xo Gracie
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!
Friday, July 20, 2012
Apple Mac Desktop Accessories
xo Gracie
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!
Winster Shut Down: All Good Things Come to an End
I 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. (My Winster review HERE)
I tried checking in yesterday and was instead directed to a Winster Keepsake Book page.
I found out to my surprise that Winster had closed 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.
Oh well. I guess I'll go out for a trail run instead. (Check out what else Gracie has been up to HERE :))
xo Gracie
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!
I tried checking in yesterday and was instead directed to a Winster Keepsake Book page.
I found out to my surprise that Winster had closed 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.
Oh well. I guess I'll go out for a trail run instead. (Check out what else Gracie has been up to HERE :))
xo Gracie
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!
Thursday, July 12, 2012
Review of Match.com & Flyby of Eharmony: A Frugal Gurl's Take
How did Frugal Girl find Lurve via Online Dating Websites?
I guess I lucked out! And I didn't pay a cent to meet my match, married now for four years (after a long courtship). Actually my DH didn't pay a cent to Match.com 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:
My experience with Match.com
I placed my ad / profile on Match.com in 2002. I wanted to broaden my horizons and meet interesting men and women from around the world.
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.
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. El-Cheapo meets Frugal Girl!
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 20% Off Discount 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 7 days Free.
Eharmony?
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... ridiculously 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.
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.
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.
The cost though is $60 for a month-long subscription, coming down to $20 a month for a year's worth of courtship opportunities.
Frugal Girl's Take
Back in the day, online dating was Taboo, and carried a sort of seedy stigma that the person was 'desperate' or 'damaged goods'. Online dating is pretty much mainstream now, and in my view, a very good way to meet a potential mate.
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!
While Match.com worked fine for me, I think if I were single and seriously looking for a marriage partner, I might '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! (Try these links for a 20% Off Discount, or 15% Off Discount or a 7-day Free Trial at Match.com.
 |
| A special three-flavored wedding! |
- The Ugly Woman's Guide to Internet Dating: What I Learned From 70 First Dates
- Meeting Your Match Online: The Complete Guide to Internet Dating and Dating Services - Including True Life Date Stories (Tamsen Butler) and
- Chemistry and Numbers: The Online Dating Guide (Steve Monas)).
My experience with Match.com
I placed my ad / profile on Match.com in 2002. I wanted to broaden my horizons and meet interesting men and women from around the world.
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.
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. El-Cheapo meets Frugal Girl!
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 20% Off Discount 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 7 days Free.
Eharmony?
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... ridiculously 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.
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.
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.
The cost though is $60 for a month-long subscription, coming down to $20 a month for a year's worth of courtship opportunities.
Frugal Girl's Take
Back in the day, online dating was Taboo, and carried a sort of seedy stigma that the person was 'desperate' or 'damaged goods'. Online dating is pretty much mainstream now, and in my view, a very good way to meet a potential mate.
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!
While Match.com worked fine for me, I think if I were single and seriously looking for a marriage partner, I might '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! (Try these links for a 20% Off Discount, or 15% Off Discount or a 7-day Free Trial at Match.com.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Home barbering saves money: A Review of Panasonic Rechargeable Dial Clipper
I 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 :)
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.
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.
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.
xo Gracie
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!
 |
| Tools of the trade |
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.
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.
xo Gracie
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!
Monday, September 5, 2011
3 Hour Massage Spa for RM49? Good post-triathlon therapy!
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).
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!
Everyday Deals Link!
Groupon Deals Link!
Milkadeal Link!
xo Gracie
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!
Friday, August 5, 2011
FREE Dale and Thomas 10% off $50 Discount Coupon Code
Hi everyone!
Dale & Thomas Popcorn 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.
CLICK HERE 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!
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.
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 Where Gracie Shops!
xo Gracie
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!
Dale & Thomas Popcorn 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.
CLICK HERE 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!
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.
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 Where Gracie Shops!
xo Gracie
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!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Review of Trilegiant's Autovantage, Buyers / Shoppers / Travelers Advantage and more: Pros and Cons
Summary of Post
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.
What's reviewed
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.
The length of my experience
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.
Do they actually offer anything useful?
Actually yes. I used their services and explored their websites during my subscription period and most of them
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.
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.
The length of my experience
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.
Do they actually offer anything useful?
Actually yes. I used their services and explored their websites during my subscription period and most of them
Review of Vistaprint: Great for my small business
Summary of Post
My positive experience using Vistaprint 
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.
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.
Vistaprint BBB Scam Complaints Galore?
Before I sat down to write my review, I googled 'Vistaprint review' to see what other folks had to say about
Vistaprint , and I was kinda surprised.
Some folks had had 'fraudulent' $14.95 monthly charges from unwittingly
Monday, April 5, 2010
Giant Eagle Nestle Choc Chips $1.16 each with coupon and cashback
This 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 :)
Question of the week
Did I need to buy $10 worth of choc chips before or after my $1 off coupons were applied? I asked
Question of the week
Did I need to buy $10 worth of choc chips before or after my $1 off coupons were applied? I asked
Zone Perfect Bars for 9 cents each with double $0.55 coupons
Zone 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.
Price after coupon = $1.20 - $1.10 = $0.10 each bar
Cost for 20 bars = $2
Plus I was on a big
Price after coupon = $1.20 - $1.10 = $0.10 each bar
Cost for 20 bars = $2
Plus I was on a big
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