"My pet is too expensive."

Being a new pet parent is not easy. While I knew this going into it, I definitely did not fully grasp just how not-easy it was. However, I wouldn't trade my puppy or cat for the world. Still, they can cost a lot. I cannot emphasize it enough, adopt adopt adopt adopt. I adopted my cat, but did not adopt my puppy - I bought my puppy off a farm.

Before I get to how to save money for the animal you already have, let me tell you some more about the benefits of actually adopting your animal, which can be a serious money saver in itself.

1. By adopting you get: microchipping, spaying/neutering, possible declaw (with cat), all vaccines updated, and any medical treatment needed such as de-flea-ing (not entirely sure of the technical term but bear with me) completely done. You get this all for free with the adoption of your animal. At my local shelter the cats started at $45 - $90, dogs went for closer to $115. $90-$115 is cheaper than anywhere you will find a spaying/neutering.
2. By adopting an animal through Petco, during their Adoption Weekend, you get coupons coupons coupons for toys and food, and: "Natural Balance® will be sponsoring Petco's National Adoption Weekend and plans to give all dog adopting pet parents a free 2.75 oz. roll of dog food and $3 off a 12.5 lb. bag of dry or cased dog food. Those who adopt a cat will receive a free can or pouch of cat food and $3 off any 10 lb. dry or cased cat food." Free food yet again! 
3. If you adopt a dog, Pedigree will give you an entire bag of food for free. You read me right, my frugalites. Click here for more info. 

So yes my friends, it can actually be very easy to afford an animal. Click here to find an adoptable pet near you!

Anywho, back to those of us who already have furry friends.

Ways to save money with your little beloved:

1. Look for a low cost vet in your area that partners with the state. You may not think you had one -  I know I thought I didn't. I was wrong. There is one less than a mile from the house. Because of this, I was able to get a microchip with lifetime registration and all of my puppy's vaccinations for $40. You read me right. $40. I was also able to get her spayed for $80. You're probably thinking "yeah, but they do the stitches kind". It's alright because I thought so too. Wrong. So wrong. They did the lasers. Yes, the lasers that a normal vet will charge upwards of $220 to get done. So yes, frugalites, they're definitely worth looking into.
2. Petco PALS rewards. I cannot emphasize this enough. I get two free cans of food per month from Petco through this program (1 can of cat food, 1 can of dog food). It is completely free too. Plus, for every $100 you spend, you get $5 towards your next purchase. It's not much, but it helps.
3. Petco grooming also offers your dogs first nail trim with them for free. It's been my experience that they won't mention this when they get it done, BUT if you mention it before you schedule, and once you get there, you should get their nail trim for free.
4. Petco grooming also gives you a free double sided tooth brush for your pet when you get them groomed at their location.
5. Use apps for your iPhone/Android/Windows phone, such as Shopkick, and you will never pay for a toy or food again. You're laughing but seriously it's so easy. By scanning items, I'm given points. I average about $15 to a Target Giftcard per month with Shopkick. This way, I do not pay for dog food or cat food. Voila. Or you can use iBotta, and get paid to buy dog treats and dog toys. Plus, you'll get a free $5 to your paypal account after your first purchase using the app, click here on your mobile phone to download the app.

Let me know how things work for you guys, or if you have any suggestions!

Yours frugally,

Alicia

"What do you mean 'eat seasonally'?"

The title of this post was said by my roommate to myself, in complete terror. You see, I am the one that cooks the food in the house. If I don't cook it, it's pizza rolls or ramen for her. So upon hearing that I wanted to eat seasonally, I imagine she thought I was threatening her food livelihood. Especially because she is one of the pickiest eaters I have ever encountered.

"No, but Alicia, what do you mean eat seasonally? Why?"

But hang on, my dear frugalites, and hear how it actually is very easy and a lot cheaper, and not so scary.

Haven't you ever wondered why, in December, a pound of strawberries can easily be $4; and yet, if you get them in July, they can easily be $2 per pound? It can even be cheaper at the local farmers market or CSA if you're into that! This is because the food is in season. (FUN FACT: It's also a lot better tasting in July.)

By eating seasonally you can severely cut down your food costs, and get more bang for your buck, which you all know I am all about! It is also healthier for you to eat seasonally, because by doing so, you're adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet that aren't heavily processed or canned.

Want to know what's in season for your state? Go ahead and click here!

Some foods for this winter season:

• Broccoli
• Garlic
• Snap Peas
• Collards
• Spinach
• Lettuce Mix
• Potatoes

I don't know about you, but I would eat just about anything on that list. And if there's something you're a little bit afraid to try, why not try it while its at it's best flavor, and lowest cost?

Unsure of what to make? Here's some low-ingredient recipes you can use to eat seasonally!

• Crispy Garlic Broccoli
• Sautéed Collard Greens (awesome with some added cashews!)

• Spinach and Cheese Baked Potato

Enjoy and let me know if you try anything!

Yours frugally,

Alicia

"I can't pay my bills."

Have you ever been so frustrated at the cost of your bills every month, that you felt like not opening any mail you received? I wouldn't blame you. They're expensive. The very first month I lived in non-inclusive living, I was smacked with a $180 electrical bill. I was in shock. I could believe it. So, my roommate and I had a serious conversation about how we would be changing that. We did.

So, I've created an outline of how I changed my habits to lower our bill to an average of $42 per month. That's right, we're only using $42 of electricity every month in our 860 sq foot apartment. That means that on average, we're paying $21 per person. Sometimes it's even lower than that.

Here's what to do:

1. Under absolutely no circumstances is anything left "plugged in", in the kitchen. If you need to use something, you plug it in then, and immediately unplug it when you're done. You are charged for having things plugged in because it still uses electricity.
2. Only have one light on in the room you're in. Place a wall mirror near the light, if you need more light in the room. If you aren't in the room, do not have anything plugged in or turned on. Absolutely nothing.
3. If you are cold, put on socks. Put on flannel or fleece pants. Put on a sweatshirt over your tank top or t-shirt. If you get free water or share a water bill with the other people in your apartment complex (how this works: the complex will charge all tenants a fraction of the use from the entire building), you can turn on your shower to the hottest it will go, for about 30 minutes. Leave the door open, and this will heat a small area near your bathroom. It is much easier to get warm then to get cold.
4. Do not leave the charging port for your laptop plugged in when the computer is not charging. Do not charge your laptop until you see the battery symbol turn to red, or get a warning that your computer will die without getting charged.
5. If you can, wait until there is snow on the ground before you use heat. Or, if you live in an area without snow, and a location that does not have the humidity of Florida, don't turn on your air conditioning until it's 80-85 degrees outside.

That's how I save a sweet penny every month on electrical bills. For more advice on how to save money on monthly bills, click here, and you'll see our entire bills help guide. Thanks!

Yours frugally,

Alicia

I may be poor...

but I've still got Swag. Well, Swagbucks, at least. To me, it's one and the same. Through Swagbucks I was able to earn money, again, for free. It took me about one month to make $25 in the form of a PayPal giftcard. However, that is $25 I would not have had before hand. Plus, there are many other things you can get with them. For example, if Paypal just isn't your deal, but you have been longing for a Kuering Machine, well you can get one of those with your points too. Or maybe you aren't much of a coffee drinker, and you want to feel good this holiday season - you can use your points to donate to charities such as the American Red Cross too. The possibilities are basically endless.

I've already received a Paypal giftcard, and my goal is to be able to have a new one each month, so that I have $25 spending money to reward myself, or my dog. Still, I have decided that I'm also going to try and get another item on top that of that - whether it be a $5 giftcard to Walmart, or an iTunes giftcard for a friend's birthday. It's less money out of my pocket.

I've also got some pretty awesome benefits from it too. I was rewarded points towards my giftcard goals for trying Blockbuster's new program that scarily resembles Netflix, for a month, for free. I was rewarded points for printing off coupons.

I'm rewarded points for even sleeping. Well, sort of. While I'm asleep, I let my phone play the Swagbucks TV app while charging, and I earn 50 points per night. Just off that alone, I'd have a $5 giftcard in 10 days. Seriously, it is that easy.

So click here my frugalites, and make that dolla' dolla' bill yo'.

Yours frugally,
Alicia

Note: This post is NOT a sponsored post. Everything on this post is %100 my own opinion. This post is purely for the enjoyment of others, and is here to help people save money in a faster and easier way than I was able.

So You've Got Your Education

Yes, I'm talking to you recent college grads (or drop-outs). Class of 2012, doesn't it feel amazing? You've finally left the suffocating fist of educational totalitarianism, and you're ready to go out as an adult and live your life. Boy, I bet you're excited! Oh man, and soon you're going to be living in your very own condo, just on the outskirts of town, and you're bouncing from interview to interview in your black slacks and nice blouse. One day you come home, and you're checking your mail in your very chic little box - it feels so nice to have that, doesn't it? - and there it is. Staring you in the face is your demise.

Your very own stafford loan repayment. How sweet of them.

Thank you for your business, the letter says. Thank you? Clearly it's mocking you. If you're anything like me, you bore your eyes into the sheet of paper, and slightly hope that magically the letter will fly away. Or burn in the fiery pits of hell.

Just a suggestion.

The very first time I received this letter, I felt like my life was over. After 3 months of searching for a job, I finally found one...at the same place I'd worked while I was in college. I was making enough to get by, but barely. This letter completely screwed my entire view of 'I can do this', and flushed it.

I have a dog to take care of. I have myself to take care of. I have bills to take care of.

I was desperate.

I found myself searching for hours at a time after I got off work for ways of to save a penny. And I literally mean a penny. Where I live, a SuperTarget and a Walmart are literally on the same street. If I could save a penny by walking over to SuperTarget - I did it. Every single cent of change I received back, I saved. Once my mini-bank (holds up to $4 in change) was full, I'd walk over to my bank and deposit it.

Yes, the teller will ask you if you're seriously only depositing $4 into your bank.

Yes, you are serious.

This is when I found iBotta and found out that I could get paid for doing groceries. Yes, yes, you read me right, Ladies and Gents. You can get paid for doing groceries. As long as you can save a receipt for the items on their list, you can earn upwards of $1.75 per item, depending on the item. I also received a $5 credit to my Paypal account just for signing up with a link provided from a blogger (click the link I provided too and you'll also get a $5 credit).

On my average shopping trip, I'm getting paid about $10 per trip - for me that's $40 per month. That's $480 per year I would make, just for grocery shopping on things I normally purchase.

Wanna join iBotta and make some extra money? Click this link on a mobile device and download the app to your phone, and boom! You will have $5 free dollars in your Paypal account. You're welcome my fellow frugalites, you are welcome.

Yours frugally,
Alicia

Note: This post is NOT a sponsored post. Everything on this post is %100 my own opinion. This post is purely for the enjoyment of others, and is here to help people save money in a faster and easier way than I was able.