I have no green in my thumb. None. Zilch. In fact, every spring I get a bit glum about my lack of gardening finesse, as one of my secret desires is to be the proud owner of a fabulous garden. So when I came across this marvelous tip courtesy of the Tightwad, I got so excited I wanted to share with you right away!

Go to Sproutrobot.com (after you finish reading this post, of course.) There you will just fill in your zip code and instantly a 'planting calendar' for your area pops up. This calendar lists the types of veggies, fruits and plants that should grow well in your neck of the woods, plus when the seeds should be planted.

They even provide planting instructions for the particular seeds you will be planting - very easy to read instructions for green-less thumb gardeners like me!

Then, because they are so nice, they will even send you email reminders to make sure you do not miss the specific planting windows!

Cool, right? Now I know this may not completely green up my thumb, but I am willing to give this a try. I really think this might be my year to finally get to watch my garden grow.

( eek!)

Save money, get free stuff, and even get cash by visiting these 3 websites:



1. Listia.com: 
This is an auction site simliar to eBay, but everything is free! Yes, free. How it works:

A user lists something they don't want anymore. (like an old TV)

Other users bid on the TV using credits they received for signing up, referring friends or listing their own stuff.

When the auction ends, the user who bid the highest amount of credits wins!

The buyer gets the TV, and the seller gets credits to use for something else on Listia...

2. PlasticJungle.com

You can sell unused gift cards at Plastic Jungle and get up to 92% of the value. You can have the money deposited immediately into your PayPal account, have a check mailed to you, buy other gift cards for as much as 30% off, or donate to a favorite charity. I did this with some gift cards left over from Christmas--I had cash in a flash and loved it!

3. Cheapism.com

If you are planning to buy something soon, go to this website first to get breakdowns on quality, reviews, and tips to finding the best prices. There are categories for almost everything, from electronics, home and garden, travel, sports, health and beauty, and family. The best place to go before you buy anything!

Some time ago I wrote a post on some money-saving ideas using lemons. I thought I would share more tips that I have since come across. After all, finding little ways to save a little money each day can add up to a pretty nice savings before you know it.

1. Use lemons, save a lettuce! Add the juice of half a lemon to a bowl of cold water. Then put soggy lettuce in it and refrigerate for 1 hour. Make sure to dry the leaves completely before putting them into salads or sandwiches.

2. Get rid of mineral deposits and polish tarnished chrome  without buying expensive cleansers: simply rub lemon rind over the chrome and watch it shine! Rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.

3. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice to your dish-washing soap to dissolve grease on dishes and pans.

4. Clean tough food stains on wood and plastic cutting boards by squeezing lemon juice on the stains. Wait 20 minutes then rinse.

5. Use lemons to neutralize odors: Simply cut a lemon in half and place both halves, cut side up in a dish. The air will smell fresher with a lemony scent soon!

6. Use lemons to help remove warts: Just apply a little lemon juice right on the wart. Do this for a few days until the acids in the juice dissolve the wart completely.

7. Got dandruff ? Use lemons to help stop the itch and get rid of flaky dandruff. Massage 2 Tbs. of lemon juice directly on the scalp, then rinse with warm water. Next, mix 1 teaspoon lemon juice in 1 cup water and rinse your hair with it. Repeat this daily until your dandruff disappears. No more itchy scalp, and your hair will smell lemon-fresh.

8. Before spending money on expensive age spot creams, try applying lemon juice directly on the age spots.e Leave on for about 15 minutes, then rinse your face completely. Lemon juice is known to safely and effectively lighten skin spots. 

9. Instead of buying bleach, use 1/4 to 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle to brighter up your favorite whites.

10. Did you know that fleas and roaches hate the scent of lemons? To naturally repel these bugs, mix the juice of 4 lemons (along with the rinds) with 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water and wash your floors with it.

There are endless ways to use lemons around the home it seems. What are your favorite lemon tips?