e-MagineArt.com / Flickr

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

Filling up prescriptions and buying OTC medication can be costly. Thankfully, there are ways to score prescription discounts. The May issue of Consumer Reports’ ShopSmart tackles the issue and I summarize their findings below.

Go generic – Thought the names are unpronounceable, Consumer Reports found you’ll end up saving as much as 95 percent off the brand name price. Hot dang! The same is true about OTCs. I stopped buying Motrin a long time ago, and instead buy Ibuprofen. It’s so much cheaper!

Order online – Be careful when shopping for drugs online, warns Consumer Reports. Stick to sites that have walk-in stores and only order from within the US. The best prices online were found at:

• Healthwarehouse.com
• Familymeds.com
• Costco.com
• Drugstore.com

Consider mail order – Check with your human-resources department about availability and take advantage of the savings.

Sign up for money-saving store programs – Most drugstores have discount programs that sell generic medications for $4 a month or less. The mag includes information on discount drug programs that save — it’s a must read if you want to compare their offerings. Another way to save money is to take advantage of prescription transfers like Bargain Babe does.

Shop mom-and-pop stores – Head to independent stores and ask if they match a chain’s price or if they have their own discount program. Once you compare the benefits and drawbacks, you’ll be armed to make the right choice for you.

Buy a pill splitter – Can you believe a $3 device can save you hundreds of dollars? By cutting pills in half, it’ll be like buying double the meds at half the price! Make sure to ask your doc if your pills can be split. Check out ShopSmart for more tips on how to safely split pills.

Lastly, ShopSmart points out you should beware of drug coupons as the meds may not be the right choice for you. How do you save money on medications?

misterhonk_de / Flickr

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

I haven’t bought razors since the beginning of winter. Their price is just ridiculous — even with coupons. As the weather gets warmer I’ve wanted to wear sleeveless shirts, but my hippie look has stopped me. The problem with razors is that they don’t last, but below I share two surprising ways to keep your razors from going dull.

For the first method, you’ll need a pair of jeans. Make sure your razor is dry and then push the razor along the denim for 10 to 20 strokes. Although you’ll be running the razor in the opposite direction of how you shave, I suggest you use an old pair of jeans so you don’t ruin a favorite pair. Nothing should be coming off your jeans! Check out the video I found on YouTube to see how this is done.

The second method to sharpen razors scares me a little. Instead of using denim, you’ll use your forearm. As long as you go in the opposite direction of how you shave you shouldn’t nick yourself. Both these methods are similar to the way barbers sharpen old-fashioned blades using a leather strap.

A while back, I compared the cost of waxing, shaving, and laser hair removal. Read the post for more hair removal tips to save money. If you’re in the market for a new razor, Bargain Babe shared ShopSmart’s list of best razors.

Before and after - cleaned with baking soda

I have recently fallen in love with my orange box of baking soda. It’s like discovering you can’t live without the boy next door neighbor who you have known since kindergarten. I mean, come on, that little orange box has been in my life forever.

Every six months you are supposed to change the box in the back of your refrigerator. Now that I know all the amazing things that baking soda is capable of, I can’t believe I threw away one ounce.

Since discovering the power of the white powder, I have done the following TEN amazing things with baking soda:

1. Cleaned my toaster oven door. A thick paste of baking soda and water. I covered the inside of the glass and let it sit for 20 minutes. Then I scrubbed it with a mesh bag that had held lemons. Like magic, the baked on crud came off. Couldn’t believe how easy it was. NOTHING I have ever used in the past worked at all. Amazing.
2. Brushed my teeth. Baking soda and peroxide.
3. Cleaned the coffee stains from my mugs. Sprinkle a bit of baking soda in a wet mug. Use fingers to wipe away the stain.
4. Took the scratches off my white plates. Gentle finger scrubbing removed scratches.
5. Polished the silver faucets on my bathroom sink. A little paste rubbed on the base of the faucets took off the minerals that had gathered there and left a super shine.
6. Cleaned my drains. Baking soda and white vinegar. Let sit in the drain for up to 20 minutes and then flush with water.
7. Removed the gray streaks from my porcelain sink. Sprinkle baking soda on damp sponge. Scrub sink. Scratches disappear.
8. Kept my refrigerator smelling fresh. Put an open box of baking soda in the fridge to absorb odors.
9. Cleaned my silver. See my post on how to clean silver with tin foil, baking soda and salt.
10. And, of course, made chocolate chip cookies.

I can’t believe all I have done with my 50 cent box of baking soda. Instead of being relegated to some far off corner of a cabinet, it now sits proudly right next to the sink where I can grab it for every cleaning chore. I know that I have only just begun to discover the wonders of this super cheap natural cleaning power house.

Perhaps you have some baking soda sitting around and are wondering if it is still any good. The way to test to see if your baking soda is still effective is to pour a few tablespoons of white distilled vinegar into a bowl. Now add 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda. It should fizz a lot. If it just sits there with no reaction, then it is no longer good for baking or making volcanoes.

Have you fallen in love with baking soda?

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By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of BobbisBargains.

Beef soup

The first time I ever made this soup my husband wrote me a love letter. Really. Nothing says lovin’ like a big pot of hearty beef and bean soup.

The key ingredient is a cut of meat called a shank cross cut. It is sometimes referred to as a center cut. This cut of meat has a roundish bone surrounded by meat. It is very tough, therefore it needs to be boiled for at least 3 hours, perhaps 4 for the best taste. The thing to remember with beef is the tougher the cut, the tastier the meat.

If at all possible, get grass fed, free range beef. A shank cut is one of the cheaper cuts of meat, so splurge. I pay around $4.35/lb at my local organic butcher. My family likes lots of meat in their soup, so I get one shank per person. However, you could get one shank for every two people.

This recipe yields about 10 cans of soup. You might be able to get those cans of soup on sale with coupons, but this soup is real food, full of real nutrition that will help you and your family stay healthy and energized. Serve with fresh hard crust bread. Yum!

Here’s my recipe (with some estimates on amounts):

• Shank cross cut beef
• 2 – 4 cups beef stock (homemade if you have it)
• water (keep adding water during recipe so your soup is desired consistency – thick or thin soup)
• large sweet onion
• 1 – 2 cups dried beans (I like Trader Joe’s assorted dried bean mix. Rinse and possibly soak before using.)
• 1 turnip cut into big cubes
• 1 parsnip cut into large pieces
• 4 celery stalks cut into thirds
• 8 large carrots peeled and cut into large chunks
• 2 large garlic cloves (freshly crushed)
• handfull of parsley
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup or less of  small noodles

Start with a large soup pot. Rinse off your beef and then place in the pot. Cover beef with stock and water. Bring to a boil and then cover and let simmer for an hour. Add whole onion. Add water. Let simmer for another hour. Add 1 to 2 cups beans. Add parsnip, turnip, celery, parsley and bay leaf. Let simmer for an hour. Add carrots. Let simmer for 30 minutes. Turn off heat. Add uncooked noodles. Let sit for 5 minutes. The noodles will cook in the hot soup without additional heat. Soup is done.

Notes:

• I do not add salt or pepper, but put it on the table so everyone can season their soup.
• I know that this recipe doesn’t have specific amounts. Sorry, I do it by taste. There isn’t a right or wrong in the quantities. It IS important that you have enough liquid to cover everything in the pot, but not so much liquid that you have a soup that tastes like water in the end.
• The noodles will expand and soak up all your liquid, so use noodles sparingly or don’t use them at all if you want lots of broth.
• A great place to get organic veggies is your local farmer’s market. Help support local organic farmers and they will continue to grow organic food for you.
• An added benefit of making a big pot of homemade soup is that it helps heat up the kitchen on a cold winter day.

I hope this recipe helps to inspire you to make soup for your family and share your recipes with the rest of us.

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PJ from UK / Flickr

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

I love finding alternative uses for everyday items. A while back I shared 31 secret uses for vinegar and now I’m sharing uncommon uses for brown sugar, garlic, and cloves to save you money on skin care, first aid and pest control.

Brown Sugar

• Fly Catcher – Forget about paying for fly paper — it’s so easy to make! All you need is brown sugar, a brown paper bag and water. Bring the same amount of brown sugar and water to a slow boil and set aside. Meanwhile, cut strips from the brown paper bag. Once the syrup is cool, dip the strips and presto! You can hang them up with paper clips to catch flies.
• Wrinkle Eraser – For younger looking skin, try this frugal skin care tip. Use brown sugar to exfoliate. It removes dead skin cells and reveals younger looking skin! To make a face scrub, you’ll need half a cup of brown sugar and 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Grind the brown sugar in a coffee grinder so it’s not to harsh on your skin. Then, mix it with the olive oil until smooth. You can apply it in a circular motion on your face. Afterwards, rinse your face and apply moisturizer.
• First Aid – Brown sugar is said to have anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties that help prevent infections so next time you nick yourself shaving or have a minor cut use some sugar. Just pat on the sugar and cover it with a an adhesive band.
• Stale Bread – Toss your rock hard brown sugar in a bag with a piece of bread or orange peel, close it, and wait a day. The sugar will absorb the moisture in the bread or peel, which turns stale. You get? Softer sugar.

Cloves

• Toothache Relief – Gently crush a whole clove and place it on the gum where the toothache is located to alleviate the pain. The higher the potency, the quicker the relief as it will numb the area. Consult your dentist to make sure this remedy is right for you!
• Air Freshener – Cloves have a great aroma and can be used in a variety of ways to freshen up the air. Cloves are always a great addition to spicy potpourris or an oil burner.
• Fly deterrent and ant killer -  The smell alone from cloves will deter flies. You can also use a drop of clove oil to kill ants instantly. Just add it to the area they frequent. Have moths? Repel them with cloves. Add them to sachets and put them in your closet.

Garlic

Cough Syrup – Garlic’s antibacterial properties are so potent, they can help treat your sore throat. It can also ease your cough! To make garlic cough syrup, boil a quarter pound of garlic cloves in a cup of water. Add honey to the formula to improve the taste.

Glue – If you don’t have a bottle of glue in your house, don’t fret. As long as you have a bunch of garlic cloves, you can make instant glue. I haven’t tried this, but garlic is quite sticky! Just crush them and rub the juices on paper.

Garden Pesticide - Garlic is an all-natural pesticide. Here’s how to make your own pesticide out of garlic. Some gardeners even use garlic mixtures to keep animals such as rabbits, deers, and groundhogs away from their vegetables.

Do you know other uses for brown sugar, cloves, and garlic?

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I paid $39.22 for 14 items at The Body Shop! PAM Phạm / Flickr

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

A few weeks ago, I jump on a Living Social deal for The Body Shop that I shared on one of our freebie and coupon posts. I was holding on to the vouchers till a good sale came along. This week, I redeemed my $20 vouchers and got 14 items for only $39.22 – that’s $2.80 per item!

Right now, The Body Shop shower gels are 4 for $16! That’s just $4 per bottle and it’s half off the original price. Rumor has it they will no longer sell their 8 ounce bottles so they are trying to get rid of them with this sale. SCORE!

I was only able to use one voucher at a time so I had to make two trips. I saved $20 using the Living Social vouchers.

For my first trip, I picked up four shower gels (love their scents!), three hand cleanse gels, and my Love Your Body membership. I saved $29.60 on this trip.

On my second trip, I bought four more shower gels, a grapefruit lip butter for my sis, and a spiced vanilla lip balm on sale for me. I had to add the lip products in to meet the $20 minimum. I saved $32.30.

My total savings adds up to a whopping $81.90!

The Body Shop is a store I like to frequent because I can always find a way to save money on items I need. I also like that their products are natural and they raise awareness with their campaigns.

Julia is also a fan. Read her latest score at The Body Shop.

Do you like to patronize a particular store because you can easily save money? Let us know where you get your deals!

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Don’t forget to mark your calender so you won’t miss any of these hot magazine deals.

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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 at http://www.5min.com/Category/
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?

Get a subscription to Shape mag for only $4!

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Don’t forget to mark your calender so you won’t miss any of these hot magazine deals.

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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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Last week I ordered Bon Appetit for $4.99 for one year. How awesome is that?! You can still get in on these hot magazine deals EXCLUSIVE to BargainBabe.com! If these mags are not your fave, browse DiscountMags.com to find ones you like and use the coupon code below to save 20% off (see the details below).

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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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Get Bon Appetit for $5!

I’m working with DiscountMags.com to offer a number of really hot magazine deals, two each week. Year long subscriptions. Mark your calender because these deals are EXCLUSIVE to BargainBabe.com!!!

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