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Off for Two Days- At Least

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

I will be away for two days, starting with tommorow so not posting the next two days-in case anyone wonders where I am...we are heading out of town. Will be able to do some mystery shopping along the way, which will be great- a few free meals. Am going for the Quantum Touch healing that I spoke of a few days ago.I have a few health issues I want to tend to, and so does Gerry, so am going to splurge, as it is my health and my problems have caused some issues with me and working.I am very excited though. My session will be an hour and a half and Gerry is having the one hour session.
If anyone has ever had touch healing done, I'd love to hear about your experience.
Until, I return....

You May Have Remembered....(product review)





You may have remembered last week when I told you all about an upcoming product review.
Well, I recieved my Badger Basket One Drawer Hamper/Storage Unit, from CSN Stores.
I love it - and not sure if it will be the hamper used in the bathroom or the bedroom. The blue one in the photo is my older one...one we'll be garage saling or pawning off to another family member.LOL
The new one still has to hang for a bit to get the wrinkles out of the fabric but we really like it.
Be sure to drop by CSN Stores where you can shop from over 200+ stores.

A Well Stocked Pantry Contains

Sunday, March 28, 2010






A Well stock Pantry contains….



Have you ever wondered how some people keep their food bills down so low? Have you tried to learn their secrets, only to find that your store does not double coupons, or you just don’t have the time to clip coupons for foods you don’t really eat anyway.

One of the best principles of grocery budget management aside from coupons is a well stocked Pantry. Having a well stocked pantry allows you to slide during lean times between grocery trips but more important even than that, it allows you to hold out for the really good sales, to add to your pantry. This principle can save you more money than just about anything. So what is a well stocked pantry? A lot of that depends on your eating style. I am going to share a basic pantry list with you, but for your own list, take the one I provided, cross out the things you don’t use, and add in the things you use most, to the list. This list will help assist you in stocking your pantry, and give you some idea of what to look for in the sale papers each week. Once you have it stocked then it is a simple matter of keeping it stocked by catching the sales each week.

Here is my well stocked pantry list.



Dry BulkGoods



•Flour(white,wholewheat,and bread)

•Sugar(white,brown and powdered)

•Cornmeal

•Dried beans (kidney,black,split peas,white navy, garbanzo)

•Oatmeal

•Pasta

•Rice

•Soups (cream of chicken, cream of mushroom)

•salt

•baking soda

•baking powder

•Yeast

•Vanilla

•Maple syrup

•shortening

•spices

•dry milk

•dry eggs

•cocoa

•Vinegar

•Olive oil

•Canola oil

•Canned veggies (green beans, corn, tomatoes,tomato sauce,tomato paste)

•Home canned veggies(variety)

•Canned beans

•Canned Fruit(pears, peaches,applesauce,pineapple)

•Canned Meats

•Mac and cheese

•Peanutbutter

•Ketchup, mustard

•Crackers

•Topramen noodles

•Popcorn

•Pretzels

•Coffee

•Tea

•Raisins

•Nuts (peanuts,walnuts, almonds)

•Grains-barley, wheat

•Cereal

•cakemixes



What I keep regularly stocked in the Freezer



•Butter

•Cheese

•Milk

•Hamburger

•Chicken

•Juices

•Lunchmeat



For the Bathroom



•Toiletpaper

•Toothpaste

•Shampoo and conditioner

•Deodorant

•Soap

•Mouthwash

This list is by no means complete and may not match your list, that is ok, this is just a list to get you started. All of these things can be bought on sale, and picked up a bit at a time. Many of these items on this list are on here, because I can pick them up for super cheap on sale, like cereal and cake mixes.Pay close attention to the sales in your area, and add in your favorite loss leaders. I hope this helps you get a start on your pantry, and shows you how much you can save by shopping this way.






~~~~~~~~~~~~

This Article Written by

Patty Getz work at home mom

Webmaster and owner of

http://www.totallyfrugal.com/


http://www.frugalcooking.com/


http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/


send comments to

totallyfrugal@totallyfrugal.com

Review and Giveaway-Chatelaine's Earn, Spend, Save ( Canadian entries only)


When it comes to money saving, penny pinching books, I think I've read them all. My kids will say, "mom haven't you read enough about saving money already?" Well, I'd say"never". Someone always writes a new angle, or you pick up a few new tips along the way. I was offered Chatelaine's Earn, Spend,Save written by their money expert: Kira Vermond.This was a great book that I read in 2 days,( as I love to read on saving money and have a hard time putting these books down).
With this book, you can say goodbye to debt, boost your income plan for retirement, and manage money like a pro.
Real life tips to help you save time and money.
Currently this book is available at our local Walmart or on Amazon.
The book had alot to offer.I gave it a thumbs up, and feel it would a great addition to anyone's book collection.


We have been offered one book to give away from Wiley Publishing for one lucky Canadian reader.( Sorry USA).

A random draw will be made by Random.org from all entries recieved on April 10, 2010.

To Enter:

Tell us if you are more a saver or a spender...and please leave a contact email.


Extra Entries:
-Follow me in Twitter
-Follow me as Google Friend
-Sign up as an email subscriber
-Add my button to your site
-Add this giveaway to your web site


Good luck to all!





Review and Giveaway! The Body Shop ( Canadian Giveaway)

Saturday, March 27, 2010



I recently reviewed  The Body Shop’s  Spa Wisdom™ collection..this collection will be available in stores on April 12, 2010. You are in for a treat!  The smells are heavenly.

Turn your home into a haven... I did.


Inspired by the beauty rituals, traditions and ingredients from Morocco, Japan, Africa and Polynesia, The Body Shop unveils four Spa Wisdom™ collections, to allow you to create a pampering paradise in your own home.
 
Spa Wisdom Collection: Africa and Polynesian

The products as shown are their:
Spa Wisdom Polynesia Lime & Coconut Shower Gel
Spa Wisdom Polynesia Lotus & Frangipani Flower Body Puree
Spa Wisdom Africa Honey & Beeswax Hand and Foot Butter
Spa Wisdom Africa Ximenia & Salt Scrub


While at their site feel free to sign up for their Love Your Body Rewards Club, Support some great causes, and shop online.



The Body Shop would love to offer one of our Canadian readers, ( sorry USA), a range of these products with a value of $100.
A random draw will be made by Random.org on April 9,2010 from all entries recieved.

To Enter:

Please tell me if you've ever shopped at a The  Body Shop store.. and leave me your email.


Extra Entries:

-Follow me in Twitter
-Grab my button
-Follow me in Google Friend
-Follow me as an email subscriber
-Add this giveaway to your site


Good luck to all entrants!

The Great Bathroom Giveaway

Friday, March 26, 2010



I am trying to put together the Great Bathroom Giveaway- although that will be dependant on the sponsers I am able to round up.
We are renovating our washroom starting this weekend so I therefore thought a bathroom renovation giveaway would be great to have...
We are going to expand on the bathroom as it is, and Gerry is doing all the work himself. We bought some of the items we needed when I was working, and that were on sale: vanity, shower stall, tub,toliet...etc..
I really need a new tub. You can't even get it clean anymore- it looks like sometimes I don't even clean it! LOL ..So it's time.It's the original bathroom from about 25 years back.Cabinet is worn and breaking apart in spots as well.
I will keep everyone posted though.

I've Been Featured!




I've recently been featrued on Frugal Fun.com! I am very excited to have an exerpt from my book on
Shel Horowitz's site.
As well, I am linked at Frugal & Fashionable Living magazine at http://www.frugalfun.com/frugal.html#household

 Over 40 articles: Archives of (and sign-up form for) the Monthly Frugal Fun Tipsheet, book excerpts from The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty with a Peasant's Pocketbook, and original content to help you have more fun and spend less money. Also articles by other frugality experts, some of whom are so thrifty they make Frugal Shel look like a spendthrift!

Have fun!!!

Today's Winner....

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Today's Winner  for the book:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/03/review-and-giveaway-red-lightgreen.html


bbaratta61@verizon.net

To order your own copy:
Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, by Joanna Dolgoff, MD.

*** Winners have 7 days to contact me, before a new winner is drawn.
Thank you to all who entered!

Today's Winner

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Today's winner:


pamfreecycle@gmail.com
 
Who wins our Clorox product giveaway,( I was actually a day behind with the draw...ooops).
 
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/03/review-and-giveaway-clorox-green-works.html
 
Thank you for all your entries!
Winner has 7 days to contact me, beore another winner's name is drawn.

Top 7 Educational Websites- That Aren't Boring!




Finding a website that is free, educational, and fun can be a daunting task with the vast array of sites out there. The Internet can be a great source for cheap entertainment for your children but some sites wont hold the interest of your children for more than two minutes.


To help make your selection easier, here is a list of the top 7 educational websites that are actually fun:



Yahooligans (http://www.yahooligans.com/)

This is a kid-friendly search engine, a companion to the adult Yahoo site and provides a safe environment for children to find information. The site also features a wide variety of age-appropriate links to expand the learning experience.


Kids Reads (http://www.kidsreads.com/)

Reading often takes a back seat to eye-catching graphics and exciting interactive games which is why this site is essential for keeping kids interested in books and reading. This site is the best place on the Web for children to find information on their favorite books and authors. The site features excerpts from the hottest new releases to help kids find that next treasured book. There’s a universe beyond Harry Potter and this site is your guidebook.



3. Fun Brain (http://www.funbrain.com/)



This is a great site that features interactive tools and games to help kids learn. Classic Funbrain includes games like Grammar Gorilla and The Plural Girls. Plus there are also Flash Arcades and Web Books and Comics as well as Sudoku and an Entertainment Center for all the latest on kid friendly material. See this site as a one-stop shop alternative, providing a fun place to learn and play.



4. National Geographic Kids (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids)



There’s a little Indiana Jones in every kid and this site is just what Dr. Jones ordered. It features news on historical discoveries and archaeological digs in easy to understand language. Plus there is a current events section to help kids stay plugged into what’s going on in the world. A great way for kids to learn about the world, who we are, and where we’ve come from.



5. NASA (http://www.nasa.gov/)



Next to digging up the past, kids are all about the future and what better way to experience the final frontier than with NASA’s website? Here children can learn about the galaxy, view the latest pictures from space and learn about the space program.



6. PBS Kids (http://www.pbskids.org/)



Through the use of many characters from Kids’ favorite TV shows, this award-winning site is a fun place for kids to browse and learn. It is especially friendly for young and first-time Internet users. There is also an extensive resource section for parents and teachers to help guide a child to interesting and challenging content.



7. How Stuff Works (http://www.howstuffworks.com/)



One of the most engaging sites on the Web these days, this site is a fun way to learn how things in our world do what they do. Suitable for kids and adults the site also provides an interactive experience for the whole family to learn together. Learn how yo-yos, juggling, movie animation, sports, toys and music work. And so much more. This one is fun for the whole family.





Andrew Salmon blogs about education and finance topics such as the http://www.iva.net/  process.

17 Great Romantic Dates for Penny-Pinchers

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

The King of Frugal Fun shows you how to have a great date and spend nothing or almost nothing.
by Shel Horowitz





Hike to the top of a mountain for a picnic.

Take a rowboat out on a lake at sunset.

Go up to the top of a building in a large city.

Dress for a formal party, and then walk down the streets singing love songs.

Find a dark, romantic bistro with great coffees and desserts, or an independent book store that encourages browsing.

Find a rarely-used corner deep in the stacks of your library. Blow the dust off some musty old volume and read it aloud together. Steal a few hot kisses.

Pretend you've just won the lottery. "Shop" for your dream furnishings in elegant craft galleries, jewelry stores, and similar locales.

Test drive a sports car together.

Visit a specialty food factory--or a crafter's studio.

Browse a ritzy museum gift shop or art gallery.

Drive along the outer borders of your city or county, exploring new neighborhoods and villages where you've never been.

Ride a city's entire public rail transit system, going out on remote branch lines, just for the heck of it.

Spend the whole evening dressed and acting as characters from a play, movie, or book that you both enjoyed.

Speak only gibberish and let your thoughts be understood from your emotions, gestures, and tone.

Explore a wild and scenic place you've always wanted to check out.

Walk around celebrity neighborhoods, looking for glimpses of the rich and famous.

Do something completely out of character--something you ordinarily wouldn't be caught dead even thinking about.





Learn dozens of more strategies for frugal romance, including cheap vacations, frugal but elegant dining, and much more. The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty with a Peasant's Pocketbook is your roadmap. This 280-page guidebook--and the FREE bonus reports on earning free air travel by getting bumped and getting customer satisfaction after the warranty is over--is your complete guide to savings on travel, entertainment, romance, and more. This remarkable book shows, step by step, how to make the most of every pleasure opportunity, through these and many other techniques. It's written in a clear, accessible, light and warm style, so you can find the information you need, digest it, and use it to save money and enjoy the fine things in life.



Shel Horowitz, Editor of Global Travel Review and owner of FrugalFun.com, is the author of the e-book, The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty with a Peasant's Pocketbook, and the creator of the Ethical Business Pledge campaign.

Review-Trident Layers gum



Our household recieved to review, Trident Layers gum. This gum was like no other-as it was more flavorful, chewier and  one of the longest lasting flavored gums we had chewed in a long time.
The pictures on the package as well  are even tantilizing, and get your mouth watering just looking at the packaging.
It gets better, as you open the package and see these cool layers of color.Not a sandwich but a gumwich!Currently it is the only layered, sugra free gum in Canada!

The flavors?
Trident Layers* Wild Strawberry + Tangy Citrus
Trident Layers* Green Apple + Golden Pineapple

Try it out today!



Today's Winner

Today we randomly drew for the book:

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Clean


- and the winner was:
henglish@nb.sympatico.ca

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

2 Appliance Related Tips To Ponder

Monday, March 22, 2010

-If you can turn down your fridge to the lowest setting, while still keeping foods at a cold temperature, you will help the amount of times your fridge is cutting in to keep extra cold, when you open the door.
Yes... now you can all run to your fridge and re-adjust those dials.

- Keep a rainy day emergency fund for such things as appliance breakdown. Even if you can save $5-$10 every week, it's there in case you have a breakdown. Remember, that even if you don't buy new, a second hand appliance will at least set you back $100-$200. We keep an emergency fund- almost $900 in it- but we have had a few appliance repairs we have done from that money already- so we have dipped into it. But it's nice to know it's there.

Today's winner

http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/03/reviewgiveaway-snorg-tees.html


Winner of today's t-shirt giveaway is: ajmizen@hotmail.com


All winners have 7 days to contact me before a new winner is drawn.

Thank you to all who entered!

Granola – It Is More Frugal Than You Thought

Sunday, March 21, 2010




I had really forgot how much I loved making Granola, it is a great way to use up things that you might otherwise throw away, making Granola a fantastic budget stretcher.



Some might think that granola can be expensive to make, and so it can be.But what they don’t realize is that granola has a lot in common with Soup. It is a great way to use up foods. Granola does not need to be made strictly by the recipe, and once you have made it a couple of times, and understand how you can play with the recipe, it is a great way to use up the odds and ends in your pantry. Cereals,grains, nuts, dried fruits, coconut, and many many more things can be added, to create a budget stretching breakfast, and to use up small amounts of foods that might otherwise get thrown away.

Also you have a lot of leeway in what type of sweeteners you use, so you can use up extras that way too, or use what is on sale. If health is your issue, you can use fruit juice concentrate, instead!!



The basic granola recipe I use is below, most everything in this recipe is substitutable for other ingredients, The most important thing you have to remember is that you need A grain, and something sticky to keep it all together, what you decide to use is up to you!!



Basic Granola



5 cups Oatmeal

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup honey

1 cup of nuts (your choice,sunflower,peanut, cashew, almonds or a mix of all the above.)

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup flax meal

3/4 cup raisins

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

1 teaspoon of salt ( I omit this )

you may also add some of the variations from this page for a change of pace, or to use up your odds and ends in your cupboard.

Mix all ingredients in a very large bowl till well mixed. Spread on a cookie sheet and place in a 250 degree oven and bake for 2 1/2 hours. Allow to cool, then store in a ziploc baggie. This makes about enough to fill two gallon size ziplocs.



If you don’t have or use flax seed or wheat germ that is ok!! And the vegetable oil can be omitted if you are on a fat restricted diet. Remember this recipe is super flexible and you can mix and match ingredients. Here is a short list of things I have used in my granola that is not listed above already.



Multi Grain cereals

Cream of Wheat

Flours (rye,buckwheat, whole wheat)

Steel cut oats

Instant Oatmeal mixes (maybe you have some sitting up there they won’t eat?)

Coconut

Banana chips

Dried fruits

Trail mix

Mixed nuts

Boxed cereals of any kind ( cheerios, chex, rice crispies)

Graham crackers

Fruit juice concentrate

Molasses

Corn syrup



As you can see this is a great way to use up the small bits and pieces in your pantry

And your family will think they are getting something exotic too!!







Patty Getz is Is a Sahmom with a mission to educate families, on the alternatives, to high debt, fast food, and fast living. She is the Owner of

http://www.totallyfrugal.com/


http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/


http://www.sahmoms.com/


and the author of several articles on Frugal living,cooking, and Simple Living.

Today's Ramblings

I thought I would write a few lines before I started making supper.

This week I recieved the book Suddenly Frugal to review.I am half way through it.
Whenever I get a great book to review, I can't seem to keep my nose out of it and will read till sometimes I finish it, in a day or two. I love this book. Leah Ingram writes on alot of great topics as well as tells a story of how she grew up learning to save and reduce, reuse and recycle. It's a great book. Frugal Hacks has posted a review that they did with Leah Ingram.In case yo do not have this book in your collection, I suggest you keep a look out for it.

Gerry and I are off on Wednesday to a Tom Jackson concert in town.At $10 a pop, it wasn't too bad a deal for a night out.Some of you may also reconize him from the  CBC television series North of 60 .

This Friday we may be taking a trip out of town to see a Quantum Touch healer.Both of us have health issues and this is something I'd like to give a try to.I would be interested in hearing from anyone else who has tried this holistic approach to healing.

I must run though... daughter is home and hungry for supper...and this cook needs to put the grub on.

Tightening the Belt just a bit tighter- what to do when money is really tight

Saturday, March 20, 2010





One of the biggest challenges for a frugal mom, is finding yet more ways to save money when money gets tight. It could be that you are trying to pay off debt or perhaps you want to save for something special, you are already frugal, and just don’t know what else you can do. All is not lost, as long as you are willing to try a few ideas, you didn’t think you would ever try, and to count your savings in nickels and dimes, you can do it.



First you have to realize, it all adds up, I might only save a quarter, but if I save that quarter 4 times, I have saved a dollar. Everyone of the those dollars adds up, and even a savings of 20 dollars a week, can make a big difference no matter what your goal is. And guess what 20$ a week becomes a $1000 plus in a year.



First thing to do is research what other things you can do to save money, I can help a bit there… lately my life has demanded a brand of Guerilla frugality, that required saving each dime, everywhere we could.Go around your house and make notes of ways you can save. Once you figure out what you can do, keep a record. It is really encouraging to see how quickly those nickels can add up, and how many you use in day, that you don’t even realize.



Start in your kitchen, do you wash baggies? I know, I know I hate doing it too…. So instead of using baggies, use Tupperware, each time you use a reusable plastic container, you are saving, if you would have used gallon sized bag, you would have saved a nickel, if a sandwich bag, only two cents. Wait, before you fluff off that two cents of savings, figure how many do you use in a month? If you use about 200 small baggies for making lunches, that is 4 dollars a month, if you use 50 gallon size bags that is another 4 or 5 dollars…. so there is $8.00 in one month, already just in baggies. Of course you could just wash baggies….. if you are like me, that does not happen, but you do have choices.

Sew little cloth bags for sack lunches. Easy and cheap to make, but reduces the use of paper sacks.



Use cloth napkins, and towels rather than paper.Any time you use something reusable, you will save money. Cloth napkins can be made of inexpensive material,or scraps even, and probably for cheaper that a package of paper napkins, if you don’t already have the fabric on hand.



If you do your own baking do you use the most economical recipes? Bread is a great example, many breads have milk, and egg in them, driving the cost up tremendously.

But there are really good recipes out there, without the eggs and milk. A basic loaf of bread should not cost more than .29 cents, if you do your research, and that includes electricity. Put thought into your menu’s and cooking, sometimes it is cheaper to do scratch and sometimes it is not.



Look for wholesale sources for food basics, things like rice, flour, beans.They can be purchase for much,much cheaper, in bulk,literally for a penny or less per serving. Places to look? Restaurant supply stores that are open to the public, mills, and outlet stores.



Don’t be afraid of outlet stores. Sure their brands are ones you have never seen, but chances are good, that those same brands are made by companies you have purchased from before. And dried goods such as beans, and rice, are pretty much all from the same sources. The savings are dramatic. Buy in a small amount and try, that way you can decide, which brands you can live with without spending a fortune.



Cook from scratch, don’t buy canned beans, buy dried beans and cook them in the crockpot, it does not draw much electricity, and does not over cook the beans. Rice can be cooked in quantity ahead of time, and froze, so that buying the cheaper, and healthier whole grain rice, is feasible, despite the longer cooking time.



Make menus from what you have on hand, keep a grocery list close by to write down the few odds and ends you might need to buy, to fill out your recipes and menu. Work with what you have on hand, and only buy what you need, to get by.



Use Coupons only if you buy the product anyway, or can use double or triple couponing, to get it for free or super cheap. Couponing is a great way to save money, but you are not saving money if you buy a product you would normally not buy, or a product you can make from scratch much cheaper.



Rather than buying convenience foods for busy nights, try a bit of “Once a Month Cooking” Cook extra at your regular meals and freeze the extra. Not only will it cover dinners on those busy nights, but it will also cover, snacks for those hungry teenagers, Chips are expensive, and not filling, so they go fast is a household full of people.



Make and freeze breakfasts. Cereals are plain expensive, so I make breakfast burritos, waffles, pancakes, French toast and egg biscuits, far more filling, and way cheaper than cereal.



Check your local farmers markets, and buy in season, try to tailor your menus to what you know is cheap. This perhaps will save you most of all, on your grocery bill.I usually have a figure in my head for each food item I buy, if I cannot find it for less than that figure, I wait till it goes on sale.



Use your freezer, if peppers are on sale for 5 for $1 then buy five and dice and freeze 4 of them. Then when they are .89 cents apiece, use the ones in the freezer and don’t buy them.



Go thru and declutter your house, have a yard sale or sell on Ebay, for extra cash, this can be a great income generator.



Go over your utility bills, especially your phone bill and cable bill, I bet you can trim at least 10$ off your bills a month.



Go thru your house, and find ways to save on your utility bills, a quilt on a drafty window, a bit of rubber inner tube on the bottom of your doors, or a towel tucked into the cracks. Wear warmer clothes and turn that thermostat down a couple degrees. Unplug appliances when not in use, many of them draw power even if they are turned off. If you have power strips, you can plug your appliances into those, and turn them off all at the same time when not in use. Make sure lights stay turned off if they are not being used.



Use florescents rather than regular light bulbs, many power companies, will offer you rebates to switching to these, when I switched I used power company coupons, and switched over for free, better yet, my power bill dropped 20$ a month.



Use crockpots,microwaves, etc, to cook meals when ever possible, they save a lot of electricity over using a regular oven, in the summer they save on your air conditioning bill too.



Shop for insurance policies, don’t assume you have the cheapest one, Savings on insurance can be huge, so make sure.



Track your spending; this is a great way to see the places where you can cut corners. Save every receipt, write everything down, At the end of the week take a highlighter, and highlight all the things you could have done withought.



Hang your clothes to dry outside; this is a savings of about 50cents per load!! If you can’t have a clothes line, you can hang a couple loads a week, in the garage, or the bathroom. Rig an indoor line, at 50 cents a load, it adds up fast. Make your own softener from vinegar,water, and baking soda, works great and a LOT cheaper.



See if you can’t barter for services you need, this is a great money saver.



If you have a talent not shared by many in your neighborhood (such as sewing or baking) offer these services, to your neighbors, for a reasonable price. You would be surprised how many people would take you up on them.



IF possible go down to one car, this saves on insurance, gas, and maintenance, not to mention the revenue made by selling the second car. Carpool, combine errands, or get a bicycle at a yard sale even.



Not all of these ideas will work for you, but this gives you someplace to start, now just let your imagination, go to work, and see what ways you can find to save money in your house.

Be sure to keep track of your savings, so you can see how fast it can add up. You will be surprised how much you can save, and that you really can tighten the belt a little bit tighter.



Patty Getz is Is a Sahmom with a mission to educate families, on the alternatives, to high debt, fast food, and fast living. She is the Owner of

http://www.totallyfrugal.com/


http://www.oldfashionedfamilies.com/


http://www.sahmoms.com/


and the author of several articles on Frugal living,cooking, and Simple Living.

For more information, or to see her other Articles, visit her sites, or email her

at chefmom@frugal-families.com

Today's Ramblings

Thursday, March 18, 2010



We got dumped on with snow again! This is a view from my from window, of all the snow and my dirty car.
Most vehicles in town pretty much are looking like this or worst! The car washes had been making a killing over the last few weeks.Now once this melts, they will be lining their pockets again.Think I should have been in the car wash business- there are always line ups at the 2 we have in town.
When the weather was nicer, a few days ago, and all this was pretty much melted, Gerry and I were day dreaming again. Thoughts of having a cabin,retirement for him, travelling, and the usual Spring Fever thoughts, were going through our head.
We are still looking at cabins- but we don't want anything expensive or too far out of town. Ideally we would like to move our trailer to a spot near a lake on the outskirts, but apparently,( and I checked), nothing is available for freed up land.So, we're keeping our eyes peeled and our ears open.
Gerry still has at least 8 years to retire...he will be 50 this year, and I would love for him to retire right now, but we couldn't make all the payments if he did.He would take a big loss and we would be struggling.Since I have a great number of penny pinching books, I am going to start looking at books on retirement.
Would love to hear from any of our readers who are retired or have retired early and how your doing.
I sure hope your all enjoying your weather in your neck of the woods.I would love to see a view from your front windows...and may post a few.

Review- Rick & Bubba's Big Honkin' Book of Grub





I chose the book Rick & Bubba's Big Honkin' Book of Grub to review, thinking it may have been filled with alot of down home type recipes,but instead, there were very little recipes and alot of talk about Rick & Bubba and what they like to eat. Rick & Bubba are talk radio personalities from the nationally -syndicated Rick & Bubba Show.
It does have a humorous side to it, but I was hoping for more recipes.
The book features their no fail weight loss tips, a few recipes, their official list of interesting festivals and fairs and favorite places to eat.
The book is basically all about eating- and these guys love to eat- putting all health aside.
It retails for $16.99, and if I would have paid for this book,unable to flip through it, I would have been disappointed.
However, to be positive, there is some humour in this book.

Review and Giveaway! Red Light,Green Light,Eat Right by Joanna Dolgoff, M.D

Wednesday, March 17, 2010




I received for review, the book Red Light, Green Light, Eat Right, by Joanna Dolgoff, MD.
I love this book! With all the food intolorances that Gerry and I have, it is a great book on learning to eat healthier.
The book is geared more towards parents getting their children to eat the right foods and serving the right foods to them, but also gives healthier living suggestions- such as moving their bodies more, and in fun ways.
Parents get sample menus,menu plans, and great recipes. Love the books quality and the nice photos with an easy to read/understand format.
I will always keep this book as a handy reference guide to choosing the right foods to eat.
If you want to start eating healthier and getting the rest of the family to as well, then you really should take a look at this book.
I give it the thumbs up!

Website: http://www.drweigh.com/



Blog: http://www.DrWeigh.com/blog


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/DrDolgoffsWeigh


Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/JoannaDolgoffMD


YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/jodoug


Joanna Dolgoff, M.D. would love to give one of our lucky readers from Canada or the USA a chance to win their very own book as well!
Random .org will make a selection on March 25, 2010 from all entries recieved.

To Enter:
Let me know why you would like to win this book.Please leave your email as well.

Extra Extries:

Follow me on Google Friend


-Subscribe in email

-Follow me on Twitter

-Grab my button

-Purchase my book

-Add this giveaway to your site


Good luck!

Site Review-Women's pajamas.com



One of the first things I see when I browse though women's pajamas, is there is alot to choose from.
You'll find over 1,000 different styles of Women's pajamas , women's nightgowns and something for every personality and occasion.
I have a selection of pjs myself. I don't only like one type but all types, except for the long nightgowns- I always find myself getting all twisted up in them- too much tossing and turning I guess.
I love the flannel pjs for those nights when you want to be warm or are sick. I like the shorter ones for everyday sleeping.Of course there are those sexy ones too for a romantic evening!
Now there are alot of places you can wear pjs'- some people even have gone as far as to wear them out in public- they don't mind!  In fact, some countries do this on a regular basis, going out after dark in their pjs is quite alright!
They are great for Pajama Day outings, lounging in the house, Halloween parties and so much more besides going to bed with!
The custom of pjs' is often to wear with no feet bottoms and no underwear- but these are all preferences.
You might also like to check out their information page, full of helpful hints about pjs.
So drop over to women's pajamas where you'll be sure to find a pair suited for you.

Today's winner!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Today's lucky winner of the Vitalicious prize pack:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/03/review-and-giveaway-vitalicious.html

Susan Margaret said...


I follow you on Twitter (littlecomper) charmtime at gmail dot com
 
 
***Winner has been notified and has 7 days to claim her prize.
Thanks for all the entries!

Upcoming Product Review!




I am very happy to be working with Ashley from CSN Stores.I got to choose a product to my liking- and it wasn't a bar stool! I will be choosing to review a laundry hamper. We are remodelling our bathroom this Spring, and getting one to match everything in the bathroom will be nice.
I am so glad I found them as they have dozens up on dozens of products to browse through.
Thanks CSN for giving me the opportunity! Did you know they have over 200 websites?Wow!
Look for an upcoming post of my before and after bathroom hampers- can't wait!

Review and Giveaway! Clorox Green Works ( Canada Only)

Monday, March 15, 2010

Flower buds are rearing their tiny heads and birds are chirping.



It’s time to crack open the windows and wipe away winter’s grime. And in the spirit of


Earth Day, it makes sense to make a clean sweep of your household without using harsh


chemicals. Clorox Green Works® is the natural solution for spring cleaning: Green Works


cleaning products deliver with the powerful efficacy you’d expect from The Clorox




I recently had the opportunity to review some great "green" cleaners from Clorox. The Green Works product line is powerful cleaning, done naturally.
Not only do these cleaners do a great job when cleaning, but they have a great scent.They are eco-friendly,  and made with plant- and mineral-based ingredients. As well, they are not tested on animals.I love them and will continue to purchase them as they sell for suggested retail prices starting at $2.97. These cleaners are available across Canada in grocery, drug and mass retailers.


Clorox would love to give away some of these cleaners to one lucky winner in Canada,( sorry USA).

A random draw will be made by Random.org on March 23, 2010 from all entries recieved.

To enter:

Tell me if you have started your Spring cleaning this year yet.Please be sure to add your email.


For Extra Entries:



-Follow me on Google Friend


-Subscribe in email

-Follow me on Twitter

-Grab my button

-Purchase my book

-Add this giveaway to your site


Good luck to you!

Review and Giveaway! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Clean-Alpha Books





Alpha  publishes Complete Idiot's Guides for beginning learners in nearly all non-fiction categories and has sold over 35 million copies in 26 languages. The series is known for its easy-to-understand information and instruction and its casual, often light-hearted approach.

I recieved The Complete Idiot's Guide to Eating Clean by Diane A. Welland, M.S., R.D., from Alpha books to review. I loved this book because it wasn't about dieting. It was just about healthy eating. For someone like myself who has a host of food intolerances, this book brought to light the eye opener of what foods are good, which are bad, and why. It explained it all in clear, easy reading and  included chapters of great recipes, with simple easy ingrediants.
I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to eat healthier and get their fill of all natural foods.

Alpha Books has offered to send one lucky reader from Canada or the USA, their own copy of this book.
A random draw will be made on March 23, 2010 from all entries recieved, by Random.org

To Enter:
Enter with your email- that easy!

Extra Entries:
-Follow me on Google Friend
-Subscribe in email
-Follow me on Twitter
-Grab my button
-Purchase my book
-Add this giveaway to your site


Good luck everyone!

Review/Giveaway-Snorg Tees

Snorg Tees has for you, a  great collection of t-shirts for men, women, kids and even hoodies.
They specialize in pop-culture inspired, random, and all around funny t-shirt designs. Most of the designs on their site are SnorgTees employee creations. They are even open to your ideas for t-shirts- so how great is that?
We recieved to review It's Always Hammer Time, which was great for Gerry as he loves all that woodworking and building that guys like to do.
A 100% Super Soft Cotton t-shirt that is great quality.He loves it!

For some real life photos, check out their Smorg Moments Captured by You  page- lots of great photos of folks like you and me wearing their t's.


The great folks at Snorg Tees would love to give one lucky winner from Canada or the US and chance to win their choice of one of the t-shirts of their choice, featured on their site.

A random draw will be done by Random.org on March 22,2010 from all entries recieved.

To enter:

Please drop over to Snorg Tees and comment on what shirt you would choose if you win.
Please leave your email as well with all comment entries.

Extra Entries:

-Add this giveaway to your blog
-Follow me on Twitter
-Grab my button
-Purchase my book on site
-Follow me as an email subscriber
-Follow me in Google Friend


Good luck everyone!



How to Save Money on the Family Pet

Sunday, March 14, 2010



When we want the very best for our pets, we can end up sending a lot of money. But it is possible to take good care of your pet without going overboard. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your pet budget.



The first thing you can do: Be frugal with the extra things. Toys and special treats are nice and something your pet deserves, but that doesn't mean you need to go wild buying them. In reality most pets are more content spending time playing with you than playing with a toy, so keep that in mind before buying too many of the extras for your pet. When you do buy extra treats, stock up while they are on sale at a discount store (or buy discount pet supplies by using a coupon code at an online pet store.)



Veterinary bills can be the biggest pet cost. You do not want your pet to suffer, but vet bills can be steep. To save money, you may want to check out veterinary schools, which often offer lower cost services because students are administering them (under the watchful eye of a professional).



You may also want to learn how to do some things on your own, such as administering vaccinations and treating small wounds. You can also look into pet insurance, which can really help to cut costs, too.



If your pet needs medication on a frequent or regular basis, see if you can save by ordering them online. It's a good idea to stick to the reputable, established pet medication merchants and make sure that you are getting the same brand name that your vet offers.



Another way to help reduce your vet bills is through preventative care, which can help keep your pet from needing the vet. Always buy quality pet food that contains the vitamins your pet needs to stay healthy. Keep your pet in your yard or inside the house to prevent him from running away and possibly getting injured. You should also consider spaying or neutering your pet to help protect against unwanted pregnancies. When you spay or neuter your pet, you may also reduce the risk of certain cancers and infections.



Grooming is another thing that can get expensive. You can save money by learning to groom your pet yourself. Purchase quality grooming supplies and take a class or watch an instructional video to learn how to do it properly. It may not be as hard as you think.



Your pet is surely a beloved member of your family. As with any family member, proper care is going to require that you spend money. But there are lots of ways to cut costs on pet care and help keep your pet healthy and happy at the same time.







About the Author:Jamie Jefferson writes for Susies-Coupons.com and Momscape.com, where you can win free gift certificates for top online stores. Get the latest PetsMart Coupons, too.

Use Credit Card Debt Consolidation To Destroy Your Debts

Friday, March 12, 2010





It’s not possible for everyone to always carry cash; therefore they choose the plastic money or credit cards. When they’re using the cards, they don’t take into account the negative consequences of using them recklessly. Credit cards are type of revolving credit and come with high interest rates. If you default on the minimum monthly payments, the interest rate would skyrocket. As a result, your outstanding balances become higher and you get into a bigger debt trap. If you want to dig yourself out of that vicious debt trap, then you need to go for debt consolidation.



It’s important for you to remember that you should always try to minimize your credit card usage. If you can’t do it, then achieving debt freedom is a distant dream for you.


How credit card debt consolidation can be performed :


You can consolidate your credit card bills through a debt consolidation loan, balance transfer or a consolidation program. For many people, taking out a consolidation loan is a better option to pay off their cards. It also helps them save some money. Your credit cards carry high interest rates, but if you take out a home equity loan, you can get it at a reduced interest rate. However, there are some downsides of this option as well. You can land up in a double debt dilemma since you’re taking out one more loan to pay off your existing loans. In addition, it is a secured loan where you need to provide a collateral or security to back the loan. In the event of nonpayment, you can lose your collateral which is mostly your home.



If a loan is not the ideal option for you, you can sign up for a credit card consolidation program or debt management program. You just need to make one affordable monthly payment to the consolidation company. In return, they would distribute this payment among your credit card issuers. The advantage here is that you need not bother about making multiple payments to your creditors every month.

You can also transfer all your card balances to a zero or low-interest credit card and pay them off comfortably. This low interest rate is available for a limited period of time, which is known as introductory period. If you can pay off all your balances within that period, then you can save a lot of money on interest payments.

Online credit card debt consolidation

You can consolidate your credit cards online. This is a simpler process and helps you save a lot of time. All your financial information is kept confidential.

You can also talk to a credit counselor if none of the above options suits you. He might suggest the best option for you after analyzing your financial condition and budget.

Today's Winner

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Today's winner of the Yo Gabba Gabba live ticket giveaway:
WackyWorldofK@bell.net
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/03/yo-gabba-gabba-live-theres-party-in-my.html

Winner has been contacted .

Frugal Lifestyle: Creating Tempting Leftovers For "Free" Meals

Tuesday, March 9, 2010



The greatest saving strategy you can have is to use every scrap of food that comes into your home. The trick is to disguise leftovers as a completely new meal. Here are some ideas for putting leftovers to good use. And while you are at it, consider the advantages of planned leftovers.

1. After each dinner, add leftover vegetables with their juices to one large freezer container. Add any leftover gravy or cooking juices as well. When the container is filled, use it as the foundation for nutritious and tasty vegetable soup...practically free.

2. Leftover mashed potatoes can be used in Shepherd's Pie, Canadian Meat Pie, or in Beef Patties.

3. Leftover gravy can be used in Shepherd's Pie or over Supper Pancakes.

4. Freeze bread heels and stale bread in a bag or freezer container. Blend the frozen bread to use it as bread crumbs or cube the bread for stuffing or bread pudding.

5. Rejuvenate leftover muffins by scooping out the center, filling the cavity with butter or jam and baking at 350° until warmed and the butter is melted. Or cover the warmed muffins with creamed eggs for a breakfast treat.

6. Use leftover oatmeal in Oatmeal Cake or Oatmeal Muffins.

7. Marinate leftover vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower, or even green beans, in Italian dressing and use them as a flavor accent for your salads.

8. Thick stews can be used as filling for pot pies. If your stew isn't thick, add a few potatoes and simmer until it thickens.

9. Add white sauce to any leftover vegetables and heat thoroughly. Add cheese, for more protein.

10. Cook twice as much broccoli, cauliflower, or spinach as you need for a meal. Set aside half the vegetables to appear again in 2 days in a casserole with cheese and crumb topping or in quiche.

11. Leftover pasta or rice can become the crust for quiche or meat pie.

 12. Grind leftover ham in a food processor or meat grinder to mix with a small amount of mayonnaise and use as a sandwich spread.

13. Meatloaf is often left over but seldom used. Place ¾" thick slices of meatloaf on a broiler pan. Spread with ketchup and broil for 3-5 minutes. Top with cheese and returned to the broiler until melted.

 14. Use leftover coleslaw in soups and stews. Simply place coleslaw in a colander and rinse it under a faucet, then dump the coleslaw into the soup pot.

15. Biscuits can be split, buttered, and toasted under a broiler for 2 minutes. Use these biscuits as a substitute for rice, potatoes, or cornbread in recipes such as Creamed Chicken or Curried Chicken. Or sprinkle on cinnamon sugar for a tasty breakfast.

16. Use leftover pasta or rice in casserole recipes. This would be an excellent way to save time as well.

 17. Besides banana bread and other baked goods, brown bananas have many uses: banana milkshake, banana-peanut butter sandwiches, Banana French toast (add mashed banana to milk and egg dip).

18. Leftover cake can be used in many ways. Use your imagination. If you have leftover chocolate cake, make a trifle with chocolate pudding with cherry pie filling for a delicious Black Forest trifle. How about yellow cake and vanilla pudding with peach pie filling and raspberry jam for a Peach Melba flavor?

19. Sour milk should never be poured down the drain. Instead, use it to make baked goods that call for buttermilk such as pancakes, waffles, gingerbread, or cornbread.




Author: Rosey Dow

I'd like to invite you to check out Penny Pinching Meals, a cookbook that will save you time and shrink your food budget with your family happy and satisfied. See the free video at :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXdaHLb0RAo




Rosey Dow is CEO of ExpertsinFocus.com

Today's Winners are....

Todays giveaway winners are:
charmtime at gmail dot com
who wins a t-shirt:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/02/reviewgiveaway-of-me-do-good.html

and
stephanie_dunbar07 at hotmail dot com
who wins the cookbook:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2010/03/review-and-giveawaymamas-house-oh-so.html

Both winners have been contacted and have one week from today to reply with their mailing addresses, before a new winner is redrawn.

Thank you to all who entered...

Review and Giveaway! Sunglass Warehouse


I wear sunglasses all year round.I especially need them for driving- I hate squinting and worry about crow's feet so have always had this practise of wearing them.Cataracts are also something we should all be concerned with getting, and sunglasses can definately help with protecting our eyes.
The Sunglass Warehouse offers a huge array of sunglasses for great prices. The pair I recieved were very nice and comfortable to wear. Very stylish as well!
Not sure what glasses to get for your face shape- they help with that as well.




Sunglass Warehouse was founded in 2002 for the purpose of offering a low cost alternative to high designer sunglasses prices. They  back up their claims with our 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. With 100's of designs available, you can count on Sunglass Warehouse to provide you with continued variety and assortment of the most popular sunglasses on the market.



Sunglass Warehouse would love to offer :

one winner a $20 gift certificate, open to the U.S. and Canada
A random draw will be made on March 17, 2010 from all entries recieved, from Random. org.

To Enter: Enter by following on Facebook or Twitter-
@sunglasswarehse (Twitter)


Extra Entries:
Follow us in Google Friend
Follow us in email subscriber
Grab our button
Add this giveaway to your site
Follow me on Twitter


Good luck to all!

Review and Giveaway! Vitalicious!

Monday, March 8, 2010





We love trying new food products in this house- especially snacks!

 Vitalicious Foods Inc. is the market leader of innovative “vital and delicious” baked goods that promote a healthy lifestyle without sacrificing taste. First to market with 100-calorie servings, Vitalicious continues to lead the way with a holistic approach that maximizes satisfaction with minimum calories.
We were quite excited to try our sampler pack of the Vitalicious products. These are delicious and healthy muffin tops and smaller sized muffins- perfect for those counting calories and still not wanting to give up their treats, or even those who are portion controlling.Healthy and delicious!
While most of today’s 100-calorie foods are loaded with sugar, artificial ingredients and preservatives, Vitalicious baked goods still remain as eponymously “vital” and “delicious” as they were at the outset of the now thriving category.
Individually packaged as well, within the box, perfect for lunches! Perfect for snack time! Perfect for anytime!
We loved Vitalicious, and gave it a full thumbs up!

 Vitalicious would love to give away to one lucky reader from Canada or the US, their own sampler pack!
A random draw will be held by Random.org on March 16, 2010 from all entries recieved.

To Enter: Submit your email address- it's that easy!

Extra Entries:
Follow me on Twitter
Add this giveaway to your site
Follow me as a subscriber in email
Follow me as a Google friend
Grab my button

Good luck to all!
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