4 Simple Steps to Improve Your Gas Mileage

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Krissyar

The season of travel is almost upon us – which means the price at the pump will start going up. There are some simple steps to make sure that your getting the most fuel efficiency for your dollar.

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Upgrade. No matter how much you love good ol’ vehicle, updating to a newer more fuel efficient car can save you more money in the long run. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation , over the past 10 years vehicles have been made more fuel-efficient than their predecessors. In fact the average car got approx 35.5 mpg in 2013 vs 29.1 in 2003.

Maintenance. Be sure to stay up-to-date with regular vehicle maintenance. Regular oil and filter changes help keep your vehicle running fuel-efficient. Make sure your tires are properly inflated to reduce drag so your engine is working over-time can also help increase your gas mileage. You also may need to replace your tires to help increase your fuel-efficiency as well.

Clean it Out. Did you know that excess weight on or in your vehicle makes your car work harder, and burn more fuel? Remove rooftop cargo containers, excess baggage from your truck and get a smoother ride while saving fuel!

Slow Down. I know it’s hard to fathom, but fast acceleration and hard braking can increase your gas mileage! You could save up to 33% on the highway and 5% in the city according to the U.S Department of Energy. Try to stay under 65 mph and avoid hard braking when necessary.

This post is sponsored in part by Reedman-Toll Jaguar.

 

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3 Steps to Spring Cleaning Your Car

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Krissyar

The flowers are blooming, the weather is warming, and the clocks sprung forward – Spring is almost here! If you are like me, the panic starts to strike (not only about trying to fit in my shorts for the summer) but to get my household in tip-top shape! With spring showers, and baseball practices on the horizon, I always start on the outside and work my way in – which is why my car is one of the first things on my Spring Cleaning ‘To Do List.”

Winters can be harsh – especially on your vehicle. The cold temps, the ice, the snow, and especially the salt – can reek havoc on your vehicle. I’ve came up with some simple steps to get your car ready to shine – both inside and out – for the Spring.

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Car Wash. Simple first step to getting your vehicle ready for Spring is to give it a good washing. This isn’t just running your car through the car wash at the gas station – you need to give your car some TLC. Start by spraying the wheel wells and undercarriage to remove all the salt and grit build-up. Start at the bottom and work your way up – clean every nook and cranny you can find. You’d be surprised where that salt can hide! After you wash and rinse your car, dry your car with a soft fiber cloth. Be sure to clean the inside and out windows with a glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth (I prefer to use paper towels).

Interior ‘Bath’. I honestly avoid looking in the backseat of my car whenever possible – especially during the winter. My son is just a mess pot, and the snow and mud and salt from the winter only highlight his ability to make everything dirty!
The first thing I do when I am cleaning the inside of my car is to remove all the excess ‘junk’. The toys, the water bottles, the extra pair of shoes, and whatever else has gotten lost under or in the seats. Secondly, vacuum! Vacuum the heck out of the floor mats, the seats, even the trunk. Move seats up and back (or even out if you can) to make sure you get every bit of dirt and grim out of the vehicle. You also might want to use cleaners particular to your cars interior – like upholstery, leather, plastic, etc. I’ve found a ton of these products at the Dollar Store. I would also suggest getting a can of compressed air (you know, the kind you clean your computer and keyboard with) so you can get the little icky dust and dirt specs out of the console, vents, and other small crevices.

Maintenance. Besides just looking nice, you want to make sure that your car will run nice too! Making sure to do some ‘spring maintenance’ is a great idea to keep your vehicle in tip-top shape. Make sure to check all your fluids (oil, coolant, washer fluid, etc). Check and replace wiper blades (I’ve noticed after winter I almost always need to replace my wiper blades). Rotate tires (or switch from your winter to your all-season tires). And also make sure to make an appointment for service maintenance based on your vehicles mileage.

 

This post is sponsored in part by Reedman-Toll Subaru.

 

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Eating Healthy on the Go with Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Krissyar

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Alright so as much as I’d like to be like these Stepford wives, I am by far not even close. I don’t have the perfectly clean house, always dressed to the tee, healthy made-from-scratch meals on the table when my husband gets home, or those healthy snacks sitting on the table when my kids walk in the door from school. In fact I’m usually not home when my husband or kids get home, and most of the time I’m struggling to throw a quick dinner together before we have to make it to my son’s baseball practice, or my daughter’s band concert.

For awhile I thought that healthy eating on a regular basis would cost me a ton of money, and I would spend my entire Sunday meal prepping for the week and never getting any time to just rest. But as I started to look into quick and healthy food options, I started to realize – this might just be easier than I thought.

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My Dad actually was the one to introduce me to Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers. He had been eating healthy and working out trying to have a healthier lifestyle for awhile and he would count his protein, carb and calorie intake and found these to be a perfect lunch or quick dinner. I found a great deal at Sam’s Club and actually stocked up so that I could grab them for a quick lunch at work, or my daughter’s could eat them after school when I wouldn’t be home in time to make them dinner and get them to their practice in time. They are now a staple on my grocery list – and I have to admit, sometimes we fight over our favorite ones (like the chicken fried rice pictured above).

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The mornings are always a big rush for me – so being able to throw a cafe steamer in my bag and go – well it guarantees that I have a healthy lunch option, and I’m not ordering pizza or picking up a burger because I didn’t plan ahead!

The Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamers are made with 100 percent natural proteins and no artificial ingredients. The steamers are steamed to transform simple ingredients into vibrant, crisp veggies and juicy proteins that are delicious!

The Simply varieties are part of the Cafe Steamers line and the first and only meal that features an tray-in-tray steam cooking method that keeps the ingredients separate during the heating process to unlock freshness. There is nearly a dozen meals to choose from, all with less than 310 calories and more than 18 grams of 100-percent natural protein. Some of the flavors include meatball marinara, chicken fried rice, grilled chicken & broccoli alfredo, chicken & vegetable stir fry and grilled pesto & veggies.

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Healthy Choice is the only major brand in the frozen meals section that can call 100% of its products “healthy” as approved by the FDA. Find Healthy Choice Café Steamers in the freezer aisle at grocery stores nationwide for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $3.29

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Thank you Healthy Choice for sponsoring this post. Visit your local retailer to pick up your own Healthy Choice Simply Cafe Steamer or Original Cafe Steamer meal today!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Posted in Fitness/Health | Leave a comment

Luvs LOVES Ibotta! Get a $5 Rebate with Your Purchase

Posted on March 11, 2016 by Krissyar

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Luvs and Ibotta.

Earlier this week I shared with you some of my favorite money saving apps you can download right to your phone, the only way I have time to ‘coupon’ anymore. Well I have some exciting news – Luvs in partnership with Ibotta is offering a limited time $5 rebate on any boxed variety of Luvs diapers, 54 ct box or larger! 

  Luvs is the official diaper of experienced parents. When parents choose Luvs over Huggies Snug & Dry, they get outstanding superior overnight protection that locks away wetness 2X better, and they turn diapers into dollars by saving up to $150 per year. 

Luvs Box Image

Here’s how to get your $5 rebate!!

  • Follow these four simple steps to unlock the Luvs Diapers $5 rebate offer through Ibotta:
    1. Download the free Ibotta app, available on iOS and Android. Search “Luvs” and you will find the offer!
    2. Go shopping for your Luvs diapers at any participating store.
    3. Verify your purchases by scanning product barcodes and submitting a photo of your receipt.
    4. Save money and earn cash back! Your $5 cash back rebate will be deposited into your Ibotta account within 48 hours.

Luvs diapers are available in sizes newborn through 6, and can be found at mass, discount and grocery stores where baby care products are sold.

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Best Money Saving Apps for Your SmartPhone

Posted on March 8, 2016 by Krissyar

Whether it’s a store, a brand that you love, your insurance  company, or even your kids school, they have “an app for that.”  Pretty much everything you ever needed to get online for, or make a phone call,or fax, you can access via an app. But with so many apps to choose from, what’s the best apps for you and your family?
So I’ve talked to some friends, and I compiled a list of the best money saving apps for your smart phone (or tablet). Next month well cover all the other cool apps, like best photo editing, etc,but money is pretty important to most people,  so I wanted to cover them first!

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Ibotta

 Get rebates for performing simple tasks like watching a video,liking a product, etc. You could unlock 50 cents off your favorite shampoo by watching a video, or answering a survey question. After you buy the item you scan the barcode, and then take a photo of the receipt. Once you earn $10 back, you can ‘cash out’ – you can even get the cashback through PayPal!

Ebates. Most of us are familiar with the Ebates website, but the app offers even more. They offer special discounts and cashback through the all new Mobile Monday program.

ShopKick

  Visit a participating retailer and scan bar codes or make (specific) purchases for points that you can trade in for gift cards! (500 kicks equal $2) – this is a great way for kids to save up some ‘cash’ too!

Checkout51. Rewards for buying regular day to day items. Also has weekly cash back deals, as well as store specific offers. Select what you purchased, and when done upload the receipt. Once you reach $20, you can cash out for a CHECK. New offers  load each Thursday.

Favado.  This app helps you find the best sales and coupon combos each week at your local stores. It has a list of on sale items from their weekly ads, and lets you know if there is a coupon available. What else is awesome is rebates fromIbotta and Checkout51 are both listed in Favado, so less work for you and more saving money!)

Snap by Groupon. Cashback on groceries! Like Ibotta and Checkout51, you upload your receipt to show you purchased the special offered items listed for rebate on the app. Once you reach $20 – cash money! Use all 3 and save BIG!

 

 

Posted in Money Matters, Techy, Uncategorized | 1 Comment