freefroot is a new giveaway destination where you can discover new products, shop global brands with special offers that benefit charities, and of course enter giveaways.

For giveaways you have to register at freefroot, then browse products. Find one you like, read the product article to learn more, then click enter giveaway. Submit your response to the challenge that is written in bold inside the entry box and you’re entered to win. Some of the prizes are pretty cool – like for example I saw Automoblox, an eco-friendly toy on there plus products like MEGA Play N’ Go Table, Halo, modern-twist (a super cool eco-company), Element Skateboards, Garden-in-a-Pail, Pangea Organics Radiance Gift Set and more.

No purchase is ever necessary to enter a giveaway.

frootopia is a sister section of the site where you can tell freefroot what you would like to win. You submit style spotting and product  discoveries + ideas here then freefroot, as they put it, “Work ourselves to a tizzy to bring you your requests as freefroot giveaways.”

In some cases a portion of each purchase from our partners goes towards benefiting a host of select charities. These sections are clearly marked.

After my visit I was a little confused with the site set-up. It’s confusing because they discuss having a shopping feature, but I didn’t see a dedicated link or area for this – what it look like is some special offers pop up on specific pages. That said, if you’re looking to enter giveaways that offer really good prizes this could be an excellent site for you. I didn’t see any lame prizes – all were very nice.

Visit freefroot to learn more.

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Don’t be pressured by sale purchase amounts: When an item says 10 for $5 you usually don’t half to buy all 10. You can buy 4 or 7 or however many you like and still get the deal.

Ignore customer limits: Along the lines above don’t let stores trick you into thinking an item is rare or in high demand. For example – when people see a sign that says, “Only 8 per customer” they often think OMG I better get all 8! Nope. Stores do this on purpose to create a need, but if you don’t actually need 8 of an item, it’s no bargain.

But my cart’s not full yet!: Carts at grocery stores have steadily grown larger over the years which gives most people a sense of ease because it feels like you’re saving money if your cart is only half full. BUT with larger carts a half full cart is still pretty darn full. Don’t get into a comfort zone.

Don’t be average: Studies show that when offered three items customers will pick the mid-range price. For example, three shampoos priced $12, $7, and $2 – most will pick the $7 shampoo. With this in mind, stores often place mid-priced items at eye level which has also been shown to entice people to buy. However, it may not be the best deal in size or worth (i.e. how well it works). Always research items you buy to make sure it’s the best deal for you.

Look beyond eye level: Correlated with the tip above, always look where you can’t see to gain the best deals. Stores place mid and high priced items at eye level and cheaper versions high, low, and in other odd spaces. Chances are the items you can’t see right away are the best deal.

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Preventative care – obviously the best way to save is to need less dental care overall. Brush, floss, rinse, eat healthy – you know the drill I’m sure; but just in case read this preventative dental care guide. Along those lines encourage your kids to have healthy dental habits from birth.

Find a way to pay for regular check-ups no matter what – regular dental check-ups save you money by spotting problems before they become BIG money problems. It’ll cost less in the long run to save extra money now for an annual dental appointment.

Comparison shop – different dentists carry the same services for different prices. Sometimes you can save 100s, simply by choosing the right dentist. Always shop around before having dental work done.

Plan ahead for major work you know you need (i.e. start saving now!) and see if you can sign on for a payment plan – which many dentists offer.

NIDCR sometimes looks for volunteers with specific dental, oral, and craniofacial conditions to participate in research studies, also known as clinical trials. Usually if you participate you’ll get seriously reduced cost care or even free care. To find out if there are any NIDCR clinical trials that you might fit into, visit the NIDCR web site and click on “NIDCR Studies Seeking Patients.”

Dental schools and dental hygiene schools often offer high quality, reduced-cost dental treatment. Also Licensed dentists always supervise the students providing care. To locate dental schools visit the ADA.

There are many sliding scale to free dental programs available through local community health clinics.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) does include dental care for kids under the age of 19 but your family will need to meet income requirements.

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

In good news a recent study shows that a larger majority of women, not men, control the family budget – but only by a little bit and other research shows that while women do take over the family budget they’re leaving the investing issues i.e. decisions related to mutual fund, stocks and bonds up to men, which is not smart.

All women need to practice smart money management by doing the following…

Practice trust but not at your own risk. Trust in a marriage or partnership is swell, but believe it or not, even if you think your relationship is on solid ground, bad things can happen. Assuming you’ll always be in a two income family and not planning for survival as a one income family is a serious money trap that people fall into. Trust your partner sure, but make sure you have a backup plan in place.

Learn about all aspects of money. If you’re already one of those 62% of women who handle the family day-to-day budget, great. If not you need to learn how to manage and balance the household budget. If you’re investing, keeping up on your retirement fund issues, and your name is signed on as owner of a major item (say a house) then you also need to know how to manage all of those budget issues.Read Your Money or Your Life to get a general overview of money and how it affects your life and also read Make Money, Not Excuses: Wake Up, Take Charge, and Overcome Your Financial Fears Forever which offers easy tips about managing your finances.

Keep tabs on your credit report.

Put yourself first: In this day and age people gasp when women put themselves before their kids, but guess what; there are hundreds of ways to score cash for college and zero retirement loans out there. Your retirement funds comes before your child’s college fund. If you can afford to sock away for both super, but it’s more beneficial for your kids in the long run if you can take care of yourself when you’re old.

Have some money goals: Whether your goal is to make money like a man, save more, buy a house, or pay off your debt it’s healthy to always have a money goal or two going on. Money goals, even small ones allow you to stay focused on finances frequently and keeps you sharp.

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Wear cheery colors - Although you probably won’t see me in a Christmas sweater, you’ll likely see me wearing a bright red sweater.  Many of us have something red or green in our closets.

Jazz it up a little - Add some festive tights or a fun scarf to a plain outfit.

Wear some colorful jewelry - Shop discount stores for jewelry or make your own.

Don’t rule out the “cheap” stores - Target has some really cute clothing and fairly inexpensive prices.  Also try stores such as Marshalls, Ross, and T.J. Maxx.

Shop for used clothing and accessories - Last year’s holiday decorations, clothing, and accessories many times end up in yard sales.  People don’t want to bother with them or they grow tired of what they have.  This is a great opportunity for you to end of with a few treasures.

What ways do you save money on your Christmas outfits?

image francberg from sxc

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

• Save your fresh herbs in the freezer. You can do this in bunches or cubes and either whole or chopped. They won’t have the same picked fresh flavor but they will last longer than they would in your fridge.Save empty butter wrappers folded (messy side inside) in the fridge – when you need to grease a pan, take one out and grease away. Cheaper than spray for sure.
• Leftover baked or mashed potatoes can be made easily into potato cakes. You can add whatever fixings you like to the cakes like veggies or turkey sausage and top with gravy, sour cream, or other goodies (salsa is fun).
• To keep homemade cookies fresh place a small piece of sliced apple in with them at the bottom of the jar. This should keep them moist for as long as you have them – good for homes like mine because my son is only a semi treat muncher. Our cookies always get dry before we eat them unless we do this trick.
• ALWAYS make all your pancakes or waffles right away. Every time I leave batter in the fridge I forget about it. A better option is to use all your batter at once then freeze the extra waffles or cakes, which heat well in a toaster oven or microwave. NOTE: The first time I froze pancakes I did it wrong. Do not place them in a container and allow them to freeze, you’ll never be able to get them apart one-by-one. Instead, place extras on a cookie sheet, place in the freezer for 30 mins til mostly frozen, then put them into a container or wrap them together.
• Dried out cheese is gross in slices but still works in wet dishes like lasagna or a casserole. Grate it finely and add it to your dishes.

What other ideas do you have?

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

KidsPark centers offer day, evening and weekend care for children ages 2-11 and is open almost each and every day of the year with parent schedule friendly hours – they’re open from 8 am to 10 pm Monday through Thursday and until midnight on Friday and Saturday. KidsPark also offers recession conscience prices (about $7.50 per hour) so most families can afford it. There’s no reservation needed – families register once and they’re in the KidsPark system.

Safety - KidsPark exceeds state licensing requirements with an average teacher-child ratio of 1:8. At all times, no matter the number of children present there are two staff on site. If a child needs one-on-one attention, another teacher is available to the group.

All KidsPark staff is:

• Certified in First Aid and CPR
• Screened by the Department of Justice
• Trained in Early Childhood Education and Recreation
• Required to attend staff development and skill building workshops

KidsPark offers lots of hands-on projects, art projects, games and a pretty slick calendar of seasonal special events. Additionally, various areas for different activities are designated at each center. Such as…

• Creation Station – for art, cooking, hands-on-science and more.
• Activity Area – where kids can play individually or in group with toys, play pretend in the playhouse or investigate the book nook.
• Mountain of Energy – an active minded structure that kids can pretend is a mountain, space ship and more.
• Theater – an areaused for story times, music, G-rated movies, games and guest performers.
• Sport Court – perfect for kids tired of being inside all winter, kids can kick goals, shoot baskets, play 4-square or just enjoy a game of catch.
• Blue Crew – a school-age area that encourages interaction with peers. Older kids can learn more detailed art projects, play age appropriate games and non-violent video games or do homework.

The only downside I see to KidsPark is that there are not nearly enough of them. Current locations include Arlington/Texas, Jacksonville/FL, Scottsdale/AZ, Olathe/Kansas and in California – Chico, Northridge, Corona, Fresno, Rocklin, Sacramento, and their pilot centers in San Jose, CA. That said there are also three additional locations opening in the first half of 2010.

If you live in one of the areas with a KidsPark you may want to check them out for holiday care this year while they’re out of school or while you need to holiday shop OR set up a date night with your partner.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Look for pre-Christmas 50% off sales - Craft stores such as Michael’s, AC Moore, and Hobby Lobby frequently have select merchandise 50% off before the actual holiday.  The sales change each week, so be sure to keep a watchful eye on sales papers or better yet, sign up for their emails.

Use coupons - Some stores have online printable coupons or coupons in the Sunday paper.  Again, it’s important to sign up for emails from stores.  This is usually where you’ll score the good printables.  Also, check coupons.com.  A few weeks ago, I was able to get a $5 coupon off Mr. Potato Head.  Using the coupon, I only paid $.99 for the toy.

Shop after Christmas sales - This tip isn’t going to help you now, but it’s a great money saving tip.  Each year, I try to put aside a little bit of money so that I can add to my collection.  Some years I buy things for my village and other years I purchase things for my tree.  Now that we have our own home, I’d like to buy a few things for the yard.

Look on Craigslist and Freecycle - Sign up for email alerts for Craiglist and Freecycle postings in your area.  Many times during the holidays, people use time off from work to sort through things and get rid of things they don’t need.  You can also post a wanted ad.

Make your own - There are so many cute ideas out there for making your own decorations.  Martha Stewart and Better Homes & Gardens always have such great suggestions.  There are many other sites out there as well.

Look at dollar stores - Over the years, I have found some nice ornaments and decorations (including Hallmark ornaments) in Dollar Tree.  Things can sometimes be a bit junkier than in times past, but occasionally you can still find some treasures in there.

Put it on your Christmas wish list - When your family and friends ask what you want for Christmas, be sure to tell them some Christmas decorations.  You might want to be specific though, so that you don’t end up with something hideous.

Be content - Realize that it’s not reasonable to have everything at one time.  It takes years to accumulate the things you want.  Be happy with what you have, try not to covet other people’s things, and have a simple and happy time.

What tips do you have for saving money on Christmas decorations?

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy

If you want to learn how to save more money for this year’s holiday celebration then this handy tips post is for you. Check out the ideas below and see just how thrifty your holidays can be.

SAVE MONEY ON CELEBRATIONS & FUN

• Cutting Back on Your Christmas Expenses
• How to Give Holiday Tips
• Save money on holiday family events
• Stop stress and save money this Christmas
• Tips for Avoiding Christmas Mistakes
• Find a charity you can trust
• After the holidays re-gifting party
• Don’t let Christmas last all year

HAVE THRIFTY FUN WITH THE KIDS

• Get kids into the spirit of giving
• Easy Christmas Craft for the Kids
• Free Fun Winter Activities
• Five ways to teach kids the value of money during the holidays

SAVE MONEY ON HOLIDAY FOOD

• Save more money on Christmas dinner
• Save Money On Holiday Meals

SAVE MONEY ON HOLIDAY GIFTS

• Save Money with a Family Gift
• 24 Things To Make – A Crafty Christmas Countdown
• Save money when shipping holiday gifts
• Saving Money on Holiday Cards
• How to Stay Out of Debt This Christmas
• How to Cut Down Your Christmas Gift List
• Easy ways to save money when gift shopping online

HOLIDAY TOY TIPS

• Save More Cash On Holiday Toys
• Holiday toy safety tips that save money
• Plan ahead for recalled toys

SAVE MONEY ON HOLIDAY EXTRAS

• Save Money on Seasonal Holiday Clothing
• Less expensive last minute holiday travel

[image via stock.xchng; altered by me]

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Go homemade: It costs less to cook from scratch AND you get the added benefit of less food wasted. Whenever anyone I know buys one of those precooked holiday meals there’s a ton leftovers because those precooked meals just don’t taste that great. Why buy food if you’re going to toss it? It is more time consuming to cook homemade, but if you gather everyone together to help it makes it faster (and more fun).

Buy frozen holiday food: Normally I say go fresh and organic, however with the sheer bulk of holiday food that most families buy, frozen foods are almost just as healthy and costs less. Go fresh with your salad fixings but buy side veggies like broccoli and corn frozen. Fresh fruit is expensive this time of year, so look for frozen strawberries, raspberries, and other fruits in frozen form for tarts, cookies, pies, and sauces. Most frozen fruits and veggies are available in organic too.

Think cans: On the same note as the above canned fruits for pies can save you cash. I never suggest canned veggies because I think they taste terrible PLUS unless you want a side of BPA for the holidays it’s safer to skip the canned veggies.

Know when to go cheap and when to splurge: You should splurge on an organic turkey and fresh veggies for a raw veggie tray, but empty calorie foods like chips, soda, and so on taste pretty much the same if you buy name brand or store brand. Going cheap on the less meaningful food saves you cash to splurge on nicer foods – i.e. fruit and cheese.

Stretch and compost leftovers: If you bought too much food, the best thing is to make yummy leftovers with it. We have some great holiday leftover ideas here at Thrifty Mommy. You can also compost which is a great way to get an early start on healthy soil for spring.

What are some other ways to save money on Christmas dinner?

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Post from: Thrifty Mommy