SodaStream soda makers!

(updated 3/5/17) I admit it; I love soda. When I am stressed I crave two things – soda and chocolate. However, I realize that my waistline and budget are not thanking me for these two things. So in February 2012 we bought a SodaStream soda maker. I got a particularly good deal with a $20 off... Continue Reading →

Review: Click, Check, and Protect

THIS NEWSLETTER HAS BEEN CANCELED AS OF MAY 2, 2012. We always want our kids to be safe, not only at home, but outside of the home. For my current job, I give presentations on child abuse and internet safety, so I often find new tidbits on dangers to our children and how to keep them... Continue Reading →

Get rewarded for shopping – Part 2

Here are some more reward programs (or loyalty programs) sponsored by some great stores and brands! Hallmark Crown Rewards Earn points for your card and gift purchases at Gold Crown Stores. Points turn into gift certificates for use in the stores. Hallmark is a great place to not only get wonderful cards, but other nice... Continue Reading →

February is the time to buy…

Certain times of the year are the best times to buy various things based on sales and availability. Here is your tip sheet for this month: ∞ Air conditioners: Demand is low during the cooler weather, so retailers put their A/Cs on sale in December, January and February. However, some stores only carry air conditioners... Continue Reading →

Are “deal-a-day” sites a good deal?

I recently began subscribing to several “Deal-a-day” sites and even purchased a few deals – getting $10 off a $20 purchase to Office Max and $20 off a $40 purchase to Body Shop. I regularly shop at Office Max and love their Max Perks program and the Body Shop Groupon made two holiday gifts more... Continue Reading →

Surf, shop, and share to earn rewards and prizes!

There are two basic components to living on a tight budget: spending less and earning more. I have written many posts on how to spend less. However, there are ways to earn more as well: ∞ Sell items you are done with or don’t need (Ebay, yard sales, consignment shops) or donate them and keep your... Continue Reading →

Sports freebies for kids

Many professional and amateur sports teams offer kids’ clubs to help get kids interested in their teams and to promote athletics and fitness. These clubs often offer free tickets, souvenirs, and other related items. To find one in your area, Google your favorite sports’ team’s name and “kids’ club” to see what is available. Or... Continue Reading →

Get rewarded for shopping – updated!

I love stores that offer rewards for shopping there. Years ago rewards cards were always punch cards that you would get a stamp or punch on and when you filled your card, you got a reward. Now stores have gotten more savvy and often have cards that are swiped and you can track your rewards... Continue Reading →

Items you don’t always (and in some cases shouldn’t) have to pay for

There are some things that are downright silly to pay for and others that you try to get free as much as possible. Here are a few items to avoid paying for if you can!  ∞ Books: For books for myself I go to the library and use swap sites (see my post "My favorite find... Continue Reading →

Customize your news

Thanks to my husband I found a great way to keep up with various news topics I am interested in. I was looking for a way to find out the latest news pertaining to my job without having to Google the topics and then come up with a million results. He told me about iGoogle... Continue Reading →

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