Black Friday 2012 Shopping Tips

by Briana Carter on November 20, 2012

Black Friday is really creeping up on me early this year. In a few years, Black Friday Deals will start the day after Christmas. That is just how ridiculously early they will start.  Regardless of which winter holidays you celebrate, there are some great upcoming retail and restaurant deals to take advantage of in-stores and online.

Over the past few years, I have written posts on Black Friday Savings Tips, Black Friday Apps, and Black Friday Preparation. My theme remains the same as I don’t usually go in-stores on Black Friday. It’s not worth the risk and stress for me when I can get most of the same deals online from the comfort of my own home.

If you do go in-stores on Black Friday, prepare, prepare, prepare. I can’t stress this enough.

Preparation is the key. Do not go out without a plan of attack. My first Black Friday, I had no plan, no idea what to expect, and thought I could just browse. Uh, big fat wrong. I was seriously walking in circles in some sort of haze trying to figure out what I even wanted to buy.

If you don’t know what you want to buy, just stay home. The people who come out on Black Friday are the shopping ninjas. They will eat you alive. I joke about this but it really isn’t funny when you consider some of the injuries and deaths that have occurred on Black Friday.

Prepare

Preparation is the key. Do not go out without a plan of attack. My first Black Friday, I had no plan, no idea what to expect, and thought I could just browse. Uh, big fat wrong. I was seriously walking in circles in some sort of haze trying to figure out what I even wanted to buy.

If you don’t know what you want to buy, just stay home. The people who come out on Black Friday are the shopping ninjas. They will eat you alive. I joke about this but it really isn’t funny when you consider some of the injuries and deaths that have occurred on Black Friday.

After all my Black Friday shopping negativity, if you still want to brave the waters, I do have some tips that can help you before you head out. Or you can just be like me this year and shop the Black Friday online sales!

Scour the ads before you shop. I have several ad previews with coupon match ups list on my Black Friday Deals Page.

Be sure to price check all the items you want to buy against prices online. I recommend using the Savings Lifestyle Black Friday database.

You may find the online price is not much different than the advertised Black Friday “deal”. Only you can determine if the savings is worth braving the madness!

:: Other Tips

  • If you have a smart phone, you will want to check out my recommended Apps for Black Friday.
  • Prioritize the items on your list. Start at the store where you are going to maximize the most savings.
  • Factor in drive time, finding a parking space, and additional crowds and traffic.

The Morning of Black Friday

Hopefully, you have heeded my advice above about a plan of attack. You need to take that part extremely seriously. I have had two Black Friday #fails because I was too indecisive about what I wanted to purchase or the items I really wanted to buy were out of stock by the time I reached that particular store.

Black Friday morning is starting at midnight at many stores. You will want to dress comfortably with comfortable shoes. Layers work well depending on your weather as it gets hot in the crowded stores but you don’t want to worry about a bulky jacket when you are getting the last Pillow Pet as it will just slow you down.

Keep the kids at home. They will slow you down and you will really lose your sanity. However, you will want to bring a shopping buddy. This is key as you will need someone who can keep you on track, keep your place in line, and have a few laughs.

  • Carry your ads with you in case of a dispute.
  • Stick to your budget. Shop with cash or a prepaid card so you don’t go into the red on Black Friday.
  • Carry a smaller purse with only the necessities.
  • Recharge, refuel, and relax with the free restaurant offers after you have completed your shopping.

In the past, we’ve browsed other smaller stores in the mall after our main shopping and found many unadvertised deals at these stores.

Stay Home

If you don’t want to head out on Black Friday, that’s okay too. Really. You can find some great deals from the comfort of your own home. Many retailers are offering hot online deals all week long, which I have posted on my Black Friday Deals Page and my Cyber Monday Page. Amazon has again already begun their Black Friday deals early and so have many other retailers.

Don’t forgot about all the Daily Deal sites too. Many of these flash event sites will be offering additional discounts on top of their great deals.

If you are planning on doing online shopping, be sure to use a cash back program like Ebates to earn cash back on all your online purchases. This can add up at this time of the year. Plus, you get a $10 bonus when you make your first $25 purchase.

Also, you can search my online coupon code database to find the best coupons for your holiday shopping.

Are you planning on doing Black Friday Shopping in stores or online?

For More Holiday Bargains Bookmark the Hot Holiday Deals Page

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50 Pumpkin Recipes to Try

by Briana Carter on November 1, 2012

Pumpkins, pumpkins they are everywhere! Even though Halloween is over, fall is still here and it’s a great time to experiment with pumpkin recipes. There are many health benefits to this superfood!

Raw pumpkins only have only around 20 calories per 1/2 cup and are high in zinc, iron, fiber, vitamin C, and beta carotene. Canned pumpkin has similar health benefits but has less fiber than fresh but more beta carotene. Pumpkins also make a great fat substitute when baking!

Here’s over 50 recipes to get your mouth watering! Click on the link or the photo to proceed to the directions for the recipe.

Appetizers

Pumpkin Hummus via Naturally Ella

pumpkin-hummus-495x742

Breads

Oatmeal Pecan Banana Bread via Unsophisticook

Oatmeal-Banana-Bread

[Read more...]

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How To Prepare for a Weather Emergency

by Briana Carter on October 29, 2012

With Hurricane Sandy approaching my friends on the East Coast, some of you may be considering what you would do in the case of an emergency. I know it always makes me wonder if we would be prepared if disaster strikes. You always know something is impending when all the milk and bread is gone from the stores! If you are a couponer and stockpiler, you will probably already have many of the things you need stocked up in your home.

Here’s a few Emergency Preparedness Tip Sheets:

An important part of the emergency preparedness is building a comprehensive emergency preparedness kit. Maybe, not quite Y2K stock up but it is always a good idea to have several key items. Here’s a good starting point:

  • Water (minimum three day supply for evacuations, two week supply for home)washing and drinking)
  • Non-perishable foods (minimum three day supply for evacuations, two week supply for home)
  • Assorted battery pack (purchase the pack that provides a variety of battery sizes so that you’re prepared no matter the need)
  • Flashlight
  • Multipurpose tool
  • First aid kit
  • Medications (at least a 7 day supply)
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio if possible)
  • Extra clothing
  • Sanitation and personal hygiene items
  • Cell phone with chargers
  • Family and emergency contact information
  • Extra cash
  • Emergency blanket
  • Map(s) of the area
  • Copies of important documents – In case of emergency, you’ll need copies of birth records, household lease or deed, medications list, passports and insurance policies
  • Household liquid bleach

Important Links: 

Please be safe and I pray that the weather isn’t as bad as they are predicting! 

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Before and After Pantry Clean Out Pictures + Pantry Challenge

by Briana Carter on October 25, 2012

Pantry clean out and challenge time. Not only was our pantry out.of.control as you can see from the before pictures, we were buying food items that we already had in our pantry. This was very annoying and not money saving.  I keep wishing for a bigger pantry but since that’s not going to happen nor would it probably help, I need to get control over the pantry I do have. It’s still not perfect but that’s where the pantry food challenge is going to come in!

I spent almost an entire day removing everything from our pantry. I combined some boxed items into stackable OXO food organizers, which also are much more eye appealing too. I also put in the Organize It Can Rack that I purchased from Zulily a few weeks ago, which is no longer available. There is a great deal on Amazon right now on these pantry can racks. Mine hang over the shelf just a bit but so far it’s working nice. If you don’t have multiples of the same canned item, you probably don’t want to use something like this but for canned tomatoes, veggies, fruits, cream soups, and such this is perfect as we have multiples of all of these items.

There was a few items found that are perfect for donation. For example, crunchy peanut butter that I paid less than $0.75 for, who knew that the people in my household absolutely hate crunchy peanut butter. Not me. So that is being donated. There was a bottle of Welch’s sparkling juice that someone opened, drank half of the bottle, and then put back into the pantry.  Huh? Yeah, ruined – trashed. Other than that, just the normal wrappers, crumbs, etc.

My family’s reaction was excited “we can walk in our pantry now,” “if there is a tornado, we can hide in the pantry,” “wow.” Everyone was pretty excited to see a organized and clean pantry. Now let’s keep it that way guys!

Now to the challenge….

I’m going to try really hard to cook from our pantry for the next 2-3 weeks to clean it out a bit. We will still need to buy some of the staple items like bread, milk, fresh fruits and veggies. However, there is so much that we need to use in our pantry that I’m making it my mission to start using it up before the holidays. This is not only money saving but it will help reduce some of the clutter we have in our kitchen!

We have so much pasta, beans, and canned tomatoes so this may get really interesting!

Tonight’s dinner…..

  • White Rice (pantry) w/leftover vegetables from the refrigerator
  • Cut up Chicken – pan fried in canola oil plain or with fish batter from the pantry (from a fishing trip my husband went on years ago.)
  • Morningstar ‘Chicken” for us vegetarians
  • Pampered Chef Beer Bread was the appetizer for the kids. Thank goodness I made this earlier in the day because our youngest was starving and the bread was a nice touch to keep her settled down.

Then later, we made confetti cake mix in ice cream cones…topped with icing found in the pantry. I’ll share those pictures later as they were so pretty they deserve their own post.

I’ll be sharing more of our pantry challenge photos, recipes, and ideas in the coming weeks! Stay tuned….

 

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10 Reason I Love to Shop at ALDI

by Briana Carter on October 18, 2012

Oh, ALDI, there are so many reasons I love thee. How do I even begin? I’ve always had my eye out for ALDI because of their low prices but my real love affair with ALDI didn’t start until after last year’s trip to ALDI, where I was able to participate in the Switch & Save event in the ALDI test kitchen.  I’ve since become a super fan girl like Kristen (The Frugal Girl.)  Since that trip, we do 75% of our grocery shopping at ALDI. Let’s talk about why I love the ALDI. Yes, I meant to type “the ALDI”.

My Top 10 Reasons I Love ALDI

ALDI’s LOW PRICES

The most obvious reason is the everyday low prices you get at ALDI. No coupon clipping, sale cycles, promotions. Just plain everyday low prices.

AWESOME FOOD

At ALDI you get great prices without sacrificing quality. I think our family has tried about everything offered in the store or close to it and we haven’t come across much that we don’t like. In fact, some of the items we like more than the traditional national brands. I have a super picky family and I can’t remember the last item I brought home from ALDI that the family didn’t like. In fact, my son says Savoritz crackers are his favorite.

Perfect Size Stores

I’m not sure how else to describe this but since the stores are smaller than traditional grocery stores and much smaller than the mega stores, I don’t feel overwhelmed stepping into the store. Anyone else feel this way when stepping into other stores. Too many choices on what brand or variety. I like the choices that ALDI offers and the fact that I don’t feel stressed out the moment I walk into the store. If a child needs to use the restroom, you don’t have to walk a mile to find one since it is at the most 4 aisles over. ALDI offers over 1,400 of the most commonly used grocery and household items. I find that we can get about everything we use at ALDI.

SPECIAL BUYS

Special Buys are the most exciting part of walking into ALDI. The element of the surprise of  wondering what will the special buys will the store be offering. Special Buys are those items offered for a limited time or offered seasonally. Right now, I’m loving on the Pumpkin Salsa Special Buy. Last winter, we really enjoyed the spinach ravioli, which I hope comes back! There are also Special Buys on home goods, toys, and more. It keeps it interesting!

WINE UNDER $5

Yes, wine under $5. Delicious wine under $5. My personal favorite is the Riesling and the Sweet Red. Wine and beer selection could vary by region and store depending on local and state laws. My stores in Indiana do carry beer and wine.

SPEEDY CHECKOUT SERVICE

Have you ever wondered if the cashiers were secret super hero cashiers? Well, they are! Part of the reason is the packaging of the products at ALDI have multiple access points for bar codes, which makes it quicker and more efficient when you check out.

LOW RISK OF CART DINGS

Your vehicle is less at risk for cart dings because of their cart deposit policy. Obviously, this reduces the roaming cart issue in the parking lot because everyone wants their quarter back. Save you money while shopping and you can feel safe that your vehicle will not be attacked by a cart.

PRODUCE SPECIALS

The low prices everyday on produce at ALDI are fantastic. They do often have weekly specials for even lower prices. For example, in the past we have taken advantage of the $0.99 pineapples, $0.99 strawberries, $1.99 Artisan salad mix, and many more deals. Often I get a little carried away with the fresh produce deals.

ALDI DOUBLE GUARANTEE

No risk  to try anything at ALDI with the double guarantee. If you aren’t 100% satisfied with a product for any reason, they will not only refund your money but also replace the product. Do you know of any other store that offers such a generous guarantee? Luckily, I’ve never had to take advantage of this as we have loved everything we have ever purchased from ALDI.

REUSABLE BAGS

Like it or leave it, at ALDI you can save money by bagging your own groceries. Personally I enjoy this because I actually remember my reusable bags when I’m headed out on a ALDI trip and I like to bag my groceries in a particular way. I like to pack my bags in the way that I will unload when I get home to save time when unpacking. So I put all the refrigerator items, freezer items, canned goods, etc. in the same bag.

BONUS: HAZELNUT SPREAD

No need to head to the regular grocery store to get that delicious Hazelnut Spread that won’t be named because you can get it at ALDI. The last time I purchased it in my store it was $4.99 but others are saying it is only $1.99 like pictured below at their store. What’s the price at your store?

Did I miss any reasons? Are you an ALDI shopper? I’m at an ALDI event right now and would love to hear your experiences and questions!

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Baked Sweet Potato Fries

by Briana Carter on September 26, 2012

We are trying to cut out the bad carbs and eat healthier. I really hate giving up all my salty potato friends.  However, these Baked Sweet Potato Fries are a easy and tasty substitute. You can use olive oil or coconut oil, either one will work. I tried it with both and didn’t have any complaints on either variety. Just remember, a little oil goes a long way so use sparingly.

I was already a fan of sweet potato fries but didn’t know they would be so easy to make at home. Well, minus the blood and all (see below).  Sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates like dietary fiber, beta carotene, vitamin C, and vitamin B6. They are also low on the glycemic index, which means it will take longer for your body to digest these foods and thus you will feel fuller longer.

Be CAREFUL slicing – don’t try to slice off your thumb like I did! :) Blood gushing everywhere in the middle of cutting. Felt like I was on a episode of Vampire Diaries. Ya know, every episode someone cuts themselves while cooking. Well, that person would always be me.

Print
Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Rating: 41

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients

  • 1-2 large sweet potatoes
  • olive oil or coconut oil
  • salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Peel your sweet potatoes. Cut off the ends to make it easier to slice.
  2. Slice into sticks about a 1/4" thick.
  3. Toss in a large bowl with your oil, salt & pepper. If you are using coconut oil, make sure to warm the oil up before trying to toss! ;) I don't measure anything so I start with a small amount and add as needed. Just remember, a little oil goes a long way.
  4. Place on a baking sheet in a single layer.
  5. Cook at 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Turn over and cook an additional 20 minutes or so until crispy and delicious!
http://bargainbriana.com/baked-sweet-potato-fries/

View the Recipe Index for a complete list of recipes. For the most recent vegetarian recipes posted on the blog, go here. To view all the recipes post on the blog, go here.

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Facebook Scam Alert: Promise of “Free Product Coupons”

by Briana Carter on September 20, 2012

I feel like I have to warn you of something that I noticed today on Facebook. I’m so angered about this my head feels like it is about to explode.  Why? Well one reason is I really strive to give my readers and fans quality and legitimate deals and bargains. So when I see an ad in my sidebar in my own personal Facebook Group for “Free Pepsi Coupons,” of course I’m going to be curious as there is rarely close to never any FREE Pepsi coupons or any of the other free product coupons they are advertising. There are occasionally Facebook promotions for FREE product coupons.

Once you click the ad, you get to their Facebook Page of 120,000 unsuspecting fans. Then, you can click on any of the numerous “Free Coupon” offers/giveaways.

I can see why people would be lured in by the promise of a FREE 12 Pack of Coca Cola coupon. You get to the site and you have to click yet another link.

Now you are thinking you really are going to see the most current Coke coupons, right? Plus, you are going to get a FREE 12 pack coupon. Click it, click it, click. (Don’t!!!!)

This is what the site looks like when you click over. If you try to leave the page, you get another pop up.

Scroll down to the bottom….this isn’t an official Coca Cola promotion….

This is an Advertisement powered by Rewarding Promos, an independent rewards program that is not associated nor endorsed / sponsored by any of the above listed merchants or brands. The above brands and merchants are in no way liable for any alleged or actual claims related to this offer. The above listed trademarks and service marks are the marks of their respective owners.Rewarding Promos is solely responsible for Gift fulfillment. By clicking submit you agree to receive SMS texts.

(*)In order to receive the item as offered, you must complete participation requirements which can include taking surveys,requesting information, and purchasing products. View our complete participation requirements for more detailed information. You must be over the age of 18 to participate in this promotion.

Basically if you want these free coupons, you will have to go through a ton of hoops, sign up for free offers and trials, possibly purchase things, and so on and so on. Then you will have to complete a form and mail it in and HOPE that you get these free coupons. They NEVER come. I fell for one of these scam/offers a few years back and followed the steps exactly and NEVER received what I was promised. Perhaps it works for someone out there but unless you are super organized and super diligent, these offers will NOT work out for you.

For the typical person (99% of us), this offer will not work. However, the owner of the website/blog will be making quite a bit of money for every person who signs up. The typical pay outs for these offers from affiliate companies are $50 – $100. This makes it quite an incentive for a blog site or a website to want to promote these offers if you want to scam your fans, which I don’t want to do over here.

This is not “Completely Coupons” this is “Completely BS!” If anything, this site could at least explain to people what they are getting into before clicking over and exactly how to obtain these offers. Instead, it is just a link and very confusing to the average person. Please stick with legitimate deal sites and blogs.

Don’t fall for it people, please. Tell your friends. 

You can find legitimate FREEbies and Free Samples. We keep it legit and easy here.

 

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Margherita Pasta

by Briana Carter on August 27, 2012

During Blogher 2012 as I was walking through the Expo Hall, I was offered a pasta sample from the Land ‘O Lakes booth. After confirming the dish had no meat, I took a sample. I fell in love. This is one of the easiest and delicious pasta I have in my rotation.

Unfortunately my local grocery store didn’t have the Land O Lakes Butter with Olive Oil and Sea Salt but I was able to find a Olive Oil butter from another brand. I also made it one evening with just regular butter and added a couple pinches of sea salt and it still tasted great.

Print
Margherita Pasta

Margherita Pasta

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups uncooked dried pasta (I've used penne and bow ties)
  • 1/4 cup butter (preferably Land O Lakes Butter with Olive Oil & Sea Salt)
  • 2 teaspoons fresh garlic, finely chopped
  • 2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves (I used kitchen shears to cut mine)
  • 1/2 cup fresh Parmesan cheese (not that fake stuff!)

Instructions

  1. Cook pasta according to directions.
  2. Melt butter and garlic over medium heat until sizzling.
  3. Add tomatoes and basil.
  4. Cook for 3-4 minutes until soft.
  5. Add pasta and parmesan cheese.
  6. Stir until combined.
http://bargainbriana.com/margherita-pasta/

View the Recipe Index for a complete list of recipes. For the most recent vegetarian recipes posted on the blog, go here. To view all the recipes post on the blog, go here.

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