DEAL ALERT: Free Paint from Glidden

I don't remember where I heard about this, but for a limited time Glidden is giving away a free quart of paint! No kidding! I just ordered a quart of "Deepest Aqua." Don't wait! Click HERE to get your free paint. Use it for a small project around the house, or use it to see if you like a certain color before starting a larger painting extravaganza.

DEAL ALERT: 1 Free Udder Cover!

Use the code "onefree" at UdderCovers.com and get one of their 100% cotton breastfeeding covers for FREE--you just pay shipping. I just ordered mine! Hurry, before they're all gone!

Bargain Shopping Book Reviews . . . Coming Soon!

Bargain shopping book reviews are coming soon. Here are the books I'm perusing right now:

I will also be giving books away with most of my reviews, so stay tuned!

"7 top baby costs and how to save"

Babies can be expensive! But, you can also save TONS of cash, if you know the right strategies and bargain shopping methods. Check out this April '09 article from BabyCenter.com: "7 Top baby costs, and how to save."

Latest Baby Bargain

I am particularly proud of my latest baby bargain! I had been in search of a Bumbo seat for my 5-month-old daughter. I didn't want to pay retail (hello!), so I started my search on good ol' Craigslist. After several days of watching for new listings, I found one! It was pink, and I would have preferred having a more neutral color, but the price was right . . . $25. So, I arranged to pick it up. When I arrived, the seller agreed to sell it to me for $20! 

I recently visited Once Upon a Child for the first time, and noticed that their used Bumbos were around $35, and brand new ones can cost over $40. So, I congratulated myself on another great bargain find!

The American Frugal Housewife

With the economy tanking, everyone is trying to since up their belts and live more economically. The "in" thing now is being frugal! Go figure. These financially tough times are forcing families to get creative and do a better job of watching where their money goes. 

I'd love to hear about the ways you're creatively stretching your dollars, these days! Share your ideas! I wanna know!

On that note, I found this great little piece from Joanne Heim--author, blogger, mom, and wife--about why she's deciding to live with more economy in her household this year. Check it out!

Bargain Book Reviews . . . Coming Soon!

As I've been brainstorming about some new content to add to Bargain Shopping Paradise, I was glancing over some of my favorite books about bargain shopping. Then it dawned on me--I really should be letting you in on some of these reading gems! So, beginning in the very near future, I'll be adding some book reviews to the site. 

I'll be reviewing books that really help you save money--books that let you in on the secrets behind great prices and how to maximize your hard-earned dollars! There are so many great books on bargain shopping, bargain travel, wedding bargains, baby bargains, etc., so I'll be giving you my opinion on which ones are worth your time, and which ones aren't!

So, keep your eyes open for book reviews coming soon!

Get cash back through Ebates!

So, my newest bargain shopping addiction is Ebates.com! For those of you who are not familiar with this site, according to their Website, "Ebates is the pioneer and leader of online Cash Back Shopping. The company was founded in 1998 by two Deputy District Attorneys in Silicon Valley who used to prosecute online fraud & identity theft before starting Ebates."

Basically, it works like this--you sign up, and visit Ebates to shop at your favorite stores--everything from books, to travel, to health/beauty, to clothes, to computers/electronics, and just about ANYTHING you've ever shopped for. When you shop through Ebates, they track your purchase and give you cash back. You can opt to either receive a check or have the money deposited directly to your PayPal account. For example, I recently shopped at Walmart.com, and ordered something through their Site-to-Store feature. I went to Ebates first, and after I paid for my order, I got cash back on my purchase! It's super easy, and who doesn't like getting even more money off their purchases?

It really is quite simple. But, how do they do it? Their Website answers, "Just like almost every other online shopping center, we get a commission from the stores when you make a purchase. Instead of keeping that money--like almost all other sites do--we share it with you!"

I've recently EVEN gotten cash back on my Ebay.com purchases! I love it! Click HERE to sign up, now!

Getting out of debt

Here's a funny look at how to reduce your debt. Even though it's a tongue-in-cheek piece, it's still a good reminder. :o)

Maximizing your tax refund

If you haven't done your taxes yet (I haven't), I found some great advice from ABC's Good Morning America personal finance expert Mellody Hobson. She outlines Five Ways to Maximize Your Tax Refund, and gives tips on practices that might not work in your favor. Doing your taxes can be so intimidating, so it helps to know ways to get the most bang for your buck.

(AP Graphic)

Why I switched to cloth diapers and how much money I'm saving

After my daughter was born, and we started buying disposable diapers, I quickly realized how expensive diapering her was going to be. We were dropping $10-12 every week and a half. I know that's fairly average, but wow . . . that really adds up! Being the frugal bargain shopper that I am, I started trying to find coupons, shopped the sales, etc. But, I was still having a hard time with the fact that we were easily throwing away about $50 a month--literally THROWING IT AWAY! Ugh! Our money was literally getting pooped on and thrown into a landfill. Now, that's just not right. I'm not trying to make a political or philosophical statement, but we decided to look into other options.

Several friends of mine have recommended cloth diapers, and I've known several people who swear by it. So, my husband and I did a little research. The downside to cloth diapers is the up-front cost associated with them, but if you have the money on-hand the pros far outweigh this one con. And, if you buy pre-owned, you don't have to have as much cash on the front-side--you can save even MORE money. As we did our research, here are some Web sites that were helpful for us:

• CottonBabies.com
• Diaper Jungle
• Article from Consumer Reports
• Article from Mothering Magazine
• Resource page from Cloth Diaper Outlet
• "Why Use Cloth?" from ComfyBummy.com
• "Cloth Diapers 101" from Zany-Zebra.com
• "Cloth Diapers 101" from Parents.com
• "Cloth Diapering 101" from Mom Advice
• The Dyper Hyena
• Plus, there are a ton more if you just Google "cloth diapers." 

Don't be afraid to ask around, too. Odds are you know someone, or know someone who knows someone who uses cloth diapers. Get their opinions on what works best for them, and how they care for the diapers. As we were researching and thinking through things, I e-mailed a couple of my friends who use cloth, and got their input. They had a ton of valuable information to offer.

One thing I was curious about was how much effort it would take to clean and care for the diapers. The answer was quite surprising--not much, depending on the kind of diapers you choose to use. The basic cleaning procedure is:

1. Cold rinse
2. Hot wash with 1/4 to 1/2 your normal amount of detergent
3. Additional rinse (cold water is fine)
4. Dry--either in the dryer or under the sun

That's it! Surprising, huh? 

So, what did we decide to do? You've probably guessed by now (as if the posting title didn't give it away) that we decided to take the plunge and switch to cloth diapers, but we didn't want to invest in brand new diapers. Instead, we decided to buy pre-owned diapers, in order to save even more money. Most resources will tell you that you're most likely to spend about $2500 per child on disposable diapers, by the time they are potty-trained. Purchasing brand new cloth diapers can run from $200-1200, depending on the diapering system you choose adopt. Prefolds are the cheapest, but most complicated option. All-in-one diapers are by far the easiest, but most expensive option. Also, if you choose anything other than one-size-fits-all diapers, you will have to purchase additional sizes. We chose to go with the simplest option in one-sized, all-in-one diapers, so we wouldn't have to buy different sizes as our kids grow. We wanted a one-time purchase. 

I kept my eye on our local Craigslist to see if anyone was selling off their gently used cloth diapers. Oftentimes, people will try to resell their entire stock of cloth diapers, once they don't need them anymore, so taking advantage of this is a great way to save even more money. Sure enough, I found someone who was able to sell me 19 diapers--15 BumGenius pocket one-size, and 4 Thirsties AIO size small--and two wet bags for a total of $175. Most resources will tell you that you want 24-36 cloth diapers (2-3 days worth), so that you're not washing them every day. In order to round out our supply, I joined Diaper Swappers, and searched their forum for someone selling the same kind of diapers that I already had. I found someone selling 5 more of the same kind of BumGenius pocket one-size, and two additional one-size diapers. I paid $78 for all 7 diapers. 

The grand total? $253 for a 2-day supply! Now, that's much better than $2500, and we're not throwing our money in the trash.

We've been using them for a couple of weeks now, and I couldn't be happier! Our daughter doesn't know the difference, and she looks so dang cute. Plus, we haven't spent any money on cloth diapers. It doesn't take any effort to wash them, and because they don't have any chemicals in their makeup, we don't use or need diaper cream. It's been easier to make the switch than I ever thought it would, and we're so happy we did! 

If you're interested in looking for bargains on gently used cloth diapers, I recommend these sites:

• Craigslist.org
• DiaperSwappers.com
• DiaperJungle.com
• ClothDiaperExchange.com
• LittleBlessingsResale.com
• MyUsedDiapers.com
• Cloth Babies

If you're interested in saving some cash and going green, cloth diapering may be for you. If you don't have the cash up-front, save up little by little. You'll save a TON of money in the long run.

And the winner is . . .

Thanks for all the wonderful money saving advice you all shared on my "Question about saving money on diapers!" post. I really appreciate all your insights and sage wisdom. Being a first-time parent, the costs for all the "gear" and supplies can be a bit intimidating . . . even for this resourceful bargain shopper. Good news on the diaper front, though—we've switched to cloth diapers and MAN! have I saved some moolah! I'll share more on that in another post.

Now, as promised, I dropped all the commenters names in a basket and pulled one out. The winner of the Restaurant.com gift certificate is ~C! Congratulations!! I'll get in touch with you to find out what your zip code is, and then will send you your gift certificate. Thanks for your advice on the cloth diapers! Don't have the toilet sprayer yet, but will definitely be investing in that.

Keep commenting, guys, and sharing your awesome money-saving tips.

Secrets of Thrift Store Shopping

Don't know if you caught this morning's thrift store segment on Good Morning America, but it only added fuel to the bargain shopping fire! To read more about it, click HERE. Thrift stores hold countless bargains for the bargain hunter, and thrift store business is booming in the current economy. Many shoppers have assumptions about the quality of clothes found at thrift stores, but those assumptions are no longer valid. High fashion does not have to come with a high price tag.

Question about saving money on diapers!

Unfortunately, it's been quite a while since I've updated all you bargain shoppers on the happenings of the bargain world. I have a good excuse, I promise! My husband and I have actually relocated to a different state, and only a few days after we moved, I gave birth to our first child. So, I've been a little busy, and had to put bargain shopping on the back burner.

However, I'm slowly getting back in the saddle again, and now have a question to pose to those of you who are equally passionate about bargain shopping. Now that I'm a new mom, I'm looking for all sorts of ways to cut corners on those baby essentials: wipes, diapers, diaper cream, etc. So, help me out! What baby cost-cutting tips have worked for you? What should I know? What creative resources are other moms tapping into, in order to save a buck?

Oh, and don't think that I would just ask for input without offering anything in return! What kind of blogger would I be, if that were the case? :o) If you post a response, I will drop your name in a hat for a Restaurant.com gift certificate—since it is one of my favorite sites. All you have to do is post a response by Friday, February 6.

I can't wait to hear your ideas!

DEAL ALERT: Save 25% at the Dick's Sporting Goods Outlet

DEAL ALERT: Multiple Deals . . . AGAIN!

HOTWIRE.COM:

• Check out the latest "Travel Ticker" deals!

KOHLS.COM:

• Free standard shipping on orders of $75 or more, plus save an additional 20% off when you spend $100 or more. Just enter promo code HOLIDAY20 at checkout! Visit www.kohls.com. Offer ends Wednesday, Nov. 19.

ORBITZ.COM:

RESTAURANT.COM:

• Surprise 80% off sale! Click here to get 80% off your order through Thursday, Nov. 20.

SHUTTERFLY.COM:

• In addition to 20% off select gifts and cards, you’ll can receive free standard shipping on orders of $25 or more. Enter promo code SHIP25 in your cart. Offer ends Nov. 27.
• Save 20% on photo books. Click here to create one. Offer ends Nov. 27.
• Earn a Free 8x10 Collage Poster. Enter Coupon Code: AF72-SAVE. Exp. 12-2-08.

SIERRA TRADING POST:

• Free Ground Shipping (no minimum order amount). Offer expires Wednesday, Nov. 19.
  
• Save an extra 25% off select clothing, TODAY ONLY. Offer expires Wendesday, Nov. 19.

SNAPFISH.COM:

• Get your first set of 20 4" x 8" photo cards for just 20¢—that's only a penny each! Choose from over 100 holiday designs that are completely customizable. Just use coupon CARD08 at checkout. Offer ends November 23!
• Take 20% off ornaments with coupon ORNAMENT118 until Nov. 30.
• To save 20% off all holiday catalog gift items, just enter coupon code WINTER08 at checkout until Dec. 31.

WALGREENS PHOTO:

• Get $10 off your photo gift order of $40 or more. Enter coupon code HEADSTART at checkout through Nov. 22. Click here to get the deal.

DEAL ALERT: Free shipping at Shutterfly!

Also, enjoy an extra $10 off your order!
This holiday, make spirits bright with truly unique and affordable photo gifts. $10 off orders of $50 or more. Now that’s joy to the world. Enter promo code HOLIDAY in your shopping cart to use it. Offer ends November 10, 2008.

DEAL ALERT: Multiple Deals!!

• Big Lots:

• GAP: Save 25% at Gap.com or in Gap stores! Enter coupon code EXTRA25 at checkout.
  (Expires 11/11, online & in stores)
  

• Hobby Lobby:
  

Click here to print the coupon.

Click here to view Hobby Lobby's weekly deals.

• Hotwire.com: Click HERE to see the latest "Travel Ticker" deals!
  

• Overstock.com: 
  

• Restaurant.com: (Offer ends 11/7/08)
  

• Sierra Trading Post:
  

• Snapfish: 2 Days left to order 50 4x6 prints and get a 11x14 free collage poster! Just add an 11" x 14" collage poster to your order and use coupon code PUMPKIN08 at checkout. Offer ends November 8. Click here to get the deal!
  

• Walgreens Photo:
  

DEAL ALERT: 80% off at Restaurant.com . . . ONE DAY ONLY!

Enter discount code "EIGHTY" at checkout to see your savings!

Great Bargain Shopping Advice from Better.tv

Maximize your money and spend less by bargain shopping. Better TV shows you how.

DEAL ALERT: 25% off Odds N' Ends @ Sierra Trading Post (TODAY ONLY)

TODAY ONLY . . . save an extra 25% off "Odds and Ends" at SierraTradingPost.com. Click on the coupon below to get the deal.

Saving Money Everyday

The Consumer Counseling Service's Stephanie Bitter talks to the Gulf Coast's Fox 29 "Good Day" about ways that you can save money in your everyday life.

Click here to view the video.

DEAL ALERT: Save 20% on any 1 item at REI-OUTLET.com

Click on the image below to save 20% on your next item from REI-OUTLET.COM!

DEAL ALERT: First ever . . . 80% off at Restaurant.com TODAY ONLY

Click on the image below to save 80%!

DEAL ALERT: 20% off prints and books at Shutterfly

Shutterfly is offering 20% off prints right now with promo code 34SUMMER. Just enter the code in your shopping cart to save. This offer ends August 6, 2008.

Also on sale . . . photo books! Click on the image below to get the details on how you can save 20% off on photo books. This offer ends August 6, 2008.

DEAL ALERT: Save $20 off contact orders of $120 or more at Walgreens

Click on the image below for more details.

DEAL ALERT:This week's specials at Hobby Lobby

To view this week's specials at Hobby Lobby, click HERE. This week's specials include:

• 50% off all artist brushes and brush sets
• Ceramics, polyresin, and pottery 50% off
• Rubber stamps and sets 50% off

Plus, get 40% any one item of regular price. Click on the coupon below to print it.

DEAL ALERT: Take extra 20% off at Sierra Trading Post--TODAY ONLY!

DEAL ALERT: 25 Bonus 4x6 prints from Walgreens Photo

This just in . . . 3 days only! Click below to get the deal.

DEAL ALERT: 70% off at Restaurant.com

Money Managing Matters: Three Dos, Don'ts for Your Finances

"Find Out How You Should Handle Your Money During This Difficult Economic Time"

During these rocky financial times, bargain shopping principles have never been more relevant. We're all trying to get the most bang for our buck, and much of that is tied to our personal finances. On a recent Good Morning America, renowned financial guru, author, and popular radio host Dave Ramsey offered three dos and don'ts for your finances.

Click on the image below to watch the ABC video:

More updates ahead!

Greetings to all you faithful bargain shoppers!

I've taken a bit of a mandatory leave-of-absence, due to the fact that I am now four months pregnant with our first child. However, now that I'm past the "yucky" part, I hope to continue updating you with fabulous bargain finds, how-to tips, and deal alerts. Oh and now that I'm pregnant, you can believe that I will be a hound for those maternity and baby bargains!

Stay tuned for more updates!

DEAL ALERT: $48 OFF for 48 HOURS at Spirit Airlines

Planning a vacation or trip soon? Spirit Airlines is giving you $48 off for only 48 hours. Just enter promotion code "48HOURS" for travel between September 4, 2008 through November 19, 2008.

If your travel plans don't fall within those dates, you can still save $24 off for 24 hours by entering promotion code "24HOURS" for travel between June 25, 2008 through April 30, 2009.

DEAL ALERT:60% off at Restaurant.com

Turn your junk into cash!

A simple way to bring in extra cash is to get rid of your junk by selling it at a garage sale . . . and it can be fun, too! Click HERE to read a great article on how to set up your sale, advertise, organize, and just about everything else you'll need to know. Now is the perfect time to do some summer cleaning and figure out what to keep, and what can possibly bring you some extra money!

Save money on books by using PaperBackSwap.com

I've been using PaperBackSwap.com since December 2007 (almost 6 months), and I just had to give a little update on how it's been going. 

For those of you who aren't aware, PaperBackSwap is (according to the website) "a group of readers who share books with each other (NOT just paperbacks) for nothing more than the cost of postage." That's a great description! It's just a site that facilitates the swapping of books . . . and all you have to do is pay the postage to send your books to other people. They pay postage to send their books to you. It's really simple!

So, this is what I've been doing for about 6 months now. I love it!! I have sent out 32 books that I didn't want any more. I have received 33 books that I really wanted. And I've saved over $200 on books! I'm such a fan of this site, and I wanted to remind everyone about what a great resource it is. I currently have 21 books on my bookshelf that people can request, and a whole bunch more on my wishlist. If you would like to join and request some of my books, see my bookshelf here. 

So, here's your chance! Click on the banner below to join in and enjoy your favorite books for a huge savings!

Calculate gas costs ahead of time!

If you don't know about this, yet, here's an invaluable tool: AAA's Fuel Cost Calculator

My husband and I have been trying to decide where to go on vacation this year, and whether or not it would be cheaper to fly or drive. I plugged our plans into this calculator, and found out that we would have been paying way more to drive to our destination than to fly (based on current airline sale prices). If airline prices go up, however, it might be cheaper to drive. Either way, this calculator gave us a realistic picture of what our trip would cost.

Give it a try, so that you won't be caught unaware when you start to see the cost of that road trip you're planning. Vacations are so fun, but it's kind of a bummer if you have to come home and be faced with paying higher fuel bills than you weren't expecting. 

Newest travel deals from Hotwire

Vacationing any time soon? Just looking for a nice weekend getaway? On a budget? I just love Hotwire.com, because they have great travel deals for budget rates. Click here to see their latest Travel Ticker deals.

DEAL ALERT: Save 15% off at Sierra Trading Post!

Sierra Trading Post will give you 15% off orders of $100 or more. This offer expires Tuesday, June 10. Outfit yourself for summer camping, hiking, and outdoor fun! 

Click HERE to get the discount!

DEAL ALERT: Get 50% off at Restaurant.com

Restaurant.com is offering 50% off in honor of Father's Day. Click HERE to get the deal! This offer ends Sunday, June 8.

New travel deals from Hotwire

Hotwire.com (wonderful travel Web site) offers discounted rates on vacation packages, flights, rental cars, hotels, and more. They also distribute a list of weekly, jaw-dropping deals. Click HERE to see this week's Hotwire "Travel Ticker" deals.

DEAL ALERT: Save 15% at Shutterfly.com

Right now, you can save 15% off orders of $10 or more at Shutterfly.com. Click HERE to get the deal!

Simple Bargain Shopping Tip: CARPOOL!

This is nothing new to most of you. Carpooling is an age-old method of getting to work. Today, there are many benefits to grabbing a ride with a co-worker. 

I recently began this practice myself. I have a co-worker who lives on my route to work. I suggested to her that we might share a ride, thereby cutting our gas bills in half and saving the planet at the same time. She was all game!

So, it's been working out great. With gas costing in excess of $4/gallon, sharing that cost with someone else has been completely worth it. The added benefit is that we've taken one more car off the road during the busiest times of the day.

What are you waiting for? Put out an e-mail to your colleagues and see if someone lives near you, or if you know of someone who does . . . ask them to share a ride! There really aren't any downsides.

Click here to see how your car compares on fuel economy! 

DEAL ALERT: Get 15 FREE prints at Shutterfly.com

In honor of this year's forthcoming Father's Day, Shutterfly.com is giving you 15 FREE 4x6 prints! Click HERE to take advantage of these great freebies!

DEAL ALERT: 50% off at Restaurant.com

Right now, through Thursday, May 22, you can save 50% off your total bill at Restaurant.com. Click here to start, and then enter the discount code "DELICIOUS" in your cart to get that wonderful 50% lopped off your bill. Enjoy!

WZZM "Super Saver"—Online Grocery Savings

If you cannot see the image below, click here to link to the article and video.

DEAL ALERT: Save 30% on Posters and Collages at Snapfish!

Right now, you can save 30% on any poster or collage order at Snapfish.com. Click here to get started. Use coupon code GOBIG30 at checkout. This offer ends ends May 21!