Stretching the One Income Dollar

The 5 Features Your Next Balance Transfer Card Needs

2012-02-02T06:06:00.000-08:00

If you have accumulated a decent amount of debt on a variety of credit cards, you can save yourself thousands in potential interest rates by acquiring a new credit card that features great deals on balance transfers. You can pay off the old cards within the low interest period to improve your credit rating, pay off your debt and feel more financially secure. Look for these five features on your next balance transfer card.

Low or No Interest Rate

The benefit of a balance transfer credit card is the low interest rate. Look for a card that offers a low interest rate, such as under 5%. Many balance transfer cards offer an introductory interest rate of 0%. Although you will use the credit card primarily to pay off your old debt, be sure that the card also has a good interest rate after the introductory period so that you will not be surprised by huge interest charges when the card transitions from the introductory period to the regular period.

Long Balance Transfer Period

To get the best bang for your buck, look for a credit card that offers a long balance transfer period. This longer period will provide you with the necessary time to pay off your balances. Some cards only provide a three month to a six month transfer period. Other cards provider a longer balance transfer period, such as a twelve month or twenty-four month period. Since your goal is to pay off your debt at the lowest price possible, a long balance transfer period is crucial to your success.

Low or No Balance Transfer Fee

Some balance transfer credit cards provide a 0% interest rate, but then gouge you with high balance transfer fees. These fees can quickly add up. For example, if you have large balances on multiple credit cards, a 3% fee on the amount of debt you transfer can quickly add up to hundreds or thousands in fees. Compare the interest rate and the balance transfer fees to ensure that you get the best deal. Try to obtain the card that provides the best balance between a low interest rate and low fees.

Cash Back

Some balance transfer credit cards offer cash back. This is more common with balance transfer cards that have balance transfer fees. The cash back on balance transfers can help offset the cost of transferring the balances. Compare the amount of the balance fees and the interest rate that it will take to fund your balance transfer. Then subtract the amount of any applicable cash back offers. Compare this number to the amount that it would cost you to use another card that has lower fees but no cash back. If a card that does not provide you with cash back is cheaper, you may want to go with that card. However, even if it is a little more expensive to use the cash back card, you may want to choose the cash back card to have access to this feature. Some balance transfer cards also offer cash back on purchases which may make it more attractive for future use. Read the fine print for any restrictions on cash back, such as cash back that is only for gas or utility payments.

Other Freebies

While your temporary goal is to save money on paying off your existing debt, you may want to look for additional attractive features that the card offers that will be valuable to you in the future. Some cards provide you with discounts for groceries or healthcare. Other provide free travel agent assistance.

Andy writes about managing money for a UK financial comparison website. He has contributed to reviewing a range of balance transfers available from FinanceChoices.co.uk that help consumers get out of debt faster and with less interest paid. You can get in touch with him by following him on Twitter.

Review and Giveaway: If You Care

2012-02-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

Our everyday choices can make a huge impact on the environment, therefore it is important to make smart consumer choices.

If You Care produces kitchen and household products that are crafted to have least environment impact while at the same time delivering highest quality and effective results. If you care offers baking and cooking products including cheesecloth, parchment baking paper, muffin cups, foils and wraps and coffee filters, as well as household materials such as sponges, trash bags and cleaning gloves. The materials are specifically chosen from recycled sources or natural or renewable resources.

If you care about the environment, make sure to try one of these products today.

If You Care would love to give away an If You Care Gift Pack to one lucky winner in Canada or USA.This gift pack may include some of the products in the line such as parchment baking paper, baking cups, sandwich bags and an If You Care t-shirt.A random draw will be held by Random.org on February 10, 2012 from all entries received.

To Enter:
Please leave your email and a comment for If You Care

Extra Entries:
Follow me in Google Friend
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Best of luck to all!

Mammoth Mountain- An Exceptional Travel Experience

2012-02-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

The world is a book, and those who do not travel, have read only a page. Those who love to travel and explore new places are always on the look out for the next best thing, which is why so many are raving about Mammoth Mountain Ski Area, situated in the picturesque northern California.

Mammoth Mountain has one of the longest ski seasons in North America averaging from November to June. You can finally put the age old argument of merits of alpine skiing vs. snowboarding to rest, by learning to do both at the ski and snowboard school. The mountain offers 150 named trails 3, 500 areas of skiable terrain, 9 parks for all levels of skills, 28 lifts and 3 gondolas it truly is a snow-lovers paradise. With winter activities such as cross country skiing, tube parks, snowmobiling or the very unique snowcat tours, there is something for everyone. Mammoth Mountain has over 300 days of sunshine a year, so make sure to pack sunscreen or sport the dreaded ‘goggle tan’. After a day of snow play you can relax and sip hot cocoa by the fire in one of the many award-winning ski lodging. With many ski package deals available you can find great accommodations to fit every budget.

The Village is right in the centre of the action, imagine skiing down a mountain and going straight to dinner and drinks-however, it may be recommended to take off your ski boots first!. You can even trade in your snow boots for hula dancing and tropical drinks at the mountain tiki bar. However, you don’t have to be a ski bunny to enjoy all that Mammoth Mountain has to offer. Mammoth Mountain is a venue for concert series with many famous bands stopping by to play. In the summer you can enjoy a mountain bike park, the highest golf course in California, horseback riding, fishing and hiking. The mountain scenery is so spectacular that many people choose to make it a backdrop on the special wedding day.

Jam-packed with jaw dropping experiences, Mammoth Mountain allows the traveler to check many things from their must-see list.

Vector Marketing Helping Students Succeed

2012-02-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

Finding work after post secondary education was a challenge in any day, however, in today’s tough economy this challenge has become even greater. In fact, according to Statistic’s Canada around 60% of recent graduates have not been able to find work in their chosen field. The students’ lack of experience is often the biggest hindrance in finding suitable employment. Through employment with Vector marketing students have the opportunity to gain valuable resume building skills and earn career-enhancing opportunities and potentially earn an academic credit for their work at Vector.

Established in 1981, Vector Marketing is a $200 million company with 350 offices in US and Canada. Vector Marketing Corporation is the exclusive distributor of CUTCO Cutlery in Canada and the United States and CUTCO Cutlery is the largest manufacturer and marketer of high-quality kitchen cutlery and accessories in North America. Each year, Vector Marketing trains over 40,000 students across the country, allowing students to make business decisions, and handle business finances. While working for Vector students have the chance the earn an above average salary and develop business skills such as, industry standard practices, concepts, and theories, practicing the sales cycle, building rapport and closing strategies, as well as advertising, business research, competition analysis, promotions, lead generation, and time management. By being independent contractors students can develop their own schedule and career goals to fit their busy lifestyle. Since Vector “promotes from within” career advancement opportunities are endless.

Working for Vector marketing is a fantastic opportunity for students to earn a good income and progress in their career advancement.

The Luxe Box A Fun Canadian Beauty Offer

2012-02-01T09:16:00.000-08:00

I wanted to send you an invite to sign up for Luxe Box.

It's a new service that sends you a cute box with 3-5 deluxe-sized beauty samples every month. It's almost like getting a Christmas gift every month and it only costs $12/month.

I am a big fan of this service and think you will enjoy it too.

At this time, this is a Canadian only offer.

Today's Winner

2012-02-01T06:59:00.000-08:00

Today's giveaway:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2012/01/giveaway-kick-off-2012-with-colour.html
and our winner:
gizfarris@hotmail.com

***Winner has been contacted and has 7 days to reply before a new winner is selected.
Thank you to all that entered.

5 Money Tips For Single Income Families

2012-01-31T13:49:00.000-08:00

Well-paid executives are not the only people who bring home the only paycheque for the household. While living on a single income might not be easy, many families are learning to do so for a number of different reasons. Instead of seeking to replace a lost job, some mothers are staying home with the children and changing their approach to meals and housework. Substantial money savings is realised when daycare bills and restaurant expenses are eliminated from the household expenses. In the early stages after shifting to one income, there are some adjustments that must be made. And we hope that these five basic tips will help you organise our finances to get by on a single income.

Follow These Tips for Living on One Income

1. Establish a budget – All expenses that will be incurred over the course of an entire calendar year should be placed into a detailed budget. A portion of insurance premiums and other bills that are not paid monthly should be set aside each month. Weekly budget discussions should be conducted to keep a tight rein on every penny and cooperation must be freely offered to prevent conflicts about expenses. Bank accounts must be monitored closely to stay abreast of the ways money is used. Cash can be placed in envelopes to force spending restraints on each major category, such as groceries and clothes.

2. Shop creatively – A wish list is a useful tool to delay purchases that might not be necessary. Whenever an item is desired, write the description and price on the wish list and wait for 30 days. This method prevents spontaneous purchases that can strain a tight budget. Alternative sources of goods and services are available for those who wish to save money on every purchase.

Deals – Weekly flyers, coupons and sales are available for most retailers. Most purchases can be made for less money than the full retail price. Use of shopping lists will enable the household to stay within the budget.
Second-hand – Thrift stores, online classified ads and garage sales are great sources of nearly new items in almost any category. Frequent visits to each of these sources will yield remarkable bargains.

3. Entertain friends – Cooking at home and inviting friends and family over for an evening of free fun can be one of the most rewarding aspects of life. Large gatherings are the perfect opportunity to have creative “pot luck” suppers where everyone shares their favourite foods with those present. Children enjoy spending time with friends and learning to play board games and outdoor games. Extended families that spend time together enjoy multi-generational interaction that builds social skills in the children.

4. Forget the "Jones's" – Attempts to keep up with the lifestyle of others is exhausting and unproductive. Specific financial goals will established the guidelines for the household. Material goods will take a different role when the family is more interested in raising great kids instead of acquiring the latest stuff.

Similar friends – Other single income families will have similar priorities and restraints on their ability to spend money. Creative people are inspiring to others who know that free fun is still fun. Some former coworkers and very wealthy friends might wander away, but the family goals will come into focus, and new friends will come.
Contentedness – Surviving on a single family income requires developing deep contentment with the current situation. Every purchase should be evaluated against the actual need that has been presented. Acquiring goods through creative shopping expeditions can be one of the best ways to teach every family member to save money.

5. Emergency fund – An amount equivalent to six months of income should be saved in an emergency fund. The need for this fund cannot be overstated because of the lack of a safety net that would be available if a second income existed. Unexpected costs that arise can be paid from this fund to avoid incurring debt. After the expense is paid, the fund can be replenished over the next few months.

In Conclusion

Debt-free living is embraced by many families who are living on a single income. Debt service weighs on the family budget more than any other monthly expense. Active money management involves close evaluation of every expense. Old habits must be broken to stay within the limits presented by a single household income. Honest communication and proactive decisions will prevent shortfalls at the end of the month prior to arrival of the next paycheque. Multiple budget reviews during the month will reveal how money is used for discretionary expenses. Adjustments will be required to align every expense with the household priorities.

Andy is the co-founder of the CreditCardCompare.com.au credit card comparison website (http://www.creditcardcompare.com.au) where he contributes reviews, guides and blog posts. Outside of work, he leads a busy family life and enjoys travelling.

Meals and Thrills At The Stratosphere Tower-Las Vegas

2012-01-30T17:15:00.000-08:00

On our upcoming trip to Vegas, Gerry and I, will be admiring the Las Vegas skyline from the Stratosphere Tower located at the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel and Tower on the strip.

This is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States, towering over the city at 1,149 feet. Indoor and outdoor observation decks with spectacular panoramic views are not all that the Stratosphere offers. At the top of the tower you can enjoy night time venues and Top of the World restaurant which rotates 360 degrees as you dine-allowing you to see glimpse some things that Vegas has to offer. The truly brave at heart can enjoy the world’s highest thrill rides and the tallest controlled free fall in the world at Sky Jump Las Vegas that sends you flying off the 108th floor.

We hope to dine in the restaurant, but we will definitely skipping the free fall and leave our excitement for the casinos.

Today's Winner

2012-01-30T15:37:00.000-08:00

sbabij2 at shaw dot ca
is today's winner of the following giveaway:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2012/01/parmalat-canada-is-excited-to-be.html

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

What’s Hot and What’s Not – Appliance Trends For 2012.

2012-01-30T06:12:00.000-08:00

It’s getting steamy...

Washing machines that use steam are big news for 2012. Steam can reach higher temperatures than water, and so can penetrate much deeper into fabrics, which means stain removal is not a problem. Your clothes will be as good as new when washed with steam, over and again. These steam machines also use less water than traditional washing machines, so they’re better for the environment (and your bank balance!) The LG Steam Direct Drive F1479FDS6 is a gorgeous looking steam washing machine, and its 20 minute Steam Refresh cycle can lift odours from lightly soiled clothes so that they’re ready-to-wear again in no time at all.

Green is the new black...

With everyone tightening their belts, efficient appliances have never been more popular. Energy prices are on the rise, so a super-green appliance can guarantee huge savings on your energy bills –exactly what you need in these tough times! Siemens have
recently released their new range of amazingly efficient A+++ fridge freezers. These technologically advanced models can save you 60% more energy than a standard A rated model – leaving you with spare cash after the bills have been paid! They’re packed full of features designed to keep your food fresher for longer too, so you’ll be throwing less wasted food away. The coolBox, for instance, (found on Siemens products) is the perfect place to store meat and fish. It keeps them at a lower temperature than the rest of the fridge, so when you cook them, they taste as delicious as they would’ve done on the day they were bought.

LG have also picked up on the trend of helping you to make your food last longer. One of LG’s newest models, the LG GWL227HHXV, has a V-Fresh compartment. V-Fresh technology is exclusive to the brand – it sucks the air out of a special compartment to keep your veggies fresher for longer than ever before – so you can stock up at the supermarket, safe in the knowledge your lettuce won’t be soggy in two days time.

What’s en vogue for refrigeration? French doors...

Making a stylish feature out of an appliance is easy with a French door fridge freezer. These models have side-by-side fridge doors, and a bottom drawer for the freezer. They look unusual and elegant – and the freezer drawers provide loads of space for frozen goodies. The Samsung RFG23DERS American fridge freezer has 127 litres of space inside the freezer – the ideal amount of storage space for a larger family’s weekly shop. You don’t even need the space in your kitchen for an American style model to embrace the French door trend either – LG’s brand new GM5148AERV is only 70cm wide, and has 3 freezer drawers with a whopping 109 litres of freezer space.

Love the style, but not sure about the price? Affordable alternatives to these models are Hotpoint’s Quadrios. Available in gun metal grey, stainless steel and black, these fridge freezers provide good looking, high quality refrigeration for a bargain price. They’re so stylish, they’ve even featured in television programmes and cooking shows.

Experience Traditional Americana At Johnny Rockets’

2012-01-29T14:13:00.000-08:00

On our upcoming Vegas trip, we are excited to get the opportunity to eat at Johnny Rockets at the Venetian Food Court.

The first Johnny Rockets opened in 1986 in Los Angeles with a belief that everyone deserves a place where they can escape from today’s complicated world and to experience Americana’s uncomplicated goodness-in fact name originated from the timeless Johnny Appleseed story. Each year, Johnny Rockets serves 17 million hamburgers, 11.3 million soda pops, 8.3 million shakes and malts, 8 million pounds of fries, 2.1 million orders of onion rings and 815,000 gallons of ice cream. This is truly the place for classic “American Cuisine” with a huge selection of their 1/3 pound hamburgers, rocket-melts, sandwiches, and starters. To complete the Johnny Rockets’ Americana experience make sure to grab some mouth watering shakes, malts and floats available in dozens of different flavours.

We love the general atmosphere as well as the delicious and fun food.We don't have Johnny Rockets where we live, so take full advantage of them when we travel! Click here to find a Johnny Rockets location nearest you.

Saturday-January 28th-A Cave In

2012-01-29T11:58:00.000-08:00

Wasn't what Gerry wanted to see this morning when he headed outside to shovel snow off the roof of our trailer, but he noticed the car port that we use for storage, had a caved in roof!

Snow had weighed it down and buckled it inwards.

No rips or tears but piping on the inside was bent. Gerry had to run to the hardware store and now has to construct beams inside the car port to keep everything up.Temperatures were -28 with the wind this morning, so not something you really want to be doing when it's cold out, but had to be fixed nonetheless.

***Sunday brought us a leaky hot water tank- setting us back another $340!

What Does Your Future Hold?

2012-01-27T17:36:00.000-08:00

Many of us have a great interest in the mysteries of our future. Psychic Source is a group of screened and verified psychic readers, who are best in their area of expertise. There are numerous types of psychic readings available such as tarot readings, runes, astrology and more. The site features the various psychics’ specialities, so you can choose the one that matches your need.

I was very happy with my experience and based on the introductions I listened to, I connected with psychic of my choice. I was surprised that I could ask questions about my health, money, family and so much more and my psychic seemed to hit things dead on.I loved this service and have always enjoyed getting a reading done. It always amazes me what these people have insight to.

To find out what the future holds, or just for fun, Psychic Source is a great experience.

5 Ways To Say “I Love You” For Less

2012-01-27T07:02:00.000-08:00

Valentine's Day is only days away, and many of us are probably still scrambling around trying to find the right way to say “I love you” to those who mean so much to us. However, roses, fine candies, and fine jewelry can all come with a steep price tag – ones so steep that they aren't always feasible. So instead of looking at the latest in men's rings or purchasing $100 worth of red roses, consider doing some of the following for an inexpensive Valentine's Day treat:

Homemade Cards

You may think that homemade cards are for kiddos, but they can mean a lot to your significant other as well. The time that you put in to creating a card will not only be a nice throwback which will be sure to give your partner warm and fuzzies, but the card will also be more personal which is sure to please your partner. Not only that, but you won't have to deal with hunting through vast rows of cards or waiting in lines at retail stores, and you can make it with items already within your home.

Make Your Own Delectables

Instead of spending an arm and a leg on chocolate covered strawberries or a decadent candy of choice, consider making it yourself. Most candies and confectioner delights are easy and relatively inexpensive to make, and allow you to add your own personal touch. They also prevent you from having to order weeks in advance, and allow you to create fresher treats.

Dine In

Going out is often a tradition on Valetine's Day, and while it is nice to go out, it can lead to an incredibly high bill – with many fine restaurants clearing tabs as high as $100. To stay within budget, cook your partner's favorite meal at home. If you have kids, send them to a willing relative's house and cook a romantic meal with your partner. It will be a great, inexpensive way for you two to get quality time together, and you won't have to worry about getting all dressed up.

Do a Few Chores

Are there a few things that your partner always does even though they hate it – such as laundry, cleaning the bathroom, or scrubbing floors? Instead of letting them do it, yet again, consider doing a few household chores for them as an extra sign of your appreciation for them being in your life. Sure, it might require a little more effort on your part, but your partner will be surprised and delighted to come home with nothing to do but put up their feet.

Give a Sensual Massage

There is nothing more personal and romantic than treating your partner to something similar to a spa night. If you really want to have a great Valentine's day night, simply run a warm bath for your partner and then follow it up with a massage. Aside from the cost of bubble bath and massage oil, it is virtually free and will provide you with a bit of intimacy.

Valentine's Day truly is a great time to tell someone you love them, but that doesn't mean that it should leave you in the red or charging credit cards. If you don't have a big budget for the upcoming holiday, don't sweat it. Simply use some imagination, and you should be able to come up with several great ways to have an enjoyable Valentine's Day without the high bills.

DiGiorno Countdown to Greatness Sweepstakes ( US only)

2012-01-26T14:30:00.000-08:00

I wanted to tell you about the DiGiorno Countdown to Greatness Sweepstakes on Facebook.

The sweeps is a great opportunity to win some awesome prizes!

Only a few more days left to enter for your chance to win a 65" TV, $5,000 in cash, a surround-sound package, a stainless steel fridge and free DIGIORNO® Pizza for a year. Now, get in there and enter for a chance to win before it's too late, the sweepstake ends at 11:59 PM 1/28!

Valentine's Day Gift Guide:Gourmet Gift Baskets Plus a Giveaway

2012-01-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

Shopping for your valentine for Valentine’s Day can be a difficult task, sometimes you just can’t decide what to get.Why not get it all with a Gourmet Gift Basket filled with their favourite treats- it is the perfect way to show your love.

Give the gift of decadence or elegance with Champagne and chocolate suitcase filled with Moet & Chandon White Star Champagne, two champagne tumblers and many gourmet indulgences in a keepsake, sophisticated black suitcase. If your Valentine dreams of visiting the most romantic city in the world a Day in Paris gift basket featuring all the Parisian delicacies may be just up to their taste.

There are many themed gift baskets to choose from including; BBQ,Be My Valentine™ - Valentine's Day Gift Basket, pictured above, Microbrewery, Golf, Fishing, as well as Spa, Chocolate, Fruit and so much more. You can even create a personalized gift basket for that unique Valentine.

So why settle on one gift, when a gift basket says so much more?

Gourmet Gift Baskets would love to give away one of the beautiful baskets above to one lucky winner from Canada or the USA. A random draw will be held by Random.org on February 10, 2012 from all entries received.

To Enter:
Please leave your email and a comment for Gourmet Gift Baskets

Extra Entries:
Follow me in Google Friend
Add me in your Google + circle
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Best of luck to all!

Let Your Child's Imagination Soar With Wuggle Pets

2012-01-26T06:34:00.000-08:00

Wuggle Pets are winning the hearts of children and parents alike. Kids can create, personalize, collect and trade their Wuggle Pets to their hearts content.

There are eight Wuggles to collect, each pet comes with a birth certificate, magic dust, personality charms, the zipper tool and fluffy softness, and, each order includes one fun filled factory to bring your Wuggle Pets to life.

For birthdays, holidays or any other fun events the party pack, offering the full collection of Wuggle Pets offers the best value for the parents and kids. Alternatively a starter kit is a great idea for those beginning their collections. The kit includes one fun filled factory, a Cuddle Puppy, with all the accessories, and you can even make Wuggle Pets talk with an optional voice box.

With these toys there truly is no limit to where your kids imagination can take them.

Review: Sandy Feet Cards

2012-01-25T14:25:00.000-08:00

Sandy Feet Cards is a division of Sandmade Photos and is located on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.The husband and wife team take messages written in the sand and turn them into one of a kind note cards.They have a large selection of cards that can work for a variety of occasions and if you do not see a sandwritten message that works for you, they will be happy to write something custom for you.

A great deal of patience is required to make sure each image comes out just right. When you work with something that is constantly moving like the barrier islands of the Outer Banks…the result is unique and beautiful, and you can truly see this in their unique cards. I had a variety of the cards to review and they were all quite nice . I would think that these would also have been nice to see in color, although that is not an option with these cards.

Be sure to check out their great selection of one of a kind Valentine's Day cards and get yours ordered today.( Please note: these cards come blank inside.)

January 31st-Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD & Blu-ray New Release: The Big Year

2012-01-25T13:50:00.000-08:00

Comedic Icons Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson Star in the Hilarious Outdoor Adventure Coming to Blu-ray and DVD January 31!

Let the fowl play begin! Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment presents the story of a competitive trio who quickly turn a simple quest into the ultimate competition when THE BIG YEAR spreads its wings on Blu-ray and DVD January 31.

Steve Martin, Jack Black and Owen Wilson portray three men from very different walks of life, facing a mid-life crisis, a work-life crisis and a no-life crisis. In the biggest competition of their lives, they undertake an unforgettable trek through North America, engaging in hilarious and bizarre adventures and forming friendships that will last a lifetime!

THE BIG YEAR Blu-ray is loaded with special features including the theatrical and extended editions of the film, over 40 minutes of deleted scenes and the featurette “The Big Migration.” The Blu-ray combo pack and single-disc DVD will be available for an average retail price of $29.99 and $19.99 respectively.

Runtime is 100 minutes.

Uncovering The Big Year With Avery Delacroix

Beauty from the Elements is in Season for 2012

2012-01-24T20:49:00.000-08:00

Start your fashion with a sense of true beauty, Giovanni style.

Their hair care line has a huge range of shampoos, conditioners, repair treatments and styling/finishing aids. Select from rich pomades, sleeking gels, bodybuilding mousses and more.

I had the opportunity to try their TEA TREE TRIPLE TREAT SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER and loved it. At first I wasn't too sure if the shampoo was really cleaning my hair as it didn't suds up as much as my regular shampoo,but once I shampooed and after applying conditioner and rinsing, I knew it DID do something! My hair and scalp felt amazing. There was a cooling feeling on my scalp for at least half hour after I did my hair.My scalp tingled and my hair truly felt clean.The conditioner was quite nice to use as well. Thick ,tea tree oil scented, and really worked to make my hair more manageable to comb after my shower.

Each Giovanni Eco Chic Hair Care formula contains a blend of exotic organic oils, ripe harvested from renewable plants at the peak of their freshness. The oils are cold pressed and refrigerated immediately to ensure maximum purity. For strong, vibrant, beautiful hair.

Giovanni products are FREE of phthalates, sulfates, parabens and propylene glycol.

Never tested on animals and with eco-friendly packaging. I loved the thin design of my bottles- they both stood up and molded themselves against my tub surround wall.I thought they were chic.Giovanni believes that fashion starts, not the in closet, but in the shower.

Available at: Loblaws, Whole Foods, Walmart (haircare line) , Shopper’s Drug Mart (haircare line), and specialty Health Food Stores.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide: This Valentine’s Day Come Clean About Your Love Plus a Discount Code

2012-01-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

While it is true that beauty is the eye of the beholder, many of us still take those few extra steps to not only look beautiful but feel beautiful as well. A little pampering goes a long way in making anyone feel extra special. This Valentine’s Day why not give the loved one in your life the gift that will make them look and feel amazing. The website EdenFantasys.com offers a variety of merchandise including luxurious beauty and bath products, as well as a skincare and makeup line-all with great ingredients with fun and colourful designs.

To start, given that there are very few problems in the world that a good bubble bath won’t fix, why not try a one of the delicious collections of bath gels or bath salts. For the ultimate romantic, make sure to add rose pedal soap flakes to turn your bathroom into an oasis. Your Valentine can rub worries away with luxurious and rich products such as the very Valentine ’s Day appropriate The Happily Ever After Whipped Body Crème or indulge (guilt free) in Cake’s supreme body mousse.

So this Valentine’s Day come clean about how you feel, and say “I love you” with suds.

Eden's Fantasy's is offering a 15% discount code, good until February 29th: OIDblog to all One Income Dollar readers

Ahoy There! An Upcoming Sightseeing Cruise Awaits Us With Lake Mead Cruises

2012-01-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, we are off to Las Vegas next month. Last time we were there I don't quite remember that we had rented a car, so we took some cabs and did some walking, took in a tour as well to the Hoover Dam, and had stopped over at Lake Mead to have a view from the road above.

On this trip back, we will be taking a cruise on the lake with Lake Mead Cruises. We've decided on their mid day sightseeing cruise aboard Desert Princess that lasts for 90 minutes, as we have such a full schedule planned of sightseeing while in the area.

The Desert Princess is an authentic, three-level, Mississippi-style paddlewheeler. Just being on board takes you back to the Old South I'm told.The Desert Princess is U.S. Coast Guard certified for 275 passengers and 10 crew members. She is spaciously equipped with 2 climate-controlled enclosed decks and an open promenade deck just perfect for taking in the cool, clean air and the wondrous sights.

Daytime on Lake Mead gives passengers a chance to enjoy the full beauty the area. These cruises are $25.00 per adult, and $13.00 per child. These cruises run every day of the week, departing at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.Brunch and dinner cruises are also available.

We can't wait to cruise Lake Mead, and tell you all about it.

Save Money on Gas and Electricity

2012-01-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

With winter in full swing and temperatures dropping to well below freezing, there is one sure way to raise your body temperature and that is by simply looking at your gas or electrical bill. Households can spend a lot of money on gas and electricity, which can become especially evident in the winter months as we raise the thermostat to heat our homes. In fact, just turning down your thermostat by 1°C, can lower your heating bills by as much as 10%, and if you are lucky enough to escape winter for a bit, leaving the thermostat at a low setting will provide protection from freezing at a fraction of the cost. Small changes can go a long way to make a big difference. Simply replacing your old light bulbs with energy efficient ones will use 75% less energy and will last 6 times longer. When stepping away from home appliances and electronics make sure to turn them completely off. Leaving electronics, such as a computer monitor, on standby or charge unnecessarily can use 10-60% of the energy than if the appliance was switched on. Nothing is better than warming up with tea on a cold winter nights, but boiling more water than necessary is also an energy waster and will add to your electrical bill

Don’t let the cost of gas and electricity leave you out in the cold. Lowering your energy usage will not only help your wallet but also the environment.

For more ways to save money on gas and electricity look here.

January 24th-Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment DVD & Blu-ray New Release: The Whistleblower

2012-01-24T08:50:00.000-08:00

Academy Award® Winner Rachel Weisz Stars in the Heart-Pounding Suspense Thriller Arriving on Blu-ray and DVD January 24.

How far will one woman go to fight global injustice? Inspired by true events, THE WHISTLEBLOWER has been met with praise by critics and heralded at the Palm Springs International Film Festival (“Best Narrative Feature”), Seattle Film Festival (“Best Director”) and Whistler Film Festival (“Best Film,” “Best Narrative Feature”).

Academy Award winners Rachel Weisz (The Constant Gardner) and Vanessa Redgrave (Julia) head a powerful cast that includes Oscar® Nominee David Strathairn (Good Night and Good Luck) in writer-director Larysa Kondracki’s harrowing dramatic thriller. When Nebraska cop Kathryn Bolkovac (Weisz) accepts a U.N. peacekeeper position in post-war Bosnia, she uncovers a deadly sex trafficking ring. After learning that fellow peacekeepers and military contractors are involved in the ghastly practice and its cover-up, Bolkovac risks her own life to save the lives of others and expose the corruption.

Enjoy A Supreme Deal From Taco Bell Canada Plus a $25 Gift Card Giveaway(Canada only)

2012-01-24T08:00:00.000-08:00

Like Taco Bell on Facebook – Get a free Fries Supreme When You Buy a 20 oz. Drink With Coupon

Craving a great deal and bold flavour?

Become a Supreme Taco Bell fan and get your coupon to enjoy a Free Fries Supreme with a 20oz. drink purchase. Just “like” Taco Bell Canada on Facebook from January 23rd to February 4th, 2012.

“Taco Bell Canada is thanking all our Canadian amigos with a Free Fries Supreme when they purchase a 20 oz PepsiCo beverage and use their coupon. All you have to do is “like” Taco Bell Canada on Facebook between January 23rd and February 4th to gain access to a limited time offer coupon. The coupon can be redeemed until February 12th, 2012. Fries Supreme fans can also use the coupon to get a free “Supreme” upgrade with the purchase of any combo,” explains David Vivenes, Chief Marketing Officer, Yum! Restaurants Canada. One coupon is available for download per person and one coupon can be used per food bill and per customer at participating stores, adds Vivenes.

Fries Supreme are a Taco Bell Canada Bestseller
Fries Supreme are one of Taco Bell’s top-selling Canadian menu items – the dish features an irresistible and signature mix of hot, crispy, cool and spicy flavours.

Available only in select Taco Bell markets in the world, Fries Supreme has earned near cult status thanks to a delectable combo of crispy French fries, layered with seasoned ground beef, topped with warm zesty nacho cheese sauce, diced ripe tomatoes, chives and cool sour cream.

“Taco Bell Fries Supreme were invented right here in Canada and Taco Bell fans tell us it’s the menu item they crave most because you just can’t find that delicious combination of flavours anywhere except Taco Bell,” explains Vivenes. “What better way to ring in the New Year than with a Free Fries Supreme for all Canadians.

Taco Bell would love to give away a $25 gift card to one lucky Canadian winner.

A random draw will be made by Random.org on February 3, 2012 from all entries received.

To Enter:
Please leave your email and a comment on this giveway for Taco Bell.

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Best of luck to all!

Say More With Personalized Wedding Gifts

2012-01-21T17:21:00.000-08:00

With the holiday season just behind us, it may hard to believe but wedding season is fast approaching, and as seasoned wedding veterans know, these celebrations are not limited to the ceremony alone. Engagements and stag and doe gift, show the special bride or groom to be known how much they mean to their friends and family. Sometimes it can be very hard to find great gifts that suit the happy couple for all the varied, wedding related occasions. Thankfully, there is an easier way to find great personalized wedding gifts right at your fingertips-not just for the special couple, but for all the people that came together to make this memorable.

The newly married couple can show the littlest members of their wedding party how pleased they are with the very responsible role that they took during the ceremony by providing them what that unique gift, that they can take with them from childhood to adulthood. There are cute and traditional wedding favourites such as engraved keepsake boxes, personalized teddy and engraved bracelets, and unique items such as sweets jars and cufflinks.

Up until the wedding date the parents of the bride and groom are usually very busy trying to do whatever they can to ensure that the big day is perfect for the happy couple. The wedding couple can honor their parents with a special gift to show them just how much they mean to them. Personalized piece of jewellery or a wine set make wonderful gifts for the mother of the father or the bride or groom and will make them feel like a bigger part of this special day.

Say, “thank you” to all your hardworking bridesmaids and groomsman with personalized gifts that will definitely mark the occasion.

It can be extremely difficult for wedding guests to find the perfect bride and groom gifts. Instead of the plain and usual gifts that can be bought at any store you can now get personalized gifts that are engraved with the couple’s names, wedding date as well as a special message. Personalized gifts show that you have that special effort to make this day even more magical by choosing a gift made especially for them. For the already-weds, an anniversary is an exceptionally personal time between two people and it is an excellent time to show your spouse how much they mean to you with a gift that comes straight from the heart, such as a personalized calendar of the amazing time that you shared together.

No matter the wedding related occasion, don’t just purchase mundane gifts; instead try personalized wedding gifts which will make this occasion much more memorable than a bunch of flowers or a box of chocolates.

Valentine's Day Gift Guide:The Madeline Chocolate Company Chocolates Plus a Giveaway(US only)

2012-01-19T13:56:00.000-08:00

This Valentine’s Day some will say “forget love – I’d rather fall in chocolate!” Well now there is a way you can have both!

The Madeline Chocolate Company has been making high quality chocolates for all occassions since 1949, and their Valentine's Day chocolate edibles are incredible.We absolutely love the smoothness in their chocolates.

Give your loved one a chocolate rose bouquet, available in a variety of colors nestled in graceful long stems with lush, silk leaves, all packaged in a floral box or a sweet kiss with fun shaped chocolate lips. The variety of sweet and unique gifts is amazing and is sure to melt anyone’s heart-especially if it’s made of chocolate.

The Madeline Chocolate Company would love to give away a collection of their specially selected Valentine's Day chocolates to one lucky winner from the USA, in a random draw to be held by Random.org on February 9, 2012.

To Enter:
Leave a comment and your email for The Madelaine Chocolate Company

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Enjoy Your Favorite Dessert Guilt Free

2012-01-19T11:13:00.000-08:00

We've found a way to satisfy your sweet tooth without packing on the unwanted pounds.

Juicy Fruit is now launching a new line of sugar free gum called Juicy Fruits Desserts which is now available coast-to-coast in Canada. With flavours such as Strawberry Shortcake, Orange Créme Pop and Apple pie, this gum taste just like your favourite dessert.

The people at Juicy Fruit worked hard to perfect the exact taste for each of the array of flavours in a single stick of gum. Experience the intense flavour of Strawberry shortcake from the mouth watering crust, sweet fruit filling to whipped cream topping-all in a stick of gum. Now fans of frozen treats, pie or cake and gum can enjoy the very flavourful taste without the added calories. This is a great way to enjoy the irresistible flavour of your favourtie dessert, guilt-free, all year round, and even your dentist won’t notice.

We loved the taste that just bursts out of this gum- taste pleasure in every piece!

A Sweeter Way To Say I Love You and a Giveaway From Hersheys! (US only)

2012-01-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

If a way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and women are said to be able to live on chocolate alone, its no wonder that chocolate is one of the most popular Valentine’s day gifts.

Hershey’s, one of the most recognizable and beloved chocolate companies in the world has made over 1.5 billion Hershey’s® kisses® brand milk chocolates and more than 36 million heart shaped chocolate boxes sold on Valentine’s Day each year. Apart from the tasty classics, this year Hershey’s features a new Valentine’s Day collection which includes heart-shaped chocolates like the Hershey’s Bliss® Brand Smooth Creamy Milk Chocolate Hearts or York® Dark Chocolate Covered Peppermint Pattie Miniature Hearts. Hershey's even offers an option to personalize a box of chocolates with that memorable snapshot.

With so many varieties available there is no sweeter way to say ‘I love you”, except maybe with Hershey’s XOXO bar.

Be sure to check out their great Valentine's Day recipes too for Valentine's Day or any day you feel like baking up some love!

Hershey's would love to give away to one lucky reader,in the USA, a Hershey's Valentine prize pack.
One winner will be selected by Random.org on February 8, 2012 from all entries received.

To Enter:
Leave a comment for Hershey's with your email

Extra Entries:
Follow me in Google friend
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Add this contest to your linky and tell me where it is placed
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Best of luck to all!

Fibre 1 Chill Challenge and Free Toque Offer (Canada only)

2012-01-18T06:17:00.000-08:00

As the snow keeps falling, wind keeps howling and the temperatures dips to well below freezing, not many of us are eager to exercise outside.

However, healthy eating and exercise are vital at any time of the year. Our friends at the Running Room are now giving us an incentive to venture outside in the Fibre 1 Chill Challenge. Celebrate the leap year by walking or running for 20 min, on Wednesday, February 29th.

As an added bonus the first 10,000 people to register will receive a free toque.

Leap into fitness this New Year, with this extra day of exercise and encourage your friends and family to do so as well. After you are done your exercising in the winter wonderland, why not complement your day with a healthy and delicious meal? More tasty and healthy meal ideas can be found here.

So, embrace winter and head on outside!

“Disclosure: I am part of the Life Made Delicious Blogger program and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.”

Next Month: Vegas and Our First Whole Foods Market Experience

2012-01-17T15:04:00.000-08:00

You are what you eat.

In today’s fast food culture we try to make every effort to eat more healthy and naturally. Which is why we are very excited to take a store tour of Whole Foods Market with Diona Carrillo, marketer for Las Vegas Blvd store, when Gerry and I head to Las Vegas next month.

We have never been in a Whole Foods store but we certainly have heard a lot about them.

Started in 1980, Whole Foods is now the leader in natural and organic foods with more than 310 stores in North America and United Kingdom-sadly none close to where we live. The company searches for the highest quality, least processed and natural foods possible — unadulterated by artificial additives, sweeteners, colorings and preservative.

Whole Foods also has high quality standards when it comes to the food that they sell, it is evaluated quality in terms of nutrition, freshness, appearance, and taste, and negotiated for the best price possible. Every effort is made to buy from local producers for the freshest and healthiest experience.

For those on special diets Whole Foods offers a variety of alternatives substitutes like coconut flour, brown rice pasta, and soy sour cream that are difficult to find elsewhere. Apart from caring about the health of the consumer, Whole Foods is a fair employer and a great global partner making efforts to support organic farming and sustainable agriculture which is great plus for any company.

We will enjoy our tour of Whole Foods Market I'm sure. It's just too bad we can’t bring anything home.We'll also be sure to tell you all about it!

Today's Quick Tip

2012-01-17T14:46:00.000-08:00

Have a leftovers or "use it up" night(s).
Go through your fridge- use up the leftovers.
Got through the freezer- good up the last bit of fries, those 4 chicken fingers, that 1/4 bag of dry ribs. You get the picture.
Have a smorg night!
Use it all up before buying more.

Holiday Gift Guide Suggestion: Fill in the Blankie: Review , Discount Code and Giveaway ( Nationwide)

2012-01-17T11:53:00.000-08:00

***Please note- my winner did not receive her prize for this, despite countless emails to this company. So although I promoted their blankets, please use caution when ordering from this company, as I would hate to see someone not receive what they ordered. Digging deeper, I have found negative comments and feedback about this company.
My apologies to my winner who was left without her prize due to this company not fulfilling their end of the agreement to supply a prize.
Monique 01/17/12

Fill in the Blankie specializes in one thing and one thing only: ULTRA personalized baby blankets

I received one of their blankets for my 3 year old niece to keep as a keepsake or use when she's sitting on the couch watching her tv shows.It will be a birthday gift for her in January, when she turns 4.

Fill in the Blankie offers a variety of blankies to choose from and offer up to 200 characters to personalize your baby blanket. It's not your typical monogrammed baby blanket with the name and birthday, and is way more than a monogrammed baby blanket. You can add names of the mommy, daddy, siblings and even a pet! Add your favorite nursey rhyme. The idea is to tell a story around the soft, satin edges that will warm hearts and never, ever hit a garage sale pile.

Here's an example; Side 1: Lillian Anne Caylor was born on 6.10.11 at 2:42 am Side 2: She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 20 inches long Side 3: Her mommy is Marie and her daddy is Matt Side 4: Sweet dreams, Lily! You have 4 blank fields to use up to 50 characters per line -- so, the possibilities are endless.

This is sure to be a one of a kind gift that will add delite to any parent, as a memorable gift for their child.Fill in the Blankie doesn't just do newborn baby blankets. They also do baptism and christening gifts.

20% off code: 20pOiD (Valid: 12/12 - 12/26)

Fill in the Blankie would also love to give away a $150 gift certificate to one lucky winner Worldwide entry, towards a personalized blanket on their site. A random draw will be made by Random.org on December 23, 2011 from all entries received.

Mandatory entry: Have each entrant write what they would say on their blanket. You have up to 200 characters (50 characters per/side). Also, tell me what you would say and what blanket/thread color you would choose.

Good luck to all!

***Please note- my winner did not receive her prize for this, despite countless emails to this company. So although I promoted their blankets, please use caution when ordering from this company, as I would hate to see someone not receive what they ordered. Digging deeper, I have found negative comments and feedback about this company.
My apologies to my winner who was left without her prize due to this company not fulfilling their end of the agreement to supply a prize.
Monique 01/17/12

Shopping For Self Storage

2012-01-17T06:28:00.000-08:00

As time passes it brings with it memories and a lot of...stuff. Sometimes it is difficult to keep things under one roof and therefore many people turn to self storage as a way of de-cluttering or simply storing their things in the transition phases of their life-such as moving. However, shopping for self storage the traditional way –by checking yellow pages and obtaining quotes, can be a headache.

Sparefoot storage solves this issue by organizing every facility in one simple marketplace online. You can find and compare storage facilities on line, check out photos, read customer reviews and even reserve it online for free. This online directory lists real-time prices and availability of thousands of storage units. The comparison obtained, is easy to understand, providing the location of the facility, storage unit dimensions as well as pricing and if any special deals are available.

For example in Tuscon, Arizona self storage, there is a large number of facilities available, offering various unit sizes and promotions. You can also check for amenities such as 24 hour access, drive up access, or climate control, or specialized storage (wine, RV, boat, etc).

With all the information available in one place its never been easier to find a great deal on self storage.

Living On A Dime Helps Trim the Fat Off Your Food Budget

2012-01-16T11:20:00.000-08:00

When trying to “trim the fat” from my household budget I usually look to variable expenses as a way of making ends meet. Saving on groceries is one way of putting money backing into your wallet.

In my search for the best tips and tricks of the trade (such as the importance of weekly menu planning), I came across Living on a Dime, a website that is packed full of money saving ideas as well as offers a series of ebooks offering advice on saving while grocery shopping, eating out and generally getting the most out of your dollar. Filled with economical living tips, recipes and frugal housekeeping ideas, the site is a fantastic resource for those living on a budget, and these days who isn’t? Cutting back on your budget can be an overwhelming experience, but with some fun and often super easy ideas it doesn’t have to be.

Learn to save, stretch and get more for your food dollars!

Parmalat Canada Is Excited To Be Introducing La Creme Cow Plus A $100 La Creme Cow Pack Giveaway (Canada only)

2012-01-15T21:01:00.000-08:00

Parmalat Canada is excited about La Crème Cow - a new line of spreadable snack cheese adults will love, whether on-the-go or sharing with friends. It's available in three delicious flavours; Original, Light* and Parmesan and Peppercorn, and each wedge of cheese has a delicious mild taste with a very smooth and creamy texture. La Crème Cow spreadable cheese is a great everyday snack option because it is convenient - with each piece individually wrapped and easily stored in it's own container.

The cheeses are great to create your own little wine and cheese party - perfect for Valentines' Day, snacks or when having friends over. The cheese can be eaten on it's own or paired with a nice flavored cracker.La Crème Cow also spreads nicely over bread, bagels & crackers. You can enjoy it over toast or bagel in the morning,as well as spread on a sandwich for lunch, pairing it with deli meat if you wish.

There are currently 3 different flavours of La Crème Cow cheese.

La Crème Cow cheese launched in August 2011 with 2 base flavours (Original & Light Original) and a New Unique Flavour to category, Parmesan & Peppercorn.
Original: 12 portions
Light: 6 portions
Parmesan & Peppercorn: 6 portions

Parmalat Canada would like to give one lucky Canadian reader an opportunity to win a $100 La Crème Cow prize pack .A random draw will be held by Random.org on January 30, 2012 from all entries received.

To Enter:
Please leave your email and a comment

Extra Entries:
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Best of luck to all!

Shoppers Optimum Spin To Win ( Canada Only)

2012-01-15T14:19:00.000-08:00

Play to Win Great Prizes!

A Check Off Our Bucket List: Maverick Helicopters ( Las Vegas)

2012-01-14T14:38:00.000-08:00

On our upcoming trip to Vegas next month, Gerry and I will take a giant leap and cross off another item off our bucket list. We will be taking in the grandeur that is Las Vegas at night with a helicopter ride with Maverick Helicopters.

The company started in 1995 by a husband and wife team, with a mission to provide the finest level of service as expected by the VIP guests of the resorts and hotels in the City of Lights.

The passengers experience personal narration with specialized voice activated head sets that allow them to communicate with each other as well as the pilot. There are a number of trips that are offered, including Vegas by day or night, a helicopter tour with a Grand Canyon landing, a tour of the Grand Canyon and surrounding attractions which include a brand new glass bridge skywalk, which allows visitors to walk beyond the canyon walls.Personally, we will be taking the Vegas Nights ride.

The tours vary in price and length of time to accommodate those on tight time schedules or a tight budget. The company features ECO-star helicopters which aid in noise reduction and have more seating and cabin space than the traditional model-these days it’s more comfortable than the average plane seat. The Maverick’s helicopter tours safety record is among the best in the world, which is very comforting as you dangle a thousand feet in the air.

We are very excited about our first helicopter flight and cannot wait to be a part of the Vegas night sky.

Valentines Day Gifts for the Man in Your Life

2012-01-13T15:19:00.000-08:00

Choosing the perfect Valentine's Day gift for that special man in your life can be a challenge. So consider your valentine's interests and the amount of money you can spend. The best gift to give is one that shows a lot of thought went into the gift just for him. Some items never grow old, so check out some that remains top rated every year.

Gifts That Keep Giving

Some gifts continue to give long after Valentines Day has gone. Here are some of the favorites.

Subscription to a favorite magazine

Season tickets to a sporting event

Beer or wine club of the month

Hunting license

Fruit or food basket of the month

Adventure Gift of a Lifetime

Some men just like the feeling of an adrenal rush. If your valentine is one of them, listed here is a sampling of high adventure activities.

Sky diving

Scuba diving

Zip lining

Spelunking

Hot air balloon ride

Satisfy His Need for Electronic Gadgets

Many men love electronic gadgetry. Since this is the age of high-tech accessories, you have thousands of options. If none of these seems right, you can easily find one that will.

Universal remote

Digital camera

IPOD touch

Hand held organizer

Home theater stereo system

Catering to a Homebody

Life is hectic so many men cherish the time they get to spend at home relaxing. Your valentine may prefer home to any other place in the world. Fix his favorite foods, give him a gift for home and let down time begin.

I-Tunes gift card

DVD

Video or computer games

CD

Flat screen HD TV

Gifts for a Pretty Boy

Some men want every hair in place before they leave the house. Appearance is his priority and it is not hard to find a gift that fits him perfectly.

High quality watch

Cologne

Custom-made clothing

Gift card for a hair cut and pedicure

Plush briefcase or computer bag

Valentines Gifts on a Budget

If money is tight, do not despair. Search out Valentines Day deals and create a unique gift with a lot of love and a little money.

Gift basket with small items he will love

Coupon book of things you will do for him

Fill a box with his favorite homemade snacks

Clean his room or apartment

Be his servant for the day

It does not matter how much you spend as long as the gift is sincere. The act of trying to purchase something he will like says it all. I am sure you agree that as long as your gift is full of love and comes from the heart, he will adore anything you give him.

Today's Winner

2012-01-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

Todays's giveaway:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2012/01/reviewgiveaway-and-discount-code-for.html
And our winner:
b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com

*** Thank you to all that winner. Our winner has been contacted and has 7 days to reply before a new winner is selected.

Getting Ready For Some Laughs With Las Vegas Funny Man: George Wallace

2012-01-12T14:43:00.000-08:00

George Wallace has been selling out comedy clubs and concert venues all over the country and now we will be seeing him perform at the Flamingo in Las Vegas next month.

Since we are big Seinfeld fans, it will be a treat to see him as he once played the doctor on one of the Seinfeld episodes: The Checks.George is also a big fan of Jerry Seinfelds, and the two have been friends for a long time.

He is on the Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Standups of All Time, and started out in the joke business as a frequent comedy club standup in New York City, where he lived with close friend Jerry Seinfeld. In 1978, he moved to the West Coast and caught his big break when he was asked to be a writer for The Red Foxx Show. After a year as a writer, Wallace returned to the stage, touring all over the country and becoming a regular at the Comedy Store. He was named the Funniest Male Standup during the American Comedy Awards in 1995, and since then, he has appeared in numerous television shows such as Scrubs, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Hollywood Squares, and The Oprah Winfrey Show, as well as several films, including Mr. Deeds, Batman Forever, and The Ladykillers.

In his show at the Flamingo, Wallace works the audience as he comments on media, relationships, and dialogue clichés. The crowd loves his famous “Yo Mama” and “I Be Thinkin” jokes, as well as his “People Say Stupid Things” bit, in which Wallace points out the stupidity of many popular phrases. Known as one of the few comics who can revitalize any audience, he also hands out prizes to audience members at every show, including CDs, DVDs, designer purses, dinners at famous Las Vegas restaurants, and more. Wallace also loves meeting his fans, taking photographs and giving autographs after every show.

We're sure to have a great time and to tell you all about it!

College Students Prepare To Spend $3 Billion on Textbooks Over The Next Three Weeks

2012-01-12T12:41:00.000-08:00

I know with having two older daughters go to school beyond high school, that textbooks cost a small fortune.

But did you know that over the next three weeks, college students (and their parents) will spend more than $3 billion on the most essential of all winter back-to-school items: textbooks. The average students spends nearly $700 on textbooks for the new semester, but an increasing number are bringing these costs down by eschewing "New" textbooks in favor of "Rentals." Four years ago, "New" textbooks accounted for 70% of all sales, but has dropped to about 34% today. "Rentals" hardly existed four years ago, but now account for nearly 40% of all sales. (E-textbooks have yet to catch on, as less than 7% of all textbook transactions are for e-books.)

eCampus.com,is one of the pioneers in online textbook sales for students.

It's also an opportunity to make money from home. eCampus.com is a great place to sell textbooks through their textbook buyback program. Get paid with direct deposit, and ship them your books for free. Whether you or your children are looking for new textbooks, used textbooks, eTextbooks, textbook rental, or to sell your textbooks, you are sure to find that alternative that will best fit your family's need.

5 Money Saving Tips for Dining on a Budget

2012-01-12T08:52:00.000-08:00

Fine dining can be expensive, especially on a tight budget. Read 5 great dining on a budget tips that let you have your cake and eat it too!

Everyone enjoys a good restaurant meal from time to time. The sights, sounds, and flavors can add much-needed variety to any night. Just add a few drinks and good company and you've got a nice evening in the works. But, as you probably know, eating out really can damage your personal finances. Here's a few ways to cut back on your tab:

1. Avoid the Appetizers

Appetizers can be more than a little tempting. When dining on a budget, these culinary delights, while tasty, are generally not worth the extra bucks. When shared between two or more people, they don't do much for you. On the contrary, appetizers can spoil your appetite if you're not divvying up the servings. If you're looking to get more munch for your money, order an extra entrée and share it with two or more people.

2. Opt for Water

You can save a lot of money by sticking to iced water. Unless you're drinking during happy hour, alcoholic drinks can be very expensive. Alcohol typically has the highest markup of all restaurant items. Steer clear of fancy cocktails, imported beers, and straight liquor. Even sodas, teas, and coffee can burst a dinner budget. If you do decide to order a beer, wine, or liquor, ask about specials. Order the house wine or share a beer. Mixed drinks often go down very quickly, so ask them to go light on the ice. And if you do purchase a liquor drink, limit yourself to one. But, nothing quenches your thirst and saves you cash at a restaurant quite like water.

3. Split Meals

In the words of Ritika Puri of Investopedia.com, "If you're visiting a restaurant with notoriously large portions, split your meals." Restaurant portions can often be too large for one person to consume—especially at chain restaurants. Try sharing a meal and a large salad instead of ordering two full entrees. If you're worried about not getting enough, order an extra side. Just make sure the restaurant doesn't charge a fee for the extra plate. You'll have an easier time controlling your portion sizes with less food on the table.

4. Take Advantage of Special Offers

If you're looking for other great ways to start dining on a budget at restaurants, be on the lookout for specials. Many chain and bar restaurants have big deals during happy hour, which typically occurs somewhere between the hours of 4 and 7. Also, try to go to restaurants where kids can eat free or get discounted meals, like a special kid’s menu. Some restaurants even offer senior discounts. Be sure to cut or print out any restaurant coupons for future savings at your favorite places.

5. Have Dessert and Coffee at Home

Much like alcohol, dessert can empty your wallet. Instead of spending 4 to 8 dollars on dessert, enjoy a few chocolates, brownies, or some ice cream at home. And the same goes for coffee—it's just another few dollars you don't need to spend. Have a pot ready to brew so you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee at home with your dessert.[2]

About the Author

Check 'n Go is a leader in payday loans online and check cashing services and has been for over fifteen years. They are working towards to building legitimacy and trust in the consumer lending industry through their work with the Consumer Financial Services Association. Check 'n Go works around the clock to provide consumers with auto title loans, installment loans, check cashing, payday loans, and other financial needs.

[1]Puri, Ritika. "6 Easy Ways To Save At Restaurants - Investopedia.com." Financial Edge - Investopedia.com. 27 May 2011. Web. 16 Dec. 2011. .
[2] Simpleorganizedliving.com. 7 Sept. 2011. Web. .

Giveaway: Kick Off 2012 With a Colour Consultation From Tints of Nature ( Canada Only)

2012-01-11T14:57:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have remembered when my mom did a review of Tints of Nature a few months back.She really loved it. It was like no other hair coloring she had tried before and she loved the color she selected. But wouldn't any one of you who dye their hair at home, really like to know what shade is meant for you, by your own personal color consultant? Well, Tints of Nature is making that come true for one lucky Canadian reader!

One of our readers will win a specialized hair consultation from Tints of Nature.

Once the winner is selected, a certified stylist will recommend a shade for you, based on your submitted headshot. That winner will also recieve the color that is selected for them, from Tints of Nature.No more guessing what shade you "should be"!

Tints of Nature is a highly effective range of 24 conditioning permanent hair colours. It employs an advanced formula to produce outstanding results whilst protecting and caring for your hair and scalp as naturally and gently as possible. Tints of Nature is the only range of hair colours to use high quality, certified organic ingredients. It contains no harsh chemicals, such as resorcinol or nonoxynol, thus guaranteeing damage free results without compromise.

A random draw for this wonderful giveaway will be held on February 1, 2012 by Random.org from all Canadian entries received.

To Enter:
Please leave your email and a comment on why you want to win this giveaway

Extra Entries:

Follow me in Google Friend
Sign up as an email subscriber
Tweet this Giveaway
Add me to your Blog Roll
Grab my button
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Add this contest to your linky and tell me where it is placed
Grab the button from The Life of Ultimate Luxury

Best of luck to all!

Finding The Right Storage Facility For Your Belongings

2012-01-11T09:47:00.000-08:00

I was thinking: A large portion of the population is currently downsizing, which means many people have more stuff than room. This downsizing is usually not a welcomed change, but rather a necessity to save money in a poor economy. Therefore, many people want to keep their belongings for a time when they will have the space to use them again. Luckily, the number of self storage facilities is growing. Not only has the number of storage facilities increased, but so has the quality. Here are a few things to look for when storing your currently unused items.

For starters, you will want to find a facility that is close to home. You never know when you might want or need an item out of storage. Additionally, you will be more likely to visit your storage facility on a regular basis if it is close to home. This way you can check up on your belongings to ensure they are free from damage and theft.

This brings up the second thing you should consider when renting a storage unit. How is the security at the facility? Many storage facilities are gated, and require a pin code to enter. Additionally, others will have security guards or staff members that work around the clock. The better the security, the safer your belongings will stay.

Finally, consider unit quality. The newer storage facilities are usually nicer, but not always. Look for cleanliness of the unit before you agree to rent it. Make sure it is free of mouse droppings and insects. Most storage units are now equipped with electricity and the more expensive ones offer temperature control.

Obviously, cost is always an issue, but with competition of these facilities on the rise you can most likely find a unit that meets your needs for the right price.

A Bit of Italy in Las Vegas

2012-01-10T15:59:00.000-08:00

We may have missed it the last time we went to Vegas but this time Gerry and I are taking a romantic gondola ride through the Venetian's Grand Canal Shoppes . Sure to be an exciting and memorable time.The gondola glides past cafes and sidewalks and it is a perfect way to share your time with someone special,lthough both adults and children can enjoy this ride. Ride as a family or in a personal gondola for two.

We can't wait to float beneath bridges, beside cafes, under balconies and through the exciting Venetian streetscape as our singing gondolier sweeps us down the Grand Canal for a ride we'll truly enjoy I'm sure.

Tuesday-January 10-Snow Day

2012-01-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

View from across the street, and the scene of most of the town today.Bobcats,tractors,4x4's with blades and people out with shovels.We've been dumped on big time and it's calling for more heavy snow.I did some shovelling today around the step and behind my car. Enough to get myself out and to the post office. Gerry will be snow blowing again once he is off work, and over to my sister's as well, since her boyfriend works out of town.I'm staying close to home though, as I hearing of people getting stuck everywhere.

On a happy note, my daughter Erika won Much Music front row tickets to Headley in March. Quite excited. Although she has been to Headley before, never been to a concert with front row tickets. Way to go Erika! I told her maybe I will win too, as they are drawing for more winners over the next few days.Both my girls like entering contests- and it's so much fun when you win- like those of you that have won our giveaways will know!

School Head Turns Off Radiators for Eco 'Experiment

2012-01-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

A Somerset head teacher landed themselves in hot water last Friday after they turned off the school radiators as part of an environmental “experiment.”

Parents and teachers complained bitterly that the radiators were turned off during one of the coldest days of the year at Ansford Academy in Castle Cary. Instead, pupils were urged to bring plenty of layers of jumpers, coats, scarves and gloves into school in order to see if the academy could reduce its carbon footprint.

One furious mother complained that her 12-year-old daughter had returned home physically shaking from the cold, while an unnamed teacher condemned the stunt as “barbaric,” telling the Daily Mail newspaper that “the kids were complaining, no one was working properly. Some of them could not even write because they could not grip a pen through woolly gloves.”

On the day in question, the Met Office said that temperatures at nearby Yeovilton were between just 12.2 degrees Celsius and a freezing 0.8 degrees Celsius

But head teacher Rob Benzie defended the experiment, saying that it was mooted by the Student Eco Group and school buildings did not drop below 18 degrees in temperature throughout the day.

“Earlier last year students wanted to do something that saved energy during the winter and proposed a Jumpers Friday when we would turn off the heating and everyone would be able to wear more jumpers,” he told the paper.

“Friday was the first trial of that. It was really good. We had one anonymous person who went to the Health and Safety Executive but they didn’t have an issue. One member of staff said it was colder but these buildings are solid and double-glazed and they retain heat very well.”

Terry Fator in Vegas

2012-01-09T16:57:00.000-08:00

With the upcoming Las Vegas trip in February,I have been getting busy planning on what shows we want to see while we are there for approx. 5 days.

It wasn't hard to decide that ventriloqist Terry Fator was right up there on our list.He is absolutely amazing- with a talent of over 100 ventriloquial impersonations and his fun puppets that he makes come to life to entertain his audience.Each character allows Fator to sing a different genre in an unbelievable manner with performances ranging from Gnarls Barkley, Black Sabbath and Garth Brooks to Cher, Etta James and Guns N’ Roses – all without moving his lips.

You may have known him as the winner of Season 2 of America's Got Talent, where he received the million dollar prize. The following year, he was signed on as the headliner at The Mirage hotel and casino in Las Vegas.

Still haven't heard of Terry? Watch the clips here.

Loved what you saw? Buy the dvd here.

Ok, we know your wanting more and your wanting to see him live just like we were, so plan your next trip to Vegas and see Terry Fator's Ventriloquism in Concert.

March 2011 marked Fator’s two year anniversary as a successful headliner on the world-famous Las Vegas Strip.We can't wait to see the show next month and tell you all about it.

Eight New Year's Resolutions for Frugalistas by Vicky Oliver

2012-01-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

Over the holidays, we all binge—it's only normal. It's hard to resist temptation, or the siren call of "buy, buy, buy," when our calendars teem with swanky parties, office shindigs, and festive family outings. But once New Year's Day arrives, it's time to tighten the proverbial belt with some austerity measures.

Still, crash diets rarely work. Anyone who's ever tried to cut spending cold turkey will tell you that if you slash all fun from your daily menu, you're destined to fail. The trick is to find the right balance between buying everything you think you need and total deprivation.

Here are eight New Year's resolutions for every frugalista who's determined to celebrate fashionista style on a shoestring.

Resolution 1: Let No Unused Gift Go Unreturned

Puce pajamas. Reindeer-themed sweaters. Jewelry that jangles like cowbells. In the crush of holiday gift giving, it's easy to stash some ugly present that you receive in the "black hole" of your closet—never to be seen (or heard from) again. But that's a costly mistake. You're literally leaving money on the floor of your closet! Instead, make it your mission to return each gift that you hate and exchange it for something you love. To get the best "exchange rate," try to hit the stores as soon after receipt as possible (hopefully before that item goes on sale after the holidays). The person who gifted you will never know, and once you're surrounded by all of the new items that you've personally chosen, it will feel like Christmas all January long.

Resolution 2: Throw a "Swap till You Drop" Party

Do you have a friend whose taste you admire? Of course you do. Agree in advance to pick out two scarves that you both adore, and then "swap" them with each other midseason. Just when you tire of your own wooly neck warmer, you can move on to hers. This tip is guaranteed to save you both at least 50%. For exponential discount power, host a "Swap till You Drop" party, and swap all the clothing you've grown bored with for all of the clothing your friends have. You'll all be dressed to the nines at a fraction of the cost—especially if you all bought the original items at the January sales.

Resolution 3: Name Your Price

We all carry price lists in our heads for what things should cost. We are like contestants on a virtual game of The Price Is Right, our brains conditioned to seek clothes that match our preconceived notions. But what happens when The Price Is Wrong? What happens when we just can't find nice threads at reasonable prices anymore? Is there any recourse? There is. Try befriending a salesperson in your local department store and tell her the price that's right for you. If you're lucky, she'll empathize and give you the inside scoop on the next "pre-sale" or "friends and family day" on the horizon. Then take your newfound friendship to the next level. Hand the salesperson your business card and ask her to email you with news about all upcoming store sales. It's always smart to have friend in your corner—particularly when you're trying to corner the market on sale prices.

Resolution 4: Put on Your Retailer Cap

No matter what day jobs they hold, all true frugalistas learn how to think like savvy retailers, almost having a sixth sense about which sales are genuine and which ones are trumped-up marketing gimmicks. "BOGO" sales (Buy-One-Get-One) only save shoppers money if they actually want the second item. "Loss leaders," which are items sold at prices so low that the store actually loses money on them, are designed to lure shoppers in to purchase higher priced items (where presumably, the store will recoup its losses). If you can cherry-pick your way through the BOGOS and loss leaders and shun all items that aren't on sale—that's a clever frugalista savings strategy. But if you have trouble avoiding anything wielding a full retail sticker price, try mastering some new ways to save money online by following Resolution 5 instead.

Resolution 5: Become a Groupie

Independence is highly overrated. There is power in groupthink—especially when the group happens to think it deserves a hefty discount. (Any group worth its buying mojo does.) Familiarize yourself with some websites that offer deep discounts to the group. Learn how to look for promotional codes online. Be proactive. Don't wait four score and seven years to check out foursquare. Vow to be more social for less of an outlay with websites like Living Social that offer deep discounts. The holidays may be long gone, but it's always the season to shop with the flock—and be richly rewarded for your efforts.

Resolution 6: Shop Your Own Closet

Before you go out and buy something new, make sure that you have thoroughly shopped your own closet. It's just like real shopping—minus the extravagant outlays that make strong Visa cards faint. "Shopping your closet" involves writing a list. It's not a list of the stuff you want; it's a list of the stuff you already have. Look and see what you own. Organize by color. And write it down. Reviewing your clothes on paper in this way will give you fresh ideas of how to mix and match the tops and bottoms for maximum flair, bottom to top. And who knows? After you conduct your own personal inventory, you may discover that you don't need to hit the sales racks right now after all.

Resolution 7: Rediscover the Joys of Reversible Clothing

Reversible clothing first started as a practical alternative for travelers who wanted to save room in their suitcases. While its dowdy "two-fer" image has been hard to erase from our collective fashion sensibility, today's options have little in common with your grandmother's reversible pantsuits! As more and more upscale marketers have jumped on the reversible bandwagon, it's suddenly become posh to double the fun at half off. Each time you purchase an item that works just as well inside out, it's like getting 50% off two wardrobe essentials. And the beauty is, you already know that the item fits perfectly. From dresses to blue jeans to belts to pantyhose, there are now tons of reversible options to play with, turning your whole wardrobe into a crayon box of fashion fun.

Resolution 8: "Layaway" Is Code for "Lay Off"

Any smart diet involves portion control: the same thing holds true for The Austerity Diet. If the only way that you can afford an item is by paying for it on layaway, then you owe it to yourself to walk away. When you first see the word "layaway," red warning signs should flash in your head. (If sirens sound too, all the better.) In plain speak, "layaway" means "immediate gratification but at too steep a cost." You just don't want to be indebted to some chain store for months on end for any item that you don't absolutely need. Instead, take a deep breath, hold your head high, and remind yourself that you're on The Austerity Diet, where some short-term pain will lead to long-term financial gain. It's always a good idea to shed some debt, and there's no day like today to get started.

For more pointers on saving money while you enjoy a luxe lifestyle, check out Vicky's new book, The Millionaire's Handbook: How to Look and Act Like a Millionaire Even if You're Not (Skyhorse, November 2011).

Today's Winner

2012-01-08T09:05:00.000-08:00

calvert0 at telus dot net
is today's winner of the following giveaway:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2011/12/review-and-giveaway-oregon-trail.html

*** Winner has been contacted and has 7 days to reply before a new winner is selected.
Thank you to everyone who took time to enter.

Today's Quick Tip

2012-01-06T05:59:00.000-08:00

Save big money on Cruises using VacationsToGo.com. With their 90-day last minute ticker, it’s not hard to find discounts of 75% on their site!

Today's Quick Tip

2012-01-05T06:14:00.000-08:00

Book vacations for cheaper by booking on not where you want to go, but what's on sale at a discount price. Many times we may book our hotel and plan our vacation based on where we want to go, only to find out we can't get a good deal on air fare for the time period we want to go.Shop the deals first.

A New Year- Small Changes Can Mean Better Health

2012-01-04T16:26:00.000-08:00

With the start of a new year, many of us resolve to improve our overall health, by bettering our diet. One of the best ways to boost your health is to incorporate fibre into healthy meals. Fibre is one of the small things that make a big difference, it is an excellent weight maintenance tool as it promotes the feeling of fullness after consumption, it has also been shown to fight colon cancer and reduce cholesterol. Since fibre is found in many delicious foods such as bran, fruits and vegetables it has never been easier to incorporate this nutrient into your diet.Small changes just as this can mean a year of healthy living for you and your family.

Another DIY Project By Gerry

2012-01-03T09:04:00.000-08:00

Our guinea pigs are quite happy with the new house Gerry made for them.They had their old plastic house all chewed up and it wasn't big enough for all three of them at the best of times- so most times, someone got left outside the house. Now everyone is happy!

2012-The Bucket List

2012-01-03T05:59:00.000-08:00

Many of us have some goals to complete within our lifetime, a so-called “bucket list” of things to do before you kick the proverbial bucket (die). This list can include relatively mundane activities such as making snow angels in the first snowfall of the season, to the more risqué activities such as diving with sharks. The best part of the list is that it can include anything! Instead of saying “one day I will do this…” having a list allows you to visualize your lifetime goals, so go ahead and start crossing things off- I know I am.

I can't wait for 2012 to bring new adventures of adding to Gerry and my bucket list. Over the last few years some of the things we have done included swimming with the dolphins,getting married on the beach, cruising, seeing the Hoover Dam and so much more.Life is an adventure!

** New label added: bucket list

Looking for Mommy Bloggers

2012-01-02T19:11:00.000-08:00

"JUST MOMMY PR" is still looking for more mommy bloggers:

Looking for bloggers who would like to join their contact list for different opportunities!

This will include:
TV Segments
Media Opportunites
Product Reviews
and anything else that they feel will help you learn and grow as a blogger! Feel free to sign up.

A Healthy New Year

2012-01-02T16:49:00.000-08:00

There is no better time to start changing your life for the better than the fresh start of a new year. At this time many of us resolve to make positive changes in our lives that will hopefully last a lifetime. One of the most common New Year resolutions is to lead a healthier lifestyle and to lose weight. However, it is often challenging to determine what weight loss food will not only help us drop the unwanted pounds but will also be a healthy, smart choice for all year round.

It is often recommended that people wanting to lose weight choose lean protein sources such as egg whites, chicken and salmon. Additionally, complex carbohydrates such as sweet potato and whole grains will make you feel fuller longer. Fresh dark green vegetables such as asparagus and spinach and fresh fruits are tasty nutritional choices that don’t pack a large amount of the dreaded calories. Other than including healthier foods into your diet, you should try to limit the amount of unhealthy food choices. Processed foods such as white bread, sweets and pre-packaged meals may hinder your weight loss efforts. If you want to make changes in your health this year, it is important to set realistic goals and to not get discouraged with the occasional hiccup along the way.

By making better food selections you will see changes in the numbers on the scale but also provide your body with nutritional benefits that will last a lifetime.

Review,Giveaway and Discount Code: For All Time Clocks

2012-01-02T13:41:00.000-08:00

Although we got married in late October, I have yet to do up our pictures, make an album, or even for that matter,have a wedding photo made of the two of us. I'm usually more of a "get 'er done" type of person but have been dragging my tail on this one.

It was nice therefore, to have the opportunity to review one of the clocks from For All Time Clocks, as that's the first thing I thought would be so nice to have put on one of their clocks, was one of our wedding photos.It arrived today and I took it out of the box to admire it,hence the photo of it on the carpet. I can't wait till Gerry sees it and we can decide where to hang it. What a nice momento though of the wedding, and what a nice gift this would be to give and to receive for anyone.

Of all the gifts we receive in our lifetime, nothing is more precious than the gift of time. This gift is rather difficult to package and place in a box, however, ‘For All Time Clocks” does just that. For All Time Clocks allows you to place your favourite photo onto the face of a clock and change it into a treasured heirloom. These make unique gifts for Christmas, birthdays, graduations, showers and everything in between-an opportunity to make time stand still-one memory at a time. Every clock can be further professionally designed to fit your unique needs, and allows for a personalized message. I have my wedding photo memorialized in this clock, so as we go about our busy lives one glance at the time, bringing back fond memories that will last a lifetime.

Mark the passage of time by preserving the moments that took your breath away.

Samples can be seen here.

For All Time Clocks is giving our readers 25% off any 18" and 24" Custom Made clock order from now until Jan 14th. The coupon code for this is : ONEINCOME25

Also, they are giving away an e-gift certificate for a Custom 12" clock to one lucky winner from Canada or the USA. A random draw will be held by Random.org on January 13, 2012 from all entries received.

To Enter:
Please leave your email and a comment about the clocks

Extra Entries:
Follow For All Time Clocks on Facebook
Follow me in Google Friend
Sign up as an email subscriber
Tweet this Giveaway
Add me to your Blog Roll
Grab my button
Stumble one of my posts and tell me which one

Add this contest to your linky and tell me where it is placed

Grab the button from The Life of Ultimate Luxury

Best of luck to all!

Other Uses For- Pasta Sauce

2012-01-01T16:38:00.000-08:00

Have leftover pasta sauce you need to you use? I made spaghetti and meatballs tonight, but with just the two of us, we don't use a whole jar of sauce. I froze the rest, which was about 1 cup or less. I can unthaw it for another time and use it for:

-a substitute for pizza sauce for my homemade pizzas

-use what leftover sauce to top buns and make pizza buns with whatever topping you wish.

-Chicken Parmesan:Dip chicken breasts in beaten egg, bread crumbs and bake at 350 for 35 minutes or till done. Top with spaghetti sauce and grated mozza cheese. Return to oven to melt cheese and serve.

-Meatball Subs- Add cooked meatballs to sub buns, top with pizza sauce, mozza/provolone cheese and heat.

Please feel free to share any other ways you use leftover spaghetti sauce.

Sunday- January 1

2012-01-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! What did everyone do last night for New Years Eve? We never went out, and us oldtimers were in bed before 12.

We took all our Christmas decorations down today- both inside and out and Gerry was out snow blowing.We have gotten dumped on with alot of snow and with the holidays,the roads have been staying unplowed, so it's a mess driving around here. Gerry has an extra day off this Monday so nice for us both.

I wanted to share with you all a great sale of e-books going on right now,that you may be interested in for saving time and money.Living on a Dime is offering 18 e-books for $20. Be sure to check it out- good till January 9th.Think I may invest in these!

Enjoy your week everyone.

Activia - $20 in Coupons ( Canada only)

2012-01-01T09:12:00.000-08:00

Watch the video and get $20 in Activia coupons!

Wishing You All a Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T07:52:00.000-08:00

May The Coming Year Bring for You Happiness, Success and be filled with Peace, Hope &Togetherness of your Family & Friends....Wishing You a... Happy New Year!
Gerry, Monique and family

"May all your troubles last as long as your New Year's resolutions." ~Joey Adams

Today's Winner!

2011-12-31T07:44:00.000-08:00

mcsweeney.erin@gmail.com
is today's winner of the following giveaway:

http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2011/12/book-review-and-giveaway-canada-only.html

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

Review and Giveaway: The Oregon Trail: Interactive Game by Red Wagon Games

2011-12-30T08:45:00.000-08:00

Red Wagon Games, publisher of interactive entertainment, and game developer DoubleTap Games had us review The Oregon Trail on the Wii system, (also available for Nintendo 3DS™ hand-held system.)

We don't use our Wii often for games. We originally bought it for doing the exercises that most Wii's were bought for a few years back, but over time, we lost interest in that, and had only kept our Wii to use for Netflix.It was nice therefore to once again for something other than Netflix.

Gerry enjoyed trying out The Oregon Trail as he loves westerns. He said it had great graphics,and was easy to use without reading any instructions.As I typed away at my computer,I couldn't help but notice the great sound effects and music that accompanied it.

The Oregon Trail was created in 1971 by three student teachers at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., and immediately became popular throughout Minneapolis public schools. Since that time, the game has gone through a number of editions on a variety of platforms, including Apple II, Macintosh, DOS, Windows and iPhone/iPod Touch.

With The Oregon Trail , your job is to lead your family across over 2 000 miles of rough terrain from Independence Missouri to Oregon City in the middle of the 19th century.Gerry said it held his interest, and he got lost in it all. I can see the Wii being used again in the near future for more adventures on The Oregon Trail.
( Please note- this is a single player game).

Red Wagon Games would love to give away one of these games in either a Wii or DS platform, to one lucky winner from Canada or the USA. A random draw will be made by Random.org on January 8, 2012 from all entries received.

To Enter:

Please leave your email and a comment

Extra Entries:

Follow me in Google Friend
Sign up as an email subscriber
Tweet this Giveaway
Add me to your Blog Roll
Grab my button
Stumble one of my posts and tell me which one
Grab the button from The Life of Ultimate Luxury

Best of luck to all!

Elvis Is Alive in Vegas!

2011-12-26T17:03:00.000-08:00

Back in 2010,Gerry and I had an amazing opportunity to see Cirque du Soleil’s, ‘Viva ELVIS’ Show, and we loved every minute. Finding ourselves going back to Vegas in February for more of Vegas , we will be going back for an encore.

‘Viva Elvis’ is a fusion of dance, acrobatics, and live music in a triumphant tribute to the live and music of Elvis Presley. The show showcases the significant occasions in Elvis’s life, artfully blended with his timeless music that you cannot help but sing along to- as relevant today as they were when he was on top of the charts. The music is paired with the Cirque’s dramatic mix of circus arts and entertainment including; acrobatics, jugglers, aerialists and gymnasts. The stage is in constant motion with an incredible amount of acrobatics occurring at the same time, it is a visual feast.

Any Cirque show will make you marvel at the incredible accomplishments of the human body, but coupled with the Elvis’s actual recordings, this can bring a level of authenticity few tribute shows can.

This show is unparalleled in it level of sophistication and the power of execution, after all there are very few things more incredible then the jaw-dropping performances of the Cirque du Soleil troupe. The combination of two of Vegas most incredible icons-Cirque du Soleil and Elvis, will make you scream Viva Las Vegas! Viva ELVIS!

December 26- Boxing Day

2011-12-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

We headed over to Walmart today, with what seemed like half our small town. I had a return to do. One of the things Gerry had gotten me for Christmas was a heated massage seat cover for my car.
Well, it didn't heat and the massage was more a real annoying,vibrate. Had to go. Wanted it more for having a heated seat, so we did the return there and headed to Canadian Tire and I picked up just the heated one. Can't wait to try it out! Alot of people shopping the 50% off Christmas wrap, cards, decorations today. I won't need much more than Christmas wrap for next year but will be buying when the sale is up to at least 75% off.Did you get some great deals today? Would love to hear about it.

On another note,we are heading back to Las Vegas in February.I got a 1 week condo special before Christmas through our timeshare with RCI- $199 for a week.Couldn't pass it up.Have been going through my reward cards to get gas gift cards,( as we are 6 hours from the airport we have to fly out from). With staying in the condo, we can buy groceries and eat out very minimal so that will save us alot.Now will just have to keep my eyes peeled for airfare deals.I know the last time we had travelled, the luggage fees were terrible, but not all airlines are created equal and that will be something else to consider as well when booking.Stay tuned for travel reviews on things to see and do in Vegas!We'll be telling you about the people, places and things we will be seeing.
Anyone that lives in the Las Vegas or surrounding area, would love to hear from you about "must see and do's".

Gerry has had some holidays and was off for 13 days. He's quite gotten used to that, but back to work on Wednesday morning.

Do hope everyone enjoys their week.I'll be looking forward to things getting back to normal on Wednesday and back into routine.I know we've certainly over done our share of eating- especially the chocolates, cookies and nuts-how about you?

Today's Winners

2011-12-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

A bit late with this giveaway but here are the winners:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2011/12/holiday-gift-giving-suggestionssing4.html

calvert0 at telus dot net wins:
Santa Clause is Coming to Town and
breej23 at hotmail dot com
wins:Sing for The Hits Edition

*** Winners have been contacted and have 7 days to reply before a new winner is selected.
Thank you to all who entered!

Other Uses For- Eggshells?

2011-12-24T14:09:00.000-08:00

Peeling an egg today,to add to my potato salad, I thought about how many times we throw things into the garbage when maybe there is a way we can make use of it, before it hits the garbage.

I welcome your comments on what to do with leftover eggshells to share with myself and our readers.

Christmas Wishes From Our Home To Yours

2011-12-24T13:22:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all,love,peace and all things merry and bright this Christmas.
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone!

Today's Winner!

2011-12-23T14:53:00.000-08:00

Linda Meyers-Gabbard aka Ladyblueeyez1960
you are today's winner of the following giveaway:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2011/12/holiday-gift-guide-suggestion-fill-in.html

**** Winner has been contacted and has 7 days to reply before a new winner is selected.
Thank you to those who took time to enter.

Book Review and Giveaway: ( Canada only) Teach Yourself Visually Quilting by Sonja Hakala

2011-12-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

Review by: Cynthia

This is my first Visual Series book and I must say I am impressed. This book is far better than I thought it would be. Since I love quilting, I ordered the Visually Quilting. This book makes the learning easy, it covers ALL topics related to quilting, no stone is left unturned. There are so many colorful photos to show you step by step, plus typed instructions.

There are chapters on fabric prints, cutting and measuring tools, thread, and sewing machine needles. You are shown exactly what you need to get started quilting.

This great book has several quilt patterns all with measurements, yardage to buy and how to make each one.

The Fence Rail Pattern shows the quilt in several different colors. It shows you how to pin your rows of blocks together so that the seams between blocks are accurately aligned with one another.

Chapter ten shows you many different variations of the Log Cabin pattern. it shows you how to press your blocks the right way.

Visually Quilting will show you what you can do with two pieces of fabric and a layer of batting. The choices of fabrics and patterns are endless, once you start, and finish one quilt, there will be no looking back----you will become addicted to making quilts like I am. You will love this book to help you create your own unique style, it will be enjoyable and fun. As a quilter for years I highly recommend it.

Wiley Books would love to give away one of these books to one lucky reader from Canada.
A random draw will be made by Random.org on December 31, 2011 from all entries received.

To Enter:
Leave a comment and your email.

Extra Entries:

Follow me in Google Friend
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Grab my button
Stumble one of my posts and tell me which one
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Best of luck to all!

Sponsered/Guest Posts

2011-12-23T07:14:00.000-08:00

Do you accept sponsered/guest posts on your site, if so, please email me with your site name and PR.
I am currently accepting the following types of sites:
-fashion,green living,thrifty,student/family

oneincomedollar@yahoo.ca
Thanks!

Holiday Entertaining With Snacks from Jerry's Nut House

2011-12-22T19:31:00.000-08:00

Not many of us have the means to roast chestnuts on the open fire this holiday season, but that doesn’t mean that we cannot enjoy some fantastic holiday treats. Jerry’s Nut House offers a wide variety of tasty holiday temptations including wondrous candy, dried fruit, popcorn, snack, amazing yogurt and chocolate covered creations and an incredible selection of gourmet nuts.

For those who want it all -tasty trail mixes will satisfy that sweet and salty craving.

Gerry and I were lucky to have sampled several Jerry’s Nut House Products, including milk chocolate peanuts, cherry nut harvest, extreme cheddar chips, California pistachio, colossal cashews. All of the packages were vacuum sealed for freshness, the product was delicious and portions good value for your money.

Their website allows you to customize this gift by choosing your own tin, choose from various party platter gift trays, generous gift jars, tubes and boxes of treats as well as sensational seasonal snacks. The proportions are very generous and the style and variety will suit any budget. Taste the difference quality makes in producing freshly roasted nuts and other snacks.

So go ahead and give it to that nutty person in your life.

Hard to pick just one favorite! Everything gets our thumbs up!

Save Dollars On Your Auto Insurance and Know The Ways How You Can Do It

2011-12-22T15:30:00.000-08:00

It is an essential need for every car buyer to purchase an auto insurance policy but you need to know that every owner cannot afford to pay expensive rate on their insurance policy. There are various auto insurance policies available that enable you to pay low and affordable premium on your policy and thus, save dollars on your policy. The auto insurance rates differ from one state to another and in most situations, it varies by thousands of dollars. It is advisable that you shop around very carefully and look for the suitable auto insurance quotes in order to avail the lowest rate on your policy.

4 Ways to save dollars on your auto insurance policy

Go through this article to know about the 4 ways to save dollars on your auto insurance policy.

Drive your car as less as possible – While searching for auto insurance policies, you will find that some companies offer discount rates to their probable customers who drive their own car as less as possible. This is because the less you’ll drive your own auto, the minimum chances you’ll have of facing any accident. If you are a good driver and you know the tactics as to how you should drive your auto safely, you will avoid meeting accident and you may avail discounts from the insurance company that provide usage based insurance.

Enquire about auto insurance perks from your company – Your company may have a tie up with the auto insurance company from whom you’re planning to buy a policy. Your company may also offer you discount rates with the company from whom you want to purchase the policy which, in turn, will enable you to save at least 30% on your yearly insurance rate. It is advisable that you enquire about auto insurance perks from your own company before approaching the insurance company directly so as to avail the best discount possible.

Look for companies that provide free quote search – You need to know that the auto insurance quotes differ by thousands of dollars between various companies. Every individual wishes to save their hard earned bucks as much as possible. The best option for doing this is to search for the auto insurance companies online that may offer you the best price as per your necessity and, in turn, help you save dollars in the long run.

Waive off the first at-fault accident – If you have not met with any accident recently, then you may get in touch with your insurance agent and enquire from him whether or not you can qualify for accident protection coverage. In case you may qualify for accident protection coverage and you make a minor at-fault accident while driving your own auto, then your insurance company will make it a point to waive off your first at-fault accident. As such, you’ll be able to save dollars on renewing your auto insurance rates.

Thus, by following the above ways, you will be able to save your hard earned dollars at least to some extent on your auto insurance quotes.

Holiday Gift Giving Suggestion: GIFT GUIDE: VeggieTales The Little Drummer Boy & The Original Christmas Classics

2011-12-22T07:11:00.000-08:00

Still searching for those elusive last minute gift ideas for that special child (or child at heart) on your holiday list? Why not get them the magic of Christmas that they can experience all year round. Why plan your holidays around the beloved TV Christmas specials when you can watch them at your convenience in the comfort of your own home.

The Original Christmas Classics features four of the most beloved Christmas specials including “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”, “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town”, “Frosty the Snowman” and “Frosty Returns”.

If you are looking for a story with a special Christmas message check out Veggie Tales and their often humorous retelling of the Christmas classic “Little Drummer Boy”. A story of generosity hope and love that is sure to warm up the hearts of many.

Even if you order now and don't receive till after Christmas, it is still nice to have this collection for the holiday season.

Planning Long Trips in Your EV

2011-12-21T18:06:00.000-08:00

Electric vehicles are growing in popularity. As technology improves and gas prices continue to stay painfully high, electric vehicles become the natural solution for drivers looking to save money and do their part in protecting the environment. Unlike traditional cars, however, EVs have unique needs; you can't drive an electric car the same as you would a gasoline-powered vehicle and expect the same results.
One concern that many EV drivers have is its sustainability over a long drive. How long will the battery last? What if you get stranded? Losing power in your electric car isn't as simple as pulling in to the nearest gas station. If you're planning to do some heavy traveling this holiday season, or even thinking ahead to your next business trip or vacation, there are a few ways you can assure that your car will get you there with minimal worries.

The Problem with Long-Distance Driving

Gas-powered cars receive their power from an internal combustion engine. When the gasoline burns, it powers the engine, and the engine then allows the alternator to charge the battery. The battery helps get the car started, but otherwise plays a minor role in the way the car runs. Once you're on the road, gasoline powers the engine, and you can drive indefinitely as long as you pull over to fill up the tank once in a while.
Electric cars function differently. Like other electronic devices such as cell phones and laptops, electronic cars are powered by electricity stored in the battery. Once the battery runs down, you need to refuel at a charging station or you won't be going anywhere.

How to Prepare for a Long-Distance Trip

When you're preparing for a long drive, it's important to bear three things in mind:

·         How long will the battery last? Refer to your owner's manual, the manufacturer's website, or personal experience to determine how long you can run your car before the battery runs down. By knowing how long you have between charges, you can plan your route. Be sure to hedge on the side of safety and charge more frequently than necessary to avoid being stranded.
·         Where can you charge the car? As electric car technology becomes more prevalent, charging stations will be easier to find. Until then, only some gas stations, hotels, or rest areas will provide the service. Luckily, programs exist across the country to help you find places to charge your car; you can use ChargePointAmerica.com to find charging stations, or you can search Google Maps for "electric car charging stations" to find stations along your route.
·         Who can fix the car if it breaks down? Electric cars are new technology and some mechanics aren't equipped to handle it. Before heading out on a long drive, do some research to figure out where a qualified mechanic shop may be along your route. You can even use a smartphone app like RepairPal to locate a shop.

Once you've done a little planning for your road trip, traveling in your electric car should be a smooth, fun experience for your family. The best part? You can put all of the money you'd normally spend on gas into your pocket as extra spending money!

Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful, But My Rug Indoors is Delightful

2011-12-20T14:28:00.000-08:00

Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but a rug is so delightful. Cozy rugs, fireplaces, and hot chocolate are dreams of many on cold winter nights.

Rugs are what memories are made of; a soft landing pad babies’ first tentative steps, a soft spot for book reading by the fire, a gathering place for families on game night. Often, a unique accent rug is the one thing that can make a dull room come to life with a ‘pop’ of creativity. The appeal of any home, office, indoor and outdoor space can be greatly enhanced when decorated with a classic, contemporary or even a whimsical rug.

Bring the jungle into your home with animal print rugs, let kids creativity blossom with a quirky children’s rug or add a touch of class with an oriental piece that is both functional and decorative.

RugsUsa.com offers a large selection of top quality designer rugs in various styles and patterns often at large discounts. With over 9000 rugs to choose from there truly is something for everyone.

Sometimes small adjustments can change the look and style of any room. In addition to area rugs RugsUsa.com has a great collection of stylish furniture, and accents pieces including clocks, lamps, mirrors, art and tapestries, all in a slew of styles, from retro to contemporary, to classic and fanciful-all at an incredible value and price.

So let your imagination fly as you add the key pieces that take you from decorating a “house” to a “home”.

*** Editor's note: RugsUsa does not ship to Canada at present time.

Christmas Entertaining with Sogno Coffee

2011-12-20T14:20:00.000-08:00

Is it your dream to find that perfect cup of coffee? But among the thousands of chain coffeehouses and the dizzying array of trendy brands, where do you start? Actually, it's simple.At SOGNO Coffeehouses, they know it all starts with the beans. Truth is, many people have not had the pleasure of enjoying a real quality coffee.No matter the price, brand, or packaging, it all comes down to the beans. SOGNO roasts only the finest Arabica beans in their one of a kind, custom-built roaster. The product is unrivaled: the aroma, the body, and that very sip... it's like un songo, a dream.

Enjoy this holiday season, entertaining family and guests with a coffee that will have them remembering that holiday visit to your home and that wonderful cup of Sogno coffee.

Saving on Magazines

2011-12-20T06:21:00.000-08:00

I found a great site to save a ton on magazine subscriptions rather than buying them at the supermarket.
I wish the offer was good for Canada but unfortunately it seems the site is US only.
Stop over to take a browse at Magazines.com.
It's also a great time to give a magazine subscription as a gift, for cheap!

Looking for a Freelance Writer

2011-12-19T17:23:00.000-08:00

I'm looking for a freelance writer. If this is something you do, and are available for same day assignments, at $2 for 100 words, please email me:
oneincomedollar@yahoo.ca

Today's Winner!

2011-12-19T16:02:00.000-08:00

Giveaway drawn today:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2011/12/book-review-and-giveaway-young-me-now.html
Vickers@comcast.net

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

Affordable Decorations for Your Table

2011-12-19T12:51:00.000-08:00

Now that the holidays are only a few days away and the New Year is just around the corner, you are probably starting to think about the meals you are going to serve on these very special days. While the food you make should be the shining star of your table, you should also be thinking about how you will decorate the table before dinner is served. You may think you can’t afford to make anything fancy, but the truth is that beautiful table decorations can be very easy to make and affordable too! All you have to do is have a plan and give yourself a little time in the next couple of days to put it together.

Ribbons and Bows

One great, cost effective way to decorate your table is with ribbon. Make a centerpiece out of old bows you’ve collected throughout the years, or wrap a few small boxes and arrange them strategically in the center of your table. You can also decorate each place setting with left over ribbon from your gifts. Simply tie a large bow around your napkins and place them on each plate. Your table will look elegant and festive at a very low cost.

Sweet Treats

Most people usually have some candy around over the holidays, so why not use them as decorations for your table? Place wrapped hard candy in a vase for a colorful centerpiece. Make new wrappers to place over chocolate bars with a picture and a name to use as place cards. Finally, candy canes are a very popular staple during this time of year. Arrange them in a bouquet or simply lay them on the table to add a little festive fun.

Let it Shine

Make your table shine with elegance with candles. They are very affordable, and they can make any room look a little better with great mood lighting. My favorite way to make candles work as a centerpiece is to place them on a mirror with a few other items, like a vase of flowers or a beautiful wreath. The candles themselves will light up the room, and the mirror will help them shine even brighter.

Let your Children Help

Your children will love the attention they get when you decorate the table with their artwork. Not only is this option nearly free, it will also give your kids something to do while you prepare for family and other guests. Have them make a tree by coloring ornaments on a green piece of paper. Then wrap it into a cone to make the tree. You could also ask them to make actual ornaments for each place setting that you can put on the tree later. Let them be creative, and your table will look fantastic.

Vanessa Lang is an author who writes guest posts on the topics of business, marketing, credit cards, and personal finance. Additionally, she works for a website that focuses on educating readers about payday loans.

How to Run a Family Smoothly With Single Income

2011-12-17T07:05:00.000-08:00

It may be only a penny that you earn every day. But the hard work and effort that you put to earn that money is priceless. Thus, whenever you plan of spending your income on anything, you must see whether it is amongst your top priorities. This is because if you spend on something that is not really so essential at the then time, it will be a wastage. Inflation has put such an adverse effect on the lives of the people in recent times that the common people have started to believe that it is difficult to survive on one income.

Whether you belong to this category of people depends upon the lifestyle that you follow. There are many families that run on single income and still they are happy. While there are few families that run on dual income, but are still unable to fulfil all their needs and desires. The difference only lies on the way of living or the standard of living which the people follow. The former families, as soon as the salary comes in hand, plan their budget and prioritize their requirements. These families, however, spend according to their budget plan and prefer fulfilling the most important needs to the least ones.

Most of the people think that whatever is expensive is of a standard quality. But many a times, you will find that an expensive item is likelier to damage faster than a cheap one. Of course, it is better to buy one expensive and durable item than purchasing lots of cheap items or check on equity release calculator . Starting from a sunglass to trendies clothing, everything is available as both cheap and expensive forms. It is up to you which option you choose in order to get the best out of the product you buy. When you visit the market, you will find expensive products, but there are many cheap alternatives to those items.

Go through both the expensive and cheap items available in the market. Whatever you like, ask the shopkeeper or search the net to get its cheap versions. The cheap alternatives to expensive products are kept hidden, which only comes into the notice of those who seriously and genuinely desire to buy something useful at cheaper rates. If you really desire to run a family smoothly on equity release, being wise enough in making suitable selections and prioritizing your needs is a must. When you successfully do so, you are a winner.

My Christmas Baking- Done!

2011-12-15T17:11:00.000-08:00

Got my Christmas baking trays all filled today and all ready to be delivered to the family .

Kringle-Spiced Pringles Cookies and An Idea for Using Those Empty Containers

2011-12-14T14:40:00.000-08:00

Kringle-Spiced Pringles Cookies

Yield: 2 dozen sandwich cookies

Ingredients:

· 1 can Pringle's “The Original”

· 1 cup all-purpose flour

· 1 teaspoon baking soda

· 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

· 1 teaspoon allspice

· 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

· 2 sticks unsalted butter, softened

· 1 cup dark brown sugar, packed

· 1 egg

· 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

· 1 cup fruit preserves, raspberry or mixed berry

· 1/3 cup crystallized ginger, finely chopped

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven at to 350 degrees and place Pringles, flour, baking soda, and spices in a food processor, and puree until the consistency of corn meal; set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar until slightly fluffy.

3. Add the egg and vanilla, and mix for 30 seconds.

4. Pour the Pringles spice mixture into the bowl and mix for 1 minute; place dough in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour.

5. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets, and bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown.

6. In a small bowl, combine fruit preserves and ginger (if desired, ginger is optional); spread 1 teaspoon onto a cookie, and top with another cookie. Instead of crystallized ginger can swap out 2 teaspoons of powdered ginger to the jam.

Did you know that there are many ways to reuse the empty Pringles container after your cookies are baked? Here are just a few ideas:

Ornament Storage: The unique tube shape makes each can the perfect storage container for ornaments. Just stuff the bottom with a few pieces of tissue or newspaper and then stack the ornaments inside, placing a layer of paper between each one.

· Unique Gift Box: Wrap the can in wrapping paper and it becomes the perfect gift box for Kringle-Spiced Pringles Cookies or other hard-to-wrap gifts. Decorate with personalized stickers, ribbon, glitter and tulle to make it stand out under the tree.

· Gift Wrap in a Jiffy: Store ribbon, tape and scissors inside each can to insure you have everything you need to finish wrapping that gift. No more searching for the scissors and tape after you’ve gotten that wrapping paper perfect!

· Dinner Center Piece: Garnish the outside of the can and add festive decoration; a great kid’s arts and craft project. For a more personalized craft, fill each decorated can with homemade treats and candy and use to mark place settings for dinner guests.

Tips to Save Money on Printer Ink

2011-12-14T12:08:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows printer ink is expensive. How expensive? Well, on a per gallon basis, printer ink costs over 1200x more than gas! These days, when everyone is thinking about how to save money by cutting back on fuel costs, it is time to also think about how to save money by making printer ink last.

Write Using a Smaller Font, or Use an Eco-Font

Smaller fonts use slightly less ink per letter than larger fonts, which is fairly self-evident. Similarly, chucky fonts or bolded text should be avoided. Large, chunky or bold fonts use more ink per letter than is strictly necessary.

Eco-fonts are a bit more complicated, but not by much. The most well-known eco-font has tiny, barely perceptible holes in the letters, which allows the letters to be printed with less ink. This saves on resources used, including the plastic used in the ink cartridges, which is why it is called “eco-font”. If you prefer to use a font readily available on Microsoft Word, Garamond is very eco-friendly.

Check Over the Document Before Printing

Proofing and double-checking text and images is just good practice when it comes to creating documents, but when trying to conserve ink, it makes so much sense. If someone prints a document, then sees a mistake, they will have to fix the mistake and re-print the document. That means the first print was a waste of time, paper and, of course, ink.

Print Low-Quality Images

Lower-quality images don’t have as much detail in them as higher-quality images do. A detailed background can become a soft grey smudge, which doesn’t use as much ink. Making sure the images you print are of a lower quality can be done in several ways:
• You can set your printer options to “Draft,” which will produce lower-quality images.
• You can sometimes lower the dpi, or dots per inch, that your printer uses. You can usually find the option to lower dpi in Advanced Settings. Change the dpi to 300, which should be enough to make images show up pretty well.
• In the actual document, go to the print preferences section. Change the Quality preference from "Normal" or "High" to "Lower."

Keep Printing Until the Ink Actually Does Run Out

You may have noticed that when the message saying the printer is out of ink pops up, you can still squeeze out a fair few prints. PC World put that to the test and found that cartridges that claimed to be out of ink still had between 8% to 45% of the ink left in the cartridge, depending on the make of the ink cartridge. They also found that third-party printer cartridges tended to have more ink left in them than branded cartridges, and of the branded cartridges, Epson’s tended to have the least amount of ink left.

Print Only What You Need

This tip must seem blindingly obvious, but it does require you to ask yourself "Do I really, really need to print this?" Sometimes printing a document might seem like the easiest way to deal with it, like when you are proofing it, but most things that can be done on a print-out can also be done on a digital copy, including making notes and marking the changes that need to be done.

And if you do really need to print out a document, ask yourself if there are any elements that you don’t need to print. Does it have images that you don’t need, or are there only a few paragraphs that you need? You can copy and paste the things you need into a new document, or you could use one of the several programs that allow you to select very specifically the things you want to include in your print. GreenPrint is one such program, and it also analyses what you select to print and points out potentially wasteful elements before you print.

Keep Cartridges and the Printer Clean

Keeping machines cleaned and maintained is one of the best ways to make sure they work more efficiently for longer, and printers and their cartridges are no exception. Check your user’s manual to see how to best clean the printer, since each model will be slightly different.

Cleaning a cartridge is often as simple as pulling it out and wiping off the bottom, where the nozzle is usually located. This basically prevents the nozzle from clogging. It can also help a cartridge that isn’t working anymore to resume working by unclogging the nozzle.

By doing these simple things, you should be able to decrease the amount of ink you use, which will save the Earth’s resources and your money!

__________________________________________________________________________________

Author Bio:

This guest post was contributed by Clickinks, an online distributor of printer cartridges for your home or office. Search by printer brand, model, and cartridge number to find the exact ink and toner cartridges you need. Clickinks has over 1 million items in stock for the top 25 printer brands, such as HP, Brother, Canon, and Epson ink cartridges.

These Common New Years Resolutions Can Save You Money-If You Can Keep Them

2011-12-13T14:00:00.001-08:00

We’ve all made New Year’s resolutions and promptly broken them – especially health-related ones.

Most people don’t know that when they keep the most common resolutions – stop smoking, lose weight and stop drinking – they can save a lot of cash on health bills.

Carrie McLean, consumer specialist at eHealthInsurance would like to let you know about how you can cash-in by sticking to your New Year’s resolutions and achieving your 2012 personal goals.

1). Quit Smoking – You can save 13 to 23 percent on your health insurance costs if you don’t smoke.
•According to eHealthInsurance.com, in 2011 women smokers paid 23 percent more, on average, for their monthly health insurance premiums than non-smoking women. Men who smoke pay 13 percent more, on average, than men who don’t.

•If you plan to quit in 2012, you can save well beyond just the cost of cigarettes.

2). Lose Weight – People with the healthiest Body Mass Index (BMI) typically pay less for health insurance.
•According to a 2011 eHealthInsurance.com survey, adults age 20 and over with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher (obese, according to the CDC) pay an average of 22.5 percent more in monthly individual health insurance premiums compared to people with a BMI in the normal range.

•According to a survey conducted by Towers Watson and the National Business Group on Health, nearly 40 percent of mid- to large-sized companies are expected to use fees or other penalties to encourage healthier habits in 2012.

3). Drink Less – People who drink moderately have a decreased risk of several diseases, including colorectal, stomach and ovarian cancer.

· How much a person drinks can possibly affect his/her health insurance costs – especially long-term.

By cutting back on alcohol, you’re not only saving money today, you could be saving on future health care costs too.

Be sure to get your free copy of Individual Health Insurance for Dummies.

Is Your Oven Working Overtime?

2011-12-13T08:20:00.000-08:00

It is that time of year again. Everyone’s oven is working overtime as they bake all of their favorite treats. Unfortunately, baking can be rather time consuming. Have you ever tried to make pie crust from scratch or bake a cheesecake? These tasks are no doubt rewarding, but also take a huge chunk of our time. Most of us just don’t have that kind of time between work and the kids we are pulled in so many directions. Luckily, not all baking has to be hard and time consuming, I always like to look for easy recipes that are fun, fast and still taste great. Additionally, with easy recipes everyone can get involved, even the kids. Kids love making sugar cookie cut outs, which are easy yet delicious. Another option is a no bake cookie recipe, which is safe for the kids and fast for you.

It is a great time of year to spend time in the kitchen with family baking up some of your favorite treats, and you know you are going to need them. After all, you have work parties and your child’s class party, so everyone is asking you to bake this season. What are some of your favorite easy baking recipes?

No Entries???

2011-12-12T16:45:00.000-08:00

Today was our giveaway day for this prize:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2011/12/review-and-giveaway-fuller-brush-cousa.html
and we had no entries!This is a first.

I will make the draw tommorow morning, if anyone still wants a chance to enter, get your entries in tonight!

Today's Winner!

2011-12-12T16:37:00.000-08:00

Today's giveaway:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2011/12/review-and-giveaway-fuller-brush-cousa.html
and our winner:
tomokofive@gmail.com

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

Holiday Gift Guide Suggestion: Dearfoams- Slippers for Men and Women

2011-12-12T16:04:00.000-08:00

In 1947, Dearfoams pioneered foam-cushioned slippers that delivered the ultimate in comfort. Over 60 years (and nearly a billion pairs) later, people still love the exceptional comfort, style, and quality every pair of Dearfoams provides. It's easy to explain why people love Dearfoams: soft, warm fabrics and extra cushioning that provide indulgent comfort. Dearfoams mixes timeless, fashion-forward designs and colors that fit any personal style. The premium-quality features ensure better comfort, fit and durability you would expect from a trusted brand like Dearfoams.

Fun, fabulous and flirty slippers for women.
Comfort with no boundries, for men.

This Christmas, give the gift of comfort and style- slippers from Dearfoams.

Looking for savings on footwear? Check out the deals in their sale section.

Slippers really do make the perfect gift!

Paying for Home Insurance

2011-12-12T08:11:00.000-08:00

Everyone has bills they don’t want to pay, but in order to keep our
possessions or to avoid breaking the law we must pay all our bills. It
always is frustrating to pay insurance costs, especially because it appears
we are not getting anything in return for our spent money. And the lucky
ones never get to cash in on their premiums at all. As with auto, it is
often the law to have some sort of coverage and as some Obama critics would
have it, pretty seen health coverage will be compulsory for every American.
here's the wikipedia entry on the state of US healthcare.

Right now, I'm thinking about home insurance. I dread to think of how much
of my annual budget goes to "peace of mind" as far as our house is
concerned. Irony, I worry too much about it, I am forced to go online,
browsing for cheaper alternatives to the coverage I have now. Hopefully, I
can decide, given numerous online insurance quotes available at my finger
tips, and still have the same amount of protection as you would with
expensive versions.

Home insurance is not any different than auto insurance when it comes to
shopping for the best rates. You will first want to compare several
companies before elected any one insurance company. Additionally, ask about
any discounts you may qualify for. Finally, consider if a bundle package is
the best way to go. Sometimes you can save money by having your home and
auto insurance through the same company.

No longer do you need to just pay your bills without consideration of ways
to save. Instead start shopping for cheap home insurance before you have to
pay your next bill.

Our Woodstove Savings ( Gerry's Workshop)

2011-12-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

I think I may have mentioned a few weeks ago that we bought a woodstove for Gerry's workshop. He likes to spend time out there and work on projects. A space heater wasn't going to heat that size of a workshop he said, now that it's gotten so cold. Plus, it really isn't good for the budget, running one of those things.I was able to get a deal on a used stove, for $150.He ordered fire wood that costed him $40 for all you see in the photo, which he figures should last him the winter.

Where the expense came in, was buying the piping,chimney, and all that went with it. That costed about $500. I gasped at that but he's looking at it being a long term investment.It would have/could have costed us more.
A new stove this size would have been about $600-$800
We had a quote at one hardware store for all the piping and chimney for $780.. for a total with wood, of $1420.
By getting the stove used and getting my brother to make some of the pieces that he needed, he did save and it costed him $500 for all the piping and chimney instead of the $780- for a total savings of approx. $730

On another note, we bought ourselves an early Christmas present: a surround sound system from Sears for $199.

Today's Winner!

2011-12-11T09:47:00.001-08:00

sonyamorris@carolina.rr.com

is today's winner of the following giveaway:

http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2011/11/pish-posh-baby-stroller-giveaway-and.html

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

Free Shipping Day in Canada Tommorow-Dec 12th- (Selected Merchants)

2011-12-11T07:51:00.000-08:00

Free Shipping Day 2011

Free Shipping Day is coming to Canada! On Monday, Dec. 12, online merchants will offer free shipping with delivery by Christmas Eve to Canadian shoppers.This will be a great time to order any last minute holiday gifts without having to pay shipping costs on top of your order.

Holiday Gift Giving Suggestions:Sing4: The Hits Edition and Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town Plus a Utube Contest and Giveaway!

2011-12-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

Singing and Santa in the comfort of your home - what more could you ask for this holiday season?

Crave Games wants to let you know about two newly released games -

Sing4: The Hits Edition and Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town. Santa Claus is Comin' to Town is inspired by the ABC classic claymation TV show, and the interactive game will be sold for $19.99 on the Wii and DS gaming systems. Sing4 is available for the Wii for $39.99 and is rated T.

Sing4: The Hits Edition is a unique singing game unlike any other. This is the first game with high-precision lyrics scoring that detects humming vs. singing, and includes cool effects like pitch correction to enhance your voice with. Sing4is sure to be a fun game for the whole family, allowing up to 4 players to sing simultaneously. There are 40 popular original artist's tracks and music videos to rock out to, and even more songs available for download. You can also record and replay your performance during several Game Modes including Solo, Co-op, Duet and Battle, where you go head to head against your friends. So grab a mic, your friends, and get ready for a completely new and innovative karaoke experience with Sing4!

Santa Claus is Comin' To Town:Play as Kris Kringle in this heartwarming yuletide adventure based on the classic Christmas TV special. Carry out your mission of delivering toys to the kids in Sombertown, overcoming challenges in platform-based levels. While Christmas has 12 days, the game more than doubles that, giving you 25 levels of Christmas cheer to explore. You can share the adventure with a friend (playing as Topper the penguin) in two-player Story Mode. Surprises (more presents!) await throughout the game in stockings you can discover to unlock bonus content.

In addition, there is a special Sing4 YouTube Contest that concludes January 31, 2012. One grand prize winner will be selected to perform as the Opening Act at the Songwriters Music Series: Chicago edition to benefit VH1 Save The Music Foundation in 2012 plus win $10,000 in cash & prizes. Contestants can choose from four featured Sing4 contest songs by Rihanna, Train, Carrie Underwood and Daughtry. After selecting one of the four songs, contestants will videotape themselves performing it, post their performance by logging on to www.youtube.com/sing4 and uploading their video. Famous YouTube artists are already getting involved. Videos will be judged on originality, talent and creativity.

Crave Games would love to give away these both games in Wii format to two lucky winners from Canada or the USA, in 2 different drawings. Random.org will draw on December 21, 2011.

To Enter:

Please leave a comment with your email.

Extra Entries:

Follow me in Google Friend
Sign up as an email subscriber
Tweet this Giveaway
Add me to your Blog Roll
Grab my button
Stumble one of my posts and tell me which one
Grab the button from The Life of Ultimate Luxury

Best of luck to all!

Today's Winner!

2011-12-09T15:23:00.000-08:00

ravzie@yahoo.com

wins today's giveaway:
http://www.oneincomedollar.com/2011/11/stocking-stuffer-book-review-and.html

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

Thank you to all that entered.

Book Review and Giveaway: "Young Me, Now Me" by Ze Frank

2011-12-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

Review by: Cynthia

Have you ever thought about recreating one of your favorite childhood photos as an adult? Thousands of people worldwide have been inspired to do just that, and now the best of the best of these amazing photo pairs are in the book “Young Me, Now Me.”

Featuring 70 then-and-now full-color photographs and heartwarming tales of unforgettable memories about love, friendship and family, this book is a gift everyone will enjoy.

"Young Me, Now Me" by Ze Frank is an absolutely fun book to review. This little book is jam packed with photographs. What makes this book so different from others is that there are two photos on opposite pages taken of the same person, or persons, when they were kids and when they were older. What makes it unique is that each older photo is geared to look exactly like the "kid" picture-------clothes, scenery, background, etc. Well, as close as humanly possible.

This book would be ideal for ideas for scrapbooking, then and now for a Christmas card, a photo frame, etc. Ze Frank's identical photos spanning decades is a delightful book. I would strongly recommend it for a gift for those who love photography or scrapbooking.

We are also giving away one of these copies of this book to one lucky reader from Canada or the USA.
A random draw will be made by Random.org on December 19, 2011 from all entries received.

To Enter:

Tell me have you ever taken a photo in one year or someone else took that photo, only to retake that same photo in the same spot, years later?

Extra Entries:

Holiday Gift Guide:Zumba Fitness 2 for Wii

2011-12-08T13:55:00.000-08:00

If our looking for something fun to get for someone with a Wii this year, we've found it for you.It's the Zumba Fitness 2.Their Zumba Fitness 2 launch video shows just how fun it can be-and even if you don't get the steps just so, the music gets you moving and having fun.Partying into shape with over 20 different dance styles and 32 all new routines.

Inside the game box you’ll find a fitness belt – that’s where your Wii remote goes so you can dance hands-free and get right into the moving and grooving.We had a blast! Your gift with have that special someone partying into shape with feature hit music from Pitbull,Nicole Scherzinger & Yolanda Be Cool & DCup.

Working out has never been this much fun!