Save Green by going Green - Energy Savings!

Saving money is great, but when I can pair it with energy savings, it's a 2fer! My husband and I have had a freezer in our garage for years. It has always been used for bulk food purchases, and although the garage has not been totally convenient, I have loved having it. Lately, due to a tighter budget we have not needed all the space it affords. I decided it was environmentally irresponsible to continue using it right now with so little inside, so we unplugged it and brought everything into our kitchen freezer. I knew it would be a bit crowded in my small freezer, but I'd get used to it.

Then I realized how this energy saving change would also save money. First, it is easy to purchase more when I have the room to store it. So, I will save on groceries right away because I don't have space in the freezer. Second, having it all in my kitchen conveniently forces me to use what I have on hand before I even go grocery shopping. It is a great way to help manage our grocery budget...I wish I would have thought of this sooner. Cutting our family-of-4 grocery bill has proved to be difficult, and this change will help out. So, give it some thought...do you really need that extra freezer, or can you also save some more "green?"

Early Planning = Savings

Plans for home improvement projects can save you money! Careful list-making for your project will prevent rash decisions while you are in the store. In the past when my husband and I have not had a detailed list at the home improvement store, we purchase "stuff" just in case we need it. Rash purchases = unnessesary items = returns to the store = wasted time & gas. Save your money by planning ahead and shopping from home. With free shipping to your local Ace Hardware store, you can shop from the convenience of home computer. Then on your next run of errands, stop by Ace to pick up your items. I love the feature of shopping from home, browsing the clearance items, and finding rebates & special offers. Nothing beats shopping early with my budget and list in hand. What early shopping habits save you money?

Simple Soap Savings

OK, some of us will go really far to save a buck, and my blog will include many extreme ways to save. So, here is one of those ways to be frugal.

Do you have any idea how much liquid hand soap you go through in your household? Like so many other things, my family goes through more than I wish to buy in a year. But, stretching it out is easier than ever - here's how. First, buy one of those foaming hand soap pumps. When it is empty, use your regular liquid hand soap to refill it, but you need to mix it with water to get the foaming action. The recipe is 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of liquid hand soap. Combine, stir and voila! You can make one small bottle of liquid soap last about a year. And, if you buy in bulk, that huge bottle of hand soap will last so long it won't be on your grocery list for a ridiculous amount of time. Please note that the hand soaps without moisturizers tend to work better.

What are some of your "extreme" money-saving ideas? Share them here!

Find Just the Right Costume and SAVE!

It happens all too often. I can "shop 'til I drop" and still not find what I am looking for. Then, I get so frustrated knowing I just wasted the gas to go to several different stores, and I still don't have what I needed. If your child is looking for a particular costume, but you just can't seem to find it. Or, if you have a costume party coming up that you are not prepared for, don't drive around anymore. The Costume SuperCenter has an incredible selection of costumes for all ages, and they have just about every type of costume you could dream of...all at reasonable prices. Visit them here to get exactly what you are looking for and save your gas money. You'll have exactly what you wanted delivered right to your door.

Free Expedited Ground Shipping On Orders $70 Or More! Use Coupon Code SCARE70

Cost-Effective Technology Upgrades

It's hard to keep up with technology these days, and when you need to take the plunge into an upgrade, I can point you to a money-saving place to shop. Tiger Direct is a personal favorite of mine, and you can get good prices and service selecting from a wide variety of products. Plus, if you shopping for your children but not sure which product to choose, you can control your spending by purchasing a gift card instead. Talk about a sure way to handle a possible budget-buster! Visit their site here to begin your shopping.

Save money on groceries

Here is a website that will give you a hand in saving money on the grocery bill. Visit the Living on a Dime site here to sign up for their newsletter and receive a FREE e-course loaded with budget wise tips on grocery shopping and getting out of debt. Plus, they have several other money-saving resources available - a great find!

Apple Picking Season

Fall is here and what better way to save a few bucks than to make your own applesauce. Visiting the apple orchard is a wonderful family weekend adventure, and the price of apples can't be beat. Home-made applesauce poured over vanilla ice-cream with a dash a cinnamon tastes like pie without the crust. A wonderful dessert for kids. My personal recipe includes brown sugar - it really makes a difference. Remember, the more tart apples are the best ones to bake with, so pucker up and save a buck!

Money-Saving Makeup

I'd like to tell you about a money-saving product I found when I least needed to save money! We’d just relocated into temporary housing with a rent payment half of our previous mortgage payment – wish I could have that rent payment again! I was not looking for a bargain, but I was looking for a new makeup product. While watching TV, I found an infomercial on Sheer Cover Minerals makeup. After ordering, it felt like I was really treating myself to expensive "Hollywood" glamour. Wow, was I shocked as a new customer how little I used and how long it lasted. I only open a new set every 6 months. Now they are offering 50% off your first order and back up their product with a 60-day money-back-guarantee.

What penny-pinching expertise do you have?

Have any money-saving advice in one or more of the following areas?

• insurance
• utilities
• groceries
• recipes/cooking
• technology
• children's activities/clothes/crafts/fun
• style & fashion
• health & beauty
• fitness
• home improvement

Plus, there are lots of other topics to talk about. Open a discussion - I'd love to hear from you!