The Cheap Gourmet

Receive Brand Name Samples, Coupons and Free Stuff!

Would you like to receive brand name samples, printable coupons and free stuff? Would you like to be the first to know about sweepstakes and giveaways? Would you like to become part of an exciting online community where you can interact with members and find out what they think of a product or offer your opinion? If so, you are going to love MySavings.

MySavings is one of the largest online communities for free brand name samples, coupons and free stuff. After spending about an hour at MySavings, I entered dozens of sweepstakes, downloaded rebates and coupons for coffee, cheese, yogurt, Betty Crocker Brownie Mixes and Frosting, General Foods International Coffee (love that stuff!), Science Diet dog food and many more. After totaling up my coupons, I can save over $70. That's a lot of moohlah for an hour of my time!

I ordered a boatload of free samples. I'm probably going to need to bake some brownies for my postal carrier because she is going to be in overload once my samples start rolling in :-)

I ordered free makeup from L'Oreal, tea from Mighty Leaf, Hellman's Light Mayonnaise, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, Wholesome Sweetener's Organic and Raw Honey, Tide Total Care laundry detergent, and Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

MySavings also includes an entire section dedicated to surveys and product testing. I joined the Mills Advisory Panel, Minute Riceipe Club, Health Survey Panel, Covergirl Consumer Advisory Panel, Kraft First Taste, Allure Experts beauty products, In-Home Product Testing, SheSpeaks, General Mills Psst Panel, and BzzAgent.

Last, but not least, MySavings community forum offers interaction with thousands of consumers just like you. With nearly 30,000 members you're certain to pick up some great advice and locate additional deals.

I can't say enough good things about MySavings. If you want to save a boatload of money, receive free samples, become a product tester and try out new stuff, and interact with a great group of people, signup for MySavings today.

It's 100-percent free and if you aren't happy with it, simply unsubscribe. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Click on the banner below and you will be on your way to obtaining some of the best bargains on the planet!

BargainFinds.net - Coupons, Deals and Bargains Galore!

I recently discovered BargainFinds.net, a fabulous community of bargain hunters offering coupons, deals and bargains galore! At Bargain Finds you will discover entire sections devoted to Freebies, Hot Deals, Coupons and Travel Deals. There is an interactive forum where you can meet and mingle with other members and share your own bargain finds.

If you enjoy saving money, BargainFinds.net will soon become your favorite source. Whether you are looking for deals on gourmet food, fast food, healthy food or pet food, you're certain to find a coupon, discount code or rebate.

BargainFinds.net also offers a wealth of savings on items for home and garden. From lawnmowers to computers and candles to tabletop water fountains, there is something for everyone at this money-saving website.

Want to become a product tester? Bargain Finds has you covered. I found this great place called SheSpeaks in the "Mystery Shopping and Product Testing" section of the forum. SheSpeaks connects manufacturers to product testers. Not only do testers get to be the first to try new products, they also get to keep them and it's all FREE!

Plan on spending at least 30 minutes at BargainFinds.net. Doing so could save you hundreds of dollars, help you make money through mystery shopping, and provide you with lots of free products. As if that weren't enough, you can also make new friends by participating in the forum.

Last, but not least, BargainFinds.net offers a great game arcade to provide a little stress relief after a hectic day of bargain hunting. Go check it out. You'll be glad you did!

Save Money and Time: Top Ten Places to Slash Your Food Bill

#1 Coupons- You can have access to over $100 in free printable coupons from name brand consumer products. Simply download the Coupons.com toolbar to your computer. Then type in your zip code and receive coupons from over 300 familiar companies such as General Mill, Nature's Bounty, Neutrogena, L'Oreal, Johnson and Johnson and more.

I personally saved $17.60 with clipped coupons. I saved an additional $12.32 by using the coupons when the items were on sale. Grand Total Savings was $29.92 in one week. If I can reach this goal every week, I can save approximately $1560 per year. Give Coupons.com a try. If you don't like it, you can always uninstall the toolbar from your computer.

Save on Groceries - Download the CouponBar and never miss another offer!

#2 Mr. Rebates - Do you enjoy receiving checks in the mail? If so, Mr. Rebates is right up your alley. Once you sign-up for a FREE account, you receive an instant $5.00 credit to your account. There is no fee to join, nor any hidden fees. Rebates, coupons and special offers are updated daily, so you never know what you might find at Mr. Rebates. I've found rebates and product discounts of up to 80-percent, so it is definitely worth taking a few minutes each day to check for updates.

Learn more by visiting Mr. Rebates - Cash-Back Shopping at over 1000 Stores!

#3 Mex Grocer- If you love authentic Mexican food, you're going to love MexGrocer.com. You'll find exceptional deals on baked goods, beverages, canned foods, rice, beans, pasta, desserts, mexican candy, snacks, cokies, chili peppers, hot sauces, salsas, moles, spices, herbs, tamales, tortillas, cookbooks, cooking utensils and natural health remedies.

Receive a 10-percent discount using COUPON CODE: MEXITEN

MexGrocer.com- Online grocery shopping store for Authentic Mexican food, cooking recipes and culture.

#4 Herb Trader- If you've been to the healthfood store recently, you are probably aware of how expensive organic foods and natural personal and household products have become. Herb Trader offers more than 8000 products, including 200 of your favorite natural and organic brands, at up to 20-percent off suggested retail pricing. You can obtain just about everything you need to take care of your home, health and food, as well as nutritional supplies, food and accessories for your dogs or cats.

Tom's of Maine, Kiss My Face, Yogi Tea and many more top brands - all at discount prices - Herbtrader.

#5 The Healthy Pantry - This unique website offers a variety of alternatives for healthy eating. All ingredients in The Healthy Pantry products are carefully selected for their nutrition, taste, and convenience. Everything is organic or natural and based on simple whole foods without preservatives or additives.

The Healthy Pantry offers proteins, pastas, grains, gluten-free foods, vegetables, fruits, oils, spices, herbs, sweeteners, supplements, flours, soup stocks and nuts. Additionally, individuals who join The Healthy Pantry Preferred Program receive wholesale pricing (25% savings), personal pantry makeover, unlimited recipes makeovers, private online recipe swap, online cooking classes, free samples and referral bonuses with a $50 per month purchase.

You owe it to yourself to take a look at what The Healthy Pantry has to offer. With the New Year just around the corner, now is a great time to make a resolution to eat healthier in '09.

Visit The Healthy Pantry today!

 

#6 Recipe Secrets- Save hundreds of dollars by learning how to prepare your favorite restaurant dishes at home. Recipe Secrets provides soups, salads, appetizers, entrees and drinks from The Cheesecake Factory, PF Chang's, Red Lobster, The Olive Garden, Hard Rock Cafe and KFC, to name a but a few.

Currently, Recipe Secrets is offering SEVEN free bonus cookbooks on CD including: Secret Sauces Exposed, Good Ole' Comfort Foods, The Grill Master's Guide to Grilling, Special Occasion Cookbook, Diabetic Delights, Kid Approved Cookbook and a Lifetime Access to Recipe Secrets Archives.

Save $20 when you order today AND receive over $140 in bonus cookbooks.

Learn more at Recipe Secrets

#7 ShindigZ- With the holidays rapidly approaching, ShindigZ offers everything you need to host a "Talk of the Town" Party. From themes to holidays, ShindigZ provides party supplies, theme kits, photo stand-ins, wall graphics, banners, entrances and arches, table settings, center pieces, balloons, party apparel and decorations.

Save up to 90-percent on clearance party items like tableware, party favors, photo frames and holiday decorations at ShindigZ.com.

#8 No Name Java- Let's face it...coffee is not a cheap commodity. Many healthfood stores and grocers charge exorbitant prices for Organic and Fair Trade Coffees. No Name Java keeps things simple, yet sophisticated and affordable.

Coffees include single origin, specialty coffee blends, Fair Trade and Organic, gourmet flavored, decaffeinated, and green coffee beans which must be roasted at home. Believe me when I say there is nothing better than the smell and flavor of fresh roasted coffee beans.

No Name Java is currently offering FREE SHIPPING on orders of $50 or more. Coffee makes a fabulous holiday gift or buy in bulk to ensure you have enough on hand for guests. Better yet, roast your own beans and create personalized labels for friends and family.

Learn more about these delightful coffees at NoNameJava.com.

#9 Peapod- Peapod is an online food delivery service available to residents of Chicagoland, Milwaukee, SE WI, CT, MA, RI, NY, NJ, Washington DC, MD, VA. If you dislike grocery shopping as much as I do, you will love Peapod.com.

You can order produce, meats, deli items, seafood, dairy products, frozen foods, beverages, cereals, soups, breakfast foods, baking goods, condiments, sauces, spices, seasonings, laundry, paper and cleaning supplies, health and beauty supplies, pet foods and more.

Receive $10 off your first order by entering Promotional Code CJN10 on the home page or at checkout.*

Limit ONE coupon per household.

#10 Coffee For Less -Buying in bulk can save big $$ in the long run. Coffee For Less offers 12-ounce to five pound bags of ground or whole bean coffee. Many products are geared toward the consumer who purchases in bulk or for offices, restaurants, bakeries and coffee shops.

Coffee For Less also sells a variety of tea, hot cocoa, K-cups, coffee machines, espresso machines, creamers and sweeteners, flavored syrups, bottled water, water coolers, cold drinks, energy drinks and paper products. Spend some time browsing around and you're certain to find great bargains!

Receive a 5% Discount using COUPON CODE 'CFL' upon checkout.

Free Shipping On Orders Over $25

Cafe San Diego: The Ultimate San Diego Dining Guide

Attention all San Diego residents and visitors! I just discovered Cafe San Diego, the ultimate San Diego Dining Guide. Ironically, a client hired me to write an article about San Diego restaurants. I explained to him that I had never been to San Diego and had no idea what restaurants were good or which to avoid. He said he had faith in my research abilities to figure it out.

I typed in San Diego Restaurants at Google and discovered Cafe San Diego. This website offered me everything I needed to write the article. It also made me want to hop on a plane and head out to California to indulge in some serious dining!

What's unique about the Cafe San Diego website is you can search by Cuisine, Neighborhood, Atmosphere and Special Features. Looking for a Bakery that offers breakfast specials? Need catering for a business luncheon? Ready for Happy Hour and Dancing? Just click on your criteria and Cafe San Diego will provide you with a list of restaurants offering everything you are looking for.

An added bonus is the San Diego Restaurant Coupons section. Packed with more than 60 money-saving coupons, you'll find everything from free appetizers and desserts to half-price entrees and discounted Sushi bars.

Once you locate a restaurant of interest, simply click on the "Full Listing" link and you'll be taken to a page which provides the address, phone number, directions and maps from Mapquest, hours of operations and methods of payments accepted.

I had no idea San Diego has such an abundance of restaurants. Nearly anything you could want is located in this beautiful city and Cafe San Diego makes it easy to locate whatever type of restaurant suits your fancy. Visiting the site reminded me of a friend who lives in San Diego whom I haven't seen for many years. I think I may have to take a business trip out West and pay a visit to several of the restaurants I discovered at Cafe San Diego.

In closing, my client was exceptionally pleased with his San Diego Restaurants article. But, he was even more pleased when I told him that all his restaurant needs are right at his fingertips ;-)

Fingerhut Holiday Sale! Save an Extra 50% on Kitchen & Household Items

Psssssst... Fingerhut is having a HUGE Holiday Sale. For a limited time, you can save an extra 50% on already marked down Clearance Items. Many of the products are shipped directly from the manufacturer, so you won't be able to order anything from Fingerhut in time for Christmas. However, you can save a boatload of money.

The additional 50% discount is offered on all of Fingerhut's Clearance Items. This includes handy kitchen gadgets, housekeeping and organization products, apparel for the entire family, health and beauty products, home decor, indoor and outdoor furniture, and much more.