Frugality

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  Cluttercast - Connecting through Clutter

• Mind Over Money

  Darryle Pollack

  3 Feb 2010 | 1:22 am

  Overcoming the Money Disorders that Threaten Our Financial Health—in case you can’t read the subtitle. I was on a conference call the other day with the author of the book,  Dr. Brad Klontz,  one of the experts for H & R Block. He is a financial psychologist—an area of expertise I’ve never heard of  but seems desperately needed, considering how many people have problematical relationships with money. Obviously, someone with clutter issues probably also has money issues—-which is why I’m offering this book to anyone who thinks they need it more than I…

• Cluttercast update: Clarity? Closure? Or Clueless?

  Darryle Pollack

  30 Dec 2009 | 12:55 am

  It’s your call— after you  read what I  just posted on my personal blog: Are you making  a New Year’s Resolution? Exactly one year ago, as my New Year’s resolution,  I started my other blog,  Cluttercast. Every day I posted an item from my clutter, and gave it away to someone who wanted it. It was a big success—-most of all, for me.   This was the first time in my entire life I successfully kept my New Year’s resolution. At least for 6  months. That’s about when I went from cluttercasting daily……to sporadically…..to rarely. A year later, I wish I could…

• A Comrade in Clutter

  Darryle Pollack

  13 Oct 2009 | 8:26 am

  While I’ve been slacking off,  someone else is picking up the ball and taking Cluttercast to a whole new level. I first  “met” Kim on Twitter, then  for real at BlogHer…and now this makes her the all-time Guest Cluttercaster. You MUST see what she’s doing on her blog,: where she calls her version of cluttercast:  “The Great Free Crap Giveaway.” Don’t miss it!!

• Just Checking…..

  Darryle Pollack

  3 Oct 2009 | 11:06 am

  ….in.   And just checking that you’re still awaiting the return of Cluttercast—which will happen soon. The problem is clutter….not the clutter in my house, but the clutter in my brain—which is filled with too many other projects, all going on simultaneously. Lots of people have the same problem;  they handle the overload by being organized.  Then again, if I were organized, I wouldn’t have all this clutter in the first place. In the meantime, thanks for your patience!

• Catching Up….

  Darryle Pollack

  20 Sep 2009 | 5:37 pm

  While I’ve been procrastinating, my clutter is still circulating….so here’s some catching up—with posts in general and Cluttercatchers in particular: IQ test: The kids are back in school and that includes Lilli, whose mom thought she would enjoy the Mensa game.   Lilli and her mom Denys first played at home over the summer—and now Lilli has taken the game back with her— to Harvard. Speaking of Harvard, which was the setting for “Love Story”, here’s the Cluttercast version: Girl meets boy while she is studying abroad in the US one…

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  Festival of Frugality

• Festival of Frugality Goes Environmental

  paidtwice

  2 Feb 2010 | 8:09 pm

  In many ways, environmentalism and frugality can go hand in hand. This week’s festival shows that, featured at Pragmatic Environmentalism. There was a plethora of interesting and insightful entries, including: How to Afford Switching to Cloth Bags – The Conscious Shopper. Cook More & Eat In – Chief Family Officer. Eight Versatile Dishes Entirely Adaptable to Your Tastes – Cheap. Healthy. Good. Square Foot Garden Fever – Being Frugal. Thanks for hosting! Join us next week by entering your post – today!

• The Festival Does The Ultimate

  paidtwice

  26 Jan 2010 | 8:07 pm

  The Festival of Frugality travels this week to the Ultimate Money Blog, where the festival urges us to save green and live green. No specific editor’s picks in this festival, which gives me license to pick a few of my own: How Often Should You Check Your Credit Report? posted at Military Finance Network Save Money By Making Your Own Household Cleaners posted at The Canadian Finance Blog Make Use of The Free Time You Have posted at Free From Broke Thanks for hosting! Next week the festival travels to Pragmatic Environmentalism so get those entries in early!

• Festival of Frugality Can Cook – From Scratch!

  paidtwice

  19 Jan 2010 | 11:16 am

  This week the Festival of Frugality goes to the Cooking Manager blog, where you can learn to cook frugally and without wasting resources. Browse the festival’s wisdom this week, including a few that stood out to me: Are You Spending Less This Year? posted at PT Money. Make Your Own Disney Greeting Cards posted at Family Balance Sheet. Convert Any Toilet Into A Dual-Flush Water Saving Machine posted at Energy Saving Gadgets. Thanks for hosting! Make sure to be included in next week’s edition by submitting your entry here!

• Frugal Tip: You Are What You Eat

  paidtwice

  14 Jan 2010 | 9:06 am

  Part of being a frugal-minded person is being able to discern value. Value does not mean you spend the least amount of money possible all the time. It means, in part, that you know when to spend and when spending is not worth it and there is a better alternative. Food is one of the things that I used to be cheap about and I have learned to become frugal. My family’s nutrition is important to me, and there are times where it seemed easier to grab the processed pre-packaged high calorie/fat things versus really looking at what are frugal alternatives. As my family began to eat healthier,…

• Festivals Don’t Come Cheap

  paidtwice

  12 Jan 2010 | 7:45 pm

  Or maybe they do, when they come to rest at Yes I am Cheap! The festival this week looks at New Beginnings, in honor of the new year and new resolutions. These made the cut as editor’s picks: How To Achieve Your Top New Years Resolution posted at Wealth Creation Blog. January Extreme Challenge posted at The Conscious Shopper. File Your Taxes on the Cheap This Year posted at PT Money. 365 Days of Saving Money: Streamline Your Bathing posted at Modern Tightwad. 101 Ways to Cut Your Spending This Year posted at Being Frugal. Thanks for hosting! Make sure to be included in next week’s…

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  Frugal Babe

• My Latest Goodwill Finds

  FrugalBabe

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:07 pm

  Last month, I decided to see how long I could go without grocery shopping, just by using up the stuff I already had on hand in our cupboards and freezer.  I hadn’t been stockpiling anything and we didn’t have a huge amount of food stored, but it was 15 days between shopping trips, as opposed to my normal 7.  And when I did go back to the grocery store, our bill was only about $40 higher than it usually is, so it was definitely worth some kitchen creativity to use up some of what we had on hand before buying more groceries. There’s a great Goodwill just around the corner from…

• Wills And Other Unpleasant Topics

  FrugalBabe

  30 Jan 2010 | 9:44 am

  My husband and I each bought life insurance policies several years before our son was born.  We put them in a drawer and pretty much forgot about them ever since.  The payments are automatically deducted from our bank account, and there isn’t really anything else to think about.  And now that our son is almost 21 months old, we’ve finally gotten around to adding him as the contingent beneficiary on our policies.  Yes, I know… 21 months.  We are especially on top of things. Anyway, now that we’ve checked that task off of the to-do list, we’re thinking that…

• Opposing Views On Frugality

  FrugalBabe

  28 Jan 2010 | 11:45 am

  Apparently I’m a bit behind on reading personal finance blogs, because I just came across a couple of articles from February of last year.  They’re old, but make some great points and are very interesting reads.  Trent at The Simple Dollar wrote an article about how a media interviewer called him a cheapskate.  And then Him from Make Love Not Debt wrote about his thoughts on the topic.  I found both articles very interesting, along with the comments from readers.  It seems like everyone has an opinion, and two people can see another person’s frugality in very different…

• Plastic

  FrugalBabe

  27 Jan 2010 | 8:41 am

  I’ve written before about how I’m trying to buy less plastic.  I just read a really inspiring interview with Beth Terry from Fake Plastic Fish, and I’m ashamed to admit that on the rare occasions when we eat out, I’ve never thought to ask the waiter to bring my water without a straw.  Around the house, I’m doing pretty well, but we still have a long way to go.  Just about all of my food storage containers are glass now – I have a bunch of glass bowls and casserole dishes with lids that I use in the fridge, and I’ve been recycling jars into food…

• Stretching Our Food

  FrugalBabe

  26 Jan 2010 | 12:46 pm

  I love grocery shopping.  I have no interest at all in going to the mall, but I can happily spend an hour or so wandering around a grocery store.   We almost never eat out, and I cook just about all of our food from scratch, which helps to keep our total food costs reasonable.  According to our credit card spending report, we’ve average just under $600/month for the last 12 months at grocery stores.  In addition, we usually spend about $150/month at Costco, most of which is for food.  After housing, food is definitely our largest expense. I usually go into town and do my grocery…

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  The Frugal Living Blog - Get Value For Money

• Feb 5, Guide to IVAs and dealing with unmanageable debt

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:02 am

  Guide to IVAs and dealing with unmanageable debt

• Feb 1, Fish in mustard sauce recipe

  1 Feb 2010 | 8:27 am

  Ingredients: 6 medium size pieces fish of your choice, 50 g cumin seed, 30 g mustard seed, salt as per taste, ginger 3/4 inch turmeric powder 1/2 tsp.

• Jan 26, Cooking Time Games With the Kids

  26 Jan 2010 | 3:12 am

  My two kids always seem to want to get under my feet when i'm cooking the evening meal, so when i came across this game I could play with them while I

• Jan 22, Why throw your credit cards? Use them and make them work for you. Read here how.

  22 Jan 2010 | 8:33 am

  If money is a sweet sensation, credit cards emphasize this adage. No matter where you are and what you do, a credit card is always an easy-to-use

• Jan 22, Consumerism and Waste

  22 Jan 2010 | 2:04 am

  I want to talk to and hear from other like minded people I am not into Consumerism and waste and hate to see this once beautiful country of ours

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  Almost Frugal

• Tell Us Tuesday: How Have You Saved Money Today?

  Kelly

  9 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am

  Every day I try to do something that saves money. Whether it’s cutting my family members’ hair, packing leftovers for lunch or going to the bathroom before I leave work (no, really!), it’s all in tune with the saying “A penny saved is a penny earned.” How have you saved money today? Play Nice: Share With Others! Tell Us Tuesday: How Have You Saved Money Today? | Permalink | No comments ©Almost Frugal 2007 - 2009. All rights reserved. | Five easy ways to support Almost Frugal.

• A Beginner’s Attempt at Frugality

  A Guest Writer

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am

  This guest post is by Haley Drummond. When I decided last May to leave my comfortable, full-time job and go to graduate school, I wasn’t thinking too much about finances. “It’ll all work out,” I said to myself. “Isn’t it more important to be happy and feel like you’re moving forward in life than to have extra money for premium cable?” Ah, yes. But silly little me was not entirely prepared for the difference between having extra money to blow on things like a Blockbuster Online subscription or $60 boots you don’t really need, and finding yourself standing in Target mentally…

• Does Success in Frugality Depend on Geography?

  Kelly

  5 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am

  I often say that I’m the only American blogging about frugality in my corner of France (I used to include the whole of France, but blogs like The Simple Life in France have made me be more specific!).While cornering the niche can have its advantages (notably being able to say that I’m the only American blogging about frugality in my corner of France), it can also get a little lonely alone in my corner of the frugal world. For one thing, most of the specific money saving tips around the personal finance blogosphere don’t apply to me. I don’t have a Ralphs, Safeway,…

• This is What Frugal Looks Like: Married with Luggage

  Kelly

  4 Feb 2010 | 2:00 am

  This is What Frugal Looks Like is a series that highlights different ways that people can be frugal in their lives- after all, frugality doesn’t have to be drastic or just about clipping coupons. Frugality can be fun and easy. Each respondent answers the same four questions. Today’s interview is with Betsy Talbot from Married with Luggage. What does frugality mean to you? Frugality isn’t about being cheap; it is about using your money in the most effective way. A great example of this is the blender I bought this summer. I started drinking fruit and veggie smoothies for breakfast as…

• The ABCs of Saving Money: B is for…

  Kelly

  3 Feb 2010 | 1:12 am

  The ABCs of Saving Money will appear throughout 2010. Bank accounts How many bank accounts do you have? Do they cost you money or save you money? (Do you even know the monthly charges? I don’t.) My husband and I have had separate bank accounts for a long time, but it in fact costs us quite a lot of money to do so. It was a choice made from lethargy as we never bothered to combine our accounts after we got married. We are now in the process of consolidating our accounts and changing banks, not only because we are trying to save money on monthly fees and service charges but also because…

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  aric with an a

• the hustle

  admin

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:32 am

  look, I could sit and moan and wish and hope for as long as I like. but it comes down to, well, basically - enough is enough. no - not ‘enough is enough’, more like…I gots to get movin’. it was sunny when I woke up and I begrudgingly walked the Nile to the U.S. Embassy, hoping for a throw-back to the 60’s when they’d give ya a bit of cash, even though I knew they wouldn’t. what I really wanted to do was blame Sudan on the fact that I had no money. $331.83, to be exact. no savings, no credit cards, nothing left to pawn. damn them! I’d say, as if…

• the streets of Luxor.

  admin

  6 Feb 2010 | 12:17 pm

  Click here to view the embedded video. look, I’ve been hard on the pyramids and vocal about the pain that is the tourism sector here. but have also had a few adventures here-and-there. this one might top the list. Egypt winning the African Cup was insane. as you can see. and I gave into the vibe and jumped on a horse-drawn carriage to celebrate. you can also see that might not have been the best of ideas.

• 10666

  admin

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:24 am

  that’s a big number, 10,666. we can all agree on that. that’s how many people dropped by yesterday. am I bragging? no, I have nothing to brag about. I’m writing, because it’s the cheapest thing I can do. ten-thousand people and change. why? I’m guessing because despondency sells. you’re either from the credit card company, another stalker, my Mother, or perhaps, you’re wondering how this will work out. you can stop reading now, if you want. I’m rambling. trying to think something or hear something, that gives me a bit of direction. I don’t…

• moan, you moaner[s].

  admin

  6 Feb 2010 | 8:06 am

  it’s a funny thing when you’re this close from a scary place, I say as I type on my $2000 computer, importing photos from my $1800 camera. recipes for irony, all sitting right here - I’ll admit to that. a single line from an old friend to end a quick email and I’m emotional, the same way a Journey track used to sum up a high school love. thank you Steve Perry, you see right through me. I sat outside the museum today, waiting on Emily. I’d already gone before, but had promised her I’d go with her again. but that wasn’t happening, sorry Egypt, I can…

• pics. cause you refuse to believe me.

  admin

  6 Feb 2010 | 1:58 am

  look, they’re fun to shoot. and from a distance, you remember that magic they brought when you were young. so you ‘pah’. think about going. probably will go. and that’s fine. just please don’t take these shots as reality. cause they’re tweaked in lightroom. and shot at an upward angle. past the crowds. and the litter. which is sad, mostly because we’ll keep going.

• 
  Uncommon Cents

• What Matters Now: Free!

  admin

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:42 pm

  Seth Godin, noted author, has put together an electronic book in Adobe Acrobat format called What Matters Now; it has contributions from over seventy “big thinkers”, including folks like Gina Trapani (of Lifehacker fame), Merlin Mann (43 Folders), Kevin Kelly (Cool Tools), and many more. You can get it free off of Seth’s blog at http://sethgodin.typepad.com/ It’s a great, quick read.

• When My Saving Receipts Habits Really Helped

  admin

  7 Feb 2010 | 2:04 pm

  No, this is not a story about my needing to exchange something and actually having the receipt as opposed to the many folks who can never find the receipt when they need it. What this is is a story about habit and how sometimes they can really pay off. Since I’ve long been in the habit of not just keeping my receipts, but also logging them, when I’m on a business trip like I was last week and I need to keep receipts for reimbursement or tax purposes, it’s totally not a problem. This unlike my many counterparts on the trip, who had to return to restaurants or cafeterias…

• Two Dollars is Two Dollars and Ten Percent is Ten Percent

  admin

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:10 pm

  On my recent trip to Oakland, I (ashamedly, as a Geek) never thought about checking in online until a lady in front of me at Honolulu International Airport said she checked in online. I’m not sure her boarding process–through the maze of agricultural, baggage, and TSA checkpoints–was any quicker, but it made me think about trying it on the return leg of my trip. The morning of my flight, before I left my hotel, I logged into United.com and used their online check in. It was pretty quick and allowed me to print my boarding pass (although since I had no access to a printer, I…

• Waste and Even More Waste: Poor Proofreading Makes For Tough Decisions

  admin

  5 Feb 2010 | 1:39 pm

  Argh. I’m annoyed with myself. I ordered a bunch of mini style (or “Moo” style, although I did not buy these from Moo) cards printed with info on my Livestrong Challenge effort, to ask people I met in real life to contribute to the cause. It took a few days but the cards–a thousand of them!–showed up at home. And the URL to my Livestrong Challenge page… was misspelled. I have no one to blame but the guy in the mirror. I didn’t proofread well enough. What to do? I thought about ordering a new batch, but that seemed wasteful–not just in spending…

• Get Out of Debt and Stabilize Your Finances

  admin

  4 Feb 2010 | 3:55 pm

  Today’s guest post is by Jennifer Lohan, who is living proof that Uncommon Cents is very open to new bloggers; she just emailed me out of the blue and asked if she could post, asking for nothing in return, not even a link back to another blog! Thanks Jennifer! Is it very difficult to get out of debt? It is easier to fall into debt than get out of it. However, if you are in debt, you can still get rid of them although it’ll take sometime to do so. This is because there are no shortcuts to a debt free life or you cannot stabilize your finances overnight. So, if you see billboards…

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  The Frugal Life News

• Ways To Dig Yourself Out of Debt

  Donna Watkins

  6 Feb 2010 | 10:59 pm

  By Liz Pulliam Weston MSN Money Skip the excuses. The truth is that only you can control your financial destiny -- and you should start right now. Many Americans are facing real financial crises: lost jobs, lost homes, lost retirement savings. Many others, though, are mired in financial messes completely of their own making. Despite relatively steady incomes, they: Live paycheck to paycheck. Carry credit card debt. Neglect their credit records. Fail to save anything for retirement. Put off the financial fixes they need to make, even if that fix is bankruptcy. Denial is not a financial plan.

• Scam Alert: Debit Card Skimming

  Donna Watkins

  6 Feb 2010 | 10:55 pm

  It’s becoming a familiar scenario: Soon after filling up at the gas pump, a motorist learns that his bank account has been emptied. What happened? Another case of “skimming,” in which crooks place a portable card-reading device—readily available over the Internet—inside the pump. When the customer inserts his debit card and enters the required personal identification number, the device captures both the data from the card’s magnetic stripe and the PIN. Skimming was first reported by Scam Alert four years ago. But back then, skimmer devices were most often used at ATMs, usually in…

• Old Van Or New Car

  Randal Watkins

  6 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm

  Q. I have an older van that really needs to have major repairs, such as brakes and possibly a new/rebuilt engine. We put a new transmission in it before Christmas while I was still working. I am at home now and use the van primarily for carting the kids to the store and to the pool, etc. My husband has the "I want a "new" car urge and keeps talking about using my van for a trade-in. We figure that we could "afford" payments of $200.00 a month but that would be all of our discretionary budget. How do we decide which is the best use of our money? Fix the old or invest in a newer vehicle?

• Learn Just About Anything Online Free

  Donna Watkins

  3 Feb 2010 | 1:07 am

  Dan Colman, who directs Stanford University’s continuing studies program, sees no end to the growth of e-learning opportunities. Colman, who founded and edits Open Culture, a website that tracks free educational and cultural media on the Web, considers these materials to be an important resource for personal enrichment, not a replacement for a college education. “I think we’re entering an era where lifelong learners will have access to limitless amounts of free, noncommercial educational opportunities. Arguably, we’re already there.” And still moving forward, if Congress passes…

• Make a Rag Rug

  Donna Watkins

  2 Feb 2010 | 11:40 pm

  Recycle old clothes and other fabrics by making them into a cozy, colorful rag rug. Though the popularity of making rag rugs has ebbed and flowed through the centuries, the tradition has stayed alive. Rooted deep in handcrafting for family life, rag rugs carry the essence and the history of repurposing as a necessity as well as an art. Rag rugs can be made in a number of different ways. If you’re lucky, you might have the greatest learning source of all in a living relative who can teach you the skill. My Great Aunt Maddie was a rag rug maker, and with her passing, my family was left with a…

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  Frugal Blog

• Closing Sales Aren't Always What They Seem

  6 Feb 2010 | 6:14 pm

  I am in the market for new dining chairs. My old kitchen chairs were scratching the floor, so I moved my dining chairs into the kitchen and my teak kitchen chairs onto the deck. This left me looking for new dining chairs.

• Is Angel Food Ministries a Good Frugal Choice

  5 Feb 2010 | 3:16 pm

  I was recently turned onto Angel Food Ministries by someone who needed to stretch their food bill and found it a good deal. Angel Food Ministries distributes boxes of foods with a full week's menu valued at about $65.00 for $30.00.

• Best Time for a Frugal Person to Remodel

  3 Feb 2010 | 5:56 pm

  Well, I am back in my home after a 2 week remodel. Yes, frugal people remodel too. We just do it frugally.

• The Many Uses for Ikea Bags

  31 Jan 2010 | 1:11 pm

  If you know anything about me, you know I am a big fan of IKEA. IKEA is a great inexpensive place to go for accessories for the home and for the odd piece of furniture. I also think it is a great place to purchase Christmas presents.

• Early Bird Specials Evolving

  30 Jan 2010 | 9:25 am

  When you think of the typical early bird special at a restaurant, you might think of retirees and older folk who can come in in for dinner at 4 or 5 p.m. and save 10 percent or more.

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  Frugal Dad

• Costs of Commuting, and Nine Ways To Reduce Them

  Frugal Dad

  9 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  This is a guest post submitted by Ramsay who writes for needmoneytips.com, a blog about personal finance and supplemental income. Have you ever figured out how much you are spending just to go to and from work everyday? There are a lot of things to consider like gas, tolls, parking and even wear and tear on your car. Your commute might be costing you more than you think. Most of these costs are unavoidable. You have to go to work and it costs you money to get there. But, you may be able to save a considerable amount of money by making some small changes to your commute. I live in the…

• Lifestyle Inflation Or Economic Inflation – Which Harms Us The Most?

  Frugal Dad

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  Over the weekend I caught up on some blog reading and found an old post from The Simple Dollar where Trent discussed the differences in today’s budgets from those of our parents. It was an interesting post, and the comments provided more food for thought. I began inventorying our own monthly bills and compared them to the bills I knew about growing up. These are the types of bills I remember my mom paying: Rent Car payment Power/Gas bill Home telephone Cable television Car Insurance Admittedly, our situation was somewhat simplified because my mom rented, but it seems everyone’s…

• We Owe $80,000 On Credit Cards – Where To Start?

  Frugal Dad

  5 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  Laura writes in with the following plea for help with getting out of credit card debt: I came across your web site today and I love it!  My husband was out of work for nearly 2 years.  We always had enough money to pay our bills so our credit line was very high.  Well, I used it, all of it.  I paid the phone, the car, taxes, one credit card paid another and so on.  I know I broke every cardinal rule but I did what I had to survive. My husband is now working.  We are paying the mortgage company every week $500.00 to catch up.  My credit cards are over $80,000.00. Here is my…

• Weekly Roundup: Unexpected Unemployment Results

  Frugal Dad

  4 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  The January unemployment report is due out this Friday, and some are predicting negative news, mostly because of an annual adjustment for jobs “miscounted” last year. I heard the figure 824,000 being tossed about today, as in we really lost 824,000 more jobs last year than reported. My favorite term in these reports has become “unexpectedly,” as in, “the numbers increased unexpectedly.” Or, “the numbers were higher than experts expected.” After a while, you have to wonder who in the heck these so-called experts are, and why are they always…

• A Realistic Look At Financial Security

  Frugal Dad

  3 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  The following post is from Kevin of 20smoney.comand SimpleFinancialFreedom.com There are a few ideas and terms that the masses throw around in an effort to mitigate risk and be more financially secure. The terms that come to mind are emergency fund and diversification. While these are valid concepts, I don’t think they complete the picture of financial security that we should all strive towards. Most people would agree that economically, we’re in better shape now than a year ago. While we can debate to what degree, I think it would be wise for us to assume that we’re not better off. We…

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  About.com Frugal Living

• Is Your Spouse Frugal?

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:06 am

  Living the frugal life is a lot easier when your spouse is frugal too, which is why I consider myself lucky to have snagged such a frugal guy. My husband bakes our bread; carries coupons in his wallet; and still drives the same 15-year-old car that he had when we met. Is your spouse frugal? Cast your vote in our poll. Related Reading: Budget Calculator Develop a Monthly Spending Plan Calculate Your Debt LoadIs Your Spouse Frugal? originally appeared on About.com Frugal Living on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 11:06:57.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• Cheap Super Bowl Eats

  5 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  Looking for some budget-friendly Super Bowl munchies? Give these recipes a try: Easy Egg Rolls Pan Pizza Dough Biscuit Popovers Oven Fries Ham and Cheese Calzone Crockpot Chili Vegetarian Chili Kettle CornCheap Super Bowl Eats originally appeared on About.com Frugal Living on Friday, February 5th, 2010 at 09:00:14.Permalink | Comment | Email this

• February Freebies

  4 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  Looks like February's going to be a good month for freebies. Here's what's up for grabs so far: Kashi is offering free samples again. Choose from Go Lean Crisp Toasted Berry Crumble cereal, a TLC Dark Chocolate Coconut Fruit and Grain bar (my pick) or Go Lean Crunch Honey Almond Flax cereal Cream of Wheat is also offering a free sample of their hot cereal. Choose from six varieties National Pancake Day is upon us once again. Get a free short stack of pancakes at IHOP on February 23 Lowes is offering a free Build and Grow clinic for kids on February 23. A Valentine-themed jewelry organizer is…

• Featured Reader: Helen, ON

  3 Feb 2010 | 1:00 am

  Name: Helen from Toronto, Ontario Your Favorite Source for Bargains: Winners clearance rack, Freecycle and Value Village Your Best Bargain of All Times: The discounted (up to 30%), plus 50%-less-pricing of watches in The Bay. I love their brand name, really classy watches. I have a few for different occasions, and I give them as gifts too. Your Best Money-Saving Tip: Try to invest in a good sewing machine. Just being able to do your own hemming will save you tons in the long run; and that doesn't even take into consideration the savings from being able to repair rips, replace buttons and…

• Shop International Grocery Stores

  2 Feb 2010 | 4:21 am

  Pad Thai is one of my family's favorite dishes, but the ingredients can be kind of expensive. My solution? I shop at an Asian grocery store, where I can get everything that I need at a great price. If you enjoy ethnic foods (and even if you don't), international grocery stores can be a great source for savings. 12 Items to Buy at International Grocery Stores Do you shop at international grocery stores? Tell us what you buy. Related Reading: Save on Meat Save on Organics Start a Price Book Photo &copy Jungle_Jim's_International_marketShop International Grocery Stores originally appeared…

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  Frugal Simplicity

• Freebies and Coupons Group, Come Join!

  BlondieWrites

  6 Feb 2010 | 10:04 am

  I’ve recently been granted to take over the freebies group, 1000 Quality Freebies, a long time Yahoo freebies group. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/1000_Quality_Freebies The group’s owner had disappeared long ago, leaving the group to spammers posting yucky stuff. Over the course of three to four days, we have deleted hundreds of thousands of messages (all of them!) to totally start [...]

• Sell Your Old Gold: Get A Free Kit Now!

  BlondieWrites

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:46 am

  With Gold prices near an all-time high, you can sell your gold thru Gold Sellers Kit and get a check fast for top dollar. Click here to get your free kit now. Do you have a little pile of tangled gold chains, mismatched earrings, or an old ring just laying around? With Gold prices near an [...]

• Credit Counseling: Work with a Professional to Pay off Your Medical Bills

  BlondieWrites

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:34 am

  Medical debt plagues many households across the country and can often contribute to the terrible level of debt that many families and individuals are facing. While, medical debts can be erased with bankruptcy and other extreme measures, it’s important to take the time to exercise other options of debt management beforehand. The three main forms [...]

• Debt Negotiation: Talk Down Your Credit Card Debt

  BlondieWrites

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:29 am

  Credit card debt is the number one form of debt in the country and every day more and more Americans are finding themselves in deeper and deeper with credit card companies. When the payments seem high and many and the interest rates are beyond comprehension, you may be looking for relief. Debt negotiation can bring [...]

• 5 Tips for Planning an Affordable Family Vacation

  BlondieWrites

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:22 am

  Are you ready to start planning your family’s summer vacation? In the past, this was an exciting time. However, the economy now has many Americans in a financial bind. If you are one of those Americans, planning your family vacation may no longer be as fun. In fact, it is something [...]

• 
  Frugal Village

• A second use for foam trays

  Sara Noel

  6 Feb 2010 | 3:17 pm

  photo by oskay Some produce comes wrapped on foam trays. Rather than throwing them away, they can be reused as paint palettes, crafts or packing material. You can place them in your pantry under items such as oil or honey that might drip or leak on your shelves or make a compass, too. The first reader tip shares more ways to use them. REUSE TRAYS: My dad uses them instead of plates. He likes them more than plates because they’re lightweight. He can put it on his lap to peel an orange or hold peanut shells because of the raised sides. He also uses it for toast or pizza. When the tray…

• Starbucks contest winners

  Sara Noel

  5 Feb 2010 | 11:52 am

  The two winners are Clay Rosenberg and frugalwarrior2. Enjoy your coffee and French press! Congratulations and thank you to everyone that entered. A special thank you to Starbucks for sponsoring this fun giveaway.

• It doesn’t hurt to ask

  Sara Noel

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:27 pm

  photo scaleovenstove You can be one question away from saving money. If you don’t ask for discounts, you’re missing opportunities to hang on to more of your hard-earned cash. It can be tough to muster up the courage, but it gets easier once you’ve done it a few times. You don’t have to be a tough negotiator. Be honest, undemanding and prepared for rejection. Many places offer unadvertised student, senior, military and employer discounts or will reduce the price if you buy in bulk, merchandise is slightly flawed, or if you’re a frequent and good customer. Where…

• Lifestyles of the smart and frugal

  Sara Noel

  3 Feb 2010 | 11:12 pm

  photo by bdjsb7 Frugal people have quirks. We can’t help ourselves. We know that our frugal habits make a difference. Often, these little frugal ways can drive our families crazy. But we all know who is right in the thermostat wars. Ha! You deserve some validation. What frugal things do you do that make your family roll their eyes? LIGHTS OFF: They turn the lights on, leave the room, and leave the lights on. You walk around shutting them all off. No need for a pedometer. You know you’ve made plenty of steps each night. You can fix their wagon. Try the Lights Out AutoSwitch by…

• Quick meals with few ingredients

  Sara Noel

  3 Feb 2010 | 4:53 pm

  photo by colinandangie Recipes with just a few ingredients are often cheaper, but they don’t have to lack in flavor. They don’t have a lot of steps and measurements so they are simple to prepare. You’ll have most everything you need already in your kitchen, too. The following recipes can be jazzed up with additional ingredients or left basic and hassle-free. Apricot Chicken 1 whole chicken, cut up 1 cup French dressing 1 packet dry onion-soup mix 1 cup apricot preserves Mix all the ingredients, and pour over the chicken. Bake at 350 F for one hour, covered. Remove the cover,…

• 
  GlassyEyes | Find Your Next Affordable Eyeglasses Online

• Last Day for GlassyEyes Exclusive at EyeBuyDirect!

  31 Jan 2010 | 6:22 am

  Today is the last day. If you're looking to get a couple of pairs for yourself or a loved one, the time is right -- and you can get two pairs for the price of one just because you know of the GlassyEyes site.I've had a comment that this sale is only for the frames. This is incorrect. There are restrictions, like minimum $14.95 purchase, and this sale only includes single vision with anti-scratch lenses... You'll do best checking it out on the site. If you need lens upgrades, you'll pay for them for both pairs.This is a great sale to pick up a couple of extra pairs of glasses or save big (as…

• Exclusive! GlassyEyes 241 Weekend at EyeBuyDirect

  29 Jan 2010 | 3:22 am

  I had a really great conversation with my contact at EyeBuyDirect the other night about the state of the online eyeglasses industry and what they're doing to fix some of the shortcomings they've identified in the process.They're a thoughtful group over there. They're aware that some of the customer service issues over the busy holiday season left some people waiting longer than they are used to (or unable to contact them easily) and he's dedicated to improving this right now. They've also created a custom, exclusive TWO-FOR-ONE sale this weekend for us.Click here and use code "glassy241"Take…

• Here comes another BOGO

  25 Jan 2010 | 7:47 am

  [UPDATE! Post Recycling! There is another BOGO, today, Wednesday, January 27th!]I considered the title "It's Monday so it must be BOGO" but EBD has been mixing it up a bit lately with the timing of these events. I'll hang on to that title for future use -- it's *that good*.Anyway, I you're in the mood for a couple of pair of basic glasses (or prescription SUNGLASSES), but only want to pay for one, this is something you'll want to check out.Typical restrictions apply. See EyeBuyDirect for details.[Please excuse any typos. It's snowing in the Twin Cities so I'm taking the bus to catch the train…

• Another Buy-One-Get-One at EyeBuyDirect -- Today Only!

  15 Jan 2010 | 2:51 pm

  This one caught me off-guard (and on a new gig all day, so I was unable to update the site). Eschewing the more typical Monday BOGO, they're doing it on a Friday.If your date canceled, and you're wondering what to do tonight, hit the site and order yourself a pair of fashion eyeglasses!See EyeBuyDirect directly for details. They do a better job at describing the always-present exceptions.

• Eyeglass Chandelier

  14 Jan 2010 | 9:23 am

  Big props to one of my most loyal twitter followers @jennahw for pointing me towards this amazing work of eyeglass-art by Stuart Haygarth (via VeryVeryFun).As I told her yesterday, I think I'll have to start one of these now and keep adding to it as my eyes degrade into my 40's... 50's... 60's...In fact, it's given me an idea for a new project to start -- in my massive amounts of free time -- as a combo light fixture/eyeglasses storage device.

• 
  Bargain Briana

• Ocean Spray Grapefruit Juice Printable Coupon

  Briana Carter

  9 Feb 2010 | 8:26 am

  Ocean Spray is offering a rare printable coupon for $1/1 Ocean Spray Grapefruit Juice. I’ve noticed these on sale in the past for $2.50, so it would make these just $1.50 after coupon or less if there is a better sale! Thanks, Give me Neither! Be sure to check out the rest of the printable coupons! You can read about how to save on ink while printing these fabulous coupons in my previous post “Tips for Printing Internet Coupons.” ©2009 BargainBriana.com™ . Thanks for reading. Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are viewing this article on any other…

• Cellfire eCoupons 2/9

  Briana Carter

  9 Feb 2010 | 4:00 am

  New coupons today from Cellfire. Go ahead and load these eCoupons to your loyalty card! Looks like some good opportunities for some deals Looks like some good opportunities for some deals at Kroger, Tom Thumb (or here), and Randalls! $0.40/1 Betty Crocker Cookie Mix $0.40/2 Pillsbury Italian Meal Breads $0.40/2 Pillsbury Sweet Rolls or Grands! $0.40/1 Fiber One Chewy Bars $0.40/1 Nature Valley Bars $0.50/1 Chex Mix 4.5 oz. or larger $0.50/1 Betty Crocker Box Muffin $0.50/1 Fiber One Box Muffin Mix $0.50/1 Betty Crocker Warm Delights $0.50/1 Betty Crocker Frosting tub $0.60/1 Yoplait Yogurt…

• $3 off Store Brand Coupon Infant Formula via Snail Mail

  Briana Carter

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:34 pm

  This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of PBM Products. All opinions are 100% mine. Remember a few months back when I told you about the Parent’s Choice Savings Calculator? Many of you already use store brand formula to get the best deal. We all know, breast is best. However, there are times when you can not breastfeed. It is good to know mother’s have another option out there. In the United States, all formulas marketed here must meet the same basic nutrient requirements subject to the FDA regulations.  So you can feel comfortable knowing your baby is getting the same…

• Gap: Two Pairs of Kids Jeans as low as $14.75/each

  Briana Carter

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:31 am

  New at my Deal Hound Blog: Buy One Pair Kids or Baby Jeans, Get the Second for $10 at Gap. (Online now but in stores beginning 2-11-10.) ©2009 BargainBriana.com™ . Thanks for reading. Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are viewing this article on any other site, it is possible this is copyright infringement. Please contact me at bargainbriana@gmail.com. Gap: Two Pairs of Kids Jeans as low as $14.75/each Related posts:Save up to 80% at the Travelocity Super Cruise Sale 10 Pairs of Sunglasses for $9.99 HOT: Old Navy 20% for College

• FREE Sample Burt’s Bees Natural Toothpaste

  Briana Carter

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:56 am

  Sign up to receive a FREE sample of Burt’s Bees Natural Toothpaste. I know many of you love Burt’s Bees so hurry over to get your freebie! Thanks, Southern Savers! ©2009 BargainBriana.com™ . Thanks for reading. Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are viewing this article on any other site, it is possible this is copyright infringement. Please contact me at bargainbriana@gmail.com. FREE Sample Burt’s Bees Natural Toothpaste Related posts:FREE Sample Cream of Wheat Healthy Grain FREE Playtex Gentle Glide Sample Free Pampers Sample on 1/29

• 
  Mighty Bargain Hunter

• Three ways to find a cool deal using Google

  mbhunter

  7 Feb 2010 | 12:47 am

  (This guest post is by Ann Smarty, a search engine geek, social media enthusiast and a passionate blogger. She has recently started a community of guest bloggers, so if you have a blog and want to promote it for absolutely free, go help Ann build the valuable tool for that by joining and participating.) Bargain hunting is only effective when done right otherwise you find yourself using a coupon whenever you are aware of one (which causes even more spending) or always forgetting to use a coupon (how many of us first buy something and only then remember they saw a deal for the same product in…

• So what are lenders using as criteria today for mortgage qualification?

  mbhunter

  6 Feb 2010 | 2:07 am

  I’ve been talking about some things related to the home purchase we’re doing now.  One of the conditions of purchasing our new home was ability to get financing.  Since I couldn’t buy with cash, I needed to apply for a mortgage.  What I couldn’t do was make the purchase contingent on the sale of my current home (the property we were interested in was a foreclosure), so I needed to be able to qualify for the new loan without settling my current mortgage. This seemed to be a bit harder of a condition to meet since it would mean carrying a higher debt load.  I was a…

• Friday Fiscals: Blizzard Edition

  mbhunter

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:18 pm

  We’re in one of the areas that’s getting pummeled with snow this weekend.  Thankfully we still have power, and even Internet access.  Please be safe if you’re in the mess with us. Here are some links of interest from the past week: The Frugal Lawyer scored a TV interview on spending addiction.  (I’ll be doing a post on this as well.) The Balanced Spreadsheet is another blogger that updates their net worth. The Millionaire Nurse, for something completely different, relates money and diseases. Wise Bread has a guest post by Joel Ohman explaining why he didn’t…

• If your bank legitimately calls you, call them back

  mbhunter

  4 Feb 2010 | 9:58 pm

  I initiated a wire transfer today from an out-of-state credit union to my home credit union.  Because the amount of money was fairly significant, they called me up to verify a few things before they did the transfer. After the woman gave her name and who she worked for, she asked for the passcode to my account to continue the transaction. I almost told her, but stopped.  Since she called me, I asked, “Uhhh, can I call you back please?  I want to verify who I’m speaking with.”  She agreed without any problem, and gave me her name again, her phone number, and her…

• Why yes, I DID save some money on my auto insurance!

  mbhunter

  3 Feb 2010 | 11:27 pm

  We’re (hopefully) in the final stretch for purchasing a new house, and part of the paperwork for this was setting up homeowner’s insurance for the new house. We called the same company that sold us our current house’s homeowner’s policy, as well as our current auto insurance policy.  The agent was able to get us quite a good deal on the homeowner’s policy, and almost as an afterthought, she offered to check around for us on our auto insurance policy. For several years we didn’t have the best driving record.  Right before I was married (2001), I had a…

• 
  so you wannabee a Domestik Goddess?

• Mason-Dixon Knitting Book Chicks Sing Country, Too

  Domestik Goddess

  3 Feb 2010 | 1:14 pm

  Mason-Dixon Knitting Book Chicks Sing Country, Too ©2009 domestikgoddess.com This just in from Crafters News (Crown): You’ve knitted their colorful blankets, sassy nightgowns, adorable baby bibs, dishtowels, and more, but did you know that Kay Gardiner and Ann Shayne of Mason-Dixon Knitting fame are actually country singers in disguise? Give a listen to Kay and Ann on the Nashville Bandwagon Show, performing their side-splitting-funny country song “Pardon Me (I Didn’t Knit that For You)”. This musical gem was part of the whoop-up launch of the new (affordable!) paperback…

• Dogs Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree

  Domestik Goddess

  18 Dec 2009 | 2:38 pm

  Dogs Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree ©2009 domestikgoddess.com Okay, okay, I know you’ve probably all seen this amazing YouTube video before — the one where a whole group of trained dogs are home alone and they decorate the Christmas tree — but let’s enjoy the smart doggies one more time, heading into the holidays! This is like a Christmas pageant for a dog training school (in Hungary, isn’t it?) and a really clever idea! If you watch carefully, you’ll be able to see what behaviours each of the dogs has been trained to do (opening the cupboard…

• Torn Edges for Paper Crafts

  Domestik Goddess

  27 Oct 2009 | 5:29 pm

  Torn Edges for Paper Crafts ©2009 domestikgoddess.com It’s easy to create a professional-looking torn-edge effect to use when you’re scrapbooking or making greeting cards, gift tags, or other torn paper crafts — even some amazing art: Start with a fairly good quality paper — off-white is great for gift tags when layered over a patterned or dark-coloured piece of paper. Set it in lukewarm water. You want it to be completely moist but not soaked. Pat off any extra water and gently tear out the shape you need. It’s just that easy to get a great effect with torn paper…

• Fixing Old Plaster Walls

  guest

  20 Oct 2009 | 9:01 pm

  Fixing Old Plaster Walls ©2009 domestikgoddess.com Once again, He Who Hogs The Power Tools has graciously agreed to do a Guest Post for us. The topic of fixing a cracked plaster wall is one that comes up around here a lot… Just this morning, in fact, there was a lively coffee-shop discussion on the subject. Everyone around the table agreed — there’s no DIY method that compares to “buttoning it down” with plaster washers… ~ Jen After a couple of years of trying to ignore the cracked walls and loose plaster in the living room of our 100-year old…

• How to Make a Greyhound Cocktail

  Domestik Goddess

  5 Aug 2009 | 3:03 pm

  How to Make a Greyhound Cocktail ©2009 domestikgoddess.com As the owner of a retired racing greyhound, and not being opposed to the occasional adult beverage, I was semi-thrilled to discover there’s such a thing as a Greyhound cocktail. Here’s the mixology on it, if you’re feeling like a fruity-refreshing summer drink for patio sipping: How to Make a Greyhound Cocktail I’m only semi-thrilled to learn about the Greyhound Cocktail, though, because I also discovered that there are quite serious (as in, potentially life-and-liver-threatening) possible interactions…

• 
  Thrifty Mommy

• Menu Plan Monday ~ February 8, 2010

  Karen Weideman

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:55 am

  Happy Monday everyone. In case you’re just joining in, this is week six of consistent menu planning.  At first this process was difficult, but it’s becoming easier now. It takes a lot of stress away from my evenings since I already know what we’re having to eat and I’m not searching through cabinets trying put together a meal. Some of this week’s menu is from last week. I went grocery shopping at Harris Teeter last week. They had some great buy 1 get 1 free bargains so our menu got changed around a bit. This week we’re having: Monday:  breakfast –…

• Child Support Resources

  Jennifer Chait

  7 Feb 2010 | 3:09 pm

  If you’re a single parent you may be entitled to child support which can help out a lot. Sadly, it’s not always easy to get the support you need or deserve for your kids. With this in mind following are some resources that can help. Establish paternity: If you’re a mama then establishing paternity is the first best step toward getting child support. Know what you can get: Before making a deal of any sort with the father or mother of your kids make sure you know what’s reasonable. Many people make shoddy deals for child support such as, “Oh Bill agreed to give me…

• Unemployment rate falls to a five-month low

  Jennifer Chait

  6 Feb 2010 | 6:36 am

  In semi-shocking news that broke yesterday, the unemployment rate fell to a five-month low of 9.7%. This may suggest that some labor market improvement starting to take root. However before everyone gets too excited consider that President Obama noted yesterday that, “These numbers, while positive, are a cause for hope, but not celebration… far too many of our neighbors and friends and family are still out of work.” Obama also warned that the jobs statistics “Will fluctuate for months to come.” Of course others aren’t so thrilled with the numbers either or…

• Slow Cooker Lasagna Recipe

  Karen Weideman

  6 Feb 2010 | 6:13 am

  This recipe is courtesy of BJ’s Wholesale. This recipe for slow cooker lasagna allows you to host game day at your house while mingling with the crowd.  There’s no need to spend all of your time in the kitchen with this main dish. Ingredients: 1 ½ lb. Harvestland Fully Cooked Chicken Sausage, chopped (Fresh Prepared Aisle) 1 32-oz. jar of Rozzano® Marinara Sauce (Grocery Aisle) 2 tsp. McCormick® Italian Seasoning (Spice Aisle) ¼ cup McCormick® Chopped Onion (Spice Aisle) 15 oz. Sorrento® Whole Milk Ricotta (Dairy Case) 1 cup Parmesan Cheese, shredded (International Cheese…

• Your Ideal Frugal Valentine’s Day Gift

  Jennifer Chait

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:05 pm

  To be honest I’m not a huge fan of Valentine’s Day. I’m not anti-Valentines but I’m not all hyper about it either.  Still if someone was going to get me something I’d want flowers – organic preferably, because I love getting flowers and rarely do. However, since organic flowers can cost a lot, I also have some other low-cost ideas… My favorite frugal gift, for Valentine’s Day or otherwise is usually mixed CDs. I like to make and give them and I like to get CDs from others. This is totally low cost, but worth much more, one because mix CDs are…

• 
  Pat Veretto's Frugal Living Blog

• People helping people

  3 Feb 2010 | 6:40 pm

  With so many people out of work or having to make do with part time or low paying jobs, there are a lot of needs out there. I was reminded of the site Modest Needs and took a closer look than I had before. Part of living frugally is being able to help others who need it. Sometimes all it takes is a few dollars tossed into the pile along with a few others' dollars and that's how this site works.

• Hungry for spring!

  31 Jan 2010 | 7:10 pm

  I dragged out some wild food books over the weekend and spent some time looking through them, finding a few recipes to try this spring and summer, as well as deciding to try a couple of "weeds" that I've not eaten before. It was a good way to spend an otherwise boring winter afternoon, but it really got me fired up for spring! Dandelions will be in grave danger this year, I can tell you. I'm so

• Update on my site

  25 Jan 2010 | 3:20 am

  I just finished adding a few more files to patveretto.com. Click on the "Frugal" link on the upper left hand side, then on "Uncommon Uses for Common Things" to find the newest ones. Let me know what you think.I know... I'm very slow at this. Life and work tends to get in the way!

• Tax time

  21 Jan 2010 | 8:24 pm

  It's tax season and what have you done? Are you in better shape, tax-wise, than you were last year? Do you have the records you need? Will you take every deduction due you? Have you arranged affairs so that some of your savings are not taxable now? How about your income? Will you pay straight income tax on all of it? If you're not sure, it's time to spend some time at the IRS web site. An

• Braving the new economy

  15 Jan 2010 | 12:25 pm

  Despite claims that the recession is over, the economy just doesn't look good from here... does it from where you are? A lot of people are cutting back, trying to pay off debt and build up savings, "just in case." They're trying to get themselves into a situation where they should have been long ago. In a way, that's good. And in a way, it's bad because it takes even more money out of circulation

• 
  Frugal Upstate

• Menu Plan 2/8

  Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:07 am

  I’m back from the Blissdom women’s blogging conference (where I was a speaker) and in “conference recovery” mode.  That means that I have my own sleep to catch up on, unpacking to do, laundry for the entire family and usually some pickup/reorganization to do with the house.  As a result I like to keep the first few days after a conference very easy on the meal front. Monday: Spaghetti & Meatballs with Canned Veggies Can’t get much more simple than that. I’ve got frozen venison meatballs that I made downstairs in the fridge.  I’ll add jarred…

• Frugal Update-The Packing Edition

  Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

  6 Feb 2010 | 7:27 am

  I filmed another Frugal Update before flying out for the Blissdom conference on Wednesday. This one runs about 10 min long-enjoy! I’d love to hear what you think of the video-even if it’s just “liked it, keep doing them”. . . Related Posts:The Frugal UpdateFrugal Fashion-Eleven Ways to Wear a ScarfDon't Buy StuffQuick & Easy Halloween Treat~Halloween Hands!New Vlog: Fall Porch Decoration

• Recipe: Citrus Rice

  Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

  4 Feb 2010 | 4:45 am

  We love rice, and my rice cooker makes it very easy to whip up a batch as a side dish. . . but sometimes it can get,1 well, boring. A little lemon juice, a little orange peel, a little dill and you’ve got yourself  something out of the ordinary Photo by Su-lin Citrus Rice 1 C rice 1 tsp dried orange peel 2 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp dill 1 tsp salt 2 chicken bullion cubes-crushed 1 TBS butter 2 C water Mix all ingredients well in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil on high heat, then reduce heat to a simmer & cover. Cook until all liquid is absorbed-15-25. or. . . .Throw it all in the…

• $50 Giftcard Winner

  Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

  3 Feb 2010 | 6:11 am

  Congratulations to Cathy at the Chief Family Officer-she is the lucky winner of the $50 Walmart Giftcard. Everyone else, stay tuned-I’ll be reviewing and giving away a copy of “$3 Low Calorie Meals” very soon! Related Posts:Congratulations Merry Madagascar Winner!Congratulations!Family Game Night Gift Card Winner!Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Winner!E.L.F Large Studio Makeup Kit Winner!

• Reader’s Question: Homemade Flavored Water

  Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

  3 Feb 2010 | 4:22 am

  Photo by Mary Muses Hi Jenn, I have a question for you regarding flavored water.  Generally I enjoy the taste of buying the flavored water however I also find it way too costly.  I do try to buy it when its on sale-but there has to be an even better way. Do you have suggestions for making my own flavored water? Thanks, Jennifer Well that is a great question! I have to admit, I don’t know any way to give you the exact flavor that you get from those expensive store bought, chemically enhanced waters.   Instead I can give you lots of tasty and inexpensive ways to add a little…

• 
  Boston Gal's Open Wallet

• LA Times Money Makeover: Michelle and Mike Nicholson

  Jane

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:35 pm

  The LA Times money makeover: Moorpark couple want to break cycle of financial mismanagement profiles Michelle (38) and Mike (33) Nicholson who have $21,000 in credit card debt, little savings, and still reeling financially from a short sale on their home last year. Mike has about $14,000 in his 401(k) retirement account. The Nicholsons have little else saved.The couple now rent a home for $1,900 a month, significantly less than their old mortgage. But they're still suffering financial fallout from their bad housing bet. Their credit scores, once in the high 700s, have taken a hit. Michelle's…

• Boston Globe Money Makeover: Claudette & Manny Wise

  Jane

  7 Feb 2010 | 6:48 am

  The Boston Globe Money Makeover: Falling interest rates have taken a toll on retired couple’s nest egg profiles Claudette (71) and Manny (83) Wise of Danvers, MA. The couple receives $20,000 per year from Social Security and needs to supplement that with $30,000 a year from their retirement portfolio. But the Danvers couple agreed on one thing: Falling interest rates have taken a toll on their retirement income. With money market yields now averaging less than 1 percent and five-year certificates of deposit below 3 percent, their portfolio was throwing off far less income than it used to.

• Tighter Quarters

  Jane

  6 Feb 2010 | 6:43 pm

  The Ventura County Star article: Room rental demand, downsizing rise as more people displaced takes a look at the growing trend of room rentals in this pricey part of California. The financial strain from being unemployed for nearly two years has taken a toll. One morning she was rushed to the hospital for what was thought to be a heart attack or blocked artery, but it turned out to be chest pains from stress. Now, she’s also strapped with thousands of dollars in medical bills.Every day is a struggle. Alcaron and her husband — who has had only intermittent work as an electrician — are…

• Cash-in refinancing - a growing trend

  Jane

  6 Feb 2010 | 11:37 am

  The Washington Post article: Cash-in refinancing could help homeowners save reports that more people are taking money out of savings and using it to lower their mortgage principal balance when refinancing their loan. A bit shocking after so many years of Cash-out financing being so popular. "It almost sounds un-American," jokes Frank Nothaft, chief economist for mortgage giant Freddie Mac. After all, Americans have grown accustomed over much of the past two decades to tapping into their equity -- pulling out a chunk of cash and adding to their debt load -- when they refinanced their…

• “We've got financial impact we're going to deal with forever.”

  Jane

  6 Feb 2010 | 6:06 am

  The New York Times article: After Escaping Jobless Rolls, Trauma May Linger reports that finding a job and earning a paycheck again does not heal all of the harm inflicted during a period of unemployment. Mrs. Newby and her husband were forced to walk away from their home in suburban Detroit and are now living here in a rented house with their three children. They are bracing for a huge tax bill in the spring because of early withdrawals they made on her 401(k) and taxes they still owe on unemployment benefits. Their credit is in tatters, and their 16-year marriage showed cracks they are…

• 
  The Frugal Family's Kitchen

• What I Did on My Winter Vacation...Next Door to Haiti

  18 Jan 2010 | 12:24 pm

  We flew out of Boston on Saturday January 9th headed for a week's vacation at an eco resort in the Dominican Republic where the temps were in the 80's, the breezes soft and tropical and the ocean - in serious contrast to here, home in Maine - can actually tempt a person to swim.Our first few days were absolutely perfect and we revelled in the sun. We chortled at the cold and snow back home. We relished the delicious food, admired the lush vegetation, appreciated the warm and friendly people. And then the earthquake at the other end of the island, in Haiti.We didn't feel physical tremors where…

• Christmas, Kindles, Citrus Honey Butter and Such!

  26 Oct 2009 | 5:26 am

  Very exciting! After I wrote about the possibility of libraries someday lending Kindles, I discovered that one here in Maine - in Camden - already does this! Hopefully, this will be yet another instance of "As Maine goes, so goes the nation!"I got a MOST unusual book order the other day, a person in Sofia, Bulgaria ordering The Frugal Family's Kitchen Book. I sent him an email asking how on earth he'd become aware of the book, and if I hear back I'll certainly share what he says with you. Speaking of The Frugal Family's Kitchen Book, it's time to order for Christmas gift-gifing. You can use…

• Harvesting Our First Soybean Crop

  8 Oct 2009 | 1:08 pm

  Plus, a recipe for shrimp-stuffed portobella capsThis fall I harvested our first soybean crop; I can't imagine WHY it's taken me so long to grow them! Although I could have cooked them in the pods in salted water to just eat out-of-hand, I shelled them instead.Then I simmered the beans - aka edamame - for about 20 minutes, dried them very lightly coated with some olive oil and roasted them at 350 for about 30 minutes. Sprinkled with sea salt and then tried to keep from eating them all at once! I will definitely grow much more next year as, like most bean, they grew easily and produced…

• Books fall open, you fall in...

  1 Oct 2009 | 6:46 am

  Books fall open, you fall in...David McCord Like so many of you, I am a voracious reader, and also like so many of you, I passionately support my local library. The past few years have seen some interesting changes, shifts in what - and how - America reads. Right now, with money still tight (no matter who proclaims this recession over), libraries are enjoying a resurgence of patonage. But, what will happen when the economy truly picks up? Will sales of "real" books rebound? Will the price of Kindles fall, and that kind of "book" capture more and more readers? No matter how libraries, books…

• Vegans, Vegetarians, Flexitarians, and Freeatarians. Oh, my!

  23 Sep 2009 | 3:46 am

  Although I like to think of myself as a vegetarian, I do still eat some seafood which I guess makes me a flexitarian. Flexitarians generally eat no flesh, but once in a while do eat seafood, poultry or red meat. There are a stunning number of labels these days for describing our eating habits and styles. Where for centuries of our country's history, we strove for "three squares," now we graze, nosh, aim for six minis a day, and eat many, many meals "on the go."When I first became interested in vegetarianism a very long time ago, the World Vegetarian Congress defined thirteen levels of…

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  The Frugal Oenophile's Wine of the Week

• Wine of the Week for February 1, 2010

  1 Feb 2010 | 4:33 am

  Creekside Pinot Gris 2008 - $14.95Style: W3Canada: Niagara  Niagara could very well be the next great Sauvignon region. Look for tangy aromas of pear, melon and grapefruit. Equally tangy on the palate, with loads of citrus and just a touch of mineral. Very good body and length, with a touch of spice on the close. Bright, elegant and totally terrific! Try with gnocchi, smoked salmon or quiche. (LCBO 83196)

• Wine of the Week for January 25, 2010

  25 Jan 2010 | 8:07 am

  Farnese Sangiovese Daunia IGT 2008 - $7.55Style: R3Italy: Ortona   $7.55I often think that sangiovese doesn't get the respect it deserves. Here it produces a delightful week-day wine at an incredible price. With a deep ruby-garnet robe, it shows heady aromas of blackberry, charcoal, plum, and hints of cedar and fruit leather. Less distinctive on the tongue, it still offers up dried cherry, plum and flint, atop mild tannins and soft acidity. Medium bodied with medium length, it's nicely balanced and ideal for pizza or chili night. (LCBO 512327)

• Wine of the Week for January 11, 2010

  11 Jan 2010 | 3:31 pm

  Cesari Chardonnay IGT 2008 - $7.45Style: W1Italy: Venezia Subtle tropical fruits, with traces of butter and sweet oak. Soft on the tongue, with mild acidity, apple, butter and spice flavours and a tart close. Medium bodied with good length, it's quite a nice little package that will go nicely with roast chicken or cream sauces. (LCBO 57246; Also comes in 1.5l - LCBO 134940 - for $12.85!)

• Wine of the Week for December 28, 2009

  29 Dec 2009 | 9:00 am

  This is the list of sparkling wines that I included in my December Newsletter.  Any one of them would make a great choice to usher in the new year.$12 – 15Codorniu Brut Clasico NV - $12.40, SpainThe nose presents mainly lemon and green apple with a hint of spice. Rather mouthfilling, with ripe apple, lemon and a bit of melon. (LCBO 6262)Astoria Prosecco La Robinia Extra Dry - $12.80, Italy: VenetoRich citrus, peach and some vanilla aromas. Smooth and tangy with peach and grapefruit flavour and just a touch of sugar. Very nice. (LCBO 593855) Bottega Petalo 'Il Vino del l'Amore Moscato…

• Wine of the Week for December 21, 2009

  21 Dec 2009 | 9:20 am

  Trapiche Malbec  2008 -$8.95Style: R2ArgentinaDeep crimson-ruby. Subtle dark berries, wood, earth and a touch of rose. Quite yummy, with dense blackberry, raspberry, plum, a spicy acidity and easy-going tannins. Very good body and length. A yummy fruit bomb that would have broad appeal. Would work with ham, roast beef, red sauce, or traditional turkey.   (LCBO 501551)

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  Squawkfox

• Get Your Cover Letter Template! (four for free)

  Fox

  2 Feb 2010 | 8:50 am

  This article is part of a series called How to Write a Cover Letter. To start this series from the beginning, read the introduction. We’ve made it to the final article in the How to Write a Cover Letter series. Yay! And just like in the How to Write a Resume series, I’m ending with a bang by giving you a few free cover letter templates for your downloading pleasure. Writing a cover letter is pleasurable, right? Think positive people! Anyfreetemplate, landing that job interview with the right (write?) cover letter is a heck of a lot easier when you’ve got a few cover letter…

• Free Cover Letter Examples with Cover Letter Tips

  Fox

  27 Jan 2010 | 8:44 pm

  This article is part of a series called How to Write a Cover Letter. To start this series from the beginning, read the introduction. It’s always a little bit easier to polish up a resume or write a cover letter when you’ve got a few resume cover letter samples to mull over. Since I’ve spent eons mulling over and contemplating job applications, I’ll spare you some grief and just give you some sample cover letters for free. Both of these cover letter examples are based on the Classic and Contemporary Cover Letter Formats, so if you’ve read through this series then…

• 2 Killer Cover Letter Formats: Classic and Contemporary

  Fox

  22 Jan 2010 | 10:00 am

  This article is part of a series called How to Write a Cover Letter. To start this series from the beginning, read the introduction. I’ve been dreading the continuation of the How to Write a Cover Letter series. It’s not because I’m lazy. But getting my motor revved and my writing in gear to explain resume cover letter formats is a bit of a drag. Since you’re reading this you’re probably spinning your wheels too. Yep, getting ready to write a cover letter can make anyone feel a little deflated — I don’t care how good your engine. But no fear.

• Booties, Chickens, and Link Love Oh My!

  Fox

  17 Jan 2010 | 2:23 pm

  It’s been a long while since my last linky blog roundup. So I thought I’d kick off the week with some good link love to share. But first, let’s talk dog booties. It seems that after posting 10 Frugal Ways to get Fit this Winter you’re all interested in my dog’s paws. The pictures were cute, non? Booties! Now, I’ve never been one for doggie dress-up or feline fashion since “pet wear” is expensive and mostly silly, but there are indeed times when a dear pet can benefit from winter footwear. So yes, when the weather outside is frightful I do…

• 10 Ways to Cut Your Fitness Membership Costs

  Fox

  14 Jan 2010 | 12:22 pm

  I’ve seen the signs. Fitness clubs and gyms are working it hard and flexing their marketing muscles to get you sweating in their facilities. January is the fitness industry’s big month to sign up new members, and some are offering fat incentives to get you to sign on the skinny dotted line. If you’re in the market for a shiny new gym membership, it may be wise to read the fine print and know your rights before agreeing to a fitness club contract. No one wants to be stuck paying for a membership they can no longer use, for whatever reason. But if you’re revved and ready…

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  Northern Cheapskate

• Cheap Alternatives to Popular Kitchen Gadgets

  Christina

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:47 am

  I always enjoy checking out bridal registries.  It's interesting to me to see how practical or impractical their registries are. Kitchen gadgets just seem to be made for young brides armed with the registry gun at Target.  Of course, these gadgets may cost you a pretty penny.  Of course, we frugal types know that there are some inexpensive, make-do alternatives: Food processor.  A sharp chef's knife and a bit of practice is all it takes to be slicing and dicing in no time. Rice cooker. Now, I will not lie. I love my rice cooker.  But if you don't have one, you can…

• Money-Saving Monday: Freebies, Coupons, and Deals

  Christina

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:12 pm

  It's time again for Money-Saving Monday - that time of the week where I pull together some of the freebies, coupons and deals I've found during my weekly hunt. But before I start with the goodies, I'd love it if you'd vote for me over at Free Money Finance March Madness.  The winner will get $500 for a charity of their choice (I'm playing for the Salvation Army).  So head on over there, read some great posts, and please cast a vote for FREEBIES in Game 19!  I'd also recommend voting for FRUGAL in Game 20 (That's a great post by Frugal Dad!) Yes, I know that it's Money-Saving…

• Giveaway: Vaseline Clinical Therapy Lotion

  Christina

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  Every winter I battle dry skin, and every winter I try new products, some with success, some, not so much. So I was pretty excited when I was asked if I wanted to try a bottle of Vaseline Clinical Therapy Lotion. Vaseline Clinical Therapy Lotion is an everyday prescription strength moisturizer that is designed to provide instant relief, 24-hour hydration, and sustained recovery from dry skin. According to Vaseline, it is clinically proven to provide 60 percent more moisture than a prescription moisturizer and is suitable for all dry skin sufferers, including those with sensitive skin,…

• Free Lowe's Build & Grow Clinic: Jewelry Organizer

  Christina

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:47 am

  This is a fun project for the girls out there!  (Or for your boys to make for their moms!) Sign up for the free  Lowe's Build and Grow Clinic and your child can create this cute little jewelry organizer. The free workshop will be held on Saturday, February 13 at 10 a.m. at participating Lowe's stores. You should sign up in advance for these free workshops, and a parent must be present at the workshop with the child. Each workshop runs about an hour and is geared toward kids in first through fifth grade. Many of the projects are completed in much less than an hour.  My son has…

• Libraries: More than Free Books!

  Christina

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:26 am

  After dragging two screaming toddlers away from the Thomas the Tank Engine display at our local Barnes and Noble, I was reminded of how much I love my library. Sure, there's the whole deal with being able to check out books for free.  But there are so many other great things about my public library that I adore: Internet access.  I frequently have chunks of time to kill when I'm in town waiting for my son to finish preschool.  Free internet access lets me connect to the world and connect with you! Databases and other reference materials. Libraries have subscriptions to all…

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  Remodeling This Life

• Blissful

  Emily

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:24 am

  I’m home. My head is swirling, my heart is full. The time I spent in Nashville meeting so many women I admired through my computer screen for so long was just fabulous. Yes, the hotel was amazing. Yes, the sessions were informative. But the best times were the times I sat at a small table with friends having coffee, or lunch, or dinner. The times spent sitting on a bed in a hotel room and just talking with, laughing with, inspiring and encouraging one another. I heard over and over again from other people how amazing it was to meet some of these people and to feel like there is nothing…

• While I’m Packing…

  Emily

  3 Feb 2010 | 9:36 am

  I leave tomorrow morning on an airplane headed for Nashville to attend Blissdom. Thank goodness I got my panic attack out of the way yesterday because I am too busy today for such things. I have a son who can’t wait for me to leave so he can go to my parents’ house and ride the tractor. Until then, he’s making a mess of the living room with his trains. Which I will have to find time to clean up tonight. I have a hubby who will be busy putting new tile in the shower tomorrow night since he doesn’t usually get me to leave for 4 days straight so he can do it without me…

• It Won’t Wait

  Emily

  31 Jan 2010 | 8:23 pm

  Last week, my 5 year old daughter told my mom, “My mommy always says, ‘in a minute’ when I ask her to do something”. I spun around, looked at her funny, then realized she was right. I realized it again earlier this week when my son came to me asking me to play trains. I was in the middle of cleaning the kitchen. “In a minute, buddy. Let me get the dishwasher started.” “You can be Nerdock” (his hilarious pronunciation of Murdoch), he said, offering up his favorite train if I would just get down on the floor and vroom trains with him. Why not? Why…

• Some Things

  Emily

  31 Jan 2010 | 6:34 am

  As if I don’t talk about myself here enough already, I am going to share some random stuff you may not know. In just a few short days, I am going to Blissdom. One of the lovely peeps that I am rooming with, JJ tagged me for a little 7 things about me thingie. I don’t usually do them, but my kids have been sick and then I got sick and now no one is sick, I have energy, and am in some sort of post-illness euphoria which sadly for you means I have energy to write even more about my big self. My husband was a rock climber when I met him. We were young and did crazy things like drive…

• Link Love

  Emily

  30 Jan 2010 | 5:24 am

  Some links for your clicking and reading pleasure this weekend. 9 Ways To Encourage Your Kids To Live Simply Isn’t It Sad? Refining Moments 5 Ways To Organize and Display Your Child’s Artwork Heart Attack (I think we’ll do this this weekend). A Sure Cure For The Discontent Boosting Energy By Tackling Life’s Nagging To-Do List Meanwhile Whining and Gratitude Whew, I starred lots of stuff in my reader this week. I hope you enjoy! Please visit Remodeling This Life to read more great content or to leave a comment! Link Love Similar Posts:Saturday Link Love My Week in…

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  Deal Seeking Mom™

• FREE Sugardale Ready Bacon or Pepperoni

  Tara Kuczykowski

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:31 pm

  Submit your favorite bacon or pepperoni recipe, and you’ll receive a coupon for FREE Sugardale Ready Bacon or Pepperoni! Thanks, Money Saving Mom! Share this post: Related posts:New Printable Pet Coupons (FREE Friskies + Wardley Fish Food!) Freebie Friday Roundup: Barbara’s Bakery, Emergen-C, Legos + More! Freebie Friday Roundup: Spa Magazine, Clorox Greenworks + More! Mueller’s Pasta Meal Planner + Coupons FREE Sugardale Ready Bacon or Pepperoni was first posted on February 8, 2010 at 11:31 pm. ©2008-09 Deal Seeking Mom™. All rights reserved. Use of this feed is for…

• 2011 Kia Sorrento Test Drive Offer ($25 GC!)

  Tara Kuczykowski

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:51 pm

  It’s been a good while since I’ve seen a legitimate test drive offer, so I was excited to learn about this test drive offer for the 2011 Kia Sorrento. Test-drive the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento between February 8, 2010, and March 15, 2010, and you’ll receive a $25 prepaid card! Just fill out the form, print the ecertificate, and present it to the dealership for validation! Thanks, I Could Use A Deal! Share this post: Related posts:$5 off e.p.t. Pregnancy Test Printable (FREE at Walmart!) FREE Vancouver Winter Olympics Journal Scott Paper Products Offer + Coupons Kellogg’s…

• Nick Chavez Hair Care FREE Sample

  Tara Kuczykowski

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm

  Get a FREE sample of Nick Chavez Hair Care Products when you fill out this simple form. Choose from the following: Volumizing Conditioner Angel Wings Ultra-Light Styling Paste Plump ‘N Thick Thickening Shampoo Volumizing Hair Gel Rock Star Amp Hair Gel Amazon Hair Body Building Shampoo Amazon Hair Body Building Conditioner Thanks, Hey It’s Free! Share this post: Related posts:FREE Dora the Explorer Game Download From Nick Jr. Purex Complete 3-In-1 Detergent FREE Sample Aveda Color Conserve FREE Sample Pack New FREE Titles from Amazon for Your Kindle! Nick Chavez Hair Care FREE…

• Monday MIRs: Energizer, Publix + More!

  Tara Kuczykowski

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  Monday MIRs are brought to you by Christina from Northern Cheapskate. Her passion is helping people take control of their finances through coupon-clipping, freebie-finding and frugal living strategies. Unilever/Publix. Get a FREE $10 Publix gift card by mail when you buy $30 in participating Kimberly-Clark and Unilever products in one shopping trip at Publix. The shopping trip must be done between 1/11/10 and 2/13/10. The $30 in purchases must be on one receipt. Ace. If killing weeds from your lawn is a priority, then check out the latest rebates on weed-killing products at Ace in February.

• Rite Aid Deals Week of 2/7/10

  Tara Kuczykowski

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:00 am

  Here are the best deals I see for Rite Aid this week. Seems like a decent week! You can print a $5/$20 Rite Aid purchase to save even more. And don’t forget to match your Rite Aid Game of Life pieces up to the gameboard to win great prizes! Scroll down to share your Rite Aid Deals and Scenarios! New to couponing? Read up on what all of these abbreviations mean first in my quick reference guide. :: Single Check Rebate Deals Dove Men + Care, $4 Get $4 SCR #52 (Limit 1) $1/1 Dove Men+Care Product printable $1.25/1 Dove Men+Care Body Wash Scrubber, exp. 4-25-10 (RP 01/31/10) Better than FREE…

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  Frugalize

• My Car Buying Experience

  26 Jan 2010 | 6:55 pm

  Posted By PaulMy wife and I decided to finally replace our car with a new one and I thought I'd share my experience in the hope that it's of use to people.First of all if you are one of those people who loves the car buying process, specifically the negotiation and back and forth with the salesperson, this posting is NOT for you.I am NOT one of those people who loves that process. I find it exhausting and more trouble than it's worth, so my experiences and tips are based on the goal of getting a good deal on a car without a lot of hassle.So here are the steps I took and how it went:Step 1:…

• Frugal in the new year!

  22 Jan 2010 | 7:26 pm

  Posted By PaulHappy New Year!Sorry that this blog has been so quiet recently, but times have been hectic and I haven't been able to post for a while (I was busy shopping for a new car, you can hear all about it in an upcoming post).Now that it's the new year my wife and I have been going over our various expenses and seeing if there are ways to save a few dollars here and there. My wife and I already life pretty frugally so there aren't many places to save money, but I think it's still a good idea to at least take a look once a year.One thing we did decide to cut back on this year was the…

• Article: To act like the rich, be frugal

  9 Dec 2009 | 7:50 pm

  Posted By PaulI'm a big fan of the book 'The Millionaire Next Door' as you can see by the previous posts:The Millionaire Next Door Pt 1: Big Hat No CattleMillionaire Next Door Review Pt. 2: UAW or PAWMillionaire Next Door Review Pt. 3: Economic Outpatient CareThere is an article with the author where they ask him about trends in purchasing of certain "status" items. His findings and opinions are interesting. Here is an interesting excerpt from the article:"For example, most prestige makes of cars -- 86 percent -- are driven by nonmillionaires. Yes, people with very high incomes, high levels…

• HSA? HRA? FSA?

  2 Dec 2009 | 9:52 pm

  Posted By PaulSo just when you thought medical insurance couldn't get more confusing they added even more types of health related accounts for you to puzzle out. I've been trying to figure out what they all are so I thought I would share what I found.Let's start with the FSA. For that I'm going to refer people to an earlier post which describes them in detail:Are FSA's worth doing?So then what is a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)?An HRA is an account setup by your employer that you can use for medical expense reimbursement. It's essentially your company telling you: "We're going to give…

• Tips For Open Enrollment

  14 Nov 2009 | 10:53 pm

  Posted By PaulIf you're like me then November means open-enrollment. It can be a hard to squeeze in enrollment along with the holiday season, but the choices you make now are some of the most important ones that you'll make for the year.Here are some tips I thought I'd share on navigating the open enrollment process:1) Go to the informational sessions - companies almost always host some sort of meeting where they give an overview of your choices, be sure to go to this meeting.2) Come to the session informed - this can be a tough one since it's easy to want to come to the session and get the…

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  Mommy Snacks.net™

• Walgreens Snack: Sale Week of February 7

  Andrea Deckard

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:00 am

  Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. Much thanks to Karen at Frugal RI Mama for helping with the Walgreens highlights this week.  I’m short on time and she has a great list put together! I have posted the February Walgreens Instant Value Coupon (IVC) Booklet. Just press Ctrl+F to search the complete IVC list here. It is sorted alphabetically so you can quickly see if a store coupon can be stacked with a manufacturer coupon. If you are new to Walgreens Shopping, please read my Top 5 Tips to Play Walgreens! Most of this information…

• CVS Snack: Sale Week of February 7

  Andrea Deckard

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

  Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. I am now working with Michelle of Wicked Cool Deals to bring to you the highlights for the weekly CVS deals. If you are new to CVS Shopping, please read my Top 5 Tips to Play CVS!  Most of this information may seem a little confusing until you know how the play the CVS game!!  Be sure to take your own bags too – you now earn ECB’s for using reusable shopping bags! Weekly ECB Deals $8.99 Gillette Fusion Razor: $4 ECB. Limit 1 $4 in the 2/7 P&G Insert (exp 2/28/10) $0.99 after coupons…

• Walmart Snack: Sale Week of February 7

  Andrea Deckard

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:59 pm

  Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. A huge thanks to Bargain Briana for compiling the coupon matches for Walmart this week.  Here are just a few highlights: $3.97 All Laundry Small & Mighty $2 in the 2/7 SS Insert (exp 4/30/10) Net Price $1.97 each $2 Palmolive Liquid Dish Soap 25 oz. Aroma Sensations $.40 in the 1/31 SS Insert (exp 2/20/10) Net Price $1.60 each $.97 Blistex Lip Balm $1 on 2 in the 12/13 SS Insert (exp 3/1/10) $.35 in the 1/17 SS Insert (exp 3/31/10) Net Price $.47 each $1.48 Speed Stick $.50 in the 1/31 SS Insert…

• Kotex Printable Coupons

  Andrea Deckard

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:40 pm

  Doing all of the matches today, I noticed several great Kotex printable coupons at Coupons.com.  They are: $2 on 2 Kotex Pads $1.50 on 2 Kotex Liners $1.50 on 2 Kotex Tampons The small box of Kotex Liners are priced $1 everyday at Walmart, so this is a great coupon to use for stockpiling or donations! Kotex Printable Coupons was first posted on February 8, 2010 at 8:40 pm.©2010 "Mommy Snacks.net™". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please…

• Target Snack: Sale Week of February 7

  Andrea Deckard

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:54 pm

  Note: There is a print link embedded within this post, please visit this post to print it. A huge thanks to Marcy @ Stretching A Buck for matching up coupons to the sales this week at Target.  Don’t forget your own shopping bags.  Target now offers a $.05 Credit for each Reusable bag you use! Here are just a few deals you may want to pick up: $2 Orbit Gum (3 pk) $1 Orbit Gum Coupon Net Price $1 each $1.79 Skippy Reduced Fat Peanut Butter $.49 in the 1/31 RP Insert (exp 2/28/10) Net Price $1.39 each $1.75 Fiber One Toaster Pastries 6 ct $.55 Fiber One Coupon Net Price $1.20 each Select…

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  Moms Need To Know ™

• Kotex: Free Samples & New Coupons!

  Mindi Cherry

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:23 am

  Kotex is offering up 3 separate freebie samplers right now! Choose from: Sample Pack 1: 2 regular maxi pads & 2 fresh and dry long liners Sample Pack 2: 1 super tampon, 2 regular tampons & 2 fresh and dry long liners Sample Pack 3: 2 ultra thin pads with wings & 2 fresh and dry long liners. There are also 3 different high-value coupons available on Coupons.com right now! Save $2/2 Kotex Pads Save $1.50/2 Kotex Liners Save $1.50/2 Kotex Tampons Thanks Coupon Cravings and Mommy Snacks!! Make sure that you grab the rest of the recent hot coupons that I have posted. Problems getting…

• BJ’s: New Coupons On the BJ’s site

  Mindi Cherry

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:45 am

  BJ’s members can print off some great new BJ’s coupons on the BJ’s website! Don’t forget that you can stack these coupons with manufacturers coupons for even greater savings! A few highlights: $3/1 Advil or Thermacare Product BJ’s printable coupon $1/1 Advil Children’s printable $2/1 Advil Cold & Sinus printable $2/1 Advil PM printable $1/1 Advil Product printable $1/1 ThermaCare printable $3/1 ThermaCare printable $2/1 Advil Product, exp. 4-30-10 (RedPlum 01/31/10) $1/1 Advil Product, exp. 2-28-10 (RedPlum 12/13/09) $1/1 Advil PM, exp. 4-30-10 (RedPlum…

• Einstein Bros Bagels: Freebie for Facebook Fans on 2/9/10

  Mindi Cherry

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:17 am

  UPDATE:  The Special Offer is a coupon for a FREE Bagel with the purchase of another!  Check out the Einstein Facebook Fan Page to snag yours! In honor of February 9th being National Bagel Day (seriously?  there’s a National Bagel Day?), Einstein Bros. Bagel will be releasing a “special offer” for their Facebook fans at some point this morning. Simply become a Fan of Einstein Bagel and wait for the announcement.  Einstein is usually pretty generous with their freebie coupons, even when it isn’t “National Bagel Day”, so I’m looking forward to…

• Denny’s: Free Grand Slam Until 2:00pm Today!

  Mindi Cherry

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:05 am

  Today (2/9/10) only, you can get a FREE Grand Slam Breakfast at Denny’s nationwide between the hours of 6:00am and 2:00pm Hungry for more restaurant deals? Check out the other recent restaurant coupons and freebies that I have posted.

• Printable Coupon Roundup

  Mindi Cherry

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:47 pm

  So many coupons have come out recently! Save $0.75/1 Malt-O-Meal Chocolatey Frosted Mini Spooners or Chocolate Frosted Flakes. Save $2/1 Excedrin Save $1.50/1 8th Continent Soy Milk coupon (thanks Money Saving Mom!) Save $0.50/1 Newmans Own Dressing, Marinade, Pasta Sauce, Pop Corn, Salsa or Drink Save $1/1 Bagel Bites (thanks Coupon Cravings!) Save $1/1 Orbit Multipack Gum Save $1/1 Tide To Go Pen Save $3/1 Monistat Yeast Infection Treatment Save $1/1 Zyrtec Itchy Eye Drops Make sure that you grab the rest of the recent hot coupons that I have posted. Problems getting the coupon? Don’t…

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  Girls Just Wanna Have Funds: Personal Finance Blog For Women Taking Charge Of Their Finances

• Turbo Tax Snap Tax: Snap, Prepare and File + TurboTax Giveaway!

  Ginger

  18 Jan 2010 | 8:12 am

  If you’re like me, then you dread filing your taxes in the face of the looming April 15th deadline.  It conjures up thoughts of going through endless receipts, spending hours going through yearly expenses and W2s to reconcile everything for Uncle Sam. Well, there’s an app for that!  Enter Turbo Tax Snap Tax. Got some time to kill?  Live in California?  This app will take you step by step through the process of filing your taxes, all on your iPhone. How does it work?  Here are a few screenshots that walk you through the process: 1. Snap a photo of your 2009 W-2 with your…

• Unplanned Expenses = Why You Need An Emergency Fund

  Ginger

  5 Jan 2010 | 8:01 pm

  Well, that should read why I ended one but I already have one.  If you’ve been following my tweets then you know that my car was broken into today and they tried to steal the GPS and possibly the car itself. Police caught someone trying to break in my car outside the school. I am PISSED!! http://twitpic.com/wsuak I was pissed!  Beyond pissed but it didn’t really show, I was just relieved they caught the guy and even better I have car insurance.  Who am I kidding, having to pay $1000 in unplanned expenses doesn’t conjure up happy thoughts! $500 – Deductible $110…

• Should Single Women Compromise Their Financial Requirements In A Potential Mate?

  Ginger

  29 Dec 2009 | 8:40 am

  Surely you’ve seen the newest video or article going around discussing the single black woman’s plight around finding a mate within the black community.  If you haven’t, read on, the overall comments on the subject will be interesting. After watching the video yesterday, the part that jumped out at me was the discussion around money/finances in a relationship and the ladies’ requirement in a mate.  Steve Harvey asked whether or not the man has to make 150,000/year if she makes that amount? What say you? If you made 6 figures, is your requirement that he make 6…

• Stop Being Sad/Angry About What 2009 Wasn’t And Make Plans For What 2010 Will Be!

  Ginger

  28 Dec 2009 | 12:03 pm

  As of December 31, 2009, 2009 will be the year that was, not what 2010 will be.  I’ve gotten so many messages from readers pouring out their hearts about how horrible 2009 was partnered with the insecurity of what 2010 will bring. STOP! Stop being sad/angry/mad/ about what 2009 wasnt and make plans for what 2010 will be. I know that 2009 sucked majorly for some of you, and it was probably your worst year ever on record in your short live but do not make that the blue print for 2010. Jobs were lost. Families torn apart. Business deals went sour. Businesses went belly up.

• Living On $30k In The DC Area-Possible or Far Fetched?

  Ginger

  24 Dec 2009 | 12:01 pm

  DC is no stranger to the high cost of living you often see in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles.  But can you live on $30,000 a year there?  This question came up on a listserv I frequent and the responses were equally divided amongst those who felt it would be damn near impossible and others saying it’s hard but doable. Here’s how it started and I’d like your thoughts on the matter. Here’s the job posting: Job Title: Festival Assistant @ The Kennedy Center Department: International Programming Job Type: Full-Time, Regular Salary: $30,000 – $33,000 / Yearly…

• 
  Home Ever After

• Danelle’s After Baby Weight Loss Challenge – Week 4

  Danelle Ice - Home Ever After

  7 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am

  Danelle’s Weight Today: 144.4 Pounds This weight loss experiment is about how a woman’s body performs naturally to lose weight after pregnancy.  The control portion of the experiment meant that I not start an exercise program or change my eating for the first 30 days after my baby was born.  This would allow me to see how much weight would be lost naturally after having a baby without putting any effort towards weight loss.  Welcome to the Losing 71 pounds in 90 days Weight Loss Challenge! My daughter was born on January 9, 2010.  Exactly 30 days after delivery, I…

• 13 Things You Need to Have in Your Purse (but Probably Don’t)

  Danelle Ice - Home Ever After

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:46 am

  Are you prepared for anything life might throw your way?  Keeping calm in emergency situations depends greatly on your  preparation to deal with them.  We all know that a woman’s purse is her arsenal of tools that help her take on the world, but there are things you need in your purse that probably aren’t in there.  There are many items that might be in a typical homemaker’s purse right now, from makeup to pacifiers, but it’s probably missing some of the essentials that will make her invincible!  “Be Prepared. That’s the motto of the Boy Scouts. “Be prepared for…

• How to Freeze Homemade DIY Pie Fillings

  Danelle Ice - Home Ever After

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:40 am

  Kitchen Tip: Make Ready-to-Use Frozen Pie Fillings From Scratch Today’s kitchen tip will show you how to make fruit pie fillings from scratch that are frozen, space-saving, and ready to be used as needed. If you’ve ever found a really good sale in the produce section, you know how tempting it can be to stock up.  Apples, raspberries, as well as many other fruits and berries, make fantastic pie fillings but can be tricky to use up before they go bad.  This especially holds true when purchased in large quantity.   The steps below are really quite easy, and you can make as many pie…

• Get Green and Frugal with Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs

  Staff Writer

  3 Feb 2010 | 2:57 am

  Get Green and Frugal with Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs! Because they last longer, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL bulbs) are a convenient alternative to standard bulbs. CFL bulbs produce an average of 70% less heat than what is produced from a standard bulb, resulting in safer operations and decreased home cooling energy costs. In comparison to standard incandescent light bulbs, compact fluorescent light bulbs offer several advantages. One of the largest benefits of CFL bulbs is their ability to save both money and energy. CFL bulbs typically last up to ten times longer than…

• After Baby Weight Loss Challenge – Weeks 2 & 3

  Danelle Ice - Home Ever After

  1 Feb 2010 | 2:57 am

  If you didn’t see the introduction / week 1 to this weight loss challenge, go read it now and look at the pics.  My daughter was born on January 9, 2010.  Exactly 20 days after delivery, I weigh 150.4 pounds.  This challenge is less about the weight loss and more about how a woman’s body performs naturally to lose weight after pregnancy.  My strategy includes not changing my behavior or eating for the first 30 days after my baby was born.  I want to see how much weight comes off by itself before I start trying to lose pounds intentionally. Welcome to the Losing 71…

• 
  Sustainablog

• Americans Want to Know: “How Do I Recycle My Computer?”

  Jeff McIntire-Strasburg

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:53 am

  Aluminum cans? Plastic bottles? Newspapers? Though recycling statistics show that we’ve still got some work to do on diverting wastes away from landfills, you’ve probably got a good idea of how to recycle these common household items. But what about computers and televisions? Paint? Used motor oil? Earth 911’s search statistics for 2009, released today, [...]

• First Earth: Watch this Earthen Building Documentary Online

  ziggy

  4 Feb 2010 | 3:18 pm

  There’s a growing ecological awareness in all aspects of daily life, but some of our newfangled environmental actions have already been in practice for hundreds (or thousands) or years. “Green building” is an architectural movement that attempts to take the environment more closely into account in designing buildings, but the movement is generally very commercial. Natural [...]

• Solar Irrigation Increases Food Supply, Economic Opportunity in Benin

  Jeff McIntire-Strasburg

  4 Feb 2010 | 6:38 am

  If you live in the developed world, you likely take turning on the lights or the water for granted. So, it may be difficult to imagine the lifestyle (if you can call it that) of people in sub-Saharan Africa without these kinds of luxuries. Lack of infrastructure to deliver these services doesn’t just create inconvenience; [...]

• Plan B 4.0 Book Byte: Rescuing Failing States

  Earth Policy Institute

  3 Feb 2010 | 12:15 pm

  By Lester R. Brown One of the leading challenges facing the international community is how to rescue failing states, those countries most at risk of collapse due to a combination of weak governance, internal violence, and social upheaval. Continuing with business as usual in international assistance programs is not working, as evidenced by the continuing deterioration [...]

• Sandhill Farm: Eating Homegrown

  ziggy

  1 Feb 2010 | 3:51 pm

  Sandhill Farm is a small agricultural intentional community located in northeastern Missouri, neighbors of Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage. The community has been farming organically for 35 years and provides most of their own organic food* through a combination of gardens, field crops, raising poultry and bees, growing mushrooms, sugaring, and more. Sandhill’s six members grow food [...]

• 
  Green and Natural Parenting

• 8 Ways To Cut Down on Food Waste

  Tiffany

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:28 am

    The average US household wastes a lot of food. I know I have definitely been guilty of this myself. If we have to clean out our frig once a month and throw half the contents away spoiled, unused, and moldy than we are wasting food and wasting money. How much of our monthly food bill is actually tossed in the garbage? $20? $30?This has an impact on your finances and it impacts the planet because we use more than we need. So how do we nip this problem in the bud? 1. List the leftovers. This is an incredibly simple and incredibly useful way to remind you to eat the leftovers! Put a…

• A Spoonful of Ginger

  Tiffany

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:00 pm

  While many US families had wild Super Bowl weekends we had a laid back weekend without much special going on. Hubby and I both read books, the kids played outside with their new snow-ballers and bricker, and we generally just enjoyed being snowed in. Instead of the Super Bowl we watched The Puppy Bowl on Animal Planet and chowed down on egg salad sandwiches. I also made an evening meal from one of my new favorite cookbooks… A Spoonful of Ginger – Irresistible, health-giving, recipes from Asian kitchens. I made a variation of the sweet and sour soup and OMG, it was heaven!!! I…

• The Soda Stream for Homemade Soda

  Tiffany

  5 Feb 2010 | 5:01 pm

  For months I have been hearing good things about the SodaStream. It is basically a system for making your homemade soda.. water, syrup, carbonation… everything. While I was intrigued about its inner workings I doubted I would ever purchase one because soda wasn't something I felt good about bringing into the house.. even if it was greener and cleaner to do it that way. It seemed like an awesome product for soda drinkers though. Except we aren't 100% soda free here either. My husband drinks soda quite a bit actually and since he drinks out of cans that can have BPA this product…

• How to Green Your Next Dinner Party

  Tiffany

  3 Feb 2010 | 12:00 pm

  As more and more people are going green in their own homes and lifestyle choices, why not include entertainment? For your next dinner party, try a green theme. Yes, some friends might be afraid you will make them eat tofu and cardboard or play Scrabble by the light of a solar lamp but this would be a great opportunity to show them how fun and easy it is to go green. Here are some ideas for keeping it fun and eco friendly. * Invitations – This is an easy one in this day of Internet savvy and smart phones. Consider going informal and inviting your guests via electronic invitation. You can…

• 5 Easy Steps to Reduce Plastic in Our Lives

  Tiffany

  29 Jan 2010 | 10:45 am

  1. Avoid plastic bags at the grocery store. This applies to the bags you get at checkout AND the plastic produce bags you put your loose fruits and veggies in. There are two really easy, really affordable products you can use instead of plastic so there is very little excuse to keep bringing plastic baggies home. Reusable Grocery Bags – Cloth bags can be bought at most grocery stores for $1 nowadays and you can usually find good quality bags for $10 each that will last for years and years AND can be used for other things. My favorite reusable bag is the ACME Earth Tote from my fave…

• 
  $5 Dinners™

• Kroger Shopping Trip

  Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:39 am

  We’re off to TX later in the week, so I didn’t need much…just a few things to tide us over. And yes, those are frozen dinners for Steve…for when we’re away.  There are some meals prepared for him in the freezer…but not enough to cover while we’re in TX. So I figure a few frozen dinners for $1.88 a piece beats a few dinners out for $10 a piece. Right?!? (And if you’re curious why we’ll be in TX…I grew up there and we have LOTS of family and friends there!) It has nothing to do with the fact that it’s below freezing here in…

• Rotel Beans and Rice (Potluck Meal) – $5 Dinner Challenge

  Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:34 pm

  Impress. Impress. Is that what you think of when you think of a potluck dinner?  That you have to impress everyone there with your creative meal or dish…made with the finest ingredients! Will they like it?  Will everyone eat it? Will the dish be empty by the time the dinner is over? What if no one eats it and people figure out that it was me who made it? Been there. Thought that! But the reality is…very few people, if any, are going to know what you brought to the meal.  So tell those thoughts when they come racing to the forefront of your mind when you are trying to decide…

• Printable Coupons – Bacon, Green Giant, All You, Tag Reader

  Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:40 am

  Here are some of the latest and hottest printable coupons: $.55 Smithfield Bacon (match with sale price for a great deal on bacon!) $1/1 Smithfield marinated pork $.35/1 Bob Evans sausage $.50/2 Green Giant Frozen Veggie Box $.50/1 Fiber One Muffin Mix $.50/1 February All You Magazine (sold in Walmart stores…and contains LOTS of coupons!) $2/2 Kotex pads $.50/1 Halls Cough Drops $5/1 Leapfrog Tag reader system Be sure to check out all the printable coupons available at Smart Source and Coupons.com! This post contains affiliate links. More information can be found on the site’s…

• Menu Plan Monday – TX Book Signing Edition

  Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:16 pm

  So this week begins my cookbook signing adventures in Texas…but here are a few of the meals we’ll be eating this week! Rotel Beans and Rice Walnut-y French Toast Shrimp Scampi – from The $5 Dinner Mom Cookbook I will post the recipes each night after I make the meal. If you see a meal you are interested in, please check back for the recipe later in the week! Current Monthly Meal Plan can be found here! Thanks to Andrea at Mommy Snacks and Marcy at Stretching a Buck for posting the best deals and coupon matchups at my stores each week! All the BEST menu plans can be found…

• Sunday Coupon Preview

  Erin, The $5 Dinner Mom

  6 Feb 2010 | 4:35 am

  Want a sneak peak at what coupons are in this Sunday’s paper? Sunday Coupon Preview tells us that there is 1 Smart Source this weekend!  Here is the complete list of coupons in the newspaper this weekend. Also, next weekend (Valentine’s Day)…there will be no coupon inserts! Now why would I want to know what coupons are in the newspaper ahead of time…you might ask!?!  If there are coupons for your favorite products…or coupons for products that are frequently on sale and you can get them for SUPER CHEAP, even FREE, then you might want to pick up a few extra…

• 
  The Centsible Sawyer

• Organic on a Budget

  Denise Sawyer

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:26 pm

  I've been doing a little experiment ...My family is making changes to eat more whole foods. We've also decided to purchase some of our foods organic. We also have a grocery budget to work with - and stick to. So, that meant determining where I'd get the biggest bang for my buck when purchasing organic foods. For me, that means buying meat without hormones or antibiotics (grass-fed), buying

• Menu Plan Monday

  Denise Sawyer

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:16 pm

  I am replacing some of my grocery reserves a little at a time. This week I am planning a trip to Earth Fare to pick up some fresh produce and organic milk. I'm still using up "reserves" in my pantry and freezer this week! Here's what's cookin' =)Here's what I've planned for this week: :: Monday Cold Night Soup (aka: Easy Vegetable Soup)Cornbread:: TuesdayLeftovers:: WednesdayHam and

• Aldi Deals 2/7 - 2/13

  Denise Sawyer

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:14 pm

  If you are new to Aldi here are a few facts:Aldi does not accept coupons.They have mostly (non) name brand foods.You will need to buy bags - or bring your own.Don't forget to bring a quarter for your cart! You'll need to insert a quarter to get a cart - but you'll get it back when you return it.Aldi does not take credit cards or checks - only cash or debit.Aldi usually has very cheap (and local)

• Tons of Winners this Week!!

  Denise Sawyer

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:00 am

  The Pizza Hut Gift Card Winners are...#73 Kelly; #76 Sonya; #85 Kristin Sommer; #172 VickiThe Winner of the Stacy's Pita Chips/Super Bowl Give Away is...#2 Nick WilcoxThe Winners of the Movie Gallery True $ Power Play 3 month memberships ($50 gift cards) are...#6 Amber; #16 Nancy; #23 Lori Atwood; #33 Kristy; #17 DJ Small; #7 Stephanie Holley; #24 Rebecca Witte; #21 Luzette AndersonThe Winners of

• CVS Deals + Scenarios 2/7 - 2/13

  Denise Sawyer

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:39 pm

  New to CVS & the Extra Care Buck Program? Click HERE to learn all about it and HERE for frequently asked questions! All deals thanks to Slick Deals - This is just high lights - to see their whole post visit HERE**********:: ECB DealsValentine Photo Card $1 $1 ECB (Limit 1) Final Price: FREE!Pepsi 12 Pks 4/$11 $2 ECB (Limit 1)Final Price: 4/$9 after ECBTriscuit, Wheat Thins or Ritz 5/$10$3 ECB

• 
  STL Mommy

• Be Stupid

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:16 am

  The first in a series of Diesel's new ad campaign that's aimed at today's working politician. Picture via Smitty and Insty.

• Breaking Now

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:55 am

  Democrat Jack Murtha has passed away. Murtha best known for slandering the US Marines.

• The Green Police Are Already Here

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:00 pm

  In San Fransisco, at least. Out of all the commercials played during Superbowl 44, I thought this was the most disturbing. Gavin Newsom, Mayor of San Francisco, made it a reality a couple of years ago. The mandation of people separating out their recyclables and compost material from the trash. while there are fines associated with noncompliance of the recycling and composting ordinance, fines are not expected to be handed out except in extreme cases. The potential for fines is meant to increase awareness and add a sense of urgency to the matter, but they will only be implemented after…

• Kickoff!

  7 Feb 2010 | 3:38 pm

  Colts will win. By a spread of at least 14 points. Interesting true fact about New Orleans: They are known as the Detroit of the South.I see Robert Stacy agrees with me about the Colts winning.With the commercials coming in at 2.6 million each, the real winner is CBS.Halftime.  What's up with all the CSI music?  Anyway, a song about teenage wasteland (Baba O'Riley) loses it's meaning when the guy who sings it will be on doctor ordered bedrest for the rest of the week.10 - 6, Colts at the half.I've noticed a theme of sorts with the commercials.  About Men taking a stand. …

• 100 Reasons Why Kirk Is Better Than Picard

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:03 am

  Heh.1. When Data died, Picard had a funeral. When Spock died, Kirk reconstituted the body, forced it’s soul back in, and even got him laid along the way.2. When Picard senses that Wesley is having emotional problems he sits down and talks with him about it. When Kirk sensed that Charlie X was having emotional problems he took him to the gym and threw him around on the mats until he got over it.3. When Picard went back in time he brought back Data’s head. When Kirk went back in time he brought back a blonde.4. Picard’s Enterprise was destroyed by a couple of Klingon chicks while he was…

• 
  Stretching a Buck

• New Savings with Cellfire.com

  Marcy

  9 Feb 2010 | 6:45 am

  Today Cellfire.com updated their list of e-coupons! Cellfire e-coupons can be used at the entire Kroger Family of stores*, Safeway Family of Stores**, and ShopRite stores. For Kroger and Safeway shoppers, these coupons must be loaded on to your card by 2/22/10 and expire on 3/8/10. ShopRite shoppers can load these coupons on to their card starting 2/14/10 and they expire on 2/27/10. You can sign up and start adding coupons to your shoppers card here. Available at Kroger, Safeway and ShopRite $0.50/1 Betty Crocker Frosting (any tub) $0.50/2 Betty Crocker Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Fruit…

• Victoria’s Secret Pink Nation: FREE Panty with Purchase + $10 off

  Marcy

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:30 am

  If you have yet to sign up for Victoria’s Secret Pink Nation, do so here and you will receive a FREE panty with any PINK purchase. Both new and existing members can also get a $10 off coupon valid on all long sleeve tees, cardigans, henleys, and crewneck sweatshirts when you log in here. Victoria’s Secret Pink Nation: FREE Panty with Purchase + $10 off is a post from: Stretching a Buck ©2010 Stretching a Buck Media, LLC. Use of this feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright…

• Einstein Bros. Bagels – B1G1 Free Coupon, Today ONLY

  Marcy

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:16 am

  If you are a fan (or become a fan) of Einstein Bros. Bagels on Facebook, you can print a B1G1 Free Bagel coupon today only (2/9). Get the full scoop at Cha Ching on a Shoestring here. Speaking of Facebook, are you a fan of Stretching a Buck yet? Einstein Bros. Bagels – B1G1 Free Coupon, Today ONLY is a post from: Stretching a Buck ©2010 Stretching a Buck Media, LLC. Use of this feed is for personal, non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at stretchingabuck@gmail.com.

• Kroger Deals: 2/8-2/14

  Marcy

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:39 pm

  Here is a list of the best deals that I see at Kroger this week. Please note that I use a Central Ohio ad when compiling these deals, and that coupons up to $0.99 are doubled at my store. Be sure to check your local ad to confirm deals and coupon doubling rules in your area. NOTE: Find more information about shopping at Kroger, including information about eCoupons (Cellfire, Upromise and Shortcuts) plus more on my new Kroger Resources/FAQs page here. Earn Triple Fuel Points on Gift Card Purchases 2/11-2/14/10. Also keep your eye out for a 4 Day Sale ad in your Thursday paper. SPECIAL…

• Meijer Deals:2/7-2/13

  Marcy

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:25 pm

  Here are a few of my favorite deals at Meijer this week, courtesy of Bargain Briana. Please check your local ad to confirm deals in your area, as some prices and sales vary by region. Did you know? Meijer Mealbox coupons are store coupons that can be used in conjunction with manufacturer’s coupons for additional savings. View a current list and print your Meijer Mealbox coupons here. Breakstone’s Sour Cream (16 oz) – $1.29/ea Use $0.55/1 in 1/24 Smart Source insert Final Price = $0.19/ea Steamfresh Vegetables – $1.25/ea Use $0.50/1 in 2/7 Smart Source insert Final…

• 
  "Deal"icious Mom

• Test Products for Cosmpolitan Magazine

  Dealicious Mom

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am

  Cosmopolitan magazine invites you to become a member of their Buzz Club. Cosmo wants your opinions, They what to know what you think about everything from relationships to new products! Click here to sign up now for the Buzz Club and be entered for a chance to win a $100 Gift Card To join the Cosmo Buzz Club’s: “Test for the Best” product testing panel , you must live in the USA excluding Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico.  You must also be at least 18 years of age. (The cost would just be too prohibitive to mail products to people outside the the lower 48 states.)

• Today’s Fast Freebies

  Dealicious Mom

  9 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  2/9/10 * Thrifty Mama found a free sample of Burt’s Bees Natural Toothpaste * Here is a new Huggies Enjoy the Ride code worth 15 free points: BDTXQTXPHPGXPGB (5 points) BDTWBWZGNZKQPGB (5 points) BFJZZGBBNBGPPGB (5 points, expires 6/30/10) * Get a free Sample of PowerBar Gel Blasts * Get a free Sample of Breathe Right Extra (Thanks goes to Freebies 4 Mom for this one) *The first 400 people each day until Valentine’s Day can pick up a free Love Letter Kit at 10 am CST * The first 100 people each day get a free waterproof tote bag with a carrying case from Nursery Water. * Sign up for a…

• “Feeling Lucky” Monday Linky: Link Up Your Giveaways and ENter a Ton More All in One Place!

  Dealicious Mom

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am

  Do you enjoy giveaways? Maybe you just feel lucky today? If you do then I have quite a few ways you can win today! Also, make sure to enter to win a Rachael Ray tote bag filled with pet friendly products here (ends 2/15) 2 Winners In my other giveaway you can enter to win a copy of Sleep No More by Susan Crandall here (ends 2/10) 5 Winners Next I have links to a bunch of other sites where you can enter a lot of other blog giveaways so definitely check these sites out for a huge list of great giveaways Go Graham Go! Deal Seeking Mom The Shopping Mama 3 Kids and Us 5 Minutes For Mom Freebie…

• Today’s Fast Freebies

  Dealicious Mom

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:00 am

  2/8/10 * Get a free ASPCA wristband * As seen on the Super Bowl, you can get a free Grand Slam breakfast at Dennys tomorrow 2/9 from 6am to 2pm * Download a free children’s coloring book from HBO’s Temple Grandin, My Life in Pictures (pdf). All the pictures included in this coloring book were drawn by Autistic artists. I watched the  movie this weekend and I loved it! *The first 400 people each day until Valentine’s Day can pick up a free Love Letter Kit at 10 am CST * The first 100 people each day get a free waterproof tote bag with a carrying case from Nursery Water. * Sign…

• Barnes & Noble Deal: 75% off 2010 Calenders

  Dealicious Mom

  7 Feb 2010 | 11:11 am

  Barnes & Nobles has 75% off their Calenders right now. There are some really neat ones. I love to use calendars to decorate my classroom. Calendars make for some very cheap art work especially around this time of year. This Mini Retro Mama calendar is only $1.99! There are many options for 3 dollars or less. You can get free shipping on orders over $25 ( or pick it up in the store for free) plus 10% off one item if you use the code below You can also go through Bing shopping and get 10% back and free shipping over $25 as well!

• 
  Couponing 101

• Paperback Swap: Save Money on Books

  Stephanie

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:28 pm

  If you have a bunch of books laying around your home that you know you are never going to read (like I do), then you are going to love PaperBack Swap.  PaperBack Swap is an online book trading club that lets you swap books with other club members. Your trades are measured in credits: when you ship a book, you earn a credit; when you request a book, you lose a credit. How it Works Once you join, the first thing you need to do is list some books you have that you no longer want.  Make sure the books are in generally good condition, have front and back covers, all their pages, no liquid…

• Free Sample of Burt’s Bees Toothpaste, Cream of Wheat, and More!

  Stephanie

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:44 pm

  Sorry about missing Freebie Friday last week! I was at the Blissdom Conference in Nashville and the onslaught of information caused me to forget important things like food, sleep, and free samples!  Thankfully, I am back home now, so here are a few freebies for you: Free Sample of Burt’s Bees Natural Toothpaste (Thanks, Thrifty Mama Free Package of Sugardale Bacon or Pepperoni when you submit a recipe. (Thanks, Money Saving Mom Free Grand Slam at Denny’s tomorrow (2/9/2010) from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Thanks, Spend Less Save More Free Sample of PowerBar Gel Blasts (Thanks, Spend Less…

• CVS Deals 2/7 – 2/13

  Stephanie

  6 Feb 2010 | 10:36 am

  If you’re new, please read Couponing Terms and Abbreviations and CVS 101 before continuing. Here’s what’s FREE at Walgreens this week: Excedrin (psa $2.49-$3.99)), Buy $15 Worth and Earn $7 ECBs (Limit 1) - $2/1 Excedrin Printable Coupon - $1/1 Excedrin Coupon (12/13 SS) - $1/1 Excedrin Printable Coupon Scenario: (5) Excedrin $2.49 ea (1) Excedrin $3.99 - (6) $2/1 Excedrin Printable Coupons (you can only print 2 per computer) = $4.44, Earn $7 ECBs = Free + $2.56 Profit Nivea Products, Buy $10 Worth and Earn $5 ECBs (Limit 1) Scenario: (4) Nivea Lip Care $2.99 ea. - (2) B1G1 Free Coupons…

• Walgreen’s Deals 2/7 – 2/13

  Stephanie

  6 Feb 2010 | 10:18 am

  If you’re new, please read Couponing Terms and Abbreviations and Walgreens 101 before continuing. Here’s what’s FREE at Walgreens this week: Dove Men’s Body Wash $5.99, Earn $5.99 in Register Rewards - $1.50/1 Dove Men’s Printable Coupon OR - $1.25/1 Dove Men’s Coupon (1/31 RP) = Free  + $1.50-$1.25 Profit! Super Poligrip Original $2, Earn $2 in Register Rewards - $1.50/1 Super Poligrip Printable Coupon OR - $1/1 Super Poligrip Coupon (1/3 RP) = Free + $1.50-$1 Profit Aveeno 3.5 oz. Moisturizing Lotion $2.97, Buy $25 Worth and Earn $10 in Register Rewards -…

• Coupon Preview 2/7

  Stephanie

  5 Feb 2010 | 10:21 pm

  There will be FOUR inserts (woohoo!) in this weekend’s paper – 2 Smartsource (SS), 1 Redplum (RP), and 1 Procter & Gamble (P&G). Head over to Sunday Coupon Preview to see a complete list of the coupons coming out! You can order a few extras of your favorite coupons from The Coupon Clippers for just a small handling fee! I’m looking forward to these coupons: 50¢/1 Birds Eye Steamfresh Vegetables, Rice, or Pasta Buy 1 Clairol Herbal Essences Shampoo, Conditioner, or Styling product, Get a FREE Clairol Herbal Essences Styling product B1G1 Free CoverGirl Face Product $3/1 Glade…

• 
  Surviving The Stores

• FREE Denny’s Grand Slam Breakfast-Tomorrow Only From 6AM-2PM

  Surviving The Stores

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:39 am

  Go tomorrow (2/9) to Denny’s anytime between 6AM-2PM to get a FREE Grand Slam Breakfast. You may have seen the SuperBowl commercials with screaming chickens on this too.  No coupon necessary and no purchase is required! Click HERE to see the ad on their site. Thanks Coupon Cravings!

• Subway $5 Regular Footlongs

  Surviving The Stores

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:28 am

  Subway has a deal going on right now where you can get ANY regular footlong for only $5! Only exclusion are premium subs.  Not sure how long the promotion will last, but you can see the ad HERE. My kids and I can usually all split a footlong and be completely full.  Definitely a great price for an out of the house lunch for all of us! Thanks Couponers United!

• Souplanation & Sweet Tomatoes Coupon: Buy 1 Get 1 Free Adult Meal

  Surviving The Stores

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:25 am

  Souplanation & Sweet Tomatoes has a buy 1 get 1 free adult meal coupon.  You have to buy 1 adult regular priced meal and 2 drinks and you’ll get a FREE adult meal.  Expires 2/14/10. Click HERE to print off your coupon. Thanks Coupon Dad!

• Target Deals 2/7 – 2/13

  Surviving The Stores

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:29 am

  I try to filter out the old deals and expired coupons each week, but sometimes I miss some, so if you see a coupon that has expired, please let me know in the comment section and I will take it off! Target will take ONE Manufactuer coupon and ONE Target coupon per item. If you are having trouble using coupons at your Target, then send them an email (their email is on their website) and ask for their coupon policy. They will send you back an email with their coupon policy and I would recommend printing that and taking it with you! Also, don’t be afraid to talk to a manager and/or call…

• Walgreens Weekly Deals 2/7 – 2/13

  Surviving The Stores

  6 Feb 2010 | 1:54 pm

  Are you new to couponing at Walgreens? Make sure to read Surviving Walgreens before continuing. If you are new to couponing, you might want to read my post on Couponing Lingo. Be sure to read my trouble with printable coupons post if you cannot print the printable coupons below. Thanks to Heather at Passion For Savings for putting together the best of this week’s Walgreens deals! Buy Dove Men’s Body Wash @ $5.99, Get $5.99 in Register Rewards Use $1.50/1 Dove Men’s Printable Coupon or use $1.25/1 coupon from the 1/31 RP Pay $4.49 – $4.74 out of pocket Get back $5.99 in RRs $1.25…

• 
  This Side of Eternity

• Valentine’s Day Activities For Homeschoolers & More

  admin

  7 Feb 2010 | 9:02 pm

  How do plan to spend Valentine’s Day? Since we are a homeschooling family I like to make Valentine’s Day a fun day at our house. I also think it is the perfect time to share with our kids how much Jesus loves them. How he is our perfect Valentine. And what real love is compared to what Hallmark would like us to think love is. 1 Corinthians 13 (The Message Bible) Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have. Love doesn’t strut, Doesn’t have a swelled head, Doesn’t force itself on others,…

• Menu Plan Monday 2/8

  admin

  7 Feb 2010 | 7:07 pm

  Due to the fact that we are going to heading down to Florida for the Disney Moms Social Media Event on Tuesday morning, I have decided that it will be pretty much impossible to do a menu plan this week. Instead I thought I would share some of the foods we are taking with us to try and cut our food costs down a bit. I am bringing bagels, cream cheese, fruit, cheese, cereal, milk, orange juice, yogurt, and frozen strawberries and bananas for breakfast.  Because I was able to review a neat little blender recently I will take that along with us so we can have smoothies for breakfast. My hope is…

• Denny’s FREE Grand Slam

  admin

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:30 pm

  The FREE Grand Slam breakfast that Denny’s gave away last year is back again! On February 9th Denny’s will give away a FREE Grand Slam Breakfast to all customers from 6 a.m. through 2 p.m. with no strings attached! This is the same promotion they shared during the Superbowl last year, and I am glad to see that they are doing it again! I do recommend calling ahead to make sure that your location is participating. Did you know that you can also get a FREE meal for your birthday? You can read all of the details including how to get a FREE Grand Slam Breakfast for your birthday here.

• Sunday Selah 2/7

  admin

  6 Feb 2010 | 10:01 pm

  Share this on Facebook Tweet This! Stumble upon something good? Share it on StumbleUpon Share this on FriendFeed Share this on Technorati Share this on del.icio.us Share this on Linkedin Subscribe to the comments for this post? Add this to Ning Blog this on Blogger Digg this! Post this on Diigo Share this on Reddit Share this on Mixx Add to a lense on Squidoo

• Free Dockers Khakis

  admin

  5 Feb 2010 | 5:26 pm

  Are you planning to watch the Superbowl game this Sunday? Well if you are be on the lookout for a special ad that might gain you a free pair of Dockers Khaki’s. Here’s how this one will work.  Dockers is planing to air a commercial during the Superbowl.  When you see the “Men without pants” commercial, be one of the first 2010 people to register on the Dockers site and you win a FREE pair of Dockers Soft Khaki pants. Once the commercial airs you can register here Since this is sure to be a huge hit, I would suggest having your computer on and the website up and ready…

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  Craving the Savings

• Free Kids’ Activities this Weekend

  Susan

  5 Feb 2010 | 11:05 pm

  Here are a few free, nationwide* activities for kids: Home Depot Kids’ Workshop What: Make a Car Display When: Saturday, February 6 from 9AM-12PM Ages: 5-12 years old Michaels - The Knack What: Valentine’s Day Card Make-It Take-It When: Saturday, February 6 from 10AM - 2PM Free while supplies last Lakeshore Learning Free Crafts for Kids What: Be My Valentine Magnetic Note Holder When: Saturday, February 6 from 11AM - 3PM Ages: 3+ years Lowes Build and Grow Workshop (Note: this one is NEXT Saturday!) What: Make a jewelry organizer When: Saturday, February 13 from 10AM - 11AM Be…

• Free Daily iPhone App Download

  Susan

  5 Feb 2010 | 10:44 pm

  If you have an iPhone, check out FreeAppADay.com each day for a free application download. I think most of the apps also work with the iPod Touch.

• Sprouts (DFW) Deals through 2/10/10

  Susan

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:52 pm

  I’m going to try to get back into blogging regularly. Lots going on at the moment… Here are the best deals at Sprouts through Wednesday, February 10: PRODUCE Jumbo Cantaloupe - $0.69 each Washington Grown Fuji or Pink Lady Apples - $0.88/lb. Honey Tangerines or Minneola Tangelos - $0.88/lb. Organic Braeburn Apples - $0.88/lb. Hass Avocados - $0.69 each (not sure what size these are) Vine Ripe Tomatoes - $0.69/lb. Red or Yellow Bell Peppers - $0.69 each Green Bell Peppers - $0.39 each Cucumbers - $0.39 each Fancy Zucchini Squash - $0.69/lb FROZEN Michael Angelo Frozen Entrees 10-12…

• $10 coupon booklet from Box Tops for Education

  Susan

  5 Feb 2010 | 8:39 pm

  Subscribe to the Box Tops for Education (BTFE) newsletter and receive a $10 coupon booklet by mail. If you are already a subscriber, you will just need to verify your email address. I tried this early on Friday after receiving the email from BTFE, and had problems with the site. It now tells me I already participated in the offer, so I hope it went through. Hopefully the site is working better now! Not familiar with Box Tops for Education? Read a past post about them.

• DFW Readers: Free health screenings 2/27

  Susan

  28 Jan 2010 | 10:32 pm

  If you live near the Shops at Willow Bend in Plano, mark your calendar to attend The Medical Center of Plano’s Heart Smart Saturday featuring the Day of Dance on February 27, 2010 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. There will be several free health screenings, but you need to call ahead to register. Here are the details from the email I received: What will I learn? You will start by learning about your risks, discovering new ways to improve your diet, and by getting information on the latest advances in cardiovascular health. Plus, you will have the option to take part in free* health screenings…

• 
  THINGS I FOUND (at the thrift store)

• When Cabin Fever Strikes Hard – Go Junkin.

  thingsifoundatthethriftstore

  30 Jan 2010 | 5:30 pm

  The winter blues are strong with this Midwestern “Junk Jedi”. Every year of it makes me question why the !@#$ do I live here? I can tell it’s late January because it takes a couple cold months for my hands and knees to become closer to lizard scales than human epidermis. All the hi-tech frou frou lotion in the world would have no effect on these mitts. I’m really, really looking forward to spring. I don’t wear shorts often, but I like the idea of shorts. Warm breezy days, t-shirts, sunglasses, sun tans, fishing, rainy nights, drinking on screen porches and…

• Top Things To Donate To A Thrift Store

  thingsifoundatthethriftstore

  30 Jan 2010 | 2:16 pm

  It takes a horrible disaster like Haiti’s earthquake for us to witness and process the heart-wrenching images of people who had very little before – and now have nothing. It’s been blasted in our face for the past 2 weeks, but please also consider donating money to any of the worthy aid organizations that are active in Haiti. Here are a couple of my favorites: http://www.acumenfund.org/ http://www.redcross.org/ or text “Haiti” to 90999. So ever since I’ve been a thrifter, every January/February/March I’ve always noticed that the thrift stores are…

• Real Quick: How To Re-purpose Old T-Shirts

  thingsifoundatthethriftstore

  26 Jan 2010 | 8:30 am

  Just wanted to check in and say THAT WE’RE STILL ALIVE! We’ve been pretty quiet the past couple of weeks out digging up treasures from my secret thrift spots and working on some really great upcoming posts. I came across this great post on re-purposing old t-shirts this morning and just had to share it with all you thrifters (how cute is she?!). Stay tuned! http://www.generation-t.com/more-fun/from-our-readers-emily/ LIKE THIS BLOG? Become a fan and add us on our Facebook fan page. And follow on Twitter!

• Why I Do It by Jess Burg

  thingsifoundatthethriftstore

  27 Dec 2009 | 10:48 pm

  AS I PROMISED TO ALL YOU JACKALS. Here is second installment from Jess Burg. She spits some truth on why she thrifts and we reveal some of her most recent footwear (AND a kitty mug!) findings. Now that the holidays are almost over we can all take a big sigh of relief. Get out there and get diggin! I’d say I began getting serious about thrifting in 2006. It’s never been a source of income. On the contrary, I’ve been known to drop up to $50 – $75 in a day. At best there have been instances where I buy shoes for $10, where them out once in six months, then sell them to Buffalo…

• Thrift Gifts – What To Give and What Not To Give.

  thingsifoundatthethriftstore

  16 Dec 2009 | 2:13 pm

  The holidays are upon us and for some people that pesky recession is still in full effect. Whether you have the means or not, most folks are probably going to be conscious of their spending this holiday season – or until the economy completely “recovers”. With that said Jess and I have been working on a post to divulge the best thriftable holiday gifts to give. Jess sums it up best below: So here we are at another holiday crossroads. I know for me Christmas lost its sentiment a few years ago. Reason being, time and money. The idea of dedicating my weekends driving around to…

• 
  Engineer a debt free life

• Free Valentine’s Day MP3’s

  Money Savin' Momma

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:40 am

  Get Free Valentine’s Day MP3’s at Amazon right now! These Free Valentine’s Day MP3’s are just in time for Valentine’s Day! There are 7 free Valentine’s MP3 songs on this Free Valentine’s Day Playlist! Nothing beats free! Related posts:Hot deal: 60 personalized photo cards for Valentine's Day + 50 free prints Free Christmas Music MP3 downloads Just Dance Wii Deal + Free $5 Amazon credit

• Get Fit! Week 3 check-in is live on the forum!

  The Engineer

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:06 pm

  Head over to the FORUM to check in for the Get Fit Challenge week 3 check-in! Looking forward to seeing how your progress is coming, or not coming. Even if you’re feeling down… stop by for some encouragement… let us help you get back on track! Related posts:Get Fit! Week 2 check-in is live on the forum! Get Fit! Week 1 Check-In Winners of Forum Prize Packs Announced!

• Children’s Place: MONSTER SALE on Amazon

  Money Savin' Momma

  8 Feb 2010 | 1:30 pm

  The Children’s Place is having another MONSTER SALE at Amazon! I saw items starting at $1.99, pants for $2, and jackets for $7! 50% & 70% off tons of items! Hurry though because the popular sizes & styles are disappearing quickly – sale ends on 2/11! This adorable jacket is only $7.49! Check out the MONSTER SALE at Amazon here As always, if you use the FREE Amazon gift cards you get from searching online with Swagbucks and iRazoo, you can get these items cheaper, or totally FREE! Related posts:Children's Place sale Cheap K'NEX on Amazon Amazon NEW toy sale +…

• FREE Pampers diapers for baby!

  Money Savin' Momma

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:30 pm

  Would you like some FREE Pampers diapers? I know I would! Right now you can win a YEAR’S worth of FREE diapers from Pampers when you join Pampers Village. It’s free to join, plus you can get exclusive coupons! Sounds like sweet deal to me! We have also received free diapers through paid diaper studies from MySurvey MOMS: Ipsos Survey Panel is looking for moms to take surveys for money! Surveyhead has been looking for moms to join an exclusive paid community (plus you get $5 free just for signing up to join Surveyhead) Related posts:Free Pampers diapers Pampers: free diapers Get…

• Target deals: 2/7 – 2/13 – HOT oatmeal deal!

  Money Savin' Momma

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:26 pm

  Here are the best Target deals this week, including a SMOKIN’ HOT oatmeal deal!  See all sale items (in-store and online) in Target’s weekly ad. Online Target deals: Daily Deals at Target (changes every day, shipping is always free) See Target’s weekly ad online Print your Target printable coupons here In-Store Target deals: (Thanks to our reader, Melissa C., for compiling these and emailing them!) Buy 5 Quaker Easy Express Oatmeal @ $1.02 each You’ll get a free $5 Target gift card Final cost ONLY $0.10 for ALL 5 Quaker Express Oatmeal products–just $0.02 each! (Saving…

• 
  Freebies and Much More...

• FREE Sample of Pink Lemonade or Berry Metamucil

  9 Feb 2010 | 7:00 am

• Free Bottle of Country Bobs All Purpose Sauce (HOT)

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:55 pm

  I have friends that live right next door to where Country Bobs is and they live by this product. I ordered a free coupon last year and tried it out...WOW! Great product! Get it while it lasts.

• Free Sample of Hugo Element Cologne for Men

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:52 pm

• PRODUCT TESTING OPPORTUNITY: Johnson & Johnson Friends and Neighbors Club

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:50 pm

  I recently received a free product of Listerine Whitening Strips and a free product of Neutrogena Sunblock 45SPF. Join today to see if you will qualify for free samples and trial products!Join the Friends and Neighbors Club Now

• Free Samples of Dove Hair Care

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:45 pm

• 
  Frugal In Virginia

• 12 Days of Valentine’s Day: Oral B Stages

  Dana

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:09 am

  Welcome to Day 10 of the 12 Days of Valentine’s Day, where I’m sharing some fun and affordable Valentine’s Day gifts, plus giving you a chance to win these products yourself! Be sure to check back each day for a new gift idea and giveaway. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, many of you may be buying chocolates and other candy for Valentine exchanges, gifts, and treats around the house.  If that’s you, you’re definitely not alone.  In fact, Americans will buy about 48 million pounds of chocolate candy during this week alone as they prepare for…

• Kroger 2/7-2/13: Grands, Gatorade

  Dana

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:08 pm

  I am basing the following deals on the mid-Atlantic sales ad. My Kroger doubles coupons up to and including 50 cents and the final prices below reflect that policy, but check your local ad to verify your store’s coupon policy. Before you shop, be sure to load additional coupons onto your Kroger card herehere, and here. The coupons loaded to your Kroger Plus card do not double and should not be combined with paper coupons. Remember, there’s a print option at the bottom of the post to help you get organized for your shopping trip. Produce: Red or White Seedless Grapes- $1.49/lb Red…

• 100 MP3 Albums for $5 Each, Plus Free Romantic Sampler

  Dana

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:55 am

  This may be old news to some of you, but it was new to me not too long ago!  Did you know that each month Amazon offers 100 different albums (in MP3 format) for $5?  It’s a mix of older and new albums albums from a bunch of different genres.  So if there’s a CD you want to buy or download, make sure you check Amazon’s $5 first before you pay full price elsewhere! Also, if you’re looking for some instrumental music for a romantic Valentine’s Day dinner at home, you can download a free six-song sampler from Amazon this week. 100 MP3 Albums for $5 Each, Plus Free…

• Free Burt’s Bees Toothpaste Sample

  Dana

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:39 am

  Burt’s Bees is offering a free sample of their new Multicare with Fluoride natural toothpaste right now.  Burt’s Bees samples usually “sell out” pretty quickly, so I would request this soon if you want it. Free Burt’s Bees Toothpaste Sample is a post from: Mrs. Moneysaver

• CVS 2/7-2/13: Free Photo Card

  Dana

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:26 am

  Thanks to Rene at Budget Saving Mom for providing us with the top deals for the week. Click here to see her full list of CVS bargains. Valentine Photo Card $1 Get $1 extra care bucks Final price FREE Pepsi 12 pack 4 for $11 Get $2 extra care bucks when you buy 4 Final price 4 for $9 CVS Vitamins, Minerals, Herbals- buy one get one free; limit 6; prices start at $2.99 Spend $10 on the following and get $5 extra care bucks Nivea Body Wash 16.9 oz. $5.99, Lip Care 0.17-0.35 oz. prices start at $2.99, Body Lotion, Crème prices start at $5.99 or Nivea for Men Facial Care prices start at $5.99 Use…

• 
  Young and Frugal

• What We Used to Have

  Daniel

  3 Feb 2010 | 6:26 pm

  When was the last time you looked at the world through the eyes of a child? The eyes of curiosity that see everything with an innate sense of wonder? The eyes it seems we all used to have. As we grow older everything seems to move at a faster pace, and in the interest of time we begin to accept things instead of wondering about the intricacies of why. We easily forget our curiosity that once wasn’t even satisfied by answers; we lose the curiosity we all used to have. As adults we all too often look at the simplest items and see them for what they are; a pencil is a pencil. We forget…

• Thinking Aloud

  Daniel

  14 Jan 2010 | 11:11 am

  You know that horrible mental state that you get in when you haven’t gone out of your way to spice up life in a while? Call it a slump, a funk, or a rut…I’m in one; it’s not just writers block either, it’s my entire mental state. I feel like I have to do something to get out of it, and for me this typically means creating something to look forward to…entrepreneurially. Seth Godin say’s that “you can’t have good ideas unless you’re willing to generate a lot of bad ones,” and while I’ve generated a lot of bad ones,…

• Live Like No One Else

  Daniel

  23 Dec 2009 | 11:05 am

  In school my favorite professor would always preach “live like no one else now, so that you can live like no one else later,” this phrase seemed to always get lost amongst a crowd of in the now college students, but he kept saying it with the true heartfelt emphasis of a teacher who really loved his students. In a moment of self reflection today I looked back and remembered this and it was as if the dots all connected. While this phrase can be applied to almost any aspect of life, it really hits home on the financial front. Think about what it would mean to live like no one else…

• The Art of What Not to Post

  Daniel

  22 Nov 2009 | 6:12 pm

  Recently I read a blog post by a young woman who had been fired from her job. She went to lengths to complain about how she felt betrayed by the company, then somehow backtracked and explained how she understood why the company fired her…because she was a horrible employee. She didn’t say it in those exact words, but she lead me to believe that she was a horrible employee. As I read her post, I repeatedly asked myself “what is this girl thinking!?” She might as well just write “Horrible Employee, Don’t Hire Me” on her resume. All it takes is for one…

• Why I Blogged a Tweet

  Daniel

  30 Sep 2009 | 6:14 pm

  On Monday I posted the following: “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” -Antione de Saint Exupéry All 135 characters of this quote fits snugly into the 140 character limit of Twitter, but instead of just tweeting it (which I did), I blogged it. I think it’s fairly obvious why, but at the risk of having excess I will explain. I had a whole blog post centered around the quote, but the rest wasn’t an improvement on what he wrote, it was excess. All I can say is that throughout our lives we surround ourselves…

• 
  CouponDivas.com

• How To Set Up a Coupon Binder

  Kitty

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:58 pm

  The best advice I have for saving the most money when couponing is to be organized. When you have a system set up for accessing your coupons, ads and match ups you will use more coupons, thus saving you MORE money. Getting organized isn't as hard as you think, it's [...]Printable Coupons | Daily Deals Newsletter | Kids Eat Free | Printable Grocery Coupons Related posts:Hot Coupon Alert: Orbit Gum Printable Coupon Right now you can get a great printable coupon...Receive more than $100 worth of P&G coupon savings wyb $50 Wow! Procter and Gamble is bringing back a great...Walgreens Ad 1/24…

• Target Ad 2/7 – 2/13 Coupon Match Up

  Kitty

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:41 pm

  Target has great deals in this week's ad 2/7 - 2/13 when you combine manufacturer's coupons with the sale prices. If the scenario says "Stack" that means you use both the Target store coupon and the manufacturer coupon. Did I miss any? Please add your scenarios in the comments section! Orbit [...]Printable Coupons | Daily Deals Newsletter | Kids Eat Free | Printable Grocery Coupons Related posts:Target Ad 1/31 – 2/06 Coupon Match Up and Deals Trying to track all of the great deals this...Target Ad 1/24 – 1/30 Deals and Coupon Match Up There haven't been very many deals at Target…

• PlayStation: The Official Magazine ONLY $9 for 1 Year!

  Kitty

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:34 pm

  This is an EXCELLENT price on Playstation: The Official Magazine. Get a 1 year subscription for just $9. This is just $.75 an issue - an 87% Savings! Not sure how long this deal will last so be sure to hurry. Your kids will thank you! PlayStation: The Official Magazine (1-year) [...]Printable Coupons | Daily Deals Newsletter | Kids Eat Free | Printable Grocery Coupons Related posts:Discount Magazine Subscriptions Great discount magazine subscriptions available on these popular magazines! Some...Hot Deal on Maxim Magazine – Just $3.99 for 1 Year! Just in time for Valentine's Day Gifts! A…

• 6pm Daily Deals: RSVP, Bruno Magle, Acorn, Christin Michaels…

  Kitty

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:30 pm

  NEW Offers from 6pm for 2/09/10. This is one of my new faves - there's always a great deal to be found! The deals change just about daily so be sure to take a look before these are gone. Just click on the links below to take a look. RSVP Footwear [...]Printable Coupons | Daily Deals Newsletter | Kids Eat Free | Printable Grocery Coupons Related posts:CVS Ad 1/24 – 1/30 ECB Deals and Coupon Match Up The CVS ad for 1/24 - 1/30 has a few...Office Max Daily Deals – Nextar GPS ONLY $99.99 I just received this great email with some pretty amazing...CVS Ad 1/17 – 1/23 Extra Care…

• HOT Deal on Good Housekeeping Magazine – 2yrs for $10

  Kitty

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:20 pm

  I LOVE magazines for many reasons; they sometimes come with freebies, manufacturer coupons, giveaways, great articles and of course, gossip! I don't like to pay a lot, so when I found this awesome deal on Good Housekeeping I had to share it. You can get a 2 year subscription for [...]Printable Coupons | Daily Deals Newsletter | Kids Eat Free | Printable Grocery Coupons Related posts:Hot Magazine Deal: ReadyMade for $6 Want a great deal on ReadyMade Magazine? How about $6...Hot Deal: 1yr Subscription-Weight Watchers Magazine Only $3.75 Wow! What a Fabulous Deal: Click Here for 20%...All You…

• 
  Cha Ching Queen

• Kroger Deals 2/8

  Rachel

  9 Feb 2010 | 3:33 am

  Here are the Kroger Deals and Coupon match ups thanks to Saving and GivingHere are the best deals that I see at Kroger this week. Note: I am using a Great Lakes Region ad, and my Kroger only doubles coupons up to $.50. If your ad or coupon policy is different, your final cost may vary.Weekly DealsRed Seedless Grapes - $.99/poundStrawberries - $2.50/16 oz.Jumbo Cantaloupe - $1.48 eachSweet Bell Peppers - 3 for $5.00Boneless Pork Loin - $1.88/poundHillshire Farm Smoked Sausage - Buy 1 - Get 1 FREE (around $4.39 each)Use $1.00 off 2 coupon from 1/31 RedPlum insertFinal Price: around $1.70…

• Denny’s Free Original Grand Slam 2/9/10

  Rachel

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:19 pm

  Tomorrow (2/9/10) Denny's will be giving out Free Original Grand Slams from 6am - 2pm at participating restaurants. You don't need a coupon and no purchase is required.Click HERE to see the ad on their site

• Free Sample - Benefiber Orange

  Rachel

  8 Feb 2010 | 3:46 pm

  Get a free sample of Benefiber Orange from Walmart. thanks Moms Fun Money Related Posts on Cha Ching Queen 2 Weeks of Free Movie Rentals! Coupon Lesson 11: Rebate me this, rebate me that..... Students - Save 10% + on American Airlines Fandango Free Movie Ticket - Bogo ULTA - 30% off Coupon Code!

• Another Way to get Great Coupons - Entertainment Book Deal

  Rachel

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:57 pm

  We bought the Entertainment book again this year. It's a great deal. We have already made our money back. Saturday night we saved $6 on dessert at a local coffee shop when we used a bogo free coupon.Sign up now and you'll get $5 off plus free shipping!Each city's book costs a little bit different, but the Austin, Tx one is only $21 - $5 coupon = $16 and free shipping!And, when you buy the book you also get access to more online printable coupons for local restaurants and businesses.

• Menu Monday Linky- Week of Feb. 8

  Rachel

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:59 am

  If you have a blog and you post meal/recipe ideas based on local or national deals I would be glad to feature them and link back to your site. You can also add your link to the Linky below.Here, you can find grocery and other coupons you can print out and use at your local grocery store or supermarket.LinkyIf you have a meal or recipe idea on your blog or website, you can add your link below. To keep it neat, please list your blog name and then a short description, followed by the end date in parentheses, ex. Cha Ching Queen - $5 Meals . You must link directly to the post. Links straight to…

• 
  Attention Target Shoppers

• Cellfire Loyalty Card Coupons Update – 2/9/10

  atsginger

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:00 pm

  Click to load your Cellfire loyalty card! Stock up on some great items this week when you load up Cellfire Coupons on your loyalty card. You never know what you’ll find on clearance, manager’s special, etc. Cellfire e-Coupons are updated and available for Kroger and Safeway starting Tuesday 02/09/10 & can be saved to your loyalty card [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Tuedays At Target – New Movie Releases for 2/09/2010

  atsginger

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:57 pm

  Hubs says to make sure you know that some of the movie coupons that were on Coupons.com the last time they offered them will now match up with items in the ad this week. He left them in the list, but did not link them since they are no longer available. Check your stash and [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Target Deal From Attention Target Shoppers

  atsginger

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:31 pm

  Coke 12 pks – 3/$12.00 - Use $1.00/1 in Target Get Carried Away insert 1/24/10 - Stack with $2.00/4 printable [BUY 4 pks] – EXPIRES 2/10/10 Final = $3.25 per 12 pk WYB 4 12 pks. Buy 5 Quaker Easy Express Oatmeal – $1.02 ea - Use: $1/1 Quaker Old Fashioned Quick Oats or Instant Oatmeal Any coupon (“Creat [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Target Deals From Moms By Heart

  atsginger

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:52 pm

  Yoplait Light $.50 -$.50/6 printable – Coupons.com Final Price: $.42 Orbit Gum multipack $1.50 -$1 printable – Coupons.com Final Price: $.50 Progresso Soup $1.40 -$1.10/3 printable – Coupons.com Final Price: $1.03 each wyb three Archer Farms Pizza $4 -$1 Target printable Final Price: $3 Quaker Instant Oatmeal 2/$5 -$1 from 2/7 RP or MFG printable -$5 Target GC wyb five Final Price: $.50 each OR… Quaker [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Coupons.com Update – 2/8/2010

  atsginger

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:42 pm

  Coupons.com Coupons.com has updated their coupons. You can count on about 80 coupons on the low side and upwards to about 150 on the high side. Currently there are approximately 170 coupons found at zip code 92111. What will you find under your own zip code? If you find something different, please post a comment with the [...] [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 
  Everyone's Blog Posts - SWAP MAMAS

• Old Swap Karma Badge

  Michelle VanGurp

• To Ship or Not to Ship...From Home

  Emi Stapler

  I have recently started shipping from home and was asked by Darcy to share a little bit about the financial and other benefits so you can decide if it is for you. My knowledge on this topic is by no means exhaustive, so I would encourage you to visit the websites for the mail carriers of your choice for more detailed information. I have chosen to predominantly ship from home for the money and time I save, and as we are temporarily a 1 car family, my husband was getting tired of skipping his lunch break to ship my packages for me (and this was 2-3 days a week when I started Swap Mamas!). I was…

• Question from a Newbie

  Katiey Hipkins

  What if several people want the same thing? Is there a policy/standard fair way to address this? Do you do first come, first served; do you do first person with something I want in return? I'm new and am still working on figuring this out. Thanks!

• Shipping History

  Cheryl W

  Shipping HistoryItems in red are for review. Just because an item is red or marked Not Received does not mean there is a problem; I lost track of a few swaps. --problem with upload of spreadhsheet 2/5/2010; Darcy contacted-- Status Screen Name Item Shipped Items to Receive Received1 shipped Aimee Bach Red Brookstone Water Bottle gifted, no items to receive Gifted4 shipped Alicia Small NWT Japanese laquer photo album gifted, no items to receive Gifted2 shipped Alicia Baseball cards + Finders Fee Gift (candy molds) for Velvet Dress blue velvet dress, purple velvet overalls, misc Received3…

• Swapping History :)

  Mollie

  I just wanted to clear this out of my profile page :) *Sent Huggies Wipes for Glitter, Shampoo Sample & nailpolish w/ Jackie Wilkinson on Oct 5-Received * Sent Office Supplies & Kitty Stickers for PiggyBank w/ Lynna on Oct 6-Received *Sent Disney Pin for Headband & Flower w/Krissly Carter on Oct 6-Received *Sent Pooh Post-Its & Erasers for Holiday Ribbon, Jergen's & MaryKay Sample w/ Jackie Wilkinson on Oct. 8-Received *Sent Office Supplies & Oil Wipes for BBW Coupons & Burt's Facial Scrub w/ Stephanie Peterson on Oct. 9 -Received *Sent Earrings & coupons for…

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  Kim's Shopping Blog

• Kroger Weekly Deals for 2/7 – 2/13

  Inexpensively

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:38 pm

  This week’s Kroger Deals are compiled by Renae from Madame Deals, in partnership with the Inexpensively network. The full list can be found here. Buy 10 participating items and get $3 off instantly. No limit on rewards. Prices listed reflect the discount. Marked * PROMO Gatorade G2*, $0.58; $0.00 after $0.50/1 RP 01/10 Softsoap Liquid Hand Soap, $0.88; $0.00 after $0.50/1 AY 03/01 Colgate Max Fresh, $1.67; $0.67 after $1.00/1 AY 01/22 Hershey’s Candy Bars, $0.50; $0.25 after up to $.85/2 S 01/10 Newman’s Own Salsa, $1.99; $0.99 after $0.50/1 RP 01/24 Banquet Brown N’…

• Live without my Smartphone? No way.

  kim

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:32 am

  My youngest daughter (age 11) tells me daily that she thinks she needs a cellphone. I tell her I didn’t get one until I was 29. And then she rolls her eyes at me. I admit I don’t know how we lived before cellphones! I do agree that I like my 16-year-old twins having cellphones, as I make them check in with me via text, and I can call to check up on them. Cellphones would have been a God-send when the twins were premature and in the hospital three hours away from me for over six months. But we survived then. And I’m sure I could survive now without my smart phone, but I…

• Kim’s Going Green with Recycling

  kim

  7 Feb 2010 | 2:54 pm

  My mom has been recycling everything for years as she lives in the country with no trash pick-up service available. Twice a year, she loads everything up and hauls it to a recycling center 30 miles away. It always looked like too much work for me to see her hand wash every bottle and can, so I admit the only recycling I’ve been doing is saving aluminum cans for cash (all those Diet Dew cans add up). Well, this past week at my Kiwanis club meeting, Meghann Buresh, the recycling coordinator from Green Fiber was our speaker. And I got inspired to clean my walk-in pantry and start…

• Funny Vacation Rental Commercial

  kim

  5 Feb 2010 | 10:30 am

  When I was in high school, I wanted to write and produce television commercials for my career, and I originally went to college for commercial art.  Well, things (er, babies) happen and my life took a detour. But I still love watching commercials.  And come this Superbowl Sunday, I’ll be more interested in the advertisements than the actual football game.  So you can imagine how excited I was when I was asked to review this vacation rental commercial. This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video. This commercial from…

• Giant Food Weekly Deals 2/5 – 2/11

  Inexpensively

  5 Feb 2010 | 3:57 am

  This week’s Giant Food list is compiled by Renae from Madame Deals in partnership with the Inexpensively network. The full list can be found HERE. Purchase $20 worth of participating Kraft items in one transaction and get $5 off instantly at checkout. Limit 1 per transaction. Marked *. Buy $25 of participating Proctor & Gamble items in one transaction and get $5 off instantly. Limit 1 per transaction. Progresso soups (Buy 2, get 2 Free), $2.50; $1.00 after $0.50/2 S 01/17 Pepperidge Farm Gold Fish (Printable), $1.67; $0.17 after $0.75/1 Printable Breakstone’s sour cream,…

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  Retire at 40

• Guest Post on Lazy Man and Money

  2 Feb 2010 | 9:02 pm

  Firstly, welcome to all the Lazy Man and Money readers wandering over here to take a look round. Remember to subscribe to my RSS feed so you can keep coming back. And to all my readers, go and take a look at Lazy's blog (yes, he doesn't mind being called that) - it's a great read. Short Term Sacrifices for Long Term Gain Photo: alphaducentaure My post over at Lazy's blog was originally called Short Term Sacrifices for Long Term Gain but in conjunction with Lazy we changed it to Sacrificing the Little Things for Early Retirement so his readers could get more of a taste of my background, why I…

• Is there such a thing as the Perfect Deal?

  6 Jan 2010 | 10:01 pm

  Over on Sweating the Big Stuff Daniel posted about Waiting for the Perfect Deal. It was something I could identify with mainly because in the past, when I wanted something I want it now! As time as gone on however, I find myself easily able to resist buying certain things. I currently have a microwave in which the display doesn’t work. It’s interesting since I hadn’t owned the microwave from the beginning and only acquired it once the display was broken. As it turns out, it’s a complete pain to use. In fact, I have no idea how to turn the settings down so that it…

• The Real Goal

  2 Jan 2010 | 2:01 pm

  I stumbled across a post over on Mighty Bargain Hunter – What is Financial Retirement? and I couldn’t help but agree with it. Especially the following quote: Retirement is about Money, not Age I just wanted to write a quick post on this, since this says in a few words what I’ve been saying my plan was for a while. I have variously described my plan as “Retiring at 40 but not actually stopping work“. That sounds ok but it’s a little confusing. Then I changed to something more like “Well, not actually retiring, but just not working for someone…

• Basics: What does Personal Finance Mean to Me?

  1 Jan 2010 | 1:01 am

  Welcome to my new series of posts on the basics of Personal Finance. I know many other bloggers have done their own series, but it’s such a personal thing (no pun intended) that it’s good to go over it every now and again. On that Wikipedia page, they certainly go some way to trying to define it in monetary terms. For example: “Personal finance is the application of the principles of finance to the monetary decisions of an individual or family unit.” For me though I find that Personal Finance is as much about a way of life than it is just about money. I’ll try…

• Shaving those Expenses: 10 Things to Think About Cutting Down

  31 Dec 2009 | 4:01 pm

  After a few weeks trying to cut a number of expenses, I hereby offer you 10 things you can think about where you might be able to cut your bills or your monthly outgoings. 1) Lowering your Cable TV/Satellite Subscription Or indeed, cutting it out completely. Think about it, how much time do you watch TV anyway. Not much? Then you don't need either Cable or Satellite. Watch it alot, then you probably need to cut down anyway. I used to have Cable TV in a previous house which was about $60 a month, now saved. 2) Monthly Insurances House insurance, contents insurance, life insurance, car…

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  Bargain Babe

• Bargain Babe’s homemade soap recipe

  bargainbabe

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:45 am

  soapylovedeb/Flickr I have an intense itch to make my own soap, partly because my past attempts to clean with vinegar and baking soda were so successful. If I can make my own cleaning products for less that work, why not? My sister used to own a soap business so I know making bar soap is a huge ordeal that involved vats of olive oil and lye, a dangerous chemical. But there is another option. Laundry detergent, which I am also low on. My friend Matt Jabs of FiveCentNickel made his own laundry detergent and reports “I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH HOW INCREDIBLY FAST & EASY IT WAS.” (His…

• Groupon has compeition, and isn’t pleased

  bargainbabe

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:23 am

  You’ve heard of Groupon, right? It’s a group coupon site that offers city-specific discounts for restaurants, spas, and gyms. My friends at MainStreet.com recently wrote about a new Groupon rival, or imitator, depending on your perspective: The success of their site has spawned a fair share of imitators and, as far as Groupon is concerned, blatant rip offs. The most recent example of this is SocialBuy. Like Groupon, SocialBuy partners primarily with hospitality businesses to offer deals on a ticking clock and is founded on the notion of collective buying. This might not seem so…

• Borders 25% off, Old Navy 20% off, $.99 ice cream

  bargainbabe

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am

  Here are the latest and greatest deals from my WalletPop blog. Get 25 percent off at Borders with a coupon that ends today, Feb. 8, 2010. Snag this Old Navy coupon code and get 20 percent off your purchase online, with some caveats, through Feb. 18, 2010. I’m sitting pretty with this Michaels 40 percent off coupon, good through Feb. 20, 2010. Buying luggage, travel accessories, or leather products? Check out this $20 off $100 coupon code for Luggage Pros. Scoops of ice cream are just 99-cents at Baskin Robbins when you buy one scoop to start.

• In LA free: Universal Studios admission, fruit trees, burgers, breakfast, entry to Travel Show

  bargainbabe

  8 Feb 2010 | 9:01 am

  gypsy photography/Flickr UPDATE: BargainBabeLA.com is up and running. I apologize for the downtime. Thanks for your pateience. ~Julia This week’s $5 Amazon gift card goes to The Unethical Man for sharing three great deals. Each Thursday I chose one person who shared great deals on BargainBabeLA.com (useful and great money-savers are my favorites) to win the prize. Educators can get into Universal Studios for free through March 31. Thanks for sharing this deal, The Unethical Man! A new indoor play center in Woodland Hills called The Enchanted Castle has a discounted play rate only for…

• Emergency kit discount and tips to be prepared

  bargainbabe

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:16 am

  EmergencyCafe.com Months ago I decided to compile my own emergency supply medical kit because I thought it would be cheaper than buying a pre-made kit. Guess what? I still don’t have one. Now I wish I had just bought one because I’m still not prepared. Emergencycafe.com is one place to buy an emergency kit. Owner Cari emailed me and offered a special 10 percent off discount just for BargainBabe.com readers that is good through March 31, 2010. Use code BB10. First aid kits start at $5 and a one-person emergency kits is $65. Cari also sells bigger kits for families and huge kits for…

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  Miss Thrifty

• COMPETITION: Win a two-night hotel break

  missthrifty

  8 Feb 2010 | 12:13 am

  Best Western Hotels is giving away two-night hotel breaks every 30 minutes for 24 hours, from 8 am on Tuesday 9 February. The prizes include dinner, bed and breakfast in a UK Best Western. This is a Twitter comp. I’m seeing more and more of these; of course, if you’re on Twitter already and you aren’t following me, I demand that you do so immediately! Those who have yet to succumb, however, can enter via Best Western’s Facebook page. How it works: follow Best Western on Twitter (@bestwesterngb) or on Facebook. Every 30 minutes a question about Best Western will be…

• Sales: time to unleash the hyenas

  missthrifty

  6 Feb 2010 | 9:30 am

  The January sales have been a Miss Thrifty-free zone this year, partly because (as you may have noticed) I haven’t been around much, and partly because I like to hold off until the last possible moment, when the pickings are heavily discounted. Some people aren’t keen on sales, because they feel that (a) you can go overboard, splurging on rails of worthless tat; (b) why bother with the dregs that nobody was prepared to buy at full price?  Personally, I am not convinced by these arguments. If it’s rubbish, why buy it at any price? As for the “dregs” defence: this…

• Carnival Procession: January 2010

  missthrifty

  24 Jan 2010 | 5:37 am

  Slow Cooker: save on money and save on washing up was featured in the 239th Carnival of Personal Finance, hosted by Darwin’s Finance. Miss Thrifty’s pick: Staying Off the Car Payment Treadmill, by Tough Money Love. “I don’t understand the logic in borrowing money to purchase a depreciating asset”, notes Mr TML. Me neither. When “cheap” and “Manolo Blahnik shoes” go together was featured in the 212th Festival of Frugality, hosted by Yes I Am Cheap. Miss Thrifty’s pick: Composting on the Balcony: The Easy Way to Environmental Virtue, by…

• Cath Kidston sale: the highlights

  missthrifty

  20 Jan 2010 | 4:27 pm

  The Cath Kidston sale is currently in progress on the company’s website. As regular readers will know, I am v. partial to Cath Kidston but bristle with indignation at the RRPs. This time around, some of the discounts are stingy but others are pretty good, so I thought I’d round up the most bargainous of the bunch for you. Here they are, divided into the website sections: Accessories: nothing to write home about here, unless you’re in the market for thick woolly scarves. Bags: bonanza! The cowboy tote bag (left), made from oilcloth with leather trim, is reduced from £55.00…

• Car stuck on ice? Here’s what to do.

  missthrifty

  13 Jan 2010 | 3:02 pm

  The car got stuck on ice – or rather, I got the car stuck on ice. I was driving to a meeting in my hometown, screwed up the one way system and ducked into a cul-de-sac to check my road map. (I have lived here for three years and still have to do this; I’m not sure if it says more about me or the town planners.) I wasn’t thinking though: this was a downhill cul-de-sac.  I drove in – but damn it, I couldn’t drive out again. Much of the snow has cleared here in Yorkshire, but the roads are icy something rotten. In the end I parked up and walked (well, slid) the…

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  MomsWhoSave.com Blog

• Get Valuable Local Coupons in the Entertainment Book -- now 40% Off!

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:35 pm

  Don't miss this great offer on The Entertainment Book. This coupon book is good for all of 2010 and is discounted 40%! I usually get this book every year. The Entertainment Book is filled with hundreds of 50% off and 2-for-1 discounts for your local area on the things you do everyday like dining out, grocery shopping, getting services like haircuts and car care, and attractions. Plus, get great discounts on travel, home furnishings, and much more! The Entertainment Book will usually pay for itself with just one or two coupons! An Entertainment Membership Card is also included with each book…

• Freebies -- E-Greetings, Lego Club Magazine, Home Made Simple, and More!

  7 Feb 2010 | 12:10 pm

  Enjoy these new freebies! Send free animated Valentine's Day greetings, birthday cards, announcements, invitations, or make e-cards for any occasion at Smilebox. You can also make your own digital scrapbooks using your own video, photos, and even your own music free. Then send them to anyone. Click here to subscribe to Lego Club magazine FREE! This is not the catalog you may be familiar with, but includes comics, activities, puzzles, Lego-building instructions, and more. The monthly Home Made Simple newsletter is full of tips to help you create the home you will love to live in. You'll also…

• Denny's is Offering a Free Grand Slam Breakfast on Tuesday, February 9th

  6 Feb 2010 | 11:59 am

  Denny's is offering a free Original Grand Slam breakfast on Tuesday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Click here to find a location near you. While you're on the site, you can join Denny's Rewards for a chance to win a free Grand Slam breakfast every week for a year. If you'd like even more free Denny's breakfasts, visit them on your birthday. They'll give you a free Grand Slam breakfast that day too! For more restaurant deals, you can also check out my previous post here. MomsWhoSave.com Blog

• Pick Your Prize! Win Any Piece of Jewelry from LuShae Jewelry and MomsWhoSave

  5 Feb 2010 | 9:36 pm

  The giveaways continue at MomsWhoSave, and this is a fun one! LuShae Jewelry contacted me not long ago and offered to let me sample a piece of jewelry from their collection of semi-precious gems, pearls, and CZs set in sterling silver or sterling silver or gold overlay. One MomsWhoSave reader will also be able to choose their own piece of jewelry from this stylish collection (approximately a $70 value)! I chose this bold peridot-colored ring plated in rhodium. I've worn it a lot, and I've been really pleased with it. It's large, but casual enough to wear with anything because of the simple…

• Fun New Freebie! Get a FREE Photo Book EVERY MONTH!

  2 Feb 2010 | 5:39 pm

  I have a fun new freebie for you today! You can get a free photo book here, and even the shipping is free! What's even better is that you can get a free photo book EVERY SINGLE MONTH! If you register at the site with your Facebook account, you can drag and drop pictures from your Facebook photo albums onto your photo book, making this really easy. You can also share the photo book online with any of your Facebook friends. One copy of your book will also be sent to you at no charge! And, as I said, you can repeat this every month if you'd like. You don't have to have Facebook to get this…

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  Frugal & Fabulous

• Link Up Your Giveaways!

  9 Feb 2010 | 5:00 am

  Have a giveaway going on at your blog? Link it up here!Looking for more places to link up?Mondays: Great Blog Giveaways & Smart and Trendy MomsTuesdays: Luv to SaveOngoing: Midday EscapesDo you have a weekly giveaway linky on your blog? LMK! Please leave me a comment on this post with the direct link to your linky and let me know what day of the week it goes up and I'll link you here! :) p.s. I had a few comments accidentally get deleted last week -so if you sent me your link, please send it again! So sorry!

• Giveaway & Review: Rubbermaid Drawer Organizer!

  8 Feb 2010 | 8:00 am

  Everyone has a drunk drawer. Somewhere you stash clutter, random junk that has no other home, or just the things you need - where you need them! For me, one junk collector is my dining room buffet table. It's the first stop and drop area once you walk through our entryway so it's often an easy place to let mail and other items stack up -especially the top drawer. This (wow, I'm telling all my secrets!) is often the place where I'll stash things when people come over. It's also the place where I often keep pens, scissors etc, as well as things I'll need on my way out the door (chapstick, lint…

• Menu Plan Monday (2/8-2/12)

  8 Feb 2010 | 4:30 am

  Monday: Ravioli with marinara sauce & saladTuesday: Homemade Chicken Pot Pie! Wednesday: Broccoli Chicken Divan Thursday: Egg beater omelets, with toast & fruitFriday: Homemade Pizza, with vegetables and pepperoniSee more menu planning ideas at Org Junkie's Menu Plan MondayWhat's on your menu this week? Have you tried any good recipes lately? LMK! :)

• Winner Winner Chicken Dinner!

  7 Feb 2010 | 6:00 pm

  Here are this weeks giveaway winners:The winner of the Cover Your Hair Giveaway is entry #48, Jaime (copperllama)!The winner of the DownEast Basics Giveaway is entry #96, Crissa! (crissa17)!Congratulations Ladies! I have sent you both an email. You have 48 hours to claim your prizes.Thanks to all who entered and please come back soon for another fun new giveaway!

• Giveaways Ending Today!

  5 Feb 2010 | 10:00 am

  Hello all! Just a reminder that I have two giveaways ending tonight: Win a box of hair accessories from Cover Your Hair! Win your choice of clothing or accessory item from Down East Basic's new line !But hurry, these giveaways close at 7pm EST.!

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  Domestic Cents

• Make Extra Money Selling Baked Goods

  Nicki

  3 Feb 2010 | 2:41 am

  I’ve mentioned several times that I used to sell homemade bread. You can read here why I gave it up. Each time I’ve mentioned it I’ve had someone ask for more information about it. I decided to write a post and give you an overview. I hope it helps those of you considering it. Feel free to post any follow-up questions in the comments. Are you really, really good at baking something? If you’re good enough, people will pay a good price for things like bread, rolls, pies and pastries. There’s a lot of work to it though, so you have to have the time available to…

• To Die For Buffalo Chicken Pizza

  Nicki

  1 Feb 2010 | 2:27 am

  With the Super Bowl coming up next weekend, I thought I’d throw you a frugal recipe that we absolutely love. I know, I should have a picture to go along with this post, but I haven’t made it recently – so you’re just going to have to picture it in your heads I know you’ll be tempted to order pizza on Sunday. DON’T DO IT. The recipe I’m about to give you is better than take-out and definitely cheaper. If you have a Buffalo Wings lover in your house then this is your recipe. Buffalo Chicken Pizza Pizza crust 1-2 cups of chicken, cooked and shredded…

• Ask My Readers: Homemade Cleaners

  Nicki

  29 Jan 2010 | 2:16 am

  Lately I’ve been experimenting with homemade cleaners. I already wrote about laundry detergent (which I still love) and I’m about to try out a dishwasher detergent (post coming soon) but what I haven’t been able to get is an all-purpose cleaner. I’ve tried some recipes – but the thing I can’t get around is the drenching scent of vinegar. I know the scent evaporates but it makes me feel like I’m eating French fries – not like I’m standing in a clean house. I’ve seen a few recipes use essential oils. Maybe that helps? I know it sounds…

• Waiting On Extra Purchases

  Nicki

  27 Jan 2010 | 2:18 am

  Last weekend I was looking for something fun and different to do with Chloe. David was busy for the day and I wanted to do something she’d enjoy. I don’t live in a metropolitan area, so my choices are limited unless I’m willing to drive for a while. My sister had recently reminded me of the community ice skating rink in our town. It sits back from the road so I had forgotten about it.  It’s free for anyone to use, so I thought Chloe and I would check it out. When I was a kid/teenager I knew how to skate and enjoyed it so I thought it would be a fun thing to introduce…

• Easy Pizza Crust

  Nicki

  25 Jan 2010 | 2:53 am

  We are pizza fans. If I made pizza 3 nights per week I don’t think I’d hear one complaint. I don’t make it three times per week but I do make some form of pizza once every week or two. I vary the type and form quite a lot. We have alfredo pizza, buffalo chicken pizza, calzones, personal pizzas, etc. For each one of these, I make the same pizza dough. I’ll give you the base recipe, then the customizations at the end. No-Rise Pizza Dough adapted from allrecipes.com 3 cups flour 1 tbsp. active dry yeast 1 tsp. salt 1 tbsp. white sugar 1 cup warm water 2 tbsp. vegetable…

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  Franklin McMahon

• Creative Expert Video Series Launches

  Franklin McMahon

  27 Jan 2010 | 5:52 am

  Just a quick note to announce a new series I am doing for Millimeter Magazine (Penton Media Inc.) which is called “Creative Expert with Franklin McMahon”. Each week on the video show I will cover a range of creative tips, reviews and techniques for media professionals. Topics include Adobe and Apple software, social media techniques, creative marketing and lots more. Check out the first few episodes below and check the Millimeter website weekly for new episodes. Creative Expert Episode 2: Marketing Using Facebook Creative Expert is a new video show dedicated to expanding your…

• The One Secret To Keeping Your New Year’s Goals

  Franklin McMahon

  8 Jan 2010 | 8:09 am

  At the beginning of each year people make a lot of plans for resolutions. I don’t believe in waiting or starting around a specific date, but the new year does bring a sense of hope and newness to many, so it can be a good time. In a few months some of these new plans never come to fruition, mainly because of one thing: no measuring. A good recipe for success is measuring progress and tracking the status. Goals need to be specific (”I will get 3 more clients this week” instead of “I’m going to try to get more work”) but they also must be trackable to allow…

• Shop, Dine and Stay in Portland, Maine

  Franklin McMahon

  1 Dec 2009 | 6:12 am

  I’ve been working with the Maine Office of Tourism to produce a series of videos that focus on different cities in Maine. Here is one I just completed, based on Portland. I do a lot of commercial HD video production, web video and podcasts for clients, but it’s always so cool to direct a piece focused on the actual city where you live. See what you think Watch the video in HD on YouTube You can also watch the video on the VisitMaine.com website Franklin McMahon Studio website Franklin McMahon - Facebook Franklin McMahon - Twitter frank@fmstudio.com Share on Facebook

• Is Your Brand Just a Technical Service or is it Emotionally Compelling?

  Franklin McMahon

  19 Nov 2009 | 7:11 am

  There is a big difference between a brand and a service, a brand is more of a story and a service is more of a task. So when you do networking with potential clients, how do you describe yourself? Do you stick to talking about the task? I have always disliked the term “freelance”, I always prefer that people position themselves as a company, even if it is just them. But freelancers, especially when they are just starting out, often stick to just describing the tasks they do. For example if they do web work, they will mention they can do all the coding, host the site on a server…

• Sharpening the Saw - Close the Web Browser and Open Your Mind

  Franklin McMahon

  11 Nov 2009 | 6:08 am

  We’re all busy, we all have lots of tasks, projects, things going on. We are focused on growing our career. This could mean networking, gaining new clients, making things happen. But what about you personally? What about your skill set? Your talents? Self-improvement and self-growth? Author Stephen Covey covered this in his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, in fact it’s the 7th Habit, sharpening the saw. You are the saw and you are always engaged in keeping things improving, growing and sharper. This could cover many areas including your mind, spirit and physical body.

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  Frugal Luxuries by the Seasons

• Do You Use "The Movie Watching Technique" to Get Things Done?

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries™

  5 Feb 2010 | 12:24 pm

  Do you use "The Movie Watching Technique" to get things done?We do!Click HERE to see what those vintage Valentines inspired...as we watched the Audrey Hepburn classic movieSabrina!

• Ephemera...Love...Inspiration

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries™

  20 Jan 2010 | 5:09 pm

  The rain has been pelting down all afternoon! As I rummaged through my long~time collection of vintage ValentinesI am inspired to make three or four of my own... using material from my brimming box of recycled paper,ribbon and doily scraps.These are a few of my favorites...I think I'll borrow the doily and silhouette motif to start with!~~~~~~Are you making Valentines this year?How about envelopes?

• Kindling More Light...

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries™

  9 Jan 2010 | 4:11 pm

  Still inspired by light...candles...and ordinary things...we continue to kindle bright ideas !!Click HERE to see more photos!

• Inspiration to Illumination: More About Candlelight Graces and Winter Luxuries

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries™

  8 Jan 2010 | 9:54 am

  Yesterday I posted about these Winter Luxuries & Candlelight Graceson our Frugal Luxuries blog I made a promise to tell you more about them...from Inspiration to Illumination!Here's how this idea was born out.~~~~~~~~~I was rummaging through my tea cupboardlooking for ways to bring light to an ordinary day...when I spied these teacups. (Below)Note: I sought out cracked and chipped cups for this little project.I still had the tart pans in mind from myMagic Mason Jar project a few days ago...(see post below)I thought it would be fun to see if the tart pans would work wellin conjunction with…

• De Mystifying the January Gift Pantry TM

  Tracey McBride ~ Frugal Luxuries™

  5 Jan 2010 | 1:04 pm

  Understanding the Gift Pantry TM"The only thing we ever have is what we give away."~~GinsbergThe Gift Pantry TM (along with your year~round Christmas planning guide) may become your most valuable tool for celebrating each phase of the year in a joyous, creative, simple fashion.For those of you unfamiliar with the concept, the Gift Pantry is a collection of gifts and packaging materials~~homemade, home grown and/or purchased~~kept readily available for future use.By stocking a Gift Pantry year~round you....will save time as well as money. Most importantly, a Gift Pantry greatly contributes to…

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  STRETCHING THE ONE INCOME DOLLAR

• Vitalicious Sweepstakes

  8 Feb 2010 | 5:43 pm

   Vitalicious is offering  a sweepstakes throughout February in honor of National Heart Month and Valentine’s Day:While Vitalicious’ nutrient-packed, 100-calorie VitaTops and VitaMuffins are the perfect gift all on their own, they are sweetening the deal with a genuine, diamond-studded Tiffany Pendant valued at $800! To enter, visit http://www.vitalicious.com/diamond-sweepstakes.html Even if you don't win the Grand Prize, you will be automatically entered to win one of 150 one-month supplies of VitaTops! Winners will be notified in March- enter today!

• We have a Winner!

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:13 pm

  We have another giveaway winner for today!http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/01/another-great-giveaway-organix.htmlToday's winner:dorcontest at gmail dot com  Way to go- you have been contacted by email- next time it could be YOU so keep on entering!

• 7 Frugal Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

  7 Feb 2010 | 8:10 am

  With Valentine day is just a week away you must have started thinking about the unique ways to make this day very special. And, to help you in enjoying this special day with your loved ones and in making it more romantic in an inexpensive way, we’ve brought together a list of seven frugal and creative valentine’s gifts ideas for you. Write a poem – No expensive gift can express your feelings in a way a poem can do. Sit down and write a poem on this day for your loved ones telling them what you feel about them and why they are so special for you. Don’t be nervous if you haven’t…

• Today's Winner

  6 Feb 2010 | 2:21 pm

  Today's winner for the Fresh Organics giveaway:http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/01/review-and-giveaway-fresh-organics-inc.htmlSusan Margaret said... charmtime at gmail dot com     Congratulations on your win Susan- you have been sent an email! Best of luck to others... you may be our next winner!

• We have Winners!

  5 Feb 2010 | 3:24 pm

  Today's winners for the 2 giveaways we had:http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/01/giveaway-me-and-you-reusable-shopping.htmlwandapanda at live dot com   and...   http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/01/review-and-giveaway-perfect-formula.html   simplystacieblog at gmail dot com     Thank you to all that entered, and congratulations to our winners- you have been contacted by email.  

• 
  Cheapism Blog

• 2010 Car Deals

  6 Feb 2010 | 5:51 pm

  A new car is a big investment regardless of the make or model. So if you're in the market for hot new wheels this year, but want to find a good deal, check out this report from Kiplinger. "The 2010 model year brings with it a breath of fresh air. There is life yet in Detroit, and Ford in particular. The only carmaker among the big three to avoid bankruptcy is poised to lead U.S. automakers into a new decade of reduced production and (they hope) consistent profits. Redesigned models, including many hybrids and clean diesels, are gracing showroom floors and represent the best products ever in…

• Frugal Valentines Day

  6 Feb 2010 | 5:26 pm

  With Valentine's Day approaching, this is the moment to prove both your love and your frugal ways. And indeed, writes idexonline.com, consumers are opting for more shared experiences (like dining out) and practical items this year and shunning the shiny baubles that have long been perceived as the heart of romance. "More people indicated they will chose sweaters, winter accessories and other clothing options in place of jewelry when shopping for Valentine's Day gifts this year, according to a survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) this week. 14.4 percent of consumers said…

• Cheap Soundproofing

  6 Feb 2010 | 5:00 pm

  Like that volume cranked up way high when grooving to the sounds in your home theater? Bet you don't like the complaints from neighbors (or family members). So CNET suggests some ways to minimize the impact on others without costing you a fortune or minimizing your listening pleasure. "I occasionally get e-mails asking about cheap and easy ways to soundproof a listening room. Readers want to minimize the amount of bass and sound leaking into neighboring apartments or rooms in a house from their home theater. Bona-fide soundproofing is neither cheap or easy. Anything short of building a…

• Bargain California Cabernet

  6 Feb 2010 | 4:53 pm

  Big wine, little price. Hardly a contradiction in terms, according to Winespectator.com, which offers this tip from the experts on a good, cheap California cabernet. But (there's always a but), no guarantee you'll find it at your local wine shop. "I was in the mood to try something different from my local wine shop. Usually, I turn to Italy for bargain reds and whites, but this time I was feeling patriotic, so I asked the owner what he could point me to among California Cabernets. I have not been too keen on Cabernets from my home state for the past few years because the high-quality ones are…

• VOIP iPhone Apps

  6 Feb 2010 | 3:51 am

  Those iPhone apps keep on coming. Digitaltrends.com reports that Apple is now letting users make calls through the Web with VOIP apps that won't further burden budgets already strained by AT&T's fee structure. "In the complex kitchen sink of fees AT&T has built up around the iPhone, with separate billing for phone minutes, text messages, and even AT&T Navigator, the obligatory unlimited data plan has been like a Swiss Army knife taped shut: Technically, it can replace many paid features – including voice functionality – but Apple's strict rules for apps have prevented it from…

• 
  Simply Saving

• How to Save Money for Retirement

  Joanne

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:12 pm

  Learning about how to save money for retirement requires gaining knowledge of several retirement investing vehicles. Make sure that you check out Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) which can offer you plans that showcase dissimilar tax advantages. Discover how you can set aside more money in preparation for your retirement by taking advantage of Roth IRA interest rates. Rates of Return One of the most important aspects of any investment is its rates of return. Thus, if you have a Roth account, you should be aware of how much money you generate from it. You should be certain that you are…

• How to Save Money Buying Gifts

  Joanne

  5 Feb 2010 | 8:20 pm

  If you find it difficult to put aside money to purchase gifts for different occasions, you probably pass up on special events just to avoid gift giving. Although you inhibit yourself from spending by doing this, you also miss unforgettable moments with your loved ones and friends. This article will give you some tips on how to save money buying gifts and some gift ideas that will surely get you going in every special gathering or occasion. Whether it’s your dad’s birthday, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, or your daughter’s graduation, you should never worry about going into…

• Saving Money on Window Coverings

  Joanne

  2 Feb 2010 | 7:05 pm

  Although window coverings are expensive we are generally willing to spend money on them as they fulfill so may purposes in a room, adding warmth and privacy as well as decoration. Rooms simply look unfinished without them. If money is tight you will be wondering how to add effective window treatments without breaking the bank but you can definitely achieve a lot without a huge budget. Here are some ways to save money:- 1. Make Your Own Curtains You can save a lot of money if you can sew simple straight lines with a sewing machine. If you are inexperienced start with short sill length curtains…

• How To Save Money On Monthly Expenses

  Joanne

  29 Jan 2010 | 11:56 am

  Written by Carol, one of our readers: We’d all like to save money each month, but how to go about it is another story. Start by making a budget; that scary, imposing, restrictive plan that keeps you in line. Only it doesn’t have to be that way, a budget is really only putting down on paper your priorities and recognizing you absolutely cannot spend more than you make in any given time period. It also, contrary to popular belief, doesn’t have to come together in one sitting, start the first month with just writing down general categories and amounts. Over time you can refine…

• How to Feed 5 People 5 Meals for $5.00

  Joanne

  28 Jan 2010 | 8:32 pm

  Food is the second highest expenditure in most people’s lives, yet they don’t pay attention to it. Pay yourself by using the information inside of 5 Meals for $5. This cook book is not only filled with delicious and plentiful recipes, it is filled with the information on how you can get the same prices and lower than the recipes listed! You don’t need to change what you eat, just the way you shop! And you don’t need to rely on Spam or unhealthy meals to live in today’s debt ridden economy. It’s not all about coupons and Jaci will show you how! If you think…

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  High Class Living on a Middle Class Budget

• Dennys Rewards FREE Burger Fries

  Amara

  8 Feb 2010 | 10:16 pm

  The first 500,000 people that sign up for Denny’s Rewards get a Free BURGER and FRIES coupon via email on February 28, 2010!!! As a Denny’s Rewards member, you’ll also receive: * Exclusive access to great offers on Denny’s meals * A tasty offer on your Denny’s Rewards membership anniversary * New Denny’s menu item announcements Register before February 14th, 2010 and we’ll email you a very special welcome offer soon. Bath and Body Works Coupon 2010 Kohls Cash Sale 2010 Angel Food Ministries February FREE Pogo Tokens JCpenny Coupons February 2010

• February FREE Pogo Tokens

  SoFlossy

  4 Feb 2010 | 10:28 pm

  NEW FEBRUARY FREE TOKENS ONGOING: FREE ONE MONTH POGO PASS 25,000 – Valentines Day 5,000 Tokens – Ritz 5,000 Tokens – Clorox JANUARY FREE TOKENS Play any of these 10 Pogo.com games every Monday between January 18, 2010 – March 29, 2010 to get 2323 tokens. 5,000 Tokens – FaceBook 5,000 Pogo Tokens – Pucks Peak Promo 5,000 Pogo Tokens – Takeda Promotion FREE ONE MONTH POGO PASS no cc required! DECEMBER FREE TOKENS 5,000 Pogo Tokens – UK game of the month 5,000 Pogo Tokens – Mini Lookalike Promo 5,000 Tokens – Heb Promotion 5,000 Pogo…

• Pep Boys coupon February 2010

  SoFlossy

  4 Feb 2010 | 7:50 am

  Head over to your nearest Pep Boys and get $10 off your next purchase of $50 or more with this printable Pep Boys coupon. Check out even more great savings at Pep Boys! expires 2/28/2010 JCpenny Coupons February 2010 Childrens Place coupons Ruby Tuesday Coupon 2010 PF Changs Game Day 2010 FREE $10 Money Saving Tools

• Radiohead FREE Song Set

  Amara

  4 Feb 2010 | 6:16 am

  Get Radiohead’s 24 length song live for FREE that they played on January 24 for Haitian relief. ( Download links for podcast or MP3 ) Coupon Printer Scam Questions Media Kit February FREE Pogo Tokens Link Exchange Guest Blog / Grab & Swap Links

• Go Red for Women Free

  Amara

  4 Feb 2010 | 6:11 am

  Head over to Go Red for Women to receive a FREE Go Red for Women pin and materials to show your support for women and the ongoing efforts of the American Heart Association. While it’s great to wear a pin and wear red to show your support, ALL FREEBIES are not really FREE, someone is paying for them, so think about donating. Right now, if you donate $50 or more, you get a FREE subscription to Martha Stewart Living Magazine. If you can’t donate at least $25 individually, get a few friends together and have every pitch in a few bucks. JCpenny Coupons February 2010 Product Testing Web…

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  More With Less Today

• Win free pants from Dockers

  Lori

  8 Feb 2010 | 7:15 am

  Did you see the Super Bowl ad for Dockers? You can win a pair of free Dockers pants by registering at www.dockers.com/freepants. You can try to win every day until February 15, 2010. I registered myself  (easy and quick)and played the game online and was not a winner, but got a coupon for 15% off a purchase at Dockers.com. Dockers retail for around $50.00. I search every day for the best money-saving tips, deals, discounts and freebies for the readers of More With Less Today. Search the site by using the “Search Bar” at the top to find what you need – for less. Also visit…

• Flo TV best sale price

  Lori

  7 Feb 2010 | 5:21 pm

  Did you see the ads for Flo TV during the Super Bowl? It is a personal hand held TV. This could be the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for the TV addict in your life. The original price was $249.99 but Radio Shack is running a sale for $199.99. I also found this additional discount. I could not find what items were excluded, so if you purchase the FLO TV and the additional Radio Shack discount does not work, please send me a comment so I can share that info. $10 off $85 or More + Free Ground Shipping On Select Products at RadioShack.com! Expires 2.28.10 (exclusions apply)  The price…

• Beauty products for less, tested and reviewed

  Lori

  6 Feb 2010 | 7:17 pm

  Nouveau Cheap  is my kind of website. She test and reviews beauty products that are typically under $20 and many are under $10. Her site will help you to spend less on your beauty products and still look good. I often buy the less expensive products and then they end up in a drawer because they didn’t work as well as I had hoped. If you read Nouveau Cheap, you can save money by following her advice and learning from her trials. She personally tries all of the products she reviews and often has an accurate photo illustrating the products. One of my favorite blog posts is where she…

• free bowling at Brunswick- Valentine’s coupons

  Lori

  5 Feb 2010 | 7:39 pm

  Brunswick is offering coupons good for 1 free game of bowling. You can print out there cute coupons and out them inside your Valentine’s Day cards. HERE is the link.  The free game of bowling is valid from February 14, 2010 – February 28, 2010. Shoe rental is not included. HERE are the participating locations in the U.S. Under “Today’s HOT Deals” at the top of my site there are free printable coupons. Right now, there are a lot of toy and game coupons from Hasbro and Playskool. I saw $4.00 off of Monopoly, Scrabble and Sorry and a coupon for $3.00 off of…

• Diapers delivered free from Alice.com

  Lori

  4 Feb 2010 | 8:55 pm

  Huggies Newborn Gentle Care Diapers, Jumbo, Size N, Up to 10 lbs 40 diapers $0.25/ea* $10.15 w/ coupon Did you know that you can order diapers from Alice.com and have them delivered for free? Alice.com carries many diaper brands like Huggies, Luvs, Pampers and Seventh Generation. Alice.com has over 6,000 household products. You can set up automatic reorders or email reminders if that makes your life easier. This site is a terrific time and money saver for all of your household and non-perishable grocery items. I find the prices to be very good and in some cases, fantastic. Whenever I order,…

• 
  commoncentsmom.com

• Friday Freebie: Canadian Tax Software

  Hollie

  5 Feb 2010 | 8:47 am

  Well it is that time of  year. We are starting to get T4’s and I was out shopping for tax software when I came across Studio Tax Enterprise on Frugal Shopper. You can download it here. You can use it to file your first 20 returns. When I think of taxes and having to file really I don’t want to have to pay more then I have to. From the reviews of some of my frugal friends this software makes it easy for us Canadians to efile for free. How great is that?

• WFMW: 7 Frugal Valentine Ideas

  Hollie

  2 Feb 2010 | 10:02 pm

  It is that time of year and for some romance is in the air. For me I am single yet again this Valentine’s Day but that is ok with me. I still have lots of love to share and I love to share it with my family. What are some frugal ideas that have worked for me over the years? 1. I find words make for a great show of love. I get red construction paper and write out the character attributes I love about my daughter. I think it is a cool and specific way to show your love, and think it could be done for under $2 2. I have created cards many times over the years. I have used my scrap booking…

• Menu Monday- More One Pot Recipes

  Hollie

  1 Feb 2010 | 4:13 am

  You may of noticed I didn’t post last week for Menu Monday. I have been battling dental pain for the last 10 days. I have to have a tooth or two pulled and we have to wait for a bad infection to clear before they go. My menu has been basically soft food that are made in one pot. Soups with crackers have been my mainstay and have scrambled eggs, and oatmeal. This week I am trying to get back to some good food. We will see how it goes. Monday- Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Veggies Tuesday- Breakfast for dinner- Cheese Omelet Wednesday- Left over Roast, Salad, Curried Rice Thursday- Hamburger…

• Free Workout Music Download

  Hollie

  1 Feb 2010 | 3:52 am

  Want some great workout music with songs like Umbrella, Stronger, 4 minutes, Bleeding Love and more. Right now Subway and Pod Workout Music bring you a great mix of music to keep you moving for your next workout. You can download the free mix here.

• What a Successful Weekend!

  Hollie

  31 Jan 2010 | 4:49 pm

  This weekend it was finally Bustamove time here in Halifax and what a weekend! What a success! For Me the weekend started on Friday as I volunteered for the set up. I got there Friday morning at 8 am and found I was one of only 3 volunteers who made it through the snow and wind. We got working on setting up tables, and by noon there were about 15 of us work placing the 800 registration bags, getting the signs in place, lines were created and then there were 800 towels to fold. Here is a shot I got of the bags that each participant was to get. It was there swag bag. For us volunteers we got…

• 
  Fru-Frugal

• Whispering Sweet Tweets …

  Fru

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:37 pm

  What better way to set the mood, treat your sweetie to a nice meal and enjoy delicious food! McCormick and Schmicks has taken care of all the details, all you need to do is set the reservations. Pan Fried Oysters Rockefeller-StyleChocolate covered strawberry with dessert. Yummmmm xox. Take a peek at this scrumptious feast: Set the Mood Pan Fried Oysters Rockefeller-Style On a bed of anise-flavored creamy spinach, glazed with hollandaise 8.95 Create The Perfect Pair Soup or Mixed Green Salad Choose Filet Mignon or Lobster Tail and Choose a Crab Cake, Grilled Filet of Salmon or Skewer of Shrimp…

• Free Sample of Burt’s Bees toothpaste

  Fru

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:46 pm

  Sign up for their newsletter and receive: A free sample of NEW Burt’s Bees® Natural Toothpaste – Multicare with Fluoride Formula (.5 oz) Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

• Another Free Grandslam?

  Fru

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:02 pm

  Denny’s announced through press release of several upcoming promotions. One specifically happening tomorrow: “More than just a Free Original Grand Slam® on February 9th. Anyone can register February 1st through February 14th, 2010 online at www.dennys.com or in store to win one FREE Original Grand Slam® every week for one year. There will be 52 winners announced, one each week. Winners will be posted each week on dennys.com. From February 1st through 14th, the first 500,000 people who sign up for the new Dennys Rewards program online will receive a FREE burger and fries…

• Walgreens Scenario: Ends Saturday

  Fru

  3 Feb 2010 | 11:14 am

  Blink Gel Tears/$8 Rewards Vitamin Schtick Lip Gloss/$2 Rewards $20 purchase of Pepsico products/$10 Rewards (purchase only 12 packs or only 2 liters only, cannot be mixed) Total Register Rewards $20 Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.

• Cold Plasma Giveaway

  Fru

  2 Feb 2010 | 8:38 pm

  I have been on the hunt for a facial moisturizer that helps with redness (I have tested another and will be reviewing that soon too). If a cream helps with the decrease in appearance of wrinkles near my eyes and hydrate my skin (especially within the winter months), that would help as well! I got to try a sample of Perricone’s Cold Plasma recently. I did some research and read reviews of the product through other sites. Some raved and a few disliked the cream. For a skin treatment that is much more expensive than the rest, I can understand their frustration if it did not work for them.

• 
  Make it and Mend it

• Made with love – homemade gifts for Valentine’s day

  Hilary Bruffell

  8 Feb 2010 | 2:20 pm

  It’s nearly Valentine’s day – a day guaranteed to strike terror into some of the hardiest of folk! How are you meant to show someone that you love them? What should you buy? Will they like it? Will they loath it? Will it be meaningful? Will it be a reflection of what you feel? Fear not MIAMI can help you. What better way of showing your love and devotion than by making your own gifts. Whatever your talents, we have gifts will reach your loved one’s heart. Baking Surely the way to a man’s (an woman’s) heart is through their stomach? Show your devotion by them by baking all…

• How to make your own Valentine’s card

  Screen Queen

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:55 am

  It’s that time of year again when a young man’s fancy turns to love and what better way to show how much you love someone than with a homemade card.   And we have the perfect tutorial to help you make yours.  Clare O’Brien shows you step by step how to achieve that professional look with your cards. Part One Part Two Need supplies? If you need some sequins (or trim or all sorts of craft supplies) do go and have a look at our latest favourite find: >> Josy Rose for a fabulous online choice of quality materials

• How to make a baked blueberry cheesecake

  carolinemiliartiss

  8 Feb 2010 | 11:46 am

  Caroline, The 10 Minute Cook is back with another great recipe. This time she shows us how to make this delicious blueberry cheesecake.  Perfect for your loved one on Valentine’s day.

• Haiti earthquake – Make and Mend help

  Anne Caborn

  8 Feb 2010 | 6:46 am

  We’ve all been moved by the terrible tragedy in Haiti. Relief appeals have received swift and unmitigated support. People around the world know that, at times like this, the best thing we can all do is delve in our pockets and give. But what about the longer term? When the dust finally settles? What can we do then? And what should we do? There will always be a need for those who are more well off to support those who are less well off, but we can give more than money, particularly as Make and Menders. According to the CIA World Factbook, Haiti was already the poorest country in the Western…

• How to grow garlic

  Clare Flynn

  7 Feb 2010 | 6:30 am

  Garlic can be planted in the autumn (October/ November) or Spring (December to February). It’s incredibly easy to plant and very hardy so it’s a great bet for novice vegetable gardeners. Garlic doesn’t produce seeds: all you have to do is plant the individual cloves. One little clove will produce a plant with about 30 new cloves on – so you can perpetuate the crop each year. Use a dibber to make a hole just deep enough to take the clove with the pointy end upwards and cover it with just  2.5cm of soil. Don’t let the top show through the soil or the birds will…