Southern Living: $5
Southern Living magazine is on sale this week on Amazon.com for just $5 for an entire year. Folks, this is a great deal. It's one of my favorites!
August 29, 2009
June 30, 2009
Throw a Summer Party for Less
Host a summer party for less with these ideas from iVillage.com.
• Serve frozen drinks in brightly colored plastic hurricane glasses purchased from the dollar store.
• Take advantage of free activities in your local park.
• Play host to an at-home game night.
• Throw an outdoor garden party and give seed packets as party favors.
• Invite friends to join you at your local state park or nature conservancy for leisurely afternoon.
May 21, 2009
Free Stuff and Nearly Free Stuff
Here are some cool deals I've run across this week.
Nearly Free Music
First up, Paste magazine is running a "Save Paste" campaign to prevent their mag from shutting down. Donate at least a dollar and you'll get free access to their download vault with about 120 quality songs (from good artists you've actually heard of) available. Trust me, it's worth it. Donate a buck or two.
Free Book
Available as a free digital download, Scared is a novel by Tom Davis, the director of worldwide orphanage and relief organization Children's HopeChest. The book depicts what life on the ground is like for kids growing up in Swaziland, and other parts of poverty-war-and-pandemic ravaged Africa. HopeChest hopes to raise $1 million to support educational projects in Swaziland. Until June 5, tell three friends about Scared, and get a digital book download for yourself.
Free Camps
This summer Apple retail stores are offering free “camps” for kids. The three-hour workshops range from creating movies, music, slideshows and photography. You must register, as you can imagine space will be limited, but there is no limit to how many your child can attend. More info here.
January 16, 2009
Sprint Introduces $50 Unlimited Through Boost Mobile
TG Daily: "If you’re like me, then more than likely you don’t see a wireless bill that’s under $100 a month. However, Sprint could be changing that with their new $50 per month unlimited wireless calling plan - via Boost Mobile. With competition like this, it could soon force other wireless carriers to begin reducing their rates just to keep customers happy."
October 09, 2008
Penny Prints
From Snapfish.com (regular shipping & handling rates apply):
Celebrate fall with special savings. For 3 days only you can get 50 4x6 mail-order prints for only a penny each!
* Additional 4x6 prints are just 9¢ each - that's up to 50% lower than comparable online photo services!
* Archival-quality papers and inks mean you get the best quality for the best value
* Get creative with fun borders and tints
* Our 110% quality guarantee means you'll love your prints!
Use coupon code FALLPENNY08 at checkout. Hurry, this offer ends Saturday, October 11!
September 01, 2008
Free Flowers
Pick up a free bouquet of flowers to give to a friend or neighbor on the 14th annual FTD® Good Neighbor Day® holiday on Wednesday, September 3, 2008.
August 31, 2008
Museum Day 2008
August 30, 2008
Vote for Me!
I entered a Zappos contest a few weeks ago and I'm a finalist! I had to take a picture of myself in "mandals" (man sandals) ... A poll is located under the video. I'm entry #3. Vote me for me and I get $100 to spend on Zappos, which I will use for someone in need (me! just kidding).
http://www.jimkukral.com/vote-for-zappos-mandals-entries/
Forget Powder, Use Lemon!
A cheap and green way to care for your skin and avoid unsightly shine is to use lemon instead of prepackaged cosmetics.
Planet Green suggests the following one-ingredient recipe:
• Before bed, apply straight, fresh lemon juice to your face with a clean makeup brush. Leave on for five minutes. Rinse. Temporary redness from the citric acid is normal.
• In the morning, combine 10 drops of lemon juice with one half cup of water. Apply with a cotton ball and do not rinse.
August 23, 2008
ChaCha
Have you heard of ChaCha? It's an online messaging system, where you can text a message and live guides research and text an answer back to you. Anyone can apply to be a guide (I was recently accepted although I haven't completed the registration process) and you can earn anywhere from .10 to .20 per answer. One mommy blogger said she's made $130 this month. Worth a shot if you've got more time than money on your hands!
August 22, 2008
Mint.com
July 04, 2008
Cheap Ways to See the Opera
Our local independent movie theater is joining a new series of operas being shown around the country in surround sound. For $20 a ticket, this might be the closest I'll get to seeing a real Italian opera! The showings are filmed in Italy's famed La Scala opera house.
February 20, 2008
Use your Savvy Tips to Get on TV!
From Sandra Lee's "Semi-Homemade" section of the Food Network's website: "Are you a semi-homemaker in the New York tri-state area (New York, New Jersey and Connecticut) who has smart, savvy ways to save time and/or money? If so, Sandra wants to hear from you! Using the form below [linked here], send us your recipes, ideas, quick tips, and helpful hints. If possible, please include photos and videos as well. If Sandra likes your suggestion, you could be a guest on her show."
February 07, 2008
Free Photos from Walgreens
Between now and Feb. 9, order a "family pack" and use promotion code "VALENTINE" at Walgreens.com for a free set of 1 8x10, 2 5x7s and 4 4x6s. I ordered one for our family, then used my parents' account to order them one. Happy Valentine's Day indeed!
January 21, 2008
RedPlum.com
I'm checking out http://www.redplum.com/ — a new site that catalogs deals and coupons in different categories like groceries, entertainment, lifestyle and more. The grocery section will soon have a function where you can enter your grocery list and it'll match up coupons to the items you're already planning to buy. Cool!
It's got local and national deals, but you have to register (it's free). Check it out. Let me know what you think.
January 07, 2008
Money Goals for 2008
Have you stopped to take inventory of your spending/saving from 2007? If not, think about it, and set new goals for 2008. Here's an article to help.
January 02, 2008
The Frugal Life
A great article about real people who are really living the frugal life: "Free advice for the frugal life"!
December 17, 2007
Going Green on a Budget
Organic and specialty products are almost always more expensive than their less-eco-friendly counterparts. MSN has an article with tips on how to go green on a budget.
December 15, 2007
Cheap Trend? Rent a Designer Handbag
Some women are opting to rent high-end designer handbags, thanks to websites like BagBorrowOrSteal.com and FromBagsToRiches.com.
A Boston Globe story explains how BagBorrowOrSteal works: "Customers pay a monthly fee for access to a collection of authentic designer handbags. Membership levels -- ranging from Trendsetter ($19.95) to Diva Deluxe ($174.95) -- determine whether a customer borrows a Coach minibag or an expensive, hard-to-get Hermes tote. Members may borrow the bag for as long as they like, and when they're ready for a change they can go online and order another. The company also offers the option to buy the bag at a discounted price determined by the bag's age and condition."
Interesting trend! What do you think about it? Post below.
December 13, 2007
Manatee Tenders
This has nothing to do with cheap ways to do anything ... well, except it's about eating at home, which will definitely save you money ... but tonight my husband was baking some chicken tenders when he noticed that they were in the shape of a manatee family, complete with mommy, daddy and baby manatee. Pretty hilarious if you've ever listened to comedian Jim Gaffigan.
Some people see the Virgin Mary in their food — we see manatees. Save the manatees!
December 12, 2007
Free TV Taping Tickets
If you're in the LA area or visiting, check this site for free tv show tapings.
December 09, 2007
Cardboard Christmas
This year, don't throw out the cardboard boxes your kids' (and big kids') gifts come in (large screen tv anyone?) Keep them to create forts, castles, houses and anything else your kids will enjoy for months to come. Ribbons and bows from packages can trim windows and discarded wrapping paper can create a quilt-like covering for your abode. Let the kids go crazy with markers to add the rest of the details. It's really true that kids sometimes like to play with the boxes more than the toys! Help them do that this year and create memories that will last a lifetime (a lot longer than that tv will).
Cheap Ways to Celebrate Christmas
• What a card! Keep your Christmas cards each year. Cut the covers off and use them as postcards the next year. You'll save on postage and recycle! You can also attach these to gifts to use them as name cards.
• Cut it out! Reduce the number of people you send cards to or give gifts to! If you haven't talked to the person in a year, don't feel obligated to send them a card!
• That's a wrap! Use paper of all kinds to wrap gifts. Here are ideas on how to do it.
• Do your homework. Before buying (whether it's gifts or food), check the newspaper for the best deals. And for items that can wait, plan your purchase for after the holidays when clearance prices are at their lowest. Before you buy in the store, check prices online. Many sites offer free shipping during the holidays.
• Go out! There are lots of free holiday programs around Christmas. Check local church websites and chamber of commerce websites to find local parades, concerts and other free events.
• Get together. With many "buy one, get one free" deals around, get with a friend and split your purchases to save money and avoid buying more than you need.
• Give. If you're investing in new technology or toys this year, donate your old stuff to charity or a family you know needs it would appreciate it.
December 04, 2007
Cheap Ways to Build a Brand
Quite a few of my friends have their own businesses. One of the most important things when you have your own business is to build your brand effectively. This article talks about cheap ways to do that, including creating an affiliate program, making sure all your graphics match and writing articles (and blogs) related to your craft.
October 29, 2007
1/2 Birthday Bash
So I'm thinking of throwing a little "1/2" party for my daughter, Madilyn, when she turns 6 months old. I saw the idea a couple of places on the Internet, so I can't take credit for the cute idea.
It will just be a small party for the family at our home, and I'm thinking of some ideas for it. I thought you might have some ideas as well. In the comments below, let me know if you threw one of these for your kid and even if you haven't, share some ideas you might have. Remember to keep it "cheap"!
The centerpiece for a "1/2" party is always the birthday cake. This could be a regular sized cake cut in half then decorated to say "Happy 1/2 Birthday, Madilyn," or it could be a half-moon shaped cake decorated. I think I'm going to go with that option.
To continue the "half" theme we can serve:
• Ice cream that comes in half vanilla/half chocolate cartons
• Arnold Palmers (half tea/half lemonade)
• Coffee with either half & half or half coffee, half hot chocolate
• Pastries and/or cookies cut with a crescent cookie-cutter
For a gift, my husband and I can get her several "half dollars" with the year on them to go in her piggy bank! When she's older we can tell her about the special party she had when she received them.
What else should we serve? Any ideas for decorations?
Since the party is three months away, I have time to make what I need, plus I can take my list of things to buy and watch out for sales!
Oh—we could encourage guests to come in "half" costumes and see what they can come up:
• half man/half woman
• half adult/half baby
• a costume cut in half
• a half moon (also known as a plumber's costume — get it?)
Any other ideas?
October 24, 2007
Cheap Ways to Raise a Baby?
As the author of Cheap Ways to Tie the Knot, I'm looking to research the costs of raising a baby from pregnancy through the toddler years for a new book. Share your experiences through a simple and brief online survey I've created, and feel free to contact me with any questions or additional ideas you might have!
October 04, 2007
Scary Spending for Halloween
According to a National Retail Federation's Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, the average American plans to spend almost $65 this Halloween season on things like costumes, candy and decorations. This is up from approximately $60 last year.
Nearly 60 percent of people celebrate in some way, spending an estimated total of $5.07 billion nationally.
Looking for ways to save? Parents magazine has eight adorable handmade costumes (like a bee, dragon, superhero and more) for your little one. You might just pick up and idea or two for grown-ups as well.
My favorite is the ballerina – with the tutu made from strips of wax paper, plastic bags and mesh onion sacks! Cute and cheap.
October 03, 2007
'Pushing Daisies' Season Premiere Airs Tonight
There's a promising new show that begins airing tonight on ABC called "Pushing Daisies." It's part romantic, part whimsy, part murder-mystery. The visuals are nothing short of eye-candy, with bright colors and fun shapes. And from what I hear, the writing and storytelling are excellent. The premise is that the main character, Ned, has the ability to bring people back to life with one touch, but if he touches them again, they die forever. In the season premier, Ned brings his childhood sweetheart back to life ... which makes for a difficult reunion considering they can't touch!
Here's a review: "'Daisies' dazzles eyes, warms heart"
Here's ABC's homepage for the show: "Pushing Daisies"
October 02, 2007
'The Ultimate Gift'
I'd like to recommend a movie if you haven't seen it yet. The Ultimate Gift is a film that came out last year based on a book by the same name written by Jim Stovall. It is one of the most stirring and impacting movies I've seen in a long time.
I wrote an essay about the film for Everyday Woman magazine and I'll post a portion of it on this post so you can get a feel for the plot.
There is also a family resource kit to coincide with the book and the movie that is a great way to introduce the values found in the film to your children.
So if you're looking for a unique gift for a birthday or the upcoming holiday season, I highly recommend this DVD, which just released in August. The film stars some major actors including James Garner, Drew Fuller, Bill Cobbs, Lee Meriwether and Abigail Breslin.
October 01, 2007
'The New Mommy Track'
"The New Mommy Track" is a recent article in U.S. News and World Report about the growing trend of mothers who are gaining flex time in the workplace in order to meet their needs in the home. In this chart published on their site, mothers are doing what it takes to have the best of both worlds: being a home with the kids and providing income for the household.
Today I joined those ranks.
Friday was my last day at Relevant Media Group, where I worked as editorial director over their websites and publications. I was there nearly six years. With the birth of my first child, Madilyn, this summer, I prayed about an opportunity to be with her and still provide the extra income our family needs. A job opportunity arose that is allowing me to become a full-time freelancer from home. My first full-time client is the INSP Networks, which has a Christian women's magazine called Everyday Woman. I will be editing this magazine for a monthly retainer, which allows me the flexible work hours that I need, while fulfilling a need that uses my strengths and experience. I thank God for this.
I have a friend who is a college student who watches the baby three hours a day so I'm sure to have that time uninterrupted. Then my husband comes home in the afternoon and takes over. I believe we will begin to have an unprecedented quality of life. And I'm so excited about this new season.
As you can tell with all the new posts on the site today, this also allows me to dedicate more time to this site. Check back often for tips on smart ways to spend and save. In the meantime, check out my other websites:
carandavis.com (my freelancing website)
davisbaby.wordpress.com (Madilyn's blog)
Pumpkin Time!
Carving a pumpkin this month? Instead of throwing away the slimy innards, pick out the seeds and toast them for a healthy and delicious snack. You can also use them in soups and on salads.
Click here for the full recipe. The short version is to roast the seeds at 300 degrees and add seasonings when they're finished (they're finished when they look dry on the outside and they smell good).
How Much Is Your Blog Worth?
Calculate the worth of your blog with this website. My personal blog, davisbaby.wordpress.com, is worth $2,822.70, and this site, cheapwaysto.com, is worth $6,209.94!
September 04, 2007
Photo Framing Online
I found a website called American Frame where you can buy custom size frames and mats for pictures at a fraction of what it costs to get them framed. You just mount the photo and put the pieces together... the frames are assembled and the mats are cut.
May 21, 2007
Food Stamps Challenge Lawmakers
Thanks to reader Stephen M. for this news tip!
Twenty-six million people are relegated to a food stamp budget of $21 a week as part of a government the food stamp program, which helps families buy food as they make the transition from welfare to work. Four members of Congress took a challenge to eat off the same budget for one week. Launched by Oregon Gov. Ted Kulongoski and advocates for low-income Americans, The Food Stamp Challenge Week, which ended May 21, aimed at raising awareness for the farm bill coming up for reauthorization this summer in Congress. It asks for hefty $4 billion to be added to the yearly $33 billion dollar budget for anti-hunger programs. The result could mean an additional $48 a month for a family of four on the food stamp program.
May 18, 2007
Create Your Own Stamps
April 27, 2007
Fulfillment by Amazon
Amazon.com is offering a new program called Fulfillment by Amazon that’s idea for small business owners. Basically, you send Amazon your inventory and they’ll ship orders for you.
For owners who are bogged down in this area—from the time involved in shipping products, to the space problem of housing inventory, it’s a good solution. Amazon has nearly perfected the art of fulfillment in the U.S.
April 19, 2007
Email File Size Relief
I am loving this website, YouSendIt.com. A printer I sent something to today had me send the files to him this way. It's for larger files that won't go through email ... You don't have to spend money on overnighting discs, and you don't have to use a clunky, complicated ftp program.
You just put in the email address of the person you want to email, your email address and attach the file with a message and hit send. It's a free service to use the basics. You can upgrade for more complicated file-sending.
March 20, 2007
Free Iced Coffee Tomorrow
Tomorrow, Wed. March 21st, is free 16 oz. iced coffee day at Dunkin. Visit their website for details and a "send to a friend" e-vite.
March 19, 2007
Strawberry Trifle Recipe
A reader asked for the strawberry trifle recipe. Here's the link to the one I used: Strawberry Trifle. I often use About.com's Southern Food section for recipes. It's great. Also, to make my recipe "cheaper," I used a yellow cake mix I bought for half off at Publix (I wait for the BOGO sales and buy a couple each time); and instead of buying a small bag of slivered almonds for $5.99 (seriously!), I chopped up some whole almonds I already had. I like the smaller pieces the hand chopper created than the larger slivers anyway.
Strawberry Delights
This past week the local grocery store had a special on strawberries (about $1.25 a pound). I bought and cut 10 pounds this weekend and froze most of it, but also made strawberry muffins, strawberry-banana bread, homemade strawberry ice cream and a strawberry trifle (pictured). There's something about baking and making sweet treats that's therapeutic. And it's fun to watch friends and family enjoy the fruit of your labor. I froze most of the breads so we can enjoy them for longer than the shelf life.
January 06, 2007
Old-Fashioned Fudge Pie
I made this Old-Fashioned Fudge Pie tonight ... haven't tasted it yet but it looks and smells delicious. This recipe is from Paula Deen's "Christmas" magazine from this past year. They make this pie at her restaurant in Savannah, Ga.
Old-Fashioned Fudge Pie
makes 6 to 8 servings
2 (1-ounce) squares semisweet chocolate (I used chips)
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
1 (9-inch) unbaked pie shell
Whipped cream or ice cream (optional)
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Melt chocolate and butter together in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Remove pan from heat and add sugar, then eggs; beat well. Pour filling into pie crust and bake for 25 minutes. Serve warm or cold, with whipped cream or ice cream.
October 31, 2006
Pumpkin Stencils for Cheap Carvings
In honor of the day, here are links to two sites where you can download free pumpkin carving stencils. Pumpkin Masters even has corporate logos and Pumpkin Glow has everything but Halloween stencils (including the Steve Erwin pattern).