Happy Frugal Friday! Remember last month I told you about a way to spend less on your cell phone service? Click here to read about it. Well, that same company Solavei has opened up another means to save money on everyday necessities. 

They've developed the Solavei Marketplace, where you get cash back rewards from either shopping online or shopping at your local brick and mortar store - how awesome is that?!! 

All you have to do is sign up for Solavei's affordable mobile phone service, which is only $49/month + tax. You then receive your own Solavei debit/credit card where you earn money by sharing the cell service savings with others and now it will be where your earn your cash back rewards as well. Click here to find out how.

If you recall (in my earlier post) they exceeded my expectation by offering unlimited everything... unlimited voice, text and data for $49 a month on a 4G T-Mobile network. As I mentioned, I was fortunate that my phone was compatible (GSM), and that I was not in a contract, and that my phone was already unlocked. But it gets even better, Solavei also offers an opportunity for everyone to share this great savings with others. If you tell 3 other people and they sign up their mobile phone service with Solavei, you earn $60 total - so basically your cell phone service if free! Tell more people, you make even more money! How absolutely cool is that - frugal, smart and savvy!

So, in addition to their great, affordable mobile phone plan - they now offer a way for you to get cash-back rewards when you shop popular online retailers as well as local merchants. I was so excited to find out that one of my favorite places is on their list of hundreds of retailers. This store is .... wait for it... Trader Joe's, can you believe it? I love, yes love TJ - great prices, great food choices, great samples:) and now I can get 10% back for shopping where I normally shop anyway! I just activate the offer then shop. Another store I frequent is Starbucks, now by using my Solavei card, I get 15% cash back on my Starbucks purchases! Depending on where you live, they have a great selection of other local merchants to choose from.

Here's just a sampling of brick and mortar stores you can get cash-back from... Ann Taylor, Gymboree, Macy's, Old Navy, Sports Authority, Starbucks, Subway, Trader Joe's, Urban Outfitters, Vitamin Shoppe - they are adding new merchants to the Solavei Marketplace all the time! Of course, they have hundreds of online retailers if you prefer to do your shopping online and get cash back. They have great values on merchandise, entertainment, dining, travel and more! 

Watch the two video overviews below on how the Marketplace works.

Here's how it works:
With Solavei Marketplace, you can earn Cash back every day – whether you're shopping in a store or on the Solavei Marketplace site. Earning is as easy as 1, 2, 3 - here's how...

1. SHOP - Make purchases with your Solavei Card. We have partnered with hundreds of your favorite national retailers and local stores so you can always find what you’re looking for. Make sure you check out the new, exclusive offers that require you to activate before shopping.

2. EARN - Here's how you can earn cash back:

• ONLINE: Earn cash back when you shop at participating retailers through the Solavei site.

• IN-STORE: Earn cash back when shopping at participating stores just by using your Solavei card.

• ACTIVATE: Earn cash back when you activate offers on the site and shop before the expiration date.

3. WATCH IT ADD UP - With so many opportunities to earn, your cash back will add up fast! 

If you have any questions about the Marketplace, please visit Solavei's FAQs page.

I hope you see the enormous benefit of spending less on your mobile phone service and getting cash-back for shopping via the Marketplace with Solavei. One of my favorite motto is... Don't ever buy anything at full price - always aim to get cash back with every purchase.

To find out more about the great savings with the phone service, opportunity to make money, or the cash back Marketplace, click on this link - http://www.solavei.com/MarissaWinfrey. 

If you have any further questions, please send me an email or call 310-619-3055.

UPDATE: Click here to read about Solavei's cheaper cell phone rate plans.

Happy Frugal Friday! Can you believe Halloween is right around the corner? If you are attending a Halloween party or event and don't want to spend a mint on expensive costumes - you can get creative by putting together your own! A must is to visit local thrift stores to see what you can piece together for a bargain. Or get crafty and make or construct your own creative one-of-a-kind costume!

Here are some frugal, clever and inexpensive costume ideas for you to get inspired. Whether it's couples costumes, group costumes, kids costumes or pet costumes - you can be creative on the cheap.

    

    

   

   

   

Happy Savvy Sunday! If you are like me, I love to indulge in a good cup of coffee or latte or frappuccino at Starbucks. However, it's not the most frugal. But, you gotta treat yourself once in a while, right! You can still have your frappuccino and drink it too - for free!

Here are my top 7 Starbucks savings tips for you coffee lovers!

1. Rewards Card - sign up for their Rewards Program, where you get a free drink after purchasing 12 drinks. It's always a treat to get a free frappuccino with whip cream! Plus, with your rewards card - drink refills are free!

2. Free Birthday Treat - another benefit for signing up for their Rewards Program is that you get a free drink or food on your birthday!

3. Refills - even if you don't have a rewards card, brewed coffee refills are affordable, at only 50 cents during the same visit.

4. Add Chocolate - for that extra yummy taste (for free), add their chocolate powder to your coffee drink! You can also add cinnamon or vanilla powder.

5. Just Water - I often work on my laptop at Starbucks and sometimes I just want to sip on a cup of water. Simply ask the barista for a complementary cup of ice water.

6. Your Own Cup - BYOC, by bringing your own reusable mug, cup or tumbler you can save 10 cents on your drink.

7. Bigger Cup - instead of asking for "room for cream" - order a Tall in a Grande cup or a Grande in a Venti cup. You won't pay any more for a bigger cup, and you won't be wasting precious coffee.

What is one of your biggest recurring monthly expense besides mortgage or rent and a car payment? I'm quite fortunate that I don't have a car payment and my mortgage payment is pretty reasonable. However, it was only a year ago that I finally got smart and ditched my expensive mobile phone service plan - I won't mention names, but the company has an A, a T and another T in their name! I was paying almost $90 a month for very limited talk minutes, an additional $5 for a 200 text plan. I did keep my "unlimited" data plan since I signed my "contract" back in 2009. So needless to say, I've been out of that dreaded 2-year contract since 2011. 

I found out about this new company, named Solavei that offered affordable cell phone service for only $49 per month. I was definitely interested in finding out more! They exceeded my expectation by offering unlimited everything... unlimited voice, text and data for $49 a month on a 4G T-Mobile network. I was lucky that my phone was compatible (GSM), and that I was not in a contract, and that my phone was already unlocked. But it gets even better, Solavei also offers an opportunity for everyone to share this great savings with others. If you tell 3 other people and they sign up their mobile phone service with Solavei, you earn $60 total - so basically your cell phone service if free! Tell more people, you make even more money! How absolutely cool is that - frugal and savvy!

Plus, Solavei is having a "Fall into Savings" promotion, get your first 2 months, of unlimited 4G mobile service for just $39/month. Hurry, this deal ends 10/31/13, phone service must be activated by 11/15/13 for the $39 (first 2 months). Taxes and fees may apply.

To find out more about this great savings and opportunity to make money, visit this website for more details.  
http://www.solavei.com/MarissaWinfrey. If you have any questions, send me an email or call 310-619-3055.

UPDATE: Click here to read about Solavei's cheaper cell phone rate plans.