Guest blogger Alan Danzis on how to get free shipping from Amazon, when you're a few cents short...


I can’t tell you how often I buy something on Amazon for $24.99 and am one penny – no really a PENNY – away from free shipping. Of course, maybe that’s their goal: to get me to buy a $60 videogame so I get that elusive free shipping.

Well, my bud @richdemuro did me and humanity a solid when he posted a link today to a site called Amazon Filler Item Filler on Twitter today. Put in the amount of money you need to get to the magic number of $25, and it’ll spit out items you can buy.

So for me, looking for that extra penny, I could have bought:

A pencil sharpener for .25

A hex nut for .55

A book called The Lord’s Supper for .66

I will definitely be using this site in the future!

I personally would choose Emigrant Life In Kansas for .73 or the beautiful Inkology Cat Tales 2-Pocket Portfolio, Assorted Designs for .74.(1084128)(1000)

Yum! This sounds like a nice addition to the other various Sunday specials around the city. Buy one get one hot chocolates at Chocolate Bar!

Blizzards. Ice storms. Bring it on! Alison Nelson’s Chocolate Bar fights the Winter blues with a smoking Sunday surprise: Two4One. Get it whipped with cream, fluffy with homemade marshmallows, or simply straight up! Every Sunday from 8:30AM-9:00PM until Spring arrives, a free steaming hot cup of award-winning small size cocoa for all! A meal unto itself, Chocolate Bar’s hot chocolate is rich and satisfying. Made with pure 65% Belgian Callebaut dark chocolate, never cocoa powder, and steamed to perfection. Chocolate Bar’s hot chocolate is made with with your choice of milk or soy (a truly dairy free, vegan treat.) Eight hot chocolate flavors include classic, spicy, peppermint, coconut, hazelnut, caramel, raspberry and white. Go on, drink your chocolate.

TWO 4 ONE:
HOT CHOCOLATE HAPPY HOUR

Chocolate Bar West Village
19 Eighth Avenue
bet Jane & West 12th Street

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NYLON and Maybelline are hosting an event at Walgreens to introduce us to some new Maybelline products, get makeovers from celebrity makeup artists, and hopefully take home some free products!

Apparently, they forgot that is Hoboken St. Patties Day, so I will not be there. Rather, I will be pretending to be a sorority girl in a green boa, parading around Hoboken, crashing parties and chugging beer. Pics may or may not follow.

March 6, 3-5 pm
Walgreens
350 5th ave
rsvp@nylonmag.com

According to AM New York, Sui Ren in Williamsburg is "opening" this weekend and to celebrate, they're giving away free food and drink samples tonight and Saturday from 6-9pm.

Sui Ren
302 Metropolitan Ave
Williamsburg
718-218-7878

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If you like good music and gift bags worth your money, check out this VH1 Save the Music benefit concert in March.

Join us for this most memorable one-night only performance,
Tuesday, March 2, 2010, Union Square Ballroom, 9pm - 12am.
as we raise funds and awareness for VH1 Save the Music.
Performances by Diego Paulo and DJ Claudius Raphael

Purchase Tickets: http://vh1savethemusic.eventbrite.com

I've just been notified that there are luxury mystery shops available in NYC!

If approved, you'll be going undercover to evaluate service at top luxury brands in New York City and be paid $20-25 for each evaluation. Many times you can do more than one in a day.

If you're interested in this secret shopping opportunity, email me at nycrecessiondiary @ gmail . com RIGHT AWAY. I will give you details on how to sign up.

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I stumbled across Yipit (your daily local deal finding email) sometime after they had stumbled across me. Since then, they have been a beautiful addition to my deal-searching soul, and have helped me uncover countless specials across the city that I may have never known. Poetic? Beautiful? Yes, and yes.

To help you celebrate America Saves Week, I want to share a new feature Yipit introduced a few weeks ago: Yipit Perch.



You all know (and should love) Groupon, but are you aware of the smaller competitors Groupon-envy has spawned? Since sometime mid-2009, sites like Scoop St, the Dealist, and Lifebooker Loot started popping up like weeds across cyberspace with deals just as good as Groupon. Mere barnacles on Groupon's back, Yipit decided to tilt the scale in the small guys' favor and start aggregating all the plentiful purchase sites into one feed, Yipit Perch, so you don't clog your inbox with the same (or irrelevant) shit from different dealers.

Only interested in beauty deals? Yipit Perch obeys and sends you only Spa Sally every Tuesday and whatever spa and salon deals other sites might feature. Obsessed with food? Restaurant and food deals it is. And yes -- you can check multiple categories.



Yipit Perch even leaps a step ahead of you and even recommends a special deal they think you'll love the most, since you'll probably check more than one category and there will likely be more than one deal of interest to you.

With some deals up to 80% off, I recommend signing up for Yipit Perch so you can start raking in the deals and saving some cash.

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Monday, funday.

From Eater's Dealfeed:

Cabrito
The Deal: Movies and all you can eat taco nights. Every Monday, pay $25 for all-you-can-eat tacos and bottomless Dos Equis from 9 PM until the weekly movie ends. Next week is Anchorman, and after that Spinal Tap and Office Space. Diners who bring more than ten people can pick the movie for an upcoming night and will receive free drinks while that movie plays.

Kitten Lounge invites us to enjoy free drinks and discounted shopping at the Tory Burch store this Thursday. The clothing, handbags and accessories are not exactly "affordable," but it's tax return season, right? Heh.

February 25
6:00 - 8:00 pm

Tory Burch
257 Elizabeth Street

RSVP: toryburchevents@toryburch.com; place Kitten Lounge in the subject line and include your name and the number of guests coming



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Today's Groupon is a steal - $25 for $50 worth of groceries from OrganicDirect! Organic food is usually so pricey, and on top of that lugging home WholeFood grocery bags will drive anyone to Chinese delivery 5x a week (Me? Almost).

Beat the odds, eat healthy and save your strength by landing today's Groupon.

Click here to purchase your $25 for $50 worth of groceries from OrganicDirect!


From Groupon.com:

Delivery is available and free to those inside the Tri State–area travel zone. Search your zip code here to see if your home is in or floating above the zone.

You can find everything normally found at an organic brick-and-mortar store inside the digital walls of OrganicDirect. Browse through cyber-fruits, cyber-veggies, cyber-meats, cyber-frozen-cyber-foods, household cyber-supplies, and much more. OrganicDirect distributes mainly organic foods, including natural dairy products and vegan- and health-conscious options from a growing list of options.

(I also noticed that on their website they have a "refer a friend, earn $50" promo! Hmmmm..)

-Valid for new and existing accounts
-Expires 04/23/2010
-Limit 1 per household, may buy multiple as gifts.
-Not valid with other offers.
-Redeemable starting 2/25/10

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It's that time of the month! Cleverly Clothed presents:

A Fashion Industry Cocktail Reception
Friday Feb. 26th from 7-11pm at Ella (9 Avenue A).
$5 with confirmed rsvp

Join photographer Derek Reed, fashion publicist Alisa Rottenberg, custom clothier JElquist.com, Dapper Scout, Anthony Haden-Guest and Scallywag And Vagabond for a stylish night with some of the most stylish people in the city. Limited complimentary Spaten and Franziskaner will get your night started right and Ella's specialty cocktails will keep it that way.

P.S. When you RSVP, add ChiChi212.com as your affiliation. Miss Brittany Mendenhall, who is doing the Velvet Ropes, may give you the VIP treatment which includes reduced admission and drink tickets ;)

To celebrate their one year birthday, stop by Marfa NYC tonight for a tasting of their ribs, wings, tacos, and mac and cheese, while swinging back a couple (or twelve) free vodka cocktails.

It's Fashion Week, but there's other worthy events going on this week as well. Trade in lace and chiffon for wine and art:

Damon Dash cordially invites you to the Grand Opening of his new gallery located @ DD172 in Tribeca, NYC.

The Dash Gallery is located in a 3 story creative compound that brings to thought the days of old New York City, where artists of all genres came together to inspire movements.

The gallery is pleased to present the work of some amazing artists. Isaac Fortoul, Bobby Castaneda, Heather Gargon, Hector Ruiz and Jeremy Wagner. Live music by renowned DJ Sucio Smash. Hosted by Gallery Director Nyssa Frank and Curator Gabriel Fortoul

RSVP at www.fortoulpresents.com

Facebook Invite: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=296998605131#!

Friday, February 19, 2010
7:00pm - 11:00pm
DD172
172 Duane St.
New York, NY

Thanks to Paint the Town Red for the heads up!

Linky McLinkerson, here. Check out these varied budget-related links from across the web for inspiration. And yeah, there’s another BOGO deal in there, just for good measure.

This is a guest post brought to you by the lovely ladies over at the Post Grad Blog. Asian food connoisseurs, they've scouted out the best Chinese restaurants in the city Chinese holes in the city that serve free wine with dinner. Am I the only one this excited??!

Living in the city doesn’t always have to be so expensive. One local secret that many New Yorkers don’t know about is that there are quite a few cheap Chinese restaurants that give away free, unlimited wine with their food. Sure, it’s not top-notch wine... it’s been confirmed that some restaurants serve Franzia. But free booze is free booze, so stop whining and go order some orange chicken, boneless rips and won ton soup, because the wine will just keep a-comin'!

Here’s our Top Picks:

The Cottage, 360 Amsterdam Ave, btw 77th & 78th and 33 Irving Place.

Silk Road Palace. 447 Amsterdam Avenue btw 81st and 82nd.

Columbia Cottage. 1034 Amsterdam Ave btw 111th st and Cathedral Pkwy.

Sunny Chinese Cuisine. 1425 3rd Ave btw 80th & 81st.

Looks fun!

Come celebrate the launch of Royal Advisor Records on Tuesday February 23rd at Home Sweet Home. There's an open bar from 10-11:30 plus free CDs!

When you have a craving for tasteless yogurt topped with Captain Crunch, you don't really have any other options. You need to go to Pinkberry.

Lucky for you, it's officially the season of buy one get one - so stop into LA turned NYC cult classic Pinkberry with your BOGO coupon.

And don't bring a friend - eat it all yourself, you fat whore.


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This is a fantastic deal for those of you who want a romantic cheap, overstuffed lunch on Sunday -- become a fan of Baja Fresh on Facebook and they'll give you a coupon for a Buy 1 entree Get 1 entree FREE on Valentine’s day (2/14) only.

Print the whole FB page with your fan name and bring your ID with you.

Locations (and one review on Google claims it's better than Chipotle?!!):

Save 6 bucks and fill out this survey for a coupon to get free Excedrin!

Keep it in your office drawer for those unexpected rough days (or for when you roll in with a hangover.....)
Click here to fill out the 2 second survey about your pain reliever preferences and get your coupon redeemable for free Excedrin.

Shout out to Frugal RI Mama, where I found this deal!

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Buy one Quizno sub and drink, get a second sub free!

Excludes Deli subs, Toasty Torpedos and Toasty Bullets.

I'll be honest that I'm not quite sure what subs are left to pick from, but there has to be..er.... something.

Click here to download coupon.

First of all, today is my birthday. I'm enjoying the plethora of Facebook messages, and the um, snow.

More importantly, here's the cake work bought me:

Here's what it looks like currently:


Getting back to the snow, I noticed that Wined and Dined has a killer list of NYC Blizzard Day specials!

A few to note is that The Stag’s Head is having $4 drafts until 9:30 pm, Hop Devil Grill has $10 pitchers of sangria all night, and Bia Garden (which has an enclosed and heated garden area) is offering buy one get one six packs of beer.

Perhaps I'll celebrate my birthday at one of these fine establishments? Check out their list here.

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There's a JC Penney's at the Manhattan Mall, but I'm not sure if there's a Sephora inside. Anyone know?

Free Bare Escentuals Bareminerals Foundation @ Sephora inside JCP - No Purchase Necessary

Get a 10-day supply of original or matte, available in 6 shades.

JCPenney
Manhattan Mall
901 Ave Of The Americas Ste137
New York, NY 10001(212) 295-6120‎
jcpenney.com

Amazon’s showing the love for FREE with the Amazon Romantic Playlist!

Featuring a collection of tender tunes from a range of talented artists including R&B stars and up-and-coming indie bands, it’s a quick and inexpensive way to impress your true love.

Starting today, you can download the playlist at NO charge until February 14th. CLICK HERE.

NOTE: Just make sure you uncheck the three songs in the list that cost $.99 each.

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Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to meeeeeeeeeeee!

This month is my birthday, so what better time to highlight free shit I get for turning another year older. And yeah, you can cash in too when it’s your time. Check it:

FREE FOOD
Cold Stone Creamery – There’s something about those singing ice cream magicians whipping up my strawberry blonde ice cream that melts my heart. Because I’m signed up for their newsletter, I get a free creation! Join here http://www.coldstonecreamery.com/birthday/birthday_club.aspx

Ruby Tuesday – Their “so connected” club connects me with a free burger. Hello lunch tomorrow. Join here: http://www.rubytuesday.com/soconnected.asp

DRINKS
Serious Eats put together a nice list of places in NYC you can drink for free on your birthday. It includes Bar 12, Southern Hospitality, Bushwick Country Club, and Cheap Shots (friends necessary to cash in for all but Cheap Shots! If you need friends, rent them at Rent-a-Friend. Haha.) Check it out.

RANDOM GIFTS
OK, these aren’t exactly birthday related, but pretty random cool stuff I’ve found across various blogs and websites. Enjoy my labor:

--LIMITED Coupon (expires 2/10): $15 off $15 purchase or more. Click here and print.
--Via Deal Finding Chik, every Friday Hanes gives away free socks. Put this in your calendars and go sign up on Friday! Click here.
--Send 2 bags of Yogi Tea to a friend for free. Click here.
--Get 120 FREE albums from Amazon.com, including a CMJ “soundtrack.” Click here.

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Market Cafe’s OCHO LOCO! event: Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake for 8 cents (reg. $9)

Who: 8coupons.com & Market Cafe

What: Old-Fashioned Homeade Chocolate Cake for 8 cents ($9 w/out 8coupons’ OCHO LOCO! text)

When: February 8th, 2010 thru February 14th, 2010 – ALL WEEK including Valentine’s Day Brunch!

Where: MarketCafe @ 496 9th Avenue at 38th Street

How: Text yourself the special 8coupons OCHO LOCO! mobile coupon here and show your phone to redeem.

The Catch: No catch! Eat in or take out – No additional purchase required.
Bonus! The 888th Person to text the 8coupons OCHO LOCO! deal wins dinner for two at Market Cafe.
http://www.8coupons.com/discounts/market-cafe-new-york-10018-212-967-3892#12431

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Tonight from 7-9 pm, enjoy complimentary tastings of the newest Mekhong cocktails, indulge in complimentary appetizers, and soak up the celebrity atmosphere. Mekhong cocktails can be purchased for $10 (they are normally $15)

RSVP HERE

Hotel Griffou
21 West 9th Street New York
2/9/2010
7pm - 9pm

Via Socially Superlative

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Wednesday is the new Thursday, especially with the help of Stir.

Ladies - reap the cheap drinks. Men - you know where to be every Wednesday. Flirt mode on.

Ladies Night Every Wednesday
5 PM – Close

$3 – Bud Lights
$4 – House Wines
$5 – Mixed Drinks

OR

MARTINI MADNESS every Wednesday
All you can drink Top Shelf Martinis from 6PM – 11PM every Wednesday for $30. (Drink all you want for 5 hours).

Stir NYC
1363 First Avenue




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Can't believe this - only $176 to get laser hair removal! Omg.

To buy this Groupon, click here.


Description:

For $179, you get three laser hair-removal treatments at Laser Cosmetica, a $324–$1,159 value depending on the treatment area you choose. Your Groupon is only valid toward zappings of the upper lip, underarm, regular bikini, lower legs, shoulders, boss's car, beard, or back of the neck—you can choose one treatment area for three repeated sessions. It's good at all seven New York locations (Uptown, Midtown East, Midtown West, Chelsea, Financial District, Long Island, and Westchester).

It generally takes about six laser treatments to completely banish unwelcome hair, which is why you are conveniently able to combine two Groupons for a total of six sessions on one area.

To buy this Groupon, click here.

Single ladies, single men, TONY has the V-day event for you on February 8, 2010, 6:00 - 9:00 pm.

Join TONY at THOM Bar from 6-9 pm for free Stella, and maybe some snuggles.

RSVP: events@timeoutny.com

Thom Bar
http://www.60thompson.com/
60 Thompson Street
New York, NY 10012-4308
(212) 219-2000

I didn't have (or care about) Superbowl plans until Thrillist came through.

How can I say no to opulant snacks, free ABSOLUT and a bevy of prizes/surprises all in a penthouse?

Enter for your chance to win!

"Submit your information to be chosen to attend Thrillist’s Bowl Bash. We’re taking over a penthouse and stocking it with delicious ABSOLUT cocktails, opulent Super Bowl snacks and a bevy of Thrillist prizes/surprises giving you the ultimate viewing lounge experience you couldn’t even afford if you had Ed Begley Jr money."

Enter Here

THEME PARTYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

For a $10 cover, hear live music all night, drink $1 shots and enjoy a 1 hr open bar from 9-10 pm at Crash Mansion.



Come dressed to impress in your wackiest formal wear and get $1 shot specials all night! Only those who dress for the theme get the special shot price... Plus, there's an open bar from 9-10pm with cheap drink specials all night. Doors open at 8pm, 21+ admitted, $10 cover.

8pm: The Thirsty Hurts http://www.myspace.com/TheThirstyHurts
9pm: Skye Claire http://www.myspace.com/SkyeClaire
10pm: Laura Cheadle http://www.myspace.com/LauraCheadle
11pm: Mr. Breakdown http://www.myspace.com/MrBreakdownBand
12am: Drexler http://www.myspace.com/worangeDrexlerBand

http://www.crashmansion.com
Official Site: http://www.crashmansion.com

TONIGHT, and every Wednesday until March 10, you can enjoy a free wine and steak pairing at Michael Jordan's steakhouse. This is especially nice if you frequent Grand Central/commute from Upper NY or to Conneticut.

Hells yeah!

Print out a coupon and bring it into Oaxaca, a new Mexican joint in Midtown East, for a free burrito or other single menu item through March. Cheers to New New Yorkers for the heads up!

Click here for the coupon!




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Hit up this party!

Come party with the hosts of the hit new Web show, LoveNation, the show that covers emerging trends in the dating world! Guests include LoveNation co-hosts Thomas Edwards, the Professional Wingman (@URwingman) and Laurie Davis, the founder of eFlirt Expert (@eFlirtExpert). First come first serve signature cocktails! Couples and singles welcome! Maybe you’ll meet your Valentine?

Use #LoveNation for the event.

RSVP to the Event!

February 16, 6:30pm

Public House
140 E41st St
Between Lexington & 3rd
New York, NY 10017


LoveNation is a weekly web show that covers emerging trends in the dating world and gives tips to these up-and-coming crowds. For more information, visit www.LoveNation.tv

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With the tagline "cheap drinks. dirty minds. bad decisions." one can't help but be intrigued by what's gonna go on at Savalas in Williamsburg this Saturday at the Cheap & Dirty party.......

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Theater lovers, rejoice: 20at20 is back!

After checking out 89thandbroke.com, I realized one of my favorite theater promotions started last week, and this is the last week to take advantage - oh noes!

Well, even if I can't go, you should consider it. The concept is simple: Pick a show from the list, stand in line, and 20 minutes before it starts all seats are $20. Since many of these tickets are normally over $60, it's a great deal not to be missed!

The deal goes through Feb 7.

NYC Recession Diary Top picks are:
-Alice in Wonderland Through the Looking Glass
-Love, Loss, and What I Wore
-Perfect Crime

For all participating shows: http://www.20at20.com/

New York Girl Style is launching their website (huh? looks live to me) this week with a lovely party, including comped cocktails from 8-9.

Feb 4 I'm out of commission, but you all should hit this if you're not romping around at Social Media Week events.

February 4
8-11 pm
Greenhouse
150 Varick Street
rsvp@newyorkgirlstyle.com

Seamless Web is giving away FREE SMALL COFFEES all February (Free Coffee Days) at featured vendors across Manhattan! Feb 1-5 is Midtown East, so here's the list of places you can grab a free coffee from in person, not online.

Just say that Seamless Web sent you. Enjoy!

Feb 1-5, Midtown East

41 Bistro Marketplace
125 Park Ave

Austin's Café
10 Park Ave

Bagels and More
331 Lexington Ave

Berger's on the Go
2 East 39th St

Bistro New York
466 Lexington Ave

Blake & Todd
52 Vanderbilt Ave

Café Guy & Gallard
459 Park Ave South

Daniel's Bagels
569 3rd Ave

Fresco on the Go by Scott
40 East 53nd St

Green Café
147 East 60th St

Green Café
34 East 58th St

Guy & Gallard
120 East 34th St

Guy & Gallard
475 Park Ave South

Guy & Gallard VIII
180 Madison

Toasties East
924 Third Ave

All participating Free Coffee Days restaurants in the Midtown East area are also available for online ordering via SeamlessWeb (though if you order coffee online, you'll have to pay for it!).

Enter code FREECOFFEE to save $5 on your first personal SeamlessWeb order.**

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Via email, I just was informed that there's free chicken and rice at the chicken/lamb cart on 53rd and 6th. Gyros, chicken & rice, lamb & rice. "No strings attached."

Can it be true?! I will investigate. See you in five minutes.

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Looks like there is free food, but you're supposed to be part of some conference to get it. I dont think they're checking tags so go get in line! I've heard a few success stories...