Save money on Halloween giveaways and Christmas stocking stuffers at back-to-school sales

Hate back to school shopping? Then why not make it multitask, shopping for holidays, too? Shop back to school sales for Halloween, Christmas gifts, stocking stuffers, birthday presents and other holiday gift-giving. Save gobs of money and time.

Get cool candy alternative Halloween treats at back to school sales. Stock up on stocking stuffers for Christmas. Who says you have to give candy at Halloween?  Buy super cheap pencils, stickers, crayons, glue sticks, pencil sharpeners and pass them out for trick-or-treat. Or give healthier back-to-school snacks: fruit snacks, granola bars, crackers and popcorn.

Who decreed that stocking stuffers must cost a lot? Sure stores would like you to think that $10 is cheap but we tightwads know you can fill Santa's sack much more affordably. School supplies make awesome, inexpensive stocking stuffers. Fill kids' stockings with markers, scissors, calculator and other useful stuff. Shop back to school sales for pencils, glue sticks, notebooks, markers, crayons, scissors, pens, activity booklets, coloring books and craft sets. Throw in some Free Printable Coloring Pages from my blog here.

Back to school sales are a good place to find cheap gifts for holiday toy donations. Do you participate with Operation Christmas Child? Think BTS sales for shoebox fillers. Or use them for grandkid goody bags or travel kits or Easter baskets...the possibilities are endless! I made travel bags for my twin 2-year-old grandsons when they moved to Louisiana. Their parents said these cheap little goody bags literally saved everyone's sanity on the 21-hour trip!

Oh and if you  have a little extra to spare, buy school supplies and donate items to a school to distribute.

Once a Week Cooking Recipes for Economical, Healthy 2 for 1 Meals

I am a Domestic Goddess Mama. My domain is kitchen efficiency. I am Empress of Living Simple, Tsarina of Tightwad , Duchess of DIY, Baroness of Budgeting. To achieve all those, I've created 2-4-1 recipes. Entrees are repurposed for several dishes, so I get twice the meals for half the work. I use once-a-week cooking strategies, doing the bulk of my cooking on Sunday when I have the most time, for the week ahead. Here's a weekly meal planner that serves six people with seven dinners. There are usually lunch leftovers. These recipes feature lighter calorie options and are nutritious, balanced and healthy. Once a Week Cooking Recipes for Economical, Healthy 2 for 1 Meals

Cut Graduation Costs, Budget Open House Tips

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Healthy Cooking Cheats for Crazy-busy Parents

Mealtimes present a dilemma for me: I want the kids to enjoy hot, hearty, healthy meals, but I generally lack adequate time to cook. If you're a crazy-busy parent who values nutritious meals, you need shortcuts to "get-er-done" fast. Here are cooking cheats from a 24-year veteran mom of four. Tailor recipe sizes to family need. These meals are easy on the budget as well. Healthy, Cheap Cooking Cheats for Crazy-busy Folks

Green Up Your Shopping and Save Money

Living green also means saving green with these eco-friendly shopping tips. You've heard it said "you can't have everything"? Maybe not always, but you can with green shopping. Here are ways to reduce, reuse, recycle and save on grocery shopping. Save time, money, gas, hassle and patience! 'Green Up' Your Shopping and Save Money

8 DIY Automotive Maintenance Tricks that Save Us Big Money

8 DIY Automotive Maintenance Tricks that Save Us Big Money Did you know that you can save yourself hundreds, even thousands of dollars on DIY auto repairs each year? By learning and practicing a few routine maintenance tips, we have saved money not only on repairs, but also purchasing inexpensive used vehicles. Maintenance saves on gas costs, too. The biggest reason most people buy new vehicles is because they need the warranty or they lack the skills to perform their own maintenance. Those skills aren't difficult to learn. Read more...

At-Home vs. Professional Teeth Whitening: Green Alternatives that Save Green

Teeth whitening has been in vogue for several years now with celebrities, models and everyday consumers. Many procedures for teeth whitening are marketed. Is it worth having your teeth whitened professionally? Lady Greenwise puts on her diy hat and discusses how to save green and make green choices about getting white teeth. Read more...

Free Printable Color-Your Own Greeting Cards

Free Printable Coloring Page Greeting Cards for Children
Looking for a fun coloring project for your children? How about free printable color-your-won greeting cards. These greeting cards print in black and white so that children can enjoy coloring. Birthday, Halloween, Thank you, Get Well and more.
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AVG Anti-Virus Software Review: Free Download

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In six years, I've gone from computer illiterate to repairing and maintaining my own computers. Everything I learned has been through trial and error. I've used many software programs. AVG Anti-virus software has given the best performance.
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Green, Non-toxic Jewelry and Silver Polish

Silver cleaning and polishing compounds can be some of the most toxic chemicals in your craft cupboard or home. Many of crafting friends use silver polish for their crafts. Here's a green solution for silver polishing and cleaning. Gel toothpaste. Cheap, non-toxic, safe and green. For even safer, greener toothpaste silver polish, choose Tom's of Maine, Kiss my Face or other organic toothpaste. Read on...

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