Free Produce / Locally Grown Produce / Swap Food

Wondering what to do with the fruit that your trees are producing every season? Can't eat the fruit fast enough? Are your neighbors, friends, family, and co-workers tired of you asking if they are ready for more fruit?

Or perhaps you are looking for a way to "go local" (consume produce that is locally grown in an effort to support your community). Or maybe you are someone who desperately needs to cut costs or is in dire need of free food but want to continue to eat healthy.

Veggie Trader is the answer. Once you sign up for this FREE members-only site, you can search for free produce and run ads to give away your free produce to other members in your community. It is a great way to eliminate waste, save money, and support your local community.

The program and website is in its infancy; however, at the time of writing this post, there are more than 5,000 registered members nationwide.

What a wonderful and positive solution to a problem that most of us are now facing in this difficult economy. It is time to "go local" and get out and meet some neighbors while helping each other - and at no cost to anyone. To see if you can save some money, trade produce, or find local produce for free, visit Veggie Trader today!

Save Money on Desserts - Inexpensive Dessert Recipes

You can save money ane eat healthier by making your own desserts, even popsicles! What I like even more about making your own desserts (rather than purchasing them) is that you control the ingredients and the calories! Cheaper and Healthier! It doesn't get any better than this.


FRIED APPLES

3 Tbsp. butter or margarine (you can use low-cal here)
4 large apples, cored and sliced (tart works best)
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

Cut apples into 1/4 inch slices. Heat butter in a large skillet. Put the apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon in the skillet and cover. Over medium-low heat, cook apple slices 7-10 minutes or until they begin to soften and the syrup thickens. Serve coated with excess syrup on top.


BANANA PUDDING POPS

You will need popsicle molds for this one.

INGREDIENTS

(U.S. Metric Conversion chart)

1/3 cup(s) light brown sugar
2 tablespoon(s) cornstarch
Pinch of salt
2 cup(s) low-fat milk
2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
2 cup(s) (about 2 large) diced bananas

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DIRECTIONS

Whisk sugar to taste, cornstarch, and salt in a large saucepan. Add milk and whisk until combined. Bring to a boil over medium heat, whisking occasionally. Boil, whisking constantly, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in vanilla.
Put about half the pudding in a food processor or blender and add bananas. Process until smooth. (Use caution when pureeing hot liquids.) Stir the mixture back into the remaining pudding.

Divide the mixture among freezer-pop molds. Insert the sticks and freeze until completely firm, about 6 hours. Dip the molds briefly in hot water before unmolding.

Carb Servings: 1 carbohydrate (other). Carbohydrate Servings: 1. Calories: 82!

No Money for Groceries? Need Food?

If you simply cannot seem to make ends meet, and find yourself with not enough money for even the basic foods, you can visit a local food bank.

If you choose to do this, please keep in mind that due to the poor condition of the economy, donations of food and money to food banks are down while the number of people in desperate need of food from the local food bank is up. Please do not take advantage of local assistance and only take what you need. Also, please consider and remember your local food bank when you are doing better financially. Remember to give back to them when you can. If you are unemployed and want to help or don't want to feel like you are taking something for nothing, please consider asking if you can volunteer at your local food bank while you are in need and beyond this time.

Find a local food bank now.

Online Marketing - Distribution of Digital Goods - Just Say No to PayLoadz

Do you have a digital product that you are selling? Are you looking around trying to find a service provider that you can use that will offer you a means to sell your product, provide downloading to the purchaser, and collect the money for you?

After using Payloadz.com for just two months, I had to get away from them. The first month was great. Customers purchased an ebook, Payloadz sent them a link to download the ebook, and then Payloadz deposited the money into my Paypal account. The monthly cost of this service depends on how much selling you do. Once you have exceeded a certain sales limit, you have to upgrade for even more money to Payloadz - - not to mention that they also take a percentage of your sales money prior to forwarding it to you. As I said the first month was pretty good. I immediately received sales money into my Paypal account, and I paid $25.00 for the month.

However, if you look closer at their Terms and Conditions - which I did not because there are not many download servicing companies to choose from - you will find that their fees can go up without notice.

What they do not tell you, though, is that will also affect what you owe them - - even if you have already "upgraded", as they call it, and you have already paid the fee for said "upgrade".

The second month, that is just exactly what happened to me. Not only had I already "upgraded", they decreased the limits for each level (which meant soon I would have to "upgrade" again for another fee. But worst of all, I stopped receiving payments for sales that were made because Payloadz also changed their payout policy. Now, their webpage just said that payments would be made weekly and without further clarification.

Now, that brings me to my next upset. When I tried to call their number under "Contact", I was met by an outgoing recording stating that the number is a "non-support" number and that I need to contact them by email. Well, suffice it to say, that customer service at Payloadz is extremely lacking. I sent them an email to which no reply came. Then, I sent them another email - - same thing, no reply. Now, after they have deducted $25.00 from my Paypal account two months in a row not to mention deducting 3.9% (their current going rate on what they take from your sales), I expect some customer service.

My response? Searched for and found another download servicing company for much less money and no fees out of my sales.



Their monthly fee is not based on your performance but by how much space you need to occupy for your e-product. For mine, I am now paying $5.00 per month because I do not need any more space than that, and they are taking no additional monies out of my sales. And they have real Customer Service!

I have since heard from Payloadz, but it is only AFTER I discontinued my business with them. Never a response to my email inquiries when I was a customer and paying them beaucoup bucks to provide my digital product (ebook) to customers, but Payloadz had the audacity to send me a form email to attempt to solicit me for additional money - - wanted me to sign up again. Now, why in the world would I do that when it will cost me more monthly, when I will also lose a percentage of my sales to them, when I will only receive payout weekly, AND not be given the courtesy of a reply when I am making an inquiry of them. They made a lot of money from me in just two months, and I lost even more. Goodbye Payloadz. I do not recommend them.

Hello to IPMPro.com!

More beauty "on the cheap" - Facial Moisture Mist Recipe

While searching the internet looking for how to create "the youthful, dewy look" that is so popular these days, I ran across some advice that suggested that you should layer your makeup with spray beauty mist. It seems that these type of products were more popular in the '80s. Who didn't have a can of facial beauty mist in her purse at that time? However, it seems that this is a product that many have forgotten. It sounds like something I'd like to try nowadays, but when I think about purchasing new "dewy" type makeup and now this stuff, I do not feel comfortable with putting out that type of cash.

On one of the websites I was getting the moist, dewy makeup look advice, I found the following recipe on how to make your own facial beauty mist. I would think that you would save money by making your own, but I intend to price it and shop around to be certain. If nothing else, at least you will know what is in it and what you are putting on your skin. For the naturalists out there, there is a great find.

"How to Make a Homemade Beauty Mist in 4 Easy Steps"
By Naweko San-Joyz (December 14, 2007)

Why would anyone need another skin care product like a beauty mist? Facial mists moisturize the skin and, when properly formulated, help you feel more refreshed in the morning.

Creating your own facial mist is easy and affordable. Here are the basic ingredients you will need for formulating your own moisturizer mist and all of these items are readily available at most drug and health stores:

4 ounces of aloe vera juice or aloe vera gel (Note: If you use the aloe vera gel, get the clear colored gel. The bright green aloe vera gels typically contain extraneous dyes.)

2 ounces of filter water or 3 ounces of witch hazel

1 4-ounce bottle of “Rose Water” with glycerin (you can find this generic item in the skin care section for less than three dollars)

1 eight-ounce bottle with a spray nozzle

1 small funnel

Optional- springs of fresh lavender, citrus, peppermint, or hibiscus.

Actually, there are millions of ways to create your own moisture mist. I’ll show you the basic recipe but do not be bashful about playing around with this formulate to create you own moisturizing mist.

Step 1:


Pour three ounces of the aloe vera gel or aloe vera juice into the spray bottle using your funnel to prevent spills. (Note: the aloe vera gel will be thicker than the aloe vera juice so you may add use two to three ounces of the aloe vera gel to prevent your mist from becoming too thick to spray easily)


Step 2:


Add, one ounces of water or two ounces of witch hazel to the aloe vera. Witch hazel is preferred if you wish to add herbs to your beauty mist later. The witch hazel will help draw out the therapeutic properties of the herbs while the alcohol in the witch hazel will help to better preserve the botanicals.

Step 3:


Add two ounces of “Rose Water” to the mixture. Rose water is a combination of a rose hydrosol and a skin softening moisturizer called glycerin. This ingredients will help lock in moisture to your skin all day long.

Step 4:


Toss in any herbs that you wish to use to the mixture. Tightly screw on the spray nozzle on to the bottle and then shake well. Now you have your very own herbal beauty mist.

To further customize your facial spray, you can add one to two drops of essential oils like rose, geranium, white grape fruit, or ylang-ylang. Just make sure to only add one essential oil at a time because overdoing the essential oils will make your facial mist too irritating to the skin.

Tip:


Mist your face with a visible layer of your facial spray before applying your moisturizing cream or SPF 15 sunscreen. This way, your moisturizer will lock the dewy texture delivered by your facial mist.

Free Calendars / Save Money on Calendars

Have you ever wanted to get a calendar for your desk at work or for at home but didn't want to spend the money on it?

Well, recently when I needed to check a calendar and was away from home, I searched online and found the perfect website for calendars. Not only does it offer different styles, but they are also available for FREE download.

When you get to the calendar website, at first glance, it looks to be a page of Google ads, but if you look to the left side of the webpage, you will find many options under "home". If you look further down the list on the left hand side of the page under "home", you will find some headings to include "2009 Calendars", and I went right to that and saw many styles of calendars for free download.

There looks to be many other styles and options available as well, too.

Hope this helps you save money.

KFC Grilled Chicken Free Monday, April 27, 2009

KFC has done it again . . . attempted another lower fat, lower calorie chicken, that is. No breading, no deep-frying. Just grilled. And we can all try it FOR FREE on Monday, April 27, 2009!

Kentucky Fried Chicken has in the past attempted rotisserie chicken, roasted chicken, grilled chicken strips. Even skinless, boneless, grilled chicken breast. It had no flavor.

KFC has now announced its "Kentucky Grilled Chicken", and you can try a piece for free on Monday, April 27, 2009. It is supposed to be very delicious due to its grilling process which keeps the meat flavorful, even juicy. Its patented grilling process consists of putting the chicken into the oven - different sizes no less - and these pieces are all cooked on different areas of the grill, but every piece is done at the same time!

Reportedly, the chicken comes out of the oven with grill marks — real grill marks — and it’s delectable! Some may say "Well, it may be good for grilled chicken", but no, I understand that it is simply delicious for any piece of chicken!

In case you are wondering about the calorie content. Here goes:

Total calories of one thigh: 140
Fat grams: 9
Dietary fiber: 0
Carbs: 0.

Manufacturer’s suggested retail price: $3.99 for two pieces of chicken, two sides and a biscuit.

Wondering what the nutritional comparison is between grilled and fried chicken? Well, Kentucky Fried Chicken's Extra Crispy thigh has approximately 3 times the calories and fat as a grilled thigh. If you'd like to try KFC's grilled chicken breast, you are looking at a mere 4 grams of fat.

Wondering about the herbs and spices recipe? KFC's grilled chicken recipe consists of six herbs and spices when Kentucky Fried Chicken's Original Recipe has 11 secret herbs and spices. The KFC Grilled Chicken has approximately half the herbs and spices of that of the original, but don't let that stop you. I have been told that the KFC Grilled Chicken is bursting with flavor. No need to concern yourself over 5 missing herbs and spices.

Again, I encourage everyone to try Kentucky Grilled Chicken on Monday, April 27, 2009, for free, and find out for yourself!

Save Money on PetMeds Purchase

Ever use Petmeds to order supplies for your pets? I have a coupon code for you that is good until June 30, 2009, that will you save $5.00 on your next order. It does not include refrigerated items, though.

Enter coupon code "CLP69" to save $5.00, and if your order is over $39.00, shipping is free. 1-800-PetMeds

Dunkin' Donuts - Iced Coffee Day 50 cents

April 21st is Iced Coffee Day at Dunkin' Donuts.

Purchase a cup of iced coffee at Dunkin' Donuts on April 21, 2009, for 50 cents a cup (16 oz.)!

Meat Alternatives

Looking for meat alternatives? If so, I can recommend a few.

TVP (texturized vegetable protein) is a good alternative. One pound of TVP yields so much more than one pound of ground meat. It isn't terrible tasting at all, either. You simply soak it in warm water (to change it from looking like cereal)- prior to using it in your recipe - and then use it as you would meat. You will need to season it, though, and it absorbs flavor very well. I have used TVP in spaghetti and even for tacos.

If you can find it in bulk form that permits you to purchase any amount of your choosing, that is best, and I recommend purchasing a pound. In bulk forms, you can most likely purchase it for $1.99/lb. - $2.99/lb.; however, if you have to purchase it in a box at a natural / organic store, it can cost much more. Please note that I did find TVP in bulk at the Whole Foods Market, if you have any near you.

Soy products are everywhere. Boca Burgers and the like are great. Find them in your grocer's freezer area.

Soy crumblers (frozen and looks like ground meat) are available either under the Boca name or similar brand. I have found bags of frozen crumblers at Publix grocery stores.

I am also a big fan of Loma Linda and Worthington Foods. They are canned dinners - just heat and eat, and their meat alternatives are absolutely incredible. While enjoyable, these items can cost more; HOWEVER, if you buy them online, and plan carefully, you could seriously order a month's worth of food (the "hotdogs", "breakfast sausage", "chicken patties" can be used at more than one meal) for right around $100.00! I know because we have done it. It is difficult to find these products at Whole Foods Market or other similar stores, and then when we have occasionally seen a can here or there, they were outrageously marked up! We did find them online at Vegefood, and it was well worth the shipping cost (which is very little, given all that they send you). When you consider the value of eating "clean", low-fat foods from healthy sources, the fact that these foods are free of any meat-related bacteria or "scares", and last but not least, all you have to do is open a can and heat and eat, each time we place an order and spend a few weeks or a month eating this delicious food, I feel like I'm getting away with something. Definitely get the canned version of ground meat - we use that can THREE TIMES! What a value!


Since I am a holistic, healthy individual, I always share with everyone here any health tips or concerns. So, one more word on soy products. Please be advised that soy raises estrogen levels. If you or someone who dines with you on a regular basis is at risk for cancer or has estrogen-sensitive cancer, soy is probably not a good choice as a meat alternative. I encourage anyone considering soy products as a staple in their diet to take an additional couple of minutes online and research soy and its effects on estrogen and cancer risks or cancer.

Cheaper Meat Alternatives / Save Money on Meat

I have also learned that anything you can do with one pound of meat, you can also do with half a pound.

Stay with me here, and I will show you how.

Many of you out there are probably just shaking your heads saying "The recipe calls for ONE POUND of ground beef . . ." (ground turkey, ground chicken, chicken breasts, whatever)

If you are a meat eater, you have noticed the outrageous increased cost of meat at the grocery store. You also do not want to go without it. You don't have to, but you do need to find a way to cut your costs when purchasing meat. First thing I want you to do when you make a trip to the grocery store, and meat is on your grocery list, is purchase some generic freezer bags. Why? Because from now on, whatever you have been using that meat in when preparing your meals, you are going to use HALF. When you get home, you are going to open up several of those freezer bags for your convenience and then open up each meat package and separate the meat - 1/2 of it in one freezer bag, and the other half in the other freezer bag. Provided that those meat packages are one-pound packages. If the packages of meat are heavier than one pound, then do the math, and separate meat into 1/2 lb. packages or as close as you can get.

Tacos? Go ahead and use a half pound of meat. It will work. Know how many tortilla shells you need to fill and keep that in mind as you mentally divide the prepared meat evenly into that number of shells. Supplement it with cheese, tomatoes, lettuce, even sour cream or salsa, if you wish. It isn't noticeable when eating the tacos.

Meatloaf? Not a problem. Add bread, green peppers (yellow or red or a combination of any or all), uncooked oatmeal flakes, eggs, whatever else suits will stretch the meat sufficiently. About five minutes before you need to remove the meatloaf from the oven, shut the oven off and pour a can of mushroom soup over the top of it. Or ketchup. Whatever you wish. My favorite meatloaf recipe? For the bread, use rye. For flavor, sprinkle some garlic and onion powder and a light sprinkle of italian seasoning. Then use the mushroom soup over the top. It is wonderful.

Spaghetti? Use 1/2 pound of meat or less in your sauce. You will not miss the meat in your spaghetti.

Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole by Campbell's? We have gone from 3 -4 chicken breasts to using just a couple of what they call chicken tenders (much smaller, weighs much less) to even just one chicken breast that we cut up when the dish is finished baking. When the chicken is cut up and mixed throughout the entire casserole dish, this is still a delicious meal!

You get the idea now. Try it for a week. Be creative. Not only will you not be miserable at dinner time, but your checkbook will thank you.

Cheap, Low Calorie Salad Dressing

Salad dressing is very expensive, especially if you are eating a salad everyday (which I totally recommend as it is a healthy thing to do when cutting back on costs and it is very filling, which makes eating a less expensive meal more fulfilling).

Again, I recommend a visit to the past: When I was a child and growing up, no one used salad dressing that was purchased at the store in a bottle. It was always a combination of some kind of oil and another kind of vinegar - - just enough mixed up for that meal or enough mixed up for the entire week. Keep it in the fridge, of course, if you have mixed up more than you need for just one meal.

I couldn't remember for the life of me what my aunt combined for salad dressing (hers was my favorite), but I had no trouble remembering what it tasted and looked like. I knew it must be oil and vinegar. What oil? No idea. What vinegar? Haven't a clue. So, I went to the store and purchased a bottle of canola oil and a bottle of apple cider vinegar - - for the price of what ONE BOTTLE of generic ranch dressing would cost me. Not to mention that when eating a prepared bottle of salad dressing every single day, it lasts maybe one week. Maybe.

Well, after just one mixing of these two ingredients, I see that these two ingredients will last me several weeks. Maybe months. All for the cost of ONE BOTTLE of generic salad dressing that only lasted one week in my house.

For the recipe, I played it by ear - 3 ounces of apple cider vinegar to 1 ounce of canola oil. It just so happened that I had one of those pretty glass bottles with the white plastic lid that is specifically made for just this purpose. So, I combined my vinegar and oil and shook it really hard. Tasted it - - hmmm. Too bitter for my taste so I added some sugar, maybe 1 tsp (because I remember seeing my aunt sprinkle some sugar in the mystery salad dressing), and lo and behold - - I had it!

There are many vinegar and oil recipes out there on the web. Look for some and make them a part of your daily menu. I used that 4 ounces of salad dressing (kept it in the fridge) for five salads. Not small bowls, either.

By the way, there has been some controversy surrounding canola oil; however, I chose it over vegetable oil for obvious reasons and chose it over olive oil (because olive oil can become rancid over time, and I didn't want that worry). I also chose apple cider vinegar for health reasons. I have read many positive things concerning apple cider vinegar, one of which is that it regulates blood sugar (a good thing when we are all adding more carbs to our diets because they are cheaper than meat), AND lower blood sugar means weight loss. Some health nuts swear by a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar before each meal because they are losing weight this way.

So, experiment with homemade salad dresings that contain vinegar and oil. It is cheaper, better for you, and longer-lasting.

More Safe Alternatives to Flea Control in the Home

Two weeks ago, I came across two other alternatives to ridding your home of fleas:

Baby Powder

Sevin Dust

I tried both, and I noticed a marked difference after each use.

Baby powder is reported to work because the fleas "drown" in it. Sprinkle regular, cheap no-name baby powder (the kind you get at a dollar store - get a couple of bottles) on all carpeted areas and in your pets' bedding. Let it sit for at least a few hours. I recommend doing one room at a time so that you can keep your pets from walking around on it. Even though baby powder is relatively safe, it shouldn't be ingested (which is exactly what happens when a pet gets something on his/her feet - - they lick their paws, and it is consumed). Vacuum the treated area. Then move on to another area and do the same. Also, liberally sprinkle your own bedding between sheets with baby powder, and leave it. That last tip is a good one for those of you who are having fleas jump on you.

You can do the same with Sevin Dust; HOWEVER, do not put it in your bedding and only put it in pets' bedding under extreme circumstances, and be sure to cover your mouth and nose with a protective mask or just tie something around the lower part of your face (a folded bandana is perfect for this). If you do treat the pet bedding with Sevin Dust, pat the bedding to create a "dust" so that it isn't just sitting on the surface of the bedding.

WARNING: Be sure to read the Sevin Dust package carefully - - and only purchase the Sevin Dust that states one of the uses as being for pets. Other forms and strengths of Sevin Dust are not at all safe for pets or indoor usage.

You can find Sevin Dust near gardening supplies. The package should say it can be used on pets; however, I would not recommend it for the simple reason that pets clean themselves - and at the very least - their paws by licking. Licking means oral contact with chemicals, and it also means consumption and ingestion. Just because a label says "safe for" doesn't mean that we should not protect the health of our pets and all of those living in our home.

I used both of these items in the past couple of weeks, and I haven't seen a flea in a long, long time. They just seemed to disappear.

Then, as a precaution - VACUUM, VACUUM, VACUUM - - If you have a terrible flea problem, vacuum in the AM, and vacuum in the PM. This makes a huge difference. I know because I have done it and been doing it, just to remain flea-free now.

Fleas have difficult life cycle stages (difficult for us to control or halt); therefore, it is imperative that you vacuum at least ONCE PER DAY for several weeks. If you are going to beat fleas, you have to keep up the assault for a minimum of 30 days because of flea nests, flea eggs, mature, and young fleas. They are all in different stages, and that is why they are hard to get rid of. The biggest challenge for us is just staying with it - - it seems that once we no longer see the fleas, we quit, and that is where we go wrong. Keep it up.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Empty your bagless vacuum after each vacuuming session or at least put some tape over any hole or holes that fleas could escape from. If you are using a vacuum cleaner with a bag, put your vacuum outside or on a patio, balcony, or in a garage after each use, until the bag is full.

Pizza for a Penny - Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut has a great deal!

Buy one large pizza at regular menu price, and get one medium, one topping pizza for one cent.

With the cost of pizza out these days - with the exception of maybe Little Caesar's Pizza -this is a good deal.

Order online by selecting "Deals", and you will find this limited-time promotion.

Of course, it is only a really good deal if you do not eat in. Order it online to be picked up and then do not purchase anything else while you are in the restaurant.

McDonald's Quarter Pounders 25 Cents

Tuesday, February 17, 2009, McDonald's is offering a great deal on Quarter Pounders. Buy One at regular menu price, get one for just another quarter!

Twenty-five cents is not a bad price for a second quarter pounder.

Enjoy!

FREE Computer Software - Word Processing and More

Do you have a computer at home that did not come with Microsoft Office that you have been meaning to purchase and now you cannot afford the software?

I have great news for you. Go to Open Office and get your FREE copy. With this FREE software, you can do the following:

Create, edit, and save text documents (similar to Word);

Create, edit, and save spreadsheets (similar to Excel);

Create, edit, and save presentations (similar to Power Point);

Create, edit, and save a database (similar to Access); and

Last but not least, there is a photo editing program (similar to PhotoShop).


So, get on over to Open Office, and get your FREE copy now!

Free Wing Wednesdays at Checkers

Since Checkers has just added buffalo wings to their menu, they are offering three FREE wings with any purchase.

The offer that I learned about is for the month of February 2009 so please confirm this with your local Checkers.

Village Inn - BOGO Tuesdays - Chicken Fried Steak Dinner

Here's another meal deal for those of you who would like to eat out but just cannot justify the cost of it these days:

If you have a Village Inn in your area, you can buy a Chicken-Fried Steak Dinner at regular price and get the second Chicken-Fried Steak Dinner FREE!

You do not need a coupon for the buy one get one free meal. It is offered for dine-in customers only from 10 AM to 10 PM.

Valid at participating restaurants. For a list of restaurants not participating in this special offer, you can see them at Village Inn.

The offer is not valid with "Sized Right, Priced Right" menu items or other offers, promotions or discounts.

It is for a limited time only so get out there sometime soon to take advantage of this great deal.

Dunkin' Donuts - Free Cup of Coffee for Tampa Bay

If you live in the Tampa Bay area, you can stop into Dunkin' Donuts every Wednesday for the rest of the month and get one medium coffee (per person, per visit).
No purchase is necessary.

The reason for the free cup of coffee? Dunkin' Donuts has said that they wanted to give "loyal customers a chance to warm up and enjoy a hot beverage" due to the cold weather being experienced in the Tampa Bay area in February.

So, stop by Dunkin' Donuts on the following dates if you are in the Tampa Bay, Florida, area:


Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Postage Stamps Going Up to 44 Cents

Time to purchase a book or two - or even a roll - of some more of those Forever Stamps because postal rates are scheduled to go up in May of 2009.

The cost of a first-class stamp will go up by two cents in May which will bring it to 44 cents for a stamp. The postage increase will begin on May 11, 2009.

Now is the time to stock up on Forever Stamps, which will continue to sell at the current 42-cent rate until the increase occurs. They will remain valid in the future regardless of rate hikes.

The U.S. Postal Service announced that the overall change is due to the rate of inflation in the year before.

While the new 44-cent rate covers the first ounce of first-class mail, the price for each additional ounce will remain unchanged at 17-cents.

Postal officials believe that the increase will cost the average household an additional $3.00 per year.

The Postal Service stated that it lost $2.8 billion in 2008, and that unless the economy turns around in 2009, it is headed toward much larger losses this year.

The agency could have cited extraordinary circumstances and asked the independent Postal Regulatory Commission for larger increases, but officials felt that would only result in a greater decline in mail volume.

The post office has been cutting costs, reducing work hours, and has asked Congress to ease requirements for advance funds for retiree benefits and to allow mail to be delivered five days a week instead of six.

Other U.S. Postal Service charges will be taking effect on May 11, 2009, and they are as follows:

• The postcard stamp increases 1-cent to 28 cents.

• The first ounce of a large envelope increases 5 cents to 88 cents.

• The first ounce of a parcel increases 5 cents to $1.22.

• New international postcard and letter prices are, for one ounce, 75 cents to Canada; 79 cents to Mexico; and 98 cents elsewhere.

Most Postal Service shipping services prices were adjusted in January and will not change in May.

Cheap Tax Preparation and High Tax Refunds

INEXPENSIVE TAX PREPARATION AND GET THE MOST BACK ON YOUR TAXES - HASSLE-FREE

Looking for tips on how to get the most back on your taxes this year? Are you exhausted just thinking about having to prepare your tax return? Looking for cheap tax return preparation? Well, I have that here for you, too! Read on.

Being very frugal, I have in recent years prepared my own tax return. Before that, I was paying an accountant approximately $50.00 each year, and I was a 1040 EZ! Both of these scenarios are in the past, as of last year. I was referred to TurboTax online, and I thought I might as well give it a shot because I had already prepared my tax return and was stressing out - - because I owed a little over $200! I was waiting until the last minute to send it in because I was recently out of work and didn't have the money.

I went online to TurboTax, and it was so easy! I couldn't believe it. They do everything for you. They ask you questions, and you answer them. It is that easy! You won't have any questions so don't worry about that. They cover everything, and best of all, there is a spot on the page that you are working on that keeps a running tally of what your refund amount will be as you go. It is awesome! When you are finished (the first time you use them), you print off your return, and you sign and send in ONE PIECE OF PAPER that they have prepared for you. You can do a direct deposit (which I did), and I had that money very fast. Not to mention that I went from owing over $200.00 (when I prepared it myself) to getting back nearly $1,200.00!!!! Yes, you read it right. I said $ 1,200.00. Boy, did I ever need that money after recently losing my job.

Then, this year, TurboTax sent me my log-in information, and when I logged in, all of my info such as address, banking info, etc., was there from last year (which I could change very easily). Some of the first questions asked are about life changes. Did you lose your job? I answered "Yes". Did you collect unemployment benefits? I answered "No" (I wasn't eligible due to not meeting the required quarters of previous employment). As soon as I answered "No" to did I collect unemployment benefits, I saw on the screen in front of me "We'll Take Care of You", and they sure did. Even though I only made a month of wages in 2008, I am getting just $500.00 back. Can you believe it?! I sure don't. That is two years in a row that I have gotten so much more than I could have hoped for. AND best of all, no need to sign and send in anything this year because I signed the document last year. Last year, I paid $29.95 for this service. This year, I paid $24.00. Now, I am just sitting back and waiting for that direct deposit which is scheduled to take place within the next 10 days. What a help this year.

Thank you TurboTax!

***NOTE - You can use the service for 1040EZ or Simple Returns FOR FREE***

Cheap - or Free - Check Cashing at Walmart

Do you not have a bank account for some reason? Have you been cashing your payroll and/or government checks at high-interest check cashing stores? Do not pay to get your money anymore!

You simply go to any Walmart register with your check that needs to be cashed, your identification, and social security number. Present your payroll or government check, and have it cashed for a maximum fee of $3.00 - OR -

Pay NO FEE to have it cashed if you have a Walmart MoneyCard, and it is reloadable, reusable! I know - You are probably thinking right now "But I need this money for other things - - not just to shop at Walmart." Well, you can use the Walmart MoneyCard for other things. It has a VISA logo, and you can pay your bills, get cash at most ATMs, and shop online. Whatever you would do with a debit card or credit card, you can do with the Walmart MoneyCard. There is a purchase fee to have one, and a small monthly charge may apply; however, if you need to cash payroll checks every month, and you have been paying high-interest fees at check cashing stores, you will be way ahead. Or just forget about using the Walmart MoneyCard, and just pay the fee that Walmart asks for it (maximum is $3.00). This is a lot of money saved, if you need this service. Think about it.

Another thing about the Walmart MoneyCard is it is safe. It carries similar protections of bank-issued cards. If your card is lost or stolen, there is $0 liability for unauthorized use because the Walmart MoneyCard is issued by GE Money Bank with licensing from Visa USA, Inc., which is a member of the FDIC.

Long-awaited tax refunds are on their way! Do not waste any part of that check at a check cashing store!

Free Grand Slam Breakfast at Denny's

Denny's is offering a free Grand Slam breakfast to everyone in America today, Tuesday February 3rd, 2009 from 6 am to 2pm. The Grand Slam consists of two pancakes, two strips of bacon, two eggs, and two sausage links.

Cheap Groceries for One Week

Have you found yourself short on money for groceries for a week? Here is a week's worth of inexpensive meals. You may not feel like eating what is on the menu, but it is what we often need to do. Our wants and needs are at war these days due to the economy. Isn't it about time we cut back anyways? Seriously. Even though following a budget and a menu for the week is no fun, I have to say that I am actually feeling better (even though I am not promoting any of these meals as "healthy") due to eating less. We could all stand to trim our budgets and our waistlines.

The cheap grocery list for one week is based on two adults. You can modify the numbers to suit your particular situation, and you can even modify the menu and just use my menu as a guideline to get an idea about cheap substitutions.

Also, do watch your newspaper for ads where you typically shop and take advantage of the BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE items (just divide the cost by 2 of what they say the item is usually priced at, and as long as that number divided by 2 is less than what you would normally pay for one, it is worth what you are paying). I know that some stores raise the regular price before they advertise a BOGO, but you are still coming out ahead if the price for 2 items divided by 2 is less than what 1 would normally cost you. You can pick up 10 or so items on the BOGO and plan meals around those items. Think multiple uses - -like, if you get a BOGO pasta, get 1 box of spaghetti noodles AND 1 box of ziti (if your store has varied pastas on BOGO), for example. Then grab a 3 lb. jar of pasta sauce, and plan to use it 3 times - with the pasta you are purchasing on BOGO. Just an example.

Emergency Groceries for One Week

All of the following items must be the cheapest you can find. No name brands, if at all possible. Also, please get the items at Aldi's if you have one in your area (it is dirt cheap to shop there, and your money goes much farther - - take your own bags and don't forget a quarter so that you can get a cart - - you will get your quarter back on your way out), or go to Walmart - unless you find the items or similar items for substitution on sale at your regular store.

Hopefully, you already have some of these items at home. If not, you'll have them for next time.

NOTE: We do not plan for breakfast in our house, but I have included eggs here for that purpose. You can also make some toast. If you do not like eggs, you can substitute cereal or oatmeal for it. Also, for lunch, we do not ever buy lunch when we are at work. That is what the peanut butter and jelly is for. You can take a piece of fruit as well.

1 dozen eggs
2 lb. bag of frozen broccoli
1 jar of peanut butter
1 jar of jelly, if you wish
2 loaves of bread (for sandwiches and toast)
3 lbs. of pasta (spaghetti and macaroni and one other box of your choice)
3 lb. jar of pasta sauce
1 can of No-Bean Chili
2 cans of green beans (or any other canned vegetable)
2 cans of corn (or any other canned vegetable)
1 can of peas (need for a recipe)
1 can of tuna in water
2 boxes of macaroni and cheese
1 can of refried beans
1 can of tomato soup
1 package of soft flour tortillas
1 head of iceberg lettuce
1 small jar of mayonnaise
1 bag of apples, mixed fruit, or oranges
1 can of pork and beans
1 package of American Cheese

DRINKS/DESSERTS: If you absolutely cannot handle drinking water with dinner, purchase some generic Kool-Aid for mixing up in water, or you can purchase juice on BOGO, and do a half juice, half water mix over ice for each glass. For one, juice isn't cheap. Secondly, juice is high in sugar and calories. Lastly, mixing it with half water over ice in glasses stretches the bottle of juice, and it will last longer - which is the goal here.

If you must have a "sweet" after dinner, purchase enough boxes of generic Jello-O to get you through, or eat a piece of fruit.

Feel free to mix and match or use substitutions, but you will get some ideas here.

DINNERS FROM THE ABOVE LIST:

Grilled cheese and tomato soup - Have some broccoli for your vegetable

Macaroni and cheese and mix some broccoli in with it (Cook broccoli and mac and cheese as usual before mixing)

Bean burritos (Add some taco mix to heated refried beans and place on heated up tortillas - Add lettuce and some cheese, lightly, if you wish) NOTE: You can also stretch the recipe by adding cooked rice, if you have it, to the refried beans

Macaroni and cheese (Mix in the no-bean chili) - Open a can of veggies or use some broccoli as side vegetable

Egg salad sandwiches with lettuce (if you kept the eggs on the list)

Deviled eggs are nice to make up and eat, too

Have breakfast for dinner (use eggs and make some toast)

Use the pasta and pasta sauce for 3 meals - - the pasta sauce will keep on the top shelf of fridge once opened for approx. 10 days, if necessary - Have corn or green beans on the side as vegetable


RECIPES FOR REMAINING FOODS ON ABOVE LIST:

Depression-Era Meal (right from my grandparents to your table - it is a childhood favorite of mine)

Turn on your broiler
Place 6 slices of bread (less or more depending on your needs and appetite) on broiler tray
Spoon portions of pork and beans on each slice
Place a slice of American Cheese on each

Optional: Grandparents placed a slice of bacon (sliced in half to look like 2 slices) on top of each, but I do not have bacon on the list as bacon can be a high-ticket item unless found on BOGO - - Buy the bacon if you wish to use it for this recipe and then use it for breakfast or bacon sandwiches)

Broil until bacon is cooked, if used. Otherwise, broil just until cheese is melted. You will be amazed. Kids love these, too!

Tuna Mac

Boil macaroni noodles (as much as you need - you should have the 1 lb. box on list above for this recipe)

Drain noodles and return to pan

Mix mayonnaise into the noodles to coat them well and evenly

Drain peas and tuna

Mix in peas and tuna (You may wish to add peas slowly - -I have found that half a can is adequate)

Eat warm. You can also make up a good amount of this recipe and keep on hand in the fridge for lunches or cold meals. It tastes good warm or cold.

Any extra items not specifically mentioned here are for you to use as you wish. Use vegetables as side dishes, as you wish. Use fruits for desserts or in between snacks.

Taco Bell Customer Appreciation Day

Eat Fast Food Cheap on Tuesday

Taco Bell is offering 20 cent tacos for Customer Appreciation Day on January 20, 2009! There is a 10 taco limit per customer, and it runs all day.

What a nice treat for lunch, or feed your family for under $5.00. If you need more than 10 tacos, then send someone in to get 10 tacos and go through the drive-thru and get 10 more.

The trick is that you need to just get the tacos that are 20 cents each and nothing else.

Effective, Cheap, and Safe Flea Control

For Pet Owners

If you have pets, at some time or another, you will encounter fleas. After trying many ineffective, short-term, and unsafe methods for flea control, I have found SALT and 20 MULE TEAM BORAX (find in the laundry aisle at your store). They work like a dream - - not just for killing fleas and regaining control of your household but used on a regular basis, you will not have to worry about fleas ever again.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If your pet gets fleas, it is only a matter of time before it will have tapeworms. Also, if your pet has tapeworms (looks like rice in their stool), this is a sure sign that your pet has fleas. To deal with the tapeworms, make sure that fleas are completely gone for at least 30 days prior to treating the tapeworms to minimize your pet's exposure to the toxins in tapeworm treatments. If the flea problem is not gone, and you treat the tapeworm, your pet will get another tapeworm. So, treat the fleas. Then treat the tapeworm.

After quite a bit of research looking for safer and more effective flea control methods, I was surprised to find salt and 20 mule team borax.

WARNING: DO NOT PUT SALT OR 20 MULE TEAM BORAX YOUR PETS EVER! They are for use on the carpeting only. Both of those are safe for dogs; however, I did run across some things that indicated that Borax is toxic to cats. You will not be leaving salt or 20 mule team borax anywhere because you will be vacuuming it up thoroughly so not to worry.

Here is what you do:
Pick up all of your pets' food and water and dump and place dishes/bowls in sink. Do not take any chances.
Lock your pets up in one room while you treat the other room or rooms.
Sprinkle your carpets with salt and/or 20 Mule Team Borax. You can use one or the other or both. Use it like you would carpet freshener for your vacuum. Don't walk through it, though, as you do not want to distribute the mix throughout the rest of your home.
Let the salt and / or 20 Mule Team Borax sit for at least 30 minutes and then vacuum. Thoroughly! Vacuum every area more than once and in various directions to make certain that you have vacuumed all of it up.
As soon as you have finished doing all of the rooms - move furniture and pet beds to get under them - take the vacuum bag outside to the trash can immediately to avoid fleas escaping back into your home. I have a bagless vacuum cleaner, and I examined the receptable after doing each room so that I could get a better understanding of where the largest infestation is. This is important to know because that is the area that you want to be the most aggressive with. In any event, do not let what you vacuumed up sit inside your house for any length of time. Get it outside, and get those fleas out of your home!
Do this in each and every room weekly, and for at least the first week, vacuum every single day to disrupt fleas.
After just 24 hours, we have seen a huge decrease in flea activity here, and the cat has stopped scratching.
At a minimum, you will need to do the heavy room treatments at least once per week for a month due to the flea reproductive / life cycle. But get in the habit of vacuuming daily to keep the fleas out - - at least during flea season!

Cheap and Healthy Acid Reflux / Heartburn Remedy

Ever hear the quote "Necessity is the mother of invention"? Well, this next tip is something I came across not because of wanting to save money but just because I was tired of being in pain all of the time and spending beaucoup bucks on over-the-counter, not-so-good-for-you reflux/heartburn medications.

After lots of name brand and generic versions of Zantac and Tagamet - not to mention loads and loads of various antacids, i.e., Pepto Bismol, Rolaids, etc. - I did quite a bit of online research to find an alternative treatment.

What I found repeatedly in my research was GINGER. Yes, simple ginger. First, I recommend that you just go to a health food store - a chain like Whole Foods is fine - and simply purchase a box of GINGER ROOT or GINGER tea. Make sure that ginger root or ginger is the only ingredient. The others do not work as well.

With just one cup of this tea - first thing in the AM before anything else (and especially before coffee!), I was more than happy to trade the monthly cost of Prilosec (and the health risks that go with it) for my one cup a day of Ginger tea.

Now, before you say "But I don't like tea", "I am not a tea drinker", hear me out. This isn't about enjoying a cup of tea. Treat it like medicine, and do it just this way:

First thing in the AM, go ahead and have a glass of water while you boil enough water for a large cup. As soon as the water comes to a boil, throw in ONE BAG of Ginger tea, and remove the tea kettle or pan from the burner. Let it steep for a few minutes, then pour the tea AND THE BAG off into a cup. If some is left in the kettle or pan, just leave it there for later.

Now let it cool down. You can throw ice in there if you are in a hurry or if your stomach is on fire.
A word of warning: Ginger has a "bite" to it. You will be amazed at how spicy it is, but stay with it. Throw ice cubes into it and drink cold or just keep watering it down so that you can finish it, but do use it! If you use it each and every day, Ginger will become your new bestfriend, I promise you that. It works better, faster, and lasts longer than anything I've ever tried.

When I first started using Ginger, I was skeptical, but I am an herbalist so I tried it. I am so glad that I did. From my first cup of Ginger tea, I was able to completely get away from over-the-counter products that only worked about half the time. I was able to return to a cup of coffee in the AM - AFTER drinking the Ginger tea FIRST. Then, I could eat and drink whatever I wanted all day and night without pain! That was the first time that I was pain-free in a year and a half! I had pain so bad that I could not stand up straight. It was terrible.

By the time you finish your first cup of Ginger tea, your pain will have subsided greatly or be gone - - and your acid reflux stays gone! If you are having a bad bout of acid reflux, or if you are just starting out and in pain, brew enough to take with you (leave the bag in) for sipping throughout the day. That is what I really love about this remedy. Portable - - and it works! You can experiment and make entire pots of it (using 2 - 3 bags), and sip on it at home or take with you wherever you go.

If you stick with the one-cup-a-day regimen, you will never suffer again. I haven't. And after a few months of this regimen, I was able to stop using it daily, and I've rarely felt the "burn" since.
Give yourself some relief, and give your pocketbook - and body - a much needed break.

Eat Out - Lunch or Dinner - Cheap - Actually Free!

Buy One, Get One Meals

I am absolutely thrilled to share this big money-saving tip with you, if you like to eat out but feel that you can no longer afford it.

I do not go out often but have been known to enjoy a meal now and again at Sweet Tomatoes (Souplantation to some of you, depending on your geographic location).

If you visit the website for Sweet Tomatoes or Souplantation, all you need to do is sign up for "Club Veg". They will send you a confirming email, and once you confirm that you wish to receive email from them, watch your mailbox. Soon thereafter, you will receive a printable coupon for one FREE buffet meal when you purchase just one buffet meal and two drinks. What a savings!

So, after long since abandoning eating out and really missing our visits to Sweet Tomatoes due to the cost of it for just the two of us (last time we ate there, it was approximately $22.00 for two buffet meals and two softdrinks), me and my better half ate there this past Saturday for under $14.00! We were thrilled.

Best part of this all: Both of us have since received another coupon in each of our mailboxes for the same deal for this weekend, and actually the coupon for this weekend extends through Monday due to the holiday.

You can even forward the coupon to others or print off more for friends or family joining you; however, you will want to run separate tickets at checkout (who wants to chance missing out on the deal?) I am going to print off an extra next time we go and give it to someone in line. When we visited the restaurant on Saturday, the lunch buffet in our area was $8.19! In this difficult economy, passing along a coupon to a stranger would definitely be a random act of kindness!

Enjoy!

Improve Your Credit Score - Even Without Debt

Is your credit score suffering - not because of bad choices or irresponsibility, but because of lack of revolving accounts or mortgage that are being paid on regularly?

I have found the answer. It is called PRBC, Pay Rent, Build Credit, Inc. (PRBC) is an FCRA compliant credit repository that offers consumers and small business owners the opportunity to build a credit file and score, which is solely based on their history of making rent and other regular (monthly) payments. This record can be used to prove an individual's creditworthiness when he or she applies for an apartment, mortgage, or car loan or even when an insurance company or prospective employer runs credit!

If you do not have credit cards, and you pay cash (or use checks) aka "real money" to pay your bills or make purchases, you are not alone. There are approximately 50 million people in the United States that do not have any credit whatsoever. It is hard to believe that there are so many others just like you, isn't it? Why should being responsible and "paying cash" for everything you purchase or for every bill you pay mean that you are not creditworthy? Unfortunately, paying cash or using real money for everything does not create or build a credit report or FICO score for you. If you ask me, using real money for everything actually makes you less of a credit risk so you deserve credit whenever you ask for it. Maybe even more so than others.

That is where PRBC comes in. "PRBC" is short for Pay Rent Build Credit, and their service is a relatively new credit bureau that permits for the usage of a non-traditional credit model to help consumers in just your situation. With their service, you can self-report and build your own credit report just by doing what you are already doing anyway - - such as paying your rent, utilities, phone bills, and any other contractual agreements on time. PRBC uses the information you give them to verify your payments, and they, in turn, take that information to build your credit report accordingly. What good is this service? Well, the FairIsaac Company has acknowledged PRBC and joined with them to build a unique FICO score that prospective lenders, insurance companies, landlords, and employers can use when assessing the risk of applicants who have no traditional credit history.

It's a tough economy out there right now. People who were previously considered "creditworthy" are suffering job losses and credit line closures or reductions. Shouldn't we who have no lines of credit use this time to build a credit file for ourselves just in case we should ever require a credit line? It is getting tougher and tougher to obtain credit even with a good credit score and history. We cannot afford to be left out in the cold, should we find ourselves in need.