Make Your Own Apple Oatmeal Facial

We always have packages of instant oatmeal in our kitchen pantry, so this make-it-yourself facial is one of my favorites (and it smells delicious too!!)

Apple-Oatmeal Facial

1 packet instant oatmeal
1 tsp. apple cider
1 Tbs. almond oil

Blend ingredients in blender. Massage mixture all over your face. Place a warm washcloth over your skin for about 3-5 minutes. Then rinse with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry gently.

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Make Your Own Natural Air Freshener

Get Free Stuff By Using EcoFreek.com

Have you heard of ecofreek yet? And if so, are you using it? This site makes finding free items as easy as can be!

How it works:


Just type in any item you are looking for from toys, books, clothing, furniture to sporting goods. Enter your city and state, and EcoFreek instantly searches websites like Craigslist, Freecycle and Facebook for local ads listing similar items for free.

It's like having an assistant working for you. But you don't have to pay them! So if you are looking for a free chair or table, let's say, head on over to ecofreek and let the nice people behind the website find it for you!

3 Websites Offering Free Homework Help Online For Your Kids

One of my children is now in high school (!!) and we are finding out just how challenging it can be academically (for her, and for us.) Luckily there are websites online offering free help to kids that could use a little extra help with subjects like algebra, English and history. If you are a parent and are scratching your head at some of the homework your kids are bringing home, here are 3 websites that you both might find helpful in completing those assignments - and may help you save money on tutoring costs.

Cramster.com. Online tutors are available to answer questions via email from students in the ninth grade through college. 

Number2.com. This website offers practice exams for the SAT, ACT and GRE. Kids can follow their own progress, and get coaching to help improve their scores.

CliffNotes.com. A great website for school kids of all ages. This website has hundreds of study guides, book summaries, articles and information to help students with their English studies.

Quick Homemade Help For Dry Skin

Get itchy dry skin help from your kitchen in a flash, and save money by not buying expensive facial scrubs at the drugstore.

Take 1 tsp. yogurt and 1 tsp. sugar. Mix together. Rub mixture gently on your face ( works best if your skin is damp,) and then rinse completely.

The yogurt hydrates your skin while the sugar buffs away dry flaky skin.

A fast, cheap and easy way to help to soften your skin in just a few minutes!!

Want to Save More? Stand Up Straight!

Did you know that if you lean just a little to the left while deciding if you should buy something or not, chances are greater that you will end up buying that item??

I am not making this up. Honest. There was a study done that shows that people who tend to lean left will underestimate figures. Even just a little leaning might make you think something is a better deal than it really is, prompting you to spend money and buy it!

Researchers say that this strange phenomenon may have to do with our natural inclination to automatically think of smaller numbers being on the left and larger numbers on the right.

So next time you are window shopping, stand up straight and save your money!

You can read more here about this research.

Superbowl Snacking Made Easy: Cheesy Corn Muffins With Bacon and Jalapeno

These corn muffins are easy to make (especially when you use packaged corn muffin mix such as Jiffy,) but taste very yummy!

For about 12 muffins, you will need:

2 boxes corn muffin mix ( try Jiffy)
2 large eggs
About 1 cup shredded cheese (we like the sharp cheese here, but use which kind you like)
1 large Jalapeno, seeded
5-7 slices cooked bacon, crumbled (we use Morningside veggie bacon here...it is awesome in these muffins!)
1 cup low-fat sour cream -  nonfat yogurt works okay as well, or 1 cup low-fat buttermilk

Directions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and line muffin pan with liners
Prepare muffin mix but do not add milk
Mix in bacon, jalapeno and sour cream (or yogurt)
Mix well
Divide batter into 12 muffin cups
Bake about 15-18 minutes (or until that handy toothpick comes out clean from the middle of a muffin!)

How to Save Money When Eating Out? Use These Six Websites!

Eating out at restaurants is bad for our budgets. We know.  And I am betting that almost everyone who reads this post has cut way back on the number of times they go out to eat, or has stopped going out to eat completely.

My husband and I have definitely changed our eating out habits, and cook much more at home these days. But I confess, I love going out to a restaurant once in a while, so I have zero plans to give up this guilty pleasure completely.

 I mean, even a money-pinching saving girl like me has to have fun sometimes. We may not go out to dinner much, but we still do go once in a while....kids and all.

So if you are like me and enjoy sitting in a restaurant and being served food instead of being the one doing the serving, and relaxing while someone else deals with those dirty dishes, check out these six websites which can help you save money and enjoy your meal out even more!

Find coupons for restaurants at EatDrinkDeals.com. They list the most recent coupons and deals available for over 100 major restaurants chains, such as Olive Garden, Chik-Fil-A, McDonalds, Sweet Tomatoes/Soup Plantation and more!

With DineOutCheap.com, you can have exclusive deals from local restaurants sent directly to your phone or email. You will also find coupons for independently-owned restaurants as well as the major chain restaurants on their site. You can search by a particular eateries' name or by entering your zip code.

iDine.com offers a cash back program where you will earn up to 15% back on your restaurant tabs. The program seems a bit complicated to me, plus you will need to register a credit or debit card to participate, but check it out and see if it might work for you (especially if you tend to eat out a lot.)

With OpenTable.com, you can earn 100 points for every restaurant reservation you make through their website. Making reservations is free, and you can redeem your points for gift cards you can use at participating restaurants. To learn more, scroll down to the bottom of their homepage to their 'About' section, and click on the link, 'dining rewards.'

You can compare restaurant prices for similar meals by going to AllMenus.com, where you can search hundreds of restaurant menus, including prices.

And if you are going out to eat with kids, find restaurants that have 'kids eat free' deals by going to KidsMealDeals.com.

Do you have any money-saving secrets you use when you go out to eat?

Saving Money By Using Grapes As a Natural Skin Toner

Got Grapes? Then you have a FREE natural face toner that will brighten and tighten your skin! Grapes have plenty of antioxidants and other good stuff like alpha-hydroxy acids that will tone and brighten your skin, plus help fight those little lines on your face.

Next time you are in the cosmetics/beauty products aisle, check how much those grape-infused serums and creams cost now-a-days.

Head to the grocery store and buy some green grapes instead - you will get a healthy snack plus a beauty treatment for one price!

Take some of those grapes and put them in the freezer for a few minutes. When they are chilled, take them out and slice each grape in half. Then rub the fruit part (not the skin side) gently over your face and neck. Leave the  juice on your face for about 10-15 minutes, then rinse.

If you do this nightly for about a week or so, you should see a difference in your skin's tone.

Cheap and Easy Dip Recipe For Superbowl Parties

Snacks for Superbowl that are cheap, easy to make and even healthy for your party guests are the best snacks to make in my opinion. I hope to post a few tasty snack recipes that do not cost much to make, and are easy to whip up before the big football game day arrives!

First on the menu- 

White Bean Dip. Cannellini beans are full of protein, and we all know that olive oil and garlic are heart-healthy foods! Go light on the salt, if you use any - and try substituting/adding other spices such as oregano, basil, or parsley to the dip.

Ingredients: 

1 can (15 oz.) of white Canellini Beans, drained and rinsed

About 1/3 cup Olive Oil
1 clove garlic
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Oregano (optional)
salt & pepper to taste

Directions:

Blend all ingredients in blender until smooth and creamy. Add salt & pepper to taste.

Serve with warm Pita bread, wheat crackers, or crusty Sourdough bread, toasted with olive oil.

Make Money By Selling Your Electronics at Gazelle.com

You can make some extra money pretty quickly by heading to Gazelle.com. There you can sell and recycle used electronics, video games, DVDs and more. Offers for your item are given instantly, and if you decide to accept the offer, you can even ship your item to Gazelle for free.

'Gazelle provides an easy, fast, and safe way for you to sell or recycle electronics. When you gazelle cell phones, MP3 players, laptops, or other gadgets, you'll earn cash and help save the environment by keeping electronics moving and out of landfills.'

Things you can sell include camcorders, calculators, MP3 players, gaming consoles, cell phones, movies and video games. You can even get offers for items that are missing parts!

'Once your item is received, it will be hand evaluated by a trained member of our gadget lab team where your offer is confirmed and all personal data removed. The vast majority of items move through this process quickly and we are able to send payment within about a week of receiving your item. Throughout the process, we'll send you email updates about the status of your item.'

 You will get paid by check, PayPal, Walmart Prepaid Visa, or Amazon.com® gift card, whichever method you choose. You can also select from more than 100 approved charities and donate the value of your items to your favorite cause.

To find out the value of your item, just search for your item/gadget, on the website then answer a few questions about it- age, condition, missing pieces, working or not, etc. You will then receive an offer instantly. You decide if you want to accept the offer or not. Pretty simple.

Transactions with a value of at least $1.00 will qualify for free shipping - you will be able to print out the free shipping label. Many items will qualify for free packaging as well  - Gazelle will mail the packing boxes to you for some transactions!

Learn more about making money selling your used electronics by heading over to Gazelle.com today!

3 Sneaky Money-Saving Tips

In an earlier post I mentioned that my one and only New Year's resolution this year is to save $1 everyday.

Not a big goal, admittedly. But I am banking on this small step on the road to improving my finances to lead to bigger steps as the year goes on.

The funny thing is, as I meet this savings goal every day I feel better about myself. (And a little richer.)

Accomplishing any goal we have set for ourselves can only inspire us, motivate us, as we set bigger goals for ourselves. This is what I believed when I made my resolution, and this is what I am finding to be true.

Every morning I save one more dollar in my secret savings stash before I do anything else. Well, almost anything. This gets my day started on a very positive note, plus I have that dollar safely tucked away before it gets spent during the day. And by the end of each day, I have usually managed to add more money to my 'piggy bank.'

How much have I saved so far with my $1 a day plan?

Save Money: Make Your Own Air Fresheners

You can save money by making your own room fresheners. These are easy recipes using natural ingredients that take no time at all to whip up!

1. Use a glass jar with lid, such as a jelly jar, pickle jar or olive jar to make vanilla-scented air fresheners. First, carefully punch holes in the lid using a nail. Second, moisten several cotton balls with a few drops of vanilla extract. Drop the balls in to the jar, put the lid on and you are done! These scented jars are perfect for smaller areas like closets, nooks, and bathrooms.

2. Make a homemade spray air freshener using all natural ingredients. First, fill an empty spray bottle with 2 cups water and 1/8 cup baking soda. Next, add about 10 drops of a scented oil you like. Shake the bottle slightly, and your air freshener is ready to be spritzed into the air, leaving a light fresh scent!

Save Money, Save Time When Booking Your Next Flight

Before you book your next flight, make sure you go to Hipmunk.com first! Just enter the airport you will be departing from, your departure and return dates, and your destination.

You will instantly be provided with all flights from all airlines that match your criteria, so you can easily compare pricing, times and even layovers!

And best of all, it's free.

Inexpensive Home-Made Eye Mask

Make an inexpensive eye mask using parsley to help brighten under-eye circles.

Parsley is rich in Vitamin K, which can reduce blood flow to the eye area when applied. According to Audrey Kunin, M.D., and founder of  DERMAdoctor.com, that blood flow is one reason for under-eye circles.

She explains that the fatty tissue under our eyes thins over time, which makes blood vessels more visible. And it is their slightly bluish color that gives the illusion of circles under the eyes.

Parsley Eye Mask

1 small handful of fresh parsley
2 Tbsp. plain yogurt

Combine the parsley and yogurt in a food processor or blender. Pulse until a paste is formed. Gently apply to under-eye area, relax for 20 minutes, then wash off with warm water.

Try this once a week to brighten up your under-eye skin.

6 Tips for Keeping Your Cash

Guest Post by Carla Boedecker.

Here are six very simple tips to help those hard-earned dollars go farther! Read on and you’ll be on the road to saving some extra money every month!

1. Quick Food - Not Fast Food
The average American would be amazed by the amount of their paycheck spent on fast food. With minimal foresight, you can keep this money in your pocket! Simply plan ahead! If you know you’re going to be pressed for time in the morning, take ten minutes the night before and boil and peal a couple of hard-boiled eggs. The protein will keep your hunger satisfied and you’re literally spending pennies on the dollar compared to a breakfast "value" meal at a drive-thru.

2. Stick to a List
When you go shopping, HAVE A LIST. I can't stress this enough. Have a list and do not deviate from it. When you hit the grocery store, know what you’re there for. If you commit to a list, you'll safe-guard yourself from impulse buys. Everyone has heard to not shop hungry, and this is to help you resist impulse-buying. Why such a passion for resisting impulse-buying? Because impulse-buying leaves you with something you didn't really need and less money for things you actually need.

3. Know Your Bills
Billing errors are not uncommon and they can cost you big. Whether it’s utilities, your credit card, or your cell phone, know what your bill should be. If the average temperature is the same as last month and your electricity bill was $50 more expensive, ask questions! A minor error in the meter or per unit price means money waisted. Cell phone companies are some of the most frequent perpetrators of billing errors. If your cell phone bill increases, go over it with a fine tooth comb. Failures to give you correct "free" calls (free after 6pm, free in-network calling, etc.) can cost you a bundle.

4. Pay the Principal
If you pay the minimum monthly payment on high interest loans and credit cards, you’re throwing money away. By paying 25% more than your minimum, not only will you be debt-free faster, but on something like a thirty year mortgage you'll save yourself thousands in interest. An added benefit is every four billing cycles you will be one month ahead, giving you a security blanket in the event of an emergency.

5. Just Ask!
In the current economy, many lenders and credit card companies are willing to work with you. Make contact with your credit card companies and ask! Ask if they can reduce your interest rate, ask if they will reduce your pay-off for an early or increased payment. You may be surprised by the amount they are willing to work with you. If you contact them and receive nothing, you’re out nothing. But nothing ventured equals nothing gained.

6. PAY CASH!!!
I've saved the most important for last: pay cash. It sounds pretty simple, right? We've become so "instant gratification" driven that we lose sight of the whole situation when shopping for big ticket items (cars, electronics and appliances). The stores are all too willing to satisfy this urge, "instant credit, 90 days same as cash, no payments for a year." More often then not, you'll pay more in the end. The biggest downfall of your fiscal health can be over-extending. By paying cash, you minimize outstanding debt and if a crisis hits, you won't find yourself overwhelmed.

Carla Boedecker enjoys giving personal finance advice and writes for flowerdelivery.net.