I don’t know about you but I love watching movies.  Unfortunately, the high price of cinema tickets and snacks can quickly break any budget.  Read these helpful tips for enjoying movies anytime without going broke.

• Look for discounts and free showings at cinemas.  Theaters offer special discounts and promotions from time to time that you may not be aware of.  Follow your favorite theater on Facebook or Twitter for offers and promotions.  It’s also a good idea to check your theater’s website for promotions and specials.  For instance, every summer Regal Movie Theaters offers free G or PG rated movies at 10am on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during their Free Family Film Festival.

• Avoid purchasing tickets online ahead of time from the theater. You may save a few minutes of standing in line but it could cost you up to $1 a ticket.

• See if  your city offers free movie viewings in the park. They are fun, free, and a fantastic opportunity to enjoy some fresh air with your movie instead of being in a stuffy cinema.  A simple Google search of “movies in the park” + your city or state will generate results that should help you find a movie showing in a park near you.  It is also a good idea to check your local newspaper or city website.

• Visit a Drive-In Theater. While most drive-in movie theaters have sadly withered away, there are still some going strong.  The ticket prices are cheaper than at traditional cinemas and you can bring your own goodies without having to feel like a criminal by stuffing your already overflowing purse full of candy.  Check out this great website to find a drive-in near you and learn fun facts about drive-ins.

• Frequent Dollar Shows.  I love going to the dollar cinemas!  They might not be as fancy as their regular counterparts and you won’t be able to watch the new releases but you will save a TON on the cost of tickets.  Not to mention, the snacks and drinks are usually cheaper than at the regular theaters.

• Utilize Matinees, Student or Senior Discounts. I don’t understand why more people don’t go to the movies during matinee times.  Why pay almost twice the the amount to see the exact same movie just to see it at night?  If you want to watch a movie at night, consider renting one and watch it at home and save the new movies for the daytime. And if you are a student, always show your student I.D. to get a discount.  You probably won’t be able to get both the matinee price and the student price together, though.  If you are age eligible, don’t be shy about asking for a senior discount.

• BYOB.  Ok, I have a confession to make.  I purchase movie theater candy from the dollar store, CVS or Walgreens (when they are on sale) and take them with me when we go see a movie.  I’m sorry, but with how expensive movie tickets have become, I simply can’t allow myself to pay $3-4 dollars for a box of candy when I can get the same candy for $1 or less at the store.

• Start using Redbox. Rent new releases for only $1 a night at Redbox kiosks.  Redbox is a great way to watch movies for cheap.  If you sign up for the Redbox Text Club, you will get a promo code delivered to your phone on the first Monday of every month.  Also, when you create a free account on Redbox.com, you will earn a free rental.  To get you started, here are a few codes that should work anytime: BREAKROOM, DVDONME, and DVDATWAG (good at Walgreens kiosks only).  Find a Redbox kiosk near you here.

• Consider joining Netflix.  If you sign up through My Points, you will earn 1,000 points.  That is almost enough to get a $10 gift card (choose from several different retailers).  If you are new to MyPoints, it is the largest online reward program and my favorite. Click below to get started:

• Utilize rewards programs. Join the AMC Movie Watcher Rewards program and start earning points for concessions and tickets.  Another great movie watching rewards program is the Regal Crown Club.  Click here to join for free and get started earning free popcorn, soft drinks, movies, and more!

• Rent movies from your local public library. My library has quite an extensive collection of new and old movies and TV shows to choose from.

• Live in an apartment? Check with the office staff to see if they have a movie library that offers free rentals.  My apartment has a pretty decent selection.

• If you are a member, consider purchasing tickets from Costco.  Tickets are available for AMC Theatres and Regal Entertainment Group.

• Keep your eyes peeled for promotions offered by big name brands. I have earned free movie tickets from purchasing Axe products and there are many others available from time to time as well.  During the week of 6/27/2010 thru 7/3/2010, you can earn a free movie cash ticket when you purchase 3 U by Kotex products from Walgreens.  See stores for details.

• Save with AAA. If you are a member, you can get discounts on tickets at Cinemark.

• Watch movies online for free. There are sites that allow you to watch movies online for free.  My favorite is Hulu.  Find more free sites on my Free Stuff page.

• Trade Your DVDs. Become a member (for free) of Swap-a-DVD and trade your unwanted DVDs for ones you actually want to watch.  Read more about how this exciting program works here.  Or, you could also try the old-fashioned way and trade with your friends, family, and co-workers.

• Enjoy movies for free or cheap on iTunes – Every week, iTunes offers new free downloads.  It may be a song, a TV show, or a movie.  Be sure to check the iTunes store regularly to see the new freebies.  Did you know that you can rent movies online through iTunes for only 99¢?

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to enjoy movies without spending a fortune.  If you have any ideas to add to this list please comment below.  Thanks and enjoy your show!

Welcome to my new series of store shopping guides, created just for you.  I will be compiling shopping guides for all of my favorite stores to help you get more for your money on all of your shopping trips.  Some of the stores I will be covering include: Target, Big Lots, Kroger, Dollar Tree, T.J. Maxx, Ikea, and many more!

I decided to produce my  CVS Shopping Guide first because CVS is the store that has saved me the most money.  Since I share with you my drugstore deals and steals, I also want to show you how to get the same deals (or better ones) yourself.  So, let’s get started!

Shopping at CVS: Earn Free Products with the Extra Care Program

Do you shop at CVS?  Would you like to get your favorite products from CVS for a LOT less than you are already paying?  What about free or better?  Well, listen up because I am about to show you how shopping the right way at CVS can help your bottom line.

Believe it or not, I wasn’t always as frugal and smart with money as I am today. Before I learned the true value of money, I used to buy things without looking for sales or using coupons.  I used to stop at CVS six or seven times a week to pick up random things as I needed them.  I shopped at CVS so much simply because it was so convenient.  There was a CVS within a mile from my job and home.  But, the convenience was costing me big time.  Then, I met someone who told me that she got free stuff from CVS and Walgreens every week.  She told me how she did and I was hooked!  Now, getting my drugstore deals is the highlight of my week.

For the entire year of 2009, I saved a whopping $570.50!  Look below and see for yourself!  Sorry, the picture is a bit blurry.

My yearly savings of $570.50 at CVS

Here are a few things I have learned along the way during my CVS adventures:

1. An Extra Care Card is a must.  No Extra Care Card = No Extra Bucks

If you don’t have one already, get your hot little hands on a CVS Extra Care card and make sure you take it with you every time you shop at CVS.  You can obtain an Extra Care card from any CVS store (just ask the cashier) or click here to sign up online.  You will earn 2% (in the form of extra bucks) on almost every purchase (things like stamps, alcohol, and gift cards excluded).

2. Learn the layout of your local CVS store.

Scoring stellar deals takes time and work.  If you are anything like me, you want to get in and out as fast as you can.  So, it helps to know where everything is located inside of the store.  Familiarize yourself with the aisles and layout of your local CVS.  Pay attention to where the clearance items are.  You will also want to look for the Coupon Center/Price Scanner.  I never even noticed this thing before but it is a great way to score some money saving CVS coupons. From now on, every time you go into CVS, scan your Extra Care card at the machine and see what coupons you get.

3. Go Green: Get a bag tag!

Attach it to your favorite reusable tote and use it each time you shop at CVS.  Make sure the cashier scans it and you will earn $1 EB on every fourth visit.

4.  Get Organized.

Develop a system that works for you.  I keep my Extra Care card on my key chain with all of my other ones.  Whenever I earn Extra Bucks, I immediately separate them from the bottom of my receipt.  I put the receipt in my receipt basket and my Extra Bucks in my Drugstore Deal Book/Wallet thingy that I also use to carry my coupons, list, and sales ads.

5. Be Prepared.

I recommend that you always remember to bring a copy of the sales circular with you.  They usually have copies in the store for your taking but there have been times when they were out.  Sometimes products are marked very well so having the sales ad with you makes it easy to make sure you are choosing the right products that offer extra bucks.

6. Choose your EB purchases wisely.

If your purchase total is less than your Extra bucks, CVS will not give you change.  Extra Bucks are good for for weeks so you don’t have to use them right away.

7. Learn the art of couponing.

While it does require some work, couponing can save your family big bucks!  Did you know that you can use both a manufacturer’s coupon (like those in the Sunday paper) and a CVS coupon together to increase your savings even more?  If you don’t already, start purchasing your local paper.  Paired with sales and EB deals, the coupons in your Sunday paper can score you some free products.  Follow blogs that do weekly coupon match-ups such as Money Saving Mom or Bargain Briana.

8.  Register your email address at CVS.com.

You will receive money saving store coupons from time to time such as $5 off $15.

9. Earn free CVS gift cards to lower your out of pocket expenses even more.

To make your savings at CVS even more worthwhile, why don’t you earn free CVS gift cards?

• You can earn free CVS gift cards in no time through My Points.  It is so easy to learn points with My Points by reading emails, searching the Net, completing surveys, playing games, and making purchases.
• Try winning CVS gift cards from blog giveaways.  The odds are exceptional, they are usually very easy to find and enter, and you might come across a new favorite blog.  Google “CVS gift card giveaway” and you might be surprised at the results.  Many bloggers (including myself) use gift cards as giveaway prizes.

10.  Remember the early bird gets the worm.

More and more people are starting to utilize the Extra Care program so it is a good idea to do your weekly CVS shopping early Sunday morning.  CVS sales run Sunday through Saturday.  If you wait too long, you will likely miss out on the great deals.  Trust me, I know from experience.

• Click here to read more about the Extra Care program directly from the CVS website.

• Click here to see pics and details of many of the great deals I got at CVS!

• Click here to see the products that I will never pay for again thanks to CVS (and Walgreens).

A few nights ago, I attended my first Coupon Social. It is a monthly event that is part of the Coupon Group I belong to. It was a great experience. I suggest anyone who uses coupons to attend one. I found the group, The Collin County Couponers on Meet Up . If you don’t know, Meet Up is an awesome website for groups of people with similar interests to connect online and “meet up” in person to share their passions. This particular group meets once a month, usually at the library or someone’s home. Everyone brings their coupons and some to share. The organizers (who are hardcore couponers) share their coupon knowledge with everyone. There was even a drawing for a Kroger gift card {I didn’t win}. It was a lot of fun and very informative. So, if you love coupons like I do, here are five reasons to join a coupon group:

1. To meet other people who share the love of couponing. Nobody I know (in person) is into coupons quite like me. It was a breath of fresh air to know I’m not the only crazy one.

2. To put your unwanted coupons to good use. I hate having to throw away coupons just because I won’t use them. It’s like tossing money in the trash.  It is refreshing to have people to give my unwanted coupons to.

3. To get coupons to add to your collection. I was able to score some great coupons that others didn’t want. I think I left with 10 $1.50 off 1 coupons for the new Bounce Dryer Bar that I just LOVE.

4. To learn organizing and other helpful coupon tips. I am still struggling with finding the best way to organize my coupons. My system has improved significantly since I first started but still needs work. This is a great opportunity to learn from the pros and other newbies too.

5. To learn other tips for saving (and making) money. Most people who are serious couponers are serious about their money in general. They know tricks for earning some extra cash, getting free house parties, and how to get full size samples of name brand products for free (more to come on all of that…). I even learned that you CAN freeze milk.

Check Meet Up for groups in your area or start one of your own if you are so daring…

I’m sure that Christmas is the last thing on your mind right now. Well, the 100+ degree weather in Texas has got me seriously wishing for snow. And when I think of snow, I think of Christmas. I just love Christmas! However, being the master procrastinator that I am, I always find myself scrambling so much around Christmas that I end up wasting lots time and money and I don’t enjoy it nearly as much as I should.

My Two Dollars has an awesome post listing Sales Tax Holidays with participating states for 2009. Many states give their residents a break on clothing and school supplies by not making them pay sales tax during a given day or weekend.

If you live in one of the sixteen states participating, you won’t want to miss out on this saving opportunity. Texas, where I reside, is offering no sales tax on clothing and backpacks up to $100. If I spend $100 on clothes, I will save $8.25 that I would normally have to pay for sales tax. Not spectacular but not bad either. Other states have much higher amounts. Wondering if you state is participating? Click here to view the entire list.

I absolutely love going out to eat. I really enjoy trying new food and not having to do dishes. However, restaurants can be pretty costly. Even fast food meals can add up fast if you’re not careful. Follow these tips for saving money at restaurants.

1. Use Coupons.

• There are many places to find restaurant coupons: your mailbox, the phone book, the restaurant’s website, etc.
• Check all receipts. Many restaurants will have a suvery printed on the bottom that will get you a free dessert or appetizer for completing the survey within the given time frame.
• Val-pak offers free printable restaurants (and more). Click here to find restaurant coupons for your zip code.
• Purchase an Entertainment Book. It is loaded with valuable restaurant coupons. Click below to reserve your 2010 copy and you will get a 2009 absolutely FREE! Get a free eBook that offers tips for making the most out of your Entertainment Book. from Hot Coupon World by clicking here.

2. Opt for restaurants that offer freebie starters.
I realize it isn’t the healthiest option but filling up on freebies will cause you to eat (and spend) less.

• Enjoy the complimentary chips & salsa at your favorite Mexican restaurant.
• Fill up on the bottomless breadsticks at Olive Garden.
• Devour the free hummus and pita bread at your favorite Middle Eastern restaurant.

3. Go to restaurants where kids eat free.
There are several restaurants that cater to families by offering certain times or days where kids eat for free. Use the following links to find restaurants near you that offer free kids meals: My Kids Eat Free or Kids Meal Deals. It is always a good idea to call ahead and double check, just in case.

4. Take Advantage of Happy Hour.
Many restaurants offer specials on drinks and appetizers during certain hours. Click here to find Happy Hour specials near you. Once again, it is always smart to phone first and confirm.

5. Eat Less.
Restaurant portions have gotten so out of control we are fooled to think that we need to eat much more than our bodies actually need.

• Stretch your meals. Get two meals out of your dinner instead of just one. As soon as you receive your food at a restaurant, ask for a box. Immediately box up half of your meal and save it for lunch the next day.
• Order an appetizer for your main course. They are often just as big as the entrees.
• Share a meal with a friend or relative. Often times one meal is the perfect amount of food for two people.
• Skip dinner. Eat at home and just go out for drinks and/or desserts.

6. Eat More.
Go for buffets. Personally, I am not a fan of buffets. But, if you have a hungry husband and/or a house full of starving teenagers, buffets can be extremely budget friendly.

7. Sign up for Upromise.

• Join Upromise for FREE and earn up to 8% of your bill in college savings rewards when you dine out at any of over 8,000 participating restaurants. You can use your earnings to pay back student loans, invest them in a 529 savings plan, or you can even get a check if you prefer. FYI: You will need to use a debit or credit card that you register on Upromise in order to get your earnings. New restaurants are added frequently!
  

8. Meet your new best friend, Restaurant.com.
Click here to purchase $25 restaurant gift cards for only $10 or $10 gift cards for only $3! (Minimum purchase may apply.)

9. Earn restaurant gift cards by completing surveys.
Earn points that can be converted into restaurant gift cards by joining Ipos i-Say. Click below to join.

• Join My Points and the points that you earn can be redeemed for gift cards to restaurants including Cracker Barrel, Red Robin, Applebees, California Pizza Kitchen, Pizza Hut, Steak n Shake, Panera Bread, TGI FRidays, Subway, Papa John’s, Outback Steakhouse, and Baja Fresh.

10. Eat Ethnically
Broaden your culinary horizons and save. Indian, Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Mediterranean, and African restaurants can offer delicious, unique meals at a low price.

11. Ordering In? Utilize coupon codes.
Want to have pizza delivered? Log onto Retail Me Not or Coupon Cabin, find promo codes for your order and save big. You can also find printable restaurant coupons on these sites.

12. Like spirits with your meals? Find BYOB restaurants.
Yes, they actually exist. I know, I was shocked too. Use the Urbanspoon to find one near you. Enter your city, then scroll down to Special Features and click on BYOB. (BYOB restaurants are not found in all cities.) Urbanspoon will also let you search for restaurants with delivery, free Wi-Fi, live music, and much more.

13. Become a Mystery Shopper.
Many restaurants hire mystery shoppers to ensure that their guests are receive quality service. This means free meals for you. Carrie at Money Saving Methods is the leading expert on Mystery Shopping. Click here to visit her Mystery Shopping webpage.

14. Keep your eyes peeled for restaurant events.

• Many big cities have Restaurant Weeks which offer special meals from different local restaurants at super low prices. Try Googling the name of your city + restaurant week to find one near you.
• Look for new restaurant openings in your city. You might be able to sample food for free.
• Scan your local paper or the Chamber of Commerce website to find local food sampling events. My hometown sponsored a Restaurant Rally where we got to sample tons of food from over 15 different local restaurants. We only had to pay $20 and got a free trolley ride to all the restaurants AND a free tee shirt.

15. Check out Rewards Network.

Enroll for free and earn up to 15% cash back on your restaurant meals. Earn double rewards on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at participating restaurants. You can even earn cash back at bars and clubs!

16. Drink water with your meals.

Restaurants make the most money off of their drink sales. One restaurant I worked sold a 20 oz pop for $1.39 even though it only cost the restaurant 15 cents! I know that water is boring. Try adding a lemon, lime, or orange slice to your water. Wait until you get home to have soft drinks or alcoholic beverages.

17. Choose breakfast, brunch, or lunch over dinner.

Dinner is the most expensive meal to enjoy at a restaurant. Instead, decide to go out earlier in your day and keep more of your hard earned money!

See, dining out can be done on any budget now that you have the necessary tools to save big on restaurant meals!

On my way to the airport the other day, my car hit the 100,000 mile mark. Wow! I have had that car for just about four years now. When I bought it, it had only 50,000 miles on it. How times flies!

Most people would want to get rid of their vehicle once it accumulated that many miles. They figure that is the point when things start to go wrong. But, not me. Nope, I am gonna keep on driving. I plan to drive it until it hits 200,000 miles. I drove my last car to 147,000. It would have been even longer if it didn’t get totaled (not my fault).

I am shocked by the amount of money people spend on their vehicles. I can’t stand having a monthly car payment. There is nothing better than owning my car outright. The thought of spending $200 and up each month on a car payment is ridiculous to me! That equates to $2,400 or more per year! There are so many things that I would like to do with that money.

The benefits of owning a car outright are tremendous. Insurance and registration costs are typically lower for older cars. But the biggest factor is not having a monthly car note. So, when your car hits 100k miles instead of trading it in, keep it!

• Shop around. If you get a good car to begin with odds are greater that it will last longer.

• Get your oil changed regularly. This is one of the single most important things you can do to ensure the longevity of your vehicle.

• Find a good, honest mechanic. I know from experience that this can be a daunting, seemingly impossible task but it is totally necessary. Ask your friends and family who they recommend. Or, seek out your local community college. For tips on how to select a good mechanic, watch this short video from the ASE (Automotive Service Excellence).

• Make sure you have an emergency fund. Expect to spend money on car repairs and maintenance. It is inevitable. Build it into your budget.

• Learn about your car. Actually read your owner’s manual. The more you know about your car, the better you can take care of it.

• Keep your car washed the interior clean. This is somewhat psychological because the more you pay attention to little things like keeping your car clean, the more inclined you will be to pay attention to the big things. Furthermore, if you keep your can neat and clean, you might not be as anxious to get a new one.

• Keep track of your maintenance and repairs. You might need them for warranty issues. Not to mention, it will be very helpful if you do choose to sell it one day. The used Escort that I drove years ago came with a folder of receipts for every single oil change and repair. What an excellent selling point.

• Watch those curbs! I’m constantly running over curbs and having to put air in my tires all the time. Don’t drive like me, be nice to your tires.

• Drive Safe. Always drive defensively. Wait to make your calls until you are done driving. Definitely don’t try to text. Seriously, just like our bodies, our cars are never the same after an accident. I know this first hand. Pay attention when you drive.

I have been wanting to dabble in the stock market for for some time now. Even though I have been thinking about it for a while, other things kept getting in the way. Such is life. Then, one day (with encouragement from my brother) I decided to use the $50 I had sitting in my TD Ameritrade brokerage/money market account to take the plunge and buy some stock. Since I know very little about investing, I was only comfortable investing that amount.

So, I decided to finally invest in the stock market, albeit, with a tiny amount. The next step was figuring out which stock to invest in. The one thing I know for sure about investing is the importance of diversification. However, since I was just starting out and only investing fifty bucks, I chose to buy from one single company: Ford Motor Company. I chose Ford stock for a few reasons:

1. It was on sale.
2. I am a Detroiter (born and raised in the Motor city) and have been heartbroken by the regional devastation that has occurred since the decline in the auto industry. I wanted to do my part to help, while also trying to help myself in the process.
3. Ford is the only one of the Big Three that has been able to stand on its own two feet by not taking any government money. Therefore, in my eyes, they should be rewarded.
4. I believe in the future of Ford Motor Company.

I purchased my stock at $3.00 a share. As of the close of business today, it is up to $6.06! How exciting! I was getting frustrated because for months, it stayed less than what I paid for it. But, that isn’t the case anymore. I realize that it could dip back down to less than what I paid for it tomorrow. But, that is the way it goes. I’m going to enjoy my profit while it lasts.

Please know that I am not a financial adviser by any means. I’m only sharing my personal experience. I am not recommending that you buy Ford Motor Stock. But, if you have been curious about investing in the stock market, you might find that the route I took (the cheap one) could work for you also. It is a fun way to learn about the stock market with a minimal risk. It has been an enlightening and exhilarating experience, to say the least.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. If you are strapped for cash, here are some lovely gift ideas for Mom that won’t cost you a cent. Remember, the best things in life are free!

• Let your words be your gift. Write a heartfelt letter to your Mom letting her know just how special she is to you. Find some pretty paper to use, skip the notebook paper. Don’t type it, handwritten notes are so much more personal. Spray it with a little perfume to give it a special touch. If you have a way with words, try composing a poem just for her. Don’t know what to write? List your 10 favorite things about her.

• Give the gift of service. Is there something that you could fix for your Mother? Perhaps you could mow the lawn for her and/or pull some weeds in her garden. Wash and vacuum her car for her or clean her bathroom for her.

• Serve her breakfast in bed. Raid your pantry for ingredients to whip up a delicious meal that is as special as she is.

• Pamper her. Give Mom a manicure and/or pedicure.

• Give the gift of music. Have a blank CD lying around? Compile a list of her favorite tunes and burn it for her. Try the websites that are free, such as Limewire if you don’t already have songs to use. You can even print the lyrics out for her or handwrite them for a more personal touch.

I received a phone call from a friend telling me that my brother might have money owed to him. She saw a Dateline special about how much unclaimed money there is out there. She typed in our last name and his name and one of his previous addresses came up. Wow! Too bad nothing came up for me.

But, you might have unclaimed money. Click here to go to Dateline’s website and read the article. To search and see if money is owed to you, click here to go to the Missing Money website. Be sure to read all of the fine print as there is a finder’s fee. Good luck!