Category — Freebies

As a Broke Wall Streeter, the Subway $5 footlong is always at the top of my list of meal options. I noticed that they are running an online contest to win prizes like XBox 360s, a free year of DirecTV service, and a VIP experience with NBA player Tony Parker. With my luck at contests (in 10 years I’ve only won a Corrs CD and a pink Sex in the City t-Shirt which I promptly donated), I’m just shooting for one of the instant prizes. It’s a simple game of knocking down 3-pt shots in the allotted time using your space bar.

Score! This morning I won a $5 Subway gift card and a few more entries to play. You can get more chances every time you purchase a Subway 32 oz drink or on back of specially-marked Doritos Spicy Sweet Chili Chips bags. They also send you free entries if you forget to play every day. Give it a shot. Mmmm….meatball toasted with provolone on herb & cheese bread.

Click here for the coupon.

The act of “paying it forward” is a philosophy where the creditor offers the debtor to pay the debt by lending it to a third person instead of paying it back to the original creditor. According to Wikipedia, the concept was described by Benjamin Franklin in 1784. There was even a movie revolving around this concept starring Kevin Spacey and Haley Joel Osment.

Last weekend, a group of volunteers opened the Nepali-Indian restaurant, India Polo Club, in Washington D.C. They served a vegetarian meal on a completely pay-it-forward basis. The idea was first used at Karma Kitchen in Berkeley, CA in 2007. Customers of the Karma Kitchen are presented with gold envelope that contains a handwritten note at the end of their meal. The note states: “In the spirit of generosity, someone who came before you made a gift of this meal. We hope you will continue the circle of giving in your own way!” Patrons can leave any amount they wish, even nothing, but that just wouldn’t be good karma.

I wonder how the Karma Kitchen is doing in the current economy. I hope this idea flourishes as we need to generate more “good” in the world. I don’t have a pay-it-forward restaurant in my area, but I do my part and donate to charities.

India Polo Club article

Karma Kitchen article

Candlelight dinner. Chocolates. A nice bottle of Chiraz. No, it’s not my usual Saturday night. It’s Valentine’s Day! Well almost. If you want to cut back on spending for your special someone this year, here are some do-it-yourself goodies for your honey bunny. I don’t have a girlfriend, so instead I throw my money at Mastercard, Visa, and Discover. The following projects are from the latest Smartflix newsletter. Smartflix is like Netflix, but for educational and hobbyist DVDs. The topics range from music instruction to sewing to airbrushing. I enjoyed the pocket watch repair course. Who knows…you might even make some money from your newly learned hobby.

Customized Teabag wrappers and tags

Vintage Valentine Frame Tray

Rose Ice Cubes

Paper Roses

If you’re really good at crafts, enter to win a subscription to Craft magazine by submitting your Valentine’s Day craft project into their contest.

Here’s a post by The Simple Dollar on some frugal Valentine’s Day tips.