Harris Polls Online

People are always wondering if there is any such thing as a legit survey site.  I am here to say there definitely is such a thing.  People just don't realize that you can't always get cash from a survey, but there are sites that will reward you.

I have been with Harris Polls Online for years.  They are a respected company and they usually send me an emailed survey invitation about once a week.  Sometimes you are picked to do a full length survey; other times you will not be chosen.  However, Harris Polls always awards points for your effort.  Once you receive a number of points, you can then pick out a prize.  Usually I just get a gift card, which is basically like getting paid.  I highly recommend this company.  I tried a different survey company recently and they were awful.

For more information and to get signed up, you can visit http://www.harrispollonline.com/.

My Coke Rewards

Do you drink Coke all the time?  Better yet, do your co-workers drink Coke all the time?  If so, you could be cashing in on Coke Rewards.

At my office, we go through tons of Diet Coke, Coke, Sprite, and other Coke products each week.  Since it is ordered by the office (and paid for by my company, which is great), it is bought in bulk and the cans in their cardboard boxes sit in the kitchen.  As it turns out, each 12 pack of cans is worth 10 points.  No one at my job bothers saving the points off the box.  So that is why I started doing it. 

If you go on http://www.mycokerewards.com/ you can learn about all the great ways to spend your points.  Initially, I constantly entered in drawings for gift cards.  I still do every now and then, but I am saving for the real products now since they are a sure bet.  I already received a free hat and a free MP3 player.  Coke even pays for shipping.  Right now, I am saving for a Rechargeable Wet / Dry Vacuum. 

So save up your Coke Rewards and you can get your own free products!

We're Gonna Party Like It's My Birthday!

This is March and it is a very special month for me.  I was born in March.  Don't get me wrong, I am not so excited about that.  Getting older is not really my thing.  However, getting free stuff is totally my thing!  Plenty of stores and restaurants will give you free stuff during your birthday month.  Just the simple act of getting one year older will help you cash in.

Just last week, I went by Sephora and showed them my Sephora Beauty Insider card.  I was able to get a free gift and a free sample.  I bought absolutely nothing!  Woo-hoo!  The free gift this year is showel gel called Happy Birthday, Beautiful.  If you are a member of Sephora's loyalty program, I highly recommend you drop by Sephora a week before or a week after your birthday.  Getting free stuff is awesome!

If you are not a member of any loyalty programs, start signing up now!  It is worth it.  Especially if your birthday is coming in a month or two.  This is the perfect time to start going to places or applying online.  If you'd like, you can read about other offers at: Party On! Birthday Bargains!

Hang It Out to Dry

I live in an apartment building and I have been blessed with a lovely shared laundry room.  In my area, you pay a small fortune to live in a place with a washer and dryer in your unit.  So therefore, I must make the most out of the laundry room.

It cost $1.60 to wash a load and another $1.60 to dry a load.  That is just too much money.  Did you know that Bed, Bath & Beyond carries drying racks for just $20 a piece?  I recommend buying 2 racks and never using the dryers again if you use a laundry room or laundromat.  You can easily hang some clothes on the shower rod in the bathroom, too.  I only use the dryers in my building if I am drying sheets or towels since they are awkward to hang in an apartment.

The cost of drying 2 loads of clothes per week adds up to $166.40 a year.  Why not order 2 racks from Bed, Bath & Beyond and pay for the shipping?  You will save about $120 a year in the first year.  Plus, your clothes are less likely to shrink and it is also less likely that a creepy guy from your apartment building will steal your stuff out of the dryer.  Trust me, it happens!

Drying Rack at Bed, Bath and Beyond

Weekend Coupon Madness

It's Sunday and you know what that means?  It is coupon clipping day for me.  I used to go out every weekend and buy the weekend newspaper.  One day, the Baltimore Sun offered to give me a year subscription for only one cent.  Well, you can't beat that.  I am saving the $2 I used to spend every weekend.  So now, I get my coupons (and of course newspapers) brought to my door.  I am saving way more money and time this way. 

There was a time when I used to have a life.  I used to dine out, go bowling, or go shopping.  Now I spend my weekend going through sales papers and coupons.  However, I have to try to make my bargain shopping fun now.  Saving money is almost like a hobby now. 

My recommendation on making the most of this experience is leafing through all the sales and ads for the stores in your area.  Obviously, you are not going to save too much money if you are traveling too far to get your bargains.  You are then wasting all your money on gas or bus fees.  You will not come out ahead.  Plus, you need to clip coupons for only what you need.  Don't look at a $1 off coupon and think you may as well get that item.  If you do not need it and you probably won't use it, it does not matter that you saved $1.  Whatever you just paid was a total waste.  You also need to find stores in your area that double coupons.  In this situation, go to the cheapest store that will do that.  Just remember, usually they only double the coupon if it is under $1.  That is why I try to get as many 75 cent off coupons as possible.  In the world of double coupons, those are the best. 

Now, I have heard of people making charts or lists to keep up with every store and sale.  That is a little much.  I would recommend finding a couple of really low priced stores and sticking with that.  Always check for sales first though, even if that means going online.  Also, keep in mind that stores like Walmart, Target, Kmart, and dollar stores carry most of the same brands as grocery stores.  Those stores also usually carry food items and paper products.  I usually try to go to Target or Walmart once a week for things like toothpaste, toilet paper, paper towels, medicine, etc.  You will save way more money that way.  For items like meat, vegetables, cereal, and other food items, I go to a regular grocery store. 

If you incorporate some of these ideas into your own life, you will be amazed at how much you save every weekend.  A fun thing you can do is to also reward yourself with something small that you really want for all your effort.  After all, if you are saving 10 or more dollars a week, why shouldn't you get to have a candy bar or a cute item from the dollar store?

Happy shopping to you!

Being Broke is Not Cool

Allow me to introduce myself.  I am Jeannie and I am super thrifty.  I was not always this obsessed with saving a buck.  I've always liked a good bargain or a sale, but since the economy went down the tubes, I am all about taking saving money to the next level. 

In this blog, I want to discuss a number of ways you can be stingy.  Naturally, I will not discuss ways to steal items or services, but I do want to point out ways you can save money.  If there is a bargain to be found, I am on it.  If I find coupons, I will find a way to get them doubled or even tripled.  I am all about saving money and I am here to help others do that same.