Frugal Mania

Somehow I randomly found this program called Groupon. It’s a gift certificate coupon service that sends you one deal a day for something in your city that is HEAVILY discounted - like a restaurant, clothing store, personal training, comedy shows, etc.

This is available for the following cities: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington D.C.

Inside Tip: The opportunity to buy is only available for 24 hours. So if you see something of interest, you have to buy it that day!

Want to know what today’s deal is? (more…)

1. Do take-out vs delivery or eating in - this way you can save on having to pay a tip
2. Only eat half your meal - If it’s a big meal, only eat half and bring the other half home for lunch the next day. Two meals for the price of one.
3. Share with someone - Maybe you can both get a small salad and then share your entree.
4. Skip the alcohol - You will save a ton if you don’t drink alcohol. In some cases, it can be more expensive than your entree.
5. Find out the weekly specials - Some places have happy hour specials if you come in earlier to eat - check their website.
6. Coupons - An oldy but a goody - flip through the coupons you get in the mail and visit your local eateries.

Any other tip you can think of that I left off the list?

Or be smart and win your dinner for free at trivia night.

Book swap parties and Clothing swap parties are starting to become very popular. The idea behind them is very simple. Someone hosts the event at his/her home and you bring a book (to those parties) or clothing/purses/accessories to the event.

It’s a FREE way to get new things and a fun social event. Plan to stick around, drink some wine, eat some fruit, make a new friend, and tell her/him about your new items.

Here’s a really cute, informative video about How to Host a Clothing Swap Party from VideoJug.

And don’t forget that awesome resource that’s the best book swap system out there - The Library.

Recently I’ve been really into podcasts.. I’m a big follower of NPR’s This American Life and Coffe Break Spanish - podcasts to learn the Spanish language. These shows are high quality, extremely well produced, and the best part - FREE.

If you have an iPod then you’re familiar with iTunes, so go check out the Podcasts! There are literally thousands of other ones on there. Leave a comment on which podcast you listen to.

Want to know about the free songs? (more…)

e-Rewards, the program that values your time. You’ll earn e-Rewards Currency for participating in market research surveys that are selected to match your interests. You can redeem your earnings for valuable Rewards from a wide array of participating Reward Partners.

Earn credits with companies such as:
AirTran
Delta Skymiles
Macy’s
HiltonHonors
Borders
Pizza Hut
ProFlowers
Blockbuster
Omaha Steaks
and more

If you’re saving up all those airline miles and haven’t decided where to go, check out this list of the Top 5 Must See Countries.

If you’re a pretty avid movie goer, then you might want to sign up for Regal Cinema’s Regal Crown Club.

It’s a FREE membership and they offer discounts on concession stand items and can earn credits for free movies.

Every Tuesday you use this card when purchasing your ticket at a Regal Cinema you get a coupon for a small popcorn for $1. You really can’t beat that price these days.

To join - just visit their website.

Plus - There are some GREAT movies still coming out this summer:

Like Bruno - July 10th
HARRY POTTER AND THE HALF BLOOD PRINCE .. can you tell I’m really excited about this one.. July 29th

For more movie insight - hop on over to Cinema Hype.

If you’re a frugal maniac, you may be staying home for this Memorial Day weekend. Here are some fun frugal tips of things to do this weekend:

1. Throw a barbeque or accept an invitation to one - BBQs are really inexpensive parties to throw. If you’re a Sam’s or Costco member, go there to get your bulk amount of hamburger meat, hotdogs, buns, chips, and soda. Also - you can always ask guests to contribute a side dish or drinks. Ask guest to bring alcohol - this will save you alot of money.

2. Go to Old Navy for a $1 pair of flip flops - What better way to get ready for summer than to get a new pair of flip flops and you can’t say no to only spending a $1 - Get more info about this sale at Bargain Styling

3. Hang out at the park - Grab a new book at the library and your shades and hit the park for some sunshine and fun reading!

Want to read the rest of my top 10 ideas.. (more…)

When I bought a home and a car I did not pay the asking price, but this is a common area most people don’t pay full price. But what about other areas: Retail stores, restaurants, hair salons — ever tried it there??

So I challenge you to try it out somewhere challenging and see how it goes.. Here’s some tips too.. (more…)

Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 10th.

If you still don’t have a gift and money is tight - then here are my top 10 ideas on what to get mom this year that she’s sure to love.
(more…)

A coworker told me to join Arby’s extras - I wasn’t really sure what I was getting into.. But since then, I’ve received some email coupons for pretty much free meals.

I recently got one (and actually used it) for a free roastburger with the purchase of a drink. So my lunch that day cost me like $2. Also, I think around the holiday season, I got a coupon for a free shake (forgot to use that one). And now I have one in my email box for a chicken sandwich with the purchase of a drink or fries.. cant recall.. but I know again my lunch will cost less than $5.

That’s a frugal find!

Here’s a direct link to join - click here.

For even more info on Arby’s extras - keep reading.. (more…)

So when I was living in NYC, I decided I needed to reinvent my closet to have alot more designer items.. However, my income did not seem to allow this, but I had this helpful little plastic card in my wallet that did.

I was speaking to another NYC friend who had the similar problem (as I assume millions of Americans do also - maybe with a different vice). We came up with a solution to stop using them for unnecessary items.. And here are a few tips for you.

1. Give your card to someone else. This way you have to explain to them why you need it and hopefully they can help talk you out of it.

2. Freeze it in a bag of water - By the time it defrosts, you’ll have had time to decide if you really needed it.

3. Put it in an envelope with your long terms goals written on the envelope. One more swipe of that card is money taken away from retirement, car, home, dream vacations, and more.

In the meantime of all this non-spending, here’s a place to get stuff for FREE: http://www.freebiesforus.com/

Sometimes I feel like I’m the only one of my friends that still uses the library. It just feels like such an outdated idea, but I think people just don’t utilize this reall great not to leave out FREE resource.

The first thing that probably comes to mind when people think of the library is books — But it’s not just novels. But they’ve also got:

- Travel books
- Cook books, nutiritonal eating, healthy lifestyles
- Excercise books
- Self help and spritual books
- Plays and musical scores

But do you know what the library has besides books?? (more…)

I am so sorry to have left you high and dry, without your regular serving of Frugal Mania!  The simple truth is that the news has gotten the best of me lately and the economic forecast just seems to get worse with every passing hour.

The government is now bailing out private sector businesses at an unprecedented rate and the American taxpayers are expected - as always - to shut up and foot the bill.  Only this time that bill is said to be over a trillion dollars.

That’s $1,000,000,000,000 and guess what?  We can’t afford it.

Unfortunately it looks as though there isn’t much we can do about it right now but since it was the American people who put the politicians in office it is absolutely imperative that we don’t sit on our hands and remain silent.

We’ve got to speak out with our votes this election season. We’ve got to ask tough questions of these people who want to be entrusted with our money and we have got to expect to get straight answers to those questions.

If you are not registered to vote, get off your butt and get it done.  On November 4th, don’t you dare miss your chance to tell politicians what you want and who you think can deliver it best.

Voting is a responsibility and if you don’t take that responsibility seriously no one is going to take your complaining seriously, especially not me.  The government is supposed to be of, by and for the people, so We The People need to start taking the reigns back and fast.

Welcome to September at Frugal Mania, and Happy Labor Day to my frugal friends here in the United States.

Let me start by asking that everyone say a prayer for our friends along the Gulf Coast who are suffering through the wrath of Hurricane Gustav.  I worked at the local Red Cross Evacuation Center here in Birmingham in the aftermath of Katrina and Rita three years ago and I am so thankful that the majority of people in harm’s way evacuated this time before the danger was at their door.

It is September and the kids are back at school.  The summer months are waning and before long the sultry summer nights will give way to the cooler breezes of the autumn.  This time of year always makes me think about where I am in my frugal journey.  I tend to reevaluate myself and take a good look at what I am doing and how I can do it better.

As of today I officially have legitimate health insurance and thankfully it is not costing me an arm and a leg.  Even still, I have been remembering how well I once took care of myself (ah, to be young again) and wondering to myself why I don’t do better these days.  In a post today over at Earthly Garden I talk about the idea of growing and using medicinal herbs.  Until I moved three months ago I had quite a selection of herbal remedies at my disposal but due to the lateness of the season I neglected to start them up again -yet.

I don’t want to make this post a downer, so I am going to encourage all of you to take a few minutes today to look objectively at your frugal practices.  Which ones are working?  Which ones aren’t?  Which ones could use a little help?

If you care to share, I would be happy to offer my support and advice!

I am the first to admit to being obsessively frugal at times, but my frugal mania has become more tempered over time and I have settled myself into a steady pace that works for me and for those around me.

Example #1:  Grow Your Own Food
I am the world’s biggest proponent for home gardening and prior to my recent relocation at the beginning of June I had a rather respectable home garden that included tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, green beans and other delectable treats.  When I moved though, my outdoor planting space was severely limited and I was faced with a heartbreaking dilemma.  The compromise came when I found two heirloom tomato plants at a local nursery that were on the verge of death.  When the nursery worker offered the two plants to me for free, I jumped at the opportunity.  Now I have two healthy and happy plants that (I hope) will produce large delicious tomatoes late into the growing season.

While I couldn’t restart my garden, I was able to do something that should amount to a nice savings in a few more weeks, as I spend a lot of money on tomatoes when I don’t have them growing outside.

Example #2:  The Leftover Wars
My partner and our roommate are both very picky eaters and neither of them will lower themselves to eating leftovers of any sort.  This of course goes against everything I stand for and destroys my long standing routine of make ahead meals.  The answer - at least for now - has been for me to simply cook less food, more often.  It isn’t going to save me any money on energy costs, but I had to teach myself again to package and store foods in smaller portions so as to limit and as much as possible eliminate food waste.

What is your most challenging frugal battle and what have you done to win it?