frugal lane http://frugallane.com living life in the frugal lane Thu, 27 Aug 2009 22:00:23 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 en hourly 1 Free eBay Coupons - How to save 10-14% or more off of eBay purchases http://frugallane.com/?p=56 http://frugallane.com/?p=56#comments Sat, 22 Aug 2009 00:51:26 +0000 admin http://frugallane.com/?p=56 This sounds complicated, but it really isn’t hard. Its just a few extra clicks.

I have personally done everything listed in the instructions.There are 3 cashback programs available that can end up giving you 14% off your eBay purchases.

Instructions:

To get the 2% from eBates:

Really easy to do. Must use Paypal.

  1. Go to http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=tdhowC0QZmTsFgaSGEiWDg%3D%3D
  2. Sign up for an ebates account. Use the same email address as your paypal account.
  3. To get the discount, go to www.ebates.com.
  4. At the top right you’ll see a drop down box that says “Select Store” - click on it.
  5. Select the ebay link.
  6. It will take you to a page that says it is tracking your purchase.  This is how you know the eBates promotion is valid.

ebatestracking

To get the 2% from eBay Bucks:

If you are a participating member and you signup to get the discount, then the you accrue eBay Bucks automatically. Must use Paypal

  1. Go to http://my.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?RewardsExtEnroll&CTASignup=false&ExtLanding=true
  2. If you were selected for participation, then you can signup to begin receiving eBay Bucks.
  3. All purchases made with your eBay account will accrue eBay Bucks.

ebaybucks
To get the 10% from Microsoft:

The 10% Cashback is offered through Microsoft’s Live / Bin.com Cash Back promotion. Only valid on Buy It Now auctions. Must use Paypal.

  1. Go to www.bing.com and sign up for a cashback account
  2. Go to http://www.bing.com/search?q=canon+40d&go=&form=QBLH&qs=n
  3. Click on the eBay ad at the top of the screen that says “Bing Cashback”
  4. Search ebay for the item you want to purchase. **It must be a Buy It Now item**
  5. Make sure it has the gold coin icon next to it. That is how you know that the cashback promo is valid.Eligible for Microsoft cashback
  6. Click on an auction.
  7. You should see this icon at the top:
  8. Click Buy It Now
  9. On the Buy It Now page, it will tell you the exact $ amount that you will get cashback.  You will also the this logo again: . You will also see the exact $ amount in eBay Bucks that you will get back:

    ebaycheckout

    Microsoft Cashback & eBay Bucks

  10. Make sure you pay with paypal.
  11. Microsoft will notify you that they received your cashback order

To combine all 3 for a total of 14%, there are a few more steps:

  1. Go to www.bing.com and sign up for a cashback account
  2. Go to http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=tdhowC0QZmTsFgaSGEiWDg%3D%3D
  3. Sign up for an ebates account. Use the same email address as your paypal account.
  4. Go here: http://www.bing.com/search?q=canon+40d&go=&form=QBLH&qs=n
  5. Click on the eBay ad at the top of the screen that says “Bing Cashback”
  6. Go to www.ebates.com.
  7. At the top right you’ll see a drop down box that says “Select Store” - click on it.
  8. Select the ebay link.
  9. It will take you to a page that says it is tracking your purchase.  This is how you know the eBates promotion is valid.
  10. Search ebay for the item you want to purchase. **It must be a Buy It Now item**
  11. Make sure it has the gold coin icon next to it. That is how you know that the cashback promo is valid.Eligible for Microsoft cashback eBates will not be shown.
  12. Click on an auction.
  13. You should see this icon at the top: (Microsoft cashback 10%). Again, eBates will not be shown.
  14. Click Buy It Now
  15. On the Buy It Now page, it will tell you the exact $ amount that you will get cashback.  You will also the this logo again: . You will also see the exact $ amount in eBay Bucks that you will get back: ebaycheckoutAgain, eBates will not be shown.
  16. Make sure you pay with paypal.
  17. Microsoft will notify you that they received your cashback order
  18. eBates will notify you and you can see it in your account after a few hours.

The Evidence:

The screen shots show the cashback amounts in my email and in my eBay, eBates, and Bing accounts.

ebatesemail

eBates Email

eBates Account

eBates Account

Bing Email

Bing Email

Bing Account

Bing Account

eBay Bucks Email

eBay Bucks Email

eBay Bucks Account

eBay Bucks Account

cashback2

Checkout Screen showing Bing.com Cashback & eBay Bucks

cashback1

Closeup: Checkout Screen showing Bing.com Cashback & eBay Bucks

]]> http://frugallane.com/?feed=rss2&p=56 the kids meal: no coupons required http://frugallane.com/?p=31 http://frugallane.com/?p=31#comments Sat, 04 Apr 2009 21:50:11 +0000 gogordo http://frugallane.com/?p=31
joey menu

57% Off

Kids’ meals are usually very inexpensive compared to “Adult” meals.  Restaurants price their kids meals with a lower profit margin because there is an assumption that there will be an adult eating with a kid.  Restaurants see the kids as add-on revenue to the “real” customers (the adults).

This is why many kids menus will read:

For kids 10 and under.

But, if you are able to buy a kids meal for yourself, you can cut the cost of an entree in half and still leave the restaurant feeling satisfied and full.

Outback is a good example of a restaurant that won’t leave you hungry if you order a kid’s meal.

Joey Menu (Kids Menu) vs. “Adult” Menu

All Joey Entrees, except the Mac-a-roo n’ cheese are served with a choice of one freshly made side item. Includes a beverage too.
Adult Entrees are served with a choice of one freshly made side item. No beverage included.
Boomerang Cheeseburger* 4.95 The Outbacker Burger* w/
Cheese		 8.50
Joey Sirloin* 7.95 Outback Special 6oz* 9.95
Junior Ribs 6.50 1/2 Rack of Ribs 13.50
Grilled Chicken on the Barbie 4.95 Grilled Chicken on the
Barbie		 11.50
Grilled Cheese-A-Roo 3.95 nothing to compare to
Kookaburra Chicken Fingers 4.95 nothing to compare to
Mac ‘A’ Roo ‘N Cheese 3.95 nothing to compare to

Without adding the cost of an adult beverage, here’s how the savings rank by percentage:

  1. Grilled Chicken: 57% **Highest Savings**
  2. Ribs: 52%
  3. Burger: 42%
  4. Sirloin: 20%

I should also note that the kids portions at Outback are smaller than the adult portions.  However, the kids portions are too large for kids and are more like a standard adult portion.  If you eat a Kids Meal at Outback, you will be full.

When I order these meals to go, Outback always includes a loaf of their pumpernickel bread.  I end up with a really big meal for a very low cost:

  1. Kids Entree ($4.95)
  2. Kids Side Item (included)
  3. Kids Beverage (included)
  4. Loaf of Pumpernickel Bread & Butter (included)
  5. Side of Bloom Sauce (Free)
  6. Side of Ranch (Free)

Total: $4.95
Tax: $0.40
Tip (20%):  $0.99

Total Cost: $6.34

]]> http://frugallane.com/?feed=rss2&p=31 triple coupons = lifetime supply of soy sauce http://frugallane.com/?p=14 http://frugallane.com/?p=14#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:19:09 +0000 gogordo http://frugallane.com/?p=14

lifetime supply of soy sauce

$.12 per bottle

Harris Teeter is offering triple coupons from 3/25 - 3/31.  They will triple up to 20 coupons per transaction with a face value of up to $.99.  The $.99 part seems more like a marketing gimmick than a valuable number because I have never seen a coupon with a value of $.99.  The highest coupons go is typically $.75.

So what does triple coupons mean from a savings perspective?  Here’s an example of common coupon values:

  • $.55 coupon = $1.65 tripled
  • $.75 coupon = $2.25 tripled

Coupons can be found in most Sunday newspapers.  They are sometimes found stuck to packages in the grocery store.  Keep in mind that some coupons will NOT double.  For the most part, if a coupon’s bar code starts with the number 5, then the coupon will double or triple.  If it starts with a 9, it you’re out of luck.

Lifetime Supply of Soy Sauce

Over the past week, I bought 24 - 10 oz bottles of Kikkoman Soy Sauce.  It was too cheap to pass up.

The soy sauce aisle at Harris Teeter is pretty small.  In fact, it’s not really a soy sauce aisle, it’s the international aisle.  After grazing through the aisle, I see a small sticker stuck to a bottle that reads, “Save $.55.”  I tear it off and verify that the bar code starts with a 5.  Sweet! It’s triple coupon week.  I then look at the price tag: $1.77.  A quick subtraction tells me that each bottle will cost me $.12.  So I grab all 24 of them.

Upon checkout, here’s what I spend:

  • 24 bottles at $1.77 = $42.48
  • 24 $.55 coupons, tripled = $39.60
  • Total = $2.88

In other words, Kikkoman Soy Sauce, Buy 1, Get 15 Free.  Or, Kikkoman Soy Sauce, 93% Off Sale.

]]> http://frugallane.com/?feed=rss2&p=14 frugal habit: buy food at the grocery store (on sale) http://frugallane.com/?p=11 http://frugallane.com/?p=11#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 03:00:23 +0000 gogordo http://frugallane.com/?p=11
Buy 1 Get 8 Free

Buy 1 Get 8 Free

Harris Teeter is my current “most shopped” grocery store for a number of reasons.  In no particular order, here they are:

  1. FREE Samples
  2. Good Quality, Fresh Food
  3. Good Weekly Sales
  4. Double Coupons (and sometimes Triple)

One secret of Harris Teeter’s is the Buy One Get One Free policy.  Look closely at the weekly circular and you’ll see this note:

“Item rings at half price.”

My favorite deal of the week is Buy One Get One Free Pints of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream! If you buy only one pint, you pay only $2.00.

If you compare this pint cost to a single serving at a Ben & Jerry’s Scoop shop, the deal you’re really getting is: “Pay for one serving and get 7 servings free.”  Here’s the logic:

  • Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop: $3.49 for  one 1/2 cup serving
  • Harris Teeter: $2.00 for four 1/2 cup servings

Therefore, spend $4 at Harris Teeter, get 8 servings or spend $3.49 at Ben & Jerry’s, get 1 serving.

]]> http://frugallane.com/?feed=rss2&p=11