All I ever learned about gardening, I learned from Stevo. Thought I would share some of his great money saving tips for gardening.
Plan. Start early, plant seeds. Plan out your garden needs so you don't over plant. Start plants from seed. rather than buying your plants. For higher quality vegetables, consider planting organic seeds.
Buy smaller plants. If you're short on time or don't have the space to grow from seed, purchase smaller plants rather than larger plants for your garden. Smaller plants range $1-2 while larger plants range $4-5. Smaller plants will grow, they'll just need some extra nutrient-rich soil and water to thrive.
Swap plants. Limited space or hard to grow soil conditions? Coordinate your plantings with a good friend and neighbor. Minimize the overlap on similar plants. Trade seeds, slips/cuttings, and your garden's bounty.
Check with your local Arboretum, Conservation District, Botanical Gardens, or 4-H Club ! They usually have special sales a few times a season on plants that are well taken care.
Buy plants at the supermarket. Local supermarket chains often plants at lower costs than local nurseries. Example: 1 6-pack of pansies at the supermarket cost me $1.79; at the local nursery, it costs $3.79.
Plant perrenials. Perennials tends to cost slightly more, be a little less colourful, but return every year. Plant once, enjoy year over year.
Go green with garden care. (1) Spray vinegar on your plants to kill the weeds. (2) Rid your garden of unwanted insects by combining 1 tablespoon of dishwashing soap with one cup of cooking oil, then adding 3 tablespoons of this to one quart of water. Spray this mixture directly on to your plants. Line your garden bed with old newspapers to suppress the growth of weeds. (3) Use old popsicle sticks as plant markers (4) Use old coffee ground as fertilizers. Swing by your local Starbucks for a free 5lb bag.
Join a Garden Club. Terrific way to gain valuable tips and get free plantings from other members.
Check Craigslist. Enter "free plants" in the search box and click. You'll find several offerings for free plants and gardening materials. I checked the local Craigslist board, and found 7 offers for free garden related materials!
Showing posts with label money saving tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label money saving tips. Show all posts
Friday, May 1, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Aoril's Great Deals for Smart Shoppers
End of month always provides great deals for smart spenders. Here's a few deals I've stumbled upon this week provide great bargains for the saavy shopper. Easy ways to save money buying what you want.
Sears - Friends and Family Discount on May 3rd (Sunday) from 6 - 9PM Kenmore appliances, gas grills, home and garden equipment are all on sale offering great savings. Get an additional 10% off by purchasing during this time frame. Also, check your receipt. Sears is offering a $10 of $50 purchase coupon of home and garden items. (Tip: Don't have one? Make nice with the person in front of you in line - you might be able to snag their coupon and apply it to your purchase.) I'll be saving $117 off a $350 gas grill purchase by applying all these incentives.
Lands End. 30 - 50% off all swimwear and 20% off all shoes and sandals. Sale ends April 29th. Just in time for the beach.
Talbots. Talbot cardholders get a 20% off coupon good through May 2 for all clothing purchases. Good opportunity to purchase a nice Mother's Day gift. (May 10th) Don't forget!
Ann Taylor. 30% off your total purchase using your Friends and Family discount, now through May 3. Present at any Ann Taylor and LOFT stores or enter code FRIENDS during online checkout.(Store associates: use code 107020024). Free shipping on purchases of $100 or more! Yes, its time to pick up this season's little black dress before Michelle Obama does.
Happy Shopping!
Sears - Friends and Family Discount on May 3rd (Sunday) from 6 - 9PM Kenmore appliances, gas grills, home and garden equipment are all on sale offering great savings. Get an additional 10% off by purchasing during this time frame. Also, check your receipt. Sears is offering a $10 of $50 purchase coupon of home and garden items. (Tip: Don't have one? Make nice with the person in front of you in line - you might be able to snag their coupon and apply it to your purchase.) I'll be saving $117 off a $350 gas grill purchase by applying all these incentives.
Lands End. 30 - 50% off all swimwear and 20% off all shoes and sandals. Sale ends April 29th. Just in time for the beach.
Talbots. Talbot cardholders get a 20% off coupon good through May 2 for all clothing purchases. Good opportunity to purchase a nice Mother's Day gift. (May 10th) Don't forget!
Ann Taylor. 30% off your total purchase using your Friends and Family discount, now through May 3. Present at any Ann Taylor and LOFT stores or enter code FRIENDS during online checkout.(Store associates: use code 107020024). Free shipping on purchases of $100 or more! Yes, its time to pick up this season's little black dress before Michelle Obama does.
Happy Shopping!
Monday, February 9, 2009
Shoe Stimulas Plan
In February 1943, during World War II, the Government announced the start of shoe rationing, limiting consumers to buying 3 pairs per person for the rest of the year. Sad, very sad.
Interesting tidbit though- thank goodness, shoes are no longer the ration list. For what would the gals from Sex in the City do, if they couldn't buy Jimmy Choo? Anyhow, for some odd reason, I find this fact motivating me to go shoe shopping - to do my part in getting us out of our current economic mess - Shoe Stimulas Plan. Join me and check out my list of favorite online shoe sites...
Zappos. The ultimate source of all brands of shoes. With free shipping both ways, its hard to beat when you're looking for a quality selection. 365 Day return policy makes it a sweet place to shop.
Shoebuy . Great selection. 10% off your first purchase; 10% additional purchases made within the next 60 days of the previous purchase. Free shipping and returns.
Nordstrom's Shoes. Final clearance on shoes, up to 60% off. Free shipping with $200 purchase.
FootSmart. For the pragmatic shoe buyer, this site also offers products for foot and lower body health. Deal of the week offerings and a solid clearance section as well.
PiperLime. Free shipping. Free Returns. And currently running "Sweet Deal" promotion, offering 20% select spring shoes.
Endless. Free overnight shipping. Free return shipping. 100% price match guarantee. and $25 off purchases of $125 for select styles.
Shop Now. Be Happy. Buy a Pair of Red Shoes.
Interesting tidbit though- thank goodness, shoes are no longer the ration list. For what would the gals from Sex in the City do, if they couldn't buy Jimmy Choo? Anyhow, for some odd reason, I find this fact motivating me to go shoe shopping - to do my part in getting us out of our current economic mess - Shoe Stimulas Plan. Join me and check out my list of favorite online shoe sites...
Zappos. The ultimate source of all brands of shoes. With free shipping both ways, its hard to beat when you're looking for a quality selection. 365 Day return policy makes it a sweet place to shop.
Shoebuy . Great selection. 10% off your first purchase; 10% additional purchases made within the next 60 days of the previous purchase. Free shipping and returns.
Nordstrom's Shoes. Final clearance on shoes, up to 60% off. Free shipping with $200 purchase.
FootSmart. For the pragmatic shoe buyer, this site also offers products for foot and lower body health. Deal of the week offerings and a solid clearance section as well.
PiperLime. Free shipping. Free Returns. And currently running "Sweet Deal" promotion, offering 20% select spring shoes.
Endless. Free overnight shipping. Free return shipping. 100% price match guarantee. and $25 off purchases of $125 for select styles.
Shop Now. Be Happy. Buy a Pair of Red Shoes.
Monday, January 19, 2009
Free Make Up
Listening to the evening news and learning about a major Cosmetics settlement involving several big retailers. Several big retailers are giving free makeup away, starting Tuesday, as long as supplies last or until Jan. 26 to settle claims that the stores violated antitrust laws (price fixing). Shoppers who bought the cosmetics between May 29, 1994 - July 16,2003, will each be eligible for one free product.
A Few notes about the settlement...
Local stores involved include: (Check out Cosmetic Settlement for the complete list of stores)
Product List: Products that will be distributed as part of the settlement include:
A Few notes about the settlement...
- It's a $175 million dollar giveaway - that's alot of makeup! Supplies available on a first come; first serve basis. Don't wait too long to claim your free product.
- Some stores may request the receipt (who has receipts from 1994?), but its more likely that they'll just give you free product upon request or have you sign a form stating that you made the purchase.
- While shoppers are only entitled to one free product, I doubt there are operational controls in place to prevent you from going to more than one store counter trying to collect.
- Not all products are available in all stores. Stores will be distributing products from the participating brands that the particular store ordinarily sells
Local stores involved include: (Check out Cosmetic Settlement for the complete list of stores)
- Macy's
- Neiman Marcus
- Nordstrom
- and Saks Fifth Avenue
Product List: Products that will be distributed as part of the settlement include:
- Femme Eau de Toilette (1 ounce/30 ml) (Boucheron)
- Coco Mademoiselle body lotion (3.4 fluid oz) (Chanel)
- J’Adore Eau de Parfum (15 ml) (Christian Dior)
- Clarins Energizing Morning Cream (30 ml)
- Clarins Beauty Flash Bomb (30 ml)
- Calvin Klein Euphoria Bath and Shower Crème (6.7 oz)
- Vera Wang Princess Body Polish (5 oz)
- Lovely Sarah Jessica Parker Shower Gel (6.7 oz)
- Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair (15 ml/0.5 oz)
- Clinique Moisture Surge (30 ml/1 oz)
- My Insolence Eau de Toilette (15 ml) (Guerlain)
- Lancôme UV Expert 20
- Lancôme Cils Design Pro Mascara
- Lancôme Fatale Mascara
- Lancôme Courbe Virtuose Mascara
- Lancôme Primordial Skin Defense
- Ralph Lauren Romance Shower Gel (6.7 oz.)
- Giorgio Armani ACM Shower Gel (6.7 oz)
- Lancôme Hypnôse Shower Gel,
- Very Irresistible Givenchy Eau de Toilette (15 ml)
Happy Shopping!
Why the library is good for you
Just before Christmas, Parade magazine ran an article that caught my eye that highlighted the cost savings of using the library. The article also detailed that how budget shortfalls are resulting in library closures at a time when library usage is on the upswing. Sad. Think of the value your library provides you; then think of a way to provide value back to the library (e.g., donate to the Friends of the Library; host/sponsor an event; donate passes and coupons).
Here's a few reasons why the library is good for you:
- Saves you money. According to a recent Parade magazine article, a family of 4, borrowing 10 items a month rather than buying them, saves $2500. From my own 2008 usage, I saved an estimated $1700. Books, DVDs, CDs, & museum passes.
- Open Source. Think of it this way - a subsidized institution (the library) buys the books and DVDs, magazine subscriptions and proprietary databases, pays the librarians to help you find stuff, and shares it with you, at essentially no cost to you. A win-win no matter how you look at it.
- Free wi-fi. You can camp out for hours, and no one will bump you off the server. (Starbucks makes you pay for access; Panera restricts your time).
- 24 x 7 access. Online cataloguing systems make it easy to reserve/order materials online and swing by the library for a quick pick in the days that follow. Why scour the shelves for a specific read, when you can have it waiting for you at the front desk?
- De-clutters your home. I typically read 75+ books a year. Books crowd every shelf and floor corner. Checking books in/out of the library has considerably reduced the clutter around my house. (Free floor space - what a concept.)
- It's organized. Locating what you want on the Web can be a trial-and-error process, while a well-organized library can make it easy to find information quickly. Nice.
- Gives you a social life. Local libraries play host to book clubs, foreign language conversation circles, seminars, and movie nights. If you're on a budget, join a community at your local library for free. Or if you've got some time and knowledge, create a community and share it with others at the library.
Here's a few reasons why the library is good for you:
- Saves you money. According to a recent Parade magazine article, a family of 4, borrowing 10 items a month rather than buying them, saves $2500. From my own 2008 usage, I saved an estimated $1700. Books, DVDs, CDs, & museum passes.
- Open Source. Think of it this way - a subsidized institution (the library) buys the books and DVDs, magazine subscriptions and proprietary databases, pays the librarians to help you find stuff, and shares it with you, at essentially no cost to you. A win-win no matter how you look at it.
- Free wi-fi. You can camp out for hours, and no one will bump you off the server. (Starbucks makes you pay for access; Panera restricts your time).
- 24 x 7 access. Online cataloguing systems make it easy to reserve/order materials online and swing by the library for a quick pick in the days that follow. Why scour the shelves for a specific read, when you can have it waiting for you at the front desk?
- De-clutters your home. I typically read 75+ books a year. Books crowd every shelf and floor corner. Checking books in/out of the library has considerably reduced the clutter around my house. (Free floor space - what a concept.)
- It's organized. Locating what you want on the Web can be a trial-and-error process, while a well-organized library can make it easy to find information quickly. Nice.
- Gives you a social life. Local libraries play host to book clubs, foreign language conversation circles, seminars, and movie nights. If you're on a budget, join a community at your local library for free. Or if you've got some time and knowledge, create a community and share it with others at the library.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Dining Out Stimulas Plan
Even in these tough times, eating out at a restaurant is one of those simple luxuries you just can't seem to give up. And you shouldn't have to. Eat well and spend less by using these tips to managing to a better food budget without going for broke in the process.
1. Use a coupon. Browse your Sunday coupon flyers for discounts at your favorite nationwide chains like Olive Garden, TGIF, and Bugaboo Creek. Use the coupons in your Entertainment book. Flip through the coupon directory of your yellow pages book. Check out Restaurant.com or Open Table for the latest deals and promotions. Call your local chamber of commerce or tourism board for coupons to your local restaurants. (It's ok. You can be a tourist in your own city!)
2. Search for Kids Eat Free. Google "Kids Eat Free" and "Your town" and find out which family friendly restaurants are offering deals or visit a site like Mommysavers.com . You can also use this same tactic for "early bird specials" and "senior citizen" discounts.
3 Enjoy the Freebies. Skip the appetizers at the restaurant and enjoy the basket of bread and that little plate of olive oil.
4. Do Lunch. It's less expansive than dinner and equally delicious. Better yet, do breakfast and save even more.
5. Order Sides/Salads. A nice salad and a tasty appetizer is a great meal for one. And it tends to be $3-5 than a main entree.
6. Split a Dinner. Restaurant dinner portions are equivalent to 2- 3 meals. Tres unhealthy for one person to consume. Rather than order two dinners, spilt one dinner and order an appetizer. When dining with Dreamboat, we typically save $7-9 when we split.
7. Drink the tap. Skip the mineral waters, club sodas, oxygenated water, and holy water. Drink the water from your city tap. Its probably as pure and tasty. And you'll be so "green" -- no bottle means you'll be doing your share of saving the environment.
8. Skip the Special. Always tempting when the waiter reads the special, but rarely do they mention the price. On a recent dinner out, I ordered the special. It wasn't until the bill came that I realized it was $15 more than almost anything else on the menu.
9. Order a Doggie Bag. Leave No Crumbs behind. Today's dinner is tomorrow's lunch. Restaurant portions are typically 2-3 meals worth of food. Stretch your food budget, by leaving 1/3 of what's served on the plate for the doogie bag. You'll be the talk of the lunchroom.
10. Go to new restaurants. A new restaurant that has just opened for business often attract new customers with discounts and specials. These are often advertised in the newspaper, menu mailings, or those Value-Pak direct mailers. Keep an eye out and take advantage.
11. Understand how to menus are designed. Menus are designed to drive profitable choices by the customer by focusing the consumer not on the price but the product.
- Restaurants tend to list the prices into the food descriptions rather than off to the right side margin, and remove the dollar sign to help avoid price shopping by customers.
- Resist buying either one of the first two items or the last item in each menu category. Restaurants tend to place the menu items with the highest gross profits in these spots.
- On three-panel (page) menus, people most often look at the center panel first, and then move counter clockwise. On two-panel (page) menus people most often look at the top right-hand side first. So, restaurants put their high profit items such as specials or specialty drinks in these spots.
-Beware of stars, symbols, icons for house specialities. They're designed and placed near items that are priced higher. Attention grabbing and wallet draining all at once.
See you around town!
1. Use a coupon. Browse your Sunday coupon flyers for discounts at your favorite nationwide chains like Olive Garden, TGIF, and Bugaboo Creek. Use the coupons in your Entertainment book. Flip through the coupon directory of your yellow pages book. Check out Restaurant.com or Open Table for the latest deals and promotions. Call your local chamber of commerce or tourism board for coupons to your local restaurants. (It's ok. You can be a tourist in your own city!)
2. Search for Kids Eat Free. Google "Kids Eat Free" and "Your town" and find out which family friendly restaurants are offering deals or visit a site like Mommysavers.com . You can also use this same tactic for "early bird specials" and "senior citizen" discounts.
3 Enjoy the Freebies. Skip the appetizers at the restaurant and enjoy the basket of bread and that little plate of olive oil.
4. Do Lunch. It's less expansive than dinner and equally delicious. Better yet, do breakfast and save even more.
5. Order Sides/Salads. A nice salad and a tasty appetizer is a great meal for one. And it tends to be $3-5 than a main entree.
6. Split a Dinner. Restaurant dinner portions are equivalent to 2- 3 meals. Tres unhealthy for one person to consume. Rather than order two dinners, spilt one dinner and order an appetizer. When dining with Dreamboat, we typically save $7-9 when we split.
7. Drink the tap. Skip the mineral waters, club sodas, oxygenated water, and holy water. Drink the water from your city tap. Its probably as pure and tasty. And you'll be so "green" -- no bottle means you'll be doing your share of saving the environment.
8. Skip the Special. Always tempting when the waiter reads the special, but rarely do they mention the price. On a recent dinner out, I ordered the special. It wasn't until the bill came that I realized it was $15 more than almost anything else on the menu.
9. Order a Doggie Bag. Leave No Crumbs behind. Today's dinner is tomorrow's lunch. Restaurant portions are typically 2-3 meals worth of food. Stretch your food budget, by leaving 1/3 of what's served on the plate for the doogie bag. You'll be the talk of the lunchroom.
10. Go to new restaurants. A new restaurant that has just opened for business often attract new customers with discounts and specials. These are often advertised in the newspaper, menu mailings, or those Value-Pak direct mailers. Keep an eye out and take advantage.
11. Understand how to menus are designed. Menus are designed to drive profitable choices by the customer by focusing the consumer not on the price but the product.
- Restaurants tend to list the prices into the food descriptions rather than off to the right side margin, and remove the dollar sign to help avoid price shopping by customers.
- Resist buying either one of the first two items or the last item in each menu category. Restaurants tend to place the menu items with the highest gross profits in these spots.
- On three-panel (page) menus, people most often look at the center panel first, and then move counter clockwise. On two-panel (page) menus people most often look at the top right-hand side first. So, restaurants put their high profit items such as specials or specialty drinks in these spots.
-Beware of stars, symbols, icons for house specialities. They're designed and placed near items that are priced higher. Attention grabbing and wallet draining all at once.
See you around town!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Holiday Fun. Go Early. Save Big
Every Christmas season, I plan a day of holiday celebration of fun, laughter, and good cheer with Dreamboat (my husband). It's a day for ourselves to enjoy some simple luxuries offered during the season that don't involve mall shopping. Good cheer at a considerable discount is our focus (and we'll be using our Discover Cash Back Rewards to purchase our tickets so it literally won't cost us anything!) Passing along a few good bargains I've discovered in hopes that you'll plan your own little adventure.
Christmas Festival November 7 - 9. Hundreds of American Craft Artists appear at this Christmas festival hosted at the Seaport World Trade Center. The Festival runs this weekend (November 7 - 9) will put you in the holiday spirit. Buy direct from the artists can save you a holiday bundle. Check The Boston Globe for $2-3 discounts off the admission price. Kids under 2 go free!
BlueMan Group. Now - November 16. Buy tickets early for the holiday season and save a bundle. Tickets only $45 (regularly priced $58) must be purchased by November 16 for shows December 3 - January 4.
City of Boston Tree Lighting. Nov 29@ 6 p,m. Nothing starts the holiday season off like a good 'ole fashion tree lighting. And nobody does it better than the City of Boston with A-list celebrities, local performers, carolers, Santa and more at the Boston Commons and Public Gardens. Free.
Half price tickets within City of Boston. The City of Boston and ArtsBoston are offering a limited number of half-priced tickets for almost every major holiday show in town. Thank you Mayor Menino for pulling this effort together.
Holiday Zoolights at Stoneham Zoo. November 27 - December 23. Get into the holiday spirit by strolling along tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling , visiting some animals, and sitting with Santa for a free photo opp! Tickets cost $4 per person. Visit during opening weekend (Nov. 27 - 30) and save your self $1 per ticket.
Christmas in Salem December 5 -7. Halloween ain't the only game in this town. Spend a day touring Salem’s beautiful and historic homes while they’re decked with boughs of holly. $25 per ticket if you buy in advance; $30 per ticket if you buy on a tour days. And don't forget stop by your local library and reserve a free pass to the Peabody Essex Museum. Its top notch!
See you around town!
Christmas Festival November 7 - 9. Hundreds of American Craft Artists appear at this Christmas festival hosted at the Seaport World Trade Center. The Festival runs this weekend (November 7 - 9) will put you in the holiday spirit. Buy direct from the artists can save you a holiday bundle. Check The Boston Globe for $2-3 discounts off the admission price. Kids under 2 go free!
BlueMan Group. Now - November 16. Buy tickets early for the holiday season and save a bundle. Tickets only $45 (regularly priced $58) must be purchased by November 16 for shows December 3 - January 4.
City of Boston Tree Lighting. Nov 29@ 6 p,m. Nothing starts the holiday season off like a good 'ole fashion tree lighting. And nobody does it better than the City of Boston with A-list celebrities, local performers, carolers, Santa and more at the Boston Commons and Public Gardens. Free.
Half price tickets within City of Boston. The City of Boston and ArtsBoston are offering a limited number of half-priced tickets for almost every major holiday show in town. Thank you Mayor Menino for pulling this effort together.
Holiday Zoolights at Stoneham Zoo. November 27 - December 23. Get into the holiday spirit by strolling along tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling , visiting some animals, and sitting with Santa for a free photo opp! Tickets cost $4 per person. Visit during opening weekend (Nov. 27 - 30) and save your self $1 per ticket.
Christmas in Salem December 5 -7. Halloween ain't the only game in this town. Spend a day touring Salem’s beautiful and historic homes while they’re decked with boughs of holly. $25 per ticket if you buy in advance; $30 per ticket if you buy on a tour days. And don't forget stop by your local library and reserve a free pass to the Peabody Essex Museum. Its top notch!
See you around town!
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