Check your bank statements

It is important to look over and review your bank statements on a regular basis. Many times there are service charges incurred that can be avoided. If you are receiving a service charge many times you can call your bank to discuss options to avoid such a charge. It happened to our family. My daughter had a checking account that did not have a service charge while she was a student. The statement she received after her graduation had a $6.00 service charge on it. In talking with the bank they explained that was because she was no longer a student but they offered another type of account that would not incur a service charge and also credited the charge. This is easier to do after building a long term relationship with a bank. Try to stay with one bank and give them the majority of your business. They get to know you and will try to work with you. Having most of your business with one bank also gives you leverage.

Shop banks and make sure you are getting the most for your money, try to stay with one financial institution as long as possible and build a relationship with them. Check your statements and talk with a contact at the bank that you know to make sure you pay the least amount of fees. Let’s try to keep as much of our money as possible.

Copyrighted Forgetmeknots 5/7/09

Michaels Coupons

Check out these Michaels coupons.
Click here to print coupons

Box Tops for Education and saving money on pet treats

General Mills offers a program called “Box Tops for education”. Their products have a image printed on their boxes that you can cut off and give to your school. The image looks like THIS

Cut the image from the box, collect them and send to any school that accepts them. The school will earns money towards things they need for the school. You can learn how you can contribute by clicking here

You can make a difference by sending in the image, shopping through the site and reading. What a great way to make a difference at no additional cost to you.

You can also get coupons from General Mills for a lot of their products. Click
here to get the coupons.

To save money when it comes to my pets is rather than purchase doggie or kitty
treats I use my chicken and low fat chopped meat leftovers. I am not saying that it is not important to be careful what we feed our beloved animals and to be sure to feed them a balanced diet of their pet food as advised by your vet, but you can be creative with the treats. Giving chicken and low fat chopped meat leftovers as treats sensibly are a great alternative to the high priced dog/cat treats sold on the market. When you purchase cat treats you pay an average of $2.00 per 3 oz package. That is over $10.00 per pound. Dog treats are sold in 10 oz packages but the cost is higher. You can save money by sharing your healthy chicken and low fat chopped meat leftovers with your pets. I purchase the pet treats and give them both for a balanced diet. I don’t feed the pets while eating dinner. I feed them the leftovers in the same spot that I feed them their pet food and their treats. This helps in not developing bad habits at the dinner table. Of course, please check with you vet before making menu changes for your pet.

Please post any ways you save money with pet costs and other ways to contribute to our schools or churches to benefit our children.

It is in giving that we ultimately receive

This week we will be looking at how we can make a difference in this world in an inexpensive way. We don’t need to spend a lot of time or money to make the world a better place. In these rushed times it is easy to overlook our older family, friends and neighbors. It would brighten an older person’s day if we just took a small amount of time and:

• Smile when we see them



• Make a phone call and talk with them for a little while



• Send a card (insert a picture if possible)



• Send an e-mail (many of our older population have embraced technology, for those that do this is a free way to make a difference)



• Sit by them and say “hello” in church



• Go visit them

There are numerous ways we can volunteer in churches, nursing homes and hospitals.

Let’s all take a little time and make a difference in someone’s day. When you do that it has a ripple effect. The person in receipt of your kindness will pass it along, and it will continue endlessly. Let’s kick all this bad news you see and hear daily and count our many blessings. Being an American is one of the first one that comes to mind.


What are you thankful for? Any more ideas on how to brighten an older persons day?

Happy Sunday Happy Crafting

Happy and blessed Sunday!

For all our scrapbooking fans here is a link to a coupon for scrapbooking supplies from Walgreens. LINK

When shopping for crafts at garage sales, thrift stores and flea markets there is much to watch for, here is a list of things that come to my mind.

• Clothing that can re-use wool and yarn.



• Clothing that can be cut up for quilting.



• Unique jewelry that can be worn as is or taken apart for great jewelry making.



• Tins that can be transformed into charms - I will be posting instructions on how to make charms after I get approval from the creative woman who taught me.



• Cool jems for jewelry



• Cards for scrapbooking



• Buttons for all kinds of crafts



• Ties for purse handles



• Unique purses or bags to re-do and make unique



• Pins to add to purses or other items - I use unique lightweight pins for the end of scarfs.



• Skeleton Keys make great focal points



• Stickers for scrapbooking or just to make the kids happy



• Baskets to decorate



• Ribbons



• Pattern books and craft magazines of any kind



• Stamps and stamp pads (be sure they are still good)



• Barrettes and hair clips to take apart and use the parts



• Unique containers



• Wreaths



• Mason jars - hold supplies, can be filled with gifts and adorned with ribbons



• Artificial flowers, baby's breath or moss



• Beads



• Findings

Most important keep your mind open as you look at the treasures being sold. Think past what it currently is and looks like to what it can be and what it will look like when your done with it.

Please submit any of your great ideas for tips of what to find, where to find it and what to buy from flea markets, thrift stores and garage sales.

Get out there - have fun and craft away. Let's beautfy this world.

Saturday is fun day - it is even more fun when you save!

Saturday is the fun tip day. May I suggest that you visit some flea markets, garage sales and thrift shops to find a great deal? With yesterdays tip in mind, seek out some jewelry you can take apart and customize. A few years ago I found a great deal. A large box of various jewelry some even broken. Rather than discuss individual prices I asked the person selling it if I could just purchase the complete box. She was delighted. We struck a deal we were both happy with. I got so many treasures from that box, some items were very vintage and I was able to make a variety of jewelry. Some of which I used some of which I used for presents. I also used some to spruce up my crochet and knit designs. Get out there, shop the sales and post pictures. I would love to post some of your pictures on my website!

Tip #3 - Make some jewelry, have fun and save money.

What could be better?

Making your own jewelry is not only fun but it also reduces your cost to accessorize. There are many advantages to making your own jewelry. It is less expensive, it is fun, it allows you to be creative and you can make the exact jewelry you want using the colors and bead types you like. You also won’t see everyone else wearing the same piece.

Go out there, shop the sales, check store websites for coupons (A.C. Moore and Michaels usually always have something), and buy some cool beads in your favorite color. I love it having fun while saving money.

Make sure to have beads, wire or stretchy beading line, clasps, crimp beads and a crimping tool. That is all you need to make a beautiful necklace or bracelet.