<p>MaineLonghorn, a friend of mine had a house out in the country with a wood furnace and it was heaven on a cold, snowy night. It made the house smell so good, too. That’s why I love my wood stove. I don’t think I could live in a cold climate without some kind of wood-burning device.</p>
<p>I’m with Sally305. I NEVER lived in a home without a fireplace outside of dorm living. Even my first apartment had a working wood burning fireplace. I love my 2-way view and 3-way fireplaces.</p>
<p>What do you get for free on your birthday? My D, S, mother, sister, and aunts all make sure we’re signed up for various birthday freebies. </p>
<p>BHG and I get the following free every birthday. There are other’s, like Teavana, Dairy Queen, and Culver’s that we also get free items from, but we cannot get to every place, and my hips thank me–lol. We make a day of it, and enjoy ourselves.</p>
<p>Roughly $125-$150 worth of freebies:
Cariboufree medium drink
Starbucksfree medium drink
Dunn Brosfree medium drink
Ihopfree pancakes!
Auntie Annies free pretzel
Cinnabonfree item
Baja Freshfree birthday burrito
Brueggers Bagelbagel of choice w/cream cheese
Coldstone Creameryfree sundae
Godiva Chocolatier–$10 off $10 purchase
Sephorasmall make up kitlast year was from the Benefit line–claims$20-30 retail
Smashboxsmall make up kit, last year was a purse sized makeup bag, lip tint, eyeliner and eye shadow compact–claims $30 retail
Victorias Secret–$10 off any purchase
DSW$5.00 off any purchasefree socks
Avedafull sized product worth $24
World Market-- $10 off any purchase</p>
<p>The key is to spend no more than your offer is worth. For instance at DSW, unless flipflops are on clearance for $5, we always end up getting socks or footies. We’ll spend a little more at Vicky’s or World Market because the amount of the b-day certificate/card is higher and more items available for less than $20. We combine our B-day gift card from Victoria’s Secret with a $10 or $15 off a bra $30/$35 or higher and free panty coupon that comes with the b-day card and usually spend only $10 for a bra and panties.</p>
<p>On my next bday I am going to Sephora and Bruegger’s! Score!</p>
<p>Noodles & Co- Free bowl of noodles 
Old Chicago- free medium pizza. </p>
<p>I don’t think either of these require it to be your bday… they just send you a coupon.
My birthday is two weeks from today. Guess I should keep tabs on this list!</p>
<p>Ema, all the birthday programs require registering online. I would register now. Shortly before or during your birthday month, you’ll receive emails to redeem your birthday gift. Victoria Secret actually sends a cardboard $10 off gift card. </p>
<p>All the women on this thread should register at least with Victoria’s Secret for the free panty mailers that go out about 6-8 times per year. Who can pass up $10.50 and $12.50 free panties.</p>
<p>Rays Boathouse will give you a free drink on your birthday, but Id be afraid that I would spend as much on gas & other items that I would actually be spending more than if I stayed home.
The Smashbox & Sephora sound nice though. ;)</p>
<p>The mall has all the stores, so it is pretty much one stop shop with Ihop on the way and Baja Fresh picked up on the way home for the next day’s lunch. To the mall and back is roughly 30 miles, so about a gallon of gas. </p>
<p>You can use the Victoria’s Secret birthday gift card online, so no leaving the house–wink.</p>
<p>I love the birthday freebies! I got the Sephora birthday giveaway along with a 500 point Clinique bonus. I’d been hoarding the points for quite awhile, waiting for the right gift to show up. It was such fun to go up to the register and get all those goodies without paying a dime.</p>
<p>I also like Le Boulanger and Boudin where you get a birthday muffin or cake as well as a free monthly loaf of bread.</p>
<p>Chico’s gives a $10 gift certificate for a birthday gift.</p>
<p>“Rays Boathouse will give you a free drink on your birthday”</p>
<p>Yep, but then the next one is $20. Expensive!</p>
<p>The only birthday freebie I utilize is a free Starbucks drink. That’s nice.</p>
<p>I have to admit, the cheapskate is me is tempted to get all these free birthday things, and then on my birthday, spend the entire day driving around to use them. Probably end up with a whole lot of socks and junk food, and spend more in gas than I’d have in useful items.</p>
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<p>Our first home had propane heat, out in the country there was no gas service. It was $400 and up in winter per month and this was a small raised ranch home with 3 tiny bedrooms. Our entire mortgage payment was like $700 back then. We literally sold the house and moved because of the heating expense.</p>
<p>The WW is not in any way a saver; in fact I’m just thrilled when she buys things which are on sale. Back when things were good, the bonus check (what the heck is a bonus?) and annual raise (what’s a raise?) either went into the savings, 529 or IRA accounts. IRA is funded annually as is the 529; WW has 401k, I no longer do.</p>
<p>House is ours free and clear, cars are purchased cash, credit card bill is paid in full every month (United Miles). I used to charge everything to Amex since the fee was the fee & I received FF Miles. Other Ways that I keepnthings in check are:
No gym membership - walk outside in the colder time of year & ride my bike in the warmer weather.
Bring my lunch to work every day.
We do have leftover night.
When we do eat out, there are always leftovers the WW brings to work for lunch.</p>
<p>The combination of these things really does save a nice dollar annually.</p>
<p>Provided the financial world does not completely implode, between what we’ve managed to save/invest & whatever comes our way with SSN, live should be pretty comfortable in 15 years when retirement hits. </p>
<p>The DD & I talked about college options the other evening; 1 st time she’s ever seen what is stashed away for college. Her initial college savings weren’t in a 529 plan, they werent very popular 17 years ago. I said to her " if you go to school instate, you’ll have a balance left in your 529 for grad school plus you’ll have never even touched any money in your other account; what a nice way to begin your working life." Not sure that made any impact but we’ll see.</p>
<p>She’ll probably want to go to a private school, not a big issue since we’re funding her high school tuition out-of-pocket currently - didn’t plan ahead for that one, though in hindsight its the best parenting decision we ever made. The change is really beginning to show 2.5 years in.</p>
<p>We drive old cars 04, 03 & 1994. Still live in our starter home and I coupon/ sale shop. I have price points for items I buy. If the item is below my buy price, I stock up. If it is above I usually won’t buy it. I keep enough stuff on hand that nothing is ever a have to buy. There are tons of blogs that do coupon /sale match ups and post online deals. I just got a terrific online deal the other day - 576 k cups for $50 shipped. Hubby will have enough coffee for nearly 2 years now. </p>
<p>We are DIYers. DH works on all the cars and the house if we have any problems. I think I have called a repairman out once in 20 years. </p>
<p>That said- we do have cable and 5 cell phones (no landline).</p>
<p>We recently added insulation in our attic, and it has made a huge difference in our ability to maintain a comfortable temperature. It also appears to be reducing our use of gas. Plus, there was a rebate for the installation (from the state, if I recall correctly).</p>
<p>I can see online what exactly where my electric was used, heating, food storage,etc. The largest useage was for water and water heating. My hot water heater is in the unheated garage. I got one of those hot water heater blankets, it made a large difference.</p>
<p>H & S installed mylar bubble wrap in our attic–really has helped moderate the temperatures and made our house comfortable year-round. It no longer is uncomfortably warm in the summer and fall.</p>
<p>We also got solar water heater and more recently photovoltaic on the roof. Our electric bill is now $17 a month or less! It used to vary between $65-150! We got a rebate from both the state and federal government for 2/3ds of the cost of the system, so it will pay for itself pretty quickly and adds to the value of our home.</p>
<p>Going solar will be our next move.</p>
<p>If only we could get some sun, emerald. I’d heard the prices for solar have gone way down in recent years. How much did yours cost, HImom? We are afraid it would take a decade to recover the cost for us.</p>
<p>Benihana does a birthday meal free up to $30 during your birth month. Some restrictions apply.</p>