Tis the season for graduations, weddings, and family reunions. If you don't shop around, costs can easily get out of control. If you have any tips for saving money on big get togethers, I would love to hear them. Yesterday, I had to buy some balloons for a friend's graduation party. I learned that there is a big price discrepancy between various stores. If you only need mylar balloons, dollar stores are your best bet, but they do not carry latex balloons. I found that for latex balloons, supermarkets were more expensive than party stores. I was not expecting that! A friend also suggested that you might be able to save money if you buy a package of balloons, and then fill them with helium. As with everything else, it pays to make a few phone calls to find the best price on balloons.

Despite the chilly weather and even a few snowflakes, Jay and I have already used our grill a few times. Officially, Memorial Day kicks off the grilling season. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your summer barbecues!

1. Watch for sales on meat, hot dogs, buns, chips, and condiments such as ketchup, mustard, and barbecue sauce. Stock up on the condiments now. In December, when there are no good deals on ketchup, you will be glad you did! Also you can freeze meat, hotdogs, and even buns. Buns do not last more than a couple of months, though, so don't go crazy.

2. Make your own hamburger patties. I was going to include a how-to with this post, but it was getting too lengthy. Check back in a few days for a detailed post, complete with pictures!

3. If you are looking to purchase a grill, now is the time to do it.Grills are typically on sale now and at the end of grilling season, but who wants to miss out on this season?

4. Need more propane? Take a few minutes to call harware/home improvement stores, and rental truck places and compare prices. It could save you as much as $15! Always consider refilling your tank instead of exchanging it. We got ours filled for just $15 at a rental truck place.

5. Clean your grill after each use. It will last you a lot longer!

Toilet Paper is one of those necessities, that I do not intend to live without. However, it can be pricey, especially if you want more cush for your tush! I had a very frustrating experience buying toilet paper a few weeks ago. I saw that Walgreens had the 12-roll Cottonelle packages on sale for $5. An in-store coupon brought the price down to $4, and I added a $0.50/1 manufacturer's coupon to bring the price down to $3.50/pkg. Normally, this brand of toilet paper does not go on sale for lower than $4.99. I was excited at the killer deal I found....UNTIL I discovered that at Walgreens, the 12-roll Cottonelle packages only have 200 sq. ft. whereas at other grocery stores, the packages contain over 360 sq. ft. That is a huge difference! The subtle difference in wording on the two packages is very misleading!

Here's the bottom line for  your bottom: when buying toilet paper, look at the cost per sq. ft., not just the cost per roll! Some people argue that they buy more expensive toilet paper because they will use less of it. Maybe that is true for you, but I have found that I use about the same weight per wipe with any kind of toilet paper, so you might be using more of the cheap stuff to make up for the lack of softness and plush in a more expensive TP. So, if you are going to use a cheaper toilet paper, make sure that the cost per sq. ft. is significantly lower than the cost per sq. ft. of a higher quality brand. If you are brand loyal, watch for that brand to go on sale, save  your coupons, and stock up. If you are not brand loyal, and don't care about softness, a good everyday bargain on toilet paper can be found at the warehouse clubs like Sams or Costco.

Hello faithful readers,

I am sorry for the long hiatus. I have decided that posting to the blog everyday is not realistic, but I can manage posting a couple of times a week. For those of you who have left comments on the blog, sent me emails, or told me in person how much reading my blog has helped you, thank you for sharing. My mission in writing this blog was to inspire you to save money so that you can live happier, healthier lives. Please continue to share your thoughts and successes!

Have a bad case of the Mondays? Why not rent a DVD to get your mind off of work? Use the code RBXLUV4U at checkout for a free rental tonight only!

March is National Frozen Food month, so watch for great deals all month long. What are your favorite frozen food items? We love frozen pizza, Hot Pockets, burritos, waffles, and vegetables. While already prepared meals may be convenient, remember that they are not as healthy as food you would make from scratch. As long as you don't eat them every day, don't feel guilty about using them for a quick meal when you are on the go. Let me know what deals you find this month.

1. If you haven't filled up your freezer with all of those amazing sale items you find, you might want to find a way to fill up that empty space. Freezers are most efficient when they are full. One way to do this is to fill up plastic jugs with water. This way, you save money on your electricity bill and have a storage of fresh water in case of an emergency.
2. Zip-top bags  make the best freezer containers because they waste less space than plastic storage containers. Be sure to buy bags that are specifically for freezer storage. You might be tempted to save money and buy regular zip-top bags, but you will regret it when your food quickly gets freezer burned.
3. If you buy meat in bulk packages, divide it into meal sized portions before freezing. This way you don't have to use the whole package when you defrost the meat. I also like to flatten and or slice the meat before I freeze it. If you like the convenience of individually frozen chicken breasts, wrap each one in plastic wrap and store in a zip-top bag.
4. Properly wrap foods! I can't stress this enough. All of your freezing success will depend on how well you remove excess moisture and air.

From The Complete Cheapskate by Mary Hunt, pg. 116