October 2015 – PINCHme Box

Sorry if I have been M.I.A. for the past weeks. I have been busy with immigration related stuff and I am now managing my husband’s personal financial blog.

If you are interested in learning how to reach financial independence and receive passive income, please visit his blog dibidend.com. The website is still under construction, but you can still see his portfolio and monthly dividend income progress. Being in the military for 10+ years, he hopes to retire by 40, or if possible earlier.

On another note, today, I received my very first PINCHme sample box! I was a little skeptical at first and thought I wouldn’t receive anything substantial, but I WAS WRONG.

Scrotch Brite Extreme Srub, Kellogg Chewy Nut Bar, Charlee Bear Cruch All Natural Grain Free Dog Treat, Fisher Nut Exactly Snack Bites, 100$ Wine Voucher, and a bunch of coupons.

The thing with PINCHme is that you often have to wait a long time to receive the samples… I ordered them in October and received them over 20+ days later. I shouldn’t complain I guess because it’s FREE.

I’m sure my Chihuahua is going to love his dog treat and I could use that Scotch Brite to wash our dirty dishes.

PINCHme requires you to give a review of all the samples/products you ordered. Once I use them I will write an honest review.

Thanks for stopping by! Please check out PINCHme, it’s an awesome website and I did receive all these samples for free.

 

Join Yerdle to get 35$ credit + free shipping!

Hello FRUGALS & Thrifters!

If you followed my last post about PINCHme and you actually signed up for an account, here is a great offer that I got through an email from them. YERDLE, an online thrift store, is just like OfferUP – people sell pre-owned stuff at more than 50% discount. There are really good deals on the site and many are like new items.

People who are already members of PINCHme should have received an email from them with this offer of 35$ credit to join YERDLE.

If you are NOT already a PINCHme member, don’t worry you can still get 35$ + free shipping through my referral link. Click here to claim this offer.

You’re welcome,

#FREEBIESWednesday: 25$+ credit for clothes at Schoola

If you are like me and enjoy thrifting and getting FREE stuff (who doesn’t?) while also helping a good cause, then do not hesitate and order your free stuff at schoola.com. I just ordered a few items myself today:

5 items for 0.00$ – FREE!!!

***SHIPPING IS ALSO FREE***

What You Need to Do

1. Use my link

here

. In order to get

the 15$ credit 

from my referral, you need to

sign up

with a new account (top right corner).

2. In order to receive an additional 10$ credit, you need to create a personal collection. Just press on the pink link and then just filter the brands you want, size, color, etc. and press save.

3. The credits will be automatically added to your shopping cart.

4. Use this coupon code for an additional 50% discount when you check out. Make sure you use all your credits (25$).

NOTE: The credit will not be applied to items with tags (new), but it will work with items labelled as in good condition.

I still suggest purchasing brand items with tags, as they are still at budget-friendly prices.

Brand items include Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Jessica Simpson, Old Navy, Banana Republic, BCBG, Zara, Nike, etc.

About Schoola

Schoola is an online thrift store that raises funds for schools around America. All items are donated by people like us. They offer quality clothing (even branded items!) at up to 70% off retail with 40% of proceeds benefiting kids.

Your welcome,

Moving: New PCS Orders means ROADTRIP

That’s it! WE ARE MOVING! TO… 

SAN DIEGO, CA

I was really happy when I found out that we were going to PCS to San Diego, mostly because we vacationed there when we were dating. I really liked our experience there and I think we would fit right in.

YES, I am THAT new 20s military spouse that is learning her way one step at a time through the military lifestyle. It’s only been 2 months after all. Luckily, there are a lot of helpful websites/blogs (military.com & militaryspouse.com) and support groups/services offered to military families to guide them through their first (or more) PCS.

In a couple weeks, B and I will be PCS’ing for the first time since we got married. PCS stands for Permanent Change of Station. It’s basically moving from one duty station to another. I’ve know a couple of military families that were lucky enough to stay in the same place for years (it’s possible, but not the norm), the reality is that most are hit with last minute “Pack your things, you’re moving”! Nothing is usually permanent.

We have been looking at all our options for transportation from Norfolk to San Diego and we have decided to take our own vehicle and go on road trip! Yes — many have called us crazies. It’s a 38 hours drive after all (if all goes well!).

The main reason why we chose to DRIVE to the West: Discovering new places, we love traveling after all! I have been to the U.S. several times when I was younger, but mostly on the East coast. This is a great way for us to see more of America. We are really looking forward to seeing iconic wonders of the U.S. It is also our first BIG trip together since I became a MRS.

Yes, I know, it’s not a “vacation”. We are PCS’ing, but I have heard many military families driving to their next duty station.  We will stop several times during our trip — mainly because B will be doing most of the driving. I am not an experienced driver (only got my license in January 2015).

Driving to the West coast means we will need to plan where we will be staying and what we will eat. It’s also ALL about BUDGETING. My sister drove from Louisiana to Virginia to come our wedding and she suggested many budget-friendly Bed and Breakfast places, so I will look into that. She also said that it’s very difficult to find good places to eat when you are on the road, since most exits only have fast food joints. I really want to avoid fast food. I know, I know it could save us a few bucks, but at the expense of our health.

Do you know any budget friendly restaurants and/or Bed & Breakfast places we could stay?

We are planning to stop in several states including NC, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Texas & Arizona.

Thanks for your input everyone!

Want Free Samples? Sign Up at PINCHme

PINCHme is an online website that allows consumers to discover and rate products. Every month you can received FREE SAMPLES and in return you must provide feedback.

Sign up to PINCHme, claim your free samples, which are delivered straight to your door! That’s right ALL FREE. All samples are of limited quantity, so always come back to the website… more is usually added.

NOTES: You must complete your profile in order for you to receive customized samples. Not everyone receives the same offers. This is why it is necessary for you to complete your <10 minute profile. Also once you do receive your FREE samples, you must provide honest feedback in order for more offers to come your way. 

This is my first time signing up for a “sample website”, but I have heard great things about PINCHme. Some have not receive anything, mostly because you must be fast enough to grab the samples. Think about it, it’s like when there is a MAJOR sale at a store — it’s on a first come, first served basis.

What I like about PINCHme is that many have claimed to receive GENEROUS samples. That’s right, some manufacturers offer the full-size product for your to try FOR FREE. Others have received travel-size products, which is still great in my book.

My order box says that it is supposed to arrive within 21 days…. I will review the website & products once I do receive them.

Your welcome,

Elle ❤

OFFER: 1$ drink at AMC Theaters

If you are planning to head to the movie theatre, grab your 1$ ICEE drink by simply texting CHILL to 242424. A promotion code will be sent to you instantly, which will be scanned by the cashier at the concession.

We don’t usually go to AMC, mostly because we have a REGAL theatre near our place and they offer a military discount. However, this is a great deal if you are near an AMC and plan to watch a movie. 1$ a drink is pretty awesome, unless you prefer to bring a water bottle from home, then it’s 0$ 😉

Your welcome,

Elle ❤

OfferUp = Money-Maker App

OfferUp is a FREE app that allows you to buy or sell stuff locally. With a single snap, you can take a photo of an item and instantly circulate it to people nearby. All you need to do is register with your Facebook account or with an e-mail.

Many know this app as a way to declutter their homes and I can’t agree more! Since we are living the military lifestyle and we are eventually going to PCS, my husband has asked me to sell stuff that we do not need.

#FreebieSat: BioRepublic SkinCare Sheet Mask

Go grab your Free BioRepublic SkinCare Sheet Mask (includes shipping)!

All you need to do is sign up for an account (I suggest using another email than your personal email to avoid getting spammed) and they will send you a discount code to apply at checkout for a FREE Bio Republic Sheet Mask, valued at 4.99$!

I’m not sure if my code BIONEWS will work for you, but if it does, YOU’RE WELCOME frugalers! Make sure to put in your shipping info before you apply the code, I had to do it several times before it worked.

This is a great way to try out a new product, or if not, you got something free today…

Enjoy,

Elle ❤

Great Meals under 5$

My husband and I have been trying to find ways to cut down on our grocery bill every month without compromising the taste and quality of our daily meals. I found this amazing blog that offers amazing budget-friendly recipes:

Damn Delicious

So far, I have reproduced 2 of her recipes: The Easy 15-minute Lo Mein (above) and The Sweet & Sour Chicken.

Both require little and simple ingredients. These are typically meals that you can find at Asian restaurants for more than double the price.

Also, coming from someone who could only boil water a few months ago, I can guarantee you will love these quick recipes! Super easy for beginners!

The Cost of Immigrating to the U.S

B and I have been together for over 5 years now. However, prior to us getting married, we were in a long distance relationship. I lived in Canada and he lived across the border. After a little over a year of dating, B proposed to me and (of course) I said YES! We only started the immigration process after I graduated from college. Boy, we didn’t realize how long and costly it would be!

Since I was his fiancé, we went through the K-1 Fiancé visa process. Once granted, we had 90 days to marry upon my entry in the United States, which we did fulfill. Afterwards, we needed to file for adjustment of status to permanent resident and file to get a temporary green card while we we waiting.