Get Cozy this Winter

Even with the recent drop in gas prices, many things are still expensive like heat. I am very fortunate not to live in a cold climate. I don't have to use my heat as often as many others. If you are trying to keep your heating costs down, then lower that thermostat and get cozy by using an electric blanket to keep warm.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #50

I hit a milestone today readers. This is my 50th TMR tip of the day. I really enjoy writing these, and I do apologize for not actually posting one each day. I'm trying really hard not to repeat any of these. Now, without further commentary, on to the actual tip.

Today's TMR thrifty living tip is bring your own containers when you go out to eat for leftovers. My friend and I were discussing this the other day. She has a favorite Chinese restaurant, but they put her leftovers in a styrofoam container. We know this isn't good for the environment. So she now brings in a small food container, which can be anything, that she has in her purse. They could care less, and it's another small way to help with trash reduction in our landfills.

Do You Know a Sports Fanatic?

Then you should really think about buying them sports gifts for the holidays. My husband loves getting LSU Tigers shirts, hats, and even books. Last year I bought him a book about college football that he still keeps reading over and over. I always try to buy things that people have a passion for whether it's sports, cooking, games, or whatever. It's a gift they love and will use again and again.

Save Money by Fixing Leaks Yourself

Most people want to call a plumber the moment they notice their kitchen faucets are leaking. Sometimes it's an easy fix that could save you at least a hundred dollars or more. First turn off the main water valve, then put some rags inside the faucet neck. You don't want water spilling on you. Then you will see a nut that connects the faucet to the fixture, so unscrew it to take off the faucet. Then check to see if the washer is old. Replace it if it is and check to see if that stops the leak when you turn the water back on. If not then it could be either you need a whole new fixture or you need a plumber.

November 10 Top Droppers

I just wanted to post my top 10 Entrecard droppers for the month of November. First I would like to thank everyone that drops on my blog daily. I really appreciate it. I also try to drop on everyone daily. Thanks again to all my droppers. I'm showing a little link love. All the blogs below each dropped all 30 days in November. They show the last 31 days, and check out these great blogs!

Random Ramblings

Computer-Aid

Dungeons and Dragons Corner

Lofty Matters

Is 8 Enough?

More than Sew So

"Cents"able Momma

Symphony of Love

Darnuth Keep

Alteredevents

Save a Bundle with Charter's Ultimate Bundle

Who doesn't love getting a great deal and saving a bundle of money? Charter is offering bundle deals that will do both. When you order one of the bundle deals, then you will get a gift card. The best part is you get to choose the retailer for your gift card. This would be a perfect way to finish up any shopping you might still have left on your Christmas list. You can choose from great retailers like Best Buy, CVS, Shell, Old Navy and many more. This is one fantastic black friday and Cyber Monday special you don't have to wait in line for or worry about it going out of stock.

Order one service for a $25 gift card, 2 services for a $75 gift card, 3 services which includes telephone, internet, and cable tv for a $150 gift card. This deal is good for one year. The very best deal is their Ultimate Bundle which includes 10 Mbps High Speed internet, digital cable which includes HD channels and premium channels like HBO, Showtime, and more. You will also get telephone service which includes unlimited long distance. This deal is also good for 12 months. You will also be entered into a drawing for an X-Box game console. You need to hurry as this ends on December 5th, 2008 so don't miss out.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #49

Today's thrifty tip is to reuse and rewash food containers and plastic ziploc baggies. I'm sure you have read this tip before but it's such a great one. I never reuse anything that contained raw meat. I love those small plastic containers that deli meat comes in. My husband uses these to hold his bolts, screws, and nails. They are clear which makes it easier to see what is inside. They stack nicely. I also like to these for leftovers to give to other people. I never give out my Tupperware containers and use these instead. They make great containers to use for homemade goodies and treats.

Changing Technology

I just find it amazing how quickly technology is changing. I bought a 2GB flash card about 6 months ago for $25. I just went to the Black Friday sale at Office Depot and could buy a 16GB flash card for $30! I know it's a loss leader to get you in the door to hopefully spend more, but I was still shocked at how much memory you got for the price. One thing I do to save money, with so much new technology coming out, is to wait a year or two to buy it. I also try to buy used when I can. If you are in the market for a used cisco, then save yourself some money.

I Can't Believe I Won!

I posted last week about the $50 Amazon giveaway that World of Mom was hosting on her blog, and I was the lucky winner! It was a great way to start my Thanksgiving Day. I have to give her a big THANK YOU and, I had a lot of fun spending it today. I was able to buy several great DVD movies that I wanted but was too cheap to buy. I rarely win anything so this was a wonderful surprise and I'm still smiling.

Give the Gift of Wine

Sometimes it's really hard to think of a great present for certain people I know. You know the ones that seem to have everything so you never know what to buy for them. My dad is one of those people so this year I'm getting him a wine of the month club for Christmas. I know he will love this since he loves a good bottle of wine.

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving and sorry I didn't post this earlier. Most of my family went out of town this weekend visiting other family members. My husband had to work on Friday so we couldn't go anywhere. We still had a nice Thanksgiving at home and it was quiet. We cooked a turkey breast and I made a broccoli casserole, pumpkin pie from scratch, rolls, and rice with gravy. His sister came over for dinner with her husband. If you ate too many goodies then you could use alli to help shedding some of those pounds. I have lots of turkey left so I can't wait to make some sandwiches. I love eating leftover turkey.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #48

Today's thrifty tip is keep your thermostat lower to conserve heat. For each degree lower it will save you 2% on your heating bill according to most institutes. I don't run my heater as much during the winter since I live in sub-tropical weather. When I do have to run it, then I keep it set at 65 degrees during the day. It does get chilly in the house so I just wear warm clothing. At night I still keep it around 65 degrees. Many experts say you should turn the heat down to 55-60 degrees at night. My husband would never go for this. I am on natural gas so my bills aren't extremely high. There are many days we don't even turn on the heat like yesterday and today. My monthly average over the course of a year is right under $50/month. I pay $25 during the summer months for my gas water heater, dryer, and stove. I don't use the dryer that much either except during winter.

Investing in a programmable thermostat is another great way to keep your house energy efficient. If no one is in the house during the day, then you program it to keep the house cooler during the winter and warmer in summer. You can also program it to have it start warming the house up right before you wake up in the mornings. Have it get colder when it's time for bed. I need to invest in one for myself.

Keep Your Home Protected

Home surveillance cameras are gaining popularity among home owners. You can record the activities inside your home as well as use outdoor surveillance camera to keep your property safe. These systems are great for monitoring workers as well as intruders. These systems are easy to install yourself and low priced. Keep your home and business safe with a home surveillance system.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #47

Today's thrifty tip is use plain water instead of windshield wiper fluid. I use plain water and haven't noticed any difference. I have seen many recipes where you can make your own using either vinegar, dish liquid soap, or rubbing alcohol. The problem with using any of those ingredients is it could harm your hoses and/or seals over time. I do buy windshield wiper fluid, but if I run out or can't find a good sale, then I do use just water. I also don't live in a climate where I experience freezing weather. I don't have to worry about fluid or water freezing in my reservoir. I find the water gets the grime off.

Great Festive Frames

I can't believe that the holiday season is almost here again. I just love the decorations, colorful clothing, and great food. Now I have a really fun way to display my holiday spirit with eyeglasses. Zenni Optical is offering Holiday frames. They have a really great selection of fun and colorful eyeglass frames. I saw many red pairs and some with decorations on the sides of the arms like a rose or a funky flower print. They also have green frames and others that are more of a plaid. My favorite pair is the clear with red stripes since it reminds me of a candy cane. These frames are extremely affordable and priced right under $10. Nothing is over $30 so at these prices you can easily afford to change your frames to match your festive spirit. They also have plain colors for those that aren't as adventurous.

I love how light these frames are while wearing them. I don't even feel them on my face most of the time. My husband has also bought two pairs at this great website. I get lots of complements on my eyeglasses. If you want to save money this holiday season, then you really need to check out Zenni Optical. Give yourself a great bargain.

Win a $50 Amazon GC at World of Mom!

I was visiting my friend at World of Mom and she is giving away a $50 Amazon Gift Certificate! This is perfect and just in time for the holidays and Black Friday. The rules are also extremely easy and it's open to everyone. Just create a post on your blog linking back to her post (1 entry per blog), and then fill in the form with your name and site url. Also leave a comment on the post. That's all there is to it. I told you it was easy. The winner will be announced on Wednesday, November 26th, which is the day before Thanksgiving. Good luck and I know that I would love to use the gc to buy some video games.

Click Here for $50 Amazon Giveaway

Don't Gain Weight This Holiday Season

The holidays are fast approaching and we all know what that means. Lots of delicious food but fatty and starchy foods like rolls, stuffing, pies, and much more. That's just the start with Thanksgiving. There will be even more eating and lots of candy and cookies during the Christmas season. Let's not forget all the treats that will still hang around even after the first of the year. So get a jump with diet pills to help keep off those excess pounds. Starting an exercise program now will also make it easier to lose any weight you may gain. Skip those second helpings as your pants will thank you.

TMR Frugal Living Tip #46

Today's thrifty tip is plan your meal the night before. I know that many experts want you to make up a 7 day menu, but that's not realistic for us. Even if I did keep in mind all the activities or other planned events, that wouldn't take into consideration all the last minute changes. Let's be honest that things do change at the last minute. I honestly prefer to plan my meal either the night before or first thing in the morning. I thaw out all my meats or frozen leftovers in the sink with cold water by that afternoon. It still gives me plenty of time to cook a nice meal. This is what works for me, and maybe going by a weekly menu works better for you. Another benefit is if the weather is cold, then I know I can make a nice soup or something to warm us up. I don't like to eat gumbo in the summer and this is the perfect weather for a nice bowl of it.

Losing Weight

I know many people that have trouble losing weight on their own. They use a diet pill to help them. Make sure you know what the ingredients are before taking it. Another good tip is know all the possible side effects. If you are still unsure, then please talk to your doctor first. It's really better to be safe than sorry.

Recent Score!

I recently scored on some kids clothing for my son. I went to my church thrift store that was having a bag sale. I love these since you fill as much as you can for a set price. It was for a buck! I was able to fill two bags. Here is what I got for $2!

3 pairs of jeans
1 pair of pants
1 pajama top
9 shirts

The shirts were all Old Navy brand and one of them still had the tags. It was a $25 shirt. The jeans were Class Club and can't remember what brand the pants were. He can wear a pair of the jeans, pants, and 2 tops now. Everything else is for either next year and for the near future. It was all winter clothes. I paid 15 cents per item. I just had to share since I've almost given up on buying him used clothing. I've been having a hard time finding him nice used clothing so this was great.