It’s been a great week for free food and coupons. I thought I’d give you a quick rundown of how I saved more than $100– $124.50 to be exact– since last Friday. (I guess that’s not quite a week!) I’m not even going to include the super cute dress I got at Anthropologie for $20 (regularly $168) since I didn’t use a coupon to score the deal. This is money I saved using coupons:

$13.69 at Kmart: Kmart is doubling coupons UP TO $2 this week. I got two free toothbrushes, and some other nearly free bathroom items.

$3 at Chik-fil-a: Ok so I technically didn’t use a coupon on this. Our local store was giving out free breakfast this morning.

$10 at Quiznos: I used the free small sub coupon for lunch today, plus last weekend my husband and I went there using a buy one get one free coupon we had for subs.

$25 at a local restaurant: Last night my husband and I went to dinner at a nice restaurant downtown. We had a $25 off coupon and only spent $6 on a tip.

$2.13 at CVS: Colgate toothpaste is on sale for $.88 this week at CVS. I had a coupon for $.75 off so I scored it for $.18 with tax.

$11.19 at Publix: I usually do better using coupons at Publix, but I didn’t need much this week since I did most of my shopping at Bloom.

$36 at Bloom: Bloom had triple coupons last weekend. Any coupon up to $.99 was tripled! I got $65 worth of groceries for $29.

$3.49 at Panera: I use a punch card at Panera every time I buy a coffee there and yesterday I cashed in my card for a freebie.

$20 at Victoria’s Secret: I combined a 30 percent off coupon with a $30 gift card I had to buy a swimsuit and only ended up paying $10.99 for it.

So for all of those people who say they don’t have time to clip coupons, I’d say think again! I know there are plenty of you out there that have done way better than me, so let me know how much you have saved this week using coupons!

It’s hard to turn on the news or surf the Internet and not be bombarded with scary stories of economic disaster. Yes, it can make even the most confident person feel a little uneasy– especially when considering a step into real estate. But I can’t help but think there are some great deals out there when it comes to homes. I have a few friends who have purchased foreclosures and discounted homes that they wouldn’t have been able to afford a few years ago. So I guess for them, there is a bright side to this grim economic situation. If you are considering a home purchase, here are a few tips for finding a recession-proof house.

1. It’s All About Location. This was true before the housing market collapse and it will be true after. Location is key. Select a home near quality schools, in a low-crime area that is easily accessible and near amenities. Find out where nearby parks and playgrounds are, plus hospitals, police departments and fire stations.

2. Don’t Buy the Best. My mom always said, you don’t want to buy the best house on the block. Why? Because when you own the best home, the others will bring down your home’s value. When you own a good home, the nicer homes will bring up your home’s value.

3. Don’t Be Trendy. My husband and I love modern design. But we live in a 50 year old home. So while we can have modern touches, we are conscious not to choose ultra modern fixtures and improvements that might scare away a future buyer. You should do the same when buying a home as well. Look for timeless quality.

“I can’t be out of money because I still have checks.” This is a silly remark made to make fun of people who never balanced a check book. Well, it was just a silly remark. Now the government is putting it into practice.

The government has just signed just under a trillion dollars in stimulus plans. The problem is that the government doesn’t have a trillion dollars and the countries that it would normally borrow from (Japan or Egypt to name two) have no money to give. That means that the only way for the government to come up with the money that has been promised is to print more money.

There was a time when the gold standard meant that the government had enough gold to back up the money that was circulating. That changed on the day that the government needed more money than it had security. It changed its standard and began printing on demand.

It is time to change again. The American people have to demand that the government work the same way each of our homes has to work. The accounts have to be balanced and if there is no money in the account then it is time to stop spending.

Yesterday I told you about the free Quiznos sub. Today there’s more free food to tell you about! Doesn’t it seem like there are more opportunities to eat for free than ever before? Well here are two more for today:

IHOP

Today is National Pancake Day and to help you celebrate IHOP is giving each guest a free short stack from 7am until 10pm. All they ask is that you consider making a donation to the Children’s Miracle Network in exchange for your free short stack.

Jack in the Box

Remember the Super Bowl commercial where “Jack” from Jack in the Box got hit by a car? Well, the campaign continues and Jack is in the hospital. You can visit HanginthereJack.com to meet Jack’s doctor, see his x-rays and print a coupon for two free tacos! In lieu of flowers the website asks you to order anything off the menu, any time of day because Jack would want it that way.

So how does pancakes for breakfast, tacos for lunch and pancakes again for dinner sound?

A recent CNN article touched on the growing number of church-based programs that help people get out of debt and get their finances in order. The article interviewed Jennifer Pedley, a student in Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.

Jennifer Pedley said she and her husband have benefited from learning how to manage their money more effectively.

They have paid off a car and their credit cards and are well on their way to being debt-free.

Pedley said they are also much better off in the current economy than had they not taken the course.

‘When we took [the course], people had questions like, ‘How do I budget vacations and going out to dinner?’ ” she said. “Now it’s, ‘How can I pay my mortgage and save my house?’ ”

And despite her initial resistance, Pedley said, she views it as a learning and growing experience.

“I never realized how practical the Bible is about money,” she said. “It just makes so much sense.”

Here are a few of the classes, seminars and events offered through churches and faith-based programs. If you know if others, let us know.

Financial Peace University: Started by Dave Ramsey, FPU offers classes in churches around the country. While in the class, the average family eliminates $5300 in debt and manages to save over $2000.

Moving from Debt to Assets: A partnership between the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization and the Citizens Bank of Massachusetts. Since it’s creation in 2005 the program has helped dozens of people by providing a financial education, support and individual financial counseling.

Provident Living: Resources here are provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The site offers employment assistance and a free online course for managing finances and eliminating debt.

Crown Financial Ministries: There are several free online tools such as the mortgage pre-payment calculator, the will planning kit and the money map.

JosephSangle.com: Joseph is the author of “I Was Broke and Now I’m Not.” On his site you download monthly and weekly budget forms. He’s also got a Debt Freedom calculator that will inspire you to reach your goals.

Love online shopping, but don’t want to pay with a credit card? There are several reasons to be a little hesitant when shopping online. First, how do you know it’s safe to be giving out your credit card number to various websites? Secondly, what if you don’t want to use a credit card and you’d prefer to pay with cash? There is now a solution to both of those problems. It’s called eBillme.com.

According to the site, it’s a secure payment option that does not require a credit card. Ebillme has formed partnerships with various online stores that sell everything from apparel to electronics. When you shop on Ebillme, all you have to do is checkout using the “eBillme” option and pay for your purchase through your bank’s online bill pay portal.

It works like paying any utility bill with online banking. You set up eBillme as the payee and you authorize the payment for the purchase you make. There’s no fee for signing up and you don’t have to give out any sensitive financial information. Here’s how it works:

Step 1: Checkout
At checkout, select eBillme as your payment option. (Just like you would choose Visa or Mastercard.) A copy of the eBill will be emailed to you for your records.

Step 2: Pay
Login to your bank’s website and go to the bill pay section. Follow the instructions found in your eBill and add eBillme as a payee. Then pay for your order the same way you pay your other online bills.

Quiznos Free Sub

The coupon includes your name, e-mail address, and zip code. It says that a photo ID will be required for redemption and that the coupon does not qualify for a combo discount.

While you’re there, nominate someone you know for the Hometown Hero award. They’ll get a shot at winning a year’s worth of free subs– that’s one Quiznos sub a week for a whole year! Not a bad prize!

There was a time when it would be a breeze for me to plan a family outing for under $500. That was a time when I would prefer to cook the meals that we would be eating. That was also two children ago.

The third child takes more energy – I’m pretty sure that his body actually draws its energy from all of the life sources around him, but I haven’t been able to prove it. My lack of energy often means that I don’t want to cook at home, where I already have everything set up and laid out, so I know that travel and cooking is not an option.

Our pockets are not overflowing either. Thanks in part to the tightening economy. Instead of counting on cooking as a way to decrease the budget, I’m looking for specials. So far I’ve found a number of companies that are offering buy two – get one free type specials.

Homestead Cabins- in Pine Mountain, GA is offering a great deal (through February) but even after then the cost of the cabins is very reasonable.

Atlantis – not only do you get a great deal on your room, but you get a couple of free dolphin experiences as well (plus the kids stay free).

Hawaii – if you want to run away to the islands then this may be the perfect package for you.

These deals aren’t quite under the $500 mark, but some come close. The cheap family vacation may not be easy to find or to plan, but it is out there if you are willing to take the time to research before you travel.

A cave home is up for sale on eBay today. The owners of the 17,000 square foot property are being pinched by the mortgage crisis that has caused so many other home owners to stumble. The property was originally purchased on a balloon note and the owners are now struggling to find refinancing so that the balloon can be paid.

Most of the cave homes that I have seen are on a large number of acres and out in the woods. This one is unique because it is located on just around three acres and is just a few hundred yards from major thoroughfares.

The family does not quality for the stimulus relief signed by President Obama on Tuesday so they are auctioning off the home to the highest bidder on eBay. It is a creative way to deal with the tough economic times that many people are now facing.

One of the best things about the cave home is that it has no heating or cooling costs. Nature handles all of that. The initial investment is not even that much for such a sprawling space – the starting bid is only $300,000. The problem may be in getting comparables for an appraisal since there aren’t that many cave homes in the area.

Tax time is never fun. Even if you’re getting a refund, the hassle of organizing your paperwork and filling out those forms can be tedious. If you prefer to have someone do your taxes for you, here is a way to not only get them done for FREE, but get paid to get them done!

I’ve mentioned before that I periodically conduct secret shops. It’s a great way to get some free stuff (food, office supplies, groceries) and make some easy money doing something I love– shopping! Right now the secret shopping firm Market Force is looking for people to have their taxes done for free as part of a mystery shop. Not only will all of your fees be reimbursed by Market Force, but you will make $70 getting your taxes done.

There are few requirements for this job, but to be eligible you must be getting at least $1000 for your Federal refund. You must also be ok with getting an RAL (Refund Anticipation Loan) for the amount you are expecting. That means the company will run a credit check after completing your tax returns. But again, all of the fees associated with the RAL and having your taxes done will be reimbursed PLUS you’ll get an extra $70 in your pocket! To apply to be a Market Force shopper visit ApplyMarketForce.com. It’s easy to apply and once you’re approved you can sign up for the tax shop. The tax shops must be completed by the end of February so act fast!