Harbor Freight Tools – 20% off Coupon on any single item (no minimum purchase required)

Harbor Freight Tools – 20% off Coupon on any single item (no minimum purchase required)

Offer expires 12/31/2010

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McDonalds coupon: Receive off $1 coupon at participating U.S. McDonalds

Snag a $1 coupon at participating U.S. McDonalds(when purchasing any McCafe Real Fruit Smoothie or Frappe).

Offer Expires August 15, 2010

Limit one coupon per person per visit.

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Starbucks: Purchase anything BEFORE 2 pm & Get Grande Cold Beverage for ONLY $2 (AFTER 2 PM the SAME DAY) with Receipt.

Starbucks: Purchase anything BEFORE 2 pm & Get Grande Cold Beverage for ONLY $2 (AFTER 2 PM the SAME DAY) with Receipt.

From June 29 to October 4, make any purchase before 2pm and enjoy any Grande cold beverage for just $2 (plus tax) after 2pm the same day at participating U.S. stores. Just remember to show us your receipt when you return and have a cold one on us!

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Bucca Di Beppo (Italian Restaurant >> $10 Off Any Purchase of $20 or More <<

Bucca Di Beppo (Italian Restaurant >>  $10 Off Any Purchase of $20 or More <<<

EXPIRES: 12/31/10 - One coupon per visit per table. Present this coupon at time of purchase to receive discount off your total purchase.

Not valid with any other offers or discounts. Not refundable or
redeemable for cash. Excludes tax, gratuity and purchase of gift cards.
Excludes alcohol in states where prohibited by law. Valid for dine in
or Buca To Go. ENTPub$OFF  Subject to Rules of Use. Coupons VOID
if purchased, sold or bartered for cash. .

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Jiffy Lube $5 off Coupon (requires submission of email and regular address)

Jiffy Lube $5 off Coupon  (requires submission of email and regular address)

EXPIRES: 1/1/11

Get $5.00 off a Jiffy Lube Signature Service^® Oil Change.

Each Jiffy Lube Signature Service^® Oil Change includes up to 5 quarts of quality motor oil, an oil filter, and more:

• Clean exterior windows
• Vacuum interior floors
• Check tire pressure
• Check and top off the following fluids:

  -transmission/transaxle fluid

  -differential fluid

  -power steering fluid

  -windshield washer fluid

  -battery water (excluding sealed batteries

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FREE Printable Aveda Stimulus Coupon

FREE Printable Aveda Stimulus Coupon Includes:

* Free lavishly sized sample* of Aveda Hand Relief.

* Free Aroma Sensory Journey

* Free Cup of Comforting Tea

* Free Stree Relieving Hand Ritual

* Free 5-minute Stress-Relieving Neck and Shoulder Massage

* Free Makeup Finishing Touch

EXPIRES: : August 31, 2010.

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FREE Wal-Mart Product Samples – Updated frequently by Wal-Mart

FREE Wal-Mart Product Samples – Updated frequently by Wal-Mart

Note: These offers will require you to submit your name, address and e-mail address

EXPIRES: New offers are continually posted.

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10 Quick Tips to finding Cheap Lift Tickets (Skiing and Snow Boarding)

10 Quick Tips to finding Cheap Lift Tickets

1. If you’re a down hill maniac (ski or snowboarder you might want to consider purchasing a season pass (if you plan on skiing at least 20 times at the same location during a season).
2. Buying books of lift tickets early in the season (before you hit the resort) may save you 50%?
3. Check out the ski packages being offered by the resorts where you plan to ski or snow board.  If you plan on renting equipment, taking lessons and/or staying at their lodge, it might be cheaper to purchase a package deal. Just like at Disney World, multi-day tickets can save you money if you plan ahead.
4. Always inquire ahead of time to see if the resort offers discount tickets for seniors, students and/or kids.
5. Checkout the continuously updated ski and snowboarding deals on  http://www.Snowbomb.com discount coupons.
6. Keep an eye out for lift ticket discounts at gas stations (e.g. Shell)
7. It is not uncommon to find lift ticket discount deals at participating Mc Donald’s restaurants.
8. Grocery and drug stores can also be great sources of cheap lift tickets.
9. Give the resorts in the area that you want to visit a call ahead of time and ask them if they are offering any ski or snow boarding deals online and/or through business or restaurant establishments.
10. Ask your fellow snow craving friends as well as local sporting goods stores if they know of any good deals.

As with most of the savings tips we provide on our web site, you should several of the ideas that we list to ensure that you are receiving the rock bottom lowest price on your ski vacation.

>> To find more FREE and Cheap Stuff check out categories to the right of your page or just use our search box at the upper part of the screen.

>>  Let us keep you posted with our latest secrets to finding free stuff  by becoming a
leaptocheap facebook fan Or if you prefer to you can follow us on Twitter.

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March could be the best time to purchase these select products.

Every month brings new opportunities for saving money.  In March these are the items that you want to look for to be priced to sell.  Patience and timing are two powerful tools for ensuring that you get the best deal on your purchases.

• Winter coats & sporting goods (gear)
• Luggage
• Frozen food: (during National Frozen Food Month)
• Boats
• Humidifiers
• Mattresses
• Easter Crafts
• Cold Weather Accessories (mittens, scarves, gloves, hats)
• Wedding gifts
• Spring clothing
• Washers and Dryers
• Garden supplies
• Air Conditioners
• China

Let us keep you posted with our latest secrets to finding free stuff  by becoming a
leaptocheap facebook fan Or if you prefer to you can follow us on Twitter.

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Saving on Groceries (10 ways to save)

Some food for thought…….

Thinking back over the years, it’s really hard to believe how much food prices have increased at grocery stores over the years. According to my relatives that lived through the great depression, food prices were affordable to most people of modest means. Well, I’m not sure the same thing can be said these days. Since food is becoming a larger part of the American family budget, we thought that we would throw out a few of our favorite ways to save at your local grocery store.  So, here is the game plan that we came up with.

1. Shop with a detailed list of only what you need to purchase.
2. Larger sized packaging marked as “value buy” may not actually being saving you any money.  In fact, it may end up costing you more per unit.
3. Keep a running list of prices that you prices that you spot at different stores and either try to map out a sensible route and schedule or see if some of the stores closer to you will price match (e.g. Wal Mart)
4. Always verify at the register that you received the posted sale (or club card) price.  Double check your receipt before you leave the store.
5. Consider getting take out from the grocery store deli instead of a pricey restaurant.  This simple tip could save you both cash and time.
6. Create and stick to a weekly family meal plan.  Make sure to take a good look at the fridge as well as your kitchen cabinets before making you list for the week.
7. Keep a “to buy” list on a piece of paper in an easy to find place in your kitchen and update it frequently as you start consuming food items.
8. Plan out your tips to various store in a way that will minimize your time and mileage on your vehicle.
9. Make sure to check the per unit price on items (vs. just the shelf price).
10. Always ask for rain checks when a store is out of an item on sale.

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How to get a cheap starbucks mocha coffee

Step I.  Order a Grande Pike Place  (or whatever you like that they have on tap) coffee in a Venti sized cup to allow extra room for other stuff.

Step II.  Fill in the empty space with the free half and half that they provide at the  creamer/sugar/napkins counter.

Step III.  Add in the provided Chocolate/Mocha power provided free.

Step IV.  Add in sugar.

Step V.    Stir well and enjoy!

There you have it.  You’ve now created your own creamy, chocolaty and sweet simulated mocha coffee for significantly less money and probably much less time waiting for the fancier version to be made.

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Coupons

Coupons are not created equal.   So you really need to pay attention how much of a discount that you’re actually receiving.

Examples of good coupon offers include

• Free (if none or very little strings are attached).
• Provides a discount of 15% or greater.
• Buy one get one free.
• A coupon that will allow you to combine it with other coupons and offers.
• A coupon of a product or service that you were planning on obtaining anyway.

Less desirable coupon offers will require you to spend a lot of money while yielding you a comparatively small discount.

So, do the match on how much money that you are actually saving.

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The Cheapskate Family Vacation

The Cheapskate Family Vacation

How did we do?

Our family was planning a special vacation for our child’s 7^th birthday.  So, we thought that this would make a great story for our LeapToCheap.com site. To us cheap actually means “smart savings”.  The smart part should imply that you don’t need to pitch a tent to save on a hotel room

This chart shows how much money we saved on our 4-day 3-night San Diego family vacation (2 adults and 1 child).  Check out how much we saved.

** Check with your child’s school as well as your local public library about summer reading programs that may offer discounts to attractions such as Legoland California.

*** San Diego Zoo – Kids (ages 3-11) enjoy FREE admission to the San Diego Zoo ! Through October 31, 2009

Here’s how we plotted our little savings adventure………

When to go?

Considerations

• We don’t like crowds very much. If for no other reason than waiting in long lines eats away at your vacation time with your family.
• We prefer cooler weather.
• Of course we never want to pay more than we need to.

Conclusion:

• Flight, hotel and attraction prices proved to be lower off season. So, since our child had a Thursday and Friday off from school, we opted for late September / early October travel dates.

Airline tickets – Flying high on lower prices

Considerations:

• We started checking out airfare prices about one month ahead of time (and monitored fares daily). We wanted to stay over on a Saturday night which has saved us money in the past. However, this was not the case this time around. So, we switched to a Wednesday evening departure and a Saturday night return. That little day of week switch saved us over 50% off each roundtrip ticket.

Conclusion:

• Airfare savings assumptions don’t always apply.
• Airlines are constantly changing the way that they price tickets. So, start early and try different departure and return days to see if they will can save money.
• Remember, Southwest Airlines ticket prices can ONLY be found on Southwest.com. They’re not included in results on Expedia, Orbitz, Travelocity, etc. Since Southwest sort of started the whole flying cheap thing, its always a good idea to check them first. Also, be sure to factor in the baggage fees when comparing airline ticket prices.

Hotel costs

Considerations:

• We were looking for a hotel with highly rated visitor reviews.
• A smoke free room was a must.
• Accommodations for two adults and one child were needed (at least two full beds).
• We wanted a microwave and refrigerator in the room.
• We wanted a really good free breakfast for the family.
• We wanted a hotel in a safe area and close to either Legoland or the San Diego Zoo.
• We always insist on a really clean room in good repair.
• It would be nice to find a hotel that matched up with our frequent stay programs.

Conclusion:

• Hotels.com is one of the best sources of hotel reviews. We checked there and found a 4.5 of 5 user rated suite hotel near Legoland for less than $100 a night (taxes included). The hotel had the best breakfast buffet that we had ever seen. The hotel was nothing fancy, but it was in excellent repair, super clean, great customer service and a pool. On top of all that, they offered Legoland and San Diego Zoo tickets at the awesome prices. We ended up booking through Hotels.com so that we could snag their welcome rewards points. If you’re curious, the hotel was the Ramada in Carlsbad, CA.

What lessons did we learned on this trip?

• Planning paid off big.
• The food and drink at both Legoland and the San Diego are anything but cheap.
• Packing your own soda, water and snacks in your backpack saved us quite a bit of money.

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Cashing in on coupons…

Many people don’t realize how much money they can save by using coupons from the newspaper, web, direct mail, etc. Here are some of the ideas that we tried out recently.

• Ask yourself if the product associated with the coupon is something that you really need.  Sifting out the coupons that don’t make sense for you and your family is a good way to control spending.
• Start a coupon trading club with your friends and co-workers.  This is a win win strategy that may allow you to double dip on the savings.
• Sort your coupons by:
  • Expiration date (earliest to latest expiration date)
  • By major categories (e.g. food, dinning, clothing, crafts, entertainment, travel)
• Check store ads and clearance racks to see if you can combine a sale with your coupons.
• Try keeping the coupons with you whenever you leave the house.   So, if  for example, you or your family decides to dine out, you can consider the coupon savings opportunities before deciding where to dine.
• If the store is out of stock of the item(s) that match up with your coupons, ask the store manager if you can get a rain check on the coupon.

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Cheap and smart ways to eat out for less…

These days if you work at it you can actually eat for substantially less that you thought.  We have identified several ideas to help you get started.

Coupons can be a great way to save on food at restaurants.  However, it is important that know which ones are really a good deal.  Here are some tips.

• Do the math first – Calculate your saving ahead of time.  For example, if the coupon is a buy one sandwich get one free deal when you purchase one fountain drink, make sure to check the price of the required fountain drink.  Add the regular price of the sandwich and the fountain drink price.  Next, subtract the price of the regular price of two sandwiches and there is your saving.  Some establishments have been cleverly raising prices and marketing coupons.
• The fine print – Make sure to check the expiration date and other requirements to redeem the coupon.
• Saving $ off of what? – Some establishments will jack up their prices and then offer awesome discounts off inflated prices.

Money saving strategies for dinning out for less

• Fast Food
  • Stick to the real deal -Lately they have been offering great deals (e.g. value meals).  Remember, that the restaurants are probably barely breaking even on their cheap deals.  So, they hope to make money on the higher priced extras like fries, soda and deserts. Lately McDonalds figured out that they can make a decent profit by selling fancy coffees similar to what the expensive coffee chains offer, but for less.
  • Home base for saving – Save big by skipping the fries and snagging the soda at home.
  • Double up on that 99 cent burger, sandwich, baked potatoe (wendy), salad, etc and make a meal out that.  Skip the fries and soda and your eating cheap.

• Sit down restaurants
  • Predictable prices – Stick with restaurants that have standard pricing any time of the day (as opposed to place that jack up their prices for dinner).  One example is Chili’s bar and grill.
  • Two meals for the price of one - Many restaurant serve larger portions that people could (or should) eat in one sitting.  Instead, eat half and take the doggie bag home or to work and enjoy another meal.
  • Adults eating childish - Some people suggest that you order off the lower priced kids menu to save money.  I might try that on a to go order, but I don’t think I would have the guts to order that kind of meal when dinning in the restaurant.
  • Being fair -  If you choose to eat inside a sit down restaurant, don’t skip the tip.  Waiters work hard and they should be treated fairly.  If you’re not into tipping, order take out instead.

• Take out at the buffet
  • Several restaurants will allow you to do take out from the buffet.
  • Typically, the rule is that you can take out what you can fit in their take out container (typically a decent size).
  • The price for this may not seem cheap, but don’t be surprised if you get at least two meals out that take out container if you packed it up to capacity
  • This allows you save on those expensive beverages by getting them at home or out the reasonably priced vending machine at the office.
  • Also, since a waiter is not involved, there is no need to tip.

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