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Showing posts with label recession. Show all posts
Showing posts with label recession. Show all posts

Sunday

Save on Herbs - Grow Your Own



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In these tough economic times, many people are growing their own vegetables in home gardens. But if you are not like me and don't like digging in dirt, there is a much easier way to grow your herbs. Try the AeroGrow.

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Thursday

Shop Wal-Mart Great Value Brands in the Food Aisle



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I like to purchase 100% Juice and obviously this costs more than juice drinks.

Here is the tip of the week:

If you shop at Wal-mart, the best purchase you can make is to purchase its Great Value brand 100% juice. The 96 oz bottle of apple juice or apple fruit punch blend averages $2.27. I have not found a better buy for 100% juice at any super market in my area.

This week, the Great Value brand Apple Juices were only $1.97. I shop at Wal-Mart every other week and I buy three 96 ounce bottles that last.

If you want to buy healthier drinks for your family check out the Great Value 100% juice at Wal-Mart.

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Saturday

Eating Right When The Budget Is Tight



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When household expenses are under the knife, a few simple changes in the kitchen can help you cook up many beneficial savings and health advantages. Consider these money-saving tips from the Cookware Manufacturers Association:

• Save on lunches. Large-capacity cookware lets cooks prepare soups and stews that provide extra portions for freezing and reheating for next-day meals.

• Pressure cookers and slow cookers save time and money. Each cooks foods economically, requiring less energy. Because they tenderize and heat foods thoroughly, you can use inexpensive or less-prepared cuts of meat.

• Size the portion to the pot. Pots or pans too large for the amount of food cooked use more energy than necessary.

• Consider multiuse pans that pull double duty. An oven-proof skillet, for example, can be used for baked casseroles. This reduces the number of pieces used and later cleaned. Check labeling to prevent going over a pot's or pan's temperature tolerance in oven heat.

• Baking bread at home is easier than many people realize. A few cups of flour, water and yeast combine with heat and turn into golden brown breads. The warm, inviting aromas fill the home. Today's bread makers make the task of kneading even easier.

• Measure out all the dry ingredients for several loaves of bread at one time and store the mixtures in plastic resealable bags. Just add the wet ingredients to the premade packs when it's time to bake.

• Don't stop with bread--The steps in making pies and cookies are surprisingly simple, too. As an added bonus, baking at home from scratch helps you avoid processed ingredients and preservatives.

• Using a lid when boiling water and other liquids takes less time, therefore less energy in heating.

• Inspect kitchen equipment and replace items without lids, with poorly fitting lids, loose handles or a damaged cooking surface.

• When replacing kitchen equipment such as pots, skillets and baking pans, get durable materials. Quality cookware makes cooking more enjoyable, and the products are easier to clean.

• Learn more. Much more information on cooking and cookware can be found in the "Guide to Cookware and Bakeware" offered by the Cookware Manufacturers Association at www.cookware.org.

Keep a selection of pots, pans, skillets and other items of various sizes in your kitchen to meet different needs.

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Sunday

Free Debt Help Is At Your Fingertips



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If the time ever comes when your debt outweighs your income or you're able to make only the minimum payment on your credit card or cards, be concerned. These are some of the standard warning signs of out-of-control debt.

There are many free services and tools available to bank customers who are looking for new ways to pay down debt or save more. These tools and solutions help customers take action, take control and manage their money better.

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The first step is easy: Go to your bank's Web site and take an online tour. Or you can head to a branch and speak with an expert about personal financial management tools. These services can provide guidance to those who feel weighed down by debt or have a hard time setting up and managing a budget.

Here's what you will find at one major bank:

Wells Fargo has a new online Smarter Credit resource center. It includes a wide variety of tips and tools and a section called "Reduce Debt." This is aimed at helping consumers start to pay down debt, reduce interest costs or lower their payments.

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Within that section you can find the company's new Debt Pay Down Solution that can help consumers get out of debt faster. First, it suggests that people consolidate high-interest debt and potentially get lower monthly payments through a personal loan.

Then, people can use the free online tool called My Spending Report with Budget Watch to find opportunities each month to spend less. It's an easy-to-use, automatic budgeting system that, in addition to tracking deposits and spending, helps customers create a budget and monitor their progress toward meeting it.

My Spending Report with Budget Watch offers quick setup, budget alerts and a variety of charts and graphs to analyze and track spending. A unique "What's Left" feature shows any surplus at month's end and allows customers to apply it to long-term financial goals such as reducing debt, building savings or planning for retirement.

Finally, customers can transfer some of their "What's Left" to the principal of the new loan to accelerate the pay down of their debt. Another tool called My Savings Plan makes it easy for customers to put "What's Left" to work for them through savings.

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You may be able to save money and pay down your debts faster with help from an online budgeting tool.


Monday

Recession Tips: Value Programs Help Consumers Shop Smarter



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In these challenging economic times, consumers are increasingly looking for ways to reduce their spending without drastically altering their lifestyles. What many may not realize is that the key to stretching dollars isn't always about spending less; sometimes it's simply a matter of shopping smarter. Here are a few tips:

• Compare prices to find the retailer that offers you the most savings.

• Buy the staples you need first, then re-evaluate your budget for additional wants.

• Plan a shopping list in advance to avoid buying items you don't need.

• Seek out in-store sales and look for coupons, many of which are posted online. Stay on the look-out for special online-only deals as well, such as free shipping.

• Buy store brand/generic when possible. They generally have the same ingredients but can cost up to 50 percent less than name-brand items.

• Shop for groceries after you've eaten and while you have a full stomach. You'll be less inclined to purchase food you don't need. At supercenters like SuperTarget, it's possible to shop for fashion, electronics and groceries in a single location-and even have lunch at the food court.

• Look for in-store savings programs designed to help consumers get more out of the money they spend. For example, some grocery stores offer special pricing for consumers who sign up for a discount card.

• Look for specially marked areas on retailers' Web sites that call out value and sales. Some Web sites such as Target.com have areas where you can search product categories by price.

• Consumers can get even more for their money by using store credit cards such as the Target Visa. Each time you use it on Target purchases, you earn reward points toward 10 percent off an entire day of shopping.

• Shop for items before you run out. Buying in bulk when the unit price is less can help you save money.

• Take advantage of rebate offers.

• Shop discount retailers that offer not only trend-forward products but also competitive pricing.

Smart shopping is all about getting quality products at the right prices.

Looking for special value programs can be a useful, convenient way to get more for your money.



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Thursday

Read How to Save: "Living Well In a Down Economy"



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If you have run out ways to save, pick up this book:Living Well in a Down Economy For Dummies


The key to living well in today's economy isn't making sacrifices, it's setting priorities."Living Well in a Down Economy For Dummies" (Wiley) gives readers the skills they need to take control of their spending, make smarter choices and stop the economic bleeding.

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Tuesday

Top Five Tips For Surviving A Down Economy



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Following a few easy steps can help keep your head above water during tough financial times.

Even though we can't control when the economy goes into recession, dipping home prices or gas prices increasing, we can decide how we spend, save and invest our money. It's more important now than ever to make the right financial moves, so that regardless of what's going on with the economy, you're able to stay on top of your financial situation. MSN Money personal finance editor Liz Pulliam Weston offers the following advice to help you stay afloat during these tough economic times:

• Don't confuse your needs and wants. We have fewer needs (shelter, food, clothes, etc.) than wants (endless). Figuring out what we really need and how to get it for less can really help get finances in check. If you find yourself saying "I need a (whatever)," stop for a second and consider whether you really do. You probably don't have to live without it forever, but wait until you're in a comfortable enough financial situation before purchasing.

• Getting the big stuff right. If your mortgage or rent payment eats up much more than 30 percent of your gross income or your vehicle costs you more than 10 percent (including financing, repairs and gas), you're probably overspending on the "big stuff" in your life. Try using the Home Affordability Calculator on MSN Money to get a realistic look at what's truly manageable.

• Get out of debt. Whether you meant to do it or not, there's no excuse for carrying credit card debt. It costs you a ton of money in interest and puts you at the mercy of the credit card companies. If you can't pay your bill in full, it's time to put that card away. Pay over the minimum and plan to pay it off entirely before using any of your credit cards again.

• Track your spending. It's not the most fun, but keep track of every nickel you spend for at least two weeks. You'll learn why and how your money is disappearing. Once you can see where your money is going, you can find ways to keep more of it in your pocket.

• Set up an emergency fund. A $500 cushion is something that just about everyone can come up with and it can really be a lifesaver. You never know what can happen tomorrow, and having some savings set aside will help keep you from going further into credit card debt or searching for high-interest alternatives such as payday loans.


Monday

Recession Buster: More Tips for Saving at the Supermarket



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Shopping at the supermarket is becoming more and more challenging on the brain.

Recently, I was at a Shoprite picking up a few items. I needed tomato sauce and my preferred brand is Ragu in any flavor. The one pound bottle of Ragu was "on sale" for $2.39. Keep in mind, last year the sale price use to be $1.99.

I grabbed the chunky vegetable flavor in 1lb size, but noticed the same flavor in a larger size. I picked the larger size and it was a 2lb plastic bottle regularly priced for $2.99. So for 1lb more of the same sauce for $.60 more! I put the 1lb bottle back on the shelf and grabbed two 2lb bottles.

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When shopping at the supermarket, make sure you always look at size vs. price. You will find that you will save more with the larger contatiners.

Remember - only buy bigger when you know you won't waste the leftovers. I have pasta pretty frequently at my house, so the sauce will go to good use.


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Sunday

Save Money: Summer Savings Tips



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With summer here, many consumers look forward to unwinding and enjoying the warm weather with family and friends. Whether it’s hosting a barbecue, lying out at the beach or going on weekend trips, consumers are looking for an escape during the summer months.

Bank of America says there are simple ways consumers can set aside the stress of finances as well and put themselves in a position to save this summer. Julie Morgenstern, author of “When Organizing Isn’t Enough: SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life” and an expert on organization and time management, indicates that summer is a good time to get into a financial routine.

“The first step is to shed the bad financial habits that keep you from saving valuable time and money,” Morgenstern says.

To ensure consumers enjoy their summer without the worry of finances, here are some tips that can help you stretch your money without feeling the guilt:

Find reasonably priced escapes. You don’t have to travel the world or spend a fortune to get a vacation. Try changing your environment and surroundings to gain a new perspective. Whether it’s a meal in a restaurant with an exotic cuisine, a drive to the countryside or anything different in your day-to-day routine, these small changes can provide the fresh perspective you desire.

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Picture the life you want! While you’re relaxing on the beach or sitting on your patio deck this summer, reflect on the life you want to obtain. Through visualizing the life you want to live, you can more easily set a course to make it real. Do you crave more security, wealth or less stress? Start by changing your self-image and habits. If money matters are a leading stress factor in your life, start picturing yourself as a saver and take the steps necessary to make it happen.


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Save while you spend. Making small-item purchases throughout the summertime can add up to big spending. Look for opportunities to save. Use coupons or sign up for a simple savings program where you can save while you spend, like Keep the Change® with Bank of America, which automatically rounds up every check card purchase to the next whole dollar and transfers the difference from your checking account into your savings account. The bank will then match 100 percent of your Keep the Change savings for the first three months after you enroll, and 5 percent thereafter, up to a maximum total of $250 a year. Customers have saved $1 billion since the program began. Now, that’s savings that really does add up!

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Saturday

Simple Solutions To Combat Rising Food Prices



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Guest Article by Hannah Keeley

Food prices are on the rise and, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they are expected to climb even higher. With eggs up 40 percent, milk up 20 percent and chicken up 10 percent, many families are feeling the strain on their budgets at the grocery store.

Taking small steps, such as eating before heading to the grocery store and reading the circular to see what’s on sale, can have a big impact at the checkout counter. Here are some other ways families can make the most of their grocery budget:

• Planning ahead is very important. Before you go to the grocery store, plan out a week’s worth of meals. Check your pantry for any items you already have and make a list so you know exactly what to buy at the store.

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• To cut down on cost, choose affordable canned vegetables such as Libby’s, which are just as nutritious and great tasting as pricey fresh varieties. GetBack totheTable.com has delicious easy recipes to help moms incorporate canned vegetables into family dinners.

• Buy in bulk only when it’s a product you know you will use, and check the price per ounce listed on the shelf to make sure you’re getting the most product for your money.

• For moms shopping with children, create a learning experience. Before you set out, show your kids your list and explain that it is exactly what the family needs for the week. Get the kids involved by having them hunt for essentials. Older children can put their math skills to real-world use by weighing items, counting cans and calculating sale prices.

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Budget-conscious moms can download my meal planner and find cost-saving tips from Libby’s, as well as convenient, healthy recipes, at www.GetBacktotheTable.com.

Hannah Keeley is a mother of seven and author of “Hannah Keeley’s Total Mom Makeover: The Six-Week Plan to Completely Transform Your Home, Health, Family, and Life.”


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Tuesday

AAA Tips for Saving on Gas Part 2



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Here are some other smart tips from AAA on how to get more travel per gallon of gas:

No Need To Speed: If you are really concerned about maximizing your highway gas mileage (and driving safely), don’t exceed the posted speed limits. According to DOE and EPA data, your highway gas mileage drops 2 to 3 MPG for every 5 mile-per-hour increase in speed over 60.

Lose Some Weight: Don’t carry more dead weight in your Kia than you need to. The DOE and EPA say that every 100-pounds of extra weight in the trunk or cargo area exacts a fuel economy penalty of up to 2 percent.

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Don't Be A Speed Racer: "Speed Racer - NO NO NO" --If you want a big gain in fuel mileage, though, you need to seriously lay off the pedals when driving around town. Accelerating more slowly away from green lights and stopping more gradually for red lights cut fuel consumption in Edmunds.com's tests by 35.4 percent for the Land Rover and 27.1 percent for the Mustang.

Slamming down the gas pedal pushes more fuel into the engine while it also keeps the engine running faster.

You can also save a lot of gas by just lifting your foot off the accelerator as soon as possible when approaching a yellow or red light or a stop sign.


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Monday

AAA Tips for Saving Gas Part 1



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I have been driving a lot slower these days to save on gas. I obey speed limits to help maximize mikes per gallon.

HEre is a tip from AAA:
Keep a steady speed: Most vehicles already have the best way to do this-Cruise Control! Used properly, It can improve overall fuel economy by up to 14 percent on the highway, according to independent tests.

Cruise control improves fuel economy because any movement of the accelerator - even those too small to noticeably affect speed - wastes gas. However if you use it in traffic conditions that require braking and resetting the speed frequently, you are not saving gas at all.


"Auto Refinance"

Turn Off Your Engine: If you are stuck at a railroad crossing counting the minutes as an endless freight train creeps by, shut off your engine. A car gets precisely zero miles per gallon when idling, and it’s easier on the vehicle and more economical to shut off the engine rather than let it idle for an extended period. There’s a myth that says it takes more gas to start your car than it does to idle for a few minutes. That is only a myth.

Check tomorrow for more gas saving tips.

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Wednesday

Thrifty And Tasty Tips To Help Stretch Your Meat Dollar



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There’s good news for consumers who are trying to cook up ways to cope with higher food prices. By doing their homework before they shop, many are finding that it’s possible to identify values in the supermarket meat case that are tasty and can help save money.

Why are prices rising? Corn to feed livestock and poultry is being made into ethanol to fuel our cars. High corn demand means high feed prices, which in turn means high food prices.

To help consumers enjoy delicious and nutritious meat on a budget, experts at the American Meat Institute offer these tips:

Start With A Plan

• Every shopping trip should start with a plan-a meal plan that leverages sale items and coupons. Get organized with a shopping list, weekly promotions and coupons. This triple effort will result in real savings if you are able to coordinate the use of coupons with weekly advertised meat specials. Plan at least a week’s worth of entrĆ©es so you can profit from the weekly specials.

• Use coupons from a variety of sources, such as newspapers and magazines, online grocery coupons from popular coupon Web sites, and in-store coupons that are dispensed throughout the supermarket on double and triple coupon days.

• Join frequent-shopper programs at each of the grocery stores where you shop. The stores’ incentive programs can slice a percentage off your total food bill.

Stock Up And Save

• Stock up on sale meat items and value/family packs to fill your freezer.

• If you purchase a large meat value pack, be sure to portion the meats in quantities suitable for your household and freeze the packages individually.

Plan For Leftovers

Plan dinners so you will have leftovers to use for later meals. You’ll save time, energy and supermarket dollars when you plan ahead to buy and prepare enough servings for more than one meal.

It’s also possible to make the leftovers more inviting by incorporating them into another recipe-a “planned-over.”

• Leftover roast beef or steak can become “planned over” beef quesadillas. Leftover hamburgers can be crumbled into spaghetti and lasagna sauces.

• Leftover pork chops can become pork fried rice with the addition of cooked rice, ginger, scallions, vegetables and eggs.

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Shop For Value Cuts

Cuts of meat from the shoulder and leg are well-exercised muscles, are more lean and have a coarse grain. These cuts are very flavorful and are generally considered a “value cut” because they cost less but deliver good flavor and a large amount of meat. These less tender cuts can be tenderized by several methods:

• Marinate in a liquid containing an acid such as vinegar, wine, or lemon or lime juice. As the meat stands in the liquid, the acid breaks down the less tender cuts of meat. The formula for liquid to meat is ½ cup of liquid per 1 pound of meat. Since marinades only penetrate about ¼ inch into meats, it is key to use a cut that is relatively thin.

• Always marinate meats in a covered container and place in the refrigerator. Use a sealable food-grade plastic bag or a glass or stainless steel container, so the acid marinade does not react with the container.

• Use a low-heat and moist-cooking method to soften the connective tissues that run through the muscles. Both the slow cooker and braising cooking methods are perfect cooking techniques for value cuts.

• For more information on stretching the meat dollar or for a series of recipes that use value cuts, visit www.MeatMattersInfo.org for a brochure called “Stretching Your Meat Dollar.” Or send a stamped, self-addressed, business-size envelope to Stretch Your Meat Dollar/AMI, 1150 Connecticut Ave., NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC, 20036.

Every shopping trip should start with a plan-a meal plan that leverages sale items and coupons. Get organized with a shopping list, weekly promotions and coupons.


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Sunday

How To S-T-R-E-T-C-H Your Food Dollar



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Guest Article: by Heidi Diller, RD - Albertsons Corporate Nutritionist

According to the United States Department of Agriculture, a family of four spends $80 more a month on groceries than it did two years ago. Yes, it’s the worst case of food inflation we’ve seen in 20 years. Try having two teenagers at home that drink more gallons of milk than I use in gasoline. Funny that a gallon of milk is currently the same price as a gallon of gasoline. Gives new meaning to the phrase “food is fuel.”

I’ve never been much of a coupon user. And I rarely watched the ads. Not anymore. The challenge I now face is still providing my family with healthy meal options but at a price I can afford. Some simple tips like not shopping hungry and using a list have helped keep unneeded items out of my cart. But this journey has taught me to find ways by which I can stretch my food dollar without my family even noticing the difference. Here are my tips:

• Use the weekly food ads to create a weekly dinner menu. I create a five-day menu that uses the meat that’s on sale along with fresh and frozen produce. I never use coupons for items I don’t regularly buy. Remember, fewer store visits equals fewer dollars spent.

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• Herbs and spices are expensive. So I add flavor and moisture to my cooking by using healthy salad dressings. For example, you can sautĆ© chicken breasts in a tablespoon of Italian dressing and add veggies and rice for a flavorful but low-cost dinner.

• Know how to shop the produce department. Buy apples, oranges, grapefruit, potatoes and onions by the bag-not the piece. It’s cheaper and will fill more lunch bags and cover more meals.

• Did you know that frozen turkey and eggs are the most economical sources of protein per ounce in the store? Yes, eggs are at an all-time high, but at only 50 cents per serving, they are still a protein bargain.

• Two nights a week, save money by trying meatless alternatives. Canned beans provide a good source of protein, fiber and nutrients without the added fat. Add beans to salads, casseroles and soups.

• Use private-label brands and save 15 to 25 percent compared to name-brand labels.

Tex Mex Dinner Salad

A perfect meatless meal for a hot summer night for less than $15.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 (15-ounce) can Wild Harvest pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15-ounce) can Wild Harvest black beans, rinsed and drained

11/2 cups shredded Cheddar and Monterey cheese blend

1 head of romaine lettuce, rinsed and chopped

3 tomatoes, chopped

½ cup Catalina Free salad dressing

2 cups corn chips (optional)

Directions:

Drain and rinse the beans. In a large bowl, combine the pinto beans, black beans, cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Add ¾ bottle dressing and mix well. Add corn chips before serving.

Nutrition Info (per serving)

Calories 450; Fat 12g; Cholesterol 22mg; Carbohydrate 59.5g; Fiber 17g; Protein 26g

Recipe adapted from www.allrecipes.com.

by Heidi Diller, RDAlbertsons Nutritionist


Tuesday

Ride and Fold A Bike to Save on Gas



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Take out the pain at the pump. If you have a short commute to work or to the nearest train station get a bike. At $4.00 for a gallon of regular gas, it is time to start using your own legs to get you around.

Here is a bicycle that folds and can be neatly stored in your office. The folding bikes allow you to take the bike with you on trains and even on an elevator. Plus if you can take it with you, you are less likely to get it stolen. Here is a bike available at Walmart.com and get Free Shipping with Site-to-Store at Walmart.com :



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Wednesday

MOTHER'S DAY TIPS - Special Gift Ideas For Mom



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Making Mom feel special for Mother's Day sometimes means going beyond the traditional flowers and candy. Think about how she enjoys spending time and you'll find a gift that makes her happy. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

For the Nature Enthusiast: Create an oasis for Mom by setting up a birdhouse or hummingbird feeder in the backyard to entice some fine-feathered friends to visit. Plant a couple of butterfly bushes and give her a comfy deck chair to complete this special retreat for Mom.
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For the Culinary Mom: Treat her to a class with a professional chef or give her tickets for her favorite TV food show. If you've got the time, print and bind the family recipes so she can have a cookbook of her very own.
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For the Corporate Mom: This hard-working Mom deserves a little style in her life, so explore some of the fashionable alternatives for her electronics gear. A trendy laptop bag or cell phone pouch will help Mom feel less like a worker bee and more like a fashionista.

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