145 Days to Christmas

When you look at how many days until Christmas, it doesn't seem like much....

4 months or
145 days or
3488 hours or
209230 minutes or
12553769 seconds

Shopping online enables us to find fantastic deals and EARN money while shopping. How? There are many CASH BACK sites that I use, but I have found a new one. Shop at HUNDREDS of stores to earn cash back....how much? Percentages of your purchases change frequently. I compare the percentage between #1 #2 to determine which site I order through. Don't do this, choose one and stick with it!

1. Shop-at-home:
I use this site more than any (Until I reveal this new one).

• New members receive a $5 sign on bonus, along with the referring person (me). The catch? You must accumulate $20 in cash back from orders before receiving your cash back check quarterly.
  
• I've gotten as little as two cents cash back on a very small order, but every little bit counts!
• But, hey, you thought you spent the money anyway and the check is a wonderful surprise in the mail!
• Love the WILD daily deal
  

2. E-bates:
Basically works the same as Shop-at-Home. The differences:

• Enrollment bonus is either a $10 gift card at Barnes & Nobles, Target, Home Depot, or Magazines.com, or $5 E-bates.
• The referring individual will earn $5 for new enrollment using a custom link. Must earn $25 in cash back before receiving a check--again quarterly.

3. Big Crumbs: (the NEW one I have found)

• No sign on bonus is paid.
  
• This is more of a pyramid.
  
• Each referral who enrolls under a member unique link, earns a percentage of the purchases forever. You will be paid for both your own cash back and for your revenue from referral shopping once per month, provided your BigCrumbs account has a minimum $1 balance at the time of payment.
• BigCrumbs.com offers two payment options, PayPal and its exicting new BigCrumbs Prepaid MasterCard for faster and more convenient access to your earnings. This card also entitles you to increased commissions at select merchants plus even bigger future rewards!
• Periodically you can earn cash back from Amazon--The others do not offer this.
• Earn from E-Bay.
  

Considerations:

1. All of these are FREE, no membership fee.
2. Learn from my experience. I enrolled in Shop-at-home and E-bates, but have found that Shop-at-Home has consistently paid higher percentages for the merchants I have purchased from. I have yet to earn $25 from Ebates for this reason. I have $10 pending:-( I suggest selecting one and use it!
3. Using these sites requires you to change the way you shop. You can't get cash back if you don't use them.
4. To earn any cash back, you must go through the cash back site to place your order! (VIP)
5. Please do not refer members of the same household. This is strictly enforced.
6. None of these sites ask for your credit card information. You pay the retailer directly.

These are the steps I have found to work
the easiest for me when shopping.

1. Add the items you plan to purchase to your shopping cart at the online merchant of your choice. DO NOT close this window.
2. Open your account at Shop-at-Home in another browser window

• select the merchant
• click the "shop now"
• another window will open linking the merchant to your Shop-at-home account.
• proceed with your check out in the NEWLY opened window, not the one you left open.
  

Unless you spend huge amounts of money purchasing online, you aren't going to get a lot of cash back, but it is basically lost money if you don't use a site such as these. Merchants offer free shipping as the holiday approach making shopping online easier and more worthwhile. Remember, there are many more cash back sites, these are my preferences.

Personal Chef

Have you ever wanted a personal chef? I have thought for years that it would be fantastic to have meals prepared by someone else. Being a single person, I get so tired of cooking for myself....and then you get in a rut making the same things over and over and over!

For a few years now, I have been fortunate to have a sister who was less than a mile away. Most every day, my nephew would call to invite me to dinner. And then they moved. Sounds like they moved across the country doesn't it? Actually they only moved about 3 miles away (as the crow flies), since I drive a car and not a boat, it's more like 9 miles. So, in a way, I do have a personal chef.

Then, last week, I was at the bank and spotted this vehicle leaving in front of me with Katie's Kustom Kuisine lettering. I'm driving so I can't write it down so I just repeat it to myself to burn it into my memory. I locate Katie on the World Wide Web and schedule a consultation.

As Katie explained her service, we had a blast. What is Katie's Kustom Kuisine? After discussing food likes and dislikes, Katie puts together a menu, and emails it for approval. A service date is determined and Katie grocery shops for the necessary items. As you slave away at work, Katie works her magic in YOUR kitchen, lovingly packaging up your 20 meals and putting them in the freezer. Labels identifying the meal along with cooking instructions are placed on each container.

Arriving home is absolutely amazing! Walking in the door, you are hit in the face with the mouth water fragrance of Katie's handy work. I can't begin to tell you how amazing my house smelled, kick starting my already anticipating stomach. Opening my fridge revealed two possible entree's for dinner. The difficult task! Would I choose the shrimp with confetti vegetable curry, or the chicken and rice almandine? I took Katie's advise and selected the shrimp. Absolute heaven! And your kitchen is clean!

I've only tried one scrumptous work of art by Katie, I can't wait to try the remaining compositions.

If you are on the Space Coast, I highly recommend contacting Katie....be sure to tell her I sent you:-)

Check out Katie's Kustom Kuisine!

Birthday Surprises

June is my birth month which makes checking my email extra special because I get all kinds of goodies. Signing up for all of those email notifications, birthday clubs, etc pays off.

I'll keep adding to this post as I receive items....

6/3/2011

• World Market Explorer Reward Program $10 off $10 coupon

6/2/2011

• TGIF: Free dessert with entrée purchase


• Steak n Shake: Free double steakburger with cheese n fries


• Country Crock: .75 coupon (printed two by using the browser back arrow!)


• Pillsbury digital birthday card and sweepstakes entry to win $500
  

Have a wonderful Memorial Day.

Be sure to join The Tight Fisted Penny on Facebook for the newest deals/freebies/coupons. I'll be back online on Tuesday! Enjoy your day off!

Facebook Wins

Have you checked out The Tight Fisted Penny Facebook page? That's where you will find the latest posts.

I've been having a blast playing the "Facebook" games and contests. I've won all kinds of things:

1. 2011 Recycle Bank Points (can be used to "purchase" coupons/product/gift cards) you really should enroll in this. It's free and very easy to earn points. Great "sales" on rewards everyday.
   
2. 2 Race tickets to Chicagoland Speedway from STP (answer a quiz question)
3. Fantastic Airbourne package (answer a quiz question)
4. Coffee from New England Coffee (answer a quiz question)
5. Alouette Gourmet Cheese package (give favorite recipe from their website)

There are tons of little games like this all over Facebook. I'm surprised every time I win, but a girl can get used to this!

All of these have active contests, I encourage you to enter--let us know if you win! Know of a contest on Facebook similar to these, post it on The Tight Fisted Penny Facebook page....of course, that means more competition:-)

Coupon Award

The award my sister received from her MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) Award. The award reads...."Ms Coupon Queen.....Mom Who Can Earn Money Off Coupons.

Those MOPS are so creative and fun!!!

Welcome Orange Tree Residents

It was great to see so many who wanted to learn how to save money using coupons. You'll find the information I presented in class throughout the blog. I have found it much easier to post great deals and freebies on Facebook, so be sure to "like" The Tight Fisted Penny.

Most Publix information can be found by selecting Grocery Stores and then Publix 101.

You'll find weekly coupon match-ups at Southern Savers or I Heart Publix.

If you have questions, need help, or just want to say hi, feel free to email me, or contact me via Facebook.

Happy Mothers Day

Have a wonderful Mother's Day....I'm off to Disney today.

Lots of Recycle Bank Points

Have you seen previous posts about Recycle Bank and wondered what it is all about?

Here's the scoop!

Recycle Bank is a group of passionate people who’ve made it our mission to inspire others to take action – small to big – that will have a positive impact on our planet.

The actions required by Recycle Bank to earn points have a wide range. These could be games, special codes, contests and if you live in certain communities that participate in Recycle Bank recycling programs, you earn for recycling....simple...wish my community participated! As long as you are active in your account at least once every 12 months, your points will not expire.

What can you get with these points?

All kinds of great things. My fav is coupons. How about gift cards, music, books, apparel and more. And it's all FREE. Daily Deals feature rewards at GREATLY reduced points needed to redeem.

Ready to get started?

Currently the Earth Month promotion "Green Your Home" has a slew of points you can grab for a few minutes of your time. I haven't added it up, but at least 150 points. Explore the rooms and yard of the house, complete the tasks (I don't upload pix) to earn the points. This promotion is over at the end of the month, so hurry.

Join Recycle Bank, click the Green Your Home link and rack in those points.

As always, if you need assistance, just ask....I'll always help:-)

New Process

I've found I can post deals on Facebook much quicker than blogging, be sure to become a Fan of The Tight Fisted Penny.

I know there are those of you who may not have a facebook account. Trust me, it is worthwhile for the latest updates on deals. Start an account just for that purpose with NO friends, no personal information, no pictures.

Happy Easter

Enjoy the goodies from the Easter Bunny and the day with your family.

New Adventure/Challenge

I've decided to give myself a new challenge. I've conquered the challenge of couponing and how to maximize my savings which lead me to researching traveling at greatly discounted rates, or free. I've set my travel goal at obtaining ONE free trip. How is that defined?

1. Free airfare
2. Free hotel
3. Free meals

I must admit that I've already reached my goal of FREE airfare although not the way I had planned. A scheduled full fare trip resulted in the airlines canceling my flight with compensation of a free round trip flight in the U.S.

I'll be posting any/all travel deals I find that COULD help me (and now you) reach the remaining goals. I've already posted a few, and here is another.

Become a member of Best Western Rewards (it's free) and link to your AAdvantage account (American Airlines) to receive 250 AAdvantage miles. All FREE.

Join me in my new adventure!

Tax Relief it's Everywhere

Picture: IRS.gov

There are a lot of deals for dooms day aka tax day which is April 18 this year. Check these out.

McDonalds: 4/18/11 Buy a Big Mac or Quarter Pounder with cheese and get a second for ONE CENT. Promotion hours, noon - midnight. I've seen the ad on TV and heard on the radio, but can't find online.

Papa Johns: Posted on their Facebook page:
Attention Tax ProCRUSTinators! Papa John's is offering a little relief this tax season with a Large pizza with up to 4 toppings for just $10.40 now through Monday. Order online now using promo code "1040"!

Cinnabon Bites: Monday, April 18, 2011 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. posted previously on The Tight Fisted Penny Facebook page.

Free Hydro Massage: April 14 - 18th

Chick-fil-A: Purchase a meal on Monday April 18. Bring your receipt back to Chick-fil-A within the month of May to receive the same items for FREE. I suggest checking with your local restaurant for participation first.

Hooters: Buy 10 wings, get 10 wings free(dine-in only)! Check for local participation.

Chili's: Free appetizer or desert with entree purchase. One per table.

Chemistry.com: 3 free days when you register on April 18th.

Office Depot: Free copies of your taxes and free 5 lbs of shredding with coupons. Expires 4/23/11

Bally's Fitness: Free workout day at the gym. Existing members may consult with a personal trainer free.

Be sure to become a fan of The Tight Fisted Penny on Facebook where I'm posting more and more deals that do not appear on this blog. See you there:-)

source: NRN

Would you turn your home into a billboard?

Would you do this to your house? Would you do it if your mortgage is paid for every month your house is a billboard? What? Did I hear a YES? Oh my, what would your neighbors think?

To qualify for this unique offer, you must not rent or lease your home. Your house must remain painted for 3 months...that's three months of mortgage payments!!! OMG....that is GINORMOUS in the state of our economy today. No worries if you or the company decide to discontinue advertising after the 3 months. Your house will be painted back to normal at no charge.

Adzookie would like to hear from you. Submit your information to Adzookie.

Confess!! Who is submitting the form? I did!

New Publx Coupon

Sorry I've been AWOL for a while. I HAD to take a break. Did you miss me? The good news, I'm still around. I've done a few couponing classes in the Orlando area with another coming up. If you would like to schedule a class for your group, I'm available for FREE.

Here's a nice little Publix promo for you. $1 off a CFL lightbulb and a free reusable Publix Shopping bag. Offer runs 4/15 - 4/30/2011.

I've been posting deals on The Tight Fisted Penny Facebook page, make sure you're a fan!

Free Campanion Airfare

Make at least a $50 purchase with Kodak Gallery to receive a FREE companion ticket.

Work the deal:

1. Select/Create your Kodak purchases through this link - don't check out
2. Open your Shop-At-Home account (Join Shop-At-Home)
3. Select Kodak Gallery to earn 7.5% cash back
4. Check out through the Shop at Home Kodak Gallery

I haven't tried out this theory, but it has worked with other orders I've placed. I couldn't find when this offer expires.

Adorable Free Post-It & Tape Dispenser

You have to hurry to grab this one.
Purchase either of the above Post-It dispensers,

• use $2/$10 Post-It purchase
• Submit for Rebate (up to $12.99)

After tax, small money maker.

Must purchase before 3/31/11, rebate must be postmarked no later than 4/30/11.

I could only find the purse, not the shoe. What a great desk item for teachers or professionals for Christmas! hint, hint!

Deal Seeking Mom

Publix 3/24 - 3/30/2011

Before you get started, check out the Publix need to know info, and don't forget about the Advantage Buys Here. I'm headed out of town again this week. I am sending you to two different blogs. Jenny at Southern Savers does a bang up job on her Publix match-ups (way better than me), and oodles of other stores. Michelle at I Heart Publix has a total focus on Publix. A word of advise for both sites: If you live in Florida, be careful with the matchups. Both live in areas that double coupons, so the final prices listed may include doubled coupons. Just be careful. Come back and let me know what you think of these two bloggers--both are fantastic.

Incredible!

Look what the leprechaun gave us today. He was trying to make us think it is another holiday!

May the luck of the Irish be with you