The Frugal Bostonian

I was going into stop&shop to buy creamer for coffee.  Staff members were at the door, waving coupons and announcing that in exchange for a taste test, one would receive a $1 off coupon.  I readily agreed.

I was escorted to an area near the front doors where laptop computers were set up.  I was handed two small samples of yellow mustard, and asked to fill out a survey on the computer.  It consisted of 5 short questions.  I repeated the process with two olive samples.  They gave me two coupons each worth $1 for the two surveys.  It took less than five minutes. 

The coupon was good for $1 stop&shop store brand products.   There was no stop&shop brand creamer, so I got the usual brand, then got a stop&shop yogurt for $.50.  The cashier took the whole dollar off the order. 

For less than five minutes I made $2 (this would work out to $24 an hour), and had a small snack of olives (I won’t exaggerate and claim that a dab of mustard by itself is a snack).  This is not something I would have sought out, but since it was as in front of me as possible, I was happy to participate.  And, the people were really nice, they were trying to reach a quota with the olives and were grateful to those who participated.

I am taking some time off from work next week, and hunting around for some money makers.

One thing I plan to do next week is get my hair cut.  I’ve been intrigued by the ads for hair models in craigslist (in the beauty section).  It appears that salons need people to be hair models.  I finally found a time that worked for me, and sent an email to the posting.  Hopefully I will get my hair done for free.

I grabbed a posting in at the health club, a study looking for people to talk about health care and internet.  It appears to provide a $25 gift certificate to stop and shop for 90 minutes.  The location is not out of the way for me, so I will do it if I qualify and the time frame works (a gift certificate to a supermarket is just like cash to me, I can always buy food).

I also want to get a manicure, so I am hoping (perhaps unrealistically, although it happened before) to find a place to get it done for free.  I need to buy a pair of sandals, and will use a gift card to a department store.  All I need is a few more freebies and income opportunities and I will be able to get alot done for little cash.

Boston Harborfest runs June 30-July 5th.  It’s a bunch of mostly historical activities (revolutionary war era, to tie in with Independence Day), some activities are free, some not, probably alot of folks in colonial garb wandering around downtown.  One of the main draws in chowderfest on city hall plaza on Sunday, July 5th from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. (chowderfest is $7-10, all you can eat).  Many activities for kids and adults who like history.

If you go, I’d plan an itinerary (some of the demonstrations are at particular times) and coordinate bringing food and drink, or strategically plan where I would get my next diet coke (its cheaper to get snacks at CVS than at Fanueil Hall).  Wear sunscreen, and bring rain gear if it looks iffy.

go to www.bostonharborfest.com for more information.

I got a post card in the mail today from the City Election Department. They are looking for folks to work the polls on city election day (in Boston, 9/22/2009 preliminary election & 11/3/2009 final election).   I won’t have time to do it this year, but this is a way to make money (I was a poll worker a few years ago, it is a very long day, but i am glad to be able to add this experience to my collection of odd jobs).

• You need to live in Massachusetts to work at the polls here.
• If you are in Boston, go to cityofboston.gov and follow the link to the elections department
• Complete an application
• If you are selected, there may be a training a few days before the polls open
• You’ll be assigned to a polling place, the tasks usually involve checking off voter names and getting folks situated.  You have some say in where you end up, depending on how many poll workers are scheduled to work.
• The pay is $135-$175 for a looonngg day (often 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
• You can’t wear pins, buttons, political stuff for any candidate
• some of the voters are really annoying, but they are usually only there for a few minutes
• At some polling places, no one shows up to vote, so poll workers sit around all day.  It gets boring.
• Usually you get to sit down, but depending on the place and who shows up, you might be on your feet most of the day.

From the City website:

i’ve always been curious about homemade bread, but skeptical of my ability to make it correctly (expecting it will be a big mess and a waste of the ingredients).

About two years ago I went to craigslist and bought a breadmaker for $20.  The machine was practically new.  i’ve used the breadmaker alot (more than got my $20 out of it, and I am sure i can resell it for $20 if I decide I don’t need it anymore).  Goodwill is another great place to get a new-ish breadmaker.

To make the bread, the ingredients are piled into the machine in the order listed (the only “skill” is measuring carefully, you don’t even stir the stuff).  Turn it on, four hours later it has turned into a loaf of bread.  I usually slice the bread and freeze it.

The cost is amazing for the quality:

one envelope of yeast: $.25
2 tablespoons olive oil: $.25(?)
9 oz. water: free
2 Tbsp sugar: $.05
1 1/4 Tbsp salt: $.05
3 cups bread flour: $.75

I’m guessing a bit high with these price estimates, but it comes out to no more than $1.35 for a large loaf of preservative free fresh bread (it’s really good hot, so good I end up eating way too much).  It takes about four hours total, and the machine has a timer so it can be ready when you get home (I have not done this yet).

The big cost is getting the bread machine.  Ask around, you might find someone getting rid of one (these used to be a popular wedding gift that rarely got used).  Or get one at a yard sale, goodwill, or craigslist.  Then make some bread!  I use the heels to make croutons for caesar salad, these too are very tasty.

I needed eggs at the supermarket.  All I needed was eggs.  I had a $20 bill, and if I broke that bill I would end up buying more than eggs.

Fortunately, I had returnable bottles in the car.  I returned the deposit bottles and got $1.35.  The eggs were $1.19 for a six pack.  Basically, I got the eggs for free (and I did not break the $20 bill).

And, in the deposit bottle area, I found a bunch of mycokerewards codes (box flaps from 12 packs were lying around).

I was walking through the Pru today, and saw signs for free movies on Thursdays.  Shows start at dusk, in the courtyard (my guess is that this is weather permitting).  Next Thursday, 6/18, is Back to the Future. The following thursday is one of the Indiana Jones movies (one of the old ones, maybe the first one).

There is also a farmer’s market at the Pru on Thurdays until 6:00 p.m.  One of those nice gourmet sandwiches would make a great treat during the movie.

Your car can be a star!

Someone sent this to me in an email.  Sadly, my car is not quite old enough, and my last jalopy might have been perfect, but it was stolen.

June 4 , 2009

Boston Casting is seeking cars for the movie ” The Fighter ” starring Mark Wahlberg. We need cars pre 1993 , old looking cars rusty cars are great !!  Cars from the 1980’s are ideal. Prop Master is looking to rent some cars on a weekly basis, and Boston Casting will be looking for cars on a daily basis. If interested please email photos of your car with your name , phone number,union status, and year , make ,model, color of your car. If chosen someone will get back to you and talk rates. PLEASE EMAIL PHOTOS OF YOUR CAR TO fightercars@gmail.com PLEASE PUT THE YEAR MAKE, MODEL AND COLOR OF YOUR CAR IN THE SUBJECT. No phone calls please. Thank you, Angela PLEASE PASS THIS INFO ALONG

Strange but true, same brand, same item, larger package for the same price.  I was buying cough drops in CVS; $1.29 for a package of 30.  Right below the package of 30 was the bonus package of 40.  Both were the same brand, same flavor.  I bought the larger package.

I was getting coffee in Shaw’s supermarket.   One brand was on sale, $5.00 per bag.  The whole bean bag contained 10 ounces, the ground bag contained 12 ounces.  So there’s more coffee in the ground container (I don’t have a grinder, and almost always grind up the whole beans in the store).  Maybe someone knows something about coffee that I don’t, but it seems that the only difference is that there was more coffee in the ground bag.

It pays to pay attention to the labels!

I drive past several gas stations on the way to work.  Remarkably, I have seen as much as a $.25 per gallon price difference in the same day, just a few miles away.  Most remarkable: the place that is consistently the least expensive is full serve. I pay less to have someone else pump the gas.  You’d think that the full serve place would be more expensive, but it’s not.   Check the prices - assumptions may be wrong!