Bring Your Own Beverage to Save Money

Want to cut your fast food bill?  B.Y.O.B.  When you go out for a drive or to get a fast food lunch, bring your own bottle of water.  Instead of paying $1.59, $1.79, or more for a beverage, you'll be paying 15 to 20 cents for bottle water at the grocery store.  If you want to save even more, fill your own bottle from the tap!  We've saved a ton of money by taking water with us when we leave the house!

By Jm51 at en.wikipedia (Transferred from en.wikipedia) [GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)], from Wikimedia Commons

Cheap Stereos from the Thrift Store

Even if you are broke, you can still enjoy music.  The key is to be a little behind the times in your stereo system and your media selection.  For example, you can get music on cassette at your local thrift store for about 99 cents.

By Ulli1105 (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

 You can get CD's there for 2 or 3 dollars.  You can get a compact stereo system there for $30 or less.  You can get a full-sized stereo receiver for $50.  You don't have to go the trendy route; you can follow your own path and adopt technologies at price points that work for you!

Here's how --

How to Buy a Stereo at the Thrift Store

A Cheap Chocolate Fix

If you want to save money and crave the taste of chocolate, skip the candy aisle and hit the bakery aisle.  You can buy bags of chocolate chips in the bakery aisle.  At Publix, you can get a bag of store-brand semi-sweet or milk chocolate chips for only $2.29 a bag.  If you eat them one at a time and let them melt in your mouth, they will last for a very long time!

By Editor at Large (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-2.5 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5)], via Wikimedia Commons

Preparing for an Emergency with Dollar Store Items

It's a crazy world we live in.  People are worried about everything from an economic collapse to a zombie apocalypse.  Some emergencies are far-fetched, but other disasters happen all the time.  Every family--even families on dollar store budgets--should be prepared for an emergency.   Tornadoes, hurricanes, super storms, and earthquakes happen.  Even on a tight budget, you can be prepared, here's how -

How to Make an Emergency Kit from Dollar Store Items

Fabric Softener Sheets from Dollar Tree

My wife and I have been using the fabric softeners from Dollar Tree on our laundry. The sheets are comparable to Bounce or Snuggle. The brand name we use most often is called Breezy. However, they have more scents available with a brand called Sauvitel. These Dollar Tree products are great because you can use 'em and no one will ever know.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!  Everyone exhale!  We've made it through the most expensive holiday of the year.  While it celebrates someone who was born in a manger, it's become a commercial nightmare.

 Enjoy January!  It's a cheap month!  In February, all the women will want diamonds!  But, something like this cubic zirconia ring from Kohl's may have to do . . .

Since it's all made in China . . .

. . . you really aren't too good for Kmart.

Seriously, if all the merchandise in every store is made in China, why pay more for it?  Just buy it where you can save the most money.  There's no snob appeal in goods from some far-flung land.  Labels and brands mean little when it's all made in the same sweatshop in some developing country.  There is no reason to pay too much.  Unless, you are buying something to feed your dog.  Then buy USA all the way . . .