Black Friday 2017 infogram is insightful

Cyber Monday Mahem

   

While I’m not one to stand outside a store at 4:00 am for Black Friday bargains, I definitely get excited about “Cyber Monday.” Why? Because I can get great prices from the comfort of my home by shopping online!


Cyber Monday has become so popular and a part of our Christmas shopping lexicon that it’s even in Wikipedia now. The term Cyber Monday refers to the Monday immediately following Black Friday. Whereas Black Friday is associated with traditional brick and mortar stores, Cyber Monday symbolizes a busy day for online retailers. The premise was that consumers would return to their offices after the Black Friday weekend, making purchases online that they were not able to make in stores.

Each year www.walmart.com offers some of the best bargains and this year they’re in a price war with www.amazon.com I love that! Some of the common discounts include free shipping and percentages off the sales price. While I love going inside a real store and being able to touch the merchandise and get my picture taken with Santa, I REALLY love being able to stay home and shop in my pajamas!

Below are some really great web sites where you can see at a glance which retailers are offering discounts this year:

www.cybermonday.net

www.cybermonday.fm/

www.offers.com/cyber-monday/

www.cybermondayonlinedeals.com

www.dealtaker.com/cybermonday

www.visa.com/cybermonday

www.target.com/cybermonday



One of the great advantages to shopping online is that you can ship directly to your gift recipient, saving you hours of packaging presents, driving in crazy traffic to the post office, and standing in long lines during the busy holiday season! Some stores will even allow you to "double dip" which means you can stack discounts. Before you purchase anything online, remember to do an online search of the name of the store you're interested in buying from, along with the words "discount code" and you'll be pointed towards sites that give you special codes to use in the shopping cart to save even more money!

Some of my favorite discount code web sites are:

• www.currentcodes.com

• www.Couponcactus.com

• www.retailmenot.com

• www.couponcabin.com

• www.couponchief.com



Each year consumers spend more than $80 billion shopping on the Internet. It’s fast. It’s easy. No crowds. No searching for parking spaces. And who doesn’t love shopping in their pajamas? Unfortunately, one out of ten adults reported being victimized by online fraud in 2011, so you definitely need to be careful. Computer security experts have come up with some shopping tips to help protect you from cyber crime.

1. Investigate the vendor. Check the site for refund policies and contact information. It only takes a minute to review a company’s track record at www.bbb.org (Better Business Bureau).

2. Protect your private information by never giving financial information by email.

3. Start a paper trail. Print online receipts, product information and email confirmations.

4. Choose carefully where you shop. Only shop online at sites that provide password protection and encryption. When you see “https” you know the site is secure.

5. Protect your computer with antivirus software and firewalls.

The Internet has also made the world a much smaller place. There might be a company in Wisconsin who has exactly what your son’s school needs but can’t afford. www.throwplace.com is a great resource where charities, businesses, and individuals donate items and can get free items in return! Be sure to sign up your kids’ schools or your church!

The holidays are a busy time to be sure. Remember to pause and reflect on what’s truly important. Toss the guilt if you can’t buy the expensive gift for others that you wish you could. There is no shame in writing up some of those hand-made gift coupons, good for one back rub or car wash. People on their death bed never say they wish they had that gadget; rather, they often express regret for not having spent more time loving and serving others.

Starting the new year with service pays off!

No doubt that most of us have the same stuff on our list of Year's resolutions: lose weight, exercise more, be a better parent, save more money, and serve others more. Right? Well, I can help you out with a couple of those right now! (Save money & serve more)

Starting on January 1, 2010 volunteers will be able to sign up for volunteer opportunities specifically designed to engage whole families in volunteer service. In exchange for your day of service you and your family members aged 6 and up can qualify to receive a free ticket to a Disney Park! In order to receive your Disney ticket you must follow the directions below:

Go directly to www.disney.com and click on "Give a day, get a day"

Complete the registration process for you and your family

Sign up for a Disney qualified project listed on the Disney parks website

Show up for the project you signed up for and volunteer

Make sure when you show up for your Disney qualified project you sign in and out so you receive credit for your volunteer service. The FAQ will answer most of your questions regarding participation, black out dates, ticket redemption and more.



While you're revising your New Year's resolutions, here are a few more worth considering:



Health:

1. Drink plenty of water.

2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.

3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants, and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy

5. Make time to pray.

6. Play more games

7. Read more books than you did in 2009.

8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day

9. Sleep for 7 hours.

10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

12. Don't have negative thoughts on things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

13. Don't overdo. Keep your limits.

14. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

15. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.

16. Dream more while you are awake.

17. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need..

18. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.

19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.

20. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

21. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

22. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class, but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.

23. Smile and laugh more.

24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree...

Society:

25. Call your family often.

26. Each day give something good to others.

27. Forgive everyone for everything..

28. Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.

29. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

30. What other people think of you is none of your business.

31. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:

32. Do the right thing!

33. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

34. GOD heals everything.

35. However good or bad a situation is, it will change..

36. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

37. The best is yet to come..

38. When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.

39. Your innermost is always happy. So, be happy.

5/8/2007 Newsletter

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

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

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

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

And finally, if you're busy planning a wedding this spring or summer, check out all these wedding freebies:
Free Sample of Wedding Magnetshttp://www.magnetstreet.com/request/requestweddingpack/market/517/
-Free Organic Wedding Invitation Sampleshttp://www.organicweddings.com/wedding_invitations/paper_request.html
-Free Samples for Brides - Join Mailing List http://www.romanticflowers.com/samples_freesamples.html
-Free Wedding Invitations by Dawnhttp://www.invitationsbydawn.com/Custom/DawnUS/DD_Samples.cfm
-Your Weddings Registryhttp://www.yourweddingsregistry.com/
-Invites Galore Free Sampleshttp://www.invitesgalore.com/samples.htm
-Bliss Weddings Tips and Checklistshttp://www.blissweddings.com/
-Free Wedding Guidehttp://www.worry-free-weddings.com/request.htm
-Free Wedding Plannerhttp://www.usbridalguide.com/local/associate.html
-Create a Free Wedding Websitehttp://www.mywedding.com/main/couple_sites.html
-Free Silk Rose Petalshttp://www.iblossom.com/_contact.html
-Free Samples from the Petal Gardenhttp://www.petalgarden.com/silk-samples.htm
-Free Flower Petal Samples - emailhttp://www.weddingflowersandmore.com/silk-rose-petals.html
email: samples@weddingflowersandmore.com
-Petal Press Handmade Paper Sampleshttp://www.thepetalpress.com/PapersPage.htm
-Free Wedding Favor Sampleshttp://www.sophiesfavors.com/samples.htm
-Free Wine Glass Name Tagshttp://www.imageryproducts.com/sample_request.html
-Now and Forever Free Invitation Samples and Cataloghttp://www.now-and-forever.com/ left side-Wedding Freebieshttp://freebies.about.com/OD/weddingfreebies/Wedding_Freebies.htm
OD /weddingfreebies/Wedding_Freebies.htm
-Free One Year Subscription to Marriage Todayhttp://www.marriagetoday.org/site/PageServerpagename=magazine_subscribe
Free Brides Guidehttp://www.bridesguide.com/subscribe.cfm
-Free Macy's Wedding Dream Bookhttp://wedding.weddingchannel.com/promo/wishbook/order.asp
-Free Nancees Designs Wedding Plannerhttp://www.nanceesdesigns.com/Forms/register.html
-Free Ring Sizerhttp://www.weddingbands.com/ringSizer.asp
-Free Wedding Plannerhttp://www.sf.pii.orders.com/Events/Marriage/RP_Marriage/
-Free Wedding Songs CD when You Registerhttp://www.theknot.com/may_locations.html


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

CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

4/28/07 Newsletter

"Deals that are nifty by Sister Thrifty"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sister Thrifty

4/21/07 Newsletter

"Deals that are nifty by Sister Thrifty"

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

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


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


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

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

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

CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

April 2, 2007 Newsletter

"Deals that are nifty by Sister Thrifty"

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


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

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

$1.50 coupons for Hershey's Easter Candy.


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

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

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

CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty