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.  

If you are ready to start living frugally, here are some good ways to get started:

1. Eat out less. No matter what you think, preparing your own food at home is always less costly than eating at restaurants. If you are pressed for time, do a lot of the preparation work on the weekends. You can even prepare casseroles and other meals in advance, and freeze them for later.
2. Clip coupons. Clip grocery coupons for those items that you typically purchase to save. Of course the big discount and warehouse stores don't accept coupons, but they are handy for those products that you do purchase on a regular basis at the grocery. At this time of year, look for coupons on products you will use for holiday meals, paper products, and cleaning supplies. If you want to save big, find out if any stores in your area double coupons.
3. Use the library. Go to the library to check out those best sellers you've been dying to read. You can even save costs on magazine subscriptions by checking out your favorite magazines at the library, too.
4. Plan your errands. Plan your errands in advance so that you can take care of several things all in one trip. This will not only save on gas, but it's a real time saver too.
5. Watch for free stuff – especially online. It's amazing the stuff you can find for free online. From classic book downloads at the GutenbergProject.org to free business cards, free language lessons, free jewelry, and more. In addition, look for buy one get one free offers at the grocery and save.
6. Utilities - turn off the lights when you are not using them. Same goes for other appliances and your computer, too. Check the thermostat. Get a digital thermostat to automatically turn the heat down during the times you are not at home, or are sleeping, and turn it up a tad when you are in the house. Works the same way for the A/C in the summer.
7. Audit your insurance policies – check over your insurance policies to make sure you are not paying for coverage that you don't need. For example, does your auto insurance provide an auto club like membership while you also belong to AAA Motor Club? Do you really need rental reimbursement coverage on your auto policy if you own more than one car? These and other issues should be checked over thoroughly. Call your agent to understand your policies better.
8. Learn to do-it-yourself – there are many services for which we pay top dollar that we could easily learn to do ourselves – i.e. manicures, oil changes, room painting, and other small repairs.
9. Avoid late fees – pay bills online. When you pay your bills online you not only save the cost of the stamp and the check, but also any late fees that you might incur if the payment arrives late.
10. Shop with a list - whether you are doing your grocery shopping or shopping for holiday gifts, plan ahead and make a list – then stick to the list to avoid impulse purchases.

You only have to waste less than $28 per day to throw away $10,000 a year. With the frugal tips listed above, as well as others you'll find in our posts, you'll learn to save at least that much!

With a growing business, my husband is always looking for ways to save. These days most businesses, small, medium, and large, need to be more frugal and find cost savings anywhere they can. With smart planning, businesses can apply a few frugal ideas – and possibly save a few jobs out there!

One of the best ways we have found to save on office supplies is to buy at the big warehouse stores like Costco and Sam’s Club. You can save big money on many items, and you’d be surprised at some of the items you can buy there. For busy business owners, Costco offers a fabtastic fax service. You just fax over your order, and pick it up at the pre-determined time. It is a real time saver. You will even pass up the often very long check out lines and proceed to a special check out line for business fax customers. (more…)

Who doesn’t want to get the most for their money when they go grocery shopping? However, we don’t always know how to go about finding the best savings at the grocery store. Here are some ideas you may want to use when shopping, as wells as some handy food storage tips, that can help you save money. Use these ideas to keep more money in the bank!

Grocery Shopping

1. Always shop on a full stomach to avoid impulse purchases. If you’re hungry you are more likely to buy things you really don’t need.
2. Watch for seasonal sales. Certain things will go on sale at certain times of the year. For example, baking supplies start going on sale around Thanksgiving through the Christmas holiday, or condiments in the summer. Stock up when items are on sale and save money.
3. Use coupons! Check out the Sunday paper, and also the special offers in the newspaper usually Wednesday or Thursday (check with your local newspaper publisher). Clip coupons for those items you really use and enjoy, and save.
4. Shop alone. Your significant other or your kids may have a tendency to talk you into things that aren’t on your list or in your frugal budget.
5. Shop with a list. I keep a notepad in the kitchen so that i can jot down what I need as soon as I run out of it. Shopping with a list, and sticking to it, will help you avoid buying things that you don’t need, or that you really aren’t out of yet.
6. Know the prices of the things you purchase and when you’re at the checkout, watch the register carefully. Be sure you are getting the advertised sale prices, and that you are not being overcharged for regularly priced items. Mistakes do happen, and often, so be aware.
7. Shop the warehouse stores for non-perishable items like paper products, cleaning supplies, and those food products that you know you can use in a reasonable amount of time.  If you have a large family or you’re planning a gathering, you can take advantage of savings on the bulk food items.  Or choose those items that have a longer shelf life, if you buy in bulk, such as pasta or rice.

Proper Food Storage Saves Money
If you’re never sure how to store your flour, or how long your chicken can be kept in the refrigerator, you’re not alone. We’ve made a list of some popular foods and storage parameters for each:

• Spaghetti You can store this for up to two years, but once opened, store it in an airtight container.
• Rice It depends on the variety, but all should be kept tightly covered. White can last up to two years, but brown and wild should be stored only six months to a year.
• Flour You can freeze flour indefinitely, otherwise, keep it in an airtight container just six to eight months.
• Dry Cereal Check the date on the package, but after opened, dry cereal usually lasts about two to three months. Make sure to refold the package liner tightly or transfer it to an airtight container to help maintain quality.
• Bacon Keep it in the refrigerator just seven days. You can freeze bacon for up to a month.
• Chicken or Turkey Pieces Store in the refrigerator one to two days, or the freezer for nine months.
• Apples They’ll last one to three weeks in the refrigerator, but make sure not to wash them before storing. Keep them in the crisper or in a moisture-resistant bag.
• Ground Beef You can store it one to two days in the refrigerator or three to four months in the freezer.
• Steaks or Roasts These will last three to five days in the refrigerator, six months to a year in the freezer.
• Deli or Lunch Meats Keep these in the refrigerator for three to five days or freeze them for up to two months.
• Eggs Eggs keep for three weeks. (You shouldn’t freeze eggs. )
• Butter It will last one to two weeks in the refrigerator. Make sure to wrap it tightly.
• Shredded Cheese Keep it in the refrigerator and use within two days of the “best when purchased by” date.

Commonly Asked Questions about Food Storage

How long before I should refrigerate leftovers from dinner?
Two hours—for hot foods. Use leftovers within three to five days, and when in doubt, throw it out.

Which temperature should I set my refrigerator and freezer?
Refrigerators should stay at 41 °F (5 °C) or less, and freezers at 0°F (minus 18 °C) or less.

What do packaging dates mean?
“Sell by” means the store should sell the product by the printed date, but the product can still be safely eaten by the consumer.

“Best if used by” means the consumer should use the product by the date listed for best quality and flavor.

“Use by” or “expires” means the product should be used before the date listed.

So save some money at the grocery and improved your life!