NO Thrifty Thursday today

I'm not able to compile my Thrifty Thursday post today due to studying for my Final Quiz today. Instead, check out the list below for great Thrifty Ideas.

Mommysavers

MoneyPants

Ideal Bite - Sign Up for Fun, Free Eco-Living Tips (and frugal too)

Webfloss-High class living on a middle class budget

$5 Dinners

It's Frugal Being Green

Thrifty Thursday

It's another Thursday and it's time again to think of ways to be Thrifty....to save money and start thinking frugally.

Donate- My local Savers and Goodwill stores give everyone who donate goods to them, a coupon and a paper for your tax deductions. Use the coupon the next time you purchase a great find from them AND keep the donation receipt for tax time. Get 2 deals from one thing!

Save Reciepts- You never know when something will go on sale and you can get it at the better price. Likewise, you can sometimes get stuff for free if the price was represented wrong on the receipt. I know Fry's Food stores honor that.

Save Your Change- Get a large water jug (clean one of course) for super cheap, or free, and fill it with your loose change. Pennies are always ending up on the floor of my house. And don't get me started on couches and cars...they are a gold mine for loose change! The money will add up eventually. Go on a special trip or buy something nice for yourself.

Shop with Rebates- CVS and Walgreens both have a rebate program that can really save you money...and sometimes make money! Here's a testimonial from a fellow Frugal mom. Plus, there are websites with free Rebate programs for Shopping online.

Repair Damaged/Old Clothes- So Bedazzling may be an old trend or only for little girls, but you can find many great ideas for patching up holes or just making a worn out shirt look gorgeous at JoAnn.com. You can even transform old jeans into cute purses.

Thrifty Thursday: Earth Day Edition

Being Eco-friendly can, in many ways, keep money in your pocket and save the Earth at the same time. Here are some tips on how to do both:

RECYCLE

Collect Aluminum Cans-You might raise a lot of money in the process. Sell the cans you collect to a local aluminum recycler and use the money for something fun or put away for a rainy day.

Take old cell phones and batteries to your local Home Depot or Best Buy to get store credit for future purchases. Alternatively, you can join Swagbucks and trade-in your cell phones and mp3 players for Swagbucks (redeemable for Gift Cards and other really kool stuff).

REDUCE

Turn Off Your Lights- Open your curtains, use organic candles, or just learn to walk in the dark. No seriously....Having babies have helped me adapt to walking around in the dark due to the many midnight "potty-time" sessions. I now can do without the kitchen light when JUST getting something from the fridge (it has a light all to itself).

Open Windows- Use your AC less by opening windows on cool and windy days. Even Phoenix, AZ has a few of those, which makes it bearable to have the AC off and doors/windows open.

Grow a Garden- Even if it's a small one, you can save money AND be eco-friendly by growing a few veggies or herbs. Join VeggieTrader and trade your goods with other local gardeners and you may not have to buy produce again!

REUSE

Don't buy paper for a while- You get it everyday in the mail, on your front door, on your car, etc....people give you free paper when they advertise. And if you print something out and mess up, use the other side. Carrie over at Money Saving Methods has some great ideas on this subject.


I'm sorry for this post being super short, but I am really busy lately ::sobs::. I will elaborate a bit more on this post over the weekend when I find more ideas to save and be eco-friendly.

If you have any great ideas to add to my list, and/or would like me to post a link about your ideas, please leave me a comment. :)

Or you can sign up for Fun, Free Eco-Living Tips thru your email @ Ideal Bite.

Thrifty Thursday

Exchange old DVDs, CDs, Games, and Books for new ones (or store credit) at places like GameStop or Bookmans (my local game and thrifty bookstore).

Don't keep buying water bottles. Have 4 or 5 of each Gallon water jugs and 20 oz bottles. Refill them at Water dispensers in front of stores or better yet, you can save more by buying a filter to attach to your sink (saves on the gas you'll put out going to the water stations).

Save your change. Get yourself or your kids a "Piggy Bank" and add all loose change you find to it. Take it to a Coinstar to cash out, or put it in your savings account to get even more money!

Utilize communities like Craigslist and Freecycle. You can always find what you want for super cheap, or even FREE.

Check out local yard sales on the weekends. I am always finding things I need. And sometimes you can find things to re-sell for a profit!

If you still have some of those plastic grocery bags hanging around, you can use them as your liners for your little bathroom/bedroom garbage cans instead of buying the small garbage bags.

Be creative! Make your own Piggy Bank from a used coffee can and decorate it. Make binoculars with your kids from old toilet paper rolls (hopefully you will use clean ones). There are even recipes to make Bubbles and Clay from household items just laying around your house.


Clip/Print/Load coupons. Do all three to maximize your savings. Print Free Coupons from Coupons.com and subscribe to your local Sunday paper. Shortcuts.com is a site where you can load coupons to your local store discount card (like Fry's or Kroger).

Got any other Frugal/Thrifty tips to share? Let me know in a comment. :)