Out With the Old, In With the New

For the past year and a half, I have enjoyed sharing some of the best deals with you. When Jennifer joined me this past summer we were committed to keeping you up to speed on the best ways for you to save money.

Alot has changed for us during this time, most notably a new baby for me and out-of-state move for Jennifer. Through it all we thought of our readers, even as our posts dwindled and our time to blog shrunk even further.

As 2010 is hours away, Jennifer and I have decided to put aside any wonderings about our future at The Budgeteer and bring in the New Year with some resolutions: focus on our families. With six very young children between us and husbands who have been patient for our money-saving obsession, and we feel it is time to focus on them. I miss the art of homemaking and I know in the blink of an eye my girls will be all grown up. It is time I turn my attention elsewhere.

From time to time there may be some deal so hot we can't help but make a note of it here, so I suggest you add The Budgeteer to a reader service (like My Yahoo or Google Reader, my favorite) or subscribe via email so that you still get tips on the latest ways to help your family save money.

In the meantime, we have compiled a list of our favorite money-saving spots that we ourselves check on a regular basis to scope out the latest deals. I would suggest you also add these blogs to your reader service and you will never miss another thing.

Good luck readers on your frugal adventures!

The Budgeteers,
Sarah and Jennifer

Favorite Local Money-Saving Sites

The Grocery Geek - The Grocery Geek is the Las Vegas-area Grocery Smarts manager.

Utah Deal Diva - Best deals around the Salt Lake City area

The Frugal Chick: Frugal Tips for Vegas Chicks - Nichole translates some of the national deals for a Vegas audience.

Favorite National Money-Saving Sites

Money Saving Mom - the knower of all things frugal

Coupon Cravings - a great selection of the best deals

Common Sense with Money - numerous national deals

Deal Seeking Mom - lots of frugal finds

Baby Cheapskate - all kids, all the deals

Favorite Website - Be Different, Act Normal

This is a rather unique choice, given the frugal nature of The Budgeteer. But I am continually refreshed and inspired by Be Different, Act Normal. She celebrates the everyday with ideas that she collects from all over the blogosphere and media. Even though many of the ideas I am unable to accomplish based on the nature of my time-management with young children, there is something for everyone. Some projects are larger and some are everyday. My favorite of recent post was using citrus fruits and Jell-O to make mini-watermelons:

How cute are they?! Now that's something even I can do - probably with rave reviews from my kids. So check it out and feel refreshed; and feel free to get lost in her blog for an hour or so. It is worth it!

Favorite Websites - Baby Cheapskate

I love Baby Cheapskate! This website is my go-to when it comes to all things baby or children. Angie is the creator and moderator and Baby Cheapskate (along with Freepeats, which I have profiled here) and does an amazing job of finding all of the deals that are out there to save us money in raising our kids. She uses a fantastic networks of "Cheep Peeps", moms on a mission to save money, who help discover the deals and spread the word to the rest of us.

At Baby Cheapskate you can find the week's top diaper deals (which I have shared with you here), reviews of products, and all the money-saving fun in between including coupons and sales. Although not all of the information will apply to you all of the time, this is a definite daily stop in your internet surfing or a site you will want to load onto your Facebook or Google account. Check her out!

Favorite Websites - Mom's Marbles

I want to introduce you to one of my favorite websites, Mom's Marbles. I have been a follower for about a year now and love to see what new, fun activity they'll come up with next. Although my oldest is still a little too young to appreciate many of the activities, I know alot of you are now faced with a houseful of kids who seem to have no summer plans and look to you to be their activities director. So head on over to Mom's Marbles and dig around a bit. You will surely discover a new craft or two, some fun family activities, and even a few funny "mom" posts which will tickle your soul.