Frugal Family: Deals and Freebies for You

Now that Halloween is over, many are skipping right over Thanksgiving and moving on to Christmas. To start planning your cookie swap, Amazon.com is offering the Cookie Swap book free for Kindles. No Kindle? You can also read it on your PC, iPhone, iPad, Blackberry, or Android. Just make sure to download the correct free application. Keep an eye on your cart, too. As of Monday, this special was going on, but Amazon tends to change their prices frequently. So, what’s free today may be back to $2.99 by the end of the week.

Speaking of books, were you a Borders fan who now feels a little lost? Enter the Barnes & Noble website via the old Borders link, and you’ll be offered a free two-month trial period in Barnes & Noble’s loyalty program, which gives you free shipping on all orders.

Are you a fan of Marlow’s Tavern? If so, make sure to join the Insider’s Club.  After you’ve submitted your information, check your email inbox for a coupon for $10 off your next visit.

If Longhorn Steakhouse is more your style, you can join their Western Hospitality club and receive a coupon for a free appetizer with your next purchase of an entrée. Longhorn is also running their Steakhouse Lunch Specials for a limited time, starting at $7.99.

Don’t forget to check for the post-Halloween sales! This week, stores are slashing prices on candy, decorations, and costumes as they make room for the Christmas stock.  What preschooler wouldn’t love a costume as a holiday gift? Have a piñata that will need filling in the next couple of months? Candy is good for several months after purchase, as long as it’s stored in a cool place, so now’s the time to stock up. Keep in mind that candies with soft fillings or combinations (chocolate with nuts, with nougat, with caramel) spoil the quickest, followed by regular chocolate, then hard candies.

Happy Bargain Hunting!

About this column: This week's great deals Related Topics: Frugal Family and frugalfam Do you know of a deal out there?