A Round-Up of Great Frugal Reading

There have been so many good articles out there this week, that it's been hard to keep up with it at all.

Here are a few of my favorites this week:

Everyone - not just parents - should read Frugal Feeding Tips for Babies and Toddlers at Deal Seeking Mom. She's got a great video that demonstrates the importance of paying attention to cost per ounce!

Free From Broke's family is joining the ranks of the one-income world. Read his thoughtful post What is Raising a Child Worth-We're Going to One Income.

Trent at The Simple Dollar outlines Nine Things to Do When The Going Gets Tough.  Sometimes you have to push yourself to make the really hard decisions. I hope none of you are in that situation.

As a serious coupon clipper, I was grateful for Organizing and Clipping Multiple Coupon Inserts  by Common Sense with Money. Brilliant idea! Wish I'd thought of that!

Bible Money Matters made me think with this post: Your Credit Card May Give You Perks You Didn't Even Know About.

And because we all need a laugh - especially those of us who have gone shopping with our children - please read Do It Yourself: Aerobics On The Go from Leaving Excess.  Makes me a feel a little better about not taking a walk today!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Value of Money

It's been a long time since I've done a book review. Probably because I've spent the entire summer plowing through The Value of Money: Uncover the Hidden Wisdom of Money by Susan McCarthy.

Let me just clarify that I am not the fastest book reader. I spend most of my reading time online, reading blogs, news, e-mail, etc. It usually takes me some time to finish a book. (Just ask anyone who has ever loaned me a book!)

But I finally finished The Value of Money and thought I'd share my thoughts with you.

I almost stopped reading this book at the beginning. McCarthy has kind of a super-sweet syrupy tone to her writing which kind of bored me. She was a little sentimental for my tastes.

But there were some definite redeeming qualities to the book. First off, I really enjoyed her description of money as a tool, and how we can use that tool to express our values. I also appreciated her descriptions of the seven different types of relationships people have with their money. (Turns out I always live like there's a wolf at the door... which there was one in my neighborhood recently!)

The most useful and meaningful parts of the book dealt with how to handle a parent's estate when they are incapacitated and after they have passed on. This was an important message filled with useful tips for handling the emotional side of these heavy financial decisions.

If you're interested in your relationship with money, and how it can affect you even after you've passed away, this book is a good read.

Need a Camera? RUN to Walgreens!

My husband and I have been talking about getting a smaller, easier-to-tuck-in-a-pocket digital camera to supplement our larger, Sony digital camera.

But I've been kind of slow in researching the cameras because I was put off by the price tags.

Well, no more. Today we got a Polaroid 7.0MP Compact Digital Camera - Silver (i737) at Walgreens for $15.99 plus tax!

Read all the details about this great deal here.  But be quick, this fabulous deal ends Saturday!

How awesome is that?

Free Kids' Music From Sprout

Download free original kids' music and lyrics from Sprout, courtesy of the new Sprout Sharing Show site. The site also has a collection of kids' games, videos, crafts and more.

You can also make a video of your child singing the Sprout songs and upload it to their site. It just might be picked to be on during the Sharing Show. (Or if nothing else, you can show it to future dates!

Free Tea Party Invite

Okay. I don't like tea. I'm not a girly-girl at all, and I only have boys.

But I couldn't resist sharing this with my one (or if I'm lucky, two) readers who may want a FREE downloadable invite for a tea party from ScrapNFont.  You have to sign up and go through check-out (be sure to avoid all of the offers they try to get you to buy other stuff) and you'll be able to download the customizable invite for free.

FREE Box of Touch of Gray

Get a FREE Box of Just for Men Touch of Gray after mail-in-rebate. (This is an $8 value).

Just purchase the product, print out the rebate form, and send in the form with the original dated sales receipt and proof of purchase to get your rebate. Your rebate should arrive in 6-8 weeks.

The hair treatment lets you keep some gray, works gradually, and all you have to do is comb it in and rinse.

This offer ends 12/31/09, so print the form now if you think there's even the slightest chance someone you know would use it.

Save $10 off $40 purchase at Walgreens

Walgreens has a coupon for $10 off a $40 purchase. The coupon is good this Friday, Aug. 29, and Saturday, Aug. 30 only.

If you haven't stocked up on your free after rebate items, or if you have a lot of photos that need to be printed, this coupon would help.

Update: Apparently, this is also an opportunity to start using the September Easy Saver Books, too. 
Money Saving Mom has the breakdown of the best money-saving scenarios here.

To Wii or Not to Wii?

That is the question.

Last week I encountered the perfect storm at Target: A Nintendo Wii, a Wii Fit, and my frugal nature collided.

I was caught between my childhood passion for video games, my need to get off the couch, and my inability to part with $330+.

You see, when I was a kid, I was in love with the original Nintendo. I spent a whole summer addicted to the thing. And my mom was addicted, too.

This summer my mom (and next door neighbor!) bought a Nintendo Wii. Several weeks later, she got a Wii Fit, and after playing with her, oh boy, do I have some serious Wii envy! It is so much fun!

Fortunately for me, up until last week, I had never seen a Wii or a Wii Fit for sale in any of my local stores.In fact, they've been darn near impossible to find anywhere.

But that changed last week. I happened to be walking by the Nintendo aisle at Target, and they called to me from the display case.

I called my husband about four times on the cell phone, and had a mini anxiety attack as I contemplated whether or not I should purchase the thing.

The actual cost of the Nintendo Wii ($250) isn't all that bad - especially compared to other gaming systems. But I really wanted the Wii Fit, an extra controller, and an extra nunchuck. Add it all up, and we're talking a $400 purchase!

My husband was supportive of whatever I decided. And he also knows me well... His words to me, "If you're just going to obsess about it for the next 6 months just get it now and be done with it. We've been good with our money and we can afford it. It's fine by me."

But in the end, I couldn't do it. Between the kids, running the household, writing this blog, enjoying time with my husband and pursing my other hobbies, I just don't know when I would find time to play. I also fear that a Wii Fit may just end up like my giant collection of exercise videos, my treadmill, and my handweights.... dusty and ignored.

I think if the kids were old enough to play (my oldest is 3), I would feel differently. I can imagine a time where the Nintendo Wii could be a great family pastime - playing virtual tournaments and so on.

So for now, I will play Nintendo Wii at my mom's and use that time to better evaluate whether the Wii is a worthwhile purchase for our family.

It was definitely a hard decision for this frugal gal!

Join Walmart's Consumer Panel

Interested in having a say in what happens at your local Walmart?

You can apply to join the Walmart Online Consultant Panel. If you are selected, you'll spend about 5 to 15 minutes a week taking surveys and discussing all things Walmart on a message board. In return, you will be eligible to receive Walmart gift cards, prizes and more. Simply click here to apply.

Thanks to iMommies for the tip!

Saving Money on Magazines

Note: This is a guest post I wrote for Frugal Hacks.  Frugal Hacks is a great network of frugal living blogs.  They have lots of great reading material for all levels of frugalites, so check it out. 

A couple of years ago I ordered some curtains from from JCPenney for my house.  When I placed my order, they offered me a subscription to three different magazines for the low cost of $5.

I took them up on the offer because I liked the price and I enjoyed the magazines.  The hitch is that the offer is connected to an automatic renewal system.  Each year, my credit card gets charged $20 per subscription.

Being the Northern Cheapskate... I realize that there must be a better way. So I've cancelled the automatic renewal and come up with some ways to save money on magazine subscriptions.

Look online.  Many magazines will highlight key articles and features on their websites.  Be sure to check them out.

Borrow magazines from the library.  Libraries carry both mainstream and unique magazines that you can borrow for free.  I love to check out cooking magazines and find new recipes.

Trade magazines with friends. My husband and I are news junkies and we subscribe to Newsweek. Our friends subscribe to Time.  Each week, we swap our magazines after we're done reading them.  It's like getting two magazines for the price of one!

Extend  your subscription.  As mentioned before, we enjoy Newsweek.  We recently opted to purchase a four-year subscription because the price worked out to just 45 cents an issue!  Sometimes it pays to call the magazine and ask if they can cut you a deal.

Check for member discounts. Are you a teacher or student or a member of a union? Sometimes you can get discounts on magazines through your membership in various organizations.

Shop online.  Visit websites like Magazines.com, MagazineLine.com, and ValueMags to get great prices on magazines. Some of these places are 80 percent or more off the cover price!

Ask for magazines as gifts.  People like giving gifts they know you'll enjoy all year. And many magazines offer a deal where if you renew your subscription you can give someone a free subscription.

Check out AdPerk.  For watching a few videos (advertising) you can earn FREE magazine subscriptions. This is a great option if you're super cash-strapped because all you need is a computer and some time. 

It is possible to enjoy reading magazines on a frugal budget. It just takes a little research.

Blog Maintenance

Just doing a little bit of blog maintenance, so things may be weird around here for a bit. Hopefully, you will notice that this blog loads a little faster when I'm done!

Thanks for your patience!

Cheaper Than The Cheapest Family

Last Friday, Good Morning America had a feature on Annette and Steve Economides, also known as America's Cheapest Family.

The feature highlighted how they spend "only" $350 a month to feed their family of six. They used coupons, price matched, and matched up those sale prices to the coupons. I didn't see anything I hadn't read before, except for the idea of grinding my own hamburger to save money. I also enjoyed the analogy of bargain hunting as a game. I've always considered it a bit of a sport, myself.

I also remembered a post by Crystal at Money Saving Mom. Crystal, who is famous for feeding her family for $40/week, recently realized that a family of four who is receiving food stamps typically gets $117/week to spend on groceries.

So where does that leave us? Well, we're a family of five... although the twins still don't eat a ton (but they do love milk!) and we average $271 per month on groceries... or $67.75 per week.  So we're cheaper than America's Cheapest Family and we spend less than a family on food stamps does.

I think we eat pretty well for the money.  It's all about learning how to make your dollars stretch. 

The Purge Continues: eBay

Today is Minimizing Monday at Handprints on the Wall, and I thought I'd join in the conversation.

I'm slowly getting rid of things that I don't need anymore. I participated in a garage sale earlier this summer, and last week I listed a few items on eBay.

I sold half of the things I've listed on the first try; the second half sold on the second listing. I made a tiny bit more than I would have had I just tried to sell them at a garage sale. I'm still relatively new to eBay, but I'm enjoying the learning process. I plan to list more things throughout the month.  I'm actually impressed with the ease of using eBay... it's pretty simple to list things, package them up, print the postage, and send it off.  It just takes a little time (something I wish I could buy on eBay!)

I also sold my Ab Lounge (there's nothing "lounge" about it!) via a local message board and did some inquiring about what I could get for my treadmill and exercise bike if I brought them to 2nd Wind Exercise Equipment. I haven't decided yet, if I'm ready to get rid of those things yet.

It feels pretty good to get rid of some of this stuff... although it's been a little hard for me to part with the baby clothes. (sniff).

I've come to realize that you don't have to be a minimalist to be considered frugal. But I do think that being very aware of what you have versus what you need is a very useful exercise.

So what types of things are you doing to clear out the clutter?

Free Samples of Kotex and a Coupon

Try three FREE samples of Kotex products courtesy of Walgreens.

Sign up here to get a FREE sample pack of one Kotex Ultra Thin Pad with Wings, one  Kotex Lightdays Pantiliner and two Kotex Security Tampons.

You'll also get a coupon for $1.50 any one Kotex product at Walgreens.

Husband Tackles Coupon Quest

My husband is my partner in all things frugal, but he's still learning the ins and outs of proper couponing...

This week he wrote about the Coupon Quest for his regular newspaper column. I appreciate his willingness to continue to do his best to save us money!

I've also learned that my husband is not alone... check out the post I Married a Couponaholic at Frugal in Virginia. 

Happy Reading!

Luvs Coupons for Target

Luvs has produced two more Target coupons to help save you money on diapers.

Click here for a coupon for $1 off any jumbo pack of Luvs and a coupon for $2 off any box of Luvs diapers at Target. These coupons expire September 19.

Remember, these Target coupons can be combined with manufacturer coupons to increase your savings. I have found Luvs manufacturer coupons inside Luvs packages and there have been reports of peelies on the front of some packages. You can also sign up to get coupons from Luvs here.

Happy Savings!

Cashing in at Coinstar

If you're frugal like I am, you save your pennies (and nickels, dimes, and quarters). I have a big jar that I throw all my loose change in.

Usually I just take the jar to the bank when it is full and cash it in. Two weeks ago I saw the first Coinstar machine in my area. Coinstar counts your change for you... for a price. You spend a whopping 8.9% to have them count your coins for you.

My first reaction was to just head to the bank. But after further research, I have learned that there is no fee to use Coinstar if you convert your change into a gift card. Gift card options include Amazon, Itunes,JcPenney, and Circuit City, to name a few.

I still think I'd rather have the cash (from the bank)... but if I had an item I really wanted from one of the select stores, I would use Coinstar.  I'm thinking it may be a good way for me to be disciplined with my Christmas shopping. (Or the gift card could make a gift in itself!)

I also learned from Freebies4Mom that Coinstar is having a contest in order to educate people about its free service.  Click here to register to win a $1,000 Amazon gift card.  They're giving away one gift card every month through Decemeber!

Free Photo Storage and Sharing

Looking for a secure, FREE way to share and store your photos?  Check out my Picturetown from Nikon.  My Picturetown offers up to 2GB of storage of your digital photos and movies for FREE. You can also upgrade your amount of storage up to 200GB for a monthly fee. A 20GB storage option is just $2.99 a month.

Many digital photo printing services offer free photo storage, but for those of you who print your own photos, it is important for you to consider saving copies away from your home. Remote storage of your memories is a good way to protect them in case of a fire or other natural disaster. MyPicturetown is one option worth checking out.

Another Cell Phone Bites the Dust

Cell phone versus lake. Guess who wins?

Yeah. That's right. A couple of weeks ago, my husband left his cell phone in the pocket of his swim trunks as he waded chest high into the lake.

There were a few choice words said when he realized what he had done.

We tried to dry the cell phone out... took the battery out, laid it out in the sun, dried it with a hair dryer. For about a day you could receive calls on it, but not send any.

And finally it died.

Unfortunately, this is not the first time something tragic has happened to my husband's cell. A previous cell phone fell out of his pocket and he accidentally backed over it with the car. We didn't have insurance on our phone because I felt the risk didn't justify the cost of the insurance. It cost us $200 to replace it.

So after the recent lake incident, my husband asked if we had put insurance on the phone after the last time.

Well, no. I honestly didn't think he'd be that careless again. Ugh.

Fortunately I had an old, working cell phone that he could use. It cost us $10 to re-activate it. My mom said I was mean for not allowing my husband to get a new phone.

My attitude is that he needs to suffer a little bit with the old phone. I really don't enjoy the $200 mistakes that keep happening.

So far he hasn't complained at all about the old phone.

So will I get the insurance? Unlikely. You see, from what I have read, insurance wouldn't have covered the last two accidents anyway.

At least I didn't sell the old phone to Cellforcash for $4.  I would have been really mad then! 

Free Cascade and Magic Eraser Samples

Have I mentioned how much I love Walmart's free samples? They're constantly offering new samples, most of them are awesome, and they arrive in just a couple of weeks!

Anywho... Here is a link to not one, but TWO great freebies: a sample of Cascade Complete All-in-1 and a bonus sample of Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. If you have children, you MUST have a Magic Eraser. I'm NOT kidding.

Thanks to My Good Cents for this great tip!

Free Post-It Super-Sticky Recycled Notes

And no, I don't mean Post-Its with something written on them already!

I mean a pack of 10 4x6 sheets of Post-its made of recycled paper.

Click here to sign up for your free sample. Offer good while supplies last so don't wait!. (Thanks to The Bargainist for this tip!)

$5 off a $20 Purchase at Walgreens Friday and Saturday ONLY

Walgreens has a new coupon for $5 off a $20 purchase. The coupon is good Friday, August 22 and Saturday, August 23, ONLY, so be sure to take advantage of this.

Remember, your purchase must total $20 after coupons and before taxes to qualify. Check out The Centsible Sawyer for lots of possible savings scenarios. 

Happy Saving!

Free Southern Style Chicken Sandwich or Biscuit at McDonald's

Get a FREE Southern Style Chicken Sandwich or Biscuit at McDonald's with the purchase of a medium or large drink.

Print the coupon here, or check last Sunday's paper for a coupon. Be sure to print the coupon with a color printer, as McDonald's won't accept black and white copies of the coupon. The coupon expires Sept. 1.

Most McDonald's have a medium drink for around $1, so this could be a cheap breakfast or lunch treat for you.

Save at Amazon Grocery and Get Super-Fast Shipping

Amazon Grocery currently has 40 percent off a wide variety of items to fill your pantry. Simply use the code AUGMKDWN when you check out. (The sale is only on select items, and you must make your purchase by August 31). You can read the details here.

Don't forget that orders over $25 will have free shipping. If you're like me and live far from town, this deal may help you save some money. The key is to know unit prices so you can do a comparison. (You may find that you can do better locally with coupons, but you never know).

If you're feeling impatient for your order to arrive, you can also sign up for a one-month free trial of Amazon Prime. Amazon Prime members get free two-day shipping (no minimum amount to spend), upgrade to overnight shipping for $3.99, and the ability to share the perk with three other members of your household. If you stay enrolled after the one-month free trial, the annual fee is $79.99... which is only a great deal if you live far from civilization and buy A LOT of stuff from Amazon on a regular basis.

I'm normally not a big fan of signing up for free trials, but my husband did opt to try this one awhile ago and it was easy to get out of it before the trial period was up. Just make sure you mark your calendar so you don't forget, or you'll get charged!

Coupons, Coupons, Coupons

Thought you guys would like to share some of the coupons I've found:

Try one of Yoplait's new yogurts with a coupon for $1 off any four Yoplait Light yogurts  here. The raspberry cheesecake flavor sounds divine!

You can get $2 off a box of Just Bunches cereal here. Many stores have had this cereal for under $2.50 a box. (Thanks to Money Saving Mom for the tip!)

And speaking of cheap cereal, be sure to sign up for the Cheerios Challenge if you haven't yet.  You can't get a free box anymore, but you can still get six $1 off coupons.

Wendy at More than Enough found this great coupons for $1 and $1.50 off Jolly Time popcorn. Watch for the sales to get a great deal!

Here's a coupon for $1 off Scrubbing Bubbles Toilet Cleaning Gel.

Looking for a quick dinner?  Here is a coupon for off $1 off Ronzoni Bistro.

Don't forget the new member’s offer at Shutterfly: Get 50 free 4x6 prints and an 11x14 Collage Poster when you join.  Already signed up at Shutterfly? Get 15% Off Orders of $25+. Use coupon code: AF63-AG08. (Expires Sept. 9)

If you're looking to print some coupons, be sure to check out one of my favorite resources, Coupons.com.

Happy Saving!

A Collection of Caribou Coffee Coupons

As many of my friends and family know... I do not like coffee. I love the smell of it, I love the idea of it, I love the coffeehouse atmosphere... but I can't stand the taste of coffee. At least I know I'll have no trouble saving money on those $4 lattes!

My husband on the other hand LOVES coffee, so I occassionally indulge him with a visit to Caribou Coffee.

That's why I am so excited to be able to share this coupon for $1 off a Blueberry Real Fruit Smoothie at Caribou with you.  Finally, something I can enjoy! I think I will try it with whipped cream, thank you very much! This printable coupon expires August 31. 

And for those of you who DO like the coffee drinks... I have THREE coupons for you to use at Caribou Coffee THIS WEEK ONLY.

Today only, save $1 on any large blended drink.

Wednesday and Thursday save $1 on any large espresso-based beverage.

Then Friday through Sunday save $1 on any large beverage. 

Click here to print out this week's coupons.

Last, but not least, Money Saving Mom has a tip for how to get a $4 credit on your Caribou Coffee gift card.

Enjoy!

I've Won Two More Awards

I just want to say that I'm honored by the two blogs who nominated me for this award:  Penny Pinching Parent and And She Lived.... both are wonderful blogs. Check them out!

New Freezer Gives Me the Chills

We just got a new freezer. I'm so happy it gives me the chills just thinking about it!

You see, we had a monster of a chest freezer, circa 1982. It weighed a ton, got tons of frost in it, had a rusty lid, and used a ton of electricity.

Last week, we got a new 14.8 cubic feet Whirlpool chest freezer. It has four nifty baskets in it, and it is super quiet. Best of all, it is an Energy Star freezer, which means, we'll save a bunch of money on running the thing.

When you live in the country and you are a bargain hunter like I am, the freezer serves two very important purposes. First of all, it allows you to stockpile on sale items. Secondly, that stockpile can prevent you from making last-minute runs to town.... trips that can be impossible during Minnesota snow storms.

Unfortunately, we didn't have a lot of choices when it came to buying this chest freezer. My favorite local furniture and appliance store is no longer selling appliances. (I think the economy is hitting them especially hard). I've had a bad experience with Sears, so I wasn't about to go there. That left Lowe's and Home Depot. Lowe's had the lower price, and offered a mail-in rebate that covered most of the delivery charge. (We live about 8 miles outside the "local delivery area.") Plus, they hauled away the old freezer, so that was one less worry.

In addition, I was pleasantly surprised to see that because it was an Energy Star freezer, it qualified for a $50 rebate from my electric company. In the end, that will cover the tax and delivery fees we paid.

The new freezer will save us money, and it will give us some piece of mind, too. How cool is that?!

Frugal Reading for You

I've been so focused on my Back to School series this week, that I haven't really talked about much else.

So I thought I'd share a few of the great articles I've read recently:

First off, I just discovered a great new website dedicated to personal finance blogs written by women.  I'm honored to be included with so many other great blogs at Wpersonalfinance.

I'm a big supporter of the idea that the small things you do to save money add up.  Read about a woman who turned $5 into thousands at Get Rich Slowly.

Bargain Briana has an AWESOME post about Surviving the Checkout Lane with Your Coupons.  This is a must read for the avid couponer!

Changes to the McDonald's Dollar Menu are coming. I'm not loving that news from the Wall Street Journal.

As a mom of three little guys, I loved the old-school approach to creating Five Frugal Toys Using Food at Almost Frugal.

Frugal Dad has a good post about the incredible shrinking products on store shelves.

It just makes me cringe when my mom buys stuff that I know she could get for free or cheap if she used coupons. Read You Mean, You Pay for Toothpaste? at Kablog!

I must admit, I am not good at all about using reusable bags when I go shopping. Squawkfox has 50 Reasons to Go Green With Reusable Shopping Bags.  I may have to give the reusable bags a try. 

Happy Reading!

Is This My Future?

My mom called me the other day to tell me I was in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. When I asked her what for, she said it was because I went crazy at Target.

I thought she was talking about my quest to make Target take my coupons.

Turns out, she was just teasing me.

Apparently, there was a 79-year-old woman by the name of Christina Brown, who ended up getting a psych evaluation.... all because Target denied her a $30 refund.

You can read about all the drama in this Star Tribune story 'Cranky Lady' tangled with 'Mr. Nasty'.

Anyway, I thought it was amusing to see another woman with the same name as me, fighting for her rights at Target. That'll be me in another 47 years!

Preserve Those Printer Resources

I've often been very irritated when I print something and discover that 4 of the 8 eight pages I printed have useless garbage on them.

So I was excited to find GreenPrint. GreenPrint is a free download that helps you eliminate unwanted pages from printing, which will save you time, ink, money, and trees.

The program determines what needs to be printed and what doesn't and lets you make easy PDF files with just a click. For the numbers geeks out there, it will also track how much paper you're saving!

If you don't want to download the program, there are simple things you can do with your printer settings to save money on ink and paper.  First change your printer settings to draft.  If you have a color printer, switch to greyscale to save your expensive color inks.  Be sure to select back-to-back printing to save on paper.  If you have a lot of smaller files, consider merging them into one so you won't waste paper.

You can also read Saving on Printing to get more ideas. 

Note: This is the final post in Northern Cheapskate's Back to School Savings series. Thank you for joining me as I explored ways to save money as you head back to school.

Online Courses Can Save Time, Money

Thinking about getting that college degree?  Not sure where you'll find the time?

Consider online classes.  Online college courses are convenient.  You don't have to be "in" class at a set time.  While most classes do have deadlines to meet, the coursework itself is self-paced.  You can work on your class at 3 a.m. if that's when you function the best.  You can take one course at a time, or a full load.

Online courses can also save you money.  You won't have to drive to campus or pay for campus parking. You won't have the temptation of grabbing a quick bite while to/from class.  You can avoid the campus bookstore and find other resources for your textbooks. 

As a former academic advisor and instructor at a community college, and as someone who is married to a community college instructor who teaches half of his classes online, I'd like to share some advice for those of you considering online courses.

1) Just because the class is online, doesn't mean it is independent study.  You must keep up with daily reading and assignments.  You have some flexibility as to what time of day you work on your class, but you do need to be checking in at least once a day.

2) Just like face-to-face classes, participation counts.  The more you participate in the class discussions, the more engaged you will be, and you will get more from the class.

3) Don't think you can cheat in the class, because chances are that the instructor will be able to tell.  Besides that, you'll only be cheating yourself. Don't think instructors will buy excuses, either. Remember, they have kids, jobs, responsibilities, too.

4) You need to buy the required textbook.  Some students think that if the course is online, they don't need a book. If the instructor says you need a book, you need a book.

5) Only take college courses from accredited colleges and universities.  If you have to transfer for some reason, you want to make sure that the credits you earned will apply to your next school.

6) Don't be afraid to ask for help. E-mail your instructor, contact the college's academic/tutoring center, or ask a friend or classmate to help you study.  The students who are most at risk for failing are those unwilling to seek help.  Seek help early and often. Take responsibility for your education.

7) Don't try to take on too much.  If you have a hectic family life, a job, and other personal demands thrust on you, don't take on a full load of college courses.  I would rather see a student take their time and do well than overload themselves and destroy their transcript with less than stellar grades.

8) You must have reliable internet access.  This seems like kind of a no-brainer, but many people think they'll be able to just use the library or a friend's computer.  Sometimes your schedule doesn't mesh with others, so you will need to be able to get online on your own terms.  Of course, freak computer crashes happen, so you will also need a back-up plan for how you will complete your homework if your computer or internet fails.

9) Realize that an online class is the same as a face-to-face class, it is simply presented in a different format. Instead of listening to an instructor lecture, you'll be reading most of what he/she has to say. You will still have to put in some time to get a good grade. Remember that this won't be easy.  If college were easy, everyone would have a degree!

10) Begin with the end in mind.  Set goals for yourself.  What type of degree are you seeking? What do you want to learn?  How will this course help you reach those goals?  When will you work on your classes? What things have you put in place to ensure you'll have adequate uninterrupted study time?  The more thought you put into your educational goals, the more you will get out of them.

Note: This is the fourth post in Northern Cheapskate's Back to School Savings series. Please join me this week as I share more tips for saving money as you head back to school.

Get FREE Ziploc Samples

Be one of the first 10,000 to sign up for Right@Home and get a FREE gift pack from SC Johnson that includes free Ziploc samples, and coupons for $3 off Glade Scented Oil Candles,$2 off two Glade Jar Candles, $1 off Pledge, and $1 off Ziploc Bags/Containers.

To get your free gift pack, sign up here. Be sure to check back every month for more great giveaways from Right@Home (previously Clean Home Journal). I once received a set of three Ziploc Twist-n-Loc containers and a bunch of great coupons through their giveaway.

Saving on School Clothes

Note: This is the third post in Northern Cheapskate's Back to School Savings series. Please join me this week as I share more tips for saving money as you head back to school.

Confession:  My kids aren't old enough for me to worry about buying new school clothes.

But that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about school clothes shopping already! Especially since my husband the college instructor has been hinting about a new back to school wardrobe for him.

So here are my thoughts on how to save money on school clothes.

Do an inventory.  Figure out what clothes your kids have that still fit and look decent.  This will help you know where you need to fill in gaps.


Check out the local thrift stores.  You may be able to get some really great things.  We've seen some great retro t-shirts and sports shirts all in excellent shape that would be perfect for teens.

Watch those sales.  But NOT the back-to-school sales.  Instead, watch the clearance and end-of-season sales.  I also love looking at the outlet/sales sections of websites like Kohls, Lands End, LL Bean, and JCPenney.   You can also check out Target, Walmart, and Kmart.  If your child has some patience, wait until a few weeks into the school year to buy school clothes. Your kids will have a better sense of what the latest style is, and you'll find that the back-to-school stuff has been discounted even more than before.


Teach your kids about quality, classic styles, and value.  Give them their own clothing allowance and show them how to stretch it and still look stylish.  There is no better lesson for back-to-school.

Get a Free Obama Button

Normally, I don't get too involved with politics.

But my husband is Mr. Politics, so I thought I'd entice him to read my blog by offering up a free Barack Obama Campaign button.

Just click here and fill out the form to get your free button. For a small donation, you can get 3 additional buttons.

Super Cheap Diapers At Walgreens

Today I got super cheap diapers at Walgreens! WOO HOO!

Here's how the deal works: Walgreens brand diapers (jumbo size) are on sale 2 for $11.98.

Head to the Pharmacy and ask for the Coupon Savings book. There is a coupon for $2 off Walgreen's diapers in it. Then grab the August Easy Saver book and use the $5 off Walgreens diapers there. Final price per pack is $1.49!!!

Note: Some people around the blogosphere are reporting that not all Walgreens are accepting both coupons for the transaction. But even without the pharmacy coupon, you still pay only $3.49 for a jumbo pack!

This deal ends Saturday, so be sure to stop in soon!  And don't forget to get your free pens! 

Save Money on College Textbooks

Note: This is the second post in Northern Cheapskate's Back to School Savings series. Please join me this week as I share more tips for saving money as you head back to school.

When I was an academic advisor, I used to just cringe when I saw the lines of students that wound through the campus bookstore and around the corner.

The college bookstore is THE most expensive place to buy your college textbooks.

Now, I understand that many students choose to buy their books at the college bookstore because it is much easier to use your financial aid to pay for them. But some people may want an alternative.

Back when I was in college, I was caught in the middle class.... my family made too much money for me to get much financial aid, but not enough for me to afford college comfortably. It was tough.

So, if you're stuck in the middle, here are some ways to save money on college textbooks.

Trade books with a friend. One semester I took Environmental Science, the next semester, Psychology. A good friend of mine did just the opposite and we were able to trade books. You may also be able to borrow books from a friend.

Borrow the books from the library. One of my former students told me she would borrow her literature books for English from the public library. Sure, you can't write in it and you may have to renew it, but it's free.

Check out the college bulletin boards. Many times you can find used textbooks for less than what the college bookstore sells them for. Plus you're helping out a fellow college student.

Check to see what resources your academic learning center has. At my campus, students can read many college textbooks at the library. They have to stay in the library, but that just means you will have to study! Some academic learning centers will also allow you to borrow recorders or calculators, too!

Check out what's available online. When my husband was in grad school, he saved a ton of money on his books by buying them through half.com. Since that time, other great retailers have gotten into selling used textbooks. Check out Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Textbooks.com to see how prices compare.

Remember, great deals on used college textbooks will take some time. You can't wait until the last minute to save some money. You'll also need to know the name of the book, author, edition, and ISBN number, in order to make sure you're getting the book you want.

What other ways have you saved on college textbooks?

FREE Pens at Walgreens

Need pens? You can get two free packs of Bic ballpoint pens at Walgreens.

Simply print the $1 off any two Bic Stationery items coupon here, and take it into Walgreens. There was also a similar coupon in this week's Smart Source in the Sunday paper. Walgreens has 8-pk Bic Ultra Round Stic Grip Pens on sale two for $1.  Use the coupon and get 16 pens for FREE.

Happy Saving!

School Supplies Not Just for School

I love this time of year. I love seeing fresh notebooks, sharp crayons, and little pencil boxes. I haven't been in school (aside from my former job) in 10 years, and my kids are nowhere near old enough for school, and yet, I still LOVE school supplies.

That's why I love this time of year. It's a great time to get super cheap pens, pencils, glue sticks, and erasers. I've seen notebooks for 5 cents each, and boxes of pencils for 25 cents. There are also good sales on hand sanitizer, organizers, facial tissue, and big ticket items like computers and printers.

Think you don't need school supplies? Think again:


Plan ahead for other projects. Acid free glue sticks can help you whip together scrapbooking projects or homemade greeting cards. Notebooks are great for keeping track of ideas, such as money-saving tips, or for making lists.

Make a gift basket. Gather up markers, crayons, glue, colored pencils, paper, rulers, and other cool, inexpensive school supplies into a gift basket for a creative child. These baskets can make great birthday or Christmas gifts... or just a great surprise on a rainy day. You could put some homemade playdough in the basket to really bring out the creativity. And don't forget your new college student. Many homesick freshmen appreciate being able to revert to their inner child every once in awhile!

Donate the items to a worthy cause. Many groups gather donated school supplies for needy children. School teachers also appreciate extra items like facial tissue or pencils. And don't forget your community: Many non-profit organizations would appreciate donations of office supplies.

This is the first in a series of posts for Back to School week at Northern Cheapskate. Join me tomorrow as I explore other ways to save on all things school-related!

Extreme Home Foreclosure

One of the largest homes ever built by ABC's "Extreme Home Makeover" is facing foreclosure.

I'm actually a little surprised this hasn't happened before.  The show's premise is this:  Find families facing severe hardship/less-than-stellar living conditions, and alleviate those problems by building them a brand new, ridiculously large home.

In the case of this foreclosure, the family used the home, built by more than 1,800 community volunteers, as collateral for a $450,000 loan.

Bad plan.

The reason I'm surprised it hasn't happened before is that the families featured on "Extreme Home Makeover" get GIANT, new McMansions to replace their old decrepit homes.  They are also often the recipients of new cars, payoffs of their mortgages, and scholarships for their kids.  How do these families -  most of them already facing financial hardship - afford the taxes, maintenance, and utilities for these enormous homes?  How can they afford the lifestyle that goes with their new home?

I commend ABC's Extreme Home Makeover for trying to help families turn their lives around by giving them a better place to live.  But the "extreme" part of it seems too much for me.  There are more modest ways to give folks a leg up... but then I guess they'd have to call it "Modest Home Makeover" and no one would watch!

I feel sorry for the family who wasted such a blessing by trying to use it to make more money. I feel sorry for a community who put blood, sweat, and tears into helping this family, who in turn, squandered it.

It's quite sad. It's also a good reminder not to waste the opportunities that are given to us.

I Won Three Awards!

I never win anything!  Especially online.



So you can imagine how excited I was when Anita at The Silver Lining selected me to win a blog award. I truly appreciate the honor! And then I won another award later in the week from Michelle at Leaving Excess. Woo Hoo!  AND THEN, I got a third award from Ginger at Coupons, Rebates and Refunds (and also of Attention Target Shoppers).  All these awards are going to go to my head!



But I can't take all the limelight.  I want to share this award with some fabulous blogs you may not be familiar with (but should be!).



Here are more great blogs worthy of this award:





Breaking Even  Always with a personality! Love her practical outlook on life.

Leaving Excess  She's been winning a lot of these awards lately... but she is MOST deserving. One of the best frugal living blogs around.

Hooray for Free-bates!  I've saved quite a bit of money thanks to this site!

Coupon Cravings: A new favorite of mine. Looking forward to her e-book!

Frugonomics101 I'm learning more every day.  Plus, we moms of twins need to stick together!

Minnemom's Travels with Children:  My ticket to figuring out the best places to take the kids!



Here are the rules for the winners:



1. Put the logo on your blog.



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



3. Nominate at least 5 other blogs.



4. Add links to these blogs on your blog.

- Don't forget this step. This is great free advertising!



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



Thanks for nominating me for the awards, ladies!

Reader Q & A: Coupons

This week I've had a couple of readers e-mail me some questions regarding coupons. I'm guessing these two readers are not the only ones with these questions, so I thought I'd share my responses with all of you.

A reader writes:

I have always had this question about couponing: I've heard many stories from cashiers and others about people who buy $100 worth of food, but have $75 worth of coupons, and only pay $25 for their entire purchase that day. How/where are these coupons?? Does one have to spend hours searching the web or giving email addresses to every manufacturer's web site out there? Or is this an exaggerated story? I'm interested in your opinion about these stories.

I must admit I'm not quite that good with the couponing... but I'm usually able to knock 20-40 percent off my bill. The trick is matching the manufacturer coupons with sale prices/store coupons. I suspect some of the folks who get an outrageous amount of food for just a few dollars also have stores that double coupons (no such luck around here!), so that probably has something to do with it. They may also be using coupon clipping services so they get lots of coupons that way - ones that might not be available locally to them, but could be used locally.

Not sure if you saw this post or not, but it explains a little bit of what I do to save money on food/personal care items. You can find printable coupons from SmartSource and Coupons, Inc (use the link on my page to print, and you'll help me earn a few pennies!), and sometimes directly from the manufacturer website.

If I only had time to check out one website, it would be A Full Cup. There is a database of all the coupons out there (printable and from the Sunday paper), including the Target coupons, and the forums are phenomenal for reporting the latest deals at all the chain stores in our area - Kmart, Cub, Target, Walmart, Walgreens. (You have to sign up to access the forums, but it's free and totally worth it!) You can also trade coupons with other folks through the site. Other than that, I highly recommend The Centsible Sawyer and Money Saving Mom for the latest Target/Walmart deals.

Another reader writes:

I see all of these posts on sites about getting free things like razors, particularly at Walmart. I use those $2 off coupons for Gilette or Daisy razors that are frequently in the newspaper, but I haven't figured out how to make the items free yet. Help??

The key is matching up the exact coupon with a great price at the store. The free razors I've gotten at Walmart have been the Schick disposable ones ($2 off coupon from Sunday papers... Walmart price of $1.97). Some people are also playing "The Drugstore Game," to get free stuff.

I don't have time to figure out all the deals on my own, so I highly recommend the website A Full Cup. Sign up for the forums (it's free!) and you will be able to read about all the things you can get for free using coupons. There's also an AWESOME database of what coupons are available, too.

Hot Coupon World is a similar, good resource. I also check out CouponMom, too. That website has some free e-books you can download that will help you learn to use coupons.

It is possible to get stuff for free or almost free, but it does take a little time. To me, it's time well spent because I can use that money elsewhere.

Bottom Line:

• Try to match the sales items with coupons.
• Learn to play the drugstore game.
• Take advantage of great internet resources, like A Full Cup.
• Recognize that deal hunting takes time and patience.
• Don't forget to check out Freebies4Mom for all kinds of free stuff that can help you stretch your budget.
• E-mail me with questions and coupon tips, and I'll do my best to answer those questions and share the best deals with my readers!

Internet Limits My Need to Travel

As I pondered the cost of going to town (about $8 for this rural dweller), I realized that there are so many things I can do without ever leaving the comforts of my own home. All I need is the internet.

I can do my banking and pay my bills. Many banks offer online options that include online bill pay. This saves me money on postage. But when I do need to mail something, I can...

Get postage online. Using the United States Postal Service website, you can print your own postage or order stamps and have them delivered to your door. No need to rush off to the post office.

I can shop online. And it is amazing what you can find online. From groceries to personal care items to clothing and gifts, you can find whatever your heart desires and have it delivered to your door. And usually you can get a great deal on them, too. Sometimes I can even make a little money on my purchase.

I can be entertained. I can watch television shows, read just about anything, listen to music, and so much more.

I can be educated. There is a vast array of online courses, ones that are free and geared toward the hobbyist, and those that will help you on your way to a college degree.

I can earn money. By completing surveys, signing up for affiliate programs, and more. Read about ways I make money online here.

These are just some quick examples of things you can do using the internet to avoid spending money on gas.

What are some things you do from home using the internet?

Stock Up On Thomas & Friends

My oldest son loved Thomas the Tank Engine.  We have tons of Thomas and Friends stuff. We have dozens of episodes in our DVR and on DVD.  For awhile, it felt like Thomas was part of the family.



Because of our son's love of Thomas, we did quite a bit of shopping at Smith-Thompson...the only internet store that sells all Thomas, all the time.



So I was very sad to learn last week, that Smith-Thompson will be closing its doors after 15 years in business.



The good news is that they're getting rid of everything, at 50 to 85 percent off! You can find great sales on the wooden trains, Take-a-Long Thomas, railroad gifts, and more.



Now's the time to plan ahead for Christmas and birthdays for your little Thomas fan.  And hurry, because supplies are limited!

Dinner With Hillary, Anyone?

Let me preface this by saying that I'm not the political one in my family. My hubby and my mom - they love debating politics. But not me.

During the death throes of Hillary Clinton's campaign for presidency, my mom (who was/is a fan), decided to donate money to her campaign. Since she doesn't have a computer, she used mine (and my e-mail address). Ever since, I've been getting regular e-mails from my new pal, Hillary.

So imagine my surprise when I got an e-mail from Bill Clinton with a proposition (no, not that kind of proposition!)

Here's what he wrote:

During the campaign, Hillary and I didn't have the chance to eat together much because we were usually on the trail in different states. Now that the campaign's over, I'm glad we can share more meals again.

Of all the people I've had the privilege to break bread with, the person I most enjoy is still Hillary.

Now you have a chance to have dinner with her. And if you contribute today to help Hillary retire that pesky campaign debt, you and a guest might be sitting down to dinner with her soon. I think you should go for it and enter today.

Join Hillary for dinner. Make a contribution today.

Trust me on this one. If you're the lucky winner, it will be a night you'll really enjoy and one to remember.

All my best,

Bill Clinton 

Okay, there's no way I'm helping Hillary get rid of her "pesky" campaign debt. The woman continued to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars long after her campaign was dead. That kind of irresponsible behavior doesn't sit well with the Northern Cheapskate.

But I was intrigued by the fine print in the rules.

Turns out you don't have to donate to get a chance to win. To enter without making a contribution, send a stamped, self-addressed envelope with name, address and phone number to: Dinner with Hillary Contest, 4420 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA 22203 OR e-mail dinner@hillaryclinton.com. Entries must be received by August 7, 2008 at 11:59:59 PM EDT.

So... let me get this straight... I can enter without donating, but she gets to send me stuff in my own envelope with my own stamp and/or send me MORE spam in my e-mail?

No thanks.  I'd rather eat dinner alone.

Get a FREE Subscription to Remedy Magazine

Sign up here to get a FREE 3-year subscription to Remedy Magazine.

In addition to the free subscription, you will also be sent free samples and health information and newsletters.

Remedy Magazine helps subscribers take charge of their well-being through insightful editorial coverage on topics including nutrition, condition management, fitness, mind/body, medical breakthrough and the latest in health news.

Get FREE Chips & Dip at T.G.I Fridays

For those of you who are members of the "Give Me More Stripes" club at T.G.I Fridays, you can sample a Chips & Dip starter pack for FREE when you show your Stripes card after you're seated.  This deal is for a limited time only.

Never heard of the "Give Me More Stripes" club?  Check out this post  I wrote earlier this year.  When you join the club, you get all kinds of perks including a free appetizer or dessert, a one-time skip-to-the-front-of-the-line pass, free food rewards, and more.

Celebrating Our Anniversary

Today my husband and I are celebrating our 8th wedding anniversary. It's hard to believe it's been that long, but time flies when you share your life with your very best friend.

Looking back, our wedding was a frugal affair: we only invited immediate family and we each had a best friend stand up for us. In total, we had 17 people witness our special day. Then we had a nice dinner and sent every one on their way. We didn't miss all the stress and expense of a big wedding.

We had a frugal honeymoon... a quick weekend trip to a locale only 3 hours away and we had a wonderful time.

I think one of the reasons our married life together has been so happy is that we've always been on the same page when it comes to our finances. We hate debt and seek ways to prevent it from taking over our lives. We support each other in our all our efforts. And we talk about anything and everything.

We're a team. And I'm so glad I found such an incredible teammate!

Happy Anniversary, Aaron! I love you with all my heart and then some!


P.S. Who needs Hallmark when you have a blog? :-)

Get Free Samples of Nature Made Vitamins

I know I've blogged about this before, but this is a good one, so I thought I'd remind my faithful readers and let my new readers know about it.

Get a FREE 14-day sample of Nature Made Liquid Softgel vitamins by clicking on the picture above or clicking here.  Choices include Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Calcium, Multi for Her, Super B-Complex, and Multi Complete.

That's 14-days of improved health and savings for your pocketbook!

5 Things To Do When You Hate Your Job

I've got a couple of friends who are currently in crummy job situations. And it is making them pretty miserable.

They both realize that in today's economy, quitting that job before they find a new one could be disastrous.

So how should they deal with it?

1) Find outside interests and hobbies. Make your time away from work so interesting that you want to return to work just so you can rest.

2) Work even harder. It will make the time go faster, and it's more satisfying to leave a job you hate when you can leave them in a state of panic (sorry, that's my evil side showing!)

3) Watch Office Space. A couple of hours watching this cult classic will leave you smiling.

4) Re-train on the down-low. Take an evening class or an online course. Learn a new skill that would make you more marketable for your next job.

5) Volunteer. Helping those less fortunate than you can help you appreciate your current situation.

July Budget Review

Another month behind us.... and still having some troubles (read about June here).

On a positive note, I saved $176.26 in July by using coupons . I also sold $92.10 worth of stuff at my friends' garage sale and sold another friend $30 worth of maternity clothes. I got quite a few things for free or nearly free, such as toothpaste, band-aids, body wash, and peanut butter.

We also spent $282.63 on groceries, which is about $40 less than we spent in June.

On the negative side, we overspent our gas budget this month, due to the fact that we've been visiting lots of friends who live some distance from us and we took a trip to the zoo (which is 2 hours away). We were under our gas budget in June, so I guess it evens out, right?

We were also ate out A LOT in July. We spent a whopping $240 at restaurants and other food venues. I guess that's why our grocery spending was slightly lower! In the third week of July, we ate out FIVE times. It was ridiculous. I am vowing to cook all meals at home for awhile. I need to get back on track and back in the kitchen. Besides that, my pants are getting tight!

So, another month, another clean slate to start again.

How was your July? Were you able to stay on budget? Did you meet your goals?

Saving Money With My Dishwasher

I'm one of those people who only runs the dishwasher when it's very full. It's an energy star dishwasher.

I pre-rinse the really dirty dishes in cool water rather than hot (because my dishwasher isn't very good at the really tough stuff).

I bought a year' worth of Electrasol dishwasher tablets last winter when they were 29 cents a box (after coupons, of course).

I try to arrange the dishes in my dishwasher so that they get as clean as possible.

I thought I'd pretty much figured every way I could make running my dishwasher as inexpensive as possible.

And then, I had one of those, "Well, DUH" moments.

I recently noticed that my dishwasher has a delay start on it, which means, I can program my dishwasher to run 2, 4 or 6 hours later.

I realized that if I used this feature, I could take advantage of my electric company's off peak rates by waiting to run the dishwasher until after 10 p.m. By waiting until later to run my dishwasher, it would cost me less to run it.

Then I realized that the dishwasher does use some power when it's programmed to run after 10 p.m., but I'm too forgetful to remember to just turn on the dishwasher before I go to bed. I figure I'm still saving enough money to make it worthwhile.

What are some ways you save money with your dishwasher?