• Look around your neighborhood for people that might need help-can you mow a lawn, watch a neighbors kids, help clean a house? If you see a need, offer to help fill it (for free). 
• Ask local schools if they need any help with their activities-ask at your school (they likely have lists of things going on you can volunteer for) or contact local elementary schools and ask what they have you could volunteer for. I am PTO president at my kids' school and we always use kids to help run things like our carnival and other activities-it helps us get enough volunteers and helps the kids get their hours in.
• Check at local churches for volunteer opportunities.
• Talk to local charitable organizations (Red Cross, JDRF, etc) and see what volunteer opportunities they may have.
• Local theaters often need volunteers to act as ushers.

If you have a baby younger than 1 you can register them for a free ticket to the Ringling Bros circus that they can use anytime in their life. Look for the "Baby's First Circus" link on their website. I signed up my twins and still have their tickets. We'll probably use them this year. The catch is that you have to do ...it before their first birthday.

I like saving time as much as saving money so I try to buy in bulk once a month and make a bunch of home-made freezer meals. Meat is usually much cheaper in bulk and it really rocks to have good meals ready in minutes. If you are low on freezer space make sauces (spaghetti, alfredo, strogonoff, etc) and then you can boil the pasta the night you make the meal. I can send a list of meals I usually make but I think the best ones are those your family usually eats.

Price matching is one of the easiest ways to save without doing too much work! (esp. in Omaha with all the different grocery store ads)

Since I started driving my scooter to work instead of the suburban, my gas bill has dropped from $200/month to $20/month. I'd say the scooter purchase was worth it!

At Target you can use a Manufacturers coupon along with a Target coupon. I also love kids eat for $.99 tues., thurs. at Applebees. We took advantage of that all the time during residency. Now I don't live close to an Applebee's.

I don't really have a lot of food tips, just decorating ones. So here's what I've got! I haven't been able to do this yet, but I've helped many many friends refurbish great garage sale and thrift store finds. Or, for me, when I get sick ...of looking at the same furniture everyday I rotate it through the house creating new looks in every room. It's a lot of fun and FREE! Another one...just buy a plant, flowers, or even a new vase for a room. It will add so much to it. And, lastly, get rid of clutter...it does wonders!

At Target you can turn your Target bags in for 5 cents a piece! Not much but it adds up!!

You could say something cheap for a date night, go to a Costco or Sam's club. Order their hot dog and drink for $1.25 (I think that is what it still is), So that ends up being $2.50 for dinner, and then go to a dollar movie. For a date night, dinner and movie it is under $5.00. I think that is a good deal!!! I love doing that at times with my husband.

Spray paint to restore ugly things. Buy from Craigslist. Buy used. Grocery shop for a two week period instead of every week. buying for a two week period really does save me. I used to spend $150 every week. Now I spend $200 for every two weeks. I think on average I save $100 a month by stretching out those weeks with food. I tend to impulse buy so the less I am in a store the better. Also find stores like Aldi's. They don't have them everywhere, but they do help me to save money on everyday things.

I shop for 2 weeks of food as well and it really does save me money! I usually end up going every week for some perishables or items we need. However, I usually plan to eat those items that perish quickly first and those that will last a while at the end of the 2 weeks.

Don't pay someone else to do what you can do (or learn to do) yourself. All the redecorating/remodeling in our house has been done by me, Erin, and my Dad and looks pretty decent. :)

Also, Don't buy in bulk if you don't have to - we found that when we buy in bulk, we just eat more and still have to go back just as often to buy more.

• Hy Vee Potato chips $.99
• Midwest Country Fare Vegetables 14.5-15 oz $.29 (limit 8)
• Bar S Jumbo Hot Dogs 16 oz $.79
• Frank's Kraut 14 oz $.88
• Ripe Tomatoes $.99/lb
• Red and Yellow bell peppers 3/$2 (so about $.66 each)
• Coke 12 packs 3/$9 (with in ad coupon)
• Coke 2 liters 3/$4 (plus get 1 free with in ad coupon = $1 each)
• Nissin Top Ramen Noodles 6 pack $1
• Hunt's Tomato Sauce 3/$1 (with in ad coupon)
• Hy Vee Peanut Butter $.88 17.3-18 oz (with in ad coupon)
• Betty Crocker Cake Mixes $.69 (with in ad coupon)
• Hy Vee dozen large eggs $.99
• Hy Vee Half Gallon Chocolate Milk $1.58

• Hy-Vee White Bread $.67
• Roberts cottage cheese $1.77 (24 oz)
• Cucumbers 3/$1

• Hy Vee Shredded cheese 6 or 8 oz $.99 (limit 10)
• Little Debbie snacks $.88 (limit 10)
• Minute Maid Lemonade or Punch 64 oz $.77
• Fully cooked Rotisserie Chicken $3.99 each
• Tony's Crispy Crust pizza or Larry's Potatoes $.77 (limit 10)
• Hy Vee deli sliced ham $1.49/lb (limit 5 lb)
• Kraft Natural Cheese Sticks 9 or 12 oz 5/$10 (limit 5-get a $5 catalina back for your next purchase)

• 93% lean ground beef $1.88/lb
• Our Family 24 pack bottled water $2.48
• Skippy 16.3 oz Peanut Butter $.99 (in ad coupon for $1.50 off bread with purchase of 2)
• Kellogg's Mini Wheats $1.50 each when you buy 4 ($2.50 each on less than 4)
• Zucchini or yellow squash $.88/lb 

• Pork Country Style Ribs (boneless) $1.29/lb
• Pepsi 20 packs $3.99 (limit 2)
• Purex detergent 50 oz $1.88

• 84% Lean Ground Beef $1.88/lb
• Ragu 16-26 oz $.99 (in ad coupon as well where you get free pasta with purchase of 2, limit 4)
• Skippy 16 oz Peanut Butter $.99 (in ad coupon as well where you get free bread with purchase of 2, limit 4)
• Wishbone 16 oz Salad Dressing (in ad coupon as well where you get free salad with purchase of 2, limit 4)

• Land O Lakes gallon milk $1.77
• Pillsbury Brownie mix $.69
• Boneless center cut pork loin $1.59/lb

• Corn 5/$1
• Lots of 10/$10 including: Better Oats, Fast Fixin Chicken, Tony's pizza, and lots more!!

• Strawberries $.99/lb
• Red or Green Grapes $.76/lb

• Boneless beef whole untrimmed chuck roll $1.88/lb
• Land O Lakes Yogurt 6 oz 4/$1
• Kraft Mac n Cheese $.48
• Boston Butt Pork Roast $1.28/lb
• Blue Bunny Ice Cream 56 oz $1.68
• Kraft Mayo or Miracle Whip 30 oz $1.97
• Dole Celery $.56 each
• Pepsi Products 24 packs $5.48 (limit 2)