A look at my cars gas mileage

2004 CHEVROLET CLASSIC
4 cyl, 2.2 L, Auto(L4), F

MPG City => 24

MPG Highway => 34

MPG Combined => 28


Fuel efficiency calculator

Recently, I have been seeing news items about increasing your MPG's simply by decreasing your speed. Driving under the speed limit. Driving a steady speed. Something, I have been trying to do the last few days. Perhaps I can get that 24 up to 48, mainly by driving 30-35 MPH in the 40 MPH zone between here and work. More people are passing me, but, hey they are the one's paying the higher gas bills because of their lead foot. One thing, I still would like to get eventually is a scooter, so that I can really save gas on my daily trips to work.

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go ahead share your thoughts with me now.

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$5 off $5 Purchase at Sears

I just learned, that Sears is offering $5 off of any tool or home and garden purchase of $5 or more through January 22, 2008. Hurry! Sounds like a great deal.

Print out the coupon, and head to the store for your own bargain.

Do ya ever have any fun?

From time to time I get naysayers on one of the blogs that I write for saying something like,

Do ya ever have any fun?

They usually follow that up with something like,

but what about now. If you die tomorrow, you've missed out for over saving.

Of course Dave Ramsey says, if people don't make fun of you, then you must not be doing something right. I usually try to tell them you don't have to put yourself in the poorhouse to have fun. Still though, they come back to the "I want it and I want it NOW" statement that has put us all into debt. People we all must learn how to live within our means. There is a reason that this country has a negative savings rate for the first time since the great depression. It is because we are all spending and living off our credit cards rather then saving part of our money. If we had all listened to our grandparents and great-grandparents then we wouldn't be in this shape. Which in turns we could have money to budget for "fun."

But, because we didn't spend wisely, we now must tighten the reigns and for a time, not have all the fun, so that we can dig ourselves out of this mess. Everything, I discuss here is pretty common sense stuff that our grandparents and great-grandparents told us when we were kids. Of course like kids everywhere we thought we knew better and put ourselves in debt. I for one don't want to live a life in the prison of debt. Instead, I want to enjoy the freedom of being debt-free, and I will soon be there if I stick to my plan. Oh sure I have had a few set backs (because of my own stupidity) and I may have a few more before I am completely in a position to have a savings for most of my emergencies, but I will get there by the end of 2009 and in my hopes by the end of 2008.

With that, I would like all of you to think of fun things that can be done without an additional strain on the budget and share them here.

Awaiting to hear read all your comments as always.

Lights Out

This morning a local conservative talk show was talking about a plan in San Francisco and now LA to turn off all the lights in the city (on Oct. 20, 2007) to save energy. The host, who likes to expose the lies of the global warming crowd and their "high priest," Al Gore, even suggested that we turn on every light in our homes on that date.

Now I have a problem with that. No I don't necessarily disagree with his global warming arguments. Nor do I disagree with his complaint that they used to urge people to turn on lights to scare off criminals. So why do I have a problem with his suggestion?

Because I am frugal and I write a frugal/debt-elimination blog. So what does that have to do with it. Simple, if you turn off all the nonessential lights on that day, you can save money on your energy bill. Of course, I urge people to this, not just one day a year but every day of the year.

Although San Francisco's energy-saving event has been in the works for six months, with cooperation from city officials and the chamber of commerce to black out the Golden Gate Bridge, the Transamerica Pyramid and Alcatraz, among other landmarks, Los Angeles officials hope to get the word out in a matter of weeks. They'll use public service announcements, advertising at public facilities and partnerships with local universities. Plus, there are plans for the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and Southern California Edison to distribute energy-efficient light bulbs at city and county facilities, said Karly Katona, a deputy for Burke.
- LA Times

Something else that I support is energy saving items, not so much to save energy, but to save money. As such I have been replacing incandescents with compact fluorescents. This is a part, that my friend, on the local talk show, didn't mention.

The blackout effort also encourages residents to replace incandescent lights with more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. The county has spent $30 million to install energy-efficient lighting in its buildings.

However, if you want your city, town or burg to participate, there are plans for a national night.

More than 100 cities have contacted San Francisco organizers, wanting to plan similar events; a nationwide lights-out hour is planned for March 29. More information on the L.A. event can be found at www.lightsoutla.org.

My suggestion is to make this an everyday practice for your home and business. Let the cities do such stunts for the bigger things once a year. Of course they will still have to have warning lights for plans, but does the Golden Gate bridge need so many lights just for aesthetics?

Frugal Cartoon

Dawn over at Frugal For Life, posted a copy of a Sunday comic of Stone Soup. I have seen this strip from time to time and enjoy it each time I see it. This time, however, it was especially relevant to those of us, who live a frugal life or even just life on a budget. For your enjoyment, I have posted the cartoon below:

Personal Finance According to Jed Clampett

As a personal finance blogger, I often talk about my own personal finances. My success and my failures are an open book to everyone who reads this blog. In between the more personal posts I post various tips and occasionally an interview or two.
Today, I set down with Jed Clampett to ask how he lives frugally, even with all his millions.

The first thing Jed told me was that last year he switched all of the light bulbs in his Beverly Hills house to compact fluorescents (CFL's). According to Jed, "you will be amazed with over 100 light bulbs in the house, how much this alone saves on our electric bill." He also said, that buying fewer light bulbs over time saves money as well.

While we were on electric use, I asked him about his electric use. Seems he not only turns off the lights when he leaves a room, but unless he is reading, he rarely even turns a light on. However, he admits, that as a elementary school dropout, he rarely reads. He even prefers cooking outside rather then using the electric stove.

While I keep my furnace set around 64 in the winter, Jed tells me that he keeps it around 50. Seems a little chilly for me, but with the nice sunny California weather. Even the chilly nights, probably isn't cold enough to warrant the use of heat for him and his clan anyway.

The thing that surprised me the most, is they have gone hi-tech. With cousin Jethro finally getting into high school, Jethro has become a big fan of the computer and helps his uncle and Granny pay the bills with their banks online bill pay. Not only that they email just about everyone. Saving the family a heap of money on stamps.

Around the house, Jed says he reuses the grocery bags they bring home from the store. Instead of buying trash bags, he said they put the plastic grocery bags in the smaller cans, like in the bathrooms and bedrooms. The paper grocery bags, according to Jed, are reused in the bigger trash cans, like in the kitchen.

of course, that is difficult sometimes, when they don't buy much food. Since they have a nice garden out by the cement pond, and go hutting for possum for meat. He even offered me some possum and greens, which I politely turned down.

Despite all their money, Granny refuses to use a washing machine and dryer. Instead, she still uses a washboard. Hanging the clothes out on the clothes line to dry.

Jed also told me that they don't buy soda pop or buy any water. The water that comes from the faucet is better then any thing they drank before they "moved away from there."

Finally, he said the one thing he learned before striking it rich and moving away from there, is he compared insurance rates and changed his insurance company to a company that offered cheaper premiums. Something, he still does every year, to make sure he still is getting the best rate.

101 Ways to Save Revisited

Last September, I posted 101 ways to save. This year I think it deserves to be revisited. Did my thoughts change? Well yes, on at least one of the points. Have I implemented all these money saving tips. Well that's why we are revisiting it.


1. Set your thermostat to 64 and turn it down to 60 at night.
This is something that I try to do every winter. It's easy to put sleeves on and once you are acclimated to the temperature, it will feel quite comfortable.
2. Use the phone book instead of directory assistance.
This is something I usually do. However, I do need to do better, because sometimes I just get plain lazy.
3. Use coupons at the grocery store.
I need to do better at this. At the same time I find that most times buying store brand or generics are better deals then buying name brands with coupons.
4. Carpool.
A great idea, if a number of people go to work at the same time. For me, since I work retail and am the only one on my side of town, it isn't practical, but for a huge segment of Americans working in an office, this is a great idea.
5. Ask for generic prescriptions instead of brand name.
I make a point of doing this every time. In fact, if I use the pharmacy at my company, then they will automatically prepare the generic and submit it to the company insurance. For employees, they were doing the $4 deal years before Wally World started offering it to everyone. As a result they now offer the deal to everyone, not just employees.
6. Do your own nails.
OK, I am not female so this doesn't apply to me, but it makes perfect since. If you are female, why pay $30 to trim and polish your own nails when you can do it yourself for less then $1.
7. Rent out a room or garage.
This is something I have been doing for several years. I rent out the spare bedroom to get some additional income coming in. Sometimes, he is a little late getting the check to me, but so far he has never failed to get me the rent within a week of its due date.
8. Replace incandescents with CFL's.
Originally this was changing light bulbs to lower watts. Now all of my 60 and 40 watt bulbs are slowly being replaced by CFL's (Compact Fluorescents). The CFL's not only last longer, but because they are fluorescents they cost less to operate each day as well.
9. Make long distance calls at night and on weekends, instead of mid-day, mid-week.
This is great advice, however, I am 100% cellular and have no long distance, no roaming.
10. Throw pocket change in a jar and take it to the bank when it’s full.

11. Always grocery shop with a list. Shopping with a list will save you money on your grocery shopping, as long as you stick to what's on the list. Another way to say it, "Don't buy on impulse. This is something I need to do better at. Since I work at grocery store, I tend to pick stuff up as I am leaving. Which means, I tend to pay more then I would if I planned, made a list and went to the store once a week.
12. Buy spare parts for your car at a junkyard.
I haven't had to make these kind of repairs with my current car, but I have done this with several of my other cars.
13. Go to museums on free days.
Sounds like a great idea. Now when is the free day?
14. Quit smoking.
I don't smoke, but if you do...this would save quite bit of change. For example, cigarettes in my area run about $3.99 a pack. If you smoke a pack a day, and you were to quit, you would save $1,456.35/year.
15. Get hand-me-down clothes and toys for your kids from family and friends.
16. Switch to water when dining out.
Restaurants make a killing on drinks. Getting water instead, is not only healthier, but at free, much cheaper.
17. Brew your own Coffee, rather than buying it on the run.
If you have two cups a day at $1.50 each workday, that’s $60 over a month. You can buy a decent coffee maker, really good bean or ground coffee, and a Stanley stainless steel insulated thermos for about $45 and come out $15 ahead just the first month!

18. Take a shorter shower.
Over the last year, I have started cutting back my shower time and in turn my watter bill.
19. Write letters instead of calling.
20. Brown bag your lunch.
I try to do this, but sometimes my lazy butt still doesn't get this done.
21. Make your own baby food, when I was a teenager and my parents had an another kid, I remember mom doing this. It was a simple as putting the peas (or whatever vegetable) in the blender.
22. Use public transportation.
I love this idea. I have been fighting my city to offer better public transportation. Not everyone works 9-5, so why do they only offer service from 6 to 6? Of course my latest job assignment as me working about 2 miles north of the most northern bus stop, so even if they went later, I wouldn't be able to ride very well. Still, people who work in the day, would like to go to the mall to, and currently, local transportation doesn't allow that.
23. Drop duplicate medical insurance. What a great idea. I am not sure why anyone would have duplicate insurance, but it happens and should be eliminated TODAY.
24. Buy old furniture at yard sales and refinish it yourself. I am not very handy with power tools, but I have a couple of projects in the workshop, that I am working on. Like the old chest of drawers that I plan to turn into a TV stand. I mean hey, the drawers are missing and someone threw out the main frame, even though it is in perfectly good shape.
25. Apply for scholarships and financial aid. If you are a student or are planning to go to college, then this is perfect advice. Look, it's not good to be saddled with debt at any time, especially when we are first graduating college, so make sure you don't have to.
26. Exercise for free walk, jog, bike, or get exercise videos from the library.
27. Form a baby-sitting cooperative with friends and neighbors. If you
28. Buy your clothes off season.
29. Go to a matinee instead of an evening show.
30. Share housing with a friend or family member.
31. Hang clothes out to dry. Instead of using that dryer and wasting electricity (or gas), air drying is much cheaper.
32. Do not use your calling card. calling cards are expensive. If you have call, do so from home.
33. Volunteer two hours a month for reduced cost food through the Share Program. This is something that I have done and is available in many parts of the country regardless of income. The program uses different names in different parts of the country, but it is similar everywhere. (Note: Heartland Share in Kansas has been merged into Share Colorado.)
34. Change the oil in your car yourself regularly. This right here will save you tons, and I need to do better in this area.
35. Get pre-approval from your medical insurance company before undergoing any procedures or tests. In these days of more and more HMO based insurance, this is fantastic advice.
36. Buy "no frills" vitamins. I never buy brand names. The store brands are just as good and much cheaper.
37. Take a date for a walk along the beach or in the woods. If you are dating (or spending time with a spouse) this is a perfect idea instead of spending money on an expensive dinner or movie.
38. Make cards and gifts for friends.

39. Shop thrift stores.
People give away some really nice things! Last year, I picked up a Washburn University (polo style) shirt, that I have really been wanting for $2, that at the University Bookstore sells for about $30.
40. Have your water company do an audit so you are not charged sewage fees for water used in your garden.
41. Refinance your mortgage.
42. Grocery shop on double coupon days. Or at stores that double coupons everyday.
43. Trade down your car for a less expensive, lower maintenance one.
44. Convert your cash value life insurance to term. Term insurance is a better deal. Look, unless you are going to cash out before you die, then you will never see any of the "extra" money in the cash value and neither will your descendants. Not only that, you can get a better return from a good mutual fund.
45. Shop around for eyeglasses. Never, just buy your eyeglasses from the eye doctor. If you live a larger city, then shop around and see what other glasses makers are offering.
46. Do not be shy about pulling something you like out of the trash.
With a little refurbishing, it could be as good as new for a few more years.
47. Recycle. As I have said a time or two in this blog, I am not much of environmentalist, unless it is saving me money. As such I save aluminum (pop & beer) cans as well as tin (vegetable & soup) cans.
48. Move to a less expensive place to live.
49. Use low flush toilets or water saving devices in the tank.
50. Drop unneeded telephone services like call forwarding or caller ID.
51. Buy fruits and vegetables in season.

52. Avoid using your ATM card at machines that charge a fee. Paying fees 0f $1,$1.50 or more at ATM machines can add up quickly. Remember, when you use another banks ATM, the charge isn't just from that ban, but yours as well so the charge can be double what you agree to at the ATM.

53. Bicycle to work. Using leg power, instead of gasoline, can save hundreds of dollars each year.
54. Shop around for auto insurance discounts for multiple drivers, seniors, good driving records, etc.
55. Ask your doctor for samples of prescriptions. If your doctor prescribe something to you, they often will have samples they can give you to save you some money.
56. Borrow a dress for a big night out. or go to a consignment shop. Obviously, I am not a person who wears a dress, but a certain number of my readers are female and can use this tip.
57. When you buy a home negotiate the sales price and closing costs.
58. Turn the hot water heater down and wrap it with insulation. I need to find insulation for my water heater.
59. Never grocery shop hungry. What do you do if you work in a grocery store?
60. If you qualify, file for Earned Income Credit.
61. Shop around for prescriptions including mail order companies (Medi-Mail 800-331-1458, Action Mail Order Drugs 800-452-1976, and AARP 800-456-2277).
62. If you pay for childcare, make use of the dependent care tax credit or your employer’s dependent care flexible spending account.
63. Buy, sell, and trade clothes at consignment shops.
64. Shop around for the lowest banking fees.
65. Caulk windows and doors. This is something I am working on now. This reminds me that I need to finish this job today.
66. Iron your own shirts.
67. Plan your weekly food menu before shopping. (or monthly)
68. Buy a good used car instead of a new model car.
69. Purchase all of your insurance from the same company to get a discount.
70. Cut your cable television down to basic.
71. Go to an optometrist for routine vision tests or to change an eyeglass prescription.
72. Buy pre-owned toys and children’s books at garage sales.
73. Have potluck dinners with friends and family instead of going out. I think I like this one best. What a great way to have a "dinner party" and save money as well. The only problem might be, where to have it.
74. Use the library for books, video tapes, and music.
75. Inspect clothing carefully before purchasing it.
76. Don’t use your dishwasher dry cycle; open the door and let them air dry all night.
77. At the grocery store, comparison shop by looking at the unit price.
78. Make your own coffee.
79. Use old newspapers for cat litter.
80. Shop at discount clothing stores.
81. Skip annual full mouth x-rays unless there is a problem; the ADA recommends x-rays every 3 years.
82. Water your garden at night or early in the morning.
83. Shop around for long distance rates.
84. Hand wash instead of dry cleaning.
85. Grow your own vegetables and herbs.

86. Buy generics, when grocery shopping.
If you can get past the preconceived notion, that generic is a lesser quality, you will find many of these items are just as good. In addition, if you don't think so, many stores guarantee their quality. Granted there are about 5 items I wont buy generic, but most things I will.
87. Donate time instead of money to religious organizations and charities.
88. If you are leaving a room for more than five minutes, turn off the light.
89. Shop at auctions or pawn shops for jewelry and antiques.
90. Keep your car properly tuned.
91. Request lower interest rates from your creditors.
92. Trade in old books, records, and CDs at book and record exchanges.
93. Pay bills the day they arrive; many credit card companies charge interest based on your average daily balance.
94. Buy software at computer fairs.
95. Search the Internet for freebies. but not for free software - free software is loaded with adware and spyware, that's why it is free.
96. Compost to make your own fertilizer.
97.If your car has very little value, you probably only need liability insurance.
98. Cut the kids hair yourself. I don't have kids, but this year, I started cutting my own hair and have already saved in cuts what I paid for the clippers. It's all money in the bank from here on out.
99. Increase your insurance deductible. This is great advice, but be sure you have enough in savings to cover your deductible.
100. Buy in bulk food warehouses.
101. If your income is low, contact utility companies about reduced rates.

Is it stealing?

Over the years I have heard of people that grabbed extra packets of ketchup, salt or what not, when they stop at the fast food restaurant. In fact there was a time that the twenty somethings and younger probably won't remember, when every fast food place had packets out where the public could grab them. No ketchup dispensers in that time. Then came story after story on various news programs of some very frugal people who never bought ketchup. Instead they just used the extra ketchup packets they had picked up from those fast food places.

This as you can guess cost the companies thousands of dollars. So one by one, they implemented those dispensers to prevent dine in customers from loading up on those packets.

In fact one McDonald's, according to Truth. Quantified, had a sign for their employees that said:

"If we can keep from giving out just 100 ketchup packets a day, McDonald's can save $1,464 a year!"

Do they really cost 4 cents per packet? Is the packaging worth more then the 8 grams of ketchup in those little things?

Anyway, back to the topic. I usually pick up a couple of extra packets on the rare occasion when I eat out. The thing is I don't go overboard like the people above did. But the question is if that act would be considered stealing. What do you think?

Frugality With Gas & Water

As I continue to catch up on my reading and posting this week, I see Tight-Fisted Miser is trying to save $45/month. He purposely and with malous had his gas turned off. He then began taking cold showers for the summer all because he refuses to pay the greedy gas company $45/month during the months when he doesn't have to heat his place.

I like the idea, however, I have a boarder, who would be pretty upset, if I told him he would have to take cold showers. With that in mind, I can perhaps cut my gas bill, by taking cold showers, while still having the gas on. Besides I occasionally use the stove, when the microwave isn't practical.

In addition, with no air conditioning in the house all those cold showers might just feel refreshing. Not to mention, the shorter showers that Tight-fisted Miser made mention of would save on the water bill as well.

Another way to got your shower shorter, that I read a few years back is to turn the water on long enough to get wet. Turn off the water. Lather up, then turn the water back on to wash off.

Might be worth a try putting both of these ideas together to see how much cheaper I can get these bills.

Well, I guess now is a good time to go get take my first cold shower in years.

An 84 square foot Home?

Did you see this story. I seen this video on CNN yesterday. The video comes from:Katu.com


TreeHugger.com wrote:

Dee Williams wanted "a simpler life, time, more money. I don't have a mortgage. I don't have a big utility bill." So she built herself an 84 square foot house- "Not much to it. Simple. Small. A dream house tinier than a parking spot." Her monthly heating bill is $6 bucks and electricity is free from the solar panels.

Dee built the tiny cabin herself out of salvaged material. She picked the door out of a dumpster and retrieved the floors from a house fire. Dee's new tiny home sits in her friend's backyard.

To our eye it looks suspiciously like Jay Shafer's Tumbleweed Home but no credit is given in the article or video; that is the way of the world. Nonetheless Dee is happy in her knockoff home. "Right now there's nowhere else I want to be!" Watch the video at ::Katu.com

Now thats what I call thrifty. That's what I call frugal. Maybe i should consider finishing up my tool shed. Turning it into a small home. Then I can rent out the larger house.

Now i realize that I can't do it at this time. I have to pay off to many debts at the moment, but when I do, it would be a great way to save money in the long haul. I mean $6/month electric bills. Wow! That would be awesome.

Hmm, I will have to think about this more. What do you think?

My Financial Mission Statement

I thought, it was time to revisit my financial mission statement that I Originally posted on July 13, 2006. Hope it encourages more readers, as it did when it was first published.

As I have just completed week 12 of my 13 week Financial Peace University Course, I thought I should post my own mission statement here on my Financial Peace (aka Personal Finance) Blog:

I will maintain a positive attitude and sense of humor in everything I do. I want to be known by my future family as a caring husband and father; by associates at work as a fair and honest person; and my friends as someone they can count on to earn their respect. Controlling all my actions is a strong sense of integrity which I believe is the most important character trait.

My Mission, in my current employment, is to provide smiling, helpful and attentive service with integrity and honesty to the supermarket customers. I will strive to do my best to keep the stock full and the floors clear, so that my customers can have a pleasant shopping experience.

My Mission is to figure out how to best use my personality traits to succeed in life. I want all I do to be a product of God's. I desire to be loyal to my future wife (whoever she may be), family, friends and God.

For myself, I want to develop self-knowledge, self-love, and self-allowing. I want to use my personality traits, that tend to be more analytical, to excel in my whatever work I am doing, whether work related, family related or otherwise.

Free Home Schooling Resources

Last night at work a former co-worker, who I hadn't seen in a long time came into the store. Not to surprising since that is the store she lives closest to and I am now driving across town to get to work, much like she did when she and I worked together.
The purpose for this is to tell you about a great website that she has. Perhaps if you home school, you have already heard of her. If you haven't then you need to find out about her and her website.
She is known as the Educational Freebie Queen, and her website as you might have already guessed provides the readers hundreds, maybe even thousands, of homeschooling resources, especially those that are free.
If you have read this blog very much, you know that I love free. Well I don't home school. I don't even have kids, but I love this site.
Cassandra has no idea that I am writing this little review, but I thought it was a perfect topic as I am sure their is at least a small percentage of my readers, who home school.
Go ahead and take a look, I think you will be surprised at all the resources out there.

Frugal Thoughts

The other day I was reading advice and rants and was enthralled with a series of articles she published about frugality.

In "7 ways you can join forces with friends to be more frugal,"

1. Share tips: This might seem obvious, but talk about your fave tips for saving more and spending less. If you come across a great new bit of advice, pass it along to your friends.
2. Share your goals and budget constraints: Talk about what you plan to achieve, e.g. save $500 a month, or spend no more than $70/week on groceries. Let others know of your specific goals, and force yourself to report back to them. Public accountability is a great motivator.
3. Have frugal fun together: Don’t trade money saving tips over expensive lunches. Now that you know each other’s plan to spend less, opt for cheaper plans like potluck meals and coffee at a friends place.
4. Give each other frugal gifts that you really want: You can band together to get a friend a spa trip that she really wants, and you can buy joint gift cards. Pooling your resources makes for less gifts, but a much higher quality one that you’d otherwise get.
5. Buy in bulk: pool your resources to buy things that you all need, in bulk. Bulk buyers can enjoy significant discounts, so take advantage of those!
6. Swap stuff: Clothes that never really suited you, or that no longer fit you. Accessories that you don’t really need. Children’s toys, and sports equipment. Find stuff that you no longer want, and trade them with your friends.
7. Sell stuff together: Host a giant yard sale, or a giant consignment sale.

Then in "7 Things You shouldn’t do in the name of frugality,"

1. Steal, or do something unethical. Don’t hurt other people to save money. Don’t be stingy.

2. Don’t stop your occassional self-indulgences, if you can afford them. Buy yourself a pretty nailpolish, a footspa on sale. Make sure you don’t feel deprived.

3. Never buy gross second-hand stuff. This includes dirty or broken stuff, and obvious things like used lingerie.

4. Never spend hours trying to save a few dimes. Whether it’s driving to the end of town, or slaving away in your kitchen for half a day, some conveniences are worth paying for.

5. Never, ever, put your or family’s health or security in danger. Your or a loved one’s life is not worth saving a few bucks for.

6. Don’t constantly talk about saving money, where to buy things for less, how much stuff cost you, etc. If you and your friends share common financial goals, you’re very lucky, but limit those discussions to your weekly frugality meetings.

7. Don’t make your family constantly unhappy. If your wife hates raisins, don’t buy them for her simply because they’re cheap.

Of course there were other articles she had, but this article would be too long if I placed excerpts from all of them. However, you get the idea. Some of the other posts she had included, "13 things to buy second-hand," "Tips for buying second-hand stuff," "Being Frugal vs Being Stingy," and "10 Frugal Entertainment Ideas."

Speaking of Frugal Entertainment, I was asked about my date from a coupe weeks ago and how that went. Well, the date was OK, but there won't be another one with her.

Paper or Plastic? Environmental or Economical

I have to confess something. I am only an environmentalist, when it is economically feasible to me. That is why I have over the past couple of years, have tried to avoid using plastic bags. All because of all the oil used in those plastic bags. Less oil we use, I figure, the less gas eventually will be. However, Americans continue to use on average more gas and oil based products. Perhaps they don't understand that they are driving the gas prices up themselves.

Let's take a look at the numbers, according to NBC,

To make all the bags we use each year, it takes 14 million trees for paper and 12 million barrels of oil for plastic. The production of paper bags creates 70 percent more air pollution than plastic, but plastic bags create four times the solid waste — enough to fill the Empire State Building two and a half times. And they can last up to a thousand years.

From an environmental point of view, neither option is good. From an economic consumer paper is slightly better. However, from a business point of view plastic is cheaper, so if consumers start using more paper, then retail prices will go up to pay for those bags. There is, of course another option, using cloth or canvass bags, and taking the bags with you when you go shopping.

As you can tell, this is a bit of dilemma for me. Do I pollute the air and use paper or do I fill up the land fills and use plastic? What I really need to do is, make a stronger effort and use canvass bags more.

33 Ideas for Dating Frugally

I recently wrote about my desire to get back into the dating game and trying to figure out how to balance that with my desire to get debt-free. As a result I found several excellent ideas, but first lets set the mood by quoting Dating on a tight budget By Leah Gliniewicz of Bankrate.com.

You've made a love connection, but now you're weary of the wooing process because you're on a tight budget. But don't worry, because dating without much cash is possible and it can allow you to be creative while showing your date a good time. If you think that showing your true frugal colors may be a turn-off, then no need to tell your honey how much money you're saving.

Shel Horowitz, author of The Penny-Pinching Hedonist: How to Live Like Royalty on a Peasant's Pocketbook, is a frugal guru with more than 25 years of experience in saving money, time and lowering your cost of living.

"Always investigate if there is a cheaper way or a cheaper option," Horowitz said. He gave the example of going to see a show at a community theater where the seats are often right at the stage, instead of buying the "cheaper" tickets to a Broadway show in the nosebleed section. Horowitz said he has seen the advantages of finding cheaper or free alternatives; they far outweigh the benefits, and are more rewarding.

When you are dating on a budget, Horowitz advises you to be a little adventurous.

1. Test drive a sports car together.


2. Browse a ritzy museum gift shop or art gallery.


3. Find a dark, romantic bistro with great coffees and desserts, or an independent bookstore that encourages browsing.
4. Spend the whole evening dressed and acting as characters from a play, movie or book that you both enjoyed.


5. Do some star gazing at a local college observatory. It's open to the public during the school year and free.


6. Have a picnic and explore a state or national park. You'd be surprised what you learn when you're closer to nature. Admission to these parks is usually under $10 or free.


7. See a music laser show at a planetarium for around $6. Watch the colors fly through the air to some popular music.


8. Check out a poetry reading or other events at a bookstore. Sometimes snacks or beverages are provided. Some bookstores have a calendar listing for all of their events.


9. Create a food theme night (like Mexican, Mediterranean or Italian), and cook each other a dinner and appetizer at home.


10. Rent a canoe or kayak and go out on a river or lake for an afternoon -- under $40.


11. See a radio station music festival. It often features a day of bands, and tickets usually cost under $20. Or, check out a concert at a college; tickets may also be cheap.


12. Look into local arts festivals, craft fairs, flea markets or antiques fairs. Admission is under $15, the browsing is free, but you may want to watch the cost of the food.


13. See an IMAX movie for under $10. These films use a large film frame, a six-story movie screen and digital surround sound. These are cool because you feel like you're in the movie.


14. Attend a wine or beer tasting. At less than $10 each, you get more bang for the buzz.


15. Volunteer together. You'll be able to spend quality time together for a quality cause for free.


16. Swing is back. Take a dance lesson and tear up the dance floor with the hottest moves. Sometimes the first lesson is free.


17. Attend a student art show. Often the shows are free and refreshments are served.


18. Rent your favorite movies that your date hasn't seen and watch them together. Keep your date in suspense, and don't leak out the good parts or the ending.


19. Rent a Movie - You can duplicate the cinema experience by renting a favorite movie, making popcorn, and dimming the lights. Your date might even appreciate the extra leg room and ability to pause the flick for a restroom break.


20. Sip Mocha Lattes - Starbucks can be your best friend when it comes to lounging with your date, shooting the breeze, and sipping your favorite coffee beverage. You might even take your relationship to a deeper level thanks to the coffee talk.


21. Share a Sundae on Sunday - Take a trip to your local ice cream store and build a sundae together. You'll flirt over the toppings and sit close together as you spoon your way to sugar heaven.
22. Walk in the Park - Combine exercise and fitness with romance.
23. Natural Surroundings - The beauty of nature is all around us and it doesn't cost a dime. Whether it's a trip to the beach, a walk in the forest or a search into a cave, it can be done together for practically nothing. Take the time to find the natural scenic spots in your area and utilize them for your dates.
    
24. Public Exhibits/Museums - Think about the museums and galleries around you, all filled with collections of interesting items for you to chat about. Most are reasonable in price and usually offer discount days, so keep you eye out for those.


25. Special Events - On any given weekend, you can be guaranteed that some special event is going on nearby. Fairs, craft shows, festivals and exhibitions are usually free or for a nominal cost. It gets you and your date out and in an environment where you can both explore your surroundings while getting to know each other.


26. Sporting Ideas - If you and your date are both athletic, sport activities together can be a great way to spend your time. Play a set of tennis, jog in the park, toss a Frisbee about, play catch with a baseball or football or shoot some baskets. Whichever you choose, you can spend quality time at minimal cost and get some exercise in, too.


27. Video Games - Gaming has come a long way since Donkey Kong & Pac Man. It’s glorified board games for adults, basically. You can find a whole slew of trivia and game-show type games available at your local rental store. Five bucks for an hour or two of one-on-one friendly competition never hurt anyone and most realize that games aren’t just for kids.


28. Second run movie theaters - we used to call these dollar movies, because the theater only charged a dollar for them. Now however, with movie price going up, these theater charge about $3-$4. Still a bargain when you would pay $8-$11 to see the new releases at the regular theater.


29. Picnic - Picnics are great for dates because they can be taken along wherever you plan to go for the day and they cost a fraction of going out for a meal. They also can be made as casual or as romantic as you want. Take a casual picnic meal, add some cheese & wine along with a red rose and the picnic instantly takes on a romantic feel.


30. Memory Album - Take your camera or purchase an inexpensive disposable camera and make a day of taking photos together. Make a theme for the day if you want or just take any crazy photo that comes to mind. Once finished, get the photos 1 hour processed and create a memory album together for the day that will live on forever.
    


31. Historic Places & Buildings - It seems the only time people go looking at the historic landmarks near where they live is when visitors come from out of town. Many of these historic or culturally significant spots have no or small entrance fees and make a great place to go on a date. You also get to learn more about the area you live.


32. 
    Meal/Evening At Home - Cook up a meal at home and spend the evening watching movies or some other activity such as a board game. The meal most likely will be better than at a restaurant and the evening will cost a fraction of what going out to dinner and a movie would cost. Cook the meal together to spend even more time together, or do it yourself as a special surprise.
33. Exercise together - Skating (Ice or Roller),
    Scenic Bike Ride, a walk in the park are all great ways to exercise and yet have fun as well.
    

I am sure there are other ideas and would love to hear them. If you have any other ideas, comment to this post and let me know. I want to hear all of the ideas you have. I am sure there is 101 ideas out there, I just need to find them. Even if they won't work for me, they will for somebody. For example, I don't eat Italian, Mexican or Chinese food, so #9 wouldn't work as well for me. At least without some tinkering.

So what do you all think? Can you think of anything I missed?

101 Ways to Save One Dollar a Week

As a follow up to my 25 frugal tips to save money, I am posting the following article that was originally posted at Care One Credit Counseling. Thanks to Rich McIver emailing me the link.

Is your rainy day fund all wet? Every paycheck, you plan to save, but it seems like there's nothing left over after bills and creditors get their share. It's getting tougher to pay the bills on time, let alone save any money! Don't fret; there's a solution. There are a lot of ways to put another dollar in your pocket here and there. Here's what you need to do:

1. Draw up your current budget: First things first; find out where your money goes. Calculate your monthly income and make a list of all expenses.

Now that you know how much money you make and spend, it's time to cast a critical eye on expenses. Let's find out where you can trim the fat from your budget.
Around The House

Cutting down on waste and excess around your home is one of the easiest ways to save money. Are you one of those people who leaves lights on all around the house? With three TVs running? We're talking to you.

This is the most important key. Although, I am still not very good at getting rid of the waste.

2. Adjust your thermostat: Turn your thermostat up a couple of degrees in the summer and down a few in the winter. Every degree saves approximately 3 percent in energy costs. If your home is empty during the day, consider buying a programmable thermostat to avoid heating and cooling your home when no one's there. Set the thermostat to turn the air or heat on about 30 minutes before you get home.

Excellent idea! I keep the thermostat at 67 in the winter.

3. Turn off the lights: If you're watching TV in the living room, turn off the lights in the kitchen. If you're eating dinner in the dining room, turn off the lights in the living room. Don't waste energy by burning lights in rooms that you're not occupying.
4. Use low energy light bulbs: Compact fluorescent light bulbs use only a fraction of the electricity that regular incandescent bulbs use. Plus they last much, much longer.

Great idea. I have changed several bulbs and bought a number of CFL's to replace others as they burn out.

5. Change your air filters: A clogged or dirty air filter reduces airflow to the heating or AC unit, causing it to work harder and use more energy. Change your filters once a month.

I need to do better at this

6. Shut doors and windows: Your dad was right: you really shouldn't pay to heat or cool the outdoors.
7. Turn off your computer: Computers suck up a lot of energy. Most will go to sleep after a period of sitting idle, but take it one step further by just turning it off.
8. Simplify your cable: Do you really need 100 movie channels? Consider a smaller package.
9. Downgrade your phone services: When's the last time you used call forwarding or had a three way chat? Only use services that are absolutely necessary. Take advantage of free long distance with your cell phone if possible. Consider using VoIP or a cell phone to eliminate your land line.
10. Consolidate services: Most of the big telecom companies and cable providers now offer discounts if you use them for combined cable, telephone and internet service.
11. Use cloth napkins, towels and diapers: Paper napkins, paper towels and disposable diapers are easy and convenient, but cloth can be washed and used again. Use these to save money and the environment.
12. Do the dishes: Use reusable dishes for your meals instead of paper plates and cups.
13. Hang your clothes out to dry: The dryer uses a lot of energy. It takes a lot to run, plus it can also heat up your house, causing your air conditioner to have to work harder. Accomplish that fresh, dried-on-the-line smell in your own backyard.
14. Buy energy efficient appliances: If you are in the market for new appliances, take energy efficiency into account. Look for items with the Energy Star label.
15. Get an energy audit: Your electric or gas company can send someone to your home to tell you specifically what you can do to make your home more energy efficient.
16. Enroll in cost saving programs: Ask your energy company if they offer any load management, off-hour rate or other cost saving programs that you can take advantage of.
17. Close the flu damper in your fireplace: Don't let hot or cold air escape out of the fireplace. Keep the flu closed.
18. Insulate your water heater: Pack insulation around your water heater to help retain heat. Also try turning the heater's thermostat down a few degrees.
19. Install low flow showerheads: You can cut your shower's water consumption in half by installing one of these.
20. Change washing machine settings: Heating water uses energy and costs money. Wash your clothes in warm or cold water instead of hot.
21. Use a gas dryer: Gas dryers use less energy than their electric counterparts.
22. Open a window: Take advantage of Mother Nature. If the weather's nice, turn off the air or heat and open the windows.
23. Eliminate drafts: Use caulk or weather-stripping to strengthen the seal around doors and windows to eliminate the loss of hot or cool air.
24. Shade your windows: Close shades, blinds or drapes during the day to keep light and heat from coming in through the windows. Direct sunlight will heat your home and cause the AC to work harder. Alternately, uncovering windows to let sun in could be helpful for heating in the winter.
25. Plant a tree: Strategic placement of trees and bushes around your home can increase shade and decrease energy consumption. Try shading your air conditioning unit as well as windows that get a lot of sun. Just three trees can save between $100 and $250 a year in heating and cooling costs.

An energy efficient home is only part of the equation. Transportation costs can put a huge dent in your budget. Let's take a look at what you can do to make hitting the road more cost effective.
On The Road

Getting from point A to point B can really cut into your budget. Here's how to get where you need to go without breaking the bank.

26. Get regular tune-ups: Keep all of the moving parts in your car running smoothly to get better gas mileage and prolong the life of your vehicle.
27. Turn off the AC: Roll down your windows and let the air cool your car.
28. Keep air in your tires: Underinflated or flat tires will reduce gas mileage.
29. Shop around for gas: Before you pull over and start filling up, shop around for the cheapest place to get gas.
30. Look for frequent shopper deals on gas: Some grocery stores offer 3 cents off per gallon with a frequent shopper card. Save even more when you do more business with them, like 10 cents off per gallon when you buy $100 worth of groceries.
31. Shop for gas mileage: If you're car shopping, avoid the Hummers. Focus on smaller cars that get good gas mileage.
32. Try to avoid traffic: Idling in traffic can burn up lots of gas. Try to avoid rush hour traffic as much as possible.
33. Consider the savings: It costs an average of 36 cents per mile to own and operate an automobile. Don't drive all the way across town to save a nickel on a gallon of milk.
34. Keep moving: Stop-and-go driving not only wears out your engine faster, but also uses more gas than moving at a steady pace.
35. Use cruise control: If you're not going to be hitting any stop signs or traffic lights, set your cruise control to conserve gas.
36. Slow down: It's simple. Drive the speed limit to save gas as well as make your life a whole lot easier.
37. Keep it light: Remove any heavy, unnecessary items from your car. An extra 100 pounds can decrease fuel economy of an average automobile by about one percent.
38. Find the shortest route: The shorter the distance you have to travel, the less gas you will have to use.
39. Combine errands: Run as many errands as you can in one trip to cut down on your driving time.
40. Carpool: If your co-workers live nearby, take turns driving each other to work. If you're going out with your friends or family, fit as many people as you can into a single vehicle.
41. Use public transportation: If the option is available, take a bus, train or taxi instead of driving.
42. Take a walk: If you live close enough, try walking to work. It's free and healthy.
43. Ride a bike: You may live a little too far to walk, but you can try hopping on a bicycle to make your commute. Again, this option is free and healthy.

Now you know how to save money on your drive to the grocery store, but it's also important to cut costs once inside.
Food For Thought

Watching your order total at the checkout can be daunting. Take these steps to help ease the pain.

44. Plan ahead: Map out your meals for the entire week. Go through your cabinets, fridge and pantry, making a list of any items you'll need for your planned meals.
45. Cut coupons: Savings of 25 cents here and 75 cents there can add up fast.
46. Look for sales: Ads for savings are what make the Sunday paper so thick. Take advantage of them. Look for flyers throughout the week, pay attention to TV commercials and check junk mail for coupons before you throw it away.
47. Shop around: Don't limit yourself to one grocery store. One store may have great dairy prices but overpriced produce. Another could have good meat sales, but your favorite cereal is too expensive. Pick and choose what you'll buy from each store. However, if you bring sales flyers from the competition, many stores will match the price.
48. Go generic: Just about every product has a generic counterpart at a much lower price. Buy these products; you can get the same thing for a lot less money.
49. Don't stray from your list: If you didn't write it on your list, you don't need it.
50. Bring your calculator: Is 24 ounces for $1.00 better than 36 ounces for $1.25? Bring a calculator with you to figure out the best deal.
51. Buy in bulk: It never hurts to stock up on items you use frequently. Bulk is often cheaper, so fill your cart. Be sure that you are able to use the item before it goes bad.
52. Don't shop on an empty stomach: Everything looks good when you're hungry. Eat before you shop so you're less tempted to pick up anything and everything that looks good.
53. Check your receipt: Before you leave the store, take a glance at your receipt to make sure everything checks out. Items may ring up at an incorrect price or be scanned too many times.
54. Grow your own food: Plant some herbs and vegetables in a small garden out back. You may not be able to replicate the produce aisle, but it can help cut your grocery bill.

Trimming your grocery bill will work wonders when it comes to stocking up your pantry, but even a house full of food won't satisfy a craving for your favorite restaurant.
Wining And Dining

Eating macaroni and cheese, salad and Hamburger Helper every night can get old fast. Treat yourself to a meal at a restaurant from time to time, just be sure to keep it within reason.

55. Limit yourself: Avoid making restaurant visits an everyday event. Treat yourself once a week or once a month.
56. Look for new restaurants: Lots of new restaurants offer discounts and specials to attract customers.
57. Go out for lunch instead of dinner: Most restaurants are cheaper at lunchtime. When you decide to treat yourself, go out to lunch and stay in for dinner.
58. Avoid weekends: Everybody goes out to eat on the weekends. Restaurants may limit specials and coupons during this time. For the best deals, visit during the week.
59. Drink water: Save a few dollars on your bill by drinking water instead of soda or alcohol.
60. Bring leftovers home: Restaurant portions are huge, generally twice the size of a recommended serving. Ask for a doggy bag and bring the leftovers home.

Now that you're operating on a full stomach, it's time to take a look at what you're wearing and how you decorate your home.
Don't Lose Your Shirt

The sheer volume of sales flyers, coupons and advertising that we are inundated with is enough to make your head spin. Cut through the clutter: focus on what you're looking for and compare prices for the best deal.

61. Distinguish between needs and wants: Before you start buying toys and specialty items, decide what you need more: the product or the money.
62. Look for sales: You can often find everything you need on the sale rack.
63. Wait for end of season sales: Pick up next year's bathing suit for a fraction of the cost at the end of the summer.
64. Shop online: The Internet offers many items used or at a discount. Try to find sites that offer free shipping.
65. Shop at closeout stores: They may not be pretty, but you can find great deals at stores like Big Lots, Marshalls and TJ Maxx.
66. Head to the second-hand store: Goodwill, thrift stores and pawn shops offer many quality used goods at low prices.
67. Find a garage sale: One man's junk is another's treasure.
68. Consider alternatives: Expensive does not always equal quality. Check out professional ratings from Consumer Reports and read what customers say online to find out if you're getting biggest bang for your buck.
69. Avoid fashion trends: Don't spend a ton of money on an item that you won't want to wear next month. Stick with classic styles that you'll wear often.

Once you've got your necessities down, you can focus on how to save money on the fun stuff.
Everybody Have Fun Tonight

Entertaining yourself doesn't have to mean spending a lot of money. It doesn't even have to include going out.

70. Get cheap novels: Instead of filling your bookshelves with brand new books, consider buying used. There are chain stores that offer used books at half and even a quarter of the cover price. Libraries often have great sales as well. Better yet, borrow books, movies and CDs for free at the library. Once there, you can also surf the internet as well as read magazines and newspapers.
71. Cut down on subscriptions: Pick one or two magazines that you enjoy the most and cancel the rest.
72. Share with friends: Go through old books or movies that you have lying around and propose a trade with one of your friends for something that you haven't read or seen yet.
73. Have a game night: Instead of going out, invite friends and family over for board games.
74. Host a potluck: Invite people over for dinner and have each person bring a separate dish. It's fun and much cheaper than going out.
75. Catch a matinee: Movies at 2PM are the same as 7PM. Beat the crowd and save money by catching the early show.
76. Go to a discount theater: Lots of cities have theaters that show movies after their initial release. Check out movies on the big screen at big savings.
77. Don't buy popcorn: Tickets are expensive enough. Don't pay for an overpriced popcorn and Coke, too. Eat something before you go and drink water if you get thirsty.
78. Rent a movie: Bypass the high ticket prices and expensive snacks altogether. Head over to the video store and rent a movie.
79. Support your Alma mater: High school and college sporting events can provide cheap entertainment.
80. Watch tomorrow's stars today: Many large cities host minor league games that cost a fraction of the big league price.
81. Check out the local art scene: Poetry readings, art openings, high school plays, and community theater programs can be fun and inexpensive.
82. Watch for free events: Check the newspaper and Internet for open houses, festivals, library events and other community gatherings in your area.
83. Members only: Museums and zoos often have deals and special events for members. Sign up to support the arts, furry friends and your savings.
84. Explore the great outdoors: Pack a picnic and go for a hike at a park or recreational area nearby. You can even pack a tent and sleeping bag to stay for the weekend.
85. Go for a swim: Enjoy some good clean fun in the sun: head to the lake or beach.
86. Listen for free tickets: Newspapers and radio stations often hold contests to give away free movie and concert tickets.

Saving money on entertainment is great, but be careful how you take care of the bill. Plastic can be hazardous to your bank account's health.
Plastic Money

Credit cards are not free money. They can become a black hole for your finances in the blink of an eye. Use them responsibly. Remember: at some point, you'll have to pay them back.

87. You only need one: You can get into enough trouble with one credit card; don't compound the risk by getting more.
88. Cut up the rest: Once you've chosen your card to keep, destroy the others. Be sure to also cancel the associated account.
89. In case of emergency: Consider your credit card a safety net. Don't use it for anything that you don't absolutely need.
90. Pay off the balance: As soon as you get your statement, pay off the balance. Minimum payments don't cover much more than the interest charge.
91. Look for hidden fees: Look closely at your statement and take note of what kind of fees you are paying out. Programs like credit life insurance, credit disability insurance, involuntary unemployment credit insurance and credit property insurance are generally unnecessary. Make sure you don't have to pay for them.
92. Get a low interest rate: Zero percent interest doesn't last forever. Many credit cards offer this as an introductory rate, but before you jump at this opportunity, find out how long it lasts and what your rate will be when it expires.
93. Watch your statement: On top of hidden fees, you may also find double or fraudulent charges that you will need to dispute.
94. Utilize rewards: Rewards programs are everywhere these days. If you have the discipline to pay off your balance each month, use your card to pay all of your bills and rack up lots of points. Just be sure to use the card responsibly. The rewards won't even cover the interest that you'll pay if you carry a balance.
95. Say no to the free shirt: Just about everywhere you go, there's somebody trying to get you to sign up for their credit card. A free shirt, free hat, or a ten percent discount may be appealing, but these little freebies can hurt you in the long run. Even if you never use the card, the application alone can bring down your credit rating.
96. Pay on time: Late payments are messy. They incur fees and allow the credit card company to raise your interest rates. Make a note on your calendar and pay ahead of time.

Staying out of debt is a big part of building a savings. Here are a few more of the little things you can do.
This And That

Consider these extra tricks when trying to save a few bucks.

97. Take your lunch to work: Instead of paying five or six dollars for a "value" meal at lunch every day, bring a sandwich, apple and drink from home.
98. Go to beauty school: Time for a manicure, pedicure or haircut? Go to a training salon and get professional work done at a fraction of the cost.
99. Quit smoking: It's much easier said than done, but smokers, you're burning up a gold mine. Smoking a pack a day costs about $1,460 a year.
100. Keep charity receipts: Any kind of donations that you make throughout the year can be used as a tax write off.
101. Keep less money available: Leave your credit cards at home and take only the cash you'

ll need. If you run short, put something back.

How to Enjoy Baseball Games Cheaply (Frugally)

Baseball season will be here in less then a month, and I recently found (again) an article Penny Nickel wrote on her Money and Values Blog last year. I thought it would be a great article to include snippets of here.

Save money on parking

Take public transit if you can. Getting in and out of the ballpark area by car is not only pricey but a big hassle.

ark farther away from the stadium. If you're willing to walk a little (you'll get a better experience of the neighborhood and its atmosphere-- a plus at Wrigley, not-so-much in Detroit

Save money on tickets

Consider the cheap seats. Especially if you're going to a game that won't be well-attended, you may have ample opportunity to relocate to better seats once you're inside the park

Look for days when tickets are cheaper. Nowadays most ballparks have some sort of tiered pricing system; games during the summer, on weekend days, and/or against popular opponents will cost you extra, while if you try spring or fall, weekdays, and/or a non-rival, your cost drops right off the bat.

Don't pay Ticketmaster fees if you don't have to.

Look into standing-room-only tickets. If standing will ruin your enjoyment then don't bother. But one alternative to buying pricey tickets to a popular game ahead of time is to get standing-room tickets the day of. They're cheap, and you may be able to grab someones empty seats mid-game.

Save money on food

Bring food and drinks from home. Ballpark food can get really pricey, but most stadiums don't care if you bring in your own food. (Kansas City area is one place where they do care.) One thing Penny does note is that glass bottles are not allowed in any stadium.

Eat before you leave. Games are long, so you'll probably want a snack of some kind, but filling up before you head out makes the whole process easier.

Buy food and drinks outside the ballpark. If you haven't prepared in advance, don't want to lug the stuff from home, or are just craving something freshly cooked, you can stop somewhere just before you enter. (I remember when I lived in Chicago and would take "the El" aka the train to see the Cubs, as soon as I left the subway station vendors were selling the exact same bags of peanuts sold in the stadium. Only difference, was each vendor closer to the stadium was 50 cents more. First one was $1.50, but across the street from and in Wrigley they were $3.)

Save money on souvenirs

Check the promotion schedule. From hats and bats to figurines and bobble-heads, you can pick up a souvenir just for walking through the gate.

Grab souvenir cups after the game. Most ballparks sell soda in souvenir cups, and many of the cups can be very neat. If you want to nab one (or more), you've got two options-- buy the cup with soda inside, or wait until the game's over and then grab yourself one, two, six of the cups that are inevitably left behind all around you.

25 Frugal Tips To Save Money

The 25 Frugal Tips I Attempt to Follow are as follows:

1. I am in the process of changing my light bulbs to compact fluorescent lights (C.F.L.) bulbs to save money.
2. In the cold months I keep my furnace setting at 67 degrees.
3. I am in the process installing outlet insulation. These little babies, help prevent