Live Better for Less Money

How to Make Your Own Personalized Clock as Gift

2010-01-21T08:55:00.000-08:00

In case you need a unique birthday gift idea, try this!
It teaches how to make your own personalized clock.

http://quazen.com/recreation/crafts/how-to-make-a-unique-and-personalized-gift-clock/

How to Make a Pretty Gift Bag in 60 Seconds

2010-01-21T08:54:00.000-08:00

Sharing this with you, if you'd like to learn how to come up with an instant gift bag.

http://quazen.com/shopping/gifts/how-to-make-a-pretty-gift-bag-in-60-seconds/

Up to 50$ per Survey - High paying survey website (Only for USA & UK)

2010-01-21T08:35:00.000-08:00

Try this website. This is the highest paying survey website. The best thing is they are completely free to join but the bad news is that, they only allow members from USA and UK. Also they will be closing membership soon, which I guess is because, it will become unpractical to pay so many people high paying surveys. But anyway if you are from USA or UK, then consider yourself lucky.

http://www.youropinioncounts.co.cc/

I made my own laundry soap

2009-03-15T13:10:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited, it smells soooooo good and it only cost me $8 to make enough for 312 full loads. I can't believe how easy it was and you can make it smell however you want. Everything was purchased from WalMart and took me about 30 mins to make it.

1 cup washing soda (I used Arm & Hammer, can also use A&H Baking soda)
1/2 cup borax (I used 20 Mule Team)
1 bar soap (I used 2 because I like a strong scent and the smell outcome smells like the soap you use) for the first batch I used Dial-White Tea.
Approximately 3 gallons water
5 gallon bucket with lid
Cheese grater

First thing, put about four cups of water into the pan and put it on the stove on high until it’s at boiling, then lower the heat until it’s simmering.

While it’s heating up, take a bar of soap and grate it up into little bits.

When the water is boiling, start throwing in the soap a little at a time. Stir it until it’s dissolved. The water will have a soupy soap look with suds and will be the color of the bar of soap you used, so color will vary.

Next, get out your bucket and add three gallons of warm tap water to it.

To this bucket add a cup of the washing soda, 1/2 cup of borax, and the soap solution you made and stir until its all suddy. This will look like a bucket of soapy water.

At this point, let the soap sit for 24 hours, with a lid on it.

When you take off the lid, you’ll find any number of things, depending on the type of soap you used and the water you used. It might be firm, like Jello; it might be very watery; it might even be like liquid laundry detergent. Just stir it up a bit and it’s ready to be used. Don’t worry about the texture - it’s completely fine. Just use a measuring cup and use one cup of the detergent per load of laundry. If it’s got “globs” in it, get a mix of the water and of the globs - it’ll break up very quickly in the washing machine and wash your clothes well.

This recipe is for 1 batch. The 312 loads comes because you still have the borax, and washing soda left to make the rest of the batches. Also I bought the soap that comes in the bundled 12 pack, so I have those left over also. All the ingredients should make 6 batches. Each batch makes enough for 52 full loads at 1 cup a load.

All those who are "BLIND AS A BAT" like me.. You need to read this

2009-03-15T12:41:00.000-07:00

A lady that lives where I live told me about this site where you can get discounted eye glasses (they start at $8 a pair). She has been getting glasses from this place for the last 4 years. I saw the glasses that she ordered... they are nice. She ordered 7 pairs for $100.

You will need to know your prescription in order to get this.

This is the link http://www.zennioptical.com/cart/home.php

Grandma's Tips for Saving in the Kitchen

2009-03-15T12:33:00.000-07:00

Here is the link to watch a video for money savings tips:

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/play...hp?cl=12244218

New Innovative Dishwashing Product

2009-03-15T12:28:00.000-07:00

I want to tell you about a new innovative product that is sweeping the homes in America. It is the new Finish Quantum Dishwasher tab. It is legendary in making your dishes shine like new and keeping them in their beautiful state every time you wash your dishes. It is the #1 brand recommended by more dishwasher brands. The best part is you will be able to buy a 12ct of this wonderful product for only $4.99. You can find out more about this amazing product at : www.FinishDishwashing.com/newdishwasher . So tell all your friends and family about this so they to can have their dishes shine like new.

Best money saving tips

2009-03-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

First and foremost, if I can't pay cash for it, I don't need it that badly.

Secondly, I always save a minimum of 10% a paycheck. Even if at times it is a struggle, you never know when there will be an emergency.

Perform routine maintenance/repairs on major appliances, car etc. The little money you spend now can save you hundreds or thousands later.

All change goes into a jar and that adds up quickly.

Coupons, coupons, coupons.
For magazines use www.discount-magazines.com for $5.95 subscriptions. Or go to Low Priced Subs for even lower prices (have special bargain prices sometimes).

For books try www.booksalefinder.com to find used book sales in your area. Tip: this is also a great way to find books to sell on eBay or other online auctions. Half.com and Alibris.com are also great to find books.

Read newspapers online, don't get a subscription. Can easily read most of them online.

Use www.retailmenot.com for coupon codes for online shopping. Or go to www.slickdeals.net for coupon codes or shopping deals.

Redbox.com is found at the supermarket and is only $1 to rent a movie for the evening. They carry the latest releases. You can even rent movies from McD's.

Free Online Courses

2009-03-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/

By using Free-Ed.Net, you are participating in a revolution in education. Since 1997, Free-Ed.Net has been providing totally free, relevant courses in the most critical vocational and academic subjects. Now we offer our study programs in the awesome 3-dimensional "social" world of Second Life where you can chat and explore ideas in real time with others in your situation.

Get Affordable Health Insurance While Unemployed

2009-02-11T15:13:00.001-08:00

Affordable health insurance for the unemployed may feel impossible to find, but as long as you know where to look and have determination it is within your reach. Actually, self-employed individuals and individuals who are employed but aren’t offered employer-sponsored group health insurance can benefit from the much of the same advice.

The first step to finding affordable health insurance for the unemployed is to find out if you’re eligible for COBRA. The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985 (COBRA) made it possible for individuals who are terminated, laid off, or transferring jobs to temporarily continue to receive group health insurance benefits. So, if you’ve just recently become unemployed for any of those reasons, referred to as “qualifying events,” contact your former employer for more information about your COBRA benefits.

The second step to finding affordable health insurance for the unemployed is to check into purchasing short-term health insurance. Short-term health insurance policies are designed with the unemployed person in mind, so rates are most likely within your budget. They can last anywhere from six to 12 months, so they’re perfect for individuals who are actively seeking employment or another form of affordable health insurance.

The third step to finding affordable health insurance for the unemployed is to contact your state’s department of insurance and request information about subsidiaries for which you’re eligible. Most states provide some form of free or low-cost health coverage for residents who meet certain income requirements. Some states even have special low-cost health insurance plans for people who can’t otherwise obtain health insurance. At the very least, you should find a free or low-cost health coverage program that will provide health care for your children, or assistance with special health care needs (i.e. diabetes, mental health, female health check-ups and conditions, etc.)

A change in your employment status doesn’t mean a change in your health needs. It may take some footwork, but it’s possible to find affordable health insurance for the unemployed.

Barter Systems, Trading What You Have For What You Want

2009-02-11T15:09:00.001-08:00

Bartering has been around literally forever or nearly so. In fact, bartering predates the use of formal currency as a measure of exchange for labor or goods.

What is bartering? Simply put, it’s the exchange of goods or services without the use or exchange of formal currency. You may, for example, barter with a friend to mow your lawn in exchange for babysitting her children for two hours. Or, in a more formal arrangement, you may barter with your landlord to do maintenance or repairs for other tenants in exchange for a reduction in rent. It remains a useful way to exchange goods or services without having to bring money into the equation.

Now, bartering has a new twist. With the advent of the Internet, online barter sites are showing up everywhere. Some sites are local, while others have a reach that’s literally worldwide.

In general, these sites allow users to post ads on what they have to offer and what they would like in return. Some sites are free, while others charge a user’s fee. Care to Trade, at http://Caretotrade.com, is one example of a goods-exchange site. With Care to Trade, you can also have items shipped from anywhere, whereas other sites offer local trading. NOCO Hours (http://www.nocohours.org) focuses on Northern Colorado, for example.

To find a site local to you, go to your local newspaper or newspaper's online site(s) and type in "barter." In many cases, one will already be established. If not, do a bit of research if you like and start your own.

U-Exchange.com also offers tips on getting started with bartering online and not only offers listings by country, but also specific to individual states in the United States.

Google Groups offers specialized Usenet groups (many local) offering the barter of a variety of goods and services. http://Yahoo.com has over 600 mailing lists available offering a variety of locations, goods, services and bartering options. If these are not local to you, and this is what you would prefer, you can start your own.

Bartering has also made a comeback in the world of business with Internet trading. With "direct bartering", business owners swap their product(s) or service(s) directly with their vendors in exchange for the vendor’s product(s) or service(s).

"Exchange bartering" means each bartering partner will use his extra time, goods or services to get "trade dollars" instead of direct goods or services from the other. These trade dollars can then be used to purchase goods or services from the other vendors. This works well when exchanges aren’t quite equal or need to be measured or kept careful track of. Barter Systems, Inc. is one online barter site that utilizes trade dollars as a measure of exchange for its members and is at: http://www.bartersys.com.

10 Easy Ways For Single Parents To Save Money

2009-02-11T15:02:00.001-08:00

In 2006, according to the US Census Bureau, there were approximately 14 million single parents in this country, and those parents are responsible for raising 21.6 million children. Eighty-three percent of single parents are mothers, and 30.3 percent of all single parents receive public assistance.

Child care subsidies and public health insurance can help with closing the gap between low income and what it takes to make ends meet. Not all low-income families receive the benefits for which they are financially eligible. Families who receive multiple work supports can lose assistance before they reach self-sufficiency. Single parents often struggle with buying basic necessities and paying bills and usually live paycheck to paycheck. Single parents often do not have any savings and are in debt. Here are 10 easy ways for single parents to save money:

1. Buy a Used Car Buy or trade in your current car for a used car with a cheaper note. This will either eliminate your car note or save you $50 to $200 a month on your car payment.

2. Use Coupons Buy whatever items are on sale or buy items with coupons. This can save you $50 to $300 a month. There have been instances where shoppers had a total bill of $200 and ended up paying $5 using coupons and buying items on sale.

3. Buy Generic Buy everything generic: household items, clothing, prescriptions, toiletries, dry goods, canned goods, paper products, etc. This will save you on average $5 to $50 a month.

4. Buy Washable Clothes Buy clothes that do not require dry cleaning. This will save you on average $50 to $150 a month.

5. Image Do you own hair and nails and buy your makeup from a drugstore, such as CVS or Rite Aid. This will save you on average $40 to $100 a month.

6. Gas Buy regular gas for your car unless the owner's manual suggests otherwise. Find the cheapest gas in your neighborhood to purchase. This will save you on average $.05 to $.20 per gallon.

7. Shop at Discount Stores Buy household items in bulk, such as paper products, cleaning supplies at discount stores such as Target, Wal-Mart, Costco, etc. This will save you on average $5 to $50 a month.

8. Reduce expenses Reduce or cancel your cable plan, cell phone or Internet service, or get the cheapest plan available. This can save you $20 to $100 a month.

9. Buy groceries at superstores Buy your groceries at superstores or wholesale stores such as Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam's Club, etc. Buy nuts, grains, spices, legumes at wholesale or health food stores. This will save you $30 to $200 a month on processing costs charged at regular grocery stores.

10. Fun with Kids Check your local library or newspaper to find free activities that you can do to with your kids. This can save anywhere from $5-$100 a month.

For more ways to save money visit http://www.stretcher.com or http://www.budgetdial.com

4 Steps To Finding Hidden Contact Lens Deals Online

2009-02-11T15:00:00.001-08:00

While you may be an avid online shopper, buy regularly on eBay, have a PayPal account and aren't scared of buying online, contact lenses are different.

For many people, their online shopping starts with Google and ends wherever Google leads them. When buying contact lenses, that same search engine can provide you with savings on your contact lenses, if you know how to search.

Most people would open up their browser, type Google.com and then "Contact Lenses" or "Buy Contact Lenses" and while that might find places that sell contact lenses, that won't necessarily find the best deals.

The reason is that when you search with a general term like "buy contact lenses" you're going to find Acuvue's website, Bausch & Lomb and other manufacturers. What you find won't are the hidden gems we're talking about.

The hidden gems are those contact lens comparison sites. These sites take prices from all over the internet and compile the prices from a lot of sites. So essentially they are doing a lot of the shopping for you. This is just the first step.

Step one is just changing what you already do, search the internet. Instead of your generic "contact lenses" search, try something like "contact lens comparison price" or "comparison shopping contact lens". Those searches should give a much better set of results that include a few sites that will allow you to view prices from different websites.

The second step shouldn't take too long. Once you find this site, find the contact lens that you wear and check out the price. Now write down the website and price. Next, go back to Google and check another comparison site. Since not all of these sites are the same, some update prices in real-time, others update daily or weekly. To get the best price you'll want to make sure that you're comparing the comparison sites. That sounds confusing but you'll get used to it. Essentially you're comparing two different stores that are selling the same product.

There are a few things that you'll want to watch out for. Some sites will try to trick you by selling smaller packages. So if you're used to paying $30 per box of contact lenses and you find a site selling a "box" for $10, you might want to check the quantity of the box. You might find that it is a sample pack and only has a few contacts.

Step three is an easy one. Once you've found the correct contact lens at a few different comparison sites, see what site they're linking too. Most of these sites don't sell directly, but they'll send you to bigger sites. The third step in saving money online when buying contact lenses is to now check site that actually sells the contact lenses. There are times where you'll find the best deal directly. Sometimes the price will be the same, but it's worth the effort to take the extra step and check directly.

The fourth and final step in your contact lens shopping experience is to check directly with the manufacturer. Some manufacturers don't sell directly to the public, but others do. If the manufacturer sells a considerable amount online, they'll probably offer prices that are similar or better than other websites.

Just as a bonus, here is a fifth and final step. Many manufacturers want people to switch to their brand of lens that they'll do almost anything to get you to switch. Many times this means a coupon just for you. Other times you might be able to get a free sample of their specific brand of contact lens. Some manufacturers won't be able to offer anything, but as my mom always said, "It never hurts to ask!"

Helpful Gas Saving Tips!

2009-02-01T10:44:00.001-08:00

I found some helpful gas saving tips:

First of all, put regular gas in your car, not premium. Ninety percent of vehicles only need regular gas. You don't help yourself out buying the premium. You don't help yourself out buying the mid- grade if all your car needs is regular gas.

Also, your check engine light -- if it's on, you're definitely using more fuel. That's according to AAA.

Another good one is gas up when it's cool. That's because when it's cool, gas is denser. You get more bang for your buck.

Also, slow down. You can save up to 10 percent the difference between 55 and 65.

And if you're idling more than a minute, turn your engine off. You'll save money. Less than a minute, leave it run. ( I always wondered about this one)

Tire pressure big, especially if you have an SUV. The bigger the vehicle, the more critical tire pressure is. You can save as much as 10 percent, especially on that SUV.

Also, if you have roof racks or weight in your truck, get rid of that and check gaspricewatch.com if you want to get the lowest price. All you have to do is put your zip code in and you'll get the lowest price.

I hope this helps!

Cash Back @ Over 600 Retailers

2009-02-01T10:33:00.000-08:00

Aisle 19: How it works is for every purchase you make; you earn a certain percentage as “cash back”. Aisle 19 is a gateway you pass through in order to earn this “cash back” bonus with over 600 retailers. Percentages will range by retailer from 1% up to 20%, but by going through this gateway in Aisle 19 you are automatically qualified and are connected directly to the online stores. Some names you may recognize are Barnes & Noble, Gap, Sam’s Club, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, K-Mart, Kohl’s, Macy’s, Staples, Sony, Starbucks, Target, NFLshop.com ….

As for your privacy, Aisle 19 is 100% secure. When you check out at any of their merchants, you are on the safest possible connection, a Secure Socket Layer (SSL). Credit card security is of the utmost importance to them and they will not sell your information to any third party.

There are no fees, no setup fees, and no activation fees. There are no inflated prices on shipping or product sales. Product prices and shipping costs through Aisle 19 are the same at the merchant’s web site and sometime even lower with Aisle 19's Daily Deal specials.

It's really a no brainer. Watch this 3 minute video that explains the concept http://www.aisle19.com/Video.aspx?ReferralRepID=124848 and then Click on this link https://registration.escapeintl.com/default.aspx?ReferralSiteID=2&ReferralRepID=124848 to get your own account.

Chance to win $25,000 room makeover

2009-02-01T10:32:00.001-08:00

Check out Room-A-Day contest for a chance to win $25,000 for a room makeover. There is going to be 16 winners and the winners will be announced on The View. Good luck!

Saving Big Bucks on My Grocery Bill

2009-02-01T10:29:00.000-08:00

Two sites: http://www.thegrocerygame.com/

There is a charge for using the web site after the month free trial, but I was so amazed at my saving at Krogers the first time I used it, IMHO this is a good thing and I will continue to use it after the trial is up.
Our grocery bill, because we only shop when EVERYTHING IS OUT, and the bill runs about $200-300...I saved over $80.00 using the sales coupons that she finds in the papers and compairs what is on sale that week at Krogers.
There are a lot of other stores that she does this for...I use Krogers, Walmart, and Walgreens...which she researches.
My husband almost fell over at the check out lane as the total kept going down and down. I am a faithful couponer but have doubled what I normally save by using this web site.
You have a free month to give it a try so nothing to loose except the money you should be saving!
BTW there is a referral program and IF you decide to stay with the program I would humbly appreciate you entering my email address ...under heard about from on the sign up form. It is a great service but even better if I get it for free LOL...and maybe your friends with do the same for you.

Site number two: http://www.afullcup.com
They do the same thing and they are always free!

$50 in FREE Usborne children's books!

2009-02-01T10:28:00.000-08:00

Winners drawn monthly! http://FreeBooks.UsborneForKids.com

Has anyone tried....

2009-01-15T16:53:00.002-08:00

Has anyone tried Savings Angel? I just signed up. I am really looking forward to saving money on groceries. (Check out my signature line.) On there message board they have a freebie section with a lot of freebies that I have not seen posted anywhere else. I can not wait until those start flowing in.

$5.00 off at iherb.com

2009-01-15T16:53:00.001-08:00

$5.00 off at iherb.com for 1st time customers. Use referral code NAL724. Over 12,000 items to choose from and you can get your own referral code and make a little extra cash.

Topic: sign up and activate and win $50 or more

2009-01-15T16:51:00.000-08:00

This new contest starts at 12:01am tonight and last till Jan 31. If you signed up before in my other contest you can still earn entries in this one by having family members, sister in laws, etc. Plus for every 20 people that sign up I will add an additional $10 to the contest. So if 100 sign up another $50 will be added to your gift card or facecard. I use facecard and love it. I have free direct deposit, no monthly fees, and it was free to activate. I have had rushcard, accountnow, walmart money card, netspend, greendot, wiredplastic, ADP TotalPay, bank of america, Wachovia pre paid, and other prepaid cards with my name on them and they are charged incredible fees, activation fees, monthly fees, and transaction fees for debit/credit. The best part i like about the card I have is that everytime I do a debit/credit transation its free no fee for sliding my card heres the link http://fcap.facecard.com

What is facecard? just sign up at http://fcap.facecard.com

Not a Credit Card: Facecard is not a credit card, so there's no chance of credit card debt.

No Activation or Monthly Fees: Unlike other debit cards, there are no fees to sign up.

Send Money in Minutes: You can add money to your facecard or send money to another facecard online from anywhere, anytime.

Emergency Peace of Mind: In an emergency you can load additional funds in minutes.

Direct Deposit: You can set up direct deposit, so your paycheck goes directly to your facecard.

ATM Access: Facecard is accepted everywhere Debit MasterCard is accepted, including ATMs.

Friend to Friend Gifts and Paybacks: Giving a gift is as simple as typing an email address. All of those birthday gifts and IOUs can go directly onto the card.

Set a Budget:It is a prepaid card so once that money is gone, no more transactions are allowed. This means no more overspending or hefty overdraft fees.

To become a facecard member, you will need the following pieces of information:

1) Your name
2) Your address including city and state
3) Your social security number
4) A home or cell phone number
5) Your email address
Currently, facecard is only available to US citizens who are 13 years of age or older.

Freebies Forever!! Give me Freebies or .....

2009-01-15T16:49:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't like free stuff. I tried posting a whole bunch of freebies on my website before. They keep changing as fast as I get a page put together. I have tried to add some that seem to be staying the same for a while.

As of 11/11/09 these links all worked

Bob Evans Birthday Club for kids 12 and under

Birthday Club at Betty Crocker

Stone Cold Creamery has free ice cream for your birthday! Yummy!!!!

Red Robin Birthday Club - Free burger on your birthday

Sonic Drive-In - Birthday Club for kids

Toys r Us Birthday Club - Kids ages 2-10

DQ Blizzard Buy 1 Get 1 Free when you join the Blizzard Club

Free Salvation Bracelet

Free Bible Study Course

Free Christian mp3s

Free Bible Study Software

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Join Wakin' Up Club at Folgers and you will be sent newsletters, special offers and possibly free samples.

Nescafe Tasters Choice Coffee Sample

True Lemon Sample Packets - I just love this is ice water!

Yogi Tea Sample - Nice variety to choose from

Country Bob's BBQ Sauce - This stuff is awesome (CHRISTIAN OWNED)

Splendid Delights Crownies Sugar Free Yummy 100 chip cookie - My hubby loved these

Free Gooseberry Patch Recipe Book

Free subscription to Marriage Today magazine

Baby Talk Magazine

Parents Magazine

The Plain Truth

Free Stuff For New & Expectant Parents

FREE Pregnancy Calendar

Create An Online Pregnancy Journal For Free

BabiesOnline.com - Free baby web pages and information on how to get free Pampers Coupons

Baby Photo Contest

Enter to win a $100 shopping spree

Click Here for a Free Subscription to Baby Talk Magazine

Free diaper bag from Enfamil

Join Enfamil Family Beginnings and get $250 in gifts and coupons for formula

Free Subscription to Baby Talk Magazine

Pampers coupons and samples

Free Stuff For Baby! - Free Diapers, Baby Wipes, Baby Formula, and More!

Wal-Mart Has Free Samples - Changes Often

Similac Offers & Coupons

Gerber Baby Food Coupons

Free E-book For New & Expecting Parents! - Get "The Best of Baby Freebies", a 100-page ebook filled with the names of 100's of companies who offer free stuff to new and expecting parents...FREE! ($7.99 value)

Free Baby Food Coupons

Free Sippy Cup From Juicy Juice

GOOD START Infant Formula Coupons and Magazine (These are great)

Enroll in the Enfamil Family Beginnings program for up to $250 in free gifts and offers

Coupon for a FREE pack of Pampers (14 medium or 10 large) at Johnny's Toys - Offer Only Available to Those Living In The Greater Cincinnati Area

Earths Best Organic Free Rice Cereal Sample

Stayfree Dry Max

o.b. Tampon Sample

Dove Hair Care

Free Sample From Olay

Pantene Shampoo

Monistat Soothing Care Gel

Trojan Condom Sample (must be 18 or older)

Stetson Cologne

Charmin free extender here

Bounty Sample & Coupons

Fizzy Wizzies effervescent tablets

Free McGruff cool stuff

Dare to be a Daniel free kit including booklet and CD-ROM

Wal-Mart Has Free Samples - Changes Often

Pet 'n Shape Dog Treat Sample

Greenies Dental Chews for Dogs

Greenies for Your Kitty

Free Yappy Treat For Your Dog

Pet Food Sample From Benny Bullys

Mighty Dog Canned Dog Food

F-R-E-E $200 wyb a TV + F-R-E-E Suave + 75% off FOOD & YUMMY GOODIES!!!

2009-01-15T16:47:00.000-08:00

F-R-E-E $200 wyb a TV + F-R-E-E Suave + 75% off FOOD & YUMMY GOODIES!!!

Are you ready for the Digital TV Switch? F-R-E-E $200 wyb...
http://stockpilesrus.servertalk.in/viewtopic.php?t=59
18&mforum=stockpilesrus

+
75% off EVERYTHING (Ham, Turkey, Sausage, Sweets & More)
http://stockpilesrus.servertalk.in/viewtopic.php?t=59
15&mforum=stockpilesrus

+
F-r-e-e Bottle of Suave - Today Only!!
http://stockpilesrus.servertalk.in/viewtopic.php?p=771
0&mforum=stockpilesrus#7710

+
F-r-e-e 2 liter of cherry 7up!!
http://stockpilesrus.servertalk.in/viewtopic.php?p=770
9&mforum=stockpilesrus#7709

+
REMEMBER: to signup for our Newsletter, there are many things we ONLY post in our newsletter, don't miss out again, sign up here:
http://lists.topica.com/lists/stockpilesrus/subscribe/
?location=listinfo

+
PS: It's never too late to donate to the food bank! (They accept clothing & toys too)

FREE ACTIVITIES TO ENJOY WITH YOUR FAMILY

2008-12-30T17:37:00.000-08:00

Blowing Bubbles

Making your own bubbles couldn't be easier! You can use liquid hand soap and a bit of water to do this. All you would need is a bubble wand, which you could create out of a bit of thin wire(left over Easter Egg wire dippers would be excellent for this), and a container for the bubbles(you could simply use a bowl or plastic container for that) and you're all set.

For smaller children, try picking up some "tear free" shampoo to create your bubble mixture with. Do remember that the more "foamy" a liquid soap is, the lower quality your bubble mixture will be. Now, to create your own bubbles, simply take 1/15 cup of liquid soap(actually it is said that dish washing liquid works best) mixed with 1 cup of water inside whatever container you want to store it in.

Bubble mixtures of liquid soap and water can also be mixed with glycerin, sugar, or corn syrup as well. For even more bubble recipes, check out these websites: http://www.kidsdomain.com/craft/bubbles1.html, http://bubbleblowers.com/homemade.html.

Board Games

Almost every family home has one form of board game or another. Whether it be your standard board game such as Monopoly, Sorry, Trouble, etc., or a DVD type trivia game, these can provide hours of fun.

While DVD style games are fun, the classic board games are better as you will never have the same outcome. Meaning, even though you are playing the exact same game, the winner is unknown until you have finished the game.

Try spicing up the game by playing for different types of prizes, but be sure that everyone will win something. The prizes could be dividing up chores that are to be done, having the 1st place winner getting the easiest household chore and the last place winner receiving the more difficult, or the chore that is least preferred by all family members.

You could also try having the prizes consist of allowing the 1st place winner pick tomorrow's activity, 2nd place winner picking the following day's activity, and so on.

If you don't have a board game lying around, why not invent your own games? Activities such as "treasure hunts" can be fun and educational at the same time. You can create your own maps or clue lists and let the first place winner(s) have first pick at the treasures. And, of course, the treasures can be anything you can think of that would have significant value within your particular family unit.

Also, a good game of hide and seek can also be hours of fun for all ages. And, hide and seek can be played both indoors or outdoors depending on the weather.

Coloring

Always a great way to pass time on a rainy day, coloring pictures is a fantastic way to have some fun while developing artistic skills. Not only that, but you can turn an otherwise boring day of coloring into an "in-house" art contest. But, be sure that you have prizes for everyone so that each time everyone is a winner ;-)

If you don't have any coloring books, you can always print out pictures from websites like: http://www.free-coloring-pages.com/, http://coloringbookfun.com/, and http://www.kidprintables.com/. Don't forget to check out all the other free information within those websites for other terrific family oriented ideas, tips, and more.

Now, if you don't have any new crayons for coloring, the best time to pick some up is right before the new school year begins. You can get a box of 24 count crayons for 20 cents or less. So, if you need to stock up, this is the best time to do so.

Coloring doesn't have to be limited just to crayons and coloring books. You can do some fingerpainting, watercolor painting, or creating clay sculptures too.

Play Card Games

Almost every "dollar store" sells decks of cards for a buck. And, almost everyone knows how to play card games. Whether it's "Go Fish", "Old Maid", Gin Rummy, or 5 Card Draw Poker. Obviously, you wouldn't want to teach your child how to become a poker virtuoso, but playing a card game such as "War" or "Go Fish" can help develop your child's math skills.

Now, you don't have to have a special deck of cards for games like Go Fish, Old Maid, or War. Any standard deck will do. So, when the kids are awake, you can play those card games that are child oriented, and when they go to bed, you and your friend, or significant other can play a more adult oriented game such as poker or Rummy.

Always have some sort of "prize" on hand if you plan on having a family Go Fish tournament. And be sure that everyone is a winner with the prizes going down in value or size. This is especially important for younger children so that no one every feels as if they are a "loser". And, no one likes to feel that way, even older children. Although they might never admit it.

Working On Puzzles

If you need a bit of quiet time, then working on a 5,000 piece jigsaw puzzle may just be what you need. Not only does this type of activity build a child's problem solving skills, but it also helps develop their multi-tasking skills when you add conversation into the mix.

There are other forms of puzzles you could work on together, including crosswords, word finds, and of course the ever popular Sudoku. Any one of these can help develop yours and your child's brain power while spending some wonderful quality time together.

If you don't have money to spend on "paper" puzzles(meaning those other than jigsaws), you can always print some out from these websites for free at: http://www.teacherhelp.org/puzzles_and_games.htm, http://www.mirroreyes.com/crossword/, http://www.billybear4kids.com/jigsaw-puzzles/main-page.html, and http://www.sudoku.com/program.htm.

Remember too, that if you don't have a "physical" jigsaw puzzle, there are plenty of free online jigsaws you can do together available from websites such as: http://freejigsawpuzzles.com/, http://www.jigzone.com/, or http://www.thekidzpage.com/onlinejigsawpuzzles/index.htm.

Coupons, Offers, free samples and more

2008-12-27T09:35:00.001-08:00

http://savingshunter.net/specialoffers.aspx

http://savingshunter.net/Freebies.aspx

Free Sample Serenity for Men

2008-12-27T09:34:00.001-08:00

Free Sample Serenity for Men

http://www.serenitymaleguards.com/enFreeSample.htm

Free Pregnancy Alert Wristband

2008-12-27T09:33:00.000-08:00

In celebration of Babies Online's 10 year anniversary we are giving away free pregnancy wristbands to all expectant mommies in the U.S! This trendy bracelet can also alert emergency personnel to your pregnancy status if you are not able to communicate after an accident. Help us celebrate 10 wonderful years by requesting your free wristband today!

https://www.babiesonline.com/wristband/

FREE $25 Restaurant GC offer + Save 80%!!!

2008-12-27T09:32:00.001-08:00

http://stockpilesrus.servertalk.in/viewtopic.php?t=5756&mforum=stockpilesrus

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
80% Off + Free $25 Certificate with /a min. $11 purchase on ALL $25 Gift Certificates
Code CELEBRATE thru 12/31/08

80% Off + Free $25 Certificate with /a min. $11 purchase on Dinner of the Month Club Purchase
Code CELEBRATE thru 12/31/08

Hope you had a very merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

online coupon resources

2008-12-27T09:20:00.000-08:00

Notice: While many of these sites will contain similar coupons

not all the coupons will be the same. It pays to look!

Major Coupon Sites:

Grocery:

(some of these link to other pages or contain an area for online retail

store coupons also)

http://www.valupage.com

http://www.coolsavings.com

http://www.boodle.com

http://www.eversave.com

http://www.cents-off.com (Note: you can buy coupons from this

site. This is only useful if you constantly purchase the same

items over and over and can't find coupons for them in your local

paper.)
http://www.spoofee.com
http://www.consumernow.com
http://stockpilesrus.com
(http://www.stockpilesrus.com not only has coupons, but lists current shopping deals going on in various states, provides online discounts and coupons codes, freebie offers, and great information to help you save money. Definitely give this site a look.)

http://www.cutouthunger.org

http://www.couponcart.com

http://www.couponsurfer.com

http://www.valpak.com

http://www.smartsource.com

http://www.couponmountain.com

http://www.livingnaturally.com (organic foods)

http://www.upons.com (you don't print out upons you just add them to

your shopping card and they come off at the register. Which is

awesome because you don't have to remember to bring them with you!)

http://www.refundsweepers.com/rsonlinecoupons.shtml (links to grocery coupons,

rebates, free samples and online coupons codes)

http://www.lisasfreebies.com/printcoupons.html

http://www.dealtech.com (non grocery)

Online Store Coupon Codes:

http://www.dealcatcher.com

http://www.goodbazaar.com
http://www.refundcents.com

http://www.mycouponoutlet.com (links to manufacturers also)

http://www.mrrebates.com

http://www.discountstore.com

http://fatwallet.com
http://savebenjamin.com Coupon codes and secret discounts to hundreds of online stores! Lots of freebies, frugal living tips and grocery coupons/rebates. Friendly forum discussions on saving time & money, family life, cooking, healthy living, small business support and most important of all -- friendships!

Price comparison search engines:
http://www.froogle.com (all items)
http://campusi.com (text books, dvd, music... This site is AWESOME)

Manufacturers Pages often have coupons. Here are some

I've found recently. If you like a product check the manufactures

home page for coupons. If they aren't offered on the site

email their customer service dept. to ask where you might

find coupons for thier products. Often they will send them to you

themselves. It doesn't hurt to call their customer support

lines for the same information either!)

http://www.tech-sol.net/interlinks/TF-coupons.htm (toll free numbers

to manufactures offering coupons for thier products)

http://www.healthychoice.com

http://www.scottbrand.com

http://www.kodak.com

http://www.pampers.com

http://www.huggies.com

http://www.pgbrandsaver.com

http://www.colgate.com

http://www.kraftfoods.com

http://www.campbellkitchen.com

http://www.brawnyman.com

http://www.conagrafoods.com/brands/index.jsp (links to some of your

better foods)

http://www.neosporin.com

http://www.sargentocheese.com

http://www.lorealparisusa.com

http://www.qualityhealth.com (has coupons and free samples from

various companies)

http://www.stonyfield.com

http://www.dimetapp.com

http://www.oxyoxygen.com

Information:
http://www.thriftyfun.com (good place for thrifty recipes.

http://pages.ivillage.com/gtstanggirl3/id11.html (tells you how to get the

Most out of your coupons! Great information!)

http://www.jlyne.com/stores_that_double_coupons.html (Will tell you which

chain stores in your state double and tripple coupons.)

http://www.upromise.com (Gives a small cash rebate on certain products

which is put in an account for your kid's college.)

http://www.nesteggz.com (similar to upromise)

http://www.dealofday.com (Information about deals and coupon trading forums)

# When shopping online google the name of the online store plus the terms "discount code" or "coupon code" (example: Amazon discount codes) to get the best offers from online venders.

# Say it loud: I like your product and I'm proud!

Call the toll-frees on your favorite products'

label and tell the customer-service rep how much you

enjoy them. Some reps will actually offer cents-off

(or even free) coupons for the product itself, or for

new variants; if not, don't be shy: Ask if they have a mailing

list for coupons and if they have any rebates/offers

available currently.
Write these companies as well.

# Nab a newsie. Does your newspaper vendor

just dump the inserts in unsold papers at the end of

the day? If so, would he mind tossing a few your way?

Grocery Shopping and Eating for Less

2008-12-13T12:25:00.000-08:00

For a very long year, I paid almost all the bills for a family of four on not much money at all. I mean REALLY not much money. When I needed a coat that winter, I bought it at Goodwill, and the fifteen dollars it cost (plus the cost of having it drycleaned and one card of replacement buttons, because several of the original ones were missing) was a big chunk out of the budget. It’s a time I do not wish to revisit, but one that taught me a lot of lessons about living on very little.

The most important of these:

* Except in the most dire of emergencies, do not use credit cards. Period. Don’t even carry them. * Turn down the heat. If there are drafts, put rolled up towels on the windowsills and at the base of the front door. Put on sweaters and socks. * Don’t shop. Stay away from malls. Find free things to do. * If you need clothes of any kind, check Goodwill, the Salvation Army and thrift stores first. Washing, dry-cleaning and new buttons and zippers (see above) can work magic. (The same goes for clothing you might already have; don’t shop at all before rummaging through your closet and drawers.)

And perhaps the most important lesson: Be parsimonious with your food dollars.

It is completely possible to eat sensibly and healthily and well on a tight budget. Here are some ways to accomplish this:

Read the Food section of your local newspaper (which comes out on Wednesday) to see what’s on sale. (On Sundays, most newspapers also have circulars with coupons in them; these can easily end up saving two or three times -- or more -- the cost of the newspaper.) Match coupons with sale items. There are also sites on line where you can find additional coupons!

(Also clip coupons for things you don’t need that particular week but which you use a lot: laundry detergent, shampoo, toothpaste, dish soap, etc. Always clip coupons for staples; pasta, beans, canned goods.)

Get a coupon organizer or create your own with envelopes.

Spend thirty minutes to an hour one evening creating menus for the entire following week. Plan the menus around what your family likes, what you have on hand and what is on sale. Pick the best store for the most bargains. (It is unnecessary -- and expensive -- to drive around from store-to-store.) (Exception: An incredible store. Once, during lean times, I read about a grocery store that was going out of business and had marked everything at least fifty percent off. We ate well off what I bought there for months.)

Your menus should include follow-up meals made from leftovers from previous meals. Your menus should include breakfasts, lunches, dinners and any snacks.

Make a detailed and thorough list. You will not be buying anything that is not on your list. (This is key; all of us "dollar dribble" -- picking up impulse items that have little lasting effect on our lives. To get a handle on this, try these tips.)

Have a cup of coffee or tea and some fruit or a sandwich before shopping. It is never a good idea to shop for food on an empty stomach; and you will not be stopping at Starbucks.

Don’t buy junk food; it’s expensive, unhealthy and useless nutritionally. For snacks, choose whole-grain crackers, fruit, cut-up veggies and air-popped popcorn.

If there is a terrific sale on something your family eats a lot of (chicken, turkey, tuna, peanut butter, canned tomatoes), buy extra, freeze or store what you won’t eat, and remember to include it in future menus.

(Next time I write for this series, I’ll include some weekly menus.)

Eliminate throw-away products from your life. You can use old towels (cut up into re-usable rag sizes) in place of paper towels; you can make your own cloth napkins. And avoid expensive "cleaning" products. There is virtually nothing in your house that cannot be cleaned with ammonia, white vinegar, baking soda and/or dish soap. Frugal cleaning.

Be creative with your menu planning. Consider an omelette filled with leftover vegetables and potatoes (and some cheese), a hearty soup, or a baked potato with cottage cheese or yogurt, and a green salad.

If you are really in a bind, consider the menus at this site.

Here are a few low-cost main dishes for four people. The soups are from Quick Cooking from the Top of the Stove by Marion Flexner, which my Dad bought for my Mom in 1951 (our copy is falling apart and, sadly, this great little paperback is hopelessly out-of-print).

Emergency Camp Chowder

4 thin slices leftover bacon
1 can vegetable soup
1 can tomato soup
1 can water
1 onion (chopped)

Fry onion in a little bit of olive oil (or in leftover bacon drippings), add the soups and water. Cook until blended. Season. Crumble bacon on top.

Really good (and cheap) Fancy Mushroom Soup

¼ lb. mixed mushrooms
2 Tbl. Butter
Tabasco sauce (just a few drops)
1 can of consomme (or mushroom soup)
4 Tbl. Sherry
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Brown mushrooms in butter. Add consomme (or mushroom soup), sherry, Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce. Boil. Serve hot.

My Mom’s Kedgeree

1 large can tuna fish (7 oz.) (water packed; thoroughly drained)
2 C. cooked rice (leftover is fine)
1 C. cottage cheese
½ C. mayonnaise
Curry powder (to taste)
Salt and pepper (to taste)
½ C. parmesan cheese

Mix.

Serve with sides (any combination) of: peanuts or peanut butter, raisins, chutney, chopped scallions, apple slices, peas and/or hardboiled egg quarters.

My Tuna Macaroni Salad

1 large can tuna fish (7 oz.) (water packed; thoroughly drained)
2 C. cooked pasta (tiny shells or rotini)
3 Tbl. Mayonnaise
1 C. chopped celery (peel it first, so it isn’t stringy)
1/3 C. chopped scallions
2 Tbl. Lemon juice

Mix and chill. Serve on lettuce.

A Wonderful Omelette (From Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook @ 1953)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Separate 4 eggs. Beat whites until frothy. Add 2 Tbl. Water and ½ tsp. salt. Beat ‘til stiff but not dry. Add 2 Tbl. flour and a dash of pepper to the yolks; beat the yolks until thick and lemon colored and fold them gently into the whites.

Heat 1 Tbl. Butter in a 10-inch skillet. When the fat is just hot enough to make a drop of water sizzle, pour in the omelette mixture. Level carefully, leaving the eggs slightly higher around the edge.

Cook over LOW heat until puffy and lightly browned on the bottom (about 5 minutes). (You can gently lift the edge to check.)

Finish in slow oven (300 degrees) 8-10 minutes. When you put it in the oven, sprinkle on some shredded hard cheese.

The omelette is done when a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Loosen the omelette. Make a cut at right angles to the skillet’s handle, just above the center. Fold and slice.

Serve with toast and tomatoes.

How to get a job when no one is hiring

2008-12-06T08:39:00.000-08:00

Over a decade ago, when my husband lost his job, he got sent to one of the "employment coaching" services, and I tagged along. It was gimmicky, and over-promised what it could do, but there were some useful lessons. When I started teaching professional writing, I tweaked some of the approaches and combined them with other techniques to make a "job search" lesson that differs from the usual approach. Usually this is what students say is the most useful part of the class. Maybe it can help someone here.

The first thing to understand is that even in times like these, people are hiring. Wherever anyone is conducting business, there are jobs and potential openings.

The second thing to understand is that although you might not feel like it, you are a potential asset to an employer. They need you as much as you need them.

The third thing is the one everybody knows, and the thing that initially seems like a huge hurdle to overcome: it's often not what you know, but who you know. When you're unemployed with no prospects, this is what you have to fix.

A few other miscellaneous things: In this climate, it's usually a waste of time to send out resumes. They go to people who can't actually hire you. You want to talk to people who can. So here is what you do:

Step 1: Identify a few companies (start with about 3) who employ people who do what you do. Then identify people who supervise those people. **It does not matter in the slightest that those companies are not hiring.**

Step 2: Polish your resume and, if possible, put together a portfolio of your work. Include a copy of your educational transcripts if they are impressive.

Step 3: Carefully construct a letter to each person you identified in step 1, that says something like this:

Dear Mr/Ms _____________

I'm preparing for a job search in the area of [your profession] and wonder if I might have a few moments of your time. Since you are a leader in [his/her industry], I want to ask your opinion on the most effective preparation for someone in [your field]. Please understand, I'm not asking you for a job. I'm just looking for advice on how best to prepare for employment during these challenging times. Your advice would be invaluable and the meeting would be very brief.

I will call your office next week in hopes of scheduling an appointment. I understand that you are very busy. The meeting will take no more than fifteen minutes of your time. I look forward to speaking with you.

Sincerely,

[you]

Customize the letter if you can, mentioning anything relevant you might have in common with the recipient, like sharing an alma mater, etc, but don't make it much longer than what you see there. Use professional-looking paper and envelopes--plain is fine--and make sure you have spelled the addressee's name and the name of the companies correctly, and pop them in the mail.

Do not include a resume.

When your letter has had time to reach its destination, make the follow up phone call, and pleasantly request the meeting. Reiterate that you are preparing for a job search and are only seeking advice and feedback. Most people are willing to give 15 minutes. (My students average well over 50% of the meetings they ask for.) If they hesitate, offer to buy coffee at a nearby spot, and remind them how valuable their input would be.

When the appointed day arrives, keep the following in mind:

Your goal is to begin assembling a network, not to ask for a job. You've told the person you're not going to do that, and for this to work, you really must not.

Every supervisor is always on the lookout for talent. They never know when they will need someone, so you really are of interest to them.

The feedback you can get from each person will move you closer to a job, even if it's just a little bit, so no matter what, the meeting will be beneficial.

Ultimately, people are hired as much because someone likes them as because they are qualified.

Each meeting has the potential to bring you one step closer to a job.

When the meeting starts, begin by thanking the person for his/her time. Then without wasting any time, show him/her your resume. Explain your qualifications, and the kind of job you're looking for (which should be the kind of job this person hires for) and ask for suggestions. Make sure that each question you ask directs their attention to your qualifications, like this:

I had this internship where I learned to make widgets, and then I ended up teaching a class about widget assembly. Do you think I should emphasize the class I taught or the time I spent on the job?

Listen carefully and attentively to all suggestions, and take notes. Write them on a tablet or notepad and try to leave your resume in the person's hands so that they can continue to browse it as much as possible. Make sure they get to look at the evidence of your good work in the portfolio. Ask questions that direct their attention to the most impressive work.

At the end the the time, make sure to thank them for their help, and finish with something like this.

Thank you. This has been incredibly helpful. I will definitely [do something they suggested.] Is there anyone else that you would recommend that I talk to?

Take down any contact information they give you, thank them, and be on your way. When you get home, immediately write (not email) a thank-you note, and in it, mention specifically one piece of advice that was particularly helpful. If at all possible (without awkwardness) leave the resume. Remember--it is very important that you do not ask for a job.

If you follow this plan and all goes well, at the end of the meeting, you've accomplished the following:

You've made contact with someone who could, potentially, hire you.

Your resume is on the desk of someone who could hire you.

You've made them aware of your qualifications, and demonstrated that you are professional, motivated, and industrious.

You've gotten another name of someone you can speak with.

You've started, from scratch, a network of people who know you--who have seen your face and your qualifications--and who can advocate for you.

Often, however, you get more than this. Often the person you speak with will either

say they don't have any openings, but they know someone who does, and put you in touch with that person.

say they are hoping to hire again soon, and ask that you leave your materials

ask if you'd be interested in some part-time work or contract work with the company.

start a process by which you can be hired (by asking you to fill out an application, talk to HR, etc.)

(Sometimes, btw, this happens after they get your thank-you note, since that is such a rare occurrence in today's world.)

I want to be clear--this is not a magic potion that will land you a job immediately. But it is a significantly better use of your limited job-searching time than sending out resumes to people who have never met you. It is scary, especially the first time you do it, but it really does work. My students used to average about 1 job offer for every 5 - 7 meetings. Things are slowing down now, but they are not stopping.

How to Find Thrift Store Items to Sell for Profit on eBay

2008-11-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

By Suzanne Arant Wells

Many people earn their living by selling gently used thrift store items on eBay. Learn what to look for in thrift stores to turn into cash on eBay.

Do your homework. Check eBay's completed listings for what items sell and for what price. If you have a hunch about an item's value, check it out on eBay before buying it to resell. You don't want to be stuck with a bunch of items that nobody wants.

Look for any items, still in the box or with tags. Many people donate items to charity that are brand new. These items may have been gifts, clothing in the wrong size, or they may never have had the chance to return them to a store for a refund or exchange. You will find items new in the package like candles, office supplies, cosmetics, bath gel, board games, kitchen gadgets, and baby items.

Look for high end, designer leather goods such as handbags, coats, boots, shoes, and belts. Authentic leather items sell well on eBay.

Check the front counter or special display areas for high dollar items such as perfumes, china dolls, cosmetics, leather motorcycle jackets, electronics, and gift items. Many thrift stores know the value of these items and will sell them for more than the regular inventory on the sales floor. These items may be more expensive than other items in the thrift store, but you can still make a good profit selling them on eBay.

Kitchen items. Look for calphalon, circulon, cast iron, Pampered Chef, Corningware casserole dishes, and vintage Pyrex items.

Linens. Childrens items do well - focus on whatever characters are popular at the time. Sheets, comforters, pillows, sleeping bags do well. Look for electric blankets of all sizes. Make sure they work properly before purchasing.

Vintage character items. Anything with characters such as Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and Peanuts; Smurfs, Evil Kneivel, Disney characters are good sellers. Look for items such as bed sheets, lunchboxes, mugs, puzzles, dolls, etc.

Candles. Look for Yankee Candle, White Barn Candle, any that are expensive when purchased retail. Even if the candle it burned a little, you can still sell it on eBay. Some of these have been retired and aren't being made any more.

Anything with a unique theme. People collect anything and everything. Look for items like men's unique ties, shirts with a specific theme (animals, vehicles, etc), salt pepper shakers, kitchen and home decor.

Clothing- Before you buy it, examine items closely, looking for any holes, stains, or any flaws.

Wash each item, according to care tag instructions.

Make a list of items you are going to sell, taking down brand, color, size, and condition.

Take clear digital photos. If you can't tell what items you have in the photo, no one else will be able to either. If you will be selling in lots, lay out outfits together or items that are similar, and take a few detailed photos of any flaws that need to be pointed out. Otherise, take clear photographs of the front and back of each item.

Take measurements: Bust/Chest, Waist, Hips, Inseam, Length are the basics. Sleeve length, neck size, and bell width (on skirts/dresses) are also helpful.

List your items on eBay. Write up a title, description, and set your starting price. Make it as low as you are willing to sell the item for -- lower prices encourage more people to bid.

How to Get Free Food

2008-11-03T09:15:00.000-08:00

By Suzanne Arant Wells

Getting free food from restaurants, coffee houses, and fast food places is easy if you know how. The key is to plan ahead, stay informed, and constantly be on the lookout for freebies that you and your family can use. Learn how to tap into resources and stay "in the know" on how to get free food.

Join groups and forums where members post freebies and deals. There is power in numbers - thousands of eyes and ears are everywhere seeking out deals and posting them on forums. Sites such as SlickDeals.net and Anything4Free.com have thousands of members who are watchdogs for freebies. New deals are posted daily and the members post links to printable coupons, online advertisements, or just spread the word about deals they have seen or heard about. Some of the deals are for a limited time only or in certain geographic locations, so check the forums often and see which deals will work for you.

Read blogs such as Money Saving Mom and Sisterly Savings. The women who write these blogs have a huge following of readers who help them stay in the know about freebies of all kinds - coupons in the Sunday inserts, online deals, local specials, you name it. Information about freebies are constantly being added to these sites. Subscribe to these blogs so that the updates are delivered to you by email. What could be better than receiving freebies in your inbox every day?

Visit the website http://www.familyfriendlyamerica.com/kidseatfree.html for a huge list of restaurants and fast food establishments where kids can eat free. The website outlines what days and times kids eat free, so you can plan eating out around the best deals.

Join restaurant and fast food loyalty programs. Many sandwich, coffee, and ice cream shops have punch cards where you receive a credit for each purchase. When your card is full of punches, you will be granted a free item. If you are eating out anyway, take advantage of these frequent customer programs and rack up free food.

Watch your mail for the ValueMailer type envelopes full of coupons. Our family uses these all the time. You will find offers for BOGO meals, free beverages, or a free dessert with purchase. The BOGO meal deals will save you the most money.

Check the Sunday paper coupon inserts. National chains like IHOP, Hardees, and Pizza Hut usually have coupons in the Sunday inserts for BOGO deals or free items with purchase.

Pay attention to your local TV, radio, and newspapers. Local restaurants have all kinds of specials. You've probably seen specials like this: Celebrate our 10th anniversary - Get a free sandwich from 5-7 on Tuesday! Wear your team jersey and get a free appetizer from 3-5 during the game! Halloween Madness - wear your costume and get a free dessert! National Coffee Day - get a free cappuccino on Friday! Watch for these types of special promotions in your community.

Eat free on your birthday, or take someone out so they can eat free on their birthday. Go to http://www.frugalliving.tv/free-stuff/birthday-freebies.html. Some freebie deals require that you join a birthday club in which case coupons will be mailed. You can literally drive around all day on your birthday getting free meals, coffee, snacks, and desserts. I've done it!

ShopStar

2008-11-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

Do you like freebies, bargains, coupons, samples, and a fun community? Do you have freebies or deals to share? Then, ShopStar Forums is the place for you!

Here are just some of the things you can expect with ShopStar Forums:

*Random contests for DVD's, books and lots more!
*Sign up for the free monthly newsletter
*A lottery system being put into place for your chance to win prizes and cash!
*Get Paid to Post! Check out our posting rewards Forum with more details.
*New Deals, Coupons added daily
*Get access to posting unlimited referral links or advertising your business on our Hot Entrepreneurs Forums.

Check out this brand new community, with lots of great things in store!

Be sure to register in order to be able to get your posting rewards and to be eligible for contests.

See you there!
ShopStar Inc. Admin

http://shopstarinc.proboards74.com
http://www.shopstarinc.net

25 Ways to Save More Each Month

2008-11-03T09:01:00.000-08:00

by Ben Steverman

The more we spend unnecessarily, the less money we save for our true priorities and future needs. That's especially important in challenging economic times. BusinessWeek asked financial advisors for tips on how to reduce expenses and boost savings. Changing spending habits can be difficult, but here are 25 suggestions to get started.

1. Track Every Expense

Financial advisors say the best way to control your spending is to know precisely where all your cash is going each month. There are several options: Make a budget; keep a spreadsheet of all spending; or buy a computer program designed to help manage your finances.

2. Vacation in the Off-season

Reston (Va.)-based financial planner Frank Boucher says he is taking his beach vacation in early September, when he found a luxury condo for half its cost during July and August. Vacationers can also save by staying with friends or visiting low-cost locations like developing countries.

3. Cut Out Investment Charges and Fees

Jeff Seymour of Triangle Wealth Management in Cary, N.C., points out that many investors end up paying 2% to 3% off the top each year for investing costs. Lower-cost mutual funds and index funds can slash that bill, savings that compound over several decades of investing.

Also, save more by taking full advantage of your employer's matching contribution to your 401(k) account.

4. Cut Back on Eating Out

Food is a daily expense that can add up quickly over time, so office workers can save a lot just by bringing their lunches to work rather than buying every day. Meals eaten at home almost always cost less than evenings out, even at more casual restaurants.

5. Downsize Your Car

Drivers stuck with a gas-guzzling SUV might consider selling it and finding more fuel-efficient wheels. (Of course, that could mean a financial hit given falling prices for the behemoths.) You can save on fuel and also on auto loan payments. High car payments are a frequent budget-buster, financial advisors say.

6. Cut Utility Bills, Especially Electricity

Experts are full of advice on lowering electricity and heating bills: Buy efficient light bulbs; lower the thermostat; turn off the air conditioning whenever possible; turn off lights and unplug appliances when not needed.

7. Make Sure You Don't Have Too Much Insurance

Life insurance can be a bad deal if you don't have dependents. For auto and home insurance, deductibles are often too low, advisors say. "You can save quite a bit by going from a $250 to $1,000 deductible," says Kirk Kinder of Picket Fence Financial in Bel Air, Md. "Also, shopping these for prices every couple years is important."

8. Find Cheaper Beverages to Drink

If you can break your addiction to fancy coffee, the free office coffee can be a money-saver over time. Unwilling to give up out-of-office coffee breaks, some thrifty consumers switch to a cheaper drink at their local Starbucks or other coffee shop. For alcoholic drinks, quality wines, beers, and liquor can be found at lower prices with a little research.

9. Examine Your Phone Service

Do you need both a landline and a mobile phone? If you have a cell phone, do you need long-distance service on your home phone? Canceling one line could mean one less bill every month. Many people have phone packages that are too expensive for their needs, so read your bill carefully.

10. Stop Paying for Premium Cable

Some penny-pinchers cancel cable service entirely to save $100 or more each month. Others lower their bills by cutting out premium movie channels.

11. Drive Less; Consolidate Trips

Think before jumping in the car. By planning and running many errands on the same car trip, you cut your fuel usage. Rather than driving, consider using public transportation, or walk, bike, or rollerblade somewhere nearby.

12. Use Warehouse Stores Wisely

Warehouse stores like Costco or Wal-Mart's Sam's Club can be great places to get deals, but they can also encourage over-spending. "Just make sure you go with a list and only buy those things that you are actually going to consume," financial planner Frank Boucher says. "It makes no sense to get a 'bargain' on a bulk item if you are going to throw half of it away."

13. Lay Down the Law with Your Free-Spending Friends

It can be hard to keep up with wealthier or less thrifty friends. Some financial planners advise cash-strapped clients to seek out social companions with similar budgets. However, if you're honest about your spending limits, true friends should be willing to adjust their plans by, for example, choosing a less pricey restaurant.

14. Find Free Entertainment

Movie rentals, cable TV packages, book purchases, concert tickets—it can all add up. Use your local public library to read books and rent films for free. Depending on where you live, it might also be possible to find free concerts, performances, and readings.

15. Consider Alternatives to a Gym Membership

The health benefits of a fitness club membership are only worthwhile if you go often. But there are other options: Exercise at home, outside, or at a local parks facility. Or, sign up for individual exercise or yoga classes rather than a full membership.

16. Cut Your Own Lawn

Michelle Goldstein of Goldstein Financial Future in Dallas estimates her family saves $40 each time they mow their own lawn instead of calling a lawn service.

17. Be Smart with Credit Cards

Financial advisors admonish clients to pay off their bills each month to avoid interest and finance charges. For those stuck with debt, move cash to cards with low interest rates. Some find they spend less on impulse purchases if they cut up their credit cards and use only cash instead.

18. Annualize Your Expenses

When reviewing your spending habits, roughly calculate how much they're costing over the course of a year. "Realizing how much things cost over the course of a year can really help put things in perspective," says Bob Nusbaum of Middle America Planning in Pittsburgh. For example, if you spend $10 for snacks and lunch each weekday, that adds up to $2,500 in a year.

19. Force Yourself to Save

One way to save more is to trick yourself. Transfer money automatically from paychecks into savings or investment accounts. With less available in your checking account, you'll be more careful about your spending. Gradually increase your automatic savings rate over time.

20. Institute a Waiting Period for Major Purchases

Wait at least 48 hours before deciding to buy anything over a certain price limit—$50 for example. After the waiting period is over, "You may decide that the object desired really isn't worth the price," says Jennifer Hartman of Greenleaf Financial Group in Los Angeles.

21. Pay Bills Online—Save on Stamps, Avoid Late Fees

Set up your finances so bills are paid automatically or online at the click of a mouse. "There's no reason to pay for stamps and envelopes and run the risk of a late-payment fee when bill-pay programs are usually free," says Walt Mozdzer of Syverson Strege & Co.

22. Make Sure You're Deducting All Business Expenses

Chris Long of Long & Associates in Chicago says clients often make the mistake of mixing personal and business expenses on one credit card. That makes them less likely to get reimbursed for expenses by employers or to deduct expenses from taxes.

23. Buy Generic Drugs and Groceries

Store-brand products in grocery stores are often made by the same manufacturers as the brand-name items. If you take prescription drugs, ask your pharmacist if a cheaper, generic version is available.

24. Buy Used

Cars, books, furniture, and even clothing can be bought used for a fraction of their original cost. New cars in particular often aren't worth the extra cost; a lightly used vehicle can save you thousands of dollars with little or no extra maintenance expenses.

25. Shop Smart

Coupons are a classic way for shoppers to get great deals. Supermarkets vying for shoppers will frequently run "double coupon" promotions. Comparison-shopping on the Internet is easy thanks to a variety of sites designed to help shoppers find the best deals. When retail Web sites ask for "coupon codes," try to find one by using a search engine. But whether online or in person, avoid the temptation of bargain-hunting for items you don't really need. "Most of the time if an item is 20% off, we waste $8 to save that $2," says Neerja Bhutani of Bhutani-Palmin Financial Planning in Walnut Creek, Calif.

Helpful Gas Saving Tips!

2008-11-03T08:56:00.000-08:00

Hi,

I found some helpful gas saving tips:

First of all, put regular gas in your car, not premium. Ninety percent of vehicles only need regular gas. You don't help yourself out buying the premium. You don't help yourself out buying the mid- grade if all your car needs is regular gas.

Also, your check engine light -- if it's on, you're definitely using more fuel. That's according to AAA.

Another good one is gas up when it's cool. That's because when it's cool, gas is denser. You get more bang for your buck.

Also, slow down. You can save up to 10 percent the difference between 55 and 65.

And if you're idling more than a minute, turn your engine off. You'll save money. Less than a minute, leave it run. ( I always wondered about this one)

Tire pressure is big, especially if you have an SUV. The bigger the vehicle, the more critical tire pressure is. You can save as much as 10 percent, especially on that SUV. I check the air in my tires on a regular basis--also I have heard that changing your oil every 3000 miles can save on gas in the long run.

I've heard that running the AC can really drain fuel economy. If possible, roll windows down when driving in the city to save gas. It doesn't work on the highway though. Too much air resistance.

Also, if you have roof racks or weight in your truck, get rid of that and check gaspricewatch.com if you want to get the lowest price. All you have to do is put your zip code in and you'll get the lowest price.

I hope this helps!

Cheap meals: family of 5

2008-11-03T08:50:00.000-08:00

pizza pasta:

1 lb box penne pasta
1 can diced tomatoes
half bag of pepperoni
1 cup mozzrella
1/2 cup parm cheese
1/2 cup kraft roasted red pepper italian parm dressing
**cook noodles and mix

I tried this, its good and cheap.

cheddar mac n ham casserole

2 box mac n cheese, cooked
1 and half cup cooked peas
1 and half cup diced cooked ham steaks
**add cooked peas and cooked diced ham to prepared mac n cheese.. sprinkle with cheese if you like (put into casserole pan to make it look as if you slaved in the kitchen all day)

so cheap, so easy! mac n ham casserole is about $6 to make .. pizza pasta is about $10, but you may already have the cheeses, making this pretty cheap to make!

home made chili
dry beans (cook per directions) $1.00
hamburger meat ($3.00)
can of diced tomatoes ($1.00)
spices

soak beans over night or boil for two minutes then cover and take off burner for two hours. drain. cook beans for another two hours in water (follow directions on bag. Supposedly using salt in the cooking or soaking process slows it down so don't do that.

fry hamburger. if you're not wanting the chunks of ground beef like you get when you brown it, then cook it in water while smashing and stirring several times. add spices while doing this. then brown it when it's right for you. this makes the crumbly taco meat at restaurants. add onions and bell peppers if you like.

mix diced tomatoes, beans and hamburger with spices and cook until heated.

beans can be stored after being soaked. soaking takes out the toots. 1 bag of dried beans equals at least a few cans in quantity but is the same price as 1 can.

***

beans and rice. my kids hate it but it costs pennies and they'll eat it if i add salsa for Mexican rice. get creative, try sweet and sour sauce, soy sauce, teriyaki. see what they like. beans are a great protein and fiber source. contrary to popular belief, they are not fattening unless you eat like Boston baked beans with a bunch of brown sugar and molasses or something.

Angel Food Ministries

2008-11-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

We get some of our food from a program called Angel Food Ministries. They have distribution sites all over the U.S. You can visit www.angelfoodministries.com and check out the November menu & find a site near you. I was leery about this at first, but we have gotten the main box for the last few months and it has been very good. One month I actually bought two main boxes because I knew we would use everything in it. The object of the program is the main box is $30 and it is supposed to feed a family of four for a week. There is meat, frozen vegetable, some times pasta, instant potatoes, etc. We also like it when they have the chicken tenders special - a 10lb box for $18.00 (and they are sooooo yummy!!!). It is not always the "healthiest" kinds of foods, but usually you can make pretty well rounded meals from what you get. There is always a dozen eggs and two pounds of frozen vegetables. I have really liked adding this to my grocery shopping. I visited the site and here is the November menu:

1.5 lb. New York Strip Steak (4 x 6 oz.) 3 lb. IQF Split Chicken Breast

2 lb. Baby Back Pork Ribs 2 lb. Chicken Chunks

28 oz. Jumbo Charbroiled Beef Patties with Gravy 1 lb. Smoked Sausage

1 lb. Ground Turkey 1 lb. Green Beans

1 lb. Diced Sweet Potatoes 10 oz. Peanut Butter

15 oz. Cranberry Sauce 7 oz. Beef-Flavored Rice & Vermicelli

20 oz. Shoestring Fries 32 oz. 2% Reduced Fat Shelf-Stable Milk

6 oz. Pancake Mix One Dozen Eggs

One Dessert Item

All for $30!!!!!

use the library

2008-11-03T08:38:00.000-08:00

I use the library to save $$$. Most libraries now have videos and DVD's and CD's. I also take advantage of the interlibrary loan system. If there's a book I'm interested in, but don't want to spend the money to buy it, I see if my local library can borrow it from another library.

Lori

How to Get Free Gifts to Give at Christmas

2008-10-12T19:32:00.001-07:00

Financially, this has been a hard year for everyone. Here is a list of "out of the box" creative ways to get freebies to give as gifts this year. Hope it helps someone out!

http://www.ehow.com/how_4541688_free-gifts-give-christmas.html

from: Suzanne Wells - The eBay Coach

Teaching Your Kids to Save During Recession

2008-10-12T18:53:00.000-07:00

Economic recession is taking its toll. A lot of Americans right now are feeling the heat of the tight times as more and more people are losing their jobs and losing their homes. High prices of gas and basic commodities are also making it harder for American families to survive without additional income.

During these times, people are thinking of ways on how to save up. This is especially true with families that support one or two or more children. Between feeding them and sending them all to school, these families will surely have to scrimp on some areas in order to survive.

But parents should not be the only ones who should be scrimping. When it comes to saving money during economic recession, their children can also play important roles. In fact, they can use these tight times to teach them children about saving for the future and saving money. This will help them deal with tighter times in the future should they experience it when they have families of their own. Below are some of the ways that you can teach your children about saving up.

1. Explain to them
You may not realize it but kids do know what is going on and when you explain the situation to them clearly and with examples that they can relate to, they will be able to understand you. Some will even help out on their own volition without you telling them what they have to do.

Telling them why they should do something is more effective than telling them outright what they should do. The latter will sometimes antagonize them or will cause them to rebel as they feel that you are ordering them about without any reason. Kids, as you well know, do not want to be bossed about.

2. Give them piggy banks.
Having coin banks may seem outdated in this digital age but it is nevertheless still effective in teaching kids how to save up. Tell them that saving up will allow them to have some money should they need to buy something that they want. A portion of their lunch money, for instance a quarter or two, is a good way to start.

Of course, do not discourage them to buy food when they need to eat but tell them though that if they are not hungry, they can save the money so that they can use more for the next day.

3. Get what they need
Controlling what they put on their plates during dinner will help control the urge to get more than they can use. Ask them to clean their plates every time. That way, they will only get the food that they will be able to eat. This will teach them about saving and buying only the things that they need. This is a great training in the future so that they will not grow up with maxed out credit cards, buying things that they do not really need in the first place.

4. Being a role model
Face it. Whatever your child does is only a reflection of what you yourself are doing at home. So if you want the kids to start saving up, make sure that you are also doing your part in saving in this times of economic recession.

Is the Economic Recession Getting You Down?

2008-10-12T18:25:00.000-07:00

Discover the Secret to Weathering a Recession and Walking Away with Your Bank Account, Your Retirement Fund, Your Investments and Your Pride!

Exclusive Offer!

Never Before Revealed Information!

When you’re unprepared for the impact of recession on your life and your business, the consequences can take you completely by surprise.

The economic recession brought on by over eager lenders, under-prepared borrowers, and overzealous government and an economy that cares more about its bottom line than its citizens has been pummeling Americans from coast to coast, and it doesn’t show any signs of going away any time soon.

Are you sick and tired of counting your pennies? Looking for a way to be free of the constant fear that one day you’re going to walk into your office and find a pink slip sitting there waiting for you? Would you like, just once to be the once sitting back and making a profit instead of the one worrying about whether this will be the week your business is going to have to close its doors?

Let Me Show You How...

Did you know that economic recessions aren’t anything new? The lifecycle of the business world very closely resembles the lifecycle of the average insect-it circles around, and around, and around, and…well, you get the picture. There are many stages inside that circle that keep business flowing smoothly and the wheels of progress turning the way they’re meant to.

An economic recession is only one of these stages.

Economic recessions are a vital part of the well being and health of our economy, and a study into our history will show that they actually happen on a fairly regular basis-and they usually don’t leave much damage behind. Why, then, do we panic so badly at the thought that this time might be our turn to weather an economic recession?

Because we don’t know what to do about it!

Business magnates understand that economic recession, a time when consumer spending is going to decrease for one reason or another and have a negative impact on the life and health of their company, is a necessary stage of life. From the moment they step into their corner office they’re carefully grooming and preparing the company for the moment when recession is going to rear its unattractive head and take a bite out of their profits.

Those of us who haven’t finished our MBA usually aren’t that well informed.

Without being aware of the necessity and the inevitability of an economic recession, most of us don’t realize that sooner or later recession is going to happen, and it’s going to impact all of our lives. We’ve been lulled into complacency by the constant boom and growth of the American economy, and we’re so focused on finding instant gratification for our desires that we don’t see when recession starts to creep up until it is far too late.

Strings of layoffs
Dramatic dips in the profits of your company
An increase in outsourced labor
The disappearance of expendable cash
A crashing housing market
Rapidly falling stock prices
Decreasing values of 401Ks and other retirement accounts
Companies going bankrupt

Everyone knows about the negative impacts of an Economic Recession. But what about the positive ones?

When you’ve walked into an unemployment office and seen hundreds of people filling out paperwork in the hope that somehow, someway, someone in that office will be able to help them find a job, it can be hard to believe that there are actually benefits to an economic recession. They are there, however, and if you’re a savvy business person you’ll be able to figure out how to take advantage of them. How do you think so many companies manage to stay in business when recessions happen at least once a decade?

Major corporations around the globe has learned how to weather an economic recession and keep making a profit, and now you can do it too! Regardless of whether you’re an entry level janitor or the CEO of a major corporation, the recession is going to have an impact on your life personally. The question is, what are you going to do about it? Are you going to let the recession bowl you over and leave you struggling for a way to keep your job and pay your bills? Or are you going to look at it as an opportunity to expand your horizons, stretch your wings and show the world what you can really do?

That was a choice I had to make for myself not too long ago

Two years ago I was sitting pretty. I had a good government job working as a contractor for the military, a good retirement plan, a salary that more than met our needs and an insurance program that kept my kids in antibiotics and vaccines.

All in all, life was looking pretty good. Then the recession hit.

I don’t know if any of you out there were unfortunate enough to be a part of this, but over the last two years military contractors have been steadily laying off hundreds of employees in an attempt to trim the fat from their bottom line and help them stay afloat as government contracts began to be canceled left, right and sideways. Because I had just accepted a new position within the company I was considered to be the new kid on the block, even though I had been working for them for years, and my job was among the first to go.

I was devastated.

Suddenly there I was, with a family to support and no income other than what I had coming in from our investments. I’m not ashamed to say I panicked at first. I couldn’t see how, at my age, I could possibly pick up and start all over again in another job. I’d invested too much time and effort to get where I had been, and the thought of having to climb that ladder all over again was enough to make me want to lock my door and hide for a year or two.

My general fondness for eating on a semi-regular basis got me out the door soon enough, however, and it wasn’t long before I was roaming the streets looking for another job. I was fortunate. I had remained in touch with many of my old college buddies, and one of them happened to work for a firm that had just lost one of its key employees and was looking for someone qualified who would be able to fill his place-quickly.

My friend’s recommendation and my own experience had me inside a new job within a month, but over the course of that month I saw hundreds of other contractors I had worked with who weren’t as lucky. They were out of work for months, many of them taking jobs that were far below their skills, their education and their experience just to have a paycheck.

And then there were a few of them that decided to start their own companies and offer their services to the private sector. A few of them started new careers in real estate. When I first heard what they were planning I thought they were out of their minds, but it wasn’t long before they started turning a profit-a big one.

I was astonished. If the U.S. government was losing money hand over fist and having to shut down its operations, how on earth were these little start-up companies managing to not only survive, but to thrive?

They were able to do it because they figured out how to take advantage of the recession!

I would never have believed that there would have been anything about an economic recession that would allow a company or a private entrepreneur to thrive, but as I talked with my old friends I realized that there was a side of the recession that we never saw-and that side could make the difference between surviving and thriving in the middle of an economic recession.

This is the ultimate guide to showing you how to thrive when everything else seems to be falling apart!

It’s really not fair that only a small percentage of the population has the knowledge they need to hang on to their jobs, increase their net worth and help their company thrive-especially when all they really need to do is change their mindset!! That’s why I decided to write Recession Suvival - How To Proft From An Economic Recession. I figured it was high time the rest of the world had the chance to learn what the major players already knew-the secrets for surviving an economic recession without going into debt!

But don’t take my word for it…

I don’t expect you to take my word for it. Hey, a recession can be scary stuff! That’s why I’m offering Recession Suvival - How To Proft From An Economic Recession complete with a 90 day money back guarantee. Buy the book. Read it. Put the strategies I’m going to show you into play in your own life!

Give investing a try
Grow your stock portfolio exponentially
Make yourself so indispensable your boss will never fire you!
Give your company the momentum it needs to get through the recession and go into the future with a bang

The secrets I’m going to show you in this book are the same business tricks and strategies that major corporations like Macy’s and J.C. Penney have been using to survive economic recessions for decades. Don’t you wonder sometimes why these companies have been in business for years? Wouldn’t you love to know what secrets are keeping their managers in the driver’s seats when hundreds of other companies are closing their doors? Let me show you!

There’s nothing in this book that requires you to throw thousands of dollars into some strange investment opportunity that’s “guaranteed to secure your future”.

Just plain, simple, easy to use tricks and strategies to help you ride out the recession and come out on top on the other side. All this for only $17!!

What are you waiting for? ORDER NOW!!!

Organize your Finances and Save Your Money

2008-09-13T20:18:00.001-07:00

You carefully plan how to spend your money. But you may have never organized a plan on how to best save your hard-earned money. Shopping the sales, cut corners, conserve energy, and clip coupons are all positive steps in the right direction, but with some careful planning and organized thought, you can make your dollar stretch even further.

First of all, pay yourself first. Bill yourself if you have to as a way to keep track. You can even have a portion of your check directly deposited into your savings account so you'll never even miss it. Put part of it into savings for shorter term goals and some into a retirement plan. Compare interest rates at different financial institutions to get the most bang for your saved buck.

Pay close attention to where your money is going. Develop a spreadsheet or other method so you can visibly track where your money is going each month. You probably easily remember the bigger bills like the mortgage or the car payment, but it's easy to lose track of the incidental spending you do. You'd probably be surprised how much you spend each month on movies, eating out, video rentals and a little spending money for the kids. This will help you find ways of saving a few dollars here and there, which can quickly add up to a significant savings each month.

Set a realistic budget and stick to it. Once you've paid close attention to where your money is going, it will be easy to find where to cut corners and adjust your budget accordingly. With some commitment and a few lifestyle adjustments, it's really quite simple to live within the parameters of a well-planned budget.

Look for fun, inexpensive ways to entertain your family. You can usually borrow videos from your local library at little or no cost, and outdoor activities not only promote family togetherness but the fresh air and exercise are good for all involved.

Learn to Cook for the Week Ahead and Save Both Time and Money

2008-09-13T20:17:00.002-07:00

Okay, so you've worked hard to get your home organized and you've developed some strong skills to use at the office as well. You might be thinking you have it all covered at home since your pantry is organized immaculately and everything in your kitchen has its place. It doesn't change the fact that you're still busy working all day and driving kids to practice, running errands or taking care of your household in the evenings. Another thing you can learn to do to simplify your life is to plan your meals and cook in advance.

Meal planning and bulk cooking are both wonderful techniques you can utilize and modify to fit your families needs. The idea behind this is simple. The principle is that you cook and or prepare your meals ahead of time and then preserve them by either freezing refrigerating them. It can also help stretch your food budget dollar further, since you can cook one large meal and get two or three other meals from it with the proper planning.

Start by writing down a list of your favorite meals and plan on preparing a grocery list that will coincide with your menu. Since you're learning to cook in bulk, your shopping list will have to change accordingly so you're sure to have enough ingredients on hand when the time comes to do the cooking.

The most important tool in meal planning and bulk cooking is your freezer. Freezer bags are a great space saver if you have a small freezer. You can fit many in the same space of a few storage containers. Be sure to incorporate lots of quick and easy meals that your family can warm up and serve themselves in the event you're not able to be at home for dinner or you just need to grab something that's quick.

You'll also learn to love your slow cooker. Experiment with different recipes and variations on your favorites. They also make easy work of cooking whole chickens or roasts which can be frozen or refrigerated for later use very easily.

You're only limited by your own imagination when cooking in bulk for the week ahead. Factor in the time you save by not having to do a lot of after dinner cleanup or dishes, and you'll be glad you took the time to master this important organizational skill.

Setting up a Home Office on a Shoestring Budget

2008-09-13T20:17:00.001-07:00

Working from home is becoming a more popular option with many in today's workforce. Whether you telecommute or have abandoned the rat race in favor of setting up your own home business, or just simply need a place to land to take care of the bill paying and the home organization chores, a home office has become a necessary space in many homes. Whether you set up a corner office in your kitchen, designate a guest room to double as your office, or set up a location in your basement, it's crucial that your home office include all the elements that contribute to your productivity, efficiency and overall success.
But setting up a home office doesn't have to break your bank account. Very few of us can afford the luxury of having a professional organizer devise an office system for us. Don't despair; there are many creative ways to devise your space .
Maybe you are able to have a separate room for your office. If so, that's great. You'll have lots of elbow room. But if you don't, there's lots of ways to utilize the space you can carve out for one. Whatever space you choose, make sure it's a space that can be dedicated to your office, and doesn't double as an arts and crafts table for your kids or a workbench for your spouse's do-it-yourself projects on the weekends.
Take a look at your space and see what you can do easily and inexpensively to spruce it up and make it conducive to working from home. Sometimes just a fresh coat of paint, some strategically hung pictures or some simple stencil work can brighten up an otherwise dreary corner.
Next, look around your house to see what furnishings you already have. If there's a small unused table that could double as a desk, use it. You've probably got a comfortable chair in your dining room that could work fine as an office chair. Look around your home for some useable pieces that can be brought together successfully to create a comfortable and relaxing home office environment.
You may also already have book shelves, bins, baskets, boxes and a filing cabinet that could also be incorporated into your office. If you don't already have office supplies available, visit your favorite office supply or discount store and stock up on a few needed items and get your space organized and ready to roll.

Vinegar - Useful and Frugal

2008-08-28T07:29:00.000-07:00

This works BETTER than Drain-O or any other product on the market:

First you need to pour ½ cup of baking soda down the drain. Make sure all of it is in the drain. Then you pour ½ cup of plain white vinegar down the drain. This will cause a foaming action and the foam will spill back up the drain. Don’t worry about it; the foam will go back down.

Let this sit in the drain for at least 2 hours. If the clog is really bad up the solution to 1 cup of each. After you have let it sit boil a pot of water, and make sure it’s boiling hot. Then flush the drain with that boiling pot of water. This should clear your drain.

Some people swear by this and use is regularly. In fact to keep your drain clear you can do the ½ cup of each every month as a preventative as well.

Oven Cleaner:

5 Tb of Baking soda

4 Tb white vinegar

3 drops or squirts of dish soap

You stir it up to make a thick paste and use one of those green scrubbies. After I scrub it for just a few minutes I wipe all the junk up and take my handy bottle of 1/2 white vinager and 1/2 water solution(my all purpose cleaner) give it a spray and quick wipe and it is sparkling. I have to say the best part of it all is that it is non-toxic.

Vinegar really works for ants!! We had teeny red ants all over the kitchen and pantry. I bought a 50 cent spray bottle, mix a 50/50 white vinegar-water solution, and when I'm done with the dishes, I spray the counters down with that to clean them. My son and I took everything out of the pantry & sprayed the shelves, then put it all back in. I haven't seen an ant since!!! We spray the counters at least once a day, the smell fades in just a few minutes.

Skincare

2008-08-27T07:28:00.001-07:00

Make your own skincare and beauty products. You can use avocado, banana and yogurt to make a great facial mask. For more recipes to get you started go to http://www.kinderinfo.com/justformom/spa.htm

If you've been using store bought products, this can add up to some great savings quickly.

How Do You Do It???

2008-08-27T07:02:00.000-07:00

Whenever I tell people I can buy a months worth of groceries for $300 (or $200 in a pinch) they ask HOW do you do THAT?? Well, it's really not as hard as it sounds. The key is organization and planning. Here are a few tips for newbies to the world of frugal grocery shopping.

Stock up! Your first grocery trip on your road to saving is actually to spend a little more than you are used to. Items that are staples in your pantry should be purchased in large quantity if possible. These include items such as flour, sugar, pasta, dry beans, rice, oatmeal, canned goods, etc.

Plan your menus. Before you head off to the grocery store, make a list of the meals you plan to prepare. If you shop every two weeks make a list of two weeks worth of meals. Take a look at what you have on hand and what is on sale in the weekly circulars from the grocery stores before you plan your meals.

Use Coupons. If there is a particular item you always purchase look for coupons. If an item is on sale and you have a coupon then buy that item. Don't use a coupon just because something is new or trendy, only use coupons if they will save you money.

Buy Store Brands. It's true that all the ads on TV and in magazines make the name brand items look much more glamorous, but often times the store brands are just as good if not better. Actually, many store brands are manufactured by the same name brand companies we all know and recognize.

Shop on sale days. Our local grocer offers specials every Thursday. They range from a one day meat sale to a Pillsbury brand sale. No matter what the theme is for the week, the prices are always great!

Don't buy convenience foods. It's so easy to load up a grocery cart with frozen meals, instant boxed dinners, individual serving sized juices, pre-packaged lunches and junk food. However, not only do these items offer little nutritional value for your family, they are a huge waste of money. Which is why I almost always...

Cook from scratch! The more you can prepare meals from scratch, the more money you will save. Home cooked meals are also higher in nutrition and you know exactly what you are eating, unlike many pre-made meals. From scratch doesn't have to mean a lot of time and clean up. A simple meal like baked or grilled chicken, steamed vegetables and rice can be prepared in under 30 minutes with minimal clean up.

Freeze Things. I always try to prepare a double batch any time I cook anything. It saves me time and effort for future meals and on days that things get really hectic I don't have to worry about what is for dinner. I also freeze bread ends to make my own bread crumbs (which I store in the freezer), leftovers to use for future lunches, bananas for breads and muffins and anything else that might otherwise get thrown out and wasted.

Keep a Price Book. When you shop take a few moments to jot down what you buy and how much it costs. Make a master list of items and the prices (include prices from each store that you shop). When you take the time to do this you will know if it's worth it to go to a different store to stock up on a sale item. It is also a great way to calculate how much you will spend before you get to the grocery store. I actually use a software called Home Cookin to keep my Price Book.

Only take what you plan to spend. If you use a debit card, take your draw from the ATM in the amount you plan to spend for groceries. Then leave your card AT HOME. That way you won't be tempted to spend more than you have budgeted.

Eat Your Leftovers. Have beans leftover, make refried beans. Stale bread can be made into bread pudding or bread crumbs. Chicken from last night's dinner becomes chicken salad. Leftover pasta sauce can top a pizza. Don't prepare a new meal until all the leftovers are gone.

Forget the junk food. My theory is if you don't buy it then you can't eat it. We RARELY buy sodas, chips, cookies, ice cream, pastries or any other junk food. I give my kids healthy snacks and we drink a lot of water. I do make them Kool Aid, lemonade and tea but they don't miss the junk food because they are not used to having it.

By following these simple guidelines I have been able to keep our budget down and our nutrition level optimum. It's really not that difficult once you give it a try!

tips

2008-08-27T06:59:00.000-07:00

If you have a prescription plan with your Med insurance, ask you Dr. he/she may be able to prescribe pain relievers, decongestants, etc so you can get them cheaper than buying OTC.

Write to the address on the back of goods you purchase, voice your complements or your concerns and they will send you coupons.

Instead of scrubbing your dirty pots with SOS pads and heavy duty cleaners, let them soak over night in water with a used dryer sheet in it the gook will wipe right off the next day.

If you have a problem with ants, sprinkle Cayenne pepper around the barrier of your house it fights them off great and is a lot cheaper than and sprays and traps.

How to get the best price for things you buy online

2008-08-27T06:55:00.001-07:00

Lets say you see an awesome "something" online that you just have to have. Follow these steps to find the best price on that item.

First, copy the item name/description headline. Most companies use the same decription for items. There was a dress I bought once... the title of the dress was "Arwen Dress Style c532" or something similar. I copied this and plugged it into www.froogle.com

Froogle isn't perfect, but it does help you find more than one site that offers the product and shows you the diffrent prices they sell it for.

Once you find the cheapest site copy the site's name and plug it into google, adding the words "Discount coupon code" or "online coupon code" or "online discount code" to find if there are any promotional codes for the store. Buy doing this I found that the store that had my dress cheapest also had a 5% discount code as well.

You have to check out the shipping charges to make sure you are saving money and not getting jacked on shipping.

If you have an Upromise account (or something similar) then you buy your item from the store, through their site so you can get cash back (or what ever your shopping site offers.)

By doing this my 85$ occasional dress went down to 45$ plus 5% off, plus 10% back through upromise, making the dress cost half as much as it would have if I had just bought it at the first place I saw it.

Save on spices

2008-08-27T06:54:00.000-07:00

Buy fresh herbs from the discount rack at your local produce store (usually around .39 cents a bundle here) and hang them to dry in your house. They may be wilted when you buy them but it doesn't matter because you're just going to dry them anyways. Then crumble them up and put them in your spice jars. Spices cost between 1$-4$ so it's a big savings.

$25 off: SHOES, Starbucks, Kellogg's, Jerky, Revlon, ETC...

2008-08-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

(Much as we hate the look of a 'tiny url' we have to use them because they make very long url's shorter, this way they will not get broken up in groups & you get straight to the destination page you want to go to.
In other words: Same great / safe links, just a smaller url)

$25 off: SHOES, Starbucks, Kellogg's, Jerky, Revlon, ETC...
Click here & StretchThatDollar TODAY:
http://tinyurl.com/5pye36
~*~ Just to name a few ~*~
Soy Joy, Cliff Bar, Coffee & Tea, Dove, Emerald Nuts, General Mills, Jack Links, Kellogg's, Lipton, Nabisco, Nivea, Revlon
Great time to Stock up & Save for school & fall :)

----------------------------------------------------
Missed last weeks newsletter??? Here it is again:
----------------------------------------------------

Final Days: EXTRA 20% Off Shoes (up to 75% off)!!!
http://tinyurl.com/5kkkh4
*Hint: On top of this cool deal, we're also including a special '$15 off $80' code just for you :)

____________________________________________________
Guess what we just found... Amazon FREE Prime offer!
http://tinyurl.com/55xfol
This program is great during the holidays!
Amazon Prime members enjoy the following benefits:
1. Unlimited FREE Two-Day Shipping on millions of Amazon Items
2. Overnight Shipping upgrades for only $3.99 per item
3. Shopping with no minimum order size
4. Ability to share benefits with up to 4 household members
5. 1 Month F-r-e-e Trial

____________________________________________________
Need $$$? Read on (+ F*R*E*E ar)
WHOA - Free GAS & Airline Tickets + More (New offer now!)
http://tinyurl.com/6jevxx
*HINT: The newest offers are at the bottom of the page on the link
above.

____________________________________________________
Need a loan? Get up to $1,500.00 within 24 hours :)
http://tinyurl.com/6n5h7c
Don't stress, get help right away.

____________________________________________________
What's HOT?
W*i*n a Wii @ Blockbuster + $10 off $10
http://tinyurl.com/643yox

____________________________________________________
What's New?
See our site for a brand new coupon banner
http://tinyurl.com/gg9vh
You can print some fantastic coupons this month & right from our site for f-r-e-e!!!

____________________________________________________
* REMINDER: Bling-o is giving away a prize every hour Today!
http://tinyurl.com/4p9t2b
Very w-i-n-n-a-b-l-e & we don't want you to miss out.
• Click the above link & search (for anything, your name, your address, a website, whatever - up to 20x a day)
We're all w-i-n-n-i-n-g from here ... so GO GET 'EM NOW!!
($$$ Cash, Gift Cards, Garmin's, Wii's & More)

_______________________________________________________________
* HINT: Signup for our Newsletter - W-I-N BIG & Know the secret sales we will not post anywhere else!
http://tinyurl.com/3nxgw

_______________________________________________________________
* F-R-E-E Jewelry - only pay for shipping...
http://tinyurl.com/2umqbs

_______________________________________________________________
* EVERYTHING IS LOCAL: f-r-e-e-bies, sweepstakes, yard sales &
even grocery deals.
http://tinyurl.com/3bvcze
What goodies are going on in YOUR state group?

____________________________________________________
WE NEED YOUR VOTE RIGHT NOW!!! Please Read...
http://tinyurl.com/55w8kw
We have made a wonderful goal for so long to help others F-R-E-E through our site.
Problem is, it costs so much money to run. We are happy to pay out of our won pockets because we truely want to help YOU save the most you can in all aspects of life.
Saving means a happier future which in return means less stress for
families & individuals.
PLEASE we are begging for your vote:
http://tinyurl.com/55w8kw

Save 10-40% on Auto Insurance

2008-08-27T06:43:00.000-07:00

Introducing the Collision Deductible Reserve Plan (CDRP) from IDA which will be available on Sept. 8. With the CDRP many people will be able to save 10-40% on their auto insurance without changing insurance company or agent. The CDRP allows you to raise your collision deductible to $1,000 thereby saving you money on your auto insurance. This could amount to several thousand dollars in savings over your driving career.

If you're like most drivers you carry a $250 or $500 collision insurance deductible. By raising your collision insurance deductible to $1,000 you can save up to 40% on your overall insurance premium.

Saving just $20.00 per month over a 30-year driving career would result in saving thousands of dollars.

You're probably thinking "why don't I just save a $1,000 myself?".

Many times when you take out a loan to buy or lease a car many banks and leasing companies have an internal policy that restricts clients from carry collision deductibles in an amount greater than $500. IDA has an "Exception to Policy Request Form" that clients may complete and send to their lending institutions requesting an exception to that policy and asking them to allow a higher collision deductible because they have a CDRP account. In the testing phase, IDA has found that most lending institutions readily accept this request for an exception to policy and allow customers to carry higher collision deductibles.

Additionally, trying to accumulate $1,000 at a rapid pace, after raising your collision deductible to $1,000, introduces the "additional risk" of having to pay a high collision deductible before you have saved $1,000. And, since most people do not have an extra $1,000 available to spend in case they have a collision, the CDRP ensures that a high collision deductible can be paid even before you have saved $1,000.

For example, let's say that you would save $25.00 a month by raising your collision deductible to $1,000. It would take you 40 months to save that $1,000.

That 40-month window is called the "accumulation period". But, what if you had a collision in month three. You would have only saved $75.00, but would still need $925 to pay your collision deductible.

The CDRP will provide "interest free" money - up to a full $1,000 - during the accumulation period that you may use to pay your collision deductible if you need to before you have saved $1,000; eliminating your risk of having to come up with any shortfall.

There will be 3 plans to choose from:

Plan 1 - $25 per month x 40 months = $1,000 (no discount)

Plan 2 - $50 per month x 15 months = $750 (25% discount)

Plan 3 - $650 per month x 1 month = $650 (35% discount)

Who is behind IDA:

The founders and principles includes some of the most successful executives from the Fortune 500 arena as well as some of the top leaders from the network marketing industry.

Among those is Gerald McElroy, IDA's CFO. Gerald McElroy is Vice Chairman and Sr. Director of Farmers Insurance. Gerald McElroy, has over 30 years of experience in the financial services and insurance industries. He is currently a member of the Board of Governors, Farmers Group of Insurance Companies, a member of the board of directors for several organizations including a global insurance company and a number of growth-oriented firms. He is a leader in the insurance industry and bring invaluable expertise and knowledge to the IDA team.

In addition, Richard Hawkins the V.P. of AAA in the state of Washington has joined the IDA team as COO. His experience and knowledge have been invaluable in the creation and bringing forth of this program.

The target market which will see the most savings are those with newer vehicles, multiple vehicles and/or teenage drivers.

Save on Diapers

2008-08-27T06:41:00.000-07:00

GUARANTEED to save $10 off your first order on diapers.com with $49 minimum purchase. Plus get free 2 day (or less) shipping.
Use promotion code# SAVE4BABY

Using Your Car’s Features to Minimize Gas Use

2008-08-09T13:25:00.003-07:00

The quest for relief from oppressive gas prices have led drivers on searches far and wide for ways to minimize the effect of the high prices on their wallets. However, many drivers are literally at arm’s length from ways to help themselves, and do not even know it! In fact, many features that come standard with new vehicles are not only convenient, but can help you to save on gas usage as well!
Since every gallon counts at today’s gas prices, even the simplest improvements to gas mileage can lead to more money in your pockets. Although many products make gaudy claims to improve gas mileage drastically, most (if not all) of these claims are unproven. As usual, the best remedies are usually the simple and somewhat obvious ones. For instance, use your car’s already existing features to ease up on your gas usage when you are driving around from place to place.
Cruise control is a great feature for many reasons. It can keep you from having to glance down at your speed all the time, for one thing. This means that you can avoid getting a speeding ticket by merely setting a consistent speed that will not get you pulled over. Using the cruise control feature effectively takes away any chance of you accidentally getting a heavy foot and an unintended speeding ticket as a result.
However, cruise control is also a great way to conserve gas! When you are on the highway, the cruise control can help your car to stay at a consistent speed. This means that you will not be accidentally increasing your speed and making the car periodically work harder. So, you see? Some of the best ways to conserve gasoline are also convenient methods of driving, anyway!
If you have an “overdrive” option for your car, you should use the overdrive gears whenever possible. Overdrive allows your engine to work much less than it would otherwise. Of course, the less your engine works, the less gasoline you use. In other words, overdrive alone will increase your vehicle’s fuel efficiency!
While you are at it, keep your eye on your RPM gauge, especially if you drive a manual transmission automobile. After all, any time your car is running in the high end of the RPM range, you are using more engine power than you need to, and thusly, more gas. Make sure that you are not staying in the low gears for too long before shifting, and spend as much time in the comfortable RPM range of higher gears as you can, since you will save yourself some gas in the process. The RPM gauge is another example of an under-utilized feature that, if used correctly, can help you to conserve gas.
While we are talking about features to use, let’s also mention a feature that you should stay away from if you are trying to conserve gas: the air conditioning feature. If you turn on your car’s air conditioning, your car will end up working much harder than usual, which means your car will consume more gas to fuel that work. The easy translation here is to avoid the air conditioning whenever you can. After all, it may be hot out, but you definitely do not want to have to sweat it out while pumping gas into your empty tank, right?
As you can see, there are many fairly basic features that can help you to keep your car going and away from the gas station. Even though some of these features may only have a small effect on your car’s gas usage, if you follow all of the tips, it will add up. Again, with gas prices as high as they are now, even if you can save a gallon or two here and there, that can be a pretty substantial savings for you!

Why You Should Avoid Fuel Economy Products

2008-08-09T13:25:00.001-07:00

A lot of things have happened due to the huge increases in gas prices that we have seen over the last several years. One of the more intriguing results has been the creation of a new market, which is the area of products that claim to increase gas mileage of cars, trucks, vans and sport utility vehicles alike. The manufacturers of these products are counting on a frustrating and fed up public to support their products in an effort to escape gas expenses. However, are these products worth the money or not?
First, you have to look at the things that the manufacturers of these products are boasting. They claim significant increases to fuel efficiency, but have they proven these claims? According to the Environmental Protection Agency (or EPA), they have not. The EPA is responsible for testing and certifying the fuel economy of vehicles, among other tasks. When you go to a car dealership and see on a sticker that a vehicle gets x miles per gallon, that is information obtained by testing done by the EPA.
The EPA also has tested a number of products that are supposed to increase gas mileage, but they have not found any yet do so significantly. That is one reason why you should use caution when shelling out money for these types of products. They may claim to do wonderful things, but if there are no proven results to back up the claims, they are not to be taken without a grain of salt.
It is also important to note that you do not have to buy expensive and costly products to increase your car’s fuel efficiency. In fact, there are a nearly endless number of ways to increase gas mileage without spending a dime! For instance, you can make sure that you remove unneeded items from your car, so that you are not driving excess weight around. You can also do something as simple as use the cruise control more often, or avoid using the air conditioner, since it leads to more fuel usage than normal.
Other valuable tips include simply tweaking your driving style. If you can control your speed on the highway and try to coast when you know that you may have to stop shortly, you can see some improvements to your fuel economy. Often, you will notice huge changes by simply staying off the gas a bit when driving on the highway; far bigger changes than you would ever receive from pouring a product in your gas tank!
There are even more very simple tips, such as not leaving your car running when you leave it to go inside a store or gas station, or keeping your tires properly inflated, since not doing so can cost you some of your ideal gas mileage. Again, there is simply no shortage of easy and free ways to increase your vehicle’s fuel economy!
That is why you really do not need to rely on expensive products to increase your fuel economy. After all, there are so many ways to do so already, that unless you are taking advantage of all of them and still not getting the results you want, why would you pay for a product that supposedly does the same thing?

Using Public Transportation to Cut Gas Costs

2008-08-09T13:24:00.003-07:00

In all but a few communities, it seems that public transportation does not get a fair shake. After all, most people are not tempted by the idea of sharing space with many strangers on a bus, and instead opt for the considerably more expensive (and damaging to the environment) option of driving their own cars instead. While no one can blame someone for their own personal preference, if you are serious about cutting your personal gas costs, you may want to give public transportation a bit of consideration!
Let’s face it- the cost of gas is not letting up anytime soon. Though many of us do not really understand what forces are driving the cost up so much or why gas prices have to continue to rise, we do know that it is unlikely that gas will become much more affordable anytime soon. That is precisely why it is up to all of us to reduce our gas usage so that we can enjoy a break from paying big money for fuel at the pump. After all, while we may not be able to control the price of gas, we can certainly control how much gas we use and how often we buy it.
While there are many ways to increase your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, there simply is no way to beat the value of simply not driving at all. If your car stays parked, it uses no gas whatsoever, after all! That is why you should probably look into transportation whenever possible. Although there may be barriers in your area towards incorporating public transportation into your lifestyle, there may be more options than you would think.
For instance, even if the local bus or subway does not stop anywhere near where you work, that does not mean that you can’t occasionally use these methods of transportation to go shopping or to a night out on the town on the weekend. Depending on what activities you decide to engage in on a weekend night, you may be better off with the convenience of public transportation, anyway! You can take a bus downtown, then take a cab home at the end of the night!
Many folks are not satisfied with the areas of travel that are provided by their local public transportation options. However, routes will not expand if people are not taking advantage of public transportation to begin with! The only way to get more coverage is to support the system that is already in place. You can do this, along with speaking with your local officials about expanding the public transportation system, and you may be pleasantly surprised by the results.
While there is no way to force anyone to use public transportation, there has never been a better time than the present to give it a try! In many areas, there is a negative stigma surrounding public transportation, which is unfortunate. After all, public transportation provides a great way to save gas money, all while helping the environment by reducing the number of vehicles on the road (and therefore, the amount of emissions). What could be better than getting to where you need to go at a low price, all while helping to preserve the environment? If gas prices have got you down, give public transportation a try!

Stay Away from Air Conditioning, Stay Away from the Pump

2008-08-09T13:24:00.001-07:00

Exorbitant gas prices have most drivers trying to find any way that they can to decrease their fuel expenses. Luckily, there are several very easy ways that the average driver can limit their car, truck, van or SUV’s gas usage. Most of these methods rely on simple changes made by the driver in particular, and will not cost you any money to enjoy their benefits.
First of all, do not waste your money on spendy items and products that boast increased gas mileage after usage. After all, most of these products are very unproven. The Environmental Protection Agency has not found that any of the products tested so far have significantly increased gas mileage for the vehicles they were used in. That is why when you are looking for ways to improve fuel efficiency, you should look to methods that you can easily take advantage of on your own, without having to rely on costly products or gimmicks in the process.
One of the easiest ways to conserve gas is to simply avoid turning on the air conditioner in your vehicle. Most people are already aware that when the air conditioner is on, the engine seems less responsive and powerful. It may even feel a little sluggish, because your car is working hard to power the air conditioner. Not only does the air conditioner affect your engine’s performance, however, but your vehicle will also get worsened gas mileage if you drive with the air conditioner on as well!
The solution is fairly simple and predictable: try to avoid using the air conditioner in your vehicle, unless it is absolutely necessary. This may lead to a somewhat less comfortable environment in your car, but you have to balance out that negative against the very attractive positive involved with saving on fuel consumption. After all, you will definitely appreciate the extra money you will have in your wallet when you can stop making such frequent stops at the gas pump!
It is also important to mention that you do not have to sweat like crazy in order to save some money. There are ways that you can stay cool while avoiding the use of your car’s air conditioner. One very simple way to do so is to try to constrain your traveling to times of day when the weather is less oppressive. Avoid driving when the sun (and the temperature) is at its peak, as this will only tempt you to turn on the air conditioner. Instead, try to make trips in the evening or morning, whenever possible.
Another way to cool off without taking the step of turning on the car’s air conditioner is as simple as rolling down the windows. When you are driving at higher speeds, you will notice a very nice breeze coming in, which will often be enough to keep you comfortable, even on hot days. This is a fun way to save a little money on gas, while enjoying a comforting breeze at the same time!
Some people would point out that driving with the windows open can cost you a bit of gas mileage as well, which is true. However, the effect does not compare to the increased fuel consumption that driving your car with the air conditioner causes. Also, you can combat this effect by simply backing up off the gas a bit and driving a little more slowly on the interstate.
No one wants to feel the heat of summer, but we also do not want to feel the heat of the gas prices bearing down on us. If you can find ways to avoid using your vehicle’s air conditioner, you will probably be quite pleased with your car’s increased fuel efficiency. After all, none of us wants to make more trips to the gas station than we already are, so make sure to only use the air conditioner when it is absolutely necessary!

Save Gas By Performing Simple Maintenance

2008-08-09T13:23:00.003-07:00

Vehicles can be very expensive, as any driver probably already knows. There is the cost of oil changes, repairs, car insurance, and let’s not forget, gas! The price of gas alone is enough to make many drivers want to go into hibernation and simply wait for them to come back down to earth. However, that is not a real option, as we all still have places we have to get to, and it simply costs money to get there.
Luckily, the regular maintenance that you have to perform on your vehicle anyway can actually help you to get more mileage out of the fuel you use! It is nice to know, especially these days, that the money you spend on this kind of maintenance can also help you save money at the gas pump! Conversely, if you do not have the regular maintenance done on your vehicle like you should, your gas mileage is sure to suffer.
One of the very rudimentary things that has to be done with your car every so often is getting an oil change. Oil changes can occur ever few months or even sooner, if you drive a lot, but you do not want to let them slide (no pun intended)! After all, oil changes keep your engine running smoothly, which in turn allows you to get more mileage out of the gas you put into your car. It is also important to use the correct grade of motor oil, as this can have a small effect on your gas mileage, as well.
Another type of regular maintenance that can help you to increase your gas mileage is getting your car tuned. Tune-ups are hard to measure in terms of increased fuel efficiency, but it has been speculated that a car that is properly tuned will use 4% less gas than a car that is not tuned and has not been in some time. While 4% may not seem like that much money, think of it as sixteen cents of savings for gas, if the price is $4 per gallon. As you can see, that can add up to a substantial amount!
It is also of the utmost importance to get your car checked regularly, especially your fuel intake, exhaust and other systems that can affect gas mileage. If there is a problem with an important part of these systems, you car will probably still run, but fuel efficiency can be very badly affected, causing you to lose almost half of your fuel efficiency in some cases! It definitely pays to get problems like those fixed!
One of the least expensive, but most effective, improvements you can make for gas mileage is to simply replace old, clogged air filters. Although it may not seem like a big deal to drive around with dirty air filters, filthy ones can rob you of 10% of your fuel economy! Again, for the price it costs to fix this simple problem, you really can’t beat the results you receive!
These are a few of the things that you should be already doing for your car that will provide you with benefits to your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. If you have been slacking on these areas of maintenance, make sure to get on the ball! It may cost you money to maintain your car at first, but it may very well save you money in the end!

Plan Your Trips Ahead To Avoid Wasting Gas

2008-08-09T13:23:00.001-07:00

It is unfortunate but true that most of us have no direct effect on the substantially high cost of gas. After all, gas prices are set by forces that are far beyond our control, and there is nothing we can do about the expenses we incur while driving, right? Well, that is only partially correct. See, while we may not be able to control the price per gallon of gas, we certainly can control how much gasoline we use, and therefore, how often we have to fill up our automobiles! Doing so is not as difficult as you may think!
When most people think about conserving gas, they figure that it must be an annoying and inconvenient process. However, learning to conserve gas can actually be a very easy thing to do, and may lead you to develop better overall habits as well. For instance, planning your trips ahead of time is a great way to use less gas, and it is also a good idea anyway, as it is a skill that helps you to remain more organized in your daily life.
Many people today live outside of city areas, sometimes up to dozens of miles away in rural towns or other areas. For these folks, it is absolutely vital to plan ahead when considering trips that have to be made, at least if they want to save money on gas! Since these people have to drive many highway miles per week as it is, it is not advisable for them to make extra trips into town, especially when they could have consolidated all their shopping needs or errand running into one trip.
Another aspect of trip planning is being smart about where you will go and when. If you know that you can wait to drive around the city and get done whatever you need to get done, then try to avoid doing so during peak driving hours. Nothing kills your gas mileage more than sitting in a traffic jam, or stuck a hundred feet from a stopped traffic light, waiting for everyone to take turns accelerating once the light turns green. If you can avoid these frustrating and gas guzzling driving situations, you will be one step closer to your goal of limiting your fuel consumption.
Finally, make sure that you are organized when you go to the store or out shopping. It is a good idea to make a list before you leave, even if you believe that you will not forget anything. It is easy to forget to buy an important item at the grocery store, especially if you are in a hurry or have a lot of other items to remember. This means that when you return home, you will have to go back to the store to get the forgotten item(s) or simply make do without them until your next trip to the store. Alas, neither of these options are very attractive ones, so try to be organized when you head out to the store.
As you have probably realized, it is not difficult to make proper trip planning a part of your regular daily life. If you do so, you will easily be able to minimize your driving, and you will find yourself having to fuel your vehicle up far less often as a result.

Little Known Ways to Improve Fuel Economy

2008-08-09T13:22:00.003-07:00

There is not a single driver among us who would not prefer to spend less of their hard-earned cash at the fuel pump. That is why people are becoming more and more aware of the many simple and cost effective ways that they can improve their fuel economy. However, what do you say to people who are already familiar with the basics? Fortunately, there are many little known ways that you can improve your gas mileage.
Just about everyone knows that if you want to save gas, you need to drive slower. After all, that is common sense. Even though you can save a lot of gas by going slower on the highway, many people are unwilling to do so, for instance. The trick is to find ways to increase gas mileage without having to do things that you are not willing to do in the long term. That is what these tips will help you do.
First of all, stop neglecting the regular maintenance that your car needs! According to studies, a dirty air filter can cost you up to 20% of the gas mileage you should be receiving. A quick change of spark plugs can increase your fuel economy by over 10%! Also, many people are not aware that they can increase their gas mileage simply by keeping their tires properly inflated!
Similarly, too many drivers are carting around a vehicle full of unnecessary things that are robbing them of valuable gas mileage. For every 250 pounds of excess gear in your car, you can count on around one mile per gallon lost! Also, make sure that you take bike racks and other items off of your vehicle when it is not the proper season. It may take a few minutes, but such items produce extra wind resistance, which makes your vehicle work harder to accelerate or maintain speed.
You can even save some money on gas while you’re spending money- at the gas pump, that is. For example, when the auto shut off kicks in, do not squeeze in a couple of extra cents to make the dollar amount even. This is one of the ways in which people waste money, since most of that extra gas will not end up properly going in the tank. Also, most drivers are unaware that a loose gas cap can not only cause your “service engine” light to go on, but can also result in lost gasoline, which escapes as vapor out of the tank!
Finally, make sure that you use your car’s features to their maximum effect. You can save a little money on gas by using your cruise control often, since your engine will not be working to match the fluctuations in pressure that you are putting on the gas pedal. Also, make sure that you use the overdrive function when possible, since it allows your engine to avoid overworking itself.
Driving and maintaining your vehicle in a way that allows for increased fuel economy is mostly a matter of having the proper knowledge, then putting that information to work. It is vital that you not only know the methods for increasing gas mileage, but that you are consistent in their implementation, unless you want to keep visiting the gas station regularly!

Less Junk in the Trunk, More Cash to Pass

2008-08-09T13:22:00.001-07:00

Many of the solutions to using a lot of gas are so simple, yet they somehow elude us, despite their obviousness. After all, modern men and women have quested long and far to find any possible solutions to the problems caused by unrelenting gas prices. While many have adopted very extreme methods of saving gas, such as becoming hermits and refusing to drive, or buying an expensive new hybrid vehicle, there are many simple ways to reduce fuel consumption as well!
It is important to make sure that you explore all of your options before resorting to a drastic choice such as becoming a shut-in, or buying a Toy-onda Motors Hybrid LX 1300 SP. Many of the ways that you can decrease the amount of gas you use, and therefore the amount of money you spend at the gas pump, can be had without making any major changes to your lifestyle. You simply have to be smart. For instance, let’s discuss the junk in your trunk, and why you should get rid of it!
Many drivers make their way around town with an arsenal of items, goods and ancient artifacts in their cars that really do not need to be there. They do this without knowing that carrying all of this extra weight in their car is costing them whenever they have to fuel up! That is because added weight in your car makes your car work much harder to get from place to place, thereby increasing your vehicle’s fuel consumption!
How much does the added and unnecessary weight decrease your gas mileage? Most people say that an extra hundred pounds can decrease your gas mileage by 1 or 2 percent. This may sound like an insignificant amount, but think about gas prices. Two percent of four dollars, for example, is eight cents. Would you take some old items out of your trunk in order to save eight cents a gallon? Most drivers will drive across town for savings like that!
Also, consider that you may be carrying more than an extra one hundred pounds in your car. Depending on the amount of unneeded stuff in your car, you can be hampering your gas mileage and fuel efficiency by a somewhat significant margin! Again, it only takes a minute to remove excess items from your car; the key is to motivate yourself to get it done!
Many people consider their cars to not just be methods of transportation, but also as a sort of mobile storage facility for things that they do not care about enough to keep in their homes. That is the kind of thinking that wastes gas, ladies and gentlemen. There are many different ways to decrease fuel consumption, of course, and this is just one of them. But at the same time, every gallon counts! If you can save a little bit of money at the pump, why pass that chance up?
It is ultimately up to you to make sure that you do the things necessary to improve the fuel efficiency of your car, truck, van or sport utility vehicle. With gas prices continuing to go up and no end in sight, any type of relief is better than nothing! With that in mind, get rid of that junk in your trunk and start saving!

How to Organize a Car Pool to Reduce Gas Expenses

2008-08-09T13:21:00.002-07:00

Who would not want to spend less money at their local gas station every week? It would be hard to find someone who is not interested in conserving gas, but doing so is much harder than it would seem to be, at times. One of the most obvious ways to reduce fuel expenses is to simply not drive, but for many people, that is really not feasible. After all, most people have responsibilities that require them to be at specific places at certain times, and this in turn requires them to operate a motor vehicle to get there.
However, many people are not taking advantage of the somewhat popular practice of car pooling. Car pooling has been around for years now, and while it has steadily increased in popularity, it still is not as widely used as it should be. The reasons vary, as some people simply prefer to drive by themselves to and from places, and others do not know anyone that lives near them, or do not want to coordinate a regular car pool. The reality is, however, if you want to save money on gas, there are few better ways to do so than by participating in a car pool.
Organizing a car pool can be fairly simple. For instance, it can be as easy as posting a sign up at your work, or asking around to see if anyone who shares your place of employment lives near you. If they live along your route to work, you can also simply pick them up every day, in exchange for a little monetary contribution towards the expense of gas. This will not cause you any major inconvenience, but it will save you a lot of money spent on fueling up your car each week!
Many people only think of car pooling as a way to get to and from work, but there are many other times when a car pool is an equally great idea. For instance, you can form a car pool with people that live near you for things such as going to the gym, shopping at the grocery store, or heading out to the mall. If you are planning on taking a vacation, it can be a very expensive endeavor, especially if you will be driving. However, if you pair up with a couple that you enjoy being around, you can all take one car and cut your gas costs literally in half!
It may not always be convenient to car pool, but the barriers are usually not that serious. What you really have to consider is whether it is worth it to you to have the comfort of driving in silence and solitude, even if it means that you will pay the full cost of gas all by yourself. Most people would rather have a little company, all while saving some money at the fuel pump. That is why car pools continue to be a fairly common thing, even to this day. If you have never tried car pooling before, give it a shot! With gas prices being so high, there really has never been a better time than now to give car pooling a chance. You never know, you may even enjoy the company and make a new friend or two!

How Maintaining Your Car Helps You Save Gas

2008-08-09T13:21:00.001-07:00

If you drive even somewhat regularly, it is likely that you are as sick of high gas prices as the rest of us are. However, there is very little that any of us can do to directly affect the price of gas, so we are forced to turn our attention to doing whatever we can to limit the amount of gas that we use. You may or may not be aware that there are very easy methods for increasing the gas mileage you get in your car, van, truck or sport utility vehicle. In fact, many of the ways that you can help your vehicle’s gas mileage are through simple maintenance that you should be performing on your vehicle anyway!
It is unfortunate that many who are attempting to escape high gas prices have turned to costly products that claim they can help your vehicle get more gas mileage. Of course, it makes little sense to spend money in order to save money, particularly when these products are largely unproven to begin with. That is why when you are trying to dramatically increase your vehicle’s gas mileage, it is better to stick to the more reliable, more basic methods instead. These methods definitely include performing the regular maintenance that your car requires already.
Most drivers are fairly diligent about getting oil changes regularly for their vehicle. After all, regular oil changes are among the most fundamental (and cheap) ways to maintain your vehicle’s performance and condition. Many people do not know, however, that regular oil changes also help to limit fuel consumption! That means that you will save money in the end, even if you have to spend money to perform an oil change or have one done for you. Also, while you’re at it, make sure that your car is running on the appropriate grade of oil. This can reduce your fuel consumption by one or two percent.
One of the better ways to easily increase your car’s gas mileage is also one of the easiest. The next time you pull up to a gas station or car wash that has an air pump, check the air pressure in your tires and add air, if necessary. At many gas stations or car washes, this will not cost you anything. Even if the only machine you can find is a pay machine, it will still likely only cost you as much as fifty cents. The price (or lack thereof) and simplicity of this method makes it a great way to help keep yourself away from the gas pump.
Another type of regular maintenance that your car requires consists of regular tune-ups. Tune-ups help to ensure that your car is performing as well as it should be, including in respect to gas mileage. Also, most tune-ups include a check of other important areas, which may reveal a problem with your car that is costing you valuable gas mileage. Fixing many of these areas may result in drastically improved performance and gas mileage, so that is a side benefit of tuning your car, as well.
The vehicle maintenance that will net you the most improved gas mileage is definitely that of checking and replacing dirty, clogged air filters. If your air filters are filthy, make sure to switch them out with clean, new ones right away! Doing so can boost your gas mileage by one-tenth! That is a pretty significant amount when you consider today’s unsavory gas prices. Think about one-tenth of a gallon of gas where you live. That’s how much you can expect to save, per gallon, if you drive with clean (rather than a dirty) air filters.
These types of relatively simple vehicle maintenance prove once and for all that it is not necessary to buy costly products to increase your gas mileage. Simply do the maintenance that you should already be doing for your car, and you will reap the benefits!

Free Ways to Increase Your Gas Mileage

2008-08-09T13:20:00.002-07:00

Companies are well aware that consumers are desperate to reduce their fuel consumption. That is why the market has been flooded with products that supposedly increase your gas mileage significantly. Let’s ignore the fact that none of these products’ claims have been proved by the Environmental Protection Agency for a minute. It really does not matter either way, because the fact is that there are plenty of ways to increase your gas mileage without having to spend a dime!
It is rather unfortunate that many of these extremely easy ways to increase gas mileage are still unknown by much of the general public. The gas prices and their constant increases have caused the economy to sputter, and have put a lot of pressure on lower and middle class families. It is important for these folks, along with everyone else that drives regularly, to know that they can save on their gas costs without making any extra financial investment!
Many of the methods for increasing gas mileage are quite simple. For instance, did you know that having the proper level of air pressure in your tires can help you to save gas? It is true! Best of all, most gas stations and even car washes have free air machines that will help you to monitor and adjust your tire pressure according to whether it is a bit high or low.
You can also increase your gas mileage by avoiding certain things while driving. For instance, you can avoid using the air conditioning system in your vehicle, since air conditioning makes your engine work harder, which in turn means that you use more gas. At the same time, you can drive with the windows up on cold days, which will also improve your aerodynamics, and thus, your gas mileage. Open windows increase drag, which causes resistance that your car must overcome, after all.
Another great tip for increasing gas mileage without spending a penny is simply to slow down a bit on the highway. If you stay at the speed limit for most highways (55 miles per hour), you will be operating your vehicle at right around the optimum speed for maximum fuel efficiency. Any faster than that, and you will be sacrificing fuel efficiency to get to where you are going just a little bit earlier.
You should avoid doing certain other things, as well, such as idling your engine while you run errands or buy items at the store. It is always better for your gas mileage for you to turn off the engine when you are stopped, even if you are only going to be gone for a couple of minutes. You are wasting gas if you leave your car running, since you have no need for it to be running when you are not going anywhere! You also do not need to “warm your car up” in the winter, as the only way to truly warm an engine up is by driving. If you want it to be warm inside when you get in, try to limit the amount of time you warm up the interior of the car, at least.
These are just a few of the free methods for increasing fuel efficiency. Try these ideas, and see how well they work for you!

Easy Methods of Saving Gas

2008-08-09T13:20:00.001-07:00

Gas prices are always a hot topic these days, as they have continued to rise and rise, with no sign of stopping or even slowing down. Many drivers are understandably frustrated, as they are being squeezed hard by the high prices, and seem to have no way to make gas more affordable for themselves. Since it may be foolish to expect a drop in gas prices anytime soon, one of the best ways to deal with the ridiculous price of gas is to look for whatever ways you can to reduce your gas usage.
Many of the best methods for reducing gas usage are also among the very easiest! This is very fortunate for those who do not have mechanical expertise or extra money to invest in products that make exaggerated claims of increased fuel efficiency. If you number yourself among the many that are growing tired of spreading themselves thin because of gas prices, take a look at some of these very simple and free ways to free yourself of some of the cost of gas.
Of course, it is obvious that when you do not drive your car, you use no fuel, which is easily the most affordable option of them all. However, if your car stays parked at home, so do you! What are the alternatives when you have places to go and people to see? Well, a car pool is a great option, if you can make it work. Car pools have been around for years and are quite common. With a car pool system, you can reduce your impact on the environment while you also reduce the impact of gas prices on your wallet!
Most people think of car pools as a way to get to work, but if you know someone who lives near you that has other places to go, you can still car pool! If you have to go to the mall, for instance, check and see if one of your neighbors wants to go, as well. Maybe next time, they will return the favor.
Smart trip planning is another weapon that consumers have to fight the roaring albatross that is gas prices. To swing this deadly blade and slay the beast, simply plan ahead when you go out to make sure that you consolidate all of your shopping and errand-running needs into one trip. If you live in a small town and must take the highway to get shopping done, it is even more important to plan your trips well to avoid excess driving!
One big “no-no” that is easily avoided is leaving your car’s engine on when you are not going anywhere. This can include when you run in quickly to the store or gas station, or when you are waiting for a friend to come outside so you can go somewhere together. In most cases, it will make much more sense to simply turn your engine off. If you are not currently moving, there is no reason to have your engine on, anyway!
Finally, avoid having excess weight in your car when you are driving around. This means that you do not want to leave items that you do not need in your car for long periods of time, particularly if they are somewhat heavy. This also means that you probably want to make friends with very light people! Well, that may not be true, but it is important to reduce the weight in your car, since every 100 pounds can cause you a loss of 1 or 2 percent of your fuel economy.
It is plain to see that increasing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency does not have to be a complicated or expensive process. It is important to remember that there are alternatives to simply staying home and not driving if you want to save money on gas. The trick is simply to be a bit smarter about where, when and how you drive!

Driving Slow to Save Some Dough

2008-08-09T13:19:00.002-07:00

You are not alone in your frustration over gas prices these days. Everyone who has to pull up to the gas station and fuel up their vehicle shakes their head when they see the price, after all. Along with the frustration over gas prices, many people feel helpless. What can you do to lower gas prices? It is not as if you can simply stop driving altogether to send a message about your feelings on gas prices! That may be true, but there are things you can do to reduce your spending on fuel.
While the price that you pay for gas per gallon may be well beyond your control, the amount of gas that you use is something that you can change. You can do this in a few ways, such as buying a more fuel efficient automobile, or staying home instead of driving around so much. However, for those who do not want to buy a new vehicle or who can not just stay at home indefinitely, what options are there? One of the simplest options, actually, is something that can be done quite easily. Simply put, you can slow down!
When many people think about slowing down their driving, they are primarily thinking about either avoiding speeding tickets or becoming safer drivers. While it is true that slowing down provides these two important benefits, you can also save quite a bit of gas by slowing down your speed, both in town and on the highway.
Too many people ride the accelerator as they drive in city situations. They speed up, even though a red light is ahead, or someone ahead of them is slowing down. If you can take your foot off the gas and coast a bit, you can save some gas and avoid having to quickly brake when you get to where you have to stop. This means you can conserve gas as well as your brakes! Who knows, you might be coasting when the light turns green, which means that instead of starting from a dead stop, you will start to accelerate with some momentum already built up. This also saves you gas.
Even more gas can be saved on the highway. While your driving style in city situations can raise or lower your gas mileage, it does not affect your fuel consumption as dramatically as does your speed on the highway. You can save a lot of gas by driving at 55 miles per hour instead of 75 miles per hour, for instance. How much? Estimates vary from as little as 20% to all the way up to 30%, but either way, that is a substantial amount of gas! When you figure in the cost of gas right now, it really does pay to slow down a bit on the freeway, interstate, or highway. Again, not only will you save on gas expenses, but you will also avoid traffic tickets when you drive at lower speeds.
It can be very difficult to slow down your speed when driving, especially if you are used to driving quite fast, or if you are impatient. Remember, if you are not running late for something important, you do not need to race to your destination! Doing so will only cost you gas, which costs you money.

Driving Fast Will Cost You Money!

2008-08-09T13:19:00.001-07:00

Drivers these days are prisoners of high gas prices. The worse thing is, there is really nothing that any of us can do to help control the price of gas itself. However, we can control, to a certain extent, how much gas we consume. Think about it: the less gas we use, the less we have to buy! If your idea of conserving fuel is simply to make less trips in your car to different places, remember that there are other ways to control how much gas you use, as well. For instance, if you prefer to drive at high speeds, you are saving yourself a little time (and maybe having some fun), but you’re costing yourself a lot of money on gas!
Life moves very fast nowadays. Most people have a lot of responsibilities to attend to, including work, family activities, or any number of things. These types of things lead to people having to rush to get around, which in turn leads to a feeling that “faster is better” when it comes to driving. While it is obviously true that you will get where you are going faster if you drive at a higher speed, you will also spend more money on gas if you drive that way!
It is a basic fact that any vehicle, be it a smaller car, or a large van, truck or SUV, consumes more fuel when driven at faster speeds. Chances are that your vehicle gets its best gas mileage at 55 to 60 miles per hour. Therefore, driving faster than those speeds is going to increase your fuel consumption, which means you are going to buy more gas. Buying more gas? Well, we all know what that means, and we would all like to avoid having to do so. If you are feeling the pressure of high gas prices, maybe you should consider reducing your speed a bit, so that you can buy less fuel.
There are a lot of speed demons out there who routinely go 75 miles per hour, or even faster! For these folks, it is important to note that not only are you greatly increasing your chances of a traffic ticket for speeding (and increasing your chances of death or serious injury in an accident), but you are also greatly increasing your fuel consumption, by as much as 20% or more! That’s right; someone driving at about 55 miles per hour will only consume about four gallons for every five that the speed demon uses. At upwards of four dollars per gallon of gas, no one can afford to use more gas than they need to!
It can be a big change to have to control your speed on a busy highway or a high-speed freeway. After all, you will see impatient drivers passing you constantly, all while you feel like you are practically standing still. However, if you can successfully make the change to driving at slower speeds, you will definitely appreciate the money you are saving on gas expenses! It’s also worth noting that you do not necessarily have to slow all the way down to 55 miles per hour to experience the benefits of increased fuel efficiency. Any reduction in speed will net you some sort of decreased fuel consumption, though obviously you will save more gas the more you slow down.
You may want to pick and choose the times when you put the proverbial pedal to the metal. After all, if you are running late to an important meeting, you may be able to justify driving a bit faster. If you are simply on your way to a weekend cookout at Uncle Jimmy’s, it is not quite so important to drive 80 miles per hour to get there. If your trip is relatively short, you will only cost yourself a few extra minutes of driving time, anyway.

Homemade Superfood: Sprouting Seeds and Saving Seeds

2008-05-14T04:52:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, May 13, 2008 by: Neil McLaughlin

With food prices rising, the dollar falling, and the economy reeling, it is becoming increasing important that we learn to grow a portion of our own food. The first steps are obtaining and sprouting seeds, so we'll explore those topics here.

Enzymes Are Your Friends

It may seem hard to believe, but life forms on Earth are constantly submerged in two of the most corrosive substances in the Universe: Oxygen and H2O. Seen at the microscopic level, we are dissolving like an antacid tablet in water. What keeps us alive in this highly solvent medium? It turns out that the enzymes in raw food offset the damage we sustain, reversing the agingProgeria, Hutchinson Gilford causes extreme premature aging due to lack of enzyme activity. New studies at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences link autism to similar metabolic processes.

Though we all eventually succumb to the ravages of time and oxidation, we can slow the process by consuming living foods that are rich in enzymes. Fresh, raw foods like sprouts are among those foods containing the most enzymes, but for the healthiest and freshest sprouts it is best to grow them yourself.

Sprouting Sunflower Seeds

Most of us have tried sunflower seeds at some point, but chances are the seeds were no longer alive. In other words, they were already shelled, irradiated, salted, preserved, bagged, shipped, and stored for long periods of time. By the time they were ingested every last enzyme had perished. Wouldn't it make sense to consume seeds that were still alive? Sprouting seeds are alive, and they can last for years if kept dry. Once moist they will sprout within days.

After sprouting, most seeds such as Alfalfa, Broccoli and Radish are left in the sun for a couple days to produce Chlorophyll (a process called Greening or Photosynthesis). However sunflower seeds are ready to eat once they sprout so they are a great choice for your first sprouts. Instructions for sunflower sprouts are provided at end of this article.

Seed Saving

After learning to grow sprouts you may try growing sunflower greens, whole sunflowers or other vegetables. The main difference is that these will require soil. It is important to understand the main types of seeds.

* Heirloom seeds (also called Heritage seeds) will reproduce the same every generation. Most of us assume all seeds are like this.

* Hybrid seeds are the product of two unique plants and the seeds will gradually revert to the dominant parent over subsequent generations. While providing more variety, these must be purchased again each season to obtain the same crop.

* Genetically Modified (GMO) seeds are patented, requiring a license fee and certain pesticides. Some GMO crops are designed to produce sterile (terminator gene technology) seeds. GMO seeds mix both plant and animal matter in ways that nature never intended.

GMO companies like Monsanto are part of the pesticide industry and they have been aggressively buying up seed companies for the past 20 years. Corporations prefer fruits and vegetables that are picked before ripening and have tougher skin in order to survive shipping. However if given a choice, consumers lean in the opposite direction, towards those with more delicate skin and flavor.

Farmers of generations past dedicated their entire lives to producing seeds for plants that would grow well in their local area, only to have them go extinct due to commercial interests. "Fair Trade" alliances such as CAFTA and Codex Alimentarius seek to irradiate, patent and/or genetically modify all seeds. The new Iraqi Constitution only permits farmers to plant Monsanto GMO seeds. However, seed diversification is essential if we are to withstand food viruses such as the one that caused the Great Potato Famine in Ireland in the 1840s.

Stock up on Heirloom seeds while you still can.

____________________________________________________________________________

Recipe for Sunflower Sprouts

Ingredients:

* Sprouting Jar.

* Screen Lid (or mesh cloth and rubber band).

* Sprouting Sunflower seeds.

* Filtered Water (I prefer distilled).

Instructions:

* Fill jar about half-way with sunflower seeds.

* Add enough water to cover seeds.

* Soak seeds 1-2 hours and drain.

* Turn jar upside down and rest at an angle inside a soup pot to allow excess water to drain.

* Keep seeds in moist, dark area at room temperature 2-3 days.

* Rinse and drain seeds once each day.

* Sunflower sprouts do not grow large and are ready to eat nearly right away.

* The sprout will be about 2-3 times the size of the seed.

* To remove hull, hold the seed with one hand and tug the sprout with the other.

* Store in refrigerator and consume within 2-3 days.

____________________________________________________________________________

Recommended Material

The Seed Exchange Garden Seed Inventory is a catalog of catalogs offering virtually every available Heirloom seed in the U.S. Seed to Seed, Seed Saving and Growing Techniques for Vegetable Gardeners by Suzanne Ashworth is the companion book. An informative DVD documenting the dangers of GMO foods is The Future of Food.

About the author

Neil McLaughlin is a Computer Scientist and Inventor specializing in 3D Graphics and Simulation.

Free or Low-Cost Surgery for Kids with Facial Deformities

2008-05-12T09:53:00.001-07:00

Operation Smile provides reconstructive facial surgery to indigent children and young adults in 16 developing countries and the US. Additionally, this non-profit offers a physician referral list as well as information regarding facial deformities. Fees for these services are determined by individual cases, based on income. To learn more, contact Operation Smile, 6435 Tidewater Drive, Norfolk, VA 23509; 1-888-677-6453 or 1-757-321-7645; http://www.operationsmile.org/
Income Eligibility: Determined on a case-by-case basis.

Even More Low-Cost Prescriptions for You

2008-05-12T09:52:00.000-07:00

Walmart's $4 prescription plan is getting even cheaper. The company will add 1,000 over-the-counter items for $4 or less and make some drugs available in a 90-day supply for only $10. It also increased the number of women's medications that it offers at a discount. No word yet on whether Target and Kroger (who also offer a $4 drug program) will match Walmart 's new offer. To learn more about Walmart's prescription drug program or to see if your medication is on the list, go to: http://www.walmart.com/pharmacy

You can get FREE antibiotics at the Midwest grocery store chain with any prescription, regardless of insurance or co-payment. For a complete list of these free prescriptions, go to: http://www.meijer.com/content/content_leftnav_manual.jsp?pageName=free_antibiotics

$8,000 to Improve Your Home So It Cuts Your Utility Bills

2008-05-05T18:36:00.001-07:00

This program is called the "Energy Efficient Mortgages Program" and can be used to make energy-efficient improvements in one to four existing and new homes. The improvements can be included in a borrower's mortgage only if their total cost is less than the total dollar value of the energy that will be saved during their useful life. The cost of the improvements that may be eligible for financing as part of the mortgage is either 5 percent of the property's value (not to exceed $8,000) or $4,000, whichever is greater. The maximum mortgage limit for a single-family home is $160,950, plus the cost of the eligible energy-efficient improvements. (Limits may be lower in some areas of the country.)
Income: All
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Housing
Money Type: Service
Contact: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 451 7th Street S.W., Washington, DC 20410; (202) 708-1112; http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/eem/energy-r.cfm
Application: NA

$750 Rebate For Any Income Level

2008-05-05T18:35:00.000-07:00

A rebate is another form of free money and it's available for consumers with any income level as long as you buy a product. Utility companies around the country offer such rebates to encourage energy efficient products that will save you on your heating bill and save them from having to generate more services. Your local phone directory and library can help you locate your local utility companies. Be sure to check them all.

Here is a sample of the kinds of programs available:

70% on Insulation Purchases Up To $700
Home Check, Mid-America Energy Company
Des Moines, IA http://www.midamericanenergy.com/html/energy3g.asp
$20 On A Lamp and $750 On A Heat Pump
Conservation Services, Tacoma Power
Tacoma, WA http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/power/Residential_Services.htm
$600 For Installing An Add-On Heat Pump
Washington Electric Cooperative, Inc
Marietta, OH http://www.weci.org/rebates.html
50% Of Insulation Purchases Up to $200
Home or Business Energy Grant, Sawnee EMC
Cumming, GA http:/ /www.sawnee.com/Energy/incentives.htm
$150 On A Dishwasher
Energy Star Appliances, Minnesota Power
Duluth, MN http://www.mnpower.com/powerofone/one_business/powergrant/rebates.htm

Income: up to $40,000
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Housing
Money Type: Service
Contact: Contact your local Utility company in the blue pages of your phone book or your state Department of Energy which can be found at www.govengine.com
Application: NA

Low and 0% Interest Loans To Fix Up Your House

2008-05-05T18:34:00.002-07:00

No matter what your income and as long as your improvements will create a more energy efficient home you can save a lot on interest rates and finance charges by using a subsidized energy conservation loan program. These programs are typically available from your state department of energy, a local government office or your utility company. State and local government offices can be found by contacting your state or city operators or www.govengine.com. Your local phone directory and library can help you locate your local utility companies. Be sure to check them all.

Here is a sample of the kinds of programs available:

$35,000 Low Interest Loan For Fireplaces, Freezers, Cloth Washers, Etc.
Dollar and Energy Saving Loans, Nebraska Energy Office
Lincoln, NE http://www.neo.ne.gov/loan/improv.htm
$20,000 Low Interest Loan To Make Energy Saving Improvements
NY Energy Smart Loan Program, NY Energy Research & Development Authority
Albany, NY http://www.nyserda.org/loanfund/
0% Interest Loans For Energy Efficiency Improvements
Residential Weatherization Program, Tacoma Power
Tacoma, WA http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/power/ResidentialServices/conservation.htm
$3,000 For New Storm Doors Or Windows
5% Weatherization Loans, Tideland EMC
Pantego, NC http://www.tidelandemc.com/p&sincentives.htm

Income: up to $40,000
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Housing
Money Type: Service
Contact: Contact your local Utility company in the blue pages of your phone book or your state Department of Energy which can be found at www.govengine.com
Application: NA

Utility Discounts On Medical Devices For In-Home Patients

2008-05-05T18:34:00.001-07:00

No matter what your income, you may be eligible for a discount on your utility bill if someone in your home is dependent on a medical device that uses electricity. Or if you need heating and air-conditioning to care for someone with special needs. Local government offices can be identified at www.govengine.com and your local United Way can be located at http://national.unitedway.org/myuw/. You can also contact you local area office on aging by calling 1-800-677-1116 or go to http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/How_To_Find/Agencies/Agencies.asp

Here is a list of some sources around the country:

30% Rate Discount To Run Medical Equipment To Care For Paraplegic, Hemiplegic, Quadriplegic or MS Patient
Medical Equipment Discount Rate, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Sacramento, CA http://www.smud.org/residential/services/medical-rate.html
Rate Discounts For Life Equipment Or Special Needs
Services For Medical Baseline and Life-Support Customers, Pacific Gas and Electric
California http://www.pge.com/myhome/customerservice/financialassistance/medicalbaseline/index.shtml
Pay No More For Extra Electricity To Run Medical Machines or Heating and Air-conditioning for Patient
Medical Baseline Allowance, Utility Consumers' Action Network
San Diego, CA http://www.ucan.org/energy/electricity/medical_baseline_allowance
Get 25% Discount On Utility Bills
Medical Residential Assistance Programs, Municipal Services Division
Santa Clara, CA http://www.ci.santa-clara.ca.us/pub_utility/pu_help_paying.html

Income: up to $40,000
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Housing
Money Type: Service
Contact: Contact your local Utility company in the blue pages of your phone book.
Application: NA

Local Grants And Discounts To Pay Utility Bills

2008-05-05T18:33:00.000-07:00

Heating bills are going up and the winter months can create financial havoc with utility bill payments. There are many programs around the country that help people financially and legally from having their utilities turned off. To find programs you may qualify for in your area you must search: 1) your city or township government, 2) your county government, 3) your state government, 4) local non-profit agencies and local development corporations, 5) as well as your utility company.

Make sure you also check with all of the following offices for help in locating appropriate organizations in your area: 1) your local library, 2) your local elected officials, 3) your local United Way and, 4) all housing agencies in your area. Local government offices can be identified at www.govengine.com and your local United Way can be identified at http://national.unitedway.org/myuw. If you are a senior, you should contact your local area office on aging by calling 1-800-677-1116 or see http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/How_To_Find/Agencies/Agencies.asp. You should also seek out your local community action agency near you to see if they have a program to help you. Find you can find your local agency at: www.communityactionpartnership.com/about/links/map.asp or by contacting the Community Action Partnership in Washington, DC at 202-265-7546

Listed below is a sampling of similar local programs around the country.

$200 For 60 + Who Face Shut Off or No Fuel
Care and Share, American Red Cross/Niagara Mohawk
Cortland, NY http://cortland.redcross.org/e-utility.htm
$500 To Pay Utility Bills for Seniors Making Up to $22,453
Utility Emergency Services Fund
Philadelphia, PA http://www.uesfacts.org/about.html
Hardship Funds For People Who Fall Through The Cracks
Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission
http://www.puc.state.pa.us/general/consumer_ed/energy_asst_progs.aspx
Up To $500 in 5 Funds To Stop Utility Cut Offs
Mid America Assistance Coalition-Managed Utility Funds
Kansas City, MO http://www.maaclink.org/utility_individual_funds.htm
Money For Seniors Who Don't Qualify For Government Programs
Share The Warmth Program, Oklahoma Natural Gas
Oklahoma http://www.oneok.com/ong/customerservice/programs/ong_share_warmth.jsp
Seniors Making $29,300 Can Get $280 Discount
Energy Assistance Program Rate, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Sacramento, CA http://www.smud.org/pay/eapr.html
50% Discount For Seniors 65+ Making $34,668
Utility Discount Program, Mayor's Office for Senior Citizens
Seattle, WA http://www.cityofseattle.net/humanservices/financialassistance/utility.htm
25% Discount On Water, Sewer, And Solid Waste For Seniors Making $20,532
Low Income Assistance Program, Tacoma Power
Tacoma, WA http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/power/ResidentialServices/low_income_assistance.htm
Pay Only 10% Of Income If Income Less Than $20,535
Percentage of Income Payment Plan, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
Ohio http://www.puco.ohio.gov/PUCO/Consumer/information.cfm?doc_id=93

Income: up to $40,000
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Housing
Money Type: Service
Contact: You should also seek out your local community action agency near you to see if they have a program to help you. Find you can find your local agency at www.communityactionpartnership.com/about/links/map.asp or by contacting the Community Action Partnership in Washington, DC at 202-265-7546
Application: NA

$$ To Pay Your Heating Bill

2008-05-05T18:32:00.002-07:00

Even if you are not approved by the U.S. Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program, you might still be eligible for short-term assistance on your utility bill for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, LIHEAP serves low-income families by offering heating and cooling subsidies, energy crisis intervention to assist in weather-related and fuel supply shortages, and household energy-related emergencies, such as utility shutoffs. The amount of money and eligibility for this program varies from state to state.
Income: $30,975 for Family of 4
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Housing
Money Type: Service
Contact: To locate your state contact office, contact your U.S. Administration for Children and Families, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW, Washington, DC 20447; 866-674-6327; www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/liheap
Application: NA

$2,500 To Pay Your Insulation Bills

2008-05-05T18:32:00.001-07:00

Storm windows, insulation and even weather stripping can help reduce your heating and cooling bills. The U.S. Department of Energy offers the Weatherization Assistance Program. Many people are eligible for this program from renters to homeowners, from those who live in single family or multi-family housing to those who live in mobile homes. Preference is given to the elderly and those families with children. You must apply through your state weatherization agency. States allocate dollars to nonprofit agencies for purchasing and installing energy-related repairs.
Income: $30,975 for Family of 4
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Housing
Money Type: Service
Contact: For information on eligibility and where to apply in your state contact the National office at Department of Weatherization, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Stop EE-1, Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585; 202-586-9220; 877-337-3463; or go to www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization
Application: NA

$800 for Food

2008-05-05T18:31:00.004-07:00

The Food Stamp Program was designed to help low-income families buy the food they need to stay healthy and productive. The amount of Food Stamps you get each month is determined by the number of people in your family and by the household income. Look in the blue pages of your telephone book under "Food Stamps," "Social Services, " or "Public Assistance."
Income: $26,856 for Family of 4
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Health
Money Type: Service
Contact: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Ctr., Dr., Park Office Center Bldg., Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2276; www.fns.usda.gov/fncs
Application: State hotline numbers at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/contact_info/hotlines.htm

Free Meals At Day Care

2008-05-05T18:31:00.003-07:00

Not only does the government offer free lunches for school children, but your younger children can also receive free meals at day care centers, family day care homes, and more. Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides nutritious meals to 2.6 million children and 74,000 adults who receive day care outside of their home. CACFP reaches even further to provide meals to children residing in homeless shelters, and snacks and suppers to youths participating in eligible after school care programs. CACFP reimburses participating centers and day care homes for their meal costs. It is administered at the Federal level by the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The State education or health department administers CACFP, in most States. Programs include: Child Care Centers, Adult Day Care Centers, Family Day Care Homes, Homeless Shelters, and After School Care Programs.
Income: $39,220 for Family of 4
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Health
Money Type: Service
Contact: FNS Public Information, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 926, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2281; www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/cacfp/cacfphome.htm
Application: NA

Free Lunches For Students

2008-05-05T18:31:00.001-07:00

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program administered by the USDA, operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry Truman in 1946.
Income: $39,220 for Family of 4
State: All
Age: Up through age 18
Subject Category: Living Expenses/ Health
Money Type: Service
Contact: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 914, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2286; www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Lunch/
Application: NA

$700 Food Money for Women & Children

2008-05-05T18:30:00.002-07:00

The Women, Infant and Children (WIC) Program's mission is to safeguard the health of low-income women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutritional risk by providing nutritious foods to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care. A family of four can make up to $37,000 and still qualify!

WIC foods include iron-fortified infant formula and infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, vitamin C-rich fruit and/or vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, dried beans or peas, tuna fish and carrots.
Income: $39,220 for Family of 4
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/ Health
Money Type: Service
Contact: Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food and Nutrition Service – USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2746; Fax: 703-305-2196; www.fns.usda.gov/fns/
Application: NA

Free Food for Seniors

2008-05-05T18:30:00.001-07:00

The Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP) is the new name for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) cash or commodity program, known as the Nutrition Program for the Elderly (NPE). While there is no means test for participation in this program, services are targeted to older people with the greatest economic or social need, with special attention given to low-income minorities. Since American Indians, Alaskan Natives, and Native Hawaiians tend to have lower life expectancies and higher rates of illness at younger ages, Tribal Organizations are given the option of setting the age at which older people can participate in the program. Contact your state or local Administration on Aging or National Administration on Aging, Administration on Aging, 330 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20201; 202-619-0724; www.aoa.gov/; Eldercare Locator; 800-677-1116; www.eldercare.gov/
Income: All
State: All
Age: Age 60 and over
Subject Category: Living Expenses/ Health
Money Type: Service
Contact: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2060; www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/nsip/
Application: NA

A Free Pint of Milk

2008-05-05T18:29:00.003-07:00

The Special Milk Program (SMP) provides milk to children in schools and childcare institutions that do not participate in other Federal child nutrition meal service programs. The program reimburses schools for the milk they serve. Schools in the National School Lunch or School Breakfast Programs may also participate in the Special Milk Program to provide milk to children in half-day pre-kindergarten and kindergarten programs where children do not have access to the school meal programs.
Income: $27,560 for Family of 4
State: All
Age: Up through age 18
Subject Category: Living Expenses/ Health
Money Type: Service
Contact: Contact your local school or the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 914, Alexandria, VA 22302.; 703-305-2286; www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Milk/
Application: NA

Free Food for Native Americans

2008-05-05T18:29:00.001-07:00

The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) is a program that provides commodity foods to low-income households, including the elderly, living on Indian reservations, and to Native American families residing in designated areas near reservations. Participants on many reservations can choose fresh produce instead of canned fruits and vegetables. Contact the office in your area for more information.
Income: Up to $30,000
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Health
Money Type: Service
Contact: Food and Nutrition Service - USDA, Food Distribution Division, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2888; Fax: 703-305-2420; http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/fdpir/default.htm
Application: NA

Free Emergency Food

2008-05-05T18:28:00.004-07:00

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is a Federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income needy people, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost. States provide the food to local agencies that they have selected, usually food banks, which in turn, distribute the food to soup kitchens and food pantries that directly serve the public.
Income: Up to $30,000
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/ Health
Money Type: Service
Contact: Food and Nutrition Service - USDA, Food Distribution Division, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2888; Fax: 703-305-2420; www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/programs/tefap/
Application: NA

Free Food for Kids in the Summer

2008-05-05T18:28:00.003-07:00

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) was created to ensure that children in lower-income areas can continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast. Schools, public agencies, and private nonprofit organizations may sponsor the program. Sponsors provide free meals to a group of children at a central site, such as a school or a community center.
Income: $27,560 for Family of 4
State: All
Age: up through age 18
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Health
Money Type: Service
Contact: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 914, Alexandria, Virginia 22302; 703-305-2286; www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/Summer/
Application: NA

Free Ice Cream Products and Gift Certificates for Your Next Event

2008-05-05T18:28:00.001-07:00

The Dreyers Foundation makes small grants ($3,000 or less) and donates ice cream products and gift certificates/auction items to bona fide nonprofit organizations for events. The proposals submitted to the foundation are reviewed on a monthly basis. To request a small grant, products, gift certificates and/or auction item donations, please send a one-page letter on organization stationery with the following information:

Current tax exemption number
Date of event
Brief description of organization and purpose of event
Specific item or product request
For product donation, please state number of people to be served and specific product request (e.g., ice cream, yogurt, sherbet)
Name, e-mail address and daytime telephone number of a contact person

Requests are accepted throughout the year. All requests are reviewed by the 7th day of the month, by 5:00 p.m. end of business day. Following the meeting, a letter will be mailed to the recipient regarding the status of the proposal. It takes about eight-week processing time for ice cream and gift item requests. For more information, contact the Dreyers Foundation at the contact information below.
Income: All
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Business, Kids, Non-Profit
Money Type: Service
Contact: Please mail your request to: Dreyers Foundation, 5929 College Avenue, Oakland, CA 94618; 510-450-4586; http://www.dreyersinc.com/dreyersfoundation/small_grants.asp
Application: NA

Cereal, Pasta, Peanut Butter - Your Grocery Shopping For Free

2008-05-05T18:27:00.002-07:00

The population served by the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) is similar to that served by USDA's Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), but CSFP also serves elderly people, and provides food rather than the food vouchers that WIC participants receive. Eligible people cannot participate in both programs at the same time. CSFP food packages do not provide a complete diet, but rather are good sources of the nutrients typically lacking in the diets of the target population.

Food packages include a variety of foods, such as infant formula and cereal, non-fat dry and evaporated milk, juice, farina, oats, ready-to-eat cereal, rice, pasta, egg mix, peanut butter, dry beans or peas, canned meat or poultry or tuna, and canned fruits and vegetables. The CSFP works to improve the health of low-income pregnant and breastfeeding women, other new mothers up to one year postpartum, infants, children up to age six, and elderly people at least 60 years of age by supplementing their diets with nutritious USDA commodity foods. It provides food and administrative funds to States to supplement the diets of these groups.
State: All
Age: All
Incomes Up To (approx.): $ 30,000
Subject Category: Health/Living Expenses
Contact: For more information about this program, we suggest that you contact your CSFP State Distributing Agency. A list of State Contacts may be found on the FD web site at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdd/contacts/sdacontacts.htm. Contact Food & Nutrition Service, Food Distribution Division, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 504, Alexandria, VA 22302-1500; 703 305-2680 (Phone)
Application: NA

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program - Free and Healthy

2008-05-05T18:27:00.001-07:00

Senior Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides resources in the form of fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs from farmers' markets, roadside stands and community supported agriculture programs to low-income seniors.

Once the SFMNP benefits have been issued to eligible seniors, they can be used to purchase fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs at authorized farmers' markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture programs. In 2006, these products were available to 825,691 low-income seniors from 14,575 farmers at 2,911 farmers' markets as well as 2,323 roadside stands and 260 community supported agriculture programs.

Low-income seniors, generally defined as individuals who are at least 60 years old and who have household incomes of not more than 185% of the federal poverty income guidelines (published each year by the Department of Health and Human Services), are the targeted recipients of SFMNP benefits. Some State agencies accept proof of participation or enrollment in another means-tested program, such as the Commodity Supplemental Food Program or the Food Stamp Program, for SFMNP eligibility.
State: All
Age: Seniors Only
Incomes Up To (approx.): $ 30,000
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Health
Contact: Food & Nutrition Service, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2746; List of SFMNP State agency contacts: http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/SeniorFMNP/SFMNPcontacts.htm
Application: NA

Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, and Herbs, All Free if You Qualify

2008-05-05T18:26:00.000-07:00

The WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) is associated with the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, popularly known as WIC. The WIC Program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education at no cost to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding post-partum women, and to infants and children up to 5 years of age, who are found to be at nutritional risk.

A variety of fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables and herbs may be purchased with FMNP coupons. Each State agency develops a list of fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs that can be purchased with FMNP coupons. Women, infants (over 4 months old) and children that have been certified to receive WIC program benefits or who are on a waiting list for WIC certification are eligible to participate in the FMNP. State agencies may serve some or all of these categories.
Incomes Up To (approx.): $ 30,000
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Health
Money Type: Service
Contact: Supplemental Food Programs Division, Food & Nutrition Service, USDA, 3101 Park Center Drive, Room 520, Alexandria, VA 22302; 703-305-2746; http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/Contacts/farm.HTM
Application: NA

Food Pantries To Help You Feed Your Family

2008-05-05T18:25:00.000-07:00

Food pantries are operated by churches, social service agencies, community groups and more in an effort to feed those in need. Some pantries also offer clothing and other services. Each pantry operates a little differently. Some are open only certain weekends, some provide hot meals along with their food service. Contact your local library, church, or social service organization to learn where pantries are located near you. You should also seek out your local community action agency near you to see if they have a program to help you. Find you can find your local agency at www.communityactionpartnership.com/about/links/map.asp or by contacting the Community Action Partnership in Washington, DC at 202-265-7546
Income: up to $40,000
State: All
Age: All
Subject Category: Living Expenses/Housing
Money Type: Service
Contact: You should also seek out your local community action agency near you to see if they have a program to help you. Find you can find your local agency at www.communityactionpartnership.com/about/links/map.asp or by contacting the Community Action Partnership in Washington, DC at 202-265-7546
Application: NA

HANDLING INSANE GAS PRICES

2008-05-04T14:32:00.000-07:00

What can YOU do about insane gas prices?

Let's start from the end - happy mileage. That's what we all want! To pay less at the pump. Is that what you want too? Wouldn't it be nice to ALSO clean up the atmosphere, prevent global warming - and enjoy a smooth ride?

I'm driving a Toyota Corolla 1999. According to the EPA (the guys in charge of protecting the environment in the USA) my car is supposed to do 25 MPG in the city - up to 33 MPG on the highway. My performance on the 101 freeway: an average of 63.1 MPG. The actual gas consumption was found to be very close to the readout: 61.13 MPG. Is that good or what? Well, my car has a Water4Gas system that I've built and installed myself. And I'm not a mechanic.

HOW COME THIS IS NOT PART OF NORMAL CAR TECHNOLOGY?

I'm sure you have asked yourself some disturbing questions, such as:

If all this is so great, then why don't the major automakers incorporate these low-cost devices in their car designs?
Don't they want to sell more? They'll be able to sell more cars if they'd make them more efficient!
How come they don't teach these things at school?
How come the media doesn't tell us about it?

These are good questions! You ARE a thinking man. You are NOT stupid. Unfortunately somebody else is stupid. That is to say, short sighted. What happens in actual fact is that the auto factories are not independent. They are directed and controlled by greater forces of economy and other vested interests. Short sighted, yet powerful (filthy rich, that is) businessmen, direct the general flow toward lower and lower gas economy. They want you to waste gas.

That's the reason for all those gas hogs on the road. Lately they dropped in sales because people are starting to realize what a trap they have been led into: temporarily affordable gas prices, and giant SUV's pushed on us as the fashionable thing to have; the automakers and the advertising machine that serves them have pushed everybody and his wife to purchase a great “Sport Utility” vehicle that never sees any more sport than hurrying up to a show-off party or shopping at the mall.

We've been conditioned to think “performance”, and we started to think in terms of “GOOD VEHICLE equals FANCY equals BIG AND STRONG equals SHOW OFF equals HORSEPOWER” and so forth. Look at the endless stream of TV ads for huge vehicles and luxury sports cars. Nobody is trying to sell mileage.

They want you to waste gas and they want engines to run hot and burn valves and pistons and lubricating oil, and they want the systems in your vehicle to clog itself up with unburned fuel. THEY THINK THEY WILL SELL MORE CARS THAT WAY AND IT SEEMS TO BE WORKING FOR THEM. For a while, only for a while (short sighted, I said) because they are destroying the economy and the planet for their own sons and daughters.

Automakers know they have poorly designed vehicles – and the fact that every car MUST have, by law, a large and expensive catalytic converter - is an admission that they don't burn gasoline correctly in those new designs. The function of the catalytic converter is to burn AND WASTE all the unburned fuel - caused by poor engine design!!!

George Wiseman from Eagle Research, Canada, says:

Fuel injection systems are actually designed to prevent efficient combustion!

Dennis Lee from Better World Technologies, USA, says:

The computerized fuel injection system is a gatekeeper that is designed to prevent after market devices that are designed to improve fuel economy. If you wonder why Detroit would be involved in that, unburned fuel eventually wears down engines so they do not last much past the warrantee. They call it “planned obsolescence”.

Lou LaPointe from Bright Technologies, USA, calls this planned behavior "Detroit Fever". He says:

...they have sabotaged newer car computers with programming to detect high mileage and then RICHEN the mixture so you cannot maintain high mileage.
...The problem became known as Detroit Fever. The cause was the anti-mileage computer programming in new cars...the problem grows worse every year because they know they can get away with it by selling horsepower.
...the catalytic converter HIDES the fact of bad Thermal Efficiency from the car owner...You will be forced to buy a new car sooner. This situation is a direct violation of the Clean Air Acts passed in recent years.
...The fact that you are not getting good mileage is not because your car has but limited economy. It is because your car programming simply will not allow it.
...whenever you make some mileage-improving change to your engine and/or to the fuel it is swallowing, your on-board computer will eventually detect the good MPG change and reverse it. Yes, that is true. Although it may take a tank or so of gas before the computer figures out what was done, it will eventually richen the mixture again, effectively snuffing out any temporary good mileage boost you may have gained. Luckily, there is a simple cure...You can get good mileage and help save Earth next week, next month--rather than years from now.

Find out more about Water4Gas Here!!!

Get Your Car Repaired for FREE

2008-04-29T12:49:00.001-07:00

June Rapp of Massachusetts took her family van into a dealer to have it fixed and they wanted to charge her over $1000 to make the repairs. She called the U.S. Department of Transportation and found out that her problem was part of a manufacturer recall. Recalls have to be fixed for free and the repair shop didn't know that. To find out about recalls for any car, contact:

Auto Safety Hotline, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh St., SW, Washington, DC 20590; 888-327-4236; http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/
The Consumer Reports people have a searchable database for car recall information. Contact Consumers Union, 101 Truman Ave., Yonkers, NY 10703; www.consumerreports.com

FREE or Low-Cost Rides To Work, School, or Day Care

2008-04-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

North Carolina has programs where counties are given vans to transport people back and forth to work, with lower costs than driving your own vehicle. York County, Maine will let you ride the WAVE, a job access and education transportation service. Transportation provides: home pick-ups, day care drops-offs, major employee and education drop-offs in the Sanford area. Costs are low and discounted for children and seniors 62 years and older. Dial-A-Ride in the City of Modesto provides specialized transportation seven days a week for persons 65 years old and those with disabilities. Although this is primarily for the disabled and seniors, the general public may also ride during specific times. To start looking for programs like this in your area, contact your local congressman's office or your local social service agency. You should also find out about local vanpool and rideshare programs. Your local chamber of commerce or library may have this kind of information for you.

Get One Month of Free Bus Passes
Detroit's Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) has a program called "Get a Job/Get a Ride" that gives a month's worth of free rides to anyone in the Detroit area who gets a job. The only requirement is that you have started a new job within the last 30 days, work at least 32 hours a week and never have received the pass in the past. New Jersey will give a free one-month pass to those on low income that get a job or are going to training. Check with your local Chamber of Commerce or Transit Authority.

Free Gas Savings Tips

2008-04-29T12:28:00.000-07:00

The government will help you become as fuel efficient as possible. Their fuel savings website can do everything from helping you determine which fuel efficient car to buy, where to find the cheapest gas in your neighborhood, tips on saving gas, and a printable fuel guide to keep track of your car's consumption. You can view information on the website or order copies of the fuel guide by contacting: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Information Center, 656 Quince Orchard Road, Suite 500, Gaithersburg, MD 20878; 877-337-3463; www.fueleconomy.gov/

1. "Gas Savings Products - Fact or Fuelishness"
2. "Good, Better, Best: How to Improve Gas Mileage"
3. "The Low-Down on High Octane Gasoline"
4. "Consider the Alternatives: Alternative Fueled Vehicles and Alternative Vehicle Fuels"
5. "Tips for Buying a Used Car"

These five publications are available from the Federal Trade Commission, Consumer Response Center, 600 Pennsylvania, NW, H-130, Washington, DC 20580; 877-FTC-HELP; http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/menus/consumer/autos/maintain.shtm

Is Your Car Green?

2008-04-29T12:27:00.000-07:00

A guide developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides information to consumers about the environmental performance of vehicles. The larger the number either in score or in fuel economy is better for our environment. You can look up a specific vehicle, a type of vehicle, or find a cleaner vehicle. Contact: Green Vehicle Guide, Certification and Compliance Division, National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, 2000 Traverwood Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48105; 734-214-4200; www.epa.gov/greenvehicles/

Fly Free As A Volunteer Air Courier

2008-04-29T12:25:00.001-07:00

Air courier services operate the same way, but you are required to have a valid passport. Most air freight services don't do enough business to send a plane overseas each day. As a courier, you carry a package checked as baggage to an overseas destination. There have been no incidences of contraband problems, and customs is familiar with this service.

You deliver the package to a company representative in the customs section of the airport, then you are on your own. In exchange, you get to fly to exotic ports for FREE or cheap. Children are not allowed to accompany couriers. Contact companies listed in the air courier section of your phone book, do a web search using the terms "air courier service," or contact the Air Courier Association at 800-383-6814; or online at http://www.aircourier.org/

Free Cars To Go On Vacation

2008-04-29T11:28:00.001-07:00

Not quite as easy as it sounds, but there are programs out there to help people move their cars. Most of the cars need to be driven across the country and in exchange, many car moving companies offer free gas and airline travel home. This is not to say that you can take your family on a minivan vacation across the country. Certain rules and restrictions apply. But I have known many a college kid that has gotten to drive across the U.S. for free. Obviously, you do not get to pick your make and model, and you need to be flexible as to the departure time and destination, but this is one way to see America. Contact local moving companies to see what they have to offer. There is even a website for those interested in having their cars moved at www.movecars.com and they may be able to provide you with information.

Cheap Air Fare To See A Sick Relative

2008-04-29T11:27:00.001-07:00

Not free, but at least you don't have to pay full price. When a family member is very ill or has died, families have to make last minute airline reservations. Obviously you lose out on the 21-day advance purchase rates, but almost all airlines offer bereavement or compassion fares for domestic travel. Generally the fares are available to close family members, and the discount on the full-fare rate varies from airline to airline. Many require that you provide the name of the deceased and the name, address and phone number of the funeral home handling arrangements. In the case of a medical emergency, the name and address of the affected family member and the name, address and phone number of the attending physician or hospital are required. Contact the airline of your choice to learn more about the "Bereavement/Compassion Fares." Full fare rate varies from airline to airline, but you could save up to 50%.