I have to share this easy and tasty apple dip concoction I discovered I could make at home. I believe my son was asking me for some kind of dip for his apples and we didn’t have any on hand (and I don’t usually buy them- they can cost $3-4 for a container!).  So here’s what I mixed together and boy, is it yummy!

Creamy peanut butter.

Maple syrup.

Yep, thats it and just mix to taste and warm in the microwave! The great thing about this is that you can decide if you want natural peanut butter or use “real” maple syrup. You control whats going into it!

Now go cut up an apple and take a dip!

To be sure you don’t miss my posts I’d like to invite you to join Hall of Fame Mom’s fan page on Facebook and sign up for my Rss or Email updates. You can also chat with me on Twitter. You’ll find all of these links and more in my sidebar right over —> there!

Enjoy!

One day I decided to experiment with my coffee and the result tasted almost exactly like Starbuck’s Carmel Macchiato – at least as I could recall it tasting.  Warning: I’m not much of a measurer.  So you have to guess at how much of each ingredient you need (make to taste). I just used ingredients I already had on hand.

A cup of  Columbian brewed coffee (use whatever you like).

About 2 Tablespoons of Smucker’s Carmel Ice Cream Topping (make to taste).

Coffee-Mate liquid original coffee cream.

Pour a cup of coffee, stir in the carmel topping so it dissolves evenly then add your creamer. I then poured it into a taller glass and enjoy! IF you like it cold, dump in some ice cubes!

Look for my post on a super simple 2-ingredient apple dip I discovered at home!

Cheers!

Subscribe here if you’d like to get my updates by email or RSS.

Don’t let the economy bum you out when it comes to having fun.  Saving money should always be in fashion anyways. Get creative and think outside the box to spice up life. If you haven’t had to get creative before, now is a good time to start. Look for “free community” opportunities for fun times!

Earlier this year we made a purchase from a furniture store in the Akron area and became a “past customer”. This furniture store sent out flyers recently to their “past customers” inviting us to a free Fall Festival at their store.  Details of the night included finger-food dinner from “their” cafe-  (yes, this furniture store has a cafe), a free gift (choice of a pumpkin or a floor rug), a little bit of Halloween fun for the kiddos (trick or treating for candy) and if you were making a non-refundable purchase that night you could play musical chairs and get a chance to win up to $5000 off your purchase that night!

We had no intentions on buying anything but we made the trip anyways for the fun. Hey, you weren’t required to buy anything-though we did look around. There were so many people there, we (and others) got to sit and eat on the showroom floor. Not a bad way to “try out” some new furniture. I wonder how much that marketing scheme cost!

Other frugal ways to have fun.

~ While the weather is still nice, give the kids some paper lunch sacks and go for a walk.  Have the kids pick up whatever looks interesting (and safe) and put it in the bags. Or, give them a list of things to hunt…a scavenger hunt! Acorns, gold leaves, pine cones, strange rocks…etc..

~ Teach them how to rake leaves. If they are young enough, they might actually “believe” it is fun!

~ Have a s’mores cookout on the grill or over the fire pit in the backyard. Get a bag of marshmallows, a box of Hershey bars  and graham crakers. Just toast the marshmallows and stick between to crackers with a chocolate bar.  You can also do this in the oven broiler. (Stand by  and wait so it doesn’t burn!) Just put your crackers on foil, top with marshmallows- when those are toasty take out of oven and place your chocolate on top and eat! Okay, let it cool first.

~ Pick out different leaves, bring in the house, lay wax paper or plain white paper and use a crayon to color over to bring out the shape of the leaves.

~ Make a craft with your souvenirs you gathered from your nature walk.

Spending time with your family or friends is the key, isn’t it? That alone doesn’t have to cost money. So get busy thinking. You’ll be surprised to find the simple things you can do for “free” that may just net you “priceless” memories in the future!

This has been on my mind.  As it is for most of us I suppose.

We got word that our local school district will be hosting a flu clinic to get the school children their first H1N1 shot (2 doses recommended if they are under 9 yrs of age). This first shot is free I think.

But…the shot hasn’t been around long enough to be tested. What if….?

So, I asked my Facebook friends in my personal profile (not on my Fan page) what did they think. I will say I was surprised as there was much more “against” comments than “for” regarding getting this shot. Even medical personnel were saying they or they’re children would not be getting it.

The thing is this, I’ve lived most my life without getting any flu shots…maybe one or two in my adult life I think.  One year I had my boys get the shot (seasonal flu) and my oldest had mysterious illnesses for about a month afterwards.

I don’t think our family will be getting any flu shots at this moment.  I don’t think the same answer will be the right answer for everyone. I think everyone has to make their own decision about this. I think some people probably should get the vaccines (whether it is seasonal flu or h1n1).  I think there is reason to hesitate about getting them also.

I’m not going to worry about it.

I know God has a plan for my life and my family’s lives and that he cares about us.  Since I have a personal relationship with Him I know he will give me the direction I need when the time comes.

I do want to be smart, but getting the shot may be smart and not getting it could be smarter.

There is no vaccination for cancer or car wrecks…no vaccination for death period.  If I could see the future regarding the result of getting these shots…I’d know what decision to make!

What do you think?

Proverbs 3:5-6  “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

I’m continually amazed that one child can blow holes in the knees of his jeans and rip new shoes in a matter of weeks. Yes, he is my firstborn so I am still not “over this”.  I noticed this change in him around the beginning of 2009…he was 4 going on 5 years of age.  This fall I ordered a new pair of nice looking dressy/casual boot-like shoes  from The Children’s Place for school. Do you know that child would have ripped them within a few weeks time?  Glad I got a good deal on them!

So, about a couple weeks ago I ordered two more pairs of new shoes for him from The Children’s Place. I think it will be harder to tear these up.  And…I got a really good deal on them too! I’m not sweating the tore up shoes – I’m a frugal buyer. Yes I got new shoes, online, from The Children’s Place both times. But I bought all these shoes on sale and had an exra % off due to coupon codes AND bought them through my Cashbaq or Ebates accounts where I earn money back from my purchases. See how you can earn a $5 bonus just for signing up! Its free anyways, why not?!

These websites are free to register, free to use. You just sign in to your account, pick your store (ex: The Children’s Place) and then purchase.  Its another smart way to shop for the things you need.

And don’t forget to look for coupon codes before you purchase.  Check www.RetailMeNot.com for available codes. I’m on the mailing list for The Children’s Place so I got a coupon code in the mail for an extra 20% off my purchase – which was already items on sale. And shipping at The Children’s Place is only $5. My 20% off brought me an extra $6 or more off my bill and the shoes were already marked down to begin with.

You can keep up with whats going on via email or RSS and be my friend on Twitter and Facebook!

Best,

Are you frugal or do you treat frugality like its a dirty word? There’s no shame in being frugal…being frugal is being smart!

I probably just started getting excited about coupons in the last year or so and  really “rebating” about 2-3 years ago I guess.  You really can save a lot of money using coupons and rebates by playing smart…match the coupons with the sales. Look for stores that double or triple coupons. I’m not aware of any stores in my area that triple but we do have Giant Eagle and they double up to  .99 coupons (one .99 coupon =  $1.98 off). GE (Giant Eagle) will even double some of those “Do Not Double” coupons. I rely on Coupon Allies to do the match ups for me. They even correspond with companies to get the facts on whats allowed.

Recently one of my friends at Coupon Allies told me SC Johnson had a rebate offer for buying 3 selected products and you get $5 back AND, you could do this in 3 separate transactions per household.  The rebate period began during one of our Kmarts double coupon weeks and I was already prepared with several  coupons for Ziplock bags. The Ziplock bags were 2 for $4…after coupons I was getting them for $1 a box. I did this in 3 different transactions so I could send in my 3 separate SC Johnson rebate offers. I spent about $12 (before sales tax)  after coupons on 12 boxes of a variety of Ziplock bags and SC Johnson will be sending me $15 back. Thats shopping smart! But I  wouldn’t have known if it weren’t for my friends at Coupon Allies.

Sometimes I buy extra Sunday papers on Mondays (buy at GE and get money off your gas) when they are on sale for .75 or I get them for free. How? Well, I walked into a store one day and asked if they sold Sunday papers on Monday and I was told no they don’t, but I could have some for free.  I have learned to hang on to my coupons whether or not its something I usually buy. I don’t often buy bags of candy but I had a couple $1.00 off coupons for Hershey’s Kisses. During our last Kmart double coupon sale I found Hershey’s Kisses on sale 2/$5. I paid .50 a bag! My boys and I have enjoyed helping ourselves to the candy bowl lately!

Another great deal I have to share. Someone tipped me off that AirWick’s Freshmatic Ultra Imotion air freshner kits were on sale at some Walmarts. Normally these kits are around $11. They were on sale for $6.00 locally. I pulled out 8 / $6 off coupons  I had held onto from Sunday papers and got 8 free (before sales tax) kits! I’m using one in the basement where the cat’s litter box resides.  I have it set to spray every 36 minutes. What a difference down there!

Some items are not “necessities” but luxuries.  Like the AirWick deal.  I’ve also bought lots of Glade products for almost free. Not because I need so many but so I can share with others…family, use as gifts, or put in missionary care boxes. Find yourself a reputable coupon/rebate/sales matching online site to help keep you in the “know” about where and when to take advantage of these deals.  I recommend Refunds Cents and Coupon Allies. Find their links under “I recommend…” in my sidebar to the right.

The Frugal Girls.com  had a post on taking a refill sized bottle of hand soap and using it in your Bath & Body Works foaming hand pumps.  Being frugal as I am I have not gotten into buying those hand pumps but I think I may buy a couple this year (now may be a great time to get a deal on them). When we use up the soap that comes in them I will use The Frugal Girls tips for refilling them with my store brand hand soap. The fact that these pumps “foam” is what saves you even more money!

My Frugal Journey. This is actually a friend of mine. A local girl who started blogging about how she saves money.  Everybody’s journey is a little different. Its not all about using coupons and buying things on sale. Visit My Frugal Journey for another view on how one family lives frugally!

For more frugal ideas check out these e-books by Living on a Dime.