1.  Borrow books from friends. Of course, be willing to let them borrow your books too.

2.  Shop yard sales and thrift stores. Sometimes you can find some great deals in those stores.  Once while shopping at Good Will, I found a bunch of Scholastic books and some curriculum.  It was obvious that a teacher had donated it all.

3.  Shop online. I’m thinking Craigslist, Ebay, and Amazon.  Of course, there are other sites.

4.  Visit the library. The library may not have every book you ever wanted, but the computer database they have allows you to search other libraries in the area.  If another local branch has the book they can put it on hold for you.

5.  Try a book swap. A local business that I used to frequent had a small book exchange inside.  You could swap books without any money spend or commitment.  If nothing like this is around in your area, perhaps you could organize something at your home with friends or for the public at a community center.

6.  Shop at book exchange stores. These are stores that sale mostly used books.  You can buy, sell, or trade.

7.  Order in bulk. If you’re part of a book club, see if you club can order in bulk.  Sometimes you can save 50% or more on your books this way.

8.  Be realistic about what you purchase. How many times have you bought a book and then never read it?  I know I’ve done this a few times.  Be realistic and save money.

9.  Shop at warehouse stores. Stores such as Sam’s Club, BJs, and Costco can offer great savings on books because they buy such a large quantity.

10.  Get the download. Many books are available online for download as a much lower price.  The downfall is there is no hard copy, but some people like that option.

What ways do you save money on books?

image nkzs at sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1)  Grocery store customer cards – Some stores, such as Food Lion have a program for schools.  Basically, the school registers at the grocery store and then the parents, grandparents, etc register their store card under the school’s account.  The school automatically gets proceeds from the sales.  There’s no need to sell anything.

2)  Restaurant fundraiser - Your child’s school can sign up at a restaurant such as Chick-Fil-A for a special fundraiser night.  Proceeds from that night go to the school.  Again, no need to sell anything.  If you want to show your support, you just come to the restaurant to eat.

3)  Cookie dough - Most people like cookie dough, especially around the holidays.  It’s easy to sell and it brings in a lot of money.  I was talking to a teacher last month and she said their school made about $10,000!

4)  Invest-in-a-Kid – My kids’ school does a fundraiser where they don’t sell anything. They simply ask for monetary donations for things the school needs.  It gives parents an opportunity to just give without having to sell.

5)  Candy bars -  These are a bit more aggravating, but pretty easy to sell.  After all, they’re only a buck. Most anyone will buy a candy bar. People don’t have to wait around for something to be ordered.

6)  Sodas - Schools can partner up with a soda company such as Pepsi or Coca-Cola. They take orders and money for the soda and then the soda is picked at the school on the arranged date. No delivery needed.  Usually the soda is about the same price as the soda from the grocery store.

7)  Read-a-thon or Walk-a-thon – Most people don’t mind donating money if the kids are going to do something useful like reading or walking.

8)  Silent auction – Parents and the community donate items of value.  It’s an easy fundraiser and you can get some great bargains.

9)  Coupon books – Each year my husband and I buy at least one coupon book which has coupons for dining out and entertainment.  The books generally sell for $20 and the school gets $10 for each book sold.  Most coupons in the book are for buy 1 get 1 free.

10)  Dinner or festival – Have a dinner or festival for the community.  Usually, schools serve spaghetti because it’s an easy, cheap meal.  Perhaps the school could do a fundraiser dinner and silent auction on the same night.

11)  Buy a privilege.  Some schools have one day each month where the kids can pay $1 to wear a hat to school.  I’ve also heard of paying $1 to wear a costume, flip flops, or crazy clothes.

12)  Box tops  – Most schools participate in this program and it’s super easy with no pressure.  Simply save the box tops from specially marked products.  The schools get 10 cents for each box top.

What do you think of these fundraiser ideas?  Do you have any others to add to the list?

image sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

Here are some money saving tips to help you enjoy Halloween a little cheaper.

7)  Do it yourself.  There are lots of costumes and decorations that you can make yourself.  I like this idea because it means that your costume will be unique and not like everyone else’s.  Check out this list of 50 do-it-yourself Halloween ideas.

8)  Look online or in magazines for ideas.  Sometimes I have a hard time getting creative but it’s easier with the help of others.  Some of the sites I like visiting for ideas are Family Fun, Better Homes and Gardens, and Martha Stewart.  Family Fun has over 100 costume ideas for kids.

9)  Buy fall decorations rather than ones specifically for Halloween.  Pumpkins, gourds, leaves, scarecrows, and such can be used for both holidays.

10)  Use coupons from craft stores.  Some craft stores have a weekly coupon for 40-50% off one item.  You can use these coupons to get decorations, craft supplies, and costume accessories.

What ways do you save on Halloween?

Stay tuned for more Halloween tips, including ways to save on candy and photo taking tips.  Please check out 10 ways to save on Halloween, Part 1 and Part 2.

image sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

It doesn’t take long for Halloween expenses to add up. Here are some ways to save.

4)  Shop yard sales.  When I moved last year, I had an entire table of holiday decorations.  There were Christmas ornaments and decorations and Halloween costumes.  These unused items frequently turn up at yard sales.

5)  Shop after-season clearance sales.  Of course, it is too early to do this now but when these items go on clearance after Halloween, consider buying some things for next year.  Last year I was able to find some costume accessories for 90% off.

6)  Repurpose an item.  My friend gave me a firefighter costume for my younger son.  It was too big for him but I was able to take the black cape and use it for my older son’s vampire costume.  A simple black cape can go a long way.

What ways do you save on Halloween?

Please stay tuned for part 3 of 10 ways to save on Halloween.  Also, please check out Part 1.

image sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1)  Check out the selection at close out stores.  One year my husband stopped in a close out store and found Spiderman and Backyardigans costumes for only $5 each.  Those costumes would have cost us at least $40. The kids were thrilled!

2)  Borrow from a friend.  Check with your friends to see if anyone has any costume pieces that you can borrow.  Sometimes you can borrow enough for a whole costume or enough to where you just have to buy a few things.

3)  Purchase unisex costumes for kids.  This was easier when my kids were younger.  One year my daughter dressed in a Disney Pooh Bear costume. Another year she wore a pumpkin costume.  My younger son was able to use both of these costumes when he got older.

Stay tuned for part 2 of ways to save on Halloween.  What ways do you save?

image sxc.hu

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

For many, money is tight this year.  That doesn’t mean that you can’t have a great Valentine’s Day.  Dismiss your expectations about what Valentine’s Day should be.  This is a day to make your mate feel special and to spend time one another. 

1)  Make a romantic dinner at home.  I don’t know about you, but in the past few years, I have given up on going out on Valentine’s Day.  It is not fun to go to your favorite restaurant and wait an hour or more to be seated.  It’s not romantic at all!  Instead, make a special meal at home.

2)  Create a romantic ambiance. Dim the lights, light some candles, and play soft music.  You probably already have the candles in your home.  If not, you can pick up some for just a few dollars.  If you don’t have the music, set up a free playlist at youtube or borrow some music from your friends.

3)  Make your own Valentine’s cards.  A store bought card that says, “Love you” isn’t very special.  What makes a card special is that someone took the time to write something meaningful inside the card.  A handmade card also shows sincerity.  There are websites out there with free clip art or you could make a card and put a picture of the two of you on the cover. 

4)  Swap babysitting with a friend.  Offer to watch her kids on February 14 if she’ll watch your kids on February 15.  Remember, you don’t want to go out on the 14th anyway.  You could also wait until the kids are in bed to celebrate.

5)  Enjoy a movie at home. Last year, my hubby and I did not have a sitter, so I made a special dinner and after the kids were in bed, we enjoyed the silence in our home and watched a movie together.  I bought some sparkling grape juice for just a few dollars and some strawberries.  It was fun just to spend time together.

6)  Make your own decorations.  The internet is full of crafts, garland, and the sweetest decorating ideas.  Many of them aren’t time consuming.  For a fun activity, get the kids involved.

7)  Make your own fabulous desserts.  Enjoy a special treat together such as the famous frozen hot chocolate.  No Fuss Fabulous has a recipe that sounds pretty simple and they show you how to make it as a gift for friends.  Or use your left over candy canes to makes the cutest heart lollipops and cupcakes or make heart shaped cheesecakes from Skip to My Lou.

8)  Forget the store bought gift and give your spouse something special from you.  You know your spouse and you know what he/she likes (or at least you should!).  If your husband is always begging you to go to the car show with him, then tell him you’re taking him to the car show.  If you husband’s love language is touch, then give him a 30 minute massage.  If your husband’s love language is words of affirmation, then make individual hearts for him with special sayings on them or things you appreciate about him and place them in random places throughout the house, or you could tape them to the door for a heart collage.

9)  If you want to buy something for your special someone, begin shopping ahead of time and looking for something that doesn’t cost a lot.  If your honey likes cars, then maybe you could buy a magazine subscription.  If your significant other likes coffee or chocolates, then you could make them a basket of homemade treats with a few favorite store bought items.  Get creative and stay within your budget.

10)  Let the kids be thrifty too.  My kids love to make things.  Get the kids involved by letting them make their own valentines this year.  Family Fun has some really cute Valentine card ideas.  Of course, you can search the web for printable Valentines too.

11)  I know I said 10 ways. Consider this a bonus.     Try not to send flowers this year.  The mark up at Valentine’s Day is insane.  If you do want to give flowers, consider buying them from your local grocery store or supermarket.  They actually have some nice fresh flowers and arrangements for a fraction of the cost.

Also consider checking out 50 Thrifty Links for Valentine’s Day.

What ways can you save this Valentine’s Day?

images used with permission of SkipToMyLou

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

I’ll admit, one of the fundraisers was decent.  There were some things that I would not mind buying.   The other fundraiser was asking us to put the names and addresses of family and friends onto postcards so that they could ask for money for computers or something like that.  My little girl came home telling me that I needed to fill out her paperwork and send it back the next day so that she could get a t-shirt.  I thought it was a form to purchase a school t-shirt.  The form said that if two of the people on her list responded, then she would get a t-shirt.  Imagine me trying to explain to my 5-year-old child that she wasn’t going to get a t-shirt the next day and that it was a sales tactic.  Thankfully, she’s well beyond her years and she understood, but still she was heartbroken.

For the most part though, I feel that these fundraisers are inappropriate.  Here are some of the reasons why I don’t like school fundraisers.

1.  The stuff is overpriced.

2.  It’s usually crap that I can’t use. 

3.  Kids are made to feel left out or unaccepted if they don’t participate or do well.

4.  I don’t like being stalked at church, outside Wal-Mart or anywhere else by children trying to raise money.

5.  You get little bang for the buck.  I mean, really, $8 for 25 square feet of wrapping paper?  Are they serious?

6.  There’s little to nothing you can do if the item doesn’t work.  Well, you could take it back to the school and demand a refund, but that would just make you look like a cheapskate that doesn’t care about children.

7.  I feel guilty if I don’t participate.

8.  I don’t feel right asking others to buy overpriced stuff.

9.  I get frustrated and annoyed every time I see the product that I paid too much money for.

10.  Many times the parents are the ones that do the selling which causes them to sell these things at work.

Before you start casting stones, please understand that I am an educator.  I know the importance of these fundraisers.  Honestly though, I think there’s a better way.  I’ve seen some pretty creative fundraising tactics at some of the schools I’ve worked at.  One school did a Coca-Cola sale.  The soda was just as inexpensive as if I had bought it at Wal-Mart, but they received a lot of proceeds from it.  What about a spaghetti dinner?  My daughter’s preschool did several fundraisers where the kids could bring in $1 and earn a special privilege such as wearing a hat to school.  Schools could even ask parents to send in a tax deductible donation at the beginning of the school year and then decide how much more money they should try to raise after the donations were brought in.  Some people would rather just give money anyway.

I’m sure I’m not the only one that feels this way.  How do you feel about school fundraisers?  Please leave your comments below and participate in our poll in the sidebar.  Thanks!

image: Discovery Education

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1. Arms and shoulders- I play “superbaby” with my son and lift him above my head with repetitions.
2. Shoulders – Shake out your shirts and pants several times before you put them in your dryer while they are still wet (for extra weight).
3. Forearms – Fill an empty milk jug with water and hold it out straight to strengthen your forearm and wrists.
4. Abs – Play horse with your kids by placing them on your legs and lift them while pulling your stomach in.
5. Abs – Have your kids sit on your feet and play peak-a-boo as you do a sit up and hide from them when you go down and BOO them when you come up.
6. Butt – Peak – a -Boo is a great game here too as you can do squats behind the couch or counter to play with them.
7. Thighs – Walk up your stairs several times while carrying your kids.
8. Calves – Have your kids ride on your shoulders as you lift up on your toes.
9. Legs and Butt – Do lunges around a corner to surprise your kids and hear them laugh.  Little Man loves this game.
10. Walk/Bike ride – Just get out and play with your kids.  They will remember the time, not that you were exercising.

We as a society need to be more active and including our kids in this is how to teach them without them realizing you are exercising.  And I love the free part.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1. Hot Totties for a cold and cough – 1/3 lemon juice, 1/3 whiskey, and 1/3 honey; heat it and drink a shot every 6 hours
2. Cough – 1 tsp when needed
3. Laxative – Put some in your drink to cleanse your colon
4. Protectant – Bug bites and small cuts can be protected by putting honey directly on the wound to keep dirt and germs out until you can treat it.
5. Calcium – Some studies have shown that honey can help you retain calcium.
6. Sedative -Ok this is a stretch but put some honey in a cup of warm milk helps you sleep.
7. Hangover Helper – Put a few tablespoons on bread to help speed up the metabolism of alcohol.
8. Eczema - Use honey soap to reduce eczema
9. Fights bacteria – Honey evidently inhibits bacterial growth
10. Healthy – Great source of Antioxidants

So enjoy eating honey every day, multiple times a day with no worries.  Use it instead of sugar to sweeten your drinks.  It has fewer calories and more benefits than sugar.  AND it’s cheaper.

Post from: Thrifty Mommy

1)  Sign up for a freecycle account.  Just last week I gave away a 3-tier cage.  There are others giving away pet accessories and some freecycle groups will allow pet listings.

2)  Consider adopting an animal from a rescue organization.  A few years ago, we adopted a cat for $80.  She was spayed, declawed, and had all of her shots.  The $80 adoption fee was much less expensive than paying the vet bills for a kitten.

3)  Find an older veterinarian.  When I was growing up, my family always took our animals to an older veterinarian because he was less expensive.  He had been out of school for years and he did not have the expenses that younger vets have so he was able to offer cheaper rates.  I was fortunate to find an older veterinarian where we live now which is good because we adopted a kitten last year.  The vet that we use does not charge for office visits.  He only charges for the cost of his supplies.  I was able to save over $60 on my kitten’s first round of shots.  (Some people may not agree with going to older veterinarians.  I am trying to save money.  It is not my goal to put someone else through college.)

4)  Consider using a veterinary school for care.  Some veterinary schools offer services to the public.  Of course, you’re not seeing someone with experience, but these students are supervised by their instructor.  If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, you may just consider using their services for basic needs such as vaccinations.

5) Groom your pet at home.  Trim their nails, wash them, give them flea treatments, and cut their hair.  All of these expenses can really add up quickly. 

6)  Keep your dog in a fenced-in yard and keep your cat inside.  When animals leave your yard, they are more susceptible to parasites, injury, and other dangers.

7) Research, research, research.  If you’re thinking about getting a new pet, then I strongly urge you to research price of the pet and the needs that they have.  Because of our research, we have kept ourselves from purchasing a chinchilla, a hedgehog, and I’m sure some other critters as well.  We simply found that these pets were not for us.

8)  Research the different brands of food.  Most expensive doesn’t always mean best.  For a while, we were able to buy an equivalent generic of the brand we wanted to use. 

9) If you are brand loyal to the pet food you purchase, then visit the company’s website. Sign up for their newsletter and special promotions.  Many companies will email you coupons and special offers. 

10) Check your local veterinarian’s bulletin board.  I can’t tell you the number of animal postings I’ve seen on vet’s bulletin boards.  I guess if you have an animal that needs a home, a vet’s office would be the place to post the ad because those people are likely to care about animals.  Many people will give their animals away if they know they’re going to a good home.

Well, that’s my list of 10 ways to save money with pets and animals.  I can think of a few more ways, but I want to hear from you too.  Can you add something to this list?

image by Karen

Post from: Thrifty Mommy