It’s school fundraising season. Moms and dads can relate to this annoying  ritual (getting asked to buy cookie dough or wrapping paper at inflated prices.) And how do you say no to your cute neighbor?

Stacey Boyd, a former school administrator and mom founder of Savvy Source, a national resource on finding good schools, has 5 key tips.

1. Best to set a budget and pace yourself throughout the year. Don’t blow your budget on the first cutie
knocking on your door with candy bars.

2. Consider just making a straight donation with a smile instead of buying the cookie dough you don’t really want — so the fundraiser makes more profit!

3. Remember that this is an opportunity for kids to learn valuable lessons around responsibility, social skills and money – they’ll remember the way you make them feel!

4. Contribute to fundraisers that you’re personally passionate about to make sure they get the larger share of what you can give

5. Find programs that allow you to give back in a way that’s easy and inline with what you already plan to spend. One powerful way to do that is through sites like Schoola.com Schools, parents and national brands have come together with fantastic savings – and generous school donations of up to 35% each purchase. Go to schoola.com to save and the potential to raise thousands for your school!

Have you noticed that the gas prices are steadily inching up? I have and it seems like I get a new gray hair with every penny increase. In some cases it’s jumped ten to 15 cents overnight. If you have been looking for ways to save money at the pump, here are a few tried and true ideas. My dad, a mechanic, told me about a few of them long ago when I got my first car, but there are a few things I didn’t know. Read these tips and start using them ASAP!

1. Fill up your tank on Wednesday or Thursday before 10 am. Gas prices rise on Thursdays in anticipation of weekend travel.  10 am is when most station owners make their price change for the day.  Unless it is an emergency, do not buy gas Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

2. Don’t let your car idle, either when you warm it up or when you are at a standstill. If you’re going to be standing for more than a minute, running your engine wastes more gas than restarting the engine.

3. Buy gas when it’s cooler during the day (like the early morning or at night) to reduce gas evaporation.

4. Remove unnecessary items in your car. Every 250 extra pounds eats up an extra mile per gallon of gas.

5. Avoid the convenient gas station on the side of the highway as you drive home from work which can be up to $.15 more per gallon.

6. Save money with self-service and look for gas stations where paying cash costs the same as using a credit or debit card.

7. Double check the attendant and ensure, if you are paying by cash, that “cash” is noted on the pump.  You could lose $.05 a gallon if he mistakenly presses “credit.”

8. Drive less – combine errands, carpool, and plot out the shortest route with a driving website beforehand.  It may sound obvious but it is often overlooked.

9. Check for traffic and detours online or on the radio prior to beginning your drive to avoid wasteful backtracking and idling.

10. Keep your windows closed when driving on the highway. Open windows can reduce your gas mileage by as much as 10%.  In stop-and-go traffic, open the windows and turn off the air conditioning to save more money.

11. Rent fuel-efficient cars when you travel and research reasonably priced places to buy gas before you leave.

12. Confirm with your mechanic what octane gasoline your car’s engine really needs.  Most car engines do not require high octane though the manual will say its “recommended.”

13. Download a Gas App for your phone.  If you have a Smartphone, there are plenty of free apps that help you find the cheapest gas near your destination. GasBuddy makes it easy with its free app, and Mapquest has an online finder for gas prices.

14. Buy Discount Gas Gift Cards – Did you know you don’t have to pay full price for a gift card? Sites like GiftCardGranny.com offer a diverse selection of discount gas gift cards from various card vendors.

15. Be loyal to one gas company and get rewarded with its cash-back credit card reward program.

Chris Faulkner is President and Chief Executive Officer Breitling Oil and Gas, (www.BreitlingOilandGas.com), a Dallas-based independent oil and gas exploration and production company.

Guest Post

I have no shame in admitting that some of the most basic responsibilities of a home owner were delegated to my husband when he lived with us.

When he moved out, I was left with a new set of responsibilities, on top of taking care of the kids and daily menial household chores. I knew nothing about the appliances that ran in our home, I only knew how to enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Over time, I realized that the appliances are a functioning part of the family. They need “checkups” like my kids. The key is maintenance; it helps keep your robot friends running smoother and longer. Bottom line: I don’t want to call someone to help me fix something. I’d rather take care of what I have and avoid catastrophe.

So here’s my handy list of “maintenance checks.” It’s next to my list of daily chores on the refrigerator. This is not a checklist to perform every day! Just do it when you have some spare time every few months. It may seem boring, but it will help you spend less time and effort worrying about the next hiccup.

1. Air Filters

Change these according to the kind of air filter you use. Keep in mind, there are alot of different types. If it’s high-efficiency, do it 4 times per year.

2. Dishwasher

Check the seals.

Check for dirt. Lift the float up and clean it out. You can find the float at the front or back of the dishwasher. If there is any debris that restricts its movement, it can cause a leak.

3. Garbage Disposal

Grind ice for a few seconds to sharpen the blades.

Grind citrus peels to keep the disposal smelling fresh and germ-free.

4. Refrigerator

Dust the coils behind the fridge. When they accumulate dust it’s harder for the coils to keep the fridge cool, costing you more money.

Clean the drip pan underneath the fridge. Simply pull it out and rinse it with soapy water.

Clean the gaskets. Those are the things that keep the doors closed and sealed.

5. Washer/Dryer

Wash your washer. This might sound redundant, but it actually has to be cleaned. Try using vinegar or lemon juice and then running it on the hottest cycle.

Clean your dryer vent, located behind your dryer. These things get backed up with dust and causes the dryer to stop working. The interior vent is behind the dryer; undo it and vacuum the vent, the hose, and the back of the dryer. Then go outside and detach the exterior vent from your house and give it a thorough vacuuming.

Hi, I’m Marie Ortiz. I am a blogger, DIY enthusiast, and mother of two beautiful girls. . I am always working on new ways for my girls to develop and learn, and I love to share all of my discoveries along the way. We enjoy working on DIY projects as a family, and they are turning into avid crafters. When I’m not perusing the Internet for inspiration, you can find me at my local farmers’ market or looking for new adventures. You can check me out at www.DIYMother.org.

Sometimes the words single mom and struggle seems to mean the same thing. It’s hard to say one without thinking about the other. Everyday I read/hear about single moms who are struggling to make ends meet. I have been there and know how hard it is to look my kids in the face, knowing there is no money in the bank, no food in the cabinets, and no gas in the car. I know what it’s like to have the lights turned off and bill collectors calling. You may be facing this now, so I really want you to read the story below. A single mom sent this powerful testimony to me and wanted me to share it with you. What do you do when you are a struggling single mom? Pray…

God’s hand on a single mother…Karen’s Story

I will never forget Saturday morning January 12, 2013. I woke up with no money in my pocket, my bank accounts were negative and my fridge was so empty you could hear the echo if I stuck my head in it. I was on day 6 of reading my bible for 90 days and could feel the strength of God on the inside of me growing but the outside seemed hopeless.

I decided months ago that just paying my tithe every pay period wasn’t cutting it so I signed up for a program at my church called “Money Wise”. A part of this program is to have you meet up with the director so she can ask you some questions and pray to see which one of the many volunteer counselors she would be able to match you up with.

Well this Saturday my counselor was coming to meet me to discuss my finances which were just a mess. We sat down for 2 hours as I displayed the part of the bible that says “ my people perish for a lack of knowledge” because I didn’t know anything. All I knew was that I was in so much debt all built from being a single mother and not trusting God . You see, I was a survivor and never living or experiencing God as my Jehovah Jirah but today that was about to change.

That morning I woke up and prompted by a vision I went downstairs to explain to my children how the money I made came in and out of the house by demonstrating with monopoly money. They seemed to understand so we moved on to have some family time when my daughter said, “mommy what’s for breakfast?” I literally had nothing but a can of corn. Thank God she loves corn because that day that is what she ate a can of buttered corn, while me and my oldest ate nothing and my two youngest went to ask one of their friends for a package of noodles.

I told my kids that I was not being a good manager over the 90% that God was letting me keep and that the bible says if you’re not a good manager of the little, even the little would be taken. So I told them from this day they had one of two choices either get on the bandwagon with me to serve God by surrendering or get out. By their silence I believe everyone chose to get on the bandwagon with me. My oldest son said a simple prayer, “ God we don’t have anything, we need something, take care of us. Thank you. Amen. We continued on our day reading the bible, praying and just praising God we had forgot that we didn’t have dinner that night.

As I said earlier my counselor was coming over to discuss money management. She showed up and for 2 hours we discussed, planned, budgeted, set goals and I repented for my lack of knowledge, faith and no seeing God as my source. As we finished praying and my counselor was about to leave, she said to me, “We don’t normally do this but I am feeling led by the Lord to ask you how much gas do you have in your car? I said it is on “E” only enough to make it to the highway to pull over and wait for the local roadside assistance to give me a gallon of gas.

She said, “follow me”, and we went to the gas station where she put gas in my car. She then proceeded to tell me to follow her to the store and there she made me go up and down every aisle picking up the things I needed and wanted in multiples of two. By the time we got to the register I had two carts full of groceries!!!!! God is good but he didn’t stop there…

  

I went home, put those bags on the table, and me and my children took a moment and said, “Thank you God”. I asked each one of my children how they felt and one by one they expressed how amazing it was to see God’s hand move first hand. We had tacos and pizza that night and the only reason we had pizza was because it wouldn’t fit in our fridge.

Sunday came and we did our normal routine went to church, volunteered, and enjoyed the day as a family when I received a call from my counselor again asking me to meet her at a nearby Starbucks. Once I got there she handed me an orange envelope with my name on the front of it inside of the envelope was 200.00 of gas cards and 200.00 of groceries cards… Are you serious God!!! Ephesians 3:20 says God will do exceedingly and abundantly more than you can ever think of or ever ask. And God still was not finished.

On the outside of the envelope were the words “electric”, “water”, and “lease”. It meant that I would not have to worry about my electric bill that was behind a month, my water bill that was behind a month and my rent for next month would be paid as well.

God is good!! Awesome, amazing and he loves us. Here I am a single mother of 5 children, 4 that actually are home with me, one income that is being garnished at 35% for an upside down car note because I had to buy from a “buy here ,pay here” place. I had to just throw my hands up and say God I surrender. The moment I did God said, “thank you for moving out of my position”, and did the unthinkable.

I don’t know where you are as a single mother but I know it can be frustrating and embarrassing at times but trust me God wants to do things for us if we would only surrender and let him. It was so hard for me to throw up my hands up, but I am so thankful that I finally did and thank God because that was my last can of corn.

I am excited to finish in my journey of the money wise program to see how God is going to move on all of these debts and my one crave that I am asking God for daily is to get rid of this horrible car note that I got myself in to do the unthinkable again and have this $10,963.45 balance removed from my life.

Thank you God for looking down on a single mother and being faithful!!

Do you believe in the power of prayer? How has it helped you during the times you struggled the most? Talk about it in the comments below. 

Have you experienced miracles and blessings like Karen’s? Click here to share your story

Here are this week’s dollar stretcher tips for you. I hope you find something useful to make your money go further this week. Dollar Stretcher tips come from consumers like you. Click the link at the bottom of this article for more tips. Enjoy!

Need to Find a Good Mechanic?

A great way to find a good mechanic is to ask a few local used car dealers who they take their cars to for work. I found a mechanic this way, and he charges about half the rate of the dealerships!
Robin in Santa Fe

Cleaning Baseball Caps

I was looking for some plastic “cap” holders to keep my caps in shape while washing them. I couldn’t find the holders so I put them in the dishwasher. We had white caps that had turned a little yellow. I sprayed them with Shout(r) and used powder dishwasher soap. I washed them twice and laid them on a towel to dry overnight. They turned out great.
BJ

Shipping Tip

My family is scattered around the country, and we’re always mailing parcels to each other for birthday gifts and such. We’ve learned to use a layer of plastic cling wrap instead of tape to secure the bubble wrap around an item we’re packing. It’s not only more secure, but it’s also a great deal easier to remove the bubble wrap without tearing, so it can be reused. I bet a few pieces of the bubble wrap in my stash have been back and forth across the country a dozen times by now!
Robin

Ground Meat Stretcher

A way to stretch good ground meat is to add bread crumbs to the meat and hand mix in a bowl. Then form burger patties as usual and freeze. You can use leftover stale bread and dry in an oven. Grate it in a blender or by hand. I take this even further and add my own homegrown dehydrated onion and garlic into the mixture for flavor. The possibilities for additions are endless.
S.

Portable Fridge

The hotel we were staying at rented out fridges for an extra $10 per day, and we were staying six days. We decided to purchase a “plug in cooler” at Walmart for $65 instead. It’s really a cooler sized fridge that stands up or lays down like a cooler. We used it every day and now have it for road trips since it has an attachment for a car lighter. It’s great for long trips and also for grocery shopping in the summer! As a bonus, there is a heat setting if you are ever going to a potluck with a warm dish.
S. in Rochester, NY

Frugal “Date Nights”

My husband and I love a great bargain. For our “date nights,” we start a lot earlier. We found that if we have a very late lunch at our favorite restaurant and catch the twilight movie, we save about half of what we would normally pay. Plus, since we eat before the movie, we aren’t tempted to spend money on soda and popcorn, which are loaded with calories that we don’t need anyway.
Cathy T.

Why I “Bulk Cook”

I cook in bulk twice weekly, once on Saturday and once on Wednesday, when the week’s shopping happens (currently, this is the only day all of us are home at the same time). Bulk cooking has a lot of benefits. It saves power, water, time, and food. It lets me teach my kids cooking skills, organization skills, how to multiply recipes, how to shop for a menu, how to stay within a budget, and how to make clean-up easy. And it gives us one night a week where we are together, working on a mutual project whose outcome we all care about. It’s not just a money-saving strategy, but it’s also real quality family time.
WC

Over-Ripe Fresh Fruit?

Here’s an easy way to always have ice pops available for the kids. It’s also a great way to use up fresh fruit before it goes bad and you have to throw it away. To make 4 pops, place 2 cups of cut up fruit, 1 tablespoon sugar (or whatever sweetener you prefer), and 1 teaspoon lemon or lime juice into your blender with a couple tablespoons of water to make a thick slush. Cover and blend until smooth. Pour into pop molds if you have them or small paper cups. Insert sticks and freeze until solid. You can pick up craft/popsicle sticks at any dollar store.
DS

Wrinkle Releaser Savings

The wrinkle releasers are a great idea, but I would never spend the money. I found a great alternative that costs nothing. Use water!

I promise it works great! Just mist the water on your clothing. Stretch and smooth. It really works great. Even my kids do it for their t-shirts. Saves me from ironing, and they get a kick out of doing it themselves!
Cyndi

Saving Seriously Burned Cookware

I have another wonderful use for baking soda. It is great for removing the baked and burned on grease and crud from pots and pans. Simply fill the pan with water and add 1/2 to 1-cup baking soda and bake in a 350-degree oven for 2 to 3 hours. Allow to cool, and the grease will just lift off.

This tip saved me from having to throw out a good quality roasting pan that I thought had been ruined by a careless roommate. After the baking soda treatment, a good 1/4-inch of burned grease came off and the pan was left as sparkly clean as the day I bought it!
Jennifer

Want to live better on the money you already make? Visit <www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn> to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar! Copyright 2012 Dollar Stretcher, Inc.

Kids who learn about finance management early in life are more likely to be financially responsible as adults. Young children might not need to know about mutual funds and mortgages, but they are smart enough to start learning about the value of money. Teaching your child about the importance of saving money and working hard to get it will give him a solid foundation for making the right financial decisions in the future. Kids learn best when they have no idea that they are learning, so it’s important to come up with fun ways to teach them about serious subjects like finance. Depending on your child’s age and interests, there are a few effective and exciting ideas you can try to get him interested in learning the basics of money management.

Since it’s a little too early for your child to keep track of savings at your bank’s local branch, get him started with a piggy bank. To a child, a piggy bank is essentially the same thing as a savings account. Encouraging a child how to use one is a great way to teach him how banks work and why saving money is important. Ask your child to put some of the money he earns into the piggy bank instead of spending it. After he collects a good amount, take him to the toy or candy store for a reward. Let him pick out whatever he wants to buy because he earned it. It’s a good idea to give your child some extra money as an interest on his savings. It’s an easy way to teach your kid that saving pays off in the long run and leads to better rewards than spending a little money at a time on smaller things.

Make sure that you are giving your child money for a job well done and not just to fill up his piggy bank. Have your child do light household chores to teach him the value of money. It’s important to show young kids that every little bit of money requires hard work. You can have your child clean his room or help you out in the kitchen. Give him age-appropriate tasks that won’t be too overwhelming. Make sure that your child connects the work he is doing with money by giving him a small payment immediately after he is done. Try to use change, so it’s easier for your kid to put a portion of his reward into the piggy bank. Older children can get money in bills as long as you use small denominations.

It’s important to let your child spend a little money after he earns it instead of putting everything into the piggy bank to keep him interested in making more. If you are teaching your child finance management, chances are that he is old enough to count. Spend some time counting money together, and come up with financial goals. Setting objectives will give your kid a chance to practice both math and financial responsibility. Most importantly, always set a good example by taking control of your own finances and slowly teaching your child how to make the right financial decisions as he gets older.

Naomi Esterly believes that it’s never too early to teach kids the value of money. In this guest post she provides practical lessons on how to get them started with finance management. These are the very same things she’s taught her kids and she hopes that you’d find it useful too. When she’s not penny-pinching she is a freelance writer. 

This week’s Dollar Stretcher tips feature ways to freshen your car cheaply but effectively, easy bug bit relief, places to ask for coupons, and a number of other ways to splurge without breaking the bank!
Scented Soaps

I buy cheap neutral liquid soap and add almond oil (olive oil is also good, but the smell of the almond oil is better). That’s how I get moisturizing soap at minimum cost!
Michelle R.

Pesky Fruit Flies!

I worked at a bar where fruit flies were a problem. We put a small amount of red wine into a shallow dish, covered it with plastic wrap, and then poked a hole into it. This “fly trap” worked so good that it had to be changed every couple of days.
Arturo

Big Outdoor Pots

When planting in pots for your deck or patio, use less soil by putting aluminum cans in the bottom of the pot or container. Then add your soil. This is good for drainage, you use less soil, and the container is lighter to move around.
L.

Auto Air Freshener

I put a sheet of fabric softener under each seat in my car. The smell is magnificent and much cheaper than the Christmas tree shaped strong smelling ones. Plus, I usually have a coupon when I buy the dryer sheets. What a bargain!
Lisa P.

Insect Bite Relief

We use vinegar for ant (fire ants especially), mosquito, and bug bites. We have tried all the other home remedies, but vinegar works the best for my money. We pour the vinegar (white or apple cider) on a paper towel or wash cloth and hold on the bite. The swelling and burning or itching completely disappear after a few minutes. The smell disappears soon afterwards.
Tammy R from Lakeland, FL

Cleaning Jewelry

Instead of buying expensive jewelry cleaning solution and other cleaning supplies for my jewelry collection, I use denture cleaning tablets from the dollar store, along with rubber gloves, toothpaste, alcohol, and cotton swabs from the same place. You need to be careful when cleaning jewelry with stones, but with a little online research on which stones need special care and how to handle them, dollar store supplies can save you a lot of money.
Betty W. in Bowling Green, OH

Cheaper Bird Feed

We like to feed the birds at our house, but the birdseed was getting very expensive. At my local farm feed store, I found that I can buy chicken scratch in 50-pound bags at half the cost of regular birdseed. It contains almost the same type of seed as birdseed mixes. We throw in a handful of sunflower seeds, and we can keep up our hobby at a “cheeper” price!
Karen in New Haven

Hair Conditioner

I always used a conditioning creme on my hair after I would towel dry it. Without it, I couldn’t even get a comb through my hair because it is very thick and curly. One day I realized I was out of conditioner, so I used a few drops of baby oil. It worked great! That’s all I use now. I can’t believe how much money this has saved me. Also, I dilute all my shampoo 50% with water and only shampoo once.
Donna L.

Gift Basket Ideas

One of the best gift basket ideas I’ve ever come across was an “Ice Cream Sundae” gift basket. You can make this very frugally or extravagantly. Just place sundae or ice cream bowls (can easily be found at dollar stores), some spoons, an ice cream scoop, sprinkles, ice cream sauces (homemade or store bought) and napkins (paper or cloth) in a basket and bring to a shower, birthday party or housewarming. I plan on giving this to my brother for a wedding present along with an ice cream maker and an ice cream cookbook.
Thea

Asking for Coupons

I have saved so much by just “asking” for coupons for services that I regularly use. The chain salon that cuts my hair does not have coupons on display, etc. Simply by asking, I received two coupons for future use. Over a year, this really adds up! Every dollar saved through coupon use for items that we really need/use makes a big difference over time!
D.

Fun Fruit!

For the kids who don’t like fruit, this is a great way to change their minds. Wash some red grapes and dry them the best you can. Then put them on a cookie sheet or tray and place in the freezer until thoroughly frozen. Empty into a freezer bag and keep in the freezer. They’re so good this way! They taste like candy.
Donna from North Carolina

Want to live better on the money you already make? Visit <www.stretcher.com/index.cfm?TipsSyn> to find hundreds of articles to help you stretch your day and your dollar! Copyright 2012 Dollar Stretcher, Inc.