Honor your favorite teachers with thoughtful gifts without going broke. Don’t forget the bus driver, the nurse and anyone else who has taken care of your child this year. The gifts don’t have to be large, and they don’t have to be expensive. Just put a little creativity and thought into each one, and you’ll create a lasting impression, as well as brighten up the day for a special person in your child’s life. Group Present This year, organize a group present. You can do this formally, through the home room moms for a class, or informally, such as asking … Continue reading →

If you want to get real savings for Thanksgiving, you will have to think outside of the box. Try the following sneaky ways to save on all of your Thanksgiving needs. Travel It certainly won’t be cheap to fly out to see family this Thanksgiving, but you can make it cheaper by choosing a flight that leaves on Thanksgiving morning, instead of one that leaves a day or two before. Expect a savings of $50 to $100 per ticket. Another way to save on Thanksgiving travel is to fly out of an alternative airport. Sometimes a short drive of 20 … Continue reading →

Electronics can be expensive. That is why it is important to make them last as long as you can. Sometimes mishaps or accidents happen that make us groan and think, “Oh no, it is ruined.” With a little know how you may be able to rescue your device. Try these fixes before you head to the shop for a replacement or repair. You may just save yourself the cost of the replacement. Spilled Liquid on a Keyboard Promising myself that I will not drink coffee near by keyboard is just not practical. I’m a writer, and that is just what … Continue reading →

RecycleBank is a program that rewards you for recycling by letting you earn point for everything that you recycle. Make the most of your rewards with the following tips. Take Advantage of Extra Points RecycleBank often offers extra points in their program for completing surveys, texting tweeting or simply clicking on a link. Look for these free points by searching online. Many freebie and coupon blogs will post these offers. Complete them whenever you can, and you’ll earn more rewards and earn them quickly. Recycle Right Make sure to only use the recycling bin that is provided to you by … Continue reading →

Imagine getting everything from furniture to baby clothes for free? How about the opportunity to avoid dump fees on items you no longer want (and keeping them out of the landfill in the first place) while blessing others. That is the beauty of Freecycle. What is Freecycle All About? Freecycle is an organization that is broken into smaller, local groups. Each group is made up of freecycle members that live in a certain area. It is absolutely free to join, and each group usually uses Yahoo Groups to manage things. Volunteer monitors make sure that everything stays fair and safe, … Continue reading →

I really hate to throw out good food, but it happens so often. Leftovers get forgotten in the back of the fridge, produce is bought with good intentions and then not used in time or food is left out too long on the counter. One time, we had to toss a whole bag of frozen food because both my husband and I had thought each other put the food away. Sigh. Minimizing food waste is a good way to reduce the food budget. Here are some of the ways that my family now minimizes food waste. Having a Plan If … Continue reading →

With proper care, you can make the things that you own last longer. Here are some practical tips. Rugs, Carpeting and flooring Vacuum your carpeting and rugs frequently. This will prevent the dirt and grime from matting down the carpet. The same goes for vinyl and wood flooring. Bits of grit can scratch the surfaces of your floor. Clothing Line dry or dry flat whenever possible. You know all of that lint that comes off of your clothes in the dryer? It is parts of your fabric. You don’t get lint when you line dry. If you don’t like the … Continue reading →