Still TV free

I am very happy to report that my family has survived thrived for over two years now continuously without television. We still watch movies at home, but no commercial television. Since our kids were two and five when we gave it up, they don't know much different and have had no adjustment problems. I suspect it would be more difficult to get an older child or teenager to suddenly give up TV.

Do we miss it? Never. I think it is silly now when I hear people discussing last night's episode of whatever reality show happens to be popular that season. They are a dime a dozen in my opinion and offer no value whatsoever, educationally speaking or otherwise. If someone asked does Fenphedra work ? I would happily answer that I don't have a clue, because my time is not constantly robbed by commercials. If I wanted to find out, I would simply search the internet. Television commercials are one-sided, since they are paid for by the advertising company. When you research information on the internet, the results are well-rounded, ranging from scientific research, to statistical data, to user reviews.

I've noticed a lot more people sharing the same views and giving up cable, and many giving up television altogether like we have. Maybe it is because we live in a small town with many progressive thinking people, but I would like to hope that this trend will be widespread. We have nothing to lose. We have more family time, intelligent activities, and relaxation to gain!

Father's Day deals

Continuing with my affinity for online shopping and finding great deals, I found one site that has great ideas for Father's Day. Most men would be happy with a gift of more tools, right? I found an online store called Burns Tools with all the major tool brands, plus deals like free shipping on Delta machinery and DeWalt products.

The site is organized so searches can be done by product or by brand name, which is very convenient. The design is simple and straightforward with easy navigation. The Burns Tools store is a member of the Better Business Bureau's Online Reliability Program, which gives consumers peace of mind while shopping on the internet.

Online shopping rules

So I've mentioned before how moving to a small, somewhat remote town has spawned our revelation with online shopping. I mean, we've shopped online for quite sometime now, probably longer than most people, but now we buy practically everything online aside from groceries and everyday household items. With the price of gas as high as it is now, it's cheaper to pay the shipping fees (if any), and we save the wear and tear on our car, and we don't waste half a day driving to the big stores.

Another thing that happens when we drive an hour to Rogers for shopping, is that we usually have to buy at least one meal out while we are there, which is more out-of-pocket expense. I know, I know, we could pack food to take with us right? Well, we just never expect our shopping trips to take as long as they do, but let's face it - stores like Home Depot and Lowe's are like the Twilight Zone, aren't they? Where does the time go???

So anyway, now that we do most shopping online, we are somewhat obsessive about getting the best deals. We will search all over the place to find a site with Kohls coupons, or free shipping, or whatever comes out the least expensive. Shopping online is also convenient because you can read consumer reviews for the products. This is important to us because you can never trust advertising 100%. Pictures of products online can be very deceiving.

So even if it takes a couple of hours to find what we are looking for, we still come out ahead in the long run by shopping online.

The price of trying something new

Many people are wary to start a new hobby for fear of spending a bunch of money getting started, then realizing they don't even like the hobby after all. For example, say you wanted to try golfing. You may be inclined to buy golf equipment, golf shoes, and a snazzy new outfit. This is true for many sports and hobbies.

I found a list of free or very frugal hobbies to try in a great book I am currently reading called The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches. Most of them will even save you money by learning a practical skill to be applied directly to everyday life.

Here are some of the ones I think are worth trying:
Birding
Climbing trees
Composting
Conservation
Cooking
Crafts
Dancing
Dream interpretation
Foraging
Fossil hunting
Foreign language learning
Free attractions and events
Free factory tours
Gardening
Genealogy
Haircutting
Hiking
Kite flying
Meditating
Painting
Reading
Recycling
Sewing
Stargazing
Writing
Yoga

My tech guy

I am so thankful that my husband is "technologically savvy" enough for both of us. He's the one that connects all the cables for the entertainment center and sets up all our computer components. I wouldn't know the difference between audio and HDMI cables, but somehow, he just "gets" these things.

A lot of it stems from his music-making hobby. I've never seen so many different cables in my entire life than when he is setting up to do a live show - it's truly amazing that anyone can make heads or tails of that tangled mess!

Home accessories

If you are looking for outdoor accessories for your home, I found a one-stop online shop that carries a variety of mail boxes, welcome mats, garden hose holders, address plaques, personalized faux stone address planters, weather vanes, and more. All prices are listed, and a shipping fee chart lets you know exactly what you can expect for total cost.

Seattle Luxe is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau's Online Reliability program, so you can purchase online with confidence.

Police gear website

You don't have to be an official policeman, fireman, or military official to wear official 5.11 tactical clothing. 5.11 tactical is the leading creator of quality gear and clothing trusted by officials who require safety, accuracy, speed and performance. Their website organizes all the products by category and prominently lists all prices for ease of shopping.

I regularly shop at Army Surplus stores for original purses, backpacks, and boots. I found many interesting items on the 5.11 tactical site as well, so I'll also be checking that site from now on. Another plus is that for orders totaling at least $50, ground shipping is free.

Are those real?

Since Eureka Springs is located in a mountainous, heavily wooded area, many homeowners like to keep their home and yard decorations natural to blend in with the environment. As such, there are lots of natural wood furniture stores and artists who do very well in this field. Our town is also famous for all the limestone used throughout the town's architecture. Aside from all the limestone buildings, there are miles and miles of limestone retaining walls, as well as limestone sidewalks throughout the historic district.

Many newer homes have stone accents as well, although they are not always the real thing. Thanks to manufacturers like the Artificial Rocks Factory, it is easier than ever to get the look of real stone without the high cost or major heavy weights. Fake stone is much easier to work with and it is so realistic, no one will know the difference.

Some popular choices in stone decorating ideas are fake rock address plaques and welcome plaques. Molded from real 1,000 pound boulders and made from construction grade cast stone with a hollow interior. So the final product looks just like the real boulder, only hollow inside and weighing only about 50 pounds. Since they are so light, you may be wondering about possible theft. Not to worry, each rock is equipped with an anti-theft metal eyebolt cast inside with directions for its use shipped with the product.

The regular price is $299, but for a limited time all rock address markers and welcome plaques are $199 plus $50 for shipping and handling. The rocks with welcome plaques are in stock, ship immediately, and can be ordered as late as December 13th for Christmas gifts. Since the address plaques must be custom made for each order, they are delivered in 15-20 days, so in order to be delivered in time for Christmas, these must be ordered before November 29th.

User-friendly coupon site

With the holidays coming up, I feel I must share any information I get regarding coupons and online shopping. Getting all your shopping done from the comfort of your home is definitely a plus during the crazy-busy Christmas shopping season. I hardly ever set foot in shopping malls these days, but you will never in a million years see me near one during the months of November or December!

So anyway, I'd like to share some Online Coupons I found which may be helpful. All online shoppers have used Amazon at some point. You can find virtually anything through their site. So I'm sure an Amazon Coupon would come in very handy. There are very specific categories as well, like MusiciansFriend Coupons for the musician in your life, or PETsMART Coupons for the pet lovers.

These coupons are updated daily for truly up to the minute deals. The site is very simple and easy to navigate and there are no advertisements to get in your way. So you can get in there, do all your shopping, and get on with your life.

How far we have come

I was just thinking how much the internet has changed our lives in the last ten years or so. If I could go back in time and tell myself that I would be comfortable buying clothes at an online clothing store, home furnishings at an online furniture store, baby items, appliances, art materials, and almost anything else imaginable all from my home computer... I would be shocked at the idea.

Of course, our children will know no difference and shopping online is already commonplace in the household. When we tell them that computers weren't even around when we were children, they can't believe it. Computers are such an integral part of most homes now, we can't imagine life without at least one humming in the background.

Shopping cart savvy

Whether you are new to creating online businesses, or have been doing it for years, if you have an online store you need shopping cart software. Nowadays consumers won't shop online without a reliable shopping cart on the site. Since it is so easy for businesses to set up shopping carts, there really is no excuse for running a store without one. Not only does it make shopping easier for customers, it makes record keeping easier for merchants.

Ashop Commerce hosts shopping cart software with a variety of options to fit any business. Their software is web based so no installation is required. The software also allows businesses to accept credit cards for online purchases. They even offer a ten day free trial to try all the shopping cart features before deciding to purchase it for your company. The Ashop website clearly lists the prices with all features, so there is no question about what you are signing up for.

Insurance loyalty

Just by moving to Arkansas, we got better car insurance rates. Since the town is so small and we mostly work at home, our family only needs one car. That is definitely a bonus in many ways, saving us money on gasoline, auto maintenance, and auto insurance plans.

Of course, even if your current rate is good, I advise people to shop around to make sure you are getting the best deal. You can get insurance quotes online easily, so shopping around for rates has never been easier.

If you find a better deal with another insurance company, I don't advise switching right away. First, speak with your current agent about the new quote and see if they would be willing to match the new rate. Some insurance companies will do this rather than lose you as a customer, especially if you are in good standing with no claims. If they insist on keeping your current rate, then you can always switch to the new company with the lower rate.

Outdoor improvements

As I have mentioned before, we have a list of all the home improvements we would like to make as we can afford them. In addition to the interior work, we also have improvements we would love for the exterior of our home as well. The biggest item would be the stone facade. We want to cover the lower three feet of our house with a stone veneer to give it a more "earthy" and cabin feel. Several houses in our neighborhood have done this and it looks great. Also, we want to freshen it up with a new paint color - currently, it is a peachy beige which is not very attractive.

Some smaller items would be a nifty address plaque, door knocker, and kick plate for the front door in satin nickel to match the other fixtures we have already updated. I found a website that has all these things, plus Mailboxes, personalized address planters, outdoor clocks, thermometers, and much more. I could definitely spend way too much money at a site like that!

Take it to the web

Many local Eureka Springs merchants also have online stores to sell their products. Our town relies on tourism and we have about four months during the winter that are very slow for tourism. Merchants usually close their local stores and rely on web sales for winter income. One important aspect of setting up an online store is making the purchasing process easy for the user. Most people shopping online are used to "shopping carts" for their items. In fact, I wouldn't buy anything from a site that didn't have a shopping cart function, because I feel like my information is not secure without one.

Luckily for merchants, it is very easy to set up shopping cart software. Ashop Commerce has video tutorials and store demos to help get you started and to answer all your questions. Their website is user friendly with navigation bars and no advertisements. You can even take a 10 day free trial to see if it works for your store. You have nothing to lose and lots of online sales to gain!

Quick money-saver

I'm a big proponent of coupon codes when shopping online. What easier way is there to save a few dollars than to type in a code when you are checking out? With Father's Day coming up, a Northern Tool coupon for free shipping on all power tools will come in very handy indeed...

Online conveniences

With the convenience of shopping on the internet, there are some things I would never buy in person or over the phone anymore. Airline tickets, car rentals, hotel room booking, and concert tickets online are no-brainers in my opinion. When you purchase these online, you are sure of the price, and you are guaranteed the reservation.

Especially in the case of concert tickets, I know I would be really upset if I went all the way to a show planning to buy tickets at the door, only to find out that the show had just sold out. This is also the case for movie tickets, which can also be purchased online. Hotels, airline tickets, and car rentals change prices so often it is a good idea to lock in your price right from the computer and pay at the same time.

Another great site to shop for Mom

The next time you send someone flowers or a gift basket, why not use a company that fully understands that the gifts you send represent you and are devoted to making sure that impression is superb. Dot Flowers will send flowers, gift baskets, charming cookies and more in beautiful arrangements.

Their website is bright, cheerful, and easy to navigate - which is important for those last minute orders that must be completed in a hurry. They will even deliver on the same day you order, if you place your order before 1:00pm Eastern Standard Time. You can place your order online with their secure order form, or you can call the toll-free number to place an order with a member of their award-winning customer service staff.

Whatever the occasion, Dot Flowers is fully committed to ensure your satisfaction with their service. Mother's Day is coming up, so I think I will browse the site and place an order for the wonderful mothers in my life.

Make it personal

My sister-in-law is about to have her first baby in April, so my husband and I will be an aunt and uncle for the first time! They are having a little girl and are registered for gifts at Babies R Us. There are plenty of gifts to choose from in the registry, but we wanted to get them something more personal and special. I found an online store where you can buy baby gifts with over 200 you can personalize for free.

The site is very well organized and easy to navigate. If you aren't real keen on ordering online, you can also phone in your order toll free. In addition to baby items, they carry toddler, sibling, and mother's gifts as well. There are also shower planning invitations, gift sets, favors, and games. Shop at Baby Nest for really cute gifts that are more than useful, they are a beautiful keepsake to cherish forever.

RayBan discount

I have noticed that the "Aviator" look is back in sunglasses... Did that look ever go away? Anyway, if you like the look, but don't have the cash, why not try RayBans at BestBuyEyeglasses.com. RayBans are unmatched in quality. Hey, they wouldn't be the world's leading sunglasses brand otherwise. But you typically have to pay the big bucks to get a pair. BestBuyEyeglasses.com has the lowest prices on RayBans anywhere, and they have an easy return policy.


These are more my style, the Wayfarers by RayBan. You can even have prescription sunglasses made simply by providing your prescription information upon ordering.

Bonus: to get an extra 5% off your online order, type discount code ETP 5P in the order form.

Get paid to shop online

Everyone loves a great deal and I have found a great one for you. Ebates is a new concept in online shopping. They actually give you cash back on your purchases - up to 25%! How do they do this? They get sales commission from their partners and rather than keeping the money, they mail it directly to you in the form of a rebate check. Their site also has the best coupons and discounts around and membership is free. What have you got to lose? Most people shop online these days, and rather than spending all day trying to compare prices, shop Ebates and know you are getting the best deal, plus cash back on purchases!

The website is very organized with the stores (over 800!) listed in any category you could possibly want. They even have deals on apple products including the iPod and the new iPhone. You must check out this site before you spend another dime shopping online.