Big Lots Finds: cheap prices on spices 75% off other store prices and even Amazon

 

Hello, penny pincher poster here, and I'm excited to share super cheap prices on spices that retail for 1/4 of the regular prices. That's 75% off normal store prices and even retail giant Walmart and Amazon! Some of the spices are on par with other stores but there are sine that I can never get without paying an arm and a leg. The store is Big Lots and the spices are celery salt, turmeric,  (how DO you pronounce it??) star anise and ginger. 

If you do a lot of world cooking, like me, you need a comprehensive spice collection. Prices on spices are one of the biggest variables in cooking ingredients. I cook many Indian and middle eastern dishes which require cumin, Indian cooking notably features ginger and turmeric as well. I've checked bulk prices at Amazon, the dollar spice section at Dollar Tree and Walmart. Dollar Tree doesn't carry celery salt and Walmart only has super-expensive name brand. 

So I was delighted to find all three in the bigger containers at Big Lots for $1. The celery salt is an especially good #BigLotsfind deal. I stock up because we literally use celery salt in almost everything. Oh and if you're wondering why it tastes familiar, celery salt plus powdered garlic are the flavors of the classic Spice Islands Beau Monde seasoning. Sometimes it's made with celery seed also. So buying celery salt at #BigLotsFinds gets you the coveted taste of Beau Monde too! Buy One Get One Free, yay! 

I saved 80% on facial products: money-saving tips on moisturizers, night cream, eye cream

Looking in the mirror while having my hair done, I realized that I'm getting old. To avoid the withered prune look, I'm upping my skin care regimen. Now I'm here to tell you, folks, that moisturizers are not cheap. In fact, one might call it a racket! I love the Lancome night cream for example. After using my sample size, I went looking at Sephora and found it (are you sitting down?) $60 a little pot!!

So I went to my go-to TJ Maxx to find cost-saving alternatives and I wasn't disappointed. I stocked up on cellulite firming cream (another extortion game
), retinol cream, collagen oil, day moisturizer and night cream. And the whole arsenal only cost me $30. And I got a huge thing of collagen cream, like professional size for only $7. I found collagen and retinol oil for $5 at Big Lots. So now, bring on the dry skin because this penny pinching mama is ready (and she didn't bust the bank to do it!)

25 tips to save money on college dorm room essentials

As fall approaches, students go back to school or college. And that means time for back to school shopping on college dorm room essentials. Books, tuition, student housing and extra fees are already expensive. Outfitting the dorm room can put parents over the top financially. Here's money-saving mom's budget dorm room shopping guide.

First, focus on dorm room essentials. Skip the funsy-cutsy non-essentials. Stores and colleges would have parents believe college kids need. all kids of junk they don't. Think "need" not want. Get best prices at Walmart, Target, Amazon, Best Buy, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree, Dollar General and TJ Maxx. Watch secondhand stores and other store sales. Use Walmart Savings Catcher to make sure your Walmart purchases were the lowest prices available.

Dorm room essentials: (check first to see what furniture dorms provide, typically bed, desk, shelves, closet)
-branched floor lamp (one light for reading in bed and one light for the desk): $10
-microwave oven: talk with roommates about chipping
in on a microwave. Pick one up for $40
-bed set: includes comforter, fitted sheet, 2 pillow cases. Some come with cushioned lap desk: $36. Send sheets and blankets, skip pillow shams and bed skirt.
-pillow: $5-$10 Choose a good comfortable pillow. This is essential for proper rest. Don't allow your college student to use the provided pillow.
-rug or bath mat: $4
-alarm clock: $5
-personal toiletries set in shower caddy or zippered bag. Student should stow supplies in container to prevent spread of germs in shared bathrooms, under $10.
-shower shoes, flip flops or pool shoes for use in shared bathroom
-portable dorm refrigerator: $59. Stock with beverages and food, to prevent temptation to spend big money at the college dining room or cafeteria.
-bath towel set: includes two bath towels, two hand towels, two washcloths: $10 at Wal-mart.
-dorm room appliances: toaster, coffee maker and electric hot pot for heating up soup and canned foods. $7 each at Walmart. Send a hand can opener.
-pop-up clothes hamper and hanging shelf organizer (holds ten pairs of shoes and has three larger shelves for sweaters, tee-shirt, jeans or towels. Hamper zips shut for ease of carrying to laundromat or home. $20 for the set at Walmart.
-back pillow for studying in bed, under $20
-6 plastic totes with lids (18 gallons each): $24 at Wal-mart. Plastic totes are an excellent way to transport and store dorm rooms supplies and clothing. Six should be the perfect amount for supplies.
-dorm chair: don't get a bean bag or orbit dish chair. These are quite uncomfortable for older teens and adults. Get a clearance lawn chair with arms or a plush club chair that folds

Cheap, Leftover Use-Up, One-Pot Meals

Busy parents need easy prep meals that don't require multiple steps or that dirty a sink full of pans. Here are simple recipes for quick, nutritious meals. These can be made while helping a child with spelling words or nursing a baby. These recipes use up leftovers and use ingredients on hand plus have enough for a second night. If you line baking dishes with heavy foil, you can freeze food, remove pre-wrapped in foil and store. Read on Super Easy, Inexpensive, Kid-friendly Leftover Use-Up, One-Pot Meals

Free Printable Spring Coloring Pages, Activities, Lesson Plans

I just sat outside in the sunshine--our first warm day since October in Michigan. Spring is a glorious season, isn't it? Birds chirping, nest-building. Today's penny pincher tips are links for free printable spring coloring pages and lesson plans. Homeschoolers, teachers, parents, you'll want these. Maybe you're hosting a spring birthday party. Or wedding or bridal shower. Use these for decorations and crafts. Work at home parents, take the kiddies outside and let them color at the picnic table while you work. Have kids make Mother's Day cards! Free Spring Coloring Pages and Lesson Plans

Lose Weight, Save Money With These A-Z Fat-Burner Food Swaps

I've lost nearly all the 100 pounds I gained taking the antidepressant Paxil. I've shaved 11 BMI points and eight clothing sizes. I didn't use invasive methods like surgery. I cut calories, controlled portions and made healthier food swaps like those in Men's Health "Eat This, Not That." I follow weight loss gurus like Dr. Oz and amend my diet as I learn more. Sometimes, advice is contradictory. So I experiment. If it works, I keep doing it. Here's an A-Z guide to food switches that helped me reduce. Simplifying my eating has cut grocery expenses too! I Lost 98 Pounds With These A-Z Fat-Burner Food Swaps

Free Printable Easter Baskets and Homemade, Cheap Gift Basket Ideas for Kids

This Easter, why not save money on baskets and make your own homemade. Store-bought baskets are usually cheap and flimsy and break. And you can't personalize. The toys and candy costs are inflated. Buy your own Easter basket fillers and save a bundle. Make paper baskets using these printable templates.  Free Printable Easter Baskets and Homemade Gift Baskets 

2 Die 4 and To Diet for French Toast to use up Stale Bread

 I adore French Toast. Literally, I kiss its arm like Gomez did Morticia and murmur "Caro Mio..." Okay, that's weird. Anyway, French toast or Eggy Bread as it's called in Great Britain, is a great way to use up stale bread. Here are two Eggy Bread recipes, a 2 Die 4 and To Diet for Eggy Bread

2 Die 4 and 2 Diet 4 kind (since poor Mar is dieting).

Leftover Use Up Diet Bread Pudding

 Last week I made breakfast egg casserole from leftover bread. I had stale savory breads: rye and onion bagels, so I couldn't make my bread pudding. Then, my naughty family forgot to eat up the industrial-strength bag of English muffins I bought. So I made Light and Hearty Bread Pudding (daughter loved it so much she ate it for breakfast). And I used up some leftover homemade bread I'd made with other leftovers--carrots, raisins, pumpkin seeds. Super healthy and how's THAT for penny-pinching? Leftover Use Up Diet Bread Pudding My Whole Family Loved

Baked Bean Soup with Holiday Leftovers

 Are your holiday leftovers glaring at you, saying "eat us!" Are the sweet potatoes threatening to go sour? Are you fed up and out of recipe ideas? Well before those leftovers go bad, stage a refrigerator coup and take the other food hostage, here's a healthy, lowfat, high protein recipe to use them up. Baked Bean Soup
   Baked Bean Soup with Holiday Leftovers and Veggies Galore

Cancel PMI Private Mortgage Insurance ASAP

We took out our first mortgage in 2001. Along with principal, interest, taxes and insurance, there's an added fee for first time mortgage borrowers and those who can't afford 20 percent down-- PMI--Private Mortgage Insurance. It's a fee you pay to guarantee that you will pay your mortgage. After collecting that extra $25 a month from us, for a few years we would have proved that we would pay and the PMI would be removed. Or so we were told. Read on  Expensive Lessons Learned on PMI Private Mortgage Insurance

Free Printable Advent Calendars

 Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas. December 1, 2013.
During Advent we focus on prayer, fasting and almsgiving in preparation for the Feast of Christmas. Many people use an Advent calendar to countdown to Christmas. Here are free printable advent calendars. Advent calendars feature little windows that are numbered. Children open one window each day before Christmas. Some advent calendars have a Bible verse that follows the Christmas story of Jesus's birth in Bethlehem.  Free Printable Advent Calendar Countdown to Christmas Crafts

Remember Younkers Community Days Coupons Nov 15-16

Hey, did you buy one of those Younkers Community Days coupon fundraiser coupon books? Don't forget, this weekend, November 15-16 are the ONLY days to use them. Remember, your book has a $10 off anything coupon. Use that one at least. And this year, you can use it on Bonus Buys. Buy one in-store and donate money to your favorite school or booster program. Remember Younkers Community Days Coupons Nov 15-16

Meals on a Shoestring, Think Outside the Box

I just read a post by a recent college grad living simply. Our eldest son lives and goes to school in Detroit and echoes that need for inexpensive meals. We've always tried to keep to a minimalist lifestyle. Here are ways to eat cheap,

* Go vegetarian, preferably vegan. Savings galore in money and health.

* Skip packaged foods. Boycott corporate buy-buy mentality. Live and eat simply. Read moreCollege Student Meals on a Shoestring, Think Outside the Package

Domestic Goddess Tips--Multitasking Recipes, Cooking Shortcuts

I am a Domestic Goddess--kingdom: cheap meal-time management. Being a busy mom, I have to budget time and energy as well as money. I make 2-for-1 meals, doing the
bulk of preparation on Sunday when I have the most time. Here's a meal-planner.

Sunday--Chicken dinner. I roast a jumbo chicken, cook 2# rice, 1 # pasta, 3# ground beef, 5# potatoes and 3# pre-cut veggies (broccoli and cauliflower crowns, carrots). I pare and bake butternut squash. I make five cups of my mirepoix--two large green peppers, one big onion, 8 ounces mushrooms, 4 large carrots, one stalk celery. Serve chicken, potatoes, veggies. Package and refrigerate leftovers and extra food.   Domestic Goddess Tips--Multitasking Recipes, Cooking Shortcuts 

Skip Younkers Community Days Coupon Fundraiser Books, Save Money

I write daily bargain hunter tips using the daily deals of the day tag. Typically I write money-saving do's, but today's tip is a don't. Do not buy a Younkers Community Days fundraiser coupon booklet, unless you like paying more for things.

Last year, I took my youngest back-to-school shopping for a coat. We hit a mall in another town some distance away. After hunting through racks of tacky, cheaply made junk, we tried Younkers. At the door, we were approached by kids selling Community Days coupon books for $5.  Skip Younkers Community Days Coupon Fundraiser Books, Save Money

Skip Younkers Community Days Coupon Fundraiser Books

Typically I write money-saving do's, but today's tip is a don't. Do not buy a Younkers Bonton Stores Community Days fundraiser coupon booklet. Unless you like paying more for things. Last year, I took my youngest back-to-school shopping for a coat. We hit a mall in another town some distance away. After hunting through racks of tacky, cheaply made junk, we tried Younkers. At the door, we were approached by kids selling Community Days coupon books for $5. Read on...Skip Younkers Community Days Coupon Fundraiser Books, Save Money - News - Bubblews

Tightwad Mama Saves Money Back to School Shopping

Back to School--how merchandisers and retailers love those three words. And how they love to upsell. Long lists of school supplies your kids supposedly can't live without. And I'll admit, I love BTS shopping. What's not to love about $.25 crayons and scissors? But tightwad mama is also a teacher. She knows kids don't need half the stuff stores pad the list with. Here's a different kind of BTS shopping guide--one that saves you money. Tightwad Mama Saves Money Back to School Shopping

Detroit's New Whole Foods Market Gets Mixed Reviews

Mighty food giant Whole Foods Market opened its doors in Detroit at 115 Mack Ave. on June 5, says the Detroit News. The city, called a "food desert" for its lack of access to fresh food markets, now offers locals more food choices. But the expensive, upscale vendor is getting mixed reviews. Here's a look at the big picture on Whole Foods in Detroit. Detroit's New Whole Foods Market Gets Mixed Reviews

Cheap Summer Family Fun Ideas from Tightwad Mama

We raised and four kids in an 800-square-foot mobile home. We were solvent and debt-free on one income while I homeschooled. I know about pinching pennies and cheap family fun. Here are tightwad mama's tips to stretch your summer fun buck. Make money multitask. Pay with the payment form that saves most and earns best rewards: store credit cards, debit card. Save points for better rewards. Cheap Summer Family Fun Ideas from Tightwad Mama