Freebies

The web is a great place to find freebies, from coupons to free products, there are hundreds of websites giving things away. With some you have to register and others just require you putting in your mailing information. Below, I've compiled a list of some of the great sites you can visit to get some free stuff. If you know of any other sites and want it to be added, feel free to send me an email.



LIFESTYLE

Canadian Free Stuff.com

smartcanucks

FabulousSavings.ca

Red Flag Deals

Free Stuff Hot Deals

Freemania!

I Love Freebies.com

SomewhereInCanada

brandsampler

save.ca

GrocerySavings.ca

MySavings.com

CyberShopping.ca


TECHNOLOGY

Btemplates (templates for blogger)

bloggerstyles

cnet download.com

tucows

FreewareFiles.com

TechSoup.org


IMAGES

Aarin FreePhoto.com

freedigitalphotos.net

ImageBase

Happy Shopping!!

Dollar Store Shopping Spree

If you do not have a "dollar store" near where you live or don't know what they are then you must live on the moon. Even then, I think there might be 2. Whether it be Dollarama, Everything for A Dollar Store (EFADS), Buck or Two or a mom 'n' pop shop, these stores are everywhere, with their lure of $1 or 2for$1 items. In February 2009, Dollarama went from being a dollar store to now a $1.25 and $1.50 store. I didn't know if I could go back, for fear I wouldn't be able to afford anything. No fear, I didn't notice a difference. I find these stores great for a host of products, whether it be dishwashing gloves, birthday cards, party supplies, wrapping paper, hair accessories or activity books for my children. Heck, I have even bought tights and socks. I really like these stores for their convenience however, I am selective about what I buy from there. I never buy baby products, grocery items (except for chips and pop) and I try to stay away from small toys because of possible choking hazards or lead content. I will however buy bigger toys that I know will not go into my children's mouths. Walking into a dollar store with $10, now there's a shopping spree. Zipping through the aisles collecting one item after another. It's nice to know that in these "tough economic times", there is still somewhere a $1, or excuse me, $1.25 can be spent.

Happy Shopping!!

Absence

I'm sorry to all my readers for the absence. I've been in the maternity ward. My little girl arrived early June, and now having had time to settle in with her, I am ready to get down to business. Don't be surprised if there seems to be more baby consumer news than usual.

Good to be back and thanks for your support.

Happy Shopping!!

Long Distance Phone cards

If you have ever called anyone overseas, then you at some point have had to use a long distance phone card. There are hundreds of them out there, and depending on where you are calling, you can get one suited to that area of the world. The cards are meant to be an alternative to traditional long-distancing calling plans, where most times, you have a long or short-term commitment, depending on your plan. You buy these cards based on how long you think your call will be and whether you are calling to a cell phone or a landline. They cost anywhere from $2.50 to $20. If you don't use up all the minutes, they are supposed to be there for you to use next time. However, there is a daily fee that is charged and taken out of the money you have available on the card. You might find that, if you do not use your card within 2 weeks, this fee will eat up the remainder of your calling card and you will have to get a new one.

The problem with these cards is that in the beginning, they were a good deal, with no commitments and for considerably cheap, you could make a long distance phone call. But recently, these cards have not been working as well as they promise. I make long distance calls to Africa often, and have found that the connections have not been clear or I cannot get connected at all. Meanwhile, my funds were being eaten up. Eventually, I got tired of calling their customer service and have stopped using these cards altogether. While searching for a long distance provider, I ran into Comwave. I have found their rates cheap and their service very friendly and easy to use. The connection to Africa (at least) has been excellent. If in search for a long-distance plan and not getting much out of those phone cards, check them out.

Happy Shopping!!

Payday Loans

You may have seen companies around your city or town — or seen websites — that offer "payday loans". Payday loans are small loans that a borrower usually is required to pay back on or before his or her next payday (whether that payday is from a job or from some other income source, like a pension). Payday lenders often limit the loan to about 30 or 40% of the expected net amount (i.e., the amount after taxes and other deductions) of the borrower's next paycheque. Usually, the borrower writes a cheque to the lender for the amount that was borrowed, plus all of the interest and fees. The cheque is usually post-dated to the next payday, and is usually cashed at that time.

Before you consider applying for a payday loan, remember this: payday loans are the most expensive way to borrow money, so consider all of your options. To learn more about payday loans, please visit the website of the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada, where you will find an informative brochure entitled The Cost of Payday Loans. (courtesy of Industry Canada)

Gambling

With the state of the current economy, a lot of people are hoping to ride it through by either drowning their sorrows or hoping to win it big with gambling. Like with most difficult financial periods, people still find the money for alcohol, cigarettes and gambling. This is great news for lotto retailers and casinos but not so good for the rest of us who are hoping that by twist of luck, that is how we will make our millions. Already very addictive, lottos and casinos have not seen a downward swing in players like other venues and activities have. This is in part to the "maybe" factor. MAYBE tonight's my night; MAYBE I'll pick those lucky numbers; MAYBE I'll be at the right machine. The truth is, the likelihood of hitting it big with the lotto is 1 in 14,000,000 and the odds at a casino is just as big. This is not to say I am against gambling, absolutely not, I enjoy the occasional "scratch and win" and I am part of a lotto group at work. It is just sad to see many people who (these days) are so down on their luck, turning to something which in the long run will turn into a bigger problem. Play responsibly and as the OLG says, "know your limit, play within it".

Filing your Taxes

As tax season is fast approaching, popping up will be companies that can prepare your taxes for a "small" fee. To those that have others prepare their taxes, use reputable companies. See the Better Business Bureau for more information.

For individuals in the low income brackets, CRA holds tax clinics where your taxes can be filed for you at no cost. Contact CRA for more information.

You can also find out if the NETFILE service is an option for you.

Happy filing!!!