Ch'ville Cheapville

Free Entertainment

2009-04-29T09:00:00.000-04:00

This Friday, there is a lot to do on the Downtown Mall in terms of free entertainment. It’s a double whammy with Friday’s after Five, featuring 6 Day Bender and also Charlottesville First Fridays Art walk. Head downtown, find some free parking, enjoy free wine and appetizers, look at amazing artwork and head to the end of the mall for some free music! I can’t imagine a nicer way to spend the evening!

But that’s not all! There’s free events all day! The 19th Annual Clean Commute Day is offering great information on commuter information and free food! Check out local vendors and shops, do a little window shopping and enjoy the beautiful weather. Forcast calls for rain, but we are in Virginia, and there is always a chance of a summer storm. Enjoy the cooling raindrops and don't let them spoil your free day!

19th Annual Clean Commute Day

When Fri, May 1, 11am – 1pm

Where East End of the Downtown Mall (map)

Description Each day many of you take a step in keeping Virginia's air clean by carpooling, taking transit, walking or biking to work. On Friday, May 1st, RideShare and the Commuter Information Team are celebrating the 19th Annual Clean Commute Day on the East End of the Downtown Mall and outside of Clark Hall at the University of Virginia. Stop by between 11:00am and 1:00pm to learn about different commuting options while enjoying free food from Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches, entertainment from 106.1 The Corner and enterting to win great prizes. Visit commuterinformation.com for a list of prizes, event locations, and options to make your commute cleaner everyday.

Friday’s After Five at the Charlottesville Pavilion

6 Day Bender
with Ali Marcus opening Friday, May 1st, 2009 doors 5:30 show 5:30 ALL AGES
"Mountain Rock 'n' Roll." Banjo picking meets drums, electric guitar and bass, merging plugged-in rock and old-timey music.

First Friday Art Walk Museums and Galleries

Galleries usually open early at 5:00pm and serve light refreshments and drinks.

Click here For a list of C’ville Art Galleries

Need extra cash or more room in your budget?

2009-04-27T12:34:00.005-04:00

Times are rough and even I have thought about getting a part time job just to bring in a little extra cash to stash away for emergencies. You may consider one of these ideas to help find some wiggle room in your budget.

Got a green thumb? – Consider starting a vegetable garden. Seeds are relatively inexpensive, $.99 - $2.50 per pack and you make that back 10 times over when you don’t have to run to the store for those tomatoes or bell peppers.

Not enough space to garden? - The City and the County have plots you can rent yearly for around $40, again this investment can be reclaimed with your vegetable harvest. Or you could consider using the container garden method. I have a garden plot that is 10’ x 15’ and I surround that with large pots filled with hot peppers, bell peppers and cucumber bushes. Less space needed, less work involved if you get the pots that self water, and you still end up enjoying garden fresh veggies at lower prices then the grocery store.

Join CLUCK – Charlottesville League of Urban Chicken Keepers, they have a facebook page under the same name. I have 5 chickens in my backyard and I get about 5 fresh eggs a day! They are easier then you think to keep and kids love them! I buy organic feed for around $20 every other month. If there’s no money for groceries, there’s always Brinner! (Brinner = Breakfast for dinner) Tractor supply sells little week old chicks for less then $3.00, or the price of a carton of eggs. And you don’t need a rooster for the hens to lay eggs! Check out http://www.backyardchickens.com/ to learn more about yard birds.

Need extra cash? - Try a part time job/business. There are several jobs or businesses you can start up to bring in a few extra bucks including, babysitting, elderly care, pet sitting, dog walking, house cleaning, mowing lawns, running errands, handyman services. Be creative, bake cakes, cookies or pies, have a yard sale, do grocery store demos or become a mystery shopper. Check out http://www.jobslinger.com/ to learn how to be a legitimate mystery shopper. You have to sign up, but it’s free. Never pay anyone to become a mystery shopper. Mystery shopping is legitimate if you go through the right companies. I use to do mystery shopping here, and my top month I made $400 in food, groceries, cash, gas and products.

And don’t forget you can turn your hobby or passion into a business. Are you a freak of nature when it comes to organizing homes and closets? Great at scrapbooking and could do it in your sleep? Does your yard look professionally landscaped? Turn it into a part time business. Or, barter these services! You never know what you’ll get in trade!

Bartering - I know I’ve said it before, but as the economy has weakened, bartering has strengthened. The most common thing I hear when I mention bartering is “I don’t have anything worth trading”. You just need to be creative! Barter your extra garden veggies for veggies you didn’t grow this year, or swap veggies for eggs or vice versa. I’ve bartered my extra eggs for veggie plants for my garden, fresh baked muffins, homemade bread and even used them as gifts at Easter! If you have a green thumb offer starting a garden for someone who’s never done it before. And what ever you do, don’t try to place a monetary value on your item. Each item is only worth what someone is willing to pay or barter for it. So trading 1 dozen free range organic eggs, which typically cost anywhere from $2.50 - $3.50 for 8 bell pepper seedlings, which if you bought at Lowes might cost you $2.00 per plant, may not sound like a fair trade. But the eggs were extra and so were the plants and neither one of us had to shell out hard earned cash to get the items we both needed. http://www.craigslist.com/ is a great place to see who is bartering and to place ads.

Email me any tips, suggestions or stories and I'll post them!

Dogwood Activities!!

2009-04-23T12:24:00.002-04:00

The Dogwood Festival!

A great way to support your community, have fun and not strain your wallet!

Before the big parade, head over for a $5 Pancake Breakfast!

Kiwanis Dogwood Pancake B'Fast

Proceeds from the Fifth Annual Kiwanis Dogwood Pancake Breakfast will benefit The STAR Kids Program provided by Children, Youth & Family Services, Inc. Come to First Presbyterian Church at 500 Park Street between 7:30 and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 25, to enjoy a delicious breakfast of pancakes, sausage, coffee, and juice. Tickets are available at the door for a $5 donation; kids under six eat free. Plenty of free parking available at the church, which is located just two blocks from the parade route of the spectacular Dogwood Festival Parade. Generous "Team Kiwanis" sponsors are Sam's Club, Pepsi-Cola of Central Virginia, and Starbucks Coffee.

After your belly is full, head downtown to watch the Free Parade!

Dogwood Festival Grand Feature ParadeDowntown CharlottesvilleSaturday - April 25th10:50 AM

Can't be a nice inexpensive breakfast and free entertainment! Kids will love it!

Check out other events at:
http://www.charlottesvilledogwoodfestival.org/Festival_Event.html

Finding a good deal!

2009-04-21T09:03:00.001-04:00

Finding ways to cut the budget is becoming an art form. Bartering is on the rise and people are saving more and cutting corners even if they haven’t lost their jobs. Backyard gardens and even backyard chicken coops are making a comeback and I’m one of the people looking to become more self sufficient in that sense. I live in the city and am cultivating my vegetable garden as well as enjoying fresh eggs from my small flock of chickens. So cut corners and pinch pennies, what ever makes you feel safer and more secure in today’s shaking environment.

Here are a few stores nearby that offer great discounts. If heading over the mountain seems like a waste of gas, make sure you utilize the trip like I do and check out the local Goodwill and Super Walmart while you’re on that side of town.

Main Street Discounters – Main Street Waynesboro –

This store offers liquidation prices on overstocked and closeout items of food, clothing, restaurant supplies and tons of miscellaneous items. From $1.99 brand new tan t-shirts, ham stock and individual ketchup packets in bulk, you never know what you’ll find.

Sharp Shopper - 2800 A West Main Street, Waynesboro, VA 22980

Again, these are overstocked and closeout grocery store items. Not just canned goods and frozen items, this store has a nice produce and dairy section. Make sure you check the dates, but also read the stores info on food expiration dates to give you an idea of what you’re looking for. Stock up on good deals, because they hardly ever have the same thing twice! I’m still kicking myself over not buying to boxes of the Bumblebee Tuna lunch packs, the kind with the tuna salad already made and it comes with crackers and a spoon. I picked up 1 box of 9 for $4.99, making them $.55 each! Now that is a nice cheap lunch.

Just remember, if you are able to find an excellent deal but don’t necessarily need to stock your personal “bomb shelter” with food, you could help out the local food bank.

Deals That Offer Some Tax Relief

2009-04-15T12:53:00.001-04:00

Sweet Tax Relief

Companies that are giving perks for Tax Day! Hurry and take advantage.

Chick-fil-AVisit a participating restaurant April 15 and hang onto your receipt. The “Tax Relief Day Special” lets you return before April 30 to receive the same order for free.

CinnabonStop by Cinnabon from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 15 for free cinnamon-roll bites (regularly $2.49 for four).

JacuzziThe Tax Relief Sale offers savings of up to $2,000 on select models purchased on or before April 15.

Kimpton HotelsThrough April 30, ask for the Sweet Tax Relief Package and the hotel will pay the tax on your room. (At the Sky Hotel is Aspen that saves you the 10% that would have been tacked onto the $187-per-night deluxe room.) Dine at a property's restaurant, and they’ll pay the sales tax there, too.

Maggie Moo’s Ice Cream and TreateryOn April 15, get one free scoop of ice cream.

McCormick & Schmick’s On April 15, the chain offers a $10.40 menu of entrees. (Entrees regularly range from $16 to $33.) Each diner also receives a $10.40 “tax relief” gift certificate for a future meal.

PF Chang ’s China Bistro Dine at one of P.F. Chang's 130-plus restaurant locations across the country on April 15, and save 15% on the total bill.

Taco Del Mar Sign up online to receive a coupon for a free taco (regularly $1.89) during the “Taxes Suck, Tacos Don’t” promotion April 15.

T.G.I. Friday’s On April 15, diners receive a $5 gift card when they spend $15 to $25. They earn a $10 card for a purchase of more than $25.

Zazzle.com Save 10.4% (it's advertised as 10.40%) on all orders at this T-shirt and apparel web site using code TAXDAYZAZZLE at checkout. Offer only good on April 15.

Double Coupons

2009-02-22T09:32:00.005-05:00

Hey there !

It looks like some retailers are lending us a hand, and in turn helping their sales, by doubling and super doubling coupons!

Harris Teeter has always doubled coupons up to $.99 every day. Which means that if you have a coupon for $.99 off an item, you actually get $ 1.98 off. This means some items come in either free or under a dollar! Now, while I have never seen a $.99 coupon, this means that those $.55 and over coupons are much more valuable.

Giant Food Stores have jumped on the bandwagon to double up to $.99 every day. This week only, they have a coupon in their flyer (you can pick one up in the store) for new or transferred prescriptions. Bring in the coupon, along with your new or transferred prescription, and they will give you a $20.00 Giant Food Gift Card. I transferred my prescription that I normally get from Sam's Club, and it didn't cost my anymore then usual. They handed me my $20 Gift Card immediately. My husband did the same with his prescription, it cost him only $2.00 more for the transfer. We ended up with $40 in Giant Food Gift cards which paid for both prescriptions and around $10 in free groceries!

I just love the remodeled look in their Seminole Trail store. The self scanning option is great! You swipe your Giant card at the scanner kiosk as soon as you walk in, pick up a scanner and some bags and off you go. Find an item you want (make sure you match up your coupon) scan it, and bag it! When you're done, head to the register, hand the cashier your scanner and your coupons and pay! It quicker, makes lines shorter and you can keep track of how much you're spending while you shop! I've only done this once and I'm already a big fan.

Super Deal!

This week only, Feb 22 - 28, Kmart is Super Doubling up to and including $2.00, which is essentially doubling $.99 coupons.

So, if you don't already have the Sunday Paper, go get 1 or 2. The savings will be well worth the $1.50.

TIPS!:

Take your UVA I.D., School I.D. and your own bags for extra savings. Saving the planet can save you money!

Magazine Deal !!

2008-08-15T11:54:00.001-04:00

Here's a Deal I'm passing on to my loyal readers!

Think holiday/Birthday gifts, save time and money!

Dear Amazon.com Customer,

As someone who has shopped for magazines at Amazon.com, we wanted to invite you to save an instant $5.00 on select subscriptions through August 31. using the coupon code AUGMAG05 at checkout.

Here are some of the great deals you can get with your secret code, which you can use as many times as you like:

- Wired: $5.00 after discount
- Vegetarian Times: $7.00 after discount
- Yoga Journal: $9.95 after discount
- Bon Appetit: $10.00 after discount
- Vanity Fair: $10.00 after discount
- Gourmet: $10.00 after discount

You can use this offer to renew an existing subscription, or to start a new one. Just be sure to use it before it expires on August 31

An inexpensive Way to Be Charitable

2008-07-31T07:28:00.005-04:00

CiCi’s Pizza in Charlottesville
is hosting

Eat Pizza for Books Month
In Support of Charlottesville’s Toy Lift

Every Wednesday In August From 4pm – 8pm

Just place your receipt in the specially marked container and CiCi’s will donate A percentage to the Toy Lift. Let CiCi's give the money, you just enjoy some pizza!

AND!!
If you Bring a New Children’s Book to Donate
You will be entered in a drawing to win:

2 Free CiCi’s Pizza Buffets

A new Drawing each week!Multiple Books = Multiple Chances!

(Drawings to be held following week. You Do not have to be present to win.)

Bartering, The “Old Fashioned” way to get what you need!

2008-07-29T09:04:00.005-04:00

Having financial issues? Need to think outside the ever shrinking monetary box? Well, if craigslist is any indication of today’s economy, then there are a lot of people in the same boat. I have seen the rise in bartering and for sale ads on the Charlottesville Craigslist over the past year. And not just the trading and sale lists are rising, the number of “Free-to-good-home” ads have increased as well. Now while you might say that with the spring came lots of babies, I’m talking about someone giving away a horse, birds, and other farm animals. The rise in feed, groceries and gas prices are hitting us all and hitting us hard.

People are getting more creative with their finances and bartering is one of the ways people are meeting their needs without digging into their pockets. Barter, is defined as "a trade or exchange of goods or services without using money." My husband and I have practiced bartering for years now. In fact, we traded a pick up truck for some masonry work when we bought our new house 5 years ago. We weren’t strapped for money; it was just the most economical thing to do at the time. We had a truck for sale, and we had a new house that needed windows put into the basement. One of the first people to answer the ad happened to be a mason. I asked if he would be interested in a trade, he agreed and we now have windows in our basement and he has a new work truck. This was a win win situation for both of us.

You might say, “But I have nothing worth trading.” You might be correct, but then again, maybe you’re not in the right frame of mind. We are so use to using money to get everything we need and want, we can’t think of any other way to get it. I bet you have more to trade then you realized. Don’t just think of material things to trade, what about services you could offer? I would love to find someone who would cut my lawn in trade for farm fresh organic chicken eggs. How about providing a budget or check book reconciliation for some fresh home made baked breads or pies. Trade babysitting nights, car washing, a home made dinner or some fresh garden veggies and flowers.

Remember, when bartering, don’t just look at the monetary value of the item or service. Look at the time and effort involved to create a really fair trade. If your neighbor has farm fresh organic eggs that normally cost you $3 - $4 per dozen, it doesn’t seem fair to mow the law for such a small price. But if you consider that you would be mowing your lawn anyway, and it would only take a little more time to finish up their lawn in the process; along with the time and gas money you’d save by not going to the farmer’s market or grocery store to get said eggs, the trade seems to even out more.

Craiglist is a great place to barter services and goods. There are bartering networks if you’d like something more formal. If you’re just starting out, I suggest starting in your neighborhood or with family and friends. Once you get the hang of it and get your mind rapped around the wonderful world of bartering, you can expand your network.

But as in everything, please use due diligence, common sense and be careful! Trade safely and responsibly and enjoy yourself!

Travel Deals Part 1 - Plan Ahead

2008-07-18T09:04:00.004-04:00

I know a lot of you are going on a summer vacation, if you haven’t already gone. And while I love finding free activities and deals, some things are worth the money. A good vacation is mandatory for today's overworked and under appreciated work force. The good news is that here are plenty of ways to save BIG on any vacation. Planning ahead is key! The last thing you want to do is go on a last minute vacation. That is of course if it’s not a last minute Deal!

One of the best sites to find great travel deals is Travel Zoo. Every week they list the Top 20 travel deals for all over the world. That’s how I went on a 7 day Caribbean cruise in January for $599 per person! Now, you might have seen cheaper, but this was a Balcony room! The list actually showed the inside state room for $399. We booked this deal 8 months out and Of course I UPGRADED!!

Travel Zoo is a free site, you just sign up to receive the list and have access to their deals. Their Last Minute Deals are the only last minute trips you should be taking. Currently they are holding their BIG WIN 20 VACATIONS Sweeps. Essentially you win all the trips on their Top 20 List.

http://www.wintheentiretop20.com/US/index.php?Plink=L1216315358150520838

Now while I am a big fan of Travel Zoo, it’s not my only source for great deals. The Washington Post’s Sunday Travel section lists a similar Top Trip Deals. This is where we found our 7 Day trip to Italy for $599.00/ per person. This deal was phenomenal in that it included air, hotel, and a daily continental breakfast. We booked this trip 6 months out. When the base price for 2 people to go to Italy is only $1200.00, upgrading my airline seats and eating out at fancy Italian restaurants for dinner every night, isn’t such a hardship.

Now these are huge trips for my family. Most of our trips are local camping trips. Now camping is a nice economic way to have some fun! We just found a camp ground in the Outer Banks that’s only $20/night at the Oregon Inlet State Park Camp Ground. No water and Electricity, but they do have a bath house we can use! We plan on heading down towards the end of the season for a nice quiet get away. Do some fishing, collect some shells! It’s only 5 hours away, will take a tank of gas (I know, that’s $75 alone at least!) we’ll bring our own food, and get unplugged. And maybe this no water or electricity is a bit too rustic for some of you. Truth be told, my pop-up has its own generator and water supply and port-a-potty, so I’m not roughing it but so much!

State Parks are your best bet for lower cost camping. We spent the weekend at the James River State Park in Buckingham County back in June. The views were awesome and for only $25/night with water and electric hookups, it was ideal. They are right on the James River. They have group camp sites, horse camp sites (Bring your own horse), family camp sites as well as some primitive tent camp sites that are right on the river bank. And for $10 per person you get a Tube, a bus trip and a 2 mile float down the James. They also have canoeing and tons of hiking, biking, and horse riding trails.

Just remember that this economy is affecting everyone, including the Travel Industry. Expect to start seeing some great deals! Whether or not you can afford a cruise, or want to pop a tent, keep your eyes open for deals and think ahead! Here are some sites to help you start dreaming. Dreams do come true. Look for more deals and tips in my upcoming Travel Deals Part II.

Travel Zoo: Free site listing some of the best Travel Deals around.
http://www.wintheentiretop20.com/US/index.php?Plink=L1216315358150520838

Cruise Critic: Free Site to join. The message boards are awesome learning tools. Never been on an Alaskan Cruise, don't know what to pack?! There is a list for each port and members are extremely helpful. http://www.cruisecritic.com/

Smart Cruiser: Free site to join. Message boards, Ship details and reviews.

http://www.smartcruiser.com/

VA State Parks: Listing of Virginia State Parks, frees, activities and events.

http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state_parks/

My New Found Hobby!!

2008-07-17T12:16:00.002-04:00

Digital Scrapbooking

Scrapbooking can be a fun creative and social way to preserve your family’s memories. It can also be frustrating, time consuming and expensive!

Want to try scrapbooking without investing too much time and money? There is a new wave in this craft called Digital Scrapbooking. All the same bells and whistles of creating fun pages full of pictures, stickers, papers and embellishments, all done on your PC. Now there are some sights that are great that do charge for downloading the supplies, but there a ton of sites dedicated to instructing and supplying this hobby for free!

I have just recently found this wonderful new technology and had to share it with my fellow Ch’ville Ch’eapvillians! Here is a recent page I created with pictures of my nieces and nephews:

I am very proud of this page. Now I am the type of person who would rather learn by doing then reading and I consider myself fairly computer literate. This is the second page I created, the first really needed to be redone. The great thing about my 1st page, I just clicked and deleted it! No worries about wasting money on paper, or losing valuable pictures! My papers, pictures and embellishments were safely tucked away in another file on my hard drive. Of course, this is where excellent computer organizational skills come in handy.

The above picture (reduced to fit in this article) is actually a 12 X 12 page. I do have a 12x12 photo album that this would fit nicely into. I can send this page electronically to places like http://www.snapfish.com/ or http://www.samsclub.com/, to have it printed for a small fee. Or I could have reduced the paper to fit my home photo printer and made this an 8 ½ x 11 sheet and printed it at home saving a few more pennies. Or, just keep it digital! Save it on Photo CDs, thumb drives, websites for sharing and future printing!

I am already extremely addicted to the entire process. Most of my photos are already on my computer already. I found a ton of sites that offered free supplies which I promptly downloaded. Now, when ever I get some free time while I’m checking my mail, or paying bills, I open up my photo program and start scrapping!

Now special software is necessary. I was lucky to have Adobe Photo shop already installed on my computer and had used it a lot before finding this wonderful Hobby. If you don’t already have some sort of photo software on your computer, I suggest you thoroughly check out the sites below before purchasing anything.

Here are some great sites to get started at:

http://www.freedigitalscrapbooking.com/ - This wonderful site has free downloads as well as a Digital Scrapbooking 101 page that explains all of the steps and software requirements.

http://www.shabbyprincess.com/ - Great free kit downloads. This is where I got my supplies for the above picture.

http://www.scrapbookflair.com/ - More great downloads. Lots of wonderful flower embellishments.

I have spent my fair share of time and money Cropping ‘til Dropping. And I still enjoy hanging out with friends chatting while working on my albums. But I now can do it digitally as well!

Just Google Free Digital Scrapbooking and a long list will pop up. And remember, there are tons of free downloads to keep you busy for months! And more are added all the time. There really is no need to pay money for supplies! $$$SAVE YOUR GREEN$$$ But Still have fun!

Hello!! I'm BACK!!

2008-07-16T19:27:00.004-04:00

I am so sorry I have been away. I recently got a new job and dedicated my brain cells to learning the new duties! I hope you all found some great freebies on your own!

Here are a few that will tie in nicely with the upcoming end of summer and a new school year!

Office Depot Free movie tickets WYB school supplies

http://www.moviesfromofficedepot.com/

Get a certificate for 2 free movie tickets with your qualifying Office Depot online purchase of $40 school supplies.

If you're a Charlottesville City Resident, you're in luck!

The Ch'ville's Parks and Recreation is hosting "City Resident FREE Swimming Evenings!!"

LOCATION: Washington Park Pool

DAYS: Sat

TIMES: 5 - 7 pm

DATES: July 19, 26 and August 2

LOCATION: Meade Park Onesty Pool
DAYS: Sun
TIMES: 5 - 7 pm
DATES: July 20, 27 and August 3

So, have some fun before the summer ends!

Remember ,"a penny saved is a penny earned," and in today's economy where penny's are almost obsolete, it is still better to keep the penny you have rather then give it away!

FREE GROCERY TIME!!!

2008-03-09T18:53:00.004-04:00

Hey Gang!

In the mood for some Free Cereal!? The links below are to $2.00/1 box of Chocolate Honey Bunches of Oats, but you can use them on any flavor as long as they are the right size box. Now you can print 2 coupons from each link, giving you a total of 4. My favorite store Harris Teeter has these on sale Buy 1 Get 1 Free. So, that makes them $3.49 for 2 boxes. Use 2 - $2/1 coupons and you will actually make $.51!!! Now, if you were collecting coupons like you should be, then you will have a $.75/1 coupon for Ban Deoderant. They are on sale for $1.99 - 2x$.75 (HT doubles) you have a deoderant for $.49 or FREE if you buy it with the cereal! Thats 2 boxes of cereal and a deoderant for free and the store will owe you $.02!! Now, they won't pay you, so I suggest you buy something else like the Chex Mixes! They are on sale B1G1 @ $2.59 for 2. You should have 2 - $.50/1 coupons that came in today's Sunday Paper (if you bought 2 papers). If you have 2 then you'll get the 2 bags for $.59. Oh, and I almost forgot the crest toothpaste. It is on sale for $1.99 and there was a coupon in the P&G coupons a while back for $.75/1, doubling to make it $1.50/1 and that makes the Crest Toothpaste $.49. So this is what I walked away with:
4 boxes of Honey Bunches of Oats -($1.02)
2 bags of Chex Mex - $.59
1 Crest Toothpaste - $.49
2 Ban Deoderants - $.98
-5% for UVA discount (which works for students or workers)
For a Grand Total of....... $.99 plus tax

You just can't beat that people!! It wasn't free, but if I hadn't bought the deoderant it would have been. Also, they are having some great sales on chicken breasts @ $.88/lb and Totino's pizza's @$.88/1. I did load up on the chicken because I found some wine tags that I can send away for $2.00 and $5.00 rebates! Check out the beer and wine section for rebate forms. Most of them don't require beer/wine purchases and you can really get some free groceries. So, here are the two links for you to try. You can print 2 from each computer, so print them at home and work. Heck, if you're up to it, print it from the UVA library!

http://www.kraftfoods.com/honeybunchesofoats

http://www.kraftfoods.com/honeybunchesofoats/offers.html

Also, check out the links on this page to sign up for other coupons you can print. It's free to sign up and you can find some great coupons that aren't in the Sunday papers.

As always, Stock up, Save and Enjoy!!

Weekend Plans!

2008-03-07T08:38:00.002-05:00

Hi Gang!

Well, the weather isn't suppose to be that great this weekend, but there are several indoor activities available.

FRIDAY

Tonight is "First Fridays," with Charlottesville's Art Scene. Check out new Artists and New Art from Seasoned Pros. Soak in some culture and enjoy some free wine and appetizers.

SATURDAY

EASTER BUNNY BREAKFAST

Saturday, March 8, 2008 • 9 AM – 10 AM @ Chick-Fil-A in Fashion Square Mall.

Enjoy free Chick-Fil-A breakfast sandwiches as well as crafts with Bright Beginnings, face painting and other activities, and party favors for the little ones.

SUNDAY

Kegler's is having a Dollar Mania event. It's not free, but considering how expensive bowling is, its better then nothing. A $10 cover charge gets you in, after that anything you buy only costs $1. $1 games, food, beer and fun at AMF.
Date:
2/3/2008 - 6/26/2008
Time:
9:00 PM - 12:00 AM Every Sunday Thru Thursday

FREE MOVIE TICKET OFFER

Click this link to learn how to get free movies from buying Hershey Candy. HT has Hershey Candy on sale, and of course there are coupons for Hershey Candy out there!

I'll be going there tonight to see how cheap I can get the candy and still qualify for Free Movie Tickets.

Clicker for yourself!
http://www.hersheys.com/megamovie/orderForm.pdf

I'll post most as I find the deals.

Enjoy!

Last Minute Deals

2008-03-03T13:36:00.003-05:00

Hi gang!

There is only two days left before Harris Teeter's sales change, so get a move on it!

Here's what you can get:

$.39/lb HT leg quarters. BBQ Season is around the corner, all you need is a warm sunny day and some good BBQ sauce!

$0.00 Peter Pan Peanut Butter. If you don't have the coupon it will still be a good deal at $1.00. Those kids will be needing something to make while they're home for the summer. Stock up and save some time.

$.50 - $1.25 Edge Shave Gel 7oz. There's a coupon in the 1/27 Smart Source coupon pack. Some were $1.00 off and others were $.75 off. Either is a good for a nice deal.

B1G1 Kellogs Special K - There's a coupon in 2/24 Red Plum coupon pack for $.70, that doubles to $1.40! I hope you have more then 1 so you can stock up on this deal as well.

2/$8.00 Polermo's Rustico Think & Crispy Pizzas - Scroll down and get the $2.00 coupon and make them $2/$4.00.

I know I told you to go to the recycling center to collect coupons. Well, I wouldn't tell you to do it if I'm not willing to do it. I went twice last week and both times I wasn't able to reach the bin. Oh well, some days you hit pay dirt, some days just dirt.

Let me know if any of you are cleaning up on these deals. Remember, if you don't need it, the food bank certainly does.

Enjoy!

Happenings in Ch'ville This Week 3/3 - 3/7

2008-03-02T16:48:00.003-05:00

I'm sure you are not just interested in cheap or free grocery deals. Here are some wonderful free entertainment opportunities that are going on in and around our little town. There will be more events to take advantage of, once Spring and Summer truly come knocking on our doors.

If you know of an event not listed, please let me know!

Monday , 3/3/2008

Books on the Big Screen: Teens in grades 6-12 can check out Hollywood's take on their favorite books at Northside Library. See how the books were changed, find out what others think, and share snacks. Haven't read the book? No problem-- they'll help you find a copy.

Tuesday , 3/4/2008

Tuesday Travelers: Young adventurers ages 3 and up can travel to a distant destination without ever leaving Charlottesville at the Virginia Discovery Museum. Explore other cultures through books, music and art with a touch of geography and foreign language, and make a craft or sample a native.

Jimmy O will be playing at the Lazy Parrot Grill, every Tuesday evening.

Wednesday , 3/5/2008

Doing Time: A screening and discussion of Doing Time, Doing Vipassana, a documentary describing how an ancient meditation technique profoundly altered the lives of the inmates of one of Indias biggest, most notorious jails. Finalist, 1988 New York Film Festival. Free. 7pm. Jefferson Madison Regional.

Thursday , 3/6/2008

Artists All: Young artists in grades K and up are invited to explore their inner Picasso in an art program with local artist Jessie Coles. Participants will create an original work to take home. 4pm. Free. Registration required. Albemarle Square. 973-7893.

Friday , 3/7/2008

As March's First Friday, this is a large art event for the city. Enjoy Art shows, live music, and free food and wine samples.

There will be an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday for two new exhibits at Kluge-Ruhe Aboriginal Art Collection.
TWO-SITE EXHIBITION : Second Street Gallery and Les Yeux du Monde are collaborating to present a 40-year retrospective of Anne Slaughter's art and biography.

There will be opening receptions for the artist at both locations from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, with an artist talk at Second Street at 6:30 p.m. Second Street Gallery is at 115 Second St. SE

Works by Trisha Orr also will be on display at Les Yeux du Monde. The gallery is at 115 First St. NW.
CENTER OF ATTENTION : McGuffey Art Center will have an opening reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday for four shows at the second street venue. McGuffey is at 201 Second St. NW.
There will be a First Fridays reception at the Laughing Lion Gallery from 6 to 8 p.m. this week. Laughing Lion Gallery is at 103 E. Water St, above Londons.
Sage Moon Gallery is featuring work by sculptor Julie McCraney-Brogdon this month. The gallery will host a reception from 6 and 9 p.m. Friday to meet the artist. Sage Moon Gallery is at 420 E. Main St.
Angelo features new botanical prints by the photographer John Grant during March and April. Angelo is at 220 E. Main St. on the Downtown Mall.
"Creeks and Fields: Western Albemarle Landscapes" by Meg West will be on display through April 3 at the Gallery at Fifth and Main. An opening reception is on tap at 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday. Gallery is in the upstairs entrance to Henderson and Everett and Stoneking/von Storch at 107 Fifth St. SE.
Monty Montgomery, who recently moved back to Charlottesville, will be the featured artist at the Gallery at Starr Hill. "Reality Revisited," which includes 30 pieces, will be unveiled during a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. Andy Waldeck will play an acoustic performance from 7 to 8 p.m.
Renaissance School will exhibit painting by John Hetzel through March 31. An opening reception for "New Works" will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday. Renaissance School is at 406 E. Main St.
The photography exhibit "P-SPECT: The Place I Live" has been held over at the Charlottesville Community Design Center. There will be reception from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday. The exhibit feature shte work of nine middle school boys from the Prospect Avenue neighborhood. The center is on First Street.
Bozart Gallery will unveil "Studestada" with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. The work of Liliana Italiano, who was born in Argentina and now lives in Charlottesville, will be on display throughout March. The exhibit features two years of her work in paintings, ceramics and sculpture. Bozart is at 211 W. Main St.

As always, Enjoy Yourselves, what ever you decide to do!

Happy Leap Day!

2008-02-29T18:44:00.007-05:00

Just got home from Harris Teeter and they have some great deals! If you missed the $1.85 Palermo's Pizza, don't fret! They have the Palermo's Thin and Crispy on sale 2/$8.00. Scroll down and print off some of the $2.00/1 coupons and you've got a nice price for some decent pizza. It isn't the $1.85 deal some of us got, but $2.00 for a medium pizza is still really good.

Here, I'll make it easy for you:

http://files.e2ma.net/6684/assets/docs/2offrustico.jpg

Also, if you'd rather shop at HT instead of Kroger, they also have the Peter Pan Peanut Butter 10/$10. So if you've gathered more coupons, load up! They have their chicken leg quarters on sale for $.39/lb.

Leverage Your Coupons

Now I'll tell you why I'd rather shop at HT then Kroger. HT doubles coupons up to $.99. NowI have rarely ever seen a coupon for $.99, but I have seen .55, .60, .70, .75 and even a .90. This is what makes going to HT such a great deal. For instance, on one shopping trip they had Soft and Dry deoderant on sale 2/$3.00. Well, you guessed it, I had several $.75/1 coupons. I ended up getting 5 deoderants for FREE!! This is what I like to call "Leveraging Your Coupons." I save anything between $.50 and $1.00 coupons specifically for shopping at HT. Why waste a $.55 coupon at Kroger or giant, when its worth $1.10 at HT? I don't, unless the coupon is about to expire, the item isn't on sale at HT and it is on sale where I'm currently shopping.

Now don't forget to pick up this Sunday's paper for coupon inserts. News Papers are not the only source for coupons. There are several online coupon sources like smart source, where you can click and print. Check out the links posted here and you'll build up your coupon book in no time.

Good Morning Ch'villians

2008-02-28T09:40:00.003-05:00

My trip last night to Kroger yielded some nice cheap items. I walked away with 2 jars of Peter Pan Peanut Butter for $0.00; 2 Oral B Toothbrushes for $1/each; and some Right Guard deodorant for $0.66. Not bad! Unfortunately I did not have time to search the aisles for more good deals, but this was a nice little haul. I only paid $2.66+tax for all of it.

The Peter Pan is 10/$10 (you don’t have to buy 10) and I had 2- $1 off 1 coupons
The Oral B is 2/$4 and I had 2- $1 off 1 coupons
The Right Guard is 3/$5 and I had 1 $1 off 1 coupon

Now if you haven’t started collecting coupons, these are still really good sales. If you want to get in on the coupon action, I would suggest going to the Charlottesville Recycling Center and hit the recycled paper truck. If the truck has not been recently emptied or pushed back, you should be able to reach sets of coupons. No sense in going through them there, just grab what you can and go through them later. You can also ask those tossing their papers if they have coupons. This will give you a nice start on your coupon collection.

If the idea of "dumpster diving," is too much for you to deal with, don't worry there will be more deals. You can wait until this weekend and start collecting Sunday papers. I get the Washington Post and the Daily Progress. This gives me 2 sets of most coupons. I also asked my neighbors and relatives that don’t use coupons, much to my dismay, if I can use theirs. At times I can have up to 4 copies of the same coupons. This allows me to have a large stock pile of items.

If you think you don’t need to clip coupons, you’re basically missing an opportunity to be altruistic. Last year I was able to get 10 jars of free peanut butter. I kept some, donated some to the food bank and donated more to friends in need. I also bought 12 bottles of Sunny D fruit drink. These were not free, but I only paid $.25 each. This was part of a deal Sunny D had going on and I received free movie tickets! I was only interested in the movie tickets, since I don’t drink Sunny D, so the drinks went straight to the food bank. I was able to give without hurting my budget and receive FREE MOVIE TICKETS! Altruism has never been so sweet.

Feed yourself or feed the needy, either way coupons are money in your pocket. If I were to hand you a $1 bill, would you throw it away? Well, that is exactly what you’re doing if you don’t use coupons, especially on things you already buy or services you already use!

Feel free to post questions or comments! I’ll post more deals as I find them!

ENJOY!

Today's Info

2008-02-27T10:07:00.001-05:00

Hello Fellow Ch'villians!

I'll be heading to Kroger this evening to get some free Peter Pan and see what other deals are out there. Unfortunately, or fortunately depending on how you look at it, not all of the sales are posted online or in the sale paper. Some stores have individual sales depending on their stock. This is why it is very important to keep a coupon notebook and to take it with you shopping.

Now my coupon book is basically a trapper keeper with baseball card holder sleeves, notebook paper and page dividers. The page dividers are used to divide the notebook into sections like Dairy, Beverages, Meat, Frozen, Laundry...etc. The baseball card holders are great, you just fold the coupon so the name or the picture of the product are showing. This makes hunting for coupons so easy you just flip through the picture book. The notebook paper is to place between each of the sleeves to make it easier to view. I keep a pair of small scissors, a calculator and a pen in the pocket. This keeps everything organized, neat, easy to see, use and hard to lose!

So here are a couple of sites you should check out if you don't already!

www.craigslist.com - full of so much its hard to explain, but there is a free section and a barter section. Don't underestimate the power of bartering!

Also, there is a yahoo group called Charlottesville Freecycle. People in and around C'ville that post items they are giving away. Better to give it to someone who can use it then have it end up in the landfield. Just go to yahoo, click on groups and search for Charlottesville Freecycle. Sign up and start posting and replying. We just put up some firewood that we didn't use this camping season. they came, halled it away and now my back yard looks much much better! Thanks guys.

If you've got a Deal that you'd like me to post, send it to me! I'd love some feedback!

Until next time! ENJOY!

Today's Deals!

2008-02-25T11:23:00.000-05:00

Thanks to 106.1 the Corner Radio, we've got a FREE concert to go to!

When: 2/25/08 @7:30pm
Where: Gravity Lounge

WHO: Deep Blue Something

Kroger Deals

2008-02-25T09:41:00.000-05:00

Kroger Deals & Steals!
Okay Gang! Kroger’s got a steal for us this week. IF you’ve been collecting coupons you should be able to get something for FREE!!

Peter Pan Peanut Butter Creamy or Crunchy 18oz on sale 10 for $10 (or $1 each)

There’s a $1/1 coupon in :
the March 28th issue of All You Magazine on page 30
and
the Smart Source Coupon insert of the 1/6/08 Sunday paper

I’ll keep you updated on this week’s deals as I find them! ENJOY!

Cheapville Ch'ville's Deal of the Day

2008-02-24T15:09:00.000-05:00

This quaint little top "10 town" to live in, can be quite expensive. Gas prices just jumped to over $3.00 per gallon. That tacks on to everything that is shipped into this wonderful little town including food and beverages. From Food Lion to Aberdeen Barn and everything in between the prices are going up. From energy to housing costs, my wallet is taking a hard beating. Housing has gone down some with the crashing market, but still averaging around $250,000.00. If you've got the money to spend, that is Great! But just because you have it to spend, doesn't mean you should. There are ways to save. From small percentage rebates to down right getting something for free! Yes C'ville, some things are free! Well, you won't have to pay cash for them anyway! And if you stick with me and follow what I do, it won't cost you that much time either.

Here's an example:

Like Pizza? Don't want the hassle of going out to get it, or waiting for delivery? There's extra money for gas and tipping involved. How about a medium spicey pepperoni pizza for $1.85?

Palermo Pizza Deal:

First: click on this link and print off as many coupons as you want pizza's (minimum of 2 recommended)

http://files.e2ma.net/6684/assets/docs/2offrustico.jpg

Its a $2.00 off 1 Coupon for Palermo's Rustica Pizza

Second: trim down the coupon to make it easier for the cashier.

Third: Harris Teeter has these on sale Buy 1 Get 1 Free @$7.69/2. So buy in multiples of 2.

Fourth: Use 1 coupon for every pizza making them $1.85 each.

Note: When you hand them to the cashier, they might have to call the manager or manually type in the coupon. My coupons did not print well, you might have better luck. But don't worry, this is legal and you will not be hassled! Buy as many as you want. If no pizzas available or the flavors you want are not available, GET A RAIN CHECK!

This is a short dated deal! The pizzas are only on sale until 2/26/08. Luckily the coupons don't expire until September, so you can save them for another sale.

They are actually very tasty. I personally bought 14, six during one trip and 8 on a separate trip. I only have so much room in my freezer. But gauge your space and buy accordingly. Stock up! When you find good deals on something this cheap, you have to create a stock pile! If you don't have to constantly shop for certain items you save time and money!

This should get you warmed up. Stay tuned Charlottesville and I will get your stock pile full!