Free one night movie rental

How about a free movie rental? Go to your nearest redbox and use the promo code DVDONME . You will need to swipe your credit card, but you will not be charged if you return the movie by 9pm the next day. This code will only work once per credit card. But it does work! I love this freebie!

Bonnie

Friday freebie

This is a different kind of freebie- one that everyone has access to- your local public library. I can get DVD rentals free at my library, they have fun kids programs and obviously, lots of books. Check it out (double meaning).

I've also recently found audio books online that I can listen to free. I'm listening to A Tale of Two Cities currently and it's very nice. Google "free online audio books" and see what you can find. I've found something I like on audiobooks.org and on freeclassicaudiobooks.com.

Happy reading and listening!
Bonnie

Thrifty Thursday

Friday morning, go to realchocolate.com and fill out the information to get your free chocolate coupon. It will come in the mail in a few weeks.

Also, start saving the lids to bottles of Coke products, and the codes that are printed on 12 and 24 packs of Coke. I'll show you how to turn those into free Coke. For now, just start saving them.

Bonnie

Wednesday- Albertsons quest #2 for beginners

Here's quest #2. If you have room in your freezer, go to Albertson's and buy 25 Banquet frozen dinners. That's all. Get your $10 coupon.

If you do not have a freezer, or just don't like those dinners, buy 25 bottles of Hunt's ketchup (24 oz) and get your $10. I wonder if that's a year's supply?

One more option, in case you don't like either of those. Buy 13 bottles of Peter Pan Peanut Butter (18 oz) and get your $10.

Have fun,
Bonnie

Tuesday- Beginner bargain shopper quest

For those of you who see those ads in the mail today and say "I don't have time" or "it's not worth it to go to a different store," I have a quest for you. Go to Albertsons and spend $25- only on certain products- and get your $10 for your next trip and just see what you think.

Most of the items will be displayed at the same area in the store, so it's easy to find the right products. Here's one list:

2- Rice Krispies
2- Frosted Flakes
2- Froot Loops
2- Corn Flakes
2- Frosted Mini Wheats
Buy those 10 boxes of cereal, each are on sale at 2 for $5. 10 boxes will be $25. Buy those and watch the little printer by the receipt machine..it will spit out $10 for you. Take the cereal to your car, go back in and get $10 of ice cream or chocolate (large bag of Hershey's kisses is on sale for $9.99)...free. Pay with the coupons you just got. Wasn't that fun? Kids are happy- got their cereal. Mom's happy- has her chocolate.

Free food is fun.
Bonnie

Bonnie's bargains

For lunch or dinner on Wednesday, you can head over to Arby's for a free Beef n Cheddar with purchase of a soft drink. I heard a rumor that you can get a drink for $1. Bargain! Even if the drink is a little more than $1 :)

The magazine Town & Country is available free- a 3 year subscription. Go look at the website totallyfreestuff. There's a link there. Its really quick and easy, you don't give a credit card number.

Bonnie

Saturday- thinking about "couponing?"

Want to start using coupons, but feeling overwhelmed? I understand. I felt that way when I started and still feel that way sometimes. It can be a big time investment to "coupon."

So start slow. Buy a Sunday paper and take out the coupon inserts. Label the coupon inserts with the date- I use an address label so I can quickly see the date of the insert. File them somewhere for future use.

That's it. You are well on your way.
Bonnie

Friday chocolate

Go to realchocolate.com and get your free chocolate. Enter your info and a coupon comes in the mail in a few weeks. Hurry, only the first 250,000 people are eligible :)

If you drink Coke products, go to mycokerewards.com and sign up. Start saving your bottle lids and your 12 pack box ends and enter your codes here. It only takes 24 points to get a free 20 oz bottle of Coke. A 12 pack is worth 10 points.

This week I had a free Coke and candy bar on my trip to the grocery store! And if I can do it, well you know the rest.
Bonnie

Thrifty Thursday

It's a great day to be a Wal-Mart shopper. At the AF store, there are still tons of school supplies on sale. 15 cent notebooks, 75 cent filler paper, $1 package of pens, markers or colored pencils. And good deals on binders and other stuff too. We ended up taking things back to other places- should have just gone to Wal-Mart in the first place.

Bonnie

Tuesday tidbit

"You can't run from trouble. There ain't no place that far."

The place where you find this quote is a great place to run. It may not take the trouble away, but it sure helps me deal with it.

Where is this quote displayed?

Bonnie

Monday's money saver

My money saver for today is a Southwest Visa card. I build up points for free flights and have redeemed many free round trips over the years. Cash-only budgeters can't take advantage of this money saver, you have to be very disciplined with any credit card. But if you can be disciplined, you can fly for free every now and then.

Bonnie

Sensible Saturday

A new experience for me- bird watching- or as the expert bird watchers call it- "birding." We say 55 different types of birds. It was lots of fun, and free. People love to share their hobbies and passions with others and I got to see and hear about birds from the experts. It was fun. If you're looking for something to do for free, ask a friend what they like to do and maybe tag along.

Friday Freebie

Free chocolate! Google "mars chocolate relief" and register to get a free candy bar. The first 250,000 people each Friday get free chocolate. I just got mine and Renee got hers.

My friend Renee introducted me to the Godiva chocolate club. I went to a Godiva store, signed up and got a free chocolate. Mmm. And now I can get a free chocolate each month and cool discounts on Godiva chocolate. Join online!

In the not so freebie realm, I tried the new velvet cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory. It was amazing! So good! Not free, $$ wise, and not free, calorie wise, but very worth it :) Save up some money and calories for that one.

We're off to find more San Diego/Escondido freebies and discounts.

Bonnie

Thrifty Thursday- a few $ at a time

I saved $6 yesterday. I got a free roast chicken club for lunch at Arby's. I did have to pay $1.50 for a drink :) That saved me $2.50 on lunch and then I brought an empty water bottle with me to the airport. Saved $2.50 (at least) on a bottled water.

By using my SW Visa for purchases over the last while, I have earned a free round trip flight on Southwest. Off to San Diego to see Renee! $6 may not seem like a lot, but if I save $6 every day for a month I'll have $180. That money is going into my cruise fund.

Bonnie

Waiting for Wednesday

Super deal today! Go to Arby's and buy a soft drink of any size and get a free Roast Chicken Club sandwich! Great meal, great price. Enjoy.

Bonnie

Tuesday's Tidbit

Walt Disney said this about dreams:
"People often ask me if...I could tell others how to make their dreams come true. My answer is, you do it by working. Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it and work at it until it's done and done right."

Back to work!

Monday's money saver- school supplies

Today let's make a list of the school supplies that we will NEED this year. Get out the ads from the Sunday paper, from the mail, or just look online for sales. Most of the supplies you need are on sale right now. Buy them now while they are 5 cents. (I'm not kidding- go look at the staples ad) If you buy them the day the kids need them for school, you won't have time to look for bargains.

Best wishes,
Bonnie

Intro to 7 1/2 cents blog

7 1/2 cents. What does that mean? It's a lyric from "The Pajama Game." My parents taught me this song when I was a little girl and I've wondered if 7 1/2 cents here and there can add up to something substantial.
I found the answer. It can! I have used money saving ideas from lots of sources and saved my family lots of money- even if it's just a few cents at a time.
I began with one idea that sounded interesting to me (searching on Swagbucks) and implemented it. Then I added another. This blog is share ideas and discoveries on how to save money. After all, the more I save, the more I can spend at Disneyland :)

Bonnie