$4.11 a gallon. Helllllllllllloooooooo, that's a lot of gas. Now, imagine if you're ME and you own around 40 cars that are driving 20 hours per day. Anyone want my gas bill? No? I thought not. It's robbery. In my business though, it's a necessary evil. I hate to see my hard earned..well, if I worked hard it would be hard earned..cash going out of a tailpipe. Nothing to show for it after except for a stack of gas receipts that the IRS hates to get from me. I thought I'd share some tips on how to  make your car run more efficiently and in turn, get better gas mileage.

First and foremost, make sure your car is in good running condition. Have your oil changed. Here's a $5 off coupon for Jiffy Lube. It's good until January of 2009. Print it every 3,000 miles.

Make sure your tires are properly inflated. The better condition they're in, the better gas mileage you'll get. Here's a bunch of coupons for tire stores around the US. I decided to link directly so as not to leave out one region.

Make sure your air filter is clean. They get so dirty and it really adds drag to your motor when the clean air isn't getting in.

Going on a long trip? Consider leaving your big ole bad ass SUV home.  Rent yourself a smaller and more fuel efficient car. You'll actually save money on this deal. Here's a bunch of coupons for different offers.

Empty the trunk of the car and insides too if it's a mess. For every 250 pounds there is in the car, you lose 1 mile per gallon of gas. It's also dangerous to have a bunch of stuff crammed into your car. It can become a projectile if there's ever an accident.

Carpool! Save money and time by taking turns with other parents or co-workers. If you had to drive only twice per week you're saving 3 days worth of commuting gas. There's got to be savings in there.

If your car manual doesn't recommend higher octane gas, don't buy it! Buy the cheapest octane available.

Just stop driving so much. Sounds painful, right? I thought so too. Me, the Queen of "I must go out and shop today." Instead, I'm making lists and shopping every few days. I've got half a tank more of gas left over this week than I did last week. Now, on to the more fun things...FREEBIES!!

Ok, I recently hooked my printer back up. It was $200 and I got it on sale for $34 over Christmas last year. I used it twice, it hogs up space on my desk, so I put in on the floor under a big picture window I have. BIG mistake..big big big. It's a nice HP All in On. I hooked it up last night to use the scanner and it's not working. Lo and behold, Princess Less Than Charming comes into the office and goes into a snit because her "Stand ta see out da winnow" is now on my desk. She's got a $200 step stool and my printer isn't working. Coincidence? I think not! Regardless..head over to SmartSource.com. They have TONS of printable coupons.

Here's a free sample of Dove Mist. I love Dove products. The ad is in Spanish but that's ok. Por Favor, check it out! For the man in our life I offer you Vaseline Men. It's a free sample.


I love books, I love to read. I am very pleased and proud that both of my children simply adore books. When they're given the option of a toy or a book they usually always choose a book. Here is a free book for kids! Speaking of kids, when Nick wakes up in the morning he has what we lovingly refer to as "Death Breath." It's SO bad. He has perfect teeth, goes to the dentist regularly, and he's enough to knock me off my feet! Enjoy the $1 off printable coupon for Listerine Kids. I also have a free Klean to Go sample. It's a disinfectant.

Ever since I worked the Sundance Film Festival for ChaCha I'm interested in Utah and Nevada. Seems like a beautiful area. Click here for a free travel brochure and CD about what Nevada has to offer!

Do you know someone who has been touched by stillbirth, infant death, or miscarriage? Here is a free bracelet. Please, if you don't truly qualify for this, don't sign up for it. Thanks so much.

How about a free sample of..uh..well..lubricant? I am not talking for your car either..lol! Playtime Lubricants is offering a free sample. In the spirit of offering full circle freebies, I give you a free lambskin condom. Don't look at me to order it though. I have a crush on the Serta Sheep. I think they're totally cute. If you suffer from Catholic guilt over ordering all of these freebies, sign up and get your free rosary.

Here's a free sample of Sinuclean. Honestly, my allergies get worse and worse every year until I feel like I'm a prisoner in the house. I can barely stand it. AaachhhhOOOOOOOO. See what I mean? I know it's hard to find inexpensive and fun things to do with the kids over the summer. It's much easier and cheaper to cage them up in an institution of learning..lol. Check out the Kids Bowl For Free Program. We took the kids bowling once. The operative word being "once." I figure when someone has to scream "DUCK" and we're not in a restaurant, bowling may not be their sport. Enjoy it though!

Free sample of Gold Bond Powder. It's good for so many things.

Ok. I was serious when I said I know it's not cheap with kids over the summer. We went to Water Country last Sunday. It cost us $148 for 4 tickets. Darn my son for getting taller and needing a big boy ticket this year! One of the great women at CafeMom put this together and I am going to cross post it.

5 Awesome Amusement Park Deals                               

BUSCH GARDENS
Whether you visit the African themed Tampa Bay, Fla. location or the European themed Williamsburg, Va. park, there are lots of ways to cut costs. Show your AAA card at the gate for an automatic $5 off up to six tickets. And once you've purchased a ticket, you can return a second time completely free as long as it's within seven days. Active duty military and National Guard members can take up to three dependents to any of the Anheuser-Busch theme parks, including Busch Gardens, Sea World Orlando, San Diego, or San Antonio, Sesame Street Place, Water Country USA and Adventure Island, completely free. All you have to do is pre-register on Hero Salute and show your Department of Defense ID at the park's gate.

SIX FLAGS
Buy your tickets online for one of 11 park locations, including the flagship Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., to get the biggest breaks. Tickets are slashed by $20 online to $39.99. If you're willing to stand in line, bring an empty can of Coca-Cola to the ticket booth to purchase two tickets for $24.99 each. Six Flags.  Get the scoop on rides, events and entertainment. Receive discounts and special offers exclusively for Team Six members. All delivered right to your inbox. Want an easy way to stay on top of all things Six Flags? Join Team Six now.

CEDAR POINT
Trying to figure out if you can squeeze a family vacation into your summer? Cedar Point says YES, you can – with their family four pack of admission tickets for only $132! Stimulate your inner thrill-seeker (and the economy) with this money-saving deal. And by the way, you can use this four pack during any day of the 2008 season. Hurry, it’s only available online through June 15, 2008.  Families of four can buy a package of four tickets for $132, leaving an extra $40 in your pocket. http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/admission/tickets/deals.cfm

Pay Once, Visit Twice
You can’t conquer the thrills and family fun at Cedar Point in just one day…so why not come back for a second day of fun? Here’s how this special ticket works: pay one price of only $52.95 online through June 15, 2008 and visit on the operating day of your choice. Then come back for another visit on any other operating day of the 2008 season*. That includes HalloWeekends! Two-visit tickets must be used by the same person and are non-transferable.  http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/admission/tickets/deals.cfm

WALT DISNEY WORLD
See&Do Orlando offers the deepest package discounts. Hotel and park admission deals are upwards of 50% off retail with four nights accommodations at hotels like The Best Western, The Radisson and The Mystic Dunes Resort &Golf club. If you book a Magic Your Way package directly through the Disney Resorts between August 24 and September 20, not only do you get your hotel room and admission tickets, but your entire group will eat for free. (Must be booked by June 22, 2008.)

HOLIDAY WORLD
It might be summer, but that doesn't mean you can't visit Santa Claus. For the 2008 season, Holiday World and Splashing Safari (yes, located in Santa Claus, Ind.) are offering tickets to both parks for $39.99, including inner tubes and all-you-can-drink fountain soda. Bring an empty Pepsi can or Bunny Bread wrapper to the gate for an additional discount between $2 and $11 off, on up to eight tickets.

No matter where you choose to spend your summer, don't forget the deals that already in your back pocket. Both AAA and AARP often offer discounts like free parking, hotel and restaurant coupons, so check with your state's website to start saving.

Ok, I'm done! At least for today. I have a trazillion things to do today. I have to watch the grass grow, observe them putting up my new pool, watch my husband put up the screen house, and play with Gabby. For those who have asked, thank you. My husband Chris is doing much better. It's taking time, of course, but I am feeling good that I may have him with me for another 41 years. God willing. I put my faith in God again. Sometimes, I forget. Not to get all religious on  you but prayer is free. My friends and ChaCha family all prayed for us when we needed it. I thank you all.

Happy Father's Day to all of my male readers. Happy Father's Day to all of the women who are Moms AND Dads.

Until next time...Happy Saving!

Families are strange. Every last one of them. Mine probably more than others. Let me rephrase. My husband's family, that I married into, is probably stranger than most. I call them my out-laws. They're actually very well-to-do people. Which only provides more evidence that you never really know someone unless you live their life. My 6 year old has autism. Not the end of the world. My mother in law & father in law decided that when Nick was 3 years old he shouldn't be allowed in their home because "he could break something." He was allowed to play in the yard. My husband decided that enough was enough (Rock on, Chris..love you, babe!) and made the decision not to speak with his family anymore. It's been 3, almost 4 years, since we've spoken to a single one of them. Strangely enough, we all live in the same town and I've had the good fortune not to run into them. It would be awkward for me. They never liked me anyhow. They thought I was too abrasive. Can you imagine? LOL! A few days after we came home from our honeymoon, my mother in law says to me, "Chris is a tough guy, I always said he'd need to marry a bitch to keep him in line. You're perfect for him." Gee, thanks, Mona. Don't miss you, either! Well, my luck ran out on Friday. I had to run to the Registry of Motor Vehicles in the next city over. Doesn't it figure? I don't see them in our town but in a city with over 1 million people. I'm done with my business, I'm walking out the door and I hear "Kerry, Kerry." I turn around and there is my sister in law (another one who couldn't stand me). She bursts into tears and the whole "How is Nick, how is Gabby, Chris? I heard your Dad died, blah blah blah." Sobbing all over my new Coach bag. I felt so bad for her..an emotion I'm unfamiliar with. I brought her to the car to meet Gabrielle. She was less than a year old when the argument took place. She begged me to get Chris to call her. I promised to try. I tried. He said no. He said he's not ready. I told him that tomorrow's are not guaranteed and to stop burning bridges. Move on and get over it. Fall's on deaf ears. Either way, that's my lesson for today. For the low price of a free phone call you can speak to someone you've lost touch with, someone you should forgive, someone you should allow to forgive you, etc.  It sounds corny but it's true. My kids have a full set of grandparents that live 6 miles from me that they don't remember. They have Aunts and Uncles and cousins they barely know.  I don't care that they don't like me. My husband loves me, my kids love me, I have friends and family that love me..not everyone is going to love me. As odd as that concept is to me..lol. So, do something nice for yourself for free. Reconnect with someone in your life that you don't speak to anymore.

Take a survey and receive a free hypoallergenic pillowcase.

Printable coupon for FREE Scotch Brite toilet scrubber. Woohooo. Love it.

Free Duracell hearing aid batteries. Batteries aren't cheap. I think they were invented by toy companies.

Free Sunsilk gift cards will get you free samples!

Free MaxPro condoms. No need for them here (Mom is watching). I actually DID get my kids from a Cabbage Patch.

Free magnet from KinderStart with completion of brief survey.

Free BioFreeze Med Gel with completion of survey.

Do you know who Hannah Montana is? I had no clue..lol. My 4 year old told me "Mommy, dats uh Hanna Monnanna." Love her Dad, Billy Ray! Here's a printable coupon for a free Hannah Montana Karaoke CD from Club Libby Lu.

Do you like Women's basketball? I'm about basketballed out right about now. However, sign up quick and get 2 free pre-season tickets to see the WNBA Seattle Storm.

Here's a neat one! Design a free "green" bag for Kroger. They'll not only send you a free bag, but you'll be entered to win $500 AND you may get to see your bag nationwide in stores. We don't have Kroger here. I'm going to design one anyhow!

Pull-Ups has a free DVD for "How to Potty Train Your Toddler." Ok, where was this 2 years ago? I thought the answer was Gabby (my stubborn one) and I sleeping on the floor in the bathroom for a month. Go figure.

Ok, this is a little off topic (what in my life isn't?)..I love to play instant win games online. I have won $100 from Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, hundreds of dollars in awesome prizes, free airline tickets, etc. Go to MyInstantWin.com and check it out. It's a great site and she organizes it so well. If you need codes to play, she provides those, too! I once won, I kid you not, 40 coupons for free Banquet Chicken and Banquet Crock Pot meals. It was a riot!

Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it. Hope you enjoyed yet another peek inside of my insane life. Until next time...Happy Saving!

Indulge me for a moment. I love my kids. I truly do. If I tell myself that often enough today I may even let the 4 year old live through the night. She is making me crazy the last few days. Today she was outside playing and she told our new neighbors, "Mommy left me here alone. I am scared to be alone. Will you play with me until she gets back? I don't know when it will be." Well. Needless to say, my husband was in the doorway listening to this. I was upstairs changing their sheets. How nice of her to tell the neighbors that she is neglected and abandoned. This is after our store trip today. If the kids are good they go to the Dollar Store on Saturday. So, off we went. Within 3 minutes Gabby had stolen a carriage and crashed it into this huge Snuggle Air Freshener display. It took me half an hour to pick it all up and fix it. It has been a very long day with her.

Here are some freebies I found. There are a lot more than I thought I would find. OHHH, I just have to tell you. Last post, remember I posted about the Hershey Bliss Party? I applied and I got chosen to host one..woohooo..free chocolate! Life is good.

Ok, sign up here for a free Choose to Know bracelet. It supports women in their fight against cervical cancer.

Here is a sample of Sweat Block deodorant.

I  am scatterbrained. I mean to do certain things, I start to do them, get sidetracked, and forget. I am a Catholic (notice I didn't say good). I mean to pray nightly and thank God for my blessed life. What actually happens is I crawl into bed after a long day, say "Hi hon, gimme the freaking remote, CSI is on," and am asleep in about 10 minutes. You know what they say about the road being paved and good intentions.....Here's a free prayer cloth.

I love office supplies..much to the chagrin of my former employer..lol. Ah, I digress. Here is a free sample of sticky tabs.

Here is a neat one. If you sign up for their catalog they send you 3 free cigars and a free hat. I hate cigars. When I got caught smoking at 13 my Dad made me smoke an entire package of them as punishment. Can't stand the smell of them to this day. I still smoke, too. Thanks for the lesson, Dad!

Take the Pledge and get a free uniball pen. This pen makes it impossible for your checks to be washed and it keeps your signature safe. Good deal.

Here is a free reusable tote bag. It's for the tree hugger in your life..lol. It's supposed to cut down on waste so you might as well give it a try.

I have a free sample of Yogurt capsules..or something that resembles that. It's actually acidophilus pearls. It's good for you, so I don't recognize it.

Free coffee samples. You can also win a $5 gift card for signing up. I've said it before and I'll say it again..I love my Senseo. Sign up for free pods! Don't have a Senseo? Good Lord, go to ShareSenseo.com and get one. You have to pay $15 for shipping. Big Whoop..it's the best $15 you will spend all week.

Okay. I'm going to do something a little different. Instead of packing my post this week with freebies, I'm going to give you some money saving tips. I love flavored creamer for my coffee. I like the Vanilla Cinnamon and my husband likes the Amaretto. It can get expensive. So, I found a few recipes on how to make it yourself..at a much lower cost! Here are a few of them!

Each of the following coffee creamer recipes can be stored for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. For each recipe, mix all ingredients in a glass container, and shake before pouring.

French Vanilla Coffee Creamer
1 can sweetened condensed milk (also available in low fat)
1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
1 tablespoon vanilla

Almond Orange Cappuccino
1 can sweetened condensed milk (also available in low fat)
1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
1 tsp almond extract and 1/2 tsp orange extract for cappuccino.

Amaretto
1 can sweetened condensed milk (also available in low fat)
1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
Add 1/2 tsp cinnamon and 1 tsp almond extract

Almond Cappuccino

1 can sweetened condensed milk (also available in low fat)
1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp orange extract

Chocolate Almond
1 can sweetened condensed milk (also available in low fat)
1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
1 to 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp almond extract

Chocolate Truffle Mint
1 can sweetened condensed milk (also available in low fat)
1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon peppermint extract.

Now you have your cream for your coffee. How about how to save money on flavored coffees? Here's how to make your own and not pay expensive prices at gourmet shops.

Save money on expensive coffees by making your own. Add a drop or two of vanilla extract and vanilla non dairy creamer to your coffee for an expensive coffee taste. If you really want to "walk on the wild side" experiment with different flavors of extracts like hazelnut. Use a light hand and only a small amount because pure extracts can be strong.

You can also try adding a dash or two of cinnamon into your grounds, and brew your coffee.

Here's another tip....add a Vanilla Bean to a little jar of sugar let is sit a few days  and you have Vanilla Sugar. Use on anything you put sugar in.

If you like coconut coffee you can add a teaspoon of shredded coconut to your coffee grounds before brewing.

Thanks to the ladies at CafeMom who had these fantastic ways to stretch our dollars. Coffee is a huge industry. We should be able to save while enjoying it!

Ok..and my last and most coolest freebie of the week..Call ChaCha. Dial 1-800-2ChaCha and ask your questions. You will then receive your answer in the form of a text message. It's...drumroll please...free. That's right..no charge. Totally smokin' deal! Try it, you'll love it. I tried it, loved it.

Ok, Prince Nicholas and Princess-less-than-charming Gabrielle are finally asleep. I may get some searches in..woohooo. Until next time..Happy Saving!

Did you all have a nice Easter? I did. My whole family went out to dinner at Bugaboo Creek. We're quite the noisy crowd when we're all together. My Mom was in her glory. All of her kids were there, all of the grandkids were there, and we didn't even throw food at one another. Definitely a successful day. So...how are you? I'm doing ok. I'm enjoying the sunshine that breaks through the clouds. Of course, it snowed last night and it depressed the ever lovin' life out of me, but this too shall melt!

I talk about my kids, Nick and Gabby. I don't know if I've ever mentioned it here, I doubt it, but Nick is autistic. April is National Autism Awareness month. So, if you don't know much about this disease you should check out the National Autism Foundation for lots of info. Education is the key to success. Want to see the kids? I rarely show pictures of them..I hate to be one of those insanely bragging Moms who drags out every picture of their child. I like to see other people's photos but I'm not interested in every single picture since they were born. My Prince Nicholas and Princess Gabrielle.

So. You didn't come here to hear about my life. You want something from me, right? You want freebies, samples, and tips on how to live a more frugal life. Well, let's start with my favorite of the bunch...freebies! Off to our health and beauty department.

We have a free sample of Maybelline Mineral Power liquid foundation. I was blessed with good skin and I rarely ever wear make up. I'm going to try this out though. The older I get, the more I notice blemishes. Ok, there's nothing funny to say about this but it's a free sample of TENA Serenity Overnight Pads.  Now, here's a free sample I can wrap my head around. It's XCID Antacid. My husband suffers from horrible acid reflux/heartburn. He's always got it. I worry about it too. I'm ordering this as we speak. When the kids were babies I swore by Gold Bond powder. I can say that my kids never once got a diaper rash, even in the heat and humidity we have here in the summer. Here's a free sample of Gold Bond Ultimate. It's not powder, though. It's a cream. I don't have curly hair. I've always been intensely jealous of women who do have curly hair. I spent $275 on a perm once. Yep, came out looking like FiFi the wonder poodle and never went back. Redken is offering free samples of their products for curly hair. JJ Martin Clothing has a freebie of the day. Today it's a free sample of L'Oreal Color Juice Lip Gloss. Just send them your address and request the sample. Lovin' it! I wear glasses. Ok, let me rephrase. I am supposed to wear glasses. I lose pair after pair after pair. I don't bother anymore. Sign up at Windsor Eyes and get a free eyeglass case! I'm kind of weird. I have an incredible sense of smell. Shopping for detergents literally overpowers me because I have to sniff every one that I am considering..mostly to make sure that I find the smell appealing. I'm the same way with soap. Here's a sample of New-Formula Dial Antibacterial Soap. We have a free sample of Dove Ultimate Clear Deodorant. Choose from cool cucumber or grapefruit and lemongrass. Here's a free sample of Coty Beauty Fragrances. You get 12 free fragrance samples! Sometimes they're just those little pieces of paper like a scratch-n-sniff. I use them in the vents in my car..free air fresheners.

I live in Boston..or close enough that I can say "I'm from Boston." I am a huge Red Sox fan! Rock on Red Sox Nation! Opening Day is right around the corner. How about a free pack of Exclusive MLB Baseball Cards? I signed right up for them. I hate to give PETA even free mention in my little blog. I despise their methods. However, if you approve of their methods, you can sign up for a free No Fur PETA pin.

I have a free sample of NutraSweet Swirl. My Mom is a Type 2 diabetic and takes 3 shots of insulin per day. I am vigilant about sugar in her food. So, what do we put sugar in? We put it in COFFEE! Here's a sample of Seattle's Best Coffee. There are 3 flavors to choose from. I picked vanilla bean. After you've eaten and you want to wash your hands, how about using a sample of Klean-To-Go sanitizing wipes?

I am now a huge Trace Adkins fan. God, I just love that man. I'm a huge country music fan to begin with. After Trace's season on Celebrity Apprentice,  I'm even more in love with him. He was trying to raise money for a charity that deals with food allergies. Here is a Food Allergy Survival Guide. It afflicts millions of children every day. I was always pretty apathetic to it. The whole "it doesn't affect me, it's an allergy, big deal." Yep, Trace was a true eye opener and I am now a proud contributor to his charity!

My other favorite show is Top Chef. I blab about it every time I blog. Well, since I plugged Trace Adkins and his Celebrity Apprentice appearance, I will give you a cookbook for Australian Lamb. Now, I don't eat lamb. I may wear their sweaters but that's about it for me. On Top Chef there are always lamb dishes that the judges just adore.

My Dad loved to bird watch. I started putting up bird feeders last year. I love seeing the colorful birds sitting in my windowsills. You can sign up  for a Celebrate Urban Birds kit. It contains posters on how to identify birds and free seeds!

For you music fans, pre-order your free Walton Music Chorale Sampler CD.

I gotta tell you. I love blogging. I am a little disappointed in the other ChaCha blogs lately. Where are our crafts for the Spring? I'm diligently waiting for them. Where are the new recipes for Spring Smoothies? Come on people, motivate! Use the coupons I give you for ideas and materials. In Family Fun magazine this month there is a club house for kids built out of cereal boxes. It is the neatest thing. We should be reading about it in our blogs!

Well, I've made lunch, answered a few queries, checked the mail, patted the dog...I think this is it for now. Until next time...Happy Saving!

::singing to the tune of "I Want Candy":: I found freebies...woo woo woo. I sing out loud a lot here in my office. I'm not good at it. Gabby always covers her ears and says "Mommy, no sing." Rude child, isn't she? LOL!  I always have some stupid commercial music stuck in my head. The other night I actually woke myself up humming "F-R-E-E that spells free, credit report.com, bayyyy bee." I hate that commercial. Go to Freecreditreport.com to see what it's about. Many people actually worry about their credit. Not me. Can't be bothered. Either you have it and it's good, you have it and it's not good, or you just don't have it. I'm not losing sleep over my credit. There's enough things in this world to stress out about without thinking "Oh no, I may never get to buy that Italian yacht because I was late paying my monthly minimum payment to Wal-Mart. Darn them!"

I also don't like doing laundry. It's bad enough I have to earn the money to buy the clothes, go to the store to buy the detergent, then I come home and have to put it away. Then I have to gather up the dirty clothes, wash them, dry them, fold them, put them away, and empty that lint trap. How about a free sample of Tide with Dawn StainScrubbers? I love Tide but I won't usually spend that much money on detergent. I have one of those fancy schmancy washer/dryer sets that needs HE detergent. I also managed to get my greedy little hands on a free sample of Lysol Sanitizing Wipes. I love them. Then again, I have enough germs from when the kids were sick to start my own science lab.

Health & Beauty can't be beat. Here is a free sample of Vaseline Intensive Rescue. Haven't tried it yet, ordered the sample though! Every Tuesday when I watch "The Biggest Loser" I decide I'm going to get serious and drop this "baby weight." Keep in mind that my "baby" is going to be 5 this June. I have less than zero will power though. Here's a free sample of Dexatrim Max20. I wish you better luck than I have! I also don't have an eye for "size." Thankfully, Hanes is offering a free KidFit tape measure. I live in Massachusetts, home of the cranberry. We have cranberry everything here. So, to honor my heritage I will give you the 3 day supply of TherCran. Enter to win the sweepstakes and you get a free sample of Degree deodorant. I abhor cheating. With that said, lol, the answer to the quiz is Salazar.

I'm looking out my window today. It's snowing and raining. My Christmas decorations are still under about 2 inches of snow. It's so sad really. The first day of Spring is only a day away. I have started to love planting flowers. They cheer me up out of the winter funk I'm in. Here's a free sample of Bentley Seeds Wildflowers.

I don't write traditional letters anymore. Email has taken the personalization out of communication. I also love history. I'm a big history buff. John Adams is offering a free greeting card! They will contain a special postmark to commemorate the Power of the Letter campaign!

Sometimes I come across a freebie that just cracks me up. I'll be sitting here at my desk just giggling. That's how I felt about joining the "Pork Chomp Club." It's for dogs so I had to sign up for it for my Sammi Sue. I just get a kick out of names like Pork Chomp.

Ok, by today's standards, I am old. I remember TV that had 5 channels (4, 5, 7, 38 & 56), I remember when reference material had to be found at the public library. I remember Dirty Dancing when it came out, I remember wearing jelly shoes and leg warmers. I do NOT get the fascination with Webkinz. I mean, what do they DO? My 8 year old niece is addicted to them. Every weekend she has my poor Mom out shopping for a new Webkinz. My Mom has no clue what they are. She just dutifully hands over her debit card and says "Is that the one you want, Sam?" It's really kind of funny. My Mom is the best Grandma around. She obviously learned a trick or two from my own Grandma. Let's hope it doesn't skip a generation and that I too can be an awesome Grandma. Don't get me wrong, I'm not rushing it, I'm only 37! OHHH, the whole point of this conversation, though one sided, is that Limited Too is having a Buy One Get One Free Webkinz sale!

I decided to poke around and see what kind of coupons and freebies I could find in the food department. So, here's a $1.00 off printable coupon for SmartOnes frozen dinners. I have a $1.00 off printable coupon for Organic Sensible Sippers juice. I just filled out the application to host a Hershey Bliss party! YUMMY! You can also sign up for a free coupon ($4.50 value) of Coffee Mate. I love that stuff. The vanilla cinnamon is downright evil. Check every day for a limited supply of Honey Bunches of Oats. Sign up for Qdoba email club and they'll send you a free coupon for chips and salsa. Vamanos! Need energy to sign up for all of these freebies? Get a free sample of LiftOff, a new energy drink that enhances the mind. Remember how I once said that any day is a good day for cake? Sign up at Cake Mate and get a birthday surprise! Make sure that you click on the tab in the middle that says "Join Now" and then choose the Birthday Club.

Well, this was all an unexpected pleasure! Plenty to keep you all very busy..and your mailman, too. I tip my mailman during the holidays and leave him a bottle of cold water in the summer. It's the least I can do. He brings me tons of free things daily and he is a good sport about it. He always laughs at me when he has to drive up the driveway because it's too much stuff to fit into my mailbox. Hats off to our mailman for making it all possible. I'd also like to wish you all a very Happy Easter! May you find all of the chocolate eggs! Until next time....Happy Saving!

OMG...you have been SO neglected. I am deeply sorry for my missing status. Lots going on, none of it good, all of it surmountable! The kids are still sick, I was kind enough to pass my flu on to my husband, so I'm right as rain again! I've missed you all so much but I'm back into the swing of things. Sometimes, when everything seems so dark, you need to realize that there's always light headed your way. Either that, or you were too cheap to pay the light bill. That's my prolific statement for the day. To all of my friends, you know who you are, thank you for being my friends and for believing in me. You can't put a price (or a savings) on something like that....

Okay, I've decided to share some really inexpensive recipes that I use here in my house. Technically, I could feed my family of 4 for about $70 a week. None of my meals have fancy names, it's hard to impress a 4 and 6 year old, but they're all yummy.

Pasta and sausage casserole

1 bag of wide egg noodles ($1.49)
1 package of sweet Italian sausage ($1.79)
1 block of Monterey Jack cheese, shredded ($1.50)
1 quarter cup of milk (.80 cents)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 loaf of garlic or French bread

Cut the sausage up and brown in a skillet on medium heat. Boil noodles. Preheat over to 350°. Pour noodles into baking pan, mix in sausage and cheese, pour milk over mixture. Add salt and pepper, bake for 20 minutes. Serve immediately. Makes about 8 servings. Serve with heated bread. Delish and inexpensive. You can add a small salad for greens. No one here, other than me, likes veggies.

Double Chicken Noodle Chicken Breasts

1 package of boneless & skinless chicken breasts ($3.99)
1 can of condensed Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup (.79 cents)
1 fresh zucchini (.79 cents)
1 onion (.40 cents)
1 half stick of butter (or margarine) (.75 cents)
4 baked potatoes
1 small pkg fresh blue cheese ($2.69)

Preheat oven to 350°. Put chicken breasts in shallow baking dish and pour chicken noodle soup over it. Add 1 cup of water, cover with tin foil and bake for 35 minutes. Slice zucchini and onion. Combine in a piece of tin foil, put half of the butter over it, salt and pepper to taste, seal well, bake 30 minutes. Bake the 4 potatoes for about 40 minutes, remove from oven, add rest of the butter and top each potato with 1 tablespoon of blue cheese. Nutritious and inexpensive.

Beef Stew
1 pound of cubed stew beef ($2.99)
2 potatoes (.99)
2 carrots (.29)
2 stalks of celery (.39)
2 pkg brown gravy mix (I prefer the Knorr's brand) ($1.00)
1 can Green Giant no salt added corn nibblets
salt and pepper to taste

Super easy. Get your crock pot or slow cooker out, combine all ingredients and cook on high for 4 hours. Stir occasionally. Add salt and pepper. Serve with fresh bread. No need to cook the stew beef first, it all cooks together. Just slice up veggies, add everything at once, and in 4 hours, fantastic comfort food!

And for dessert
Chocolate cream pie
1 Oreo graham cracker crust (pre-made) )$1.29)
2 pkgs Jello Chocolate pudding ($1.09)
1 container Cool Whip (.99)

Follow directions for chocolate pudding. Pour into graham cracker crust. Refrigerate for 2 hours, frost with Cool Whip. You can top it with chocolate chips or Reese's Pieces to break up the chocolate overkill.

All of the above meals cost well under $10 and are filling. They can be adapted into low fat, low carb, fat free, sugar free, low sodium, etc. for pennies. One of our biggest expenses in life is food. If we can learn how to stretch our dollar and still keep it healthy then we've been successful!

OHHHHH, remember in my previous blog about how I wished my husband would read my blog? In 7 years of marriage he's never sent flowers. Today, Valentine's Day, I received a beautiful arrangement of tulips. They're orange and red and blue and purple..stunning. He said "I was reading your blog and found a coupon and I knew you'd be proud." LOL..of course I am, I'm proud of everyone that takes the initiative to get the most for their money. Until next time...Happy Saving!

One of the fastest ways to watch your money become separated from you is to plan a family vacation. They love to take advantage of the one week a year we don't work and make it as costly as possible. In our infinite wisdom, my husband and I have decided to take the children to Disney World this year. I'm going to plan out my entire vacation in my blog so that you can save as much as I will save and have access to my resources also. What makes a vacation great is spending uninterrupted time with your family, what makes it even more fantastic than that is not going into debt to do it! So, as I always say, my way isn't for everyone. Some people like to contact a travel agent, give them the dates that they're looking to vacation on, and sign off with a credit card. I actually prefer to do my own planning because I know I can do this cheaper than a travel agent. I'm going to do it in two parts though (ohhhhh, a series!) because after awhile, your brain turns to mush. So today I'll cover transportation and lodging. I know our ChaCha guides write a blog for Disney also so you should most definitely check those out, too!

One of the best ways to save money on vacations is pick a time when you're are flexible on dates. I am self-employed so it's nothing for me to change my travel plans by a day or so in either direction in order to get a better rate. Do not try to go during a school vacation, it's twice as expensive and it's beyond crowded...Ok, let's get down to planning this vacation. All prices are going to be based on 2 adults and 2 demons..lol!

Transportation is the most expensive part of any trip. I have my choice of plane, train, bus or automobile. Ok, we're not even going to attempt automobiles. One of my deep, dark secrets is that though I own 6 taxi companies, I get violently car sick after half an hour. How's that for your daily dose of irony?

Greyhound:  For all 4 tickets round trip it is $632 and that is with a 7 day advance purchase. Not a horrifying price but the length of travel time is 1 Day, 7 Hours & 5 Minutes. I'm thinking that being trapped on a bus with 2 small kids for that length of time would make me wish I were dead.

Amtrak:  Ok, with the exact same info as used above, I got a price of $843! Now, to me, that's kind of steep. It does offer more amenities than the bus. Travel time is 1 Day, 3 Hours, 40 Minutes. It offers a dining car and more space than the bus but again, I think we can definitely do better for our money.

Skybus:  I absolutely LOVE this site. It has limited routes and I happen to live near one of them. They have fares as low as $20 per person round trip based on availability! Let's see what they can offer me. Ok, for 4 round trip tickets it will cost me $748...not bad but still...I know I can do better. They're definitely on my list of possibilities though. Total travel time: 2 Hours, 21 Minutes. That alone is worth the money!

SpiritAir: The ultimate in deals. Every so often they will offer fares for a nickel per person. I once bought us 4 tickets to go to Myrtle Beach for a needed weekend getaway for less than $40! And they don't disappoint! WOW..$664 for 4 round trip tickets from Boston to Orlando. Can't beat that..and, I found an online coupon for a free upgrade to their version of first class. We have a winner! It may not be the "best" price but it's the most practical. I spend $20 more but arrive 24 hours earlier. Yep, a definite plus.

On to hotels. Now, I'm not picky about a hotel. It has to be clean and since it's Florida, must have a pool. I don't care too much about amenities here because on vacation you'll spend relatively little time in your hotel room.

Radisson Worldgate Resort and Convention Center: It's a 4 star hotel. It has 2 swimming pools (YAY!), a refrigerator in my room, FREE shuttle service to Disney (which is only 11 blocks away), Starbucks in the lobby and a fitness center. All of this for $65 per night! WOW..not bad at all. I wonder if I'll find something comparable at a better price.

Country Inns & Suites:  Nice. They offer free breakfast as an amenity. They have a pool and a gift store. Nothing about free shuttle service though. The rate is $83.66 per night. Not so great, although the free breakfast is kind of a hook. Where else can you get breakfast for 4 people for $19? That's the price difference between here and the Radisson. I'm not convinced though.

Mike Ditka Runaway Beach Club Resort:  This is a different twist on a hotel stay. You can get a 1 bedroom suite with a full kitchen for $99 per night. Now, that may seem high, but ultimately, it will save you a ton of money. I'm no stranger to cooking. I have picky kids and eating in restaurants isn't that much fun. I'd rather grab a box of Eggo Waffles and a dozen eggs for breakfast than to go sit in a restaurant with the kids. Dinners could be done much more cheaply also. The amenities are incredible. Free shuttle, pool, fitness center (like I need to care about THAT), a sun deck overlooking a man made lagoon. How incredible does that sound? I think that's what I'm going to choose. I get free transportation, a DVD player in our room (great for small kids), a lagoon, a full kitchen, all for $99/night.

Knights Inn Escape: This truly fits the bill for frugal! It has a free continental breakfast, free shuttle, mini-fridge and they offer mini-suites for additional fee. The price blows me away..literally! Off-season is $32.95/day and regular season is $39.95/day. This may actually be the best deal out there. They offer a weekly rate of $199. I can't stay in my own house for $199/week. My mortgage is triple that every week. So, what I'd save at the Runaway Hotel with a full kitchen, I'd probably save just as much, if not more, at this hotel. Now I'm on the fence. I'm seriously going to have to sit down and figure out what I would spend on meals and see what my savings would be.

Ok, that's enough for today. I'll let you know what I've decided on my hotel in my next post..which won't be far behind this one. Must keep your interest! I'm off to the casino tomorrow, with enough luck, I can buy Disney! Until then...Happy Saving.

Here is what I found for free and this is just the start. I do this often I love free and VERY cheap items. **ENJOY**

 





A FREE $5 Starbucks Gift Card


  Get a FREE Sample of CortiSlim ENERGY PUNCH™!

Intimately Beckham Sample (walmart)


Yet another $5 Starbucks gift card ( I drink alot of starbucks!)


Massive library of free mp3s

And for you soon to be brides  ( enjoy these i have confirmed most myself)

Register for $50 or more of All-Clad products and receive an All-Clad recipe file FREE. Valued at $20 - Thanks thetakristen!

Register for $400 or more of Anolon products and receive an Anolon Advanced 5” Santoku knife FREE.. Valued at $40

Register for $300 or more of Circulon products and receive a Circulon butter warmer FREE. Valued at $30

Register for $150 or more of Cuisinart products and receive a Celebrations for Everyday and Special Occasions cookbook FREE. Valued at $18.50

Register for $750 or more of KitchenAid product and receive a KitchenAid cake server free. Valued at $20

Register for $2000 or more of Lauren Ralph Lauren Bedding and Bath products and receive a Lauren Ralph Lauren throw blanket FREE. Valued at $125

Register for $3000 or more of Lauren Ralph Lauren dinnerware and giftware and receive a Silver-plated Lauren Ralph Lauren frame FREE Valued at $125

Register for $3000 or more of Lenox products and receive a 14” Lenox “Spyro” square serving tray FREE. Valued at $84

Register for $2000 or more of Mikasa fine or casual china, crystal stemware, stainless flatware, crystal or silver giftware and receive a 5 x 7 Mikasa “Capital” frame FREE. Valued at $50

Register for $500 or more of Oneida stainless flatware and receive a servall in your chosen pattern FREE. Unknown Value

Register for $1000 or more of Royal Doulton products and receive a Royal Doulton “Precious” tea light holder FREE. Valued at $58

Register for $2500 or more of qualifying Vera Wang dinnerware, giftware, stemware or flatware and receive a gift boxed Vera Wang “Celebration” crystal wedding bell FREE. Valued at $50

Register for $650 or more of Victorinox travel gear and receive a Victorinox toiletry kit FREE. Valued at $70

Register for $750 or more of Waterford dinnerware, stemware and giftware or $500 or more of Marquis by Waterford stemware and giftware and receive a set of 4 Waterford placemats FREE. Unknown Value

Register for $2000 or more of qualifying Wedgwood china, stemware or flatware and receive a set of 4 silver napkin rings FREE. Valued at $50


If you join and enter code Epub459 you will receive 750 points and you can redeem the points for a $5 gc at Barnes & Noble.

Or you can earn an extra 50 points by doing one of the surveys and get a Kmart gc for $5.


NEW South Beach Living™ Granola Clusters ~ Walmart


MUST sign up here its so fun to do campaigns. I just did the Sonicare and they sent me one :)

Coupon for a Airwick Scented Oil Starter Kit in Sunday's (1/6/08) Newspaper


Indian Hair Samples from Perfect Locks

Hello again- Today we are venturing into Walmart, Biglots, and Walgreens. I pick these specific stores since I have had most success with them in finding next to nothing deals.
 Lets start with Walgreens today. Now I am not talking about Extra Care Bucks here although they are nice from time to time but I have BETTER deals to speak about today. Now at most all Walgreen year round except around Christmas they have a end cap isle usually that is filled with about 5 shelves of HOT DEALS. Here you can find shampoo,conditioner,makeup,baby products,throw blankets,candy,toothpaste,feminine care,sexual health YOU NAME IT! You can also find t-shirts and clothing items as well as pet care items for next to nothing.
This isle usually has prices no higher than $2.00 most items are under $1.00 which is a steal if you can find things like what i see every time I check. They also hide some clearance in regular isles and you have to look for these sections. They usually have a yellow tag or red saying clearance. Most all items are marked down %50-90 off retail prices. You can really find some good stuff but think into the future here. Most items you can really stock up on. So if you ever run across something I did Gillette deodorant for men for $0.30 each go ahead and buy up as many as you can. It will pay off in the long run PLUS you are buying them for next to nothing. You can also snag some expensive face serums and such that are normally around $14.00 and up for a few bucks and most I have bought work very well for the small price I paid.  You CAN have your cake and eat it too when you read my blogs. I know I only mentioned two things so far I personally have bought but there are 100's more i didn't list that i have found as I have to still tell you about the other stores! 

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BIGLOTS

Now here I love b/c they have a shelf stable food clearance alot. You can but canned foods bags of pita chips and baby foods,pasta sauces (paul newman brand YUM) and many more items that can be stocked up on so you have a steady supply of them. Most prices there for clearance are under $1.00 for most items. The isle in my store is an endcap by the food isle and drinks. I have not seen much beauty or other items there but I have bought a lot of great food deals. I got some chips ahoy packs for a quarter each!! And once I found national arrowroot biscuits for my toddler for $0.10 a box. I bought all they had which was about 10 box's of them and they lasted him a while. It made me happy since now he had healthy snacks and I paid so little for them and he had them in supply for a while. Biglots has a variety of items but I would suggest going in and finding the clearance isle and checking t out once a week. I mean you cant NOT be happy buying items and being able to stock up for next to nothing. Bring home your glory and bestow it upon your family! You will be super mom the saver of money and the stocker of foods!
Biglots also has a regular clearance section usually by the furniture at the end of the toys section. Its OK as I have not found many deals there that were worth it but before christmas I found a Pod coffee system maker for $8.00. Not to shabby but could be cheaper! So venture in there and see if you find anything that you fancy and pick it up if you feel the price is reduced enough.
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WALMART

Ok, we not venture to good old walmart. Walmart usually has its clearance section open year round and you just have to find it. Ask an associate its that simple head that direction and get ready to save. A few weeks ago before Holidays I found some jars of cream bleach (for ladies) it was Jolen brand sells around $5.00 a tub I got mine for a QUARTER each so of course i bought ever one i could fince which was about 5 jars. They have a variety of health care items and makeups and also TOYS they have a ton of clearance toys those are great to buy up for birthdays and holidays or just to say thanks for being a great child. They are usually marked section per price there so pick your price starts at $1.00 can go up as high as $15 but if you can buy a $40 toy for $15 why not do it now and save for later?  Take your time and look around the clearance at walmart is cluttered and just a hodgepodge of STUFF. I have bought a lot of walmart clearance and always found great deals. If you know you go there for something check there first as you may find something very similar to what you came for and buy it almost FREE.

Now that you know where to look next time you go shopping be a clearance crusader like me! Your husband may scowl at you when you walk in with 10 bags but just show him the receipt and he will smile at you. Your taking great care of your family and providing them with things they may or may not have been able to have for next to nothing. This again leaves more money for the Bills and food. So live with bounty of what makes your family happy and you will smile inside knowing you saved probably around $100.00 per trip if you add what your items cost before clearance.
Just remember I only list a fraction of what they have so go and have a look around and find your treasures.
Please comment on what you have found and your deals if you go to some of the places I mentioned. If you cannot find the clearance ask an associate b/c they are there hiding I promise!

OH you can also buy this stuff and sell it for a little less than retail on e bay or craigslist and make money! If you find 10 perfumes for $7 each and they retail for $25 buy them up and sell them you can make $200.00 just right there!
Next we venture into INTERNET shopping with free shipping and clearance items and how to find them.

I spent all day thinking about this. How to live the "simple" life. There's nothing wrong with the simple life. We all get so caught up in being able to afford the most expensive toys that we forget to enjoy the toys. By the time we remember, it's too late. I came up with some tips to share on how to simplify our lives and save some money in the meantime. I always said my husband should have been an adult in the 1950s. He's so old fashioned. Doesn't think his wife should work, women shouldn't swear, and I should never contemplate getting a tattoo. I guess my point to that statement is that he thinks that back then, life was much more simple. I agree with him.

Remember when I said I needed to cut out the premium channels in my cable package to save some money? I thought about this all day and realized that I need to cancel my cable package altogether. Just call up and tell them "No, thank you." I'm going to invest in some board games for me and the kids. Too many Americans spend too much time in front of the tv. I rarely watch television and the kids could do without it. Just say goodbye to it and don't look back. Don't panic, you'll still have basic cable if you have a cable ready tv, but you won't have to go crazy with a $190 a month bill for channels you never watch. Invest in a VCR or DVD player and sign up for Netflix. I was spending $2.99 to rent movies from Comcast's On Demand service. At Netflix, movies are $1 each and they deliver them to your home with no shipping charges. That's a 200% savings right there.

Which brings me to family vacations. The last family vacation I went on is a blur. 3 or 4 days in Maine which was such a nightmare I think my subconscious has blocked out, to spare me more pain. The kids were 2 and 3, Maine broke a record that week for rainfall, and we stayed in our log cabin (pictured) in a town in the middle of nowhere. The closest hospital was 60 miles away. I'm from just north of Boston..NOTHING is 60 miles away. Buying that log cabin was not one of my smarter purchases. Either way, sometimes we don't truly "see" what is right in front of us. I was born in the first city in the United States to use water power. Lived here all of my life. Last year was the first time I ever took one of the free tours they offer. We took a boat down the Merrimack River, walked around inside of mills that are hundreds of years old, rode the trolley, and truly experienced history. The tours are offered by the National Park Service and are free of charge! Sometimes we don't see the beauty and history that's right under our noses. Check with the Travel and Tourism department in your state and see what hidden gems it has to offer. I just read that in Dillsburg, PA on New Year's Eve, instead of dropping a ball, they drop a huge dill pickle. I'd drive to see that. I don't need a plane ticket or a rental car or a limo to the airport if I'm staying in relatively close proximity to my home. All I need is my car and a hotel room. Huge savings. We all dream of these really exotic vacations..we daydream about Paris and Italy and Rome and Switzerland and the Caribbean and Aruba. What we don't daydream about is Mass and NH and ME and VT and NY. Which is a shame..because there's just so much here to see and do.

Family entertainment is no longer cheap..unless you're doing it right! I am a huge Red Sox fan (don't hate me, now). To take my small family of 4 to a game it would cost me about $300 between tickets, parking, food and souvenirs. Instead, look for things to do with your kids that are free or discounted. Boston Children's Museum is just an amazing place to take your kids. The regular price is $10 for adults and $8 for kids. It would cost me $36 for admission for us to take the kids there. On Friday nights I found out that it is $1 admission for everyone after 5pm. Now, we go on Friday nights. Nothing is different, you don't miss out on things because it's Friday night, you just save a lot of money. On Thursdays at the local library they have story hour. The kids love it and it's free. We have a Quilt Museum that has shows and exhibits and it is all free of charge. You just need to do a little bit of research on what you have near to you that you'd enjoy exploring. How about some bowling? I signed up with Brunswick Bowling for their newsletter and they send me some great coupons. Free bowling for an hour, highly discounted lane rates, etc. It's so funny to watch my kids learning to bowl. Don't forget library hour, either. Every Thursday at noon our local library has story time and cookie time. The kids all gather around while someone reads them a story and then they socialize and have cookies and punch. It's free. Doesn't cost anything and it's so great to see your kids interacting with other kids. Instead of an expensive meal at a restaurant with your kids, how about planning a picnic? My kids adore that. We have a lot of fun packing our picnic basket with foods we all love and finding a great spot to sit and eat. Sometimes, it's as simple as sitting on the big rock in our backyard. We lay our blanket out, unwrap our food and have a fun lunch. We don't disturb other patrons (a big no-no) and they learn how to help make their own lunch. Doing fun things doesn't have to cost anything. You can take half a loaf of bread (cost of about .50 cents) and go to your local pond or lake and feed the ducks. Saving money isn't about sitting in your home with the lights and heat off while you remember the "good ole days" of when you spent a quarter on a bag of chips. Being frugal just means being aware of where your money is going and how well you are spending it!

One quick tip on how to save on your electricity bill is laundry. Probably the chore I dread the most. I do love the smell of clothes that were hung out to dry. When we moved into our new house a couple of years ago, our "old" washer and dryer didn't have the newly required 5 prong plug. Instead of having my brother put a new plug on, my husband surprised me (Oh yes, yes he did) with a new front loading washer and dryer. I want to get as much mileage out of this as I can since he doesn't shop on sale and I almost fainted when I saw the price. So, during the spring and summer months I hang most of our clothes out to dry on a clothesline. Some of my best memories are helping my Nana hang out her clothes on the line with the basket and the clothespins. No one in my neighborhood hangs their clothes out..lol. I always make a remark like "Oh look honey, it's that nice young Boure couple hanging out their clothes. How passe." I save money on my electricity bill, it doesn't heat up my house in the summer making the a/c work harder and I'll get more life out of my dryer.

Thanks for all of the support and great comments you all leave! They are truly appreciated. Until next time....Happy Saving!

    So now that you are a pro at shopping online, why not earn some rewards for your business? My favorite rewards site is MyPoints. Just visit your favorite online retailers from this site and earn reward points. They can be cashed in for gift cards to your favorite stores, and  restaurants! Why not have a meal out on them?  

     Eating out? Of course you can eat out and still do it CHEAP! Check out Restaurant.com. I promise you it is for real. You will not believe your eyes! You can purchase $25.00 gift certificates for $10.00! Enter your email address and they will send you discount codes during sale events for as much as an additional 70% off the sale price. That makes a $25.00 gift certificate $3.00. Now who can beat that deal?

Happy 2008 to all of my Frugal Living followers. As I sit back and reflect upon my life this year, I find myself pondering how to simplify my life...not even so much for money, though it doesn't hurt, but for peace of mind. I find that I work and work and work so I can earn and earn and earn...but why? So I can have THE prettiest funeral because I didn't stop to enjoy what I'd earned? Well, anyone who knows me knows that I am a person who is determined to enjoy my life to the fullest. Oh, there will be the regrets one day of "I wish I had...or I really SHOULD have.." but well, that's because I'm a coward and as much as I want to try sky diving, I want to try crashing even less. I was thinking of ways to simplify my life and in the course of doing that, how could I save money? Here is what I came up with...

Cable television. I have one of those bundle packages where I get the phone,  internet and cable tv for one price. That price was SUPPOSED to be $99 a month for life. Typically, it was $99 for about 3 minutes and then it jumped to around $197.00 a month. I mean, come on, I'm paying that much for tv? So, I took out the bill and started to go through it. I was furious. They're charging me over $25 a month just for "rental" fees of their boxes. Oh, I don't THINK so. So, I pack up the 2 boxes we had and the 2 remotes and return them. Then I start looking at the "premium" services I'm paying for. I'm paying for movie channels that not only do I not watch, I don't even know who signed up for them. I rarely have time to watch a movie and if I have that much free time, I prefer to read a good book. So, cancel all of these lame channels that no one ever watches (except for Nickelodeon and Playhouse Disney, can't have a mutiny), and all of a sudden my bill is almost $90 a month cheaper. Basic cable costs pretty much nothing. Invest in a DVD recorder or even a VCR at Wal-Mart for around $25, and you've got a really decent yearly savings. Close to $1000 a year.

It's no secret that gas prices are astronomical. If you live in an area that has public transportation, invest in a monthly bus pass. I found out that for my personal car I was spending around $500 a month for gas. That's just ridiculous considering that I don't go far. I called the local MBTA and found out that a bus pass is $34 a month and there's no charge for kids under 5. So, if I bought 2 bus passes for me and the 2 kids, it's $68 a month for transportation costs. The kids get to ride the bus (a treat for them) and I am saving not only the wear and tear on my car, but $432 a month on gas. So, I figured that the savings for the year is $5184. That's a decent chunk of change to put in your piggy bank for a rainy day. If you don't live in an area that has reliable (that's very important when you have small kids) public transportation, how about buying some bicycles? Not only is it great exercise but it's a great way to spend some time with your family.

Have you heard about Freecycle.org? Freecycle is a group in your community that is dedicated to keeping unnecessary trash out of our landfills. We offer items that are in perfectly good condition, at no charge, so that we can also help our environment. Freecycle is a great way to save money. I have given away all of my kids' baby clothes, toys, computers, etc. In return, I have also gotten a television, some dress up clothes for my little girl and a laptop computer for my son. Freecycle is such a great organization where I live. You can save hundreds of dollars on items you'd buy just by posting a note to your local group that you are looking for something. When my Dad passed away unexpectedly we were left with so much of his stuff. We gave away his 2 wheelchairs, crutches, clothing with tags, etc. We saved someone a LOT of money...and that's what it's all about.

There is nothing I like more (other than chocolate) on a breezy summer morning than to get up, grab the newspaper, and see where the yard sales are. You can find some of the coolest stuff at yard sales for pennies. Some people don't like "used" items but I don't care. If I can clean it up and get some use out of it and save some money, then it's been a successful day. I can pay $25 for a new book at a large chain store or I can get up at 7am on a Sunday morning, armed with a purse full of dollar bills, and buy tons of books for a quarter a piece. I can also buy pictures for the walls, a sugar bowl to replace the one I dropped, and still not spend $5.

Phone service. Ok, I admit, I'm a sucker for a phone with a lot of buttons. I keep changing my cell plan. At this rate, I will have to live to be 112 years old to fulfill the terms of my contract..lol. Ever since phone companies were deregulated they're offering you everything but to come over and do the dialing for you. You could check around and compare pricing plans. I changed over from one company ::coughverizoncough:: to a different company and instead of $350 a month I am paying $138 a month. Sounds high but I have a LOT of lines here. Or, compare your monthly cell bill with your monthly land line bill and see which one has the better deal. Usually it's the cell..then consider just dumping your land line altogether.

Well, if I gave you all of my tips today you wouldn't come back, I'd miss you, there'd be no reason for me to be here, and I'd be sad...so, I'm going to hold onto some more of my tips until next time. Living a simple life isn't a bad thing. It's...simple. Until next time..Happy Saving!

The day after Christmas...ahhh, blessed silence. No more "Do They Know It's Christmas?" blasting from every Wal-mart speaker available, no more "Dear GOD, where do I PUT this food," or even "What was I thinking when I bought THIS?" The good news? We have leftovers and our favorite food group..say it with me...SALES!

I thought I was pretty well shopped out. What was I thinking? The day after Christmas I had to make a <gasp> return. I could have waited for a few days (weeks, months, whatever) but decided I'd check out what was out there.

Wal-Mart. Horrible. Their prices didn't come down one cent and if they did, it was on items that I wouldn't take home if they were free of charge. I wasn't impressed at all. Now, I know they claim rock bottom prices and for the most part, deliver on this. However, I'm thinking that their sales could have actually BEEN sales.

So, who does have some fantastic sales? Well, I headed over to Michael's Craft Store and they were having a huge 50% off sale! I bought the entire Cha-Cha
      Carnival Village for half off. It is such a fun and whimsical set of village pieces. They had 2008 calendars (I got the M&M one) for .50 cents. Yep, you read it right, .50 cents. The same calendar at Wal-Mart was $7.99. If you enjoy our crafting blogs they had so many crafting supplies for 70-90% off. It's a great way to get a jump on next year's shopping. Seriously. You can have most of your supplies for literally pennies on the dollar. Gotta hurry though..they were putting Valentine's Day merchandise out.

Speaking of chocolate...weren't we?...I found a Free Slim Fast Starter Kit and Pedometer with a retail value of $30. Just sign up and they'll send it to you in 2-4 weeks. If that doesn't work for you, that whole diet thing, how about a free 11 piece fondue set with ANY purchase from Brylane Home? Use code BKFONDUE at checkout. Their lowest item for sale is a $1.59 set of towels, $4.99 for shipping, so for around $6.58 you can get the towels AND the fondue maker. Very savvy to  spend on this! Makes a great gift or even keep it for yourself for when you entertain. I bought a very small chocolate fountain at Michael's by Hershey for $5 and I'm off to buy something at Brylane so I can get the free one.

How about a free baseball cap? Just head over to UniTech Safety Services and fill out the request. Code is 605.

I used a ton of aluminum foil over the holidays for cooking and baking. So, would you be interested in a free sample of Reynold's Parchment Paper? I love that stuff.

I also love to help people. I don't know, I get this charitable feeling every now and then and just want to go out and cure the ills and ails of the world. Country Crock  Spread is offering a free Amy Grant download if you go and tell them a story about how you helped someone out. Now, one of the best freebies in the world is doing a good deed for someone else. Talk about an uplifting freebie..count me in! OH..do you love free music? The legal kind of course. I mean, it's not like I'd advocate the use of Frostwire or anything like that. ::shakes head:: Nope, not me. Well, I'm a total Amazon.com freak. I love their stuff and I love their prices and their sales. They have a huge list of free MP3's available for download. I'm a product of the 80s so I'm not really "cool" anymore and don't know who half of these artists are, but hey, you might! And again, it's free.

Know anyone having a baby? Well, I am sure that you can count me out on that one. However, there are always some good and cute baby freebies out there. How about signing up for the Beech Nut Baby Food newsletter and getting a free bib? You can also sign up at Baby.com for a free downloadable manual called First Ten Days Guide. Who says that babies don't come with instructions? I remember how much I used to love the coupons I'd get from Pampers. Even saving a dollar or two here and there on diapers was a blessing. I had 2 kids, 16 months apart. Double diaper duty. Not pleasant. One thing I loved about being pregnant was the anticipation of everything. I love to read and I would read every magazine I could get my hands on. Two of my favorites were Baby Talk and American Baby. Sign up at their site and they will send you a free 1 year subscription to both! A lot of women are choosing to go with the bottle since they go back to work. I'm SO not going to get into the whole  "breast vs bottle" debate. I think we have political blogs here for that type of discussion. So, if you'd like a free sample of Enfamil formula, head over here for a sample of your choice! I also found this site that promises lot of freebies and milestone appropriate samples. Sign up at Babytobee.com and check it out. Can't verify this one for you, though. I'm a little past the age where I need to worry about babies. Which reminds me..sign up here for your menopause survival kit.

And on that note, I hope you've enjoyed todays coupons, tips and freebies. I have plenty more to share with you. Keep the comments coming! I love to read them and I get ideas and encouragement from all of you! Until next time...Happy Saving!

Happy 2008 my frugal friends!

     As the New Year approaches, why not make some changes for  you and your family that will result in saving  serious money?                                                   

     Now most people cringe when you mention living on a budget. It can be tough, it takes discipline and you have to be willing to commit to the change. But there are some simple money saving techniques that you can use and still enjoy your life. You can save money, be thrifty and still have fun! You don’t have to give up on restaurants and eating out. You don’t have to give up on movies, travel, fun and other forms of entertainment. You just have to do it the right way, you can eat cheap, travel cheap and most of all still enjoy your life! Now then… let’s save some CASH!         

 

Coupon Offers

 

Your biggest resource is at your very fingertips, your computer. The internet has made it possible to research 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Whether or not you like to shop, you still have to, so get the best discounts before you do.

 

If you shop online, make sure you have a coupon code to enter at the end of your order  for a discount and check for  FREE shipping codes.

Never pay for shipping unless you absolutely have to. If you have to buy a minimum amount it pays for you to do so, rather than pay for shipping.

 

These are a few websites for coupon codes.

Simply look up the name of the store to see all current discount offers.

www.couponmountain.com

www.couponheaven.com                                     

www.keycode.com

 

     If you shop in a store make sure you have a printed coupon that you either got in the mail, or printed from the store’s website or the links above. Think of the stores that you regularly visit. Sign up on their websites with your email address. You will get advanced notice of sales, and exclusive money saving coupons that do not go out to the public.

Hello lets face it, living cheap these days are a thing of the past, as we all know most Americans use coupons when grocery shopping to cut down on price, for this post we don't need to think about them. I will have many more posts for retail shopping and mass merchants so watch for those! We will also look at buying non food items for clearance and selling for profit in another post.This is my fist post to my blog so i apologize if it seems a bit rough. Something that will come in handy now that you are a reader of my blog is an extra freezer.You can check for a local Internet trading-selling group for a free or cheap freezer, old or new any kind will work, throw it in the garage or basement and get ready to fill it up. You will have a lot of groceries to store up when we are done! If this is not your ideal way to save on groceries come back for more ways in the future. 



    Today we are going on a journey to the supermarket in search of the elusive clearance and discontinued items! Some of these products are close to being expired but when you go home and put some meat in the freezer its usually expired by date anyways by the time you get to it! As long as it is frozen the day you buy it it will be just fine. The grocery cannot sell food that is not fit for human consumption, so if its still on the shelf consider it good. First what we need to do is make a general shopping list so you don't go overboard and buy a lot of what you don't need. Choose general categories such as snacks,breads,meats etc.. Keep in mind what your family will eat. Now lets step into your local grocery store and have a look around. The key here is to look, a good place to start is in the produce department. Here you have to keep and eye out for managers specials or similar tags. These products are usually marked with a bright tag and easy to spot once you look around a bit. They tend to be in the end of cases or displays. A few weeks ago I snagged up some dehydrated fruits in a small round deli style container in produce. Original price was $5.99 they were marked down to $0.25 a container, so you see that was a significant price drop. I bought a lot of them for my toddler to enjoy and that he did! You can also find a lot of nice snack like pre-cut fruits on clearance and bagged salad mix. With produce you cant usually freeze them but if you know your family will eat the fruit by its expiry date go ahead and grab some up! The possibilities are endless and that is just one department to look in.

 Moving on to meat department. Once again look at the ends of the cases for the managers special tags. Here is where you can really stock up and save and freeze the products you buy. You can find roasts and steaks for about %50-%70 off the original prices. A few weeks ago I got two new york strips original price was $9.00 per steak my price was around $4 each. I took them home and froze them immediately and thawed them when ready and oh were they yummy! You can usually find a good selection of meats that are not expired by any means yet very cheap. Now something i don't recommend is buying fish products that are on managers specials. If you smell the package and it smells of fish don't buy it. You want to pick fish that has little or no smell. I have found a few items that were acceptable but not many.

Now lets journey to the deli department. In the deli I would stay away from lunch meats as they tent to go bad very fast anyways but there is a lot there that you can still buy cheap! Look around for pre-packaged potato salads and deli style side's. They are usually good but use them within a few days of buying them and don't stock up to much on these items as they aren't usually freezable. You can also find fresh baked breads and rolls on clearance if you look around. Breads are freezable so stock up if you can. Also look for cookies and cakes, those are great because you can freeze them or if you need some snacks for a function buy them up and save a lot. Another great time to look is after Christmas or other holidays where themed holiday foods are being sold. After the holiday is over all the products go on sale very cheap.

Now some stores have a certain isle  or table for general clearance items like bagged snacks and wine's and candy. These areas also can have some hidden jewels for mom. You can find makeup or hair products, deodorant or some vitamins.

Baby isle is always a must check place. I have found diapers on clearance and also wipes but most important is baby foods. Some stores will stop carrying certain flavors and brands of baby foods so they put them on sale for very cheap to get rid of extra stock. A few weeks ago i found some berger graduates diced green beans for $0.13 a jar orig was nearly $0.50 a jar. So you know i cleared it out I looked at the expiry date and calculated how many jars i thought he would eat in a week and went by that. Then i looked up above that on top shelf and they had Oral B toddler tooth brushes with training toothpaste for $1.00 each they were pushing $6.00.

So as you see this is just a start to the world of pinching pennies to the maximum. Using these ideas will not only allow you and your family to save money you are able to eat more,spend less, have more money for bills and have name brand food instead of bland generics. In the end you can really save on food items and not even have to touch a coupon. Just set a trip twice a month to search for clearance foods, stock up and enjoy! Everyones local grocery will be different, but if you look you are bound to find some real hidden treasures! I hope you enjoyed my first post to my blog, now get out to the store for some AFTER holiday food shopping, grab up that %50 off pumpkin pie or some holiday cookies after all everyone likes some festive holiday foods for new years!

Thank you for reading and I hope you come back and learn even more of my methods for living cheap and happy!

We just bought around 5 products and already saved $50.93!!!!

First and foremost, let me wish you all a beautiful and merry Christmas!  I hope you've enjoyed time spent with your friends, family, and/or loved ones.  As for us, we had a grand evening and I look forward to gorging myself tomorrow on all the fabulous food!  Not to mention the leftovers - free food for nearly a week or more!  (*^_^*)

Get a head start on Christmas 2008 and save money on next year's expenses!  Every year I go shopping every few days or once per week at least, right after Christmas.  This is the best time to buy Christmas decorations, cards, and even gifts.

Christmas decorations usually start off at 25% off and gradually work their way to up to 90% off in some stores.  Some of my favorite finds are at drug stores, Like Walgreens and CVS.  Since these stores don't typically sell a high volume of seasonal items (compared to places such as Target or Wal-Mart), they have to give an even deeper discount to attempt to rid themselves of the extra stock.  I've snagged outdoor icicle lights for 50 cents per strand.  I've purchased an entire kitchen set including plates, cups, tablecloth, and accessories for under $10

Most places don't mark down typical greeting cards (like Hallmark cards purchased individually), but you can find good deals on the big boxed sets after the holidays.  Again, some of the best places to find these deals are the smaller type shops mentioned above.  I've easily bought hundreds of Christmas greeting cards for as cheap as 25 cents per box.

Last but certainly not least, you can get huge discounts on nearly any kind of gift set.  Keep in mind - the items in these gifts sets may be things that you could use around your home, or things you can put up for birthday gifts throughout the year.  For example, Wal-Mart always has several gift baskets and sets for sale during the holidays - baskets of toiletries, sets of hot sauces, cocoa and coffee lovers gift boxes, and so on.  Since these items are marketed more for the Christmas crowd, they are usually included in the big Christmas discounts, too.  I love buying these items and stashing them away - sometimes for gifts throughout the year and other times I will put them up for next Christmas!

I normally don't go until a few days after Christmas.  I may be frugal, but I don't like the huge shopping crowds you have to deal with in order to get first picks on the merchandise.  I usually wait a few days, then try to go back a few days later, etc.  I hate to pay 50% for something, only to see it drop down to 75% off a few days later.

Get out there & snag those deals!  I'm rooting for you!  (*^_^*)

     I have two favorite food groups. The first is chocolate and the other is "free." I spend a lot of time online searching for things and I invariably come across lots of free things that I can use. Companies love to send you their product to try it out so that you will then become one of their habitual consumers.

     So, I read a