There is a dollar store within walking distance of my house and for some reason I would always go to Walgreen's instead. Could be pure laziness but now I've changed my mind! Granted there are things at Walgreen's that aren't at the dollar store (mainly meds) but this particular store has just about everything I buy at Walgreen's. Like today I had to go get a gift bag, card and tissue paper for a baby shower gift. I also picked up some bubble bath for my son. Total? Brace yourself. $3.50.

Why didn't I think of this sooner?!?! The cheapest gift cards at Walgreen's are the 99cent ones. You can get 2 for $1 at the dollar store. And ALL of the gift bags are $1 versus spending anywhere from $2-$5 at Walgreen's.

I am a believer,lol.

I am proud to announce that I brought my lunch everyday this week.

I paid all my bills first thing this morning.

I've been keeping a running tab of money spent. I have to find my balance book to enter the items in there.

I spend time looking for coupons prior to buying something.

:-)

I like to buy organic products, mainly for my son because I worry about him going through puberty at the age of 8 or having any other health issues associated with the ridiculous amounts of chemicals in our food. But in today's economy I find it increasing difficult to do so. I buy Horizon Organic milk for him and sometimes it's $6 a gallon! And he can go through a gallon in a week sometimes. But here's the good news! Their website has coupons.

I also found that Organic Valley and Stonyfield have coupons on their website as well. Oh happy day.

I have this shirt that I got via freecycle that I love. It's a great color and it fits with my style. Only recently I notice a rip in the back. I don't know how to sew otherwise I'd just repair it myself. And since I got the shirt for free I figure it would be cost effective to just take it to the cleaners and have them repair it.

I realize how much money I can save by simply taking care of what I have and repairing what gets torn or when buttons are lost versus sending them away via trash or good will.

My neice is graduating from high school on Wednesday. Unfortunately I wont be able to make the ceremony but will be traveling to Arizona on Thursday to spend time with her and my family. I've gone back and forth about what to get her in celebration of this event. She will be attending a junior college in the fall and is hoping to pay for her tuition in cash. I am personally in awe of this goal and want to support her. However, I also want to get a piece of jewerly with a special message. Big dreams w/ a small budget! So I've decided to just give her $100-200 towards her school costs? Just not sure if I should do $100 or $200.

I'm going to try and not spend any money this weekend. Other than buying food for lunch next week...

So far I am thinking of taking my son to the the zoo. I'm lucky to live in a city that has a FREE Zoo. I should be able to find street parking.

One of the suburbs near me is having an art fair this weekend so I think I may take him out to that as well. While the weather sucks I do want to get some fresh air and exercise.

Oooh...I got 7 (yes S-E-V-E-N) bags of clothes yesterday in a freecycle. A lot of it I'm passing on because its not my style but there were a lot of good items. Lucky Brand jeans which retail for $100+ and I got them for FREE! So I saved money yesterday in not buying new clothes. :-)

Happy Friday and here's to a great weekend!

I received an email from the director of my program stating that she is taking applications for next year's graduate assistantships.

Free tuition. Yipee!

The stipend is only $5,000.

Who can live off of 5grand?

*edited update*

I didn't get the assistantship but I am going to apply. I just dont understand how they expect someone to live on $5,000 for an entire year.

There is a walgreens on my block and I spend a ridiculous amount of time there. I am always popping in there for anything from baby products to pens. Why don't they have a savings club or savings card like CVS? I have a CVS card but rarely go in there. Walgreens does have a EasySaver catalog that I just recently looked at. I read another blogger report that she received a check for $30+ in rebates from Walgreens. wow!

I have had some luck with the emails I receive from them. I got 15 free pictures on tax day. I uploaded them to the website and used the code and voila.

So walgreens if you are listening...where's my card?

I dont think I'm this good...

For example, one of my all-time favorite penny pinchers is Louise Meyer of Washington, D.C. She won the first Penny Pincher of the Year Contest in 1997 by writing about how she put solar cookers on her roof and used them to fix chicken, rice, stuffed peppers, even pasta.

To solar cook, all you need is a sunny day, water-resistant, aluminum- laminated cardboard, a clear plastic oven-roasting bag, and a dark pot with a tight-fitting lid. To find out more, visit the website for Solar Cookers International (www.solarcookers.org), a nonprofit organization.

Rest of the article

The thing about loving all things free is that it has led to me having an abundance of crap! But I couldn't resist. I ordered 10 to pass on to friends.



Call 877-UNSTUFF to get yours.

I've been reading a lot of books lately on how to live simply/frugal and I came across this image. Is MacGyver not the true icon of making the best of what you have in any situation?

My challenge for the month of July is to truly keep an honest account of where my money goes. I've been keeping the reciepts and plan to open an excel spreadsheet to keep a running tab. Then I found this article

Spending your money in accordance with your priorities helps you lead a more authentic life. You will feel less inner conflict when your money reflects who you truly are and what you value on the inside

In my quest to simplify and live an abundant life I did a search on Amazon for some good books. I came across "A Simple Choice - a practical guide for saving your time, money, and sanity by Deborah Taylor-Hough. The reviews on Amazon were pretty good so I picked it up from the library (saving money!) So far so good. Will provide a review when I'm done.

I love the way flowers look in hair...Came across this...am I getting too cheap? http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Components/Art/USNEWS/Projects/SummerOfLove/FlowersInYourHair.pdf

I came across this article about Freeganism. And I think I have finally found a name/way to label something I love,lol.

Who are/What is a Freegan you ask?
Freegans are people who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed.
http://www.freegan.info/

While I dont go through dumpsters, or pick through trash on the side of the road (not knocking anyone who does), I get a REAL thrill out of finding items or getting items for free. The other day I was looking around my bedroom and realized that everything in my bedroom, except my clothes, iron and humidifier, I had gotten for free. My queen size bed (including headboard), 27inch tv, dresser with mirror, night stand, ironing board, and chair were all things I found or someone was giving away and offered to me.

Realizing this, it makes me wanna cry when I think about things that I've thrown away in the past that someone else really could have used. But I am determined to live this lifestyle to decrease waste. Our earth needs all the help she can get!

A co-worker must have been sensing my need for more free stuff. She sent out an email with about 3 pages of links to free stuff. I got a sippy cup from Juicey Juice
and a bowl from beechnut. Ooh can't forget the "Hot Mama Driving" car decal.

I have also been thinking that I need a carrier for my son...sure enough I get a Baby Bjorn for FREE.

May was a good month.

June. I have a budget meeting on the 22nd. I need to order a new credit report. I am seriously considering a DMP.

Yesterday I go to check my mail and I see the following:

A box with a free sample of the new Always pads with the wipes.(from the Walmart freebie site)

3 coupons from Gerber for FREE cereal
(I happened to call their 800# with a question about some cereal I bought for my son and I got these in the mail)

This morning I was listening to the Doug Banks morning show and if you call 866-461-BARK they will send you a coupon for a free 6lb bag for Purina Dog Food. I dont have a dog but my sister does so I let her know!

I have a confession to make.
I love all things free.

I am addicted to freecycle. I love getting items for free and I love that it has helped my pack rat tendencies,lol.

I'm also addicted to the Walmart Freebie website. For some reason I find myself requesting samples of stuff I know I'll never use just because its free. And then I find myself giving it away on freecycle.

I need help!

Oh and tomorrow I'm going to get free paint to paint my bedroom...

I decided to list some of the ways I try to save money.

-clip coupons: I have a coupon book (got it for free!) that organizes all of my coupons
-I participate in freecycle...why buy if someone is giving it away?
-wash clothes in cold water...I use warm water if something is stained
-unplug electronics that are not in use
-bring my lunch to work
-adjust my thermostat when I'm not home.
-try to keep my car clean and free of misc stuff to get good gas mileage
-I frequent community organizations that give away diapers and baby clothes/items for free.

*that's all I can think of for now*