Monthly Archives: December 2009

Recycle Your Christmas Tree in the New Year

December 31, 2009
By

Christmas tree recycling in action

Who knew there was a National Christmas Tree Association? Well, there is and these folks have a nifty website that shows all the new and creative ways that communities dispose of Christmas trees without throwing them in the trash. I like that–the notion of keeping trees out of the trash.

Thankfully, my town started a Christmas tree recycling program last year (full disclosure: I’m a member of the recycling committee that got that initiative going), and we’re doing it again in 2010. This makes me happy because it will save me from rescuing Christmas trees from my neighbors’ trash, something I’ve done for the past few years. Just imagine me, dragging a 12-foot tree down the street so I can compost it in my woods instead of letting it end up in a landfill.

Anyway, maybe you can make your New Year’s resolution for 2010 to recycle your live Christmas tree–assuming you have a live Christmas tree and you celebrate Christmas.

Not sure if your town offers a Christmas tree recycling program this year? I would recommend clicking over to Earth 911. This site offers a searchable directory of recycling services, including seasonal Christmas tree recycling. In fact, here’s a timely article on the notion of Treecycling, the act of recycling a Christmas tree.

If you discover that, in fact, you do not have a tree recycling option this year, here are some other things that you can do to discard your tree in an earth-friendly and frugal manner:

  • Turn your tree into free mulch that you can use in your garden. See if a local tree farm, nursery or landscaping company will take back a tree and grind it up as mulch. Or use your own wood chipper to create mulch for spring gardening. (Cover the mulch pile with a tarp until it’s warm enough to use.) This is the most frugal and green option, don’t you think?
  • Ask a neighbor with woods behind his/her house if you can toss your tree there. The tree will biodegrade naturally and even create a habitat for woodland animals. (My friends and neighbors can come by my house anytime to dump their tree. Really.)
  • Cut your tree into small pieces and place in your composting bin. It will break down with the rest of the organic matter in there.

What are you doing this year to keep your Christmas tree out of landfills?

P.S. Happy New Year!

Share

Frugal Living During a Kitchen Renovation

December 30, 2009
By

A wall of cabinets came down in my kitchen today, as we finally got our kitchen renovation started. We’re keeping this project affordable by doing all the heavy lifting ourselves. But by doing it ourselves, it also means that our kitchen is going to be out of commission for a bit longer than if we’d brought in a contractor.

I know that this decision will pay off (quite literally) in the long run. That’s because when we ordered our kitchen cabinets, the store automatically included the cost for installation–even though we were opting out of it. Let me tell you that installation number was a scary number. Though our cabinets cost $5,000, we would have paid an additional $20,000 to have them installed. Um, no thanks, I’ll save that money by doing the work myself, thank you, even if it means being inconvenienced at meal time.

So here’s where I’m concerned: how can I stay on track with our frugal living when my kitchen isn’t up and running? I don’t want to fall back on our spendthrift ways of ordering in food, but at the same time I need to accept that without a working stove, I will be limited in what I can cook for dinner. Thankfully, my husband has set up a working mini-kitchen in another part of the house, where we have a sink, dishwasher, cabinets and mini fridge, plus the microwave.

Here’s how I’m hoping we can succeed on the meal-planning front while we’re under construction:

  • Make more meals in the slow cooker. The great thing about a Crock-Pot is you can set it up on a countertop, tabletop or on the floor, and let it simmer all day so dinner’s ready when you need it. I have only a handful of slow cooker recipes I’m comfortable with and know that my kids will like, so I’m thinking that I’ll treat myself to Stephanie O’Dea’s new book Make It Fast, Cook It Slow to help me get over the kitchen renovation-cooking hump. Her book is all about using your slow cooker to make all kinds of meals–I blogged about my attempt at making her slow cooker French Toast recipe awhile back. It was quite yummy. (I got an Amazon.con gift certificate for Christmas so at least the book will be free for me to buy.)
  • Use our grill, even if it’s freezing outside. Since my pans are going into storage when the stove/oven goes offline, we’re going to have to cook all of our meats outside on the grill. Not a great option when it’s single-digit weather like it is today, but it is for sure less expensive than ordering in Chinese. I also plan on using my countertop George Forman grill whenever necessary.
  • Accept that we’ll have more cold meals for dinner. I’m thinking sandwiches, cereal and things like cheese and crackers. Who says dinner has to be hot every night anyway?

If you have additional suggestions on how to stay on budget with meals when you kitchen isn’t usable, post a comment to share your ideas. I’m gonna need all the help I can get.

Share

3 Ways to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle for 2010

December 29, 2009
By

Right about now we’re getting ready to finish cleaning up from the holidays. Maybe you are, too–if you haven’t already. As you begin to collect your trash or put away your decorations, why not take a few minutes and think about stuff you used in 2009 that you can reuse in 2010? Not only will this keep you green, but it will save you green, too. Here are some ways you can do that:

  1. Reuse as many gift bags, bows, ribbons and sheets of wrapping paper as possible. Just today we had friends stop by for a post-holiday visit, and they brought gifts in three lovely gift bags. When I went to put out the trash tonight, did I toss those gift bags in, now that we were done using them? Heck, no. I put them aside to store in my gift-bag bin, which is where I stock pile all the gift bags and tissue paper we receive with gifts this year and every year. Next year when I need to wrap a gift, I’ll be able to do it for free by reusing items from my stash.
  2. Determine excess gifts that I can funnel into my gift closet. Every year, without fail, someone in our family gets a gift that leaves them thinking, “What was this gift-giver thinking?” No worries. Again, we don’t toss the gift in the trash–we just put it aside and then bring it upstairs to our gift closet. Sooner or later we’ll find a home for that gift, or if we don’t, we’ll donate it to a good cause like Goodwill (find a local store here).
  3. Find new uses for old holiday cards. Last year I did two things with the holiday cards we’d received. First, with those that came with pictures or were picture cards, I cut the pictures down to a 3X5 size, and then slipped them into a photo album (salvaged from my gift closet) that I’ve reserved just for holiday pictures. Next, with holiday greetings that came as traditional cards, I used pinking shears to trim the front cover of the card and turn them into gift cards that I could use on future presents. I plan to do the same with this year’s holiday greetings.

What are some of the creative ways you plan to reduce, reuse and recycle from Holiday 2009 for Holiday 2010?

P.S. My friend Paige Wolf did a great segment on the NBC 10 “10!” show in Philadelphia on just this topic.

Share

Testing Testing 1,2,3

December 28, 2009
By

Testing to see if schedule posts are going lived as planned….

Share

Checklist to Avoid Gift-Return Snafus

December 27, 2009
By

Getting gifts is great. Returning gifts isn’t–especially if you find yourself in a situation of not having the receipt or having to deal with a retailer that simply doesn’t want to deal with returns (no fair, I say). That’s why I thought you’d find this checklist from Consumer Reports, on how to avoid gift-return snafus, to be helpful. Luckily, I had all the receipts and information I need to make gift returns this past weekend.

  • Get a gift receipt. I always attach a gift receipt to any present I buy–even my kids’ own gifts. Not only does this ensure that, should we need to make a return, we’ll get the full price we paid, but also I find that retailers are more lenient with return periods when you have a gift receipt. For example, the Uggs I bought my daughter? I’ll have 90 days post-Christmas to return them versus 30 days if I hadn’t bought them around the holidays and with a gift receipt.
  • Keep packaging intact. “Stores are likely to refuse a return if the packaging materials are open or discarded,” says Consumer Reports. “Even a missing instruction manual, cords and cables or warranty card can give retailers reason to deny the return.”
  • Follow all instructions to make an online return. You may need a special packing slip or even to ship it to a specific “returns-only” address. Call ahead to ensure that you will meet all requirements and get the full value from your return.
  • Hold off on rebates on products–for now. Items like computer software, video games, CDs and DVDs aren’t generally returnable for another title after the seal has been broken. If an item comes with a rebate offer, make sure it works before removing the UPC code to redeem the rebate.
  • Don’t get stuck paying restocking fees, which stores charge to “process” your return. It usually applies to electronics and, frankly, I think it’s a rip off. Typically fees range from 10 to 15 percent of the purchase price. Items more likely to have restocking fees include camcorders, TVs, digital cameras, and computers. Consumer Reports found out that the follow retailers tend to charge restocking fees; Amazon.com (15% for computers and fine jewelry); Best Buy (15% on laptops, camcorders, digital cameras and GPS navigators); Bidz.com (15% on all items, plus shoppers have only 15 days to return items); Sears (15% on electronics products returned without the original box, used, and without all of the original packaging); Home Depot (special-orders and some cancelled orders are subject to a 15 percent restocking fee); Macys (10% on furniture); Newegg.com (15% on all major purchases if the box is opened.)

I hope that every gift you give and get is the one wanted and you don’t have to deal with returns in the coming weeks!

Share

Freebie Friday: Free Taco at Taco Bell

December 25, 2009
By

Here’s Taco Bell’s Christmas gift to you: it is giving away 1 million free Fresco Tacos, but you need to download this coupon in order to get the deal. Supposedly, the website will let you know once the 1 million tacos have been eaten and therefore the deal isn’t good anymore. So far, it still seems to be working. Tacos for Christmas dinner, anyone?

Share

Merry Christmas

December 25, 2009
By

Merry Christmas to all of my Suddenly Frugal readers who celebrate Christmas.

Share

The Goods on Wrapping Gifts

December 23, 2009
By

I’m about to head upstairs and finish wrapping presents for Christmas Eve. So in the spirit of gift wrap, I thought you’d enjoy some of these stats, courtesy of the Scotch brand tape people, on how most people wrap (or don’t wrap) their gifts. Speaking of Scotch, I think that the Scotch Gift Wrap Cutter is one of the best inventions since sliced bread!

  • One in four people wrap their holiday gifts one or two days before giving the gift (27 percent). Yup, it’s T-12 or so hours to Christmas Eve (when our family opens presents at my mother-in-law’s house) and I haven’t even started my wrapping.
  • Another 22 percent wrap three to six days before the gift-giving occasion.
  • When it comes to wrapping this year’s holiday presents, nearly three in four adults (71 percent) are most likely to purchase gift wrap supplies and wrap the presents themselves, while one in five (19 percent) will put items in a gift bag instead of wrapping them. Just three percent said they will have gifts professionally wrapped at a store. (Do those people still exist?)
  • Nearly a quarter of adults surveyed (24 percent) list not having the right supplies on hand as the most common gift-wrapping mistake, second only to not knowing how best to wrap the gift (32 percent). Twenty percent cite wrapping with too little paper as the culprit, while another 20 percent say using too much paper is the big mistake.
  • Just over half of the adults surveyed (53 percent) have saved and re-used gift wrap paper, with women (61 percent) more likely than men (44 percent) to recycle used gift wrap. Guilty as charged!

Where do you fall in the gift-wrapping spectrum?

Share

Countdown to a Frugal Holiday: Dollars Stores

December 23, 2009
By

My mother in law has a tradition with my daughters. Every December she brings them to the local dollar store and has them shop for everyone in the family. It’s a great way for my mother in law, who is on a limited budget, to help the girls shop in a way she can afford. And it’s a great way for my daughters to think creatively about gifts they need to buy for parents, uncles and more. (Last year I got two bottles of hand sanitizer from them. Be still my germophobe heart!)

If you’ve got last-minute shopping to do and you’re on a limited budget, you might want to stop into your local dollar store and see if you can’t finish up your shopping there. I was just perusing the Family Dollar website and found some of the follow gift ideas that would fit any frugal budget:

  • Candles, pictures frames and bath sets–all perfect hostess gifts to use now or stash in your gift closet (and all for $5 or less)
  • Brand-name toys, like Disney princesses, for the young ones on your shopping list
  • Boxes of candy canes for a buck each (my daughter’s gift of choice to hand out to her classmates)
  • Tissue paper, wrapping paper and gift bags

Do you do well in dollar stores, too? What are some of your favorite finds–for holiday gifts or everyday uses?

Share

Countdown to a Frugal Holiday: 3 Last-Minute Savings Tips

December 21, 2009
By

Christmas may be four days away, but you still have time to save big. Check out these three last-minute savings tips, courtesy of CouponShack.com, a leading online coupon site, which has lots of other ideas on ways to save on holiday shopping this year:

1. Benefit from the price wars – Dell and HP are having a huge personal consumer battle, and you, the consumer, could come out the winner. For example, Dell just dropped its netbook price to $279. In addition, the ongoing war between Amazon and Walmart keeps getting better. Amazon just lowered the price on The Dark Knight on Blu-Ray to $14.95 from $35.99. Be sue you compare all prices between the two before buying games, movies and CDs.

2. Holiday Stacking – Stack coupons on one item if the store policy allows to save double, or stack coupons on the whole order. With already discounted items from price wars and the extension of holiday promotions, it’s a last-minute shoppers dream this holiday season. In addition, don’t forget to search for additional coupons you can use to bring your prices down even more. I just plugged in “coupon” and “1800petmeds” into Google (yeah, sexy present for my dog), and came across a 10% off coupon code I never would have known existed–or never would have known to apply to my order!

3. Free shippping – Free Shipping Day last Thursday wasn’t the last day for free shipping from all retailers. Target gives consumers until today, the 21st, and Macy’s and Zales’ free-shipping offers go all the way to the 23rd!

Share

The Pre-Storm Supermarket Rush

December 20, 2009
By

We got hammered with about a foot of snow this past weekend, as did most of the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. However, I knew enough not to head out to the supermarket for any last-minute supplies. Have you ever made that mistake, when snow is forecast, and found your supermarket packed with panicked shoppers? As one of my Facebook friends said, it’s a snow storm not the snow-pocalypse!

But the truth is it always seems like people are stocking up on bread, milks and eggs before it snows. Interesting choice. I always associated snowy days with hot cocoa, not French toast!

This past week Stop & Shop took a look at what the pre-storm shoppers were stocking up on, and here’s what they found:

  • Milk and Bread sales are up: 50%
  • Soup sales are up: 30%
  • Baking aisle needs are up: 100%
  • Ground Beef & Bacon are up: 30%
  • Soda, Snacks and Beer Sales are up: 30%
  • Battery & Flashlight sales are up: 100%
  • Bottled Water up: 40%
  • Rock Salt, snow shovels and windshield washer fluid are up: 400%

I don’t know about you, but I still prefer to stock up when the price is right–such as bread for about a buck a loaf–not when snow is forecast. How can you expect to remain true to your frugal mission if you’re shopping in a panic?

Share

National Regifting Day

December 20, 2009
By

I totally missed National Regifting Day last Thursday, December 17th. Not that I think millions of Americans went out and regifted, but it’s a way of recognizing that regifting is an OK way to gift. Especially in this economy and for those looking not to waste gifts, I think regifting is a great idea.

For more on regifting, check out this Philadelphia Inquirer story on how not to be a careless regifter, featuring yours truly in both the text and an accompanying photograph.

What’s your opinion on regifting?

Share

Freebie Friday (December 18-24, 2009)

December 18, 2009
By

If all the retailers offering free shipping from yesterday weren’t enough for you, here are few more freebies to enjoy in the coming week!

Ho Ho Ho-liday Music for Nothing!

Complimentary Clothing

Free Food

Tax Advice Totally Free

Entertainment at No Cost

Share

Free Shipping Day Today

December 17, 2009
By

Ordering Christmas gifts online this year? Then you’ll want to make all of your purchases today to take advantage of Free Shipping Day. This is a day when more than 500 retailers are offering shoppers like you and me free shipping and with a guaranteed delivery in time for Christmas. Here is a partial list of participating retailers and websites:

  • Bumble Bells bangles and booties are shipped free if you spend $50 or more.
  • Accessories company Carol Alexander offers free shipping on any order over $25.
  • At ChimneyBalloon, any order ships for free with this coupon code used at checkout: FREEDAY
  • Christabelle’s Closet Designer Resale Boutique Shoppers can also receive 20% off their FREE SHIPPING order using the code: LastCall09
  • Cute Beltz is offering free shipping on all orders $25 or more.
  • Farmstead Wines will offer free 2-day shipping on all orders of 12+ bottles; use offer code: FreeShippingDay. In states where 2-day shipping isn’t available, we will provide free ground shipping.
  • Goodtobeyou.com: Spend $30 and get free shipping when you use the code DECFREE (for use at checkout). Also, use the code MERRY10 for $10 off a $35 crystal or rhinestone tee or NOEL15 for 15% off an order at GoodtoBeYou.com
  • HudsonGoods.com
  • JCPenney offers free shipping on purchases of $25 or more. After Free Shipping Day is over–or from December 18 to December 20–you can get a free upgrade to express delivery, to make sure your gifts arrive by Christmas Eve.
  • JulieApple offers sustainable and equitably made bags, including those made from recycled PET bottles. *SUDDENLY FRUGAL EXCLUSIVE: USE THE CODE FRUGAL WHEN CHECKING OUT*
  • Here are two codes worth noting for orders at M. Levinson jewelry: “FreeShipping” gets you the obvious, but if you buy something silver and use the code “silver” you will get an additional 15% off.
  • MOC (Move Over Cards) are 100% post consumer recycled tag packs that you can use on gifts, as bookmarks or as ornaments.
  • NAP, Inc, which makes wearable baby carriers.
  • numsi, an online business specializing in wall art and clothing for babies and children, has free shipping along with these deals: Spend $25 and get a free set of three badges; spend $50 and get a free mirror; and spend $100 and get a free desktop calendar.
  • In addition to free shipping, Parking Pal Magnets--those fun magnets you can put on your car (we have one for our daughter’s basketball team)–is having a three-for-one deal in December.
  • All Preserve products, including mixing bowls, measuring cups, colanders and cutting boards, are made from 100% recycled plastics and 100% post-consumer paper. (I have some of their products and love them!) Orders over $50 get free shipping when you use the code FreeShip09.
  • Rosie Hippo will give you free shipping plus a 10% discount on your order if you spend more than $50 (before tax) and enter WINTER2009 in the Coupon Code box at checkout.
  • Ross-Simons offers free shipping 365, 24/7 on all items over $250 but will offer free shipping upgrades, if necessary to guarantee Christmas Delivery
  • Sculptz legwear and shapewear
  • Sears.com is offering free shipping plus $1 back on every item purchased (as long as each item is $10 or more).
  • Shopathome.com is actually a shopping portal more than a shopping destination. If you register here, you’ll not only get free shipping codes to use but also ear cash back on your purchases at certain retailers.
  • Smiley Cookie!
  • Somebody’s Mother’s Chocolate Sauce is offering free shipping on all of its gourmet dessert sauces (chocolate, caramel, and white chocolate). Yum!
  • Staples provides free shipping on orders over $50. (I think this is true all year round.) Also, through 12/26, Staples will be offering 100 percent back in Staples Rewards on 20 packs of AA or AAA Duracell batteries. Good to know for any battery-operated toys you might find under the tree.
  • Stonehouse 27 makes a line of exotic Indian cooking sauces. Free shipping on 3 or more jars plus $2 off on any jar of sauce for the holidays.
  • Taygaaprons.com sells women’s and children’s cooking aprons, and is offering free shipping on orders over $75, plus 20%.
  • Turtle Love Committee, a internet-based, eco-friendly artisan jewelry company in Portland, Maine, provides free shipping on all orders, regardless of how much you spend.
  • Virtualwordpublishing.com will ship all books for free, plus give you 10% off your book order.
  • WiredForWine.com
  • WondaWedge
  • Wholesale Italian Food specializes in gourmet Italian staples, like olive oil and pasta.
  • Pet-products seller Wysong will give you free shipping if you use the code SHIPDAY on your order. Woof!
  • Everything in this Etsy store will be eligible for free shipping.

Additionally, you can find out about free shipping deals at these sites:

Share

5 Tips to Keep Shoes in Tip-Top Shape

December 16, 2009
By

One of my daughter’s “big” Christmas gifts this year is a pair of Ugg boots–something she’s been requesting for years. Though they are expensive, I’ve heard from other parents who’ve bought these boots for their children that, when taken care of, these boots last forever. Now that my daughter’s foot has stopped growing–and with the understanding that she is not getting much else for Christmas–we’ve decided that this year is the right year to get her these boots.

There is one thing I will be doing before I put them under the tree, though, and that’s pre-treating them with a waterproofing spray. This way the first time she wears them in the rain or snow, they don’t get wrecked.

When you spend decent money on shoes, you’ll find that they last longer if you take good care of them. That’s why I liked these shoe-care tips I found from Kiwi, the makers of shoe polish (we have a number of tins of Kiwi polish in our closet). Given the nasty weather that winter brings–and the havoc water and salt can wreak on them–I thought it was timely to bring you these 5 tips to keep shoes in tip-top shape:

  1. Dirt and other debris can easily embed into leather shoes. Be sure to clean your shoes to remove excess dirt and debris prior to polishing.
  2. For best results, first apply shoe polish or cream evenly to leather shoes with a brush or soft cloth. Once the polish has properly dried, buff to a brilliant shine using a natural bristle brush.
  3. Store leather shoes using a shoe tree to help retain the shape of the leather. If a shoe tree will not work (such as for strappy shoes), stuff the toe cap with newspaper or tissue. Never store or dry leather shoes near direct heat.
  4. If your dress shoes are suede and should get wet, stuff them with newspaper while they dry to help keep their shape and always allow them to dry naturally, away from direct heat.
  5. If traveling this holiday season, place your shoes inside a shoe bag or wrap them in a soft material for additional protection.

One last thing to keep in mind: when your shoes start to look like they’re wearing out–especially the bottoms–see if you can’t have the soles replaced rather than buying a whole new pair of shoes. My husband and I recently did this, and for about $100, we were able to make-like-new four pairs of shoes that would have easily cost $500 to replace.

Share

Coming Soon!

December 14, 2009
By

For now, please visit http://suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com

Share

Practical Gifts for the Older Folks on Your List

December 14, 2009
By

I was thinking about Dear Abby last night when I heard Adam Sandler’s classic Chanukah song on the radio. (We got Ann Landers and her sister Dear Abby/
Harrison fords a quarter Jewish/Not too shabby! ) And then this morning I was reading her advice column in my paper.

I wanted to give Dear Abby a shout out for some great gift advice: someone had written in about giving gifts for older family members and friends who don’t need more “stuff,” and she shared some terrific ideas that I thought the frugal folks here would appreciate. I’ve paraphrased some of her advice along with suggestions of my own.

  • Laundry basics, such as detergent, dryer sheets, rolls of quarters to take to the laundromat, etc.
  • Bathing supplies, including shampoo, conditioner, soaps and lotions that are gentle on older skin.
  • Small goodies for snacks. This could include blocks of cheese, boxes of crackers, selections of teas and whatever else someone might enjoy in between meals.
  • Gift cards to local businesses this person peruses regularly. For example, is there a pharmacy where she picks up her prescriptions or a dry cleaner where he gets his shirts done? Gift cards to these establishments would be much appreciated and well used. Coupons and gift certificates to local restaurants would be good, too.
  • Homemade gift certificates for tasks that person might need done around the house, such as a shoveling the walk when it snows, bringing in the trash cans, changing lightbulbs, painting a room, weeding a garden, etc. Or even a hand-written “gift certificate” that you’ll treat this person to lunch once a month or something like that.
  • Buying a subscription to a favorite magazine or local newspaper. While today’s generation may get most of its news online, baby boomers still favor getting updates on newsprint.
  • Pictures of children and grandchildren. This is something we give each year. I know that a collection of photos can get overwhelming if a person has multiple grandchildren, especially as the years go buy and the frames start to pile up. That’s why “upgrading” this gift to a digital frame might make the most sense. You can get many years of pictures of many different relatives in a slide show on a single frame.
  • Here’s advice directly from Abby: “Because not all seniors drive, bus passes and coupons for senior transportation can also give the recipient the gift of freedom.”

I hope these ideas help you if you’re shopping for someone who seems to have everything but for whom you’d like to get a little something. And if you have additional suggestions, let me know.

Share

Please Stand By

December 14, 2009
By

As expected I’m experiencing technical difficulties migrating my blog. For the time being please do not update your bookmarks to the unique domain. Instead continue to use http://suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com Thank you.

Leah Ingram

December 14, 2009

Share

Technical Difficulties May Arise

December 11, 2009
By

Dear Readers:

This weekend I will begin migrating my Suddenly Frugal blog to a unique URL/domain at http://www.suddenlyfrugal.com. That domain is already directed here, so this change won’t affect those arriving here using that URL. But if you’ve been using the “suddenlyfrugal.wordpress.com” address, you will find yourself getting redirected as of Monday.

As I make this migration, I may run into some technical difficulties. So I’ll apologize in advance now if your Monday morning blog posting doesn’t arrive as expected. However, I’m excited about the change to a Suddenly Frugal-dedicated site, which will allow me to expand this blog, making it better for all involved–and for those who read it. Additionally, this will allow me to monetize the site, something I haven’t been able to do as of yet.

Thanks for your patience.

Leah Ingram
December 11, 2009

Share

Freebie Friday (December 11-17, 2009)

December 11, 2009
By

Guess retailers and restaurants aren’t as in a giving mood as the holidays get closer: just a handful of freebies for you today.

Ho Ho Ho-liday Music for Nothing!

Free Food

Tax Advice Totally Free

Complimentary Lesson Plans for Teachers

  • Paper company Marcal (I buy their Small Steps toilet paper made from 100% recycled paper) is offering free lesson plans for teachers to use if they’d like to educate their students about the importance of saving the environment as well as to empower them to make eco-conscious decisions in their daily lives. The four age appropriate lesson plans they have developed can be used for elementary, middle and high school students. You’ll have to register on the site to access the lesson plans.
Share