CFO: Chief Family Officer

Flat Stanley Christmas Giveaway Winner

2009-11-07T20:32:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the Flat Stanley Christmas giveaway. Congratulations to the lucky random winner:

Beth T. (wordy****@earthlink.net)
Beth, I've sent you an email, and you have 48 hours to respond with your address.

Morning Coffee: Star Trek Comes to Life

2009-11-07T09:31:00.000-08:00

As a huge Star Trek fan, I was enthralled by this news story about the first "replicator" that's been invented. It's not really a replicator, but it's close enough to make me think that we'll have that kind of technology someday.

Hawaiian Airlines is celebrating its 80th anniversary this year. If you're a member of HawaiianMiles, their frequent flyer program, you can get 80 free miles just by entering your member number here. Plus, every 80th person will receive an $80 e-certificate instead of the miles. Offer expires 11/11.

A Thrifty Mom has a heads up on a Huggies deal at CVS the week of 11/22.

Leslie Loves Veggies is giving away a a Two-pack CakeCup Sampler. Ends 11/16.

Zen Family Habits offers some thoughts on whether to give children an allowance or commission.

Money Saving Mom explains how she manages a Freezer Cooking or Baking Day, and proves that you can store a day's worth of cooking in one small freezer.

Followers of Maddycakes Muse can enter to win a $100 gift card of your choice.

Z Recommends explains how to make homemade moon sand.

The Happy Housewife has details on how veterans can get into Knott's Berry Farm for free this month.

Image credit: Star Trek: The Next Generation Enterprise D Ship at Amazon.com

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Two Recalls yesterday: Playsets & Easels

2009-11-06T14:30:00.000-08:00

If you think you have the following item(s), click through to the CPSC press release for more details:

Adventure Playsets Recall to Repair Backyard Swing Sets Due to Fall Hazard - Click through for additional photos.

Children’s Art Easels Recalled by MacPherson’s Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard

Stay on top of recalls by signing up for recall notifications by email at the CPSC web site.

Today's Amazon Deals: FoodSaver & Ally McBeal

2009-11-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

Today's Amazon Friday Saleincludes the FoodSaver V3835at $128.99. I've had FoodSavers on my mind since reading Camille's post at Growing Up Gabel about how she's using her FoodSaver to preserve her stockpile of bulk purchases. I did a little checking and found that this FoodSaver gets 2.5 stars out of 5 at Amazon and just over 3 stars at Costco, so do read the reviews to see if this is the right FoodSaver for you. It looks like your best bet for refills on the bags is at Costco, where you can get a 6-pack of rolls for $38.99. (If you're not a Costco member, Walmart has a 5-pack for $39.97.)

The only other thing that really caught my eye in today's Friday Sale was this Rubbermaid Wreath Keeper,which is $6.99. It'd be great if you have a fake wreath that you use every year during the holidays.

Is anyone else excited that Ally McBeal is now available on DVD? I loved the show (at least the first few years of it). Ally McBeal: The Complete Seriesis today's Deal of the Day, for $78.99 (list price $198.99). Best of all, you can watch the first two episodes for free at Amazon(I watched the first episode and it totally holds up). You can also watch the cast reunion to promote the DVD on Good Morning America.

Morning Coffee: Mega Swag Bucks Day & Lots of Giveaway Links

2009-11-06T07:29:00.000-08:00

Today is Mega Swag Bucks Day, which means you have an increased chance of winning 10, 20, 50, and 100 Swag Bucks (although I'm sad to say the most I've ever won is 5). Swag Bucks guarantees that over 10,000 Swag Bucks will be awarded in mega bills today. Good luck! (Learn more about why I love Swag Bucks.)

I apologize if you were disappointed when you clicked through to Amazon yesterday after reading about the Graco Nautilus deal. I inadvertently left out the ever so crucial "1" before the "35.99" and turned a good deal into an unbelievable one. I've fixed yesterday's post, and as I noted in the comments, $135 on the Nautilusis the lowest price I've seen since I started following it a year ago. I paid $170+ at Target in January (reimbursed by the insurance company), and $145 last month for the seats in my parents' car.

Get $17 worth of printable coupons on General Mills products (including lots of Pillsbury) at Pillsbury.com.

Pink and Posh is giving away a $20 Walmart gift card. Ends 11/7.

Leslie Loves Veggies is giving away a Fountain Jet Soda Lover's Start-Up Kit. Ends 11/14.

Common Sense with Money has two free Pampers Gifts to Grow codes.

Enter to win a $250 gift card from One Step Ahead & Leaps & Bounds. Ends 12/31.

Piece of Me is giving away a $150 gift certificate to Campus Quilts. Ends 11/18.

All in a Day's Work is giving away a $50 Walmart gift card. Ends 11/24.

One 2 Try is giving away a $20 Amazon gift card courtesy of Savespro. Ends 11/14.

Mommy PR is giving a $50 Visa gift card and Kleenex Anti-viral Tissues. Ends 11/13.

The Happy Housewife has a useful guest post on emergency preparedness. I totally get where the author is coming from because we live in earthquake country, and second her message that preparing in advance makes life so much easier in an actual emergency.

Stockpile Pic of the Day: Centsible Savings makes me wish Ralphs doubled more than one like coupon per transaction. Look at all of that evaporated milk she got for free!

Ad via Escalate Media Affiliate Network

Giveaway: Progresso High Fiber Soup Prize Pack

2009-11-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

Progresso has come out with a new line of soups that have 7 grams of fiber per serving. The new varieties include Chicken Tuscany, Creamy Tomato Basil, Hearty Vegetable and Noodles and Homestyle Minestrone. You can print a coupon for $1 off any three Progresso soups at Coupons.com.

One lucky CFO reader will get to try Progresso High Fiber Soup for free, courtesy of MyBlogSpark. The lucky winner will receive a sample of the Chicken Tuscany soup to try along with a prize pack that includes two branded soup mugs and two branded spoons.

To enter this giveaway, simply fill out the form below. (If you're reading this in a feed aggregator or email, you may need to click through to the post to reach the form. If you're having trouble filling out the form, try going directly to the published form.)

For an additional entry, subscribe to CFO via RSS or email and fill out the form again to let me know you've done so. You'll get the latest on CFO delivered right to your favorite feed aggregator or inbox, so you don't miss any weekly giveaways. (If you're already a subscriber, just fill out the form to let me know.)

For a third entry, follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Then fill out the form to let me know you've done so (include the link to your update).

For a fourth entry, blog about the giveaway on your own blog. Then let me know about it by filling out the form again with the link to your post.

You can enter up to four times (one for each type), and you must complete the form once per entry. Only one entry of each type per email address will be counted. I'll select the winner using Random.org and announce them here on CFO as well as contact them by email. The winner must respond within 48 hours, otherwise their prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.

The giveaway ends at 9:00 p.m. PDT on Thursday, November 5, and is open to U.S. residents only.

Good luck!

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Morning Coffee: Hot Deal on Graco Nautilus

2009-11-05T06:30:00.000-08:00

If you've been reading CFO for a while, you might recall that I had to buy new car seats in January after we were rear-ended, and that I eventually ended up with the Graco Nautilus - which I've been quite happy with over the last year. (Read my original review and an update.) I still don't love it the way I love the Britax Marathon,mostly because the strap is narrower and cheaper, and therefore twists more easily and has frayed ever so slightly at the edges. However, I'm more than satisfied with it, and plan to get two more Nautilus seats when Tyler outgrows the Marathon. We're not quite at that point yet, but if you're in the market for a Nautilus, now's a good time to buy: they're on sale for $135.99 at Amazon right now. (Via Baby Cheapskate.)

Get a printable coupon for $2 off Welch's Sparkling Juice. (Via Fabulessly Frugal.)

There's also a printable coupon for 40-cents off Softsoap Hand Soap (click on the link at the bottom right corner - registration and coupon printer software required).

And here's a printable coupon for $1.25 off Pillsbury Simply Refrigerated Peanut Butter Cookies.

RedPlum.com has a coupon for $5 off $25 purchase at Rite Aid.

Become a Papa Johns Facebook fan and get a free pizza on 11/9. (Via Frugal RI Mama.)

The Experimental Mommy is giving away Aquafresh and Sensodyne Isoactive toothpastes. Ends 11/24.

The LA Times reports that you can now take classes with Nancy Silverton at Mozza (which she owns with Mario Batali; I've never eat at the Osteria, but the Pizzeria is maybe my favorite place in town). My heart races with excitement just thinking about the possibility, but at $150 a pop on a weekday evening, it's too inconvenient and expensive right now.

So A Blonde Walks Into A Review is giving away a $10 iTunes gift card. Ends 11/16.

Sense to Save reports that Ebates is offering new payment methods, including electronic bank transfer and a Visa prepaid card. However, I'm not seeing those options in my account so it may be in beta mode. (Read my Ebates review.)

Mommies Angels is giving away a $20 CVS gift card. Ends 11/30.

In case you've ever wondered how big the bonuses at Big Law firms are, here's what Cravath, Swaine & Moore is giving out this year (hint: $7,500 to $30,000). It might seem like a lot, but it's historically low as demonstrated in that post. However, 2009 has shown that the traditional law firm model doesn't work, so bonuses like these might be a thing of the past soon. Besides, any lawyer who's employed is generally just grateful to have a job at this point.

My Four Monkeys is giving away a $25 credit to Lemon Tree Cards. Ends 11/9.

Ad via Escalate Media Affiliate Network

Ralphs: 11/4 - 11/10/09

2009-11-04T12:21:00.000-08:00

Note: This summary of deals is based on the ad I get in Los Angeles, where Ralphs stores double coupons up to $1. I don't list all of the deals, only what I consider to be really good ones. If I missed any, please let us all know in the comments.

There's a bonus rewards deal on gift cards, where you get double the points when you buy $50, $100 or $200 in gift cards. The deal is good through December 25. I'm thinking of buying Ralphs gift cards if those count toward the deal, since it's basically double points for money I'd be spending at Ralphs anyway. Update: Ralphs Gift Cards, Ralphs "Wishes" Cards and Green Dot Gift Cards are excluded from this deal.

The rest of the deals this week look good too. The Mega Savings Event continues, so get $5 off when you buy any 10 participating products. You'll find more participating items in store. All prices are after MSE discount:

2-liter Coca-Cola 77 cents, selected varieties

Lean Cuisine $1.99 - use $2/3 from Sept. All You or $1/5 from 9/13 RP; pay $1.67 or $1.79 each

Yoplait Multi-pack Yogurt $2.49 4 to 6-packs, selected varieties - use $1/1 Yoplait Yo Plus or YoPlus Light Yogurt 4-pack from 9/13 or 10/4 GM, 35 cents/1 or 75 cents/2 Yoplait Go Gurt, Yoplait Kids Yogurt Cups, Yogurt Drink or Trix Multipack yogurt from 10/4 GM, $1/1 Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt Multipacks from 9/13 or 10/4 GM, ~~$1/1 Yoplait Delights Yogurt Multipack from 9/13 or 10/4 GM~~ not included in MSE, 80 cents/2 printable coupon, 40 cents/1 Kids Cups, $1/1 Fiber One Multipacks

Ghirardelli Brownie Mix $1.99 - use $1/2 Ghirardelli Baking Products

Smart Balance Spread $1.99 - use $1/2 from 10/18 RP

Kellogg's Special K bars $2.49 - use 75 cents/1 Chocolatey Pretzel Bars or $1/2 any Special K bars

Kellogg's Nutri-Grain bars $2.49 - use $1/2 any Nutri-grain bars (registration required)

V8 V-Fusion Juice $2.49 - use $1/1 printable coupon

Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes $1.49 - use 40 cents/1 any box or pouch, 25 cents/1 from 9/13 or 10/4 GM

Kozy Shack Pudding $2.49 - use $1/2 from 10/4 SS

Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies $1.49 - se $1/2 any Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies (registration required)

Cheez-It Crackers - use $1.50/2 from 10/4 RP

Pepperidge Farm Milano or Distinctive Cookies $2.49 - use 75 cents/1 from 9/27 SS

Other Coupon Deals
Campbell's Condensed Soup $1 - use 25 cents/2 from 9/20 SS, 25 cents/3 from 9/20 or 10/11 SS

Del Monte Vegetables 50 cents, selected varieties - use $1/5 from 9/20 RP

Sweet Golden Pineapples 88 cents/lb - use 75 cents/1 Del Monte Gold if included in sale

Duncan Hines Cake Mix - use 55 cents/2 Duncan Hines Cake, Brownie Mix or Frosting from 10/11 SS

Other Deals
18 pack Ralphs eggs $1.77
French Bread $1.27
Russet potatoes 99 cents/10 lb. bag (limit 2)
Fresh Express Salads 99 cents, selected varieties
Green cabbage 50 cents/lb
Fresh spinach 77 cents/lb
Pears 79 cents/lb
USDA Select Beef Roast Buy One Get One Free, selected varieties
Fresh Chicken Split Breast, Drums or Thighs 99 cents/lb

Ad via Logical Media - Make Money!

Morning Coffee: Lots of coupons

2009-11-04T06:30:00.000-08:00

Get a coupon for $5 off a $30 purchase at CVS when you take a quiz about Medicare Part D. (Via Bargain Briana.)

Update: this coupon no longer available. Plus, I Heart CVS reports that you might be able to find a $5 off $20 purchase coupon at Sunset.com. After clicking around on the site, the banner came up for me at the top right corner, and I was able to print a coupon that expires on 12/31/09. However, I'm pretty unhappy with whoever programmed the banner/coupon, because the blank space on the page was colored in black - what a huge waste of ink!

Moneywise Moms reports that starting today through November 29, Safeway stores have the Home for the Holidays promotion: Buy $25 of participating products and get a $5 Catalina coupon to use on your next purchase. The $25 threshold is before manufacturer's coupons, so you can potentially save a lot of money with this promo. Remember that the prices on participating items may change during the promo, and that the price will probably go up if it's a steep sale price featured in the flyer.

Coupon Geek has a list of coupons that will be useful for your Thanksgiving feast.

The Bargain Jargon has some coupon matchups on toys at Target.

Common Sense with Money has details on getting a free temperature ducky from Johnson's and Parenting Magazine.

Get a free sample of Kirkland Signature Supreme Diapers from Costco (no membership required). (Via Coupon Cravings.)

The Happy Housewife has a great guest post on how to survive (and thrive) during a military spouse's deployment. The primary lesson is a good one for all of us, however: You must take care of yourself in order to properly take care of your children.

Amy's, the company that makes lots of convenience organic and gluten-free products, is looking for a slogan. Submit yours here and you might win $500 in Amy's product coupons. Ends 2/1/10. (Via Leslie Loves Veggies.)

Pioneer Woman has a mouthwatering recipe for Buttered Rosemary Rolls, which uses frozen unbaked dinner rolls. These will go well with the OAMC plan.

All Financial Matters discusses how to measure the performance of your investments.

The Carnival of Personal Finance #229: Candy Edition is at The ¢entsible Life.

Ads via MySavings.com - But read my MyPoints review!

Changes to Amazon Marketplace: Charge When Ship

2009-11-03T13:14:00.000-08:00

I've written before about selling used items on Amazon Marketplace, which I think of as my online garage sale. In a nutshell, I decide what items I want to sell and how much I want to sell them for, create a listing on Amazon, and wait for someone to purchase the item.

Recently, Amazon instituted the "Charge When Ship"system, which requires sellers to confirm shipment of orders before they can receive payment from Amazon. Amazon assumes the risk of nonpayment by the buyer, which creates security for the seller. At the same time, Amazon provides a better customer service experience for buyers, by creating an incentive for sellers to ship promptly and notifying buyers when their order has shipped.

There's a delay of a couple of hours between when you notify Amazon that you've shipped an item and when the payment appears in your account. Nothing else has changed, so you can request a disbursement once every 24 hours or wait until Amazon does it automatically for you.

Worth noting: Money Saving Mom recently wrote about selling books, and recommended a site called Cash4Books as an alternative to sites like Half.com and Amazon for certain books. Also, The Family CEO recommended selling on eBay, something I've stopped doing just because I don't think the money is worth the stress. But I can see definitely that for some people, and certain items, the income is worth the stress.

Ad via Logical Media - Make Money!

Morning Coffee: Venturing into Once-A-Month-Cooking

2009-11-03T05:39:00.000-08:00

I recently started using my Google Calendar to plan my menus, and I've found myself planning further ahead than ever. Which got me thinking about doing monthly menus, instead of weekly ones, and possibly even experimenting with once-a-month-cooking. So it was fortuitous that yesterday, Money Saving Mom had a guest post about the topic. The post was written by Tricia of Once A Month Mom, and her site is full of useful information and recipes. She even does a monthly plan that looks fairly easy to follow if you're ready to commit to the program. I'm planning to start slowly by checking out her recipes and picking and choosing some to make when I get the chance. I'll just be stashing meals in the freezer that I can pull out when I feel like it, rather than having a formal OAMC plan.

Get a printable coupon for 55 cents off any package of Mother's Cookies.

See all of this month's Rite Aid Video Values coupons at I Heart Rite Aid.

Common Sense with Money has details on a new Walgreens Diabetes & You coupon booklet that you can find in store.

Frugal Dr. Mom has the Stockpile Pic of the Week. Or Month. Wow!

Although Halloween may be over, there's plenty of winter squash around, and in fact, I have an enormous butternut squash from a local farm on my kitchen counter. I usually end up tossing out the seeds because cleaning them is so much work. So I was beyond thrilled when Parent Hacks reported that leaving the strings attached to the seeds actually made the roasted seeds taste better.

Get a free sample of Folgers Gourmet Selections Lively Colombian Coffee from AllYou.com. Make sure to opt out of the various offers if you're not interested. (Via A Full Cup.)

Mommy Snacks is giving away 4 $25 Subway gift cards. Ends 11/5.

Get a printable coupon for a free bottle of Steaz Zero Calorie green tea. Available at Whole Foods and other natural foods stores. (Via Money Saving Mom.)

Check your inboxes for emails from JC Penny. I placed an order last week using the $10 off $10 or more purchase code and received an email yesterday with a code for free shipping on any order (THANKS11, though I don't know if the code will work for anyone else). I was able to combine the code with a free $10 JCP Rewards certificate that I got for signing up with the program, so I paid $2.18 (including tax) for this fleece hoodie (regularly $24.99).

Consumerism Commentary reports that ING has to sell ING Direct soon. Last year, we decided to diversify our cash holdings and opened an ING account to stash some cash, so I'll be keeping an eye on this situation. I love the convenience of subaccounts, which makes it really easy to segregate money for specific purposes, so like Flexo, I'm in no rush to move my money out.

Baby Toolkit makes the case for getting the flu (and H1N1) vaccine. I'm with her on this – we've all gotten whatever vaccine was available at the pediatrician's office last month, and will be going back in a few weeks for the rest of our doses. In the meantime, however, I'm hearing anecdotally that if you can detect H1N1 early and get Tamiflu right away, its plays out like a really bad cold and isn't as awful as you likely feared. So if you suspect your child might have the flu, head over to the doctor's office immediately.

Ads via MySavings.com - But read my MyPoints review!

Public vs. Private School: Resolving our dilemma

2009-11-02T13:55:00.000-08:00

One year ago, I was agonizing over whether to send our boys to public or private school. In our area, most parents in our socio-economic class seem to have this debate. I've discussed it countless times, and in the last year, I've done a ton of research into the topic. I've learned about the public school options, researched magnet schools in particular, attended an information fair put on by LAUSD, attended open houses, sought out other parents, and generally became a sponge for any and all information on the topic.

The bottom line conclusion we've reached is that our local public school is as good as any private school that we can currently afford. The very best private schools, at $20,000 per year per child, are simply out of our price range right now.

We'll be revisiting this topic as middle school approaches, because our conclusion currently applies only to the local elementary school. But for now, we're quite at peace with our decision. Of course, the real test will be next fall, when kindergarten actually becomes a part of our lives.

In the meantime, for parents who are experiencing the same dilemma, I highly recommend being as proactive as possible. Reach out to other parents, read informational booklets and web sites, and attend any events that are open to the public. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased at how well-run the events at the public school were, and it gave me a chance to meet some of the teachers, administrators and parents. I've gotten to know a few moms whose kids are kindergarteners at the public school this year, and seeing their satisfaction with the school has been extremely encouraging.

One final note: I've been keeping a close eye on the web site for LAUSD's Choices program, through which you apply for magnet schools and such. It appears there is not going to be an informational session this year, which I'm guessing is a casualty of this year's steep budget cuts.

Image credit: School Crossing Safety Sign at Amazon.com.

Ads via MySavings.com

Morning Coffee: It's already November

2009-11-02T06:55:00.000-08:00

Wow, it's November 2, which means the holidays are really right around the corner! I commented the other day to Marc that during the summer, the condiments section in my coupon folder was stuffed, but now it's empty. What is full is the soup section :)

This is the time of year when Amazonstarts having incredible deals on toys. If you do buy toys at Amazon, make sure you know about this bonus dealwhen you buy $25 worth of toys from one merchant: Get a free subscription to Parenting Early Years or Parenting School Years, or request a refund worth $9.97.

A new month also means that there are new coupons at Coupons.com. There are Target coupons for GE lighting products, Chex coupons (good for making holiday Chex Mix), and select Fisher-Price toys.

You can also find some new coupons at Kellogg's com. (Via Common Sense with Money.)

Don't forget that YoCrunch is offering a free product coupon when you send in "any candy wrappers."

This week's CVS ad includes a deal for $10 ECBs with the purchase of $50 in iTunes gift card (limit 2). A below-face-value price on a gift card is always a good deal if you'll definitely use the gift card.

Moneywise Moms reports that you'll get a $10 Catalina coupon for your next purchase when you buy $75 or more in Sears gift cards at Safeway stores.

If you live in California, you might want to consider vanpooling, which is "like car pooling but on a larger scale. Seven to fifteen passengers share the cost of commuting in a van, reducing CO2 emissions, saving money on fuel and vehicle wear, and contributing to the sustainability of roads. Many employers subsidize or provide vanpools but individual commuters can also create their own. California is one of the largest vanpooling markets in the country." Check out Van-Pools.com for more information.

Ads via MySavings.com - But read my MyPoints review!

Elefun & Friends Games Giveaway Winner

2009-11-01T12:33:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who entered the Elefun & Friends Games - Giraffalaff Limbo and Scatterpillar Scramble giveaway. Congratulations to the lucky random winner:

Carly (livelaug*****@gmail.com)
Carly, I've sent you an email, and you have 48 hours to respond with your address.

Morning Coffee: Time for some fall housekeeping

2009-11-01T09:04:00.000-08:00

The time change today makes it a good time to do things around the house that need to be done regularly: change the batteries on your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and flip your mattress.

If have time to go shopping during the next week, it's a great time to pick up Halloween clearance items. Last year at Target, I bought bags of the small Playdoh containers, and have used them in party favors as well as to give out this year (which parents really appreciated as an alternative to all of that candy). This year, I'm hoping to scoop up some costumes that the boys can use for dramatic play, which they now love.

Use this printable coupon to get a free Antibacterial Hand Gel with any purchase at Bath & Body Works. (Via A Thrifty Mom.)

Freebies 4 Mom has a reminder on how you can get three photo cards from Shutterfly for just 99 cents (the cost of shipping).

Baby Cheapskate has the November Baby Bargain Forecast, which includes the best deals of the season on photo gifts in the second half of the month.

Crystal's story about becoming a Work at Home Mom continues with Part 2.

Bloomalicious is giving away a $100 Starbucks gift card (you have to sign up for their newsletter). Perfect for pumpkin lattés. Ends 11/4.

The Art of Being Mom is giving away 4 $100 gift cards to Sam's Club. Ends 11/11.

Image credit: Kidde Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Alarm ($20.99) at Amazon.

Morning Coffee: Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Have fun trick-or-treating, watching scary movies, or whatever it is you end up doing today! We'll be at a friend's Halloween party, and I'm making Slow Cooker Witch's Brew from A Year of Slow Cooking (where I got this totally awesome picture).

Don't forget that we fall back to Standard Time tonight, so when you wake up, your clocks will be an hour ahead.

Get a printable coupon for 50 cents/2 Hunts Canned Tomatoes (11 oz. or larger). (Via Money Saving Mom.)

4x6 prints are 10 cents each at Walgreens Photo with coupon code TENEACH. Expires November 7.

I always write the directions to a party on the invitation itself, because it means I also have the party information too (location and such). Now, thanks to Parent Hacks, I'll be getting the directions when we receive the invitation, instead of right before we leave for the party, when I'm scrambling to get out the door.

Moneywise Moms suggests five ways to get high value coupons.

Hormone Colored Days ponders the right time to give a child a cell phone. I suspect we'll end up doing it earlier rather than later, simply because I'll want my children to be able to get in touch with me whenever they want to. They will, of course, get very strict instructions on when they can and cannot use the phone. And it'll probably be prepaid so they can't run up a huge bill.

Three Different Directions is giving away an Exergen Temporal Scanner. Ends 11/8.

Ad via Escalate Media Affiliate Network

Flashback: Halloween Safety Tips

2009-10-30T13:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a post that ran one year ago - stay safe!

The Consumer Product Safety Commission sent out these safety tips for a safe Halloween:

Costumes

When purchasing costumes, masks, beards and wigs, look for flame-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester, or look for the label "Flame Resistant." Flame-resistant fabrics will resist burning and should extinguish quickly. To minimize the risk of contact with candles and other fire sources, avoid costumes made with flimsy materials and outfits with big, baggy sleeves or billowing skirts.
Purchase or make costumes that are light, bright and clearly visible to motorists.
For greater visibility during dusk and darkness, decorate or trim costumes with reflective tape that will glow in the beam of a car's headlights. Bags or sacks also should be light-colored or decorated with reflective tape. Reflective tape is usually available in hardware, bicycle and sporting goods stores.
Children should carry flashlights to see and be seen.
Children should wear well-fitting, sturdy shoes. Oversized high heels are not a good idea.
Tie hats and scarves securely to prevent them from slipping over children's eyes and obstructing vision.
If your child wears a mask, make sure it fits securely, provides adequate ventilation, and has eye holes large enough to allow full vision.
Swords, knives and similar costume accessories should be made of soft, flexible materials.
Supervise pumpkin carvings to avoid lacerations.

Treats

Warn children not to eat any treats until an adult has examined them carefully for evidence of tampering.
Carefully examine any toys or novelty items received by trick-or-treaters under three years of age. Do not allow young children to have any items that are small enough to present a choking hazard or that have small parts or components that could separate during use and present a choking hazard.

Decorations

Keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from landings and doorsteps where costumes could brush against the flame.
Indoors, keep candles and Jack O' Lanterns away from curtains, decorations and other combustibles that could catch fire. Do not leave burning candles unattended.
Remove obstacles from lawns, steps and porches when expecting trick-or-treaters.
Indoors or outside, use only lights that have been tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory, such as UL. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets.
Don't overload extension cords.

Image credit: Firefighter costume at Amazon.com.

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Morning Coffee: California State Tax Withholding Increases Nov. 1

2009-10-30T06:48:00.000-07:00

Starting next month, California is helping itself to an interest-free loan from workers by increasing the amount withheld in each paycheck. It's not too significant, since someone making $75,000 and filing a joint return will only lose $16 in their paycheck. But it does highlight the mess our state government is in.

Today's Amazon Friday Saleincludes an 8-pack of 300-count Antibacterial Q-Tipsfor $18.27 with Subscribe & Save.I don't have a price book entry for Q-Tips (the only brand I'll use), but if memory serves, $2.48 per 300-count package is a great deal considering how hard it is to find a great sale combined with a great coupon on Q-Tips.

Today only, get 50% off everything in the store at Payless with this printable coupon (pdf), courtesy of (who else?) The Oprah Winfrey Show to publicize the new Christian Siriano for Payless collection. (Via the entire blogosphere!)

There's a Menchies frozen yogurt store not too far from my house, so I was happy to learn about their Halloween promotion: Print out a Menchies swirl top hat and wear it to the store to receive a free yogurt (up to 12 oz.) today and tomorrow. (Via Coupon Cravings.)

Common Sense with Money reports that Target is sending out codes for a free photo book.

The Bargain Jargon is giving away a $50 Safeway gift card. Ends 11/1.

Penelope Trunk has a simultaneously depressing and inspiring description of living and working with Asperger's Syndrome.

Ad via Escalate Media Affiliate Network

One recall yesterday: Halloween Flashlights

2009-10-29T18:01:00.000-07:00

If you think you have the following item(s), click through to the CPSC press release for more details:

Halloween Flashlights Sold Exclusively at Target Recalled Due to Burn Hazard - Click through for a photo of the mini-flashlights included in the recall.

Stay on top of recalls by signing up for recall notifications by email at the CPSC web site.

Flat Stanley Christmas Giveaway

2009-10-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

My kids are still in preschool, so I only know of Flat Stanley by reputation, so to speak. But my understanding is that he's incorporated into school curricula to expose children to travel and places other than where they live. Here's the Wikipedia synopsis:

Stanley Lambchop and his younger brother Arthur are given a big bulletin board by their Dad for putting pictures and posters on. He hangs it on the wall over Stanley's bed, but during the night the board falls from the wall, flattening Stanley in his sleep. He survives and makes the best of his altered state, and soon he is entering locked rooms by sliding under the door, and playing with his younger brother by being used as a kite. Stanley even helps catch some art museum sneak thieves by posing as a painting on the wall. But one special advantage is that Flat Stanley can now visit his friends by being mailed in an envelope. Eventually Arthur, who tires of all the attention Stanley has been getting, reverts Stanley to his proper shape through an air pump used for footballs.

Today's giveaway is for paperback versions of the original book, Flat Stanley,as well as the companion book, Stanley's Christmas Adventure.

To enter this giveaway, simply fill out the form below. (If you're reading this in a feed aggregator or email, you may need to click through to the post to reach the form. If you're having trouble filling out the form, try going directly to the published form.)

For an additional entry, subscribe to CFO via RSS or email and fill out the form again to let me know you've done so. You'll get the latest on CFO delivered right to your favorite feed aggregator or inbox, so you don't miss any weekly giveaways. (If you're already a subscriber, just fill out the form to let me know.)

For a third entry, follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Then fill out the form to let me know you've done so (include the link to your update).

For a fourth entry, blog about the giveaway on your own blog. Then let me know about it by filling out the form again with the link to your post.

You can enter up to four times (one for each type), and you must complete the form once per entry. Only one entry of each type per email address will be counted. I'll select the winner using Random.org and announce them here on CFO as well as contact them by email. The winner must respond within 48 hours, otherwise their prize will be forfeited and a new winner will be selected.

The giveaway ends at 9:00 p.m. PDT on Thursday, November 5, and is open to U.S. residents only.

Good luck!

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Morning Coffee: Feel like writing a novel?

2009-10-29T07:46:00.000-07:00

If you've always wanted to write a novel, you should know that November is National Novel Writing Month, or NaNoWriMo. The goal is to start writing on November 1, and end the month with a 50,000 word novel. The philosophy is: "Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved." There's definitely something to the "just do it" approach.

Coupon Cravings has some great Target deals this week. At least some of the Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies qualify for the Buy 2, Get 1 free deal, so if you have any of the $1/1 printable coupons that were available a while back, you can make the deal even sweeter.

Get up to 65% on men's shoesat Amazon, through November 8.

Get a $1/1 printable coupon for Coffemate at Coupons.com.

Win a hot tub, $4,000, or a $50 Quiznos gift card from Quiznos. When you enter the sweepstakes, you might also be able to print a coupon for a free fountain drink and bag of chips with the purchase of a sub. (Via A Thrifty Mom.)

Win a free year of Coke (in the form of 12 free 12-pack coupons).

MommySnacks has the scoop on how to get a free bath toy gift set when you buy any Johnson's Baby or Bath Lotion Product.

Win one of three copies of the Ice Age 3: Dawn of the Dinosaurs DVD at Stretching a Buck. Ends 10/30.

Get a printable coupon for $10 off the new Tinker Bell DVD/Blu Ray combo pack. (Via Centsible Savings.)

Moneywise Moms is giving away a subscription to Cooking Light. I've been a CL reader for nearly 10 years, and while I think the quality has gone down lately, it's a valuable resource, especially if you don't cook that much yet. Ends 10/30.

Recall: Mia Moda Viva & Viva Supreme Car Seats

2009-10-28T18:23:00.000-07:00

Certain Mia Moda Viva and Viva Supreme car seats are being recalled because the harness splitter plate on the rear of the seat has sharp edges that can cut the harness, and because the base could crack in a crash. The manufacturer is contacting registered owners and offering a full refund. You can call 1-877-546-8437 for more information. Also, read the NHTSA press release. I couldn't find anything about the recall on the Mia Moda web site.

I highly recommend signing up for child restraint recalls from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Ralphs: 10/28 - 11/3/09

2009-10-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

Note: This summary of deals is based on the ad I get in Los Angeles, where Ralphs stores double coupons up to $1. I don't list all of the deals, only what I consider to be really good ones. If I missed any, please let us all know in the comments.

It's a good week at Ralphs this week. There's an 8-hour sale tomorrow (Thursday) from 1 to 9 p.m.:

Pepsi or Diet Pepsi 12-packs $1.99 (limit 2)
Doritos 99 cents (limit 2)
Halloween bagged candy $1.67 (limit 8) - use $1/1 printable coupons on Nestlé
Budweiser or Bud Light 15-pack $7.99 (limit 2)
Walnut Halves and pieces or Almonds $2.99

The rest of the week looks great. The Mega Savings Event is back this week, and it looks like a pretty good one. As usual, buy any 10 participating products and get $5 off your order. You should be able to do multiples of 10 in a transaction and get $5 off for every 10 products. All prices are after MSE:

All laundry detergent $3.99 - use $1/1 from 10/4 RP or $1/1 printable coupon

Snuggle fabric softener $3.99 - use $3/1 from 10/4 RP or $1/1 printable coupon

Kellogg's cereal $1.99 - there are apparently $1/1 peelies out there, or you may have coupons from previously purchased boxes of cereal

Lean Cuisine $1.99 - use $2/3 from Sept. All You or $1/5 from 9/13 RP; pay $1.67 or $1.79 each

V8 V-Fusion Juice $2.49 - use $1/1 printable coupon

Welch's 100% Grape Juice $2.49 - use 75 cents/1 from 8/16 SS or $1/2 from 9/27 SS or $1/1 printable coupon

Carnation Evaporated Milk 79 cents - use 50 cents/2 from 9/27 SS

Pillsbury Pie Crusts $2.50 - use 50 cents/2 printable coupon

Pillsbury Ready to Bake Cookies $2.50 - use $1/2 from 8/9, 9/13, 10/4 General Mills or $1/2 printable coupon; if Simply Refrigerated cookies are included, use $1/1 from 9/13 General Mills or 55 cents/1 from 10/4 General Mills or printable coupon (best deal); if Holiday cookies are included, use 75 cents/2 printable coupon

Dannon Danimals $1.99 - use $1/1 from 8/30 SS

Land O Lakes Spreadable Butter $1.99 - use 40 cents/1 from 10/18 SS

Quaker Chewy Granola Bars $1.99 - use $1/2 from 10/11 RP

Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks $1.99 - use 50 cents/2 from 9/13 General Mills or printable coupon; if Fruit-flavored Shapes are included, use 40 cents/1 printable coupon

Uncle Ben's Ready Rice $1.49 - use $1/3 from 9/13 RP

Ricola Cough Drops 99 cents - use B1G1 free from 10/11 SS

Check out this list of unadvertised Kroger MSE deals at Stretching A Buck as some of them may apply to Ralphs also.

Other Coupon Deals
Campbell's Chunky Soup $1.25 - use 75 cents/4 from 9/20 or 10/11 SS; pay $1 each

Padrinos Tortilla Chips $2.69 - use $1/1 from 9/13 SS

Kettle Krinkle Cut Chips $3 - use $1/2 from 9/20 SS

Other Deals
All Hot Dogs Buy One, Get One Free (excludes Boar's Head)
Fresh Chicken Breat or Thighs $1.99/lb
Fresh Ground Sirloin $1.99/lb
Top Sirloin Steak $2.99/lb
Fresh Pork Sirloin Chops $1.99/lb
Country Style Pork Strips $1.99/lb
Cornish Game Hens frozen twin pack $1.69/lb
Sweet Bell Peppers $1 each
Gala Apples 49 cents/lb
Broccoli or Cauliflower 99 cents/lb
Green onions or Radishes 50 cents/bunch
Russet potatoes 50 cents/lb
Brown or white onions 50 cents/lb
Zucchini 99 cents/lb
Assorted Fall Hard Squash 99 cents/lb
Fresh Express Garden & Slaws 8 to 16 oz 99 cents
Ralphs yogurt cups 40 cents
Van de Kamp's sliced bread $1.29

Ad via Logical Media - Make Money!

Morning Coffee: Remember That Contracts Are Binding

2009-10-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

Just in case you think contracts aren't really binding and you'll be able to win some sort of duress argument if you're up against a huge company, think again: eBay has successfully argued that its forum selection clause is binding, meaning that its lawsuits will be litigated in its chosen forum of San Jose.

I can't find anything official about this on the MyCokeRewards site, but several other sites are reporting that you can get double Diet Coke points today. Update: I just entered my Diet Coke codes and got bonus points!

There's a new deal at Amazon on select video games: Spend $80 on select titles by October 31 and receive a $40 promotional claim code usable towards a future Wii, Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3 game purchase. There are "select titles" on all three platforms, including Mario Kart,Lego Star Wars,and Madden NFL 10for the Wii.

Real Simple is offering a $5 Holiday Savings Rebate when you buy $15 worth of participating products, including HoneyBaked Ham, Head & Shoulders, and International Delight. Purchases must be made by 11/15, and your submission must be postmarked by 11/19 and received by 11/21. So don't delay if you want to take advantage of this offer. (Via Centsible Savings.)

Stretching a Buck has the scoop on a Reynolds baking product rebate when you buy parchment, baking cups and foil.

Get a printable coupon for 50 cents off any Ro-Tel - just wait for the main banner to change if you don't see the coupon right away. (Via Money Saving Mom.)

Read about some not-so-well-known details about Target's return policy, including the fact that you can make returns without a receipt. (Via A Full Cup.)

Ads via MySavings.com

Quick Product Reviews: Fast Food Edition

2009-10-27T14:20:00.000-07:00

McDonald's Angus Burger - I haven't tried this personally, but Marc hated it when he tried it several months ago. I got confirmation of his opinion when a friend of ours said he actually took one bite and threw the rest of the burger away because it was so bad.

Carl's Jr. "Big Carl" Burger - This is the Carl's version of a Big Mac, except better. It's so huge, I can't come close to finishing it. I like the flame-grilled taste on the meat, which makes it tangibly better than a Big Mac. There's also full lettuce leaves rather than shredded. Right now, it's just $1.99, which is an incredible price for such a large burger. Plus, we've been getting Carl's coupons in the mail and newspaper that have a coupon for a free medium drink when you buy a Big Carl.

Taco Bell Volcano Burrito & Taco - Should I be embarrassed that I really like Taco Bell? I used to get cravings for it when I was pregnant - back then, I would get the Crunch Wrap Supreme. These days, I get a Volcano Taco (or two), or if I'm really hungry, a Volcano Burrito. They're spicy in that Taco Bell kind of way - I think of it as a fake heat, since it's not like there's real chile peppers in there. The important thing is, it always hits the spot.

Quiznos Classic Cobb Flatbread Salad - I have this salad infrequently and I'm always surprised by how good it is. Maybe it's because I have low expectations of a fast food salad, but I always finish it - and the flatbread is yummy.