Free Mini Greenhouse for the Price of a Rotesserie Chicken

If you are really into gardening and you start your flowers and veggies from seeds, you don't have to spend a fortune on those expensive mini-greenhouses that are sold in many gardening stores.

My co-worker gave me a really good tip today and I thought I'd share. You know the containers that the cooked rotesseries come in at many grocery stores, well those make the perfect mini greenhouses!

All you do (after you eat the rotesserie) is clean the dome, and then add some moisture control miracle grow in the bottom, plant your seeds, cover with the lid, and watch your plants grow! Many Sam's Club stores will even give you the domes for free if you simply ask for them!

I don't know how many times I've thrown out the rotesserie domes, never thinking that they would make great greenhouses, and I am a Gardener at heart! They are also great for teaching the kids how plants grow.

Happy Gardening!

Use Envelopes to Fund Your Activites for Fun Days

My mom gave me this really cool tip. This is a really great technique to save small amounts of cash for rainy day activities! You will need to use cash for this method.

Take out a few small envelopes and title them what you want to save for (i.e. Manicure, Pedicure, Massage, Shoes, Lingerie, Amusement Park, Movies, etc.). You can have as many envelopes as you like.

You decide the frequency that you will put small amounts of money away in them (every month, week, etc.) and everytime you get paid or whenever you have some cash, put your cash away in your designated envelopes. So whenever your girlfriend calls you up to do something, or you want to do something exciting for yourself you can always turn to your rainy day funds to save the day.

I have envelopes for Borders Bookstore, Spa Treatment, and New Wardrobe. My goal is to have a all day spa treatment once a quarter and a enough funds for a spring/summer and fall/winter wardrobe!

Learn How to Style Your Own Hair and Save BIG!

How much are you spending on your hair by going to the salon every 2 weeks or every month? When I used to go to the salon every 2 weeks I would spend $35 for a blow and go ($70/month) and when I needed a perm it would be ($83 - every 6 weeks). So you can see how that adds up.

Over the years, I have learned how to care for my hair and I've experimented with different styles and curls. I honestly believe that I can do my hair better than the licensed hair stylist. Guess who styled my hair in my profile picture? MOI!

By doing my own hair, my hair is growing like a plant that gets plenty of water, and now I only spend $5.99 every 6 weeks for the same perm that I would pay $83 for by going to the salon. And don't think that your stylist isn't upselling other services. "Girl, it's time to get those ends trimmed" or "I think you could use a little more color" or "Your hair is a little overprocessed, you are going to need a hair treatment." You know...all those "extra" services add up.

So, if you want to save money or if you are in desperate need of that spa treatment like most of us moms are, forego the salon one month and treat yourself to a spa day. Or do like me and forego the salon forever!

Birthday Cakes on the Cheap!

Wanna save on your child's Birthday Cake? The best way to save money on Birthday cakes or other special occasion cakes is to make them yourself! Become the mom of all trades and take a cake decorating class and you will find so much joy in making the cakes yourself. You can also get very extravagant with cupcakes and tiered cakes and not spend a fortune. A great website for novice cake decorators is http://www.cakecentral.com/ and http://www.wilton.com/

Another great tip is to get your cake or cupcakes from Sam's Club or Cotsco. Here in Michigan, cupcakes are only $11 for 24 cupcakes, and they are extremely nice. 1/2 Sheet Cakes are only $15 when you grab and go (they will write on the cake for free), or you can order a custom cake for only $19.99.

I must tell you that Cotsco has the best sheet cakes. Although I am a Sam's Club fan, I will hunt down someone who has a Cotsco card that I can use to purchase a cake from there when I don't feel like baking a cake. The membership is about $40, but it pays for itself if you shop there every month like I do.

Celebrate Valentine's Day on February 15th

To get the most out of Valentine's Day, celebrate it on February 15th. If you have been married or involved with the same person for a while, it seems like Valentine's Day becomes not so big of a deal anymore. It's not like it was when you were in high school.

In fact, many married couples forgot that yesterday was Valentine's Day when they woke up, and many don't even bother with cards or gifts. But you can still make your honey feel special by making your own special Valentine's Day on February 15th when all the Valentine's gifts are 50 - 75% off. You can get chocolates, stuffed animals, candles, intimate apparrel, and other great things for next to nothing when you shop after Valentine's Day. Then turn around and put what you saved in your "Spa Treatment" fund.

Now is also the time to rack up on Valentine's gifts for next year! The best stores to go to right now for great savings are: Target, Michael's, Kohl's, JCPenney, and Kmart. If you have time go scavening if those stores are in your area for great deals.