Artscow - Get 8 Free 7 x 5, 30 page Photobooks

Artscow has a great deal right now. You can get 8- 7 x 5 photobooks for only the price of shipping, which is only $3.99.

I have ordered several photobooks and other items from Artscow and have been very pleased with the quality of the product.

To get your Free Photobooks sign into your Artscow account or sign up for a free account here. Then go to Credit and Discounts, enter the code 75BKSFEB10 and click the validate button.

This coupon must be validated before 3/3/2010 and you will have 30 days to use your free credit.

If you would like to see an example of a book I did for a present for a grandparent go here. When you click on the link give it a minute to open so that the pictures will be clear. It was easy to make and Grandpa LOVED it!

Backing up Photos and Saving Money on Electronics or other Large Purchases

Yesterday started with my computer informing me that it had indeed recovered from "A serious error". This is not the way to start a day off right! When I tried to sign on, the mouse was not working, and then I noticed that the computer was not recognizing my battery back up which was plugged in - even though the computer said it was not.

I called the tech support and thankfully got a tech who knew how to help - not all techs are created equal! After a few tests we determined that most likely part of the mother board had stopped working - the part that runs the USB ports. The computer was not recognizing any USB port.

Off to Staples I went and got a $30.00 USB card for the PCI expansion slot. I am not a high tech person, but installing it was an easy 5 minute job. Thankfully the computer loaded the 5 new USB ports and worked once again - but now the screen was PURPLE. Ugh. I guess the computer is trying to tell me that it is on life support and hasn't much longer to boot up.

I decided to then go and do something the cheap gene in me has been resisting. I would go and finally buy an external hard drive to back up the 3 years of my family's pictures and the countless documents that are housed on my computer.

I say it is the cheap gene - because it is not frugal - just plain cheap to put your precious photos at risk buy refusing to spend $100 to back them up!

I looked and found what I would buy on the Best Buy website. I checked the store inventory online and it was in stock. So, off to Best Buy I went to get the hard drive. When I got there, I found the external hard drive was priced $20 above the online price. Double Ugh!

I asked an associate about the discrepancy and was told to just go to Customer Service and they would honor the online price. So, I was very thankful I had taken a few minutes to check the item online before coming to the store and that I had asked for the lower price.

I learned a valuable lesson. Before going to a store to make a larger purchase - check the online price and even competitor's prices to make sure you get the best price. If the store price is higher ask for a reduction. I have gotten price matches from competitor's prices at Best Buy in the past also.






A note about backing up photos. I also recommend backing up all your photos to a site out of your home - like Artscow. If your home was to have a fire and your PC and external hard drive were lost you would then still have your photos. It is not hard to do and well worth the peace of mind knowing that your memories are safe.

Kids Sales this Weekend

I recently received an email from a reader to let us know about a great kid's sale this weekend. I love going to big kid's sales. It is nice to have a big selection to choose from! Here is the information from their sale advertisement:

Saturday, February 27, 2010
9am-1pm

Please join us for our CUMNS KIDS “Something New, Something Used” Rummage Sale and Boutique on Saturday, February 27, 2010 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Our rummage sale will feature children’s items and an assortment of household goods. Our boutique will feature approximately 30-35 vendors with a variety of products.

CUMNS KIDS is a non-profit daycare ministry at the corner of 71st and Shadeland Avenue serving approximately 200 families. We are raising money for our school and are providing an opportunity for families to have a fun-filled day of shopping!

7101 N. Shadeland Ave (corner of 71st and Shadeland)

At Noon- Everything at the Rummage Sale will be half price!

At Noon- Everything at the Rummage Sale will be half price!

If you have some items that you would like to donate to the sale they are accepting donations through Thursday the 25th. Here is some information from the school:

Clean out those closets and basements! We will collect gently used children’s items and other household goods beginning Monday, February 22 -25 from 8:00 to 5pm. It’s so simple to donate things you no longer use to help our school raise money! Receipts will be provided for tax purposes. Please make sure items are clean and in good condition (no rips, stains, tears in clothing and only working toys and household items).

If you have a sale you would like me to post here just email me (take out spaces) at: Frugal indy @ gmail .com


Contact Amy Hogan at cumnsboard@gmail.com for more info. regarding the sale.

Walgreens - Free Men's Dove Body Wash

Did you get your free Dove Men Care body wash this week at Walgreens? Saturday will be the last day. You can't beat free! Go here to Money Saving Mom to get the details and print a coupon that will make it better than free!

Don't forget the Register Rewards expire pretty quick. I bought the body wash and then used the RR to buy the Scott's tissue on sale for $6.99.

Money Saving Mom also has a great deal for some free laundry detergent at Kroger go here to see the deal.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis - Free Day - Presidents Day 2010

You can enjoy The Children's Museum of Indianapolis for free on President's Day, February 15, 2010.




















I am not aware of any other free activities in the Indianapolis area - if you know of any please leave a message in the comments section.

IMCPL Book Sale 2/11-13/10

This weekend is the IMCPL Book Sale. They have added a new Thursday sale day. The sale will be open 2-7:30 on Thursday. I think that it would not be busy right at 2 because most people are working or at school.

Friday from 12-7:30 is the 1/2 price day and Saturday is the $5.00 a bag sale! The sale will be from 10 -4 on Saturday. Expect it to be busy in the morning!

Take your biggest bag and have some fun!



Go here for more information.

Go here for the location of the Library Service Center.

You cannot take strollers or carts into the center, so keep this in mind. I suggest taking a heavy duty canvass bag. I have a bag with wheels, that is not a "cart" so I use that when I go.

The US Presidents Song - Video and Words

If you have been a reader of the Frugal Indy website for more than a year than you might recognize this video - but since President's day is coming up, I thought I would repost it.

This video is of my son singing the names of the Presidents. If you would like to have your kids learn them - it was actually pretty easy and fun! I've included the works at the bottom of the page for you.

The 44 Presidents Song


Washington, Adams, Jefferson, Madison,
Monroe, Adams, Jackson, VanBuren,
William Henry Harrison, Tyler, Polk and Taylor,
Filmore, Pierce, Buchanan.


Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes,
Garfield, Arthur, Cleveland, Harrison,
Cleveland, McKinley, Teddy Roosevelt,
Taft and Woodrow Wilson.


Harding, Coolidge, Hoover, FDR,
Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, LBJ,
Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan,
Bush, Clinton, Bush, Obama.


If you would like some free coloring sheets for President's Day check out my posts here and here.

IMCPL Book Sale 2/5-7/2010

This weekend there is a Library Booksale at the Library Services Center. This is a great place to find books for yourself or your children.

I like to have books available for the kids to look at, and if I've only paid .50 or $1.00 for the book, I don't feel bad if a page or two gets ripped while they develop a love for books.

As you see, we love books!

Here is more info. about the book sale:

Where?

Library Services Center
2450 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208

When?

February 5 - 7 2/05/10 5:30 - 7:30 pm - Friends Night 2/06/09 10 am - 5 pm 2/07/09 12 - 4 pm Pricing for the books: Adult Hardbacks $2.00 Juvenile Hardbacks $1.00 Oversized Paperback Books $1.00 Paperback Books $.50 Juvenile Paperbacks $.25 Records, Tapes & CDs $.50 - 1.00 DVD's $1.00 - $3.00

You can find out more here.

Also - you cannot take strollers or carts into the center, so keep this in mind. I suggest taking a heavy duty canvass bag. I have a bag with wheels, that is not a "cart" so I use that when I go.

First thing Saturday it is quite a crazy zoo! It thins out a bit as you get toward lunch time. Several times, I have dropped Hubby and kids off right up the street at the Children's Museum
and went down to do my looking and then come back to join them when I was finished.

Muncie Children's Museum - Free Family Night

Just about an hour North East of Indianapolis is the Muncie Children's Museum. This is a fun, small, family friendly museum. It is a nice change from the very large Children's Museum of Indianapolis where we normally go. My son loves it and asks often when we can go again!

On February 5th, 2010, the Muncie Children's Museum is FREE from 3-7 pm! If you live North of Indianapolis, this might be a fun evening for your family!

If you are not able to go then check these coupons good for other times.

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis - Free Family Night -2/4/10

The Children's Museum of Indianapolis will have a Free Family Night on Thursday, February 4th, 2010. The Museum will be free from 4-8 pm. You can go here to the museum's website for directions and more information about the museum
.























Mark your calendars ahead for another free day on Presidents Day, February 15th, 2010.