Cheep cheap

GRAB A BARGAIN NEWSLETTER

Congratulations to our affiliate, Anjie (www.freelancebyu.com) for being
featured on NBC's The Today Show as a bargain hunter extraordinaire!  She is
definitely a bargain shopper. I'm sure we will be seeing more of her on
television and in newspapers in the future.

Sign up for her newsletter to get great coupons and deals!

Congratulations Anjie!  :)

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY COMMENTS

April 15, 2002

Angela Hresan, a local probation officer in Community Corrections Servies, and expert shopper, bargain hunter and money saver, (above with Weekend Today co-host David Bloom) appeared on the Today Show twice last month.  "This ia a Lifestyle for me," she said, "I save on everything.  I don't pay full price for anything except my daughter's dance lessons, and I'm working on doing some fund-raising to help with that expense."  Hits on Hresan's website www.freelancebyu.com, increased from 45 to 100 hits each day to more than 170,000 hits the day of her second Today Show Appearance.

VCCJA News and Views, July 2002

Celebrity Probation Officer

Local Probation Officer, Angela Hresan of Chesterfield County Community Corrections has become an overnight sensation since her appearance on the NBC morning show, TODAY!  The personable Hresan was featured on the national television program as part of a series on saving money. She shared her ideas and plans to help people with their personal economic issues.

Ms. Hresan showed how one could really save by incorporating a variety of techniques including coupon clipping, rebates, and in-store specials.  Angela took the NBC Today Show Crew on a shopping trip in the Chesterfield County area.  She spent less than $17 during the day but purchased $323 worth of products.  Angela also discussed her website  (www.freelancebyu.com) which features money saving ideas and links to help stretch even the tightest budget.

Since her initial TODAY show appearance, Angela has been inundated with even more offers ranging from magazines to other television opportunities. Showing both the professionalism and attitude that make her a great probation officer, Angel Hresan continues to shine in her private endeavors!

LOS ANGELES TIMES

AUGUST 24, 2002

ABC and Disney Turn Park Into Synergyland
By GREG BRAXTON , TIMES STAFF WRITER
 

WALL STREET JOURNAL

DECEMBER 15, 2002

Retailers Try to Tease Out Sales With Web Bargains
By DEXTER WEBB
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Retailers are bracing themselves for lackluster sales -- and that may be good news for price-conscious consumers.

Many retailers, disappointed by November sales, are looking to boost business on their Web sites by offering such incentives as deep discounts and free shipping. As a result, for shoppers, "online shopping is the key" to stretching your dollar, says one Web-site owner, Anjie Hresan, whose freelancebyu.com provides information on shopping deals.

One recent survey backs up the claim that bargain hunters are going to the Web to find deals. An eSpending Report by Goldman Sachs & Co., Harris Interactive and Nielsen//NetRatings found that 40% of the shoppers surveyed said lower prices online was a key reason they chose to shop on the Web instead of visiting a store.

One way to get a good bargain online, says Ms. Hresan, is to find items that are already on sale and then use online coupons to save even more. You can find coupon codes, accepted by most merchants, at sites such as consumerworld.com and shopping-bargains.com.

Most retailers dedicate a section of their Web site to sale and clearance items.

"You'll often find good deals with free shipping" in these sections, says Sandy Shields of frugalshopper.com, a Web site offering money-saving tips.

Here are some specifics to consider as you complete your holiday shopping:

Electronics. With free-shipping offers from many of the big retailers like Circuit City Stores Inc. and Best Buy Co., electronics, including computers, remain one of the better deals around, Ms. Hresan says. You may also find bargains at overstock.com, a Web site specializing in clearance items, which charges a token flat shipping fee of $2.95, she says.

Books and magazines. There still are hot deals to be found in this category, a traditional favorite among online shoppers. Ms. Shields suggests scouring sites like half.com -- which is owned by eBay -- and Amazon.com for bargains. Barnes & Noble Inc. offers free shipping if you order two or more items over the Web, but you have to order by Dec. 16 to ensure delivery before Dec. 25. Ms. Shields says you can get full-year magazine subscriptions for as little as $4 at sites such as magazinevalues.com and bestdealmagazines.com.

Apparel. To get the best deals on clothing, try to shop at third party sites instead of at the retailer's site. That way you may avoid or minimize shipping costs. Also, Ms. Shields suggests trolling at holiday sales at some of the less-popular apparel Web sites such as blair.com and coldwatercreek.com, which may be offering better prices than more popular sites such as Gap.com.

Gift certificates. Auction sites, such as eBay and uBid, may help with this gift. Ms. Hresan says she recently got two restaurant certificates valued at $50 for $8.40 in eBay's restaurant section. You might find similar savings at a site such as restaurant.com, Ms. Shields says.

ANJIE NOTE:  I told him to use my links.........LOL but he didn't listen :) and freelancers know that they can find the CODES AND COUPONS right here!

APRIL 15th ISSUE OF WOMAN'S DAY MAGAZINE!

On the stands 4/1/03

18 Ways to Stash More Cash
Simple moneysavers that really work

By Christine Staudinger

Dig Out of Debt

15. Make a second register in your checkbook. Whenever you use your credit card, deduct the amount from the total balance in your checkbook, says Angela Hresan, owner of the web site www.freelancebyu.com, which offers tips on where to find great sales, coupons and free samples on the Internet. This will keep you from spending more money than you have, unless it’s a true emergency. When the credit-card bill arrives, you’ll have the money in the bank, saving you a lot in interest charges.

Planning Makes Perfect

16. Get strategic. When Debrie Woods of Birmingham, Alabama, wants to buy a big-ticket item, she finds out how much it costs, adds in the taxes and sets a goal date. “I divide the item’s cost by the number of paychecks I’ll get between now and my goal date, then I put aside that amount monthly.” But only set realistic goals. “Don’t set a three-month goal when it will take six months to get the item. It will leave you stressed and anxious.”

17. Research what you want. Comparing prices around town and on the Internet is the key to making sure you get the absolute best deal possible, says Hresan. She also points out that researching keeps you busy thinking about the item you want, so you’re less likely to succumb to impulse buys.

18. Make sure your choices support your goals. “If you get your hair or nails done every three weeks, stretch it out to four weeks for approximately a thirty-three percent savings,” says John Waskin, executive director of BillFree, a nonprofit credit counseling agency. “Or pack your lunch once a week for an annual pretax savings of approximately five hundred dollars.”

Harrisburg, PA

APRIL 6, 2003

Frugal Fun on the Web
Link-Up Digital — May 1, 2003
by Judith M. Levinton

Think again! A large number of Web sites have great ideas for revitalizing your home, personal care, and any number of areas in your life at a lower cost. More money left over at the end of the month means you can do anything from investing it, becoming debt-free, or using it for the dream vacation you always wanted without racking up credit card debt. It’s not a fantasy! Take a trip down these sites and see for yourself.

I like to read articles as well as tips to motivate me to think creatively and have fun. The site http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm has a wide range of articles on innovative ways to be frugal and treat yourself well. Articles for personal care include “Frugal Workouts,” “All Natural Masks,” and “Spa Vacation at Home.”

While checking out the main index, I saw categories such as Hobbies, Humor, Pets, and Romance. Okay, I’ll admit it—I looked in the romance category to see what was offered and found articles like “25 Free or Cheap Dates,” “Romantic Valentine’s Day Ideas,” and “True Romance for Couples with Kids.” Then I turned to Hobbies, where articles such as “Feeding the Birds” and “Soapmaking: Recipes and Directions” are located.

I discovered that other categories also contain fun activities. In the Holidays category I found “Gifts in a Jar,” “Halloween Costumes and Parties,” “Inexpensive Christmas and Hanukkah Gifts.” In the Home Decorating category, I found “Simple Room Makeovers,” among many others topics. The Recipes category abounds with suggestions to make eating delicious, fun, and entertaining, with recipes such as Chicken with Grapes, Spiced Apples, and The Chocolate Theory.

The site http://www.frugalfinesse.com/ is all about living simply in style. It offers articles such as “Trash to Treasure,” “Dimestore Decorating,” “Diary of a Packrat,” and “Cookin’ Cheap.” Under the category called Tightwad Tips you’ll find a hodgepodge of ways to use various items such as burned-out light bulbs, outgrown T-shirts, and even an old sock.

The Happy Tightwad at http://www.ridleypark.net/tightwad/columns.html has upbeat articles on saving money on items like music, books, ink for your inkjet printer, and even light bulbs. The site proclaims: “The Happy Tightwad tells you how to avoid overpaying and achieve true contentment on earth. Or at least—have some money left over after your purchases to devote to the pursuit of happiness.” Sounds good to me.

Frugal Times at http://www.frugaltimes.com/ offers ideas on making homemade cleaners, budget furniture fix-ups, and cooking with kids. Clicking to Frugal Tips, I found categories from gardening (I never knew that roses love crushed egg shells) to automobiles.

For all you gardeners out there, there is a wealth of material designed to allow you to enjoy your gardens without breaking your budget. A site describing itself as The World’s Greatest Garden Tightwad Tips at http://www.directoryofgreatdeals.com/home_and_garden1.htm may be what you need. Or drop by Gardening Frugally at http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/gardeningfrugally/, which offers articles on everything from container gardening to fertilizer to finding flowers for free.

Food shopping with a frugal eye can save literally hundreds of dollars off your grocery bill. A good site to start is Frugal Recipes at http://www.freelancebyu.com/recipes.htm, which combines recipes from readers and other sources. The site also provides links to other sites such as CopyKat Recipes, which says it can help you “create your favorite restaurant dishes at a fraction of the price.”

Cooking on a Shoestring, at http://www.mommysavers.com/cooking_on_a_shoestring.htm, has categories such as Meals in Minutes, Side Dishes, and Delicious Desserts. And Frugal Recipes for Good Food at http://frugalliving.about.com/cs/frugalrecipes1/ has many food ideas worth dipping into, such as making your own popsicles, and pretzels, starting your own sourdough starter, and making skillet meals and meatless meals. Frugal Recipes [http://www.frugalrecipes.com/html/index.php] offers recipes such as Kung Pao Chicken and Butternut Squash Gratin to whet the appetite and leave cash in your pocket.

Budget 101 (sounds boring, doesn’t it?) at http://www.budget101.com/ is actually an interesting place to visit because of articles like “inexpensive Gag Gifts” (reindeer poop, anyone?) and more than 750 different mixes/jar gift ideas.

Do you buy makeup? That can take a large chunk out of your wallet. The Frugal Diva at http://www.frugaldiva.com/default.asp believes you can be divine on a budget. The site includes reviews of different cosmetics available at very reasonable prices (all under $15). However, there is no mention of which cosmetics companies are cruelty-free.

Likewise, The Frugal Face at http://www.thefrugalface.com/ has some wake up calls for women who buy expensive makeup. Along with some fun and creative makeup tips, the site talks seriously about looking good while saving money—and possibly considering early retirement with the money saved and invested! The site mentions brands by name, but again, there’s no way of knowing which brands are cruelty-free. The owner says her site isn’t being updated so prices may have changed.

A host of beauty tips can be found at http://beauty.about.com/cs/frugalbeauty/, which includes articles such as “Five Frugal Cosmetic Tips” and “Make Your Own Cleansing Cloths.”

Getting married? Worried that the cost will sink you like quicksand? Fear not: There are a number of Web sites eager to show you how to have a wonderful wedding while saving for that new house. At The Frugal Bride at http://www.thefrugalbride.cjb.net/, you’ll find articles like “A Wedding for $1,400!?,” “Invitations for Less,” and “Reception Ideas.”

Two approaches to tightwad weddings can be found at http://www.frugalfun.com/weddings.html, where the costs ranged from $300-$3,000. In an era where that would barely cover the cost of the flowers, that’s no mean feat.

For more traditional ideas, USA Bride, at http://www.usabride.com/frugal/, broke down the wedding category into Wedding Fashion, Flowers and Décor, and Catering. Clicking on the link for Flowers and Décor led me to links such as Decorating the Reception and Bouquets and Corsages.

Did you think that being thrifty meant staying close to home? At The Travel Tightwad [http://www.elliott.org/tightwad/], you’ll find articles for saving money while on the road. For instance, you might want to read “Fly or Drive?” and “Good Deals are ‘Inn’ Season,” which talks about how staying at a B&B could save you money.

At TravelLady Magazine, two articles offer very interesting perspectives for travel and also helpful links to back them up. To read them, go to http://www.travellady.com/Issues/Issue65/65-tightwad.htm and http://www.travellady.com/Issues/Issue82/frugal.htm.

Four Tips for Frugal Travel (which is actually a misnomer because there were more than four helpful links and tips) is a helpful site located at http://budgettravel.about.com/library/weekly/aa052002d.htm. For those who like to camp, a visit to http://members.aol.com/frugally4u/campingtips.html can provide you with handy tips.

At All Things Frugal [http://www.allthingsfrugal.com/], click on the link for Decorating Help for an impressive list of articles, which include “Decorating with Pattern,” “Disguising a Ruined Tabletop,” and “Feng Shui.” This is quite an eclectic mix. Also on the site are some fun ideas for kids, such as “Rainy Day Project” and “Fun with Invisible Ink.”

Pennywise Newsletter at http://www.smart-penny.com/Watchthepennies.htm has a crafts section that gives instructions on making cool crayons and a chalkboard table, among other projects. There’s also some interesting personal information about the woman who maintains the site (she practices what she preaches).

Do you have kids? Or just feel like being silly? Making Halloween costumes instead of buying them can be fun and thrifty. Go to http://www.20ishparents.com/holiday/halloween/frugalcostumes.shtml. Family activities can be found at http://members.aol.com/dsimple/familyfun.html. One article is titled “200+ Ideas for Family Fun.”

Ever want to make a musical rain stick? Or soap? How about some wonderful chocolate concoctions? GreenSense at http://www.greensense.com/GR_LIV.HTM shows you how. This site offers many articles and links that cover a lot of different topics, such as How To Make Window Quilts, Build a Worm Bin, and Build an Inexpensive Playhouse, among other offerings. The site is a bit offbeat but fun to read.

So turn to the Web for myriad ideas on how to think creatively, save money, and get exactly what you want. Enjoy!

Judith M. Levinton is a freelance writer who’s currently studying to become a hospital chaplain. She lives in Brooklyn, N.Y.

August 27, 2003

SPECIAL:

As seen on the TODAY SHOW! Join 'Anjie & The Freelancers Gang' as they scour the net for opportunities to share with you including Contests, Surveys, Rewards, Coupons, and Special Deals! There are many offers for the young and old alike! Grab a cup of coffee and visit http://FreelanceBYU.com/ for the best of the NET so you can LIVE LAVISHLY FOR LESS!

BOOKCROSSING.COM NEWSLETTER!

MARCH 18 2004

CHAMPION REFERRER SINCE LAST NEWSLETTER

Since the last newsletter on March 12, our champion new member referrer was freelancebyu from Powhatan, Virginia. A member since July 2002, freelancebyu has referred 261 new members, and a whopping 171 of them joined in the last 6 days! She operates the FreelanceByU website at http://www.freelancebyu.com/, which is chock-full of money-saving tips and links to bargains all over the web.

As a token of appreciation for helping us grow, we'll be sending freelancebyu a $50 gift certificate from our BookCrossing Supply Store. Want to win the $50 prize next newsletter? Get busy referring people! The best tactic: release lots of books so new members will find them and join. The next-best tactic: use our Tell-a-Friend form to quickly send an email invitation to everyone you know: http://bookcrossing.com/friend/freelancebyu

ANJIE NOTE: this was a BIG surprise, as I didn't even know they were having a contest!  WOOOOOO HOOOOOOOO

The "3 Rs" of BookCrossing...

1. Read a good book (you already know how to do that)
2. Register it (along with your journal comments), get a unique BCID (BookCrossing ID number), and label the book
3. Release it for someone else to read (give it to a friend, leave it on a park bench, donate it to charity, "forget" it in a coffee shop, etc.), and get notified by email each time someone comes here and records journal entries for that book. And if you make Release Notes on the book, others can Go Hunting for it and try to find it!

SIRPRIZES.COM
Saturday August 14, 2004

Subject: Congratulations to the SirPrizes Power Referrer of the Week, Angela H. of  Powhatan!

We'd like to congratulate our first Power Referrer of the Week, Angela H.
of Powhatan, who wins a $10 bonus prize.  Those who are loyal readers of our
updates probably noticed the same thing that we did--that Angela has been a
consistent winner, including a monthly prize, and July's referral contest.
We spoke to Angela and tried to find out the secrets to her success.

It turns out that Angela H. is famed freebie finder Anjie of
FreelanceByU.com and Today Show fame
(http://www.freelancebyu.com/memories.htm).  Angela scours the Web for great
deals, and when she ran across SirPrizes, she knew she had to tell her
readers about us.

While you may not have appeared on the Today show, you can certainly apply some of Angela's techniques to you own referring.  

SIR PRIZES TEAM

THE BOOK BITCH

December 2004

HERE

Anjie won a free copy of GOING POSTAL by Terry Pratchett and sent me this happy picture -- Congrats, Anjie!

TRUE LEMON NEWSLETTER

JUNE 15th  2005

TRUE LEMON™ SUPER FAN ANGELA HRESAN
AND HER GROUP, FREELANCEBYU

Our Super Fan Angela Hresan came to our attention when we started getting lots of emails from her group Freelancebyu, whose motto is “living lavishly for less”.

Anjie's website, www.flbyu.com, is all about smart shopping and big-time savings. It offers the best and most current on-line deals, coupons, articles and information about how to “never pay full price”. In fact, Anjie's money-saving know-how has become so recognized, that in 2002 she was selected share her shopping expertise on the Today Show!

“The word ‘freelancers' applies to all of the members of my website that work as ‘savings specialists', making and saving money on the web. There are now many sites that offer deals and more but none that I know of that stay on the cutting edge, offering a complete lifestyle of living lavishly for less!” Angie states proudly.

“All I can say is I have won quite a lot of prizes, took advantage of a lot of great bargains and even have gotten free items since being a member of the Freelancebyu team. You really can live better by being a member of this web site!” adds Louise Holt, a Freelancebyu member.

Sarah Sartain, a member for over three years, agrees. “Freelancebyu is unique. Angie tests almost everything that's on the website so you know it's a valid offer. At this website, you end up with good friends and good deals.”

Freelancebyu's 10,000 plus members share a love of saving money, and like Sarah said, making friends with “kindred spirits”. And when this very active group of people gets behind a product, the results can be astounding as we at True Lemon™ know. The Freelancebyu group has been so supportive of True Lemon™: members not only have recommended True Lemon™ on their website and other websites but they also give True Lemon™ samples out, promote True Lemon™ to restaurants and stores, and have even nominated True Lemon™ for a variety of distinctions including a mention on the customer-driven website, www.lovemarks.com.

“My members and I love True Lemon™; we love the company and the customer service! Word of mouth is the best form of advertising and we are really happy to support a product like True Lemon™ which so many of us use,” says Anjie.

Echoes Lilly Petronka, a Freelancebyu member and fan of True Lemon™, “True Lemon™ is something I've been hoping for, for a long time. I got tired of buying lemons that go bad and get all yucky in the refrigerator. I was also using lemon juice, lemon extract and other lemon products; now I just need one – True Lemon ™, it serves the purpose for so many things – it's a dream come true! True Lemon™ also saves me tons of money with not having to purchase all of those other lemony products! It's easy to store, takes up much less space than all the others and I can take it with me!” 

The invention of Freelancebyu was truly rooted in necessity. Long before she headed such an active organization, Anjie was a single mother of two girls, working full-time and finishing college. Over the years, she learned so many strategies for couponing, sweepstakes and finding great deals that once she even took home $425 worth of groceries for 27 cents!

Anjie's friends and family also began to rely upon her money-saving tips and her uncanny ability to score great bargains, so about ten years ago, Anjie began emailing her tips in a newsletter. As word spread, more and more people outside of Anjie's immediate circle sought a chance to share in her wealth of savings information. When Anjie started an Internet group, demand to join quickly grew so large that after one year, more than 200 members were participating. More shoppers seeking to shop smarter join every year.

“ I've been a member since my daughter saw Anjie on the Today Show. Saving money is surely a good thing, but words can't even describe how much more there is to being one of its members. Anjie is a dedicated, loving, caring, unselfish woman, who promotes good will, sharing, and because of her I have not only been able to live lavishly for less, but I have made the most wonderful friends. Freelancebyu is surely one of the best websites on the internet!” exclaims Marie O'Reilly.

Although she was a social worker for many years, Anjie now oversees the Freelancebyu website full time. When not working 10-hour-plus days on the website or writing articles about saving money, Anjie spends time with her fiancé and family. She also loves to cook, garden, take photographs, make crafts and volunteer for projects like Operation Santa, which Freelancebyu has supported for several years.

Anjie's goals for Freelancebyu.com are many, but to Anjie the ultimate goal is not only living lavishly for less, but it is also giving lavishly too! “I believe in and promote random acts of kindness and strongly believe that giving in life is the only way to be gifted.”

To learn more about freelancebyu, click here: www.flbyu.com .

ROCKYMOUNTAIN  NEWS

OCTOBER 3rd  2005

Fighting back

Smart grocery shoppers regain ground against gas prices
By Janet Simons, Rocky Mountain News
Katrina and Rita have finished battering the Gulf Coast, but they're not done with our pocketbooks.

Assuming we all adjust to huge leaps in the cost of heating our homes and driving our cars, we might also face increases in the prices of other consumer goods as rising energy expenses ratchet up the costs of agriculture, food processing, manufacturing and shipping.

Unfortunately, there's little wiggle room in the prices of gasoline and natural gas.

But food is a different story. There are plenty of grocery bargains, and the thrill of the hunt goes with finding them. When we asked readers to tell us about their supermarket victories, we were regaled with stories from proud shoppers who tackle each trip to the store with the same kind of verve and grit that drove Sir Edmund Hillary up Mount Everest.

Anjie Hresan, a probation officer who once managed to buy $333.36 worth of stuff for $16.27 while Today show cameras were rolling, started serious couponing when she was a single mother trying to live on next to nothing. She's remarried now and does it mostly for the adventure.

"The idea is to live lavishly for less," said Hresan, who lives in Powhatan, Va., and dishes out deals and advice on the FreelancebyU.com Web site. "You shouldn't have to live on peanut butter - but if you do, use it to make cookies."

Indulgence will always be important, no matter how tight money gets, says consumer-trend analyst Mary Meehan of Minneapolis- based Iconoculture. It just may come on a different scale for a while."With limited discretionary income, priorities change and shoppers will rethink big purchases and extravagances like expensive cable-TV packages," she said. "Instead, I think we'll see renewed interest in creating a sanctuary in the home for friends and family - home entertaining, even potlucks."

Meehan also predicts growing popularity for couponing and other bargain-hunting practices.

"Consumers are going to be very vigilant about what goes into their carts, and coupons will be important for those on a budget," she said. "They can make shopping a lot less painful."

And even fun. Here are a few of our readers' stories.

• Katrina Wright, of Aurora, says she approaches shopping like "a kid in a candy store."

"When I look at my receipt and it says I saved $150, it's just astonishing - and it feels really good," she said. Wright likes the 10-for-$10 deals at Albertsons, and her favorite store is Grocery Warehouse, the Albertsons discount outlet.

• Jim Arneill, a retired bank officer who shops at the King Soopers at East Ninth Avenue and Corona Street, says that he doesn't need to scrimp but that he loves to look at a grocery receipt that shows he saved more than 40 percent.

"I'm quite well-off financially," he said. "I could buy anything. But why not get 50 percent off?"

• Annie Raines, of Denver, says she had a great shopping day recently at Safeway when she found what apparently were beef tenderloins marked and priced as pork shoulder blade. She bought all they had - six packages.

"I wasn't going to let them sit there," she said. "I'd gone with a $20 bill in my pocket, and I got back enough change to buy pickles and a soda. By the way, they were delicious! Ka-ching!"

• Penny Utzinger, 82, of Denver, called to brag about the shopping skills of her friend James Bronson, 78, who has done all the shopping for both of them for 34 years."He saved $22 just today," she said. "He always clips coupons, and he never buys anything unless it's on sale. I'll say, 'Let's get some of this,' and he'll say: 'No, let's wait. They're going to put that on sale next week.' And he's always right."

A guide to the game

Here are some tips on winning the shopping game gleaned from readers and other grocery gurus.

• Buy your cleaning supplies at a dollar store or other odd-lot store where they tend to be deeply discounted. Call first to see whether the store takes manufacturer's coupons.

• Gather coupons wherever you can find them, including the backs of cash-register tapes, dispensers in the aisles of the stores, mailers and sites such as www.Boodle.com.

• Always check the clearance racks in the back of the store. If you can use a coupon on a clearance item, you might get it practically for free.

• Generate feedback. Jim Arneill of Denver often calls companies to ask questions, comment on changes or tell them he likes their products. They sometimes send coupons to express their appreciation. (Many products have 800 numbers printed on the packages.)

• Check the ads. You can predict what will be on sale soon if you look at which companies are offering big promotions in the Sunday-newspaper coupon supplements, says couponing expert Anjie Hresan of Powhatan, Va.

• Organize your coupons. There are several coupon-sorting products on the market. We've tried The Couponizer, sold online at www.TheCouponizer.com for $20, and found that it makes it easy to sort, file, find and use coupons.

• Check out Web sites devoted to saving money on shopping, including FreelancebyU.com, FrugalforLife. com, Refundcents.com, Thegrocerygame.com and Couponmom.com. If you'd like to tell readers about other good sites or post your discoveries and find out about more deals locally, visit the Shop Smart blog at blogs.rockymountainnews.com/denver/simons/.

How a 'pro' does it

Dawn Cadwell, of Lone Tree, a sharp shopper who runs the FrugalforLife (AND IS A FREELANCEBYU.COM MEMBER!) , met the challenge of beating the price of groceries at Costco warehouse and Wal-Mart, and she did it by shopping only at Safeway and King Soopers. Here's how:

• Whole-bean coffee:

A $3 coupon from a Safeway coupon book distributed at the Cherry Creek store reopening brings the price of a 10-ounce package of Safeway Select coffee, usually $6.59, to $3.59, or $5.74 a pound.

• Sandwich bread:

OvenJoy, 1 pound, 69 cents on sale at Safeway

• Chunk light tuna:

Chicken of the Sea, sale on 6-ounce cans at Safeway, four for $3 or 75 cents apiece, $2 a pound

• Peanut butter:

Safeway brand, 28-ounce jar on sale for $2, $1.14 a pound.

• Bananas:

On sale at Safeway, 33 cents a pound

• Milk:

Free at King Soopers with a coupon Cadwell earned by spending $10 on Pepperidge Farm and Campbell's products

• Lean hamburger:

$1.33 a pound on a "reduced for quick sale" coupon at Safeway.

• Spaghetti:

One-pound package of Kroger brand, 51 cents "everyday low price" at King Soopers.

Cadwell's totals came to $9.37 for the food basket and $11.74 for the combined unit prices.

simonsj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-2547

RACE TO WIN

october 13 , 2005

Eighty-eight Racing Fans Will Ride with Jeff Green and Kyle Petty In This Weekend's Race in Charlotte

CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE
MINNEAPOLIS - Oct. 13, 2005 - The next time Jeff Green or Kyle Petty tear down a straightaway or take on a treacherous turn, they'll have 88 race fans riding along with them. That's because both the Cheerios/Betty Crocker #43 Dodge and the Georgia Pacific #45 Dodge will carry the images of fans who were selected through a Fan Fest sweepstakes earlier this year.

Race fans from all across the country will be featured. Forty-three winners will see their smiling faces on Jeff Green's #43 Dodge and 45 winners will see their faces on Kyle Petty's #45 Dodge for the upcoming race on Saturday in Charlotte, at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.

"These new paint schemes will pay tribute to the one member of our team that makes racing so great --- our fans," says Richard Petty, team owner. "It will be fun for everyone to see their faces on the cars as they race in Charlotte."

The paint schemes will feature race fans, male and female, from all over the United States including California, New York and Texas. Among the winners include: Angela Hresan Powhatan VA  car # 45

KITSAPSUN NEWSPAPER

OCTOBER 17 

article by JANET SIMMONS

Unfortunately, there's little wiggle room in the prices of gasoline and natural gas.

But food is a different story. There are plenty of grocery bargains, and the thrill of the hunt goes with finding them. Some proud shoppers tackle each trip to the store with the same kind of verve and grit that drove Sir Edmund Hillary up Mount Everest.

Anjie Hresan, for example, a probation officer who once managed to buy $333.36 worth of stuff for $16.27 while Today show cameras were rolling, started serious coupon-collecting when she was a single mother trying to live on next to nothing. She's remarried now and does it mostly for the adventure.

"The idea is to live lavishly for less," said Hresan, who lives in Powhatan, Va., and dishes out deals and advice on the FreelancebyU.com Web site. "You shouldn't have to live on peanut butter - but if you do, use it to make cookies."

Indulgence will always be important, no matter how tight money gets, says consumer-trend analyst Mary Meehan of Minneapolis-based Iconoculture. It just may come on a different scale for a while.

"With limited discretionary income, priorities change and shoppers will rethink big purchases and extravagances like expensive cable-TV packages," Meehan said. "Instead, I think we'll see renewed interest in creating a sanctuary in the home for friends and family - home entertaining, even potlucks."

Meehan also predicts growing popularity for coupon collecting and other bargain-hunting practices.

"Consumers are going to be very vigilant about what goes into their carts, and coupons will be important for those on a budget," she said. "They can make shopping a lot less painful."

And even fun. Here are a few stories from the frontlines of the grocery wars:

- Katrina Wright, of Aurora, Colo., said she approaches shopping like "a kid in a candy store."

"When I look at my receipt and it says I saved $150, it's just astonishing - and it feels really good," she said. Wright likes the 10-for-$10 deals at Albertsons supermarkets, and her favorite store is Grocery Warehouse, the Albertsons discount outlet.

- Jim Arneill, a retired bank officer who shops at the King Soopers in Denver, said that he doesn't need to scrimp, but he loves to look at a grocery receipt that shows he saved more than 40 percent.

"I'm quite well-off financially," he said. "I could buy anything. But why not get 50 percent off?"

- Annie Raines, also of Denver, said she had a great shopping day recently at a Safeway supermarket when she found what apparently were beef tenderloins marked and priced as pork shoulder blade. She bought all they had - six packages.

"I wasn't going to let them sit there," she said. "I'd gone with a $20 bill in my pocket, and I got back enough change to buy pickles and a soda. By the way, they were delicious! Ka-ching!"

- Penny Utzinger, 82, bragged about the shopping skills of her friend, James Bronson, 78, who has done all the shopping for both of them for 34 years.

"He saved $22 just today," she said. "He always clips coupons, and he never buys anything unless it's on sale. I'll say, 'Let's get some of this,' and he'll say: 'No, let's wait. They're going to put that on sale next week.' And he's always right."

ANJIE NOTE: this article was syndicated to MANY NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS ON OCT 17, 2005   AND/OR OCT 18, 2005

• Albuquerque Tribune

• NBC ACTION NEWS

• KNOX NEWS

• ABC15 NEWS

• WICHATAW FALLS TIMES

• TC PALM FLORIDA

• APICS

LOVEMARKS

jan 30, 2006

HERE

inspirational owners

Mutual loyalty makes them royalty on the web

Freelancebyu.com is a website that provides information and support in ways to save time and money. Members of the website are known as “Freelancers”, a community of individuals from every socio-economic group who enjoy the thrill of a deal. Freelancebyu founder and web queen, Angie Henley, shares her inspirational insights.

Lovemarks: Why do you think consumers love your service?

Angie Henley: Freelancers love Freelancebyu because it shares a plethora of reputable and quality information and this sets us apart from the rest. We only promote the best sources, and what is shared is not driven by commission but by the quality of service, product and website. My heart is in my website business. My passion for what I do is contagious, and people like to have passion in their lives!

LMKS: Lovemarks is premised on the Love/Respect Axis and attaining both High Love and High Respect. How do you relate this idea to the way Freelancebyu works from day to day?

AH: Some Freelancers have gone through life never believing that they could afford to pay their bills, obtain items of “luxury”, give to their own families and well as charities or others in need. They quickly learn that not only is this possible with our tips and tools, but probable. Once this epiphany occurs they have plenty of respect, not only for our website, but for themselves. They share this respect and love freely among Freelancers and those in their communities on a regular basis as the effect of this practice is very rewarding.

LMKS: An idea associated with Lovemarks is the idea of Loyalty Beyond Reason. In thinking about Freelancebyu, how, in broad terms, do you define loyalty?

AH: Loyalty translates to ‘royalty’ in Freelancebyu speak. Our allegiance to our members and our focus on our mission helps people to achieve their own growth, and in turn, this helps us grow too. Our mutual loyalty makes us royalty on the web.

LMKS: Inspirational Consumers are people who take their Love of a brand very seriously indeed. Can you recall any encounters you’ve had where a customer gave you a new insight to the rational of both your business and your marketing?

AH: I have so many Freelancers that inspire me on a daily basis. I did get a letter from a fellow Freelancer once that truly did offer me a bigger picture and new focus for the website in the future. The letter was from a stay at home mom with no source of income, who was trapped in an abusive relationship. She happened to see me on television and visited Freelancebyu to learn about what I do. She earned money from her computer and was able to save enough to leave her situation and provide her children with a safe atmosphere on her own. She wrote me a letter thanking me for the courage, resources and ability to develop the self esteem to change her life.

This letter provided me with the insight that I needed to quit my profession as a Social Worker and focus on the website so that I could provide Social Work, in another, alternative way, pursuing all my passions at the same time. This life altering event for this Freelancer also altered my own life. That mutual Love/Respect Axis we talked about? Well this was a prime example.

LMKS: What are your top 5 Lovemarks?

AH: * Freelancebyu.com
* BookCrossing
* Splenda
* TrueLemon
* Geocaching

NEW HAMPSHIRE MAGAZINE

FEB. 2, 2006

LIVE FREE or (at least) Darn Cheap

By John Walters

Frugality is central to New Hampshire’s image. Maybe it’s our steadfastly anti-tax politics, or our tendency to rank near the bottom in most measures of philanthropy. Or maybe it’s the stereotype of the flinty Granite Stater who throws nickels around like they were manhole covers. In this age of consumption, we set out in search of frugality in 21st-century New Hampshire. Along the way, we found people who are choosing to be frugal for a variety of reasons — personal choice, financial necessity, environmental concerns or just a desire for a simpler lifestyle.

Jim Merkel: Living Lightly on the Earth

“If a thousand people simplify, they’ll have a thousand different lifestyles — each unique and beautiful.”

It all began in 1989 in a Swedish bar. Jim Merkel was on a business trip for his employer, a California munitions company. At the time, he had begun to ponder the ethical and environmental impact of his business.

“It came to a head when I saw coverage of the Exxon Valdez oil spill on TV,” he recalls. “It really shook me up.” He believed that his energy-intensive lifestyle was as much to blame as the tanker’s captain or the oil industry.

Back home, Merkel spent a weekend calculating what he really needed to live. The answer was $5,000 a year. “I realized I was 30 years old and I’d already earned enough money to live the rest of my life on the interest. So I went in to work on Monday and gave my 30-day notice.”

He had 13 yard sales, getting rid of almost all his possessions — including an antique car, a speedboat and a motorcycle. He rented out part of his house, planted a vegetable garden and used a bicycle instead of a car. “My quality of life went way higher,” he says, “because I had all my time free to do anything I wanted — over 30,000 hours free.”

Merkel became an activist for sustainable living; he is co-founder of the Global Living Project and author of “Radical Simplicity: Small Footprints on a Finite Earth,” a guide to living a simpler life.

Last summer, the 49-year-old Merkel took his first regular job in 16 years: sustainability coordinator at Dartmouth College. His task: to bring Earth-friendly practices to campus. He says the administration is fully behind him, but “it’s hard to change, even when they want to.”

As an example, he cites a dining hall on campus: “The dining-hall guy says he has to break even or show a profit. He can make lots of money selling packaged foods. He is forced to turn his dining hall into a convenience store.” And that contributes to the waste stream; Merkel says Dartmouth’s output of trash has grown by 7 percent a year since 2001. He says nobody wants that, but “the question is, are we willing to step back and look at our systems?”

He advocates the same approach for individuals and families. “I don’t like to give specific advice on how to cut back. My book offers a process — a way to assess your own values, and make your own decisions.”

And he insists that simplicity is not sacrifice: “Life is richer when it’s sustainable. Eating fresh produce, having clean air and water, connecting with family, friends and nature — those things are priceless.” NH

Marijo Varney: Time for change

“I really wanted to home school my son. The school system wasn’t working for him.”

The Varneys had a hectic lifestyle. Marijo was a full-time teacher in Keene; her husband Jim worked two hours away in Boston. Their schedules were physically and emotionally taxing. Their daughter Kristin was having health problems. Their son Peter had been diagnosed dyslexic; his grades were good, but his teachers had suggested remedial classes.

They decided it was time to get off the treadmill. Marijo read every book on frugality and simple living she could find. She went to part-time status. Jim kept working in Boston for a year, while they paid their debts and built up their savings. Then he took a job closer to home, with a much lower salary.

Several years later, the change has resulted in a better life for the Varneys. Their health improved. Peter thrived in the home-school setting. “I never had to ask him twice about assignments,” says Varney.

She uses many of the same techniques as Rachel Thayer (see page 41), such as sewing, canning and cooking from scratch. She buys in bulk or on sale. She’s also found homespun substitutes for some items. “I make my own dry soup mixes, with dry noodles, bouillon, dried herbs, onion and garlic. I found the recipe in an out-of-print book called ‘Make Your Own Groceries.’”

She makes fruit leather with a dehydrator — which she got for free. “I bought five at a discount,” she says, “sold the other four on eBay and made more than enough money to pay for the one I kept.”

Fundamentally, she says it’s a different way of looking at life and money. “I am always asking, ‘Do we really need this, or do we just want this?’ “

After their children went off to college, life took another turn. “I had gone back to work, because I thought it would be nice to have the extra income,” she says. “Two months later, Jim lost his job when his company downsized. Frugality made it easy.”

These days, Jim is a part-time Web developer, and Marijo teaches special-needs students at Franklin Elementary School in Keene. Their income is much lower than it used to be, but “we save at least 25 percent of every paycheck,” says Varney. “We pay cash for large expenses, and we are building our retirement fund.” All that, while putting two kids through college.

“My daughter is 23 and she’s pretty frugal herself,” says Varney with pride. “Her fiancé used to wonder why she saved so much. Then he got sick and couldn’t work for six weeks. She had a freezer full of food, and they got through it. They’re getting married next year; they have enough savings to make a down payment on a house.” NH

Jack Lecza: Frugal colonist

“You can’t go back to the year 1628 and not be profoundly impacted.”

So says Jack Lecza, a 49-year-old businessman from Bedford. He was a cast member on “Colonial House,” the PBS TV series that put a group of modern Americans in a precise re-creation of an early colony. It was a very different time: “Nothing is wasted, nothing discarded,” he says. “When you return to the 21st century, that stays with you.” After the show’s taping in the fall of 2003, he was determined to simplify his life.

He left his job as an executive consultant. It was lucrative but “an absolutely insane life; there’s so much selling in it.” He is now a vice-president for Liska Biometry, a startup company in Dover. The pay is lower, but the demands are more predictable.

Even before “Colonial House,” Lecza was a pretty frugal guy. He credits the influence of his mother Adelaide, “the wisest, most enlightened person I have ever known.” He calls frugality a “learned competency” that must be gained over time.

How frugal is he? “I drive my kids crazy with reusing things,” he muses. “I’ve been known to cut up napkins and make coffee filters out of them.

“I love to paint, and I make my own paper,” he says. “I take old newspaper, soak it, pulp it, press it and let it dry. It turns gray, but it’s fine for everyday uses.”

He buys his clothing at resale shops and reads used books. “I used to live in Merrimack,” he recalls. “People would drop off old books at the dump. I went there first thing every Saturday and went through the book pile.”

It may sound a bit monastic, but he says frugality is not a sacrifice. It’s a matter of setting priorities and discovering where true happiness can be found.

Lecza and his wife Addie have two children, 14-year-old Amy and 11-year-old Cooper. Every Friday night the family gathers for homemade pizza and conversation. On one recent occasion, “Cooper had two friends over,” he says, “and we played 3-on-1 chess. I was struck by how simple and timeless, how little cost and how much enrichment.”

In today’s fast-paced society, he says, “Our cost/enrichment matrix is all screwed up. So often, it’s the simple things that make our lives better.”

Lecza offers some advice for those seeking to dial down: First, consider everyone who would be impacted by a change. Some can’t handle it. Second, take stock of your life and environment. What are you doing that you don’t need to do? What can you do without? And third, don’t give up. It takes time to adjust. There’s a certain discipline to it, and a real self-confidence, a comfort level with oneself. NH

Rachel Thayer: Frugal by nature — and necessity

“I have a hard time paying full price for anything. Looking around the house, I can’t see anything I paid full price for.”

Rachel Thayer calls herself “Miss Frugal New Hampshire.” She hasn’t lived here very long — she moved from North Carolina to Claremont in 2004 — but she’s become a treasure trove of knowledge for would-be savers in the state. At the age of 25, she’s mastered a lot of “old-fashioned” skills that make a dollar stretch farther, like canning, quilting and sewing.

She also founded a Claremont chapter of the Freecycle Network, a Web-based organization (www.freecycle.org) for people who want to give away unused items. Freecycle has nearly two million members in thousands of local chapters, including 28 in New Hampshire. It’s a valuable part of Thayer’s bargain-hunting strategy: “I just received two woodstoves, we’ve gotten a day bed, a love seat and a lot of kids’ clothing. I got my cat and dog on Freecycle.”

Thayer got an early start on frugality. “I was raised by a single mom living on a tight budget,” she says. Her mother, Anjie Hresan, is now a professional saver — she runs a frugal living Web site, www.freelancebyu.com, and has appeared on NBC’s “Today Show” as an expert in frugality.

Her mother’s training has come in handy. Thayer’s husband Richard is a staff sergeant in the Marines and a military salary isn’t much for a family with two young children: 3-year-old Lockley, and 18-month-old Gavin. Even so, they manage to put at least $100 a month in savings. Here are some of her techniques:

On food — “I shop at discount stores, buy dented cans, look for coupons and free offers. I garden and can my own produce. I do a lot of cooking from scratch. We don’t eat out.”

On clothing — “I shop at resale and consignment stores. The outfit I’m wearing today cost about $4.25, and it’s good quality stuff — from the Gap, Levi’s, a pair of Birkenstocks. I look just fine. In fact, I look pretty cute today.”

On washday — “I make my own laundry detergent. A half bar of grated Fels Naptha Soap, a cup of Borax and a cup of washing soda. Shake it up, and use 2 tablespoons per wash load. I estimate I save about $400 a year on detergent.” She makes reusable “dryer sheets” by pouring liquid fabric softener on an old washcloth or mismatched sock.

Thayer is a real bundle of energy — always looking for ways to save a buck and share her ideas with others. One gets the sense that if she ever won the lottery, it wouldn’t change her lifestyle one bit; she’s having way too much fun. NH


Rachel Thayer’s Super Saving Tips

Join the newsletter (www.freelancebyu.com) for free and let my mom do all the legwork for you on finding the best deals on the net.

Join (www.freecycle.org) for free in your local area and find anything and everything you might need for free —nothing sold there, only free things.

Mr. G's discount store in Windsor Vt. I find all kinds of great deals there on food items.

Changes Thrift Store in Claremont, Hint — always look in the bargain basement.

Angelina's Closet in Claremont

Second Beginnings Thrift Store in Claremont

Salvation Army in West Lebanon

Listen Thrift Store in White River Junction, free bread for donation.

Listen Thrift Store in Lebanon

Rymes Oil & Propane has the cheapest oil around for people not able to afford to pre-buy.

Go to local schools of massage and cosmetology to get pampered — costs you less and gives the students experience.

If you are looking for a pet, go to www.petfinder.com or your local shelter to adopt. There are tons of great animals out there needing a great home! And look for pets that are already altered! I found my purebred German Shepherd (free), already fixed on Petfinder and my purebred, with papers, already-fixed flame-point Himalayan cat on freecycle.org (free). They are out there, just go find them.

Rachel Thayer is owner/moderator of the Claremont Freecycle Yahoo group.

SOAPS GONE BUY

FEBRUARY 17, 2006

ARTICLE:   AFFILIATE SPOTLIGHT

Welcome to our FIRST Soaps Gone Buy Affiliate Spotlight!  Every month we will feature one of our very own affiliates.  We hope to inspire you with their stories and inform you about their businesses.  I hope you enjoy… 

Our first featured affiliate is Saving Specialist, Angela Henley from Powhatan, Virginia.  Angela, equipped with her knowledge to save money and her willingness to help people, created www.freelancebyu.com .  She wanted to offer the BEST FOR LESS to her visitors as a FREE SERVICE to help others live more lavishly!! 

Her path started out with a small e-mail list of close friends and family to share special deals, coupons and rebate offers. The list may have started out small, but as word spread, it soon included hundreds  Since then, Angela has taken the phrase "saving a buck" to a new level.  In fact, in March of 2002 her cost-cutting techniques earned her a spot on NBC's Today Show.  During this segment, a video clip of Angela’s shopping marathon was shown.  Armed with coupons, rebate offers, and gift certificates, she visited 10 stores and bought $333.36 worth of merchandise, all for the low price of $16.27.  Hard to believe?? CLICK HERE to watch the clip.  It is absolutely amazing!

Also, I would like to give my most sincere congratulations to Angela.  She was very recently nominated as an Inspirational Owner on the website www.lovemarks.com where she was interviewed to share her inspirational insights.  This article tells an amazing story of how Angela has inspired her ‘Freelancers’ and vice versa.    Visit Anjie’s site at http://www.freelancebyu.com and become a part of a great community!

THE NEWS OBSERVER

feb 26, 2006

 Lesson 1: Shop smart, save big

Faye's tips for frugal grocery shopping

* Shop more than one store each week; pick the best deals at each.

* Look for "loss leaders," items that stores mark down especially low to get people in the doors.

* Don't get caught up in impulse buys.

"No wandering the aisles with your purse hanging open and money flying out," she said. "Don't even go near the ready-to-eat rotisserie chicken."

* Eat before you go to the store.

* If possible, leave young children at home.

Price books

How do you know when a deal is really a good one?

Prosser recommends making a price book in which you record items you frequently buy and the prices you pay for them.

This allows you to see if there's a cycle for sales on that item (i.e., it goes on sale every two months). If there is, you buy enough when it's on sale to last until the next sale.

It also allows you to calculate price per unit to see if a sale is really a good deal.

An example:

A 16-ounce container of Daisy sour cream may cost $1.39, making it 8.6 cents per ounce. If you see an 8-ounce container on sale for 99 cents, that's 12.4 cents, making the 16-ounce container a much better deal.

On the Web

On frugal shopping

* About.com (www.couponing.about.com)

* The Dollar Stretcher (www.stretcher.com)

* Clark Howard: (www.clarkhoward.com)

* The Frugal Shopper: (www.thefrugalshopper.com)

Internet coupons

* Coupons.com: (www.coupons.com)

* Upons: (www.upons.com)

* Smart Source: (www.smartsource.com)

Freebie sites

* FreelanceBYU: (www.freelancebyu.com)

* Phoenix Freebies: (www.phoenixfreebies.com)

* Start Sampling: (www.startsampling.com)

MSN MONEY

How cheapskates do dinner

How cheapskates do dinner - MSN Money

melinda fulmer

Sept 2006

A $26 ribeye tastes that much juicier at $13, at least to me.

So while some people shy away from dining-out discounts, fearing perhaps the scorn of their teenage servers, others like me won't leave home without one.

"I try to go out only if I have a deal," says Tonya Ward, a stay-at-home mother from Winston-Salem, N.C., who clips newspaper coupons, surfs the Web for discounts and goes to kids-eat-free nights at local restaurants.

One night, Ward even dressed her whole family up as cows, with black and white spotted t-shirts, to get a free meal at her local Chick-Fil-A restaurant.

"I am never one to pass up a free meal," Ward says. "And since my son is 4, he appreciates (entertainment) like that."

But it doesn't take a costume to get discounts, provided you are willing to plan ahead, be flexible and use coupons and gift certificates unabashedly. And some of them are so discreet your date will never know you went cheap.

Discount blogger Anjie Henley, for instance, doesn't think twice about combining coupons and gift certificates to get her meals for a fraction of the price.

"I try to never pay full price for anything, especially food," says the operator of FreelanceByU.com. "You can eat out for pennies on the dollar" if you know where to look for discounts, she says.

Henley once bought a $50 T.G.I. Friday's gift card for $20 on eBay and then used it at a restaurant with a $7 coupon she received by e-mail. That's $37 in free food.

Discounts without coupons