APC Back-UPS Contest

APC (the maker of quality power products for electronics) is giving away one of their UPS devices (to supply enough power to bring your devices down gently in a power outage).

At the link below enter key code: c654w to get to this particular promotion.
I found this one in a PC magazine that I got for free.

APC Enter to Win a Back-UPS ES 750G

Sears Clearance and Closeouts

Sears has a bunch of stuff on clearance on-line.

Find the main page here:

Sears Clearance

Decent deal on a sandwich maker:

Total Chef 4 in 1 Grill $19.97

I think they charge tax for shipping to most states. Shipping charges kill some of the deals, but many do offer free pickup at the store.

CompUSA 100 PC's in 100 Days Sweepstakes

CompUSA is giving away 100 PC's. Sweepstakes started on June 20th but continues through September 27th so there are still plenty of PC's to win. Note that you will get put on CompUSA's email list (so use that junk email account).

Each winner recieves:

• HP Athlon 64 Dual Core Desktop PC
• Viewsonic 22" LCD Monitor
• HP OfficeJet All-In-One Printer

Enter daily through 9/27/08:

CompUSA 100 PC's in 100 Days Sweepstakes

Free Sample of Seattle's Best Coffee

Not sure how big of a sample it is. I'm sure it's enough to brew a pot.
Fill out your name and address and get a free sample of Seattle's Best Coffee. Your choice of three varieties. As always with these giveaways, expect to be put on a mailing list. Give them that email address that you don't care about (I set one up in hotmail just for such purposes). Maybe get a piece of junk mail or two at home (just file right in the recycling bin!).

Seattles Best Coffee - Free Sample

Staples / Bed Bath & Beyond Sweepstakes

The theme of this sweepstakes, sponsored by Staples and Bed Bath & Beyond, is 'shop smart for college'. So they are giving away a pair of those Smart ForTwo Coupes (or $30,970 cash if you don't like the looks of these funny high mpg cars). Runner up prizes are gift cards.

Hey, it doesn't cost anything to enter (except maybe some junk mail) so why not.

Enter daily through September 2nd.

Enter Here.

Aeropostale - Additional 20% Off Clearance Code

Just in time for back to school shopping.
Aeropostale has a code for an additional 20% off clearance items (you know how much I love clearance).
Enter code: FRIDAY20

IRS Raises Mileage Rate to 58.5 cents per mile Effective July 1

For those of you with business travel...
The IRS just announced an increase in the mileage reimbursement rate to 58.5 cents per mile effective July 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. This in large part due to the increase in gas prices but it is also influenced by increases in insurance costs and other variable costs (repairs, etc.).

IRS Increases Mileage Rates through Dec. 31, 2008

Keep An Eye Out For Those Clearance Items

I just ran out on my lunch hour because I had to stop at the mall to look at some dishes (divorce left me without a set that can go in the microwave). From previous posts, you know I'm a habitual clearance rack shopper. In fact, I have to restrain myself because in the past I'd impulse buy on the clearance racks and never use the product. Anyways, our local Sears always has a section of clearance shoes (which I do always scope out) but I never found any incredible deals. Today they had all clearance 'buy one get one half price'. On top of that they reduced a bunch of the shoes to $9.99 (some fairly decent ones at that). I bought myself 4 pairs (3 sneakers and 1 work shoe) for only $29.96 plus tax. You can't get one pair for that price. I was able, at this price, to try some different styles. One of the pairs of sneakers, I thought, would look good with the Khakis I wear to work. These shoes easily would have run over $100.00 (and that would have been a sale.

Keep those eyes peeled for the specials; but restrain yourself to buy just what you need.

Gevalia Coffee/Coffee Maker/Thermal Carafe/Mug $22.95

Gevalia has a great deal to try their service. For $22.95 you get their Coffee Lovers Kit which includes:

-Two 1/2 pound packages of coffee
-12 Cup Programmable Stainless Steel Coffee Maker
-Stainless Steel Thermal Carafe
-Travel Mug

Worth a try. You may cancel the service at any time (otherwise you get periodic coffee shipments).

Friend Request Me On Facebook

I've never been much for these social networking sites (myspace, twitter, etc.). But I found a bunch of my business contacts on Facebook so I figured, what the hay!

You can find me here:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1260726563

Sorry I put a photo on there, so you have to look at my mug!

Friend request me (include a note that you found me through Thrifty Living...if the system lets you do that). The network lets you set up groups...maybe I can create one for those of us that are thrifty.

Woot Is Having a Woot Off Today

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

My Dad Once Said...

"After the third marriage I think I would have just gotten a dog". A random comment from my Dad (miss you Dad) a few years ago in response to a news story about a celebrity getting divorced for the third time.

This past Monday I was divorced for the second time. Makes me feel embarrassed (haven't told anyone at the office as of yet). Makes me feel like a failure. Makes me feel like I've sinned. At 40 years old, I feel like I just have some 'stuff' but no substance...if that makes any sense.

Well, I just wanted to do a brief post to let you know what was getting me down. Actually there are a few more issues that happened in the last year which only compounded things. I'm not really good at talking about myself, but maybe I'll force myself to write about it sometime soon.

Yes this was probably the worst year of my life. I guess that the best part is that I can only go up from here.

Thanks Karen and Mercedes...I think I will do the occasional 'venting'. Maybe that will help solve my sleeping problem (very restless).

So, what should it be...a Beagle or a Labrador?

You Don't Even Want To Know

Sorry no posts lately. There are some things going on in my personal life that have me a bit stressed out. Hopefully get back to normal soon :-(

Another Woot Off Today

They must be out of warehouse space because it looks like they are doing another day of WootOff's.

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

$10 Off a $10 Order at DiscountOfficeSupplies.com Thru 6/30/08

Enter Promo code BETTER to receive $10 off an order of $10 or more at DiscountOfficeSupplies.com.
One use per customer.
Plenty of time...doesn't expire until 6/30/08.

Enter Troy-Bilt Love Your Yard Sweepstakes

Troy-Bilt is running a sweepstakes through 5/25/08 where you can win a prize package valued at $17,000. Package includes:

• $3,000 cash
• Zero Turn Riding Mower
• Push Mower
• Tiller
• String Trimmer

You can enter daily through 5/25/08 at the link below:
Troy-Bilt Love Your Yard Sweepstakes

Winner announced 7/1/08.

Free PDF Copy of the novel 'Infected'

Follow the link below and get a free PDF copy of the novel 'Infected' by Scott Sigler. Thanks to Twitter follower cc_chapman for finding this freebie!

Infected by Scott Sigler courtesy of Random House

Woot Off Continues Today

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 10% off Inspiron or XPS PC's or Laptops

My readers are aware that I'm a big fan of refurbished computers from Dell. I've had great luck with them and saved a ton of money (see either this post or this one).

Anyways, here is another great opportunity to save off of the already low prices at Dell Outlet.
Save 10% on Dell Outlet Inspiron or XPS desktops or laptops.

Enter code: WP5JXCBTV24V9P
Expires: 3/31/08

Woot.com Has a Woot Off Today

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

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.