Sisterly Savings

Here is an awesome guest post from Tawra from LivingOnADime! With snow and blizzard-like conditions in a lot of regions, this is the perfect article to read!!

Snow Ice Cream:

You can see the video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1Ar-Zbn9TI

½ cup milk or cream

¼ cup sugar

¼ tsp. vanilla

2 cereal bowls fresh clean snow.

Mix milk, sugar and vanilla together. Stir until vanilla is dissolved.  Add fresh snow and stir gently until it is thoroughly mixed.  Serve immediately. Serves 4.
Snow ConesCrushed Ice1 pkg. flavored drink mix (flavor of your choice)
Mix drink mix with half as much water as the directions indicate. Chill 1 hour. Just before serving, crush some ice. You can use either a snow cone maker or put some ice cubes in a plastic bag and pound with hammer. Pack ice chips into cups, pour chilled drink mix over the ice and serve. You can also use fruit juice boiled down to half with food coloring added.
Apple juice: green or red food coloringGrape juice: purple food coloring

Snow And No Sled? No Problem!

We went sledding this weekend and dad and the kids really had a great time! We used some sleds that we bought last year, but there was a time in the past when the snow caught us off guard and we didn’t have anything to use as a sled.
Here are some ideas for alternatives to sleds that we have used or have seen used in case you find yourself caught without one. Some of them work better when the slopes have a smoother, slightly icy surface.
* Baby pool – We actually saw a family using an old baby pool. The one they were using would not slide well since the snow was soft, but they turned it inside out (turning the smooth side out) and it worked great. Their entire family went down together in it and they had great fun. (Of course, if you have to turn it inside out, it probably won’t hold water anymore so make sure it’s a worn out baby pool!
* Lids to large plastic storage containers

* Laundry basket (BJ’s favorite for a couple of years!)

* Vinyl outdoor cushions – We saw some people using them. They worked well and the foam inside made the bumps a little less severe for the kids.

* Cardboard – larger pieces work best. If the snow is soft, bend the front up a little so it doesn’t get stuck.

* An old tarp – These work best with smooth, almost icy surfaces. They will get bogged down in soft snow and will shred quickly if the ice has become sharp edged.

* An old winter coat with plastic coating (I wouldn’t do this with your best coat!) – My husband said that he and his friends (when they were kids occasionally slid down on old coats with the shiny, water resistant coating.

* Smooth hubcaps – (Don’t try it with wire wheels!

* Innertubes – Inflated innertubes work great for sledding! If you have an old innertube that has been punctured, you can cut it open and let the kids sit inside it. Even without air, the rubber still slides well.

* Office chair mat (without the pokey things) – Some mats for office chairs are smooth on one side and don’t have the gripping spikes on the back. If you have one laying around, they make great sleds in a pinch.

Tawra Kellam is the editor of www.LivingOnADime.com. Tawra and her husband paid off $20,000 debt in 5 years on $22,000 a year income.

Ideas That Spark: Home Style

From the Editors of Ideas That Spark

By Sarah Mahoney

It took a bout of unemployment to jolt Joyce Wilden of Melbourne, Fla., out of the cleaning products aisle. “We were out of window cleaner and looking for every possible way to save money,” she says. So she went online, searched for a recipe for a homemade version and has never looked back. “I discovered it works exactly the same!” she says.

Skeptical that homemade formulas actually work? Most people are. “When I teach workshops, I have everyone clean the bottom of an old copper pan with just lemon juice and sea salt,” says Leslie Reichert, a green cleaning coach and author of The Joy of Green Cleaning (CI Publishing 2008). “People can’t believe something homemade works so well.” Reichert says the biggest money waster is falling for the idea that you need a different product for every surface. People spend on average approximately $140 per year buying cleaning products, whereas making your own will average around $30 a year.

An easy place to start is using what you already have. “Soap is soap,” says Marla Cilley, author of Sink Reflections (Bantam 2002) and creator of FlyLady, a housekeeping Web site. You don’t need to buy special toilet cleaners. “I use old shampoos and bodywashes — the things you bought and didn’t like, for whatever reason — in an old vase by the toilet, with a brush in it. Swish the toilet daily — if you keep up with it, you don’t need stronger cleaners.”

Other ways to save:

Make Your Own All-purpose Counter Cleaner
Mix equal parts vinegar and water. Vinegar is a mild acid that kills most germs, mold and bacteria. Hate the smell? Buy a small bottle of essential oils in a fragrance you like and sprinkle a few drops directly into your container of undiluted vinegar before mixing with water.

Savings: A $3 gallon bottle of vinegar and a $5 bottle of essential oils yields 2 gallons, or 255 ounces; spray-on cleaners cost $4 for 32 ounces.

Use Baking Soda for Scouring
When not fully dissolved, baking soda acts as a mild abrasive and is safe for scouring anything. Plus, it won’t hurt your eyes and will prevent kids from getting near chemicals. Use it straight out of the box or mix with other products, like borax or sea salt, for extra scrubbing power.

Savings: Buy 4 pounds for $3, versus $1.49 for 14 ounces of a leading scouring powder.

Make Your Own Dishwasher Soap
“I mix equal parts borax with baking soda and use two tablespoons of it in my dishwasher,” says Rene Christensen, a blogger at BudgetSavingMom. “It’s environmentally friendlier, and I think it works better than store brands.”

Savings: A 76-ounce box of borax costs $3.59 and contains roughly 10 cups. Add another $3 for the baking soda, and you’ll create 152 ounces or so for $6.59, versus spending $3.35 for 20 ounces of a leading brand.

Get Streak-free Windows
Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol with water for a great glass cleaner. And because it kills germs and leaves behind a nice shine, it’s great for many grimy places, including appliances (even stainless steel) and granite countertops.

Savings: A $2.06 bottle of rubbing alcohol will make 64 ounces of cleaner, versus $4.50 for a 32-ounce bottle of a leading brand.

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I’m already preparing for Valentine’s Day as I see the store shelves lined with goodies and it got me thinking about decorating on a dime this year. Normally, we don’t decorate the house, but the kids are having a small Valentine’s Day get together and with kids around, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on decorations , especially if you go homemade! This is also the chance where the kids can express their creativity and love! Here are a few tips:

Give each of the kids a ball of ribbon in red, white, or pink and let them at it!! Ribbon can be wrapped around vases of flowers and draped above doorways. A pair of scissors can be run the length of the ribbon to create fancy curls.

Decorate cabinets ,shelves and tables with small construction paper hearts. The kids can stick them all over – wherever they can find a good spot. Bigger hearts can be cut out, decorated and displayed on the walls by using a hole punch to create holes at the top then make a loop through the hole with a piece of string and hang over a push pin! We are using the big hearts to hang from the ceiling:)

Decorate with a paper chain in different colors (try using red and white Christmas Wrapping paper!): Cut several pieces of construction paper into one inch wide strips. Interlock the paper and create a link chain. When the chain is long enough, display the banner to remind the entire family that it is Valentine’s Day.

Have the kids glue Popsicle sticks together to make coasters for the table or used as window decoration. Watercolor paints can be used to decorate the finished coaster with hearts and arrows. Add words like, Happy Valentine’s Day, Love, etc. to the coasters. The same Popsicle sticks can be used to make a poster or a mobile that says I Love You.

I think decorations are fun to make and display around the house while also spending quality time with the kids at a price you can you can afford!

What Valentine’s Day Decorating Idea do you have?

Printable Valentines Games for the Family!

Guest Post by Roni Deutch

Let’s face it, being unemployed stinks. But there are ways to make unemployment work for you, tax-wise. Here’s what you need to know to make the most of your tax season if you’re one of the millions who are out of work:

1. Enjoy $2400 tax free! While your unemployment checks are usually considered taxable income, in 2009, the first $2,400 you received will not be taxed. Simply subtract that amount from the total benefits your received (which should be reported to you on form 1099-G).

2. Deduct Job Hunting Expenses. If you’ve been using your time out of work looking for a new job, you may be able to deduct your job hunting expenses. You need to itemize your deductions to get this great tax break, and the deduction is claimed on Schedule A, as part of your miscellaneous deductions.

The caveat here is that you can only deduct the amount of miscellaneous deductions that exceed 2% of your Adjusted Gross Income. However, I’m willing to bet most people will have no trouble meeting that requirement.

If you’re not sure what you can deduct, see below for a few ideas:

a. Travel to and from interviews
b. Resume printing and mailing costs
c. Phone and fax expenses
d. Costs to attend job fairs, or employment workshops

3. Expect a Smaller Tax Bill. Because your income was reduced, so too is your tax bill. This may even mean a bigger refund. Remember, taxes are withheld on the assumption that your current level of pay will continue all year. But if you lose your paycheck at some point during the year, you probably overpaid. So, you may have a little more of a windfall than you were expecting come April 15.

Certainly, being unemployed is no picnic. But with a few smart moves, you can use your status to save money on your taxes.

About the author: Roni Deutch is an esteemed tax attorney and author of, Tax Lady’s Guide to Beating the IRS. For more tips and suggestions, visit www.TaxLadyBook.com.

Ideas That Spark: Mom2Mom

By Jennifer Quintua for Ideas That Spark

I love to shop. I also love to save money, so if I can do that while shopping, I’m all for it! And because I can save money online, it has become by far one of my favorite ways to shop in the past year. An added benefit: Extra time with my family.

Shopping online saves you gas and allows you to do price-comparison checks with a click of your mouse rather than going to a store where you are limited. Lastly, it saves you time — a precious commodity to a mom of three!

Below is a list of the best sites to look at when shopping online:

• Before your night out, check out Restaurant.com for great deals on gift certificates that are good at local restaurants. The site also features frequent special offers, such as $25 gift certificates for only $5, so stock up!
• Want to take the kids out to dinner? MyKidsEatFree.com has an amazing 5,682 restaurant locations that offer Kids Eat Free specials.
• Why pay to rent movies when you can visit Hulu.com and watch for free? There are plenty of great movies to choose from, and the price is just right.
• Visit CouponMom.com, which provides free state-by-state lists of grocery stores and does coupon matchups for you so you can save even more.
• Woot.com offers one fabulous money-saving deal a day. Bookmark this site and check every day!
• Comparison Sites If you find a product online that you are interested in, chances are there is a lower price out there — you just have to look! I love Yahoo.shopping.com because they typically have a list that offers lower-priced items compared to a few other sites.

When shopping online, be sure to always look for online reviews — especially big-ticket items. It helps to know if a product will be worth the cost.

What are you favorite money-saving Web sites?

Jennifer Quintua is the owner and blogger of SisterlySavings.net. She is the mother of three who is always looking for a good deal.

Guest Post by Michelle Madhok

With the spring season quickly approaching, there is bound to be several items on your “must-have” list that will round out your spring wardrobe or “spring” up your household.

Whether you are looking for that perfect cardigan or new bedroom curtains, Michelle Madhok, online shopping expert and founder of SheFinds.com and MomFinds.com, can help you comparison shop and scout prices to ensure you are getting the best deal for your money.

Here are Michelle’s top five shopping tips that will help you save money and stay in control this spring:

1. Price Alerts – Got your eye on a new TV, but waiting for it to go on sale to make the purchase? Sign up for price alerts and let the internet do the monitoring for you! Sites like PriceSpider.com for electronics and ShopStyle.com for fashion and accessories will track prices and e-mail you alert when the items go on sale.

2. Scout it Out – If there’s a specific retailer where you love to shop, call customer service and ask when – including what time of day – they’ll mark down their online inventory. This one quick phone call will make you the ultimate “price scouter,” since you’ll be ready and waiting at your computer when your favorite items get deeply discounted.

3.  Compare, Shop AND Get Cash Back – While you may not normally think these three actions could all happen at once, Bank of America’s Add It Up shopping website makes it possible to shop, save and put some cash in your wallet!  Here, you can search over 400 online retailers for your must-have items using simple search terms like “women’s jeans,” compare prices to find the best price point AND earn up to 20% cash back just by making your purchase. Cash back in your wallet just for shopping?  Sign me up!

4. Search, Shop, Click – Familiarize yourself with all of the top comparison search engines, especially the ones that specialize in specific categories.  My favorites are Pronto.com, which has a specific database for fashion, home and kid’s stuff like toys, while Shopping.com and Bizrate.com make it their mission to hunt for the best prices on commodity items like big screen TVs.

5. Promo Code, Please! – Before you check out on any retail site, always look to see if there is a promotional code available to help you score free shipping or an extra percentage off your total bill. To find promotional codes, go to RetailMeNot.com, Dealio.com or Google the name of the shopping site with the words “coupon code” or “promotion code.”

For more tips and advice check out SheFinds.com and MomFinds.com.

About the author:

Michelle Madhok is founder and CEO of SheFinds.com and MomFinds.com, online publications that more than 250,000 busy women rely on every month to get shopping advice and access to the best online deals. She is also a contributing editor for MSN, Real Simple, and Yahoo!

She has appeared on The Tyra Banks Show, Fox National News, and ABC, NBC, and CBS. Additionally, Michelle had been featured in Inc. Magazine, The New York Times, and New York Daily News.

READY FOR TAX BREAKS?

- Guest Post By Safiya Andrew

“Show me the money!!” is what we all said during the Presidential campaign. President Obama promised that there will be a lot of tax breaks for the majority of the population who did not fall under the 3% wealthy bracket, and even more for the middle class. We are now upon the first tax season since the implementation of President Obama’s new tax breaks and I think we are off to an excellent start! President Obama you get an A- for the new tax incentives.

Let’s take a look at what’s in-store this season:

1. Make Work Pay Credit- This year everyone that is making earned income is eligible for up to a $400 (Single, Head of Household) or $800 (Married Filing Joint) refundable credit just for working.

Of course there are income limitations, however, for most of the population this is a wonderful boost to your refund. It may not be a lot, but it’s $400 more than what you were going to get.

2. HOPE Education Credit- the changes to this credit is AWESOME. With the new changes, it now allows for a maximum credit of $2500 for the first 4 years of college (previously only for first 1st and 2nd year) and 40% (up to $1,000) now refundable. Did you read that? If this isn’t an incentive for finishing your degree or going back to school, I don’t know what it is.

The changes also expanded the covered expenses to course material (i.e. books, supplies, equipment).

3. Sales and Local Taxes on Purchased Vehicle- What is awesome about this deduction is that everyone who purchased a motor vehicle (i.e. car, van, motorcycle, motor home) up to $49,500 in costs can take this deduction either as an add on to the standard deduction or under itemized deductions.

This deduction is for those that purchased their qualifying vehicle after 2/16/2009.

4. Homebuyer Credit- This credit has been extended to cover homes purchased from 11/7/2009 – 4/30/2010.

If you are building a home you must sign the contract by 4/30/2010 and home must be ready by 6/30/2010.

Now, the credit of up to $8,000 is not required to be paid back if you stay in the house longer than 3 years. Which is better than the original credit, in which the credit had to be paid back over a 15 year period.

Also they have extended this credit to homebuyers who have previously lived in a primary residence for 5 consecutive years and purchases a new primary residence , however, the tax credit is limited to $6500 (which is more than the credit they received last year…$0) Of course there are some limitations but not so strict , so most people qualify.

5. Earned Income Tax Credits- This year they have added another dimension to the earned income tax credit by having another level of credit possibilities for 3 or more children (previously the cap was 2 qualifying children).

Also, the earned income has been increased and the credit amounts are higher. So we are talking MO MONEY, MO MONEY, MO MONEY!.

6. Unemployment- This is a BIG one. This year anyone receiving unemployment compensation do not pay taxes on the first $2400 of unemployment compensation they receive.

I have had several tax clients who’s tax refunds were reduced because they received unemployment and did not have any federal taxes withheld. With so many people being unemployed, I know that this one will be great.

These are the top 6 new tax law changes that will provide great benefits to the taxpayers who work tirelessly to keep their heads above water during this “recession”.

These are definitely not inclusive as there are several more tax breaks, such as: increased standard deductions; home energy improvements; increased medical and moving mileage rates; higher income limits for IRA; increased 401(k) contributions; increased adoption credits and more.

{Please be sure to visit my website at andrewstaxes to see some more tax tips and advise for lifetime events.}

With tax season soon coming to a close, Roni Deutch, tax expert and author of The Tax Lady’s Guide to Beating the IRS: And Saving Big Bucks on Your Taxes, has tips you can start doing RIGHT AWAY so you’re not blindsided by the IRS in April:

1.      Clean, correct, current and complete Use good recordkeeping habits and a computer to complete your return and you will have gotten yourself off to a fabulous start.

2.      Right forms in the right order Using the right forms and putting them in sequential order makes it easier for the IRS to quickly read and review – which is what you want!

3.      Use the correct filing status The wrong tax category could cost you plenty in credits and deductions.

4.      Claim all of your allowable exemptions At $3,500 per exemption, that is a pretty penny to kiss away.

5.      Don’t use round numbers Rounded numbers is a big red flag that the taxpayer is estimating the numbers and may increase your chance for an audit.

6.      Double check your math Make sure to pay special attention to the Earned Income tax credit and Child tax credit—they are most often calculated incorrectly.

7.      Sign your return Yes, it seems like an obvious point. But the IRS says unsigned tax returns are one of the most common taxpayer miscues.

8.      File and pay on time and avoid penalties You must pay at least 90% of your tax due by April 15 to avoid penalties

9.      If you are not ready, file an extension File IRS Form 4868 and you will get until October 15 to file and avoid a late filing penalty.

10.  Keep a copy of your return For at least 6 years after filing your return, retain a copy just in case.

For more tips and suggestions, visit www.TaxLadyBook.com.

Looking for a great place to connect with other parents? Head over to The Savvy Source (which is almost similar to facebook, but for parents) where you’ll get lots of online guidance,support and build friendships within a parent based community. Interact with fellow parents and get customized suggestions of educational activities to do with your little ones.

There are different parent groups to join and you can find fun activities in your area. It’s definitely a great site to bookmark!

It can be so easy to let disorganization and clutter take control of your house.  But where do we start?? It literally can be overwhelming and frustrating to the point of just giving up altogether trying to get organized! In between everyday household chores,grocery shopping, taking care of the kids and getting dinner ready, where can you find the time? There never seems to be enough time in the day to get everything done, let alone a few hours just to reorganize that junk pile drawer (we all have one) that has been collecting junk for almost 5 years now.

Relax and breathe: it didn’t get chaotic in one day and it’s not going to  get cleaned up in one day!  It needs to be done on a step by step basis! So join me as I get my home organized this January!!!

It all starts with a plan: You need to start by making a plan on how to get your house neat and organized:

•  Walk through the house and take notes of what needs to be done in each room. 
•  Once you have a list, make it a goal to complete at least one thing off the list each day. 
•  Keep the list where you can see it, a good starting point I found was to make a list for each room and tape the list in a spot where I can see it and mark off what I have accomplished for that day.

To keep from feeling overwhelmed, start with small projects, things you can get done quickly.  Try organizing a closet.  Sort through it and get rid of things you don’t need anymore.  You can donate them, get them ready for a yard sale or just throw them away.  As you make more room in your closet, think about ways to maximize your storage space.  You can add shelves and other closet organizers. A neat trick I learned was to time myself on small tasks with a timer. I set it for 15 minutes, started the job and when the bell rang, that was it! You cannot imagine how much you can get done in 15 minutes! Make it a 15 minute Rule and you’ll see all your “tasks” getting done quickly!

Of course,as you move through the list, some projects may take more than 15 minutes to complete.  That’s ok.  You just have to make sure you keep working on it till it is done.  Take about thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes in the afternoon working on your list.  Before you know it, you’ve gone through the entire house and organized it!

The trick now is  keeping it organized!

Each day, you’ll need to keep up on maintaining your newly organized home.  The key is to not get into the “I’ll do it later” mindset.  If you have something that is in the wrong place, take the time to either put it away right away, or keep a designated box, to put things that need to go to another floor.  Then at the end of the day, everything in the box should get put away. This is an easy way to get your kids involved in the helping of the household chores while teaching them responsibility.

Another good idea is to establish a weekly schedule where each room of the house gets a thorough cleaning one day each week.  It may take awhile to get into the new routine, but if you get everyone in the house involved, it will be much easier and quicker.  Make it a rule to have everyone remember to put their own things away which will make keeping things organized easier down the road:) 

Even better: why not assign each member of the household an area of the house to help keep organized with a family chore chart. Each nite all they have to do is simply go through the room and make sure that everything is in its place! This works well for smaller children who want to help mommy clean:)

  While it does takes time and effort, it will be worth it once the house is clean, neat and organized. Just remember to pace yourself and don’t get frustrated and remember Rome wasn’t built in a day, so the house will not get organized in a day either! We’ll take it one step at a time together!

Readers Homework:

1. Set up a To Do List for all the rooms in your home you want to organize and place each list where you can see it everyday. 
2. Get your kitchen timer ready cause your gonna need it!

Extra Credit:

If you can, get your hands on a copy of  Get Your Act Together: A 7-Day Get-Organized Program For The Overworked, Overbooked, and Overwhelmed by Pam Young and Peggy Jones. It’s a great book I am currently reading it and its helping me to make up a household index card organization system which I am truly finding enlightening!!!

Next Post in our Monthlong Household Organization  Series: Organize your Kitchen so its Functional for You.

What ideas/tips do you have to help start organizing your home that you have found to work for you?

Do you enjoy eating out but really can’t afford to? I know we enjoy an occasional out at a restaurant every once in awhile. But have you seen how much a meal for a family of 5 can cost eating out??  But with a little thought and planning, we all can enjoy eating out on a budget!! Here are a few tips that can help you save money when you go out to dine:

1. If you can choose the time of day, you’ll find that breakfast is usually lower in cost. If that’s not possible, dine out during lunch or brunch time, which tends to be cheaper than at dinner time.

2. Dine out during the week rather than on the weekend. Almost all restaurants offer weekly specials where you’ll find prices that are much lower than usual including daily specials.

3. If you have a family, go to places that offer children’s menus with low priced meals or choose a a place that offers Free Kids Meals!!

4. If you are not a big eater, share an entree with someone else and order salad or soup to supplement your meal.

5. Try and avoid alcoholic drinks and desserts since their markup is very high. $5 for a drink is simply not worth it!

6. Use Coupons! Your local city newspaper or phone book should have coupons for many of the popular restaurants in your area. Do you own a copy of the Entertainment Book? They have lots of dining out coupons!! Take a look and see what’s available to you.

7. If you dine out a lot, it may be more economical to buy a coupon book of restaurants in your area or a “frequent dining card”. You’ll find lots of 2-for-1 and 50% off coupons that can add up to big savings.

8. If you eat out and you have a huge appetite, go for the all-you-can-eat buffets. That might be all you need for the day!

9. If you own a business, dining out for business purposes is a legitimate expense you can write off:) Check with your local tax laws for the percentage allowed.

10. Last but not least, why not cook? Not only is it much healthier, but you’ll save hundreds if not thousands of dollars every year.

Almost everyone enjoys eating out from time to time. However this can get quite expensive especially if you eat out on a regular basis. But you can enjoy a meal out once in awhile if you just “Plan” for it,  and you might find yourself saving hundreds  of dollars each year… food for thought!

I am not one to openly bash a company or services, but my experience with Clear, the newest network that offers Mobile Internet, Home Internet & Home Voice services at low prices , has upset me to the point of exhaustion and if I can help anyone not go through the same situation I went through, then I have served this posts’ purpose!

I currently am on a month to month contract with Sprint for mobile broadband since our computer went crashing down last year. While it was great option for me to get up and running on the internet at the time, its not a cost sufficient option because they don’t offer unlimited services which means we need to watch our time on the internet to avoid paying some pretty hefty charges (although on the bright side, it limits to how much time we all spend on the computer!).

I found out about Clear.com and how they offer unlimited mobile broadband at a fairly reasonable price, and I decided to go in today since my Sprint monthly bill was due today and before renewing it for another month I wanted to check out my options.

I went in to an authorized dealer which was very close to my home and asked him about the services and even got to test it out right there on their computer to check the speed. It seemed like a great deal and so I signed up for it right then & there. They only accept credit cards (no cash at all), which should have been my first warning sign . I did ask if they were going to automatically charge my card each month which I am not a big fanof, but I was told that I can change the settings in my account. Ok.

Then, the dealer had to call up another person to input my info which he sat there stating all of my information out loud and there was another individual in the place, which made me very nervous. I mean, that person could be listening and get all my info including credit card info and I was not very happy about that. When he finished with the call, I had to wait for them to call him to process my card at which point I asked for my application back with all my info on it since I was uncomfortable with him having it all down on paper out in the open. That should have been  warning sign #2 for me.

Next, he told me that he didn’t have the equipment right there and that I could come back tomorrow to get it. Since my daughter uses the internet, I declined and said that I would go to another dealer that had some in stock. At that point he said he would “loan” me his until tomorrow when I could pick it up. A little odd? Yes, but it looked like he really wanted the sale and I assume they must work on commision… (more…)

Did you know that grocery stores and members clubs mark down meat every morning? Meat with a price tag showing an expiration date for the following day must be reduced for quick sale, or removed from the shelf by the date on the tag. The “sell by” date is more of a guide for the store to know how long it can display a food product for sale.

  To move the meat off the shelves and still make a profit, the stores mark down the meat for quick sale. You can find ground beef, steaks, roasts, ribs – just about anything in the meat case. Sometimes you can find bacon, sausage, and other breakfast meats.\

  The key to successfully using this technique is to find out what days and times the meat is marked down. Ask the meat department or store manager. Plan a trip to the grocery store or member’s club (such as Sams or Costco) at the optimal time for the best selection. The selection of reduced-priced items will vary from day to day, so plan to shop for reduced-price meat on a regular basis. I’ve even found an 8-piece fried chicken deal for less than $2 as a clearance item.

  You can either cook the meat that day, or freeze it for future use. Your freezer will eventually contain a nice selection of meats that you can use in combination with sale items in the future. For example, if you are stocked up on ground beef, and you have stockpiled pasta sauce and in your pantry, you can create an Italian meal very inexpensively.

  The key is being prepared, planning, and thinking ahead.

In school, kids are encouraged to create, draw, color, paint and build. These activities can certainly stimulate children, and help them grow.

Very often, these masterpieces that your children create are brought home and proudly displayed. But what do you do when all of the artwork begins to take over your home? Here are 7 great ideas:

1. FIND THE DIAMONDS. Rather than keeping every single piece of artwork your child creates, sit down with your child on a regular basis and ask him to choose the one or two he likes best. By the end of the year, you should have no more than 5 pieces of artwork that your child believes to be his ‘best’ pieces. This will help keep the artwork under control, and will still give you an opportunity to save his creations for future memories.
2. A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS. Take photos of the artwork that your child creates and keep these photos in a scrapbook. This way, even if the artwork is discarded for space purposes, you’ll still have the memory!
3. KIDS FILE STORAGE BOX. Office supply stores carry portable file boxes that hold hanging file folders. These generally have a cover and a handle for easy portability. Help your child create her very own filing system. Perhaps one file folder for 2nd grade artwork, one for 3rd grade artwork, and so on. Now, all the drawings, and any type of artwork that lays flat, will be kept safe and organized. You’ll even be teaching your child filing skills! It’s never too early!
4. KEEP IT CONTAINED. For other artwork that does not lay flat, the perfect container may be a large, plastic container with a lid. Your child will have a space for shadowboxes, and other artwork that won’t fit into a file folder. Again, be choosy. If you keep every single piece of artwork your child brings home for the next 15 years, your house is going to be overflowing with it.
5. HANG IT. Get your child his very own artwork bulletin board so he can display his favorite artwork in his bedroom. When organized on a nice cork board, this really adds a nice touch to a child’s room. Plus, your child can very easily switch one piece of art, with another.
6. SUPPLY MANIA. If your child produces a lot of artwork at home, she probably has tons of crayons, markers and other art supplies. Keep it all in a portable box, light enough for your child to be able to transport it from one room into the next. In addition, separate and organize the supplies into separate Zip-lock baggies before putting them in the box. This will keep everything organized and easily accessible.
7. THE PERFECT GIFT. Kids artwork makes the perfect gift for grandma, grandpa, sister Jane, Aunt Sue, Uncle Jim, and so on. Rather than buying gifts for your child to give to family members, encourage them to give their creations away as special gifts to special people.

The bread became very soft after soaking all night in the egg/milk mixture!

Ingredients

1/2 French loaf, sliced (and stale, as in my case!)
6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup sugar
dash of cinnamon
Handful of Blueberries

Directions
1. In bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, sugar and cinnamon.
2. Cut bread into 1/2 inch slices and spread on bottom of 8×8 baking dish or equivalent.
3. Pour egg mixture over bread. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
4. In the morning, preheat oven to 350. Uncover and sprinkle with blueberries. Bake 35-40 minutes, until golden brown on top and eggs have cooked through. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve warm with syrup and fruit!

This year many more people will be looking for ways to reduce their Holiday Spending due to the recession and the loss of many jobs. Many families are being cautious with spending and looking for all the best deals and the stores have definately played up to our expectations drastically reducing prices and holding sales longer than usual.

This year doesn’t have to be an expensive one as long as you take advantage of the Holiday Sales and have a plan! Here is a list that can help you cut down on your Holiday Spending with a Budget.

1. Make a list and set a Budget!! I cannot stress this enough! Lists are so very helpful in helping you plan and save money! In your list, include who you need a gift for and a few ideas for gifts. I keep a record of sizes too just in case I want to buy clothes. As I buy a gift for someone, I check them off and thats one less headache I have!!

2. Start as early as possible! I have a few gifts that I gather throughout the year as they go on sale and I place them in a plastic storage bin in our basement. The top gifts I gather are at the annual sales such as Bath and Body Works. Combined with coupons, I get many BB&W items for Free and they make great gifts!!

Take advantage of the after Christmas sales too! Last year I was able to get those adorable fuzzy socks for only $1, marked down from $8.99 from Target! They are going in my gift bags this year!!!

3. Compare Prices!!! Do your homework first! Before you go out, make sure you know the best deal that you can get before you buy!!! With the internet, there are a ton of sites that do price comparisons! Here are my favorites:

• Pricegrabber
• Shopzilla
• Pricerunner

4. Do your shopping online! Lots of retailers this year are offering free shipping (consider having gifts delivered straight to the recipient when shopping online ! )  and for the ease it affords, it can be even more beneficial buying online.The Internet has lots of great deals. And be sure to look for coupon codes and specials for retailers such as our partner site, SisterlySavings.FindSavings where you can find the hottest online coupons for everything on your list!

5. Host a Cookie Exchange! Have a lot of co workers to buy for, or an extremely large family? Try going with a Festive Holiday Cookie Exchange that can even become a Tradition each year! What shows you care more than a fresh batch of homemade cookies?????

Need ideas on how to host a cookie exchange? Here is a Wonderful and Free PDF from Partyblueprints.com for you to download that gives you all the details along with a few great recipes from TwitterMoms! It includes step by step instructions for invites, menu, recipes, activities and a special cookie recipe link from Matt of mattbites.com. With concerns about the economy this year – everyone is looking for a great way to entertain without busting their budgets and what a delicious way to give:)

Most importantly,  don’t let the holiday season pass without getting into the spirit of the season by rushing around and getting all stressed out! The True Meaning of Christmas is beyond just the buying of gifts, its all about giving (no matter how big or small) and spending time with your loved ones and the Blessed Birth of Our Saviour!!

What savvy shopping tips do you have that help you save less?

Around the Holidays, you’ll start seeing a lot of promotions offering Buy X item, Get X item or the ever popular B1 item, get another item free. The B1G1F deals are definately worth getting as you can get 2 gifts for the price of 1!

Clinique Gift Set:

Give a gift – get a gift. With purchases of $21.50 or more, you’ll get a 7-piece gift set at Clinique until 11/8. The set includes lipstick, mascara, blush, an eye shadow set, eye cream, a blush brush and a cool makeup bag.

There are three sets to choose from:

• weekend casual
• professional polish
• evening drama

Here’s the bargain deal!

Before you check out, you can use up to two coupon codes for more free stuff (separate codes with a comma).

• Use code MSURG through 10/31 and get Free Shipping & a Free Trial size of Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief w/ $35 order
•  CSEMAILSKIN3 gets you a free Clinique Clarifying Lotion #3 sample
•  CSEMAILSKIN2 gets you a free Clinique Clarifying Lotion #2 sample

(Thanks to Affluent Pauper)

Clarins: Spend $60 get a free gift set worth up to $103 value 

Get a free gift set when you spend $60 by 10/31/08. Enter promo code at step 1 during checkout. While supplies last. These are great starter sets:

Restorative $86 value enter code RESTORE
Extra Firming $103 value enter code XFIRM
Brightening $88 value enter code BRIGHT
Hydrating $58 value enter code HYDRATE

Other Great deals to Note:

*Blair.com has Comforter Sets on  Sale starting from $8:

• HillsPoint Lane
• Glamour Velvet

Use code NVT to get free shipping

*Tinker Bell DVD (New Release!) and get a Free Card Game @ Best Buy for $15.99  (orig price is $29.99)

*Note- you will need to order online and select in store pick up! Be sure to add the TinkerBell Card game to your cart!!

 *KBToys.com Head-to-Head Plug ‘n Play $2.99 SHIPPED! (Hurry, this one will go FAST!!)

Head-to-Head Plug ‘n Play Video Game System
by Value Source Int’l.

IN STOCK
Was: $19.99
Sale Price: $2.99
You Save: $17.00 (85%)

Usually leaves warehouse within 1-2 business days.
Estimated Delivery Date

This item currently ships FREE via Standard Shipping.

Looking for more Christmas Cheer? Vist Mommies with Cents at Holiday Countdown for some great gift ideas!

I’m not a huge fan of Dave Ramsey, but I did sign up to recieve his Free Emails and some articles are really helpful! And I did in fact read his books more out of curiosity more than anything and I must admit, they are some great reads and do have practical advice! If you haven’t read of any books for budgeting, I think they do make for a nice Gift that keeps on giving!!

 I took this article from the Dave Ramsey emails  that I wanted to share with everyone because I think it makes perfect sense for all of us at this time of year!

We’ve all paid “stupid tax”—making costly decisions with zeros on the end. A lot of those decisions happen when we’re caught up in the emotion of the Christmas season and procrastinate a little too long.

Make this year different!

Here are the top 10 Christmas shopping mistakes and how you can act differently:

1. Not prioritizing.
   Instead of getting stressed out with all the parties, baking and shopping, in addition to your normal daily life, set some priorities before you’re bombarded with a million requests. Think about which things are “must do” and which are “would be nice to do.” It’s all right to say no to keep yourself sane. Shopping for gifts is more fun when you’re not completely stressed out.
2. Not using a budget.
   Before you make a gift list and head to the mall, set aside a reasonable amount of money for gifts. Make a commitment that you won’t add $20 to the fund every week just because you saw something cute that your niece would love. Get budgeting advice here.
3. Using credit cards.
   Once you have your budget finalized, stay away from credit cards! You will still spend 12-18% more if you use plastic, and you’ll be paying it off come 2009! Doesn’t paying with cash sound more freeing than having a credit card balance looming over your head? You bet.
4. Buying for everyone.
   Do you really need to buy gifts for every family member and friend you have? That can get overwhelming and expensive for everyone. Talk with them and work toward an agreement to draw names for gifts or donate money to a common cause.
5. Not listening.
   Listen to the hints your loved ones drop about what they need or want this year. Maybe your Aunt Sally mentioned that she would love someone to help her in the garden, or Cousin Bob keeps losing guitar picks. A thoughtful gift like this will mean a lot.
6. Not having a thought-out list on paper.
   If you think you can spend time in “Christmas retail world” without getting distracted by all the shiny toys, you’re in for a big surprise! You’ll be more likely to buy impulsively if you do it that way. Write down what each person you’re buying for would like and stick to the list. Stay focused!
7. Not shopping around.
   “Shopping around” doesn’t mean you have to spend 24 extra hours running from store to store to save 10 cents. Take a look at your gift list and do some comparative price-checking online before you head out into the retail and traffic madness. This will save you money, time and stress!
8. Waiting until the last minute.
   Procrastination is not the most appealing gift out there. Don’t find yourself stressed out on Christmas Eve just because you didn’t invest a little bit of time to plan.
9. Forgetting to plan for next year.
   Throughout the next year, look for outrageous sales on things your loved ones will need. If you time the sales just right and clip some coupons, you could land a major discount on something you were going to buy in a few months for a birthday or wedding gift. Remember to have a list and budget for this, too.
10. Forgetting why we celebrate.
    If this season becomes all about shopping and gifts, you’ve missed the whole point. People—not things—matter. The miraculous birth of a baby who changed the world is what matters.

You can view more Free Articles from Dave Ramsey here.

I have a confession to make. I LOVE to shop online. There, I said it. As a mother of 3 who works full time, shopping online has a lot of advantages for me such as shopping at any time of the day, finding the items I need or want at a click of button without having to run store to store and in most cases, saves me money. A LOT of money.

So much in fact, that the majority of my christmas shopping is done online throughout the year whenever I find a really great bargain!

Shopping online can be a great way to find bargains, but to be a really savvy shopper, you’ll need to do a little “shopping” around before making your next purchase online.

1. Read Online Reviews!

The best way to find if a product you are looking to buy online is really a good buy and worth the money, is to see what others are saying about it! Buzzillions.com offers real people reviews on 1000’s of items to help you make the best decision!

This is especially helpful if you are looking to buy a big ticket item! Learning the pros and cons of a product you buy before you buy it can really help you save money!

2. Compare Online Prices.

Before you buy anything online, visit sites that offer price comparisons like PriceGrabber.com to make sure you are paying the lowest price available online!

3. Skip the Shipping Charges.

Have you ever found a really great deal online only to find that shipping & handling were more than the sale item itself?

Shipping charges can be pretty hefty! To really get a great deal on shipping online, visit FreeShipping.org where you can find 1,000’s of online stores that offer Free Shipping discounts to their customers.

4. Online Coupons.

Never purchase an item online without 1st checking to see if there is an online coupon code for your item! About 95% of the time, chances are that there is an available online coupon code that you can use!! You just have to look.

Sites like our very own Sisterlysavings.Findsavings.com offer up- to -date online coupon codes for a wide variety of popular online stores.

5. Cash Back Programs.

Did you know that you can earn money back on some of the items you buy online? Buy shopping online through cash back programs like Shopathome.com, you can earn a percentage of your total purchase back meaning more money in your pocket.

Its free to sign up, you can earn $5 for joining and each purchase you make at a

By using these resources, you will be able to make better, smarter and savvier decisions on your next online purchase and more importantly, save money!

Before you head out on Black Friday at 4 a.m. to stand in those ridiculously long lines, I have some advice. Many times you will find the same deals shopping online on Black Friday or shortly thereafter. Plus, you won’t freeze or get trampled! The truth of the matter is that many online stores have much lower overhead than the Brick & Mortar stores and can pass that savings along to you. So if you are looking at a Black Friday ad and the cheap TV or other electronics device keeps calling your name, do a quick search online and you may be very surprised with what you find. Many times I have found the same price, or even lower, especially if you can combine it with an online coupon.

Also, last year I noticed that many people that shopped the “door-busters” would try and turn a quick profit and put the merchandise up on eBay right away. I found this to be a great way to get an awesome deal. Maybe not as great as if you stood in line for 2 hours and then fought the crowd, but still really good. Definitely worth a try.

Here are some related online coupons that you may be able to use to save money. If your favorite store is not listed, please contact me and I will do my best to personally find you a coupon.

Thanks Jennifer for once again letting me contribute to your terrific blog!