Although it’s a bit of a drive to reach Vanity Fair Outlet Center in Reading (less than an hour for most of us), it’s well worth the savings you’ll see when shopping for every day items for you and your family. As a matter of fact, I’ve never seen better savings on t-shirts, underwear, and jeans – especially for the kids. Where else can you find these deals: T-shirts for 47 cents Jeans for less than $8 MLB apparel for $3 Underwear for $1.49 Bras for less than $8 Pajamas for less than $10 Budget $100 for Vanity Fair, and you’ll come home with several bags full of practical clothing that will …

Did you know the first coupon was a hand-written discount for Coca-Cola in 1886? Thank you Coca-Cola! For our family, it’s nearly sacrilege to purchase something without applying some sort of coupon, discount card, or promo code. As a matter of fact, I stopped by McDonald’s on a whim this past week, pulled into the parking lot, and realized I had left my coupon book in the other car. It occurred to me to pull back out and drive all the way home just to get that coupon I had for “Buy One, Get One Free Menu Sandwich.” It felt sinful to make a purchase without using a coupon. I’m still asking …

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly kids grow through their shoes, or simply wear them out. By the end of summer, shoe replacement is more of a necessity than a desire. But in some cases, it’s just a matter of freshening up the shoes that still fit. Here are some easy ways to save on those back-to-school shoes: Hit the local outlets. For example, Philadelphia Premium Outlets offer 26 name-brand shoe retailers such as Adidas, Bass, Converse, Crocs, Merrell, Skechers and Stride Rite Keds Sperry. My son found a great pair of Adidas sneakers for just $10. For kicks, we added a second pair of …

It’s hot. It’s humid. It seems like any time of the day is the right time for a cold treat. But how many days in a row can you realistically spend at least $3 a pop at a commercial establishment to keep those core body temperatures at bay? It’s fun to splurge on a sweet treat every now and then, but wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy it every single day without the guilt of spending money? This is also the time of year when fruit doesn't seem to last quite as long in the kitchen. For those of you with fruit trees (like we have), you know how they seem to start producing all at once, and how quickly…

You might assume that renting a private vacation house is more expensive than staying at the Holiday Inn. However, the savings you’ll see at the end of your vacation will surprise you if you consider this seemingly out-of-reach option. Popular vacation home rental sites such as www.vrbo.com, www.tripadvisor.com, or www.homeaway.com, are safe, reputable and offer guarantees on their rentals. The sites are free to use and list vacation properties internationally. A standard hotel room with two queens can average anywhere from $100-200/night. Add your daily food allowance of about $60-100 per …

Vacation expenses can add up fast when going the traditional route of booking flights, hotels, and rental cars directly through major transportation corporations. Over the next few weeks, we will offer some tips on how to enjoy a great vacation the “Frugal Family” way. This week, we’ll focus on transportation. Use online Web sites to book airfare and rental cars. A great resource for all of these is www.kayak.com. Kayak searches all of the major travel sites such as Expedia.com, Orbitz.com, and Priceline.com to compare prices on car rentals, hotel rooms, and airfare. Prices tend to fluctuate…

In this economy, traveling may seem like more of an out-of-reach luxury than a viable option for many people. Now more than ever, we’re pinching pennies and focusing on covering essentials like mortgages, food, vehicle expenses and education. Don’t let these day-to-day financial responsibilities take away the possibility of adventure and relaxation with your family. Start using these tips to save for next year’s vacation. You’ll be shocked by the money you’re going to accrue. Open a “vacation” account at your local bank. Each week, add $10 or $20, whatever you can afford, to the fund. Every …

Summer is a fantastic time to be savvy in your savings. Our area offers a lush environment in which we can grow our own tasty summer treats at very minimal investment – often just a dollar or two per plant. And if you purchase perennials, your harvest will repeat itself year after year. Some ideas of easy things to grow in any yard include: Fresh mint Basil Cilantro Dill Tomatoes Raspberries Strawberries Blueberries Rhubarb Even if you don’t have a yard in which to grow these fruits, veggies, and herbs, many can be planted in pots and grown on a porch or other sunny area outside of the home. …

Every summer, a handful of theaters around the Lehigh Valley offer free or discounted summer movie series for children and parents. What better way to catch a flick, beat the heat AND save some dollars? Here are two nearby theaters offering free or low-cost summer programs: Rave Motion Pictures The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley2845 Center Valley ParkwayCenter Valley, PA 18034(610) 791-9707Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 10 a.m. beginning June 21 the Rave offers FREE screenings. The final showing is on August 10. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. Movies start at 10 a.m. Get there early to make sure to…

With two birthdays within two weeks of each other, it’s officially "birthday season" in the Holtzhafer household. That means getting creative to save money! This year’s theme for our 4-year-old son was “Dr. Seuss." Naturally, I could hop online and Google “Seuss birthday party” to generate a list of resources offering everything from customized Dr. Seuss paper plates with my child’s face printed on them to adult-sized “Cat in the Hat” costumes. But that’s just not the frugal way to do things. I don’t want to spend that kind of money, nor do I want to pay shipping fees. Instead, I planned this…

Eating out is a real treat. There’s a certain value, beyond the strictly monetary, to being waited upon, being served, and not having to do the labor of prepping, cooking and cleaning up. Even in today’s economy, families still enjoy a night out every now and then. Here are some ways to get the best bang for your buck while enjoying a night of good food, relaxation and family time. Choose restaurants offering “free" or "discounted" kids’ meals. Most chain restaurants have such a program. Some offer entertainment in the form of a cartoon character or in the case of Appleby's a clown who makes …

Haircuts aren't cheap unless you are open to frequenting chain establishments like Main Event, SuperCuts, Great Clips, MasterCuts and Hair Cuttery. Most people are OK taking their kids to these places for a $10-15 crop, but how much could it save you in the long run to do your own clipping at home? I sat down and did the math. Lucky for me, I have three boys to consider and only myself when it comes to the "fancy 'do." Even at that, I don't color, perm, highlight or style my hair on a regular basis. I'm too frugal for that. Plus, I've been blessed with genes that have saved me from grey hair …

True or false? Restricting electricity usage primarily to the evening hours can lower energy bills. True AND false! Rumor has it that this is true. However, after doing a little research, the fact of the matter is that electricity consumers must first REGISTER for a PPL program to receive these savings on their monthly bill. Shelly, a customer service representative at PPL Electric Utilities was kind enough to explain the program called “Residential Time-of-Use (TOU) Option.” When you register for this program, you can save money by shifting electricity use away from peak hours when the …

I’m addicted to yard sales. Yes, I am, and I’m proud to admit it. It saves us a TON of money. There’s also something strangely entertaining about browsing other people’s junk. As they say, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” or in my case “One man’s trash is another woman’s frugal way of living.” Not only that, but it helps the environment to recycle these unwanted items to other people rather than send them to the landfill. During the months of April through September, many local neighborhoods organize community yard sales. These are great because you can hit a lot of sales without …

Who doesn’t enjoy a new book every now and then? It’s one of those simple pleasures that doesn’t cost a fortune and lasts for several days (or several months as the case may be for some). However, the traditional methods of book buying are slowly coming to extinction. Going to one of the Big Box chain bookstores to get a book will easily cost $10 or more. That’s just for one book. Kids’ books are essential for any responsible parent looking to develop literacy in their children. They’re lovely when they’re new and shiny, but c’mon people, how long with that glossy cover really last? Is it …

With the cost of – well, EVERYTHING – going up these days, it’s hard to justify a night out with the family.  Going to the movies is becoming a thing of the past now that tickets cost $9 or more per person. Interested in some popcorn or a snack? Forget it! That’s the equivalent of a week’s worth of gas.  An outing to the movies for a family of four could easily cost you upwards of $75. However, there’s a secret little place called the Emmaus Theatre that is still a viable option for many, even in this crazy economy.  Not only do you get a taste of nostalgia as you enter the vintage theater, …

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars. This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together. This week, our Frugal …

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars. This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together. This week, our Frugal …

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars. This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together. This week, Frugal Family …

We're all watching our family budgets these days. Whether shopping with coupons or looking for two-for-one deals, we're taking advantage of all sorts of offers and savings that help us stretch our dollars. This column will be dedicated to giving you five great local deals each week that will help your family’s bottom line, and since we do the scouting for you, you can save time as well as money. You are a big part of this column. Let us hear about the deals you've seen. Just add them to our comment box. Then come back each week and see what we've uncovered together. This week, MOAD scoured …