Snag A Deal: For the Bargain Hunter in You!

Save Money on Movies

2009-05-03T18:43:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, then you love movies but hate the $12 per ticket at the movie theater..plus $10 for a small popcorn and $5 for a small drink. Even when the economy *was* good, I still could never justify going to the theater (although I did make 1 exception to go see "Batman: The Dark Knight w/ late actor Heath Ledger).

So what's the answer to watching the latest movies on a budget? Well, there's two options:

1) Women, you can stuff your purse with goodies such as Reese's pieces or even a Ziploc bag full of freshly popped popcorn, and maybe a can or two of Pepsi (this requires your big purse. ;-) )

or

2) You can rent from Netflix for super-duper cheap! I used to love going to blockbuster and renting movies, but ever since Netflix came on the scene, I haven't strayed. :-)

Here's how Netflix works:

1) You log on to Netflix & select a movie.

2) They ship it & you receive it 1-2 days later.

3) You watch your movie.

4) Put the DVD in the shipping envelope that came with the movie.

5) Put the DVD in your mailbox & let your postal carrier take it away. :)

Here are the different plans you can choose from:

(Personally, I use the $9/month plan.)

The best part about Netflix? No late fees! EVER!

No matter if you choose to sneak snacks in the movie theater or rent via Netflix, you're bound to save yourself some money and that's what it's all about! ;-)

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Avon: 5 for $10 Shower Gels

2009-04-28T07:40:00.000-07:00

Everyone has heard of Avon and has more than likely tried one of their products in the past. I remember the first time I tried their Skin So Soft body wash over at my Aunt's house in Cleveland, OH after a day of swimming when I was a kid and I currently use it in my shower today. :)

Right now, Avon is having an AWESOME deal:
Any 5 Shower Gels for $10 plus Free Shipping!!

Make sure you stock up for the summer & buy enough for when you travel! ;-)

Pssss ladies....
Search on Avon for "Heavenly Soft Eyeshadow Trio Eyeshadow", they have been deep discounted to only $1.99 because they have been discontinued!! ;-)

So go ahead & snag yourself a deal!

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Eyes Lips Face Coupon Codes E.L.F.

2009-04-21T10:23:00.001-07:00

Makeup lovers across the land, your answer to high price makeup is here! If you have never bought from EyesLipsFace.com before, let me tell you..they have EXCELLENT makeup for CHEAP! How cheap? Mostly everything on their website is only $1. Yes, a buck! I ordered from E.L.F. last year for the first time (a small order) to test out the quality of their products and I was happily surprised at how good their makeup truly is.

You can buy mascara for $1, duo eyeshadows for $1, lipsticks for $1, eyelash extensions for $1..you get the picture. ;-)

So what can be better than cheap & good quality makeup? How about some E.L.F. coupon codes to cut the cost of shipping down to practically nothing?! Imagine ordering 10 different makeup brushes shipped to your doorstep in less than a week for around $12 total. Sound good? Then pick & snag a deal for Eyes Lips Face below!

E.L.F. (Eyes Lips Face) Coupon Codes

(TIP: The best coupon is usually the $2 flat-rate shipping code or the 50% off entire order coupon code, unless you're buying minerals.)

25% off lips with any $20 or more order.

e.l.f. Eyes. All Eye Makeup Just $1

Get 15% off Mineral Makeup at EyesLipsFace.com when you use coupon code MINDEAL with an order of $20 or more.

E.L.F. 50% Off Entire Order with Coupon Code: Carolina

Happy makeup bargain hunting! ;-)

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Best Time to Buy Everything

2009-02-20T20:41:00.000-08:00

Ever wonder when is the best time to buy things such as carpet, a new car, and even appliances? Wonder no more as I guide you through the months that are the best times to snag a deal!

While the information I'm about to give you was originally intended for a good and well-balanced (and predictable) economy, keep in mind that because we're in a recession and damn close to a depression, it might be worth it to just keep your eyes peeled and look for awesome sales that are popping up. A ton of stores are feeling the effects of the recession and lately have been running killer sales to just get people through the doors..the kind of deals that would have people RUNNING through their doors just a couple of years ago.

A list of the Best Times to Buy Things

January:
Yankee Candles-75% Off around Jan. 10th via their website
50%-75% off Xmas Decorations (Walmart/Target/etc.)
Linens
Electronics
Small appliances
Air conditioners
Carpeting and flooring
Winter clothes
Toys (on clearance after the holidays)
Exercise equipment (New Year resolutions ;-) )
Motorcycles
Houses
Boats

February:
Valentines Day Stuff-50% Feb. 15th
Furniture-Presidents Day Weekend
Big screen TVs (before the Super Bowl)

March:
Mattresses

April:
Appliances
Electronics
Vacuums
Cookware
Tires & other car care supplies

May:
Bedding-Late May
TV's
Vacuums
Cookware

June:
Bedding-Early June
Tools (around Father’s Day)

July:
Another great time to Buy Appliances -July 3rd/4th
Bathing Suits-mid to late July

August:
Computers/Laptops (Back To School sales)
Bathing Suits
Patio Furniture
Pools & Accessories
Outdoor Furniture
Grills

September:
Summer Clothes
Bathing Suites
House Wares & Fine China
Computers/Laptops (Back To School sales)
School supplies
Appliances
Cars
Lawn mowers
Grills

October:
Carpets/Flooring
Wine
Appliances
Lawn Mowers
Grills
Tires

November:
Houses
"Black Friday" Sales (day after Thanksgiving)
Aluminum foil
Plastic wrap
Disposable baking pans
Cookware
Electronics
Tools
Carpeting/Flooring

December:
Cars (go on a Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday & haggle a deal!)
Electronics
Computers/Laptops (Xmas sales)
Carpeting and flooring
Tools
Toys
Winter clothes

Since there is no predictable month that you can buy gas cheap, here's a tip on how to buy gas at the cheapest rate every day/week:

Many gas stations make price changes between 10am-11am, so buy before 10am and save if gas prices have been going up lately. If prices are falling, then buy later in the day. Weekend gas prices are usually among the highest of the week, so buy during the week.

Want to save more??

I recently found a website (Memo To Me.com) that is seriously 100% free..yes, seriously, and it's basically a calendar that you can plug in info into and it will email you reminders. What I LOVE about MemoToMe.com is that when I find a big sale, I'll rush home and plug in the date/location/item into my Yearly Reminder so that I know when it the best time to buy things that I like/need every year...such as Xmas decorations or Yankee Candles (which are normally $25/each for the big candles. Yikes!!)

I also go through the Sunday newspaper every week and see what the BIG sales are for and I'll plug those into my MemoToMe.com calendar. If for nothing else, you'll be able to "remember" birthday's from now on! ;-)

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

my favorite product of the month is...

2009-01-28T14:01:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine has a boyfriend that works for a hardware store (kind of like Home Depot) and she told me about a dryer vent that you hookup INSIDE so you're hot air gets recycled back into your house and I believe she said it was around $5.

But BUYER BEWARE:
as far as I know, it's ONLY for ELECTRIC DRYERS!!

The product pictured is for electric dryers and it is available at LTD:
Electric Dryer Inside Vent - $7.95 (plus shipping)

Check out your local hardware or home improvement store for an inside dryer vent and start saving money by returning the heat from dryer back into your home!

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Sell Your Old Stuff to Buy New Stuff

2009-01-15T08:49:00.000-08:00

This is just a quick tip for everyone that I wanted to share and that I have gone over a few times on this blog.

The basic rule that I personally live by is: Sell Old to Get New!

I went to Petco the other day with my husband and we took our 6 month old golden retriever with us. Well, the leash we brought her on was not the strongest and with all of her puppy excitement and jumping for joy at dogs and people for a little lovin', I quickly headed over to the leash department and found the strongest (and cutest! ;-) ) leash I could find! I made sure it was top quality and a leash that I could use for the life of my golden. It was indeed top quality, and so was the price! The leash was $18 and I felt sick to my stomach that I was going to be paying full price for it. I tried to justify the cost by saying that it would last her whole life (and it probably will) so I'll save money by not buying a few cheap leashes over the next coming years. But $18 for a leash? Sheesh.

So this morning I was thinking about the $18 and how I still needed to/wanted to get that cost down somehow. It was time to sell some old stuff so I could easily afford the new stuff!

I went on ebay.com and I listed 4 things for sale (a few of them being my dogs old collars and such that she doesn't wear anymore). I call it "Trading Up". I'll sell 4 old things to get 1 new quality thing.

If you do this all the time, you should be essentially getting new stuff for free or almost free. And the best part? You won't have unused stuff cluttering up your home! :)

Remember to "Sell Old to Buy New" and you'll always be the one with a money-saving grin on your face!!

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

ELF Cosmetics Makeup Coupon Codes

2009-01-12T09:19:00.000-08:00

Ladies on a budget, rejoice!!

E.L.F. Cosmetics (Eyes Lips Face) has some awesome deals for all kinds of makeup and accessories, including (but certainly not limited to):

*Mascara
*Lipstick
*Mineral Makeup (aka Minerals)
*Eye Shadows
*Blush
*Makeup Kits
*Nail Polish
*Makeup Brushes

And the best part? Almost EVERYTHING IS $1!!!

Yep, just a buck! Want lipstick? That's $1. Need some new blush? That's $1. Want to try out a new shade of foundation? That's $1.

I love buying makeup from ELF because they also offer $2 shipping. You can't get any cheaper than this, girls!

$2 Shipping on any purchase of $25 or more:
Coupon code: 2SHIP

Mineral Makeup 25% Off w/ Any $25 Order:
Coupon Code: EGMINERALC

Buy Any 1 Gift Set Item & Get 50% Off Another Gift Set (On Orders Of $20 Or More):
Coupon Code: GIFTDEAL

Happy Shopping! ;)

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

How to Redecorate Any Room CHEAP!

2009-01-12T07:18:00.000-08:00

So you're tired of the way your bedroom looks, or maybe you need to re-do your guest room because it's a little bit outdated, or perhaps you're just wanting to spruce up your home a little bit. Whatever the reason, I'm going to teach you how to revamp any room in your house on a dime..literally!

The first thing you must do is be patient. If you can handle waiting about a month to redecorate a room, then you could redo it for free or nearly free. So if you have time and patience, then keep my reading.

Step 1:
Figure out what you want to do with the room. Let's say for example, you want to redo your guest room. Make a list of what you want, such as new bedding, new ceiling fan, and a new paint color on the walls. Knowing what you want will really save you money because now you can look through ads in the Sunday paper for bedding ideas and any ceiling fans on sale. For paint, you could easily get just about any color for free by posting a "Wanted: Paint" ad on your local Freecycle.org community board (I have a ton of paint in the my basement that I've collected over the past 6 months from Freecycle, this way I have options for different rooms). If nobody responds with paint to offer (which is rare!), then look on Craigslist.org for paint that could be anywhere from 50%-90% off the retail price!

Okay, so here's our (pretend) list of things we need:
*Brown/Warm Colored Ceiling Fan from Hunter
*Elegant New Bedding that includes everything
*Soft Cream Color Paint-2 gallons

Step 2:
Sell your old stuff! This is where you will get most (or all!) of your money for your redecorating project. Take the old bedding and sell it on Craiglist.org (totally free & people will come to you to pick it up!). If you can't sell it on Craigslist in a months time, try ebay. I always sell stuff on Craigslist first, then ebay second. With ebay, you lose money because you have to charge for shipping while keeping the price low enough so that somebody else will buy it and with heavy things such as a complete bed set, might not be worth it.

Try to sell your old bedding, your old light fixture/ceiling fan that is currently in the room, and maybe even a couple of knickknacks so that you can buy 1 or 2 brand new decor items that will match your new stuff!

**On Black Friday (my personal favorite day to shop!), I picked up a brand new Hunter Ceiling Fan that was on sale for $50 from $100. After I installed it, I sold my old ceiling on Craiglist for $15 that same day, which means I essentially bought a $100 quality ceiling fan for $35.

Step 3:
Now that you have an extra $100 or so in your pocket, it's time to look for sales! This is part of the patience part. Look in your Sunday newspaper ads for sales on the light fixture/ceiling fan you want, the kind of bedding your desire, and maybe even some decor items of the same color-family that will go great with the look of the room! Try to wait until the stuff you want is on sale for around 60% off. You could easily get a very nice bedding set for around $50 on sale and a good quality ceiling fan for around $60. Just look for the sales, they're out there!!

Step 4:
You should now have the paint you want, a light fixture/ceiling fan, brand new bedding and maybe even a few brand new knickknacks you snagged up as well. The first thing you do is paint, then after the paint is dry, put up the new light fixture, then the bedding comes next, and then finish off the look of a new room with the few pieces of new decor accents that you bought!

Finish The Room/Spice It Up: If you have some money left over, buy some matching curtains to really finish off the room! You can find cheap & good looking curtains at stores like Kmart and Walmart.

And there you have it! Design on a Dime! :)

Happy Decorating!
~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

How to Get Things for Free or Cheap

2009-01-03T19:04:00.000-08:00

With an economy in the dumps, people are trying to save money on everything they possibly can. In this post, I'll teach you the ways that I penny pinch and how I save me and my husband thousands of dollars every single year!

One thing that I always remember is that every penny we earn, is ours. Like everybody else, I want to keep every last penny that we make!

I got hooked on Mary Kay makeup about 2 years ago, but what I wasn't hooked on was the prices. I mean, come on..$18 for a tube of foundation? No thanks! But I loved the makeup. What was I to do about this problem? Find Mary Kay makeup for CHEAP! I turned to Ebay (www.ebay.com) and searched for only the makeup that I wanted. On average, I can find the same exact Mary Kay foundation that I oh-so love for at least 50% cheaper, if not less and that includes shipping straight to my doorstep! What is even better is that I can bypass pesky Mary Kay sales women that are always trying to tell me whatever flaws I have and what "new product" can help. The final straw for me was when my Mary Kay lady told me that I have "crows feet"..except the problem was that I was only 25 years old and I didn't have a single wrinkle on my young face! So now I save myself from feeling old & ugly and from paying full price: double bonus! ;-)

Often times I'll make a list of what me and my husband "need" and "want" and then I'll head over to Freecycle.org and look in our area for things that people are giving away. This has worked time after time and we have been able to get things like a 4" Memory Foam bed topper, a brand new desk, a rocking chair with ottoman, printer ink refills, a treadmill in mint condition, and so much more...all TOTALLY FREE!!! You can't beat that! I estimate that using Freecycle.org saves us well over $1,000 every single year.

Another bargain tip is to head on over to your local Goodwill (try to go to a Goodwill that is in a "richy" area, they usually have brand new high quality items for dirt-cheap). My latest find was a few months ago when I bought a brand new hose hideaway that was originally $43 and it was being sold at Goodwill for $9.99. I was so excited because it was the exact same hose hideaway that I've been looking for and wanted but couldn't bear the thought of spending so much money on a plastic hose box. If you would like to see my original post about this great find, click here.

If you combine the above advice (Ebay/Freecycle/Goodwill) with saving money on your gas bill and saving money on your electric bill, add in some coupons from the Sunday newspaper for when you grocery shop, and you'll be saving yourself thousands of dollars each and every year!!

You deserve to keep your money in your pocket, so keep it there! ;-)

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

How to Save Money on your Gas Bill

2008-12-23T11:29:00.000-08:00

Tis the season to be COLD! With temperatures outside in a downward spiral, you'll be finding yourself cranking up the heat inside. The colder it is, the more heat you use, and more money out of your pocket and just in time for the holiday season. Wonderful, isn't it? ;-)

There are many ways to help cut your gas bill in half (yes, 50%!) and these are tricks that I have recently learned and proved to be worth it with my own gas bill.

Tips:

1) Plastic Window Insulation Kits-These kits can range anywhere from $5 to $20 depending on how many windows the kit includes. I was able to pick up (2) $5 kits that included 6 pre-taped window coverings per kit. You can save around $20 per window in a heating season! You can buy the kits at your local hardware store, Walmart, Kmart, Target, and other similar retail stores. You can also pick up these kits on Ebay.com and have it shipped right to your doorstep.

2) Upgrade Your Windows-While this might not be possible to do this winter, it is possible to do next winter. New QUALITY windows can save you a bundle each and every year, all year round, and are worth every single (expensive) penny. Start saving up now and by early Fall, you'll be ready to upgrade those old windows!

3) Set Thermostat at 65 Degrees-Yes, 65 degrees is a little on the chilly side, but it's live-able! Wear some warm clothes (sweatpants, pullover, socks, slippers, etc) and you'll be more than fine all winter long. Keep it at 65 during the day and lower the temp to 63 right before you go to bed. If you don't have a programmable thermostat, then...

4) Purchase a New Programmable Thermostat-A new programmable thermostat will cost anywhere from $20 to $50 on average. You'll be able to program every day and night of the week in less than 2 minutes and you'll be saving yourself more money than you can even imagine!!

5) Turn Down Your Water Heater-Ever take a close look at your water heater? If not, then it's time to go take a peek. There (should be) a red knob that says "Hot" "Cold" and "Vacation" on it. Odds are, it is set exactly half way between Hot & Cold. Turn the knob 25% more towards the "Cold" side and watch your gas bill start to get lower! Always do a test-run on any faucet in the house to make sure that you're still getting hot water, just not burning-hot water.

6) Water Heater "Blanket"-Ever see one of these things? It's like a big white "winter jacket" for your water heater. They help insulate your water heater by keeping the warm water, well..warm! You can purchase a Water Heater Blanket for around $20 at Home Depot or any similar store.

7) Replace the Furnace Filter(s)-Switching out your old furnance filter for a new one (around $5/each) will save your furnance from working overtime with a dirty & clogged air filter.

8) Draft Guards for Doors-Surprisngly, this is one of the cheapest fixes you could do to a home, and will save you a ton of money! If you have a door that has a leak (big or small), now is the time to fix it. You can purchase draft guards for doors for around $10 on average. Stop your heat, and money, from leaking out of your home!

9) Furnance Tune Up-Getting your furnance a tune-up (especially if it's an older model) will make sure your furnance runs top notch all winter long and without it having to strain to keep working!

10) Dishwashers-Alot of heat can be used by your dishwasher. From heating up gallons of hot water per load, to all of that hot steam to dry the dishes ("Oh, my water heater did all of that?" Yes, it did!) For the winter, you can opt for handwashing your dishes (soak in luke-warm water, wash in soaking water, then rinse off) rather than using your dishwasher. I know, easier said than done. But one look at your next gas bill that DOESN'T have 1 full month of dishwasher usage, and you'll be thanking me for all the hard-earned money you saved (and maybe even for the new pair of shoes that you bought with that saved money..send pics! ;-) )

11) Wash Clothes in Cold Water Only-"..but hot water kills germs!" Well, my dear, so does soap! Start washing your clothes in cold water ONLY and you'll be saving yourself a very nice chunk of change on your gas bill! And the best part is, you won't be able to tell the difference!

12) Low Flow Showerheads-Besides just saving money on the amount of water you use during your shower, you can also be saving yourself money on how much hot water you actually use at the same time! Installing a Low Flow Showerhead is VERY cheap and VERY easy to do. All you need is a wrench and teflon tape from your local hardware store to install a new showerhead. Look for showerheads that have 2.5 gpm or lower.

So there you have it, ladies & gents. 12 wonderful tips and tricks that will save you 50% on your monthly gas bill! Start putting them to good use and watch the savings pile up!

Got a tip on how you save money on your gas bill? Leave it in a comment below for all of us to see! :-)

Jamie
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Black Friday has started early!

2008-11-18T10:09:00.000-08:00

This holiday season, stores are in desperate need of sales. Usually all stores wait until "Black Friday" (biggest shopping day of the year) to make bargain deals available to the public. This year, they're starting a week early in hopes of gaining an extra week of sales to help their sales slump.

At BFads.com, you can view Black Friday ads for Home Depot, JCPenny, Kohls, Kmart, Target, and a few more. The ads have been either "leaked" or made public by the store themselves to get those faithful Black Friday shoppers into shopping mode.

Most people shop for ONLY shop for others on Black Friday. Huge mistake! When browsing through ads and/or going through stores that have bargain deals, don't forget about you! If you see a nice fleece blanket on sale for $3 from $20, snag it up! Always put you first and others second, and you'll have a very successful Black Friday. :)

I am a Black Friday die-hard shopper and I figured I would share my tips for those new to the madness...

How to Shop on Black Friday:
(1) View ads online starting now & write down deals that you're interested in.
(2) Pick up the newspaper 2 days prior to Black Friday & go through every ad!
(3) Get a pair of scissors and cut out the deals in EACH AD from the newspaper.
(4) Separate the cut-out ads into groups: Target, Kohls, JcPenny, etc.
(5) Map it out! Choose which store is your top priority and then map out the rest of the stores that are nearby.
(6) Make an agenda: Write down, store-by-store, everything you want to snag up (don't forget to put the cut out ads in an envelope for easy reference & in case you need to price match at a different store!)

Your agenda should look similar to this...

Store 1 (5am) JCPenny=Airwalk shoes, Sony TV, 75% off purses.
Store 2 (6am) Kohls=Massage chair, work boots, wallet.

...etc etc.

TIP:
If you see a great deal that you're worried will be sold out on Black Friday, head to that store as soon as possible, grab your item, and hide it in the store somewhere. This is becoming a common thing now, so it might work or it might not. But you'll at least have 2 shots at getting the item(s) that you want! :)

Happy Shopping!

Jamie
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Restaurant.com-80% OFF!!!! (Expires Nov 20th)

2008-11-18T09:55:00.000-08:00

The economy is slowing, Christmas is right around the corner, and money for most of us has become tight.

But there is some good news...no, wait...there's some GREAT news: You can purchase $25 Gift Certificates for $2 each!!!!

Take your spouse out to a nice dinner for pennies on the dollar! Want even more great news?? Each gift certificate is valid for 1 year! Fellas, stock up for anniversaries! ;)

80% off Savings on $25 Gift Certificates. $2 when you use code SURPRISE.Valid only 11/18/08 thru 11/20/08.

Jamie
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Starbucks & Krispy Kreme Freebies (for voters)

2008-11-04T04:58:00.001-08:00

Planning to vote today? Hopefully you are and if you do, you will be rewarded with a Free Donut from Krispy Kream Donuts & a Tall (aka "small") coffee from Starbucks!!

Krispy Kream is giving out Star Shaped donuts with patriotic sprinkles on it if you bring in your "I Voted" sticker.

Starbucks will give voters a free tall brewed coffee at participating U.S. stores. Voters simply need to cast a vote, then tell the barista at their local Starbucks and they’ll receive a tall (12 oz) cup of brewed coffee at no charge (limit one per customer). They're using the honor system for proof of voting. (No "I voted" sticker required).

So get your butt out today & vote and then treat yourself to a great tasting donut & free cup o' joe from Starbucks!!

2-Way Radios=$9.99

2008-10-21T20:24:00.000-07:00

At UnidenDirect.com, you can snag up some New, or Like-New (aka refurbished) 2-Way Radios for dirt cheap!! Each refurbished item comes with a warranty, so you're covered if anything goes wrong.

I bought a pair of refurbished from Uniden Direct last year and I love them! Figured I'd give ya'll a heads up on a great price for a cool item that can really come in handy in life!

Go to UnidenDirect.com and snag a deal!

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Restaurant.com-60% OFF!!!! (Hurry, ends Oct. 26th)

2008-10-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

Restaurant.com has done it again!!

Take 60% off $25 Gift Certificates. Pay $4 when you use the code SAVOR. Valid 10/21/08 through 10/26/08.

If you have never purchased gift certificates through Restaurant.com, let me tell ya how it works:

(1) Select the restaurant(s) in your area that you would like dine at.
(2) Order your gift certificates: Coupon Code: SAVOR
(3) After you purchase, your gift certificates will be emailed to you!
(4) Print'em out on your computer.
(5) Take your loved one(s) out to a nice & CHEAP dinner! ;-)

Each gift certificate is valid for 1 year, and you can only use 1 per month (so don't too many of them at one time!)

Where else can you eat a $25 meal for $4?!!! Nowhere but Restaurant.com!!

Happy Eating! :-D

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

GPS Navigation Systems: CHEAP!!!

2008-10-20T20:48:00.000-07:00

Just in time for the holidays, Buy.com is having an unbelievable sale on a GPS Navigator system!! It's a
TomTom ONE 3rd Edition 3.5 GPS System w/ Preloaded Maps of US/Canada
for $90 + FREE SHIPPING!!!

Or if you wanna spend a little more money for an even BETTER GPS system, including FREE live traffic reports, check this one out:

Price: $180 + $9 Shipping

Hurry up & snag one up before they're gone! :-D

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

RiteAid: 50 FREE prints

2008-10-20T12:11:00.000-07:00

If you live close to a RiteAid, then get ready to get some free prints!!

RiteAid is offering to new customers 50 Free 4x6 Prints! Here's how to get'em:

(1) Go here to register.

(2) Upload your pictures from your computer and select 50 4x6 prints.

(3) Enter Coupon Code: 50FREEPRINTS

With RiteAid giving away 50 free prints, Shutterfly giving away 50 free prints & free shipping, and Snapfish giving away 25 free prints, you should be getting all of those digital pictures off of your computer and soon be putting them into photo albums!! :-D

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

How to Save Money on your Electric Bill:

2008-10-20T10:14:00.000-07:00

With prices of everything else being high these days, such as groceries and gas, you can ease the financial burden by saving money on your electric bill!

Even if an appliance is off, it's not really off. Each plugged in item is draining electricity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Start by unplugging:

*Microwave
*Cell Phone Chargers
*Blender
*Toaster
*Your hand-held vacuum in its charging station
*Power drills
*Automatic coffee makers
*The VCR you haven't used in nearly a decade
*The TV that's collecting dust in the guest room
*The empty refrigerator in the garage or basement
*Living Room TV (before bedtime)

You can also save a ton of money by switching to CFL Light Bulbs (Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs) as pictured above. These bulbs use 75% less energy than a standard bulb and lasts 10 times longer!! I switched to the CFL bulbs last year and have seen significant savings on my electricity bill.

Tip: Buy a 13 watt CFL bulb to replace your regular 60 watt bulbs, or a 15 watt CFL bulb to replace your regular 65 watt bulbs, or a 42 watt CFL bulb to replace your 150 watt regular bulb.

Power Strips:
Plug in all your tv related stuff into 1 power strip and then hit the "OFF" switch before going to bed. This alone will save you money that you'll be able to see in your next months bill.

Upgrade Your Thermostat:
If you don't already have one, pick up a Programmable Digital Thermostat! If you work a 9am-5pm job, then your heat doesn't need to be on full blast during the day. Set it to a cool 65 degrees during the day (or weekend that you're gone) and program it to 67 degrees an hour before you're due to be back home. Don't forget to turn it back down at night, too! Use heavy blankets and/or comforters at night time to keep warm.

Here's a testimonial from someone who put all of this to good use:
"We replaced all of our light bulbs with CFL's and put smart strips on all TV's and radio's and set our thermostat to 66 from 68 and our bill dropped from average of $170.00 to $90.00 in one month!" -Jeff Toborg (Source: http://green.yahoo.com/blog/)

Take the time to upgrade your home today and start saving you & your family your hard-earned cash!! :)

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Babies R Us 20% Coupon Code

2008-10-18T22:44:00.000-07:00

Are you a proud mommy or mommy-to-be? Then you'll love this next bargain!!

Go to BabiesRus.com and get 20% Off of 1 item!!

20% Coupon Code: 923302
Expires: Oct. 24th, 2008

BONUS:
Free Stroller (a $16.99 value) with any Babies R Us purchase of $100 or more. Customer must add to cart. (Shipping charges will apply.)

(Also available in blue.)

Let's say you find bedding for $101 that you like, go ahead & add that to your cart. Next, go to this page and add the stroller of your choice (pink or blue) to your cart and you're done!

Also, there's a lot of bedding that offers free shipping! :)

Enjoy!
~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Free 24-pack of Commit Lozenges

2008-10-16T11:10:00.000-07:00

Need a little help in kicking the habit of smoking? Commit is giving away a pack of 24 Cappuccino Lozenges!

If you are a heavy smoker, then choose the "I smoke within 30 minutes of waking up" option. They will send you 4mg (which is alot!) lozenges. I'm also a smoker and chose that option, but I'm not a heavy smoker (7-10 per day). So when I tried one of the lozenges, I got really light headed and a little nauseous. :-P

Get Your Starter Pack for Free-Click Here

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Free Cup O' Joe at Starbucks! (coupon)

2008-10-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Starbucks lovers that are on a budget, rejoice!

Starbucks at Barnes & Noble is offering a complimentary drink (caffe latte, cappuccino, espresso, freshly brewed coffee, or hot tea).

So go to your local Barnes & Noble Store w/ a Starbucks (find a store here) and grab yourself a free cup o' joe!

Here's the Coupon:

(Click on it & Print)

Expires: 10/31/08

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Host a Garage Sale..Online!

2008-10-16T10:36:00.000-07:00

Trying to save a buck, or earn a couple of extra bucks? Host a garage sale..online!!

At times like these (when the economy is in the dumps), we are all struggling to get the best deals on things that we need and/or sell the things that we don't need or use anymore.

The solution? Craigslist.com!

Many people in your area are selling their own items that they don't need anymore at prices that anyone can afford. So why not take the opportunity to save yourself alot of money by browsing through their ads! You can find anything from clothes to furniture, and everything in between!

Host an online garage sale:
There's 2 ways to do this: either you can do the traditional garage sale and advertise it on Craigslist, or you can list all your items you have for sale individually on Craigslist. Either way, you're getting rid of the stuff cluttering up your home while earning some money, too!

Take it one step further:
I'll give you an example of what I did last night: The hubby & I just adopted a puppy (we pick her up in a week when we move into our house), so this gave us time to look for the things that we needed. One of the things that we really needed was a an X-large dog crate (she's a golden retriever and will be around 75 lbs full grown). So we took a look on Craigslist and found one for $20. At the same time, we listed our microwave stand for sale (doesn't fit in our new house) for $30. Here's the breakdown:

Sold microwave stand for $30
-Bought dog crate for $20
----------------------------
= Free Dog Crate + $10 left over!

The bonus was that we actually paid nothing for the microwave cart, it was given to us by someone else about a year ago.

The savings? Around $200!! Petco had the same size dog crate going for $200. So not only did we save $200, we ended up with $10 more in our pockets!

And that, my friends, is how you save money using Craigslist! ;-) Don't forget, Craigslist is 100% free!! It's like ebay, but free and in your surrounding areas..and instead of shipping items, the customer comes to you!

So start cleaning out your closets and rid your home of unwanted items & start selling them for cash!!

Craigslist.com!

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

50 Free Prints + FREE SHIPPING!!!

2008-10-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

If you're like me, then you have tons of pictures on your computer that you took with your digital camera and just haven't ordered prints yet.

This is your time to turn those pictures into prints...and TOTALLY FREE!!

Shutterfly is offering an awesome offer for 1st time clients:
50 free prints + FREE SHIPPING!!

The catch? Ya gotta be a first time client. And I'm guessing that if you have more than 50 pictures on your computer that haven't yet been turned into actual pictures, that you are a first time client. ;-)

Picture lovers, REJOICE!

Not a first time client of Shutterfly? No sweat! They got a deal just for you:

Get $5 off of any $30 or more order!
Coupon Code: AF69-SAVE
Expires: November 4th, 2008

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Restaurant.com-80% OFF!!!! (Hurry, ends Oct. 15th)

2008-10-14T23:39:00.000-07:00

This is one of the BEST deals that I've seen online in a long time!

Restaurant.com is offering 80% off of gift certificates at participating restaurants in your area!

I purchased (2) $25 gift certificates for me & my husband for a total of $4! Yep, $4! After you purchase them, they'll send you an email with links to view & print your certificates.

With the economy being so hard as of lately, it's a total steal!! :-D

Enter Code: EIGHTY
Restaurant.com

Happy eating!!!

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

iHop All-You-Can-Eat for $5 (Expires: Oct. 31st)

2008-10-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

If you're a pancake lover (like myself), then hurry up & get your butt over to your nearest iHop!!

And how many pancakes does $5 actually get ya? Well, your server will start you off with 5 pancakes and then serve more in sets of 3. So for $5 per person, take your loved one(s) out to a nice early breakfast or for a late night snack!

Want more than just flapjacks but still on a budget? iHop has just the thing for you:
For only $6, you can get two fluffy buttermilk pancakes, eggs any style, golden hash browns, and a choice of pork sausage links, crisp bacon or ham...PLUS all-you-can-eat pancakes!! Now that's a deal!

Enjoy! :-D

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

My Snag-of-the-Week

2008-10-14T22:20:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned before, Goodwill is a GREAT place to visit to snag up some excellent deals that you'll never be able to find in department stores.

Last week I went to my local Goodwill Store and dropped off/donated some of my old clothes that was cluttering up my closet. While I was there, I decided to take a quick walk around the store part to see if there was any good deals that I could snag up...and there was!!

The hubby & I just bought a house (we move in 1 1/2 weeks) and I had a whole list of things that I wanted to buy. Why a list? Because if I'm out & about, I know what we need and when I see it on sale, I snag'em up! ;-) This prevents from over-spending and complusive buying.

I went to the back of the store where they had tables, and dishes, picture frames, etc etc. That's when this caught my eye:

It's a *BRAND NEW* Hose Hideway that still had the original price tag from Target on it (which was originally $43, on clearance for $30). This was on my to-buy list, so I looked at the price and almost fell over right there in the store!!

The price was...

Yep! $9.99!! A $43 item for $9.99 and it was BRAND NEW with the stickers still on it! That's about a 77% price reduction and because it was a Goodwill, that $10 that I used to purchase it went to charity. :)

This is why this is my Snag-of-the-Week!!

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Halloween Costumes

2008-10-14T17:53:00.001-07:00

Tis the season to be SCARY and so are the prices of Halloween Costumes! Lawwdy! Okay, before you sulk too much, let me list some VERY cheap (or even FREE) ways to get yourself a Halloween costume!

Goodwill/Thrift Store:

Start your search this year at your local thrift store and/or Goodwill store! Turn old out-dated clothes into a costume that will get you noticed and be the talk of the town!

Look through old prom dresses from the 70's, make some rips in it, throw some fake blood on it, and you have a realistic prom-date-from-hell costume and probably for under $10. I've even seen guys do this idea, which I think is both awesome and hilarious. ;-)

You could also get some authentic bell bottoms and a "groovy" top for pennies on the dollar. The rest is up to you!

For makeup: You can either go to the dollar store which will have TONS of halloween makeup & fake blood and/or masks, or grab a girl friend that knows how to do kick-ass makeup (fake bruises, scars, etc.)

Free:
Start by looking in your own closet for some vintage clothing (60's, 70's, 80's), or post a "Wanted" ad for free on your towns Freecycle group! MANY people have a costume that their child wore once last year and haven't thrown it out and they're willing to give it away, totally free, if you go & pick it up. I use freecycle for just about everything and it has saved me thousands of dollars in the 2 years I've been using them. And yes, it is TOTALLY free. Give it a shot! You can also look on Craigslist.com for free or SUPER cheap costumes for the whole family!!

Now, if you have a little extra coinage in your pocket that you can part with this Halloween season, you can find GREAT bargains at Frank Bee Costumes. Pick up a Womans 60's Groovy outfit for $25, or a Teletubbies costume for your little one for just $15 bucks, or a Ninja Warrior costume for under $10!!

Happy Halloween!!

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Say "Buh-Bye" to cleaning solutions!

2008-10-14T17:33:00.001-07:00

I posted this as October's "Tip of the Month" and want to go into detail.

Cleaning products can cost a fortune! $3 for this, $4 for that..all to get your house sparkling clean and/or free of germs. Stop wasting money on cleaning products and here's how:

What you need:

Spray Bottle

Rubbing Alcohol

Water

Dry Cloth

(You can either buy a new spray bottle for $1 at the Dollar Store, or just rinse out an old cleaning product bottle and save yourself the gas money & buck! :) )

Fill your spray bottle 1/2 way with rubbing alcohol and the other 1/2 with warm water, shake just a little to mix it all together. Spray on countertops, mirrors, and even chrome, then wipe off with a dry cloth. DONE!!

BONUS: Not only does the solution clean, it also kills germs and leaves a streak-free shine!! Another bonus is that a bottle of rubbing alcohol will last a long time..giving you plenty of time in between purchasing another $1 bottle of rubbing alcohol! :)

Happy cleaning!!

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)

Welcome to Snag A Deal!!

2008-10-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

Hello & welcome to my little spot on the web where I will share the latest deals, specials, sales, bargains, and my favorite..FREEBIES!! :-D

I'm a penny pitcher at heart and can't see any reason to pay full price for..well..just about anything! If me and my hubby ever need anything, we try to find it for free, for cheap, or on sale.

So bookmark this site as learn how to save THOUSANDS every year like I do!!

~Jamie~
(aka Bargain Hunter)