Books - another free delivery option!

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's quite the stressful time here in Israel. And while I feel it's important to stay in the loop, sometimes it's also good to disconnect a bit (keep your phone on so you'll still get Home Front Command alerts) and you know how much I believe in reading books.

If you're looking to get some new books, I wanted to let you know about some options you might not have heard about, with free shipping available to Israel!

Eva's Used Books is a small olim-owned business that ships books within Israel. They don't have a massive inventory, but they do constantly refresh! Definitely check it out.

And if Eva's doesn't have what you're looking for, be sure to check out Blackwell's! On their site, the cost of delivery is included in the price of the books, and they ship from the UK. (I'm hearing from some people that they aren't currently shipping orders to Israel - we'll have to get to the bottom of this!)

The same rules apply for orders from Blackwell's as all other overseas websites - personal imports to Israel under $75 are tax-free. Orders over $75 will incur VAT and possibly other fees. I recommend ordering the equivalent of less than $75 of merchandise from any given website at one time.

If you're looking for books in Hebrew, check out Prag - they have really inexpensive digital offers, too! This website is Israel-based.

NEW iHerb promo code inside!

This post contains my iHerb referral link. You'll save money using it (even existing customers), and I may be compensated by iHerb. It won't cost you extra - but it WILL save you money! I love to share iHerb deals whenever I hear about them, and right now they have a great deal that will get you $6 off your order of $40 and up, with promo code IMMUNE6 - just click here and it should load into your cart automatically! If for some reason your order doesn't qualify, be SURE to put in code QEJ101 for 5% - 10% off! You can use that code EVERYDAY to create your own sale! Please note: This coupon code expires 2/24/21 at 10:00 AM PST.    So click here and get started shopping (or maybe you already have your list just about ready to go, like I do? I have been waiting and waiting for this coupon code to arrive...)! Boxit delivery to a pickup location is my current default delivery choice. Just note that the limitations are: your order must total $60 or more, and weigh a maximum of 5 kg (11 lbs). There are a few products that cannot be shipped this way, so if you discover at checkout that this delivery option isn't available, try removing one item at a time from your cart (I recommend moving it to "your lists" and then moving it back if it's not the one causing the problem). Whether I get home delivery, or store pickup delivery, my iHerb orders have been coming really quickly, despite my location in the boondocks, closer to Damascus than Tel Aviv! Don't get surprised by import taxes! If you're ordering items from overseas, be sure to familiarize yourself with the most recent personal import regulations! HINT: Keep your order under $75 (not including shipping). I've been consistently impressed with their service during the pandemic. I've been filling in some of the things I was not able to get in my regular grocery or pharmacy delivery orders, or simply things that turned out to be less expensive from iHerb. I order things like fragrance free laundry detergent, french roast coffee, and eco-friendly dishwasher detergent, allergen free chocolate chips (note: these only ship November thru May!), and other great products. Recently, I made sure to order some elderberry and zinc - I like to keep those on hand for winter colds. Let me know what your favorite deals are! Want more deals? Join my Facebook Group and/or my Whatsapp group!

Book Depository Discount!

For serious book lovers
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Shopping for books? 
Save on your Book Depository order - use code IL10 to get 10% off your books! 
Good thru Apr. 3, 2019

It's the perfect time to get a head start ordering your summer reading list! 

Book Depository ships free worldwide and is extremely reliable! Most people report that their packages arrive with no problems.

Book Sale (Free Shipping, too)

this post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links. Thanks for your support!

Love books? Well, it's the perfect time to order for your Lat Summer and Fall reading (let's face it, orders can take a few weeks to arrive, let's not kid ourselves).

Book Depository has a sale going on right now!

Click HERE to shop at Book Depository

If you can't find what you're looking for at Book Depository, don't forget to check Better World Books, too. Tons of items are on Clearance, and with clearance, the more you buy, the bigger your discount is!

Happy Shopping and saving!

If you are new to online shopping from overseas, please see this important information about taxes and fees you need to be familiar with!

Kosherfrugal.com's ebay Deal of the Day!

(This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission when you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!) 

Still trying to reign in your spending, but not sure how to do it?

I'm begun posting ebay deals here, and plan to continue on a regular basis, that will help bring costs down.

Today's deal is PERFECT for the frugal bakers out there who like to make things from scratch!

Vanilla Beans - you just score them with a sharp knife and toss these into a bottle of vodka, keep in a dark cabinet for a few months, and you're good to go with the best vanilla extract you can find! I'm sure there are other things to make with it too... I've ground up some beans to make vanilla bean ice cream - but I need to work on that recipe a bit.

Here in Israel, lately it's gotten hard to find vanilla beans. I know some of you out there have found them, but when they are here, the prices have gotten a bit steep - about 10 shekels per pod is the average I've been seeing.

So I decided to ebay them - you've got to see this!

Check out the screenshot on the left here - you can find this listing at https://ebay.to/2vIQE1C --  This listing is for approx 20 vanilla beans! They aren't the largest beans out there, but they are the same size as the ones I bought most recently locally for 8 nis per bean.

So let's compare that with this listing - It comes to about 105 nis (and free shipping!) for approx 20 beans (a bit over 5 nis per bean). This is almost a 40% savings! The 3 nis per bean is not so big, but 20 beans - well, that's a 60 nis savings! You REALLY can save big time using ebay for vanilla beans! 

Find other ebay deals here, and deals from all over here

Follow my blog for more ebay money savers for Israelis, coming soon! If you have items you love to buy on ebay, let me know at ester@kosherfrugal.com !

Happy savings!

Kosherfrugal.com's Ebay Deal of the Day!

(This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission when you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!) 

Still trying to reign in your spending, but not sure how to do it?

I'm hoping to post ebay deals here on a regular basis, that will help bring costs down.

I'm starting with one of those super important, essential toiletry items that we all need to use daily. 

Deodorant.

I buy Dove deodorant. Here in Israel, a stick of Dove deo is 50g in size. And prices vary. Last time I bought it here, I felt like I found a STEAL for 12 nis per stick! Usually it's 15 on sale, 20 at "discount" pharmacy stores, and about 28 nis if you buy it at full price at Superpharm (ahem, don't do that!!).

Enter ebay into our equations. You've got to see this!

Check out the screenshot on the left here - you can find this listing at https://ebay.to/2ncztBB -- Here's a Dove deodorant stick. It's not 50g like the ones I mentioned above. It's 2.6 oz, which comes to close to 74g - almost 50% more than the ones sold here in Israel.

And look at that price! It's about 13 nis, with free international shipping. With a household full of people who use deodorant, I feel like I am REALLY saving big time using ebay for this purchase! When they put that sign up at the store that in Europe Dove deos cost a bit over 8 nis, I was jealous. But with this ebay deal, that's about what this comes to for 50g! Awesome!

Follow my blog for more ebay money savers for Israelis, coming soon! If you have items you love to buy on ebay, let me know at ester@kosherfrugal.com !

Happy savings!

Free Shipping to Israel from Amazon!

this post contains affiliate links

UPDATE: This free shipping offer has ended. Sadly.

WOAH

Amazing news!

Amazon has launched FREE Shipping to Israel on certain products!

It's not for everything - please take note that free shipping is only available for certain products shipped and sold by Amazon.com, and items sold by third-party sellers are subject to other shipping terms. To take advantage of this deal, you'll also have to place an order of $80+, so you will have to pay taxes and fees, as that's above the tax-free threshold. You'll see the total at checkout, though, before you comfirm the purchase.

I think this is going to be a GOOD thing, don't you?

See below for a primer on Import Taxes when you order online!

package from purchase abroad - tax free!

Shopping online and wondering what to expect regarding taxes and fees? This guide will help you understand the basics that apply to residents of Israel when shopping online from overseas. Most of us shop this way to save money, so who wants a tax bill surprise when the order gets here? This post will help you avoid a tax bill (legally, of course!).

Note: the same regulations apply to packages sent from abroad, even if they are gifts!

Here's the rundown (the full regulations can be found on the Israel tax authority's site)

Your purchase or package, no matter what currency it was in, will be translated into US Dollars by the tax authority to determine if it's taxable:

Purchases up to $75/Packages with a declared value up to $75 - no taxes

Purchases or packages with a declared value above $75, up to $500 - no customs taxes, but VAT will apply in most cases (17% currently), and Purchase Tax (variable rates) may apply (purchase tax applies to very few items at this point!)

Purchases or packages with a declared value over $500 - subject to all taxes (VAT , Purchase Tax (if applicable), and Customs Tax)

Please take note that purchases and packages (even gifts) of up to $75 in value will be subject to customs clearance fees if they arrive using an EMS service* (about 35 shekels), and if the value of the purchase is higher, the customs clearance fee can be higher as well. Other fees are often added on by shipping companies, as there is really not much oversight! I recently saw a bill that included the following fees: Handling fees, Import approval fee, VAT, Computer fee, Unloading fee, Storage fee. Watch out for these fees from shipping companies/courier services. I recommend you always try to get your packages via a service that guarantees your fees have all been prepaid.

Please be aware that the purchase price only (not purchase + shipping) will determine whether an item will be taxed. Once it is found to be taxable, however, applicable taxes will be calculated on the purchase price + the shipping price.

One more important point: If you order multiple orders from the same seller and they arrive within 72 hours of each other, customs may combine the orders and treat them as one purchase for tax purposes. They may not. But it is a possibility you should be aware of before you place multiple orders.

If your order is stuck in customs, or if you feel like you were charged tax by mistake, you will need to contact the customs office nearest you.

Here's the contact info for the various offices, taken from the meches website. I couldn't find any email addresses, sorry.

Tel Aviv
Derech HaHagana 137, Yad Eliyahu, Tel Aviv
Tel: 03-942-1730
Fax: 03-942-1733

Jerusalem
Mercaz Shatner, Givat Shaul B, Jerusalem 91999
Tel: 02-652-6193
Fax: 02-651-1589

Haifa
Sderot Pal Yam 19, Shakmona, POB 245, Haifa 31999
Tel: 04-866-4130
Fax: 04-666-9803

Eilat
Central Post Office, The Red Mall, Eilat 83100
Tel: 08-632-6476
Fax: 08-866-9702

Some of these regulations are different from what some people seem to believe, so please refer back to this guide if you are about to place an order and you're not sure what to expect from the tax-man.

If you're not sure where to start shopping online, I've compiled a list of websites that offer low cost shipping to Israel! Please be sure to check it out! Let's help open Israel's marketplace and bring down our cost of living without bringing down our standard of living!

Some of my favorite websites to shop from are:

BetterWorldBooks.com ~ iHerb ~ AliExpress ~ eChemist ~ iWOOT ~ Amazon

Be sure to check out the whole list!


*Examples of EMS services - Express Mail, Fedex, UPS and other express delivery services. Sometimes DHL is EMS and sometimes it is not.

Free Shipping from iHerb!

This post contains my iHerb referral link. You'll save money using it (even existing customers), and I may be compensated by iHerb. It won't cost you extra - but it WILL save you money!


 I've promised to share iHerb deals whenever I hear about them, so none of you will miss out on the extra savings! So here's the current deal:

I'm so happy to let you know that right now, iHerb has an ongoing free shipping offer:  FREE standard global shipping for orders of $40 and up! (This is for non-tracked shipping, up to 4 lbs.)

In addition, you can stock up your favorite iHerb products with extra savings - a referral discount of 5% (good for new AND existing customers)!

Any extra savings even combine with Trial items and Weekly Specials!

And if you use Shipping Savers, you can get really affordable shipping, even if you don't spend $40 in order to get free shipping. You can sort for Shipping Savers on iHerb by clicking the Shipping Saver checkbox on the lefthand side of the page.

Not sure if shopping at iHerb makes sense?
I shop there pretty often, as you may already know. I find it makes life easier for me - not only do they make it easy to find some "hard to find" products my family needs (like fragrance free shower products), but I save a significant amount of money on things like vitamins and probiotics. So many products are definitely less expensive at iHerb than at my local stores, and shipping is VERY affordable as I mentioned above.

Here are some of the things I like to buy at iHerb:

Palm Oil (this eco-friendly version is not available in Israel at all, and is perfect for making frosting or fudge)

Magnesium Tablets (these and many other supplements are quite pricey in Israel and iHerb is a great way to save!)

Stash Teas (I buy these when they are on sale, as the sale price comes out to less than the lowest price I can find herbal teas for locally, and these are just SO MUCH HIGHER quality than teas I can find for an affordable price!)

Vitamin D (so many people are deficient, it turns out! And my doctor prescribed a rather high dose, and what's sold here is very low dose and more expensive)

Probiotics are far less expensive from iHerb than any I've found in Israel, and they don't weigh much! Many of these are "shipping savers" - so they'll lower your shipping costs for the whole order if you add them in!

EO shower gel (we like this kid friendly all-in-one shower product that doesn't irritate our skin!)

Ricola throat drops (these work out to be only slightly less expensive than the local price, so I use them as a "filler" product, never as my "reason for buying")

Witch Hazel (it's really not easy to find witch hazel products locally, and if you love witch hazel, you'll be thrilled with iherb's price. This one is a toner with alcohol in it - some people like the alcohol in it, but if you don't, they also have plenty of no-alcohol witch hazel products)

Coffee Filters (unbleached) - I can find the #4 size locally, but I use the #2 size, and can't always find unbleached, and it's so easy to order it, rather than running around town!

Brown Rice Pasta (only when they're on sale, great for people who don't eat wheat! The local equivalent is more expensive unless there's an amazing sale)

Grapefruit Seed Extract (similar product, 1/4 of the size, cost more than twice as much at my health food store, and many people are convinced this keeps colds away,!)

Essential Oils (I use them in homemade cleaners) - for a fraction of the price here in Israel! Yes, they are real and natural (and very importantly, not an MLM)!

Soy-free Teriyaki Sauce (for my soy allergic child)

Calendula Cream (so soothing and wonderful for eczema!)

Aquaphor Ointment - impossible to buy locally! (lately this has been out of stock at iherb, but you can ask to be notified when it's available). When it's not available, you might find CeraVe to be a good alternative.

I also regularly check the Specials Page to see if products I use are on sale and work out to a better deal thru iHerb during a sale, and I also occasionally will order a hard-to-find spice.

If you haven't ordered from iHerb, now is the perfect time to check it out!
And please let me know what your favorite deals are!

Don't get surprised by import taxes! If you are ordering items from overseas, be sure to familiarize yourself with the most recent personal import regulations!

Target's got FREE international shipping right now!

this post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission when you make a purchase using my links. Thanks for your support!

OH MY GOSH!

Did you hear? Target's got FREE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING this weekend!

If you hadn't heard, Target now ships to Israel! You prepay import fees and taxes - It's really great for hard to find items!

Important: PLEASE familiarize yourself with Personal Import taxes and fees. You can find a brief summary in my post about New Personal Import Regulations. This is information specific to Israel, so if you live in another country, please find out about personal imports in your country. 

Some items that seem to be very worthwhile buying:

HANES products

Corelle dishes

Toys

Baby Gear and Clothing 

Coffee

(I got my Seattle's Best Coffee! YAY!) 

SALE - Books from Wordery!

(This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission when you make a purchase. Thanks for your support!) 

You all know that I'm a book addict and I love a good sale (obviously)!
 
Right now, discovery the independent UK-based Book Shop, Wordery, and save!
Wordery offers free worldwide shipping, so it's a great place for expats to do their book shopping!

Right now, take advantage of promo code JULYBREAK and buy one book, save 10% off all other books! Expires July 16, 2017.

Aliexpress Finds of the Week - Reusables instead of Disposables!

This page contains affiliate links that help support Frugal and Kosher! Thanks for your support.
 
In our quest to find good buys, we've all started looking at buying directly from China - after all, so many of the stores here in Israel (and other countries!) are resellers of Chinese products, and they naturally jack up the prices (to be fair, they need to raise the price somewhat in order to make a profit). In the interest of saving money, I like to plan ahead and pick up things on Aliexpress! So I just had to share some of the best things I stumbled across on Aliexpress this week!

I'm all about buying reusable items right now - trying to get rid of our dependence on disposables - and here are my picks this week:

Fabric table napkins are a great way to cut down on disposables. I prefer cotton ones over synthetics, because 1. I think they feel nicer 2. they are more environmentally-friendly. Here's a 12-pack of cotton napkins that is a lot more affordable than any I've seen locally (except for the 2nd hand shop)!

Fabric place mats -- same as above. I have a set of heavy cotton ones, but these I just found on Alie are so much more "wow!" - check out the weave and design - they have an amazing texture!

If you have a little one who loves those squeeze-pouch purees, consider making your own purees and filling up reusable pouches. These cute ones are a really great price and come with 2 openings for easy cleaning.

Do your kids love straws like mine do? Here are some stainless steel straws for less than 50 cents apiece! This set comes with 3 handy straw cleaners to help you keep them clean and sanitary. I think it's time to buy them, and stop buying disposable plastic ones!

What kinds of disposables do YOU want to replace with resusables? Leave me a note below!

High Quality Baby Gifts/Toys for less!

(this post contains affiliate links. When you click on my links and make a purchase, I may get paid a commission, at no additonal cost to you. Thanks for your support!)

Are you looking for gifts for your children or friends?

We all know that "back in the old country" we could find high quality toys, like Melissa & Doug, at closeout prices at places like TJMaxx and Marshalls. And giving great gifts is fun, and not spending a fortune makes it so much nicer!

Now, you can buy high quality toys, like Melissa & Doug brand, without going broke, (though not as low priced as outlet stores in America), from eChemist, and get free international shipping on many orders!

Check it out!

While you're at it, take note that eChemist has a large selection of other items - many of which cost less than their local counterparts. (For example, Ricola costs a lot less there!)

And always check out the sales!

Better World Books Sale!

Right now you can save big on used books from Better World Books!

The Better World Books Book Madness Sale is going on now (3/21/17) until 3/28/17!

Here's the Deal: Get 30% off 4 or more used books that ship from Better World Books. For international customers, the discount is 15% off any order of 4 or more used books that ship from Better World Books (international discount is lower due to higher shipping costs)!

Hurry and grab the books on your list - Shop the Better World Books Book Madness Sale and save on all used books that ship from BWB, all with Free Shipping Worldwide!

2-day book sale! Hurry!

Hurry -- it's time to stock up on books if you can! I've always got a list, and I am sure that as soon as my kids discover this blog post in the morning they will be begging me to place a humungous order!

The last few times we ordered, BWB sent us these huge M-bags.. which means we buy a lot of books.

But anyhow, if you've been waiting for a sale, now's your chance!

Sale ends Thursday, August 18th, 2016 at 3:00:00 PM EDT. If you're not sure if a book is on sale, look for a sale tag on the book’s product page, like this:

As always, thanks for supporting this blog when you shop using my links!

Sale - Books - Free International Shipping!

Shop the Better World Books Memorial Day Sale and save on used books, all with Free Shipping Worldwide!


 

Here's the deal:

Better World Books Book Memorial Day Sale

Get 50% off 5 or more used books in the Bargain Bin that ship from Better World Books, if shipping within the US.

International customers will get 25% off any order of 5 or more used books in the Bargain Bin that ship from Better World Books.

This sale runs now thru 5/27/16at 3pm EDT (10pm Israel time).

I am sure my kids are already compiling their Wish Lists! Somehow, they have all inherited my love of books!

Enjoy!

January Savings at iHerb - Limited Time Offer

Free Shipping from iHerb is back!

Here's the current deal for Israeli customers! (perhaps for all international customers)

Extra 10% off - plus free Airmail shipping on all orders over $40.00 USD!

This offer ends Monday, January 18th. 

CLICK HERE to shop now. If you're new to iHerb, this link will load a $5 discount into your shopping cart!

Better World Books 48 hr Sale!

YES! Fall is here! Well, at least that's what the calendar says. And it did feel *much cooler* here overnight, even. And you know that means that some rainy days are on their way (yay!) - actually I'm rooting for rainy nights. I like those best. But I digress - back to the point of this post! Sometimes you just need a good book to read on a rainy day (or night)...

SO... go ahead and save 20% off your order of 5 or more books from the Better World Books Bargain Bin! This way you'll have your rainy day reads all ready and waiting for you! (No coupon code needed, just click the link and shop!)

And of course, there's always free international shipping from BWB!

Sale ends on Thursday, October 22,2015 so hurry! Don't miss out!

Special Socks, anyone?

Looking for special socks?
Look what I stumbled across - free international shipping right now!

SockDreams

I don't think they have super bargain prices, but they are known for quality and selection!

So if there's a special kind of sock on your shopping list, now you know where to go!

(And you know what to do about international orders and the new personal important regulations, right?
If not, be sure to check it out here!)

Better World Books Sale!

Save on used books with the Better World Books Literacy Day Sale. Free shipping worldwide!
You'll save 15% when you purchase 5 or more used "Bargain Bin" books. Sale ends Friday, September 12, 2014 at 3pm (EDT).

You must know by now that I'm an impossible book addict, so I'm off to go find some good deals!

BWB End of Season Sale!

Shop the Better World Books End of Summer Sale and save on used books, all with Free Shipping Worldwide!




This sale starts at 3 pm GMT (6pm in Israel!) today, and lasts only 24 hrs!

You'll get 40% off 5 or more used books from the Bargain Bin! For international customers the discount is 20% off any order of 5 or more used Bargain Bin books that ship from BWB.


So go catch some great sale prices!!