With the dollar hovering around $0.92, it means that buying X’mas presents from overseas could be cheaper than buying them locally. For those who love Benefit Cosmetics, here’s the chance to make use of the great exchange rate and FREE shipping that is being offered. For example, the bad gal mascara is usually AU$36 from Myers but only US$19 (about AU$20) from Benefit’s website. This is a good $16 savings all up! Stock up on your pressies now and head to Benefit.

Get FREE international shipping with any $100 Benefit Cosmetics order.

Enter CYBRINTL at checkout.

Offer valid 11.27.09–11.30.09. Not valid with other offers. Excludes sale items & sharpeners. Offer valid one time per customer.

Vista is giving away 250 free business cards

Free Custom Note Pads

Please refer to Vista’s website for their full terms and conditions

3 Easy Ways to Score a Free Lunch

With the big “R” word looming over everyone’s head, more and more people are interested in finding innovative and creative ways (or is it just yours truly doing this alone?) to increase their value for money. The fact that books titled “Learn to budget”, “From $0 to riches” and etc are flying off the shelves at Borders provides me with an understanding that there are truly people out there who are interested in saving more money. So here are some tricks of the trade that will definitely help you score some free lunch.

Perform a good deed and score a free lunch

How does that work? How are you able to help someone that in turns help yourself? Too altruistic and too good to be true – YES but hey there is this place called the Red Cross. Giving blood only takes about five to ten minutes. However, you will probably need to give yourself about an hour from the start to the end of the appointment. The best thing about donating blood is that you are helping someone and at the end of the session, you are provided with “post-donation refreshments” that may include a sandwich, juice and maybe a bag of chips! I have also been told that the Clarence Street donor center in Sydney offers the best food in town.  Yup! This is perfect for the suits who work around the CBD.

For those who fear the needle, do not fret, there are other ways to score a free lunch.

Schedule to meet up with your clients/suppliers during lunch time

This is as simple as it sounds. If you represent a company who is wooing a particular client and you are directly involved in the deal, you should by all means bring the customer out for a nice lunch on the company should you not? Why not kill two birds with one stone and feed yourself while working. The truth is you will not be able to work if they starve you and so this is a valid reason.

On the other hand, it is even sweeter when someone wants to do business with you. Learn to schedule appointments close to or during lunch time. When they request for an appointment just tell them bluntly that they will need to meet you during your only free time – yup you got this right and that will be LUNCH time. More than often, if they want your business, they will have to bring you somewhere nice or at least offer to pay for lunch.

The last resort

If the last two points do not fancy your liking because you are neither a saint and you do not like meeting people for lunch, do not fear because I know that you will enjoy this last point as you can be classified as cold and without feelings. In the mornings, on the way to work, it is probable that you will pass by at least one or two primary schools. This is your chance to score a free lunch. Kids always have lunches prepared for them by their parents and they are gullible aren’t they. The deal is when you walk past an unknowing kid, you should stealthily grab their lunch box and quickly run in the opposite direction. There! You have officially scored yourself a nice lunch courtesy of the unknowing kid and the best part is you do not even know what is in the box and you would be surprised to even find a popper in there! YEAH!

Most people will disapprove of the last method but hey it is the period of the big “R” and you want to save money right? Proceed at your own risk and do not run into a bunch of parents or teachers if you do decide to adopt this method. Please do not mention this website or post if you ever get caught using this method. This is my disclaimer and DO NOT MENTION MY NAME!

Realistically, I think that the first two methods are the way to go. Personally, I prefer the second method as I fear needles and what not. To each his/her own.

Happy skimping without showing…