CREATIVE WRAPPING 2

Whenever I would get an item that wasn't a perfect square, I would get creative with the wrapping of it. One of my favorite is making my gift look like a piece of candy. Also, whenever I didn't have tape handy, I would use this same method of wrapping. Do you remember the strawberry candy, where it was twisted at the top? This is the same look we are going for.

You will need:

-your gift
-wrapping paper
-yarn or pipe cleaner
-scissors

1. Cut out the wrapping paper need. Leave plenty of space on every part of it.
2. Place gift in the middle of the wrapping paper.
3. Lift up all the sides around it.
4. Twist all the paper together

5. Cut a piece of year or pipe cleaner to any size you please
6. Tie the twisted gift wrap paper.
7. Depending on how big the gift is, leave about 2in - 10 in of paper hanging on the edges (this is really based on your preference.)
8. Any excess paper over 2in-10 in, cut it off.
9. Fix paper until satisfied with the final look.

FREE SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER

FREE FULL-SIZED bottles of our Aveeno NEW NOURISH+ REVITALIZE Shampoo and Conditioner for the 1st 1000 http://www.startsampling.com/sm/1...63&source=

HURRY!! Don't miss your chance!

CREATIVE WRAPPING 1

Whenever I would get an item that wasn't a perfect square, I would get creative with the wrapping of it. One of my favorite is making my gift look like a piece of candy. Also, whenever I didn't have tape handy, I would use this same method of wrapping.

You will need:

-your gift

-wrapping paper

-yarn or pipe cleaner

-scissors

1. Cut out the wrapping paper need. Leave plenty of space on every part of it.

2. Place gift in the middle of the paper on the very edge

3. Start rolling up the gift wrap with the gift inside

4. On one side right above the gift start twisting the paper

5. Cut a piece of year or pipe cleaner to any size you please

6. Tie the twisted gift wrap paper.

7. Repeat steps 4-6 on the other side

8. Depending on how big the gift is, leave about 2in - 10 in of paper hanging on the edges

9. Any excess paper over 2in-10 in, cut it off.

10. Fix paper until satified with the final look.

REDBOX CODE 3/30/09

Today's redbox code is:
89ZQJ3

Enjoy!

FREE FRIENDLY'S TREATS

Friendly's BFF Club - Free Ice Cream


Become our New Best Friend today and receive:

• A Free 3-Scoop Sundae just for enrolling
• Birthday offers for you and your family
• Information on special events
• Announcements of new products and new menu items
• Newsletters and more!

https://secure.friendlys.com/bff/

You'll get an e-mail with a coupon for a free 3-scoop ice cream after you sign up. Expires 4/24/2009 or depending when you sign up.

You can also add your other household members birthdays so they can get free ice cream on their birth days.

CHANGING CAR OIL

Cutting down your expenses don't have to stop at household, and shopping. Even your car can be a way to cut down expenses. A person can change their own oil for a lot cheaper then it costs to go somewhere to get the oil change. My husband changes the oil in both of our cars, and has done so since we got married. He even changes the oil sometimes in my brother's car, and my parents cars.

Now I know you might be thinking, well how will I remember to change my oil when it is time. Pennzoil is giving away free stickers for you to remember when to change your own oil. They send you so many stickers, that it should last a lifetime.

To get more information on the free stickers go to:
http://www.pennzoil.com/site/contact.html

Just send an email to pen@cgilink.com requesting free stickers with your name an address and within a few weeks you will receive a ton of stickers.

FREE 8x10 (CANON)

Free print, anyone?? Get a Free 8x10 from Canon!!

http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=1255193&u2=http://www.trymyphoto.com/public/UserLogin.aspx?RedirectUrl=FreeSample.aspx

This is a really neat site to check out. You sign up for an account, which is free. Then you upload any picture you want. They will send you a free 8 x 10 from the canon printer of your choice. Currently there is only 3 printers to choose from. It takes one to two weeks to receive your print. The point for them is to let you see how great there printer is, but it is still a awesome quality a free print.

FREE V.S. LOTION

FREE LOTION FROM VICTORIA SECRET!!

http://ebm.cheetahmail.com/c/tag/hBJyNqUAcckdyB7gPl7-MAr6gNM/doc.html?RAF_TRACK=&email

STORE OFFER DETAILS:
FREE NATURALLY VICTORIA'S SECRET MINI BODY LOTION
Offer valid through April 12, 2009. Limit one offer per customer per day while quantities last.
STORE ASSOCIATE USE ONLY: Offer type 8856 for Free 1oz. Naturally Lotion.

FREE TANKTOP - AEROPOSTALE

I just wanted to remind everyone there is only 9 more days until the free tank top event ends at Aeropostale. Be sure to get your free tank top next time you are in the mall. I have already picked up my free tanktop, and I only had the print outs. If you are confused on how this works, contact me and I will be glad to explain how it works. The information again is:

Seventeen Mag / Free Tank at Seventeen Mag / Free Tank at Aeropostale B&M / Females age 13-19 March 3 - April 6 or WSL
Bring in your issue of April 2009 Seventeen magazine for a free tank at aeropostale (Lauren Conrad on the cover) Page 14Begining March 3rd thur April 6th while supplies last, Retail value of $20.

OFFICIAL GIVEAWAYS RULESNO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sponsored by Hearst Communications, Inc. Must be female, between the ages of 13 and 29, and a legal resident of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, or Canada. Void in Puerto Rico, Quebec Province, and where prohibited by law, unless otherwise noted.

HOW TO ENTER THE AÉROPOSTALE GIVEAWAY (April Issue): Starting March 3, 2009, bring a copy of the April 2009 issue of Seventeen and show the page with the featured Aéropostale tank, or a printout of the seventeen.com homepage, to a participating Aéropostale store to receive 1 (one) tank top from Aéropostale. One tank top per person. There are 30,000 tank tops available nationwide. Promotion ends April 6, 2009 or While supplies last.A notice will be posted on seventeen.com when Sponsor has given away all 30,000 tank tops.

javaNote: I suggest that if you are taking a printout of the seventeen homepage that you also take a printout of the Rules! B&M / Females age 13-19 March 3 - April 6 or WSL
Bring in your issue of April 2009 Seventeen magazine for a free tank at Aeropostale (Lauren Conrad on the cover) Page 14Begining March 3rd thur April 6th while supplies last, Retail value of $20.

OFFICIAL GIVEAWAYS RULESNO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. Sponsored by Hearst Communications, Inc. Must be female, between the ages of 13 and 29, and a legal resident of the 50 United States, District of Columbia, or Canada. Void in Puerto Rico, Quebec Province, and where prohibited by law, unless otherwise noted.

HOW TO ENTER THE AÉROPOSTALE GIVEAWAY (April Issue): Starting March 3, 2009, bring a copy of the April 2009 issue of Seventeen and show the page with the featured Aéropostale tank, or a printout of the seventeen.com homepage, to a participating Aéropostale store to receive 1 (one) tank top from Aéropostale. One tank top per person. There are 30,000 tank tops available nationwide. Promotion ends April 6, 2009 or While supplies last.A notice will be posted on seventeen.com when Sponsor has given away all 30,000 tank tops.

javaNote: I suggest that if you are taking a printout of the seventeen homepage that you also take a printout of the Rules!

FREE MOVIE NIGHT

T.G.I.F
For some of us this is the end of the work week. Want something fun to do with the family or your friends? As always, movies are an option. Have you checked the library for movies lately?

The libraries has a variety of movies (DVDs and VHS) available for you to borrow for free. If you have a library card, you can rent a movie for 1 week for free. Want to keep it for an additional week, no problem just call and renew the movie for another week. The movies range in type and there are movies for all age groups. Check out your local library to see what movies you can use for your next movie night.

If you don't have a library card, get a library card while you are there, it is free to join and there is plenty of free entertainment and knowledge available at the library for you to get your hands on. Usually they ask for one bill or credit card envelope mailed to you at your address for proof of address. Last time I used an letter someone sent me because it was the only thing I had in the car.

I hope everyone has an awesome weekend! I will be posting this weekend as usual so keep an eye out for my posts.

CHEAP POTTING SOIL

The other day I was shocked to see that the Dollar Tree is now selling potting soil. The potting soil is a great deal because you get 8 lbs for $1.00. I grabbed a few for my garden, since this is going to save me a lot of money. If you are considering gardening soon, then check out your local Dollar Tree to see if you can save on potting soil as well. This is a great buy!

FREE MOVIE TICKETS

FREE-Advance Screening Tickets for HBO's Grey Garden- Ends 04/01/09 Limited Areas
Sign up to get passes to a FREE Advance Screening NOW!


Entertainment Weekly invites you and a guest to a SPECIAL ADVANCE SCREENING OF

GREY GARDENS

Starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange

A New Movie From HBO.

Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Dallas
Los Angeles
New York
Philadelphia
San Francisco
Washington, DC

One pass per person/household (each pass admits two people)

Entry Form

Tickets are given on a "First Come" Basis. . . So, HURRY!

Pass giveaway will commence at 12 AM PT 3/20/09 and end at 11:59 PM PT 4/1/09. While supplies last. Only a limited number of passes available. Limit one pass per person. Each pass admits two. Seating is not guaranteed. Please arrive early. Theater is not responsible for overbooking. The screening will be monitored for unauthorized recording.

DONATE AT BUILD A BEAR

For those of you who are interested

Build a bear is collecting old jeans and furry animals from March 27-29. This is a great way to give back to someone and clean your kids closets out!

Alley at Abafadams found this and posted all the infromation here:
http://abafadams.blogspot.com/2009/03/build-bear-demin-donation.html

Check it out!

WEDNESDAY REDBOX CODE

If you decide against going out to see the free screening tonight for whatever reason, you can always get a free movie from the redbox tonight. The code for today is MMM325.

HAUNTING IN CONNECTICUT- FREE TONIGHT

There is a free screening for "The Haunting in Connecticut" tonight only.

Go to:
http://info.break.com/static/live/v1/pages/sponsors/haunting-in-connecticut/haunting-in-connecticut.html

Click on "Get the List of Theaters" to find the location around you (address, date, time, etc) It is in select locations, but there is quite a few showings tonight. If you find one that is close enough to you that you are willing to drive to then go on to step two.

The second step is go back to the main page and click on "Print your Ticket". Read the fine print on the bottom of ticket before printing.

Once you have the ticket printed, you go to the location of your choice, and enjoy the movie!!

MY SAVINGS - GIANT

I went to Giant recently because I had these coupons for ocean spray cranberry juice that were about to expire. The smaller bottles were on sale for $1.25, original price is $2.50. I had 5 coupons for $0.55 off any size bottle of cranberry juice. Now this was on a double coupon day up to $0.99. Basically after the coupons got double so I ended up paying $0.26 cents for each bottle plus tax. These cranberry juice coupons were located in the sunday paper.

Total paid was: $2.55 plus tax
Total saved was: $12.45 plus tax

JOB FAIRS = FREE STUFF

I went to a job fair last year, but it wasn't because I was looking for a job. I had heard of all the cool stuff my friends got for free at a college job fair, and I wanted to go see for myself. You wouldn't believe the stuff I ended up with.

-suave shampoo for women
-suave 2 in 1 shampoo for men
-salad spritzer dressing
-dove deodorant
-drawing triangles
-tons of pens/pencils
-tons of shirts
-tons of post-its
-tons of draw string backpacks
-glass cup
-awesome kids toys
-gum,candies,mints
-play cards
-stress balls
-etc...

FYI: I didn't even walk through the whole job fair and I didn't stay but a half an hour.

I walked in empty handed, walked out with three bags of free things. Seriously, it was an awesome shopping spree for the young and broke! I do recommend checking out a job fair near you. They have the stuff there for those who are interested in taking. Why not get free things? Also, if you are really looking for a job, don't let it discourage you from taking the freebies. Most people offer you freebies after talking to you about the job.

BEN AND JERRYS GOOD DEAL

One sweet deal!
On March 24, donate a non-perishable food item and receive a scoop for $1! Enjoy your favorite flavor AND help others in need. Now that's what we call a sweet deal! All donations will be supplied to your community's local food bank.
http://www.benjerry.com/scoop-shops/feature/

GIVEAWAY

Lindsay at Frugal and fabulous has a contest to win a purse. It is very easy to enter.

How do I win? (Open to U.S. Residents only)
1. On Lindsay's blog, Leave a comment with your:
* Name
* Email/blog contact
*Browse through the M. Avery shop and tell me which bag is your favorite!

For extra entries you may:
2. Link to this giveaway from your blog or website (= 2 additional entries! leave a comment for each!)
3. Subscribe to my blog via email or feedburner (top right hand corner of this site)
4. Twitter about it! (For your convenience you may copy this: Frugal & Fabulous is giving away an M. Avery Handbag! I entered, you should too! Go here to enter:

http://tinyurl.com/afrcaoJust leave an extra post for each entry!


For more information, check out her blog at http://www.frugalandfabulous.org/

REDBOX MOVIE CODE

Today's redbox code is
HG7W56

Be sure to get your free movie for tonight.
Remember,this code is only good today.

MY SAVINGS- SUPERFRESH

Superfresh

(2) Tortino pizza Total price $5.00 Sale Price: $2.00 Coupon Value $1.00 Paid $1.00

(1) Heinz ketchup Total price $2.59 Sale Price: $1.59 Paid $1.59

(2) Strawberries Total price $5.98 Sale Price: $4.00 Paid $4.00

Total Cost before savings: $13.57
Paid: $6.59 plus tax
Total Savings: $6.98

a little over 50%

Shop 4 Freebies

A site I check daily for freebies is

http://www.shop4freebies.com/

I love this site because there are a lot of samples to pick from in a variety of categories. It is constantly being update with cool samples and is very easy to use. Enjoy!

CHEAP GAS

Shop4freebies has put together a site for figuring out where the cheapest gas is in your area. You put in your zip code and it will tell you all the gas prices for all the surround gas stations. It works very well, I am quite impressed. If you want to save money on gas prices, I recommend you check this site out to figure out which gas stations are the cheapest in your area.

http://www.shop4freebies.com/gasprices.php

FREE YOGA

I was on another blogger's page and I found a post of about a free site to find yoga workouts. Go to http://www.yogatoday.com/ This is a great way to save money on yoga workouts while working out in the comfort of your own home.



To find out more information about this site or about the free workout clips go to

http://cheapbychoice.blogspot.com/2009/03/free-yoga.html



Thanks cheap by choice!

FREE SHAMPOO-CVS

The other day I decided to humor myself and go to CVS since it is walking distance from my work. I went to get Poland spring 1-gallon bottles that were on sale for 3 for $3.00 since that is the only water my husband will drink. A few bloggers had mentioned there is this organix shampoo that has a “try me free” rebate connected to it. I love free shampoo, who wouldn’t? I walked down the shampoo aisle thinking if it is free, CVS is probably out of it. To my surprise, not only did they have a bunch of these bottles, but there was also another shampoo that was advertising try me free. I decided I would get both. I bought them on separate receipts and went home. The value of each is $6.99. They smell absolutely amazing. Now if you don’t have CVS you still can get these free bottles of shampoo or conditioner. I found both with the rebates attached at Rite aid as well as Target. Please comment if you find it at other locations so that the readers can benefit. The Picture above is both kinds that were free. There are quite a few different scents.

Enjoy!

FREE BREAKFAST - IKEA

For those of you who have Ikea near you, this is great deal. Ikea is giving away free breakfast tomorrow from when they open until 10:30 a.m. Check it out if you are planning on going to Ikea or even if you just want free food. I ate at Ikea a few times, and there food is pretty good.

Here is the link to see what is included and what ikea locations are excluded
http://info.ikea-usa.com/seizethedays/

Enjoy!~

TOYS R US CELEBRATION ON SATURDAY

Toys R US is celebration their 50th anniversary this Saturday march 21 from 12- 2 pm
They will be having

-coloring activities
-story time
-little people toys

Also get a FREE little people DVD

For more information go to:
http://view.ed4.net/v/FM2CSQ/Q1GZ6/6V4F3PC/EITY75/MAILACTION=1&FORMAT=H?EDID=FM2CSQ-9ZNTH-RL71SR-A7Y38Q-LF10Z-v1

JEOPARDY BOARD

One day a friend of mine decided she wanted to throw a political themed party. We were trying to come up with some fun games for the party and decided we would make a jeopardy board. It isn't expensive to make. We got a big board from Michaels for $0.99. We used colored index cards for the number. Each column had a different colored index card. Well we only had four colors, so the fifth column became a multicolored column. On the side that wasn't lined, we wrote out the numbers (100, 200, etc...) The backs we left blank. We taped the cards on the board. As the question would get selected we would remove the card. The names of each section were taped on the top with the same index card. Now we made the board this way so we can reuse the board for different parties. We actually have used it 2 different times after the event it was originally created for.

If you have kids, you can use this board for game time to ask them questions they all might know. There are those science card things, the ones that have questions on one side and answers on the other side. You can use those questions for your jeopardy board, I believe there is 5 categories per card.

With really young kids, you make one categories color, addition, subtraction, food, and "what is this pictures?".

Whatever the theme of your party or the age group of those attend your event, you can use the jeopardy board to entertain everyone.

REMINDER- FREE RITA'S ITALIAN ICE

I just wanted to remind everyone that Rita’s Italian Ice is giving away free Italian ice tomorrow, Friday March 20, 2009 in celebration of the first day of spring. Be sure to stop by any Rita’s location between 12:00 pm to 9:00 to get your free Italian ice.

MY SAVINGS- FAMILY DOLLAR

While I was out shopping last Sunday, I figured try out coupon shopping at Family Dollar. I heard that Family Dollar takes coupons, but it surprised me since they are for the most part cheaper then other locations. This is what I ended up with.


I purchased:

Full-size degree deodorant for men Price: $1.75 Coupon Value: $1.00 Paid $0.75

Glade Carpet Price: $2.15 Coupon Value: $1.00 Paid $1.15

4 count Lever 2000 Soap Price: $2.50 Sale Price: $2.00 Coupon Value: $1.00 Paid $1.00


Total Before Coupons $6.00 ($6.36 with tax)
Total paid: $3.36

Total Coupon savings: $3.00
Basically, with coupons I had a 50% savings.

WED. REDBOX CODE

As usual, Redbox has continued free movie Monday.

Your promo code for today is:

GTL456

Expires tonight (Wed, Mar 18) at midnight CST.

MY SAVINGS - JCPENNEY

This is an awesome deal I purchased a few weeks ago with my $10 off $10 or more coupon.

Beautiful wooden tray Original Price: $79.99 Clearance Price $4.97
Gorgeous Bamboo bowl Original Price $29.99 Clearance Price $4.97
Seashell Table linen Original Price $19.99 Clearance Price $0.47
Decorative glitter ball Original Price $13.99 Clearance Price $0.47


Total Price Before coupon: $10.88
Coupon Value: $10.00
Plus tax, final cost is: $0.94

Total saved: $143.55
I'd say, an amazing deal!

HOW TO MAKE CHORES MORE FUN FOR KIDS

I found this one time, and emailed it to myself. I am not sure exactly where it came from.

1. Hide treats, stickers, or pennies in, on, or under knickknacks, then ask your child to dust. She gets to enjoy the rewards only when everything is dusted.

2. Post individual lists of chores kids can do (one for each child in your family). Whenever your child accomplishes a task, have her mark it with a sticker. Whoever has the most stickers at the end of the week gets the Helper of the Week award.

3. Play "Go Fish" with a basket of clean socks. Divide the socks among the players, leaving a pile to draw from. Each player, in turn, holds up a sock and asks another player if he has the mate. If not, the asking player must take a sock from the top of the draw pile. When finished, the player with the most pairs wins.

4. Turn any socks that stay single into child-friendly dust mitts. Insert child's hand into clean but dampened sock and use it to remove dust from houseplants and furniture.

5. Have a scavenger hunt. Make a list of everyday items (newspapers, magazine, shoes, etc.). Set a timer for 5 minutes, then have kids collect stray items throughout the house. The winner is the child who picks up the most (and returns them to their rightful spots).

6. After dinner, do a "10-Minute Tidy." Set a timer and have family members scatter through the house putting away the day's clutter.

7. Appoint someone to be Inspector D. Clutter. Armed with a laundry basket and plastic police badge from the dress-up box, this person roams the house and puts stray belongings into clutter "jail" (the basket). To set an item free, its owner (Mom and Dad included!) must do a chore.

8. Turn a bucket into a personalized cleaning caddy. Use permanent marker to write your child's name on it and have him decorate its with other drawings. Store supplies such as sponge, dustrag and roll of paper towels, etc.

9. Show them the money? Some experts believe allowance should be reserved for teenagers. School-aged children will easily get behind the idea that chores are something you do as a member of the family — not for money. They'll be excited just to show off their skill at completing a task."

GIFT WRAPPING SUPPLIES

The best time to buy gift wrapping supplies is in January. I am sure you are thinking duh, that is obvious, but only if you want to buy Christmas themed gift wrap. But that isn't true. There are many items that are non-Christmas, non-winter, floating around the stores. You just have to think a little creatively to make it work. For example, any gift wrap that is a solid, you can use year around. Even it if is solid red or green. The bow or other accessories you use to decorate your gift can make it look Christmas like or not. Also, snow flakes, work for the whole winter, not just Christmas. I have found during the past, there are many Disney wrapping items but not all of them are Christmas theme. You can save those as well.

Bows: Bows may look Christmas like but when you add the right paper, they are no longer Christmas like. I love buying bows in Jan. because I get really nice ones for $0.10-$0.25 when they were selling them for $1.00-$5.00.

Ribbon: There is so much ribbon that is sold for a few cents as well. You can make your own bows with the ribbon. You can also add a professional look to your gift. Again, they might be Christmas colored, but you can dress it up with the right wrapping paper and bow, and it look normal.

I found this bow one year that was purple with gold trim. The way it was decorated, it was obvious that it was meant for Christmas. Then in the spring, I found a wrapping paper, that was spring themed but had the same two colors in it. It look like i had bought the paper and bow together. They matched perfectly and were great for a spring birthday or even a graduation gift.

I found this one ribbon, the thick kind, that was brown with silver trim for $0.10. This did not look Christmas like at all. I matched that up with a silver bag and made a bow out of it. The bow attracted all the attention off my silver Christmas bag that I bought for $0.15. This works great year round even if it uses silver. These are just a few examples of how you can use cheap clearance gift wrap from Christmas all year round.

HOW HE GOT THE JOB

With the economy being so bad right now, each person needs to stand out when applying for a job. Many people are getting laid off and having difficulty getting back into the working force. How does one stand out? Here is an article from msn on one person who stood out in the interview process and got the job.

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/custom/msn/careeradvice/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1669

REDBOX CODE

As usual, Redbox has continued free movie Monday.

Your promo code for today is:

2GR4N8

Expires tonight (Mon, Mar 16) at midnight CST.

AMOORA'S MEAL PLANS

My meal plans for the next five days:

Monday: Breakfast- Bagel with cream cheese Total cost:$0.70
Lunch- Leftover cheeseburger from yesterday diner Total cost $1.00
Dinner- Friends invited us over for dinner, so I don't have to worry about it
Tuesday: Breakfast- Hard boiled Egg Total cost: $0.05
Lunch- 5 pieces of chicken tenders Total cost: $0.50
Dinner- Box of Macaroni and Cheese for two Total cost: $0.50
Wednesday: Breakfast- Bagel with cream cheese Total cost:$0.70
Lunch- Turkey and Cheese sandwich Total cost $2.00
Dinner- Lentils, ground beef and Rice with yogurt for 5 people Total cost $5.00
Thursday: Breakfast- Hard boiled Egg Total cost: $0.05
Lunch- Leftovers Total cost: FREE
Dinner- Tuna sandwiches for two Total cost: $1.50
Friday: Breakfast- Bagel with cream cheese Total cost:$0.70
Lunch- 5 pieces of chicken tenders Total cost: $0.50
Dinner- Gyros with pita bread for two Total cost: $2.00

Total Cost of the next five days : $11.50
All breakfasts and lunches are the cost per one person.

MY SAVINGS -RITE AID

Yesterday, I went to rite aid and this is what I got.

I got:
2 - O-Cel-O 4 pack sponges Original price is $2.49 each Sale Price $0.99
Coupon Savings $1.00 Total Paid : $0.99 for 8 sponges
1- Secret Flawless Deodorant (full size) Original price is $4.99 Sale Price $3.99
Coupon Savings $2.00 Total Paid : $1.99
There is also a rebate on this item for $2.00 that I will get next month, making the deodorant FREE!

1- Colgate total toothpaste Original price is $3.89 each Sale Price $1.74
Total Paid : $1.74
1- Samy curling mousse Original price is $5.99 Sale Price $4.99
Total Paid : $4.99
There is also a rebate on this item for $4.99 that I will get next month, making the mousse FREE!

Total Coupon savings: $3.00
Total paid: $10.47
Total Rebate Refund: $6.99
Total out of pocket: $3.48

Most of the sales below are running until the end of of the week.

KIDS ACTIVITY WITH PUZZLE PIECES

Do you have a puzzle that is missing a few pieces? Don't throw it away. Take all the pieces out and let your children/siblings/friend's kids create something with the pieces. Also, if you work at a day care, after school program, you also can do this.

All you need is:
-Puzzle Pieces
-Glue Gun

Depending on the age of the child, you may need to glue the pieces for him/her. Let them create whatever they want. I made Christmas tree, out of puzzle pieces with Christmas colors. It worked out great because at every side you looked, there were pieces hanging off to give the tree appearance. It stood up on its own, of course with a little help from the glue gun. You can also twist the pieces or rip them to your liking. Since it is just a bunch of pieces of paper put together, you can also thin out the piece if necessary for your design.

Also, if a child makes a flat masterpiece, you can add the pin attachment to make a pin. These pins make great gifts for parents, or grandparents. Best of all each pin only costs about a few cents.

QUESTION TO THE READERS

So when I first started this blog, I made sure to post between 3 to 10 discussions a day. I did this because I wanted to get this site going. My husband was looking at my site the other day and was thinking I am doing too many posts. So to all the readers I would like to know, how many posts would you like to see a day. I don't want to overwhelm anyone with my posts. I do however want to personal experiences and tips to help you become more frugal. Any input, comments, suggestions are greatly appreciated. Please either contact me personally or just reply to this post. Thanks!

FREE YOGA WORKOUT

There are many ways to saving money on workouts. One way is by watching workouts online instead of investing in DVDs/tapes. Here is a site that has many yoga videos for free to watch and practice with. If you are technologically savvy, like my husband you can connect your computer to your t.v. and do the workouts while watching on your t.v.

http://yoga.org.nz/yoga_vidoes.htm

ENJOY!!

OIL BURNER

Here is a way to save a few bucks in thte long run with oil for oil burners.

Sometimes I burn oil in an oil burner around the house. I don't invest in those expensive oils from the body store or origins but rather the cheaper oils you can get from a dollar store, family dollar or other stores. You can get these bottles for anywhere between $1.00 to $2.00. These smell just as good. Also, to make my dollar go one step further, I add water to the oil. Usually about equal parts of oil and water. The smell isn't as strong, and it takes longer to burn all the oil.

BUTTON BAGS

I had a friend who was telling me about her friend. She was telling me how this lady, when she buys new clothing, she takes all the baggies with buttons on them, puts the buttons together and saves all the baggies. She puts the baggies in the kitchen. Whenever someone comes over and needs medication(Advil, Tylenol,etc) she gives them a few in these baggies. I thought it was such an awesome idea that I wanted to pass it along. I always saved the bags, but they sat there waiting for a chance to be used. Now I have a use for them. You can also use these baggies, when you are going on a trip, to take the few pills you will need for the trip. These are great, if you take a lot different pills so you need to separate them per day. You can put all the pills together you need for the day and everyday have a new packet with all the necessary pills.

RANCH DRESSING CLONE

My favorite dressing is Ranch Dressing. Out of dressing, but don't feel like going out to buy some. Here is recipe of a close clone.

Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Recipe-Close Clone Recipe
15 Saltines
2 cups Dry minced parsley flakes
1/2 cup Dry minced onion
2 tablespoons Dry dill weed
1/4 cup Onion salt
1/4 cup Garlic salt
1/4 cup Onion powder
1/4 cup Garlic powder

Salad Dressing:
1 tablespoon Mix
1 cup Mayonnaise
1 cup Buttermilk

Put crackers through blender on high speed until powdered.
Addparsley, minced onions, and dill weed. Blend again untilpowdered.
Dump into bowl.
Stir in onion salt, garlic salt, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Put into container with tight-fittinglid.
Store dry mix at room temperature for 1 year.
Makes 42 1tablespoon servings.
To use mix--Combine mix, mayonnaise,and buttermilk.

Thanks again to Cajun Cooking Recipes

FREE PHOTOS

Did someone say free prints???
Kodak is giving 20 FREE prints for new member of the Kodak Gallery.
Cool service (free as well) + 20 FREE prints.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/Welcome.jsp

CHEAP BOOKS

Why buy books at full price, when you can get them so much cheaper? A great site for cheap books is:
http://www.thriftbooks.com/
There is a wide variety of books to choose from whether you are looking for college books, or just some books to read for entertainment. There are books as cheap as $0.01 and you do get a discount on shipping if you buy more then one book.

CHICK-FIL-A CHICKEN SANDWICH CLONE

Here is another close clone

Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich
3 cups Peanut oil
1 Egg
1 cup Milk
1 cup Flour
2 1/2 tb Powdered sugar
1/2 ts Pepper2 tb Salt2 Skinless, boneless chicken breasts, halved
4 Plain hamburger buns
2 tb Melted butter
8 Dill pickle slices

Heat the peanut oil in a pressure cooker over med. heat to about 400F. Ina small bowl, beat the egg and stir in the milk. In a separate bowl,combine the flour, sugar, pepper, and salt. dip each piece of chicken inmilk until it is fully moistened. Roll the moistened chicken in the flourmixture until completely coated. Drop all four chicken pieces into the hotoil and close the pressure cooker. When steam starts shooting through thepressure release, set the timer for 3-1/2 minutes. IMPORTANT!!!! DO NOT CLOSE STEAM RELEASE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS! While the chicken iscooking, spread a coating of melted butter on the face of each bun. Whenthe chicken is done, remove it from the oil and drain or blot on papertowels. Place two pickles on each bottom bun; add a chicken breast, thenthe top bun. To make a deluxe chicken sandwich, simply add two tomatoslices and a leaf of lettuce. Mayonnaise also goes well on thissandwich--it is a side order at the restaurant.

Thanks to Cajun Cooking Recipes for this clone

MY SAVINGS

Normally I will not go out of my way to go coupon shopping. If I have a coupon, I will use it, but I stick with looking at sales. After starting this blog, I figured I would attempt grocery shopping with coupons. I never had any luck with that before today.

Today I bought:
Kraft Mac and Cheese - Reg Price $1.49 Safeway Card discount $0.49
Coupon Discount $0.51 Final Cost of item $0.49
Quaker Granola Bar Variety Pack - Reg Price $3.59 Safeway Card discount $1.09
Coupon Discount $1.51 Final Cost of item $0.99
Large Eggs - Reg Price $3.59 Safeway Card discount $0.60
Coupon Discount $2.02 Final Cost of item $0.99
Peter Pan Peanut Butter - Reg Price $2.99 Safeway Card discount $1.00
Coupon Discount $1.00 Final Cost of item $0.99
Danimal Yogurt 4-pack - Reg Price $3.29 Safeway Card discount $1.29
Coupon Discount $1.00 Final Cost of item $1.00
Tropicana Orange Juice - Reg Price $4.69 Safeway Card discount $1.69
Coupon Discount $1.03 Final Cost of item $1.97
IBC Root beer (x2) - Reg Price $7.98 Safeway Card discount $2.00
Final Cost of item $5.98
White square bread -Reg Price $3.59 Safeway Card discount $1.80
Coupon Discount $0.30 Final Cost of item $0.99

And of course a few items that weren't on sale
Orange Jell-o - Paid $0.89
Lime Jell-o - Paid $0.89
Mandarin Oranges - Paid $1.69


Total coupon savings: $10.96
Paid: 17.71

Overall I am impressed, and maybe addicted :-S

A JOKE

This joke was forwarded to me, and I thought my readers would enjoy it.


EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 1, 2008 NEW OFFICE POLICY

Dress Code:
1) You are advised to come to work dressed according to your salary.
2) If we see you wearing Prada shoes and carrying a Gucci bag, we will assume you are doing well financially and therefore do not need a raise.
3) If you dress poorly, you need to learn to manage your money better, so that you may buy nicer clothes, and therefore you do not need a raise.
4) If you dress just right, you are right where you need to be and therefore you do not need a raise.

Sick Days:
We will no longer accept a doctor's statement as proof of sickness. If you are able to go to the doctor, you are able to come to work .

Personal Days:
Each employee will receive 104 personal days a year. They are called Saturdays & Sundays.

Bereavement Leave:
This is no excuse for missing work. There is nothing you can do for dead friends, relatives or co-workers. Every effort should be made to have non-employees attend the funeral arrangements in your place. In rare cases where employee involvement is necessary, the funeral should be scheduled in the late afternoon. We will be glad to allow you to work through your lunch hour and subsequently leave one hour early.

Bathroom Breaks:
Entirely too much time is being spent in the toilet.
There is now a strict three-minute time limit in the stalls.
At the end of three minutes, an alarm will sound, the toilet paper roll will retract, the stall door will open, and a picture will be taken.
After your second offense, your picture will be posted on the company bulletin boa rd under the 'Chronic Offenders'category.
Anyone caught smiling in the picture will be sectioned under the company's mental health policy.

Lunch Break: (Love this one)
* Skinny people get 30 minutes for lunch, as they need to eat more, so that they can look healthy.
* Normal size people get 15 minutes for lunch to get a balanced meal to maintain their average figure.
* Chubby people get 5 minutes for lunch, because that's all the time needed to drink a Slim-Fast.

Thank you for your loyalty to our company. We are here to provide a positive employment experience. Therefore, all questions, comments, concerns, complaints, frustrations, irritations, aggravations, insinuations, allegations, accusations, contemplations, consternation and input should be directed elsewhere.

The Management

THE POWER OF VINEGAR

Vinegar can be used for a wide variety of things including cooking, clean, gardening, etc. Vinegar is so cheap and can help you with a lot of things. Vinegar something you should always have around when you are on a budget. Below is a link that helps you figure out many household uses for vinegar.

http://www.vinegartips.com/

LAPTOP BATTERY REPLACEMENT

If you own a compaq laptop or an HP laptop, check the site below. They are giving away free laptop battery replacements for many of the models. Batteries are not cheap to replace, so why not get a new one free of charge.

http://bpr.hpordercenter.com/sbpr/

BIG MAC SAUCE RECIPE

I love the sauce on the big mac. I used to get the big mac just for the sauce even though it was too big. I have always wanted to figure out how the sauce was made. Have you ever wondered how they make the sauce?? Well your search is now over.

Big Mac Sauce Recipe Close Clone Recipe

1 cup miracle whip
1/3 cup pickle relish
1/3 cup Kraft French dressing -- (orange not red kind)
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Mix together.
Keep Refrigerated
This Is A Close Clone Recipe

This close clone was provided by Cajun Cooking Recipes.

FREE BOOKS

A lot of us spend money on books to learn how to save money, or to try to help our economic situation. Why?? There are many books/resources provided for free. Some of the books and information provided on the site below include references to Economics, Federal Reserve, Money and Banking. Here is a link to a few free books you can get delivered to your home.

http://www.stlouisfed.org/education/resourcetools/

Some of these books you can read online. Don't pay for books when you don't have to. The books on this site range in age groups.

EMPTY FOOD CONTAINERS

It took me a while to accept saving containers. I never really bought anything in a bag. I bought things in containers so that way I wouldn't have to arrange containers for each bag once I opened them. Then I started to realize price. The convenience of having an item in a container was more expensive then just buying it bagged up. So I switched to bags. I do use the ready spaghetti sauce about once a week. They come in awesome glass containers that I used to throw away. Now, these containers are my storage system. They make great containers for saving all kinds of items in the pantry. Also, it makes your pantry look nicer when you have a bunch of containers as oppose to zip lock bags and plastic bags.

Some of you might be worried about the containers matching. Well that isn't a big deal. Every week as you use your same spaghetti sauce, save the containers and replace all the non-matching containers. Eventually you will have an organized pantry that matches.

But they don't look as nice as the store bought ones? Not a big deal. Decorate your own containers. There are paints that you can use to decorate glass. Get some paints and create a design on the outside of your container. Or, get some label paper, design it and stick it on your containers. They will look really nice in no time.

PAPER OR PLASTIC?

Here is a power point on plastic bags. It is good to watch. I know when I sent this around to friends before I got mixed reactions. People are right. They do make good lunch bags, trash bags ,etc. but the damage to the planet is so not worth the little convenience of using a bag twice(max) before throwing it away.

check it out:
http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/MULTIMEDIA02/80505016

GOT BLEACH ON YOUR SHIRT?

When I was younger, I was in the science club. I know it sounds totally nerdy but when you are in middle school and you have an awesome teacher, science becomes fun.

One day we were in the club and we decided that we wanted shirts that looked like the constellations. This became a new project for us to do. We bought a black t-shirt. Then we took bleach and put it in a spray bottle. We went outside and put out some plastic and sprayed our shirts. Now if you spray it from a distance, the bleach becomes further apart and it looks like stars in the distance. What was really neat was there were all kinds of sizes, giving the illusion of some stars being closer then others.

Now, you don't need to do this with a black shirt. And you don't really need to buy a shirt either. If you have a shirt that you got bleach on and you don't want to throw it away, try this idea out. Add bleach in a spray bottle and spray it all over the rest of the shirt. It will look like the bleach is part of the design. If you don't want a constellation look, create your own design. Bleach zigzags or a big heart on the front of your shirt. You can design it any way you want. Also depending on the shirt material, the bleach will react differently, and the end color will be different. My black shirt had orange bleach marks, which looked really cool. Others had a range of other colors on the shirts.

Once I had a top on while I was bleaching a few items and I got splashed with the bleach. As a result my simple black top turned into a polka dotted top that is orange and black.

If later you don't like the color of your bleach spots, you can bleach it again or you can always die the shirt and change the color of your new designed shirt.

FREE MAGAZINES

Here are some more free magazines that you can sign up for. There is more just incase one doesn't work. They all currently work.

Cheerleader:

http://www.freebizmag.com/emailamercheer01welcome.htm

Entertainment:

Interview magazine

http://a388.g.akamai.net/7/388/1603/0001/www.freebizmag.com/emailintviewmag02welcome.htm

Spin Magazine - Digital

http://www.spin.com/digital/

Fashion:

New links for ELLE magazine free from Mercury!!!
http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/101/101215

http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/121/121170

http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/114/11458

Golf:
http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/golf/tgs_gol_dig_pg2h.htm

Health:
http://www.rewardsgold.com/mags/w...h_pg3w.htm
Diabetes magazine
http://www.freebizmag.com/emaildiabetessm01welcome.htm

Home Decor:
Metropolitan Home free from Mercury
http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/101/101208
http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/121/121163
http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/114/11454
http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/101/101212
http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/121/121167
http://www.mercurymagazines.com/pr1/114/11457
Tile magazine
http://slickdeals.tradepub.com/free/ti/
Living the country life magazine
http://www.livingthecountrylife.com/

Parents:
http://www.valuemags.com/freeoffe...ts-BBS.asp
Baby talk- digital
http://slickdeals.net/?sdtid=1220671&u2=http://blog.zinio.com/babytalk/

Photography:
After capture
http://www.submag.com/sub/ak?

FREE PYREX BAKEWARE

Pyrex has a rebate for $3.00 to try a new item metal bake ware item of your choice.
Here is the rebate form
http://www.pyrexware.com/usr/PDF/Pyrex_MBW_Rebate_Form.pdf

This rebate was found by Bargain Becky
For more information on this deal or other deals visit her blog at
http://bargainbecky.blogspot.com/2009/03/pyrex.html

MY FREEBIES - FEB 2009

I would like to share some of the freebies I got last month. I don't remember everything I got last month. However, I did get:

-free scotts paper towel mega roll $1.79
-1 fl oz victoria secret lotion $4.99
-free sample bedtime balm from orgins
-Free sample Aveda's Color Conserve Strengthening Treatment
-Panties from express value $9.50
-Panties from Victoria Secret value $9.50
-Square wooden Decorative tray value $79.99
-Wooden woven round basket value $29.99
-decorative twine ball value $13.99
-seashell linen cloth value $19.99
-3 - $10.00 american express cards (I got 2 blazers -$59.95 each , 2 t-shirts - $9.95 each, 1 zip up hoodie - $19.99)
-$5.00 starbucks gift card
-shampoo samples
-free sauve shampoo of my choice from target value $2.50

TOTAL SAVINGS : $343.14

FREE REDBOX MOVIE RENTAL

Up for a free movie tonight?

(Wed. March 11, 2009) Today's redbox code is:

JBG123

IS YOUR CHILD A FASHION DESIGNER?

This is great if you have little ones or know someone who does.

Do you have fabric scrapes laying around that you have no intentions of using. Maybe you shortened some pants, made something and have left over fabric, or have those shoulder pads that you cut out of a dress/shirt. Save these pieces for a project to work on with your daughter/sister/niece.

When I was younger I used to take these fabrics to make clothing for my barbies and baby dolls. My childhood inspired this project.

Let the little girl(s) in your life become clothing designers for their dolls/barbies. I would recommend you or another adult do all the handing sewing required, but other then that let them create the design, cut the pieces and tell you how they want the design to look. This is a great way to let the children express their creativity. Also, this activity works as great bonding time. And it is a great way to reuse fabrics that otherwise would have made its way to the trash. I reused the clothing I made until I stopped playing with my dolls and barbies.

RECIPE

Tonight I am making another easy and cheap dinner. Pasta. The total cost is $4.50 for four people.

Ingrediants:
-1 jar of spaghetti sauce
-1/2 box of spiral noodles
-1/2 bag of shredded cheese of your choice( mine is mozzorella)
-1/2 - 1 lb of ground beef

Optional
- a little grated Parmesan cheese

1. Cook the ground beef. I just put it on the heat and cook it. (no oil, salt, etc)
2. Cook the noodles in a separate pot, based on directions on package.
3.When ground beef is done cooking drain the ground beef.
4. Put the ground beef back in pot
5. Add spaghetti sauce in the ground beef pot.
6. Heat up the ground beef and spaghetti sauce
7. When sauce is hot, remove heat.
8. Remove heat from pasta when it is fully cooked.
9. Drain the pasta.
10. Combine everything that you cooked. (Spaghetti, ground beef and noodles)
11. Pre-heat oven at 350 degrees
12. Put everything in something you can bake in like Pyrex cookware
13. Put Shredded cheese over the whole thing
14. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the whole thing (Optional)
15. Put in the oven until cheese is melted
16. If you like a little crispy turn the broiler on and put it in the broiler for a few seconds.

It doesn't take long to cook and is soooo good.

MOVIES AT HOME VS THE THEATERS

So some friends asked us to go with them last Friday to see watchmen. It was opening day and it was at a large mall. We haven't really gone to the movies in a while, except for free screenings. We figured we would go since we have cut down our movie expenses and my husband really wanted to see the movie.

Tickets were $11.00 a person. So we were a group of 9 people. The theater made $99.00 just off our tickets alone. Our group was hungry, we stood in line as soon as we got there, all of us came from work. That resulted in having to spend money on movie theater food. 2 large popcorn and 1 small popcorn, a bottle of water and 2 large fountain drinks. Also two people wanted personal pizzas. Plus 2 coffees and a lot of sweets from Starbucks. All us combine spent around $200.00. Basically this trip was an expensive one, and I didn't really like the movie. So it reminded me of a thought I had once before about the cost difference between going to a movie and watching a movie at home.

Lets assume this Friday you want to have a movie night at home. A rental from (blockbuster/Hollywood video/etc) is a few bucks. You can get your movie from the redbox and pay $1.00 night. Or lets say you pay for a membership to get movies to your mailbox, basically costing you nothing extra out of pocket. Some people borrow from the library, which also is free.

We have a popcorn maker/popper. (Great thing to ask for, for Christmas) To buy one with no discounts is about $39.99. Of course most of us are discount shoppers, so we would get it for a lot less. You can get a bag of kernels from the grocery store for $0.99 Lets assume All 9 people decided to watch a movie at our place instead of the theaters (which we have done in the past). We probably only would have used half the bag of popcorn. Basically, the movie night would have cost between $1.00-$6.00 which is cheaper then the cost of one ticket.

Now lets assume everyone was hungry and decided to pitch in for the cost of a pizza. We would get the 5-5-5 Deal at domino's probably getting 4 pizza. The total cost for the whole event would be around $25.00-$30.00. It is cheaper then it cost two of us to snack(not even get real food) and watch the movie.

So, if you can wait until a movie comes out on DVD, you can cut down you entertainment cost tremendously. If you can, look for a screening where at least you can see it for free. :-D

FREE WORKOUT

There are many ways to go to the gym for free. One way is through free VIP passes from the gym. Almost every gym gives you a few days to try out the gym to see if you would want to sign up. Why not use to those days and get a free work out. It is even better when you get a whole week for free. Golds gym currently has a free 7-day VIP pass for anyone who is interested.

http://goldsgym.regsignup.com/fl3/lp3/?utm_campaign=20090101_Datran_Email_Acq_Text&utm_medium=Email_Acq&utm_source=Datran&utm_content=HP&utm_term=none&partnerID=35&aff_id=CD60&lcid=2cd9d8dc18ac950c4531a1bc39061a32&addcode=CD60&bannerid=11713&deployid=339593&optinfo=

Also, take advantage when friends have free passes for gyms. Usually anyone with a membership gets free passes. This free week combined with friends free passes, I get to go for two weeks for free.

FREE ITEM

Everyone goes out to eat sometimes. When you go out to eat, you get condiments, napkins, etc. Now most of us take more then we really use, right? Don't throw them away, save them. Sometimes people leave them on the table when they are done, guess what? They get thrown away. You can always use napkins. It saves you money on buying paper towels and napkins for your home. There are many different patterns and designs and there are quite a few places that don't even put anything on the napkins. Those are my favorite napkins. Also, think of how much ketchup, mustard, honey mustard, soy sauce, etc. you don't have to buy if you save the ones you don't use. I even save crackers when I go out to eat. I love saltine crackers, and I don't really like them with soup. I save them for days when I just want a snack. They make perfect snacks. You can even save the creamers if you are a coffee drinker. Why not save a few cents by keeping these items? Also plates and plastic ware. When we order out Chinese food they always give us a lot more plates and plastic ware then what we need. I save those, and put them in my office. I can always use the *FREE* plastic ware for eating lunch at work. In my office there is a section with napkins, ketchup and plastic ware that is always filled and ready whenever I need.

MIGHTY DOG COUPON

Free Mighty Dog Food

Register here and get a free coupon for dog food

http://www.mightydog.com/Registration.aspx

FREE FUN

My husband and I tried to cut down expenses on going out. We started to get bummed because it meant cutting down on our fun time. We used to go bowling, go out to eat, watch movies for fun, nothing that was really free. Now we have two huge tourist areas around us, Washington DC and Baltimore MD but that wasn't enough to keep us busy. You can only visit these areas so many times before it gets a little boring, at least the free parts. To our surprise there was so much more to do in Baltimore and DC that we didn't know existed. Also, within a 10 mile radius there was a lot more then we had ever imagined. All our friends are new to the area just like us, most of which went to school with my husband in upstate New York and weren't familiar with the area. Others that came from down south, again not really familiar with this area. I decided I would go on a search for fun stuff to do. I couldn't believe that all the fun stuff had to cost money. I found this site that is filled with free tourist attractions for every state.

http://www.free-attractions.com/index.htm
Just click on your state and it will show you all the free stuff you have around you.

Now in my area one of the tourist attractions on the site above was a hiking trail. I was amazed because MD seems pretty flat to me. So I decided I would try to find more hiking trails around here. I went on google.com and search hiking in MD and found so much more hiking trails then one would ever think MD had. We also found some near by hiking areas in VA.

Basically, every state has tons of free things to do to have fun. It is a little harder to find the free things. So a great starting point is the site above and google.com. Search what interests you and your state and you will be surprised at all the free activities that surround you.

YESTERDAY'S DINNER

So I have been working full time since I was 16 years old. When I was young I didn't pay attention to the cost of food too much, because, well, I didn't have too many responsibilities. When I started to go to college, my money started to disappear which resulted in me trying to cut down. I took a few years off work, once I got married to focus on college and about a year ago, started working full-time again. This time, I started to really think about how to save money on lunch. At first I would eat out, but the cost added up very quickly. I was spending between $40.00 to $50.00 a week on eating just lunch.

Then I decided I would only eat at Subway everyday because of the $5.00 foot long special. This was bring my cost to about $30.00 a week (tax included). Still that wasn't doing the trick. So I switched to making sandwiches for lunch. Sadly my lunch would cost me a little more then it would to buy my subway sandwich. Yes it was delicious, but the cost went up.

I started to get microwavable dinners, and that did in fact cut down the cost. But there are only so many kinds you can get. Also, they are full of sodium, something you really don't want to add to your diet when sitting in front of a desk 40+ hours a week. A decent microwavable meal is $3.00-$5.00 each and on sale you can get them for 3 or 4 for $10.00. I was still spending between $15.00 to $20.00 a week on lunch.

I Started to think of my dinners. There was always two of us, now three that I cook dinner for. When I had to double our meal for accommodate a third mouth, I started to have leftovers. I never planned for leftovers before, because, well I am not sure why. So as I started to have leftovers on a daily basis, I started to think, let me take it for lunch the next day. I noticed my groceries going down in cost. That was $15.00 - $20.00 I wasn't spending on microwavable meals. Adding the cost to make a meal for four, didn't add to $15.00. But humor me a little, lets say it costs you $10.00 extra a week to accommodate for leftovers. You are still saving around $5.00 to $10.00 a week on groceries. That is $520.00 a year!!!

Left overs did the trick in cutting down a lot of money from our weekly grocery budget. I know many of you probably don't spend as much as I used to on lunch but, it is amazing how a little change in your lunch plans can make a drastic change in your wallet.

HOMEMADE BABY WIPES

I am sure that the cost of baby wipes add up very quickly. Having a baby isn't cheap. Saving a few dollars a month would definitely help though. I found this online and figured I would share this for all the mommies on the site. I hope this helps you. I can't remember where I found this, but if I find it, I will add the link to this post.

HOMEMADE BABY WIPES

I used to make my own wet wipes when I had babies around. Worked great and I saved a lot of money. I could make a batch of wet wipes for about 50 cents and sometimes cheaper if I found things on sale. Cut a roll of plain white Bounty paper towels in half with a sharp knife. Place the paper towels in a plastic coffee 'can' that is large enough to hold the towels. Then mix 2 cups of warm water, 1 tablespoon of baby shampoo, and 1 tablespoon of baby oil. Pour this mix over the towels. Pull out the paper tube. Cut a small 'X' in the center of the coffee 'can' lid. Starting in the center of the wet paper towels, pull up the first towel through the 'X' in the lid. To keep the towels from drying out, I place one of those plastic Saran Wrap covers that has stretchy sides on it. (Sorry I can't think of the product name for it.) I never had to worry about diaper rash when I made my own wet wipes, so I saved money on diaper rash medication too.

FREE BASEBALL TICKETS

FREE Baltimore Orioles Ticket - Birthday

This offer is great if you live in the DC/VA/MD area or are planning to visit the area.

https://secure.mlb.com/bal/fan_fo...88#details

For your birthday, surround yourself with family and friends at the ballpark that forever changed baseball. Register below and Orioles.com will e-mail you a voucher good for one (1) FREE Upper Reserve Ticket to see one (1) Orioles 2009 regular season non-prime home game during your birth month (as defined in the Details below). After you register for yourself, you can then register on behalf of your child by filling out the "Birthday Celebrant Information" below to help them celebrate their special day! It's our way of helping you create your own Orioles Magic. See full Details below. Birthdays in January, February, and March will receive a voucher for an April game ticket; birthdays in October, November and December will receive a voucher for a September game ticket.Visit any of the three Fan Assistance locations throughout Oriole Park (behind Home Plate, on the Upper Concourse, and on Eutaw Street) to receive a free customized certificate to commemorate your special day at Camden Yards.

RECIPE

So part of living frugal is cooking frugal too. Here is a cheap recipe that you can make at home. It is for spaghetti. I figured out the cost of meal is around $5.00 for 4-6 people. The cost is for the sauce and noodles only.

Spaghetti with Spicy Tomato Olive Sauce

Ingredients:
1/2 cup brine-cured black olives, pitted and cut lengthwise into slivers
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes, or to taste
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 (14- to 15-oz) cans stewed tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 lb spaghetti

Accompaniment: grated Parmesan

Preparation:
Cook olives, garlic, and red pepper flakes in oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until garlic is golden, about 2 minutes. Stir in tomatoes and salt and simmer, stirring occasionally and breaking up large pieces of tomato, until sauce is slightly thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
While sauce is simmering, cook spaghetti in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until al dente.
Drain spaghetti in a colander and add to sauce. Cook, tossing, over moderately low heat until pasta is coated, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Note:
If you don't want it spicy, just make it without the hot red pepper flakes, and it will still taste good.

This meal was found at:
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spaghetti-with-Spicy-Tomato-Olive-Sauce-107598

FREE ARBY'S ROAST BURGER

Are you feeling arby's for diner?
Here is a coupon for a free arby's roast burger with a purchase of a drink. Expires 03/14/09
http://www.arbys.com/arbyscoupon/...x250030909
Enjoy!

MAKE YOUR OWN PURSE

Have placemats lying around that you no longer use, or are ready to get rid of. Here is some links to get ways to preserve your placemats, and get a purse out of it.

http://www.jcarolinecreative.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=JC&Screen=PLACEMAThttp://www.jcarolinecreative.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=JC&Screen=TOTEhttp://www.dritz.com/brands/projects/project_files/p_placemat.phphttp://scribbit.blogspot.com/2007/07/placemat-purses.html

FREE REDBOX MOVIE RENTAL

Another way to watch movies free is through the Redbox movie rental system. You can find a redbox almost anywhere. Some locations include, the grocery stores, walmart, etc. You rent per night. The sweet thing is there are many codes floating around that you can almost every other day get a free rental. There are blue-ray movies as well as normal ones. You can return it at any location, it doesn't have to be the same location you got the rental from. Whenever I find a code, I will post it. Also, if you know a code, please share so other readers can benefit.

Today Mar 9th - Monday only promo code from Redbox: F3T9L6

Also, when you sign up on the site, you get a free rental code, I would sign up on a Tuesday or Thursday when there isn't very many codes floating around.
http://www.redbox.com/Help/Signup.aspx

On this site it also has a redbox locator, so you can figure out which locations are close to you. Another neat feature is you can pick movies online and tell it which box you will pick it up from. It will hold that movie for you. How sweet is that?

GREEN WITH ENVY

A while back I read this book called "Green with Envy" by Shira Boss. This book was an exceptional book that relates to all of us. It talks about the Joneses and our struggles to keep up with them. It talks about how the grass is greener on the other side. All the concepts we hear but never want to believe. On top of that, it brings up money and how it has become such a taboo subject. It is quite entertaining helps you think past keeping up a wealthy appearance. For all those struggling with money, I recommend reading this book.

Here is the website for the book
http://www.greenwithenvythebook.com/

THE RICH

So I read an article in the past about the rich. It said the rich didn't get rich by living within their means or even above their means. They got rich by living below their means. By living below there means, they were able to put money in places that would later get them rich. So for example, they didn't splurge on wants. They always reconsider if this is a want or a need. If it is a need they purchase it, but at the best price possible, not just any price. They take the money they didn't spend and invest it and save it. Before they knew it, they now have all this money that they don't know what to do with. Basically, you don't need that beamer right now, when you don't have money for groceries. Instead live with your 1995 while you make sure to remain out of debt. Put away money and before you know it, you will be able to buy the beamer and still have extra money for all your life's necessities.

The concept of keeping up with the Joneses should no longer be in our head. We are at a point where people are struggling to keep a job and keep food on the table. The results are sweeter then you can imagine.

FREE MAILING LABELS

Some people spend on money rubber stamps and ink to print the name and address on the envelope. Others make labels from their print or even just print on the envelope. These are again little expenses that could be saved. There are many companies who are willing to give you free mailing labels. You can donate money if you would like, but it isn't required. Even if you are one that doesn't spend the money but writes out your name and address on each envelope, getting free labels can save you the time you spend writing out your information. Below are some sites where you can get free labels.

http://www.cff.org/getinvolved/mailinglabels/

http://www.nfcr.org/ShopforaCure/FreeMailingLabels/tabid/135/Default.aspx

http://www.pva.org/site/Survey?SURVEY_ID=1701&ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS


Just from these three sites alone, you will have more then enough labels to last you a year, assuming you send out at least a letter a day.

DO IT YOURSELF

Why pay a professional to do something you can do yourself? Even things that seem so difficult can easily be done without forking out the money to hire professionals. Fixing a hole in the wall, putting down tile, painting your home, these are just a few of the things you can do yourself. There are many locations that provide how-to clinics. Two that I will talk to you about today is Lowe's and The Home Depot. Most locations have at least one of these around, if not both. Every Saturday, the departments put together how-to clinics that you can come in and learn to do something. Best of all, it is free to attend these classes. They give you written material on the project, show you a demonstration how it is done, and send you on the way with all the knowledge you will need to complete the project on your own. They employees are extremely knowledgeable on what they are teaching and are willing to answer any questions you have. Plus if you ever need to revisit how something is done, you can always go on the Lowe's or The Home Depot website to see a video on how it is done. Everyone wants a home that is free of flaw. Updating your home doesn't have to cost you a fortune. Plus you can at least tell everyone that you did the work all by yourself.