Tag Archives: Frugal Ideas

Who Needs Gladware?

Posted by Ney@ShopahoicSavers.com on October 23, 2012 None comments

When I cook I often make too much food. Sometimes I make large batches of food to share with family or friends. Recently I decided to wash a few empty plastic food containers to use to send leftovers home with my mother. This is something she used to do for me when she would send food back with me to my college dorm room. Following her lead, I used to keep a few of these in the cabinet to use when we needed them or to give away with food and not worry about getting back. I have gotten away from this but I think I should start doing it again. They are plastic that is already in the environment. I figure it is better to reuse them than to buy plastic containers and create a profit for companies that put more plastic into the environment. It’s another use for these containers before they get recycled.

As someone wise once said, I don’t understand why our society has created something that lasts forever and then called it disposable. It just doesn’t make sense. Also, as soon as we can find some good deals we plan on investing in more glass food storage containers that can go in lunch boxes and be heated up without fear of chemicals leaching into our food. I have already replaced most of our plastic bowls and plates with glass or ceramic ones.

How to Get Free Stuff on Your Birthday!

Posted by Ney@ShopahoicSavers.com on October 16, 2012 None comments

I love the month of October for many reasons, but it also happens to be my birthday month! This year at at the beginning of the month I did something that I have always wanted to do. I signed up for all of our local restaurants e-mail/mail lists to see how much free stuff I could get. I made sure to do this a few weeks before my actual birthday to make sure I would be in their systems in time. I have been really surprised by all of the stuff I have gotten so far (I didn’t even print all of the deals for the picture above) and it isn’t even my birthday yet. Denny’s was the only one that had to be used on my actual birthday for most of these deals I had a week or two to use the coupons.

Note- It is considered VERY rude not to tip on the pre-coupon or pre-gift card total of your bill so please keep in mind that you will still have to tip even if your bill is zero, you are still taking up your server’s table, time and energy when you go out to eat and they have to make a living too.

I signed up for-

– Ruby Tuesday- A Coupon for a Free Burger and a B1G1 Free Coupon for joining

– I-Hop- A Free Birthday Meal and another free meal for joining, the waitress also told us that if I had a coupon and my boyfriend had a coupon (with different names on them) then we could use both of them at the same time but you may want to check with you I-Hop location first

– Denny’s- A Free Birthday Meal (Only on my actual birthday with ID, I don’t know if this was even a coupon or if you can just show up with your ID) and a 20% off the entire check coupon for joining

– Moe’s- Free Queso for joining and a free birthday meal

– Logan’s Roadhouse- A Free Small desert with purchase of an adult meal and a $5 off of a $20 purchase coupon

– Rita’s Italian Ice- A B1G1 Free Coupon for joining and a free italian ice for my bday

– Zaxby’s- They said they would be mailing me something but I haven’t gotten it yet

– Steak and Shake- Nothing yet

What I was already signed up for-

– Victoria Secret (I have their card with a zero balance of course)- A Free $10 gift card

– Sundown Naturals- A $1 off printable coupon

– Panera – A Free Sweet or Pastry with their free reward card (Good for 60 days)

– Texas Roadhouse- Free Appetizer for joining, nothing for my bday yet

– Redbox- A Free Movie Rental Code good for my bday and about two weeks after

– Swagbucks.com- 50 free Swagbucks for my birthday! I did have to confirm the e-mail to get them.

Note- I will continue to update this list if I get more stuff!

Thanks to Heyitsfree.net for their really awesome list of birthday freebies that made this so much easier!

What Free stuff have you received for your birthday? Leave a Comment Below!

Free Coupons with the Orlando Sentinel Advertising Supplement

Posted by Ney@ShopahoicSavers.com on October 16, 2012 4 comments

I’m sure those of you who read the Orlando Sentinel enjoy reading the couponing section that I have in the picture but that’s not the reason that I am posting this picture. This was actually the Orlando Sentinel Advertising Supplement that arrived at my house on Saturday morning for free. It came with all three of this weeks coupon inserts. If the Sentinel starts giving these out every Saturday that could be a great way to get more free coupons.

I recently wrote about how to get even more free coupons with the El Sentinel. Click here to read that article.

How Long Does Food Last?

Posted by Ney@ShopahoicSavers.com on October 7, 2012 None comments

All You Magazine made this infographic about how long your food is good for in the freezer and fridge. While I don’t agree with them on everything I did especially find the freezer section interesting. There is no “Safe to Freeze Until” date on frozen foods so sometimes I throw things out (being cautious) when we probably could have eaten them.

Thanks, Daily Savings from All You

P&G Rebate Card

Posted by Ney@ShopahoicSavers.com on October 2, 2012 None comments

A couple of months ago I discovered that I had already purchased some Pantene items that qualified me for a P&G $5 rebate. I have done P&G rebates before with great results. I was however, surprised today that I received my $5 rebate in the form of a VISA debit card instead of a check. While I would prefer cold, hard cash I think it’s actually really neat. I wonder if all of their future rebates will be debit cards.

Free Coupons with Free El Sentinel Subscription

Posted by Ney@ShopahoicSavers.com on September 16, 2012 7 comments

If you live where you are able to receive an Orlando Sentinel subscription you should call or e-mail them to request a free subscription to the El Sentinel, the Spanish version of the paper. It is delivered on Saturday mornings and often contains most or all of the same coupon inserts as the regular Sunday paper. Sometimes it also contains an extra coupon insert, the Smart Source in Spanish, that usually has different coupons than the regular Smart Source. This is a great way to get a free paper and free coupons. It also usually contains the Parade magazine.

You can also click HERE to subscribe for free on their website.

9-12-12 Recent Free In the Mail

Posted by Ney@ShopahoicSavers.com on September 12, 2012 None comments

Here are the items that I have recently gotten for FREE in the mail. As you already know if you read this blog I LOVE FREE STUFF! When I see a free sample that I think I might like I take a minute and request it and then get them in the mail.

– A can of baby formula (in Spanish)

– A small bag of cat food

– Free Lucky Magazine

– Sample of Caffeine Pills

– Nescafe Drink Mixes

– A Protein bar

– A couple shampoo and conditioner samples (Great for the beach or traveling)

– Most of these also came with high value coupons 🙂

Making Homemade Pizzas

Posted by Ney@ShopahoicSavers.com on August 30, 2012 None comments

We recently tried making homemade pizzas when our friends were over for dinner! We LOVED them. The first time we made them it would have been cheaper to buy premade pizzas because we didn’t have most of the ingredients on hand, but every time after we made them they were a lot cheaper than buying whole pizzas plus they are fun to make. We really enjoyed picking the toppings and making the dough. We found a few different sites that told you how to make the pizzas but we liked this one because it had pictures HERE.

How to Tell if Your Eggs Are Good

Posted by Ney@ShopahoicSavers.com on August 30, 2012 None comments

When we had a chicken coop and a lot of chickens we learned a lot about eggs and when they are good or bad. I recently stumbled across this illustration of how to tell when eggs are good or bad and I thought it was neat.

Articles – Food and Groceries in America

Posted by Ney@ShopahoicSavers.com on August 23, 2012 None comments

While I’m posting articles I thought I would also share this one
“Going hungry in America: ‘Distressing,’ ‘humbling’ and ‘scary’” which makes me grateful that I have more than enough food to eat.

And the opposite
“Report: Americans Waste $2,275 Per Year by Thowing Out 40 Percent of the Food They Buy” which has reminded me that I can always do better about not wasting food.

And here are several first person accounts of people’s experiences with buying groceries and feeding their families in today’s economy-

First Person: Starving College Student — It’s a Reality

First Person: My Battle with Rising Food Prices

First Person: My Family Can’t Afford Meats and Dairy at Our Local Supermarket

First Person: Divorced Family Struggles Against Rising Food Costs