Bountiful harvest of free activities, yours for the picking!

Our newspaper here in Phoenix devoted a whole section today to the free (or at least heavily discounted!) activities around the state for autumn. There are many festivals in cities, special discounts on fairs, and lots of cool Halloween activities if you go online or to your local paper and search them out. Make sure to check these out...especially if (unlike me) you live in an area with gorgeous fall colors adding to the fun!

Sounding the hunt!

OK...singles, this one is for you!!! Free weekend upcoming at www.chemistry.com!
Check it out and happy hunting <3

Missing in action???

Hi Readers...

I have not forgotten you, but am traveling on business all of this week...I will put some new posts on starting Thursday morning...I know you are breathlessly waiting!
Have a great week!

Mega CVS savings!

OK...I REALLY need to figure out how to add links to this blog! But meanwhile, trust me, cut and paste this one! It is worth every second/$ !!!!!!

http://video.aol.com/aolvideo/AOL Personal Finance/walletpops-watch-me-score-with-deal-seeking-mom-cvs/43998028001

Instant excuse for one low price!

Admittedly, this is more of a fun post than a serious one. Apparently one Melissa Maher (in the ad industry in NYC) and some friends came up with a $19.95 kit that single and/or childless workers can use as an excuse to get out of work early (sort of a "go home free card!") Check out www.TheOfficeKid.com - in a little metal lunchbox you get a framed snapshot of a child (you pick gender/ethnicity)and a piece of kid's artwork (drawn by Maher with her left hand). Not sure who'd be gutsy enough to actually use it, but it would make a hysterical gag gift for the right person in the office!

Eating healthy on a budget

Some more good suggestions from AmericanProfile.com:

With some planning and commitment to eating healthy, you can still do it on a budget.
Here are some suggestions:

* Cook at home and focus on fresh, natural foods vs. processed ones.

* Buy in bulk (brown rice, beans, etc.)

* Make extra when items are on sale (i.e. cook extra turkey for lunches, turkey soup and turkey chili...etc)

* Buy items such as olive oil, nuts, dried fruits, canned fish and juics when they are on sale and stock up.

* Use leftovers creatively (use leftover meatloaf and spahgetti sauce to make a second dinner).

* Buy cheaper cuts of meat to use in a slow cooker or to marinate.

* Prepare meatless meals occasionally (i.e. a meatless stew with a side salad).

You can be creative, eat foods that taste good and are good for you and still save money!

Dinner and a show!

AmericanProfile magazine appeared with our local newspaper one day - don't recall seeing it before, but had some good ideas that I will share - the first of which is a free home-entertainment newsletter with new DVD recommendations/reviews along with lots of great recipes. They say it is "the perfect tip sheet for a stay-at-home evening with a movie and a meal" Sign up at www.americanprofile.com/newsletter to get "DVDinner" in your inbox every two weeks!

Localize this coupon site!

I like this new coupon site (well, new to me anyway!) because you can localize it for just about anywhere! I can pull up coupons near home or anywhere I am traveling complete with directions and maps.

Check it out for yourself at: www.offeretti.com

Grovel starts with "G" (like "Grover"!)

Grovel...to beg...to ask for...you get the general idea! :)

I want to know what you are looking for in a "penny pincher" blog...home repairs, coupons, special deals (promotional codes, etc)...Please let me know so I can meet your needs. In turn, if you like this blog, please recommend it to your friends, family, etc. Readers are welcome!

Way to spiff up your house on a dime!

A few quick ideas to give a fresh look to your home:

* Change the hardware on your cabinets (bathroom or kitchen)- give it a new look!

* Add a "backsplash" in your kitchen - vinyl wallpaper is washable and adds a new look!

* Use a stencil to add a pattern or extra flair with paint in any room in your home!