Freebies!

I pride myself in being thrifty- saving a dollar, 20%, walking ten extra blocks to get my organic peanut butter for $4.50 instead of $5.99. And, I'm not the only one!

My friends and I are constantly on the look out for a deal, for freebies, for ways to save, so when my friend invited me to "The Perfect Cup" a bra fitting event sponsored by Skinny Cow ice cream over a month ago now- I jotted it down on my calendar to make sure I would be in attendance.

Held at quite the venue, a well lit lofty space in SOHO with exposed columns and air ducts- they hosted the best free event I've been to in the city thus far. My friends and I had preregistered for a fitting time and when we arrived we each met with our own bra fitting specialist. I must have tried on ten different bras: underwires, racerback, padded, demi, B cup, C cup. (Prior to the event, in the marketing materials I had read that 9 out of 10 women wear the wrong bra size- nothing new to me, I was quite aware, but I knew that I was not in that 90%- I was pretty darn sure I was in the right bra size... Until, I was informed by my wonderfully sweet bra-fitter that I was not a C... I was a B! For someone who has been everything from a 38DD to a 34C I was sort of put off.... Why do I loose and gain weight first in my boobs. Why can't the weight in my hips come and go so easily....?)

With my prescription for my new -FREE bra I headed out of the fitting area and into the free party area. My friends and I partook in an amazing buffet: asparagus, olives, crudites, cheeses, and Skinny Cow Ice Cream Cups. Each gal in attendance was given two free alcoholic beverages to wash it all down with. My friends and I decided to make it our meal and found a seat on a plush couch to listen to the deejay and soak in the sunshine spilling through the floor to ceiling windows onto the honey colored wood floors.

Upon leaving we received a totebag- a "good quality" totebag I declared aloud as we exited the larger room to the smallish coat-check area. The bag contained coupons and a bag to wash delicates in and currently I use the tote to carry my lunch to work. It's a good bag!

My friends and I have left 5k's toting so much free stuff that we looked like we robbed a bodega- baked lays, sunchips, nuts, apples, bottles of water all in tow. I stocked up on Earth Day at the event at Grand Central Station and just this past weekend during Summer Streets I ran the last 2 1/2 miles carrying a shopping bag (a free bag) with cliff bars, pirates booty, yogurt, coupons and magnets---

So, you can imagine my delight yesterday when my free bra finally arrived in the mail. But, better still was that I received a coupon for a free dozen eggs at my new neighborhood Target, a coupon for a free pair of panties at Victorias Secret, a free item with purchase at Origins - which I'm currently in need of this eye stuff that I can not live without, and a coupon for 20% off my entire purchase at CVS. I'm watching those expiration dates and carrying these clippings with care along with my 20% off your entire purchase from Bed Bath and Beyond... I want to get the full benefit of this great savings, so I'm making a list.