My photo
Got a tip for your fellow cheapskates? Send it to hardtimesnewsletter@gmail.com!

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Free Seattle Symphony concert, Apr. 27.

It's been a while since we had a cultural event freebie, but the dry spell is over: Seattle Symphony is holding a free concert on Friday, April 27, at the Langston Hughes Performing Arts Center.

They just completed a renovation of the nearly-century-old venue, so now is your chance to check it out and hear some free music!

3 free Atkins bars.

Wow, this one was so popular yesterday that I couldn't get it to load, but it looks like things have calmed down a bit now! Sign up for your free Atkins Quick Start Kit, which includes 3 free Atkins bars and some coupons.

My favorite part of the form is the check box that says, "No! I do not want the free kit and bars." I guess that's for people who just really like burning calories by typing their personal information.

Free Tom's of Maine strawberry toothpaste sample.

Personally, I like my toothpaste to be good old-fashioned mint flavor, but you know those hippies and their crazy ways. (I did try chocolate-flavored toothpaste once and it just felt... wrong.)

If strawberry toothpaste sounds like something you want to put on your teeth, sign up for a free sample from Tom's of Maine.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Facebook: Yet another Gevalia free sample.

Gevalia is really out of control with all their coffee freebies! At first I thought I should politely limit myself to one sample and let others have a turn, but they've been blasting so many free samples out of their coffee cannon that I now think it's fair game for everyone.

Fill out the form and get your share! I did make a pot of coffee with the first sample I got, and thought it was OK but not really memorable. They do have a bunch of flavors, though, so maybe I just didn't try the right one. Hint, hint, Gevalia.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Origins: Free full-size moisturizer when you bring in an empty bottle, April 22.

Here's another Earth Day freebie, and a really good one: once again, Origins is offering a free full-size moisturizer when you bring in an empty bottle of your current skincare product (or other cosmetic packaging). Find a store near you and start emptying out your old lotions...

Target: Free reusable tote on April 22.

If you're addicted to reusable totes and/or Target, like me, you'll like this Earth Day freebie that gives you an excuse to go to Target this weekend. On Sunday, April 22, stop in for a free reusable tote bag (scroll down until you see the picture of the tote bags). One bag per person, no pushing or shoving.

Those bags look pretty cute, so I might just see you there!

Caribou Coffee: Free coffee on April 22 when you bring your own cup.

Earth Day is this Sunday, April 22, and Caribou Coffee is ready to celebrate. Get a free cup of coffee (up to 24 oz) when you bring your own cup, mug, tumbler, or other drinking vessel. Find a location near you.

There are usually some good Earth Day freebies every year, so let's see if we can find some more!

Monday, April 16, 2012

Entertainment books on sale for $10.40.

Did you do your taxes over the weekend and get them mailed off, like a good citizen? Or did you e-file yours months ago and forget all about the April 15 deadline? Well, either way, you can celebrate along with Entertainment.com, which is having a Tax Day sale: all of their coupon books are just $10.40. Get it? 1040? OK.

The books are normally about $35, so this is quite a discount, and the coupons will be good through November 1, so you have all summer to enjoy big savings on restaurants, parks, museums, zoos, sports games, theaters, and more. One of my favorite coupons in there is the full sheets of $2-off-movie-tickets discounts, which are great for groups. But at the new lower price, the book will pay for itself the first time you use a 2-for-1 restaurant coupon... and then everything else is the free cherry on top.

As far as I can tell, the Tax Day sale may only be good today (4/16), so snap it up!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Get 18 Harlequin e-books for free.

Here's a way to make your e-reader blush: 18 free Harlequin e-books! It's quite the sampler, ranging from paranormal to historical to Spanish- and French-language romances. My favorite title may be The Italian's Inexperienced Mistress — the name alone justifies a download, no?

When you click to download, there's a short survey, but you can scroll to the bottom and choose to skip it and just download the book if you prefer. Get ready for some ripped bodices and heaving mistresses!

Facebook: Free sample of Eucerin moisturizing lotion.

Spring has sprung, and you know what that means: allergies! Wait, no, I meant "bare legs." In Seattle, the weakest sunbeam has everyone scrambling for their sandals and sundresses, then recoiling in horror as they confront their milk-white winter legs.

Get ahead of the pack with this free sample of Eucerin moisturizing lotion, and prepare to amaze everyone with your uncannily smooth and silky skin at the Great Unveiling.

Free can of Zevia hippie soda.

Well, maybe that's unfair; it's not like all the soda I drink isn't diet soda that's chock-full of artificial sweeteners. So if they want to use this mysterious "stevia" to make a diet soda called Zevia, who am I to judge?

Actually, I CAN judge them if I sign up for a coupon for a free can. Then I can go right back to my Lagerfeld-esque Diet Coke habit.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Tresemme 'poo and conditioner sample.

I actually voluntarily buy Tresemme stuff in regular life anyway, and it's always nice to see a sample of something I know I'll like. Such as this free 'poo and conditioner sample offer!

You have to watch some video or other, but just mute the volume and go make a PB&J sandwich or something and you'll be ready to claim your freebies.

Facebook: Free Seattle's Best Deluxe coffee.

The coffee freebies roll on this week — here's another from Seattle's Best. "Like" them on Facebook and sign up for your free sample of Deluxe coffee. At this rate, I may never have to buy coffee again!

Monday, April 9, 2012

Facebook: Free sample of Lipton Tea & Honey.

Now that you're feeling virtuous with your hippie fruit bar, how about a nice glass of iced tea to go with it? Sign up for a free sample of Lipton Tea & Honey, a low-calorie drink mix with only 5 calories per serving. I can feel those pounds dropping off already!

Facebook: Free sample of "That's It" fruit bar.

In case you had a few too many Cadbury eggs yesterday, here's a healthy hippie freebie to start off the first day of the rest of your life. "Like" That's It on Facebook and you can print a voucher for a free fruit bar, redeemable at Whole Foods (no purchase necessary).

It's called "the 2-ingredient snack bar," which is sounding pretty good to me after a day of gorging on casseroles, meat, and jelly beans.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Facebook: Free Garnier Triple Nutrition 'poo and conditioner.

Here's another Facebook sample offer: try out Garnier's Triple Nutrition 'poo and conditioner for free! You can either go to their page and click the link in the latest post (it has a photo of a girl with giant blond hair), or copy/paste this link: http://bit.ly/Hl9KfR

It's been a while since we've 'pooed, so I don't mind taking a break from all these beverage freebies.

Facebook: Free sample of Mio drink mix.

I've been seeing a lot of Mio's distinctive triangular-shaped bottles at various grocery and drugstores, but wasn't (and still am not) quite sure what it is. I think it's a powdered drink mix like Crystal Light? But... hip, I guess?

Anyway, you can get a free sample if you're curious. "Like" them on Facebook and click on the "Watering Hole" tab to enter. It will try to get you to invite your friends, but you can click on the "I just want my free sample" and avoid that nonsense.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Yet another free Gevalia coffee sample.

My, my, Gevalia has certainly been busy lately. This is at least the third free sample offer they've done in the last month or two (coincidentally, my own free sample arrived in the mail this week).

If you've signed up for one of the previous freebies, you may not be able to get this one, but give it a try!

Google Deals: $5 gets you $10 at Starbucks.

So I guess Google has a daily-deal service now too? It really wears a person out trying to keep up with all these amazing savings. Today's is pretty good for the coffee lovers out there, though: $5 gets you a $10 eGift card from Starbucks. Better yet, $3 of your purchase price goes to the Create Jobs for USA Fund, which provides loans to small businesses in order to create jobs in the community.

You do have to sign up for a (free) Google Deals account in order to be eligible for the deal, and the deal can only be bought today.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Facebook: Target Spring Beauty Bag returns!

If you were bummed out by last month's weird Target beauty bag giveaway, where apparently random purchases would spit out a promo code on your receipt that you had to look for and enter online in order to sign up for a sample bag blah blah blah... well, it's much easier this time.

This time the beauty sample bag giveaway is through Facebook, and it seems to be running slow right now, so check back until you get through.

Swidget 1.0 3