"Dedicated to providing year-round programs
and educational support to enrich the lives of children in need."

 Are you looking for ways to make your dollar go farther??? 
Check out these great money saving ideas & internet resources that were contributed by our local community!

Auto Maintenance Tips

• Change your own oil
• Have your  care tuned-up regularly
• Maintain a steady speed. Aggressive staring and stopping wastes gas
• Compare retail prices to Bluebook prices before buying a car
• Use steel belted radial tires
• Check your tire pressure to be sure they are inflated properly
• Balance your tires once a year
• Rotate your tires regularly. Evenly worn tires last longer
• Perform regular preventive maintenance
• Use a trusted mechanic
• Buy the lowest octane gas that your auto manual recommends

Find the Best Gas Prices! - Compare gas prices at local gas stations - Check these resources:

http://www.massachusettsgasprices.com/
http://www.automallusa.net/05/massachusetts/bristol/gas-prices.html
http://www.motortrend.com/gas_prices/32/massachusetts/bristol/index.html

Auto Insurance

• State of Massachusetts - Mass Division of Auto Insurance Information
• Progressive Auto Insurance
• Massachusetts Car Insurance

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Cooking & Recipe Planning - Web Resources

• Yummy Home Made Meals for Under $10
• Cheap Cooking.com - Eat well, spen less!
• Low Cost Recipes - Recipes from Dining on a Dime
• Budget Meals and Money Saving Tips - From Southern Food.com
• Meals on A Budget - from About.com
• Healthy & Low Cost Recipes on Line - Healthy Recipes web site by Oregon State University helps you plan meals and prepare tasty, low-cost foods that are quick and easy.
• Low Fat Cooking - Low fat meal planning for those on a budget

Other Cooking Tips

• Cookmeals from scratch - cheaper and healthier than pre-packaged or take out foods.
• Save and eat leftovers
• Cook with your children.  Not only is it fun for them, but it will save you money.
• Make cookies instead of buying packaged ones.
• Also instant pudding and jello are cheaper to make at home than buying prepackaged ones.
• Make your own pizza, it's healthier, cheaper, and better than ordering take out.
• If you burn your rice when cooking it, don't throw it away.  Instead, cut an onion in half and put both pieces in the middle then cover with rice, put a lid on and continue cooking the rice. by doing this all the taste and smell of burning will be absorbed by the onion

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Grocery Coupons on the Web

www.mygrocerydeals.com - Find your local flyer deals fast and save bundles in-store. Click, Pick Save!
www.couponmom.com - Cut your grocery bill in half! Save time and money with theCoupon Mom System.
www.coupons.com - great coupon savings online.
www.wow-coupons.com/grocery.php
Coupons from Smart Source.com - The #1 online grocery coupon ssite!
• www.momsview.com  - The best place online for you to obtain discounts, coupon codes and promotions. We strive to locate special sales, clearance links and other discounts.
• www.couponcabin.com - Save with CouponCabin's free coupons, coupon codes & deals
• www.cellfire.com  - Free downloadable coupons! No need to print orcut coupons, download free coupons to your cell phone.

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Grocery Shopping & Food Purchasing Tips

• Use less meat in your recipes to stretch the meat further and get more meals ouf of a package of hamburg.
• Make your coffee at home instead of going to Dunkin Donuts, Honey Dew, etc...
Buy generic brands
• Buy in bulk - BJs, Costco etc...
• Shop only with a list and avoid impulse purchases
• Don't go to the grocery store when you're hungry because you'll buy more things than you need.
• Stay away from the snacks aisle at the grocery store
• Use coupons
• Plan meals in advance and around sale items
• Save up to 40% by buying groceries (meat friut, veggies, etc.) through the Serve New England program. All you have to do is volunteer for 2 hours a month. Call them at 1-888-742-7363 or visit their website at http://www.servenewengland.org
• Check what is in your pantry, refrigerator, and freezer before you write your grocery list and then stick t the list, this way you won't duplicate purchases.
• To save money on baby food instead of buying the prepacked jars that they sell at the store, buy fresh fruit and vegetables, and chop or puree in a food processor.
• Also see our Grocery Shopping Coupons on the Web section for more deals!

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Local Discount & Outlet Stores

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Freebies on the Internet

• http://www.freebiedirectory.com/ - The Web's Freebie Search Engine!
• http://www.freefusion.net/ - Free stuff includes samples, food, lotions, candy, and more.
• http://www.nojunkfree.com - No Junk Free Stuff brings you the best freebies available on the web.
• http://www.freeflys.com/FreeSamples.php - Free samples, special promotions, coupons and other freebies
www.freebielist.com/ - Keeping an eye on the web's best freebies
• www.thefreesite.com/ - offers the Web's largest collection of freebies and freeware
www.ofree.net/ - Only Free the best place to find free samples
• 101 Best Web Freebies - From Business Week.com

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Online Groups

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Other Internet Resources

www.drrobertbrooks.com - Dr. Brooks is the author of several books, most recently The Self-Disciplined Child.
www. lowermybills.com - Helps you search for lower utilities and other bills, like insurance and phone
66 Ways to Save Money - Free online brochure with money saving tips from the Federal Citizen Information Center
Frugal Living.com  - For all  kinds of hints on stretching your dollar.
• Better Budgeting - Living a better life, Free money saving tips
• Cheapskates Guide - 50 Tips for Frugal Living
• Free Financial Advice -  Ways to save money, make money and get out of debt.
• http://savemore.walmartstores.com/ - spending tips, money saving stories on how to make your dollar go farther
• How to Strech Your Dollar - great tips on how to get the most out of your money
• Simple Debt Free Living - Money saving tips encourage frugal and debt free living 
•  www.flylady.net (Especially the FACE section on saving money, and she added a message board on BlogTalk Radio on this same site for people to get together and share ideas about saving money).
• www.momsbudget.com/cleaning/makecleaners.html Make your own household cleaners
• www.massresources.org - a free online resources for Massachusetts residents in need of housing, food, health care and other basic services
• Super Saver Secrets - Clever moms save on everyday expenses
• The Dollar Stretcher - Useful ways to make the most of your money and time. Practical ideas that you can put to use right away.
• Organized Christmas - Get ready for the holiday season! Christmas organizing plans, free printable holiday planner, holiday crafts, gifts, recipes and gifts in a jar!

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Dining

• Pack your own lunch instead of buying out.
• Eat out less often
Ask 4 co-workers to take one day a week to make lunch for all 5 people, so each of you only needs to make lunch once a week.  You might try something new and you'll save time in the morning 4 days a week!

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Entertainment/Recreation

Consider using the public library for books, magazines, movies and music.
Attend local high school sporting events instead of more expensive professional sporting events
Review your phone, cable, cell phone and internet service to be sure that you are in the correct plan based on your NECESSARY usage.
Work out at home instead of at the gym
Rent a movie instead of going out to a theater
• Rent movies from the "red box" available at most grocery stores.
• Go walking or biking in your neighborhood or on local bike paths
• Visit free museums and wild life sanctuaries
• Summer vacation tip: If the kids want to go camping, but there isn't enough money in the budget, set up the tent in the backyard and cook on the grill and have s'mores over the fire.
• Take the children to free weekly playgroups for children under 4 in Attleboro. Call 508-226-2883
• Join the area mom's club (there is a small annual fee) for play groups and mom's social events
• Go to a drive-in instead of the movies! Save on costs, drive-ins charge by the carload and show 2 movies. You can also bring your own food and drinks (more economical than buying from the consession stand

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Gardening...

• Plant a vegetable garden - For a few dollars, you can purchase starter plants and reap the benefits of free vegetables all summer!
• Consider setting up an informal gardening exchange with neighbors and friends. Daylillies and other perennial flowers and plants multiply over time.  By dividing them and sharing them with neighbors and friends, you could receive back some extra plants and flowers that they have to share. And it is a great way meet new friends who enjoy gardening!
• Gardening tip:   Collect rainwater from the gutters into a barrel and use this to water your garden.  Saves on the water bill.
• Gardening website:  www.frugalgardening.com

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Health

Quit Smoking
Always ask your doctor for generic prescriptions
• Ask your doctor for sample medications
• Reduce alcohol consumption
• Schedule regular health checkups
• Walk up and down stairs instead of using an elevator
• Ride a bike to work instead of taking your car whenever possible (during nice weather).  By doing this you'll save money on gas, get exercise without paying for a gym membership, help the planet by reducing contamination and global warming.
• Consider breastfeeding instead of using formula.  Not only is it healthier for the infant but you would save a lot on formula.  If breastfeeding is not for you then consider WIC if you qualify.

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Money Management

Be organized - Pay bills before they are due to insure that arrive on time to avoid late fees or penalties
Only use one credit card
Pay off credit card every month - eliminates interest payments
Put money aside in advance for vacations/holiday gifts - that way you can pay them off immediately
• Ask credit card companies to lower your interest rate
• Don't carry your credit cards with you to avoid the temptation to make additional purchases
• Pay off high interest rate credit cards first
• Hold a Garage Sale to earn some extra cash for the household finances and to clear out the clutter
• http://www.mymoney.gov/ - Learn how to save, invest, and manage your money better at MyMoney.gov
• Pay bills on line to avoid buying stamps and also to have more control over when
  payments are posted, possibly avoiding late fees if you tend to wait too long to mail bills out
• Climb Out of Debt - Smart suggestions for reducing what you owe
• Make Your Mortgage Disappear - How to lower your monthly payment and own your home sooner
Look at bank and credit card fees and use banks with no or low fees

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Reduce Energy Costs & Help Save the Environment!

Turn off lights where not needed
• Put your computer into suspend mode when you are not using it
• Fix leaky faucets - save on water consumption
• Use rechargeable batteries - cheaper in the long run
Turn the heat dry option off on your dishwasher - lowers your utility costs
• Turn the water off while you are brushing your teeth -reduces water consumption
• Dry your clothes on a clothesline, whenever possible - save on energy bills
 Put sealing tape around air conditioners. Keeps hot air out and cool air in.  
• Wash your car at home, rather than going to a car wash
• Lower the temperature on your hot water heater - save on energy costs
• Lower the water level in your toilet - save water
Put a water filter on your faucet. No more spending money on bottled water!!
• Take shorter showers - saves on water and energy costs
• Check your dryer for lint, the dryer will run more efficiently and save you money if the tint trap is empty
• Combine Errands - when driving locally, combine errands together to save on fuel costs or plan to run errands during your commuting time
Join a carpool
Unplug things not in use, even chargers, by putting them on the same safety strip and just hit one button. You are still using electricity if something is plugged in even if the appliance is off
Buy energy efficient appliances when old appliances need to be replaced.
Replace incandescent bulbs with compact flourecent light (CFL's) bulbs
When going shopping, instead of driving around the parking lot looking for a parking closer to the entrance consider parking as far away as possible that way not only would you get some exercise and use less gas.
Buy a reusable bag from Stop & Shop for 99 cents and everytime you go shopping with your bags you get 10 cents off your grocery bill per bag. Save money and save the planet.

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Other Money Saving TIps

• If you have AAA card, you can save money on prescriptions that are not covered by insurance.
• Save your extra care bucks on your CVS receipts and use them to buy products that take so much money out of the budget, like toiletries and such. Or use them to buy a special treat for yourself.
• Go to your local library for discount coupons or free passes to museumsBartering services also saves you money....what talent do you have that someone else might pay for? Do you sew, cook, clean, babysit, fix cars, cut down trees, garden, have computer skills, etc? Know what you know and know what you need!
Consider buying water from local suppliers by refilling gallon jugs instead of buying bottles of water from the grocery store
• Check with your child's school to see if your family qualifies for free or reduced price lunches.
• Shop at local food outlets like Friehoffers or Pepperidge Farms
• Check your local park and recreation departmentss and YMCA for discounts or scholarships on sports or memberships.
• See if you are eligible for sliding scale daycare assistance
• Use consignment shops for kids' clothing or toys, either to purchase or to sell
• Trade books and magazines with friends and family or read them online.  Almost all magazines have a website.  I sometimes look at the magzines in the store and jot down the name of the website.  It usually can be found on the front cover.
• Refill your printer's ink cartridges at a local store for much less than buying new cartridges or return them to Office Depot or Staples for $3 coupons to be used on other supplies
• Recycle your empty soda cans and bottles and bring them to redemption centers.  One large trash bag holds about $5.00 in returns.  Use this as your child's allowance by asking them to be responsible for rinsing all cans and bottles and putting them into the recycle bin.  The child can even come to the grocery store and put the cans and bottles into the recycle machine.
• To save money on toys, rotate toys with a friend or a family member with children the same age as yours. Many times children use their toys for a few weeks and then they're bored with them. By rotating, your children will have "new" toys to play with.
Buy a piggy bank and save all your change.Then, use that money to reward yourself by taking a fun day trip or have a nice dinner on a special day, or you can use it to buy something you need, without using credit cards or money in your budget.
Enroll at work in a flexible spending account (FSA), FSA allows you to pay certain medical, dental and child care expenses using pre-tax money.
Sign up for a rewards card, there are many rewards cards that give you cash or points for using it
Buy clothes on clearance for next year.
Kids Crafts - this is a fun and  cheap way to build self esteem, speech, and imagination.
• Make picture frames (picture, contruction paper you can also use beans, macaronni,  popcicle sticks, feathers or stickers for decorations). 
• Make binoculars (2 toilet paper rolls together)
• make robots (toilet and papertowel rolls, cereal boxes, tissue boxes, aluminum foil, glue or tape, egg carton, markers, paint), 
• Make a microwave - (empty diaper box, paint).
• Make your own story book - the story can be tittle "the story of me" or "(childs name)'s story"  then go on to write the story

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Please also check our Benefits Resource Guide for information on the following:

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 Attleboro Area Council for Children, Inc.
4 Hodges St, Attleboro, MA 02703
Phone: 508-226-2336
E-Mail: kelly@councilforchildren.org

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