Trying to save some money....

Arby's coupon

2008-12-30T20:36:00.001-08:00

Christianbook.com special!

2008-11-17T16:01:00.000-08:00

If you're looking for just about any Christian or inspirational book or gift, this is an excellent site to check out - some really good deals, and now check out this blurb about no shipping - yeah!!!

Want to do your Christmas shopping without shipping charges? Just place an order of $25 or more before 11:59 PM Eastern Time on Wednesday December 10th, enter promotion code 289265BBPURW and choose standard shipping.

Become a saver

2008-11-06T05:39:00.000-08:00

How do you become a saver? It is hard at first, and can feel not very fun when you're starting. Once you start, though, it feels good. Less stress, less worry, more dignity, more calm. As you watch your balance grow, it becomes a little addictive and you'll want to keep going!!

Any stories you can share on this?

Boost it

2008-11-05T05:35:00.000-08:00

How can you boost your savings?

When you get a raise, try to save more. Aim for half!! (This is what Mary Hunt advises, though right now, with all of our costs going up, this is hard!!)
Save the payment. When you finish paying something off, like a car loan, keep paying yourself into savings. A $330 payment saved for 5 years and invested at 6% turns into $23,470 in five years - cash for a new car!!
Do something big. Once you start savings, do something big. Get rid of a car. Downgrade your house. Save big!

Easy Things to Do Today

2008-11-04T05:30:00.000-08:00

Sell out. Go through your drawers and closets. If you're not using it, sell it on eBay or have a garage sale.
Give it up. If you give up a daily coffee, candy bar, cigarettes, or for me, fountain soda, it can add up. Saving $5 a day gives you $1,825 a year!
Think hard about driving. Cutting out 20 miles a week of driving will save about $5, or $260 a year.
Buy used. Check out Craig's list or even giveaway sites like Freecycle.org. It takes a little time, but can save a ton.
Cut the cards. It is a lot easier to spend too much money when you are using plastic (credit cards)

Watch it grow

2008-11-03T05:20:00.000-08:00

It is said that Albert Einstein called compound interest "the eighth wonder of the world." Even in today's volatile stock market, you're better off to stash your money in some sort of interest bearing account than not. Mary Hunt gives this example: If you save $25 a week in a savings account earning 3.5% interest, and you do this faithfully through your working years from age 35, you will have $69,000.00 in your savings account when you retire at 65, even though you only deposited $39,000 of your money. If you up it to $50 a week at 6% interest you'll have $219,000 at retirement!! Wow! Even the first, conservative account, earns you $30,000 for doing nothing but not touching your money!! Makes sense - now let's do it!

2008-10-30T09:52:00.001-07:00

Don't forget to change your clocks back one hour this Sunday!!!

Jump in and save!

2008-10-28T08:39:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back I started sharing some of Mary Hunt's tips for saving, and I lost track of myself... Right now we can certainly use all of the help that we can get, so here we go again!

Jump in and pay yourself first. Before you pay any bills, buy groceries, do anything, put something into savings. I'd actually modify this to pay God first by tithing, then save next, but you get the idea. Even if it's less than you hoped to do, save something. Baby steps count!

Free Cappuccino!!

2008-10-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

Penny Pincher Gazette

2008-10-12T18:09:00.001-07:00

Hey there - just received this in an email a few days ago and wanted to share!

October 08, 2008

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Chicken Enchilada Casserole
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make a skillet meal in minutes
brown bagging in style

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save $0.60 on any (1) knorr® sides plus veggie

save $1.50 on any (1) steamfresh® meals for two

$1.00 off kretschmar deli

save $1.25 on any one reynolds® parchment paper

buy one get one free pedigree butcher's selects® canned food for dogs

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save $1 on any oscar mayer deli creations flatbread or sub sandwich

save 50¢ on one (1) clorox anywhere anti-allergen fabric spray

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save $2.00 on any friendly's® ice cream cake 60 oz or larger

save $1.00 on any 2 friendly's ice cream rolls

free recycled hand tote!

SEE WHAT'S ON SALE THIS WEEK AT YOUR LOCAL GROCERY STORES!

Saving money by reducing energy costs - last part :)

2008-10-09T13:17:00.000-07:00

A few more tips to wrap up this little series on reducing your energy costs...

Think about all of the standby power being used in your home. The little green or red lights on your TV, cable box, VCR, coffeemaker, and the rest, all use power. This standby power uses between 6-30% of the average US home's electricity bill.
Unplug what you're not using if it's sucking up standby power. Consider a power strip to turn off several things at once (for example: computer, monitor, printer....)
Your computer uses up to 250 watts, so if it you leave it plugged in all of the time, but only use it about 4 hours a day, you could be wasting about $212 a year!

None of these tips are HUGE money savers, but all added together they could offer some help to the crazy bills that we'll all be facing this winter. Let me know if you have any more ideas!

A.C. Moore Coupon

2008-10-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a coupon and some sales!

Saving money by reducing appliance costs

2008-10-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

This article was huge - do you see why I split it up? Jam packed full of ideas from Mary Hunt about saving money on your energy bill....

Ideas on saving money on your appliance costs:

If you're replacing your appliances, look for Energy Star-rated appliances.
Fully load your dishwasher. It costs about $1 for each time you use it, counting soap, energy and water.
Air dry dishes. Using the air dry option on your dishwasher can reduce its energy use by 15-50%. If you don't have this option, open the door to let it dry after the rinse cycle.
Use the smallest appliance possible. A slow cooker or microwave uses less energy than the oven.
Clean out the fridge. If it's too full, the air can't circulate well, and the refrigerator uses more energy to stay cool.

Saving money by reducing hot water costs

2008-10-07T12:57:00.000-07:00

And more tips from Mary Hunt's article...

To save money on your water heating costs:

Consider switching to a more efficient tankless water heater.
Install aerating, low flow shower heads.
Take showers instead of baths; they use less water.
Lower the thermostat. 120 degrees is fine for most uses, including killing most bacteria and germs in the laundry. You'll save 3-5% of the cost for every 10 degrees you lower the temperature.
Insulate your hot water storage tank (Be careful not to cover the thermostat, air intake, or flue).
Change the laundry temperature. Using warm water instead of hot water cuts the load's energy house in half.

Saving money by reducing lighting costs

2008-10-06T12:51:00.000-07:00

A few more tips from Mary Hunt's article on saving money on your energy costs, this time specifically in regards to the lighting portion of your energy bill, which typically accounts for about 20% of your electricity bill.

Switch to CFLs. It costs about a dollar a month to run a regular 100 watt bulb for 3 hours a day. If you use a compact fluorescent bulb (CFL), that cost drops to 25 cents a month. The Department of Energy estimates that changing a quarter of your home's bulbns to CFLs could cut your lighting bill in half.
Turn your lights off. If you'll be gone for more than 5 minutes, better to turn your lights off.

Saving money by reducing energy costs

2008-10-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

I read a great article in Woman's Day, by Mary Hunt, that talked about simple ideas on ways to save money on your energy bills. I thought I'd share them here in a few bite sized chunks....

First it hit on how to save on your heating bill, normally one of the biggest energy expenses for households. Ideas?

Apply weatherstripping - check if you need it by having a lit candle on one side of the door or window and a helper with a blowdryer on the other. If the candle blows out, you've got drafts and need to seal up!
Insulate outlets and light switches with a specially made foam gasket.
Turn down your thermostat. It's estimated that for every degree you turn it down for an 8 hour period each day, you can save about 2% on your bill. Try a programmable thermostat to help you remember.
Only use exhaust fans when necessary. They can actually get rid of a houseful of warm air in about an hour, according to Habitat for Humanity.

Any other ideas that have worked for you?

2008-10-04T12:31:00.000-07:00

"Only through focus can you do world- class things, no matter how capable you are."

Bill Gates

Pick a Goal

2008-10-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

Another short and simple idea from Mary Hunt - pick a goal. Make it specific, realistic, and measurable. Her example: "I'm going to save $500 within the next 5 months by transferring $25 every Friday to my savings account."

Ideally, most experts recommend having 3 months' income in savings. Yikes!! I know!! Maybe aim for one week first, then one month, and so on.... She also recommends hanging a sign or some sort of reminder to help keep you on track.

Any luck with trying something like this?

Simple Cents

2008-09-30T13:42:00.000-07:00

I was reading an article in Woman's Day the other day about saving money and thought I'd share a few tips here. My time normally comes in bite size pieces, so it will take a few posts....

First one is easy - never spend your coins! Save 'em! The author of this article, Mary Hunt (love her stuff) saved more than $1,00 in one year doing this! Think about how light your purse will be too! :)

Free Homeschool Curriculum Contest!

2008-09-26T21:14:00.001-07:00

Would you spend two minutes to win an entire year's worth of curriculum? That's all the time it took Rebecca Day from Amarillo, Texas, to register in last year's spectacular homeschool giveaway at Alpha Omega Publications® (AOP). After winning the grand prize of $500 in homeschool curriculum, Rebecca wrote, "It was such a blessing to get your phone call about the prize! This is going to help our family out tremendously!"

Now, here's your opportunity! Register to win in this year's giveaway at AOP. From now until February 28, 2009, enter for your shot at the grand prize of $500 in award-winning homeschool curriculum, or other prizes like a complete, 5-subject set of Switched-On Schoolhouse® computer-based curriculum, the fully animated Character Builders™ 8-DVD set, or a complimentary copy of the uplifting and encouraging Daily Focus® devotional book.

Don't miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to gain outstanding curriculum and products for your homeschooling family. It's easy to enter. Simply click REGISTER NOW below and fill in your information. Entrants must be at least 18 years of age, and there is a limit of one entry per household. For more details, check out AOP's contest rules when you enter and remember that no purchase is necessary. Don't delay. Register to win today!

Who should enter AOP's Homeschool Giveaway?

EVERYONE!


	AOP's Giveaway Prizes: Grand Prize: $500 in Homeschool Curriculum 1st Prize: Switched-On 5-Subject Set 2nd Prize: Character Builders 8 DVD Set 3rd Prize: Daily Focus Devotional Book

Saving money when homeschooling

2008-09-26T16:12:00.000-07:00

PerX Discount Program

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Home School Foundation

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Clicks for Homeschooling

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Contests

January
GPA Smartstore PassPort

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The PerX program is easy to use. Simply visit our PerX webpage and select the discount you are interested in. Provide your active HSLDA membership number and an email address. Within a few minutes, you’ll receive an email with instructions on how to obtain the particular discount.

Save enough money with your PerX benefits, and your HSLDA membership just might pay for itself!

Free Starbucks Coffee!!

2008-09-25T05:05:00.000-07:00

Starbucks Offers Free Coffee for Homeschool Parents
This coming Monday, September 29, homeschool parents will be able to pick up a complimentary tall size (12 fl. oz.) cup of Pike Place Roast from Starbucks. Read more >>

Financial Bondage

2008-09-18T13:18:00.000-07:00

I was emailed these thoughts from Dr. Jack Graham and thought them applicable to share here...

Are you in financial bondage?

If you're not sure, here's what financial bondage looks like...

You charge daily expenditures for the lack of funds.

You put off paying a bill until next month.

You borrow money to pay fixed expenses such as your mortgage, insurance, or energy payment.

You are unaware of how much you owe your creditors.

You have creditors calling or writing you about past-due bills.

You take money from savings to pay your current bills.

You take out new loans to pay off old loans.

You and your spouse argue about money.

You consider being dishonest about your finances.

You find it difficult to tithe.

If any one of these markers describes your life today, I want to offer you a word of encouragement: There is a way to escape financial bondage!

Number one, you need to confront the problem. When you have a problem, you have to be willing to be honest about it.

Number two, you need to take decisive action. As our Scripture today says, you need to have a plan if you're going to escape financial bondage. It's not just going to take care of itself on its own! This will probably involve such things as reducing your spending, putting up or tearing up your credit cards, and budgeting your income.

The last way to escape financial bondage is to focus on what you can give--not on what you can get. In Luke 6:38, Jesus says, "Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you."

If you find yourself in financial bondage, I encourage you... make the decision to free yourself today!

YOU WILL NEVER BE THE BLESSING AS GOD INTENDS AS LONG AS YOU ARE IN BONDAGE TO MONEY.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

--Proverbs 21:5

Lack of action

2008-09-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

This quote was probably not intended for advice regarding finances, but it really is applicable for all of life, including money stuff...

Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."
- Will Rogers

What am I doing to get on the right track, and also to get moving, in regards to my finances?

Airline cheapness

2008-09-15T12:48:00.000-07:00

I traveled this weekend by plane, and it was a wonderful trip! I was able to find fairly priced fares, so that was very cool. I was surprised however, at the cheapness of many other things besides the fares!

Remember flying years ago and getting the little snacks and drinks and stuff? Well, in two out of four flights I had soda, half a can, and no snacks whatsoever. Yikes!!

And did you know that now, for many airlines, you can't check ANY bags without paying a fee? You have to carry on everything, which is challenging considering all of the security restrictions. I had heard that there would be fees for additional bags, which I understand, but not even one!?!

Ok, enough complaining.... Catch you soon!

Garage sale failure

2008-09-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

We had a garage sale today and it was an abysmal failur. I had hoped to clear some clutter out of our home at the same time as making a few dollars, and when all was said and done I ended up netting about 75 cents!!! My girls did a little better, but our total was still under $20!! That's very very sad for being up and setting up by 7 am, and being outside "working" until 3:00 pm. We had signs. We ran an ad in the paper. We had eye catchers up front. We had a free box. We did it all right. It did rain all day, quite heavily at first, so I'm guessing that's what did us in. Sighhhhhh.... There is a town wide one coming up soon, so since everything is labeled and sorted, I guess we'll try once more. I'll let you know how it turns out.

Free Direct TV channels

2008-09-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

I know the whole reason that they do this is to get you hooked on these extra channels, but it's fun when they do....

Direct TV is offering a couple of free previews this month:




	Starz® FREE Preview & Offer FREE preview 9/11-9/14. Chs. 520-533. Upgrade & get a $25 Best Buy gift card. Offer ends 10/15.




FREE SPORTS PACK Preview FREE preview 9/19-9/21. College football, hoops & more. Chs. 601-699.




	HBO ® & Cinemax ® FREE preview 9/5-9/8. HBO®, Chs. 501-508. Cinemax®, Chs. 512-514.

I really like free :)

Some easy ways to put money in your pocket

2008-08-31T10:24:00.000-07:00

I found a great article in Women's Day by Mary Hunt about ways to put money in your pocket. Sounds good, right? Here are the eleven ideas, in short form:

Entertain the family for free. If you've got a Bank of America card you can go to a bunch of museums for free through April 2009 on the first weekend of each month. Check out http://bankofamerica.com/museums.
Get a good rewards credit card, and then pay your balance in full each month.
Gather your books and list on cash4books.net - get cash and pay no shipping fees!!
Start a blog for free (try blogger.com), and place ads on it for a small income, depending on the amount of readers
Do it yourself. Pick something that you pay someone else to do, learn how to do it, and just do it.
Take advantage of online rebates
Shop your life insurance.
Refinance your car loan
Tap into H2O - switch from bottled to tap water and save a bunch!
Ask for lower interest on your credit cards (just call the customer service, tell them you're receiving offers to transfer the balance but you'd like to stay if they can match the offers).
Save on children's clothes. Try consignment shops.

Why not give a few of these a try and slip a few dollars back into your pocket?

A.C. Moore Coupon

2008-08-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately this is only good for the rest of today, but maybe someone will be able to scooch over and grab a great deal!!!

Free Six Flags Tickets!!

2008-08-26T09:46:00.001-07:00

Not too long ago we got to go to Six Flags Great Escape in Lake George for FREE :) because of Six Flag's Read to Succeed Program. Gotta say - loved it! I just checked the website, and registration is now open at the above link for the 2008-09 school year. If you have children in K-6 check it out. If you're part of a homeschool group, order for the group, or part of a school, let your teachers know. Registration wraps up in early October, and they tend to run out of kits soon!! Happy reading and playing!

Hannaford Coupon

2008-08-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

I have a Hannaford's grocery store right down the road from my house, so I end up there a lot, but I very rarely see coupons for them. It's a conflict between my cheapness in not wanting to spend gas to get to another store, and not wanting to shop without lots of coupons and deals. Sooooo, I was thrilled to learn that Hannaford has an online coupon available right now, good through September 14. It can be printed multiple times, as far as I can tell, and is good for $5.00 off $50. Good stuff! Enjoy!!

Eating healthy and spending less

2008-08-17T13:40:00.000-07:00

I found this list of tips on a blog that I visited lately, makingmommyhot.com . Some great tips to help make eating healthier a little bit easier on your wallet.

So if you’re committed to healthy eating, here are a few tips to accomplish that without stretching your budget to its breaking point:

Shop in season. Most of the fruits and vegetables at your local supermarket have traveled an average of 1,500 miles. With the recent rise in fuel prices, that trip not only hurts the environment but your wallet as well. By tailoring your tastes to produce that is seasonally and locally in vogue, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint and your grocery bill, as well as enjoy fresh and tasty food.

Invest a little to save a lot. Living healthier may require a bit more when it comes to time, effort, and money, but the payoff is huge. And if you play it smart, you can minimize the necessary investment on many fronts, each of which is entwined with the other. For example, you can save money by prepping your own produce or making your own juice. And by spending some cash on quality appliances-juicer, mandoline slicer, specialized peelers-you can turn these tedious chores into fun, easy activities that you’re more likely to set aside time to do.

Grow your own. If you’ve got a yard, what are you waiting for? Start a garden. Pick a plot in your yard that gets a sufficient amount of sunlight (at least six hours a day), and if you’re a first-timer, start small-a 10-foot-by-10-foot square is a great beginning. Head to a local nursery or home center (they’ll advise on which fruits and vegetables thrive in your area) to get the supplies you’ll need: plants, seeds, soil, hoe, rototiller, and more. And even if you don’t have a yard, you can still grow carrots, lettuce, herbs, tomatoes, and peppers in containers on a patio or at a windowsill that gets lots of sunlight.

Buy frozen and canned fruits and vegetables. Many experts agree that the process of freezing and canning fruits and vegetables doesn’t diminish the nutritional value of these foods. If you’re concerned about taste, you can boost flavor by adding a variety of spices. Many recipes allow for the substitution of fresh vegetables with canned or frozen ones; in fact, by using canned tomatoes in a sauce or a soup, you can save as much as 70 cents per pound.

Source

Orange juice tip

2008-08-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

Hey - a small, but easy, money saver. If you buy several containers of OJ (not concentrated cans) on sale and want to be sure they last, store all but the one you're using in the freezer. If you have just a bit left, store it in an ice cube tray to later throw into seltzer or Sprite for a tasty treat. Clever, eh? :)

God's Minimum Financial Standards for Couples

2008-08-11T08:30:00.000-07:00

I found this article from Crown Financial Ministries that has some really good food for thought in it!!

The Word of God has basic principles that govern every aspect of marriage, including His minimum financial standards.

Although often these biblical principles are in marked contrast with the world’s ideas concerning money, if couples will dedicate themselves to living by God’s principles they will avoid many potential financial problems.

The OPM principle
The primary financial principle taught to married couples by the world’s financial institutions is called OPM, or Other People’s Money.

However, this principle is nothing more than a credit mentality and a credit standard -- the ability to borrow that allows couples to buy things they really cannot afford to buy.

This principle works great during the early years of marriage, because it allows couples to accumulate a lot of things they otherwise cannot afford to buy.

Unfortunately, there always comes a day of reconciliation, when the bills for all those things comes due.

Before they realize it, because they built too much too quickly, using too much debt, married couples find themselves in debt far beyond their ability to repay.

God’s minimum standards
God requires minimum financial standards of finance in marriage for His people.

If couples establish these minimum standards and determine to make them an essential part of their financial management, they will, without a doubt, lay a strong foundation for a healthy and balanced marriage.

The following are four primary minimum standards of finance found in God’s Word that all couples are encouraged to adopt.

God owns everything.“We have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either” (1 Timothy 6:7). Once couples accept the fact that God owns everything and that they have been chosen to be stewards or managers of God’s property, it’s important for them to manage according to His principles and standards.
It’s how we faithfully manage what He has given us that will determine whether He will give us greater things to manage. “Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things” (Matthew 25:23).
So, since in a marriage a husband and wife are one, the financial assets and incomes of both husband and wife should be merged and they should operate from a unified financial management base, rather than from a separate and independent management base.
Think ahead and avoid problems.“Which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:28) Too often couples put off planning until they are so deeply in debt that it seems impossible to get out. By then it is too late to plan, except for crisis planning. Couples need to begin planning by writing down their goals and objectives, which should include a yearly balanced budget.
These goals and objectives need to be reviewed yearly. Obviously one of the first goals is to avoid financial bondage by staying out of additional debt and committing to pay off existing debt.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that they shouldn’t borrow, but borrowing to buy consumables, such as gifts, vacations, and clothes, should be avoided. This type of credit debt will put a couple back into insurmountable debt faster than they can pay themselves out of it.
Keep good records.“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches” (Proverbs 24:3-4). It is impossible for couples to have their finances under control unless they understand the basics of good bookkeeping.
Recently it was discovered that less than two out of 10 couples know how to actually balance their checkbooks. This means that many married couples seldom know how much money they have to spend or how much they are spending.
Couples should develop their financial plans together and work together, but there should be only one bookkeeper in the home who pays the bills. Two bookkeepers invite bookkeeping disaster.
Get educated.“The na ve believes everything, but the sensible man considers his steps” (Proverbs 14:15). Most financially na ve couples are not stupid regarding money; they are just ignorant and do not understand how borrowing and interest rates work. As a result, their primary concern becomes “How much are the monthly payments?” rather than “How much is this going to cost ultimately?”
In addition, many times the na ve people borrow more money than they can repay because they have no budget. In essence, they have no idea where their money goes each month or how much credit their income can support.
Couples need to learn financial management and budgeting and use that information to avoid debt or financial problems.

Conclusion
God’s Word provides standards for managing money that are essential for marital unity. If couples study these biblical principles, learn them and put them into practice in their marriages, and adhere to those standards no matter how tempted they are to adopt the world’s standards, their marriages will be strong and will remain sound.

Pay less for gas

2008-08-10T18:33:00.000-07:00

I've seen a few variations on this at different spots, but wanted to share a good list of simple ways to reduce the incredibly awful amount that we are paying for gas.

Check your tire pressure, monthly with a gauge when cold. Correct pressure is in owner's manual and on driver's side door jamb.
Don't idle. If you'll be idling for 30 seconds or more, better to turn off the car and restart.
Slow down. Dropping from 70 to 60 mph can increase mileage by as much as 18%.
Drive steadily.
Lighten up. The heavier the car, the more gas needed. Carrying extra junk in the trunk? Take a few moments to empty out.

These won't come close to making driving cheap, but every little bit helps!

Grocery savings

2008-08-09T03:41:00.000-07:00

A good list of ways to save money at the grocery store, from To Be Debt Free. .

1. Plan ahead: Map out your meals for the entire week. Go through your cabinets, fridge and pantry, making a list of any items you’ll need for your planned meals.

2.Cut coupons: Savings of 25 cents here and 75 cents there can add up fast.

3.Look for sales: Ads for savings are what make the Sunday paper so thick. Take advantage of them. Look for flyers throughout the week, pay attention to TV commercials and check junk mail for coupons before you throw it away.

4.Shop around: Don’t limit yourself to one grocery store. One store may have great dairy prices but overpriced produce. Another could have good meat sales, but your favorite cereal is too expensive. Pick and choose what you’ll buy from each store. However, if you bring sales flyers from the competition, many stores will match the price.

5.Go generic: Just about every product has a generic counterpart at a much lower price. Buy these products; you can get the same thing for a lot less money.

6.Don’t stray from your list: If you didn’t write it on your list, you don’t need it.

7.Bring your calculator: Is 24 ounces for $1.00 better than 36 ounces for $1.25? Bring a calculator with you to figure out the best deal.

8.Buy in bulk: It never hurts to stock up on items you use frequently. Bulk is often cheaper, so fill your cart. Be sure that you are able to use the item before it goes bad.

9.Don’t shop on an empty stomach: Everything looks good when you’re hungry. Eat before you shop so you’re less tempted to pick up anything and everything that looks good.

10.Check your receipt: Before you leave the store, take a glance at your receipt to make sure everything checks out. Items may ring up at an incorrect price or be scanned too many times.

11.Grow your own food: Plant some herbs and vegetables in a small garden out back. You may not be able to replicate the produce aisle, but it can help cut your grocery bill.

How to save money when you don't have any

2008-08-06T08:46:00.000-07:00

I so much realize how important it is to save money, but how do I do it when we are stretched so thin? I found this article that had some great tidbits in it...

Not having an emergency fund is the first step into the deep hole of debt.

With the economy forcing people to take a hard look at their finances, more people are realizing that they need to create an emergency fund, but how do you find the money to begin an emergency fund when you are just making ends meet?

Here are seven simple ways to find money to begin an emergency fund, which will allow you to create that all-important buffer for your finances.

Rearrange Your Current Costs

The least painful way to create an emergency fund is to rearrange the way you currently spend your money without actually giving up anything.

Chances are that you are paying much more than you need to be for a lot of the services you currently subscribe to such as cable TV, Internet access and phone service.

Calling these services with a competing offer in hand and asking for a better deal will often reduce the amount you are paying while keeping the exact same services you currently get.

The same can be done with home and car insurance as well. It usually costs companies much more money to find a new customer than it does to give you a discount, so they are often willing to give discounts to keep you from going to the competition.

You can then take the money you save to begin your emergency fund.

Play Saving Games

There are a number of saving games that you can play to get your emergency fund started. The most common of these is creating a money jar where you empty all your loose change at the end of each day, and collect the money at the end of the month to use for your emergency fund.

A wide variety of money games like this can serve the same purpose.

Increase Your Income

If you have already tapped all the ways that you know how to save money, another option is to make some extra money.

There are a number of ways that you can accomplish this, including finding a part-time job, doing freelance work or starting your own side business.

You can begin a number of jobs that cost very little money to create, and the extra money gained can become your emergency fund.

Sell Stuff

In all likelihood, you have way more stuff in your home than you need. A simple walk around you home looking into the closets, garage and other storage spaces should readily confirm this.

If you haven't used it in the past year, you probably don't need it. Instead of keeping it in storage and letting it gather dust, have a garage sale, put it up for sale on Craigslist or list it as an auction on eBay.

Set aside any money earned to initiate your emergency fund.

Pay Yourself

The reason that the IRS takes money out of people's paycheck each month is because if they didn't, they know that most people wouldn't have the money to pay their tax bill come April 15. They want to make sure they get their money, so they take it upfront.

You should have the same attitude with your emergency fund and pay yourself first when your paycheck arrives. Have a set amount taken out of each paycheck before you pay any other bills that gets transferred into your emergency fund.

Another way to accomplish the same goal is to finish paying off a recurring bill such as a credit card or car payment. Instead of using this newly freed up money to buy new things, keep paying it, but this time to yourself earmarked for your emergency fund.

Set Up an Account

When setting up an emergency fund, you will want to open up a separate account so that the emergency fund money isn't mixed in with your regular spending money since mixing makes it much easier to spend the emergency fund money on nonemergency things.

Online banks often offer money promotions for opening accounts, which can get your emergency fund started just for setting it up.

Pay Yourself for Things You Use

One of the easiest ways to always have an emergency fund available is to learn to pay yourself to use things you already own.

Getting into this habit ensures you have a mini emergency fund for all the things you use on a regular basis and puts you in a position of never having to buy things on credit again.

Embrace one of the above ways to begin the emergency fund, and give yourself a bit of breathing room.

by Jeffrey Strain

And the garden grows..

2008-08-02T04:42:00.001-07:00

Well, our time and work in the garden is beginning to pay off. We can now pick tomatoes, peas, and lettuce in the backyard. These beans are growing like crazy, but no veggies to eat yet. Saving money, eating healthier, and just fun :).

Easy college savings

2008-07-30T11:05:00.000-07:00

Probably most of you have come across this already, but I have a very frugal friend I was chatting with the other day who had never heard of this, so figured I'd share it, just in case...

Upromise.com is a program that helps you to save money for college by giving you rewards for buying certain products or from certain merchants. You link your shopping cards (like your CVS Rewards card) and/or credit cards to your account with them, and they credit your account for you when you buy the listed stuff. Now I've been doing this for a few years, and I haven't made millions, but I have made a little money for each child by doing absolutely nothing. I don't take the time to research what products they give money for, and I don't buy through their site (for which you do get extra rewards), but I just let the program keep track of me and put the nickels and dimes into my accounts.

Oh, you can also invite family members or friends to link to your kids' accounts (think grandma :)) to have the funds add up even quicker.

Additionally, you can set up a 529 Educational Savings Account for your child with the money you get from this program, through them, which has some great tax advantages.

Truly, a program worth the few minutes of set up time. Check it out :)

Spending Plan?

2008-07-24T13:15:00.000-07:00

"The Need for a Spending Plan

If you were going to build a house, you would need a house plan. This plan would tell you the size of the house, and how big each room would be. It would tell you where the windows would go and how high to make the ceilings. You would see where to put in the plumbing for the bathrooms and kitchen. Obviously, you wouldn't be able to know all of these things without the house plan.

Obviously, plans are necessary in order to reach a goal. When a person decides to run for a public office, he or she makes out a plan that includes where to get the necessary financing and how much will be needed for advertising, marketing, and other office expenses. Teachers must have a plan for what they will teach each day, each week, and each month. They are required to plan out when to give tests and to measure their students' progress throughout the year.

In the Bible, whenever God was instructing His people to do something, He always gave them a detailed plan, i.e., building the tabernacle, the ark, or the temple. God gave detailed laws that the Israelites were to follow while living in the Promised Land. The Bible is full of examples of the importance of planning.

Proverbs 21:5 tells us that, “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.” Luke 14:28-30 says, “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him, saying, 'This man began to build and was not able to finish.'”

If plans are so important, why do so many of us think we can manage our finances without one? In a recent survey of Crown.org visitors, we asked how many used a plan for managing their finances. Less than half of the respondents reported using a spending plan.Many people hear the word “budget” and respond negatively. They think of a budget as being restrictive, too limiting, and too legalistic. Yet, in truth, a budget can be very freeing; it can bring peace and break the bonds of being a slave to our money.

A budget is simply a plan – a plan for how to spend the money we have. As Christians, we recognize that everything we have is a gift from God. We are not the owners; we are simply the managers of what He has entrusted to us. Knowing this fact should give us a better perspective on how we handle money. A budget is a great way to make sure we are handling money in the best way.

Without a spending plan, it is impossible to know where your money goes each month and whether you will have available funds for the things you need. The “not knowing” can create feelings of anxiety and fear. Financial problems can cause stress in marriages and other relationships.

When you create a spending plan, you can have the peace of mind in knowing that your bills can be paid, you have funds available for emergencies, and you know what you can spend for the things you need and want.

The Lord blesses us with resources (or money) so that we can use it wisely to fulfill His purposes in our lives and further His kingdom. Without a plan for how to manage our finances, we may never reach our goals and experience true financial freedom.

To learn more about starting a Spending Plan, click here. "

From Crown Financial Ministries.... They just have amazing resources for helping you to get not only your money in order, but how you think about money, in order too. Good stuff!

Coupon let down

2008-07-21T17:37:00.000-07:00

Well, bad gamble on the papers - only one coupon bundle this week, and no super exciting deals at CVS or Price Chopper. I did grab some CVS diapers - marked down to $6 for the jumbo packs, and then $5 extra bucks back when you spend $15. So, that was good, but not exciting. Oh well. Thankfully we have enough in the "pantry" to make do for the week, and actually have some veggies from the garden, so just milk and bread to buy. No problems...

Dollar Tree papers

2008-07-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well, I splurged and grabbed two of the local newspapers today at the Dollar Tree. I figure they normally would cost $2 anywhere else, so I'm still okay. I'm hoping that they are coupon rich, because I am dollar stretched this week. As soon as I'm done doing a little work online I'll be spreading out the sales flyers and trying to match coupons with sales. CVS and Price Chopper are usually pretty good with that. Here's hoping :).

Money for Kids' Reading

2008-07-19T08:49:00.000-07:00

Very cool program being run by TDBanknorth, in our town anyway. When kids read 10 books this summer, TDBanknorth will deposit $10 into a savings account for them! I'm excited about this one. Our daughters' saving accounts are growing much slower than I'd like, and this is a fun jumpstart, plus a great incentive for them to stay away from the tv and into a book.

Free stuff

2008-07-17T06:46:00.000-07:00

I found a great website that has all sorts of free stuff offers. You know me and free - whoo hoo!!

Free Stuff

Our Garden

2008-07-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

We're doing a smallish garden again this year for a few reasons: teaching our kiddos about gardening and the science of it, trying to instill a love of nature and how God put it all together, and trying to save some money and eat some healthy produce. We were all excited today to be able to pick our first veggie - a small tomato, but a harvest nonetheless :).

Teaching kids about money

2008-07-14T04:43:00.000-07:00

My husband and I have walked a hard financial journey. We bottomed out a few years back, and took some to recover financially. We still don't have strong savings, and with the one real breadwinner piece, it's hard to really get ahead. I wish that when we were both working part time we had done better at planning for our financial futures.

I want my girls to make wiser financial choices in their futures, and I know, like anything else, training will be easier when they are younger. We've done some training. They get $1 a week in a "paycheck" for completing their assigned chores, plus the possibility of a little extra for extras sometimes. When they get paid, they have envelopes to put 10% in savings and 10% for tithe. We talk about money stuff, in a good way, around them.

I am excited that in our homeschool co-op in the fall, a few of the moms will be presenting a class for the kids up over 3rd grade on money management. It's something I think I'd like to sit in on. Never too late to learn....

Tag Sale

2008-07-12T10:36:00.001-07:00

Today we hit a great little tag sale at a church fundraiser - all the kids' toys and such were ten cents. The kids had a blast filling up bags and I looked like a hero for $2.50. My kind of sale :)

A Full Cup

2008-07-11T13:15:00.000-07:00

Hey there - just wanted to share a website that I mentioned in passing previously, but hadn't elaborated on.. www.afullcup.com . It's a community of sorts of folks who really like to save money, and it has lots of coupons and other links on it to help us to do so. Really helpful stuff, even though the Target coupons are currently not usable (problem at Target regarding other counterfeit coupons, not this site). Lots of good stuff :)

Frustrated at Target

2008-07-10T08:33:00.000-07:00

I was all excited this morning, because I had a great deal lined up at Target for Pamper's diapers and wipes, using manufacturer's coupons and Target's web coupons, on top of a sale. I found out about it on http://www.moneysavingmom.com/, which linked me to http://www.afullcup.com/ , where I printed the coupons. Anyway, I got there and at the checkout found out that they are not accepting any of their web coupons anymore, because of some counterfeit ones that are circulating around. Stinky!!! I would have gotten two packs of diapers, good ones, and two packs of wipes for next to nothing! One cheater spoils it for the rest of us!

See New York without spending lots

2008-07-09T13:58:00.000-07:00

I was reading a magazine the other day and they mentioned a program I remember hearing about a long time ago, but it had slipped into the dusty corners of my mind... The Empire Passport Discount Program. When you purchase this season pass you can get unlimited day use vehicle entry into most all of the NY State parks, rec facilities, DEC preserves, boat launches, arboretums, and park preserves. It's $59 for unlimited use - each time a carful. I believe AAA members can get discounts on top of that too. A cool way to see lots without spending lots.

Snowball Effect

2008-07-08T04:16:00.001-07:00

I was just browsing along online, and found Dave Ramsey's website. I'm sure many of you have already visited there (http://www.daveramsey.com/), but it's chock full of helpful money tidbits and tools. He mentions in specific a debt management tool called the debt snowball effect (I've linked the article here: http://www.daveramsey.com/the_truth_about/debt_reduction_3606.html.cfm ) that basically teaches you to pay your smallest debt back first, so you can build momentum and be encouraged. This is a little different than what I've always heard about paying highest interest first, but psychologically, it makes sense. Anyway, check it out. Some good food for thought!

CVS

2008-07-07T04:29:00.000-07:00

Checking out the Money Saving Mom website again and see that CVS has some very happy July extra bucks things going, plus some great weekly specials. Can I fit that into my crazy post vacation to do list??

Free homeschool curriculum

2008-04-28T13:12:00.001-07:00

This is just cut and pasted from their website, but they explain it better than me. Good stuff!

"Welcome to Ambleside Online, a free homeschool curriculum designed to be as close as possible to the curriculum that Charlotte Mason used in her own private and correspondence schools. Our goal is to be true to Charlotte Mason's high literary standards. Ambleside Online uses the highest quality books and costs no more than the cost of texts. The curriculum uses as many free online books as possible, and there is no cost to use this information or join the support group."

Like it says, it's free, and it's a wonderful resource to use either to frame out your homeschooling, or just to give you ideas of books and such....

http://www.amblesideonline.org/

Sales flyer crazy

2008-04-26T08:52:00.000-07:00

I gotta say that I have found a new addiction. The Sunday paper's sales flyers are MINE in our house. As soon as I get the paper, they are pulled out, sorted, and put in order of importance. CVS always has the really good deals and freebies, so that goes on top. Rite Aid with its rebates is pretty good, so that's next. Price Chopper will go next, especially if they have any double or triple coupons on the front page. The rest fall in place after.... Then out come the coupon inserts. I skim to see what's in there so that I can know what is on sale AND I have coupons for (dollar signs in my eyes!). I hand my coupons off to one of my kiddos to clip, grab a pen and paper and hit the sales flyers, listing off the really good deals. After I've got my list together, I grab my coupon box and start matching up. Anything that I can get for next to nothing stays on the list, and the rest are mercilessly scratched off. Every once in a while we'll buy something that's not on sale, but that's not nearly as exciting :). Anyway, it's strangely fun - kind of like a treasure hunt, and with money stuff the way it is right now., every little bit helps!

Webkinz stuff

2008-04-25T08:50:00.000-07:00

Aren't everyone's kids Webkinz crazy right now? They are giving away free stuff this weekend at a bunch of locations... Gotta go catch it with my girls :) http://www.webkinz.com/webkinz_day_2008.html

The "Good Book" for free

2008-04-19T07:52:00.000-07:00

I was doing a little digging on line and found a neat article that talks about places where you can get Bibles for free. I thought it was a really neat resource for folks who would like to check out what the Bible does have to say but aren't able to spend the money that they do cost at the bookstores and such... I'm cuttting and pasting it here, but the link is also http://christianity.about.com/od/practicaltools/ht/freebible.htm

How To Obtain a Free Bible
From Mary Fairchild,Your Guide to Christianity.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

At first I thought a better title might be, "How to Get a Free Bible without Stealing it from a Hotel Room." But, I didn't want to offend anyone, especially my Gideon friends. The truth is, the Gideons don't mind if you take those hotel Bibles. They are actually placed there for travelers who might need one. (It's a good idea, however, to ask the hotel for permission before you take the Bible!) So, there's one very easy way to obtain a free copy of the Bible. Here are several more:
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: Varies
Here's How:

Contact a Local Church. One of the easiest ways, and actually the very best way to obtain a free Bible is to call a local church. Most large churches have a surplus of "left behind" Bibles in their lost and found. My church has so many unclaimed Bibles that we ask a local prison outreach to come and distribute them to prisoners. Some churches will even give away a new Bible if you don't have one. Don't be shy! If you truly need a Bible, most Bible teaching churches will be happy to set you up.

Download Free Bible Software. Here are a few options for free Bible software programs to download: • E-SWORD • BiblePro for Windows - Download or request a free CD. • Theophilos Bible Software - Download or request a free CD. • The SWORD Project
Use a Free Online Bible. • BibleGateway.com • CrossWalk.com • BlueLetterBible.org • SearchGodsWord.org

Request a Bible from FreeBibles.net. FreeBibles.net promises to send a new or gently-used Bible to anyone in the U.S. who cannot afford to purchase one. Requests are limited to one per person and one per address, but other than these simple rules, there are no catches! Most ministries will only send a New Testament, or the "free" offer comes with strings attached. Not only does FreeBibles.net send a complete Bible, they also cover shipping and promise not to contact you with any solicitation. They cannot guarantee a specific translation and they only mail Bibles to the needy and imprisoned. • FreeBibles.net

Philippines and Africa Residents. GetYourFreeBible.com promises to send a New Testament Bible in the English, Tagalog of Hiligaynon language to anyone in the Philippines and Africa who cannot afford to purchase one. Requests are limited to one Bible per person. GetYourFreeBible.com will also take requests from small churches or ministries (Philippines & Africa only) who need Bibles for their ministry. And the best part? Absolutely no strings attached! • GetYourFreeBible.com

Sign Up for a Free Bible. Some sites offer free Bibles, but proceed with caution! There may be strings attached: • USA Bibles - Free King James Version • Shop Here Free - Free King James Bible

Contact a Bible Society. If you're looking for a large quantity of Bibles for ministry distribution, consider one of these societies. They offer reasonable pricing for bulk quantities. Obtaining free Bibles may be possible, however, not guaranteed. • International Bible Society • American Bible Society • The Gideons accept requests for Bibles in the following areas of need: hotels & motels; hospitals, nursing homes & domestic violence shelters; schools, colleges & universities; military, law enforcement, firefighters & EMTs; prisons & jails. • Visit UBS Fellowship for a complete list of national societies.

Quick and Easy Summer Recipe

2008-04-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

I have a picky picky family, and my culinary skills are pretty, well, limited, but this dinner is always a hit. My mom made this whenever we picnicked as kids, and we eat it now pretty much all Spring and Summer long, at least once a week. Quick, easy, healthy, and cheap! Yeah!!

Tuna Macaroni Salad

Boil as much elbow macaroni (or spiral, whatever your family likes) as your family needs, and at the same time boil 4-5 eggs. Drain it off and pop it in the fridge for a bit. Once everything is cooled down, add in 1 can tuna fish, 1 cup mayo (more or less depending on the amout of macaroni you used), your boiled eggs (now chopped up), and a cup of frozen peas. Mix it all up well and enjoy. You've got pleny of protein, your carbs, and your veggies. Pair it up with some fresh fruit and you're all set! The whole meal is maybe $3.oo and everyone's happy! Enjoy!

Stay at home mom

2008-04-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

I'm wondering tonight, as we try to balance it all here - homeschooling, parenting, living, paying bills... is it really possible to be a stay at home mom? It just seems so impossible to stretch one paycheck around an entire family.....

Coupon ideas

2008-03-12T10:28:00.000-07:00

Ok - so this is a cut and paste from http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ , but she says it's okay as long as I link back... So here is probably the best list of how to start collecting coupons and saving money.... Read on and save on :)

Friday, October 5, 2007
How to accumulate a nice stash of coupons Be sure to check out all the great links for Frugal Friday today!
One question I am often asked is "Where do you find all your coupons you use?" Well, I don't have any super secret source, but I have come across many different ideas for accumulating coupons. Here are just a few ideas that I've personally used or heard about from others:

1) Subscribe to your local newspaper. This is the simplest way to get started couponing - getting it delivered to your door every week! We pay around $1.00/week for this and it has been worth every penny. I waited until I could get it that cheap before I would subscribe, though. Unless you already get the paper anyway, if you are buying the paper solely for the coupons, don’t pay more than $2/week maximum for it. Also, see if you can subscribe to a Sunday-only edition or at least a weekend-only edition. Other things to look into: Check and see if you can get more than one copy of the paper and get a discount. Or, call around to other local towns/cities – especially larger cities - and see if they offer any discounts on newspaper subscriptions for out-of-town folks. You might also call and ask about them just letting you purchase the coupon inserts. And always ask for a discount – there’s usually a way to get one! There are a few other online sites, including eBay and The Coupon Clippers or The Coupon Master where you can routinely buy extra coupons from for a fraction of the cost. I encourage you to be cautious when doing this, though, as you can easily go overboard. However, if it's a really good deal and going to save you lots of money and you're able to afford it in your grocery budget, then go for it! I know many people who have saved hundreds of dollars buying coupons from The Coupon Clippers or The Coupon Master.

2) Ask friends, relatives, and co-workers for their extra papers. Let it be known that you are an avid couponer and will gladly accept any extra coupon inserts from anyone who doesn't use them. You might be surprised how many you can collect this way. Elderly neighbors seem to be especially eager to save their coupons for others, so be sure to ask them. Also, if you know of anyone who has a newspaper route, this might be another avenue for having access to free coupons. It depends upon the policy of the newspaper company, but sometimes they will allow you to have the extras.

3) Check out your local recycling bin. I'd heard of this method for awhile but never investigated it until a few years ago. Let me tell you – it really works! In the town where we used to live, I discovered where some very clean newspaper recycling bins were located and hit them on my way home from the store, if I had time. In 15 minutes, I could usually salvage 10-15 coupon inserts.

4) Get coupons at the store. Keep your eyes peeled at the store and pick up any coupons you find on tearpads or in the blinking dispensers. If there are extras, pick up multiple copies of these. A lot of times, this very item will be on an exceptional sale just a few weeks later and you’ll be more than glad you picked up that handful of coupons!

5) Print coupons out online. If your store accepts “printables,” this can be a great source of coupons. You can do a search for "printable coupons" and it will bring up many different coupons. You can also search for a specific item and see if there are any printable coupons. Most of these sites allow you to print two coupons per computer every few weeks. The coupons offered on these sites usually change every month. Check out the list on the sidebar for some of my favorite links to printable coupon websites. There are also many other options for obtaining coupons like trading coupons with others online or offline or coupon trading boxes available at some stores or libraries, and other ways. Start actively looking for coupons and you’ll soon find more sources than you can use!

Reader Tip: Write companies and praise their product and request any coupons they might have to offer. Reader Rachel wrote and said: If there is a product we really like, I email the contact email on the package and let them know how much we like it. My recent success was with Mission tortillas and wraps. They are our favorite because they are always fresh and soft, and we go through a couple packs a month. I emailed them and raved about their product and wrote something like this, "I am a single adoptive mom on a tight budget. Would you have any coupons to help us afford our favorite wraps?" Today I received two coupons, each for a free pack of wraps. Not bad for about a minute of my time! - Rachel

What are your best methods for obtaining coupons?
This article was revised from Supermarket Savings 101.

Homeschooling hints

2008-03-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

If you're a homeschooling family, just thought of sharing this one... Staples offers a teacher's discount card, as does Barnes and Noble, and JoAnn's Fabrics. You just need some sort of proof that you do homeschool - they prefer ID cards of some sort. Anyway, hopefully that will help someone else save a few pennies...

Money saving site

2008-03-10T10:24:00.000-07:00

Ok - here's another link to try out - lots of money saving ideas and coupons and such!! http://www.couponmom.com/

Saving money at CVS

2008-03-08T10:26:00.000-08:00

Wow - I do like my coupons and saving money, but there are some hard core coupon mamas out there! I was told about the website http://www.moneysavingmom.com/ to save some money, especially at CVS. There are some great ideas on this site, and then there are links to TONS of other sites, and these ladies are amazing - getting paid to buy their weekly supplies b/c of coupons and sales and rebates. Wow! I am inspired to try a little harder - we'll see how that works out :)

Welcome

2008-03-02T08:42:00.000-08:00

Hi there - welcome to my blog about saving money... trying to share ideas and get ideas of how to stretch the dollar...