Our family tries to avoid eating out. It just costs too much money when you are feeding a family of boys. Even the three year old can eat his weight in gold on some occasions. The other day we were forced to make an exception and we were pleasantly surprised.

1. We ate a late lunch or early dinner so we were still eligible for the lunch specials. The same meals that were available at dinner but at a HUGE discount.

2. Kid’s meals were only $2 including the drink. The oldest son was too old to take advantage but getting two meals at only $2 definitely helped decrease the over all costs.

3. We shared the side items so that everyone ended up getting more than enough. Most restaurants ALWAYS give big side portions and sharing meant that there were no left-overs to bother with later.

Different restaurants have different specials. Our choice was the Santa Fe Cattle Co. which not only provided great food at an affordable price but let the kids (and parents) throw peanut shells on the floor. Sometimes just knowing what is available can be the easiest way to save money while eating out with the family.

We haven’t had to mow our grass since we moved in last summer. Why? Because we didn’t really have any. The yard consisted of weeds and moss. It was ugly. We decided to do something about it. We started collecting quotes from landscaping companies. We contacted one from an ad in a coupon magazine, another from a Google search and the last one was a referral. The quotes ranged from expensive to mega-expensive. We just couldn’t imagine spending thousands of dollars on our small yard. So we decided to DIY. Here are a few tricks we learned through the process:

Craigslist is a Great Source. We used the site to hire someone to haul the old dirt away. It would have taken us many hours and several trips using our neighbors small trailer to get the job done. Instead we gave someone $150 to do it. We also found our sod on Craiglist. We saved more than 50% off what it would have cost at a store like Home Depot.

Rent a Truck. We don’t own a truck or a trailer. And rather than burden our neighbor by constantly asking to borrow there trailer, we rented a heavy duty truck from Home Depot. It was just $20 for the first hour and $7 for each hour after that. We drove it to a discount lawn supply place to buy fill dirt. We’ll probably rent it again to pick up mulch. The fee for renting the truck was much less than a delivery charge would have been.

Find Free Stuff. Our county offers free mulch for residents. All you have to do is go pick it up. We don’t feel comfortable putting this near our home as it may have termites in it, but for a bed along the edge of the property it’s OK. We also received a great gift from another neighbor– dozens of free plants! They were taking out a bed and just going to throw them away. Instead we replanted them in a flower bed near our home.

My Husband Relaxing on the New Grass After Hours of Labor

I just went to Ireland last weekend to visit family. We were there for four days, but only spent about $50, not including our plane tickets. Despite not having spent much at all during our vacation, the trip was absolutely perfect. Here are five ways you can travel on the cheap.

Taking in the Natural Beauty is Free of Charge

1. Make Connections: We bought our tickets to Ireland using Buddy Passes since our neighbor works for Delta. This allowed us to purchase two tickets for less than the price of one. It is a little scary, because you only get on the plane if there are extra seats available. The first time we tried we didn’t get on. But when we finally did make it on board, we got to fly first class both ways. It wasn’t too shabby!

2. Enjoy Natural Beauty: Ireland’s amazing views and quaint towns also offer another perk– they are free to visit! By that I mean, try taking in your vacation destination’s natural beauty, the beaches, the sites, the hiking trails. It’s all free and a wonderful way to relax.

3. Look for Free Events: Just about every town has opportunities for free activities. For instance, if you happen to be traveling in the US during the first weekend of the month and you are a Bank of America card holder, check out the Museums on Us program. They’ve recently added nine new states to the mix where museum admission is completely free. Do a little research and find free venues to visit.

4. Skip Fancy Food: Cuisine is a big part of my vacations. I just love trying new dishes and the local staples. But it was also great to eat with my family members in their homes. It provided a great way to be a part of a genuine Irish meal– and it was free!

5. Find Free Souvenirs: Everyone wants something to remember their trips, a little keepsake that reminds them of their adventure. A few years ago when I went to Aruba I filled a bottle with some beautiful white sand. While in Ireland we collected some lovely smooth stones from the shore. These are free souvenirs that allow me to fill my home with items that spark memories from these amazing experiences.

Mother’s Day is around the corner and even if your gift budget is a little tight this year– don’t worry. There are some great options for pretty presents that won’t force you to fork over a lot of green.

Free Card

Start off by sending her a free card, courtesy of Hallmark. Simply choose a card you like, personalize it and they’ll send off to mom for you. You don’t even have to put a stamp on it, but hurry. You have to take advantage of this offer by May 1.

Lovely Items for the Garden

Shop online at HomeDepot.com and you’ll save 25% on select pots and urns. Also, I heard an ad on the radio that six-inch plants were two for $6 which seems like a pretty good deal.

Fun Magazine Subscription

Does your mom like to get crafty? Help bring out her creative side with a $10 subscription to ReadyMade. This offer is available through the blog Modish.com.

Dinner Out on the Town

Give mom dinner out on the town. After all, she shouldn’t have to cook on her special day! Pick up a low cost gift certificate at Restaurant.com. Just make sure to read the restrictions since some certificates can’t be used on holidays or Sundays.

Our family is working hard to build of a savings account and to also have more money to travel and do other things that we prefer. We have already cut back on the eating out, but there are other small changes that can add up.

Easy Tips to Save

1. Skip the air fresheners. Those few extra dollars each month could be put into a savings account. Opt for opening the windows and turning on the ceiling fans to circulate the air. Natural air is better than the top “natural” air freshener. Savings could add up to $10 or more each month.

2. Make the switch from bottled water to filtered water. Not only will you help save the environment but you will be able to save around $30 (depending on how much you drink) each month.

3. Package snacks yourself. Buying small plastic containers and bulk sizes of snake foods could easily save you $40 per month (especially during ball seasons).

4. Upgrade the dog or cat food. It may seem like spending more could never save, but in this case it will. Buying food for your pet that is mostly meat and meat products instead of fillers will allow them to eat less and be healthier. Savings could start around $10 per month.

5. Pass on the disposable products – even for outdoor meals. Invest in easy to wash plastic alternatives, kitchen towels and even table linens. Reducing the disposable paper products that you use could easily save you around $10 each month.

Just a few simple changes could save you $100 each month or more. That’s a great start to the financial changes that you are working to make.

Got a good heart, but feel like you have little to give? I just pulled out all of my receipts showing my charity purchases for the month of April. Turns out I bought $59.47 worth of shampoo, food, and cleaning supplies for just $2.79. That’s a savings of more than 95%! You can do it, too! Here’s how:

Pick up Sunday Ads: Every Sunday after church I pick up a newspaper. Usually later that night I look over each ad to see what’s free. Yes, free. Every week, without fail, drug store chains like CVS, Walgreens and Rite Aid offer items you can buy for free. You pay for the item and they’ll give you a certificate worth that same amount that can be used on a future purchase.

Cross Check with Coupons: Once I found out what’s free, I check to see if I’ve got a coupon for it. If you have a coupon for the item, you can end up making money on the deal because the store will still give you a certificate for the full price to use on a future purchase despite the fact that you didn’t pay full price.

Make a List: I usually make a list of the items that are free at each store so I can swing by sometime throughout the week and pick them up. If I don’t make a list I forget which store is offering what deals.

Stock Up on Good Deals: If I come across a really great deal I buy more than I might normally. You can’t beat buying Scrubbing Bubbles for $.50 or soup for just $.09.

Deliver the Goods: Every other week I drop off a bag or two of the freebies and good deals I scored to a local non-profit. Rather than hoard it all in my pantry or closet I like knowing that someone else is going to get good use out of it.

Being a work at home mom, a freelance worker or a business owner can have a wide range of tax benefits. Some of those are well known, but there a few deductions or credits that might surprise you.

Tax Deductions and Credits You Didn’t Know

1. Most people know about the child care tax credit but did you know that day camps could qualify for this tax relief. As long as mom and dad are working while the children are in the day camp a portion of the costs can go towards the child care tax credit.

2. Mileage for trips to the doctor or dentist. Medical expenses are above about 7.5% of your income, but the mileage to appointments is deductible no matter what.

3. Mileage to volunteer work. You may not be able to get any tax credits or deductions for doing volunteer work but you can get credit for the mileage that gets you there.

4. Non-cash donations. Buying books for the Sunday school, giving a bag of clothes to Good Will or donating your crafts to the school auction. Be sure to get a receipt for the value of the donations.

5. State sales taxes (and income taxes) are often deductible on itemized federal income tax returns.

There are so many different ways to save money on your income taxes each year. The more you know about the deductions and credits the more of your money you will be able to keep in your own pocket.

Experts are now saying that you should have up to EIGHT months of payments set aside in case of an emergency. The prevailing wisdom for years was only three to six months. That means that our family is going to have to dig in deep if we are going to build up our savings to the recommended amounts.

Tips for Saving Money Each Day

1. Fix your meals to go. Instead of grabbing something at the game or on the way to work why not have some easy to heat options in the freezer or fix sandwiches to carry along with you.

2. Skip the movie and watch at home. Taking the entire family to the movies gets expensive quick. Choosing to have family night at home could easily save $30 for each outing (and that doesn’t even take into account the refreshments).

3. Turn off any extra lights and equipment around the house can start to add up on the electric bill. Keep in mind that many rooms have more than one fixture but that only one fixture might be needed to actually light the room. During the day, no lights may be needed at all.

4. Turn the air conditioning up to 74 degrees. Put all the money left over from the electric budget into your savings.

Take baby steps towards saving for your emergency fund and you will be surprised how quickly you can leap into those eight months of savings.

Expenses are tight and most people are looking at cutting the family vacation to help make ends meet. Vacations can be very expensive, but with a little planning, a lot of research and some creativity the family vacation can also be very affordable.

Tips for Saving Big on the Family Vacation

1. Avoid the tourist hot spots and choose something off the beaten path.

2. Drive instead of flying.

3. Choose hotels that offer kids eat and stay free packages or ones that provide free breakfasts for the whole family.

4. Ask if you are eligible for any promotions, discounts or vouchers that the hotel might offer.

5. Look for package deals that include hotel and attractions (but only go for those that you would have purchased individually).

6. Make memories instead of buying stuff. Great pictures or a home-film of the experience will last longer than trinkets or t-shirts.

7. Talk to the children through out the process and included them in the decisions. It’s easier for everyone to stay in a budget if they know what that budget is going to be ahead of time.

There is no reason to skip out on the family vacation this year. It is possible to book a family vacation for around $700 or less. The key is to research, budget and follow through.

The free food keeps coming! Here are four days of free food:

Sunday April 26: This happens to be National Pretzel Day. Celebrate by getting a free soft pretzel at Pretzelmaker and Pretzel Time stores.

Monday April 27: KFC is trying to become KGC (Kentucky GRILLED Chicken.) Try their new grilled chicken for free on Monday. No coupon necessary.

Tuesday April 28: If you’re still in the mood for chicken head to El Pollo Loco. The freebie consists of one flame-grilled leg and one flame-grilled thigh, two tortillas (choice of flour or corn) and fresh salsa. No coupon necessary, but the deal ends at 8pm.

Thursday April 30: Carvel is handing out free Icebergs from 3-7pm. An Iceberg is soda blended with ice and vanilla flavoring topped with a scoop of ice cream.