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	<title>Bargain Babe&#187; Occasions/Holidays</title>
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	<link>http://bargainbabe.com</link>
	<description>Save money with coupons, deals, and inspiration!</description>
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		<title>Money saving tips for graduation season</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/05/15/graduation/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/05/15/graduation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 May 2012 08:00:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Save Money On]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[graduate gifts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[graduation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[money saving tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new grad budget]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[what to give a graduate]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=27037</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Graduation post round-up to save you money. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_27038" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 168px"><img class=" wp-image-27038" title="graduates" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/graduates-199x300.jpg" alt="graduates 199x300 Money saving tips for graduation season" width="158" height="239" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Charline Tetiyevsky / Flick</p></div>
<p>Graduation season is here! If you&#8217;re heading to a graduation this year, we&#8217;ve got you covered. I&#8217;ve rounded up some of our best graduation posts to help you save money.</p>
<p>Know a grad and need a thoughtful, yet inexpensive <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2009/05/26/graduation-gift-ideas/" target="_blank">graduation gift</a>? Consider a <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2011/04/07/four-financial-gifts-for-gradutes/" target="_blank">financial gifts</a> for your grad. Don&#8217;t worry, it won&#8217;t break the bank. It&#8217;s as simple as getting them a financial book to bone up on their personal finances. Our gift ideas work for both high school and college grads!</p>
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<p>For high school students heading to a university, read up on how to <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/18/save-money-on-college/" target="_blank">save money on college</a> by avoiding <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2011/08/24/college-money-wasters-to-avoid/" target="_blank">college money wasters</a>. And you&#8217;ll definitely want to find out how one reader sent her son to <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2011/08/26/my-son-went-to-college-on-a-dime/" target="_blank">college on a dime</a>. Wow, we&#8217;ve got some savvy readers!</p>
<p>For those graduating from college, check out how to <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2011/01/27/a-budget-for-a-new-college-grad/" target="_blank">create a budget</a> for a new college grad. Julia helped her little bother get started and even opened an IRA for him.</p>
<p>If you still haven&#8217;t sent out your graduation announcements, check out this <strong>InkGarden deal</strong>. Through May 31, 2012 score 10 free graduation announcements and invites. Just pay shipping. Use <a href="http://strk.enlnks.com/aff_c?offer_id=682&amp;aff_id=884" target="_blank">coupon code</a> GRAD50. <em>Note, that shopping through this link supports BargainBabe.com</em>. <em>Thanks in advance for your support!</em></p>
<p>Congrats to all those graduating this year!</p>
<p><em>This post is copyrighted by <a href="http://www.bargainbabe.com" target="_blank">BargainBabe.com</a>. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.</em></p>
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		<title>10 frugal ways to celebrate Mother&#8217;s Day</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/05/03/10-frugal-ways-to-celebrate-mothers-day/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/05/03/10-frugal-ways-to-celebrate-mothers-day/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 10:00:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gift ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gifts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[gifts for mom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mothers day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mothers day gifts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[presents]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[presents for mom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26973</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I share 10 frugal ways to celebrate mom without the hefty price tag. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26982" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 262px"><img class=" wp-image-26982" title="mother" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mother-300x199.jpg" alt="mother 300x199 10 frugal ways to celebrate Mothers Day" width="252" height="167" /><p class="wp-caption-text">creative1the / Flickr</p></div>
<p><strong>This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.</strong></p>
<p>Mother&#8217;s Day is just around the corner. Do you know what you&#8217;re giving your mom, yet? Below I share frugal ways to celebrate Mother&#8217;s Day without breaking the bank.</p>
<p>1. <strong>Make a memory book</strong> &#8211; If you&#8217;re into scrapbooking, put a photo book together. This low cost gift will be filled with memories that mom will appreciate. If you&#8217;re not good with scissors and glue, you can also make one using your computer.</p>
<p><span id="more-26973"></span></p>
<p>2. <strong>Go to free concerts or events</strong> &#8211; Several parks and museums in my area have free concerts around this time. Take the whole family to enjoy the music and each others company. You can also bring along food to have a picnic.</p>
<p>3.<strong> Give mom the day off</strong> &#8211; Don&#8217;t give mom any work to do on this day. It&#8217;s so cliche, but make her breakfast and help around the home. Do the dishes, take out the trash so she can relax.</p>
<p>4. <strong>Give her a call or drop by</strong> &#8211; She may just need your company to make her happy. Video-chatting will make you feel closer, if you don&#8217;t live with your mom. Plus, there&#8217;s so many ways to do it for free!</p>
<p>5. <strong>Forget the expensive flowers</strong> &#8211; Flowers are nice, but the prices will balloon around this time. Instead, head to a garden center make a <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/16/how-to-make-a-succulents-terrarium/" target="_blank">succulent terrarium</a>. These are so easy to take care of and inexpensive.</p>
<p>6. <strong>Make a donation</strong> &#8211; If your mom has a favorite charity, make a donation in her name or volunteer your time.</p>
<p>7. <strong>Bake something sweet</strong> &#8211; Check out my post about <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2012/02/09/inexpensive-valentines-day-treats-and-recipes/" target="_blank">sweet treat recipes</a> and get baking! Cookies and bars look especially nice in a tin box. It&#8217;s all about the presentation when it comes to food gifts.</p>
<p>8. <strong>Make new memories</strong> &#8211; Get your mom to do something she&#8217;s been wanting to try. Cooking class? Sure. Just head to a daily deal site to score a deal!</p>
<p>9. <strong>Pamper your mom</strong> &#8211; Treat your mom to a manicure and pedicure. You don&#8217;t have to head to the salon or spa. You can do this at home and you&#8217;ll have enough money left over to get her something else.</p>
<p>10. <strong>Magazine Subscription</strong> &#8211; A subscription to her favorite magazine will sure be appreciated. Just make sure to find out which one she likes.</p>
<p>Need more <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2011/05/03/mothers-day-gifts-from-the-heart/#more-24072" target="_blank">Mother&#8217;s Day gift ideas</a>? Julia shares 12 <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2009/05/07/12-mothers-day-gifts-from-the-heart-not-the-wallet/" target="_blank">Mother&#8217;s Day gifts</a> from the heart that won&#8217;t shrink your wallet.</p>
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		<title>Buying a diamond on a budget &#8211; Dedicated</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/18/buying-a-diamond-on-a-budget/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/18/buying-a-diamond-on-a-budget/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 18 Apr 2012 11:38:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Frugal Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Save Money On]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap jewelry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap weddings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frugal weddings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jewelry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26889</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[We share an inforgraphic about saving money on a diamond ring. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Buying a diamond on a budget can be overwhelming and confusing. Check out this diamond buying guide from <a href="  http://www.brilliance.com/diamond-buying-tips-infograph" target="_blank">Briliance.com</a> that includes tips to save money when buying a diamond or a ring.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.brilliance.com/images/infograph/Diamond-Buying-Tips-Infograph.jpg"  rel="thumbnail"><img src="http://www.brilliance.com/images/infograph/Diamond-Buying-Tips-Infograph.jpg"  WIDTH="500PX" title="Buying a diamond on a budget   Dedicated" alt="Diamond Buying Tips Infograph Buying a diamond on a budget   Dedicated" /></a></p>
<p><em>This is dedicated content. Want to reach tens of thousands of savvy spenders? Read our <a href="../category/seasonal-deals-and-money-savers/2012/02/23/category/seasonal-deals-and-money-savers/2012/01/17/2011/12/14/category/seasonal-deals-and-money-savers/category/seasonal-deals-and-money-savers/category/seasonal-deals-and-money-savers/advertise-blog/http://" target="_blank">blog marketing</a> page.</em></p>
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		<title>How to save money on prom</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/17/how-to-save-money-on-prom/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/17/how-to-save-money-on-prom/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 17 Apr 2012 13:35:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Frugal Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Save Money On]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cut prom costs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[prom dresses sale]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[save money on prom]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26837</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Save money on prom with these tips. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26871" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 199px"><img class=" wp-image-26871" title="prom" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/prom3-225x300.jpg" alt="prom3 225x300 How to save money on prom" width="189" height="252" /><p class="wp-caption-text">ke9tv / Flickr</p></div>
<p><strong>This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.</strong></p>
<p>Every time I look in my closet and see my burgundy gown collecting dust, I&#8217;m reminded of my prom. I don&#8217;t regret going, but I would have done some things differently to save money. I&#8217;m much more savvy now and below I share tips to save money on prom.</p>
<p><strong>The ticket</strong> &#8211; I waited to the last minute to get tickets. Big mistake! I ended up paying a lot more. Many schools have early bird specials so take advantage of them!</p>
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<p><strong>The dress</strong> &#8211; Every girl wants to look her best on prom night, but purchasing a gown to be worn once is wasteful. I&#8217;ve only worn the skirt of my dress one other time to a wedding. Instead, I could have invested in a cocktail dress to wear to other formal events when I went to college. A plus, short dresses are en vogue for prom!</p>
<p>Want to feel like a princess? Don&#8217;t purchase your pouf dress and opt to rent it instead. This will run you anywhere between $40-$150 depending on what you want. Some of the dresses are even knock offs of those worn by celebrities to big events.</p>
<p><strong>The tux</strong> &#8211; Similar to a girl&#8217;s dress, a tux can be a big expense. Opt for buying a suit that you can wear to internship and job interviews. This will save you money in the end, if you don&#8217;t gain weigh. If you decide to rent the tux, make sure the fee includes all the accessories so you don&#8217;t end up paying more to get them.</p>
<p><strong>Shoes</strong> &#8211; Comfort should be your goal. I remember many girls wearing sneakers to prom. It was genius and inexpensive! Don&#8217;t want to sport sneakers? Flats are another option or go for a pump that you can continue to use. It&#8217;s a bit easier for guys to save on shoes because they may already be in their closet.</p>
<p><strong></strong><strong>Makeup &amp; Hair</strong> &#8211; Forget about going to the salon and getting an up do. This can set you back $40- $60. Instead go for loose curls or a blowout &#8211; these styles are more modern and can easily be accomplished at home. Want to get your hair done? Head to your local beauty school and ask for prices. Beauty school&#8217;s usually charge less since a student will do your hair.</p>
<p>To cut cost on make up, you can do it at home. Another option is to schedule an appointment with a makeup artist at a department store and have them do your makeup for free. Some department store require you purchase items from them so make sure to ask if this is their policy and how much you have to spend. I had my makeup done and all I bought was the lip gloss to reapply through the night.</p>
<p><strong>Corsage</strong> &#8211; Flowers can be expensive, but a simple boutonnière and corsage will be less expensive. <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/13/how-to-save-money-on-flowers/" target="_blank">Save money on flowers</a> by comparing prices before making a purchase. Check at local mom and pop florists, and the flower district, if your city has one.</p>
<p><strong>The limo</strong> &#8211; Skip the limo, unless you can get enough friends to pitch in to cover the cost. Consider a party bus for a group as it tends to be cheaper. Another option is driving to and from prom, but it&#8217;s safer to be chauffeured.</p>
<p><strong>The photos</strong> &#8211; I have no idea where my prom photos are collecting dust. I do remember forking over my hard earned cash to pay for them. Instead of getting professional photos taken, carry a digital camera to snap shots through the night. You may also want to look around for semi-professionals (for example, photography students) who will charge less or do it for free!</p>
<p>If your teen is headed to prom, my best advice is to sit down and prepare a budget. Remind them that prom is not about who you go with or what you wear, it&#8217;s about having fun. (I feel old saying that, but it&#8217;s true!) Did I miss any other ways to cut costs on prom?</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Happy Easter!</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/06/happy-easter/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/06/happy-easter/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:57:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter bunny]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter eggs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26817</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve updated the printable coupons post with coupons for Easter candy and ham. Make sure to check them out! I can&#8217;t wait to have some Easter chocolate this weekend. I&#8217;m spending my weekend baking and cooking my family&#8217;s Easter meal that cost less than $40.  Hope you have a wonderful Easter (or Passover) and find [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26818" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 127px"><img class=" wp-image-26818" title="easter-bunny" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/easter-bunny-199x300.jpg" alt="easter bunny 199x300 Happy Easter!" width="117" height="177" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Happy Easter! aussiegall / Flickr</p></div>
<p>I&#8217;ve updated the <a title="Direct links to grocery and drugstore coupons" href="../2012/04/04/direct-links-to-grocery-and-drugstore-coupons-10/">printable coupons</a> post with coupons for Easter candy and ham. Make sure to check them out! I can&#8217;t wait to have some Easter chocolate this weekend.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m spending my weekend baking and cooking my family&#8217;s <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/06/an-easter-meal-for-under-40/" target="_blank">Easter meal</a> that cost less than $40.  Hope you have a wonderful Easter (or Passover) and find lots of eggs!</p>
<p>As always, thank you for your continued support of BargainBabe.com.</p>
<p>Yazmin</p>
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		<title>An Easter meal for under $40</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/06/an-easter-meal-for-under-40/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/06/an-easter-meal-for-under-40/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2012 14:32:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter eggs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter recipe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[holiday budget]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26815</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My Easter meal is costing me less than $40. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26816" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 269px"><img class=" wp-image-26816" title="Easter-table" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Easter-table-300x225.jpg" alt="Easter table 300x225 An Easter meal for under $40" width="259" height="195" /><p class="wp-caption-text">DG Jones / Flickr</p></div>
<p><strong>This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.</strong></p>
<p>The sky-high food prices are not keeping the Easter bunny away this year. According to the <a href="http://www.nrf.com/modules.php?name=News&amp;op=viewlive&amp;sp_id=1331" target="_blank">National Retail Federation</a>, Americans are shelling out $4.29 more this year on their Easter meals as the average person is expected to spend $44.34! Below I share my Easter menu and how I&#8217;m trimming the cost.</p>
<p>For the main dish, I&#8217;m roasting a turkey breast. I know it&#8217;s not the traditional main course, but my family does not eat pork and the price of lamb was ridiculous. This is the most expensive part of our meal at $16.</p>
<p><span id="more-26815"></span></p>
<p>To accompany my apricot glazed turkey breast, I&#8217;m sauteing asparagus. Remember I mentioned <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/22/pasta-with-asparagus-recipe/" target="_blank">asparagus are inexpensive</a> right now? Just two bucks for two bunches! Also on the menu is scalloped potato gratin. Yum! The cost is about $5. This includes lots of cheese and heavy creme &#8211; dairy products are crazy expensive!</p>
<p>I&#8217;m making my delicious <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2011/03/29/easter-dinner-on-a-budget-split-pea-soup-recipe/" target="_blank">split pea soup recipe</a> again this year. It&#8217;s about $2 to make and it&#8217;s so filling. The salad is coming from my garden. We&#8217;re having mesclum &#8211; you know, the fancy salad that costs $3-$6 at the store &#8211; which I paid a buck for the seeds. The fresh herbs for the gratin and deviled eggs are also coming from my plot.</p>
<p>Ralphs had a sale on eggs this week. They were only $.88 and I made a mad dash to my local store for a carton. My sister and I are making these look like chicks. We love playing with our food!</p>
<p>No wine in our menu as we are not drinkers. We are sticking with water and warm tea as we&#8217;re still under the weather.</p>
<p>For dessert, I&#8217;m baking a carrot cake. Topped with creme cheese frosting and walnuts, this delectable dessert is only setting me back $4. The rest of my groceries which included apricot jam, dijon mustard, and more were $10.</p>
<p>Our meal will feed 5 people and I&#8217;m expecting leftovers. The total cost was $37.88 &#8211; that&#8217;s about $7.58 per person (less than going out to eat)!</p>
<p>The main way I reduced costs was by planning a meal around items I already have in my pantry and garden. I know not everyone has the time, space, or ability to garden but this will help a lot. To lessen the cost of your Easter meal, keep it simple. Forget about store loyalty and shop the sales instead.</p>
<p>Keeping it small also helps. If you&#8217;re having lots of family and friends over, consider a potluck or plan a menu and assign everyone a dish.</p>
<p>Hope you have a wonderful Easter or Passover. I&#8217;d love to hear what&#8217;s on your menu!</p>
<p><em>This post is copyrighted by <a href="http://www.bargainbabe.com/" target="_blank">BargainBabe.com</a>. Any other site posting this content is violating the DMCA.</em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Easter candy deals</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/03/easter-candy-deals/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/04/03/easter-candy-deals/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Apr 2012 12:00:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[candy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[chocolate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter basket]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter bunny]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter decorations]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26790</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Easter candy deals at Rite Aid, CVS, and Walgreens! http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26792" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 246px"><img class=" wp-image-26792" title="candy" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/candy-300x225.jpg" alt="candy 300x225 Easter candy deals" width="236" height="177" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Incase / Flickr</p></div>
<p><strong>This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.</strong></p>
<p>I headed to Rite Aid yesterday to buy cold medicine. I&#8217;m fighting a bug that my sister brought home from school. While there, I wandered over to the candy aisle and found some sweet candy deals!</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a list of some of the candy that&#8217;s on sale with your wellness+ card:</p>
<p><span id="more-26790"></span></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Brach&#8217;s Jelly Eggs 9 oz.</strong> &#8211; $.88</li>
<li><strong></strong><strong>Sixlets </strong>-<strong> </strong>$0.88</li>
<li><strong>Peeps 5 &#8211; 12 ct. </strong>- $0.88</li>
<li><strong>Skittles Pastel Mix 13 oz.</strong> &#8211; $1.99</li>
<li><strong>Edible Easter Grass </strong>- $1.99</li>
<li><strong>Skittles or Starburst Fun Size 7.3 oz. Sour Patch Bunnies 9.5 oz. </strong>- $1.99</li>
<li><strong>Easter M&amp;M&#8217;s </strong>- $2.99 plus get $1 +UP Reward</li>
<li><strong>Hershey&#8217;s, Reese&#8217;s or Cadbury Easter Bags 8 &#8211; 8.5 oz., Reese&#8217;s Pieces Pastel Eggs 10 oz. </strong>- $2.99 plus get $1 +UP Reward<strong></strong></li>
</ul>
<p>Our friends over at Hip to Save share <a href="http://hip2save.com/2012/03/30/easter-candy-deal-at-toys-r-us-330-331-only-upcoming-deals-at-cvs-walgreens-rite-aid/" target="_blank">Easter candy deals</a> from CVS and Walgreens! Here&#8217;s how they got their deal at Rite Aid:</p>
<p>Buy 2 Nestle NestEggs 8 oz. $2.99 each<br />
Use the $1/2 coupon from the 3/25 RP<br />
Pay $4.98<br />
Get 2 $1 +Up Rewards (limit 2 offers)<br />
Final Cost $1.49 each!</p>
<p>You can get the same deal with the Easter M&amp;M brand candy. The bags come with a $1 off 2 bags coupon you can peel off and use. I came home with peanut M&amp;M&#8217;s, but you can also get Snickers, Milky Way, Twix, and 3 Musketeers. The final cost with the $1 +Up Rewards is $1.49 each, as well. I can&#8217;t wait to get my sense of taste back!</p>
<p>Bargain Babe has written about <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/tag/easter-basket/" target="_blank">dollar store Easter deals</a> before so don&#8217;t rule out your local store if you&#8217;re looking for Easter baskets or eggs to dye. Here&#8217;s <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/30/inexpensive-easter-egg-dying/" target="_blank">how to make your own Easter egg dyes</a> to save money. Don&#8217;t forget to compare prices! On Monday, I scored a dozen eggs at Ralphs for $.88!</p>
<p><em>This post is copyrighted by <a href="../2012/04/03/" target="_blank">BargainBabe.com</a>. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.</em></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Inexpensive Easter egg dyeing</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/30/inexpensive-easter-egg-dying/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/30/inexpensive-easter-egg-dying/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Mar 2012 12:00:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dye eggs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dyeing eggs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter decorations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[easter eggs]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26777</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dyeing eggs with natural dyes to save money. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26778" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 228px"><img class=" wp-image-26778" title="eggs" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/eggs-300x225.jpg" alt="eggs 300x225 Inexpensive Easter egg dyeing " width="218" height="164" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Lottakind / Flickr</p></div>
<p><strong>This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.</strong></p>
<p>My sister and I are heading to volunteer at our local library&#8217;s annual egg hunt this weekend. This got me thinking of our own Easter celebration. Can you believe Easter is just around the corner?</p>
<p>To save money on our Easter egg decorations I&#8217;m going <em>au naturel</em>. I&#8217;m skipping the fizzy tablets and using spices and other items that are already in my pantry and fridge. Bobbi wrote about <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2010/03/31/decorating-easter-eggs-dyeing-with-or-without-vinegar/" target="_blank">Easter egg decorating</a> a while back and said this method was more expensive, but I&#8217;ve found it to be cheaper and less wasteful.</p>
<p><span id="more-26777"></span></p>
<p>I&#8217;m using <a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/ideas/natural-easter-egg-dyes/search" target="_blank">egg dye recipes</a> I found in <em>Bon Appetit</em> magazine. To keep cost down, I&#8217;m using items that would otherwise go in the trash. These are some of the items:</p>
<ul>
<li>Old spices (They lose their potency after a year.)</li>
<li>Onion skins</li>
<li>Lemon and lime rinds</li>
<li>Carrot tops or peels</li>
</ul>
<p>I&#8217;m also asking my local grocery store for veggie scraps of cabbage. Hopefully they have the purple kind. Fingers crossed. Check out the video below for more egg dyeing ideas. We&#8217;re also going to be enjoying eggs for a while till we have enough shells. I&#8217;m blowing out the raw eggs. Do you boil or blow out your eggs? What are your Easter plans?</p>
<p><center><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/1B3r03DmsEg" frameborder="0" width="480" height="340"></iframe></center><em>This post is copyrighted by <a href="http://www.bargainbabe.com" target="_blank">BargainBabe.com</a>. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.</em></p>
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		<title>How to make a photo booth for a birthday</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/26/how-to-make-a-photo-booth-for-a-birthday/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/26/how-to-make-a-photo-booth-for-a-birthday/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:13:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frugal arts and crafts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frugal birthday parties]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frugal gifts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frugal parties]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[organize party]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[throw a cheap party]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26747</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I share how to make a photo booth for a birthday. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26748" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 286px"><img class=" wp-image-26748" title="photo-booth" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/photo-booth-300x199.jpg" alt="photo booth 300x199 How to make a photo booth for a birthday" width="276" height="183" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Justin and Elise / Flickr</p></div>
<p><strong>This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.</strong></p>
<p>I had a photo booth at my sister&#8217;s <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/19/how-i-threw-a-birthday-party-on-a-budget/" target="_blank">budget-friendly birthday party</a> and it was so popular that I&#8217;m sharing how I pulled it off. There&#8217;s just something about people wanting to act silly in front of the camera at parties that makes this a fun and inexpensive activity! Plus, it&#8217;s such a nice way to capture and share the memories.</p>
<p><span id="more-26747"></span></p>
<p>The concept is not just for birthday parties, you can have a photo booth at any social gathering or even large-scale events like weddings. The most important part is knowing the theme of the event. From there, all you have to do is let your creative juices flow.</p>
<p><strong>1. Secure Your Backdrop</strong></p>
<p>Choosing something that reflects the style of your party is the main objective. I hung silver ribbon I already had on the wall to keep it simple. There are so many ideas if you want to go all out that don&#8217;t have to cost you a penny. You can set up the backdrop by using solid bed sheets, printed curtains, or even just making a garland. Make sure to iron sheets and curtains so the wrinkles aren&#8217;t distracting. If you&#8217;re artsy, you can also buy butcher paper and draw a design that goes with your theme. Hanging your backdrop is not as difficult as it sounds. I used duct tape because it&#8217;s the strongest tape I had. There are all kinds of fancy stands out there, but duct tape is the most inexpensive option.</p>
<p><strong>2. Engage Your Subject</strong></p>
<p>Providing props for your guests to loosen up is a must. Gather items you already have around your home to save money. Hats, glasses, or even frames work well. If you&#8217;re guests need more coaching, shout out ideas. Tell them to blow kiss to the camera, make silly faces, or anything that will get you the money shot. Having a fan to get the tousled supermodel hair is also fun &#8212; girls, especially like the idea!</p>
<p><strong>3. Frame Your Subject</strong></p>
<p>You don’t need a fancy camera to take a successful photo. I used my point-and-shoot and the photos turned out great. The secret is framing your subject so your not cutting of heads. Photos also look best when they&#8217;re close ups. I was too busy playing hostess to take most of our photos so I turned on the camera timer and set it on a stand. If you don&#8217;t have one, appoint a photographer. Mac user? Your computer or laptop has a photo booth app. All you have to do is turn on your computer when friends arrive. This will save you one step.<strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>4. Download, Retouch, and Email</strong></p>
<p>After the party, I sat down to download the photos on my laptop. I did some enhancing &#8212; hey, no one has to know I was sporting a major zit (of all days!). Not a genius with computers? No problem. This is just extra. Once on your computer you can email them.</p>
<p>I decided to add a watermark on iPhoto to the photos that read &#8220;Wendy&#8217;s 15 Birthday Fiesta.&#8221; The little details made it more personal and it made for a cheap party favor! Once I was done, my sister emailed the photos and thanked each guest for showing up (it was pouring!) and her gifts.</p>
<p>Have any more inexpensive party favor ideas? Share them with us along with fun and frugal party games or activities.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>How I threw a birthday party on a budget</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/19/how-i-threw-a-birthday-party-on-a-budget/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/19/how-i-threw-a-birthday-party-on-a-budget/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Mar 2012 14:49:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap party]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap party food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap party tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frugal party]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[throw a cheap party]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26702</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I hosted a birthday party for my sister this weekend. She turned 15. I'm dead tired, but I wanted to share how I threw a grand celebration all for under $120! http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26703" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 176px"><img class=" wp-image-26703" title="IMG_3552" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_3552-185x300.jpg" alt="IMG 3552 185x300 How I threw a birthday party on a budget" width="166" height="269" /><p class="wp-caption-text">The birthday cake was yummy!</p></div>
<p>I hosted a birthday party for my sister this weekend. She turned 15. I&#8217;m dead tired, but I wanted to share how I threw a grand celebration all for under $120! My secret? I kept it simple and almost everything was homemade. Guess who had lots of work? Phew, glad it&#8217;s over!</p>
<p><span id="more-26702"></span></p>
<p><strong>Theme</strong> &#8211; Two months ago I sat down with my sister to figure out the theme of her party. I gave her three options and explained I was challenging myself to stay within budget.</p>
<p>&#8220;Oh, great you only want to throw the party to blog about it,&#8221; she responded.</p>
<p>&#8220;Do you want it, or not?&#8221;</p>
<p>&#8220;Yes,&#8221; she said. &#8220;What are my options?&#8221;</p>
<p>After much debate she picked the Mexican Fiesta. I was leaning for the pizza party because I wanted an excuse to make an <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2012/02/22/pizza-stone-for-cheap/" target="_blank">inexpensive pizza stone</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Invitations</strong> &#8211; I looked around the internet and searched at party stores for Mexican Fiesta themed invitations, but they were expensive. I finally settled on sending guests an Evite. It was quick and free. I just picked the style and customized the Evite. With a click of the mouse the invitations were delivered via email.</p>
<p><strong>Decorations</strong> &#8211; I had to stop myself from going crazy here. While at the party store my sister had to remind me we were on a budget. She&#8217;s good at keeping me in check. I bought fiesta paper fan decorations for $7. They&#8217;re bright and colorful! I also had to have the matching napkins and plates for the cake. These came out to $5. For $2, I got the traditional pin the tail on the donkey game. I&#8217;m saving the game and fans to use again!</p>
<p>For $1.99, I got a pinata. Score! I had seen it for $15 at World Market. I headed to the L.A. Pinata District in downtown. Yep, there&#8217;s such a place. Candy was $10.</p>
<p>At Lowe&#8217;s, I bought succulents instead of flowers to keep with the theme. I&#8217;m planning on using these to make a <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2012/03/16/how-to-make-a-succulents-terrarium/" target="_blank">succulents terrarium</a>. Cost was $8. I used a coupon.</p>
<p><img class=" wp-image-26704 alignleft" title="IMG_3543" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/IMG_3543-238x300.jpg" alt="IMG 3543 238x300 How I threw a birthday party on a budget" width="196" height="249" />We had a photo booth set up to have guest take silly photos. I made mustaches, sombreros (hats), and other crazy props. I sat till the wee hours of the night making these from materials we already had at home. Everyone loved the idea!</p>
<p><strong>Food</strong> &#8211; One of the reasons I was happy my sister picked the fiesta theme is because Mexican food is easy and cheap to make! Though we eat it all the time, many find it to be a novelty. Most of my budget went to paying for groceries. For appetizers, I made simple nachos with beans, cheese, and salsa. I also cut up fruit to have with a splash of lemon, salt and cayenne pepper. To drink, I made Horchata (a rice and milk drink). Have you noticed how expensive milk is?</p>
<p>I also served tacos. The cost of the meat was $25. We had leftovers. Woohoo! We&#8217;re still eating and sharing with neighbors and other friends that have stopped by! I saved lots of money by not buying disposable paper plates and utensils (aside from stuff I got at the party supply store). I used our dishes. Groceries were $50.</p>
<p><strong>Dessert </strong>- It was delicious, if I do say so myself. I baked a tres leches cake and made a flan! If I had bought the dessert, I would have paid about $50. I made it for $10.</p>
<p><strong>Music</strong> &#8211; Pandora, baby!</p>
<p>The weather was awful. It poured on us, but we had lots of fun!</p>
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		<item>
		<title>Valentine&#8217;s Day crafts and projects</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/02/08/valentines-day-crafts-projects/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/02/08/valentines-day-crafts-projects/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:00:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bobbisbargains</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family + kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Save Money On]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[crafts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diy crafts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[diy valentines]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[garland of love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[projects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[romantic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Valentine's Day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[valentine's day coupons]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[valentine's day gifts]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26244</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I found eight lovely and do-able Valentine's crafts. http://www.bargainbabe.com
]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of <a href="http://www.bobbisbargains.com" target="_blank">BobbisBargains</a>.</strong></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=226651.0"><img class=" " title="book" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2054/2253997762_fa98efa023.jpg" alt="2253997762 fa98efa023 Valentines Day crafts and projects" width="300" height="242" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Love book made from deck of cards</p></div>
<p>I am so glad that it is finally time to start making Valentine&#8217;s Day crafts. I just love them. Can&#8217;t get enough of those hearts and flowers and rainbows and paper doilies.</p>
<p>I found eight lovely and do-able Valentine&#8217;s crafts.</p>
<ol>
<li><a href="http://www.purlbee.com/valentine-heart-pins/" target="_blank">Little felt heart pins</a>. These are so simple and yet so sweet. Just a bit of felt cut into heart shapes, hand stitched and stuffed with a little pin backing.</li>
<li><a href="http://sycamorestirrings.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-love-you-garland.html" target="_blank">A garland of love</a>. Print out pictures of your loved one(s) and cut into the shape of hearts. Glue picture on a heart shape red card. Tie heart onto a string. Make a garland of love.<span id="more-26244"></span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=226651.0" target="_blank">52 things I love about you</a>. This is so clever! Take a deck of cards and punch 2 holes. Use rings or ribbon to bind together (see picture). On each card, write a reason why you love your love.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.dltk-cards.com/coupon/" target="_blank">Valentine coupons</a>. Must admit that I made last minute Christmas coupons using this wonderful online tool. You can customize the coupon and print it out. A great idea to help your kids come up with a gift for mom.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jjtGNqBPvk&amp;feature=related" target="_blank">Rose petal covered bed</a>. I&#8217;m not sure if this really qualifies as a craft, but it is such a great visual of the perfect rose covered marriage proposal. Short and sweet video.</li>
<li><a href="http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/heart-string-973685/" target="_blank">Heartstring</a>. Turn a cardboard tube into a heart string. Great reuse of cardboard tubing. The messy part is going to be painting the cardboard red. For young kids, I suggest using magic marker. If you are going to make this yourself, you might want to consider spray paint.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mivvLjqZDM0" target="_blank">Heart shaped crayons</a>. Simple and unique craft to make with your kids using that big box of broken crayons you own.</li>
<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Py9FnKRXiuc&amp;feature=related" target="_blank">Pop-up heart card</a>. This is a unique pop-up design that requires an adult hand and exacto knife&#8230;but worth it. Nice.</li>
</ol>
<p>OK, get busy making those Valentine crafts. And remember, you can make every day Valentine&#8217;s Day with just a little love.</p>
<p><em>This post is copyrighted by <a href="../" target="_blank">BargainBabe.com</a>. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.</em></p>
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		<item>
		<title>Make your romantic and frugal Valentine&#8217;s Day come true</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/02/06/make-your-romantic-frugal-valentines-day-come-true/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/02/06/make-your-romantic-frugal-valentines-day-come-true/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Feb 2012 11:00:37 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Bobbisbargains</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Misc.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Save Money On]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Things to do]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap date]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap dates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[date ideas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[dates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[frugal dates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[romance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[romantic frugal dates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Valentine's Day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[valentines]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26231</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For a romantic and frugal Valentine's Day, follow these tips. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>By Bobbi Burger Brunoehler of <a href="http://www.bobbisbargains.com" target="_blank">BobbisBargains</a>.</strong></p>
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 207px"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenhorton/4345635310/"><img title="Valentine's day card" src="http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4026/4345635310_2832224752_m.jpg" alt="4345635310 2832224752 m Make your romantic and frugal Valentines Day come true" width="197" height="240" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Karen Horton/flickr</p></div>
<p>A person&#8217;s ability to come up with a creative, romantic, and frugal Valentine&#8217;s date is a true indicator of that person&#8217;s ability to come up with creative, thoughtful, and debt-free lifestyle choices.</p>
<p>We&#8217;ve already covered many frugal and creative Valentine&#8217;s dates in <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2011/02/10/unusual-valentines-day-date-ideas/" target="_blank">nine unusual Valentine&#8217;s dates that are frugal too</a>, <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2009/02/04/cheap-debt-free-valentines-dates/" target="_blank">cheap debt-free valentine&#8217;s dates</a>, and <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2009/02/26/cheap-date-ideas/" target="_blank">you calling me a cheap date? You betcha</a>. Browse all three of these articles and you will have enough great date ideas to take you through to your 25th wedding anniversary.</p>
<p>However, these ideas still require you follow some very important rules:</p>
<p><span id="more-26231"></span></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Plan ahead.</strong> Do not wait until the day before Valentine&#8217;s Day to make your plans. Most special dates require advance work. If you are going to take your loved one to a taping of her favorite TV show, you will definitely have to book this ahead of time. Making a <a href="http://www.justluxe.com/syndicated-news/cid1628371/Bye-Bye-Lunch-Lady-Hello-Vending-Machines" target="_blank">portrait of your dear-heart out of soda cans</a> REALLY takes advance notice. So, don&#8217;t wait!</li>
<li><strong>Pay attention.</strong> If you decide that going to a drive-in movie would be a great idea, then make sure that your loved one hasn&#8217;t mentioned that she hates drive-in movies. Listen.</li>
<li><strong>Gather support.</strong> Sometimes you need other people in order to pull off your romantic date. Let&#8217;s say you want to have a flash mob marriage proposal. You will need to gather lots of other people to pull that one off. But, you know, people WANT to help you make a great romantic effect. So, ask your friends and family for help.</li>
<li><strong>Take pictures and video.</strong> So, you manage to pull off this sensational moment, like a sunset helicopter ride over the site of your first encounter. You really must document the moment. My husband and I talked to our not-yet-conceived children at our wedding reception. It&#8217;s some pretty cool footage. A total keeper.</li>
<li><strong>Once the moment comes, you have to let it just unroll.</strong> You can plan and plan, but when the magic moment comes, you have to let it just happen. Don&#8217;t get upset if it doesn&#8217;t work the exact way you planned. That will DEFINITELY ruin the moment. Just enjoy the moment, and it will be even better.</li>
</ol>
<p>I hope all these ideas help you to have a wonderful Valentine&#8217;s Day with your special someone. Anyone have some other advice?</p>
<p><em>This post is copyrighted by <a href="../" target="_blank">BargainBabe.com</a>. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.</em></p>
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		<title>Save money on your Super Bowl Sunday party</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/02/01/save-money-super-bowl-sunday-party/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2012/02/01/save-money-super-bowl-sunday-party/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Feb 2012 11:00:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Frugal Living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Save Money On]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Strategies to save]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[budget super bowl]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap party]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[how to save money]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[party]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[potluck]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[super bowl]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[superbowl]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[superbowl 2012]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26143</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Save money on your Super Bowl party. I share suggestions to cut costs on food, drinks, and decorations. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26204" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 235px"><img class="size-medium wp-image-26204" title="super-bowl" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/super-bowl-225x300.jpg" alt="super bowl 225x300 Save money on your Super Bowl Sunday party" width="225" height="300" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Steve Rhodes / Flickr</p></div>
<p><strong>This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.</strong></p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><strong>Food<br />
</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Prepare your food from scratch.</strong> 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 <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2010/11/10/dinner-recipe-for-easy-turkey-chili/" target="_blank">turkey chilli recipe</a>. Make your own dips and salsas as well.<span id="more-26143"></span></li>
<li><strong>Clip those coupons</strong> &#8211; 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&#8217;t forget to check out our <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/coupons/coupon-database/" target="_blank">Coupon Database</a>. Just print and save!</li>
<li><strong>Buy in bulk.</strong> 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&#8217;ll end up wasting money. Newcomers can often get a FREE trial membership from the customer service desk or the warehouse website</li>
<li><strong>Skip the paper plates.</strong> They make clean up easier, but they add to the cost of throwing a party. Instead put the dishwasher to use. Don&#8217;t have one? Get friends to help.</li>
<li><strong>Potluck.</strong> You provide an entree, ask friends to bring sides and drinks.</li>
<li><strong>Pizza party.</strong> If you want everyone to chip in for the pizza tab, in the invite say something like &#8220;bring a few bucks for pizza.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Drinks</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Buy drinks in bulk.</strong> Make sure to hit the stores ahead of time to get the best deals. Just make sure the drinks whether beer or soda don&#8217;t disappear. Many, many, many hosts use the next option to save money on booze.<br />
<strong></strong></li>
<li><strong>Bring Your Own Beer (BYOB).</strong> I don&#8217;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.</li>
<li><strong>Make your own drinks</strong> &#8211; Skip the soda and instead, make lemonade, or strawberry lemonade. It&#8217;s cheaper to buy lemons, sugar, and frozen strawberries and blend them.</li>
<li><strong>Nix the pot luck.</strong> 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!</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Decorations</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Skip the decorations. </strong>This is one party that doesn&#8217;t require frilly stuff. Just make sure your home is clean and put together.</li>
<li><strong>Hit the dollar store.</strong> If you really want to have decorations, make sure you don&#8217;t pay a lot for things with the teams&#8217; colors or mascots. Hey, next year they may not make it to the bowl.</li>
<li><strong>Do It Yourself.</strong> If you&#8217;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&#8217;s colors.</li>
</ul>
<p>Are you watching the Super Bowl with friends? How are you saving money on your get-together?</p>
<p><em>This post is copyrighted by <a href="../" target="_blank">BargainBabe.com</a>. Other sites posting this content are violating the DMCA.</em></p>
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		<title>Happy New Year 2012!</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2011/12/30/happy-new-year-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2011/12/30/happy-new-year-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:45:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[happy new year]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new year's]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new year's eve]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26112</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Thank you for a great 2011 and for being part of BargainBabe.com. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26113" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 250px"><img class="size-full wp-image-26113" title="new-year" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/new-year.jpg" alt="new year Happy New Year 2012! " width="240" height="160" /><p class="wp-caption-text">cutiepie company / Flickr</p></div>
<p>The new year is just around the corner, but we want to take this time to thank you for being part of the BargainBabe.com community. We look forward to inspiring you to save even more money in 2012. Thanks you all so much for making 2011 an awesome year!</p>
<p>~ The Bargain Babe Team</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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		<title>Nine tips for an inexpensive New Year&#8217;s Eve</title>
		<link>http://bargainbabe.com/2011/12/30/nine-tips-for-an-inexpensive-new-years-eve/</link>
		<comments>http://bargainbabe.com/2011/12/30/nine-tips-for-an-inexpensive-new-years-eve/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 30 Dec 2011 15:55:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>yazmincruz</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Occasions/Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Seasonal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap drinks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap party food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cheap party tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new year's]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new year's decorations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[new year's party]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[throw a cheap party]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://bargainbabe.com/?p=26114</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tips to save money on your New Year's party. http://www.bargainbabe.com]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_26141" class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 179px"><img class=" wp-image-26141" title="new-years-hat" src="http://bargainbabe.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/new-years-hat.jpg" alt="new years hat Nine tips for an inexpensive New Years Eve" width="169" height="225" /><p class="wp-caption-text">coreycam / Flickr</p></div>
<p><strong>This is a post by BargainBabe.com writer Yazmin Cruz.</strong></p>
<p>If Christmas left you low on money, there&#8217;s no need to skip the New Year&#8217;s celebration. Below I share tips to save money on your New Year&#8217;s party. All partied out? No problem. I&#8217;ll also share frugal ideas to have fun without throwing a party.</p>
<p>For those having a get-together, save by implementing these suggestions.</p>
<p><span id="more-26114"></span></p>
<p>1. <strong>BYOB (Bring your own booze)</strong> &#8211; If you plan on drinking, have friends pitch in a bottle of wine. This will help your bottom line as you won&#8217;t have to pay for all the booze yourself. Champagne is expensive, go for a nice wine that compliments the food you&#8217;ll be serving.</p>
<p>2. <strong>DIY noisemakers</strong> &#8211; You can find noisemakers at the dollar store. Or have little kids make some out of the toilet paper rolls. Just add dry rice or beans, seal them, and decorate.Heck, pots and pans will work in a pinch.</p>
<p>3. <strong>Reuse Christmas decorations</strong> &#8211; Gold and silver ornaments work well for New Year&#8217;s as well. Try adding them to a glass vase to add a festive touch.</p>
<p>4. <strong>Give out mementos</strong> &#8211; I&#8217;m not suggesting you spend more money on gifts. Instead set up a background and provide a digital camera and props to your guest. You can make New Year&#8217;s hats, 2012 glasses, and mustaches out of paper. All you have to do is tape a stick to the side so they can hold on to them. Let them go crazy taking photos. The following day you can email the funny photos.</p>
<p>5. <strong>Be your own DJ</strong> &#8211; No need to hire someone. Have your friends bring in mix CDs or make use of sites that provide free music like Pandora.</p>
<p>6. <strong>Timing is everything</strong> &#8211; The earlier the party starts, the more you&#8217;ll have to spend on food. Having your party start a little later can help you get away with serving appetizers and dessert. Potlucks are also fun.</p>
<p>I like to keep New Year&#8217;s Eve celebrations casual, and have spent many sitting at home watching the Time&#8217;s Square ball drop.</p>
<p>7. <strong>Free New Year&#8217;s Events</strong> &#8211; You don&#8217;t have to stay in to save money! Do a quick search online for free New Year&#8217;s Eve events. Some cities have free fireworks shows. If you&#8217;re using public transportation to get around, you may not even have to pay as some offer free rides all night long.</p>
<p>8. <strong>Catch up on flicks</strong> &#8211; If the holidays are your only time off. You might just want to stay in and catch up on movies or TV shows. <a href="http://bargainbabe.com/2011/07/18/movie-and-dvd-cheaper-than-netflix/" target="_blank">Movie and DVD services</a> can help you do this on the cheap.</p>
<p>9. <strong>Get your beauty sleep</strong> &#8211; If you have little ones, they may not be able to stay up so get some rest. You can celebrate in the morning over pancakes and eggs. Now that&#8217;s a good way to start the new year!</p>
<p>How are you celebrating the new year? I&#8217;m going to try and stay up as long as I can, but come midnight I may be snoring.</p>
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