From the Brain of Mama R.

Free stuff! Vacations, Christmas Music, Coupon Book, and Wholly Guacamole

2010-11-09T20:37:00.000-05:00

Register for $4 off (1) Box of Wholly Guacamole. This isn't TECHNICALLY a freebie, but I know that some are 3.99 or at least under $5, so it will be free to nearly free. I love this stuff!

Watch a video at Rite Aid Video Values to earn a voucher for a coupon book worth up to $100 (this means you get coupons that add up to $100 value all for different products). Pick that up next time you go into Rite Aid to shop (immunization locations only). While you're at the Video Values site, check for coupons for other items you may be able to use!

Here are some very interesting ideas on traveling for FREE or cheap. They are a bit unorthodox, but also really cool! Check it out.

Finally, I know this is a bit early for Christmas, but bloggers have started posting about Christmas freebies. I LOVE Christmas music, so I thought I'd share this one. FREE Christmas music downloads from Amazon. My personal favorite is the VeggieTales one.

Enjoy!

My favorite frugal blog

2010-06-23T10:46:00.000-04:00

I have a favorite frugal blog out of all those I read. It's called The Simple Dollar. I like it particularly because of the following:

- Trent (the author) appeals to a wide audience. It doesn't matter if you are young, old(er), single, married, have kids or not, you will find something here that will appeal to you and/or help you.

- He writes from a perspective of having been there (i.e. in debt and money-challenged). He tells his story very honestly and in great detail, and that helps people to relate and to know that this did not come easy for him and his family.

- The content is not only "frugal-task based", but also from an emotional connection standpoint. He goes into the thought processes attached to spending money and how to handle and/or correct the negative ones.

- He doesn't tell you to "cut this out because it works for me", he tells you to go with what works for you, and understands it's not one-size-fits-all (something that I struggled with for a long time - "this works for everyone else, why not for me?")

I would suggest you check it out, maybe click into some of the categories you find interesting (listed on the right sidebar if you scroll down a bit). I'd be curious to know what you all think about it :)

Productivity Tools I Use (time and money savers!)

2010-06-04T17:35:00.000-04:00

This isn't an all-inclusive list, but some of the ones that sprung to mind and are the most useful to me.

Of course, these are all FREE - would I use them if they weren't?! Alright, there ARE some services I would pay a minimal amount for, but it has to be something very important to me or something I need for convenience to work from home and has a minimal cost (i.e. Fax1.com, 12 cents/page for faxes, and my $20 buy in has lasted like 2 years).

By the way, the browser I use is Firefox, so if I refer to plug-ins or add-ons, it's FF based. I know some people like Chrome better, but I simply haven't tried it and don't like too much change (TBH). I have a lot attached to FireFox in the way of Plug-ins, also, which makes it more difficult to switch and retain the functionality I enjoy.

Last note before the list - I know a lot of these can do things I'm not going to mention, but I'm going to hit on the basic "why I love it" functionality of each one.

Google Toolbar (including Gmail, Calendar, Voice, Reader): I don't like to have too many toolbars mucking up my browser, but this one is very useful, as are the separate applications. The toolbar allows me to email myself links and pages when I need to, and also allows the use of Autofill, which for some sites, is helpful (such as when I'm submitting for a free sample or a form to join a simple website).

Gmail: Obviously, an email applications. Very quick/light, accessible via mobile (even if you do not have a smartphone), and easy to use. It doesn't have folders, but uses labels to sort, which is fine and ends up being very similar to folders. I'm a fan of folder organization. The "gmail.com" address sounds a bit more professional than yahoo or hotmail, etc etc if you're going for a semi-businessey email address as well. I also use email to send links to myself and make folders/labels that save important info like recipes, employment, learning, and "for future reference" items.
Calendar: This is my savior! I enter all of my appointments and things to remember into it and have it email me reminders. You can have it send you texts as well. Again, also accessible via mobile. If I need to know when I can make an appointment, I just load it on up and it shows me what I have in my choice of views (although I almost always choose month view). You can also set repeating events.
Voice: I was able to nix my home phone number (saving $20/month) while still being able to screen my calls. This allows you to have a local phone number also. It's by invite, but I believe I have a few, and most people who already have the service have a few as well. It actually is better than a home phone for me because it will send me a text when I receive/miss a call and when I get a "voicemail". I don't have it set to ring through anywhere, I just give it out to people I wouldn't pick up the phone for anyway (informational services, placing orders online that require a phone #), and if it's something important, I can just call right back. You can also send SMS (texts) from it, which is great if you're in front of a computer and don't want to muck with the tiny phone buttons but the person on the other end is out/traveling/otherwise only able to receive texts.
Reader: Well I just can't tell you how many websites/blogs I want to keep up with! Getting their feeds in Google Reader helps me to consolidate so I don't have to click on a million links all the time and then forget what sites I want to keep up with. Plus, I don't have to read it on the day it comes out. I can catch up when I want to and it's all right there for me when I'm ready. It saves me a lot of money because I can keep up with coupons/sale matchups, free samples, and productivity information (which allows me to find out about all of these free apps/programs).

Imo.im: Very light web-based multiple message service application. I use this to IM when I'm not at my home computer. No signup required, either. Basic background also which makes it more discreet. It works with MSN, Yahoo, AIM / ICQ, Google Talk, MySpace, Skype, and Facebook.
PDFEscape: Again, web-based application. Use it to edit PDF documents for free. I was looking for something free that would allow me to add text to PDF documents because I fill out a LOT of forms at work and sometimes my writing is too large or messy or my hand starts to cramp after filling out pages and pages of forms. With this, you just upload the document (you can choose to join or not), edit it (add text, shapes, white out, delete pages, etc), and then when you're done editing it, you can download it to your computer and do what you will with it.
Kaboodle: a wish list tool. You can add items from ANY site or add them manually. I keep track of things we want or need for the house, stuff Bobby likes for reference when grandparents ask what he wants for Birthday/Christmas, and things we each might just want in the future but want to put on the back burner/allow more time for consideration. I also used it to keep track of the items I wanted for the baby after reading extensive reviews and selecting what I thought was best. It has a toolbar, which is a bit hefty, but it also has a button you can just drag to your existing toolbar so that when you see something you want to add, you just hit the "Add to Kaboodle" button and it shunts you to the site to enter the details. You can make the lists public or private.
DropBox: I LOVE DropBox! I use it for home AND for work. You get up to 2GB free, but if you refer people, you get more space. You can also pay for more space, but I have not needed to yet. I use it to be able to access files from all of our computers, and so that the guys can reference my meal plan and bills sheet without me having to send them files. I use it to transfer files from work to home and vice versa. I use it to back up photos. I use it when I created a file on another computer not connected to my printer, so that when I go back to my computer, it's right there for me to print. I use it to keep my bills spreadsheet up to date from wherever I am. It's an application (download) that shows up on your computer as a file folder, but it's actually cloud storage. You can also download or upload items from the website if you need to. Excellent!
CutePDF Writer: a post-script printer that turns anything you want to print into a PDF file. I use this at work A LOT in order to make documents stay a certain size or have un-editable text, or if I want to print a webpage to a file. I use it at home to print my shopping lists to my desktop until I'm sure I have them right (saves on ink) and don't need to add anything. There are really infinite reasons you might want to print to PDF, but I'm sure you have your own. It is a download but it very light. It will also install GhostScript, which you need in order for it to work. Once you're done installing, it will show up as a "printer" in your list when you go to print something. Nifty!

Friends don't let friends shop without coupons + Frugal Blog Map!

2010-05-30T19:49:00.000-04:00

Never shop without a coupon!

Ok, well, almost never. I understand necessity and that you can't always find a coupon, but there's no harm in trying.

My favorite place to find coupons when shopping online is Retail Me Not. I firmly believe in checking for a coupon for ANY website you're purchasing from before actually making the purchase. This is a great site to start out with, but if you can't find what you're looking for, Google the name of the store + the term "coupon" or "code" and you may find something!

I saved $28 today at Shoprite using printable coupons and coupons from the newspaper coupon inserts (I get them from my oh so gracious mom who gives me what she doesn't use, but even if you purchased a paper just for the inserts, it would be worth it). Here are the best sites to get grocery coupons to print online:

Coupons.com
SmartSource
RedPlum
All You

BONUS! If you use MyPoints, you can print coupons right through their site from Coupons.com and Smartsource, and you will earn points when you use the coupons in the store.

In addition, if there are items you know you always buy in brand names (or items that you need that week in the store), check their websites for mailing lists and/or coupons. A lot of times, if you join the mailing lists, they'll send coupons to your email in their newsletter periodically, and some have sections for "promotions and coupons" where you can usually print off a coupon direct from the manufacturer.

Tips about printable coupons:
- I have had some trouble with printing in B&W only, so if you can print in color, go ahead and do that. Make sure to put your printer on draft mode first so you don't waste too much ink ;)
- Some stores do not accept printable coupons for free items or Buy One Get One free items (BOGO), so I Your Mileage May Vary (YMMV) on those (although usually the printables are cents off and not BOGO or Free).
- I wouldn't bother with any coupon in PDF format you find online to print. These are usually copied/illegal and/or won't scan at the store. Stick with the ones that you print from the sites I mentioned with the barcodes. They are completely legit.

In addition to all this "couponing", this Frugal Blog Map will help you find a blog in your area (with the exception of the states not included on the map). This is helpful because they will usually list coupon matchups and deals for stores in your area, not just national.

Recipes Post!

2010-05-22T06:32:00.000-04:00

I've been accumulating these and meaning to post them, but haven't had the chance or drive until 5AM this morning ;)

Frugal Breakfast Mixes - Instant Oatmeal and Pancake Mix

Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

S'Mores Trail Mix - this is kind of "duh, I can make trail mix", but it's good to have an actual "recipe" to go by so you know what you're going to purchase when you get to the store if you want to make something like this.

Three Bean Crispy Tacos - mixing beef and beans for a nutrition boost and to save money on meats

Garlic Cheese Biscuits

Pumpkin Tea Bread - a quick/sweet bread

Mystery Shopping Info (+ Merchandising)

2010-05-21T22:57:00.000-04:00

My son's father asked me today for this information on Mystery Shopping, so I figured it was time for me to finally compile a good list of links and info!

General Tips:
- NEVER give money to a mystery shopping company! Those are scams!
- It is OK to give your SSN to a mystery shopping company, as long as the connection is secure (check the bottom of your browser for a lock icon). They need it for tax purposes since you are technically an independent contractor.
- NEVER reveal what companies shop which chains to a public audience. This is grounds for banning from working as a mystery shopper, as it is against most of the companies' rules.
- Purchase and return shops usually suck and I don't take them.
- Purchase with reimbursement shops are cool if you actually want the product and the assignment/report isn't extremely labor-intensive.
- Judge the value you get from the shop on the time investment you have to put in vs what you get out of it (monetary value or a good meal, etc). You could drive yourself crazy trying to do every shop you can get.

If you're interested in merchandising (usually like $10/hour(ish) for stocking/setting shelves in various locations as a contractor), check out http://www.volition.com/merchandise.html, which is a comprehensive listing of merchandising companies. Great way to make money while you're out of work (or if you want work on the side).

Check this out to prepare yourself for merchandising (NARMS Merchandiser Training):
http://www.narms.com/training/chap1.html

Here is a list of companies I am signed up with/have shopped in the past:

Kinesis
https://shopper.kinesis-cem.com/ShopperMenu.pl?Action=ShopperSignup
Bowling

Kern Scheduling:
https://www.sassieshop.com/sassie/SassieShopperSignup/Signup.php?EmsID=ggGNDwmEsOk%3D
posts and schedules for Kinesis shops (sign up for both)

Corporate Research International
https://www.mysteryshops.com/prospective.asp
lots of different types including, gas, retail, and pizza

Mystery Guest:
http://www.mysteryguestinc.com/contact.asp
Restaurant

Amusement Advantage:
http://www.amusementadvantage.com/
kind of self-explanatory ;) Amusement stuff

Beyond Hello:
http://beyondhello.com/shoppers/featured-locations
sunglasses, travel centers, optical

Intelli-Shop
http://insite.intelli-shop.com/index.norm.php
travel centers, convenience stores, oil changes, car dealerships, automotive

GameFilm
http://www.gamefilm-consultants.com/index.norm.php
Restaurant

Focus On Service:
http://www.focusonservice.com/
Restaurants

Ritter Associates
http://www.ritterassociates.com/become-shopper.html
Gas, Storage

SCI
http://www.shopperscritique.com/
Haircuts, Wireless, music store

aTH Power
http://www.sassieshop.com/2ap123/index.norm.php
Financial/Banks

National Shopping Service (NSS)
http://www.nationalshoppingservice.com/public/mystery_shopper_registration.asp
Quick-serve food service, Retail

BestMark
https://www.bestmark.com/
quick-serve food service

Market Force
https://www.marketforce.com/
quick-serve food service

Also, check out this comprehensive list of shopping information, job listings, and companies (pay attention to geographical area). This includes all of what I have listed + many others, it just depends on what you're interested in:
http://www.volition.com/mystery.html

Random Money-Saving Tips (practical ones), and easy low-cal frozen dessert

2010-05-19T15:39:00.000-04:00

I rarely ever purchase printer paper due to this tip (and also use it at work):
Use Backs of School Notices As Scratch Paper

Great tip for squeezing (literally) every last bit of stuff out of... stuff:
Cut Tube Open Before Throwing Away

This is sort of a "duh" tip, but bears repeating. Also a few good ideas on how to do it with limited hassle:
Save Lunch Money Instead of Eating Out

I always forget I want to try to make these, but it's been in the back of my mind for a while. Good substitute for an ice cream sandwich if you like those:
Frozen Graham Cracker Sandwiches

Rewards/Points Programs and How to Use Them Wisely

2010-05-19T05:23:00.000-04:00

I've been meaning to post this, and may have actually done it in the past also, but this is a better, more condensed version.

These are just for extra cash/gift cards a few times a year, not going to get rich or make a steady income off of any of them, so keep that in mind.

By the way, I only refer to services I have tried and proven worthy first!

General tips:

Make filters for these "read and earn" emails or else they'll fill your inbox.
"read and earn" emails do expire, so you should click through every couple of days to make sure you get the points.
Don't give your CC for anything or pay any money unless you are going through the site links to earn points for something you were already going to order online.
Use NoScript and WebOfTrust add-ons for FireFox to avoid running a ton of adverts when you click on certain links and to warn you if certain sites are questionable.

Swagbucks
This is basically a search and earn site. You use it as your main search engine and sometimes you'll pop up with a "you've earned x amount of Swagbucks!" notification. I use it as my main search even though it's not as good as Google, and then if I can't find what I'm looking for on there, I'll Google it instead. I'll also "search" sites I know the URLs to and click through the result instead of going directly just so I have a chance to get SB ;)
What I usually redeem (have done so 9 times so far) is $5 to Amazon.com

for 450 Swagbucks. They add up pretty fast if you search a lot. You can get other things too, you'll have to look through the rewards catalog. I just spend a ton of money on Amazon so it's worth it for me to redeem for that.

Mypoints
You earn most of your points with this one with "paid to click" emails. They send you an email and you click the link, and most of the time it gives you 5 points per email. You can also earn points by purchasing through their links to certain sites (that you would already have shopped). Say you were going to buy some shoes from zappos.com - if you go to MyPoints and then click the zappos link, it'll reward you per dollar spent if you use the same email address. You're basically ordering through their referral.
You can also earn points by printing grocery coupons through MyPoints and using them at the store. I'm a big coupon user, so that's beneficial to me.
I redeem from MP about 2 or 3 times a year anywhere from $10 - $25 gift cards, though you can save your points up for something bigger if you want.

InboxDollars and RewardPort
A bit more "spammy", but basically the same as MyPoints. You earn slower on each of these, though, but I have redeemed $30 from InboxDollars and $10 to Amazon from RewardPort.

EvReward
If you're shopping and want to get rewarded for it (i.e. points or cash back), this is the place to check. Find what you're looking for and then plug the site into this site to see where you can link from to earn points. The best cash back sites are FatWallet and Bing Cashback. I don't really do a lot of the other ones.

If you have any questions about these or other programs you might have run across, I'll be happy to give you some more info or opinions!

About couponing, and REALLY COOL Lowe's "Build and Grow" clinic 5/22

2010-05-18T20:53:00.001-04:00

Short one today - been out all day but wanted to post up these two things.

I read this one at like 4:30AM and still think it's valuable enough to share. It regards how couponing REALLY works and busts the myths associated with it. It's a good read. You don't have to get crazy with coupons for them to still help you save money.

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2010/05/17/busting-the-myths-why-coupons-are-a-valuable-part-of-your-financial-arsenal/

Lowe's has a REALLY COOL "Build and Grow" clinic this Saturday, 5/22, for kids 1st to 5th grades where they can BUILD A CATAPULT! That's pretty awesome. Also, FREE. If Bobby is going to be here, I'm going to sign him up. Pre-registration required. Go here to register.

CVS 1st attempt - WOW! That was cheap!

2010-05-15T16:25:00.001-04:00

So I haven't really tried out this extra bucks thing before, but they threw a bunch of coupons at me, and I saw posts on the blogs I follow about the match-ups (extra bucks + coupons = saving a lot of money), so I figured I'd try it. Here's what I got:

BIG OL' PACK o' Huggies Naturals Wipes (214 wipes)
36 ct Huggies Size 2 Diapers
40 ct Huggies Size 1 Diapers
(2) Pantene Shampoos
(2) Kellogg's Raisin Bran
6 ct Bounty Select-a-Size Paper Towels
Schick Hydro 5 Razor
Honey Altoids

Total Cost: 7.93

Coupons I used:

$15 Extra Bucks on any purchase (this came through email)
$4 off $20 @ CVS (this came through email)
$2 off 2 Pantene
(2) $3 off Huggies
$5 off Schick Hydro
$2 off Huggies Wipes
$2 Extra Bucks (used on 2nd ring up, earned on 1st ring up)
$3 Extra Bucks (used on 2nd ring up, earned on 1st ring up)
$4 Extra Bucks (used on 2nd ring up, earned on 1st ring up)

This is like a game to me. I love it!

Want to know the funny thing? We went for half price frappuccinos at Starbucks afterward and I spent $7.14 for 3 frapps - almost the same as what I spent at CVS for all that stuff. This makes me LOL.

Diaper Coupons (High Value!), Rewards, FREE Book for Kids, and Movie Rental Deal

2010-05-15T06:44:00.002-04:00

If you have kids in diapers, don't miss these coupons for Huggies. Match them up with sales at your local stores, and you've got cheap diapers! If you'd like me to look for the deals on these to match up the coupons at the store you shop at, let me know and I'll be glad to post. I can usually find those things very easily/quickly.

Speaking of diapers, if you're not a member of Pampers Gifts To Grow and Huggies Enjoy The Ride, you should be! The secret is, you don't have to have a kid in diapers or any kids to benefit from these programs! I haven't bought any diapers in the past 5+ years and I keep getting the free codes these programs give out, and you can redeem for some pretty cool rewards. Check them out.

Here is a free 10 point code to Pampers Gifts To Grow.

Kids ages 12 and under can earn a FREE book from Borders for reading 10 books over the summer (5/4 through 8/26). The list of free books is limited, but you can more than likely find one that your child would be interested in, and this gets them reading. They do it every summer.

Blockbuster Express is having a rent 2, get 3rd free deal for this weekend only. Code is G215D2. Here are the details. They have a lot of new releases. Movie marathon, anyone?

Dollar Store Shopping Tips, Chocolate Recipes, & Free Portal (video game)

2010-05-13T20:57:00.000-04:00

Came across an article today called How to be a Smart Dollar Store Shopper, which had some good info and also reminded me of a couple of articles I had seen previously about the dollar store. I endorse the $ store for certain things A++ 100%, but it's true that you have to be careful about what you get. Here are some more good tips:

http://notmadeofmoney.com/blog/2010/03/shopping-at-the-dollar-store-items-we-buy-and-what-we-avoid.html

http://stretcher.com/stories/09/09nov23b.cfm

Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day with these recipes or make a quickie Chocolate Cake in a Mug with this recipe! BTW, if you don't keep cake flour hanging around (I don't), you can make a substitute with ¾ cup regular flour and two tablespoons of cornstarch. That tip is courtesy WiseGeek.

Never played Portal? On that off chance (or the chance that you want to play it again), you can get it for free via Steam until 5/24:

http://www.heyitsfree.net/2010/05/13/free-portal-video-game-download/

FREE Movie Rental Codes, Burger Recipes, Swagbucks and Check your Plugins!

2010-05-12T13:21:00.000-04:00

We're having burgers for dinner tonight, and I just happened to come across these two recipes that I thought looked so entirely tasty, I want to NOM THEM NOW PLEASE!

Cajun Style Jucy Lucy Burgers

Grilled Cheese Onion Burgers

Also, I have never used a Blockbuster Express before, and I didn't think there were any near me, but it turns out there's one just down the street at the Genuardi's. I usually use RedBox when I get free codes, but now I shall take advantage of both, thank you very much!

TIP: This is a good way to see movies you were iffy about paying to see in the theater, or that you think might be entertaining but not worth any money. That's why I love FREE CODES! I know Bobby probably wants to see G-Force, but I don't want to pay for it, so I'll just rent it when I can for free (probably tonight) ;)

Here is a FREE Blockbuster Express rental code (1 night):

http://www.forthemommas.com/deals-and-steals/free-blockbuster-express-rental-code

Here is a FREE RedBox code (courtesy of Inside RedBox) for use at GIANT / STOP-N-SHOP ONLY:

SMLVCTS
Special Use: Giant / Stop & Shop only

BTW, if you're using FireFox and have a lot of plug-ins (like I do), you can go here to make sure they are all up to date. Pretty cool. I love you, Mozilla.

Last but not least, I know I may have mentioned this on FB before, but in case I didn't ... or something... You should all seriously join Swagbucks and use it for your searches. Ridiculously easy, no emails to click on to earn the points, and you can redeem $5 to Amazon for only 450 "bucks". I have redeemed 9 NINE NINE NINE of those (that makes 45 free dollars to Amazon) within the last TWO MONTHS. You can redeem for $5 cash to Paypal but that costs 700 "bucks", so if you shop on Amazon, the Amazon thing is a better deal. Seriously, check it out, you'd be doing yourself a monetary favor!

And yes, this is a referral link, but I would NOT refer anyone to anything I hadn't tried and proven first!
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/mamaskull

10 Things I Think I Need to be Truly Happy

2009-11-23T22:16:00.001-05:00

I once in a while look at this thing called the "Imagination Prompt" and it yields some interesting food for thought. This is what came up today.

10 Things I Think I Need to be Truly Happy (not really in any particular order):

1. Enough money to get by and enjoy life - I'm not talking about excessive cash here, just enough to pay my bills, purchase some really nice groceries and ingredients for recipes, some to save every month for emergencies, and some (like a couple hundred) for entertainment. That is all.

2. Immediate family - although sometimes I want to strangle them, life would be pretty empty without them.

3. Extended family - I really love large family gatherings.

4. Friends - The best and closest all the way down to the acquaintances and those who live far away. We connect on Facebook, and lots of people give me lots of great advice, and I can help people also with advice and encouragement.

5. Reading material - sometimes I'll read almost anything to get my fix. I do love words on paper (or the computer screen).

6. Basic clothing - I think I'd miss it if I had to go without it. I'd be pretty cold a lot of the time at any rate.

7. Health - anyone who has been in ill health can attest that it can really ruin your shit.

8. Food and Drink - I love it and I also need it to live, so win-win, right?

9. Shelter - even if it was just a car to live in. Or a sturdy crate. I could make do. I'm creative. I just don't like the elements. Seriously. Wind pisses me off the most, probably followed by rain. Or maybe equally. I'd have to give that more thought.

10. Errrrr, having trouble thinking of a #10. Nope, I got nothin'. So what would YOUR list look like?

A tank for all seasons

2009-10-20T14:36:00.000-04:00

I love tanks tops. Plain ones most of all.

Do you know WHY I love tank tops?

Because I REALLY get my money's worth!

I can wear a plain tank top all year round. Yes, most people use tank tops for layering, and I do too, but you know what else I do?

Since I refuse to wear bras (shocking, yes), I use them as undershirts! That not only means that I don't purchase bras ($$ anyone?), but it means I can wear thin weight shirts throughout the winter as well.

I use tank tops as such:
- Layering under lighter weight shirts during colder seasons
- as undershirts (bra substitute)
- underneath a blazer or cardigan for the colder months
- just as a tank top in the summer

I've recently discovered (last couple of years) how important PLAIN pieces are in the wardrobe. SO versatile!

Another thing I have that I REALLY love is this lightweight blazer I got umpteen years ago. Plain black, comes to about my upper thigh/mid-butt (?) area. I can wear it with almost ANYTHING - love it!

I have this terrible habit of HATING to try on clothes, so a lot of times it's hit or miss when I purchase something. I missed on one of the shirts I bought this weekend, and I'm ready to trash it. I could almost kick myself for not sticking to my rule of PLAIN, GOD DAMMIT! The shirt itself isn't too bad, but the sleeves are ridiculous. Like you'd have to be anorexic for the darn things not to rub a rash into your underarms. You probably know the kind of sleeve I'm talking about - shorter than a short sleeve, but longer than a sleeveless.

Abysmal, I tell you. I'm ready to chuck it in the damn trash. I don't care about the $6 I spent on it!

On the flip side, I bought a plain $1 blue tee by Abercrombie that I just put on with a yellow tank under it (being a bit cooler today and being that I'm at work), and it's really soft and comfortable. So, I'm chalking the $6 mistake up to the fact that I would have spent the extra $6 on this t-shirt.

Me talking about fashion? You probably never would have thunk it! You know what, neither would I - I'm going to stop now ;)

Recent Articles I love

2009-08-01T22:22:00.003-04:00

Good tips of nutrition and good habits for sanity's sake.
How To Save You From Yourself | Marc and Angel Hack Life

Hrm, interesting. Can you pick up those Starbucks cards without actually loading them? I know you can do that at Subway and use them to earn points with each purchase, but I don't know how it works with Starbucks.
Saving at Starbucks: Gourmet Coffee Just Got More Affordable | Wise Bread

I love all of these things! I do find that doing some housework, getting things organized, or making lists does help, even if it seems mundane at first look.
15 Low Cost Ways to Beat Stress | Wise Bread

Hrm, interesting. Interesting indeed.
Three Effective Ways to Enhance Your Willpower

I approve of this message. I'm guilty of checking many email inboxes, but Digsby centralizes them all for when I don't have much time.
17 Things you Should Stop Doing : Productivity501

I am really loving this idea. The article is a little long-winded, but you can skip the personal examples and go right for the "meat" if you're impatient.
The Big Question: Are You Better Than Yesterday?

I approve of this advice. I will even take and apply it!
To Get What You Want, Don't Go With Your Gut - Peter Bregman - HarvardBusiness.org

I WANT TO MAKE THESE RIGHT NOW!
Drumsticks
Source: www.instructables.com
Just in time for summer, an easy recipe for making your very own Drumstick style ice cream cones - also known in some parts as Cornettos!

Ha, this is so interesting! I do fidget a lot, and I always wondered if it was burning extra calories. That's awesome.
Use NEAT Activities to Burn More Calories - Health - Lifehacker

Hrm, I'm wondering what you all think of this advice, or how you work your own resumes.
Avoid These Phrases to Keep Your Resume Relevant - Job search - Lifehacker

People are really creative with cardboard!
Create an iPhone Document Scanner from Cardboard - iPhone - Lifehacker

This is really flippin' nifty, and a really cool idea for a really cool small gift for a dude if you're strapped for cash and they need a new wallet... well, that's pretty narrow, but you know what I mean!
Use Cardboard To Make A Billfold or Wallet!

Mail-In Rebates for Free/Cheap Products

2009-07-24T10:17:00.003-04:00

CENTRUM® OR CENTRUM® SILVER® - $5 Rebate

Any 12 oz. bag of Seattle’s Best Coffee

Precious Cat Free Bag (of Litter) Rebate Offer

Try Sure® MAX FREE

Try Sure® for Men FREE

Consolidated Articles and Pantry Update

2009-07-23T13:37:00.004-04:00

I haven't been posting recently, and instead have been putting things on my Facebook page, but I figured it was time to consolidate here. Not only for the benefit of the no one reading this, but for my benefit when I want to go back and reference later.

First, an update on my pantry challenge:
Due to some sales and BBQs in the past few weeks, we have added a few more things to our pantry, but we have been doing REALLY great eating meals from what we have! I actually used some of the things that have been sitting in my freezer for ... forever... and feeding my family in a healthful and frugal way always makes me feel great!

Here are a few articles and links that I've posted over the past couple of weeks on my Facebook that you may or may not have seen:

How To Get A Job By Thinking Outside Of The Box
Yes Yes, another employment article. I just really love these, though, and find it useful to stir up ideas about job hunting.

Zero Waste Lunches: How to Make Your Own Executive Style Supply Kit | Wise Bread

I really dig a lot of the products in this article!

Hungry Girl "Egg Mug" Meals
I AM a big fan of the egg mug - been doin' it for years!

College Student Eating Survival Guide (Until Spring Break) | Wise Bread

You may or may not find some of these ideas off-putting, but they are truly good ideas for desperate eaters!

8 ways to find and keep a temporary job

This is a great article. Read and absorb! Indeed, the job I have had for 8+ years now started out as a temp job.

Hungry Girl posts a couple of awesome snack ideas!

I really like #2 and #3 snack/meal ideas!

Pantry Challenge Week/Month

2009-07-01T14:37:00.003-04:00

I recommend taking the "pantry challenge" - go through your cabinets, freezer, fridge and see what you can make for meals without shopping!

My husband and I went through our cabinets, freezer, fridge, and other misc shelves and detailed (in spreadsheet format) all of the food we have that could be used to make dinners and some lunches for the next few weeks. Here's what we came up with:

Pasta with Sauce (carrots or applesauce on the side) x 3
Bean & Rice Tacos (with small amount of chicken for my son's taco) - turns out we got 2 meals out of this!
Tuna Melts (carrots or applesauce on the side)
BLT on Bagels (carrots or applesauce on the side)
Egg Beater Omelets w/Hashed Browns
Elbow Mac w/Franks in Cream of Mushroom "Soup-Sauce" (carrots or applesauce on the side)
Steak Tacos w/ Beans and Rice
Pancakes with cinnamon applesauce on the side (or other "breakfast for dinner" option such as Cream of Wheat or Oatmeal)
Beef w/Mushroom Gravy & Egg Noodles w/ Butter x2 (carrots or applesauce on the side)
Spaghetti w/ Clam Sauce
Hamburger Helper w/ Peas and Mushrooms (and the hamburger, of course)
Baked Beans w/ Hot Dogs
Mix and Match night: Pizza Slice, Chicken Soup, Tomato Soup, Grilled Cheese, Cheeseburger Boca Burger(s)

The only thing we'll need to go to the store for is 1 can of mushroom gravy, and the weekly staples like cheese, bread, milk, and chocolate milk. I'll also need to pick up lettuce and tomatoes last minute for the BLTs so they don't go bad beforehand.

That's 17 meals!

For lunches, I discovered things like:

Frozen Muffins
Canned Pears
Pineapple Cups
Pudding
Raisins
Frosted Shredded Wheat (used as lunch snacks)
(2) Boca Burgers

That's not including the staple lunch items like carrots and cheese sandwiches.

I also have lots left on my list of foods that will not be used in these meals, so I can plan meals around those items and not have to pick up a full complement of groceries for probably an entire month.

Free Food (June 19th) and Paint (June 25th) and a Funny Article

2009-06-17T15:30:00.003-04:00

AWESOME list of Birthday Freebies updated just today!

If you're currently doing any painting projects, this is for you! Free quart of Glidden paint on June 25.

Free Orange Julius Light Smoothie on 6/19 w/ coupon!

Funny Article on Work Personalities. I know a lot of SMILING BACKSTABBERS and I am a combination of The Sensitive Thespian and the Too Much Information Sharer.

Ooh, New Articles/Money Saving Stuff!

2009-06-01T15:51:00.003-04:00

I haven't read my feeds in about a week, which is why I haven't posted. I did, however, read them today!

I was TOO excited to find this link to a comprehensive list of "Kids Eat Free". I've found other sites that list them... kinda stink... but this one is pretty good. Of course, you always have to call the locations to confirm, but it's a great starting point!

Are you actually productive with Twitter? Well, I'm not, but if you are, here is a list of the 30 best deal hunters to follow.

Pay attention, because this is an important one! This is an article about a woman who has someone else's credit history on her report, and it's not a case of ID theft. In the comments, you'll find some REALLY great info to file away in your knowledge banks (or, for me, my email knowledge banks, as I can't remember a darn thing) in case this should ever happen to you or someone you know.

Also, I went to a $10 bag sale at a local thrift store this weekend. I found out about it from a local email list I am on, and it was awesome. They had a lot more stuff than I expected! Of course, I only got 1 shirt for me, and the rest was for... everyone else.

Coupons and Deals - only the best!

2009-05-22T14:06:00.006-04:00

Ran across some really good coupons and deals today and really wanted to share them.

First, for you fans of Stacy's Pita Chips (I think they're pretty good anyway), Amazon.com this deal that allows you to get (24) 1.5 oz bags (that's single serve) for $9 shipped. Pretty good, especially if you routinely spend money on chips or snacks at work!

In the market for a book? If you're a Borders Rewards member (and you should be, because it's free), you can use this coupon for 40% off one item good only until 5/24.

Going out to eat? Consider Ruby Tuesday and they'll give you 1 FREE entree when you purchase 1! I love these coupons! Valid 5/21 - 6/2.

If you shop at Lane Bryant, check out this coupon for 50% off your order + $2.99 shipping through 5/26!

This is a good one for Mastercard holders from CVS: 20% off everything (coupon code) plus Free Shipping & $15 off orders ($10 sign-in bonus + $5 off when you pay with MC). Keep in mind, you can purchase some food items from them as well!

And last but not least, there is a coupon for Restaurant.com that will allow you to purchase selected $25 gift certificates for $2 each! We use these for an Indian place closeby that we love to go to. Check it out and see what restaurants they have that are in your area.

Shout out for Shoplocal.com

2009-05-19T14:38:00.003-04:00

Quick shout out to a site I had previously overlooked. Shoplocal.com allows you to put in your location and finds brick and mortar sales that are close to you.

I'm shopping for a razor scooter for my son (he has one at his grandmother's, but not at my place) and I had a ToysRUs gift card. I thought "well, let me go see, I'm sure they can't be more than $30", but alas, THEY ARE! Ridiculous - on Toysrus.com, they wanted $40 for a scooter PLUS SHIPPING!

I said "no way" to myself! I know my mom said she got his for around 20 bucks, so I went on a quest to find one way cheaper. So so so many sites have them for so so so many different prices. I'm not really interested in paying that much for it, so I was thinking "man, I wonder if there's a way to find local sales, because I don't keep the circulars for very long", so I typed "find sales" into google search. BING! Came up with the first site, shoplocal.com, which I have heard of before but I haven't really checked it out much.

I should be checking it out for more stuff from now on, because I found that the local Walmart has these scooters, same one I was going to buy online, for $19.97. Hello, WAY BETTER!

This is shared on Works for Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family (you should visit that blog!)

The Value of Good Shampoo

2009-05-18T09:39:00.001-04:00

This morning I realized that there really is value to good shampoo! It only took me years to get to this, but here I am.

I have been blaming my son for not washing his hair correctly, and he's been telling me that there's something wrong with the shampoo. I had washed my hair with that type of shampoo (White Rain, ugh) before and didn't have any problem, so I was telling him he was crazy and he just wasn't doing it right.

Boy do I owe him an apology!

I ran out of Pert Plus and had to use the White Rain. HE IS RIGHT! That stuff stinks! It would barely lather! I could not believe it.

From now on, I'm sticking to Pert Plus or Head and Shoulders. They're not extremely pricey, but they are both great and treat my hair way better than the crappy stuff.

Link to Review of Plants vs. Zombies

2009-05-15T10:01:00.002-04:00

Plants vs. Zombies is a really fun 2D Tower Defense game. Since I couldn't say it better, I'm linking to Michael Aulia's review of the game!

Seriously, I've been playing it for 3 days and it's addictive!

Time and Sanity Saving Tips

2009-05-13T12:24:00.003-04:00

I may or may not be repeating myself with some of these! Here are some little tips and habits I've picked up to save time, energy, and sanity.

- YoCrunch yogurts (you know, those yogurts with the little add-ins on top?) were on sale at my Acme this week. I bought 20, but they had a lot with toppings like M&Ms, Nestle Crunch, and Reese's Pieces. I thought "well I add wheat germ to my yogurt, so not sure what I'm going to do with these toppings". In the shower this morning, inspiration hit me! I'll separate the toppings and put them away for small treats later! There's always a time when someone in my house is craving chocolate, so this should work out perfectly.

- If you see something in the house that needs to be done and it's a very quick fix, just do it right when you notice it. For instance, I look at the floor in my bathroom while I'm peeing and think "ugh, look at all that dirt and hair in that corner there". After I'm done on the terlet (my word for "toilet"), I just use some TP and wipe it up, flush the TP, and then ta-da, done!

- If it can't be done within that very few seconds when you notice it, WRITE IT DOWN for later. I am such a fan of WRITING STUFF DOWN because it simply works. Keep the list in a place where you'll see it and you will likely not forget to do that thing later.

- If you're on a roll, keep going. When I get up in the morning, I make sure I do the cat food (water, dry food, wet food) and then the litter, and then packing my breakfast and putting anything that needs to go to work with me in my bag. I do all of this before I even get in the shower, because I know if I don't do it first thing and all at the same time, I'll get distracted and forget to do it.

- Have a plan. Know what you're going to do and when you're going to do it. This saves A LOT of sanity, and if something unexpected comes up, you can always re-arrange the schedule. This avoids the "OMG WHEN AM I GOING TO DO THIS?!" syndrome.

- Have a grocery store near your work? If you're like me and don't really socialize every day at lunch, you can do this. Check the sales circulars for good deals at your work-local store, and pick them up on your lunch break! I do this a lot now, and it helps me to save time and get some good deals.

Just some things that work for me!

Grocery Comparison Shopping

2009-05-13T10:55:00.000-04:00

As far as grocery shopping goes, I keep my list pretty much in my head. I can tell you, though, that I've shopped almost all of the grocery stores in this area, and have consistently found Shoprite to come up with the best prices on most products.

I've shopped (and of course this is my locality, so some of you may not have seen these stores in your area):
Pathmark
Superfresh
Acme
Aldi's
Save-a-Lot
Genuardi's
Giant/Super G
... and probably a couple more!

Cons of "discount stores" such as Aldi's and Save-a-Lot:
- Don't always have everything you need.
- Meat and produce is sometimes low quality.
- Not always the best prices in any case. You can get similar or better prices on sales at other stores.

For a quick trip, I don't mind going to Acme, but I always know I'm going to spend more. I've found it to be one of the highest priced stores in the area, and even their sales are sometimes not worth it.

I feel the same about Genuardi's as I do about Acme, but I shop online with them in a bind, if I REALLY don't have time but desperately need groceries. I always use their coupons for free delivery, though. I don't order unless I can get free delivery!

Giant has fairly good prices, but can be all over the board, so I would always check the circulars before going there.

The best advice I can give for grocery shopping is this:
- Stick to sale items
- Buy generic whenever possible
- Compare prices for each brand on the shelf. Sometimes the sale price isn't always the best price.
- Compare unit prices. Sometimes buying the larger one may seem more expensive, but if you will use all of it before it goes bad, it is a better value in the long run and you'll be making less trips to the store.
- Check expiration dates and see if you can get the latest date possible. Less waste = less trips to the grocery store = saving money.
- Plan meals around the good sale items. Of course, not around the sale items that are crap, though. Bad nutrition certainly isn't frugal!
- Shop with a list. This has saved me a lot of money and storage space, actually, since I don't end up purchasing a lot of stuff I won't use. It takes me some time to make my list, since I create a loose meal plan (including desserts, breakfasts, snacks, drinks) before creating my list, but it also allows me to know EXACTLY what I need.
- Go through your pantry, freezer, and fridge and take "inventory" before going shopping. There's probably some things lurking back there that you forgot you had and can use.

The bottom line for getting the best prices on grocery shopping is that it pretty much depends on your purchasing habits. I can tell you where the overall best prices are, but you need to evaluate if that works for you.

Links to grocery circulars:
http://www.sundaysaver.com/category/grocery

This "Works for Me", so I'm posting it over at WFMW at the wonderful blog, We Are That Family.

Kellogg's cereals for 50 cents and emailing for Grocery Coupons

2009-05-11T14:20:00.005-04:00

Wanted to alert y'all that if you buy breakfast cereal with any regularity and like a wide variety (i.e. are not that picky about brand/type), you can get boxes of cereal for about 50 cents a box @ Acme with their sales this week (at least in my region - East Coast, PA)! This is actually better than their circular coupon sale of 88 cents for a store brand box.

Acme's sale thru May 14:

Kellogg’s Cereals
Bite Size Frosted Mini-Wheats 24 oz.
Frosted Flakes 17 oz.
Raisin Bran 25.5 oz.
CARD PRICE: $1.50
Must Buy 4 Greater or Lesser Quantities $2.50 (PAY ATTENTION TO THIS)

Get the coupons:
http://www2.kelloggs.com/Product/KelloggCoupon.aspx?id=1992

There are 3 there - All for $1.00 off. 1 is for Raisin Bran, another for Frosted Flakes, and another for Mini-Wheats.

You can print them more than once.

Buy 4 boxes of cereal. Use (1) $1.00 coupon for each.

Voila, 50 cents cereal!

Also, found this article online and thought maybe I'll try it out. Can't hurt!

Emailing for grocery coupons

Organic Meats, Health Insurance, and Food Donations

2009-05-07T15:35:00.002-04:00

This is a GREAT website to find/shop for organic meats. This is becoming increasingly more important to me, as I'm starting to feel sick with myself when I eat meat. This could be a good compromise. Visit Local Harvest to see what they have to offer.

Very Informative and Comprehensive article for dealing without health insurance. Be sure to read through it all - it has GREAT ideas and tips!

I didn't even know about this until now, which seems odd, but the NALC (National Association of Letter Carriers) is having a food drive on 5/9. All you have to do is leave out a bag of food for your postal carrier to pick up. Read more about it here. I got the original link here, and you should also check out that page because it gives some good ideas on how to afford to donate food.

Lower Your Bills/BillShrink, Webby Awards, and Free 8x10

2009-05-06T12:28:00.004-04:00

Have been away for a couple of days dealing with some crappy issues (health, cat health, mental health!), but here are a few cool and potentially useful links for the day!

Webby Awards have been won and posted! It's pretty cool to check out this list of websites, because you could find some interesting stuff you didn't know was out there. Of note would be the legal websites, and BillShrink (which I am looking through now). Of course, you should scroll through the entire list.

I also find this site useful, and not sure why it's on there (unless I missed it) - Lower My Bills. I just got an auto insurance quote that would save us about $60/month and I might actually decide to switch.

Also, Walgreen's Photo is giving a free 8x10 today with the code MOTHER. Today only, guys! Great Mother's Day gift - give your mom an 8 x 10 Framed (you can get frames at the dollar store, btw).

Websites for Printable Grocery Coupons and Free Online Learning

2009-05-03T20:32:00.004-04:00

Kellogg's

RedPlum

Coupons.com

BoxTops4Education

Betty Crocker

Eat Better America

Free Online Courses (mostly basics):
http://www.gcflearnfree.org/

Freelancing, Medical Care, and Air Conditioning

2009-05-01T14:44:00.005-04:00

GREAT ideas for freelancers trying to network. I thought the BarCamp thing and this Help A Reporter thing was (were?) darn intriguing!

More on medical care for the uninsured. 5 good resources - some you may have thought of, but never hurts to be reminded!

Hrm, Food for thought if you're considering going "AC free" this year (most likely because you can't afford it).

Packwhiz.com is so rad, I wanna build it an aquarium!

2009-04-30T22:35:00.004-04:00

This site is now going to replace my somewhat disorderly and never complete enough MS Excel packing list. HUZZAH!

It's even integrated into Google - I love Google stuff. I use it for almost everything. Especially their Calendar, without which I would be UTTERLY LOST AT ALL TIMES!

So basically, you go into the site, it asks where you're going, how you're getting there, and what accommodations you're staying in (in very simple format, albeit), and it GENERATES A LIST FOR YOU!

I have honestly been looking for this for the longest time, but the only thing I ever found was pre-generated down loadable lists or lists I didn't like. For some reason, I like this a lot more.

I'm easy to excite, shut up.

EDIT: OMG IT ALSO GIVES YOU A TO-DO LIST!

WALGREENS EASYSAVER DISCONTINUED! (And how to replace it)

2009-04-30T15:21:00.002-04:00

Oh my goodness, I have to share this... Walgreen's EasySaver (their Free After Rebate items) has been.....

.........DISCONTINUED!

I... I... don't know how to FEEL! Man, I have used the heck out of that for the past several YEARS, and I am so going to miss it! Guess it's on to other venues...

I know Rite-Aid has a rebate program, but in the past I haven't been too satisfied with it. I'm going to start keeping an eye on it, though.

Now I know there are some real experts at CVS ExtraBucks out there, but to me, it shouldn't take that much effort! I'm going to keep an eye on these ads, too, though.

Man, I haven't paid for toothpaste or hair gel in YEARS, and now I'm going to have to start doing it again? MAAAAN! Oh well :(

Random Articles/Freebies + BACK TO THE FUTURE II ARTICLE

2009-04-29T15:05:00.004-04:00

How to Launch an EECB (Executive Email Carpet Bomb). This is in case you're not getting anywhere with customer service at any particular company and need to go higher up.

Dalai Lama says "DUH!"

B&N (Barnes and Noble) is doing their kids book club summer reading thinger again this year.

No more excuses to not send mom a Mother's Day card with this offer - a free mother's day card that they mail for you!

OMG BACK TO THE FUTURE II HOVERBOARD ARTICLE! (I love BttF!!)

Why I am giving up modeling

2009-04-28T14:33:00.002-04:00

I've been struggling with this decision for some time now, but I have come to the conclusion that discontinuing modeling is for the best at this point in my life. There are several factors influencing this decision:

I've always liked getting the extra money, but it has never been reliable enough of an income for me to miss it that much. This is a difficult thing for me to let go of if you know how I feel about money!
I dislike committing my evenings and/or weekends, and would rather spend them with my family and/or in other pursuits, such as volunteering, attending HSA/PTA meetings, becoming more active (possibly purchasing a bike), and simple RELAXING!
It's hard on my feet and knees (mostly referring to art modeling). Standing or sitting in one position for long periods of time causes a lot of strain on my body, and I'm concerned about the long term effects.
For photographic modeling, I'm getting older and just can't "compete" - and I don't want to! I don't desire to expend to effort anymore.

In the end, modeling is just not getting me anywhere towards my true life goals, and it's something I have been dreading recently. I may experience a slight "mourning period", because modeling has always boosted my (terribad) self-esteem, but on the other hand, I'd rather boost it in other ways, such as being a better mother, better lifemate, and doing more for others. There are also some small side ventures I'd like to have more time for.

The exceptions to this decision will be:

Special projects that I may stumble upon or be asked to do, depending on content.
If I lose employment, I may fall back on art modeling until I can get a steady income going again.
Completing any special projects that I have already committed to.

Again, this has been a difficult decision and a long time in the making. Feel free to give thoughts or feedback. I always like hearing what everyone has to say!

If you are interested in the "other projects" or special interests I would like to work on, here is a partial/starter list:

Becoming more involved with the HSA/PTA at my son's school and possibly helping with their projects.
Fitness and starting a walking club with family or my mom's church (although I am not religious).
Volunteering for cancer initiatives, Human Rights campaigns, and Animal Rights (among other things).
Starting a side business with family (strombolis, cookies, etc - more ideas developing).
Finally getting and riding a darn bike!

Recipe - Cheesy Beefy Quesadilla (Healthy!)

2009-04-27T13:36:00.002-04:00

Just a quick one for today because I'm pretty ill! Hopefully it's not SWINE FLU OMG!!

No, just kidding. I'm sure it's not.

Anyway, I've had this sitting in my inbox for a while and I REALLY want to try it - HG's Cheesy Beefy Quesadilla

Personally, I'd probably substitute 2% cheddar for the fat free. The fat free cheddar tastes a bit like plastic to me! FF Sour Cream is fine, though. I'd also just use whichever tortilla I happened to have on hand (usually a bunch of wheat ones in whatever variety was on sale).

If anyone tries it, let me know how it is.

Best of the Best for 4/24/09

2009-04-24T13:45:00.007-04:00

Well I sure am a big fan of body wash... and especially of getting it for free. These Walmart offers DO come!
Free NIVEA Touch of Happiness Body Wash

Here is an article called 11 Ways to Get Extra Cash. I think the most useful parts of this article are the web addresses for 3 reputable "call-center-from-home" companies.

This really nifty website converts almost any format document into almost any other format document. I gave it a go and it worked well! You upload your document to the site, choose your conversion, and then enter your email, and it will email you a link to the finished converted document. CometDocs

This... is just really cool and innovative! Watch the video! Lights made from water bottles.

This is a really cool site that will help you figure out what to make from the food you have at home. It's not perfect, but it sure will give you some good ideas and suggestions! Just put in the ingredients you have as keywords, and RecipePuppy will find recipes from all over the web with those ingredients, as well as making suggestions as to what other ingredients you might want to add. I find that helpful because I'll look at the list and say to myself "oh! I have that!".

Woah! Check out this Monster List of Freelance Job Sites (2009 Update)!

It will save us all! From having to keep mashing the phone keypad, that is. ContactHelp tells you how to get an actual live person on the line. Now that's customer service! If nothing else, their front page picture is pretty funny.

And last but not least, we have AlternativesTo. What a GREAT SITE for finding alternatives to programs for Windows, Mac, or Linux software that may have a high price tag.

On backing up your files and Cat Health

2009-04-24T10:37:00.005-04:00

I am a huge advocate for backing up your files in an off-site location (i.e. not on your PC). Doing this has been an invaluable tool for me, as I tend to have to transfer files from PC to PC a lot, or have a lot of crashes (for some reason, way too many in the past year or two).

I just put a link to Mozy backup on my page, and there it will stay. I can not advocate this service enough. It is FREE and really no-hassle at all. When your files back up, it runs in the background and does not slow down your PC - it just backs them up quietly at a scheduled time every day and you're covered in case you lose your hard drive (oh how we all hate that).

I urge everyone to get this service. 2GB free, and you can choose which files to back up.

DOOOO EEET!

This is especially handy if you have been dealing with shitty unstable computers like I have. Ugh!

Now, on to cats. I want to provide this insight and info in case anyone might have a cat they need to medicate or are wondering whether to take to the vet (unlikely, I know, but I'm a huge cat fanatic and I like to spread info).

My friend came to me and told me about her cat that had a urinary blockage. She was extremely upset because she hadn't noticed sooner and the vet told her he could have died. She said she felt like a bad cat momma because she should have been more aware. Here is what I told her:

Ah I know how you feel – when Ziggy got the cancer, I was so devastated and I spent so much trying to make him better!! It’s hard to grasp how dangerous these things can be to their health, even such a simple thing, and alarming to realize how quickly it can go downhill. You are an awesome cat momma and you DID do the best thing for him, which was to call the vet. Animals tend to not show their pain until it’s way late in the illness process. I mean, my cat sneezed out his damn tooth but he was still eating dry food! Trust me, I felt plenty bad about that, so now I’m always on top of them, getting them dental chew toys, etc.

It’s all a learning process and we do the best we can.

She also expressed concern about the medication. He has 3 meds and wasn't doing well with one of the pills. She says:

I had to give him his medicine and it didn’t go well. The pain medication is in a syringe and I had no trouble getting that to him. And this one pill is in capsule form and he took that with no problem. Opened his mouth popped it in and it went right down. This other pill is huge and he just kept spitting it out. It was awful Jackie. I even tried to but margarine on it to make it go down easier. Didn’t work. It started falling apart and it made him drool like you wouldn’t believe. I then tried mixing it in with water and giving it to him through a syringe and he just spit it out. It didn’t mix well. Have you ever had this problem? I am going to call the vet to see if they have any suggestions. He won’t take pills in food. Just eats around them.

...

It’s an antibiotic called Baytril. I have to give it to him once a day in the pm for five days.

My advice was:

I would say call the doc and tell them the pill isn’t working out for him. Baytril is one of the best antibiotics, and it DOES come in a liquid form.

The other suggestion I have is they sell these pill popper things in the stores that gets it further down their throats. I have one of those and it is a slight help. Putting the butter or margarine on it is def a good idea in any case because it can get stuck in their throats if not. Ever tried to swallow a dry pill? Ick, right!?

What I usually do when I give meds is that I get it all prepared first, get a couple of paper towels or a towel and then catch the cat. Then I sort of straddle the cat and cross my feet in the back so he can’t get out. Then you have to get your hand under his chin and sort of raise his head, open his mouth, pop in the meds and then, here’s a big part, hold their mouth shut and rub their throat or blow lightly into their nose until they swallow. It’s a real struggle any way you slice it!

Don't be afraid to advocate for your kitties!

The shock of "America's Next Top Model"

2009-04-23T10:34:00.005-04:00

I guess I have been pretty out of touch with what we as a society have been telling young girls these days. I caught the end half of America's Next Top Model at a friend's house last night, and I was honestly appalled by what I saw on the show. Maybe I am too old fashioned, but here is what I learned that young girls are learning by watching this stuff:

Being painfully skinny is beautiful
No, seriously, I had NO IDEA girls were being led to believe this is what normal people should look like. Yes, I knew they were being told that "thin is beautiful", but I thought THIS particular variety of sickliness was off the market. Looking at these chicks made me literally wince in pain. I kept yelling at the screen "GO HOME AND EAT!" These girls are so tall but they weigh less than me, most likely (I'm 5'2" and 119 lbs), but that is NOT HEALTHY! Yes, maybe they are like that naturally, but many girls just aren't built that way, and they are seeing these people looking that way being "adored" as models and they think they should look that way.

If you're 25+, you're too old
Really? REALLY?! When one of the judges noted that one of the "models" was 25, the other judges gasped in horror and surprise. Ok, some of that was purposely exaggerated, I'm sure, but since when did being 25 mean you're old?! These girls are being led into "modeling" at a younger and younger age, and now we all are starting to think we're worthless once we're past 25?! I can't even stand it. I'm 29, and I don't happen to think I'm particularly old. Gosh, I even thought maybe I could still do a bit of modeling at my age, but I guess I'm just an old washed up hag! UGH!

DON'T LET PERSONALITY SHOW IN YOUR PHOTOS!
Jeez, I guess all my photos are for shit. God forbid MY PERSONALITY comes through! That's just not FASHION enough! You have to look like a model, gosh darnit, not a real person! Come on, be more sassy! But wait, that's too sassy! Tone that shit down before someone sees you! Ugh, you suck so much because you aren't posing, but you're posing!

You're constantly being judged and you don't meet our standards
The judges actually insulted just about every girl that appeared before them. I could not even stand it or believe it. "What are you wearing?", "You made a funny face", "You're just not interesting". Oh give me a break, come on! You're telling these girls to mug for the camera, but then not to mug for the camera because they are too "sassy" or too "posed", but then you're telling them they suck no matter what they do. I just... I can not stand it! Of course they look uncomfortable when they get out there - you're making them paranoid!!

Yes, I realize this post devolved into more of a rant, but come on... REALLY?!

I just can't believe we let this go on! I suppose I was under the impression that things had gotten better and people had become more aware of this problem. I thought we were edging towards healthier looking "models" or role-models... I guess I was wrong!

Bailing Yourself Out and Mother's Day Ideas

2009-04-22T23:13:00.002-04:00

Two end of the day articles for you guys.

Lost your job, or the economic downturn otherwise affecting you? Bail yourself out with some of these tips.

Mother's Day is coming up, and you may not have much cash to spare, so here are some ideas to get you started on an inexpensive gift for mom.

List of Paid Survey Sites I Use

2009-04-22T15:46:00.000-04:00

The thing to remember is that you won't always qualify in for the surveys and it's very small amounts of money here and there, but once or twice a year you might get like an online discussion board that pays you $50 or something!

https://www.surveysavvy.com?id=2421042&action=join
https://www.globalopinionpanels.com/home
http://www.clearvoicesurveys.com/
http://www.valuedopinions.com/index.php?id=17
http://us.lightspeedpanel.com/US/register/registerPage.us?custom=BOWUS00303&lc=en
http://www.greenfieldonline.com/
http://www.npdor.com/default.asp
http://www.i-say.com/
https://www.opinionoutpost.com/
http://www.harrispollonline.com/AdultReg.asp?lang=1
http://www.opinionsquare.com/Home.aspx
http://mindfieldonline.com/user/register
http://www.hotspex.com/
https://www.acop.com/Registration.aspx?L=1
http://village.gongos.com/invitation.aspx?namesource=GW

Also, these are for online focus groups/discussions you can get paid for:

http://www.focusfwd.com/

http://www.schlesingerassociates.com/joindatabase.html

Also, you should go to imommies.com and follow her blog. She lists survey opportunities for online focus groups as well, but I don't have the direct links to the companies.

A beginning note, and today's awesome articles!

2009-04-22T15:42:00.001-04:00

Look, let's face it. I can't really write original content and I most likely never will be able to unless it's about personal things. However, I think it's important to share the amalgamated wisdom of the most awesome bloggers on the internet - and of course, some comedy cold, too!

That's what you'll find here - mostly my sifting through articles and presenting you with the best of the best for your consideration. Once in a while, I may write my own musings, but don't count too much on that!

Feel free to comment on anything or email me to ask me to look for info on anything specific.

Ingredient Substitutions

50 Side Businesses You Can Start on Your Own

25 Vintage Baking Tips

25 Vintage Kitchen Tips

Lentil Burritos (this piqued my interest!)

Listing of Free or Low Cost Clinics throughout the US

The Great "Convenience Food" Debate

2008-10-01T11:57:00.000-04:00

As I was preparing my mid-month grocery list, I started thinking about convenience foods. All the frugal advice in the world tells us not to purchase convenience foods because it's "a waste of money". Honestly, I have come to the conclusion that it's not a waste of my money because I simply do not have the time to prepare EVERYTHING from scratch. I hate to admit it, but I do *need* these convenience foods! With 4 people, 5 cats, 2 mice, appointments all over the city and suburbs every week, volunteer projects, and late work hours (for one of us, at least), we just can not afford the time it takes to not use these items.

If you're in the same predicament I am, here's some advice for you to help you minimize the expense of convenience foods.

First for foremost, don't waste your money on non-nutritious items. The time it saves isn't worth your health. Look for healthy alternatives to the most processed favorites.

Don't let EVERY meal consist of convenience foods. For instance, I make dinner from scratch. The other meals largely consist of cereal, Kashi or health food bars, frozen dinners (lowest sodium and fat I can find) for lunch, granola bars, instant oatmeal, etc etc. Choose one meal a day that you have time to prepare from scratch, and that will cut down on your usage of these quick alternatives. Leftovers from dinner the night before fit into the category of "from scratch", since you aren't eating something that you newly opened out of a package that day. Yeah, we're stretching the rules here. I also bake once in a while in bulk, which gives me items to grab and take (mostly healthy muffins and cookies - let me know if you'd like the recipes - they're amazing!).

Cut down the expense as much as you can by using coupons and sales. Scour the circulars before you go shopping. Shop and purchase according to those sales as much as you can, and use internet printable and circular newspaper coupons to match up to the sales. For instance, I never purchase cereal for more than $2.00/box. I can always find a sale that it that low and/or matches up with a coupon.

Use Amazon.com for food in bulk. Seriously, buy it in cases. They have special sales and deals all the time, and the same applies here - buy from the sales!

Stop being brand loyal. Now I can admit to being loyal to Dannon Coffee Yogurt, simply because they are the only one that really makes that flavor and makes it correctly. It's also something I consistently eat and is healthy for me, so to me, the expense is justified. However, everything else? No brand loyalty at all! Buy generic. Broaden your horizons, branch out, be adventurous. Really, most store brands are just as good as brand names, and usually cost a lot less. The only exception to this is if you check out a sale or sale + coupon and the price for the brand name is cheaper (this is how I get a lot of my Box Tops for Education - people must think I spend a fortune in food, but really, it's just because the item was on sale and I had a coupon to combine for the win-win!).

Lastly, don't buy foods that are cheap but that you won't eat. This also defeats the purpose of saving the money, because they'll just sit there in the pantry while you order out pizza because you're deprived of stuff you like to eat. I learned this a long time ago, and try to stray away from it now. If you don't like vegetables or fruit, don't buy them, no matter how healthy everyone says they are or that you should eat them. If you know you're not going to, what's the point? Just look for other ways to incorporate healthy items in your diet, for instance, smoothies, fruit tarts, cereal with a fruit add-in, 100% juices, vitamins, etc etc. I am not advocating being unhealthy, but let's be honest - many times I have tried to prepare "healthy" recipes using vegetables and I just wanted to vomit I hated it so much, so I've just acknowledged that I hate vegetables and I buy the little carrots on the side for my son while I eat other things to supplement for the discrepancy.

To give you an idea, we generally spend about $250 for 4 people for a month, including paper products (paper towels, toilet paper - we don't buy paper dishes or cups), and any cleaning or personal hygiene products we might need. Our personal hygiene products usually come free after rebate at Walgreen's or from free samples, though, so we don't generally need much on that front. My 2 honies and my son eat cereal like it's going out of style, and our milk consumption is through the roof, and that takes those into account also.

Yeah, we could be spending less, but at the same times, I'd be run ragged by cooking and preparing all the time.

Another GREAT article!

2008-09-26T10:55:00.000-04:00

Yeah, I'm gonna start posting more of these, not only because I believe they might eventually help someone, but because I want them to be here for my own reference as well. I like to read back through sometimes :)

The Twelve Biggest Personal Finance Mistakes People Make Over and Over
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2008/09/24/the-twelve-biggest-personal-finance-mistakes-people-make-over-and-over-again/

Two recommended reads

2008-09-23T11:40:00.001-04:00

I caught two articles today in my feed reader that were contained valuable information, and I am compelled to share.

The first is Managing the Natural Ups and Downs of Your Work Week

Reading through this article, I discovered that I naturally do many of these things (i.e. my “to do” list that I always keep updated and my calendar that shows when things need to be done), but it still gives good tips on ways to improve more. Especially for me, working with my energy and mood levels is a must since sometimes they both get the best of me. Hope you guys can get something out of it.

The second article is a financial one, Addressing Financial Worries in a Healthy Fashion. I already do put these tactics into practice, but some of you or someone you know may be struggling financially and could use this advice on how to handle it.

Info for new "Frugalites"

2007-09-16T12:48:00.000-04:00

Many people that are new to frugality have a lot of misconceptions about the lifestyle. This article explains the basic idea of frugality. You can get the perfect idea of what you're "getting yourself into" (such as the phrase goes) by starting here. Knowing the basis for frugality lets you decide if it is a lifestyle that will assist you in meeting your goals.

Here is also an article dispelling some myths about frugality. You can bust this out when your friends tell you you're just being "cheap" ;-)

Jackie-isms in the home

2007-08-17T13:07:00.000-04:00

Well it's been a couple of weeks since I posted. Have to apologize for that - I have been so busy with my cat's illness and our upcoming convention that I plain haven't had the time!

Today I had an inspiration for a post while showering. Looking around in my shower I was just noticing my little "Jackie-isms" and chuckling to myself about how odd other people might think these things are. Obviously, these things won't work for everyone, but here are some of the odd things I do in order to stretch my dollars!

In the Bathroom:
- Ya know that really thick shampoo, conditioner, and body wash you buy? It's like jelly it's so thick. It can be watered down 1/2 and 1/2 (or less than 1/2) with water and still be just as effective. Just save an old bottle from a used up item, and Voila, 2 for 1!
- I also mix different brands. I don't like shower clutter, so I'll often consolidate what I have left in each bottle. I just put a bit of water in the bottle I intend to pour out of, and shake it up. Then I turn it upside down on it's cap (or on it's side, if the cap can't support it), and after a bit it's ready to be poured into the other bottle. It's all made out of the same stuff anyway, so it blends perfectly fine, and no, your skin will not turn green or anything from blending these things!
- Do you bring home those leftover little sample bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body wash, etc from hotels? Are you a freebie collector like I am? I generally think those hotel things are of low quality, and I don't like to use just a little plastic packet in the shower because they get slimy and leaky. Instead, for my son, or even for myself if I'm really almost out and don't want to go to the store and spend the money, I'll take each little packet/bottle and pour it into a larger one, thereby combining the powers of all the crappy little hotel stuff into almost a full bottle of ... whatever!
- After my rolls of toilet paper are done, I save the tubes to give to my small furry four footed friends. No need to buy chew toys. They like these tubes better! There seems to be a never ending supply as well!
- Get those Walgreens Free After Rebates. Rite Aid also has them (or is it Eckerd now? I can't remember which bought out which!). I've barely had to buy toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash, or shampoo in the last couple of years since I started doing this (ok, well, I buy it and then submit the rebate, which equals out to $0.00). Yes, I may have mentioned this before, but it's worth repeating.
- I use my razors/razorheads for at least a month each. If you keep it dry and there's no rust, you can still use it. It may not cut as well, though, and if you find it doesn't do the job fully well, use it on less important areas (for women, I'd think that'd be the bikini area or legs when no one is looking at them), and use a new one (less frequently) on the more visible areas.
- Don't wash your towels after one use. You're drying your CLEAN body with them, right? Hang them on that towel bar or get a towel hook. I'd say you can safely use them for a week if you dry them out properly. Saves on the laundry bill!

Kitchen:
- If you drink soy milk, you're familiar with that "goop" that gets in the bottom if you don't shake it up enough, and even sometimes if you do. My son drinks a ton of chocolate soy milk, and we always end up with the goop in the bottom. I just put water in there, shake it on up, and it "reconstitutes" into drinkable soy milk. Great way to stretch it!
- Reference above about toilet paper rolls and apply to paper towel rolls ;)
- Freeze things. Don't just toss those dinner leftovers in the fridge and forget about them. If you know you're a chronic non-leftover-eater, wrap it or box it in tupperware and put it in the freezer. If you have specific questions about what type of things freeze well and what don't, please comment and I'll respond.
- I save all of my plastic containers as long as they aren't extremely flimsy. I now have an endless supply of tupperware (i.e. butter, cottage cheese, sour cream, large yogurt containers) and I have barely bought any of it just for the container.
- I also buy my pre-packaged lunch meat in those "glad ware" containers. That way I get more bang for my buck. It really does keep the lunch meat more fresh for longer, and afterwards, I have another tupperware container!
- You know that trick I mentioned above about watering down shower soap? Take that and apply it to liquid dish soap as well (not dishwasher soap. The kind you use directly on a sponge in the sink).
- Soaking your dishes can really save you a lot of trouble and save your dishwasher the hassle of having to wash the same dishes twice. This also saves on your energy and water bill (if you pay for those things). Just get in the habit of filling dishes with water when you place them in the sink or rinsing them well if you place them directly in the dishwasher, and you can adapt to this one in no time.
- Buy the "select-a-size" paper towels. I buy them because I feel that the value is higher, even if they're a bit more expensive. How many times do you REALLY NEED that full size paper towel? Our rolls last A LOT longer when I'm able to select the smallest size for smaller jobs.
- I use mostly canned canned vegetables, even if the recipe calls for frozen. I use to buy frozen, but what happened was that they sat in my freezer for so long, they became a giant block of ice stippled throughout with greens or corn or whatnot. Buy them in cans. It's cheaper and lasts longer, and tastes the same in recipes (at least according to my standards).

Well I feel like I had more to say, but that's all my brain will allow for now.

By the way, if anyone wants the links to the better freebies websites, please post a comment and I'll make another post about that. I tend to use forums more than plain ol' websites, because the offers change more often and people post new ones every day.

Why do you need savings?

2007-08-03T13:05:00.000-04:00

I've recently had a lot of reminders of why it's good to have a savings account (cat with cancer, child with many doctor appointments, car repairs, prescription bills, gift giving, etc). Interestingly enough, I also ran into a bunch of articles about savings. I'm going to post some excerpts from those articles here, to remind everyone what things you might run into that could cause you to need extra money.

Keep in mind, as well, that "I'll just use a credit card" isn't a replacement for savings. If you charge it to a credit card and pay interest, you'll just end up paying more in the end, not to mention having it hanging over your head for a long time. Here is a great calculator that illustrates my point.

How your savings can save you (original article):

1. Your car breaks down
It always happens when you least expect it. Your car requires routine maintenance, and those costs are bad enough. But even if you give it TLC, you can count on occasional mechanical disruptions. Plan for it.

2. You're terminated
Losing a job is painful on many levels. Unless you're a VIP with a big severance package, you'll need reserve savings. If you tap your 401(k) to cover expenses or pay debt, you'll pay taxes as well as penalties and jeopardize your retirement plans. Create your own severance package by funding a savings account.

3. You need shelter
Unless you plan to erect a cardboard home under a bridge, you need a roof over your head. If you want to rent an apartment (either your first place or a nicer one), you'll have to come up with first and last month's rent plus security deposit -- that's several thousand dollars. Get it together with an emergency fund.

4. You face foreclosure
Many subprime borrowers as well as those with exotic mortgages face big problems today, particularly if they put no money down or wrapped closing costs into the loan amount. Some homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages are sitting ducks for big payment increases. An adequate savings account could have funded a modest down payment, upfront closing costs and higher payments for a period of time until the home is refinanced or sold.

5. Insurance bills are killing you
Insurance is supposed to cover big risks that would otherwise mean financial ruin. But you don't want to overprotect yourself from nickel-and-dime calamities. You can control premium costs by opting for higher deductibles. Or you can choose low deductibles and enrich the insurance company by paying higher premiums on an ongoing basis. Pay yourself instead by using an emergency fund to save for deductibles in the event of a serious disaster.

6. Credit cards go out of control
Living paycheck to paycheck means robbing Peter to pay Paul. This can lead to using one credit card to pay another, paying bills late and juggling obligations in an effort to get caught up. Late payments trigger fees, higher interest rates and drag down your credit rating. Pay those cards off and enjoy financial freedom.

7. You miss opportunities
Your best friend from college asks you to be in his wedding. An emergency savings account could absorb the expenses of appropriate wedding attire and airfare if necessary. That's better than getting deeper in debt or bypassing the opportunity altogether.

8. Stress levels reach new highs
It may be intangible, but the worry and stress of how to pay the bills every month to meet unplanned expenses or stay current under less than ideal circumstances is taxing. And stress can cause a host of physical ailments. An emergency saving account brings peace of mind and fewer visits to the doctor.

Here is a great article about ways to start up an emergency fund and "find" more money to put into it.

Reap the Rewards!

2007-07-18T13:03:00.000-04:00

I'm a firm believer that everyone should get something back from "the system" (so to speak). Here are two methods that I use and have found most valueable!

If you use a credit card already, I suggest switching to a cash back card. Here is a selection of options from CitiCards. You can also search and compare others here. There are a few caveats to this though:

DO NOT pay an annual fee. That shit is whack. Er, I mean. It's not worth it. There are plenty of cards available without annual fees.
If you don't pay off your balance in full at the end of every month, you are negating your cash back by making yourself pay interest on your purchase. Treat a credit card as if it's cash that you already spent out of your checking account.
DO NOT get a credit card if you don't think you can control yourself. This is a BIG warning!

MyPoints is a GREAT (THE BEST) rewards points website. You can opt to receive emails that give you points for just clicking on their links. You won't get any other spam from this site besides their emails. The points collect fairly quickly and you can also earn them by going through their website and clicking on their earnings links before you make a purchase online (they don't have every online store available for earning opportunities, but they have a wide selection). I would say I redeem from them about 3 times per year, usually a $25.00 gift certificate, but check out their other rewards as well. The rewards come extremely quickly in the mail as well! And now my caveats:

Don't purchase things online JUST to get points from the site. That's wasting money. I'm pretty sure a lot of you shop online enough to earn a good amount of points just from your regular shopping.
If you choose to accept their emails, create an email filter that will automatically send them to a certain folder so you don't miss the emails. They're always sent from the same email address.
If you join, I'd kindly ask that you put my name as your referral :) Mypoints username is annieacid, email is mommieskullfish at yahoo.com

There are plenty of other rewards programs and credit card rewards out there. There are:

Gas rebate credit cards (I have one through AAA and get 3% back on all gas purchases made at the pump)
Hotel and Frequent Flyer rewards. Sign up for the free programs. Even if you think you'll never use the points, you may be surprised. If you're a frequent hotel visitor like me, they'll come in handy! Hilton Honors is the one I use the most.
Frequent purchase rewards. This is very basic. Some establishments I frequent use these programs, where they stamp a card every time you purchase something and you get a reward after so many purchases. Don't be afraid to ask at the places that you frequent. Rita's Water Ice even gives double stamps (at my location, anyway) on Tuesdays!
Walgreen's (if you have them where you live) has a good "Free After Rebate" program every month. The warning though is not to do this if you know you're not reliable enough to send in for the rebate! I've been doing this for about a year and have barely ever had to buy toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, or toothbrushes. I also have gotten some cool things I wanted to try for free.

Have a Rewarding Day!

Saving on entertainment

2007-07-07T13:02:00.000-04:00

It's time for the weekend - how will you spend your money?

If you're going to a restaurant:

Drink water instead of paying for a soda/iced tea/etc.
Share a meal (we all know the portions are huge anyway, and everyone can afford to skip half the calories and fat in a restaurant meal)
Skip the appetizer and/or dessert
Limit yourself to one alcoholic drink (those damn things are expensive!)

If you're off to the movies:

Can you persuade your friends to go to an earlier showing? Matinee prices are better!
Skip the concessions (does anyone even buy that stuff these days?)
I hope this is a movie you REALLY want to see, or else you'll be wasting your money. Can you meet your friends after the movie if you're not really interested in it?

Pre-plan for your entertainment:

Ask for movie, restaurant, or amusement gift cards/tickets as gifts for Christmas and Birthdays. We get a $50.00 movie gift card for Christmas every year, and it lasts almost all year. We stretch it by going to early showings and only seeing movies that are "epic" or "must sees" in our opinion.
Look into purchasing pre-paid movie tickets. They're available through a lot of membership organizations (i.e. AAA), schools, and sometimes your place or work.
Look for coupons in flyers or on the internet for places you frequent. Visit their websites, and join their mailing lists if they offer one. You're likely to get a coupon once in a while.
Do any of the places you frequent offer "frequent buyer" programs. We love Rita's and they have a buy 10, get one free card we always remember to have stamped when we go.

Avoiding Unneccessary Spending

2007-07-07T13:01:00.000-04:00

I know you want it, but do you NEED it? Here are some things to keep in mind when you're considering a purchase.

Ask yourself some important questions:

Do I need this? (usually, if the answer is "no", you should rule out the purchase unless you have a lot of extra money lying around)
How often will I use this? (The answer should be 50% of the time or more in order for this to be worth the money)
Can this purchase wait? (Considering the purchase for a week or at least a few days will usually lend you some kind of perspective on whether or not it's worth it)
Can I use something else instead? (something you already have, or something less expensive)
Can I borrow this from someone? (this is a good question to ask in the case that you will need the item on a very limited basis, i.e. a tool, a dress/suit you will only wear once, an appliance)

Know your inventory, and keep things organized:

Clothing - Do you really need another little black dress, or another funny t-shirt? You probably have enough shoes already as well.
Groceries - Make sure you know what's in the pantry, fridge, and freezer. You might already have the thing you think you need, but it's buried back there. Do you have the ingredients to make the thing you need or want, and can a substitute be made easily? Remember, the internet is great for recipes, even basic ones. For example, I now know how to make brown sugar from granulated sugar and molasses (which I happen to have).

If you decide you need it or MUST HAVE IT lest ye go mad:

Put it on a wish list. Kaboodle is a great wish list site, and you can use it to list all the things you want/need and go back and re-evaluate later to see if you still want/need it. I have done this and I find I take A LOT of things off my wish list that I thought I REALLY wanted or needed.
Comparison shop for price. Use the internet and store flyers.
What features do you really need (this usually applies on electronics/appliances)? Don't buy any more than you need just because it's "cool"! If you'll never use that feature, don't pay more for it.
Don't overlook thrift shops, garage sales, or eBay. Take time to look in these places before purchasing retail.
Put out word of mouth that you're looking for the item. You might find that someone has one they don't want, or knows where to get one inexpensively.

Above all, self control is key!

Budgeting Basics

2007-07-07T12:57:00.000-04:00

budg·et (bŭj'ĭt): An itemized forecast of an individual's income and expenses expected for some period in the future.

Budgeting is one of the basic skills required for frugality to really become effective. Some people are overwhelmed at the prospect of a budget, but it needn't be difficult!

(I find a spreadsheet the easiest way to keep this information organized, but you can do it any way you find works for you.)

Step 1:
List all of your monthly expenses (for fluctuating expenses, go with a high estimate of what it would be every month). Leave out groceries and gas.

Step 2:
Calculate and list your monthly income.

Step 3:
Subtract your monthly expenses from your monthly income. The result is the amount leftover that you have to work with per month (i.e. spend on groceries, gas, etc).

With these very basic steps, you'll be in the know about where you actually stand with your financial situation.

I also recommend keeping track of all of your expenditures (yes, everything, even the snack from the snack machine). I have been doing this for years, and it's a wonderful tool to show me how much I SHOULDN'T be spending on certain things, and to let me know when I need to put a hold on spending for the month. It also keeps me in check when I go to the grocery store or when I want to make a purchase. It lets me know whether or not that money is actually available to me.

Check in on your bank balance weekly, so that you know a close approximation of how much is in there. This will also give you perspective on what monies are available to you.

Random Tips of the Day!

2007-07-04T12:56:00.000-04:00

Random, but helpful tips!

- Don't wash your clothes after each wearing (excepting underwear and anything that smells or has had something dropped on it). I usually re-wear my pants once (at least) and once in a while my shirts. You can hang your clothes in the bathroom while you're showering to "steam" them clean.

- Start stashing those gifts! We get good stuff when we see it on clearance or in good condition in thrift stores or garage sales and put them away for Christmas and Birthdays. I find that book stores (B&N and Borders) have GREAT gift books in clearance, especially for kids, art enthusiasts, or people who like to cook.

Free Weekend Fun

2007-06-29T12:55:00.000-04:00

It's coming up to the weekend (TGIF!!) and you may be looking for something to do, but saying "I'm such a poor college kid hobo, I just can't pay for this shit!". In my efforts to try to entertain my child without breaking the bank, I have discovered many a trick/tip to find free community events and entertainment.

- Look in your local newspaper (most can be found online, which negates the need to actually buy the paper) events section/calendar.
- Check your local news stations' websites for "community listings"
- Craigslist! Find your city and see what's going on in the events section.
- Go to your town's (and surrounding town's, depending on how far you're willing to go) website, or your state's tourism website. They will more than likely have listing for events that you can sift through.

Freezing and YOUR CREDIT!

2007-06-28T12:52:00.000-04:00

Yes, you CAN freeze the following items:

- Milk! Freeze it in it's own container. Switch it to the refrigerator about two days before you'll need it, and by the time you do, it will be ready to pour. It may still have some ice chunks in it, but those will eventually melt. Shake it up before using.

- Old brown bananas! Ew, right? Well, just throw them in the freezer and pull one out about 30 minutes before you're ready to make a smoothie (reference the post "Recipes to Live By"). It will thaw just enough so that you can slit the skin with a knife and squeeeeeze it out into the blender to use as your fruit (or one of your fruits) for the smoothie.

- Pancakes! You might think they'll turn out rubbery when reheated, but I've worked on for a while, and have formulated 2 ways so that they turn out (almost) as good the second time 'round.
Method 1: place pancakes on a plate on the microwave. Heat for 20 to 30 seconds at a time, turning pancakes over between each 20 to 30 second interval. This avoids the "wetness" under the pancake (EW!) that you'd otherwise get when using the microwave.
Method 2: micro the pancakes for 30 seconds to 1 minute (depending on how many - you want to make sure there aren't any solidly frozen parts), and then place in a toaster oven (I suppose you could also use the regular toaster) for a few minutes. With this method, they'll be a little "toasted" on top, which I never find is a problem!
Yum yum, pancakes!

Check your credit report - FREE!
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I never pay for a credit report, because you really don't have to! You are entitled to three reports per year for free, one from each reporting agency.

Online: AnnualCreditReport.com
Phone: (877) 322-8228

Mail:
Fill out the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to:
Annual Credit Report Request Service
P.O. Box 105281
Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

Double or triple up on free report in these states: Colorado, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont. If you live in these states, you're guaranteed another score per year, per agency, for a total of six free reports annually. Georgia residents are guaranteed two reports per agency and year, for a total of nine free reports. (Jeez, wish PA was one of those states!)

And for the love of all that is sacred and holy, don't listen to those damn "freecreditreport.com" commercials or ads. It's not free if you have to buy something first!!