Changing Technology

I just find it amazing how quickly technology is changing. I bought a 2GB flash card about 6 months ago for $25. I just went to the Black Friday sale at Office Depot and could buy a 16GB flash card for $30! I know it's a loss leader to get you in the door to hopefully spend more, but I was still shocked at how much memory you got for the price. One thing I do to save money, with so much new technology coming out, is to wait a year or two to buy it. I also try to buy used when I can. If you are in the market for a used cisco, then save yourself some money.

I Can't Believe I Won!

I posted last week about the $50 Amazon giveaway that World of Mom was hosting on her blog, and I was the lucky winner! It was a great way to start my Thanksgiving Day. I have to give her a big THANK YOU and, I had a lot of fun spending it today. I was able to buy several great DVD movies that I wanted but was too cheap to buy. I rarely win anything so this was a wonderful surprise and I'm still smiling.

Give the Gift of Wine

Sometimes it's really hard to think of a great present for certain people I know. You know the ones that seem to have everything so you never know what to buy for them. My dad is one of those people so this year I'm getting him a wine of the month club for Christmas. I know he will love this since he loves a good bottle of wine.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and sorry I didn't post this earlier. Most of my family went out of town this weekend visiting other family members. My husband had to work on Friday so we couldn't go anywhere. We still had a nice Thanksgiving at home and it was quiet. We cooked a turkey breast and I made a broccoli casserole, pumpkin pie from scratch, rolls, and rice with gravy. His sister came over for dinner with her husband. If you ate too many goodies then you could use alli to help shedding some of those pounds. I have lots of turkey left so I can't wait to make some sandwiches. I love eating leftover turkey.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #48

Today's thrifty tip is keep your thermostat lower to conserve heat. For each degree lower it will save you 2% on your heating bill according to most institutes. I don't run my heater as much during the winter since I live in sub-tropical weather. When I do have to run it, then I keep it set at 65 degrees during the day. It does get chilly in the house so I just wear warm clothing. At night I still keep it around 65 degrees. Many experts say you should turn the heat down to 55-60 degrees at night. My husband would never go for this. I am on natural gas so my bills aren't extremely high. There are many days we don't even turn on the heat like yesterday and today. My monthly average over the course of a year is right under $50/month. I pay $25 during the summer months for my gas water heater, dryer, and stove. I don't use the dryer that much either except during winter.

Investing in a programmable thermostat is another great way to keep your house energy efficient. If no one is in the house during the day, then you program it to keep the house cooler during the winter and warmer in summer. You can also program it to have it start warming the house up right before you wake up in the mornings. Have it get colder when it's time for bed. I need to invest in one for myself.

Keep Your Home Protected

Home surveillance cameras are gaining popularity among home owners. You can record the activities inside your home as well as use outdoor surveillance camera to keep your property safe. These systems are great for monitoring workers as well as intruders. These systems are easy to install yourself and low priced. Keep your home and business safe with a home surveillance system.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #47

Today's thrifty tip is use plain water instead of windshield wiper fluid. I use plain water and haven't noticed any difference. I have seen many recipes where you can make your own using either vinegar, dish liquid soap, or rubbing alcohol. The problem with using any of those ingredients is it could harm your hoses and/or seals over time. I do buy windshield wiper fluid, but if I run out or can't find a good sale, then I do use just water. I also don't live in a climate where I experience freezing weather. I don't have to worry about fluid or water freezing in my reservoir. I find the water gets the grime off.

Great Festive Frames

I can't believe that the holiday season is almost here again. I just love the decorations, colorful clothing, and great food. Now I have a really fun way to display my holiday spirit with eyeglasses. Zenni Optical is offering Holiday frames. They have a really great selection of fun and colorful eyeglass frames. I saw many red pairs and some with decorations on the sides of the arms like a rose or a funky flower print. They also have green frames and others that are more of a plaid. My favorite pair is the clear with red stripes since it reminds me of a candy cane. These frames are extremely affordable and priced right under $10. Nothing is over $30 so at these prices you can easily afford to change your frames to match your festive spirit. They also have plain colors for those that aren't as adventurous.

I love how light these frames are while wearing them. I don't even feel them on my face most of the time. My husband has also bought two pairs at this great website. I get lots of complements on my eyeglasses. If you want to save money this holiday season, then you really need to check out Zenni Optical. Give yourself a great bargain.

Win a $50 Amazon GC at World of Mom!

I was visiting my friend at World of Mom and she is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Certificate! This is perfect and just in time for the holidays and Black Friday. The rules are also extremely easy and it's open to everyone. Just create a post on your blog linking back to her post (1 entry per blog), and then fill in the form with your name and site url. Also leave a comment on the post. That's all there is to it. I told you it was easy. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 26th, which is the day before Thanksgiving. Good luck and I know that I would love to use the gc to buy some video games.

Click Here for $50 Amazon Giveaway

Don't Gain Weight This Holiday Season

The holidays are fast approaching and we all know what that means. Lots of delicious food but fatty and starchy foods like rolls, stuffing, pies, and much more. That's just the start with Thanksgiving. There will be even more eating and lots of candy and cookies during the Christmas season. Let's not forget all the treats that will still hang around even after the first of the year. So get a jump with diet pills to help keep off those excess pounds. Starting an exercise program now will also make it easier to lose any weight you may gain. Skip those second helpings as your pants will thank you.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #46

Today's thrifty tip is plan your meal the night before. I know that many experts want you to make up a 7 day menu, but that's not realistic for us. Even if I did keep in mind all the activities or other planned events, that wouldn't take into consideration all the last minute changes. Let's be honest that things do change at the last minute. I honestly prefer to plan my meal either the night before or first thing in the morning. I thaw out all my meats or frozen leftovers in the sink with cold water by that afternoon. It still gives me plenty of time to cook a nice meal. This is what works for me, and maybe going by a weekly menu works better for you. Another benefit is if the weather is cold, then I know I can make a nice soup or something to warm us up. I don't like to eat gumbo in the summer and this is the perfect weather for a nice bowl of it.

Losing Weight

I know many people that have trouble losing weight on their own. They use a diet pill to help them. Make sure you know what the ingredients are before taking it. Another good tip is know all the possible side effects. If you are still unsure, then please talk to your doctor first. It's really better to be safe than sorry.

Recent Score!

I recently scored on some kids clothing for my son. I went to my church thrift store that was having a bag sale. I love these since you fill as much as you can for a set price. It was for a buck! I was able to fill two bags. Here is what I got for $2!

3 pairs of jeans
1 pair of pants
1 pajama top
9 shirts

The shirts were all Old Navy brand and one of them still had the tags. It was a $25 shirt. The jeans were Class Club and can't remember what brand the pants were. He can wear a pair of the jeans, pants, and 2 tops now. Everything else is for either next year and for the near future. It was all winter clothes. I paid 15 cents per item. I just had to share since I've almost given up on buying him used clothing. I've been having a hard time finding him nice used clothing so this was great.

Save More with FindSavings.com

I love shopping online while sitting comfortably in my house. I save money by not having to drive from store and store, and there are no big crowds to fight. What I like most about online shopping is finding great coupon codes for a percentage off, free shipping, or both. Find Savings is a great website that has the newest coupon codes listed for your favorite online merchants. The site has a great variety of stores with over 400 merchants listed. I really love the different search options that is available. You can search either by merchant, category like Toys and Games, or by the type of coupon code. I can search for free shipping codes, dollar off amount, a percentage amount, and many other options. I find the site is very easy to navigate and well laid out.

As I was searching the site to get some holiday shopping done, I came across an offer for free shipping at Disney Shopping website. When I clicked on redeem this offer, it opened a whole window. I love this since I won't lose my place on the site. Another store I love to shop is Target. There are many offers available right now including free shipping. Another great feature of this site is it shows the expiration date of the offer. So many coupon sites don't put list the expiration date. You never know if it's a current offer or not.

FindSavings.com is a valuable tool for your online shopping to get the best deals possible. You can also snag some great deals that will be ending soon by checking out their list of expiring coupons. I saw some great offers for airline and hotel deals. This is great if you are planning on doing any traveling this holiday season. Don't miss out on another great deal, and check out all your favorite stores today.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #45

Today's thrifty tip is to invest in an extra freezer. My freezer on top of the refrigerator is pretty small so I can't really put much in it. I love to buy in bulk when I see a great sale on meats, frozen veggies, butter, cheese, and such. I also like to cook in double and triple batches to freeze the extras in smaller containers. I know some people are worried about the costs of running an extra freezer. The one I own only runs me an extra $5/mo in electricity. The savings in stocking up on great sales and not eating out will pay for itself easily in the course of a year. I got mine on a great clearance sale (less than $300) six years ago. It still runs perfectly. We are a small family of three, but I still like to have meals ready to go on those nights we don't feel like cooking or don't have time to cook. I also freeze some of the excess of my garden or if I receive fresh vegetables from a relative or friend.

If you still think it's too expensive to own one, then ask yourself these questions.

How much could I save in a week if I had a nice frozen meal to cook instead of eating out?

How much savings did I lose because I couldn't take full advantage of a great sale?

How much could I save on fresh fruits and vegetables I could grow myself to freeze?

How can you not afford an extra freezer?

Affordable Eyewear

With the rising costs of living, it's nice to be able to save money where you can. Not everyone is offered or can afford eye care insurance. Many people have to pay full price for their eyeglasses. That can be very expensive depending on the prescription and the frames you choose. It pays to check out LBWEyewear.com to see their great selection of inexpensive frames.

A Home Theater

I think having my own home theater would be so cool. I could have a projection screen, the tall drapes on the walls, surround sound, and of course home theater seating to feel like you were really at the movies. You can even buy custom seats with sports team logos for those great sports parties at your home. I love how they come with built-in cup holders. That's a goal for one day in the future.

Thanks to My October Droppers

I am sorry this is getting posted so late, but I want to extend a big thanks to all my October droppers on Entrecard. I am posting my top 10 October droppers. I love this site. I have been a little lazy about dropping daily, but when I do, I drop 300. Yes it does take some time. I have bookmarked over 250 sites which does make it easier to drop quicker. I have read some awesome blogs, made a few new friends, and just enjoy the community feel I get on EC. Again thanks to everyone who drops on my blog.

~~~~OCTOBER TOP DROPPERS~~~

Lofty Matters

Junkfoodaholic.com

"Cents"able Momma

BRYAN KARL Everything Online Money Making & Technology

Kid Tech Guru

Marriage and Beyond

Mommies Home

Computer Aid

The Ad Master

Authority Directory

TMR Frugal Living Tip #44

Today's thrifty tip is think before you spend. I'm extremely guilty of this one as well. I see something on sale, and my eyes light up. I feel like a kid in a candy store when I see items that are deeply discounted. I have to stop myself and ask these questions before I grab it. Do I really need this item? Will I really use it? Would I buy it if it wasn't marked down?

I do find myself buying stuff I don't need so I didn't save anything. The temptation to buy it can be great because it is marked so low. Really stop and think about some of the purchases you wouldn't have normally made. You think it's just a dollar or two, but these little purchases add up quickly. Don't let clearance fever take control of your better judgement. Take a deep breath, put it down, and walk away. You will be much happier in the long run.

Bird Feeders Make Great Gifts

I love having a bird feeder in my backyard. I have several large oak trees which the birds love to sit and socialize. I have a couple of ones that I made myself, and they were very simple designs. My feeder only has one perch so I have noticed that there have been some problems with the birds fighting to get to the food. The other problem I'm having is keeping the squirrels from eating all the food. Also, the feeders aren't very attractive so I am looking to buy a squirrel-proof bird feeder. I like how it has a metal design to keep them out, but letting the birds to get to the food easily. The squirrels can't damage this feeder, and it's stainless steel which will weather the elements.

Birdfeeders.com is a great website that offers many great feeders that are very functional and attractive. This would make a great addition to any landscape while feeding the birds. The site offers a wide variety of many great feeders plus lots of really great tips about bird watching and much more. Spend $49.95 for FREE SHIPPING! All orders are shipped via UPS and a great return policy. Get a jump on your holiday shopping with a great bird feeder.