Evernote Software Free Today at GiveAwayoftheDay

Evernote, one of the most useful and productive pieces of software that I use, is a free giveaway today at GiveAwayOfTheDay.com. They are actually promoting the giveaway of the 3.0 Beta version; but if your not comfortable being a beta tester they are also giving away version 2.2 (I'm going to download both).

A couple months ago they gave away the portable version which installs on a USB drive (see my previous post). I first became aware of Evernote with this giveaway. I've been using it on my USB drive extensively.

With this software you can not only take notes, but you can clip items. Clip entire web pages, clip portions of a web page, clip parts from your email, clip excel spreadsheets, clip word documents, etc...get the picture! It has a very robust system of cataloging items. You can even set up a folder, let's say recipes, where every time you clip a recipe, it will automatically detect a keyword (in this case, maybe 'recipe') and file the clip in that folder.

Want to search for a particular clip, fine, do a key word search. It will not only search text for that key word, but images also. Let's say you clip a photo that had a street sign which reads "Niagara Falls" in the photo. Now, do a search of your Evernote database for "Niagara". This incredible program will include this photo in your search because it can recognize text within an image!

Unfortunately, the portable version isn't offered as part of this giveaway; but get the desktop version today while it's free (this offer expires today). If you add the portable version at some point, you will be able to synchronize between the desktop and the portable thus always having your information with you.

Circuit City 10% off Coupon Code (Expires 3/19/08)

Got an email from Circuit City offering a 10% off coupon code: 2DAV625AFZ.
Free shipping on orders $24 and up.
Circuit City

CompUSA Win A Wii Contest

CompUSA is giving away a Wii daily (I think all this month). Enter daily at the link below. Note that you have to check back daily to see if you are a winner and claim your prize within 72 hours.

CompUSA Win a Wii Contest

Looks Like Others Love Target for Clearance Merchandise Too

The Buffalo News today had an article about a system of shopping for clearance items at Target. The term 'perimeter perusing' was dubbed in the article for the practice of looking at the stores endcaps facing the walls for the best clearance deals.

I have been shopping like this at Target for probably over 10 years now. I've found deals ranging from a $15 hot/cold water cooler (regularly $80+) to $2 pants for the kids. See my post from January about one of my clearance shopping runs. My most recent purchase (last week) was a gas grill cover for my Mom for $6.48 regularly $27 because it was one of the good PVC lined covers.

I just found her article on-line, read it at the link below:
Are 'secret sales' real or delusions? by Samantha Maziarz Christmann of The Buffalo News

Office Depot 10% Off ANY Purchase (Expires 4/8/08)

Just got a mailing from Office Depot with a big sticker:
10% Off
No Minimum Purchase
Coupon Code: 69745625
Expires: 4/8/08 (plenty of time to shop)

Should come in handy for those of us that don't always spend $75 or $100 (even for our offices). With this code not expiring until 4/8, keep it handy in case those last minute office needs arise.

Update: Another 10% off code: 27783448 also expires 4/8/08 (excludes technology category.

Dell Outlet: Another 15% Off Coupon Code

Haven't found a deal worthy of a Deal of the Day in a while. Finally found one!

Another great opportunity to get a PC (desktop or laptop) on the cheap. I've purchased a few refurbs from Dell Outlet and was very happy with them.

Get 15% off any Inspirion or XPC PC (desktop or laptop) with the following code:
Code: G5V5DHTL9RMPC6
Expires 3/10/08

A Lenten Meditation

This was in our Church bulletin this past weekend (courtesy of Fr. Mike Uebler at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Tonawanda NY).

Fasting and Feasting for Lent

Fast from "give me."
Feast on "thank you."
Fast from criticism.
Feast on praise.
Fast from shouting.
Feast on gentle words.
Fast from being "right."
Feast on agreeing and compromise.
Fast from a long face.
Feast on smiling.
Fast from anger.
Feast on kindness.
Fast from laziness.
Feast on helping and healing.
Fast from talking.
Feast on listening.
Fast from selfishness.
Feast on service.
Fast from worry and doing.
Feast on praying.

The meditation ends there; but I'm sure we can add to it. What would you add to this meditation in the spirit of the lenten season.

Research Shows Blogging Good for Your Health

Read the Discovery News article in the link below. Apparently the psychological benefits of blogging can be good for your health. According to the article, "Blogging can help you feel less isolated, more connected to a community and more satisfied with your friendships, both online and face-to-face...". I guess that's an added incentive to keep writing and communicating with your fellow bloggers.

Blogging's Good For Your Health - Discovery News

Trick Out Your Car for Spring and Save 10%

JC Whitney has a special for the month of March. Spend $100 or more and save 10%.
JCW -10% Off at $100 - Use BAWBCX8 at check out!

JC Penney $10 or $15 or $20 off Coupon Codes Through March 4, 2008

JC Penney has an on-line coupon code offering:
-$10 off $50
-$15 off $75
-$20 off $100

Enter Coupon Code: XTRMSL
Expires 3/4/08

Click on their weekly ad on their home page and you can print out the same coupons to use in-store.

They are calling this their 'Xtreme Sale'; hence the coupon code...get it.

Olympus FE-210 7MP Digital Camera $69 at Office Max

Great Deal at Office Max on the Olympus FE-210 Digital Camera. Only $69.00
-7Megapixel
-3x Optical Zoom
-2.5" LCD
-uses AA batteries
Even better...Use coupon code: SAVECASH after spending $6 more and get another $15.00 off. This code is worth $15 off a $75 order and expires 3/1/08.
I ordered the camera and a Sandisk 512MB XD Memory card for $14; my order came to $68 after the coupon and before tax (shipping is free with $50 order).
Note that XD memory is a little pricey (from what I've read, it is fairly fast, though).
This camera received mixed reviews...some sites good reviews (newegg), others users were mixed (circuit city). For this price, you can't miss, though.
Camera will be the first listing under Digital Cameras.

Discover What's Racking Up The Electric Bill

I've heard of this product before. Buy.com currently has a pretty good deal on it (unfortunately shipping isn't free). Plug an appliance into this unit and get a readout of the Kilowatts consumed by it. Might be a worthwhile investment to plug up those 'electric leaks'. Shipping is about $7.

P3 P4400 Kill A Watt Appliance Tester $17.99





Update: Newegg has it for $17.99 with $4.99 shipping (just search for item P4400).

Make Your Own Laundry Detergent

Came across this post at The Simple Dollar (while Stumbling...StumbleUpon Firefox Extension). At the very least, it looks like an interesting home science experiment.

How To Make Your Own Laundry Detergent - And Save Big Money (The Simple Dollar)

Save 15% at Sears Parts Direct thru 5/31/08 (yes May 31)

Got a Sears appliance or yard machine? Now through May 31, 2008 get 15% off parts using code 80029.

Sears Parts Direct

Save 10% Coupon Code at Circuit City

Enter coupon code LYAP4NTAU9 at Circuit City to save 10% through 2/20/08.
Circuit City

IRS has Web Page for Information on Economic Stimulus Payments

See the link below for information on the IRS website regarding the Economic Stimulus plan.
There are links to question & answer pages as well as information to help previous non-filers get the rebate (as noted in my previous post). There is an example (kind of vague) showing low income filers how to fill out form 1040A.

Information on Stimulus Payments (IRS)

If anyone has any questions, leave them in comments, I'll try to poke around and find answers.

Woot-Off at Woot Today - Opportunity to Get Some Great Deals

Woot.com has what they call a WootOff for today. New deals throughout the day, one sells out, then a new one starts.

Dell Outlet 15% Off Coupon Codes

Dell Outlet has some new codes for 15% off various refurbished products.

For 15% off any refurbished Inspirion or XPS Desktop or Laptop enter the following code:
Code: MJ5P5L?102FB2R
Expires 2/18/08

For 15 % off any refurbished Dell Printer enter the following code:
Code: 9GH05KGTX0F7S6
Expires 2/18/08 or after first 300 redemptions (hurry on this one).

Great Deal on a USB Hub $7.99 Shipped

Buy.com has a great deal on USB Hub...only $7.99 and shipped free.

I purchased a similar one for my son a couple weeks back. The most difficulty I had was finding one with a cable longer than one foot. Most are intended for use on a laptop, but if you have a desktop PC you need a bit of cable to get it to a convenient location (especially if you have a tower case sitting on the floor). Just to buy the cable separately will run you $5-$10.

This looks like a good deal to me because it says it includes a 3.3 foot cable.

Targus Ultra Mini 4-Port USB Hub Model: PA055U OEM $7.99

YugDown at Yugster.com Today

Yugster.com has what they call a YugDown for today. New deals throughout the day, one sells out, then a new one starts.

Once in a while there are some unique/hard to find items here.

Seniors May Have to File 2007 Return to Get Rebate

It looks like seniors (low income or living on social security) who generally don't file tax returns are being included in the economic stimulus rebate. BUT it looks like they may have to file a 2007 tax return. Read the article at the link below for more information:

Rebates for Seniors (CNN Money)

Cheap Memory Card for that New Cell Phone

Good price on a 1GB Micro SD memory card at J&R...$5.99. Unfortunately shipping will set you back another $4.00.
This size is used by a lot of new cell phones. 1GB is plenty for most of us.

$5.99 - Dane-Elec 1 GB Micro SD Card

Cubicle Humor at Target

While in Target the other day, I walked through their dollar section. In one of the bins were a couple signs maybe a little bigger than a bumpersticker. One of them read something to the effect of, "How can I think outside the box when I work in a cubicle".
Don't know how many of you work in a cubicle setting, but a 'Dilbert' like myself had to laugh at this one. We relocated our office about 3 years ago and decided to just put up cubicles (although they were almost as expensive as building walls). Miss my private office with a window (always liked fresh air while I'm working).
Anyways, I should have bought it for a buck.
It's the little things in life (especially since the big things are so far out of reach).

A "Thrifty" Valentine's Day Poem

I wish I had the creativity Deborah at Simply Thrifty has.
Read her poem to her 'thrifty' husband (she didn't use thrifty).
Thanks for the laugh, Deborah

A Valentine's Ode... at Simply Thrifty

Speaking of Cheap Tools...

I did splurge on a deal at Lowes over the weekend. I somehow got on a mailing list at Lowes. I don't know if I signed up for the list on the web or if they just put me on the list when I had the pellets for my pellet stove delivered by them the last two years. Anyways... They had sent me this card for $10 off a $25 purchase. Well, it was going to expire Sunday. So as I was heading home from my Mom's (me and my brother were moving the shed that blew over), I remembered the card in my wallet and figured 'Lowes is right at the exit off the thruway'; so I took an hour long stroll through the store.
I finally came across something that I have been wanting to purchase for years. A tool that can track an outlet to a circuit breaker. I have an old house and there is some crazy wiring in here. With this maybe I will finally be motivated to map all my circuits. Anyways, it cost $29; with the coupon, only $19...woohoo! Couldn't let that coupon go to waste...heck it's almost half off.