Keeping Track of Many Accounts in One Place - Mint.com

Mint.com allows you to keep track of many accounts in one place.



You give them the information related to your accounts and they will organize and aggregate all the information in one place.  You can even set it up so that you get an email a week before any bill is due or any bigger transactions have posted to your accounts.


Worried about security?  From the NYTimes article about mint.com:


"Intuit’s privacy and security policy, though, suggests the company is serious about protecting your data. Among other things, Intuit encrypts all communications between you and the company, and its internal data-handling policies are intended to minimize the chances that an employee can see your information."

Get Free $10 Credit to Amazon Etextbooks Free

Here is the link - use promo code etxtbook.

The books can be read on your iPad, PC or Mac.  Must be redeemed by January 9th.

Coming to America - $6 DVD

For all those who grew up on Coming to America (which I personally did),  you can now get for $6 on DVD - Coming to America (Special Collector's Edition)

This is Eddie Murphy at his finest and most hilarious (but also inappropriate).

PJ Library - Free Monthly Jewish Books for Your Children and Grandchildren

PJ Library gets communities to sponsor subscriptions for monthly mailings of free jewish books.

Both parents and grandparents are eligible to sign up for their children and grandchildren.

If you live in the NY area, most communities are covered, outside of NY there is some coverage but check their map to see if you community is covered.

Cuisinart 10 piece ($106.17) and 17 piece set ($125.99) With free 2 Piece Slicing/Pairing Set

I have seen the 10 piece Cuisinart Stainless Steel set advertised on other blogs from Amazon for $105.  With tax, this comes out to $115.37.  If you buy it from newegg, you can get it for $108.99 flat, no tax.

Using Ebates, you can get another 2.6% off so your total comes out to $106.17!

If you don't have ebates, you can sign up for free and you even get a $10 gift card after your first $25 purchase.

Cuisinart 77-10 10-Piece Chef's Classic Cookware Set Type: Cookware Set Quantity: 10-Piece Included: Set includes: (719-16) 1-1/2 Qt. Saucepan w/Cover (7193-20) 3 Qt. Saucepan w/Cover (733-24H) 3-1/2 Qt. Sauté pan w/Helper Handle and Cover (722-20) 8" Open Skillet (722-24) 10" Open Skillet (766-24) 8 Qt. Stockpot w/Cover

Click on Buy (right above) to get it directly from Newegg, but I would get it from Ebates
Amazon deal for Cuisinart 77-17 Chef's Classic Stainless 17-Piece Cookware Set

If you are in one of the states where Amazon must charge you sales tax (NY, KS, KY, ND, and WA), you are better off going for the new egg deal.  All others are better off with the Amazon deal.

17 piece Cuisinart set for $159.99


Both deals come with a free 2 piece slicing/pairing set

Put Tuition Payments on your Credit Card

Put your tuition payments on your credit card.  For many, there is no single bill bigger than tuition so why not get free money!  Even if you are getting loans, you should still pay the tuition bill on your credit card.  Then, pay your credit card bill with your loan money.

The credit card you use should have some sort of rewards program (see my other post to see which credit cards are best).

For example, if your tuition is $30,000 a year, if you have the fidelity american express credit card you will get back 2% of the bill, which is $600.  At 1%, you still get $300 back.  If you just used your loan money to pay the school directly, you get back nothing.  It's a no brainer.

Even if your credit limit is not high enough to cover these expenses ,you can normally still pay with your credit card.  Once you have your loan money, prepay your credit card company before you charge the tuition.  Many cards will then add to your limit based on how much you have paid them.  For example, if you have a $1,000 limit, if you paid $30,000 to the credit card company, you will now have a limit of $31,000 until you use your credit!  You are now able to afford paying your tuition on your credit card and have made $600 in the process.

Plasmacar - A Really Fun Toy

My brother and sister in law bought a Plasmacar for their children and I played with it today and I had a great time for about 10 minutes (even though I had a major wipe out - video below).  It is safe for anyone 200 lbs. and below.

I am not suggesting anybody buy this, and I am not buying it myself, but if after watching the video you decide that you need to have it, this is the best price I could find.  It is selling for $60 at Target.


If you wait until January, you can get back 5% on all Amazon orders with your Chase Freedom.

80% off The Children's Place With Free Shipping Today and Tomorrow

The Children's Place is having an 80% off sale today and tomorrow (12/25 - 12/26) online and in stores.

There is free shipping on 12/25

If you apply for their credit card, you will get another 20% off and free shipping through the end of December.  You normally get 5% off with their credit card.

Free Bluetooth Headset After Rebate - Samsung WEP460

I just got my Samsung 490 and I've sent away for the rebate.  The bluetooth works great.  You can buy it until the end of the year.

Here is the link for the headset

Here is the $20 rebate


There is a limit of 3 per household. Each rebate needs to be sent in separately.

Free Headphones From Staples After Rebate

Free headphones from Staples after 100% Staple Rewards until 12/24

You have to bring the coupon in with you.

If you don't have Staple Rewards, you can join for free

You can get your free USB and 16 pack of Duracel batteries at the same time!

Target RED (Credit) Card - An Important Second Tier Card for Everyone

For other credit cards, take a look here

I just recently got a Target Card, although it doesn't have a Visa symbol so it can't be used outside of Target (you can get one with a Visa symbol).  I think EVERYONE should get a target card and here is why.

Benefits:

1) Free Shipping at Target.com with no minimums - I can't tell you how many times I  bought this pack of pencils at Amazon in order to qualify for Super Free Shipping.  With the Target Card, as long as the price is the same, you never have to think about that anymore.

2) Start your shopping at Ebates and get another 3% off online

3) 5% off at Target stores and Target.com - This is not 5% back in miles or points, you just spend 5% less to begin with.

4) An extra 5% off on Pharmacies (10% total) when you fill 5 prescriptions

5) 1% of your order (in addition to the 5%) goes to a school of your choice -  Please pick Jewish Heritage Day School, our local day school, if you don't care who gets it.  Once you connect your card to a school, there is nothing you need to do anymore.

6) No Annual Fee - of course, I wouldn't recommend the card if it had one.  (there are few exceptoins)

7) If you have bad credit, cards from Retailers are a good place to start

Brooks Brothers Non Iron Dress Shirts for $28.36 Each on December 26th

I just got a promotion in the mail that Brooks Brothers Outlet Stores will be 50% off on December 26th and 40% from now until January 3rd.

The shirts are normally $69.50 each at the outlets

The shirts are $28.36 each with the 15% off promototion from VIP Premium Outlets (free to sign up) after spending $100 and 4% back for using your Brooks Brothers credit card,.

If you don't have their credit card, they will be $29.54 each after the extra 15% off

Chase Freedom $300 Bonus No Longer Available

Unfortunately, the Chase Freedom $300 bonus is no longer available, but you can still get the $200 bonus here.

Update 12/21/12 - Bonus is back down to $100
Update 1/3/12 - The $250 link seems to be down, so here is a link for a $200 bonus.  sorry :(
Update 1/4/12 - $250 link is back - both links will get you the $250 bonus.
Update 3/14/2012 - $200 link works, but not the $300 one.

All you have to do is spend $500 in three months and you get the bonus.

Hurry before this goes too!

The card itself is a great credit card - Here are some of the benefits
- 5% back on gas for 6 months of year
-5% back on Amazon and Best Buy for 3 months of the year
-5% back on groceries for 3 months of the year
-1% back on everything else.

Shopping in an Outlet Store like Woodbury Common or Niagara Outlets? Here is How to Save Even More

If you are shopping in an Outlet Store (which I highly recommend for big shopping days), you should always check out these sites before you shop (links at the end of the post).

The outlets put together websites where you can print coupons that can save you a whole bunch of monies. Signing up is free.  Almost every store has some sort of coupon.

I went to the Banana Republic stores in Waterloo Premium Outlets (I went to Woodbury Common on Black Friday and after 20 minutes I couldn't even find a parking spot) the Sunday after Black Friday (There was almost no one in Waterloo, I don't think there is ever anyone there - a great place to shop) and I was able to print out a 15% off coupon for my order if I spend $100 or more.  I needed new pants (my old pants wouldn't fit anymore - vahamaivin yavin) and I was able to get four pairs of Banana Republic pants for $88 - including tax (I also signed up for a credit card, but that's for a different post).

They also usually have 15% off Brooks Brothers too, if you spend $100.  Many times they will have great Carter's and The Children's Place coupons as well.

Make sure to look at individual stores and also print out the one at the top for the whole place.  You print it out, bring that one to the office and they will give you a booklet of coupons in addition to any other coupons you have already printed out.

Also, make sure to google for different coupons.  There are plenty of printable coupons available that work in outlet stores if you just search for them.  Right now you can get a 30% off coupon from Banana Republic Factory Story.  This is just one example

Here is the link for Woodbury Common and other Premium Outlets

Here is the link for Niagara Fashion outlets.


 t

Free USB 4GB from Staples after Staples Rewards

You actually have to go into Staples to get this deal but you can get a FREE USB 4GB in Staples.  It costs $16.99, there is $11.00 of instant savings and they will give you $5.99 back on your Staples Rewards.


Sign up for free for Staples Rewards


Here is the coupon to bring with you

Free Obama (Pro and NObama) and Newt Gingrich Bumper Stickers

I thought this would be fun

Here is the Pro Obama Link

Here is the NObama Link


Keep in mind that the GOP can't send text messages to home phones.


From Hey It's Free

20% off Keurig OfficePro B40 - as low as $90

Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.

Here is the link. coupon code is 15178486 or 83738268 (I tried to do both but they wouldn't work together)

If you have always wanted a single serve Keurig coffee maker, right now is the time to buy.  Normally $119  in officedepot and $122 from Amazon, it will come out to $94 and with extra savings, it can be as low as $89.30

If you have a Discover it™ or Chase Card, you should buy it through their online portals.  Discover will give you 5% off and Chase will give you 3%.  If you do not have either of these, you can buy it through ebates and they will give you 1% back.

This one makes 7 1/4oz cups and 9 1/4oz cups.  If you want 6 oz cups, you should go for the B145, which is a little more expense.  It will come out to $104.  Normally $129


I personally am not a fan of the coffee maker simply because it is significantly more expensive to buy the maker and more expensive for each cup of coffee but many people swear by them.

From slickdeals

Credit Cards for Individual Retailers

For the best credit cards, click Here


When I walk into a store, unlike most people, I always look into their credit card.  Their cards are almost never the best for regular usage, but you can get some real savings in their store.

Also, if you don't have a credit history, they are usually a good way to start building your credit because it is easier to get a store credit card than a bank credit card.

Another great thing, is that many of these card will give you free coupons and gift cards just for being a member

Here is a list of my favorite store credit cards.  As always, these cards have no annual fee:

Target Red Card- 5% back on every purchase, plus free shipping from target.com, plus get an additional 5% off any pharmacy items from Target.
        - If you enroll in their Taking Charge of Education program, a school of your choice will get 1% of your purchase (you don't lose anything).  Please pick Jewish Heritage Day School, our local day school, if you don't care who gets it.

Banana Republic - 15% off your first purchase.  5% back on every purchase towards a Gap Inc. store (banana, gap, old navy etc.)  - plus get a $15 gift card for your birthday every year and $40 after first purchase not at Banana Republic.  Plus, you can get up to 2,000 bonus point ($20) for signing up for paperless statements, emails, voice mails, atheleta news.
    -You get $60 back right away, in addition to all other savings!

Brooks Brothers - 15% off your first purchase.  4% back at Brooks Brothers- plus get another $20 gift card for your birthday every year.
          -At this point, I pretty much go to Brooks Brothers once a year, buy 5 pairs of socks and spend     $1-$2.  I'm never sure what emotions I am feeling as I walk out.

Toys R Us/Babies R Us - 10% off your first purchase.  4% back on every purchase + you can get another 1% with the keyring rewards card.

Lowe's - 5% off purchases at Lowe's

As always, if you have any cards that you like, please let us all know which card you like and why.

ESPN Magazine - $4 a year for 3 Years

ESPN Magazine - $4 a year for 3 years - promo code is 7773

From Slickdeals

I have never used this website so I can't talk about how secure it is.

Birthday Freebies

Baskin Robbins - Free scoop of Ice Cream
     - Thank you MW

Barnes N' Noble - Free Cupcake for your kids


Ben and Jerry's - Free Scoop of Ice Cream and $3 off an ice cream cake

Cold Stone - their website says they give a "special treat".
       - I got an email saying that they will give you buy one get one free for one creation

Tasty D-Lite - Free Medium Tasti Cup

Abigail's - free entree (need to go with two people) - I believe you need to sign up for it at the store, not online.

Chuck E Cheese - 20 free coupons on your half and full birthdays.  Works every day for a week leading up to the birthday.  Also, you can buy a cup for them for $3 that gives you free refills on soda every time you come.  You can wash it and bring it back again the next time for free.
     - Thank you YW


Krispy Kreme - Free donut and free small coffee or fountain drink

Starbucks - Free Drink Creation 

Dunkin' Donuts - Free Medium Beverage

TCBY - Small cup of Frozen Yogurt

Baltimore Orioles - Free ticket to non-prime games (

Brooks Brothers - $20 gift card during your birthday month
Update 6/2013 - I did not get a coupon this year :(
Update 6/2012 - they have changed the rules.  You know have to make a purchase during your birthday month with a coupon they send you and then you will get your $20 off at the next purchase.  Basically, you will get $20 off of two purchases instead of one so try to buy the cheapest item in the store to qualify for the $20.


Banana Republic - $15


If you want a very comprehensive list, see here.  I put on the ones that give something free, not just a coupon and restaurants/food that have a kosher site.

6 pack of Skippy Peanut Butter - $12.83 for a 6 Pack of 15ozs

Skippy Peanut Butter - $12.83 for a 6 Pack of 15ozs and free shipping

You get this price when you sign up for "subscribe and save" which will save you an extra 15%. Just cancel the subscribe and save after you are done and there is no penalty.  They tell you that there is no obligation.  Just click on the Link

Huggies Diapers - Free Sample

Huggies Diapers - Free Sample - 4-6 weeks to delivery.

Thanks YP for the tip

5-6.25% Cash Back on Gas for 6 Months of the Year

Disclaimer - The Discover offers are no longer valid.

Update: bonus is now $100


Get $300 back when you spend $500 in the first 3 months on Chase Freedom.

Get 5% Cash Back on up to $1,500 spent in each quarter on gas for 6 months of the year (Jan-March and July-Sep). 

      - Remember to sign up for the categories before every quarter.

The 2012 5% Cash Back quarterly categories have come out for Chase Freedom and Discover it™.  

For Discover, your 5% can turn into 6.25% when you use your rewards for gift cards.  With many companies (my family gets Bed Bath and Beyond cards), you can redeem $20 of rewards for a $25 card.  This effectively adds 25% to your rewards.

Splenda Essentials 2 Free Samples

Splenda Essentials Free Samples - You can order 2 per household.

You do not need to give your email, just your address so no annoying spam emails.

Chase Freedom - $300 Sign up Bonus

Update: dead!  Bonus is now $100

Chase Freedom is a great secondary card to use for its 5% categories and they are now offering $300 if you spend $500 in the first 3 months.

From slickdeals.net

Chase Freedom is 5% Back on Charitable Contributions Until the End of the Year

Now through the end of the year you can get 5% back on charitable donations on up to $1,500 of charitable donations with your Chase Freedom Card.  Keep in mind that you need to sign up every quarter for the 5% bonues.

Most charities allow you to donate via credit cards and now is the best time of the year to maximize your donations via Chase Freedom .


Yad Eliezer is one charity that makes it easy to donate with a credit card.

I am normally not a fan of putting charitable donations on credit cards because of the percentage the credit card company takes from the charity but if you just add the 5% you get onto your donation, the charity makes out and you have maximized your donation.