Most people may not be in the mood to continue shopping after the holidays, but there are always a select few that do so for the many discounted items the day after Christmas. Most of the department and retail stores mark down everything—and not just the decorations. You can significantly save on appliances, electronics and even apparel. Wal-Mart also has a "Value of the Day" to save you even more money. There are many establishments that are extending their holiday returns such as Best Buy which extends through Jan. 24, 2012. The biggest tip … don’t forget your receipts. Places such as Home …

Are you looking for ways to give back this holiday season? Do you think you cannot afford to make a difference? Well think again. In the December issue of O Magazine, a list was provided to show how far just one or two dollars can go to the needy. For $1 you can purchase two books in an African classroom where as many as 20 children share one textbook. booksforafrica.org For $2 you can pay for a set of drumsticks for a music student in a low-income public school. littlekidsrock.org A $3 pledge pays for a field trip to a concert, museum or theater for a high-risk youth. createnow.org For $4 …

If you are thinking about taking the easy way out from shopping by just giving a gift card, you may want to think again. According to Plastic Jungle, about 7 percent of the amount spent on gift cards isn't redeemed each year, which means Americans are sitting on about $30 billion in unused gift cards. Wow … what a waste. Instead of spending too much this year, opt for these T.I.P.$. that offer savings while putting a smile on someone’s face. Restore an old gem: If an heirloom watch, brooch or necklace has a missing piece or broken part and you know your loved-one has been meaning to have it …

This is the time of year for quality time with family and celebrations. Here are some tips that will help you get into the holiday spirit. Now that it gets dark earlier, you may be lighting more candles around the house. If your lighter ran out of fluid, you can use an uncooked piece of spaghetti which works great for hard to reach candles. No more burning your fingers with those small matches either. Keep those wrapping ribbons that are tied around birthday presents and you can recycle them for holiday gifts by using a flat iron to get the creases out. Voila—you have brand new ribbons. Now …

With one week until Halloween, there is no need to run out and buy a costume this year since you probably have everything you need right in your own home. Here are some really cute and fun examples of homemade costumes that may spark another creative idea for you. Everyone is familiar with the group Black Eyed Peas, so here is a very frugal, comfortable and easy idea to do for a group. Everyone wear a white T-shirt and draw a large capital letter P in bold marker. Then take a black eyeliner pencil or black face paint and make one eye look like it was punched. Most people will have to ask what…

There are many things around that house that have more value than we think. Here are some T.I.P.$. to help you stretch your dollar instead of buying extra items for no reason. For ring around the collar you do not have to buy those expensive spray-on laundry products. Instead buy store brand shampoo and use on any greasy stains. Shampoo takes the grease out of your hair, so why not your shirt? For silk flowers and fake plants at home try removing dust with a clean, soft bristle paintbrush. You can also use this to clean lampshades, especially if they are pleated. When you finish a jar of …

Next time you are at your local grocery store make sure to take a good look at the discounted items that may be overlooked. In the bakery section you will notice that they have a section that says something like, “Oops We Over Baked!” where you'll find rolls, bread, donuts, muffins, cookies and more to choose from. This is not where you would buy them for a gathering or function, but more for personal use. You can bring most of these back to life by dipping them in water and baking at 370 degrees for a few minutes. Let it be your secret since no one would ever know the difference. Just don’t …

Autumn colors are so vibrant and abundantly beautiful, but also remind us that summer is over and it is now time to prepare for the change of seasons. In the coming weeks it may be cooler days where you do not need to have your air conditioning turned on all day, or you may be a sufferer of allergies and cannot keep your windows open either. Instead turn on your ceiling fans on the highest speed to circulate the air making it cooler inside and save money by keeping the air conditioning on a higher setting. A tip that I learned is that your ceiling fan has a switch that sends the blades in …

Labor Day for many is the last travel day of the summer or the last backyard barbeque. We have some T.I.P.$. for you that can get you started for the holiday. Travelers: Before your trip, make sure you visit the North County Branch Library to rent audio books, CDs and movies for free. Let each member of the family pick something so the time will fly by without hassles. Here are some other activities for the kids—free printable Labor Day games: word scramble, word find and coloring pages. Barbecue: If you are throwing an end of summer party, now is the time to look for those clearance deals on…

It’s back-to-school time and we have some T.I.P.$ and ideas to get you ready with a plan of action. As summer comes to an end, so does the spring/summer collection of clothes and shoes. Now is the time to check all the clearance items to get those bargains while they make room for the fall lineup. No Sales Tax for Maryland is August 14-20 on clothes and shoes for $100 or less. Make sure you shop on those dates and buy items already on sale for extra savings. The short-sleeved shirts that have decals or graphics on them are on clearance now and are perfect for wearing over a plain long sleeved…

I do not know how people react when they learn they have a child with autism, but for Penny Reisler of Pasadena it was her second child that she loved and adored just as much as her first. Her daughter, Annie, has autism and is now a teenager. “I do not think I ever sat back and cried or said ‘why me’.  It was what it was and I never felt sorry for myself,” Penny said. Penny said she always wondered how to improve Annie’s life and get the most help for her but no one seemed to have any answers other than support groups. However, through a friend, Penny learned about the Autism Waiver and …

I caught up with Michele Drocella of Pasadena who owns her own handbell retail business, Kids Play Music, and teaches piano to students at Community United Methodist Church. Her daughter is getting married and her son is a full-time college student. Michele started preparing herself about ways to save money for her upcoming expenses. "Have you heard of Extreme Couponing?" Michele asked. This is when you time the purchase of a certain item so that you are buying it when it is on sale, combine that sale with a coupon that can be doubled in value or shop during the sale and stack a store coupon …

Owning a small business and having two young kids can be very hectic or very productive, depending on how you spend your time. Planning ahead instead of making last minute decisions can save you a ton of money. John and Laura Myers of Pasadena own a small business, Myers Voice & Data, in Glen Burnie. Keeping overhead to a minimum is Laura’s goal as she makes sure that her computer, printer, TV and cell phone charger all are plugged into a power strip so at the end of the work day she can turn everything off at once and unplug from the wall. “We teach our children to turn off all electricity …

If you are a caregiver to a parent who needs assisted living or a nursing home, then you know just how difficult and draining this can be in your daily life. Jackie Quinn of Brooklyn Park knows plenty about this since she had to coax her widowed father into assisted living since he could no longer handle certain tasks while living home alone. Her father lives at Heart Homes in Linthicum and Jackie said he has adjusted very well since moving in 18 months ago. Jackie has taken him to numerous doctor appointments, emergency room visits, rehab centers as well as normal visits. “Unfortunately you …

What kid doesn’t love arts and crafts? If you are one of those that believe in spending more time (not money) with the kids, then here are some wonderful ideas that involve quality time with little cost. Birthday parties can be very expensive at your local Chuck E Cheese’s or any rental facility, so why not make your own theme and do it yourself? One idea comes from Carolyn who has a four year old that loves construction. Her and her husband went to the local appliance store and got several refrigerator boxes for free. Just cut out door and window shapes and provide the kids with different …

Tricia Lynch of Ferndale knows a thing or two about making treats since her husband, Glenn, owns Glenn’s Gourmet Bakery in Pasadena. To save money, Tricia makes her own dog treats. A favorite of her two pooches is sweet potato jerky. “It’s a healthy, vegetarian alternative to rawhide and they are loaded with vitamin E, B6, potassium and iron,” said Tricia. To make these treats, preheat the oven to 250 degrees, cut sweet potatoes into 1/3 inch slices or strips and bake for 3 hours—turning them over halfway. Add another 20-30 minutes for dryer treats. Cool completely and then refrigerate for up…

Depending on what you are looking for, Value Village in Brooklyn Park is another alternative to big savings on gently-used or new items. Michelle from Glen Burnie is a single homeowner and said she is not too proud to save a buck or two when shopping. "I got an Abercrombie & Fitch shirt and an American Eagle shirt in practically new condition for $4.25 total. Last summer I got a $65 bathing suit with the tags still on it for $4.00—it was marked $8 but I got it on Labor Day so it was 50 percent off,” Michelle said. Every Monday Value Village has 25 percent off everything in the store. If you …

It’s that time of year when the weather is tolerable enough to head outdoors. There are several areas in and around Glen Burnie where you can cycle, hike, walk, picnic or just take in the sites. Chrissy Eckhardt of Linthicum is a trained cycler and runner. In the spring, she straps her 2-year-old son Owen on the back of her bicycle and hits the BWI trail at least once a week. She said that BWI has the best paved trail and rides her bike for 26 miles which usually takes 1 ½ hours. If she is training for an event, she may do it two times a week. “John Downs Park at the end of Mountain Road is a…

Move over eBay, Craigslist is the new favorite for buying, selling and renting according to Kate Bradley of Brooklyn Park. Kate is the mother of two girls, a teenager and a toddler and she recently shared some T.I.P.$. on how successful Craigslist has been for her family. Kate said she manages to purchase gently used items from other mothers who no longer need what she is looking for. You know the saying, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure… If you are not familiar with the site, you may want to take a look. Craigslist is a free service for local classifieds in and around your …

Making these changes will give you a substantial amount of savings. My household recently made the switches below and is well into saving $1,700 per year. Check with the company that holds your mortgage to see if they also offer homeowners insurance and car insurance. If you combine all three of these services with the same company they will bundle them for extra savings. If you have teenage drivers in the house with good grades—even bigger discount (you have to fax in their report cards). We made the switch in our household and will save close to $1,000 annually. Most everyone has a cell …