I would also try FREECYCLE. I've gotten some great things for free from there. Just go to Freecycle.org and you'll find a yahoo loop for your area. Just post that you are NEW to the area, and what you are looking for, and you might be pleaseantly suprised!

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~Missy~Mommy
Meghan7.Samantha6,Cameron4

Back together!! Sept 28th Boston TDCenter!! Woohooooo!

It's kind of college, but when I wanted something new I always bought at IKEA. They had cool stuff (kind of college-ey, you know, Danish Modern and stuff) and it was always a great price.

I didn't read all the responses so I don't know if someone mentioned this already, but... my biggest money saver is to NEVER carry cash, even $1's. If I have a couple bucks in my purse it's really easy to blow it on a soda or whatever. I have my debit card for gas or groceries or an ATM if cash becomes necessary. I don't even keep any change in my purse.. it goes in a jar as soon as I get home. I'm also a big fan of using the library for books, audiobooks (for my long work commute), and DVDs.

Here's a quick one . . .

take a look at your newspaper subscription and decide what you really need. I was getting the Saturday/ Sunday paper, but realized I really never have time to read the paper on Saturday's. So, I just called and changed to Sunday only (for the coupons, ads and the weekly to do listing). I will still get the Thursday grocery ads, so Sunday is really all I need! It wasn't a huge savings, but a couple bucks a month is a couple bucks to add to the savings account!

Pam

I think I would be scared that I would get somewhere and really need the money. I guess I could hide some emergency cash in my wallet. But this is such a great idea! I can see where I could save with this. Thanks!

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Mom to Kaylee (10/2006)
Waiting on our second bundle of joy to arrive January 2009!

In the summertime we go to the movies for free. At the regal cinemas (not in every city; sorry..) during the summer they have free G and PG movies in the mornings around 10am). In addition, we have a dollar Cinemark and on Mondays tickets are 50cents a ticket if you buy 3 tickets - great for spring break and summer, too. (check out their websites for more info)

Ooh I love your tips. I too have picked up things on the side of the road that people discard My neighbor was getting rid of a singer machine that his mom was using before she past away (she loved crafts and sewing). It's a 60's model, very heavy, all metal gears (everything). I called a sewing machine repair guy to tune it up. It works perfectly! I always wanted to sew, this is a great starter machine for me and free too! Oh, same neighbor got rid of another sewing machine, the vintage pedal type with the table and it still works (it came with the original manual and ALL the pieces)! I snatched it up right away! Even if I don't use it, the antique shop sell these for $150-over $200 if you search around. There are always collectors looking for these stuff. Anyways, didn't want to get off the topic, but thought I would share.

I'll definitely check out regal cinemas and see if they are in our area. Our church also does movie night for kids twice a month and I love our dollar cinema. We make sure we all eat before we go because snacks and drinks still run about $15 for the four of us. The one or two times we got popcorn, my kids were so excited but they still didn't eat all of it.

Our trash hauler does not pick up several items that can be recycled, he also doesn't provide bulk pickup. He charges an outragous amount for the trash that he is willing to pick up When I moved last year we had a few bulk items we needed to transport ourselves to the dump. We cancelled the pick up service and piled all our trash in the truck and trailer and dumped it ourself. I was amazed at how cheap it was to dump it ourselves! It would have cost me over $200 to put the trash out in cans at curbside - dumping it myself only cost $16! While there I dropped off my recycling and found they accept newspaper and junk mail & catalogs and cardboard boxes. Since then we take our trash to the dump ourselves once a month. We are able to recycle a lot more reducing the amount we are putting in the landfill. We used to spend $125 a month for trash pickup, now our bill is usually $16-$20.

I started using the little bags the newspaper is delivered in to seal up smelly diapers. I was going to buy a diaper genie but once I saw how they worked I decided I didn't need to spend the money on one.

I have been banking the savings to save up for a hot tub... woohooo!

Even in Arizona it can get cold at night! We usually keep the thermo at around 65!
Kelly~ Where in az are you? I'm in Tucson =)