Shred Fest!

Since moving this past week I've come across some paperwork, documents, etc. that have important information on them. Such information needs to be discarded appropriately and for good reason. We all know it takes a while to actually "move in" and since moving I've found there are boxes of information that is no longer needed and needs to be shredded. I called a shredding company last week to get prices on what they charge and what they told me I thought was reasonable, considering the amount of papers and boxes that have been sitting around for um, let's just say years! So while I was glancing through the local newspaper this morning I came across a bank that is having a Shred Fest this Saturday. The most wonderful thing about it is it's FREE. Yes I said free as in don't have to pay a dime to have outdated paperwork turn into garbage, safely. Talk about frugality! Yep, so that's where I'm headed to on Saturday.

Frugality At The Mall-With A Toddler!

You would think that going to a mall would be expense. Well, it can be if you're going to do some shopping on your own and without anyone else. Think toddler!

At my mall, I have found ways to make the mall experience inexpensive and still have a good time while doing so with a toddler in tow. If you have a small child here are some ideas for you and your little one to do at the mall that won't cost you a dime!

Inside the mall there is a play area where kids (usually of the smaller type) can play on various objects such as animals, slides, blocks, etc. While watching the children play and getting their energy out of their little systems, the parents can sit back and relax. It also is helpful to go there with the idea of "wearing them out" just before nap time.

You can taste a sample of a restaurant's food in the food court. They are usually standing by their restaurant enticing people to eat at their restaurant with their tidbits of food. Just go around to each of the restaurants you like, graciously accept the samples and fill up! Never having to buy anything if you don't want.

Then it's off to dessert time. Inside a See's Candy shop, they always have a free sample of mouth-watering chocolates to choose from. Just ask them for a sample. I am usually satisfied with this small bit of chocolate-free, although the aroma makes me want more. Children always want candy too. It's a win-win situation.

And lastly, usually at night, there is a band, a clown presentation, a school group, etc. playing in the courtyard outside that you can listen to for free. Though after the play area, we don't make it to the evening presentations. The toddler I'm with is ready for nap... And so am I!

Photos: http://seescandies.com/

Wait, How Much?

There are things that can be done to entertain the little ones. Some can be activities that don't cost anything to activities and events that can be costly. Such is the last statement this weekend. While it didn't hardly cost much to get in, I would say it was made up around lunch time. There was a kids fair in which my daughter and I took my grandson Jameson to. We arrived right at the opening of the doors to the coliseum.

There were vendors selling their wares at booths and booths to promote the good of the community such as child protection. Jameson spotted a booth that he wanted to check out. Here he is inside jumping around with other kids until we decided that kids would enevitably get hurt 'cause there were too many of them at one time. That's him in the plaid shorts.

While there were many, many booths to see, way at the back of the coliseum were carnival rides. Jameson spotted a ride that he really wanted to go on. The Airplanes. So I stood in line to purchase additional tickets for that one plus I got more for any other he spotted. He was so proud of himself "flying" that big ole' plane!

I had only enough tickets for 1 more ride for him to go on, by himself, 'cause that would've cost more, believe me! So we waited and waited in that line what seemed like an hour, until it was time for Jameson to ride the swings. He was so cute on them wasn't he?

After lunch (I guess you could call it that) consisting of a hot dog each,which was outrageously priced, and a small drink each, I figured out that I just spent equivalent to the price of admission just for lunch. No frugality here. I had forgotten how ridiculously overpriced food was at public places. Yikes! Next time, we'll sneak in our own lunch and drinks.

After a few hours and a much needed nap, we finally were heading towards the exit when Jameson discovered Cookie Monster. Now who could resist a cute picture with a Sesame Street character to tease him with when he's 16? I had to get it. So darn cute I tell you!

After trekking our way back to our car with a few weary family members, no longer had we been out of the parking lot and we looked back in his car seat and he was out! Out as in asleep! Fighting the crowds, a 2 1/2 year old, and let's just say lack of decent food, I was ready to be knocked out as well. Even though I had spent more than I had anticipated, it made up for it 'cause I think that Jameson had more fun that his Mom and I put together. Way more!!

How I Made $250 In Less Than 30 Minutes

The other day, I noticed an advertisement in the paper about a new bank that just opened up in the neighborhood. They were giving away free money just to open up a checking account. On top of that, with each and every service attached to that account, the bank will deposit $25 extra dollars into that account. That was a deal that was too good to pass up.

I quickly went down and proceeded with the opening of my account. I put $25 in to start it ( I would have put it into the family account anyway, might as well put it to good use and get a return on that money).

I have the intention of taking that money that the bank will deposit and using it to help out with Christmas this year. I have to keep that in there for 90 days, exactly 2 weeks before Christmas, which works out perfect! I then can cancel after that.

After receiving my new checkbook, I only spent about 30 minutes inside the bank. I left knowing that I've got a great return on my own money I deposited. I feel a little more at ease with the struggling economy in knowing that I will have at least $250 to spend this Christmas.

Now that's how I made $250 in less than 30 minutes. Now that's a nice chunk of change.

Photo by FreeDigitalPhotos.net

National Coupon Month

September is National Coupon Month.

Clipping and organizing coupons for as little as 20 minutes per week can save 20% off your grocery bill. Over the course of a year, this can add up -- with $1000 extra dollars in your pocket you can off-set rising food and gasoline prices.

Here are some interesting 2007 coupon facts according to the PMA Coupon Council:

• 89% of the United States population uses coupons.
  
• Shoppers saved approximately $2.6 billion last year by using coupons.
  
• The typical coupon was worth $1.25 savings in 2007.
  
• Coupon users report an average of 7% savings on their grocery bill with coupons.
  
• The typical family saves between $5.20 and $9.60 per week using coupons.
  
• Manufacturers offered more than approximately $350 billion in coupon savings in 2007.
  

Since January, I've been tracking my grocery spending totals. I've spent over $3,000 on groceries and saved just under $2,000. That's a savings of 61%. If you break it down even further, that's spending only $83.00 per week for just 2 people. Can't beat that kind of savings!

Don't make just September be National Coupon Month. You can have that kind of savings last all year long!

Frugal Grocery Shopping Tips

When shopping for groceries or for other items, there are a few tips that you should remember:

• Avoid buying non-food items such as detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, napkins, and facial tissues at the grocery store, unless there is a really good deal. Usually you can get these items much cheaper at your discount or warehouse stores.



• Always do your grocery shopping alone. Keep the husband and the kids home. This way you will spend less money.



• If you have storage space, stock up on staples when they are on sale. You can then "shop" in your own "general store" when you run out.



• Plan your meals in advance and try not to go to the grocery store without a shopping list.



• Don't trust the register scanners at the check-outs. They have been known to make mistakes. Trust me, I know. When possible, know the price of what you're buying, and watch it scan.



• You can also save money on mileage as well as your time by picking one day a week to do all of your shopping. You can plan out your most gas saving route by doing this.

Photo by grocerylists.org

5 Things To Do With A Library Card-Check It Out

Celebrate September by signing up for a free library card. September is National Library Card Sign Up Month. What better way to celebrate libraries than to do just that? There are many things you can do with your own library card. Take a look below.

Check out books:

This month has been an interesting one with the hurricanes and the presidential campaigning underway. If this is what you want to learn about, look for books about weather or hurricanes. If you want to learn about Government at the local and national levels, why not check out a book about just that. There are so many books to read and just as many subjects to learn about. If you're anything like me, I could spend hours in a library just wandering through the vast aisles of information.

Activities:

A public library has activities for the very young up to the elderly alike. Some of the these activities include baby storytimes, toddler and school-aged programs. There are game nights, crafts that you can do with your children or for yourself, films to watch, and musical performance groups to listen to. Check with your local library to view their activities for the month.

Computer Access:

Having access to a computer can be valuable if you don't have one at home. Children can do their homework at the library and if they need to look for reference books, etc., they can do so right there without having to drive back to the library. Adults too can have access to a computer at the library.

Movies & DVD's:

Have you every watched a movie or DVD from your local library? You can while saving money at the same time. It doesn't cost anything to check out any movies or DVD's. They usually have quite a selection to choose from. Think of all the money you saved instead of renting them from a nationally recognized store.

Workshops & Lectures:

Learning something new is always a good thing, even presented at the library. There are local and sometimes even national speakers that you can listen to for free. These classes are educational and informative as well. There are book discussion groups and also, book authors sometimes have book signings at the library.

So take the time this month to sign up for your library card if you havent' done so. Take advantage of this wonderful service that is provided to you. You never know what you might read, watch, have fun doing, or listen to. You might even learn something. Check it out!

Another Use for Dove Candy

The other day I was looking for something chocolate to go over my ice cream. And we all know ladies, that chocolate is a craving that will not go away! I proceeded to find the chocolate syrup that I thought I had in the house. I was out! It was Sunday and I didn't want to go to the store so the only alternative was to make it myself out of something else. But what? I saw that I had a bag of Dove chocolate candy and went to work.



I opened up all of the chocolate pieces and put them in a bowl so that I could melt them in the microwave for about 1 minute, stirring until melted. That'll do the trick! It worked. Yeah...



After all the chocolates have melted, I drizzled it over my ice cream. Oh my goodness, gracious me!! It was sooo delicious! Because the chocolate was now this hot and yummy sweetness, it became hardened and crackled almost instantly when drizzled on the cold ice cream. It's amazing what you can come up with in a chocolate emergency plus also without spending more money at the store.

Used Book Stores

Do you love to read but can't stand to pay full price for new book? Try a used book store. Not only can you buy books, CD's, DVD's, magazines, comic books, etc., you can even sell your used items to them. That's right. Need some extra cash? I went around the house and gathered up books that I no longer need or want, dusted them off, went to a used bookstore to have them buy them from me and voila! Instant cash! Now mind you , it's not all that much but enough, say maybe... lunch with the hubby or for some other use...another book? We all know that we can always find uses for extra cash. There's always some treasure when I shop at a used book store. Selling to them can be addicting too. Try it, you may get hooked!

5 Frugal Ways to Save for a Work-At-Home Mom

If you are a work-at-home mom with a job (besides the most important one called MOM), you can learn how to become frugal with your money. Here are five frugal ways to save money while working at home:

1. Save on clothing. You never have to get dressed in clothes for someone else to see. Work in your PJ's if you want!



2. Save on gas. With the price of gasoline you can save big here.



3. Save on daycare or babysitter expenses. This can be a major expense to most people.



4. Save on eating out for lunch. You don't have to eat out everyday during your lunch break, thereby saving even more money. Just keep your fridge stocked.



5. Save time and money by cooking meals for your family ahead of time. FrugalMom.net can show you how. Although this will take one day to do, it is worth the time for one less stress during the week at about dinner time.

You can afford to stay at home with your children if you practice frugality. It will take some practice and discipline but it can become a way of life.

How to Feed Your Family Frugally

When it comes to feeding your family, it can be quite tough trying to stay under budget, especially when food prices have soared through the roof. I have a menu plan for 1 week, keeping with the advertised sales and still be able to eat. When you shop Albertson's grocery stores this week, you can feed a family of 4 quite inexpensively, under $20 per week. Here's a sample menu with what's on sale.



Breakfast: Waffles and sausages

1 pkg. Farmland Sausage = $1.00

1 Albertson's Waffles with slices peaches = $1.00

1 1/2 gallon milk = $1.00

Total: $3.00

OR

Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls & Milk
1 pkg (4 count) Bakery Fresh cinnamon rolls = $1.00
1 1/2 gallon milk = $1.00

Total: $2.00

OR

Breakfast: Cereal & cantaloupe

1 box Albertson's cereal = $1.00

1 1/2 gallon milk = $1.00

1 cantaloupe = $1.00

Total: $3.00

OR

Breakfast: Cinnamon Rolls & Fruit Juice

1 pkg (4 count) Bakery Fresh cinnamon rolls = $1.00

1 pkg (3 count) Tree Top Apple juice = $1.00

Total: $2.00

OR

Breakfast: Cereal & Peaches

1 box Albertson's cereal = $1.00

1 lb.sliced peaches = $1.00

1 1/2 gallon milk = $1.00

Total: $3.00

Lunch: Bologna sandwiches & chips

1 pkg. bologna = $1.00

1 loaf Country Farm bread = $1.00

1 Pringles potato chips = $1.00

1 Minute Maid punch (64 oz) = $1.00

Total: $4.00

OR

Lunch: Hot Dogs, potato chips & potato salad

1 pkg hot dogs sliced = $1.00

1 Pringles potato chips = $1.00

1 lb. Reser's potato salad = $1.00

4 SoBe Life Waters = $4.00

Total: $7.00

OR

Lunch: Macaroni and hot dogs

1 Suddenly Salad box = $1.00

1 pkg hot dogs sliced = $1.00

4 AquaFina Flavor Splash bottles = $.400

Total: $6.00

OR

Lunch: Tacos

2 cans Taco Bell refried beans = $2.00

1 pkg. Taco Bell shells = $1.00

1 iceberg lettuce = $1.00

1 pkg Albertson's Mexican cheese(use 1/2 pkg) = $1.25

1 2-litre pop =$1.00

Total: $6.25

OR

Lunch: Chili

4 Dinty Moore or Hormel Chili = $1.00

1 pkg Albertson's Mexican cheese = $2.50

Total: $3.50


Dinner: Spaghetti & Salad

1 Albertson's pasta noodles = $1.00

1 Hunt's spaghetti sauce =$1.00

1 fresh leaf lettuce = $1.00

1 avocado = $1.00

1 pkg mini carrots =$1.00

1 2-litre bottle of pop =$1.00

Total: $6.00

OR

Dinner: Pork Chops & pasta

1-2 lbs pork chops =$1.00 or $2.00

1 box Pasta Roni = $1.00

Total: $2.00 or $3.00

OR

Dinner: Chicken Tacos

2 cans Hormel chicken = $2.00

1 pkg Taco Bell shells = $1.00

1 iceberg lettuce = $1.00

1 pkg Albertson's Mexican cheese(us 1/2 pkg) = $1.25

1 16 oz sour cream = $1.00

1 2-litre pop = $1.00

Total: $7.25

OR

Dinner: Pasta Salad & bread

1 box Suddenly Salad = $1.00

1 loaf Country Farms bread = $1.00

Total: $2.00

OR

Dinner: Chicken,pasta & cole slaw

1 Sanderson Farms family pack of drums, thighs, or leg quarters(1 lb = $1.00)

1 box Pasta Roni = $1.00

1 pkg Fresh Express Cole Slaw = $1.00

Total: $3.00 - $4.00


After dinner Desserts:

4 Blue Bunny, Haagen Dazs, or Ben & Jerry's Personal cups = $4.00

OR

1 box Albertson's Microwave Popcorn = $1.00

OR

1 box Little Debbie snacks = $1.00

OR

1 box Albertson's frozen novelties = $1.00

OR

peaches (1 lb = $1.00) or cantaloupe = $1.00

If you have a larger family, just double up on the sale items. This sale is good now through July 15th. So you see, you can feed your family this week for cheap!

Naturally Reducing High Food Costs

Want to reduce the high cost of food prices? Did I get your attention? I sure would like to. It seems that as of lately, due to the high cost of food, we are needing to get back to the basics in order to feed our families. I came across an article in a local newpaper regarding seeds. It got my attention. I'm talking about saving seeds from vegetables grown in your own family garden. Now my brother does this and at first I thought he was crazy! He has a garden and he saves (or recyles) the seeds. Why not just go and buy another vegetable plant instead? Good solution I thought. He not only saves money by doing so, he has become self-sufficient. Well, as it turns out, this article shows you how to make the most of your garden seeds. For example, did you know that the large seeds produced by melons, peas, squash, beans and corn are simple to gather and clean? For the most consistent results from seed collecting and saving, try these tips:

1. Steer clear of hybrids and other varieties such as broccoli and radish that tend to cross-pollinate with other plants.
2. Look at your calendar for your hardiness zone.
3. Gather seeds from your hardiest plants in your garden rather than those that are earliest to mature.
4. When you harvest your seeds, label and store them in either dry envelopes, plastic containers or glass canning jars. Keep them cool and dry.

If you would like to learn more about gathering and saving seeds, there is a book called "Seed Sowing and Saving: Step-by-Step Techniques for Collecting and Growing More than 100 Vegetables, Flowers and Herbs by Carole B. Turner. Click on the Amazon.com button below on my site if you would like to see or purchase this beautiful book. Happy harvesting!

Financial Friday: Cash Basis Only

I've learned over the years that in order to secure a stable checkbook scenario, I've had to put my husband on a "cash basis" only. That means that he has no access to the checkbook, nor does he have a debit card that he can use for that account. The reason behind this dual budget system is simple. I needed to know how much money is in the family account-exactly, to use for the bills without tracking miscellaneous expenditures. This creates two fixed budgets that are much easier to manage. Cash is king!!

This Makes Sense-Coupons That Is!

It's summer, it's hot and I don't know what to cook!! What is a girl to do? Well, the first solution to this heated debate is to go through my Wednesday paper and look for the grocery store ads. Therein lies the solution. Sale items listed for every store! First I look in each stores' paper to see if there is a coupon that I could use. Then I log on to CouponSense where as a member, I can look to see what's on sale at each store by browsing and taking advantage of those items and use them against my coupons, thereby reducing my grocery bill. This week Fry's has 1 gallon milk on sale for $1.99 I will take advantage of this sale and buy the limit and possibly freeze the rest. I do not have a coupon for this but this is a good deal nonetheless. Another good deal this week is to take advantage of the $5 off your grocery bill. Albertson's has a mix and match promotion, meaning you can buy 10 items from any of the price and the $5 will come off instantly! They are limiting this to 2 $5 rewards per transaction; thus, you can buy 20 items and get $10 off in a single transaction! A simple meal plan for a family of 4 would be:

1. Totino's Pizza
2. Suddenly Salad
3. Alberton's croutons
4. Gatorade
5. Snack Pudding for dessert

Final cost = $2.50

Next meal plan with this sale could be:

1. Spaghetti
2. Prego Spaghetti sauce
3. Seasoned summer vegetables
4. Water
5. Popsicles for dessert

Total cost = $5.00

Of course if you have other coupons you could use along with the sale items, that will drastically reduce the total cost. This is called stackable couponing. Coupons and I have gotten along rather well over the past. When you take the time to have your coupons organized, you really can take advantage of any sale items that may come along. It all makes perfect sense, CouponSense!