By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
ToddBaker/Flickr
Last week I wrote about my decision to hire a professional cleaning person. Many of you commented on that post and I appreciate all the feedback as I went into the adventure ready and willing to learn. I said I would share my revelations. Here they are:
- I felt safe having this person in my home because I had several recommendations from people I trust who have used her for several years. That was important. Getting personal recommendations is essential.
- I spent a couple of hours prior to the cleaner arriving picking (more…)
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.
DanBrady/Flickr
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
Part of my life philosophy is “I can do it myself.” This concept has helped me to learn to do everything from baking bread to teaching my daughter to read. However, I am finally ready to cry “uncle” in one subject. CLEANING!
OK, I’m going to out myself here. I have decided to make a very un-frugal financial decision and hire a professional cleaning person. There! I said it to the world. I feel so weird spending money on something that I can do myself, but I have to try it.
I recently realized that at least half of the conflicts in my household have been about cleaning. Now that is just plain silly. I don’t like to clean, so I am trying to get my family to do it. And guess what? It isn’t going well. (more…)
Anderson Mancini / flickr
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
Pest in your garden will destroy your plants and your edible investment. If you’re willing to make your own remedies, your plants will have a chance to thrive. Here’s how to naturally combat some major offenders with supplies you have around your home.
Ants
They crawl all over your plants and transmit diseases from sick to healthy plants. It seems like they just keep on coming, but here’s how to deter them from staying in your garden or coming into your home.
- Ants hate cucumber peels. They dislike the bitterness of the peel so place them where they have made their trails to deter them from crawling on your plants.
- Make a concoction of borax and sugar. A master gardener once told me to use a 50-50 concentration but I use more borax than sugar and it gets the job done. The goal is to have the ants (more…)
CVS - There are six freebies at CVS this week. Wahoo! Highlights include free Crest or Oral B Health, free Sobe Lifewater 20 oz. or Gataorade 32 oz., free Pepsi 2 Liter, free Right Guard or Dry Idea, free Zegerid OTC 14 count and free Blink Tears Lubricating Drops .5 oz. Get the coupon match ups and read more CVS deals on BargainBriana.
Walgreens – Highligths include Puffs Facial Tissues for $.83, free Stride gum, free Pilot Frixion pens, and Colgate for $.99. Get the coupon match ups and read more Walgreens deals on CommonSenseWithMoney.
Rite Aid – Higlights include free AMO Complete Multi Purpose Solution, free Rolaids Soft Chews, and BIC Crystal Pens for $.25 each. Get the coupon match ups and read more Rite Aid deals on MoneySavingMom.
New to coupons? Check out my post on coupon clipping basics. If you want to take advantage of these deals, make sure to save the coupon inserts you receive in the mail or with your Sunday newspaper. Here’s a great suggestion for how to handle coupon organization.
Ill-fated McDonald's smoothie deal. Credit: bgottsab/Flickr
Restaurant.com – The latest Restaurant.com coupon code is for 80% off.
Borders - Get 33% off with this Borders coupon.
Jamba Juice and McDonalds - Jamba Juice is honoring McDonald’s smoothie coupons. Plus get this Jamba Juice coupon for $1 off.
Old Navy – get free shipping on a purchase of $50 or more, or 20% off kids clothes with these Old Navy coupon codes.
Boston’s Gourmet Pizza – Through August 13, 2010 kids eat free with any adult entree purchase.
Worst drugstore deals – Check my hit list for what to avoid at the drugstore.
Check out the latest coupons and deals this afternoon on my WalletPop blog.
The bathroom's new look
I’ve banded together with a handful of bloggers I met last month at the Savvy Blogging Summit to share interesting posts. Here are two I think you should check out.
Jen from Balancing Beauty and Bedlam wrote about transforming her bathroom from a tacky maroon sponge-painted room to a delicate blue with modern accents, see right. With patience, determination, and a lot of garage saleing, she paid for the whole project with just $20! Her post has tons of before and after pictures and she explains in detail how she did each step. Jen, you inspire me!
Jennie at Bargain Blessings shared a $10 off $30 coupon at Cost Plus World Market. If you drink coffee, Jennie found an amazing scenario where you can get six 12-ounce bags of coffee for $3.24 per bag. Hot stuff!
Kacy at Valuing Today created a 2-minute video showing how she makes easy Hawaiian macaroni salad, a nice compliment to any summer BBQ.
Amazon.com
Magazine sale – Amazon’s mondo magazine sale offers two year subscriptions to dozens of mags for the price of a one year subscription. Esquire, Seventeen and American Cowboy are all on sale.
Free sample – Get a free sample of Dove conditioner that claims to repair damaged hair. Available for a limited time!
More free samples – Freeflys is offering free samples of oatmeal, lotion, cologne and sport vitamins. You have to jump through a bunch of hoops, however.
Check out the latest coupons and deals this afternoon on my WalletPop blog. More deals coming later today.
Yazmin Cruz
This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.
The Frugal Festival was the first time I had been to any kind of swap. That day, as volunteers and I sorted through clothes, the anticipation built in the room. Come the swap start the anticipation turned to excitement as hundreds of people rushed in the doors to swap. I didn’t swap then, but got my first swapping experience this past weekend.
I was invited to a garden swap in the Milagro Allegro Community Garden in Highland Park, California where gardeners exchanged everything from tools to produce.
I must admit I was a skeptic. I didn’t think I’d end up liking it as much as I did. I don’t even like participating in Secret Santa come Christmas time because I usually end up with the worst gift. But not this time.
The swap was free of charge and was organized much like the Frugal Festival. There was a specific area for everything people brought to swap like plants, seeds, magazines, produce and “worm tea,” which is worm pee used for fertilizing.
I arrived a little late but was still able to exchange the seeds I had brought with me. I had all kinds of seeds including dill, broccoli rabe, kale, and lima beans. I also had seeds that I’d harvested myself like basil and cilantro seeds.
Here’s my haul and approximately how much I saved:
- “Organic Gardening” magazine – $3.99
- “Sunset” magazine – $4.99
- Heirloom cucumber seeds – $2
- Organic Plums (10) – $6.90
- Organic Tomatoes (2 lbs.) – $5
- Aloe Vera plant – $4
- Organic Bay Leaves – $4
- Organic Pineapple Sage – $2
Total Saved: $32.88
My goods.
I am now a believer – swapping is the new shopping. If you’ve never participated in a swap, you must. BargainBabe.com writer Bobbi wrote a post on how to get the most out of a swap that is essential to read before heading to your first swap.
I already leafed through my magazines and found yummy recipes using my tomatoes and bay leaves, and I can’t wait to try my pineapple sage tea, which I hear is good for anxiety. The only thing I wasn’t able to get was the worm tea, but I hear the community garden is looking to have swaps every last Sunday of the month and you know I’ll be there.
What kind of swaps have you participated in and how much money have you saved?
lovejanine/Flickr
Shutterfly – Get 25 free photo prints from Shutterfly now through July 31, 2010.
Juicy Couture – Here is a Juicy Couture coupon for 20% off all regular-priced merchandise. Expires August 1, 2010.
Check out all the coupons and deals on my WalletPop blog.
Schlepping made easy with two luggage carts
Who says airline baggage fees are excessive? I carefully considered all my options for moving across the country from Los Angeles to Rhode Island and calculated that flying was cheaper than professional movers, Uhaul, and the United States Postal Service. Don’t believe me? Check my math below.
Movers
Pros: All I have to do is pack. The movers load up my stuff and unpack it. Cons: Dealing with skeezy movers, who may charge me a higher rate for any boxes above and beyond my initial estimate. Plus, the pick up window is two weeks and the delivery window is four weeks. I called a national moving company for a quote to move 13 large boxes under 40 pounds each.
$623.43 = total includes a fuel fee, stairs fee, and an administrative fee
Uhaul
Pros: Getting to see the country with a friend. Cons: Molding butt to seat over 3,560 miles.
$2,519 = an 11-day rental for a 10-foot truck with up to 3,560 miles costs
(Extra mile fee: $.40 per mile over 3,560)
$848 = Gas: 3,560 miles in a 12 miles per gallon truck at $2.86/gal (average price of regular gas according to AAA)
$500 = 5-nights hotel
$150 = 6-nights camping passes
$4,017 = total
U.S. Postal Service
Pros: Boxes delivered to my new doorstep. Cons: Stuff doesn’t arrive for eight days and may be damaged from the rough ride or heat.
$559 = parcel post rate for 13 boxes each weighing up to 40 pounds
$36 = Insurance of $2.75 for up to $200 for each box
$595 = total
Flying on Southwest (Bags on Virgin America, which has limited routes, are just $25 per bag, up to 50 pounds per bag, up to 10 bags. That’s even better than Southwest!)
Pros: Stuff arrives with me. Cons: Lugging boxes to and from airport.
$0 = boxes 1-2, which are free on Southwest
$250 = boxes 3-7 which are $50 per as long as they weigh less than 50 pounds each
$0 = boxes 8-13, which a friend flew across for me for free using his elevated airline status perks
$40 = sky cap tip checking me in in 10 minutes flat
$20 = shuttle driver tip for loading and unloading boxes
$310 = total
If you had to move across the country, how would you do it?
Lisa Leonard jewelry
I’ve never been a fan of charm bracelets until I saw Lisa Leonard’s custom, hand-stamped jewelry. Her gold and silver pieces are feminine, expressive, and stylish. No clunky tea pots and train cars among her wares. I particularly like her open circle and oval pieces.
I’m not the only one who is a fan. Lisa’s jewelry has been spotted on celebrities like Josie Bisset and Jason Priestly’s wife Naomi. One of Lisa’s most popular pieces is her heart strings necklace, which starts at $58. One to four hearts are stamped onto a 1 1/4-inch sterling disk, then you can add names and a pearl. Very sentimental.
Lisa has generously offered a 20% off site wide coupon code. Use bargainbabe20 when checking out (all lower case). The coupon code is good through Wednesday, July 28 at 11:59 p.m. PST.
Lisa also makes pieces for men, including a key chain that says “my daddy is a superhero” and a sterling ring imprinted with a message or name. She has non-custom pieces that feature whimsical designs and simple, powerful messages. One necklace dubbed “every corner of my heart” has a sterling heart in the corner of a textured square.
Lisa also writes a blog with pictures of her family’s adventures, the food they cook, and musing about life.
This is paid content. Interested in an ad? Read my Advertise page.
Bargain Briana shared five great CVS deals this week, valid through July 31, 2010, though supplies will likely run out soon and be restocked through the week.
If you are new to CVS Extra Bucks, they are vouchers you can use at a later date towards products at CVS. Extra Bucks are awarded at the end of each quarter and show up on your receipt.
Terminology:
wyb – when you buy
B1G1 – buy one get one
MIR – mail-in rebate
SS- Smart Source coupon insert
Pampers Baby Dry, Swaddlers, or Cruisers Diapers 48-96 ct. – $21.99
Tena Ultra Thins 32-42 ct. – B1G1 FREE
TENA Ultra Thins MIR 6/6/2010 SS Insert (exp 8/31/2010)
Final Price: TWO FREE after Rebate!
Photo Books 10 6×8 Pages – $7.99
Earn $7.99 Extra Bucks (Limit 1)
Final Price after Extra Bucks: FREE
U By Kotex Liners, Pads, or Tampons – $4.99
Earn $4.99 Extra Bucks (Limit 1)
$1 off 1 U by Kotex Product, one box printable coupon
Final Price after Extra Bucks: FREE + Overage
Dove Bar Soap 2 Pk – $3
Earn $2 Extra Bucks (Limit 1)
Final Price after Extra Bucks: $1
Schick Disposable Razors – B1G1 FREE psa $7.99
$3 off 1 Schick Disposable Razors 7/25/2010 SS Insert (exp 9/5/2010)
Final Price: as low as $0.99/each with two coupons!
avilasal/Flickr
By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of Bobbisbargains.
It’s HOT and you blew it by ignoring my advice to buy an air conditioner during the winter. Before you make an impulse buy, do a bit of mathematics for best results.
The first thing you need to do is measure the space that you want to cool. You need to know the square footage, which is easy to figure out. Just measure the floor. Measure in one direction and then measure in the other direction. Then multiply the two numbers. Ta-da! Square footage.
Now take your square footage and multiply that by 35. That will give you a general idea of what SIZE air conditioner to buy. That doesn’t mean how big in inches. It means how big in BTUs – British Thermal Units.
Every window air conditioner has a cooling capacity number that ranges from about 5,000 to 18,000 BTUs. (Larger systems are usually rated in tons of cooling with a ton being equal to 12,000 BTUs.) The higher the BTU value, the stronger the air conditioner is. BTUs determine how much cooling the unit can deliver in an hour. Too little BTUs and you won’t get cooled off. Too many BTUs and you will waste energy and MONEY – yikes!
For those of you living in high humidity areas here is a bit more insight: Many people buy an air conditioner that is too large, thinking it will provider better cooling. However, an over-sized air conditioner is actually less effective — and wastes energy at the same time. Air conditioners remove both heat and humidity from the air. If the unit is too large, it will cool the room quickly, but only remove some of the humidity. This leaves the room with a damp, clammy feeling. A properly sized unit will remove humidity effectively as it cools.
Once you determine your BTU need (square footage multiplied by 35), make sure that you make adjustments for room location and heat load:
- If the room is shaded, reduce the BTUs by 10%
- If the room is very sunny, increase the BTUs by 10%
- If the air conditioner is in the kitchen, add 4,000 BTUs
- If the room is going to be occupied by more than 2 people most of the time, add 600 BTUs per person
Another thing to consider is EER, which stands for Energy Efficiency Ratio.” Air conditioners’ EERs usually range from 8.2 to 10.5. The higher the number, the more efficient the machine and the more expensive to buy, but cheaper to operate. It’s a numbers game.
OK, so now that you know what size air conditioner you need, look on Craigslist. If you can’t find what you are looking for there, check out one of the big box warehouse stores like Sam’s Club, Costco, or BJ’s. They have competitive prices and their return policies are fabulous. Don’t buy an air conditioner online because the shipping cost will be enormous.
When installing your window air conditioner, use a window that is in the shade. Ensure that there is space around the inside and outside for air flow. In other words, don’t put the air condition up against the back of your couch or right up against a bush outside. Insulate where the window and air conditioner meet to make sure there is no air leakage around the unit and the window. Make sure that you clean the filters on a regular basis as this will increase the efficiency and life of your air conditioner.
OK, those are my tips. Good luck and stay cool.
dalbera/Flickr
A reader named Pauline wrote in with this question.
Dear Julia: I’m trying to find a lower cost for our Internet service which is through ATT and keeps going up. Currently it’s $28.00. I don’t need to fastest thing know to man. Any suggestions??? Thanks for your great informative blog. Sincerely Pauline
What do you suggest Pauline does?
