Sure, the library also has DVDs, audio books and eBooks, but it also opens a world of opportunity inside its doors. Most libraries have special events throughout the week for even more value. Some events are free, while others may have a fee attached. Check with your local branch for details on programs, classes, and expert advice.

Here are a few opportunities available at public libraries:

• Free Internet Access: The library is my go to place to work on school breaks. I can use the free wifi, while the kids read, join clubs or play in the children’s section. It’s also where I went when the air went out this summer, and I still needed to be on the computer. Or, the first place I think of when the DSL goes out at home.
• Tax Forms & Assistance: Since the IRS is no longer mailing tax forms, you can find them, as always, at your local library. Many branches area also offering tax assistance or classes.
• Computer Skills Classes: Gain valuable skills for work or personal use through computer skills classes at your local library. My own library offers basic skills like office programs, email and social media as well as advanced classes for those who need a little more information.
• Fun & Games: Libraries are also a great source of family fun & entertainment. We’ve been to animal entertainers, meet the author nights, craft days, and special events. The children’s department also has Legos, Wedgits and computers just for kids.
• Clubs & Social Events: Book clubs are a natural fit for the library. Ours also has a knitting club, euchre club, teen clubs, and various kids’ clubs based on special interests. My girls seem to have outgrown the Webkinz Club, but we’ll keep an eye on what’s next.
• Story Hour: I’ve been going to the library since my teen was just a little tyke. We’ve graduated through baby stories, toddler time and preschool story hour. The school aged story hour features a related craft each week.
• Homeschool Classes: Our library has recently started offering several classes for homeschool families. I’ve seen Spanish, creative writing, art, and science in the last couple years. It’s a great resource for those who want additional skills for their educational choice.

1. The Library – A Fantastic Tool for the Budget Minded
2. Free Summer Fun
3. Want to try something new? Do it over the Summer!

Last week, I had the opportunity to treat my girls to a night out, courtesy of American Express Serve! In between shopping, holiday parties and end of year chaos, we set aside a night for dinner & drinks. Sans whiny kids.

We usually try to make it out for Margarita Monday at the Mexican restaurant at least once a month. For $.99 drinks, I wish we could make it every week! Typically, we pay for our own drinks, while one person picks up the tab for the queso dip we share.

With Serve, we can quickly split the bill on the mobile app, then send money through a digital payment service with the safety and security of American Express. Setting up an account is quick & easy. Visit Serve from your computer and get $10 just for signing up!

Once you have an account, they’ll send a Serve debit card for your account. It can be used wherever American Express is accepted. Which, makes me wonder if other perks come along with it. Like, being able to swipe a card at Costco. Or, advance ticket purchases. I haven’t had the opportunity to try it out yet, but it’s an interesting concept.

Plus, when you invite your friends, you’ll earn up to $50 referral credit. And, I do love sharing things with my friends! Like the amazing martini flight we shared last week at Houlihan’s. The mini martinis on the menu come in sets of three—and that’s too much awesome to have alone!

I went with Adam & Eve, Blue Moon and Guavatini. Wait. Let me rephrase that. The amazing Guavatini that tastes like cotton candy! I’ve been on the hunt for this cocktail since the first time I sampled it earlier this year.

I couldn’t remember what it was called, but I never forgot the taste! I have ordered a different cocktail every time I’ve been to Houlihan’s since, in search of the elusive cotton candy cosmo. I guess I should have tried a sampler flight a long time ago.

Of course, now that we’ve tasted them all, I’m going to have to go back to a full size Guavatini. So, so yum! I’m so excited to finally find it.

I’m also excited about today’s giveway—signup for a Serve account and comment below to be entered to win a $100 account credit! What will you do with $100?

Remember to sign up for Serve and receive $10 credit towards your first use. Comment below within the next 10 days for your chance to win an extra $100 credit to your account! Official sweepstakes rules and regulations may be found by clicking here. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

1. Kelsay Farms Fall Festival Ticket Giveaway
2. FREE Milk at Kroger (Plus Kroger Gift Card Giveaway)
3. Why Buy When You Can Rent for $1 (Plus Redbox DVD Rental Codes Giveaway)

1. Any and all receipts that contain your credit card or other personal information on it should be immediately shredded after you have looked it over. If you do not do this, somebody less honorable may write everything down for their own use.

2. At most, you should only have only one or two credit cards on hand as you go about your errands and day to day activities. Should you carry more than that, it will become difficult to keep track of them, and you will receive more bills than you can handle.

3. Do your banking online, instead of opting to have your statements sent to you by mail. People do not like to think about it, but there are individuals that steal mail to find personal information. Destroying the paper trail makes this less likely.

4. Keep a close eye on your bank statements, reading them carefully. Should your identity be stolen, you will know about it quickly and can work to fix the problem before it gets worse.

5. If your purse or bag is stolen and you know that you had your wallet in there, it is imperative that you call your bank and credit card companies and ask them to freeze your accounts.

6. Consult with a financial advisor. They can assist you in responsible spending and saving up for what is most important. Such expertise can help you avoid spending over your means.

7. Carry cash with you instead of cards or checks when you can. When you have limited spending money and cannot go over that amount, you are less likely to do something reckless and damage your credit.

8. When giving out personal information to somebody, particularly over the phone, make sure it is a company or individual that you trust. If you are not familiar with them or it seems too good to be true, that is likely the case and your credit could be in danger.

9. Compare your receipts with the corresponding billing statements. While not that common, you can be charged a different amount than what is on the receipt, and it should be corrected immediately.

10. When in a grocery store checkout line or even at the local mall, do not display your credit cards openly. Keep them obscured before, during and after the transaction as best as you can.

This guest post is written by Advisor World team.

1. Credit Cards: They’re Not the Enemy
2. 6 Ways to Teach Your Child About Money
3. Upromise Security Hole: Your Credit May Be Compromised

When it came time to buy my own groceries, I basically bought all the things my mom did—because it’s what I knew. It wasn’t until I started really using coupons that my eyes were opened to all the different brands out there. Who knew there were so many different kinds of soap out there?

I began to branch out—all in the name of saving money—and was pleasantly surprised. I tried different brands for many different products through my first year of extreme couponing. And it turned out? My mom’s choices weren’t even my favorite. Nor were they the least expensive options.

Experimenting with coupons & store sales helped us find our own favorites. And, taught me that sometimes, I’m not at all brand specific, which can save a ton of money. Other times? I am so brand loyal, but I would never have known if I didn’t step outside the box and try a few things my mama never bought.

I started applying the same principal all over our household budget—we cut our home & car insurance in half as soon as we went out and got our own quotes, instead of continually renewing the policies our parents had selected for us. It all comes down to habits—and challenging assumptions.

It’s so easy to just go through life paying the bills, buying the same things and never giving a thought to how much it’s costing you. Going through our finances regularly allows us to give serious consideration to each item and decide if it’s worth keeping or if it’s time to try something new. A simple change can have a big impact on your budget.

What have you tried recently, to lower your family’s expenses?

1. {The New Home Ec} Where Is the Best Place to Shop for Groceries?
2. Double Duty Groceries
3. Why Buy Brand Names

Luckily, I used a coupon to buy Brenia’s new vest last year so I only need the insignia. I’m also saving a bit of money because Stacia wants a sash, instead. I’m also out a bit of money right now because it turns out, I never submitted their registrations in the fall. I still had the packet sitting here, checks included. Registration is verified at cookie time so I had to dig it up, turn it in and watch that money come out of our checking account.

On a related note, we’re paying for softball registration next week. And, Girl Scout Camp fees will be due soon. Clearly, we need a better way to budget for the girls recreational activities. Our current pay-as-you-go method means a lot of “unexpected” expenses tend to crop up at once, just because we aren’t paying attention. That’s one thing that will be addressed immediately.

Total Money Spent $119.07

• Girl Scout registration: $36—membership dues for Stacia, Brenia and I. Typically, I keep Spencer registered in case I need a driver or help at a meeting. I skipped it this year, since I’ve already made it this far without him.
• Science Fair Board: $2.09—I knew I’d end up needing to purchase a 2nd one. Once again, organization is key! If I’d stored last year’s boards somewhere that made sense, they could have been reused.
• Target: $9.98—glue sticks for our project and drain clog remover. Because, well, I’d like to be able to run water down the sink. Usually, we use a drain snake for a chemical-free fix, but it’s not cutting it this time around.
• Climb Time Indy: $36—this one is a long story, based on a huge customer service fail. I’m calling Groupon for a refund ofthe price I paid on the Climb Time Towers pass I purchased months ago for Saturday’s outing, as I’ll never be stepping foot in there again. In the meantime, I’m out of pocket for the move to Climb Time Indy instead, since I couldn’t disappoint my Scouts. (Which, by the way, turns out to be bigger & nicer in addition to treating their customers with the respect Towers lacks.)
• Travel: $35—normally, I wouldn’t make 2 trips “home” in a row, but my nephew’s baptism was yesterday, and I just couldn’t miss it. I did remember to use my Fuel Finder app to keep costs as low as possible. We also avoided traveling through meals, this time. And, I resisted stopping for snack when we were near a Sonic. For once.

Total Money “Saved” $47

• Steak ‘n Shake: Did not spend $15—I was planning to meet with a friend for lunch on Friday while I was in her area, but Snowpocalypse 14 kept us home for the day. Saved by the weather! Or, something like that. Probably, we’ll just be rescheduling this, but for now it’s money in the bank.
• Valentine’s Day Clearance: Did not spend $10—I’ll own up to buying a little V-Day candy on the clearance shelf, but that’s totally a grocery expense! (What? It’s food, right?) However, I did skip the little trinkets I saw everywhere that tempt me. I found candles, dish towels & many other things I would love to have, but so don’t need. There were some Disney princess stampers that would make a great party favor, but I don’t think we’ll be doing any Disney birthdays this year so I let it go.
• Sonic: Did not spend $10—it would have started as a quick pick-me-up for me during my late(ish) night drive, and ended up including slushes for the girls. I just powered through the last hour of my drive, and grabbed a snack when we got to my parents’ house.
• Music: Did not spend $12—the hubby, yet again, had to skip a new album release so music definitely needs to be budgeted somehow. He has a March birthday, though, so he’s started a list. It’s a little longer than even I had anticipated. This is obviously one he’ll need to learn to control, even once we do have a budget in place.

1. No Spend Month, Week 2 Update: Broken Furnace Edition
2. No Spend Month, Week 3 Update: 1st Birthday Edition
3. No Spend Month, Week 1 Update: Icepocalypse Edition

I am so excited about my recent discovery—Shoeboxed is going to change everything this year! With this service, you send receipts, they scan & extrapolate the data to store & organize in a secure online account. Receipts get categorized so you can retrieve the information you need, when you need it. They even provide an email address to forward online receipts.

With 4 membership levels—including a FREE DIY version—you can choose a program that works for your family or business. I’m going with the Lite membership. It provides 50 scans per month & an email address for unlimited online forwards. If I go over, I can always scan & upload them myself, since that part is free anyway. The $10/month fee will fit nicely into our budget, and I’m pretty sure I’ll earn it all back next year—both in time saved & few missed opportunities.

Shoeboxed is offering a free 30 day trial right now—check it out and see what a difference organization makes in your life.

1. Organization: The Key to Savings
2. Art of Couponing: Coupon Storage
3. Reusable Bags & Coupon Organization

I like to use our present poem, for a 1st birthday—it guides my purchase and adds a little more meaning to the milestone birthday. We did save a bit of money on that, courtesy of Blissdom & Hallmark! The recordable storybook they gave me was the perfect “something you read” for a toddler. All five of us recorded part of the story, so we can read to her even when we aren’t around.

I also had a 30% off Kohl’s coupon, so that’s where I headed for her other gifts. Sticking to No Spend Month with a coupon like that in my purse is an exercise in restraint. I am still amazed I managed to walk out with nothing buy the 4 items I went in to find. One of the things I’ve learned this week is that I need to find a balance between buying something just because it’s on sale versus finding a good deal on something I would have bought anyway.

Did the $30 I “saved” by not shopping more with my discount actually prevent spending? Or, will I end up spending more later when I really need those items but don’t have such a great coupon?

Total Money Spent $146

• Silly Bandz: $6—I found several packs of Silly Bandz on clearance the other day. These are the perfect size (and price point) for Easter baskets and hiding in eggs so I went ahead with the purchase. They are tucked away in the gift closet and will save me a bit of money I’d be spending soon anyway.
• Redbox Rental: $1—the hubby and I finally saw The Social Network last week, using the Valentine’s Day promo code. I tucked the DVD into my purse the very next morning and promptly forgot to return it—even though I visited no less than 3 locations with a Redbox that day. My poor memory is apparently worth $1.
• Kohl’s: $42—but, Peyton’s birthday was on the official exception list. I managed to come in $8 under budget, and left it alone! Normally, I would have gotten something extra she totally didn’t need, just because I have a set amount for gifts. This time, I knew I had gotten exactly what I wanted, so I stopped shopping. I guess, technically, this goes in the Saved category!
• Travel Fuel: $50—it takes an entire tank of gas to get to my parents & back again. Of course, this trip was planned & budgeted, but it still goes on the list!
• Burger King: $5—if I had gotten the van loaded on Thursday, as originally planned, we would have made it to my parents’ house on Friday with enough time for my girls to grab dinner from home. Instead, we hit Burger King, fed the girls off the value menu and dropped them off at the theater with my sister so they could see Never Say Never. I’m just glad I didn’t have to go with them.
• Sonic: $25—once again, if we had left between meals as we usually attempt, we could have skipped this expense. However, Sunday was my niece’s actual birthday, and I wanted to wait until she awoke from her nap to say goodbye. Thus, we were traveling through dinner. I did try to stick with value meal purchases again, to keep costs down.

Total Money “Saved” $94.49

• Blogger Dinner: Did not spend $15—after our statehouse meeting with the Lt. Governor, several bloggers decided to extend our time together over dinner. Rather than follow the crowd to a restaurant I didn’t really enjoy, I led a 2nd group to where I had coupons & gift cards. Conversation at large dinners ends up segmented anyway. This way, we all had a great time at more intimate dinners, and I spent nothing.
• Travel Dog Crate: Did not spend $7.49—while shopping for Miss P’s birthday gift, I saw a travel dog crate on clearance. I was already dreading packing his cage up for our trip, but I managed to resist by reminding myself that this is the only time we’ll be traveling with his cage. He has only 2 weeks left of the mandatory cage rest. From there, we’ll see how his legs continue to progress but it’s looking pretty good so far.
• Kohl’s Did not spend $30+—I still have the 30% off coupon, and I spent the weekend thinking of things we “need” enough that I almost went back on Sunday. Honestly, the only thing that saved me is that they closed at 9, instead of 10, and I ran out of time.
• Movies: Did not spend $30—we considered hitting a movie of our own, while my sister had the girls. When I realized we left a free movie ticket at home, and there wasn’t anything we really wanted to see anyway, we opted to join my parents, nice & nephew for dinner instead. Bonus? Dad bought our pizza!
• Caramel Corn & Chocolate: Did not spend $12—there’s a hometown candy store that I love. LOVE! I don’t make it out there every time since our trips are usually planned & chaotic. This weekend, though, I had some down time. It was pretty tempting to head downtown to buy candy, especially when I saw that my mom & sister were both given my favorite treat for Valentine’s Day. I managed to resist, though, but we’ll see how strong my conviction is next weekend when I head back home for my nephew’s baptism.

1. No Spend Month, Week 2 Update: Broken Furnace Edition
2. No Spend Month, Week 1 Update: Icepocalypse Edition
3. No Spend Month, Week 4 Update: Girl Scout Cookie Time Edition