Image: Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I’ve officially eliminated the dry cleaner from my “to-do” list, and I’m not missing the dry cleaning bill!

A few years ago, my husband splurged on the Travelers Collection dress shirts from Jos. A. Bank because they were wrinkle free shirts – no dry cleaning or ironing required! He justified the expense because he’d save $5 a week on dry cleaning. The shirts were wonderful, we washed and dried them (no ironing!) for about 3 years. So, let’s do the math:

• 5 Travelers Collection Shirts = $262.50 ($52.50 each – on sale)
• Eliminate the weekly dry cleaning bill for 3 years = $750
• Total Savings over the lifetime of the shirts = $487.50

 
Our dry cleaning savings got even sweeter when Costco introduced their own line of no-iron shirts for only $15.99! The quality appears to be just as good as Jos. A. Bank, so if he gets another 3 years out of these shirts…cha-ching! Look at the savings:

• 5 Costco Kirkland brand no-iron Shirts = $79.95
• Eliminate the weekly dry cleaning bill for 3 years = $750
• Total Savings over the lifetime of the shirts = $670.05

 
$5 a week sure adds up fast! Give the no-iron dress shirt a chance unless your husband requires that crisp starch look!

When’s the last time you repaired something that was broken?

If your cell phone breaks, do you even consider repairing it?

If a sock has a hole in it, do you mend it, throw it away, or in my case…turn it into a rag!

If a part breaks on your food processor, do you order that part or throwaway the entire unit?

Next time something is broken, stop before you throw it away (and add to our landfills)…consider your options:

• Repair Shop – yes, repair shops do still exist, and it’s worth asking how much a repair would cost. My three teenagers are always trying to justify replacing broken electronics in the name of new technology, but their wallets don’t always allow! My son’s i-pod screen cracked, and he was able to get it repaired for $50 instead of replacing it with the newer model for $200. Sure, he would have liked the newer model, but he couldn’t afford it. Live within your means!

 

• Super Glue – I love super glue! In the past couple of months, I’ve used super glue to: repair the sole of my son’s running shoe, repair a Christmas ornament and fix a knob on my bathroom drawer. Super glue is my 30-second repairman! I suggest always having some on hand, and I’m partial to the little single use super glues, so you never have to worry about it drying out.

 

• Replace a Part – Often times, you can go online and order an inexpensive replacement part for something like your food processor.

 

• Donate It – Years ago, I used to volunteer at the Junior League thrift sale, and I was always amazed to discover that there is a market for broken electronics. Techies love to fix broken things or just use them for parts! Give your throw away a second life!

 

• Recycle, Recycle, Recycle – Many things can be recycled, so check it first before you throw it away. Did you know that Gazelle will pay you to recycle your electronic gadgets? They’ll send you a box, pay you for shipping and you can earn a little cash for being environmentally responsible! Costco and Best Buy also have trade-in programs.

 
Let’s “trash” our throwaway society, and opt for budget friendly and earth friendly alternatives! Please click on the title of this article to share your repair success stories!

ATTENTION ONLINE SHOPPERS!

Ebates – where it pays to shop online! I’ve seen their ads so many times, and I always think SCAM! You know the saying, “if it sounds too good to be true…it probably is.” Guess what, Ebates is the real deal!

I finally took the time to check out their site, and I made my first purchase of $4.50 with Kodak Gallery. I received a $5.00 sign-up bonus and 15% back from Kodak Gallery, so I have a whopping $5.90 in my Ebates account! Yes, I wanted to kick myself for not taking the time to check out Ebates.com before I did my online Christmas shopping because that check would have really made me smile! If you’re an online shopper, do your wallet a favor and learn how to use Ebates! This is a great month to get started with Ebates because they are offering double cash back!

How to use Ebates:

• Go to Ebates.com
• Sign Up for FREE, just give them your name, e-mail address, mailing address for your checks & choose a password.
• WOW…you’ve already earned $5.00 just for signing up!
• Ebates works with over 1200 online stores, so search by store name or category. How about Godiva for Valentine’s?
• Once you choose the store, a list of available coupons will be shown! There just might be one you can use!
• Make your purchase!
• Within a couple of days, your cash back amount will appear in your account.
• Your big fat check will be sent every 3 months: May 15, August 15, November 15 and February 15
• Earn even more by telling your friends! Refer 50 friends and you’ll receive an Apple i-pad or $500!

 
Ebates really does seem to good to be true, but they are simply sharing a portion of the commission they receive from the retailers for sending them customers.

Now it’s just a matter of remembering to make my online purchases through Ebates.

Did you know that many Xbox problems can be easily solved at home, without costly repair? If you’ve encountered the dreaded xbox 3 red rings, it’s not a death sentence for your machine. You’ll find common fixes, and be back up and running quickly without weeks of downtime!

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Save Your Money – Get Free Things!

The Budget Diet girl loves FREE THINGS!

Why not take advantage of something if it’s FREE?

Free Movie Rentals
InsideRedBox.com
Sign-up for FREE to receive coupon codes for FREE dvd rentals. New coupon codes are posted daily!

Lots of Free Things
The Budget Diet’s Freebies Page (look for the tab in the top, right hand corner)
This page is updated daily with all the latest freebies and deals, so get in the habit of checking it frequently!

Free Groceries
Each week The Grocery Game list includes FREE items! This week, my freebies were: Pillsbury Simply Buttermilk Biscuits, Colgate Wave Toothbrush and Ricola Cough and Throat Drops. If you’re not playing the grocery game, sign up for a free trial today! Don’t let another week of free things pass you by! In addition to all the freebies, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at your grocery savings!

Report Card Freebies
There is such a thing as a free lunch! Bring in your most recent report card to redeem these wonderful free things, but be careful…don’t end up buying lunch for the entire family!

• Baskin Robbins – FREE scoop for A’s & B’s

 

• Blockbuster – 1 FREE family movie or kid movie with a B average (no new releases)

 

• Chick-Fil-A – FREE 8 pack of nuggets for A’s & B’s

 

• Chuck E. Cheese – 15 FREE tokens for good grades

 

• Krispy Kreme – FREE donut for each A

 

• McDonalds – FREE Happy Meal with all A’s

 

• Pizza Hut – FREE personal pan pizza with 3 A’s

 

• Sbarro – FREE slice of cheese or pepperoni pizza + a small drink for all A’s & B’s

 

Please note that most offers apply only to Kindergarten through 8th Grade. Promotions may vary by location so always call ahead.

Birthday Freebies
Think BIG, think beyond just a free dessert! You’ll find generous offers like a free $30 gift certificate from Benihana or a FREE Grand Slam Breakfast from Denny’s! Check out the complete Birthday Freebies list.

Free Community Events
Most communities offer free events throughout the year…from free concerts to free classes. Check your local library, community newsletter or do a web search for free events in your town.

Free Museum & Zoo Admission
If you’re a Bank of America customer, take advantage of free admission to over 100 museums/zoos the first weekend of every month (complete details available at BankofAmerica.com)

Free Fun
Our National Parks offer free admission days throughout the year. The Free Admission Days for 2012 are:

• January 14 – 16
• April 21 – 29
• June 9
• September 29
• November 10 – 12

 
Visit nps.gov to find a park near you! Don’t miss a moment of free fun or a cheap date!

It’s nice to know that FREE THINGS really do exist! Now it’s your job to take advantage of all those FREE THINGS!

Kick off the New Year with a chore lottery – it’s a fun way of making a chore chart!

You’ll enjoy instant savings when you fire the housekeeper (and the lawn service) and make a chore chart!

Here’s how The Budget Diet girl delegates chores…

• Each child does 1 chore per day (Monday – Thursday).

 

• If you have 2 children who are old enough to do chores, make a list of 8 age appropriate chores. If you have 3 children, make a list of 12 chores.

 

• Suggested chores: dust & clean room, clean bathroom, dust living room, dust den, dust game room, sweep porch, feed the dog, get the mail, mop the kitchen, trim the shrubs, pull weeds, mow, wash the car, job of the week (a one time job that mom chooses like organize the game closet).

 

• Chore lottery: once you’ve come up with a list of chores, write each one on a scrap of paper, put the scraps of paper in a jar & let the children choose their chores. Our family does “chore lottery” once a year, but you could certainly do it once a month or even every week to add to the “fun.”

 

• Mom chores…save the more difficult chores for yourself (or the chores you are most picky about like vacuuming & kitchen cleaning), and do 1 per day along with the children.

 

• Pay allowance at the end of the week.

P.S. – My friend’s neighbor asked why her son mowed the lawn instead of the lawn service, and my friend replied, “we’re in the business of raising responsible, hard working children.”

Let this be the year of the chore chart – you’ll be teaching your children responsibility and give them the chance to earn a little money!

Tervis Tumbler Company has the best lifetime warranty!

Four of our Tervis Tumblers had hairline cracks in the top, so I simply mailed them back, and I’ll be receiving four new ones soon. I didn’t even need my original receipt!

Unfortunately, most companies that offer a lifetime warranty require your original receipt which requires you to have a super-organized filing system!

We live in a throwaway society, a society that throws things away when they are broken rather than fixing them or looking up warranty details. The next time something is broken, The Budget Diet girl has two simple rules:

1. Look for your warranty papers or look up the company online to find out their warranty policy. Our Tervis Tumblers were a gift, so I did not have any warranty papers, but a quick visit to their website was all it took to find out the simple details of their lifetime warranty.

 

2. If you strike out on the warranty, take a moment to call a repair shop or search the internet for repair solutions before you decide on replacement. Don’t always assume that you have to replace the item.

 

Just this month, I’ve saved hundreds of dollars by taking the time to repair or by taking advantage of a warranty…

1. Arbor – Our metal arbor had rusted and would know longer stand, but a quick trip to Home Depot yielded great repair advice! I spent $7 on the supplies, my teenage son spent 15 minutes doing the repair, and we saved $200 (the cost of a new arbor)! Even better…the sense of accomplishment that my son felt after doing the repair!

 

2. Broken Toilet Handle – My husband is not Mr. Fix It, and neither am I! We are both challenged when it comes to fixing things, but I promise…if we can repair a broken toilet handle, so can you! The internet is full of simple toilet repair videos. Plumbing charges have skyrocketed, so put on your plumber pants and do it yourself!

 

3. Super Glue – Don’t underestimate the power of super glue! Just this month, I’ve used super glue to repair of broken ceramic vase and a cabinet knob…they both look as good as new!

 

The moral of this money saving lesson?

Get your warranty papers organized, and make sure the warranties that come with your Christmas gifts don’t get thrown away in the trash!

Get into the diy mode…you’ll be proud of your accomplishment and thrilled with your savings!

Here’s the easiest way to save your money and give great gifts this Christmas…

BUY DISCOUNTED GIFT CARDS!

Think of a discounted gift card as your little money saving secret!

Save Your Money – Scenario #1

You love to give AMC Theatre gift cards as teacher gifts, so you visit PlasticJungle.com and discover that you can buy a $100 AMC Theatre gift card for just $84! Buy it and then use it to purchase lots of gift cards. Click on the AMC Theatres logo below to see all the available AMC discounted gift cards.

 
 
 
 
 
Save Your Money – Scenario #2

Impress the man in your life with a $100 gift card to Home Depot! He’ll never know you paid just $93 for it! Click on the Home Depot logo below to see all the discounted Home Depot gift cards.

Save Your Money – Scenario #3

Your teenage daughter has Lucky Brand jeans on her wishlist, but it’s beyond your budget. PlasticJungle.com has a $100 Lucky Brand Jeans gift card for only $85. Whew…crisis averted! Click on the Lucky Brand logo below to see all the discounted Lucky Brand Jeans gift cards.

 
 
 
 
 
Save Your Money – Scenario #4

Impress your teenage son with a $100 gift card to the Apple store! Just smile when he thanks you for splurging…he’ll never know that you only spent $90! Click on the Apple logo below to see all the available Apple discounted gift cards.

So, in our make believe shopping scenarios we bought teacher gifts, a gift for dad and our two teenage kids. Instead of spending $400 (the face value of the gift cards), we only spent: $352! The savings really will add up when you shop with discounted gift cards! Shop smart this Christmas season, and let discounted gift cards stretch your dollar!

Order your discounted gift cards today, so you’ll be ready to shop! Remember, shipping is always free!

Plastic Jungle’s selection changes daily, so check back often! As of today, discounted gift cards were available for the following:

Bath Body Works (56)
Black Angus Steakhouse (51)
Lucky Brand Jeans (40)
Home Depot (38)
Best Buy (36)
Kohl’s (28)
Lowes (25)
Pier 1 Imports (25)
Express (23)
American Apparel (22)
Jamba Juice (18)
New York and Company (18)
PETCO (18)
Claim Jumper Restaurants (17)
J. Jill (17)
The Limited (17)
Lids (16)
AMC Theatres (15)
Bon-Ton Department Store (15)
Coldwater Creek (12)
bebe (9)
Chico’s (9)
Sizzler (9)
Coleman (8)
Childrens Place (7)
Jack in the Box (7)
Macaroni Grill (7)
Radio Shack (7)
Sport Chalet (7)
Target (7)
Adidas (6)
Boscov’s Department Store (6)
Capital Grille (6)
Cabelas (5)
Port of Subs (5)
Ruths Chris Steak House (5)
Four Seasons Resort (4)
Hooters (4)
Movie Gallery (4)
Orvis (4)
Red Lobster (4)
The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (4)
Cache (3)
Cold Stone Creamery (3)
Dress Barn (3)
Fandango (3)
Metro Park (3)
Sports Authority (3)
Wendy’s (3)
Armani Exchange (2)
Columbia Sportswear (2)
Dooney & Bourke (2)
Lacoste (2)
PacSun (2)
PetSmart (2)
Puma (2)
Victoria’s Secret (2)
Zumiez (2)
Aeropostale (1)
Aldo Shoes (1)
Brooks Brothers (1)
Budget Rental Car (1)
Burton (1)
Dillards (1)
Fogo de Chao (1)
Gander Mountain (1)
GNC (1)
Gucci (1)
JC Penney (1)
Lettuce Entertain You (1)
Loews Cineplex (1)
Mccormick and Schmicks (1)
Montgomery Ward (1)
Nine West (1)
North Face (1)
Outback Restaurant Brands (1)
Outback Steakhouse (1)
Performance Bicycle (1)
Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion (1)
The Great Indoors (1)
Ticketmaster (1)