Happy Thrifty Tuesday! I want to share some money saving tips when it comes to staging a home to sell. When my boyfriend Jim and I bought a house to flip a few years back, I not only wanted to save money on "staging" or furnishing the tiny cottage, but I wanted to spend practically zero money! 

As we got closer to furnishing the house, I was telling Jim... wouldn't it be nice if I could "find" a couch, table, desk, etc.. to save money. Well, wouldn't you know it - the very next day, someone left a perfectly good couch and side table right outside on the curb! Can you believe how the universe was working in my favor!! 

Most of the furniture were generously donated from friends or "found treasures" curbside. They just had to be refinished or painted for a brand new look. You can view the before and after photos on facebook.

Here are my frugal tips on how I saved money (or spent no money at all) on this house flip:

    

Happy Frugal Friday Everyone! If you shop online, or if you know someone who does, I recommend joining BigCrumbs.com, it's free! They are an online portal to most of your favorite stores, you earn cash-back on your purchases from 1,500 online stores. When you refer you friends to join Big Crumbs, you earn cash-back from all of their purchases, plus earn cash-back from all of their friends' purchases too! Let me summarize this in bullet form...

• You join Big Crumbs for free.
  
• You earn cash-back on your purchases.
  
• Refer your friends to join Big Crumbs.
  
• You earn cash-back from your friends' purchases.
  
• Your friends' refer their friends to join Big Crumbs.
  
• You earn cash-back from all of your friends' friends purchases.
  

In addition, every dollar you earn and 10% of of every dollar earned by the people that you directly refer count towards a company-wide bonus pool. If you are going to shop online anyways, why not get cash-back. You still shop from the same places you normally shop, except now you can earn cash-back on every purchase. It's the smart and savvy way to shop! 

Watch Big Crumbs overview video below for more information. Then click here to join.

Happy Thrifty Tuesday! In addition to my page on Money Saving Tips For Everyday Living, I'm listing 13 new ways you can save even more money!

If you are reading this and have other money saving tips you would like to share, please add it the "comment" section below.

For other money saving tips on each of the categories listed below, click on the category titles.

FINANCES

1. Use Cash - most people tend to spend less when paying cash vs. a credit card or even a debit card. As an added incentive, some retailers, such as gas stations - offer discounts to cash paying customers in order for them to save money on high bank merchant fees.

2. Pay Bills Online - sign up for auto payments online to pay your bills. Not only do you save money on postage stamps and checks, but it also ensures that your payment is not late - avoiding those pesky late fees!


HEALTH

3. Free Yoga Classes - yoga is one of the best ways to stay fit physically and spiritually. For the months of September and October, select yoga studios are offering one week of free classes for new students! Check out YogaMonth.org for more details.

4. Dental Checkups - to receive low cost dental care, dental schools often have clinics that allow dental students to gain experience treating patients. Contact your local dental school for more information. For affordable dental plans, visit DentalPlans.com.

5. Eye Exams - if you are 65 and better, you can receive free eye examinations, plus a one-year follow up by volunteer ophthalmologists. For more details, visit EyeCareAmerica.org. If you are looking for affordable eye care, click here.


FOOD

6. Save Leftovers - don't just reheat your leftovers, get creative - add other ingredients to make a whole new meal. My personal tip - most leftovers taste better with butter, garlic and onions!

7. Cheap Breakfast - feast on IKEA's breakfast plate of scrambled eggs, bacon and potatoes for only 99¢. Check your local IKEA store for other cheap (and yummy good) eats throughout the day.

8. Grow Your Own - save money on herbs such as basil, cilantro, rosemary or lavender. Plant your own herb garden or potted herbs to add to salads and meals. Plant and grow your own vegetables and fruits too.


AUTO

9. Save On Insurance Cost - if you are on the market for a new or pre-owned vehicle, consider purchasing an SUV, a pick up truck or even a mini-van. These types of vehicles usually cost less to insure than others. Compare auto insurance cost here.

10. Free Air Checks - keep your tires inflated to maximize gas mileage, especially on long trips. Low tire pressure robs gas mileage - up to three miles per gallon! Get free air checks at tire centers such as Discount Tire stores.

11. Read Customer Reviews - if you don't have a reliable mechanic and are looking to get your car repaired in the near or immediate future, it's helping to read customer reviews on sites such as Yelp.com. Determine if a certain repair shop or mechanic fits your need from the customer's experiences on the reviews.


SHOPPING

12. Free Stuff - who doesn't like free stuff? However, only take freebies if you actually need them or will use them in the future. Otherwise, they are just junk that is taking up space in your house. If you are looking for something in particular, go to Craigslist.org under their FREE section. Also check out FreeCycle.org - a network of members who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns. It's all about reuse and keeping good stuff out of landfills. For other freebie tips, click here.

13. Free Samples - many companies give away samples to consumers to try out hoping they will like it and purchase their full size product down the line. Check out sites like MrFreeStuff.com for free samples and other free goodies.

     

Happy Thrifty Tuesday! Fortunately (for most of us) we only have to think about these big expenses every 5 or 30 years! For some, the time frame is less, depending on their circumstances and budget.

If you are considering purchasing any of the 5 big ticket items I've listed below, I offer some frugal tips on how one can save some bucks along the way!

1. HOME BUYING: This is most likely the biggest expense in someone's life, not to mention the biggest mortgage debt - unless you are lucky enough to pay cash! The benefits of owning your own home is a great investment. It's worth the time spent in the house search and the money paid to the skilled real estate agent. First, decide what area you want to live in and what your wish list are in priority order. If you need a home loan, get pre-qualified with the lowest fixed rate possible. If you are selling and buying a home at the same time, negotiate with your agent for a lower commission especially if they are the agent for both transactions. For other ways to save on Housing stuff, click here.
2. PRE-OWNED VEHICLES: In the past, I've always had a new car, I do love that "new car smell".  However, now that I'm a little wiser - I think my next car will be a pre-owned vehicle. Buying a new car depreciates the minute you drive it off the lot. The value of a new car, within the first year alone, can drop by 15 to 40 percent. Look for certified pre-owned cars that are re-condtioned and comes with a warranty. If possible, select a car that has about 25,000 miles and 2 to 3 years old. Do you your research and price comparison before making any final decision. For other ways to save on Auto stuff, click here.
   
3. DIY HOME RENOVATIONS: If you are skilled enough to do most of the home reno yourself or you have a reliable handyman (like my significant other) who can help you do most of the work, this will save you a lot of money vs. hiring a pro. When buying materials or tools, consider using a home improvement credit card that offers a no interest for X months - you just have to pay the minimum payment. Although paint is one of the cheapest ways to transform an area - the cost could also add up. Check out discounted "oops paint" at your local home improvement store, if it's the color you need, you could save up to 75%. For ideas on frugal Home Decor, click here.
4. TECHNOLOGY: Some people have to have the latest gadget... whether it's the newest smartphone, tablet, laptop, computer, television, camera, etc.. If you don't mind having last month's model and if you are in the market for any tech item - consider buying used or refurbished, they work just as good as they did when they were new. Check out sites such as Amazon.com or Geeks.com, to do some research and price comparison. For other ways to save on Technology stuff, click here.
5. VACATION TRAVEL: Planning a vacation is one of the most exciting and the most overwhelming experience at the same time. To save time, one must know or at least narrow down their destination and dates. Read My Top 10 Thrifty Travel Tips for more information on how to save money on your next trip.

Happy Frugal Friday! There are many ways to save money, and there are many ways to waste money also. Don't get me wrong, one should indulge and treat themselves once in a while - when one can afford it and not have to go into debt.

I'm highlighting 5 ways that most people (including myself in the past) throw their hard earned money away. Some money wasters can add up if it continues for a period of time.

By NOT doing these very un-frugal things, one can pocket some extra money instead of throwing it all out the window!

Happy Thrifty (and Thin) Tuesday! Besides having "the frugal lifestyle" I also strive to have a healthy and wealthy lifestyle! I believe anyone can achieve all three with some effort and dedication, one must make it a priority and take action towards achieving whatever goal or lifestyle they desire.

I believe I've achieved this goal with my 90-day weight loss challenge. Instead of paying a company to help me lose weight, I found a company that pays me to lose weight!


What does healthy mean to me?
I've always been relatively healthy. I've been very fortunate and haven't had any serious ailments ever since adopting an alternative means of taking care of myself. I have not been to a medical doctor in over 10 years and have not taken any prescription pills since then either. I'm healthier now than I was in my 20's.

However, since my 40's, I needed to lose at least 13 or more pounds. I'm barely 5 feet tall, so any extra weight makes me look bigger than I really am. I've attempted to lose weight at the beginning of each new year, but never continued past February! I wanted to feel comfortable in my clothes and not have that bloated feeling. For me, being healthy is feeling good about my entire being... emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually.

Can I really get paid to lose weight?
What finally made me decide that losing weight needed to be my priority was finding out about a company that offered healthy nutritional supplements that helped people lose weight. It also happens to be a network marketing company which I could promote as part of my business. And the icing on the cake (which I don't eat anymore) is that they paid people to lose weight. This was reason enough for me to do their 90-day challenge. I'm proud to say that I've accomplished my goal... I lost 25 pounds and I'm getting paid $100. So, not only am I thinner and healthier, I'm now also a little bit wealthier!

EPXBody is a company that offers excellent nutritional products as well as a 90-day challenge program, which I participated in. It helps people all over the world to lose weight, plus they can get paid up to $500, depending on how many pounds they lose! The challenge was created to motivate anyone to make a positive lifestyle change, while transforming their mind and body. Once I became involved with EPXBody, not only did I transform my body (and mindset)  by losing weight with the aid of their products, I also transformed my financial situation by earning residual income from promoting my EPXBody business.

What does wealthy mean to me?
I have worked from home ever since I got laid off from my corporate job. Although there's challenges being an independent business owner, it's been very rewarding. I now have time freedom to work for myself, such as on my EPXBody business as well as pursue various interests. I now experience a much richer lifestyle that goes beyond monetarily means. When most of your day is spent doing what you want to do, you tend to be happier and healthier.

Find Your Purpose
The key to living well for me is finding your bliss, your purpose. It's very important to take stock and make sure your life is balanced. If you are doing what you love, everything else will fall into place... the right home, the right relationship, the right business or career. As a result of being on the right path, your body will respond by being healthier naturally.

Happy Frugal Friday! I hope everyone had a happy and healthy Independence Day holiday. If you're like me, I try to take care of myself and avoid getting sick. I've been pretty healthy, but there are times when I get the "bug", whether it's a nagging sore throat, runny nose, a cold or even the flu. 

Unfortunately, most people would probably run to the doctor and get a "shot" of some sort or some "pill" of the antibiotic flavor. Fortunately, I am smarter and more savvy than that.

I've been taking a daily supplement that naturally prevents and protects the body from a number of diseases. Since taking it, I have not been sick at all. The product is called IMMUNE, in today's over-sanitized environment, many people's immune systems have not been kept sufficiently active and consequently have become less able to neutralize new and unexpected threats. The ingredients in IMMUNE work in synergy to protect your body by "waking up" the innate immune system all over the body, especially in the major organs, including the liver, kidneys, and brain.

One of the main ingredients in IMMUNE is stabilized allicin, which comes from garlic. When garlic is cut or crushed, allicin is created and released as a defense mechanism to protect the garlic plant from further damage. Allicin is a natural anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral compound that quickly kills nearly every simple organism. Garlic (allium sativum) has been used as a medicine and health-promoter for 5,000 years. For more information about allicin, please visit The Heart Of Garlic. The other two effective ingredients in strengthening the immune system is Ester-C, a form of Vitamin C and Beta-glucan. 

I highly recommend IMMUNE as a natural and healthy alternative to antibiotics. By taking it once daily it's a frugal way to maintain your overall good health, so you don't need to go to the doctor anymore!