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How We’re Using Upromise to Save for College

Family Balance Sheet

I don’t recall why I never used the account, but I guess it just slipped my mind. We’re currently in the “shovel all extra funds into their college savings accounts season of life. Use a Upromise Mastercard. This post is NOT sponsored by Upromise.

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How To Re-use Common Items

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

We also used the 40 year old burnt orange coffee pot to make coffee that day as well as the 20 year old ice chest and 25 year old rain ponchos from the local amusement park, old plastic forks and spoons, unused condiment packages from fast food restaurant stops and plastic tablecloths used at last years wedding shower. If something is useful and I might personally use it later, it gets saved and used again. Common Items to Re-Use and How to Re-Use Them.

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Used Furniture – Re-purpose, Recycle, Re-use.

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

But there are ways to save – consider used furniture. While most folks consider wood and metal used furniture to be quite restorable, many turn their noses up at re-using fabric covered items. I recently bought a daybed, with a pop-up trundle and 2 mattresses for $30 (note that buying this set new would cost upwards of $300) and just completed my first re-upholstery job on a reclining wing back chair that came with our vacation condo.

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Homespun Alchemy ™: Creative Re~Use and Garden Magic.Sort of.

Frugal Luxuries

Using the canning~jar~lid~insert as a pattern.I traced circles atop the new fry~screen and then cut them out using the scissors. Use it liberally. HomeSpun Alchemy ™;Creative Re~Use; Garden Magic Sprouting" We're sprouting new ideas all the time."

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Christie's Broccoli & Feta casserole alternative

Birmingham Bargain Mom

Nice alternative to the high calorie broccoli casserole versions we''re used too. cat:Bargains Deals

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SavingStar: New deals on Starbucks, Nutella & more

Birmingham Bargain Mom

If you''re using SavingStar there are some new deals for you. cat:Bargains Deals

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7 Ways to Reduce Household Waste

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

From food waste to packaging to disposable items, there are a lot of resources being used by humans. A meal plan can be one of the best ways to avoid last-minute takeout runs, as well as ensure that you have a way to use the food you buy. Find Ways to Re-Use as Much As You Can. Growing up, my re-used T-shirts as dust rags and other cleaning supplies. Look for ways to re-use what you already have. Buy Used.

2013 278
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Amazon: Little Tikes First Fridge Toy ONLY $34.88 (Reg $50)

For the Mommas

NTERACTIVE TOY: This toy refrigerator is designed so kids can pretend they’re cooking & prepping meals as if they’re using the real thing for hours of pretend play fun. Amazon: Little Tikes First Fridge Toy ONLY $34.88 (Reg $50).

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Target: Ninja Kitchen System $100 (Reg $200)

For the Mommas

Ninja® Kitchen System with Auto-iQ Boost™ allows you to truly customize your drink-making experience whether you’re using Nutrient Extraction* or High Performance Blending. Target: Ninja Kitchen System $100 (Reg $200). Target: Ninja Kitchen System $100 (Reg $200).

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Ways To Reuse Old Items For Your Container Garden

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

From using espaliering to grow apple trees in a container, to herbs, to a variety of vegetables , it’s possible to transform a small space into an effective container garden. Here are some ideas for re-using old items for your container garden: Seed Starts If you are just starting some seeds, for later planting in a container or a more traditional garden plot, there are a number of interesting alternatives. It’s even possible to use eggshells as seed starts.

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Free Printable Mason Jar Labels

Couponing 101

These go perfectly with the 10 different uses for mason jars , especially if you’re using your jars to store various foods. Aren’t these Printable Mason Jar Labels just adorable? Visit Limeshot.com to download the files and get the directions. Thanks, Passion for Savings ! Photo Credit. Free Printable Mason Jar Labels is a post from Couponing 101. Freebies free free printables Mason Jar Mason Jar Labels Printable Labels Printable Mason Jar Labels Printables

2012 94
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Wood Watches by JORD Product Review

Teresa's Deals

Consideration of best use and added benefit are central to their decision making process. Their methods ensure that their watches are not just worn, they’re used. This post may contain affiliate links or sponsored content, read our Disclosure Policy. Wood Watches by JORD Product Review. I had the opportunity of receiving this men’s watch for my husband. He really loves wearing a watch, his other two either quit working or broke.

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Do You Know a Millionaire Garage Sale-er?

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

Millionaires like to use their time efficiently. To Practice Re-use. Garage sales afford an optimal way to get access products to be re-used. Some millionaires buy and re-sell goods. Going to garage sales typically provides the cheapest way to buy goods for re-sale on venues such as eBay, Amazon or at antique malls or stores. This post was written by Marie. A lot of us frequent garage sales.

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Interview with a Self-Made Millionaire

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

For so long, we plodded along with next to nothing while our neighbors were running up their charge cards and using home equity loans to take vacations. We shopped at garage sales, turned down the heat, combined errands to use less gas, didn’t buy a lot of prepared food, cooked at home and the like. I remember that we re-used our coffee grounds. Me: What do you mean, re-used your coffee grounds? What methods are you using to help get there?

2012 213
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Ten Paper Products To Cross Off Your Grocery List | Kitchen Economics Link Up

Family Balance Sheet

Try replacing some paper products on your list with cloth and re-usable products that you probably have around the house and you will not only reduce your grocery spending, but you will also reduce your waste. Switch from paper napkins to cloth napkins - We have been using cloth napkins ever since we received them as a wedding gift ten years ago. Switch from paper towels to old bath towels - Do you have old towels in the back of your bathroom closet that you're not using anymore?

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Silicone Baking Mats 2-Pack Set $13.36

For the Mommas

I love using my silicone baking mats when baking cookies. The cookies never stick, and I love that I can re-use them over and over again. Right now on Amazon you can get these Artisan Metal Works Silicone Non-Stick Baking Mats 2-Pack Set for $13.36 (Reg. 27.99). Free shipping is available on orders $35 or more, or with Amazon Prime. Amazon prices can change at anytime. Amazon Deals Hot Deals Online Sales

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Save Money on Hair Care

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

Now, if you’re not blonde, you may not know what naturally blonde hair entails. I’ve since washed my hair every second day, which I found saves me a surprising amount of money on shampoo and conditioner, as you are using half as much in a month. I typically cheap out on the shampoo, and use a better quality conditioner. Another tip to save money on product is to use half the amount but leave it in longer.

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How to Save Money by Greening your Wardrobe

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

If you’re like me, you are always looking for ways to save money, even if it’s only a little bit each week or month. Whatever you choose, you will be de-cluttering your home, recycling, re-using and maybe making a bit of money as well. Look critically at what you have kept and make up different outfits using each garment multiple times. This was certainly not a good use of my limited clothing allowance.

Green 249
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Are You Letting Your Luxuries Become Needs?

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

It allows loved ones to contact us, and it can be useful when you are in an emergency situation. Just because you’re used to having something in your life doesn’t mean that it’s a true need. One of the fundamental principles of savvy finances is understanding the difference between needs and wants. Part of this understanding is acknowledging that much of what we have are actually luxuries and not needs at all.

2014 229
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Gardening on the cheap – 11 cool tips

Discount Coder UK

Or you can re-use, re-purpose and recycle everyday bits and bobs and trim the cost right back. You can spend a fortune on gardening. Here’s my top 11 tips for saving money on the green stuff. grow seeds in cardboard egg boxes. Because they retain moisture they do a great job forget weed killers. read more. Home & Garden cheap gardening tips save money on gardening

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The fine art of haggling – They can only say no!

Discount Coder UK

I live in Brighton and we’re used to it, with the city’s countless independent shops, boot fairs, vintage outlets, boot fairs and junk emporia. We’re often. Have you ever haggled? And bargaining can cut the cost of buying second hand (and occasionally new) stuff by a handy amount. Being British, it doesn’t always come naturally. read more. Discounts & Tips getting the best price learn to haggle

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How to Save Money on Water Costs

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

Cutting back on how much water you use doesn’t just do your wallet a favour – it’s also better for the environment. Using less water reduces the strain on bodies of water and conserves. For many households, water bills are based on estimated readings in line with how much water is being used in other houses in your area. This can be a particularly good way to save money on your water bills if you live alone or are planning to take big steps to use less water in your home.

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Save Money and Time with Once a Month Cooking

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

We used to love eating out, but as our family grew, so did the expense of eating out. One strategy I used to make dinner time more bearable was to begin making freezer meals. If you’re not sure which recipes would work, there are plenty of places you can look to find recipes. Do those the night before, and then when you’re cooking, you simply dump the ingredients in and keep working. Eating out, while convenient, can be both expensive and time consuming.

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Fit a programmable thermostat and save 10-20% on heating bills

Discount Coder UK

We’ve just switched our heating on and I’m very aware of the amount of energy we’re using this year. Prices keep going up but they very rarely go back down. It’s getting more and more expensive to keep warm, but there’s a clever little gadget that might be just the thing. I’ve been investigating programmable. read more. Seasonal programmable thermostats save money on heating

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Simple But Effective Steps of Waste Management

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

If you are looking to improve how you handle waste management, you should be using ways that help you keep the amount of waste at a low level. Getting products that you can use and re-use is also another great way of generating less waste. There are numerous products both at your home and office that can be easily recycled and used for something else. Prevention is better than having to deal with a problem due to negligence.

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Day 4 of 31 Days to Slash your Grocery Budget: Pantry Challenge

Family Balance Sheet

Today, we’re going to plan meals using those inventories of foods you found in your pantry, fridge, and freezer. This week’s meal plan should already be complete–that was Day 1’s assignment–so we will use these meal ideas on Day 8 when we plan next week’s menu and grocery list. And hopefully, your next shopping trip won’t be as expensive, because you’re using food already in your kitchen.

2016 113
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Redbox Buys Blockbuster Express | Use Any Groupons

For the Mommas

Until the transaction is completed (we anticipate in the third quarter of 2012), you will continue to enjoy the convenience, choice, and value you’re used to from BLOCKBUSTER Express. If you have any Blockbuster Express Groupons, I would use them up! Heads up – B lockbuster Express has been purchased by Redbox. NCR, which operates your Blockbuster Express kiosks, has entered into an agreement to sell its kiosks and other assets to Redbox.

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Kohl’s: T-Fal Inspirations Red 20-pc. Nonstick Aluminum Cookware Set As Low As $38 + FREE Shipping! *Super Hot*

Saving In Akron

If you enjoy cooking, you're in for a nice treat. This is a HOT deal that you can get after use of discount code, Kohl's charge, Kohl's Cash reward, rebates and cashback, which turns this into a great savings. with FREE Shipping (use code SHIPFREE ) at Kohl’s. Use code SMS7302 to save 20% or use code SAVE30 if you’re using your Kohl’s charge to save 30%. Kohl's has the T-Fal Inspirations Red 20-pc.

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Stay on track with bringing your lunch to work

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

We get used to that and if we don’t have to go get food we often feel like we didn’t have a break. Don’t let brown bagging your lunch cramp your breaks; eat your lunch but make sure to get out and about, if that is what you’re used to. I’ve used this method of controlling my spending when I really had an issue with my self control before. I started a new job last month. At my previous job, I had no problem with bringing my lunch every day to work.

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Friday Links – Week Three of Chaos

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

If you’re in the market for new insurance, make sure to read Deanne’s post about how much life insurance you need at Brighter Life. 10 reasons you’re broke. How to re-use common items. 10 Reasons You’re Broke Reader Question: How to Stay Positive When Times are Tough. Hi everyone. This week has been as hectic as the last two. I am still alive though so this is a good sign.

2013 165
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Your Car Insurance Rates Can Be Lower If…

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

The worse the rap sheet, the higher the premium, so don’t speed, don’t drink and drive, and if you feel you’re channeling the inner spirit of the lead from that action movie you just saw, just don’t. If you use all the safety gadgets. So use car pools and public transport when you can, and drive only when you have to – you’ll save a lot on insurance. I’ve found that one of the most annoying aspects of being a car owner is the insurance. I think it’s just plain evil!

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Thor – Movie Review

freestuff.tv

Not sure why, maybe cos we’re using Netflix to save on our entertainment costs but I decided that Thor was a movie that required the full movie experience. I’ve just been to the movies with my family for the first time in about 6 months. And I wasn’t wrong. The action sequence at the start demonstrated some fantastic skills and imagination. What was more surprising was the how the lead Chris Hemsworth held his own.

Movies 109
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How Your House or Business Can Invest in a Greener Planet

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

By doing this you don’t only help everybody on the globe by using green energy , you also help yourself. Fossil fuels continue to ruin our environment, and as they are also running out it is time for us to understand how we can use renewable energy for all of our business and home needs. Whether you’re looking at helping your business or your home then you should be looking at improving the future energy usage of your buildings.

2012 181
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Friday Links – Whirlwind Edition

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

If you’re contemplating switching jobs and have an HSA with your current employer, don’t miss Michael’s post about what to do with your HSA when you leave a job at Financial Ramblings. How to Re-use Common Items. There isn’t much to say about this week other than it has been a whirlwind. Honestly, I have had so much to do and so much going on that everything has been a real blur.

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How We’re Saving Money On Water Even Though We Live in the Desert

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

Even though we live in the desert, we’re finding ways to conserve water and keep our monthly water bill low. Strategies We’re Using to Conserve Water. Rather than rinsing veggies under running water to clean them as we used to do, we instead fill a bowl with water and rinse the veggies in there. We use our rice cooker almost every day. Using these methods, we’ve not yet had to use the hose to water our vegetable garden.

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Avoid Toxic Skincare Products In Minutes Flat

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

Whether it’s because “green” is in or because summer is coming to an end, lately I have been asked by almost everyone I know about the safety of the skincare products they have been using. Did you know that tens of thousands of chemicals are used in these products and that most of them are not tested for safety? Then, it’s time to get educated about the products you purchase and use every day on your body. What kind of products do you use?

2012 213
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10 Upcycled Storage Solutions

Couponing 101

After my “tidying up” adventures , I was inspired to find other ways of using everyday items to organize my life, otherwise known as my upcycled storage solutions! I like the idea of transforming items that I usually throw away into something useful. This is an way of organizing your condiments, PLUS you’re using leftover egg crates!

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How to Build a Bird Feeder from Recycled Materials

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

Use the craft knife to cut the first cross and then make it a small circle, to fit the handle of the wooden spoon. If you have used a large soda bottle, repeat this process on the other side of the bottle. Use the craft knife to cut windows in the sides of the carton, leaving a 2 to 3 inch-wide strip at the base to hold the seed. Method: Use the marking pen to draw a large window in one or two sides of the jug, leaving a wide piece at the base to hold the seed.

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6 Reasons to Meal Plan

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

If you’re used to being spontaneous with your choice of meals, the idea of planning your meals for the week in advance might seem tedious and unappealing, but there are some definite advantages involved. Planning what you’ll eat means that you’re less likely to fall for impulse buys –as long as you stick to your list! When you’re putting together your shopping list, try to organize it in line with the layout of the shop.

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Budget Babe: L’Oreal’s Genius New Dye

Cheap Chica's Guide To Style

The best part about this under $15 dye is that the resealable bottle allows for multiple uses, which means that you won’t waste a drop and will have to spend less on dye overall. This is a foam hair dye, Chicas, and take it from us – the new application is much easier than what you’re used to. Beauty fanatics and hair dye enthusiasts unite: L’oreal has a new at-home dye that is about to make your life a lot easier.

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Saving Money by Taking Your Own Lunches to Work

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

If you work out how much you’re spending on work lunches in the average work week, you might be surprised to know just how much money is being frittered away. Most of us are pushed for time when we head out on our lunch break so if you’re anything like most people, you probably just grab a sandwich or something else that isn’t necessarily as healthy as it may first appear.

Money 218
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Should Parents Pay For Good Grades?

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

Parents who pay for grades believe that if used as part of a fully supportive in-family system with the right expectations and intermediate recognition of successes, it works. Lets face it, parents are responsible for raising kids and every day in every way they use positive and negative rewards to do so. I think it can be an effective incentive, as long as you’re using it as a teachable moment to tell them about budgeting and saving.”

Parenting 210
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15 Ways to Reduce Energy Costs

Prairie Eco-Thrifter

If you know exactly how much energy you’re using, you can take appropriate measures to cut back. Switch off appliances when they’re not in use. Turn off lights and electric appliances when you’re not using them, and this includes leaving them on standby. Running two partial loads will use up more energy than one big load so you’re much better off waiting when possible. Don’t use hot wash settings.

2011 224