TMR Frugal Living Tip #43

Today's thrifty tip is use the back of a used envelope or junk mail to write your shopping list. You are reusing a used item. Most envelopes are long enough to write a pretty long shopping list. You are saving money by using new paper and trees.

Protect Your Kids Online

There are some really great programs to make sure your kids aren't looking at sites they shouldn't. One of the ones I like is a keylogger which will check everything being typed. This is a great tool for emails. This would also be good for teens that use sites like Myspace and do online chatting. There are many online predators so keep your kids safe from themselves.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #42

Today's thrifty tip is buy more generics. This could be food, medicines, and even beauty items like skin care. I even prefer some generic items to the name brand. The funny thing is they are packaged and processed at the same plants, but just a different label. The same foods but just cheaper. This could save you as much as 30-40% as the name brands. I don't have double store coupons and mostly local stores.

Generic medicines are just as good as name brand. They have to go through the same testing and regulations. This will definitely save you a lot of money, especially on prescriptions. I always ask for the generic form if available. My co-pays are much cheaper as well. I can usually pay $4 for certain prescriptions.

Finish That Degree!

I have always regretted never finishing my college degree. Some of my reasons for not going back are time and money. Edvisors is a great site that lets you search for Online Degrees. They have some great online universities listed. Now is a great time to further your education and get a better paying job.

He Gets It!

I am so proud of my hubby. He was at the store the other day and came across many great Lego sets that were being clearanced. He bought these for less than $40 total! The 2 big sets were $8 each and were originally $40 sets! The others were $2-6 each. He also found about 8 more small Bionicle sets for $2-3 each and a couple for $5. He bought 18 sets for $75! I'm so happy that he can sniff out a great deal. It's mainly limited it to toys and Lego sets, but hey it's a great start. These will be great for Christmas and his birthday which is about 2 weeks apart. My mom bought a couple of sets to give. I also shop for other relatives to save them time and money. I'm just so glad that my husband loves to shop clearance sales and save us money. We saved over $200! Now is a great time to buy clearance toys since the stores are making room for the new ones for Christmas. Happy shopping!

Shopping for Baby

I have so many friends that are either having their first baby or adding to their family. It's so much fun shopping for all the great baby items. It's also a lot of fun picking out a theme for the nursery and choosing the baby bedding. If you aren't sure of the baby's sex, then make sure to go with a theme and colors that could be used for either one.

Choice of Cell Phones

Do you ever feel your choice of cell phones are limited because of your carrier? I know I feel that way. Expand your horizons with unlocked cell phones. Just make sure you get a phone that isn't limited to certain carriers or options. You can even do this with a global phone. Check out the great site and get that phone you really want.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #41

Today's thrifty tip is clean out your dryer lint trap. Make sure you cleaning out the lint trap often so it doesn't have a chance to build-up in your machine and dryer vent. If you don't, then it takes much longer for the clothes or towels to dry which is wasting energy. This makes you pay more in your electric or gas bill. It's also a good idea to clean out your dryer vent every 1-3 years. If you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself, then hire out a qualified technician. There are great articles online that explain how to clean the dryer vent and the tools needed. This keeps your dryer running efficiently which keeps you with more money in your pocket. It will also extend the life of your dryer which again keeps more money in your pocket. I have listed a few articles listed below.

Wikihow-Clean Clothes Dryer Vent
How to Clean Stuff-How to Clean a Dryer Vent
Laundry Alternative-How to Clean Your Dryer Vent

A Monster of a Gift

Halloween is one my favorite holidays. I love the decorations, costumes, and all the tasty treats and candy. Now you can spread some Halloween cheer with Halloween gift baskets. You can choose from flowers with a cute plush to a decorative container with tasty treats. One of my favorites is the Web of Treats Cookie Basket. It's a spider web basket that contains yummy Halloween shaped cookies. Who wouldn't love to have one of these at their Halloween party? This would definitely be a hit with your guests. You could treat your friends at the office with one. These spooky gift baskets prove that Halloween isn't only enjoyed by kids.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #40

Today's thrifty living tip is get your house prepared for winter. Some of you are already having winter weather. Take the time now to keep the heat in and the cold out. I have 22 windows in my house. I would love to replace them, but that's an investment we can't afford to make right now. Instead we are going to weather strip all the doors and windows. We also redid my front door this year by filling in the small cracks on the door and staining it. I no longer feel the air being pushed in. Here are some great suggestions to help you cut down on your heating bill.

1. Caulk your windows or doors or put the weather stripping
2. Clean your gutters removing all debris
3. Trim any trees that could fall and damage property
4. Wrap your exposed pipes and drain all garden hoses plus shut off water to outside plumbing
5. Clean or replace your heating filters and clean all vents
6. Clean your fireplace and chimney since creosote can build up

There are many other ways to prepare your house for winter. We don't have snow so many of these tips don't apply to me. I am sure I missed a few, but no matter how you heat your house, test it to make sure it's running properly. Also, clean it out and the vents so it will run better. We still don't have to run our heater for at least another month, but we are ready when we do. If you can afford it, then insulating your house is another great way to conserve energy. I will post some more great tips all winter to help you lower your bills.

Stop Calling Me!

Do you ever get tired of running to answer the phone only to have a recorded message or they hang up. I know I am. I do have caller id, but some numbers won't display their information and it just says unknown. I usually don't answer, but now I've noticed some companies are getting sneaky. They will use a local phone number so I don't know if it's a real call or a sales pitch. I have found a great website for Phone Number Reporting. You just type in the number to check if someone has already left a comment about it. If not then you can you submit that number and leave a comment about it. Was it a recorded message, telemarketer, scam, or collection agency? This is a site that will allow you to help others. It's a great website that I intend to visit regularly.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #39

Today's thrifty tip is have a date night with your spouse or significant other. All couples should make this a priority, and especially if you have children. I know it's harder to get out when the kids are younger so just have a date at home. Put your kids to bed early, and just snuggle on the couch watching a movie. There are lots of quality ways to spend time together as a couple. You might not want to do some of these on a date, but it's just an idea of how you can spend more time together connecting as a couple. I think one problem is that many couples don't make enough time to be together as a couple.

1. Play board games
2. Watching a movie
3. Cooking a nice dinner
4. Listening to music in front a fire
5. Talking to each other (remember how you met)
6. Folding laundry together
7. Snuggling and kissing on the couch (like teenagers)
8. Laying under the stars on a blanket in your backyard

There are so many great ways to spend time with each other. I hope some of these ideas have helped. My husband is off all next week on vacation, and we already planned a lunch date. We will also paint the kitchen so we will get lots of quality time together. Though remodeling can be a tad stressful so it won't be all roses.

Great Idea for International Buyers

I know many international buyers love to buy from U.S. stores and sellers on ebay. The problem is that many of them won't ship overseas. Now you can have your packages shipped to a U.S. address and just pay for mail forwarding. Shipito.com is a service that will provide you with an address in California, and they will forward it to any address in the world. This is a great solution, and the prices are very affordable. They also offer a yearly service which is great for people that love to do lots of shopping. You can also make money by signing up as an affiliate. Place their banners on your site, and you will get paid for each new customer that uses their service that came from your site. Happy shopping.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #38

Today's thrifty tip is to use fruits or items from outside to decorate your house. Colorful apples or oranges look great displayed in a bowl. You can eat them or cook with them before they start spoiling. You could make a very colorful wreath using leaves, pine cones, or other items. Display pine cones in a bowl for a more earthy look. There are lots of ways to decorate for fall without breaking your budget.

Socks Make Great Stocking Stuffers

I have several teenage nieces, and I have such a hard time shopping for them. I always try to find cute and trendy items to put in their stockings for Christmas. I recently found a great brand called Hue. They have some really cute socks on their website. The styles were also perfect for my nieces. They had ankle style socks, cashmere, boot socks, and so much more. The colors are fun and vibrant, and there were also some very cool pattern ones. This is definitely a brand that will be a huge hit with them. The best part is many of the socks were one size fits all so no guessing on my part. If you have a hard to shop for person on your list, then check out this great site.

I Got Another Cool Award!

I was given yet another cool blog award. This one is the "I Love Your Blog Award", and I feel so honored. I must give a big thank you to Christine at The Power of Housewife Word of Mouth for giving me this great award!

There are some rules for this award:

1. The winner can put the logo on his/her blog.
2. Link the person you received your award from.
3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.
4. Put links of those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message on the blogs of the persons you've nominated.

Here are the awesome blogs that I really enjoy reading, and will be awarding. I hope you will visit them. Thanks for reading mine. I apologize to the nominees if this has been duplicated.

1. Coupon Mom Mom
2. Your Fun Family
3. Is 8 Enough?
4. Thrifty Thoughts
5. Freaky Frugalite
6. Money Saving Pro
7. "Cents"able Momma

I also want to thank Melissa from Melissa's HomeSchool Blog for another Brillant Blogger Award. I just did this one not too long ago so I won't pass it out again, but I did want to give a big Thank You for the nomination! Thanks and I love reading your blog. You will also want to check out her blog, and it has lots of great info and links.

A Talking Watch?

There are so many great gadgets available, and some of these are very helpful for the elderly or someone with special needs. I came across a site that sells talking watches. The watch will tell the time in a clear voice. There is a nice variety of styles and are very affordable. This would make a great gift for someone that could use the extra assistance.

Vegas Baby!

I've always wanted to take a weekend trip to las vegas nevada with my husband. There is so much to do besides just gambling. There are the great shows, food, and even the sights. I think just walking down the strip would be a lot of fun. I can't wait until we can finally take that trip to vegas baby!

TMR Frugal Living Tip #37

Today's thrifty tip is invest in a battery recharger. The cost upfront does seem a little pricey, but I still use mine on a weekly basis 7 years later. I have the AA recharger and 8 batteries. I use 2 AA batteries for my digital camera. I used to sell on ebay so I was definitely using a lot of batteries each week. Now I don't use them as often, but they paid for themselves in the first few months of purchase. I know many people can get batteries for free or almost free at CVS and Walgreens, but I still save more money with my rechargeable batteries. It's also convenient to just recharge than to run to the store to buy more batteries. That will save money in gas not wasted. I usually keep several charged so I just pop them in when needed. It's also good for the environment with less trash in the landfills. You can call it "green" if you want, but it's just smart if you ask me.

Make Your Halloween Party Spooky

Since Halloween is on a Friday, then I've been thinking about throwing a party. I want one that kids and adults would want to attend. It would be safer for the kids, and I think it would be more fun than just trick or treating. To really make the party look spooky I want to decorate it similar to a haunted house theme. We have a screened-in porch so I can put cobwebs with spiders hanging down, a couple of carved pumpkins, and some moss. I am also thinking of making a cemetery in the front yard. That would definitely get attention from my neighbors.

I really think the kids would get a kick out of the Halloween party food I am going to make. I found a recipe for creepy witch finger cookies that look like fingers. I think a dirt pudding with candy gummy worms inside is always a hit. It's actually a very tasty treat. I also think I would like to let everyone make their own pumpkin face pizzas. They could use pepperoni for eyes, mushroom or black olive for the nose, and either pepperoni for a mouth or whatever else they would like. I could have several bowls of different ingredients and let them use their own imagination. I think it will be a great party, and planning it is a lot of the fun for me.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #36

Today's thrifty tip is make a grocery list before you go to the store. I know that sounds like common sense, but many people think I only need 1 or 2 items and I won't forget. Then you end up buying something you don't need and not the actual item you really did. I've done it and more than once. I also like to look at the sales papers to decide if I could use extra of an item that is marked cheaply. If I have coupons, then I can usually get the item almost free or free. Don't overlook the drug stores like Walgreens and CVS. Sometimes they have a better sale on groceries than the regular stores. Make a list and don't forget to take it with you. Yes, I have also done that more than once.

Halloween Is Almost Here!

I can't believe that Halloween is almost here again. My son loves dressing up as his favorite character, which is Batman, this year. My mom made the costume on her sewing machine. She even made the gloves and boot covers, as well as, the logo on the front of the suit. She did a fantastic job, and he plans to wear it even after Halloween is over. I'm very lucky to have a mom who loves to make his costumes.

Each year we take him trick or treating in a very safe area where we know the majority of the people. We always have our candy checked before we allow him to eat any of it. We also try to go early, before it gets too dark, since it's easier to see where you are walking. We do take a flashlight and glow stick for him. We are also fortunate that the area gets blocked off from vehicle traffic.

If you haven't started your costume shopping, then check out Halloween Costume Store to get the best selection on costumes. They offer easy returns, and the best part is Free Shipping on orders over $60 until 10/10/08! Hurry before this great deal ends. If you are going to a party, then stay safe on the roads.

My 200th Post!

This is my 200th post! It's another milestone for my blog, and next month will be my 6 month anniversary. I do plan on doing a drawing for it, but I won't say what it is quite yet. I still have so many more great topics to discuss. I have noticed that I am increasing the number of readers and followers on this blog. Thank you to everyone who has visited and commented. I don't always respond to all the comments, but I read all of them. I really appreciate them. Stay tuned for more great drawings, and again thank you to all my readers.

Book a Cheap Cruise

I have never been on a cruise, and not sure if I ever plan on going on one. Many people do love them so I would suggest trying to go in the off season to get a better discount. I will say that be careful about going on Caribbean cruises during hurricane season which is June to November. The most active months are August and September. Happy sailing.

Relocating?

Moving to a new area can be expensive. There are ways to help cut the costs. You can get free boxes by going to stores or asking friends and family. Use newspaper to wrap your fragile items. These can be obtained for free by hitting recycling centers or asking around. You can also shop around on the internet to find cheaper movers. Find a mover NYC and save yourself time and money.

Protect Your Health with Insurance

The cost of living is on the rise which includes insurance costs. We are very fortunate to have a great plan at my husband's job. The cost of medical care is even more expensive, without any kind of health insurance. It only takes one medical emergency to wipe out a savings. If you live in North Carolina then check out NC health insurance.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #35

Today's thrifty living tip is extend the life of your shower curtains. I wash mine in the washing machine on a short cycle with vinegar and hot water. I also throw in a towel to help weight it down. The curtain comes out clean and it's easier than scrubbing it by hand. I have been able to keep a curtain for at least 2-3 years. These are the cheap vinyl ones. I do eventually throw them away once they start ripping or starts looking like swiss cheese.

Capture Pests the Safer Way

I will admit that I am a big chicken when it comes to crawling pests. I think I hate roaches the most since we get these huge ones from our oak trees. For some reason the tiny spiders don't bother me. If you have a problem with spiders, then consider using spider traps. It's non-toxic so it's safe for your family and the environment.