tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37296358540709619242024-03-13T04:37:42.355-07:00Frugal GirlGracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-35243163214411957932015-11-11T18:31:00.002-08:002015-11-12T07:10:00.050-08:00Shareasale Merchant Links<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=141955&u=421161&m=19107&urllink=&afftrack=">A1Supplements.com</a><br />
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Let <a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=45&u=421161&m=47&urllink=&afftrack=">shareasale.com</a> find sales leads for you. Only pay when it works!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-8709157661885448462012-12-20T10:19:00.001-08:002012-12-20T10:19:11.932-08:00Fred Perry 20% Off on Amazon!Just found out today that Fred Perry clothing is going for 20% less (for purchases over $100) on Amazon! This is a limited time offer that ends December 22.<br />
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Bong, this is for you!</div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=frugalgurl-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B008LTDE6Y" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-36316355881569165412012-09-08T10:45:00.001-07:002020-10-13T16:06:48.634-07:00iPhoto: Reject Faces and Rename ThemI've been spending a lot of time sorting out my iPhoto life. I figure it will pay off in time-savings and efficiency pulling out the pics for my blogs.<br />
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In iPhoto, it is easy to select large numbers of photos to confirm that they contain the face iPhoto is naming. Just click on the area next to the photo and drag across the other photos.<br />
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If you want to reject large numbers, it's an additional step. Do the click-and-drag thing as above, but continue holding down while you also click on the<b> option (alt)</b> key.<br />
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To rename a photo, right click and select name, then type in the correct name of that face.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie </span></i></b><br />
<br /><br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-19587831533476562812012-09-07T11:51:00.000-07:002012-09-07T11:51:18.841-07:00How to Add Space around an Amazon Iframe with HTMLI learnt today how to add space around my Amazon iframes so that the text wouldn't stick right on my iframe. It's easy. I actually found the solution in the comments section of <a href="http://www.advancedhtml.co.uk/adding-spacing-round-an-iframe-in-wordpress/" target="_blank">AdvancedHTML</a>.<br />
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<b>How to</b><br />
Insert <b>float:right; padding: 0 0 0 15px </b> to the end of the HTML that defines the iframe style.<br />
Within the iframe code, it would look like: <b>style= height: 240px; width: 120px</b>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_lqB9GskpFCrA2FQeWY2TNbImCRAavY8fer-AVFjjIsV_L0UhDGafDvBhg8mh30cvjcT-m05MCpsxlA0faCzIYrbRe6yoIPT4JbGjxRw4RWVIPju6t8PFqBAvlctjwp8G2Y5A1YY5u0/s1600/add+space+around+iframe+text+html.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_lqB9GskpFCrA2FQeWY2TNbImCRAavY8fer-AVFjjIsV_L0UhDGafDvBhg8mh30cvjcT-m05MCpsxlA0faCzIYrbRe6yoIPT4JbGjxRw4RWVIPju6t8PFqBAvlctjwp8G2Y5A1YY5u0/s400/add+space+around+iframe+text+html.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That's it!<br />
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<b><i>xo Gracie </i></b><br />
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p.s. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-88101878205145685532012-09-07T01:48:00.001-07:002012-09-07T01:48:23.036-07:00iPhoto: A Good Kinda Different<br />
I like having a photo on each blog post. My recent migration from Windows to Mac, and thus iPhoto, has been rough. But I think I am getting the hang of it. And the concept of iPhoto, i.e., having events sorted by date into albums may be a very good thing after all.<br />
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<b>The problem</b><br />
I am a rabid and compulsive photo taker. I have hundreds of thousands of photos. I had in the past, sorted my photos by year, and further by categories: family, trips, races, home, garden, food, animals, etc. I had way too many albums. To find a photo, I had to look through the albums for each year. I spent HOURS doing that.<br />
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<b>iPhoto: learning the ropes</b><br />
I didn't grasp iPhoto immediately, having tunnel vision from all my years doing it the old way. I started to see the light when viewing the tutorial video. It's a great video that in a nutshell, explains the possibilities and functions of iPhoto. You can find the video in iPhoto, in the Help section.<br />
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So I have been sorting my albums as events, by date. It has taken quite some time so far, but I can already see how it would make finding and pulling out specific photos much easier when I'm done.<br />
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I can't wait till I'm done!<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie </span></i></b><br />
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p.s. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!<br />
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-45750692036105307282012-09-07T01:45:00.002-07:002012-09-07T01:45:48.749-07:00Iphoto Identifying Large Numbers of Faces FasterTo select a bunch of faces for identifying and name confirmation in iPhoto is easy. But the tutorial that comes with iPhoto doesn't explain how to do it. I found the answer on <a href="http://www.macworld.com/article/1158877/identify_faces_faster.html" target="_blank">Macworld</a>.<br />
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Whenever I tag a face, I'm given the option to Confirm Additional Faces. Clicking on that brings to a screen where iPhoto will put up its best guess about which images contain that face you tagged earlier. You can click each image to confirm or reject iPhoto's guess.<br />
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I was dumbly and mechanically clicking to confirm some 630 images containing Spencer, when it occurred to me that there MUST be an easier way. And there is: If most of the images contain the correct tagged face, you can simply click (on the empty space next to the image) and drag across all the images. Then go back and click the incorrectly named faces - this helps iPhoto's identification.<br />
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That's it!<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
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p.s. It would be GREAT if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-37997616391284414052012-09-06T16:50:00.001-07:002012-09-06T16:50:36.242-07:00Bicycling Magazine $3.76 for 1 Year 20% Coupon!<a href="http://www.shareasale.com/r.cfm?b=52254&u=421161&m=9635&urllink=&afftrack=" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank">
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie </span></i></b><br />
<br />
p.s. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-83170926204805326222012-08-26T13:13:00.000-07:002012-08-26T13:16:36.442-07:00General Transcription: Am I cut out to do it?So folks, I've gone ahead and taken the plunge into transcription. The only other experience I had was over 10 years ago when I transcribed a few audios of focus group dialogues for a test product. I quite enjoyed the challenge, and am a stickler for detail, so when I saw the ad seeking transcriptionists on Craiglist, I applied.<br />
<br />
Transcription is most <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/general_transcription">definitely not for everyone</a>. At this point, after ploughing through over an hour of audio (which has taken me at least 7 hours since I'm so slow, being a perfectionist and all), I'm not sure if I'm cut out to be a transcriptionist either!<br />
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<iframe align="right" frameborder="0" iframe="iframe" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=frugalgurl-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B002MY6I7G" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>
I love using my new Infinity Foot Pedal, that's for sure. And I also invested in the Express Scribe Pro, which doesn't work 100% correct on my Mac OS Mountain Lion. (It crashes when I try to type it in, but does fine if I type in another word processing program i.e. Textedit in Mac).<br />
<br />
This first job paid 32-1/2 cents per audio minute (my boss keeps half of the 75 cents), so I've made a grand total of $40 for about 8 hours of work. That's a pitiful $5 an hour. Probably less. So once I realized that, I let go of my perfectionsitic tendencies a little bit, and just tried to get the transcriptions done.<br />
<br />
Let's see how this goes the next couple weeks. It's nice to have some money coming in, even if it's below minimum wage, but I am pretty sure I could make more by blogging! At least I've almost recovered the cost of that foot pedal :p<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><b>xo Gracie</b> </i></span><br />
<br />
p.s. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-37734117715055463042012-08-14T09:53:00.000-07:002012-08-14T09:54:44.103-07:00Getting free Itunes music for use in Mac VideosI'm putting together a video using IMovie (a steep learning curve, but it's pretty awesome), and needed some music to add to it before uploading to Youtube.<br />
<br />
Fearing copyright issues (dang those copyright trolls!) I did some googling and found out:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Yes there is free music available for download on iTunes (<b>iTunes Store</b> > <b>Quick Links</b> > <b>Free on iTunes</b>, read <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/239094/how_to_get_free_music_from_the_itunes_music_store.html">PCworld's article</a> for more info) </li>
<li><b>BUT</b> if you're going to upload on Youtube, it's best to avoid using any of these. Reason being, some copyright troll is going to file a (wrongful) copyright infringement on your royalty-free audio, and you will have the awful hassle of countering that claim. (see <a href="http://raoulpop.com/2011/10/23/do-not-use-imovie-sounds-for-youtube-videos/" target="_blank">Raoul's review</a>)</li>
<li>Free, royalty-free and downloadable music is available on <a href="http://www.jamendo.com/en" target="_blank">Jamendo</a> (all music genres) and <a href="http://musopen.org/music" target="_blank">Musopen</a> (classical music). You can use this music on your Youtube videos, giving proper credit to the artist and for non-commercial purposes - this is a way for new artists to get their music out there.</li>
</ul>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie </span></i></b><br />
<br />
p.s. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-12573450884387117052012-08-11T13:20:00.000-07:002012-08-11T13:20:03.723-07:00Capture a Screen Shot with MacCapturing a screen shot (an image of my desktop or active window) is easy on the Mac. (On my PC it was <b>Ctrl-Prntscrn</b>). Got these tips from Sue Chastain's<a href="http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/screencapturemac/ht/macscreenshot.htm" target="_blank"> article </a>on About.com. On the Mac:<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>To <i>capture </i>the whole desktop, it's <b>Command-Shift-3.</b> Then check the Desktop for the automatically saved PNG file.</li>
<li>To <i>copy</i> the whole desktop, it's <b>Command-Control-Shift-3.</b> Then you can paste the automatically saved screen shot from your clipboard to another program. (Note: to copy instead of capture, you'll add <b>Control</b> to the keyboard shortcuts for capture.)</li>
<li>To <i>capture</i> only a part of the desktop, it's <b>Command-Shift-4.</b> A magic cursor will appear that you can click, drag and select the area to capture. Releasing the mouse button will automatically save the screen shot on the desktop as a PNG file.</li>
<li>To <i>capture</i> a specific application window, it's <b>Command-Shift-4-Spacebar.</b> The cursor becomes a camera and you can move to to the application window (which will become highlighted), then click the mouse button to save the screen shot on your desktop as a PNG file. </li>
<li>Use the Apple bundled utility 'Grab' (in the utilities folder) to include a cursor or menu in your screen shot. First go to the 'Grab' preferences and pick the cursor icon you want appearing in the screen shot. Choose Window mode in Grab, select the window you want to capture, then click 'Choose Window'. The window will be capture together with the mouse cursor at the position you clicked. </li>
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Below, I tried the 'Grab' utility to capture a screenshot of the facebook window showing my nephew Z trying repeatedly to share his new toys with Hammer. The cursor I picked was the pointy finger. Can you find it? :)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdHEgaGFDWQBYtCgYJuARkYklZhaz8J__e-bHOUllEP5J80PFavh3GmyDHYzGl3MllS0tpwrYZpeQbnwAlrzkXf-paI5m6faHsQFYZMWNKqwQG7slCr779c1CXV5CRCvgzXPmhfwoaDw/s1600/Zach+sharing+with+Hammer.tiff" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdHEgaGFDWQBYtCgYJuARkYklZhaz8J__e-bHOUllEP5J80PFavh3GmyDHYzGl3MllS0tpwrYZpeQbnwAlrzkXf-paI5m6faHsQFYZMWNKqwQG7slCr779c1CXV5CRCvgzXPmhfwoaDw/s640/Zach+sharing+with+Hammer.tiff" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie </span></i></b><br />
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p.s. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-54501104436736348072012-08-07T12:21:00.003-07:002020-10-13T19:41:29.088-07:00Add Share to Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Blog This Buttons on New Blogger InterfaceThere's no need to mess around with editing html for your blogger template. I spent countless wasted and frustrating hours trying to get the html code taken from Bloggerplugins to work - not realizing that in my tunnel vision I totally overlooked the simplest step to getting those darned Blogger Share Buttons to show up on my blog!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0LisSPzKqmHwLvZTeCxUZFPnJ18o63DHOwsJ2j371xE4FcceDzGYR93_t9i1nXqsC8yD5g0QECvdxc_sBUcHlOHc_xqQBGyCH6VKX7B57uJFvhFo6oArKy34jUU9R17yOt4D3lwzhwU/s1600/Add+share+this+facebook+google+plus+twitter+buttons+on+your+blog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="50" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi0LisSPzKqmHwLvZTeCxUZFPnJ18o63DHOwsJ2j371xE4FcceDzGYR93_t9i1nXqsC8yD5g0QECvdxc_sBUcHlOHc_xqQBGyCH6VKX7B57uJFvhFo6oArKy34jUU9R17yOt4D3lwzhwU/s200/Add+share+this+facebook+google+plus+twitter+buttons+on+your+blog.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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On <a href="http://www.bloggerplugins.org/2010/06/official-sharing-buttons-on-blogger.html" target="_blank">Bloggerplugin's post </a>(dating 2010), the first method given didn't seem to suit me and was for an older version of Blogger. Since I use the updated newer Blogger interface, I couldn't find 'Design>Page Elements' anywhere, so I didn't how to proceed. So I went to the next step #5 that had me embroiled in the twisted web of html. (To his credit, Bloggerplugin's instructions are clear and they work. Well, they worked for all my other blogs, except this Frugal Girl one! The buttons showed up but when clicked on, I'd get the message 'This page doesn't exist')<br />
<br />
If you have the new Blogger Interface this is what you need to do:<br />
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<ol>
<li>From your blogspot page, Click on 'Design' (which is sandwiched between 'New Post' and 'Sign Out' on the top right of the page.</li>
<li>Click on 'Layout' on the left side bar. </li>
<li>In your layout, you'll see various boxes (e.g., Favicon, Navbar) showing what appears on where, on your blog. Look for 'Blog Posts'.</li>
<li>Within the 'Blog Posts' box, click on 'Edit' (found at bottom right in that box). You'll see something like the pic below. </li>
<li>Finally, check the box 'Show Share Buttons', 'Save' and 'View' the miraculous wonderful addition to your blog!</li>
</ol>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15VegT1quCwWfGmLovTsPVFnm4R_MnCv52eXm6jEcV_bMySQU5yex94E35eyWWlGJEErfHTLxkVLAxkz-sCWSF9PhN5M1If9EVgcrmb8RI3vlUQd7PwJjiKKY75O18ICXlEcxMn55G6c/s1600/Add+share+this+facebook+twitter+google+plus+buttons+on+your+blog.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi15VegT1quCwWfGmLovTsPVFnm4R_MnCv52eXm6jEcV_bMySQU5yex94E35eyWWlGJEErfHTLxkVLAxkz-sCWSF9PhN5M1If9EVgcrmb8RI3vlUQd7PwJjiKKY75O18ICXlEcxMn55G6c/s640/Add+share+this+facebook+twitter+google+plus+buttons+on+your+blog.png" width="416" /></a></div>
I'm just getting acquainted with my Mac, and learning how to make my blog more functional, attractive and useful for my readers. It's a steep learning curve, but I'm enjoying the ride! I'll post every week on how I did/am doing the little tweaks to my blogs (I have 10!). My next post will describe how to capture a screenshot on the Mac (like the one I pasted above). To receive my posts in your inbox you can subscribe, else check back soon for the goodies!<br />
<br />
Are you new to blogging or an accomplished blogger pulling in lots of Adsense revenue. I'd LOVE to hear from you! Leave a comment!<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br /><br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-15550927821272328032012-08-02T11:23:00.001-07:002012-08-03T09:12:07.151-07:00Free $10 deal bucks from Living SocialI'm such a sucker for freebies and <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-3873706-11113837" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.livingsocial.com/';return true;" target="_blank">LivingSocial</a> knows it! Having signed up a few months ago but not bought anything, I was reeled in for a second look by a free $10 credit that arrived in my inbox.<br />
<br />
<iframe align="right" frameborder="0" iframe="iframe" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=frugalgurl-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B006D9Q3GC" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe>A quick scan of available deals showed a <a href="http://www.livingsocial.com/deals/407778?rpi=74314364&ref=personalized-link-box-74314364&rui=118227213" target="_blank">10 ft usb data cable</a> from Widget Love at $10. The normal sale price for this 'High quality' cable at Widget Love is $24.99. Is this cable diamond encrusted or something? Amazon stocks these at $4.73 with free shipping. :\<br />
<br />
I redeemed my $10 deal bucks and ordered my free cable. The entire process took less than 2 minutes. Sweet! Thanks Living Social!<br />
<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
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P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJJYuDzMXUFgszo6SWXYk3gRS_AsBwq3A7zGmE9v_fru1VBJW3fKtIFYV_h2OwBhX1B8uSA9gxLZLMTxNX33Z-A1mqHhAlGFYSVN4cPtDy6_hmADgMLF28SZbHm2C-PYysJ2kwNktqbk/s1600/iStock_000007120553XSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEJJYuDzMXUFgszo6SWXYk3gRS_AsBwq3A7zGmE9v_fru1VBJW3fKtIFYV_h2OwBhX1B8uSA9gxLZLMTxNX33Z-A1mqHhAlGFYSVN4cPtDy6_hmADgMLF28SZbHm2C-PYysJ2kwNktqbk/s320/iStock_000007120553XSmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-66895272273154868022012-07-20T10:47:00.000-07:002012-08-03T09:11:04.120-07:00Apple Mac Desktop Accessories<div>
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<script charset="utf-8" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&MarketPlace=US&ID=V20070822/US/healmatt07-20/8001/6c1c5ccb-18fb-4691-b26b-d6d9469f6103" type="text/javascript"> </script> <noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;A HREF="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;MarketPlace=US&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;ID=V20070822%2FUS%2Fhealmatt07-20%2F8001%2F6c1c5ccb-18fb-4691-b26b-d6d9469f6103&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;Operation=NoScript"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Amazon.com Widgets&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/A&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;</noscript>
Omigosh, we are finally getting ourselves an Apple Mac Computer and DH has picked out some necessary accessories. Amazon is a good place as any to buy Apple products, other places seem to cost the same.<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
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P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-3288787681024876972012-07-20T06:55:00.002-07:002012-08-03T09:10:27.009-07:00Winster Shut Down: All Good Things Come to an EndI was a mad Winster fan for over a year - the year that was one heckuva tough one, and Winster gave me an fun social outlet for stress-release. I somehow got through that year, and spent less time on Winster, checking in only once in a while to say hi to various ol' friends. (<a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2009/02/winnie-winsters-addictive-slot-social.html" target="_blank">My Winster review HERE</a>)<br />
<br />
I tried checking in yesterday and was instead directed to a Winster Keepsake Book page.<br />
<br />
<object height="380" width="490"><param name='movie' value='http://www.mixbook.com/flash/mixbook_albums.swf?b=7475728&k=JN5OdJ4Xic&mode=production&pid=7475728&autoplay=true' /><param name='wmode' value='transparent' /><param name='FlashVars' value='b=7475728&k=JN5OdJ4Xic&mode=production&pid=7475728&autoplay=true' /><embed src='http://www.mixbook.com/flash/mixbook_albums.swf?b=7475728&k=JN5OdJ4Xic&mode=production&pid=7475728&autoplay=true' FlashVars='b=7475728&k=JN5OdJ4Xic&mode=production&pid=7475728&autoplay=true' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' wmode='transparent' width='490' height='380'></embed></object><br />
<div style="font-family: tahoma,arial; font-size: 11px; height: 26px; padding: 2px; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.mixbook.com/"><img alt="Mixbook - Create Beautiful Photo Books and Scrapbooks!" src="http://mixbook.s3.amazonaws.com/images/mixbook_player/logo_embed.png" style="border: 0px none; margin-bottom: -3px;" /></a> | Start your own <a href="http://www.mixbook.com/photo-books" style="text-decoration: underline;">Photo Books</a> | Create custom <a href="http://www.mixbook.com/cards/christmas-cards" style="text-decoration: underline;">Christmas Cards</a></div>
<br />
I found out to my surprise that <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Winster-social-games-site-shutting-down-3498985.php" target="_blank">Winster had closed</a> its social gaming website back in May 2012. Winnie Winster, the founder, said that they couldn't afford to keep it going anymore. Shucks. I have the fondest memories of those hours spent on Slot Social, where I mostly helped others JP.<br />
<br />
Oh well. I guess I'll go out for a trail run instead. (Check out what else <a href="http://gracestribulations.blogspot.com/2009/02/tri-ing-for-me.html" target="_blank">Gracie has been up to HERE</a> :))<br />
<br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
<br />
P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-15009071702964597502012-07-12T18:56:00.000-07:002012-10-02T14:09:45.280-07:00Review of Match.com & Flyby of Eharmony: A Frugal Gurl's TakeHow did Frugal Girl find Lurve via Online Dating Websites?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGysT6VttnTy_wl0hlhqYdIYhCQDDGwLJqJkT-gXrqv5FDvTNpJHhPg-fGB3cIIfi2XczJ1nPE-YIygrxv3MPe48n1SStxbnvj-FYZNW6GyLHWvisGnTcNTDz-MtipuQ-0Tpa2IwY11l4/s1600/Malay+wedding+bersanding+ceremony+match+eharmony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGysT6VttnTy_wl0hlhqYdIYhCQDDGwLJqJkT-gXrqv5FDvTNpJHhPg-fGB3cIIfi2XczJ1nPE-YIygrxv3MPe48n1SStxbnvj-FYZNW6GyLHWvisGnTcNTDz-MtipuQ-0Tpa2IwY11l4/s320/Malay+wedding+bersanding+ceremony+match+eharmony.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bloodkin.blogspot.com/2008/07/our-three-flavor-wedding.html" target="_blank">A special three-flavored wedding!</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I guess I lucked out! And I <span style="font-size: large;">didn't pay a cent</span> to meet my match, married now for four years (after a long courtship). Actually my DH didn't pay a cent to <a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/if116tenkem15AA49331327B55A2" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.match.com';return true;" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Match.com</a> <span style="background-color: white;">either, but more on that later. Anyway, THANKS Match.com! Well I have been recommending Match.com for years to all my single-n-looking friends, and thought I should write a review about it, and also Eharmony, who is Match.com's archrival in the online dating scene. Both claim to be The Number 1 Dating Site, with Eharmony adding 'Trusted' to their pitch. So here's my take on Match.com, and my flyby impression of Eharmony (gathered from user forums, comments and a few books: </span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0971558841/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=healmatt07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0971558841">The Ugly Woman's Guide to Internet Dating: What I Learned From 70 First Dates</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=healmatt07-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0971558841" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><span style="background-color: white;"> (by Rosemary Thornton who has an awesome website </span><a href="http://www.uglywomansguide.com/index.php/about-rose/" target="_blank">HERE</a><span style="background-color: white;">) </span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601381522/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=healmatt07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1601381522">Meeting Your Match Online: The Complete Guide to Internet Dating and Dating Services - Including True Life Date Stories</a><span style="background-color: white;"> (Tamsen Butler) and </span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1419651234/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=healmatt07-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1419651234">Chemistry and Numbers: The Online Dating Guide</a><span style="background-color: white;"> (Steve Monas)). </span></li>
</ul>
<img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=healmatt07-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0971558841" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>My experience with Match.com</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">I placed my ad / profile on </span><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/if116tenkem15AA49331327B55A2" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.match.com';return true;" target="_blank">Match.com</a><span style="background-color: white;"> in 2002. I wanted to broaden my horizons and meet interesting men and women from around the world. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">The sign up process was easy, and actually quite fun. I didn't pay anything, but waited for people to contact me (a privilege for which they had to pay haha). Match.com, with the various cool individuals who struck up friendly correspondence with me, was a breath of fresh air that helped me 'get out there' again after a horrible, horrible relationship. </span><br />
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Interestingly, I received an email from this Dude who said he found my Match.com profile intriguing, and this email wasn't sent via Match.com at all! This very resourceful dude (now my DH), had figured out my profile name gracetabithalim might work as an email too, and had tacked on hotmail, gmail, yahoo and all the other email servers he could think of, in the email that eventually reached me. <span style="font-size: large;">El-Cheapo meets Frugal Girl</span>! <span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Match.com has since fixed this loophole, and you'll need to fork out $35 for a month-long subscription or $17 a month for six months of dating matches (here's a <a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/if116tenkem15AA49331327B55A2" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.match.com';return true;" target="_blank">20% Off Discount</a> special for my readers :p). The latter is a decent deal, because of their guarantee of an additional six months FREE if you haven't found that special someone at the end of the first six months. You can also try </span><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/mg101qgpmgo37CC6B553549D7858" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.match.com';return true;" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">7 days Free</a>.<img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.awltovhc.com/km121uuymsqBFKKEJDDBDCHLFGDG" style="background-color: white;" width="1" /><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Eharmony?</b></span><br />
I had a look at the website, and it's nicely laid out, easy to navigate. The personality test that you have to take when you sign up (I did that with the 7 day free trial) is erm...<i> ridiculously</i> thorough! Wow, half an hour into the thing and I was only 60% done. But ... I kinda like it! It's all very scientific, professional and calculated (and sure wasn't how I met DH hehe). And it pledges to match you up with people who complement you.<br />
<br />
I think this would be the way to go for someone who hasn't had much luck dating because they keep picking the wrong type. For example, in Match.com, you get to select characteristics of the person you'd like to meet, so you could theoretically end up with your doppelganger if you are a control-freak who chose all your own fav traits.<br />
<br />
In Eharmony, it appears that the step-by-step process (with Dr Neil Clark Warren holding your hand all through), guides you and your potential mate to wonderful discovery of each other. Forcing people to talk to each other about things that matter, at the very start of the relationship, is possibly why Eharmony is responsible for 5% of all US marriages (that's what their website says the Harris Poll found). Definitely for folks who have a serious eye towards marriage, I'd say.<br />
<br />
The cost though is $60 for a month-long subscription, coming down to $20 a month for a year's worth of courtship opportunities.<br />
<br />
<b>Frugal Girl's Take</b><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Back in the day, online dating was Taboo, and carried a sort of seedy stigma that the person was 'desperate' or 'damaged goods'.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><span style="background-color: white;">Online dating is pretty much mainstream now, and in my view, a very good way to meet a potential mate. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">The profile matching in Match.com helps narrow down the list of people that fit your selection criteria, so you can quickly scan and pick the ones that look the most promising, to start correspondence. And this is done in the safety and comfort of your home. Beats the bar scene any time! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">While Match.com worked fine for me, I think if I were single and seriously looking for a marriage partner, I <i>might</i> 'invest' in Eharmony. Then again, Eharmony's scientific-based matchmaking and hand-held communication process is a tad too unromantic for my taste hehe. So Match.com it is! </span><span style="background-color: white;">(Try these links for a </span><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/if116tenkem15AA49331327B55A2" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.match.com';return true;" target="_blank">20% Off Discount</a>, or <a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/jb108zw41w3JNSSMRLLJLLKQLOQR" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.match.com';return true;" target="_blank">15% Off Discount</a> or a <a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/mg101qgpmgo37CC6B553549D7858" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.match.com';return true;" target="_blank">7-day Free Trial at Match.com</a>.Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-54030339788592955822012-04-25T08:43:00.001-07:002012-08-03T09:28:23.065-07:00Home barbering saves money: A Review of Panasonic Rechargeable Dial ClipperI gave Spencer his first haircut in two years! Now now now not what you think hehe - during my extended absence his lovely locks had been kept presentable by our friendly neighborhood barber. Now that I'm back I can do it! Plus I'm cheap like that :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlntGn1ACCRlaNAKG2U0Rb55rAm_nydLEsEBqS3ztNe8EHGxTD_wlBAuuOPDgh84M-mfCrhToEkzX5xT9Ea3TBLW3S_ntiJFJwMKfcr1wqzeb4moen7GbIOhYC4xhRUXINSCPHOAwqgg/s640/blogger-image--752235313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTlntGn1ACCRlaNAKG2U0Rb55rAm_nydLEsEBqS3ztNe8EHGxTD_wlBAuuOPDgh84M-mfCrhToEkzX5xT9Ea3TBLW3S_ntiJFJwMKfcr1wqzeb4moen7GbIOhYC4xhRUXINSCPHOAwqgg/s400/blogger-image--752235313.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tools of the trade</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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It's really easy with this Panasonic rechargeable cordless dial hair clipper and trimmer. First I drape a sarong around him, making snug at the neck. This prevents too much hair from getting down his shirt. For the first pass I put at setting 11 and go over his head a couple times until it's all even. Then I set it to 5 and carefully do the sides and back. Finally I switch to the trimmer and trim the edges to neaten up. That's pretty much it! About 20 minutes we save $20! It's more than paid its worth - it cost $29 on Amazon.<br />
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<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=healmatt07-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=B000F4USF8" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" iframe align="right" frameborder="0"></iframe>
Pros: I like that this hair clipper is so quiet. We can chat about the day's events as I shear his locks. I love that you can switch the settings by simply turning the dial to the right setting. And it being waterproof also means that it can be used in the shower. Clean up is a snap! The only maintenance I do is to put a few drops of oil on the blades before and after.<br />
<br />
Cons: The battery is getting kinda weak but I guess that's understandable since it's in its 4th year. I just use the clipper plugged in to the wall outlet. It can be annoying for some, but I'm okay with that. The clipper often needs a few passes before it gets all the hair clipped, especially for DH's very fine and fluffy hair. I need to detach the guide several times to clear the hair from the clipper blades. Apparently Amazon reviewers are not happy with the guide, saying that it breaks! But so far I haven't had any problems. Anyway, I would say it's not as powerful as a professional clipper and in my opinion would not work for dudes with thick hair.<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
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P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!<br />
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<br /></div>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-40190643312978021982011-09-05T18:51:00.000-07:002012-08-03T09:42:30.969-07:003 Hour Massage Spa for RM49? Good post-triathlon therapy!<div>
I was absolutely sucked in by this deal. First, I love massages. My hubs and I had a massage almost every single day of our weeklong honeymoon at Bali. Second, I know I'm gonna need some serious massaging after my Sprint triathlon at the Desaru International Long Distance Triathlon 2011. Third, if I possibly attempt and survive the Long Distance event at the aforesaid Triathlon, I will need ultra-serious massaging. Ultra. (Now, why would I even wanna do the Long Distance event? It's because I have a FREE pass. If you know me, I'm also a sucker for freebies. By the way, Timex, thanks for the freebie). </div>
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If you need a massage and feeling adventurous enough to try out a new place, check out the link below. I'll post a review of the place after my outing there. Stay tuned!</div>
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<a href="http://www.dealmates.com.my/deals/September-ReensBeautyHouse-RM49?rs=5&ru=59589">Had a Long, Hard Day of Work? Treat Yourself to a 3-Hour Full Body Pampering Inclusive of a Ginger Oil Massage, Sea Salt Foot Bath and Soak, Full Body Scrub, Ear Candling, Milk Bubble Bath Jacuzzi and a Herbal Drink at Reen's Beauty House and Spa for Only RM49.90 Instead of RM350</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.everyday.com.my/coupons/it/gtlim75.ec?2089">Everyday Deals Link!</a><br />
<a href="http://www.groupon.my/deals/klang-valley-selangor/eve-de-beaute/715884959/.3yR0px">Groupon Deals Link!</a><br />
<a href="http://www.milkadeal.com/r/68630">Milkadeal Link!</a><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
<br />
P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-77036119749532118482011-08-05T08:35:00.000-07:002012-08-03T09:44:12.041-07:00FREE Dale and Thomas 10% off $50 Discount Coupon CodeHi everyone!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.tkqlhce.com/6677js0ys-FJONJNGMFHGOKIHMG%22%20target=%22_blank%22%20onmouseover=%22window.status='http://www.daleandthomaspopcorn.com';return%20true;%22%20onmouseout=%22window.status='%20';return%20true;%22%3ESave%2010%%20On%20Orders%20of%20$50%20or%20More%20at%20Dale%20and%20Thomas%20Popcorn%20with%20code%20AFF10%20through%2012/31%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.awltovhc.com/il122m-3sywHLQPLPIOHJIQMKJOI%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22/%3E">Dale & Thomas Popcorn</a> is a gourmet popcorn that has been featured on Oprah's "Favorite Things" and has been declared on the Today's Show as "The Rolls Royce of Popcorn". It would make a special gift for any occasion, even a special treat for yourself and your loved ones.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.tkqlhce.com/6677js0ys-FJONJNGMFHGOKIHMG%22%20target=%22_blank%22%20onmouseover=%22window.status='http://www.daleandthomaspopcorn.com';return%20true;%22%20onmouseout=%22window.status='%20';return%20true;%22%3ESave%2010%%20On%20Orders%20of%20$50%20or%20More%20at%20Dale%20and%20Thomas%20Popcorn%20with%20code%20AFF10%20through%2012/31%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.awltovhc.com/il122m-3sywHLQPLPIOHJIQMKJOI%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22/%3E">CLICK HERE</a> to get 10% off your purchase of $50 and up at Dale & Thomas (That's $5 off $50 or $10 off $100!). Enter the Coupon Code AFF10 at checkout and you're good to go!<br />
<br />
Other details: Redeemable for merchandise only and may not be redeemed for cash. Valid only for Dale and Thomas® products at www.daleandthomaspopcorn.com. Minimum order of $50. Limit one per order/visit. Cannot be used for wholesale orders. Does not apply to previously placed orders. Cannot be combined with other promotions or offers. Cannot be replaced if lost or stolen. No cash value. Cannot be used to purchase gift cards or gift card refills.<br />
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By the way, I've also compiled in one handy location, links with discounts and coupons to all the places where I shop online. Check out <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-favorite-retail-therapy-spots.html">Where Gracie Shops!</a><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
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P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-5527938302700340472011-07-18T20:07:00.000-07:002013-01-29T12:34:16.873-08:00Review of Trilegiant's Autovantage, Buyers / Shoppers / Travelers Advantage and more: Pros and Cons<span style="font-weight: bold;">Summary of Post</span><br />
My generally positive experience with several of these paid membership programs that have a notorious reputation and are usually rated badly by the BBB. Pros: Surprisingly good on their word and honor rebate requests promptly. It's possible to get money through their free trial subscriptions. Cons: Laborious, meticulous reading of Terms & Conditions, to know exactly what is being signed up for. Needs careful tracking of membership cancellation dates to avoid automatic subscription renewal and accompanying charges. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-sRS8bk1zKdlBplS1RwZ8qHy3LN704U2DB6_xiKeGi_CApolrb4b459eX4RKLsS5pt1zIKAkNRX1UgUzMlTJp6LPfGFFydyvDizfqYcE9lNNLyHg3RKiBkjoPVxap9-sCk638kST8n8/s1600/Is+this+a+scam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-sRS8bk1zKdlBplS1RwZ8qHy3LN704U2DB6_xiKeGi_CApolrb4b459eX4RKLsS5pt1zIKAkNRX1UgUzMlTJp6LPfGFFydyvDizfqYcE9lNNLyHg3RKiBkjoPVxap9-sCk638kST8n8/s200/Is+this+a+scam.jpg" title="" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">What's reviewed</span><br />
Trilegiant's Autovantage, Buyers Advantage, Freeshipping.com, Great Fun (greatfunsite.com), Just for Me, Shoppers Advantage, Completehome, Privacy Guard, and Travelers Advantage. Also, Easysaver, Business Max, Nicole Saving Advantage (Nicolesavingadvantage.com) and Passport 2 Fun.<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
The length of my experience</span><br />
I subscribed to all the above, on and off, since 2005. When I say 'on and off', I mean that I've mainly done the trial memberships, which are free (or cost $1), and mostly cancelled before the trial period ended. A pop-up window offering $20 for a free trial of their site is usually how I signed up. The offer comes after I've bought something else online. If I agree to the free trial (after reading the terms and conditions, which you should absolutely do, and make sure there's a phone number you can call to cancel), my credit card details that I used for my online purchase will be automatically given to the site, and it will automatically renew (be charged) at the end of the free trial.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"> Do they actually offer anything useful?</span><br />
Actually yes. I used their services and explored their websites during my subscription period and most of them<br />
<a name='more'></a>have decent offerings. The ones that were most relevant to me were Greatfunsite, Just for me, Travelers Advantage, Autovantage (a good replacement for AAA) and Shoppers Advantage. I didn't find much use for Buyers advantage. In addition to their services that I used, I've collected slightly over $550 over the years, together with one Coby DVD player, two Mustek video cameras and two Ipod Nanos. The Trilegiant sites usually offer rebate forms that you fill out and send in with a receipt to claim for gas, groceries, hotel stays, and such (depending on the site). I sold the goods on Ebay for about $100 total. <br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Any misleading offers that were not honored?</span><br />
Yes. Nicole Savings Advantage promised gift cards of my choice worth $50, and a one month free trial. "These gift cards are yours to keep even if you cancel" sort of deal. I read the Terms and Conditions, signed up, then realized two weeks later that I had wasted my time. Their welcome package did not contain gift cards, but instead contained a form I had to fill out to apply for the gift cards. And a statement that my membership had to be active when the gift card application form was received. Not the first time I've been misled like that. I never got anything from this company. I also did not get the promised $10 from Privacyguard, which I signed up for through Staples.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Customer Service</span><br />
Their customer service has been consistently courteous to me whenever I called to cancel. They read out the customary blurb trying to get you continue your subscription in return for sending you rebate forms or other perks, which you should politely refuse. For example, Shoppers advantage will offer to send out $100 in rebate forms that you can claim for gas, if you would continue your subscription (at $12/month), but you can only claim a $25 rebate every quarter. No need to get annoyed at the customer service personnel when they go through their routine spiel because they are just doing their job - politely refuse each time (2 or three times needed) and you'll be able to cancel and jot down your cancellation number.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Record keeping</span><br />
For each site, I kept detailed and careful records of sign up date, membership number, what credit card I used when signing up, what rebate or product was promised, date to cancel (end of free trial), date rebate claim was sent out, date rebate check or product was received, phone number to call to cancel, and date of cancellation. I also set up reminders on my MS Outlook to cancel a few days before the free trial ends. Sometimes lines get busy, especially weekends, so it may take multiple attempts over a few days to cancel. <br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Forgot to cancel?</span><br />
That's happened two or three times, and it can be a real shocker when you realize that you signed off on an annual renewal of say $129 after the free trial period. However, it is possible to get a full refund if you are polite and persistent with the customer service folk, offering up some good excuse such as 'I was in the hospital' :). I let the $12 monthly renewal go for when I forgot to cancel Greatfunsite, because I got quite a bit from that site (printable coupons, BOGO admission fees to attractions, etc), but made sure to set a reminder to cancel before the next monthly charge.<br />
<br />
I guess my view might be contrary to what a lot of people may have to say about these sites. I read a lot of negative things on ripoffreport and other scam reporting sites from disgruntled folks who unknowingly signed up for one of these and starting being billed for them. I feel for them. It used to be that Trilegiant especially was very bad at divulging the Terms and Conditions and hid the fact that you were signing up for a trial subscription, but I think for most part that information is now up front, although sometimes in very small print, or you might have to really look for the Terms and Conditions. It's too easy to miss unless you know what you're looking for.<br />
<br />
Well, that's my two cents!<br />
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I've also compiled in one handy location (for myself anyways!), links with discounts and coupons to all the places where I shop online. <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/p/where-i-shop.html" target="_blank">Check out Where Gracie Shops!</a><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
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P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!<br />
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Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-14756311028815562252011-07-18T09:05:00.000-07:002013-02-11T16:26:31.717-08:00Review of Vistaprint: Great for my small business<b>Summary of Post</b><br />
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<span style="color: black;">My positive experience using <a href="http://vistaprint.tellapal.com/a/clk/37Ds2G" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=8361844171';return true;" target="_blank">Vistaprint</a> <img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/8s75p59y31NRWVRVOUNPOUTRWUQ" width="1" />for a small business venture, how you can order stuff for free, tips to maximizing your savings, and best of all links to all that free stuff! I have been a customer since 2009 and they remain my go-to site for hassle-free ordering of business cards, address labels, brochures, banners and heaps of other stuff that is perfect for promoting my small business. With a bit of planning and waiting for their free offers, I have successfully ordered Vistaprint products worth over $2200 over the years, and paid nothing (yes, that's zero, nada, zilch) except for shipping. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>Vistaprint BBB Scam Complaints Galore?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Before I sat down to write my review, I googled 'Vistaprint review' to see what other folks had to say about </span>
<a href="http://vistaprint.tellapal.com/a/clk/37Ds2G" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=8361844171';return true;" target="_blank">Vistaprint</a> <span style="color: black;">, and I was kinda surprised. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">Some folks had had 'fraudulent' $14.95 monthly charges from unwittingly</span><br />
<a name='more'></a><span style="color: black;"> signing up for Vistaprint affiliate offers like 'Passport to Fun', which is a rewards membership program. Now I've used and loved 'Passport to Fun' and similiar rewards programs (see my<a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-of-trilegiants-autovantage.html"><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>review of Trilegiant, Shopper's Advantage, Buyer's Advantage</a>) and I can see how this could happen. With Vistaprint, after you have completed your purchase, a screen pops up offering you $10 back on your order if you sign up for some reward membership program, usually a 30 day free trial period. After the free trial, you'll be charged a monthly service fee for the membership until you call to cancel. Just be careful not to sign up if you don't want to try out the offer. Me on the other hand, whenever I shop at Vistaprint, I take advantage of these offers to get some money back while trying out a new rewards program, and cancel before the end of the free trial. A win-win situation for yours truly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">There were also a bunch of complaints on the quality of Vistaprint's products and the inflated shipping costs. Personally, I have been extremely satisfied with everything I ordered and had many compliments on the banners, business cards and promotional brochures I hand out at events. The shipping costs are expensive if you order late and want rush shipping. I saved a lot by ordering way ahead and choosing the 21 day shipping option (the cheapest). And my orders have all arrived quickly, some in 5 - 7 days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><b>How to Maximize Savings at Vistaprint</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;">First, keep an eye out for any of their ads saying FREE stuff and if it’s free for the stuff you want, go ahead and click through to get the offer. (One ad example below). That’s how I made my first purchase. After that, I got weekly emails with different offers and made subsequent purchases by clicking through those emails with the best offers. (The emails can get annoying to some, so make sure to use your alternative email that you don’t mind getting ‘spammed’ at). </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/la102iqzwqyDHMLHLEKDFEKKIIIE" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=8361844171';return true;" target="_blank">
<img alt="New Customers: Free Shipping $25+" border="0" src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/ok79tkocig15A95928132886662" /></a>
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<br />
My most favorite offer is the ‘FREE FREE FREE small banner, lawn sign, business cards, post cards, brochures, cap, t-shirt, bag, fridge magnet, return address labels PLUS free design uploads’. I design all my promotional materials according to the templates Vistaprint provides, then upload the design and am good to go. Here are some links to free Vistaprint products that I compiled for my own easy click-thru and hope you find useful too!</div>
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<ul>
<li><a href="http://vistaprint.tellapal.com/a/clk/37Ds2G" target="_blank">Get $5 off your purchase</a> (guaranteed to work)</li>
<li><a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/oq68shqnhp48DC8C5B465BC9998" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=8361844171';return true;" target="_blank">Get a small vinyl banner sign FREE. Plus save 50% off other sizes.</a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.tqlkg.com/k5117wquiom7BGFBF8E798EFCCCB" width="1" /></li>
<li> <a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/kf117p-85-7NRWVRVOUNPOUTRWUQ" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=8361844171';return true;" target="_blank">New Customer Offer. Get FREE SHIPPING on orders over $25, plus save 25% off Your First Order at Vistaprint. </a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/ob117iw-ousDHMLHLEKDFEKJHMKG" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/9b108ox52x4KOTSOSLRKQORSOPR" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=8361844171';return true;" target="_blank">FREE Business Cards! WOW! Bonus: Order Today and ger FREE Shipping on orders over $50!</a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/hl101xjnbhf0498481706478457" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3873706-10489577" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=4172836751';return true;" target="_blank">Free T-shirt</a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.awltovhc.com/image-3873706-10489577" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3873706-10703590" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=4172836751';return true;" target="_blank">Free Holiday Photo Book</a> (plus 50% off premium photo books. Great gift.)<img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-3873706-10703590" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-3873706-10510533" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=4172836751';return true;" target="_blank">Free Photo Calendar </a>(choose from Wall or Desk calendar.)<img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3873706-10510533" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.anrdoezrs.net/click-3873706-10674795" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=4172836751';return true;" target="_blank">Free small Tote Bag</a> (plus Save 50% Off Other Sizes)<img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3873706-10674795" width="1" /></li>
<li><a href="http://www.tkqlhce.com/click-3873706-10666657" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.vistaprint.com/vp/gateway.aspx?S=4172836751';return true;" target="_blank">FREE SHIPPING and save 25% Off Sitewide</a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.lduhtrp.net/image-3873706-10666657" width="1" /></li>
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When I first started out, I just chose one of their many stock designs, and got my business cards free, but as my business grew, I got creative and wanted my own designs on these materials. The upload is no longer free nowadays, but at 50% off, and it’s still totally worth it, in my opinion. Also, if you’re reordering something where you previously uploaded a design for, you can reuse that design and skip paying any upload fee.<br />
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<span style="color: black;">Below is one of my bills from one of Vistaprint’s FREE everything offers. 250 business cards (worth $20), 25 brochures (worth $40), 100 postcards (worth $24), 25 fridge magnets (worth $13). Total value was $97 and I paid nothing but shipping of $11.63. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGUCDgDESw3VouF0gJwjagukrldXSMD6PGDUdWw4szh1iw31lXcfiwxwz0elns8Bgighp9HCeCvTvcrcijGvnKcyK7fjypxGdy_mXOovwmN6D9dl6PLBYYvLBoxGp8sefJOfYxOPEpcI/s1600/Vistaprint+review+order+bill+free.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbGUCDgDESw3VouF0gJwjagukrldXSMD6PGDUdWw4szh1iw31lXcfiwxwz0elns8Bgighp9HCeCvTvcrcijGvnKcyK7fjypxGdy_mXOovwmN6D9dl6PLBYYvLBoxGp8sefJOfYxOPEpcI/s640/Vistaprint+review+order+bill+free.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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I’d love to hear what your experiences with Vistaprint were! Please do leave a comment at the end of this post!<br />
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By the way, I've also compiled in one handy location, links with discounts and coupons to all the places where I shop online. Check out <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/p/where-i-shop.html" target="_blank">Where Gracie Shops!</a><br />
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Peace.</div>
Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-21361289959037878592010-04-05T17:09:00.000-07:002012-08-03T09:44:28.936-07:00Giant Eagle Nestle Choc Chips $1.16 each with coupon and cashbackThis week Giant Eagle has a 'Buy $10 worth and get $2 off' for their Nestle Toll House Choc Chips, which also happen to be on sale at $2 each. I had a couple of $1 off 2 Nestle Choc Chip coupons and thought this would be a good time to use them :)<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Question of the week</span><br />
Did I need to buy $10 worth of choc chips <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> or <span style="font-style: italic;">after</span> my $1 off coupons were applied? I asked <br />
<a name='more'></a>the friendly store associate. She told me that the coupons are taken off at the end, so I only needed to buy 5 choc chip packages to make up the $10. <br />
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Cost of 6 packages = $12<br />
Deduct 3 $1 off 2 coupons = $12-$3 = $9<br />
Deduct $2 (off a future purchase) = $9-$2=$7<br />
Cost per package = $1.17<br />
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Not bad considering the sale price is $2, and normal price is $2.50. <br />
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By the way, I've also compiled in one handy location, links with discounts and coupons to all the places where I shop online. Check out <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-favorite-retail-therapy-spots.html">Where Gracie Shops!</a><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
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P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!<br />
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<br /></div>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-47276248574256353632010-04-05T10:25:00.000-07:002012-08-03T09:44:48.047-07:00Zone Perfect Bars for 9 cents each with double $0.55 couponsZone Perfect bars are selling for $1.20 each at my Giant Eagle. I had 20 coupons for $0.55 off one bar or one box of these yummy low-carb Atkin-friendly treats. Giant Eagle doubles coupons up to $0.99, so each coupon doubled to $1.10. <br />
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Price after coupon = $1.20 - $1.10 = $0.10 each bar<br />
Cost for 20 bars = $2 <br />
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Plus I was on a big <br />
<a name='more'></a>stock up shopping trip, and chose to apply my 13% foodperks discount. <br />
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Final price after 13% foodperks discount = $0.09 each bar<br />
Total cost for 20 bars = $1.74 (!)<br />
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Buying without coupons would have cost $24, so I guess I got a good deal!<br />
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A good place to buy coupons is Ebay. I bought another 15 coupons for $2 with free shipping, so I guess I'm going shopping again! (note: you're not actually supposed to sell or trade coupons or at least that's what it says on the back of each coupon, but it seems heaps of people do that)<br />
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By the way, I've also compiled in one handy location, links with discounts and coupons to all the places where I shop online. Check out <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-favorite-retail-therapy-spots.html">Where Gracie Shops!</a><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
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P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!<br />
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<br /></div>Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-56983315498460502112010-03-30T12:41:00.000-07:002012-08-03T09:45:11.455-07:00Fatcow Review: Top notch web hosting service for the money<b>Summary of Post</b><br />
Fatcow may not be the cheapest web hosting service provider out there but their customer service is excellent, and their 'punny' take on bovines is 'udderly' hilarious. I 'joined the herd' in March 2010 and set up my own website <a href="http://www.funwithbugs.com/">Fun with Bugs!</a> in less than a day. The Fatcow help person (a real person!) helped me with questions that I had and was very patient and courteous to a novice like myself. Free domain name, a 30 day free trial (money back guarantee), and a user-friendly Site Builder were what I liked best about Fatcow for my small business. <br />
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<b>My experience with Fatcow</b><br />
I was intimidated by the prospect of setting up my own website and had put it off for way too long. I needed a simple website that would showcase my small business: bugs and the fun bug educational programs that I offered. I didn't have much to spend since<br />
<a name='more'></a>I was just starting out on this not-for-profit venture. A quick search for 'web hosting review' and scanning through several pages of reviews showed a range of web hosting providers: Inmotion consistently ranked top but I couldn't afford it at $5.95/mo, FatCow was mid-ranked at $3.67/mo, and also in the top 10 was <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3873706-10378406" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.godaddy.com';return true;" target="_top">GoDaddy </a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-3873706-10378406" width="1" /> at $9.74/mo for somewhat comparable 'Unlimited Space' plans. I checked each one out, and was immediately won over by the FatCow site. It made me smile :). I had my <a href="http://www.funwithbugs.com/">Fun with Bugs</a> website up and running in a day - it was a snap. <br />
<a href="http://www.dpbolvw.net/5g102lnwtnvAEJIEIBHACBFEIICB" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.fatcow.com/fatcow/index.bml';return true;" target="_blank"><br />
<img alt="FatCow $88 Plan for $66 only" border="0" src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/4n98z15u-yJNSRNRKQJLKONRRLK" /></a><br />
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<b>Step by Step Website Building with Fatcow</b><br />
1. <i>Domain search and registration</i>: First you would need to type in your desired domain name (e.g. www.funwithbugs.com) in their domain name search box, which checks to see if someone else has already registered (taken/grabbed) that name or not. <br />
2. <i>Select subscription term/package</i> (36 month package is cheapest): If your domain name is good to go, you're taken to the next page to choose from a choice of $5.50, $4.58 and $3.67/mo for the 12, 24 and 36 month packages, respectively. I unchecked all the other optional services, except for the Privacy Guard one ($8.99), which keeps your name and address from public domain. Pay, and you're ready to start building your website!<br />
3. Log into the Control Panel, click on 'Website' and '<i>Website creator by CM4All</i>'. This is a neat site builder that will allow you to pick a template for your site and customize it with your photos and content. You could have a 'Welcome' homepage, 'About me' page, 'Products/Services' page, 'Latest News' page 'FAQ' page and so forth. And that's it!<br />
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<b>Moo-ving along</b><br />
Since I set up my simple website, I learnt how to easily jazz it up and that is by using the File Manager feature in Fatcow's Website building toolbox. Each webpage in my site is displayed as an html file and I can click to edit the webpages individually. The editing console is simple to figure out and allows me to do the usual like update photos, insert tables, insert links (to other webpages and also within the page itself), adjust fonts and sizes, and more. For more advanced techno-geek-type users there's also the option to 'Toggle HTML editor' where everything is displayed in html, which is like a different language to yours truly. All said and done I'm still very happy with Fatcow and will probably stick with them for a little longer. It has been just what I needed for my small business. <br />
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<b>Other Cheaper Options</b><br />
There's actually a cheaper option offered by Fatcow that might suit you better: the 'MiniMoo' ($5/year) where you get a free one-page site. However, domain registration isn't free and to register a .com domain is $22 for two years so you'd be set back $27. (Domain registration is often offered free with web hosting plans, but you'd normally have to pay upwards of $2 to register your domain name. Domains ending with .com are at least $7 the first year, increasing to $10 the subsequent years.) <a href="http://www.fatcow.com/fatcow/minimoo.bml">Check out Minimoo here.</a>Similarly, <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3873706-10378406" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.godaddy.com';return true;" target="_top">GoDaddy </a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-3873706-10378406" width="1" /> offers a free one-page site with domain registration. Their terms are pretty much the same as Fatcow's.<br />
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<b>Fatcow Slow?</b><br />
The past two days I've experienced slow speeds on their control panel (pages take a long time to load) - their 'service status' box says they're experiencing webmail issues. Hopefully it will get fixed soon.<br />
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You might also want to check out <a href="http://www.kqzyfj.com/click-3873706-10378406" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.godaddy.com';return true;" target="_top">www.GoDaddy.com </a><img border="0" height="1" src="http://www.ftjcfx.com/image-3873706-10378406" width="1" /> just for the privilege of ogling Danica Patrick for a bit :)<br />
<a href="http://www.jdoqocy.com/click-3873706-10764726" onmouseout="window.status=' ';return true;" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.godaddy.com';return true;" target="_top"><br />
<img alt="$7.49.com at Go Daddy GoDaddy.com 468x60" border="0" height="60" src="http://www.tqlkg.com/image-3873706-10764726" width="468" /></a><br />
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By the way, I've also compiled in one handy location, links with discounts and coupons to all the places where I shop online. Check out <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-favorite-retail-therapy-spots.html">Where Gracie Shops!</a><br />
<br />
Peace...<br />
<br />
(Note: I signed up for $42 for 1 year, but was informed that I would be charged $88 to renew for my 2nd year. I talked (online chat) with the Fatcow support and they kept me at the $42/yr old rate. Never hurts to ask! Grace, 2010. Additional Note: Once again, this year I was informed of the $88 charge for year 3, and again I contacted the Fatcow support and was given the $42/yr old rate. So it seems like it may be a yearly request thingy. Grace, 2011)<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
<br />
P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-61222007374622400612010-03-26T18:31:00.000-07:002012-08-03T13:14:44.608-07:00Review of E-Rewards Opinion Panel & Delta Skymiles Prizes<b>Summary of Post</b><br />
E-Rewards is a legit survey site, but their E-Rewards Dollars are not the equivalent of real world dollars, because rewards offered are inflated in value. However, E-Rewards pays about $2.30/hr, which puts it on par with some of <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-of-lightspeed-ipsos-i-say-npdor.html">my favorite survey sites</a>, but not as high as <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-of-lightspeed-ipsos-i-say-npdor.html" target="_blank">Toluna ($7/hr, read my review here)</a>. Customer service is excellent and reward redemption is hassle-free.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobm1xFExg441-nUpwShSaJgWJKb-um675o_QxgEflkIXRS2oRX-TvtTRmFcr5OsH7FOl6b0P2hKBp8AhlRQfByGTtwUp5w97X_79WtWO9s7YS1w_P_XrEXRYVfcdsnGWeh2I0TMktqdA/s1600/E-rewards+Opinion+Panel+Delta+Skymiles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjobm1xFExg441-nUpwShSaJgWJKb-um675o_QxgEflkIXRS2oRX-TvtTRmFcr5OsH7FOl6b0P2hKBp8AhlRQfByGTtwUp5w97X_79WtWO9s7YS1w_P_XrEXRYVfcdsnGWeh2I0TMktqdA/s1600/E-rewards+Opinion+Panel+Delta+Skymiles.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The above is the e-Rewards logo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>About E-Rewards Opinion Panel</b><br />
E-Rewards is a survey site that awards $$ for completed surveys, that can be redeemed for Delta Skymiles, Hilton Hhonors points, magazine subscriptions and discounts off purchases from a variety of retailers. Between $0.50 to $10 is awarded for a completed survey (longer surveys earn more), that's if you 'qualify' for the survey, which is determined in a short screening survey. Non-qualifiers are awarded $0.25, which is nice. The $ accumulated in your account during your membership year expires a month after your membership anniversary. Redemption is a painless process, and e-mail enquiries are answered courteously and promptly. <br />
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<b>My Experience with E-Rewards</b><br />
I signed up in March 2009 and was happy with my year-long experience. I received 105 survey offers, and qualified for 21 of them. About 12 surveys paid $4 or more each. So as of yesterday I had a gloat-worthy $100 sitting in my account. Oh yeah... Unfortunately, as I relate below, my $100 was not really worth $100... <br />
<br />
<b>A Closer Look at E-Rewards 'Rewards' </b><br />
The rewards selection looks pretty good until you really scrutinize it. Many of the discount coupons require<br />
<a name='more'></a>a minimum purchase, e.g. '$10 off $50 purchase at Macys.com', '$10 off $40 purchase plus 6 FREE burgers at Omaha Steaks'. Not only do I not shop at these retailers, but I'd be wasting my E-Rewards dollars on coupons that often are obtainable elsewhere (online, newspaper inserts, mailers, etc). Exceptions were $25 off at Forzieri, 50 off at Neiman Marcus, $25 off at Zales, $25 off at FTD.com. Unfortunately, I don't shop at the first four retailers, and I already have a nice <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2009/02/ftd-flowers-gift-15-discount-promotion.html">FTD discount coupon</a>. The magazine selections were fairly good, and I might have picked Ode magazine for $20 E-Rewards dollars. However, I can get a year's subscription for $2 from <a href="http://all-freemagazines.com/">all-freemagazines.com</a>. So I started to realize that I might have a hard time redeeming my E-Dollars before they expired...<br />
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<b>Delta Skymiles Rewards</b><br />
Ahah! I could redeem 2000 Skymiles for $100 E-Rewards Dollars. I clicked on the link, filled out the request form, and there you have it. Redemption was a snap. I was $100 E-Rewards dollars poorer, and 2000 Skymiles richer. Alas, here's when I realized that $100 E-Rewards dollars isn't worth $100 dollars in the context of Skymiles (or anything else for that matter, probably). According to my calculations from my <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/03/is-delta-skymiles-worth-it-for-me-more.html">Delta Skymiles Review</a>, 2000 Skymiles is worth a measly $8, so my $100 E-Rewards dollars are actually worth $8! Sigh....<br />
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<b>Comparing E-Rewards Opinion Panel with other Survey Sites</b><br />
Assuming I spent 10 minutes for each of the 21 surveys I did on E-Rewards, a quick calculation (60/210)x$8 = $2.30/hr. So it wasn't too bad compared with some of <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/03/review-of-lightspeed-ipsos-i-say-npdor.html">my favorite paid survey sites</a> like Lightspeed ($2.50/hr), but nowhere near <a href="http://opinionoutpost.com/join/7037135">Opinion Outpost's</a> $8/hr or <a href="http://trk.thinkaction.com/?a=50002163&c=191&s1=" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Toluna's</a> $7/hr. Will I continue responding to E-Rewards invites? Probably. Their surveys are interesting and short, and easy to qualify for. But now I'll know that their 'Your account has been credited $5.00' will mean I actually probably got $0.40 for my 10 minutes. <br />
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By the way, I've also compiled in one handy location, links with discounts and coupons to all the places where I shop online. Check out <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-favorite-retail-therapy-spots.html">Where Gracie Shops!</a><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
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P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3729635854070961924.post-57641295883583722912010-03-25T16:55:00.000-07:002012-08-03T09:45:56.376-07:00Winnie Winster's Slot Social Review: An Update!<b>Summary of post</b><br />
A follow up update of my <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2009/02/winnie-winsters-addictive-slot-social.html">previous review</a> of <a href="http://www.winster.com/refer.jsp?uid=tmesjcgkwnj06">Slot Social</a>. After more than a year of membership in this unbelievably addictive website, does Winnie Winster still hold me under her spell?? Did I ever get enough points to redeem any prizes? Yes and Yes!<br />
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<b>Slot Social Anonymous?</b><br />
I am now the President of SSA, myself a recovering addict ;). Actually I'm the only member of SSA. ;) I don't know if all my Slot Social buddies are in denial, offering up excuses like "it's so much fun, and it's free!" and "I won a $10 Walmart gift certificate!". Am I trying to convince myself that Slot Social is a bad thing?... Well, I'm not succeeding, and life is too short to agonize over whether addiction to this wonderful social game is bad or not. So I quit! (I mean I quit as president of SSA :)). <br />
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Hey, wanna join Slot Social? (If you can't beat them, join them!). <a href="http://www.winster.com/refer.jsp?uid=tmesjcgkwnj06">Click here</a> to join, and soon you'll be among the millions of folks worldwide who've had their day brightened by this impossibly irresistable 'friends help friends' game. <br />
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<b>My Prize</b><br />
I had racked up the 1,000,000 points needed to redeem my $5 Amazon gift certificate, within the first two months of playing an hour a day. But I decided to hold out for the $20 Amazon gift certificate (a whopping 3,800,000 points). I'm now so close to my prize I can almost taste it. I have 3,363,975 points and they don't expire. So I'll bide my time and accumulate points while indulging my 'addiction'...<br />
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Ah <a href="http://www.winster.com/refer.jsp?uid=tmesjcgkwnj06">Slot Social</a>, what's not to love about it? :)<br />
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By the way, I've also compiled in one handy location, links with discounts and coupons to all the places where I shop online. Check out <a href="http://frugalgurl.blogspot.com/2010/04/my-favorite-retail-therapy-spots.html">Where Gracie Shops!</a><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">xo Gracie</span></i></b><br />
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P.S. It would be AWESOME if you could click on any ad here - my sponsors give me a few cents per click. Thanks for supporting my blog!<br />Gracehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04210451785382597921noreply@blogger.com0