Indian Music with Your Indian Food

Like Indian food?

What about Indian music?

Even if you answered yes to only one of those questions (or if you're curious about either!), I've got the deal for you.

Kitchens of India is packaging each of their heat-and-eat meals with one free Indian classical music CD. There's five CDs available, and my husband eats so much of this stuff that we must have the whole collection by now.

For about $2.50 apiece, our local grocery store carries selections like Pav Bhaji ("Mashed fresh vegetables simmered in butter, and lightly spiced.") and Pindi Chana ("Chick peas simmered in an aromatic tomato gravy.") Bon appetit.

FREE Cookie from Mrs. Field's

It's National Cookie Month!

As if you needed a reason to eat cookies.

But just in case you do, here's another reason: they're free.

Stop by any participating Mrs. Fields store TODAY between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for your free chocolate chip cookie.

Not sure of the location of your closest Mrs. Fields? See the store locator.

Final Day for FREE Chocolate

Remember: Tomorrow is the last day to sign up to get a free candy bar from Mars at the Real Chocolate website.

Be one of the first 250,000 people to register after 9 a.m. and get a coupon in the mail for your choice of Mars product, including M&M's, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, Twix or Dove bars (I have two of the latter waiting for me as I type).

I've received just a handful of emails from Mars since I signed up for my first candy bar coupon in May-- a small price to pay for free chocolate.

All-You-Can-Fly for One Kind-of-Low Price

JetBlue moved one step closer to becoming like a pizza buffet this week. And I'm not talking about the airline's in-flight snacks.

Instead of pepperoni pizza, gorge yourself on travel with JetBlue's all-you-can-fly pass for $599 for travel between Sept. 8 and Oct. 8 to and from any of 56 destinations.

Passes must be purchased by Aug. 21.

But before you sign up, remember to look at the fine print.

• Flights to Puerto Rico and international destinations are NOT included.

• Change or cancellation = $100 fee

• No-show = $100 fee (and no more flights until the fee is paid)

But if you live near a JetBlue destination and feel like exploring the country, here's your chance for some cheap(ish) weekend trips.

Last Chances for Free Coffee, Chocolate & Ice Cream

Christian this the summer of free food. But unfortunately summer is winding down.

Luckily you still have a few more weeks to get your fix. Here's a rundown of the three best giveaways that Thrifty Under Fifty has highlighted, along with their expiration dates:

• Free Mocha from McDonald's: Today, Aug. 3, is the last day to get your 7-ounce iced mocha or 8-ounce hot mochas. The drinks are available for the asking between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. at participating McDonald's.

• Buy-One-Get-One Free Sundaes from Ben & Jerry's: Every Monday through Aug. 31 at a Ben & Jerry's scoop shop, with coupon.

• Free Mars Candy Bars: Register online every Friday through Sept. 25.

A Sundae Every Monday from Ben & Jerry's

I didn't understand the appeal of Ben & Jerry's until I visited the factory in Vermont in February. One taste there and I was hooked.

If you feel the same, now you can get your fix for half price. Find a friend, print this coupon and visit a Ben & Jerry's scoop shop any Monday through Aug. 31 for buy-one-get-one-free sundaes. Now that's a sweet Monday.

Free Restaurant Giveaways for Your Birthday

Make a happy birthday happier with free food from your favorite restaurants.

My 28th birthday is today, but I've received coupons and birthday deals for more than two weeks. I won't be using them all-- a couple are from restaurants that aren't even located in New York City, where I now live. But don't be surprised if you find me in an ice cream shop or two with a coupon in my hand this month.

Getting free birthday food is easy. Just go to the website of your favorite restaurants and sign up for the e-newsletter. If the registration asks for your birthday, that's a good sign. Some of the websites even specifically state that you'll get a birthday surprise.

Here's the offers I've received so far. I'll be updating this list as I learn about and sign up for more. What free birthday food have you received? giveaway

Cold Stone Creamery: free Cold Stone Creation, coupon good for two weeks

Baskin-Robbins: free 2.5 ounce scoop, coupon good for 10 days

Panera Bread: free mini-bundt cake, coupon good for one month

BD's Mongolian Barbeque: free stir fry meal, coupon good for two weeks

FREE Mocha Mondays at McDonald's

I don't like coffee. I visit Starbucks purely for the pastries.

But for those who can't get going without a morning (or an afternoon or an evening) jolt of caffeine, here's a deal for you.

Participating McDonald's restaurants are distributing FREE 7-ounce iced mochas and 8-ounce hot mochas from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Monday, beginning today, through Aug. 3.

McDonald's estimates it will give out 10 million samples, so go get your share.

FREE Candy Bar in 3 Weeks or Less!

Free chocolate, here I come!

A few weeks ago I wrote about how Mars is giving away up to 250,000 coupons a week for a free Snickers, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers, Twix, M&M's or Dove bar. Just register at the Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act on Fridays through Sept. 25.

I first registered in mid-May and received an email stating that my coupon was to arrive in about six weeks.

But good news: I got my coupon a few days ago, less than three weeks after I filled out the form! I signed up for my second coupon at the end of May, so I expect to receive another soon.

Best of all, I haven't received a bit of spammy junk email, so kudos to Mars. And thanks for the chocolate!

Maybe Coupons Do Grow on Trees

Coupons on the sidewalk are like manna from heaven.

I'm not speaking of offers unwillingly stuffed in your hand by people on the street. I'm referring to coupons actually on the ground. About a half-block from my apartment, to be exact.

I was about to step over some leaflets carelessly strewn about the sidewalk when I saw the familiar Six Flags logo. The amusement park has a location not far away in New Jersey, and my husband and I have been considering a visit.

I picked up one of the papers for a closer look. Among the many deals was a buy one, get one free ticket offer for any regular operating day between Sept. 6 and Oct. 5.

That's a savings of $49.99! So guess where I'll be heading in September?

The lesson: Sometimes the best coupons are literally under your very feet.

FREE Chocolate Every Friday!!!

The only thing better than chocolate?

FREE chocolate.

Every Friday through September, Mars is giving away up to 250,000 coupons for free Mars products including M&M's, Snickers, 3 Musketeers, Milky Way, Twix and (my personal favorite) Dove bars.

Sign up each Friday at the Mars Real Chocolate website. I did last week and got an email informing me that my coupon would arrive in about six weeks.

The Mars promotion continues until Sept. 25. You know what that means: I have 19 more candy bar coupons to collect.

More FREE Ice Cream

Cold Stone Creamery's latest ad asks if you love your mom.

The more important question: Does your mom love ice cream?

If the answer to both questions is yes, find last weekend's Sunday ad inserts. Hopefully, your ad includes a coupon for a free Create Your Own Yogurt or Ice Cream + 1 Mix-In for your mom when you order one for yourself.

This may be a regional offer, so check your coupons carefully or call your local Cold Stone to see if they are honoring this promotion.

As if you needed an excuse to get ice cream.

One Week to Get Cheap Stamps

Remember: Postage goes up one week from today. Rates to send a letter increase from 42 cents to 44 cents on Monday, May 11.

Save a few pennies and stock up on some forever stamps while they're still at the lower price. And while you're at the post office, get a handful of 1 cent stamps, too.

About half of the people who get Christmas cards from me this year will see last year's holiday stamp with a couple of penny stamps on their envelope. The other half will probably get forever stamps. I'm tired of buying cute stamps for the season that I can never use up before the prices shoot up yet again.

I never use them all precisely because I'm thrifty. Nearly all of our bills are on autopay. The only check I send out anymore is for the highest bill of all: rent.

31 Flavors of Ice Cream at 31 Cents Per Scoop

You had your free piece of grilled KFC chicken on Monday. Now it's time for dessert!

Stop at a participating Baskin Robbins between 5 and 10 p.m. today for 31 cent scoop night. Unfortunately there's a limit of three scoops per person, but who am I to complain about 7.5 ounces of frosty deliciousness for less than a buck?

See ya there!

Free Piece of KFC Chicken: Today Only!

KFC is promoting its new grilled chicken by giving one free piece to each and every person who walks through the door of participating restaurants today.

Shhhh. Hear that? I think the colonel is calling your name.

Double the Fun with Thrifty Gum

Item: New Slim Pack of Wrigley's gum

Price: FREE

Where to Buy: Any grocery store

Review: I don't chew gum, but I'll give it a try if it's free.

Check your SmartSource advertising insert for a coupon for a FREE Slim Pack of either Doublemint, Juicy Fruit, Wrigley's Spearmint, Big Red or Winterfresh gum. Coupon expires May 31, 2009.

Coupons occasionally vary based on your location. I'm in Brooklyn, New York, and received mine this past weekend.

Happy chewing.

Image from: Kalyx.com