Free outings with the little folk

So now that gas prices aren't so insane, and we can leave the house again...
Where can we go and not spend a penny?

I am the queen of free outings. I am one of those moms who can NOT stand to be stuck in the house, so every day has to be filled. That could become stressful and expensive if you don't learn quickly to simplify it.

Instead of the Zoo try...
Pet Stores - some are better than others, but my kids could easily spend an hour making our way slowly through the departments. We were lucky in that our local shop in Brewster, NY, was quite large and had an extensive fish room and large reptile area. They even had an indoor koi pond where we actually splurged the $.25 on some food pellets.

It doesn't have to be JFK or O' Hare...
Local airports - my kids loves airplanes in all shapes and sizes. Take a drive over to your regional airport and pack a snack for a fun picnic, or you can even stay in the car if the weather isn't great.

Some other hits
Model train stores and train stations - Boy or girl, I honestly don't know one kid that doesn't enjoy trains.
Construction sites - Turn off Bob the Builder and bring them to the real thing. Park across the street and just watch, my boys absolutely love this.

Anyone in the tristate area should consider a day trip to Stew Leonards - it's where Chuck E Cheese and Gourmet Supermarket meet, some have a free petting zoo for several months of the year.

Don't forget the library, the mall (You CAN leave that wallet at home), and your local playground!

Hot Deal on Nikon D40 - $399 shipped!

I have a strong love for my Nikon. I have never enjoyed taking pictures as much as I do with this amazing camera. I got a sweet deal on it about a year ago, but this is even better. Tell your loving spouse or your parents to get it now and stash it for you for the holidays. Or better yet, treat yourself... you deserve it! Yes, there are newer and better SLRs out there, but this a perfect entry level camera for people that want a little more out of their pictures.... and you can't beat this price!

Nikon D40 SLR Camera with AF-S DX 18-55mm lens and 2 GB SanDisk SD Memory Card - $399.49 AC Shipped from Dell

Coupon Code: R$LL47$9ZSQG3S + Free Shipping.

$469.99 - $70.50 (15% coupon) = $399.49

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE


And just a little sampling of my favorite pictures from my D40

Free CFLs in Providence!

Yes, Free! Project 2020, started by Brown University students aims to replace all the light bulbs in low and middle income homes in Providence with Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs and therefore reducing greenhouse gas emissions. They take their name 2020 from the average number of light bulbs that they exchange at each home, 20 in and 20 out.

I signed up at the UN Day of Peace festival in Providence and 2 days later I got a call from Lanny at Brown University asking if he could come that afternoon. Lanny brought a partner in crime and in a whirlwind they took 23 bulbs out of my house and put in 23 new CFL bulbs (which are actually donated by Walmart). I am so excited as I have slowly been making the transition a few at a time when I can find a good deal on them. I can't wait to see how much we save on our electric bill.

I was sure this was too good to be true, it is not! Providence residents can sign up here http://www.proj2020.org/signup.php

Hello blogosphere!

Hi, and thanks for checking out my little corner of cyberspace. I am Jamie, a deal hunter extraordinaire. Even more exciting than finding an amazing deal to me, is sharing it with others.

In this space, I will post some of my favorite hot deals of the moment, brag about my latest garage sale find, or maybe just chat about life as a mom of two little boys living in Providence, RI.

Stay tuned for some fun reading!