Planning to Travel Soon? Search these sites for discount air travel fare

Clark Howard Air Travel Sites

Photo by Fossey@FineDay's

I am a big fan of Clark Howard, Consumer Advocate. - If you don't know him, you should... he's on the radio with a syndicated radio show and you can search for him online.

He recommends the following sites for searching for ticket prices when flying.
http://www.airgorilla.com/

http://www.kayak.com/

http://www.mobissimo.com/  – for international travel

Saving Money on Textbooks

Saving money on textbooks March 2010

I have two college-aged sons so I'm always looking for ways to stretch a nickel...

The information below has been collected from various comments online about buying or renting textbooks to save money. With the exception of http://www.half.com/, I have not used any of them - if you have please leave your feedback to share your experience with others.


• http://www.chegg.com/ - they have pioneered textbook rental and saved students and parents more than $100,000 in the process.

"I purchase my textbooks online using www.campusbooks.com to find the lowest prices. After I finish the class, I sell my books on www.half.com I carefully calculate the shipping charges and commission to make sure I break even on my books. Some semesters I even make a little profit! I think it's a great way to "rent" textbooks for free!"

• Renting Books

"Cheaper than renting books is buying them online from www.alibris.com Great prices! New books and used books. The only down side is that it may take up to ten days for the books to arrive in the mail although you can pay more for fast delivery - "

Chegg and textbooks
if they use a code to do homework, the cost of buying the code and the rental may be more than a new text. NOTE -  Chegg's rental is a few months, if a student uses a book more than one term, cheaper to buy the book.

• a better solution is to buy the book directly from the publisher. they will save lots of money!

"I purchased through www.Abebooks.com this semester and saved a fortune. This is a clearinghouse for individual sellers. Ex - I got a used book that sold at the bookstore for $84 for only $20 at Abebooks. You do have to be careful with the sellers on this site. All the books from the various sellers arrived quickly, but one called "Motor City Books" took forever and had terrible customer service.

I have since found that it is much cheaper to buy used textbooks online at www.half.com and then resell them the same way. You can almost get all your money back that way!"

Make your own soft drinks

Tired of spending a fortune on soft drinks? You're not alone. The average family of four consumes 2,400 sodas annually-totaling nearly $1,080. With a home fountain machine, you can save money and have fun making everything from soda water to diet root beer. After purchasing a startup kit, you buy refill canisters of CO2 and syrup. A liter of sparkling water is 21 cents, compared with $1.50 or more for the store-bought variety, and flavored soda costs roughly 25 cents per 12 ounces.

Save about $720 per year for a family of four (you'll also produce less household waste). SodaStream Fountain Jet starter kit, $100.

Get FREE HDTV Service

I had no idea... perhaps you didn't know this either. Important - you will not get paid cable channels but you will get a lot of channels, so they say.

Ever since TV went digital, you no longer need cable to receive local broadcast network HDTV channels. For static-free reception, all that's required is a digital antenna (and a converter box if your TV is analog instead of digital). Go to antennaweb.org to find out which antenna will work for your location and which channels you'll receive - you simply enter your address.   Although you won't get paid cable channels anymore, you may be amazed at how many HDTV channels are free (the number varies based on your location).

Save the $700 or more a year you spend on cable.Antennaweb.org lists antennas ranging from $40 to $150. Or spend less by making your own for about $15 with the instructions at current.org.

Get free home phone service

When you plug the MagicJack into a telephone and your computer's USB port, your calls (in the U.S. and Canada) are absolutely free, using your high-speed Internet connection. The service also comes with call waiting, voice mail and caller ID, at no extra charge.

Save from $30 to $100 per month, or however much you normally spend on your phone bill. MagicJack, $40.

Click here to go to the MagicJack web site
 
According to the company's web site you even get a free phone number, free local and long distance calls, free directory assistance, free voice mail and free call waiting.
 
If you have used this product, please let us know how you like it.

Another product that elminates a home phone line bill is -

Ditch your landline


With XLink, you can gab all you want-at home-without having to pay a monthly landline bill. Just route your cell phone calls to a regular phone through the Xlink console (via a Bluetooth signal). Your cell phone's caller ID and voice mail will transfer over, too, and you don't even need a landline for the console to work.

Save about $33 per month (depending on your phone usage). XLink, $80.

Check out XLink - says it can connect up to 3 cell phones on one USB connection

In regards to the XLink, it will save you money because it allows you to cancel your landline phone service altogether. You can still use landline phone headsets all over the house to answer calls routed from your cell phone, which gives you the comfort of using a "landline" (without the pesky monthly landline phone bill!)

The Frugal Wardrobe

When 9-11 happened, I was working as a professional headhunter in the midst of a divorce. Despite being in the Midwest, we suddenly a plethora of people unemployed and willing to move anywhere AND Monster.com was really taking off...... professional headhunters were being phased out... and the company I worked for laid-off all but one of us.

It was my worst nightmare... I had never been unemployed... nor had I been divorced. Money was very tight. I learned to do things differently. A big treat for me was buying adhesive to work on my scrapbooks.

During this time I met a friend for lunch who always dressed like a million bucks. We were discussing my need to buy some new clothes for job interviews. She told me she is on a very tight budget since her divorce.  I was amazed to hear her say that... she had TONS of clothes.  She invited me over for lunch a few days later to show me her work clothes and how she stretches a dollar.

I was stunned. Her work clothes took up a very small area of her closet - and they looked so nice and neat.

She told me she took a class on dressing frugal from an Image Consultant and then paid a few hundred dollars to have her go through her wardrobe and sort it out. After doing that, the consultant took her shopping to buy the "gaps" in her clothing and in styles that went together and flattered her.

The first thing the consultant did was look over her clothing and say.... it appears black is your favorite color... my friend agreed. The consultand told her to pick a neutral to go with it... either white or ivory... she picked ivory.  Then she told her to pick her favorite accent color - she actually picked TWO ... one for the summer (lime green) and one for the winter (fushia).

Everything she bought had to fit into her 3 colors to build her basic wardrobe and all blazers had to have pockets and slacks had to have at least one pocket. Belts optional.

Blazers need two pockets... one for your business card, one for those you receive from others....and a tube of lipstick. She kept telling her a lady should never be caught without her lips on.

You can build a solid wardrobe for casual wear in much the same way, using the tips and suggestions above. Just dress down your choices for a smart-casual look. You will find that some of your shirts can double up for both formal and casual wear. If you build a solid wardrobe that suits your environment, personality and above all your budget you’ll never look dull and are sure to always have something stylish to wear.

She ended up with -

BLACK
A classic black dress (that could be worn under the blazer)
A classic black blazer
Black skirt
Black shell
Pull over black sweater
Black cardigan
3 of the same pair of black slacks

IVORY
A classic ivory dress that could be worn under a blazer
A classic ivory blazer
Ivory skirt
Ivory shell
Ivory pullover sweater
Ivory dressy T
2 pair of the same ivory slacks

LIME GREEN
A classic lime green blazer
Lime green shell
Lime green pullover sweater
Lime green blazer
Lime Green Skirt
Lime Green Slacks

ONLY BLACK SHOES
dressy black flat
office casual black flats
black sandals -dressy
black sandals - office casual
Black heels - dressy
Black heels - work

PURSES 2 -
Black casual
Black dressy

Tote Bag -
Black Casual

Coats -
Winter coat - black dressy
Winter coat- black short casual
Rain coat - black

Umbrella -
Ivory, Black, Green

JEWELRY
Pick gold or silver and buy all the same color
short 16" plain chain
18" plain chain
bracelet
hoops - small
larger hoops that can have a something that hangs on them (shop of QVC)
dressy dangles
2 or 3 pair of business type earrings
a long necklace that can be doubled if desired

a couple pendants that can hang on 18" necklace or slide onto the longer necklace

Pearls - necklace, earrings and bracelet

SCARVES
one in each of the 3 basic colors
3 that go with the 3 basic colors (maybe prints or contrasting colors)

JEANS-
1 dressy pair of jeans
1 black pair of jeans
2 regular pair of jeans
3 Tshirts
2 sweaters
2 sweatshirts

Tennis shoes
1 pair of casual sandals you love


My friend says she spends MUCH less on clothing now but buys better clothing......... and it's simplified her life - saves her time shopping - and considerably cut the clutter. She also finds she no longer has a closet full of things she rarely wears or really doesn't like. 

I've not been able to make the big plunge - can't afford to go buy everything at the same time in the basic colors but I have more or less gone to all black shoes, black coats, black purses, etc with the accent colors in scarves. 

Over the years my friend has honed her style even more... she (and I) both wear black slacks to work almost every day of the year.  She bought a jewelry bag that looks like a large makeup case and has multiple compartments to hold jewelry so it won't tarnish. She keeps ALL her jewelry in it and when she travels she just packs that. 

She has gone to one color of blush, two colors of lipstick, two colors of eyeshadow 

She only wears black knee highs under her black slacks and she buys 10 pair of the same one at the same time. 

Her two sisters have adopted her "Tri-Color Wardrobe" - their colors:

Warm Brown
Ivory
Black

Gray
White
Burgundy     ( can you tell she graduated from The Ohio State University?)

The clothes in your closet need to WORK TOGETHER. You can build a solid wardrobe that is both affordable and practical with very little fuss if you follow some simple guidelines. Here are some suggestions on how to build a solid wardrobe.

When you build a solid wardrobe you need to think ‘simplicity’. Your choice of clothes should feature those with clean lines that are both casual and comfortable but well chosen enough to create a professional image.

‘Wardrobing’ is a system of buying (or making) clothes in a few basic colors that all work together. In so doing you can create multiple outfits from a few basic outfits. If you master the art of wardrobing you can create different outfits for seven weeks with just eleven garments!

BEGIN WITH 11 GARMENTS

The eleven garments you will need to build a solid wardrobe are:

* 2 pairs of pants

* 2 skirts – one in a solid color and one in a print or check

* 2 simple tops – one in a solid color and one in the same print as above

* 4 tops, in colors which coordinate with the solids

* 1 simple cardigan or jacket in a solid color

Tri-Color Formula
Ensure that your formula works by picking two basic colors and adding a third complementary color. Next, make sure the print has the two basic colors in it. You might chose beige and navy as your two basic colors and a skirt in gold plus a print in navy and beige. Your four simple tops can be the fun items in your wardrobe. Try adding other colors like rust or ivory to this formula.

Items to build a solid wardrobe:

* One cardigan – in one of your basic colors

* 3 long-sleeve tops in tones that coordinate

* 1 long skirt in a print

* 1 blouse or top in the same print

* 1 knee-length skirt in a solid color

* 2 more pairs of pants in tones that blend with your color palette

If you don’t enjoy wearing skirts, simply replace them with two good pairs of pants.

Hints and Suggestions for Wearing Your Garments

Notice that printed items are kept to a minimum in a solid wardrobe. If buy a lot of printed fabrics you will soon find that your options are extremely limited since they really only match themselves or one other item. Choose prints very carefully.

With this wardrobe plan the printed items match least two and maybe three of the solid colors. In this way you know that these garments will go with everything and you can even split the top and skirt up and wear them separately.

A note on two-piece garments for example a skirt and blouse in the same fabric. Always wash or dry clean both pieces together even if you haven’t worn one of them to avoid one piece of the set fading.

To build a solid wardrobe that works you need to have all eleven items and stick to the color palette. Having only one or two or skipping items won’t work.

Fabric Choices
If this is a business wardrobe choose suit-type fabrics and silk for the tops. If your wardrobe is more casual choose casual fabrics like denims, cottons or knits

A Woman Needs to Know How to Wear Her Solid Wardrobe

Mix and Match your outfits to create a new look for each day. Spend some time trying on your clothes to find looks that work and are unique. Do this by rotating shirts, shoes and belts or sweaters.

Layering is a great way to ensure a slightly different look that adapts well to after-work or lunchtime entertaining. Try a white shirt under a navy jacket or striped t-shirt with pants under a cardigan. .

Try to alternate the outfits so that you don’t wear the same thing each day or the same combination of clothes too regularly.

More Tips

Use the rule of three: buy an item only if you can wear it with three other garments.

Build a wardrobe over several seasons. Update and add each season for a fresh new look.

Buy the best quality you can afford. If your budget is limited, spend it on one quality item such as a blazer, a suit, or basic dress; fill in with less expensive pieces.

Spend the bulk of your budget on the base pieces. You will thank me later for this advice. Quality base pieces will last and will remain fashionable.

Fill in your wardrobe with accessories with the remainder of your wardrobe budget. These items are often the trendier or more seasonable items and have a shorter shelf life in your wardrobe.

And for those of you who do not have a wardrobe budget - get one. The easiest way to have an out of control closet or overflowing shoe bin is too just go shopping willy-nilly without a plan.

Clipping Coupons or Digital Coupons?

It's a new day in the world of clipping coupons. Now you have options - you can do the "old-fashioned" method of clipping them out of the newspaper or you get technical and download digital coupons onto your store "rewards" card.

Perhaps you're like me - you clip coupons and forget to take them to store with you. I'm going to go on record as saying this is NOT an age-related issue, it's one that hits everyone across the board. Now you can tie your Kroger Plus Shoppers card to online digital coupon sites. The savings are automatic, and there’s no need to present a paper coupon.


Supermarkets such as Kroger allow customers to tie their reward cards to online coupon sites such as Cellfire.com and ShortCuts.com. No more paper coupons at the checkout.

You will need to register at each site and enter your rewards number as shown on your card.The rewards card and the coupons are automatically linked. All you need to do is give the cashier your Kroger Plus card and it will automatically take off at savings the end of your order.

The Down Side? *Limit one use for each coupon. A limit of 100 coupons can be added per card. All coupon values reflect exact discount at register. Regardless of normal store processes, coupons will not double. Remember not all brands are offered through the Kroger site - some brands, like P & G, only offer coupons by visiting THEIR web site.

Clipping Coupons is not totally eliminated - those who like to double coupons or when you need more than one of an item, you will still need to clip coupons. If your favorite store is not participating in digital coupons, go to shortcuts.com and register - select your favorite store and they will email you when and if it offers digital coupons.

Cellfire.com adds new coupon offers every two weeks.

If you're shopping and realize you've forgotten to load your card at home - you can use your cell phone right in the store while you’re still shopping. Log on to Cellfire.com to find a coupon you need and use it minutes later when you check out at the register.

No clipping. No printing.

Now, the only thing you can forget is your shopping list.... I'm sure I'm not the only one who does that on a routine basis. :)

Homemade Money-Saving Iced Mochas

Pour leftover coffee in ice cube trays and keep them on hand all the time. 1 1/2 cups cold coffee - pour into ice cube trays and freeze until solid

2 cups milk

1/4 cup chocolate syrup

1/4 cup white sugar

Combine all in a blender - top with whipped cream and chocolate (syrup, sprinkles, cocoa,etc)

Amount Per Serving Calories: 163 Total Fat: 2.6g Cholesterol: 10mg

Homemade Beer Bread Mix

Jan’s Beer Bread with Options

3 cups unbleached flour – sifted (if you absolutely will not sift at least fluff your flour and spoon it into the measuring cup)
3 tsp baking POWDER
1 tsp. salt
¼ cup sugar
1 12 oz bottle beer ( flavor is different with each type of beer)

Mix together until blended well…

Melt ¼ cup butter and pour over batter in pan
(can do as little as 2 TBSP but I prefer ¼ cup)

Bake at 350 degrees for 50 – 60 minutes depending on your oven.

Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.


Beer Bread Variations

• For a “lighter” bread… mix and put in the pan and let it sit about
30 minutes or until it forms a crown before adding the butter –
then add butter and bake
• Can divide this dough into 2 small loaf pans –adjust baking time
• Use 1/3 cup sugar instead of ¼ cup
• For a sweeter bread, substitute brown sugar for white sugar
• Add a handful of Mexican blend cheeses ( cheddar and jack) before
adding the beer
• Can sprinkle garlic salt on top of the bread half-way through
baking – after removing from the oven, brush top lightly with
butter and sprinkle with garlic salt.
• Add ½ - 1 cup cup cheddar and ¼ cup chopped chilies
• Add ½ cup shredded cheese and ¼ cup sliced green olives
• If you are salt sensitive – use Unsalted butter on top of the
bread mixture
• Use Brown Sugar instead of white and add ½ tsp Onion Powder and
1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Add 1 cup finely shredded cheddar, 1 tsp Italian seasoning and
½ tsp garlic powder

Save Money - Roast Your Own Peppers

Let's face it - buying roasted peppers is expensive - you can do your own at home MUCH cheaper - and if you have a garden and grow them, it's cheaper still!

National Parks Discounts - Seniors, Disability and Others

There are several different types of discounts available.... to see a chart with the discounts, please click here


For Seniors -
Get a $10 Lifetime Senior Park Pass to U.S. National Parks
This senior pass offers lifetime national park access for you, friends or family.

One of the best senior travel bargains anywhere is a low-cost lifetime national park pass that admits seniors free of charge to most U.S. national parks, forests, refuges, monuments and recreation areas, from Denali National Park in Alaska to the Florida Everglades.

Senior Pass Eligibility
As part of the American the Beautiful - National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass program, U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are at least 62 years old can purchase a Senior Pass for a one-time processing fee of $10. This Senior Pass to national parks and lands offers benefits to you and your traveling companions.

What does the Senior Pass cover?

The Senior Pass admits pass owner/s and passengers in a non-commercial vehicle at per-vehicle fee areas and pass owner + 3 adults, not to exceed 4 adults, where per-person fees are charged. (Children under 16 are always admitted free.) Note: Photo identification will be requested to verify pass ownership.

How to Buy a National Parks Lifetime Senior Pass
The Senior Pass to national parks cannot be purchased by mail or online. It must be purchased in person at a federal area where entrance fees are charged, or at regional offices of the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Proof of age, such as a valid driver's license, is required at the time you purchase your senior pass.

For more information about the National Parks Lifetime Senior Pass, call the National Park Service at 1-888-ASK-USGS or click here to visit the web site.


The Senior Pass is valid only at participating Federal recreation sites. Visit http://www.recreation.gov for information about Federal recreation sites.


The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cannot sell or issue the America the Beautiful passes, because the Corps was not included in the legislation that set up the program. However, the Corps does accept and provide discounts for the Interagency Senior and Interagency Access Passes or previously issued Golden Age or Access Passports at Corps-managed areas*. If a previously issued Golden Age or Access Passports is lost, stolen, or worn out, a new pass must be obtained.

For more information on what the passes cover and how they compare... click here

Partnership for Prescription Assistance

You Can Get Help
More than 2,500 medicines 475 patient assistance programs Get Help Now!

Call toll-free 1-888-4ppa-now (1-888-477-2669) to see if you are eligible

Medicaid / SCHIP Initiative - You may qualify for free or low-cost health insurance. Find out more about your state’s programs. More ResourcesPatientsPatient Advocates What is the Partnership for Prescription Assistance?

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage get the medicines they need through the program that is right for them. Many will get their medications free or nearly free.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance will help you find the program that’s right for you, free of charge. Remember, you will never be asked for money by a PPA Call Center representative.

Discounts for Seniors - Ohio Golden Buckeye Card

Are you 60 or over and live in Ohio? If so, do you use your Golden Buckeye Card?

This card can save you hundreds of dollars when you purchase goods and services throughout the Miami Valley.

The card is good for any Ohio resident 60 and older. It also is available to any resident who is totally or permanently disabled as determined by the Social Security Administration.

The deals vary by region, and are based on a voluntary partnership with the businesses involved. To find what deals are available in the your area or an area you will be visiting, you can search by county and city on the Web site.

Example : The “Dayton” selection contains Dayton as well as neighboring areas.

The average discount is about 10 percent off a product or service - but some merchants give even greater discounts. There is no fee for cardholders or businesses for the card. Merchants of all types (restaurants, retail, auto care, medical and more) from all over the state voluntarily offer special savings or deals for older Ohioans who carry the Golden Buckeye card. They receive no compensation from the state of Ohio for their participation and, instead, do so as a way of attracting a loyal customer base while thanking our older citizens who have reached the milestone of 60 and over for making Ohio a great place to live. Please repay their kindness with your patronage (and save some money in the process).

It applies to everything from international chains to mom and pops corner stores, a little of everything - did you know you can even get a small soft drink at McDonald's for just 39 cents?

Some discounts have stipulations, or say that the card is not to be used with other coupons, but most are just straight-forward cash off.

Prescription Drug Savings - The Golden Buckeye card now includes the Ohio's Best Rx prescription drug discount program. Best Rx lowers the cost of prescriptions for Ohio residents who do not have drug insurance coverage for all drugs. Savings average 30-40 percent on prescriptions at more than 2,300 participating pharmacies. Any Ohio resident age 60 or older is eligible, regardless of income, and you can access the program immediately using your existing Golden Buckeye card. Call toll-free 1-866-923-7879 or visit www.ohiobestrx.org for more information, to look up drug prices, to find participating pharmacies and more. This card is good at multiple pharmacies, from big chains to small independents. Ohio's Best Rx participants will always pay the lower of the calculated Ohio Best Rx price or the Pharmacy's Usual and Customary price. Prices are based on a 30-day supply for retail and a 90 day supply for mail order.

The Golden Buckeye Card, which was introduced in 1976, is the first and oldest senior discount card of its kind in the country. Click on the link below -

http://www.aging.ohio.gov/GoldenBuckeye/locator1.asp

Step One: Select a County

To locate businesses in your area that accept the Golden Buckeye Card, start by selecting a county, then click "Next".

Choose a County:

While they've made considerable effort to verify the information provided in the Golden Buckeye Business Finder, the Department of Aging and the Golden Buckeye Program offer no guarantees as to its accuracy, nor do they necessarily endorse the businesses, services and products listed.

How to Get a Card - Ohio residents who hold current Ohio Driver Licenses or State ID cards automatically receive a Golden Buckeye card in the month of their 60th birthday. Individuals who do not have a current license or State ID, as well as people under age 60 who are eligible due to disability, or who otherwise do not receive their card automatically, may apply for a card at most public libraries and senior centers. Due to ID, age and disability (when appropriate) verification requirements, you cannot apply for a Golden Buckeye Card online or by phone.

How to Get a Replacement Card - If your Golden Buckeye Card has been lost, stolen or damaged, call 1-866-301-6446 to request a replacement.

Do You Still Need A Home Phone?

Consider the options available that don’t involve your local telephone company.

1. Cell Phones.
Many of us are electing to give up our home land line and just use our cell phones. If you spend a lot of time chatting on the phone this is probably not a good option for you.

2. Time Warner offers a low-cost “Digital Phone”
I have this option and I like it – most of the time. Just like having a home line with electric-powered cordless phones, should there be a power outage, the digital phones as well as the home cordless phones do not work. Should you have an emergency you will need to dial 9-1-1 with your cell phone.

What I love about it is - I have the ability to call anywhere in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico and talk all day for my basic monthly fee – NO LONG DISTANCE CHARGES! You can also keep your current phone number and your existing phone… there is nothing to buy. Also INCLUDED at no additional charge – Caller ID, Call Waiting, Speed Dial, Call Forwarding.

If you have Time Warner Cable and Digital Phone - Caller ID can show up on your TV set so you don’t even have to get up to answer the phone if it’s not an important call.

Time Warner does bundle services together for a cost savings. For more information, check with Time Warner.

3. SKYPE – through the internet

This is an option that is very popular with military families and people with friends and family in other parts of the world. Skype software is free and it is FREE to use Skype if you and the person you are talking to are both on Skype – you can call, video call or instant message each other TOTALLY FREE.

Skype Advertises Great Rate to Phones (both land lines and mobile phones) - You can even get an online number (SkypeIn™) is perfect if you have friends, family or business colleagues who don't use Skype. Anyone can dial your online number from any phone or mobile and hey presto, your Skype rings and you pick up the call – wherever you are in the world.

No emergency calls with Skype. - Skype is not a replacement for your ordinary telephone and can't be used for emergency calling. For more information see skype.com

Save money on Printer Ink

Listed Below are two companies who claim to help save printing costs by regulating the amount of ink you use with their software. I can't endorse them..just passing the information along.



INKGARD

I have not personally used this product, nor do I know anyone who has. The site claims the Inkgard software can dramatically reduce ink & toner consumption while maintaining high-resolution quality. Be in total control of your ink and toner use!

Supports any cartridge model & manufacturer
Save every time you print
Ideal for home and business

Printers.TopTenReviews.com gave it a good review -
http://printers.toptenreviews.com/inkjet/conserve-your-printers-with-inkgard.html

PretonSaver Home

I am using PretonSaver Home. According to the web site it is used by hundreds of thousands of enterprise users and won many industry awards.

The following review was found online:

What amazes me is that not only it saves a tone of ink and toner, it also provide excellent print quality. And, on the same page you can set it so pictures, text and graphics are optimized at different levels. You can also block images from being print - basically printing text only - very effective for web pages printing. And, you get detailed report on cost and savings.

PretonSaver works in the background. It does not replace your print driver. You can predefine savings levels per printer. Just press print on your favorite printer and PretonSaver does the rest.

The technology is awesome. They call it Pixel Optimizer

Pretty cool product. Worth every penny.

Walmart Trade-In Program

Walmart now has a trade-in program for electronics... in exchange you get a prepaid Walmart card............who knew?

Check it out......http://walmart.gazelle.com/?_gzl=1

The Story Of Stuff

Learn MoreLearn More

A jam-packed 20-minutes, The Story of Stuff can teach you a lot. But, of course, there is a ton more information out there about the topics raised in the movie. Here are some resources to get you started:

■Extraction
Extraction means taking the planet’s resources- wood, minerals, coal, fossil fuel, water, plants, animals, and soil out of the earth and starting their journey through the materials economy. The problem here is threefold: we’re using too much stuff, the processes by which we extract all that stuff cause more damage and we’re not sharing the stuff equitably.

■Production
In the production stage, we use energy to add toxic chemicals to the natural resources to make toxic products. Our industrial production systems use vast amounts of natural resources, water, energy and chemical compounds to churn out pollution, work and community health problems and products, many of which contain toxics known to be harmful to human health and the environment.

■Distribution
Distribution involved transporting and selling al the stuff quickly and cheaply. The goal here is to keep prices down, keep the people buying and keep the materials flow moving. A key strategy businesses use to keep prices down is to externalize costs. That means that the price tags on consumer products don't capture the true costs of producing and distributing all this stuff.

■Consumption
Current consumption patterns are unsustainable and inequitable and must be changed. But changing consumer behavior isn't enough. Yes, when we shop, we should buy the least damaging product available and affordable, but consumption is a systems problem, meaning our choices at the supermarkets are pre-determined and limited by political and institutional forces beyond the store. To change these, we need to step beyond our role as consumers and reclaim our identity as engaged citizens in a democracy.

■Disposal
Virtually all the resources flowing through the materials economy eventually end up as waste to be disposed somewhere, usually dumped or burned or recovered for recycling. As the volume and toxicity of waste grows, recycling can't solve the whole problem. Waste needs to be designed out of the system from the start-through cleaner production, better product design, composting, recycling and using less stuff overall.

■Another Way
Each of us can promote sustainability and justice at multiple levels. But there is no single simple thing to do, because the set of problems we’re addressing just isn’t simple. Click around our site to get started on the individual level and contact groups listed on our site to get involved at the city, state and national level. These organizations are involved in diverse campaigns to address the problems and to promote solutions. It is by joining together that we can create the momentum for real change. So click around, reach out, get involved, have fun.

GET THE FACTS - Download the Fact Sheet here!

Martin Luther King said, “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. “

I hope you make an effort to embrace living the simple life - frugality as a choice.

Small House Movement Growing

This is an interesting movement that is growing in number to save money and reduce one's impact on the environment. Many people are down-sizing to simplier, smaller living.... take a look.

Small House Society

Cool kitchens for the Small Houses

This three-piece open-plan kitchen features two Natural Cherry and one Bombay Mahogany Workstations. A TP72-MH-T/B72-OC range conceals an oven and microwave/hood. An SZ15-RP-54 Armoire conceals a Subzero 700 refrigerator/freezer and a full height pantry. The Island ST76A/S76A features a Kohler apron front sink and a concealed dishwasher

Coupons - Groceries

COUPONS.COM

I have used this site and have been very happy with it. You need to register and download the coupon printer, it will also let you



SUNDAY COUPON PREVIEW -

Find out what coupons are in the Sunday Paper and How to Read Them!
When you see something listed as 2-7 Coupons (that means Feb 7th) – it’s not a special code.

You can also see the coupon schedule for the entire year so you’ll know which Sundays don’t have coupons. Additionally you can print coupons right from this site..

2-7 Smartsource coupon insert (2 -7 Refers to the date – Feb 7)
Sunday coupon preview
Regional coupon inserts & value differences are to be expected!
(XX/XX) after coupon = expiration date
(x) before coupon = multiple of same coupon
E-T-S = excludes trial sizes
DND-5 = coupon states Do Not Double, but barcode starts w/ a 5
Love Coupons?

LOTS AND LOTS OF COUPON SITES ON THE WEB

See a REVIEW of several sites and how they rate

http://online-coupon-service-review.toptenreviews.com/keycode-com-review.html