Recycling Old Bicycle Tires

Bicycling is an inexpensive way to travel around town and is environmentally friendly. Biking is the perfect way to go. There is one minor expense that seems to deflate the joy of serene cycling; the flat tire follies. Once a tire or an inner tube becomes too old, retire these treasures into the garden. An inner tube with a dozen patches is still excellent for use in aligning and training trees. Simply wrap a cut tube around the young tree trunk in a figure eight with the other end around a stake to guide the wayward tree. Apply pressure and tie off. For small jobs, cut the inner tube in lengthy strips and use as garden ties. The rubber inner tube strips are plant friendly, stretch with the wind, and won't carve into the plant. For tough jobs use cut bike tires. They're reinforced with metal and material and will last a long time. I even saw one gardener using strips of cut bicycle tires as a garden gate hinge. With this rubber material, the possibilities are endless, so go ahead and tire yourself thinking of ways to re-use and recycle.

Re-using "Peanuts" Packing Materials

Have you ever wondered what you could do with the foam "packing peanuts"? You know, those irritating little things that get all over the floor and cabinet when you open a box?

You can put them in a plastic bag and store them for using next time you need to mail a package. Deposit them at most recycling centers across the nation. Did you know you could even use them in potting plants to help in soil drainage? Instead of adding the traditional gravel to the lower 1/3 of the planting container, add unused foam packaging peanuts instead. As a low weight, high volume alternative to potting gravel, you'll find your pots will weigh substantially less, making gardening a little less burdensome. This volume drainage alternative also helps stretch valuable quality gardening materials for other plants. The insulation properties of the peanuts also help to sustain plant roots during cold winter chills.

Reusing Laundry Scoops

Scoop-Out Measured Savings
What do you do with your plastic scoops that are included with your powdered laundry detergents. What about the plastic caps on the fabric softener bottles? Start saving these! They are very handy for mixing gardening chemicals, and they are also helpful in the kitchen. If you purchase bulk quantities of flour and sugar, like I do, you can re-package them in large glass pickle jars. In each container, use the scoops with graduated measures.

To mark the scoop with proper measurements, take a known volume of water and fill up the scoop. Take a marker and mark the known measurement on the scoop using the permanent marker. Liquid detergent and fabric softener measuring tops also work well. Make sure to wash everything completely before using and marking.

Make Fabric Softener Last Three Times Longer

Here is a tip to make your fabric softener last three times as long. Your clothes will be softer than with just plain fabric softener. Purchase a large bottle of softener and pour into another bottle two cups of softener and two cups of white vinegar. Shake this mixture well and then use it just as you would the full strength softener.

Your clothes will be soft, and the towels are fluffier.

Generic Prescriptions- $9.99/ 90 days at Harris Teeter

SAVE NOW!
Harris Teeter's Generic Prescription Savings Club

No Prescription Coverage? No Problem.

We're offering a 90-day supply of more than 300 prescriptions for only $9.99. That means you can save on generic drugs used to treat a tremendous range of medical conditions.

With the know-how of our expert pharmacists, the convenience of picking up your prescriptions while you shop and our new Generic Prescription Savings Club, we hope to serve you better than any pharmacy in town.

Here's how you can save:

$9.99 for a 90-day supply of over 300 generic prescriptions
Save at any Harris Teeter Pharmacy location
$4.95 annual enrollment fee, per VIC card
It's easy to enroll. See store pharmacy for details
Click here to see the list of the 300+ generic prescriptions.
Click here to see a list of Frequently Asked Questions.

7 days Gym Membership Pass

24-hour Fitness, Sign up HERE!

Reserve the 2010 Entertainment Book, Receive the 2009 Book FREE

For nearly 50 years, Entertainment has been helping people save in tough economic times with the big Entertainment coupon book. Today, more then ever, people realize that the premium 50% off and 2-for-1 coupons found in the book help them save on everyday essentials right in their neighborhood including:

* Dining
* Shopping
* Movie Tickets

* Groceries
* Services
* Travel

* Attractions
* Car Care
* Home Furnishings

Plus, with each book purchase you get online access to hundreds of additional local printable coupons and incredible online shopping discounts not found in the book.

Reserve your 2010 Book HERE and receive the 2009 Book FREE

FREE Chocolate Fridays!

Mars is giving away 250,000 coupons for free chocolate every Friday through September! Coupons are available beginning at 9 a.m. EDT. You can keep signing up until you have reached the maximum number of four coupons.

You can redeem your coupon for M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Dove, 3 Musketeers, or MilkyWay.

Sign up HERE for FREE Chocolate every Friday!

5th Annual Cow Appreciation Day at Chik-fil-A

Friday, July 10, 2009

Come into any Chik-fil-A Restaurant dressed as a cow and receive a FREE meal!

Show your appreciation for the cows while eating more chicken. Put on your best cow costume and join us for free fun on Friday, July 10, 2009. Don't have a costume? Make your own using our starter kit. Plus, you can add to the excitement by entering our Kids' Photo Contest and Facebook Photo Contest.

Source: CowAppreciationDay.com

FREE Mocha Mondays at McDonalds

Get a FREE sample of iced or hot mocha every Monday until August 3, 2009. 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Start your working week with a complimentary McCafe Mocha, the sweet side of Expresso.

Limit 1 sample sized 8 oz. mocha or 7 oz. iced mocha per person per visit.

7/13, 7/20, 7/27, 8/3 Promotion Dates

While supplies last!

Visit www2.mcdonalds.com/mccafe/

Earn Extra Money Mystery Shopping

What is Mystery Shopping:

Mystery shopping, also known as secret shopping, involves posing as a regular customer in order to evaluate the goods and services that a business provides. Your findings are reported back to the client, and used to improve their services.

How Mystery Shopping Works:

A business hires a mystery shopping company to evaluate their services; and the mystery shopping company, in turn, hires shoppers to perform those evaluations. Shoppers are given a list of things to evaluate/note during the shop. This may include:

* how long it takes to be greeted
* speed of service
* cleanliness of the location
* compliance with company standards – dress code, signage, greetings, etc.
* listening for specific services to be offered
* names/descriptions of employees

After completing a shop, the shopper submits her evaluation and receipts. Payment is made one to eight weeks after submission of a successful shop.

What Types of Businesses Use Mystery Shoppers:

* restaurants
* hotels and resorts
* retail stores
* grocery stores
* movie theaters
* car dealerships
* amusement parks
* gas stations
* and many others

How to Find Mystery Shop Assignments:

If you're new to mystery shopping, Volition.com is a good place to start. It provides a database of reputable mystery shopping companies, as reported by actual mystery shoppers – so the information is more reliable than what you'll find through a web search.

Spend some time looking through the database. Then, form a list of the companies that you're interested in working for, and submit an application with each one.

Once your application is approved, you'll have access to the company's database of shops. Check it often for shops in your area, and apply for any of interest.

How to Avoid Scams:

Unfortunately, not all mystery shopping companies are reputable. To avoid falling for a scam, you should avoid any company that:

* requires you to pay a fee – you shouldn't have to pay anything to get assignments
* advertises for shoppers in newspaper help-wanted sections or through unsolicited e-mails
* requires you to pay for and earn a shopper certification
* guarantees you shops or a set income

For even more protection against scams, look for companies that belong to the Mystery Shopper Providers Association (mysteryshop.org).

What the Typical Mystery Shop Entails:

Every mystery shop assignment is a bit different, but most assignments will require you to complete your shop on a specific day and time. It will also require you to listen for certain services to be offered; to ask specific questions and remember the answers you receive to those questions; and to note the details of your surroundings – everything from the cleanliness of the bathrooms to whether signage is placed appropriately. It may even require you to try out specific services (say a new burger at a fast food restaurant); to take photos of the location; or to record conversations that you have with employees.

How Much Mystery Shopping Pays:

Mystery shopping is not a way to get rich, nor is it a full-time job. Expect to make $10-15 per shop in addition to any merchandise or services that you receive during the course of the shop. A typical restaurant shop, for example, might result in a free meal plus a small shop fee for your time.

What It Takes to Be a Good Mystery Shopper:

* attention to detail
* a good memory
* objective evaluation skills
* the ability to perform and submit shops promptly

Tips for Success:

* Apply to a lot of mystery shop companies to increase your chance of getting regular assignments
* Check for available shops often – the good ones go fast
* Don't accept a shop unless you are sure that you can complete it. Many companies will remove you from their list of shoppers after just one failed shop
* Be willing to accept last-minute and less-than-glamourous shops when starting out – this will improve your standing with the company
* Read over the requirements of a mystery shop several times before attempting the shop. If you miss some of the details, you won't be paid

Starting Out with a Mystery Shopping Company:

When starting out with a new mystery shopping company, there are several things that you can do to ensure that the relationship is a good one. This includes:

* Starting with a shop with no or low out-of-pocket expenses
* Waiting to receive payment from your first shop, before taking on additional shops
* Evaluating whether you are being fairly compensated for your time. $20 may sound like a fair payment until you discover you're spending five hours on each shop
* Evaluating how easy to use and reliable the site is. If the tools are difficult to use, you may find your earnings doesn't justify the hassle

Disclaimer: Mystery shopping ads found on this page may or may not be for legitimate companies. Research all companies carefully before submitting a shopper application.

Source: About.Com:Frugal Living
Check out About.com for more tips and information.

Product Giveaway to WLS patients!!!

My sister is giving away products on her website to WLS patients! Go check it out! www.recoveringfatty.com.
Prizes: FREE Celebrate Vitamins (specific to your wls procedure) to one lucky winner, a case of Kay's Naturals product to two lucky winners! We sure have some great bariatric companies who give lots of wonderful products!

Here is what will get you entries (if done between July 7th - July 14th):

* Become a member of Recovering Fatty website www.recoveringfatty.com (see "Login" box on Home page; 1 entry, existing members will automatically be entered) Please note: the RF website membership and RF forums membership are two separate entities; both will get you an entry to the giveaway.
* Post a comment on any blog entry on the Recovering Fatty website as long as its done between July 7th - July 14th (1 entry total, NOT per comment)
* Become a member of the RF forum before the giveaway ends on July 14th (1 entry, existing members will automatically be entered)
* Post a comment on the RF forum between July 7th - July 14th (1 entry total, NOT per post)
* If you have a blog or website, add me to your blogroll but you will have to contact me to let me know it's there. Existing links do qualify, so shoot me an email (1 entry)
*To follow me on Twitter and Facebook, go to my site and click on the links.
* Send me an email at melinda@recoveringfatty.com. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it (1 entry total, NOT per email)

Clean Your Makeup Brushes

Are your makeup brushes a little worn, caked up with makeup? That will clog your pores, causing acne. Don't throw them away. Clean them and they will be like new! Take a little baby shampoo and put in just a little bit of water in a bowl. Swish the brush bristles around in the water and baby shampoo. Wipe the brush off and lay to the side to dry.

Regal FREE Family Film Festival

REG’s Free Family Film Festival is Now Showing!
When school’s out, kids around the country visit selected Regal theatres for the Free Family Film Festival. It’s a fun-filled nine weeks of movies for kids and parents. Since 1991, Regal has provided this service to the community, and best of all it’s FREE!
Selected G & PG movies start at 10AM each Tuesday and Wednesday during the festival. First-come, first-served seating is limited to theatre capacity. The Free Family Film Festival is safe, lots of fun and a great way for kids to spend a weekday morning in the summer.
Tickets for our 2009 Free Family Film Festival are exclusively available at select theatres’ box office on the day of the show.

Find a location near you!

Cinemark/Century Theaters - $1.00 Summer Movies

•10 Weeks Of Fun Films For Kids•
•A Different Movie Every Week•
•Weekday Mornings This Summer•

All 10 movies can be purchased in advance for $5.00, or can be purchased separately at the box office for $1.00 per show.

$5 Series punch cards are limited and are available while supplies last.
Admission with a series punch card is limited to one person per card per movie.

The films that have been selected are rated either G or PG

Click HERE to get a location nearest you

AMC Movie Theaters- $1 Summer Movies

All admission and concessions proceeds* from AMC Summer MovieCamp will benefit Variety – The Children's Charity and the Will Rogers Institute.

Families, schools and organizations alike are invited to see great kids' movies during AMC Summer MovieCamp. Available at select AMC theatres, this fun-filled program brings you:

* $1 movies from June 17 – August 5
* Shows starting at 10:00 a.m. every Wednesday
* Great field trip opportunities – groups can purchase tickets one week in advance starting June 10 at the box office or online at participating theatres

Find a location near you

*Excluding applicable taxes & operating costs.

Movie Schedule**
June 17:
Space Chimps
June 24:
Kung Fu Panda
July 1:
Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
July 8:
Tale of Despereaux
July 15:
Horton Hears a Who
July 22:
The Spiderwick Chronicles
July 29:
Nim's Island
August 5:
Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Find a location near you

AMC KidsPack™
Only $3.00** for:

• Kids’-size drink
• Kids’-size popcorn
• Kids’-size snack

Upgrade your KidsPack snack to a regular candy
for $1.00.

**Exclusive during AMC Summer MovieCamp.
A $2.75 Savings.

Find a location near you

Hot Website to Find Lost Money

Type in your name and state at MissingMoney.com and the site will search it's database to find out if you're owed cash from forgotten bank accounts, utility deposits, reimbursements and more.

Beauty Routine Using Lemons

Freshen up your skincare regimen with lemons! Their enzymes and fruit acids exfoliate skin, leaving it glowing. Their fragrances offer aromatherapy benefits, enhancing your mood.

Antibacterial Lemon Foot Bath:

3 quarts warm water
3 tsp. coarse salt
4 slices fresh lemon

Stir all ingredients until salt dissolves. Soak feet for 15 minutes, squishing lemon slices with toes to extract their skin-softening juices! Rinse well.

Removing Ticks Safely Without Pulling With Tweezers

I have heard this suggestion once before and would like to thank Nicole, a friend of mine on MySpace, for bringing it to my attention this morning. I had completely forgotten this helpful suggestion.

A pediatrician suggested this very easy way to remove a tick and is safe to do without pulling with a pair of tweezers, which can sometimes result in part of the tick staying embedded in the skin.

It also works in those difficult places such as in between the toes or in a head full of dark hair, etc.


~
Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball.

~
Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for 15-20 seconds.

~
The tick will come out on it's own and be stuck to the bottomm of the cotton ball when you lift it away.


This technique should work each time you use it and is much less traumatic for the patient and easier for you to remove the tick.

Unless someone is allergic to soap, it should not be damaging in any way.

Product Placement and the Price Customers Pay

Despite what they say in their advertisements, stores aren't out to save shoppers money. Their business is to make money, and the better they are at doing just that the more profitable the franchise. Often by saving money on one item a customer is tempted to spend more on another item since it was "saved money." By becoming familiar with stores' tactics, it becomes easier to avoid the temptation.

Eye Level Shopping

Stores plan displays carefully. They know the average height of a shopper, and they plan those eye level shelves slyly. Walk down the cereal aisle of a supermarket and inspect the layout. Eye-catching, brand name products are at eye-level while the store brand is usually above or below. Look at the bottom shelf. Kids cereals tend to be placed lower to meet kids' eye levels, leaving the healthier adult cereals at the adults' height.

Sale items are also placed at the eye-level. Often the sale item looks reasonable, so a shopper won't ever look below that shelf. The store brand item which costs less without the sale is below eyelevel, and therefore rarely noticed.

Timing

Many department stores count on the store layout to do the selling. Flanking the walkway are clothing displays that claim to be "hot spring fashions" or "new styles." For the repeat customer, it is nothing new to know that these items will be replaced with other items in a few weeks. The stores are playing the game of "get it while it's here or it'll be gone." What only the savvy shopper will know is that in a few weeks these items can be found in the corners of the department and often at a much lower price than they started. Be patient and buy later. Styles don't fade after only a few weeks.

Spontaneous Purchases

Most people know about the temptation of items in the checkout line. Known as impulse buying, the idea is to add a few more items to a purchase at that last moment. Stores make thousands of dollars on impulse buys in checkout lines, and their placement of the items shows that they know about it. Look at the selection for a moment. Candy? Magazines? While waiting in line the brain is idle and it convinces itself that these items are needed. Instead, save a task for waiting in line such as sorting coupons or making next week's meal plan while the contents of the store are fresh in mind. Avoid reading magazines that spark interest and end up on the conveyor.

There are other types of impulse buying that profit stores. Salsa is marketed alongside chips, and ice cream cones are displayed on racks in the ice cream aisle. Ask yourself these two questions: Is a more cost efficient brand available in the aisle where these products are usually displayed? Do I really need cones to go with my ice cream anyway?

Cakes, pastries, and other luring goodies are also found in the aisles at the end of the grocery store. By this time shoppers are tired and often hungry. The temptation of the sugary snacks is too much, and yet another purchase is made. Resist by eating before leaving the house or shopping the store "backwards" and ending by the paper goods rather than the bakery.

By keeping the stores' selling tactics in mind, a shopper can avoid overspending. Before leaving for the store create a list and stick to it. It's when a person strays from that list that stores are happy.

About The Author: Kelly Ann Butterbaugh is a freelance writer who regularly contributes to a variety of magazines as well as online newsletters. She teaches writing in the public school as well as at the collegiate level. Contact her at Englishteach@rcn.com or visit her website at http://users.rcn.com/wesavedamutt/Writer

Source: Thrifty Fun