Daily Savings From All You Magazine » Family

Halloween Countdown: Start your sweet tooth early

dailysavingsfromallyou — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:38:19 +0000

4 days until Halloween!

Skip the trip to the bakery and get your sweet tooth in gear with these delicious Halloween desserts. This tempting Spiderweb Spice Cake is only $2.01 per serving. Or indulge in these delicious snack-size cupcakes, full of Halloween personality. Let kids help decorate their cupcakes to spooky perfection!

Posted by Riley Tant, AllYou.com

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Halloween countdown: Make a festive Halloween meal tonight

dailysavingsfromallyou — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 16:46:21 +0000

27 days until Halloween!

Serve up some spicy Jack-o’-lantern Quesadillas tonight for a fun Halloween dish. At only $1.21 per serving, this festive recipe is a cheap treat that will disappear before your eyes. Try them with a side of Devilish Dip for a simple and delicious meal.

Posted by Riley Tant, AllYou.com

Halloween countdown: Get the family together for a Halloween movie night

dailysavingsfromallyou — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 16:40:46 +0000

28 days until Halloween!

Opt for a family movie night at home instead of going to the movies. Get teenagers excited about the fun month ahead and turn the evening into a Halloween event. Serve up some blood-red ghoul-aid punch with these tasty popcorn skulls on sticks. Rent classic Halloween movies they will enjoy, such as Twilight and movies from the Harry Potter series. Be sure to screen movies beforehand and check the movie’s rating.

Posted by Riley Tant, AllYou.com

See also:

Make a Halloween music playlist

Entertain the kids this Halloween

Catch the Halloween spirit

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Halloween countdown: Brainstorm Halloween costume ideas

dailysavingsfromallyou — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:38:50 +0000

29 days until Halloween!

It’s never too early to start brainstorming ideas for your Halloween costume this year. Need inspiration? If you want to get creative without spending a fortune, allyou.com offers costume ideas for everyone in the family! You can make over a pop star princess or become a juicy grape—all of our ideas are budget-friendly and full of inspiration.

Posted by Riley Tant, AllYou.com

See also:

Baby bat costume

Ripe tomato costume

Find a cute Halloween pet costume

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Have a win-win Halloween

dailysavingsfromallyou — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:29:47 +0000

Every year I’m of two minds about Halloween — I want to give out fun candy because the kids love it, but I know it’s bad for them and their parents will toss a lot of it anyway (or eat it themselves!). Plus, with so many kids in my neighborhood, it’s expensive to buy enough for everyone. What’s a fun-loving but guilt-ridden and frugal mom to do?

That’s why I’m glad I found these YummyEarth lollipops on Amazon. They come in delicious flavors the kids will love (sour apple, blueberry, strawberry, grape, watermelon), and they’re organic, made without corn syrup or artificial dyes (they are fun tongue-staining colors though — they’re just colored with fruit extracts) and allergen free. I mean, they’re still candy — it’s not like giving out boxes of raisins (everyone avoided that house when I was a little trick-or-treater!) — but it feels less terrible for the kids. The best part? Amazon is selling a box of 150 for just over $15 — which means they cost about 10 cents apiece. Everybody wins!

Posted by Beth Lipton, Food Editor

See also:

Make Halloween treats under $1

Make fun treat bags with your kids

Low-cost Halloween treats

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Head back to school in style and save!

dailysavingsfromallyou — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:23:06 +0000

AllYou.com is here to help you find the best deals in back to school bargains. Visit AllYou.com for some great budget-friendly ideas.

See how you can save by learning tricks such as renting a graphic calculator instead of buying, making your own book covers and keeping the kids happy with after school snacks that cost under $1 per serving.
Don’t sweat the pricier purchases; we’ve got you covered! We tracked down the best budget laptops to suit every family’s needs, all under $850.
For college-bound kids, learn ways to make your dorm room super chic for less than $20 with these fun accessories.

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Enjoy lunchbox snacks for less

dailysavingsfromallyou — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:59:02 +0000

Back-to-school time is upon us, which means it’s lunch packing time too. Before you head out to buygroceries, stop by Walmart’s Lunchbox Builder. Get your kid to sit down and build a customizable lunchbox you can print out and build yourself. Then click “finish” to get printable coupons to save on Mott’s applesauce, Goldfish crackers and Smucker’s Uncrustable sandwiches. It’s a fun, penny-pinching way to get ready for school!

Posted by Megan Friedman, All You intern

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Buy (and reuse) a cool lunchbox this fall

dailysavingsfromallyou — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 14:13:19 +0000

Forget the brown bag lunch this school year and consider a good old-fashioned lunchbox or a reusable bag. It may not be cheap up front, but the idea of foregoing prepackaged foods, juice boxes and pouches, plastic bags and paper napkins is not only kind to the environment but will also pay for your purchase pretty quickly. Over a year’s time, not having to shell out for all those individually packed snacks and drinks will save you a bundle.

There are numerous styles and designs to choose from for kids and adults. Some are lead and BPA-free, and many are insulated as well, so you can save cold or hot food for several hours. Plus, when they start to smell a little un-fresh, many of the lunch packs here can be stuck in the dishwasher at night, ready for use the next day.

Here are some reusable lunch bags, boxes, containers and systems I’ve found on sale right now:

Nubius Organics: This site includes many popular eco-friendly back to school lunch bags, boxes and systems, water bottles and more. They also carry the popular bento box brand “Laptop Lunches.” Use the code ECO15 for 15 percent off right now.
Reusablebags.com: This site gets high marks and carries many popular lunch systems, portable snack containers, utensils, bottles, napkins and more. Click on the On Sale link to find several cute lunch containers at a discount.
Hero Bags: Cute canvas lunch bags are 15 percent off through August 31.
Citizenpip: Citizenpip’s lunch systems are cute, but not cheap. Each one includes a lot of stuff, though: an insulated lunch bag, stainless steel water bottle and food warmer, four BPA-free food containers, four cloth napkins and cutlery. Or you can just buy just the pieces you want. Get 10 percent off (minimum $40 purchase) through Sept. 30 with the code mommyinsider10.

Posted by Gillian Aldrich, Features Editor

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Make dinner tonight and save big!

dailysavingsfromallyou — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:17:58 +0000

Take advantage of this exclusive AllYou.com coupon from Mahatma!

Browse through our recipes and tonight you could be serving your family one of these yummy meals from some of our top rated rice recipes – all under $3 per serving.

Thai Pork with Red Curry: Cost per serving: $2.24

Sweet Pea Fried Rice: Cost per serving: 89¢

Chicken Fried Rice with Vegetables: Cost per serving: 88¢

Shrimp and Vegetable Stir-Fry: Cost per serving: $2.86

Lemony Chicken Breasts with Rice: Cost per serving: $2.25

Posted by Riley Tant, AllYou.com

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Make your pet comfortable with its sitter

dailysavingsfromallyou — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:15:15 +0000

Are you going on vacation this summer and leaving your cat or dog at home with a pet sitter? Here are a few ways to help your animal warm up to its caretaker—and one tip for putting your mind at ease while you’re away:

• If you’re searching for a sitter, invite candidates over to be sure they get along with your pet. Also, request references from past clients. If you already have a caretaker, ask her to stop by before you leave to get reacquainted with your dog or cat.

• Have your sitter give you a piece of her clothing, such as a T-shirt or scarf. Leave it around your pet for a few days so it will recognize her smell and be more relaxed with her.

• Write the caretaker a detailed note that includes your vet’s address and phone number; directions for administering medications your pet needs’ and what times to come over so that your pet stays on as normal of a schedule as possible.

Source: Sue Farinato, program assistant for companion animals at the Humane Society of the United States

Posted by Emily Hendricks Turnier, Associate Editor

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“Eat out” while staying in

dailysavingsfromallyou — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 14:37:03 +0000

Wish you could enjoy your favorite restaurant entree without dropping $20? Good news—now you can prepare the same dish you’d order in a restaurant without leaving the house (That means you’re saving on gas, too.) For just 99 cents per recipe TopSecretRecipes.com tells you how to make the same meals that are on the menu at popular restaurants across the country. Some recipes are even free. It’s a great way to save money without sacrificing taste. I’m already planning to stay in this weekend and whip up my own take on Dragonfire Chicken to share with my friends. Hold the T.G.I. Fridays, please!

Posted by Lauren DiPilla, All You intern

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Get a free meal at Chick-fil-A

dailysavingsfromallyou — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 22:03:23 +0000

This Friday is cow appreciation at the chicken restaurant, meaning if you go all decked out as a cow, you’ll get a free combo meal, and if you wear a cow “accessory,” you’ll get a free entree item. Details are here:

Posted by Gillian Aldrich, Features Editor

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Save on a trip to the movies

dailysavingsfromallyou — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:07:00 +0000

So many blockbusters to see, so little time… and money. But if you catch the latest flick at an AMC theater on a Wednesday night, your popcorn is free! Just click here to join AMC’s free Movie Watcher club, and you can earn points toward free concessions and tickets, and enjoy specials like a free small popcorn on Wednesdays. The only question now is which movie to see first!

Posted by Beth Lipton, Food Editor

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Bowl for less

dailysavingsfromallyou — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 21:37:09 +0000

My mom absolutely loves bowling but doesn’t get to go as often as she’d like because my dad—he isn’t too keen about the game. So, as a special treat during my last visit to see my parents, my two siblings and I treated my mom to an afternoon at the lanes. We logged on to AMF Bowling to find the nearest bowling alley and were pleasantly surprised find quite a deal. By signing up for AMF’s free e-club, we could all bowl one game for free, all we had to pay for were the shoes! Because of the money we saved we even “splurged” on one more game and needless to say, a good time was had by all.

Posted by Lindsay Benjamin, Assistant Editor

A dinner deal for Father’s Day

dailysavingsfromallyou — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:57:26 +0000

My dad is a real meat-and-potatoes guy, so his idea of the perfect Father’s Day definitely involves a nice juicy steak. If the dad in your life is anything like mine, he’ll love being taken out to dinner at Outback Steakhouse this weekend. And as an added bonus, he’ll receive a $10 gift certificate towards his next visit. A Father’s Day gift that keeps on giving—how can you beat it?

Posted by Jayna Maleri, Associate Food Editor

Coupons in July ALL YOU

dailysavingsfromallyou — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:01:57 +0000

In every issue, ALL YOU offers our readers hundreds of ways to save time and money. Check out July’s coupons for a total savings of $70.62! Pick up a copy of the July issue at your local Walmart on Friday, June 26 and catch a sneak peek below:

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Get free food this weekend

dailysavingsfromallyou — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:07:13 +0000

Posted by Erin Gifford, owner of CouponCravings.com

There’s plenty of free food up for grabs over the next few days. So if you like free food as much as I do, check out these great freebies.

Head to any A&W Restaurant on Friday (6/19) between 2-8 p.m. to get a Free Small Root Beer Float in celebration of their 90^th anniversary.

Take this coupon to any Orange Julius this Friday (6/19) to get a Free 20 oz Light Smoothie.

Stop by TCBY with your dad on Sunday (6/21) to get a Free Frozen Yogurt Cup or Cone to celebrate Father’s Day.

Next week, you can stop by Arby’s on Wednesday (6/24) for a Free Regular Roast Beef Sandwich with any soft drink purchase (no coupon required).

You can also take this printable coupon to Johnny Rockets by 6/30 for a Free Milkshake with any entrée purchase. Or, head to White Castle for a Free Original Slider by 7/12.

Have you heard about any more great freebies? I’d love to hear them. Feel free to comment or write me directly through CouponCravings.com.

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Get financial advice—for free!

dailysavingsfromallyou — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:13:16 +0000

Did you know that less than 5% of Americans have a written financial plan, but those with a plan are 250% more likely to achieve their financial goals? Because money managers and planners are so expensive, most of us don’t get the customized advice we need to help us make the best financial decisions and rest assured we’ve got a solid plan for the future. And let’s be honest—a magazine article doesn’t quite do the job, since finances aren’t one-size-fits-all. There are so many questions to consider depending on your particular situation—how much do I need to put in savings? Do I really need life insurance? What about college? The list goes on and on.

I’ve just discovered Simplifi.net, which offers totally free professional financial planning tools and advice. The site works with your personal information to give you a customized action to live within your means and achieve your financial goals. Just input your information (it’s secure because it doesn’t ask for your account numbers), such as your age, income, debts, problem spots and goals, and the program offers certified expert advice debt management, long-term savings, insurance, investments and more. Your resulting action plan has clear steps and attainable goals that will move you closer to financial success. And if you have questions or changes in your situation, the virtual financial advisor on the site can help you. You’ll even get emails to make sure you’re keeping on track with your goals.

So no more excuses… it’s time for all of us to take advantage and start feeling good about our future!

Posted by Gillian Aldrich, Features Editor

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Find a bird nest, win a prize

dailysavingsfromallyou — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:58:34 +0000

Here’s a great way to tear your kids (and yourself!) away from the computer: the Cornell Lab of Ornithology is offering prizes to anyone who finds a “funky nest in a funky place.”

What constitutes a “funky place?” Almost anywhere, from on top of an awning, on a garage shelf, or inside an old boot. (I once had a phoebe build a nest atop a light fixture on my porch. What a kick it was to watch the eggs hatch and the baby birds fledge!) To enter the contest, take a photograph, make a drawing, write a story or shoot a video. Prizes include a Leica compact digital camera, bird feeders, shrubs for planting, and bird posters.

For details, go to Cornell’s page about the contest, which also contains guidelines for how to watch a nest without disturbing its inhabitants. Also click over to the Cornell Lab’s main site for lots of great info on birds, including live web cams of baby owls.

Posted by Betsy Wiesendanger, Contributing Editor

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Reading programs that pay back

dailysavingsfromallyou — Wed, 20 May 2009 13:51:47 +0000

Posted by Erin Gifford, owner of CouponCravings.com

This past year my kindergartener has become an avid reader. So of course I’m excited about all the great reading programs to keep her motivated and ready for school in September. Here are four free summer reading programs you may want to check out:

1) Look into Bookworm Wednesdays at National Amusements Theatres. Every Wednesday at 10 a.m., starting July 6, your child can get free admission to a select children’s film when he presents a book report.

2) At TD Bank (formerly Commerce Bank), your child can earn $10 to be deposited into a Young Savers account when he reads 10 books between May 4 and September 30.

3) As part of the Feed Your Brain summer reading program, Half Price Books will give your child a $3 gift card each week she reads 15 minutes per day between June 1 and July 31.

4) At Barnes & Noble, kids in grades 1-6 can earn a free book when they read eight books between May 26 and September 7.

Do you have any other great tips for scoring freebies? I’d love to hear them. Feel free to comment or write me directly through CouponCravings.com.

Photo by Roy², Flickr

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