Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
This post is brought to you by ShoebuyCoupon.net, one woman’s personal attempt to track down every last ShoeBuy coupon available.
Free yoga – Get free yoga classes, free one-week passes to yoga studios, and more as part of National Yoga Month in September.
Free sample - Get a free sample of Cheetos through Walmart. Unclear when this deal will run out.
Kohl’s coupons – Get Kohl’s coupon codes for free shipping, 15% off intimates, and more.
Spa Week – Book now to take advantage of spa discounts during Spa Week, Sept. 20-26, 2010. Participating spas chose particular services to be 50% off or cost a flat $50 fee.
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
Home decor from Dollar Tree: SavinSome.com
Every Friday I link to my favorite money-saving posts. If you came across a great money-saving tip, please link to it in the comments.
If you’re interested in being a mystery shopper, make sure to read Nicole’s Nickels post about mystery shopping FAQs.
Create back to school traditions to get your kids excited for learning, says Jen at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam.
Stock up on these eight green back to school supplies, courtesy of Bargain Briana.
Think the dollar stores are full of junk? Brandy at SavinSome will prove you wrong with her ye for frugal home decor.
How much food do you waste each week? Nikki at CouponCookin has tips to reduce food waste.
Kacy at Valuing Today shares a personal story about cutting her medical bills by negotiating monthly payments with her doctor and dentist.
Zooboing.com
Free world map – World Vision is mailing free world maps across the globe for a limited time. Great educational tool! UPDATE: There is a spammy diet offer on this page. I’m not sure if the free map site has been hijacked or what, but I would NOT sign up for the diet product. Thanks to reader Judee who gave me the heads up.
Banana Republic – Today only! Get 25% off your online purchase of $100 or more. Get 30% off if you pay with your BR, Gap, or Old Navy credit card.
Restaurant.com - The latest Restaurant.com coupon code gets you 70% off!
Dr. Scholls – Use this Dr. Scholl’s coupon to get $3 off your next pain-relieving foot product purchase.
Free pens - Starting at noon EST every day through Sept. 9, 2010, BIC is giving away 1,000 free pens.
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
A roundup of coupons from Savings.com and my blog on WalletPop.
Vista Print - Get a ton of free back to school supplies through Vista Print. You pay for shipping only.
Swagbucks - Join Swagbucks by Sunday, August 15, 2010 and get a total of 70 swagbucks (30 for signing up plus 40 as a bonus)
Restaurant.com – Their latest restaurant discount is for 80% off!
Shoesteal.com - Get 15% off your entire purchase at Shoesteal.com. Expires January 31, 2011.
Winn-Dixie - If you live in the South, check out this awesome Winn-Dixie coupon on Tide and household cleaners.
Sally Beauty – Get 20% off your entire order at Sally Beauty Supply. Expires August 31, 2010.
Barneys NY – Get 20% off all full-priced denim at Barney’s New York. Expires August 28, 2010.
LinenSource – Get 10% off your purchase at LinenSource. Expires August 28, 2010.
Home Depot - Join Home Depot’s garden club and you’ll get gardening coupons and tips.
j03 / flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
As I sat in the aesthetician’s chair waiting for my hairy eyebrows to be slathered with hot wax, I realized I was forking over $10 each visit for smooth brows. The thought was as painful as when she ripped off the waxy strip.
For most women hair removal is a weekly if not daily battle that quickly adds up. What’s a lady on a budget to do to tame unruly eyebrows and get smooth legs? Consider this:
Waxing – At a salon waxing can be very expensive, about $50 plus tip for legs or a Brazilian. If you’re brave, waxing can also be done at home to minimize costs. Waxing can be very painful depending on the area being waxed but after doing it for some time the pain is practically nonexistent and you’ll be hairless for about four to six weeks. I buy wax from a health food store for $10 and wax my entire legs for a fraction of the cost of going to a salon. Cost: $10 – $25 per month at home, $50 – $90 per month at a salon
Shaving – Many women prefer to shave and I did too, until I nicked myself and got a scar. Ouch! If you don’t nick yourself this method should be painless and keep you hairless for two to three days depending on the person. Some women need to shave just once a week. Try an old fashion safety razor to cut down on waste and expense. The initial expense will be around $30 but it should last you a lifetime. The replacement blades cost about 50 cents when bought in bulk. Try using hair conditioner instead of fancy shaving gel. Depending on the razor, you may get by with just wetting your legs in the shower. Find coupons online for razors and shave creams if you can’t give them up. Cost: $20 – $30 per month
Laser Hair removal – This method is pricey upfront but equals roughly 12-24 months of shaving or waxing expenses. Also, the hair removal may not be permanent and hair may come back, but it will be thinner and more sparse. The best candidates for laser hair removal are those with dark hair and light skin because the laser targets melanin which is found in dark hair. Lasers aren’t as painful as waxing, but are more painful than depilatory creams or tweezing. You’ll need five to six treatments spaced four weeks apart. Cost: $150 – $200 per session
Depilatory Creams – Creams are easy to use. Just slather it on and wait a couple minutes and voila! No hair. Creams are smelly and contain harsh chemicals that may irritate your skin. The cream removes the hair above the skin and leaves the follicle, which means you may have tiny blacks dots where your hair used to be. Hair growth is visible in two to three days. Cost: $20 – 30 per month
If you can’t fork over money for hair removal go au naturel or buy tweezers and pluck the stray eyebrow hairs and skip the salon. To look your best on the cheap, learn to do your own mani and pedi and check out the make up secrets from a pro that Bargain Babe got when she did her Better Homes and Garden photo shoot. Drop a comment and let us know how you save money on hair removal.
Coupon Mom Stephanie Nelson
Coupon secrets - I talked to CouponMom Stephanie Nelson, who shared her secret to getting 86% off her grocery bill. She’s a super saver!
Kids eat free - Kids under 12 eat free for the month of August at IHOP. One free kids meal per adult entree ordered.
Free trial gym - Get a 7-day free trial gym membership to Bally’s Total Fitness. Note, they will pitch you hard to join, but it’s not required.
Borders - Here is the latest Borders coupon for 33% off, plus a vacation contest to Italy, India, and Bali!
Free root beer float – Get a free root beer float with this A&W coupon, which requires a purchase.
Check out the latest coupons and deals this afternoon on my WalletPop blog.
Smashbox - Here are three Smashbox beauty coupons you may be able to combine for a triple savings whammy!
Back to school deals - Here is my latest round up of back to school deals through August 7, 2010, including a free backpack at Office Depot with a $10 purchase. Nice!
Free kids clothes swapping trial - Here is a swapping coupon for a free trial membership at ThredUp, and online site that facilities the swapping of children’s clothes.
Check back this afternoon for the latest coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
PatrickHoesly/flickr
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
It is hot and a couple of days ago my husband’s friend went to the hospital for heat exhaustion. Talk about a bummer and budget buster!
Benjamin Franklin said that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” I agree with Ben. My personal financial guidelines are not about saving a few dollars here and there on items I buy. They are about saving many thousands of dollars on things that I DON’T have to buy.
Avoiding heat exhaustion is an excellent example of my personal philosophy. Note, I am not a trained medical practitioner and this post does not constitute medical advice, just practical tips I’ve learned.
The average cost of a hospital stay was $1,690 in 2007, according to a Census Bureau press release from last month. Going to the hospital also means missed days at work that you don’t get paid for. There can also be the expense of emergency transport and child care if you are a care giver, not to mention how horrible you feel. Going to the hospital for heat exhaustion is a ridiculous amount of money to pay for something that is SO easily avoided.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion
- profuse sweating or no sweating when you should be sweating
- dizziness and weakness, nausea and vomiting
- rapid heartbeat
- flushing of the skin
- headaches, muscle cramps
- extreme fatigue
These are the warning signs that you need to do something quick to avoid a major problem. Heat exhaustion left unattended can lead to possibly fatal heat stroke. Heat exhaustion is caused by the depletion of fluid, salt, potassium and electrolytes in the body.
How to prevent heat exhaustion
- Drink half of your body weight in ounces of water a day. If you weigh 140 pounds, drink 70 ounces of water.
- Along with the water, you need to have salt, potassium and cell salts. Some experts recommend that for every 16 ounceos f water you drink, you need 500 milligrams of salt. The body uses potassium to help regulate salt through the process of urination. So, you actually could take potassium every time you urinate. A good place to get great deals on supplements online is Vitacost.com.
- Kool Off is a product that is a quick, easy and effective heat exhaustion preventative that you spray on your face, neck and under the tongue. It replenishes the body’s supply of salt, potassium, cell salts and oxygen. One bottle lasts a long time. You can keep it in your purse, glove compartment or backback.
- Another of my favorites is a cool downz neck bandana. When you soak these in water, they expand and stay moist and cool. You tie them around your neck and this cools the blood as it goes through your neck arteries. Natural body air conditioning. Pretty nifty and surely thrifty.
I think it is worth spending a few bucks to keep yourself cool and prevent spending thousands of dollars taking care of the effects of heat exhaustion. It’s little pieces of advice like this that have kept me on my budget and out of debt.
Do you have a stay cool tip?
Illustration by OConnorCartoons.com
My frugal friends at Savings.com shared these coupons with me this week.
shawncampbell/Flickr
Reader Mena has a dilemma. Please help her if you can! She writes:
HI do you have any information on at home face moisturizers? something for oily skin? Eco friendly? Please reply……
Mena, I have bought good moisturizers from the Body Shop, which is against animal testing. Also, check out my review of Return to Beauty, a really awesome book full of homemade beauty recipes.
What do you suggest?
**Holly**/Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Call it whatever you like: “Aunt Flo,” “That time of the month,” or “My excuse to eat chocolate without feeling guilty.” For us ladies, our period is an inevitable part of life that can end up costing us hundreds of dollars a year.
This post deals with a topic that you may find taboo, but the cost of period supplies is a recurring expense that is often relegated to a necessity instead of a way to save money.
Every month we shell out the big bucks to buy sanitary products like pads and tampons. But there is a less expensive way to go about it. I’m not talking about buying low-quality, cheap pads and tampons. I’m talking about using alternative methods like menstrual cups and reusable pads.
Menstrual Cups
There are many brands of menstrual cups and aside from price, the main difference is the material. Some of the most common materials are rubber and silicon. The cups, which range in sizes depending on the brand, are inserted like tampons to collect the menstrual flow. Most menstrual cups cost around $25 to $40. While it may seem like a lot of money, think about how much you fork over for a box of tampons.
Menstrual cups can be worn for up to 12 hours. The benefits of using a cup is avoiding the risk of toxic shock syndrome and saving money over time. However, there are some drawbacks. It can be really frustrating to switch to a cup and not be able to properly insert it. Others may be grossed out by having to remove the cup, flush the fluids, and rise it. This brings me to one of the major drawbacks I’ve encountered, which has to deal with “changing” in public restrooms. It’s difficult to find privacy in a public restroom if you want to rinse the cup.
Reusable Pads
Like menstrual cups, there are many brands of reusable pads that can be found online or at local health food stores. The pads range in sizes just like the ones you would find at the drug store. Prices vary and they can be expensive. I bought a week worth of pads from Lunapads for $95 on sale and haven’t had to buy disposable pads and tampons since, saving me about $10 a month after ten months of use. You can also make your own reusable pads from adsorbent cloth.
Unlike regular pads, reusable pads are washed after each use, giving you the peace of mind of never running out. The pads can be tossed in the washing machine or washed by hand. The cloth is especially comfortable on hot summer days. Some women who use reusable pads have had problems with leaking.
If you spend $5 to $7 on pads and tampons each month, you could break even and begin to save money with these alternative methods in just a few cycles.
Related Posts:
Toilet paper v. tissues: which cleans a nose more cheaply?
Print out this Quiznos coupon for a free fountain drink and bag of chips with sandwich purchase. Expires July 5, 2010.
Here is an Ulta beauty coupon for 20% off any one item and/or free shipping on all Philosophy products. Expires July 3, 2010.
Expires tomorrow! Get 20% off at CVS.com sitewide through Wednesday, June 30, 2010.
There are a bunch of freebies at Walgreens this week if you clip coupons. What great motivation!
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
MyGymworkout.co.uk/Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
About two years ago, I knew it was time to take better care of myself so I shopped around and found a gym that was perfect for me. It is two miles away from home so I can ride my bike, and my monthly fee is on the low end – $39 a month plus a $200 initiation fee – and includes many amenities.
Lately, I haven’t been working out as much between school and two jobs. Needing advice about whether to continue my gym membership, I turned to BargainBabe.com facebook followers and boy, did they respond! The advice ranged from people telling me to cancel my membership to people criticizing my “luxurious life” for having a gym membership and an iPhone.
Kathy suggested I “Take to the hills! Walk/running is the cheapest workout ever!”
Sola understood my dilemma. “As far (as) the gym membership goes, I am way too cheap to pay for my membership and not use it, even though mine is also only $39 (…) However, if you ever decide to get a new contract at the gym, it’s doubtful that you will get a rate that reasonable, so it’s worth taking that into consideration too.”
Since joining the gym, I rarely get sick and I can climb up flights of stairs without huffing and puffing. Janna suggested putting my membership on hold until I could hit the gym on a regular basis but I am not motivated enough to work out at home.
Cindy Crucifer summed up my feelings about my dilemma. “Make time to work out. It’s important.”
After weighing the pros and cons of my gym membership, I decided to keep it. I’m hitting the gym at night after school and work. I much rather pay a monthly fee now than doctor’s bills in the future. Do you think a gym membership is worth the fees?
Related posts:
Money not an excuse not to exercise
Looking for contact lenses? AC Lens combines the lowest prices available with dedicated, personalized customer service. Plus, they have a 30-day return policy. This winning combination has made ACLens.com the third largest contact lens retailer online – that’s huge!
AC Lens prices are among the lowest compared to rivals. Compare their price for Acuvue Oasys, the #1 prescribed contact lens, which is $24.45/box right now at ACLens.com. Try finding Acuvue Oasys for under $30 per box at 1800Contacts, WalMart Vision Center, Sears Optical, Pearle Vision, or LensCrafters. Oftentimes, rivals with a price match policy end up matching ACLens.com.
ACLens.com has gotten a lot of publicity for their prices, including mentions in Good Housekeeping, Woman’s Day, Woman’s World, The Boston Globe, and the Atlanta Journal Constitution, among others. The site won the BizRate Circle of Excellence Award for superior customer service four consecutive years. No other contact lens retailer can claim that honor.
If you want specials and exclusive deals on lenses, friend ACLens on Facebok or follow them on Twitter (@ACLens). It’s always good to know about deals for products you buy. ACLens.com ships lenses to all 50 US states as well as Europe, South America and the Far East.
This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my Advertise page.
adria.richards/Flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz
Staying fit and healthy can stop doctor’s bills from rolling in but hitting the gym can be costly. The good news is that there are many affordable ways to get a proper workout without slimming your wallet. Here are some ways to help you reach your fitness goals.
Go back to college – If you still live near your alma mater, many universities offer discounted gym memberships to alumni. Some of these gyms are better than private gyms and include all the amenities. Cost: monthly membership fee.
Hit the pavement – Go jogging or walking around your neighborhood for free. If you want a different scenery head to your nearest park. Remember to carry water to stay hydrated and a cell phone in case of an emergency. Cost: $50-$100/year for running shoes.
Exploit your insurance – Many insurance companies reimburse you half or all of your gym’s fees. Check with your provider to see if they can help you out. Cost: phone call to insurance company.
Take a hike – Need a workout that will get your heart pumping and blood flowing? Try walking on a slope. Hiking can be a great way to get a workout without the monthly dues. Cost: gas to drive to park.
Exercise videos – If you are easily bored with the same workout routine rent exercise videos from your local library for free. Most libraries have a variety of exercise videos ranging from yoga to Tae Bo. But whatever you do, don’t become delinquent with your checked out material or it will end up costing you. Trust me, those fines can quickly add up. Want to avoid the fines? Check out online exercise videos. You can find just about any type of exercise you’re interested in to get moving. Cost: none.
Mooch off your company – There have been studies that show a correlation between healthy workers and an increase in work productivity. Many companies are investing in their workers by helping them pay their monthly gym fees. Check with your company to find out what they can do for you. Cost: visit to your HR department.
