Search Results for: blog you can window shop all you like

5 Ways to Spend Less on Halloween

The cute costumes, the Martha Stewart decorations, the bags and bags of candy…the cost of it adds up. Just like the dark monster in the corner, you are afraid to take a good look at how much your are actually spending. Halloween has certainly become a big holiday. In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, Americans spent more than $8 billion last year celebrating. Eight billion! Seriously. It doesn’t have to be that way. Instead, brandish your own bag of tricks to spend less this Halloween. You’ll be able to make it a magical holiday and leave the bills … Continue reading →

Housework and Cooling Costs

Keep cool, get your housework done and save on cooling costs all at the same time. Today is going to be  scorcher! Even though it is only May, the temperatures are in the high 80s with high humidity. It makes things very uncomfortable, and the air conditioning will need to go on if we don’t want to all melt into little puddles on the floor. When the days get like this, the housework rules have to change a bit to accommodate the heat and humidity. Because our window air conditioners take up a lot of energy, I have to be … Continue reading →

Excuse Me, Are These Melons Ripe? Grocery Shopping with my Husband

Flirting with your husband in the produce department while grocery shopping may not seem like your idea of a date, but when you are saving toward a healthy emergency fund, a discussion about fruit may be some of the sweetest words you’ll hear. My husband and I had gotten in the habit of a monthly lunch date, on a Tuesday or Wednesday, when all three children are in school. We only have about a two-hour window of time alone, but this was usually sufficient to have a nice lunch and catch up without being interrupted by little people needing this … Continue reading →

Two Small Budget Home Improvements that Make a Big Impact

Owning a home means that there is always something to fix or to improve. Living in our homes, we tend to see all of the things we would like to change. Homeowners can easily spend tens of thousands of dollars on home improvement projects each year. Most of us, however, don’t have the luxury of an unlimited home improvement budget. Does that mean that we have to forego improvements completely? Of course not! Small budget home improvement projects are quite possible. In fact, if you know where to apply your money, you can experience big changes in your home for … Continue reading →

Nationwide has Tips to Avoid Car Break-Ins

According to Nationwide Insurance, it takes less than a minute for a thief to break your car window and steal the stuff that you stowed in your car. All those Christmas presents that were in your car could disappear while you were shopping another store. Nationwide has some tips on how to avoid car break-ins. This is the time of year when people spend a lot of money on Christmas gifts for friends and family. Unfortunately, thieves are aware of this. Often, a person will stuff their filled Christmas shopping bags into their car, drive to the next store, and … Continue reading →

Watch Out for the “Up to” Sales

“All Toys on Sale up to 50 percent off!” “Save up to 70 percent off on all clearance sweaters!” “Going Out of Business! All books are up to 90 percent off!” These are some of the most recent sale signs that I have seen on store windows this holiday season. Are the desperate retail stores trying to unload as much as they can before Christmas, giving you the rock bottom deals while they still can? Well, yes and no. There is truth in advertising and then there is truth in advertising. The “up to” sales work well for the stores. … Continue reading →

Why Santa Doesn’t Visit My Home

When my husband and I had our first child we were asked by grandparents if we were going to encourage her to believe in Santa Claus.  We both responded with a united no but with different reasons.  My husband felt it was a distraction from the true meaning of Christmas.  We are in agreement on this point.  But even if I could be persuaded the two concepts could live side by side, I would still struggle with keeping up with it.  I can’t even take a daily vitamin on a regular basis.  I also thought…and forgive me…having a child believe … Continue reading →

Bright Lights, Empty Wallet

Have you seen the oh-so cute, fluffy-looking light-up pink Christmas flamingo that Target is selling in its seasonal section? You know; the one that all the kids are drooling over, including my 8-year-old. You know; the one that is not on sale. Yeah.  That one. What parent can rationalize paying nearly 50 bucks for a knee-high bird wearing a Santa hat?  Sure, he lights up, but so does the inflatable snowman at the Dollar Store… if I place a string of LEDs on him. Newsflash:  I did not win the Powerball jackpot. In other news:  My kid doesn’t care. She … Continue reading →

Freebies for Coffee, Christmas, and More!

After the chaos that come with shopping on Black Friday, (or on Thanksgiving day), it is nice to have some time to relax. Pick up a few of these freebies, before they disappear. You can do it from the comfort of your own home, and without having to fight the crowds. This time, I found freebies on coffee, Christmas items, and more! Seattle’s Best Coffee has a free sample of their coffee. To get this freebie, you must click “like” on their Facebook page. Next, go to the Coffee Break tab and grab a free 1.75 ounce sample of Seattle’s … Continue reading →

Memorial Day Deals – 2012

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Most people think of Memorial Day as a time to remember their loved ones and ancestors who served in the military. Retail stores see it as a good reason to have a big sale. It has become routine for stores to hold sales that last the entire three days of Memorial Day weekend. Here are just a few of the sales and deals that happening. Express has a “Five Days to Save” sale. It has already started, and will continue through Monday, May 28, 2012. All dresses, tops, shorts, and accessories for women are 30% off. Men’s shirts are “Buy … Continue reading →