New Phoenix Article:

Are rising petroleum prices pinching your pocket? Whether you are driving to the grocery store or headed out on a summer vacation, there are ways to lessen the impact of gasoline increases on your wallet.

All of these options take planning ahead and sacrificing the tendency to hop in the car at a whim — something our fast-food generation struggles to give up. At a minimum, make sure to plan your errands to handle several stops in one circuitous route. Build in quick money-saving stops to or from work or other activities.

Read more by clicking HERE. I am sending you to the Phoenix but I am building a site for all my frugal articles over at DIYFrugal where you can sort by category! It is in the beginning stages and I will be looking for contributors so let me know of you are interested!

Here's my latest in the Phoenix which went to a weekly paper AS OF TODAY! Now my column will be in on Saturdays which is exciting because MAYBE I'll have more than five readers now.

Here's the beginning excerpt and a link to read more:

Gaining control over spending key to living frugally

The other day I pulled out my favorite pair of jean shorts. I was shocked at the condition they were in. Paint splattered down the front. Errant strings hung down like a warped version of Daisy Duke's country attire. I wondered when they had gotten so bad?

I thought of a bazillion parallels to life. We get so busy. One day, we open our eyes and it may be paper piles, cleaning, weight, or finances that have gotten out of control. Or maybe all of the above. Remnants of past good intentions are hidden in a messy drawer or a box in the basement. Systems that once controlled your life are now in shambles. What's a person to do?

Click HERE to read more!

And, this week I am working on a site dedicated to DIY Frugal! I started one on Blogger but my computer savvy husband talked me into using a wordpress theme instead which is way cool but there's a little learning curve that needs hurdling this weekend to get the site up and running!

And, here the awesome button Jo-Lynne created for me this AM! Love it! It doesn't link anywhere yet since I am still waiting for my domain to register. Much to do yet!

Even if you didn't win the Sun & Earth giveaway, email your name & address to  sarahfreymoyer@sunandearth.com  for $5 worth of Sun & Earth coupons to try the products. Everyone is a winner!

While you are cashing in, read here for my latest article saving YOU money through changing every day habits around your home. Here's an excerpt to get you started:

Click here for more of the article which goes into practical ways to save money around the home by taking some basic steps.

Here's an excerpt from my latest article in the Phoenix:

Click HERE to read more!

Going somewhere? Driving takes a long time and a lot of gas. So what do you do when you are on a shoestring budget and you need to fly to get to your destination? You plan on planning ahead.

Read the rest HERE at the Phoenix! (And I am embarrassed to say that I was submitting last minute and didn't have time to read it outloud to someone. The editor is stretched thin and didn't catch two errors that I saw as soon as I read it online today! Ugggh!)

Here is the excerpt from last week's frugal living column.

Frugality is quickly moving past a novel term, something that this is in today, out tomorrow. It has become a necessity and a reality. The news is overflowing with depressing statistics on unemployment and job fairs are busting at the seams. The need to use our money wisely and look for creative new ways to earn extra income increases as the competition grows. It's time to get entrepreneurial with a plan of action.

To read more, click HERE to read the rest at The Phoenix!

Here's my new favorite song! The music is great and the words are even better. 

We’ve turned the page, for a new day has dawnedWe’ve re-arranged what is right and what’s wrongSomehow we’ve drifted so far from the truthThat we can’t get back homeWhere are the virtues that once gave us lightWhere are the morals that governed our livesSomeday we all will awake and look backjust to find what we’ve lost

We need to get backTo the basics of lifeA heart that is pureAnd a love that is blindA faith that is ferventlygrounded in ChristThe hope that endures for all timesThese are the basics,we need to get backTo the basics of life

The newest rage is to reason it outJust meditate and you can overcome every doubtAfter all man is a God, they sayGod is no longer alive

But I still believe in the old rugged crossAnd I still believe there is hope for the lostAnd I know the rock of all ages will standThrough changes of time

We need to get backTo the basics of lifeA heart that is pureAnd a love that is blindA faith that is ferventlygrounded in ChristThe hope that endures for all timesThese are the basics,we need to get backTo the basics of life

BRIDGEWe’ve let the darkness invade us too longWe’ve got to turn the tideOh and we need the passion that burned long agoTo come and open our eyesThere’s no room for compromise

We need to get backTo the basics of lifeA heart that is pureAnd a love that is blind

We need to get backTo the basics of lifeA heart that is pureThe hope that endures for all timesThese are the basics,we need to get backTo the basics of life

For more info on 4HIM, see HERE. That was where I got the lyrics. The actual website for the band is HERE.

Millions of pets in the United States are euthanized because there are no homes for them. According to The Spayed Club website, more than 35,000 dogs, puppies, cats and kittens in the seven shelters around Greater Philadelphia are put to death each year.

In a difficult economy, many pets are abandoned to reduce homeowners costs; but, just like anything else in the house, with a little planning and research, pet care can be less burdensome on the budget.

Click HERE to read the rest of my article over at the Phoenix!

My latest Frugal Living Articles starts:

Good things come in small packages," or so the old saying goes. I would venture to change it to "the best things come in homemade gift wrap."

When you wrap a gift with creativity and ingenuity, you can save money while adding your own personal touch to the gift. I tapped my Twitter microblogging network to bring you ideas for creating your own wrapping. Combining their ideas with my own, here's what we came up with:

To read more click over HERE to read the Phoenixville News.