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May 22, 2013

Eat Healthy and Save: 10 Healthy Tips

Looking to eat healthier while maintaining your budget? The truth is, you don’t have to fork over your entire paycheck in order to make healthier decisions. By following these tips, you can find your own way to eat healthy while still saving. 1. Cook Dinner – This doesn’t mean heating up a frozen pizza loaded with cheese and fat. Instead, actually cook your own dinner. Not only will you have leftovers to eat throughout the week, but you’ll also find that when cooking, you become fuller just by taking the time to smell your food. 2. Go Lean – Opt for lean meats as much as possible. If you’re not fully ready to cut beef or pork out of your diet, then try incorporating leaner meats a few nights a week. Not only are lean turkeys and chickens healthier for you; they’re also less expensive. 3. Skip the Snack Aisle – Avoid this aisle at all costs if you’re trying to eat better. Instead, why not have a handful of cereal (something with whole grain or fiber, not Captain Crunch) or fresh fruits for a snack? Stocking up on tons of snacks you don’t need just forces you to spend [...]

Post Comment| in Nutrition|by Courtney Johnston click me

May 20, 2013

Memorial Day Checklist

Memorial Day is right around the corner. Are you ready? In the spirit of helping you plan for your big party, we here at LiveBetterCheaper are here to present you with a comprehensive checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything. Acting as a three-day weekend for most, many people like to celebrate Memorial Day by hosting their own barbeques and cookouts (extra day, warmer weather, might as well!). Since it should be a stress-free day for you to relax, we’ve taken the liberty of compiling this list so you have nothing to worry about…except for getting everything, but that’s a post for another day. For your party, make sure you have the following: Which Day?: Having a three-day weekend means you’re free to host it on any day you want. Maybe have it on Saturday to celebrate the weekend, perhaps Sunday so you can watch and/or listen to the Indianapolis 500, or Monday on actual Memorial Day. The Right Space: Depending on how many guests you invited (oh yeah, send out invitations or create an even on Facebook. Your choice), you need something that can comfortably fit everyone. If that’s your backyard, great. If you [...]

Post Comment| in Seasonal|by Josh Lauritsen click me

May 15, 2013

Gifts for Grads: 5 Ideas That Won’t Break the Bank

Looking for an affordable grad gift your grad will love come Commencement Day? Laptops and cell phones make a great grad gift, but they’re extremely expensive. Plus, most grads already have these items. So what can you buy that will be memorable and affordable? Check out these grad gift ideas below: Make Your Own Gift Basket: Create your own (inexpensive) gift basket will all the items the grad in your life will need. For instance, if they’re going off to college, pack a basket full of hot chocolate or coffee, towels, paper cups and plates, cleaners, shampoo and conditioner, notebooks, and other dorm essentials. You’ll help them out without shelling out a ton of cash. Tech-Worthy Gifts: Buying everything they need for college or their new adult life can be overwhelming. Help them out by buying extension cords, cord organizers, car chargers, or energy (and money) saving light bulbs. Or, find out if they need any small appliances like a toaster or blender. Music Lovers: Invest in funky headphones, speakers for iphones or ipods, or keep it simple with an itunes giftcard. If they’re into vinyl, buy them vinyl record frames so that they can display their favorite [...]

Post Comment| in Do It Yourself, Personal Shopper, Seasonal|by Courtney Johnston click me

May 13, 2013

Fight Spring Fever: Outdoor Fun for Free

According to a stat made up for the purposes of this blog post, there is a cabin fever epidemic that’s plaguing the nation (blame the extended winter and the rainfall). Thankfully, there is a cure, and it’s the subject of today’s article, where we present to you 10 fun activities that will get you outside, and best of all, it won’t cost you a dime (or a nickel or even a penny!). No, that is not a typo. As they like to say, the best things in life are free. Since we’re heading into the summer months, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get outside and end this funk. What exactly can you do? Here are a few ideas: The Park: State parks aside, most places won’t charge an admission feed to go hang out there for an afternoon. Once you’re in, endless opportunities away, go for a run or a bike ride, let the kids play on the playground, learn about the ecosystem, let the pets play. The possibilities are endless. Get Active: Yes, we just alluded to this, but getting active is something you can do anywhere as long as you have a space and the [...]

Post Comment| in Do It Yourself, Seasonal, Wellness|by Josh Lauritsen click me

May 8, 2013

5 Free Apps That Can Save You Money

You take your phone everywhere, and let’s face it— it’s difficult to imagine life without it. So, be sure you’re taking advantage of all of the benefits of owning a smartphone. Check out these 5 apps that you may not be using that can save you money. Check in Apps – Foursquare and Yelp are all the rage for reviews and checking in, but did you know that you can actually score free food and discounts by using these apps? Some restaurants offer Foursquare and Yelp specials and others just give out a free beverage or appetizer. This fad isn’t just limited to food either. Create an account today to see what all the hype is about. Barcode Scanners – Apps like RedLaser allow users to scan any item, anywhere, to see if they can find it cheaper at another store. You can even use this app to order the item you’re looking at online and have it delivered to your home or schedule an in-store pickup. This app also offers user reviews and other fun features. Redeemia – Looking for a good deal on a restaurant or day spa? Redeemia searches through discount sites like Groupon, [...]

Post Comment| in Cutting Bills, Internet Advantages, Internet Deals|by Courtney Johnston click me

May 2, 2013

Getting Down with Pet Care: The Top 10 Pet Care FAQ

They’re furry, they’re adorable and they love you just as much as you love them. They’re your pets, and here at LiveBetterCheaper, we know that there are a lot of you out there who may be pet owners. That’s why in our quest to help you to, well, live better cheaper, we’re spending today focusing on the joys (or tribulations) of pet ownership and how you can provide the best care on a budget. Pets are like companions (without the time and space adventures), and like anyone who gets to put the title “parent” in their name, you want to be able to provide for them th best pet care possible, but in this day and age – and with the economy the way it is – pets can seem like a luxury. However, taking care of one doesn’t have to involve breaking the bank and only buying the fanciest toys and services. So how can you do so? Consider these 10 steps: Make Sure You Can Keep A Pet: Let’s get the obvious one out of the way first. If you’re someone that’s living paycheck to paycheck, then maybe it’s not such a good idea to get one. Because [...]

Post Comment| in Communication, Do It Yourself, Personal Shopper, Thrift Stores, Wellness|by Josh Lauritsen click me