I consider myself to be a good daughter, spouse and friend, but apparently there is plenty of room for improvement. For example, my mom always complains that I never call her and when I do, it's only for five minutes before I have to rush out the door. My husband wonders what it will take to get me to go to a hockey game with him. My grandfather asks when I'll have time to help him set up online banking on his newfangled computer. So this Christmas, I've decided to make all their wishes come true with the use of some personalized coupons.

Instead of buying items, I'm giving a set of six personalized "I Promise To..." coupons each to my parents, husband and good friends. My mom will get the "....make a 60-minute call this weekend at your convenience" package. My husband will get an assortment pack with promises like "....attend a social event of your choice," "....do a chore that you usually do," and "....give a 30-minute back rub after a hard day at work." Friends will get coupons for a round of drinks at the bar, and promises to be a companion to that art event or concert no on else wants to go. And yes, Grandpa can cash in his coupon for online banking services and any other tech support he needs.

I designed simple coupons on Microsoft Word, but placed them in shiny envelopes, the only cash I'll spend on the gifts, for a glitzy touch. You can print out already-formatted coupons -- and get some more "I Promise To..." ideas -- on the web, like at GiveCoupons.com. I decided not to put an expiration date on mine, although I hope my recipients decide not to cash them in all at once. Still, I'm thinking these types of coupons are more meaningful and valuable than a gift card to Borders or BestBuy. And it's a great way to ease both my guilt and the hit on my credit card over the holidays.

Who doesn't love a good deal? If given the choice, would you rather pay more or less for an item or a meal? I'd venture to guess that you're like me and you'd rather pay less. One simple secret to getting a better deal on your food or purchase is simply by asking for it.

I'm notorious for asking a cashier if there's currently any coupon or other special deal that I might be missing out on. I've been known to point out to stores that I'm a loyal customer and would love to have a 5% discount as a thank you. I'm not afraid to ask a restaurant for free or reduced price food, not just when I have poor service or some other problem.

Case in point: I like a particular salad at a chain restaurant, but I like it without chicken. Why should I pay the full price when I'm not getting the most expensive ingredient? So I order the salad the way I like it, and ask if they can just charge me for a regular meatless salad. And I haven't been turned down.

While WalletPop is always striving to keep you fiscally fit, you're going to need to start working out soon if you keep up with the Daily Deal and Fantastic Freebies.

First Zac shares how to get Pringles coupons a few days ago and now you can get coupon for Buy one get one free on pretzels at Auntie Anne's Pretzels. This deal is perfect for sharing with your spouse, coworker or favorite child. If they aren't available then the deal qualifies as Legen -- wait for it -- dary, since you get two of the most delicious pretzels ever made all to yourself. It appears the coupon is good for 30 days from printing, so you should have plenty of time to save on your favorite food court snack.

The only catch to this deal is that you have to install a piece of software called a coupon printer onto your computer in order to get the coupon which may turn some of you off. The software is from coupons.com which seems to be a reputable site and you can always uninstall the program after you get your coupon.

After you print your coupon be sure to sign up for the newsletter which promises coupons delivered monthly to your inbox! This way you can be assured of many future savings on Auntie Anne's pretzels, or as I like to call them, heaven in my mouth.

Staples is celebrating "Customer Appreciation Week" through April 26th and is providing a coupon for 12% off your purchases (pdf). The coupon excludes computers, gift cards, phone cards and stamps; but is valid for just about anything else. You can only use the coupon in store, so you'll need to print it out and trek to your local brick and mortar location to enjoy these savings. Some stores may require that you have a Staples Rewards account to use it, but you can sign up for free in store.

This week would be a great time to stock up on office supplies for around the house or for use in your small business. Some other items to look for include monitors and external hard drives, for which 12% is a pretty slick deal. If I hadn't just bought a three pack of ink I'd also plan on using this coupon. I guess what I am saying is, this is a nice deal for anything in the store, and it only comes around two or three times a year so get going.

Let's face it, frugal shopping can be difficult but it's not because the retailers are out to rob you of your money. Stores of all types operate on one simple premise; It's their job to convert product display space into profit. Store layouts, merchandise displays and product placement are all used in well researched configurations to make the most from limited retail space. As frugal shoppers, it's our individual responsibility to see through the merchandise promotion blitz and to guard our own spending by fending off the impulse purchase of items we never intended to buy when we first entered the store.

The expertise of retailers in moving product is the major cause for my "shopping with an attitude" theory. I realize that stores are providing me a service by offering products for sale, but that doesn't mean that I should be surrendering my wallet to them at the door. My shopping attitude theory is summed up in the following words: "It's my money and I'll decide how much of it you get." It's a simple condition of mental focus which should be taken along with you into every store you enter and it's partially rooted in the following frugal shopping principles: