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Coupons are Better for a Single Income Family

Friday, July 30, 2010




Coupons are a great way to save money at practically any income level, but the benefits are higher for a one-income family. Why is that so? Well, it really comes down to percentages.




Generally speaking, the more you need to buy, the more you can save by using coupons. Of course, if you're using coupons to buy things you don't need, then you're not saving money at all. However, when you're buying things you do actually need for more than one person, you have more opportunities to reduce your total cost by using coupons.



So, for the sake of argument, let's say that coupons save you approximately 5% off of your total cost. With two people, you have to buy twice as much, so you save twice as much. To further this argument, let's say that each person has their own income, and that the total costs for a family of two are equal to 40% of their combined incomes before the coupons. How much of their income, percentage-wise, did the coupons save them in this case? 5% of 40 % is 2%, so 2% of their total income was saved by using coupons in this scenario.



What if there is only one income to support these two people? It's not unreasonable to imagine that this single income is half of what the dual income family makes, so let's assume that's the case. That means that the same costs are a whopping 80% of this family's income. So, what percentage of this family's income are the coupons saving them? 5% of 80% is 4%, so in a way, coupons are saving the single-income family twice as much money as the dual-income family. Or, at the very least, the amount of money it saves them means twice as much to them.



So, in short coupons mean a lot more to a one income family than a multi-income family.

Summer Fun Event Winners!

Summer Fun Event Winners for today:

Here are the winners:

-9oofus@gmail.com- http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/06/summer-fun-event-sponser-pizza-hut.html

-theluckyladybug@gmail.com- http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/06/summer-fun-event-marx-foods-palm-leaf.html

-runningmatey@hotmail.comhttp://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/summer-fun-event-review-and.html

-rachel.flavin@gmail.com - http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/summer-fun-event-review-and-giveaway.html#comments

-cenya2@hotmail.com- http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/summer-fun-event-book-review-and.html

-dragonflywhispers06@gmail.com- http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/summer-fun-event-review-and-giveaway_20.html


***All winners have been contacted and have 7 days to get in touch with me before a new winner is redrawn.

Thank you to all who entered!

4 Family Fun Photo Contests With Eco Friendly Prizes







As moms, we are always in search of meaningful ways to spend time and have fun with our family. And the moms at Inspired Gifts have just the answer.




Each week they host a fun, often silly, sometimes even a lil' wacky photo contest!

All Inspired Gifts Weekly Photo Contests encourage having fun and creating meaningful memories with family & friends.



Weekly Winners enjoy Inspired Gift’s top-selling EarthTru Photo Print Package, an eco-friendly way to preserve photographs. And everyone who enters an Inspired Gifts Photo Contest the month of August will be entered to win The Back To School Essentials Package. See below for more details on prizes.



Wacky Watermelon Photo Contest

Wild about watermelons? In honer of National Watermelon Day on August 3, get your favorite gang together for a family fun picnic. And make sure to include a sweet & tasty watermelon.

Send us Inspired Gifts your favorite photo of family, friends or kids enjoying Watermelon to:

photos@inspiredgifts.com


Submit Photos: August 2-8, 2010



Show Off Your SMILE! Photo Contest

The 2nd Week of August is National Smile Week! So get silly, make a stranger laugh, tickle your kids feet and smile, smile, smile!

Send Us your BEST Smile or Silliest Photo to:

photos@inspiredgifts.com


Submit Photos: August 9-15, 2010



I Scream for Ice Cream: Photo Contest

August 25th is National Banana Split Day!! Join the celebration, make some homemade ice cream or head to your favorite ice cream parlor. It's hard to imagine greater fun!

Send us your cutest photo eating ice cream to:

photos@inspiredgifts.com


Submit Photos: August 16-22, 2010



Under The Stars: Camping Photo Contest

Pitch your tent and get Under The Stars!! August 30th is National Marshmallow Toasting Day. So get busy toasting marshmallows and melting chocolate to make s'mores with your kiddos. And don't forget to takes pictures.

Send Inspired Gifts your best family camping photo to:

photos@inspiredgifts.com


Submit Photos: August 23-29, 2010



WEEKLY WINNERS receive the Inspired Gifts *Top Selling*

EarthTru Photo Print Package

5 - 4x6 Prints

2 - 5x7 Prints

1 - 8x10 Print

1 - Set of Wallets



About EarthTru Photo Prints: Reduce your carbon footprint by printing on eco-friendly photo paper. Earth friendly prints are printed on post-consumer reclaimed paper and enhanced with a fade resistant, acid-free gloss. Discover Sustainable Printing at its Finest.



ALL CONTESTANTS from now till the end of August will be entered to WIN the Inspired Gifts Back To School Essentials Package. Included in the Back To School Essentials Package are:



 -Photo Dry Erase Board

-8.5x11 Photo Notebook

-Photo Bookmark



About Inspired Gifts: Inspired Gifts is a mom-run company providing eco-friendly photo books & gifts for families, friends, children & babies. All photo books and gifts are created use sustainable printing methods. If you are short on time, Inspired Gifts offers free design assistance with all photo products
 

Looking for Referrals Please-Can You Help?





Hi Everyone-

     Just wanted to drop a quick line or two... first of all I am trying to enter to win a contest to Labrador but looking for referrals.
I would only need your first and last name and email. Then I can send you the contest entry.
You can send all day today only at oneincomedollar@yahoo.ca
Thank you so much! I will let you know if I win.

Also, I will be away for tommorow and Sunday- need to get out of town. Gerry and I have some gas cards, food cards,movie points, etc.. and are heading about 4 hours out of town to get away- might head to the lake and then do a bit of shopping.So, no posts from me for at least 2 days.I will have my netbook with me though so wil be checking emails.
I am going to try to get my Summer Fun Event  giveaways done up for today and have those winners posted as well.
Usually do my weekend housework too on Saturdays but am going to get that done today too before we leave.
Thanks again for your support-
Have a great weekend-



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New Blog Hop

Thursday, July 29, 2010

6 Signs That You've Got M.A.D ((Money Anxiety Disorder))







The American Psychological Association conducted a survey in late 2008 and found that 80% of the people who responded said that the financial crisis was causing them a significant amount of stress.


Anxiety over money issues has produced a new ailment that is affecting a large part of the population, particularly women. Psychology professionals have named this affliction: Money Anxiety Disorder.

Women tend to be more highly stressed about money issues because in general they are not the major breadwinners; they are the care-givers, concerned about their family's future and well-being. And, in relationships, there usually isn't an open and equal financial partnership between husband and wife.

Financial issues are the primary cause of conflict and divorce among couples. As the economy continues to struggle with high unemployment, tight credit, low housing values and high foreclosure rates, couples are struggling to cope with financial problems and M.A.D. behavior.

The following are six tell-tale symptoms indicating you have gotten M.A.D.:

1. You have an overall sense of fear or dread thinking about money.

2. You are in a panic about your husband’s or your job security and income.

3. You have a constant fear that your financial safety net (retirement and emergency savings) will disappear forever.

4. There's a feeling of confusion, anxiety and shame about your lack of financial knowledge and awareness.

5. You feel angry about the lack of communication between you and your partner regarding your personal finances.

6. All financial discussions between you and your partner quickly turn into arguments.

4 Ways to Overcome M.A.D. mania:

1. Money and money matters aren’t scary, they’re just math. Not knowing anything is scary. Tell your husband that you are afraid and concerned about your health (because you are anxious all the time) and that you would like to sit down with him to go over the numbers together. Set a day and time for a “money date.” Gather together (ideally with his help) all of the household statements and bills so you can create a monthly budget and “cash-flow statement” during your date. A “cash-flow statement” is just what it sounds like, a calculation of the money or income coming into the household measured against the money going out or expenses, just like a math equation. If there’s more money coming in than going out there’s a positive balance which can be turned into savings. If the balance is negative then either income has to go up or expenses have to go down. Knowledge is power. Once you have the facts and numbers you can develop open communication and build a strategy together. Following a clear financial plan with your husband will eliminate a lot of your anxiety and fear.

2. Contact a NON-PROFIT credit counseling agency if you’re faced with a large amount of debt and not enough income to support basic expenses and monthly loan payments. A counselor will review your budget, income, assets (what you own) and liabilities (what you owe) then offer solutions and resources. To locate legitimate non-profit agencies go to NFCC.org (National Foundation for Credit Counseling) or AICCCA.org (Association of Independent Consumer Credit Counseling Agencies).

3. Understand that the market goes up and down and up. Certainly investments can lose value on paper but it isn’t a realized loss until you sell them. Focus on what you can control in your finances and take a longer view of the market. As Warren Buffett said: “We simply attempt to be fearful when others are greedy and to be greedy only when others are fearful.” If you have one, speak to your financial advisor or retirement plan manager about your concerns. To get a wide range of information on finance-related topics and available resources go to MyMoney.gov.



4. De-stress by going for a walk or exercising in any way you like. Anxiety can take a physical toll on your heart, head and on neck, back and shoulder muscles. The temptation is to sit and stew but that won’t help either your mind or your body. Meditation, yoga and hypnosis are also ways to reduce stress and anxiety.





About the Author:



Financial survival counselor, Hollis Colquhoun has more than twenty years experience in the financial industry and co-authored "Women Empowering Themselves: A Financial Survival Guide." When not working as an Accredited Financial Counselor or promoting financial education for women, she pursues her interest in martial arts. She has a black belt in both Karate and Taekwondo. Learn more about her book, read more money tips and sign up for her newsletter on upcoming F.E.S.T. (Financial Education and Survival Training) seminars by visiting www.FinancialSurvivalTools.com. Contact Hollis at WomenEmpoweringThemselves@gmail.com

7 Tips for Feathering Your Retirement Nest


One third of Americans aren't saving for retirement, and roughly the same number have no savings at all. If you can relate, here's the good news: It's never too late to start saving and investing for retirement. Better yet, you don't have to be an expert to feather your nest. Here are seven smart, simple steps to get started:




1. Figure out your price tag
Estimate the dollar amount you'll need to be financially independent in retirement. Factor in how much of your current earnings you are willing to commit, what you've already accumulated (your savings, retirement plans, investments, etc.), and the number of years you intend to continue to work. Then calculate a monthly "payment" to your retirement fund.



2. Open a tax-deferred retirement plan

If your company offers a 401(k) and you're not participating, sign up immediately. If your company doesn't offer a 401(k), go to a bank, credit union, or other financial institution and open a tax-deferred individual retirement account, such as a Roth IRA.



3. Invest in a mutual fund

Find a mutual fund that fits your needs. There are four basic types of funds -- money market, bonds, growth and income, and growth -- and they range from "low" to "high" in terms of risk tolerance. (Hint: Look for editors' picks at magazines such as Money or Kiplinger's Personal Finance.)



4. Enroll in a mutual-fund debit program

Authorize your mutual-fund company to debit a pre-set amount from your bank account to buy shares on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis. Many companies have reduced their minimum investment to establish accounts to as little as $50 per month.



5. Sign up for a mutual-fund reinvestment program

Help your investments to grow automatically by opting to reinvest your dividends in more shares instead of receiving the dividends in cash. At the time you establish the account, simply check the related box on your application.



6. Save money -- without thinking

Set up an automatic savings plan with your bank. You can request a select amount to be automatically deducted from your checking account and deposited in your savings account or retirement fund. (To stay on track, the amount should be close to the number you came up with in Step 1.)



7. Pay yourself first

Every month, write yourself the first check -- before you pay your other bills. Deposit the check in your savings account or retirement fund. Do the same thing with "found" money -- gifts, tax refunds, work bonuses, healthcare reimbursements, and other types of cash outside of your regular paycheck.

Finally, commit to a long-term strategy -- one that keeps money invested for five years or more. You will increase your opportunities for gains and help create true financial security in your retirement.





Deborah Owens is a nationally recognized expert on investment literacy and creating and maintaining wealth. She is author of the critically acclaimed book "A Purse of Your Own: An Easy Guide to Financial Security" (Simon & Schuster, 2010, $15.00) and a radio and television host popular with audiences of NPR, PBS, and numerous other broadcast networks. Her current national campaign -- "A Purse of Your Own" -- is dedicated to recruiting one million women to participate in local "Purse Groups" to support their journeys to financial empowerment. Contact her on the Web at deborahowens.com.

Cutera's Milestone Birthday Giveaway



Everyone loves birthdays – but when it comes to celebrating a “milestone” birthday (i.e. “The Big 4-0” or 5-0, etc.) people, especially women, tend to think less about parties and presents and begin to reflect more on their lives and their looks. To that end, a recent survey shows that women are willing to do just about anything to reverse the aging process – including giving up alcohol, sex, TV and the internet for 5 years!




“Typically, women approaching 30, 40 or 50 will visit our office to celebrate an upcoming ‘big’ birthday and treat themselves to a series of laser treatments or a dermal filler,” said Debra Jaliman, MD, Assistant Professor Mount Sinai Medical Center. “These milestones can be traumatic for some women but certainly not for all. The survey validates what we’ve seen – that women are opting for aesthetic solutions because they want to invest in their appearance as a gift to themselves.”



To celebrate milestone birthdays, Cutera is giving away the gift of beauty (i.e. a Laser Genesis treatment) to anyone turning 30, 40, 50, 60 this year via MyBigBirthday.com. This promotion will help women target their top skin concerns – allowing them to feel better and look better.




Go to MyBigBirthday.com to learn more about the promotion, survey, and best treatments for the common skin concerns of your age group.

Review: Dyson 25 Animal




Meet the Dyson DC 25 Animal


Let me tell you, it was like having a new toy to play with!

This is a very lightweight vacumm and took some getting used to as it has a ball at the front that swings around as I vacumm, moving in all directions. It picks up great and has an easy to empty canister- with no bags required .



All Dyson vacuums feature patented Root Cyclone technology – which means that they never lose suction. At the on set, James Dyson was frustrated by how vacuums would lose suction over time, even during a single day of cleaning…and so he developed technology so that they Dyson vacuums are powerful and never lose suction – hence working like vacuums should!!
Great for homes with pets!



Also, although each Dyson is designed to work on all floors and all types of clean-ups – Animal models come with a mini turbine attachment specifically designed for pet hair pickup and embedded dirt for a more thorough clean.


Finally, all Dyson vacuums are certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma Society of Canada. Thanks to a HEPA filter and the Root Cyclone technology, Dyson vacuums are designed to reduce allergens – and in fact, the air expelled from a Dyson has up to 150 times less mould and bacteria than the air in a room.

Review and Giveaway: Lonely Planet's 100 Ultimate Experiences ( Canada only)

1000 Ultimate Experiences (General Reference)


I love to read anything about travelling. I sell travel as well, so I should enjoy it.
I recieved Lonely Planet's book called: 1,000 Ultimate Experiences, for review.
The first thing I noticed about this book, was that it was great quality.It had colorful photos throughout the book on places to "wow" you.The contents were broken down into catagories such as : "Most Beautiful Town Squares",Most Extreme Environments"," Best United States Road Trips" and so much more. I especially love the locations for Canada and the USA as I'm not an overseas traveller, but I still enjoy the great descriptions and the superior color photos.
I would highly recommend this book for any travel lover, or as a gift for one you know.

1000 Ultimate Experiences brings together 1000 ideas, places and activities to inspire and entertain for travellers and lovers of life-lists alike. Get inspired and start ticking off those boxes of places you've always wanted to see and things you've always wanted to do. Who knows where you'll end up!


This book can be purchased through Amazon.
Our book friends at Raincoast Books would like to give away one copy of this book to one lucky Canadian reader.
A random draw will be made on August 7,2010, from all entries recieved, by Random. org



To Enter:

Tell me if you have ever read any Lonely Planet books


Extra Entries:



Follow me on Twitter: oneincome

Grab my Build a Cheap Vacation button

Grab my site's button

Grab my Work at Home button

Tweet my Travel specials: http://tripatlas.com/store/112261

Follow me as a Google friend

Sign up as an email subscriber



Best of luck to all!

Today's Winners are....

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

We had two draws today.. and our lucky winners have been contacted by email- they are:

vickers@comcast.net
who won:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/review-giveaway-and-coupon-code-usa.html

and
arctic_teacher@yahoo.ca
who won:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/review-and-giveaway-wholesalekeychainco.html


Thank you to all who took time to enter.

14 Day Free Trial- Sell Travel From Home

Tuesday, July 27, 2010




14 day free trial now available for an opportunity to sell travel.


Why sell  travel?


By initially working only 4-6 hours a week, you can develop a substantial client base through friends, acquaintances, business contacts, the Internet, organizations and virtually everyone you know



•Quick & Easy start-up at a very low cost


•EXCLUSIVE Travel Agent Offers

•FREE travel booking website

•Direct Access to Thousands of Travel Deals

•Immediate Online Booking Capability - 24/7

•Weekly Newsletter and Travel Deals

•Receive up to 50%* off hotels and vacations

•Referral bonuses and commissions

•Highest paid commissions

•Advanced training opportunities

•FREE marketing, training and call center support
 


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Are You Looking To Save Money on Your Family's Travel?




From now until August 31st, you can save money on your travel and the travel of your family, for a low start up cost of only *$99.95.
This offer will save you money on your own travel booking through the online agent only site.
You can enjoy discounted travel and enjoy the travel agent lifestyle.....




Call Today 1-888-233-1995- and ask for Eric Kosley in Service.Feel free to ask additional questions.


Please tell him you were referred by Monique Rowe-agent # 3845051




* *Plus, $9.95 non-refundable processing and activation fee.


You can view my site at : http://www.buildacheapvacation.com/







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Back To Basics: 10 Ways to Simplify



If you’ve been around long enough, you’ve probably realized by now that life seems to pick up speed and get more hectic as you get older. Responsibilities multiply and the load you shoulder never gets any lighter. You often feel like you’re at the very edge of your limits only to have them pushed a little further. And while you sometimes marvel at the amount you’re able to accomplish in a day, it just never seems to be enough. Not only that, but with inflation, everything you used to be able to afford has gotten more expensive. When did a cup of coffee start costing as much as a night out at the movies? And when did movies start costing as much as your dry-cleaning bill? It’s enough to make anyone crazy! So how do you get back to that hazy memory of a time when life was easy and filling your gas tank without taking a second mortgage was not entirely outside the realm of possibility? Simple. Just simplify (and save)!





Go ride a bike. If your morning commute isn’t too far, get in a little mood-boosting exercise on your way to work. Or if it’s a long way off, eschew hours in traffic in favor of public transportation; sip on coffee and read the paper while someone else honks in frustration.

Brown bag it. A homemade lunch is both healthy and cost-effective, so stock up on your favorite meats and cheeses, go for some multi-grain bread, and throw in a couple different kinds of fruit for morning and afternoon snacks to keep you going without a trip to the vending machine.

Hit the park. If staring at a screen all day is driving you nuts and you can’t afford to work it out with a little retail therapy, consider an afternoon in the park as a free alternative. Plant your feet in the grass and stop to smell the roses for awhile. Remember that the best things in life really are free.

Take a nap. Kids have the right idea. Around the middle of the afternoon, our bodies and brains need a rest. So if you can swing a siesta (or even take 15 minutes to lay your head on a desk), you will get a boost of energy to keep you going until the end of the day (instead of a double espresso, which will make you manic for an hour and then lead to a crash).

Read a book. Save on electricity and transport yourself to another world for awhile by turning off the TV and tuning in to literature. With a library card, you can access the latest bestsellers without the hefty prices that retailers charge.

Get a massage. Just so you know, this does not have to be an expensive outing. Chances are good that if you’re stressed, your significant other is feeling the same way. So look online for some tips on massage and try them out on each other for a free way to relax and get intimate.

Salvage friendships. Time is essential to any relationship, and if you’re busy, you’ve probably been neglecting yours, so call up old friends and throw a potluck. You’ll catch up with everyone and save on a pricey dinner out. Plus, talking to friends is a lot better than paying for an impersonal therapy session.

Go camping. Forget the ridiculously expensive summer vacay to a tropical island or bustling metropolitan center (both pricey and stressful). Opt instead for the natural beauty of your local surroundings and a trip free of hotel, transportation, and fast food nightmares.

Ditch the DVR (and the cable, while you’re at it). Despite what everyone says, you don’t NEED these things. They are sapping your savings and your will to live! Spend some time playing board games or reading books with your family instead of sitting in front of the tube. Or if you just have to watch the latest episode of your favorite show, see if it’s available online, or wait for the box set to come out and rent the whole season.

Do nothing. Remember those lazy days of childhood boredom that you thought would never pass? Now you wish you had them back. Lucky for you, they’re easy enough to attain. Simply clear your calendar for the day and stay home. Unplug the phone, leave the laundry for tomorrow, and forget about the fix-it projects (they can wait a little longer). Just enjoy the fact that you have absolutely nothing to do for an entire day.






Kyle Simpson writes for Medical Coding Certification website where you can find information on a career in medical billing industry.

Please Re Submit for Green Works

Monday, July 26, 2010

Sorry to anyone who entered our Green Works giveaway earlier- I will need you to please re-submit your entries. I had some technical difficulties with the site and had to delete the earlier post.
Sorry for the inconvenience.



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Review and Giveaway: Belvedere Designs





Belvedere Designs wall-art is so cool.

We had re-done our bedroom last year and we had one wall over the dresser that was looking a bit bare. It was nice to be able to review a wall decal by Belvedere Designs.
It's not hard to apply and looks almost hand painted on the wall after your done with applying.

Belvedere Designs' wall-art is made from self-adhesive matte vinyl that provides a hand-painted look without the work. It won't damage your paint or texture and can be easily removed when the need to redecorate or move arises. You can  choose from 30 beautiful colors for your design, so so you can co-ordinate with most decor.

Who is Belvedere Designs? They love words, love design, love typography and  love color. Their a husband/wife team working out of their little home and love the flexibility and variety vinyl lettering, wall quotes and wall art add to any home's décor – even on a budget!
And how right they are-they really can add style to your home on a budget.

Currently they are offering July/August discounts and offer gift certificates as well on their site.
Check out all their wonderful wall art online.


Belvedre Designs is generously offering 2 lucky winners from Canada or the USA a chance to win one of 2-$35 gift certificates,
valid for any item(s) on their site.
A random draw will be made by Random.org on August 6, 2010


To Enter:

Tell me if you've ever tried a wall decal in your home.( Answer does not affect the drawing)


Extra Entries:





Tweet this giveaway

Join Belvedere Designs on Facebook

Follow me on Twitter: oneincome

Grab my Build a Cheap Vacation button

Grab my site's button

Grab my Summer Fun Event button

Grab my Work at Home button

Tweet my Travel specials: http://tripatlas.com/store/112261

Follow me as a Google friend

Sign up as an email subscriber


Good luck to all!






                                                                                                         

Using Coupon Codes for Extra Savings

Sunday, July 25, 2010

If you want to save extra money when shopping online, you really should be using  "coupon codes" before you check out.
If for example you are shopping at Land's End, do an online search for " Land's End Coupon". You can also search for "promotion" or discount code".

How do you use an online discount coupon? Place the item you want in your virtual shopping cart and then enter the coupon code during the checkout process.

Anyone knowing of any sites that regularily list discount codes, can email  them to me and I will add them to this post.
oneincomedollar@yahoo.ca









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How To Save 70% on Baby’s First Year Gear by Laura K. Cowan

Saturday, July 24, 2010








When I decided to stay home with my baby girl, I started looking for ways to save money to offset my lost income, and BabyCenter.com’s $10,000 estimated cost for her first year gear just was not going to work in my budget. Besides, my parents only seemed to have the most basic baby gear for me, so what “essentials” could possibly add up to ten grand? As a self-proclaimed minimalist, I thought I could beat the system by avoiding most baby gear altogether.




Well, surprise! It turns out I love my baby gear, but through a LOT of research I did discover a variety of ways to collect whatever baby gear items I wanted without paying retail for them—in some cases without paying for them at all! In the end, I saved 70% off that intimidating $10k figure. How? I’ll give you an overview in this post. If you want more specific info, check out the Ecofrugal Fridays segment on 29Diapers.com, which covers baby gear money-saving tips one category at a time, including how to save the most money possible on your baby’s wardrobe (I paid negative 57 cents for an entire year’s worth of clothes) or how to save 85% off organic baby food.



One of the best ways to get started saving money on baby gear is to figure out which items you really want and which you want only if you can get them for free. Write out a list of items and how much you expect to pay for them, and then go find them one at a time. Here is how:



Giveaways. If you have the time to enter blog giveaways, you could win a ton of stuff. It’s a numbers game, so you will need to find blogs that sponsor a lot of giveaways and subscribe to their newsletters so you can spend your time entering giveaways instead of finding them. I go into more detail about how to find giveaways here. Using this technique, I won about $600 worth of baby gear, including several hundred dollars of cloth diapers, which was the focus of my effort.


Freecycle. Freecycle is an organization that promotes giving away things to people in your local area that you would otherwise throw away. Everything must be free, no strings attached, and you can both offer and request items within a specific distance of your location. Freecycle was a big part of how I got my daughter’s entire first-year wardrobe for free, because people love to unload their kids’ entire closets by just packing them up in boxes and giving them to the person who responds to their Freecycle offer first. Win-win!


Combining sales. This is for those of you who think of saving money as a competitive game. Just how big of a sale can you create by combining different money-saving techniques? Well, you can buy an item on clearance at your local baby boutique, double up the savings with a mailer coupon, AND add a Facebook-fan-only discount or a newsletter-subscriber discount or a Twitter-follower discount. My baby boutique offers all these ways to save, but you have to be in the know to find these deals! If you don’t have a local boutique and you are shopping at a department store, try this one on for size: buy an item that is on a seasonal sale, preferably one that offers an extra discount for early birds, and scope out the sale early so you know how much you’re going to spend. Then, look online for promo codes to save even more AND go to a site such as Giftcardrescue.com and purchase a discounted gift card in the amount you are going to spend, which will net you an extra 10-15% off your purchase. (Please note that these sites can be slow to send you your card, so if you’re stalking a deal that will disappear quickly, skip that last step.) My daughter was given a cute—and very warm--outfit for Christmas that she would have grown into in April, so I took it to Macy’s the day after Christmas when everything went on sale AND there were early bird specials for an extra 20% off, and I replaced this one outfit with five Carter’s onesies, two pairs of pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and a matching onesie and bib and sleeper. Now that’s a sale!



I hope that sparks a few ideas to help you save money on your next baby gear purchase. There are many more ways to save, so if you’re interested in saving as much as you can, read more at 29Diapers.com.





Laura K. Cowan is an editor, writer, and WAHM, and the founder of 29Diapers.com, a baby blog that explains all about modern cloth diapering in one place and teaches readers how to save up to 70% off baby’s first year gear. She lives with her husband and baby girl in Michigan.

Claim a Cheap Vacation ( Canada and US) Vacation Vouchers








Rooms101 is a full service travel company with 21 years of experience in combining top customer care with the best discounted vacation packages! They specialize in Resort Sponsored vacation packages to bring the savings to everyone! They work with some of the top resort companies in the business to assure our customers have flawless vacation experiences.

By receiving your Vacation Voucher you are entitled to a ***3 Days & 2 Night stay at any of the top vacation destinations listed  on my site with no cost to you! Call to speak with a travel coordinator and book your complimentary vacation today!


Book your vacation from $25 down!

Some great locations include:


Atlantic Beach, NC


Branson, MO

Bahamas

Cancun Charleston, SC

Cocoa Beach, FL
Daytona Beach, FL

Las Vegas, NV
Myrtle Beach, SC

New Orleans
 Orlando, FL

Pigeon Forge, TN
 Playa Del Carmen

Puerto Rico
Punta Canta

Williamsburg, VA


**** Please read terms and conditions on the home page.

I'm Blogger of the Week



Just wanted to let everyone know I am featured as a Blogger of the Week over on The B Keeps Us Honest!
Wonderful site with wonderful giveaways! Thanks Jessica for the feature!





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Review and Giveaway:Nostalgia Electrics

Friday, July 23, 2010




Nostalgia Electrics motto is" Everyday's a Party" and when you look at their fun foods line up,you can see why. Old fashioned as well as vintage fun food machines.
I recieved the Old Fashioned Hot Dog Roller as pictured.I know my older daughter Ria, who runs a petting zoo, would say: "Mom that's perfect for our concession at the zoo!" It would be, but this mom is keeping this cute little retro  machine. It works great and makes a great conversation piece.

The Old Fashioned Hot Dog Roller™ holds up to 8 regular sized hot dogs or 4 foot long hot dogs at a time. It includes a hot dog bun warmer conveniently hidden in the canopy top. Attractive enough to regularly display in the home, the Old Fashioned Hot Dog Roller™ is a fun way for family and friends to make their very own hot dogs - just like street vendors do!

Be sure to check out all of Nostalgia Electrics great items for entertaining.



Nostalgia Electrics would love to give one of these cute  Old Fashioned Hot Dog Rollers away to one lucky entrant from the USA or Canada.
A random draw will be made on August 6, 2010  from all entries recieved, by Random.org.


To Enter:

Tell me which is your favorite Fun Foods machine


Extra Entries:



Join up in Google Friend

Grab my site button


Tweet this giveaway


Grab my Dream Big button


Grab my Summer Fun Event button


Grab my Build a Cheap Vacation button


Grab my Work at Home button


Follow on Twitter: oneincome



Best of luck to all!



Work at Home with Emily Rose @ Home -Save 10% on Kits

Host A Party • Become A Consultant • Shop Online- Bring Fun Home

If you like working from home and being your own boss, this may be the work at home business for you.


Emily Rose@ Home provides a large variety of unique, high-quality and affordable clothing and furniture for the 18 inch soft body doll - like the American Girl doll.

Your unique 10% off coupon code is: PZTA31XR
Feel free to use this code for a 10% savings on your work from home kit.

To see more details visit:

https://www.emilyroseathome.com/index.asp?utm_source=utm_source%3DBLOGREF&utm_medium=utm_source%3DWEB&utm_campaign=utm_source%3DMonique%2BRowe

Buzz Paradise-Connecting Brands and Bloggers



I have a good tip for you: If you want to be invited to VIP events, to test products or receive exclusive information from brands join BuzzParadise, a website that connects influential consumers and brands. In return you are invited to give them your feedback, to share it with your friends and colleagues and to help generate word of mouth around those products and brands.


Just imagine that brands would be interested in your opinion and your ability to ‘buzz’. In exchange for testing products or services in advance you would receive exclusive information or access to VIP events.




If you are a blogger and an opinion leader, an expert consumer or just a novelty fan, BuzzParadise invites you to join its community of several thousands influentials, AKA BuzzAngels.



BuzzAngels are communicative, connected, curious, well-informed consumers, open-minded people interested in the latest trends and innovations in various areas. They like to meet new people, to communicate with them and to express their opinion.




Don’t wait, join now!

Today's winner:

Thursday, July 22, 2010

forgetshynessreviews@yahoo.com

is today's winner for the following giveaway:

http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/review-and-giveawayus-only-milly.html


Thank you to all who entered!
Winner has been contacted and has 7 days to reply before a new winner is chosen.

Stay at Home and Earn






With the economic crisis upon us, it is so hard to stretch that monthly income for our usual expenses. Fortunately, there are still several means to get around this problem—even while staying at home. Owning a daycare service is one of those solutions that can help your financial needs.




Starting up a daycare center is a profitable way to earn money while staying at home; since the economic situation is bad, a lot of families have both parents working just to make ends meet. Therefore, daycare services are very much in demand nowadays. You can use this to your advantage since you can take care of your own children, if you have some, while taking care of a few more. Not only will you be able to look after your own kids, but you will also be able to earn extra cash while taking care of your friend’s and neighbor’s kids.



However, like any business, starting your own daycare, will require certain paper works and other start up equipment. This is, of course, capital investment which all businesses will need. However, the returns are very good and well worth it. Also, there are a lot of online resources that can help you in your quest for financial freedom.



Look for online pages that will guide you throughout the entire process; a lot of times, people hesitate to venture in this type of home business for the simple reason that they do not know how to start. Look for resources that can help you with the basics and with the requirements for your state and area. A little hard work in starting this business can go a long way.

Winning Against Foreclosures



After missing one of your monthly payments once, the lender will more or less contact you at once either through phone or via mail. If at this time, you are already having trouble paying for your monthly dues then it would perhaps be the best time to seek advice from a housing counselor.




A lot of people have a problems when it comes to paying for their houses, that is why house foreclosures have become a tremendous problem in the past couple of years. If you miss your payment on the second month, your lenders will again try to contact you to inquire why you have not been able to pay for the past 2 months. Do not try to avoid or ignore them as this will only make matters worse. It is very beneficial to explain yourself as to the reason why you were unable to pay. Also, it would better to pay even at least one monthso as not to fall behind in payment for three months since at that point, things begin to get messy.



The moment you missed your third month in payment, they will already give you a Notice to Accelerate which gives you the total amount you need to pay and you are given 30 days to update your mortgage. You should very much keep in mind that if this is not paid on or before the deadline, the lender may already begin the process of foreclosure. This is the usual flow of the foreclosure process. Some states may differ a bit in terms of timelines but the general idea is there: if you are unable to pay for your house, you may lose it eventually. That is why seeking professional help can save you a great deal of stress.

Simple Summer Pleasures

Wednesday, July 21, 2010





It’s official…summer is halfway over!


Here’s a summer fun checklist to make sure you’re enjoying all the simple

pleasures summer has to offer!



backyard campout



lemonade stand



picnic in the park



reading a book by the pool



homemade ice cream



playing in the sprinklers



cookout



stargazing



a lazy summer day



a trip to the farmers market



berry picking



a walk on the beach



watching the sunset



playing croquet



eating watermelon



catching fireflies



So…how many of summer’s simple pleasures have you taken advantage of?
 
 
 
by: Kristl, http://www.TheBudgetDiet.com
 




The Budget Diet is a diet for your wallet…not your waistline! You'll

discover new money saving tips everyday to help you slim down your daily

spending! The Budget Diet girl Is not a financial planner or an

accountant…just a mom that knows how to live the good life on a budget!

Follow The Budget Diet on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Budget-Diet/114014985289270
 or twitter

http://www.twitter.com/thebudgetdiet

Review and Giveaway:( US Only): Zak Designs


I recieved a beautiful and unusual 4 piece bowl set today from Zak Designs. Their mission is to make everyday meals a little more special by creating safe, innovative and fashionable products that add a touch of color and an element of fun to tables around the world.
And fun they do add.
I have already passed along my boring, white plastic bowls to my sister!
These bowls are very sturdy as well as very environmentally friendly and are:



-Made with recycled melamine
-Patented and other patents pending world wide

-Retro look inspired by the 50's

-Use for mixing and serving



They are:

Dishwasher safe


Stain resistant

Food safe


Be sure to check out their line up for kids and complete home line up.


Zak Designs would love to give one lucky US reader a chance to win their own bowl set as shown.
A random drawing will be be made by Random.org on August 3,2010.



To Enter:

Enter with your email.


Extra Entries:


Join up in Google Friend




Grab my site button



Tweet this giveaway



Grab my Dream Big button



Grab my Summer Fun Event button



Grab my Build a Cheap Vacation button



Grab my Work at Home button



Follow on Twitter: oneincome


Best of luck to all!

Today's winner

Today's winner:
annalene

Winner of:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/review-and-giveaway-jo-sef-gluten-free.html

Winner has been contacted and has 7 days to reply before a new winner is selected.

Thank you to all who entered!

The Perks of Starting a Cleaning Service from Home



If you are obssesviely-compulsive when it comes to the cleanliness of your room, then perhaps venturing in to the enterprise of cleaning services is right for you. This is a very lucrative business that you can own and will not require large sums of capital. Furthemore, this business can be started right from your home.




The first thing you must think about is who are your potential customers. Is it really true that the potential market for this kind of business is big? To answer that question, we can look at the current flow of life in the country. In today's time, a lot of people are always in a rush be it for a deadline or for a dinner date. Everybody seems to be running on warpspeed and, yet, one whole day is seemingly never enough to do everything we want or need.



To finish everything, we must transfer time from one activity to the other, and the usual victim of this transfer is usually the time alloted for cleaning the house. With that fact alone, you can see that the need for cleaning services are very much in demand. You can focus on residential houses or, if you are already established in this business, you can switch to office and business establishments if you feel up to it.



And the best things about alll of these is that you will not need a separate office for you to work from. You can just set up your business in your house and keep your cleaning aides in the garage and when a customer calls, pack-up, suit-up, and head out directly to your customer. Not only is it lucrative, but very convenient as well.





http://www.startcleaningservice.com/

Summer Fun Event : Review and Giveaway: Honest Tea

Tuesday, July 20, 2010




A big part of summer is getting your fill of anything cold and wet! Honest Tea is a healthy, thirst quencher for those hot days of summer.Honest Tea creates and promotes delicious, truly healthy, organic beverages.They  strive to grow with the same honesty they  use to craft their products, with sustainability and great taste for all.
And why is it called Honest Tea?

Honest Tea is made with real tea leaves, unlike most brands which use powder or syrup.


Honest Tea is all-natural and uses organic ingredients.

Honest Tea is lightly sweetened, so it actually tastes like tea.

Honest Tea seeks to create healthy and honest relationships with its suppliers, customers and the environment.

We loved our Honest Tea drinks- and found them to be less sweet than a brand such as Lipton .
 
You can find Honest Tea at retailers near you,sign up for coupons and access their newsletter all on their web site.
They also have some great looking clothing and such to make that fashion statement.


To have a chance to win your own sample pack of Honest Tea drinks, please enter here as they are a part of our Summer Fun Event.
The random draw is July 31, 2010.
Giveaway is open to Canada and the USA.
There will be one prize pack to be given away.


To Enter:

Tell me which flavour you'd most like to try.


Extra Entries:




Join up in Google Friend

Grab my site button

Tweet this giveaway

Grab my Dream Big button

Grab my Summer Fun Event button

Grab my Build a Cheap Vacation button

Grab my Work at Home button

Follow on Twitter: oneincome





Best of luck to all!





Book Review: Be Centsable-HOW TO CUT YOUR HOUSEHOLD BUDGET IN HALF


I love reading books on saving money, and cutting the budget. With living on one income most times, you need to find all the short cuts you can.
I was recently sent the book Be CentsAble by Chrissy Pate and Kristin McKee, to review.
I'm part way through it but could tell from the moment I "got into" the book, that it was well written and what I wanted to read.
Two everyday moms write about saving money on a variety of day to day things-groceries,bills, family entertainment and more.
I don't want to put this book down- and really do give it a thumbs up.

More about the book:

Now more than ever, people are desperate to save money without scrimping on every little purchase or sacrificing their lifestyle. Like most Americans, stay-at-home moms Chrissy Pate and Kristin McKee spent the lion's share of their budgets on what they assumed to be static costs such as groceries and utilities. But when using traditional couponing and cheapskate guides didn't help their budgets shrink by a dime, Pate and McKee decided to come up with their own way to save.




Within a few months, their household expenses dropped by more than half-from spending $800 each per month to less than $350! only a few years after developing their "be centsable" system, Pate and McKee have helped thousands of subscribers save money without spending hours finding and cutting coupons, or giving up "extras" like travel and entertainment. In this prescriptive guide, these authors show how anyone can save thousands of dollars on cleaning supplies, pet care, toys, travel, and most importantly, groceries-without giving up healthy foods, favorite products, or the occasional splurge.


And be sure to visit their web site as well for tons of great savings!





Today's winner

jacksoncrisman@yahoo.com

is today's winner of the following giveaway:

http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/review-and-giveaway-us-only-michael.html

*** Winner has 7 days to contact me before a new winner is selected.

Thank you to all who entered!

Book Review and Giveaway: (Canada Only) : IBS for Dummies

Monday, July 19, 2010



I love the Dummies Series books. They are all so well written and informative.
Another one of the Dummies books I recently recieved is the IBS for Dummies.I have suffered with IBS over the past 25 years at least, and only within the last few months have been having more problems with foods.I have been going for more tests and ruling out this that and the other. Currently I have a gastrointestinal appt set for late October, in the city. In the meantime, I suffer, and I read more to learn more.However, I can't say good enough things about this book if you or someone you know has IBS.

The IBS for Dummies book has been great- as I continue to read through it.

The book will help spot the triggers and handle IBS at home or work




                                                     Get control of your symptoms and improve your quality of life


Discover how to

* Get an accurate diagnosis

* Recognize the warning signs

* Reduce your stress

* Weigh treatment pros and cons

* Adopt an IBS-friendly diet

* Help children with IBS
 
 
 
Our sponser would like to give one copy away of this book to one Canadian reader.
A random draw will be held on August 2, 2010 by Random. org from all entries recieved.
 
 
 
To Enter:
 
Enter with your email.
 
 
Extra Entries:


Tweet this giveaway


Join up in Google Friend

Grab my site button

Grab my Dream Big button

Grab my Summer Fun Event button

Grab my Build a Cheap Vacation button

Grab my Work at Home button

Follow on Twitter: oneincome


Best of luck to all!

Today's winner

sierranelsby@gmail.com

is Today's Winner for the following giveaway:

http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/review-giveaway-and-discount-us-only.html

Winner has been contacted...

Thank you to all who entered!

Today's Winners are....

Sunday, July 18, 2010

We had 2 winners today for 2 giveaways:

dftrew@gmail.com
winner of  : http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/belated-fathers-day-giveaway-and-review.html

dragonflywhispers06@gmail.com
winner of: http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/07/review-and-giveaway-us-only-smiley.html


*** Winners have been contacted and have 7 days to contact me before a new winner is chosen.

Thank you to all who entered!
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