It is hard to believe that autumn is in full swing and the weather is turning colder by the day. It is that time of year when we need to think of winterizing our homes. Winterizing doesn’t have to be a big expensive production. There are lots of ways to weatherproof your home even if you are on a budget.
Most weatherproofing can be done by you, no need to call a professional. Here are a couple of easy jobs that will make a big difference when the cold weather blows in. Clean all gutters and downspouts in early fall and …read more

Brrrr!  I didn’t realize we were going to bypass fall and go right into winter.  Given that fall is my favorite season, this cold weather is a disappointment to me. 

Since winter is on the way, here are some ways to save on your winter energy bill.
1)  Install a programmable thermostat.  Have your thermostat drop down a few degrees each day while you’re at work.
2)  Change your filters every month.  Dirty filters can increase your bills by 20% each month.
3)  Keep your thermostat at 68F or below.  Wear a sweatshirt if you need to.
4)  Make sure your fireplace damper fits well.  …read more

Just in time for Easter, Michael’s has sent out printable bonus coupons.  Now you can get all your spring pretties at a reasonable price.  Michael’s also has a lot of great sales on spring flowers, Easter decor, picture frames, and more.  Click here to get your bonus coupons.  Enjoy!
image from michael’s

In case you don’t know, we have a new addition in our family.  We had only a few days to prepare for J and we needed a dresser for his things.  I’m a bit too thrifty and cheap to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on a dresser.

We stopped by our local thrift store to see what they had to offer.  We found this dresser for only $30!  A pretty good buy, I think.  It was a bit dirty and needed a little TLC, but I think it’s perfect for our new family member.
I’m curious to know . . …read more

Earlier this week, I looked at the pile of items I got very cheaply at CVS and realized one key to saving on groceries: Have a stockpile of necessities.
I’ve always read that buying staples in bulk is a way to save money. Corollary to this idea is buying needed items ahead of time, and only when they’re on sale. When I browse through the blogs of successful coupon shoppers, I often see photos of their stash of toilet paper, toilet paper, toothpaste, diapers and so on. All of these wise shoppers get their supplies when they’re on sale so …read more

Everything is more expensive these days. It is harder and harder to stretch a budget and still check off every item on the grocery list. There are ways to cut down on food bills, and still have healthy food for the family.
Today’s food editor Phil Lempert has listed ideas to “fill your grocery cart without busting your budget”. He has suggestions that can be applied to just about anything from the grocery. In addition, he also talks about 10 staple items that you can save money on. These items are milk, eggs, pasta, bread, cereal, rice, produce, fish, meat …read more

According to Consumer Reports, it is possible to predict when certain items go on sale. There are general trends over the year for when you can save on major purchases.
The editors at Consumer Reports looked at industry surveys and publications to put together a calendar of deals. For June, you can expect to save some money on the following:
* Indoor furniture
* Small consumer electronics
* Summer sports gear
* Swimwear
While weekly store circulars are still a valuable source of information on where the deals are, this calendar could be something to keep in mind if you’re planning a large purchase in …read more