julielaviolette - Profile | Pictures | Blog - Talk About Cheap
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User: julielaviolette
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Pack school lunch for under $1 | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Pack school lunch for under $1
With school cafeteria lunch prices hovering around the $2 mark, packing a lunchbox at home is looking more attractive than ever. Here are some tips on how to pack a lunch for under $1 from Save-A-Lot, a discount grocery store chain with four South Florida locations. Lunch idea #1 = 88 cents · Tortilla roll sandwich: a tortilla, slice of deli meat and cream cheese; a...read more...Posted on: Sep 1 2010 - 06:30:00 AM6 sneaky ways to get your kids up in the a.m. | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette 6 sneaky ways to get your kids up in the a.m.
When you go to wake up your kids at 6:30 a.m. on a school morning, chances are, it’s not going to be a happy meeting. Couple this with a summer of rolling out of bed at 9:30 or 10 a.m., and boy, that’s a recipe for trouble. Luckily, I only have to deal with this half the time. My 10-year-old son pops out of bed every morning like...read more...Posted on: Aug 25 2010 - 06:30:00 AMCheap kitchen upgrades | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Cheap kitchen upgrades
Upgrading a kitchen in this economy can be a nightmare-inducing proposition. But who says a kitchen re-do requires a complete tear out? There are ways to freshen up your kitchen without emptying your bank account. Here are some tips: - Step back and take a good look. How’s the paint look? Is the grout on the floor tile dirty? When was the last time you cleaned your...read more...Posted on: Aug 18 2010 - 06:30:00 AMTax-free clothes and school items | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Tax-free clothes and school items
This weekend, Aug. 13-15, Florida is offering a tax-free holiday just in time for back-to-school purchases. But if you play it smart, you can outfit your own closet and office with some new goodies at a discount, too. Here’s the deal, from The Miami Herald: The tax break kicks off at 12:01 a.m Friday and...read more...Posted on: Aug 11 2010 - 06:30:00 AMBack 2 school bargains | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Back 2 school bargains
If you have been swept up in the back-to-school buying frenzy, you know how quickly those cash register receipts can add up. So here’s a thought: while every kid wants “new” things to head back to the classroom, does it really have to be “new”? Consignment and resale shops can be great sources for gently-used kids clothing and shoes. Check out Plato’s Closet for fashionable outfits for tweens...read more...Posted on: Aug 4 2010 - 06:30:00 AM(Almost) free family fun: Bowling | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette (Almost) free family fun: Bowling
Here’s another cheap way to dodge the wretched heat for an hour or two – head to the nearest bowling alley! You’ll find not only air-conditioning, but some G-rated family fun, where you can take the kids to burn off some energy while you chill. Several local bowling alleys are offering deals for the summer. Here are the details: www.KidsBowlFree.com This offers kids two free games of bowling each...read more...Posted on: Jul 21 2010 - 06:30:00 AMFree family fun: Movies | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Free family fun: Movies
There’s nothing like escaping a hot summer day in a cool movie theater. It gets the kids out of the house – heck it gets you out of the house, right? And it’s such a sweet treat to have a couple of hours of doing nothing but losing yourself in some mindless flick. So how can we afford all this mindless flickering?...read more...Posted on: Jul 14 2010 - 06:30:00 AMConsumer Reports: Buying tips | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Consumer Reports: Buying tips
I’m a Consumer Reports junkie. I like the fact that they take no advertising, and do their own product testing. Here are some of their latest money-saving tips: - Kirkland Signature Spiced Pecan cereal has the same amount of fiber as Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Extra! – with less sugar and sodium, and at about half the price. -...read more...Posted on: Jul 7 2010 - 06:30:00 AMFree family fun: K'NEX exhibit | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Free family fun: K'NEX exhibit
Ok, so this guy’s sitting at a wedding reception, bored out of his skull. He grabs some straws and starts twisting them together into little structures – then he gets this crazy idea. He gets some prototypes made, little toy construction sets with moving parts – gears, wheels, pulleys and rods – and that’s how K’NEX was born. ...read more...
Free family fun: Lego exhibit | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Free family fun: Lego exhibit
Who said Legos are just for kids? Not Nathan Sawaya. And the very grown-up lawyer-turned Lego artist is showing adults and kids alike how to build beautiful art with the colorful plastic toys. We saw Sawaya’s exhibit, titled Replay, at the Art and Culture Center of Hollywood on Father’s Day. We were able to take advantage of...read more...Posted on: Jun 23 2010 - 06:30:00 AM
Get your kids to clean | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Get your kids to clean
Now that the kids are at home for the summer, it’s like having a whole new staff to help you around the house, right? When you quit laughing, and stop to think about it, then you’ll realize, why not ? Our job as parents is to prepare our kids to be out on their own someday. And unless they grow up to be independently...read more...Posted on: Jun 16 2010 - 06:30:00 AMBook some free summer fun | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Book some free summer fun
A summer full of free fun is waiting for you at the -- public library! Not what you expected to see? The truth is, the library offers a treasure trove of free programs, performers and incentives to keep your kids in literacy-based programs all summer. Maria Gebhardt, libraries manager for the Broward County Library system, offers summer reading tips and tells why it’s so important for your kids to hit the books over summer...read more...Posted on: Jun 9 2010 - 06:30:00 AMClean like a man | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Clean like a man
Who says cleaning is women’s work? If you’ve ever watched a man detail a car or organize the garage, you’ve seen that men are just as capable in the cleaning department. Sometimes men and women approach the job in different ways, in sort of a shop-vac versus Swiffer sweeper mentality. Here are some tips from Woman’s Day magazine on how women can make clean-ups a little snappier by using some man-tips....read more...Posted on: Jun 2 2010 - 06:30:00 AMRenovation survival tips | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Renovation survival tips
After four years of cooking in a kitchen that screamed “1976,” we ditched the groovy track lighting and chipped laminate cabinets for a kitchen makeover. Unfortunately, because we were retiling, we had to contend with a nightmarish amount of dust. But this too shall pass, right? And now that the work is done, I’ve...read more...Posted on: May 26 2010 - 06:30:00 AMTry these money-saving websites | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Try these money-saving websites
Money Magazine recently gave the nod to several money-saving websites. Here’s a sampling: Buying a new car: Try www.TrueCar.com , which tells you what other buyers in your area recently paid for the model vehicle you want. Though it’s pretty common to find websites nowadays that reveal dealer invoice prices, this site gives you some additional info about what vehicles are selling for what price in your area. (The...read more...Posted on: May 19 2010 - 08:10:00 AMCheapie museum deals | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Cheapie museum deals
Miami Museum Month deals BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE — In May, visitors are invited to check out Miami's museums at a discount. Anyone who lives outside of Miami-Dade County will be offered "Buy One, Get One Free" admission to participating museums – see list below. JOIN ONE, SEE THEM ALL — Miami-Dade residents are included in this deal. During the month of May, membership at any one of the...read more...Posted on: May 12 2010 - 06:30:00 AMHow to save AFTER you buy | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette How to save AFTER you buy
How do you save money on something after you buy it? It’s a simple process called price adjustments. Here’s how it works: Most retailers will give you back the price difference you paid on an item if you buy something and it goes on sale shortly afterwards. Confused? Let me give you an example. A couple of years...read more...Posted on: May 5 2010 - 06:30:00 AMHow I saved $1,000 | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette How I saved $1,000
I recently was able to shave $1,000 off my homeowners insurance rates – a 30 percent savings – simply by shopping around. And Florida’s insurance regulators helped me do it. Back in March, I received a notice that my homeowner’s policy would increase by 50 percent, from $2,339 to $3,546. I started by calling the Florida Office of Insurance Regulations to see if the increase had been approved...read more...Posted on: Apr 28 2010 - 06:30:00 AMGet along with spouse = lower Dr. bills | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Get along with spouse = lower Dr. bills
Here’s the big idea – happily married people are healthier. And everyone knows healthier people pay fewer doctor and pharmaceutical bills. Who knew having a rockin’ relationship would put money in your pocket? Research has shown that blissfully wedded spouses have stronger immune systems, lower rates of cancer and respiratory diseases, less mental illness, fewer migraines, and longer life. They are more...read more...Posted on: Apr 21 2010 - 06:30:00 AMDeals in honor of Autism Awareness Month | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Deals in honor of Autism Awareness Month
Learning Express Toys is hosting in-store events this month in honor of Autism Awareness Month. During each event, 20 percent of all purchases will be donated to The Autism Society of Broward. Events are: April 17, 2 to 6 p.m., 6240 Coral Ridge Drive, Coral Springs, 954-345-1745 April 18, 2 to 6 p.m., 4425 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, 954-773-8509 April 24, 2 to 6 p.m., 12536 West Sunrise...read more...Posted on: Apr 16 2010 - 06:30:00 AMFree Tax Day deals | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Free Tax Day deals
Feeling a little tense after working out this year’s tax return? Free messages are being offered April 15 by students at Florida Career College. (Instructors will supervise.) Massages will be given from noon to 3 p.m. at the following Florida Career College locations: Miami Campus, 321 SW 107th Ave., (305) 553-6065 Hialeah...read more...Posted on: Apr 14 2010 - 06:30:00 AMTime-savers for parents | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Time-savers for parents
Many years ago, when I worked a full-time paying job, I remember how tight my schedule was – how I struggled to fit all my must-do’s in a day. Now, add two children and a work-at-home schedule that often spans morning ‘til night to the mix, and I seem to have more tasks than ever to fit into my dwindling free time. So how do we Moms and Dads keep the home fires burning when we’re exhausted from homework,...read more...Posted on: Apr 7 2010 - 09:35:00 AMParents: Spring Break on a budget | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Parents: Spring Break on a budget
What are you looking forward to this Spring Break? If you will be at home with the kids, then it can mean sleeping late, catching up on your favorite shows or getting in a little family time. On the flip side, being home with the kids all week can make for a very, very long week. (Admit it, you know it’s true.) So here are some ideas to have fun and enjoy time with the kids without blowing your budget: ...read more...Posted on: Mar 24 2010 - 06:30:00 AMKids eat free deals | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Kids eat free deals
I’ve been so busy lately; I haven’t had much time to cook. I know, I know – I’ve preached the “Cook at home and save money” mantra myself. But sometimes, a mom’s gotta do what a mom’s gotta do. So when we do go out to eat, I always look for a good bargain. I clip buy-one-get-one free coupons out of the circulars in the Sunday newspaper, and look for specials in the...read more...Posted on: Mar 17 2010 - 06:30:00 AMSt. Patrick's Day party for kids | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette St. Patrick's Day party for kids
If St. Patrick’s Day has you feeling green with envy because your childless friends are heading out to bars for a frenzy of green beer and Celtic music, fret no more! Get your kids into feeling the luck of the Irish with these spirited foods that can be fun for the whole family: Green...read more...My homeowners insurance went up 50%: Here's why | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette My homeowners insurance went up 50%: Here's why
I got the renewal notice for my homeowner’s insurance recently, and was shocked to see that my rates had increased by 50 percent, from $2,329 to $3,546. I haven’t made any claims on my Cooper City house, which we bought in April 2006, so I was a little mystified, to put it mildly. My insurance...read more...Posted on: Mar 3 2010 - 06:30:00 AM$2.50 a gallon, hundreds of uses | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette $2.50 a gallon, hundreds of uses
Everyone loves a cheap product with a thousand uses. For about $2.50 a gallon, white vinegar amounts to a bottle’s worth of magic in the laundry room, kitchen and bathroom. It’s not just for salad dressing any more, folks. Here are some useful tips from www.vinegartips.com : Laundry room: Prevent lint from clinging to clothes by adding 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar to the wash cycle. To...read more...Posted on: Feb 24 2010 - 06:30:00 AMThe 50 cent wonder | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette The 50 cent wonder
Ok, so they’re not the penny apiece solutions like in my last blog, but I couldn’t resist passing on these hints. My sister-in-law, Angelle, sent me these tips about the magical uses of cucumbers. Some sound downright bizarre, but with cucumbers running about 50 cents to a dollar in the grocery, I thought they were worth a look: 1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day. Just one cucumber...read more...Posted on: Feb 17 2010 - 08:10:00 AM25 quick fixes for a penny each | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette 25 quick fixes for a penny each
Consider the lowly coffee filter. Such a useful little invention, and it can do so much more than keep coffee grounds out of your morning cup of Joe. At a cost of about a dollar for a pack of a 100, coffee filters are a cheap go-to tool for many tasks in the kitchen and around your house. Here are a few ideas: 1. Cover bowls or dishes when cooking in the microwave. Coffee filters make excellent covers. 2. Clean...read more...Posted on: Feb 10 2010 - 06:30:00 AMCheap eats for Super Bowl Sunday | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Cheap eats for Super Bowl Sunday
If you’re going to be feeding a crowd or joining a party for the Super Bowl, here are some easy, inexpensive recipes to keep the tummies at your gathering full: Black Bean and Corn Salsa 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 1 can whole kernel corn, drained 1 can Rotel tomatoes, mild or spicy 1/2 cup chopped onion 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro...read more...Posted on: Feb 3 2010 - 06:30:00 AMHow to save on your Super Bowl party | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette How to save on your Super Bowl party
Hosting a Super Bowl party doesn’t have to be a budget-buster. For decorations, think of festive items in team colors that you can pick up on clearance or at the dollar store. For the menu, plan on bulky, low-cost items that will fill up your guests’ tummies without emptying your wallet. For drinks, keeping the selection limited will help keep your costs down....read more...Posted on: Jan 27 2010 - 06:30:00 AMSave for college the smart way | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Save for college the smart way
If you haven’t put a college savings plan in place for your little one, an important deadline is coming up. From now through Jan. 31, parents who enroll in the state-sponsored Florida Prepaid College Plan will lock in the current tuition rate for Florida's state universities and community colleges. This is one of two popular...read more...Posted on: Jan 20 2010 - 06:30:00 AM2 days of free money advice | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette 2 days of free money advice
Save, save, save. If you need a little more specific advice to help get you on track financially, free help is on the horizon. Kiplinger, a personal finance magazine, is offering its ninth annual Kiplinger’s Jump-Start Your Retirement Plan Days Friday, Jan. 22 and Tuesday, Jan. 26 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. eastern time....read more...Posted on: Jan 13 2010 - 06:30:00 AM7 cheap ways to take the holiday pounds off | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette 7 cheap ways to take the holiday pounds off
I knew it would be a problem – the half-off Christmas candy – but I went for it anyway, because you know I hate to pass up a bargain. I was standing in Publix, the crinkly red and green bags in hand, thinking the snack-sized Twix, Reese Cups, Peppermint Patties and Hershey bars couldn’t do that much harm, could they? Especially if I only ate one at a time. As I type now, the remnants of eight tiny candy bars in...read more...Posted on: Jan 6 2010 - 06:30:00 AMBuy this, not that: Consumer Reports tips | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Buy this, not that: Consumer Reports tips
When my husband and I bought our first house together, I couldn’t wait to subscribe to Consumer Reports. I had a house to fill and I liked what the publication had to offer: its staff independently tested products and gave recommendations about which products did the best job. But sometimes I agreed with the advice, and sometimes I didn’t. For example, I still use Endust to dust my furniture because Consumer Reports...read more...Posted on: Dec 30 2009 - 06:30:00 AM8 Tips to Eat Healthy During the Holidays | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette 8 Tips to Eat Healthy During the Holidays
‘Tis the season to be dazzled by a never-ending parade of scrumptious sweets and hearty home-style cooking. But all the temptations don’t have to lead to overeating. It is possible to indulge the taste buds and enjoy the season without packing on the pounds. HealthGrades.com offers the following eight secrets to healthy eating during the holidays: Don’t stress and do enjoy. Stress and...read more...Posted on: Dec 23 2009 - 06:30:00 AMSimplify hosting for the holidays | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Simplify hosting for the holidays
Family and holidays go hand in hand, and if you are playing host things can easily get hectic. So before you get snowed under from the pressures of company (because that’s the only snow we’ll see!) take a moment for yourself and relax. Here are some tips from www.simplemom.net on how to simplify your holiday and make the time more enjoyable for everyone: 1. Be yourself. Most house guests...read more...Posted on: Dec 16 2009 - 06:30:00 AMHow to have a greener holiday | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette How to have a greener holiday
Don’t let your holiday cheer turn into more ways to pollute the planet. According to Waste Management, Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than at any other time of year. Give our landfills a break by buying items made from recyclables or pledge to have a holiday free of “stuff” by giving your time to a worthwhile charity or to someone who can use a...read more...Posted on: Dec 9 2009 - 06:30:00 AMDon't get ripped off online | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Don't get ripped off online
This holiday shopping season, instead of pounding the pavement, I plan to do a lot of pounding the keys in the virtual shopping mall as I do some serious online bargain hunting. Sometimes finding the best deal isn’t the biggest hurdle. If you are using a credit card to ring up your online purchases or even if you check your bank balance online, you can put yourself at risk if you don’t take the necessary precautions....read more...Posted on: Dec 2 2009 - 06:30:00 AMShopping tips for Cyber Monday | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Shopping tips for Cyber Monday
If you’re too tired after Thanksgiving preparations to hit the mall on Black Friday, all is not lost in the battle to find holiday bargains. Cyber Monday is just around the corner. Cyber Monday, held the Monday after Thanksgiving, is the day retailers supposedly offer their best online deals. Still, like “Black Friday,” “Cyber Monday” has somewhat morphed into the several weeks leading up to the...read more...Posted on: Nov 25 2009 - 06:30:00 AMSave $$ on your holiday meals | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Save $$ on your holiday meals
‘Tis the season to count more than calories. Now is the time to start counting your pennies if you want to get through the holidays without busting your budget or descending into debt. Here are some tips from to keep spending in check, starting with your Turkey Day feast: - Buy two turkeys when Thanksgiving turkeys go on sale. Freeze one for a December holiday meal or to use for soups and casseroles. - Figure out how...read more...Posted on: Nov 18 2009 - 06:30:00 AMBlack Friday deals | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Black Friday deals
Black Friday is no longer just a day – it has grown into a season. And with retailers competing fiercely for your dollars this holiday gift-buying season, bargains are everywhere. Walmart, Toys R Us, Kmart, Target and others are already putting advertising fliers in the Sunday newspaper offering deep discounts on holiday faves, such as electronics and toys. Here’s how to get a good start to finding the best...read more...Posted on: Nov 11 2009 - 08:30:00 AMSave for college now and save $$ | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Save for college now and save $$
If you want your kids to go to college someday, even if that someday is years away, you need to start planning now for the financial hit. Because mama, you are about to be tackled. Right now, Florida’s tuition is cheap, cheap, cheap compared to the rates at public universities in other states. The Sunshine State’s average tuition rate is still nearly half of what students pay nationwide for attending a...read more...Posted on: Nov 4 2009 - 06:30:00 AMFabulous free facials | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Fabulous free facials
Feeling like your complexion is a little drab or a little dry? Help is as close as your pantry! With a little planning and the right ingredients, you and a friend can whip up a do-it-yourself spa day for just pennies with items from your very own kitchen. So invite a pal over, pour a glass of vino and get mixing – a glowing complexion awaits those willing to be a little adventurous. Set the right mood with...read more...Posted on: Oct 28 2009 - 06:30:00 AMGreen tips that will save you $$ | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Green tips that will save you $$
Cutting out some excess and making small changes in your routine can be good for the environment and for your wallet, too. Here are some quick and easy tips to do both: - Drink tap water instead of bottled water. If you do drink bottled, discard the cap before tossing the bottle into the recycling bin. The caps are made using a different process and cannot be recycled. - Skip the paper towels. Use microfiber cloths to clean...read more...Posted on: Oct 21 2009 - 06:30:00 AMBudget browsing: Money-saving websites | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Budget browsing: Money-saving websites
Here's a new way to let your fingers do the walking: right over your computer keys, to find the latest, greatest bargains. Here are three websites that can be useful additions to your money-saving toolbox: Bargainist.com: This site does the searching for you. It looks for the best online bargains, and posts them on the site several times a day. Look for sale items, free shipping offers and cheap deals...read more...Posted on: Oct 14 2009 - 06:30:00 AMWallet-friendly ways to watch your waistline | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Wallet-friendly ways to watch your waistline
I’ve been gaining and losing the same 10 pounds for 20 years. And unlike Marie Osmond, I just don’t have the money to blow on a diet plan that’s going to deliver me neat squares of calorie-controlled food portions every week. So, sigh, I have to budget my calories and my dollars if I want to tighten up any belts around here. Here are some wallet-friendly tips if you’re watching what you eat: -...read more...Posted on: Oct 7 2009 - 06:30:00 AMDIY cheap fall decor for your home | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette DIY cheap fall decor for your home
The calendar says fall has begun, but if you look around, it sure looks like perpetual summer. Forget about changing leaves and a landscape of warm autumn hues, we’re still in the midst of our year-round tropical beach party. But if you’re missing the traditional colors of fall, there are a few easy, inexpensive ways to bring that feeling into your home. All it takes is a little creativity. -...read more...Posted on: Sep 30 2009 - 06:30:00 AMHow to: 10 cheap (and easy) chocolate treats | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette How to: 10 cheap (and easy) chocolate treats
Love chocolate? Who doesn’t, right? Here are some fabulous cheap and easy ways to make the sweetest little chocolate treats. These make great gifts, party favors or special sweets for your family. And there’s a bonus – these “recipes,” and I use the term loosely, are so easy that you and your kids can do them together. The secret is Wilton Candy Melts, which can be found at craft stores such as...read more...Posted on: Sep 23 2009 - 06:30:00 AMCheap deals for Orlando and Disney | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Cheap deals for Orlando and Disney
How about a hotel room for a penny? If you were in Orlando in August, you could have scooped up a room at the Red Roof Inn across the street from the Orange County Convention Center for one measly cent. If you wanted something classier, The Monumental Hotel — a former Crowne Plaza on International Drive south of Sea World — was offering a one-night promotion for $10. The fact is, travel is down and...read more...Posted on: Sep 16 2009 - 06:30:00 AMCheap, fast school night dinners | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Cheap, fast school night dinners
I f you got excited when Kraft Macaroni & Cheese introduced a whole-grain version, then keep reading. That’s one of my emergency go-to dinners when I’m strapped for time and my kids are hungry. I add a veggie or fruit and we’re good to go. Now that the kids are back in school, I find time to be at a premium once more. I like to keep a list of easy, fast dinners on hand, things that I can assemble quickly...read more...Posted on: Sep 7 2009 - 06:45:00 AMCheap family night out - high school football | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Cheap family night out - high school football
It was a very High School Musical moment – walking into the stadium at Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines. The band was playing, cheerleaders were chanting and a masked young man in a cape and tights was rousing up the crowd. But I’m getting ahead of myself. This past weekend my husband, two kids and I participated in a longstanding Friday night tradition – a high school football game – my...read more...Posted on: Aug 31 2009 - 06:45:00 AMLove, honor and ebay | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Love, honor and ebay
An online auction site like ebay can sound really scary to the uninitiated, but bidding on items can actually be a lot of fun and save you a wad of moola, if you can keep your spending in check. I was always timid about trying ebay because of an embarrassing experience with a live charity auction and too much complimentary champagne. By the end of that night, my husband and I had “won” about $500 worth of...read more...Posted on: Aug 24 2009 - 06:45:00 AMWii Fit kicked my butt | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Wii Fit kicked my butt
Man! My butt looks big. Not the round and perky big like Jennifer Lopez, but the flat, square big that Jessica Simpson made famous in her mom jeans at the chili cookoff in Pembroke Pines. That’s what I’m thinking when I catch the rear view in my bathroom mirror, as I try on jeans for the first time this summer. I have been safely hiding in my oversized shorts the past couple of months, a size larger than I really...read more...Posted on: Aug 17 2009 - 06:45:00 AMI got clunked | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette I got clunked
Forgive me if I’m not cheering the additional cash infusion of my tax dollars into the “Cash for Clunkers” program. The way I see it, cost-conscious car owners like me are the ones getting “clunked” by this payback. I have never owned an SUV, a Cadillac or a BMW, or many of the other eligible cars on the eligible Cash for Clunkers list. I’ve always been a research nerd when it comes to...read more...Posted on: Aug 10 2009 - 06:45:00 AMBounce these ideas around | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Bounce these ideas around
Who knew fabric softener sheets were so versatile? I’ve stuck them under my car seats before to freshen up my car’s interior, but apparently there’s plenty to do with them besides stick them in a dryer. Here’s a few ideas: Stick them in your pockets when you’re outside to keep insects away. Apparently they repell mosquitoes and even bees. Use them to repel mice (yikes!) Stick them in musty...read more...Posted on: Aug 3 2009 - 06:45:00 AMBack 2 school for less $ | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Back 2 school for less $
You can get a box of crayons for a penny at OfficeMax, which can only mean one thing: it's back-to-school buying season. For a parent, this can be a budget-busting exercise. The list can seem endless – uniforms, backpacks, school supplies, lunchboxes, etc. Here are a few tips to make it easier on your wallet: Shop at home. Check in your...read more...Posted on: Jul 27 2009 - 11:20:00 AMCut your FPL bill | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Cut your FPL bill
People freak when I tell them I keep my thermostat at 80 degrees. They think my house must be a sweatbox. But think about it for a minute. When it’s 97 degrees outside, coming into an 80-degree house feels pretty good, right? I’m conservative by nature, and also a little cold-natured, so the higher temp suits me fine. The upside is it saves me a few bucks on my electric bill each month. Did you know every degree you...read more...Posted on: Jul 20 2009 - 06:45:00 AMPlaytime for pennies | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Playtime for pennies
I’m at my Mom’s house, about 1,000 miles from my own, and my daughter, Chloe, 7, wants to be entertained. But she’s not the only one – cousins Madison, 7, Mackenzie, 6, and Emma, 6, are over visiting, and they’re looking at me expectantly, too. So what’s a mom to do? Thankfully, my own Mom has had the foresight (she did raise five kids, after all) to stock up on some basic kiddie...read more...Posted on: Jul 13 2009 - 06:45:00 AM
Emma, Mackenzie, Chloe and Madison show off the butterflies they made out of coffee filters and pipe cleaners.Road trip tips | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Road trip tips
Driving 12 hours in a 2000 Toyota Camry with a 9-year-old and a 7-year-old calls for some serious creative planning. I’m thinking food, toys, diversions – and those are just my needs. How would I keep my kids occupied for a full day in a nine-year-old four-door sedan without a built-in DVD player in sight? Luckily, I’ve had a little practice. I enjoy schlepping my kids halfway across the country each...read more...Posted on: Jul 6 2009 - 06:45:00 AMCheaper sports and exercise equipment | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Cheaper sports and exercise equipment
Getting into a new sport can be hazardous to your wallet. But there’s a way smart mommies and daddies can outfit their athletes at a fraction of the cost. I’m not big into sports, but when my daughter, Chloe, said she wanted to try skateboarding, we headed to a consignment shop that specializes in sports equipment. Play It Again Sports is a nationwide franchise with local shops in Coral Springs and...read more...Posted on: Jun 15 2009 - 06:45:00 AMSummer plan + happy kids = sane Mom | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Summer plan + happy kids = sane Mom
Now that my free babysitter – meaning Broward County Public Schools – is on hiatus for summer, I have to put my creative forces in gear. My biggest challenge, like my fellow stay-at-home and work-at-home parents, is how to keep my kids occupied for nearly three months without having a nervous breakdown. That, plus, all the pressure from the schools to keep their skills up over the break so they don’t have to...read more...Posted on: Jun 8 2009 - 06:45:00 AMBIG birthday bash - little price | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette BIG birthday bash - little price
Pink roses set in cut glass vases. Tables swathed in a hue of soft rose petals. Fresh strawberries and croissants. It was quite the to-do for a 7-year-old’s birthday party. But, hey, it was MY 7-year-old’s birthday party, and we wanted to do it up right. I always liked having the kids’ birthday parties at home, ever since they were babies. I like this for several reasons: I like to feed people, I like to...read more...Posted on: Jun 1 2009 - 06:45:00 AMDon't trash these treasures | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Don't trash these treasures
My mother-in-law, Merle, never throws anything away. Seriously. A box of garbage bags must last her decades. Eight years ago, when we were potty-training my son, she produced the original wooden potty used by my husband some 30 years earlier. Who keeps things like that? Way before it was trendy to waste less and reuse more in the interest of putting more dollars in your pocket, Merle had already elevated it to an art form....read more...Posted on: May 25 2009 - 06:45:00 AMThe best $12 haircut EVER | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette The best $12 haircut EVER
A $12 haircut shouldn’t be this sinful. But from the industrial, loft-like feel of the salon, to the sleek, black-clad stylists to the scalp massage with essential oils – you read that right - it was pure pampering, baby. D id I mention it was $12? I headed over to The Aveda Institute in Davie for my second visit last week. My first haircut there was a couple of months ago, when the school was offering...read more...How cheap is too cheap? | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette How cheap is too cheap?
I ask myself that some days, when my kids turn their pleading eyes on me, wanting that Nintendo DS or Hannah Montana CD or something as insignificant as a candy bar in the checkout line. My standard answer is “no,” but some days, I wonder if I am frugal to a fault. My two kids, a third-grader and a first-grader, are at the ages where their friends are getting things that I refuse to buy, on the principle...read more...Hot tween/teen fashions for a song | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Hot tween/teen fashions for a song
Being guilted into buying designer fashions for your teen is one painful parental rite of passage. Anne Drake of Davie knows it firsthand. When her daughter, Kelsey, 12, was finishing up her fifth-grade year, she started asking for Hollister clothing. So Anne hit the mall, and was shocked at the thought of paying $36 for a T-shirt or $50 for a sweatshirt. “I thought, ‘This is insane,’” she said....read more...Free TV and movies online | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Free TV and movies online
Hooking up with a cable or satellite television provider is like getting a new boyfriend – at first. In the beginning, they shower you with gifts – Here’s a free DVR! Enjoy three months of Showtime, on us! How about complimentary installation? Then you get into a relationship, it’s three years later, and they are so over you. If one of your receivers breaks, they’ll send you a new one...read more...Dollar store deals | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Dollar store deals
I lived in New Orleans until 2005, when Hurricane Katrina turned my house into a swimming pool. After the eight feet of water subsided from my neighborhood, let’s just say there wasn’t a lot to pack up and move to our next house. After the storm, we moved to South Florida to live with my brother, Adam, and sister-in-law, Courtney, until we got back on our feet. Then we bought our own place, and prepared to move....read more...Saving cash on a cruise | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Saving cash on a cruise
A cruise can be a fab family vacation – pizza and parties for the kids, lobster and dancing for the adults – but it can also be a budget buster. While cruise rates have dipped recently, offering fantastic deals for families looking for a great getaway, extras such as shore excursions and wine with dinner can really put a hurting on your wallet. My husband and I have taken our two kids, ages 8 and 6,...read more...The $5 family dinner | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette The $5 family dinner
I’m more a Semi-Homemade Sandra Lee than a Barefoot Contessa, and if you don’t get that Food Network reference, let me put it this way: Many of my recipes start with “throw in a can of this with a can of that.” So as I write this blog about how to make a cheap family dinner, the roar you’re hearing is the thunderous laughter of my old friends who are hysterical at the thought of my giving...read more...How to save on prescription drugs | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette How to save on prescription drugs
I have one husband, two kids and 42 prescriptions to fill each month. Ok, maybe it’s not quite that many, but it sure feels like I do my time at the pharmacy counter. With kids, somebody’s always got an ear infection, strep throat, pink eye – you know the drill. And with every new prescription, I find myself at the drugstore, sending telepathic messages to the pharmacy technician: “Please let it be the...read more...Posted on: Mar 30 2009 - 07:00:00 AMDisney on a Dime | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Disney on a Dime
Now, who doesn’t love Disney? Even before I moved to Florida, it was a favorite vacation spot. Now that we live some three hours away, we visit as often as possible. I’ve researched Disney discounts for years, for travel stories I’ve written and for trips I’ve made. Here are some tips I’ve picked up: Visit www.mousesavers.com . I t’s my favorite website for all things Disney....read more...Cheapskate 101: Living better on less | Moms Miami //MomsMiami.com Member: julielaviolette Cheapskate 101: Living better on less
Mamas, I was born to be cheap. My Dad worked in an oil refinery and my Mom stayed home and raised five kids, which means we weren’t at the country club every weekend, if you know what I mean. Still, my parents, by being thrifty, managed to pay off their house in four years and take the family on several fab vacations, including places like the Grand Canyon, Washington D.C. and the Bahamas. How did they do it? Simple....read more...
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