Tales of the Tightwad

Blogging for Books: Book Review, Blind Hope by Kim Meeder

2011-01-14T13:45:00.000-08:00

I requested "Blind Hope" in great anticipation. I was not disappointed! This book, by Kim Meeder is extremely insight full and soul stirring.

Laurie was looking for something else in her life. So she accepted a plea to rescue a dog. When she first meets the dog, all her illusions of a cute puppy were dashed. She almost refused, but decided to take the dog away from it's impoverished home, in fear that the poor creature would die without help. Although tough at first, Laurie begins to bond with the dog she now calls Mia.

Mia begins to teach Laurie a lot about unconditional love, and about obedience and how her relationship with Mia is mirroring Laurie's relationship with God. Or should I say lack of relationship with God.

Shortly after rescuing Mia, Laurie takes her to the vet for a physical and evaluation. The vet delivers some devastating news to Laurie. Mia is going blind, and has many other physical aliments. Poor Laurie is crushed.

The story follows Laurie's spiritual path in fully accepting Gods greatest gift, often mirrored in Mia's acceptance of Laurie as her Master. A Master she can not see, but trusts and loves.

I admit I struggled reading this book, not because of the writing, but because it shed light on my own spiritual life, or lack of. It inspired me to get closer to God, not because He moved away from me, but because I moved away from Him.

This review is of a book that I received free of charge from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog.

You can too by joining Blogging for Books

WOW! Bing Rewards!

2011-01-11T17:01:00.000-08:00

I joined Bing Rewards Preview last month, and today I cashed in for a $5 Amazon gift card, and I have already recieved the gift card! That was super fast!
Go HERE to join! And here is a list of the FAQ's. Have fun searching! You will recieve 250 points to start!

Kroger and CVS Trip

2011-01-06T08:30:00.000-08:00

Did pretty good at Kroger and even better at CVS last night!

Kroger
2 Yakisoba noodle bowls
1 Bisquick mix
5 Vitamin Waters (1 has already been consumed)
4 Yoplait yogurts
4 boxes of Special K cereals
1 box of Danimals Coolision Tubes
before coupons: $23.00ish
after coupons : $10.91
received $4 off for buying 4 Kelloggs products
used (2)BOGO Special K printable (promotion is now closed)
.50/4 Yoplait yogurts
BOGO Vitamin Water coupons (from Facebook promo)
1.00/1 Vitamin water Catalina coupon
.50 off Bisquick Kroger Digital coupon
.50 off Bisquick printable from Coupons.com
(2) .50 off 1 Yakisoba product (from 1/2 SS)
no coupon for Danimal Yougurt, but it was marked down to .99! However, the sneaky cashier didn't scan one of my vitamin water coupons right so my total would have been under the $10 I had planned. Hmmm

CVS

(that's the youngest sprouts hand and elbow!)
Total before coupons: $21.27
used
FREE Excedrin Migraine coupon (home mailer)
FREE Excedrin Extra Strength coupon (home mailer)
$3.50 off Excedrin PM (home mailer)
and used $4 ECB (my quarterly bucks)
total OOP: 3.49 and received back $10.00!!
I was really excited to see this promo, and have all the free item coupons arrive before the deal expired. I did have to be a little careful because the FREE item coupons had a limit of 5.99 and 4.99 I believe. So you can imagine my joy since I found products within my "price range"

2010 "Earnings" and savings

2010-12-28T08:28:00.000-08:00

Swagbucks: $290.00 in Amazon gift cards
$15.00 in PayPal money

Irazoo: $50.00 in Amazon gift cards (didn't start this one until June)

Listia: $65 in Wal-Mart Gift Cards and about $75 worth of merchandise: books, DVD's, clothes, toys, coupons.
The main thing I "sold" in this site were Coke codes and Dr. Pepper promotional codes. Not a bad profit for trading codes/trash. I am notorious for picking up Coke codes up off the ground.

My Points: roughly $100 in Gift Cards (Wal-Mart, CVS, Pizza Hut)

Toluna: $80.00 (cash)

Mindfield Online Surveys: $60.00 cash/PayPal

Savings:
Received in promotional items: about $500.00 worth of merchandise: Wii Games, books, Gift Cards. All from review sites or HouseParty.com

Paperbackswap.com savings: $234.00
Swapadvd.com savings: $80.60

I stopped buying papers for most of this year, instead I got most of my coupons in trade on Listia, Chocolate Soup, Kizoodle and I bought some with my PayPal money on TheCouponClippers. I also received a few free item coupons using my points earned thru RecycleBank.

It is difficult to say how much I saved with coupons this year, but I would say in the $500 range, including free item coupons and regular X amount off coupons.

Facebook is definitely a tightwads friend because many companies are offering exclusive coupons and freebies (of which I benefited greatly! lol) I just received a free bag of Purina One dog food from a FB promo. My dog is quite happy! My favorite is probably my large area rug from Natural Home Rug.

Uses for Canned Biscuts

2010-12-21T16:55:00.000-08:00

I am a big fan of cheap, canned biscuits because they are versatile and easy to prepare. Here are a few of my uses and a link for more recipes.

Donuts or Donut Holes
     If you want donuts, use a medicine bottle or something small like that to make a hole in the center and fry them in oil (about 3 minutes each side). If you don't feel like going all out, just cut each biscuit into quarters and fry them as donut holes. Sprinkle with sifted powdered sugar, cinnamon and sugar mixture or try this easy chocolate sauce
        Glaze
        2 cups powdered sugar
        1 tablespoon vanilla extract
        1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
        3 tablespoon milk

        2 cups of semisweet chocolate chips

         Blend with spoon until smooth. Melt chocolate chips in microwave for 30-60 seconds, stirring often              Add to sugar glaze mix. (recipe taken from Miserly Moms)

Mini pizzas
     Make your own "bagel bite" like mini pizzas. Flatten the inside of the biscuit with the spoon of a ladle or a medicine bottle. Fill with pizza sauce, bits of leftover sausage, pepperoni and cheese. Bake at 350 for about 25 minutes or until bottoms are brown and cheese is melted.
Or use rolling pin to flatten all the biscuits and place them, overlapping in a Pyrex pan for a large pizza crust.

Turnovers
     flatten the biscuit with a rolling pin and fill (just a dollop!) with pie filling (cherry, apple, peach) on half of the dough, fold over the remaining half and seal with a fork. Fry until lightly golden brown (on both sides) and drain on paper towel or brown paper bag.

Bread sticks
    Take 1 biscuit and roll between your hands to make a stick. (think back to your play dough days)repeat with remaining biscuits. Brush with melted butter and add some garlic salt. Bake in oven at 375 for 5 minuets.

Pigs in a blanket
     For regular hot dog wienies, simply flatten a biscuit with rolling pin, and wrap around hot dog and bake. I also use the little smokey links to make appetizers. Just flatten out the biscuit and cut in half before wrapping. You can also wrap breakfast sausage links.

Sugar biscuits
   Lightly fry a biscuit (whole) and then roll in granulated sugar. These are very similar to the sugar rolls you can get at a Chinese restaurant.

Clover Leaf Rolls
These were a hit at our Christmas dinner!
Take one biscut, divide into three pieces, roll each piece into a ball and place them in a greased muffin tin.
Here are a few more ideas from Yahoo! Answers which has some of the same as above ( tightwads think alike!) and then click HERE for the ever useful dumpling recipe that uses canned biscuits.

JANE4girls $800 Annual Budget For A Family of 4: FREE Excedrin Coupons

2010-12-17T16:41:00.000-08:00

JANE4girls $800 Annual Budget For A Family of 4: FREE Excedrin Coupons

Psst… want to save up to $46?

2010-12-17T16:31:00.001-08:00

Hey! I just learned a clean little secret about Lowe’s. They have quite the selection of cleaning products plus air and water filters to help keep your home spic and span inside and out. And they’re sending out up to $46 in savings so you can really clean up. Get your coupons before they’re gone! Go to vocalpoint.com/Lowes.

Tightwad Tip: Snack Bag

2010-12-17T12:47:00.000-08:00

This time of year is really busy for most folks, and we tend to stay in the car shuffling from one activity to another. And then we get caught out and your kids are crying because they are "starving to death". Most of the time we turn to the drive-thru to get a quick snack, or even a meal. This can add up to lots of $$ (especially if you have a larger family like mine, or teenagers. Of which I have both)

Our solution is a Snack Bag. It's nothing real fancy, in fact it's one of the free diaper bags I received in the hospital after sprout #4 was born.
In this bag I keep:
paper plate
cups (either reusable or paper)
napkins
some cutlery
Most of these are leftover birthday party supplies.

some of those drink add ins, like KoolAid or Crystal Light
non-perishable snacks: pretzels, cereal bars, animal crackers,etc) And this is where most of my free samples end up as well, small boxes of cereal, crackers, etc
wet wipes
a disposable sippy cup for the youngest sprout
a few plastic grocery bags for trash

This way I have some snacks, or I can make a quick, cheap picnic meal from the grocery store, or the store deli (Kroger has a fried chicken deli meal w/chicken, potato salad and rolls for $5.99 which may be regional) or if I plan ahead and take the making for sandwiches, all I have to remember is the food.

I recently acquired a small cooler that will hold just a few canned drinks or 4 bottles of water. We have been trying to remember this when we go out, because inevitably someone is also "dying of thirst".
Ahh, teenagers.

I used to keep a case of bottled water in the back of the car, but then there were reports of chemicals leaking into these when left in a hot car so we got out of the habit. In winter this is not a concern, so I can tell I am about to buy more water! Each child has a reusable water bottle that I generally nag them to fill and take with us when we go out, but they almost always forget, or only 1 child has theirs and the others are, well, you know. (see above comment^)

Blogging for Books: Book Review, Tandem by Tracey Bateman

2010-12-16T12:35:00.000-08:00

"Tandem" opens with lots of mystery that grabs the reader and makes you want to read more.

Six months ago the small Ozark town of Abby Hills was the scene for 2 gruesome murders, and then a house fire that claimed another victim and the life of the killed. Or at least, that is what the people believed.

Lauryn McBride is preparing to auction off the contents of Marcus Chisom's home, and the home itself for her family owned auction house. She is very troubled with running her business and caring for her father, who has Alzheimer disease. Lauryn finds some 100 year old letters and sets out to return them to the decents of the family. Amede Dastillion is quite happy to receive the letters and leaves her home in New Orleans in hopes of finding her long lost sister, Eden. You see, the letters were sent to Eden from Amede over one hundred years ago. How is this possible? They are vampires of course!

Soon after Amede and her companion arrive, animals are discovered killed and drained of blood. Soon, town members are discovered dead in the same manner. Everyone is afraid that the killer was not killed in the fire, and accusations fly. Lauryn must balance her need to complete the auction to pay for her fathers medical treatment, and caring for him as he slips farther and farther away into the last stages of Alzheimer's.

While I found this a compelling book, it is very general to call it Christian fiction.The Christian elements are small, and not presented to the reader in a preachy fashion, but they are not very clear either. It does display the eternal struggle of good vs evil.

I found the pace a little hard to follow, since it changes perspectives between characters often, and there are several other main characters that are trying to tell their story as well. But I finally "got into it" about a third of the way through, and I do not regret reading it, but don't feel 100% confident recommending it, at least as a Christian novel. The ending took me a little by surprise, which is always a good thing in a suspense book, but I also felt there were several things left unanswered. Since "Tandem" is a sequel to "Thirsty", I can only assume the writer plans on writting another book in this series.

Overall, it was a good read!

This review is of a book that I received free of charge from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers for the purpose of reviewing it on my blog.
You can too by joining Blogging for Books

Fabulous Friday Specials at Christian Book Distributers

2010-08-13T10:12:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Back to School! You can get "The ABC's of School Success" for $1.99!

Or how about "Key to Fractions" Books 1-4 for $10.99

You can check out all the Friday specials HERE, including CD's, books and DVD's

All prices are good from Friday, August 13 to Monday, August 16, 2010.

CBD also accepts PayPal!

Check out Back To School Supplies Plus $25 Staples Gift Card Giveaway

2010-08-07T12:31:00.001-07:00

Check out Back To School Supplies Plus $25 Staples Gift Card Giveaway

Whataburger Day Pic

2010-08-03T21:13:00.000-07:00

Here are 2 of my sprouts who enjoyed a FREE burger tonight at Whatburger! The employees were a little over worked, but cheerful! (pic was taken at our church, as we are having Vacation Bible School)

Kroger Summer of Savings

2010-08-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

If you have a Kroger, you should check out the Kroger Summer of Savings online promo. Spin the Wheel everyday for your chance to win prizes! Even if you don't win, you can load coupons straight to to your Kroger card. Game ends Sept. 11, 2010

I won a package of Johnsonville Sausage this morning!

There is currently a loadable coupon for Sobe drinks, buy 10, get $2 off. Go HERE to play the Sobe Heads or Tails Game (no purchase necessary). Almost everyone is a winner, and the most popular prize seems to be BOGO printable coupons. (note, you can only play once a day). This could be a sweet deal!

Whataburger Day!

2010-08-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

Don't forget to gear up in Orange to celebrate Whataburgers 60th Birthday! Wear your gear into any Whataburger restaurant (dine in only) and receive a free Whataburger! From 5-8pm only.

It's August! Bring on the Pancakes!

2010-08-02T12:22:00.001-07:00

Money Saving Apps for your Phone

2010-07-28T12:21:00.000-07:00

Sharing this post from Common Sense with Money. You can read the entire post HERE.

Money saving FREE applications for your iphone or itouch. A complete list is on Coupon Cravings and you can even enter to win an iPod Touch (8 GB)!

Uses for your old phone books

2010-07-26T18:23:00.000-07:00

Since they just delivered new phone books, I rounded up my old ones and was racking my brain on how to re-use them. Of course I have read about a lot of uses,but I couldn't remember them. DIYLife has a useful post HERE with lots of good (and some LAME) comments from reader.
A sampling of the better comments:
"I take pages from the old phone book and run them through the paper shredder. It makes great packing material for fragile objects and is a "green" alternative to Styrofoam peanuts"

"My husband and I use them at the shooting range for targets. It's interesting to see which bullets from certain guns penetrate the whole book. When we are finished, we use them for backyard fire starters in our fire pit."

"the pages are great for cleaning windows. the leave no lint or streaks."

And there are 2 other,illustrated uses from one of my favorite blogs Making Do With Not So New.

I personally keep last years phone book in my car for phone numbers and addresses of businesses.

Free Whataburger Aug. 3!

2010-07-26T14:27:00.000-07:00

According to Whataburger's Company Website, wear orange and receive a FREE Whataburger hamburger!
"Pull out your best orange outfits and wear them with pride. We’re celebrating our 60th birthday on August 3rd from 5pm-8pm. Just stop by your neighborhood Whataburger, show off your orange and get a free Whataburger."

Thanks to Pary Moppins for originally posting this deal!

Win a $10,000 Back Yard Makeover

2010-07-23T14:36:00.000-07:00

Little Debbie is sponsoring a $10,000 Backyard Makeover Giveaway! Go HERE to enter! Other prizes include: a Kingsford Table Top Grill and Little Debbie Die Cast 3 Piece Race Car Sets. Hurry, you can only enter until 7/31.

Fabulous Friday Specials at Christian Book Distibuters

2010-07-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

Christian Book Distributors has Fabulous Friday Specials and you can get many books, DVD's, Bibles or curriculum and the like for pennies in the dollar! One of my favorite features there is tha I am able to search by price, and they take PayPal.
You can even get Ellie Kays "1/2 Price Living" for $1.99!

Kids Eat Free at IHOP in August

2010-07-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

IHOP posted on their Facebook Page that Kids eat free every day in August from 4-10p.m. They also posted THIS VIDEO, very cute. (not promotion related) And don't forget to sign up for the Great Pancake Revolution HERE and get a free meal for joining, on your birthday, and your 1 year anniversary of joining!

Stale is a state of mind

2010-07-21T13:19:00.000-07:00

Don't you just hate stale foods? Well, re-use them!

Stale bread (and bakery breads) makes great croutons or breadcrumbs.

Stale taco shells can be ground up and added to your cornmeal (or fish fry seasoning)

Stale cereal is great for cereal bars

Stale four tortillas can be used to make Cinnamon crispies
cut tortillas into 4's, like pizza, or cut by length into strips. Brush with melted butter, add cinnamon and sugar mixture and bake for 3-4 minutes. Yummy!

Stale potato chips can be used as a topping for casseroles or homemade mac n cheese

Quick Tip

2010-07-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

Do you have a potty trainer? Or maybe a small child who hates those automatic flushing toilets used in public restrooms? Carry some colored Post-It notes in your purse. Stick a few over the sensor and the flusher won't go off until you remove. And they can be used over and over again. I have found the darker colored ones work best.

The Bzz on CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion

2010-07-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

I am a proud Bzz Agent and I recently received a free sample of Cover Girl's Lash Blast Fusion Mascara!

It was so exciting to be able to test such a great product, and actually be happy with it. The mascara is awesome, and adds lots of volume. It separates wonderfully, doesnt' clump or smear. I even slept in it, and it didn't smear, smudge or leave me with raccoon eyes. I was afraid it would be hard to remove that next morning, but it came off quite easily. I did notice it was on sale at CVS recently, for under $7. Not too high, but it is still worth every penny.

Mail Call!

2010-07-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

In the mail today I received:

Easy Up from Pampers Potty Training Kit (included 1 Easy Up, stickers, chart, coloring page and coupons)

Root Awakening samples and coupon from StartSampling

Enjoying EveryDay Life magazine from Joyce Meyers Ministries

(not pictured) Mini Boden catalog with 15% off and free shipping coupons/codes

Watch videos for $$

2010-07-20T08:45:00.000-07:00

(exclaimer: you won't get rich doing this,but it is fun, free and easy)

Join Beezag.com and watch videos for points that can be redeemed for cash! Go HERE to sign up! You can read all the FAQ's HERE

Click to Donate

2010-07-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

Go to The Hunger Site and click to donate 1.1 cups of food to children and others in need. Explore the site for other click to donate causes.

Free samples sampling

2010-07-20T08:08:00.000-07:00

Get a free sample of Dove Hair Care HERE

Become a product tester for Naileen Nails HERE

Free Special K Protein Bar and coupons HERE

Free sample of Sun Crystals All Natural Sweetener HERE

Free Better than Ears dog treats sample HERE (from Wal-Mart)

Free Goodnites Underwear Sample HERE (from Wal-Mart)

Money Monday

2010-07-19T17:03:00.000-07:00

Today I received:

$20 check from Toluna.com survey site
$10 in Amazon Gift Cards from Swagbucks
$5 CVS Extra Care Bucks for completing a survey for the CVS Advisory Panel

1 FREE movie ticket from the Kellogg's Toy Story 3 Cereal Promotion

Intresting article: 100 Things to do on a money free weekend

2010-07-17T12:14:00.000-07:00

I found this article on The Simple Dollar titled "100 Things to do on a Money Free Weekend" and found it intresting, just wanted to share!

Getting back on board

2010-07-17T11:47:00.000-07:00

So, little blog, you have been neglected for some time. *sigh*
We have had a very busy summer! My oldest 2 have been going back and forth for camps (thank goodness for fundraisers!!), we have been potty training, volunteering at our church and just trying to keep up with the calendar.
My gardening sputtered out, and I don't have anything to show for it.
My husband did manage to get a front porch built! It is so nice to be able to sit outside (when the mosquitos don't carry you off). And on a budget as well. He used the internet to compare prices and we were very happy to discover that our locally owned lumbar yard was able to provide us with the lowest cost, and high quality.
I have been able to build my Amazon account up with gift cards I earn from Swagbucks and IRazoo and the debit rewards program on my debit card.
Adding Netflix, and streaming Netflix thru our Wii has really changed our viewing habits! It is a great $9 to spend each month.
I am also revving up for Christmas! Yes, really! June 25 meant the 6 months until Christmas mark for this family. I have upped my online trading and swapping, accumulating points that I know I won't have shipping money for later.
Hope to have more to share soon!

Free Sample of Kotex products

2010-07-17T11:44:00.000-07:00

Ge HERE to select your free sample! Choose from liners, tampons, pads and the new U by Kotex line. I also had a survery pop-up, and at the end of the survey on the Kotex site it asked me if I wanted to be considered for a trial panel! All the need is your email address.

Get a Free Red Box Rental!

2010-05-24T08:12:00.000-07:00

Get a free one night rental from RedBox when you purchase any 3 participating Pepsi, Frito-Lay, or Orville Redenbacher products.

Promo code will print with register receipt.
Offer valid 5-9-10 to 5-9-11 at participating Kroger locations. Purchases must be made in a single transaction.

Click HERE to find a location near you.

*See in store signage for complete list of participating products

FREE Toy Story 3 items from Disney and Sara Lee

2010-04-29T09:21:00.000-07:00

I was super excited to see this in my Family Fun magazine. Combined with the fact that Kroger is having a B1G1 sale on Sara Lee Soft&Smooth bread, this is a really fun, great and FREE deal! NO shipping and handling!
"Get new Disney*Pixar Toy Story 3 collectible mealtime items when you purchase specially-marked Sara lee Soft & Smooth bakery products! Collect them all for mealtime fun!
There are 3 to choose from:
A sectioned plate
A Buzz Lightyear Light Up lunch box
and a Breakfast set!

Go HERE to see the list of participating products and HERE print your order form! Offer expires August 1, 2010, and there is NO LIMIT mentioned on the order form!

National FREE Comic Book day 5/1

2010-04-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year! It's National Free Comic Book Day. Go HERE to see the sponsoring Comic book stores in your area.

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive

2010-04-15T15:16:00.000-07:00

It's almost that time of year again! The Annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is set for Saturday May 8, 2010. You can read the press release HERE.

To help Stamp Out Hunger this year, simply leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, like canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal, next to your mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on May 8. Food items should be in non-breakable containers, such as boxes and cans. The nation’s 230,000 letter carriers will be collecting donations from homes across the country and delivering them to food banks and other hunger relief organizations in more than 10,000 local communities.

And you can also go HERE to become a fan on Facebook and Campbells Soup Company will make a 1 can donation to Feeding America (up to 1 million cans) in support of the USPS collection efforts.

Giveaway @ The Finer Things in Life

2010-04-15T14:56:00.000-07:00

Amy at The Finer Things in Life is hosting a great giveaway! Go HERE to enter to win a $25 Gift Card from Domino's Sugar as part of The Great American Bake Sale to help end child hunger.

"For the third year in a row, Domino® Sugar is the presenting sponsor for Share our Strength’s® Great American Bake Sale to help fight childhood hunger. The Great American Bake Sale raises money to fight childhood hunger across the U.S. by encouraging individuals, families, organizations and schools to hold bake sales and donate the profits to help Share our Strength provide millions of meals and snacks to America’s children."

Get Your FREE Redbox rental in May!

2010-04-15T11:23:00.000-07:00

RENT THREE MOVIES between April 14-30 and GET ONE FREE* in May!
After you rent your third movie, Redbox will email you a promo code on May 7th valid
for the entire months of May. Pick any movie you want, it's our treat!

$1 Ink Refills @ Walgreens

2010-04-14T21:26:00.000-07:00

On April 22, Walgreens will be offering $1 Printer Cartridge Ink Refills! Go HERE to verify if they refill your brand/type and watch for the coupon in Sunday's ad!

Thanks to She Likes to Save and Wild for Wags for posting this deal!

Get a little, Give a Lot!

2010-04-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

Doing some spring cleaning? Donate to the Salvation Army from April 1-May 31 and get a $10 gift card to Van Heusen, IZOD, or Bass stores!

Thanks to Common Sense With Money for posting this!

Attention Kroger Shoppers!

2010-04-06T14:18:00.000-07:00

I make no bones that I love my Kroger store! While surfing the home page today, I saw a flash ad for this promo for Digital Choice Rewards. When you purchase 10 participating products, you will get a special code to be used on the DCR website to be used for :
15 Free Music Downloads
One Free Movie Ticket
15 Free Ringtones
You can use the link above to see the list of participating items. (I am going to print mine out and carry it in my binder)
And don't forget that Kroger also has new digital coupons! These appear to be very similar to the ones available on Shortcuts.com, so not sure if they will work together. I will have to try it though! Can't hurt!
While you are on the Kroger homepage, you can also sign up to receive some free samples. They currently have Orville Redenbacher Cheddar Cheese Microwave Popcorn samples, $7 off Nicoderm and Huggies PullUps free Potty Trainig DVD.

More Swap Sites

2010-02-18T10:38:00.000-08:00

I posted an article last year about online swapping, and thought I would ad a refresher with some more awesome sites added.
Lista.com boasts itself as a totally FREE trading site. "Trade stuff for free" as the web site collects no money for listing items, etc.(there is also a link on my sidebar) It is much like ebay, with a very similar layout. However, you will see some listings that require the buyer to pay shipping. This MUST be listed in the description. You can sort items by FREE shipping however. This works on a credits system, and it is very easy to acquire more credits by linking to your Facebook or Twitter accounts. All members can earn fun little "badges" that are added to your profile for selling, buying, feedback, etc.
If you are looking for a more personal website, then ChocolateSoup is the place for you! A homey environment with friendly women who like to trade items as much as they trade tips, Chocolate Soup is a SAHM's dream site. It is a private group however, but there are no fees involved. This again works on a credit system knows as "chips". New auctions are posted almost daily and it is a great resource for coupons as well.

National Pancake Day @ IHOP=FREE PANCAKES!

2010-02-17T21:08:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again! National Pancake Day will be here Tuesday Feb. 23. You can go into any (participating) IHOP restaurant between 7am to 10pm and get a FREE short stack of their yummy pancakes! Details HERE. IHOP asks that you consider making a donation to The Children's Miracle Network, a very worthy cause! You can even schedule a wake up reminder call HERE from an NFL Hall of Famer, Miss America Caressa Cameron, Marie Osmand, or Monique Coleman

Soups On!

2010-02-17T08:23:00.000-08:00

Last year I posted about the 7 day turkey forecast, and we had another one this week. Again, we ran into the "dulldrum" of having turkey almost every night, and I still have a bag in the refrigerator (to be used with a box of Hamburger Helper), but the best part about making a large turkey is the broth you can make afterwards! I keep all the bones and fat, add them to a stock pot and cover with water. Maybe throw in a few bouillon cubes and some salt, simmer for a few hours, then add celery (I use the end pieces I would usually throw out, with the leaves) and carrots and any other seasonings, keep simmering and eventually you have a wonderful broth! I then let cool, strain well to remove the bones, and stored over night in the refrigerator with a plastic wrap skimming the top of the broth. The fat settles to the top when cooling and attaches to the plastic wrap, removing some of the fat. I then measure out the broth into 2 cup portions and freeze until needed. I like the 2 cup portions because I can just pop a few into the crock pot for soup starter, or use it to cook rice in, and I don't have to measure it again. This time I yielded 30 cups of broth/soup base that will be used throughout the year. And the total cost was,you guessed it, $0. This was my husbands holiday turkey and I already had all the other ingredients on hand for the broth.

Shop today, for next year.

2010-02-15T12:50:00.000-08:00

Today (2/15) is the best day to shop for Valentines Day candy! I have done this for years, frozen the candy and have never had a problem. I shop for candy the day after the holiday to make the most of my money. I was able to get 4 wonderful gift boxes of chocolate covered fortune cookies (regularly $5 a box) for a whopping $1.50 a box. But these in the freezer and viola! No shopping for me! I already have Easter and Christmas candy as well. A few tips:
*only freeze hard chocolate or milk chocolate, avoid chocolate covered marshmallows, raisins, fruit or popcorn. These will NOT taste good after freezing/thawing.
*look for hard candy, these also do well (think conversation hearts)
*do not remove candy from it's original packaging. You can also store in ziplock bags to preserve the fresh taste)
*make a specific place in your freezer for holiday candies (to keep others out of your stash).
This can cut your budget a lot, especially if you have kids. I generally spend about $2-4 for my 4 kids each holiday, and I don't have to rush out at the last minute.
And be sure to check your favorite online retailers for discounts!

Another FREE 8x10 Collage at Walgreens!

2010-02-11T17:38:00.000-08:00

Use code VDAY at Walgreens.com to get a FREE collage print!
Thanks Abundant Food Savings!

$10 printable Burke's Outlet Coupon!

2010-02-11T17:10:00.001-08:00

Click HERE to get a $10 off $40 purchase at Burkes Outlet Stores! Good Feb. 11-15. Don't forget to save more by shopping with your Monday(for shoppers over 50) or Friday(for shoppers under 49) club card! You can also click HERE to locate a store near you.

Click to Donate

2010-02-01T21:04:00.000-08:00

This click to donate is a little different. As part of the Live Positively campaign Coca Cola's Facebook Fan page with donate $1 to the Boys&Girls club for ever virtual Coke you sent to a friend. You can check it out HERE. Send to all your friends and see how much can be donated!!

Facebook Freebie!

2010-02-01T12:56:00.000-08:00

Americas Egg Farmers would like to give away a dozen eggs to all their Facebook Fans! Become a fan of Incredible Edible Egg here then check back on Friday 2/5, to get a Buy 1 Get 1 Free eggs coupon! Only available to the first 30,000 who download it!

Thanks to Erin @ Jane4girls$800 Annual Budget

Free Fun!

2010-01-23T16:44:00.000-08:00

Saw this ad in All*You Magazine!
Wal-Mart is having a special Littlest Pet Shop "Pets on Parade" on 2/13. Ad says, " a new parade will start inside the entrance of the store every 10-20 minutes during the hours of 11:00-2:00"
FREE giveaways: poster and stickers, parade flag & bag, LPS Diary sticker and a photo opportunity!
Check HERE to see if your local store is participating!

$10 off at diapers.com

2010-01-18T15:14:00.000-08:00

Use code PARENTSFEB10 to save $10 off any diapers or formula and recieve 1-2 day FREE shipping (shipping dicount applies to orders over $100) at diapers.com.

Free $25 Gift Card from Earth Fare

2010-01-08T14:04:00.000-08:00

Get a free $25 Earth Fare gift card for refering 10 friends to the Earth Fare Health Journey. Click HERE for full details. Referals must be made by 1/31
Thanks Freebie Blogger!

Top 10 for 2010

2010-01-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

Here are my top 10 Goals for the New Year, 2010!

1. grow a garden
2. de-clutter and hold a large yard sale in the spring
3. down-size my kids birthdays
4. blog more (and better)
5. start selling on Craigs List
6. re-do my teenagers room
7. take more pictures!
8. reduce my grocery spending (currently about $75/week for family of 6)
9. cut my trash down to 1 bag a week (goes along with composting, and more recycling)
10.start a business

Sunday Dinner for $12.66

2010-01-03T13:10:00.000-08:00

Needed a quick family dinner for after church today, so ran into Kroger (where else?) and got the Crazy Combo Deal and added some Ore-Ida Quick Fries! You can view my local ad HERE
So we had:
Bucket of Deli Buffalo Barbecue Wings
1lb bag of baby carrots
french baguette bread
Kroger Ranch Dressing
2 lt 7 Up drink
for $9.99
added 3 Ore-Ida fries @ .89 each
for a total cost of $12.66
then added salad we already had and a can of baked beans from the pantry.

It's the end of 2009! Review of goals

2009-12-31T13:19:00.000-08:00

Happy New to you! On this New Years Eve, I thought I would review my goals for 2009 and update on those I actually completed.

*keep up with the $5 CVS challenge, and include Walgreen's as well(when possible)
I actually did keep up with this for a while, but to me the deals just kind of dried up. I rarely spend any money is CVS anymore, and less at Walgreen's. We have a good stockpile (nothing pic worthy) that works for us and haven't spent more than $3 the whole year on shampoo, soap, toothpaste,etc. Plus I was able to score more gift cards for CVS this year thru MyPoints and Chase Visa Rewards.

*bake more from scratch
Did pretty good with this one and stumbled on a great cookie bar recipe that we make often!
*create a gift box (we seem to be swamped with birthday parties in the spring time, so this will help a lot)
Got a decent supply of these now, due in part to after Christmas sales
*cut energy costs!
Haven't made too much headway yet, but have cut my electric by half recently.
*make my own laundry soap
SUCCESS! Love doing this, and also my dishwasher detergent as well.
*recycle as much as possible in my community (we don't have a recycling pick-up or program here)
This goal I have done well with! Found a local grocer that has an outside recycling bin for plastic bags. I drop off all out newspaper at the local Animal shelter once a month. Magazine go to the Library free bin, and take aluminum cans to the only recycling center we have, and the money from them goes into our "Fun Fund".
*this is going to be the year that I finally learn to sew!
Sadly, no,I still haven't learned how to sew, maybe 2010!

And same as last year, BE BLESSED in the new year!

NO MORE Loadable P&G coupons at Kroger!

2009-12-15T13:13:00.000-08:00

Received this email from Proctor & Gamble this morning:

"Beginning December 31, 2009, P&GeSAVER™ coupons can no longer be downloaded to your Kroger® Shopper's Card.

Please redeem all P&GeSAVER coupons you now have on your Kroger* Shopper's Card by December 31, 2009.

We value your loyalty to P&GeSAVER and are very sorry for any inconvenience this causes.

Don't forget: You still can take advantage of valuable P&G samples and savings delivered right to your home through P&GbrandSAMPLER®. "

3 Ways to use your Points to donate this season!

2009-12-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

Here are 3 ways you can give back this Christmas Season, without spending a dime, or even leaving your house!*

1. Disney Movie Rewards: for 175 points, you can donate a Tree Seedling to Schools. (if you need some points for this prize, abcfamily is posting a 5 point code daily on the 25 Days of Christmas page. ) They have in the past, had a prize for 75 points that donates a DVD to a local Children's Hospital, so keep your eyes open for that one!

2. My Points: for 500-2,000 points, you can donate to The American Red Cross which provides disaster victims with food, shelter, clothing, counseling and more.

3. Swagbucks: Swagbucks is having a Toy Drive! You can donate your Swagbucks in ANY denomination to help the Toy Drive!

So, through these rewards programs, you can help the Earth, help people effected by tragedy, and help provide gifts for children, all for doing your everyday activities! (shopping, reading emails, internet searches)

If you have another program with donation opportunity's, please leave a link in the comments section.

THIS JUST IN! Paperbackswap.com is holding a "book" drive to benifit schools! To see the chosen schools, and donate a book credit, go HERE for all the information.

*Please note, you must be members of the following programs to donate. All memberships are free, and links are provided for sign-ups.

$5/$20 coupon @ Sav-A-Lot Printable!

2009-11-23T17:17:00.000-08:00

Sav-a-Lot is doing a Thanksgiving for under $15.oo promo, and you can print a $5 off any $20 purchase HERE from their web site! There are also other printable coupons for food items. Coupon expires 11/30, so hurry to print and redeem!

Save-A-Lot Great Gift Card Giveaway Sweepstakes!

2009-11-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

Go HERE to enter Save-A-Lot Stores Great Gift Card Giveaway Sweepstakes for a chance to win $5,000 in Gift Cards of your choice!
If you are not already a Save-A-Lot Smart Shopper, make sure and register for it! They will send you coupons, including general ones like, $3 off any $10 purchase.

Making the Most of your Kroger Crazy Combo

2009-10-30T19:16:00.000-07:00

I have really been enjoying Kroger's Crazy Combo deal (most of the time) but I find seeing how far I can stretch the weekly deals even more fun! Check out this weeks Combo deal:

Here is how I am planning on stretching it. *

Take the meat and divide it into 3 sections (about 1.5 lbs each).

Take the first 1.5lb and make crock pot chili. Use the tomato sauce and chili seasoning, 1/2 the onions,and serve with bread. You can also add a can of Kidney beans, if you like your chili with beans. If not, then you can use the leftover chili with some cooked pasta like macaroni, rotini or penne for a goulash later.

Second meal, use the rice mix and add another section of the meat and a can of corn for some fun dirty rice. You can also make some cornbread to go with it.

Third, use the last section of meat for tacos! Brown the beef with the other half of the onions and add some Taco seasoning for easy tacos! (I save any leftover taco meat in the freezer until the next taco night and just add into the fresh)

The combo deal typically is under $10, adding in the cost of beans, seasonings, and canned veggies, and taco shells you can have 3 great meals for $15 or less.

*not all of these meals will be eaten in the same week

FREE Cherry Limeaids@ Sonic 10/31!

2009-10-28T19:46:00.000-07:00

Sonic is giving away free 14 oz Cherry or Diet Cherry Limeade on Ocotber 31 from
2-5 pm.
This is a nice little freebie to go with your .50 Corn Dog!!
Thanks Freebie Blogger for this info! If you are not already a reader or follower of Freebie Blogger, here is your chance!

Corndogs @ Sonic for .50!

2009-10-23T21:25:00.000-07:00

Sonic is offering .50 corn dogs, Halloween, 10/31/2009 from 5pm to 10pm!

KFC to giveaway Grilled Chicken 10/26

2009-10-22T20:06:00.000-07:00

Just read HERE on Aol news that Kentucky Fried Chicken will be trying the Grilled Chicj=ken Giveaway! Looks like no coupon will be needed this time.

"The fast-food company will offer a free piece of its grilled chicken to all U.S. customers on Monday, according to The Associated Press. It will be the third time in six months that the chain has offered a giveaway to promote its new menu item, Kentucky Grilled Chicken. "

FREE Snuggie!

2009-10-21T19:21:00.000-07:00

You know you want a Snuggie, the blanket with sleeves!
Now you can have one delivered to your home for FREE!
Go HERE to order today!

New Schwans Code!

2009-10-21T19:17:00.000-07:00

Use code M2 on any pre-order from Schwans Home Delivery to save 5% off your total order! Good for new customers, or exhisting. Go to HERE to order! Expires December 31, 2009

"Tightwad" things I don't do anymore!

2009-09-07T09:07:00.000-07:00

Hello, blogging world! I have been offline since mid August, and finally have gotten some internet connection back! Still waiting on high speed, but even dial up is better than nothing!

So on this Labor Day, I thought I would make a post about tightwad things I DON'T do anymore..

Wash baggies--now I know most people will swear by this and tell you they save X amount of money doing it, and I did used to do it, but instead I stopped buying baggies all together. I just use "Tupperware" or whatever generic or reused plastics I have on hand.

Make my own pancake syrup--this used to be a big money saver for us, but the price of sugar has gone up so high, it is no longer cheaper to make my own than to buy generic, or use coupons.

Like wise, I don't make my own taco seasoning anymore either, simply because I buy it in bulk at Sam's for far less than buying the ingredients to assemble homemade.

Cereal Treats--3 receipes

2009-08-03T08:13:00.000-07:00

Basic Rice Krispies, but also works great with cheerios
3 TBSP butter
4 cups mini marshmallows
6 cups cereal
melt butter, add marshmallows, stir until smooth, remove from heat, add cereal slowly, stirring well. Turn out treats into metal or glass pan sprayed with non-stick spray for best results.

Super easy, great for slightly stale cereal
Line baking sheet with foil, then add cereal. Cut generous chunks of almond bark (regular or chocolate flavor) and place on top of cereal then pop into a pre-heated oven on low heat. If you use smaller, dense cereal like rice krispies or cheerios,you can add more almond bark to make it like brittle candy.

This is my favorite to make with corn flakes, but can use any kind of cereal. If using small cereals, you may need to add more than the 4 cups recommended.
2/3 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup peanut butter
4 cups cereal
Melt corn syrup and brown sugar until it comes to a full rolling boil, add vanilla extract, then stir in peanut butter. Once smooth, add cereal. Turn out into a glass or metal pan sprayed with non-stick spray. Cut into bars and enjoy.

Thinking Twice

2009-07-09T08:56:00.000-07:00

Lots of times when I buy my groceries, I am thinking "how can I use this in a different way/recipes?". I recently was able to re purpose a free item to make a totally different food item than it's purpose. I have been getting the Kroger Crazy Combo deals where you buy the main dish, then you get 4 free items. A few weeks ago I got the Potato Finishers in the Combo to go with the baking potatoes. Pressed for dinner ideas on grocery day, I needed a quick (and filling!) meal. I was able to use the white cheddar sauce and the shredded cheese from the Finishers package to make some home style mac n cheese, paired it with a salad and leftover 4th of July brisket and we had a great meal in minutes and were out the door to the grocery store.
Here are a few other things you can re-purpose, so don't be afraid to stock up on them!

Hot Dog buns: mini sub sandwiches, slit in half to make bread sticks for soup,salad, etc
Hamburger buns: breakfast sandwiches, nice crusty garlic bread for lasagna or spaghetti, "bagel" pizzas
Pre-made hamburger patties: pair with a brown gravy for Salisbury Steaks, bread and season for fried "steaks", or just serve them as plain grilled "steaks".
Ranch dressing: use this instead of pizza sauce next time for a tangy treat!

Got ideas of your own? Add them in the comment section!

Schwans Home Delivery Codes

2009-07-03T08:38:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the current promotional codes for Schwans Home Delivery Food Service
Use D5 for a $5.oo discount, on any order
Use D6 for orders over $25.00 to get a FREE pizza or half gallon of ice cream
Use code 4A to recieve 5% off your total order.

Oh, and FYI, Schwans accepts Debit/Credit cards, cash or check, and they also can accept state issued food benefits.

On the top menu, they have a tab for Meals under $5.00 and a tab for $1.00 per serving.
Please note, there is a $1.00 delivery fee on all orders.

And one little "green" thing. All Schwans trucks run on propane!

CVS $0 OOP

2009-07-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

Finally went to CVS this week! I can not tell you how long it has been since I went in there, with the exception of buying gum to get my 10ECB to print)

3 boxes of General Mills Cereal(3.00/each)
2 packs of Extra gum(1.29 each)
total=11.58
used 10ECB I got for taking a survey @ CVS Advisor Panel
$1/3 GM cereals
BOGO on Extra gum that I found loose in my binder,expiring THAT DAY!
after coupons total was:
.01
cashier told me not to even bother, he had an extra penny on the counter!

Free Veggie Tales DVD (2.99 S&H)

2009-06-29T15:19:00.000-07:00

The Thrifty Mama has a post HERE about how to get a Veggie Tales DVD FREE plus shipping and handling of $2.99. Still a great deal! If you want Saturday Fun with Sunday values, then Veggie Tales are for you!

2009 All You Grocery Challenge

2009-06-19T18:39:00.000-07:00

"We're thrilled that you're joining the ALL YOU Grocery Challenge! Show off your shopping smarts by spending no more than $25 per family member per week on groceries over a four-week period beginning July 13. That's $100 a week for a family of four. You could win a $1,000 grocery card plus a year's supply of Knorr side dishes and the chance to appear in ALL YOU magazine.
Follow these guidelines:
During the contest, groceries that you purchase count toward your weekly total. However, feel free to grow, barter or use stockpiled food to supplement your meals. Creativity and ingenuity count!
If you eat at a restaurant or buy takeout, the cost must go toward the week's total.
Household supplies and toiletries do not count toward each weeks total.
Keep track of your money using the optional Spending Log.
Save receipts--you will be required to submit them if you are a finalist.
Post your strategies on our Grocery Challenge blog, and be sure to tell us your money-saving tips
Click here to sign up
Official Rules
The contest starts July 13 (we'll send you a reminder email), so start planning your strategies now. Good luck!

You can check out the 2009 All You Grocery Challenge Official Rules and enter the contest HERE.

My Grocery Deals.com

2009-06-04T19:42:00.000-07:00

Since I live at least 30 minutes from any of our "local" grocery stores, and no grocery flyers are delivered in out mail, and only 2 of the stores put their weekly flyer in the newspaper, I have had to find creative ways to view the store flyers. (driving to the store just for the flyer is not cost effective,LOL) Sure I can look at each stores individual web site and look at their flyers online, slow internet connection speeds make even this simple task frustrating. However, My Grocery Deals.com is an easy way to see what stores in my area have what on sale each week.

It works like this, you set up your account, then you pick what stores from your area (even drug stores that carry food items, i.e CVS)you want on your list, and they send you an email on the day that the new flyers are released. That easy! After logging in, you can view sale items, add them to your list, and either have the list emailed to yourself, or you can print (you can also type in anything else you want on your list,or reminders, use $1 off Kellogg's coupons,etc or remind your self to price check an item). The site alerts you to healthy food choices, and alerts consumers to possible food allergens as well. As added bonuses, there are coupon resources, and the sales dates and stores are printed on your list so if you go to another store that has price matching, you are all set.

Burn Out

2009-06-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

I am suffering from some serious sales burn out. I haven't even set foot in CVS in almost a month, even longer for Walgreens. Just looked at my local grocery ads (Kroger, Super 2 Foods, Brookshires) and nothing worth bragging about. I have enjoyed Krogers Crazy Combo deals, but feel like I haven't had a decent sale in months, even though it has only been weeks.
Maybe my free Root Beer Float at Sonic tonight will get the juices flowing! These are the times when necessity becomes the mother on invention. I am hoping to come up with some great ideas and recipes out of this slump!

FREE Bar S Hot Dogs @ Super 1 Foods!

2009-05-22T12:17:00.000-07:00

If you have a Super 1 Foods, RUN and use your $1/2 Bar S coupons from the 5/10 SS asw they have the 12 oz packages on sale for .50 each! You can also go HERE to print more BarS coupons!

The Dinner Report

2009-05-20T10:00:00.000-07:00

Had this idea to share the actual cost of our dinners. I have seen so many TV shows and magazines that are toting the "$10 dinner" and I know a lot of people whose totals are WAY less than $10 (for the whole meal, not per person).
So, here is what we had for dinner 5/19

Hot Dogs and Mac N Cheese
(needed a soft and easy meal after a dental visit,ouch!)
hot dogs-.98 x 2=$1.96(-1.00/2 coupon) Final cost=.96 for 2pkgs (16 hot dogs)
buns .84 x 2=$1.68
mac n cheese= FREE at Kroger last week in the crazy combo deal
condiments from stockpile
total cost for family of 6=$2.64

Post your Dinner Report here! Use the fabulous Mr.Linky to share yours!

Click to Donate! Help Stop Violence to Women

2009-05-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

Help stop violence to women. Go HERE to click to donate.
Every click counts. This is in partnership with Amnesty International.

Book Giveaway @ Common Sense with Money!

2009-05-19T16:03:00.000-07:00

Common Sense with Money is hosting a great Childrens Book Giveaway! You can check it out HERE

3 Ways to Get Ready for Summer CHEAPLY!

2009-05-18T10:03:00.000-07:00

1. If you have an ice maker, let it run! Bag ice in plastic grocery bags to store for use in ice chests later.

2. Gather up your Wipes boxes. If you have small children (or even older ones) make them a travel box! Fill with small candies, fun pads, crossword puzzles, toys, or other small treats. Create your own scavenger hunt for long road trips (ex. Find a license plate from ___ state, 10 pts., include landmarks and easy to find items for younger kids)

3.Make a planned itinerary (with pictures) for the kids. Even make them their own maps! Trips go much smoother if they can keep up on where they are, where they are going and what to expect. Use recycled paper or paper grocery bags, cut pics from magazines, etc. Leave a place for them to journal or check off the days events, and they have a great one of a kind souvenir before you leave the house.

Free Bowling for Kids!

2009-05-14T10:33:00.000-07:00

Check out KidsBowlFree.com to see if there are participating centers in your area!
2 FREE Games Everyday for summer for kids!

“Bowling centers, schools, and other community organizations work together to launch a super summer activity option for kids and families...”

Click to Donate

2009-05-14T09:51:00.000-07:00

Click HERE to help donate medical care to children in need!

"The Child Health Site is dedicated to funding simple and very effective preventatives and treatments with the goal of robust child health around the globe. Your daily click funds the administration of Vitamin A to prevent life-threatening childhood illness and disease as well as one preventable cause of childhood blindness; the manufacture and fitting of children's prostheses so that a child injured by a landmine or other accident can still walk, run and play and still has a fighting chance to be a productive contributor in his or her society as an adult; eye surgeries that can reverse one kind of childhood blindness; and HIV testing that will alert medical personnel that a mother may pass the infection onto her child at birth so that she can be treated and the newborn spared of this terrible disease. When you click, once per day, every day, you are helping to get these types of treatments and services to the children who need them most."

Giveaway Winner!!

2009-05-12T09:53:00.000-07:00

By random drawing, poster number 5!
"Tonya said...
sorry I forgot to mention email for giveaways is tmw1223 at gmail dot com."

So Tonya has 24 hours to confirm her email! In the event she doesn't contact me, another post number will be chosen at random!
My email is tightwadmom@msn.com

Great Giveaway @ Coupon Geek!

2009-05-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

The Coupon Geek is hosting a really neat giveaway! Go HERE to see how you can enter!

Giveaway!

2009-05-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

To kick off the week, I am hosting a giveaway of a Brother PT-55BM Handheld P-Touch Labeler!

This is a light-weight, super easy to use label maker.
How to enter:
1.Leave a comment telling me what features you like about my blog, (eg.3 way day, Click to donate, freebies,Home school helpers, RAOK for Bloggers, I want to win) and which ones don't seem to work, or need help. I can take criticism! If you need a refresher you can explore the blog, or look at the post HERE.

2. leave a comment on how you found this blog

3. link to this giveaway on your blog/website.

That's it! Winner will be chosen by random drawing on May 12.

Don't Forget National Free Comic Book Day!

2009-05-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

You can re-read all the details HERE! So go out and have some free fun today!

Help Stamp Out Hunger

2009-04-30T06:36:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again for the USPS Stamp Out Hunger program. Just leave a bag of non-perishable items for your postal carrier on Saturday, May 9 to help out. You can check out all the details HERE, you can also download a countdown widget to remind yourself and others.

Coupon Theft and Aggrivation

2009-04-27T10:56:00.000-07:00

So I bopped into Kroger to get my newspapers yesterday and there were no coupon inserts (or ads or the Parade magazine) in ANY of the papers. It seems a lady came in and bought 2 newspapers, and TOOK ALL THE REST OF THE INSERTS! An employee confirmed this. (in the paper I get,they are all bundled in a plastic bag and inserted into the paper)

What the heck is wrong with people? Why both to even buy the papers if you are going to steal anyway?
I had to drive to another gas station to even find a copy of the paper!
I have no idea why the employees didn't approach this lady, since they saw her and she was out right stealing!
Gesh!

Free Comic Book Day May 2

2009-04-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

Got this from Family Fun Magazine! May 2 is Free Comic Book Day across the US and Canada. Some select cities will have creator signing events on theses days as well. During the giveaway shops and stores will be giving out free comics from 35 different varieties, including old time favorites of Mickey Mouse, and newer ones like Transformers.
Go HERE to enter your zip code to see which stores in your area are participating!

DUDE! I won something!

2009-04-21T16:59:00.000-07:00

Don't get too excited, I apparently won the satisfaction of knowing I won, i.e no real prize! LOL

I went on to RedBlog this morning and saw their first ever the Three:Freeze Frame challenge. I got all three movies correct! I believe I won some aluminum foil to crumple.....??
Anyway, I thought it was neat! You can read the post HERE, and these were not the pics that were up earlier today.
RedBlog is a great way to keep up with new movies, and DVD releases, instead of standing in front of the RedBox machine for 20 minutes trying to find something you want to see. (insert sarcastic tone from ME who is always behind this person!)

Swapping is saving $$

2009-04-13T07:12:00.000-07:00

Little People Wealth recently had a post, 97 Ways to Save Money. And she asked me if I wanted to add any ideas on any of the tips suggested. I chose one of my favorite subjects, Swapping!
Not as in Wife Swapping or other kinky things, LOL, but swapping of actual good. (swapping services is known as Bartering)

Online or in person swapping can be a great way to save money on everyday expenses, namely children's clothing. I also have some shipping tips later on.

If you have a local MOPS group, this can be a great place to begin a children's clothing swap! Look at your group of friends, church members, and other groups you belong to for ideas on what you have others might need, or things what others might have that you need. I am in the process of organizing a "purse swap" for our Ladies Ministry.

I have been swapping online for a little over a year now, and I can tell you, it has been a load of fun, and I can't even tell you how much $$ I have saved! Here is a list where you can get your feet wet in the Swap Pool!

Kizoodle.com
SwapBabyGoods.com
Zwaggle.com
Diaperswappers.com
PaperbackSwap.com
SwapACD.com
SwapaDVD.com
FruglarReader.com

You can also search Yahoo! Groups for lots of specific swap groups (WAHM, Direct selling, baby goods, mom stuff, and just general swapping)

Most of theses sites operate on a feedback system, much like ebay. Good traders have good feedback, not so good traders, no so good feedback. The vast majority of the sites use a credit system as currency. Being able to set your own price, as you do at most of the sites listed above, or in Yahoo! groups, is an advantage to you.This ensures you will get what you want for the item. Or, there are auction formats as well, where you put your item up for a starting amount, and other members bid, and everyone still benefits. Other sites like SwapaDVD or Paperback Swap have set their own currency rate of 1 credit per DVD/book, unless otherwise noted (double sets, collectors edition,etc)
Also, some are private membership which you must "apply" for. All the above sites are FREE to join, most have forums or other message boards to communicate with other members.
Another idea is to Google for swap groups for hobbies, children's wear, women's wear, etc. I think you get the idea!
In most all swapping groups you will in cure shipping costs. Zwaggle, for instance,lets you ship from home using pre-paid Fed Ex labels that you can print, and request a pick up. SwapADVD, SwapaCD and Paperback Swap all will let you print your shipping labels at home using Adobe Reader. (you can choose to pay from your Pay-Pal account or direct from your bank account)This is based on Media Rates, so they are inexpensive to ship (average cost for book/DVD postage is $2)

So now on to shipping! Probably the best way to ship is through USPS. You can use their Click and Ship to print postage for Flat Rate Items with no additional cost besides postage (Delivery Confirmation is FREE) unless you choose insurance. You will need to download some software from their site I believe. You can also get the Flat Rate boxes and envelopes from the same USPS site, all for FREE, and they can even be delivered to your door by your postal carrier! There are other services like Stamps.com that will allow you to weigh and ship any item, using all shipping methods and you can also request carrier pick up. However, there is a monthly charge for their services. One of the large advantages by using stamps.com is you can get a free postal scale with membership that plugs into your computer so you can calculate postage the same way your local post office does. (note: this scale can ONLY be used with the stamps.com service).

Other options are DHL, UPS, and Fed Ex.

Ways to save on shipping.
Did you know you can use everyday items to ship? Posters or other items can be shipped in the cardboard tubes that wrapping paper comes on, or even paper towel cardboard tubes (yes, I verified this with a USPS postmaster). Look around your house for boxes! Cereal boxes, cracker boxes, etc, all can be used for mailing. Use newspaper, recycled styrofoam peanuts for safe shipping, or even plastic grocery sacks! Use these to keep an item stabilized in a box by balling them up and packing them in tightly around the item. They are cheap (free!) and don't add much weight to the box, keeping your shipping costs down.
I recently discovered a cheap alternative to poly mailers. Shopping bags from some retailers, like The Childrens Place, can be turned inside out and used as a poly mailer for clothing or other textiles.
I have even received items in formula canisters!
As a "safety" note, I encourage all swappers and shippers to use Delivery Confirmation. This benefits both parties, and offers some insurance that the items isn't lost in the mail. Insurance is also a good option with a low cost, but doesn't show you where an item was last scanned, etc.

Online swapping can be fun and helpful in these tough economic times, but remember you are doing "double good" when you swap with others!
1. you are recycling! Every time you swap with someone, you are keeping that item out of a landfill. When you print and ship from home, you are not wasting the gas!
2. you are helping yourself and your family!

Taking a Blog-acation

2009-04-06T13:20:00.000-07:00

Haven't been posting very much as of late simply because my life is so crazy right now! On top of home schooling with a new curriculum (with a whole different schedule),my2 oldest children's birthdays, beginning guitar lessons for my oldest daughter, dealing with a terrible 2 year old, computer malfunctions and a load of different Girl Scout responsibilities, I just have not had time to post anything. I am going to take a vacation from blogging till the end of the month.
Blessings to you all until then!

Michelle <><

Click to Donate

2009-03-31T19:19:00.001-07:00

Click HERE to donate books to kids!

Within the U.S., access to books is essential to reading development: the only variable that directly correlates with reading scores is the number of books in the home. However, most recent data describes a profound, even shocking gap: while the ratio of books to children in middle-income neighborhoods is approximately 13 books to 1 child, the ratio in low-income neighborhoods is 1 book to 300 children.* In addition, over 80 percent of childcare centers serving low-income children lack age-appropriate books. Together, The Literacy Site and its domestic partner, First Book, provide children from low-income families in the U.S. with books they can take home and keep

2009-03-27T12:27:00.000-07:00

It's Friday! Time to Bless a Blogger!
This week it is Mommy Managing! I really love her blog! And she has single handedly turned me on to Brookshires! I had abandoned them due to lack of sales, etc. but she opened my eyes again! Looking forward to shopping there this week. So go on over and say "HI!"

Want ot Win it! Hannah Montana Sweepstakes

2009-03-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

Go HERE to enter!
Grand Prize: 4 Day/3 Night trip to Hollywood for 4 to attend a TV taping and visit the set of Disney's "Hannah Montana" series. Meet cast members from the TV show (talent subject to availablity) Get an incredible prop from the movie-one of Hannah's dresses! Meet with a Hannah Montana stylist to get ready for your set visit.
First Prize: 100 First Prize Winners will receive $50 JCPenneys gift card.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Open only to persons who are, as of Entry, 8 years of age or older; legal residents of, and physically located within, the 50 U.S. or D.C. Sweepstakes ends 11:59:59 PM (PT) on 4/11/09. Many will enter. Few will win. Click here for Official Rules.

WOW An Award!

2009-03-26T12:21:00.000-07:00

Giving Without Spending Nominated me for a Kreativ Blogger Award!
The rules of this award are to list seven things you love and pass it on to seven bloggers you love.

1.My Lord, Jesus Christ
2. My family
3. my church family and friends
4. the smell of fresh cut grass
5. a baby's laugh
6. cheesecake, lots of cheesecake :o)
7. sharing!

Ok, here are the 7 Bloggers I am passing this on to:
Thrifty Mom in Training

Star Lyte Star Bright

Making Cents of Saving

Frugal Wife and Mama of 2

One Frugal Lady

Thrifty Livin'

Savin Makes Cents

So, there ya go!

Wednesday Freebie Frenzy

2009-03-25T13:17:00.000-07:00

Printable Free lotion from Victoria Secret HERE (No purchase necessary)

Free e-book from Oprah's Book of the Month Club "Debt Diet" HERE

Free sample of Dove Heat Defense Therapy HERE

Free Bookmark from Christian Families Today HERE

Join Frugal Reader HERE and swap books with other member! Joining is free.

Free sample Kellogg’s All-Bran Pink Lemonade from Wal-Mart HERE

Free sample of Quaker Rice Cakes HERE

Free sample of Free Billy Boy Candy Pocket Tin Sample HERE. Just think of all the ways you can reuse that little tin! LOL

I am in the running at Get Dollar Savy!

2009-03-25T12:13:00.001-07:00

YIPEE! I am in the running for the $250 cash prize at Get Dollar Savvy! You can read this weeks entrys and vote HERE. (I am TightwadMommy)

I became aware of this site from Little People Wealth. This weeks question was "If you had to make 3 meals from a roaster size chicken, what would they be?"

Click to Donate: Save the Rainforest

2009-03-24T10:22:00.000-07:00

Todays site for Click to Doante is The Rainforest Site.
"The Rainforest Site is dedicated to the preservation of rainforests around the world. Your daily click funds the purchase of rainforest land by The Nature Conservancy, The Rainforest Conservation Fund, The World Parks Endowment, and Rainforest2Reef. These organizations work to preserve rainforest land in Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay and other locations worldwide.
On average, over 35,500 individuals from around the world visit the site each day to click the green "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button. To date, more than 150 million visitors have preserved more than 40,500 acres of land."

3 Ways to Reuse............Plastic Gum/Candy Containers

2009-03-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

Here are just 3 of the many ways you can reuse those small plastic gum/candy containers! (Mentos gum, M&M Minis,etc)

1. Perfect size for a change holder for your car.

2. Push a thumbtack through the lid and pin it to a bulletin board to hold tacks, a pen, etc.

3. Tooth holder. These make the perfect size for those little teeth your kids leave the Tooth Fairy! You can decorate with lots of alternatives, even gem stones! Much easier to find that little hard container under the pillow in the middle of the night!!

Good Samaratians Sill Exhist!

2009-03-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

I saw THIS article on AOL News, and thought I would share. Makes you feel good to see people doing good for other people!