Are you looking for ways to make some extra money during tight times or to just cover an upcoming expense? The following are a few ways to use a hobby or talent online to generate some additional funds:

Writers, Designers, Technology Buffs

Do you enjoy writing? Are you good at it? Are you talented with Photoshop, Illustrator, or other design programs? Do you have any particular skills or talents in the fields of Web design/maintenance or IT? If so, you should consider taking a look at the projects and work that are offered through services such as Elance or oDesk. Even Craigslist can be a treasure trove of projects and part time work in these fields (be sure to look under jobs AND gigs). These three websites offer many possibilities — from snagging a single project to routine part time work that can generate the extra cash you desire.

Photographers, Graphic Designers, Illustrators

If you’re a budding photographer or designer, you should consider diving into the realm of selling stock photography and designs online. With the addition of some decent photo editing/Photoshop skills, you may be able to create a nice, steady long term income source.

• Sites such as iStockPhoto, Dreamstime, 123rf, and many others are always looking for talented new photographers and designers to join their sites. They are free to join and all of them offer you the ability to sell your images online.
• If you’re up for a bit more design work, consider creating a storefront on Zazzle or CafePress where you may showcase your photographs and designs on a myriad of different products. Many people who have invested the time in creating their own Zazzle or CafePress are doing well with them and generating some decent rewards financially.
• There’s a business card company (PrintBusinessCards.com) that is allowing independent photographers, designers, and illustrators to create business card templates and sell them, along with the original photo or art work. The rewards on their site are very competitive ($5 per business card sale, $20 per art file sale). You can learn more about their artist program at TheArtofBusinessCards.com.

Knitters, Woodworkers, Painters, Jewelry Makers, and More

For those of you who enjoy handmade arts and crafts and are good at producing them, you should consider looking into selling your wares online. There is a great deal of interest online in seeking out unique, quality handmade items. Whether you crochet, knit, sew, paint, carve…whatever your talent may be…there is a way to sell your creations online.

• Craigslist. This is a great way to “test the waters” for selling your items online. It’s free and based on your local area (which may be helpful if you’re thinking of attending local arts and craft shows, fairs, etc.).
• Etsy.com – Etsy is pretty much “THE” place online to showcase and sell handmade items. Their motto is, “Buy, Sell, Live Handmade.” Etsy allows you to create your own “shop” where all of your items are showcased. Etsy’s popularity since its inception in 2005 has grown dramatically and it’s a great place to offer handmade items (they also allow the sale of vintage items too).
• eBay – There is a growing section for handmade arts and crafts on this ever popular auction site. Listing fees are higher than Etsy, but it’s still a good place to list items.
• CraftMall.com is also another popular place for handmade arts and crafts. They allow you to create your own store for a simple flat monthly rate that is determined by the number of items you wish to list in your store.

These are just a few ways to use talents and hobbies that you already have to earn additional money. It all requires a bit more work on your part, but many of these suggestions have the ability to become a long term source of additional income. While researching these ideas, we also came across two other articles that contain good suggestions and ideas beyond those that we listed here. We encourage you to read “5 Ways to Earn Extra Cash in Your Spare Time” and “Quick Ways to Generate Cash: Tip to Make Money in a Hurry“. We hope our suggestions and these other two additional articles will be beneficial to you in your quest to earn additional money.

These days, it seems that school supply lists are getting more and more detailed while becoming more expensive too. In light of this trend, we have compiled a few ways for families to save money on school supplies, clothing, and many of the other items needed to start the school year off right. So, whether you home school, have kids in a K-12 school or you’re equipping a college-bound teenager, it’s possible to save money while getting quality, name brand products for them at the same time by shopping online.

Pens, Pencils, and More

Be sure that you consider what your kids will need for the entire year, not just to get started, when shopping for pens, pencils, erasers, paper, and other items on the list. Consider buying supplies in larger, bulk quantities. By purchasing these items in larger quantities, you’ll not only save money, but you’ll have the items your students need for the entire school year. This reduces the chance of you having to go out and buy the same items later at potentially higher prices too. BulkOfficeSupply.com and iBuyOfficeSupply.com are both great places to shop for items on your kid’s supply list. There are several good coupons and discount codes available for both of these sites that will help you save even more.

Clothing and Accessories

Many popular retail stores such as Walmart, Target, Sears, JCPenney, Kohls, and Macy’s offer great incentives (price drops, discount codes, and coupons) for purchasing items through their websites. One frugal tip that is encouraged is to find out what your children are interested in as far as the clothing and other items they need, create a list of their sizes, and then shop online for the best prices. Between free shipping and other discounts available only online, you can potentially save a bundle on school clothes and accessories.

Footwear

It seems that shoes have become one of the most expensive fashion items for kids these days. Every kid wants to wear the latest/greatest sneaker or shoe to school and who can blame them! Some of the new styles are really cool! Unfortunately, it can take a big chunk of your budget to provide your kids with cool shoes. Our advice? After finding out proper shoe sizes, sit down with your kids at the computer and shop online for the best deal. Again, websites like 6pm.com, ShoeMall, ShoeBuy.com, and Footlocker.com all offer great discounts for customers who purchase online. Even manufacturers like Adidas, Nike, Vans, Timberland, and Keen have discounts and coupon codes in place. It’s pretty easy to shop online and save considerably over the prices found at most local stores and malls.

Uniforms and Standardized Dress

Whether it’s clothing needed to comply with standardized dress codes or school uniforms that are needed for a private school, we have compiled a fantastic school uniforms list of the most common places people shop online to purchase these items. One of the most popular school uniform suppliers is French Toast. This well-known brand offers several different incentives for shopping online. Not only is the pricing competitive, but you also don’t run the risk of not being able to find what you need at a local department store. Ordering direct from the manufacturer gives you the ability to get exactly what you need for your child.

School Bags

Fashion, functionality, and durability all merge together when it comes to purchasing a book bag for your kids. Whether it’s a backpack such the popular ones offered by The North Face or Jansport, to messenger bags or laptop bags, you can find the best deals by shopping online. Some of the best selections and best prices are available at eBags and LuggagePoint. One of the reasons we have singled out The North Face and Jansport is not only because they are extremely popular, but they also both feature lifetime warranties on their bags. This feature is important and should be considered when purchasing a bag. We know of many families who have used the warranties on these bags to have them repaired or replaced over the years.

Computers

Thankfully most people don’t need to purchase a new computer system every school year. But, when the time comes, it’s great to be able to shop the Internet for the best system in your price range. Dell, HP, Sony, and Apple all offer great promotions on home computers, netbooks, and notebooks. It’s possible to save several hundred dollars on great computer systems for your kids…whether they’re in grade school or college computers are a must have for completing class work.

These are just a few areas where it’s possible to save quite a bit of money (and time) by using the Internet to purchase the school supplies you need for your family. We hope you will find these helpful!

March 20th is officially the first day of spring this year and it’s only 36 days away. It seems that this winter has been a paradox for many people across the US. Those who expected their usually mild winter have experienced record-breaking snowfall while people in other parts of the US experienced an unusually mild winter. After an odd winter for everyone, it’s safe to say that virtually everyone is looking forward to spring!

With warmer weather close at hand (finally), it’s time to start planning for Spring Break and summer vacations. In order to get the best deals, it’s important to go ahead and start making plans and travel reservations now.

The Internet has become a great resource for finding great deals on spring break travel and vacations in general. Here are a few methods that we encourage you to use in order to save money on your next adventure:

Package Deals

For many people, their ideal vacation is one that also involves minimal planning on their part. Package deals on vacations are appealing and often include great discounts. Sometimes it’s just nice to confirm reservations and go. Southwest Airlines has several vacation promotions that include deep discounts and great deals on flights, hotels, and rental cars. Carnival Cruise Lines also has some excellent deals on many of their cruise offerings for the spring and summer. Cruises are an excellent way to enjoy spring break or a summer getaway. All inclusive destination resorts such as those offered by Sandals (couples) and Beaches (family oriented) are also a great way to relax and just enjoy being away at an exotic, beautiful beachfront location.

Gear Up and Save

Gear up on new luggage and other travel items by taking advantage of promotions and discounts offered through eBags and LuggagePoint. With most airlines employing stricter guidelines on carry-on and checked luggage, it’s important to make sure your bags will comply.

Plan Ahead for Road Trips

• If you’re planning to take a road trip, be sure your vehicle is safe and ready to go by having it serviced prior to your trip. If you can, plan your fuel stops to take advantage of discount fueling if you have a membership with Sam’s Club, Costco, or discount cards for Fred Meyer, Safeway, or other grocery stores that also have gas stations. Saving 3-5 cents per gallon on a road trip that includes multiple fuel stops can pay for a couple of lattes or a meal! Consider using GasBuddy.com or a couple of the widely used smart phone apps for locating the most inexpensive fuel stops such as Cheap Gas (owned by GasBuddy.com) or Gas Bag.
• Consider joining AAA (Automobile Association of America). Not only will you have access to 24 hours roadside assistance, you will also be able to get free maps, discounts on lodging, restaurants, and activities. Savings through AAA can add up fast!
• Consider camping. If you’re family is new to camping, consider staying a night or two in a KOA Kamping Kabin. You still have some amenities and don’t have to rough it too harshly. It’s possible to cut your lodging expenses by more than 50% when camping.
• Families booking hotels should consider those that offer to let your kids stay for free or that offer free breakfasts. The savings accrued in utilizing these perks can pay for several activities during your vacation. Be sure to read up on a hotel before you make your reservations. Use an independent site such as Hotels.com for reviews and pictures of the hotel you want to choose.

These are just a few of the many ways that you can save money while planning your next vacation. There are many more ways to save here at Shopping-Bargains.com. We hope that you will enjoy spring break and all of the adventures that await you this summer.

Valentine’s Day is a special time to show a little extra appreciation to people you care about. Although there are a variety of ways to show affection to those you love, it is easy to overspend when we aren’t careful. Try making this Valentine’s Day special with our money saving tips below.

1. Make a budget to work from before planning your Valentine’s Day.

It is easier to make more ideal choices for gift ideas when you know how much you want to buy and can afford to spend.

2. Make your loved one a gift or shop early for store gifts while on sale.

Planning in advance will help you stick to your budget. It will also give you a chance to make new plans if something comes up unexpectedly and forces a change.

3. Prepare dinner from home and make it a special occasion.

Try comparing prices and menu ideas to come up with a dinner that will please the people you love. For parents, see if someone you know and trust might be willing to trade a time for watching  kids or wait until the kids are asleep to sit and eat together. (See my “11 Thrifty Tips for Cutting Mealtime Costs” article for some ideas.)

4. Do something out of the ordinary that is unexpected and thoughtful.

Need ideas? Do an extra chore he or she doesn’t like. Make breakfast or even just coffee. Find a flower and leave it somewhere unexpected or take it to the person you love. Make an offer to do something to help (like stop by the grocery store or put gas in the car or to take the bills to the post office — just doing one thing can really encourage someone in their day).

5. Have an attitude of love and admiration for your Valentine.

In the busy day-to-day routine it is easy to take for granted how nice it is to feel loved and appreciated. Try complimenting, hugging, and showing appreciation to people who are special to you.

6. Make a sweet occasion by preparing (or purchasing) an inexpensive dessert that would be enjoyed.

If you are thinking of a specific dessert that is expensive or difficult to make, then try finding an easy-to-make version of the recipe online.

7. Express yourself through writing.

Cards are a nice way to tell people you care about them. Try making homemade cards (consider doing this with the kids to be given to the other parent), creating e-cards, or leaving special notes for your loved ones to find.

8. Refer back to your budget before making store purchases.

Consider the amount and place you would like to buy your items and check online for discounts or coupons to help you get the best deals on a variety of items.

9. Remember to keep things simple.

Valentine’s is a special time to just give a little extra attention to those we love. Try to make things basic and to spend more time with your loved ones to let them know you care.

Make this Valentine’s Day special for others while also sticking to your budget. With adequate planning and a few simple ideas, Valentine’s Day can be extra special this year. You can make your Valentine’s Day more memorable with these tips and a few Shopping-Bargains coupon discounts.

Many people and especially families are looking for ways to make their grocery budgets stretch further. The eleven mealtime savings tips below were offered by a mom and Shopping-Bargains.com employee:

1. Before buying groceries, prepare yourself.

Plan out meals and snacks so that there will not be wasted groceries or unnecessary purchases.

2. Compare prices as you shop or watch store ads in the newspaper.

Buy items you use most while they are on sale. Coupons can also be found in newspapers and this would reduce your grocery bill significantly in a year’s time if used on products you generally purchase.

3. Consider buying store brand products rather than brand name options.

If the quality is comparable, why should we pay more for the name?

4. Buy meat in bulk while on sale.

Divide up the bulk package for the freezer by individually wrapping portion sizes that are appropriate for the number of people in your home.

5. Dry beans are much cheaper than canned.

Also, dry beans can generally be prepared in advance and frozen until needed.

6. Frozen veggies are often reasonably priced and offer an alternative to expensive fresh produce.

Frozen is an especially good buy for fruits and veggies that aren’t in season. Likewise, the local farmer’s markets sometimes offer cheaper, fresher produce.

7. Buy the largest milk container your family can use.

This helps reduce the overall cost of milk over time.

8. If you need grated cheese for a recipe, it is usually more cost efficient to buy the blocked cheese and shred it yourself.

Also buy the largest egg container your family can use over time to get the most out of your money.

9. Take advantage of the store’s bread clearance section.

Inspect clearance bread (or any bread you buy) carefully to make sure it is good and freeze the excess for later use. Be sure to use fresh bread quickly to avoid waste.

10. Products with extra seasonings, sauces, or sugars generally cost more.

This would include items like sugared cereals, frozen veggies with sauce, and other common packaged items. Compare the prices and decide whether it would be more cost efficient for you to prepare the products yourself by adding something to plain products.

11. Don’t be afraid to experiment.

If a recipe calls for ingredients you have forgotten at the store, look for similar ingredient at home that might suffice and still make a tasty meal.

While following the above 11 tips, though, be sure to note the following potential money-wasters:

• Bulk is only better if you will actually use the products. Bulk products are generally cheaper; HOWEVER, this is not always the case so you must consistently compare prices to get the best deal.

• A diet that includes a variety of foods is usually healthier and preferred by most people. If you find that your family eats out for the variety, try new recipes with a variety of foods to make meal times interesting without the cost of eating out.

• Your time is valuable. If time is a factor in your meal choices, consider meals that you can throw together the night before (such as casseroles, crock pot options, or meals you have prepared in advance and frozen so you can thaw them out later).

These 11 tips can help you save money on your family’s mealtime budget. We know there are many more. Please share your thrifty grocery suggestions in the comments section below.

I like the relative convenience and speed of air travel. While air travel is often the best deal for one or two travelers, there are usually ways to make a good deal even better. Here are two travel tips that I’ve found to save time and money with air travel.

1. Use a Park & Fly hotel.

Early flights tend to depart and arrive more on time than flights scheduled later in the day. People on a tight schedule often seek out early flights for that reason. However, early flights are sometimes just too early if one has to travel an hour or two to the airport from his or her home.  The hustle from home, the early morning traffic, and the search for parking can be very stressful and rushed. After all of that hurrying, then there’s the issue of getting all of the luggage from the fifth floor of the parking garage down the stairs and into the terminal. This mad dash is not fun. Oh, and on top of all that, the airport is probably charging $10-$15/day for the privilege of parking a long distance from their terminals!

When I have an early flight from such an airport, I like to avoid some of this confusion by finding an airport hotel that offers a “park & fly” option. Many airport hotels will let you park free with them if you stay just one night. And, perhaps even better, many “park & fly” hotels have a free hotel to airport shuttle (where they pick you up at the airport and return you to the hotel when you return).

So here are the “park & fly” benefits as I see them: extra sleep in the morning, no driving to the airport, no search for parking, no shuffling luggage to the terminal (since the shuttle driver drops me off at the terminal entrance), and no airport parking fees. Also, if my flight covers five days or longer, I often find the cost of the hotel stay a discount in comparison to the cost of airport parking. Trips longer than that tend to actually equal savings by using the “park & fly” option.

My “park & fly” hotel advice is to pick a safe hotel where your vehicle will be monitored by hotel security. Park in a visible place and don’t leave valuables in your vehicle. Be sure to let the hotel front desk and not just the shuttle driver know that you are using their “park & fly” option and will be leaving your vehicle with them and for how long. One more thing: keep your keys with you or in your carry-on luggage in case your checked (non-carry-on) luggage is lost by the airline.

2. Ship your extra luggage.

Given the speed and reliability of overnight shipping and the extra costs for checked baggage on airlines, I’m finding the option of shipping extra items to be very attractive. For example, many airlines charge between $15 and $25 for the first checked item plus there are weight limits and/or overage fees for heavy items. Also, all carry-on items are subject to restrictions and time-consuming inspections. It’s often worth the convenience and may even be more cost-effective to just ship some of your items instead of paying the airline to transport them.

If you are shipping items to your destination, be sure the hotel or receiving location knows to accept them and hold them for you. Verify their address and holding procedures so there are no surprises when you arrive. Also, you may want to use an expedited or guaranteed shipping option since you are on a deadline.

I‘ve found that shipping travel items is especially helpful for the return flight, though. In these cases, time is on your side so you don’t have to pay for expedited shipping. Also, given the tendency to have picked up some extra items from the conference or a shopping trip, we’re often overloaded anyway. It’s easy to think I’ll just carry it on the plane, but if you have a layover, the long walk between terminals can be very tiring to carry anything extra.

So, here’s a tip for these times: before your trip, buy a few USPS Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes or envelopes and bring them with you. Here’s what the USPS says about them: “Whatever fits in the box or envelope ships for one low rate — anywhere in the United States. There’s virtually no weighing or calculating. And your packages reach their destination in 2-3 days.” You can collapse the boxes and either bring some packing tape or see if your hotel can provide you with some. Most hotels will also mail the packages for you since the postage is already paid.

I have a few packing tips. You can pack your clothing around fragile items instead of buying packing materials. You can also ship some things that you can’t take on the airline with you (liquids like perfume and wine or collectibles like knives and metal objects for example) so remember that as well. Heavy, “non-stuffable” items like books and shoes ship well. If shipping shoes, don’t forget you can put additional items inside them to save even more space and provide some protection as well.

I’ve found these two airline travel tips helpful. I’m sure you have some of your own so please share them in the comments section below. Also, I invite you to check out our airfare deals and hotel reservation specials sections. We also have a number of luggage coupons and specials that you might find useful.

When eating out, families can often save a lot of money by choosing restaurants where kids eat free. Finding “kids eat free” restaurants, though, can be a chore for parents, especially when traveling. Thankfully, with MyKidsEatFree.com, there’s a new online resource to help parents out.

With MyKidsEatFree.com, you can search by city and state for local restaurants where kids eat free. I think this website can save parents lots of money and that’s why I wanted to share it with our readers.

I’m hoping one day the parents behind MyKidsEatFree.com will develop an iPhone application that will use my current location via GPS and provide directions to local options to restaurants where kids eat free. That would be especially great for traveling.

Many software companies like Microsoft, Quark, Corel, Sony and Adobe produce “education version” software that is specially priced with an “academic discount” available only for students, teachers and educational institutions. This software is essentially the same as the regular full versions although in some cases some of the non-essential commercial or business features may be removed. Eligible students and teachers (and sometimes even parents) can purchase these software titles at these academic discount prices provided they demonstrate eligibility.

K-12 students (and often their parents) and students, faculty and staff from degree granting colleges and universities are usually eligible for academic discounted software.  Some software companies also allow non-profit, charitable organizations to take advantage of academic discounted software.

Because of the large discounts offered, proving one’s academic status is very important. The criteria varies by software manufacturer so be sure to check before you purchase. In general, though, it is common for software companies to require a school ID and/or some kind of photo ID.  When purchased online from stores like Academic Superstore, usually the student’s school ID can be scanned and emailed or faxed to the retailer to document one’s eligibility for 12 months.

It is well worth searching for an academic discount for your software needs if you think you may qualify. As mentioned before, academic software discounts can be huge and provide hundreds of dollars in savings on a single software package. When I was a graduate student years ago I purchased from Academic Superstore and found them very reliable and quick. The savings I enjoyed there was incredible compared to the cost of full retail versions — sometimes amounting to more than a 75% discount. I also found their prices were better than the campus bookstore’s academic pricing.

With gas prices so high I wanted to pass on five simple tips for enhancing your vehicle’s gas mileage.

1. Did you know that gas pumps measure by volume but not density? Gas is more dense when cool which means if you fill up during the coolest time of day you are buying the most dense gas per gallon. Translated into something easy to understand, that means you are getting a little more gas for your money during the coolest time of day.
2. Keeping your car’s windows closed when driving down the highway reduces your vehicle’s drag and makes it easier for the car to overcome wind resistance. The result is an increase in your gas mileage.
3. Keeping your tires inflated fully to the manufacturers recommendations improves efficiency. Fully inflated tires require less fuel to move than under-inflated ones.
4. Removing excess items from your vehicle means your car has less weight to move around than before. That means it won’t take as much energy to move it over the same distance and speed. It’s amazing how many things seem to automatically appear in the trunk, floor and seats over time so take some time and remove the unnecessary things.
5. Plan ahead for hilly areas. If you accelerate, it is more efficient to do so before reaching the hill than while driving up it.

One of our readers sent me a thought-provoking email she received from “Laine’s Letters” in answer to a question to one of her readers about “homemakers.” This reader’s question for Laine had to do with feeling that her job as a homemaker was worth “little or less” than being employed within a career. Laine’s response was to show that a homemaker contributes an enormous amount financially to the family and she assigned a dollar value to 33 categories of services and savings within her own family.

One thing that Laine suggested was for homemakers to write down everything they as a homemaker save per month by being a homemaker. Multiply that figure by 12 and that’s a homemaker’s “yearly savings salary.” Laine had the goal of trying to double her husband’s annual salary by her savings as a homemaker. In her example, she did more than that. (In her case, they worked very hard to become debt free and she homeschools the children. Her figures come from what friends and family members are paying each month for similar items in southern California where she and her family reside.)

I wanted to share a portion of this letter since many of our readers and shoppers are homemakers and I thought it might be an encouraging exercise for each homemaker to find her “yearly savings salary.” I’m sure many women feel unappreciated and undervalued and I hope this information will fuel thoughts that reverse such attitudes. (Please note that all categories will not apply to everyone and some will not work for certain families at all but you might get some good ideas.)

1) No mortgage (paid off), no car payments, no credit card or any other debt payments in interest charges: $400 mo. savings

2) No higher tax bracket because I do not work outside the home: $150 mo. savings

3) Food, Household, & Pet because I have time to shop carefully, use coupons, and homecook: $600 mo. savings

4) Clothing – lots of hand-me-downs, no need to buy quality suit clothes for work anymore: $50 mo. savings

5) Private Schooling -I provide this at home for my two students: $1100 mo. savings

6) Gas – I only go out once a weekday with the car, no drives to work and back, and I live 40 min round trip from town: $400 mo. savings

7) DMV & Car insurance – I drive a ’92 Honda, older car purposely for bigger savings: $50 mo. savings

8 ) Internet – none, so we use the library if we need it: $10 mo. savings

9) Books – rarely buy them, rather use interlibrary loan system for free: $20 mo. savings

10) Gifts – I have time to shop wisely and put gifts away when I see a good deal: $40 mo. savings

11) Healthcare – I am consistently learning about herbs and nutrition to keep my family healthy so the doc visits are rare for them: $50 mo. savings

12) Cleaning and decorating my home- done privately by me- including carpet cleaning: $90 mo. savings

13) Landscape Maintenance – privately done by my husband and I, and the kids, above-ground pool maintenance too: $75 mo. savings

14) Haircuts -done by me: $25 mo.

15) Car maintenance – done by my husband, but kept at a lower minimum since I purposely use the car once a weekday: $50 mo. savings

16) Car wash – done privately by us: $20 mo. savings

17) Staying in our older home purposely with contentment for the past 21 years, no upgrades, so less yearly taxes: $250 mo. savings

18) Childcare – done by me (savings once we get our baby, and years ago when my children were young): $600 mo. savings per child

19) Drycleaning – none- done by me: $25 mo. savings

20) No exercise membership fees – exercise at home for free: $40 mo. savings

21) No shopping channels or cable for t.v.: $60 mo. savings

22) Starbucks run – none- make ours at home and take it with us: $20 mo. savings

23) Renters – rent out part of our house – I am here all the time to manage our home: $290 mo. savings

24) Skincare – I use natural and some homemade products which saves a lot: $20 mo.

25) Frugal Vacation planning – time to do it and research for overall savings: $75 mo. savings

26) Laundry – no dryer, hang out clothes outside and use 1/2 the amt of detergent each load: $30 mo. savings

27) Heating – I am home to man the fireplace and the kerosene stove, so we save a lot: $30 mo. savings

28) Cooling – I am home to keep the house cool with fans and window treatments, minimum air: $20 mo. savings

29) Lunches out – kids eat at home, and more time to prepare lunches if we need them out: $40 mo. savings

30) Newspaper & magazines – free at the library: $25 mo. savings

31) Dining out – not frequently – rather time to cook at home: $50 mo. savings

32) Rent old movies or buy music – rather rent from the library for free: $20 mo. savings

33) Family Portraits and School/Senior Pics – done privately by me as I learned in college: $10 mo. savings

My total savings a year: $56,820

When looked at this way it’s amazing the financial contributions that a homemaker adds to her family — and I know that a homemaker’s contributions are much more than financial alone. I was stunned by the bottom line in Laine’s example and I could think of other areas that were not included in her case that would be for many other families (including taxi services, tutoring, medical care and teaching non-academic subjects like manners, cleanliness, morals, ethics, etc.). Wow, way to go, Homemakers!