Still active on twitter!

I cannot believe I have been a homeschooling mom for over 5 years now!!!  I'm as busy as ever, and still unable to update this blog often, but I am more active on twitter - if you'd like news on deals & are on twitter, please follow me & share freebies & discounts with me there :)
~ proudtobecheap

Prayer Request

For those who read carefully, my cousin Scott is the source for the name of this blog.  He is battling cancer.  Chemotherapy isn't fun.  He has 2 kids - one in gradeschool and another in high school, and he has an amazing wife.  If you are someone who prays, please send some out for the inspiration of this adventure & his amazing family.  Thank you in advance.

new sites for free stuff

I started using a couple of new sites for free gift cards, just for playing online. Thought I'd drop in & share a couple new things :) This first one is for gift card points - you choose the gift cards - I'm sure I'll go with Amazon, where I get whatever we need next, so they never sit there long :) http://www.instagc.com/83648 Then, there's Listia, where you can put up auctions to give away free stuff - you get credits as people bid on your auctions. Local pick-ups are available, you can get points without listing auctions, and you can specify a shipping and handling cost for shipping, if you like . . . I have gotten My Coke Rewards, handmade dish cloths, and Amazon credits with my points there https://www.listia.com/signup/2916596 As usual, I'd love it if you use my links, so I would get referral credits, but you get the same start-up options you would otherwise. Thanks & I hope you're having lots of fun saving!!

signing off, but still saving

If you check or checked this on a regular basis, you probably noticed that one new post in about 5 months is . . . neglectful. As you may have suspected, I've been involved in a new project, and have not been able to keep up with all of my previous activities. While I am continuing to find new ways to be frugal and stretch a dollar, I simply don't have time to keep up with this blog. I wish you all God's blessings as you continue to be financially responsible and free, and I ask that if you pray for me, you pray that God's will be done in my life and those around me. Thanks :)

families that need help

This can be free in the sense that you can help raise awareness without cash expense. Please read this and proceed however your heart leads. http://doloski.blogspot.com/2012/09/raising-funds-for-real-life-love-story.html

Free Origins cleanser

Origins is repeating their Earth day promo this year. April 22nd, bring an empty cosmetics or cleanser container to the Origins counter for recycling and you'll get a free full-sized cleanser. Last year, they offered 2 different kinds. I use the checks & balances, if anyone feels like getting a freebie for me ;) BTW, the empty does not have to be Origins - any brand will do.

Earth day!

Here's a blurb from education.com about economical ways for families to go green.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fbit.ly%2FhP3ZfZ&h=ZAQGpRbEzAQHsqNTdkJfExw8UqnlCV1umKL7zjIG_t3JNOA

Some of my favorite simple ones are using junk mail. When a letter has a blank back side, stick it in your printer. Most of the things we print don't need to look all that professional anyway. I mean, who cares if your next MapQuest route has junk mail messages on the back?

Also a cool junk mail trick, when they send you an envelope, use white out, or paper to cover the address on it & actually use it as an envelope rather than buying a box. I have some post-it labels that are the perfect size for doign most of this, and I just slap a bit of packing tape over the top of the new address to make sure it doesn't get removed in the machines. Make sure you cover the bar code, as well, or the post office will have trouble sending it correctly.

Do you have green and cheap tricks for us? I'd love to share them (and use them, myself) - leave a comment!

The joy of others saving!

I love it when other people tell me about how they've saved money. I feel like we're battling the economy, and maybe even materialism, in our small way.

A few people have surprised me by telling me they read this blog and have told me of tidbits that made a difference - one got a whole bunch of money back from a web site listed on this blog - they didn't even know it was due to them. . .

Today, my mother made Easter baskets for our daughter and each of us. I got a bunch of cross stitching supplies in mine, and she was telling me how great a deal she got on the stuff by getting a bag deal on brand-new craft supplies at a charity sale. Then, she looked a little sheepish and started joking about what a big spender she is. I laughed out loud and said, "You know me. I get more excited when it was cheap!" They are very generous, and surprise us with their generosity all the time. However, today she was more frugal. Of course, if you add the airfare and hotel accomodations from the hand-painted basket she put the deals in and the effect may be ruined :) My mother is a professional painter, btw . . .

I love that our Easter dinner includes conversation about how to get the best deal on entertainment, like DVDs. We are disappointed in the Netflix changes, and interested in what options others are finding. It seems like Netflix has lost many of it's movies, especially from streaming, but it seems like the DVDs are in shorter supply, as well . . . Anyone have ideas on that for me?

The biggest budget bummer is that we had talk about appliances. Our dishwasher is on the brink of disaster, I'm afraid, and there was an unusual smell throughout our house today - we are afraid it is the air exchanger. There goes our price range . . . and our tax refund . . . buying appliances isn't fun.

Hope you have a fabulous week, and that your big price tag items are doing better than ours!