The Frugal Bostonian

I was walking on City Hall Plaza on Friday when I saw a group of people gathered around a trailer which was surrounded by bales of hay.  It was the Lay’s Potato Chips folks.  They had an exhibit in the trailer (first time I ever saw a potato plant), and gave anyone who walked through a free bag of chips (size of the ones you get with a sandwich, the big snack size).  They also had free photos wearing farmer garb next to the bales of hay.  I passed on the photos, but it would have been fun for kids.  This is not something I’d make a special trip to see, but if you’re going past City Hall, drop in and get some chips!

Free performances of Othello will be held on the Boston Common from July 28 thought August 15th.  I’ve gone to these in years past, they’re fun (and free)!  Performances are Tuesday - Saturday at 8 pm, Sundays at 7 pm, near the Parkman Bandstand.

Boston-discovery-guide.com helpful tells you what to bring to the performance:

What should you bring to the free performance?

At a minimum, bring a blanket to sit on. The elevated,
well-lit stage is at the bottom of a gentle slope, so you should be able
to see well from wherever you’re sitting.  Some people also bring low
folding chairs.

The area closest to the stage begins to fill up about 2 hours
before the performance.  However, the lighting and sound systems make
it easy for you to see and hear what’s going on.

Lots of people bring picnic dinners, and along with something
cold and refreshing to drink.  But if you don’t have time to pack a
dinner, don’t worry.  Food vendors typically hail from some of Boston’s
favorite eateries, such as Upper Crust, Figaro’s, and Ben and Jerry’s.

Don’t forget the bug spray!

TD Bank recently had a promotion offering a free videocamera to folks who opened a checking account and made 8 debit card purchases and two online billpays.

I went to the bank and opened the account with $200. The bank immediately gave me a debt card, which I promptly used to make the 8 purchases.  I bought things I would usually buy but just used the card instead of cash.  There was no minimum purchase amount, so I made several small purchases.  I signed up for online billpay and paid my cable and electricity bill.  Bottom line - I didn’t spend anything that I wasn’t going to spend anyway, the only change was using the TDBank card instead of cash or my primary account.

Yesterday the free videocamera arrived in the mail. It is not a junky promo, it retails for $112-149 online, and it was something I had been looking at getting.  It’s smaller than a digital camera and easily its in a pocket or bag.  The box included the camera, batteries, carry pouch, and cords to connect it to a television.  There was no paperwork to fill out, it just showed up in the mail, its been about 6 weeks since I opened the account.

The account is no fee as long as there is a balance of $100.  I’ll be taking the debit card out of my wallet and leaving the money in the account as “emergency money.”

The promotion is over, but I am looking for more bank promos (I’ve seen some for a free itouch).  Some of these deals have onerous requirements to get the freebie; I won’t sign up unless it’s something I can easily do.  If you sign up for one of these. make sure you fulfill the requirements in the stated time period.

The Museum of Fine Arts is having a free community day on Friday, July 30th. I’ve been to these before, they are usually held on Monday holidays.  This Friday is a regular workday, so I expect the museum will be less crowded.  Free days are excellent ways to investigate a museum.  If you bring kids and they get irritable, just leave - you won’t feel like you’re wasting a lot of money.

Free admission is just like regular admission.  Go to the ticket window and they’ll give you a ticket.  But, you won’t need to pay for it.

The schedule for movies at the Prudential Center is up! Its outside, bring something to sit on, bug spray, something to eat (you could get food at the nearby Shaw’s supermarket, or the food court).  There are some chairs and benches that you might be able to grab.

#################

ABOUT THE FREE FAMILY FILM FESTIVAL
Join us for free family movies this summer on South Garden at our Third Annual Magic 106.7 Family Film Festival, Saturdays from July 17 through August 21.

Bring the family in for dinner, enjoy discounted parking with a $10 purchase, and fun pre-movie activities for the whole family. Entertainment starts at 6:00 p.m., and movies start at sundown.

Saturday, July 17

Monsters vs. Aliens

Saturday, July 24

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Saturday, July 31

Shrek

Saturday, August 7

Kung Fu Panda

Saturday, August 14

Planet 51

Saturday, August 21

UP

The summer is upon us, and so are free movies!  The Hatch Shell has free flicks most Fridays at dusk (they have some entertaining contests for kids in the hour or so leading up to the movie).  Movies are family friendly, although the Hatch Shell schedule seems to be gearing a bit less to the youngest kids.

The Prudential Center will have free flicks on most Saturdays at dusk starting July 17th.  There are also free flicks at Jamaica Pond.

If you go, bring:

• a folding/collapsible chair or something to sit on
• bug spray
• snacks (everyone else will be eating, there’s food available, but a bit expensive)
• there are always a few dogs sitting around, so bring your well-behaved dog (dog needs to sit on your blanket and watch the movie, not wander around looking for food).

Here’s the scheduled for the Hatch Shell, the schedule for the Prudential Center doesn’t seem to be posted yet.

July, 2010

Friday July 9, Sunset
“The Wizard of Oz”
1910 13 Minute Film
& 1939 Classic Version

Friday July 16, Sunset
“Star Trek”

Friday July 23, Sunset
“Where the Wild Things Are”

Friday July 30, Sunset
“Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs”

August 2010

Friday August 6, Sunset
“Monsters vs. Aliens”

Friday August 13, Sunset
“How to Train Your Dragon”

Friday August 20, Sunset
“The Princess and the Frog”

Friday August 27, Sunset
“Up”

Craigslist continues to provide freebies!

I had a manicure in a salon - for free.  I was a “model” for a new employee.  The experience is the same as being a paying customer, without the obligation to pay (I left a tip).  This was an established, high end salon.  The manicure was excellent (better than the usual place I frequent).  I got to pick my color, and do all the things a paying customer does.

I’m back to the beauty section of craigslist in search of freebies.  I got a free haircut at a high end salon (the type of place where they give you a wrap to wear while your hair is cut).  Really nice salon.  I was treated just like a paying patron, except I did not have to pay (I did leave a tip, though).  When I arrived, the check-in person asked if I wanted something to drink.  I requested and received a glass of ice water.  The customer sitting next to me during the haircut got a glass of wine (appeared to be free).  This was quite the place.

These sorts of deals abound.  Go to the beauty section of craigslist and look for hair model.  Some of them want $20 for “materials.”  That’s still a good deal for some of the salons, but most are free.  I only go to an established place of business, I would not go to someone’s house or anywhere other than a place open to the public.  I sent an email, and quickly received a reply.  One more round of emails and I had an appointment.  Even after leaving a tip, this cost less than Supercuts, and was way more pleasant (and the cut is better!)

On a few occasions I’ve found myself tending youngish children who really want a summer ice cream cone.  However, most of the fancier ice cream places charge as much as $5 for a cone.  And, the cone will be too big for the kids, it ends up being an expensive melting mess.  But I’ve found a solution.

McDonald’s ice cream cones are generally $1 (although some places have them for $.39).  The hot fudge sundae is also $1.  They had a trial size of that Frappe for $1 (it was about 12 ounces, a normal portion) for awhile.  Getting summer treats at McDonald’s costs much less than the ice cream place.  While its not fancy ice cream, kids are generally satisfied.  The portions are appropriate - not a quart of ice cream for one person.

For the $5 it would cost for one cone at an ice cream place, four people can snack.

I do my own income taxes, which includes W2 income from a regular job, and business income from some of my frugal endeavors (mystery shopping, focus groups, etc.)

I had just about figured the return out when I leafed through the front “What’s New” part and discovered that I was entitled to one of the new tax credits!  Make sure you check out the “what’s new” part of the tax directions if you’re a do-it-yourselfer!