Steve Rhodes / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

I must confess I have no clue what teams are playing on Super Bowl Sunday (Feb. 5), but what I do know is how to throw a party on a budget! Below I share suggestions to lower the costs of drinks, food, and decorations.

Food

• Prepare your food from scratch. It will take you longer, but it will taste better and save you money! Buying pre-made food from the grocery store is always more expensive. Make foods that can be prepped ahead of time or come in large batches so you can enjoy the game or commercials. Try this turkey chilli recipe. Make your own dips and salsas as well.
• Clip those coupons – When it gets close to the game, many stores begin having deals on potato chips and sodas. Keep an eye out for deals and don’t forget to check out our Coupon Database. Just print and save!
• Buy in bulk. If you’re having lots of people over, consider shopping at Costco or Sam’s Club. Just make sure you use everything you buy or you’ll end up wasting money. Newcomers can often get a FREE trial membership from the customer service desk or the warehouse website
• Skip the paper plates. They make clean up easier, but they add to the cost of throwing a party. Instead put the dishwasher to use. Don’t have one? Get friends to help.
• Potluck. You provide an entree, ask friends to bring sides and drinks.
• Pizza party. If you want everyone to chip in for the pizza tab, in the invite say something like “bring a few bucks for pizza.”

Drinks

• Buy drinks in bulk. Make sure to hit the stores ahead of time to get the best deals. Just make sure the drinks whether beer or soda don’t disappear. Many, many, many hosts use the next option to save money on booze.
  
• Bring Your Own Beer (BYOB). I don’t drink so the thought of buying beer for others is ridiculous. It can be so expensive. To cut down on costs, have water or soda available for guests and have them bring their own beer, wine or liquor.
• Make your own drinks – Skip the soda and instead, make lemonade, or strawberry lemonade. It’s cheaper to buy lemons, sugar, and frozen strawberries and blend them.
• Nix the pot luck. Instead of saving money by making your party pot-luck style, save by providing the food, but making everyone else bring the drinks of their choice whether that be beer, wine, liquor, soda, or mineral water. The reason I say this is that alcoholic drinks are much more expensive than preparing nachos, and sometimes pot-lucks turn into a lot of stuff that no one eats and not enough of the few things that are good. You know what I’m saying!

Decorations

• Skip the decorations. This is one party that doesn’t require frilly stuff. Just make sure your home is clean and put together.
• Hit the dollar store. If you really want to have decorations, make sure you don’t pay a lot for things with the teams’ colors or mascots. Hey, next year they may not make it to the bowl.
• Do It Yourself. If you’re watching the Super Bowl, you may already have shirts of one of the teams that you can wear. You can also infuse your home with your team’s colors.

Are you watching the Super Bowl with friends? How are you saving money on your get-together?

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TFDuesing/flickr

If you want something you don’t have the money for, figure out how to make it. (I’ve already talked about getting things by swapping or repurposing).

Personally, I have found that learning to make something is the best way to go. I get what I need, and I know how to repair it. Here are my five favorite sites to go to when I want to learn new things:

1. General instructions - Instructables - You can learn anything from how to carve a pumpkin to how to build your own computer to how to construct a rocket ship. Instructables has more pictures and instructions than videos.
2. Video tutorials - YouTube – Now that YouTube has grown beyond silly home videos, you can find all sorts of wonderful how-to videos. Check on the length of the video before choosing which one you want to watch. It’s pretty boring to watch a 10-minute video on how to tie a knot and it’s pretty useless to watch a 30-second video on how to do your taxes.
3. 5 minute Life Videopedia – Five minute videos about all sorts of stuff.
4. The ultimate handyman site - DIYnetwork – I also like HandymanUSA. These are both wonderful sites to go to when you want to know how to fix your broken doorknob or unclog your sink.
5. Hundreds of the best 18-minute talks on Technology, Education & Design - TED talks – Think of the very best speaker you ever heard. Now imagine the talk being no more than 18 minutes long. These are TED talks. My favorite ones are by Sir Ken Richardson on the subject of education.

There are so many things we pay for someone do for us that we could do ourselves. By hiring others to weed our gardens, cook our food, and fix every broken thing, we lose the joy of creating our own lives.  The internet gives us access to information that allows us to learn new things with a few clicks. Use it!

What are your favorite sites to learn new things?

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EE Homepage / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Last year, my aunt underwent dental surgery that could have cost her thousands of dollars. The cheapest quote she got in the U.S. was $45,000. To get affordable health options, and save money, she sought out-of-country care. She told me she saved more than $20,000 when I told her about my dental emergency.

I was surprised to learn she’d had her teeth fixed because all I’d heard was that she’d gone on vacation to Mexico during the summer. I interrogated her over the phone.

“What did you get done?”

“Gum surgery and implants” she said.

“Ouch! Guess bad teeth run in the family. How did you pick the dentist?”

“I got quotes last time we went to see your grandma.”

“So how much did you end up paying in total with travel?

“The round-trip cost $500, which we already planned to pay to go visit. The bill was $24,250. Everything was $24,750.”

“What if there would have been complications?”

“That’s why we stayed over the whole summer just in case I had to go back. But everything went well. Plus the dentist studied and worked here [in the U.S.] so I knew he had experience.”

Things worked out well for my aunt. She didn’t have to worry about losing hours at work since she gets the summers off. Housing was also not a problem since she stayed with relatives. These are all things you must take into consideration because they will add to the expenses.

Would I travel to another country to get inexpensive dental or doctor care? I’m not sure. I guess it depends on the kind of care I needed. I wouldn’t do it to take care of a cavity or two. Normally, I’d jump at the opportunity to save that kind of money. But I’m hesitant to say yes because I’d be scared something would go wrong and I’d find myself in a country I know little about.

My aunt’s surgery went without a glitch, but if something had gone wrong her health and dental insurance from work wouldn’t have covered expenses. Since all her expenses where covered out of pocket, she would’ve had to fork over more money. Not only that, according to this NPR story, if something goes wrong in surgeries abroad there may not be much you can do. At least, in the states we have malpractice laws and medical standards that can help right a wrong.

Would you consider going out of country to get low-cost medical or dental care?

Learn to save money at Starbucks! kktryj / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

It’s no secret that I love coffee. A while ago, I even revealed my coffee addiction was costing me major moolah because I was charging my purchase. I’ve reformed my ways since then. If you can’t give up the trips to Starbucks, I share five tips to saving money while still getting your fix.

1. Swagbucks, baby! It’s changed my life. I’m not kidding. I took a cue from Julia who also uses Swagbucks to fed her Starbucks habit. I can get free Starbucks gift cards just for searching the web like I normally do. I’ll treat myself to a cup of java only if I have a gift card handy.
2. I joined the My Starbucks Rewards. I registered my card online and every few drinks I get rewards like free syrups and free soy milk. On my birthday I’ll also get a free drink! When I reach the Gold level (that’s 30 drinks) I’ll get free drinks every 15 drinks. Every time I receive my gift card from Swagbucks, I just transfer the money to my registered card online.
3. I’m brewing Starbucks at home. I’ve found several Starbucks deals at Target. Last time, I bought two bags for $7.99 each and got a $5 gift card for Target. The best part is you can take the empty bags to Starbucks to get a free tall cup of joe!
4. I’m taking advantage of Starbucks’ promotions. Every time Starbucks releases a new drink or has seasonal promotions, I drop by to score $1 drinks or free samples. Don’t miss out on these bargains, we share them in our coupon and freebie posts. I also scour the web and newspaper for Starbucks coupons!
5. I buy discounted Starbucks gift cards. I’ve set up gift card alerts to make sure I don’t miss out on the deals. I’ve already managed to score two Starbucks gift cards at 25% off — it doesn’t get easier than that!
6. Costco is your friend. You can purchase 5 $20 Starbucks gift cards for $80. It’s like getting one $20 gift card for free! Make sure to ask at your location because not all carry them.

I have to mention that I’m not a Starbucks aficionado, but I’ve found it easier to save money with this coffee chain. How do you save money while still getting your caffeine hit?

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Timberland Regional Library / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

Last weekend I took my sister to volunteer at the library and dragged my feet to get there, but something happened that made the trip well worth it!

A few minutes after we arrived, my sister walked toward me with the biggest grin ever and a Rolling Stone with Justin Bieber on the cover. She handed it to me.

“What’s this for, Wendy?”

My sister said the librarian had assigned her to organize the magazine section and dispose of old issues. She also mentioned she could take any of the old issues.

“Do you want to choose more magazines?”

She didn’t have to tell me twice. I ended up helping her move magazines around since they had lots of old issues.

Here’s what I brought home:

Rolling Stone ($4.99)

Shape ($4.99 x 2) – Love this magazine for the low-calorie recipes and no-gym needed workout routines.

Better Homes & Garden ($3.99) – After thumbing through it, I realized it’s the one Julia graced! If you haven’t already, check out her two-page spread.

I saved $18.96! I don’t purchase magazines at the stand because they are expensive so I was super excited when Julia announced the hot magazine deals exclusive to BargainBabe.com! If you love to relax with a good magazine, you can’t miss out on these great bargains. I can’t wait to get my monthly subscription of Bon Appetit.

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rachel_titiriga/flickr

I live in Southern California, the land of the lemon tree. With so many donations from friends, I have found tons of uses for the mighty little lemon.

Here are ten of my favorites:

1. Lemon juice and salt on your copper bottom pans make an instant cleaning miracle. Just sprinkle the salt on the copper bottom, then squirt on some lemon juice and give a gentle scrub. Your copper will shine like the day it was made. This works on any copper surface, not just pot bottoms.

2. Put lemon juice in a spray bottle and go for a little sunbath. Spritz the lemon juice on your hair and let the sun do its job. You will end up with a summer blond look.
3. Turn those lemons into lemonade. The very best lemonade that I ever had was at a yard sale. The little boy who sold it to me was proud to tell me that the lemons came from the tree in his backyard. Lemon juice + filtered water + honey + ice = yummy lemonade
4. After shampoo rinse. When I was little, my mom used to pour lemon juice over my hair as an after shampoo rinse. Some people don’t use shampoo or conditioner at all – only water and some lemon juice.
5. Deodorize your garbage disposal. After you are done squeezing the juice out of the lemon, cut it up into strips and put down your disposal. Not only does it help break up the grease and gunk on the blades, but it leaves a pleasant lemon scent.
6. Keep guacamole from turning brown. Avocado turns brown when exposed to air, so your wonderful homemade guacamole can look yucky while still tasting great. Spritz the top of your guac with lemon juice to keep a bright green.
7. Similar to the avocado, apple slices will also turn brown when left out to the air. Dip the slices in lemon juice to keep them nice looking. The taste of the lemon compliments the apples.
8. Help soften elbows and heels by rubbing a squeezed lemon rind on them. Make sure you don’t have any cuts in your skin or they will sting.
9. Lemon and honey in hot water is good for a sore throat or a cold. If nothing else, the honey tastes good and the heat soothes.
10. Kill weeds in the cracks in your sidewalk. Much like the tip that Bargain Babe gave us with vinegar, it turns out that lemon juice also kills weeds. Soak the area with lemon juice instead of toxic chemicals. You will definitely want a friend with an overloaded lemon tree for this tip.

I know that there are tons more uses for this great little fruit. What are your favorite uses for lemons?

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jypsygen / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

A while back, I wrote about the many uses of vinegar. Julia even gushed about vinegar in a video. More recently I haven’t been able to live without hydrogen peroxide. It all started after my dental emergency. Below I share 25 uses for the liquid in the brown bottle, H2O2. (It’s usually sold with a 3% active ingredient concentration.)

DISCLOSURE: I’m not attempting to give medical advice. You should consult your dentist or doctor before using hydrogen peroxide to treat ailments.

1. My dentist suggested I soak my toothbrush in hydrogen peroxide between uses to keep it clean and prevent the transfer of germs. This is particularly helpful when you or someone in your family has a cold or the flu. I’ve been fighting a bug!
2. Use hydrogen peroxide as a mouthwash to freshen breath. It kills the bacteria that causes halitosis.
3. Mixed with salt and baking soda, hydrogen peroxide works as a whitening toothpaste.
4. It’s said to helps with early stages of gingivitis as it kills bacteria.
5. Clean a wound with hydrogen peroxide.
6. Use a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide to clean and freshen kitchen counters.
7. Clean your cutting boards to kill salmonella and other bacteria.
8. Sanitize your kids’ lunch boxes/bags.
9. Wash vegetables and fruits with hydrogen peroxide. Add 1/4 cup of H2O2 to a sink of cold water. After washing rinse thoroughly with cool water.
10. Dab hydrogen peroxide on pimples or acne to help clear skin.
11. Use a mixture of 1 part hydrogen peroxide to 32 parts water to improve your plants’ root system. It’s said to help with rotting.
12. Hydrogen peroxide helps to sprout seeds for new plantings. Use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution once a day and spritz the seed every time you re-moisten.
13. Use H2O2 instead of using chlorine bleach when washing a white load. Toss in half a cup straight out of the bottle along with your usual laundry detergent. Did you know it’s one of the main ingredients in Oxiclean? It works well against grass, blood and red wine stains.
14. Remove yellowing from lace curtains or tablecloths. Fill a sink with cold water and a 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide. Soak for at least an hour, rinse in cold water and air dry.
15. Soaking your feet in a peroxide solution helps soften calluses and corns, and disinfects minor cuts.
16. Spritz a weak solution of H2O2 on your hair to bring out your natural highlights.
17. Can kill harmful bacteria, including E. coli, viral agents, and mold and mildew spores.
18. Use it to remove ear wax. Use a solution of 3% with olive or almond oil. Add a couple drops of oil first then H2O2. After a few minutes, tilt head to remove solution and wax.
19. Helps with foot fungus. Spray a 50/50 mixture of hydrogen peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry.
20. Clean with hydrogen peroxide to remove mold.
21. Spraying down the shower with hydrogen peroxide to kill bacteria and viruses.
22. Use 1 pint of 3% hydrogen peroxide to a gallon of water to clean humidifiers and steamers.
23. Wash shower curtains with hydrogen peroxide to remove mildew and soap scum. Place curtains in machine with a bath towel and your regular detergent. Add 1 cup full strength 3% hydrogen peroxide to the rinse cycle.
24. Scrub the toilet bowl with 2 quarts water and 1 cup 3% hydrogen peroxide. Let stand 30 minutes. Then scrub with brush.
25. Use hydrogen peroxide to control fungi present in aquariums. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt your fish. Use sparingly for this purpose.

What do you use hydrogen peroxide for?

Urban Woodstalker/flickr

Do you know the main idea that separates people who live over-budget from those who live under-budget?

People who go over-budget do so because they think they must have NEW stuff. This often translates into buying at the highest price. Go to the mall and buy a new shirt. Top dollar. Go to the car dealer and buy a new replacement part for your car. Super top dollar. Go to the bookstore and buy a just published book. Very expensive.

Some people feel that it is “bad” or “uncool” or “low class” to buy recycled, used, or discounted. Well, if you are super rich and have money to burn, then, be my guest and buy retail. I surely want to go to your yard sales and I certainly don’t want to try and balance your budget.

People who live under-budget think new stuff is a waste of money. They would rather get used stuff and re-purpose it.

So where are the best places to get great re-purposed stuff? Here is my top 7 list:

1. Yard Sales – You just can’t beat a yard sale for great prices and wild diversity. I love the adventure of yard sales. Go to a family neighborhood for kid stuff. Go to an area with lots of artists for cool and unique items. Utilize Yard Sale Treasure Map to find the yard sales in your area.

2. Thrift Stores – You never know what kind of great buys you will get in a thrift store. I’ve seen designer suits for $9.95 and service-for-12 Noritake china for $29.95. It’s important that you check for nicks, tears, broken zippers, stains, etc. when buying at a thrift store. There is no returning. On the flip side, I love donating to my local thrift store. I get a tax deduction plus I know I’m putting treasures into someone else’s hand and out of the landfill.

3. Swaps - Find a swap, attend a swap, create a swap. Just swap! The best way to recycle and re-purpose and end up with new-to-you stuff. Many swaps have some sort of minimal entrance fee plus you need to bring stuff to swap. I’m hooked on swaps.

4. Your friends and/or co-workers – Have a closet clean out with your friend. Get your co-workers to swap clothing, books, electronics. It can be as simple as putting a basket in the office lunchroom for a book exchange.

5. On the curb of the sidewalk – I have found the most wonderful stuff on the curb. I’ve gotten a great light table for graphics, an end table and a treadmill. Keep the universe happy and put your cool stuff out on the curb for others to find.

6. Consignment stores – Not as good as a thrift store, but sometimes you can get GREAT deals on very high quality designer clothes for young and old.

7. Specialized consignment sales – Some sales, like the LA Kids Consignment sale specialize in public such as kids, plus size or sports equipment

Learn to love the re-purposed lifestyle and do what you REALLY want with the money you save. How do you re-purpose?

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lululemon athletica / Flickr

This post is brought to you by CentrSource, where you will find great offers.

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

I’m in the market for new workout clothes. The pairs of yoga pants I’ve had for more than five years are beginning to thin at the inner thigh. Since I practically live in workout clothes, I need them to stand up to constant wear. Here’s how I find workout clothes at affordable prices.

1. Avoid name brand retailers- Stores like Nike and Adidas are so expensive. Even with discounts or coupons the prices are still high, at least for my price range. I do like to frequent these stores to see what’s new and gauge prices.
2. Avoid secondhand stores – If I were looking for non-workout clothes, I would look at secondhand stores to save money. Maybe it’s just me, but I do not want to wear other peoples’ old gym clothes. Eww! For hygiene purposes, I also avoid shopping for old tennis shoes. Bobbi says used shoes can be a hot deal as long as you follow these rules.
3. Ask for hand me downs – A while back I received name brand athletic wear from my cousin who had lost weight. Although she had worn the clothes, they were in good condition. Plus, they were free! I am open to wearing workout clothes from people I know.
4. Outlets – I’ve found workout clothes to be up to 50% off at outlets. To get these deals you have to shop a full season after you see the clothes in the regular stores. Athletic shoe outlets are also good sources of deals, especially if you can score coupons to bring the price down even further. If you sign up for an outlet’s email, you may be able to score a free VIP coupon booklet.
5. Off-price retailers – Stores like Ross, TJ Maxx, and Marshall’s are great places to look for workout clothes. The prices can be just as good as shopping at outlets, if not better. I also really like these stores because they have more recent styles.
6. Shop less known brands – You don’t have to buy name brands. Shopping for less known brands will save you a bundle.
7. Shop the teen’s section – Because of my stature, I can get away with shopping in the teens section. I’ve found large sizes are perfect and there’s no need to get pants altered. Prices tend to be lower for some items. Before paying make sure to compare prices!
8. Use old clothes – I have shirts that have bleach spots and have seen better days, but are perfect to wear underneath a sweater when jogging. Don’t through out old clothes, use it to workout in.

Check out our tips to get fit on a budget and find out why money is not an excuse not to exercise. How do you save on workout clothes?

Soft, soft cashmere - photo by Bobbi Burger Brunoehler

I just scored a cashmere sweater for 99 cents at the 99 cent store. Yep. A cashmere sweater for less than a dollar! This unbelievable discount got me thinking about my Bargain Hall of Fame.

I find bargains every day, but sometimes my finds are special. Here are my personal top 10 best buys:

1. Brand new original Leatherman tool for $1.50. Retailed for $50 (but it is retired and you can’t even buy it anymore except as a collector’s item).
2. Sewing machine (like new) for free on Freecycle.
3. Large box FULL of jewelry (including a gold ring) for $20. My daughter had a field day taking the jewelry apart and redesigning it. I often wonder if the man that sold me this box of jewelry got in trouble with his wife.
4. Three giant garbage bags full of clothes at swap-o-rama-rama. Entrance fee was a bag of my clothes and $5. My favorite way to get new clothes is at a swap.
5. Wooden swing set with slide, fort and two swings for $200. Retail cost $2,200. We got years of fun out of this swing set in two different States. We finally sold it to someone else for $150.
6. The afore mentioned cashmere sweater for 99 cents – retail price $255 at Nordstrom. It’s a super soft sweater as you can see from the picture.
7. Hundreds of dollars worth of fake flowers for $15 at an estate sale. I later used these flowers in a craft tent at a huge children’s festival.
8. A David’s Bridal bridesmaid’s gown for $20. Retail $220. This gown is now part of my daughter’s costume collection.
9. Fixing my car horn, cruise control and air bag for free under factory recall. Savings of at least $500 dollars.
10. Buying my home in a short sale for half of what the previous owner paid for it. BIG savings.

Those are my Bargain Hall of Fame nominees. How about you? What are your best bargains ever?

Jasonwoodhead23/flickr

By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.

Per Southern California Gas Company, home heating is 65% of a residential gas bill during the winter months. (That’s what it said in my bill insert this month.) Wow! If that is true in Southern California, what is it in actual cold parts of the country?

With so much of your utility budget going toward keeping your home warm, anything that you can do to retain heat in your home or keep the heat from leaving is a money saver. Here are 5 tips that will help you to lower your heating bill:

1. Open your drapes when the sun is shining into the window. This allows the sun to heat your home. Close your drapes (the heavier the better) when the sun is not shining in the window. This will help to hold the heat in the space and keep it from literally going out the window. Follow the tips in the winterize your home video to keep those windows from being drafty.
2. Clean or replace the filters in your heating system. Ensure you do not have furniture or storage in front of your heating vents, especially if you have floor vents. Remember heat rises and it can’t rise if it is covered by your sofa.
3. Get an annual inspection for your furnace.  Yes, heating systems need to be maintained just like your air conditioner. An annual servicing of your furnace can not only save you money but it can also prevent a fire by cleaning out lint build-up and ensuring that your system is operating properly and efficiently. Per the Chicago Tribune, if your system is only 60% efficient, then that means that you are loosing 40 cents on every dollar!
4. If your health will allow, wear more clothes and lower the temperature a few degrees. Place lap rugs around your house so that you can place one over your legs or over your shoulders to keep you warm. If you are in Southern California… it’s time to take off the flip-flops and put on socks and shoes.
5. Wear a hat.  Remember how Scrooge had on a sleeping cap when he went to bed in every version of Charles Dicken’s Christmas classic? Scrooge was saving money by not heating his house. So, he wore a hat to keep him warm. You don’t have to be Scrooge to wear a comfy sleeping night cap. They really do keep you warm.

Hummm. All this writing about the cold is making me want a nice mug of hot chocolate with mini marshmallows. Another great way to keep warm.

Beth Rankin / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

If the holidays didn’t wreak havoc on your finances, you’re in for a good shopping season. Below I share four items to shop for in the month of January to save money.

Bedding and bathroom linens - This is the time of year I stock up on new bedroom and bathroom linens. Many stores will begin competing to sell you sheets, comforters, towels, and pillows during their so-called white sales. Expect prices to keep on dropping. I share tips to

save money at white sales in case you need to stock up.

Air conditioners - Depending on where you live, you may not even be thinking of air conditioners. Rest assured no one else is either. So this is a great time to hit the stores and get some quotes. You can also do this online! Come the first hot day of the summer, you’ll be glad you shopped early. Bobbi shows you how to buy an air conditioner.

Jewelry – Plan ahead for Valentine’s Day to save money on jewelry gifts. Jewelry stores tend to see their traffic wither after the holiday season and it doesn’t tends to pick up till February. Look for bargains now for that gift for your special someone. Ladies, now’s the time to drop a hint to your man!

Patio Furniture – Stores that sell patio furniture tend not to see a whole lot of customers during the winter months. If you are planning on getting patio furniture, this is the time to do it. You will be getting last year’s model, but you’ll be saving lots of money. Price compare and take home your furniture. Make sure you have a place to store it till spring comes around or better yet, buy furniture that is weather proof.

What other deals do you tend to find in January?

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angrywayne / Flickr

This is a post by BargainBabe.com reader Yazmin Cruz.

A recent story on holiday tipping from USA Today caught my attention because of the angry comments left by online readers. The uproar got me thinking about holiday tipping in a weak economy. Below I share four suggestions if you want to tip, but are strapped for money.

1. Gift cards – Gift cards are super convenient and I feel like it looks better to hand over a card than a $10 bill when I’m low on cash. I’ve given gift cards to my mail carrier and newspaper deliverer (when I still subscribed to a paper). I wait to purchase these when a good deal comes along like getting a free drink with the purchase. I’ve also gifted cards that I’ve earned online.
2. Baked goods – A plate or tin box filled with homemade goods shows appreciation and is a thoughtful gift.
3. Holiday card – I asked around for ideas and a holiday card with a hand written note kept coming up. I was hesitant to include it because as I mentioned in my post about what to do for a friend who has been laid off, I dislike paying for cards that will end up in the trash. I do like the idea of the hand written note along with a small gift.
4. Daily deal certificate – The jury is still out on this one as some consider it tacky gifting a discounted certificate, but I say it’s better than nothing.

A while back I blogged about tipping etiquette to avoid overspending throughout the year. If you were a generous tipper all year, do you think it’s fine to go smaller for the holidays? I would prioritize the most important service providers and give a little more to those who have an impact on making my life a bit easier. How is the weak economy going to affect your holiday tipping?

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wuestenigel/flickr

Now that Halloween is past us and we’ve eaten all the candy corn and miniature Snickers bars that we can hold, it is time to turn our attention to one of my favorite of holidays – Thanksgiving. Although Thanksgiving has become as commercialized as all the rest of our holidays, you can still create a special family event that brings years of memories without destroying the budget.

Here is a list of ten wonderful frugal and homemade Thanksgiving decorations.

1. Decorate a basket and go for a nature walk. Pick up pine cones, leaves, sticks, acorns, flowers. Come home and create center pieces and decorations.
2. Tie pine cones on string to make a fall garland.
3. Make little elves and fairies out sticks and leaves. Glue on googly eyes. This craft is best done with a hot glue gun so adult supervision is needed.
4. Name Tag Pins -  I love this idea to make leaf name tags for the guests at your Thanksgiving gathering. It was always so hard for me to keep my relatives name’s straight. I only saw them once or twice a year. I always wished that they had on name tags. I highly suggest this idea (or some other name tag idea) if you want to help your kids learn the names of friends and family. I bet that it will help the adults too.
5. Family Banner that becomes a book – Cover a table or wall with wide art paper. Divide the paper in squares. Have everyone draw a picture, make a hand print or leave a message in one of the squares. Afterwards, cut up the squares and make it into a book. Date the book so you can look back over the years. You can also scan each page and make a digital version to send to everyone.
6. Turkey Bread Basket – This craft is made from a paper bag, a piece of card board, paper plates and some decorations. I love this idea because it is frugal AND useful. If you have the storage room, this craft might even make a reappearance for several years.
7. Newspaper leaf rubbings – Make this ingenious craft idea into a garland. Rub crayon on newspaper that is laid over freshly fallen leaves. Cut out and string together. Add a bit of glitter to the edges for a special touch.
8. Painted rocks as place cards – Yes! Yes! I love this craft for the simplicity and long term memory value. Pick up wonderful rocks on your walk in No. 1. Paint and add names of guests. Add a gem for added elegance. Coat with clear nail polish once the paint is dried for a shiny look.
9. Marshmallow Pumpkins – Although technically this orange sugar coated marshmallow is a Halloween treat, I say that it will still work for a Thanksgiving treat. Warning: pure sugar!
10. Twenty more crafts – I just couldn’t decide on just ONE of these cool crafts from the TipJunkie, but I am partial to the Thankful Wall.

I hope these ideas have got you in the decorating mood, because right after Thanksgiving comes Christmas and then it is REALLY craft time.

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This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.

I’ve come across even more ways to save money on movie tickets, so I’m combining an older post (which you can see here) to share a total of 12 ways to save on movie tickets. I also included a list of sites that offer free movie screenings below.

Second-run movie theaters – I’m lucky to have a theater nearby that plays movies only a few weeks old. It makes me feel like I’m not missing out on a movie when everyone is talking about it. And you can’t beat the price – a fraction of mainstream theaters.

Work/school discounts – Many universities give students discounts on movie tickets. So do many companies (typical of bigger ones). All you have to do is buy the movie ticket vouchers at the school’s ticket office or your company’s HR department. Make sure to check ahead of time if there are any restrictions. Some tickets are not valid for the first two weeks of a new release.

Facebook coupons – A while back I wrote about compromising ethics to save money and one of the examples I included was sneaking snacks into the movies to avoid ridiculous concession prices. You can now score freebie popcorn or drink coupons by “liking” theaters on Facebook. AMC is one movie chain that regularly releases movie coupons on Facebook.

Daily deal sites – If you can get a Fandango movie ticket discount on a daily deal site, go for it. Just be aware that Fandango has a service fee. AMC movie tickets is another one I’ve seen discounted on daily deal sites.

AAA discounts – Reader Robin suggested getting movie theater deals through AAA if you’re a member. While browsing their site I discovered they have discounts to theme parks and more.

Senior, military, or student? – Many theaters offer discounted prices to students, seniors, and military personnel so make sure to ask at the box office about a discount. Most of the time, discounts for seniors, military, and students are not advertised. Be sure to bring ID.

Head to Costco. Not only can you buy a year’s worth of toilet paper but you can get cheaper movie tickets. I bought two tickets for $15.49 for the Regal Cinemas chain that I will use to watch “Inception.” The cashier told me the warehouse also sells AMC tickets for a couple cents more.

Buy in bulk. If you’re loyal to a theater, take advantage of their rewards program. AMC Theaters’ Stubs program is $12 a year but includes free concession upgrades, $10 in rewards for every $100 spent, and a waiver for online ticket fees. The Regal Cinemas’ Regal Crown Club awards one point per $1 spent. When you rack up 120 points, you can redeem them for a free ticket. Other theaters send special offers to members.

Entertainment Book. Another friend, Kristin, said she buys Entertainment Books when they are discounted (the books are currently going for $25-$40 for 2012). Movie tickets cost $5 to $6 with the Entertainment Book.

Go to a matinee. The easiest way to save money and avoid the crowds is to head to the movie theater in the morning and not during peak days like Friday and Saturday. Make sure to check the times your local movie theater considers matinees as it varies from theater to theater. You’d be surprised how late some matinees start!

Think independent. I’m not suggesting you go by yourself. Find local independent theaters and frequent them for their low prices. The theater I went to is small and only has three screens but it was clean and had an old Hollywood vibe to it.

Movie screenings – Catching a movie before it’s release date is possible if you’re willing to do some work. All you have to do is score an invite. Trust me, it’s easier than it sounds! I first learned about movie screenings while I was walking around my university campus. There’s usually a couple of guys and gals hanging around campuses asking students if they want to screen a movie, but you don’t have to go track these people down. Below are some sites to consider if you want to screen a movie.

• Film Metro - It’s free to sign up with this site. Once you do, you’ll start receiving invitations to screenings.
• GoFobo - To access free screenings on this site, you’ll have to register. Most screenings are private and a RSVP code is needed. When there are extra seat available, invites are sent to those who are registered. These are sent shot notice.
• Confirm4Movies - This site requires you to register on the USA Audiences websites. Once in their database, you’ll get invitations to screenings. For most these screenings you’ll have to arrive one hour prior to the movie starting and you’ll be asked to answer a few questions afterwards.
• MyCinemaAccess - Registration is free for this site. All you have to do is wait to learn when screenings are available and RSVP. They are adamant about not overbooking a screening, so they ask that if you RSVP you show up.
• Cinemit - This site only offers screenings in Boston, Washington, New York and Philadelphia. To get an RSVP to a screening you’ll have to register with them. It’s free. Screenings will be posted on the site and member are required to answer a question to be considered. It’s based on a first come, first serve bases and there is no right or wrong answer.