The Fun You Can Have For Free

Like you, I used to be under the impression that not many things came for free, except maybe love - and for anyone that has experienced a broken heart, even that can be costly!

 

However, after having babies I was forced into looking at things from a different perspective; usually through a tired haze of milky drool (the babies, not mine) and discovered there are, in fact, plenty of fun things to do that don't cost a single cent.

 

This is great news in todays financially challenging world, where every single dollar really does count, and that trip to the cinema may mean sacrificing your chocolate allowance for the week.  As every busy mom knows, chocolate equals sanity…it's really not worth it!

 

So, here are my top tips for enjoying life for free, and even having a little fun along the way:

 

Review a new restaurant

 

is now a $1.6 billion dollar industry, focussed on improving the customer service offered by retail outlets, restaurants and service providers. 

 

During an assignment you should expect to be asked to eat anywhere, from fine dining restaurants to fast food outlets, for a set budget of anything between $10-$90.

Make a budget
Work out your outgoings every month and set this off against how much you earn. By establishing how much money you should be spending every month, you can then find out how much you can realistically save. This also allows you to see how much free cash you have each month, so if you're personal interest outside of work and home is shopping, eating out or playing online games, such as , you can indulge without the guilt!

Freecycling

 

Freecycling is the latest craze sweeping the nation.  It is defined as: the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new products of a better quality.  In layman's terms it's a fantastic way to 'bring back to life' products that would have otherwise have sat, unloved, in your garage for the next seventeen years. 

 

You can have so much fun painting and adorning that dreary mahogany wardrobe in fresh white paint and new handles, and I promise you will be amazed at the results. 

 

This is a great way to redesign your house without investing hundreds of dollars, or you could sell your items for a premium by selling them at craft fairs or online and listing them as 'vintage' or 'shabby chic'

 

Free Days out

 

Believe it or not, there are hundreds of fun, free days out to be taken advantage of that even the most challenging of children will enjoy.  I will list some of my favourites:

 

·         Get educated and go to a museum or art gallery

·         Blow away the cobwebs at the seaside

·         Find a river and feed the ducks

·         Meet up with friends and take a picnic to the park

·         Start a scrapbook in which to preserve your treasured memories

·         Camp with your kids in the garden.  It's like a holiday only cheaper, and you get to use your own bathroom.

 

Make Play dough

 

All kids (and a fair few adults) love play dough.  Even though you'll be picking bits of neon paste from the carpet for several days afterwards, play dough is an easy kids crowd-pleaser that can be whipped up with ingredients from your store cupboard.  I find the following recipe best:

 

3 cups of flour

1.5 cups of salt

6 tsp cream of tartar

3 tbsp oil

3 cups of water

Food colouring (optional)

Vanilla or peppermint essence (optional)

 

Put all ingredients into a large, sturdy saucepan.  Stir continuously over a medium heat until dough forms.  Remove from the pan and knead until the consistency is play-dough like.  Leave to cool before giving it to the kids.

 

 

Guest Post by Kathryn Thompson (Photo Via:

 

My Publix Trip - Saved $121, Spent $2.96

No picture today, we had refrigerated products to put away and then jump back in the truck to get some free firewood from the neighbors curb.

It took a long time to shop simply because everything was in different areas of the store and we criss crossed back and forth. I should have been more organized. There were a few things I had no idea what the price was for my GroceryTracker app and had to go back to get the price for my calculations. I was pleasantly surprised the Chinet napkins and the Simply Potatoes were moneymakers because the price was lower than the ad. The Neutragena soap was only $0.99 after the $2 off sale and the MQ in the GAB that expires today Friday makes it a $0.50 moneymaker too.

Anyway, I had just finished up my mayo this week making some Kobe Shrimp Sauce for the stir fried rice. That sauce is so yummy and I just googled to get the recipe which tastes just like the restaurants. So this trip turned into a big enough one that I could stack a competitor $5/$25 with the $5/$40 Publix coupon which would have put me negative, but I had DH run and get his favorite non frugal stuff - peanuts and bottled water. I spent $2.96 and saved $121.23.

21-Mar	47		118.66	46.59	70.50	tax	2.96	45	-97.50%
Product	qty	price	subtl	B1G1	-Q	1.39	total	Q#	Q details
cucumber	1	0.75	0.75				0.75
Lettuce, iceburg	1	1.69	1.69				1.69
bananas	2	0.24	0.48				0.48
green pepper	1	1.31	1.31				1.31
Alexia Bread BOGO	2	3.69	7.38	3.69	5.00		-1.31	2	$2.50/1 mq print
Frenches Fried Onions BOGO	2	3.45	6.90	3.45	2.00		1.45	2	$1/1 blinkie
Hellmans Mayo 30oz BOGO	8	4.83	38.64	19.32	12.00		7.32	8	$1.50/1 PQ ss bklt
Maybelline eye shadow	4	2.99	11.96		14.00	0.78	-1.26	8	$2/1 PQ + 1.50/1 MQ print
Jennie O turky Bacon BOGO	4	2.99	11.96	5.98	4.00		1.98	4	$1/1 MQ print
Chinet Napkins BOGO	10	1.69	16.90	8.45	10.00	0.55	-1.00	10	$1/1 MQ print
Simply Potatoes hash brwn BOGO	4	1.85	7.40	3.70	4.00		-0.30	4	$1/2 MQ print + $1/2 PQ ssbklt
Roasted Peanuts 2lb bag	1	3.29	3.29				3.29
Water, 1 gal	1	0.67	0.67				0.67
Eat Smart Veg broccoli	1	1.00	1.00				1.00
Neutrogena Soap $2off	1	2.99	2.99	2.00	1.50	0.06	-0.45	1	$1.50/1 MQ GAB
Nature Made Vit D	2	2.67	5.34		8.00		-2.66	4	$2/1 MQ print + $2/1 TQ prt
Publix coupon	1	0.00	0.00		5.00		-5.00	1	$5/$40 PQ 3-3 paper
Save A lot	1	0.00	0.00		5.00	0.00	-5.00	1	$5/25 ad flyer

3/24 Sunday Coupon Inserts - RP SS

Redplum 3/24

A Taste of Thai $1/2 peanut products (5/31/13)

Advil $1/1 20ct+ (6/22/13)

Advil $1/1 Children's (6/22/13)

Advil $1/1 Migraine 20ct+ (6/22/13)

Advil $1/1 PM 16ct+ (6/22/13)

Alavert $1/1 product excluding 6ct (5/12/13)

Angel Soft $.45/1 4pk+ double roll bathroom tissue (4/30/13)

Axe $1/1 16oz shower gel or detailer shower tool etss (4/21/13)

Axe $1/1 4oz bodyspray, 2.7oz antiperspirant and deodorant or 3oz deodorant ets (4/21/13)

Axe $1/1 face wash, shave gel or hydrator ets (4/21/13)

Axe $1/1 shampoo or styling aid ets (4/21/13)

AXE Schick $3/1 razor or disposable dnd (6/30/13)

AXE Schick $3/1 refill dnd (6/30/13)

Best Foods $.50/1 22oz+ product (4/21/13)

Best Foods/Hellman's $.50/1 22oz+ mayonnaise TARGET coupon (5/5/13)

Bounty $1/1 6pk+ DuraTowel paper towels TARGET coupon (4/30/13)

Breeze 2 $10/1 meter (6/26/13)

Breeze 2 $20/1 test strips (6/26/13)

Cascade $.75/1 Platinum ActionPacs dishwasher detergent ets TARGET coupon (4/30/13)

Dawn $.50/1 dish detergent ets TARGET coupon (4/30/13)

Degree $.75/1 Men motionSENSE product ets (4/21/13)

Degree $.75/1 Women motionSENSE product ets (4/21/13)

DermaSilk $5/1 full size product (4/6/13)

Dove $.75/1 6pk+ bar excluding Men+Care and trial (4/21/13)

Dove $1.50/2 go sleeveless, go fresh, ClearTone or 1 Clinical Protection anti-perspirant/deodorant excludes Men+Care and trial (4/21/13)

Dove $1/1 12oz+ body wash excluding Men+Care and trial (4/21/13)

Dove Men+Care $1/1 13.5oz+ body wash or 6pk+ bar ets (4/21/13)

Dove Men+Care $1/1 2.7oz antiperspirant or 3oz deodorant ets (4/21/13)

Dove Men+Care $1/1 face care ets (4/21/13)

Dove Men+Care $1/1 hair care ets (4/21/13)

I Can't Believe It's Not Butter! $.75/2 spread products (4/21/13)

Kibbles 'n Bits $.55/1 dry dog food (5/25/13)

King's Hawaiian $1/2 products excluding 4pk dinner rolls (5/19/13)

King's Hawaiian Free half dozen eggs with purchase of round bread up to $1.50 (5/19/13)

Knorr $.50/2 rice and pasta sides (4/21/13)

Knorr $.75/2 vegetable recipe mix packets TARGET coupon (5/5/13)

Lever 2000 $.50/1 body wash ets (4/21/13)

Lever 2000 $.50/1 ets bar (4/21/13)

Lipton $.75/1 Recipe Secrets soup & dip mix packets (5/5/13)

L'Oreal $1/1 Paris eye product (5/18/13)

L'Oreal $2/1 Excellence shade or Excellence Richesse (5/18/13)

L'Oreal $3/1 Telescopic Shocking Extensions Mascara (5/18/13)

Nalley $.75/1 16oz+ pickles (5/17/13)

Nestle $1/2 8oz+ Nesteggs (3/31/13)

Noxzema $.50/1 skin care product ets (4/21/13)

Noxzema $1/1 Perfect Pivot 5-Blade razor ets (5/24/13)

POND'S $1/1 cream, towelettes or cleansing product ets (4/21/13)

POND'S $1/1 Luminous Moisture, Luminous Clean cleanser or Luminous Clean towelette ets (4/21/13)

Purina $1.50/1 Beneful Baked Delights dog snacks (6/24/13)

Purina Buy one Busy package, get 1 7oz or smaller free up to $3.69 (4/24/13)

Splenda $1/1 NECTRESSE 100% no calorie sweetener product dnd (6/24/13)

Splenda $2/1 5.9oz canister NECTRESSE 100% no calorie sweetener dnd (6/24/13)

Suave Men $1/2 body wash products ets (4/21/13)

Suave Professionals Men $.50/2 hair products ets (4/21/13)

TheraTears $4/1 eye care product excluding Contact Lens Comfort Drops (6/30/13)

Thermacare $1/1 Cold Wrap 1ct or HeatWrap 2ct+ (6/22/13)

TRESemme $3/2 Platinum Strength, Keratin Smooth, Split Remedy or Naturals products ets (4/21/13)

Tums $1.50/1 50ct freshers (5/24/13)

Tums $1.50/2 24ct+ (5/24/13)

Vanity Fair $1/2 napkins (6/24/13)

Vaseline $2/1 6.5floz Spray & Go moisturizer ets (4/21/13)

Vaseline Buy 20.3floz lotion,, get 10floz lotion free excludes travel and Spray & Go Moisturizer (4/7/13)

Weber $1/1 seasoning bottle, BBQ sauce bottle or 2 marinade packages (5/31/13)

Wisk $1.50/1 24+ loads PowerBlasts (5/5/13)

Wisk $1/1 45oz+ laundry detergent (5/5/13)

Wonka $1/2 10oz+ jelly beans (3/31/13)

 

Smartsource 3/24

Air Wick $1/1 Freshmatic Ultra refill (4/21/13)

Air Wick $1/1 Freshmatic Ultra starter kit or gadget only pack (4/21/13)

Air Wick $1/1 Reed Diffuser (4/21/13)

Air Wick $1/1 Scented Oil twin refill pack or 2 single refills (4/21/13)

Almond Accents $.50/1 3.5oz+ (5/24/13)

Barber Foods $1/1 product (5/31/13)

Betty Crocker $.75/2 Ready to Spread Frosting, Supreme Brownie MIx, Dessert Bar Mix, Box Muffin Mix or 17.5oz+ Cookie Mix (5/18/13)

Bio-Oil $2/1 2 or 4.2oz (5/31/13)

Bio-Oil $4/1 6.7oz (5/31/13)

Birds Eye $.50/2 C&W varieties (4/30/13)

Birds Eye $.50/2 Steamfresh (4/30/13)

Bisquick $.50/1 40oz+ Original or Herat Smart baking mix (5/18/13)

Brut $1/1 2oz+ antiperspirant/deodorants (4/24/13)

California Olive Ranch $1/1 extra virgin olive oil (7/31/13)

Claritin $10/1 70ct (3/31/13)

Claritin $5/1 15ct+ (4/21/13)

Clean & Clear $1/1 Advantage product ets (4/30/13)

Clean & Clear $2/1 Advantage Daily Soothing product ets (4/30/13)

Cuties $.50/1 2, 3 or 5lb product dnd (4/24/13)

Easy-Off $.50/1 product (5/5/13)

Energizer $.50/1 batteries, flashlight or usb wall or car charger (4/20/13)

Excedrin $1.50/1 100ct+ product (4/21/13)

Excedrin $1/1 24ct+ product (4/21/13)

Fast Fixin $1/1 20oz+ regular or restaurant style item (5/31/13)

Fiber One $.50/1 Protein Chewy Bars (5/18/13)

General Mills $1/2 Big G cereals (5/14/13)

General Mills Snacks $.50/2 4.5oz+ Bugles Corn Snacks, Chex Mix, Pilsbury Baguette Chips, Gardetto's Snack Mix or Green Giant Veggie Snack Cups bags (5/18/13)

Glass Plus $.35/1 product (5/5/13)

House Foods $1.50/2 organic tofu (6/30/13)

House Foods $1.50/2 tofu shirataki or shirataki (6/30/13)

House Foods $1/2 premium tofu (6/30/13)

Irish Spring $1/1 body wash ets (4/14/13)

Kaboom $.50/1 Foam-Tastic foaming cleaner (5/31/13)

Kaboom $.50/1 shower, tub & tile spray cleaner (5/31/13)

Kaboom $1/1 no drip foam or BowlBlaster cleaner (5/31/13)

Kotex $.50/1 U product excludes 14-22ct liners (5/4/13)

Kotex $1/2 Natural Balance Lightdays pantiliners excludes 14-22ct (5/4/13)

Kotex $1/2 Natural Balance Security tampons ets (5/4/13)

Kotex $2/2 Natural Balance pads ets (5/4/13)

Lime-A-Way $.50/1 product (5/5/13)

Litehouse $1/2 products (12/31/13)

Lysol $.50/1 Power & Fresh multisurface cleaner TARGET coupon (4/30/13)

Mountain High $.50/1 32oz yoghurt (5/18/13)

Nature Valley/Fiber One $.50/2 Nature Valley 5ct+ Granola Bars, Nature Valley Granola Thins, Fiber One Chewy Bars, Fiber One 90 Calorie Chewy Bars or Fiber One 90 Calorie Brownies (5/18/13)

Neutrogena $1/1 lip or eye makeup (4/30/13)

Neutrogena $1/1 Naturals acne product ets (6/23/13)

Neutrogena $2/1 face makeup (4/30/13)

Old English $.75/1 product (5/5/13)

Palmolive $.50/1 14oz+ dish liquid (4/13/13)

Palmolive $.75/1 14oz+ soft touch dish liquid (4/13/13)

Pillsbury $.30/2 refrigerated Grands! Biscuits (6/15/13)

Pillsbury $.40/2 Crescent Dinner Rolls excludes twin pack (6/15/13)

Pillsbury $.40/2 Sweet Rolls or Grands! Sweet Rolls (6/15/13)

Purina Friskies $.50/6 Rise & Shine wet cat food cans (6/24/13)

Purina Friskies $1/2 packages (5/24/13)

Purina Friskies $1/2 Rise & Shine dry fat food bags (6/24/13)

Revlon $1/1 hair color product (4/28/13)

Revlon $3/$6+ beauty tools purchase (4/23/13)

Schick $4/1 Hydro Silk disposable pack (5/5/13)

Schick $4/1 Hydro Silk razor or refill excludes 1ct single razor pack (5/5/13)

Seattle's Best Coffee $1.50/1 12 or 20oz bag (5/24/13)

Sharpie $1.50/1 8ct+ fine or ultra fine pack dnd (4/28/13)

Similac $2/1 large powder (5/31/13)

Skintimate $.55/1 shave gel or shave creme excludes 2.75oz cans (5/5/13)

Smart Balance $.50/1 cooking oil (5/8/13)

Smart Balance $.50/1 non-stick cooking spray (5/8/13)

Smart Balance $.50/1 Rich Roast peanut butter (5/8/13)

Smart Balance $1/1 spreadable butter or blended butter sticks (5/8/13)

Smart Balance $1/2 buttery spreads (5/8/13)

Splenda $2/1 sweetener product (dnd (6/30/13)

Sure $1/1 2.6oz+ deodorant (4/24/14)

Swanson $.40/2 26oz+ cartons, broth or stock (4/28/13)

Swanson $.40/5 broth cans (4/28/13)

Total $.50/1 Whole Grain Total or Total Raisin Bran (5/4/13)

Treasure Cave $.50/1 4oz+ cheese dnd (6/30/13)

Velveeta $1/2 cheesy potatoes (4/21/13)

Weight Watchers $1/2 Smart Ones frozen desserts (4/30/13)

Weight Watchers $3/10 Smart Ones frozen products (4/30/13)

Woolite $1/1 50oz+ product (5/5/13)

Yoplait $.40/6 cups (5/18/13)

Yoplait $.50/2 Greek yogurt (5/18/13)

Yoplait $.50/8 cups (5/18/13)

 

thanks to www.couponpreviews.info for preview

Welcome Springtime!

The rain started in the middle of the morning and will likely continue until dusk. The warm weather in the 60's and the gentle rain are a perfect way to celebrate Spring. Today is the first day of the best season of the year. It is a time of renewal, growth and cleansing for our mother Earth and if we choose, it can be a renewal time for us as well. Are there resolutions or habits or desires you have, but have not attempted this year? Are there projects or tasks that need to be taken care of - those important but not urgent things in your life?

 

Now is the time to start. Just baby steps. Investigate your options. Jot down a plan. Make a list. Next, check it out with research - make that phone call or search online for your answers. Its really not that hard to get things accomplished if you take small steps.

 

Now, get going.

 

When Things Don't Work

Last January, I bought a couple items. Actually, I'm sure I bought more than a couple items - but two of them come to mind recently because they no longer work as designed. The first one is a nice twelve inch Cuisinart pan that works great for making breakfast and dinner on the stove top. At least it used to work great, until it developed a concave rounded bottom so that only the center touched the glass stove top surface. Whenever I would try to dispense or move foods around it became a two handed operation since I had to hold the pan still so it wouldn't spin around on that nice little round hump.

 

It was kind of annoying, so I checked my order history on Amazon and was surprised to see it was just over a year old. So then I checked the product information and it said it had a limited lifetime warranty. I wasn't sure that my problem was bad enough, so I jumped over to Facebook and left a message for Cuisinart explaining my problem. They directed me to call customer service. When I spoke to the rep, they thought it sounded like I had a legitimate defect and they would replace the pan, after I shipped it in for their inspection.

 

So a couple weeks went by and we continued to be annoyed by the pan spinning circles with our food. During this procrastination, we looked for a box that would fit, I wrote up a letter explaining the problem and we wanted a replacement, and carried the package around in the car for a couple days too. Finally, it made it to the post office and in the mail - then things started happening. I'm pleased to report that our pan was deemed defective and a new one was shipped out and is due at our front door today!

 

I hate when things don't work. I have very little tolerance for defects in products. Just last night I was trying to print coupons on my newest Dell laptop that I just got last January. We keep it plugged in mostly by the TV since we stream video and movies from Amazon on the big flat screen. But when I unplugged it to run on battery power it died. Actually the battery has died. Conveniently a month past the warranty. I guess that's what you get when you buy refurbished stuff. Anyway, I ordered a new battery pack and it should be in business again by the end of the week.

 

I'm sure there will be something else that needs attention soon.