Thanks Ladies for all the GREAT ideas!! I am always looking to cut corners whenever possible. I especially love the suggested Angel Food Ministries site. And I don't even have to feel guilty about it....its for everyone who wants it. After reading the site, its a food distribution perk.....not for low income only. The packages they offer are cheap.
Heres my input for the site, since I do pretty much what everyone else does. For Christmas, I gave my "single-younger" sister a really cool spa type basket with all the sample (some full size too) I received. SHE LOVED IT!

one thing I do every month or two is make a list of things we need or maybe even just want..smaller price things(things we need but not necessarily urgent)and keep it in my purse - then when I'm already out(say grocery shopping at WAL MART)if I am overcome to buy something or have money or save a ton with coupons and can afford a GOODIE...I have my list...then your buying something you need-saves on impulse buys of things just cause its a good deal...I try to keep my list small...maybe 10 things...it's motivation for me to push harder and save more with coupons to be able to wipe out the entire list and save some of it.

I redid my daughters bathroom with this idea and in one month did her bathroom for 32.00(32.00 got me a bathroom worth $163.00 n my soapbox: )

Ask for punch cards whereever you shop. So many purchases and you get something free. I have one for my car wash, Once Upon a Child, film developer, Cost Cutters. I also have cards for Petco (buy 10 bags of dog/cat food and you get a coupon in the mail for a free bag), CVS, etc.

Thanks everyone for these great tips!!
my family loves to watch videos and our library doesn't have a very good selection so we have the blockbuster mailer thing, we pay just under $20 a month and get more than our money worth out of it considering we usually watch about 12-15 movies a month and they are all the new releases.

I have also found that just reading posts from like-minded frugals like myself helps me to stay motivated. DH can always tell when I have stopped surfing the web for tips and tricks cause our budget usually starts going haywire.

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Kristi
Mom to Eric, Alex, and Taylor
Happily Married to Joe:love:

This is me...if I go out I end up spending more and on stuff I may not need. So I just stay home and only go out maybe once a week to do errands. With a list!

I'm amazed with the money saving tips! I was raised in a different culture so I thought people in America don't care about saving money. Anyway, I'm a newcomer (here in Mass) and about to move into a new apartment. Starting from nothing -- as in no chairs, tables, couch, etc. Can anybody advise me on where to shop? After reading your messages, I'm ready to shop for secondhand furniture (initially, I didn't want to) so long as they are in good condition. I need more tips... tips on setting up our new apartment and spending less. Thanks!

I would try yard sales or goodwill

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Homeschool mom

Check on the internet for freecycle.org and look up your city. Its a great place and
check also on Craig's List in your city. Good luck!

I have just read this complete thread and love all of these ideas. I am just starting on my lifestyle of budgetting and I am loving all of these ideas. I cant wait to try them.

While reading through all these posts i realized i was an undercover frugal mom. I find myself availing on quite a few of the tips listed here and may also go over the top of frugality with my envelope saving. I don't buy envelopes anymore i simply save the window envelopes that come with our bills or junk mail (b/c we do online billing now). I either write on the window with a ball point pen or write the address on magic tape and stick it on. This is great especially for rebate mailing.