Saturday, January 15, 2011
Sears and Kmart Rewards Card
If you are a fan of Sears or Kmart, be sure to sign up for the rewards card. It's free and you earn points on items that you need or want with the Shop Your Way Rewards Program. I signed up yesterday in store after I bought a few items I needed! I already have cash to spend on my next visit just from using the card once!
How to use the card:
-When checking out in store, present your Member card, phone number or email address to an Associate
-When checking out online, be sure to enter your Shop Your Way Rewards Member number and PIN, and your purchases will be automatically credited to your Member account.
-You'll earn 10 points for every $1 you spend*
-If your items are eligible for 2X, 3X, 10X or more bonus point offers, you'll pile up points even faster
-Calculate what your points are worth with the My Points Converter
How to redeem:
In Store
-At checkout, ask the Associate for your points balance after you present your membership card. Every 1,000 points in your account is worth $1.00 in value.
-Tell the Associate how many points you want applied to your purchase. Use some or all of your points.
-If you didn't bring your membership card, no worries! Just tell the Associate your phone number or email address, and they'll look up your account, and then ask you to enter your Shop Your Way Rewards PIN on the key pad to redeem your points.
Online
-You can check your points balance by logging in to your Member account
-While checking out, be sure to enter your Shop Your Way Rewards Member number and Shop Your Way Rewards PIN
-Indicate how many points you want applied to your purchase. Use some or all of them
-Calculate points values using the My Points Converter
You can also read about the VIP Levels.
*Points are earned on qualifying purchases and community participation. Points cannot be redeemed on Sears Home Services or at the Kmart Pharmacy. Points can be redeemed at Sears, Kmart, MyGofer, Land's End, and The Great Indoors.
Nielsen Consumer Panel
Join Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel - Earn valuable points, which are redeemable for electronics, household items, jewelry, toy, gift cards, and more.Panelists must have a Land Line Phone, not connect to VOIP.
Tithing: Test Me in This By Douglas LeBlanc
Journalist Douglas LeBlanc travels the nation to talk with believers whose lives have been enriched by the ancient spiritual discipline of tithing. He discovers people along the way who do not understand the practice as an onerous law but as God’s call to a life of generosity and compassion. The effect on their lives is dramatic.
My Review:
I chose to review the book, Tithing: Test Me in This, because tithing is a very important part of my own life, and I wanted to read more on the subject. In a material world that we live in today, the subject of tithing seems to be kept quiet and on a very personal level. It isn't discussed as often as it should be. I liked this book because it reveals stories from people of different walks of life that choose to tithe and enjoy doing so. They discuss their practice of tithing and how tithing has impacted their lives, in a positive way.
One reports, "Even at the beginning, we could see that tithing did not make us impoverished, in fact, somehow we ended up having more money. We would get unexpected refunds, bonuses, or things we were never looking for." Another reports, "We are entirely Christ's, every part of our being is committed to Christ, which means all of our money is His, all of our resources and property and time are His." We need to be asking, 'How does God want me to use my time and my skills and my money?'
It is clear that the author is passionate on the subject of tithing. He shows this through the use of personal interviews with others that practice tithing and benefit from using Gods resources wisely, whether that be through the use of tithing to the church, to charity, or to those in need. I would recommend reading this book if you would like to read how tithing has helped others in life. I think it opens minds on the subject of tithing and motivates one to try it, "Test me in this."
Luke 6:38 Jesus says, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap."
If you are interested in this book, you can purchase it through Amazon.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
I chose to review the book, Tithing: Test Me in This, because tithing is a very important part of my own life, and I wanted to read more on the subject. In a material world that we live in today, the subject of tithing seems to be kept quiet and on a very personal level. It isn't discussed as often as it should be. I liked this book because it reveals stories from people of different walks of life that choose to tithe and enjoy doing so. They discuss their practice of tithing and how tithing has impacted their lives, in a positive way.
One reports, "Even at the beginning, we could see that tithing did not make us impoverished, in fact, somehow we ended up having more money. We would get unexpected refunds, bonuses, or things we were never looking for." Another reports, "We are entirely Christ's, every part of our being is committed to Christ, which means all of our money is His, all of our resources and property and time are His." We need to be asking, 'How does God want me to use my time and my skills and my money?'
It is clear that the author is passionate on the subject of tithing. He shows this through the use of personal interviews with others that practice tithing and benefit from using Gods resources wisely, whether that be through the use of tithing to the church, to charity, or to those in need. I would recommend reading this book if you would like to read how tithing has helped others in life. I think it opens minds on the subject of tithing and motivates one to try it, "Test me in this."
Luke 6:38 Jesus says, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap."
If you are interested in this book, you can purchase it through Amazon.
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze book review bloggers program. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Share Your Savings Link Up
Did you find any great deals this week? We want to know about them! Share your great deals here every Saturday and Sunday at "Share Your Savings." This linky will close on Sunday night at 11:59p.m. Come back next week to link up! You can post any deals that you received at grocery stores, department stores, garage sales, or thrift stores! Feel free to also post CVS, Walgreens, or any other store match ups.
Dinosaur Train Pajama Giveaway
Tune in this Monday, January 17 on PBS Kids for a brand new episode of Dinosaur Train! (check local listings) In the all-new episode, “The Good Mom;” “Diamond Anniversary,” Mrs. Pteranodon meets fellow mom Millie Maiasaura, who is a little too over-protective of her kids. The two moms share some time comparing mothering methods in a play date at the Big Pond. And, Mr. and Mrs. Pteranodon decide to surprise each other with gifts on their anniversary. Regarding the first part of this all-new episode, “The Good Mom,” you might be interested to know that Maiasaura, meaning "good mother lizard", was a large duck-billed dinosaur that lived in North America during the Late Cretaceous. There is evidence that Maisaura lived in large nesting colonies and that the parents diligently cared for their young!
Kohl's has new adorable “Dinosaur Train™ Striped Footed Pajamas,” to keep them warm and cozy during the winter months! The dinosaur appliques and striped pattern on these footed pajamas offer timeless touches, and the footed design keep toes toasty. SRP is $26.00, available in sizes 2T-5T.
I have been given the opportunity to give one lucky reader a size 3T set of the Dinosaur Pajamas. Please leave a separate comment for each entry with your email address spelled out (ex. thefrugalfreegal at yahoo dot com). Entries with NO email address will be deleted.
Mandatory Entry:
Visit Dinosaur Train on PBSKids.org and tell me one thing you liked or read about on the website.
Bonus Entries:
-Follow blog via Google Friend Connect (right sidebar)
-Subscribe *and* confirm in email (top right sidebar)
-Like The Frugal Free Gal on Facebook
-Follow The Frugal Free Gal on Twitter
-Like The Jim Henson Company on Facebook
-Follow Henson Company on Twitter
-Visit The Jim Henson Company and tell me one thing you read about.
-Blog about giveaway and leave link
-Tweet giveaway and leave link
-Post giveaway on Facebook and leave link
-Grab my button and leave blog link
-Grab my Frugal Fridays button and leave blog link
-Post this on any giveaway linky and leave link
Giveaway ends 1/23 at 11:59EST. I will choose a winner at random.org and will email the winner within 24 hours of the giveaway ending date. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
Cafe Mom: A Great Forum!
If you are looking for a great forum to become a part of, I recommend Cafe Mom. It has been around for quite a while now and I have been a member for a few years! Click above to join for free and meet moms by sharing ideas, swapping articles and posting pictues.
Guest Post: Saving Money the Military Way
Most of my readers are military spouses, and they know how tough it can be budgeting for groceries and paying bills each month on one income - from Uncle Sam. Unless you are debt free and don't use credit cards, you may be struggling to find a way to pay for that pricey car repair, or even the latest and coolest tech gadget your kid(s) desperately need. Here are some tips to help ease the crunch and put more money back into your bank account.
Shop at the Commissary and Exchange
One of the great perks that military spouses have is getting great discounts on brand-name items at their base Exchange, tax-free. Plus, if you compare apples to apples, the Exchange has lower prices than their off-post competitors. Even if you do find a cheaper price at a retailer off-base, take the ad into your Exchange and they will price match! And as for grocery shopping, shopping at the Commissary actually saves you about 30% or more than the local grocery stores! You can read more about savings at your Commissary by visiting Commissaries.com.
Become a Couponer
Already shop at the Exchange and Commissary? Do you use coupons? If not, you may want to rethink why you're not using them. With Commissary prices so low compared to competitors, you can score dirt-cheap deals, or even free stuff, just by using coupons! The Commissary actually encourages the use of coupons, with their relationship with large companies such as Kraft and Unilever, just to name a few. These two companies work with the commissary and create coupons exclusive to military only {these coupons will state "military store only" on them}. Some Commissaries even have retailers sit up front and pass out their coupons, hoping you will use them! You can even use coupons at the Exchange as well - in fact, the Exchange allows you to "stack" your coupons {unlike the Commissary where it's one coupon per item} for even more savings! On the AAFES Facebook page, they have a tab garnered especially to their own in-store coupons, which they allow you to combine with a manufacturers coupon! You can read more about the Commissaries coupon policy Here, and you can check out the AAFES coupon policy Here.
Visit Frugal Blogs
Type in "frugal blogs" in Google, and you'll get over one million results. Frugal blogs have gained enormous popularity in just the last few years, thanks to the downturn of the economy. Suddenly, it's as if frugal living is the hip thing to do! There are blogs that cater to free things to ones that cater to discounted savings on top designer items. Some of my favorite blogs have coupon matchups with the weekly sales circulars, detailing what coupons I need and where I can find them. You can even get the coupon matchups for the Commissary and AAFES at my blog, Military Wives Saving, Take notes on what stores have "free" products after store rewards and coupons, and print out the stores coupon policy in case you have issues when you present your coupons.
Make a List
It's important to make a list of the things you need when you go shopping, otherwise, your chances of overspending are higher than they are when you buy what's on your list. Making a list will help keep you on track, plus, it will save you time. Divide your list up between cold and dry items, and if you really know your way around a store, jot down the aisle number next to the item you need. And, before you head out to the store, be sure to "shop" in your pantry to make sure you don't end up buying what you already have.
Have a Budget
Create a spreadsheet with Excel, or keep a notebook of your monthly budget. Start with your take-home pay each month, and then write down each bill you have to pay. If you get paid twice a month, jot down the bills you can pay with each paycheck. Once you have the bills squared away, allot yourself a monthly grocery allowance. It may even be worth it to withdraw that amount you have allowed yourself and put it on a pre-paid card, that way, you know you won't be able to overspend when you go shopping.
Military Discounts
This is definitely one perk of military life that you'll want to take advantage of. Several stores and restaurants offer military discounts, such as Lowe's and the Home Depot {10% off purchases}, and even some car dealerships offer incentives as well, such as GM's Military Discount. It doesn't stop there, however. Some insurance companies offer military discounts, too, such as Geico and USAA. Do some research online to see if your favorite store offers a military discount, and even email them or give them a call. It doesn't hurt to ask.
Childcare Discounts
With monetary assistance from NACCRRA {the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies}, you'll be able to save significantly on daycare expenses. Look into their military program at their website Here, and find out if your daycare is partnered with NACCRRA, or call 1-800-424-2246. They do participate with on-post childcare, however, you may want to have a backup, as there can be a waitlist for on-post care. For married soldiers, the spouse must be working, looking for work, or attending school in order to be eligible for this program.
Collecting Unemployment
If you are a working military spouse and your husband has received orders to transfer to another duty station, you may be eligible for unemployment benefits because your decision to leave your job was not any fault of your own. You will need to check with your states unemployment agency to see if you may qualify. You'll also need to apply and fill out a lengthy questionnaire as to why you quit and attach a copy of your notice-to-quit and spouses orders. If you are approved, depending on your states unemployment guidelines, you will need to show proof that you are looking for work each week.
About the Author: Michelle Dudas is a military spouse and SAHM, as well as the author of Military Wives Saving, where she helps her fellow military spouses save money and get the most bang for their buck. Before deciding to be a SAHM, she worked in the banking industry for over 10 years as a loan officer, where she helped others think smart about their money and get the best deals.
Quick Blogger Tip
If you are a blogger and you are using the Blogger platform, you may have the default navy blue bar at the top of your layout or custom blog design. You can change the settings to this in just a few short steps if you want the bar to blend in with the rest of your page. My blogger bar is set to "transparent" so that the original bar doesn't take away from the blog design.
1. Log into Blogger.
2. Go to "Design."
3. In your design layout, find the blue Navbar.
4. Find and click "Edit" on the right of the Navbar.
5. You can choose from blue, black, tan, silver, transparent light, or transparent dark.
6. Save settings.
Now you have a bar that blends in with your page. Not happy with it? Repeat the steps until you find one that you like.
Mega Swagbucks Day
I have been a member of Swagbucks for seven months. It is my favorite online rewards program. I have earned $255 in Amazon Gift Cards so far and have already redeemed most of my earnings. This year, I was able to purchase gifts for all of my nieces and nephews with my earnings, and I still had some leftover to buy myself a little something! When you sign up for Swagbucks, you will get 30 Swagbucks to start with. Today is Mega Swagbucks Day, where you can earn lots of Swagbucks for searching and more! I already have friends that have earned several gifts cards also and are fans of Swagbucks. After signing up, you can read my tips for earning Swagbucks at the top of my homepage.
If you are a Swagbucks fan, please be sure to tell us what you have earned!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Baby Dipper Review/Giveaway
I received a Baby Dipper bowl for my two year old daughter. The set included a bowl, a spoon, and a fork. I love the blue color and the design of the bowl which allows the food to collect in one of the corners for easier pick up. The bowl is see through, allowing my daughter and myself to be able to tell how much food is left in the bowl from a distance. The first time we used the Baby Dipper bowl, we put yogurt in it. Yogurt is one food I do not like giving to my toddler to eat alone because of the messes she makes with it. However, I did notice that messes weren't as big with the Baby Dipper Bowl. I believe this has a lot to do with the non-slip base of the bowl, which is my favorite feature. The non-slip base prevented the bowl from sliding around the table when my daughter was trying to eat from it. The bowl also weighs more than the average kids plastic bowl, and stays put with the non-slip base. We tried eating applesauce from the bowl that following day during snacktime and my daughter loved it. This is a product I would recommend buying.
WIN a Baby Dipper Bowl!
The Baby Dipper Bowl can be purchased for $9.95 a set. Baby Dipper is also giving away one baby bowl to one lucky reader. US and 18+ only. Please leave a separate comment for each entry with your email address spelled out (ex. thefrugalfreegal at yahoo dot com) Note: previous recipients of Baby Dipper bowls (in giveaways or for reviews) are not eligible to win this giveaway.
Mandatory Entry:
Tell me why you would like to win the Baby Dipper Bowl and/or who you would want to win it for.
Bonus Entries:
-Follow blog via Google Friend Connect (right sidebar)
-Subscribe *and* confirm in email (top right sidebar)
-Follow The Frugal Free Gal on Twitter
-Follow Baby Dipper on Twitter
-Like The Frugal Free Gal on Facebook
-Like Baby Dipper on Facebook
-Subscribe to the Baby Dipper newsletter
-Blog about giveaway and leave link
-Tweet giveaway and leave link
-Post giveaway on Facebook and leave link
-Grab my button and leave blog link
-Grab my Frugal Fridays button and leave blog link
-Post this on any giveaway linky and leave link
Giveaway ends 1/27 at 11:59EST. I will choose a winner at random.org and will email the winner within 24 hours. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen.
Disclosure: I was given one bowl from BabyDipper for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
Friday Blog Hop 1/14
1. Follow "The Frugal Free Gal" and "Inspiring You 2 Save"
2. Add your family friendly blog links.
3. Follow any blogs below that you are interested in.
4. Tweet this blog hop as active so we can get others on board!
5. Grab the "Frugal Fridays" Button for your blog.
6. Grab the linky code and place it on your blog in a new post.
800 Facebook Fans!
I am pleased to announce that today I reached 800 Facebook Fans! Thank you to those that helped me get there. You can help me reach 2011 Facebook Fans by the end of the year by spreading the word about "The Frugal Free Gal!" Become a Facebook Fan today so that you don't miss out on the latest freebies, deals, coupons, money saving articles, giveaways, and more!
I 
my Fans!
my Fans!
Ask the Readers
I am hosting my very first "Ask the Readers" session today. All you have to do is read the question, think about the question, and leave a comment with your answer. One lucky reader will win a $5 Amazon eGiftcard just for responding to the question! Leave your email address with your response. The session closes at 11:59pm tonight.
Question:
Your best friend is in debt and wants to save money this year but doesn't know where to start. She comes to you and asks you for your opinion and advice. What is the first money saving tip that you would give?
Zulily for Moms, Babies, & Kids
Zulily is fabulous! It's a new online store offering daily sales events on top-quality apparel, gear and other goodies for moms, babies and kids. They carry the best brands at the lowest prices. Members enjoy savings of up to 70% off retail prices. Zulily loves to find deals on favorite styles, and they love introducing our members to exciting new brands, too.
Zulily is not a traditional online store. Instead, they feature new items every day. They find great buys from lots of brands and work with them to ship you the goods. Zulily events last 72 hours . . . then they're gone! New brands move in and get their three days on the site.Each weekday, they offer at least five limited-time shopping events. Membership is free.
Guest Post: Creating Extra Income Through Consignment
Creating Extra Income Through Consignment
The New Year is here and post-holiday bargain hunting is in high gear: it’s an expensive time of year. But it can also be a time to bring in some extra income if you’re clever. Many consignment stores have seen great success the past few holiday seasons due to their affordable prices and the influx of brand new and gently used items. And many consigners have benefited financially from their success.
When was the last time you cleaned out your own or your kids’ closets? Get some Christmas gifts you’re not exactly thrilled with? No gift receipts? Unworn gifts (scarves, sweaters, slippers) or clothing may make a nice find for a shopper at a consignment store.
Not sure how the consignment process works? It is usually fairly simple. Visit the local consignment shop of your choice (most only deal with apparel, shoes and accessories) and ask about their policies. Sometimes the owner will have you sign a contract stating that a percentage of the sale, anywhere from 35-55 percent, will go to the store, and the rest will be issued to you in the form of a check typically anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months after your items have sold.
Most consignment stores will only accept new or gently used items. Make sure articles of clothing are clean or freshly laundered and bring them in on hangers or in garment bags if possible. Some shops seek relatively contemporary clothing while others deal primarily with vintage. Occasionally if you only have a couple items to sell, the owner will purchase the items from you outright with cash or a check. If you’re also in the market to do some shopping and like what you see at the consignment store, many stores will also trade items or issue you a store credit in lieu of cash or check payment.
Don’t have anything to sell or consign? Try shopping at a consignment store instead. The prices are usually around half of what department store retail clothing sells for. Most items are in great condition, hardly worn or sometimes never worn at all with the original tags still on them.
In the market for a designer handbag but can’t stomach the designer prices? Consignment stores can be a great alternative. Many shops also carry beautiful and unique vintage items that are hard to find anywhere else. Try doing at least half your apparel shopping at a consignment store to save some cash in the New Year.
Kristina Gundersen lives in Washington State. She is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and writes on accredited online universities for Guide to Online Schools.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
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