If you want to save money, here are some great places to start.  You'll be surprised when you add up the savings:

Restaurant.com – Buy certificates for restaurants all around the US at a deep discount.  A $25 certificate is $10; and if you get on their mailing list they will email you offers for discounts as much as 80% off of the usual price.  We recently bought a $25 certificate for our favorite restaurant in our neighborhood for just $2.  Print them and use them same day – no wait.  Highly recommended.

MagicJack – imagine cutting your total phone bill to $19.95 per year!  Just plug the MagicJack into your computer, connect your phone, and make all the calls you want to any phone in the US or Canada for only $19.95 per year.  Our top pick 

Skype – the whole world can talk for free Make free calls over the Internet to other users online free.  Small charge for calling landlines and mobile phones around the world.

Costco -A membership will normally pay for itself only after a few uses.  Costco, Sam's Club and other warehouse stores can save you money on nearly everything you consume, from clothing to groceries, books, computers, office supplies, electronics, appliances, prescriptions and more.

PaperbackSwap.com – Swap books online free, and save.  With the cost of paperback books as much as $12.95 each, you can save by swaping those books you have already read.  

Craigslist.org - You can find just about anything you need for your home or office at Craigslist.  Sometimes these items have never even been used.  You just have to be willing to go and pick it up.

The RE-Store – Find furniture, fixtures, building supplies and more at the Re-Store, a Habitat for Humanity Thrift Store.  We have seen everything from fine antiques to hundreds of boxes of unused ceramic tiles to a lightly used piano.  Great place to find really low-cost filing cabinets, desks, and other office items too.

TotallyFreeStuff.com -Just like the name says, you will find totally free stuff, as well as discount coupons.  

Frugal living is a basic way of life; a way of life that some choose. Frugal shopping is about getting an item for the lowest possible price every time you buy it. Frugal grocery shopping typically involves buying less, but may be enhanced by coupons.  Frugal grocery shopping doesn't mean you have to have bland, tasteless food.  It is all about planning, and creativity.

Being frugal is essentially common sense living.  When we put frugality into daily practice it eventually becomes the “norm” and it becomes a “win-win” situation for everyone.  Fo example if a whole chicken is 99 cents per pound compared to $4.99 per pound for boneless chicken breasts, you can save a lot of money by creatively using the whole bird.  Riding your bike will save you so much money, and walking is great exercise and a money saver, too.  You can save money by avoiding alternative exercise expenses such as using the treadmill or staionary bike at the gym.  Try to have simple fun that doesn’t require a lot of money and (try to) ride bikes or walk when you can. 

Saving money helps the budget AND provides funds for doing something special later.  In addition, saving money now can help you when emergencies or unexpected expenses crop up. 

What is most important is to turn money-saving techniques into good habits, and you’ll realize how much you can save each and every month. 

It is not that hard to became frugal, start out slowly by trying one new frugal idea each week and before you know it you will be an expert at shopping frugally, living frugal, and saving money by being frugal. 

You can save money on groceries when you shop  with a list to stock your pantry versus shopping for groceries randomly.  Menu planning and shopping ahead of time will not only reduce your stress levels but can also save you money, as well. 

Perhaps you can share your frugal tips and frugal ideas too.  Tell us your frugal living tips….

Saving money is on just about everyone's mind these days, and there are some simple things you can do to get started saving more money in 2009:

1. Analyze your bank accounts: does your bank charge fees for your checking and savings accounts?  What is the interest rates?  There are plenty of banks out there that offer totally free checking accounts, and competitive rates of interest.  Do your homework and find out which bank is best for you.  Some of the online banking institutions are a great place to start.
2. Make your own meals:  if you are eating most meals at restaurants, start brown bagging your lunch to work, and make easy dinners at home.  No matter how busy you are, there are simple meals you can prepare at home that will save you big money.  Crockpot recipes and slow cooker recipes are great for busy people.
3. Use a list when shopping: whether you are shopping of groceries or gifts or back to school supplies, never go shopping without a list.  Plan carefully for your needs, and then stick to the list to avoid impulse purchases of things that you really don't need. (more…)

When you think of Thanksgiving do you think of the Norman Rockwell painting of the mother serving a perfectly browned turkey to her adoring family? Thanksgiving is one of our favorite holidays that brings family and friends together for an often all-day feast, football and fun and games. A frugal Thanksgiving can be fun and memorable, too. Just keep the focus of day on giving thanks for your family and friends without breaking the bank.

Make it a potluck Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of the most perfect occasions for a potluck-style dinner.  We usually make the turkey, while my mother brings her “famous” stuffing (which is technically called dressing since it is cooked outside the bird).  My sister is in charge of the pies, her specialty, bringing apple and pumpkin pies for sure.   Aunts  bring mashed potatoes, rolls and vegetables.  A potluck dinner not only divides the work, but also spreads the costs among the families attending.

Forget about the supermarket’s free turkey offer

Many grocery stores will give you a  free turkey if you spend over a certain amount over several weeks. CAUTION:  this not a good deal if you’re spending more than your usual budget on groceries in order to meet the free-turkey threshold.  If you must go for the free bird, like my husband who can’t resist a freebie, just make it work for you.  Stock up on staples, frozen goods, and baking ingredients which are usually good buys at this time of year and have a longer shelf life.

When you are buying your turkey, plan on 1 – 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person.  If you are not expecting a crowd, use turkey parts such as legs, thighs or just a breast.  This will save you have having too much leftover turkey that you may not be able to use.

Make your own decorations

Let the kids decorate with nature – have them collect pinecones and other seasonable natural products like gourds and pumpkins, colorful leaves and the like to create lovely table centerpieces.

Avoid Disposables

Avoid using disposable dishes, cutlery, and napkins.  Even if you have to run the dish washer more than once, you’ll still spend less than you would on disposables, and it is much better for the environment.

Frugal Wine

Consider using boxed wines, which are a surprisingly good, and low-cost option.  If you don’t like the look of the box, I suggest serving a Beaujolais Nouveau.  It becomes available the third Thursday of November each year, is not overly expensive, and is fabulous with a heavy turkey dinner.  Georges DuBoeuf Beaujolais Nouveau runs around $6-$8 per bottle.    Our other favorite is a Sauvignon Blanc Marborough.  This wine is from New Zealand, and the Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough runs around $10, you may even find it for less.

Focus on the spirit of the day

Spend time with family.  Talk, play games; watch football; look at old family photos.  Give thanks for the good fortune you have to spend this time with your loved ones.