Track your lost WalMart Receipt

It's important to keep all receipts at least 30 days after purchases. I have a huge catalog size envelope where I just toss them. (I'd like to say I organize them by store, but I cannot tell a lie:-)

Now I have a backup plan for all my WalMart purchases (paid with a credit/debit card) You can call the WalMart Electronics Payment Hotline at 479.277.2643 and they will look up your receipt and then fax it to you.

I read this great tip at High Class Living on a Middle Class Budget

Quick Tip: Save a rusty cast-iron skillet!

Don't throw out that rusty cast-iron skillet! Here is advice from several sources on how to save your cast iron skillet once it's developed a bit of rust -- or if you find an old one at a yard sale.



--Use a stiff nylon brush, hot water and a little salt (a natural abrasive) to scour off the rust. You may have to throw away the salt and add more and repeat the scouring process if the pan is really dirty.

If that doesn't work, use hot water and steel wool. When you're done, coat the inside and outside of the pan with vegetable oil and place it on foil-upside down-in the oven at 350 degrees for an hour to re-season. Allow to cool before using or storing.

--To clean rust from an abused garage sale find of a cast iron skillet soak the item for 24 hours in a bath of 1 part molasses and 3 parts water. Clean with a bit of steel wool. (resoak as needed) Season and voila.

--To prevent future rust: After washing the pan, put it on the stove and let it heat until any water left in the pan has evaporated.

--Never use scouring powder or soap! The soap will suck out the good oils in the pan and the pan could absorb the soapy taste!!

Convenience Can Cost You!

Save a cool $400 or more per year by doing a little food prep labor!

You can save $4.50 per pound when you buy green apples ($1.29 lb) versus sliced green apples at a whopping $5.79/lb.

Buy a head of romaine lettuce, versus a bag of pre-washed romaine lettuce and save $1.26.

Pay up to $7.95 for a package of 12 1.4-oz snack-size packs of brand-name cookies versus $5.39 for a 16-oz package of "regular" brand-name cookies. (Buy store brand or use coupons and save twice as much!)

What could you do with an extra $400?

Quick Tips: Natural ways to clean and freshen your house

Make your own dusting spray by combining 1 cup white vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil in a pump spray bottle from the "dollar" stores. (Saves the environment - no spray cans in the land fill. Saves money too.)

Clean brass and copper with lemons! Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle some salt on it. Rub the lemon on the piece, rinse thoroughly and dry. (Saves $25 or more plus no harsh chemicals.)

Elephant ear philodendrons and snake plants are easy-care plants that do a good job of absorbing many common household pollutants. (Saves money and the environment. No need for as much "odor neutralizing spray".)


I found these great quick tips in various issues of All You magazine.

Quick Tips - De-stink Stinky Sneakers

These tips are from the October 2009 issue of Good Housekeeping magazine.

#1: Shake baking soda inside the sneakers, coating the insoles as well. Dust some on the outside of the shoes, working it into any crevices where bacteria may lurk.

Dump out excess baking soda. Whisk off the outside with a dry, soft brush. This will also remove dirt.


#2: After wearing them, stuff shoes with newspaper to absorb smells and moisture (even the kids could do this!!).


#3: Use antimicrobial fabric spray, like Febreze, to kill bacteria and help eliminate odors.

Save money by shopping on the 'right' day of the week

In this day of the internet, it's easier than ever to shop smart and spend less on groceries, clothes, household items and even vacations!

In fact, Smartmoney.com promises that "savvy shoppers can pay less than full-price on any day of the week that ends in "y"."

The sites Stretching A Buck and Becentsable are great on-line resources for finding freebies and good deals on food, baby items and more. There's even a "how to" tab at both sites for beginners to the couponing and freebie-finding revolution.

The website, Yahoofinance.com offers a way to save mega-money by shopping smart and planning ahead. In an article posted at Yahoo. Smartmoney.com offers a day-by-day guide to saving money on everything from groceries to furniture, from sheets and towels to vacations.

Best day of the week to buy groceries: Sunday or Tuesday. Maximize savings when you combine coupons with store sales. (Don't forget to ask for a raincheck-to lock in the sale price if the item isn't on the shelf.)

Buy cars on Monday: Low foot traffic after the weekend makes it seem like there are fewer potential buyers on the lot--dealers may be more willing to negotiate. With all the "special deals" associated with government stimulus package, you may be able to pay far less for a car than even a year ago!

Entertainment and Airline Tickets: Many movie theaters and amusement parks offer deep discounts or special promotions mid-week. Airlines, responding to discounted weekend fares of their competitors, often slash their rates to remain competitive.

Best time to buy gas and Clothes: It doesn't seem as if Gas and Clothes should be in a category together! Gas prices tend to go up on the weekends, so buy your gas on Thursdays before 10 a.m. After that the weekend prices start inching up.

On Thursday nights, stores stock their shelves for the weekend sales. Shop retail clothing stores Thursday evening for great prices and avoid the weekend crowds.

Friday and Saturday: Check the yard sale ads in the paper and on-line. Make a list of what you're looking for, plan your route for visiting the maximum number of sales without backtracking. Start early! By 10:00, all the best items are usually gone. Also, go back to the sales where there were items you wanted, but were priced too high. If they're still there by mid-day, you'll probably be able to negotiate a lower price.

This article was originally published at Richmond Frugal Family Examiner.

Chop Chop Chop!

One great modern convenience - especially for those of us who like to cook -- is the abundance of grated, chopped, sliced and cubed cheese, fruits and vegetables available at the grocery store.

I'm all about saving time, but at this point in my life, saving money is even more important! The truth is, the more "processed" the food is, the more expensive it is. You can save at least $2 per pound buying block cheese vs. grated. Involve the kids and have them use their math skills by bagging up 1- or 2-cup portions into freezer bags.

Dig out that vegetable peeler and peel your own carrots. Buy "whole" celery stalks, wash, trim. Cut vegetables up into slices and divide them into single servings in zipper bags so the kids can help themselves to a healthy snack. Chop up 1-cup portions to have handy for salads and other uses.

You'll save a couple of bucks a week buying vegetables that haven't already been "cleaned up" and "cut up."

Of course, reuse those zipper bags over and over again! You can use plastic containers , but they take up a lot of space and can be quite expensive.

Think about this: saving just $7-$8 a week equals over $400 a year!