Save on Gas and Toys and Find Great Coupons for Shopping

By Heather Canter

I'm back with a few more tips that might make your life a little bit easier. This week I'm covering a few different items, from making your own window cleaner to saving on gas and rounding up some coupons.

A little water and white vinegar can serve as a window cleaner and does just as good as anything you can buy at the store.

A great idea I heard was to pay about $5 extra on your electric, water, gas, phone bills, cable, etc. each month and then in December you will have a smaller bill to pay, making it easier to buy Christmas gifts.

If you have a clothesline outside, use it. Not only will you save on your electricity, but it will get you out of the house to enjoy the spring and summer weather. An added benefit is the fresh air smell you'll have on your clothes.

Don't order sodas when dining out. Order water; its better for you anyway. If the kids whine and don't want water, bring along a flavoring packet like Kool-Aid to pour in their glass of water. You might feel embarrassed to do this, but saving around $2 per person, per meal for drinks adds up, and that's nothing to be ashamed of.
You can save money on gas if you clean out your car. Carrying an extra load in the trunk or back seat drags your car down some and forces you to use more gas.

Another way to save money on gas is to roll up your windows on the highway. If you're driving slow, around town, turning off the air-conditioner and rolling down the windows makes sense; however, if you're on the highway, driving fast, having the windows down actually decreases your fuel economy.

Many people would prefer to park their car in the shade so it won't be so hot when you get back in, but did you know that can also help save money on gas? A hot car actually evaporates gas, so find a shade or use your garage for parking.

Even though the economy is not like you want it to be, the kids are still playing and in need of, or at least want, more toys. It's not practical to buy them a new toy when you're worried about paying bills. But, what about a toy party? You could invite neighbors, family and friends over and have everyone bring good toys that they're willing to exchange. You could have a few light refreshments, catch up with everyone and think of different ways to exchange the toys. That way, you've spent very little (on refreshments) and the kids have newer toys. It would also be an excellent time for the adults to exchange ideas with each other about ways they're saving money.

Another way to save money on entertainment for the kids is to get creative. Tell your kids to write a song, a poem or maybe even a play. They can perform it for you. Maybe you can even make an evening of it. If they write a play, they can assign a part to everyone. Then, you could make it dinner and a movie for the family. Have dinner and then watch or participate in their performance. You never know, this might be just the thing that propels your child into the next big writer or producer.

Coupons are always a great way to save money and you can get them in a variety of ways. Check the local papers and sale papers, and watch for rebates, too. If there are products that you always buy, visit their websites to sign up for their mailing lists. That way you can get news about the product and usually they have coupons or rebates they'll e-mail you or you can print from their website.

Coupons.com is a great website to find printable and free coupons. The last time I checked it, there were over 100 free coupons available. There was $1 off coupons for everything from Kraft mayonnaise to Jell-O pudding snacks.

Couponcabin.com is a website offering coupons and deals for on-line shopping. They offer codes to use when you check out on-line at your favorite retailer, whether it's Ralph Lauren, JC Penney, Kohl's, Overstock.com or a variety of others.

The website, couponmom.com has been featured on Oprah and is well over one million members strong. Not only does the website offer coupons, but you can also sign up for free samples and a mailing list to receive coupons and updates. The sign up is a simple, easy and fast process and you're not spending a dime to do it.

In last week's Bright Ideas column, we suggested using baking soda as an antacid. While it is an option, one of our readers informed us that ingesting baking soda could actually increase serum sodium levels. Anyone with hypertension (high blood pressure), kidney problems or heart disease knows these levels need to be kept under control. The reader also mentioned that metabolic alkalosis can be caused by the increase of serum sodium levels. Metabolic alkalosis is a condition where the pH of the blood is elevated above the normal range. These problems are especially dangerous for the elderly population. Be sure that you always check with your doctor before using any at home remedies, including products as seemingly safe as baking soda. That way, you can be sure that you're safe and not doing more harm than good.

Until next week, let us know of anything we should include and things you're doing to save money. The more ideas, tips and tricks we can share, the better we'll all be.