Eye spy a bargain

Every year when I go to the eye doctor for my exam I have them give me a copy of my prescription. I can then shop for glasses anywhere. There are several online options for really cheap. But when you buy online you haven't held them in your hand and haven't tried them on to see how you like them. Some of the online sites have a "try them on" feature. You upload a photo of yourself and then electronically try on different glasses. I already know pretty much what looks good on me and by looking at the dimensions of the glasses you can get an idea how they'll fit. Then you just plug in your prescription into the order form and in a couple of weeks you have new glasses. I love my new prescription "goggle glasses" I ordered from Eye Buy Direct. They only cost $40.00. You can get glasses for as low as $9.00 a pair. That includes the frame and perscription. Eye Buy is currently doing a buy one get one free promo. I've also ordered from Zenni Optical and been pleased.

Get an Organic Sleep for Cheap

How much do organic cotton sheets cost?? If you have to ask you can't afford it. Thank god for Target They have nice soft organic sheet sets (on sale right now) for less than $40.00. That includes fitted sheet, flat sheet, and pillow cases and they come in a variety of colors. How cool is that?

Oil change can give you change back

It's a dirty job but somebody has to do it. If you go to your local oil change shop you can spend 10 minutes getting there and half an hour waiting for them to change the oil. Then you can spend $35.00-$50.00 for the privilege. I went to Walmart ( I hate going to Walmart but sometimes it is better to go to Walmart than to drive one or two hours to go somewhere else) and bought a oil drip pan (a plastic pan that the oil drips into and then gets contained in the bottom) a couple of car ramps (if your car has low clearance) an oil filter wrench and a socket wrench. These are tools you'll use everytime you change the oil so its worth an upfront investment. Then when you're ready to change the oil (check your owners manual for suggested oil changing intervals) you'll need to have all your materials ready. New filter and oil. Your manual will also tell you how much oil your car should take. It usually takes me about 20 minutes to change the oil That saves me about 20 minutes and the materials cost about $11.00 so I save any where from $24.00-$39.00 every time I need to change the oil. Remember to wear old clothes you don't mind getting dirty. I also wear a hat and clear protective glasses and rubber gloves so I don't turn into an oil bomb. Go to About.com for a quick tutorial.

Cooking from scratch is cheap

If you cook at home instead of eating out you know you'll save money. But if you cook from scratch instead of eating pop in the microwave pre-prepared foods you'll also save money AND be eating better. When you have control of the ingredients you can eat much healthier. Like avoiding extra fat, sodium and chemical preservatives. Using a crock pot can make it easy too. Pop all the ingredients in before you leave for work, or play and when you come home it is hot and ready to eat. Add a salad and you have a quick great, healthy meal. If you make a big batch of chili, or whatever, freeze some and have your own pop in the microwave ready made meal for later. It doesn't take any extra time to make extra servings. Right now Sears has the Hamilton Beach 4 qt. Oval Slow Cooker on sale for$9.99. Free pick-up at store pick-up in Silverthorne.

Saving on Organics at the Grocery Store

I like City Market produce. I think they have a good selection of Organics on sale this week and lots of other good fruit. Organic spinach or baby greens, 16oz. clam shell for $3.99 and organic peeled carrots $1.00 a pound and organic lemons 2lb bag for $2.99. Cantaloupe 2lbs for a $1.00 and the little yellow mangoes 2 for $1.00. Lets not forget the 5 pound box of clementines for $5.99. All natural ground beef $3.99 pound. Cascadian Farms organic cereals 2 for $5.00. Organic milk $2.50 for half gallon. It is still a better deal to buy a gallon of milk but only if you'll use a full gallon. Tropicana orange juice is $2.99 a carton. There is a coupon for a $1.00 off an Organic Valley product in the Optimum Wellness magazine available at City Market in the produce section. That makes the Organic Valley eggs $2.69 a dozen. Check out the blog Organic Deals and Coupons to find even more ways to save.

Comparing insurance rates is boring but can save you a bundle

I filled out one of those online forms at www.netquote.com, and got several quotes back. I'd had the same insurance for years. But just for the heck of it I filled out the form and to my surprise almost every other insurance company was going to be cheaper for the same kind of coverage. Now when you fill out that form you have to be really interested because you have to give them your telephone number and a lot of times an agent will call you. So it isn't just a quick deal with instant online information. You can go to several individual web sites and get a quote without having to speak to someone but then you have to go to multiple sites and fill in the information at each site. I suppose it is 6 of one half dozen of the other. But the fact remains that insurance companies like to give out low rates at first to entice you to go with their company and then little by little they up the rates every time you renew. We switched both our car and home insurance and saved over $600.00 a year. It might be boring but you can save a bundle for just the cost of a little bit of your time. So go check out the Progressive chick and see what she can do for you

Tomorrow is the last of the free Unlimited Adventure Series

So this is your last chance this season to go to one of the Unlimited Adventure Series sponsored by the Vail Symposium

So Beyond What the Mind Can Imagine with Les Guthman
Thursday, March 11 2010, 6:00pm
View Our Calendar Film director and producer Les Guthman has produced three of the 20 Top Adventure DVDs of All Time, according to Men’s Journal magazine. He will share his awe-inspiring film clips that follow the greatest expeditions caught on tape from the historic first whitewater descent of the Tsangpo Gorge, the "Everest of Rivers," to his film with climbing legend Reinhold Messner. After the presentation, head over to the Tap Room in Vail Village for an exclusive after party with Guthman; 5 bucks gets you beer, food and entrance into a prize drawing! Thank you to our sponsors: Town of Vail Public Library, Town of Vail, Coors Tap the Rockies, Vail Daily, The Tap Room, Antlers at Vail, Red Bull, Plum TV, TV8 Vail, 4 Eagle Ranch, Nova Guides, KZYR 97.7, Chicks with Picks, Radio Shack of Avon, Greg Stump Productions, PSAV, and Dogma Athletics.
Location : Donovan Pavilion, Vail
As part of our Unlimited Adventure series, this program is FREE!