Free movie for the kids from Feature Films for Families.
Free Aquaphor samples are always good to have. It's that time of the year. I have a free gift from Nivea. Click on "Get a Rockin' Gift." I also have a free potty training kit from Pampers. I remind all of my faithful readers every single time I come across one of these that I'm so lucky that I don't need it..bwhahahahaha. No gloating here. For those still in need, how about a free sample of Under Jams. It's waterproof pajamas.
You can get a free Mom's Kit by calling 1-866-JNJ-Baby!
I have a free sample of Fiber One cereal that you can have!
How about a free Craftsman baseball hat? Enter Password: COOL TOOLS.
Free sample of Attune Probiotic Wellness Bar. They give out 100 per day. You can
have mine..lol! If you live in Greater Cincinnati or Northern Kentucky you can click here for a coupon for free pizza from Dominos.Free clip-on radio from the AARP for signing up. Intended for people over 50. I do NOT qualify!
Sign up for Insider Emails at Sephora and get free "cupcake" bubble bath. Great, once I'm in the tub I can hardly wait to get out so I can go eat some sugar.
Text Fusion to 467467 on your cell phone for a free 46 ounce bottle of V-8 Fusion. I'll try it right now and let you know if it works. Worked for me!
Free sample of Tide Total Care. Free book about Alli, a weight loss drug. I did an online focus group for them. I liked what they had to say but it wasn't for "me." Free sample of Kotex. Free sample of Wholesome Goodness for your pet. Free sample of Gillette Shampoo for Men. Free sample of BeneFiber Sticks.
Here's a bunch of coupons and samples from Start Sampling.
Ok, so. I missed all of you. Very much, so. I've been really busy this summer. That's no excuse. I'll be better. Summer is almost over. Nick starts first grade. Gabby starts full day kindergarten. I will have more time on my hands than I've had in 7 years. How bittersweet. I miss them both already. Yesterday, I was babysitting my 2 year old niece. She's a doll. I took all 3 kids, my Mom, my other sister in law, and my 9 year old niece, to Walmart, to kill some time. Within 15 minutes I had lost track of Nick. They had to call a Code Adam to find my son. I was a sobbing mess at the service desk until they said they'd found him. He was feeling overwhelmed by all of the women in the family. It is every Mother's worst nightmare come true. I know I'm a deals blogger. However, I have to share this. There are tracking devices for autistic kids...or even for kids that just don't listen or you are afraid they will wander off. Some of them cost about $199 but well worth it. Check out tracking devices. When they brought Nick to me, I realized that in the blink of an eye, my life could have changed. I'm not a bad Mommy. I never take my eyes off of my kids in public. This time, I was dealing with the 2 year old and lost track after less than 20 seconds. Never again. I'll have some funny stories for you next time. Hugs to all.Until next time...Happy Saving!!
My Princess turns 5 today. At 8:30am at this time 5 years ago, I almost died in
childbirth. Not pleasant. I'm not letting it ruin my day, though. We had
Gabrielle's birthday party and we had a blast! Lots of friends and family showed
up and she got her Barbie Princess Corvette. God, I remember when she was in 
was running out. So, I hopped online and found out if I join
Now for the usual Walmart samples. They have 
dog. Bring it to your vet to redeem!
$4.11 a gallon. Helllllllllllloooooooo, that's a lot of gas. Now, imagine if you're ME and you own around 40 cars that are driving 20 hours per day. Anyone want my gas bill? No? I thought not. It's robbery. In my business though, it's a necessary evil. I hate to see my hard earned..well, if I worked hard it would be hard earned..cash going out of a tailpipe. Nothing to show for it after except for a stack of gas receipts that the IRS hates to get from me. I thought I'd share some tips on how to make your car run more efficiently and in turn, get better gas mileage.
Carpool! Save money and time by taking turns with other parents or co-workers. If you had to drive only twice per week you're saving 3 days worth of commuting gas. There's got to be savings in there.
on the floor under a big picture window I have. BIG mistake..big big big. It's a nice HP All in On. I hooked it up last night to use the scanner and it's not working. Lo and behold, Princess Less Than Charming comes into the office and goes into a snit because her "Stand ta see out da winnow" is now on my desk. She's got a $200 step stool and my printer isn't working. Coincidence? I think not! Regardless..head over to 
wakes up in the morning he has what we lovingly refer to as "Death Breath." It's SO bad. He has perfect teeth, goes to the dentist regularly, and he's enough to knock me off my feet! Enjoy the $1 off printable coupon for 
circle freebies, I give you a free 
Happy Father's Day to all of my male readers. Happy Father's Day to all of the women who are Moms AND Dads. 
I want to apologize. I seem to be doing that a lot lately. It seems as
though by the time my posts make it up, many of the samples and coupons
are closed. I will notify my editor and let him know that this is an
issue and hopefully we can work together to avoid this. My blogs are
usually long and time sensitive. My editor, bless his soul, is a very
busy man. Now, if he were a woman, this wouldn't happen. She'd manage
to juggle it all. (Sorry Justin!!) LOL. Seriously though, I will bring
this to their attention and hopefully we find a resolution quickly. No
one should be left out in the cold on these savings.
Minute Maid. I also have a cool cookbook from 
Enter here for a chance to win a 
Magazine
Sign up here for free 
Today
is my 7th wedding anniversary. It's an amazing feeling to still be in
love with my best friend. We went to Bugaboo Creek for dinner. We took
the kids and my Mom with us. It's not a party unless the gang is all
there! Until next time....Happy Saving!
Warm weather is upon us! So, I've been busy. I needed to have my
driveway paved. It was gravel and it played havoc with my beige carpet
in every season. It's trashed! The kids are good. Nick is doing
wonderfully. Gabby is....Gabby. She still thinks she's royalty but hey,
I think I'm funny. We all have our dreams. My sister-in-law came over
last Saturday with my 13 year old nephew. It was really strange..and
nice. Amazing how the older we get, the less desire for revenge we
have. Well, mostly. ::evil smile::
try it. I also have a coupon for a free 2 oz bottle of 
I have a new 
Here's
a couple of freebies if you're over 21. They are from tobacco
manufacturers. If you're morally opposed, that's great, don't sign up.
First is a free keychain from L&M. Enter code: 
Free samples of 5 flavors of 
roller? Well, 
Remember, I love cookbooks. I bought one at a farmer's market in Boston last week. Can't wait to use it. Here is a free 
some people. Now that's dedication. I have a free 2 year subscription to 
skin so soft. I like the Asian one. Get your free sample!
because "he could break something." He was allowed to play in the yard.
My husband decided that enough was enough (Rock on, Chris..love you,
babe!) and made the decision not to speak with his family anymore. It's
been 3, almost 4 years, since we've spoken to a single one of them.
Strangely enough, we all live in the same town and I've had the good
fortune not to run into them. It would be awkward for me. They never
liked me anyhow. They thought I was too abrasive. Can you imagine? LOL!
A few days after we came home from our honeymoon, my mother in law says
to me, "Chris is a tough guy, I always said he'd need to marry a bitch
to keep him in line. You're perfect for him." Gee, thanks, Mona. Don't
miss you, either! Well, my luck ran out on Friday. I had to run to the
Registry of Motor Vehicles in the next city over. Doesn't it figure? I
don't see them in our town but in a city with over 1 million people.
I'm done with my business, I'm walking out the door and I hear "Kerry,
Kerry." I turn around and there is my sister in law (another one who
couldn't stand me). She bursts into tears and the whole "How is Nick,
how is Gabby, Chris? I heard your Dad died, blah blah blah." Sobbing
all over my new Coach bag. I felt so bad for her..an emotion I'm
unfamiliar with. I brought her to the car to meet Gabrielle. She was
less than a year old when the argument took place. She begged me to get
Chris to call her. I promised to try. I tried. He said no. He said he's
not ready. I told him that tomorrow's are not guaranteed and to stop
burning bridges. Move on and get over it. Fall's on deaf ears. Either
way, that's my lesson for today. For the low price of a free phone call
you can speak to someone you've lost touch with, someone you should
forgive, someone you should allow to forgive you, etc. It sounds corny
but it's true. My kids have a full set of grandparents that live 6
miles from me that they don't remember. They have Aunts and Uncles and
cousins they barely know. I don't care that they don't like me. My
husband loves me, my kids love me, I have friends and family that love
me..not everyone is going to love me. As odd as that concept is to
me..lol. So, do something nice for yourself for free. Reconnect with
someone in your life that you don't speak to anymore.
Free
Do
you like Women's basketball? I'm about basketballed out right about
now. However, sign up quick and get 2 free pre-season tickets to see
the WNBA 
Ok,
this is a little off topic (what in my life isn't?)..I love to play
instant win games online. I have won $100 from Cinnamon Toast Crunch
cereal, hundreds of dollars in awesome prizes, free airline tickets,
etc. Go to 
I talk about my kids, Nick and Gabby. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it here, I doubt it, but Nick is autistic. April is National Autism Awareness month. So, if you don't know much about this disease you should check out the 
reflux/heartburn. He's always got it. I worry about it too. I'm ordering this as we speak. When the kids were babies I swore by Gold Bond powder. I can say that my kids never once got a diaper rash, even in the heat and humidity we have here in the summer. Here's a free sample of 
Sox fan! Rock on Red Sox Nation! Opening Day is right around the corner. How about a free pack of Exclusive 
3 flavors to choose from. I picked vanilla bean. After you've eaten and you want to wash your hands, how about using a sample of 
I'm even more in love with him. He was trying to raise money for a charity that deals with food allergies. Here is a 
the colorful birds sitting in my windowsills. You can sign up for a 
We meet again! There hasn't been much to share with you. I spent a few
days shopping last week and I have to brag. I went to Kohl's with my
Mom last week. I didn't need anything but she needed a bathing suit for
her trip to Puerto Rico. Which, incidentally, I found her RT airfare
and a hotel for a week for under $200! So anyhow, I go to Kohl's and
they're having a 90% off sale. I bought 3 pairs of Vera Wang pants that
are usually $185 a pair for...$1.40 each! It was totally unreal. I got
some Ralph Lauren clothes for $2.60 each, clothes for the kids, clothes
for my husband, and a few things I will never "need" but have always
wanted! Sometimes, it's all in the timing. I made a KILLING that day.
One good way to save money is to season shop. In the middle of the
summer, stores will begin getting rid of their merchandise to make room
for the next season. The same goes for every season. So, if you are
wise, you will buy next year's clothing during this year! Unless
you're Elle, Cindy, Naomi or Carol, you don't have to worry about
"What's Hot and What's Not" as far as fashion. Buy what YOU like, not
what the fashion experts like.
was looking for a unique gift for someone. I didn't just want to grab the first thing off of the shelf. So, I went over to 
Attention 
rock bottom prices, enter code BHSORRY and receive an additional 25%
off. Last week I got a free sewing machine, a free steak knife set, and
a set of mixing bowls. All very cool and all very trendy.
Over
my cold dead body will anyone EVER speak to me like this. Especially
over a pathetic amount like $1200. I could pay it. Why should I? It
wasn't my debt. However, I was angry at Dad after that. WHY didn't he
have life insurance? Why why why? So inexpensive and so easy to buy. I
didn't buy those policies for the kids that Gerber offers when you're
pregnant. I was afraid to jinx myself. Having been born on Halloween I
am just full of superstitions. Now they've changed. My superstition is
that if I'm stupid and don't follow through and buy these policies, we
may not have them when we need them. So, for just one lousy dollar you
can start a policy at 
Well,
those are my savings for the beginning of the week. I'll try to find
some more and post again this week! So, today seems to be "Story" Day.
I have no short supply of stories about my life. Some of them are the
funniest things you'll ever hear. Some are heartbreaking. All are true.
I did promise a follow up to my trip to see John Edward. I have to tell
you, I am always skeptical. I don't trust easily. Especially lately. It
was general seating and we had great seats. For $225 a ticket he
should've sat on my lap. I went with 2 of my friends. One of them lost
her husband recently in a motorcycle accident. It was NOT his fault.
Someone ran a light and hit and killed him. His name was Jerry. Her
name is Jess. They have a 4 year old named Sandra Elizabeth. So,
imagine our surprise when John came right towards us and said "Who are
the 2 J names? Who is S..Sandy, Sandra.." I was whispering "Jess, stand
UP." She didn't know what to do and some dork in front of us stood up
and said "I think it's me. My brother Gary died 18 years ago in an
accident. I work with a woman named Sandy." Yeah, ok Slick. Nice job.
There's no doubt in my mind that John was talking to my best friend.
Jerry died 2 days before my Dad. Jess didn't know what to say or do and
she let opportunity go by her. She emailed John Edward after the show
and asked if the reading could've been meant for her. She got an
immediate reply that yes, it most definitely could've been directed at
her. She was there at that particular show for a reason. My Dad had a
dog named Ghost. We had him for 11 years. He was white with a black
patch. He got nose cancer a week after my Dad passed away. We kept him
for 2 more weeks and then we sent him to the Rainbow Bridge to be with
my Dad. They were always together. Literally inseparable. Halfway
through the show (2 hours long), John said "There's a white dog with a
black patch running down the aisle." He supposedly stopped near me and
John said "Oh, his owner just came to take him." So, was that my sign?
I don't know. I want to believe it. My problem is that i didn't go
there with any questions. My Dad died but we know how. There's no
treasure buried under the floor in the garage, and I am 110% sure that
he loved me. I don't need him to come back to tell me. I feel it every
day when I think about him. I have to say that John Edward is amazing.
He's right on target, he's friendly and outgoing and he is the FUNNIEST
person. He made me laugh throughout most of the show. He read a woman
directly in back of me. She had some serious family issues. She didn't
look like she was believing it too much..until the end. He said to her
"Mom says it's ok, buy the new microwave." The woman screamed and her
knees buckled. She said "My microwave blew up yesterday and I didn't
know if I should buy a new one." She was convinced..lol. So am I. I
would love to see another of his shows.
Pasta and sausage casserole
Double Chicken Noodle Chicken Breasts
Beef Stew
Chocolate cream pie
Well, we'll start with food..as usual. Chips are part of the great American diet. I love 'em all. I have tried the 
to 
eye strain. Here's a free sample of 
looks so awesome. Granted, it's probably not the most frugal option but
it IS a vacation, so I can afford to spend a few more of my saved
pennies. So, the epitome of Florida is Mickey Mouse. The prices are OUT
RAGE OUS..say it loud with me..OUT RAGE OUS. It's a necessary evil
though. I happen to have my own little princess who is dying to see the
Magic Castle. There are actually ways to save money on Disney tickets
though. Truth be told, I think my kids are going to want to see Sea
World a lot more! So, here we go with Disney World tickets. I first
went directly to the 
Like
I said, I can't wait to take the kids to Sea World! It was the
highlight of my last trip to Orlando. So, let's see how much the
tickets are for that. I head over to the official 
So,
how are we going to get around while in Orlando? The obvious answer is
rental car. But, you could probably skip that and either walk or take a
taxi (shameless plug) while down there. It depends how far your hotel
is from major attractions. We rented a car while down there the last
time and I don't think we put 70 miles on it in 7 days. Such a waste at
$50 a day and it was ugly neon green. I checked out the taxi service
available and I am duly impressed. You can go to 
excellent meal. One in particular jumped out at me..
entire vacation in my blog so that you can save as much as I will
save and have access to my resources also. What makes a vacation great is
spending uninterrupted time with your family, what makes it even more fantastic
than that is not going into debt to do it! So, as I always say, my way isn't for
everyone. Some people like to contact a travel agent, give them the dates that
they're looking to vacation on, and sign off with a credit card. I actually
prefer to do my own planning because I know I can do this cheaper than a travel
agent. I'm going to do it in two parts though (ohhhhh, a series!) because after
awhile, your brain turns to mush. So today I'll cover transportation and
lodging. I know our ChaCha guides write a blog for Disney also so you should
most definitely check those out, too!
person. I once bought us 4 tickets to go to Myrtle Beach for a
needed weekend getaway for less than $40! And they don't disappoint! WOW..$664
for 4 round trip tickets from Boston to Orlando. Can't beat that..and, I found
an online coupon for a free upgrade to their version of first class. We have a
winner! It may not be the "best" price but it's the most practical. I spend $20
more but arrive 24 hours earlier. Yep, a definite plus.
Radisson Worldgate Resort and Convention Center
cooking. I have picky kids and eating in restaurants isn't that much
fun. I'd rather grab a box of Eggo Waffles and a dozen eggs for
breakfast than to go sit in a restaurant with the kids. Dinners could
be done much more cheaply also. The amenities are incredible. Free
shuttle, pool, fitness center (like I need to care about THAT), a sun
deck overlooking a man made lagoon. How incredible does that sound? I
think that's what I'm going to choose. I get free transportation, a DVD
player in our room (great for small kids), a lagoon, a full kitchen,
all for $99/night.
Now here is a great resource to keep at your side at all times. The Entertainment book! This book is specific to where you live, and is jammed with half priced savings. There are buy one get one free offers, half price movie tickets and even money off coupons for national and local retailers. 
I'm going to invest in some board games for me and the kids. Too many
Americans spend too much time in front of the tv. I rarely watch
television and the kids could do without it. Just say goodbye to it and
don't look back. Don't panic, you'll still have basic cable if you have
a cable ready tv, but you won't have to go crazy with a $190 a month
bill for channels you never watch. Invest in a VCR or DVD player and
sign up for 
or
4 days in Maine which was such a nightmare I think my subconscious has
blocked out, to spare me more pain. The kids were 2 and 3, Maine broke
a record that week for rainfall, and we stayed in our log cabin
(pictured) in a town in the middle of nowhere. The closest hospital was
60 miles away. I'm from just north of Boston..NOTHING is 60 miles away.
Buying that log cabin was not one of my smarter purchases. Either way,
sometimes we don't truly "see" what is right in front of us. I was born
in the first city in the United States to use water power. Lived here
all of my life. Last year was the first time I ever took one of the
free tours they offer. We took a boat down the Merrimack River, walked
around inside of mills that are hundreds of years old, rode the
trolley, and truly experienced history. The tours are offered by the
National Park Service and are free of charge! Sometimes we don't see
the beauty and history that's right under our noses. Check with the
Travel and Tourism department in your state and see what hidden gems it
has to offer. I just read that in Dillsburg, PA on New Year's Eve,
instead of dropping a ball, they drop a huge dill pickle. I'd drive to
see that. I don't need a plane ticket or a rental car or a limo to the
airport if I'm staying in relatively close proximity to my home. All I
need is my car and a hotel room. Huge savings. We all dream of these
really exotic vacations..we daydream about Paris and Italy and Rome and
Switzerland and the Caribbean and Aruba. What we don't daydream about
is Mass and NH and ME and VT and NY. Which is a shame..because there's
just so much here to see and do.
Red
Sox fan (don't hate me, now). To take my small family of 4 to a game it
would cost me about $300 between tickets, parking, food and souvenirs.
Instead, look for things to do with your kids that are free or
discounted. 
as simple as sitting on the big rock in our backyard. We lay our
blanket out, unwrap our food and have a fun lunch. We don't disturb
other patrons (a big no-no) and they learn how to help make their own
lunch. Doing fun things doesn't have to cost anything. You can take
half a loaf of bread (cost of about .50 cents) and go to your local
pond or lake and feed the ducks. Saving money isn't about sitting in
your home with the lights and heat off while you remember the "good ole
days" of when you spent a quarter on a bag of chips. Being frugal just
means being aware of where your money is going and how well you are
spending it!
and dryer. I want to get as much mileage out of this as I can since he
doesn't shop on sale and I almost fainted when I saw the price. So,
during the spring and summer months I hang most of our clothes out to
dry on a clothesline. Some of my best memories are helping my Nana hang
out her clothes on the line with the basket and the clothespins. No one
in my neighborhood hangs their clothes out..lol. I always make a remark
like "Oh look honey, it's that nice young Boure couple hanging out
their clothes. How passe." I save money on my electricity bill, it
doesn't heat up my house in the summer making the a/c work harder and
I'll get more life out of my dryer. 
Happy 2008 to all of my Frugal Living followers. As I sit back and reflect upon my life this year, I find myself pondering how to simplify my life...not even so much for money, though it doesn't hurt, but for peace of mind. I f