Frugal-Family.com Blog

My New Blog: Free Cash From Home

2008-01-14T13:20:00.000-05:00

I have a new blog I created today called Free Cash From Home. It's my blog dedicated to how I am earning cash online, from home... for FREE!

I decided to make a separate blog so that I can keep this one strictly for frugal ideas and updates for the Frugal-Family.com website. To preserve the pure, frugal goodness of this blog, I deleted a few posts & added them to the new blog.

Please take a look at it and let me know what you think. Best wishes and happy earnings to you! (*^_^*)

Coupons Can Save the World!

2008-01-04T14:35:00.000-05:00

Well... not really. But they can save you loads of money, which may seem like saving the world to you. (*^_^*)

If you're frugal, you use coupons. Period. Granted, you may not always buy name brand items (since generics are often times cheaper than name brands even with coupons), but you still save coupons so you can compare and get the best deal.

Here's my dramatic entry to save your day! I've posted 2 new articles to the Frugal-Family.com website about couponing that should give you some great tips and tricks.

If you're new to living a frugal lifestyle and are not yet into the habit of clipping coupons, you'll want to check out Couponing 101 to get you on track. It's an article outlining the basics of using coupons and how to make sure you always get the best deal.

Once you've decided to start couponing, you'll soon realize that you need a way to keep track of all your coupons. Organizing Coupons will steer you in the right direction. I offer ideas on how to keep all of your coupons conveniently organized, thus streamlining your shopping experiences. I also give several tips on how to organize coupons for local establishments, allowing you to save even *more* money.

Can you say Cha-Ching? I can and will every time I use a coupon. My kids might look at me funny, but hey - they'll have no complaints when Mama has more money for more family activities and outings thanks to my frugal ways!

Best wishes & enjoy your weekend! (*^_^*)

Merry Christmas - Grab Those Savings!

2007-12-25T00:08:00.000-05:00

First and foremost, let me wish you all a beautiful and merry Christmas! I hope you've enjoyed time spent with your friends, family, and.or loved ones. As for us, we had a grand evening and I look forward to gorging myself tomorrow on all the fabulous food! Not to mention the leftovers - free food for nearly a week or more! (*^_^*)

Get a head start on Christmas 2008 and save money on next year's expenses! Every year I go shopping every few days or once per week at least, right after Christmas. This is the best time to buy Christmas decorations, cards, and even gifts.

Christmas decorations usually start off at 25% off and gradually work their way to up to 90% off in some stores. Some of my favorite finds are at drug stores, Like Walgreens and CVS. Since these stores don't typically sell a high volume of seasonal items (compared to places such as Target or Wal-Mart), they have to give an even deeper discount to attempt to rid themselves of the extra stock. I've snagged outdoor icicle lights for 50 cents per strand. I've purchased an entire kitchen set including plates, cups, tablecloth, and accessories for under $10

Most places don't mark down typical greeting cards (like Hallmark cards purchased individually), but you can find good deals on the big boxed sets after the holidays. Again, some of the best places to find these deals are the smaller type shops mentioned above. I've easily bought hundreds of Christmas greeting cards for as cheap as 25 cents per box.

Last but certainly not least, you can get huge discounts on nearly any kind of gift set. Keep in mind - the items in these gifts sets may be things that you could use around your home, or things you can put up for birthday gifts throughout the year. For example, Wal-Mart always has several gift baskets and sets for sale during the holidays - baskets of toiletries, sets of hot sauces, cocoa and coffee lovers gift boxes, and so on. Since these items are marketed more for the Christmas crowd, they are usually included in the big Christmas discounts, too. I love buying these items and stashing them away - sometimes for gifts throughout the year and other times I will put them up for next Christmas!

I normally don't go until a few days after Christmas. I may be frugal, but I don't like the huge shopping crowds you have to deal with in order to get first picks on the merchandise. I usually wait a few days, then try to go back a few days later, etc. I hate to pay 50% for something, only to see it drop down to 75% off a few days later.

Get out there & snag those deals! I'm rooting for you! (*^_^*)

Save Money on Fast Food

2007-12-22T21:44:00.000-05:00

I know, I know - eating out at fast food places or restaurants is a money zapper. We could easily make the same food at home for a lot cheaper. But if you're pressed for time like I am, sometimes fast food eating is a blessing when you're on the go and no time to even go home to cook a meal for the family.

If it's an absolute necessity that you eat out, why not be prepared to get the best deal possible! Most restaurants (fast food and sit-down) have an e-mail list, some type of club or kid's club that they offer. You usually get a free coupon or such just for signing up. Then they will periodically send you information about promotions, contests, savings, and at times coupons and special savings.

Also keep an eye out for the local mailings/circulars you get in your mailbox each week. I always clip the coupons and keep them in an envelope in my car. This way if I have an unplanned, unexpected trip to grab a bite to eat, I already have my coupons with me and can snag a decent deal on our meal.

Last but not least, don't be afraid to ask questions! Inquire in person whether or not the establishment has any special deals going on, any special events coming up, or whether they have any days designated for free kid meals, senior discounts, student and military discounts, etc. Chances are, they do offer these incentives and just don't openly advertise them.

If you don't see your favorite restaurant in the list below, no worries. I only listed the ones I could think of off the top of my head (which is sometimes on strike). =) Just Google the name of the joint and check out their website. Sometimes a bit of searching is required, as some places don't prominently advertise it on their homepage. Best places to look are in the promotional area or the kid's area.

Applebee's Email List

Arby's Extras

Burger King Kids Club

Captain D's Club

Captain D's Kids Birthday Club/Aqua Agents
KIDS EAT FREE on Thursday at Captain D's. Get 2 free Kid's meals with any adult entree purchase at regular price, dine in only. Participating locations only - please check with your local Captain D's for their Kid's program details.

Wednesday is Senior Day at most Captain D’s restaurants. Seniors over 62 receive $1 off any dinner, platter, pasta dish, baked or grilled meal. Check with your local restaurant for details.

Chili's Email Club

Denny's Breakfast Club

Denny's Kids Birthday Club

Fazoli's eFamily

Hardee's Club

KFC Printable Coupons (Also an option to enroll in the Colonel's Email Club)

Krystal Lover's Live

Outback Email List (bottom left has a "Keep in Touch" area)

Shoney's Bear Cub Club

Sonic Cruisers

Sonic Birthday Club
Happy Hour - 1/2 price drinks and slushes every day 2-4pm.

Wendy's Burger Lover Club

Zaxby's Kidz Club/Birthday Club

And Life Goes By Faster...

2007-12-22T19:50:00.000-05:00

I look back at my last post and can't believe it's been over a month ago! Every year that I get older, life seems to slip by even faster. It's kind of scary!

So much has been happening since the last post. Where do I begin? How about with one of my happiest moments and crowning achievements - being accepted as a work-at-home agent for my company! I've been working at home now for a week and loving every minute of it. Less traveling around before and after work, less stress, and more comfort, sitting here at home in my jammies most of the time. (*^_^*)

Christmas is here! I don't know about your family, but we are loving every minute of this season. This Christmas proves extra special for us, as it will be our first Christmas as Christians. We're remembering the reason behind the season, the magic of this holiday, and the power of selfless love above all.

As far as the website goes, I've definitely made some advances. I've settled on a design/theme for the page (for now). I'm pretty happy, but as inspiration comes along, I'm sure I'll tweak it a bit. Check it out and let me know what you think.

That's all for now... but more posts are planned very soon! Best wishes & Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

Well, This is It!

2007-11-19T16:37:00.000-05:00

Here it is - my new blog for my new website! At this point, I'm sure I only have a handful of readers (if even that), but never fear - I am optimistic and I know this will soon change!

If you've just stumbled across this blog, welcome! My name is Bela & I own the website Frugal-Family.com. The site is still a baby but I will have everything up and running in no time!

I decided to create the website so that I could share my ideas, tips, and tools to living frugally. In my case, it began out of necessity. After a while of adjusting to my new spending habits, I found that I enjoyed finding deals and creatively stretching my dollar.

The majority of us "frugalites" refuse to pay full-price for something, whether the price is a good deal already or not! We're *addicted* to being thrifty! Hey, it's safer than other addictions and we score way more loot, too.

Thanks for stopping by & I hope to see you back again soon. Best wishes!