Theodore & Clementine

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

an interview

i have to say i was flattered to have someone interview me for her blog space about my little shop petitespoon.etsy.com and my designs ... thank you kara for such opportunity.

check it out at:
http://innocentcharmschats.blogspot.com/2007/10/to-say-thanks-to-fab-lady.html

her blog is fabulous =D

Tuesday, October 02, 2007

stuff for free, why not

who doesn't want free stuff?

i really do hate those sign up website for free stuff and all you end up getting is really free junk e-mails that clog up your time into deleting them all. there is always a catch 22 ... i get all those e-mails about free $500 gift cards from home depot or target at the end it is a waste of time. so when it is too good to be true ... it is. nothing is really for free.


From CNNMoney.com

How to find free stuff

Monday September 24, 2:09 pm ET

By Gerri Willis, CNN

Everybody likes free stuff. So put your wallet away and get out those pencils. We went out to find the best deals out there for the taking.

1: Free Samples

Let's face it...free stuff is the best stuff. You have to be careful of free-product programs...your inbox may be flooded with ads or there may be hidden fees. So read the fine print carefully.

Here's one Web site that connects manufacturers with consumers who test products. That's www.startsampling.com. You'll also want to check out company Web sites directly like tide.com and olay.com to sign up for discount coupons and new-product samples.

2: Free Phone Aid

We've all been charged for dialing 4-1-1, but now there's free directory assistance. That number is 800-FREE-411. You will have to listen to a few seconds of advertising. But you'll get your number at no charge.

And here's another handy phone tool...If you really want to get out of a meeting...or a date, you can "receive" a fake call. Check out popularitydialer.com. Set the time you need to receive the call and which excuse you want to use...(like the "return to the office" call), and voila! you'll receive a "fake" call with a recorded message that demands you leave whatever you're doing and go back to work.

3: Free Memory

If Post-its just aren't cutting it as your scheduling tool, there are some free tools on the Web that can help. Check out memotome.com. You'll never have to say a happy belated birthday again. Just put in your e-mail, and program in the events and dates you need to be reminded of. There's also birthdayalarm.com. Membership is free and you'll even get free invites and party planning tools.

4: Free Books

If you're an avid reader, you may really love paperbackswap.com. All you have to do is choose a book you'd like to read from a list and you'll receive it in the mail.

At the same time, you list the books you want to get rid of. When someone requests to read it, all you have to do is pop it in the mail. You will have to pay for postage, but it's usually around $2.13.

5: Financial Planning

Before you invest in a financial planner, check out some of these online tools. To figure out how much you'll need in retirement, check out this calculator. All you have to do is punch in some basic info about your income and savings. If you want to take a peek inside your portfolio to see how your funds are doing, Morningstar.com has a great tool on its Web site called Instant X-ray.