Queen of Free

FREE Betty Crocker Spring Recipe Cook Booklet

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Thu, 24 May 2012 20:10:00 +0000

You can download a FREE Best of Spring 2012 Betty Crocker Recipe Cook Booklet right now {in PDF form}.

Thanks Lady Mercedes of Common Sense with Money!

6 Ways to Save on Birthday Parties

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:57:00 +0000

Exquisite and complicated themes, expensive favors, and of course mouth watering catered food. No I'm not talking about this summer's hottest premiere party or even a grand wedding. Most of these things are now featured at your average three year old's birthday party. People, it's getting a little ridiculous out there. But the good news is that you can stop the madness. The great over-the-top birthday fiasco can stop with YOU.

Here are a few of my favorite tips for saving while still celebrating:

Limit the number of friend fetes. You can choose to limit the number of "friend" birthday parties that you allow your children to have. We celebrate "big" birthdays with friends 1, 5, 10, and eventually 16; however the off years are spent celebrating with only our families and a few close family friends. Limiting the number of parties you throw cuts down on expense as well as the ugly too much birthday monster {haven't you read that Berenstain Bears Book?}.

Fancy napkins, plain plates. No need to buy every single matching party item. Let your child choose their favorite character based napkin and then get plain or generic items to coordinate. Better yet, choose a number of reusable items {yay for being green and saving green!} that will match a wide array of characters. We have a wide array of red items which match almost any theme and holiday.

Hire cheap {or free teens}. Still feel like you need an entertainment element to your party? Instead of a hiring a scary and expensive clown, consider hiring your babysitter or a local high school athlete to keep the kids occupied. From baseball players to cheerleaders, from aspiring artists to garage bands, many high schoolers in your community are wildly talented and unemployed. See if you know someone who fits your theme and then invite to come and entertain. Whether they're good with pets or a paintbrush, one thing's for sure, they're cooler than you are and hungry for work.

Keep it Simple. We'll call it the KIS principle because I don't think you're stupid. One Google search or Pinterest inquiry will prove that birthday parties are wildly popular and perhaps a little OOC {out of control, I'm all over the acronyms}. Ask your kiddo if a big party is really what they want. You might be able to take one friend to the Children's Museum or even King's Island with what you'd spend on a party. What are your true options?

Budgeting Fun. Last summer for her 9th birthday, the Eldest Princess managed her own birthday budget. She kept track of the cash and planned the menu, decorations, and even cake from the cash budget that we gave to her to manage. It was a fabulous learning experience and helped her sort through what was really important and what she could chuck.

Think Outside of the Cake. Parties don't require the Cake Boss. Seriously, while they're cool, they're designed to be EATEN. And as long as it doesn't end up on Cake Wrecks, your kid is going to love it. Birthday milkshakes, a sundae bar, make-your-own strawberry shortcake, or even pancakes could possibly get the job done just as well {if not better}. Once again, ask your kid. Be prepared to do the crazy though as you never know what they might really want.

While I love nothing more than a celebration and especially a birthday {The King of Free gives me SEVEN whole days to celebrate}, it is NOT worth going into debt to show your child how much you love him or her. And having a slamming sixth birthday party will NOT pay for your child's college education.

Think before you spend and most of all, remember to spend time NOT money to show your children how much you love them!

For more Money Saving Birthday Posts, check out:

FREE Krispy Kreme on June 1st

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:26:00 +0000

I always get a little warm and fuzzy when I post about National Doughnut Day. No it's not just because I love warm fried dough dipped in sugar {what's not to love though?}. It's because I did a lot of graduate work regarding doughnuts. And no, my degree didn't have anything to do with Culinary Science. National Doughnut day has ties to the Salvation Army who's Doughnut Girl, Helen Purviance was a WWI efforts have great historical significance and hailed from Indiana. Trust me, it's the book I'll never write but she was an interesting lady. :)

Anywho, on June 1st, 2012 regardless of your historical knowledge of the doughnut, you can score a free one at participating Krispy Kreme Restaurants. It appears to be one per customer so everyone in your family should be able to enjoy the tasty goodness in stores. I will try to remember to give you a reminder on or close to June 1.

With any restaurant food freebie, I strongly encourage you to call your location to make sure that they are indeed participating. Lord knows we wouldn't want you going all crazy over no free doughnuts, mmkay?

Thanks Lady Bargain Briana!

Amazon: FREE My Sketch App

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Thu, 24 May 2012 19:20:00 +0000

Daily, Amazon has a FREE app in their App Store {which sells Android apps}. You can snag all sorts of high priced apps for absolutely nothing if you carefully watch the store.

Today's FREE Amazon App is a pricey one - My Sketch {reg. $0.99}. This app looks pretty cool! I might pick it up for the Eldest Princess to keep her occupied this summer.

Transform your photos into beautiful, realistic sketches with My Sketch. Create unlimited high-resolution sketches from the photos taken by your Android's camera or those stored in your photo album. Photo Goes In, Sketch Comes Out It's easy to change your photos into works of art. Choose a photo from your Android device's gallery, or snap a photo from within the app. Crop the photo to your preference. Now you're ready to get to work.

Keep in mind it is currently priced $0.00 but will go back to its regular price tomorrow!

There are over a 100 other free apps available on Amazon, too. Find them here.

*This post does contain an affiliate link. So while you're picking up free apps, you might also end up helping the Royal Family build their emergency fund more quickly. And for that, we royally thank you!

Frugal Living 101: 6 Ways to Celebrate School's End

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Wed, 23 May 2012 21:02:00 +0000

Source: google.com via Cherie on Pinterest

Brrrrrriiiinnnngggg! The end of the school year is coming whether you want it to or not. I'm actually looking forward to a change in schedule with the princesses and Lordwilling, I think we might get more accomplished during the summer months. At least that's the tune I'm humming the day before school dismisses. I might feel differently mid July.

It's very tempting to bust the budget to yuk it up with the kiddos in celebrating a year's end to school. However, here are 6 Ways You Can Celebrate the End of the School Year without busting your budget.

Use the Coupons. At the end of the year, almost every kid receives coupons good for freebies at local restaurants. It can be tricky since many require a purchase and you don't want to spend more on eating out than you've budgeted this month {you have budgeted, right?}. So choose your coupon wisely, bring cash in so you're not tempted to overspend, and if it means you settle for a beverage or the cheapest item on the menu to let the kids have the freebie, then so be it.

Pick a Park! Let your kids pick their favorite park and play for an hour.

Change Night. Gather all the coins in your house and use them as a budget for a fun night out. You could go to the batting cages, play skeeball, or even make a trip to the dollar store.

Fix Their Favorites. Head to the grocery store to select items to prepare your child's favorite meal. Bonus points if you use coupons AND let them help fix dinner.

Sundae Bar. Swap a pricey trip the fancy froyo join for your own personalized sundae bar. You'll spend about the same amount and best of all be able to repeat the experience 2-3 times.

Buy a Board Game. While a board game may not get the oohs and ahhs of heading to the latest Summer Blockbuster, you'll still have a great time. And you'll get to play the game over and over again rather than have a mere one time fun experience.

How do you celebrate a year's worth of academic success without overspending?

Facebook: $10 Gift Card at Tanger Outlets for Military Families

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:45:00 +0000

Attention Military Families! Through May 28th, 2012 you can snag a FREE $10 Gift Card and Coupon at Tanger Outlets. Bring your military ID to Shopper Services {during regular business hours} and present this voucher from Tanger's Facebook Page.

While you're on Facebook, be sure to become a Money Saving Lord or Lady in the Court of the Queen of Free. We daily share tips, inspiration, and humor with one another.

Thanks Lady Jennifer of Stretching a Buck!

Amazon: FREE CrossMe App

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:33:00 +0000

Daily, Amazon has a FREE app in their App Store {which sells Android apps}. You can snag all sorts of high priced apps for absolutely nothing if you carefully watch the store.

Today's FREE Amazon App is a pricey one - CrossMe {reg. $4.95}. This app looks pretty cool! I might pick it up for the Eldest Princess to keep her occupied this summer.

Cross Me is a Japanese crossword known as a Nonogram. The objective is to discover a hidden image by marking cells or leaving them blank, according to the numbers displayed on the side of the grid. Facing a grid of cells, you will carefully determine which cells to mark and which to leave empty. The darkened cells will begin to take shape and reveal an image.

Keep in mind it is currently priced $0.00 but will go back to its regular price tomorrow!

There are over a 100 other free apps available on Amazon, too. Find them here.

Reward Points: Pampers Gifts to Grow {10 Pts.}

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:26:00 +0000

One of the ways that we reinforced our efforts in paying off over $127K in debt was to use Reward Points Programs to fund our entertainment and gift giving budgets. Even though we don't drink Coke or have kiddos in diapers anymore, we still collect reward points for both! One of the best examples is the Pampers Gifts to Grow Program. They release codes on a regular basis online and if you purchase their products, you can score points that way, too.

If you're a new sign up, you can score 100 Free points!

If you're already a member, a new code has been released - worth 10 points: MARSPRNL12SPLDX. Codes often expire quickly so enter it up as soon as possible.

Thanks Frugal Coupon Living!

*This post does contain an affiliate link. So while you're getting rewards points, you're also helping us fund our 3-6 month emergency fund - which makes you royally awesome in our books.

Vocalpoint: FREE Bounty Coupon Booklet

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:22:00 +0000

If you're a member of Vocalpoint {if you're not you should totally sign up, it's free}, you can claim a packet of Bounty Coupons. The packet should arrive in 5-7 weeks.

Thanks Lady Crystal, the Money Saving Mom!

FREE Redbox Game Rental Via Text

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Wed, 23 May 2012 20:17:00 +0000

This might be a great way to celebrate the end of the school year on the cheap/free. Currently you can text TRYUS to 727272 to snag a FREE redbox Video Game Rental. The code will expire on August 1st, 2012.

Be sure you're aware of your text messaging package. It's not a freebie if you're going to wrack up texting fees, ya know?

Thanks Lady Bargain Briana!

Frugal Living 101: 6 Ways to Save Before Noon

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Wed, 23 May 2012 12:38:00 +0000

You are such a frugal Ninja! You've already mastered Frugal Living 101: 6 Ways to Save Before Nine and now the clock is now ticking. The race is on to lunch and you've still many lessons to learn and many pennies to keep in your pocket. Here are 6 more ways to keep saving before the day passes you by!

Take Out the Papers and the Trash. Granted, you won't necessarily earn money for this {unless you work for the sanitation department or are in the 4th grade}. However, you might also be throwing away nickels and dimes when you throw out the trash. If you have a recycling program available to you, be sure you're using it. Not only will you feel all warm and fuzzy for being green, you'll also be saving green, too. Many bulky containers can go straight into your recycle bin instead of taking up space in the trash bag. That eventually means you purchase fewer trash bags. We also compost our veggie scraps, egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, and newspapers. Your garden and your wallet will thank you. While we're on the subject of trash bags, you might want to be sure that you're either splurging or couponing your way to quality bags. I purchase ours at ALDI, which I feel has a low price for the quality. If your bags are constantly breaking and not able to be filled to capacity, they're not really a bargain. AND you can even get reward points for recycling with a program called Recyclebank!

Throw in a load of laundry. No need to re-invent the wheel here, check out my post Four Ways to Save Money While Doing Your Laundry for ways to save while you're keeping the fam bright and clean. Now if only someone can tell me why it's so hard to put the clean folded laundry away off the loveseat.

Run your errands all at once. Keep yourself from doing the back and forth dance. Make a good list of errand stops {along with the items needed at each stop}, map them out in order of proximity, and then knock them out one by one. Your intentional action will reduce the amount of gas you're using and keep you from ending up at a red light in crazy town.

Plan Your Meals. Weekly, I preach the importance of knowing what you're going to eat for dinner before the 6 O'Clock rush. Even if you don't make a Monday Meal Plan like we do, it's a good idea to quickly check the fridge, freezer, pantry, and cabinet to know what you're having for dinner before you even eat lunch. That way, if you need to pick an item up in the above mentioned errand run, you'll have it on your list.

Exercise. This is obviously dependent upon your work and kids' schedules but if you can at all, exercise in the morning. It will give you a boost for your day, a full but stable belly will be a happier belly, and you'll be less likely to flake if you knock it out before noon. Regular exercise saves you money by reducing medical bills, maintaining your current wardrobe, and helping you focus at work and at play.

Chop! Chop! I've often referred to it as the Best 30 minutes to get fit that you'll spend per week not exercising. Produce is much cheaper than snack foods {and better for you too!} but it does you no good just sitting in your crisper unprepared. Spend 30 minutes in the morning cutting your peppers, slicing your strawberries, crying with the onions and yes chopping the broccoli {did you get it?}. Fajitas, pizzas, salads, pastas all come together in a snap when you've knocked this simple step out of the way before lunch time.

Stay tuned this week for more ways to keep your budget in check with 6 Ways to Save before Seven PM.

If you haven't already, check out Frugal Living 101: 6 Ways to Save Before Nine.

Free Event: Lowe's Build and Grow Ice Cream Truck

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Tue, 22 May 2012 21:00:00 +0000

If you don't have plans this holiday weekend, take the kids to Lowe's to one of their many Build and Grow Workshops. On May 26th from 10-11 AM, gear up for summer by building a cute little Ice Cream Truck.

Have you been to a Lowe's Build and Grow Event before? Participants receive not only the wooden project, but also an apron, goggles, a patch and more. Typically these events are geared to kids ages 5 and up. And you need to stay with them, it's not free childcare. ;)

Spend time, not money on your kids this weekend!

Thanks Lady Bargain Briana!

Amazon: FREE Alphabet Coloring App

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Daily, Amazon has a FREE app in their App Store {which sells Android apps}. You can snag all sorts of high priced apps for absolutely nothing if you carefully watch the store.

Today's FREE Amazon App is Alphabet Coloring {reg. $0.99}. This looks like a great entertaining app for your little learner.

Alphabet Coloring is a fun way to help kids practice their ABCs. It includes 26 beautiful custom made coloring pages for each letter of the alphabet. In addition, each coloring page has a professionally recorded voiceover. A is for Apple...B is for Butterfly...C is for Cat!

Keep in mind it is currently priced $0.00 but will go back to its regular price tomorrow!

There are over a 100 other free apps available on Amazon, too. Find them here.

7-Eleven SlurpFREE Day May 23rd

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:40:00 +0000

Feeling a little parched? Participating 7-Eleven Stores are celebrating SlurpFREE Day on Wednesday May 23rd. You can receive a FREE 7.11 oz Slurpee from 11 AM to 7 PM, while supplies last.

As always, it's a good idea to call ahead to make sure that your location is participating {and has supplies remaining}. That way, you won't curse 7-Eleven OR me. And both of us will appreciate that.

You can check out all of the details on the Facebook Event Page!

Thanks Frugal Coupon Living!

Target Summer Beauty Bag

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:20:00 +0000

Yipppppeeee! Target wants to give you even more FREE beauty samples and coupons this year. On Target's Facebook Page, you can sign up to snag a FREE Summer Beauty Bag filled with samples and coupons. Keep in mind the Target coupons can be stacked with manufacturer coupons to increase your savings {of which there are usually almost always one floating around somewhere on the internets or in the paper}.

WARNING: The site is SUPER slow. I did finally get through but it was was a whirrin' and beach ball buzzin' for quite some time before it completed the deed.

Your beauty bag should arrive in 6-8 weeks. Mind you, summer will be midway over but I'm sure you'll still do a happy dance.

While you're on Facebook, be sure to become a Money Saving Lord or Lady in the Court of the Queen of Free!

Thanks Sir Goob of Hey It's Free!

Frugal Living 101: 6 Ways to Save Before Nine

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Mon, 21 May 2012 20:08:00 +0000

Source: beingcreativetokeepmysanity.blogspot.com via Cherie on Pinterest

Your alarm goes off, you wipe the sleep out of your eyes, and naturally you think, "How will I save money today?" Oh is that just me? Today I thought I'd share 6 Ways to Save $ Before Nine. Basically, I'll take you through my morning and identify some easy and quick ways to keep costs low, your spirits high, and your budget in check.

Brew Your Own Coffee. Ah java, the sweet nectar of the gods. I partake in this beverage ritual every single AM. Save money by obviously making your own coffee at home rather than paying big bucks at a coffee house or fast food drive thru. I typically buy whole beans at ALDI and then grind them at home {a bag of whole beans are usually $4.49 there and I LOVE just about every variety I try}. You can also coupon your way to some cheap coffee too. We filter our water with a Brita pitcher rather than purchasing water to run through the machine. AND cleaning out your coffee pot by running 1 part white vinegar, 3 parts water through the machine every month or every other month while keep the brewing mechanism clean and keep you from having to purchase a new one sooner than necessary.

Keep Breakfast Basic. We're such a boring family. We eat the same things almost every morning - honey, milk, and Cheerios for the Eldest Princess, Peanut Butter Oatmeal for the King of Free and Youngest Princess, and Whole Wheat Toast for me. Occasionally we'll break out from our pattern but typically these filling, cost effective foods fuel our tanks without busting our banks.

Wash the Dishes. I don't just want you to empty the sink, I want you to use dishes that are reusable. Paper plates, plastic cups, and silverware are nice to have on an occasional basis {we typically buy them if we're having a party or whatnot}, but reusable dishes are the way to go when you're short on dough. I make our own dishwashing detergent {this recipe is also great for scouring tubs, sinks, and toilets}. You can find a tutorial for making it here. Keep the ingredients as dry as possible because it will clump horribly if you don't. I'll be making a new batch in a couple of weeks and will post my own tips along with my tweaks on the recipe then {I can hear you clamoring in glad anticipation!}.

Make a To Do List. Time really is money. When you manage your time more effectively, you'll also manage your money more effectively.

Pack the Lunchboxes. I've posted all sorts of tips on how to keep packing your lunch simple and cheap here. Just be sure you use as many reusable containers as possible, stay away from pre-packaged lunch box marketed items {they're always a rip off}, and make packing it so easy your 9 year old can do it herself. If we're going to be gone during the day, everyone in our household packs a lunch. Most days, the Youngest Princess and I are at home so we can fix our lunch later in the morning.

Balance the Checkbook. You must, must, must, must keep a good handle on how much money is coming in and how much money is going out of your household. The best way to do that is to balance your checkbook on a daily basis, preferably in the morning before things get too crazy you're spending money that you don't have.

Stay tuned for 6 Ways to Save Before Noon later this week. And check out my Royal Money Saving Academy for basic saving ideas of every variety.

Amazon: FREE $2 MP3 Credit

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:43:00 +0000

Share your favorite song with my Facebook friends and snag a $2 Credit good on Amazon MP3s {which should yield at least 2 free songs for you if you play your cards right}.

I love promotions like these to snag new tunes for running.

Thanks Sir Goob of Hey It's Free!

*This post contains an affiliate link. That means while you score a great deal on Amazon, you also help our family build up our emergency fund and eventually pay off our mortgage. And for this we classify you as Royally Swell.

Monday Meal Plan

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:35:00 +0000

Woohoo, I'm excited to actually post this on Monday afternoon instead of Tuesday or Monday night. This week is going to be busy for the Royal Family. We're gearing up for the holiday weekend, wrapping up the Eldest Princess' school year, and most of all trying to get our shall we say Royal Gardens in order. We have about an acre and a half of yard and I spend a lot of time during the summer mowing. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE it {Some ladies scrapbook, some ladies knit, this lady loves to run behind the push mower and weed eat. It is what it is.}. It just means I have to be more intentional with my time as I add one more thing to the to do list.

Here's what's for dinner on the Royal Table this week:

Monday: Grilled Pork Loin with a Maple Balsamic Glaze
   Grilled Asparagus
   Macaroni and Cheese
   Grilled Corn
   Strawberries

Tuesday: Black Bean Tacos
   Topped with Fresh Greens and Corn Salsa
   Brown Rice
   Apple and Orange Slices

Wednesday: Homemade Pizza topped with

Freshly Grated Mozzarella {I've taken to buying block cheese and prefer it A LOT}

Turkey Pepperoni and Onion

Salad
Apple Sauce

Thursday: Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Veggies and Grilled Chicken

Sundried Tomatoes, Baby Portabella Mushrooms, Onions, and Broccoli

tossed with Olive Oil for the King and I

Ragu for the Girls

Salad
Toast with Olive Oil

Friday:  Pancakes
   Eggs
   Sweet Potato Fries
   Fruit Salad {Yummy, yummy!}

Saturday: Lunch: Pitch in with Friends {I'm bringing Veggies/Dip}
   Dinner: Leftovers

Sunday: Probably grilling out but since it's a holiday I'll fix whatever strikes my fancy. :)

Planning meals was definitely one of the biggest keys for success in our paying off over $127K in debt. It's an easy step to make the most of what you have and keep you out of the drive thru. Somewhere midway through our journey, I created this document to help us plan meals and keep track of our grocery list. Hope it helps you get a bit more organized, too!

If you look at the photo above, you'll see a sample of my scribbling from a previous meal plan. I'm typically a paper and pen sort of gal. So I fill in the menu on the appropriate days and then on the right hand column, I make my grocery lists. It's divided in the center because I weekly shop at two stores - ALDI and whichever store has the best deals/coupons for our plan. If craziness ensues {which often it does in the Queendom}, I'm not afraid to swap out a quicker meal on a different deal or even jumble around our side dishes. I just have peace of mind and am prepared to make any of the meals listed before the week begins. And that keeps us from overspending at the grocery store {or restaurant} and making the highest best use of what we have purchased.

What are you having on your Royal Table this week?

FREE Bloomin' Onion at Outback {Today Only}

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:26:00 +0000

Today only, May 21st, you can snag a FREE Bloomin' Onion at participating Outback Steakhouses with any purchase. Simply mention Ryan Newman's 10 ten finish {yeah I had to look at his FB fanpage to see he was a Nascar driver. I'm not exactly knowledgeable in such things.} to your server to get your free Oniony goodness {which mind you is one of the most horrible things for you you could order at a restaurant but dang it tastes so good}.

Check out Outback's Facebook fan page for details. While you're on Facebook, be sure to join the Court of the Queen of Free where we daily join in money saving revelry and debt slaying intensity.

Thanks Lady Anne, the Deal Wise Mommy!

Amazon: What Your Childhood Memories Say About You By Dr. Kevin Leman

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Mon, 21 May 2012 19:19:00 +0000

What Your Childhood Memories Say about You . . . and What You Can Do about It by Dr. Kevin Leman is currently FREE for download on Amazon. Regularly it's priced at $14.99! That means if you want to snag this deal I'd do it now before they mark it back up. Currently it's priced at $0.00 but with Amazon this could change any second.

Don't own a Kindle? You don't need one to read Kindle Books on the cheap or even free. There are a number of FREE downloadable apps for your computer or mobile device:

On the Other Side of Debt Free: Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:13:00 +0000

Source: zwizzk.com via Cherie on Pinterest

I was reading out of a little preschool devotional with the Youngest Princess last night. She's four and the topics are generally light but foundational to her faith. The verse of the day was something out of Isaiah and centered around traveling through difficult times in your life {You can tell I retained a lot, right? Hey, it was close to bedtime. And those cute little illustrations are distracting.}.

But it did get me thinking.

Life has been pretty good lately. We paid off our final debt to Sallie Mae. We were on the Dave Ramsey Show. We've begun to build an emergency fund of 3-6 months of expenses. We're saving for our first "real" debt free vacation in October. We had a smashing debt free party. The girls are about to finish their respective school years. Everyone's healthy. We've got a couple of new projects to work on both at home and online. The King of Free is getting ready to celebrate his birthday this Friday and FINALLY eat at a restaurant for the first time in close to 2.5 years. We had an unexpected expense of over $180 today and I didn't even bat an eyelash. The money's in the bank to pay for it, no sweat.

Life is good. {deep contented sigh}.

I don't know why, but every time I get to a place like this {which really hasn't happened in at least 4 years because for the last 4 years, we were pummeling through $127K of debt}, I begin to get antsy. It's almost as if I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

For something to go dreadfully wrong.

Right now, they're fuzzy and distant from my warm heart, but I remember times of darkness, not so long ago. Last summer was particularly hard for me and believe-it-or-not, the 2 weeks leading up to paying off our final debt were probably some of the darkest hours of my soul. There were days where it felt like I was aimlessly karate chopping my way through deep waves of dark waters that filled my mouth and sometimes my lungs with their bitter brine. I won't lie, that bitterness was inching its way from my lungs closer and closer to my heart and I was having a particularly difficult struggle with trust and forgiveness of people and incidents of the past. I have my own personal theories on why I was struggling so deeply. But that's another post for another day

It's not like being debt free solves all of your personal problems, but much of the shroud was lifted immediately after the debts were paid. It was like I could see the world much more clearly. Oh that, and my acne cleared. Not. even. joking.

Perhaps I've eased into a different pace of life. Perhaps the roughest days lie just off in the distance and this is a calm before the storm. It's not really for me to know.

Regardless of what comes our way in the future, we are much more secure financially and emotionally with $127K+ behind us and nothing but possibilities in front of us.

Until then, I'm just hanging out here with my laptop. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. And hoping I'll learn to abide without the ansty.

Walmart: FREE Sample of Milk-Bone Trail Mix Dog Snacks

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:18:00 +0000

Walmart is currently offering a FREE sample of Milk-Bone® Trail Mix dog snacks. Who knew dogs liked trail mix? The form was quick and painless to fill out. Let's just say our neighbor's dog will be very happy when this one arrives.

Your sample should arrive in 4-6 weeks.

Check here to see if there are other Walmart FREE samples you haven't requested!

Thanks Lady Beth of In Good Cents!

Facebook: Free Sample of Ovaltine

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:56:00 +0000

Snag a FREE Sample of Rich Chocolatey Ovaltine {I've never had it but I've been told it's rich and chocolatey} on their Facebook Page.

Your sample should arrive in 6-8 weeks.

Thanks Lady Anne, the Deal Wise Mommy!

Eversave: $10 In Save Rewards When You Join

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:52:00 +0000

If you haven't joined Eversave yet, today's your best day to do so. You can snag $10 in Save Rewards {instead of the usual $1-3} when you join Eversave, now through May 31st, 2012. This will make some Saves ridiculously cheap {even if you don't see a deal you like today}.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for free {or close to free} deals for you on Eversave.

*This post contains a referral link.

Facebook: FREE M&Ms Coupon Good at Thornton's

noreply@blogger.com ("The Queen of Free") — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:15:00 +0000

Need a sweet snack? My heavens, don't spend money on it. Instead print out this coupon available on Thornton's Facebook Page and snag a bag of M&Ms for free. You may have to click on the "Coupon" tab to be able to see it. Limit one per person and expires May 21st, 2012.

While you're on Facebook, be sure to join the Court of the Queen of Free, where over 4900 other Money Saving Lords and Ladies like you have banded together to slay debt dragons, save money, and come in under budget, all with a smile on their faces.

Thanks Lady Jennifer of Stretching a Buck!