Home Living Magazine | Home Decorating | Frugal Living | Recipes and Cooking | House and Home | Saving Money | Parenting | Holidays and Events | Entertaining | Crafts | Gardening and Gardens


Free Samples




How to Get Rid of Fruit Flies
in Your Kitchen the Frugal Way


budget

Freebies, Samples, Coupons, and Bargains

by Home Living Magazine

Freebies, Samples, Coupons, and Bargains

 
Be sure to *LIKE* Frugal Press on Facebook to get the latest free samples, coupons, bargains, frugal living tips, and personal finance help, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frugal-Press/184376571588206.

 

Free Starter Pack of Olay Products
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/03/30/free-starter-pack-of-olay-products/

Free Sample of Uncle Bens® Ready Rice
http://tinyurl.com/4nm79ay

Free Sample of Australian Dream Pain Relief
http://www.australiandream.com/free-pain-relief-sample/

Do you love to eat out? Well here is your chance to eat out FREE!
http://tinyurl.com/5u5nzj

Free Sample of Quaker Oat Squares
http://quakeroats.com/share/

Free Sample of Cheese-It Snacks
http://www.facebook.com/cheezit?v=app_137697646284792

Free Sample of Organix Hydrating Teatree Mint Shampoo
http://beautypureandsimple.com/FreeSample.asp

Free Sample of FiberChoice Fiber Supplements
https://www.fiberchoice.com/fcsample.promo?sessioncheck=true

Free Sample of Sun Frog Eco Fin Wood Stain
http://www.sunfrog.com/samplerequestEF.html

Free Sample of Alterna Skincare for Hair
http://www.alternahaircare.com/AmericanSalon/index.html

Free Sample of Zantac
http://www.zantacotc.com/sample/

Free Sample of CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/03/30/free-sample-of-covergirl-outlast-lipstain/

Free Sample of Aveda Men’s Aftershave
http://www.avedathanksman.com/

Free eBook Download: Get Paid to do Online Paid Surveys
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/02/07/free-ebook-download-get-paid-to-do-online-paid-surveys/

‎7 Free issues of Parents Magazine
http://www.parents.com/huggiesgift

Free Samples of Tide Products
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/03/30/free-samples-of-tide-products/

Free Sample of Lacoste Cologne
http://www.lacoste-parfums.com/free-sample/

FREE 2011 San Diego Padres Kids Club Kit
http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/sd/fan_forum/jrpadres_form.jsp

Free FULL SIZE Sample of Suave Styling Product
http://www.maketimeforchange.com/campaigns/giveaway/tab/

Free Samples from Start Sampling Showcase
http://www.startsampling.com/showcase/

Free Sample of Tasters Choice
http://tinyurl.com/5uzckwv

Common Cents – A Simple Guide to Saving, Making, and Managing Your Money
http://www.frugalpress.com/cc/

Free Sample of Lacoste Cologne
http://www.lacoste-parfums.com/free-sample/

Free FULL SIZE Sample of Suave Styling Product
http://www.maketimeforchange.com/campaigns/giveaway/tab/

Free Case of Baby Formula
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/03/30/free-case-of-baby-formula/

Free Sample Of Wellness Cat and Dog Food
http://sharetruewellness.com/trywellness

Free subscription to Working Mother magazine from mercurymagazines
http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/121/121567

Free Aveeno Samples
http://tinyurl.com/66gfs3a

Easy Breakfast Ideas Recipes – 30 Delicious Breakfast Recipes!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frugal-Press/184376571588206?sk=app_7146470109

Free Divigel Travel Compact
http://www.divigelus.com/Sample

Easing the Financial Burden of Becoming a One-Income Household
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/02/01/easing-the-financial-burden-of-becoming-a-one-income-household/

Free Sample of Dove Energy Glow
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/03/30/free-sample-of-dove-energy-glow/

Free Netgear WNR3500L wireless-N router from the FCC
http://www.testmyisp.com/

Free Create Less Waste Coloring Book
http://nepis.epa.gov/Exe/ZyNET.exe?ZyActionL=Register&User=anonymous&Password=anonymous&Client=EPA&Init=1

Free SoOrganic Makeup Samples
http://www.soorganic.com/

How to Eat Gluten Free Gourmet Meals on a Budget
http://www.budgeting.ws/how-to-eat-gluten-free-gourmet-meals-on-a-budget/

Free Chicet Skin Care Samples
http://www.chicet.com/free_sample/rosacea-natural-skin-care.html

Free House Shaped Chocolate for First 200,000
http://www.facebook.com/KudzuFans?sk=app_142306875835435

Free Ugg Boots
http://www.hairtotoes.com/free-ugg-boots/

Free Lasagna Cookbook
http://www.greatcheese.com/lasagna/sorrento.php

Free Sample Of Member’s Mark Infant Formula
http://www.membersmarkformula.com/free_sample.aspx

‎5 Easy Ways to Cut Living Expenses
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/02/01/5-easy-ways-to-cut-living-expenses/

Free 2011 Wildflower Reference Guide
http://shop.wildseedfarms.com/inforequest.asp

FREE Soul Surfer “Behind-The-Scenes” YouthWorker Resources
http://soulsurfer.interlinc-online.com/signup/

Free Pack of Basil Seeds
http://tomatoheirlooms.com/free-seeds

Free Samples of Freds® Diapers
http://tinyurl.com/684lxfu

Best Home Decorating Tips on a Budget
http://tinyurl.com/4sswcso

Free Sample of Murad Sun Undone Vitamin C Infusion Facial
http://www.murad.com/sun-undone/sampleRequest/sampleRequestv1.jsp?segment=14053&roiid=MRDC440&bc=1301436445400

Get Paid to Review Products
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2010/12/31/get-paid-to-review-products-5-to-75-per-review-4/

Free 1-2-3 Collection Food Network Binder
http://www.foodnetmag.com/sweeps/enter/2

Free Biore Cleanser Sample
https://www.facebook.com/bioreskin?sk=app_186897311355639

Moms, Work at Home and Get Paid
http://tinyurl.com/2bo8mhr

Free Juno Baby CD or T-Shirt
http://spreadsheets.google.com/a/thejunocompany.com/viewform?formkey=dDd6VkxxcVFsdlhHb2szRzJUNkEzVFE6MQ&ndplr=1

Free T-Shirt
http://stinkatnothing.com/index.php/the-science/

How to Shop Frugal
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/03/10/how-to-shop-frugal/

FREE Sample Of Matrix Biolage Créme Masque
http://hydratherapie.biolage.com/

Better Budgeting Tips: Avoiding Impulse Spending
http://www.budgeting.ws/better-budgeting-tips-avoiding-impulse-spending/

Free Lanyard, Clip Or Reel Sample
http://www.lanyards.com/sample-request.htm

Free Energy Bears Coloring Book
http://maravilla.org/services.html

Free Sample of Carefree® Acti-Fresh Liner
http://tinyurl.com/6h9jbtp

Free Wild Life Postcard Set
https://secure2.convio.net/sierra/site/SPageServer?pagename=LB_Ack_Choice&JServSessionIdr005=li37f2bg61.app24a

Free Avery NoteTabs and PocketTabs Samples
http://www.facebook.com/Avery?sk=app_188162981206018

Free Keep the Beat Recipes: Deliciously Healthy Family Meals book
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/ktb_recipebk/famrec.htm

Gas Saving Tips
http://tinyurl.com/4887upa

$10 Build A Bear Coupon
https://buildabearnews.com/servlet/formlink/f?IHIOQSSUAVkLjpHtpFLKVARDASWCTTRAUYYTYRVLuHptXHKKjLkkVybv6xfwff516zeG17bEQ8wf

Naturally Fresh Deodorant Sample
http://www.naturallyfreshdeodorantcrystal.com/tccd-unscented-deodorant

Free Sweet Tweet
http://www.facebook.com/SweetTweets?sk=app_153973997993205

Free Endangered Species Coloring Book & Posters
http://www.epa.gov/espp/coloring/

Free Printable Coloring Book
http://www.toysrus.com.au/static/uploads/Geoffrey-Coloring-Book.pdf

Free Sample Australian Dream Pain Relieving Arthritis Cream
http://www.australiandream.com/freesamples6741sam8s

How to Cut Your Grocery Bill in Half and Save Money on the Cost of Food
http://tinyurl.com/4wbfvq5

Free Degree for Women Samples
http://www.facebook.com/DegreeWomen?sk=app_100170743399967

Free Suave Products
http://www.suave.com/canyoutel

Free Royal Purple Racing T-shirt
http://www.royalpurpleinfo.com/napa/getInfo.html?gsubmit=check+my+answers

Free Sample of Fiber Choice
http://www.fiberchoice.com/

Using Vinegar to Clean: How Vinegar Can Help Clean and Save You Money
http://tinyurl.com/4bocfpy

New Printable Coupons for Week of March 23
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/03/23/new-printable-coupons-for-week-of-march-23/

‎3 Free Issues of Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade® Magazine
http://tinyurl.com/5uzckwv

Free SoyJoy
http://tinyurl.com/4nm79ay

Have Your Own Frugal Living Site
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/03/21/have-your-own-frugal-living-site/

FREE Tax Preperation with H&R Block
Get Your Taxes Done at Home with H&R Block
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/03/18/get-your-taxes-done-at-home-with-hr-block/

Mega Couponing – How to Save Money Using Coupons
http://www.frugalsimplicity.com/2011/03/12/mega-couponing-how-to-save-money-using-coupons/

Printable $1 off coupon on Reynolds Slow Cooker Liners
http://www.reynoldspkg.com/reynoldskitchens/en/coupon/reynolds-slow-cooker.aspx

Personal Budgeting Kit
http://www.budgeting.ws/personal-budgeting-kit/

Free Sample of Aquadine Freshwater Fish Food
http://aquadine.com/freesample.php

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter


Tagged as: , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

Setting a Realistic Wedding Budget

by Home Living Magazine

Setting a Realistic Wedding Budget

You have dreamed about your wedding day since you were a child. You might have envisioned fairy tale dresses, plush limousines, hundreds of your closest friends and family members, and dancing until dawn. After all, this is your special day and you want to give your new life the best start you can.

Now that it’s approaching, reality is setting in. You know you deserve all of your dreams, but perhaps you’re not sure just how you’ll pay for them. You could max out your credit cards, but starting your married life deeply in debt doesn’t sound so romantic. You need to set a budget.

Setting a realistic wedding budget doesn’t mean you need to forget the fairy tale. It simply means you need to prioritize and plan how you will spend your money. That way you will be able to afford the things that are most important to you. And you will be able to start your married life without unnecessary, burdensome debt.

Begin setting your budget by setting your priorities. You have a vision of what you want your wedding to look like. But it’s time to take a more realistic approach. Decide which of the items you want to include are must haves, which are optional, and which would just be nice to have, but you could do without if you needed to.

Determine how much you can spend. How much money do you have saved for your wedding? How much will you be able to save before the big day? It’s important to be honest about how much you really can afford. That will help you avoid a lot of problems and conflicts as you plan your wedding, and ensure that you don’t create additional stress by running out of money too soon.

Decide how much you will spend on each area. Now that you know your priorities, and you know how much you have to spend, you can decide how much money you will spend on each area of your wedding. One way to organize this is to create a notebook sheet for each expense, such as dress, flowers, invitations, and write down your budget for that area.

Budget for the unexpected. As carefully as you plan, you may still have some unexpected expenses. If you overspend in one area, remember you’ll have to make up for it by spending less on something else.

Be creative. There are many ways you can cut down on the high cost of a beautiful wedding. Perhaps you can make your invitations so you can spend more money on your wedding dress. Do you have a friend who loves to cook for a crowd? Maybe she would like to help prepare the wedding feast. You can even rent your wedding dress, if you need to cut down in that area and spend more on others.

Setting a realistic wedding budget doesn’t mean you can’t have the wedding you always dreamed of. It is only a means of making it affordable so you can enjoy your day, without worrying about how much it cost.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter


Tagged as: , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

Frugal Tips to Shrink Your Grocery Bill (Plus Recipes)

by Home Living Magazine

Frugal Tips to Shrink Your Grocery Bill (Plus Recipes)

Frugal Tips to Shrink Your Grocery Bill (Plus Recipes!) offers helpful money saving tips that will cut your grocery bill. Who doesn’t want to and need to save money in these hard financial times? Find out how to save money on groceries with this frugal tips ebook. Also included are some delicious frugal recipes.

 

Frugal Tips to Shrink Your Grocery Bill

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter


Tagged as: , , , , , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

New Year’s Eve Party on a Budget

by Home Living Magazine

A new year is certainly something to celebrate. Yet New Year’s Eve parties have become much more scarce than they once were. It’s a safe bet that one of the biggest reasons for this trend is our shrinking budgets.

What many people do not realize is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to ring in the New Year properly. As long as your friends and family are there, you can always have a good time even without going to a great deal of expense. Here’s how.

* Host the party at your house if possible. If you do not have enough space, ask a friend or family member if you could have the party at their house. Renting a space can be expensive, especially on an occasion like New Year’s Eve.

* Plan your party for late evening. Everyone will probably be staying past midnight anyway, so there’s no need to get started early. If you have the party late, it will give everyone the opportunity to eat dinner before they show up, so you won’t be expected to provide a full meal. Instead, you can just serve some tasty finger foods. But just to be sure everyone knows what to expect, indicate on the invitations that you will be serving refreshments only.

* If you really want to have a meal, make it a potluck. Have each guest bring a dish, and even a drink if you like. You can supply the paper plates, cups, flatware and napkins.

* Don’t feel obligated to have a full bar. You can have a fun party without stocking every type of liquor. You could serve champagne punch or beer as an alternative, or make it an alcohol-free party if you like.

* Keep the decorations simple and inexpensive. Strings of white Christmas lights make great decorations indoors or out. For a centerpiece, gather some branches and pine cones and arrange them in the center of the table. For added flair, spray paint them silver or gold.

* Skip hiring a band to play at your party and make a nice mix CD for the occasion. Or if you have friends that play, ask them to bring their instruments along and have an impromptu jam session.

* Go with cheap entertainment. Borrow movies from the library for a movie marathon, or have guests bring board games that everyone can play. Or break out the cards and chips and have a poker night.

Who said celebrating the New Year required an all-out extravaganza? The point of a New Year’s Eve party is to have fun with the people who mean the most to us. And you don’t have to break the bank to do that.

Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter


Tagged as: , , , , ,

{ 0 comments }

What Steps Can I Take To Ease This Financial Burden?

by Home Living Magazine

During this economic crisis, we have seen retail sales drop, prices on food rise, and the inability to obtain loans from our banks. To this end, here are some steps you can take to ease the financial burden that may cause you great stress.

Establish a household budget and stick to it. Keep contributing to your 401K. Pay down your credit card debt. Utilize cash: if you can’t afford an item, don’t buy it. Limit any wasteful spending such as dining out once a week, buying morning coffee, or lunching out.

If you have CDs at your local bank, AARP advises that you not to automatically roll over your CDs. Instead, maximize the growth of your CDs, always call or visit the bank to review current interest rates, including any promotional rates that might be available. Banks often run promotions offering interest rates higher than their regular rates. You can be certain that an automatic renewal won’t get that rate unless you ask. Millions of CD owners take that easy road at renewal time. Banks love customers like that, but those people are making a mistake that you should avoid.

If your bank has closed, or has merged with another bank, contact the bank to ensure that procedures are still the same. If you are opening a new account, research the many banks in your area. Ensure they are insured by the FDIC for $250,000, and compare bank fees as well.

Make sure you have not overdrawn on your checking account. The fees can quickly add up. Balance your checking account immediately upon receipt of the bank statement. In addition, if you are paying bills on line via your checking account, record the payments into your checkbook immediately. In this way, you know exactly what your balance is at all times.

As far as your yearly taxes are concerned, AARP also advised that you do not overpay your quarterly estimates or increase your tax withholding to avoid owing the IRS money. In reality, it’s a sure way to get less than zero interest on your money. The least expensive way for you to pay your tax liability is to have estimated payments come out as close as possible to the amount owed.

You are allowed to check your credit report annually for free. This is a good time to determine if there is anything on the reports that seems unfamiliar. If so, you can contact each credit report agency directly. Check your FICO scores with each agency as well.

Now is the time to put aside one credit card for emergencies only. If you do have several credit cards, ensure that you make payments on time to avoid late fees or an increase in interest rates. Call your card companies to ascertain if any of the interest rates can be lowered.

Finally, since no one knows how long this crisis will last, it is a good idea to put aside enough money to cover your household expenses including doctor and dental visits, and any other necessary expenditure for the next 18 months.




Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter


Tagged as: , ,

{ 0 comments }

Retirement: Pros and Cons in the Current Economic Environment

by Home Living Magazine

Just when you thought you could finally retire, the stock market takes a nose dive and you may have lost most of your retirement savings. What do you do?

Individuals, especially baby boomers, who had chosen to defer retirement for a few years are now forced to work even longer. Conversely, those who have retired in the last two years are faced with an even greater challenge.

Here is one woman’s account of how early retirement affected her. “As one who retired two years ago at age 57, I have seen my 401K plummet 30% or more. Given that my pension is inadequate and since I have not reached age 59½, which would allow me to roll over my 401K into an IRA account, I am between a rock and a hard place. Thus, my only recourse was to borrow from my 401K to enable me to meet my expenses.

While experts strongly advised against this action, there are others like myself who are in similar straits and need a cushion for the road ahead. While I did borrow a small percent of my funds, I still have to pay it back within five years. I also have another option which I may have to utilize. If the economic situation gets any worse, I may have to default on the payments. This would be considered a distribution, and I would have to pay tax on the borrowed money next year.”

With the price of gas and food on the rise, no one could have predicted that the stock market would plunge 5000 points. This caused a domino effect among major banks and brokerage houses. More importantly, unemployment rose, lending was virtually frozen, and many of us lost most of our money that had been invested through hard work and sacrifice.

Retirement was supposed to be a time when we could make plans, start a business, travel, or simply do the things we have always wanted to do. When the crisis began, more likely than not most of you began to take a hard look at your spending habits and make adjustments.

Perhaps you had to make serious decisions regarding your household budgets, or perhaps you had to take on a second or third job. Many of you may have lost the college tuition savings for your children or you may have been given a pink slip from your employer. The final blow probably came when you realized you couldn’t retire now or anytime in the near future.

There are pros and cons to every decision we make. Retiring in this economic environment may not be the best solution, but when faced with adversity, you will find that inner strength and empower yourself to conquer any challenge.

After pondering the effects of this crisis on her life, the aforementioned retiree offered this advice: “Never regret the decisions you make – life is too short and memories are too long to put yourself through that exercise.”




Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter


Tagged as: , , ,

{ 0 comments }

Five Ways to Save Money on Prescription Drugs

by Home Living Magazine

Prescription drug prices, along with health insurance, have been the bane of society for years. With rising costs of prescriptions, it is no wonder that some individuals are cutting their pills in half thus endangering their own heath. This is unacceptable in our society – yet it continues.

Whether you have health insurance or not, here are five ways you can save on prescription drugs:

1. Ask your doctor to prescribe generic drugs, as they are the least expensive. As stated on MSN Money, “the National Association of Chain Drug Stores estimates that while the average prescription for a generic drug costs about $29.00, the equivalent brand-named drug may cost as much as $101.00.”

In addition, for those of you who have a health plan such as GHI, it should be noted that every year the insurance companies change the rules as far as what drugs are covered under the plan. For example, last year Crestor (a cholesterol drug) was no longer covered under GHI but instead, Zocor was the preferred drug. To preface this point, a one-month supply of Crestor cost over $220.00 compared to Zocor’s generic counterpart Simvastatin which cost only $9.00.

You may say that’s a good thing since the difference in price is substantial. However, Crestor was more effective in lowering cholesterol levels than Zocor, yet the only way one could obtain this drug was by obtaining samples through one’s physician. Unfortunately, a month’s supply was never available for patients. In fact, seniors on Lipitor were also denied this drug by their HMO in favor of Simvastatin.

2. With healthcare costs rising, some people are seeking alternative ways to deal with minor illnesses. Thus, over-the-counter drugs or other holistic remedies are being utilized instead of prescription drugs.

3. If your doctor feels you need a certain prescription for the short term, ask for samples of the drug. This is especially true is the drug does not have a generic counterpart. You may have seen salesmen and saleswomen visiting your doctor at some point during your appointment day; they always bring samples which the doctor keeps in a closet in his office.

4. You may have seen TV ads in which certain drug store chains are offering generic prescriptions for $4.00. As listed on MSN Money, here are the chains you may wish to check out: Kmart, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, and Target. Each of these chains offers generic drugs for $4.00.

5. While you can save money by ordering prescriptions online, this is only recommended if you are ordering from Canada. You may have read or seen online drug prices from both Canada and Mexico. Although prescription generic drugs may be cheaper in these places, ordering from druggists in Mexico is a dangerous alternative. There is no way to determine if the drugs are safe, nor can you ascertain whether they are generic or placebos. This can be a costly error and one that can be life-threatening.




Share this:
Share this page via Email Share this page via Stumble Upon Share this page via Digg this Share this page via Facebook Share this page via Twitter


Tagged as: , ,

{ 0 comments }