We used Redbox a lot because we knew it was easy to find Redbox promotion codes. Even if we didn’t have a promo code, movies are only a dollar a day and we have multiple kiosks in the area, some within walking distance. Even if they are just a dollar a day, there’s something fun about getting it for free. I’ll explain how you can still get movies for free off Redbox.

Redbox Referral Program

Redbox has been running a referral program for quite some time and you can sign up for it here. They will send you a unique URL that, if your friends use it, will give you credits for free Redbox movie rentals. If it’s the first time they’ve rented a Redbox movie online, they’ll get a credit for a free night too. You’ll get an email whenever someone signs up and when a credit is deposited, then you’ll have ten days to use it.

Promotion Codes

Promotion codes are the next best way to get free movie rentals from Redbox and you can get them in one of two ways. First, you can register with Redbox and they may send you SMS or email messages with promotional code.

There is, however, a better way – promo code sharing websites. My favorite code sharing website is Inside RedBox because they update their codes and tell you which ones have been successfully (and unsuccessfully) used.

Finally, with these promotion codes, you can usually use the code once per credit or debit card.

Enjoy the movies!

(Photo: kalebdf)

Rent Redbox Movies for Free: Referral Programs, Promotion Codes from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

Indeed, if you can find a heartfelt, sincere way to express your love, you don’t need to spend a lot of money. A good relationship doesn’t have to be based on expensive things and grand gestures. Instead, here are 9 ideas that will cost you less, and help you show your love more:

1. Play hooky together: Instead of going in to work, take the day off. Or, take a half day. Either way, you can play hooky together and have a great time. This is especially effective if your kids are in school. You don’t have to pay a baby-sitter and you can spend some quality time taking a walk, watching a movie at home, or going to lunch (which is much less expensive than going to dinner).
2. Save on flowers: Instead of getting flowers for Valentine’s Day, get them a couple of weeks early, or a couple of weeks late. My husband almost always gets me my Valentine’s Day bouquet sometime around the end of January. The flowers are just as beautiful, and just as romantic — but at half the price.
3. Share your feelings: Write little notes expressing how you feel, or sharing the good qualities of your significant other. Leave them for your partner to find in unexpected places like the purse or wallet, inside a frequently used drawer, or some other hiding place. Best of all: If your partner doesn’t find them all on Valentine’s Day, s/he will get a fun reminder later on.
4. Cook dinner together: You don’t have to go out to have a romantic dinner. If possible, cook dinner together. Make something you both like, and enjoy it — add candles for a special touch. It’ll provide you with some quality time as you cook together, and then eat slowly.
5. Use deal specials: If you must go out, use deal specials. Look for discounted gift certificates online, and get your meal for cheap. Just remember that the tip is supposed to be on the original cost of the meal.
6. Go for dessert instead: If you want to get out, but don’t want to spend the money for dinner, consider just going for dessert. You can pay a sitter to come for a couple hours (less expensive than an entire evening) and head to the local pastry shop or coffee shop. Share a dessert and have some coffee or cocoa, then head back home.
7. Get your candy for less: Don’t worry about having candy on the day-of. Instead, consider how much you can save if you head to the store on February 15th. Go shopping together and pick out your favorite chocolates for 50% to 75% off. Yum!
8. Memory box: Decorate an empty box, and then fill it with favorite memories. Use items that remind you of times spent together, including photos, ticket stubs, and small trinkets. Your partner can go through it and remember all the loving times you’ve shared.
9. Homemade goodies: You can make homemade goodies for Valentine’s day together. Heart-shaped cookies, chocolate-drizzled popcorn, and other tasty treats. Create a special dessert for dinner, that you two can share with a special drink and a movie later. No need to go out.

(Photo: Sugar Daze)

Frugal Love: 9 Low-Cost Valentine’s Day Ideas from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

For example, Baltimore has just one discounted venue (Port Discovery) while New York City had eleven free venues. If nothing else, it’s worth checking out to see if there’s something fun you can do on the cheap!

(Photo: hellomokona)

Target Arts + Culture: Free & Discounted Events from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

Rhett Allain of Wired did an extensive study of three battery brands (Energizer, Duracell, and a dollar store variety) and concluded that the brand named batteries are worth the added cost. Brand named contain more energy, disperse that energy better, and cost, on a joule per dollar basis, less than the dollar store variety. The differences between the brand name (Energizer vs. Duracell) were not significant. He did this by having the batteries power a light and took some measurements to arrive at his conclusions.

It was nice to see my own opinion confirmed (I use mostly rechargeable batteries but when in doubt I avoid dollar store varieties) but the big takeaway for me was the energy dispersed over time. As you can see, current (Amp) and potential (V) are highest at first and then drop significantly between 3 and 5 hours. At around 6-7 hours, it has minimal energy left but has that for quite some time. What I typically do with alkaline batteries, after they’ve exhausted most of their charge, is use them in remotes. Then, as new alkaline batteries come into the system, I cycle out the ones in remotes (for fear of leakage). I find that remotes use very little energy.

The difference between brand name and el cheapo batteries is significant and this little study, with its wealth of data, proves it.

(and please use rechargeable batteries… alkaline batteries are horrible, especially if you don’t recycle them!)

(Photo: grandhi)

Are Brand Named Batteries Worth It? from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

It might take some time to eradicate a habit in your life, but you can work on one at a time. Work on developing good habit from this list each month, and in 10 months you could have a new you that is also more financially sound:

1. Brew your own coffee: Instead of buying coffee, brew your own and bring it along. At the very least, you could brew your own coffee three days a week, and only buy it two mornings a week. With the cost of coffee rising, you really could save a bundle over time.
2. Brown bag it: This is everyone’s frugal living tip — because it works. Not only can you save money on your lunch each day, but you can also live healthier. Healthier lunches prepared at home and brought to work will save you money on health care costs down the road.
3. Carpool: Save money by spreading out the cost of gas with your co-workers, or with neighbors who work near your location. There are a number of web sites — and even a Facebook app — that can help you find people to share rides with. You’ll spend less in gas and maybe even make new friends.
4. Walk more: Instead of driving everywhere, consider how you might walk more. I’ve stopped driving around my neighborhood, opting to walk or ride my bike. This saves money on gas, prevents idling, and improves my health. Even if you do drive, consider parking further away from your destination. A little more exercise — leading to better health — will help you save money in the long run.
5. Work out at home: Make an effort to work out at home. The gas costs related to going to the gym only add to the cost of the membership. There are plenty of ways to get in good shape without going to the gym.
6. Grow your own food: You don’t need a big garden. Even if you have a small space, you can grow tomatoes in a container, and keep an herb garden in your window. Of course, if you have the space for it a bigger garden can be great. Save money on food and eat healthier.
7. Plan your meals: Part of the big costs associated with meal time is often because we don’t plan ahead. Make a menu, and plan out what you need. You can also plan your meals around what’s on sale, and what you have coupons for. Use the crock pot, or get a 30-minute meal cookbook to ensure that you have time to create healthy, low cost meals for your family.
8. Cut the soda: Instead of drinking soda, switch to water. You’ll be drinking fewer calories, and water costs much less — especially out of the tap. You can invest a little in a water filter if you feel it necessary. Over time, the filter will more than pay for itself.
9. Institute a waiting period before making a purchase: Before you buy something, institute a waiting period. You might be surprised to discover that what you “want” changes when you think about it for 10 to 20 days. This can be a good way to curb impulse spending.
10. Stop smoking: This is listed last because it might take more than a month to kick this habit. However, the rewards in terms of saving money as well as improved health, might be well worth it.

What new habits do you want to develop in order to save money?

(Photo: m.aquila)

10 Habits You Can Change to Save Money in the New Year from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

Web sites like Overstock.com, Amazon.com, Gifts.com, UncommonGoods.com, and a wide array of gag gift web sites (Including FunSlurp.com and Stupid.com) all have the ability for you to search by price. Some of the “safest” gifts include specialty foods, gifts cards, decorative soaps and generic mugs filled with hot chocolate, candy or coffee beans. If you don’t mind something a little more “fun,” though, here are 15 ideas for frugal white elephant gifts under $15:

1. Angry Birds Plush Toy: Angry bird plush toys are all the rage this year, and you can get one — with sound — for less than $15, making a fun white elephant gift for any party.
2. Christmas Ornament: Look for a character Christmas ornament, or look for a silly ornament. These make fun gifts that can be useful, too.
3. Stress Ball: Who isn’t stressed about something? There are any number of stress balls out there with clever sayings, funny pictures, or odd shapes. And many of them cost less than $15.
4. Desktop Sports Games: From desktop bowling, to a small ping-pong game meant for the top of your desk, there are different sports games designed as novelties for playing with no matter where you are.
5. Novelty Push-Pins: There are a number of ways to hold items onto a cork board. Novelty push-pins are perfect for the job. These come shaped as sports equipment, vegetables, and even a headless man in a suit. You can even get a package of huge push-pins of comic proportions.
6. iPhone Stands: There are a number of novelty iPhone stands, designed to look like wrenches, sticky bubblegum and more. Useful gifts for the smart phone owner, and fun to boot.
7. Koi Toy: This fun fish, found on FunSlurp, lights up when you put it in water. Your co-worker or family member can keep it in a class of water and enjoy all the benefits of a goldfish without the hassle of having to take care of one.
8. Toilet Mug: Up til now, the gifts have been mostly classy. However, it can be fun to give novelty mug shaped like a toilet. Other funny-shaped mugs are also available, adding a new twist to the idea of the coffee break.
9. Bacon Soap: Bacon jokes haven’t quite run their course. There is soap scented like bacon, and a number of other bacon-temed products you can choose from.
10. Bobbleheads: These are great favorites, and they’re loads of fun. I once got my dad a bobblehead moose. There are character bobbleheads, animal bobbleheads, and more to choose from.
11. Fortune Telling Pen: Ask a question, click the top, and the future appears. This function pen on Stupid.com is a fun and usable white elephant gift.
12. Marshmallow Shooters: Mini crossbows, marshmallow guns, and other marshmallow shooters can be fun. Just remember to include a packet of marshmallows.
13. Earmuffs: Faux-fur earmuffs, or earmuffs with cute animal faces on them, can be fun gifts. You can also find more “serious” earmuffs for less than $15.
14. Instant Excuse Ball: This is a fun gift that works like a “Magic 8-Ball.” Instead of telling your future, though, it provides you with excuses that can be used to get out of almost everything.
15. Grenade Screwdriver Set: Useful tools presented in a fun way. Comes with different bits that can be used in a pinch. There are other screwdriver sets in shapes other than the grenade.

(Photo: susanti.chandra)

Christmas Gifts Ideas: 15 White Elephant Gifts for Less than $15 from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

Or maybe you’ve seen the news reports of somebody seriously injured by meeting with somebody to finalize a deal they made on Craigslist? Craigslist looks like a website that hasn’t been updated since the web was invented but that is part of what makes it such a great tool and if you can get beyond your preconceived notions, you stand to save a ton of money.

First, all of us should be reminded that the actions of a few don’t represent the masses and if we avoid meeting new people because they may be violent, we’re in for lonely life. However, just like in any situation where strangers are involved, use some common sense. If something doesn’t sound right, it probably isn’t. The truth is logical, consistent, and often easy to understand. Use this common sense approach to your Craigslist haggling.

Appliances

Have you looked on Craigslist for your appliances? One person who makes his living buying and selling on Craigslist says that he buys $25 dishwashers that are less than one year old. As people decide that they want to upgrade to black or stainless steel appliances, they get rid of their white appliances for cheap. He then sells the same dishwasher for twice that amount for somebody who would rather purchase a new dishwasher for $50 instead of paying a repair person $150 or more to fix the old one.

Furniture

Sound a little gross? Buy from somebody who presents themselves as clean, living in a non-smoking home (if that’s important to you) and appears to have taken care of the item. People with discretionary money may upgrade their furniture and need to get rid of their hardly used pieces before the delivery truck arrives. This means great savings for you.

Electronics

If you don’t need the latest gadget as soon as it comes out, you can save a lot by waiting as little as a few months. Sometimes people make choices without evaluating the product. They get caught up in the craze of a new gadget but when they get it home and use it for a few months, they decide they don’t like it. The store isn’t going to give them a refund after it’s been used for that long so they go to Craigslist to recoup what they can. How about an IPad for 40% off or more? Or an $80 netbook?

Use common sense and don’t go alone when you make the deal. Don’t respond to anybody who wants to do a wire transfer or anything that doesn’t involve a face to face cash sale. If you take a common sense approach to buying on Craigslist, you’re sure to find some great bargains.

How to Get Great Bargains on Craigslist from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

This is a post that first appeared in 2008 but I felt was valuable given how much shipping we do around the holidays. All values and information have been updated for this year.

1. Ship as soon as possible so you can use the lowest shipping speed. Christmas is December 25th, it’s always December 25th, and it will never change from December 25th. Everyone knows it’s December 25th… so why, inevitably, will there be tons of people shipping packages via Next Day or Overnight on the 24th? A 2 lb. package from New York to California costs $10.20 via Priority Mail (est. 2 day shipment time) and a whopping $34.70 via Express Mail (next day by 12 p.m.). Ship early, ship for less. (I understand that sometimes circumstances beyond your control necessitate shipping at the last minute, but for every other situation… you’re literally paying out the nose for your forgetfulness/laziness/whatever)

This year is another one of special times when December 25th falls on a Sunday, when the post office doesn’t deliver anything. So for this year, it’s even more important to ship it earlier rather than later!

2. Don’t ship it Next Day if you don’t need to! Don’t ship it any faster than it needs to be. When it comes to gifts, is it crucial that it gets there on December 25th? For some people it is, for others… anytime before New Years Day will probably be fine. If it were me, I’d rather you save $35 by not shipping it via Express and treat yourself to a good great meal instead. In other situations, you may think you need it to be there the next day but it really doesn’t. Many people believe that the deadline for your tax return is April 15th and that it needs to be at the IRS on that day. That’s not correct, it just needs to have a postmark of April 15th.

3. Save time and money by printing postage online. Several years ago, you had to buy a subscription from a place like Stamps.com and use special software to print your own labels. Now, you can print Priority Mail (or higher) labels from the USPS online postage system absolutely free. In fact, not only is the service free but you get:

• Free delivery confirmation – saving you 60 cents.
• Discounts off postage – shipping that 2 lb. package from NY to CA is $10.20 in the Post Office but only $9.37 if you print it online.
• You save time – by printing it yourself, you don’t have to wait at the Post Office.

4. Use the free packaging. If you ship via USPS Priority Mail or Express Mail, take advantage of the free envelopes, boxes, tape, and labels. Visit the USPS Postal Shop to find the packaging you need. There are categories for Flat-Rate, Express Mail, Priority Mail, and International Mail – each has boxes and envelopes you can use for free. Please don’t order or take any boxes if you don’t intend to use them, you’ll only increase the cost to other customers. (Don’t think about taking the boxes and turning them inside-out, they’re marked on the inside as well)

5. Understand the different shipping products. Priority Mail is not guaranteed to be delivered in 2-3 days, it’s simply First Class mail for packages greater than a pound! Media Mail is a shipping class that’s very cheap but available only if you’re shipping books or other media (they say they will check, but they never have). That same 2 lb. package from NY to CA costs only $2.58 by Media Mail but will take 7 days.

6. Save and reuse shipping packaging. I get bubble mailers (plastic envelopes lined with bubbles) from book publishers and PR firms and I try to save all of them for re-use. Part of the reason is because there’s no suitable way to recycle them but the other reason is so that I don’t have to spend a couple dollars buying brand new bubble mailers when I have perfectly good ones for free! I don’t keep boxes (unless I know I plan on doing a lot of shipping, such as now during the holidays) though but it wouldn’t take much to flatten and store them behind a couch.

7. Compare shipping rates with a rate comparer. The USPS beat out UPS and FedEx in Consumer Reports’ 2008 overnight shipping battle but it always pays to use a rate comparer to see which shipping method is cheapest. One good choice is ShipGooder, though they didn’t list anything for USPS’ Media Mail so you still need to be aware of the different shipping classes.

8. Save time by going to the post office during off-peak periods. This is based on my experience but opening, closing, and lunch-time are the usual times that the post office is packed. If you find the sweet spots between those, you can often find yourself processed pretty quickly. I’d also avoid high volume days such as those near April 15th (tax return filing deadline) and Christmas.

9. Save time by dropping it in a mail box or requesting pick up. Avoid the lines in the first place if your package is under 16 oz. You can print your own postage online and then drop it off in a USPS blue mail box. Alternatively, if you have many packages, you can request that the USPS come pick the packages up from you! (Pick up is free as long as you do it with regular mail delivery)

10. Use Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes (if it makes sense). The USPS introduced two flat rate boxes several years ago and has since offered several more options. Now there are basically “three” (really, five) sizes for their flat rate boxes:

• Large – 12″ x 12″ x 5-1/2″ or 23-11/16″ x 11-3/4″ x 3″ for $14.95
• Medium – 13-5/8″ x 11-7/8″ x 3-3/8″ or 11″ x 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ for $10.95
• Small – 8-5/8″ x 5-3/8″ x 1-5/8″ for $5.20

11. Use light packing material! I reuse styrofoam peanuts whenever I get them (again, because they’re hard to recycle) but I’ve known people to use all sorts of wacky packing material, including oyster crackers. This is sort-of a head smacking tip but be sure to use the lightest packing material you can so you aren’t paying to ship that! (In defense of the oyster crackers, it was for the novelty of it as a packing material)

If you have any good shipping savings tips, please share in the comments!

(Photo: houseofsims)

11 Sure-Fire Ways to Save on Shipping from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

However, before you go looking for discounted daily deals, it’s a good idea to keep these things in mind:

• Deals may be close to expiration: Before you buy a daily deal on the secondary market, double check to see how much time is left on the deal. One of the issues with daily deal sites is the expiration date — you want to make sure that you will have time to use the deal before you buy it.
• Check for guarantees: In some cases, secondary deal sites actually offer guarantees. Not all of these markets offer them, though. Read the terms and conditions of the site, or look for information, regarding the possibility of protection in the event that something goes awry with your daily deal purchase.

Sites that Offer Daily Deals on the Secondary Market

There are a few sites that offer the chance to pick up daily deals from sites like Groupon, Living Social and DealOn. You can pick up someone else’s deal for less than the face value, compounding the savings on the deal. Even if you end up paying for the full face value of the deal, you are still getting a discount — and you get a second chance to enjoy a deal you might have missed before.

Some of the sites that provide the opportunity to purchase deals on the secondary market include Lifesta, CoupRecoup, DealsGoRound and Dealigee. You can visit these sites and purchase deals that others don’t want. In many cases, people sell their deals because they find they can’t use them before the expiration, or because something else has come up. Re-selling the deals allows them to recover some of the money spent so that it isn’t a complete loss.

Before you buy, make sure you vet the deal for authenticity. Some sites will guarantee the authenticity, and protect against fraud, while others have a “buyer beware” policy. You can also further protect yourself by buying with a credit card. If something goes wrong with the transaction, you can contact your credit card issuer and dispute the charge.

Selling Your Unused Daily Deals

Perhaps you have bought a daily deal, and you no longer want it. Or, perhaps it doesn’t fit your schedule. If that is the case, you can sell your unused deal and get some of the money back. When you sell an unused deal, though, you will need to consider the cost involved. Realize that many of the sites will take a percentage of the transaction, or charge a flat fee. You will need to consider that when setting the price of your deal. If you discount it from the face value, or from the amount that you paid for it, you will have your returns eroded further by the fees charged.

There are some sites that work more like a Classified marketplace. These sites don’t charge fees, but they also don’t come with the same protections that costlier sites have.

Weigh your options, and decide which is likely to work best for you as you buy or sell your daily deal.

(Photo: Groupon)

Daily Deal Sites Secondary Market from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

Below are 12 ideas for handmade gifts that can add a personal touch to the holidays:

1. Napkin set: If you know how to embroider or cross-stitch, you can turn a package of plain, inexpensive napkins into something special. Add a monogram, or add a design according to a theme. This can also be done with hand towels or washcloths.
2. Bottled food: Recently, I bottled my own applesauce. You can also bottle salsa, pasta sauce, pie filling, preserves and other items. Tie ribbons around the jars to make them more attractive. You can also assemble gift baskets around the items. Include a loaf of fresh-baked bread with the preserves, or a bundle of gourmet pasta with the sauce.
3. Coasters: These are easy to make from tiles. Obtain four-inch ceramic tiles, an decorate them with an attractive pattern. Then, glue thick black felt to the bottom (to prevent scratches to home surfaces). My son recently made coasters from wood, and even created a simple holder for them. I use them each night for my class of water.
4. Hand warmers: These make great gifts. Use attractive material in wool, felt or cashmere. Follow the directions for making a simple beanbag, but instead of using the beans, make use of small ceramic pie weights. All that is required is that recipient microwave the warmer for a minute or two. It’s nice and warm and can be kept in a pocket to create a toasty space.
5. Decorative oil bottle: Clean an empty wine bottle thoroughly, and then paint it with an attractive design. Buy a pour spout for olive oil. Fill the bottle with the olive oil and put in the spout.
6. Teacup or seashell candle: All you need is wax, or leftovers from old candles, a wick, a couple drops of scent, and a container. You can use old teacups (garage sales and thrift stores are great sources), or seashells. Melt down the wax and add the scent, then add the wick.
7. Bread: Consider making different delicious breads. You can make herb bread, or you can make fruit breads. I like to make banana bread. Sometimes I add extra cinnamon, or I add chocolate chips, for a little treat. You can also make ciabatta bread and give it as a gift. Assemble gift baskets made from different types of mini-loaves.
8. Cake in a mug: Find an attractive mug, or find a plain mug and decorate it yourself. Add the dry ingredients for chocolate cake in a cup, and print or write instructions to complete the recipe on an attractive card. Perfect for kids to give their teachers.
9. Picture frame: Decorate a plain picture frame to be attractive and personal. Consider putting a photo of yourself and the recipient in the frame.
10. Truffles: Every year, I make truffles for our friends. They’re easy Oreo truffles, and I cover them with good chocolate. Instead of crushed cookie, I sprinkle crushed candy canes on top; nuts work well also. Buy attractive boxes to enhance their presentation.
11. Beautiful flowers: Buy an inexpensive flower pot, and decorate it for a personal touch. Plant something the recipient would enjoy, and present the gift.
12. Recipe book: Put together a recipe book with tasty recipes. My husband’s aunt did this one year, providing family recipes from my husband’s Italian grandmother. Make sure to leave room to add more recipes. This works well when gathered in an attractively decorated binder.

What are some of your homemade gift ideas?

(Photo: ecram1)

12 Handmade Gift Ideas for a Personal Christmas from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

For the record, Wal-Mart has always price matched local competitors based on a series of specific criteria at the time of purchase:

• Buy one get one free ads with a specified price,
• A listed price that features a specified item,
• Preferred shopping card prices for specific items that are printed in an ad,
• Fresh produce and meat items when the price is offered in the same unit type (lb. for lb., each for each)

They will not match:

• Items that require a separate purchase to get the ad price,
• Items with no actual price that require a purchase to get free product,
• Items that require a purchase to get a competitor’s gift card,
• Buy one get one free with no price listed,
• Going out of business or closeout prices,
• Percentage off,
• Private label price promotions.

What separates this program is that you can now get a refund if you find the price listed cheaper elsewhere. I don’t know how much money people can expect to save but every little bit counts!

Wal-Mart Price Matching Program from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

You might be surprised at the way you can put together creative and fun Halloween costumes. Here are some ideas for inexpensive costumes, as part of your frugal Halloween:

The All-Purpose Black Hooded Cloak

You can purchase (or make if you’re crafty) a black hooded cloak. I love this basic Halloween costume ingredient because it’s so versatile. You can use this cloak year after year, and it can be a major part of halloween costumes that include:

• Classic, non-sparkly vampire
• Dementor (from Harry Potter)
• Grim Reaper (I’ve done this several times)
• Harry Potter wizard characters
• Darth Maul (my mom did an awesome job with inexpensive makeup on my brother’s face one year).
• Scary ghost-thing from Scream
• Witch

The great thing about the hooded cloak is that it can be used for costumes that require a hidden face, your you can leave the hood down for costumers that require your face to be visible. It’s fairly inexpensive, and you can do all sorts of things with a cloak.

Other Inexpensive Costume Ideas

You can also create inexpensive costumes by looking around at your old clothes, and other old items around the house. An old white sheet can be torn into strips to create a mummy. Or, you can use the sheet to help you go as a ghost, a la Charlie Brown.

Use a white button down shirt and old black or dark gray slacks or jeans to help create a Harry Potter costume. Use your black cloak as the robes, and get an old tie to help. You can get an old red tie and use fabric paint to add gold stripes (or use an old gold/yellow tie and apply red fabric paint). You can make your own wand, or you can buy one

Visit the thrift store to look for inexpensive props, clothes and other items that can be used in your frugal Halloween costume. If your child plans to be a zombie princess (or even a “pretty” princess), or a dead prom queen, you can usually find inexpensive formals at the local thrift store, or you can use one of your old dresses. Cheap tiaras are easy to find — or even make on your own if you have a headband and some fake jewels to stick on.

Before you spend money on a ready-made costume, you might consider making your own. If you have some time, imagination, and creativity, it’s really not too hard to assemble a good costume that is fun. Kids love dressing up, and if you get them involved in putting together a costume, they will love it even more.

What are your favorite frugal Halloween costume ideas?

(Photo: PaulAylettPhoto.com)

Kids & Money: Frugal Halloween Costumes from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

If you’re in Maryland, there are only two participating museums and both are in Baltimore. Included are The American Visionary Art Museum (I’ve been there for a wedding, it has some trippy “modern” stuff) and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History & Culture.

Get yourself some of the free culture! (this weekend is one of the free weekends)

Bank of America Museums on Us Program from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

So why do we buy brand name goods? Sometimes we don’t think about it. Sometimes we just like it better. Those are mental hurdles we need to overcome before buying generic will be the first thought in your mind.

Check Where It’s Made

When I was in college, our fraternity had food delivered by Sysco. I also worked at Heinz for the summer and learned that Heinz supplied ketchup to Sysco, a fact I could confirm by looking at the manufacturing address on the back of the large cans. Ketchup product in Pittsburgh, PA, is ketchup produced by Heinz (plus you can taste the difference). If you want to convince yourself that a generic is identical to the brand name, just look at where they are manufactured and it’ll be a big hint as to who actually makes it. There aren’t two ketchup manufacturers in Pittsburgh, PA.

Check The Price

Sometimes the generic is a lot cheaper than the brand name (prescription drugs), and sometimes it’s only a few cents. Do the math and figure out whether it’s worth it for you to try the generic to see if you’ll like it better (or at least not be able to tell the difference). If you want to get even more complicated, buy one of each and mix them (don’t do this for drugs, I’m thinking cereal) if you aren’t 100% sure. In the end it’s about saving money in a way that doesn’t impact your life, this is an easy way to dip your toe in the water.

Lastly, one trick that one of my friends, who has kids, told me is that you can keep the brand name boxes of cereal and just replace the bag inside with the generic stuff. In many cases, that’s exactly what the manufacturer does anyway!

(Photo: faungg

Money Leaks: Buying Brand Name Instead of Generic from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.

The longer your appliances last, the more cost efficient your household is. If your appliances can last a while, and you can avoid costly repairs, you will save in the long run, since you won’t have to replace them.

General Rules for Helping Your Appliances Last Longer

No matter the appliance, you can help it last longer by following common sense rules related to the care of your appliances. First of all, take the time to read the owner’s manual for instructions on proper care. If you properly care for, and maintain, your appliances, they will be more likely to last longer. Additionally, do your best to keep your appliances clean. Clean appliances run more efficiently, using less power, and will last much longer than dirty appliances.

Tips for Specific Appliances

Here are some appliance-specific tips for helping your appliances last longer:

• Washing Machine: Empty your pockets so that objects in them don’t damage the drum. Double check the fill hoses for your washer for cracks in the rubber. Avoid overloading your washing machine.
• Dryer: Vacuum the ventilation hoses and the inside of your dryer regularly to get rid of lint build up. And, again, don’t overload.
• Dishwasher: Avoid loading your dishwasher so the arms hit dishes; this can loosen the arms. Clear food out of the nozzles in the arms, and out of the trap at the back.
• Garbage disposal: Run the disposal as soon as you send food down; you don’t want it to sit. Run the water after you turn the disposal off. Try to use cold water, instead of hot water. You can put a little ice in the disposal on occasion to help clean it.
• Refrigerator: Make sure you clean the condenser coil regularly. This is the funny looking thing on the back of your refrigerator. Simply unplug the fridge and vacuum the coil. Check the doors to make sure you are getting a good seal.
• Stove: As you might imagine, you should keep your stove and oven regularly cleaned. Double check gaskets for a good seal. If you have a “regular” element, don’t line the drip pans with foil; this can actually cause a short.
• Water Heater: Periodically drain your water heater to and clear out the sediment on the bottom.
• Water Softener: Check the resin for insoluble matter build up. You might need to clean the brine tank, but this is usually not something that needs to be done too often.
• Furnace: Replace filters once a month during the winter. Have your furnace cleaned and serviced yearly.
• Air Conditioner: If you have central air, you’ll need to keep changing the filter each month. You should keep your air condition in a shady area, and keep growth away from it. Have it serviced regularly.

(Photo: Neil T)

Save Money By Keeping Your Appliances Longer from personal finance blog Bargaineering.com.