New seasons often bring opportunities to save and fall is no exception. Here are six shopping categories in which you and your family may find deals this month: 1. Landscaping plants and trees Local nurseries know another harsh winter is on the way. Many landscape plants won’t make it unless they’re offered a permanent home. Businesses also want to make room for holiday greens. This time of year often brings huge sales and discounts to existing stock. We hit a plant and tree auction last year at this time and scored BIG TIME – purchasing 10- to 15-foot trees for just $1 – $5 each. Most trees …
Eating out is a real treat. There’s a certain value, beyond the strictly monetary, to being waited upon, being served, and not having to do the labor of prepping, cooking and cleaning up. Even in today’s economy, families still enjoy a night out every now and then. Here are some ways to get the best bang for your buck while enjoying a night of good food, relaxation and family time. Choose restaurants offering “free" or "discounted" kids’ meals. Most chain restaurants have such a program. Some offer entertainment in the form of a cartoon character or in the case of Appleby's a clown who makes …
True or false? Restricting electricity usage primarily to the evening hours can lower energy bills. True AND false! Rumor has it that this is true. However, after doing a little research, the fact of the matter is that electricity consumers must first REGISTER for a PPL program to receive these savings on their monthly bill. Shelly, a customer service representative at PPL Electric Utilities was kind enough to explain the program called “Residential Time-of-Use (TOU) Option.” When you register for this program, you can save money by shifting electricity use away from peak hours when the …
I’m addicted to yard sales. Yes, I am, and I’m proud to admit it. It saves us a TON of money. There’s also something strangely entertaining about browsing other people’s junk. As they say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” or in my case “One man’s trash is another woman’s frugal way of living.” Not only that, but it helps the environment to recycle these unwanted items to other people rather than send them to the landfill. During the months of April through September, many local neighborhoods organize community yard sales. These are great because you can hit a lot of sales without …
Going to the movies is becoming a thing of the past now that tickets cost $9 or more per person. Interested in some popcorn or a snack? Forget it! That’s the equivalent of a week’s worth of gas. An outing to the movies for a family of four could easily cost you upwards of $75. However, there’s a secret little place called the Emmaus Theatre that is still a viable option for many, even in this crazy economy. Not only do you get a taste of nostalgia as you enter the vintage theater, you also pay old-time prices. For a typical weeknight movie, it’s just $3 per person. That’s also the cost for a …
This week, our Frugal Family expert scoured our local sources to come up with great deals on affordable ways to save on new jewels, self-pampering, weekly grocery shopping, spring home improvements, and Easter gifts. 1. Buy Some Bling: Emmaus Jewel Shop 338 Main Street, Emmaus Deal: The Emmaus Jewel Shop is celebrating Earth Day during the month of April by offering 20% off anything in the store that is GREEN! Good through: April 30 2. Pamper Yourself: Lasting Impressions Styling Salon 6636 Hamilton Blvd., Suite 2, Wescosville Deal: Spring is a time for renewal, so treat yourself to a few …
We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars. This column is dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together. This week, our Frugal Family …
We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars. This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together. This week, our Frugal …
We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars. This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together. This week, our Frugal …
