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.

Black Friday Bonanza

Saving money is all about being organized and thinking ahead.  Black Friday is a perfect example.   Most of us are completely exhausted after all of the busy activities of Thanksgiving and still have dirty dishes in the sink the next day, but the organized shopper wakes up early the next morning, ready to hit the stores and grab the bargains.  Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving, and it marks the beginning of the traditional Christmas shopping season in the United States.

The term dates back to at least 1966.  "Black Friday" originated in Philadelphia in reference to the heavy traffic on that day.  More recently, the media have used it instead to refer to the beginning of the period in which retailers go from being in the red (posting a loss on the books) to being in the black (turning a profit). In many cities it is not uncommon to see shoppers lined up for hours before stores with big sales open. Once inside the stores, shoppers rush around and snatch up what they can, as many stores have only a few of the big-draw items in stock. On occasion, some shoppers are so overly enthusiastic about the savings that injuries and even fatalities have been reported.   No savings is worth that!

This year, in hopes of surviving the rough economy, some stores have started their Black Friday sales already!  Check out these helpful web sites to find some of the great deals out there:

www.blackfriday.info  

www.bfads.net  

www.black-friday.net  

www.theblackfriday.com   

www.blackfriday.gottadeal.com  

www.retailmenot.com/black-friday  

Now, having said all of that, the best gifts are those which come from the heart, and not the shopping mall.  In a tight economy, we should never go into debt just to purchase gifts.  There are plenty of inexpensive, yet meaningful gifts we can give to our loved ones without breaking the bank.  Remember, spending quality time with others is priceless!

Many retailers allow discount code web sites to "leak" their sales information several days before Black Friday.  If you love to shop at a particular store, do a Google search with the name of that store, plus the words "Black Friday" and you might get to find out what steals and deals they'll be featuring after Turkey Day!  Target and Wal-Mart have already released some sneak peek info about nice discounts on their flagship door-buster electronic items.  BJ's Wholesale Club, Harbor Freight, and Ace Hardware have already released their Black Friday catalogs as well.

While the best deals are usually found in the wee hours of the morning when the stores first open, most retailers this year are planning on extending their bargains through the Thanksgiving weekend to encourage more consumers to spend their dollars and kick-start the Christmas shopping season.  Do a web search with your city’s name, plus the words “Black Friday” and you’ll find some store listings with their special hours.

Celebrating National Coupon Month Just Makes Cents

Celebrating National Coupon Month Just Makes Cents

Some people call me the Coupon Queen.  My kids even laugh at me and say if the house were on fire and we needed to flee to safety that I’d grab my coupon box before leaving.  We pretty much only go out to dinner if we have a coupon to use and yes, I even have one of those cute fabric coupon holders I take into the grocery store.  So, maybe I’m a Coupon Geek, rather than a Coupon Queen.  I actually have three coupon boxes: one in the house and one in each car.  I do love me some coupons!  J  

Despite all of the mocking I get for being thrifty and always using coupons, studies now reveal that 72 percent of shoppers have turned to the dark side…well, uh….the coupon side.  Today’s troubled economy has more consumers thinking twice to pay full price.  More and more people are converting to couponing and since 1998, September has been declared National Coupon Month.  The first coupon was handwritten in 1886 by Coca-Cola. Smart company.

TLC even has a show now called “Extreme Couponing.”  Have you seen it?  You’ll be inspired!  According to Nationalcouponmonth.com, 20 minutes a week of clipping and clicking online for coupons could save you over $1000 annually.  Sometimes a lot more.  True story…

I had just given birth to our third son and knew we were outgrowing our first home quickly.  I drove around town looking at homes for months, trying to find the perfect house and neighborhood for my growing family.  I fell in love with a particular home, but wanted to make sure it really was the right place for us.  I prayed about it and the next weekend I saw a coupon in the newspaper for $5000 off homes being sold by that particular builder.  It was like a sign!  I just knew that a house I could purchase with a coupon had my name written all over it!

Budgetsaresexy.com has listed the reasons why coupons are awesome as:

1.      You save money!  (My mantra is “Never pay full price!”)
2.      Instant fun family activity!  (We clip while watching TV.)
3.      You can feel accomplished and proactive about reducing your grocery bill.  
4.      Potential to find a good product that you might not otherwise have used since you are more likely to buy it with a good coupon!  Oh the places you’ll see…

I think I’ll add to the list that food always tastes yummier when you get it with a discount!  Movies are better with a discount!  Excursions are more fun with a discount!  You just feel smarter and more in control of your money when you can pay less for something than the average consumer.

Bulk coupon buying is now all the rage with web sites like Groupon and Living Social.  I’ve saved quite a bit of money on local deals, but please heed the warning that you need to use the bulk deal before they expire.  Thankfully, as usage and complaints have risen, these companies are now changing their policies on strict expiration deadlines.

Sprunk.com lets consumers sell unwanted daily-deal offers online. CityPockets.com charges $1 plus 8% of proceeds; DealsGoRound.com takes 10% of proceeds. Both sites feature a digital wallet to help you organize daily-deal coupons.  There are even several sites that allow you to create your own daily deal web site as your own business.  Couprecoup.com is a listing service where you can find local steals and deals online for free.   I love free.  It’s even better than a coupon!  I’ll tell you more about how to get tons of stuff for free later in another article!

Everything is going mobile now and the new QR codes allow us to scan digital coupons while we’re standing in the checkout aisle!  Last month I got a free bag of popcorn at my local Regal theater for showing a special QR code when I texted the word “popcorn” to 35350.   Use your cell phone’s browser to go to: http://popcorn.yahoo.net  for instructions. Movies taste even better with free popcorn!

We’ll see more and more of that as retailers catch on to mobile marketing, which is going to be HUGE.  Target now texts me coupon deals.  Become the “Mayor” of your favorite local restaurant, using www.foursquare.com and you’ll get special discounts. 

Every penny counts these days.  Remember the big ticket items too!  Some people are great at clipping coupons to save fifty cents on a can of fruit in the grocery store, but then they expect to pay full price on furniture or a computer.  When searching for big ticket items, check out these web sites which allow you to compare prices:

·         www.consumersearch.com

·         www.dealtime.com

·         www.lowermybills.com

Would you believe they actually have an entire web site dedicated to National Coupon Month?  Yep, it’s www.ilovecouponmonth.com    You’ll find some helpful tips, great resources and even consumer statistics that prove couponing is making a comeback.  Hey, maybe that means we’ll see more people carrying those cute fabric coupon holders in the grocery store now.  By the way, you can purchase them at: 
 http://store.yahoo.com/cgi-bin/clink?yhst-16865137593772+PqhYS2+index.html+sisterthrifty    
and    www.4bestbargains.com     They both offer super cute designs.

A web site I particularly like for grocery coupons is www.grocerysmarts.com because it analyzes the grocery deals closest to your home.  Great news about those expired coupons…send them overseas to military bases where they can be used for up to six more months!  Is there a Dunkin Donuts in Afghanistan?  Well, most military bases have a “Commissary,” which is a grocery store and the other is the PX or BX, which is more like a Wal-Mart that carries pretty much everything else.  Our wonderful soldiers and their families need coupons for both food and non-food items.  Please bundle your coupons into those two categories into baggies and mail them to:

KCL Overseas Coupon Program

Amanda Brumbaugh
10960 W Bridgetower Drive, Boise, ID  83709

Some other fun couponing sites I like are:

·         www.couponmob.com

·         www.couponcactus.com    (Receive $3 when you sign up with ID 148775)

·         www.thekrazycouponlady.com

·         www.dailygrocerycoupon.com   

·         www.coupons.com

·         www.couponmom.com

·         www.valpak.com

·         www.couponnetwork.com

·         www.couponcabin.com

·         www.coolsavings.com

·         www.freecoupons.com

Using your time and money wisely empowers you to take control of your finances, and stay UP in a DOWN economy.  Happy National Couponing Month!

CENTSerely,

Sister Thrifty  (a/k/a  Trina Boice)

www.sisterthrifty.com

Mobile Money

                                                                             

Most of us are used to cutting coupons to make our money stretch a little bit farther, but now we can use our cell phones in addition to our scissors! Yep, there's an app for that. A couple of weeks ago I got a free bag of popcorn at my local theater just for showing a special bar code at the concession stand. Don't you just love technology?


“Smartphone use is on the rise and more consumers are expecting instant access to everyday shopping needs," said Cailyn Aanonson, spokeswoman for CouponSherpa.com. She continues “It only makes sense, as it’s instant, accessible and doesn’t require printing out a coupon from home beforehand – thus, you can decide what coupons to use as you shop, rather than before you leave home.” Coupon Sherpa is a terrific online couponing web site that now lets shoppers load grocery coupons to their existing store loyalty card via their iPhone devices. The coupons and the app are free.

Consumers can input their ZIP code, using the app, to see what offers are available locally. Then, shoppers can select the coupons, which are automatically added to their grocery store loyalty card to use during checkout. More and more retailers, restaurants, and grocery stores are using mobile money to draw in customers.

“Aside from already offering scannable and exclusive coupons for restaurants and retailers, the CouponSherpa app has now expanded into offering grocery coupons,” Ms. Aanonson said. Consumers can also email coupons to friends and family and create their own favorites list of stores.

Another terrific web site to check out is www.mobilecoupon.com Merchants add their deals to the site and shoppers simply load the geo-targeted coupons on their phones. Apps are available for free on the iPhone App Store.

Customers who love shopping at Target will be happy to learn that they can get exclusive offers up to five times a month on your web-enabled cell phone via text message, when you sign up for their program at www.target.com Purchase with your Target credit card to save an additional 5 percent!

If you've discovered www.FourSquare.com then you know that you can become a "Mayor" of a particular restaurant or retailer and receive their special offers, simply by checking into their location on your cell phone every time you shop there. You can also earn silly badges and see where your friends are hanging. Kinda silly, but worth checking out if you're a frequent customer of a certain vendor.

Remember, all of these mobile money programs remind consumers that "message and data rates may apply", so be sure you know what your mobile plan includes or charges to receive such messages. Mobile marketing is HUGE these days and getting bigger, as merchants are learning more about it.

Saving Money at the Gas Pump

With gasoline prices at $3.84 per gallon, on average, and likely to hit $4 by summer, you're probably feeling the pain at the pump. However, there are ways to keep gas costs under control. Chris Faulkner, CEO of Texas-based Breitling Oil and Gas Co., offers these ten tips:


1. Download a gas app to find cheaper prices. You can use your smart phone to comparison shop for the lowest gas prices in your zip code with a free app such as GasBuddy. If you don't have a smart phone, visit GasBuddy.com or gasprices.mapquest.com before you leave home or the office to check gas prices online.

2. Don't buy gas near the highway. People like convenience, but gas stations near the highway charge 10 cents to 15 cents a gallon more, Faulkner says. Drive a little farther from the interchange to find a better deal (this is where the GasBuddy app is handy). If you're traveling, gas up in a rural town rather than a large city because prices will be lower.

3. Use a discount gift card. Discount gift card sites, such as Plastic Jungle and Gift Card Granny, sell cards at less than face value for gas stations, such as BP and Shell. They go quickly, though, so sign up for e-mail alerts to be notified when they're in stock. Also look for discounted gift cards for Walmart or grocery stores that have gas stations.

4. Keep car windows closed on the highway. Open windows add drag and reduce your car's gas mileage by as much as 10%. In stop-and-go traffic, lower your windows to reduce air-conditioning use, which will drain your gas tank.

5. Develop good driving habits. You can improve a vehicle's gas mileage by up to 5% by avoiding quick starts and stops. Gas mileage also decreases as you accelerate beyond 55 mph.

6. Don't carry unnecessary items in your car. Every 200 pounds to 250 pounds lowers your car's fuel efficiency by 1 mile per gallon.

7. Keep your tires properly inflated. Faulkner says he tested this with his mother's car. She added 7% to her gas mileage by keeping her tires properly inflated.

8. Fill 'er up with regular. Most cars don't need the premium-grade gasoline, which cost 24 cents a gallon more, on average, than regular grade gas the week of April 18, according to the Energy Information Administration.

9. Combine errands with other driving you're going to do. Make sure you aren't making multiple trips and using more gas.

10. Don't overfill your tank. If you top off, you're just wasting money on the gas that inevitably sloshes out of the tank.

I'll add a few of my own:

11. Carpool when possible!

12. Buy things online so you don't have to spend money driving to the store. Many stores offer free shipping!

13. Sell that gas-guzzling SUV and get something smaller and more gas-efficient, if possible.

14. With the high cost of gas now, sometimes it's actually cheaper to fly to your destination than to drive there! Compare airline fares at www.orbitz.com

15. Call your auto insurance company to find out if there are any available discounts you might not be getting currently, such as "good driver", "good grades", or when you bundle your auto insurance with other policies for house, renter's insurance, or universal.

Be safe on the roads, don't text and drive, and save money!

CENTSerely,

Sister Thrifty a/k/a Trina Boice

www.sisterthrifty.com

Giving Thanks

Here in America we’re gearing up for Thanksgiving this Thursday.  What that means, to all of you readers outside the country, is that women across this land are stressing out about Turkey Day grocery shopping, house-cleaning, decorating, recipes, party games, transportation of family members, dinner conversation etiquette and all of the other things on our “To Do” list to be prepared for the big day.

Of course, what Thanksgiving REALLY represents is an opportunity to fill our homes with people we love and express thanks for all that we have in our lives.   How wonderful to have an opportunity to pause and reflect on the good things that surround us, especially when the world has been focused so much on the bad news lately.   I am thankful for the mess to clean after a party because it means I have been surrounded by friends and family!

There are plenty of simple things we can all do to reduce the holiday stress and enjoy the “reason for the season”:

1. Have a plan and get organized.
2. Make a list of everything you need and then shop early.
3. Prepare as many of the food dishes as you can ahead of time so that you spend less time in the kitchen on the big day.
4. Simplify the menu.
5. Defrost the turkey with plenty of time to spare!
6. Restaurants and grocery stores can help out your time crunch when you purchase some of their prepared foods….guilt-free.
7. Organize some crafts and activities to keep the little ones busy and happy.
8. Plan an after-dinner activity.
9. Don’t try a new recipe for the first time.
10. Clean the oven before the big day of cooking so the food doesn’t get any odd flavors.
11. Guests often want to be helpful, so don’t be shy about assigning tasks.
12. Enjoy!    There is no use sweating the small stuff…and this is all small stuff.  

Years from now, people may not remember what food was served, what words were spoken, or even what they did on Thanksgiving Day, but they will always remember how they FELT.  Fill your home with love, kind words, and lots of gratitude.

Thanksgiving can really be broken down into 2 parts: Thanks and Giving.  Fill your Turkey Day with both!

Below are some really helpful web sites that will make your tasks easier and even a little more fun and they’re all FREE!

http://www.sirius.com/thanksgiving     Free Thanksgiving cooking hotline

http://www.theholidayspot.com/thanksgiving/games/       Everything Thanksgiving!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/24/uttm/main5755390.shtml   Thanksgiving travel tips

http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/thanksgiving/default.htm   Thanksgiving clipart and web images

http://familycrafts.about.com/od/thanksgiving/a/Thanksgiving-Crafts.htm  Thanksgiving crafts

http://www.tnpsc.com/thanksgiving.htm    Thanksgiving screensavers

http://www.care2.com/send/catthanks1.html    Thanksgiving e-cards

http://glutenfreegirl.blogspot.com/2010/11/gluten-free-thanksgiving-2010.html   Gluten-free Thanksgiving recipes

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/09/a-gluten-free-thanksgiving/   Vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes

http://www.kate.net/holidays/thanksgiving/    Thanksgiving decorations

http://www.mes-english.com/flashcards/thanksgiving.php   Thanksgiving flashcards & worksheets

http://www.suite101.com/content/how-to-find-free-thanksgiving-coloring-pages-a78110  Thanksgiving coloring pages & printables

Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving this year!

CENTSerely,

Sister Thrifty

a/k/a    Trina Boice

Customer NO service

                                                     Trina EMERGES with a new do

                                                                   By Trina Boice

                                                               www.boicebox.com

Has that lady on your car’s navigator ever completely lost her mind?  Mine did last night as I was trying to find the Emerge Salon and Day Spa for my first hair appointment.  When I realized I was definitely heading in the wrong direction, I finally called the salon and asked for directions.  Turns out that one of the co-owners answered the phone and stayed with me on the line the whole time.  As I got closer, he walked outside and personally flagged me down, directing me into the parking lot.  I was impressed.

Let me contrast that warm welcome with one I had yesterday with an eye doctor’s office whose unrevealed name shall protect them from their disgraceful service.  I arrived 10 minutes late and was told I would have to reschedule because my tardiness was unacceptable to them.   Their receptionist made me feel like some kind of delinquent in elementary school caught by the hall Nazi, rather than a valued customer. I would have been a new client for them, but I will most definitely NOT be returning.  They obviously don’t care about acquiring new customers.   (I promise that arriving late 2 days in a row for 2 appointments really isn’t like me!)

Emerge Salon and Day Spa, however, is doing all of the right things to earn a great reputation in Las Vegas.    They’ll be celebrating their 1 year anniversary in November, a hard-earned feat in this tricky economy, with a fan base that’s growing quickly.  They are not only happy to get new customers, but actually willing to do the work to earn repeat business.   This salon knows the difference between a satisfied customer and a loyal one.  I mean really...would you want your spouse to be satisfied or loyal?  

 

If you don’t live in Las Vegas, what does all of this mean to you?  Vote for your local businesses with your dollars.   Tell others about them.  And when you’re not happy with a store or company, tell them why.  After I calmed down, I called that eye doctor’s office the next day and politely explained to them why I will NOT be rescheduling my appointment with them.

The squeaky wheel does get the grease first, but mind your manners while you’re squeaking and you’ll fare much better.  The hilarious and helpful Benjamin Dover suggests “Don’t just whine, define!”  Decide what it is you want from the company (money, apology, replacement, etc) as well as what course of action you’re willing to pursue (a few phone calls or a full-scale lawsuit).

Michael Finney is ABC’s Emmy Award-winning consumer reporter who helps the average Joe fight for his rights.  His seven steps to winning every consumer argument are:

      1.  Respect yourself enough to go after what is right

2. Know what you want before complaining (be realistic!) 
3. Be flexible and ready to negotiate
4. Give everyone a chance to do the right thing
5. Don’t respond in anger
6. Take the high road by talking about what is moral, not just what is legal.
7. Be ready to do battle.  Fighting for your consumer rights can be time-consuming and emotionally draining.

When you’re not satisfied, don’t be a crazy person!  If you come across as reasonable and in control then you have a better chance of being treated fairly than if you’re screaming and irrational. 

Once you’re completely fed up with a company and ready to write a letter of complaint, be sure to address it to a specific person; otherwise, your letter will end up buried or trashed.  Be concise.  If you write a gigantic letter about your life’s history you’re just going to annoy and confuse the reader, often to the point that they’ll just toss your letter into their corporate black hole and hope someone else wants to deal with it.

Create a paper trail and document dates of phone calls, emails, faxes, and especially names.  Sending certified mail lets a company know you’re serious and possibly creating a paper trail for a lawsuit so you should get some reaction out of them.

And now a few fun freebies to bring a smile to your face:

Free Appetizer at TGIFriday’s

http://www.gamestop.com/gs/landing/surprizeattack/images/ref01.png?utm_source=Hey,+It's+Free+Newsletter&utm_campaign=0f263cdeac-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

 

    Free Royal Canin Discovery Box at Petco

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5900/royalv.jpg?utm_source=Hey,+It's+Free+Newsletter&utm_campaign=0f263cdeac-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

Free Cancer Research mailing address labels

http://www.nfcr.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=355:free-mailing-labels&catid=80:donate-now&utm_source=Hey,+It's+Free+Newsletter&utm_campaign=0f263cdeac-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

Free Hearos ear plugs

http://www.hearos.com/index/index-trial-no-video?utm_source=Hey,+It's+Free+Newsletter&utm_campaign=8e13c64d8f-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

Free Baskin Robbins hard candy

http://news.baskinrobbins.com/baskin+robbins/baskin+robbins+news/baskin+robbins+bestsweet+hard+candy.htm?utm_source=Hey,+It's+Free+Newsletter&utm_campaign=8e13c64d8f-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

Free solar oven cooking DVD

http://www.utahsunovens.com/index.php?p_resource=September2010FreeDVD&utm_source=Hey,+It's+Free+Newsletter&utm_campaign=8e13c64d8f-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email

Have a great week!

CENTSerely,

Sister Thrifty    (a/k/a Trina Boice)

Staying Cool Makes Cents

Can you believe this heat?  The nation is experiencing a heat wave on the east coast and since I live in Las Vegas, I'm ALWAYS experiencing a heat wave in the summer here!  Nobody enjoys overheating in the summer, but overpaying on your cooling bills can really make you break out into a sweat. Air conditioning is often the most expensive utility in the home, and inefficient cooling can consume as much as 50% of your monthly utility bills. Making small changes to your living habits can save significant amounts of money on your cooling bills without compromising the comfort of your home.  Here are some "cool" tips from a friend of mine named Billy who loves saving money as much as I do!

1. Use a fan to help circulate the cold air. A fan costs only 2 to 5 cents per hour to operate and can drastically improve air comfort in your home. Studies show that fans can cool a room by as much as 4 to 6 degrees. Fans can also be used simultaneously with air conditioning to circulate the cool air. If you are purchasing new fans, make sure to select energy-efficient fans which will further reduce your costs.
2. Set your thermostat as high as possible. It goes without saying that the house needs to be cool- but it doesn't need to be an icebox. Keeping your thermostat set as high as possible (so that the house is still cool) will decrease the amount of energy needed to run the air conditioner which will directly decrease your cooling bills.
3. Install a programmable thermostat. An easy way to save money on cooling bills is to program your thermostat so that the temperature is higher when nobody is home. Test your comfort with the thermostat at 85 degrees when you're out and 78 degrees when people are at home.
4. Change your habits. Keeping your shades closed will keep the sun out and keep the house cooler throughout the day. Cellular shades with multiple cells are especially efficient for blocking the sun. In addition, make an effort to turn off all lights when they are not necessary, as lighting has a tendency to heat rooms, which will cause the cooling system to work harder. Consider replacing incandescent light bulbs for fluorescent bulbs which are cheaper to run and produce less heat. Finally, take care to properly vent your kitchen or open the windows when you are cooking, as extra steam or warm air from the oven will reverse the effects of your air conditioning.
5. Creating shade outside your home is another great way to keep the house cooler. If you have a yard or garden, consider planting a shady tree near your windows. In addition to providing a lovely view from inside the home, a tree will directly protect your home from the sun.
6. Check for leaks and poor insulation. Drafty windows will let in hot air during the summer (and cold air during the window). Similarly, inefficient insulation will prevent the cold air from staying properly in the home. Check your windows for leaks and plug up any gaps that you find with weather stripping. Invest in new insulation if yours has thinned out, as this will save you money on both heating and cooling bills.
7. Clean your air conditioning filters. Clean air filters will create a dramatically more efficient cooling system. Make sure to check your filters at least once a month and to change them if they seem dirty.
8. Close air conditioning vents in empty rooms. If you know that certain rooms in your home are under-utilized, close the air vents in those areas. This will enable the cool air to circulate more efficiently in rooms that are being occupied, which will cut down on cooling costs.
9. Use an energy-efficient cooling system. If you're still using an antiquated cooling system, it may be time to update your system. After the initial investment, an energy-efficient cooling system will pay for itself, and will also be better for the environment. Consider a cooling system with an energy-saver mode, which monitors the temperature and adjusts itself whenever possible to save you money.
10. Vent the attic. Few homeowners stop to think about how the temperature of the attic can affect the comfort of their home. In fact, an attic that is not vented properly can reach up to 150 degrees, which will slowly permeate into the rest of the house and make it more difficult to cool. At the very least, make sure that your attic is properly vented. If possible, install an attic fan to circulate the air and keep the area as cool as possible.

Stay cool!

CENTSerely,

Sister Thrifty    (a/k/a   Trina Boice)

How to identify a phony freebie site

 love freebies, but how do you differentiate between a free sample from a legitimate company that's trying to solicit new customers from a data harvester that will lead to lots of spam and never send you any freebie? Here are a few questions to ask about a site before you give them any of your information:

 1) Who runs the site? If there is no contact information or just a free email address, be suspicious - most places WANT customers to be able to contact them & order things, and real businesses don't conduct transactions via hotmail.   P.O. Boxes are also a red flag...most "real" businesses have an actual street address.

2) Does the site look shoddy?  Even small companies want to maintain a professional appearance. If a site has spelling mistakes or just an overall amateur appearance, be skeptical - it may have been thrown together that same week using a template & free stock images.  Grammatical errors are a red flag that the site creators are out of the country, looking for suckers.  Spam sites appear out of nowhere, collect as much data as possible in a short time, and then vanish before the authorities catch them. If a site is full of Google or popup ads, another warning bell should be ringing. If you were promoting something, would you have advertisements for a competitor on your site?

3) Why are they giving away things for free? A retailer or wholesaler may give something free as an incentive to get customers to buy more. A manufacturer may give something away for free to promote brand awareness & attract new markets. If a site isn't selling any products, it doesn't produce any products & it isn't an advertiser for a company that makes those products, how would it earn money by spending thousands on merchandise & shipping? Why would you buy 50,000 coffee cups then mail them to people all over the world that you were never going to hear from again? Here are a couple of sites where companies can be checked:http://www.whois.nethttp://www.uwhois.com

And now for some legitimate freebies!   

Free CookBook: Recipes for a Healthier Life

Recipes for a Healthier Life cookbook filled with diabetes-friendly recipes is offered for free by American Heart Association. At this time, the cookbook can only be mailed to U.S. addresses.

http://www.iknowdiabetes.org/enroll.html

Free 32oz Fountain Beverage at Pilot Travel Centers

Check out the NEW coupon for a FREE 32oz fountain beverage of your choice!

Limit one per customer. Offer valid at any Pilot Travel Center location.
Coupon Valid June 28,2010 - August 31, 2010
Visit Pilot Travel Centers facebook fan page and click on the "Coupon" tab to print your coupon.

http://www.facebook.com/pilottravelcenters?v=app_163849080647

Free Samples of Erik Prautsch's HAIRTRIGGERED Shampoo and Conditioner

Erik Prautsch's HAIRTRIGGERED is proud to announce that, for a limited time, users may sign up to receive a free sample of their newest products, SMOOTHSMOOTH Shampoo and Conditioner!

Please allow 6-8 weeks for shipping. Maximum one per household, available to residents of the United States exclusively.

http://erik-prautsch.com/smoothsmooth_sample.php

Free Field & Stream Magazine (Digital Subscription)

America's Number One sportsman's magazine, featuring in-depth articles on hunting, fishing, outdoor adventure, and conservation news. First-class fiction, and more. Field & Stream, editorial excellence for over 100 years. ~ FreeBizMag.com

Visit this offer to see if you qualify for a free digital subscription.

http://www.freebizmag.com/emailfieldstream01welcome.htm

Free Disney Character Calls - Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and Donald

Have a favorite character call your home with a personalized message - they can even greet your child by name!

The call is free of charge. The only requirement is that you be a registered member of Disney Online.
There is a limit to 3 calls per phone number per week
Open to residents of the United States only. Currently, calls are not available to residents of ID, WA, GA, KY, MS, NE, TN and LA
*You must be 18 years of age or older to schedule a call

http://disney.go.com/charactercalls/piccolinismiles/

Have a great week!
CENTSerely,
Sister Thrifty

Congrats GRAD!

It’s that time of year again….time to bid farewell to teachers, textbooks, campus, homework and school chums. It’s always a little bitter-sweet saying goodbye, but that full summer ahead sure takes the sting out fast!


Planning a party for your favorite graduate? Whether it’s for a graduating kindergartener or your nephew finishing law school, here are some great links to help you out with money-saving ideas:

www.celebrations.com/graduationparty-games                All ages party games

www.earlylearningactivities.com/PDF/eoy1.pdf              Grade school

www.highlightsteachers.com/archives/party_ideas/         Grade school

www.teachingheart.net/endoftheyearpage.html                Grade school

www.fun-theme-party-ideas.com/college-graduation-party.html   College

http://www.graduationparty.com/                                          High School


Fairly Frugal gifts for GRADS

• Prepaid phone cards

• Address book filled with notes from family and friends

• Gas gift card

• Laundry basket with detergents, fabric softener, roll of quarters

• Personalized coupons

• Gift cards to the Grad’s favorite store or restaurant

• Emergency Preparedness backpack

• First Aid Kit

• Journals, pens, stickers

• Stationery, hand-made gift cards, and stamps

• Movie Night gift basket: DVDs, popcorn, theater gift card

• Shower caddy filled with personal hygiene items

• Breakfast basket: pancake mix, syrup, spatula, fresh fruit

• Personal organizer

• Luggage

• Money tree

• Wallet with some money

• Picture frame, scrapbook


Tips for Moving Out of the Dorms
1. Divide and conquer: Decide which items will be thrown away, stored at a friend’s house near campus until next year, or brought home

2. Sell back textbooks at www.amazon.com or www.half.com . There is a great textbook rental company www.chegg.com , where an excellent condition, Organic Chemistry textbook that retails for $156 can be sold back for $81 or traded in for $89 in "Chegg Dollars" - which can be used, in turn, to rent next year's textbooks. And Chegg pays the postage too!

3. Donate items at www.freecycle.org or at local drop off centers such as Goodwill or Salvation Army or Deseret Industries


And now for a few fun freebies this week:

Free Vanilla Cone at Sonic Drive-in 5/29

Do you have a student graduating from kindergarten through fifth grade this year? If so, congratulate them on this milestone achievement with a vanilla cone from SONIC®, America's Drive-In. SONIC's Free Vanilla Cone coupon is valid 5-29 College Savings Day, May 29, 2010, at participating SONIC Drive-Ins.  Not a parent of a graduating kindergartener - 5th grader but know someone who is? Be sure to Tell a Friend about the SONIC promotion.   http://www.ok4saving.org/rsvp/rsvp.html

Free Krispy Kreme Doughnut (June 4th)

Krispy Kreme is offering customers one FREE doughnut of any variety at participating U.S. store locations on Friday, June 4. No purchase is necessary to receive a free doughnut. The offer is good for one doughnut of any variety per customer.     http://investor.krispykreme.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=473923

Olay Body Wash Sample: Get a free sample of Olay Total Effects Body Wash (2.0 oz. bottle) from Walmart. http://bit.ly/c0dVPS

Free iTunes Starbucks 10-song Sampler: Visit iTunes on Facebook and fans get a free 10-song Frappuccino Beverage http://bit.ly/cX0LnF

Shutterfly 3 Free Cards ($0.99 s/h): Get your 3 FREE 5x7 Folded Photo Greeting Cards ($5.97 value) from Shutterfly. http://bit.ly/bxNG4e

Congrats GRAD!

CENTSerely,

Sister Thrifty 

Make it a Memorable Memorial Day this year!

For most Americans, Memorial Day is a chance to sleep in and get the day off of work or school. If you have children, it’s a terrific opportunity to teach them about our country, respect, honor, reverence, history, and more.


Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day set aside for remembrance of those who have died in our nation’s service. Memorial Day was first proclaimed on 5 May 1868 when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers. The South, at first, refused to acknowledge Memorial Day, honoring their dead on separate days until after WWI. It is now observed in almost every state of the union on the last Monday of every May. Since the Civil War more than 1.1 million veterans, both women and men, have lost their lives in military service to America.

With four sons in my family, we’ve created a fun tradition with our Cub Scout pack where we place flags on the tombstones of fallen soldiers and then we present a special wreath at the cemetery’s ceremony on Memorial Day. The boys really get a kick out of reading the tombstones and imaging what the soldiers would have looked like. The parents go crazy with their cameras, taking incredibly patriotic photos of their own sons in uniform paying respect.

Memorial Day reminds us of our duties towards the wounded soldiers and the bereaved families, orphans and widows of the dead soldiers. In addition to the fun BBQ's and recreational activities of the weekend, we should take a few minutes to show our gratitude to those who were willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. Here are a few ways you can honor their memory this year:

Placing flags, garlands or flowers on the grave sites.

Visiting cemeteries and memorials.

Furling the American Flag at half-mast until noon.

Furling the 'POW/MIA Flag'.

Keeping silence for a minute at 3 p.m., 'National Moment of Remembrance' and listening to Taps being played.

Taking a pledge to aid the disabled veterans, widows, widowers and orphans of the dead and keeping it.

Offering thanks to the veterans and appreciating the ultimate sacrifices of the soldiers to the bereaved families personally.

A Sister Thrifty article isn't complete without FREEBIES, so here we go:

Free Memorial Day quotes, poems, songs, tributes, reflections, presidential declarations and facts: http://www.thememorialdaytribute.com/observe-memorial-day.html

Free Memorial Day essays, speeches, and prayers: http://www.usmemorialday.org/write.html

Free Memorial Day clip art images: http://www.designedtoat.com/memorial_day.shtml

Free Memorial Day ecards:www.memorialsday.com www.123greetings.com www.bluemountain.com

Free Memorial Day coloring pages: http://hubpages.com/hub/FREE-Coloring-Pages---American-Memorial-Day---Colouring-Sheets-Free-Downloads

Ok, now I can’t ignore the fact that Memorial Day also means the end of school and the beginning of summer vacation for many families in America, so here are a few more fun things to do as you get prepared for some serious fun in the sun!

Free Orlando Vacation Planning Kit: http://www.orlandoinfo.com/vacationkit/

Free Gift Bag from PacSun (5/29) - PacSun on Memorial Day Weekend 5/29: "First 50 in the door when the store opens score a gift bag stuffed with a piece of monster schwag. We're talking music, headphones, clothes, or even trips. BIG trips. How big? Check 'em out..." http://shop.pacsun.com/content.jsp?pageName=summer

Free Limeade at Taco Bell valid through 7/11/2010 or until 500,000 free Limeade Sparkler online coupons are redeemed, whichever occurs first. http://www.tacobell.com/promo/limeade-coupon

One Free Bag of PopChips at Jamba Juice Stores Print coupon for a free bag of PopChips. Coupon expires May 28, 2010 and Valid only at Jamba Juice http://www.facebook.com/popchips#!/popchips?v=app_163849080647

Free One-Year Subscription to ELLE Elle reports on emerging trends in fashion, beauty and style. Its visual core is surrounded by features, news and analysis of the larger world. Its articles feature information on culture, health, politics, art and relationships. http://www.freebizmag.com/emailelle02welcome.htm

Chick-fil-A Free Spicy Chicken Sandwiches 5/21 Chick-fil-A is giving a limited number of FREE Spicy Chicken Sandwiches to customers who make a reservation. To make your reservation, visit this offer beginning Friday, May 21 and choose your preferred Chick-fil-A Restaurant location and time. http://www.getspicychicken.com/

Dice: Hundreds of the Latest Technology Magazines Hundreds of the latest technology magazines offered by Dice technology magazine center in association with Mercury Magazines. Tell them about yourself, choose up to three magazines and complete subscription forms. http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/111/111158

AVEENO Hair Care Free Sample and Coupon https://secure.startsampling.com/sm/101063

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

CENTSerely,

Sister Thrifty