INFO: Israel has a new ETA-IL requirement for visitors

UPDATED!!

This is BIG, important news for anyone planning to visit Israel who holds a passport that doesn't require applying for a visa in advance.

Israel is instituting a new ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) requirement.

This means that while you don't need to apply for a visa at the embassy/consulate, you DO need to apply for an ETA before you book your flight. You will NOT be able to get on a flight to Israel without a valid ETA-IL.

This requirement goes into effect on January 1, 2025

(If you have a teudat zehut or Israeli passport, this DOES NOT apply to you!)

Click here to learn all about it: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/home-page/

In short, you now need to apply for an ETA-IL before you book a flight - it remains valid for 2 years from the date of issue. The ETA costs 25 NIS. If someone tries to charge you more than 25 NIS, they aren't the official site and you should NOT use their services. Do it yourself here: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il/home-page/

Hope this helps your trip go smoothly! 

Be sure to support all the businesses in the North of Israel when you come. Many have been struggling to survive since the onset of the war in October 2023. Now that things are quiet - everyone needs your support!

Come find me and my family at the Safed Puzzle Room, Tzfat's flagship escape room game! Find out more at https://safedpuzzleroom.com 

Find me on Facebook

If you want to find (and share!) shopping deals, please join my deals groups on Facebook: 

Kosher Frugal

Israeli Shopping Overseas 

Live in Israel, Shop Online 

Israel Deals Made Easy (in English) 

I'm also on WhatsApp with an opt-in group where you'll get links to deals I find. Only admins can post.

Subsidized Glasses

Residents of Northern Israel - it's back! Here's another chance to get a really affordable eye exam and glasses!

This week - Thursday, December 5, 2024 from 11:00AM - 7:00PM, you have a chance to get subsidized eye exams and glasses, this time at the Kinar Hotel in "Ulam Golan" (on the Kinneret). You'll be able to get a pair of glasses: frames + lenses - for just 150 shekels, and sunglasses for 50 shekels! Note: additional fees will be charged for complicated prescriptions, multifocals, etc (but will still be much less than the standard cost for these glasses). 

FREE sunglasses are available for chayalim (no need for an ishur/asmachta)!

Please bring your glasses if you just need new glasses with the same prescription as your old ones, OR if you have a written script for your new prescription, bring that in order to save time. If you don't have an up-to-date prescription, you can have an eye exam done there, but there may be a line. Children under 12 should bring their prescription.

Please note: Glasses are not made on the spot. You will receive a text message when they are ready to be picked up.

Hope this helps some of you out there! 

Be sure not to miss out on more ways to save money - find me on Facebook!

P.S. I am not affiliated with the organizations sponsoring this or any similar events. I was not compensated to post this information. I received a press release, and have passed this information on as a public service.

Games I found on Sale - check 'em out!

This post contains affliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This will not cost you any extra.

Looking for ways to connect with friends, family, and others?

It's a great day to buy those games on your wish list! Games are a really great way to spend time together as a family, or with friends, or even with a group of people you need to get to know better. 

(Prices can change at any time) At the time of posting, all of these games participated in FREE shipping to Israel with a $49 order, and all are marked down. But prices can change at any time.

Exploding Kittens 

Don't Flock Up

Wizards, Dragons, and Unicorns

Who Can Do It

Outrageous

The Super Fun Family Time Game

Letterpool

Yell Spell

Spill

Pick Six

Banned

Kids Against Maturity

Murder of a Millionaire

Snatching Pears

Charty Party

Cancelled

Werewords

Dead Grandma (card game)

Reigning Unicorns

Trekking the National Parks

Evenfall strategy game

Throw Throw Burrito

Taco vs. Burrito

Hues & Clues

And so many more!

More deals coming later - let me know what you're looking for! I love to hear from you!

Find me on Facebook

If you want to find (and share!) shopping deals, please join my deals groups on Facebook (Kosher Frugal is a public group with limited moderation, Live in Israel, Shop Online is a moderated group, and Israel Deals Made Easy (in English) is also moderated) and WhatsApp (the WhatsApp group is an opt-in group where you'll get links to deals I find. Only admins can post).

Excusive Discount!

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!

It seems to be shopping season. Everywhere I turn, I see more stores looking to make sales (obviously!), and since we all want to support Israeli businesses, I thought this would be a good time to remind you about this local online English bookstore - Eva's Used Books!

Eva's got a great selection of previously owned books in good condition, albeit in limited quantities, and it's definitely worth checking out her shop if you need books.

Besides being necessary for self-preservation, books make great gifts, too. AND another thing I love is that Eva's is all about sustainability - used books are good for the environment and for our wallets!

And on top of the already great prices on this site, I've got an exclusive discount to share: Get 10% off your order with code KOSHERFRUGAL (A little gift to you from me and Eva)! 😀

As far as shipping goes - orders over 75 NIS ship FREE within Israel! This could just change our lives - because I still CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT BOOKS (yes I have the mug!).

Happy reading!

Want more deals? Join my groups!

• Great Deals Israel WhatsApp group
• Kosher Frugal Facebook Group
• Israel Deals Made Easy (in English) Facebook Group
• Live in Israel. Shop Online Facebook Group

Great Aliexpress finds!

This post contains affliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. This will not cost you any extra.

My favorite Aliexpress finds of the day - there are big sales going on!

1. Lego Star Wars set for about 44 ILS (53% off regular price)

2. Lego Star Wars set for 58 ILS (almost 60% off regular price)

3. Lego Minecraft set for about 50 ILS (almost 60% off regular price)

4. Lego Disney Brickheadz set for about 72 ILS (almost 60% off regular price)

More deals coming later - let me know what you're looking for! I love to hear from you!

Find me on Facebook

If you want to find shopping deals, please join my deals groups on Facebook (Kosher Frugal is a public group with limited moderation, Live in Israel, Shop Online is a moderated group, and Israel Deals Made Easy (in English) is also moderated) and WhatsApp (the WhatsApp group is an opt-in group where you'll get links to deals I find. Only admins can post).

Very simple chocolate yeast cake (vegan)

It's baking shortcut time!

Who loves chocolate yeast cakes (think: Chocolate Babka and the like)?!

Well, we're big fans of them around here, but sometimes I have no time or patience for kneading and rising. 

That's where this super simple, cheater version of a chocolate yeast cake comes in!

It's so easy and I even avoid making dirty bowls -  I just mix it AND bake it in a baking pan!

Recipe:

1 3/4 cups flour (I used white spelt)

1 Tablespoon dry yeast

4 Tablespoons sugar

pinch of salt

2.5 Tablespoons oil (I used sunflower oil)

3/4 cup warm water

Your favorite chocolate spread (small jar - I use anywhere from 1/2 - a full jar, depending what I have in my pantry)

1/3 -1/2 bag chocolate chips/chocolate chunks

oil for the pan

What you do:

Oil a 9 inch round baking pan or something that holds a similar amount (there are medium size - long but narrowish, not as narrow as "English cake" disposable foil pans - that work) - I used sunflower oil spray.

Place flour, yeast, sugar, and salt into the pan and mix. Make a well in the middle and add water and oil. Mix everything together with a spoon until well combined - it will be a very sticky dough. Spread it out in the pan. Scoop chocolate spread on top of the dough and then use a spatula or spoon to swirl it into the dough. Sprinkle the top with chocolate chips.

Put the cake into a cold oven and then turn the oven to 175 C. Bake for about 30 minutes. Cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting it!

Enjoy with coffee and please let me know if you try it out. I love to hear from you!

Find me on Facebook

If you want to find shopping deals, please join my deals groups on Facebook (Kosher Frugal is a public group with limited moderation, Live in Israel, Shop Online is a moderated group, and Israel Deals Made Easy (in English) is also moderated) and WhatsApp (the WhatsApp group is an opt-in group where you'll get links to deals I find. Only admins can post).

GREAT iHerb sale today (Nov 11) - Don't miss out!

This post contains affiliate or referral links. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your support!

עברית למטה

iHerb is one of my favorite ways to find products that I can't get in Israel. Or products that may be available in Israel, but at inflated prices.

Right now, there's this sale: 

Get 24% Off Sitewide Through Nov 12, 2024 at 10:00 AM PT:

Use Reward Code QEJ101 and promo code 24DOUBLE!! - Just copy and paste them into your cart, one at a time, OR Click here to load the discount into your cart automatically!

Need some ideas for your iHerb order?

Here are just a few things I recommend - several of these are eligible for the extra discount! I'd love to hear what your favorites are:

Teas

Witch Hazel Toner 

Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream 

Plant-based (coconut milk based) Caramel 

Hand Sanitizer (great size for your bag!)

Lip balm 

Concentrated Laundry Detergent 

Unscented Compostable Dryer Sheets

Witch Hazel Cleansing Pads 

Stridex acne control pads 

Cocoa Butter Lotion 

Dental Floss 

Pain Relief Cream (herbal) (the athletes in my house like this one a lot) 

Aspercreme pain relief products (conventional)

Makeup Remover

Aquaphor 

Scar gel

Maple Syrup Granules 

Made Good Granola Bars (allergy friendly!)

Cheddar Cheese Powder

Your order of $60 and up will usually qualify for FREE Global Air Locker shipping!

Don't forget these important, basic principles of shopping online from Israel:

• Keep your order under $75 to avoid paying VAT!!
• Spread out your orders. If you want to buy more than $75 worth of items from one website, and you have the option of splitting your order - DO IT. BUT don't order more than $75 worth on any given day to the same shipping name/address/ID. If you do, customs may combine your orders and charge you. Give it about 3 days between orders. Best to ship to a different name using a different ID for customs, so you can order it all on the same day.
• Always look for the free shipping option - usually, it's to a pickup spot.

I was so excited when my order came to $74.64 after the discount was applied, and with free delivery! Talk about maximizing savings while avoiding import taxes! I hope you're just as successful!

Enjoy and happy savings!

קבלו 24% הנחה על כל האתר של אייהרב עכשיו!

אם הקודים לא עולים אוטומטי לסל הזינו את הקודים

QEJ101

ואז

24DOUBLE11

ותקבלו ההנחה המרבית!

רק וודאו שהסל הסופי יוצא ללא מיסים - צריך להיזהר מאוד שאחרי הקודים הסל יורד למתחת ל$75 - סף המע"מ

(ולרוב גם תקבלו משלוח חינם עם גלובל אייר לוקר עם מוסיפים מוצרים כדי שסכום הרכישה

יגיע ל$60)!

תהינו!

Tips from an Amazon shopper.

 this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using one of my links, I may receive a small commission, but it won't cost you extra!

Shopping on Amazon from Israel?

Here are some of my favorite tips:

Order only when you can get free shipping, or, if you have to pay for shipping, if the product you're ordering is not available in Israel and you REALLY need it, (but ask around - sometimes shipping can double your cost and then if it IS available in Israel, it may pay to buy it here). Right now, Amazon has a free shipping promo with a $49 purchase of participating items. 

Check for price drops! I save lots of items into my cart and check back later, sometimes the price goes down!

Always check for deals and coupon codes! Click here for your coupon section 

Paying with your Israeli credit card? You may be able to get 10% off on the 10th of the month with code MASTERCARDAY. 

Always check the International Free Shipping section - click here to go to International Free Shipping 

Don't be shy if your order doesn't arrive by the date promised, reach out to Amazon customer service. They'll help make it right! I got a $5 credit last time my order was delayed.

Keep your orders under the taxable threshold. Amazon will calculate your taxes, starting at $75 USD. If you're buying something that's taxable, shop around a little locally first!

Happy savings!

Looking for ways to shop on Amazon and support Israeli businesses? CLICK HERE

UPDATED: Buy Blue & White from Overseas (with the convenience of Amazon)

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at NO additional cost to you! Thanks for your support!

This is an UPDATED post for my friends and followers and everyone outside of Israel, who love Israel and want to support the people here, i.e. "Buy Blue & White".

If you're here in Israel looking at an item on Amazon that DOESN'T ship to Israel - I've got great news for you! You can order items to a Shipito address and have them ship it to you! And just in time for your upcoming Prime Day purchases, you can get 10% off your international shipping when you shop on Amazon and send your purchases using Shipito. Just enter the code PRIMEDAY24 at checkout. This limited-time offer runs until July 31, 2024.

It's become SUPER easy to support some Israeli businesses from outside of Israel! So I'd like to help everyone stand in solidarity with Israel with this "Buy Blue & White" guide.

So many companies make it easy to buy their products from the USA - especially those with Amazon storefronts (and many ship to other countries too)!

I'm happy to share some options with you - all of the items listed below are a great way to support an Israeli-owned business and still have the convenience of shopping online! I'm sure there are lots more options, but in the meantime - here are the ones that I know of: 

(I hope to keep adding to this list)

Buy Israeli wines (free shipping on 12 or more bottles and $15 off your $200 order with code KW15)

Many Israeli products - art, jewelry, etc - are available at judaica.com (use the link to begin your purchase AND use code SHOP10 for an extra discount)

You can make your own seltzer (carbonated water) using the iconic Sodastream machine. 

Or buy beautiful Judaica items, like an Emanuel mezuzah case or chanukiyah, or even a great Havdallah travel set! Also from Emmanuel: Chanukah Kippot, Jerusalem Kippot, painted wooden kiddush cup and coaster, "Yeled Tov/Yaldah Tovah" hammered stainless steel kiddush cups, hammered nickel kiddush cups, and colorful candlesticks.

Buy beautiful jewelry from Paz Creations. Also NanoStyle and Happy Lolli.

Refael Jewelry Designer sells handmade jewelry from Israel.

Also check out embroidered jewelry boxes.

Nurture your plants with a LeGrow planter set. 

Display your love of Israel with these Jerusalem-themed ArtTrivets.

Display beautiful Israel on your wall with an Israel Photo Art Calendar!

Decorate your home with beautiful wooden Wall Art from Tohar Design Store, or a fun Chanukah table runner, or a painted washing cup.

If you love music, check out Day of Rest for something different.

Buy Israeli spices from Izrael Zaatar Ltd and bring the flavor of the shuk into your kitchen (BBQ Grill mix, Galilee Stir Fry Seasoning mix).

Try out Israeli herbal/fruit teas: Golan blend or Louisina make great choices.

Get your kids moving and exploring with Israeli-owned Nona Kid pretend play, outdoor play, and fitness equipment for kids.

Check out the whole line of Qurious educational toys and games.

You can even support an Israeli business when you buy non-Israeli products from an Israeli reseller. They buy items wholesale and list them for competitive prices on Amazon. For example, handbags from BSD Merchant.

And, on another note, you can always support Israeli businesses directly: For an interactive Israel-themed online escape room experience, be sure to check out the games at bagelsandlocks.com!

If you love to read, check out books by these Israeli authors:

Az Nashir- We Will Sing Again: Women's Prayers for Our Time of Need,

Hebrew Edition, by The Layers Press (Author), Rachel Sharansky Danziger (Author), Anne Gordon (Author), Shira Lankin Sheps (Editor)

101 Treasures from the National Library of Israel, by Raquel Ukeles (Author), Hezi Amiur (Author), Yoel Finkelman (Author)

The Camel in the Forest: A Memoir from the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict,

by A. E. Hayoun (available as a Kindle book)

By Light of Hidden Candles, by Daniella Levy (Author)

Disengagement: Leaving home, finding home, and encounters along the way, by Daniella Levy (Author)

Letters to Josep: An Introduction to Judaism, by Daniella Levy (Author)

The 36: A Modern Quest in the Ancient Holy Land, by Josh Even-Chen (Author) (a long-time friend of mine!)

The Scrolls of Deborah (Desert Songs Trilogy), by Esther Goldenberg (Author)

The House of Lost Spirits, by Einat Shimshoni 

Harei At M'guyeset Li, by Segulah Levi (Hebrew novel)

Tully and the Pellmells (Tully Grows Up), by Leona Samson (Author), Idan Ben Simon (Illustrator)

Tales of Brooklyn, by Stan Fischler (Author)

Behind the Net: 106 Incredible Hockey Stories, by Stan Fischler (Author)

Community of Ones:The Search for Self after Devastating Loss, by Leona Samson

A Life Inherited: Unraveling the Trauma of a Second-Generation Holocaust Survivor, by Rena Lipiner Katz (Author)

Weekly Habits for Extraordinary Leaders (How to Master Your Mindset, Inspire Your Team and Elevate Your Business), by Daphna Horowitz

Searching for Heather Dean: My Extraordinary Career as a Celebrity Interviewer and Why I Left It, by Heather Dean

Angels & Tahina: 18 Lessons From Hiking the Israel Trail, by Tzippi Moss

Target Tehran: How Israel Is Using Sabotage, Cyberwarfare, Assassination – and Secret Diplomacy – to Stop a Nuclear Iran and Create a New Middle East, by Yonah Jeremy Bob (Author), Ilan Evyatar (Author)

Organized Jewish Life: The Essential Guide for Planning Jewish Holidays, Events and Every Day, by Rebekah Chaifetz Saltzman

Organized Jewish Life Shabbat and Holiday Planner: The Ultimate Organizational Shabbat and Jewish Holiday Checklist and Planning Workbook, by Rebekah Chaifetz Saltzman

A Warrior's Guide to Fibromyalgia, by Sara Halevi 

Everything Tracker - The Ultimate Comprehensive CBT Tool Kit, by Sara Halevi MA (Author), Liora Sophie (Illustrator)

The Breast Cancer Checklist, by Fern Reiss

The Publishing Game: Publish a Book in 30 Days, by Fern Reiss

30 Jewish Superheroes: An Amazing Collection of Jewish Superheroes (Coloring book), by Hillel Penrod (Author), Ayelet Hashachar Penrod (Editor)

15 B'nei Noah Superheroes Coloring & Activity Book: Heroes from Around the World! | Color, Read, and Learn to Draw Your Own Hero, Torah Comics Paperback by Hillel Penrod (Author), Ayelet HaShachar Penrod (Editor)

Inner World (Kindle book) by Hillel Penrod (Author, Illustrator), Ayelet HaShachar Penrod (Editor) 

Israel 201: Your Next-Level Guide to the Magic, Mystery, and Chaos of Life in the Holy Land, by Joel Chasnoff & Benji Lovitt

Nehama Leibowitz: Teacher and Bible Scholar (Modern Jewish Lives), by Yael Unterman

The Hidden of Things: Twelve Stories of Love & Longing, by Yael Unterman

The Street Cats of Nahariya by Jennifer Pyatt (Author), Aya Navot (Illustrator)

White Zion, by Gila Green (see all of her books here, and pre-order the newest one!)

Iconic Jewish Women: Fifty-Nine Inspiring, Courageous, Revolutionary Role Models for Young Girls, by Aliza Lavie (Author)

Getting Ready for Shabbat! Let's Make Soup! (Getting Ready for Jewish Holy Days), by Chaya Bluma Gadenyan

Girls' Names from the Hebrew Bible: A Children's Bilingual (Hebrew-English) Coloring Book, by Chaya Bluma Gadenyan

The Adventures of Incredi-Wheels & Triple S: The Mysterious Missing Book, by Rebecca Rubin Seligson

Storky's Journey Home, by Nachshon Meir Spiegelman

Barnaby Stump and the Soul Thief, by Ezra Snukal

The Lazy Investor: How to Set a Profitable & Hassle-free Investment Portfolio, by David Mann (Author)

Tribal Lands: The Twelve Tribes of Israel in Their Ancestral Territories, by Tamar Weissman (Author)

The Koren Tanakh: Esther (English and Hebrew Edition) (Graphic Novel Format) by Jordan Gorfinkel (Creator), Yael Nathan (Illustrator), Jessica Sacks (Translator)

Not in the Sky: A Collection of Modern Midrash or Biblical Spoken Word, by Rose Isabel Tempest (Author)

THE CAVE OF THE HEART (Kuntres Maarat Ha-Lev): A Treatise on Jewish Contemplative Prayer, by Nachman Davies (Author)

If you want to be added to this list, please email me at ester@kosherfrugal.com!

Thanks for supporting Israeli businesses! Let me know if you found this list helpful, and feel free to share it with all of your friends!

Discount Code: Eva's Used Books

This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission. Thank you for your support!

Everyone seems to be looking for a way to get through this crazy time, and for many of us, that means we need to keep a distraction on hand. Yes, there's always TV and movies, but there are also BOOKS - they make a great distraction.

And since we all want to support Israeli businesses, be sure to check out this local online English bookstore - Eva's Used Books! Eva's got a great selection of previously owned books in good condition, albeit in limited quantities, and it's definitely worth checking out her shop!

And since you know I'm all about saving money, I've got an exclusive discount to share: Get 10% off your order with code KOSHERFRUGAL!

As far as shipping goes - orders over 75 NIS ship FREE within Israel! This could just change our lives - because I still CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT BOOKS (yes I have the mug!).

Happy reading!

Early Access to a great iHerb Sale!

This post contains affiliate or referral links. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

עברית למטה

iHerb is one of my favorite ways to find products that I can't get in Israel. Or products that may be available in Israel, but at inflated prices.

Right now, there's this sale: 

Get 28% Off 400+ Trusted Brands with promo code 28ANNIV (also use Rewards code QEJ101 so I get referral credit 😄 ) - Just copy and paste them into your cart, one at a time, OR click here to load the discount into your cart automatically! Offer is valid through the entire iHerb Anniversary Sale, ending 10/2/24 at 10:00 AM PT.

This sale includes over 12,000 top-selling products from brands like NOW Foods, Force Factor, RoC, Nordic Naturals, Catalina Crunch, Andalou Naturals, Boiron, Gaia Herbs, YumEarth, Jarrow Formulas, and many more! 

Need some ideas for your iHerb order?

Here are just a few things I recommend - several of these are eligible for the extra discount! I'd love to hear what your favorites are:

Teas

Lip balm 

Specialty sea salt grinders 

Witch Hazel Toner

Concentrated Laundry Detergent 

Unscented Compostable Dryer Sheets

Witch Hazel Cleansing Pads 

Stridex acne control pads 

Cocoa Butter Lotion 

Dental Floss 

Pain Relief Cream (the athletes in my house like this one a lot)

Makeup Remover

Aquaphor

Maple Syrup Granules 

Made Good Granola Bars 

Cheddar Cheese Powder

Your order of $60 and up will usually qualify for FREE Global Air Locker shipping!

Don't forget these important, basic principles of shopping online from Israel:

• Keep your order under $75 to avoid paying VAT!!
• Spread out your orders. If you want to buy more than $75 worth of items from one website, and you have the option of splitting your order - DO IT. BUT don't order more than $75 worth on any given day to the same shipping name/address/ID. If you do, customs may combine your orders and charge you. Give it about 3 days between orders. Best to ship to a different name using a different ID for customs, so you can order it all on the same day.
• Always look for the free shipping option - usually, it's to a pickup spot.

I was so excited when my order came to $74.64 after the discount was applied, and with free delivery! Talk about maximizing savings while avoiding import taxes! I hope you're just as successful!

Enjoy and happy savings!

קבלו 28% הנחה על מאות מוצרים באתר של אייהרב עכשיו!

אם הקודים לא עולים אוטומטי לסל הזינו את הקודים

QEJ101

ואז

28ANNIV

ותקבלו את ההנחה המרבית!

רק וודאו שהסל הסופי יוצא ללא מיסים - צריך להיזהר מאוד שאחרי הקודים הסל יורד למתחת ל$75 - סף המע"מ

(ולרוב גם תקבלו משלוח חינם עם גלובל אייר לוקר עם מוסיפים מוצרים כדי שסכום הרכישה

יגיע ל$60)!

תהינו!

E-Sim Deal for you!

this post contains affiliate links, so if you click on a link and then make a purchase, I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you. 

Great news for travelers - here's an eSim deal you don't want to miss!

If you're traveling, you'll need to make sure your phone will work while you're abroad. While you can activate whatever plan your cellphone provider offers, I am sure you'll be happy to spend a lot less!

Here's where Saily comes in!

What is Saily?

Saily is a fast-growing eSIM app created by the team behind NordVPN, and you can purchase a data plan before you leave or once you're already traveling, and choose an internet plan that best suits your needs.

Saily offers plans of two different lengths: either 7 or 30 days, meaning that

the amount of data purchased will be available for that time. The 7-day plan comes with 1GB of data, and the 30-day plan has options for 1, 3, 5, 10, and

20 GB plans.

The price depends on the country chosen - be sure to check and see how much you can save!

Saily is available in over 150 countries!

How to use Saily:

● Saily is available on mobile phones that support eSIM technology.

● Download the iOS/Android app from the AppStore or from Google Play.

● Create an account & add payment information.

● Select the country of destination.

● Select the preferred type of plan (length/amount of data).

● Follow the step-by-step instructions that appear on your screen.

● Important: the plan has to be enabled for it to start working.

● You can always purchase a new plan if you run out of data.

● 24/7 chat customer support is available if you have questions.

● With Saily, your eSIM need only installed only once, eliminating the need for

users to install a new eSIM for each country they visit.

● Additionally, users can easily top up their plan and continue using the

services without interruption if they run out of data.

And there you have it - so EASY to have phone service anywhere, as long as your phone accepts eSims!

I'm so excited to be able to share extra savings with you - use coupon code SPECIAL5 to receive an additional 5% discount on your purchase!

Check it out today!

Feel free to comment below or in my public shopping group on FB and let me know what you're looking for, and I'll be happy to hunt up more deals for you!

Maanak Avodah 2023 - Reminder to apply!

It's time for your yearly reminder to check if you might be able to claim this benefit! Maybe you've heard about this already, and maybe this is new information for you. There is a reverse-tax benefit in Israel for low-income families. It's called the "Maanak Avodah" or "Working Grant". The point of this grant is to put more money in your pocket if you earn less than a certain amount of money!

Please don't miss out on this if you qualify - apply as soon as possible in order to avoid disappointment later. It won't take much of your time to apply, and you can do it now, BEFORE YOU FORGET! Right now, you can still apply for the 2022 grant AND the 2023 grant. 
  
Updated information for the 2023 grant: 
Who can apply for this grant?

You can apply for this grant if: 

1. You were employed or self-employed
 
2. You were 21 years of age or older, and have minor children*, or 55 years of age or above, even if you have no minor children
 
3. You did not own more than 50% of a property or rights to a property (anywhere in the world) in the 2022 tax year, other than your primary residence
 
4. If you have one or two children, or are age 55+ without children, and your average monthly income falls between 2,320 and 6,980 you may be eligible for this grant. If you are a single parent of 1-2 children (with custody of your minor children), your average monthly income must fall between 1,420 and 10,570 NIS to qualifyץ
 
5. If you have 3 or more children, and your average monthly income falls between 2,320 NIS and 7,650 NIS, you may be eligible for this grant. If you are a single parent of 3 or more children (with custody), you may qualify if your income is between 1,420 and 12,900 NIS per month.

*children who are counted are those who are under the age of 19 as of 31/12/2023

How do you apply? 

Online, using the Israeli tax website - this option allows you to apply for 2023 and 2022 if you missed this reminder last year.

OR
At the post office, where you'll need to answer a few questions. BE SURE to bring your teudat zehut (ID card) and either your checkbook or an "ishur" from your bank that you have an account with them. Please keep any paperwork you receive at the post office and/or in the mail. This option only allows you to apply for 2023.

If you have questions after you've applied, or to check the status of your application, you can check the status of your request online in your "eizor ishi", or call *4954 or or 02-565-6400 to speak with the Tax Authority. 

Your payment may arrive in anywhere from 1-4 installments.

How much can you expect to receive? 

The amount you receive will vary depending on your circumstances, and if you qualify, could be up to 9,720 NIS.

Your spouse's income may affect your eligibility, as may various other factors.

I hope this helps some of you out there! It's worth it to check if you are eligible.

Please share this information with your friends and family who may benefit from it!

Don't miss out on useful tips and tricks for living in Israel! Follow me on FB and join my Kosher Frugal group!

10 NIS movies!

Big News! Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 5, 2024, Cinema City has 10 NIS movies (Israeli movies only)

See Cinema City Locations

If you buy online, you pay an additional 3.90 service fee.

All the details HERE 

Enjoy!!

Electric Rates are up. Do you know what's driving your bill up? Check this out!

The Israel Electric Company raised electricity rates again - the latest increase went into effect in February 2024. 

Since so many people ask about lowering their bills and how to figure out electricity costs for a specific appliance, I decided it's time to post an updated Electricity Cost Calculator.

I hope you'll find this post helpful.

One of the best ways to lower our electricity consumption is AWARENESS.

Pay attention to the electricity used throughout the day in your house, and find ways to reduce it - that's the only way to save money if you aren't installing solar panels...

This goes beyond lights that we leave on - the best way to control your costs is to know what's driving your electric bill up, and find ways to reduce your usage. This is why it's good to have an idea of what each electrical appliance we own costs to run.

But how can we know?

It's not so hard - the cost is determined by the appliance's KW usage and how long it runs!

I asked my tech guy 😉 to make a calculator a number of years ago -- it's designed to help everyone get an idea of how much different appliances cost to run. I've posted it before, but now I'm reposting it with an update to reflect the current cost of electricity. VAT is included (so if you're in Eilat, this calculator will overestimate your bill).

This calculator was updated to reflect the current rate (effective February 1, 2024)

Here's how to use the calculator:

Simply choose which appliance you want to calculate, choose how long you'll be running it, and then the app (below) will tell you how much this particular appliance is costing you to run! 

This app is specifically designed using the IEC's current tariffs for residential customers, including VAT (this is for people who pay the same rate 24 hrs/day). 

(NOTE: On February 1, 2024, the IEC adjusted home electricity rates. The current cost of electricity is approx 62urot ag per kWh including VAT.) If the IEC rates change, we will do our best to update this app!

If you find this helpful, please share!

Please let me know what you think!

Electrical Appliance Cost Calculator:

Choose an appliance and note its "usage unit" in parentheses after it. Choose how many units you would be using it for (for example, a fridge has "day" for its usage unit, a dryer has "1 load" for its usage unit, and a hair dryer has "10 minutes" for its usage unit - these are listed next to the appliance name), then click "calculate my cost" to find out how much that appliance costs you to run for the amount of time you usually use it!
 
If your appliance doesn't appear on this list, you can find its kilowatt rating on it somewhere. Multiply kw/H by number of hours used, and then multiply that by the current price for a kilowatt of electricity (approx. 0.62 nis) to find out how much it costs you to run it!

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Select an appliance: Frost-free refrigerator (day) Frost-free freezer (day) Dishwasher (cycle) Oven (normal kitchen use) Microwave oven (2 min) Toaster oven (15 min) Shabbat platta (26h Shabbat) Space heater (1h) Wall unit (heater / a/c) (1h) Under-floor heating (1h) Washing machine (4-5 kg machine) (1 load) Dryer (4.5-5 kg machine) (1 load) Boiler (Electric Dud) (1h) TV (1h) Stereo system (1h) Vacuum cleaner (10min) Hair dryer (10min) Electric sheets (1h) Electric kettle (1 use) Electric burner (50min) Food processor (15min) Computer (10h) Iron - on high (45min) Fan (1h)

Number of usage units:

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Range: 0.00 ₪ — 0.00 ₪ (depends on your model)

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I'd love to hear if you found this handy app useful. Will it help you change any of your habits? Personally, this helped me realize that since we'd be boiling our kettle multiple times per day, we were really using more electricity than needed. Now we know it's best to fill the thermos after we boil a full kettle in the morning.

What changes are you making?