Got fussy kids?Do they "need" to see their favorite brands on the breakfast table? Save the empty boxes and refill them with generic cereals. They will be none the wiser and you will see substantial savings.

Huggies' Enjoy the Ride program helps you earn points to enter sweepstakes and play instant win games on their site.

One cool thing is that you don't have to wait 'til the next time you buy Huggies to start enjoying the perks of this program! Here are some bonus codes right now that you can enter:

BFJCWFCCTFPPPGB (5 pts)

BGGCLHNZGFZZPGB (5 pts)

The randomly selected winner of the Funky Monkey giveaway is:

Think outside the box.

Want fresh flowers to give to a loved one, or to simply spruce up your home? Don't head to the florist! The mark-up is unreal there.

ShopRite stores often have a make your own bouquet station, where flower bunches and fillers are 3/$10. They have a wide variety of lillies, carnations, chrysanthemums, and more.

Sam's Club sells 25 long stem roses for $20. That is less than a dollar per rose!

Here at our house we like to keep Jesus in our holidays. Yes, the bunny does visit and bring candy and egg hunts and all the fun jazz. But we try to remember and honor the reason for the season as well.

If you are looking for extra money, quit your gym.

Walking, jogging, and running are all free. Today I start the Couch to 5K program. Are you in?

Breakfasts

Whole wheat egg and cheese wrap, orange

Whole grain rice cake with peanut butter, banana

Lunches

Salad topped with tuna, apple

Chicken salad with grapes

Black bean burrito, pineapple chunks

Dinners

Low Carb Pizza, salad

Beef Roast with Tomatoes, Potatoes, and Carrots (oven bag)

Turkey Burger Deluxe (homemade wheat buns), Oven fries

Broccoli Beef, Rice

Pop-Up Pancakes (whole wheat), sausage links, scrambled eggs

Fish filet, Rice Cooker mac 'n cheese (whole wheat), stewed tomatoes

Dinner out (friend's pre-wedding event)

Snacks

Mixed nuts
Almost Nutra Grain Bars (made with reduced sugar mix)

Apple wedges with peanut butter

Carrots with light ranch

Triscuits and cheese

Desserts

Sugar-free Popsicles
Sugar-free Jello

Sugar-free Pudding

Breyer's Carb Smart ice cream (for me)/Fruit Sorbet

Don't forget to head on over to

Organizing Junkie

for hundreds more menu plans!

Do you pay for your checking account? Why?

There are plenty of banks that offer free checking! Make it a priority to find one today.

I generally avoid buying all the latest kitchen gadgets. Seems like there are tons of quirky little items to buy that do little more than take up space in your kitchen and get used once or twice before getting lost in the back of your cabinets. But there are a few great small appliances that I do advocate acquiring. These can save you money and time, which are both valuable commodities to this mom!

Try instituting a one light per person rule in your home. If there are only 2 people at home, then only 2 lights should be on. If there are 3 people at home, then only 3 lights can be on in the house...you get the gist!

Can we talk Easter for a moment?

Most people use way too much laundry detergent. Try this! Keep that empty bottle. When you buy the new one, pour half into the old bottle. Then fill both up with water. Shake well. Now you have 2 bottles of detergent.

Don't let your fridge and freezer get empty. Even adding containers of water or ice will help conserve energy! When you have lots of empty space in there more air escapes each time you open the door or lid. And that makes the electric bill go up,

Would you like more points for Pampers Gifts to Grow?

Try entering these codes:

GTGPLAY1USA2010 (30 points)

Fill up your savings account painlessly! Many banks now have automatic deduction services that withdraw the amount you request on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. My hubby and I use ING Direct.

Huggies' Enjoy the Ride program helps you earn points to enter sweepstakes and play instant win games on their site.

Are you dying to try a new look? Head to your local beauty school and book a student appointment. For a fraction of the price you can get many beauty services for MUCH cheaper than the salons. I once wanted to try highlights and lowlights and got it done at a school for only $25. This is far off from what they charge at salons, where they charge a base price and for each foil they use in your hair.

Other common services include shampoo and cut, deep conditioning treatment and perms.

I recently found out that there is a spa school in my area that does discount massages, facials, and mani-pedi's. Oooh, la la! Luxury for less!

Everyone who knows me knows that I am always on the lookout for healthier snacks. I am pretty picky about what I will let my preschooler nosh on because diabetes runs in my family and in my hubby's family. I can sorta be the sugar police. So when I was offered the chance to try an all-natural snack, you know what I said!

The kind folks over at Funky Monkey sent me a bag of each of the 7 varieties of their preservative-free snacks. I was super excited to see snacks being marketed to kids that contain no added sugars, colors, or artificial flavorings. My kiddo was jazzed to snack on something with a silly name! They are freeze-dried have the crunch of a chip, but are deliciously fresh and fruity. Here are the yummy varieties they come in:

Buy the no-frills ice cream and sherbert. Both are still yummy treats and you get more for your money! The added bonus? That no-frills ice cream is available in big buckets that are awesome organizational containers and also double as sand pails for the beach. And those sherbert tubs are just the right size to store an extra batch of soup, stew, or chili in the freezer.

Breakfasts

Eggy sandwiches, fruit
Yogurt, fruit

Lunches

Tuna melts
Chicken caesar salad
Bean and cheese burritos

Dinners

Fish fillets, mac and cheese, stewed tomatoes
White chili, corn bread
Baked pancake, bacon, scrambled eggs
Chicken and Broccoli in Alfredo, with Penne
Beef burritos, Spanish rice, Mexicorn
Pasta e fagioli, fresh bread
Homemade pizza

Snacks

Mixed nuts
Hummus and veggies
Guacamole with tortilla chips

Desserts

Sugar-free Popsicles
Sugar-free Jello

Don't forget to head on over to

Organizing Junkie

for hundreds more menu plans!

I come across lots of freebies, but the one I am about to share and review is by far the best I have ever received! The generous folks over at Zondervan offered a free copy of their Busy Moms Bible to the first 5,000 people to respond. I was one of the lucky ones to receive this treasure.

Refresh your houseplants without buying pricey fertilizers. Save the water you use to boil eggs and potatoes and let cool. Then use it to water plants. Stop pouring that nutrient-filled water down the drain!

Did you know that banquet halls and caterers use a money saving tactic to help people fill up fast? They place big bounty of breads at the front of the buffet line or on all the tables. Bread is filling and satisfying and much cheaper than the other components of a meal.

Serve a bread at every meal and save! Dinner rolls...biscuits...corn bread...the possibilities are endless!

When I moved out, my mama told me to be sure to have a bottom line---that is, the highest price you will pay for something. And to stick with it!

Do you wash everything you own every time you use it? That is a sure way to wear your clothes and towels out fast! It also uses us a lot of energy turning on the washer and dryer so often.

Why not use your bath and hand towels 2 or 3 times a week before changing them out for fresh ones. And why not wear your pants twice before banishing them to the hamper?

I learned about Swagbucks from Money Saving Mom. All you do is register (it's free) and use their search engine for all your internet searching. Certain searches can win you some Swagbucks, in demoninations of 1-5, 10, 20, 50, or 100. Swagbucks can be traded in for gift cards to great places.

Since joining I have earned over $500 in gift cards! As a frugal gal I had to give up my guilty pleasure of overpriced java, but with free gifts I can indulge at Starbucks. I also like to redeem my 'bucks for Amazon gift cards to score cheap books. Whoo-hoo!

Click here to sign up today. And once you join up you can refer friends and earn even more Swagbucks. How great is that?

Wouldn't you love to watch a movie tonight? Sure. How about for free? Even better!

Do you wake up with raccoon eyes? Before you go to bed, use a washcloth or cotton ball and some Saline solution (found on the contact care aisle) to remove your makeup. Much cheaper than buying those pricey little bottles of makeup remover.

Top o' the morning to you, frugal friends!

Keep those kiddies from wasting your toilet paper. They always use way too much. Before installing a new roll, squeeze the roll gently. This bends it ever so slightly. Now put it on the roll. This will make it harder for them to keep rolling and rolling and rolling away!

Winter is over. Spring is here! Take advantage of end of season clearance sales and stock up for the next year. When winter rolls around again in '11 you will be all set, having bought a variety of winter wardrobe essentials for 99 cents each. Look out for great deals for kiddie apparel at stores like Old Navy, Children's Place, Target, and Walmart.

Got a raise coming your way? Don't fritter it away on more possessions. Pretend the raise never happened and save the difference in your paycheck in a high yield savings account.

Breakfasts

Scrambled eggs, sausage links, whole wheat toast
Yogurt, fruit

Lunches

Southwest salad
Deviled egg salad
Chicken salad
Tuna salad

Dinners

Tuna cakes, cole slaw, skillet corn
Refried bean soup, corn bread
Corned beef hash breakfast skillet, whole wheat toast
Spaghetti with meat sauce, cucumber salad
St. Patty's Day: Ham and cabbage skillet
Chicken parmesan, garlic green beans, spinach
Church Potluck: Spinach Quiche

Snacks

Trail mix
Popcorn
Apple wedges with peanut butter
Celery and carrots with dip

Desserts

Irish Potatoes!

Sugar-free jello
Sugar-free fudgesicles

Don't forget to head on over to

Organizing Junkie

for hundreds more menu plans!

Want to lower your electric bill? Stop phantom energy use. All the electronics in your home suck extra energy when left plugged in. Take a look at how many things you leave plugged in 24/7 have little lights or clocks on them. That takes energy! Cell phone chargers, power tools, and digital cameras are guilty of drawing power from their plugs. It accounts for 5% off your energy bill.

Try plugging everything into power cords and flip their switches when you head to bed.

Blockbuster Express has 5 codes circulating right now for FREE movie rentals. Rent movies from one of their many kiosks.

Put those brillo pads down! Stop buying scrubbing sponges and such and use something you normally throw away to scour those icky pots and pans. Those mesh bags onions and oranges frequently come in are awesome for scrubbing. Scrunch 'em up and use your elbow grease to make those pans sparkle again.

Be on the lookout, my frugal friends!

I would love to say that the above-mentioned catchy title is my brain-child, but it isn't.

Carrot peelings? Celery leaves? Onion skins? Toss 'em in the trash, right?

Nope!

Toss them in a ziplock bag and store it in your freezer. Next time you are going to make stock or soup, turn your trash into treasure. Add a chicken or turkey carcass and gently boil, then simmer. Skim out the bones and veggie pieces and you are all set.

Heading to the Gap Outlet anytime soon? Now through March 31st, get an extra 15% off using this coupon.

Find a Gap Outlet near you!

I love to read. I love to save money. So when Stephanie Nelson's people asked me if I would like a copy of her new book, of course I said yes!

This book is smart. It's author is smart. The Coupon Mom studied finance in college and has even worked in marketing. She knows how the system works and she knows how to work the system! If you have ever marveled at tv segments where coupon gurus leave the grocery store with a cartload of food for pennies, then this book is your next stop! Beginner couponers will glean a lot of useful info and tips on how to make those coupons work for them. It is quite detailed for the newbie reader.

Of course she spends a lot of time promoting her website, Coupon Mom. But she also lists lots of other sites where couponers can delight in finding printable coupons. Bargain hunters will surely enjoy this read...from the seasoned saver to the novice coupon clipper!

Thirteen Must-Have Ingredients for Your Spice Cabinet A young friend of the family is about to get her first place and recently asked me what the essentials are for basic cooking. Here are the top 13 things I use on a weekly basis to cook up all the meals my family eats...the frugal way to eat! Celery Seed Oregano Italian Seasoning Parsley Garlic Powder Minced Onion (dehydrated) Paprika Cumin (or Chili Powder, which is mostly cumin anyway) Cinnamon Baking Powder Baking Soda Vanilla Extract Poultry Seasoning (mostly sage, but other yummies, too!) Believe it or not, I buy all these essentials at my favorite dollar store! I always suggest buying dried herbs and such over fresh because they are long-lasting, inexpensive, and you use less because of their strong flavors. They can last for a very long time. Name brand spice makers often advocate tossing them after only 6 months! Generally, spices do not go bad but their flavor gets milder over time. Taste and see. I have found most to last 2-3 years.

I love to review products that are frugal, green, mommy-related, or family-friendly and have worked with such brands as Pillsbury, DelMonte, Nature Valley, Ghiardelli, Yoplait, Romano's Macaroni Grill, Save-A-Lot, Sam's Club, Stop & Shop, SavvyCents, and Sally Hansen. I am also an avid reader and have received and reviewed books from Thomas Nelson and other publishers.

PR inquiries may be e-mailed to me at ndisilvio @ gmail.com

Please note that I do require an actual product or equivalent (log-in code to website, trial membership, etc.), to adequately review a product.

The views and opinions expressed on my blogs belong solely to me.

I have much gratitude for those of you who have already signed up under Free 2 Be Frugal to do Swagbucks. We now have 86 referrals. Yes, 86! So now not only do I earn 'bucks for my searches, but for my friends' searches too. Want in on this fabulous venture?

Click here to sign up for Swagbucks.

Let's see if we can inch those numbers up to 100 referrals this week! When you sign up for Swagbucks using the link above, come back and leave a comment on THIS post letting me know and you will be entered in a giveaway for an Amazon.com gift card worth $10.

Giveaway winner will be randomly selected and posted here on Friday. Good luck!

So this should be an interesting week for our family! As part of a Lenten exercise our family is taking part in our church's Rice Challenge. Click here for more information on this amazing opportunity to fight hunger!

Breakfasts

Rice Krispies cereal, milk

Lunches

SBowl of rice, piece of chicken (the size of a nugget), steamed greens

Dinners

Bowl of rice, piece of chicken (the size of a nugget), steamed greens

Snacks

Rice cakes

Rice Krispies treats

Desserts

Rice Pudding

Don't forget to head on over to

Organizing Junkie

for hundreds more menu plans!

I learned about Swagbucks from Money Saving Mom. All you do is register (it's free) and use their search engine for all your internet searching. Certain searches can win you some Swagbucks, in demoninations of 1-5, 10, 20, 50, or 100. Swagbucks can be traded in for gift cards to great places.

Since joining I have earned over $500 in gift cards! As a frugal gal I had to give up my guilty pleasure of overpriced java, but with free gifts I can indulge at Starbucks. I also like to redeem my 'bucks for Amazon gift cards to score cheap books. Whoo-hoo!

Click here to sign up today. And once you join up you can refer friends and earn even more Swagbucks. How great is that?

Are you striving to have a debt-free life someday?

Then Savvycents is for you!

No more ugly envelope system for me, no way. Instead I am toting around my debt-free wallet. Inside is everything I need to use the all-cash system. Open up the fashionable patent leather wallet and find an accordion file complete with labels for every category for your budget. There is also a spot for your driver's license and any other cards you need to carry with you on the go. Now you know there are NO credit sards in my Savvycents wallet. No way. Mine holds very important bargain shopping essentials like my Goodwill VIP card and a variety of discount club cards.

The sleek, feminine wallet comes in black, red, and bright pink. The maker of this fabulous money-saving product, Melinda Claudepierre, was kind enough to send this frugalista a black one to check out so I could see for myself what is so great about the Savvycents wallet. It does not disappoint! Never again do I have to feel embarrassed to root through my collection of envelopes at the cashier. Now I shop frugally and in style!


I hope in the future Ms. Claudepierre will be offering these in a wider variety of materials and colors. Although I love the classy look of black patent leather, I am a self-proclaimed hand cream addict so my pretty wallet is getting smudgy with my fingerprints. Looking forward to seeing the line expand!

Do you have a Bank of America credit card? If you do then check out this list of over 70 museums who will give you FREE admission this weekend and the first weekend of every month!

Spend some time creating memories with your family this weekend!

Pre-bagged produce (like apples, oranges, potatoes, etc.) can be a great deal at the market. Their prices are often much better than their loose counterparts. But here is what I have often wondered. Do those 3 and 5 pound bags really weigh what it says on their bags? A friend of mine told me she started weighing the bags and did find discrepancies. She had been finding bags that were as low as 2.75 pounds and some bags that were as high as 3.50 pounds.

Breakfasts

Kashi cereal, milk
Oatmeal, fruit, milk
Eggy sandwich, fruit

Lunches

Hot dogs and beans
Macaroni and cheese, stewed tomatoes
PBJ on whole grain bread
Grilled cheese, soup

Dinners

Chili, corn bread
Penne with alfedo sauce, salad
Chicken stirfry, noodles
Pancakes, sausage links, eggs
Grilled chicken, carrot raisin salad, corn
Nachos supreme
Homemade pizza

Snacks

Popcorn
Cheddar cheese and crackers
Fresh fruit

Desserts

Jello
Sorbet

Don't forget to head on over to

Organizing Junkie

for hundreds more menu plans!