Panel Recruit for MorningStar Farms Panel

Answer a handful of questions to help them get to know you better. If you qualify you will be asked to join the Fresh Ideas by MorningStar Farms panel. All who complete the questions will be entered into a drawing to win 1 of 5 $100 prizes.

Grocery Store Sales Cycle

I had seen this list in the past but I found it again yestereday.  It is a great list for reference when you to are planning to stockpile. 

January - Low-fat or low-car items, including frozen meals, granola bars, diet soda.  Super Bowl favorites, such as frozen appetizers, chips, dips, soadas and beer.  Boxed teas and soups. 

February - Canned foods, including soups, fruits and vegetables.  Medicines, cold remedies and vitamins.

March - Peanut butter and other peanut products, Frozen meals, vegetables and fruits.

April - Soy products - milk, burgers, tofu and bars.  Hams, thanks to Easter.

May - Memorial Day staples - barbecue foods (soad, chips, condiments, buns, grilling spices and sald dressing) as well as paper goods (plates, napkins, cups).

June - Cheese, milk, cream, yogurt, and other diary products. Seafood. Ice creams including bars, sandwiches and cones.

July - Hot dogs, frozen hamburger patties, ground meat for 4th of July cookouts.  Condiments and barbecue staples.  School supplies

August - Back to school lunch items - juice boxes, granola bars, canned fruit and other snacks. Tissues. Sunscreen and lotions.

September - Breakfast Foods - hot and cold cereal, oatmeal, frozen breakfast pastries, frozen breakfast sandwiches and pancakes mix.  Labor Day stapes like barbecue and party foods. 

October - Wine. Pasta and frozen pizza.

November - Thanksgiving foods - turkey, stuffing mix, soups, cranberries, canned veggies and yams.  Baking goods - flous, baking soda, sugar, cake mixes, frosting, piecrusts and frozen pies.

December - Champagne. Disposable containers, foil, wax paper and plastic wrap.

Thrifty Tip - For Your Shoes

Do you always scratch your heels? Don't buy shoe polish, just use a permanent magic marker. It works great.

Tip for Cooking Pasta

To prevent past from boiling over - Spray a light coat of vegetable oil around the side.

Upromise Now Offers eCoupons

If you have not signed up for Upromise, you need to check it out. They have now started a new eCoupon Program to earn extra rewards.

Every month Upromise offers a selection of eCoupons on everyday items such as toilet paper or light bulbs. And using them is as easy as 1-2-3!

1) Select the eCoupons you want.
2) Activate them so they can be linked to your grocery or drugstore card.
3) Shop for your products. At check-out, scan your registered store card the way you normally do and your college savings will be automatically credited to your Upromise account.

Multi-Use for a Empty Paper Towel Roll

Have a pair of boots that you need to retain their shape, place an empty paper towel roll inside the boot to keep them straight.

CVS Advisory Panel

If you haven't signed up for this, now is the time. CVS Advisory Panel sends you surveys to fill out in exchanged for FREE ECBs. Surveys vary in content and length. I received one over the weekend that took approximately 3 minutes to complete and I will receive $5 in ECBs.

REDBOX - A great easy and cheap way to rent a movie!!

I have seen this on several blogs but haven't had a Redbox available in my area until last week to participate. If you have never tried Redbox click here to check it out. $1 a night rental, sign up for email alerts and receive a code for a FREE rental.

What a great and thrifty way to have movie night with your family.

Thrifty Tips for Having a Great Yard/Garage Sale

1) Gather items for sale. Great time to clean out closets, garage, clean up clutter etc.
2) Inventory each item and price.
3) Place price label on each item.

4) Set a date and place for your sale and ADVERTISE - ad in your local paper, set out signs the day before your sale in your yard, end of street, place a sign on local bulletin boards. Always remember to take down signs.
5) Keep things attractive. Arrange items by group, hang clothes up.
6) Display some of the larger items out front to entice people to stop.
7) Be an active seller. Greet your customers.
8) Be prepared to negotiate.
9) Start out with some petty cash - dollars and change.
10) Offer last minute deals.
11) Ask friends to participate. The larger the sale, more people will attend.


I still plan on having a yard sale soon. I'll let you know how I do.

Wal-Mart Online Consultants Panel

Jennifer at iMommies has shared with everyone today that Wal-Mart is starting a new Online Consultants Panel where you are rewarded with gift cards. Please check out her post here and apply.

Thrifty Tip - Photo CDs

I am still organizing my photos, making photo albums, and making scrapbooks. CVS has helped me tremendous with their "FREE" offers recently. I hope there is more to come.

When getting pictures developed/printed I normally use a service online to order. I have always wanted to order a picture CD to have on hand incase I need extra prints, want to make a gift with a picture, or recently to enjoy the great specials CVS has been offering. After checking many places, I have discovered that Wal-Mart is by far the cheapest when it comes to a Photo CD. I have had 10 made so far at just $2.50 each. You don't have to change your pictures developed to get a CD. You can order just a CD. All of my pictures are on my computer but by having a CD is also a backup for me. I'll have a second copy incase something terrible happens to my computer.

Thrifty Hobbies

I love to read but ever since I had my daughter I haven't picked up the first book until the week I was on vacation. I read 3 books during my week at the coast and 1 since I have been home. Since I work full-time, I feel like any time I have to read should be spent with Payton. I have now started to read every night when I go to bed. Now only do I enjoy it, but I have found that it helps me fall asleep faster.

I just went to the library today and picked up 3 more by some of my favorite authors. The library is such a wonderful place. Free books for anyone. My favorite authors are Fern Michaels, Mary Higgins Clark, Sandra Brown, and Carol Higgins Clark. A great friend and a frequent blog visitor, Shannon, told me about a website she was referred to the last time she was at the library http://www.literature-map.com/. You enter in your favorite author and it recommends other authors who write the "same" type book. Check it out!

What are some thrifty hobbies that you have?


Make sure you check out Works for Me Wednesday at Rocks in my Dryer today. You will lots of great tips.

Product Review - Vacation Shopping Purchase

Paring Knife from The Kitchen Collection - Price - .99 Each

I purchase one of these and these things are GREAT!!! I wish I had bought more. The store had all colors including pastels. They would great items to include with gifts. I found them on their website but only in the 3 colors shown and the flat shipping rate is currently $4.99 with Promo Code FR499 . If you ever have a chance pick one up, you won't be disappointed.

My 1st Ebates Check

I received my first check from Ebates for $58.70. I just love FREE money. Click here to sign up and earn.

Items Purchased on Vacation for FREE or Almost FREE

Of course when spending a week at the beach, you have to make a grocery store trip the day you arrive or the next day. I have been trying to plan ahead and purchase as many items as possible when they are on sale. I have also been collecting coupons to take with me for my grocery shopping. I have compiled a list of my FREE or almost FREE items that I have been able to get.

Purchased at the Beach:
pasta - FREE with Coupon
pasta sauce - FREE with Coupon
4 - 2o oz. Cokes - FREE with Coupon
2 - 7up 2 Liters - .51 each with Coupon
2 - 7up 20 oz. Drinks - .22 each with Coupon
Free Chicken Biscuit - McDonalds Coupon
Free Chicken Sandwich - McDonalds Coupon
Free Coronza Chips - 2 Bags
Free Hot Pockets - Coupon from Food Lion
4 12-Pack Drinks (CVS - There was one close to our condo.)
Lunch Deli Meat - Food Lion Coupon
Free Plasticware - Given to us at Food Lion - Not sure why?


Items Taken with Us: Most of is this is Thanks to CVS :) and my Travel Size Samples for FREE
Party mix - FREE
candy - FREE
shaving cream - .19
razors - FREE
lotion
toothpaste - FREE
deodorant - FREE
shampoo - FREE
conditioner - FREE
hairspray - FREE
mustard - FREE
mayo - .29
3 - cereals .95 each
laundry detergent - Travel Size - 1.00

Items Gave to Us for FREE: Thanks to the place we stayed.
Beach Bag
3 Beach Balls
Free Lotion, Shampoo and Soap for Each Person (Of course, I brought those home)
Toilet Tissue
Free Brochure of Attractions in the Area

FREE or Almost FREE Things We Enjoyed While on Vacation

I have never really thought about all the things a family can enjoy for FREE at the beach until this year. Check out my list below of all the activites we did for FREE.

- Fireworks Show
- Live Band - Beach Music
- Collecting Seashells including Sand Dollars
- Breathtaking Sunsets
- Swimming in the Ocean
- Building Sandcastles
- Fishing - Took our own rods, my husband caught our own live bait - Caught 4 Trout,
3 Flounders and 1 Pompano (We'll be having a fish fry soon.)
- People Watching
- Playing in the Park
- Romantic Walk on the Beach with your Spouse

- Fresh Seafood Dinner at a GREAT Price at a very nice restaurant overlooking an inlet. You got to enjoy the view of the water and the boats. I purchased a $25 gift certificate from restaurant.com before we depart for $3. Our meal total for 3 adults and 1 child was $ 59 total (incl. tip) with our gift certificate our total came to $ 34. That's an average $10 per adult and $4 for a childs plate (total includes tip). Our meal included an appetizer, 3 entrees, 1 childs plate and drinks. I was very pleased with our meal and our savings.

This will be included Wednesday at Rocks in my Dryer for her Edition of Works-for-Me-Wednesday. Make sure you check it out for other great tips.

Helpful Tips to Prepare for Vacation

I'm Going on Vacation Next Week and Below are Helpful Tips I've Used to Prepare
1) Make a list of everything you need to take - I found a helpful website to do that - http://www.dontforgetyourtoothbrush.com/. Website recommends printing 2 lists, one to use for packing to leave and one to use for packing to return home.
2) Stop the mail.
3) Water your plants. Set outside plants in a place where rain can reach but not in direct sunlight. If you are going to be away for a long period of time, ask a family member or friend to stop by and water them for you.
4) Let a close neighbor know you are going to be gone and to check on your property while you are away.
5) My husband's favorite thing to do is unplug everything in the house to protect them from power surges or fires. This also cuts back on your electric bill.
6) Leave your contact information with someone in case of any emergency.
7) Make arrangements for your animals if they are not traveling with you.
8) If available, I always try to do a couple loads of laundry while away so I won't have so much to do when I get home.
9)) Leave your home tidy. I hate to come home to a messy/dirty house. My husband has gotten aggrevated at me before because I will be dusting, mopping and vacuuming instead of packing. He does not understand why I clean before I leave.
10) Prepare for when you return. I try to change my sheets before I leave so when I return I have a nice fresh bed to climb into. I also have my clothes prepared for work and some idea of what I can fix the next day for our meals.
11) Coming home from vacation can be sorta depressing for me. I look forward to our vacation for so long and then when its over I hate to return home. I always try to have something fun planned soon after I return so I can look foward to that.

Do you have any other helpful tips to share?

You can slo visit Works-for-Me Wednesday at RocksInMyDryer every Wednesday for other great helpful and frugal tips.

Awesome Website - Allrecipes.com

This is the neatest website. Why haven't I found this before? Of course, you can search for any recipe and create you own recipe box for further reference, a recipe exchange, holiday ideas including Father's Day and much more. My favorite thing is the ingredient search, just enter in the ingredients that you have and recipes appear. I started out searching steak, rosemary, garlic, and I got decided on Blake's Best Steak and then I search potatoes, butter, garlic and I decided on Herbed Mashed Potatoes. As you can tell I love garlic. :) Check out the website. Below is a picture of our dinner Satuday night. It was great.

Teenager Birthday Gift Idea

My nephew turned 13 this week. Finally, a teenager. I went to his birthday party last night. He had a boy/girl dance party and it turned out great. There was probably 50 people including family and friends. He had such a good time.

My sister-in-law is very creative and came up with a neat idea this year. Instead of friends bringing gifts, she asked for them to bring hygiene products to be donated to a local ministry. What such a great lesson for the kids to learn and for my nephew to learn. My nephew agreed to this with no problem and was glad to be able to give to others instead of getting gifts himself.

Of course, I donated too. I filled a bag full with my CVS stockpile.

Thrifty Tips for a Flower Garden

I love flowers!! Any kind and any color. The summer after we built our house I did splurge and buy flowers for my yard. All were perennials (they come back every year). I do not spend money each summer buying annuals to plant in my yard. I feel like the best investment is flowers that I can enjoy for years to come. I do buy about $30 of annuals to put in pots that I have on my porches and deck. This year I used a coupon for Lowes and I didn't have to spend as much as normal. I have had several opportunites where friends and family offered flowers from their yard that no longer wanted or dug up to divide. I have obtained hosta plants, irises, and tulips this way. They also come back every year. Last year I bought a $1 pack of perennial seeds that included several kinds of flowers. I got very lucky and had 7 kinds of flowers to grow. This year they are coming up again. I followed the directions on the pack and was surprised when so many flowers starting popping up for $1. I have transplanted some to other areas of my yard. I received a free pack in the mail this year and I am going to try again. Hopefully, I will have the same results. Below is a picture of 2 of my favorite perennials in my yard.