Five Things

Sure has been quiet here lately! Hope I'm not the only one depressed by the scarce deals at CVS lately. Walgreens had some great deals for awhile but it seems those are dwindling as well.

Just to encourage each other how about we each share FIVE things that we do to save money? Maybe we can find a new way to save or revisit an old idea we forgot about. Leave your five suggestions in the comments or make your own post. I'll go first.

1. Cut kid's (and dh's) hair at home.
2. Make "homemade maple syrup". (Don't worry, I don't tap trees!)
3. Wash and reuse ziploc bags when I can (unless they had meat or something sticky in them).
4. Make some of my own cleaning products (just started this recently!).
5. Grow the herbs I use most fresh (chives, cilantro, etc.)
   

Bonus: Shop at Aldi.
Bonus #2: Get free gift cards through MyPoints.
Bonus #3: Sign up for freebies from Freebies 4 Mom.
Bonus #4: Save the liners from cereal boxes to use as wax paper.

Okay, I guess I should have made it TEN because I could keep going, but I'll stop there. Now it's your turn!

Free Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs

If you happened to sign up to get the coupon for a free package of Oscar Mayer hot dogs and you haven't used it yet head over to Piggly Wiggly. They have Oscar Mayer hot dogs on sale buy one get one free. Use your free item coupon to "pay" for one and the other package is free as part of the BOGO sale. This makes a great coupon twice as good!

If you didn't sign up to get the free coupon in the mail be sure and read Freebies 4 Mom regularly or put her in your reader so you don't miss any more great free item coupons.

Paid Surveys

Pinecone Research is currently accepting new people to take surveys. This is one of the better survey companies. You don't get a lot of surveys but each one pays you $3. The best part is you don't have to wait until you have a certain amount to get paid. You take a survey and a week or so later you get a check for $3 in the mail. Occasionally, you also get to test a new product...they mail it right to your house to try! They only accept new members once in awhile so if you're interested don't wait.

June Home Depot Kids Workshop

It's that time again!! Saturday June 6, 2009 from 9am to Noon. Free! No registration required.

Now this says "hardware sorter" but think outside the box (pun intended!)...these could be used for LOTS of things. Sewing supplies, various collections, drawer organizer, or even a shadow box!

Freebies at Menards

Among other things, Menards has some free Crayola products (after rebate) this week. There is a generous limit of ten... a good way to get some future gifts.

If you don't normally check the Menards ad you might want to start. They have been having a lot of free after rebate items lately. Last week we got some things we actually needed free...paintbrushes and reusable (grocery-type) bags.

You do have to mail in the rebates and you get reimbursed in Menards money, but they often have very useful items for free.

Cheap Strawberries

I don't know if all the Aldi stores are doing this or even if the one on East Mason will be doing it again tomorrow but I got strawberries for $.49 a pound tonight! And it wasn't because they were going bad...they were beautiful and fresh! I bought 10 pounds. Two to eat and 8 to freeze or make freezer jam! If you pass an Aldi tomorrow (Wednesday)...it might be worth stopping to check.