Simply Me

I adore reading! Do you? Check out a free way to snag books you will love .... for free!

2014-07-19T20:42:00.000-04:00

Hi Readers :-)

I want to share that I am thrilled with my four recent wins of books from the publishers and/or authors! I adore reading! I don't always have the time, but ... when I do, I can lose myself in a good book!

Where did I win these books, you ask? Why Goodreads, of course!

What is Goodreads, you ask? Well, it is an amazing website where you can join others who love to read and read reviews on just about any genre of literature you want!

How did I win? I won through a giveaway program called First Reads. Here, let me show you...

First Reads

Be the first to read new books! Prerelease books are listed for giveaway by publishers and authors, and members can enter to win. Winners are picked randomly at the end of the giveaway.

You can create an account for free at the following website:

Goodreads

Then select the giveaways link to enter the giveaways for the books you want to read (or to share)!

Happy Reading!

Simply Me

MORE TAX-FREE HOLIDAYS AROUND THE U.S.

2014-07-10T23:19:00.000-04:00

Hello All!
I thought that saving some more $$$$ dollars at this time of year might appeal to some of you! Here is the updated list of tax-free purchases that are coming available around the country!

Tax Free Holidays List

Be sure to share this with your friends and family! Those saved dollars will add up! It's so .....

You may save enough to even buy some.....healthy meals!

Happy Shopping!

Using Social Media to find free stuff! Check out Pinterest !

2014-06-22T16:51:00.000-04:00

Pinterest has lots of free stuff!

What can you find for free on Pinterest?

FREE FONTS

FREE PATTERNS

FREE DIY IDEAS

FREE RECIPES

FREE ANIMAL CARE INFORMATION

FREE CHILDCARE INFORMATION

FREE HEALTHCARE INFORMATION

FREE GARDENING IDEAS & ADVICE

FREE PLANS FOR MAKING YOUR OWN.......FURNITURE, CLOTHES, SHEDS, CHICKEN COOPS, ANIMAL PENS, YARD ART, WELDING PROJECTS, DOG BEDS, CAT TOWERS, CHRISTMAS GIFTS, PARTIES, ETC.

FREE TRAVEL TIPS

PINTEREST WILL SAVE YOU $$$$$ :)

Love the new digital coupons at Publix!

2014-06-22T16:27:00.001-04:00

Publix Supermarkets now offers digital coupons that you can use without having to do all that clipping! Just go to www.publixsupermarket.com and click on coupons. You can find their BOGO deals, make a shopping list, and also 'clip' the coupons you select. When you are at the register, you will simply enter your telephone number to redeem those coupons you have 'clipped'!

Happy Shopping!

Save $$$$ Make your own laundry soap

2012-12-01T22:18:00.001-05:00

Hello Friends & Faithful Followers!

I have been drawn away from my regular posts for some time now. Happily, I am back with you to share more dollar-saving information.

I have a family member who has shared some cost-saving tips for laundry with me recently. She and I both have raised many children who were literally dirt magnets. We've also had to contend with carrying bottle after bottle of laundry detergent in from the car to help combat the daily loads of laundry. I'd never taken a hard look at the cost of laundry detergent until recently. She and I discussed the cost vs. washing power of various detergents. She then shared the laundry secret she and her daughter have been using. She said it lasts her family 8 months. I thought it was a secret worth sharing with you. Homemade detergent is a low suds formula which is important for HE (high efficiency) machines. You will need a large plastic tub or container with a lid to store your homemade detergent in, but here you have two recipes for your money-saving pleasure!

Here's her recipe:

3 bars (grated finely ) Fels Naptha, Zote, or any other laundry bar soap of your choice
1 box 20 Mule Team borax (sodium borate)
1 box washing soda (such as Arm & Hammer or soda ash/sodium carbonate)
2 cups of baking soda (yes, sodium bicarbonate, the stuff in your kitchen cabinet)
2 small tubs of powdered oxy cleaner

Use only 2 tablespoons per load. J

And here's a recipe where you don't have to grate a bar of laundry soap:

2 Tablespoons liquid dish soap (your choice, I like the citrus scented ones)

3 Tablespoons 20 Mule Team borax
3 Tablespoons washing soda

Put these ingredients into an empty one gallon jug. Add 4 cups hot water into the jug. Mix until powders are dissolved into the liquid. Let the liquid cool. After liquid is cool, fill close to the top with cold water.

Use only 1/2 cup per load. J

Free Magazine Subscriptions For You

2012-03-23T08:35:00.000-04:00

Good morning, Friends & Faithful Followers!

Today I have for you a couple of links for free magazines. I just picked up a couple that I enjoy reading.

Here are the links for you to choose yours:

Value Mags

I just picked up a free subscription to one I read on occasion (Ladies Home Journal). I will receive eleven issues at no charge - no strings attached!

And another link to a site that always has top name magazines for free . . .

Rewards Gold

Today this site is offering the following magazines:

Details - 1 year subscription
Forbes - 1 year subscription
Martha Stewart Living - 1 year subscription
Newsweek - 1 year subscription
Maxim - 1 year subscription
Barrons - 1 year subscription
Wall Street Journal - 26 issues

I already am receiving Martha Stewart Living and Bloomberg Business from this site. The only negative to me here is that I had to fill out a short survey in order to receive the one-year subscriptions to these magazines. However, when you look at the newsstand prices and the subscription prices, it is a very good deal!

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Five FREE Super SAMPLES!

2012-03-12T17:14:00.000-04:00

Good Afternoon, Friends & Faithful Followers!

I have some deals for you!

CVS has a nice sample of the UK's #1 facial skincare line.

Click here

Nescafe Taster's Choice sampler

Click here

Free Sample Box of Quaker Oatmeal Squares

Click here

Free Sample of Lipton Tea Mixes

Click here

Free Samples of Beech-Nut Toddler foods

Click here

Try one or try all!

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Swagbucks Birthday Extravaganza

2012-02-27T14:08:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, Friends & Faithful Followers:

Today is a big birthday!

It's the big day on Swagbucks! Four lucky winners will win $1,000 each!

There is an all-day Swag Code extravaganza where 130 Swag Bucks in codes

will be given out TODAY!

Plus if you’ve already RSVP'ed to the Swagbucks party (click here ), you’ve noticed

the giant pink and green puzzle. Behind that puzzle is the picture of their party.

Swagbucks will reveal the pieces of their puzzle as their party hits a series

of earning goals, one for each category. If they reveal the whole picture before

midnight, ALL PARTY BONUSES ARE DOUBLED!

If you haven’t joined Swagbucks, now is THE BEST time to sign up. All new

users will receive 140 Swagbucks when they sign up through this link
( click here )and use code BIRTHDAYBASH12 (type it in ALL CAPS into
the code box) during the sign up process. I think this may be the most
Swagbucks I’ve ever seen for new members! It's the best deal I've seen since
I signed up!

Check it out.

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Apple iPad 2 Raffle

2012-02-26T23:44:00.000-05:00

Good Evening, Friends & Faithful Followers,

I just received this e-mail from a Ph.D. candidate at Stanford. She needs our help in her research. The reward is a chance to win an iPad. Click here for direct link!

Give it a try. Forward this information on your Facebook page or add the link to your Twitter account. Whatever social network you use, give her a hand with her research and please post her content on your social network of choice!

Please forward our message to your friends and mailing lists. It will make a difference!
Our research team at Stanford University is inviting participants to a simple online study.

As a token of appreciation we will hold an Apple iPad 2 raffle at the end of the study.

Go to: http://labs.stanford.edu/ipad/5b27f8b3

Please forward this message to your friends and mailing lists. It will really make the difference.

Thank you very much,
Nicolas Kokkalis
Ph.D. candidate
Stanford MobiSocial Group
353 Serra Mall, Stanford CA

Thank you for your help! I always support education :-)

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Win! Win! Win!

2012-02-26T13:27:00.001-05:00

Good Afternoon, Friends & Faithful Followers:

Wanna have some weekend fun?

Here are some easy contests to enter:

Win a Kindle

Win an iPad 2, or an iPad3, or whatever iPad Apple releases next

Win FREE Tide for a year

Win free Purex detergent

Win a free SDHC 8GB from Lexar

Win FREE Tide HE for a year!

Win an iPad 3 for you and your friend!

Win a Toshiba laptop

Win a $350 shopping spree at Estee Lauder

Win an iPad and a CarMD kit!

Leave a comment below with your thoughts about the above contests!

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Need Money? Have Unwanted Electronics?

2012-02-19T23:00:00.000-05:00

Good Evening, Friends & Faithful Followers!

I have been doing my spring cleaning early and have discovered quite a few items that are too valuable to donate. I remembered seeing sites that would pay you for your unwanted electronics, so I started searching. I found several: YouRenew.com, CashForLaptops.com, and Gazelle.com.

Some of the sites take only computers and others take computers, cell phones, e-readers (like Kindle and Nook), DVD players, Blu ray players, MP3 players, gaming systems, digital cameras, projectors, calculators, and other electronics. You can get cash for the stuff you don't want and recycle at the same time.

Here are the links:

YouRenew.com Click Here

CashForLaptops.com Click Here

Gazelle.com Click Here

Let me hear from you! You can leave me a comment in the box below about these sites and/or others you find.

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Rebate Heaven

2012-02-18T16:55:00.000-05:00

Good Afternoon, Friends & Faithful Followers!

What a beautiful Saturday afternoon! I just checked my Saturday postal mail delivery and found that I have received my quarterly BIG FAT CHECK from eBates! Woo hoo! I absolutely love seeing those checks arrive! They don't cost me a cent! I don't even pay postage on these rebates!

I have been a member of eBates since I had first heard of them on the local news broadcast in 2009.. A journalist was interviewing a businessman who used eBates to make many of his business purchases. He received quarterly checks in the thousands of dollars! Well, needless to say, that caught my eye! Of course I am not making quite as many online business purchases as the man in the news report, but I am getting regular rebate checks. My checks vary in amounts from $12 to almost $100 each quarter.

You can earn anywhere from 1% to as high as 30% cash back on your online purchases from your favorite online stores. You earn $$$ for referring your friends and family as well. Which online stores are your favorites? I'll venture to say that eBates probably lists them. Here is a partial listing of some of their online links to stores:

Sears
Lowes
AutoZone
Advance Auto
Babies R Us
Kohl's
Barnes & Noble
Bass Pro Shops
TurboTax
Dell
Office Depot
Office Max
Staples
Avon Canada
Sears Canada
Sony Canada
Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, Boost
JC Penney
Apple Store
HP
KMart
WalMart
Target
FTD
Teleflora
ProFlowers
Food Network
LobsterGram
Sam's Club
Wine.com
Oriental Trading
Toys R Us
Restaurant.com
Groupon
Drugstore.com
GNC
Netflix
Nordstroms
Macys
Cabela's
Marriott
Travelocity
Holiday Inn
Enterprise Rent A Car

and so many more!!!

Here's their link so you can check eBates out for yourself:

Click here to check out eBates!

It's free to join! They will also give you a $10 gift card just for joining!

Leave a comment below and tell me what you think after you have visited their website.

Enjoy!

Simply Me

FREEBIES!!!

2012-02-17T21:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday, Friends & Faithful Followers!

Tonight I have some nice freebies to share with you!

1. Free Sample of Tide Pods (detergent + stain remover + brightener)
on Facebook - Click Here

2. Nestlé El Mejor Nido - Maggi Special Offer on Facebook
Enter your e-mail address where it says "Introduce tu correo
electronico aqui" and then click on "Imprime tu cupon ahora" to
print your coupon. - Click Here

3. Free Digital Magazines from ValueMags.com - Click Here
Seventeen, Transworld MotoCross, Veranda, Islands,
Marlin, Caribbean Travel & Life, and more!

4. Free Home Made Simple coupon booklet from P & G -
Click Here

5. Life Choice Nutrition Bar free sample - Click Here

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Deals!!! Disney 3 Days/$99, Free Silk Scarf , Etc.

2012-02-15T23:14:00.002-05:00

Good Evening, Friends & Faithful Followers!

Tonight I have an amazing Disney Deal and several freebie offers to
share with you! Take a look!

Walt Disney World is offering the following deal for Florida residents:

Florida Resident Wild for 3 Pass: Three Days for $99

(click here for Disney link)

Free Silk Scarf from SneakPeeq.com

(click here for SneakPeeq link)

Free Sun-Maid Recipe Booklet

(click here for Sun-Maid Recipe Booklet)

IHOP--Free Short Stack at IHOP on Feb 28 - 2012 National Pancake Day
(national offer)

(click here for IHOP info)

I hope you found something you can use!

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Healthcare Savings News and Link

2012-02-14T18:31:00.000-05:00

Good Evening, Friends & Faithful Followers!

Here's some news you can all use! I just discovered a healthcare savings card that
you can use all over the country, no matter where you live!

It's called the Coast2Coast RX Card. Here is all the information I found out:

The Coast2Coast Rx Card is a free discount prescription card provided

to residents of townships, cities, counties and states. (You don’t have to LIVE in

that particular zone; just choose the location NEAREST YOU.) The program includes participation by U.S. pharmacies to provide annual savings up to 55%. Savings on

a single prescription range from a few percent up to 75% (sometimes more) off

the retail price of the drug. Cardholders save on both brand name and generic

drugs. All members of a family can use the card. It is always FREE and the card

can be used immediately. There are no age, income or other exclusions.

There are no forms to fill out. Simply take the card to one of the 59,000+

participating pharmacies to start saving today.

COAST2COAST link: (click here)

Cardholders and their families can save up to 60% on their dental needs

(click here); an average of 10% to 50% on their vision needs (click here) and

35% on their hearing needs (click here). Cardholders also save 50% to 80%

on lab (click here) and imaging (click here) tests.

Cardholders can also save on their diabetes supplies (click here).

I just printed my membership card. Now you can, too!

Enjoy!

Simply Me

I'm On A Mission With KNORR & Smiley360!

2012-02-13T23:49:00.000-05:00

Good Evening, Friends & Faithful Followers!

I just received the message below from Smiley360 after joining and applying for a mission:

Try NEW Knorr® Homestyle Stock for Free!

For this mission, you will receive:

* one (1) full-size pack of Knorr® Homestyle Stock

* three (3) coupons to share ($2 OFF value)

* one (1) Knorr® Homestyle Stock cooking Ladle

* a Knorr® Homestyle Stock Recipe booklet

* the Smiley360 Knorr® Homestyle Stock sharing guide

* and mission Smiles for sharing your feedback.

After you’ve had the chance to try your sample of Knorr®

Homestyle Stock, it will be time to share your opinion using

the Smiley360 sharing tools. When you do, we'll reward you

with Smiles, which improve your status in the Smiley360

community.

Follow the mission page link for more details on what to do,

and always remember to disclose when sharing that you’ve

received your free Knorr® Homestyle Stock sample from

Smiley360!

(Consider this a pre-mission disclosure!)

If you'd like to join Smiley360 and apply for a mission

like the one above, click on the link below:

Smiley360 link

Members get to try new products and experiences for

free and earn status for sharing about their experiences

through sites like Facebook, Twitter, and more.

I'll report back to you in a couple of weeks after I have

completed my mission!

Enjoy!

Simply Me

House Party Report

2012-02-12T14:39:00.000-05:00

Good Sunday Afternoon, Friends & Faithful Followers!

Just wanted to share that we had a super time at our MegaRed "Love Your Heart" House Party yesterday! I met a new friend called Mary #2 (long story) :-). I enjoyed chatting with long-time friends and family. Best of all, I had a great deal of fun giving out the MegaRed gift packs (all of the items which I received for FREE from HouseParty, Inc.)! See this photo of our pretty tablescape:

MegaRed products from the House Party hostess pack included:

14 MegaRed water bottles

28 MegaRed samples

14 MegaRed coupons

2 MegaRed 30 ct. products

1 MegaRed pedometer

1 MegaRed display board

I provided the tablecloth, the plates, cups, utensils, food and beverages. My guests brought friends and provided the entertaining conversation. We discussed our lives, families, and most importantly our health. We urged one another to make our own health a priority in our busy lives. It was a fun get-together and the best part was ALL THE FREE STUFF FROM HOUSE PARTY, INC.!!!

If you would like the opportunity to host your very own FREE House Party, click on the link below:

House Party homepage (link)

Let me know what you think about my party pack or tell me about a House Party you have applied for by leaving a comment below!

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Make Your Opinions Count!

2012-02-10T20:56:00.001-05:00

Happy Friday, Friends & Faithful Followers!

Would you like an easy way to tell companies what you think about their products without spending hours e-mailing? Here is a way you can make your opinions be heard by product manufacturers!

National Consumer Panel is a company that helps you do just that! It is easy as pie! All you have to do is scan the UPC codes on the products you purchase each week. NCP compiles and sends that information directly to the manufacturers. Plus, you have the added bonus of completing occasional surveys online where you can give a detailed opinion on the products you use and/or would like to see on the market.

What do you get for scanning your purchases and completing a few surveys?

1. You receive occasional gifts in the mail from NCP.

2. You earn and accumulate points for scanning purchases and completing surveys. You then use those points to select gifts for yourself from a wide range of products in their catalog.

3. You are entered into periodic sweepstakes for prizes like automobiles, travel, products, etc.

I have been doing it for over a year now and continue to accumulate thousands of points. I am saving for one of the BIG gifts! I have received several gifts from NCP and am waiting on my first sweepstakes win from them!!!

They are accepting applications NOW for new members! Check them out on the link below! Sign up if you like free stuff!

LINK: National Consumer Panel (a Nielsen/Symphony company)

Enjoy!

Simply Me

SUPER SAVINGS Today!!!

2012-02-08T22:28:00.002-05:00

Good Evening, Friends & Faithful Followers!

I am exhausted and ecstatic this evening! I just returned from my favorite Publix Supermarket about two hours ago with a very LONG register tape. My savings was about 75% of what I spent!!!!
Woo hoo!!! I actually had an order total of $180.59 after a savings total of $134.86! Oh, and I forgot to mention that I also received a Publix gift card for $20 for having a pre-coupon total of well over $200 dollars! If I calculate the gift card in with my savings, that means I actually "earned" 85% savings on my grocery trip. I think that a $154.86 return on my investment of time clipping coupons, sorting coupons, and matching up the coupons for things I need and will use with the current store sale ad is a nice little profit!

I am quite content with my efforts. A $154.86 paycheck for less than a day's work is very nice in this economy.

How did I accomplish this? Well, let's see. I normally receive three Sunday newspapers and clip the coupons from the inserts, the Parade magazine, and the newspaper itself. Then I head over to the Southern Savers ( link ) website, click on the link to my favorite store, read the current store sale & use the checklist feature to plan my shopping trip according to what I need for the week. Then I click the links she has for online coupons that are available and pertain to the current sale. I print out the ones that I plan to use. I then comb through my stash of coupons to see what I have that matches up to the store sales. I also check the store flyers for in-store coupons. I love the way that these stores accept both a manufacturer coupon and their own store coupon for the same item. (It is called "stacking".)
My store also has BOGO (buy one-get one free) sales. They will accept one coupon for the item you buy and one for the one you are getting for free, since you are technically "purchasing" the second item. (You need to check with your store to make sure that this is an accepted practice if they offer BOGO sales.)

With the proper planning and organization, anyone can do this! Check out the 60+ website links to the left of this post to see what you can do this week! I challenge you to follow me on the road to Super Savings!
Be sure to leave a comment below letting me know how you did! I will be excited to hear how you met my challenge with success!!!

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Couponing - Is It Worth It?

2012-02-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

Good morning, Friends and Faithful Followers!

As I sat here exhausted last evening and looked at the stack of uncut coupon inserts beside me and the printed sheets of Internet coupons I had acquired over the past week, I asked myself: "Am I really saving enough to go to all this trouble?", "Is it worth it to gather so many coupons for things my family and I use?", and "Do the cashiers hate to see me coming into their lane?" :-)

After reviewing most of my grocery and drugstore receipts, my doubts quickly disappeared. I usually save 50% at the grocery store and about the same at the drugstore. I can almost always find online codes to use when purchasing items on the Internet (like RetailMeNot and Coupon Cabin). I also always go through an online savings portal before heading to the online stores to save even more (such as eBates and ShopAtHome). I have even gotten discounts at the dentist, the doctor, and and other lesser known places to check for savings! My sons tease me endlessly about being a "deal scout".

This morning I discovered an article that said it all (as if I hadn't confirmed it for myself).

Extreme Couponing One Year Later

Read the article above for yourself. She has some great ideas and confirms couponing as a worthwhile activity.

Enjoy!

Simply Me

FREE Bath & Bodyworks For a Friend and Other Freebies

2012-02-06T21:31:00.000-05:00

Good evening Friends & Faithful Followers!

Bath & Bodyworks is offering a gift for a friend. Just head to the Bath & Body Works' Facebook Page link where you can send a friend a free Signature Collection Travel Size gift.

From that page, click on the Love At First Mist tab and then follow the instructions. You can send gifts to all your Facebook friends that allow you to post on their wall. You can also send them a Valentine e-card!

Now, give some love to yourself for Valentine's Day. Request a free sample of Olay 2-in-1 Daily Facial Cloths at this link: Olay Sample . Then head over to the Pantene site and request a free sample of Pantene Pro-V Aqua Light at this link: Pantene Sample and Other Freebies .

I received a lovely freebie at lunch today. Chick-Fil-A gave me a beautiful red carnation with my lunch order. :-)

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Dollar Stores' Savings

2012-02-05T23:56:00.000-05:00

Happy Superbowl Sunday, Friends and Faithful Followers!

Hope everyone is having a super Sunday! I know that you have already gotten your scissors and Sunday newspaper together to reap the rewards of consistent clipping.

Just a reminder...don't overlook the dollar stores like Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar Days, and Dollar General when planning your shopping trips. These deep-discount stores often give you a better deal for your buck than the BOGO (buy-one, get-one) deals offered at the local grocer or supercenter.

Here's another tip! Dollar General Stores are offering a $5 off of $25 coupon this week, ending on 2/11/2012. You can print one at the following link:

Dollar General Store coupons

Happy Shopping!

Simply Me

UNBELIEVABLE Sale On SHARK Products, Etc.

2012-02-04T10:04:00.000-05:00

Good Morning, Friends and Faithful Followers.

I am a fan of a site called 1SaleADay.com where I have found some of the most amazing deals on products I need. Each day this site has a HOT DEAL on a main item, a wristwatch item, a family item, a jewelry item, a wireless item, and FLASH items. Today I was excited to find 2 deals for items I have been looking for: a leather tablet case for $5 plus free shipping and a hand-held Shark vacuum (Model #SV748) for $17.99 plus free shipping. It has a washable re-usable filter, too! I absolutely LOVE their deals!

You can check out their sales at the following link:

1SaleADay.com

Let me know if you find YOUR Amazing Deal!

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Freebies and Samples Fans!

2012-02-03T21:45:00.000-05:00

Hello, Friends and Faithful Followers.

Today's post is a biggie! If you would like to receive very nice Proctor and Gamble samples on a regular basis, you must sign up for P & G Everyday Solutions. Here's the link to register:

P & G Everyday Solutions

Once you register, Proctor & Gamble will send you regular updates on the latest samples, coupons, and sweepstakes that they offer. If you are a fan of any of their products (Head & Shoulders, Gain, Charmin, Scope, Crest, Swiffer, Downy, Oral B, Gillette, Vicks, Cascade, and many others), you will want to be a registered user!

Enjoy!

Simply Me

Protect Yourself for FREE - Guard your money

2012-02-01T21:34:00.000-05:00

Good Day, Friends and Faithful Followers!

Today I have found something you each can use. Protection for your money! Whether you happen to have a little or a lot, you need to keep it safe.

Suze Orman is offering to help you for free...

Get your free Suze Orman Will and Trust, Identity Theft Kit, and Money Navigator here:

1. Get your FREE Will & Trust Kit; just enter the promo code STAR.
Link is below:

FREE WILL AND TRUST

2. Get your FREE Identity Theft Kit.

Link is below:

FREE IDENTITY THEFT KIT

3. Get your FREE Money Navigator Newsletter Subscription; just enter the promo code INVEST.
Link is below:

MONEY NAVIGATOR

Just sign up and feel more safe and secure about your money and your privacy!

Enjoy!

Simply Me