Harry Potter Mania

As most people know, today was the worldwide release of the final book in the Harry Potter series. Up until 3 years ago I was not even aware of Harry Potter and his wizard friends. It wasn’t until I accidentally won a family excursion on the “Hogwarts Express” through a radio station promotion that I learned about this fantasy world.

I had to look up Hogwarts Express on the internet to find out what it was as I had no idea. Then I rented the video of the first movie so we could get in character for the train ride. I made a Hedwig costume for my youngest (2 years old at the time), my oldest dressed as Hermione and I threw a costume together from my old Halloween stuff to make myself look like Madame Hooch, complete with broomstick.

It seemed a little silly at the time, but when we saw how much the other people and radio personalities were dressed up we didn’t feel so awkward. In fact during the train ride we won a copy of the first movie on DVD (Harry Potter and The Philosophers Stone), a music CD, a t-shirt and lots of lollies and snacks because we looked so good. It was a fun morning for our whole family. Little did I know it was the start of an obsession for all of us.

My youngest loved the DVD movie and special features. My oldest began reading the books, with my encouragement, and has read all 6 books twice in the last 3 years. And I made a point of buying the next 3 movie DVDs (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire). We even have 3 computer games and 2 PS2 games of Harry Potter’s world. However we never owned the books – I made my daughter check them out from the library instead of buying them.

And now today I was standing in line with my daughters at our local The Warehouse to be one of the first people to get our hands on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. My daughter’s father purchased a pre-order coupon for the book which meant she was guaranteed to get a copy at a special price which could be picked up any time this week. However The Warehouse was giving away hats to the first 100 people to buy the book in each of their stores, so we made a point of being there today.

That’s how I found myself in a queue this morning, 10 minutes before the official release time hoping to get a free hat. The things I do for a freebie! LOL! The time went by quickly as I saw some friends and then got chatting with a couple young ladies in the queue behind us.

My youngest asked for a hat as well but they were only being given out with a book purchase. So we had one hat to share amongst the two girls. While we were chatting with a friend at the entrance after scoring our book one of the young ladies I’d been talking to in line came over and gave my youngest her free hat. She said she didn’t really want it and overhead my youngest ask for a hat. It was so nice to see the friendliness and good will everyone had at this momentous occasion.

Coinciding with the release of the book is the latest Harry Potter movie, The Order of the Phoenix, which many of the people in line were talking about. Most had already seen the movie and can hardly wait for the next two movies. Fortunately for us we will be seeing the movie soon as well.

I told my children that we would see the movie when it came out on DVD. However we will be seeing it sooner as we won a double movie pass. The WhatNow TV show had a competition earlier in the month and both my girls entered it. They had to make a “Harry Potter” wand and send it in. There were 350 runners up who would win a double movie pass, tattoos, and an official hat. A few days ago we received a package of those prizes, although the hat is too big for my girls to wear and even too big for my head!

So we are in the midst of Harry Potter mania which will continue for some time as we can’t use our movie pass until August. I think it will only take a few days for my daughter to read this final book but I know she will re-read it many times. I know many adults who are just as fanatical about Harry Potter as the children. And who knows, maybe one day I will get around to reading this famous magical series. Although I prefer to watch the movies!

Kid's Clubs

My last post was about joining clubs to receive freebies and information relevant to what you are interested in. This one is similar but dedicated to children. I know many of my readers are parents (I know this as most are my family and friends in the USA) so I thought I’d give you tips about getting stuff free for your kids.

I have joined my two girls up to many kid's clubs over the years. Some have been online memberships only (access to fun sites and games) and others have been memberships to certain stores or eateries. But all have been free and allow my kids to receive or do fun stuff.

Just last week I signed them up for the Video Ezy kids club and they each received a coupon for a free new release video (valued at $8). It didn’t cost me anything and only took a few minutes of my time. Now they will “get awesome offers every time you come to Video Ezy.” There is even a secret code to access a Kids’ Club page on the Video Ezy website “for loads of cool stuff including competitions, new movies and gossip about your favourite movie stars!”

Wow! Isn’t the internet incredible? All this free stuff and entertainment only a click away. I wish I had this cool tool when I was a kid. However, there is almost too much to choose from these days. My kids are members of so many internet sites that they can’t possible visit them all in one sitting. They usually have a look and a play on a website when they first sign up and then forget about it for a while – at least until they receive an email from the site wishing them a happy birthday or reminding them about a competition.

Other clubs they are members of allow them free meals or snacks, birthday gifts, discounts, competition entries, free products, free downloads, online games, and the list goes on. It’s a great time to be a kid!

Here’s a list of some of the clubs my kids are members of and (where applicable) a shortcut to the site so you can sign your kids up as well. I make sure the websites are appropriate for my children’s age and keep an eye on them when they are online.

1. Westfield – kids get a free gift for their birthday (this year it is a child’s movie ticket)
2. Spotlight – kids get an introductory package which includes pencils, a colouring book, stickers, and craft tips
3. Agent Ani – environmental website with “agent” assignments for the kids to complete to earn points for freebies and competitions (membership is open worldwide)
4. Cookie Bear Club – online “clubhouse” with lots of fun activities and competitions
5. WhatNow – TV2 program site with lots of interesting things and competitions
6. Valentines – kids eat free with an adult and competitions
7. Denny’s – kids eat free with a paying adult
8. Nick TV – online site for the Nickelodeon TV channel with interesting stuff and competitions
9. Texta Kids Club – get a free gift when you join and lots of creative ideas
10. Raxi Maxi Kids Club – This “Gardening Mates Club” is for children who are interested in growing things

This is just a few of the many clubs that kids can join. Most child-friendly websites have some sort of club for kids. Looking at my daughters’ list of Favourites on Internet Explorer I see Disney, Barbie, Yu-Gi-Oh, Neopets, Trollz, Cocopops, Treehouse Fun, Funky Friends, Noodolbot, Tamatown, Winx Club, That’s the Story, Holly Hobbie, Runescape, and Polly Pocket.

That’s just a handful of the many different clubs that kids can join. So the next time your child is Bored or wants something for free, just sign them up for a kid’s club. It won’t cost you anything and the benefits are unbelievable!

Free Clubs and Newsletters

Along with entering competitions I have become addicted to joining free clubs and newsletters. Many of the comps I enter require you to subscribe to their email newsletter or have an option to tick whether you want to join.

I find many of these newsletters quite useful for letting me know about upcoming events and sales. I even receive the odd discount or freebie through them.

Most times I join a club that interests me or offers something free for joining. It doesn’t take much of my time to join – simply filling out a form – and since it is free I’ve got nothing to lose.

Some of the benefits I’ve received from being in a club or joining a newsletter list are:

1. Birthday gifts or discounts
2. Free sample products, such as coffee or snacks
3. Discount coupons
4. Everyday VIP discounts when I show my membership card
5. Special events like member’s only nights or first option to purchase products
6. Competitions
7. Earning free products

I have joined many clubs over the years and I still enjoy benefits from most of them. Those that I lost interest in, or didn’t receive the benefits I wanted, I simply opted out. That can be as easy as an email or phone call to cancel the membership.

The free clubs I am currently enjoying benefits from are:

• Foodtown OneCard
• Whitcoulls
• ITM Priority Card
• The Film Squad
• Spotlight VIP Club
• Doubleday Book Club VIP
• Kidspot
• Whiskas
• The Craft Depot
• OurFreeStuff
• View Auckland
• Mitre 10

If you have particular interests try searching the web to find a club to join. You may find VIP memberships at many of the places you regularly shop. If not, try asking the manager if there is a newsletter to keep you up to date.

New clubs spring up all the time so keep your eyes open and let me know what you find.

Free Firewood

With the New Zealand winter upon us I have been burning a lot of wood to keep the house warm. I know most people buy firewood and have it delivered before the winter begins, however I have never paid for firewood since living in New Zealand.

For two years I used wood from a felled tree in my back yard. This year I am burning wood from old pallets. My friend dropped off some broken up pallets last summer and I stored them in my garage. I am now cutting the bigger pieces up with an electric saw to make them fireplace size.

Of course I know a lot of people don’t have friends like mine who will drop wood at your doorstep, so I have listed some other ways you can get free firewood.

1) Old Pallets
Many companies have old pallets that they just throw away. You may see some piled up at various sites as you drive around. Approach the company manager and ask what they do with their old pallets. They may be very happy for you to take them away instead of them paying someone else to dispose of them. But beware, not all pallets are rubbish. Some companies pay a deposit for the pallet and get that refunded when it is returned. So don’t just go around taking pallets without asking.

2) Newspaper Ads
Read the ad section of your local newspaper. There may be an advertisement for free pallets or old wood. You just need to go pick it up. Who knows, you may even gain an ongoing source of wood.

3) Offcuts
Many construction sites have offcuts of wood they give away. I get wood offcuts from a local furniture company. They have a bin outside their building in Pukekohe where they throw all the little bits of wood they can’t use. I usually give this to my kids for their woodworking table. However it is really good for kindling as it is kiln-dried and small.

4) Advertise
You may wish to advertise in your local paper, or through flyers, that you want wood. If you are willing to pick it up many people might just take you up on the offer. We have many local newspapers which allow free advertising.

5) Word of Mouth
Let people know you are looking for free firewood. That’s how I got the delivery of pallets from my friend. Most people are quite willing to help others out for free, especially if they can get rid of some old wood they don’t want.

6) Garden Waste
When you or your neighbours trim their trees and bushes don’t throw the wood away. Keep it for firewood and kindling. It may be too “green” to use this year but it will be great for a fire next year. Plus you’ll save the cost of disposing the green waste.

7) Tree Felling
With the horrendous windy weather New Zealand has just had I know there are lots of fallen trees around. If you don’t have any on your property maybe you can help a neighbour clear their trees and score some free wood at the same time. Most people don’t have the room to store all the wood they get when chopping up a full grown tree.

8) Demolition
If you know of a demolition site you may be able to get some free wood there. Most people don’t reuse the wood when they demolish a building so you may be able to take it off their hands for free. Just be careful that you don’t burn treated or painted wood. The fumes from the chemicals can be dangerous.

9) Christmas Trees
Yes I know Christmas was 7 months ago and we still have 5 months until the next one, but this is something to think about. Every year we buy a real Christmas tree and I save it to use for kindling the following winter. By the time the cold weather rolls around the pine branches are nice and dry. It also saves me the expense of throwing it away.

10) Inorganic Collection
Many areas have an inorganic collection day. I’m sure you’ve probably seen the piles of rubbish sitting in front of the houses in these areas. You may find some very good bits of wood from old furniture, broken toys, or scrap wood in these piles. As it is intended for the dump you would be saving the rubbish man some trouble by taking the wood for your fire.

So try these ways to keep yourself warm this winter and let me know if you have any other ideas.

Remember when you clean out your fireplace that the ash is very good for the garden. You can sprinkle it directly on the plants or mix it into the soil. However if you are burning pallets or other wood with nails in it, then you cannot use the ash on the garden unless you sift out all the metal bits.

Free Trials

Another great “try before you buy” option is a free trial. However you usually need a major credit card to participate and many of these “trials” can be deceptive. Make sure you understand the length of the trial and the terms. Sometimes you need to pay the return postage or notify the company in writing if you want to end the trial.

I signed up to MovieShack on a 2-week free trial which was great. I got three DVDs at a time to view at my leisure -- no late fees or return date. When the trial finished I was scheduled to be signed up for the $39.95 monthly rate (middle-level) which would be charged directly to my credit card. I read the fine print and change my membership to the $29.95 level one day before the free trial ended.

I am still a member of that website and enjoy watching lots of DVDs each week. I even did a 2-week free trial with Fatso (MovieShack’s competitor). I ended my Fatso membership when the free trial finished and therefore got 2-weeks of DVD rentals (about 6) for nothing.

I even signed up for a free one-year membership of an American Express card in order to get the bonus AA reward points. I made sure I cancelled the card before the year was up so I didn’t have to pay the annual membership fee.

Other free trials I have participated in were magazine subscriptions, book clubs, DVD collections, and informational card series. If I found I wasn’t interested or couldn’t afford the cost of these products I would simply cancel my membership and usually keep the free incentive gift.

Many software programs are available for a free trial as well. Sometimes you download a sample program with limited abilities and sometimes you receive a disk in the mail which you can use for a certain number of days. This is a great way to find out if the program is the right one for you. Many electronic games also come with free trials or demos to entice you to buy more.

If you are not sure the product is right for you then ask for a free trial. Many companies are so confident that you will love their product that they offer a free trial or money-back guarantee. Just be sure you understand the terms before agreeing to the trial!

Samples

Samples are great if you want to try out something before your buy it. A couple evenings a week my local grocery store has stands throughout the shop offering free mouth-size samples of food products. Of course their intention is to get the consumer to immediately buy the product. Often they give out discount coupons as well.

However there are other ways to get free samples. Many websites offer samples when you sign-up to their newsletter. In this way I have received coffee, noodles, cat food, and cereal. Sometimes you can even be bold enough to ask for a free sample. Many companies are quite willing to give a little product away in the hopes of continuing sales.

Recently I received an email telling me I can get a free coffee sample. The interesting thing was the email came from a fashion newsletter! So, you never know who is going to offer something for free or when. If you are interested in a sample of free coffee then check out Barista @ Home. Sign up for a free coffee sample and enter the competitions while you are there!

More samples available online right now are (please note that some of these are for Australian and New Zealand residents only):

Huggies DriNites
Poise Products
Wrigley’s Solano
Life & Leisure magazine
Sustagen
Purina Beneful dog food
Fancy Feast Gourmet Gold dry cat food
LibraGirl starter pack
Marquis Condoms
Resene Testpot
Huggies Little Swimmers
Coffee Break Coffee Bar
Bell tea
So Good trial offer
Calarox
Ethiopian coffee sample
Ecrín Curative Skin Therapy
Chandelier Crystal
Skin Care products
Disinfecting wipes
Olive oil
Tanning lotion
Naturalamb condoms
Purina pet food

Other great places to get samples are “trade” shows. Here in New Zealand there is the annual Parent & Child Show as well as the Royal Easter Show. Of course you have to pay for a ticket to get into the event (unless you win one like I often do) but once inside you can usually get away with buying no food. Have a good look around the venue and you will find many stalls offer free samples of their food. Of course their aim is to get you to buy the product, but if you are clever like me you will simply fill yourself (and your children) up on the free samples all day and not buy anything.

Many times I even have a friendly chat with the vendor and score a bigger sample. My children have even received free small toys because the vendor thought they were cute (it pays to put them in adorable dresses with pony tails!).

I know there are many more free samples available online in the USA, Canada and the UK, so if you live there just do a Google search for samples or go to your favourite website and see if they have anything on offer. Once again, let me know if you find anything worthwhile to share.

Buyer Beware

I’ve been using the FindSomeone online dating service since February. This site has two membership options: Gold and Basic. As a Basic member you have free access to most features however you can not send the first message, so you have to wait for a Gold Member to contact you.

I decided to upgrade to the Gold Membership for one month as there were a couple of men I wanted to chat with. At the end of the month I ended my Gold membership as I could not afford to carry on since I now have car repairs to pay for (see my earlier post).

I thought that I would go back to being a Basic (free) member. So imagine my surprise two days ago when I attempted to respond to some smiles and messages I had received and the following screen appeared on my computer.


The only option I was given was to “choose a plan” and pay more money. I thought this must be some kind of glitch in the program as I just wanted to continue as a free member, like I had been a month before. So I sent a message to the website help desk via their contact page.

A day later I received an email saying “Please note that the Basic status is only available to new members who have not used the site before and who want to have a look around before upgrading to a Gold membership. As you have already become a Gold member this Basic status is no longer available.”

The email ended with this statement “I apologise if this wasn't made clearer on the site when you first entered into the subscription system.” Not only was it not clear, it was not even mentioned when I upgraded to Gold. In fact, as I recall when I became a Gold member there was a notice that said I could change my subscription at any time using the Options feature.

This seems like a scam to me as my profile still exists, so people can view my profile but I cannot respond. I’ve only got two options now – either pay for the Gold Membership which I cannot afford or cancel my membership altogether. Since I cannot use any of the features to communicate with others what is the point of being on their site any longer.

So if you have sent me a smile or message lately, don’t think I am being rude and ignoring you . . . I am unable to respond. I guess I am just destined Not to Find Someone!

Saving

I’ve been reading another website, John Chow dot Com, about writing and maintaining blogs. It suggested I add new posts regularly and write about something I am passionate about. So I got to thinking . . . what am I passionate about?

I know what I am good at, and what I like to do, and what I don’t like to do, but passion? I don’t really feel passionate about much these days. So I approached the question in a different way. What do I consistently do that others don’t do?

Yelling at my kids? No, most (possibly all) the mother’s I know yell at their kids. Computer work? No, I am good with computers but I can happily go days without turning one on, if I had my way. Crafts? I do like my crafts and have tried a great variety, but lately I haven’t had the time or energy to do much. Gardening? I was very “in to” my garden a few years ago but I think that was just a way to escape the unhappiness I felt in my marriage.

Then it hit me . . . the one thing I always strive to do . . . in every aspect of my life . . . SAVE! My friends know I save money any way I can, but I’m talking about saving everything: time, money, things, energy, and even the environment.

There you have it – I am passionate about saving things! That doesn’t mean I am a hoarder, although I do have a lot of little pieces of scrap material and wrapping paper that I am sure I’ll find a use for someday. But I do know when to have a good clear out, if only to make way for more stuff.

So besides my ranting about whatever happens to take my fancy at the time I will try to do regular posts about saving. Don’t worry, I won’t be talking about investments or which KiwiSaver provider is the best. There are many other experts on the WWW who can help you with those problems. I will simply let you know ways in which I have saved things.

Being a single mother of two young girls I find lots of ways to get things cheaply or free. I am also addicted to entering competitions, probably because I quite often win (the small prizes, never the really big ones). Sharing my strategies and past experiences on saving would definitely create a lot of posts and hopefully you will benefit from reading them as well.

In fact, if you have any good ideas or stories to tell about any great deals you have gotten or anything about saving please let me know either in a comment or an email. Who knows, if your story is good I might just post it here!