Since having kids, I find myself buying quite a bit more bread. The kids enjoy sandwiches, toast, and other sorts of things made with bread. Here are some ways to save on your bread purchases.

1)  Shop at day old bread stores and close out stores. Sometimes you can find great deals at Merita stores, Big Lots, and Dollar Tree has even had some Nature’s Own bread.
2)  Look for coupons.  Just last week I was at Food Lion and found a great coupon.  It was to get a free bag of Sara Lee bagels with the purchase of a loaf of …read more

Let the parties begin! With several holidays so close together, this is the time of year when folks begin planning their parties. Entertaining doesn’t have to mean spending a lot of money. Here are some money saving tips to get you started.

1) Shop sales and use coupons. During this time of year, you might see holidays items on sale. If you see the cocktail weenies on sale buy 1 get 1 free, go ahead and purchase enough for your party rather than paying full price later. Of course, make sure they’ll still be in date.
2) Have a potluck or cook …read more

Recently at Keeping the Castle, I told about my decision and journey to switch to cloth napkins. The switch has gone well and the family is accepting of the napkins.

One concern that some have about switching to cloth napkins is the cost involved. Here are some ways to save.
1)  Shop for used napkins.  You can find napkins at thrift stores and yard sales.  Many times you can find interesting fabrics and laces that you can no longer find in the stores.
2)  Make your own.  Use scrap fabric that you already have or make them from an old sheet.
3)  Check the …read more

Christmas is only three months away.  You may be thinking, ‘Please don’t say it! Don’t bring up that topic. I’m not ready yet!’.  We can’t shoo away the fact that Christmas will be here before we know it, but we can prepare.  For many, money is tight this year and alternative plans need to be made.  Here are some ways to cut back on your spending this year.

1) If you have young children, consider purchasing used toys and clothes for them or having a toy and clothing swap with friends.  Young children don’t know if the item is new or …read more

The National Retail Federation reports that Americans spend nearly three billion dollars on Halloween. Three billion dollars?!? :gasp:
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 …read more

I have read that the average family spends about $40-50 on Halloween. Of course, this is an average and it varies upon where you live and how many children you have. I’m sure there are some people that spend way more than this amount.
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 …read more

It doesn’t take long for the cost of Halloween decorations and costumes to add up.  Although it may not seem like it, Halloween is just around the corner.  Here are some tips to save.

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 …read more

We are still in the process of making a local move to the house we just purchased.  Naturally, I have moving on my mind.  Last week, I pointed out a few ways to save money when moving and today I’ll add to the money saving tips.

4)  Don’t buy new boxes.  The last time my husband and I moved, we bought about eight boxes.  The rest were boxes that we picked up from grocery stores, Wal-Mart, and other places.  If you like for all of your boxes to be the same size, then try purchasing used moving boxes.  I’ve even seen …read more

It all finally happened.  Our house finally sold and we found one here to buy.  We jumped through all the crazy hoops they now have in place to prevent foreclosures.  We closed on the sale of the house this week and we’re trying to move and settle in to our new home. 

As you all now, I’m a bit of a tightwad and I try to save money whenever I can so here are some money saving tips to consider when moving:
1)  Do it yourself!  Don’t hire a moving crew.  They charge an enormous amount of money to move your stuff.  Try to …read more

Guest post by Stephanie Appleton.
Entertaining a family on a budget can be a challenge. It isn’t impossible though. Investing a little time and following a few simple tips, can save you a lot of money. 

Research.
This doesn’t have to be a lot of work. I regularly check the event calendars on our state, state parks, and library websites. These are full of free and low cost events for all ages. We also get a free paper that lists quite a few events.
If there is someplace you want to go, check their website first. You can find coupons or times that are …read more