Winners of the Rejavanate Totes

Thanks to the random number generator at random.org, I have randomly selected three winners of a Rejavanate tote bag!

For me, the best part of this giveaway was seeing how creative you all are with ways to re-purpose old stuff.  I received more than 300 ideas, which I will be sharing with you next week!   

But you guys just want to know who won, so......

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

18 171 93

Timestamp: 2008-11-01 02:12:19 UTC

Which means the winners are:


Sheila - who suggests turning clementine crates into doll beds. (Clementine crates are awesome for organizing stuff, too!)

Reva -  Reva stole all the dishwasher baskets from her old dishwasher for her husband to use to store stuff in his garage.  (I did this same thing with freezer baskets from an old chest freezer!)

The Deal Diva  repurposes dozens of plastic grocery bags as garbage bags for stinky diapers.  She uses the big ones to line the diaper pail and the little ones for individual diapers. (a great tip for any mom!)

I've contacted each of the winners by e-mail.  They have 72 hours to respond or I will pick another winner! 

Check back here next week to read more terrific ideas for turning trash into treasure!

Great Deal on Toys at Amazon

Jessica at ...And She Lived sent me this awesome deal on toys at Amazon.

Purchase $25 worth of toys at the Amazon Toy Store and you'll get a FREE two-year subscription to Cookie Magazine (value of $15).

But if you don't want the magazine, you can send in a copy of your order confirmation and a rebate form to get the $15 refunded to you!

So if you buy $25 worth of toys, you get FREE shipping, and you'll get $15 back! Sweet deal for Christmas!

Anyway, check out the details on the Cookie Magazine deal here. Make sure you have your e-mail notifcations turned on with Amazon so you don't miss the rebate opportunity.

Thanks for the tip, Jessica!

I was Frugal before Frugal was Cool

I've always been a bit of nerd. You know - last kid picked to play dodgeball, first kid to get knocked out.

I was shopping for my jeans at thrift stores in college, and learning to cook while most of my friends and co-workers were charging up their credit cards and checking out the hottest new restaurants.

Now that the economy has taken a turn for the worse, it seems like frugality has become popular. Suddenly the "Cheapskate" moniker is nothing to mock.

Newsweek's Daniel Gross wrote a great piece called, "Thrift Is the New Fashion." In the article, he talks about the cyclical pattern of being thrifty and the negative connotation of the word thrifty. When times are bad, everyone wants to be thrifty and save money. When times are good, we forget to pinch those pennies.  Gross writes that most people see thrifty as being miserly and depressing.  That is NOT something I have seen in my one year of blogging about all things frugal.

One of the points Gross makes is that while our current economic situation is tough, our leaders do not want us to be thrifty. They want us to spend so that we can stimulate the economy. Gross writes, "Spending money heedlessly - traveling, redecorating, eating out - keeps our friends and neighbors employed."

This really made me think. I live in a small community. When the steel industry suffers, the whole region struggles. It is during these times that I try to remember to shop locally, to get my haircut, or save up some money to go out to eat once in awhile.

I don't think of these brief expenditures as being foolish with my money. There is a definite difference between being stingy vs. frugal. I am frugal so that I can afford to do these things. I am frugal so that I can help others when times are tough.

Being frugal shouldn't be a trend. It should be a lifestyle that you embrace. It not only helps your bottom line, but it can help the environment, and benefit others.

As Dave Ramsey says, "Live like no one else, so later you can live like no one else."

Reminder: Win a Reusable Tote

Just wanted to remind you that there's still time to win one of three Rejavanate reusable tote bags!

Click here to enter the contest. I'll be picking three winners in a random drawing Friday night. And be sure to check out Bloggy Giveaways for an incredible array of fabulous prizes you can win this week!

Saving on Batteries

It's almost the end of daylight savings time... which in our house means that it's time to change the batteries in five smoke detectors and two carbon monoxide detectors.

And then, of course, Christmas is coming. And despite all of our efforts, someone will give the kids toys that need batteries, lots of energy-sucking toys in need of batteries.

So what are some ways you can save on batteries?

When it comes to your smoke detector batteries, visit your local fire department.  Many fire departments give away smoke detectors and batteries during their fall open houses.  Their goal is to help you stay safe, so check with your local department to see if they can help. 

Use rechargable batteries for those toys.  I wouldn't recommend recharables for my smoke detectors, but for the kids toys, rechargable batteries work well.  Watch for sales around the holidays and make sure to use coupons.

Use the Drugstore Game to pay for your batteries. If you're not familiar with the Drugstore Game (as the frugalists like to call it), here's how it works: You use manufacturer and store coupons at places like Walgreens and CVS to rack up big rebates and get everything from toothpaste to razors for free. You can use your rebates to pay for your batteries. You get free toiletries, AND you can raise some funds to power your stuff.  There are tons of great blogs out there that work out the money-saving scenarios for you.  Two of my favorites are Money Saving Mom and Common Sense with Money.


Keep your eyes out for battery coupons. The Sunday papers have been having Rayovac, Energizer, and Duracell coupons. You can also check out the Energizer contest to win stuff and get a $1 off coupon here.

Buy your batteries in bulk.  Just like any other purchase, you should be aware of the unit price.  Sometimes you may find that by buying a large package of batteries (think 10-count or more),  you will get a better price for each individual battery.  If they're properly stored, this stash of batteries will last you for years.  Be sure to check out warehouse deals, too.

What are some ways you save on batteries?

FREE Turtle Chex Mix Bar Sample

I admit it: I am a stress eater. So while my children were biting each other this morning, and my husband called to say he hit a deer and the car wasn't driveable (he's okay, thankfully!), and I finally got my internet fixed... I was so happy to see this free sample in my inbox.

Get a FREE sample of a Turtle Chex Mix Bar when you sign up for the Betty Crocker newsletter. If you've already signed up for this free newsletter, you won't be eligible... but if you're desperate for chocolate, you could always sign up your spouse. (I understand... I would never judge you for that.)

Hurry, this offer won't last long!

Teachers: Save on Grad Credits

Editor's note: The following post was written by my frugal friend (and college buddy) Susan:

If you don’t work in education, you may not know that, as a rule, teachers can earn raises in one of two ways. The first is at the start of the new school year, we get paid a little more than last year. The second is by taking classes. Every district has its own rules about how many classes it takes for a raise, and what kind of class it needs to be and even the topics it can be on.  The main topics are usually similar.

I am always on the lookout for classes that will enhance my teaching and cost less than the $300 a credit charged by my local public university. When I got a flyer from www.coolteachers.com offering 3 graduate credit, in-person classes for $445 and on-line classes for $295,  I knew it was a scam. But I am just 6 credits from a raise so, in true librarian style, I did some digging.

All their courses are taught through fully accredited schools. I wanted to be SURE so I looked up their accreditations with the US Department of Education http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/ and sure enough! There they were with full blown a-okay status! I then cleared it with the HR man for my district and he said it was a go.

Wham! I enrolled in 2 on-line classes. So far, so good. There isn’t a tremendous amount of reading but there is a lot of opportunity to reflect on how what I am learning applies to my position and current practices. I have not turned in any assignment yet so I don’t know how tough the grading will be but I am not worried. I have 6 weeks to finish each course, just in time to slip in under the Feb 6 deadline.

If this looks like something that would fit your needs, PLEASE check with your district and state licensing organization (if using the credits for license renewal) to make sure it is okay with each of them.

Happy learning!

Guest Blogger Susan

Save Money with an FSA

It's coming up on on open enrollment time at my husband's work. This is the time of year where we get to make decisions on our health care, dental, life insurance, and more.

Last year was the first time I ever gave much thought to the choices we were making. It's also the first year that we opted to set up a medical flexible spending account (FSA).

If you don't know how an FSA works, it's simple: You can set aside a portion of your earnings pre-tax to use for certain health care expenses such as clinic co-pays, prescriptions, and deductibles. You can also set up an FSA for day care expenses, but since I'm a stay-at-home mom, we don't need that.

So the big perk is that you won't have quite as big of a tax-bill. It also forces you to save for health care expenses, which is something most of us neglect to do. The downside is that if you set aside $1,000 in an FSA, you must spend it all by the end of the year or you'll lose that money. You also have to remember to fill out the paperwork and send it in, which is a challenge for me sometimes.

Because I was afraid we wouldn't spend all of our FSA in a year (silly me... I forgot I had three children!), we only set aside $500 in our FSA last year. While it helped a little, it didn't even cover our deductibles for the year. Based on our visits to the doctor and prescription medicine needs, we will be raising our FSA to $1000. This should cover our family deductible, with a little left for co-pays and prescriptions.

I've been doing quite a bit of thinking about our FSA this year... spurred on by Kacie's thoughts at Sense to Save and this article from the Star Tribune by Kara McGuire.

I am certain we will use all of the money this year because the reimbursement procedure is changing. Rather than having to submit receipts and forms, we will be able to use a debit card that will take the money right out of our FSA! It will be much easier to keep track of our health care spending, too.

Of course, we'll continue to practice other health care saving measures and getting our flu shots. And maybe.. just maybe, we'll start exercising!

Bloggy Giveaway: Win a Rejavanate Reusable Tote Bag

As part of the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival, I've got three reuseable tote bags from Rejavanate to give away!

Rejavanate totes are made from recycled burlap from coffee bean bags.  They're helping to recycle some of the 800,000 tons of burlap that would just go to waste.  The totes are assembled by The ARC, a non-profit organization which helps 140,000 developmentally disabled adults find jobs.

These are unique, sturdy bags that will help you help the environment.  I was impressed that they mailed me the totes in a box they had recycled!

I am giving away THREE of these cool Rejavanate totes.

So here's the deal:   Please fill out the form below. (If you can't see the form, you'll need to click here.)  I promise that your e-mail will only be used to notify winners.

Please share something you've re-purposed in the form.  Maybe you've taken a baby bottle drying rack and now use it dry your tot's mittens.  Maybe you've turned cereal boxes into magazine holders.   Please share!  I will randomly select three winners for the totes, but I will be sharing my favorite ideas for re-purposing items that you send in a future post.  (If you have something you'd like to share from your blog, please include the link).

Rules:  Contest is only open to those who live in the United States.  Please enter only once per household. You must use the form to enter the contest. Entries made in the comments will NOT be accepted. Contest ends Friday, Oct. 31 at 8 p.m. CST.  I'll contact the winners by e-mail and announce them in a future post.

Be sure to come back to the blog to see what great ideas people  have for giving old stuff new life!

And don't forget: There are lots More giveaways at the Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival!  There are dozens of fabulous prizes there not just this week... but every day!

Halloween Goodies Abound!

When most people think of Halloween, they think of getting the kids dressed up and going from house to house trick-or-treating.

But there are other ways to load up on candy - ways that are simpler and kinder to us folks in the colder, northern climates.

Many shopping malls and even grocery stores are having family-oriented Halloween events this week where the kiddos can trick-or-treat at well-lit, safe locations and get lots of fun goodies. Check out the Boo Bash at Kowalski's that TopazTook told me about.  In my area, I know that both the Grand Rapids Central Square Mall and Ogle's Foods both have Halloween events going on this week, so check the Sunday paper for details.

And for all you folks who wait until the last second to get ready for Halloween, I've found a few things for you, too! 

Still haven't carved your pumpkin?   Check out these super-cute Disney stencils you can print out from Huggies.

Need a really scary costume on the cheap?  Check out the free Halloween masks here.

Not going anywhere and want to be entertained? There is plenty of eye candy at Ben & Jerry's Halloween site.

And here's another deal for you:  Donate $1 to the Have It Your Way Foundation and Burger King will give you 8 FREE value-size french fry coupons! (Can you say "stocking stuffers?")  Check with your local Burger King for details.

Know of any other Halloween treats?  Please share!

eBay: It's a Buyer's Market

I've noticed an interesting trend on the morning news shows and women's magazines:

They all recommend selling things on eBay to raise extra funds in these tough economic times.

I have dabbled in eBay. I've bought and sold about two dozen items in the last year - mostly Minnesota Twins gear and baby stuff. And while I've made slightly more money from the sales than what I would earn from selling the stuff in a garage sale, I've found it to be more work than I need right now.

I'm finding that the eBay market is a bit flooded... and the fees are a little spendy. Now this isn't true with every category, but it has been my experience. I've had a few items that despite being listed at rock-bottom prices, did not sell despite numerous listings. And when I do a search of similar items, it seems other folks are selling them for literally pennies.

It's an interesting situation. Hundreds of thousands of people are listing things on eBay in an attempt to raise some extra cash... and none of it is selling because no one has any money.

I'm not going to write-off eBay forever, but I am going to hold off listing things there for awhile. I've been having better success with my local children's clothing consignment shop and other online classifieds, so I'll stick with those for now. I've also been donating things I don't need. If I can't sell it, at least I can feel good about helping others.

On the other hand, if you do have a little spending money, now is a great time to find bargains on eBay and elsewhere. It's definitely a buyer's market.

Free Reusable Tote from Target

When I first read about getting a FREE reusable tote from Target over at Attention Target Shoppers, I was totally pumped!

You see, earlier this year, I was able to score a FREE Target Retote reusable shopping bag by taking the cover off my Newsweek, turning it into a pre-paid envelope, filling it with five clean Target plastic shopping bags, and dropping it in the mailbox. The Retote bag by TerraCycle is incredibly durable and roomy! Perfect for Target trips!

So I was pretty excited to see at Ginger's blog that TerraCycle and Target were doing the promotion again, only this time, with People magazine.

But then, AFTER I purchased People magazine (something I never do!), Deal Seeking Mom reported that you don't even have to buy the magazine! That's right, you can just stick all those bags in your own envelope and mail it to them to get your coupon for a free reusable tote! Read all the details here.  (Note that this offer is limited to one bag per household.)

So, I was a bit bummed about that I bought the magazine when I didn't have to, but at least I can say I know a little celebrity gossip now. And buying the magazine is still a better deal than buying the tote outright, so I did save a little bit of money.

Anyway, wanted to share this with you so you could take advantage of this deal.

Stick around... I just may be giving away some other handy reusable totes next week!

Weekend Reading

It's been awhile since I've participated in any blog carnivals, so this week, I was graciously included in two of them!

Check out Money Hacks Carnival: The 1925 Railroad Edition hosted at My Two Dollars.

Be sure to read the Festival of Frugality: Extra Money Edition over at Mighty Bargain Hunter.

As if that's not enough frugal reading for you, I thought I'd share a few other things with you:

Donna Freedman at MSN Money's Smart Spending blog had a great piece called Recession is Good for the Soul that featured... well... ME... You've probably already read the posts she talks about, but be sure to read the comments because they're quite thought-provoking!

Wise Bread asks the question I've been asking myself since this whole housing debacle began: Should We All Just Stop Paying the Mortgage? 

Chief Family Officer and I share a similar problem: Our Biggest Spending Pitfall: Eating Out. 

Happy Reading!

All You: Yes You Can (get goodies!)

If you haven't checked out All You magazine, you should. This magazine, sold only at Walmart or by subscription, is chock full of great ideas and my favorite thing: loads of money-saving coupons. This is a publication that more than pays for itself!

All You thrives on reader participation. You can even sign up to be an All You Reality Checker and give your input on the magazine (and maybe even get published).

I signed up to be an All You Reality Checker after Dealicious Mom shared the link on her site. I was intrigued that they were looking for folks to do book reviews, among other things.

This week I got an e-mail from All You saying that if I brought in a completed printed survey to their All You "Yes, You Can!" event at Walmart this weekend (Oct. 25-26), I could get a $10 gift card for groceries! (every 20th person who does the initial survey and lengthier online survey after the event has a chance to get the gift card).

I was already planning to stop by Walmart this weekend anyway, because the All You "Yes, You Can!" event sounds pretty cool (C'mon! Coupons and free samples! What's not to love?) and I have some things to pick up.

You can find out all the details about being a Reality Checker here. You should also find out which stores in your area are hosting the All You event. The event is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the day it is held varies, so check before you go.

Happy Sampling!

Saving Money on School Spirit

In a past life I was an admissions representative for a community college. This meant that I traveled all over the state talking to prospective high school students about my school.

College gear was a staple of my working wardrobe! But at my college's bookstore, some pretty average sweatshirts cost $50 or more. Not exactly in my budget.

So instead, I got smart. I shopped the overstock clearance at Lands End, Kohls, and Target for quality plain button-down shirts, polos, sweatshirts and sweaters in my school's colors. I never paid more than $15 for any item.

Then I would take the shirt or sweatshirt to the local custom embroidery shop. Because they already had the college's logo and a collection of the college's mascot-related graphics from the athletic department, they only charged me $8 to put the design on my item.

If I had purchased the same item at the custom embroidery shop or at the college bookstore, I would have paid TWICE the price as I did for my high quality discount shirt.

A co-worker also picked up a beautiful sweater at Goodwill and had the school logo put on it. She got LOTS of compliments on the sweater, and no one new she'd only paid $4 for it!

So if you want to show your school spirit (or office spirit, etc), be sure to check your local custom embroidery shop to see if they already have the logos on file. If they do, ask them what they would charge you to put that logo on something you brought to them. Be creative: turtlenecks, socks, ties... there are lots of possibilities to set yourself apart from the crowd.

And you may just be pleasantly surprised at the savings!

Gifts that Help Others Save Money

There are an infinite number of gift-giving possibilities this holiday season. But during tough economic times, the best gift may just be one that saves the recipient some money.

Here are a few ideas:

Books. A few carefully selected books can help someone save their hard earned money or make 2009 the year they start to attack their debt. Check out books by Mary Hunt, Dave Ramsey, and other debt-beaters.
Cookbooks, home improvement books, and other how-to books can give people the tools they need to do things for themselves (and save money doing it!)


FoodSaver. Your recipient can learn how to stretch their food budget by buying in bulk and repackaging their finds into smaller servings using this vacuum sealer.

Crock-Pots. Teach family members that cooking doesn't have to be a chore. Be sure to include a note telling them to check out A Year of Crockpotting for recipe ideas.

Magazines. What's better than a useful gift? It's one that arrives in your mailbox every month. Consumer Reports, Taste of Home, Kiplinger's Finance, and Readers Digest are great options.


Gift Cards. The key to making this a personal gift is to really know the types of places the recipient shops. I also like to give gift cards to unexpected places: a grocery store, a drug store, a restaurant or movie theatre. When money is tight, people often appreciate being able to treat themselves to something nice. A gift card can make them feel special.


Gift baskets loaded with goodies. Here's where you can really use your great bargain hunting skills. Use coupons, sales, and clearanced items to assemble gift baskets loaded with snacks and candy. Or put together a basket of personal care items you got for free or nearly free. A well-thought-out collection of goodies can help the recipient stretch their budget and feel pampered at the same time.

Any other gift ideas you would add to this list?

Stolen Bases = Free Tacos

It's deals like these that make me wish we had a Taco Bell... oh, that and the fact that Taco Bell is so much better than Taco Johns...

Anywho... Taco Bell will be giving away free tacos if a base is stolen during a World Series game.

If a base is stolen during Games 1-4 on October 22, 23, 25, or 26, you can get one free Crunchy Seasoned Beef Taco on Tuesday, Oct. 28 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

If a base is stolen in games 5-7 (October 27, 29, or 30), you can get one free taco on Monday, Nov. 3 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Message to the Phillies and the Rays: Hungry people everywhere are counting on you to steal some bases!

(Thanks goes to Coupon Cravings for this tip!)

More Tips from Freebies 4 Mom

If you missed it today, Heather from Freebies 4 Mom was on Inside Edition. You can watch the segment here.

Heather did a fabulous job in the short, but sweet segment!  Be sure to check out the FREE download  How to Get Free Stuff .  Heather has put together some good info on how to find all the freebies!

Everything You Need to Know About CFLS

In an effort to lower my utility bill, I've been switching my incandescent light bulbs for compact-fluorescent ones.

The CFLS cost a bit more, require special disposal methods (since they contain mercury), but they last years longer than standard light bulbs and can help you save on your electric bill.

When I was purchasing these bulbs, I had done a little bit of light reading to help me decide on what to get. My plan was to give you the lowdown on all things related to CFL bulbs.

During my research, I came across this fabulous series from A Penny Closer. Melissa has REALLY done her homework on CFLs, and anything I wrote on this topic would pale in comparison.

So listed below are the links to her four-part series "A Closer Look at CFLS." I hope you appreciate the info as much as I did!


A Penny Closer - A Closer Look at CFLs

Part 1: Conscientiously Frugal Lighting
Part 2: Every Rose Has Its Thorn
Part 3: Lumens, Kelvins and Watts, Oh My!
Part 4: Take it to the Limit

Freebies 4 Mom on Inside Edition

Be sure to check out Heather at Freebies 4 Mom on TV today!

Heather will be appearing on Inside Edition on Wednesday, Oct. 22. She'll be talking about all the fabulous freebies she finds.

Of course, if you're a fan of hers like I am, you already know all about it!

Don't forget she's celebrating one year of  Freebies 4 Mom with some fabulous giveaways! 

Save Money On Gifts With the Internet

Long ago, back when my town used to actually have a functional shopping mall, the whole family would go there to do our Christmas shopping.

When the mall died, we started to make the 2-hour trip to Duluth, where there was a bigger mall.

Now that we have three kids and gas prices are 30 percent higher than they used to be, we've taken to doing most of our gift shopping on the internet. I've found that using the internet to shop saves us money in other ways than just the price of gas. When you shop from home you're not as tempted to buy things you see because you "may as well get it while you're there." It's easier to say "no" to a purchase because there is always another great deal online tomorrow. Also, whenever we would head to the "big city" we would have to go out to eat, fill the car with gas, get a snack or two, and some other treat for ourselves. The trip would always end up costing more than we thought.

I'm also learning that there are ways to squeeze even more savings out of online shopping. Here are a few fabulous resources I've used to find bargains online.

FreeShipping.org This site has free shipping coupons to more than 800 stores including JCPenney, Kohl's, Macy's, Dell and Gap. It's easy to search by store name, category, and expiration date.  I always try to check out this site before I order anything online.

Along those same lines, check out Rather Be Shopping.  In addition to free shipping codes, Rather Be Shopping also has coupon codes for discounts at hundreds of online retailers.  And Kyle's blog is pretty good, too.

I never, ever shop online before checking Ebates.  Ebates is a website that gives you cash back for shopping through their website.  It's super easy to use, and four times a year, I get a "big fat check" just for shopping online through Ebates for things I would normally buy.  (By the way, if you use this link to sign up and make a purchase before Oct. 31, we'll both get $10).  Ebates also tips you off to coupon codes and free shipping offers.

If you need to make a purchase and you need it to get here fast, consider a free trial membership to Amazon Prime.  With Amazon Prime, you get free unlimited 2-day shipping all year round for $79 (with no minimum purchase to make), so if you're a major Amazon customer, you may want to check it out.

If you just want to take advantage of the quick shipping for the holidays, you can sign up for the FREE Amazon Prime 30-day trial membership.  Just remember to cancel the membership before the 30 days are up or else you'll get charged the $79 fee.   My husband did this last year, and it was super convenient to use and easy to cancel the service before the fees kicked in.   One other note: not all Amazon products qualify for the Amazon Prime 2-day free shipping, so be sure to check that out before adding a product to your shopping cart.

This summer a reader shared  Evreward with me.  If you belong to more than one shopping rewards program (like Ebates, MyPoints, etc.), Evreward will help you figure out where to shop to get the most reward for your money.  I subscribe to their deal blog, and let me tell you, they find some great deals!

Once you've made your purchase, be sure to sign up with PriceProtectr. PriceProtectr alerts you when an item you've purchased online has dropped in price.  Many stores offer price protection polices that will refund you the difference if the product drops in price within a specific time frame.  At PriceProtecr you just enter in the URL of the information page of whatever it is you bought, and submit your e-mail address, and then they'll let you know if the price drops. 

These are just a few of my favorite sites for shopping online.  What are some of yours?

Get a FREE Online Organizer

Betty Crocker wants to help you save time and get organized.

When you sign up for Cozi, you get access to a FREE online family organizer.

Keep track of appointments and committments in a family calendar, leave messages for other family members, plan your grocery list, keep a family journal, and design a photo collage screensaver. You can even access the organizer from your mobile phone.

Just one more tool for busy families!

Discount Membership at Sam's Club

Been wondering if Sam's Club will save you money, but afraid to spend the money on a membership?

Well, wonder no longer.

From now until October 26, you can sign up for a 10-week membership at Sam's Club for just $10, instead of the $40 annual fee.

The 10-week membership will carry you through the busy holiday season and post-holiday sales! So stock up while you can!

And for a limited time only, you can get 30 FREE seasonal photo greeting cards at Sam's Club when you purchase specially-marked packages of Huggies Snug & Dry diapers in size 1-2.

Once you are a member, be sure to regularly check out the In Clubs Now section of the Sam's Club website to access more freebies!

Happy Saving!

Clearing the Air: House Plants

One of my regular readers, Kara, sent me this fabulous tip that I wanted to share with you:

"A few years ago we found out that 2 of our family members have allergies galore. We went out and bought a $250 air purifier for our home. The cost, cleaning, and sound always bothered us. It became another product that just wasn't worth it. The following year I started raising the simplest of house plants: Snake plants, philodendrons, and some others. These plants keep our home full of fresh air much more so than the air purifier! They don't cost anything and they add a little charm.

Before the snow comes each fall I split and re-pot my house plants one last time outside. Less mess with little helper's hands involved! I also look around the house for containers that look decorative that I've collected through out the year. Now each bedroom has three plants, the living room/dining room has 4 and we've given some plants away as gifts for sick friends and family. Cheap and healthy!"

Kara makes some really good points about using houseplants to help keep your air clean.  An aloe vera plant can also serve as a home remedy for minor burns, and of course, you could always plant a mini indoor herb garden and reap the benefits of cleaner air AND tasty embellishments for your dinner.


One other thought:  the reason we often feel chilled in the winter is because the air is so dry.  Houseplants can help that, as well as a well-maintained aquarium or humidifier. 

Free Coffee For You

Oh, how I love the smell of coffee.

But in our house, only my husband loves the taste!

I do, however, love coffee freebies, including these two I learned about from Heather at Freebies4Mom:

Get a free sample of Folgers Coffee from Walmart.

Get a coupon for a FREE hot beverage of your choice at Barnes and Noble through October 31 here. There's also a coupon for 15 percent off one item at Barnes and Noble. Note: Some folks in the blogosphere have had a hard time using these coupons. My suggestion would be to print them, but not cut them out... just show them the whole sheet so the clerks know it came from Barnes and Noble.

Enjoy!


NOTE: A few kind folks have commented that I had it wrong when I first posted the Barnes & Noble coupon.... it's not just for a FREE cappucchino... it can be used for any kind of hot beverage. Even better!

How to Get Free Internet

I find the internet to be the best tool in a frugal person's shopping aresenal.

You can find deals, print coupons, and learn about products with just a few clicks.

But what happens when you don't have the internet?

Here are some ways you can get internet access for free:

Hang out at a friend's house. Find a friend or relative and ask if you can use their internet. Be considerate if your printing things... no one likes an ink hog. Or a computer hog, either!

Visit your local library. Libraries are great places to find free internet. You may need to sign up for a library card, but it's free, and if you don't have a library card by now, you should get one anyway.

Sign up for NetZero.  You can get 10 hours of free dial-up internet access each month from NetZero.  Ten hours isn't a lot, but it's better than nothing.  Their unlimited monthly dial-up service starts at $4.97 for the first three months and then goes up to $9.97, which isn't bad either.


Take advantage of free wireless internet.  Many restaurants, coffee shops and businesses offer free internet access to laptop users who have a wireless internet network card.  Check out Wi-Fi Free Spot to see a directory of places that have free internet.  The list for my area is not complete, so you may want to ask around to see if there are more locations in your town.  And of course, if you spend a bunch of money every time you visit these spots, you're better off to just sign up for internet service at home!  

Remember whenever you are using someone elses computer or network to be safe and make sure you are protecting your private information.

Great Giveaways at Freebies4Mom

My good friend Heather is celebrating the one-year anniversary of her fabulous blog Freebies4Mom with 14 days of giveaways starting October 16.

If you've never visited Freebies4Mom, you really should take a look. Heather means what she says when she writes that she is "spoiling moms with the hottest FREE samples, coupons and money-saving tips."

Even if you're not a mom, be sure to check it out. She has lots of great stuff for everyone.

During her anniversary celebration she'll be giving away everything from grocery gift cards to blog design goodies. Stop by Freebies4Mom on October 21 for a very special giveaway for her readers!

Happy Anniversary, Heather!

Buying Rewards Points?

I am a firm believer in not carrying credit card debt.

That said, we use our credit card (note that I said card, singular) for all of our gas purchases and for online bills such as our internet, satellite, and phone services. We also put all major purchases on the card, too. We pay the bill in full each month.

We do this to earn the credit card rewards. We have a Citibank credit card, and over the course of several years we have collected hundreds of dollars in gift cards for simply spending money we would normally be spending.

The "Thank You Network" as it is called at Citicards, awards one point for every dollar you charge on the card. Shop with certain merchants and get even more points.

The program has gotten more difficult to earn rewards. It now takes 6000 points to get a $50 Target gift card. And don't even think about trading points for merchandise: Inconvient Truth on DVD will cost you 4,000 points. That's a lot of points for a $12 video, especially when you could just get a gift card for much less.

So imagine my surprise when I saw the notice in my bill saying that I could buy rewards points.

The idea is that if you're only a few points away from an award, you can buy points to reach that award.

Say, whaa?

The catch is that the minimum number of points you can buy is 1,000. And they'll set you back $25!

So let me get this straight. Let's say I have 5,000 points racked up on my card, and that I've charged $5,000 worth of stuff just to get to that number of points. I'd only have to shell out $25 more to get a $50 reward gift card, instead of the additional $1,000 I'd have to spend.

Okay, that doesn't seem like such a bad deal.

But  here's the thing.... isn't this supposed to be a reward?  I mean, how am I being rewarded for shopping with merchants if I'm just throwing extra money at my credit card company?  Seems kind of ridiculous to me.

Either have some patience and wait until you've earned enough points for the reward, or just go to the store and buy the gift card outright.  You don't need to buy rewards. Credit card companies make enough money already.

Now Get Coupons from your TV

My faithful reader Courtney just told me that she is able to get coupons from her television using TIVO!

She writes:

"I'm writing because our TIVO has started giving us pop-ups for coupons during commercials! We just got our first TIVO-related coupon in the mail yesterday, up to $4.50 off of any Coffee Mate product!

The commercial comes on, then there's a pop-up at the bottom of the screen that says something like "press the thumbs up button on your remote to get a special deal on this product." TIVO knows where we live (frightening, I know) so if I hit the "thumbs up" it knows to send me the coupon.

I think it's pretty exciting because it's the lazy man's version of coupon cutting, and this particular coupon is a really great deal on a product that we use religiously. I'm not sure if this is just a TIVO thing of if non-TIVO brand DVR's do it too."

I don't have TIVO, but I am VERY EXCITED about this concept. I already believe my DirecTV DVR saves me money, and I expect that if TIVO sees some success with its new coupon offering, DirecTV and Dish Network will follow with their own coupon campaigns.

I love the idea of being able to get coupons from your living room with minimal effort. I also like that they are high-value coupons!

What are your thoughts on this? Have any of you taken advantage of the TIVO coupons?

Being a Vocal Consumer is Good for Everyone

I'm not one to sit quietly if I feel I've been wronged, especially when it comes to a purchase I've made.

I've complained about tabs coming off diapers, Miracle Whip jars that won't open, and straws missing from juice boxes.

My latest phone calls involved toys, and I got terrific responses. The Busy Basics Busy Ball Choo-Choo quit working (even with fresh batteries) just three months after we got it, and a Hot Wheels car we got for a potty-training prize, had a bad wheel. Playskool's response: They shipped out a BRAND-NEW Busy Ball Choo-Choo, no questions asked. Hot Wheels gave me the choice of receiving a replacement car or a coupon for the purchase of another one. (I picked the latter.)

Some might say that I'm just a complainer, but that's not true. The thing is, I think it's important to be a vocal consumer. If we don't say something about toys that break right away, companies will continue to cut corners and make inferior products. If we don't say something about products that are missing tabs or taste terrible, how will those businesses know there is a problem?

Businesses WANT to know what the problems are with their products and most of them want a chance to make it right. Happy customers = repeat customers. Happy customers who like to talk about their good experiences with a company = more customers.

When you voice your concerns with a product, you are improving the quality of that product for everyone. Praise for a product has the same effect. Companies want to hear what they're doing right, too!

So don't be afraid to say something. Find the number or e-mail of the company and contact them. Be sure to give them as much detail as possible and be prepared to give lot numbers or UPC codes.

It will help us all get better quality goods for our hard-earned money.

Shameless Nepotism: Read My Husband's New Book

After what seemed like an ETERNITY, my husband's new book is finally out in stores!

Here is part of the official press release for the book:

New book explores the heart and soul of Minnesota's iconic Iron Range


DULUTH, Minn. -- A new book by accomplished Iron Range newspaper columnist and radio commentator Aaron Brown seeks to breathe life into the region's storied history for another generation. "Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range" will be released by the insurgent Duluth publishing house Red Step Press on Oct. 14. The book combines humor, history, personal stories, Range characters and original observations about Minnesota's most unusual region.


"I'm the fifth generation of my family to live and work on the Iron Range and I'm helping raise the sixth," said Brown. "I'm also the first in my paternal line to never work in a mine, all while making a living off of the Internet. That's where the idea for this book came from. I have come to love the stories and traditions of our past, but the present and future will require a new generation to step up."


Brown, 28, is a columnist for the Hibbing Daily Tribune, where he served as the state's youngest daily newspaper editor from 2001 until 2003. In addition to the column, Brown now teaches communication courses at Hibbing Community College. For the last three years he's been an essayist and contributing producer for the KAXE radio program "Between You and Me." He's also the founder and editor of the Iron Range's most popular news and politics blog, MinnesotaBrown.com.


"Actually, I think it might be the only Iron Range political blog, which is part of the problem," said Brown.


"Overburden" features original essays on topics such as Range culture, work ethic, politics and history, all from Brown's uniquely humorous but sincere perspective made popular in each Sunday's Hibbing Daily Tribune. Additionally, Brown weaves his story of growing up in a trailer house on his family's junkyard with the history and sentiment of the Iron Range. The book also features some of Brown's best work from the Tribune and his weekly essays on KAXE, Northern Community Radio.


Barton Sutter, former poet laureate of Duluth, MPR contributor and author of the award winning regional bestseller "Cold Comfort" offers this take on "Overburden."


"The Iron Range has found its voice in Aaron Brown. The kid with Coke-bottle glasses who was raised in a trailer next to his parents' junkyard has grown up to write a ferocious, loving anthem to his home region. Historical, political, deeply personal, "Overburden" is rich with details but sizzles with narrative drive. Oddly enough -- or maybe not -- Brown, as author, has all the qualities we look for in a great hockey player: guts and heart, vision, skills, and speed. Rangers will see themselves in this book. Outsiders will be stung by envy."


"Overburden" is being published by Red Step Press, a new publishing company out of Duluth, Minnesota.

Anyway, we're all excited about the book. It's a wonderful book (and I'm not just saying that because my hubby wrote it!). Please check it out at one of the local book store events or pick it up online at Barnes & Noble.

Being a Human Guinea Pig

I've always loved free stuff. I remember when I was kid, I would check out a book from the library called Free Stuff for Kids, and I would send away for stuff like a Louisville Slugger pen, animal stickers, and a Disney pencil.

And then I got older and liked getting samples when I stopped by stores. When I got into the world of blogging, and found Freebies4Mom, I fell in love all over again with the fabulous world of freebies.

It didn't take long before my infatuation with freebies lead me to be a willing product tester.

There are a few things you should know about being a product tester. First off, you have to like trying new things. You have to be able to abandon all preconceived ideas about a product. You have to be outspoken and be able to contribute constructive criticism. And you have to be able to follow instructions. It can be fun, but it can also be time consuming, too. I usually find the experience to be worth it.

Here are some examples of companies that periodically look for product testers:


Global Opinion Panel. They pay you for surveys and periodic product tests. This is the company that gave me the super nice toilet paper to try(I'm pretty sure it wasn't frugal stuff!)

MySurvey.com. Another great survey company that pays you cash for surveys. I was thrilled to receive a jumbo pack of Huggies Diapers in the mail to use on my sons.

SheSpeaks. This one is a lot of fun (and it has some street cred: it's been featured on Good Morning America.). I got to try the Garnier Nutrioniste Eye Roller and Ore Ida Steam-n-Mash potatoes (and I got $10 in coupons and a potato masher!).

I've signed up to test products for several other companies, but haven't been selected to sample anything yet. Here are some you may want to check out:

Vocal Point: Even though I haven't gotten to sample anything yet, they e-mail great coupons.

Kashi Taste Tester Panel Don't forget to get your free cookie while you're there! Sign up for a free account at Kashi, then got to your profile and select "edit settings" and check the "Taste Tester Panel" box and save it. Then go back to your profile, click "Taste Tester Panel Survey" (under "edit settings") and fill out the questionnaire. Easy.

McCormick. The spice company has both in-person and online testing opportunities.

Kraft First Taste We could really use some free cheese in this house, so I hope I get contacted!

Mills Advisory Panel. Evaluate General Mills products and earn points toward gift cards and more.

I enjoy doing product tests because the free stuff helps me stretch my budget. I've done product tests on everything from toilet paper (6 rolls in my mailbox!) to diapers to deodorant.

I also enjoy the process because it reminds me how hard companies work to persuade consumers to use their products. It has taught me to examine the marketing tactics of companies more closely and to scrutinize their product. It has taught me to be careful not to get caught up in the advertising hype. It also gives me a voice in the marketplace.

In the end, I hope my participation results in better products on the market. I know it has helped make me a better consumer.

Northern Cheapskate featured on Alltop

I just learned this morning that Northern Cheapskate will be featured in Alltop's new frugality section.

Alltop is like the magazine rack of all your favorite topics on the internet. Read about everything from frugality to deals to food and much more!

I'm honored to be included with some really great blogs such as The Motherload and Frugal Upstate. Be sure to check it out.

Coupons and Deals Galore

It seems like when it rains, it pours. I don't get any great coupons to pass on to you guys, and then BOOM! suddenly there are tons of goodies in my inbox.

Here is the cream of the crop:

Never used Shutterfly before: Get 50 FREE prints and FREE shipping when you sign up here.

Already a member of Shutterfly? Get $5 off a purchase of $30 from now until Nov. 4. Click here and enter the code AF69-SAVE at check-out to get the deal. 

Get 50 4x6 prints for a penny each from Snapfish. Use the code FALLPENNYO8 at checkout to get the deal.  Additional prints are 9 cents each.  Hurry... this deal ends October 14.

Be sure to get your $30 in coupons from Right@Home.  The coupons are great: high dollar value coupons on household cleaning products like Scrubbing Bubbles, Shout and Pledge.  Be sure to combine these coupons with store coupons (watch the sales at Walgreens and Target) to get the best deals.

Have you signed up for Eat Better America yet?  You get access to a regular menu of printable General Mills coupons, such as $1 off 8 Yo-Plait yogurts and $1 off Gold Medal Whole Wheat flour.

Heather @ Freebies4Mom is reporting that the printable $2 off coupon for Honey Bunches of Oats Just Bunches cereal has been reset.  Get the details here.  Walmart seems to have the lowest price around.. but check your local supermarket, too.

And don't forget you can print coupons from Coupons.com directly from the sidebar on Northern Cheapskate or by clicking the link here. 

One other note:  Linda at Travels With Children said Target is clearancing out lots of electronic goodies.  The sale includes everything from kids digital cameras to digital photo frames.  Be sure to check those end-caps for the 75 percent off clearance!

Happy Saving!

Recession is Depressing

With all this talk about Main Street and Wall Street, I feel lost in the shuffle.

You see, I'm a good 14 miles from Main Street and a country away from Wall Street.

And yet, all I see are people struggling, complaining, fighting. There are no correct answers and no solutions we can all agree on.

I look at my investments, and see them dwindling before my eyes. I feel myself clutching tighter to my emergency fund.

This recession stuff is depressing. I keep reminding myself why recessions are good for us.

So do we have a strategy for surviving these tough economic times? Yes. It's the same strategy I have always had when it comes to my money, regardless of the world economy:

Save as much as you can.
Spend as little as you can.
Learn as much as you can.
Think as much as you can.
Appreciate what you have as much as you can.

What's your strategy?

Frugal Reading Round-Up

It's been a cloudy, dreary week here, so I've had some time to get caught up on some reading.

Here are a few posts worth checking out:

I struggle so much with greeting cards. I love to send them, but hate spending the money on them. Trent at The Simple Dollar has Eight Tactics for Handling Greeting Card Occassions.

Free From Broke wrote a post about Frugal Fun for Your Little One that reminded me of all the You Tube videos of dump trucks and bulldozers that my 3 year old and I have watched. You Tube is truly cheap entertainment!


My Two Dollars answers the question Why You Keep Those Old Clothes and How to Let Them Go.  This is an area I really need to work on.  I mean... do I really need sweatshirts from my high school days or my maternity clothes?  Sheesh!

Still not feeling brave enough yet... but my frugality may win this one.  It helps that Baby Cheapskate explains how to Save Money with At-Home Kiddie Haircuts.

Happy Reading!

How to Save When You Think You Can't

I am always curious how people find Northern Cheapskate, so I love looking at the statistics for this blog.

About a week ago, I noticed something that saddened me. Someone had found my blog by searching "I can't save any money right now."

It seemed so helpless. It seemed so sad. And I know that this person is NOT the only one who feels this way.

Well, I am just one of many, many people who will tell you, that YES. You can can save money right now! And in this economy you MUST save money right now!

So how can you save when you are flat-out broke?

The first step is to document every single penny you spend for a week. Tracking your spending for a month is even better. This will give you a very good idea of what your strengths and weaknesses are when it comes to how you spend your money.

The second step is to think small. It's overwhelming to think "I need to save $500 now." Instead, think about saving 50-cents here and $1 there. That money will add up. And once you get caught by the savings bug, you will discover that it gets easier to find money to save.

I have also been thinking about what changes we could make right now if our situation required us to cut our expenses.

Here are things we could cut:
Satellite Television. ($69/month) We could watch television online, or not at all.
Unlimited Long-Distance on our landline ($19.95/month) We could use calling cards or find other internet-based alternatives.
Cell phones ($49/month) This would be tough, but we lived for 20+ years without cell phones. We could do it again if we had to.
Eating Out ($150/month) Once again, tough, but healthier for us.
Newspapers and Magazines ($25/month). We could use the library or read articles online.
Extra trips to town ($24/month) We could plan our shopping trips better so that we would make less trips.

Note:  I would not eliminate our internet. There are so many things you can do on the internet that can contribute to saving money. From finding deals and printing coupons to getting information on DIY projects, to working from home, there are just too many benefits to it to eliminate it from the budget.

Then, I would take a good look around my house for things I could sell. Books, CDs, DVDs, and electronics would be the first to go. Clothes could go on consignment. Other household items could be listed on eBay. I would be on the hunt for any spare change I could find. I would also think about holding a garage sale.

I would start looking at other ways to earn a little extra money. I could baby-sit, pet-sit, or house-sit. I could mow lawns or cook meals for a house-bound senior citizen. I could freelance. I could teach a community ed class.

There are always ways to find money. But you have to take a good hard look at your personal situation. What are you willing to give up? What are you willing to do?

Coupons & Freebies for You

I haven't done a coupon and freebie round-up in awhile, and heaven knows we all could use some free/cheap stuff!

So here are some goodies for you:

Get $1.50 off any one package of Nestle Chocolate morsels with this coupon here.  Mmmmm... Cookies!

Okay. I hate pantyhose, but sometimes they are a necessary evil.  Fill out the form at No Nonsense and you'll get a coupon for $2 off any No Nonsense product.  If pantyhose aren't your thing, they also make lots of other things like dress socks and panties.

Get a free 14-day sample of NatureMade Softgel vitamins here.  Don't forget, they also have a great rewards program, too.

Get a free sample of Enfamil A.R. Lipil, Nutrimigen Lipil, or Enfamil Gentlease Lipil infant formula here.

Don't forget there's still time to get a free box of Kellogg's Smart Start Strawberry Oat Bites Cereal.  Be sure to print out the rebate form here. 

You can get a free sample pack of Kotex here. You will get a Lightdays pantyliner and two Security tampons while supplies last.

You can print out great coupons from Coupons.com right from my blog (right sidebar), or through this link.  Popular coupons include $1 off Quilted Northern Bath Tissue, $1 off Yo-Plus yogurt, and $1.75 off Bertolli Oven-baked meals.

For those of you still having trouble getting stores to accept your printed coupons, be sure to check out Freebie4Mom' s Help from Smart Source.

Win Free Contact Lenses

In honor of World Site Day 2008, LensShopper is giving away a 1-year supply of contact lenses. The runner-up will receive a 6-month supply.

World Site Day, which is today, October 9, is a global event recognized by the World Health Organization. The purpose of the day is to raise awareness of vision impairments and blindness.

The contest at LensShopper is open until October 31. Be sure to check it out here.

Get Free Tickets to the Minnesota Orchestra

Thanks to support from Target, you can get up to 6 free tickets to a performance by the Minnesota Orchestra.

Upcoming shows include The Tin Forest, Swinging Nutcracker, The Bernstein Beat, Jazz for Young People, and Casey at the Bat.


The tickets are awarded in a random drawing, and you're only allowed one entry per household, so there's no guarantee you'll get tickets. But if you're interested in going to hear some great music, it's worth a shot.

Click here to sign-up and select "Family Concerts" to receive notification about Target Free Family Concert registration dates and other family events throughout the year.

Thanks to ...And she lived.... for the tip! 

Watch Out for Shrinking Packages

As some of you know, I've been working hard to give up pop (or soda, depending on what part of the country you're from).

My husband still carries pop in his lunch for work, so I'm still on the lookout for good deals. There haven't been many lately.

So, we were completely out of pop, and I happened to be at Target. The sign above boxes of Coca-Cola showed the price as $5.99. Okay. Not a great price, but we were out, so fine.

But then I noticed something. It wasn't a 24-pack.... it was a 20-pack! ACK!

I did not buy the pop at Target. I was pretty irritated by the sneakiness, so I ended up going to Cub Foods and getting the pop there. But the experience really frustrated me.

I've already seen the package shrink ray hit other products - primarily diapers. The companies will redesign their packaging and offer some shiny new claim, and then sell you 6-8 less diapers for the same price as the old design.

It's frustrating. And it's happening everywhere.

So what can you do?

Watch the unit prices. You need to pay close attention to the price per item or ounce. It's the only way you can know for sure that you're getting a good deal.

If you hear a product is going to get a facelift, be sure to check for the old versions on clearance. Last spring, I got Huggies Diapers for half-off at Target because they were changing their packaging. Electrasol is in the process of changing its name to Finish, and I've seen the old Electrasol boxes on sale at several stores.

Consider store brands. Sometimes the store brand is cheaper than the name brand - even if you have coupons.

Make your voice heard. Let the companies know you are unhappy with their decision to charge more money for less product. If nothing comes of it, at least you'll feel better for voicing your concerns.

Look for alternatives. Perhaps you can find a greener, homemade version of the same thing you're shopping for, such as cleaning products.

A smart consumer keeps his or her eyes open all the time. Many companies claim to care about their customers, but care about their bottom lines more.

Cheap Eats at Culvers Tuesday

Boy, how I wish Culvers wasn't two hours away from me!

On Tuesday, October 7, you can get Culver's famous ButterBurgers for just $1 each. It's all part of their 24th anniversary celebration.

Also, don't forget to visit Culver's to sign up for the Culver's e-club.  You'll get coupons as well as a treat for your birthday.

And the winner of the ListPlanit Giveaway is....

Lori D!!!

Lori has won a three-month subscription to ListPlanIt, an amazing collection of more than 350 printable lists to help you get your entire life organized. She'll be getting an e-mail from Jen at ListPlanIt with all the details on how to access her subscription. A special thanks to Jen at ListPlanIt for sponsoring this giveaway!

For all of you who didn't win, be sure to check out the half-price sale at ListPlanIt! I am thoroughly enjoying my subscription (but then I like making lists!)

Still Time To Win!

If you haven't already entered to win The Great Get-Organized Giveaway, be sure to do so here.

I'm giving away a 3-month subscription to ListPlanIt, but hurry, the contest ends tonight at 8 p.m. CST!

Frugal Books to Check Out

Ever since I was a little girl I've been in love with books. They are the friends I turn to again and again to teach me, to comfort me, to make me laugh, to inspire me.

I find that whenever I start to find my frugality slipping a little, I return to my bookcase for inspiration. I thought you might like to see which books inspire my frugal nature. You should be able to find all of these books (and many more like them) at your local public library.

The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn. The perfect collection of tips and tricks to get your brain thinking about pinching pennies.

America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right on the Money: Your Guide to Living Better, Spending Less, and Cashing in on Your Dreams by Annette and Steve Economides. Practical advice for saving on everything from groceries to vacations.

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey. Motivation for getting out of debt for good!

The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke by Suze Orman. A good reminder to stay on top of your finances.

Miserly Moms: Living on One Income in a Two-Income Economy by Jonni McCoy. Inspiration for living on one income. Even if you have two incomes, it's a good idea to learn to live on just one, especially in this economy.

SO, what are some books you turn to for frugal inspiration?

This Frugality Thing is Hard

I know that living a frugal life isn't easy. I know this because if it were easy, no one would have any debt and our country wouldn't be in the giant financial mess it is in right now.

Can you tell I'm not too thrilled with my review of my September spending?

It's just that sometimes I feel like my budget is a partially inflated balloon. I squeeze one part and then another part gets bigger.

Unlike our August spending, we ate out a bit. Part of this has to do with the fact that potty training our son has been mentally exhausting and I've been pretty lazy when it comes to cooking. Ironically, our grocery bill was way up. I think this has something to do with me desperately finding things I can eat on my new Weight Watchers plan.

On a more positive note, curbing my addiction to deals has helped reign in my spending in the household and personal care items categories of my budget. We also did better with our gas/car maintenance budget, too.

We saved a total of $229.27 in coupons this month, and I did manage to get some free/nearly free items for my stockpile.

I also accomplished my goals of listing some items on eBay and taking things to sell on consignment.

So, for October, my goal is to look at ways I can trim my energy costs and to start using my stockpile of stuff I've accumulated. We also have our annual appointment with our financial advisor... which should be interesting with all that's been going on in the markets!

How did your September go? What goals are you setting for your October finances?

Moving Towards Reuseable Bags

Walmart announced this week that it will reduce plastic bag waste by 1/3 by the year 2013.

At first I was impressed, but then I was thinking, that's all? Only 1/3? That's five years from now!

And then I thought about my own habits. Yeah, I guess that is a reasonable goal.

You see, I haven't converted to reuseable bags yet. I am starting to amass a collection of various bags, but I just haven't gotten into the habit of using the reusable totes.

In my heart, I know it is the right thing to do. I know all the reasons why I should use them. But I'm lazy. And forgetful. And I must admit, I sometimes like plastic and paper bags.

I like plastic bags for carrying wet swimsuits and towels back from the lake. I like them for lining wastebaskets. I like to wrap up my meat wrappers in plastic bags and throw it in the freezer until I can take them to the landfill so it doesn't stink up my garbage. I like to use them as padding in packing boxes.

I like paper bags, too. I like to use them for taking my newspapers, magazine and paper to the recycling center. I like to make wrapping paper out of them. I like to cover school books. I like using them to protect my table when we do art projects.

So, for me, this kind of transition probably will take five years. But I'm trying. I've put my bags in the car, which is one step closer to the store.

Saving on Energy Costs

The chill is in the air, and soon it will be heating season in Northern Minnesota. I always have a bit of anxiety this time of year because I'm always afraid that we'll have a bitterly cold winter and spend a lot of money to heat our home.

So I've been thinking of things we could do to save on energy costs:

Make sure the furnace/hot water boiler is in great condition. Change any filters and make sure the chimney is clean. This is a good time to check those smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector batteries.

Seal up those leaks. A couple of tubes of caulk and some weatherstripping will set you back less than $20 and it can save you even more than that on your heating bill. Our current house is pretty tight (it's only three years old), but at our old house, we had to have insulated curtains, weatherstripping, and draft dodgers along all exterior doors. A cheap way to make your own draft dodger is to take a couple of old socks, fill them with leftover dryer lint, and tie them together so the span the width of your door. Freakishly frugal, I know, but it works in a pinch.

Wrap your windows. If you're in an old house with old windows, you can get plastic wrap to cover them. It's not an attractive look, but it does save energy. Use insulated curtains to block the cold out at night.

Figure out which appliances are energy suckers and plan for their replacement.

If your house has different zones, keep the lower level a little warmer than upstairs. Heat rises, so take advantage of it!

Install a programmable thermostat. Frugal Dad has a great how-to on this money saving project.

Turn down the thermostat. Just a few degrees can mean a 10 percent decrease in your heating bill.

Wear sweaters and slippers. I'm amazed when people complain about how expensive their heat bill is when they all run around in short sleeves and barefeet in their houses. Turn down the heat and put on some comfy slippers and a sweater.

Do some baking. Your house will be warmed by the cooking, and it will smell delicious, too! (Just a word of caution - you should NEVER use your oven as a heat source, it could have dangerous consequences).

Invite some friends over. The more the merrier! When you have more bodies in your home, it warms things up. And if you're having fun, you'll forget you're cold!

Replace those incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescents. You'll save money on your electric bill.

Check out the FREE Home Depot Workshop for more ideas.

What are some ways you plan to save on heating costs this winter?

Free Workshop & Coupon at Home Depot

Home Deport is offering a FREE workshop on energy-saving measures that can help you cut your monthly energy bills. In the 90-minute workshop, you'll learn how to fix leaks in your walls, how insulating your HVAC system can help your wallet, and how to properly caulk windows and doors to prevent drafts.

Sign up for the FREE workshop and when you attend you'll also get a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $100 or more.

The workshop is Thursday, October 23, but the coupon is good through Nov. 5.

The coupon alone, is worth the time spent at the workshop. Putting $100 worth of energy-saving improvements into your home can pay for itself over the course of one heating season.

The Great Get-Organized Giveaway

I'm the type of person that makes lists. I have a Franklin Covey planner. I have several binders and notebooks with things I've jotted down. I've got computer files of things I don't want to forget.

But now I am inspired to get my lists organized!

I recently had a chance to try out ListPlanIt. ListPlanIt is a service that lets you download more than 350 different lists to help you organize your life. There's a fee of $9.95 for three months or $29.95 per year, but you can download as much as you want during the time frame.

Right now, ListPlanIt is having a sale: For a limited time everyone can have access to ListPlanIt.com for just $4.95 for 3 months or save even more with a one-year membership for just $14.95!

The lists and planning pages include things that will help you track kids clothing inventories, menu planning, vacation planning, and gift ideas. Did I mention there are more than 350 different lists to pick from?

The other thing I like about these lists, is that you can either print them and fill them out with a pen or pencil, or you can actually type on the forms and then print them out. Great thing if you're a neat freak!

Lists are a great way to keep your stress-level manageable. I highly recommend checking out ListPlanIt for yourself.

Then come back here and register to win a FREE three-month subscription to ListPlanIt!

To enter the contest, simply visit ListPlanIt and find your favorite list. Then come back here and fill out the short form!

Only one entry per e-mail address will be accepted. This contest will end at Sunday, Oct. 5 at 8 p.m. (CST), when I will randomly select one lucky winner! The winner will have 48 hours to respond; otherwise I'll give the prize to someone else!

By the way, if you're reading this via e-mail or a feed reader, you'll need to visit Northern Cheapskate to enter!

Happy Planning!

Get Triple Points with Pampers

If you've got a little baby (or two!) in diapers and buy Pampers, be sure to take advantage of the triple points offer from the Pampers Gifts to Grow program.

From now until October 31, you can get triple points when you buy the new Pampers Sensitive Swaddlers. These diapers come in newborn, 1 & 2. I'm glad my kids are way past that newbie stage, but I'm still sad there are no triple points for me!

I was able to get one FREE point, thanks to a tip from Free Stuff Times. Simply enter the code: DONTFORGETGTG08 and you'll get credited one point.

The Gifts to Grow program will end in March 2009, so be sure you're keeping track of those codes from the packaging. I just realized the other day that I'd been accidently throwing out the codes on the packs of Pampers wipes. UGH. Lesson learned.

Anyway, I've got my eye on an LL Bean gift card. It'll be great for buying gifts, and there are hardly any shipping charges to pay.