Prior Lake American - Penny pinching 101 - Comments

I saw this, but it's not

Lori Carlson — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:01:47 -0500

I saw this, but it's not really "penny pinching" in my opinion, because now people have even more reason to spend an additional $2 a day on coffee!

Starbucks is luring

Joanna Miller — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 12:53:12 -0500

Starbucks is luring customers with discounts. Customers who go there for a morning cup of coffee can get a $2 iced grande beverage after 2 p.m. on any morning if they bring in a receipt.

Here's a "cool" freebie: On

Joanna Miller — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 09:34:38 -0500

Here's a "cool" freebie:

On Saturday, June 21, Caribou Coffee will give out free 12 oz. fruit & tea drinks from 3 to 4 p.m. to celebrate the first day of summer.

(FYI - It's not available for drive-thru customers, and no purchase is necessary.)

True to "advertising," I got

Joanna Miller — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:58:34 -0500

True to "advertising," I got my free, reusable grocery bag in the mail. It's great!

Find some favorite movies

Joanna Miller — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:46:09 -0500

Find some favorite movies and full-length TV shows at www.hulu.com for free. It doesn't have a huge selection, but it looks like they're gearing up to add more TV shows and films. Plus, it saves a rental fee...

If you want a free reusable

Joanna Miller — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:12:54 -0600

If you want a free reusable shopping bag, you can take a survey at the MN Pollution Control Agency Web site about shopping.
If you complete the survey and enter in the code "reduce", they will send you a free, reusable cloth grocery bag and tips on using it. Go to www.reduce.org/bags.

As the after-Christmas sales

Joanna Miller — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 17:05:53 -0600

As the after-Christmas sales begin, I look for cookie tins and plates on sale. Last year, I got all of my tins purchased in advance. Not only did it save me time at the stores this year, it also saved some cash. The holiday tins were marked down from $3-$4 each to 75-cents! If you have room to store decorations or holiday wares, now is the time to stock up.

Ok, penny pinchers - here's

Joanna Miller — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:21:32 -0600

Ok, penny pinchers - here's another way to save a dollar or two. Instead of buying Sudoku puzzle books, get your puzzles online for free at www.websudoku.com. Unlike some online games, you can print these and take them with you for the road.

I have another suggestion

Brady Averill — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 14:40:35 -0500

I have another suggestion -- look through your goody bag that you get when you run in a local race. For my latest run, I got a $10 gift card to Buca's, a coupon for $1 off anything at Caribou, and a $5 coupon when you spend a certain amount at Whole Foods. I also got an assortment of coupons to local running stores.

FYI music fans: Starbucks

Brady Averill — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:52:46 -0500

FYI music fans: Starbucks is giving away one new free song every day.

When you stop in for your cup of java, expect to leave with a coupon
for a free download from iTunes. Today's song of the day is "Maiden
Voyage" by Herbie Hancock.

Theater lovers can stock up

Joanna Miller — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 10:21:33 -0500

Theater lovers can stock up on local tickets for a bargain-basement price. Uptowntix.com is offering six ticket vouchers for $99. The vouchers are good at a variety of area theaters, including Guthrie Theater, Jungle Theater, Theatre in the Round, Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Children's Theater Company and more.

I love grilled cheese

Joanna Miller — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 10:32:46 -0500

I love grilled cheese sandwiches, but how did you grill them without butter?

Umm, you gave up butter --

Pat Minelli — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 17:09:31 -0500

Umm, you gave up butter -- even on grilled-cheese sandwiches -- to save money to attend four punk-rock shows?

No comment.

I saved maybe $20 in a year

Mathias Baden — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 15:16:11 -0500

I saved maybe $20 in a year this way:

Back in the day, when I was working at the Prior Lake American and Savage Pacer and going to school, I abstained from butter, as well as all other foods that weren't grilled-cheese sandwiches (also sans butter, of course). Grilled cheese and water makes a great lunch -- seriously!

I have to be honest, though. I did have the smallest (cheapest) meal plan that Northwestern College offered. So I ate something besides grilled cheese. My college friends still tease me about offering them unbuttered grilled-cheese sandwiches, but they admit that they weren't bad.

That $20 got me into like four punk rock shows.

(Mathias Baden is the editor of the Jordan Independent. He can be reached at editor@jordannews.com.)

The large farmers markets in

Joanna Miller — Fri, 06 Jul 2007 07:51:36 -0500

The large farmers markets in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis, St. Paul) sometimes offer similar deals at the end of the market. That way they don't have to haul produce home (or keep fresh produce/cut flowers that will go bad).

Penny pinching 101

Joanna Miller — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 11:45:09 -0600

Does anyone have any suggestions for saving cash?