<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Frugal Blog</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/</link><description>Learn how to pinch your pennies without giving up the good things in life here at the Families.com Frugal Living Blog.</description><language>en-us</language><pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:00:09 +0000</pubDate><lastBuildDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:00:09 +0000</lastBuildDate><ttl>60</ttl><item><title>Save on Baby Items</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/save-on-baby-items</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:43:29 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/save-on-baby-items</guid><description><![CDATA[It is a fact that babies need stuff, lots of stuff. And all of that stuff winds up costing lots of money. Fortunately, with a few frugal practices, you can spend much less. Here are some ideas on how you can save on baby items.]]></description></item><item><title>How to Create Your Own Fruit Basket Arrangement for Less</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/how-to-create-your-own-fruit-basket-arrangement-for-less</link><pubDate>Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:57:14 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/how-to-create-your-own-fruit-basket-arrangement-for-less</guid><description><![CDATA[There is a company that makes the most beautiful flower-like arrangements out of edible fruit.  They are as expensive as they are beautiful.]]></description></item><item><title>Buying a Used Christmas Tree</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/buying-a-used-christmas-tree</link><pubDate>Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:34 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/buying-a-used-christmas-tree</guid><description><![CDATA[Believe it or not, you can get a nice Christmas tree when you buy a used one. Most people debate about whether to by a live or an artificial tree. If artificial is your choice, then do consider getting one that has been pre owned. You'll save a lot of money.]]></description></item><item><title>Make Your Frugal Party Look Expensive</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/make-your-frugal-party-look-expensive</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:53:10 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/make-your-frugal-party-look-expensive</guid><description><![CDATA[Did you know that you can spend just a few dollars and make it look as though you spent hundreds on your party? Home made and arranged can look just as good or better than catered. And you don't have to lose the sophistication just because you are saving money and being frugal.]]></description></item><item><title>Things Frugal People Should Know Before Eating Out</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/things-frugal-people-should-know-before-eating-out</link><pubDate>Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:46:04 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/things-frugal-people-should-know-before-eating-out</guid><description><![CDATA[Even frugal people like to eat out from time to time.  As much fun as creating inexpensive meals can be, a change of scenery is often refreshing.   As any frugal person knows, you can always split a meal,  skip the drink, and order water to lessen your restaurant meal.]]></description></item><item><title>Creating a Meaningful Christmas on a Budget</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/creating-a-meaningful-christmas-on-a-budget</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:05:02 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/creating-a-meaningful-christmas-on-a-budget</guid><description><![CDATA[So many families are struggling right now with the economy and are wondering what to do about Christmas and gifts for the kids. The stores are still screaming about deals, deal and deals. The kids see commercials for the latest hot toys that seem to cost more than my first car ever did.]]></description></item><item><title>Getting Flowers on a Budget</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/getting-flowers-on-a-budget</link><pubDate>Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:44:48 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/getting-flowers-on-a-budget</guid><description><![CDATA[Recently, I was asked to help coordinating the decorating of our church's main hall for the big Christmas festivities. We are going to have a local outreach featuring a live nativity, a bonfire, a Christmas Tree raffle, lots of food, live music programs and more.]]></description></item><item><title>Frugal Freezer Breakfast Meals 2</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/frugal-freezer-breakfast-meals-2</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:22:26 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/frugal-freezer-breakfast-meals-2</guid><description><![CDATA[It is a lot of fun to have a morning, or an afternoon or even a day to create a wealth of freezer breakfast meals that you can have on hand. Buying breakfast outside can get really expensive. Just think about it.]]></description></item><item><title>Frugal Freezer Breakfast Meals</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/frugal-freezer-breakfast-meals</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:05:01 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/frugal-freezer-breakfast-meals</guid><description><![CDATA[Want to cut down on your breakfast expenses? One way to do it is to avoid the convenience cereal and create your own delicious breakfast meals that you can just grab on those hectic mornings.]]></description></item><item><title>Dr. Phil's Advice on Making Deals</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/dr-phils-advice-on-making-deals</link><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 04:44:48 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/dr-phils-advice-on-making-deals</guid><description><![CDATA[Dr. Phil recently did a show on How to Negotiate Anything.   He spoke to a couple about negotiating foot ball viewing.  She worked with a moms and daughters on curfew and college choice issues. He helped a couple negotiate organ an donation agreement.]]></description></item><item><title>Black Friday is not Just for Christmas Shopping</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/black-friday-is-not-just-for-christmas-shopping</link><pubDate>Sat, 14 Nov 2009 03:13:07 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/black-friday-is-not-just-for-christmas-shopping</guid><description><![CDATA[Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving when when department stores lose their proverbial minds and sell items at a loss to attract Christmas shoppers.  This year will be no different.  Target has gone over the deep end for the 2009 Black Friday Christmas shopping day.]]></description></item><item><title>It's almost Christmas, are you checking your mailbox?</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/its-almost-christmas-are-you-checking-your-mailbox</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 23:17:32 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/its-almost-christmas-are-you-checking-your-mailbox</guid><description><![CDATA[I get a lot of junkmail in my mailbox, especially around the holidays.  Within that junk mail are store coupons and gift cards that are worth a good amount of money. Many of us see them as temptations to spend more than we have, or wonder if there is a catch.]]></description></item><item><title>Saving Money on Health Food and Vitamins</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/saving-money-on-health-food-and-vitamins</link><pubDate>Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:42:42 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/saving-money-on-health-food-and-vitamins</guid><description><![CDATA[Shopping at Walmart and using coupons doesn't always work when it comes to purchasing health food. Although there may be a stray coupon here and there to help, most of the time you can't take advantage of the typical grocery savings methods when you shop for health food and vitamins.]]></description></item><item><title>Choosing Good Value Toys This Holiday</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/choosing-good-value-toys-this-holiday</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:10:57 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/choosing-good-value-toys-this-holiday</guid><description><![CDATA[When you are deciding which toys to buy your kids this holiday season, it helps to keep three things in mind. You want toys that have a long play value, toys that educational or enriching, and toys that are inexpensive. The trick is to find toys that have all three attributes.]]></description></item><item><title>5 Ways a Crockpot Will Save You Money</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/5-ways-a-crockpot-will-save-you-money</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:43:28 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/5-ways-a-crockpot-will-save-you-money</guid><description><![CDATA[The crockpot or slow cooker is a frugal person's best friend. With this little unassuming device, you can really save money. If you don't have a crockpot yet, I trongly suggest that you purchase one as soon as you can (Used is fine. My best crockpot was bought at a local thrift store).]]></description></item><item><title>How I Saved on Birthday Goodie Bags</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/how-i-saved-on-birthday-goodie-bags</link><pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:17:54 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/how-i-saved-on-birthday-goodie-bags</guid><description><![CDATA[My daughter's birthday party is this coming weekend. Naturally, she asked for a Disney princess theme again. I recently spotted color wonder kits in a princess theme for only $5 a piece. This seemed like a great bargain for goodies to hand out to the party goers (the kits normally go for $7.]]></description></item><item><title>5 Savings Questions Ask Your Store Manger</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/5-savings-questions-ask-your-store-manger</link><pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:55:11 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/5-savings-questions-ask-your-store-manger</guid><description><![CDATA[The next time that you go out to shop, you can use that time to "earn" extra coupons and discounts. It is all a matter of simply asking your store manager certain questions. Jot down the answers and then take advantage of the bounty of coupons that you will get. 
1.]]></description></item><item><title>Hosting Santa's Workshop</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/hosting-santas-workshop</link><pubDate>Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:45:24 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/hosting-santas-workshop</guid><description><![CDATA[Each year, it seems that we wind up spending too much money on the holidays. One of the ways to cut this expense down while reinforcing the validity of Christmas is to concentrate on gifts that come from the heart, gifts that are made by hand.]]></description></item><item><title>Store Returns: What You Need to Know 5</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/store-returns-what-you-need-to-know-5</link><pubDate>Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:44:00 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/store-returns-what-you-need-to-know-5</guid><description><![CDATA[Do you think that if you purchase something either for yourself or as a gift that it will be easy to return? These days, stores are getting more and more picky about accepting returns. This includes gift cards. You can't usually turn them in for cash.]]></description></item><item><title>Store Returns: What You Need to Know 4</title><link>http://frugal.families.com/blog/store-returns-what-you-need-to-know-4</link><pubDate>Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:09:55 +0000</pubDate><guid isPermaLink="true">http://frugal.families.com/blog/store-returns-what-you-need-to-know-4</guid><description><![CDATA[Did you know that when it comes to electronics, different return rules often apply. This is something to be aware of when you are shopping for that holiday HDTV, digital camera, iPod, phone or video gaming device.]]></description></item></channel></rss>