Get Paid to Watch Commercials and Watch Movies FREE!

April 29, 2013 - 1 Comment

Hot New TV and Movie Streaming Program!

HitBliss is a new online service that lets users stream hundreds of hit movies & thousands of tv shows.

What makes them really unique from others is that HitBliss consists of two parts: HitBliss Earn and HitBliss Store.

In the HitBliss Earn app users can engage with brands (i.e. watch videos & other brands messages) and earn real cash in their account (in exchange for their time/attention to the brand messages). Users can then move over to the HitBliss Store environment and use their earned cash to stream movies & full tv episodes (commercial free).

They currently offer access to tv content such as: The Big Bang Theory, The Vampire Diaries, The Walking Dead, and Pretty Little Liars (as well as hundreds more). Basically, HitBliss gives users the ability to stream great content without requiring that they dig into their wallets for every viewing. HitBliss is an application (.exe) that requires users to download it and run on their desktop or laptop system.

Hit bliss

Your Maximum Balance is $5, which only took me about 5 minutes to earn.

Most TV shows cost $1.99 to watch (but lots are FREE!) and Movies range from Free to $3.99!

And, after you have “earned” the money by watching the commercials, the movies and TV shows are commercial FREE, and stream quickly to your computer.

I tested a show I recently watched on Netflix with the same show on HitBliss, and couldn’t tell the difference.  It was fast, clear, and sounded great!

Sign up for HitBliss Now, and start earning and SAVING money!

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Frugal Girls’ Night Ideas

April 3, 2013 - 2 Comments

A happy mom is a good mom! So, I recently decided that I need to start planning to have a girls’ night once a month. The idea is to create a reason to get together and provide opportunity to relax and interact. It is therapeutic and fun! Everyone has some sort of skill, talents, or connections that they can utilize and share! I think it would be fun to change it up and let each person take a turn hosting or choosing the activity. However, I want to keep it simple enough that is doesn’t become a source of stress for anyone. So, I came up with a bunch of easy, frugal ideas…

GNO girls night out

Some of these ideas may be better for smaller or for larger groups. I think most groups would be great at 3-6 people. I also believe everything is better when it involves yummy food!

Girls’ Night In Ideas:

spa facial treatment

At-Home Spa:

fondue

Food:

  • Freezer Meal Cooking: Get a group of friends together and cook ahead for your families
  • Pinterest Girls’ Night In: Each person bring a craft or food item from Pinterest
  • Cocktail Party: Make some fun specialty drinks together (virgin versions are still fun, Mock Mojitos)
  • Make sushi together
  • Fondue Party (cupcake fondue, cheese, chocolate, sweet and savory dips, Fondue Cookbooks)
  • Potluck dinner
  • Favorite Things Party: bring a favorite thing and a favorite food to share
  • or you can have the night spotlight one person, have the host share a few of their favorite things, take turns hosting and sharing
  • Fire Pit: roast marshmallows, make s’mores
  • Assemble mixes in jars as gifts
  • Cook-off Challenge: everyone bring own homemade version of something, blind tasting and voting
  • Smoothie-making/tasting Party: everyone bring ingredients, create new concoctions, share favorites (Smoothie Recipes)
  • Make your own Pizzas (Pizza Recipes)
  • Decorate Cookies: provide many colors, candies, tools for decorating sugar cookies or other
  • Gingerbread House Competition: Each decorate a gingerbread, rice crispy treat, or graham cracker house. Best gets a prize!
  • Everyone bring their favorite popcorn to share (Popcorn Recipes & Deals)
  • Make gourmet caramel apples (Caramel Apple Recipes)

Look for grocery coupons in our Coupon Database!

movie night

Just Hanging Out:

Often it is fun enough to just invite the girls over, have a few snacks around, and talk with each other! Here are some more ideas…

  • Gift-wrapping party: fun idea for just before Christmas
  • Girls’ Night Book Club
  • Soak in a Hot Tub
  • Watch a chick flick at someone’s house

women playing a board game

Games:

baby headband tutorial

Crafts:

  • Make hair clips or headbands (DIY Baby Headbands)
  • Make jewelry (DIY Bird Nest Necklace)
  • Combine crafty supplies and make greeting cards together
  • Seasonal/Holiday craft project (wreath, decor, etc)
  • Find something for your home at a thrift shop and re-do it, then have a show-it-off party
  • Make candles
  • Sewing Party: bring your sewing machines and projects and work on it while you chat, make skirts or pillow covers
  • Scrap-booking Party: Bring your stuff and get caught up while you chat and share

See more DIY Craft Ideas that we have posted!

kitchen gadget exchange

Exchanges:

  • Book Exchange: read new books by swapping with friends
  • Favorite Recipe Exchange
  • Swap favorite healthy or all-natural recipes (food, cleaning, beauty)
  • Coupon Swap Party
  • Dust Collectors: Swap clothes, house items, toys and what ever you have that is collecting dust
  • Lingerie Gift Exchange
  • Garden Exchange Party: Everyone bring the surplus from their garden
  • Clothing Swap: bring something cool that you don’t want anymore, but someone else might want, fashion show
  • Fashion Accessory Swap
  • White Elephant Gift Exchange: bring something fun or funny from your home that you can give away
  • Kitchen Gadget Swap
  • Freezer Meal Swap
  • Re-gift Exchange: bring a gift you’ve received but don’t want to keep
  • Handmade Gift Exchange

On some of the exchange or swap ideas, you can offer a prize for the best or worst things. You can draw numbers for who gets to choose first or find some other creative way to make it even more fun.

downton abbey

Themed Parties:

  • Everything Pink Party
  • PJ Party
  • Everything Chocolate Night
  • Downton Abbey Party, or another favorite show or movie (have costumes, foods, decorations, and/or entertainment that fit the theme)
  • Nationality Themed Party: Pick a nationality and do everything you can think of that fits the theme (could be a GNO too)

Girls’ Night Out Ideas:

Of course, I always look for a discount or coupon before I go out!


Restaurant.com - Most $25 Gift Certificates for on
Fandango - Movie Tickets Onlinelivingsocial logo

Look for Coupons: Groupon, LivingSocial, AmazonLocal, Restaurant.com, Fandango, Restaurant & Retail Coupons

  • Go out for frozen yogurt
  • Treat yourselves to a gourmet cupcake
  • Go to a movie
  • Get pedicures or manicures at a local beauty school or other inexpensive venue
  • Go to a local concert or performance: live music, community theater, dance (lots of options if you have a college nearby)
  • Go to a restaurant for an appetizer or dessert
  • Choose a new restaurant, try something new & adventurous
  • Mall Makeover: Hit the makeup counter at a department store and get your makeup done for free
  • Get massages
  • Hit a bucket of balls at the driving range
  • Run a 5K
  • Bowling
  • Try a fitness class together at the local rec. center
  • Chocolate Tasting (could be done at home too)
  • Mini Golf
  • Cooking Class or Demonstration
  • Pottery Painting
  • Go to a museum or gallery
  • Play Tourist: Visit a local tourist attraction
  • Go shopping: mall, department store, thrift shop
  • Volunteer: participate in charity or community service

Get out and enjoy yourself, your friends, and the lifestyle of the fabulously frugal!

I did some serious brainstorming to come up with some of these ideas that I thought would work for me, but I also found some of the ideas I liked here, here, here, here, here, and here.

I’d love to hear about your ideas too!

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Free & Frugal! Digital Prepaid Account

March 26, 2013 - 3 Comments

American Express Serve Credit Card…

Click on the image to get your card now!

American Express Serve Credit Card is an alternative to debit and other prepaid cards and it’s loaded with great features. Since it is prepaid, it is a totally frugal way to pay without worrying about interest and payments.

NO credit checks and NO monthly or annual fees!
Use the Serve Card virtually anywhere American Express Cards are accepted and at ATMs worldwide.
Add money to your Account with a bank account, debit card, credit card, or cash using a MoneyPak.
Download the mobile app for iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone to move money or split the bill on the go!

Plus, enjoy access to these benefits:

  • 24/7 Customer Support
  • Purchase Protection
  • Global Assist Services
  • Roadside Assistance
  • Entertainment Access

Get yourself a free Serve account by clicking on the banner above!

If you’re interested in getting a credit card, check out our list of the best rewards credit cards.

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Compare Prices and Deals with AdComparisons.com!

March 12, 2013 - Leave a Comment

You can even enter to win a $500 Gift Card!

Ditch the newspaper and take advantage of AdComparisons.com, a free service that lets you explore weekly ads and price comparisons.  Connect with the AdComparisons.com app on Facebook and you can enter to win a $500 gift card.

Hop on to www.AdComparisons.com to start saving time and money right away.  Since the weekly sale ads are in one spot, finding the best deals during the holiday season or before weekly grocery trips has never been easier!

Weekly Ads

Browse Weekly Ads

The ads posted on AdComparisons.com are specific to your area, so each deal on the site applies to you!  Not to mention, you can look at each page of the sale ad just like you would with a paper copy!  Check out all of the ads right here!

target ad

Explore other cool features:

Create a Shopping List

Add items to your Ad Comparisons shopping list and see immediate price comparisons at the stores in your area.  Now, compare prices for larger purchases like a new washer or focus on the everyday items like groceries or cleaning supplies.   Make sure to share your favorite deals with friends through Facebook, Twitter, Pintrest and Google+.

My Shopping List

Enter to win a $500 Gift Card!

The AdComparisons.com app on Facebook it a great resource to find the hottest deals in any given week!  The chance to win a $500 gift card is not a bad thing either!  Also, check out the AdComparisons.com Facebook page for special offers posted every day!

Facebook (1)

Check out the AdComparisons.com app for the iPad here to find deals when you’re on the go!

This is a sponsored post. 

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Recycle Your Electronics for FREE

February 20, 2013 - 1 Comment

Don’t toss your old electronics in the trash! RECYCLE!

Have an old printer, computer, phone or TV that isn’t even worth trying to sell or fix? Instead of throwing it in the nearest dumpster, recycle it!

recycle your electronics at best buy

Technology is the fastest growing waste stream on the planet. Best Buy wants to be part of the solution.

  • Best Buy’s industry-leading recycling efforts are available for FREE in every Best Buy location in Puerto Rico and the U.S.
  • You can recycle just about any electronics, including TVs, DVD players, computer monitors, audio and video cables, cell phones, and more.
  • No matter where you bought or how old it is, Best Buy will recycle it.
  • They recycle 387 pounds of electronics each minute the stores are open.
  • Your electronics will be handled and disposed of in a responsible and safe manner.
  • Did you know that Best Buy carries a whole line of Energy Star certified products as well?  You can recycle your old electronics and upgrade to more energy efficient ones.

This is a pretty great program! An in-store solution for customers to bring their old, unused, or unwanted consumer electronics — no matter where they were purchased — for responsible recycling.

Learn more about the Best Buy Recycling Program.

Have you used the electronics recycling program at Best Buy? Feel free to share your experience in the comments. :)

The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free.

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The Best Rewards Credit Cards 2013

February 4, 2013 - 8 Comments

Find the Best Rewards Credit Card for You!

best reward credit cards

I think it’s safe to say we all know that credit card debt is bad, really bad. And props go out to all you people that don’t use credit cards! Check out the awesome Cash Envelope System here.

Credit cards can be very useful for some of us though. Help build and improve credit (although not necessary), maximize savings by offering rewards, arrange traveling accommodations, limit your exposure to fraud, track your spending, extending warranties and other benefits.

To find a rewarding credit card that makes sense for you: weigh the rewards formulas, fees, and restrictions, along with your spending habits. Take the time to read the fine print of the credit card offer too. You may find a few features that are valuable and could save you some money and you may also find catches like seasonal savings, spending tiers, hidden caps, rewards expiration dates, and penalties.

calculator and money

If you have existing debt, tend to carry a credit card balance, or bad credit you should probably consider credit cards with low interest rates and low fees (rather than focusing on rewards programs) or cut out credit cards all together!

I personally use a credit card for almost everything. BUT I always pay my balance in full and I keep my spending under control too. Then I redeem my earned points for gift cards to places I normally shop, like Amazon or Target. I basically utilize the same credit card method that Amber talks about here. This system DOES NOT work for everyone though.

Best Credit Cards for Rewards

If you have …

Excellent credit.

american express blue cash card

These first 3 cards are all recommended as some of the best options, but they have annual fees after the first year. I personally prefer to avoid cards with annual fees.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (Travel)
Blue Cash Preferred Card from American Express
Capital One Venture Rewards Card (Travel)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (Travel)

  • 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day and no annual fee
  • One-time bonus of 10,000 miles once you spend $1,000 dollars on purchases within the first 3 months, equal to $100 on travel.
  • Redeem miles for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals and more
  • No limit on the miles you can earn and miles don’t expire
  • Fly on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
  • 0% intro APR on purchases until February 2014
  • No foreign transaction fees

Both Capital One Venture versions come with a 10,000-mile bonus if you spend $1,000 in the first three months. After the first year, the VentureOne card is the better travel-rewards option for people who spend less than $8,000 a year.

American Express Blue Cash Everyday

  • Earn 100 Reward Dollars after you make $1,000 in purchases in the first three months of Card membership.
  • Get 3% cash back at U.S. stand-alone supermarkets, 2% cash back on gasoline at U.S. stand-alone gas stations and select major department stores; 1% cash back on other purchases.
  • The first $6,000 of purchases at U.S. stand-alone supermarkets in a calendar year qualifies for 3% cash back; 1% thereafter.
  • Cash back is received in the form of Reward Dollars that can be redeemed as a statement credit. Cash back is earned only on eligible purchases.
  • Simple and Straightforward: With the Blue Cash Everyday Card, you can start earning cash back. No rotating reward categories. No enrollment required.
  • No annual fee, 0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months. After that, your APR will be a variable rate, currently 12.99%-21.99% with flexibility to pay over time.
  • Terms and Restrictions Apply.

Available to members of Pentagon Federal Credit Union:

PenFed Premium Travel Rewards American Express (Travel)
PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards

Good credit.

capital one venture rewards card

Capital One Venture Rewards Card (see details above)

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card (see details above)

Capital One Cash Rewards

  • $100 bonus after you spend $500 on purchases within the first 3 months
  • 50% bonus on the cash back you earn every year
  • 1% cash back on all purchases
  • No annual fee
  • Earn unlimited cash back that doesn’t expire
  • Redeem cash back anytime for any amount, even set automatic redemptions
  • Personalize your card with an image of your choice
  • 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers until February 2014

Fair credit.

capital one cash rewards card
Capital One Cash Rewards (see details above)

Capital One Cash Rewards for Newcomers

  • A card designed to help those new to the U.S. establish credit and earn cash back
  • Build credit with responsible use-plus automatic reporting to the three major credit bureaus
  • Get 2% cash back on travel purchases
  • Earn 1% cash back on all other purchases
  • No foreign transaction fees
  • No annual fee

Limited/No credit.

capital one journey student rewards card

Journey Student Rewards from Capital One

  • Designed to help students build good credit with responsible use
  • Access to your monthly credit score, plus an interactive tracking tool to help monitor your credit
  • Customizable text and e-mail alerts to help keep you on track
  • Get 1% cash back on all purchases, plus a 25% bonus each month you pay your bill on time
  • No annual fee
  • $0 Fraud Liability if your card is lost or stolen

Capital One Cash Rewards for Newcomers (see details above)

For most of these credit card offers, you can apply right here!

I put this list together by researching creditcards.com, abcnews.com, forbes.com, cardhub.com, and consumerreports.com. The information above is my own opinion after researching these sites, but we happened to have links for most of the credit cards that I chose, so this post does contain affiliate links. 

credit cards

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Money Saving Tips: Heavenly Fall Air Freshener

November 1, 2012 - 1 Comment

{PIN THIS}

Are you looking for some simple ideas to save money? We have simple solutions that you can easily apply to your lifestyle to save money!

The leaves outside are changing and piled on the ground, Halloween has come and gone, and fall is in full swing!

But with everything around looking like autumn, don’t you want to make everything smell like it too?

Here’s an amazing trick to permeate your home with a festive fall smell, and the best thing about it is it’s completely SIMPLE and CHEAP.

Here’s what you’ll need:

1 mug
2 tsp Vanilla Extract (imitation vanilla extract works fine too)
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2-4 cloves

 {PIN THIS}

Here’s what you do:

1. Heat the oven to 300 degrees F.

2. Put all of the above ingredients into a mug and stir them together.

3. Place the mug in the oven for 1 hour and wait as the smells fill the air in your home!

{PIN THIS}

This is so easy and so yummy smelling!  If you want a simpler way to give your home a wonderful smell, just do the same thing as the above and omit the nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves.

happy fall

Did you run out of allspice? Read how to make allspice substitute.

 

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SnipSnap App: Never Forget Your Coupons Again!

October 15, 2012 - 1 Comment

Calling all couponers! This iPhone app is AWESOME!

Toss out the scissors and let your iPhone camera do the clipping. When you snap a photo of a printed coupon, SnipSnap converts the text, images, and bar code into a mobile-optimized offer, which you can redeem right from your phone! When you get to the store, pull up the coupon barcode, promo code, or photograph and show it to the cashier to redeem. No paper coupon needed! How fun is that?

Don’t have any coupons handy to scan? Use the Discover screen on the app to browse featured retailers or search coupons that other users have clipped. That was my favorite feature of the entire app! It was like a coupon fairy living in my phone! I also loved that they’ll remind you when you enter a store you have coupons saved for, or when a coupon expiration date is nearing. Now that makes coupon clipping a, well, SNAP!

FEATURES:

  • In-Store Reminders: When you enter a store, SnipSnap delivers a push notification to remind you what coupons you have saved there.
  • Scans ALL coupons: Whether you get coupons from the newspaper, mail, magazines or elsewhere, you can import all of them into the app.
  • Sharing with Friends: Post coupons you’ve clipped to Facebook, Twitter, and Email so your friends can get in on the savings, too.
  • Expiration Date Alerts: Get notified when your coupons’ expiration dates are approaching.
  • Store Success Rating: See how successful other users have been in redeeming at your favorite stores.

Check out how it works:

 

A couponers dream, right? Well it gets better! You can use only coupons issued by a store itself right now, but SnipSnap hopes to bring support for manufacturer coupons with a future update! Also, an Android version of the app is in the works too!

Get more info on this awesome app and even enter to win a new iPhone 5 on the SnipSnap facebook page!

Never forget a coupon at home again! Download the SnipSnap app HERE!

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Money Saving Tips: Homemade Fat-Free Chicken Broth

October 2, 2012 - Leave a Comment



Are you looking for some simple ideas to save money? We have simple solutions that you can easily apply to your lifestyle to save money!

Chicken broth is really easy to make and there are several way to do it.  You can save a lot of money by making it at home, but what if you want it to be fat free?

Here is a quick and easy way to make broth.

Just boil a chicken with a bit of salt, onions, garlic and other spices of your choice:

However, once you’re done boiling the chicken, the fat is released into the broth, making it tasty but oily.

If you want it to be fat free, just refrigerate your broth for a couple of hours.   Once it’s cold the fat will rise to the top and harden.  It will look like this:

For the fat-free version of the broth, skim the fat off the top like this:


After skimming the fat off the broth, you can use the broth however you want!  I love to make a big batch of broth and freeze portions of it in tupperware.  That way, when I have a recipe that calls for chicken broth, I can just pull it out and use it.

Try this almond joy oatmeal recipe.  Read more money saving tips.

Find out why we are giving you a daily money saving tip and how else we are helping you save money in 2012!

 

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Money Saving Tips: 3 Tips to Avoid Freezer Burn

September 28, 2012 - 2 Comments


Are you looking for some simple ideas to save money? We have simple solutions that you can easily apply to your lifestyle to save money!

Freezing is a great way to preserve food, but if your food ends up freezer burnt, it’s just a waste.

So here are 3 simple tips to keep your food from getting freezer burnt:

1. Remove all air.  The more air from the bag or container you’re freezing your food in.  The more air that comes in contact with your food, the quicker it becomes freezer burnt.  Dry air removes moisture from food, creating ice crystals, shriveling food, and leaving an unpleasant taste.

2. Freeze in small amounts. Smaller amounts of food freeze more quickly than a large quantities.  The faster the food freezes, the smaller the ice crystals will be in the food.  Freezing bigger quantities of food means the food freezes slower, giving the opportunity for larg
er ice crystals to form.  Ice crystals break down the cellular structure of food.

3. Wrap it up.  Tightly wrap your food in order to minimize its exposure to air.

 

Freeze bread to save money.  Read how to freeze candy from Halloween.  Read more money saving tips.

Find out why we are giving you a daily money saving tip and how else we are helping you save money in 2012!

 

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