Facebook Freebies

Pay attention on Facebook — you might win some free things! Some businesses routinely put up contests/giveaways, and if you’ve clicked “like” on their page, then you’ll see the contests on your news feed whenever they post one.

I have to give a shout out to Charlotte Street Computers in Asheville. First — they are absolutely TOPS when it comes to computer repair. They work on macs and pcs — superb. But, they are also fantastic in their community involvement and giveaways on Facebook. Here’s a direct link to Charlotte Street Computer’s Facebook page. Go there and click “like.” Just today, I won two tickets to the Grove Park Inn Arts & Crafts Antique Show this weekend! Thanks Charlotte Street.

The Hop Ice Cream Shop is another Asheville business you’ll want to follow. Here’s the link to its Facebook page. I just won a free pint of ice cream of my choice. Okay, I know. It won’t be my choice. It will be my kids’ choice. The Hop makes the BEST ice cream EVER!

Wee Trade Children’s Consignment Sale

I just got back from dropping off my priced items for the spring Wee Trade sale at the WNC Ag Center. They will still be collecting merchandise tomorrow, but already the place looks packed. Lots of great bargains and I can’t wait until the sale starts. The pre-sale takes place Friday. The public sale begins at 8 a.m. Saturday and goes until 8 p.m. Then Sunday is *half price day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

*Consignors have the choice of whether they want to discount their merchandise.

If you’ve never sold at Wee Trade, consider signing up for the fall sale in August. You set your own price and keep 70%!

The Author of Toss, Keep, Sell! Shares Some Secrets

I’ve been in a major clutter busting mode and I’ve been looking for more ways to turn my clutter into cash. One example is Asheville’s Wee Trade event where I cleaned out my kids closets and sold their outgrown clothes, shoes and toys. I’m also setting aside boxes of priced items for a spring yard sale, so I’m really excited about a new book written by my friend, Leah Ingram.

Ingram is a frugal living expert, founder of the blog Suddenly Frugal and author of more than a dozen books, including her latest Toss, Keep, Sell! The Suddenly Frugal Guide to Cleaning Out the Clutter and Cashing In (Adams Media, 2010).

I talked with Ingram earlier this week and she provided a peek into her new book which provides great tips for anyone looking for creative ways to turn clutter into dollars.

Q: Why did you write your newest book Toss, Keep, Sell! The Suddenly Frugal
Guide to Cleaning Out the Clutter and Cashing In?

A: I wanted this new book to serve a dual purpose: to help people get their homes organized, and discover ways that they could get cash for their clutter. This book grew out of my earlier book Suddenly Frugal: How to Live Happier and Healthier for Less, which grew out of my blog Suddenly Frugal. That book was written for recovering spendthrifts–people who use to spend, shop, and dine out freely, and then when the economy tanked, suddenly needed to live frugally. This was the plan my husband and I needed to follow in 2007 and how I ended up starting my blog Suddenly Frugal. I know from being one of those recovering spendthrifts that, thanks to my “shopper-tainment” days, when I went shopping when I was bored, I had more stuff than I needed so plenty of clutter to clear out.

Q: If you’ve already written a book on frugal living, why write another one?

A: The secret to living frugally is to continually reevaluate your spending and saving, and find ways that you can cut back on daily or regular expenses. But here’s what most people don’t realize: after a while, there’s nothing left to cut. And when there’s nothing left to cut, you’ve got to find ways to bring in more money. I’m lucky, in that I’m a self-employed writer and I can always take on additional assignments to bring in more income. But most people don’t have that luxury or don’t have the time to get a second job. Hopefully, Toss, Keep, Sell! will help them figure out ways to put more cash back in their wallets.

Q: Where did the idea of getting cash for your clutter come from?

A: I realized that most of the posts I’d done on my blog that talked about
getting cash for my clutter or cash for my trash were the best received.
Also, I’d done a survey on Suddenly Frugal that revealed this: 92% of my
blog readers had sold their clutter for cash and would do so again in the
future.

Many of the people who took this survey have used more than one selling
method to sell various household items. When they sold stuff, they most
often held a yard sale (74%) or sold stuff on Craigslist (51%). Of those
items they were selling and making money from, furniture (43%) and clothing
(19%) sold the best. One reader added a comment to the survey that she’d
made nearly $3,000 from selling her old furniture.

Q: If your readers are already selling their trash for cash, what new
information will the book provide?

A: While I include some tried-and-true methods for selling your stuff and
making money from it, I also offer options readers may not have considered
but which definitely have the potential to bring in big money. For example,
did you know that you don’t have to live on an estate to have an estate
sale? One person I profile in the book held one in her suburban tract home
and took in $4,000 over two days.

Q: Besides cash for clutter, what other benefits will people get from
reading Toss, Keep, Sell!?

A: I want this book to help people clear out their excess stuff and love
living in their home again. I’ve been there, and I know how it feels to have
someone drop by unexpectedly, only to end up running around and closing off
the rooms in a disaster state before you answer the front door. Because
clutter usually isn’t limited to a single spot in the house, I’ve organized
this book so that the chapters go room to room. I’ve suggested tasks you can
do to slowly but surely to get your house, life and stuff in control over
time.

UNCA Cancels Concert on the Quad Series

It was one of my favorite free activities in the summer. I would pack a picnic basket and the kids and I, and often my dad, would carry chairs into the quad area at UNCA on Monday nights in summer to hear some great free music.

Today, UNCA has canceled the 28-year event due to budget cuts. According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, the event cost the University $12,000 – $15,000 each year.

One Day Chicken Sale

Greenlife Grocery in North Asheville has announced a one-day sale on its organic whole chickens.

This Friday, February 18, customers can buy the chickens for $1.69/lb. Limit five birds.

AAA Discounts at Area Attractions

For some reason, I always forget the AAA card in my wallet unless I’m having car trouble. But no longer. It’s a valuable tool in getting some great discounts.

Explore Asheville lists the following offers:

Asheville’s Fun Depot – $5 off 2-hour time package

Asheville Historic Trolley Tours – $1 off regular priced ticket

Chimney Rock Park – $2 off adult ticket and $1 off child ticket (6 ticket max)

Ghost Town in the Sky – $3 off daily admission

Grandfather Mountain – $2 off adult admission and $1 off child admission

Gray Line Trolley Tours – $2 off regular priced ticket

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad – 10% off upgrades (some restrictions apply)

Museum of the Cherokee Indian – 10% off admission

Tweetsie Railroad – $3 off general admission

Wildwater Rafting – 10% off rafting and in-store merchandise

FREE Dessert

Broyhill Inn & Appalachian Conference Center in Boone, N.C. has unveiled a “places” page on Facebook that offers deals and discounts.

The current deal offers free dessert with purchase of an entree. This is an unlimited deal that runs through July 2, 2011 at 9 p.m. Trust me, the food there is ALWAYS delicious!

Winter Value Tickets at Biltmore Estate

Now through March 31, visitors to Asheville’s Biltmore Estate can save big on tickets when they buy online at least seven days prior to their visit.

Online tickets are just $29 — That’s a 50% savings off the regular season price of $59, which begins in April, 2011.

National Pancake Day at IHOP

Mark March 1, 2011 on your calendar and head over to IHOP restaurants for a free short stack of pancakes. The offer runs 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.

In return for the free flapjacks, IHOP asks customers to consider leaving a little something behind for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other designated local charities. IHOP raised more than $2.1 million last year. IHOP began its National Pancake Day in 2006, and since then, has raised $5.35 million for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and other local charities and given away more than 10.1 million buttermilk pancakes.

Free Flu Shots at Harris Teeter

Harris Teeter posted a note this week on its Facebook page offering free flu shots through the end of May.

Here’s the note:

Stay healthy this flu season!  Harris Teeter is providing an incentive to VIC card customers to receive their seasonal flu shots this season – now through the end of May, available at select Harris Teeter pharmacy locations, customers who purchase a seasonal flu shot for only $12.95 with their VIC card will receive an electronic coupon for $12.95, valid on their next grocery purchase of that value or more!  To get more info about the seasonal flu shots or any other services offered by our valued pharmacy teams, please speak with your local Harris Teeter pharmacy manager.