Get Out OF Debt Fast

Get Out Of Debt Fast, But Don't Run

From Money Talks News 

Generally the process of realizing you have money troubles goes like this:
I don’t have a financial problem.
Money feels like it’s getting a little tight.
OMG, I’m in big trouble. I need to find a solution now! The sky is falling. Help. Help. Help.

Financial problems slowly creep up on you, masked by denial, until they smack you in the face and you panic. You want to run.

For the rest of this interesting article from Money Talks News click on the blue link below.

MONEY TALKS NEWS

Get Paid To Purchase A Cell Phone

If you are anything like me then you are always looking for the best deal on anything that you purchase.  I have been looking for a cell phone lately and have to tell you that they are costly. I happened to look at Wal-Mart.com.  Did you know that if you shop between now and December 1st. that you can be paid to purchase a cell phone? Yes, I did said paid to purchase a cell phone. 

I just bought a nice smartphone and got a 100 dollar e-card from Wal-Mart, this is the time of year that an extra 100 dollars is extra nice.  You could use it to purchase Christmas gifts or extras for your new cell phone.  So, if you are like me and need a new cell phone hurry to Wal-Mart.com and get this great deal before it disappears. As always do your research and get find the best deals.

Stay warm and save on heating cost.

As we all know the temperatures are dropping. So how do we stay warm and still save on our heating cost? According to grandforksherald.com there are six ways to save on your heating cost this year. I have written about all of these Ideas before however, since it is that time of year that the temperatures are dipping again I felt it may be worth reminding you again of these important changes that you can make to help keep your home warm and your utility bill lower.

1. Check your furnace filters each month and replace if necessary.

2. Take a look to be sure you have good airflow around registers and radiators to increase energy efficiency.

3. Sealing up leaks with caulk, spray foam and/or weather stripping will stop air leaks. You will also want to check doors and windows, and caulk, seal and weather-strip any drafts.

4. Keep your blinds up and the curtains open on a sunny winter day to absorb heat. Close them at night to keep heat inside.

5. Put insulation in your ceiling and in the attic, your heat is literally going through the roof. Be sure to get the right R-value for your area.

6. Use a programmable thermostat.

Also always remember, if you need more ideas contact your local utility office and ask for an energy audit. In many states, these are free. So make the call and see what they can do to help you stay warm and save money this winter.

Best Deals On Holiday Travel

Are you traveling for this holiday season?  Do you know how to get the best savings for your trip?

This is the time of year that we all start thinking of how and where we are going to spend the holidays. Are we going to fly or drive or even take a train? Do we need a rental car or a hotel? With all of these choices to make I recommend that you start planning your trip as soon as you can. If you plan early you can travel for reduced fares. Many web sites can offer you a great deal on travel and hotels. If you travel during the week (Monday through Friday), the savings is normally better. Many hotels offer discounts for their weekly guest. Always check to see if you qualify.

According to ABC NEWS these are the best days to purchase Holiday Airfare and the best days to fly this holiday season.

Thanksgiving: The longer you delay, the worse it gets. If your ticket purchase is delayed after Nov. 1, add an average of $5-$10 per day to your airfare total until you finally pull out that credit card and pull the trigger. Waiting will not bring any magical savings.
Christmas: The best time to purchase this airfare is by Nov. 10; after the second week in November you can start adding an average of $5-$10 to your final ticket price for each day you delay beyond that.

Cheaper Days to Fly During the Holidays. You can save money by flying the "cheaper" days. Cheapest days of all: the actual holiday.
Thanksgiving: Cheaper days include the Monday before the Turkey Day (Nov. 19) and Thanksgiving Day itself (Nov. 22). If at all possible, try to avoid flying on the Wednesday before and the Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving.
Christmas: You can really save if you can travel a little early, up until Dec. 18; after that, higher prices kick in although as noted flights on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) and New Year's (Jan. 1) are relative bargains.
You can also save by flying cheaper times of the day such as overnights or red-eyes and early morning flights though this can be difficult if traveling with the family. 

The rule for this and any trip is to remember to make your plans early. Have a great time with your family and make new memories this season.

Controlling Your Thermostat Remotely

How to Squash Your Monthly Energy Bill & Save Money With a Programmable Thermostat

by Yuka Yoneda, Inhabita

One of the coolest features that newer WiFi-enabled programmable thermostats offer is the ability to adjust the temperature of your home from work, while on vacation or basically anywhere with an internet/mobile phone connection. In addition to being a fun way to prank the other members of your family by making them freeze or burn (just kidding, please don’t do this), you can save a lot of energy with this function by checking and adjusting your temperature settings right from your computer, tablet or smartphone.

Desktop Apps

Most WiFi-enabled programmable thermostats have their own desktop apps or programs that allow you to register and login to control your thermostat using your computer. For example, Honeywell’s is called My Total Connect and it’s very easy to set up. The registration is very similar to setting up a router, and Honeywell even has a step-by-step video showing you how to set up your wireless connection to your thermostat.
Mobile Apps

Having access to your thermostat via computer is great, but what if you’re on your way home from work or sitting on a beach? Many WiFi-enabled thermostats now have their own apps that let you receive high/low temperature alerts and control your heating and cooling right from your smartphone.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CLICK THE LINK BELOW

http://inhabitat.com/how-to-squash-your-monthly-energy-bill-save-money-with-a-programmable-thermostat/

Preparing for Autumn

Autumn is here! This is one of my favorite times of the year.  All the leaves are turning colors and there is a crisp feeling to the air.  Along with the great things of Autumn comes some work.  There are many things to take care of before Autumn is over and old man winter arrives. 

When all the leaves have fallen the first thing that you have to do is clean the gutters.  Some of us have to clean the gutters more often, depending on how many trees that are in your yard.  It is so important to keep the gutters clean of leaves so that the water can run freely.  If the gutters back up the water will run down the inside of your walls causing a very big expensive repair job.  Another job that has to be done this time of year is getting rid of any loose debris that may be on your property. This is also a good time of year to seed any bald patches in your yard and apply fertilizer where it may be needed.  Don't forget to rake the leaves; you would not want them to smother your lawn. In general, this is a time of year to enjoy the outdoors and get your property ready for the winter. Most if not all of these jobs can be a do-it-yourself job.  If you need help knowing what to do or how to do it for this time of year just Google your question or check on YouTube.  Remember if you can do it yourself then you are saving money that can go for something that you enjoy.  Make it a fun family day and include the kids.  Before you know it, the yard will be ready for the next season and you will have saved yourself lots of money.

Snip Snip - The New Way To Save

I found this article on a new coupon app. - thanks NBC NEWS.com.  A new way to make sure that your coupons are with you at all times.  

It's something that happens all too often -; you are in the checkout line at a store and realize that you left a money-saving coupon at home. Coupon-clipping is making a resurgence in this economy and smartphones can help you maximize your savings.
Saving money is a snap with Snip Snap -- a new app that turns your smartphone into a coupon library.

Interested?  Click the link for more information on this new app.

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/49417284/ns/local_news-rochester_ny/#.UIFr62_A9QA

How to Save $500.00 This Year

 

Everyone is talking about saving money.  Most of the people are saying that they just cannot seem to save any money.  You just might be surprised at how easy it is to save money.  With my simply plan you can start saving this week.  Get yourself an envelope a put ten dollars in it.  Next week do the same thing.  If you continue to do this each week then at the end of the year you will have $500.00.  If you are asking how can I get the $10.00, that answer is easy also.  How much do you spend each week on say a soda or candy bar?  Start putting that money away each week instead of purchasing the snack food.  Now what can you do with an extra $500.00 each year?  Well that choice is up to you and as they say, the sky is the limit.  Start saving this week and make plans for next year with that extra money. 

Get The Best Deal On A Used Car

If you are like me and have had the same automobile for several years then you may be feeling that it is time to replace your vehicle with a newer model.  Many of us cannot purchase a new car and buying a used car may be a bit overwhelming.  We want the most dependable used car on the market that fits in our budget.  None of us wants a lemon so what do we do now? 

The best choice in my mind is to consult the Consumer Report and J.D. Power and Associates U. S. Vehicle studies on used vehicles.  Both of these reports will help us, the buyer, to determine what vehicles age better than others do, and which vehicles have a longer term of reliability. 

Consumer Reports and J. D. Power and Associates bases their reliability ratings on surveys gathered from owners of the vehicles.  These sources asked questions about not only mechanical problems but also any other problems experienced during the first 12-month of ownership.    

With these reports, we have a better chance of getting a great used car and of leaving the lemons on the lot. 

Like always do your research and move slowly.  Know what type of vehicle you are looking for and what your budget is before you ever hit the car lots.  Remember that if you do your research before you go shopping for a car, like any other purchase, then you will be happier with your purchase longer.

Halloween Costumes for LESS

It is October again and in a matter of weeks, it will be Halloween.  When my children were young Halloween was filled with lots of excitement.  What costume to purchase was the talk for weeks.  I would always shop at Wal-Mart or Target for their costumes because I know that you can get a good price for a costume at either of these department stores. Now my children are adults but the great prices at department stores still holds.  I have also found that like with many other items you can now get not only a good price online but most of the time a better choice of costumes to pick from. Now of course you cannot try these costumes on if you purchase them online but most of the time it can be returned if you are not satisfied with your purchase.

Off the top of my head, I can give you a few online stores that have some of the best costumes and best prices that I know of online.

1. Halloweenexpress.com

2. Buycostumes.com

3. Ebay.com. Ebay is a great place because you can even sometimes bid for an item and get an even better price.

4.  Facebook has some good groups that you can get costumes from.  With many of these groups you can even trade your last year's costumes for one that someone else has, provided of course that both parties like the others costume.

I always advise you to do your research and find the best price for you and your family that fits in your budget.  To be able to compare prices on your costumes or on most purchases for that matter just use the Google shopping tab. 

There are many ways to get both you and your children a great costume this year without breaking the bank.  So do your research and happy trick-or-treating.

Surprising Foods That You Can Freeze

On many occasions I either have made too much for a meal and wasn't sure what to do with the leftovers or just purchased more food than my family could eat.  I cannot stand to waist food. So I decided to do the research to see what foods can be frozen for a later use. Below you will find a list of many food items that can be frozen.  To know how long an item can stay frozen type your food item into Google and add freezer life to the search.  I would suggest that all items being thawed be done in the refrigerator. Remember that some items will change in texture when they have been frozen and some items will not change at all.  I am not a frozen food expert so do your research and surprise yourself on how many items you can save instead of tossing.

1.  Dairy products.  May dairy products can be frozen. Items such as cheese and milk are just a start of the dairy products that can be frozen for a later use.

2.  Backed products.  Many backed items such as breads, cakes and even cookies can be frozen. 

3.  Baking supplies can also be frozen.  I always freeze my flour to keep it fresh. You may be surprised just how many baking supplies can be frozen, everything from nuts to sugar.  Check out your favorite baking item and see how long it can stay in the freezer. 

4.  Veggies and Berries.  Many vegetables and berries can be frozen.  I love to freeze strawberries from my garden and use them in cakes and other tasty desserts later in the year.  Most vegetables and berries can be frozen in one form or the other.

5.  Eggs.  Yes, even eggs can be frozen.  I like to whip them up with some milk and a bit of cheese and freeze them for a fast breakfast later.

6.  Meals.  Of course you can freeze either leftovers or even make several meals for a later date.  I freeze soup, chicken, pizza and many other items for later meals.

As you can see, the list can go on and on.  What is your favorite item to freeze and how do you freeze it?

Reduce Your Fuel Bill

According to businessdayonline.com there are several ways to reduce your car's fuel bill. I have blogged on a few of these ways before in my other post but since gas prices keep getting higher I felt that this is worth talking about again.

1.  Slow down.  Simply reducing your speed can decrease your fuel use.

2.  Check your tire pressure.  Under-inflated tires are one of the most commonly ignored causes of bad MPG.

3.  Check your car's air filter.  A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air in to the engine, which harms performance and economy.  If you cannot see light coming through it, you need a new one.

These are just a few ideas that may help you reduce the fuel use in your car.  What other ideas do you have to reduce your fuel bill?

Free Samples

With money being of such a precious commodity these days I try to only purchase items that I am sure my family will enjoy. When I can, I like to try samples, before I buy a new item. I remember when companies would mail all of us samples as a way of advertising. Those days are long gone. Now if we want a sample we have to go looking for them. So, you may be asking just where does a person find samples these days. Many department stores have a samples aisle where you can purchase a sample size of certain items. These are usually items such as shampoo or other hygiene items. 
If you look online, you can get other items such as food, perfume, cleaning products, baby items and the list goes on and on. 
I like to look for a sample on the products website. When you see a new item advertised on TV that sounds like something that you or your family would like to try just hit their website. Many times the new item can be gotten as a sample and / or with a coupon offer. 
Many websites offer free samples daily. By now, I am sure that you know that I am a big fan of the AllYou website. You can get a free sample of a different item every day. If you are like me and enjoy free samples then this is a fun place to check out. 
You may also want to go to your favorite department store’s website; this can be a good place to check just check for daily samples. 
With the cost of everything rising, it is better to try a new product through a sample first, rather than purchasing said item at full size and full price then later find out that you don't even like the said item. 
You may also want to type "free samples" into Google to see the list of web sites that offer samples. Free is always a great way to try something new. 
I would caution you to be careful when using "free sample" websites. Most times these sites are great and filled with fun free stuff to try. Occasionally you will find a free sample site that doesn't really send you any of the samples that it offers instead, they are just looking for your email and / or other information to use for their own purposes. So, as always check the site out and be careful. If you know of any other ways to get "free samples" drop me a note and I will share it with my readers.

Do you throw away money?

Americans throw away money each year without even realizing it.  According to Yahoo Finance Americans throw away over half a trillion dollars per year.  Below you will find a list of things that we throw our money away on each year.

        $6 billion in unused gift cards each year.  Did you know that if you are given a gift card that you may not want then there is a way to either exchange it or resell it? Even if you may have used some of the money on it and just don't want that card for some reason.  You can still resell the card. You will usually get around 75% of the money left from the unwanted card.  That is much better than having a card that you will not use and just throwing away the money. Check out sites like Plastic Jungle for reselling your gift cards.

        $7 billion in ATM fees each year.  Check with your bank to see if they have any ideas on how you can save money on your ATM fees. 

        $12 billion in traffic tickets each year. Are you driving too fast or parking in the wrong places? Look at the money that could be saved just by changing how we drive or where we park our car.

        $29 billion on candy each year.  If you are like me you may be thinking is candy a waste?  According to Yahoo Finance it is.  The negative nutritional value is not good for our bodies. In that case, we could save by not buying the candy and drop a few pounds.  Now you have two ways of saving.

        $59 billion on lottery tickets each year.  Americans spent $59 billion on lottery tickets in 2010.  Most of us didn't get rich from these tickets.  So again, this is wasted money.

        $49 billion on credit cards interest each year. We need to stop wasting money on credit card interest and end the debt cycle for good.

$76 billion on soda each year.  As we all know these drinks provide no nutritional value, and we are better off drinking water.

$146 billion in wasted energy each year.  In past articles I have given you many ways to save on energy.  If you need more ideas then please visit energy.gov or the Energy Star's website for more help.

$165 billion in wasted food each year. This is a real sad thought.  With so many people doing without food these days it just hurts to think that we are wasting this much food.  I again have given many ideas on how to save your food for a later date.  If you still need more ideas please Google ways to save your certain food items. 

This is a long list of things that we are wasting money on.  If you are wasting money on any of these then you now know how to starting saving even more money now.

Can you think of any other ideas that we are wasting money on? 

FREE THINGS FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY!

As most of you know I love to save money and even better than saving money is getting things free. Well with my birthday coming up soon I thought that I would see how many, if any, places offered things for the birthday person. After just a short time researching I found the following article that I feel is worth sharing with anyone who is like me getting ready to celebrate a birthday. This article is filled with many, I do mean many, great places to get something free for your birthday. Now unfortunately I live is a very small area and most of these ideas are in cities but I still wanted to share it with you just in case you are looking for something free on your birthday. Read the below article from www.frugalliving and let me know what you think.


You say it’s your birthday…

Everyone loves birthdays and everyone loves free stuff. Luckily for us, there are a ton of places out there that offer birthday freebies! I’ve compiled a list of some of the best birthday freebies out there. Remember that some places will want you to show proof, so be honest!

Abbot’s Frozen Custard – Join the Abbott’s Frozen Custard Fun Club to a get a free frozen custard on your birthday. The site says there will also be freebies throughout the year for their members.

Alfy’s Pizza – Get a free mini pizza on your birthday.

Applebee’s – Free dessert and song on your birthday.

Austin Grill – Register for their eClub and get a free meal on your birthday.

Bakers Square – Get a free peice of pie on your birthday at Bakers Square.

Bandido’s – Get $10 off your favorite entree when you celebrate your birthday at Bandido’s in Ohio and Indiana.

Baskin Robbins – Baskin Robbins will send you a coupon for a free 2.5 oz scoop of ice cream on your birthday plus other special promotions when you join the Baskin Robbins Birthday Club.

BD’s Mongolian BBQ – Receive a free stifry on your birthday when you join Club Mongo.

Ben & Jerry’s – Get a free ice cream treat on your birthday when you become a ChunkSpelunker with Ben & Jerry’s.

Benihana - Join “The Chef’s Table” and receive a Benihana Birthday Dinner certificate worth $30 to use during the month of your birthday.

Bennigan’s – Get a buy 1 entree, get 1 entrée free and a free brownie ice cream dessert coupon on your birthday.

Black Angus Steakhouse – Get a free steak dinner on your birthday when you join the BA Prime Club. You also get a complimentary dessert for signing up for the club.

Blue Bell – Members of the Blue Bell Country Club will receive a gift certificate for a free half gallon of Blue Bell Ice Cream during the month of their birthday.

Bob’s Big Boy – Get a free hot fudge ice cream on your birthday.

Bob Evans – Sign up your child for their birthday club and they’ll get a free kids’ meal on their birthday at Bob Evans.

Boston Market – Kids 12 and under will receive a birthday coupon good for a free kid’s meal, drink, and dessert at Boston Market.

Buffalo Wild Wings – Get a coupon for a free dessert to celebrate your birthday at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Burger King – Sign up your child to be a member of Club BK so they can get a free kid’s meal on their birthday.

California Pizza Kitchen – Sign up your child (10 and under) for CPKids and they will receive a free CPKids meal during the month of their birthday.

Captain D’s – Kids get a free kids meal and birthday greeting on their birthday at Captain D’s. Adult’s can join the D’s Club and get a coupon for a free birthday meal.

Caribou Coffee – Create an account and be sure to update it with your birthday. They will send you a coupon for a free coffee drink on your birthday.

Carrows – Join the Carrows E-Club to get a free dessert on your birthday as well as one for joining.

Cattlemen’s – Join the Cattlemen’s E-Club and get a free dessert when you come in on your birthday.

Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse – Get a free gift on your birthday as a member of the Charlie Brown’s Handshake Club as well as gift vouchers and special members-only events.

Chevys – Join Chevys Compadres Club and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Claim Jumper Restaurant – Join the CJ E-Club and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Cold Stone Creamery – Cold Stone Creamery will send you an email with a coupon for a free ice cream creation to enjoy on your birthday. All ages are welcome!

Country Buffet – Join the eClub and get a free birthday coupon in the mail.

Cracker Barrel – You can come into Cracker Barrel on your birthday and you will get a free dessert and song.

Crazy Buffet – Bring a friend and your ID into Crazy Buffet on your birthday and get a free dinner buffet.

Dairy Queen – Join the Dairy Queen Blizzard Fan Club and get a free ice cream cone on your birthday as well as a coupon for a blizzard when you join.

Dave & Buster’s – Get a free $5 game card credit on your birthday.

Denny’s – Come in and get a free Grand Slam on your birthday.

Desparados Mexican Restaraunt – Come in and get a free meal at Desparados on your birthday.

Discovery Cruise Line – You get a free one-day cruise from Ft. Lauderdale to the Bahamas. You do have to make the trip with another fare-paying adult and will have to shell out the $20 for the Bahama departure and harbor fee.

Disneyland – Get free admission on your birthday when you register in advance. You will need to bring the confirmation along with your ID to the park. **No longer valid**

Dockside Restaurants – Get a free meal on your birthday.

Duke’s ChowderHouse – Get a coupon for a free lunch or dinner entree on your birthday when you sign up on Duke’s website.

Dutch Bros. Coffee – Stop in on your birthday and get a free coffee as your birthday freebie.

Famous Daves BBQ – Free food coupon via email on your birthday when you join the Famous Dave’s P.I.G. Club (could be free cake, an appetizer, or some ribs!).

Firehouse Subs – Jon the Firehouse Subs Birthday Club and enjoy a free sub on your birthday.

First Watch – Join the suneclub and receive a coupon for a free entree at First Watch.

Friendly’s – Sign up for Friendly’s E-News and get free ice cream for your birthday. This is now for kids and adults!

Fuddruckers – Join the Fudds Club and gett a free burger on your birthday. (May not be available in all areas.)

Garozzo’s Ristorante – Bring in your driver’s license to get a free spedini meal at this Kansas City eatery.

Grimaldi’s – Sign up for the birthday club at Grimaldi’s and get a free pizza.

Hana Japan – Get a free birthday lunch or dinner when you bring in 4 or more people on your birthday.

Hard Rock Cafe – Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Helzberg Diamonds – Sign up for free email updates at Helzberg Diamonds and receive a coupon for free pearl earrings for your birthday.

Hollywood Video – Get a free rental at Hollywood Video on your birthday with card membership. In fact, anyone on your account can get a free rental on their birthday.

Hometown Buffet – Join the eClub and get a free birthday coupon in the mail.

Houlihan’s - Join Houlihan’s email club and you’ll get a coupon for a free entree on your birthday. Or if you’re not a member you can still stop in a get a free dessert.

IHOP – Come on into IHOP and get a free meal (a sundae at some locations) on your birthday. (May not be available in all areas.)

Joe’s BBQ – Visit Joe’s BBQ (AZ) on your birthday and receive a free meal.

Joe’s Crab Shack – Go to Joe’s Crab Shack on your birthday and get a free piece of cake.

Lone Star Steakhouse – Sign up for the Lone Star Steakhouse e-club and you’ll receive a coupon for a free entree (up to $15 value) to help you celebrate your birthday. **No longer valid.**

Lowry Park Zoo – If you’re a Florida resident and go to Lowry Park Zoo (Tampa, FL) on your birthday, you’ll get free admission.

Luby’s - Free kid’s birthday meal (ages 9 and younger) on their birthday as a member of the Luby’s birthday club.

Macaroni Grill – Come on into Macaroni Grill on your birthday and get a free dessert plus a song.

Maggiano’s – Join the Maggiano’s Birthday Club and get a coupon for $10 off your meal purchase.

Marie Callender’s – Join Marie Callender’s E-Club and get a coupon for $5 off your meal and piece of pie when you visit during the month of your birthday.

McDonald’s - Free Happy Meal for your child on their birthday. This offer is only good at participating McDonald’s in Colorado, Greater Las Vegas Area, Western Nebraska and Wyoming.

Memphis Barbecue – Receive a coupon good for a free rack of ribs and a dessert when you join the free eClub.

Moe’s Southwest Grill – Get a coupon for a free Moe’s entree (excludes fajitas) on your birthday when you choose to “stay in the moe.”

Noodles & Company – Join the Noodleville Noodlegram to get a coupon for a free dish on your birthday.

Olan Mills Portrait Studios – Get a free Olan Mills portrait package that includes (1) 8X10, (2) 5X7 and (8) wallets when you join the birthday club.

Old Country Buffet – Join the eClub and get a free birthday coupon in the mail.

Old Spaghetti Warehouse – Join the Warehouse Club and get a coupon for a free meal on your birthday.

On the Border – Get a free appetizer on your birthday when you join On the Border’s Club Cantina. When you initially join you will get an instant coupon for a free bowl of queso or empanadas.

Outback – Get a free dessert and a song when you go to Outback on your birthday.

P.F. Changs – Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday.

Pancho’s – Join Pancho’s Birthday Club to get $10 off the bill for adults or $5 off the bill for kids.

Perkins – Receive an email for a free kid’s meal and birthday greeting on their birthday when you sign them up for the Bakery Buddies Kid’s Birthday Club. Adults can get an email coupon for a free piece of pie.

Provino’s – Come on into Provino’s on your birthday and show your ID to get a free pasta speciality dinner (which includes salad, garlic rolls and a birthday dessert!).

Red Lobster – Join the Overboard Club and they will email you a suprise for your birthday.

Red Robin – Join the Red Robin eClub and get a coupon for a fee burger on your birthday. This is for all ages!

Rock Bottom – Join the Mug Club and get a free appetizer on your birthday.

Round Table – Get a free personal pizza when you visit on your birthday.

Ruby Tuesday – Ruby Tuesday now has a birthday freebie. Join the So Connected club and you’ll get an email for a free burger on your birthday.

Ru Sans – Visit Ru Sans to sign up for their birthday card to get free food on your birthday.

Ryan’s – Join the eClub at Ryan’s and get a coupon for a free adult buffet with the purchase of another adult buffet during the month of your birthday.

Sephora – Sign up as a Beauty Insider and get a free gift from Sephora on your birthday.

Shoney’s – Get your child (10 and under) a free kid’s meal on their birthday when you sign them up for the the Kids Club.

Sonic – Members of the Wacky Pack Kid’s Birthday Club will receive a coupon for a free Wacky Pack during the week of their birthday.

Taco Time – Taco Time send kids ages 12 or younger a coupon for a free kid’s meal on their next birthday.

Texas Roadhouse – Become a Texas Roadie and you’ll get a coupon for a free dessert or appetizer on your birthday.

TGI Friday’s – Receive a coupon for a free appetizer to use on your birthday when you sign up for Friday’s E-Club. You also get a coupon for a free appetizer just for signing up! You must be over 21 to get this birthday freebie.

Tony Roma’s – Get a free dinner on your birthday from Tony Roma’s.

Toys ‘R’ Us – Children ages 2 – 10 will receive a birthday card and surprise gift from Geoffrey when you sign them up for Geoffrey’s Birthday Club.

The Transformation Studio – The Transformation Studio (TX) will give you a free makeover or express facial for your birthday! Be sure to mention the birthday special when you book your makeover or express facial and bring in your ID.

Walt Disney World – Free admission on your birthday when you register in advance and bring the confirmation along with an ID.

Zio’s Italian – Come in and get a free dessert on your birthday at Zio’s.

If you try any of these free items for your birthday drop me a note and tell me how you enjoyed them.  Until then, Happy Birthday to all of you.

Cut your own hair and save even more money.

I am not a hair stylist but I have cut my hair at home for several years now.  I usually go to the beauty shop maybe twice a year. I have my hair cut in a way that I can maintain it on my own for several months at a time.  The savings of cutting your own hair is greater than you may think.  When I do get my haircut, I spend $15.00 each time.  Since I only get my haircut twice a year that is only $30.00 per year instead of $180.00 for the complete year, a savings of $150.00 each year.  Now I live in a small town where most things cost much less than in a bigger area.  How much do you pay for a haircut?  How much could you be saving?  I even cut my husband's hair.  He is a profession and needs a profession haircut.  I can do all of this at home.  Want to know how to I do this? 

 I use a hair-cutting comb.  This comb is so simple to use.  You simple comb your hair with the proper blade, really it is that simple.  I use the hair-cutting comb every other week to keep our hair looking freshly cut and very professional.  I do however have very thick hair; this is why I go to the beauty shop every six months to get it thinned.  I have tried to use thinning comb and to be honest I just don't have the skill needed to do this properly. 
Now if the hair-cutting comb is not your thing then there is a tool called the Wahl.  It comes with many blades and a great learner's manual.  If you go online and look for haircutting videos, this job just got easier.  It is a matter of how bad you need or want to save money.  The help is out there if you want to learn to start cutting your own hair. If you try, you might be surprised how talented of a hairstylist you could be.

Advise from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, You should either turn your air condition off or set the thermostat at 78 degrees or higher when you are away from home.  Each degree above that saves you about 3 to 5%, meaning that if you set it at 80 instead of 78, you’re using up to 10% less energy.  The council says that your air conditioners are most efficient when they’re running at full blast.  So in other words, turn your air conditioner off when you leave for work, and then crank it to cool your place down as soon as you get home.

Now I like to save money as much, if not more, than the next person does but I would rather leave my air conditioner thermostat set for 80 and have it go back to 78 when I return.  I am just not comfortable leaving it off and trying to cool the house again when I get home.  To be honest I'm just not fond of being hot. 

Either way that is what the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy advises.  How do you set your air condition or heater when you are not at home?   What are your money saving / energy saving tips?

Are you struggling to pay your bills?

From time to time, we have all just been down on our luck.  If it hasn't happened to you then you're truly fortunate.  Most of us have had a loss of job or had major medical problem that left us searching for answers on how to regain control of our financial lives or even just how to feed our families. 

If you are in this spot, please don't feel ashamed.  I have been there myself, many of us have.  There is help out there for you in the form of many different agencies.  These agencies are set up to help you to meet your financial needs.  If you qualify, these agencies can help with your utility bills, medical bills and many other needs.  I know that asking for help can be embarrassing but remember that many of us have been where you are now.  Swallow your embarrassment and make some phone calls.  I would suggest that you check with your local community action agency for ideas on where to start.  It is ALWAYS worth the try. There is nothing wrong with getting temporary help to get back on your feet.  You could even go online and type in something like "government help with utilities".  The help is there, so start making those calls and sleep better tonight. 

How to get a fast $50 this week, it can be done.

Need to find $50.00 this week?

Ok, so you need to save some money this week.  You want to save this money as easily as possible.  Do you think you can save $50.00 this week without doing without many extras?  You might just be surprised how easy it can be to save money in as little as a week. Just for one week, try these steps.

1.  Pack your lunch instead of buying it at work or school. How much do you send per week on lunches from work or school, what about the sodas or snacks? See the money adding up already?

2.  Put a freeze on your gym membership. Just for this week freeze your membership … do you truly go every week anyway?

3. Walk as many places as you can just for this week.  The exercise will be good for your wallet and maybe even your heart.

4.  For one week go without meat.  The price of meat is on a big rise these days.  How about going meatless for only one week, or even just for a few days this week?  You would be surprised at how many food items have just as much protein and cost much less.

5.  Sell some of your old unused items.  How many DVDs or books do you have that you haven't even touched in a long time?  This may be a money-making idea for you.

Long story short it may be time to look at some of your habits.  We buy things that we don't use or sometimes even remember having.  Look around your house and see what can be sold.  This article is just to make you think of where you may be wasting money and show you how to get a fast $50.00 this week.  What ideas do you have to get money fast if you need it?

Should you get a flu vaccine this year?

Do you want to save on medical bills? Are you really saving money by not getting the flu vaccine? Well according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, even a healthy person could miss time from work or school due to the flu.





According to Flu.gov these are flu systems.
A 100oF or higher fever or feeling feverish (not everyone with the flu has a fever)
A cough and/or sore throat
A runny or stuffy nose
Headaches and/or body aches
Chills Fatigue Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea (most common in children)


Also according to Flu.gov you should seek medical attention immediately if you experience any of the following:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Purple or blue discoloration of the lips

Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen 

Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Seizures

Flu-like symptoms that improve but then return with fever and worse cough


So After reading this information from Flu.gov I have to ask myself if I am truly saving any money or time by not getting the flu vaccination? My answer would be no. I did get the flu vaccination. This year it only cost $25.00. My feeling on this matter is that it is a much better idea to take the flu vaccination and avoid the costly medical bills and time missed from work.


The flu season starts in October. I would recommend that you get the vaccination as soon as possible to keep yourself from have this nasty side effects.


As always it is up to you to decide what you think is best for your body. I would recommend that you talk with your doctor and make an educated decision on this matter for yourself.


If you are interested in the flu vaccination you can usually get one at Walgreens, Wal-Mart or your local health department.