Debt is one of the biggest troubles facing most American families these days. Families are struggling to make car payments and high monthly mortgages, and many are taking on even more debt by sending their kids to college. In fact, the debt crisis has become so severe that the Federal Reserve’s July report noted that the total U.S. revolving debt was a staggering $793.1 billion, 98 percent of which belonged to credit cards with the average American household having nearly $16,000 in credit card debt.

This high level of debt can cause extreme anxiety, and has made many decide to choose reducing their debt as their New Year’s Resolution. So if you are one of millions that has chosen to reduce their debt in their upcoming year, consider adhering to the following tips:

Create a Budget

One of the things that leads people to overspend is the lack of foresight in regards to their monthly budget. People don’t always take into consideration just how much they spend monthly compared to how much they bring in. To make an adequate monthly budget, be real with yourself. Write down exactly how much you make and take into account on how much you spend on everything from your mortgage to your entertainment, and then see where you can feasibly reduce your expenses.

Cut Up the Cards

Credit cards are the most likely cause of debt, next to school loans and mortgages with many people actually paying more to their credit card companies than they do on their car payment. If you find yourself frequently reaching for your credit cards when you can’t afford an unnecessary purchase, cut them up.  Go head and get rid of those cards so that you can pay them off without racking up more debt.

If you do choose to keep a credit card or two in your wallet, make sure that you choose the best rebate credit cards so that you are able to benefit the most from what you charge each month. Most credit cards with great rebates offer reviews online, and the Chase Sapphire Preferred review and the Discover review are a few of the more popular.  However, if you use these cards, make sure that you can pay off the balance at the end of every month.

Make Your Morning Coffee and Bring Your Lunch

Hundreds of dollars are wasted every year on fancy coffees and eating out – even opting for a regular cup of coffee daily instead of your normal drink can total up to a staggering $80 a month, and that’s the minimum.

To save yourself some money, money which would be better spent paying off debt, make your morning coffee at home and bring your lunch to work. Sure, eating in the office isn’t always as fun as escaping the office for a brief period, but it can save you $200 or more a month – a cutback well worth it if you are serious about getting out of debt.

Choosing to get out of debt isn’t as easy as simply paying a few extra dollars to your creditors each month. Choosing to get out of debt is a lifestyle change. In addition to paying extra each month, you will need to change your life so that you can live more frugally which means avoiding the coffee shops, shopping sprees, and unnecessary trips.

*This is a guest post by Becky W.

Start Your New Year Off Right By Minimizing Debt is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

In celebration of the November 16th DVD, Blu-ray and 3D release of Disney’s A Christmas Carol,  Disney has sent me some fun holiday tips to share with you!  Don’t be a Scrooge this holiday season and follow these simple yet wise gifting tips from gift expert Robyn Spizman, entertaining tips from Kate Paul of Food Ink and traveling tips from CBS News Traveler Editor Peter Greenberg.

Don’t Be a Scrooge!

In the midst of a sluggish economy, high unemployment rates and rising airfares, there’s a reason so many people utter Charles Dickens’ memorable line, “Bah, humbug!” at some point during the holiday season. However, with a little ingenuity—and planning—you can have a memorable celebration even if money is tight. We have numerous tips to help you spend wisely on gifts, entertaining and travel. Ebenezer Scrooge, be damned!

Gift-Giving Guidance

Give from your heart. “Think about your attitude of gratitude and a kind deed someone did for you this past year. Express your thanks by writing a heartfelt note or poem or get creative and write an acrostic based on their name like Thank you Tony: T is for Terrific, O is for One of a Kind, N is for Nice and Y is for You…Terrific, One of a Kind, Nice – You!”

Gift a page turning gift! “Re-gift your favorite book. While you should avoid being a Scrooge and re-gifting things you don’t want—what makes you think anyone else wants them—when it comes to a treasured book you loved reading, that’s anti-Scrooge and approved. Add a bookmark or self-sticking notes throughout the book with little messages of what a novel friend or family member they are.”

Give them a hand! “Give a gift that saves time and frustration. Grandma might love to sew, but threading those needles can be a Scrooge moment. Thread up a month’s worth of needles for Grandma and just watch your gift sew up her affection. It will clearly keep her in stitches and put a smile on her face.”

Think free and fabulous. “Give the age-old coupon that you personalize for an errand, from getting your best bud organized, driving carpool, pet-sitting, babysitting, to cake baking!”

Give mini wishes! “Consider filling a care package with their favorite chewing gum, free samples of higher-priced items, etc. Small gifts can be a big way of giving a variety of your favorite things, such as new products to try. You can include some coupons from the newspaper or stores to save them time, money and energy!”

Give a do-together gift. “Choose something for a friend that you two can do together, such as tickets for a friend or a mani and pedi.”

Share a recipe. “Give a favorite recipe and the ingredients and maybe even a lesson in cake baking. Bring everything with you, stir up some fun and voila! You’ve made dessert for them.”

Consider freezer pleasers. “Fill up a friend or family member’s freezer with casseroles, home-baked goodies and anything destined to freeze and then please! It’s such a thoughtful gift that’s certain to warm up even a Scrooge’s cold heart!”

Entertaining With Ease

“Easy floral décor for the table: do one type of flower so that there is no time-consuming arranging that might make you tear your hair out! Mismatched mason jars or small juice bottles (Italian fruit juice bottles are the best for a designer look) filled with one bloom—and underlit by tealights—is an easy, ten-minute design.”

“Place candles outside the doorway, perhaps even up the path, to greet guests and let them know that you are happy to see them.”

“Don’t forget hand towels, a candle and a small bud vase filled with fragrant flowers in the bathroom. These three things will make all the difference and guests will feel like they are at a high-end restaurant!”

“Always offer a cheese platter, which you can set up the night before. Add crackers and berries just before the party starts. That way if guests turn up early (someone always does) they will have something to eat.”

“In this challenging economy, think about potlucks with your friends so that you can all see each other without huge expenses falling to one person. Perhaps designate a theme and ask people to bring along a dish of their choice that fits the theme. You designate appetizer, salad, vegetable, side, dessert, etc., or just serve all heavy appetizers!”

“Don’t be overly ambitious with the menu. It is better to offer the best-tasting four appetizers EVER than try to replicate that French Laundry Chef’s Table Experience. Good as you are, you won’t relax!”

“Take one day to visit your local gourmet stores to see what new appetizers and prepared foods they have in stock. That way you can pre-plan food that can be oven easy if you don’t have it in you to cook every element.”

“Ask your local liquor store if they will supply you with alcohol on a sale/return basis. You send back unused and unopened bottles so you only pay what is consumed and don’t have any leftovers that cost you money.”

“Set up a proper bar, even if you’re only serving beer and wine. Put wine in a wine cooler, line glasses up on trays, and be sure to have the extras like sliced citrus for water, a bottle opener and a small garbage can nearby for trash.”

“Take the time to introduce your guests to each other, note what each may have in common or how you know them, and make sure that no one is left without a glass in their hand.”

Travel Tips

One of the most stressful things about the holidays is travel: from packing to security lines, crowded flights to inevitable delays. Add to that the fact that airfares are on the rise again this year and it’s hard to get too excited about leaving town. Fortunately, expert Peter Greenberg, CBS News Travel Editor and author of “Tough Times, Great Travels,” has lots of good advice for surviving the season:

“I’m a contrarian traveler, so my advice is this: it’s best to travel when everyone else ISN’T,” says Greenberg. “That means not hitting the road the Wednesday before or the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and definitely not the day before Christmas. But guess what? Winter does provide two great opportunities to travel when there are no crowds: the week AFTER Thanksgiving and just after New Year’s. Those are known as the dead weeks in travel, which means great deals, no crowds, and best of all, no traffic.”

Use the Internet to your advantage, advises Greenberg on his website, PeterGreenberg.com. “Sign up for fare alerts for your specific city so you’ll be notified if and when the price goes down. Specific airlines have them, as do resources like Farecompare.com and AirfareWatchdog.com. Also, take a look at Bing Travel’s Farecast alert which tells you with reasonable confidence whether prices will go up, down, or stay flat.”

If you have the time, connect. “Look for connecting flights rather than non-stops for better deals,” he says. “But make sure the layover is at least an hour. If you miss a connection due to a delay, it will be difficult to get on another flight.”

“Last, but not least, on short trips, remember the most economical alternative is to skip the planes altogether and opt for a bus or train,” says Greenberg. “Prices around the holidays remain relatively stable, whether you’re traveling before, on or during Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.   Not all reservations are guaranteed, so arrive early to avoid being bumped.”

Favorite Tip?

What is your favorite tip?  Mine is the potluck idea of designating a theme and having everyone bring a dish of their choice that fits the theme.  This could really cut down on individual expense and create an ultimate feast in the process.

SAVE $10!

In celebration of Disney’s A Christmas Carol coming to DVD, 3D and Blu-ray next Tuesday Disney is offering a $10 off coupon for the 4-Disc Blu-ray Combo! Go here to download your coupon.

Don’t Be A Scrooge- Holiday Tips & $10 Off Disney’s A Christmas Carol Coupon! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to give your home a makeover without spending a lot of time and money to do it? Luckily, there are some easy and  inexpensive tips to provide that visual change that are also friendly for the environment.

*Recycle*

This can mean reusing any number of items around the house or thrift shop finds.

*Glass – Vintage bottles, vases and jars, especially those that use colored glass, can be used to create unique centerpieces by placing them on trays and filling with contrasting marbles, sand, leaves or flowers.

*Furniture – If a new look is desired but older pieces are still comfortable, purchasing fabric furniture covers to go over the couch and easy chairs is an ideal solution. It keeps the old furniture out of the trash heap and is much cheaper than buying a whole new set of furniture. If your current furniture is beyond repair, shop thrift stores to find new-to-you pieces which can also be transformed by a slipcover. They come in a variety of sizes to fit most types of seats, including wing chair slipcovers.

*Repainting – Dull wooden pieces of furniture can be enhanced by refinishing or repainting using environmentally-friendly paints. Adding some color can completely change the look of an entire room.

*Art*

Finding the right artwork to hang on the walls can be a costly and time-consuming process. Why not enlist the help of loved ones to make it easier and more cost-effective?

*Framed art – If there are small children in the house, have them create their own masterpieces using finger paint or a variety of child-friendly mediums. If you have an older student who has a flare, see if they would be willing to paint something that can be hung on the wall.

*Photos – Take those family photographs lying around, or waiting in the digital camera to be developed, and put them in a variety of frames to hang around the house or place on tables and shelves. For a more artsy look, most photo processing centers offer options to print pictures in black and white to add a touch of nostalgia or with a tint of magenta which gives the appearance of a drawing.

*The little things*

Not everything has to be a big change to make a noticeable difference. Subtle shifts around the room provide a different perspective and opens up space. Small changes include:

*Lighting – Use table lamps rather than overhead lighting for a softer glow. Lamps can be rearranged throughout the house to eliminate shadows and give the illusion of more room. Styles can be altered by simply swapping shades. For more energy savings, purchase CFL bulbs.

*Pillows – Just like old sofas or recliners, pillows can be changed through the use of new coverings that come in a variety of fabrics and colors.

Being eco-friendly and frugal doesn’t have to mean skimping on a home makeover. A busy schedule doesn’t have to get in the way either. With a few of these simple tips a makeover can be had that is inexpensive, easy and good for the planet.

*Guest article written by Caroline Smith

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How To Give Your Home an Eco-Friendly Makeover on a Budget is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Hefty recently released a new video giving some great money saving picnic tips.  The “strong advice”  shows you how to have more fun at your family gatherings and is just in time for the 4th of July!  EXCELLENT!  PLUS, at the end of the video there is a link to download a coupon for a $1-off ANY Hefty trash bags.

As always, Hefty recommends to recycle as much as you can!   It’s good to be green!

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Hefty Money Saving Picnic Tips-Plus $1-off Coupon! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Amazon has some FANTASTIC deals on K-Cups right now.  This would be a good opportunity to stock up on your favorite coffee and tea brands such as Coffee People’s Donut Shop, Diedrich, Timothy’s, and Gloria Jean’s.  The K-Cups are on sale for  as low as $21 (pack of 50) on some  selected boxes, but if you choose “subscribe and save” it lowers the cost to $17.85!  Get an additional 10% off by applying coupon code KCUP9306 which makes the cost ONLY $15.50 with FREE SHIPPING!  WOW this brings the price per K-Cup to just .36 cents!  You can unsubscribe,  if you like,  immediately after placing your order.

I notice a few of the boxes are not in stock and are selling out fast like Diedrich, but keep watching to see when they are made available to purchase again and grab them up!

Offer valid through January 31, 2010.

Stock Up On Your Favorite K-Cups At Amazon.com is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Home Made Simple wants to help you  ”Refresh Your Nest For Less!” Fill out the information located here to request your booklet by mail with over $35 in savings on great home care products from brands like Cascade, Dawn, Febreze, Mr. Clean and Swiffer.

Available  to US residents only.  Limit one one offer per household.  Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery. Offer good while supplies last.

Refresh Your Nest for Less – $35 In Savings is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

This weeks Kmart savings are running from Thursday to Sunday instead of the usual Saturday and Sunday:  I thought I would post them right away so you can plan accordingly.

Bluelight Specials for 11/26-11/29 THURSDAY to SUNDAY from 1PM-6PM!

· Kids Route 66 Graphic Tees $3.99 (Reg. $7.99)

· Essential Home 7.5′ x 9.5′ Rug in a Bag $34.99 (Reg. $69.99)

· All Multi-Roll Wrap 50% Off (Reg. $7.99)

Don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win every day! For more info & rules: http://tr.im/KmartBLS. Good luck!

Kmart Thanksgiving Bluelight Specials is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

WOW have you seen the Walmart Black Friday Ad yet?  There is going to be tremendous savings going on between 5 am to 11 am Nov 27.  Last year I missed the sales,  but I am going to make sure I am at the door early this year since money is especially tight this year and every dollar counts.  Some of the great deals include a HP Deskjet F2430 All-In-One Printer – $25,  Sayno 50″ DP50719 Plasma HDTV- $598, eMachines 15.6 Notebook- $198,  Magnavox NB500 Blu-ray Disc Player- $78, Crock-Pot 5-Quart Digital Slow Cooker – $13, and tons of other savings.   If you want to take a sneak peek at the ad you can view it here.

Sneak Peek At The Walmart Black Friday Ad! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Check out this weekends Walmart savings!

Starts November 21st!

Walmart Serves Up a Week of Early Savings with Prices Like The Day-After-Thanksgiving

Focused on bringing families tremendous savings this holiday season on entertainment for all ages, Walmart (NYSE: WMT) today announced that starting Saturday, Nov. 21, Walmart stores will introduce savings resembling the day-after-Thanksgiving prices on select toys and entertainment, one week early.* Special items include popular dolls and activity toys, a 26-inch Vizio HDTV, and gaming packages from Guitar Hero, Band Hero and DJ Hero with a $40 Walmart Gift Card.

“We promised amazing savings each week in November and December and will deliver on that promise for our customers,” said Gary Severson, senior vice president of Entertainment, Walmart U.S. “Shoppers who want to get a jump start this weekend can find values in Entertainment they would expect to see after Thanksgiving Day. We will continue to deliver amazing savings on popular items, and to do so often.”

Even though half of Walmart moms intend to shop on Thanksgiving weekend, more than half say they aspire to complete all their holiday shopping by the end of next week.** Anticipating customer needs this year, Walmart has announced savings each week providing families early assistance on great gifts. This weekend customers will see savings on select items up to 50 percent – in advance of Thanksgiving weekend.

Below are a few examples of these early savings, starting Saturday, Nov. 21, through Nov. 27:
Toys:

• Li’l Luvables Studio – was $20, now $8 (60% savings)
• EZ Bake Oven – was $28, now $16 (40% savings)
• Little Dreams 22” Doll – was $15, now $8 (47% savings)
• Baby Alive Newborn Doll – was $15, now $8 (47% savings)
• Nerf Capture the Flag – was $39, now $19 (51% savings)
• Air Hogs Laser Zero Gravity Remote-controlled Vehicle – was $34, now $19 (44% savings)
• Barbie Generation of Dreams Collectors Doll – was $49, now $25 (49% savings)
• Disney Princess Scooter – was $129, now $99 (23% savings)
• Nerf N-Strike Vulcan – was $42.97, now $25 (42% savings)
• HDTV Savings
• 26″ Vizio LCD HDTV (720p model,) — was $347, now $248, (28% savings, limit two per person)

$40 Gift Card with “Hero” Game Packages
Walmart customers who purchase these gaming packages will receive a $40 Walmart Gift Card while supplies last:

• Band Hero – Includes drum and guitar controllers, microphone and game (ESRB: E10+)
  • PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii – $199.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card
  • PS2 – $179.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card
• DJ Hero – Includes turntable controller and game (ESRB: T)
  • PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii – $119.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card
  • PS2 – $99.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card
• Guitar Hero 5 – Includes guitar controller and game (ESRB: T)
  • PS3, Xbox 360, and Wii – $99.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card
  • PS2 – $89.00 plus $40 Walmart Gift Card

Shoppers can find more information about Walmart’s weekly holiday price events and savings this season by going to www.walmart.com/holidaysavings.

* Prices good from Nov. 21 to Nov. 27. Quantities of all items are limited. No rainchecks. Offer not valid in Puerto Rico or on Walmart.com. Prices and availability may vary in Hawaii, Oklahoma and Wisconsin.
** Walmart Customer Insights, October 2009
*** Gift Card offering not available in Hawaii, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin due to state restrictions. We may limit the number of items purchased per customer. Void where prohibited.

About Walmart
Every week, millions of customers visit Walmart stores, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam’s Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Walmart is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $378 million to local communities in the United States. More information about Walmart can be found by visiting www.walmartstores.com.

info credited to Walmart.com Press Release

Walmart Early Savings! is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

I wanted to share some exciting news about the cool site Cardswap.ca with all my Canadian friends out in the blogosphere who might be looking to save or make a bit of extra cash this holiday season!  Cardswap.ca online marketplace  helps thousands of shoppers securely purchase discounted gift cards! You can save  between 10% to 40% by buying discounted gift cards or safely swap your  unwanted cards for cash.  The site is available  exclusively to Canadian residents.

The company is also having a contest where you can enter to win an Ipod Touch!  Visit www.CardSwap.ca to enter the contest.  There is no purchase necessary to enter the giveaway.  The terms and conditions specify you must be a Canadian resident to be eligible for the prize. When your asked,  enter PIN  BL2358 on the contest form.  Good luck!

IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CardSwap.ca first in Canada: Launches to redeem $3.5M of unused gift cards

CardSwap has already attracted thousands of registered users who have enthusiastically embraced this new online site. This Toronto based company, is the first in Canada but has already been proven by the several successful sites in the US (ie. PlasticJungle.com, CardAvenue.com, mentioned in New York Times, Oprah, Wall Street Journal). In this era of free information, consumers are able to connect using easy to navigate technology for very specific reasons, such as e-commerce sites like CardSwap.

CardSwap.ca – Canada’s #1 Site For Discounted Gift Cards -iPod Touch Giveaway is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

11/21-11/22 Bluelight Specials!

* Home/All Frames 50% off (reg range $1-$29.99)

* Boys and Girls Basic Edition turtlenecks $2.99 (reg.$7.99)

* Home/All Cookware 40% off (reg. $6.99-169.99)

“Don’t forget to follow @KmartDealsnNews and use the #KmartBLS hashtag for a chance to win every day!  For more info & rules: http://tr.im/KmartBLS. Good luck!”

This Weekend’s Kmart Bluelight Special Teasers is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Subscribe to the FaveCrafts Quick and Crafty email newsletter for free and receive the How-To Halloween: Decorating Ideas and Easy Crafty Costumes from Bloggers eBook Click Here

42 ways to reuse materials to create unique and amazing crafts. Seven chapters filled with ideas on paper, metal, plastic, glass, clothing and more. You can create wine coasters out of glass, you can make tins out of greeting cards and can critters out of metal. It’s easy, fun and quick! Save money and the environment. Over 90 pages of ideas.
Click Here

Subscribe to FaveCrafts Free Quick & Crafty e-mail newsletter and enjoy new craft projects, tips and videos. Click Here

Be one of the lucky few. Join Nielsen’s Homescan Consumer Panel today! Click Here

Register to receive $5 off your purchase of Neutrogena Complete Acne Therapy System. Click Here

Would you like to receive some great free samples, offers, and coupons for your new bundle of joy?

If you are a new Parent, Grandparent, Aunt, Uncle or friend, register with Planning Family for some great stuff for the baby!

At Planning Family you will find free baby samples, free baby magazines, baby formula coupons and more.

Tons of free baby stuff from the brands you know and trust. Click Here

Visit Penny Pincher Gazette for Free Printable Grocery Coupons! Click Here

Free eCookbook: Quick and Easy Chicken Casserole Recipes featuring 47-pages of quick and easy recipes. Click Here

Free The Google Story Book Summary Click Here

Freebies and Savings is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy any TWO Whole Grain Total, Total Raisin Bran, Total Honey Clusters, Total Cranberry Crunch, Total Blueberry Pomegranate OR Total

SAVE $.50 ON TWO

when you buy TWO any variety Green Giant Frozen Boxed Vegetables

SAVE $.50

when you buy any variety 19 OZ. – 24 OZ. ONLY Green Giant Frozen Bagged Vegetables

SAVE $.50

when you buy ONE any variety Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers frozen vegetables

SAVE $.50

when you buy any Green Giant Create a Meal! Stir Fry Frozen Meal Starter

SAVE $1.00 ON THREE

when you buy THREE any flavor Progresso Soups

SAVE $.50

when you buy ONE any variety Progresso Broth

SAVE $.75 ON THREE

when you buy THREE any flavor Hamburger Helper, Tuna Helper OR Chicken Helper Home Cooked Skillet Meals

SAVE $1.50

when you buy any flavor Wanchai Ferry Frozen Entrée  (See my review. Very Yummy)

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO TUBS any flavor/variety Betty Crocker Frosting

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO any flavor Betty Crocker Box Supreme Brownie Mixes

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO any flavor 17.5 OZ. OR LARGER Betty Crocker Cookie Mixes

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO 40 OZ. OR LARGER Original Bisquick OR Bisquick Heart Smart Baking Mix

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO any flavor Betty Crocker Warm Delights Bowls OR Betty Crocker Warm Delights Minis Bowls

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO any flavor/variety of Fiber One

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor Chex Mix Bars

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO 4.5 oz. or larger Chex Mix

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor Fiber One Chewy Bars

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor Betty Crocker Fruit by the Foot, Fruit Gushers, Fruit Roll-Ups OR Fruit Roll-Ups Fruit Stickerz Fruit Flavored Snacks

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO BOXES any flavor/variety Nature Valley Granola Bars

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO any flavor 4.5 OZ. OR LARGER Chex Mix OR Chex 100 Calorie Snack

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO BOXES any variety Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Shapes

SAVE $1.00

when you buy ONE BAG any flavor Nature Valley Granola Nut Clusters (reached limit -not available)

SAVE $1.00 ON EIGHT

when you buy EIGHT any variety Yoplait Yogurt cups (Includes Original, Light, Thick & Creamy, OR Whips!) OR any flavor Yoplait Original OR Light Smoothie

SAVE $.40

when you buy any flavor Yoplait products listed: Yoplait Go-GURT Yogurt Yoplait Kids Cup Yogurt Yoplait Kids Yogurt Drink Yoplait Trix Multipack

SAVE $1.00

when you buy any flavor Yoplait Delights Yogurt Multipack

SAVE $1.00

when you buy any flavor Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt Multipacks

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO any flavor Yoplait products listed: Yoplait Go-GURT Yogurt Yoplait Trix Multipack Yogurt

SAVE $1.00 ON TWO

when you buy TWO CONTAINERS any flavor 32 OZ. Yoplait Yogurt

Be prepared to download coupons and save. There is a limited supply,  so hurry and get yours now!

Save With Betty Crocker is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Get a FREE Betty Crocker Potatoes sample when you sign up for the Dinner Made Easy newsletter.  Link.

Free REMEDY Magazine and Product Samples at No Cost. Link

Sign up for a FREE SUBSCRIPTION (6 issues) to
American Baby Magazine. Link

Register at PPGazette.com and receive free printable coupons, email newsletters and local grocery  store circulars, recipes and articles. Link

“The Greener Way To Clean” Save $1.00 on any two (2) Scotch-Brite Greener Clean products. Link

Sign up to receive a $2.00 off coupon on 24 rolls of White Cloud or $1.00 off GreenEarth Bath Tissue or Paper Towels. Link

THIS WEEKEND ONLY in stores or online receive a FREE Anti-Bacterial Pocketbac Hand Gel with any purchase at Bath & Body Works. Link

Register at Stonyfield Farm to receive 20 e-coupons with a total savings of $19.oo.  Link

In the October issue of Seventeen Magazine there is a Sears coupon for $10 off Junior Fashions.  No minimum purchase!  There is also a special  insert in the magazine to receive an Aeropostale sweatshirt for $17.00 (normally $59.90)!

Freebies and Savings Roundup is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Frugal Housekeeping Tips is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

Green Tip Of The Day.

Switch your light bulbs to compact fluorescent bulbs. CFL bulbs happen to be 4 to 6 times more efficient than an incandescent bulb. Even though the initial cost of a CFL is higher than a standard bulb, the money savings over the lifetime of the bulb can be significant. A CFL lasts approximately 10,000 hours compared to the standard bulb only lasting 1,000 hours. They also produce 70% less heat making them safer to operate and cut energy costs associated with cooling your home. The Consumer Reports declares that switching a single bulb to CFL can save $5.00 a year in electrical costs. Imagine the savings if you switch all your bulbs to CFL!

Switching all the bulbs in your home can be expensive at first so just switch a few at a time.

Green Tip Of The Day. is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom

INGREDIENTS
12 ounces whole wheat penne
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 pounds chicken sausage removed from casing
1 bunch Swiss chard (about 1 pound) cleaned, stems and leaves separated and chopped
1 (9-ounce) box frozen artichoke hearts, thawed
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, sliced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3/4 cup grated Parmesan (about 2 ounces), plus more for serving
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

DIRECTIONS:

1. Set a large pot of salted water to boil for pasta. Mean while, in a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium. Add sausage and cook, stirring occasionally and breaking sausage into pieces, until cooked through and lightly browned, 10 to 12 minutes

2. Add remaining oil, chard stems, artichoke hearts, and garlic; season with salt and pepper. Cook until chard stems soften slightly, 3 to 5 minutes. Add chard leaves and cook, stirring, until wilted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

3. Add pasta to boiling water; Cook until 2 minutes short of al dente. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook 2 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta water and drain pasta; return to pot.

4. Pour half of reserved pasta water into a small bowl. Add tomato paste and whisk to combine. Add tomato paste mixture, sausage mixture, Parmesan, basil, and red pepper flakes to pasta in pot. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water if necessary. Season with salt and pepper.

SERVES 4
PREP TIME: 35 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME: 35 MINUTES

Recipe borrowed from Body and Soul Magazine

Eating Right On A Shoestring Budget is a post from: A Happy Hippy Mom