Thought of the Day

Make a donation to a good cause.

Finally Friday

My favorite day is here again. I have had the hardest time getting out of bed this week. The alarm clock is not my friend. Thank goodness, I won't have to hear it tomorrow.

I hope you have a great weekend.

See you Monday!

Family Fun Magazine - Easy, Cheap, Craft/Gift Idea

A few months ago, I posted a free offer for a subscription to Family Fun magazine. Every month, I look forward to the neat, thrifty craft ideas. Some of these would make great gifts for kids, tweens, teens, and adults. This one of my favorites from this month. A Desk to Go has been added to my craft file. Click here for printable instructions.

Click here for a FREE Family Fun Subscription.

Thrifty and Neat Blog Entries Found This Week

1) Quick n' Easy Pizza Rolls - I made these and they were great.

2) Savory Sandwich Ring - This would be great for a party or just an evening with family or friends.

3) Totes Made From Placemats - I wish I had a sewing machine. I love these. Anyone wanna make me one??

4) Bargain Hunting Moms - Updated daily with great deals.

5) Monkey Munch - This sounds great and I saw Kate making this also on Jon & Kate Plus 8.

Ever Wondered Which Coupons You Will Get Sunday??

If so, you can find out. The Taylortown Preview gives you a list of every coupon that will be in your Sunday paper. This is very useful if you ever buy more than one. You can also look in previous weeks to see when a coupon came out. This helps if you file your coupons by insert dates.

Christmas the Frugal Way Blog

Angie from Thrifty Florida Mom and her sister-in-law are teaming up to produce a "Christmas the Frugal Way" blog starting Saturday, August 16 through the Christmas season. Be sure to check it out. I'm sure they will come up with wonderful tips and gift ideas.

Thought of the Day

Read an amusing book.

What did you get for FREE this Week?

I thought it would be neat to share with everyone what you got for FREE this week. I have shared my CVS savings where I get things FREE by rolling my ECBs but I also find other items for FREE by using coupons. This week I have gotten several things.


Walgreens:
160 Bic Pens (I am stocked forever!!)
20oz. Coke
20oz. Minute Maid Lemonade

Lowes Foods:
8 Cans of Dog Food

Dollar General:
$8.75 worth of Suave Products

What did you get??

Thought of the Day & Thoughtful Thursday

List 3 qualities you like about someone. Slip your list into his or her jacket.

FREE Sample of Scott Xtreme Rags

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Frugal Gifts for Christmas

Its not that far away.......134 days to be exact!! I look forward to Christmas every year. Last year, there was so much going on, last minute things to do, and it seemed like Christmas was over in a blink of your eye and I didn't get to enjoy it as much as I wanted to. This year is going to be different. I have already made me a Christmas list (4 names already checked off), started a gift container in my storage closet (where I keep all Christmas gifts together), and decided on what I am going to make as gifts this year. I always try to give grandparents and aunts/uncles something just from Payton. I have decided this year that they are getting Snowman Soup. I also do (8) gifts for my husbands 97 year old grandmother to give her nurses and nursing assistants. They are getting Snowballs in a Jar. I always do Shoeboxes for the Samaritian's Purse - Operation Christmas Child and I have 4 completed already.

With the economy and wonderful gas prices, I am cutting my Christmas budget in half this year. No one is getting left off my list but I am not going to spend an outrageous amount either. Christmas should be to celebrate the birth of Jesus and for the kids to enjoy Santa. Below is a list I came up with for great inexpensive/frugal gifts. I have found lots of ideas online, magazines, and by just thinking of the person who I need a gift for. I love to give useful gifts. I guess I get that from my grandma who always spoke her mind no matter what and would tell you if she didn't like her gift. I have heard her say countless times "Well, whatcha get me that for? I don't have anywhere to put it." That was just her way and I loved her for it.

Inexpensive/Frugal Gift Ideas:

Framed pictures of your kids.
Gift Baskets - Theme Baskets are a Great Idea. Two of my favorites are "Family Night" and "Everyday Use". Family Night could include popcorn, candy, popcorn bowl, drinks, $5 movie rental gift card etc. Everyday use baskets can include lots of themes - cleaning supplies, hygiene products for the family, breakfast basket (recipe with ingredients and a kitchen utensil), dinner basket etc.

Magazine Subscriptions - You can find great deals online.

Gift Certificates for some kind of service/favor you will perform - babysitting, house cleaning etc. - FREE

Hand Stamped Notecards - Buy plain ones at a discount store and add some personal touches.

Create a Music CD.

Dollar Store Items - Ornaments, Greeting Card Set, Socks, Small Tools Books, Toys etc.

Homemade Cookbooks from your favorite recipes.

Homemade Christmas Goodies.

Homemade Christmas Ornaments.

Make a personalized Doormat.

Make a Blanket out of fleece.

Make a Rice Wrap.

Donate to a charity in a persons name. Some charities give you a Christmas card indicating a donation has been given.

Decorate Plain Tea Towels with Paint Pens - Use a stencil.

For co-workers - Take them a homemade lunch in a lunchbag.

A bottle of wine - Some great wines are very inexpensive. Pick up a couple of wine glasses at the $1 store.

Gift Cards - Signup at mypoints.com and earn points for reading emails, taking surveys, online shopping through them to earn free gift cards. If you would like to sign up for this, please let me know and I can send you a referral and earn extra points. Then we you sign up, you can in return earn points for referring others.

Purchase wooden ornaments/decorations from AC Moore or a craft store and let you kids decorate them.

Let me know if you have any other great ideas. I will update often and be glad to add.

**Any item that I have listed above to make, just search the internet for instructions to make.

**I also think that the presentation of your gift is very important. You can get very creative with bows, wrapping paper, name tags.

Dollar General - Another Trip

I am completely stocked on Suave products and still have a few coupons left.

Purchased:
2 Suave Shower Gels
1 Suave Deodorant
4 Large Cans of Hair Spray

Total - $13.91 Including Tax
Dollar General Coupons - (4.00) $2 off 6 items - Expire - 8/31/08 Located in the Store
Manufacturer Coupons - ($4.75)
Total - $ 5.16

Thought of the Day

Remind yourself that you are a valuable, worthwhile human being.

Chocolate Pecan Braid

For my Tasty Tuesday post today, I am asking you to check out Dr. Mom's recipe for a Chocolate Pecan Braid. I have not made this yet but just looking at it makes my mouth water.

Check it out here.

Doesn't it look good?

UPDATE - Do Consumers Opinions Really Matter??

I received a letter, Saturday, in the mail from Food Lion. To sum the letter up, I was thanked for informing them of my bad expierence. My complaint has been forwarded to the appropriate individual within their supply chain. I was told to return my item along with the receipt to the store for a full refund.

This is not what I was looking for. I understand that I can return the item but when you are desperate for trash liners you use what you have. In my opinion, the least they could do was send a coupon for another box or $ off my next shopping trip.

FREE Sample of Super Sticky Recycled Post-Its

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FREE Sample of Flow Alert LilliPads

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Thought of the Day

Call a friend to say hello.

Another Blog Award - Thanks

Thanks to Phoebe at Cents to get Debt-Free has given me another blog award. Thank you very much Phoebe. I greatly appreciate it and feel honored. Since I did this last week, I not going to forward this on. Below is my post from last week.

Post dated 8/4/08

Here are the rules:

1. Put the logo on your blog.

2. Add a link to the person who awarded it to you.

3. Nominate at least 5 other blogs.

4. Add links to these blogs on your blog.- Don't forget this step. This is great free advertising!

5. Leave a message for your nominee on their blog.

So, I nominate...

A Day in the Life of a Soccer Mom

...desires of thine heart

Frugal Makes Cents

Hippie's World

Thrifty Jinxy

Multi-Uses for Old T-shirts

If you have a male (any age) living in your home, then I'm sure you have lots of old t-shirts. I have a bin just to store old t-shirts. It is amazing how handy they are to have. I have a list of a few uses.

- Used as a hand towel when fishing/outside activity etc.

- Use as a coverup when doing a "dirty" job - Example: painting or gardening

- A drop cloth when replanting house plants

- Use as a blanket for my dogs bed

Neat Idea - Decorating show on HGTV used t-shirts to make wall art.

Let me know if you have any other great ideas?

FREE Sample of Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Cakes

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FREE Sample of Alpha Max Facial Peel

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Thought of the Day

Cheer up someone who needs it.

Thought of the day

Think of how someone you know yearns to be treated. Treat them that way.