Category Archives: Cheap

New Favorite: Baked Balsamic Chicken ~ Post #5

Posted on February 21, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Note about this post: We are taking a little blog-cation over the coming days and are republishing some of our top posts from the past (in no particular order). We look forward to being back with you in a few days! :)

      

A couple of months ago I discovered a “no-fail” recipe for baked chicken. This easy recipe has consistently provided the most moist and flavorful baked chicken and is my new “go-to” for all recipes that start with a base of cooked chicken.

The recipe is perfect as is (served right out of the oven with the balsamic sauce), but we also like the chicken without the sauce, served cold and chopped up on a green salad.  It would be great for chicken salad and sandwich wraps, too.  I double the recipe and freeze the extra chicken for quick and easy meals.

Baked Balsamic Chicken

Ingredients

6 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves

1 ½ teaspoons fresh rosemary leaves, minced, or ½ teaspoon dried

2 cloves garlic, minced

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½ teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

¼ cup balsamic vinegar

4-6 tablespoons white wine (optional)

Directions

1.  Remove excess fat from chicken and rinse the chicken. Combine the rosemary, garlic, pepper, and salt in a small bowl and mix well. Place the chicken in a large bowl. Drizzle with the olive oil, and rub each piece of chicken with the spice mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

2.  Preheat the oven to 450°F. Spray a heavy roasting pan or iron skillet with cooking spray. Place the chicken in the pan and bake for 10 minutes. Turn the chicken over. If the drippings begin to stick to the pan, stir in 3-4 tablespoons water or white wine (if using).

3.  Bake until a thermometer inserted in the thickest portion of the meat registers 160°F and the juices run clear (about 10 more minutes).

4.  If the pan is dry, stir in another 1-2 tablespoons of water or white wine to loosen the drippings. Drizzle the vinegar over the chicken in the pan.

5.  Transfer the chicken to plates. Stir the liquid in the pan and drizzle over the chicken.

To freeze extra chicken:  Eliminate steps 4 & 5.  Place chicken on a wax paper lined cookie sheet, so that the chicken is not touching.  Freeze for 2 hours (or until outside feels frozen) and then transfer to a freezer safe bag or container.

Do you have a favorite recipe?  We would love to hear about it! Share your recipe in the “contact us” section.

 

Enjoy and Share! :)



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Posted in Cheap, Cooking and Entertaining, Fort Worth, TX, Home and Garden, Recipes, Stretch your Dollar!

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Is Refinancing Your Home a Wise Option? ~ Post #4

Posted on February 20, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Note about this post: We are taking a little blog-cation over the coming days and are republishing some of our top posts from the past (in no particular order). We look forward to being back with you in a few days! :)

Mortgage Rates Fall to Record Lows.
Average mortgage interest rates just hit their lowest level since 1971 , and if you are a homeowner, this is a really good time to explore refinancing. And I do mean “explore.”

Just because rates have dropped doesn’t necessarily mean that it is wise for everyone to refinance immediately.  Refinancing involves applying for a new loan which will be used to pay off the old loan.  Remember that mile-high  stack of mortgage paper work?  You’ll have to go through that process all over again, (but the extra effort could really be worth it in savings).

Is Refinancing Your Home Right For You?
There are lots of good reasons to refinance your mortgage including a lower interest rate, a shortened mortgage term so you can  build equity and get out of debt faster, lower monthly payments, or switching from an adjustable rate to a fixed-rate mortgage.

Before you invest too much time in the refinance process, make sure you can say “yes” to the following 2 questions (the basic refinance rules of thumb):

  1. Is the new refinance interest rate at least 1 percent lower than your existing mortgage interest rate?
  2. Do I plan to own my home until I break even on the refinance costs?

If you answered “no” to either of these questions, it might not make sense for you to refinance at this time, as loan costs could exceed any potential interest savings.  Keep reading, if you said “yes” to both questions or if you don’t know the answer (we’ll try to help you figure that out below).

6 Easy Steps To Determine If A Refinance Will Save You Money
If you can say yes to the above questions, you still have a little loan shopping and comparison homework to do in order to decide whether a refinance is a wise option.

  1. Find out if your current mortgage has prepayment penalties. Although it is uncommon, some mortgages do charge a prepayment penalty. If this is true of your mortgage, determine how much you will be charged if you  pay off your mortgage  early.
    .
  2. Shop for the best refinance deal. We recommend that you only look at fixed interest loan rates from reputable loan providers (go here to learn more). Also compare your total closing costs and refinance fees among potential lenders, costs like: points, survey fees, appraisal fees, attorney fees,  mortgage prepayment penalties and more (read the list of potential fees here). Ask each lender to give a complete list and total cost of fees in writing so that you can make a fair comparison.  If they will not give you this in writing, consider this a red flag.
    ..
  3. Learn what the new monthly mortgage payment will be. Each bank or mortgage company should give you, in writing, the new interest rate and monthly mortgage payment, based on at least two options:
    .

    1. Add the closing costs and refinance fees to the remaining balance of the home (this is called “rolling costs into the mortgage”), AND
    2. Pay the refinancing fees and closing costs out-of-pocket and in cash. If you can swing it, this is typically the better financial option, providing a higher amount of long-term savings.
      .
  4. Compare the offers and their potential savings. Use the refinance calculator (here) to compare the interest savings and refinance costs for each lender option and figure out which gives you the most favorable overall cost savings. If you’ll have a prepayment penalty on your current mortgage (Step #1, above), determine what the penalty would be if you refinance, and add that amount to your closing costs when you make your comparisons.
    .
  5. Calculate your break-even point. For each loan scenario, write down the number of “months for interest savings to offset closing costs” (9th box down in the refinance calculator). This is also known as your break-even point.
    .
  6. Analyze your break-even point. Estimate the number of months you expect to own your home and compare it to the break-even points calculated in steps #4 & #5 of each loan scenario. If the expected number of months that you’ll own your home is greater than the break-even point number of months, then refinancing will likely offer you long-term cost savings.

An important side note on taking cash out: You might figure out that this is the right time for you to refinance.  Depending on the amount of equity you have already invested in your home, your loan provider might give you the option to get cash back and take out a bigger loan.  While this might be tempting, we strongly recommend that you avoid this option if possible.  It will likely cost you more money in the long run, could possibly wipe out any potential savings you make from the refinance, and might extend the amount of time until you can be debt and mortgage free. This option benefits the lender (who makes more money off the larger loan), not you.  Just say “no” to this option!!

Are you planning to refinance your home?  Do you have any words of wisdom you can share from your home refinance experience? We’d love to hear about it (please leave a note in the comments section)!


Enjoy and Share! :)



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Posted in Cheap, Financial Tips and Tools, Fort Worth, TX, Home and Garden, Saving, Giving, and Living, Stretch your Dollar!

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FREE or Cheap: Fantastic Entertaining Ware, Cookbooks & More From One Kings Lane

Posted on February 18, 2012 | Leave a comment

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You might have seen in one of last week’s posts, when you join One Kings Lane for FREE as a new member, they’ll give you $15 to use towards your first order of $30 or more.  If you haven’t signed up yet, you can still do so and get the $15 credit, here.

Since you have to use the $15 credit within 30 days (or you lose it), we want to find ways to help you apply the credit to get some great goodies for FREE or really cheap.  Today, there is a wonderful boutique full of fresh and festive entertaining ware (like a set of 6 fun dessert party plates ~ $12 before the discount! Woot!) ~ definitely worth checking out.  Most of the sets of dishes, cookbooks, cups & more in this boutique are priced $9 to $20 (so after the $15 OFF credit, quite a few things would be FREE!).  Here’s the scoop…

How to Get A FREE Set of Plates, Cups, or Bowls

If you haven’t already used your $15 credit, you might consider using it for some of the fun things we found in today’s One Kings Lane Classic Coffee, Tea, & More Boutique Sale (look for the boutique picture link above, once you get logged in to One Kings Lane).  You could get most of these goodies in this boutique FREE or really cheap when you use the $15 credit.   There are almost 150 items to choose from.

Even without the credit, you can score some great deals today (sale ends Wednesday) like these sets of plates, bowls and cups  ~ terrific for a party or use as a nice hostess gift:

Learn more about One Kings Lane and how to get the $15 Credit here.

Go here to sign up for free and get the $15 New Member credit!

Enjoy and Share!    :)

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Posted in Cheap, Cooking and Entertaining, FREE, Gifts, Home and Garden, Stretch your Dollar!, Toys & Games

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FREE! A Special Invitation to Join SniqueAway Bargain Travel Site (Plus a Review of Our Experience)

Posted on February 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

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TOP RATED HOTELS + FANTASTIC BARGAINS + FREE MEMBERSHIP = SNIQUEAWAY TRAVEL SITE

I love a great deal, and I love to travel ~ So, I’m excited to pass-along an invitation to you from Frugal in Fort Worth and Trip Advisor to become a member (FREE) of Snique Away, Trip Advisor’s NEW travel bargain site (and I do mean bargain!!!).

Backed by the credibility of TripAdvisor.com, SniqueAway offers limited-time sales and deep discounts on some fantastic 4 & 5-Star rated hotels around the world, with savings typically from 40-60% OFF.  The hotel sales change weekly and span a wide range of travel tastes and budgets.  Membership to Snique Away is FREE, but you have to be invited to join (and you are officially invited by Frugal in Fort Worth!)

What kinds of bargains should you expect? This week Snique Away features sales for top-rated hotels in Whistler ~ Canada, New York ~ NY, Bagshot ~ England (pack me in your bags, please), and Summerville ~ South Carolina. If you want to plan a little “stay-cation”, they even have a great special this week for the historic Adolphus in Dallas ~ $89 for their Deluxe Room through SniqueAway (I looked at Adolphus’ website and this same room is going for $174 there, today).

Sign up & join here (FREE)!

Learn more about SniqueAway, here or keep reading for a longer review of our experience with SniqueAway (and why we like it so much!). 

______________________________

      

My personal experience with SniqueAway

A few months ago, I was sent a private invitation to join SniqueAway.  To be candid, when I received this invitation, I was a bit skeptical about what it was. I didn’t want to unknowingly sign up as a target for one of those annoying time-share deals with all the high-pressure sales riff-raff (pretty much like gum on the shoe).  Plus, the austere pre-member-sign-in web design and invitation-only aspect made it impossible to preview & peruse the website to make sure this was something I was truly interested in (hopefully this review will make it much easier for you). 

After doing quite a bit of research and watching and comparing various travel offers, I am happy to say that I am very comfortable recommending SniqueAway to my readers. It is an easy, easy way to find unheard of deals on some of the best hotels in the world.  It turns out it is part of one of my favorite travel opinion sites, Trip Advisor (read here and here for a nice overview).  In fact, the only hotels featured on SniqueAway are ones that have been highly rated by readers like you and me on TripAdvisor.com ~ ratings from folks who have actually stayed at these hotels and share their opinions, both pros & cons.

This got my attention. For the last few years, Trip Advisor has been the first site I go to and one of the most credible opinion-sites when I’m selecting hotels, restaurants, and travel activities for new places (not to mention it has been great for fresh entertainment & restaurant ideas for Fort Worth).  I’m officially a fan of SniqueAway, and wanted to make sure my readers had a chance to take advantage of their free membership & travel bargains, too!

What to expect when you sign up with SniqueAway 

Once I signed up, I started receiving 1 email per week featuring about 5 hotel bargain deals from around the U.S. and across the world (plus a sneak preview at hotel deals that would be offered the following week). The offers are on a first come, first serve basis, lasting up to seven days or until sold out.

Since you will not be able to view these bargains until you sign up, I’m adding a screen capture below so you can get an idea of what you’ll see on a typical hotel bargain offer (you can see from the example below on the Dallas Adolphus, the price range goes from a pretty affordable deluxe room to luxurious suite options).

You’ll also notice that there is a Trip Advisor review tab (found on every hotel deal listing) where you can link to and read corresponding hotel reviews, providing quick insight into the experiences of other travelers and how they view the hotel.

HOW IT WORKS

1.  Sign up with this invitation. There is no cost to join the members-only service, but a private invitation is required.  As a reader of Frugal in Fort Worth, you are officially invited (Go here)!

2.  Check out the weekly hotel deals. Once you’re a member, there are always deals available on SniqueAway, with 3-5 new sales added Mondays at 1PM CST.

  • Members are notified via email of each week’s hotel deals, with offers on a first come, first serve basis, lasting up to seven days or until sold out. Members can preview future hotel deals seven days in advance and can set up a reminder for alerts when sales start.
  • After members receive and accept the invitation, they can check out photos and property overviews of the hotel offers. Inside every SniqueAway Escape there are TripAdvisor reviews, hotel amenities, room details—even local hot spots and location maps.
  • All hotels featured on SniqueAway have earned at least a four-star rating classification and four out of five review ratings on TripAdvisor.

3. Select and book your room.  Enter room type, check-in/check-out dates and click “Select.” Enter traveler information and any special requests for the hotel. From the time dates are selected, members have 15 minutes to click “Book it!” or the room(s) will be returned to inventory. All taxes and fees are included unless otherwise noted in the policies.

4.  Confirm, pack your toothbrush, and enjoy!  Upon booking, members receive a confirmation email from SniqueAway. All guests need at check-in is the hotel confirmation number and a credit card for any hotel purchase not included within the SniqueAway escape.

Sign up & join here (FREE)!

Enjoy and Share! :)

 

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Posted in Cheap, Fort Worth, TX, FREE, Stretch your Dollar!, Travel & Hotel Deals

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Favorite Recipe: Chicken and Corn Chowder ~ Post #2

Posted on February 15, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Note about this post:  We are taking a little blog-cation over the coming days and are republishing some of our top posts from the past (in no particular order).  Perhaps you’ll find a new nugget or two that you’ve missed along the way or maybe just a timely reminder.  We look forward to being back with you in a few days!  :)

I was flipping through my recipe file this morning and pulled out this family favorite, which I thought I’d pass along.  I love this chicken and corn chowder recipe because it is delicious and easy, yet not full of “bad” fat calories.   I hope you enjoy it, too!

Chicken-Corn Chowder

Ingredients

  • 4  medium onions, diced
  • 1/4  cup  olive oil
  • 5  medium potatoes, cubed
  • 2  celery stalks, chopped
  • 1  tablespoon  salt
  • 1/2  teaspoon  pepper
  • 2  cups  chicken broth
  • 5  cups  milk
  • 2  (15 1/4-ounce) cans whole kernel corn, drained
  • 1  (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn
  • 1  cup  half-and-half (I use the fat-free version to cut down on fat)
  • 1 1/2  teaspoons paprika
  • 1/4  teaspoon  dried thyme
  • 3  cups  chopped cooked chicken*
  • Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Directions

  1. Saute onion in olive oil in a Dutch oven until tender.
  2. Add cubed potato and next 4 ingredients; bring to a boil.
  3. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until vegetables are tender
    (about 15 minutes)
  4. Add milk and next 6 ingredients; cook until heated
    (10-15 more minutes).
  5. Sprinkle with parsley if desired.

*3 cups chopped cooked ham or turkey may be substituted.

Tip:  I double this recipe, as this soup freezes nicely and is great to have on hand for a fast dinner.

 

Enjoy and Share! :)



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Posted in Cheap, Cooking and Entertaining, FREE, Recipes, Stretch your Dollar!

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10 Easy Strategies to Save a Bundle on Prescriptions at Your Local Pharmacy ~ Post #1

Posted on February 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Note about this post:  We are taking a little blog-cation over the coming days and are republishing some of our top posts from the past (in no particular order).  Perhaps you’ll find a new nugget or two that you’ve missed along the way or maybe just a timely reminder.  It was fun to look back over former posts ~ I hope you enjoy the review, too! 

We look forward to being back with you in a few days!  :)

10 easy ways to decrease prescription expenses

Good news for consumers! Pharmacies and drug manufacturers are competing hard for our prescription business by offering special savings incentives for choosing them. These incentives take many forms, ranging from pharmacy coupons for store gift cards to drug manufacturer coupons and rebates. The savings can add up fast since many of these coupons and rebates can be used together.

Let’s take a closer look at these incentives and strategies to save on your next pharmacy bill:

  1. Find out from your doctor if there is a generic option for your medication. With many pharmacies offering $4 generic prescriptions, this option can often save you a bundle and provide a lower insurance co-pay too.
  2. For non-generics, ask your doctor for available coupons or rebates from the manufacturer. Frequently, pharmaceutical reps provide coupons, instant rebates, and other savings promotions for doctors to pass along to their patients.
  3. Look online for coupons or rebates from the manufacturer. Visit the pharmaceutical company’s official website and search for savings incentives. The more competition a prescription has from other manufacturers or the newer the drug, the more likely you will find a rebate or coupon. Fellow blogger, “Internet Drug Coupons” has a long list of direct links to drug companies that offer discounts ~ a good starting point to find extra savings.
  4. Shop for the lowest prescription costs. Like every other shopping experience, it pays to shop around on your medications. The more expensive the prescription, the more important it is to compare prices to save money. This is particularly true, if you have high co-pays or deductibles on your insurance. Take a moment to call several stores before choosing a pharmacy, and be sure to include warehouse clubs like Costco and Sams on your call list, as they often have the lowest prices.
  5. Look for pharmacy coupons online before choosing where to fill your prescription. With a simple Google or Bing search you can easily find what coupons are available for local pharmacies ( i.e. Search: CVS Transfer Prescription Coupon February 2012 to find current online coupons).
  6. Scan your newspaper circulars for pharmacy coupons. Kroger, Target, CVS, Albertsons, and Walgreens, to name but a few, have all jumped on the prescription coupon band wagon and almost monthly run a coupon in their circulars (some can even be found online). Most often these pharmacies offer a gift card/certificate usable anywhere in the store with a prescription purchase. Call your pharmacist to find out if they have a current coupon or promotion ~ often then will have extra coupons on hand if you ask for them.
  7. Make it a habit to read your store receipts from the check-out. Pharmacy savings rewards and coupons are often provided to loyal store customers along with the receipt. I have often received such “bounce-back” pharmacy coupons with my grocery receipts at Target and know that other stores like CVS, Walgreens, and Kroger do this as well.
  8. Ask your store’s pharmacist what offers are currently available for new or transferred prescriptions. CVS and Walgreens often have available an unpublicized offer for a FREE $25 gift certificate for transferred prescriptions.
  9. Switch pharmacies. Some of the best savings coupons are for transferred prescriptions, making it literally pay to change pharmacies. However, you will want to evaluate the practicality and benefits of this. If you prefer to stick with one pharmacy, keep in mind that many pharmacies will take competitor coupons or match a competitor’s offer. Always ask.
  10. Try before you buy. Coupons for free trial vouchers or free samples for new customers are available for many medications direct from the manufacturer. You will need a doctor’s written prescription, however, to send with the coupon or voucher.

Be sure to look at all your options for maximizing your savings on medications. Combining store pharmacy offers with any available manufacturers’ incentives typically provides the greatest returns.

Important Note: These strategies are easy, but since they do need a little planning and time, we assume that your prescription is not for an emergency. If your medical professional has indicated you need immediate medical attention or medications, please do so, according to their instructions and advice. The material found on this page is for informational purposes only and none of it should be considered medical advice in any way. Please consult your physician with any medical questions.

If you have any other ideas on how you have saved money on prescriptions (or have links to related coupons & rebates), please post a comment, as we would love to hear about it!

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Posted in Cheap, FREE, Grocery Coupons, Pharmacy Savings, Saving, Giving, and Living, Stretch your Dollar!

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$5 MP3 Albums at Amazon ~ Great Selection!

Posted on February 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Did you know that every month, Amazon has a new list of 100 music MP3 albums that are priced at $5 each?  There is a wide variety that covers just about every music taste and is hand-selected by Amazon’s music editors. February’s list includes some perfect choices for Valentines Day, too (like Frank Sinatra, Norah Jones, and Michael Buble).

Some of the $5 albums that caught our eye include:

Go here to see the complete list of 100 $5 albums from Amazon.

Enjoy and Share!    :)

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Posted in Cheap, Entertainment, Fort Worth, TX, Gifts, Music & MP3s, Stretch your Dollar!

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Mmmm! FREE Starbucks Beverage with Purchase!

Posted on February 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Pop by Starbucks’ participating stores through Wednesday, February 8 and purchase a Starbucks® Blonde Roast 16 oz. bag or a Starbucks VIA Veranda™ Blend 12 pack and get a FREE handcrafted beverage of your choice – any size, no less!  No coupon needed.

Everyday Starbucks Savings Tip: Register for the Starbucks Rewards program and get free drinks, free refills, and other savings offers. The program is connected to Starbuck’s gift card program ~ meaning, you pay with a registered, preloaded gift card to earn rewards. If you have multiple Starbucks gift cards (i.e., you carry one and your spouse uses another or maybe you received a Starbucks card as a gift), register them all under one Starbucks Rewards account so that any purchases work towards higher rewards and free drinks.  Learn more here.

Enjoy and Share! :)


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Posted in Cheap, Fort Worth, TX, FREE, Ft. Worth Restaurant Coupons / Offers, Restaurant Savings Tips, Stretch your Dollar!

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Jamba Juice Coldbuster Smoothie for $2!

Posted on February 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

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A Bit of Smoothie Savings Bliss…

Jamba Juice is helping cut calories and cost with a great offer ~ receive a coupon for a $2 “Coldbuster Smoothie” when you go here  to enter their “Healthy habits” sweepstakes. This offer ends February 17, 2012.  Find a Jamba Juice location near you here. 

P.S.  This coupon is subject to change to a different coupon offer in the coming days (probably still a fantastic deal if it changes, but don’t delay if you want this specific coupon).  

Enjoy and Share! :)

 

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Posted in Cheap, Fort Worth, TX, Ft. Worth Restaurant Coupons / Offers, Restaurant Savings Tips, Stretch your Dollar!

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FREE Valentine’s Day Movie Rental from Redbox

Posted on February 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Send FREE Redbox DVD rental coupons to family and friends with a special Valentine’s Day digital card, found on the Redbox Facebook page (go here). Each card will include a promo code for a free movie rental, valid on Valentines Day, February 14, 2012 (Limit 1 FREE code per friend).  To find a Redbox location and reserve your movie,  click here.

Enjoy and Share! :)

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Posted in Cheap, Entertainment, Fort Worth, TX, FREE, Frugal Fun in Fort Worth (Cheap/Free Entertainment Ideas), Stretch your Dollar!

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February 3-5 Cheap and FREE Fort Worth Entertainment Roundup | Frugal & Fun Weekend Events Edition

Posted on February 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

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ABOUT THE FRUGAL & FUN FT. WORTH WEEKEND EDITION Fridays, we post ideas for FREE (or really cheap) weekend entertainment for you and your family. Subscribe to our blog updates and you’ll receive this weekly entertainment guide along with more budget stretching ideas and tips throughout the week! Subscribe for FREE (here)!

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This weekend’s highlights include:

  • Last Weekend! 2012 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo
  • FREE Admission to 3 Great Fort Worth Museums
  • FREE Calvin Littlejohn Photography Lecture by Fort Worth Star Telegram Columnist, Bob Ray Sanders
  • FREE Museum Admission at Fort Worth Science and History Museum
  • FREE Nasher Sculpture Center’s First Saturdays Family Fun Day (In Dallas)
  • FREE Kids Woodworking Workshop at Home Depot
  • FREE!  Rear Window (Jimmy Stewart & Grace Kelly) Classic Family Movie Showing
  • FREE Cowtown Opry Performance
  • FREE Home Decorating Class at Pottery Barn
  • FREE Williams Sonoma Cooking Techniques Class

—————————————————————————–
:: 2012 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo ~ Last Weekend!
…Through February 4, 2012

Kick up your heels and enjoy acres of excitement and western heritage at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo. Events include rodeo (extra ticket required), free musical entertainment, petting zoo, family friendly exhibits, premier livestock shows, and more ~ the schedule of events is fresh each day. Plus your stock show ticket gets you FREE entry into 3 fantastic museums: Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the Cattle Raisers Museum and the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame.  If you haven’t been yet, this is the last weekend!

Want to attend for FREE or cheap? Be sure to check out the list here for a number of ways to save on rodeo tickets and grounds admission.

Details, details
What: The 2012 Stock Show and Rodeo event schedule changes daily.
…• To get the schedule of daily events, click here.
…• For the schedule of special activities, click here.
…• To see the musical entertainment schedule, click here.
When: The 2012 Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo takes place now through February 4. Learn more here.
Where: 3400 Burnett-Tandy Dr. Click here for driving directions. A Special Park & Ride shuttle will be available Saturdays and Sundays during the Stock Show. It will take you directly from Ridgmar Mall or Billy Bob’s to the front gate, pick you up, and return you to your vehicle parking lot for only $1.00 each way (pretty slick!). To find out more, click here.
Cost: For opportunities to attend the Stock Show and Rodeo for FREE or Half Price, click here. Otherwise, General Admission is: Adults $10, Kids 6 to 16 $5, and Children 5 & Under FREE

::

:: FREE Admission to 3 Great Fort Worth Museums
…Through February 4, 2012

If you will be attending the Stock Show & Rodeo this year, be sure and hang onto your ticket stubs and take part in the “Moo-seum” program. With your rodeo or grounds admission ticket you can get FREE admission (until February 4th) to The Fort Worth Museum of Science and History, the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame or the Cattle Raisers Museum. For adults, that’s a savings of $24 if you visit all 3!

Details, details
What: Learn more about the “Moo-seum” program, here.
When: Now through February 4, 2012
Where: Learn about the Fort Worth Museum of Science, here. Go here to learn about the Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame and click here to get info about the Cattle Raisers Museum.
Cost: FREE, with Stock Show & Rodeo Ticket Stub.

::

:: FREE Calvin Littlejohn Lecture by Fort Worth Star Telegram
…Columnist, Bob Ray Sanders
…Saturday, February 4, 2012

Join Bob Ray Sanders, author of the book, Calvin Littlejohn: Portrait of a Community in Black and White for a discussion of Littlejohn’s valuable contribution to history through his captured images. Fort Worth native Bob Ray Sanders has been a professional journalist for 40 years and is currently Vice President, Associate Editor and Metro columnist for the Fort Worth Star Telegram. Sanders wrote the text for the photographic essay, Calvin Littlejohn: Portrait of a Community in Black and White, which places the artist’s work in historical context.

Details, details
What: For more information about the lecture, click here. For more information about the book, go here.
When: Saturday, February 4, 2012, 10:30AM
Where: In the Tandy Lecture Hall of the Fort Worth Central Library.
You can park on the street or in the 3rd St. & Taylor Parking Garage. The parking garage and parking meters are FREE on weekends.
Cost: FREE, no ticket required.

::

:: Bank of America Cardholders: Take advantage of FREE
…ADMISSION to the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History
…Saturday and Sunday, February 4 & 5, 2012

Bank of America’s 2012 national program, Museums On Us offers FREE  admission, the first full weekend of every month, to 150 participating museums, zoos, botanical gardens and more throughout the United States. This FREE Admission program takes place this weekend in Fort Worth at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History.

Details, details
What: To find out more about the Museums On Us program, go here. To learn more about Fort Worth Museum of Science & History, click here.
How: Show a photo ID and any Bank of America Card to get FREE admission for each Bank of America Card Holder.
Where: The Fort Worth Science & History Museum, 1600 Gendy St. (corner of Montgomery and Burnett Tandy).
When: Saturday and Sunday, February 4 & 5
Cost: FREE to Bank of America Cardholders (Reg: $14 Adults, $10 Children)

Other DFW Museums With FREE Admission This Weekend:

::

:: Take an “Art-Full” Trek to Dallas to the Nasher Sculpture
…Center’s First Saturdays Family Fun Day.
…Saturday, February 4, 2012

Nasher Sculpture Center, First Saturdays

The Nasher Sculpture Center and Target present First Saturdays for families. Held the first Saturday of every month, this special event features FREE admission and a fun schedule of activities for the kids.

Details, details
What: For details, including complete schedule, click here.
When: Saturday, February 4, 2012 ~ 10:00AM to 2:00PM
Where: For directions to Nasher Sculpture Center, click here.
Cost: FREE

::

:: FREE ~ Home Depot ~ Build. Learn. Create. Kids Workshop
…Saturday, February 4, 2012

This Saturday, bring your child to Home Depot’s Kids Workshop to help them learn a new woodworking skill and make a FREE Valentines Day Keepsake Box to take home. Each Kids Workshop participant will receive a kid-sized orange apron (similar to a Home Depot associate apron) and an achievement pin. All workshops are free, but you should probably show up early to insure you have a kit for your little ones.

Details, details
What: For ages 5-12. Get more information about the workshop, here.
When: Saturday, February 4, 2012 ~ 9:00AM to Noon
Where: Home Depot Home Improvement Stores.
To find a participating location, click here.
Cost: FREE!

::

:: FREE Rear Window (Jimmy Stewart & Grace Kelly)
…Classic Movie Showing
….Sunday, February 5, 2012

Join the Fort Worth Central Library for a free showing of the classic 1954 film Rear Window featuring Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly on Sunday, February 5th. This monthly event is part of the First Sunday Film Series which will present award-winning movies in a wide range of genres, including drama, action, comedy and science fiction. Films will be shown on the large screen of the Tandy Lecture Hall in the Central Library.

About the movie: Jimmy Stewart plays a man who thinks he has witnessed a murder from his rear window with Grace Kelly as the girlfriend who helps him investigate. Nominated for four Oscars, this film is considered one of Alfred Hitchcock’s best and listed by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest movies of all time. Rated PG; 112 minutes.

Details, details
What: For more information about this event, click here. Learn more about the movie here.
When: Sunday, February 5, 2012, 2:00PM
Where: In the Tandy Lecture Hall of the Fort Worth Central Library.
You can park on the street or in the 3rd St. & Taylor Parking Garage.
The parking garage and parking meters are FREE on weekends.
Cost: FREE, no ticket required.

::

:: FREE Cowtown Opry Performance at the Fort Worth Stockyards
…Sunday, February 5, 2012

Hear classic western music come to life as Cowtown Opry members perform a free music exhibition on the steps of the Livestock Exchange building. This live family friendly music event will take place every Sunday and will feature a different theme each week ~ Western Gospel music will be featured on the 5th Sunday of the month.

Details, Details
What: For more information, visit the Cowtown Opry website.
When: Sunday, February 5, 2012, 2:00PM.
See the complete performance schedule here.
Where: The live performance will take place on the steps of the historic Livestock Exchange building ~ 131 East Exchange Ave. in the Fort Worth Stockyards National Historic District.
Cost: FREE!

::

:: FREE How to Accessorize Your Home Class ~ At Pottery Barn
…Sunday, February 5, 2012

Get new ideas for accessorizing your home! Join Pottery Barn for a fun in-store class, where they will share helpful tips for simple and affordable ways to refresh your home with accessories.

Details, details
What: For more information, click here.
When: Classes take place February 5, 2012. Times differ by store so be sure to call your local store to verify class time.
Where: Go here to find a Pottery Barn store near you.
Cost: FREE!

::

:: Take a FREE Cooking Technique Class at Williams-Sonoma
…And, Get 10% OFF Your In-store Purchase!
…Saturday & Sunday, February 4-5, 2012

Join Williams-Sonoma for two cooking classes this weekend.  Saturday features an in-store class on the “Best of Stirfry.”  And, Sunday features a class on cooking chili. In this class, they will teach you about the profiles of different chili powders, how to make a basic chili (plus delicious variations including vegetarian), and ideas for tasty toppings. Plus, if you attend this class, you can enjoy 10% OFF savings on same-day purchases from their stores.

Note: You’ll want to call to reserve your spot since class size is limited.

Details, details
What: For more information and to view the current month’s schedule for Williams-Sonoma Cooking classes and demonstrations, click here.
When: Saturday and Sunday, February 4 & 5,  2012. Note: 1 hour class times vary from store to store, so be sure to call for exact times & date.
Where: Click here to find a Williams Sonoma store near you.
Cost: FREE! Call your local store to RSVP.

::

I hope you and your family have a wonderful weekend ~

Enjoy and Share! :)


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HOT! 50% OFF At Overstock.com ~ LivingSocial National Deal

Posted on February 2, 2012 | 1 comment

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Worthy of passing along…


LivingSocial introduced a fantastic daily deal today: For $10 you get $20 towards a purchase at Overstock.com!  Overstock.com is already a terrific place to look for discounts on  brand name clothes, toys, and housewares (even tools and hardware!), so purchasing with this voucher could make for a really great bargain! The LivingSocial voucher is valid until May 4, 2012.

Find out more details here.

Easy steps for getting this great deal:

  1. If you are new to Living Social, be sure to first sign up for FREE here.  After you’ve signed up, click the link in step #2 to go directly to the deal.
  2. Signed up with LivingSocial already?  Hurry over to this link (before the end of the day Saturday) which takes you to the offer and other details to make your purchase.
  3. Pop over to Overstock.com and have fun shopping!  Be sure to use your voucher before May 4, 2012.
  4. That’s it!  Easy-breezy, right?

Enjoy and Share!    :) 

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Hallmark Cards: Buy One, Get One FREE Coupon

Posted on February 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

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Hallmark has a terrific printable coupon (click here) for Buy One Get One FREE Cards  ~ just in time for Valentines Day!  Don’t wait too long to print this, as I’m not sure how long Hallmark will have this up on their site.  Note that the coupon is good for up to $2.50 value.

Enjoy and share!  :)

 

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PREVIEW: Sharon Young & Ladies Designer Brand Warehouse Sale (February 9-11 )

Posted on February 2, 2012 | Leave a comment

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As promised, we are posting some sneak preview pictures of the Sharon Young & Ladies Designer Brand Warehouse Sale.  This wonderful 3-day sale only happens 4 times a year, so be sure to put it on your calendar ~ it starts next Thursday (February 9-11), and everything is 50% to 75% OFF retail!

Here’s all the scoop…

We just got back from a sneak preview tour of the Ladies Designer Brand Warehouse Sale and loved what we found ~ great wardrobe pieces at fantastic prices!  We are attaching some preview pics (more at the bottom), so you can get a taste, too. 

Here’s what you’ll find:

  • Over 15,000 gorgeous ladies clothing pieces, 50 to 75% OFF ~ perfect for end of winter and transition to early spring wardrobes.  There is a huge selection that covers a wide variety of styles from trendy to traditional and from “running to the grocery store” casual to night-on-the-town dressy.  These are gorgeous top designer collections carried in high-end department stores and fashion boutiques ~ you’ll find them at this sale, deeply slashed off retail prices.
  • Ladies, Petite and Plus Sizes ~ something for everyone! Sizes range from Ladies & Petites 2-18 and there is even a fantastic collection of stylish Womens Plus 14W-24W.
  • Half price designer fashions from: Sharon Young, City Girl, Multiples, A La Carte, and more. You will find rack after rack of beautiful clothes and everything to complete an outfit including tops, skirts, pants, and jackets ~ $20 to $60.

Details, details
When: February 9-11, 2012: Thursday and Friday – 8:00AM to 8:00PM
Saturday – 8:00AM to 5:00PM
Where: 10367 Brockwood Rd ~ Dallas. For those who have attended
before, this is in the same parking lot as the corporate office location, but right next door in the warehouse. You’ll see signs directing you where to go (or just follow all the ladies you will see!)
Do note: There is a large dressing room provided for trying on all your finds, but typical of women’s fashion warehouse sales, it is ladies only and not private. Since this is a women only event, husbands, guy-friends and kiddos under 12, please stay comfortable at home.

 

Enjoy and Share! :)

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Back For a Limited Time: FREE $10 Credit From Rue La La (For New Members)!

Posted on February 1, 2012 | Leave a comment

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For those who missed out last time, Rue La La  has brought back their FREE $10 credit offer for the next few days ~ woo-hoo!  Here’s the scoop:

Join Rue La La for FREE before Valentines Day, and you’ll get $10 credited to your account to use towards your first Rue La La order. This is for new members, and there are no other strings attached (& no spending minimum ~ love that!).

You can potentially find some fantastic gifts for FREE or really cheap (& we will help watch for the best deals before the credit expires). Do note that the $10 credit is offered only to NEW accounts through February 14, 2012 and will be applied to your account within 72 hours of signing up.  You’ll have about a month to use the credit (it expires March 14), so don’t forget to use it before it disappears!  :)

Go here to sign up for free and get your $10 credit!

 

New to Rue La La?  

It is worth checking out Rue La La, the flash/daily deal boutique site (owned by PayPal) which offers every day quality home and clothing brands (like Ariat Boots, Crocs shoes, and Cuisinart Kitchen products) as well as very high-end fashion items (such as Halston, Cartier, Vera Bradley, Judith Ripka, and Stuart Weitzman) ~ all at discount outlet store prices.  Every day you’ll find new bargains including beautiful clothes, magazine-page worthy home decor, toys, housewares and lots more.

There are about 10-15 new boutiques introduced on Rue La La daily ~ they typically sale out fast and last only a few days.  If something you like does sell out before the sale ends, you can ask to be put on a waiting list for that item.  Sometimes it works out if the manufacturer has extras.

Rue La La describes themselves as “an exclusive, invitation-only online destination where members discover premier-brand, private sale Boutiques, each open for just a brief window of time. Our focus is a well-edited collection of sought-after offerings from the best brand names in the world – combined with helpful service…Membership is by invitation-only.”

And, joining Rue La La is FREE (Click here).

.

Enjoy and Share!    :)

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Frugal in Fort Worth (bunches of thanks!)

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