Turn your blog into a book?

Blog2print will turn your blog into a book? What a great idea!

What to do with all those left-over Wine Corks?

• Make beautiful cork place holders for your next dinner party.
• Make a trivet/hot plate. You can even use an old picture frame for your project.
• Make a cork bulletin board.
• Cork castle anyone? Or cork trolls? Great idea if you have kids!
• How about cork ornaments with halved paper clips shoved into one end of the cork and attached to ornament hangers? Again, if you have kids, they can even decorate them! See this link for some ideas on decorating.
• Or Christmas Decorations - using a needle and fishing line, string your corks together, use dried cranberries or other colorful additions to separate corks.
• Use them as Floor Savers - slice the cork into small disks and attach to the bottom of furniture to protect the floors.
• Use corks as Pin Holders - placed near your bulletin board for pins and tacks.
• Did you know that you can compost natural wine corks (not the synthetic ones!).

Check this link for some great ideas and suggestions.

Any other uses you can think of?

Back to-School Sales

This is the time of the year when the stores start to advertise their Back-to-School sales. Check my post from last year for more information. Last year, Walgreens came out with the first Back-to-School sale around July 4, this year their sale starts the week of July 10. Watch for lowest prices and stock up for the year!

I am listing the lowest prices below so you know when to stock up:

NOTEBOOKS, PAPER, ETC:
Penway/Wexford 1-subject notebook, 60-70 sheets $.29

Penway 3-subject composition book or notebook, 120 sheets $.99

Penway/Wexford Mini Composition or Memo Book, 50 or 80 sheets $.99

Penway/Wexford Composition Book, 80 sheets $.49

Penway/Wexford Filler Paper, 130 sheets $.50

Penway/Wexford Composition Book, 80 pages $.59

Corner Office Legal Pad, 50 sheets $.39

Penway/Wexford Mini Memo/Composition Book, 50-80 sheets, $.19

Crayola White Posterboard, 22x28 in. $.29

BINDERS, FOLDERS, ETC.

Penway/Wexford 2-pocket folder $.09

Penway/Wexford 2-pocket folder with prongs $.11

Penway/Wexford Poly Binder, 1 inch, $.39

Penway/Corner Office Sheet Protectors, 10 pack $.39

Penway/Corner Office Tab Dividers, 5 pack $.39

PENS, PENCILS, ETC.:

Splash Mini Highlighter $.09
Penway Highlighter $.09

Designer Pencils $.09

Paper Mate Highlighters, 6 pack $.39

Penway No. 2 pencils, 10-pack $.19

Penway Colored Pencils, 12 pack $.59

Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils, 5-pack $.19

Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils, 5-pack $.39

Paper Mate Grip Pens, 8 count $ FREE AFTER ECB (Extra Care Bucks)

Paper Mate 1.2 Stick Pens, 10 pack, $.29

Crayons, 24-pack $.39 or FREE AFTER RR (Register Rewards)

Dixon Variety Pack, 25-pack $.99
Ticonderoga Yellow pencils, 10 pack $.99

Sharpie Marker, $.39

Sharpie Markers, 2 pack $.69

OTHER SUPPLIES:

School Box $.59

Penway/Wexford Carry-All, 7x10 in $.59

Penway/Wexford Index Card Holder or Slider Pencil Case, $.39

Penway Wooden Ruler 12 in. Paper Mate Highlighters, 6 pack $.19

It's Academic Scissors, $.29

Penway/RoseArt School Glue, 4 oz $.49

Elmer's School Glue, 4 oz $.29

Elmer's Glue Sticks, $.29

Penway/RoseArt Single Jumbo Glue Sticks $.49

Penway/RoseArt 3-pack glue sticks $.49

Corner Office index cards, 70 pack $.39

Wexford index cards, 100 pack $.39
Work Essentials Mini Stapler $.69

Penway/Wexford Dome or Twin Hole Pencil Sharpener, $.39

Penway/Wexford 15 pack Cap or 2 pack Pink Erasers, $.39

Make Your Own...

• Hair Styling Spray: put a few squirts of conditioner in a spray bottle, fill it with water, shake, then spritz. It adds shine and makes unruly hair behave for pennies.
• Furniture Polish: Mix juice from 2 lemons, 2 tsp of olive oil and 2 tsp of water. Rub a think layer of mixture onto wood furniture, and buff it off for added shine.

Inexpensive Furniture Finds

I am always amazed at how others are able to find some good and inexpensive or even free furniture pieces by looking for deals at sites such as Craigslist or Freecycle, or even visiting a local thrift store or Goodwill. Not only you're saving money by doing so, but you're also recycling old furniture - i.e. being "green" which is a huge plus in my book - these are the pieces that someone may have just thrown away but instead they find a new home. With a little sanding, painting, replacement of hardware, etc., these pieces become beautiful gems and look like new. If you don't believe me, check out these finds:

• a nightstand that Kristen (from The Frugal Girl) found on Freecycle for free
• a dresser that Sherry and John (from Young House Love) found on Graigslist for only $20
• an old chair re-upholstered by Brittany at Pretty Handy Girl
• or another chair Brittany from Pretty Handy Girl found on the curb for free
• how about this totally fab mirror (a Craigslist buy for $25) and the bench (another Craigslist purchase for $20) at Refinish-It-All
• and even more furniture finds at DIY by Design: Trash to Treasure

I can't wait until we get a new place so that I can do some shopping of my own!

How to save money while shopping online

 1. Shop through Corporate Perks if your employer offers the membership. For example, you can get a 15% discount card for Brooks Brothers if you sign up through Corporate Perks.

2. Shop through Fatwallet and Ebates to earn cash back and search for coupon codes.

3. Always google the promo codes or find one at Coupon Cabin before finalizing your order. Even if you get a free shipping code, it's still better than nothing.

4. Find a good deal through Brad's Deals where you can find some excellent shopping offers.

5. Use gift cards purchased at a discount from websites such as GiftCardGranny.com, ABCgiftcards.com, or PlasticJungle.com.

How to pay off your Debt?

If anyone thought it's impossible to pay off $70K of debt, take a look at this article. It talks about people cutting their everyday expenses to pay down their debt. If you have any debt, you have to get creative to find different ways to save - can you bring lunch to work? do you really need every cable channel? do your kids really need all the latest toys? can you make your own pizza rather than ordering one? Think of different ways how you can save and start SMALL. Start with the budget - budgets are important as you need to know what comes in and what comes out. And, don't forget to write down what you are spending every day. You may not notice it, but a cup of coffee every morning for a month does add up quickly. If you are in financial trouble, I would also highly recommend start watching Suze Orman show and "Til Debt Do Us Part" for general ideas on budgeting and reducing expenses. Suze Orman's books are also very helpful - you can borrow them for free from your local public library rather than buying.

Back To School Sales

Every year, around this time, many stores start to have their Back To School Sales. Check out these wonderful deals and stock up:

JULY 4, 2010 WEEK:

Walgreens:
$.19 10 pack Penway Yellow Pencils (limit 3)
$.19 5 pack Paper Mate Mechanical Pencils or 10 pack pens (limit 3)

JULY 11, 2010 WEEK:

CVS:
FREE: Buy Paper Mate 1.2 pens 10 ct. for $.99 get $.99 back (limit 1, 7/11-7/13 only)
FREE: Buy Caliber 5" soft-handle scissors for $.99 get $.99 back (limit 1, 7/11-7/13)
$.10 2 pocket portfolio (limit 10)
Walgreens:
$.09 Novelty Pencil or Splash Mini Highlighter (limit 10, with WG coupon)
$.13 Penway 2 pocket folder with prongs (8 for $1.00, limit 16, with WG coupon)
$.29 Corner Office Legal Pad, 50 sheets, 5x8 or 8.5x11.75 (limit 4, with WG coupon)
$.39 Paper Mate Write Bros. Mechanical Pencils 10 pack (limit 6, with WG coupon)
Staples:
These deals are valid Monday through Wednesday only:
$.01 2 pocket folder with or without fasteners (limit 10, with $5.00 purchase)
$.01 #2 yellow pencils, 8/pack (limit 2, with $5.00 purchase)
$.01 Staples multipurpose paper, 500-sheet ream, 96 bright, 20 lb (after rebate)

Suze Orman and Money Minded Moms

Check out this new site Money Minded Moms. The site offers practical advice and suggestions on saving money:

"Suze Orman is on a mission to help moms manage their money with confidence—freeing them to focus on what really matters. From advice on smart saving and investing to valuable coupons that help you stretch every dollar, MoneyMindedMoms is an everyday resource for moms with financial questions and stories to share.

About Suze Orman:
Suze Orman is undeniably America’s most recognized expert on personal finance. She is a two-time Emmy Award-winning television host, New York Times mega bestselling author, magazine and online columnist, writer/producer, and one of the top motivational speakers in the world today.

Orman is a contributing editor to “O” The Oprah Magazine, the Costco Connection Magazine and for the last eight years host of the award winning Suze Orman Show, which airs every Saturday night on CNBC. Not only is she the single most successful fundraiser in the history of Public Television, but she has also garnered an unprecedented six Gracie awards, more than anyone in the 34-year history of this prestigious award. The Gracies recognize the nation's best radio, television, and cable programming for, by, and about women.

In May 2009 and May 2008 Time Magazine named Orman as one of the TIME 100, The World’s Most Influential People. In July 2009 Forbes named Orman 18th on their list of The Most Influential Women In Media. In May 2009 Orman was presented with an honorary degree Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Illinois. In May 2010 she received an honorary doctor of commercial science degree from Bentley University.

Orman who grew up on the South Side of Chicago earned a bachelor’s degree in social work at the University of Illinois and at the age of 30 was a waitress making $400 a month."

Sign up for the newsletter and download her "5 Simple Ways to Save $500" newsletter.

Also, if you haven't see her show yet, check it out - it's on CNBC every Saturday and is awesome!

Discounted Gift Cards

Verizon Perks is a great way to save up to 20% on many retailer and restaurant gift cards.

Currently, the site offers free shipping and discounts on cards from Staples, Bath & Body Works, 1-800-Flowers, Men's Warehouse, SpaFinder, Land's End, Express, Red Lobster, Sears, Kmart, Regal Entertainment Group, CVS, Kohl's, Barnes & Noble and many others.

You must be Verizon customer to enjoy the savings.

"Green" Rebates and Incentives

For hybrid vehicles rebates, visit FuelEconomy.gov.

For Federal Energy Star Program, visit EnergyStar.gov.

For more rebates and incentives, visit Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE), or National Grid.

If you qualify, check out New York Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program.

Theater Parking in NYC

Check out Icon Parking which allows you to park your car for $10 in the Theater District. Unheard of for New York City!

Save $$$ with a slow cooker

1. Save on Staples:
Instead of buying canned stock, freeze the bones, trimmings and juices from roasts. When you have enough scraps, place them in the slow cooker, fill it with water about 3/4 of the way, cover and cook on low for 8 hours. Strain the liquid and discard solids. Use the broth immediately or freeze for up to 3 months. If you are a vegetarian, you can also make a vegetarian stock from different vegetable scraps.

2. Conserve energy:
Using a slow cooker helps cut electricity costs - it costs $.10 for 8 hours of use vs. $.19 for 2 hours of stove time and $.29 for 1 hour of oven time.

3. Enjoy poultry for less:
Buying the whole chicken is cheap (on sale, it could be $.79 per pound). Remove giblets and put it in the cooker. Add spices, salt, pepper. Add a little bit water, cover and cook for 8 hours on low or 4 hours on high.

4. Cook once, eat twice:
Prepare a big roast in the slow cooker which yields several meals' worth of meat. Buy a chuck roast on sale and toss it in a slow cooker. Cooking cheaper cuts of meat in the slow cooker makes them tender and more flavorful. Add some water so that the meat won't toughen. When the roast is done, divide it into meal-sized portions in plastic storage containers and refrigerate or freeze for later use. The possibilities are endless - beef and noodles, roast beef sandwiches, etc.

4. Stretch your budget with beans:
Buy 1 pound of beans and soak in water overnight. Drain, put beans in the slow cooker and cover with fresh water. Add salt and garlic. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

5. Make homemade soup:
Keep a tupperware in the freezer and put leftover vegetables, starches and meat in it. You can use whatever you have left - for example, half a cup that is not enough to serve the next day. When the bowl is full, put everything in the slowcooker and make your soup.

6. Visit this site for more slowcooker recipes and inspiration.

Seeds for your garden

Save $5.00 on your $30 order from www.burpee.com.

Use coupon code FS53 at checkout. Expires May 31, 2010. Excludes shipping and handling.

Passport Photos

Check out alternative ways you can get your passport photos --

www.ePassportphoto.com

and

www.PortraitBooth.com

Green & Organic Laundry Tips

• Make bright colors pop by adding 1/2 cup of white vinegar to the rinse cycle.
• Add a single aspirin to your machine load of laundry to keep whites from getting dingy.
  

Wedding Arch

If you are looking for a wedding arch, check out Joann's store. It sells Darice White Lighted Decorative Arch for $29.99 but you can use a 50% coupon found on Joann's website to get a very good deal. You can decorate the arch with flowers (silk or real), tulle, organza, ivy, grape vine, etc.

Wedding Decorations: Pomanders

Ever since we started planning our wedding, I fell in love with these blue pom-poms (aka "pomanders") by Martha Stewart:

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Check out this tutorial on how to make your own. Styrofoam balls could be purchased at LA Crafts.

Green Cleaning

A couple of years ago, we made a decision to become a "green" household. We recycle, conserve, re-use and buy local & organic food as much as possible. We even attempted to grow our own organic vegetables on the balcony. And we also switched to eco-friendly green cleaning products as an alternative to the conventional toxic cleaning products. The best part is that you can find most of these ingredients in your cupboard...

Here are some basic earth-friendly ingredients to stock up on and make your own cleaners for less:
1. Baking soda
2. Borax
3. Distilled white vinegar
4. Hydrogen peroxide
5. Lemons
6. Olive oil
7. Vegetable-based castile soap
8. Washing soda

IN THE BATHROOM:

Lemon Oil:
Wipe down or spray a small amount on glass shower doors. The lemon oil penetrates deeper and loosens the dirt. If needed, follow up with any other eco-friendly cleaner. Rinse well to get rid of excess oil. Dry surface and wipe with a cloth treated with a very small amount of lemon oil to prevent future hard water stain build-up. ONLY use a very small amount of oil and avoid making the tub/floor slippery.

Hydrogen Peroxide:
Apply to dislodge mildew and mold - remember to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands. Let it soak for 5 minutes and scrub with a grout brush (I just use an old toothbrush) and rinse.

IN THE KITCHEN:

Lemon Oil:
Use lemon oiled cloth to wipe the microwave to clean grease and fingerprints.

General Household Cleaner:
Mix together 1 tsp liquid soap, 1 tsp borax, a squeeze of lemon, and 1 quart of warm water.

General Disinfectant:
Mix together 1/4 cup borax and 1/2 gallon hot water.

Windows Cleaner:
Mix together 2 tsp vinegar and 1 quart warm water. Or, 2 tablespoons borax and 3 cups water.

Air Freshener:
Mix together 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp vinegar or lemon juice, and 2 cups hot water. Spritz from a spray bottle.

To find out what will work best for any cleaning job, Google "green cleaning recipes" and get scrubbing!

Free or cheap phone calls?

Check out the new service Ooma, an internet phone service, which sells a black box called Ooma Telo. All you have to do is to plug your router and existing phone into Telo, activate the service, and you have FREE domestic calls. Voice quality is great and it has extras such as call waiting and caller ID. Calls anywhere in the United States are free, and international calls are pennies per minute. There are no monthly fees but you will pay $249.99 to purchase Telo and a one-time charge of $39.99 if you wish to keep your own number.

Compare it with Vonage, which charges $24.99 per month, or MagicJack which connects to your computer via USB and allows you to make free calls within the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The device with 1 year of service is $39.95 but you cannot keep your own number and if your computer is off, your calls will go to voice mail or can be forwarded.