Inexpensively Frugal Blog Network » News

Kate Plus 8 = Coupon Mom?

Heather Sokol — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:07:01 +0000

If you were wondering what Kate Gosselin would do, with Kate Plus 8 canceled this year, worry no more. She has found a new job—as a coupon blogger. Yep, that’s right. Kate Gosselin, coupon mom.

Beginning November 22nd, Kate will be a weekly contributor to CouponCabin.com—offering shopping tips, money saving advice, and budget gift ideas. Her first post will discuss tips for navigating Black Friday.

Um, seriously? Kate Gosselin isn’t the type of person found standing in line with me on Black Friday. I’m having a hard time buying into the whole idea of Kate as a bargain shopper.

I just can’t for one second believe that Kate has focused on frugal living and couponing while making millions on TLC. Oh, sure, she may have been “seen recently using coupons” but that doesn’t make her a couponer.

As a lifelong couponer and longtime frugal blogger, I’m incredibly disappointed in Coupon Cabin’s choice. Like me, frugal bloggers all over the internet work hard to share money saving ideas, shopping strategies, and bargain finds, based on our real life experiences.

Yet, the woman who recently tweeted about her $700 grocery bill will now be crowned Coupon Queen.

What do you think? Will you take money saving advice from Kate Gosselin?

Jetting Off to Motor City

Heather Sokol — Sat, 08 Jan 2011 21:18:05 +0000

Tomorrow is a bit of a mile stone for me—I’ll be getting on an airplane all by myself, like a big girl! I’m not much for flying. At all. However, I have occasionally flown with the hubby. This time, though, he’ll be parent-in-charge while I attend the Ford’s Driving Green Technology Event at NAIAS on Monday & Tuesday.

I’m thrilled to be joining fellow green, tech and lifestyle bloggers from more than 10 countries—how cool is that?! I’m also pretty excited to have the chance to get behind the wheel of some of Ford’s sustainable vehicles. From fuel efficiency to recycled denim fabrics, we’ll be seeing their eco efforts up close & personal. It should be an interesting couple of days.

If you’ve got questions for the Ford team, let me know—I’ll do my best to get answers for you. We’ll also be sharing info & tips from Ford executives and the green & tech teams throughout the even on Twitter, through the hashtag #FordGreen. I’ll be checking in around here throughout my time in Michigan as well.

The 31 Days to a Better Budget series will continue daily (barring any technical hiccups), and I’ll be back next week with new grocery deals & more money saving ideas.

I was invited to participate in this program by Clever Girls Collective, Inc. in partnership with Ford and Ogilvy PR. Ford Motor Company paid for my travel and accommodations at the 2-day Driving Green Technology event, I was not compensated in any other manner for my time. My opinions posted here are my own.

Five Scams That Steal Your Christmas Twinkle

LiveWellForLess — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 14:03:34 +0000

Image Credit Georgie C.

It’s that time of year again when cyber criminals are hard at work trying to separate you from your holiday joy. They’re busy tricking victims into contributing to made-up charities, investing in Ponzi schemes and bidding on phony auctions. All in an attempt to take advantage of your generosity and to steal your cash.

Here are five holiday scams to watch out for.

Virus Ridden Holiday eCards. With postage rates heading skyward, many folks are sending Christmas eCards this year. Unfortunately, some on-line greetings are accompanied by malicious spyware and other corruptive devices.

Solution - Resist the temptation to open forwarded eCards. Only open those from people you know.

It’s also a good idea to make sure your computers are protected against malware by installing anti-virus products like Norton or McAfee.

Made-Up Charities. Thieves solicit funds for phony and sound alike charities by making phone calls, and sending text and email messages.

Solution - Protect yourself by donating through a charity’s website or checking on its legitimacy through IRS Publication 78. An online version is available to help you research organizations that are eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions. The most common type of nonprofit is designated 501(c)3.

Loan Scams. Don’t fall victim to ads marketing quick cash, with no credit check. Most have applications that require an upfront processing fee. Once the fee is paid, victims never hear from the scammers again.

Solution - A better alternative is to pare down your Christmas spending by using the cash you have on hand.

Shopping Scams. Popular networking and auction sites provide convenient and money saving opportunities for buyers and sellers. They’re also prime real-estate for scammers and other cyber thieves. The most popular scams involve cars, jewelry, and tickets to sporting events and live shows.

Solution – Stay away from buyers and sellers who display the following characteristics:

Uses a wire service for monetary transactions.
Pays by money order, or cashier’s check and even legitimate escrow services.
Refuses to meet you in person.

Whether selling an item in person or via the Internet, it’s best to only accept cash. And always … trust your instincts.

Holiday Vacation Rentals. This type of fraud is gaining momentum because many folks choose to spend Christmas and other holidays away from home. Soaking up rays in the Caribbean, skiing in Vail and sightseeing in The Big Apple are popular hot spots.

Beware of criminals reposting legitimate rental property ads as their own. Scammers create fraudulent email accounts and other identifying information using the real names of brokers and property owners who place bona fide ads. Victims interested in renting properties unwittingly communicate and send funds to accounts criminals create.

Solution – Use well-known travel agencies and Internet sites.

Remember – If it sounds too good to be true … it is.

Today’s holiday bandits make it hard to keep the twinkle in your eye this year. It takes careful planning and a few street smarts to keep sneaky criminals at bay.

Kid Grade Twitter Party: $200 in Prizes – Amazon, Target and more!

Heather Sokol — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 17:01:41 +0000

We are thrilled to be working with KidGrade—I just love the entire concept behind this site. With KidGrade, you can find & rate family friendly dining, travel, shopping & fun. Ratings are specifically based on how kid friendly a location will be.

No more wasting money on a miserable experience! An amazing place may get top general ratings, but knowing exactly what to expect for kids is important for families. They officially launched in Chicago last month—and I’m already planning family road trips now that I have a reference for the best things to do with kids in one of my favorite cities.

In fact, it’s going on our official 2011 family fun calendar—the most frugal gift we’re giving this year. Each of our girls is receiving a paper calendar, with Family Fun Days already marked off. They may be as simple as family movie night or as involved as a day trip to Chicago, but I’m making a concerted effort to do more with the girls. The calendar itself is inexpensive (how about free?!), but I just know it’s going to be one of their favorite gifts.

We’ll be talking more about frugal holidays with KidGrade on Monday, November 29th—complete with $200 in prizes! Be sure to RSVP below to be entered to win a $50 Amazon gift card. Additional gift card prizes will be awarded to Twitter party guests during a fun discussion—share gift ideas, holiday travel tips and more. Plus, get more information on how you can win an iPod just for reviewing your favorite family spots!

Party Details:

When: Monday, November 29th 7-8pm CT
Hashtag: #kidgrade (Follow the hashtag, KidGrade and us on TweetGrid.)
Prizes:

Grand Prize: $50 Amazon Gift Card (must RSVP and be present to win)
$25 Target Gift Card from Sunshine Rewards
$25 Gino’s East Pizza Gift Card
Kids Travel Kits
Family Travel Guide Books

If you aren’t already signed up for the Sunshine Rewards cash back site, you’re missing out on a chance to earn gift cards. My friend Staci, at November Sunflower, used her rewards program gift cards for free holiday shopping! I’m looking forward to hearing your ideas for frugal holidays at Monday’s chat!

Chat Hosts:

@Inexpensively
@KidGrade

@JustHeather (that’s me!)
@ItsToni, from Cheapo McFrugalpants
@AliciaMarie112 from Making Time for Mommy

RSVP

The prizes are provided by KidGrade and other sponsors. They will be awarded to Twitter party participants only. You must RSVP and join the discussion on Monday to win the Amazon gift card grand prize. Additional prizes will be awarded to participants during the event. I have been compensated for hosting this event, but all opinions are 100% mine.

Welcome Fox59 Viewers: Black Friday Shopping Tips

Heather Sokol — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 12:41:54 +0000

With Thanksgiving only a few days away, Sherman and I are looking ahead to Black Friday! Today on Fox59 Morning News, we laid out our Black Friday battle plans—are you braving the cold, crowds and chaos in search of the ultimate deals? I spent the morning with Sherman Live! at Meijer in Carmel, helping you prepare for the big shopping event and finding all the hottest deals!

For more Black Friday tips, check out:

And, if you still aren’t ready for Thanksgiving, I’ve got a few last minute tips to help with the big feast! Plus, find more ideas for your Thanksgiving dinner here on Inexpensively:

Our team works to save you money on everything else as well! At Inexpensively, we believe it is possible to live the life you want, for less. We also teach saving techniques on basic household expenses, provide tips for finding the hottest deals and share free grocery lists for sales across the country.

Check out a few of our favorite basic savings:

Playing Catch-Up

Heather Sokol — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 17:03:06 +0000

Earlier this summer, I experienced an eye emergency, resulting in a procedure that makes it difficult to spend long periods of time at the computer. Coupled with having all 3 girls home from school, I’ve gotten way behind on everything. From laundry to dating the hubby to compiling grocery lists, things are really slipping through the cracks.

I have big plans for Inexpensively and some exciting changes in the works for later this year. The grocery lists will remain a part of it, though as Team Inexpensively grows there will likely be others taking over more of the stores. We will all get back into the swing of things over the next few weeks, as things settle & children head back to school.

Thank you for sticking with me, and I hope you’re enjoying the rest of our money saving tips in the meantime.

Welcome Fox59 Viewers: Back to School Bargains

Heather Sokol — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 13:48:10 +0000

I am so thrilled to working with the Fox59 Morning News team! Today, we talked about a few great school supply deals as well as a couple ways to save money on clothes.

At Inexpensively, we believe it is possible to live the life you want, for less. We also teach saving techniques on basic household expenses, provide tips for finding the hottest deals and share weekly grocery lists for sales across the country.

For more back to school ideas, check out:

A Teacher’s Back to School Shopping Guide
Back to School Clothes
Declutter by Hosting a Swap
Cutting Clothing Costs
Back to School Resource (my newest project)

At Inexpensively, our team works to save you money on everything else as well! Check out a few of our favorite basic savings:

Bacon, Eggs & Coupons Twitter Party: BlogHer Prep, Fun & Prizes

Heather Sokol — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 19:18:10 +0000

We are pleased to be partnering with Red Plum and Retail Me Not to host the Bacon, Eggs & Coupons breakfast in New York City during the fabulous BlogHer Conference. We’ll be connecting with other frugal bloggers for conversations & challenges that surround our niche. I know we’re all looking forward to the opportunity to learn, share and grow our blogs together.

To facilitate networking and sharing, we are also hosting a pre-event Twitter party. We’ve partnered with Blog Conference Newbie to answer all your burning questions! Will I know anyone? Where can I recharge my laptop? How many business cards do I need? Am I bringing too many shoes? You know, the important stuff. (By the way, the answer to that one is always no. Unless you’re a dude. In which case, you’d probably never ask in the first place.)

Join us Monday night to get to know one another, discuss conference plans and ask questions. And, what Twitter party would be complete without prizes? In addition to great tips & tricks, we’ll have fun prizes & gift cards! We’ll update the prize list as we finalize details, but you can enter to win a $50 gift card of your choice from ShopAtHome.com when you RSVP below and attend the Twitter party on 7/26.

Details:

Who: Anyone who wants to network & prepare for BlogHer
What: Twitter chat
When: Monday, July 26th, 9pm NYC time
Where: #BECbreakfast hashtag (Follow #BECbreakfast, our sponsors & hosts on TweetGrid!)

Chat Hosts:

@Inexpensively & @BaconEggCoupons
@JustHeather, Heather Sokol
@UnxperiencedMom, founder of Blog Conference Newbie
@AliciaMarie112, Making Time for Mommy
@CorrinRenee, Broke as a Spoke
@ItsToni, Shopping Adventures of Cheapo McFrugalpants
@MadameDeals, Renae from Madame Deals

Bacon, Eggs & Coupons Sponsors:

The RedPlum™ Network has become the fastest growing online coupon network, delivering hundreds of thousands of national and local deals to consumers from coast to coast each month with nearly 1,000 affiliate sites. At redplum.com, you will find one of the largest collections of printable coupons, coupon codes and tips to live the value lifestyle. RedPlum also delivers value each week to over 100 million shoppers in the mailbox, in the newspaper and in-store on the brands shoppers want most.

RetailMeNot.com is the most popular coupon website, with 485,000 coupons for 65,000 stores, restaurants and brands, including Victoria’s Secret, Amazon, Best Buy, Macy’s, Sears and Gap. Shoppers love RetailMeNot.com because they can share, vote on and recommend coupons, making it easy to find the most and best coupons on the web. Bloggers can create a customized coupon feed for their website in seconds by using RetailMeNot.com’s blog widget.

Savvy Source is a comprehensive online guide for all things educational for parents of young children including preschools, camps, and classes. The site is also full of engaging reviews of books, toys, gear, and parenting articles from the country’s leading experts. Best of all we offer fantastic savings opportunities for local family activities and a dynamic online parent community. At the heart of Savvy Source is the Savvy Savings and Scholarships program, which provides parents significant discounts on family-friendly activities, and donates a percentage of the sales to preschools and preschool scholarships. Savvy Savings and Scholarship Partners earn money for local preschools, preschool scholarships, and themselves by sharing the great savings opportunities with their readers.

Groupon Buying Sites in the News (Welcome CNN Readers)

Heather Sokol — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 14:39:52 +0000

Today, on CNN Tech, an article on group buying websites showcased the high tech side of frugality. Saving money can be simple & low tech as a board game date night or as complex as selling your iPhone online to upgrade to the latest version.

At Inexpensively, we share tips every day to help you lower your budget without lowering your standards. Here are a few of our favorite high tech ways to save:

Groupon: Collective Buying Power: A guest post by the fabulous Moosh in Indy with her take on Groupons
How To Organize Your Budget with Free Online Tools: A guest post by Ann Smarty featuring great tips for online budgeting
How ING Direct Helps You Budget & Prevent Identity Theft: A guest post by Eventual Millionaire showcasing her use of ING Direct
How To Save Money on Twitter (Without Ever Sending a Tweet): Not into Twitter? It can still save you money!
Introducing Target Mobile Web Coupons: Find out how to use your cell phone to save big at Target.

If you’re looking for more ways to live your life inexpensively, check back daily for our tips, tricks & deals. Each week, our team provides:

Be sure to connect with us on Facebook & follow us on Twitter for updates, tips & deals.

Service Notice: Summer Vacation

Heather Sokol — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 14:15:12 +0000

Summer is finallly upon us, and much of Team Inexpensively has chosen to kick off with a family vacation! With so many contributors away at the same time, we are declaring an official summer vacation for Inexpensively. While you will still find money saving tips, printable coupons and online codes & deals, there will be no grocery lists through June 30th. We will return at that time with daily deals & weekly grocery lists.

We have planned ahead for daily money saving advice & articles from a few guest authors. We also have big plans for Inexpensively in the coming months, and the hubby & I hope to work on some of it while we’re together all week long. If you have ideas or requests for additions to the site, please feel free to contact us—we’re always interested in improving your experience.

Happy summer!