee, Rxaminer will permit users to enter all current
prescriptions and returns a list of available generic or other suggested brands
for less money.
Go to www.rxaminer.com/consult/index.asp
Here are some freebies that have to do with health and wellness.
GlaxoSmithKline is offering all kinds of free samples when you register: http:
//healthyspecials.com/Default.aspx They are also starting the "Orange Card"
program, which gives elderly people who qualify 25% off their prescriptions. To
read an article about their plan click here: http://www.intelihealth.
com/IH/ihtIH/EMIHC000/333/333/335569.html
Here's a free mouth wash sample: http://walmart.triaddigital.
com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid11366.aspx
Click on here and you'll get a coupon for free veggies from Green Giant:
http://www.bettycrocker.com/Products/Green-Giant/green-giant-offers.htm
Free skincare samples from Chamonix:
http://www.betterskintoday.com/requestsample.htm
Free sample of Palmer's Cocoa butter formula with vitamin E lotion. Go to "Like
Some?" http://skinisfashion.com/
You're probably working on your 2006 taxes by now and I want to make sure
you know about the special one-time federal excise tax credit in 2006 rebates
tax overpayment on phone bills. What do taxes have to do with health? Well, if
you don't pay them you'll be sick when you get audited and have to pay
penalties! Everyone is allowed to get this deduction this year only, but you
have to make note of it on your tax forms or you'll miss it. To read more about
it and how to claim it check out this link:
http://www.snopes.com/business/taxes/excise.asp
That's it for today. Take care of yourselves!!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
February 10, 2007
Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you feel loved, appreciated and get a
romantic kiss from someone you love! Auntie Anne’s Pretzels will send
your loved one a coupon for a free pretzel when you send them a
Valentine’s e-card using one of their links. You know, they’re the
company that sells those big, yummy pretzels inside the malls. There are
several designs to choose from and the free pretzel coupon is good for a
month. Sweet!
http://www.aloveyoucancounton.com/?page=2
http://funkyvalentine.com/
http://cupidsdiet.com/
http://loveisforthedogs.com/
http://itwasworthit.com/
http://apairofmonkeys.com/
Here’s another sweet freebie treat for Valentine’s Day: a free Mrs. Smith’
s Pound Cake!
http://www.mrssmiths.com/poundcake/pdfs/TakeTheCakeForm.pdf
Click on this link to get free aromatherapy fragrance cards:
www.mandala-aroma.com/samples/index.asp
Here are some great web sites where you can get some great ideas for
inexpensive ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
For Couples
http://www.frugalfun.com/f10.html
Frugal Valentine Craft Ideas
http://www.mommysavers.com/frugal-holidays/frugal-valentine-craft-
ideas.shtml
Romantic Frugal Valentines Day Gifts
http://www.frugalmom.net/fa%20frugal%20valentines%20day%20gifts.htm
Making Valentine's Day Special on a Shoestring
http://www.cbn.com/family/marriage/frugal_valentine_ideas.aspx
Heart4Home :: Simple to Make Sweet Treats
http://www.frugalhomemaker.com/simple_sweet_treats.htm
In honor of National Pancake Day on February 20th, IHOP will give you
one FREE “Short Stack” of pancakes. See www.ihop.com/tellafriend.php
Have a wonderful week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
February 2, 2007
Happy Groundhog Day!
According to Puxatony Phil, spring is just around the corner. He actually
may be right this time because starting in 2007, daylight saving time is
going to start the second week of March and end the first Sunday in
November. It means we'll get a month more of daylight each year we keep
in place the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Alarmists are going a little nuts
over the act, saying the change could disrupt time sensitive machines
and systems such as ATMs, but I'm gonna be lovin the sunshine!
Credit cards may be signing you up to pay!
Have you heard of "Buyer's Advantage?" Supposedly, it's a marketing
program sponsored by certain banks and credit card companies that
allows you to get discounts on merchandise. But that is a bunch of
hooey. It's really an excuse for companies to remove money from their
customer's accounts. Chase and Bank of America are soliciting for
Buyer's Advantage and it's one of the worst schemes out there. The
banks will send you a $10 check or "account credit" that signs you up for
Buyer's Advantage. The problem is that when you sign and cash the
check or take the credit, you are agreeing to pay an annual fee of $150
for nothing. The money is usually a small monthly deduction from
checking accounts, and people just don't notice it. So, check your
statements and if you see something questionable, dispute it right away!
Do you know your credit score?
According to a recent survey, only 3 percent of Americans know what a
credit score is. Worse yet, less than 15 percent of people are checking
their credit reports each year. Credit scores are like a grade that tells you
whether your credit is poor, fair, good or outstanding. But, unlike school
where you get one grade per class, there are three credit scores you can
obtain. First, the industry-accepted standard score is called a "FICO"
score, which is between 400 and 800 points. Each credit bureau
(Experian, Transunion and Equifax) has different information on you, so
they compute your score differently. Your interest rate can change
depending on which bureau a lender uses. You must check all three of
your credit reports and all three of your credit scores four to six months
before you're going to buy a house. If you're planning to buy a house in a
month, GET THEM NOW! One in three people find mistakes in their
reports, so it's imperative that you do this. The one place to get your
credit scores is myfico.com. There are other legitimate sites and other
ripoff sites out there, but telling them apart can be difficult. There is only
one site where you can get your free report: annualcreditreport.com.
Book lovers save money
I just discovered www.booksfree.com . They have an entire inventory of
mass market paperbacks you can borrow for free by paying a monthly
fee for shipping and handling of $6.99, which is less than the cost of one
book. They'll ship you two books at a time. When you're done reading
both ( no due dates, no late fees ), return them in the pre-paid mailer they
came in. Automatically you will receive the next two books on your
reading list. It's just like Netflix, but for books!
And now for some fun freebies:
Turbotax Online free edition http://dealnews.com/deals/Turbotax-Online-
Free-Edition-for-free/151606.html?ref=alert
Free Olay Definity sample
http://olaydefinity.offerprocessingcenter.com/?source=Definitycom
Tums Sample http://calciuminfo.com/promotions/Sample.aspx
Creative packaging samples www.bubblope.com/pages/2/index.htm
Free kid friendly sponge from Dawn http://tinylink.com/?l05ivjOOBN
Free scrapbook software, free embellishments and more
http://tinylink.com/?l05ivjOOBN
Have a wonderful week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
January 27, 2007
Security breach at T.J. Maxx could affect you
There have been so many security breaches at companies lately that
people are almost immune to them. The latest one is so large and
potentially dangerous that I wanted you to know about it. TJX, which
owns T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Home Goods and A.J. Wright, is the latest
company to announce that customers' credit card, debit card and check
information has been compromised. Apparently, the breach happened
several years ago without the company's knowledge, so it has affected
millions of people over the last few years. The hackers broke into the
company's computer system in 2003 and it has been going on ever since.
The breach could be especially detrimental to people who have used their
debit cards at these stores. The company is asking customers to check
their statements carefully. So far, no major issues have occurred, but if
you've shopped at any of these stores you want to check your
documents very carefully! This kind of thing can happen anywhere,
anytime. The question is why aren't companies doing more to prevent
it? Speaking of clothing stores….
Clothing is a steal at most retailers
You may have heard that retailers had a lousy Christmas last year,
especially those in the clothing market. Consumers were all about
electronics this holiday season, and that includes women and men.
Digital cameras, televisions and HDTVs were the popular picks for
everyone. Add to that the fact that it's been a pretty mild winter, which
keeps people from buying the warm clothing they normally would. The
upside to this news is that retailers will have fantastic deals on clothing
in the next few weeks. In fact, "past season" or winter clothing is going
to be extra cheap, so you can stock up for next winter. Retailers are
basically dying to get rid of this inventory to make room for the spring
and summer clothes. The only retailers that had a good Christmas were
Costco Wholesale, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Guess. So,
you won't find the deals at those places. But nearly everywhere else you
go will be a steal.
Why extended warranties are a rip
Consumer Reports' latest edition is all about what a waste of money
extended warranties are. Every dollar you pay for an extended warranty,
you're really only getting about 15 or 20 cents on it. Why is that? First of
all, the quality of the electronics and appliances is so good these days
that the chance of them breaking is miniscule. Secondly, if something
does happen it will probably be after the warranty runs out. In addition,
although the products are high quality, they will lose value with each year
you own them. And you never want to insure a rapidly decreasing
product. Also keep in mind that when you buy an item on a major credit
card, you usually extend the manufacturer's warranty by one year. So,
extended warranties and service contracts simply aren't worth it.
Jellyfish.com could save you dough
The latest invention to save you money online is called Jellyfish.com. It's
a comparison shopping site like the others, but Jellyfish also gives you a
direct discount off your purchase. Usually it's about two percent. But
what you need to remember is that no site will always have the best deal.
You always want to shop around.
And now, for this week's fun freebies!
Free samples for your baby at http://www.babiesonline.com/offers
Free $5 prepaid mastercard http://yoitsme.com/free/
Banquet Frozen Foods free coupon booklet
http://www.conagrafoods.com/promotions/banquet_promo.jsp
Free Advance Copy Children's Books from HarperCollins Publishing
http://www.harpercollinschildrens.com/HarperChildrens/Members/firstlook/index.aspx
Printable Coupon for Free Movie from Movie Gallery
http://www.moviegallery.com/coupons/conh49a7.aspx
Free $15 GC from American Gem Society
http://www.americangemsociety.org/cnn/index.php
B1G1F Progresso Soup coupon
http://www.bettycrocker.com/coupons-promotions/progresso-coupon-dvr.
htm?RedirectURL=TiVoDVRDealURL
Free Olay Definity anti-aging facial moisturizer sample
http://walmart.triaddigital.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid10250.aspx
Scotch-BriteT Carpet Touch Up Roller Try Me FREE Offer!
http://mmm.apfco.com/w1231/pdf/ScotchBriteRebate.pdf
Free Diabetic Meter and Test Strips
http://iw.rtm.com/ADCSample/register.asp
Have a great week out there!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
January 21, 2007
It's only January but tax time is already on my mind. I guess with New
Year's resolutions and all, I've been evaluating all of my family's
expenses again, trying to cut back. It's a good idea to annually review
your bills and compare other options that might be out there. If you're
thinking about tax time too, you'll be happy to know the free filing
program from the IRS is available once again. So, who's eligible? If your
income is more than $60,000 a year, you might not qualify. So, it's a good
thing to figure out your adjusted gross income (AGI) before you start the
process. Your AGI must be less than $52,000 a year to use the free
program. That covers about 70 percent of all income earners. And there
is a special rule that applies just for this year. You will get an extra tax
break if you wait until after Feb. 3 to file. Waiting specifically benefits
people who live in states with no state income tax. The IRS free tax filing
has changed every year for the past three, so read the fine print carefully.
I found this little web site that could help you trim expenses on meal
time: www.eatingonabudget.com
I hate getting charged for calling 411, so I was thrilled to find this nugget
of information: Call to get phone numbers to businesses or residences
for FREE! It is for anyone who doesn't have information directory on
their phone but anyone can use it. Here is the number 1 800 373 3411.
An easy way to remember it is 1-800-FREE-411.
Still getting those pre-screened credit card offers in the mail? You have
the option of opting out of those offers for 5 years, or permanently. You
can go to www.optoutprescreen.com or you can call 1-888-5-OPTOUT.
Requests are generally processed within 5 business days, but it can take
up to 60 days for you to stop receiving offers.
Produce prices are on the way up. Weather is hitting us hard these days,
and our crops have suffered. Many crops were wiped out by the freezes
going on around the country, so demand is high. If you like fruits and
vegetables, or you enjoy eating a salad every day, you're going to pay a
lot more for these.
Student loan rates are dropping! What's up with the current student loan
system these days? Well, federal subsidized student loans are dropping
to about 3.4 percent! Interest rates had been bumped up to more than 7
percent by the last Congress, and it was part of a corrupt, political move
to pad the pockets of bankers. Thankfully, the new Congress is reversing
that. As you probably expected, banks are livid. They want rates to be
higher so they can make more money. But the outcry of the people will
hopefully prevent them from winning out. This is for people taking out
money going forward, so shop around before you settle for a rate.
Several of my friends are considering out-of-state moves for job offers. I
found this cool Cost of Living Calculator that helps evaluate how far your
money will go if you move. I found a huge difference in our expenses
when we moved from Georgia to California!. Give it a try.
http://swz.salary.com/costoflivingwizard/layoutscripts/coll_start.asp
And now for some fun freebies!
Free coupon for free Tropicana
http://www.tropicana.ca/indexFlash.html
Sample Of Fibersure
http://www.fibersure.com/index_flash.shtml
Free Travel mug from GM
http://www.whygas.com/
Free Sample Healthy Futures Snack Bar
http://healthyfutures.net/nlrc/products/free_sample.php
Free Wake Up In The USA Stickers
http://www.wakeupintheusa.com/friend.html
Free Almond Snack Tin From California Almonds
http://tinylink.com/?vVMlkogYdp
Remember, if you have recently started receiving "Deals That Are Nifty by
Sister Thrifty" you can read past newsletters in the archive found at
sisterthrifty.blogspot.com Have a great day!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
January 14, 2007
Hi everyone! Happy Martin Luther King Day! I have a dream......to save
more of my hard-earned money!!! I'll bet you have that same dream
since you signed up for the "Deals That Are Nifty" newsletter!
So, did you declare a "New Year's Resolution" to start saving more
money in 2007? Like any resolution, unless some action is taken on your
part, nothing will ever change. The key to making your resolution
become a reality is to set a goal. In other words, what do you want the
'extra' money for? Are you saving for a new car stereo system? What
about a family trip?
Point is, when you have something to strive for, saving money becomes
ten times easier. This goal is something you really want, so you will do
what is necessary to be successful. Adopt The "Do I REALLY Need This"
Approach Before you purchase ANYTHING, ask yourself if you REALLY
truly need to have it. Whenever you are tempted to buy something, ask
yourself "Do I REALLY NEED this new item, or do I just WANT it?" You
may be surprised to learn that some of the purchases you make, you
simply WANT to have and can probably get by without it (at least for
now).
Take time to reflect on your current situation. Analyze your expenses to
see where you might be able to cut-back to save more money.
Remember, you and only you control the amount of money you save in
2007.
Below are some fun freebies to get you started on your other
resolutions: cleaner house, lose weight, laugh more with the kids and
spouse more, take better care of my health, etc. I love FREE!
Free Swiffer Duster! http://www.startsampling.
com/partners/familycircle1/
90% off plus free shipping! Stock up on BAGS, RIBBONS, NICE paper,
tissue paper, stuffed animals, christmas cards. http://www.
papyrusonline.com/category/sale.do Use coupon code WFS06 for free
shipping.
Two-Week FREE Trial Membership to any
Participating Curves location & Free Headband
http://www.proline-intl.com/CurvesPromo/sign_up.cfm
Free Latin Salsa Band CD
http://www.sontumbao.com/hsb_DemoCDForm.aspx
Free Sample of Del Mar.Fragrance for Men
http://tinylink.com/?azcwePWUyb
Free Noxema 4 Blade Shaver
( Click On Savvy Shaving Then Promotions)
http://tinylink.com/?GT68Bo7lQf
Free DVDPlay Kiosk Movie Rental- in safeway/Vons stores
http://www.dvdplay.com/kiosk-promos/free-movie.html
Free Local Telephone Number to Use Online
http://tinyurl.com/yy4536
Great to use when signing up for freebies & contests! Can store up to
10,000 voicemails. You'll never have to give out your home phone
number again & it's totally Free!! Get a number in a different city for
work, or to be local to out of town friends and family. Pay no long
distance to send messages back and forth.
Alrighty, that should keep you busy for a few minutes! Enjoy!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
January 7, 2007
Hi everyone!
Did you take a ton of holiday photos this year? Here are the latest offers
I can find for getting prints of your digitals at little to no cost! Most of
these do require you pay S&H which is minimal really, for the amount of
photos you can get!
MOST OF THESE ARE FOR NEW CUSTOMERS to the site
some have additional OFFERS for both returning and new customers
have some fun!
AdoramaPix - 25 Free Prints
PROFESSIONAL QUALITY!
Clark Color Labs - 20 Free Prints
PLUS 9c per print offer! WOWZA
ClubPhoto - 20 Free Prints
CVS (pick up in store) - 10 Free Prints
DotPhoto - 50 Free Prints
NO COST SHIPPING with order of $24.99+
Fotomat - 15 Free Prints
Kodak EasyShare Gallery - 20 Free Prints
MyPhotoAlbum - 20 Free Prints
Mystic Color Lab - 20 Free Prints
PhotoMama - 10 Free Prints
PhotoMax - 20 Free Prints
Photosite - 10 4x6 prints
PhotoThru - 20 Free Prints Plus 2 Photo CD’s through link
PhotoWorks - 25 Free Prints through link
SMALL PHOTO BOOK no cost w/ any purchase: Coupon code: C446-38-
5153-41
NO COST S&H w/ any purchase Coupon code: C609-38-5164-21
RitzPix - 10 Free Prints Code: free4×6
Shutterfly - 15 Free Prints through link
Coupon Code 17AF-PTWN Spend $20 and get a free 8x10 print Offer
Expires Jan 09 2007
Snapfish - 20 Free Prints through Link
Coupon Code FREESHIPJAN Free shipping on up to 100 4x6 prints Offer
Expires Jan 15 2007
15% off ANY ORDER Coupon code: BARGAINB1511
Sony ImageStation - 20 Free Prints through link
Target (pick up instore) - 10 Free Prints through link
WhoBlinked - 50 Free Prints Code: Whobwelcome ($1.99 s/h)
Winkflash - 50 Free Prints Code: WF23EA73 (99¢ s/h)
Yahoo (pick up at Target or mail) - 20 Free Prints through link (no s/h for
10)
Have a great week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
January 1, 2007
Happy New Year!!
After my computer crashed and my typing fingers were broken and in a
cast, Sister Thrifty is finally up and ready to save money again! Yay! I
hope your 2006 was great and that your 2007 will be even better! Two of
the most popular New Year’s resolutions are to lose weight and to save
more money. Well, here are a few tips to help you with both of those
today!
Personal trainers are very hot these days. But how do you know if the
person who is training you is legitimate? A TV station in Boston wanted
to find out so it had reporters try to get “certified.” One reporter was
able to take a two-hour online test and within a week she had her
certification in hand. There are only a handful of accredited organizations
that legitimately certify personal trainers. They are:
• American Council on Exercise
• National Council on Strength and Fitness
• National Strength and Conditioning Association
• National Academy of Sports Medicine
• National Federation of Personal Trainers
To get a FREE Pedometer from “Keep Moving” click here:
http://tinylink.com/?yHulkdlcZR
With all the walking you’ll be doing with your new, free pedometer you
might want to check out the bargain sales on shoes at “MARTYS
SHOES” **Free Shipping On Orders Of $29 & Up**
Womens Shoes 75% Off
Mens Shoes 50% Off
Kids Shoes 50% Off
Shoes Priced Under $10 A Pair
http://tinylink.com/?gB3xD8q1Qq
If just thinking about dieting is enough exercise for you then click here
to get a FREE chocolate bar from Lindt – their truffles are the best!
http://hwoa.info/dec/free_promotion.php
Here’s a FREE 2007 Roadsides In Bloom Calendar
http://tinylink.com/?Hf2udvEOpy
If you have international travel plans for 2007 then you need to know the
rules have changed again. For people who are flying to Canada, Mexico
or the Caribbean, you must have a passport starting Jan. 23. You don’t
want to spend money on a trip and lose it because you’ve forgotten to
get your passport. If you’re wondering why this is happening, it’s
because of the threat of terrorism around the world. The next phase in
the new rules concerns auto travel and cruises, but that won’t go into
effect until January of 2008. Getting a passport takes several weeks, so
be sure to plan ahead!
Good luck with all of your New Year’s resolutions. Remember, a goal not
written down is only a wish. Make it happen this year!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
NOVEMBER 15, 2006
Hi everyone!
I just discovered www.goodsearch.com , a brand new Yahoo powered
search engine which donates 50% of its revenue to the charities listed on
its site! Every time you want to search for where to get a flu shot or how
toothpaste was invented or whatever, you just use their site to find the
answer and Yahoo donates money to the charitable organization or
school of your choosing! What an easy way to earn money for your
favorite cause! Be sure to let your kids' schools know about it so they
can register. It will only take them a minute to apply online.
Wal-Mart is feeling the effects of all the bad press out there, having just
reported its worst sales month in years. As a result, the mega-retailer
launched its "Black Friday" early this year. If you’re not familiar with
Black Friday, it’s the Friday after Thanksgiving and it usually kicks off the
holiday shopping season. But this year Wal-Mart started Black Friday last
weekend! The deals will continue through the holiday season - or until
the goods are gone! The company is going to discount 10,000 items,
including a $398 Compaq laptop computer that normally retails for much
more. Check out sites like www.gottadeal.com and www.bfads.net for
items. The sale will put pressure on other retailers to offer up their deals
early, so keep an eye out over the next two months!
Interested in a new car for Christmas? Edmunds.com has done an
analysis of GM, Ford and Chrysler and has come up with news that is
entirely different than the industry report most people see. Edmunds
found that it would take at least three months to sell the cars sitting on
dealer lots at these three companies if no more cars sold. That is a huge
inventory and these companies have to pay when cars are sitting on lots,
taking up space. On the other hand, Toyota has almost no cars sitting on
its lots. So, what does it mean to you? American and German-made cars
are a steal. What you don’t want to do is sell your somewhat new
American car to buy a GM, Ford or Chrysler.
Well, that’s the scoop for today! Oh, how could I forget? Safeway is
selling gigantic turkeys for only $5.99!
Have a great day!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
Hi everyone!
My email computer woes have not been entirely solved yet, which is why
the weekly newsletter still hasn’t been going out regularly, however I
wanted to make sure you knew about this fun deal. Every year stores
nationwide prepare for the biggest shopping day of the year: the day
after Thanksgiving! Would you believe there is actually a web site that
specializes in this? (There is a web site for EVERYTHING these days!)
Click on and you’ll find out which stores in your area are offering the
best steals and deals that day. True Sister Thrifty fans get up extra early
to be the first in line to get those special discounts. What does Sister
Thrifty do?....she usually sleeps in to recover from all the pumpkin and
pecan pie she overindulged on Thanksgiving.
http://bfads.net
Have a great day!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty
"Deals That Are Nifty"
by
Sister Thrifty
by
Sister Thrifty
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Share your own
money-saving tips
with Sister Thrifty
and you could win a
prize this month!
money-saving tips
with Sister Thrifty
and you could win a
prize this month!
Did you hear Trina Boice speak at
BYU-Idaho Education Week?
Would you love a copy of her
Power Point presentations on how
to Save Money & Earn Money?
Enter your contact information in
the box above and she'll email
them to you!
BYU-Idaho Education Week?
Would you love a copy of her
Power Point presentations on how
to Save Money & Earn Money?
Enter your contact information in
the box above and she'll email
them to you!
