Frugal fast food fare...

OK, so things have slowed down a little since the holidays but there is still plenty to do and sometimes you just need to eat on the run. That doesn't have to break the bank or keep you on the dollar menu though, here are some great coupons that you can print and keep handy in your car so you have them when the need arises.

Taco Bell has a couple of offers, first is a free taco with the order of a drink, the second is a free fresco taco.

Not to be outdone by the competition, Taco Johns is offering a free Potato Ole when you join their Taco John Maniacs group.

Arby's is offering a free Roast Beef Sandwich with the purchase of a soft drink.

Subway has a LOT of printable coupons out right now and they are all specific to each city. You can check to see if there is one to print near you at RetailMeNot.com.

If you have a little time or are looking for something easy to bring home for dinner Pizza Hut is running their special of any size pizza with any toppings for $10.00.

Hope this gets you though your busy weekend. Sit down places will be first up next week. Have a great weekend everyone.

C.Q.

Frugal fashon...

Want to update your wardrobe a bit for the new year without blowing your whole budget at once? There are a lot of sales going on now on winter clothes because now is the time that stores start making room for the Spring fashions.

Old Navy has a 60% off sale going on right now. I found a cute hoodie for $9.99, puffy coat for 29.99, and a cable-knit sweater for $9.99. If you are an Old Navy card holder you get an extra 10% off on Tuesdays, remember to use coupon code TUESDAYS when you shop on line with your card. Old Navy also does a deal on an item of the week, this week its button up shirts for $12.00, be sure to check it out, sometimes they have really great bargains.

J Crew is having a sale and offering an additional 20% off your total with coupon code EXTRA20, they are also offering free shipping for orders over $150.00. I was able to find a very nice pair of their Downtown trouser cords that would be great for work or going out; on sale for $49.99, with the extra 20% off they would be $39.99. The original price for these trousers was $79.99 so that a savings of 50%!

J.C. Penny currently has a ton of jeans on clearance, everything from casual to dressy. There is a pair of a.n.a. stacked pocket jeans for $17.99-$19.99, regularly $40.00-$48.00.

Newport News is running their New Years sales event with items up to 70% off. If you are a club member you get an additional 10% off your order and if you are a first time buyer at the site and sign up for the email updates you will get another 15% off your first order, that a HUGE savings! The red sweater that is on the splash page comes with the free ruffle scarf and is on sale for $29.00, it was originally $49.00, add in the additional savings for being a first time buyer of 15% and your cost would be $24.65. There is a one time additional fee of $25 to join the Newport News club, but if you order from them even a few times this will cover the cost to join. I was able to find quite a few additional different coupon codes for this site at dealslip.com.

Woman Within is having their winter sale with items up to a whopping 80% off. Plus, use coupon code WW40108 for an additional $21.00 off of a $60.00 purchase and if you sign up for their email news letter they will send you a coupon right away for free shipping. That's a lot of clothes for very little cash. I found a really nice fleece cape jacket by All American Comfort for $19.88 that was regularly $79.99, that 75% off.

For the guys JoS. A. Banks is having their men's sale right now with 60%-70% off sale items. They have a beautiful full length wool top coat for $158.00 that was regularly $395.00 and there is free shipping for all orders over $175.00.

Eddie Bauer has their 50% off sweater sale going on, I found a men's half zip sweater for $19.99, regularly $39.50-$44.50. I also found a coupon for 50% off a stainless steal water bottle with any purchase, regularly $18.50.

Hope everyone is settling into the new year nicely, have a wonderful week!

C.Q.

Its that time of year again....

Happy New Year to everyone!! Its time for your new years resolution again. Most people give up their resolutions by March so keep your goals in the realm of something you can accomplish, don't set out to take on the world.

The top goals for new years for most people are to stop smoking, loose weight, get more organized and reconnect with old friends. Maybe these little gems will help you stay on track......at least until April.

If your going to quit smoking that's wonderful!! It can be hard but the savings are tremendous, I not only saved on what I spent for cigarettes when I quit 2 years ago, but also saved about 1/2 of my health insurance premium as well, the there were also less trips to the Dr. for bronchial related problems. I have saved an estimate of $4350.70 in just 2 years, that's a vacation!! I quit using Chantex that my Dr. prescribed, if this is something you would like to try there's a $30 coupon to bring to the pharmacist on the lower section of their web page. If you would like to try without a trip to your Doctor then give Nicorette a try, they have a $5.00 coupon available as well as information about their quit rewards. There is also the Nicoderm CQ patch, they have a $7.00 coupon as well as a free sample available by mail on the front page of their web site and they also have a rewards program.

If you want to start loosing weight for 2010 there are some places that are offering discounts for their programs, such as Weight Watchers, who are waiving their registration fee through March (the offer is near the bottom of the page), Nutrisystem, which will give you two weeks free when you sign up and Jenny Craig, who is running a special of loose 20 pounds for $20 plus food. Of course to be true to myself I am including the totally free site of Diet.com where you can find great recipes and information as well as exercise information, all without the cost of the name brand plans.

Looking to get organized in the new year? Two of the best tools for organization is a good set of shelves and a garbage can. If your cleaning out your attic, basement or store room and find something you haven't used in two years set it aside to give to a friend or donate, if its not in good shape throw it away. I have a ton of things I put in the store room vowing to repair then never do, they take up way too much valuable space so I try to throw them away or fix them immediately when I find them in there. Right now The Container Store is having their annual sale, 30% off all their Elfa shelf systems for you closets and storage areas, there is also a coupon code of WR4809 that will save you 20% off any non sale items.

Have you lost contact with your friend from high school or college and want to reconnect? Why not make it really mean something special by doing it with a beautiful card. Now days it can be so easy to send an email or make a phone call or even a text; but its so much more personal to send a card with a note from your heart. You can find some amazing cards and stationary at Lemon Tree Cards, Shelley has every card you can think of and if she doesn't, she will make it for you. If you need a return address stamp or just a stamp to make your envelopes stand out in the bunch, you can contact Bernie at The US Rubber Stamp Shop and she will get you what your looking for, if you are looking for something that you can't find on the site be sure to call the shop.

Hope this gets everyone on the right path for your new years resolution. Thanks for your readership in 2009, be sure to spread the word in 2010.

C.Q.

Seasonal Survival Savings...

So by now everyone has heard about the BIG snow that we got over the Christmas holiday in the Midwest and most other areas of the country and I thought this would be a good time to remind everyone about what simple things they should have in their car for emergencies. I know now days most folks leave the house and assume the cell phone is all they need but that's not always the case and its better to be prepared. You can use an old back pack, a large canvas bag or just a cardboard box for all the items you need. Be sure to store it in the back seat of the car or the trunk only if you have a pass through from the back seat in case you can't get to the trunk for some reason. The minimum items you should have on hand include:

• Your winter wear, (coat, hat, gloves/mittens and a scarf) ~ If its time for a new winter coat Herbergs has their after Christmas sale going on with 50% - 60% off of outerwear as well as a coupon code for an additional 20% off your purchase. Coupon code AFTERDEC1226


• A blanket ~ Domestications currently has very nice fleece blankets for $19.99 plus you get a free throw with the purchase so you could have 2 cover ups in the car for you and a passenger. (To get the free throw you need to make sure the blanket and the trow are both in your cart.)


• 1st aid kit ~ REI Outlet has a nice one available for $16.93 and if your an REI member you will get cash back for all your purchases at the end of the year.


• Some non perishable foods, like breakfast bars or crackers, you can find all these at your local grocery market, you may be able to find coupons for your items at GroceryCoupons.com.


• Matches (the kind you can light with any surface).


• An empty coffee can


• A candle (a no drip one is the best).


• A flashlight ~ Make sure its a good sized one, the real little ones don't put out much light. Outdoor World has a great Mag Light on sale for $19.99.


• Extra batteries ~ Batteries Plus has a 10% off coupon code that is good online until 12/31.09, use code BPNS09.


• A little tool kit or at least an all purpose tool ~ Amazon has a nice Leatherman tool on sale right now for $66.71, a savings of $31.74.


• Jumper cables ~ Rocky Mountain ATV has a very nice set that comes in its own nylon carrying bag to keep it from tangling up in your car. They also are offering 10% off your order with coupon code 96639 and orders under $99.00 are charged a flat shipping fee of $7.00.


• A shovel ~ Emergency Essentials has a nice tri-fold shovel that has a serrated edge that can really help in clearing away snow, it also comes in its own storage bag. They also have a lot of other items that would be handy both in the car and in your home. They currently have a couple of coupon codes, outdoors for 10% off your order and newstarget for free shipping.


• Tire chains ~ You can check out the supply at TireChains.com, they have a 125% low price guarantee and they also have a listing by state of the tire chain laws.


• A red or orange piece of cloth to tie to your antenna so emergency workers can find you easier.

Its also a good idea in icy places to have a bag of cat litter or sand to use for traction. If you plan on traveling with your pet be sure you have some extra food for them as well as a blanket, it can get cold for everyone.

If you don't feel like putting all these things together yourself you can buy a AAA ready made kit with as many as 72 items in it at eSafety Supplies. They also carry a lot of other items that you may be interested in individually for both your car and your home in case of emergencies.

Remember, if you go off the road in the snow its important to stay with your vehicle, most hypothermia cases happen when people leave their cars and try to walk to find help. If you can't see a place to go then stay where you are.

Have a great week everyone and stay safe.

C.Q.

Shipping your shopping free............

Today is free shipping day at over 700 retailers!!! If you haven't gotten what you need for the holidays yet then this is the place to check out. Note that a lot of the retailers are offering the free shipping on orders over a certain target amount so be sure you meet the requirements. You can find a list of all the stores with free shipping at Freeshipping.org

It pays to check for coupons and compare prices, two great sites for this are RetailMeNot for coupons and TheFind for comparison shopping. If you like TheFind it is also available in App form for iPhones.

Hope this helps with the holiday rush, have a great weekend everyone!

C.Q.

Wining to save some cash......

No matter if your on your way to a holiday get together or having folks over to your place, its always nice to have a great bottle of wine. Not a lot of people know about the Wine and Spirits rebates so this should help you a little this holiday season.

Beringer Wine is offering a rebate of up to $12.00, 2 UPCs = $3.00, 4 UPCs = $7.00 and 6 UPCs = $12.00. You will need to send the UPCs from the bottles together with your cash register receipt dated no later than 1/31/2010 and the completed rebate form that should be available in the store where you purchased the wine. Must be received by 2/15/2010. Mail these items to:

Beringer Wine Offer Program #23100203

Box 4256008

Del Rio, TX 78842

Beaulieu Vineyard Costal Estates Wine is offering rebates up to $25.00, 1 UPC from a 750 ml bottle = $1.00, 3 UPCs = $5.00, 6 UPCs = $12.00 and 12 UPCs = $25.00. Send the UPCs from the bottle(s) together with the dated cash register receipt dated before 1/31/2010 and a completed rebate form that should come with the bottles (if you don't see the hang tag on a bottle ask the clerk in the store if they have a form), send them to:

BV Costal Estates Wine DCE-5683

Box 426008

Del Rio, TX 78842

Edna Valley Wines is offering rebates up to $$25.00, 1 UPC from a 750 ml bottle = $1.00, 3 UPCs = $5.00, $6.00 for $12.00 and 12 UPCs for $25.00. Send the UPCs together with a cash register receipt dated no later than 1/31/2010 and a rebate form from that can be found on the wine bottles to:

Edna Valley Wine Save up to $25 Rebate

Box 426008

Del Rio, TX 78842

Robert Mondavi is offering rebates up to $50.00 for the purchase of their Robert Mondavi Private Selection, Robert Mondavi Winery or Solaire by Robert Mondavi, 1 UPC from a 750 ml of any of the three included in the offer, = $2.50, 3 UPCs = $9.00, 6 UPCs = $20.00 and 12 UPCs = $50.00. Mail the UPCs together with a cash register receipt dated no later than 1/31/2010 and the rebate form found on the bottles of select wine bottles to:

Robert Mondavi Holiday $50 Rebate

Box 753923

El Paso, TX 88575

Black Box Wine is offering a $5.00 rebate. Send the UPC from a 3L box box of Black Box Wine together with a dated cash register receipt dated no later than 2/28/2010 and a rebate from that should be available where you purchase the wine. Mail together to:

Black Box Rebate Offer BBXNA10080

Box 751944

El Paso, TX 88575

Fetzer Wine is offering a $3.00 rebate. Send the UPC from a 750 ml or larger bottle of Fetzer wine together with a cash register receipt for the wine and any produce over $4.00 dated no later than 5/31/2010 and a rebate form that can be found on a bottle hang tag. This particular offer is limited to AK AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA IA ID IL KS MA MD MI MT ND NE NH NM NV OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN VA VT WA WI and WY. Mail all the required items to:

Fetzer Wine / Brown Forman Corp Offer #328mn362

Box 426008

Del Rio, TX 78842

Please note that all the web links will require a date of birth so they can verify you are over 21 years old. The web sites do not have the rebate forms but they do have ways to contact the companies, they may be willing to send you a rebate form if you can not find one in the store where you normally purchase wine.

There are also rebates for other alcohol products that I would be happy to post if any of you are interested, there are some for various Irish creams, Whiskey, beer and more, just let me know if you would like that information as well.

I hope every one has a happy and safe holiday and will remember to drink responsibly.

C.Q.

The art of giving and getting....

Tis the season for hustle and bustle, but it doesn't have to be stressful and expensive. If you have folks that are hard to shop for one of the best things to give are gift cards. They fit perfectly in a card, no gift wrap required. The best part is that there are a lot of places this year offering gift cards free with a purchase of either merchandise or other gift cards. That means that if its a store you like you can keep the bonus for yourself or you can send the windfall on as a gift to someone else and make your dollar go even further.

If you live by a CVS Pharmacy, they currently have a promotion going, for every $25 worth of gift card by Email (eGift Card) purchased, the purchaser receives a $5 eGift Card, they will send you just one gift card based on your total purchase, so if you spend $25.00 you will get a $5.00 E-card, and if you spend $150.00 on gift cards you will get a $30.00 E-card.

Best Buy is currently running a promotion on their DVDs, if you buy 5 DVDs totaling at least $50.00 from their extensive list they will give you a $25.00 gift card.

Got an outdoor person on your list? L.L. Bean is offering a free $10.00 gift card with a purchase of $25.00 or more, note here that you will not get more for spending more so your best bet is to stick to the $25.00. The $10.00 gift certificate is only good until February 16,2010.

Applebees is offering a $10.00 bonus card when you spend $50.00 on gift cards, but you can not buy them on line, you need to go into the store.

If you live in the Duluth area our local Black Woods / Black Water restaurants are offering a deal if you are a member of their diner club. Buy a $100 gift certificate and they will give you an additional $25.00 gift certificate. You can mix and match these which is really nice. I got the 1st card to Black Woods because I know we love it and we go quite a bit with my niece, and I got the $25.00 card to Black Water because we haven't been there and have wanted to try it, this will get us to go and it will be close to free.

There are a few ways to get gift cards at below cost. First you can always check eBay, however there are even less expensive venues out there. My friend Bernie found a site I hadn't seen before that I am very excited to order from its called Plastic Jungle and they ship for free! If you have ever used it yourself I would love to hear about it. There is also the Gift Card Rescue, where you can sell, exchange or buy discounted cards, they also have free shipping. Also, if you live near a Costco they sell gift cards for all sorts of places at below face value. (Super saver tip: If you can get a discount Costco gift card and use it to purchase discounted gift cards to other stores you can save up to 60%!)

Finally, if your looking for a great way to present your gift instead of just popping it in an envelope then check out the Gift Card Girlfriend for a ton of wonderful and creative ideas!

Hope you are all having a wonderful week!

C.Q.