Frugal Simple Living

$55 in coupons from Nabisco

2009-07-01T11:16:00.000-07:00

Go here to sign up for your free

$55. Nabisco savings booklet from Kraft!

It says you will get 2 $20. Rebates and $15. in coupons on items like CapriSun, Ritz Bits, Planters, and Nabisco!

only available while supplies last!
(Sign in and click on promotions at the top)

This week's deals--Menards

2009-06-30T15:32:00.000-07:00

Their 4th of July Sale runs through July 5th

Famous Dave's BBQ -- .88 cents after $1. Rebate --use $1.50/2 MQ to get them for .13 cents each -- limit 4 -- (thru July 5th)

Their new weekly Sale ends July 12

20" Hand Saw -- FREE after $10.00 Rebate -- limit 2

Liquid Nail -- FREE after $2.00 Rebate -- limit 2

Creativity Central -- $1.99 after $5.00 Rebate -- limit 2

Ultra Caulk -- $1.49 after $1.50 Rebate -- limit 6

Outdoor Extension Cord -- $1.49 after $3.00 Rebate -- limit 3

10' Gutter -- .99 cents after $3.00 Rebate -- Limit 10

Poly Brush Set (2pk) -- $1.99 after $5.00 Rebate -- limit 2
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When you purchase the freebies, you must purchase an additional $10. of non-rebated items per transaction to qualify for the rebate.

You can get as many freebies as you want per transaction with only one $10. additional purchase.

Your rebate will come in the form of a Merchandise Check. Which means you must spend it at Menards, (I just use mine for more freebies!)

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You do not need to purchase any additional $$ if you are only getting the rebated items that are not free.

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Ways to make money: AWESOME program

2009-06-29T06:38:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

I participate in the InboxDollars program. They send me an email & I read it. I click on it to verify I really did it, and I get paid for this. They are even offering $5 FREE. I really love these guys & have been making some decent money at it. You won't get rich, but if I saw a few bucks lying on the sidewalk, I would pick it up!

How do I save money?

2009-06-25T13:16:00.000-07:00

My fiance was offered a position this week. He had training in Minnesota this week. I went along to save money on electricity/water by not being at HOME.

As an added benefit, I am also going to enjoy my free soaps & shampoos! ;)

I used my time to look for a job & to go through my state quarters. I have been collecting them for 10 years & generally throw them into a can. Now I have saved off three of both P's & D's for each state (I want to get three sets together...I want 3 kids). Now, I have uncirculated ones all the way back & will be giving the jar...with $140 in it to my mother & grandma, so that they can fill in what they are missing in their books.

All in all, a good trip so far. I am getting lonely though :)

2009-06-25T08:03:00.000-07:00

A HUGE sale is going on now at this link:

http://www.babyearth.com/baby-sale

If you need anything for a baby...they post a new item every hour & the price slowly goes down until they run out of items to sell.

Huggies Reward Codes

2009-06-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

I came across a few of these today:

BFMXQ HPBXB BGPGB 1 point

BFMRK PDQZK KPPGB 1 point

BBLPG NZFFN QLPGB 1 point

HHNMR GJMCX HRPGB 2 points

I have quit collecting these myself, but there are still prizes out there on the website.

Freebie Note

2009-06-23T13:17:00.000-07:00

Get a Free Bottle of Kiss My Face Anti-Stress Shower/Bath Gel

I signed up...claims there is a 2 month waiting period.

Lay-off update

2009-06-23T08:17:00.001-07:00

Well, I have been laid off since mid-March. I have been sending out resumes to nearly every bloody place I can. I think I average an interview a month. My pride is waning. My fiance finally got a job offer yesterday & had to drive to Minnesota for training today. The money is not great, but will be at least equal to unemployment.

I am the one with a college degree, not him, yet he has been more successful. I am beginning to think that maybe I should leave my education off of my resume.

Ways to save money: get rid of your landline

2009-06-23T08:13:00.000-07:00

We got rid of our landline last year, and have not looked back. We have saved over $45 a month without that blasted thing. We completely relied on our cellphones. This year, we dumped one cell & are now using Magic Jack...some of the older members of my family just didn't like leaving a message on a cell phone. I figured this may be less 'intimidating' for them.

Getting Rid of Cable

2009-06-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

I have decided to cancel cable. Thing is, it was costing us over $50 a month. The kids like having it, but we just don't use it often enough. We have our laptop setup to run movies on it, so we are gonna go with Hulu for awhile, and then make a switch over to Netflix.

LAID OFF

2009-04-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

I was permanetly laid off from my employer 2 weeks ago. Looks like I am going to have to put my skills to good use.

Tips - Calendars

2009-01-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

One of the ways the company I work for has cut back has been through nolonger ordering everyone a calendar. Alot of people have just been purchasing them. I, however, refuse to pay $20 for a calendar.

Keep your eyes open, alot of businesses will hand them out. Ask your bank, ask relatives & friends. Someone has one they will not use.

I chose to get a planner from a local chrity shop. They are not used, they are just cheap ones, but they are bigger than the pocket sized ones some financial institutions are giving out. It was cheap...I can put in my family & work appointmnets & all is good. A whole $1.99 to keep me organized & sane.

Changes In the Workplace

2009-01-09T10:50:00.000-08:00

I work in software support for a company that provides banks their software. Last year, when the economy was beginning to get tight, they laid just under 10% of the workforce off...2 weeks before Christmas.

Now, they promised they would not do the same thing this year (2008), and they did not. But, we are still feeling the pangs of a crumbling economy.

Our health insurance is now a high-deudctable. I am paying an extra $300 a month for me & my two daughters (hence my paper route). They are cutting way back on their expeses too...calendars are no longer supplied to us, cut back on kleenex, coffee creamer, all those little things. Now, they even cut back on the 401K...they cut THEIR contribution in half. I am seriously considering cutting back on my contribution to the 401K.

It said in out local newspaper awhile back that the area I live in is not as affected by the slumping economy, but it seems even small town are beginning to feel the pinch.

I wonder how many employers are doing the same or are not going to be giving raises this year (my next concern).

At least I have a job. I have eliminated a lot of my debt over the past two years. I have an outstanding method of budgeting. I will be ok. When I look around at my co-workers, I wonder how they are doing.

Hopefully, we will all learn from this. Hopefully, we all will make changes, even if small ones.

You And Your Fireplace

2009-01-08T08:19:00.000-08:00

Our new house has a fireplace. We had a guy come over and checks it out before we bought the house. We were concerned because some of the mortar on the chimney looked like it needed to be repaired (and it does…and will soon).

We had to try our fireplace out, eve though we know we shouldn’t use it much before we can have it restored. The guy that came out spent over an hour with us, educating us. I thought I would share…

Over the years a layer of soot builds up, called creosote. This substance is highly flammable & is the cause of many housefires. It is a good idea to have it swept every year before use.

You also want to stick your head in there and have a good look. Take a look up the flue. Make sure that it is clear of obstructions and debris. If you notice any cracks in the mortar or crumbling cement, this is a warning sign that you should contact a professional.

Another area to check is the fireplace damper. Make sure it works properly and fits snugly so that your fireplace won't allow cold air in or heat out.

You also want to check your tools. Are they useable, or do they need to be replaced? How about the ashbucket?

What you choose to burn is very important. Well-seasoned firewood is easier to start, produces more heat and burns cleaner, reducing the amount of dangerous buildup. There are a few things you can look for to tell if wood is seasoned or not. Well-seasoned firewood generally has darkened ends with cracks or splits visible, it is relatively lightweight and makes a clear "clunk" when two pieces are knocked together. green wood has a much higher water content, making it more difficult to start and is less efficient when burning.

A Note On Your Holiday Gift Cards

2009-01-08T08:18:00.000-08:00

USE THEM NOW!

There are a lot of business out there that are close to financial ruin. Should they declare bankruptcy, they DO NOT have to honor your giftcards. Use up your cards as soon as you get them this year. Our economy is just to unpredictable to save them up.

2009-01-07T14:12:00.000-08:00

Organization

Seeing that all the store flyers, this topic is on my mind. I moved into a new house over the summer & still have boxes packed up. Makes me wonder if I really need all of it & how in the world I am going to get it put away.

Looking over my basement, I know I have to get organized. This is an excellent time of year…its cold, and nothing much is going on. So where in the world does one start?

PURGE! The very first thing to do is to look it over and make note of anything you KNOW you would like to get rid of. I know you have heard it a million times, but if you don’t absolutely love it & cannot live without it…if it doesn’t make you happy…and if it doesn’t make you money…let it go.

So, at this point, you would have scraped the big obvious items off the top. That’s when you need a game plan. You can start with 4 trash bags/boxes/whatever suits you. I am going to use boxes. I will label one trash (yes, recycle what you can in here later), one for charity, one for keep, and one for selling. Sweet. You are now ready.

Begin going through your boxes. When one of your three boxes gets full, do something with it. If it is the charity box, tape it up, make your list of what is in it & put it in your car. Yes, right to the car, that way if you are in the area, you can drop it off. If it is trash, take it out after pulling out the recyclables. If you want to keep it, box it up in another box & write on the front what is in it. If it is the sell box, get ready to take it to the resale shop, or take some pictures for eBay.

Now, if it is paperwork…All paperwork goes into file folders. I keep one for bank statements, bills, report cards, car info, etc. At the end of the year, the items from the file folder will be sorted out into a box for the kids, burn, or into a smaller dated box. Each year, I put last year on the small box (2008)…and will fill her up with everything I feel I can destroy in 10 years time. Girl Scout cookie shipping boxes work well & they are free.

Piece of cake. But, I don’t suggest doing it all in one day. If I were to do it all in one day, I would simply give up after an hour (and I have). Do 15 or 30 minute intervals every day. Makes it less painful.

So, everything is sorted. Now what? Well, never never never forget how unpleasant that was. Every time you buy something…think to yourself…can I live without it, does it make me happy, does it make me money?

2009-01-06T08:47:00.000-08:00

Ways to Make Extra Money: A Paper Route

As of last night, I have decided to pick up a paper route. A lot of people discount this job. However, it is a way to make a few extra bucks. You have to weigh the negatives against the positives.

Negatives:
1. You don’t always get paid every week. In my case, I get paid once a month. Unfortunately, I also have a waiting period above that for my first check. This means that I will be waiting approximately 8 weeks to get my first paycheck

2.The weather. It’s 13 degrees today, and while that may seem cold to some, it can get down to 20 below. Then, subtract out the wind-chill. I have seen 100 below days. Not to mention the heat of summer, rain, thunderstorms, hail, and freezing rain.
Start-up costs. Start-up costs are minimal, unless you are not prepared for #2. See, in bad weather, you need more equipment. You may need a decent pair of cold weather boots, waterproof shoes, a warm coat, decent gloves, umbrella, the list goes on. But, if you are an active person by nature, then you probably already have these things & your start up in this matter could be low. In extreme temperatures or weather, you may find the use of your car tempting. Then, you have to figure the cost of driving it.

3. The people. Yes, there are a lot of nice people in the world, but you will have one of THOSE. You know what I am talking about.

4. The people’s pets. Need I say more?
The possibility of emergency room visits. Consider #2 & #5. Ice and snow is the enemy, as is that little nippy dog. I need to find a new pair of boots with some traction. My 17 year old Sorrels have barely any.

5. Having to rush to get this done. I do have a family. I have my young daughters every other week & am hoping to have another baby in the near future. I already have a full-time job. After my first job, I have to rush home, bag up the newspapers and then go deliver them.

But there are the positives:
1. I have money. Not a lot, but it will pay for my gasoline. I am not going to get rich, but I am going to free up some of my budget for paying down debt.

2. I get exercise. I picked up 2 routes & I & my fiancé will be doing this together. We figure it should take us an hour. We both need to get more exercise

3. I get to know my neighbors. We are always working in some way shape or form…not much time to meet the neighborhood we moved into last year. I am hoping I may get to know who has excess zucchini next year! Maybe there is someone who needs their sidewalk cleared & I can find another extra job!

4. Family time. I have my daughters every other week. Every other week, they can help out; we get exercise as a family. They are both very social & don’t know many of the kids around town either (since they attend a different school).

5. My utility bills will go down slightly. We are not home; nothing will be on…no TV, cable, lights, and water.

6. I KNOW that I WILL have a newspaper…ALWAYS

7. I get a boost to my self-esteem. I am helping out the community. I am providing a service that is necessary.

8. The route manger no longer has to drive out to the city I live to do these 2 routes. I am making his life easier & saving the emissions he would have used doing so.

My Dishwashing Experiment

2009-01-05T10:05:00.000-08:00

I am trying to find ways to cut back here and there. Dishwashing detergent is one of the things we use often, so I began my experiment.

I prefer doing my dishes by hand, but it has been so cold & my hands are so dry, that I have been utilizing the dishwasher as much as possible.

My first experiment did not go well. I combined Borax with Baking Soda in a 1:1 ratio. I found this suggestion online.

Well, my dishes came out with some bits of food still stuck on. I am thinking of trying Borax and Washing Soda this next time. I will let you all know how this goes.

What does everyone else use? Have any great recipes to dazzle us with?

Welcome!

2009-01-02T13:47:00.000-08:00

I figured I would begin my own blog. So yaaaay...here I am.I spend most of my free-time looking up ways to live more "cheaply", so I figured I should begin sharing everything I know. How many people can say when they were living off of nothing, they managed to save up $3k? I was on food stamps at that time. I did it, anyone can do it. It is merely a matter of what you think you can do.There was a time in my life where our family...three of us back then make $500 a month & rent was $450. It was a tough life, but I remember a lot of good times. I got to stay home with my daughter then & would do it again without a second thought. More to come on all of that.I come from a fmily where my mother stayed home with me. My dad owned a plumbing business, andworked long hours. She had some health issues & wanted to stay with me, because she never had that. Boy, that woman taught me alot.So, a bit about me...I am divorced for the second time. Boy, do I know how to pick them. I have two daughters...one has ADHD & the other may have rheumatoid arthritis. My mother has everything known to man, she has had a tough life, and it isn't fair, as she does everything for everyone. My dad can't retire because they can't afford my mother's medical bills. I do work fulltime now, but I HATE my job. I do not think I have ever hated a job more than I do this one. My ex-husband is completely useless, but I am stuck with him. I collect antiques, I make soap, I love to cook & bake. My life is strange & chaotic, and oh so entertainging for everyone I talk to. No one can believe half of the things that happen to me.So, stay with me on my magical blogging journey, for you are sure to be entertained, to learn something, and to find out your life is really not as bad as you thought!LOL...take care.