Jewel Shoppers: Earn Catalinas with Your Bucks
Mashup Mom turned me on to this originally, and I was able to finally try it out this past weekend, and I’m now a huge fan.
If you shop at Jewel, you have to sign up for this. YourBucks is a free pilot program where you register your Preferred Card and you earn back Catalinas to spend like cash on anything in the store.
All you have to do is sign up with your Preferred Card number and either your cell phone number or email address. That’s it! Then whenever you buy an item in the current offers, it automatically prints the Catalinas at the check out. New offers are loaded every two weeks.
This is a great way to save money without the hassle of clipping coupons and matching up deals. It’s pretty passive actually. All you have to do is know what offers are available and buy the items. Then you get the Catalinas, which save you money on your next trip. The trickiest part is just remembering to use the Catalinas, if you’re not used to couponing. But they work similar to cash, so it’s easy.
The way I’ve used Your Bucks so far, is when I’m making up my grocery list for the week, I look over the offers for items we need to buy anyway, then I look for items that match up with a coupon or sale for even more savings. I don’t do match-up posts like that here, but I highly recommended Mashup Mom for that. I read her blog every day to get the best deals.
Another great thing about these deals is sometimes you’ll get items for free, or even make money with them. For example, when we went grocery shopping this past weekend, we picked up a jar of Ragu for $1.99 and got back a $2 Catalina. We also bought a bottle of Suave shampoo for 89 cents and got back $2, so we made money on that!
Even if you don’t want to take the time to look for deals, I highly recommend you sign-up anyway. Once you’re signed up, you’ll get the Catalinas without any work from you. It’s passive savings, and it’s great.
Tax Returns Done Cheaply or Free Online
This is not tax advice. I am not a tax professional.
Okay, now that we got that out of the way, tax season is here! I personally am not a fan, and every year, as soon as I have all my forms, I do my taxes ASAP just to get it over with. The tricky part is finding a way to do it for free, but so far I’ve managed to do that every year.
If all you have to deal with are some W-2s, then you basically get the pick of the litter from free online services. I’ll run through all the options, including the free ones and and the most basic. Your cheapest option is to do it online yourself. Now, if you have a complicated a return and feel unsure about it, I definitely recommend having a professional do your return so it’s done correctly.
Don’t forget to network and talk to friends and family. If there’s someone close to you who is a CPA or works for a tax or accounting company, they may be able to do it for free or give you some sort of discount.
Most of the following companies will let you do your federal tax return for free, but then will charge a small free to file your state tax return. If your state offers free e-file, you may be able to take the numbers from your federal return and file the state by yourself. Find out if your state has free e-file.
TaxAct
I used TaxAct last year, and I love it. They offer a free federal edition, which asks you questions in plain English, which makes the process much easier. I believe most people with income under $50K should qualify for the free edition, though I couldn’t find specifics on the site. The online deluxe version is only $9.95.
If you use the free edition, the state return it $14.95. For the deluxe online edition, it’s an additional $8. (I would recommend filing the state yourself for free, if you can).
Complete Tax
CompleteTax
has several options as well. Their free options supports 1040EZ and EITC, and anyone single or married filing jointly without children or dependents. Their Basic level is $9.95, which supports any 1040 form, dependents, and itemized deductions, and there are two more levels after that for those with investments or businesses.
Now their State returns are $29.95–definitely not the best deal. But again, you may want to try to file that yourself if you can.
TurboTax
I’ve used TurboTax in the past, and their software is really easy to use, but not as cheap as some of the companies I’ve already listed. Their free edition covers a lot of forms for simple tax returns. Their next level, Basic, costs $14.95 and is good for mortgages, childcare expenses, and charitable donations.
Their state is $27.95, a little less than CompleteTax, but more than TaxAct.
H&R Block
H&R Block has their own at home software, and it includes a free option. Their free option will not prepare returns with self employment, stock transactions, rental property, farm or K_I income. The next level is Deluxe, which costs $29.95, which is recommended as best for investors/homeowners.
Each state return is $29.95.
This is not a comprehensive list of all the places that offer free online tax return services. The IRS has compiled a list that you may want to check out if none of the options suit you. I’d also love to hear what tax services you’ve used in the past and plan to use this year.
Condoms and Lube: Free Samples and Coupons 12/09
This is something I’ve posted before that’s been quite popular, so I thought I should do an update since these free samples come and go so quickly.
I believe all of these offers require that you be 18 years or older to qualify.
If you cannot afford condoms or need advice regarding sexual health, I highly recommend Planned Parenthood. Depending on the location (and your age/income), you may be able to get services and products for free or on a sliding scale.
All right, on to the free goodies!
Condom Samples
Lube Samples
- Astroglide
- Astroglide Natural (US)
- ID Lubricants (short survey)
- Wet (short survey)
- Play
- KY Intrigue
Coupons
- Print Stimulus Coupon Package: $2 off Any Trojan Condom (10ct+), $2 off Trojan Vibrations, $1 Off Trojan 2GO
- $1 off Wet Lubricant exp 12/31/09 (print or mail) (direct link to coupon pdf)
- Print $1 off Play Lubricant
Rebate
$4 Rebate off 12 pack of Sensis Condoms. Good for Quikstrips Thins or Micro Dot Ribbed purchased between 12/01/2009 and 02/28/2010. Must complete the form, enclose a copy of the sales receipt, and the proof of purchase from the box, and post mark within 21 days of purchase.
Free Trial
As a fun bonus, Drugstore.com is giving away free Durex Play Vibrations Rings. They’re normally $3.99, but it’s automatically discounted to $0 when added to the shopping cart. Limit one. You do have to pay for shipping, but if it’s your first order at Drugstore.com and you spend over $25 you can get free standard shipping.
When I checked it out, the shipping came out to be $5.99, which was more than the cost of the ring in the first place. I would recommended ordering a few other items to get the free shipping.
If you know of any other freebies or coupons, let me know!
Websites for Free Advanced Movie Screening Tickets and Passes
You may be wondering, “Tiffany how you find out about all of those free movie screenings you’re always posting about?” Well, curious reader: all over the place. I keep my eyes peeled for these screenings on several different websites on the internet. I figured I should take some time to outline a few of the locations I check out as a resource to my readers, mainly because I do not post every single free screening I find because I try to only post those that will benefit my readers across the United States (and sometimes Canada).
The site I find out about most of the screenings from is Wild About Movies. I absolutely loathe their website (it’s horribly bloated with unnecessary ads, images, videos, and text, and a nightmare to navigate). Lately their free screening listings have become a little more bizarre (perhaps even deceptive). They say that you can RSVP and print tickets for certain movies, but when you get to the page they say the tickets are not available yet, so you can sign up to receive an email when a screening is available in your area. I’ve done that a couple times and never received an email from them, so I think they’re just signing people up for their newsletter.
Sometimes though they do still have legitimate links and passes to print, so I always just wade through all the crap and post the good ones on this site. They’re just a nightmare to deal with sometimes.
Another great source is Entertainment Weekly, though their screenings are less frequent and, as I recently learned, so overbooked you need to be there at least two hours early. They’re usually only available in 10 or so major cities as well. The good thing is that if you sign up, you’re practically guaranteed a pass, the trick is actually getting into the screening before the theater is full.
When it comes to free screenings, Fox Searchlight is my absolute favorite. The studio features the sign up form on their website, which is super easy. Just sign up and they email you the passes. They usually have a ton of different dates and locations across the US & Canada. Also, their movies are usually fantastic. Also, I don’t usually have problems getting into the screenings as long as I’m there an hour to and hour and half before showtime. Unfortunately, if you sign up for their newsletter, they don’t email you about new screenings usually, you have to actually keep checking up on the site for them (though I post all of their screenings on T20S when they’re available).
A site that I don’t use too much is Film Metro. You have to sign up to be a member of the site, and the tickets become available at a specific time. They often “sell out” very quickly, and I’ve never been lucky enough to grab tickets through this site. A friend of mine has had better luck and gotten tickets through them before, so I know it is a legit site. You just have to be on there at the right time to score.
Seems like a lot of work, huh? Well it is. As always, I’ll continue to post national screenings here. So check back often or subscribe to my RSS feed for the latest posts.
If you’re new to advanced movie screenings, check out my tips.
3 Yoga DVDs Available as Free Streaming Online Video
I love yoga and I know it’s something my readers enjoy as well since my most popular posts are the ones with free yoga classes and videos. Attending a yoga class in person, especially when you’re first starting out, is best because the instructor can help you learn the poses and correct any mistakes you may be making. But the cost of those yoga classes can really add up. These free videos can be a great substitute or supplement for yoga classes.
I recently discovered three more free online classes. These are actual DVDs that are posted online in full by Yoga Online.
The first class they offer is Yoga for Beginners, which is available on Youtube in several parts and also on Google video. This class features 22 different poses and is targeted for beginners, so if you’re looking to try yoga for the first time or getting back into it after a long break from practice, this is a great video to give a try, especially since it’s free.
Here’s a sample with their downward facing dog pose:
This site also has a 25 minutes Yoga for Seniors routine. All though this is obviously not targeted for the 20 something age group, you can share this video with friends and family or even give it a try yourself. It’s a little more gentle, and Yoga online says that it’s good for beginners of any age as well.
The third video is Yoga and the Art of Aging. This is part one of a seven part series. This video is more advanced than the other two, so I wouldn’t recommend trying it right away if you’re new to yoga.
I don’t know how long these videos will be available for. They say to subscribe to their Youtube channel because they’ll be uploading more videos in the future. This could become a great resource for free online yoga routines.
See also:
Free Yoga Classes, Audio Downloads & Videos
Free Streaming Videos of Online Yoga Classes
Free Movie Screening Bummer: The Theater Was Packed
A few week ago I posted about the free Up in the Air screening Entertainment Weekly was sponsoring. I was looking forward to seeing this movie. The boyfriend and I met up downtown, grabbed some dinner, and then headed over to the theater an hour before the screening, which is the time we usually show up for these things.
When we got there they had already started letting people into the theater (which is unheard of) and there were over a hundred (maybe even 200) people in line. We got in line anyway and were there for about 5 minutes before they announced that the theater was full.
We were actually pretty surprised about all of this. It’s been about three years since I was last turned away from a screening. Still, we hadn’t been there very long and there was no way we could have known that there would be such an immense turn out, so we didn’t feel too bad about it.
Since we didn’t have a back up plan, the boyfriend and I decided to check out 2012 instead, which we enjoyed a lot. (Though I hate paying full price for movie tickets.)
The whole point of this post is that when it comes to these free screenings, sometimes you never know what to expect. If you really want to see the movie, like really want to see it, sometimes you just have to sacrifice the time and get there two hours in advance just to guarantee that you’ll get in. Sometimes though, they’ll barely have the theater filled when it’s time to start the movie.
It’s one of those things that you just can’t predict because it depends on a lot of variable including the popularity of the movie, how may passes were given out, the theater, and other unknown variables. It’s good to have a back up plan so you don’t feel like you wasted your time. Also, go in it with a good sense of humor. It’s a bummer to miss out on a free movie, especially if you waited a long period of time not to get in. But really, all you’ve lost is the time. So make good use of your time in line: read, do homework, talk with friends, whatever. Then shrug it off if you don’t get in and go to plan B.
If you want, you can also read my extensive post of advanced movie screening tips
Recipe: Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey Lo Mein
I know almost everybody is drowning in turkey leftovers right now and looking for creative ways beyond reheated turkey and sandwiches to use the meat.
Well, the boyfriend and I had a some leftover turkey we brought home from the family’s gathering, so we decided to get a little creative with it and add it to a simple lo mien recipe I’d discovered recently.
The original recipe (which came in the Home Made Simple coupon book) was for beef lo mien, but I’ve modified it a bit–in addition to changing the meat to turkey–to fit our tastes. It was easy to make and absolutely delicious, so give it a try. You can also use this recipe with any other meat you want, or even no meat.
We added some leftover yams on the side and had a bowl of miso soup (from mix) as well.
Leftover Turkey Lo Mein
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 Tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1/4 Teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 4 Cups cooked spaghetti
- 2 Teaspoons sesame oil
- 2 Tablespoons peanut oil (we used canola oil)
- 4 Minced garlic cloves
- 3 Cups broccoli florets
- 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
- 1 lb turkey, cut in strips (we just eyeballed the amount)
- Green onions to garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. In a small bowl, mix together the soy sauce, brown sugar, oyster sauce, and red pepper flakes. Set aside.
2. Combine the pasta and sesame oil in a bowl. Toss until well coated.
3. In a large skillet over medium-high height, saute the garlic, broccoli, and onion for 5 minutes in your chosen oil (peanut, canola, or other). Add the turkey and saute for 5 more minutes, or until cooked through.
4. Add the pasta and sauce mixture to the skillet and cook 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly.
5. Garnish with green onions and serve.
Happy Halloween! Get Some Freebies & Deals
Happy Halloween everyone! If you celebrate the holiday, or even if you don’t, this is a great day to have fun and enjoy a little sugar. It’s also a great day for freebies.
Check out a a full list of Halloween freebies over at Hey It’s Free.
If you want to watch a spooky movie today, see what movies you can stream online for free.
The boyfriend and I went to a Halloween party last night, so we’re enjoying a night in and watching a few “scary” movies.
Tomorrow morning we plan on heading out to the grocery store to check out the clearance Halloween items. November 1st is the best day to get deals on Halloween candy, decorations, costumes, and more. The stores need to clear that space ASAP for Christmas stock, so go and get ready for next year.
I’m just a chocolate addict, so I’m looking forward to cheap candy!
Mid-Week Freebies & Deal Round-Up 10-28-09
Another week is halfway done, and this weekend is Halloween, which means a lot of fun for those who celebrate. For now, check out some freebies and deals.
Check out the list of Halloween freebies at Hey It’s Free!.
Freebies and Samples
- Ebook: Credit After Bankruptcy or Foreclosure
- Ebook: Get A Car When Banks Aren’t Lending
- Free sample and $7 coupon for NicoDerm® CQ® with Smart Control
- Print Passes to a Free Screening of Gentlemen Broncos. Toronto just added!
- Free Beauty Rush Lip Gloss at Victoria’s Secret
- Power Bar Gel Blasts Sample(Thanks Abundant Food Savings!)
Great Deals & Coupons
- $2 off Wonka Candy
(Print 2 per Computer)
- $2 off Nestle Candy
- Learn how to buy 1 Yankee Candle and get 3 for Free
- BOGO Glade Fragrance Collection Candles Coupons (Thanks Money Saving Mom!)
- Spend $80 on video games at Amazon & get a $40 promo code
- Burt Bees Grab Bag Deal
Never Pay for Shipping on Amazon.com Again
I love Amazon.com
That’s where Amazon Filler Item Finder comes to the rescue. Just type in how much money you need to get the free shipping, and it automatically searches Amazon.com
This is my real life example of using the filler item finder. Today I was buying two items off of Amazon and once I added them both to my cart, I was 1 cent away from the free shipping. A single penny! How frustrating is that? So I searched the item founder and found plenty of items under a dollar, the lowest being 7 cents (anyone know what this is
Now I don’t actually pay for anything I buy from Amazon.com, since I just use the gift certificates I earn from places like Swagbucks and MTurk, but still I like saving money and stretching those gift cards as far as I can. Using the Free Super Saving Shipping is just one of the ways I do that.
