Posted by Erin Gifford, owner of CouponCravings.com

Over the last few months I’ve shared so many freebies for you, but today I’ve got freebies for your dog! Here are a few of the best that Fido can get his paws on today.

* Get a free sample of smoky bacon-flavored Better than Ears dog treats courtesy of Walmart.com. Or, get a free sample of Whites Premium dog food.

* Join the Pedigree Puppy Program and get a $10 in instant savings, a subscription to the Pedigree Puppy Scoops e-newsletter, a downloadable Puppy Care Guide and a special gift for your puppy when he reaches adulthood.

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These days, it’s smart to barter with friends to conserve cash, such as exchanging a few of your shirts for a couple of their DVDs. Why not do the same when it comes to caring for your animal? For example, you could walk a pal’s dog once a week, and she feeds your cat when you go out of town. You won’t have to pay for a pet sitter or kennel, and your friend will get a break from her doggie duties every now and then.

SEE ALSO:
Protect your pets – for free
Save a homeless cat
Can you afford a new pet?
Find pet-friendly hotels

Posted by Emily Hendricks Turnier, Associate Editor

Photo by Foxypar4, Flickr

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Head to your local Baskin-Robbins on Wednesday night between 5 and 10 p.m. for a 31-cent scoop of your favorite flavor. The promotion benefits the National Junior Firefighter Program. Find your local shop here.

SEE ALSO:
Eat up T.G.I. Friday’s tasty deals
Shop on someone else’s dime
Make any day special with pound cake
Whip up a low-cost meal anytime

Posted by Emily Hendricks Turnier, Associate Editor

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•    What’s better than big, beautiful lashes?  Great mascara that’s wallet-friendly and gets the job done!  Check out mascaras that offer the most bang for your buck.

•    If you’re low on cash but addicted to style, increasingly popular clothes swapping parties may be the perfect social outing for you.  Now you can expand your clothing options by taking the party online with a new site called Dig N Swap.   Here you can talk with other budget fashionistas and, yes, swap clothes!

•    Since you’re already thinking eco chic, pick up a free reusable bag as well.

•    Distressed jeans are in this season, but there’s no need to cough up big bucks for denim that looks destroyed and ripped.  Instead save your cash and get in DIY mode by giving an old pair of jeans the chic distressed look with a few easy steps.

•    Cut your morning beauty routine short with a hair trick and cheapie from Sally Beauty.

SEE ALSO:
Weatherproof your look from head to toe
Cut clothing costs with laundry tips
Get salon hair at home: Step-by-step guide
Find affordable (and stylish) plus-size clothes

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Looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but don’t want to splurge on dinner? Good news! T.G.I. Friday’s restaurants are serving up select five-cent appetizers with the purchase of a beverage from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 5. Visit tgifridays.com to find a location near you, and bring the family in for an inexpensive fiesta.

SEE ALSO:
Head south of the border for dinner!
Cook up refried bean tostadas (75 cents per serving!)
Try sour cream chicken enchiladas
Get $200 of a trip to Mexico

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Don’t let rain showers keep you indoors. Brighten a gloomy day with fun raingear.

Go for a practical but fashionable jacket in a glossy butterscotch shade. Jacket, $98, sizes 4-14; at WD.NY.

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The trick lies in the type of brush! First blot wet hair with a towel gently (avoid rubbing—that causes frizz), then use a metal vent brush.  The open vents allow the hot air to flow through the brush and directly to your hair, cutting your blow-drying time in half.

Try this cheapie from Sally Beauty. It’s only $4 but will get the job done!

SEE ALSO:
Cut clothing costs with laundry tips
Get salon hair at home: Step-by-step guide
Find affordable (and stylish) plus-size clothes

Posted by Tomoko Takeda, Senior Beauty Editor

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Posted by Erin Gifford, owner of CouponCravings.com

It’s Earth Day. So let’s reduce, reuse, recycle and snag some free reusable shopping totes for that next trip to the grocery store! Here are five ways to get free shopping bags that are good for the planet.

1)    Kroger shoppers, create a design for a free reusable shopping bag and get a free reusable tote when you submit your design. This offer is also good at Kroger sister stores, including Fry’s, King Soopers and Fred Meyer.

2)    Score a free Everyday with Rachael Ray reusable grocery tote by mail when you purchase select Kraft Foods brands, like Ritz, Capri Sun and Chips Ahoy.

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Flip out. Turning your clothes inside out and washing them in cold water is the best way to keep color from fading. This maneuver is especially important with jeans, which are often dyed only on the surface.

Loosen up. Don’t crowd your clothes when hanging them in your closet. Otherwise, they’re more prone to wrinkle, which means you’ll have to iron them—and that increases the risk of damage. Wire hangers also can harm the shoulders of your shirts, so it pays to invest in better quality plastic, wood or padded hangers.

Soften with caution. Fabric softeners can leave spots on your clothes. Dilute liquid softener before adding it to your wash, but don’t use more than you need.

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Order a complimentary pet safety pack from the ASPCA—it includes a window decal (to tell rescue workers how many and what kinds of pets are inside your home), and also an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center magnet. The magnet lists the center’s toll-free emergency number and Web site. Sign up for the pack here.

SEE ALSO:
Fight animal cruelty
Save a homeless cat
Can you afford a new pet?
Find pet-friendly hotels

Posted by Emily Hendricks Turnier, Associate Editor

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