Old Navy is selling their Cozy Socks for $1 ( limit 5) this Saturday 12/9.  One day sales tends to get pretty crazy but $1 is a fairly good deal for a pair of socks.

If you are one of those procrastinators who is waiting for last minute to purchase gift online, be sure to take advantage of free shipping day on 12/17.

Check out the site to see whether you can take advantage of free shipping from 500+ participating merchants.

Swagbucks is offering $5 Amazon gift card for redemption for 40 Swagbucks.  That is reduced from 45 Swagbucks.  This has been what everyone is waiting for so be sure to grab yours!  The sale ends tomorrow at 11:00 am.  If you are still not a member, you can read my review here.

Rewards Gold is currently offering 1 year subscription to US News and World Report for complete their survey.  Personally I like magazine offers from Rewards Gold as they are easy to qualify.

As a member of BzzAgent, a leading word of mouth marketing company, I get products to try and share with people I know from time to time.  Previously I have received products such as Mountain Dew, latest novels, Fruit2Day, Sweet Tomatos, and many more.  If you like to try different products, I would definitely recommend BzzAgent.

A month ago I received sample for Minute Rice to try.  As a working professional, Minute Rice actually have a lot of appeal.  I brought one of the brown rice with me to work and heated up with a micro wave in approximately 5~10 minutes.  The rice tasted better than expected.  However, just with the rice itself was not enough for me.  I would compare the rice to other frozen rice bowls that are currently out on the market.  If Minute Rice can include different types of vegetables, it will make the product even more appealing.  Currently I will have to add additional vegetables and tofu when I consume Minute Rice.  For those of you would like to try, leave me an message with your physical address and I can send you a coupon where you can redeem for Minute Rice at your nearest supermarkets.

Disclaimer:  I did not receive anything additional from BzzAgent for writing this review except Minute Rice sample/coupons.  The review is not biased either positive or negative toward the product but rather it is an account of what I like and dislike about the product.

I saw an article on New York Times today regarding winners and losers of a falling dollar.  If you have pay attention to the dollar in comparison to foreign currencies, you will see that US dollar has been in a decline in the past 12~18 months.  The price of gold has soared and the sell your gold commercial has run wild.  So what are the impacts on American household?

Positive:
- 401k & stock markets are recovering
- less global appetite for risky U.S. assets.
- trade deficit shrinks
- much needed jobs may be created.
- Chinese-made goods remain affordable.

Negative:
- energy costs more, driving up the cost of food
- dollar could fall more if foreign banks decides to sell their position. Leading to inflation and raising interest rates on loans.
- cost of European and Japanese products goes up
- travel abroad is more expensive

Check out the NY Time article. It is definitely worth a read.

As I started playing basketball again my shin has been hurting like crazy.  A lot of health related article online mentioned that in the worse case it can lead to bone fracture.  In the end, I come to the conclusion that I have been gaining too much weight and my legs can’t no longer support the kind of pressure that are exerted in a basketball game.

Looking for a way to get back into better shape I decided to join 24 hour fitness.  Technically I have been a member for the past 6 years but my membership only allows access to all sport clubs.  Sadly, after I moved two years ago, the only 24 hour fitness around my place is a super sport.  Which essentially means I am forced to upgrade my membership.

I hated negotiating with the sales people at 24 hour fitness.  If you do a search on Google you will see why.  To put it mildly, they are a lot worse than your typical car salesman.  The initial quote that give me for upgrade was $300 a year.  However, being a frugal person and researched online, I know there are deals that are much better than this.  I went to 24 hour fitness to see their managers and I called some additional sales people.  Two months later, a friend told me that she got a deal for $180 a year.

Happily with the news, I tried to get the sales people to try to match the deal.  However, they claimed they have never heard of such a deal in their life.  I was at a point where I have enough of this.  I told them to call me whenever they have something comparable or better and I left.  Sure enough, I got a call from their sales people after 2 days stating that a deal just become available for $10/month or $120 a year.   Furthermore, I received a free ticket to Kirkwood ski resort  ($75 value).  I put down a note for myself when you are the one with the money in negotiation, don’t let the sales bully you into signing for a bad deal.  A little patience goes a long way.

Mercury Magazines is currently offering free subscription to Maxim magazine!  Check to see whether you qualify here.

Amazon is currently offering Lady Gaga’s MP3 Christmas Tree FREE to download.

Came across this video on Youtube the other day.  Very very cute!