PennySaverUSA.com Blog – The Best Resource for Online Classifieds, Coupons, and Online Contests!

Disclaimer: Feel free to look at previous Free Friday posts to see if you can find any other freebies that are still active, but only this week’s freebies are new. Many older ones will be expired.

Before we get started, PennySaverUSA.com would just like to send our condolences to the families of all of the brave servicemen and women who have given their lives to protect our freedoms. Their memories will live on forever.

With that said, Happy Memorial Day!

It seems like it has been a long time coming, but finally a holiday has arrived. We’re here to make sure your holiday weekend is a blast by offering you some incredible Free Friday freebies.

Enjoy some free men's fragrance from HUGO BOSS this Free Friday.

Clothing

Free T-Shirt from the Gap: Be one of the first 50 customers to show up at your local Gap store (participating stores in New York, Dallas, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Philadelphia metro areas ONLY), on Saturday, May 26 and they’ll give you a free t-shirt! (Thanks Free Sample Momma for this find)

Fragrance

Free men’s fragrance from HUGO BOSS: Click the “order sample” button on the center of this page and a pop-up will appear asking you to pick from one of three fragrance samples (BOSS,  BOSS NIGHT or BOSS SPORT). You will then be asked for your name, address and email address and they’ll send out your free fragrance.

Drink

Free Rich Chocolate OVALTINE: What would Free Friday be without an edible freebie? Thankfully, this one is very easy. Just like the OVALTINE Facebook page and fill out a form with your name, address and email and they’ll send you a free sample. (Thanks Surviving the Stores for this find)

Spices

Free seasoning packet from Mrs. Dash: Another Free Friday Facebook freebie. Just like the Mrs. Dash Facebook page and fill out another form with your name, address and email and you’ll receive a free seasoning packet. (Note: They max out at 30,000 samples a day, but they rarely get near that number until very late in the day, if ever)

Cleaning Supplies

Free dishwashing detergent from Finish: This Free Friday Facebook freebie requires a bit more effort, as you have to invite three friends on top of liking their page and filling out a form in order to get the samples, but hey, free dishwashing detergent is worth a little effort.

Itch cream freebies might not be glamorous, but they sure do come in handy.

Health Care

Free itch relief cream from Tricalm: Just complete a brief survey and provide them with your name, email and mailing address and this fantastic Free Friday offer will be yours. Note: Only ages 18 and over eligible. (Thanks Common Sense With Money for the find)

Photos

Free 8×10 photo print from Rite Aid: If you use the code FBFREE8X10 at checkout from Rite Aid’s web site, then your 8×10 print will be free. This Free Friday offer is valid today only (May 25). (Thanks NorCal Coupon Gal for the find)

As always, please let us know in the comments if you’ve found any great freebies.

You might be thinking, “Tiaras and Steals of the Week?!” Yes, even royalty digs great deals. Today, we’re celebrating this International holiday with PennysaverUSA.com steals that are extravagant and fit for a queen or king. Practice your wave and smug smile now before we jump in.

Every kingdom needs a throne for the magnificent <insert your name here> to sit upon. Presenting…a three piece ivory sofa set from San Ramon, CA, for the low price of $695. With three beautiful creme thrones, you have a royal seat for each little prince and princess in your family.

Kings and queens don’t cook, so let your little princess do all the work with this steal from Tustin, CA. Get this adorable Disney princess kitchen for girls that includes cake tray, jug, cups, and more for only $15.

England has the Crown Jewels. You’ve got? This beautiful rhinestone bib necklace inspired from the Victorian era from a seller in Erie, PA, who’s letting go of this piece for only $20.

You’ll want to tuck your princess for nighty-night in her very own tower. This brand new princess loft bed is twin sized with a tent below for your princess to spend hours dreaming of the day her prince will come. For only $350, you can give your daughter her own castle from a seller in Dade City, FL.

What is a princess without a horse and carriage? Modernize the look with this pink power wheel car that’s fit for the likes of Queen Barbie. King Ken doesn’t even get to ride this $125 or best offer carriage that’s in great condition from a seller in Baldwin Park, CA.

Huzzah to great finds on PennysaverUSA.com that celebrate the royalty in everyone. And Happy International Tiara Day!

Cats or dogs?

PennySaverUSA.com decided to settle that age-old debate once and for all by taking a poll of our staffers to see which animal makes a better pet.

Needless to say, our efforts to reach a definitive conclusion were an epic fail. The results showed why the cat vs. dog argument is never-ending… because people are truly split down the middle!

Out of the 13 PennySaverUSA.com staffers that participated in the debate, six picked dogs, five picked cats and two love both.

Which do you prefer? Let us know by leaving a comment.

Here is their reasoning:

Those who picked dogs

“I love Dogs! My family only had one cat and she would hide away from us and scratch our arms when we tried to hold her. I’ve been scared of cats ever since. I fell in love with dogs when we got our German Shepherd Duke, pictured to the right. He would lick our faces instead of trying to scratch them off. From him, I learned to adore big dogs. The bigger the dog, the cuter he is,” is what I like to say.” – Alisha

“Dogs!!!!! Dogs are loyal and just love to be loved on. Cats on the other hand are spastic. One minute they are in the dinning room and for no apparent reason they feel the need to dart to the bedroom.  They are not social animals they do not like to cuddle and I am allergic to them so we will never own one.” – Kimberly

“My vote is for Dogs. Reason? Well, let’s just say, I am rather fond of the skin covering my organs. Cat’s are fickle, random, and are lacking in the EQ (emotional intelligence) department. Whereas doggies are all love all the time. One look into those big round eyes and the whole world disappears.” – Lorena

“Dogs……NO CONTEST. Why?  They are excited to see you every time you come back. They show appreciation for what you do for them. They are anxious to protect you if they think something or someone is a threat.” – Loren

“Dogs! Because they listen to you. Have you ever tried walking a cat?  Not cool.” – Drew

“I don’t know if it’s because I’ve never really bonded with a cat or maybe I just enjoy the friendliness of dogs? If I had to choose it would be dogs.” – Jesse

Those who picked cats

“I prefer cats, for no other reason than I prefer them. They don’t do anything special that a dog wouldn’t do. But I think its funny when they do silly things, like sleep in shoe boxes (see photo on the right) …

They’re also just better for cuddling, they purr, do happy feet, and give little kitty massages.” — Michael

“I like cats because they are pretty much a low-maintenance pet and they are not as messy.” – Jonathan

“Dogs certainly have their lovable qualities, but I prefer cats because they will give you affection when you want it, but will leave you alone when you don’t.  Plus, you don’t have to potty train them – a major positive!” – Jason

“Cats, for sure! They don’t require too much attention but will give you some when you need it…and they can fit in small spaces and look cute like the one on the right!” – Kelly

“Cats, they’re generally more quiet and peaceful.” – Som

Those who couldn’t decide

“Dogs and cats are just like potato chips…YOU JUST CANT HAVE ONE!!!  I have come to that conclusion.  See this great example.

See…what did I tell you” — Veronica

“I have two dogs and two cats, and if I choose one over the other, they might go on strike. I love that my dogs are always happy to see me and greet me at the door when I come home, and I love that my cats cuddle with us at night. My house wouldn’t be complete without both.” – Elizabeth

Please join @PennySaverUSA on Twitter tomorrow for our #petoftheweek Twitter gathering from 10 a.m.-Noon on Thursday, May 24th.

PennySaverUSA.com’s Pet of the Week blog is going to the dogs this time around. Harper, a gentle-souled spaniel, is up for pet adoption in Pasadena, CA. Corageous English Bulldog Sasha, meanwhile, is his pet adoption inspiration.

Let’s start with Harper. If those sweet doe eyes on the right aren’t enough to melt your heart, you might be made of stone.

This caption comes from PennySaverUSA Facebook fan Robin: What? You've never seen a dog in sheep's clothing?

Harper (adoption ID A305133) comes to us from the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA where he’s earned some degree of notoriety for his gentle spirit and calm demeanor.

He even made an appearance on the City of Glendale’s pet adoption show Dog House where he wowed the hosts with plenty of cuddles. Harper is a 10 year-old spaniel who loves to play with tennis balls. He would be a perfect match for an older adult or family with older children.

For all his star power, he’s still waiting for his forever home. You can take him home today for a small $120 adoption fee, which includes his neuter surgery, microchip, the first set of vaccinations, as well as a free follow-up health check at a participating vet.

Harper also qualifies for the Seniors for Seniors program, in which adoptors 60 years or older will only have to pay the $20 mandatory microchip fee to take Harper home.

Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA

Location: 361 South Raymond Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91105

Contact: http://www.pasadenahumane.org | 6-2-6- 7-9-2-7-1-5-1

Adoption hours: 11AM – 4PM Sunday, 9AM – 5PM Tuesday – Friday, 9AM – 4PM Saturday

Adoption fees: $102 (includes neuter, microchip, vaccinations, and free health check), $20 for the Seniors for Seniors program

———————————————————————————————————-

Sasha enjoying a day of sun thanks to PennySaverUSA Twitter fan @WaterBluffy. Tweet us to get your adopted pet featured.

This week’s inspiring adoption story comes to us from awesome PennySaverUSA Twitter follower @WaterBluffy. We’ll let her take it from here.

“Sasha (pictured on the left) is an English Bulldog. Most have been mistreated for breeding purposes and put in cages only to be breed as she was. Sasha hated the cage, and she rubbed all of her fur off. She was so hairless you could see her skin.

She also has a cherry eye which is known to the breed. Sasha looked so lonely, afraid and hopeless, really, but something told me to take her home.

Sasha means the world to us. Our little one has been diagnosed with Angelman Syndrome and Sasha has been very gentle with the baby and protective. I guess it goes to show us that every creature on this earth deserves love and attention, and in return, you get love.

I am so ever grateful for Sasha, and as she shows us, she is forever grateful to us.”

Thank you @WaterBluffy for sharing Sasha’s story.

We definitely had to pull out the tissues for this one, and know it will inspire someone to give Harper the forever home he needs to have a happy ending like your Sasha.

The hunt – it calls to you. The chance to run into hidden antiques, vintage clothes, or other garage sale goodies gives you the thrill to wake up in time for garage sailing. Or maybe you’re more of the leisurely type that stops every once in awhile? Find out what skill level you are at when it comes to the ultimate hunt, finding garage sale treasures.

1)      What time do you leave your house to go garage sale hunting?

1. Early morning
2. Mid-morning
3. Afternoon

2)      What do you typically bring on the hunt?

1. Cash, map, bag for items, and a list of items you’re looking for
2. Cash
3. Whatever is in your wallet

3)      How do you find garage sales?

1. Look in the Pennysaver, search PennySaverUSA.com online classifieds, and the local newspaper
2. Search the classifieds and drive around looking for signs
3. Driving by sales on the way to weekend plans

4)      When was the last time you found something worthwhile at a garage sale?

1. A few weeks ago
2. A few months back
3. A year or longer

5)      You’d consider yourself a…

1. Pro Haggler
2. So-so Haggler
3. Non-existent Haggler

6)      Your garage sale outfit usually consists of…

1. Comfy clothes and closed-toe shoes
2. Jeans and a t-shirt
3. Flip-flops and shorts

7)      A garage seller says “no” to your first offer. You?

1. Start looking for items to bundle with the one you want
2. Pay the price the seller wants
3. Move on without batting an eye

Mostly 1’s….You’re a Pro Hunter

Are you a Pro Garage Sale Hunter? Let Us Know with a Comment Below.

You head out early to get first dibs on everything, and you’re packed like an ATM in case you find a gold mine. There has been countless times you’ve found items worth bragging about. You even prepare ahead of time by looking at the Pennysaver classifieds. You haggle till you’re out of breath, and you dress the part — comfy and cool. The art of bundling? Piece of cake! You always walk away with what you want and a few things you can repurpose into gifts for some lucky family members. You are the most pro of garage sale hunters out there.

Mostly 2’s…You’re a Garage Sale Dabbler

Dedicating every weekend to garage sale hunting? Puh-lease! You dedicate a week here and there to go garage sailing. And over the years, you’ve picked up a few tricks of the trade. For one, mid-morning is still a great time to find treasures, cause you prioritize your beauty sleep above garage sales. You know to look at the PennySaverUSA.com online classifieds before heading out, but you’re still tempted to keep driving around to find spontaneous sales. Every few months, you’ll find something unbelievable and get refocused, but the winner’s high runs out pretty quick. Yup, you’re a gar

Visit our Garage Sale Tips Center.

age sale dabbler.

Mostly 3’s…You’re Clueless (about Garage Sales)

Okay, so garage sales are not your thing. That’s okay, we’re sure you have other admirable traits. But when it comes to garage sales, you stop occasionally when you see a sign, you aren’t always carrying the right amount of money to buy, and you’re wearing what you’re wearing on the way to your bigger weekend plans. Once in a blue moon,

you’ll find something, not the most valuable, but the most meaningful to you. And if you have to leave it behind, you’re not regretting the buy at all. You’re clueless about garage sales.

Whether you’re a pro or a newbie, you can learn valuable advice from our garage sale pros. Be sure and check out our Garage Sale Tips; we’ll bring you up to pro status quick.

First of all, we’d like to thank you for being a loyal PennySaver reader and visiting our blog! Here are the details for the contest.

QUESTION: How long is a giraffe’s tongue?

PennySaver Trivia Contest (Prize is $25!):

• Enter by registering for a free PennySaverUSA.com account (if you haven’t yet) and leave a comment by clicking the “comment” link above with the answer to the trivia question by Friday, May 25 at noon PT. PLEASE READ: In order to prevent people from stealing the answer, we are hiding the comment and putting up a message that says “awaiting moderation”. We have still received your answer, it just says that message, because your answer won’t be revealed until after the contest is over to prevent people from stealing the answer.
• We will pick a winner from all the comments with the correct answer via random drawing.
• The winner will then be notified and announced as the winner in the PennySaver print publication!

Once you’ve entered our PennySaver trivia contest, we’d love for you to join the PennySaverUSA community for more special contests, discounts and offers:

1. Subscribe to our email newsletter to hear first about PennySaverUSA.com’s new contests and features.
2. Like us on Facebook to get exclusive offers, money-saving tips and more.
3. Follow us on Twitter to get news and information from around the web about couponing, pet ownership and more.
4. Add us to your Google+ Circle and join the frugal conversation.
5. Check us out on Pinterest to see our favorite vintage items.

Good luck in the PennySaver Trivia contest! Remember to check next week’s PennySaver print publication to find out if you won.

Congratulations to the previous six winners:

Week 12: Michael M.
Week 11: Megan P.
Week 10: Jesslyn L.
Week 9: Rosetta A.
Week 8: Michael F.
Week 7: Arun M.
Week 6: Rhea W.
Week 5: Angela D.
Week 4: Patricia H.
Week 3: Consuelo B.
Week 2: Heather D.
Week 1: Linda B.

This blog was written by PennySaverUSA.com staffer Helen, a dog fanatic and owner of two dogs

Meet Nelly and Handsome, my two Australian Cattle Dog mixes. They look like they get along right? Not!

Nelly with Handsome at 3 months.

We adopted Handsome a little over a year ago when he was a puppy. He weighed about 6 pounds and Nelly wanted nothing to do with him. Since then, I’ve learned from my mistakes and at last there is some peace in my life.

Introduce the dogs in a neutral territory

When I first brought home the puppy, he was so cute that I couldn’t wait to show Nelly. I brought him up in a blanket and let him lay on her. That was a bad idea. Nelly was not into it and Handsome became extremely attached. After taking the dogs out of the house more, I found that the puppy became more tolerable in neutral territory, when he wasn’t invading Nelly’s space. When we moved to a new home, I made it a point to introduce my dogs to the neighbor’s dogs in the neighborhood park, rather than a driveway or in someone’s yard. This definitely let the dogs get to know each other in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Walk your dogs together

For some reason, I used to think it was a good idea to walk my two dogs separately. First the puppy, then the big one. It was a terrible idea. When I would take the puppy and leave Nelly, Nelly would start wailing. And even worse when I took Nelly and left the puppy. Let’s just say, that’s how we found out he was a howler. When I finally decided to walk them together, it was pretty bad. They would be pulling me in different directions. But, as every trainer will tell you, practice makes perfect. We went on longer walks so the dogs would get used to each other and it became a ritual for us. The great thing is, after a long walk, they get so tired that they won’t have any energy to fight!

Don’t favor one over the other

Sibling rivalry exists, even with dogs! Be sure not to fuel it by favoring one dog over the other. Whenever I feed the dogs, I always make sure that they’re getting equal portions. And when it comes to treat time, both dogs have to sit before they are rewarded with a treat.

Letting them play

Whenever I take the dogs to the dog park, they play. They will wrestle until they’re bored with each other. The great thing about having more than one dog is, they will keep themselves occupied. So throw a ball, or a chew toy at them and let them go at it!

This blog was written by PennySaverUSA.com staffer Elizabeth, who has four pets and considers herself a passionate pet lover

In my household, we have two dogs, a Siberian husky named Luna and Australian cattle dog named Logan, and two cats, a big Russian blue named Buddha and a lean Tom cat named Bradley. It’s quite a full house. We love our furry friends to pieces and are always on the lookout for healthy eating tips to ensure we’re giving them the very best. Here are some of the pet care tips that I’ve found helpful.

Elizabeth's family of pets are healthy in large part because of their carefully monitored diet.

Food amounts for healthy weight levels

Luna and Logan are drastically different sizes and have very different activity levels. Luna thinks she’s training for the Iditarod and weighs about 40 pounds, while Logan loves to sleep in the sun all day and weighs only 20. If we fed them the same amount, one would probably become underweight and the other would blow up like a blimp. I used this Dog Food Calculator from Dog Food Advisor to determine exactly what they needed. We feed our dogs twice a day, and Luna needs a little over 2 cups total, while Logan only needs about 1 1/2. We aren’t as strict with our cats, who can eat any time they want, but we probably should be. I plan on trying out this Cat Food Calculator for them.

Food Ingredients

The ingredients you should choose vary significantly based on your pet’s age, lifestyle, and breed. Before choosing a pet food, you should speak with your vet about the optimal ingredients for your pet, and they can send you in the right direction.

Our vet recommended Kirkland Superior Premium Pet Foods because of the low cost and healthy ingredients. We feed our dogs the Superior Premium Adult Dog line which is rich in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids (for shiny coats and strong joints) and high-quality protein like lamb and eggs. We feed our cats the Adult Cat Healthy Weight and Hairball Control. Buddha is a little chunky, and we’ve noticed improved weight using this brand. It’s also chocked full of omega fatty acids, vitamins, and natural proteins like chicken.

Whatever you choose, watch out for foods containing these unhealthy ingredients that could harm your pet:

• BHA and BHT – preservatives that can harm the kidneys.
• Corn syrup – pure sugar and can cause “finicky eater syndrome” if they get addicted to the taste.
• Mono Sodium Glutamate (MSG) – can cause allergic reactions in pets and people.
• Dry blood meal – low-quality protein that’s hard to digest

If you see any of these ingredients in your pet food, it’s a sign that it’s not a high-caliber product and you should leave it on the grocery store shelf.

Treats and Snacks:

Who hasn’t felt the urge to give into those pleading puppy eyes when you’re enjoying a delicious burger? However, as a rule, you should avoid feeding your pet people food. Feeding your pet from the table can lead to annoying begging and hurt their health, as not all ingredients for people are good for pets. We opt for treats that mimic what they would eat in the wild as much as possible. Our dogs love the all-natural PCI freeze dried chicken breast treats, and our cats go bonkers for catnip. We reserve the occasional pre-cooked chicken or steak, without any seasonings. Just avoid table scraps and treats with the harmful ingredients mentioned above and you and your pets will be happy.

For more pet care tips, check out our other blogs. Happy meals to you and your pet!

What time is it? Free Friday time! That special moment each week when PennySaverUSA.com spotlights the best freebies from around the web.

This edition of Free Friday features a vast selection of different types of freebies. As usual, we start with food. Let the freebie fun commence.

Food

Free lettuce wraps from P.F. Chang’s: We can’t quite figure out why, but P.F. Chang’s is really pushing their mobile app. If you download their new app on your iPhone or Android device and sign up for their Warrior Rewards program, they’ll send you a coupon for free lettuce wraps! Those things are so darn tasty, it makes the effort required for this Free Friday freebie worthwhile.

Free slurpees available on Wed., May 23.

Drink

Free Slurpee from 7-11: Simply show up to your local 7-11 between the hours of 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 23, and they will hand you a free Slurpee! (Thanks Frugal Friends Network for the find)

Supplement

Free Propel Zero water supplement: These flavored powder pouches pack a punch by adding extra vitamins and antioxidants to your water. The best part? The only thing you have to do to get this Free Friday freebie is like their Facebook page and fill out a short form with your name and address.

Recipes

Free cookbook from Sun-Maid: As part of its 100^th Anniversary celebration, Sun-Maid has created a special cookbook that you can either download for free or have mailed to your home. (Thanks Free Sample Momma for the find)

For the Kids

Free sandwich box from Rudi’s Organic Bakery: This Free Friday offer is a tad complicated, but it’s a really cool concept. You have to Like their Facebook page and submit a digital photo with your child’s artwork and they will mail you a lunchbox with your child’s artwork on the front completely free of charge. (Thanks Frugal Fabulous Finds for the find)

Get free shampoo on Free Friday.

Beauty Care

Free shampoo from CLEAR MEN: Like their Facebook page, complete a form with your name, address and email and they will mail you out a sample of their dandruff-free scalp therapy shampoo.

Pets

Milk Bone trail mix dog treats: Once you Like the Milk Bone Facebook page, you will be directed to a survey. Once you finish the survey and click submit, all you have to do is wait for the snacks to arrive in the mail. (Thanks The Cents’Able Shoppin for the find)

Please let us know in the comments if you’ve found any other great freebies you think deserve a spot on Free Friday. Have a great weekend everyone!

Throwing a killer Memorial Day party has never been more affordable.

Steals of the Week is here with some awesome PennySaverUSA.com finds to help you host an amazing Memorial Day party at an equally amazing price.

Every good Memorial Day party includes a grill. The problem: Grills aren’t cheap! Well, thanks to a seller in Contra Costa, CA, you don’t have to worry about that problem. This Weber Silver A BBQ Grill might be 10 years old, but the seller promises it’s in great shape and at $44, it’s our first Steals of the Week item.

While grills are important, this next Steals of the Week item will help you take your Memorial Day party to the next level. It’s a Snow Cone Machine for sale in Corona, CA for only $299. Start handing out fresh snow cones and people won’t soon forget your Memorial Day party.

Grills and snow cone machines are great, but they don’t do any good if you don’t have a place for your guests to eat. Enter this beautiful patio set for sale in Montclair, CA for only $150. The seller acknowledges the set isn’t brand new, but for that price, you don’t need it to be.

Every great Memorial Day party (or any party for that matter) needs some music. Get the tunes blaring with this Denon DND4500 Dual CD MP3 Player DJ BPM Stereo. A seller in Canoga Park, CA is willing to part with this Steals of the Week item for $320 (or best offer).

There’s only one thing missing from your Memorial Day party … a game! Fortunately, another seller in Corona, CA is willing to help you out. It will cost you just $45 to purchase this full-size air hockey table. Just remember, you have to get a puck elsewhere, as the seller says it has been lost.

Now that you’re all set with everything you need to have a memorable Memorial Day party let us know what your plans are in the comments.