For teens who want to stay in shape or get fit over the summer, Goodlife Fitness is offering an amazing deal of a free membership for youths aged 12-17. This deal is worth at least $80 because the cost of a membership (yearly) is $40 or so a month.

• Click here to get the details @ Goodlifefitness.com now

With locations all over Canada (and being a Canadian company), GoodLife has been getting Canadians fit for many years. Youth will be able to attend their local club seven days a week from the hours of 8am to 4pm only. The latest check-in will be 3pm. A maximum of two hours a day is the limit for teens to work out at the club under this free membership deal. This deal is great for those teens who don’t have a daily summer job, although if they do, the weekends are still available. Other restrictions include not having access to tanning, the pool, sauna, whirlpool, certain free weights and machines, squash and hot yoga.

If your teen already has a GoodLife membership, they can put it on hold to participate in this deal, although they would have the same limited access as the other free members. Parents must be the ones to register online, where you’ll get your membership forms printed. Bring those to a GoodLife location with proof of ID, and you are set!

(Expiry: Unknown)

I spent a few hours last night pinning ideas for things to do this summer with the kids. I need to be prepared or they will take over, literally. If I don’t schedule some activities in advance, the entire day, then week, then summer, will go by and we’ll have done nothing productive. I love this idea for taking your kid to the course for free during the week of July 8th to 14th at various participating courses.

• Check out the deets here @ Kidsgolffree.ca now

My husband is a golfer and since we have three kids, he will soon have his foursome. Although I’ll miss out on the mother-daughter shopping trips, craft days and the such, at the minimum, I’ll get lots of days to myself when he takes them all out golfing. My oldest son already has golf camp booked for this week, so this will work perfectly for him to get some practice outside of the camp.

You’ll get one free fee for a child under age 16 with every paying adult. Some courses have restrictions, so you are best to ask when booking your tee times. In addition to the free golf, some courses will be offering additional programs like junior clinics, free range balls, free junior club rentals as well as parent and child tournaments. This sounds so fun!

Click here to find one of many locations all over Canada.

(Expiry: 14th July 2013)

Father’s Day is this weekend, in case you haven’t heard. Most of the Dads I know are practical people who like gifts they can use. A lot of them will also say “don’t get me anything”, because the most practical thinking is to save your money. If you Dad (or the father of your children) is like this, why not make him something that is inexpensive and from the heart? Here are some very crafty ideas to get you started.

I absolutely love this tool tub and tote idea from Sew4Home (above). She gave Dad what every man needs and loves – tools – but in a practical and heartfelt way by designing it herself. I’m not a seamstress, so this gift would never come from me, but for those who know how to work a needle, this is amazing.

If Dad is not into tools, I’m going to guess he is into beer. This beer flight paddle (above) is a totally practical gift, because anything that helps him drink beer is useful. Thanks to 2nd Story Sewing, but there is no sewing involved (score for me!).

And once again, help Dad drink his beer (or other libation or even coffee) with this DIY sketched mug (above). You could sketch anything onto the mug but moustaches are so right now and Stock Piling Moms realizes this.

This idea from Oh Happy Day is so freaking cute (above), I can’t contain my joy! As a tie tack or key chain, what man wouldn’t love a mini version of their adorable mini me with them at all times? Kids would also have a great time helping Mom make this.

My organization-obsessed hubby would love one of these cord rollers (above)! So easy to make, you simply need a few materials and some cutting tools. Follow the instructions on the Brit + Co. website.

If Dad isn’t fixing stuff or drinking beer, I bet he’s eating. Although, some industrious men can do all three at once. Make Dad some of this homemade BBQ sauce (above) and maybe he’ll thank you by BBQ’ing you some ribs. This is the gift that keeps on giving! Special Event Rentals knows what Dad likes.

This is one idea the kids can help you with and Dad will love (and it still involves eating). Staying Close To Home made this unique candy dish from a terra cotta jar (above).

Bargainmoose Dads, which one of these ideas would you love to see this Sunday? Tell me in the comments below!

Organizing your home, especially your office, can be a daunting task. My office is stacked with books, magazines and various paperwork and although I’ve tried to keep it organized, I have no idea where anything is. I’m going to use some of these great tips to organize my office with items I’m going to recycle from my own home.

Starting with the most complex, this office has reused pallets for shelves on the wall in the office. TreeHugger showcases this amazing design on their blog (above).

Nothing can be easier than this. Use old cereal and other food boxes (above)  to organize the inside of your desk. Simply cut off the bottoms and tops and put in your supplies. Real Simple!

If you go on frequent (or infrequent) vacations and have a ton of vacation memories and nowhere to put them, consider making these DIY travel keepsakes. Made out of wooden boxes, paint and stencils, these are super easy, as Martha Stewart says (above).

These DIY steampunk-type crates (above) for filing are amazing and are on my list of things to do! They look like they might be easy to make, but there are numerous but well-worth it steps. Check it out at DIYDiva.

It will take you five minutes to do this cute, but functional DIY project. Simply save a jar from pickles or pasta sauce, find a toy or other item that you have kitschy  love for, spray paint it, then glue it on top of the jar, just like Meredith and the New Yorkie did (above).

This is one idea I can get behind, because I’ve already done it and find it fun, functional and cute. Each one of my family members has their own clipboard, decorated in paper that I found was most suited to them. Whenever I find loose papers around the house, I clip them directly to the clipboard of who they belong to. This craft (above) was mega easy, right Simply Kierste?

Bargainmoosers, do you have fun, easy and unique ways to recycle items to organize your home office? Let me know in the comments below!

Father’s Day this year is on June 16th.  Typically, Father’s Day is celebrated on the 3rd Sunday of June.  Here’ a fun fact courtesy of Wikipedia:  Father’s Day was first celebrated in 1910 in Spokane, Washington and was created after Mother’s Day was created (figures!).  What better way to celebrate the wonderful Dad in your life with acknowledgement to show them just how special they are?

The key to a man’s heart doesn’t have to involve spending loads of money on your favourite Father.  Here are some fun and frugal Father’s Day gift and activity ideas to show the Father in your life just how special he really is.

#1. Go Fish

Grab a pole (the local thrift store or even Canadian Tire sells fishing poles for pretty cheap), make sure there’s a license (for example, in British Columbia, a one-day fresh water fishing license costs only $10 for residents of British Columbia), and go fish!

Yahoo also suggests packing a picnic lunch to complete the frugal Father’s Day idea.  Young children (usually under age 16) can usually fish under the adult’s license.

Fishing will teach everyone patience, provide lots of rest and relaxation, and provide ample opportunity for family bonding.  Alternately, there are many coupons available through Groupon or other daily deal sites that provide two for one fishing expeditions if you want to crank it up a notch.

(Cost: Under $50 for the day)

 #2. Clean Up His Car

This idea for a frugal Father’s Day is courtesy of About.com’s Frugal Living section, and it’s brilliant.  Men love their cars and they love their cars even more when they are clean, shiny, and spotless.  All you have to do is grab a few supplies from around the house (or use his car washing and polishing supplies which he is likely to have sitting in the garage) and start cleaning!  Oh and grab the vacuum to clean up the interior of his car.  This gift is guaranteed to bring a smile to his face.

(Cost: Free – unless you count manual labour)

 #3. Fire Up the Barbecue

Men love their grills and their steaks (unless they are vegetarian of course). Yahoo Voices suggests firing up the grill for the Father in your life for a frugal Father’s Day.  Make sure you get some high quality cuts such as rib eye, T-bone, and New York cut steaks.  Costco has great high quality cut meats.

Cleaning the grill, buying the groceries and prepping the food with some good marinades or rubs will surely melt his heart.  Also get him some of his favourite beer, chilled, for extra brownie points.

(Cost: Under $50 for the food)

#4. Action Movie Marathon

Speed, Matrix, Die Hard, Batman, and even the Fast and the Furious (yes, maybe even Fast and Furious I to V which will take you probably an entire weekend to complete).  Guys love their action movies (yes, this is a generalization) and Yahoo Voices suggests dedicating an entire afternoon to an action movie marathon.  This is actually an enjoyable event for many men (watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy in an entire day was actually my guy’s idea of showing that I love him).

Just make sure to have some pizza or other snacks available to munch on during the action movie marathon.

(Cost: Free – unless you don’t own any of these movies at home)

#5. Personalized Golf Balls

Sure you can spend $50 at Golf Town for a set of personalized golf balls which is a great sentiment, but you can also try and make your own personalized golf balls.  If you want to make it even more personalized, eHow has some tips on websites you can go to for logos and adding a custom design to golf balls.  If meticulousness is not on your radar (since most golf balls get lost anyway, really), then grab a stamp pad, a stamp (you can easily have custom made stamps at your local stamp or craft store) and stamp away.

Any Dad is sure to think of his family every time he puts that golf ball down on the tee.  What better way to remind him that he is loved than this?

(Cost: $10 to $50)

As you can see, celebrating the wonderful Dad in your life doesn’t have to involve spending a ton of money.  The point of Father’s Day is to show appreciation and spend quality time together, and not necessarily spend a load of money on gadgets or gizmos that he won’t use.

Bargainmoosers, what is your favourite frugal Father’s Day gift or activity?

(Image Credit: SignUpGenius)

I was at Loblaws this week and noticed the sign for their new points system. I sort of ignored it, but then at the cash this time when I bought my groceries, the cashier explained it to me and I think it is a really great program!

• Click here to check it out for yourself @ Pcplus.ca now

I normally shop at Loblaws, No Frills or the Superstore, which are all affiliated under the Loblaws brand. At the current time, the PC Plus point system is only available at Loblaws, but will be expanding eventually to the other affiliated stores. The system is a lot like the Optimum Point system that Shoppers Drug Mart has, with points earned for what you buy.

Get your card in-store, or download the PC Plus app to your phone. Online you can find your current offers, which you need to load to your card, by simply clicking “load to my card”. There is also a recipe database that is totally simple to use and you can add a grocery list, which is even organized by department. That is much more organized than I am! As the system gets to know you, it will show you your frequently shopped for items and tailor the offers to you. For example, if you purchase a lot of organic items like I do, it will start offering more points on organic foods. This means that you’ll earn the points on the foods and items you actually do buy, instead of ones they suggest you buy. I think this is amazing, considering I find many of the coupons and offers out there are often for commercial and processed items I try to steer clear of, while I pay a huge expense for my organic and lesser-known brands.

Once you’ve registered your card and loaded your offers, shop in-store and you’ll see the offers available for certain items if you buy that item. At the checkout you’ll show your card or your app, and your points will be loaded. One thousand points is equal to $1, and you can redeem when you hit a certain amount, saving lots of money on your groceries. This is better than the current PC points program because you don’t need to switch your banking or credit card over. You just need to sign up for FREE!

From one shopping trip, I already have over 2,000 points. I wasn’t tailoring my shopping to the points reward system and only got rewarded on in-store offers. This week, some of my current offers include 300 points for buying strawberries (which I usually buy this time of year) and 200 points for every $1 I spend on oranges. If I was more serious and paid attention to current offers, I could probably get up to about 4000 points per shopping trip, meaning in about a month I’d save $20 just for collecting points on things I already buy.

(Expiry: Unknown)

If you are anything like me, you’ve been doing your spring cleaning and realizing that your photos need a refresh. I am having a mini photo shoot this weekend to get some new pictures of the family, but I’ve also been considering doing a family wall, with pictures of us every year since we’ve become a “family”. The problem is that frames can be costly, especially when buying quite a few. Here are some great ideas for framing photos that won’t cost much and will look great.

If you have a love for the rustic look (I definitely do), this very easy idea (above) requires an old frame, clothespins and some nails. You can display quite a few photos with this DIY frame. I think I’m going to have to put that on my to-do list! Thanks, Shelterness.

For something with more whimsy, Alkemie picked up Scrabble boards (above) at garage sales and then used the actual Scrabble tiles to caption the photos. Genius I say!

Another rustic look, this time with an old window, Coffee With The Mrs. created this six-panel photo frame (above). I think this looks great with old photos and would make a great gift idea.

These photo frame luminaries are just extra special. The Little Black Sheep Shop made these as centrepieces (above) for her mother’s 60th birthday party and I think they are amazing and unique. The steps are so easy too.

Not even needing a real frame, The Sweetest Occasion capitalized on the washi tape craze and simply framed her photos with that (above). This way you get to choose whatever pattern you like and your photo stands out without all sorts of hardware and expensive framing.

Bargainmoosers, what’s your favourite way of framing photos?

(Image Credit: ImagesonBank)

We all know that eating organic is better for us (really, who wants mashed potatoes with a side of pesticide?), but because organic food is expensive, we often don’t opt to make this lifestyle change. Same goes for organic products.  Shampoos, conditioners, and body wash all contain chemicals that aren’t so great for our bodies, but oftentimes, USDA approved organic hair and body products are 30-50% more in price.

With the economy still recovering or flatlining, healthy habits and changes often go to the back burner due to cost.  However, here are a few tips on how to save money on organic stuff so that you can make that change towards healthier, cleaner living.

Organic Produce on the Cheap

Organic produce is expensive, there’s no doubt about it.  To offset this, you could try growing your own organic food or you can opt to buy organic produce only when it matters.  For example, did you know that organic bananas are a bit of a moot point?  Do you know why?  See the Bargainmoose post eating organic on the cheap for more information.  To summarize, buy organic produce especially for the fruits and vegetables that fall in the “Dirty Dozen” category.  To see a list of the amount of pesticide content for each fruit and vegetable you usually buy, go to Foodnews.org for a great list.

You could also grow your own herbs.  Herbs are notoriously easy to grow and they make your food taste better (without having to add salt, which is bad for your heart health), it’s a win-win situation.

 Organic Foodstuff on the Cheap

Whole Foods isn’t called Whole Paycheque for no good reason.  According to CNN Money,  buying at Whole Foods (even though it is wholesome and good for you) can be quite pricey, hence the nickname “Whole Paycheque”.  Although Whole Foods is trying to change that acquired nickname in recent news, there are people who like shopping there despite the cost.

Shoppers Drug Mart has a great organic brand called Nativa that makes very reasonably priced organic food.  Things like chocolate, coffee, chips, olive oil, and cookies are all 100% certified organic. For example, organic quick oats instant oatmeal is $1.99 on sale a lot of the time.  They also have chips and other not-so-good-for-you-despite-being-organic foods.  The great thing about Shoppers Drug Mart is that you can use your coupons without looking silly (like you probably would at Whole Foods since people who shop there probably scoff at coupons).  They have bonus redemption weekends and 20x the points events.  All the more reason to use your points sooner rather than later.

If you live near the border, Trader Joe’s is great alternative to Whole Foods.  They have almost 400 stores in the United States and although they are mostly in California, there are some in Washington for the west coasters.  They have cheap wine (including the famous “Two Buck Chuck” wine for $1.99) and 80% of the products they carry in store are “house brand” products.  They go through rigorous sourcing of manufacturers for their products to ensure that everything is natural, fair trade, and not from China.

Organic Beauty on the Cheap

According to Organic Authority, conventional shampoo and conditioner products contain harsh chemicals that can strip the the hair of its natural beauty.  Conventional shampoo and conditioner products often contain pthalates.  Pthalates help make the foaming/sudsy sensation but can wreck havoc to your body.  Pthalates are dangerous because they have been shown to damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive systems in animal studies.

Well.ca is a Canadian online only pharmacy (minus real prescriptions) that houses tons and tons of organic products. They give you free shipping if you order more than $25 worth anywhere in Canada.  They have a great clearance and sale section where you can score cheap organic beauty products.  Bargainmoose has a great post that updates you on the latest coupons and sales from Well.ca.

Also, if you’re in the neighbourhood, Trader Joe’s also carries some great house brand shampoo and conditioner products for the cheap.  For example, I bought a 473mL  Citrus Conditioner with vitamin C for about $3.  Mind you, the ingredients list contains parabens which are no good in the organic world, but I’ll give it a try anyway

Bargainmoosers, do you have any other must-shop places for organic food and beauty on the cheap?

(Image Credit: GreenPlus)

The absolute worst part of summer vacation is the “I’m boreds”. Stop them before they start by getting these DIY projects ready before the end of June. These are easy, cheap and could be a lot of fun for you and your family.

This game should last at least the five minutes it takes to make it with just glass bottles, paint and embroidery hoops. Woman’s Day (above) is the go-to for instructions.

Probably my most favourite idea ever, this kiddie car wash will be a hit with all of the kids in the neighbourhood! I’ve definitely sent this one to my husband for completion ASAP. Mom Endeavors (above) definitely knows what kids will love!

My kids (and every other kid alive) would love a mud pie kitchen! I’ve seen very elaborate mud kitchens with actual tables and a backdrop, down to the most simple, just using the ground, mud, a bowl and baking accessories. Since we are keeping it cheap and easy, this one from Elsie Marley (above) is perfect.

Northwest Edible (above) easily made this garden tic tac toe with tiles, rocks and paint. Functional and fun, plus it adds whimsy to your garden!

The Happy Housewife (above) rigged up this DIY water feature as a game for a party. Your kids will love splashing all of their friends when the bucket fills up.

Curbly (above) made this complicated-looking, but totally easy waterplay feature for her backyard. Just using empty water bottles, hoses, tape and a wood plank, this is something the kids would play with for hours. Plus, it’s educational.

This passing practice is a game for the whole family. Spoonful (above) used a tarp and coloured duct tape, then strung up this fun game to help kids with their accuracy in passing the ball. Best yet, they won’t even know they are working on any skills because they are having too much fun trying to get the most points.

How about a game of lawn croquet? Using just pool noodles and garden stakes, Inner Child Fun (above) fashioned this makeshift set.

Can’t get to the splashpad and it’s a smoking hot day out there? Give the kids some refreshment with this DIY splash pad. 1 Little Dude and 3 Little Ladies (above) built hers using a sprinkler and a tarp.

Utah County Mom (above) tried out this idea for an outdoor giant waterbed, and it kept her kids playing for hours and hours. All she needed was a drop cloth and tape and of course, water. This is a great idea for when you want to keep kids dry, but still have that watery sensory experience.

If you really want to go hard core, like HomeSpunThreads (above), make this homemade sprinkler out of PVC pipe.

Bargainmoosers, what do you plan to do to keep your kids busy this summer?

(Thanks to seattlemunicipalarchives)

If you’re a big fan of the show Storage Wars, you might be able to live vicariously through the idea of participating in an auction by going to a police auction.  Unbeknownst to much of the public, shopping at police auctions can be a great way to save money, especially for big ticket items that you have had your eye on for awhile.

Some big ticket items that are usually sold at police auctions include road bikes, jewellery, other sports equipment, and even cars.  If you have ever wondered where the goods that are seized by the police enforcement go, look no further as they usually end up at the police auction.  These goods are also things that have been lost and haven’t been claimed,or have been stolen.

Police auctions are usually available in major municipalities, and are usually held once a year.  They are very popular, especially in Vancouver where your bicycle will more likely than not be stolen.  They are great if you’re interested in used merchandise at the fraction of the cost (source: Yahoo).

How You Save Money at Police Auctions

Infobarrel suggests that you contact your local police station and ask when the police auctions are held (this can easily be Googled too, if you live in a major city).  Some people drive dozens to hundreds of kilometres to get to the police auction.  Bring identification with you and bring your researched want-list with you.  Be prepared to be there for awhile and wear some good walking shoes.  Be prepared to know how long you will stay as otherwise, you may just be tempted to buy everything and then get carried away.

Best Bang for your Buck Items

•  Bikes (for example, the maximum price that was spent on a bike at the most recent auction in Vancouver was just under $1000)
• Electronics
• Jewellery (An $8000 appraised diamond and gold ring sold for $1700 at the aforementioned Vancouver auction)
• Cars
• Collector coins (even a gold bar!)

Tips to Make your Auction a Success

According to wikispaces, some tips to make your auction a success are to begin early at the auction, do your research (know the market value of what you want to buy and know how much you’re willing to spend on it).  Also, make sure to cross check the information you get of the item you’re interested in buying, and most importantly, know the rules for buying a big ticket item like a car at the auction.

Opt for a Police Auction Online

If you live too far away from a police auction or you want an item that isn’t found at your local police auction, a few municipality police stations in the East have joined forces and created a police auction website.  It is called Police Auctions Canada and is composed of auctionable goods from law enforcement agencies in Toronto, Guelph, Hamilton, and Barrie, to name a few.  Some things that they have on auction are new in the box Apple Macbook Pros, Apple iPhone 5′s, jewellery, and road bikes.  It’s basically like eBay except that you’re buying from the police.  Also, it’s different from a conventional police auction because it’s held online and goods are for sale 365 days of the year instead of just one day of the year.  The proceeds from the Police Auctions Canada website go to support community projects in the area.

Police auctions are a great way to save money on some big ticket items, especially if you don’t mind used goods and are in the market for getting more bang for your buck.  All you need to do is to bring some identification and to do thorough research on the items that you are interested in before you go.  Most importantly, make sure you know your end-point or maximum bid.  The last thing you want to do is buy something for the sake of outbidding someone, even though it isn’t that great of a deal.  The great thing about going to a police auction is you that you never know what you’re going to get when you go there.

Bargainmoosers, have you been to a police auction before?  If so, what did you buy there?

Moving season is fast approaching as people rush to get into new houses for the summer. After you’ve moved and unpacked, you have tons of boxes sitting around, waiting to be recycled. Instead of recycling, you can actually reuse them! Check out these brilliant ideas for fun and frugal ways to reuse a cardboard box.

This one will make your kids love you! What kid doesn’t want to slide down the stairs at some point? My kids have used a variety of things to propel themselves down the stairs at some time or another. How about letting them do it? The Contemplative Creative (above) is to blame for this great idea.

Another great idea for kids, how about building a train set or town inside of a cardboard box? Like they say, give a kid a new toy, he’d rather play with the box, well this is a toy and a box all in one. The Imagination Tree (above) put a lot of work into making this a realistic and exciting cardboard box project.

Apartment Therapy (above) made this DIY ball maze out of cardboard. This is great not just for kids, but could be a great game at a family reunion or stag and doe.

Instead of spending a ton of money on expensive storage baskets, why not make your own? Using a cardboard box and burlap with hot glue, By Stephanie Lynn (above) made this cute burlap storage basket.

My husband has made a ton of great things for the kids from large cardboard boxes, like a rocket ship, a playhouse and a six-room castle (I’m not even kidding). This cardboard airplane definitely takes the cake. Check out Onto Baby’s (above) cardboard box birthday party for more inspiration!

Do you have any great cardboard inspirations? Would you consider a very fun and totally cheap cardboard box birthday party?

In the United States, the average family spends $1600 on utility bills alone (I know in Canada, I’ve spent much more than that) (source: Investopedia).  If we save money on things that we don’t really care about (even though they are a necessity), we get more money to spend on the things that matter, like retirement, or great memories with family and friends.  You might think that there’s no point in helping to stop climate change and global warming, that we are too far gone and that even if we change our lifestyle and behaviours that others won’t.  But we must remember that collectively, we are more powerful than we think.

“Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean.”

- Ryunosuke Satoro

Here are 4 tips on how to save both money and energy in your household:

#1. Microwave it instead of using the Stove

When you’re simply reheating something, it’s more energy efficient to reheat it in the microwave instead of on the stove.  According to Scientific American, the energy used by a microwave is about 25% less than that of an electric stove.  The energy difference used by a gas stove and a microwave, on the other hand, is a bit more nebulous.

However, what it boils down to (excuse the pun) isn’t really that much of a savings for your wallet unless you cook often, of course.  Using a microwave compared to an electric stove only three times a week is only estimated to save you a little over $2 per month.

#2. Opt for a Laptop instead of a Computer

Gone are the days when everyone had desktop computers.  Nowadays, laptops are so versatile and packed with so much stuff equivalent to a desktop computer, that many people do not have desk top computers, including me.  I haven’t had a desk top computer for over 5 years and haven’t looked back. You may be surprised at the energy consumption difference between a laptop and a desktop computer, even for a laptop with a larger screen.

The Energy Star website in Europe stated that when you compare the energy use of a notebook and a desktop computer, there is about an 80% difference.  With a laptop or notebook despite a larger scree, the difference between that an a desktop computer’s energy consumptions is still about 50% difference.

#3. Use a Front Loading Washer

Front loading washers don’t just look good, they are good for the environment too.  According to the Michael Blue Jay blog, laundry is one of the easiest ways to save money.  One way is to use the cold water cycle (90% of the energy that goes into washing laundry goes to heating the water).

More importantly, front loading washers use about 40-75% less water and 30-85% less energy that top loading washers according to the Michael Blue Jay blog.  They make your clothes last longer (they don’t agitate the clothes as much, it is more gentle) and the clothes get dried more easily because they do a good job wringing the water out.  This equates to an average savings of $100 per year- which makes the average $100 extra price tag of a front loading washer compared to a top loading washer worth it.

If you want to really compare, the blog has a great calculator that lets you compare front loaders and top loaders and the energy savings if you used gas or electricity for your home.  It even goes into the detail of how many cents it costs per kWh for your electricity.

#4. Turn the Heat Down

The biggest factor in utility bills is heat.  Keep your feet warm, only heat the rooms that you are in, turn down the heat when you are going out (consider investing in a programmable thermostat), and grab a sweater on those colder days.  Also, make sure your home is insulated well.  Just getting used to a colder temperature can cut your utility bills considerably.

It isn’t that difficult to both save energy and electricity in your home.  Small changes can amount to big pay-offs.  If you’re interested in other ways to save energy (while likely saving money as well), check out David Suzuki’s list of 10 Ways you can Stop Climate Change.  Both mother nature and your wallet will be thankful!

Bargainmoosers, do you have other ways you save both money and energy?

If you can’t afford to take Mom to the spa, or just don’t choose to want to spend exorbitant amounts of cash on a spa day, here are some awesome ideas on how to bring the spa to Mom. What’s great about this is that you can participate with her, because honestly, the best present is time spent together.

Start with a good, cleansing drink for you and Mom, like this sassy water (above) from A Sweet Simple Life. The cucumber, lemon and mint fuse together to make a detox drink that also tastes out of this world.

You can’t have a spa day without a face mask. Homemade Face Masks blog has a ton of recipes for masks you can make at home with ingredients right in your refrigerator, like this cucumber and yogurt facial mask (above).

Birthday Party Ideas 4 Kids (above) has a number of great spa recipes, including lip balm, eye reliever, pore cleansing strips and more great face masks, and these are not just for kids.

Don’t forget to feed Mom! Eat a clean lunch with this recipe for Cool Cucumber and Quinoa salad from the Eat Clean Diet. This is a perfect lunch for a spa day!

Slouch off that dead skin with a pure and simple sugar scrub (above), made from – what else – sugar! Pink of Perfection has a number of easy to make and yummy scrubs for your spa day.

New Jersey Moms Guide (above) has some great recipes for spa days, including a make your own hair conditioner.

We’ve covered the inside and the out, with scrubs, facials, hair treatments, detox and relaxation. I don’t think there is a better way to spend Mother’s Day. What do you think Bargainmoosers?

(Thanks Dennis Wong!)

One of the more common New Years’ resolutions is to learn a new or different language. Although English is a pretty accessible language, it doesn’t get you everywhere, especially if you travel for business or travel for fun and like to explore different countries. Many people want to learn Spanish, French, Japanese, or even Chinese. As children, it is easy to learn languages but as we get older it can be increasingly difficult. According to Forbes.com this critical period is at around four months of age.

If you’ve missed that boat and are still interested in learning, here are a few tips to learn a different language on the cheap (or even for free).

#1. Take a Course

Many universities or local community centres usually offer a continuing education course that meets once or twice weekly for language lessons. Usually these are very reasonably priced, especially if you are doing it through a local community centre. Expect to pay around $120 for a course that spans three months. The great thing about taking a course is that you get to be connected to your community.

If you are over 60 or know someone who is, take advantage of the free language courses that are offered at the university. In certain universities in Canada, for anyone who is over 60 you have access to free university courses that are with credit. The downside to university classes is that they are usually offered during the day. Another reason to aim for early retirement!

#2. Immerse Yourself

Probably the most expensive way (but in a way cost effective) is to immerse yourself in the country that you want to be learning the language in. Language courses taken in the country of destination (especially if you are learning Spanish in Latin America for example) is intensive (expect Monday to Friday classes for a few hours each day) but you can expect to see quick results. Language courses in Peru, for example, can be about $100 USD a week (20 hours per week) depending on which language company you use. In addition, you may be able to choose an option to Home Stay with a family in order to immerse yourself even more and reinforce the learning you did at school. Although this is the most expensive option, it is the option that combines great memories, great adventures, and meeting people from a different country.

#3. Go Online

There are many ways that we can learn a different language online. For example, Rosetta Stone, long regarded as the leader in language do- it-yourself classes, costs about $300.  If you don’t want to spend that much money, there are many other websites that are available that are free or cost next to nothing (though you might not see the same results).

For example, a few online websites that help you learn are:

• Busuu.com - It’s a free service and links you up with people from around the world who are interested in helping you with your language of choice. Some examples are Spanish, Portuguese, French, Japanese, and German. Busuu also has an app.

• Skype – Yes, Skype has a forum to exchange language learning and connect you with people from around the world.

• LingQ - Another online community linking you to others around the globe to practice. The difference with this, is that they give you mp3 downloads of language lesson content. It’s free to sign up but beyond the basics, you’ll need to pay if you want to do more advanced stuff.

#4. Join a Meet-Up Group

A great way to solidify the information that you learned in your language course is to join a meet-up group.  If you don’t use it you lose it.   That adage rings true especially when it comes to languages.

Joining a meet-up group is free. Just go to www.meetup.com and check for groups in your area. It is a great way to meet new people, make new friends, and most importantly, practice the new language you have learned. Alternately, there may be options in your city to meet up with individuals who are interested in learning English in exchange for learning their language. Not only will you be learning a new language, you also get satisfaction in knowing that you are helping someone learn English.

As you can see, there are numerous ways to learn a new language. They say that a great way to approach “life” is to have the perspective that we should never stop learning. Research has shown that being able to interchange between two languages helps delay the onset of dementia by 4.3 years. It is great to want to take that first step in learning a new language. Therefore, despite the potential high cost of continuing to learn a new language, preventing the onset of dementia in the future can be priceless! Also, if you’re learning for business and to expand your professional career, that’s priceless too!

Bargainmoosers, do you have other tips on how to learn a new language on the cheap?

Mother’s Day is next weekend and you need to get on whatever it is you are getting on and make your Mom feel special. If you are short on money, you can make something shockingly easy that doesn’t look like your kids made it. And she’ll love it.

Loveable Martha Stewart (above) came up with this fab idea to make candles out of teacups! This way you know it matches the decor, plus it is such a personal gift idea. You can find teacups at thrift or antique shops.

Shanty 2 Chic (above) made this amazing photo holder for only $3! This looks like something you buy in a store for at least $30. Your Mom will love it!

This DIY idea is incredibly easy. Pinching Your Pennies (above) found printable inspirational quotes online, printed them at Costco, then mod podged them onto cheap canvases from Michaels (I’ve also seen them at the dollar store).

Can you believe you can make these gorgeous necklaces yourself? Sarah Ortega (above) has a tutorial for making these bird’s nest necklaces on her website. And it is much cheaper and more sentimental than anything you’ll get at a jewellery store.

I don’t think you can get any easier than this do-it-yourself idea. Simply find an item at a thrift or vintage store and spray paint it. From Craft Kitsch to Cool (ab0ve) uses the items as decorative pieces on a bookshelf. What I love about this is the uniqueness of the item can not be duplicated at Home Sense! Thanks for the top image Jessica!

Instead of just bringing flowers (which cost an arm and a leg at this time of year), make this gorgeous and personal vase out of a PVC pipe! Then pick a few flowers from your own garden. Check out Mod Podge Rocks Blog (above) for how to do it.

I’m trying to decide which one I want to make for my own Mother. I love all of these ideas and love that it won’t hurt my wallet!

Which one should I ask my husband to make for me? What do you plan to do for Mother’s Day Bargainmoosers?