Freebie: Dinosaurs Explained

Do dinosaurs interest you? Your children? Or someone else you know?




This week Answers in Genesis is offering a free audio download of The Bible Explains Dinosaurs by Ken Ham.

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Free eBook Download. Today Only!

Debt- Free for Life by David Bach is available for free download today only, January 5, 2011.

Thanks,Money Saving Mom.

Boyer's Gift

The Boyer's have a deal for you. Get the "coupon code" on their blog:

Take $5.00 off your next purchase at the Learning Parent.

Offer is good now through October 26, 2009.

Some items in their product list are $5.00 and less ... hop on over to their blog then to the Learning Parent and see for yourself what you can find.

Spring into Savings

Yet another great offer this time on topics like: saving money, getting-out-of-debt, frugal living and homemaking tips.


The ladies at LivingOnADime.com and MoneySavingMom.com. have just contacted me to let me know that with the rise in the price of groceries, they have decided to team up to offer you their two grocery savings e-courses along with a huge pile of bonus items. Even better, they are offering this Savin' O The Green 17 e-book package to our readers for $17, a substantial discount off of the regular price of $75 for these e-books.


The e-books that are included in this offer are:


Supermarket Savings 101 eCourse with audio downloads
Grocery Shopping On A Budget eCourse
Money Saving Meats e-book
Saving On Cleaning Supplies e-book
Eating Healthy On A Budget e-booklet
Is Eating Out Eating You Up? e-book
224 Meals In A Hurry e-book
Grocery Savings e-book
Menus That Make Cents e-book
Plan Ahead Leftovers e-book
Quick Dinners e-book
Menu Planning Made Easy
Simply Centsible Breakfasts
Simply Centsible Suppers
Kids Recipes
Menus On A Dime
470 Crockpot Recipes


For more information on this exciting offer, go here.

FREE Baby Bag+ for Canadians

If you or someone you know is expecting a baby or has a newborn you may wish to check this out. For Canadians only, - not always that Canadians get to benefit from company offers - whoo hoo!

Sign up for the Heinz baby club newsletter and you'll receive a free Heinz Baby Bag which includes a free full size sample of Heinz Nurture infant formula, free changing pad, a growth chart, and more!

Thanks, Money Saving Mom!

Free All About Zebras ebook

Anybody interested in this freebie? We have one twin who thinks zebras are "his" while the other claims all giraffes ... we just couldn't pass this up!



Free All About Zebras ebook--includes research guide and 16 hands-on activities. Perfect for homeschoolers or families looking for some educational projects to do this Summer!

(Thanks Money Saving Mom!)

7-11: Free Slurpees on Friday!

Just sharing with you this little freebie - not sure if it's a good thing. I can't remember ever having one of these slurpees. But here it is - do with the tip what you wish:





Friday, July 11, 2008 participating 7-11 stores will be offering free Slurpees! More information here.

Call your store ahead of time to verify that they are participating!

"2 for 1" Deal on Shampoo

We choose to use an expensive shampoo from our local Health Food store. The expense is our decision, but I still find it hard to pay so much for shampoo.

We like it though and feel good that the ingredients in it are not as harmful to our family health as that in many other shampoos readily available for way less.

One way that I have found to make it lather and last - longer, is to divide one bottle of shampoo into two bottles.

Then fill each bottle with water.

Shake and use as usual.

The result is great. Perhaps even better than before.

And the shampoo lasts longer. I promise.

It's like getting two bottles for the price of one.


Ah, spoken like a true frugal twofer lover, don't you think?

Take Ten Dollars Off at Canadian Tire

Time for a little pick-me-up? Canadian Tire has just what you need for that extra winter boost. To show our appreciation to canadiantire.ca customers, from February 22 to March 2, 2008, you can save $10 on any in-store purchase of $40 or more.*

HOW TO CASH IN ON THIS EXCITING OFFER:
1 - Go to canadiantire.ca for all of the great products you want from Canadian Tire
2 - Print out the TAKE $10 savings coupon
3 - Take the coupon into any Canadian Tire store and you'll get $10 off any
purchase of $40* or more


SPREAD THE JOY

Frugal Sweet Treats

Have you ever done this?

Shopped for valentine's candy after Christmas?

Easter chocolates after February 14th?

Dipping/baking chocolate after Easter

...and Christmas candy after October 31?


After Christmas, at the clearout sales in the candy isle, I purchased Lindt chocolates @ 75% off. I saved them until February 14th when I shared the sweet treats with my husband and sons.

We're not big on candy nor chocolates (two chocolates each), but even a little bought at 75% off is a frugal saving. Then buying the expensive selection is extra special in my mind.

My life has not offered a reason to go to the city and pick up a stash of clearence bargins this time, but there may be some out in your stores today yet. By Monday, I'd expect those deals to all be snatched up by other bargain hunters. In which
case, I guess you'll have to wait until after the next big seasonal blow-out.

Vinegar, Solution to Stains

Laundry stains are an unending challenge. Especially in a house full of boys - or do girls get dirty too?

I read somewhere that vinegar is a great laundry stain remover … I had just the challenge to try it on.
Two favorite white t-shirts and two favorite orange t-shirts were all stained with fresh cherry juice since last summer AND they’ve gone through numerous washings. I had relegated these favorites to home use having tried time and again with various solutions and never able to remove the stains.


So, I mixed up a vinegar solution 1/1 in a spray bottle. I have now successfully removed the stains out of the two white t-shirts and one of the orange. Repeated spritzing seems to be working on the second orange "T" until the stains are gone. The orange t’s are not loosing color either, PTL!


Our 3 yr. twins just love our cherries and, of course, they get some stains. Last summer, whenever we couldn’t find the two of them we just had to look in the orchard. The funny thing is that these cherries don’t stain everything – sometimes I can just wash it out of the fabric, other times not. Kitchen clean up after the cherries is a breeze too. It’s uncanny!


… but getting back to the laundry stain removal. I am excited about that!!!!!!!! I had planned to make the two orange "T’s" into pillows for the twins when they grow out of them giving them the long-term benefit of the Scripture message, “Behold God is … mighty in strength of understanding.” Job 36:5

Re-cycled Money

This may be so basic you have figured it out long ago, but just in case ...

Way back when I first began teaching money concepts to my oldest when he was little I counted the cost of purchasing a set of play money with which he could learn to count money - I realized then already that I could just change that amount of money (I think it was around $10.00 back then)into small coins and keep it in a special money jar.




Periodically now, our littles get out the money jar and learn sorting skills first, then coin values and eventually they're learning to "give change".

One frugal benefit is that when we're done with needing coins for counting we can just use them - without taking a loss. In fact, it even keeps up with inflation (that's a concept for us adults, of course).

Farmer Freebie

For everyone with a hankerin' to be a farmer, the Western Producer has an offer out for one month of subscriber level access, absolutely FREE!


Explore the Western Producer website while you can ... use Coupon code 653FFB3B79.

Snack ideas

The question arose at Crystal's blog about healthy snack ideas. Evidently ours are not the only littles that graze all day ...

My 3 yr. old twins are the same - always hungry, even just an hour after a meal ... go figure. It has been this way since they began on solid food at six months.

We use much of what Crystal has mentioned and the apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon too, but here are some other ideas we use:

- pretzels
- nuts & bolts - which is really just a mix of pretzels, peanuts, organic squares (like Shreddies), cherrios, raisins etc. - whatever you have on hand.
- homemade croutons - Check out my earlier post. I rarely make a batch that lasts until the salad it was intended for. I always use wholegrain bread and toss with extra virgin olive oil.


- a glass of water will sometimes satisfy temporarily (if I need just a few minutes till a meal time)
- frozen cherries, thawed (frozen fruit "pops" go over anytime with our guys, but are especially nice in summer ... cherries, grapes, cantaloupe, mangos - use some discount bin finds for this purpose)
- Quaker granola bars that have been B1G1 for a long while now - though not totally healthy ... it's been processed!
Check out more ideas at Crystal's blog.

Do you, my faithful readers, have anything to add to the list?

Christmas Cards in January

If you sent a card to us this year ... or a picture ... or a letter, you can consider yourself on our prayer list. Each evening when we gather for Family Worship, all eight of us take a card and pray for the sender(s).

I've also re-used Christmas cards by:
1. making gift tags from them for next year (not from pictures though)
2. used one as a wall plaque - the words are timeless "He's really all there is, and all that really matters" - two sparrows looking towards Bethlehem.

What do you do with Christmas cards once Christmas is over?

Market-Evaluation Customized

One thing I've done periodically in the past and again recently was to write a letter to a company to let them know if I like or dislike their product. Since becoming a paid mystery shopper I've come to realize that taking such pro-active action is really beneficial to the company. It is for that reason that they will usually send a coupon for free product.

The address for each company can be found on the package/container. I suppose a Google search could also give online access to this process... Has anyone tried this avenue?

The rules I follow are to:
1. BE POLITE!
2. Be honest.
3. Be factual.
4. Be helpful by providing product information like UPC code, size,
expiry ... whatever could help them. Even offer suggestions you would like to see added.
5. Be concise.
6. Use correct letter format, spelling, grammar as best you can. Present it professionally. Typed or hand written are both acceptable.
7. BE POLITE!

This last item was for a toilet bowl cleaner that I felt did NOT do the job as well as its other variety of the same brand. The company sent me a generic coupon that had printed on it a list of many/all the various items this company offers - I could choose which item I wished. So I choose one that I use a lot ... which ended up being one of the most expensive on the list, but one of the only ones that I wished to buy as I certainly DID NOT want to buy another of the "faulty" product. The cashier just filled in the purchase price of my new product.


So in essence, you could create your own mystery shopper position writing many companies to let them know your opinion of their product. It takes a little time, but it is beneficial to you & others. Plus you get the remunieration of the coupons.

Now, that said. I know I have sent praise of product in the past and not received a coupon, just a thank you response, but knowing you've blessed someone gives a good feeling too.

Also, I have not yet tried this method using the internet/email method. Instead, I 've chosen to date to do this using snail mail, believing this may leave a more sincere message with the manufacturer. Granted, then you also incur the expense of postage.

Has anyone else had experiences like this?

Frugal Deal: Free Quaker Granola Bars

Check you local grocery store shelves for specially marked boxes of Quaker granola bars. The Quaker Crunchy, Chewy Yogurt, and Chewy Trail Mix bars have a coupon printed inside (boxes indicate a coupon inside). The coupon is a 2 for 1 deal - you buy a box and get one box free. Buy two or three boxes, then take them home and cut out the coupons. These coupons are then "proof of purchase" for having bought those 2-3 boxes. Use those three coupons to go back to the store and pick up two or three more boxes - being careful to pick the variety again that has more free coupons for more free boxes.

Storage tip: We have extra freezer space, now that our pasture-raised poultry is all sold, so I am storing these treats in the freezer to keep them fresh longer.

Variety tip: Check all local stores for the possibility of more variety of flavors. I have found that some locations only carry one ... and variety is rather nice!

"2 for 1" Deal: Spry Gum

Here is another "2 for 1" deal that I have come across: Spry gum and/or mints. Spry is sweetened with xylitol which is a 100% natural sweetner that is endorsed by the Dental Association to also be an anti-plaque agent inhibiting the formation of cavities.

The gum is in chicklet format and made without color. Therefore all the flavors are white. They use oil to add the flavors of cinnamon, spearamint, fruit flavor (much like "Juicy Fruit") and peppermint. Both the flavor and texture are lasting.

Our family has been without gum and candy for nine years - ever since one of our ds came down with Diabetes Mellitus, Type I. However, the xylitol sweetner, in small amounts at least, does not affect blood sugar levels.

So there you have it, Spry offers a treat that is good for your teeth and good for blood sugar levels - how cool is that?!

Oh, and speaking of cool ... xylitol itself has no after taste, but rather a pleasant "cool" taste/feeling in your mouth.

Spry can most often be purchased in local Health food stores.

Canadian Shopper

Deals this week for those who live in Canada:

- Superstore has their $30.00 off with a $250.00 purchase order.

- Sobey's is offering a $20.00 gift card with a $100.00 order.

Just in time for Christmas!


- And I noticed that "The Nosegay" just off Broadway (Broadway & 9th)in Saskatoon, SK. is advertising 1/2 off of cut flowers each Friday afternoon after 2:00 PM.
Go ahead, spread some cheer!

A Gift for You

The new book"Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" by Jennie Chancey & Stacy McDonald has been on my wishlist since it's debut. I've also been interested in a subscription to Homeschooling Today magazine. Now, we can get both for the price of a subscription only. What a gift!

Go to Homeschooling Today to claim your own gift of "Passionate Housewives Desperate for God" with a new or renewal subscription to the magazine. Subscribe before December 24.