Looking for a creative graduation gift?! Check out this clever idea that was sent to me by reader, Jodi…

Do you have any clever (and affordable!) graduation gift ideas?

Can you believe that the 2012-2013 school year is nearing an end and Summer break is right around the corner!?! As you may already know, during the week of May 6th-12th many schools will be honoring their teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. With that being said, here are a few Teacher gift ideas I’ve received from Hip2Save readers over the years…

*For an end-of-year gift, change the note to say “Thank You for a reMARK(ER)able school year!”…and you have a cute but practical gift idea! (Thanks, Tera!)

*Use an empty spaghetti sauce jar with clearance jelly beans. Make a label and card to hang on the jar. The label could say “No beans about it (teacher’s name) RULES”. A cute (and inexpensive) thank you for teachers! (Thanks, Trudy!)

*Pick up an inexpensive movie and put a pack of popcorn and a $1 box of Movie Theater candy with it. Walmart and Target both have $5 movies and this makes a great teachers gift! (Thanks, Suzie!)

To get ya thinkin’, you may want to start off by printing these cute Thank You Notes and personalize them for each of your kiddos teachers. If you have any other creative, affordable, or meaningful teacher gift ideas, be sure to share them in the comment section below! And, if you’re a teacher, what gifts do YOU personally enjoy receiving?

To all of you teachers out there…. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are so valued and appreciated!

If you’re looking for a FREE way to exercise from the comfort of your own home, you may be interested in checking out this awesome reader tip I recently received from Hip2Save reader, Darla! Check it out…

Head on over here to browse through all the FREE videos available!

(Thanks for the heads up, Darla!)

With both Mother’s Day and Father’s Day right around the corner, I thought it might be fun to create a place for all of you to share your small and/or home-based businesses (i.e. Etsy, Avon, Scentsy, etc.) with other readers and/or to offer Hip2Save readers a special discount on products that you sell. I have posted something similar in past years and it has always been quite a hit!

OK, so have at it and feel free to share your small business with the Hip2Save community!

I posted this topic last June and it generated such an awesome discussion amongst Hip2Save readers! So… I thought I would re-highlight this topic for those of you who are new to the site or may have missed this post last year.

Although I am an avid couponer and am always looking for ways to cut back on spending, I am NOT cheap when it comes to tipping. As a former waitress, I know how important tips are in the lives of those who work in service-based industries. Although I almost always tip at least 20% when dining out, I am sometimes a little more perplexed as to what to tip in the following situations: Purchasing food to-go, Hair Cut for yourself and/or your kiddos, Assistance with baggage when staying at a hotel, Purchasing espresso from Drive-Thru Coffee Shop, etc.

Needless to say, I was excited to discover the Interactive Tip Guide created by a design team over at Hospitality Management Schools. Just head on over here, scroll down to the orange Tip Guide button at the bottom of the page, and then select a category (choose from travel, cosmetics, restaurants and more). This guide tells you how much to tip, when to present the tip, and even has some basic tipping rules:

* Do tip pre-tax.
* Do tip at buffets.
* Do tip when using a discount or voucher like Groupon.
* Don’t tip the owner.
* Don’t tip extra when gratuity is already added on the bill.
* Don’t leave a bad tip if you plan on visiting the establishment again.

So take some time to check out the guide and then come back and share your thoughts. Think about the following questions: What services do you believe require a tip, how much do you tip, do you tip even if the service is horrible etc?

Don’t you think that this is an interesting question!? Based on the emails that I have received recently and in the past, I know that many of you ponder this question as well… how much do we all spend (both in dollar amounts and time) in order to save?

How much do you spend each week, month, and/or year getting organized and prepared to save? What are your expenses when it comes to saving (i.e. printer ink, paper, gas to drive to the store etc.)? How do you cut down on these expenses?

Please share your tips below!

If you have been following Hip2Save for any length of time, you likely know how much I love April Fools Day! It is literally one of my most favorite days since it’s typically filled with lots of laughs, smiles and just pure fun… it makes me feel like a kid again! With that being said, I’d love to hear your fun April Fool’s pranks, jokes or tips that you may have (as always, please keep them family friendly).

Stay tuned for an upcoming, fun April Fool’s Day…no joke!

If your kiddos are on Spring Break this week and you are looking for a fun Easter activity to do, check out this super cute idea I received from Lindsay over at Little Sprouts by Lindsay…

*For even more ideas, you may want to check out these 30 Popular & Fun Easter Activities & Crafts for Kids over at TipJunkie.com.

Do you have any fun Easter Egg Hunt ideas or games? Please share!

(Thanks for the cute idea, Little Sprouts by Lindsay!)

Check out this email I recently received from reader Linda:

Check out this email I recently received from reader, Madison…

My hubby and I are currently pregnant with our first baby.  I would love to hear from your readers and get their input on how to save money when it comes to everything baby. Freebies, nurseries, diapers, formula, clothes, organization, etc…  Any and all information would be greatly welcomed and appreciated!  Your blog is the best and I know you and your readers will give me tremendous advice!

Since all of my kiddos are out of diapers and I don’t regularly purchase baby items (except for my new niece Charlie ), I am having a hard time coming up with good price points for the mentioned items above. So if you have a baby or toddler, please help Madison and other new mommies out by sharing your stock-up prices and any other money-saving tips/advice that you can offer a first-time mom. I would also love for you to suggest must-have baby items (i.e. for me, it was my Sling and a Bumbo Baby seat) and baby items that you may feel are totally unnecessary.

And congratulations to Madison and all the other expectant Hip2Savers!

Are you on the search for cute and affordable ♥ Valentine’s Day ♥ gift ideas?! Then check out some of these adorable creations and share your own with us in the comments below!

First, Hip2Save reader, Melanie, created these sweet and nearly free gifts featured at the top of the post. Check out her email…

Today I made Valentine’s (practically for free!) for my 3rd and 1st grade children to bring to school. Here’s how:

1. Valentine tissue paper bought at Target’s 90% off Valentine’s Clearance ($0.20).
2. 2 Jumbo bags of snack size Kit Kats FREE from CVS after $3 off coupon (coupons given to kids dressed in costume for Halloween) and they were on sale for $3 in October. Candy doesn’t expire until 9/2013.
3. Red curly ribbon purchased at Target’s 90% off Christmas Clearance.
4. Avery printer labels FREE after rebate from Office Depot.

Wrapped two Kit Kats in the tissue paper. Tied the ends with ribbon to make it look like candy. Printed out labels that say, “You’re Sweet! Happy Valentine’s Day! From ______.”

Check out these other adorable creations to get you thinking….

* Crushed Conversation Heart Cookie Pops created by The Decorated Cookie

* Pom Pom Valentine’s Wreath by Honey Bear Lane

* Spa in a Jar by The Gunny Sack

Do you have any unique, frugal and “hip” Valentine’s Day gift ideas?! Please share in the comments below… Thanks!

If you’re looking to save on printer ink (from printing all those coupons ), here are a few helpful tips for ya! Also, be sure to check out the recent Facebook post here for even more helpful tips from Hip2Save readers. Here are a few tips…

Inkjet Versus Laser Printer:

Many of you have stated that the longest lasting, most reliable, and most affordable (in the long run) printers are laser printers! Although laser printers may cost more initially, they tend to be faster, use less ink, and are much cheaper on a month to month basis (i.e. cost of inkjet cartridges versus laser toner cartridges).

Helping You Find the BEST Printer:

* Top 5 Printers
* Guide to Top 10 Printers in 2013
* Best Printers under $100 if you’re on a Budget

Continuous Flow System:

Already have an inkjet printer? Then you may want to consider a Continuous Flow System. This system will help you save big bucks on printer ink as it eliminates the need for replacement ink cartridges. For more information on this economical system, click here.

Best Places to Purchase Ink:

* 123InkJets.com – currently offering up FREE shipping!
* 4inkjets.com
* Amazon.com
* CarrotInk.com
* Clickinks.com
* Databazaar.com
* Ebay.com
* InkFarm.com
* Inkgrabber.com
* itrimming.com
* Megatoners.com
* Meritline.com
* ParadiseInk.com
* SuperMediaStore.com
* TonerBoss.com

Tips on how to Save Money on Ink and Paper:

* One tip that I have is that I enable a Print Preview for each document. It makes the printing process longer, but I can tell if a coupon is printing at the top, middle, or bottom of the page. That way I can use half sheets if a coupon is printing from the top.

* For the one-page ads with a single coupon on the page, I cut my paper into 4’ sections. That way the coupon prints at the top and then stops. Of course, sometimes you get a coupon that prints at the bottom. I try to only use the cut paper on coupons that I know will print at the top. If I am printing a coupon and I see that there is an ad below it, once the coupon prints, I hit STOP on my printer.

* The trick to making your ink last longer is to set your printer to print in grayscale, black ink only, and to print in Fast Draft mode. I have my cartridges refilled at Walgreens. Before I take a cartridge to the store, however, I use a little rubbing alcohol on the ports of the cartridge to prevent dry ink from clogging the ports (where the ink is inserted). Works like a charm.

* Use Garamond font in a small size…it takes less ink than other fonts.

* If you decide to refill your cartridges, get the refill done ASAP. If you wait too long, the remaining ink dries out.

* Refill your own cartridges (buy the ink in bulk at a discount!), which saves a LOT of money.

* There is a trick (found on YouTube) to make your OEM toner last longer (usually runs out after 300 sheets or so): Buy the toner on Meritline.com when a multi-pack special is offered (less than $14.99/toner with free shipping). This special is offered regularly along with free shipping. We’ve NEVER EVER had any problems using their non-brand toner. The trick is to order when it is on sale and before you need it as the toner comes from overseas and takes a few weeks to get here.

* For anyone out there who has toner cartridges, when the printer states that the toner is low, take the cartridge out and look for a little “window” on the side. Cover it with a piece of black electrical tape, and you’ll get MANY more pages of ink out of it. The window lets light in and tells the owner to buy a new cartridge but, in reality, there is still plenty of toner in the cartridge.

What are some ways you save on printer ink? Please Share!

Keep in mind that if you want to easily access this post in the future, be sure to save it to your Hip List. You can also access it (and other reader’s tips and picks posts) by clicking on the orange “Show All Categories” button on the right sidebar and then clicking on “Reader’s Tips & Picks.”

I know I cannot be alone. I’m just wondering how other people handle the inevitable slump. I just don’t feel like clipping coupons, checking deals, or driving to various stores to get the deals — even though I am on such a tight budget that it’s a must. I skipped a week here or there over Christmas hoping it would help me get my mojo back. But here it is the second week of January (or is it the third) and I am still in a slump, a funk, or whatever. How do others shake that sluggishness and reclaim their get-up-and-go???

On a fairly regular basis, I receive emails (like the one above) from couponers that either say they are on coupon burnout or that they want to give up completely. They want to throw in the towel and the coupons! They’ve had a bad experience with a mean cashier, their coupon beeped, they’ve invested 5 hours organizing and still don’t know what is what, they’ve over-spent at the grocery store because their coupons didn’t scan properly, the person behind them in the checkout line scowled and glared, they just don’t feel like clippin’…. and the list goes on and on and on.

I know from experience that couponing can definitely present a variety of challenges, but I also know that in the long run, it is absolutely worth it! Have you ever fallen into a Couponing Slump? If so, please share your tips, suggestions, and advice for how you have climbed out of it. I can’t wait to read all of your words of motivation, inspiration, and wisdom!

* I am also excited to mention that I will be starting a new series in the next few weeks on simplifying couponing and making it feasible for everyone, so stay tuned!

* FREE Coupon Savings Tracker Spreadhsheet
Head over here to download this spreadsheet for free (available for Microsoft Excel 2010, Microsoft Excel  2003-2007, or Open Office). Just go in and enter the information from your receipts and you can keep track of how much you are saving and how much you are spending.

* FREE Online Money Management Tool
Head over to Mint.com to create a budget, categorize your purchases and more – for FREE!

*FREE Downloadable Calendars, Meal Planners, To Do Lists, and More
- Head over to MommyTracked.com where you can download lots of free (and super cute!) schedules, checklists and more to keep you organized in style!
- Also, be sure to head over to IHeartOrganizing to check out her adorable and free printables. The Morning School Routine Printables and Bedtime Routine Printables are great to print and hang up for your kiddos.

* Consider joining FlyLady for FREE
Join FlyLady and you’ll receive daily FLYmail with lessons that will guide you through babysteps to help you set up routines, get rid of your clutter, and put your home and life in order.

How about you? Do you have any organizational tips and tricks to share with all of us?

If you’re still in need of a last minute teacher’s gift that is budget-friendly (and healthy!), check out this email that I received from reader and teacher, Jamie…

Every year at around this time, I see readers posting questions about what hip gifts to get teachers during the holiday season. I am a teacher and I would like to start by saying that absolutely nothing is expected from families this time of year. But, it is a nice surprise when parents send a card to school with students or something to say thanks for what you do. In a season where candy and cookies are almost unavoidable – this year I received the best teacher gift ever. A parent sent a fresh pineapple with a bow to school for each of their student’s teachers. I just thought that was a thoughtful healthy gift that I really appreciated.

I know that pineapple coupons periodically come available on Coupons.com and when paired with a sale this could be an inexpensive gift to let them know that they are appreciated.

Thanks for passing this idea along, Jamie! Also, if any of you have any last minute frugal teacher gift ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments below. Thanks so much!

Check out the email I received from reader, Amanda:

Hi Collin! Thanks for all the great deals you post. You sure don’t skip a beat!!! I have a question…. could you please ask your readers for great white elephant gift ideas. Our family is having a white elephant gift exchange this year and I would love a cool, creative, and hip gift idea. Our limit is $5. Thanks so much.

If you are not familiar with a White Elephant gift exchange, here’s the description from Wikipedia:

A white elephant gift exchange is a popular holiday party game found primarily in North America. Generally, white elephant parties need a minimum of six participants. With a larger group, game play may be more protracted. White elephant parties have been known to result in playful rivalries between players trying to get sought after gifts. The goal of a white elephant party is usually to entertain rather than to gain.

So do you have any great gift ideas? Either funny ones (love those!) or gifts that you know others will want to steal. Please share with us in the comments below! Also, on a side note, our family is getting together this year and doing an ugly holiday sweater contest. I Can’t wait! And I may even post a picture here on Hip2Save.

Ohhh… I am so excited that my favorite time of the year is fast approaching! I absolutely love fall…I love the cool, crisp air; love how the trees change colors; love the scent of pumpkin pie etc. I also love that one of my favorite holidays, Halloween, is almost here. Although I would like to make creative and budget-friendly costumes for each of my kiddos, I am often at a loss as to where to start. So this is where you come in! If you have successfully made a Halloween costume in the past, please share your ideas, tips and tricks with all of us. If you are a fan of purchasing costumes, where is your favorite place to shop?

Plus, check out the awesome creation pictured above that reader, Lars, put together for her kiddos…

My son is three and in love with Thomas the Train so of course he wanted to be that for Halloween. I didn’t see any costumes that I liked, so decided to make something myself.  I think it turned out pretty good! I borrowed the wagon from a friend, got the boxes from another friend who had moved, used a 5 gallon bucket we had from our food storage and covered it in cereal boxes that I painted.  I got the paint and electrical tape from Lowes using my $10 off $10 email coupon.  I also bought a conductor hat (not pictured).  Total cost: less than $8! Pretty cheap for two costumes and they love it of course!

On a side note, I’m also always looking for creative Halloween treats and snacks too! If you have favorite Halloween recipes, please share them in the comments!

With Christmas right around the corner, I thought it might be fun to create a place for all of you to share your small and/or home-based businesses (i.e. Etsy, Avon, Scentsy, etc.) with other readers and/or to offer Hip2Save readers a special discount on products that you sell. I posted something similar last year and it was quite a hit!

OK, so have at it and feel free to share your small business with the Hip2Save community!

Check out the email that I recently received from reader, Cindi…

Hi there! My husband and I love using your site to find great deals for movies, dinner, and date nights… but when it comes to paying the babysitter, sometimes we feel like no matter how much we save on our night out we just can’t afford the high babysitting rates! So I would love to know what other Hip2Savers think is fair. Also, would it be weird to pay the babysitter in movie tickets and other merchandise that I can find a hot deal on?

So, this is where YOU come in! Please share your thoughts and opinions with us.

Although I am an avid couponer and am always looking for ways to cut back on spending, I am NOT cheap when it comes to tipping. As a former waitress, I know how important tips are in the lives of those who work in service-based industries. Although I almost always tip at least 20% when dining out, I am sometimes a little more perplexed as to what to tip in the following situations: Purchasing food to-go, Hair Cut for yourself and/or your kiddos, Assistance with baggage when staying at a hotel, Purchasing espresso from Drive-Thru Coffee Shop, etc.

Needless to say, I was excited to recently discover the Interactive Tip Guide created by a design team over at Hospitality Management Schools. Just head on over here, scroll down to the orange Tip Guide button at the bottom of the page, and then select a category (choose from travel, cosmetics, restaurants and more). This guide tells you how much to tip, when to present the tip, and even has some basic tipping rules:

* Do tip pre-tax.
* Do tip at buffets.
* Do tip when using a discount or voucher like Groupon.
* Don’t tip the owner.
* Don’t tip extra when gratuity is already added on the bill.
* Don’t leave a bad tip if you plan on visiting the establishment again.

So take some time to check out the guide and then come back and share your thoughts. Think about the following questions: What services do you believe require a tip, how much do you tip, do you tip even if the service is horrible etc?

(Thanks to reader, Nichole, for sharing this guide with me!)

Can you believe that the 2011-2012 school year is nearing an end and Summer break is right around the corner!?!  As you may already know, during the week of May 7th-11th many schools will be honoring their teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week!  Every year at this time, I struggle to come up with a unique AND affordable gift to present to my kiddo’s teachers that my kids can also participate in creating.  So I was very excited when reader, Trudy, emailed in the following adorable idea…

“Thought I would share in case anyone else likes to give their children’s teacher something for Teacher Appreciation week. Every year my kids and I like to make something for teacher appreciation week. This year we decided to use some of the glass jars I have saved from all of the great deals on spaghetti sauce and clearance jelly beans. The yellow ribbon was $1 @ Michaels and I just used a black marker to add the ruler marks. I also bought one sheet of card stock @ Michaels for $1, it had a cute school theme. I cut circles from the paper and hot glued them to the lid, and added a frame to  the label and made a little card to hang on the jar.  The label says “No beans about it (teacher’s name) RULES”.  A cute (and inexpensive) thank you for teachers.”

On that note, please share your affordable and meaningful gift ideas for teachers in the comment section below!  And, if you’re a teacher, what gifts do YOU personally enjoy receiving?

To all of you teachers out there….THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! You are so valued and appreciated!

Reader, Stephanie, recently emailed with this question:

Thanks to you I’ve been receiving tons of mail… packages, samples, envelopes, etc. I receive so much each day that most of the time all my mail doesn’t fit into my mailbox. My mailman is so kind as to bring any excess up to my door, which I know he is not required to do. Because of his kindness and hard work throughout the year I’d like to give him a small gift for the holidays to show him my appreciation, but not exactly sure what I could do. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Now it’s your turn!

What are your thoughts on this? Do you give your Mailman a huge tip this time of year (and they definitely do a lot of work for all of us that love to request those freebies! )? Or do you bake cookies and other yummy treats for your Hairstylist/Teacher/Mailman etc…? Please share any creative and frugal ideas you may have to show your appreciation for these special people. Thanks!

With Christmas right around the corner, I thought it might be fun to create a place for all of you to share your small businesses, offer Hip2Save readers a special discount and more. If this is successful (and something that all of you seem to like), then I am happy to put together a similar post on a regular basis through the holidays.

Check out the email from reader, Jen, that helped to inspire this post…

Hello! I just wanted to pass along a suggestion. At some point, could you post something where us readers can comment and network our small businesses? Especially with Christmas coming up and people looking for unique, affordable gift ideas. For example, I am an Etsy seller and I’m trying to get more exposure (I know aren’t we all just looking for exposure But I’m also a stay at home mom always on the prowl for interesting or unique affordable gifts. And since we are all about savings here in the Hip2Save community, I would be willing to set up a special discount for Hip2Savers… being able to just post a simple comment about my business would be great. Thanks for taking the time to read my suggestion.

OK, so have at it and feel free to share your small business with the Hip2Save community!

With Halloween right around the corner, I thought that it would be fun to ask all of you to share your creative (and frugal) ideas for Halloween recipes, costumes, decorations and more. Personally, I love when you can create something fun (but fairly simple) with items that you already have at home…just like the adorable Garbage Bag Ghosts created by reader, Nicole. Check out Nicole’s email below…

My mom made garbage bag ghosts and used them as Halloween decorations when I was a kid. I was always so impressed by the simplicity of such a great decoration. I made a couple tonight with my husband. They would be great to make with kids! My favorite part is almost everyone will have everything they need already in their house!!

What you’ll need:
White garbage bag
Newspaper
White tissue paper (optional)
White twisty ties
Black Permanent Marker
Scissors

How to:
Cut color pull ties off of garbage bag
Wad newspaper up in a ball
Cover newspaper ball with white tissue paper (So the newspaper doesn’t show through the trash bag)
Put paper ball inside of garbage bag in a corner.
Tie off with twisty tie
Draw eyes & mouth with black mark
Hang as decoration for Halloween!

Not in the mood to decorate for Halloween? Then, check out the beautiful wreath (pictured above) created by reader, Nina, and her email below…

Before I found your website, I used to only be able to buy the necessities for our family, and always seemed to have to go without the “extras”. Thanks to you, my way of thinking has changed. I have learned to be so much more frugal and hip in the way I spend my money. I am able to make my dollar stretch so much farther and still get all the extra things I want now. Just last week I wanted to decorate our porch for the holidays, but knew it would cost too much to go out and buy a pre-made wreath. So I used two of the coupons you had posted about (a 40% off coupon from Hobby Lobby and another 40% off coupon from Michaels). I was able to make this beautiful Holiday wreath for around $22, including the door hanger. I love all your deals, thanks for making my life so much more fun!

On a side note, you may enjoy these posts from year’s past….

* Making Use of All That Candy Corn
* What are Your Halloween Tips & Tricks?

Click here if you are looking for creative ideas to make your own Halloween Costume. Click here for some creative Halloween Craft ideas.

So now it’s your turn! Feel free to share your ideas below…

Thanks to all of you who responded to the August post regarding legitimate job opportunities from home! I sure appreciate the helpful info you all left in the comments. And with that being said, here’s a compilation of all of that info – categorized with links to make it a little easier to view. I hope you find this helpful!

** Please note that I do not have experience with most of these companies, so I cannot endorse whether or not they are worth looking into further. Make sure to take the time to research the jobs you are interested in to see if they are the right fit for you.

(To see the long list of Work Opportunities, click the link below “Read More / Post Your Comments”.)

Work from Home – Helpful & General Information

* ClarkHoward.com
* RatRaceRebellion.com
* WorkPlaceLike Home.com

Customer Service from Home

* ACD Direct
(virtual call center)
* Alpine Access
(serves a number of industries)
* Amazon MTurk
(a work marketplace with 100os of tasks from businesses & developers – mixed reviews from readers)
* American Airlines, Delta, Jet Blue
(airline reservationist – work opportunity may be limited to certain parts of the country)
* Arise
(virtual call center services around the World; one reader has worked for Arise for three years  in the cruise ship & office supply areas: small startup cost, but an “OK” job)
* Convergys
(customer service, data entry, technical support for AT&T, Comcast, & other companies)
* Hilton Hotels
(booking reservations all over the world; work opportunity is limited to certain parts of the country)
* LiveOps
(virtual call center – one reader processed orders for individuals wanting to purchase products from infomercials)
* NEW Corp
(virtual call centers for DirecTV and other companies)
* Sutherland Global Services
(customer & technical service)
* TeleTech
(serves a number of industries)
* West At Home
(serves a number of industries)
* U-Haul
(e-center sales & reservations)

Earn Points/Giftcards

* Dailyfeats.com
(“go running,” “eat a piece of fruit”)
* Swagbucks

For Teachers

* Tutor. Com
( flexible  hours; $9/hr and up depending on longevity with company based on reader input)
* Become an independent tutor
(advertise on Craigslist, post signs, etc.; make between $20/hr & $50/hr based on reader input)
* eNotes.com
(answer students’ & teachers’ questions on various subjects)
* Idapted.com
(teach English online)
* Teach an online class
(as recommended by a reader who is a teacher at a community college)
* Translator (one reader did this for a school district in her area)

For The Creative & Enterprising

* Craigslist
(local classifieds)
* Ebay
(world’s online marketplace – one reader sells legos; another buys & sells gently used clothing)
* Etsy
(world’s largest online handmade marketplace; check out PrettyLovelies on Etsy where one reader sells small jewelry supplies)
* Macaroni Kid newsletter
(contact editor about becoming a Mom publisher in your community!)
* Create a marketing position for yourself
(demonstrate to a company that you would be a great asset and enjoy working independently)

Freelance Writer

* AMS London Brokers
* Constant Content
(commission freelance content writers)
* Demand Media Studios
(flexible job; pay is $15 to $25 per article based on reader input)
* Email a sample article within the topic of your expertise to every company that publishes educational books and materials

Independent Representative/MLM

* Avon
(mixed reader reviews)
* Barefoot Books
(quality childrens’ books)
* Gas&FoodVideo.com
(get paid Walmart giftcards to tell others … mixed reader reviews)
* Blessings Unlimited
(inspirational gifts & faith-filled home décor)
* Celebrating Home
(home decorations & home supplies)
* MakeFiveDinnersinOneHour (a meal planning service started by reader Michelle)
* Mary Kay
(mixed reviews)
* Melaleuca
(wellness products)
* Noah’s Ark Animal Workshop
(parties for kids – one reader has been doing over two years)
* NuSkin
(anti-aging products)
* One24.com
(wellness products)
* Pampered Chef
(kitchenware through home parties)
* Premier Designs
(high-end fashion jewelry)
* Scentsy
(wickless candles)
* Shelf Reliance
(food storage, food storage racks, emergency kits & supplies)
* Stampin’UP
(craft products)
* Stella & Dot
(jewelry company)
* TimeandMoney.biz
(natural products)
* Thirty-One
(giftable items)
* Usbourne Books & More
(quality books for everyone)
* Visalus Sciences
(get healthy & earn money)
* Wildtree Herbs
(all-natural food through home-tasting parties).

Miscellaneous Work Opportunities

* Caregiver/Errand Runner - Home Instead
(one reader works for this company as a non-medical caregiver running errands for seniors and for others in need and keeping them company)
* Coupon coach
(one reader charges $50/hr)
* Data entry – Scan One
(currently no jobs available at Scan One; one reader used to do data entry work from home for a company in her community so check out local possibilities)
* Event & wedding consultant
(Caution: One reader started a business in this field but found that it took her away from home for too many and long hours)
* Fitness coach – Team Beachbody
* Home daycare
(work opportunity for those who love kids…)
* House cleaner
(one reader in the Hamptons of NY brings her kids along and charges $25-$30/hr)
* Internet rater for quality control – Google, Lionbridge
(based on reader input, great flexibility in work hours; watch out as porn sites may be part of your job)
* Law enforcement transcription – Net Transcripts
(background check & fingerprints required)
* Local childcare coordinator – Cultural Care Au Pair
(helping to interview host families & familiarize au pair with her new environment)
* Manage rental homes – ideally properties you own – I’m personally really interested in doing this!
* Medical billing or medical transcription from home
(based on reader input, these fields are pretty well saturated at this time, and it’s hard to find jobs; for online training: Career Step - pays up to $4,000 for military spouses)
* Professional shopper
(Reader‘s daughter has 25 “regulars” and goes grocery and drugstore shopping and banking for customers)
* Research work
(if you are in college, check out possible research work opportunities at your university)
* Virtual assistant – oDesk
(global marketplace that helps employers hire, manage, & pay remote freelancers or teams)

Mystery Shopper

* Best Mark
* ICCDecisionServices
(one reader mentioned how super easy sign up is & how many fun jobs there are, including grocery shopping at her favorite local store, & how the pay is fairly good)
* MarketForce
(a reader noted that you can pick up merchandising jobs too, such as inventory checking at Dollar General)
* National Shopping Service
* Nationwide Service Group
* Second to None
* Service X

Survey Work

* Consumer Advisory Group
* Global Test Market
* Ipsos i-Say
* MySurvey
* MyView
* National Consumer Panel
* Opinion Outpost
* Survey Spot
* Toluna
* Vindale (negative review from one reader)
* Zoom Panel

Today’s Hipsters to the Rescue post interests me as I am always looking for ways to spruce up different rooms in my home without spending too much money (or even better, without spending any money at all). In the past few months, quite a few readers have emailed me asking for cheap (but hip! ) redecorating and furnishing tips and secrets.

Check out some of their emails below…

Wondering how to redo a kids (toddler) room for cheap, but yet make it look really nice . I love the look of Pottery Barn but they cost more than what I want to spend and just wondering maybe where to look for coupons for their website store or “how to’s” on making items like theirs for cheap ? Or where knock off items are at?

Hi Collin! I was hoping you could help me out. I’ve just signed the lease on my first apartment, but now I’ve got to figure out how I’m going to furnish it. I have a mattress (but no bed frame), a TV, and a small bookshelf. Yikes! I’m also a college student, and can’t afford much. I’ve tried the obvious places – Craigslist and Ebay, asking around for unwanted furniture, but so far I haven’t been able to find anything. Any help is appreciated!

You and your readers have such good ideas and I could use their help. My son is (finally) moving into his first apartment. We told him we would help get it ready with all the “stuff” you need. Not that I want to spoil him but I want him to have a sense of pride with this new home and phase in his life. I need help figuring out how to do so without breaking the bank. Any ideas??? Sites??? Thanks

Hi Collin! My husband and I just moved out of my in-law’s home and to another state recently. Since we were living at a fully furnished home, we left with very few furnishings to fill our new place and are looking to buy several new pieces to make it a home. However, we do not want to spend a fortune on furniture, so my question to you is how or where can we buy good quality furniture for cheap? How do you get deals on big ticket items like these? Thank you for all your help in advance, I read your blog religiously!!

So now it’s your turn!! Share your tips and tricks with us!

I literally receive emails regarding this topic on a weekly and sometimes even daily basis, so I thought that it was about time to open this question up to all of you!

Check out the emails I’ve recently received from readers, Christina and Heather:

I am a mother of two wonderful kids.  I teach and my husband is a police officer; both rewarding  jobs, but not the highest paying jobs in the world.  Which is why I am an avid couponer and love all the deals posted on your site.  I would like to start earning some money at home for extra fun things for our family – vacations, etc., but have always been very scared of all of the scams that can be out there to earn money at home.  So I thought maybe some of your followers would offer up some great advice or legitimate positions that would allow someone to work at home and earn a few extra bucks. Thanks!

I was wondering if you could ask some of your readers about working from home. I’m looking for a legit business. I know there are a lot of scams out there. I just lost my job and am getting ready to start school and would like something at home.

OK, Hipsters, it’s your turn to help out these fellow readers. Do legitimate work at home positions exist? If so, where do you find them and how can you tell if a position is legitimate?

Check out the following email I received from an anonymous reader…

I have decided today to officially give up on coupons. I started using coupons 7 years ago when my husband and I got married. He was in the military, and every little bit helps. Since this coupon craze, and TV shows, I can’t go to a store with out seeing at least 5-10 carts of people with their huge coupon binders and the shelves wiped. I spend all this time, and money on ink, and newspaper, to end up dumping them (expired) in the trash or giving them away on Craigslist. I can’t afford to drive store to store (hence saving money). I have stood next to people, with my coupon in hand waiting my turn and they wipe out the shelf with whats left. Its come to the point where people are being selfish, rude, and “who has the bigger stock pile”. This use to make me happy, now I am just disappointed and dread going to the store. Thank you Collin for your site, and inspiring people to save money. My sanity is no longer worth it, and my children would agree.”

This email saddens me so much. Couponing should be a fun way to help you save money. And this email, well, makes me want to hug each of you who are struggling with making this coupon thing work. I  don’t want any of you to give up and quit. Couponing has changed my life in so many positive ways and I know (if it hasn’t already) it can do the same for all of you.

Here are a few tips if you are currently struggling…

* If you are feeling overwhelmed, it’s OK to take a break from using coupons entirely and come back to them at a later date. Miss a few deals… they always come back around. You can also check Amazon while you are taking some time off. They have tons of great grocery deals AND you can snag them in your pajamas! Love that!

* Find a coupon buddy. It’s nice to have a person you can brag to and also someone who will listen to your rants and frustrations. You can also take turns with friends and family getting deals and clipping coupons.

* Be pro-active when the shelves are cleared. Get rain checks and inquire about ordering sale items in advance. That way, when a situation like the above arises, you will have a plan in place. And know, there will be times when you just can’t get the deal… but have the mindset that an even better deal is just around the corner.

* Keep your eyes peeled. Sometimes the best deals are unadvertised sales or in-store promotions that nobody knows about. Also, clearance finds can make for amazing bargains when paired with coupons! Scoring deals like this always motivates me to continue this frugal journey of mine.

* Last but definitely not least – be positive. The glass is never half empty!

What are some of your tips? How do you stay motivated and positive?!

It is a sad day in the Morgan household as it is finally time to put my much beloved coupon bag to rest. I have been sitting here clipping and organizing coupons in preparation for the Hip2Help Tour and as I went to place my coupon binder in my bag, I heard a horrible ripping sound (see the sad picture above).

With that being said, I need your help. Do you have the perfect “hip” coupon binder tote or bag?! Please share in the comments! Thanks so much!

First, I would like to say CONGRATULATIONS to all you Hip2Savers who are pregnant or just recently had a baby! You are about to embark on the greatest adventure that you will likely ever experience in life – full of tears, laughter, joy, pride… literally every possible emotion out there. I wish you all safe deliveries and healthy babies!

Now on to the important question! Check out the email that I received from reader, Amanda…

My husband and I recently found out that I am pregnant with our first! We are wanting to make the big announcement at our family’s 4th of July get-together. I was just wondering if you or any of the readers had ideas for a creative way to tell our families.

Let’s help Amanda out! Do you have any unique (and frugal) ways that she can make her big announcement?

Wow! I cannot believe that June is just about over and July 4th is right around the corner?! The summer is going to be gone before we know it! Since July 4th is one of my personal favorite holidays, I thought that it might be fun to learn what all of you do to celebrate Independence Day.

Here are a few fun and frugal suggestions for July 4th Activities:

* Help your kiddos make stars out of red, white and blue construction paper and then ask them to write why they are proud to be an American.

* Head to your local town parade (or even better, host your own neighborhood July 4th Parade and have the kiddos decorate bikes and wagons)

* Buy a few fireworks (one “hip” tip is to wait until the evening of July 4th to purchase any fireworks as you can usually snag a sweet deal!) or plan an outing to watch the local fireworks in your town. Check out how to make Individual Sparkler Holders (which make great party favors) over at Simply Creative Insanity... super cute!

* Host a Block Party or a Potluck

* Make a Wave Your Flag Cheesecake or make Red and Blue Jello Jigglers cut into star shapes.

* Make simple Firecracker crafts with kids using toilet paper rolls and placing bubble wrap inside, making a great popping noise maker!

* Make a 4th of July Wall Hanging using patterned papers in red, white and blue to become a lovely star wall hanging for a homemade 4th of July decoration.

…and more!  Head on over here and enter your email address to sign up to receive free craft & recipe ideas, as well as download the free FaveCrafts 4th of July eBook!

How about you? What traditions does your family have? How do you celebrate July 4th in your household?

Check out these emails that I recently received from readers Miranda and Gina…

I have made a list of all of the meat prices in my butchers’ shops and stores including sale prices, but I’m not familiar with lots of cuts of meat. Please do a small blog post on good meat prices and what parts of beef can be used (i.e. what cut of meat should I use for stews, stirfrys, etc.). I DREAD when we get low on meat because I just don’t know how to find the best deals. Thank you so much!

I was approached by a friend regarding “cowpooling” (i.e. going in with a few other families to buy one whole cow and then splitting the cost and the beef amongst us).  Have you or any of the other readers done this?  I would be interested in readers’ views on the cost versus the savings.  I am interested in both saving money and getting a high quality product to feed my family.  Any input would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks again for ALL you do!!!   You rock!

So you know the drill… what are your tips/suggestions for purchasing beef, cooking with beef etc?

Reader, Emily, emailed in with the following question:

Hey Collin! So this amazing guy asked me out and we are thinking of going to Logan’s for dinner. Conveniently, Logan’s emailed me a BOGO coupon this very morning! How do you feel about using a coupon on a first date???

So, please help me answer Emily’s question. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Thanks!

Wow! I cannot believe that Father’s Day (June 19th) is just around the corner! With that being said, I have received many emails from readers asking for special and thoughtful gifts that will not break the bank. Check out this email that I received from reader, Tammy Lynn…

Dear Collin-

With Father’s Day only a week or so away, I am in desperate need of a creative, memorable AND affordable gift for my dad. Besides the fact that he has been my biggest supporter throughout my entire life (I am a true daddy’s girl ), he also taught me the importance of living within my means. I hoping that you or your readers may be able to help me. Thanks so much! Hope that cold sore is getting better!

So you know the drill! What are your ideas/suggestions for Father’s Day gifts?! Even better, if you’re a dad reading this, what would you like to receive for Father’s Day?

I think the picture above says it all, don’t you?!

It has not been a very “hip” day around the Morgan household. This candle wax explosion literally happened about 10 minutes ago and let’s just say the kiddos didn’t do it. I am now trying to figure out how to go about removing candle wax from my laminate floors, chair and file cabinet. Do you have any frugal suggestions? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Are you planning a big move this summer? Well, readers Karen and Laura are… and they need your help! Check out their emails below:

My husband just got a great corporate job with a great company but due to some glitches we found out late and we only have ONE WEEK to move! The new place is 10 hrs away and we will get a hotel halfway. So I am not sure about moving the freezer? And filling with food? We have been downsizing already, but I still have a long ways to go. The biggest thing is my stockpile!!! Do I just let it go and rebuild? Or do I pack it the best I can? I have about 6 months (at least) of toilet paper and paper towels. I have cereal, toothpaste,pads, toothbrushes, etc. Basically the “easy” stuff to get by couponing. We have already bought plastic totes and will try to move as much in those as possible. I am sure other readers go through the same thing, and might have tidbits for other aspects of moving as well.

My husband is getting a new job and it is several states away. Most likely the cost of relocation will be out of pocket for us. Do you know of the best way/deals available when moving?

So you know the drill! Please share your best money-saving tips and tricks to have a successful and budget-friendly move.

Check out the emails below that I recently received from readers, Julie, Kerry and Donna…

I was just thinking how May and June can be such expensive months with wedding gifts and graduations to buy for people.  I was needing some hip ideas on gifts that look nice and expensive – but of course are purchased with coupons???

One of my kiddos is a senior in high school.  I wish I would have known in advance how very expensive senior year can be!  There’s senior pictures, yearbook, graduation announcements, graduation party, etc…  If I go through the company my son’s school has chosen to use for all the above, I’m looking at spending close to $1,000 buckaroos!!  I would greatly appreciate any suggestions to help reduce this cost; especially in reference to the senior announcements.

Does anyone have any suggestions for High School Graduation Gifts? Or has anyone’s kids received any neat gifts (besides $) for H.S. Graduation? In May I will need to give at least 7 gifts for Seniors graduating this year and I would like to make use of the many deals I have received or should look out for in the future.

So you guys know the drill, right?! If you have any helpful tips or suggestions, please share them in the comment section below. Thanks so much!

Can you believe that the 2010-2011 school year is nearing an end and summer break is right around the corner!?!  As you may already know, during the week of May 2-6 many schools will be honoring their teachers with Teacher Appreciation Week!  Every year at this time, I struggle to come up with a unique AND affordable gift to present to my kiddo’s teachers that my kids can also participate in creating…a “hip” gift that their teachers will enjoy and appreciate .  Over the past few weeks, I have received many emails from Hip2Save readers who are also trying to find ways to create a meaningful “Thank You” gift that won’t break the bank.

I was browsing around on the web in search of some cute Teacher Appreciation gift ideas and came across a few super cute and affordable ideas, courtesy of Tip Junkie.com!  Here are a few of my favorite ideas…

*Pencil flower vase (as pictured above)
*Dollar Store Flower pots with a packet of seeds
*A Gift to Enjoy Summer with beach towel, magazine subscription, tanning lotion, etc.
*Extra Special Gift bag stating “Thank you for an extra EXTRA Fun year!” including a pack of Extra gum (as pictured above)

I have some very creative Hip2Save readers , so once again, I am asking YOU to share your ideas for how to create affordable yet meaningful gifts for teachers in the comment section below!  Or if you’re drawing a blank, you may want to check out the comments section from the previous Teacher Appreciation posts here or here for even more tips and ideas. And, if you’re a teacher, what gifts do YOU personally enjoy receiving?

To all of you teachers out there….THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!  You are so valued and appreciated!

(Thanks for the “Hip” tips, Tip Junkie!)

As a recent college grad who is unemployed, you truly help make my life a little easier and brighter. I wanted to share a little Easter basket I made using some of the great deals you have posted in the past couple of months. Using a basket I already had around the house, I made a cardboard backdrop for it using paper scraps to form eggs. Instead of Easter grass, I saved and reused the recycled squiggly packaging paper that had come in a Synovate Panel product I got to test a while back. The recycled paper was yellow and pink, so it worked out perfectly and I did not need to purchase any store bought Easter grass. The baby blanket is from the Totsy deal you posted back in early March and only came to $1.40. The Hershey bar I got for free with the CVS coupon you posted last week for a free candy or beverage up to $2.00, and the M&M Eggs I got for free a few weeks back at CVS as well using the $2/2 Mars candy coupon you posted about. So, basically with a little creativity, I was able to put together this adorable basket for a total of $1.40, all thanks to you.

Want a craft idea that is adorable and eco-friendly?! Then head on over to Happy Clippings to check out these Easter Bunny Bottles. All you’ll need is a water bottle, cupcake liner, Sharpie pen, googly eyes, printable bunny ears and hands, and glue (and a little candy to make them a sweet treat!).

Need a fun centerpiece for your Easter brunch? Consider making this flower arrangement as pictured in All You Magazine back in 2009. Simply gather 2 similarly shaped vases, one 3″ narrower than the other, Peeps, jelly beans and flowers. Insert the smaller vase inside the large; layer jelly beans in the space between the two; arrange Peeps on top of the jelly beans; and arrange your flowers!

OK, so now it is your turn! What are your creative and “hip” Easter ideas?

(Thanks, Stephanie and Happy Clippings!)

My husband’s birthday is this Friday, April 1st.  We have been married for 10 years yet I still haven’t played a GREAT April Fools joke on him.  I would love to get some fun ideas from your GREAT readers!  Thanks!!!

So Lori needs your help! Please feel free to share any fun April Fool’s pranks, jokes or tips that you may have (as always, please keep them family friendly). Thanks so much!

(*NOTE: This post is intended for Hipsters ages 21 and above.)

With warmer weather on the horizon, I am ready to fill up my propane tank, grab the hot dogs and chips, and invite the neighbors over for a BBQ. While I usually have Capri-suns and lemonade for the kiddos, I personally prefer margaritas (on the rocks with fresh lime) or mojitos while my hubby loves a good summer ale (or a Corona light when he is watching his waist-line ). Although you can definitely save money by making your own cocktail mixes (which I will be showing you how to do in an upcoming “Cooking with Collin” post!! ), it is very rare to find coupons and deals on liquor, wine and beer.

Check out this email that I received from reader, Krystal…

With the economy, we have turned to in-home entertaining. While it is nice to go out with friends for drinks, it gets pricey fast. I’ve never seen any information on any coupon or savings blog about how to purchase alcohol more cheaply without sacrificing quality. Mixers like juices go on sale often enough to get cheap or free, and wine goes on sale occasionally at my grocery stores, but I am wondering how to purchase liquor at a better rate. Any suggestions are appreciated! Thanks!

So, in an effort to give you the best money-saving tips, I sent my sister, Bryn, off to the liquor store to investigate (and if you knew my sis, you would get a good laugh out of this as she rarely drinks and has literally set foot in a liquor store a handful of times in her entire life). I am just laughing as I type this thinkin’ of her chatting with the clerk.

“Hip” Tips to Help You Save at the Liquor Store

(1) Browse the aisles and keep your eyes peeled for rebates. In one liquor store alone, she found over 20 different rebates.

(2) Check out the stickered prices to see if the cost per ounce is displayed. This will allow you to compare two different sizes of the same product to see if it is really cheaper to purchase the larger size.

(3) Consider purchasing the tiny liquor bottles… this is a great way to save if you are only planning on making 1-2 drinks AND is a great way to try out several different brands before investing in a large bottle. All of the bottles pictured above were priced at $1.25 or less! (Need a creative activity for an adult party? Consider stuffing a pinata with little bottles of alcohol! …And make sure they’re plastic! LOL! ).

(4) Buy American! Although many of you may prefer the taste of foreign liquors, consider the fact that you are usually paying an extra $8-$10 per bottle in shipping costs for liquor from another country! Yikes!

(5) Talk to the employees at your local liquor store. When visiting with one of the liquor store employees, my sister discovered that there was a recent rebate offer that actually allowed you to make money!!  The rebate that was previously available was a $15 mail-in rebate offer when you purchase 1 Sauza Original Margarita. As you can see from the picture above, the Sauza margarita was priced at just $12.95 making this rebate offer a $2+ moneymaker!

So…how about you? Do you have any tips or suggestions? Please share them with us below.

So how many of you have apps (i.e. software that runs on mobile internet-enabled devices) on your mobile phone?! I would guess that most of you have one or more apps that you use for educational or entertainment purposes or maybe to assist you with budgeting, grocery shopping and/or couponing. Did you know that at the start of this year, there were more than 500,000 mobile apps for consumer and business use?! Yikes! That’s a HUGE number!

So what kind of apps would a Hipster enjoy? Money-saving, time-saving, and FREE apps, of course! Here’s my Hip List of apps as recommended by very helpful Hip2Save readers and online reviews…

(To see all of the “Hip” apps, click the link below “Read More / Post Your Comments”.)

Mobile Coupons

* Coupon Sherpa
(Free for iPhone, iPod Touch, & iPad)
Coupon Sherpa is the first mobile version of printable coupons, but without the paper! This app delivers to your phone coupons, shopping offers, and sales based on your location. Coupons can be redeemed in the store, but not online. The app doesn’t include high-value manufacturer coupons like the ones you clip from the Sunday newspaper although there may be coupons you can use for groceries at stores like WalMart or Target. Most of the coupons are for big retailers like ToyRUs, Office Max, and Old Navy. The app is generally geared to coupons for toys, clothing, and books – with a limited selection of grocery coupons.

* Mobiqpons
(Free for iPhone & Android)
This app offers the same features as Coupon Sherpa. You can also search for deals or coupons in locations other than your hometown area. In addition, you can track offers from your favorite stores, save coupons for later use, and email and share with your friends.

* Cellfire’s Mobile Coupons
(Free for iPhone & Android)
Have you ever arrived at your local grocery store only to realize that you have left your stash of coupons at home? That may no longer be an issue with the January 2011 launch of location-targeted mobile grocery coupons app from Cellfire. Now, instead of browsing through the newspaper for coupons to clip, you can opt to receive a real-time alert on your mobile device of the coupons available to you, as you enter the grocery store itself. Drawbacks to this app: The number of available coupons is limited, and the CellFire app currently only works with a small number of participating grocery stores (Krogers, Kroger, King Soopers, Smith’s, Frys, Vons, & Ralphs). In addition, Cellfire coupons do not double, and you can only use a coupon once.

* Shopkick
(Free for iPhone & Android)
Shopkick is a FREE location-based shopping app that gives you rewards and offers simply for walking into stores, for scanning products, and for signing up friends. Most recently, Shopkick offered its members a one-day only coupon good for 40% of any pair of jeans at American Eagle Outfitters…you can check out more about this app and this recent offer in the post here.

Loyalty Cards in One Place – on Your Phone!

* Key Ring
(Free for iPhone & Android)
Tired of carrying all those loyalty cards around? Use Key Ring to scan & store your existing loyalty cards, enroll in new loyalty programs, and access exclusive discounts. When you’re at checkout, all you have to do is show your phone to the cashier! In addition, this app provides coupons and special offers from your favorite retailers.

Grocery Shopping List

* Grocery IQ
(Free for iPhone & iPod Touch, iPad and Android)
This grocery shopping app lets you create your grocery list from a database of more than 130,000 items by speaking or typing the items needed into your phone. You can also instantly find coupons and review grocery products while cruising down the grocery aisle. However, if you like to track costs and maintain multiple shopping lists, you’re out of luck with this app.

* Grocery Guru
(Free for iPhone, iPod Touch, & iPad)
GroceryGuru is a grocery shopping app that comes with many helpful features. It allows you to create and save multiple shopping lists and check the items off in the store with one tap. You can assemble your list from a variety of preloaded items or create your own custom items. Items can be sorted and listed alphabetically or by category. This app includes a store finder which enables you to view store details and get directions to the store. Upcoming features: Ability to share lists, an “Add Notes” area, and a companion web app that will sync phone, desktop, and iPad to allow access and editing of a shopping list from any device.

What Should I Make for Dinner?

* All Recipe’s Dinner Spinner
(Free for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad)
If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you have likely heard me mention that I love AllRecipes.com…I use both the web-site and the mobile app almost daily. All Recipe’s Dinner Spinner allows you to search a selection of their most popular recipes by ingredient (you can include up to 8 ingredients) and or by nutrition information, bookmark your favorite recipes, email recipes to your friends, view photos and recipe ratings and more.

* Cook’s Illustrated
(Free for iPhone & iPod touch)
This app gives you 50 of Cook’s Illustrated’s all-time best recipes, along with a collection of popular and practical supermarket ingredient reviews (i.e. they’ll tell you which brands to buy and which to avoid), recipe videos, and kitchen timer and shopping list features.

Find the Cheapest Price for an Item

* Google Shopper
(Free for iPhone, iPod Touch, & Android)
This app enables you to use your phone as a barcode scanner & a price comparison tool. EX: You’re at a bookstore & want to do a price comparison on a certain book. You can scan the barcode of the book, take a picture of the cover, or speak the title of the book into the phone, and Google Shopper will search the web to see where the cheapest book is located, both offline and online! This app also shows you product reviews on items you are thinking about buying.

* RedLaser
(Free for iPhone & iPod Touch and Android)
RedLaser technology is an app designed around eBay’s reselling site Half.com, but it also uses product results from Google, eBay, and others. You can take a picture of a bar code on a product and then scan Half.com’s inventory to find price points on new and used items there. Then you can actually buy them through the app and share the details of your purchase on Facebook or Twitter.

* ShopSavvy
(Free for iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad and Android)
With ShopSavvy, you can find items by either typing them on your phone keyboard or using the camera to scan the bar code. This app gives you the cheapest local or online price. For local products, you can get map directions, visit the store’s website, or call the store. For online products, you can visit the store’s website or share product details using Facebook or Twitter. You can also compare user reviews, add an item to your wish list, or set a price alert to notify you when an item drops below a certain price. This app keeps a history of items you’ve scanned. Drawbacks of ShopSavvy: The bar code scanner relies on the product having a bar code, and it won’t scan in dim light. In addition, ShopSavvy doesn’t work with grocery items and all local merchants.

Track your Spending & Create a Budget

* iXpenselt
($4.99 for iPhone, iPod Touch, & iPad)
A very handy app that allows you to record your expenses as you incur them so you can easily track your daily spending. With iXpenselt, you can create a budget and customize reports that show you where your money is being spent based on category (i.e., groceries, take-out food, fuel for your car, household utilities). You can even store receipts on your phone – using your phone’s camera. There’s also a free version of this app, but it has limited features.

Earn Money using your Phone!

* Field Agent
(Free for iPhone)
This app pays YOU if you are willing to accept and complete simple tasks (like taking a photo directly from your phone or filling out a survey)!

Snag a Free App that typically Costs $

* Free App for a Day (FAAD)
(Free for iPhone, iPod Touch, & iPad and Android)
Worth checking out for applications and games that typically have a cost attached. FAAD goes to work and asks developers to make their app free for a day.

How about you? Do you have any apps that you can’t live without? Please let us know in the comments below.

In the past few weeks, I have received quite a few emails from readers who are looking for creative and budget-friendly birthday gift ideas for their spouses or other adults in their lives. Check out these emails from readers, Kim and Lindsay…

Hi Collin,
I was wondering if you have any tips for celebrating in a “hip” way. My husband turns 30 this year (august) and I really want to do something above and beyond for him (or us). He has really worked hard at providing for us and I want to do something special and memorable (we have a 2 year old and 5 month old). Thanks Collin!

Hiya Collin,
My wife will be celebrating her 44th birthday in June and I would love to give her a creative, special AND affordable gift. She is not the type of person to ask for gifts so I would love to spoil her. Do you have any ideas?

So…this is where YOU come in. Please share any tips you may have in snagging or creating affordable and special “grown-up” gifts.

* If you want some “hip” ideas for hosting a birthday party for kiddos, check out this post.
*Need some ideas for hosting an event on a budget? Then check out this post here.
*If you want to snag some awesome freebies/deals on your birthday, be sure to check out this post here.

Do you have any great ideas for how to re-use and re-purpose items?! Hip2Save reader, Rebecca, definitely does! Check out her email below (and picture above)…

Hi Collin!

Saving money is a priority in our family, as it is with all of your readers. But using coupons isn’t the only way your site helps us save…

We try to reuse and re-purpose as many items as we can, and by thinking outside the box, we have been able to save tons of money. One example of how your site helped us save more money is with the Mars Candy coupon that you posted about on December 31st as well as January 31st.

I took advantage of the coupon and purchased the heart shaped containers of M&M’s for my 4 children. When they opened the hearts this morning, I discovered that the candy was in a bag inside the container. My son went to throw the container away, and it dawned on me that the heart shape would make a great cookie cutter! I tested it out this morning, and it works great! So not only did I get the M&M’s for a great price, but I got several cookie cutters out of the deal as well! This saved me an additional $2-$3 per cookie cutter, and because I have several heart shaped containers, all 4 of my kids can use them at the same time!

Reading Rebecca’s email really got me thinking about the fact that one of the best ways to save money is to find ways to re-use items. …And since Hip2Save readers are so darn creative and practical , I thought I would open up this question to all of you! With that being said, if you have a great idea for how to re-purpose an item that might otherwise be tossed into the trash/discarded, please head over here and submit your idea.  I am going to try to regularly highlight these “hip” ideas!

In the meantime, if you want some great ideas and inspiration for re-purposing items, check out this email from reader, Barbi…

Collin, I don’t know if you have ever heard of this book…“The Tightwad Gazette”  by Amy Dacyczyn.  This book was written many years ago, but still continues to sell.  It is on Amazon with 255 reviews and almost 5 Stars.  It is fun and easy to read. Articles are short, sweet and to the point.  It is written like a newspaper, multiple articles on one page with hand drawn illustrations. It is all about how to save money….or depending on how you look at it…not spend money.  Although some of her ideas are far fetched, there are equally great articles that get the wheels turning in your head. I love this book and have re-read it many times.  Most libraries carry it to rent also.  Two of my most favorite lessons I learned from her was #1 before you purchase something just because, stop and think how long you actually have to work to pay for it.  That new release DVD, would probably equal out to about 2 hours.  OUCH.

Another idea caused me to develop the following motto….Stop before you drop and throw.  Meaning try to give every item at least 2 lives before I toss something in the garbage. Cut up clothes to use as rags, use grocery bags for trash can liners, junk mail for printer paper, etc. Her articles are far more interesting than this and she covers every single aspect in life.  Remember I said that, because I mean everything.  If you read the book you will know what I mean.   In all those spare minutes, pick up this book, suggest it to H2S groupies, I think it will be well received.

* If you are interested in snagging a copy of the book, The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn, then you may want to head over to Amazon.com. You can currently snag this book for $15.61 + FREE shipping with Amazon Prime. I’m thinkin’ I may just have to snatch up a copy! Thanks, Barbi!

In addition to finding great deals on ink, I have often been asked how to snatch up great deals on paper. I personally stock up on paper when rebates/rewards are offered on reams of paper at the local office supply store (for example, you can snag 500 sheets of paper over at Office Depot this week for only $1 after mail-in savings card). However, I just received this email from reader, Lisa, which offers up another great (and FREE) method for snagging paper. Check it out below…

I don’t know if this idea has been published before, but I have come up with a creative way to use paper for couponing. My daughter is in 1st grade and my son is in preschool. They come home with book bags full of paper from school. So I started flipping them over and using the back side and it works like a charm. I have never had a problem. I do not use papers with a grade and I cut their names off since coupons rarely use a full sheet. I feel like I am recycling what used to go in the trash and not wasting a blank sheet on coupons that sometimes only take up a 1/4 of a sheet. My daughter loves it too, because when she shows me the papers, she says ok mom, you can have this sheet, this sheet, this sheet for coupons and stacks them up. She loves recycling too!!

What a great way to keep a few bucks in your pocket and to help the environment! Do you have any creative suggestions for snagging paper to print all those coupons for free or almost free? If so, please share your ideas with us below!

* On a side note, if you need some great ideas for stocking up on ink and making it last and/or want some advice on purchasing a printer, check out this post and the comments.

This has got to be one of the cutest Valentine’s Day gift ideas! Head on over to the Lolly Jane boutique blog to learn how to turn a 6 pack of Crush Soda bottles into an oh so adorable gift for your Valentine!

Do you have any unique, frugal and “hip” Valentine’s Day gift ideas?! Please share in the comments… I need all the help I can get! Thanks!

I have received so many emails from readers asking for the best deals on tax software and tax filing options… here are a few:

Any recommendations on good, safe, cheap online tax filing?

I thought if anyone could help me you could.  We usually buy Turbo Tax at a store and do our taxes ourself, but the price has increased this year.  Do you know of any coupon codes, promotions, etc… Thanks so much!

My husband loves how much money I save, thanks to you.  He just asked me to find a deal for the tax filing software we have to buy every year.  I’ve been keeping my eyes open for Turbo Tax sales but I haven’t seen any.  Can you help us?  Thanks!

Since I am by no means an expert in this area, I thought I would also ask all of you to help me answer these questions! I have a couple of suggestions below and am hoping that you can add to my tips and provide some different alternatives as well.

* Head over here to sign up for a FREE edition of H&R Block At Home or head over here to sign up for a FREE edition of Turbo Tax (you’ll be able to prepare, print and electronically file your federal tax return for free). If you need a more customizable version, consider purchasing Turbo Tax from Costco or an office supply store where there is often a coupon or special promo offer available.

* Check the daily deal sites…Groupon recently offered up a $30 voucher for online tax preparation products at H&R Block for ONLY $15.

* If you are in the military, you can snag a FREE customized version of basic H&R Block at Home electronic tax filing product. This customized product allows for FREE federal filing and FREE state filing (up to three states). In addition, free telephonic tax consultations are available to help with tax- related issues. Check out Military One Source for more information.

Now it’s your turn! What are your tips?!

Check out the two emails I’ve received from readers below:

I am new to this coupon thing and have lots of questions! However I have but one to ask you today! My husband loves the outdoors and with that comes hefty purchases. Do you know of any Daily Deal type sites that can help us save on outdoor sports, fishing, hunting, skiing, etc..??

I know for some folks summer seems miles away, but are there any good deals to be had out there on tents (I’m looking for 8 person) and camping gear?

Any help from all of you is greatly appreciated!

I’ve received a number of emails from male readers who are planning to propose to their girlfriends soon (maybe even on Valentine’s Day) and are looking for some tips/advice to snag an affordable engagement ring. Since I am by no means an expert on ring shopping, I asked Amy from Belles on a Budget to write up a post focused on tips for engagement ring shopping on a budget. Thanks to Amy, here are 8 tips to help you snag a “Hip” ring without breaking the bank….

* Get informed

Make sure to know the Four Cs (cut, carat, clarity, and color) of diamond shopping… and what is most important to your fiance-to-be, whether it is something that sparkles, a specific cut, or certain type of stone. This will help you know which aspect to prioritize when you are selecting a ring within your budget. Look online for hundreds of articles that explain the Four Cs and the rating scale associated with each aspect.

* Shop around

Although shopping for a ring is an exciting, emotional decision, make sure not to jump into anything! Shop and compare prices and rings at brick and mortar stores and online to make sure you are getting the best value for your money. Don’t be afraid to take notes! As with any big purchase, this is not an impulse buy. Write down the cut/color/clarity/carat combinations you see, and their prices, which will make it easier to compare later after you’ve visited multiple stores. And if you receive pressure at jewelry stores- stand your ground and don’t purchase anything until you’ve done your research. You can always go back to that first ring you saw if you still think it is “the one” after you’ve done some price comparisons.

* Be Trendy

Non-traditional wedding rings are huge right now! Many brides are opting for sapphires, rubies, emeralds, or other gemstones rather than a diamond ring. These options can sparkle and make a statement just as much as a diamond, and most importantly- symbolize your love and commitment in the same way a traditional engagement ring does. And these gemstones can be a huge money saver!

* Use the family jewels

Think about using a family heirloom or vintage jewelry of your grandmother’s/mother’s/aunt’s that has been sitting around the house as an engagement ring. You can modernize a diamond or gemstone necklace or ring by having it placed in a setting your fiance-to-be will love. It will be much cheaper than buying a new ring and it will have that special added sentimental value of family history.

* Shop online

There are several very legitimate online stores that sell jewelry like Blue Nile or Overstock.com. The key to buying at one of these retailers is to know the cut, clarity, color and carats you are looking for and compare them across the stores. And my husband’s tip: even if you plan to buy the ring online, go into brick and mortar stores to be able to actually see similar rings in person. That way you will know what a certain cut looks like or how specific clarity and color combinations sparkle in person, before you buy online.

* Check out sample sales

I have been surprised to see fine jewelry featured on many reputable sample sites like Rue La La, Modnique, and Swirl. These sites offer huge discounts on rings and would be an excellent way to score a good price on an engagement ring, especially a gemstone ring. As with any purchase, though, make sure to consider the Four Cs of the ring (which should be included for any diamond purchase) and your previous research before you buy.

* Communicate with the jewelers

Many shops, especially small businesses, can work with your budget or will help you design the perfect (and completely unique) ring. Don’t hesitate to discuss your budget and your expectations at jewelry stores and see what they can do for you.

* And after you find that perfect ring for your loved one…get insurance!

Although it doesn’t sound particularly romantic, it’s important to get insurance very soon after you make this big purchase. For a few dollars a month, you and your fiance can have the peace of mind of knowing that this big purchase is protected.

If you have recently purchased a ring, please share any advice/tips/tricks that you learned along the way. Happy Ever After to all the couples who are getting married/engaged this year!

(Thanks so much to Amy over at Belles on a Budget!)

If you are still looking to snag some great deals on toys in the clearance section at Target, then check out this “Hip Tip” from reader, Sheri…

Just wanted to give a little tip to those still looking for great toy clearance deals at Target. If you go at night (about an hour before they close), they are returning items to the shelf that people brought back. I have scored 9 big bags of toys doing this…all 75% off clearance items. Last night, I even went up to the service desk and asked if I could go through the returned toy cart since they hadn’t re-shelved it and they were fine with it!!

Do you have any other great tips/tricks to share? Let us know!