Money Saving Tip #204: Insulate Your Attic Yourself

Let's face it, you can never have too much attic insulation.  The standard amount of insulation put into attics when a home is built is fair at best.  My husband and I wanted to add some loose fill insulation in our attic, but we didn't want to spend thousands of dollars to have someone do it.  We decided to do it ourselves. 

I spent about a week on the internet researching how-to videos getting all my ducks in a row.  Then, we visited the local home improvement store to price our project.  While there, we inquired about renting the tool to blow the loose fill.  We learned that if we bought a certain number of bags of loose fill, the tool rental was free for an entire day. 

We set aside a full day to do the project.  The first thing I did was go up into my attic and fix any sheets of insulation that had fallen.  Then I re-stapled any styrofoam cornice pieces that needed to be refastened.  Next, we used bubble wrap to keep the vertical pieces from falling again in the future.  We stapled the bubble wrap in place against the 2x4s.  Next, I stood in the attic with the AttiCat hose while my husband loaded the machine on our front porch.  In the end, we managed to obtain at least R48 everywhere in the attic with some places of R60.  The last thing we did was buy an insulated dome cover for the attic door.  The entire project cost us about $400 and about 4 hours of our time.  It was well worth it. 

Our home keeps it's heat much better.  Our heater does not turn on as much because the heat stays in the house longer. 

If your home is in need for insulation, consider doing it yourself and saving several hundred or thousands of dollars.

Money Saving Tip #203: Pay in Person to Avoid Fees

Some organizations offer the option to pay on-line for ease ability.  But, some of those places charge an extra "on-line fee" to make the transaction. 

Though my daughter brings her lunch to school on a daily basis, I do allow her to buy her lunch as a special treat on certain days.  Her school utilizes a website to collect lunch money, but they also take checks made directly to the school to fund her lunch account also.  If I fund her account using the website, I will be charged an extra $1.95 per transaction.  To avoid these extra unnecessary costs, I opt to write a check directly to the school. 

To pay the registration fees on my vehicle every year, I have the option of paying on-line or in person.  If I pay on-line, there are extra fees to utilize the web, usually $3.00.  However, if I pay in person, there are no extra fees.  I am lucky that I live in a county where the lines are very manageable.  Some of our locations even have a drive-thru feature. 

In the end, you should weigh the pros and cons of paying on-line.  If you will spend more money in gas to pay a bill or fee in person, it may be better to pay on-line with a small fee.  But, if you need to pay a bill or fee at a location located within the normal route you take, consider making the quick stop to avoid the fees. 

Money Saving Tip #202: Disposable vs. Refill Razors

Most men and women in the U.S. use razors on a daily basis.  Men use them to shave their faces in the morning, while women use them to shave their legs.  Shaving can be quite combersome, so razor companies have marketed fancy-looking razors over the past several years.  Some have up to 5 razor bladed claiming to give the comsumer perfectly smooth skin. 

There are several different types of razors on the market.  The most common are electric razors and disposable razors.  This post will be about the disposable variety. 

Like cars and ink pens, there is a heirarchy of razors for the consumer to select from.  The latest of the high-end razors feature a non-disposable handle with a disposable head.  These products are terribly expensive, and they trap you into their brand of product.  For example, you cannot buy a Gillette handle and Target brand refills.  Some of these razor products even have gel pads eliminating the need for shaving cream or soap. 

As a person who has tried several different types of disposable razors, including the high-end types, I can say that I save a lot of money by using the standard no-frills store brand razor that is sold in a bulk package of 10-20.  If you buy the refill cartridge packages, you will be spending about $20 for 4 refills.  I can buy close to 60 razors for the same price as those 4 refills. 

Skip the urge to buy the fancy razors located at eye level at your grocery store, and look down to the packages of razors in the bins on the bottom shelf. 

Money Saving Tip #201: Spoons

We are a family of five with 3 small children.  Our kids go through spoons at every single meal.  Oftentimes, we would run out of utincels before our dishwasher was even full.  On occassion, we would have to run our dishwasher half full or rely on plastic utincels.  Then my husband suggested that we simply buy more spoons.  Simple idea that I simply didn't think about. 

If you have a standard utincel set, you probably have 8-10 spoons, knives, and forks.  Don't force yourself to run a half full dishwasher.  Supplement your utincel set.  I went to Target and purchased two additional sets of spoons (each set had 4 spoons) for $3.99 each.  And because we have a plain-design utincel set, the cheap ones I purchased look very similar.  Now, I always have extra utincels in my drawer and hardly ever run out. 

Money Saving Tip #200: Deli Lunch Meat or Pre-Packaged Lunch Meat

I consistently make my own sandwiches at work using lunch meat.  But, is it cheaper to buy it freshly cut at the service deli (within the grocery store) or to buy it pre-packaged in the meat and cheese refrigerated section?  The answer is... it depends. 

My grocery store has terrific prices on lunch meat at the service deli.  I shop at Super Target.  I can buy Market Pantry (Target brand) lunch meat for about $5.99 per pound (not on sale).  Buying lunch meat not on sale is something that I rarely do.  Most times, I can find turkey breast on sale for about $3.99 per pound.  Target had ham on sale yesterday for $1.50 per pound.  These are super cheap prices.  Even if I opted for the turkey breast, I can spend less than $2.00 for a half of a pound of lunch meat.  You cannot get that in the pre-packaged section. 

Some more expensive grocery stores (like Publix) sell their Publix brand lunch meat for about $7.99-9.99 per pound.  Buying the pre-packaged variety may save you a little money if you shop at these places. 

Most pre-packaged lunch meat containers start at about $3.99, and it's only about 9 ounces of meat. 

Before you rush out to your grocery store's service deli, remember this:  freshly cut lunch meat really only lasts about 4-5 days.  So, don't buy more than you and your family can eat within 4-5 days. 

Money Saving Tip #199: Ask the Business about Specials or Discounts

When trying out a new business or service, ask the person you are dealing with about any specials or discounts on their product or services.  You may be surprised that they have discounts that are not advertised. 

When we first moved to the area where we currently reside, we would consistently tell businesses that we were new to the area.  Many times, the business would give a discount or a free gift in hopes that you would return to their store or restaurant in the future. 

Money Saving Tip #198: Pictures with Santa

If you are a parent of young children, chances are you love getting your child's photo taken with Santa Claus every Christmas season.  I am no exception!  If you take your kid(s) to the local mall to get their photo taken, you will be forced to purchase their photo package.  Their photo packages usually start at around $20-30 for one sheet of photos.  And, they don't let you take your own photos unless you buy theirs.  The other HUGE drawback to the mall Santa is that you are forced to wait in a huge line.  If your kids are young, they will probably get tired and cranky just before you get to the front of the line. 

Instead of rushing to the mall for your Santa pics, turn to your local community instead.  Just this morning, I passed a Christmas tree lot that advertised Santa pics.  You can find local churches and community centers that host a Santa event for a fraction of the cost or free. 

Last year, one of our local high schools hosted a Breakfast with Santa event to raise money for the band.  For $5 per child, each of my kids got a pancake breakfast plus an individual photo with Santa.  So, for $15 all my kids had a breakfast, and I got 3 photos.  This year, we went to our local Parks and Recreation Center and paid $10 for all the kids to get their photo taken plus access to the craft show.  Plus, I took about a dozen of my own photos on my camera. 

Money Saving Tip #197: Grocery Shop with a Calculator

Inside my coupon folder, I keep a small calculator.  I use this calculator whenever I do my grocery shopping.  I use it to determine the price of an item when there is a certain percentage off.  And, I use it to compare prices. 

When I compare prices, I look at the quantity of the product in the package.  Using the ounces on the product, I can determine the cost of that item per ounce.  Then, I select another similar item.  Using my calculator, I can figure out how much I would be paying per ounce.  Here is an example:

Dannon Light and Fit Yogurt 32 ounces:  $2.34 each = $0.07 per ounce
Dannon Light and Fit Yogurt 6 ounces:  $0.60 each = $0.10 per ounce

Based on my math above, it is cheaper per ounce for me to buy the larger yogurt.  I should buy one large yogurt container rather than 6 individual yogurt containers.  You should do this comparing two similar brands too (Jiff vs. Skippy peanut butter).

Money Saving Tip #196: Stop Going to the ATM

If you visit an ATM at a bank other than yours, you will be paying several extra fees just to get your own money.  The bank that you visit may charge you about $3.00 just to use their ATM, plus your own bank will then charge you another $3.00 because you used another bank. 

Imaging this:  If you withdrew $20.00 from another bank's ATM, this transaction can cost you about $26.00. 

Rather than going to another bank's ATM, go to a grocery store instead to get some cash.  Go to the checkout with a very inexpensive item (one banana, a pack of gum, candy bar, $1.00 nail polish, etc.).  Swipe your debit card and select the amount of money you want for cash back.  There are no extra fees plus you will have gotten at least something for your purchase!

Money Saving Tip #195: Stop Tanning

Visiting the local tanning salon can cost you a lot of money and can be unhealthy.  Like a gym club, many tanning salons want you to join some sort of membership.  You don't need to sport a glowing, beach tan year round.  Save the money.  If you insist on having a darker shade, consider those tanning lotions made by Jergens, Aveeno, and many other brands.  The benefit to these products is that you cannot get skin cancer from them, and the tan you receive is gradual.  Many tanning lotions look completely natural without that organge look. 

Money Saving Tip #194: FREE Checking

If you are paying any fees to keep your checking account open, you are paying too much.  Some banks offer 100% FREE checking with no fees for use of their Debit Cards.  These banks even offer free online banking.  If your bank charges you a fee, shop around.  Most credit unions don't charge any fees for their checking accounts. 

My bank doesn't have any fees for my checking account as long as I have my paycheck direct deposited. 

Money Saving Tip #193: Buy Generic Drugs

When it comes time to getting a prescription filled or buying a medication over-the-counter, go for the generic or store brands.  The formulas will be the same (or very similar) to the national brand.  And, they will work just as effectively.  Depending on the prescription you purchase, your savings could be substantial. 

Store brand over-the-counter medications usually have the exactly same ingredients.  Read the label.  I save about $9.00 for my husband's sinus medication.  We buy the store brand product rather than the national brand.  After reading the labels comparing the products, I found that it was the same product.  The only difference was the packaging. 

Money Saving Tip #192: Stop or Reduce your Cigarette Smoking

It probably doesn't seem like much money to spend $4.00 for a pack of cigarettes, but that money quickly adds up.  If you smoke one pack per day, you are spending $1,460.00 per year on those little cancer sticks.  Having never been a smoker myself, it's easy for me to suggest that you quit.  But, I know it's not that simple. 

If you cannot quit cold turkey, try gradually reducing the number of cigarettes you smoke per day.  If you normally smoke 20 cigarettes per day, cut back to 18 per day for a week or so.  After that time, cut back another 1-2 cigarettes per day.  Cutting back to 15 cigarettes per day can save you hundreds of dollars every year. 

Money Saving Tip #191: Changing Your Engine Oil

Most of us grew up knowing that we had to get an oil change on our vehicles every 3,000 miles.  However, many cars can go much longer.  Check the owner's manual for your vehicle.  You may be surprised to find that your vehicle can go 5,000-7,500 between every oil change. 

I work for a business that provides company cars.  We get our oil changed every 7,500 miles. 

Money Saving Tip #190: Body Wash vs. Bar Soap

Whether to use body wash or a bar of soap is a matter of personal preference.  Some people swear by their speciality body wash and scrubbing loufa.  Some people (like my husband) are happy using whatever bar of soap I put in the shower.  When crunching numbers though, the bar of soap is significantly cheaper than the body wash.  You can still get nice, moisturizing soap in a bar for a lot less than the body wash. 

Don't compare prices of body wash to a bar of soap.  You use far more body wash per shower than you use of a bar of soap. 

I have discovered a bar of olive oil soap at my speciality nutrition store.  Though I paid a little less than $3.00 for that one bar, it lasts 3-4 times as long as a traditional bar of soap.  The bonus to this soap is that it is all organic and only contains 3 ingredients. 

Money Saving Tip #189: Leaves: Good and Bad

Now that fall is here, what will you do with all those leaves?  Some of you don't have to rake, but some of you do.  Because of the landscape of our yard and the types of trees on our property, my husband has to rake every fall.  In some cases, those leaves can be an asset to you.  But, at other times, it could ruin your property. 

Good Leaves:  Use leaves to insulate your flower beds.  The extra layer of leaves act as a blanket for those times when the temperatures get really cold or freezing. 

Bad Leaves:  Leaving leaves on your grass could kill it.  Be sure to rake all the leaves from your lawn.  Also, leaves can stain your driveway if they are left during rain.  Use a leaf-blower to get all the leaves off your cement.

Money Saving Tip #188: How to Wash your Sponge

Rather than tossing your dish sponge every week or so, get more life out of it.  Run it through your dishwasher with the "heated dry" setting.  Or, microwave your wet sponge in the microwave for one minute on high.  Or, soak it for 5 minutes in a mixture of 3/4 cup bleach and 1 gallon of water. 

If you decide to use the bleach and water method, get more use out of the water.  Use the mixture to sanitize your children's plastic toys, clean your kitchen cupboards, wipe your floors, etc.  Don't just toss it once you have cleaned the sponge.

Money Saving Tip #187: Pack your Freezer

Your freezer keeps it's temperature and uses less energy when it is filled with other frozen items.  All those other frozen items help keep each other frozen.  If you don't have a lot of frozen food in your freezer, fill up empty milk cartons with water and store them in the freezer.  Doing this will cause your freezer to run less meaning a little savings for you. 

Money Saving Tip #186: Storing Fruit and Veggies in the Refrigerator

Where to store fruit and vegetables varies between person to person and generation to generation.  To get the most out of your produce, store most vegetables in the high-humidity drawer in your refrigerator.  Most of your fruits should be stored in the lower-humidity drawer. 

Don't mix your fruit and vegetables together.  The gases from one type of produce may cause the others to ripe much more quickly.  I have a separate basket for my bananas and onions that I store on my counter. 

Money Saving Tip #185: Don't Use Laundry Detergent in the Dishwasher

I recently subscribed to the HGTV Magazine, and I love it.  There are many good tips for the money-saving do-it-yourselfers. 

In the magazine, there is a "How bad is it..." section.  One of the tips involved using laundry detergent in your dishwasher when you are in a pinch.  Never use laundry soap in the dishwasher.  Doing so could damage your machine and possibly void out your warranty.  Your dishes are far dirtier than your clothes, so using laundry soap probably won't have any washing effect anyway. 

I have a homemade dishwasher detergent recipe within my blog.  Scan though my postings to get the recipe.   

Money Saving Tip #184: Christmas Trees - Real or Fake?

There are huge supporters of real Christmas trees.  And, there are people who are big fans of fake Christmas trees.  The people who swear by real Christmas trees say that you just cannot get that "Christmas Tree Smell" without the real thing.  And, I would agree with that, but this is a money saving blog. 

A real Christmas tree can cost anywhere from $40-$150 depending on where you buy it and the type.  A fake Christmas tree can cost the same amount, but you can use the fake tree year after year after year.  Growing up, my mother always bought the real Christmas trees every year.  We had to drag the tree home, find the right stand, center the tree in the stand, water it everyday, clean up all those needles all over the carpet, and then hang the string of lights on the tree.  A fake tree comes with it's own stand, and most are already pre-lit.  Just stack the pieces together and plug it in. 

A word of advice:  Don't throw away the box that your fake tree comes in.  You will need it to store the tree in for years to come. 

Money Saving Tip #183: Homemade Drain Cleaner

The next time your sink drain gets clogged, dry this homemade recipe first.  Drain-O or those other products designed to unclog your sink are super expensive.  They can cost just below $10 for a bottle.  This recipe includes ingredients that can already be found in your home.  If it doesn't work, then you can rush out and spend the money on the industrial products, but this one is worth a try!

Ingredients:
8 cups of boiling water
1 cup of white vinegar
1 cup of baking soda

Directions:
Pour the baking soda down the drain first.  Then pour the vinegar down the drain.  Wait 5 minutes.  Then, pour the boiling water down the drain.

Money Saving Tip #182: Dryer Setting

When it is time to use your dryer to dry clothes, don't use the "timed dry" feature.  In most cases, you will be running your dryer longer than it needs.  Use the "sensor" or "automatic" feature to dry your clothes.  This feature measures the amount of moisture in the dryer to determine if the dryer can be shut off or it a little more time is needed.

Money Saving Tip #181: Homemade Cough Syrup

After avoiding contact with my kids and husband for the past 3 weeks, I am now starting to feel the effects of their colds and persistent cough.  Any over-the-counter or prescription medication can be quite costly.  Rather than rushing out the door to spend $10 on cough medication, I went to the internet instead.  I googled "homemade cough syrup" and found lots of results.

Many recipes call for honey, lemon juice, and whiskey.  Since I don't drink alcohol, I continued my search.  I found a recipe that calls for ingredients that I already have in my pantry.  Then, I read the reviews.  To my surprise, most of the people who reviewed this recipe said that it cured them of their cough and colds.

Ingredients:
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp honey
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
2 tbsp water (optional - though most people omitted this because they didn't want to water down the honey coating)

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together.  Take 3 tbsp. 

You can pre-make this recipe and keep it with you in case you have any cough attacks. 

The majority of the reviewers said that the recipe tastes horrible, but that it works!

Money Saving Tip #180: Make Your Own Curtains and Pillows

Curtains and decor pillows can be a lot of money.  Depending on the fabric of a curtain you want and your window's size, you could spend more than $100 for curtains for just one window.  If you can sew a straight line, you can make your own curtains.  I made curtains for my baby's room to help keep it dark.  I bought fabric at the hobby store when it was 40% off.  Then, I pulled out my sewing machine that I bought for less than $100 10 years ago.  I made my own curtains for his room for about $30. 

If you find a pretty fabric at the hobby store, consider making a couch pillow or seat pillow out of it.  Getting the couch or seat re-upholstered can be quite costly, but you can add a punch of color by adding a pillow instead.  Use the pillows you already have and sew a pillow cover to slip over them. 

You can find hundreds of videos on www.youtube.com on how to do these do-it-yourself projects. 

Money Saving Tip #179: Call the Doctor First

The next time you or your kids get sick, don't rush to the doctor with your cold or flu symptoms.  Call the doctor's office first.  Ask to speak with the Physician's Assistant or Registered Nurse instead.  Many times, they can give you advice and suggestions over the phone.  They can tell you if a doctor's visit is in order or if you should just stay home and rest.  The best part is that this service is free! 

If a medication needs to be prescribed, you will most likely have to go into the doctor's office.

Money Saving Tip #178: Free Baby/Toddler Toy - Keys

Babies and toddlers love keys.  The sound of your keys makes them crazy.  However, babies and toddlers really don't care for those bright colored, plastic ones you buy at the toy store.  They want your keys!  The next time you are at the hardware store or any store that makes keys (Wal-mart), ask them for their "reject" keys.  These are keys that didn't work and were brought back to the store.  These keys cannot be reused, and these stores will usually throw them away.  If the cashier wonders why you need them, tell him or her.  Trust me, the employee will beg you to take all of them. 

Gather up about 8-10 keys and put them on an unused key ring, and give them to your baby or toddler.  Make sure to wash them first.  They will love them!  They will especially love the ones with the graphics on them.

Money Saving Tip #177: Food Storage

Instead of storing leftovers and extra food in ziplock-style bags, use reusable storage containers instead (with lid).  Everytime you throw something in the garbage can, you are throwing money away. 

You can use storage containers for items besides food too.  I use them to store my kids toys too.  The next time you grab for a ziplock bag, ask yourself if that item can be store in a storage container instead. 

Money Saving Tip #176: Collect Shower/Bath Water

Most of us shower on a daily basis.  And, we all love a warm shower.  Most everyone will start the shower water a few minutes before we even get in.  Rather than let all that good water go down the drain, collect it in 5 gallon buckets and use it to water your plants. 

For those of you who like to take baths, collect your "dirty" water after you bathe and use that to water your outdoor plants.  If you have a prized rose garden, I probably wouldn't use the soapy water.  But, if you have some shrubs, bushes, or young trees, this water will be just fine for them. 

Money Saving Tip #175: Raise Your Refrigerator Temperature

Help conserve some energy by raising the temperature in your refrigerator.  Instead of 35 degrees (F), adjust the setting to 37-38 degrees (F).  If your refrigerator doesn't have a thermometer, buy one at the hardware store for a couple dollars.  You know your refrigerator setting is too low when the stuff toward the back of the unit starts to freeze. 

Raise the temperature of your freezer from -3 degrees (F) to 0 degrees (F). 

Money Saving Tip #174: When to Water your Lawn or Plants

We all like to have a beautiful, green and vibrant yard full of green grass and beautiful flowers.  However, if you are watering your garden during the heat of the day, most of that water is being evalorated and is not doing your garden any good.  Instead of watering in the middle of the day, water your lawn and plants when it's dark.  You can water just before you go to bed (once the heat of the day has cooled down).  You can set your sprinklers to go off in the middle of the night.  Or, you can water them in the early morning before you go to work (when it's still dark outside). 

Money Saving Tip #173: Produce Cleaning Spray

Don't waste your money buying a special spray to clean your produce before you eat it.  You can get the fruit or vegetable just as clean buy using a good rub with running water.  If you are truly fearful of eating produce without the special spray, you should see if buying organic produce is a cheaper alternative.  Organic produce may be cheaper when the item is in season rather than the industrial spray (which is 99% water anyway).

Money Saving Tip #172: Plastic Bottles vs. Aluminum Cans

We all know that soda is not good for you.  I certainly advocate for reducing or eliminating soda from your diet.  However, if you cannot shake the habit, buy your soda in aluminum cans rather than plastic bottles.  The aluminum cans are cheaper.  Plus, the aluminum is more recyclable than the plastic. 

Money Saving Tip #171: Homemade Shampoo Recipe

You don't need to spend a fortune to get your hair cleaned.  Most of us rely on store-bought shampoos and conditioners for our normal shower routine.  These products insist that you use them daily for maximum benefit.  You can scan the internet and find hundreds or thousands of recipes for homemade hygiene products.  Most of the ingredients to make these products can be found in the pantry of your home.

Not having tried every homemade shampoo recipe, I cannot say anything bad about any of them.  It comes down to your own personal preference, the amount you want to spend, the availability of the ingregients, your hair type, and your needs for yourself. 

When I decided to try a homemade shampoo recipe, I searched for a recipe that had ingredients that I could find at my local grocery store.  I didn't want to have to travel to a specialty store to buy the different components. 

Here is the recipe I found (and liked) for an easy, homemade shampoo:

1 cucumber, cubed
1/2 cup distilled water
3 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp baking soda

Combine all ingredients into a blender.  Mix until all components are combined to make a smooth mixture.  Apply to wet hair massaging your scalp with your fingertips.  Remember, it will not lather since there is no soap or detergent in the recipe.  Apply at the beginning of your shower and rinse off at the end of your shower.  Store the mixture in the refrigerator for up to one week. 

If you use the olive oil recipe for your conditioner (Money Saving Tip #170), you will not need to do anything else to your hair on a daily basis.  My hair is super shiny and clean.  I feel no difference between the store-bought products and the cucumber recipe.  Give it a try!

Money Saving Tip #170: Homemade Conditioner Recipe

Many people know that shampoo and conditioner can be quite costly.  Some would even say that all those chemicals in the store products are even bad for you.  After a little internet searching, you might be able to find that perfect homemade shampoo and conditioner recipes. 

When you begin searching the internet, you will find hundreds (if not thousands) of recipes for homemade, do-it-yourself shampoo and conditioner.  Look at each recipe's ingredients.  Most of those ingredients can be found in your kitchen pantry.  Because there are so many different variations, it's easy to switch recipes if one doesn't work for you.  Some recipes include olive oil, some include apple cider vinegar, and some require coconut oil.  Coconut oil and olive oil are a little more expensive than apple cider vinegar.  This is all a matter of personal preference. 

The cheapest conditioner recipe I found included only 2 ingredients:  apple cider vinegar and water.  Mix together 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup of water.  Appy mixture to hair beginning at the scalp, giving your head a gentle massage with your fingertips.  Then apply to the rest of your hair.  Let it rest on your hair for a few minutes and rinse very well.  I highly suggest only putting cool (or cold) water on your hair.  Trust me, cool water will make your hair super shiny.  That's it!  It will only cost you pennies to try this recipe. 

Another recipe I found only included 2-5 tablespoons of warm olive oil to your hair once a month.  Rinse thoroughly, and then wash your hair.  This strategy is a reverse process (conditioner first, then shampoo), but you only need to do the olive oil treatment once a month. 

Find one that you are willing to try and works best for your routine and budget.  Stay tuned for my homemade shampoo recipe...

Money Saving Tip #169: Visit the Goodwill

It's been a few years since I have been inside a Goodwill Store, but yesterday, I went back.  I was looking for some decor pieces for my kitchen above my cabinets.  I bypassed the clothing isles, but the prices for most pieces was $3-5 per item.  They even had winter coats.

I went to the back of the store to look for my specific purchases.  Within a few minutes, I found a great vase for my kitchen.  The price was less than I was willing pay for such an item.  I couldn't help but to look around for any other cheap, hidden treasures.  The toy section was filled.  My daughter found a Littlest Pet Shop house for $2.52.  This normally retails for more than $40.00.  Their televisions (which were on and working) were about $10.00.  They came in all shapes and sizes.  They had furniture, towels, drapes, books, movies, and housewares. 

Before you shop new, visit the Goodwill and see if you can find something slightly used.  You can save tons of money. 

Money Saving Tip #168: Start Christmas Shopping in the Summer and Fall

If you are like most people, you wait to shop for Christmas gifts until the last few weeks before the holidays.  I am guilty of this.  I have taken a new approach to Christmas shopping that will reduce my stress and keep more money in my wallet.

I have already started Christmas shopping, and it's still September.  Whenever I visit the grocery store (Target), I start my shopping in the toy section.  I look for the toys on clearance and the ones in the end-cap.  This past weekend, I bought my daughter a toy in the clearance section for $5.00.  The regular price for that item was more than $20.00. 

If you do your shopping early, you won't miss out on seasonal purchases that your child may want for Christmas.  If your child wants a squirt gun (Super Soaker) for Christmas, you will not be able to find it at the toy store.  Because it is a spring and summer item, it will be out of stock.  Buy seasonal items at the end of the season, and it may be significantly reduced.  Target had summer items on sale 2 weeks ago for 75% off.  I stocked up on stuff my kids love.   

When you get home, make sure you find a good hiding place for your gifts.  I recommend hiding everything in one location, so all your purchases don't get lost or forgotten about. 

Money Saving Tip #167: Re-Usable Water Bottles

I highly encourage you to purchase a re-usable water bottle rather than drinking a new bottle of water every time.  When you go to purchase a re-usable water bottle, follow my personal suggestions. 

To begin with, I recommend the aluminum varities.  They hold the cold temperatures better than the plastic ones.  The drawback is that you cannot put hot liquids into aluminum containers. 

When you go to search for one, make sure that it is dishwasher safe.  When aluminum water bottles were first made, many of them were not dishwasher safe.  If you wash one in the dishwasher that is not dishwasher safe, your logo, pictures, or color will start to chip away from the bottle.  You don't want the paint getting onto other dishes.

My other recommendation is to find one that does not have a straw.  I suggest purchasing a water bottle that has a simple screw top.  In the past, I have purchased the re-usable water bottles with a straw for convenience.  What I found was that the tops were very difficult to get clean and dry.  If the components cannot get clean and dry, you could get mold to form in the top.  When this happens, you will probably have to toss it in the trash.  That is a waste.  Purchasing a water bottle without the fancy tops is easier for your dishwasher to clean. 

Money Saving Tip #166: Don't Warm Up Your Car

If your vehicle was manufactured after 1992, you do not need to warm up your car.  Don't waste the fuel in having your vehicle run unnecessarily.  In the winter, don't waste fuel by trying to get the interior of your car warm before you get in.  It will warm faster if the vehicle is actually driving than staying stationary in your driveway. 

Money Saving Tip #165: Alternate Fabric Softener

If you use liquid fabric softener or dryer sheets, you may want to consider a chaper alternate.  Most everyone has white vinegar in their pantry.  Use it instead of pricey fabric softener.  Add 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle to get your clothes soft and static free.  You can do this for both standard top loaders and front loader washing machines.

Money Saving Tip #164: Negotiate your Vacation Rentals

Recently, my family and I went on a beach vacation to Destin. Rather than going through a management company to rent a condo, we visited a website where individual owners rent ther own units. The reason we did this was to avoid extra fees from the management company, and because we wanted to have the ability to negotiate for the best deal. I emailed about 20 different condo owners. Within a few hours, we had several owners who were willing to discount their condos. We found an owner who was willing to give us a great discount.

Because we used this website and negotiated, we saved about $350.00.

The website we used is vrbo.com. This site rents vacation units in the entire world. You can rent here in the USA or other international countries. They rent units in all landscapes. They rent in mountains and other tourist locations. Check it out!

Money Saving Tip #163: Make your own Lip Gloss

When you are down to your last bit of lipstick, don't just throw it out. Make your own lip gloss. Use a toothpick and dig out the remaining lipstick at the bottom of the tube. Combine the lipstick with about a teaspoon of petroleum jelly, vaseline, or Aquaphor. Store in an airtight container like a contact lens case. Use a different color on each side. Enjoy!

Money Saving Tip #162: Homemade Glass Cleaner

Here's another recipe from Shift Your Habit for homemade glass cleaner:

Ingredients:

1 1/2 - 2 cups water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
1-2 drops essential oil (any scent you like)(optional)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together. Spray on windows and mirrors.

Remember: Use old newspapers to clean windows and mirrors instead of paper towels.

Money Saving Tip #161: Sort your Laundry

Up until my husband and I got married, he washed all his clothes and linens together.  He didn't think twice about washing a maroon shirt with a white shirt.  If you don't sort your dirty laundry into separate loads, you are risking ruining some of your clothing.  When he washed his reds with his whites, the white items turned pink, and he never wore them.  Sort your clothing and linens and wash them separately so you get more use out of each item. 

At the very least, sort your laundry into 2 types: lights (whites) and darks (blue, black, green, etc).

Money Saving Tip #160: Shop Around for Big Purchases

My daughter's 8th birthday was in June.  For her birthday, I wanted to get her a 10-speed bicycle.  Rather than just buying the first one I found, I shopped around for the best prices.  First, I went to Target and Walmart.  Neigher store sold a 10-speed bicycle for her size.  I could have taken the easy approach and just bought a 1-speed, but I didn't settle for what was in front of me.

Fearing that it would be difficult to find a child's 10-speed bike, I went to a professional bike shop.  They had some there, but they wanted over $300 for each bike.  My budget was $150 or less.  So, I went to the internet.  With her birthday fast approaching, I checked out websites belonging to sporting goods stores.  To my delight, I found a 10-speed bike for her at Dick's Sporting Goods.  The price was less than my budgeted amount.  Plus, they did the inital service to the bike making sure all the gears worked properly and inflated the tires.  The bonus was that the store was 1 mile from my home. 

My point here is this:  Don't settle with what's in front of you and look to different stores to find what you want at the price you want to pay. 

Money Saving Tip #159: Buy Consignment Clothing

Not only are there consignment stores for kids and baby stuff and clothes, there are consignment stores for adult clothing too.  Yesterday, I visited a local consignment store that sells women's clothing.  I was pleased to find an Ann Taylor Loft sweater and a beautiful teal tunic.  The price of the sweater was $0.25, and the tunic was $1.00.  They were both in terrific condition.  The reason they were so cheap was because they were on the discount rack. 

When I went to the non-discount section, I found that most of the clothing was $5-6.00.  These are terrific prices for quality pieces, if you are willing to search for them.  I suggest checking the label to see the brand of the item.  Not all the clothing is a great deal.  Look at each item.  Inspect it for holes, fading, pilling, and stains.  You can save a lot of money. 

Money Saving Tip #158: Turn off your TV

Many people will have their televisions on even when they are not watching TV.  Some people just enjoy the background noise.  Our televisions and refrigerators use some of the most energy in our homes.  Try turning off your television more often.  You might be surprised to find that you can get a lot done if you turn off the boob-tube.  This is especially true if you have kids.  They can get distracted very easily. 

If you think you need background noise, use a small radio instead.  It will use far less energy than a television. 

Money Saving Tip #157: Piggy Banks for Kids

Kids need to learn about saving money.  But, if they can't see what they are saving, it becomes pointless.  My daughter loves to see her bank filling.  She would rather see it full of coins than bills, because of the quantity.  Instead of buying the latest, cutest piggy bank for your child, use an empty clear jar or container from your pantry or refrigerator. 

I used to have a Hello Kitty piggy bank for my daughter.  Problem was, anytime she wanted to get her money out, it became a chore to get that annoying tab off the bottom.  Plus, the bank was ceramic and multiple colors.  I transferred all her money to an empty parmesan cheese container.  Most everyone has one in their refrigerator.  After we consumed all the cheese for our pasta dishes, we cleaned it out and put all her money (coins) inside it.  Now, she can see all her money.  This makes her want to fill it to the top.  Plus, if we need to take any money out, either because she wants to buy something or to count it all, all we have to do is pop the lid.  No fuss!

Money Saving Tip #156: Homemade All-Purpose Cleaner

If I told you that you could make your own cleaning products for about 5% of the cost of the national brand products, would you try it? Surprisingly, most of the ingredients can already be found in your home. According to Shift Your Habit, it only takes 3 products to make your own all-purpose cleaner. Though you can find hundreds of recipes on the internet, here is the recipe published in their book.

Ingredients:
8 cups water
1/2 cup white vinegar
1/4 cup baking soda

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together and put into a spray bottle. Save the extra for refills. This is even good for hard water stains. Be sure to shake well before use.

Money Saving Tip #155: Don't Leave Clean Clothes in the Washer

When you are in the process of doing your laundry, don't forget and leave your freshly cleaned clothes or linens in the washing machine.  If you leave your clean, wet items in the washer for several hours or a day, the items will become moldy, and you will have to rewash them.  You know when they need to be re-washed when you open your washer, and the items smell bad.  Re-washing them forces you to use more water, energy, laundry soap, and fabric softener.  

Money Saving Tip #154: Yogurt

When buying yogurt, don't buy the individual 6 oz. containers. Go for the larger 32 oz. container, and divide it up. The smaller portions can cost about $0.60 each. If you divide it up yourself, you will only be spending about $0.38 per 6 oz. The larger size still comes in a few flavor choices, not just vanilla.

When I make my daughter's lunch for school, I buy the bigger size and divide it up into 4 oz. portions.

Money Saving Tip #153: Grocery Shopping with Children

To begin with, I always recommend grocery shopping without your children or your spouse.  But, this is in an ideal perfect situation.  Some people are single parents, and some people have a spouse that works odd hours making shopping alone impossible. 

If you have to take your children on your grocery trip, allow your child to bring one or two small toys with them.  These toys can be a huge asset to help keep your child entertained as you do your shopping.

My 4-year old son loves to bring his transformers and hot wheels everywhere he goes.  They are usually small enough that he can carry himself or put in his pockets, plus he doesn't pester me to hurry up. 

Money Saving Tip #152: Grocery Shopping Isles

When you do your weekly grocery shopping, don't travel down every isle at the grocery store.  Only go down the isles that you need to visit in order to get something off your grocery list.  If you don't have chips on your grocery list, don't go down the chip isle.  Impulse purchases can add a lot of money to your grocery bill. 

Money Saving Tip #151: ATM Visits

ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) are a terrific tool if you need access to cash in your bank account.  In most cases, using the ATM at your bank is free.  However, using an ATM at a bank that you don't have an account with can cost you quite a bit of money.  The fees for most non-members is going to range between $2-4 per withdrawal.  Then, you will get charged by your bank another $2-4 for using someone else's ATM.  So your $20 withdrawal can cost you $24-$28. 

These fees tend to be the highest at airports and gas stations.  Save the money and avoid using the ATM anywhere aside from your own bank. 

Money Saving Tip #150: Hand-me-Down Childrens Clothing

Because I have three children, I have lots of children's clothing at my house.  My 1 year old is wearing clothing from his brother.  I have saved almost every piece of clothing from all my children for any future children.  Because of my stockpile of kids clothing, I have not had to purchase a single piece of clothing for my baby.  He is wearing all hand-me-down clothing.

My stockpile didn't start with my older kids.  I am lucky, because my children have older cousins in the family.  We are extremely fortunate to have hand-me-downs from my two sisters-in-law's children. 

If you know of someone who has a child older than yours, ask them to save their kids clothing so that it can be passed down to you.  I encourage you to offer some money for the clothing.  Whenever my sister-in-law drops off several bags of clothing from her three children, we always give her some money for the clothes.  The money we give her is far less than the money we would have to spend for the cost of these clothes at full-price.

Money Saving Tip #149: Get "Bumped"

If you are planning an airline trip, offer to get "bumped."  Getting "bumped" means that you will offer your seat to another passenger in exchange for a voucher for a free flight for your next travel.  Many airlines will overbook flights, so this option is definitely a possibility.  You can use your free voucher for another vacation. 

If you are traveling with small children or multiple people, this may not be a good option for you.  Also, if you are limited on time at your destination, you may not be able to get bumped. 

Money Saving Tip #148: Make a Weekly Menu

Before you go grocery shopping, plan ahead.  Make a dinner menu for each night of the week.  Then do your grocery shopping based on the items on your menu.  If none of my dinner choices include potatoes, there is no need to even buy this item at the store.  Only buy items you will need to complete your menu. 

If you plan on making spaghetti one night, you should only have to buy noodles, sauce, and garlic bread (optional) for that dinner option.  Don't buy "extra" food that is not on your menu, unless it's on sale and you plan to freeze it. 

Money Saving Tip #147: Take a Defensive Driving Course

Many vehicle insurance companies offer up to a 10% discount if the policy holder successfully completes a Defensive Driving Course.  The company I work for offers this course to employees at no fee.  Search on the internet for a business that offers this course.  You may have to take it at a local DUI School, but the savings could be very worth it. 

Money Saving Tip #146: Flu Shots

Taking time off work due to the flu can cost you. Reduce the liklihood that you and your kids contract the flu by getting a seasonal flu shot. Most insurance companies cover the cost with little or no co-pay.

My children's doctor office offers flu vaccines on specific Saturdays for the next couple of months, so I don't have to take any time off work to get them vaccinated.

My employer gives them to employees at no cost to us and our dependents. A healthy employee doesn't need to take time off work for themselves or their children.

If you don't have insurance, many local pharmacies offer the vaccines for $25-30. Rite Aid, Walgreens, CVS, and many others don't even require an appointment.

Money Saving Tip #145: Don't Rush to the Red Light

Whenever your foot is depressing the gas pedal, you are burning fuel. When you see a red light up ahead, take your foot off the gas, and coast. What's the point of rushing just so you can stop? Sure, we all want to be the first in line and we don't want anyone to cut in (think 1st grade), but doing so wastes money. You never know, the light may turn green by the time you get there and then you are already ahead of the game.

Money Saving Tip #144: Use Newspaper to Wrap

Because I subscribe to my local newspaper every Sunday, I always have the comics section on hand waiting to be recycled. Instead of buying gift wrap to wrap gifts, use the comics section instead. You can even stockpile this section so that you always have it on hand.

Money Saving Tip #143: Subscription Magazines

If you are a magazine junkie, consider getting a subscription instead of buying it off the news stand. I crave my People magazine every week. If I were to buy it every week at the grocery store, I would probably be spendng 3 times as much.

When you do subscribe, most magazine companies will even further discount if you sign up for several years, rather than one year.

Money Saving Tip #142: Don't Mail Invitations

When it comes time to host a party or get-together, don't mail the invitations through the postal service. The cost of the invitation plus the stamp for each one can be quite costly. Opt for the internet, email, social networking, text messages, and phone calls to get the word out. There are even websites out there to send an electronic invitation such as evite.com.

When my husband and I were planning our wedding, we invited people to our event through email. We got married in a small ceremony in a family member's backyard. Purchasing invitations and stamps to send the message out was a cost that was unnecessary.

Money Saving Tip #141: Take Shorter Showers

The average shower uses 2.6 gallons of water per minute.  Cut back on your shower time by not wasting the time just standing there.  Time yourself and see if you can reduce your time in the shower in 30 seconds to 1 minute intervals.  Spending too much time in the shower causes you to use more water and more energy in making the water warm. 

Help cut back on the amount of water you use by installing a low-flow showerhead. 

Money Saving Tip #140: Vacation in the Off-Season

Vacationing in the summer months will cost you much more money than vacationing in the spring and fall.  Vacation destinations raise their prices during the months when tourism is at it's peak.  We like taking our family vacations when the "fall" rates kick in, when it is less hot, and when the crowds will be less. 

You will be surprised to find that "fall" rates usually kick in as soon as children go back to school.  Our vacation destination initiates these rates around the first week of September. 

Money Saving Tip #139: Visit the Farmer's Market

This Saturday, I took my two older kids to our local farmer's market.  They enjoyed seeing the produce in a true, natural way.  My kids even got to sample some local honey.  I bought 2 acorn squashes, a butternut squash, a jar of homemade grape jam, and a large loaf of apple bread for $9.00.  I promised them we would go back next week for the honey, since I only had $10 cash on me at the time. 

Buying these items full price at our local grocery store would have cost a lot more.  Plus, we get the added bonus of supporting our local community and neighbors.  The food is grown in backyards and away from any pesticides and hormones. 

Money Saving Tip #138: Give Your Kids Choices

Yesterday, I took my daughter to the store to purchase her some new running shoes for her after-school running program.  She is very excited about starting this new program and meeting some new friends.  My daughter is at that age where fashion is becoming important.  She asked if she could pick out the new shoes.  I am not about to let me daughter (or any of my kids) have an endless opportunity to pick out the latest and greatest $100 pair of shoes. 

I told her that she could help me pick them out.  I told her that I would narrow her choices down to two, and I would let her decide which ones she liked best.  When we entered the store, we went straight to the clearance rack.  She tried on several pairs of shoes; some more comfortable than others.  After she found two comfortable pairs that were within $6 of each other, I let her decide.  One pair was $29.00, and the other pair was $23.00. 

Without hesitation, she grabbed the pink pair of running shoes based on color.  Luckily for me, they were the cheaper of the two pairs of shoes.  Before we left the store, she wanted to put on her new pair of shoes and wear them immediately. 

Let your kids help you decide what they will wear.  You will get your money's worth out of the clothing, and your child will be happy.  The worst thing for a parent to see is a piece of clothing that your child never wears.  This is a waste of money. 

Money Saving Tip #137: Used Video Games

If you have children, chances are you have a video game console in your home.  My daughter saved up her money 2 years ago and bought herself a Nintendo DSi.  She loves it.  As with most video game systems, those darn games are super expensive.  Don't buy new.

For birthdays and holidays, I take my daughter to Game Stop.  They sell new and used video games.  I taught my daughter that she could spend $30 on 2 used games or $30 on one brand new game.  She has always gone on to purchase the used games instead. 

Game Stop has a 3-day return policy.  If we take the game home and discover that it doesn't work properly, we can bring it back for a full refund.  Most stores offer this same policy.

Money Saving Tip #136: Buy Gender-Neutral Baby Gear

If you are expecting your first child (and you plan on having more than one), resist the urge to buy gender-specific items.  Don't buy pink stuff covered in princesses and butterflys.  Don't buy blue stuff covered with airplanes or race cars. 

When you buy your stroller (hopefully at a consignment sale), buy one that works for both genders.  Colors like green, gray, and navy blue work for both boys and girls.  The same goes for other baby items like room decor. 

When I was pregnant with my daughter 8 years ago, I decorated her room with Sesame Street items.  I knew that I could use those items for either a boy or a girl. 

Save all your baby and kid gear to work for multiple children. 

Money Saving Tip #135: Download Songs

If you, your children, or your spouse are music lovers, consider downloading songs to your computer or smartphone instead of buying an entire CD. 

My husband loves older songs.  Luckily for him, I have been able to find most of his favorites on iTunes.  Most songs sell for $0.99 or $1.29 per song.  Buying a song instead of a $15.00 CD has saved us lots of money. 

My daughter loves Selena Gomez, Katy Perry, and Carrie Underwood.  I allow my daughter to use her own money to buy songs.  In the past, I would buy her an entire CD, but she'd only listened to one song.  I could have saved so much money back then if I had just bought the song instead of the album. 

Money Saving Tip #134: Don't Use Plastic Utincels

Whether you pack your lunch for work or your child's lunch for school, don't rely on disposable plastic utincels.  Use the real stuff.  Years ago, I bought a cheap set of silverware from my grocery store.  They look noticiably different than my normal set.  I use my cheap set for lunches at work and school.  They get washed in the dishwasher rather than being thrown away in the trash after each meal. 

Sure, you will spend a little more money up front, but these pieces will last a very long time.  I have been using my cheap set for about a decade now. 

Money Saving Tip #133: Sell Toys

I recently went into my daughter's room and found a complete mess on the floor.  When I told her that she had to clean it up, I told her that this would be a good opportunity to clean out some of the toys she no longer plays with.  Since it is not likely that my sons would want to play with her "girl" toys, I gave her a suggestion.

I told her that she could gather all her un-used toys, sell them on the internet or at a consignment store, and then she could spend the money on some new purchases.  Within a hour, she gave me a bag full of toys that she wanted to depart with. 

If I am not able to sell them on craigslist, I will take her and her bag of toys to a local consignment store in hopes that they will buy them.  This is a great learning opportunity for her and a way for her to make a little money. 

Money Saving Tip #132: Use Cruise Control

When you travel on a highway or interstate with little traffic, opt for your vehicle's cruise control feature.  This will help keep your speed steady and generally lower.  Frequent changes in your vehicle's speed causes you to burn more fuel. 

Money Saving Tip #131: Don't Get a Fresh Towel Everytime

When you get out of the shower, you are clean, right?  So why would you need a fresh, clean towel after each shower?  The answer is:  you don't.  It is completely unnecessary to use a fresh towel after every shower.  Use it for 3-4 days (showers) before grabbing a fresh one. 

Money Saving Tip #130: Your Normal Water Heater Temperature

Instead of keeping your water heater tempterature at a high degree setting, change it down to 120 degrees.  Most all of us enjoy a super hot shower in the winter, but it is not necessary.  This will cut down on the energy it takes to keep your water heater at a higher setting.  Lower energy means more savings.  Plus, it is safer to keep the setting lower too! 

Money Saving Tip #129: Close Your Damper

If your home has a functional fireplace, you probably have a fireplace damper.  A damper is the plate that covers the opening to allow smoke to travel up your chimney stack.  When your fireplace is not in use, be sure that the damper is closed.  This will allow you to keep your air conditioning inside in the winter and the heat in the winter. 

Money Saving Tip #128: Open Your Windows at Night

Daytime temperatures in North Georgia can be quite high.  On the contrary, the overnight temperatures can be quite comfortable.  Right before you go to bed at night, turn off your air conditioner and open your windows.  This allows you to save money on your A/C bill and to bring some fresh air into your home. 

Money Saving Tip #127: Change your Air Filter

Having a dirty air filter can slow down your furnace and air conditioner.  When it's dirty, the machine is not working effectively and will need to expend more energy to work.  Change your filter every 3 months depending on the type of filter you have. 

I also recommend buying a quality air filter for your home.  Those cheap, poorly made filters don't trap pollutants as well as a quality filter. 

Money Saving Tip #126: Carry-On Luggage

Most airlines have been charging for your checked luggage for several years now. The cost is usually $25-30 per bag. This is a huge extra, unnecessary fee. Reduce the amount of "stuff" you travel with, and pack only required items in your carry-on bag. Once you get to your destination, visit a grocery store and buy small or travel sizes of shampoo, conditioner, soap, toothpaste, etc. Don't forget to buy some laundry soap and fabric softener or dryer sheets so you can do your laundry.

When you pack your clothing into a small carry-on, only pack items of clothng that are simple and can be worn together.

Bonus Tip: Wear a layer or two of clothing for your flight instead of packing it in your bag. Just don't tell the airline that you heard this suggestion from me.

Money Saving Tip #125: Cover Your Pot

When boiling water on your stove, use the lid to cover the pot. The water will boil faster, thus cutting down on your stove use. Use this same tip for warming or cooking on your stove.

Money Saving Tip #124: Rent Your Kid's Musical Instrument

Now that kids are back (or almost back) to school, some kids may sign up for their school band. If this is your child's first experience with a musical instrument, don't rush out and buy the latest and greatest. If your child's school does not provide the musical instrument, opt to rent it at a local musical supply store instead of buying.

Money Saving Tip #123: Check the Expiration Date

We all like to believe that our grocery stores pack the newest and freshest foods. But in reality, their stock can have flaws. Whenever you grocery shop, always check the expiration date of every food item you buy.

The grocery store personnel will stock the freshest items in the back of the shelf or at the bottom of the pile. They rotate the items by always pulling food to the front before re-stocking. The food in the front may even be expired or near expiration. Save money by checking the expiration dates to ensure that the food you keep at your home lasts as long as possible.

And on the contrary, if you are buying food that is going to be consumed that day or the next day, buy items that expire immediately.

Money Saving Tip #122: Bacon Grease

Is there anything better tasting than a crispy piece of bacon? Ok, maybe a Krispy Kreme donut. What do you do with the grease leftover from when you fry bacon? I save mine and use it to grease pans and dishes. Bacon grease does the same thing that cooking spray and butter can do when greasing your pans. Rather than using butter to coat your pancake griddle, I use bacon grease.

To properly store bacon grease, strain the grease into a tupperware container. Put a mesh strainer on top of your container. Then, take a small piece of paper towel and place it in the strainer. If your paper towels are 2-ply, I recommend separating the pieces. You need to strain out any of the bacon pieces for better storage. Cover and store for up to 6 months in your refrigertor.

Use small spoonfulls to grease dishes for baking or to make pancakes.

Money Saving Tip #121: Install a Programmable Thermostat

In one of my earlier posts, I mentioned adjusting your thermostat in your home. My husband and I set our A/C at a higher temperature in the summer when we are not home. In the winter, we set the heater at a lower temperature while we are away. Now, wouldn't it be easier if you had a programmable thermostat that did all the remembering for you?

You can buy a programmable thermostat at most any home improvement store. They vary in price, but I have found some as little as $40. Plus, you could get it much cheaper on ebay or Amazon.com.

You don't even need a handyman to install it. Read the instructions and use videos on youtube.om for guidance.

Money Saving Tip #120: Recycle School Supplies from Last Year

My 8-year old is now in 3rd grade.  For each year she has attended school, she was always provided a list of school supplies that she needs to provide prior to the beginning of each school year.  The list usually includes pencils, crayons, scissors, paper, glue, etc. 

At the end of her school year last year, she was sent home with her extra school supplies.  Rather than buying new school supplies, we recycled some of the supplies from last year.  I already mentioned using a backpack from a previous year, but why not use those extra supplies and save the money?  I was able to re-use her scissors, ruler, folders, glue sticks, and paper from last year.  My school supply cost was cut in half. 

Money Saving Tip #119: Let Your Kids Ride the Bus

If your kids attend school in the public school system, chances are that your school district provides transportation to and from school. Rather than driving them to and from each day, have them ride the yellow school bus. You will save a great deal of fuel and money in your pocket.

My daughter rides the bus everyday. Once my other children enter public school (they are too young right now), they will be riding the bus with their sister each day.

Money Saving Tip #118: Make a Birthday Cake Yourself

My 3 children all have summer birthdays, so we consume a lot of birthday cake in a short period of time. Cakes purchased at a bakery or the grocery store can be beautiful, but very expensive. Because all my kids are young (8 or younger), they don't care if they eat a homemade cake or a bakery cake.

Save the money and buy the cake mix and make it yourself. I bought my son's cake mix for $0.89 and the frosting for $1.58. The total cost was $2.47, rather than up to $40.00. The bonus to making it yourself is that your kids can help you mix all the ingredients and even choose the decorations for the top. My son wanted a cake with blue frosting, so I bought white vanilla frosting and added a few drops of blue food coloring. We added some sprinkles to the top as well.

You can also add some small toys to the cake too, like (new, clean) hot wheel cars for boys or Polly Pockets for girls.

Money Saving Tip #117: Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL)

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFL) are starting to occupy almost every household in the United States.  A change in law is forcing incandescent bulbs out of our homes.  Whether you are for them or not, CFLs are more cost-efficient than incandescent bulbs.  Though they may seem more expensive up front, they last for several more years.

My husband is not a fan of CFLs.  Though we feel as though they will get better with time, we have a few in our home.  Our master bathroom has vaulted ceilings.  On the ceiling are two accent lights.  Rather than putting incandescent bulbs up there, we opted for CFLs, because we know that they will not have to be replaced for several years. 

According to Shift Your Habit by Elizabeth Rogers, switching to CFLs can reduce your energy cost by around $110 per year. 

Money Saving Tip #116: Lemon Juice

If you ever cook a recipe that calls for lemon juice, skip the fresh lemons. It is cheaper to buy lemon (or lime) juice from those small lemon juice containers that you see next to the fresh lemons in the produce isle at your grocery store. They are usually in a cute plastic container that is shaped like a lemon.

Plus, the juice lasts a lot longer than a fresh lemon will. The ones in my refrigerator expire in about a year from when I purchased it. I can cook several recipes from now with the amount of lemon juice that I have.

Money Saving Tip #115: Backpacks for your Kids

It's time for your kids to go back to school.  I have a child in 3rd Grade and a Pre-K student.  Rather than buying a brand new backpack for my daughter's school year, she is going to re-use one of her old backpacks from her previous grade.  The backpack is in perfectly good condition and does not need to be replaced. 

She had 5 backpacks stored at the top of her closet.  I understand her not wanting to use a Dora backpack (too young for her age), but she can use her backpack with the flowers on it. 

My advice to you is to re-use your kids backpacks.  My second piece of advise is to buy backpacks that can carry over from year to year.  I recommend buying a durable backpack and one that is not theme-specific.  Your kids will grow in and out of themes (Dora, Hanna Montana, Little Einsteins, Hello Kitty, etc.).  Buy a backpack that is a generic design or color that can be used for more than one use. 

Money Saving Tip #114: Slow Cooked Roast

One of my favorite money saving tips involves cooking a roast in my slow cooker. Making a large (5 lb.) roast allows me to feed my family for at least 3 dinners plus lunches for myself. On night two, we use some of the leftover meat to make tacos. We can make philly cheese sandwiches for night three. And if any is leftover after that, we can use the meat for toppings on a homemade pizza.

The concept with this tip is to buy a cheaper meat like a pork shoulder (butt) and slow cook it so it becomes shredded meat that can be used for several days. I like to wait until the boston butt goes on sale for $1.99 per pound and then I buy several roasts. I freeze them for later uses.

Cooking a roast can be super simple with few ingredients. Don't feel compelled to buy exotic spices to make the perfect roast. Here's one of my favorite roast recipes:

5-6 lb. Roast
3-5 cups beef or chicken stock
1 package onion soup mix (powder)
2 onions
Salt and pepper

Cut onions into large chunks and put on bottom of slow cooker. Salt and pepper the roast. In a small bowl, combine the stock and onion soup powder. Place roast on top of the onions. Pour the stock / soup mix over the roast. Cook on HIGH for 7-8 hours. After fulled cooked, remove roast and shred with 2 forks. Enjoy.

Don't be afraid to add any herbs or spices that you have on hand based on your taste preferences.

Money Saving Tip #113: Herb Garden

If you have been blessed with a green thumb, try growing your own herbs rather than buying them at the grocery store. Seeds are super cheap, and you can grow lots of a particular herb for pennies. Don't go overboard and try to grow several different varieties. Try with a simple herb like parsley first.

Only buy seeds for herbs that you use on a regular basis. If you don't usually make recipes containing rosemary, for example, don't waste your money buying these seeds.

You can grow herb plants on your kitchen window sill or outdoors. Just don't forget to water the plant; I'm guilty of that.

Money Saving Tip #112: Buy Used Movies

If you feel compelled to purchase a movie with the anticipation of watching it many times, don't rush out to your local store and buy it new. Used DVDs and VHS tapes are usually just as good.

While at our local book store, my husband showed me a DVD he wanted to buy on sale for $10. Before I let him purchase the movie, I got on my iPad to see how much I could buy it used at ebay.com. I was not surprised to find it for $5.99 plus free shipping. I bought it on ebay before we walked out of the book store, and I saved $4.00.

Money Saving Tip #111: Make Your Own Fruit Cups

Buying pre-packaged fruit cups made from Dole, Del Monte, or even a store brand can be quite costly. They may seem convenient, but they can be a waste of money. Make your own fruit cups. A store brand package of peaches or pears floating in gel can cost as little as $2.00 per package (50 cents each).

I purchased a 50 oz. jar of store brand applesauce. With that, I can make 12 4-oz. cups. The total cost per fruit cup is less than 9 cents each.

Money Saving Tip #110: When to Use Your Dryer

Heating up the large drum in your dryer requires a lot of energy. Rather than doing your laundry divided into several days, do it all in one day and back to back. Because of our work schedules, it is easier for me to do our laundry on the weekends.

Whatever day I choose based on other activities planned, I plan to spend half my day doing all my laundry. Since the dryer usually takes a little longer than the washing machine washes, I am ready to dry clothes (or linens) as soon as the dryer beeps.

Cycling the clothes to dry as soon as the dryer is finished means that the dryer is not going to have to work as hard just to heat up.

Money Saving Tip #109: Cut Back or Eliminate Soda

Nine years ago I stopped drinking soda because I was pregnant with my first child. And, in the past nine years I haven't gone back. Soda is terribly expensive especally if you buy name brand. If you want to save a big chunk of money, cut back or elimate soda all together.

If the thought of quitting cold-turkey sounds too difficult, try out by reducing your soda intake by 50% at first. One you hit that milestone, cut back to 1-2 per week, then cut back to only drinking soda at social events.

Instead of soda, I drink water or water flavored with a drink packet. My savings are terrific. (Now, if only I could get my husband to follow this advice.)

Money Saving Tip #108: Organic Produce?

Depending on who you talk to, people are either pro-organic or not. If you prefer to buy organic produce for your family, you should know what fruits and vegetables are necessary to buy organic and ones that don't need to be organic. Save your money on the produce that doesn't need to be organic.

I found a terrific website a couple of months ago that studies the pesticides in our produce. The group publishes a list every year of fruits and vegetables and classifies them into the Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen.

Here is the 2011 list you can find at foodnews.org:

Clean 15: onions, corn, pineapple, avocado, asparagus, sweet peas, mangoes, eggplant, cantaloupe, kiwi, cabbage, watermelon, sweet potatoes, grapefruit, and mushrooms. These don't need to be organic.

Dirty Dozen: apples, celery strawberries, peaches, spinach, imported nectarines, imported graes, sweet bell peppers, potatoes, blueberries, lettuce, and kale/collard greens. These should be purchased as organic.

Money Saving Tip #107: Dryer Settings

When you dry your clothes, you have the option of hang drying them or utilizing your clothes dryer. If you opt for using the dryer, follow this advice: Set your dryer on the auto- sensor feature rather than the timed dry setting.

Some loads of laundry can dry in less than 30 minutes wheras some loads need closer to an hour to dry. If you use the sensor feature on your dryer, it will detect the dampness in the laundry and adjust accordingly.

If you find that your laundry stills needs more time in the dryer, use the timed setting at 5 minutes until it is done.

Money Saving Tip #106: Don't Toss Your Junk Mail

I have gotten some of my best coupons through the junk mail that comes in my mailbox. You would be surprised at the savings that are sent to the "current resident." The other day I got a $20.00 instant cash card for Sports Authority. There are no strings attached. I don't have to open a credit card or anything else.

Kohl's is another great store that sends $10.00 cash cards to my home. I use those cards to start stocking up on Christmas and birthday gifts for my kids. Kohl's has a toy section that is always discounted. They sell Crayola, Barbie, Mattel, Littest Pet Shops, games, puzzles, coloring books and so much more. I have walked out of their store on several occasions by not spending a dime.

Pay attention to the circulars sent to your home. Red Plum and Smart Source are mailed to my home. I use these to double up on the coupons I already cut out of my Sunday newspaper.

So, read through all your junk to get great savings.

Money Saving Tip #105: Check Your Credit

You are entitled to receive one free credit report each year from each of the credit bureaus. I encourge you to check your credit to ensure that no fraudulent activity is taking place against your identity or finances. If you find some transactions that you did not authorize, you can contact the companies to file an affidait stting that you did not authorize the charges or transactions.

Failing to check your credit could result in collections agencies coming after ou for payment. If needed, you can place a fraud alert on your credit.

If you are applying for your free annual credit report, don't get trapped into buying any protection plans or automatic credit checks thoughout the year. You should not need to enter in your credit card number to get your free credit report.

Credit Bureaus: Experian, Transunion, Equifax

Money Saving Tip #104: Don't Buy a High Chair for your Baby

If you are a first time parent, you may be tempted to go out and buy every awesome baby accessory and piece of furniture. If you are caught in this trap, you will fnd that your bank account will soon be drained.

Something that you may be attracted to is a huge high chair. A separate high chair is an extra piece of furniture that you don't need. I have 3 children and have never owned one. Rather than spending well over a hundred dollars, I opted for a booster seat. My booster seat fits on one of my kitchen chairs and pulls right up to the table. Most come with an optional tray.

My booster seat reclines and has an adjustable seat level. It even has padding. The best part is that I only spent about $25.00 for the seat. We use a booster seat for our kids until they are about 3 years old.

Money Saving Tip #103: Use of Coupons: Proper Organization

Properly organizing coupons is essential to maximizing your savings. There is no one better way to organizing. The way I organize may be a benefit or a disaster to you. My good friend Vanessa organizes her coupons completely different than me. I will go over both our methods.

I use a 3-ring binder and baseball card pages to organize. I label each page with a particular type of product. I have sections for laundry detergent, snacks, drinks, meat, make-up, deodorant, hair care, lotion, etc. Then, I organize my coupons by expiration date on a page. Next, I organize my pages by the isles I visit while grocery shopping. Though this may sound like a lot of work, it is the best method for me. In the front of my pages, I keep a small pouch, ink pen, and a calculator. I use the pouch to store my coupons as I go through the store. I keep all the coupons I will be using in the pouch until I get to the cash register. I use the pen to cross off items on my grocery list. The calcular is used to determine the discount rates when something is a percentage off. I also keep coupons for restaurants, vehicle repair shops, and ads from handymen in my folder.

My friend doesn't clip any coupons up front. She uses an accordian style binder to store her coupons. She prints a list from www.southernsaver.com that tells her all the coupons that are contained in her insert. Then, before she goes grocery shopping, she compares her list to items which are on sale. She will then clip the coupons she plans to use during that grocery trip.

There are several other ways to organize coupons. I chose a method that works best for me. The reason it is important to organize is because you will be able to maximize your savings if you know where to find your coupons.

Money Saving Tip #102: Use of Coupons: Read the Savings Information

As I am cutting coupons from my Sunday circular, I remind you to read the coupon before you pass it up or throw it away. Let me give you an example.

I just found a promotion in the Red Plum insert promoting 9 Lives Daily Essentials Cat Food. There is a picture of a bag and 2 cans of the Daily Essential variety. There are 2 coupons in the insert. Some may think that the coupon is only for the Daily Essential formula, but I encourage you to read the coupon. The coupon is "Save $1.00 on any ONE bag of 9Lives Dry Cat Food (3.15 lbs. or larger)."

No where on the coupon does it say that you have to buy the Daily Essential variety. By reading exactly what the coupon applies toward, you can save more money by using coupons that you may have bypassed before.

Money Saving Tip #101: Visit the End-Cap

When doing your grocery shopping, don't forget to visit the end-cap filled with clearance and discounted items. My local store (Target) has an end-cap featuring discounted items throughout several sections in the store. There is one in the health and beauty section, the grocery section, the cleaning section, bathroom section, etc.

I bought an item from the clearance end-cap today that was disounted from $19.99 to $14.01. So, not only did I save $6.00, but I also used a $2.00 off coupon. The only problem with the item was that tape had to be used to re-seal the item.

Money Saving Tip #100: Leave Earlier for Work

If your supervisor allows you, consider leaving earlier for work. Ask if you can shift your hours so that you arrive for work earlier in the morning and leave earlier in the afternoon. I understand that some occupations or day care schedules may not permit any deviation, but some people can make the switch.

There are a few benefits to leaving for work when it's still dark. First of all, traffic is much lighter the earlier you leave your home. Even a change in 30 minutes can be a noticable difference. If you are not stuck in heavy traffic, your car will be saving fuel.

Another benefit is the coolness of the morning. Even though daytime temperatures in North Georgia in the summer average in the mid 90s, the morning temps are in the seventies. You do not have to run your air conditioner in cooler temperatures.

Money Saving Tip #99: Color Your Hair Yourself

If you have entered your thirties (or forties), you may have decided to start coloring your hair to hide any greys. Or, you may have decided to change your hair color all together based on personal preference. To cut back on the cost of coloring your hair, color it yourself. I'm not saying to never go back to the salon, but you can reduce the number of trips significantly.

A box of hair dye should cost less than $10. Trips to the salon can cost upwards of a hundred of dollars. You can decide to make your salon visit every other coloring, limit them to 4 a year, or eliminate the salon visit all together. Either way, reducing your salon visit by just one will save you money.

Money Saving Tip #98: Buy Holiday Decor After the Holiday

Decorating your home, business, or office with decor associated wirh the upcoming holiday can cost quite a bit. Instead, plan far in advance. Buy holiday decor after the holiday.

For example, buy Halloween tricks, costumes, and decor beginning November 1 for the following year. Most of the items are discounted 50-75% off the lowest price.

Buy Christmas ornaments, stockings, and decor beginning December 26.

Hobby and craft stores such as Hobby Lobby, Joann Fabrics, and Michaels discount after each holiday. Even stores like Target and Walmart discount seasonal items as well.

Money Saving Tip #97: Diaper Wipes

Like I mentioned before, I have been using cloth diapers on my last 2 children. I have saved thousands of dollars by using them. I do not use traditional disposable wipes on my son. I use the small baby washcloths to clean his bum during the diaper changes. Then, I toss the soiled washcloths in my bin of dirty diapers to be washed with the next diaper load.

We keep our clean washcloths in a basket on his diaper changing table. Beside the basket is a small bowl of water. When we need a wipe, we take a wadhcloth and dip it in the water. Then we squeeze the excess water out before we use it. I recommend changing the water everyday or every other day.

Money Saving Tip #96: Select-a-Size Paper Towels

I am under no illusion that washcloths will clean up every mess in the home (Money Saving Tip #6). Though I do feel that money can be saved by using washcloths in most cases, there are times when you need to use a paper towel instead.

With that in mind, buy the variety of paper towels that feature "select-a-size." If you only need to use a small portion of a paper towel, you won't waste an entire sheet.

Money Saving Tip #95: Ceiling Fans Cool People, Not Places

If you are anything like me, you have a ceiling fan (or two) in any room big enough to have one. One thing to remember in regards to ceiling fans is that they cool people, not the room that they are in. The next time you leave a room for more than a few minutes, turn off the ceiling fan.

Money Saving Tip #94: Multi-Purpose Toothbrush

Exactly how long a toothbrush lasts vary from person to person. When it comes time to replace your toothbrush with a new one, don't discard the old one. Use the retired toothbrush as a cleaning brush. We use old toothbrushes to help clean the grooves of our wainescoting of our kitchen island. We also use them for cleaning along the baseboards.

The toothbrush can be used to clean just about anything that a larger scrub brush cannot.

Money Saving Tip #93: Visit the Web

Let the internet help get you discounts and great deals on your purchases. Here is a list of some websites that can help you save money:

Ebates.com
Livefabuless.com
Qponqutie.com
Yourretailhelper.blogspot.com
Eversave.com
Allyou.com
Groupon.com

I have a link to all these sites on the home page on the right side.

Money Saving Tip #92: Close Vents in Unoccupied Rooms

Running your air conditioner or heater can be quite costly. Venting your entire house is unnecessary. Close the vents in rooms that are not occupied or are rarely used. We have vents in our master bedroom closet and laundry room. We closed the vents in these spaces.

We also have vents in our bonus room. Since this room is seldom used, we close the vents and keep the door shut.

Money Saving Tip #91: Don't Toss Over-Ripe Bananas

Everyone in my family loves bananas. We buy so many of them at the store that they sometimes become too over-ripe before we get to eat them. Rather than throwing them in the garbage, freeze them! Once they become a little too spotted for my liking, I peel them, cut them into thirds, and place them in a container in the freezer.

There are plenty of good uses of a frozen banana. Here are two:

1. Place a dessert stick in one end of a piece of banana. Freeze. Eat as a frozen treat.
2. Use the frozen portions to make your own smoothies. Stay tuned for my favorite homemade recipe.

Money Saving Tip #90: Wash Your Dish Sponge

Instead of tossing your dish sponge in the garbage every couple of weeks, wash it and re-use it. My husband and I will put our sponge in the dishwasher and let it wash alongside our dishes. We can get several more weeks of use out of our sponges.

Money Saving Tip #89: Don't Buy "Dry Clean Only"

I fully support buying quality clothing in an effort to get more use out of your items. However, I discourage you from buying items that must be dry cleaned only. Getting clothes dry cleaned can cost a lot of money. The cost comes in the clothing, tip (optional), and fuel cost in dropping off and picking up your clothes.

You can buy dry cleaning supplies at the store, but these can be quite costly too. Buy clothing made of fabrics that you can wash yourself.

Money Saving Tip #88: Should You Buy a Water Heater Blanket

We recently had to replace our water heater for our home. While the plumber was here, I asked him about the effectiveness of a water heater blanket. He said that water heaters are designed with internal insulation, so unless you have a very old water heater, it is a waste of money. They cost anywhere from $20-$50.

He said to touch the drum. If it feels very hot to the touch, you may have an old unit and may need to cover it with a water heater blanket.

Water heater blankets are available for both gas and electric water heaters. However, he cautioned ever putting one on a gas water heater.

Money Saving Tip #87: Hang Dry Some of Your Clothes

Cut down on the amount of time and electricity your dryer needs to dry your clothes by reducing the amount of clothes in your dryer. Instead of putting my jeans in the dryer, I hang dry them inside my house. I either drape them over my shower or towel rack.

If your neighborhood allows you to have a clothes-line in your backyard, you can hang dry all your clothes and linens.

Places like Target and Bed, Bath and Beyond sell clothes drying racks that you can set up easily in your room or over your bathtub.

Money Saving Tip #86: Call the Doctor for Advice

Office visit co-pays and prescription medication can be quite costly.

If you, or one of your kids, is feeling a little under the weather, try calling your doctor's office for advice before you schedule an office visit. The doctor or nurse can give you some possible treatments and remedies over the phone. He or she can also tell you if the condition is "going around."

The doctor or nurse will tell you to schedule a visit if the condition worsens or doesn't get better.

Money Saving Tip #85: Movie Night at Home

When you visit the local movie theater, each person is charged for admittance. Save that money and rent a movie instead. Renting from the Red Box only costs $1.00 for a 24-hour rental. So, renting a movie for your kids and another one for the parents is still significantly cheaper than going to the movies.

Netflix is also affordable too. If you purchase the Watch Instantly plan, you can watch as many movies through your television or computer for about $8.00 per month. Visit their website for more details on how to play movies instantly.

Money Saving Tip #84: Unplug Your Cell Phone Charger

It doesn't take all night to charge your cell phone. Depending on your phone, it probably only needs to charge for about an hour. When you leave your charger plugged in, it is still drawing some electricity.

Money Saving Tip #83: Make Your Own Baby Food

Let's face it, baby food is expensive, especially if you buy the organic variety.  I have been making my own baby food for my last 2 children.  I have saved lots of money doing so.  The process is not hard, and you don't need to buy any "how-to" books to do it.

If you have a food processor or blender, you can make you own baby food for a fraction of the cost. 

I bought a butternut squash at the grocery store for $3.14.  I used that squash to make more than 27 ounces of baby food ($0.11 per ounce).

Visit your produce section of the grocery store.  Select the fruits and vegetables you want your baby to have.  If the item is already soft like a banana, strawberry, or avocado, all you need to do is mash it with a fork and serve.  If the item is firm, like potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, or carrots, you will need to soften them first.  You can do this several ways.  I like to bake/roast the vegetable until it is fork tender.  Then I either use a fork to mash or put it in my food processor to puree.  Once I have finished, I pour individual servings into an ice cube tray and freeze.  When I need to serve, I take a few cubes out, defrost, and serve to my little one.  You can even mix the foods like broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots. 

Money Saving Tip #82: Use Less Shampoo and Conditioner

When it comes to shampoo and conditioner, most of us use far too much. We like the idea of making for absolute sure that our hair is clean and softened. In truth, we only need to use about a quarter size amount of both shampoo and conditioner for average length hair. My hair falls about 3 inches below my shoulders, and ths amount is perfect.

Another tip for using shampoo and conditioner is knowing where to apply it. Shampoo should be applied around the scalp, but not the length because it can dry out your hair. Conditioner, on the contrary, should be applied to the length, not around the scalp. I apply conditioner below my ears and down.

Money Saving Tip #81: Dilute Juice for Your Kids

If you give your kids juice, dilute it by giving them 50% juice and 50% water. Most times, juice is so sweet anyway, so this will help.

Money Saving Tip #80: Borrow or Download Books For FREE, Don't Buy

Books come in many different forms. You can read a hardcover book, softcover book, audio book, and even through the use of an electronic device. Many people are shifting to digital books on their Kindle, tablet computers, and smartphones.

Borrow a book from your library for free. Many libraries have a website. On the website, you can browse books, reserve books, and even have a particular book delivered to the library closest to your house. Most libraries let you borrow a book for either 2 or 3 weeks. If you are getting close to the due date, you can even extend the due date another 2-3 weeks depending on the reserve list.

What many people may not know is that some libraries have the capability to downlad books onto your computer, tablet computer, or smartphone. Their download is free. The App I have on my device to download books is Overdrive.

Through iTunes, I can download hundreds of books for free. Just do a search incluing the word, "free."

Money Saving Tip #79: Re-Use Ziplock Bags

Just because you use a ziplock bag once doesn't mean that it must be thrown away once you are done with it. Simply wash it out using a sponge and soap. Open it up to dry. I like to dry mine out on my baby bottle drying rack or on my knife block.

If, however, you use a ziplock bag to marinate meat, don't wash it out. Throw it in the trash.

Money Saving Tip #78: Buy Quality Laundry Detergent

If making your own laundry detergent is not your style, don't buy the cheap brands. In the past, I thought I would save some money by buying those cheap bottles of laundry soap hoping for the same results. What I found was that these brands water down their products so that your clothes don't get as clean. What I ended up doing was using more product to get my clothes clean.

After washing my clothes with more cheap soap, I found that I could use less of a better product and get great results.

Money Saving Tip #77: Set Money Aside for Big Purchases

If you are planning on purchasing an item that is going to cost several hundred or several thousand dollars, start planning ahead. Put a little money aside each time you get paid to go toward that purchase. If you put that money into a savings account, you can earn a little interest on what you deposit.

Last year, while pregnant with my 3rd child, my husband and I decided to buy a new digital camera. We wanted to have it before the birth of our son. Knowing that we had about 4 months to plan, I found the camera I decided to buy. Knowing the cost ahead of time, I put about $50 aside from every paycheck until I had saved enough to buy the camera.

If I had gone out and purchased that camera without planning ahead, it would have been devasting to my checking account.