I have been surfing the internet this weekend and “stumbling” some articles.  Here are some great ones that I’ve found.

Christmas will be here before we know it.  Rather than buying bows for packages, try this idea for making bows from magazine pages.  These bows save money, repurpose your magazines, and avoid more products being throw away.  I think I will have to try these this year.
Times are tough and many of us have had to tighten our budgets.  We all have a service to offer.   This information on how to barter online is helpful. 
Custom made aprons seem to be the …read more

Every now and the I find some cool websites and information and I like to pass those on to you.  Here’s some that I found this weekend.  Enjoy!

The Consumerist warns us about the risk we take when we sign up for coffee subscriptions.  There is no possible way I could drink that much coffee.
I have used plastic on my windows before to help keep my heating costs down.  I never thought of using bubble wrap.  This is a pretty neat idea as it is easier to install and uses something that you probably have at home.
My husband makes great eggrolls, …read more

Sunday I attended a baby shower and they had some really cute pacifier favors and pink confetti decorating the table.  I thought the pacifier favors were so cute (and inexpensive) that I had to share them with you.  These are made using white peppermint lifesavers, mini jelly beans, melted white chocolate, and ribbon. 

Directions:

Unwrap your peppermint lifesavers and set aside.
Precut your ribbon and set aside. (You can use your craft store coupons to save money on ribbon.)  The ribbon should be about four inches long. 
Melt the chocolate.  Put a little dab of melted chocolate in the center of some of the peppermints.  …read more

This year I was determined not to spend a lot of money on costumes.  We looked around the house to see what we had and how we could make due and here’s what we found.
Last night we went to the community fall festival.  There were games, vendors, inflatables, candy, horse rides, face painting, and all kinds of fun stuff.  It was all free! 

Last night Alligator Girl wanted to be a ballerina.  She already had the outfit.  Her cousin had recently outgrown it and passed it down.  Alligator Girl was excited to wear it out in public.

Cuddlebug was a baseball player.  We had the …read more

My husband is a spender and I am a saver.  I think I’ve worn off on him a bit over the years.  He looks for bargains,  searches for product reviews,  and shops online and in the stores for the best deal he can find before laying out the hard earned dough.  He’s even known to haggle in the stores.  Still, he is a spender and I try to clinch hang on to our money so that we can be financially secure for our future and emergencies.

According to a new study, savers are attracted to spenders.  How can this be?  With …read more

The season is changing. The air is a bit cooler, the days are getting shorter, and I’m feeling the need to see the colors red, orange, and yellow.  Here are some tips for keeping the costs down with your fall decorating.

7)  Grow your own.  It’s a little late in the year for this option, but next year you might want to consider planting some things that you could use for decorating.  Perhaps you could have a garden with pumpkins and gourds.
8)  Take something you have and give it a new purpose.  That plain glass bowl you have would look great …read more

It’s time for another season of the year.  Why not bring some color to your home with some fall decorations?  Here are some ideas for saving money while decorating for fall.

4)  Look for sales.  A few years ago, I needed to plan an inexpensive fall craft for our women’s church group.  I found that some craft stores have their fall flowers and accessories 50% off at the start of the season.  I bought bunches of fall flowers and we made fall wreaths.
5)  Check Craigslist or Freecycle. People are constantly getting rid of things and you never know what kind of …read more

Fall is my favorite season. I just love the smell, the crisp air, and the beautiful bright colors. If you’re looking to bring some of fall into your home or work place, you might try some of these tips for saving money on your decorating.

1)  Do it yourself. I’m certainly not the most crafty or creative person, but many times if I can see an idea I can copy it or make it my own.  There’s no need in paying $50-60 for a fall wreath when you can make your own for $15.  Look online for do-it-yourself fall decorating ideas.
2)  Check …read more

Last week, I discussed some ways to save on decorating your home.  We learned that money could be saved from shopping for used items by using Craigslist, yard sales, and thrift stores and also how an inexpensive item like paint can transform a room.  Today we’re going to see that there are more ways to decorate on the cheap.

4.  Repurpose what you have.  Paint that old lamp or picture frame. Change your night stand into a bookshelf.  Recover your old pillows with fabric. Use a sheet for window treatments. 
5.  Get an outside opinion.  It helps to ask someone else’s opinion for ways …read more

Guest post from Lou Manfredini of Ace Hardware
Lou here, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man” and today I’m sharing some great budget-friendly tips on adding curb appeal to your home this summer.

The first step to having a home that looks great from the street is a healthy lawn. It is easier and cheaper than you might think. First you’ll want to clear away any leftover debris, including leaves, branches and your kids’ favorite summer toys. If your lawn is loaded with weeds, spray it with Ortho Weed and Feed – just attach to your garden hose and spray away. It costs about …read more