Free Christmas Downloads

Anyone who knows me at all knows that I have a serious issue with Christmas music. It's become somewhat of a joke among some of my friends, and an annoyance to others as I've constantly posted a Christmas SOTD on Facebook for the last 3 weeks. However, I don't have a thing for any old Christmas music; while I do love some of the classics, mostly I like my Christmas music with a modern twist.

This year I am LOVING the freebie album from Target (which includes all the Christmas songs they are using in their ads this year). It has some really new and unique songs that are right up my alley.

-Free Christmas album from Target

And, of course, Amazon has TONS of free Christmas downloads..

• 25 Days of Free Christmas Songs - A new Free Song Each Day
• X5 Free Sampler - A Classical Holiday
• Christmas 2010 - Holler, Wild Rose!
• The Karaoke Channel - Best Traditional Christmas Songs
• Chacra World Music Holiday Sampler
• Timeless Christmas (Amazon MP3 Exclusive Sampler)
• Nettwerk Holiday Sampler 2010

• Sugo Music Free Holiday Sampler
• Acorn Music Free Holiday Sampler
  
• Do You Hear What I Hear by Mary McBride (Featuring Patrick Wilson)

Lowe's Gift-A-Thon

It has begun, if you missed the great deals during Thanksgiving week, you have another chance. Lowe's is doing a Last Minute Gift-A-Thon on Facebook. Like Lowe's on Facebook and then pay attention all day today (the key is pay attention) to their posts. Throughout the day (and throughout the weekend) they will be posting deals. When you see them post a deal you have to act fast, only the first X number of people who respond to the deal will get the coupon code for 90% off the deal item. The next giveaway today is expected to be sometime around or after 3pm EST.

Click Here to Like Lowe's on Facebook

Grocery Prices Rising, Have You Noticed?

According to this article, grocery prices have risen 1.5 time the rate of inflation this last year and are expected to rise 4% next year. I can't say I've noticed. Maybe it's because we are an area where prices seem to be lower overall, or maybe it's because while grocery prices were rising I was just beginning my efforts to really cut our grocery bill by shopping sales and using coupons.

The first couple of months that we started this I sat down after every grocery trip and added all the prices of all the items we bought into a spreadsheet. This was my effort to learn of one grocery chain really had higher prices than the other; Kroger vs Publix. What I learned was that the answer was "not really". On some items, yes Publix runs higher regularly, but then on some items Kroger runs higher. Oddly, however, I found that their regular prices on the items that are staples in our house were basically the same (within pennies, if not identical). So I stopped worrying about it.

Now, I just shop the sales and use coupons (religiously), for the staples I just grab them at whichever store I am at when I need that item (if I remember). That's probably been the one downside about shopping sales so much, I often forget to grab the milk that I'm out of.

So, what about it? Have you noticed an increase in grocery prices?

It's Friday and that means Mega SwagBucks Day

Friday is Mega Swagbucks Day, that means instead of the usual 10ish (give or take a few) Swagbucks that you earn for doing searches, you could earn as many as 20 swagbucks just for searching the web.

Why do I keep harping on about Swagbucks? Maybe because just by doing stuff I was already doing I've earned $15 in Amazon gift cards in the last 6 weeks. I just checked my "ledger" and found that I joined Swag Bucks on Nov. 2. I earned my first gift card the week of Thanksgiving and have earned two more this week. What was the source of the big jump?

I learned something new that earns me Swag Bucks. I'd already become a big fan of daily deal sites like Groupon and Living Social. Groupon just launched in my city a little over a week ago and we've already had some awesome deals. Living Social also has some great deals. It was purely on accident, however, that I discovered that you can earn some MAJOR Swag Bucks for buying these deals, deals that I was going to buy anyway. So now I not only get half off my meals thanks to Living Social and Groupon, but by going through the Swag Bucks sites to grab these deals I get an additional 280 Swag Bucks (it only takes 450 SBs to grab a $5 Amazon gift card).

I would have earned 1 this week regardless of the major bucks I earned from the daily deals, but instead of just one I've earned 2!

Silk Eggnog (and other flavors) Price Cut at Target to $1.50

I've been wanting to try this stuff but it's on sale everywhere else for $2.50. Of course, I have a coupon but it's for .55/1 (just enough to not get doubled) and I still didn't want to spend that much on something I didn't know if I'd like. I do enjoy EggNog and I've gotten to where I like the Vanilla Silk Soy Milk, so I thought perhaps the Silk Eggnog would be good.

So while we were at Target tonight, I was quite happy to see it on sale for just $1.50, putting it at under $1 with my .55/1 coupon.

Just an FYI: Their other holiday flavors include Pumpkin Spice and Mint Chocolate... my hubby wanted to buy these two just to put in his coffee (until he looked at the sugar)

*EDIT* I just tried it and it's quite good. I actually think I like it better than regular egg nog, it has all the flavor but it's not so thick like regular eggnog. I usually find myself "milk"ing my Eggnog down (mixing it about 1/2 with milk), but this is good just as it is.

CrockPot $12.99 at Target

Paul just bought a Crockpot, for me, last year after hearing me complain for the last year or so before that about how the cheap one I had did not have a "keep warm" setting (only low or high). Nothing like a crockpot that burns your chili. He did awesome last year and bought me a set that included a 6qt Crockpot and a 1qt Crockpot. The only problem (and this was his complaint not mine) was that the 6qut (which I use often) is large and heavy and I can't (due to back issues) pick the thing up from under the stove and put it on the counter. So, whenever I wanted to use it, he had to pull it out for me.

So, when I saw this deal I mentioned it to him and we had to pick up one up tonight. This deal is only good for 2 more days probably, so you may want to act fast if there is someone on your list that wants a Crockpot this year.

Target has the 4qt Rival Crockpot on sale for just $15. On top of that already really good price, there is a coupon on the Target website for 20% Crockpot, dropping the price down to just $12.99. I am quite happy to say that this is really a much better sized cooker for us (since there are just 2 of us) and I can easily pick this one up on my own (amazing what a difference 2 quarts make).

Free Shipping Day - Tomorrow - 12/17

If you are ordering from sites other than Amazon this year and haven't already finished your shopping, tomorrow may be the day to do it. If you are ordering from Amazon, see my previous post.

For just about every other site on the planet, tomorrow is FREE SHIPPING day... Basically, it's the last day to order and know you will get your order before Christmas, and to make it worth your while to order online rather than run to your local mall, just about every website on the planet is offering you FREE SHIPPING. For a pretty comprehensive list of sites offering FREE shipping tomorrow, check out this site.

Free Canvas Still Available

There are several really good deals going around online right now, but this is one that I can speak of personally. Canvas People, once again, is offering their 8x10 canvas for free. You select YOUR picture and they will put it on canvas for you. If you want a larger size, they will take $55 off your order. For the 8x10 canvas, all you pay is shipping. This is an awesome deal!





You may recall that I took advantage of this deal several months ago. We ended up quite happy with our canvas and actually ordered a second one. This is an awesome gift, especially for the Mom or Grandmom in your life.

Gone! Free Kotex Sample

Get a free sample of KOTEX® Regular Maxi Pads and KOTEX® Fresh & Dry™ Long Liners*.

BOOO!! This deal is already gone. Hate it when that happens.

Free Subscription to American Baby Magazine

Whether you are a Mom, a Mom-to-Be or just know a mom and want to give them a great gift, here is a great deal for you. 



And while you are at it, how bout some free samples for Expecting Moms and Dads?.

and...



(and before people who know me well start asking, NO I'm not having a baby, but I know at least one person who is :)