Shameless Self-Promotion: Northern Cheapskate Featured in Duluth News Tribune

Just a little bit of shameless self-promotion: Northern Cheapskate was mentioned in an article by Patrick Garmoe in the Duluth News Tribune today.

In tight economic times, expert grocery shoppers advise: Cut costs, not nutrition highlights ways to save money on groceries while still eating healthy. Simple things, like preparing your own vegetables rather than buying them pre-washed, can save you quite a bit of money.

Anyway, it's worth a read.... even if I hadn't been mentioned. :-)

50 FREE Photo Prints and a Poster from Shutterfly

Got tons of graduation photos just sitting in your camera waiting to be printed?

Shutterfly has a new member’s offer: Get 50 free 4x6 prints and an 11x14 Collage Poster when you join Shutterfly.

This is double the amount of photos you usually get for just signing up, plus the photo collage.

Time to start uploading some photos...

How I Shop: A Tutorial for Saving On The Basics

Every so often, people ask me how I am able to save so much money on everyday items. Sometimes it's the patient customer behind me in line, and other times, it is the sales clerk. Sometimes it's a curious friend. But they always want to know how I do it.

Well, there's no quick answer. And there's no easy answer. There are no get-rich-quick ideas here. It's a combination of hard work and passion. Saving money is truly a thrill of mine. I love the rush I get from saving 20, 30 or 60 percent on my grocery bill. I love getting free or next to free items.

So, I've decided to put together a little tutorial for saving money on groceries, personal care items, and household supplies.

First off, recognize that this will take some time. I've been doing this frugal living bit for seven years now, and I still spend an hour or two a week finding deals. (If I counted all the time I put in on the blog, it would be a lot more!). When I first started couponing, it would take me two or three hour blocks to figure it all out. It gets easier once you know where to look for deals and have a good coupon stash assembled.

I have a good organization system for coupons. You have to find what works best for you. I personally have a coupon binder that is organized by types of products (baby, cleaning and laundry, dairy, etc.). I like to see all of my coupons at once, so I like using the binder.

I clip coupons from the Sunday papers once a week, usually while watching television. We get three different newspapers on Sunday (my hubby and I are former journalists!) and my parents also give us their coupon leftovers. I also have a very sweet uncle who sends me all the diaper/baby coupons in the mail. I'm learning to be more selective in my clipping... but if there's a chance at all that I may use a product, I clip it... you never know when a really amazing sale will come along. Read some more about couponing here.

You need to have a sense of what you already have. I like to establish a stockpile of stuff when it's on sale so that I can make it last until the next great sale. A current inventory will help you know where to fill in the gaps. Committing to building a stockpile does take some money up front, but once you get a good stash of stuff, it's really nice to not have to go to the store as often. Because of my stockpiling, I don't set a weekly budget for groceries. Instead I think more on a monthly basis. Depending on the sales, I may have one month that I spend $350 and another month I spend $160.

You should also know your prices. Some people keep a price book, where they write down the best price on a given item. I am such a deal hound, that I've committed most prices to memory and don't need a price book anymore. (I am SO ready for the Price is Right!)

I look at all the sales fliers for my area: Super One Foods, Ogles Marketplace (local), Cub Foods, Kmart, Target, Walgreens, and Walmart and see if anything leaps out at me as being a good deal.

I'll match up coupons to good deals in the fliers... which makes them an even better deal. To save time, I always check out the following websites for other deals: Coupon Mom, Money Saving Mom, A Full Cup, Hot Coupon World, The Centsible Sawyer, Centsible Shopper, Sisterly Savings; sometimes I'll peruse a few others if I have time. (Check out my blog roll (at right) for ideas). Usually these sites have links to printable coupons that I can also use for more savings.

I then check out Baby Cheapskate for the best diaper deals and Freebies4Mom to make sure I'm not missing out on some free stuff.

Then I make my shopping list. I pay close attention to what things we need immediately, and what things would be good to stock up on if there's a decent sale. Some weeks there are NO good deals... so I don't shop at all! How can I do this? Well, I have my stockpile! I simply pull items from my pantry or freezer. On these off weeks, I still may buy milk or fresh fruit, but that's it.

I like to shop by myself. I love my family, but they distract me on my money saving mission. I like being able to take my time to evaluate the deals.... or discover clearance/discounted items. I don't have that kind of time with three little boys.

If I don't find the deal I'm looking for in the store, I usually don't buy the item. I just file the coupon back in my binder for a better day. I try very hard to stick to my list, and I really think about sale items before I put them in my cart... it must be something I will use.

I try to hit several stores in a day. A trip to town costs $8 for me now, and I don't get out much without the kids, so I combine all my errands into one trip.

So that's how I shop. In May, I was able to save nearly $300 using these methods. I'm on my way to a $200 savings for June.

What are some ways you save on the basics? Do you have any favorite resources?

Attack of the Mosquitoes

Is it just me, or are the mosquitoes FREAKIN' BAD???

It's getting hard to spend much quality time outside without dousing yourself in insect repellent.

So here's a coupon for Buy One Get One Free Off! PowerPad Lamp. The PowerPad Lamp is supposed to be the equivalent of 15 citronella candles and protects up to 225 square feet from those pesky skeeters.

I'm going to have to get me a couple of these. Or TWELVE.

FREE Software for Your Small Business

Need a little help keeping track of your sales and expenses for your small business?

Not big enough to warrant a complicated software program?

Download Simple Start by QuickBooks for FREE. This is a full-feature software program that helps you pay bills, invoice customers, create reports, prepare for tax time, and more. The software helps you track income and expenses with QuickBooks tools, reports & services. You can see a demo here.

This would be great if you have a little craft business, small e-bay operation, or just want to keep track of the family finances.

Oh, and a heads up... this took a loooong time to download.

Sneaking Candy Into The Movies? Think Again

First off, before I go any further... before you think I'm going to get on some moral high horse... I must confess: I have been known to sneak candy into the movie theatre on more than one occasion.

My mission was one of frugality: Buy the giant boxes of candy at Target or Dollar Tree for a dollar, then avoid the $3.50 candy at the movie theatre concessions.

I wasn't as bad as some friends though... they actually brought microwave popcorn with them (tacky!), and my husband once confessed to bringing a Big Mac MEAL into the theatre when he was in high school.

But I'm not going to do it anymore. Not after reading Frugal Dad's post entitled Ask the Reader: Is Sneaking Candy into a Movie Theatre Frugal or Cheap?

Frugal Dad makes the point that since movie theatres make most of their money from the concessions, it's pretty cheap to bring in your own snacks. He says that if the price is too high, then don't buy the treats... and if you're like us, and don't go very often, then it's not an expense that would break you anyway.

The post and its many responses really made me think. I always felt kind of cheap whenever we did sneak in candy... and when you get that lousy feeling in the pit of your stomach... then it's probably the wrong thing to do.

And if the money spent really was the issue, then maybe we shouldn't be going to the movies at all. I mean, is a 5-spot really going to make that much difference when we only go to the show a handful of times a year?

It also made me think about our children. None of them have been to a movie theatre yet, but I know they will. I don't want to explain to them why we "hide our candy." It just seems a bit deceitful. And how do you explain to the kids that it's okay to bring snacks into the theatre, but not okay to bring food into a restaurant. It's just awkward.

So, I've changed my thinking. Now, what do you think? Is sneaking candy into the movies wrong?

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons

Seems like my inbox keeps getting more coupons than I can keep up with! What a great problem to have!

Anywho... here are some of my favorites for the week:

Walgreens has another $5 off a purchase of $20 or more coupon. Remember this is post-coupon and pre-tax total, so plan accordingly. This is good Friday, June 27 ONLY.

Here is a coupon for Buy One Get One Free American Greetings cards at CVS. (Thanks to Dawn's Delicious Deals!) She recommends using those Extra Care Bucks to sweeten this deal... Boy, I wish we had a CVS... sniff..

Get $1 off Wild Harvest Organic products here. I was able to print two coupons, which I took to Cub Foods and used to get two cans of diced organic tomatoes for FREE. (Who says coupons are never for anything healthy?)

Get $1 off 1/2 gallon of Little Einsteins milk here. (Thanks to Freebies4Mom!). Heather at Freebies4Mom is also giving away coupons for FREE Little Einsteins milk, so be sure to check that out, too.

Get a 50 cents off any Mrs. Dash salt-free marinade here.

Get $1 off any two Mott's products for kids here.

Get a free Pledge Multisurface Cleaning Kit here. (Thanks to The Centsible Sawyer!).

Reynolds will have a $2 off coupon for their Handi-vac Starter Kit in the Sunday, June 29 newspaper. Click here and you can also get a coupon for 55 cents off the bags.

Don't forget to check out all the printable coupons in my sidebars from Coupons.com. This week there are coupons for Yo-Plait Plus, Eucerin, Hills Brothers, and much more!

FREE Download: Suze Orman Book

Looking for a little free reading?

Heather at Freebies4Mom is reporting that you can download a FREE copy of Suze Orman's Women and Money.

While I haven't read this particular book, I have read many others written by her. (I highly recommend The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke, by the way). Most of her books are inspiring, quick reads.

Download your free copy of Suze Orman's Women and Money book before 8/7c the evening of Friday, June 27, otherwise, you'll be headed to the library if you want to read it for free.

Be Sure Assessor Has Accurate Numbers

We recently had the county tax assessor come to visit.

This happens ever couple of years, and each time it surprises me how little time they spend to evaluate the worth of my home. In just a few minutes, these people can have a giant impact on how big of a property tax bill I'll have.

This year I was reminded of how important it is to make sure that the county assessor's office has accurate information about your home. We found that the county had inaccurately recorded the number of bedrooms and baths in our home. My parents, who live next door, said the county had their house being larger than it actually was!

It may not seem like a big deal to keep track of this, but several years ago a co-worker of mine had to fight a huge city assessment for sidewalk replacement because the city assessor had incorrectly recorded the size of her lot.

It's best to make sure that all your numbers are accurate so that you're not hit with any surprises later.

Free American Greeting Cards

Walmart is once again offering a free sample of American Greeting Cards, according to Heather at Freebies4Mom.

The last time Walmart had a card giveaway, I got two, high-quality greeting cards, so this is worth doing.

Click here for the details, fill out the form, and you should receive your cards in a few weeks. These samples usually go pretty fast, so don't wait!

HOT COUPON WEDNESDAY: $5 Off Luvs Diapers

Another Update 6/25: Thanks to a tip from A Full Cup, I found that if I went back and signed up with a new account (and different e-mail), I then got a message saying my welcome kit with the $5 coupon was on its way). It's worth a shot, anyway!!

Update 6/25: Well, I don't know about you... but the early bird must get up REALLY early, because despite getting up before sunrise, I was not able to get the $5 off coupon..... when I did sign up, the website did say they would mail me a $1 off coupon. So, at least it's something....


In conjunction with the release of Anita Renfroe's new video, Luvs Diapers will be giving away a $5 off coupon here.

There's a limited supply of coupons and the giveaway starts at 5 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, so be sure to get up early to get yours!

Luvs and mom-comedienne Anita Renfroe - known for her “Total Momsense” song to the tune of the William Tell Overture that became a YouTube sensation and her appearances on Good Morning America - have teamed up to show parents that there is a way to get through today's changing economic times without losing their minds, wallets or sense of humor!

The video is cute and funny, and the details of the coupon deal are at the end, so it's worth watching.

Good luck and stay tuned to Northern Cheapskate for a future Luvs giveaway!

Free Bio Spot Flea & Tick Control For Dogs

Mary from Vocation of Motherhood sent me this really great tip for dealing with flea and tick season:

Get a FREE 3-month supply of Bio Spot Spot On Flea & Tick Control for Dogs after you complete a short survey here.

Bio Spot claims to effectively control fleas and ticks for 1/3 of the price of other brands. That in itself is enough to take a look at it, as anyone who's read my post on Mosquitoes, Ticks, & My Dog knows.

Mary said she heard about this deal through Country Home magazine... a magazine she got for FREE thanks to a tip from Freebies4Mom. So it's like the freebie that keeps on giving!

Thanks for sharing, Mary!

Christmas in June??

Get a FREE Christmas ornament from Holidays at Home. (Thanks to More Than Enough for the tip!)

There are a limited number of ornaments available (and only one per household), but the website does say they if they run out, they'll put you on a list for when they get more. This might make a nice teacher gift. I plan to give it to one of my kids. In my family each child gets a new ornament every Christmas so when they move out on their own, they'll be able to decorate their own trees with fond memories.

Five Unfrugal Things I Do

While I try to convince my husband that I'm perfect (he's kind enough not to point out the truth), I must admit that I'm far from it.

I do my best to lead a frugal lifestyle, but I am human. Sometimes time constraints or a case of "the wants" throw me off the path.

So I thought I'd share a few "unfrugal" things that I do.

1) My kids use disposable diapers. Yes, I know cloth are cheaper. Yes, I know in the long run I'm destroying the environment... But I am a BUSY, BUSY mom, and I do enough laundry already. My time is valuable.

2) I don't give anyone haircuts in my family (except the dog). I have bad luck giving people haircuts. (Like, don't leave the house for a few days bad.) And since my husband talks in front of people all the time... it's important that he not look like he gave himself a haircut!

3) I use paper towels. Too much gooey, sticky, yucky stuff with three boys ages three and under in my house!

4) I send greeting cards. Yes. Even ones that cost $4 each. It's awful. But I like cards, especially Hallmark.

5) I scrapbook. Which means I buy ink, paper, accessories, print photos... you name it. But you can't put a price on memories, right?

My point is that we all have things we're willing to bend on in our budgets. Just be sure that if you splurge on one convenience, be sure to tighten someplace else.

So what "unfrugal" things do you do?

UPDATED AGAIN: Get 2 Pairs of Headphones FREE!

Updated: 6/24/2008: Well, it seems the headphone deal IS available again, according to the e-mail I got in my inbox this morning. SO... here is the link to get the $10 headphones. Hopefully it works for you this time!

Updated:6/23/20008: Apparently the deal on the headphones is dead, but that doesn't mean there aren't other deals you can score with the $10 rebate for using Google Checkout.

I did see a 2 GB MicroSD card for $10 under the weekly specials today.. and I also saw a 4 GB flash drive that would only cost $6.95 after the rebate.

If you are in need of some items, I would look around. You may find some other $10 items (maybe computer discs?). The Google Checkout deal ends June 30, so keep checking for deals.

ORIGINAL POST: Got a great tip from iMommies today on how you can get two FREE pairs of headphones. Basically, head to Buy.com and check out their weekly specials. Look for the 2 pack of Phillips in-ear headphones for only $10. Then sign up to pay with Google Checkout and get an instant $10 rebate. Be sure to check the "Budget" shipping option so your headphones ship for free.

Total cost out of pocket: $0.00!! Buy.com has had several of these types of deals for awhile now... in fact, I also see you can get a Fujifilm one-time use 35mm camera or a noise cancelling PC gaming headset with this deal if you'd rather get one of those free instead of the headphones.

You can only use the Google checkout deal once per e-mail and credit card. And apparently, it looks like this Google Checkout deal will end June 30, 2008, so be sure to take advantage of it.

5 Things You Can Do To Free Up Some Cash

Last Saturday, I called in to the KAXE radio show Between You & Me. Host Heidi Holtan was talking about what kinds of things you can do for entertainment when faced with high gas prices. My tips were pretty local... but the concept can be applied anywhere: Be a tourist in your own hometown. Go to places you've never been... or haven't been to since you were a kid. In Minnesota, lots of free/cheap entertainment abound in the great outdoors.

It was a great show. But what struck me the most, was the first caller. He called in and was commenting on how much gas prices were hurting his finances. He wanted to know where to cut. He wanted to know how he could adjust to the price increases of virtually everything.

The problem is that there is no simple answer. Everyone's financial situation is different. But there's always something you can do.

Here are 5 things you can do right now to free up some cash in your budget:

Raise the deductibles on your car insurance. This move saved us approximately $20 a month. And since we had already paid our six-month premiums prior to changing the deductible, we got a refund check back. Yes, it's a gamble... but let me tell you, when you have high deductibles on your car insurance, you are extra careful when you're driving!

Change your tax withholding. If you are getting a refund from Uncle Sam every spring, stop letting him have your money interest free! Instead, adjust your withholding. There are calculators at the IRS and H&R Block to help you figure out how many allowances you should take. We put an extra $150 a month in our pockets by doing this. It made a huge difference in our budget.

Use your car one less day a week. Walk, ride bike, or car pool with someone else. You'll find that you not only save the gas money, but you will also avoid those incidental expenditures that come with being out and about. Not going to town one day a week saves me $8.... or $40 in a month!

Determine needs vs. wants. You don't need a morning latte, dinners out at restaurants, or candy at the movie theatre (gasp!). You don't need gum, soda, breath mints, Ziploc baggies, nail polish, Swiffers, or car washes. You will find that when you cut out the little stuff you want but don't need, you will have extra money in your pocket.

Find money at your house. Turn in your spare change for extra cash. Sell some stuff you don't need or use anymore. Have a garage sale. Haven't you been meaning to clean out the basement anyway?

The best advice I can give you in these hard times is to keep a positive attitude. Yes, the prices of things are high. Yes, it's hard to make ends meet. But it also forces you to be thrifty, to be creative, and to appreciate all the wonderful things you do have.

Penalty for Using Debit/Credit Card?

The other night my hubby made a stop at the local convenience store to get me some much coveted chocolate ice cream. (He's sweet that way!)

When he came home, he was grumbling. The clerk told him that they were now implementing a 75 cent surcharge if you use a debit or credit card. If you don't want to pay the fee, you have to pay in cash.

Now, this wasn't a huge surprise... over the last few months, the clerks at this store have actually gotten annoyed when my husband has used his debit card for small purchases. Apparently, merchants, particularly gas stations, are getting hit hard by the fees that credit cards charge them for processing the cards.

But this is the closest convenience store to us... so it's not like we have a lot of options. In fact, the next nearest option is nearly 13 miles away.

What really amazed us was the excessiveness of the charge. I understand wanting to recoup your fees, but to make a profit, too? My husband said he won't be inclined to shop there anymore because of it.

Neither my husband or I carry much cash with us. We use our rewards credit card for all gas purchases and pay the bill in full each month. We use our debit card for everything else. We've found that when we live only on cash, we tend to fritter away more money. When we have to write down every debit and keep track of the credit card, we're MUCH more careful with our spending. Plus we like the security that comes with both of our cards.

So this new surcharge has us a little perplexed. On one hand, it could be a good thing if it encourages people who are already in debt to use cash instead of credit. On the other hand, I pay my bills every month. Shouldn't I have the option of paying in a manner that is most important to me without paying a penalty? Isn't the customer always right?

Have any of you had this happen in your neighborhood? Has it changed your spending habits? Please share your thoughts.

Free Drink at Caribou Coffee Saturday

Get a FREE 12 oz Fruit & Tea drink to celebrate the first day of summer at Caribou Coffee.

Stop by Caribou Coffee between 3 p.m and 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 21, to get your free beverage.

Choose from White Tea & Peach, Green Tea & Mango, or Red Tea & Raspberry.

This offer is not available through the drive-thru or at stores that aren't open on Saturdays. This deal is also not available at the Duluth, MN, Canal Park location.

Read Tons of Tips in This Week's Festivals

Northern Cheapskate was featured in two blog festivals/carnivals this week...

Check out The Eight Little Pigs - Festival of Frugality at Out of Debt Again. There are loads of great tips at this festival.

Also take a look at Money Hacks Carnival hosted by Mrs. Nespy's World. Once again, good reads and I especially enjoyed the '80s retro theme!

Okay... so this isn't really a carnival or festival, but you should visit PF Buzz... PF Buzz is a social media site that focuses on sharing personal finance articles. So... if you want to show me some love you can vote for some of my articles over there. I always appreciate an ego boost!

Happy Saving!

Register Now For Free Online Courses

Looking for some enrichment?

There's still time to register for HP's FREE online computer classes. The classes are lead by knowledgeable folks, are self-paced and totally FREE.

You can learn everything from advanced digital scrapbooking to an intro to social networking. There's even a class called "Volunteer Tool Kit" that can help you take charge of your volunteer efforts.

Registration for the classes ends July 3. The classes close July 11.

I've done a couple of the classes before. As with any class, the more effort you put in, the more you get out of it. I found the HP classes to be enjoyable, free entertainment!

Get Rebates on Huggies and More

Now you can save even more money on diapers and other products through mail-in-rebates.

Caregivers Marketplace works with manufacturers to offer cash back to anyone who purchases products like Nature Made vitamins, Huggies, Ensure, Ecotrin aspirin, IcyHot, HoMedics products and many more.

The rebates range from 50 cents to $10.00 and can be combined with store sales and coupons for even bigger savings. It is completely free to participate. I noticed that you can get $1 back on a pack of Huggies.

Basically, buy five qualifying items, fill out the form from the website and send it in with your receipts. You'll get your cash back in 4-6 weeks.

You can check out the FAQ's for more details on the program.

The program was designed with caregivers in mind but anyone who uses the products is welcome to submit rebate forms. Forms can be printed from the Caregivers Marketplace site or picked up at stores like Kmart or Hy-Vee. However, products can be purchased from any store.

This program has been mentioned at Freebies4Mom, Baby Cheapskate and Be Thrifty Like Us if you want to read more about it.

Saving Money On Food

It's really easy to lament the high cost of groceries and accept that that's the way it's going to be.

Or you can take a look in your pantry and freezer and think a little harder about what you could do to stretch your grocery budget.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Cut back on meat. Make one meal a week meatless. Make a veggie pizza, a quiche, or bean burritos. You can use less meat than a recipe calls for. For example, if a recipe calls for 1 lb of ground beef, try to use 1/2 lb instead. I buy family packs of ground beef when it's on sale, and then I repackage them into 1lb increments and freeze them. If I froze the meat in 3/4 lb packages instead of 1 lb, I would get 2 extra meals out of a family pack. Most of the time, you'd never miss the 1/4 lb of meat. Eating less meat is just plain good for your health, too.

Stock up when there's a good sale. I expect that all corn-based foods will increase in price because of flooding. That will also affect beef prices, too. Watch those prices, because you may find fish and chicken to be less expensive.

Don't be afraid to try cheaper cuts of meat. Many cheaper cuts of meat are great after being marinaded or put in the crock pot.

Eat more beans. They're cheap and loaded with fiber and nutrients. Read The Simple Dollar's take on beans.

Shop at the Bakery Outlets. My area has a Sara Lee Bakery Outlet and I LOVE IT. I frequently get whole grain bread for 75 cents a loaf instead of the insane $3.50 + a loaf at the grocery store. Plus it can be a great place to get hamburger buns, spices, and snacks. My store has discount days and a shopper rewards program. Sure, the stuff is near or just past its prime, but it freezes really well. I've never had any problems.

Rethink convenience. Do you need someone to cut your fruit for you? Let's get real. You can wash your own lettuce and peel your own carrots. And when you do, you'll save some money.

Shop in season and watch the news. Summer is a great time to get watermelon... not such a great time to get oranges. Are there hurricanes in Venuzuela? Then it may not be the best time to get a deal on bananas. Head to your local farmers' market and save money there.

What are some ways you stretch your money at the grocery store?

Need Help With Diaper Prices?

Need help figuring out when a good deal on diapers is really a good deal?

Angie at Baby Cheapskate has come to the rescue! She's compiled a chart of all the different size packages of Huggies, Pampers and Luvs diapers. This is critical information for those of us who are trying to figure out what the cost per diaper is. She's also included her "Price to Beat" in the chart.

Read her post here, to get all the details and the fabulous chart!

The Walmart Phenomenon

The area I live in is not new to hard economic times. It cycles in and out of recession like it's a fashion trend.

There's not a lot of shopping because of it. So when the first Walmart Super Center opened in Hibbing about eight years ago, it was THE place to be. It was a mecca for depressed shoppers starved for stores.

Because people had not had easy access to discount shopping, they instantly became drunk on the savings. It was common to hear people admire something and the response would be, "Oh, I got it at the new Walmart."

Flash forward eight years and now the locals are used to the Walmart SuperCenter. It's just another store. It's where they get their shampoo and laundry detergent. They're no longer buying stuff like it's going out of style.

A brand-new Walmart SuperCenter recently opened about 35 miles away in Grand Rapids. What struck me about this new SuperCenter, was that now Walmart was trying hard to be a bit more upscale than its competitors. There's brick on the front of it. It's a nice tan color (instead of blue and gray), and there's wood laminate flooring in certain sections of the store. The fence around the garden area is wrought iron instead of chain link.

But the people patronizing this new Walmart SuperCenter had the same dazed look those shoppers did at the grand opening of the Hibbing SuperCenter eight years ago.

They wandered the aisles, blissfully crying, "Oh, wow! I need one of those. And that's a good price." As if they need a giant plastic golden retriever or a hot pink laptop case. And there's still a lot of bragging about the new store: "I hear it's the biggest in the state."

What I noticed with this Walmart phenomenon was that it is very easy for shoppers to get caught up in all the marketing and hype and end up buying things they don't really need.

To me, it's just another place for me to save money. You still have to be able to differentiate wants and needs.

It's really just a really big Walmart. That's all.

"Incredible" Deals at Kmart

You can get a coupon for $5 off a purchase of $20 in toys at Kmart here. This offer expires July 31.

And for those of you who are aching to see the new "Incredible Hulk" movie and frequently spend your money at Kmart, here's a deal for you:

Buy $50 in Kmart gift cards and get two free movie passes to see "The Incredible Hulk." (up to $7 each). Don't delay: You have to make your purchase before June 15.

What College Doesn't Teach You Can Cost You

I've been out of college for some time now, but each spring, I still reflect back on the time around my graduation. It was a happy time, full of promise, and yet, it was full of unknowns.

What I've realized over the years is what college doesn't teach you can cost you.

College doesn't prepare you for life on your own. Sure, college gives you a lot of great information. You learn skills you'll be able to use throughout your career. But it doesn't prepare you for the loneliness of life on your own.

In college, you live in dorms. You eat with a group of friends for ALL your meals. You are always studying in groups and hanging out with people. Most if not all of your meals are provided to you with little effort on your part. You seldom need a car because you can walk everywhere you need to go. You have weekends off and holidays off.

Then you graduate. Suddenly you are out on your own with a new job and a new apartment. Lonely and in search of food, you head to the closest shopping complex.

And you buy yourself dinner and maybe a nice outfit (or three) because you have a career now, and you deserve it. And the next time it will be a new cell phone or a vacation to anywhere. And then there's the new car that looks so much better than your old one.... it's hard for you to see your old friends because none of you has any time off or money anyway.

Okay, so maybe this is a bit of a dramatic picture. But the above scenario is how thousands of young, bright college graduates self-medicate themselves into oodles of credit card debt.

College doesn't always teach you how to take care of yourself outside of your career. It doesn't prepare you for the emotions of life. And many people end up spending money on material goods trying to deal with those emotions.

My advice to young college grads is this: Don't try to keep up with anyone. As Dave Ramsey says, if being in debt is normal, be weird! Material things won't bring you companionship. Food won't make you feel less lonely. Accumulating debt won't help anything.

Learn to like yourself and to find things that allow you to meet new people. Take a class, head to the local library, join a club, find a hobby. There are lots of low-cost ways to meet people and to expand your horizons.

Most importantly, take responsibility for your life. It's yours to do with as you wish. Pay down your debts, build up your savings, and continue to grow as a person.

FREE Movie Channels This Weekend on DirecTV!

Just doing a little random channel surfing and discovered that we have free premium movie channels on DirecTV this weekend!

Just surf up to the 500-block of channels and you'll be able to watch HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Stars, Encore, and much more!

Fat Wallet is reporting that the Free Preview Weekend runs through Sunday, June 15 and they have a detailed list of all the free channels here.

So set those DVRs and Tivos and bank those movies for rainy afternoons and evenings when you have nothing to do!

Coupons and Deals: Friday the 13th Edition

Everyone thinks Friday the 13th is so unlucky... so I've decided to give you 13 links to coupons and deals I've been reading about so that it won't be so unlucky anymore!

1. First off, you can now print coupons from Coupons, Inc. straight from the advertisements on the sidebars of my blog. You can also click on "See All Coupons" for the full list of printable coupons available and print all of the ones you want. You'll save money, and you'll be helping me out (I get a few pennies for every coupon you print!). Coupons.com is a favorite resource of mine for coupons. I always try to look there before I head to the stores.

2. Sears is currently offering a sweet deal for those of you near a Shell station. Buy $100 in Dockers Clothing either in the store or online, fill out this form, and you will get a $75 Shell Gas Card! You'll also have a chance to win a Toyota Prius. But hurry fast. You must make your purchase by midnight on Sunday, June 15.

3. In need of some help regulating your digestive system? Get $2 off a box of Kashi Vive Cereal coupons here and here. I was able to print a total of four coupons. It's not available in my area yet, but I expect it to be soon.

4. Sick of Honey Bunches of Oats yet? Well, if you're not, it's your lucky day. The Centsible Sawyer reports that the $2 off Honey Bunches of Oats with Chocolate Clusters coupons have been reset. I was able to print three more coupons. Several stores, including Walmart and Walgreens, have recently had these for $2 a box. Gotta love free cereal!

5. Sign up for Ebates and make a purchase between now and June 30 and get $10. Ebates is an awesome shopping portal that gives you cash back for online purchases and other special discounts. Use a rewards credit card and get even more cash back!

6. Try Zout Stain Remover with this mail-in rebate form (up to $4). Offer expires Oct. 31.

7. Click here for your choice of $1 off Cottonelle Ultra, Cottonelle Aloe & E, or Cottonelle Flushable Wipes.

8. Got a houseful of kids on a rainy day? Raising4Boys has compiled a great list of free (or really cheap) summer movie theater promotions for people with kids. (Wish I had one of these theaters near me!)

9. Get a 55 cents off coupon for Country Crock here.

10. Register at Clean and Clear to get a coupon for $2 off any Clean and Clear product. I was able to use mine to get two trial sizes of Clean and Clear Morning Burst Face Wash for FREE at Target.

11. Click here to get a coupon for $7 off Crest Whitestrips.

12. Register your Starbucks gift card here before July 14 and you'll get a coupon for a free beverage.

13. Download free software programs to help design your new deck or fence from Home Depot. This offer expires 7/09/08 and is not recommended for use with Windows Vista. (Thanks to The Bargainist for this tip!)

Another Week, Another Walgreens Coupon

Just in case you need to buy more stuff at Walgreens....

Here is a coupon for $5 off your purchase of $20 or more at Walgreens. This coupon is good FRIDAY ONLY.

Centsible Shopper always has a list of deals at Walgreens and reminds everyone of the fine print on the coupon: "Minimum subtotal must equal $20 or more before sales tax; subtotal must include all other applied discounts and coupons."

So you could use it on the free after rebate items, or if you have some photo printing to do, you could use it on that. Otherwise, it's probably not the best deal in the world this week.

Contests and a Freebie

Freebies4Mom has all the details on how to enter the Land O'Frost sweepstakes for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas.

When you enter the contest, you'll also get printable coupons for $1 off any package of Land O'Frost Deli Pouch and for a FREE package of Land O'Frost Taste Escapes.

And speaking of contests: Enter to win a year's supply of Scott Paper Towels here. Don't worry, the winnings are in coupon form so you won't have to store them!

My Personal Finance Tipping Point

Free From Broke has a contest encouraging readers to think about their personal finance tipping point. He wants to know, when was the moment you made the choice to take charge of your life instead of your charges taking control of you.

I must admit, I never hit rock bottom like some of the stories I've heard and read. But I do distinctly remember when I started to think about debt in a different way.

It was 2001. My husband and I had bought our first car together - a 2000 Chevy Lumina. We put down a couple of thousand dollars down on the 4-year loan, and because we were young and didn't have much of a credit rating, paid a ridiculous 10.75 percent interest on the loan.

And the very next day, we had an ice dam on our roof leak into our living room.

And a few months later, our upstairs bathroom plumbing started to leak into our kitchen.

Needless to say, it was not a great time for us. Our savings was decimated by the necessary repairs, and now we had a car payment to deal with.

I was in our "new" car driving somewhere, when I heard a radio interview with Gwendolyn Gabriel, author of a book called "Become Totally Debt-Free in Five Years or Less." I was very interested in the topic. It never occurred to me to live debt-free before. Everyone I knew had a car loan, student loan debt, a house payment. I just thought that was the way it was.

I went online and bought the book. I devoured it. I shared ideas from it with my husband, who instantly got on board with me. His parents had gone bankrupt twice, and he did not want to follow the same path.

Gabriel's book lead me to other frugal living and personal finance books, such as The Complete Tightwad Gazette and Debt Proof Your Holidays. I couldn't wait for Monday morning updates of The Dollar Stretcher. It totally opened my eyes to another world.

My husband I started to attack our debt. In one year, we knocked out $19,000 in debt. My husband wanted to make a career change, and since our debt repayment had given us some freedom, he quit his job and went back to graduate school. He got an assistantship, which brought in some money and health insurance for him, and earned his master's degree in ONE year. He found a new part-time job shortly after that, and we started attacking the small amount of grad school debt.

When he finally started getting full-time work, we continued to live like he was in grad school. We piled money onto our mortgage with the goal of paying it off in 10 years (instead of 30).

We had our house half-paid off, a little bit of savings, and no other debt. And then we had a chance to get some lakeshore property on a piece of land that's been in my family since 1946. We decided to build a house on the land. And have a baby. In the same year.

Our new mortgage was now FIVE times our old one. We had an extra mouth to feed and on top of that, a 30 mile commute (instead of a 3-mile one). And then we had twins two years later!

And as challenging as it has been to make ends meet, we love our new house and our life in the country. And we realize it would never have been possible if I hadn't heard that radio interview.

Adopting a frugal lifestyle and learning to live with as little debt as possible has allowed us to build the life of our dreams. The day I heard that radio interview totally changed my perspective. Debt does not have to be a way of life.

Coupon Organization Crisis Revisited

Last week, I wrote about my Coupon Organization Crisis.

First off, let me say a big thanks to all of you who sent links, photos, and ideas of how to organize my coupons.

I ended up biting the bullet and getting the Case-it Dual-100 Dual binder 2-in1 Zipper Binder, Grey at my Target. This thing has a handle. And a strap. A bunch of zippered pockets. And two sets of rings. It's huge. It's tacky. And it's already FULL of coupons. I feel so much better now that I can see all of my coupons at a glance. I figure, I'm already carrying the world's largest diaper bag... why not carry the largest collection of coupons, too!

I filled the binder with baseball card pages (well, technically they may have been Yu-Gi-Oh or some silly thing, but you get the idea), and then organized the pages by categories such as Baby, Cleaning, Laundry, and so on. I will probably get some photo pages, too, so that I can store my larger coupons without folding them.

I plan to use the smaller coupon organizer that I just bought for quick trips, and the Super Saving Binder (my new name for the monster organizer!) for the bigger trips when I'm by myself and have time to bargain hunt.

Getting Rid of All This STUFF!

I've been procrastinating on pulling together a garage sale. Holding the mother-of-all garage sales was actually one of my New Year's resolutions. So was exercising...

I think I'm closer to the garage sale.

I made a big mistake when sorting out all the stuff I want to get rid of... I didn't price it right then and there. I've priced things as I've sorted in years past... but this year I was lazy, and now I regret it. It's a daunting task.

I also live deep in the middle of nowhere... which means it is possible that I could go through HOURS or work for little return. I'm contemplating holding my sale at the local township hall (cost to rent the hall is $20 for the day) because it is more visible, but I fear that I could go through hours of work for little return AND have to move all my junk TWICE. Blah.

I also have some sorting to do because I think I can unload some of it on eBay (such as baby gear) and make a little more money than I would at a garage sale.

At this point in time, I'm pretty tempted to just donate it all somewhere and get the tax receipt, although that's not as simple as it used to be either.

The whole thing has me thinking about how to get rid of stuff. I'm to the point now where it isn't even about the extra cash, although that's nice, too; it's mostly about reclaiming the square footage of my house and garage.

So here are some places to get rid of stuff:

• Give it away to friends and/or family.
• Give it away on FreeCycle.
• Donate it to local charities and get the tax deduction.
• Sell it through the local shoppers (it's free to advertise there).
• Sell it through my local FirstCity group.
• Sell it/Give it Away through Craigslist.
• List it on eBay.
• Glom on to someone's garage sale in town and sell it there.

My county landfill currently accepts electronics (computers, televisions, etc) at no cost and then they take them to be recycled, so that's one thing I could do to free up some space. I could also get rid of the computer stuff using the helpful information at ComputerTakeBack.

Old shoes can go to organizations such as OneWorldRunning or LetMePlay.

Old cell phones can go to places like SecondRotation or CellForCash.

I could trade some books at PaperbackSwap or trade movies and music at SwapTree.

I've got lots of great ideas on how/where to unload this stuff. Now I just need to stop procrastinating and do it!

Need Help With Savings Goals?

America Saves is a non-profit organization that can help you with your savings goals.

When you sign up, you can set goals and receive e-mails designed to help motivate you in reaching those goals. You can also find a local group to connect with like-minded people or learn how to start your own group.

The free website also has a variety of resources, such as calculators, tips, and inspriring stories.

If you're a numbers geek like I am, you can also check out DollarTimes. DollarTimes has a big selection of free calculators so you can figure out how much you'll need to save to meet your goals. There are also free budget sheets you can download.

Father's Day is Just Around the Corner

Father's Day is just around the corner... Sunday, June 15, to be exact.

If you're not into the whole frugal, make-a-gift thing, here are a few other frugal options for you:
Take Dad to TGI Fridays for a FREE order of beer-battered onion rings with the printable coupon.

Or head to TCBY for a free ice cream cone or cup of ice cream for Dad.

You can get a $5 bonus gift card when you buy a $25 gift card at Applebees. You must purchase the gift card at a participating location (not online) before 6/29. The $5 bonus gift card expires on 6/30.

I personally did my shopping at Amazon (shhh... don't tell!) and got a great deal on a gift for my hubby.

Click here to get a printable coupon for 15 percent off at Barnes and Noble. Or go online and use code N4X8E8D to get the discount. The coupon and code can only be used once per customer and it expires 6/15.

If your Dad is into fishing check out this post about mail-in rebates on fishing tackle and equipment.

You can also go here and here to find cheap magazine subscriptions for Dad.

You may also want to check out this list of mail-in rebates at Ace Hardware to see if there's any deals on tools on Dad's wish list.

And here's a list for free printable Father's Day Cards.

The most important thing you can give your Dad is the gift of time. Remember, that could be time with you, or time away from you!

Free Formula Sample, Potty Training DVD

If you're looking to save on formula, you may want to try a sample of Parent's Choice Forumula. Many moms have told me that they (and their babies) like the cheaper store brands of formula more than the spendy name brands.

You can also get a free potty training DVD in specially marked packages of Huggie Pull-Ups at Walmart. If you don't want to buy the Pull-Ups, you can request the DVD here for FREE. My DVD came with several coupons for Huggies products.

Support Our Troops

Frugal reader Ann recently e-mailed me to tell me about an organization she is involved with that you may be interested in.

Soldiers Angels is a non-profit organization of nearly 200,000 volunteers in over twenty different teams and programs who have developed unique and effective ways to support members of the U.S. military. To date, the volunteers have sent tens of thousands of care packages and hundreds of thousands of letters to deployed service members.

You can do anything from send a supportive postcard to a soldier, to providing foster care for a soldier's pet, make quilts for wounded soldiers, and more.

As Ann pointed out in her e-mail to me, many of the freebies and steals we get online and in stores make excellent additions to care packages for our troops. It's an inexpensive way to show them we care.

Luvs and Pampers Coupons for Target

There are two new coupons out for Luvs and Pampers diapers at Target.

Go here for a coupon for $2.50 off two jumbo packs or larger of Luvs at Target. It expires 7/15.

Baby Cheapskate has a $5 off Pampers diapers or training pants and wipes coupon at Target here. The coupon doesn't specify a size on the diapers, so wait until the jumbo size goes on sale, and then stock up. The coupon expires 7/31.

Remember to combine these coupons with manufacturer coupons to get even greater savings.

Coupon Organization Crisis

Is there such a thing as too many coupons?! ACK!

This week my coupon organizer bit the dust. I overfilled it and abused it one too many times, and now several of the pockets have split. I could use a little duct tape, but I know it would only be a temporary fix.

I bought another coupon organizer at Walmart for $5.88 to replace it. It is wider, and a little fancier than my older model. I spent some time making nice labels for all my categories. I felt pretty proud of my organization. I cleared out all the expired coupons and purged a few I knew I'd never use.

Well, guess what? STILL too many coupons... the stupid thing doesn't lie flat or stay closed. UGH.

So, now I'm having a coupon organization crisis. I do not want to give up carrying any coupons with me. I only travel to town once or twice a week, and I can't stand finding a great price on something and not having the right coupons with me to make it an even better deal.

So, I've started to research options. So far all of the coupon organizers you can purchase seem flimsy, too small, and overpriced to me.

Some people suggest using a file box or a even recycling a baby wipes tub... but I have this vision of me tipping over the whole box in the store (something that nearly happened to me with my old organizer) and creating a coupon catastrophe.

Others have suggested binder systems. Basically, you get a three-ring binder and use photo pages and baseball card holders to use for holding coupons. The concept really appeals to my sense of organization... it would be so nice to SEE all of my coupons at a glance. But I can't stand the thought of dragging a GIANT binder with me everywhere.

Today I saw a smaller binder that was designed for DVDs and CDs... but I'm not sure how well the pockets would work for my coupons.

So, I'm in a quandary. What's a super savings girl to do? I desperately need a good coupon organizing system, but I don't want it to be too bulky, too small or too expensive.

What do all of you super savvy shoppers do to organize your coupons?

Use Those Freebies for a Creative Gift

Michelle at Leaving Excess has a great idea for using all the great freebies she's been gathering:

She uses them to put together clever gift bags for new graduates.

Check out her post to see all of the goodies she puts in the gift bags and the clever note she writes to the lucky graduate.

I can see this idea being used for other things: a gift for a new mom or dad, a new homeowner, or a bridal shower gift.

Thanks for sharing the idea, Michelle!

Get a FREE E-book on How to Sell on Ebay

Money Saving Mom and Ebay Selling Coach Suzanne Wells have teamed up to give away a FREE e-book, "The Stay-At-Home-Mom's Guide to Successful Ebay Selling."

The 60+ page e-book is easy to read and understand. It's very informative and great for beginner Ebay sellers. It covers topics such as where to get inventory, shipping, photos, customer service, and how to find time to sell things. Don't let the title mislead you: this book has loads of good information that can be used by anyone looking to learn how to sell things on Ebay.

Be sure to visit Money Saving Mom's post to find out all the details on how to download a copy for yourself.

Take a Kid Fishing this Weekend and Save Money

Well, not when you factor in the cost of the boat, trailer, motor, fishing pole, reel, tackle, bait, snacks....

Well, there is a chance for you to save a little money on fishing this weekend.

Take advantage of Minnesota's Take a Kid Fishing Weekend June 6-8. During the weekend, any adult over 18 can fish for free (no license needed!) when accompanied by an angler who is 16 or younger. Of course, once Monday comes, you'll need a license to fish in Minnesota.

Finding a place to fish in Minnesota is easy. Visit mndnr.gov/takemefishing on the DNR Web site. Just click on the link to Lake Finder to catch all sorts of inside information. Or, visit exploreminnesota.com to find great places to stay, play and fish. Finally, visit the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation Web site at mn.takemefishing.org to hook great tips to make the trip a success.

The DNR’s MinnAqua program, which teaches kids and adults about lake and stream ecology through angling, is planning several events corresponding to Take-A-Kid Fishing Weekend.

Events scheduled for Saturday, June 7, include:

• Children’s Fishing Clinic at Camden State Park near Lynd


• Fishing History Fun at William O’Brien State Park near Marine-on-St. Croix
  
• Fishing History Fun at Lake Bemidji near Bemidji


• Fishing History Fun at Bear Head Lake near Ely
  
• Take A Kid Trout Fishing at Whitewater State Park near Altura.

More information on these events is available online at mndnr.gov/takeakidfishing.

Fishing is such a great hobby... where else can you sit and enjoy the great outdoors and feed your family on the cheap at the same time?

Remember the saying: Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he eats for a lifetime.

Now's your chance to teach a child how to fish and to respect the outdoors.

Picture Me! Portrait Studio Savings

Last week, I took my son to PictureMe! Portrait Studios (in Walmart) to get his three-year photos taken.

When you have a three-year-old, your mission is to get through the photos as easily and as inexpensively as possible. Unfortunately, my kid is just too cute, and I always end up spending more than I plan!

Prior to scheduling the session, I did sign up for the PictureMe! e-mail list. And I was glad I did, because about a week before picture day, I got a printable coupon for 20 percent off my entire order and a free 10x13 print!

I was also pleased to discover that my local PictureMe! is now digital and offers you the option of purchasing a CD of all the photographs taken during the session. I love this option because I can use the photos for digital scrapbooking or make reprints as much as I like. I know I'll be using some of those credits I have for free 5x7s from ArtsCow.

In total, I spent about $120 for all of the photos and the CD. When I had photos of the kids taken by a professional photographer in January, we paid more than $300 (and we did get some family shots too!) just to get the CD, and then we still had to print them!!! (I know, I know, not frugal at all, but I loved her work!) We couldn't afford to spend that much this time and I couldn't risk the temptation! I definitely didn't get as many photos with PictureMe!(only about 20 compared to 200+ from the professional)... and the whole thing took 1/2 hour (instead of the hour we spent with the professional). But for what I wanted - which was just a couple good shots - I thought the photographer at PictureMe! did a great job of puting my son at ease and got some great shots. I still think that for our next big family photo session, I would rather spend the money go back to the professional.

I also learned that I could get photos of the twins at PictureMe! for the same price - no additional charges for more than one child, which is a plus.

When you sign up for the newsletter this month, you'll get a coupon for 15 percent off portraits and a photo collage for $4.99 during June.

How do you save on professional portraits? Any tips for taking your own?

The Month in Review: Big Savings, Big Spending

The month of May carried its share of strengths and weaknesses for our finances.

On the plus side, I saved a TON of money using coupons this month. In fact, I saved a grand total of $297.97!

And we had some extra money come to us: we got our economic stimulus check and my husband's contract got settled, so he got a nice back pay check and a slight pay raise.

But we spent quite a bit more than we usually do. We bought a laptop and printer for me, a gas grill (which has been on our wish list for YEARS), and another flu bug cycled through our house, which meant a total of FIVE visits to the clinic and FOUR prescriptions. And the sickness is not done yet!

While our extra purchases messed up our May budget, we still did not mess up our overall spending plan. We budgeted for and planned for each of these expenses. We researched and talked about what we wanted. We made sure that we had the money to pay for these items in cash.

It was fun spending some of our money. But it's fun saving it, too. We realize how long it takes to save money and how quickly it disappears. We'll be back to our normal spending in June. No more big expenditures for awhile.

As for the pay raise, we are putting half of it into our "Buy a Car With Cash Fund" and the other half will help us cover our increased expenses (primarily gas and groceries). We channeled the money into our appropriate accounts right away so that we wouldn't get used to bigger pay checks. It will be nice to watch our savings grow a little bit more.

How was your month? Was your spending on track or out of whack? What's your plan for June?

Watch Out for McDonalds Coupons

Keep your eyes peeled for McDonalds coupons!

One of my faithful frugal readers, Kelly, said her dad got two coupons for a free McDonalds chicken breakfast biscuit and a southwest chicken sandwich (no purchase necessary!) inserted with his Visa bill this month.

My frugal friend Susan said she got a similar set of coupons in an order she got from Amazon, of all places.

It's a good reminder that coupons can show up in unexpected places!

Something for Nothing.... Contests

I cannot gamble. I have an addictive personality. And I always feel lucky, but rarely am. As I've told some of my friends, "The lottery is one place my optimism never pays off."

So I was intrigued by Chief Family Officer's idea. She suggests entering contests instead of buying lottery tickets or gambling. You still get the adrenaline rush, but there's no cash out of pocket.

CFO's post has some great links for contest resources, including Freebies4Mom who always has links to good contests.

Here are a couple that I've seen in the past week during my hunting:

Enter to win $100,000 by visiting this website.

Win a trip for four to San Diego from Oh Boy! Oberto Beef Jerky.

Purex is giving away a SmartCar. Create a Green-T to enter and you'll also be sent a free sample.

Advil is giving away $25,000, tickets to the Ellen Degeneres Show and free bottles of Advil.

Dial is giving away a trip to France and copies of National Treasure 2 on DVD. The site also has "dirty" e-cards you can send your friends.

Gillette has numerous contests going on, including one where you can win a Nintendo Wii and other electronic goodies.