Celebrate Earth Day

Celebrate Earth Day by changing the way you shop and cook
Celebrate Earth day April 22, 2014  & every day!

• Buy your meat, eggs, fresh produce from local farmers or farmers markets--it's healthier and generally uses lass packaging.
• Grow herbs in your own back yard.
• Plan to "pick your own":  Strawberries, peaches, apples are my favorites.  Pick your own incorporates healthy eating with an activity-a 2for 1 event which is always a good frugal option!
• Grill out suing a gas grill-more eco-friendly and a LOT easier.  Natural gas burns cleaner than propane and high BTUS burn more energy.
• Choose sustainable seafood for more information check out www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx
• Read Animal, Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingslover
• Compost.  Read www.howtocompost.org for tips
• Use cloth towels for kitchen cleanups and cloth napkins instead of disposable
• Keep your oven pre-heating time to a minimum
• Make your lunchboxes waste free by wrapping sandwich's in waxed paper which can be composted. 
• Keep the oven door shut while cooking.  Every time you open the door the temperature drops by about 25 degrees, increasing the cooking time
• Cleaning your oven:  If you have a self cleaning oven, do this immediately after you've used it to take advantage of residual heat
• Cooking on a gas stove?  The blue flame indicates efficiency
• Use your microwave-it's energy efficient
• Minimize the use of your garbage disposal
• Refrigerators account for about 12% of your monthly energy bill-buy an Energy Star qualified appliance when replacing
• Appliance seals minimize energy waste--make sure the seals on your oven, freezer and fridge work properly to help reduce electrical consumption
• Use the toaster oven for preparing small meals
• Recycle glass, plastic an newspapers
• use cloth bags to carry home groceries
• Run your dishwasher when it is full
• Use items made from recycled products:  everything from glassware to garbage bags

Tax day Freebies

You've written the check or filed for an extension so you'll have time to save up the needed cash to pay your tax bill...

So...To ease the pain of tax day check out the link for a full list of all the Tax day freebies...

Arby’s
Arby’s is planning to offer a free Snack-Sized Curly Fry on April 15 at all Arby’s locations nationwide. Guests can visitArbys.com or Arby’s social channels to print a coupon.

Hard Rock Cafe
This year, on Tax Day, Hard ROck Cafe is cutting Americans a break across the country by asking them to lay down their wallets and pick up the mic! Warm up those vocal cords as Hard Rock Cafe opens up its stages to give fans a chance to “Sing for Their Supper” on Tuesday, April 15, 2014. On Tax Day, guests will have the opportunity to select their favorite song and take the stage to perform at their local Hard Rock Cafe. Guests who perform a complete song on their Hard Rock Cafe’s live music stage in front of the entire restaurant will receive a free dinner entrée from Hard Rock’s new menu. Singers can choose from a selection of new menu items and classic Hard Rock favorites, including the Grilled Vegetable Sandwich, Arugula Salad with Shaved Marinated Chicken, Legendary Big Cheese Burger or Veggie Burger as their free meal.

Orange Leaf Yogurt. To help ease the pain of Tax Day (4/15), all of the more than 300 Orange Leaf locations across the country will be offering customers a great deal: fill your cup for $4.15. On average, this amounts to approximately 50% off, depending on how much froyo and toppings the customer chooses. Claim the offer by visiting the Orange Leaf Facebook page and downloading a coupon.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2014/04/14/tax-day-freebies-promotions-deals-and-specials/?utm_campaign=forbestwittersf&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social