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It’s that time of the year again, New Year’s Resolutions! The New Year brings in new promises. Sticking to your New Year’s Resolutions can be extremely challenging and expensive. Here are a few tips to help you save money with your New Year’s Resolutions:

Budget
One of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions every year is getting personal finances under control and starting to pay off debt. If being more responsible with money is one of your New Year’s Resolutions, here are some tips to help out:
- Budget: Money does not grow on trees like we all hope it does. If you truly want to get your finances under control, you need to do a written budget. Assess how much you take in and how much you spend. Start the list with all of your “fixed” expenses- those costs that are the same each month: mortgage, rent, car payments, and insurance. Next list the expenses that vary- clothing, food, entertainment, recreation, and education. Writing down everything will help you realize your spending habits. The goal is to make sure you are not spending more that you’re in take.
- Coupons: Coupons are one of the easiest ways to save on your bills. Most stores send out coupons in the mail, place them online, and offer promotions in local newspapers. Make sure to research coupons in your area before you go shopping. Also, don’t forget to check for store promotions. Applying a store promotion with a coupon leads to even greater savings.
- Free Samples: Along with coupons, free samples are an awesome way to save on new products. Free samples offer the chance to try new products before you buy. Why waste the money on an item you don’t like. Check out our free samples page and requests some today.

Exercise More & Get Fit
Another common New Year’s Resolution is to exercise more or get in shape. Here are some tips to help you save on this new years resolution:
- Before you go out and buy that expensive gym membership try exercising at home.
- Start out slow. Start with a walking program with some friends or neighbors.
- Having a partner exercise with you is an excellent way to stay motivated. You can push each other and remind each other of why you are exercising. The encouragement and support will help out tremendously.
- Most gyms offer free trial memberships. Before you commit to a contact, try it out first. See if that gym is right for you. Here is a list of some gyms that offer a free 7-day trial.
     • 24 Hour Fitness
     • Bally Total Fitness
     • Gold’s Gym

Loose Weight
If your New Year’s Resolution is to loose some weight, here are a few tips to help out:
- Do not make outrageous goals for your self.
- Start out slow, set clear benchmarks for how much you hope to loose each month. Make sure to outline clear steps as to how to achieve these goals.
Loosing weight will not happen over night. It takes time and dedication, make 2012 your year!

Eat Healthier
Eating Healthy is a change you only have to make once in your life to get lasting results. Here are a few tips to help you achieve success in 2012 with out breaking the bank
- Don’t spend your money on diet books this year. Create a diet plan to help you eat healthy. Make a list of the foods you plan to leave out of your diet in 2012 and the foods you want to eat more of.
- Downsize your portions. Try using smaller plates and bowls to help curb overeating.
- Get rid of those late night snacks.
- Look for health free samples to try. Here is a list of a few that are featured on Freeflys:
     • Free sample of Benefiber®
     • Free sample of Vplenish® Vitamin Boost
     • Free sample of AST Enzymes® Digestive Enzymes
     • Free sample of Fiber Choice®
     • Free sample of Emergen-C®
- Don’t forget to look for coupons as well. Coupons can help you achieve healthier eating without breaking the bank. Clip away and see the savings grow!

Become More Eco-Friendly
Give back to the planet Earth this year.
- Find local recycling places in your area online.
- Buy yourself a reusable water bottle and avoid using plastic bottles.
- Use a reusable shopping bag every time you go shopping.
- Pay bills online

Sticking to your New Year’s Resolution can be challenging but take small steps. Do not break the bank if you do not have to, use our saving tips to keep the costs down. Make 2012 the year you keep your resolutions and change your life for the better!

The Thanksgiving holiday just ended and Christmas is fast approaching! Bring the magic of the holidays to your household without breaking the bank. Here are some useful tips that will help you save on your family’s gifts this holiday season:

- Use Free Samples as Stocking Stuffers: Have you been spending time on Freeflys.com collecting amazing Free Samples like Burberry perfume, Victoria’s Secret panties, Seattle’s Best Coffee, or L’Oreal Mascara? Use these Free Samples as stocking stuffers for your loved ones. These samples are not only completely free of charge, but they also allow the recipients to try a product before you buy it! This is a cheap and practical way to give your loved ones what they want in their stockings this year. Some of your favorite retail stores also provide free samples for you to take advantage of. For example, Nordstrom offers Free Sample Saturdays, where they offer the latest and greatest in skin care, cosmetics, and fragrances. Utilize these amazing deals and start saving this holiday season! Also, check out all of the amazing Free Samples available to you on the Freeflys sample page.

- Start Shopping Early: After the Black Friday deal frenzy is over, many stores continue to offer excellent deals. Be a bargain hunter and search local newspapers and ads for more great holiday gift deals. Look online at your favorite stores’ Websites. Subscribe to their e-mail lists to receive information on sales, discounts, and coupons. Save big on holiday gifts with seasonal deals from your favorite stores and online retailers. The sooner you shop, the more you save!

- Give Homemade Gifts to Friends: Have you ever heard the saying “it’s the thought that counts?” Well, homemade picture frames, homemade cookies, or hand-decorated ornaments make for inexpensive and extremely thoughtful gifts. Here are some other homemade gift ideas to help you spend less during this year’s holiday shopping:

• Computer-generated calendar with family / friend photos
• Recipe Books
• Crocheted blanket / scarf

- Organize a Secret Santa Gift Exchange: In tough economic times, it is not always easy to shop for everyone on your list, especially if you have a big family! Organizing a Secret Santa or holiday gift exchange can help to alleviate some of the pressures of the holiday season.

- Only Give Children Gifts: Another way to help families save this holiday season is by opting to only give gifts to the children of the family. Make this holiday season magical by putting focusing your effort and money on the people that matter the most: children and family!

- Set A Limit: Set a $15-20 limit on your family’s gift exchange this year. There are many great gifts that can be given for under $20 – use all of the ideas above to help you stay within that limit!

Happy Holidays to you and your family…and HAPPY SAVINGS!

Black Friday is right around the corner! Take advantage of all of the amazing Black Friday deals available to you in-store and online while shopping. Black Friday is a convenient way to get the hottest discounted gifts for the holidays. Make the most of your deal hunting by visiting the places with the best day-after-Thanksgiving-bargains! To have an opportunity to get these incredible gift deals, follow these useful tips:

1. Preparation: do your Black Friday research before Thanksgiving day.

2. Be Early: the further ahead you are in line, the more opportunity you have to get that deal!

3. Have a Plan: know which stores you plan on visiting first. Organize stores in terms of which ones have the most appealing deals.

4. Be Safe: watch out for the crazies that will run you over to get a $2 toaster.

5. Have Fun: Remember, first and foremost, Thanksgiving is about being THANKFUL for what you already have, not the deals you didn’t get. Enjoy your family, friends, and happy deal hunting!

Freeflys did some research and decided that the following places have the most amazing deals and holiday shopping opportunities:

• Walmart
• Amazon
• Best Buy
• Macy’s
• Target
• Kohl’s
• JCPenney
• Big Lots
• Sports Authority
•  Pets Smart
• Old Navy
• Toys R Us
• Sams Club
• CVS Pharmacy
• Kmart
• Lowes
• Home Depot
• Office Max
• Walgreens
• Sports Authority
• Hobby Lobby

The leaves are turning orange and yellow and there is a slight chill in the air – that means that Autumn is right around the corner! Although Fall comes with its own unique set of expenses, there are many creative ways to make this season economical and fun!

Take Advantage of More Free Samples:

• Usually, our children do not get too excited to go grocery shopping. A simple and FREE way to make grocery shopping fun is by shopping on days or during times when stores give out free samples. Need to make a trip to Costco? Shop during the wondrous time when Costco gives out their delectable free samples.

•  If you are a Wal-Mart frequenter, take advantage of their free samples days as well. Visit walmart.com to see when the next free sample event is taking place at your local Wal-Mart.

•  Nordstrom offers free samples during their Sample Saturdays- an easy way to try out some of Nordstrom’s brand-name merchandise for FREE!

Here are some other ideas to help you save this Fall:

Save on Your Heating Bill:

•  Instead of turning the heater on, bundle up! Heating your home through the fall season can be costly and inefficient. Instead of turning up the heater, put on some extra layers to stay warm.

• If you absolutely cannot get through Fall season without putting the heat on, make sure that you turn it off when you are away from your house. Set a timer on your thermostat so that you will not forget.

• By closing the air vents and closing the door in and of rooms that you don’t use, you will save money by heating only the rooms that are in use in your home.

• Use rugs on your bare floors to keep your home more insulated – and your feet warm!

Entertain Your Children: When the weather begins to get colder, it starts getting more and more difficult to keep your children entertained. Here are some great indoor and outdoor activities that will keep your kids entertained through the chilliest months of the year:

• The trees are shedding their summer leaves, creating a mess in your yard. Have the kids help out around the yard by helping rake the leaves! Not only is it a great chore for them to help out with, but jumping into big piles of leaves and then raking them back up is a fun activity that will keep them entertained all day!

• Utilize old paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls and make them into an arts and crafts activity! By using rubber bands, wax paper, dry rice or dry beans, and an empty roll, your children can make a rainmaker (get out some pent up energy with a rain dance!). Also, you can make some binoculars by taping two rolls together. It makes for a great indoor activity for your children! Also, let them decorate with glitter, colored crayons, glue, stickers, and some feathers. They will have a blast!

• Reuse those old brown paper bags to make them into book covers or even just pictures to hang on the refrigerator. Whip out the crayons and gather up some of the prettiest leaves from outside. Cover the leaves with a paper bag and use the crayon to shade over the leaves – voila! You now have an Autumn design!

Have a happy, safe, and warm Autumn! And as always, check out the free samples and coupons that are available to you through Freeflys!