If you have a kid like mine who is crazy for all things Lego, you must check out their company page for free events. I took my son to a free Lego Star Wars building event at Toys R Us on Saturday and my son got to build a Starfighter that he was allowed to keep. I assumed the event would be packed with people fighting and clawing their way to the front, trampling small children, all in the name of a few free pieces of plastic, but it was remarkably controlled and calm - we didn't have to wait at all.
That took him all of five minutes (he's a Lego pro) and we then trotted over to Tate's Comics for the Free Comic Book event on May the Fourth be with you. I've always wanted to take my son there, and many many others had the same idea because the place was packed with lots of sweaty people with remarkable patience. They were in their element, no doubt. We got seven free comic books, eventually, and headed home.
The deal I make with my son is that he is not allowed to ask for anything on days we set out to be spend-free days. He's pretty good about it, and even finds events on his own for us to go to. My little cheapskate mini-me. He also does sweepstakes with me, but he has yet to fully understand the concept of "many will enter, few will win".
Monday, May 6, 2013
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Miami on the Cheap website
Now that I am an officially unemployed, full-time, nursing student, I find myself really looking for ways to save money. For instance, I waited at Comcast for two hours just to save the $11 to have a digital converter mailed home. I guess I didn't earn a very high hourly wage during THAT adventure, but hey, it's like...1/4 of a gas tank? Yes, I boil down most minor monetary gains and losses to how much gas could I get with that money. Gas is my new currency.
I get a ton of junk email cause I'm a sweepstakes queen, and I tend to just delete delete delete my way through most email...but not the ones from Miami on the Cheap. I don't know what it is that moves someone to so kindly and graciously compile daily lists of local free and inexpensive events for others to benefit from, but I am very grateful for them. I have already gotten two great heads up from this website: the Doral Camping Under the Stars event (free!) earlier this month and free (!) flu immunizations for kids at the Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds just yesterday.
You all should immediately head over to their website and sign up for their free daily newletters and "like" them on Facebook. They also do a daily round up of local coupon deals at their Daily Deals Headquarters, which compiles all those deals in one easy to view location. Now, go to it and save! Thanks, Miami on the Cheap!
I get a ton of junk email cause I'm a sweepstakes queen, and I tend to just delete delete delete my way through most email...but not the ones from Miami on the Cheap. I don't know what it is that moves someone to so kindly and graciously compile daily lists of local free and inexpensive events for others to benefit from, but I am very grateful for them. I have already gotten two great heads up from this website: the Doral Camping Under the Stars event (free!) earlier this month and free (!) flu immunizations for kids at the Miami-Dade County Fairgrounds just yesterday.
You all should immediately head over to their website and sign up for their free daily newletters and "like" them on Facebook. They also do a daily round up of local coupon deals at their Daily Deals Headquarters, which compiles all those deals in one easy to view location. Now, go to it and save! Thanks, Miami on the Cheap!
Monday, December 24, 2012
Upromise
I enrolled in Upromise when my son was born, and started the Florida Prepaid College Plan as well. Now, that prepaid plan is long paid off and my son is assured four free years of college in Florida. I, on the other hand, will be starting an accelerated RN program in January which I have been WARNED ABOUT REPEATEDLY. It is a VERY CHALLENGING PROGRAM and I will have NO LIFE. No life means I have to quit my job. Today, actually, is my last day.
This has me exploring avenues for some income, any income. I checked the Upromise account and they are ridiculously flexible with you. I was able to switch the Upromise account to myself and sent away for my first disbursement check. It's not a huge amount of money but every little bit helps, and it's not an insignificant amount either. They don't require any verification on how you've spent it on education-related expenses. You can use it to pay down school loans as well. (See? I told you it was flexible!)
The way Upromise works is that, as a member (free enrollment), you earn a percentage from online shopping, eating out, and using their credit card. You can use all the methods available for earning money or only some. You start your online shopping adventure through their website and it automatically calculates how much you've earned based on what you spend at the store - you just have to remember to start at the Upromise site! They have a toolbar you can download to your computer to make it easier.
I really recommend that anyone remotely connected to a person who will attend school someday enroll in Upromise. It is truly a winning situation for members; I've never seen or experienced problems with it.
This has me exploring avenues for some income, any income. I checked the Upromise account and they are ridiculously flexible with you. I was able to switch the Upromise account to myself and sent away for my first disbursement check. It's not a huge amount of money but every little bit helps, and it's not an insignificant amount either. They don't require any verification on how you've spent it on education-related expenses. You can use it to pay down school loans as well. (See? I told you it was flexible!)
The way Upromise works is that, as a member (free enrollment), you earn a percentage from online shopping, eating out, and using their credit card. You can use all the methods available for earning money or only some. You start your online shopping adventure through their website and it automatically calculates how much you've earned based on what you spend at the store - you just have to remember to start at the Upromise site! They have a toolbar you can download to your computer to make it easier.
I really recommend that anyone remotely connected to a person who will attend school someday enroll in Upromise. It is truly a winning situation for members; I've never seen or experienced problems with it.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Old Navy
I admit, I have a bit of an Old Navy addiction though I've managed to tame it lately - mostly because I don't do much shopping. Well, I shop a bit less, I still shop way too much!
Anyway, I wanted a few things for my adventures in hiking and snow (more to come on that) so I bought some things during the Black Friday madness that befell me (I have a truly embarassing pile of boxes waiting for me at work - at least MOST of them are gifts). I looked online today and two things I had purchased were on sale, which gives me an emotion that can only be expressed in cat language: I haz the sadz.
I called on a whim (I never do this kind of thing) and explained my predicament to the nice lady on the phone, and she adjusted the price for me! I know for old hands at this saving money business this is probably no surprise at all, but I've never asked for a sale price adjustment. She explained that Old Navy has a policy of adjusting the price once on an item, and that you have 14 days from purchase date to do this. Even online! I'm sure most companies have a policy like this but it's always good to ch-ch-check it out! Of course, I ruined whatever savings I received by buying more stuff oO It's hard, man...their prices are so gooood....I remember writing them an email, back in the day, explaining I was probably one of their best customers lol. Yes, I really did do that. I wrote them an Ode to Old Navy.
I told you I was addicted! And I will be quitting my shopping addiction cold turkey come January...I wonder if there is a twelve step program for that???
Anyway, I wanted a few things for my adventures in hiking and snow (more to come on that) so I bought some things during the Black Friday madness that befell me (I have a truly embarassing pile of boxes waiting for me at work - at least MOST of them are gifts). I looked online today and two things I had purchased were on sale, which gives me an emotion that can only be expressed in cat language: I haz the sadz.
I called on a whim (I never do this kind of thing) and explained my predicament to the nice lady on the phone, and she adjusted the price for me! I know for old hands at this saving money business this is probably no surprise at all, but I've never asked for a sale price adjustment. She explained that Old Navy has a policy of adjusting the price once on an item, and that you have 14 days from purchase date to do this. Even online! I'm sure most companies have a policy like this but it's always good to ch-ch-check it out! Of course, I ruined whatever savings I received by buying more stuff oO It's hard, man...their prices are so gooood....I remember writing them an email, back in the day, explaining I was probably one of their best customers lol. Yes, I really did do that. I wrote them an Ode to Old Navy.
I told you I was addicted! And I will be quitting my shopping addiction cold turkey come January...I wonder if there is a twelve step program for that???
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Pinch a nickel til it slaps a restraining order on you
There is a certain skill set associated with poverty. I see the undomiciled at work and, man! Are they connected! Their networking skills are truly enviable. They know of every handout, every government source of income, and of every community resource available for them. I am a total newbie, and certainly have a place to sleep (the less said about THAT the better), but I'm hoping I will learn more about living cheaply and can pass on information to you. Yes, ALL of you ;)
I'm currently trying to get all the basics in place. Current crisis: getting my kid to school. I have some days with very early classes and prefer to ask Mom to take the wee one to school as little as possible because believe me, I know I'll be hearing about it over. And over. Again. There's no help for it on the days I have 7am class; Mom has to take him. But on the days I have 8am class...I checked at his school's office to see if they have a before school care I could pay for, just one day a week. The kind school marm informed me that I can bring the kid to breakfast that starts at 7:30am.
Great! So, I can just pay for one day of breakfast a week?
No, it's free.
Free to EVERYONE?
Yes, absolutely free.
FREEEEEEE....my hands clasped at my heart, my eyes grew heart-shaped, I trilled sweetly, FREEEEEEE...(I have a whole host of inner Looney Tunes voices-try it, there's a voice for anything in that line up)
How terrific is that? My tax dollars at work! I think. So that solves THAT crisis. I have other crisises looming, like, health insurance, student loans, and, you know, eating, but that's for another day.
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
The Color Run & The Glow Run
This is why I love the new proliferation of fun runs, as I call them. I just made that up right now. I'm signed up for The Color Run and The Glow Run happening later this year. For The Color Run we already have a team of 15 (!) signed up. (Team Colorin Colorado!) These are NOT serious, timed, competitive races-these are all about having fun with like-minded people who don't mind going outside in daylight hours, getting a little sweaty, and getting a lot silly. I'm sure for some people going it is their first race, and that's a beautiful thing, seriously. No doubt some people scoff at these races, but I'm sure a lot of people will be sleeping in that day and not doing anything more strenuous than lifting the remote and ordering a pizza. Like that meme going around says, "You are lapping everyone on the couch".
Monday, August 13, 2012
Boost Mobile
I remember when I first saw the iPhone. Frankly, it was beautiful. Sleek, smooth, modern, polished...I coveted it. And OMG - in white! That's a sexy beast.
My dear brother handed me down his old iPhone two years ago and I switched over to AT&T. I loved everything about it, even though it was often fickle, temperamental, and undependable. I am using the second iPhone hand-me-down from my brother and this one has an issue of just...turning off. Like, all the time. I was figuring I'd wait until the new one comes out in September, cough up the 200 bucks and extent my contract another two years. But...but!
I really don't use my phone that much. I mean, I use it all the time but I don't really USE it. I don't even talk on the phone; even with my 450 minute plan I have rollover minutes every month. I just use my phone to text, take pictures, for driving directions, to check email, and to go on Facebook. I'm being completely honest here. So, why am I paying so much for that?
I started to comparison shop between all the mainstream cellular companies but it's pointless - you really can't save any money with them...a couple dollars here and there, but they all really cost about the same. I started randomly googling things and found this review that rated prepaid plans. I learned about Boost Mobile - they are well reviewed online and have great prices. There is even a good deal of customer love expressed for them on their Facebook page, and you know how people love to gripe on Facebook pages! They have a deal where every 6 months you pay your bill on time, your payment goes down $5, for a maximum of $15 in savings. Their unlimited text/talk/web plan for Android phones starts at $55 and can go down to $40 a month if you pay on time (and I ALWAYS do). Now, THAT is a savings. If I end up at $40, that is less than half of what I pay now.
Some people complained online about the phone selection being limited but, to be honest, I hate having too many choices. I checked out the Android phones and used the reviews at PC Magazine to help me decide...the second best choice was on sale and had a coupon code, so it was $100 less than the top choice...$199 instead of $299. That was my choice! Supposedly they will be introducing the iPhone in a while at Boost Mobile but they don't discount their phones. I'd never be able to justify buying it at full price. Besides, what did Apple ever do for me?
I already called AT&T to cancel my plan at the end of the month (to avoid early termination fees, ya know). My phone gets here in a few days and closer to the end of the month, I'll activate it. I'll have to get a new number but I'm ok with that...I kind of like being able to avoid people from my past by wiping away my trail every once in a while ;) I'll have to report back once I get the whole thing up and running...how exciting!
My dear brother handed me down his old iPhone two years ago and I switched over to AT&T. I loved everything about it, even though it was often fickle, temperamental, and undependable. I am using the second iPhone hand-me-down from my brother and this one has an issue of just...turning off. Like, all the time. I was figuring I'd wait until the new one comes out in September, cough up the 200 bucks and extent my contract another two years. But...but!
I really don't use my phone that much. I mean, I use it all the time but I don't really USE it. I don't even talk on the phone; even with my 450 minute plan I have rollover minutes every month. I just use my phone to text, take pictures, for driving directions, to check email, and to go on Facebook. I'm being completely honest here. So, why am I paying so much for that?
I started to comparison shop between all the mainstream cellular companies but it's pointless - you really can't save any money with them...a couple dollars here and there, but they all really cost about the same. I started randomly googling things and found this review that rated prepaid plans. I learned about Boost Mobile - they are well reviewed online and have great prices. There is even a good deal of customer love expressed for them on their Facebook page, and you know how people love to gripe on Facebook pages! They have a deal where every 6 months you pay your bill on time, your payment goes down $5, for a maximum of $15 in savings. Their unlimited text/talk/web plan for Android phones starts at $55 and can go down to $40 a month if you pay on time (and I ALWAYS do). Now, THAT is a savings. If I end up at $40, that is less than half of what I pay now.
Some people complained online about the phone selection being limited but, to be honest, I hate having too many choices. I checked out the Android phones and used the reviews at PC Magazine to help me decide...the second best choice was on sale and had a coupon code, so it was $100 less than the top choice...$199 instead of $299. That was my choice! Supposedly they will be introducing the iPhone in a while at Boost Mobile but they don't discount their phones. I'd never be able to justify buying it at full price. Besides, what did Apple ever do for me?
I already called AT&T to cancel my plan at the end of the month (to avoid early termination fees, ya know). My phone gets here in a few days and closer to the end of the month, I'll activate it. I'll have to get a new number but I'm ok with that...I kind of like being able to avoid people from my past by wiping away my trail every once in a while ;) I'll have to report back once I get the whole thing up and running...how exciting!
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