Today's Thrifty Notes

Well, you know some people call it thrifty while others call it cheap. I tend to disagree with many. See I make enough money to purchase pretty much what I would like to; however, I enjoy saving money. Many say that money is meant to be spent, but in this economic era money is meant to work for you. So today was not any different from any other day. I was trying to see how I could save money.

I attended an outing in my complex where different restaurants where on hand to sample their many foods. I came home one day to a flyer on my door. I was about to dispose of the flyer until I notice that it was a "free Tastefest" of local area restaurants. This intrigued me and I of course RSVP to enjoy the tasty delights. Today was my lucky day. You see unlike most tastefest events this one provide regular size portions of food for us to sample.

Savings:

I did not have to cook nor buy dinner tonight! An added treat was to meet other people in my complex that I never saw before. That was a treat too!

Happy Birthday to you! Where to find free birthday meals.

Okay, today I think I out did myself for the thrifty-ist person that I know. This week is my birthday. So I decided to see what free items are available for a person who is celebrating their birthday. In my search I found several interesting things. Below is a complete list, or at least what I have found. I have been doing a lot of research to find these free meals.

Free Birthday Meals List

National Birthday Free Meals

A
Alfy's Pizza – Free Mini Pizza
All American Cafe – Free Desert
Applebees – Free Dessert
Auntie Anne – Free Pretzel, sign up online first
Austin Grill – Register Online for free meal

B
Bakers Square – Free Dessert
Baskin Robbins – Free Ice Cream, see website for details
B.B.Q's – Varies, see site
Beaches Restaurant – Free meal – Please check your local restaurant (Not all restaurants).
Ben & Jerry's – Ben & Jerry’s emails you a coupon for a free scoop if you register on their website.
Black Angus – Free meal, see website
Black Briskee – Meal
Bennigans – Free Dessert
Benihana – Up to $30 value when you sign up for their emails at the Chef's Table link online. Plus a photo of you at your birthday meal, etc.
Boston Market – Free Dessert with $5 min purchase – Sign up online
Bravo Italian – They sent a coupon for a free appy w/ meal purchase. Different than the usual dessert. It's valid for a whole month around my birthday so that's nice. Bravo and Brio are cousins and I noticed on Brio's website you can join their mailing list too but not sure if they have the same birthday special.
Bubba Gumps – Free Dessert
Buffalo Wild Wings – Free Wings (Not all locations), also Buffalo Wild Wings said I get free dessert so I guess that’s where the party will be!
Burger King – Club BK Promotions, Register on website

C
California Pizza Kitchen – Register on website for free meal or dessert
Captain D's – Register for birthday club
Carrows – Free Cake and bottomless beverage
Cattlemen's – Free Dessert
Champps – Join birthday club for free cheeseburger or appetizer ($8.99 value)
The Charlie Horse – Free Birthday Meal
Chevy's – Free Dessert
Chili's – Free Birthday Dessert with purchase of an entree – Sign up online first for birthday coupon
Chips n Giggles – Free Birthday Meal (see details)
Claim Jumper – Free Dessert
Cold Stone Creamery – Register on Website for Birthday freebies

D
Daphne’s Greek Cafe -Free entree on your birthday (no purchase necessary), when you join ePita club. Mention phone number when ordering to credit the points to your account. You earn one point for every dollar you spend, when you reach 200 points, you will receive $10 off your next purchase. You also receive buy one get one free offers during you membership anniversary.
Denny's – Free Meal (Not all restaurants) – I called them in CA they said they don't do this anymore. Denny's is giving a free original grand slam on your birthday–I read about it on the Denny.com website.
Disneyland is offering free admission on your birthday (2008).

E
El Chicos – Free Dessert
El Torito offers a free birthday meal if you sign up on their website. You’ll also get a coupon for free guacamole.
Ernie's Steakhouse – Free Birthday Meal

F
Fazoli's – register online and get an email coupon for a free dessert on your birthday (coupon good for two weeks from sent date) — they also immediately send you a $2 off $5 purchase when you register.
Finleys – Offers a free meal on your birthday
Firehouse Subs gives you a free Med. sub on your birthday. Must reg. online first.
First Watch – Free Entree on your birthday – sign up for the Sun eClub
Flat Top Grill also offers a free stir fry to guests for their birthdays. They have to register on the website or in a restaurant first. There are locations in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.
Friendly's will give you a free sundae on your birthday – you need to sign up on their website to get your coupon
Fuddruckers – free sundae (select locations) – Not available in L.A.

G
Garozzo's offers a free birthday meal – see website for details – Their food also happens to be amazing. )
Grillfish – Free Birthday Meal

H
Hard Rock Cafe – Dessert
Herrell's Ice Cream – Free Sundae
Home Town buffet restaurants give you a coupon for a free meal (with the purchase of another adult meal) when you join their eclub. This can be done on line and the coupon will be emailed to you.
Hooters – Free Song & gift – register on website
Hollywood Video – Free Video Rental
Houlihan’s will send you email for a free birthday entree when you sign up on their Website.

I
IHOP – Free Birthday Meal (check restaurant first)

J
Joe's Crab Shack – Free Cake
Joe Sensor Grill and Bar – Free Birthday Meal

K
Kobe Steak House – Free Meal on your Birthday, register for Royalty Rewards on website
Krispy Kreme – Register for free dessert coupon

L
La Capilla Family Mexican Restaurant" – offers a free combo dinner (items 1-11) on the day of your birthday.
Lotus – Free Meal

M
Macaroni Grill – Free Birthday Song & Dessert
Maggiano's – Sign up for birthday discount coupon
Malibu – gives you 50 free tokens when you host your birthday there!
Margarita's — free fried ice cream
Market Broiler – California restaurant, must sign up for their Birthday club to receive free meal. Call or email to be added to Bday club.
Melting Pot – Free Chocolate Fondue for two w/ the purchase of Entree for 2.
Mexican Village – Free Birthday Meal
Mimi's Cafe – join their e-club and get a free breakfast – coupon is good for about ten days after you receive it. Since they ask for your birthday they probably pop for a meal or dessert on your birthday but haven't gotten there yet. Good, sit down restaurant and always some interesting things on the menu and they seem generous in providing surprise freebies even without a coupon. We walked out with four muffins one night since we had a first timer with us and on other visits a free dessert so their wait staff is empowered to spiff the customer. Mimi's is mainly across the southern tier of states CA to VA. I like them even paying full fare!
Mongo Club – Register on website and they will email you a free meal ticket on your birthday.
Moonies Diner – Free Meal

N
Noodles & Co. has a free meal during your birthday month, see their website to print out the coupon

O
Old Chicago – Free Dessert (I got a big warm cookie)
Old Spaghetti Warehouse – Free Meal
Olive Garden – Free Cake (check location first)
On the Border – free empanada, sign up online first.
Outback – Free Dessert

P
Palamino's Restaurant – (Seattle and probably elsewhere) sends a $20 off coupon for your birthday that's good for the entire month when you sign up at their site.
Paradiso – Free Birthday Meal
PF Changs – Free Dessert
Pier 49 – Sign up online and they'll send you a confirmation email. Once you confirm, they'll send you a free personal pizza!
Poncho's – Free Meal
Ponderosa – $5 off adult meal & Pepsi purchase
PROVINO'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT – free $10.99 meal and ice cream dessert

Q
Quiznos – If you register on their website, they will email you a coupon for a free cookie of your choice on your birthday. They will even warm it up for you if you'd like. Plus, I happen to think that their cookies are quite tasty! : )

R
Ram Restaurant & Brewery – Free Mud Pie
Ray's Boat House in Ballard/Seattle, WA also has a fee lunch menu
Red, Hot, and Blue gives a free meal during your birthday month if you sign up online beforehand.
Red Lobster – Reader submitted, "I work at Red Lobster, They will still sing, but you have to pay for any dessert you want."
Red Robin – Free Burger entree (kids and adults) – register online first – If you sign up on the website for the
birthday club, they will send an e-mail before your birthday for a free burger of your choice. The offer is good for 14 days. I got my free burger in Seattle last year and looking forward to using the new offer I was e-mailed the other
day for this year's birthday.
-all of the corporate red robins and the red robins part of the franchise mach robin (locations in illinois, new mexico, nevada, and idaho) give a free burger for adults, and free kids meal for kids, if you sign up for the mailing list.
Rockne's – Free kids entree with kids club enrollment
Round Table Pizza – Free Pizza (Personal) – see local restaurant for details
Rubio’s Mexican Grill gives you a free meal up to the value of $7.00 on your birthday if you sign up for their web newsletter. I just got mine! =D
Ruby Tuesday's – free dessert, sign up online first. Tricia writes: "I was checking your website to see what I can get this year (my birthday is 11/18) and I noticed that for Ruby Tuesday you have them offering a free dessert however I just received my email from them & they are offering "any free handcrafted burger" free when you sign up online for their mailing list. I signed up last year expecting a dessert but hey….. i'm getting a burger. Just wanted to let you know. Thanx for keeping this list going for all us that feel we deserve a lil something nice one day a year!!"
Ryan's & Fire Mountain Grill – Sign up first online for their birthday clube

S
San Francisco Oven – Free Meal for birthday (kids and adults) – have to register first
Sonic Drive In – Free Kids Meal, Register on Website
Spaghetti Warehouse – Free Spaghetti dinner

Sticky Fingers – If you sign up on Stickyfingers.com for their “e-club” you get a free appetizer on sign up, you get a free half slab meal on your birthday and a free half slab meal on your anniversary as well as an annual gift. Plus free birthday dessert in house on your birthday with no sign-up required.
Souper Sald – Free Birthday Meal
Subway at some locations give you a free 6inch sub on your birthday if you sign up for it online.

T
Tahoe Joe's in Sacramento,CA offers a free dessert + a poem
Texas Cattle Company – St. Petersburg, Florida and Lakeland, Florida -Free 16 – 18 oz steak with salad and side
Texas de Brazil offers a free birthday dinner and free anniversary dinner along with lots of 25-50% coupons throughout the year when you join their EClub on the website.
TGI Fridays – Free Birthday Dessert or Appetizer? – Please see website
The Vortex (Atlanta, GA both locations have the same bday offer) that has a pretty nice birthday freebie… they give you a free entree, a free (non-alcoholic) drink, and a free dessert. you first have to go to their website and sign up for their newsletter, then you will get sent the email on the 1st of your bday month. you have to take a copy of the email as well as picture ID and eat-in @ one of their restaurants.
Todai Seafood Buffet – Free Meal Coupon for next visit.
Tony Roma's – Free Dessert
Tucanos Brazilian Grill (which has locations in Idaho and Utah, I’m not sure where else) offers a free meal for your birthday. Sign up on their website and they send you a coupon several weeks before your birthday

U
Uno’s Chicago Grill emails a certificate for free entrée on your birthday if you sign up on their website.

V
Valley View Casino offers a coupon for a free buffet during your birthday month

W
Wendy's – Sign up for free kid's meal online
Wienerschnitzel will give you a free chili dog on your birthday. You will also receive a free chili dog just for joining but you must sign up on their home page and print out the coupon. You will also be notified periodically of other free things.

Michigan

-All Finleys in the state of Michigan give you a free meal on your birthday.

-Brann’s Steakhouse gives you a coupon for a free steak dinner on your next visit. At least the location in Portage, Michigan has this offer.

-ZEHNDER’S of Frankenmuth Michigan (famous chicken dinners) – Join Birthday club and get free all you can eat dinner! This is a great bargain. Great for a vacation spot too.

Yes, I have taken advantage of most of these specials. Imagine being able to eat the entire month of your birthday. I have only paid for about 3 meals within the last 3 weeks. This is an awesome meal deal. Better than the "Value Meals" at your local fast food place. Take care and good eating!

Dining out on a low budget

DINING OUT

Avoid appetizers; or split one with a friend.

Eat dessert at home or share one with a friend to cut the cost. (Most are large enough for 3 or more people)

Eat before going out to dinner. You'll spend less if you aren't starving.

Drink water instead of other beverages that cost more money.

Use coupons for restaurants so the expense is not as much.

Use your "bonus" points from your rewards cards to order gift cards to your favorite restaurant.

If you want to go out with a friend for a meal, try lunch instead of dinner - it's almost always cheaper.

You are so cheap.....How cheap are you?

I am so cheap.....How cheap am I?

Let me count the ways...oh wait that may cost money.

I am so cheap....

1. I am so cheap that I do not want to text my boyfriend because it cost me 20 cent a text.
2. I walk with my head down so I can find money on the ground.
3. I go to thrift stores and check the pockets for left behind money.
4. I scrap the bottom of any jar to get my monies worth.
5. If I purchase an item I have to use it at least the 10 times if it is $10. If the item cost $20 I must use it at least 20 times, and so on and so forth.

Hello I am back baby!!!!

Let me talk to you about saving money by using your ATM card as a credit card and getting "Rewards". This is an exciting ways to earn money while shopping! Okay whoever came up with this is a genius. This is amazing. Let me tell you how this works.

You just simply use your ATM card as a credit card and earn points. Well, this is the best thing ladies and gents since sliced bread. Recently I came really close to answering the question, "Will this be Credit or Debit with a Deb..Oh no wait...I mean credit. At the end of the month I noticed that I had about 39,000 points. So I left the points to grow in the account to something much larger. Then next month I noticed that my points had grown to 50,300 and that nearly made me jump out of my verbal seat. I was anxious to spend my points. Let the fun begin. I try to save my "rewards" for the period around the holidays so I can have gift cards to give away as gifts. This saves me time on shopping (hence saving me gas money) and they are usually happy with the fact that I spent money on them.

This is what I call a win-win situation. If you do not know what win-win means...go look it up now. I must admit I will be using my card as a credit card and gaining points.

You might say, this will make you spend more money by focusing on getting the points. Not me. I always just go about my regular daily routine, not purchasing anything that I would not normally purchase. I have gained more than 5 gift cards so far totally $150!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, next time...

We will talk about saving more. I have so many things to talk about. Until then, goodbye.

Here are some tips for saving money on clothes.
You have to admit with this economy that there are so many people out of a job that buying chothes is a luxury not a necessity. Here are my tips for making clothes shopping easy and painless. I love to shop for clothes because I do not put that much effort into looking for the name brands. But here are some of my tips that I recommend.

1. Basic colors: Most people that buy suits buy them as a set, that I do not do. To save money you should not buy matched, but you should buy separate pieces and match them yourself. Why you ask? It’s much easier to mix and match, thus saving you money. It might take more effort on your part but it is more fun. And more cost effective.

For instance black or gray trousers can be worn with almost everything. Try to buy clothes with the basic colors of brown, black, gray or blue. They are very easy to mix and match.

2. Thrift and surplus stores!!!!!!!!!!!
Most people think or say that thrift and surplus stores only carry inferior items or don’t have brand names. This is not true! Most of these stores also have top quality items and at most stores also brand names can be found. I have found items with the price tag on them. New! Yes, NEW. I know you ladies like this...men too. Yes I agree, sometimes you need to search a little harder but they can be found. Just take a look, you don’t have to buy anything, but you will see that there are cheap (especially kids) clothes to be found. Most kids out grow their items within a few months so why pay top dollar. You will see more on this in later blog post.


3. Buy your clothes on sale: It is called using your head!!!!!!!!!!!! Most of the time, you can find items on sale. You just have to be strong and not go to the higher price rack. You could also look at the larger department stores; they usually have something on sales.

4. Trends: You should try to avoid fashion trends as much as possible. Usually trends are very short lived, thus you buy new clothes if they are out of fashion, which will cost you extra money. Just wait a couple of years and it comes back in style. Okay, you might not want to hear that but it is the truth. I am wearing a pair of 'new' boots from a thrift store ...and they are still in style. I paid $5 for them!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5. Wear and Tear: You should try to prolong the life of your clothes as long as possible, by removing stains as soon as possible. Removing a stain on wash ‘n wear clothing is (most of the time) very easy. I do not have to do this on a regular basis because most of my chothes are cheap enough that if I get a stain on them, I just through it away.

6. Wash and wear: When you buy clothes you should buy wash ‘n ear as much as possible. They can be worn many times before dry cleaning, saving you money.

7. Impulse: Try to avoid impulse buying. I know, everybody does this at some point of time, that is why I say that you should “try to avoid” it. For example don’t go shopping if you are hungry or don’t go clothes shopping if you are feeling emotional. Nor should you go shopping if you have 'extra money' in your pocket. One way to get rid of impulse buying is by making a list and then sticking to that list.

8. Resale shopping: Need I say more. If you need a white shirt, you can go anywhere to get that shirt, no need to go to the expensive stores.

9. Consignment shops: You should consider buying at consignment shops. You buy their all the time, but you could buy there sometimes. You can always look, looking is free! You could also consign your own clothing and recoup some of the money you spent. This is a great way to make money without having to deal with having garage sales! Just consider it!

10. High price and brands: Try to avoid brand names or buy only one set of brand clothes that you use for parties and such. The rest of the time only wear (and buy) none brand names. You all know this, take a look at T-shirts for instance; you can buy some nice/good quality T-shirts for only a few bucks. Take the same T-shirt and put on a brand logo and the shirt is $50! You will see in later blogs how I shop and why I love to shop that way....

I know it has been a little while but I am back!!!

I have been starving to let my thought flow. My thrifty day was spent at Walmart. I love Walmart, it is the best place when you are attempting to save money. However, have you ever wanted to save money before and ended up spending more because you think, "Well I saved on the sausage so why not get those brownies." I can still get the sausage and the brownies and still save about $1.00. The calories were not saved but when you are attempting to justify your wrong doings it seems so right.

Where did I save today?

I bought the no name brand of maple sausage instead of Bob Evans. I also bought the no name of spaghetti sauce, which saved me about 49 cents. I also saved 20 cents on my son's mac and cheese. I am sure I will hear about that.

Well, what tip can I offer today! Ugh, let's see. TIP: Just because it saves you some money it might not be the best for your family. You can save in so many ways, but if you end up breaking out because you used the cheaper brand of a facial mask, it might not be worth it. You have to know the product. And know the person who you are buying it for. I can not go shopping with my son. If I always buy the name brand product then I better not come home the next time with a store brand. That would not work well for my 7 year old son.

Just remember, saving is great, but you do not want to lose the trust of those who you cook for! There is another tip, for free go figure.