Kaley, Author at Cha-Ching on a Shoestring™

FREE Cough Drops at the Dollar Tree!

April 14th, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Checkout 51

We have new Checkout 51 offers and the popular Halls Cough Drops offer is back! This will score you FREE cough drops from the Dollar Tree when you pair it with a coupon from the 4/10 SmartSource insert.

Here’s how:

Dollar Tree:

Buy 2 Halls Drops, 30 ct, $1 ea.
Use $1.00/2 Halls Drops Bags, 17 ct or Larger – 4-10-14 SS (exp 05/21/16)
Pay $1 out of pocket and submit for $1/2 or $0.50/1 Checkout 51 offer
As low as two for FREE after coupon and cash back!

Be sure to submit your receipt no later than Wednesday, 4/20, to claim your deposit.

Not familiar with Checkout 51? Head over here to learn more about this money-saving app that doesn’t require a Smartphone. Or check out my news story.

Tax Day Freebies and Deals 2016

April 13th, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Tax Day FREE Stuff 2016

Want to know what’s FREE on Tax Day this year? Check out this long list of Tax Day freebies and restaurant deals from Schlotzsky’s, Hard Rock Cafe, Noodles & Company and more. We will update as more deals pop up. Let me know if you find anything else!

Please note that Tax Day is actually April 18 this year!

Tax Day Freebies and Deals 2016:

Hard Rock Cafe: Participating locations will offer a FREE Legendary Burger to people who stand up and sing in front of the rest of the restaurant’s patrons on Monday, April 18 during normal business hours.

Boston Market: Participating locations will offer a Half Chicken Individual Meal with 2 sides, cornbread, cookie and Regular Drink for $10.40 on Monday, April 18. No coupon needed.

HydroMassage: Participating locations are offering a FREE HydroMassage from April 18 -22. Find a location near you here.

Sonny’s BBQ: Get a half-price Sweet & Smokey or House Dry-Rubbed Rib Dinner at participating locations on Tax Day, April 18. No coupon necessary.

Great American Cookies: Get a FREE Regular Chocolate Chip Cookie at participating locations on Monday, April 18.

Kona Ice: Get a FREE shaved ice on “National Chill Out Day” (April 15). Find a Kona Ice location near you.

Sonny’s BBQ: Get half off a Rib Dinner on Tax Day, Monday April 18.

Bruegger’s Bagels: Print a coupon that will get you a Big Bagel Bundle for $10.40. You’ll need to wait for the pop-up and sign up to claim the offer.

Noodles & Company: On April 18, get a free kid’s meal with the purchase of any regular entree. And those who order online between April 11 and 18 can get $4 off orders of $10 or more by entering the promo code TAXDAY at checkout.

Schlotzsky’s: Stop by any Schlotzsky’s location on Monday, April 18 and get a FREE small The Original with purchase of a 32-ounce drink and a bag of chips!

Office Depot/Office Max: Get 5 lbs. of FREE paper shredding through April 23, 2016 with this coupon.

Bananas: Certified public accountants (CPAs) will receive one FREE Bananas’ smoothie called the CPA (made with fresh strawberries, bananas and ice, with added Red Bull Yellow Edition) when they present a valid CPA license at participating Bananas locations on April 17 and 18.

As always, I recommend calling ahead to be sure that your location is participating. Happy Tax Day!

Swagbucks: Swag Code Extravaganza on 4/13!

April 12th, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Swag Code Extravaganza on 4/13

Swagbucks is full of ways to earn from searching the net and watching videos, to taking surveys and shopping. There are so many ways to earn, sometimes it’s tough to explore all the different avenues. One person might only earn SB through surveys while another might only earn through watching videos; the Swagbucks community really is diverse. That’s the great thing about their promotions though, it allows Swagbucks to show you a whole new world. If you think of Swagbucks as a globe, there’s a whole world of SB to explore, why not check it out?

Where In The World Are Your SB? Swag Code Extravaganza!

Study that globe because it all goes down on Wednesday, April 13th from 7am PDT/10am EDT to 6pm PDT/9pm EDT
Spot 6 Swag Codes throughout the day worth a total of 30 SB
You’ll be seeking out Swag Codes across the world including locales like:
- Facebook
- Instagram
- Team Challenge
- Search
- Refer & Earn
- Mother’s Day Sale

Please note: The above times are for US only.

New to Swagbucks and want to join me in earning free gift cards every month? Sign up here for your free account. Be sure to use my exclusive code CHACHING70 to start off with 100 FREE swag bucks! (Just click on the words, “I have a sign up code.”) Then get started earning free $3 – $50 Gift Cards or PayPal cash by taking surveys, searching the web, watching videos, or shopping online. They’ve already awarded over $100,000,000 and have an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. You won’t regret giving Swagbucks a try!

Click here to find out how to earn a FREE $25 Amazon gift card every month with Swagbucks!

Celebrating our 7th Birthday with a New Look and a BIG Giveaway! Closed

April 9th, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

7 year giveaway

Update: This giveaway has ended.

Where We’ve Been

I’ve been feeling pretty sentimental this week.

Seven years ago, I tiptoed out into the world of blogging, unsure if a single person would care to read what I have to say (except for my Mom, of course). But, after the bitter discouragement of unemployment led me to discover a passion for couponing, freebie finding and creatively stretching our dollars, I realized that I couldn’t NOT share my learnings with the world. I also wondered if maybe, just maybe, I could help supplement our income with this thing called blogging.

So, with the help of a friend over the course of a couple months, I pieced together my vision for my very own money-saving blog. My husband and I brainstormed ideas for the blogs’ name. I typed away on our personal computer in our little garage apartment for hours upon hours using our dial-up connection (my apologies to anyone who tried to call me during those months!). I researched the ins and outs of blogging and tried to imagine new ways that I could help my readers stretch their dollars.

And I hoped.

I hoped that this little bud of a desire could blossom into the dream that was growing in my heart.

Then, seven years ago (on April 19th), Cha-Ching on a Shoestring was born.

What a journey it has been!

Cha-Ching on a Shoestring Press Within a couple months, my little blog began to receive media attention, first from news outlets in our home of upstate New York and then later in our new home in Pennsylvania and eventually even nationally. Since we were in the midst of the recession, our story resonated deeply with many who were experiencing unemployment and tightened budgets. Before long, thousands of others joined my Mom and became readers and money-saving ninjas.

And the journey continues! Over the course of the past 7 years, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to bring along others to help with the blog like the amazing Nicole, my dear friends Heidi and Elizabeth and the delightful Dollar Store Diva (aka MOM). We’ve added tips about organizing, living simply, cooking and giving on a budget. I’ve shared my passion for simplifying Christmas in my very first eBook. And while the focus of the blog has changed some from those early days, we are still all about saving money around here!

What’s New

Screen Shot 2016-04-08 at 3.19.40 PM

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been busy envisioning a new design for this site with the help of the talented and delightful Sharon. Since the site is about so much more than just couponing now, we wanted it to reflect all the ways we’ve discovered to live LARGE on a limited budget over the past years and will continue to do so as we journey together.

I am so thrilled with the new look that I want to celebrate!

So I decided to give away gift certificates to two of the stores that are Cha-Ching readers’ favorite ways to save: Amazon and Target.

$25 Amazon Gift Card and $25 Target Gift Card Giveaway!

One lucky Cha-Ching on a Shoestring reader will win BOTH a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a $25 Target Gift Card.

Here’s how to enter:

You have up to three possible methods of entry:

Leave a comment on this post letting me know how Cha-Ching on a Shoestring has helped you live LARGE on a limited budget.

Click here to subscribe to Cha-Ching on a Shoestring by e-mail and leave a comment below letting me know you subscribed. If you are already a subscriber, simply let me know in a comment.

Click here to share this post on Facebook. Simply click ‘Share’ to post it on your Facebook wall. Leave a comment on this post letting me know that you did.

Note: Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this post to leave your comments. (Or CLICK HERE to do so.) By leaving a separate comment for each entry you will have a greater chance of winning! E-mail responses will not be considered as an entry in the giveaway.

This giveaway ends at 10:00 a.m. EST on Sunday, April 17, 2016. I will randomly select the winning comment. Winner will be notified by email and listed on this site.

Disclaimer: This giveaway is sponsored by ME because I am a big fan of you guys!

Delicious Boston Cream Cake Recipe (Amazingly Easy!)

April 1st, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

The Best Boston Cream Pie Recipe

The Best Boston Cream Cake. Ever.

You guys. This cake. Oh my.

I keep trying to find the words to describe just how much I love this newly-discovered recipe. But all that I can muster is two words at a time.

So good.

Amazingly easy.

Num Num Num.

(There! I mustered three words!)

I shared a sneak peek of this cake in my last Merry Little Living Project newsletter and several of you begged for the recipe.

Earning some major brownie points with my boys tonight. (Or should we say Boston Cream points?) #happytuesday #lifewithboys

A photo posted by Kaley Ehret (@kaleyehret) on Feb 2, 2016 at 4:14pm PST

I don’t blame you.

Here’s what I love about this cake. It’s easy enough that I whipped one up on a Tuesday.

Who makes a fancy dessert on a Tuesday night?

This mom.

And then again on a Friday, a Saturday and I believe there was a Monday in the mix too.

Let’s just say that I earned ~~brownie~~ Boston Cream points with my kids, my husband, grandparents, siblings and whoever else happened to stop by. It was a good month.

I want you to have a good month too! In fact, this might set you up for a good year!

The best Boston Cream Cake Recipe

The secret is in the sauce – err, the glaze. I doubled the original recipe because less is not always more, especially when cakes are involved.

Amazingly Easy Boston Cream Cake Recipe

I LOVE how thick the middle layer is. It makes other more thinly layered Boston Cream cakes envious.

Which reminds me, which is it? Boston Cream Cake or Boston Cream Pie? It seems the favored title is Pie, but considering the fact that this is most definitely a Cake, this deeply confuses me.

Delicious Boston Cream Pie Recipe

You’ll likely want to place some kind of pan underneath your cake dish when you pour the glaze on top, as its sweet chocolatey goodness will ooze all over your countertop.

Or you can just use your fingers to scrape it off the counter. And then, of course, you’ll need to clean your fingers. I’ll leave that up to you how to accomplish that task. Ahem.

Boston Cream Cake Recipe (Amazingly Easy and Delicious!)

Ingredients

Cake:

1 yellow cake mix (and ingredients listed on the package)

Filling:

1 cup cold milk
1 (3.4 ounce) pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1½ cups Cool Whip

Chocolate Glaze:

2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened baking chocolate
2 tablespoons butter
1 1/2 cup powdered sugar
4 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Preheat oven and prepare cake mix according to package directions.
Spray two 9-inch round pans with cooking spray then lightly flour.
Bake cake according to package directions; until golden brown and center passes the toothpick test. Once done, let cakes cool and invert on a wire rack to cool further.

For the Filling:

Beat 1 cup of milk and pudding mix with a whisk or mixer for 2 minutes. Gently fold in whipped cream. Let stand 5 minutes.
Place one cake on serving plate, spread pudding mixture on top, then top off with second cake.

For the glaze:

Microwave chocolate and butter on high for one minute in a small microwave safe bowl. Stir until chocolate is melted. Add powdered sugar and 4 tablespoons milk; mix well until smooth. Spread over the top of the cake immediately letting drip down the sides. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

Notes

Adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything

https://chachingonashoestring.com/2016/04/01/the-best-boston-cream-pie-recipe/

The best Boston Cream Pie Recipe

Swagbucks: Mark your Calendar for All That Jazz Collectors Bills

March 31st, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

All That Jazz Collectors Bills

We always love a celebration. What better way to celebrate with some Jazz music. Strike up the band, it’s time for All That Jazz: Collector Bills!

What better way to earn free gift cards than searching the web through Swagbucks as part of your everyday life? Well here’s a way to get a bonus while you earn! Collect all 5 jazz-themed Collector Bills and you’ll earn a 20 SB Bonus!

For those of you who are wondering what Collector Bills are, I’m here to explain:

How Do I Get Collector Bills?

It’s simple. Search the web through the Swagbucks Search Engine (powered by Yahoo!) starting Monday, April 4th at 12:01am PT/3:01am ET through Sunday, April 10th at 11:59pm PT/Monday, April 11th 2:59am ET, and when you get a search win, you may get a special Collector Bill valued at either:

5 SB
7 SB
13 SB
20 SB
26 SB

What happens when I get a Collector Bill?

When you win a limited edition Collector Bill, you’ll receive the value of the bill and the bill will be added to your “Collector’s Bill” ledger. Collect all 5 bills and you’ll instantly earn a 20 SB bonus!

Is it possible to collect the same Collector Bills multiple times?

Yes, you could collect any of the Collector Bills multiple times. There’s nothing like hitting a good note twice!

Click here to find out how to earn a FREE $25 Amazon gift card every month with Swagbucks!

The Dollar Store Diva: Celebratory Easter Printables

March 21st, 2016 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

I love these Easter printables from our very own Dollar Store Diva! Such a simple and lovely way to commemorate the Easter holiday. I’m going to print mine out now!

***

As my children were growing, we had a traditional saying as Easter approached. Their dad would exclaim, “He is risen!” With equal zeal, we would all respond, “He is risen indeed!”

This year I created two printables– He is Risen Indeed –to keep these powerful Easter announcements in brilliant view in our home.

I trimmed the two printables, adhered them to sheets of colored paper, and slipped them into 8×10″ frames.

Easter Printables He is Risen

And there you have it–Easter printables to celebrate this blessed holiday.

Click here to print yours.

***

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom who has a special power. She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts that would brighten anyone’s day!