Cheap in Erie

I am a grandchild of the Great Depression and a survivor of more recent recessions. Through my grandparents and parents, I've learned to spend wisely and to save while still being able to live life well. I want to share my discoveries with you and hear yours.

Latest Posts

Posted: June 18th, 2013

Free break celebrates refugees in Erie

It’s almost time for another Mid-Day Art Break at the Erie Art Museum, 20 E. Fifth St. The weekly events feature free live entertainment on the museum’s Fifth Street patio plus free gallery tours at 12:30 and 1 p.m. Tomorrow’s event at noon is World Refugee Day, celebrating the rich cultures of Erie’s many refugee communities, organizers said. June 26 [...]


Posted: June 18th, 2013

Sample helps you clean your clothes

Woolite is offering samples of its laundry detergent. Go to www.facebook.com/wooliteus and click on “Woolite Samples.” The site doesn’t give details about the sample, like size or how long it will take to arrive. I remember getting some sample-size packs of Woolite years ago but I don’t remember where from. I do remember, however, that the packets [...]


Posted: June 18th, 2013

Doll clothes don’t have to be expensive

I grew up playing with dolls and liked to dress them in different pretty outfits. But I was really shocked to see how much some of those outfits costs these days. Friends and I strolled through a doll store in Chicago last year and some of the doll clothing and shoes cost as much as or more than I [...]


Posted: June 18th, 2013

Take the pledge for a lotion sample

Eucerin is giving away lotion samples again. Go to www.eucerinus.com/skin-solution-center/pledge.html. The site says you’ll “get a free sample when you pledge to put the health of your skin first.” You get to choose from Eucerin Daily Replenishing Moisturizing Lotion, Eucerin Smoothing Repair Dry Skin Lotion or Eucerin Professional Repair Extremely Dry Skin Lotion. The offer [...]


Posted: June 17th, 2013

Promo giving away lip gloss

Here’s a chance for you to win one of 2,500 lip glosses from Refinery29/Bare Escentuals Beauty. The promo, which began Friday and ends Tuesday, is giving away 500 bareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lip glosses in R29 Firecracker. To enter, go to http://www.refinery29.com/sweeps/moxie-firecracker


Posted: June 17th, 2013

Coupon gets you free Staples bag, 20 percent discount

The Staples website has a coupon that will get you a free reusable shopping bag plus 20 percent off many of the items that you can fit in it. Just take your coupon to a Staples store and get one of the EcoEasy bags from Customer Service. Then, according to the directions on the coupon, all you [...]


Posted: June 17th, 2013

You’ll rave over this freebie

Rave is giving away free hairspray starting today at 3 p.m. Eastern time. Go to Rave’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ravehairspray. I found the announcement for the free hairspray giveaway by clicking on “coming soon.”  I couldn’t find any “official rules” yet, but another site, Shop4Freebies.com, said the hairspray giveaway runs today through Friday and the [...]


Posted: June 17th, 2013

Free music series begins tonight in Erie

The Sounds of Summer begin tonight in Erie. The free annual music series kicks off with a 7 p.m. concert at St. Mary’s Home — East, 607 E. 26th St. The Gem City Jazz Ensemble will be performing. Concerts continue each Monday through Aug. 12 with a different performer at a different location. Rain dates are [...]


Posted: June 17th, 2013

A rose at no price smells just as sweet

I love roses but we all know they’re not exactly cheap to buy. So I grow my own and they smell even sweeter than some of the ones I sniff in shops. When I moved into my house, I inherited four rose bushes from previous owners. Since then, I’ve increased the number to a total [...]


Posted: June 17th, 2013

Reader shares link for VitaMelts sample

Priscilla from North East shared that if you go to the website below, you can get a free sample of Nature Made VitaMelts. https://www.facebook.com/naturemade/app_136039359906087 If you see an offer for a sample or freebie, send the details to me at dana.massing@timesnews.com so I can share with everyone.