Party invitations in a flash!

With the world revolving around the Internet, consider a few quick options for party invitations - for a casual event try online invitations (americangreetings.com or Paperless Post...as well as numerous others. For a more formal touch try print-at-home cards using Shutterfly.com or MyCardMaker.com. Save on printing and maybe even postage costs while keeping up with current technology...very chic!

Some "green" suggestions for you!

One of my favorite resources for savings and "green" living tips is Redbook Magazine.
Here are a few of its more recent links to save you time and potentially money:

redbookmag.com/speedclean (shortcuts for cleaning)
redbookmag.com/getorganized (tips for organizing your busy life)
redbookmag.com/naturalcleaners( cleaning without the chemicals!)
redbookmag.com/greentips (eco-friendly ways to save money and the environment)

Think green and save green...simple and easy! Please post your own suggestions...they are always welcome!

In the grocery checkout line...

Yesterday I was subjected to a VERY long wait in the grocery checkout line as an elderly woman handed over a stack of coupons over an inch thick (no, really!). Some were expired, others were for the wrong product, but you had to admire her tenacity and thriftiness. Afterward, I caught up with her and she shrunk back a bit thinking I was upset with having to wait for her to finish. Instead, she grinned broadly and thanked me when I congratulated her on her ingenuity and thriftiness! As she commented, it is difficult to make ends meet these days and to not use the coupons is the same thing as throwing your money away! Take note, dear readers!

I ran across a suggestion that resonated with me given my daughter's messy closet and cluttered room! Consider putting a cheap laundry basket in kids' closets to allow them to toss shoes in at random...it clears shoes off the floor and allows them to readily be seen when the morning search begins!

Use it or lose it!

I saw a recent item in "Good Housekeeping" that seemed worthy of repeating. I always have a stack of magazines and newspaper sections to read through (specifically when in search of blog material!)...but you probably do the same, right? GH recommends using a 2-pocket folder to same individual articles, clippings, etc for further review (I do this in a multi-pocket folder to file coupons, recipes and blog-worthy items!). Read and keep/toss materials accordingly when time allows. Other suggestions? Let us know!

Picture perfect parties!

Good Housekeeping magazine celebrated its 125th anniversary in May, so they had some cool suggestions for kids' birthday parties as part of their celebration issue! My absolute favorite idea was setting up a photo booth with a tripod in front of sheet-covered wall. Provide props such as feather boas, hats, wild sunglasses, etc. and let the party-goers pose for a picture. Print the pics and give them to guests as party-favors (or later with thank-you notes)...And honestly, I think this would work for adult parties as well as those for kids...how cool is this?!

"Denny's Father's Day Card Maker - Make your own custom Father's Day card with Denny's and send to Dad along with a coupon for a free Ice Cream Float. Because you love Dad, and Dad loves Denny's." Search FaceBook applications for Denny's Card Maker and get some free treats!

Quick DIY wine rack

So I haven't had a lot of time lately for "crafty" ideas, but I did see some interesting uses for coffee cans in the 5/10 issue of RealSimple magazine. The most interesting I thought was using them to make a wine rack - remove the tops and bottoms of multiple cans and spray-paint the outsides of each. Once the paint drys, glue them together with Krazy Glue in "an artful, balanced way" using binder clips to steady the cans until the glue dries. Check out realsimple.com for additional ideas for those empty cans you may have sitting around!

Plant a tree...for free!

AT&T has teamed up with the Arbor Day Foundation for a promo I am planning to sign up for myself! AT&T customers who sign up for paperless billing on their account will have a tree planted on their behalf in the location of their choice. Sign up at att.com/tree before 12/31/10!

FREE OREO COOKIES!

Ok, now that I've got your attention...!

Download a coupon for free Oreo cookies today, June 7th, at Facebook.com/NabiscoCookies

This deal will run every first Monday of each month for the rest of 2010 so be quick to get yours! Only one deal per household but you can share your cookies, right?

It's all in the way you say it!

I am certain that I have done a post about inexpensive (or free?) ways to learn a foreign language, but I've found a few additional sites for you! Our public library here in Phoenix offers such benefits on its website, but here are some ideas for the rest of you who are looking for a way to become an international "guy/gal about town!"

Check out iTunes' podcasts for free lessons in over 3 dozen languages including Arabic, Bulgarian and "Bible Greek"...Free is the key word here (and it translates well into any language!)

Free language classes are available on Livemocha.com via total immersion and practice via chat with native speakers. You can submit writing and audio samples for native speakers to edit and correct...scary, yet effective!

Finally, try Babbel.com that offers unlimited access to its language course website for $11.95. (3 month membership is $6.65/mo.) It provides 7 basic languages and provides a mobile app for iPad, iPhone and iTouch!

And, if your library is as "with it" as the Phoenix Public Library system...perhaps you can get access to Rosetta Stone courses for free!

Buenos Dias, Bonjour, Guten Morgen...!

Ideas...thoughts...feedback...PLEASE????

As always, I believe the best ideas are likely to come from my readers...if you have a hint, deal, suggestion, etc...please post it for everyone! I have lots of ideas but there are likely better ones out there that we will miss without your feedback! Thanks! :D

Green Gifting

As always The Penny Pincher is looking for ways to be green and save money at the same time! An article I recently read (my apologies for not being certain of the publication) featured Patricia Lee of Greenwich, CT suggesting the use of fabrics as wrapping paper as they were colorful, creative and reusable! Her company, Bobo, launched in 2008, sells gift wraps for $8 to $48 online...this is a great way to go, but the Penny Pincher would also suggest cutting up clothing or quilts, etc. that are no longer in use to use as wrapping for your own gift-giving...That's a wrap! (pun intended!)

Eye on a Bargain

One of the ongoing expenses many of us incur is our annual eye exams and the resulting frame, lens, contacts (etc...) expense resulting from this visit. Thanks again to our great resource at www.walletpop.com, there are some resources to save you money on this often pricey escapade!

First, check for resources that offer inexpensive (yet still safe and high-quality) eye exams: Costco Optical, Walmart Vision Center and America's Best Contacts & Eyeglasses (via their "EyeCare Club"). These all offer inexpensive exams and deals on your resulting vision prescription!

If you have your prescription already, check Eyeglassdirect for bargains on your glasses! Other resources include 39 Dollar Glasses, Global Eyeglasses or Coastal Contacts.

How to save a cellphone from ultimate death!

At least once my daughter has managed to drop her cellphone in the toilet (DON'T keep them in your pocket!!!) If only we had known what REALSIMPLE.COM (and our AT&T rep) recommend for just such a dire situation:

1) dry any visible droplets of liquid
2) pop out the battery
3) Stick the phone and the battery in a bowl of DRY rice overnight

The rice will soak up the moisture and (with any luck) your phone will still work the next day!

I'm BAAAAAACK!

OK...so I am now a full-time employee enjoying being out of the home after months of being unemployed. This (obviously) has taken a toll on my otherwise fairly regular blogging, but I am back and have some great new material for you! And, as always, please comment, make recommendations or suggest other sites/blogs that will help my readers!