Free Crochet Ideas E-book

Click Here to download a free e-book full of cool crochet craft ideas that you can do using a minimal amount of yarn. I'm thinking about all the yarn I have leftover from other crafts and projects so this should be fun and since it's free, why not go check it out?!

HOT $10 Mall Gift Card

Here is a great deal that ShopSmartLookFab is running right now. Enter your information for a free $10 gift card to a local mall - simply enter your zip code to find the nearest participating mall.

Be sure to sign up under the "Gift Card Voucher" Tab for the completely free $10 gift card! Sign up fast - they'll even tell you how many cards are still available for the mall you've chosen.

There is a different promo also running where you bring $75 in receipts from the mall and receive a $10 gift card, which would be great if you still need to do some school shopping.

*To my Washington readers: Alderwood Mall was the closest mall to my Woodinville zip code that is participating in this promotion. So if you shop there, or even if you don't, a free $10 gift card might be worth the trip.

Free 2009 Entertainment Book

I know that we're more than half through 2009 but right now you can get the 2009 Entertainment Book for free when you sign up for your 2010 Entertainment Book. I have always been a big fan of the Entertainment Book because it has so many great discounts for just about everything that people do: dining out, travel, shopping, and entertainment (of course!). My local one only costs $25 and with this deal, it's like getting 2 for the price of 1. Check it out!

Free Kotex Overnight Sample

It seems that I get a free sample everyday in my mailbox. It's just so simple to fill out a quick form and get a new product to try or a product that you already like for free. Here is a great sample of Kotex Overnight with Wings. I have used these before and they really do provide great overnight protection. And really, how can you go wrong with free?!

Free Formula Offer

Do you know someone who is expecting a baby or just gave birth? I consider myself a big fan of breastfeeding, but I recognize that it's not possible for everyone and I found that after I went back to work, I just wasn't able to pump enough to satisfy my little one. This is a great offer that I took advantage of when I was expecting and after I had my daughter last year. Sign up for a great free gift and money-saving coupons from Enfamil formula. I don't think I paid full price once for formula with all of the great coupons that they sent to me.

Free Starbucks Ice Cream

I haven't had Starbucks new ice cream flavors yet but they look absolutely delicious. It's easy to get a free coupon for a free pint of ice cream. Log in to your Facebook account and go here. It says that you can share it with a friend, but also says that no one will judge you if you want to send it to yourself - hee hee! The coupons are given out every hour and I found that the best way to catch one is to click the "Share Now" button as close to the top of the hour as possible. This will be such a cool summer treat - enjoy!

IKEA Free breakfast this weekend

IKEA is once again offering a free breakfast and cup of coffee at its stores this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Check with your local IKEA store to make sure that they are participating. A yummy and frugal way to start the weekend!

New posts coming soon! I hope...

Computer issues and a pink eye outbreak have occupied much of my time this week so I haven't been able to post the Budget Update and some other cool deals. I'm hoping my computer will last long enough for me to post this - I was at a Starbucks yesterday and they were handing out tons of the free samples of the new Via Instant coffee. I literally got 10 samples handed to me and the baristo told me that they had boxes to give away. I am still looking forward to my sample in the mail (no longer available unfortunately), but in the meantime, if you're dying to try it, I would just ask your local store if they have any samples.

Free Organization Tools

Have you checked out organizedhome.com yet? Staying organized is one of the ways that you can save money. That's why I plan our meals each week and do my best to stick with what's on the plan. Organized home has a ton of free printable lists, from shopping to freezer inventory and menu planning. These are a great way to help keep your home organized...now if only there was a printable house cleaner!

Free Sample - Head and Shoulders

Ok, this might be TMI but I have really dry skin in the winter and that includes my head. Lucky for me, Head and Shoulders is offering new samples of their shampoo for dandruff and dry skin problems!

Register with Proctor & Gamble's Everyday Solutions website and they'll send you this free sample. You can also get a free samples of Crest Advance Whitestrips and Prilosec - goodies galore!

What have you got for me lately?

My mailbox has been spinning with all the FREE samples that I've received over the last week. Here's the list and I've linked if it's still available:

Rachel Ray's Nutrish Dog Food Sample
Costco Diaper Samples
Orville Redenbacher Natural Popcorn Sample
Gold Bond lotion sample
Quaker Rice Cakes sample
Home Made Simple coupon book

The Home Made Simple Coupon book has amazing high value coupons for lots of cleaning products like Swiffer, Cascade, Mr. Clean and Febreze.

Sign up for it here:


You can also sign up for Right@ Home coupons and some yummy Valentine's Day recipes here:



The Gold Bond sample is no longer available but you can still get a $1/1 coupon for it here.

I also received my FREE $5 gas card from Chevron from the online quiz back in November. I enjoy trying new things and signing up for samples is a great way to increase your coupon stash as most products also come with coupons! Happy Freebies!

FREE Bally's Fitness Membership

Was one of your New Year's Resolutions to lose some of those holiday pounds? Or maybe you just want to try something new in your workout routine?

To help you check that off your Resolutions List, Bally's Total Fitness is offering a FREE 7-day trial membership. WOW!



In my area, these are really nice gyms with lots of great classes. They also offer personal trainers to get you into shape and keep you motivated to stay in shape!

Click on the link above to find the center nearest you and get all the information you need to redeem your FREE membership. You really don't have anything, except those extra pounds, to lose!!

IKEA Free Breakfast

IKEA is offering a FREE breakfast again, Friday, January 30th through Sunday, February 1st. Check with your local IKEA to ensure that they are participating. Yummy - a good frugal way to start to next weekend!

What have you got for me lately?

We were out of town for the holiday and we missed all the crazy snowy Seattle weather. I had asked a neighbor to collect our mail while we were gone but because of the weather, they didn't deliver - that's how bad it was! It all got delivered today and here's what was in it:

1 Playtex BPA-free bottle
1 Orville Redenbacher's Natural popcorn plus $1.50/2 coupon
1 Free Genesis Juice coupon which also included 1 free container of Toby's Salad Dressing and Toby's Tofu Pate. Not a big pate person but I'll try anything for free!

Most exciting for me was the Pillsbury recipe and coupon book. It is awesome! Includes yummy-looking recipes that I can't wait to try and best of all, $10 worth of coupons for Pillsbury and other General Mills products. You really can't go wrong with this deal. You can still sign up for it here:

$10 in Coupons with the Pillsbury Newsletter

I usually prefer to make my own pie crusts, pizza dough and other bread but since I am a working mom I sometimes have to go the easy route and use pre-made dough. That's where Pillsbury saves me! Their newsletters have easy time-saving recipes and fun meal ideas. Sign up here for the Pillsbury Newsletter and you'll receive $10 in free coupons for their products:

Free Entertainment + $1.17 for Dog Food

I had to take advantage of this deal since I was on my way to Fred Meyer for a present for a birthday party that we are going to on Sunday. Petco has Hill's Science Diet Dog Food on sale for Petco P.A.L.s members for $5.00. I printed a $5/1 coupon and paid only the tax - $1.17! I wanted to do more than one of these but even when I used another computer, it wouldn't print more than once. See the details of this deal at JANE4girls.

I have not shopped at a "pet store" for quite some time, since we usually buy the huge bags of dog food at Costco (100lb labradors eat A LOT!)so I forgot about this totally free entertainment for your kids. We watched the birds, the fish and then the "Lizard Wizard" came over and pulled out the snakes, lizards and turtles for us to pet. My 4-year old was enthralled! A great place to visit on a rainy day.

Enjoying my free Starbucks!

I am sitting at my desk, enjoying my free Starbucks right now and debating about whether to go to Ben & Jerry's for free ice cream after I pick the kids up from daycare. Is the line going to be unbearable? We have our "I voted" stickers firmly attached to our shirts!

Frugal Finds Giveaways

Carol at Frugal Finds from your Frugal Friend is celebrating her Blog-iversary this week with lots and lots of awesome giveaways. I am particularly excited about the Babylegs since the weather in the Seattle area has made a definite shift to fall in the last week. My 3-month old needs these! I also love the reusable grocery bags - I currently use a variety of different bags including a freebie from BECU (Boeing Employees Credit Union) and other canvas bags that were just lying around my house. It will be great to have a coordinated look when I go to the store!!
Go to her blog and sign up for these wonderful giveaways - good luck and thanks Carol!

Free Ice Cream!

On September 25, from 5-8pm, Cold Stone Creamery is giving away a 3oz. creation. There are two "Make a Wish" combos to choose from: Nutter Butter ice cream mixed with yellow cake, Kit Kat candy bar and white chocolate chips or marshmallow ice cream mixed with 0reo cookies, chocolate chips and fudge. Mmmmmm - (cue Homer drooling sound)

Check with your local CSC to see if they are participating: www.coldstonecreamery.com

The line at my closest one is out the door on a regular day so I'm betting the line on this day will be wrapped around the block! If you know a secret one, go to it and enjoy!