The Budgeteer

Out With the Old, In With the New

2010-01-31T16:31:00.000-08:00

For the past year and a half, I have enjoyed sharing some of the best deals with you. When Jennifer joined me this past summer we were committed to keeping you up to speed on the best ways for you to save money.

Alot has changed for us during this time, most notably a new baby for me and out-of-state move for Jennifer. Through it all we thought of our readers, even as our posts dwindled and our time to blog shrunk even further.

As 2010 is hours away, Jennifer and I have decided to put aside any wonderings about our future at The Budgeteer and bring in the New Year with some resolutions: focus on our families. With six very young children between us and husbands who have been patient for our money-saving obsession, and we feel it is time to focus on them. I miss the art of homemaking and I know in the blink of an eye my girls will be all grown up. It is time I turn my attention elsewhere.

From time to time there may be some deal so hot we can't help but make a note of it here, so I suggest you add The Budgeteer to a reader service (like My Yahoo or Google Reader, my favorite) or subscribe via email so that you still get tips on the latest ways to help your family save money.

In the meantime, we have compiled a list of our favorite money-saving spots that we ourselves check on a regular basis to scope out the latest deals. I would suggest you also add these blogs to your reader service and you will never miss another thing.

Good luck readers on your frugal adventures!

The Budgeteers,
Sarah and Jennifer

Favorite Local Money-Saving Sites

The Grocery Geek - The Grocery Geek is the Las Vegas-area Grocery Smarts manager.

Utah Deal Diva - Best deals around the Salt Lake City area

The Frugal Chick: Frugal Tips for Vegas Chicks - Nichole translates some of the national deals for a Vegas audience.

Favorite National Money-Saving Sites

Money Saving Mom - the knower of all things frugal

Coupon Cravings - a great selection of the best deals

Common Sense with Money - numerous national deals

Deal Seeking Mom - lots of frugal finds

Baby Cheapskate - all kids, all the deals

Mega Swagbucks Day

2010-01-08T04:28:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I shared with you about a new way to search the internet called Swagbucks. You get paid in "swag bucks" to search the internet the same way you already search for things. After you earn your swagbucks you can redeem them for gift cards and other prizes from the swag store. You can read my post about swagbucks here for all the details.

As if it was already sweet enough to get rewarded for doing something you are already doing, how about having a MEGA Swag Bucks Day!

"Every Friday, Swagbucks gives you a chance to win huge, gargantuan, oodles, tons of....Mega Swag Bucks with your searches. From 3 to 100 Swag Bucks, we give away up to 10,000 Swag Bucks in Mega Bills every Friday!"
Taken from Swag Bucks official blog

So, make sure on Friday's you do some MEGA searching to win MEGA swag bucks!

If you don't already have Swag Bucks go here to sign up. After you sign up check your e-mail (you get 3 free swagbucks just for signing up) and they will let you start searching!

Check out the SwagBuck store and share with us what you are saving up for!

Mega Swagbucks Day!

2010-01-01T04:27:00.000-08:00

As if it was already sweet enough to get rewarded for doing something you are already doing, how about having a MEGA Swag Bucks Day!

So, make sure on Friday's you do some MEGA searching to win MEGA swag bucks!

If you don't already have Swag Bucks go here to sign up. After you sign up check your e-mail (you get 3 free swagbucks just for signing up) and they will let you start searching!

Check out the SwagBuck store and share with us what you are saving up for!

New Swagbucks Code

2009-12-31T15:02:00.000-08:00

There is a new swagbucks code. (You are not allowed to put the actual swagbucks code but you can give hints on how to find it.)

Code Location (CLICK THIS LINK)--> The clue on Facebook says, “If you want an extra Swag Buck today, the third word in the TITLE to TSG’s Song of the Day on Twitter today, Click here to see the title of the song of the day on Twitter.
Code expires: will be good on Swagbucks for 1 SB until 9PM PST”
Check The Budgeteer throughout the day for new swagcodes! We love it when our readers help out and alert us of new codes too!

Want to know what Swagbucks are & how I am getting free Amazon giftcards? Read all about it here in our previous post.

Kohl’s: Sleep Bag Pajamas ONLY $3.20 Shipped!

2009-12-30T01:12:00.000-08:00

Wow! Kohl’s has yet another awesome sleepwear deal! Currently, the Carter’s Fleece Sleep Bag pajamas for little babies are marked down to just $4 (originally $20)! Plus, you can use coupon code Extra20 to get an additional 20% off and you can stack that coupon code with the code NOCHARGE to score FREE shipping! Final cost ONLY $3.20 (+ tax) shipped!

These would make adorable baby shower gifts!

**Also, remember to go thru Ebates! You’ll get a $5 sign up bonus if you’re a new member (which will make the pajamas FREE) and 4% Cash back from your Kohl’s purchase! Just go on over here and login or register, then in the store drop down menu find kohl’s.

Free Lip Palet from Bed Head

2009-12-30T01:11:00.000-08:00

Make sure to get your free lip palet from Bed Head. Simply add it to your cart and follow the check out process. This compact pallet features Happiness, Romance, Beauty, Hope, Gossip, Faith, Serenity, Loyalty, Passion and Luxury. One per Customer. Shipping included, allow 2 to 3 weeks. No credit card required to check out. Offer good in the continental U.S. only while supplies last.

Click HERE to get yours! Thanks Amanda!

smile.ly—Be Heard. Be Happy.

2009-12-28T10:56:00.000-08:00

Smile.ly is a program which gives you opportunities to try new products and share about them with others. Sign up and complete your profile and then check your "My Profile" page to see if you have any offers.

I just signed up (it's free and took me less than 3 minutes to do so) and immediately received an offer to try a full-size bottle of VitaCraves. Many others are also receiving this same offer when they sign up right now. So if you have a few minutes and like to try products for free, it's definitely worth signing up for!

Thanks, The Freebie Blogger!

smile.ly—Be Heard. Be Happy.

10 $1 off Coke Prouct & lots more

2009-12-21T15:02:00.000-08:00

You can get freeHappy Baby or Seventh Generation product coupons, or many other high-value coupons just for signing up for a free account with RecycleBank. Here's how:

::Go here and click on the "Sign In or Get Started" button at the top of the RecycleBank page.

::Click on the "Register" option and fill out your information.

::Once you've signed up, go back to the homepage here and sign in. Your account should be credited with 100 points for signing up.

::Click on "Get Rewards" and scroll down to the "Grocery and Food" category in the left column and choose which coupons you would like to request via mail.

I just signed up and ordered 10 $1 off any size coke product. What a deal!

If your area is participating in the RecycleBank program, you can earn points towards more rewards by recycling. Check out more details here.

Thanks Surving the stores

No Coupons this week

2009-12-19T19:05:00.000-08:00

There will be ZERO coupon inserts in tomorrow’s paper! Time to catch up on some clipping and sorting!

If you are going to have coupon withdrawals this week, you can print some great coupons at Coupons.com, Redplum, and Smartsource!

Buca di Beppo: $10/$20 Purchase Coupon

2009-12-19T16:55:00.000-08:00

Get a super high value $10/$20 purchase coupon for Buca di Beppo!

Expires 1/3/10.

This is a great place with big portion sizes. Also we took the kids & it was kid friendly (loud so no one notices your kid. =)

Thanks Mama Cheaps!

Mimi's Cafe: Free Dessert Coupon

2009-12-19T05:00:00.000-08:00

Use this coupon to get a free dessert at Mimi's Cafe (with any $10+ purchase). I love their desserts. What one is your favorite?

I l

One per party. Expires 12/24/09.

Thanks Mama Cheaps!

1 Swagcode!

2009-12-18T16:58:00.001-08:00

Swag Bucks is offering a FREE Swag Code to everyone today. Just head over to the Swag Bucks site and enter Dreidel in the Swag Code box!

If you don't already have Swag Bucks go here to sign up. After you sign up check your e-mail (you get 3 free swagbucks just for signing up) and they will let you start searching!

Free Eye Exams for Infants

2009-12-18T09:32:00.000-08:00

A great find, courtesy of reader Lizzie:

All babies can now receive a free eye exam in their first year of life, thanks to a new program called InfantSEE. The American Optometric Association created InfantSEE because visual development is most dramatic between 6 and 12 months, and ocular conditions like amblyopia (lazy eye) have a much better prognosis when diagnosed early.

To find a participating optometrist near you, call 888-396-3937 toll free or go to InfantSEE.org

Mega Swagbucks Day

2009-12-18T01:00:00.000-08:00

As if it was already sweet enough to get rewarded for doing something you are already doing, how about having a MEGA Swag Bucks Day!

So, make sure on Friday's you do some MEGA searching to win MEGA swag bucks!

If you don't already have Swag Bucks go here to sign up. After you sign up check your e-mail (you get 3 free swagbucks just for signing up) and they will let you start searching!

Check out the SwagBuck store and share with us what you are saving up for!

New Swagbucks Code

2009-12-17T16:29:00.000-08:00

There is a new swagbucks code. (You are not allowed to put the actual swagbucks code but you can give hints on how to find it.)

Code Location (CLICK THIS LINK)--> There is a NEW swagcode in the special offers section.... Scroll through the special offers on right side of page (click here) until the end page with the swagcode pops up -
Code expires: Should go through next Thursday
Check The Budgeteer throughout the day for new swagcodes! We cannot guarantee that we will be able to post all swagcode locations because we are not online 24/7, but we get most of them. We love it when our readers help out and alert us of new codes too!

Want to know what Swagbucks are & how I am getting free Amazon giftcards? Read all about it here in our previous post.

Around the Blogosphere

2009-12-17T09:05:00.001-08:00

Here's a few deals that are tempting me this morning. Check them out:

:: Get a $15 credit at Shutterfly.com. Just let it sit in your account until another hot deal comes along and then you are all set!

:: Good deal on fleece throw (or at least some awesome coupon codes) at Kohls.com.

:: Vons has an already excellent promotion running on Kellogg's cereal this week. Here's someone's post on what else she scored at her supermarket, giving me some ideas on how to work my coupons. One of the coupons is a Target printable for $5/4, but it is a manufacturer coupons. I used this coupon at Smiths last week and I know it works.

:: Hot deal on Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure DVD. I ordered mine last week using the eBillMe that Jennifer wrote about, so I am all set, but this is an awesome price.

:: Get $.25 vegetables at Target this week.

:: $3/1 EPT pregnancy test coupon. Last week they had a $5 coupon (!) that I failed to print in time. No I am not in need of one right now, but if any of you has ever had to pay full price at the store I bet you choked at the check-out. I know I do. So I plan on snagging a few while the deal is around and save them for future need. I hear they have the single tests priced around $3 at Wal-Mart and I know for a fact that the 3-pack digital EPT tests are around $5.50 (since I looked the other day to see how much they would cost if I had the $5 coupon).

:: Nivea Body Wash will be on sale next week at CVS. Print your $2 coupon now and save it until then, getting it free (in fact you will make money!)

:: Hallmark has been doing an awesome promo this month with multiple $5 off your purchase of $5 or more coupons popping up in magazines and even a printable coupon. The coupon expires on Christmas Eve, so you still have time. I have used over 6 coupons I think by now and scored some good stuff. Hallmark has their wrapping paper Buy 1 at $4.99, get one for $.99. With tax and coupon you will pay $1.76 for two rolls! Better than after-Christmas sales, right? On my last trip I bought one roll of non-Christmas paper and a bow so my total with coupon and tax was $.71! I'm all stocked up now.

Free Right@Home Holiday Gift Basket

2009-12-15T01:00:00.000-08:00

Another great free gift pack offer from SC Johnson's Right@Home website: free Right@Home Holiday Gift Basket goes to the first 2,000 to register for it each week. Each gift pack has Ziploc, Pledge, Glade, and Scrubbing Bubbles products inside. Thanks goes to My Frugal Adventures for the heads up on this new offer! Starting again on Dec. 8 and Dec. 15 another 2,000 will be given out for a total of 6,000 gift packs (I'll remind you). I don't think you'll know if you get one, so I recommend registering again on Dec. 8 and 15.

In order to qualify, you must be a member of Right@Home (easy to sign-up and free to do so) and you can not have won a gift pack within the past 180 days. Guess what? It's pretty much impossible to figure out between the request time and the time you receive it if your last gift pack disqualifies you. So go ahead and request it and let SC Johnson sort it out. I'm guessing that I should be due to get one of these gift packs (if not this one then the next one). Good luck!

Thanks Freebies 4 Mom

Walgreens Huggies Deal!

2009-12-13T16:23:00.000-08:00

**As with all coupons depending on where you live you might have different coupons ~ below are from Utah)

Transaction #1
Get: Gillette Fusion razor (the "power" one is pictured!)
Sale Price: $8.99
Use: Gillette Fusion Razor, any $4/1 (12-31-09) PG-11/29
Pay: $4.99
Get: $4 in register rewards

Transaction #2
Get: Huggies Jumbo pack diapers, training pants or goodnights
Sale Price: $8.99
Use: Huggies Diapers, any $1.50/1 (12-31-09) SS-11/15
Use Store Coupon: $1/1 pkg Huggies from the coloring book. *(See end of post for details on the coloring book)
Use Register Rewards: $4 from previous transaction
Pay: $2.49
Get: $2 in register rewards!
You can roll this $2 register reward into another transaction #1 and rinse repeat.

Also keep your eyes out for some in-store coupons. At my store they have these were the ads are up front. Its just 4 pages of copied Walgreens coupons stapled together, all expiring 12/24/09. There's some great deals using these coupons:

If your a Pampers user instead of the great Huggies deal this week you could:
Price: usually around $10.99
Use: Pampers Diaper or Pants, any $1.50/1 (12-31-09) PG-11/29
Use Store coupons: $1/1 Pampers Jumbo pack diapers
Pay: about $8.99

Also check out the huggies wipes!
Price: $2.69 -$3.99 depending on area
Use: Huggies Baby Wipes, any 64 ct. or larger .50/1 (12-31-09) SS-11/15
Use Store coupon: $1/1 huggies baby wipes 64 or 72 pk
Pay: $1.19- $2.49
Id say that's a stock up price!

*The Coloring book can be found in the pharmacy or coloring book section. If your having a hard time finding it make sure to as a cashier or manager, they sometimes keep them out of site since they have coupons inside. The first sheet in these have a sheet of store coupons that are kid related. Remember with these coupons you keep them and just have the cashier scan and give it back!

Thanks Pinching your Pennies for the Info

Code Expired $10 off $10 at Buy,com

2009-12-11T12:49:00.000-08:00

I was able to get 2 Thomas the Train videos that each came with a train for $3.96 including shipping!! Would normally be $30 plus shipping. Not too shabby!

If you do decide to go the DVD route...there are tons of DVDs you can get for almost free and many of them have free shipping. Both of my Thomas the Train DVDs were free shipping. To see if your item is free shipping, look for the YELLOW moving truck under the item and the words free shipping. That means it ships free regardless of price.

Also make sure to shop through e-bates so you can get an additional 2% off! Plus if you are new to E-bates you will get an additional $5 for signing up!

Click here to go to ebates, then type Buy.com to get an additional 1% back
Click on buy.com
Shop their sales, DVD sections, or wherever. They do have a Holidays section
Once you find your items, load them to your cart.
Check out by setting up an account
Choose pay with eBillMe
Place your Order ( do NOT enter your code on this page )
It will take you to the eBillMe payment page.
Enter code Code Expired
Then, follow the directions to pay via your bank account online bill pay.

Thanks http://moneysavingmethods.blogspot.com/

Mega Swagbucks Day

2009-12-11T01:00:00.000-08:00

As if it was already sweet enough to get rewarded for doing something you are already doing, how about having a MEGA Swag Bucks Day!

So, make sure on Friday's you do some MEGA searching to win MEGA swag bucks!

If you don't already have Swag Bucks go here to sign up. After you sign up check your e-mail (you get 3 free swagbucks just for signing up) and they will let you start searching!

Check out the SwagBuck store and share with us what you are saving up for!

$1 off General Mills Cereal

2009-12-10T23:14:00.000-08:00

Just got an e-mail from Blogsparks & you will not want to miss this high value coupon. Pair these with a great sale & this is where I normally get my cereal (last time I got 20 boxes FREE!) Plus I put these in ziploc bags to use as snacks.

Kudos to General Mills for making the commitment to reduce sugar in cereals that are marketed to kids under the age of 12 to single digit grams of sugar per serving. The company has already been reducing sugar in cereals while increasing key nutrients, such as calcium and vitamin D, and providing whole grain.

Give it a try for yourself with this new $1/1 General Mills Cereal printable (IE) or printable (FF)!

Coupon valid on:

Lucky Charms
Toast Crunch
Cocoa Puffs
Trix

Thanks to General Mills for providing this info through MyBlogSpark.

Free Genelogical Website

2009-12-08T09:26:00.001-08:00

Another great reader tip from Elizabeth. Thanks! :

For people who research their family history and aren't LDS, a lot of websites charge you to use them; but the Las Vegas Library just set up a website for free that has access to HeritageQuest Online, which is one of the largest genealogical databases available. The link can be found on the A-Z page.

Recycling Electronics for Cash

2009-12-08T09:24:00.000-08:00

Here's a tip that reader Elizabeth sent. Thanks!:

Want to trade in some of your old electronics for cash? Gazelle pays you to recycle your old laptops, cellphones, LCD monitors, digital cameras, camcorders, MP3 players, gaming systems, video games, GPS devices, and more. Free shipping is offered on all transactions with a value of at least $1, and Gazelle will even send you a box for most items. They will also remove personal data from the old gadgets for your security, using Department of Defense software and performs these tasks in a controlled, secure environment.

As an added bonus, if you a Costco member, they will give you a Costco card in an amount about 2.5% more than it pays through its normal service! Just log onto Costco's website and type recycle into the search engine, then click on the trade-in website.

Right @ Home Holiday Gift Basket

2009-12-08T01:00:00.000-08:00

FREE Redbox Monday Coming Up

2009-12-06T10:11:00.000-08:00

We just got this email from Redbox:

“We wanted to send you a reminder that this Monday is Monthly Movie Monday at redbox. We will be providing each registered customer with an exclusive, one-time-use code via text message only. Please invite your readers to join the redbox SMS network here if they want to receive their free rental next week. Remember, each code sent to each phone is unique and may only be used one-time.”

So- be sure to sign up HERE if you want the FREE code this Monday at Redbox!