Red Raspberry Cane Giveaway

Check out this great giveaway over at Sparing Change. Better hurry though because the Giveaway ends Thursday, March 15th at midnight and the winner will be announced Friday, March 16th.

It's Tax Time

Here is some great information I wanted to pass on to you all that a friend of mine recently gave me. I hope it helps someone out!

www.irs.gov Offers online Free File Fillable Forms for you to fill out and eFile your federal taxes for Free if you are comfortable doing youir own taxes.

If you prefer to use tax software, they also offer FreeFile, which is a link to an outside website like Turbo Tax and H&R Block. You have to go through the IRS website to get there in order for it to work. These sites offer their online tax software for FREE for people who meet certain criteria. Most of the companies want your AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) to be less than $57,000 or less, depending on the company. (Check last years tax return to get an estimate of your AGI if your Gross income is over this amount.) There may also be an age limit, usually 52 or younger. Some tax software is only available for certain states. And U.S. Citizens and resident aliens with foreign addresses. The criteria are clearly listed with each tax software company's website. It's very easy to get to this point.

Once you choose a Free File company, it takes you step by step through each phase of the tax software asking questions and making suggestions to increase your refund. You can also do your state taxes through some of these sites but they charge a fee for eFiling those. I use the tax software to figure out my state return without filing and then do my state return at Maryland's tax website and check numbers against each other because the state site can be a bit tricky.

Once you are finished and ready to file your Federal Return through Free File, you have the option to have a check mailed to you or direct deposit into your bank account. I always do direct deposit and get my return within 2 weeks. If you have never eFiled before, you will have to choose a 4 digit pin number and enter last year's AGI. If you don't have last years AGI, you will have to print out a form to sign and mail to the IRS. That will be the only thing you will have to mail in.

After you efile, you will receive an email from the software website that your return was electronically sent and the IRS has sent a confirmation that they received it. You will get a follow up email letting you know that the IRS has accepted your return. You can also log into the software website to check for this information.

After your return has been accepted, you can check on the IRS website to find out the date your check will be mailed or direct deposited. It's theWhere's My Refund? link located on the main page. Very helpful and reassuring!

Maryland's State Taxes iFile can be done through Maryland's website. They have their own software to help you figure out your return and efile. Resident Maryland Tax Return under Tax Year 2011 is which link you choose.

This software hasn't been crystal clear in the past which is why I suggest that you do your State return on the site where you are filing your Federal returns (but don't file there!) to get a return or payment amount to compare to the State's site. eFile your taxes after your numbers match or close it to. I was $5 off on my parent's state return last year which drove me crazy. Come to find out it was a mistake on the state's site, not my calculations, so I filed and sent the state a nice little email about the glitch.

Every year you can log into the State's site and all your info will be pulled up including your and your dependent's names, social security numbers and address. The online software website you choose to efile your Federal returns will not let you do that. You will have to enter in your personal info each year even if you use the same site every year.

Walmart Shopping trip

Just thought I would share some deals I got at the Dunkirk Walmart tonight. I go through my coupons every so often and pull out those that are $1.00 or more and then I head to Walmart to see what I can get for $1.00 or less.

Extra dessert gum $.96 less $1.00 coupon
Up2u gum $1.28 less $1.00 coupon
Satin Care shave gel $1.97 less $1.00 coupon
Tic Tacs $1.04 x 2 less $1.00 coupon
Kids crest toothpaste $2.72 less $2.00 coupon
Crest whitening toothpaste $1.00 less $1.00 coupon
Zest aloe 3 bar pack $1.98 less $1.00 coupon

Letters to Santa - Free App

I just wanted to share with you all a great free app for your kids to enjoy. I downloaded this the other day and my daughter tried it today and was very happy with the results and so was I. She was able to send a letter to Santa telling him what she wanted for Christmas and then a few hours later he sent her a letter back. I was then able to send it, along with her letter to my email so we can print it out. There is no limit on how many can be sent or how many replies you can receive. The only downfall is that you have to wait for the reply before you can send another letter. Why not download it and let your child communicate with Santa.

Sparing Change: Giveaway: Your Choice of 4" x 6" Sign

This is one of my favorite blogs that I follow. Why not hop on over and check it out? Today would be a great day to do that so you can enter the giveaway she is having.

Sparing Change: Giveaway: Your Choice of 4" x 6" Sign: Sparing Change has almost hit 100 followers since I started the blog April 1st! As a sign of my appreciation, I am going to randomly select...

My frugal finds for the week

I got this great piece free from a person on freecycle. I originally had planned on getting 2 bottles of wine to put in it and give it as a Christmas gift but have decided to keep it for myself. Isn't it great?

Another great Freecycle find for me.. A patio table umbrella in pastels that tilts and that is in excellent condition. This will be used as a spare until I can get another table for the yard.

Today's deal at Giant

Giant had Renuzit air fresheners for $.89 and there was a coupon in Sunday's Paper for buy 2 get 1 free.  I purchased 9 for the lady I clean for as she uses these in one of her rooms. When I checked out I received double credit for the coupon and a $.05 credit for using my own bag. My total costs $2.22 for 9! It was like buying 1 and getting 2 free!

Button Monogram

I got this wonderful idea from sparing-change. I thought it would make a great gift for Alyssa, our newest niece that was born in April of this year. I personally think this turned out great. It took some planning and some patience but doing that I was able to get all the items without spending a dime! I got a bunch of frames off freecyle along with some butterfly embellishments, the paint, glue, paper and acrylic sealer I had here already, and the buttons were purchased off of Amazon.com using gift cards I earned with swagbucks.

Before

One layer of buttons

Two layers of buttons and butterfly embellishments

Completed project

Local Library

This is one of our local libraries which is located about 20 minutes from our house. We have one closer but I needed to go in the other direction to the store and this one was right there next to it.

The view of part of the adult section from the stairs going up to the children's section.

Darin and Bailey doing the self checkout

A display on top of a bookcase in the children's section.

Do you have a library near you? In this tight economy the Library should be everyone's choice for entertainment. I mean where else can you get books, movies, music, and video games all for free! The kids and I visit ours several times a month. Our Library also offers so many neat free programs for both children and adults. Why not call or visit your Library and see what they have to offer? They might just surprise you!

Free hair cut

One way for me to save money is by cutting my son's hair. We would take him every month to get his hair cut and each time costing between $10-$20 depending on where we went. We purchased a men's hair grooming kit for $29.97 a Walmart years ago and one day I just attempted it and found it wasn't that hard. Over the years it has gotten easier but it helps that he likes it short especially in the summer months. He usually goes with a #3 but today had me do a #2. I have lost track of how many times I have cut it but I know the trimmers have more than paid for themselves several times now.

Keurig

One of favorite kitchen appliances has got to be my Keurig. I received this free about a year or 2 ago from my sister who had gotten it as a gift and didn't want it. Along with this she sent the carousel to hold the k-cups and a ton of different brands and flavors of k-cups. Over the time that I have gotten this wonderful item I have purchased and received a ton of the k-cups. These k-cups are neither economical or earth friendly which was starting to way on my conscience but I did not want to give it up. I had to find a way to make it a cheaper and greener appliance. After searching on Amazon one day I came across a product that I thought would help me in this feat....the solofill reuseable K-cup.

After accumulating enough free amazon gift cards I ordered one and it cost me $0 even with shipping. I couldn't wait to try it! Needless to say this newest invention has helped me save money, keep trash out of the landfill, and also allowed me to continue using my Keurig without all the guilt. I love being able to buy my favorite brand coffee, filling my k-cup and having my coffee whenever I want.

Freecycle

I just wanted to take a few minutes this morning and say a few things about one of my favorite places to get free things along with get rid of items I no longer want or need. Over the course of time that I have been with freecycle I have gotten so many wonderful things. For example, just this past month I have refurnished my sons bedroom. I freecycled all his furniture that he no longer wanted (loft bed and matching dresser) and I have gotten a full size futon, storage coffee table, storage end table, and a 27" TV...all for FREE!!! Out went his little boy room and in came his teenage room. Today I have a bunch of stuff listed to get rid of and am anxiously awaiting the items to be taken. I love the fact that this allows things to stay out of the landfill.. So if you don't already belong what are you waiting for! You don't want anyone else's belongings??? Well they may want yours that you no loner want. Stop throwing things away and let someone else appreciate them.

Bookmarks from recycleables

About a month ago I came across myplumpudding which had this wonderful idea...bookmarks from cereal boxes, but I took it one step further by laminating them to make them last longer. Well then I thought why stop there? Why not from labels, soda cartons etc..... These make adorable gifts. You can add them inside a card, a stocking, or put them with a book for a cute gift. I will be offering these for sale for $1.00 which includes shipping. If you purchase 2 or more the first one will be $1.00 and the others will be $.75 which includes shipping.

I will be offering some of these free to the first 20 followers of my blog. So far I have 4. Please comment and let me know the easiest way to contact you to get your mailing information. Not sure how to promote this as I am new to all of this but please spread the word. I will be offering this through the month of July.
Thanks for looking!

SwagBucks

Since January of this year I have been doing swagbucks. I was referred by a friend and fellow blogger at sparing-change . I was hesitate at first but slowly became engrossed with it. However, I have learned to manage my time better and spend a little time in the mornings and a little time in the evenings trying to earn a few swagbucks. Since January I have been able to donate to different charities and earn different gift cards. My favorite is earning $5 Amazon gift cards. I have been averaging 5 of these a month! That's $25 for hardly any work. I add these to my Amazon account and use them on stuff I want or need and on gifts. I also make sure I combine these with the free shipping so I actually pay nothing at all out of pocket! Each 450 swagbucks can buy you a $5 Amazon gift card. It really doesn't get much easier than that! If you have never tried it or possibly never even heard of it. Hop on over and check it out!
http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/vking713