Festival of Frugality is Up @ Money, Matter and More Musings.

The 71st Festival of Frugality is up over at Money Matter and More Musings. Due to the total chaos of life, I didn’t get an article in this week, but there are 29 other wonderful articles to read.

Here are a few that caught my eye:

The Family CEO talks about framing free art to decorate your house. I’m with her on this one-I much prefer having artwork and bric-a-brac that means something to me rather than just something pretty that I saw in a store. Most of the things on the walls at the Frugal Upstate household are souvenirs (A Japanese calligraphy given to me on a home visit, an inexpensive painted plate from Morocco, Anime done by my BIL, a coastal painting by a total unknown in Russia that looked to me like the Maine coastline) from various trips or family photos (some day I will post a picture of ” The Wall of Shame”).

The only actually “ART” art we have is a signed, framed Terry Redlin print in the dinning room (Patiently Waiting), and a framed David Barnhouse print (Picture Perfect) in the downstairs den. Since Princess has decided that her goal in life is to become “The best artist ever!”-due in part to her crush on the art teacher-I have a feeling that our collection of beautiful “kid art” will increase dramatically over the next few years.

My Simpler Life has a list of 20 tips to keep from spending money. Considering my issue with the dollar store and thrift shops, this is probably a good list for me to read and consider! I do well with #1 when it comes to Malls and Department stores, not so great on the yard sale/thrift shop/rummage sale continuum.

I already follow many of the tips in “Cutting grocery costs without clipping coupons”, but it’s a good refresher for some folks, especially those recently returned from Iraq (hint hint).

Cents You Asked has a few ideas for cheap work lunches. I try to send some things in for YB’s desk so on those infrequent days when he’s in the office instead of in the car he can just nuke something instead of heading to the snack bar.

Vacation season is upon us soon, so brush up on some skills by reading “Vacation on a Budget” at Stop the Ride. Stephanie took her family on a very nice, and very inexpensive, trip to the Outer Banks. YB and I usually just to the local camping thing with the kiddos. . . . but we are thinking in the next year or two we’ll have to hit the old Disney Land (or is it World? Whichever is in Florida) so thinking ahead about saving money is a good thing.

15 Free Things To Do On A Money Free Weekend. Need I say more?

As always, these are just a few that caught my eye for one reason or another. Please head on over to the Festival when you have time and read them all!