Each week we provide a simple little money saving tip in our newsletter. If you don’t receive
our newsletter (you should though we will provide the weekly tip here. Check in weekly
to see a new tip!

Family Movie Night

If you have taken your family to the movies lately, then you know how much money it can cost for the average family of four.

Here’s an easy tip to save you over $60!

Go to the grocery store and buy a bag of popcorn kernels, not the microwave kind, and cooking oil to use to pop it. Rent a movie from a Redbox movie rental center (you can find them all over the place or click the link to find a location near you). Redbox charges just $1 and tax to rent a movie and
better yet, if you are a first time subscriber to their email list, you will receive a FREEMovie Rental. Many Redbox centers are located right inside major grocery stores, so you can kill two birds with one stone when buying your popcorn and oil.

Now go home and pop some popcorn, pop in a movie and begin your family movie night for under $10.

Light Bulbs

Switch all of your regular light bulbs with those funky twisty shaped fluorescent bulbs. They may cost a little more to purchase BUT they will last 10 times longer than traditional light bulbs, therefore saving you money in the long run.

Garden

May is prime gardening season and maintaining your garden doesn’t come cheap. To save some money on weed killer, try this handy little trick.

To help get rid of weeds that pop up through paved cracks, mix 4 ounces of lemon juice in a 1 quart spray bottle then fill up the rest with white vinegar. The acid in the mixture will eat away at the weed’s
roots and dry them up for good!

Now you can feel safer knowing your children and pets won’t be exposed to harsh chemicals while also saving a few bucks

Vinegar

Vinegar is a natural disinfectant making it the perfect cleaning staple.

Here are some money saving ways to use this versatile staple.

Pour one cup of vinegar into a coffee maker’s reservoir and run for one full cycle. It will clean the calcium and mineral deposits that have built up. Run through 2 pots of plain water once
the vinegar cycle is done.

Pour 1/2 cup of undiluted white vinegar down the garbage disposal to clear away odors.

Clean your washing machine by pouring one cup of white vinegar into the machine and run on a normal cycle.

Mix one part water and one part vinegar in a spray bottle to use as an all purpose cleaner in the bathroom to wipe down fixtures.

Use full strength vinegar in a spray bottle to wipe down counters, clean windows, mirrors and even the glass in your eyeglasses.

Mix equal parts water to vinegar to clean laminate flooring without buildup.

Groceries

Shop at discount grocery stores for all of your basic needs. Stop going to those over-priced grocery chains and look for the lesser known names.

I have been shopping at Aldi for years and literally save half on my grocery bill and I only go twice a
month. They also offer a double your money back guarantee if you are not satisfied with a product.

They may not be as “fancy” inside as the major grocery stores are and you have to bag your own groceries, but the money you save and the quality is so worth it.

Check your location to see if there is an Aldi near you.

Freecycle

Freecycle is a great resource to not only get items for free but to unload your items as well.You can sign up for the Freecycle mailing list for your local area and either post items you want to get rid of, or read other people’s offerings.

I have received furniture, a TV and toys for my family.This is a great way to get rid of items instead of filling up our landfills. Check them out today.

Store Receipts

One great way to save some money is something we normally ball up and throw in the trash. I’m talking about our receipts from stores, especially grocery stores and drug stores.

On most receipts you receive from these stores you can obtain really outstanding coupons, which are normally related to what you just purchased.

Some of these places also place surveys on the bottom of some of their receipts and if you complete the survey, you can get a big discount or something for free. It may not be anything big but free stuff
is always good.

So pay attention to those receipts you get at the store and save them, they could end up in you saving some extra green the next time you buy the things you need.

CouponTrain

Start a “Coupon Train.” I can’t sing the praises of coupons any more than I have already. They are the single best way to save money on every day food and household items.

A coupon train is started when one person (the conductor) loads up an envelope full of coupons they don’t use and mails them to another person in the “train.” This person will take the coupons they
want and replace them with the same amount they took out and also remove any expired ones. They then mail it to the next person and so on and so forth.

This would be a great idea for a topic in the forum. Feel free to start your own train there. I think it would be fun!

Kids Eat Free

If you have children, or even grandchildren, the cost of going out to eat can really add up.

The site CouponDiva’s has comprised a list of restaurants that have specials for children. Many of the offers require an adult purchase and the average age is 12 and under. You’ll be surprised at just how many deals there are!

While you are there, check out all of the coupons they have to offer, it’s a great site!

Angel Food Ministries

I posted about AngelFood Ministries on the site already but I think it needs to be repeated.

If you are in need of groceries at a low cost or just want to save some money, Angel Food Ministries offers great deals on food by the box full.

You don’t need to be of special need to order the food and the program is offered to anyone who would like to purchase the food.

You buy by the box full of selectedgroceries which runs $30. Additional boxes of fruits and veggies can also be purchased. They accept money orders, cash and food stamps in person or credit/debit cards online. You can find out more about them by reading their FAQ.

You can also purchase a Senior box of ready-made meals or a allergen-free box for those with food sensitivities.

Orders can be placed online, by phone or in person and you will pick them up at your host site, normally a local church. You can find a location near you and the schedule for ordering and pickup.

I apologize for sending this late for most states already have their July orders in, but you can check the site to see when August orders will be accepted.

I personally have placed an order and will review what I received when I pick them up at the end of the month.

DINING OUT

We all know how expensive dining out can be but if you search out deals at your local restaurant you can save a bundle.

Gift certificate sites like Restaurant.com offer huge discounts like $25 certificates for only $10.

Also, before deciding where to go, look up the restaurant online. You will find printable coupons, specials and more. You can also see if they offer a buy one adult meal and get a child’s meal free. Join their online email clubs for additional savings.

Look in your local Sunday paper for coupons or in your daily mail (we all get those coupon packs) for restaurants or kids places that offer discounts like Chuck E. Cheese.

Mini-Vacations

The summer is quickly coming to an end and many of us have either taken our vacation or are planning to take one. Save some time and money by vacationing close to home. There is no need to venture across the ocean when you more than likely have attractions and sites to see in your own back yard.

Do a search on the local attractions in your area and you will be surprised to find many you didn’t even know existed. For instance, I live close to Harper’s Ferry, so taking a day trip and even staying overnight wouldn’t take that much money to still experience a fun family day.

If you are going for the day, take a cooler full of picnic fixings to save money on the often over priced treats you find at many attractions. Mini-vacations and day trips are great ways to still feel like you are getting away but a whole lot cheaper.

Just Add Water
I have done this for years, the power of water to stretch a dollar is incredible.Everything you get these days is highly concentrated, just think of your detergents and soaps. When my detergent, fabric softener or hand soap is half empty, I fill it the rest of the way with water. You can even do this with your shampoos and conditioners.

It really doesn’t water them down so they are useless, you still get the same cleaning power as before and save money doing so.

TIPS FROM YOU GUYS!

The best saving tip is to look online for what is on sale & then go buy it, or just get coupons from the Internet or on magazines. ~ Patty ~

To save money on meat, I buy a whole cow and split it with several families. I am able to get all cuts of meat this way for about $1.50 a pound. Plus, my beef is organic this way as well.  ~Rene~

****
My best money saving tip is to shop at farmer’s markets for all your produce, any although it may sound kind of gross: Take all the little soap bar pieces and collect them. Melt them in the microwave or stove top on low and you can repour them into an oiled mold (or anything that you can flex a little to get it out!) You’ll have a new bar of soap. ~Laura B.~

****
We save money by making our own laundry soap for just pennies on the dollar! Here is the recipe we use for powdered laundry soap. It makes 2 cups.
1 bar grated Fel’s Naptha soap
1 cup Arm and Hammer Washing Soda
1 cup 20 Mule Team Borax
I use 1/2 to 1 TBS per load for my front-loading washing machine. It leaves our clothes very clean with a fresh “soapy” smell. The Fel’s Naptha and Arm and Hammer are available at our Kroger and the Borax at our Walmart.

We also use 1/4 cup white vinegar per load as a fabric softener. And no… our clothes do NOT smell like like dyed Easter eggs :). It does not make them quite as soft as Downy but we love that is cheap and very earth friendly as well! ~Jen F.~

****

I buy the value size of products, such as salt, sugar, flour, baking soda, etc. (even if it won’t be convenient) instead of the smaller, more expensive ones, and then transfer some of the contents into smaller containers. This makes them more attractive AND less expensive! ~Kelly H.~

****

My best money savings tip is try and combine in-store coupons with manufacturing coupons for great savings or even get the item free! ~Cathy R.~

****
This time of year I stock up on school supplies so that I have enough to last all year through-especially love the penny sales at staples and office max. ~Stephanie C.~

****

I make a grocery list of all the things I need. Then I go online and find coupons for them. I may not find a coupon for each item but most of the time 90% of what I buy has one. Also we trade clothes between a few families for our kids. When I go clothes shopping I type in which store I will go to followed by coupons. You wouldn’t believe how much I save. ~Elizabet W.~

****

We don’t buy clothes new except for my husbands work clothes, and under garments for everyone. Everything is bought from thrift stores, and passed down as much as we can. A site I belong to with 200 other moms is great for swapping clothes that we no longer can pass down (such as the clothes for my one daughter, since I have 4 boys as well), and get things we DO need!

We buy in bulk as much as we possibly can, we don’t buy anything unless it’s on sale, or I have a coupon. I take HUGE advantage of kids eat free nights, or the get one entree with the purchase of another drink.

I also don’t own a car anymore, so I don’t spend money on gas. I either walk everywhere or I take the bus. If I can’t get there by either of those means it’s not a necessity! ~Kelly D.~

****

I simply plan my meals based on the grocery store flyers and coupons I get in the mail. I go through them and make a list of all the items on sale so I’m not tempted to buy other things. I’ve also started drinking more water, which saves me money I’d spend on pop and sugary drinks (plus it’s healthier!). ~Laura C.~

If you and your loved one would like to go out for diner to a nice restaurant and save $25 here’s how to do it.  Go to their website Restaurant.com and sign up.  You will then begin to receive emails telling you that you can get 50%, 60% or &70% off by entering a certain code.  The key is to wait until the end of the month when they offer 80% off.  Normally a $25 gift certificate cost $10 but if you wait until the end of the month and get 80% off it only cost you $2.

What I normal do is go in when it’s 80% off and I click on buy a gift.  I then purchase (2) $50 gift certificates.  I print them out and wait until the 1st of the month when all the restaurants replenish their gift certificates.  I then go in and redeem my certificate for which ever restaurant I choose.

The good thing is you have up to a year to use your certificate.  So the key is if you buy gift certificates you have to a year to redeem them but once you redeem them you then have an additional year to use the actually restaurant of your choice certificate.  When I redeem my certificate I usually only get the $25 certificate because most of them require you to purchase at least $35-$40 worth of food with a 18% gratuity.  Still 2 people can eat at a nice restaurant for the price of one. ~Suzette~

*****

Here’s a good tip that works for me….
I cut my dryer sheets in 1/2 when I buy them.  I find that a 1/2 sheet is plenty and the box lasts twice as long. ~Ellen~

*****

This week I discovered a great website for those of you who like to read. Go to Paperbackswap to sign up.

The way it works is you sign up, then you list 10 books you have laying around the house that you no longer want.  In exchange paperbackswap will give you 2 credits.  Each credit is equal to receiving 1 book of your choice from other members.  You can receive these books at no charge.  When someone notifies you that they want one of your books you simple pay for the shipping to send the book to that person.

For each book that you send to another member you get an additional credit towards another book you want.  When someone wants one of your books paperbackswap will send you notification along with a shipping label.  This label actually turns into a book cover which you can use to mail the book to the other member.  You then have to go into your account and show that the book the other person order is no longer available.

They also have a wish list that allows you to enter the names of books that you are interested in obtaining.  This allows others to search their books at home and list that book so you can receive that book and add it to your collection.

Since I work for the USPS I suggest that when you take the book to the Post Office if it weighs less than 13 ounces you ask the clerk to tell you the price difference between Media Mail and 1st class.  Sometimes it’s actually cheaper to send the book 1st class just depending on what state it is being shipped to and the actual weight.  I hope all you readers out there take advantage of this opportunity and enjoy the books you receive.

In addition to this website also leads you to two other websites one is called Swapacd.com and the other is Swapadvd.com They work very similar to the book website except you only get 1 credit for posting 10 cd’s or dvd’s.

Sincerely,
Suzette

******

Just an FYI for those with OnStar.

Just wanted to let you know about a decent deal from OnStar.  I called to cancel my coverage stating financial issues as the reason (it’s 19.95/month) and they told me that due to the economy they would give me 3 months for free then after that my rate would only be 12.95/month.

So that’s an easy 60 dollars in savings and if I decide to keep it after my three months are up I’ll still be at the discounted rate.

~Julia~

(Please be aware that this may not work for everyone but it’s so worth a shot!)

Kmart has a Smart Assist Savings Program for the unemployed! Kmart customers who are unemployed can get 20% off of “Own-Brand” products. There are over 1,500 “Own-Brand”  regular priced and drug store items for you to get a 20% discount on!

Here is what their website explains:
Eligibility:Kmart customers who present state-issued identification (driver’s license or identification card) and a state-issued unemployment benefits enrollment confirmation are eligible to participate in the program (”Eligible Participants”). At checkout, cardholders will be required to show their valid discount card, their state-issued identification card for signature verification and their state-issued unemployment benefits enrollment verification. Valid signature verification is required to use the card. Terms & Conditions

*Own-Brand= Kmart Brand*
(This is a direct post from Free Sample Freak.com, posted with permission)

Don’t forget to take advantage of Kmart’s layaway plan and get that holiday shopping done today.

I know that a lot of my readers are stay-at-home Moms and Dads who may be looking not only to save some money but to make some money as well.

I recently stumbled upon a blog called Non Phone Jobs and it has a wealth of information on companies that are legitimate who hire people to work from home.

If you are like me and have children, working from home on the phone is impossible, it is NEVER quiet in my house, lol. This site offers links and reviews of companies who have non-phone related jobs like answering chat questions or performing data entry tasks.

I have started working for one company and when I see how it works out I will be posting about them on my blog.

You can also check out their scam section to learn
the sites to avoid. Love that!

Please let me know if you find something that works for you! I am always looking for ways to make some extra money and would love to share your success story.

I have a tip to add to your supply…I use empty Kleenex boxes to keep the plastic grocery bags from taking over my cabinet.

You won’t believe how many of those buggers will fit in there and then they are handy to use as small trash can liners.

The boxes with the actual flip-top lids seem to hold up better than the regular ones but either one works!!!  Have a great day!  ~Bobbi~

The best way to save money is to keep track of what you are buying, sounds easy right? Actually people tend to dismiss those little convenience store purchases and not include them in their daily budgets. Those little purchases of gum and soda can really add up.

I have found that Microsoft’s free templates are a great way to not only keep track of your budget but to create one to follow and start saving money.

Budget 101 also has many free budgets from grocery budgets to personal planning budgets that are also great to keep track of your dough.

Kmart has a Smart Assist Savings Program for the unemployed! Kmart customers who are unemployed can get 20% off of “Own-Brand” products. There are over 1,500 “Own-Brand”  regular priced and drug store items for you to get a 20% discount on!

Here is what their website explains:
Eligibility:Kmart customers who present state-issued identification (driver’s license or identification card) and a state-issued unemployment benefits enrollment confirmation are eligible to participate in the program (”Eligible Participants”). At checkout, cardholders will be required to show their valid discount card, their state-issued identification card for signature verification and their state-issued unemployment benefits enrollment verification. Valid signature verification is required to use the card. Terms & Conditions

*Own-Brand= Kmart Brand*
(This is a direct post from Free Sample Freak.com, posted with permission)

Don’t forget to take advantage of Kmart’s layaway plan and get that holiday shopping done today.

I know that a lot of my readers are stay-at-home Moms and Dads who may be looking not only to save some money but to make some money as well.

I recently stumbled upon a blog called Non Phone Jobs and it has a wealth of information on companies that are legitimate who hire people to work from home.

If you are like me and have children, working from home on the phone is impossible, it is NEVER quiet in my house, lol. This site offers links and reviews of companies who have non-phone related jobs like answering chat questions or performing data entry tasks.

I have started working for one company and when I see how it works out I will be posting about them on my blog.

You can also check out their scam section to learn

the sites to avoid. Love that!

Please let me know if you find something that works for you! I am always looking for ways to make some extra money and would love to share your success story.