Last Minute Get-a-ways for the New Year

Everybody knows that you ring out the old with the new!  New Years is fast approaching and some of us are planning to attend celebrations, gatherings or attend church.  Wherever you are ringing in the New Year, start thinking of:

·Acquiring frequent flier miles

·Getting new stamps in your passport book

·Charting unfamiliar destinations in the New Year          

Some suggestions for future travel include:

 1. Booking Last minute travel deals and vacation packages at Expedia.com! You can book vacations at a bargain or discount rate on the site.

   2. Snuggle up and get cozy with your honey or chill with girlfriends or with the boys on a fun and relaxing weekend ski get-a-way.Think Snow! Great Ski Deals. Book now on Expedia!

3. Escape the frigid winter climate and book a cheap flight to a sunny destination like Orlando, Florida. Cheap Flight to Orlando: Book you flight to Orlando with CheapOair and get up to $15* Off with Promo Code ORLANDO15.   

4.  Contemplate travel to a city/state with popular attractions between 2-6 hours away, book a rental car at a discount rate, pack up and then drive. Book rental car for only $8 a day and save up to 35%*. Save up to $10* by using Coupon code CAR10. Book Now! 

Yours in Savings,

MFrugalista

Countdown to Christmas Savings

The last two shopping days are here to find your bargains.  But beware of the crowds because they are rampant.  On Saturday afternoon, I experienced boisterous crowds shopping for last minute gifts.  However, I was in and out of one department store in less than an hour.  In order to minimize your stress level while holiday shopping follow my surefire tips.

 

1.      Have your exact shopping list written.  Know what you want and the size of the person so less time is spent on deciding what gift to get.

 

 

2.      Check out the clearance and sale racks first for top designer gifts under $100.

 

 

 

3.      Take advantage of extended store hours at department stores like Macy’s.  Tonight only, Macy’s has an extra 15% off in-store midnight-7 am Sunday 12/23.  You  can get a savings pass for this shopping event here.

 

    Yours in Savings,

    MFrugalista

Last Minute Christmas Deals

Christmastime is here! The last shopping weekend before the Christmas holiday is fast approaching.  I will definitely be in the midst of the shopping crowds this Saturday.  I have a gift to buy for my honey, family’s Secret Santa, my mother, and myself.  Everybody knows that I love a great deal!  But, before I hit the stores this Saturday, here’s what I will do.  Will you do the same?

1. I will check out my favorite shopping websites and store websites for the best holiday shopping online bargains.

     My faves include Overstock.com for home goods, clothes, furniture and Shoes.com for shoes and boots.  I have been a fan of both sites and their steals and deals since 2006.  I have ordered furniture, coats, shoes, sneakers, and blazers and was always 100 % satisfied with the product prices and quality.

2. Visit outlets featuring your favorite retail chains.

     One of my favorite outlets in New York is Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley, NY.  They have one of my favorite stores, Swarovski.

     Woodbury currently has 85 offers listed inside its Exclusive Coupons and VIP Coupon Book and 19 Promotions for Deals Around Town for Restaurant, Spas, Hotels and more.

3. Check for coupon codes or printable coupons on store websites.  Visit a store website like Macy’s or Wal-mart and sign-up for mobile text alerts to save up to 25% off merchandise.  Sometimes they will apply savings off sale and clearance items too. 

     For example check out Macy’s up until Thursday, December 20, 2012 for a WOW! Savings Pass for an extra 15% or 10% off clearance and sale items.
 

Yours in Savings,
MFrugalista

Shop Smarter This Holiday Season

I have been away for awhile, but now I am back!  Back with wonderful smart-saving tips on how to keep a few extra bucks in your wallets during the holidays.  It is down to the finish line- You are running the race to find the greatest bargains ever!  I am a contender in that race for deals too.  Read on for some insider tips on how to keep your pockets lined with more cash to buy novelty, electronic, and other popular gift items………

Tip 1:   Be a Savvy Shopper                                               

Compare shopping prices at different retailers.  For example, when visiting Wal-Mart remember that they have the Ad Match Guarantee.  If you find the same product at a lower price elsewhere like Kmart or Target, Wal-Mart will sell the product to you at that lower price.  Just bring the ad with you into the store to guarantee your savings.  Moreover, you can get scan products and get price comparisons from your smart phone no matter where you are with the Shop Savvy app.

Tip 2: Promotional Code Hunter

Before shopping hunt for promotional codes online to find huge savings when shopping online or at your favorite retail store.  Some of my favorite sites are Savings.com and Retailmenot.com.  Type in the name of the brand or product in the search box for happy hunting!

Tip 3:  Holiday Specials at National Restaurant Chains

Many restaurant chains offer two for one deals for the holidays (Buy one meal get $5.00 off the second meal).  In addition, check local newspapers for coupons for at least $3-10 dollars off lunch or dinner entrees at Red Lobster or TGI Fridays.  Furthermore, check out Restaurant.com to purchase gift certificates, such as $25 gift certificates for only $10.

Yours in Savings,

MFrugalista :)

My TOP Coupon Picks from Upcoming Sunday 10/28 Newspaper

Coupons, coupons, coupons will flood this upcoming Sunday 10/28 regional newspapers!  Whether, you live in Atlanta, GA, Charlotte, NC or New York City those inserts will unwillingly fall out your paper onto the ground or into your wallet/coupon binder.  Personally, they will fall into my coupon binder inside open slots within each category.

For example, I will insert my Johnsonsville Chicken Sausage coupon in the Meat section, Nature Valley granola bars in Cereal section and Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers frozen vegetables in Frozen Food section of my coupon binder.  Here are my top picks for this week's Procter& Gamble, Red Plum and Smartsource coupons:

Procter & Gamble Coupon Preview

Crest $.75/1 Rinse 458ml+

Olay $1/1 bar, body wash or in shower body lotion excludes Simply

Oral-B $.75/1 Glide floss 35m+ or floss picks 30ct+

Febreze $1/1 5.5oz candle

Gillette $.50/1 deodorant or body wash

Gillette $5 off Fusion ProGlide razor wyb catridge or disposable razor

Pantene $1/1 product

Puffs $.25/3 singles or 1 3pk+
Secret $1/1 antiperspirant/deodorant

Red Plum Coupon Preview

California Pizza Kitchen $1/1 product (12/31

Welch’s $75/1 refrigerated fruit juice cocktail or 59oz Healthy Start 100% juice (1/31)

Nestle Toll House $.50/1 cookie brownie delight or original chip cookie kit (1/31)

Nivea $1/1 body wash for women 12-16.9oz (11/11) 
L’Oreal $1/1 skin care product (12/23) ETS

Smartsource Coupon Preview

Aveeno $1/1 product excludes trial and bar soap (12/31)
Listerine $.50/1 Antiseptic, Ultraclean, Zero, Total Care or Fluoride Defense 500mL_ or Whitening 16floz+ (12/31)

Neutrogena $1/1 facial cleansing, haircare, men’s or hand & body skincare product excludes trial, bar soap, suncare, acne or facial moisturizer treatment (12/31)

Schick $1/1 Quattro Disposables pack (12/8)

Buddig $1/4 original 2oz packages (1/31)

Fiber One $.50/2 Chewy Bars, 90 Calorie Chewy Bars or 90 Calorie Brownies (12/22)
Green Giant $.50/2 Valley Fresh Steamers frozen vegetables 11oz or 12oz (12/22)

Johnsonville $1/1 12oz chicken sausage (1/5)

Kraft $.75/1 9-12oz string or twist cheese (11/30)
Nature Valley $.50/2 granola bars 5ct+ or granola thins (12/22)

Old Wisconsin $1/1 4oz+ snack bites, snack sticks or summer sausage (1/31)

Happy Clipping!

Yours in Savings,

MFrugalista :)

3 Steps to Reducing the Amount of Money Spent on Halloween Apparel and Favors

With Halloween fast approaching, the hunt is on for the best bargains and deals on party favors and costumes for either yourself or the kiddies.  Masquerade balls for grown folks and Halloween parties at school or a friend's house for the kids, whichever you choose you should be on the hunt for a social bargain. I am listing my picks for ways to save on Halloween items that will keep your pockets lined literally with more cash on hand.

1. Visit Dealigg.com for awesome deals on Halloween costumes, greeting cards, refreshments, online and store coupons.  In addition for fun, vote for the best deals you come across on the site.



2. Search for savings on party supplies at Retailmenot.com where they also post a deal of the day, which is more than likely a holiday deal.



3. On Savings.com in the search box enter Halloween and oodles of sites appear with Halloween items.  Furthermore, the site has a Spook-tacular Deals! link with coupon codes offering varying percentages off holiday products.



Now go out and navigate the web for Spook-tacular deals and steals this Halloween!

Yours in Savings,

MFrugalista

5 Ways To Live Rich With More Saved!

The first mention of the word "rich" to anyone often evokes images of money and extreme wealth.  Let's face it in today's society rich is in because who wants to live in squalor if they can help it.  In my world, the notion of rich means spending wisely to have more money for the wants and necessities in life .  You can still live fabulously with a little frugality.

About four years ago when I moved to Charlotte, NC to teach I had an AHA! moment about living rich.  An inner voice...seriously that inner voice we sometimes hear but don't listen to told me to (1) save all my single dollar bills and loose coins daily.  I did it too!  The three years I lived in Charlotte each save from hoarding singles and coins ranged between $180-$400.

When I cruised in '09 with my then best friend (2) my save was about $380 which I took as additional spending money on our 7 day cruise.  On another occasion, about a year ago (3) I took about $350 from a save and opened up a basic checking account at a local federal credit union.  

Last summer, a late August beach trip to Myrtle Beach, SC for my birthday was executed using my live rich mantra.  First, I love booking hotels on Orbitz.com.  I went on the site checked the availability and prices for 3 star, 4 star and 5 star hotels. Then, I went to one of my fave sites for coupons and deals, Savings.com.

(4) On Savings.com I found a promo code for Orbitz that took off about 30-40% .  I stayed in an oceanfront deluxe room with full kitchen and 2 queen beds at a 3 star hotel for two nights, all for under $100.  (5) On the same trip I used printable coupons from Coupons.com and Southernsavers.com websites to cut down expense of my grocery bill while at beach.  

Take it from me you can live rich while saving and spending frugally and still be fabulous!  I do it on a daily basis.

Yours in Savings,

MFrugalista

Where Did My Coupons GO?

Don't throw your weekly newspaper away without getting that money out of it!  If you are so zealous about upcoming Coupon Sundays like me, visit sundaycouponpreview.com, to sign-up to receive weekly emails every Wednesday to discover all the free money (coupons) in your forthcoming Sunday newspaper.  I love it, I love it, I love it, because saving a dollar makes me want to holler!

One frugalista method that I live by in order to save a couple of dollars is to search for printable coupons on the website of the company that sells a product I want to purchase.  For example, say you are craving lasagna like I do often but you only like to use Polly-o Mozzarella Cheese.  Just Google Polly-o Cheese which will bring up the product or company site.  Then look for promotions, news, savings or a coupons tab on the product/company site.  Sometimes the company will ask you to sign-up for their free company e-newsletter and then offer printable coupons.  My faves include Alexia Foods, Smart Balance websites because they have excellent healthy food options and offer great printable coupon deals when you register with their site or sign-up for a free e-newsletter.

This evening I will leave my fellow frugalistas with one more mind-blowing tip: For more money saving coupons as wells as coupon codes check out Couponcabin.com.

Yours in savings,

MFrugalista :)