Swagbucks 2nd Birthday TODAY

Today is Swagbuck's 2nd birthday, and that means lots of swagbucks will be given away today! If you are not yet signed up with Swagbucks today is a GREAT day to join! You can get an additional 3 points by entering this "bonus code" when signing up: MELISSASCODE3 (valid through 3/4/10) and use this link to sign up. Plus you get 3 points just for signing up, so you'll get 6 points total!

If you're not familiar with Swagbucks, you earn "Swagbucks" by searching online and your Swagbucks can then be redeemed for gift cards or other prizes and merchandise. I typically redeem mine for Amazon gift cards. I signed up last January (2009) and have redeemed over $150 in Amazon gift cards just by using their search engine (which is powered by google)!

If you are new to Swagbucks, you will want to check out this post on how to make the most of your Swagbucks account.

If you've been using Swagbucks for awhile, here are some of the changes that are coming: Starting today, you will notice that your Swag Bucks in your account will be multiplied by 10 (as will the prices in the store, so for example, if you had 45 bucks in your account you will now have 450 SB; The Amazon which was 45 SB will now be 450 SB). NO prices are being raised on prizes (it will all be proportional - so have no fear about that), but what this split will allow them to do is to award bucks to users in ways that were not before imaginable (such as being logged into the toolbar, and viewing our special offers). So with that said,the sign up code that is worth 6, it will actually be worth 60 SB. You can find more info on the split here. Here are the other changes:

1) More ways to earn SwagBucks every day: With Swagbucks.com 3.0, users will be able to earn by having their toolbar visible on their browser and also by simply viewing our "No Obligation" special offers. This means that in addition to all the regular ways to earn, the more you are engaged with Swagbucks.com, the more you will earn!

2) New look home page and Swag Store & rewards store: Swagbucks 3.0 will include a revamped, cleaner interface that will provide a better user esperience.

3) Launch of the Swagstakes Portal: As you may know, Swagbucks currently runs about a dozen on-going sweepstakes (called Swagstakes) at any given time. With the launch of 3.0, there will be a brand new, fully stocked Swagstakes portal in which there will be dozens of Swagstakes running at all times! Some contests will be limited entry (meaning a set number of entries will be offered ) so the odds for a user to win are greater. The tentative list of items that will be offered during initial launch should include: $100 Amazon Gift Cards, Sony Bravia 32" TV, Amazon Kindle, Apple iPod Touch, Flip Ultra HD Camera, Panasonic Blu Ray with Remote, Apple iPad, Sopranos Complete Series Box Set, Rachel Ray 10 piece cookware set, Playstation 3 system + games bundle, Canon Powershot Camera, Seinfeld Complete Series DVD box Set, Vizio 22" LDC TV and plenty more!
Have fun Swagging today!

The Bargainista

FREE photo coasters + FREE shipping

Thanks to Hip2Save for this information!

If you want to get in on this deal, you’ll need to be FAST! Currently, you can score a set of 6 Photo Coasters ($24.99 value) for FREE + FREE Shipping!

Wanna get started?
First, you’ll need to go here and register through this link for a new Snapfish account. Once registered through the link, you’ll have earned a credit for a FREE set of 6 Photo Coasters ($24.99 value)! This credit (along with a few other free credits) will show up when you click on the “Your Account” tab after registering. It will be listed under “Your Credits and Offers”!

After registering (using this link), click on the top tab labeled “Store” and then type “Photo coasters” in the search box located on the upper left hand side. You’ll then be able to click on the first search result link and start personalize your coasters with 6 photos of your choice! After you’ve finished, head to checkout! Once you’ve entered your payment info (do NOT choose Paypal because you will get an error message) and shipping info, you should see a spot to enter a coupon code. In this box type in PRESDAY which will score you FREE shipping ($5.99 value)! Final cost– 6 FREE Photo Coasters with FREE shipping! How sweet is that?!

NOTE: You may want to crop your photos first into a square shape before uploading. Snapfish will not let you crop them square, and when it puts the photo on the coaster it does it from the exact middle of the photo, so if your subject is off center it may not look very good. Speaking from experience. :)

The Bargainista

FREE perfume at Victoria's Secret

Starting tomorrow, Tuesday 2/9, you can pick up a FREE Life is PINK Deluxe Fragrance Sampler at participating Victoria’s Secret stores. Just print the homepage of Seventeen magazine and present it in the store to claim your freebie! Here are the official rules for all the contests/offers in this issue of Seventeen, including this offer, so print and show this if you have any problems.

The Bargainista

It's Consignment Sale Season! Spring 2010

It's almost spring! Well, maybe not according to the thermometer outside (or the groundhog!), but it's on its way! And with spring comes consignment sales (and then garage sales - YAY!) I love to shop at consignment sales, but I also love to get rid of some stuff as well. I usually end up spending around the same amount as what I sell, it's basically like trading in stuff I don't want for stuff I do want.

Below is a rundown on the local consignment sales.

(You may also want to check out a previous post I wrote last fall - The Secret to Consignment Sale Shopping.)

Take 2 Kids Sale
The Take 2 Kids Sale will be March 17-21. This is one of my favorite sales, they always have plenty of stuff that I just "have to have". Everything you need for a baby can be found at this sale: strollers, carseats, cribs, toys, books, clothes (including season items), shoes, outdoor playsets, nursery furniture, the list goes on and on! If you consign for Take2, please tell them you were referred by me (Betsy Rubendall)!

Location:
90th & Maple, on the northwest side next to Dollar Tree (old Hancock Fabrics bldg)

Pre-Shopping Hours:
Mon March 15: 3:00pm Volunteers shop
Mon March 15: 5:00pm Consignors shop
Tues March 16: 5:00pm "Early Shoppers" passholders shop (click that link to sign up for pass!)
Sun March 21: 9:00am 1/2 Price Volunteers shop
Sun March 21: 9:30am 1/2 Price Consignors shop

Regular Shopping Hours:
Wed March 17: 10:00am - 7:00pm
Thur March 18: 10:00am - 7:00pm
Fri March 19: 10:00am - 7:00pm
Sat March 20: 10:00am - 7:00pm
Sun March 21: 10:00am - 3:00pm (1/2 price sale!)

Cost/Payment:
$12 consignors fee (you pay this when you sign up)
70/30 split - customer gets 70% of the items sell price, Take2 gets 30%
-OR-
75/25 split - if you volunteer at least 4 hours
Check is mailed to you about 2-3 days after the sale ends.

Volunteering:
Volunteer at least 4 hours to raise your split percentage to 75/25. Volunteers also get first shot at the goods, they get to shop a full 2 hours before anyone else is let in the door and they also get first pick of the 1/2 price items! If you don't want to consign, but you do want to volunteer, you can do that as well. Contact Julie (owner of Take2) at Julie@Take2.com, then send a $25 check to Julie and when you volunteer she will return the check to you. If you don't volunteer, she cashes your check (non consignor), or your percentage changes to 50/50 (consignor)

Unsold Items
This is where Take2 is different than the other consignment sales. You can pick up your items at the end of the sale (Sunday, March 21). OR if you choose to not pick up your unsold items, they will go on to 2 more sales (Lincoln & Des Moines) before they are donated to a worthy cause. If your items sell in one of the subsequent sales, you will receive 50% of the selling price. You do NOT need to do anything special (volunteer or otherwise) in order to be able to pick up your unsold items.


KidzShoppe Omaha
KidzShoppe Omaha is my other favorite sale. They have the same types of items as Take2, but generally they have a little bit more inventory. NOTE: Open for registration and dates have been updated below!!!

Location:
In The Centre (indoor soccer fields) on Giles Road, in between 144th & 156th Streets

Pre-Shopping Hours:
Tue April 20 2:30pm-9:00pm Volunteers shop
Tue April 20 4:00pm-9:00pm Consignors shop
Tue April 20 7:00pm-9:00pm First Time moms / homeschoolers / foster families / daycare workers shop
Fri April 23 7:00pm-9:00pm 1/2 Price Volunteers shop
Fri April 23 7:30pm-9:00pm 1/2 Price Consignors shop

Regular Shopping Hours:
Wed April 21 9:30am - 7:00pm
Thur April 22 9:30am - 7:00pm
Fri April 23 9:30am - 7:00pm
Sat April 24 9:30am - 4:00pm 1/2 Price Sale!


Cost/Payment:
$12 consignors fee (this fee will be deducted from your check)
70/30 split - customer gets 70% of the items sell price, KidzShoppe gets 30%
Iif you volunteer at least 8 hours, your consignor fee is waived
You pick up your check when you pick up your unsold items.

Volunteering:
Volunteer at least 8 hours to get your consignor fee waived.. Volunteers also get first shot at the goods, they get to shop for 1.5 hours before anyone else is let in the door and they also get first pick of the 1/2 price items! If you don't want to consign, but you do want to volunteer, you can do that as well.

Unsold Items
You can pick up your unsold items on Sunday, the day after the sale ends. You will also receive your check when you pick up your items. You do NOT need to do anything special (volunteer or otherwise) in order to be able to pick up your unsold items. If you don't pick up your check on Sunday, it will be mailed to you the following Monday.


Munchkin Junction
Munchkin Junction is another sale I like to shop at, but I have never volunteered or consigned there. I always find a few things to buy though!

Location:
Chance Ridge Event Center, 506 Skyline Road, Elkhorn

Pre-Shopping Hours:
Consignor presale: Tue March 16: 3:00-9:00pm
Volunteer presale: Info unavailable at this time

Regular Shopping Hours:
Wed March 17: 9:00am - 8:00pm
Thur March 18: 9:00am - 8:00pm
Fri March 19: 9:00am - 8:00pm
Sat March 20: 9:00am - 12:00pm - 1/2 Price Day!

Cost/Payment:
$14 consignors fee (this fee will be deducted from your check)
75/25 split - customer gets 70% of the items sell price, KidzShoppe gets 30%
80/20 split - if you volunteer (contact Munchkin Junction for details)
You pick up your check when you pick up your unsold items.

Volunteering:
See Munchkin Junction Volunteering page for details. (Too complicated to post here!)

Unsold Items
You can pick up your unsold items on Sunday, the day after the sale ends. You will also receive your check when you pick up your items. You do NOT need to do anything special (volunteer or otherwise) in order to be able to pick up your unsold items. If you don't pick up your unsold items by 4pm they will be donated to charity.

Happy Bargain Hunting!

The Bargainista