At least 3 – 4 times a day I would ask my kids to turn off their bedroom lights and it never failed that every time I passed by their rooms the light was back on – and they were off playing somewhere else.  This is just a big pet peeve of mine, because obviously it is a waste of energy – and I just picture throwing dollar bills in the garbage.

I had to make a change that would not require relying on my kids to turn off their lights and that is when I decided to Install Motion Sensors in their rooms.  This was very easy to do and affordable.

Motion Sensor Switches can be purchased at your local hardware store or Amazon.  They typically run between $20 and $40.

There are two types of Motion Sensor Switches:

• Occupancy Switch: The light will turn on when you enter the room and will turn off when you leave the room after a selected amount of time.  Ideal for Bathroom and Laundry Rooms.
• Vacancy Switch: You manually turn the light on but when you leave the room it turns off after a selected amount of time. Ideal for Bedrooms, Kids Rooms, Rooms with pets.

For a kid’s room, it is better to select a Vacancy Motion Sensor Switch because you are able to enter the room without the light automatically turning on, like when you have to go in to their room in the middle of the night.

The process of installing a Motion Sensor Switch is similar to installing a standard light switch.  Make sure the power is turned completely off before starting the process.

Although I installed my light switch myself, it is highly recommended to hire a Professional Electrician to install it for you.

On most models, you will be able to adjust the Timeout Length and Motion Sensitivity.  On the model that I purchased, I was able to choose the Timeout Length that the light would turn off from 1 minute to 30 minutes.  I chose 15 minutes in case the kids were laying on their beds where the motion sensor would not be able to detect them and they would not have to keep waving their hands every 5 minutes.

So instead of lights staying on for hours at a time because the kids forgot to turn off the light, it will automatically turn off, which  saves energy and money!Although the initial investment may seem like a lot, the overall savings on the Electricity Bill will supersede that in the first year and give you a bit more peace of mind.

Guest Post by Ben Hurst an entrepreneur, project manager, marketer, and the other half of Saving Cents with Sense.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Between meals, dishes, laundry, bathes, school, sporting games, homework, stories, diapers, midnight potty breaks, and even the occasional child-in-our-bed-because-of-a-bad-dream;  I’m too exhausted to even think about romance (and so is my hubby who does his fair share of all of this!). That is why I know it is so important to make sure we schedule time for just the two of us. I’m sure you can all relate – but don’t forget that you need time together, too because that quality time is an investment into your marriage. A happy marriage is what bonds a family.

So here are 25 Frugal & Fun Date Night Ideas to help you spend more quality time together. And for those of you that aren’t married – these are great date ideas for you, too, when you are watching a budget (aren’t we all)!

Most important…

1. Make sure that you have some time for just the two of you – ask the grandparents for the night, get a babysitter, or drop the kids off at a friends for a few hours. The time alone will allow the two of you to connect – without interruptions, so you can enjoy each other.

Save on Food & Drink

2. Stay in and make dinner together by candlelight. Cook together and enjoy each other’s company without kids to distract you. Pick a favorite entrée, drinks, and dessert – and don’t forget the candles!

3. Go for just dessert, appetizers, or even coffee, instead of a whole meal out. You’ll spend less, but it will also give you more time to chat.

4. Save on dining out gift certificates from Restaurant.com. The best part is that you can print your certificate to use immediately, so this works for last minute dates.

5. Use coupons and/or split meals. If you have a favorite dining location, sign up for any e-newsletter or club they offer, which may send out coupons and other promotions throughout the year.

6. Visit a local winery if they offer free tastings. You can buy a bottle to share later, too, which will cost less than having wine out at a restaurant.

7. Don’t forget to check Groupon for daily deals on food, movies, concert tickets, spa days or more.

Save on Entertainment

8. Check the local dollar theater or a drive in for a cheaper movie.

9. Check bars or restaurants with live local bands or singers. Many times there won’t be a cover charge to these events. Many parks put on concerts at different times of the year, too.

10. Rent a movie or borrow one for FREE at the library. Make popcorn at home, turn down the lights, and pretend you are in the theatre.

11. Visit a local high school sporting event.

12. Be a kid again. Get a board game out, cards, or dice and play the night away. You’ll probably have some great conversations while you playing, too.

13. Read a book together. This is a great one to do at night once the kids are in bed, even for just 30 minutes or so.

14. Go to a local college production. They are usually much cheaper, especially if you can go during the day.

15. Go to a local karaoke bar and sing your heart out (or watch others do the same).

Save on Activities

16. Go for a hike and take a picnic lunch to share.

17. Turn “date night” into a daytime date and visit local museums or parks for free.  Look at the Target First program, Bank of America card holder program, or any other discounts they may offer.

18. Head out on a clear night with a telescope and a blanket to go stargazing.

19. Volunteer together at a local church, soup kitchen, etc.

20. If you are lucky to live by the beach, don’t forget that a sunset walk on the beach is always romantic. If you don’t have a beach, visit a local park or mountain to watch the end of the day melt away.

21. Play “tourist” in your town or city. Take your camera and visit the touristy spots. Make sure you get some pictures of just the two of you together!

22. Visit your local painted pottery place and decorate mugs, plates, or tiles together. Don’t forget to put the date on it to remember it, too.

23. Go to your local Farmers Market and buy flowers. Of course, you might want to pick up some fresh produce as well, but something is so romantic about fresh cut flowers.

24. Better yet, plant flowers together in your garden – every time you walk by it, you’ll be reminded about your time together.

25. Reenact your first date together. Visit where you met and fell in love for the very first time.

I hope these ideas give you a starting point, and show you that you don’t have to spend a future to have a good time, enjoy your loved one, and just be silly!  Find romance in whatever you do and don’t stress about stretching your budget too thin.

So, now, what are some of your favorite frugal date night ideas? What would you add to this list?

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Western Union for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

A new re-loadable prepaid MasterCard® is now available from Western Union® and mun2® to help you track your spending. This card requires no checking account or credit card information, so it is simple to sign up. This card is easy to re-load, or add money as you need it at any Western Union® location (with over 46,000 locations, you should be able to find one by you).

Since you load the money, you control what you spend, so you don’t have to worry about overspending. And tracking your money couldn’t be easier, because you can check your balance online or on the phone.  This card can be used at restaurants, gas stations, movies, online stores, concerts, and more, anywhere you can use MasterCard®.  This is a nice alternative for those that don’t want to own a credit card, but want the security of a card with protection. The Western Union mun2 Reloadable Prepaid MasterCard is protected if lost or stolen up to $10,000.  

Sign Up Bonus:
Right now, there is a sign-up $10 bonus for qualified customers when you sign up for Direct Deposit. The bonus will be added to your prepaid account after your first direct deposit on the mun2 Prepaid MasterCard. If you are interested in this card and the bonus, check out all the terms, regulations, and more HERE.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Help your kids learn financial responsibility with the Dave Ramsey Kids Money Education Monster Pack on sale for $48 (normally $105). That is a 54% savings!

About the Dave Ramsey Kids Money Education Monster Pack:

You’ll receive Financial Peace Junior, the new Junior’s Adventures six-CD audio set, and a kids’ bank.  Designed for ages 3 to 12, Financial Peace Junior includes hands-on activities and lessons to teach children the value of earning money. It comes complete with a parents’ guide, kids’ activity book, an audio book, dry erase chore chart, a calculator, and envelopes for giving, saving, and spending.

FREE Shipping is included with this deal and you’ll get the bundle within 1-2 weeks.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

The following is a guest post from Sierra at Ocean Dreams. She shares her own money saving journey with you to hopefully help inspire some that are just starting on that path.

Let’s be honest, saving money for me has always been a struggle. I was raised with frugal parents that tried to install in me proper money management and even though I always paid off everything on time, I never managed to save money. Then more than a year ago something in me changed after a health scare and I realized that it’s important to pay off debt and save more than ever.

I’m currently taking care of my debt one month at a time. Over a year and a half ago I had to quit my job due a health scare. Even though I’m better now, I’m stuck with the debt of when I had to put bills and other expenses on my credit cards when I wasn’t working. You never realize how important work and health is until you are struggling with both, and quitting my job and going through a hard time truly humbled me.

Flash forward to current day – I run my own business as a freelancer and work full time. I feel so thankful that I’m finally able to pay off my debt and slowly and surely I would like to put away funds for my future after everything is paid off. I admit it’s still a struggle for me to use my work funds to pay my credit cards instead of going shopping and getting things that I wasn’t able to have for a while. However, I know now that paying off debt is more important.

You never know when you’ll need money in your savings account for a health emergency or if you were to lose your job. In a wayward economy it’s important now more than ever to pay off debt and put aside savings for when you need it the most. Learning to be frugal isn’t going to happen for me overnight. I like the finer things in life, but I am learning that I don’t necessarily have to buy everything that I want.

One step at a time I believe that I can pay off my debt, continue to save up money, and put away extra funds for a rainy day. Coupons and hot deals certainly help as well and I’m determined to find them along the way!

Sierra is a writer and fashion blogger for JoeShopping.com. Catch up on her latest adventures on her blog Ocean Dreams.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

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Have you ever noticed that when buying online many prices are similar, if not better, than deals found in the store? Sometimes the store deal may be slightly better. But before you head out to the store for that next HOT deal, have you ever asked yourself is it worth it? Does that extra $.50 savings really save you money after you factor time, tax, and of course gas mileage?

I’ve been asking myself this question recently and it was eye opening to actually see what a simple drive to the store can cost to grab a HOT deal. Below is a chart that I created with examples of 4 different makes of cars with their listed Miles Per Gallon and the calculated cost of gas per mile for each car.

For example, if you shop at your local Walmart which is 10 miles away from your house (20 miles round trip) and you drive a Dodge Grand Caravan, each trip will cost you $3.20 (10 miles x 2 = 20 miles round trip x $.16 cost per mile).

How Do You Decide Buying Online vs In the Store?

To get the most bang for your buck, and to make sure you are getting the best savings, you need to ask yourself if driving to the store is worth it.  Especially if you can get that same product for a similar price and FREE shipping online.

So for example, let’s say that your local superstore has a sale on Huggies Diapers for $5.99 after coupons. Amazon has the same Huggies Diapers on sale for $6.99 – The Superstore is cheaper right? Not Necessarily.

Superstore:

Huggies Diapers $6.99
-$1 off coupon
=$5.99 + tax + $3.20 gas (from scenario above)
=You actually pay out of pocket $9.19 + tax, which may be closer to $10

Amazon:

Huggies Diapers $6.99 + FREE shipping with Amazon Prime (or $25 minimum purchase)
=You actually pay out of pocket $6.99

On the surface, the “superstore” seems like a better deal but when you take into account the cost of gas to drive to the local store, when purchased from Amazon you can save at least $2.20!

Now lets talk about Opportunity Cost:

Another factor to take into account, is the time that it takes you to drive to your local store.  Everybody has to put a value to what their time is worth, whether you work full time or if you are a stay at home mom.  It is called opportunity cost.  You have to ask yourself what else could you be doing or how much money could you be making instead of driving to the local store to get that one HOT Deal.

You can use this rule for many things other than just going to the grocery store like the cost of a trip (Fly vs Drive), cost to go to your favorite restaurant, cost to drive to work versus carpooling, etc.

Of course this is just one more factor on your savings journey – always buying online or in the store is not the answer. Weigh your options with each situation so that you can make sure you save the most with each purchase.

Guest Post by Ben Hurst an entrepreneur, project manager, marketer, and the other half of Saving Cents with Sense.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of MatchBook for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

College textbooks can be down right pricey. I remember books costing $100 or more when I was in college several years ago, and prices have continued to rise to where some books are now close to $200 (and that is just one book!).  Considering that students tend to have multiple books for each class, and take 3-4 classes at a time, it is not an easy item for an already tight-budget college student (or families) to afford.

Luckily, there is a new way to help reduce this cost, and it is called MatchBooks. Their mission is simple but powerful: Matching Your Textbooks So You Can Read FREE!

How Does It Work:

The Matchbook team takes a popular introductory text book (such as Intro to Psychology by Myers 9th edition) and “matches” the book with the the same chapter order, the same topics per chapter, and includes the same key terms of the assigned textbook. Just like other texts, the MatchBook is written by a leading scholar, created using a rigorous editorial process, and peer reviewed by psychology professors using Myers.

The Benefit to this FREE resource is that students that would not normally be able to afford their books, and therefore, not succeed in their classes, are able to get the material they need.

More Information:

The MatchBook for Myers Psych is the very first MatchBook and it is already receiving positive reviews. More MatchBooks will be coming out later this year. You can “Like” Flat World Knowledge on Facebook and check out the MatchBooks website to find additional information about this product.

I really like that this FREE resource is available for college students on tight budgets. I can imagine it will really help many of you! If you plan to use MatchBooks or know someone who will, let me know what you think. I’d love to hear your thoughts as well!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Each year the National Parks have fee-free days so you can enjoy some FREE family fun. The National Parks Fee-FREE days in 2012 start this weekend and include:

• January 14-16
  Martin Luther King Jr. weekend
  
• April 21-29
  National Park Week
  
• June 9
  Get Outdoors Day
  
• September 29
  National Public Lands Day
  
• November 10-12
  Veterans Day weekend

We try to go to a different National Park on these fee-free day each year – and it is so much fun to explore with the kids. Take a picnic lunch with you – and make a day of it!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Start the New Year off right with some advice and budget tools from Dave Ramsey. Get the Dave Ramsey Money Education Bundle for just $45 ($120 Value) that includes

• The Total Money Makeover Book and Workbook,
• 2 DVD lessons,
• The Money Answer Book
• The Starter Envelope System
• And FREE Budgeting Software

You’ll learn how to manage, save, and spend money more wisely. 

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

The day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday, is the Biggest shopping day of the year! It is an exciting day because deals will be HOT, prices will be low, crowds will be swarming, and the holiday spirit will abound. BUT it can also be a frustrating experience if you aren’t prepared, so I wanted to give you a few tips to maximize your savings, and keep your sanity.

Prepare in Advance

1. Look at Black Friday ads before Friday (as in NOW). Most store ads are released early, so you can see what will be on sale before the day here.

2. Compare Prices – Make sure you look at various stores to find the best deal before heading out. Don’t forget that Walmart offers price matching, too.

3. Plan Your Shopping Trip – What stores do you plan to go to? What items are you getting? You may want to map out the stores in advice as well so you can get in and out as quickly as possible. Also, check the times that the stores are opening, some, like Target this year, will open at Midnight, while others (CVS) are open on Thanksgiving day.

4. Create a Budget – Decide what you are going to spend before going, this will help you stay out of debt and stick to your shopping list.

5. Download the Saving Cents with Sense app so you can find Black Friday information on your smartphone when you are out and about.

Day of:

If you are shopping in-store –

6. Dress Warmly – Layer your clothes so you are warm enough while outside, but you don’t overheat in the store with all the crowds.

7. Take the Ads With You – This will ensure you know what you are getting and what price it should be. Some items may not be marked, so you need to know exactly what to look for.

8. Avoid Impulse Buying – Stick to what you plan to buy and avoid extra purchases which may cost you more than what you wanted to spend and lead to buying unnecessary items.

9. Take Snacks and Water – Stay hydrated while you are shopping. The snacks will also help you stay energized and avoid spending extra money on food.

If you are shopping online

10.  Check when sales begin. Many stores will start sales on Thanksgiving, so in between basting the turkey, you can grab some new gifts and not worry about heading out the next day!

11. Get Coupon Codes Ready Before the Sale Starts – Many stores will release coupon codes early, so you can get them ready for the big day – you can also check RetailMeNot for codes to specific stores you want.

12. Subscribe to Saving Cents with Sense – I will be highlighting Black Friday ads as I find them and you can find them all on the Black Friday Page. I will also be posting all online deals, savings, and codes that I find to help you save while you are home.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Halloween is a week away, and I know many of you are dreading the drain on your wallet. But, there are a few things you can do so that you don’t overspend on this holiday and still enjoy your treats.

Costumes

1) Don’t Pay Full Price.  There are some really great deals out there right now – and it isn’t too late to find the perfect costume. Many stores have already started to mark costumes down, and it may take a little bit of searching, but you can find your costume for less with some patience.

Thrift and craft stores can also inspire your creative spirit, as well as offer great low cost accessories for your new costume.

2) Make Your Own.  Check closets, the garage, the linen closet, or your craft cupboard to make your own costume! Easy costume ideas include a cowboy, princess, pumpkin, rock star, dog, spider, firefighter, scarecrow, or pirate. Still not sure? And you can always get this FREE Creative and Cute Halloween Costumes: 13 Costume Ideas to Make at Home ebook.

3) Host an Exchange Party. Most costumes are only worn once or twice, so why not pass them on to others once you are done. Invite friends/family over and ask them to bring any used costumes (and accessories) that they don’t want. Everyone can walk away with something new and it doesn’t have to cost a penny!

Treats

4) Use Coupons! You probably aren’t surprised that I mentioned this tip, but also make sure that you are using them with a sale to maximize your savings. Check out a list of current Halloween printable coupons here.

5) Buy in Bulk. Buy candy from a super-store, like Costco or Sam’s Club. If you are buying a lot of candy or want to split the cost with a friend, this may be a cheaper option.

6) Hand out the Candy Yourself. Instead of letting kids grab candy out of your bowl (and take half the bag!), hand out 1-2 pieces per child. This will cut down on the amount of candy that you need to supply, and really kids will get plenty of candy anyhow.

Decorations

7) Be Creative with Decorations. Whether you want a splash of holiday flair or a complete makeover, making your own decorations will help you save. Stretch cotton balls or yarn to create spider webs or stuff trash bags with leaves to create pumpkins. Making your own scarecrow(s) is just as easy with old clothes, newspaper, and a foam pumpkin (found at craft stores), so that it will last several years.

8 ) Check Discount Stores. The $.99 Store, Big Lots, etc, have many Halloween decorations for less and many are the same (or similar) to decorations you would find at department stores.

In General

9) Shop Online with FREE Shipping and Save Time & Money! If you haven’t signed up for ShopRunner yet, now is the perfect time to do so because it will help you save on Last Minute Shopping! And with all the great stores you can get FREE shipping with, you’ll also be ready for all the holiday sales coming up.

Tip: You can sign up for a 30-day FREE trial to see if you like the service, but I really do think you’ll enjoy it.

10) Shop on November 1. This tip will help you save for next Halloween. Most stores, like Target, Walmart, Michael’s, etc, discount Halloween merchandise by 60%-90%, so you can pick up costumes, decorations, and other holiday related items that will last for years to come.

This post is being sponsored by Juice in the City.  Juice in the City’s mission is to support local businesses and women in the workforce. I received compensation for my story today, but all opinions are my own.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

If you saw me on Arizona Midday today, Welcome!

Make sure you subscribe to my FREE Email Updates or to my Facebook page to make sure you don’t miss any good deals, FREEBIES, or tips to help you save. You can also follow updates Twitter.

I talked about the Top 5 FREE Money Saving Apps for Your Smartphone. And in case you missed it, or need a recap, here they are:

1. Groupon – Find daily deals around town. Everything from Restaurant and spa deals to even vacation packages.  You’ll find all kinds of products, events or services. Great to use for holiday gift shopping.

2. Mint.com – Free budgeting tool. Track spending and saving while on the go. Manage all your online banking accounts all from your phone. Allows you to set a budget, track goals, and stay on track.

3. GasBuddy – Find the cheapest gas wherever you are. Locate gas stations near your location and compare prices before you go. Location stations throughout the US and Canada.

4. Skype – Already popular to talk on the computer via the internet, now there is an iPhone application. Calls between Skype users are free, and calls to landlines and cellphone are just pennies. This is especially good for those with international friends or family.

5. Saving Cents with Sense (iPhone App or Android App) – Find hot deals on everything from the grocery store to online deals, to ways to save around town. The coupon match-ups will help you find the best savings at the grocery stores around town – and with holiday shopping coming up, I’m always on the lookout for the best bargain.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

I came across one of these grocery match-ups sites earlier today that was boasting about how great their service was – and that it was all for only $10-$15/month!  They went on to compare their service with “blogs” and showed how they offer more – well, I beg to differ!

Get FREE Grocery Match-Ups.

1. You can the same information for FREE! With the Coupon Database, you have access to looking up specific coupons for whatever product you are looking for before you head to the store. The Coupon Database lists all available coupons – printable, from inserts, peelies, from magazines, and more.

2. You can also find printable lists of many grocery and drug store deals HERE so you can maximize your savings. And if the store you are looking for isn’t listed here, check the Frugal Map to find one near you. My store match-ups are also in a printer-friendly list, so you can choose exactly what items you want to include in the list and print that.

3.  If you don’t want to use the match-ups that blogs provide you, you can also do them yourself. Making your own match-ups can take more time, but it isn’t hard to do, and you’ll get the products you want.

4. These match-ups are done each week when the ad comes out so you can maximize your savings right away. You can sign up for my Email Newsletter to make sure you don’t miss any updates.

5. Another huge benefit to using blogs to help you save at the grocery store is that you get personal interaction from a real person that knows your area stores.

The bottom line – When you are trying to save money and stretch your hard earned dollar, why pay for something that you can get for FREE?  That $10-$20/month can be put toward your grocery money and be stretched even further when you use coupons!

Do you agree? Or does it make sense to pay for these types of services?

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Are you using Upromise yet?  If not, you should be and here’s why.

If you have kids, have student loans, want to go back to school, or know someone that does, you want to know about and start using Upromise, which helps you save for college by doing things you are already doing: Shopping, Eating Out, Buying Tickets, or Fill Your Gas Tank.

If you have kids, then you may have already set up a Upromise account to help save for their college education, but even if you don’t have kids, this is a great way to make some extra money! You can use it for yourself if you ever decide to go back to school, you can help pay off student loans from your degree, or save up for another family member or friend that may need help with their college education one day.

It only take a few minutes to sign up, and link up your grocery cards, CVS card, and/or credit card. Once you do this, you can start getting money into your account when you purchase participating items or at participating locations. If you shop through Upromise, you can also get money back towards your account, to save even more!

This is such an amazing program that doesn’t cost you anything to enroll and can be so beneficial to you or a loved one. I truly recommend that you look into this as an option since we all know that college can be costly.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of UPromise for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’ve mentioned how much I like Upromise before because it helps you save for college by doing things you are already doing: Shopping, Eating Out, Buying Tickets, or Fill Your Gas Tank. But what I didn’t know is that Upromise has been around for 10 years and in that time, Upromise members have received more than $600 million in college savings through their rewards program!

To celebrate, Upromise is giving away $20,000 to users who share a story that tells how a parent has supported a child’s dream. 10 winners will win $1000 and a grand prize winner will win $10,000. You can read more on the dream wall official rules. It is easy to enter to win – just visit www.upromisetodream.com and submit your dream for your children. Is it to go to college? Get a scholarship? Attend an ivy league school? Or pursue their dreams?

I really enjoyed reading the different dreams submitted so far. It is very inspiring! I also submitted a dream for my children, to "Reach their Highest Potential". My goal is to help my children cherish and LOVE to learn. That drive will help them in the future as they pursue their goals. A love of learning is so important and my hope is that I always encourage that.

What is your dream? After you visit the Upromise wall (and enter to win), feel free to come back here and share – I’d love to hear your dreams!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Another Lowe’s Kids Build and Grow Clinic will be this Saturday, September 10, 2011 where your kids will enjoy making a police car.  Be sure to pre-register at your nearest location before you go and space is limited in some locations!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Just a reminder that Museum Day is Saturday, September 24, 2011. You can sign up now to get 2 FREE ticket admissions to a one of 100s of Smithsonian museums or affiliates. You’ll need to print your tickets and give them to the admissions desk at the museum to get in.

The Museum Day Ticket is good for 2 people per household. Grab your tickets now to get the museum of your choice.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Another Lowe’s Kids Build and Grow Clinic will be this Saturday, August 27th!  They will be building a School Locker.  Be sure to pre-register at your nearest location before you go and space is limited in some locations!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

I’m really excited to share this new feature with you because I think you’ll enjoy this! Saving Cents with Sense is one of the first blogs to get access to a new marketplace feature for bloggers! The technology is called smarketplaces, and it is now available on the site! You can check it out HERE.

Basically, this new feature enables you to buy & sell items from each other (peer-to-peer buying & selling like eBay). I’m hoping this new feature will allow you all to save some money by buying pre-loved items, and make a little money by selling things they no longer need. Plus, the transaction fees on my marketplace will be lower than eBay and Amazon, so selling here can help you save even more.

The categories of items for sale are:

• Kids’ Clothing & Accessories
• Baby Products
• Toys & Games
• Home Goods
• School Products
• Electronics
• Books
• Other

Posting an item for sale is really simple, too. Once you have the item that you want to sell, you’ll want to take a picture (or two) of it to show buyers what it is. You’ll also want to have a brief description of your item so that buyers will know what it is, the condition it is in, etc.

How to post items to sell:    (Limited Time: FREE Listing)

1. Create an account by clicking “Sign Up” above the featured items
2. Sign Up by using your Facebook Account or Enter Username & Password
3. Click the “+ post and item” button
4. List the Item Name, Category, Price, Description, Condition and then add your pictures.  (Be sure to include estimated freight charges in your price)
5. If you want edit the post or move rotate the order of the pictures, click your item and select “Edit It” and make the changes.

How to purchase items:   (Limited Time: 5% Cash Back)

1. Click “Buy Now” under the picture.
2. A PayPal pop-up window will appear where you can either Log In to an existing account or choose “Don’t have a PayPal Account?” to purchase with a debit or credit card.
3. Go through the options to finish the transaction.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Just a reminder that many states offer a Tax Free Weekend this weekend (August 5-7) that can really help with Back to School shopping. Most look like they are offered in August, but you’ll want to look at the list to see for sure when it is offered.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Looking for something to do with the family? Target offers FREE and reduced price admission to many different cultural events around the country. You’ll find a variety of different museums, theatre, and much more. Many of the discounts happen on the first weekend of the month, so head over and check out what is available by you this weekend.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

1. Lakeshore Learning Center:  Let’s Go Fishing (Saturday)

2. Target FREE & Reduced Price Events – Museums around the country; dates vary depending on the location and attraction

3. Jo-Ann Fabrics – FREE Demos Saturday 11-3 Papercrafting with Cricut and Saturday 3-5 Fabric-Crafting with Rit Dyes

5. Lowe’s Build & Grow Clinic – Waving Flag (Saturday)

6. Michael’s – Passport to Fun Egypt Hieroglyphics & Mummy FREE Make-It Take-It (Saturday)

7. Toys R Us – Support Alex’s Lemonade Stand: Decorate your own lemonade stand sign, and receive an Honest Kids Berry Berry Good Lemonade sample  (Saturday 12 – 2 pm)

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

You can save a lot of money, be eco-friendly, and keep toxic chemicals away from your home by making your own non-toxic cleaners. To make it even better, one product can be used to clean multiple surfaces and it only costs a few dollars. That product is vinegar.

Vinegar is an effective household cleaner because it kills most mold, bacteria, and germs. White Distilled Vinegar is the best to clean with, here are some examples:

• Spray full strength vinegar around the kitchen and/or bathroom to remove germs. Just rinse with water.
• Pour vinegar into the toilet and let it sit for 30 minutes. Sprinkle baking soda on the toilet brush and remove stained areas.
• Remove stickers on furniture or other surfaces with vinegar.
• Clean windows with half vinegar and half water. Use newspapers to wipe clean (they really work!).
• Make clothes in the laundry “brighter” by adding a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
• Spray the shower (walls, curtain, etc) with vinegar to help prevent mildew.

You can even create your own Non-Toxic Bug Spray with vinegar and a few other ingredients.

How else do you clean with vinegar around the home?

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

With 3 kids, it feels like we are always getting ready for a birthday party.  When we do, we work hard to keep the spending in check while still celebrating the day.  It seems that some people think bigger is better – but that isn’t always the case.

Saving Money as the Host/Hostess!

1. Party Ware. Honestly, there is no reason to have fancy cups or plates with cartoon characters on them.  This is one place where the costs can quickly add up.  Besides that, no one really notices them. They gobble up the cake, swallow the punch and immediately throw it into the trash. Why not just stick with plain white? Or, perhaps a less expensive solid color.

2. Balloons/Streamers/Signs. Sure, these can be a lot of fun to look at, but they don’t serve any purpose other than to decorate the house. Most kids won’t even notice that they are missing from the overall theme – and you’ll save yourself $10, $15 or even more!

3. Party Favors/Hats.  I’ve always tried to figure out why people believe guests need a goodie bag.  Isn’t the party for the child and not the guests? However, if you must do the goodie bag – keep it simple. Stop by your dollar store and get some stickers, lollipops, sunglasses or things that are inexpensive. But try avoid the “2 second toys”….the ones that mom will pick up for 2 seconds before she throws them in the trash.

4. Invitations. The main point of the invitation is to let your guests know the Five “Ws”: Who, What, Where, When & Why. You can get a simple, plainer invitation for about a third to one-half of the cost of fancy invitations. You’ll save even more if you bypass the customized, printed invitations. However, if you really want something personalized, check out Vistaprint.com – they always have great deals on printed items.

5. Cake. While professionally decorated cakes are fun, why not try your hand at doing your own? Use some fun icings, candles and candy decorations and your child will probably not even know that he or she is missing out. There are lots of great photos and ideas out there to help you decorate your own.

6. Dinner/Lunch. There is not any need to feed your guests anything other than cake and/or ice cream. If you are not sure how to avoid this, just plan your party for 10:00 a.m. or 2:00 p.m. These are times of the day when people won’t expect anything other than cake.

Saving Money As a Guest!

So, now you know what you can do to save money when throwing a party. But, what if you aren’t throwing a party – but attending instead. Can you save money? You bet – here’s how:

1. R.S.V.P. This may seem like an odd way to save money – but it isn’t saving money for you but really helping out your host/hostess.

It seems that so many people have forgotten what this means. It is a French phrase: Répondez s’il vous plaît. Not sure of the translation? It simply means – Respond if you please.

Out of respect for the host/hostess, you should have the courtesy to call and let them know if you will be attending or not.   Think of it like this – if someone invites 20 people and purchases food, etc and plans on that many and only 4 show up – look at the wasted money. On the flip side, if you plan on 20 and 25 show up, you don’t have enough to feed your guests.

In addition, many parties are held in locations where the family pays per child. If you do not show up or, if you even show up without letting them know, can cost the family more than expected (Oh – and whatever you do – don’t bring siblings to parties when they are not invited – unless YOU are paying for them to participate).

By taking the time to call the host or hostess, you can essentially save them money so that they can do proper planning/spending. I know as a mom I GREATLY appreciate this more than my guests know.

2. Gifts. You don’t have to spend a lot to give a child a great gift. Books, coloring books, crayons, puzzles, games – these are all gifts that seem to have gone to the wayside, but can be found at a really great price. Try to buy gifts when they are on clearance off season and stock a gift closet. That way, when it is time for a gift, you have one handy.

3. Gift Wrap/Cards/Bows. Why not stop by the dollar store and pick up a roll of paper and card ? They always are just ripped apart in minutes and no child really cares how the package looks – they just love opening packages. After all, it is the gift that matters and not the packaging. You can even find plain colored paper and bows after Christmas and stock up to cover your party needs throughout the year.

So, whether you are hosting or are a guest, there are ways to help yourself (and others) save money when it comes to having a party. The most important thing is to celebrate how much that person means to you.

BIO:  Tracie helped her family eradicate more than $37,000 in debt.  She shares her money saving tips and deals daily at Penny Pinchin Mom.  When not busy saving money, she enjoys spending time with her family at home in Missouri.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

I know it can be hard to try to buy organic food within a tight budget since many organic items, especially fresh produce can be expensive. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t buy any organic items. Rather, it is about picking and choosing what should be buy as organic. Remember part of a frugal lifestyle is making choices about your resources and your needs.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), there are 12 fruits and vegetable that you should always buy organic due to the amount of pesticides in them. This “Dirty Dozen” includes:

Peaches
Apples
Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarine
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Grapes (Imported)
Carrot
Pear

Here’s a fact to sink your teeth into: “EWG research has found that people who eat the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables consume an average of 10 pesticides a day.” I don’t know about you, but that is just plan gross to me, so I’m only buying these “Dirty Dozen” organic or growing them myself.

The good news is that the EWG has also released the “Clean 15”, which is a list of fruits and vegetables that are lowest in pesticides, and therefore, if you can’t afford to buy them organic, then it doesn’t matter as much.

What about you? Do you buy organic produce? What else do you buy organic?

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

If you feel like you may need to take out a second mortgage to put fuel in your tank, you are not alone!  And as you know, gasoline coupons just don’t appear out this air.  That means all of us have to take extra steps so that we can conserve gasoline and get the most out of each fill up.

Here are 5 Tips to Help You Save:

1. Drive the speed limit (or slower).  When you drive fast, you burn more fuel.  Just by simply be easing up on your accelerator, you can save a few dollars at the pump.

2. Check your tire pressure.  When they are underdeflated, they pose  a safety risk. Not only that, they can also make you burn more gasoline.

3. Don’t top off your tank.  Make sure  that when the pump clicks off you just handle back and tighten your gas cap.  When you top of your tank, some of the fuel can seep out and simply be a waste.

4. Clean out your trunk. When you have extra items in your trunk, it can weight you down and also make you burn more gasoline.

5. Shop where you get rewards.  Several stores around the country offer rewards that can be redeemed towards fuel savings.  Remember – even a savings of $0.05 a gallon is still a savings!

So, what are YOU doing to help save on your gasoline consumption?

BIO:  Tracie helped her family eradicate more than $37,000 in debt.  She shares her money saving tips and deals daily at Penny Pinchin Mom.  When not busy saving money, she enjoys spending time with her family at home in Missouri.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

I mentioned recently that making your own household cleaners can help you save money, be eco-friendly, and keep toxic chemicals from your home. Another great product to use in cleaning around the home is baking soda.

Baking Soda is also a great household cleaner because it deodorizes and cleans, plus, the best benefit is that it is cheap. Some ways to clean with baking soda include:

• Sprinkle it on the carpet to neutralize odors before vacuuming.
• Keep an open box in the refrigerator to keep it smelling fresh (replace every 3 months).
• Pour baking soda down your garbage disposal while running warm water to keep it smelling fresh.
• It also works great at deodorizing garbage cans, diaper pails, laundry baskets or litter boxes.
• Create a scouring paste with baking soda and vinegar to clean your kitchen sink and counters.

Did you know you can even use baking soda in your at home facials? How else do you use baking soda to clean around the house?

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Blue Star Museums is offering FREE admission to over 1300 museums for all active duty military personnel and their families starting Memorial Day, May 30, 2011, through Labor Day, September 5, 2011.

Museums include children’s museums, fine arts museums, history and science museums, and nature centers. You can find a full list of participating museums HERE.

For those of you in the Phoenix area, the Arizona Science Center is also participating, which is a very fun museum to take the kids to, since it has many different exhibits and an IMAX.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

I’m excited to share this NEW feature with you from Saving Cents with Sense. Now it is even easier to stay up to date on the HOTTEST deals, coupons, and more because you can download the FREE Saving Cents with Sense toolbar right to your browser.

You’ll be able to see the latest Deal Alerts, go straight to the Latest Printable Coupons, Search the Coupon Database, and more, all with a simple click from the toolbar. (Click the picture above to see a bigger tutorial)

Toolbar Features Include:

• Easy Search Function – Looking for something on Saving Cents with Sense? Find it fast with the Search button.
• Latest Blog Post – Click on the RSS button (orange button) for a drop down menu of all my latest posts.
• HOT Printable Coupons – Printable coupons can reach their print limit fast, so access them fast to make sure you get the ones you want.
• Coupon Database – Find a specific coupon right away
• Store Deals – Look through the drop down list to find the grocery, drug, or super store you want right away.
• Online Deals – Stay up to date on all the latest online deals.
• FREEBIES – These can go fast, too, so now you can access them right away.
• Facebook – And of course one joining the Saving Cents with Sense Facebook page will help you stay up to date with time sensitive deals, and get answers from me right away.

I hope you enjoy this new feature and that it can help you as you are looking for deals and ways to save!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Looking for something fun and FREE to do with the family this weekend? There are several events to choose from:

1. Lakeshore Learning Center:  Let’s Dance Streamer (Saturday)

2. Target FREE & Reduced Price Events – Museums around the country; dates vary depending on the location and attraction

3. Michael’s FREE Crafts

• Saturday, 5/21 – Wilton Cake Decorating Demo, 1-3pm
• Sunday, 5/22 – Making Memories Bravissimo, 1pm – 3pm

4. Phoenix Zoo: FREE Kids Admission (Saturday & Sunday)

5. Jo-Ann Fabrics – Demos: Papercrafting & Jewelry Making (Saturday, 11am-3pm)

6. Babies R Us – Simply Intuitive Breastfeeding, 12pm – 3pm (Saturday)

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

In honor of Earth Day, I wanted to share some ways that we can be frugal, yet also eco-friendly.  Hopefully these tips can help you not only help the environment, but also help you save your cash, which is always welcomed!

10 Frugal Tips for Earth Day

1. Recycle – Of course you probably already know about this tip, and may have a recycling bin in your home. But there are other ways to recycle products, too. Tip: Try using newspaper instead of paper towels the next time you wash your windows. Not only will it save you money not buying as many paper towels, but it will get your windows streak-free!

2. Buy Used: You probably already know the benefits of buying second-hand, but buying used, also helps the environment.

3. Turn it Off- Lights, computers, and other electronics consume energy and our money. Turning lights off when we leave a room, unplugging chargers when not in use, and shutting down the computer (and printer) at night can all help to save!

4. Make your own. Cleaners, bug spray, body scrub, laundry detergent, you name it. Many items can be made inexpensively, naturally, and without polluting your home with chemicals.

5. Grow Your Own: Planting your own vegetables, fruit, and herbs can save you money, but it can also reduce the use of chemical pesticides. And just think of the money you’d save by less trips to the grocery store for produce! You can also follow along in my gardening journey.

6. Compost. This is a biggie- because it takes recycling to the next step. Not only is it cutting down on your household waste, but it is producing organic soil to help you save in your garden and/or lawn. Read more about how it can save you Here.

7. Buy in season. We get so used to the ability to buy whatever we want WHEN we want, that we don’t always ask what is best. Buying fruits and vegetables in season doesn’t just help the environment by cutting down on the carbon footprint, but it can also save you money.

The best way to save green here is to shop your local Farmer’s Market- you’ll find what is the freshest (and most nutritious), but you’ll also cut down on that massive carbon footprint from shipping goods across the world.

8. Wash Cold & Line Dry. Washing your clothes in cold water not only cuts down on energy (and cost), but it is also less harsh on your clothes. When  you are drying, consider line drying as well. You’ll save on energy costs and have naturally fresh smelling clothes!

9. Re-Use. Not only can reusable totes and bags help cut down on environmental waste, but many stores (like Target) offer you money off for using reusable bags. Plus, using refillable water bottles are much more cost-effective (and eco-friendly).

10. Plant a Tree. Not only are you making the air a little greener, but if you plant a fruit bearing tree, you can also cut down on produce expenses. And don’t forget you can pick up a FREE tree from Lowe’s tomorrow, 4/23/11.

Now it is your turn? What other frugal ways are you green? What works for your family?

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

This coming week, April 16 – 24, is National Park Week with the National Park Service. All week, more than 100 national parks that normally charge entrance fees will be completely FREE. This is a great opportunity to take the family out to a park and enjoy the outdoors and the educational experience.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

I have officially started my garden this year and I’m already looking forward to the fresh veggies I’ll have this summer!  I am doing something a bit new this year, and that is starting everything from seed. In the past, I have taken advantage of Home Depot’s B1G1 FREE plants to start part of the garden, but since my son is really wanting to be involved with the entire process this  year, I’m using the garden as a learning tool.

I picked up organic seeds and planted yellow squash, tomatoes, jalapenos, cucumber, lettuce, cilantro, and basil. To start, I also bought a few biodegradable pots, but decided to try reusing some of my plastic egg cartons, as well, to save money on supplies.

My oldest son actually planted most of the seeds by himself, and he has been very good about remembering to water before and after school. We planted these seeds a week and a half ago, and have started to see the sprouts on both the lettuce and yellow squash. Now it is time to make sure how garden bed is ready for all the new plants we will have in the next month.

If you are thinking of starting a garden this year, you might want to read:

• 5 Lessons from the Vegetable Garden
• 3 Easy Garden Plants for Kids
• Starting Our First Garden

Like the last 2 years, I’ll be keeping you informed of how my garden is doing, but I’m also excited to team up with Melissa from Stockpiling Moms to bring you a new Frugal Gardening series. I’ll be posting a linky with each update, so you can link up your garden posts, too.

So, are you planting a garden this year? What are you planting? Do you plant from seed or buy plants? I’d love to hear about your updates, too. Feel free to leave a comment or link below:

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Stock up on a good sale. Stockpiling can help you save in the future so that you aren’t paying full price for a product when you need it. Although, I want to caution here, NOT to overly stockpile. How much should you stock up on? It really depends on your family, but please don’t buy something that you won’t use just because it is a good sale. Watch expiration dates and make sure you are rotating products at home to use the oldest first.

These are just some basic tips to help you start saving at the store with your coupons – I have more questions to answer from many of you – but please let me know if you have more questions. I’m here to help!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

I asked my Facebook fans what couponing questions they had (and received some great questions!) and one of the main questions was how to start couponing. How can you save at the grocery store? How can you maximize your savings with coupons?

I know many of you are new to couponing (especially after watching Extreme Couponing)  and so I want to help you out with some couponing basics.

So, How Do You Begin Using Coupons?

1. The first step is to start to collect coupons. Where can you do that? The easiest way is from your Sunday newspaper. Each weekend, there will be between 1-5 coupon inserts available. Those inserts usually are the Smart Source, Red Plum, P&G (once a month), or General Mills. Each week, I post a preview of the coupons, so you can decide if you want to buy additional papers that week.

Do you need to buy additional papers? No – and usually I don’t because I have found different ways of getting more inserts. You can check out my 10 Tips to Increase Your Coupon Stash for some ideas.

The other main way to get coupons is by printing coupons. Not only are there great printable coupon sites available (Coupons.com, SmartSource, RedPlum, etc), but many companies release printable coupons on their Facebook page or direct website.

Some of posts you might want to read include: Tips for Coupon Printing Problems and How to Save on Ink & Paper.

Plus, I post all the HOT printable coupons that I find each day, so you can make sure to find them fast. Make sure you subscribe to my FREE Email Updates and Facebook to stay up to date.

2. Use the Coupon Database to find coupons that you want for products that are on sale at your local store. The database tells you if a coupon is available, the expiration date, any limitations, and where you can find that coupon. You can also read how to make your own coupon match-ups HERE.

3. Organize your coupons so that you can use them when you need them. There are many different ways to organize your coupons, and I have a couple different ways that I’ve done it – with a coupon binder or a coupon folder.

If you are looking to purchase an organization system, you can find some nice deals HERE.

Confused by all the Coupon Lingo? Here’s an explanation.

Hopefully this has given you a good start, I have more questions that I will be answering as well. If you are confused by anything or have a specific question, please feel free to leave me a comment or contact me so that I can help you. Until then – have fun couponing!

Next Steps. Read these Articles to help you on your Saving Journey:

Are Coupons Worth Your Time?

Are Coupons Just a Manufacturer’s Gimmick?

10 Do’s and Don’t’s to Using Coupons

Is It Ok to Copy Printable Coupons?

What Does Coupon Stacking Mean?

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Head over to the Frugal Living Community tonight, 4/5, at 8pm EST to discuss Frugal Gardening with me and my co-host, Melissa from Stockpiling Moms.  We will be discussing ways to garden on a budget, using spall spaces, and enjoying the fruits of your labor. So head over and RSVP – and I’ll see you at the chat!

I actually just started my 3rd season of gardening (post to come soon!) and am so excited for another great season, which of course I’ll keep you updated on.

And to get you excited about thinking about gardening, here are a few posts you might want to check out:

• 5 Lessons from the Vegetable Garden
• 3 Easy Garden Plants for Kids
• Starting Our First Garden

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! If you are looking for something fun to do with your kids today, you can try making Green Eggs and Ham. My 5 year old LOVES Dr. Seuss right now (probably because he enjoys reading them himself now), so when I asked him if he wanted green eggs and ham for dinner, he was very excited.

This is such a simple recipe – but I wanted to share it since it is such a hit at my house.

Green Eggs and Ham Recipe

• 8 eggs or 2 cups egg substitute
• 2 Tbsp milk
• 4 slices ham, diced
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of pepper
• 1-2 drops of green food coloring

You can also add it some fresh veggies like broccoli, green bell pepper, or spinach to give added nutrition. My boys actually love broccoli and I try to put spinach in most dishes for me now (great for pregnancy).

If you end up trying this, let me know how it goes. Did your family enjoy it?

Don’t forget you can also download a FREE St.Patrick’s Day Crafts & Recipes eBook, too.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Come over to the Frugal Living Community on Tuesday, 3/15/11 at 5-6pm PST. We’ll be talking about budget travel tips, useful gadgets and accessories, packing help and travel in general! Come over and RSVP – and I’ll see you there.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Welcome Arizona Midday viewers! Make sure you subscribe to my FREE Email Updates or to my Facebook page to make sure you don’t miss any good deals, FREEBIES, or tips to help you save. You can also follow updates Twitter.

I enjoyed chatting today about Making Your Own Non-Toxic Cleaners and Bug Spray. As you saw, it is really easy to help you save money, be eco-friendly, and keep toxic chemicals away from your home. In case you missed it, here are some tips:

Make Your Own Foaming Hand Soap

Make Your Own Non-Toxic Bug Spray for Your Home

Vinegar is an effective household cleaner because it kills most mold, bacteria, and germs. White Distilled Vinegar is the best to clean with, here are some examples:

• Spray full strength vinegar around the kitchen and/or bathroom to remove germs. Just rinse with water.
• Pour vinegar into the toilet and let it sit for 30 minutes. Sprinkle baking soda on the toilet brush and remove stained areas.
• Remove stickers on furniture or other surfaces with vinegar.
• Clean windows with half vinegar and half water.
• Make clothes in the laundry “brighter” by adding a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.

Baking Soda is also a great household cleaner because it deodorizes and cleans:

• Sprinkle it on the carpet to neutralize odors before vacuuming.
• Keep an open box in the refrigerator to keep it smelling fresh (replace every 3 months)
• Create a scouring paste with baking soda and vinegar to clean your kitchen sink and counters.

Have questions or a comment- let me know, I’d love to hear from you!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Come over and join the Ebates Travel Week Twitter Party tonight, 3/3, at 4-5pm PST. Follow hashtag #ebatestravel as we discuss travel tips, our favorite vacation stories, and of course, living a savvy life!

Be sure to tweet your R.S.V.P. using this special tweet

I’ll be there! #ebatestravel twitter party 3/3 @ 4pm PST. Join us for #prizes, #coupons, and more!

And don’t forget you can still enter to win a 7 Day Club Med All Inclusive Vacation for 2!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Come over and join the Travel Week Live Chat in the Frugal Living Community at 4-5pm EST today, 3/1/11. We’ll be talking savvy travel, spring, and the new Ebates giveaway – a Club Med vacation for two!

Party starts soon – see you there!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

How would you like to win a 7-day Club Med All Inclusive Vacation for Two? Good news – Ebates is giving one away! It is Travel Week at Ebates and they are celebrating with a HUGE contest.

To Enter:

• Sign up for Ebates
• Submit your vacation story (they are looking for the craziest, most hilarious, and most romantic vacation story out there)
• That’s it – if you are picked then you could be enjoying a 7 day trip!

So, what are you waiting for? Head over to Ebates and submit your story – and let me know if you win!! Hurry the contest ends March 7, 2011.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

I’m excited about the new VeggieTales website – because it is loaded with fun activities for kids, including Games, Videos, and Activities. Plus, kids can send loved ones FREE e-Cards, too.

All your favorite Veggie Tales characters are on the site, offering audible phrases, telling stories, and more. I think this is perfect timing since Spring Break is coming up and it can help to entertain and educate our young ones while they are home.

My 5 year old will probably like the games the best – but my almost 3 year old will enjoy all the printables so he can color! What will your kids enjoy?

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Come on over to the Frugal Living Community right now and join in the conversation: Is it Possible to Save on Organics! The conversation is Live now through 10pm EST. See you there!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Many of you know how much I love to garden – and with the weather starting to warm up here in Phoenix, it has me thinking of starting my garden soon. I recently asked the Frugal Living Community what they are planning to grow this year, come on over and share your thoughts, too!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Do you have a frugal or money saving tip, recipe, or personal story that you would like to share? If so, you could guest post here on Saving Cents with Sense. With doctor appointments, baby planning, and just life, I’m always looking for people that would like to guest post.

Plus, I love hearing from all of you and getting new ideas for ways to save! If you are interested in guest posting, please email me at savingsense (at) gmail (dot) com or with my Contact Form with:

• Your name
• Your blog (if you have one)
• Any topics you are thinking of.

I’ll get back to you if your topic would be a good fit for Saving Cents with Sense. I look forward to hearing from many of you!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Come by the Frugal Living Community tonight at 7-8pm EST to join the Valentine’s Day Chat! There will be fun giveaways, savvy shopping tips, and more! See you there!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

I got a yearly pay raise of $132! How? Making Your Own Laundry Detergent Soap.

In my world of homeschooling and all things home made, we do at least two loads of laundry per day. Usually more. I’d heard about How you can make your own laundry detergent. I’d also perked my ears up to the savings. But I dismissed it because we have children with allergies and sensitivities. It also sounded so… out there. I thought we’d stick to our monthly purchase of $11 for a 4.68 quart All Free and Clear from the warehouse club.

Then my mother started Making her own laundry detergent for herself. She brought us a gallon in a milk jug to try. We promptly used it up in about a week. My mind started calculating the savings. Nana ordered the ingredients on Ebay for around $10 with shipping. She brought them over. We made it a family project.

We made our first batch in about half an hour. It was a learning curve. And it made a bunch! Two six gallon containers to be exact.

That was July. Six months later, in January, we were getting low. Did you catch that? I don’t know about you but I can deal with making my own laundry detergent every six months. Not plunking down $11 x 6 = $66.

A few weeks ago we tried a new recipe by Raising Olives. The three ingredients I already had on hand. I’d picked up the Fels Naptha when I discovered it high on the shelf of my local grocery store. Middle girl shredded the soap with the handy shedder. We dissolved it in warm water on the stove then added in the baking soda. The new batch made enough to fill an old container of All plus a gallon milk jug. So, an amount equal to two of the store-bought 4.68 qt.

I surely can handle three ingredients: water, baking soda (approx. 10 cents for 2 cups) and a bar of soap (Fels Naptha $1.29, Ivory or Irish Spring).

Total = $1.39 for homemade laundry detergent. Rough cost comparison: All Free and Clear (4.68 qt) = $11 Homemade (4.68 + 4 qt milk jug) = approx 70 cents each

Recipe here: Raising Olives Homemade Laundry Detergent Next time around I’m trying the powdered version. Why not for variety? My friend, Jenny, shared this recipe:

Homemade Powdered Laundry Soap

• 1 box of borax
• 1 box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
• 1 bar of soap, grated (you can use Dial, Ivory, Fels Naptha, or Zote)

Combine all ingredients and store in a container. To use: 2 tbsp per load of laundry (no that’s not a typo) If the laundry is really dirty, I will add 1/4 cup of baking soda to the wash.

Homemade laundry detergent. Works for my single mother, works for our family of seven. I’ve found the freedom of frugal living. Thanks for allowing me share my yearly pay raise. Dave Ramsey would be proud!

How about you? Could you handle just three ingredients and a pay raise?

-Tricia homeschools five children from preschool to middle school. You can find her facing that daily dose of chaos at Hodgepodge. She contributes a mixture of writing for $5 Dinners, The Curriculum Choice, Habits for a Happy Home, Passionate Purposeful Parenting and is a.k.a. Hodgepodgemom.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Have you ever tried Baby Sign Language? I used it with both my sons, but especially my youngest, who was having a harder time learning words. If you have ever thought of trying it, check out this guest post on simple steps for beginners.

The first step is to ask: is your baby ready? If your baby is six months or older, she is probably ready to start learning sign language. Some parents start a little sooner than that, which is fine too.

The next thing you will need is some signs! You will need to choose which signs you want to begin with. Popular signs to start with include mommy, daddy, and milk. It is best to start with just a few signs.

Once you choose your signs, you will need to learn how to make them, which means you will need a Baby Sign Language Dictionary. In the US, baby signs are based on American Sign Language, the official language of the deaf community. It is best if you stick to the official signs (as opposed to improvising your own “family” signs). A dictionary should tell you how to make the sign, and might even provide a video. You can also print out flash cards, which you can hang up or keep handy to remind you how to make your signs.

Now you are ready to introduce Baby Signs your to baby! This is easier than it sounds, and it is fun. To start, simply make a sign to baby every time you say the corresponding word. So every time you say, “Do you need some milk?” make the sign for milk. Try to get baby to look at you, so that she can see the sign as she sees your lips form the word.

Do this with each of your signs. You may feel a little bit silly, but repetition is the secret to success. The more often you make the sign, the sooner baby will learn what it means. This phase of teaching will likely take several weeks, and sometimes will take months, so don’t get discouraged!

Now is the time to recruit some help. If your child spends work days with someone else, ask them to help you introduce the signs. Definitely get daddy and older siblings involved, and try to get friends, neighbors, and grandparents on board. The more the merrier!

Eventually, you will see that baby is making the connections. You’ll know this because when you make the sign for “daddy,” his head will snap toward daddy, or when you make the sign for “milk,” he will assume the nursing position. At this point, you want to gently help his little hand form the sign back to you. This lets him know that signing can go both ways. So, the next several times you discuss a particular concept, help him make the corresponding sign.

Eventually, baby will start to make her signs independently. Watch closely for this to happen, because sometimes the early signs don’t really look like signs, but praise your baby just for trying, and if she is too far off, give her some gentle assistance to correct the sign. Every time your baby makes a sign, be sure to give him lots of sincere praise!

Then, reward him by adding a few more signs to your repertoire! Remember that the most important thing with Sign Language For Babies is to have fun. This isn’t supposed to be stressful, and it’s not a competition. This is just a cool way to bond with your baby, so enjoy every second of it. Before you know it, they’ll be lecturing you, and you’ll long for the signing days.

~Misty is a mom of a 2 year old with twins on the way. As the editor-in-chief for Baby Sign Language, she wants to help parents communicate with their children before the children can actually speak.

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved. 

Stop by the Frugal Living Community tonight, 2/3, from 8-9pm CST to be a part of a live chat on “I Have Coupons, Now What?”. If you are new to couponing, or a veteran with some great tips, come on by. See you there!

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©2009-11 Saving Cents with Sense™, a website of Saving Sense Media LLC. All rights reserved.