My Princess turns 5 today. At 8:30am at this time 5 years ago, I almost died in childbirth. Not pleasant. I'm not letting it ruin my day, though. We had Gabrielle's birthday party and we had a blast! Lots of friends and family showed up and she got her Barbie Princess Corvette. God, I remember when she was in diapers! That link will give you a $5 off coupon on Pampers and wipes! Now, the beauty of it! Click on this link too and it is an additional $5 off of the Pampers and wipes! That's $10 off at all Target stores. That's an awesome deal.

Do you KNOW what kind of a mess a house full of small children can make? It looked like someone threw an atomic bomb inside of my house and ran..lol. So, I got out my Pledge Wipes free sample from filling out the questionnaire and no more fingerprints on the TV. It works well!

I get this thing in the mail that says "Celebrate Your Beauty Every Day." Ok, let's be realistic here for a minute. I work from home, I have 2 small kids, my clothes rarely match, I don't know if I remembered deodorant, and my husband filled up my Calgon Body Spray bottle with that Chloraseptic stuff that numbs your throat when you're sick. Wanna guess how I found THAT little gem out? Sign up there for a free sample of Ambi Skincare.

I was reading Woman's Day the other day and realized my free 1 year subscription was running out. So, I hopped online and found out if I join RewardsGold that I get another free year. I'm in!

I love free razors. Here's a free Schick Quattro. Just upload a picture, click on the razor, and it's yours. I love those razors. Or maybe I love the free part of it.

Gabby and Nick both love gum. They chew it for 3 tenths of a second and then swallow it. Starting July 1st you can text EXTRA to 467467 to get a sweet package of all four new Fruit Sensations flavors.

Is anyone in my audience getting married? I already took the plunge so this one isn't for me. If you join The Knot you will get a free wedding music CD.

I have normally dry skin. Here's a free sample of Clean & Clear for your skin! Here's a sample of Perfect 10 by Nice 'N Easy. It comes with coupons!

Do you have a Wet Seal store near you? I've never even heard of it but I have a coupon for a free tank shirt!

Now for the usual Walmart samples. They have BeneFiber, Creme Serum from Frizz-Ease, Multi-Grain Cheerios, Playtex Cloths, and Playtex Gentle Glide tampons.

I have a free sample of True Lemon. I bought this once in the grocery store. Love it!

As always, you need to join StartSampling.com and get in on their awesome coupons. There are coupons for Windex, Chex Mix, juice, Yoplait yogurt, Wisk, you name it, there's a printable coupon there for it. I saved $41.25 on groceries last week just by using coupons. They even have a buy one Dove ice cream bar, get one free. Oh yeah, that's what I'm talking about!

I have a free No Fear bumper sticker. My husband doesn't let me put bumper stickers on my car. Too bad, I think the Caddy would look sharp with some of them. If I put one on my car he'd make me scrub it off. Good thing I have a coupon for Scotch-Brite!

I even have a coupon for Spike today..lol! I have a free tube of Advantage Multi for the dog. Bring it to your vet to redeem!

Well, that's all I have for now. I didn't want to bore you with funny kid stories this time. Oh ok, don't twist my arm. Nick hates chicken with a passion. Last week my Mom is sitting at her desk eating a bowl of ice cream. He says to her "What are you eating, Grandma?" She says, teasingly, I promise you, "Oh, it's chicken, Nick." He says "That's not chicken, it's ice cream. I want a bite." So, she gives him a bite. Gabby comes into the office and says "Nick, do you have ice cream?" That boy looks her straight in the eye and says "No Gab, it's chicken. Yuck." I don't think she was buying it..lol.

Remember, dial 1-800-2ChaCha to ask your free questions or text ChaCha at 242242. It's the best money you'll never spend for the best service you'll ever get. Until next time...Happy Saving! Happy Birthday My Beautiful Princess. I love you!

$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!

I bet you're wondering where I've been. I'm not usually so unreliable. I apologize to my faithful readers, the ChaCha administration who had faith in me to be a blogger, and everyone else that feels slighted. So, my husband had the audacity to have a heart attack last week. I know that I sound oh so blase about it, but, that's the best way for me to deal with it right now. I've blogged about how my husband doesn't read my blog, he lost our son at Water Country, he probably doesn't remember what day we got married, etc. In the grand scheme of life, it doesn't matter. If he never read my blog (but WHY doesn't he?) or if he couldn't remember my middle name, it wouldn't matter to me. For several days I didn't know if he'd  be coming home. For several hours I didn't know if he'd live. When I put it all in perspective, it's the fringe things that aren't important. I had such an epiphany tonight. I was sorting his medication for the week and I keep the list on the refrigerator of what he takes and how many milligrams. Next to it I hang Nick's art work from kindergarten. Tonight I stood there and sobbed. I realized that I'm 37 years old and I was almost a widow with 2 small kids. Scary stuff! I thought to myself "How will I support us?' It came to me...freebies..lol! Nah, but let me get you some.

I lost my eyeglasses..again. I'm notorious for this. I usually pay about $250 for designer frames. What a waste. Head over to Zenni Optical and if you send them your prescription you can get a full set of eyeglasses for $8. I kid you not. I'm going to order myself 2 pairs this week!

One of the most important things that Chris needs to do is to eat healthier. It's not one of my favorite things lately but I'm willing to give it a shot. You can go to Bragg Natural Foods and request a free sample of their new amino products. Sounds gross to me but it's free. I have an awesome deal that I can't help but pass on. If you go to Amazon.com you can get a $20 instant rebate on Kellogg's food when you spend $49. So you get about $50 worth of food for $29, with FREE shipping. In today's economy, $20 worth of food is a huge savings.

Ok...I just typed out this freaking awesome post for all of you. I hit one wrong button and the whole thing is GONE. Kaput. Vanished. I'm out of my mind. I'm going to redo it just for you but let me tell you, it's a LOT of work. ::sigh:: I had so many fantastic freebies. Let's see if I can recreate it.

Here's a free sample of Teddy Grahams. Good for a lunchbox or even a snack at home.

Here's an awesome freebie from Office Depot. It's a free 10 pack of DVD+R Media disks. Just sign up!

Here's a free sample of  Snuggle. I love this bear, he's just so cute.

I have a free sample of Splenda for coffee. It comes in flavors now. My Mom is diabetic and swears by this stuff. I am not and I swear by good old fashioned sugar!!

Take this survey and get a coupon booklet and free apron! This one is from Coleman's Meats and they're organic.

Trust me when I say, I've had a perpetual headache for over a week now. Here's a free sample of Excedrin. I should sign up 200 times for a full bottle at this point..lol.

One of life's embarrassing necessities..but hey, it's free. Here is a sample of Playtex Gentle Glide. Since we're on the topic of embarrassing, how about a  Huggies Pull Up sample. My "baby" will be 5 in June so I will not need to sign up for that one. Woooohoooo.

Very cool sample of Crystal Light Immunity! I let my kids drink as much Crystal Light as they like since it's sugar free!

Free sample of Ban deodorant. It's summertime so I'm ordering every free deodorant I can find!

I love new flavors and styles of toothpaste. Here is a Colgate Max Fresh sample. This looks really good, actually.

How about 50 free digital camera prints? Sign up at Picturewagon.com and use code Parent50!

Here's a cute freebie. It's a free coffee mug that says "It's A Jungle Out There."

My son is 6. He loves to get mail. So, I sign him up for magazines. I have a free 1 year subscription to Electronic Gaming. He can't read but like most men, he likes to look at the pictures.

Here's an awesome freebie. You can choose 1 of 8 free music CDs. You can use UPC codes 681421031035, 312547684101, or 312547686655.

I'm a total dork about some things. I love maps and brochures about places I've never been. Here is a free America's Byways map.

Ok, it's time for me to get ready for the Indy 500! There's a contest this weekend on ChaCha that I intend to win. Everyone, have a safe Memorial Day weekend. Don't drink and drive, take a taxi, I need the money! Remember, for FREE directions, trivia, sports, news, sales, and everything else, dial 1-800-2ChaCha or text 242242 from your cell! Until next time...Happy Saving!

So,  a mini update of my Hatfields & McCoys family. I'm still in touch with my sister in law. We're not exactly long-lost but I'm making the effort and so is she. Only time will tell.

I have lots of freebies and samples for you. I'm going to jump right in and get them and then I'll give you your much needed funny story fix that I know you really come here for.

Free samples of 5 flavors of Dunkin Donuts coffee. I only drink decaf, though. Can you picture ME with caffeine? ::shudder:: Perish the thought!

Free sample of Oxyfresh Toothpaste. Gotta get rid of the coffee stains, right?

Y'know those new rolls of toilet paper that are so big that they don't fit on a standard roller? Well, Charmin has a free toilet paper extender for you! I always loved Mr. Whipple when he said "Don't squeeze the Charmin."

REACH is offering a free personal flosser. It's great for the office or the car. I mean, who doesn't floss their teeth while driving 85 mph down a highway in rush hour traffic? It's still a good find though!

Sign up for a free 14 day supply of Nature Made Softgel Vitamins. I should order these, I am so Iron deficient that the doctor told me not to bother with a supplement. He said that even if I took the maximum dosage, it wouldn't bring mine up to acceptable levels. How comforting.

Remember, I love cookbooks. I bought one at a farmer's market in Boston last week. Can't wait to use it. Here is a free Bean Recipe Book from Bush's! Since I'm doing recipes and cookbooks, let me throw in a free issue of Cooking Light.

Ok, this one is useful. A free Child Safe Kit. There is nothing so scary in life as thinking you've lost your child. I misplace my car keys, I lose the remote to my TV, I have even left my purse in a carriage and left the store. Big deal. Last year my husband (can you believe he's STILL my husband?) misplaced our son at Water Country. They were floating down Lazy River and Chris went one way and Nick went the other. I see Chris come around but I don't see Nick. I say to him "Where's Nick?" He said "OH, he was just with me. I must've left him behind." You MORON. Ok, Mommy Survival Mode kicks in. You ain't seen NOTHING until you've seen a 5' woman running (I kid you not) through Lazy River. No floats, just running. I finally find him after 10 minutes just kind of swimming around waiting for me. I burst into tears and he's like "Wassamatta Mommy? Nicky is swimming." I congratulate him for not drowning or going with strangers (Thank you, God)..I threaten to divorce my husband, and the rest of the day was relatively normal. Unless you count the fact that I went into the wave pool with my cell phone in my pocket. Cell phones don't like water, in case you're wondering. 3rd one that month. Verizon actually told me I'd maxed out my insurance policy and had to buy another one at full price. HA. My contract was over. I went with Nextel. Either way, sign your child up. God forbid we ever need these things, but better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

Who doesn't love Legos? I still love them. I love seeing the masterpieces created by some people. Now that's dedication. I have a free 2 year subscription to Lego Magazine!

Ok, a rule of thumb that I learned early on while scouring for freebies is to ignore the sites that are all Google ads. They're usually just harvesting sites for your email address. However, I took a chance and signed up for these 2. They both came!
Free beer mug and free USB.

I love Caress Exotic Oil Infusions body wash. It smells amazing and it makes my skin so soft. I like the Asian one. Get your free sample!

Well, that's about it for today. I'm working like a maniac lately..I actually have a job. Most people think I sit around eating bonbons and doing my nails. I actually work, but don't let it get around, it's bad for my reputation. My husband always says "Honey, if you want to cheat on me, don't make him crawl through the bathroom window, if he can afford YOU, let him in the front door. It's only polite." LOL! He'd be so lucky to get rid of me.

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!

::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!

I'm back with some freebies, samples and coupons..You missed me, didn't you? I know you did..it's okay, you can admit it..my blog can be your secret guilty pleasure. Kind of like my secret passion for flavored Tootsie Rolls. I love those things..anyhow..let's get on to some rockin' savings!

We'll start with coupons. Here's a bunch from Baker's Square for free pie! Delish. Just print it out and you're good to go. Someone let me know how it is, we don't have that around here. Bummer, I'm always up for free pie. We do have an Auntie Anne's and that's great news since they're giving away a free pretzel, no strings attached! If you spend money at Office Depot then you can use this coupon for $5 any purchase over $25. I'm not a big fan of Target, I rarely shop there. However, I just found some great printable coupons for their store. Definitely check it out. I don't shop in bulk because I tend to forget what I bought, it goes bad or I don't like it by the time I get to it. I do love shopping at BJ's though. They have some really great deals. You should print out this free one day shopping pass and see what they have to offer.

I love to read..I am a voracious reader. I love Borders. Here is a 20% off coupon for you! I also love to take the kids to Build-A-Bear. Have you seen their prices? I think they build 'em with solid gold. So, here's a $5 off $25 purchase. That's as good as gold. If you like Carter's and you sign up for their site you get a 20% off coupon good for one item. Sweet! After we build our bear we head on over to Baskin Robbins for a hot fudge sundae. Coupon is good for buy one get one FREE..YUMMY! So, if the kids were good we can go hit KB Toys. If you sign up here you get a $5 coupon. If you're tired from spending the day with the kids you should stop and grab dinner. My first choice for fast food is KFC. I heart KFC. Put your zip code in and it will give you all available printable coupons in your area. Join the T.G.I. Friday's online club and get a printable coupon for a free appetizer. I love appetizers, too. Ok, a few more food printable coupons for you. I can't help myself, I am SO hungry now. Coldstone Creamery is buy one get one free when you join their email club. Free ice cream is just..dreamy. Little Caeser's has a coupon for a combo for $1.99 when you sign up and buy a pizza. Ok, I gotta get out of the food section, there's nothing to munch on here and I'm going to eat my monitor. Let's talk cars.

Here are some printable coupons for Goodyear Tires. It's a $10 off coupon for any service over $100. I personally don't like Goodyear, got lousy service once, but savings are savings.  Midas has a printable $10 off any $50 service. Or you can take advantage of $5 off an oil change.

Valentine's Day is coming so around here that means...Picture Time! Yes, it's that time of year where we dress up the lil darlins and pretend that they are normal and well-behaved kids. We send the pictures to Grandma and she thinks they're the sweetest kids in the world. Poor, misguided Grandma. Sears has a free wall portrait or a sheet of wallet photos for $2.99 with coupon. There's also JC Penney. Sign up here and get portrait coupons. If you want to suprise your honey with a photo of you, head on over to Glamour Shots. Sign up online for the appointment and get a free $175 package. The words Kerry and Glamour just don't go together. They don't even sound good in the same sentence. Hope you can use it though! I love Picture People! Here is a Valentine's special. Free 8x10 or 11x13.  Big savings!

Quick Brylane Home update: Use code BKSET and receive a free 10 piece salad set with ANY purchase. I ordered something and it's so summery and pretty. Well worth the cost..oh wait, it was FREE. Definitely worth the cost! I'll throw some free samples in, too. I love free samples. Here's a free sample of Caramel Fiber One cereal. Just sign up. If you sign up here you get a free floater keychain. The price is right. Free kids show dvd from Mom's World. I got this freebie and it's awesome! It's a free laptop or tower skin from HP. I am a big fan of HP products so this was a particularly great score for me.

So, again, we've had a ball and found some super savings! I certainly hope this is beneficial for all of you. I thought my vacation blog was boooorrrring. I mean, yeah, we saved money, but it doesn't come in the mailbox every day like our samples and coupons! I will post again this week and keep you all up to speed. Or feel free to call me at 242242! Until then...Happy Saving!

Sorry it took me so long to get back with you! The textChaCha has been a huge hit and I've been so busy with it. Remember, for FREE you can text 242242 and get any question answered that you need..we're here for you 24/7.  Ok, back to vacation planning.....

So, we have our airline and we have our hotel..I decided on the Runaway. It just looks so awesome. Granted, it's probably not the most frugal option but it IS a vacation, so I can afford to spend a few more of my saved pennies. So, the epitome of Florida is Mickey Mouse. The prices are OUT RAGE OUS..say it loud with me..OUT RAGE OUS. It's a necessary evil though. I happen to have my own little princess who is dying to see the Magic Castle. There are actually ways to save money on Disney tickets though. Truth be told, I think my kids are going to want to see Sea World a lot more! So, here we go with Disney World tickets. I first went directly to the Disney World official site. The cost for all of us, 2 adults and 2 kids, for a 2 day ticket is a whopping $512. I'm in the wrong business. Maybe I could open up a theme park with a singing moose and make a fortune. So, I head over to Orlando FunTickets and find that I can get my tickets at a discounted rate! More days, less cost. I don't think I want to spend 3 days in Disney though. It's a little bit of overkill. Another great site for discounted Disney Tickets is Know Before U Go. I found some great sale prices. One other thing that you can do is when you get to Orlando, if you stop at any of the hundreds of kiosks that are selling time shares, sign up, go to a 1 hour demo and they give you a 4 pack of FREE Disney World tickets. That's what I did last time. It was just my husband and I but we had a great time at the presentation (major AC) and we got our free Disney tickets.

Like I said, I can't wait to take the kids to Sea World! It was the highlight of my last trip to Orlando. So, let's see how much the tickets are for that. I head over to the official Sea World site. For all 4 of us it is $231.80! WOOHOO, great price..AND, with a 7 day advance purchase we can get a free day. So, we get 4 2-day passes for $231.80. I love it and so will the kids. We can also upgrade for a couple of hundred dollars more and get Park Hopper passes that will also get us into Wet N Wild and Universal Studios. I'll check their prices. I loved Wet N Wild and Universal bored me. It's only fair to find out though how much it would be. So, Wet N Wild will cost us $157.42 for the day for all 4 of us. Still sounds like fun and I spend that much to take the kids to Water Country up in New Hampshire. The good news is that you can very often find coupon and promo codes online prior to going and you can get the tickets for around $30 each! So, it could be as low as $120 for the day.

So, how are we going to get around while in Orlando? The obvious answer is rental car. But, you could probably skip that and either walk or take a taxi (shameless plug) while down there. It depends how far your hotel is from major attractions. We rented a car while down there the last time and I don't think we put 70 miles on it in 7 days. Such a waste at $50 a day and it was ugly neon green. I checked out the taxi service available and I am duly impressed. You can go to Orlando Sanford Taxi and find out all of the prices and amenities. 9 passengers can ride for the price of 1. When we were there last time we used Payless Car Rental. The price was fair and I shouldn't complain. It's live and learn. A good site to use is Rental Car Momma. This site has a list of all available discounts and coupons for rental cars. Check it out!

I recommend eating off property at any of these places. Go right after breakfast and leave before dinner. You can find many many family friendly restaurants available right on International Drive in Orlando. I think our best meal there was at Bennigan's.  Many of the chain restaurants have an inexpensive buffet which will satisfy everyone in the family or the have "Kids Eat Free." Free is always an excellent meal. One in particular jumped out at me..Gator's Dockside. Kids eat free on Tuesday nights. Great menu for everyone. I know IHOP also has a day where "Kids Eat Free." So, we've saved money on airlines, hotels, rental cars, taxis, food, and attraction tickets. OHHH, you should check this out..if you go without kids..last time I was there I saw a poster that said "Call 1-800-Roll-711." We called..it's a free gambling cruise. The bus picks you up for free and takes you down to Coco Beach for a gambling cruise..includes dinner! I lost a ton of cash but it was my own fault..lol. Children are NOT allowed. Until next time, keep textingChaCha and Happy Saving!

     I have been married for almost 7 years to the love of my life. Though he and I are both pretty traditional, we decided not to ask my parents to pay for our wedding. Besides, we were both older (31 and 36 respectively) and felt that we should pay for our own wedding. When we first met and went into business together we were broke. I mean, the kind of broke that defies words...should we eat this week or pay to keep the office phone on kind of broke. So, even though we owned 1 taxi company at the time, it was stumbling. It was holding its own but not enough to pay for the wedding of my dreams. Luckily my dreams changed throughout the process. We had the perfect wedding, for US, and I kept the cost down to a little under $2300..for 300 people!

     First, the centerpiece in any wedding is the bride. Or should I say the bride's gown? I found the gown I wanted but it was almost $3000. Not going to happen. So, I started looking and ended up at David's Bridal. They were having an awesome sale. Instead of paying $3000 for the wedding dress of my dreams, I changed my dreams a little bit and got an awesome gown for $175. It was just amazing. They have seasonal sales and I was a June bride. So, if you're looking for an amazing gown on the cheap, definitely check them out. My dress looked very similar to the one shown and that is not me.

     Another very expensive aspect of getting married is the reception hall. Now, a lot of women want to have their reception at a big fancy hotel. More power to you! For me, I didn't care about where it was as long as I was surrounded by the people I loved and cared about. Corny, yes. Truthful, yes. We called around for prices and the least expensive hotel wanted $2100 for 4 hours. Uh, no thank you. So, I called around and got the Knights of Columbus. We had an unlimited amount of hours there, could decorate it any way we wanted, could accomodate all of our guests, for the low price of...$50. I jumped on it. We were supposed to get married in my husband's parents' gardens but that morning it started to rain (which my Dad assured me was good luck). I was NOT about to go traipsing through a muddy garden with a huge white wedding gown and white high heels (bought at Payless Shoe Store for $12.99)..so, that morning we (me and my bridesmaids) moved everything that we had for the wedding in the garden over to the reception hall. Piece of cake. Another great suggestion is a public park that has a gazebo. Most of them are run by your city and are very happy to allow weddings there. I've seen some amazing public parks. Check with your local city or town hall, make sure you have all applicable permits, and pray for no rain. The cost in the park is usually from $0-$25. Not bad at all.

     The photographer. Ahh, the bane of my existence. They few that we called wanted around $750. Well, no. I decided to involve everyone into the fun. I had something like 40 tables. I put 2 disposable cameras on each table and asked guests to please enjoy the use of them for the wedding so that we could capture our day through everyone's eyes. I got some really fantastic photos. I also got some really funny photos that I am hoping no one on this planet will ever see. It was so great. For about 2 months after I'd get at least 1 set of pictures per week and get to relive the experience all over again. I don't suggest using a digital camera. Someone at my wedding took what would have been great pictures but the battery was dying so they're blurry. Not worth it. I paid $3 each for a 24 exposure disposable camera..so, total cost of my photos was around $275. I did offer to pay everyone for the developing fees but not one person would take me up on it. So, I saved around $550 right there.

     The DJ. Well, my experience was a little different and I can't offer too many tips. My brother's good friend is a DJ and my brother is an electrician. He had done some work for the DJ and in return, he worked my wedding for $50. Matter of fact, he wouldn't even take the $50. He did a great job, too. I say you look in your local paper and find ads from local DJ's looking for work. Most of them are more than willing to negotiate the price because they're trying to make a name for themselves. Remember to be fair though. Everyone is trying to make a living and save some money, there's no reason to be downright Scroogey.

     The flowers were another challenge. One of my friends has a relative that owns a large chain florist shop. She offered to get me a discount. So, I went and talked to the man and he wanted huge money..well over $800 for my bouquet, flowers for the hall, my bridesmaids, both Mom's, buttonieres, etc. I couldn't imagine paying that much for flowers. So, I went to a smaller local florist. The bouquet I wanted was around $150 and had blue roses. Her and I discussed it and if I agreed to ditch the roses and go with carnations she's bring the price down to $45. Sold. For buttonieres, she sprayed a carnation for all the groomsmen and the groom (like the men cared) for $2 a piece, roses for our Mom's (no compromising there) and my bridesmaids really wanted to carry Calla Lillies. There weren't any available here then. We went to Michael's Crafts and they sold plastic calla lillies for $1.75 each. So, my bridesmaids got what they wanted, got to keep them as a keepsake, and I again got out of it relatively cheap.

 

     The food was relatively inexpensive also. My entire family pitched in and made almost everything. We decided we'd do buffet style so people could help themselves. Go ahead, I dare anyone to tell me that you've been to a big fancy wedding where you're served chicken or prime rib and actually liked it. Yuck. Plastic tasting and it takes forever. I'm a pretty casual person and wanted everyone to be comfortable. So, we had meat platters and hot foods and finger sandwiches and everything else in between. I would say that to feed all 300 people (I didn't eat, I was a bag of nerves working the room) the cost was around $500. My favorite part was the platter on the end of the buffet with the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids. There's nothing worse than spending $100 a plate only to hear your sweet niece say "dis is disGUSTing." Also, hungry children are overactive children. I wanted to make sure they were suitably fed if they didn't like the other 100 choices of foods.

Invitations can be expensive also. If you want that really heavy paper with all of the fancy writing you're going to pay top dollar. Instead, I went to a local printing company and for 200 invitations I think I paid $30..and I had found a 10% off coupon in my local newspaper. You can also check out Vista Print . They are always offering free this and free that if you just pay the shipping. Very reliable also. I order my business cards from them.

     What's a wedding without a cake? Then again, what's any day of the week without a cake? I found the cake I always imagined..with a price I wouldn't pay on a bet. My mother-in-law to be had gone to Sam's Club for something and stopped in the bakery. She was talking about our wedding and one of the baker's mentioned that she did wedding cakes on the side. Sam's Club was well aware and even allowed her to advertise which surprised me. I met with her and showed her the cake I had wanted. She told me she could recreate it and instead of $1200 she would charge me $300. It was a very fair price. Check with local bakers first. People in your community are always willing to drop the price a little bit and hope it will drive more customers to them. I was very satisfied with my cake. I got a lot of compliments on it and people were impressed. Don't pay outrageous money for a cake. In 2 hours, after you've gotten it, it will be gone because someone ATE it.

     Wedding favors. Don't go nuts with them. Be truthful to yourself. How many wedding favors have you gotten over the years that you still have? I don't even have one from my OWN wedding. I went to Michael's again, they have a 40% off coupon in every Sunday newspaper, and bought little clay pots. They looked like flower pots. We wrote on the outside in blue "Today I married my best friend. Kerry and Chris. June 3, 2001." Then we bought some of that netting and those really gross nuts that people give at weddings. Put the almonds in the netting, tied it with a blue ribbon ($1 a roll at Family Dollar), put it in the clay pot, and voila, 300 wedding souvenirs. The clay pots were .13 cents each, the toile (is that the right name?) was around $10, and the nuts..don't remember. They weren't cheap, but they weren't good either.

     Ok, here is my best piece of wedding advice. Do not skimp on the videographer. I did and it is the ONLY regret I have about my wedding. My sister in law and one of my friends offered to video our wedding. I should've known better. She missed the high points, I heard her say "Oh MY, she's put on a few pounds, hasn't she) and the quality was poor. I don't care how much they want, pay them. You'll never regret it.

     Did I cover everything? I think so. If not, and you want to know more, please feel free to leave me a comment and I'll answer your questions. Did you enjoy my wedding? I surely did. I didn't go broke, had enough money to go on the honeymoon of my dreams, and I remained debt free to do it. My best friend had a $50,000 wedding where only about 30 of us actually showed (it was in the midwest) and filed for divorce 2 weeks later. I don't think her parents are done paying off her wedding and this is going on 18 years. There's just no reason. If you want the whole Cinderella wedding, you'll pay for it. If you want the Cinderella wedding and you're willing to make a few compromises, you'll actually come out of it as a true Princess. Until next time...Happy Saving!

I am the original Heat Miser. I absolutely hate to be cold. It's always a battle of the wills here in this house for how high the thermostat will go. I have had to fill up my oil tank 3 times since August. The last time it cost me $632 to fill the tank. YIKES. So, I've compiled some tips for weather proofing your house so that you get the most for your money.

"According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), a typical homeowner in the Northeast — where 32% of homes use heating oil — can expect to spend an average of $1,559 this winter season, a 6.7% increase over last year. Homeowners using natural gas will spend 9.7% less than last year, bringing the winter tally to $1,117."

*Schedule a Check-Up

Regardless of the type of heating system you have, it needs an annual checkup by a professional, says Wendy Reed, an Energy Star spokeswoman and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency official. "It's like having your car tuned up," she says. "It's absolutely necessary maintenance that needs to be done on your system. Otherwise it will continue to lose efficiency over time." A small fee upfront will help avoid bigger costs down the line. And annual checkups are also an important safety precaution.

*Buy a Programmable Thermostat

I like certain rooms in my home very warm (ok, hot, but I won't actually admit it) and certain rooms in my home a little bit cooler. With a programmable thermostat I can set each room to a particular temperature. So, since no one is upstairs during the day, there's no reason for me to keep the temperature set at 72 up there.

Installing a programmable thermostat shouldn't set you back more than $150 — and you can quickly recoup your costs. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, you can slash your heating and cooling bills by 10% annually just by turning your thermostat down 10 to 15 degrees for eight hours a day.

*Plug Leaks

You can stand in front of a window in your house with a lighter or a lit incense stick and watch to see if the smoke or flame goes horizontal. If it does, you have a leak. My house is brand new. It was built one month prior to moving in. The first cold snap we had, I couldn't figure out why my office was freezing. I mean, the kind of cold where you can't type because your fingers are numb. Out of oil? Nope. Window open? Nope. I live in Alaska? Nope. So, I start wandering around the office and I get to the closet. As I get closer, my toes get more numb. I throw open the door like a shower scene from Psycho, and lo and behold, there is NO carpeting on the floor in there. The cold air is pouring in. So, off to Home Depot, buy an $8 piece of carpet, slap it in the closet (Bob Villa I'm not), and within an hour, I could turn the heat down 5 degrees. You can buy caulking and weather stripping for your doors and windows. It makes a world of difference.

*Add Insulation

Most houses that are over 20 years have either inferior or missing insulation. Due to the fact that heat rises, most people lose their heat straight out of their attic. Make sure your house has insulation. Not only does this save you money in the winter with heat, it helps to keep it cooler in the summer and you'll spend less on your electricity bill with the a/c's going full blast.

*Upgrade Your Appliances

If your appliances are as old as your kids, and THEY have kids, it's time to upgrade. You can buy the new Energy Star appliances that guarantee you'll save at least 15%. You are also eligible for a $150 tax credit for energy-efficient purchases. The tax-credit info is really confusing so you'll probably need to ask your accountant about it.

There is no reason that you should sit around this winter, bundled in extra clothing, to save money on heat. In this country no one should ever have to decide between a tank of oil or food and clothing. If you find that you just run short this year and truly can't figure out how you're going to have oil/heat during the cold winter months, help IS available. You can go to ACF.HHS.gov and apply for some fuel assistance. In Massachusetts you can call 1-800-Joe4Oil or contact MassResources.org for help. This help is available in most states. Doing a quick online search (you can use ChaCha.com and choose Search With a Guide) will bring up results for your particular state. There is no need to suffer in silence.

I hope these money saving tips were helpful. How about some of you leave me some comments and let me know what YOU'D like to see savings for. I'm off for the next day..I have a serious date with a casino to spend some of my savings. Until then...Happy Saving!

 

*Please note, I explained that I compiled these tips from other sources. I'm not THAT smart. You can thank SmartMoney Magazine for their in depth research on this topic.