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Twin Cities Frugal Mom

Living well while spending less in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area

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Valentine’s Day Weekend Family Activities in the Twin Cities 2014

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It’s Valentine’s Day weekend and there are a number of family activities taking place in the Twin Cities – many of them free! Here are some to consider:

Kids at the Castle at the American Swedish Institute – February 14

kids_at_the_castle
http://www.asimn.org/programs-education/events/beginning-feb-14-kids-play-free-castle-friday-mornings

Friday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m. to noon
Introducing Kids at the Castle at the American Swedish Institute select Fridays this spring!

In the hour before the museum opens, join ASI for visual play, storytelling, music, and movement inspired by the exhibition Papercut! that will encourage creative young minds and active hands. Recommended for ages 2–5.

Kids at the Castle is free to all participants. Registration not required; check in at the Information Desk by 11 a.m. on the day of the program. Adult accompaniment required. Kids at the Castle Winter/Spring Dates: Feb. 14 and 28; March 14 and 28. [Read more…]

5 Tips for a Frugal Halloween

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Tips for a frugal Halloween have become more and more necessary. Why? Because Halloween consumer spending is expected to reach $8 billion this year (2012). That’s $79.82 spent on costumes, decorations and candy – per person! More than 70% of Americans plan to celebrate Halloween this year.

All of these numbers are up from previous years, despite the still-sluggish economy.

I have some guesses as to why that is:

1) Americans love to dress up and party

2) It gives everyone something ELSE to think about besides the upcoming election!!! (Well, unless you’re a candidate or are dressing up like one.)

However, you can certainly have a great Halloween without going broke.

Here are five tips for a frugal Halloween!


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Thrift Store Shopping Series Part 2: Halloween!

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It’s Halloween shopping time!

I’m proud to say I’ve now got my kids’ Halloween costume shopping done. For any of you who still have shopping to do, I recommend going to SAVERS thrift store first! If you haven’t shopped there before, you might be surprised by how much you can get there.

Thrift store shopping halloween
SAVERS Halloween shop (within their thrift stores)

I took the kids to the Halloween section to pick out costumes and we were overwhelmed by all the different choices. The section was several rows in size, and had pretty much everything you can think of, from costumes to trick or treat pumpkins (for putting candy in) to decorations. What I liked was that you can buy either new or used costumes, or create your own using a combination of new and used clothing and accessories in the store.

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Happy Labor Day! Check out these facts about working in the U.S.

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From the website EasyFinance. I love reading and sharing their articles and infographics like the one below. Many interesting facts; for example, “50% of the population in the United States lives on $46,000 or less.” Times are tough for people! All the more reason to share ideas about frugal living and how to live well for less! [Read more…]

Halloween Weekend Restaurant Deals in Twin Cities

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There are many restaurant deals in the Twin Cities this Halloween weekend, but here are a few I’ve found:

CARIBOU COFFEE: Get a FREE kids hot chocolate for your costumed child with each Caribou Coffee beverage purchased. Saturday, October 30th and Sunday, October 31st ONLY. Click here for coupon.

APPLEBEE’S: Free kids meals for children 10 and under on October 31 with the purchase of an adult entrée (two kids per adult). Check with your local Applebee’s to make sure that they’re honoring the deal and dress up!

TGI FRIDAY’S: On Friday and Saturday anyone brave enough to show up in costume gets a free appetizer. And on Halloween, any child in costume gets a free kids meal with the purchase of an adult entrée.

BOSTON MARKET: Click here for a coupon for a free kid’s meal with adult purchase. Good through Oct 31.

If you know of other deals please share!

Black Friday Shopping Tips

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I always enjoy looking at the Black Friday ads in the Thanksgiving newspaper. Every year they seem to get bigger and better…depending on what you’re looking for. When you’re lost in the deals, it’s hard to not need some Black Friday Shopping Tips.

Getting up early is kind of fun and exciting – shopping in the dark early hours of the morning with other bargain-hungry shoppers – people are generally in a good mood & the prices are great.

Personally, I highly recommend sleeping in on Friday & shopping online instead – ON Thanksgiving and Black Friday.

This year I shopped at my home computer and got BETTER deals than I would have had I gotten up at 0-dark-30 in the morning and waited in the cold to be first in the stores.

At Herberger’s website, for example, I ordered three DOORBUSTER items for the Friday a.m. advertised prices and got FREE SHIPPING (my order totaled just over $50) plus there was NO sales tax (one advantage of ordering online)!  If I had gotten up early and gone at 3:00 a.m. (that was Herberger’s start time – I think they’re insane), I would have gotten the exact same prices PLUS I would have had to pay tax.

Other stores offer similar deals online – FREE SHIPPING for orders for $25 (JcPenney), $39 (Sears) or $50 (many like Herberger’s) or more. Plus some stores offer WEB-ONLY deals. You’ll find great prices whether you’re in your PJs or not (well, maybe some of you go to the stores in your PJs, too).

Happy Holiday Shopping!

Share your Black Friday Shopping Tips in the comments below, and while you’re at it, see some more tips for frugal shopping I’ve shared.