I have become a loyal Staples customer for one main reason: Their ink cartridge recycling program. Bring them your tired, dried out, used up HP, Lexmark and Dell cartridges to any store, and Staples will give you a $3.00-off coupon that can be used immediately. Best of all, you can use up to three coupons per purchase.

What I didn’t realize is that there are lots of options for recycling printer cartridges.   ThinkRecycle.com lets you earn money for schools or nonprofits by recycling printer cartridges and cell phones. Not feeling so philanthropic? Try FundingFactory.com, which allows you to earn credits toward new equipment for your business when you turn in those old phones and cartridges.

And, speaking of those old mobile phones, one of the most worthwhile and smart programs I’ve come across in recent years is the Verizon HopeLine program. Give your old mobile phone back to Verizon. The phones are refurbished or recycled. With the funds raised from the sale of the refurbished phones, Verizon Wireless donates wireless phones and airtime to victims of domestic violence, and makes contributions to non-profit domestic violence shelters and prevention programs across the country.

 It may not save you money, but it may help save a life.

 What’s your fave recycling or combo do-good/fundraising program? Share it in the Comments section.
 

Halloween continues to grow like the blob – Americans are going to spend $5 billion on it this year, according to the National Retail Federation. (And, yes, I will contribute a big chunk of that in trade for bite-size Snickers bars and candy corn. Part of my platform is being pro-candy corn.) Pets are even getting in on the act.

My 5-year-old declared her intention to be a cheerleader last Halloween and nothing has changed. That’s a pretty easy costume. I feel for my friend, whose son wanted to be the Empire State Building. (Thank heaven for little girls.)

Not ready to fork over more of that $5 billion than you have to? Never fear. Some fine and resourceful souls have come up with great ideas to scare up some great Halloween savings:

The folks at Halloween Online Magazine recommend opening up a Halloween savings account — like a Christmas Club account, but for vampire teeth and fake cobwebs.

Savingadvice.com has an old post with some good info about saving money on Halloween candy. Some alternative ideas: Give away stickers, erasers, balloons (but not for little ones) or other fun tchotchkes. Go on the prowl at the dollar store and see what you can buy in bulk for a buck.

On the costume front, skip the $30-40 pre-packaged variety and make your own (Really…it’s possible and not that time-consuming. And I don’t sew a stitch.)

There are also some good tips in this Kiplinger’s article, which also includes a couple of good places to hunt for deals online.

Halloween doesn’t have to break the bank. Now, you only have to fear the awful shrieks from your child’s post-trick-or-treat sugar crash.

 Now, THAT’S scary.

My friend, Leah Ingram, and her family bought their dream house a few months ago. It was a bit of a stretch, so they needed to adopt a more frugal lifestyle. They’ve also become more “green,” adopting more eco-friendly habits that also save them money. She’s started a blog about it that I think is really worth checking out.

On another note, several weeks ago, my daughter came home with one of those coupon-book fundraisers. I’ve bought this type of book before and forgot to use it, so it was a waste of money. I was going to return it to the school without purchasing it, but I took a look. There were actually many coupons for stores I visit regularly. So, I decided to fork over the $25.00. Most coupons in it are valid from now until December 2008.

Here’s my plan to make it pay back: I’ve already torn out the coupons for the stores and restaurants we visit most frequently. Those are in my purse. I’ve put the book near my computer, where I’ve gotten into the habit of searching online for coupons before I go shopping. That way, it’s in plain sight and I will remember to check it before I go out. A quick calculation tells me that, conservatively, I can save about $78.00 over the next six months, just by using the coupons in my purse. All in all, not a bad investment.

But the school fundraising thing can get expensive, especially if you have more than one child. Add that to club and group fundraisers and you need a budget just to buy candy, cookies, wrapping paper, and calendars. It may sound harsh, but we are saying “no” to any “purchasing” fundraisers that don’t give us something we need or want. And nothing with sugar in it. Having 17 boxes of Girl Scout cookies lying around doesn’t do anyone any good — least of all the family member who works from home. (That would be me.)

How do you rein in the school fundraising beast? Do you have parameters for making school fundraising purchases or donations? Share your tips in the comments section.

Who’s afraid of money? Apparently a lot of us are — and with good reason. A recent study by U.K. medical research firm Wellcome Trust, used gambling to study our reactions to money. They found that losing money activates the same area of the brain that responds to fear and pain.

So, if you’re stuffing incoming bills in a drawer without looking at them, there’s a reason for it. Getting swept up in debt can be scary and leave you feeling hopeless. Worse, the holidays are around the corner, so the potential for things to get worse — much worse — is just about here.

Between now and January 1, 2008, we’re going to actively work together on ways to find ways to reduce debt and manage holiday spending. The goal is to enter 2008 without the massive bills that can leave us scrambling and feeling slightly ill. To help us, I’ve called on debt expert Scott Bilker, founder of DebtSmart.com and the author of Talk Your Way Out of Credit Card Debt.

Here’s how it’s going to work: Each week, you’ll hear from Scott or me about reducing your debt and managing your holiday spending. But this is not just about us — your participation is important. Share your tips and ideas to help your fellow challenge participants. We’ll pick three participants at random to receive a free signed copy of Scott’s book.

 And this challenge starts TODAY. Scott’s first tip is to get organized, financially. Since many people don’t know exactly how much they owe, we want you to take a deep breath. Now, open up that drawer stuffed with bills, grab a pencil and paper, and start calculating. This may be scary, but you can’t make a plan for reducing debt until you know what that debt is.

Next, create a filing system other than your drawer. Find a place to keep bills that need to be paid and bills that have been paid. Note typical due-dates of each type of bill so that you avoid paying late fees, which can add up to big bucks.

Invest in an easy-to-use software program like Quicken or Microsoft Money. While you may have a bit of a learning curve getting started, this will save you LOTS of time over the long-haul and will help to keep you more organized. Don’t forget to back up all of your data!

 Once you’ve gotten yourself organized, set a reasonable goal for debt reduction. Look at your income and how much you can reasonably devote to paying down what you owe. You may want to choose one credit card or a portion of overall debt. The goal is to enter 2008 with less debt than you had in 2007.

 Ready? We’re in this together! Challenge on!

And don’t forget to help your fellow challenge-mates by sharing your own tips, ideas and encouragement in the comments section.

Next week: Making a holiday spending plan.

I came across an article about an interesting study that found that we don’t always think rationally when faced with financial decisions. In the study, by researchers at Princeton, two strangers engage in a transaction. One offers the other a split of $10. If the receiver accepts, they both keep the cash. If not, they both lose.

That’s found money, right? Well, the study found that receivers often refused what they thought was a bad deal — even though anything they got would have been more than what they had in the first place, which was zero. The brain reaction was driven by negative emotions instead of rational thought.

This made me think about how we sometimes make bad decisions when it comes to money, even when it makes no sense. When we splurge instead of saving or buy a new car for twice what we could have spent on a more economical vehicle, it seems to me that it’s about ego more than anything else. I deserve this splurge. I deserve this car. Hey, that guy is ripping me off — I’m going to refuse his offer.

It’s not a secret that money is loaded with all kinds of emotions. It is feared. It is tied to our self-worth. It is even worshipped by some misguided folks. I believe that understanding our emotions surrounding money is the key to financial success. I know that I have more bounce in my step after a check has come in than when I’m waiting for money to arrive in the mailbox.

Have you made a bad money decision for emotional reasons? What was it and why do you think you did that? Weigh in in the comments section. Let’s see if we can get more insight on money and emotions.

Well, I think I’ve finally recovered from my shopping trip yesterday. My daughter is heading to a private school for Kindergarten — one that has full-day K and which also requires uniforms.

I was surprised that I had no options to order the uniforms online, which is usually my first line of defense in saving money, even if just comparison shopping for good prices. So,  we headed over to the “authorized” shop to pick up her clothes.

School uniforms are controversial. Some say that they save money and time, while others maintain that specific mandates available from limited suppliers virtually ensure that parents will pay top-dollar for the clothes and that there really is no significant savings. After my trip, I have to agree with the latter group.

Last year, we went on a massive shopping trip at our local outlet mall right before school started. I spent $278 for a dozen outfits at the factory store of a major children’s retailer. I spent another $68.00 for a pair of shoes, a pair of sneakers, and a pair of rubber boots at another retailer. We added a few pieces throughout the year — a new winter coat for about $35.00 and a few outfits, new underwear, tights, socks, etc. But, for less than $500.00, she was pretty much outfitted for the year.

Yesterday, I spent $178.00 for two jumpers, three shirts, the warm-weather gym outfit, the cool-weather gym outfit and two pair of tights. Unless I want to live a distinctly little-house-on-the-prairie-esque existence and wash and iron (did I mention that I don’t iron?) jumpers and shirts every night, we’re going to need at least two more jumpers and another shirt or two. Plus, there are variations on the uniform — walking shorts, slacks, polo shirt, different color socks and tights. Then, there are the approved shoes. Sure, she can get by with her slightly scuffed Mary Janes, but it’s the first day in a new school. And kids can be mean.

I estimate that, by the time is all said and done, we’re going to be plunking down another $300-350 to get her outfitted according to school requirements and to give her enough changes of clothes that I’m not condemned to the laundry room every night. Not to mention that she’ll also need play and weekend clothes. So, the money-saving theory of school uniforms, at least in our household, doesn’t hold water.

 Have you found a good way to save money on school uniforms? PLEASE share them in the comments section. My AmEx card will thank you.

Whether you have a chronic condition or just visit the pharmacy for the occasional dose of allergy medication or antibiotics, the sticker shock of buying medication these days can leave you feeling ill.

Before you answer that spam e-mail for cheap prescriptions — and, please, DON’T answer the spam e-mail for cheap prescriptions under any circumstances — here are some tips for saving at the pharmacy. Ask about state programs that offer assistance to those who can’t afford their meds. Your doc should be up-to-date on any help available to you.

Talk to your doc. The time to start saving is before you leave the doctor’s office. If you’re going on new medication, ask for samples along with your prescription. That way, if you have a reaction to the medication or it turns out to be ineffective for you, you haven’t paid a hefty co-pay or, worse, the full amount for the Rx. Also, ask if the drug comes in generic form. You can often get the same drug for a fraction of the cost.

Check out big retailers. Wal-Mart pioneered the $4.00 prescription program, offering dozens of generic medication for less than a five-spot. Target has also launched a $4.00 Rx program, plus they have great new easy-to-read labels.

Call the pharma co. If you’re having trouble affording your medication and you don’t qualify for a state program or Medicaid, then call the pharmaceutical company directly. Many have aid programs to offset at least part of the cost of their medications. Requirements vary from company to company, but it’s worth checking out.

Shop from pharmacy to pharmacy. If your drug isn’t offered at a discount or as a generic, shop around. Many people don’t realize that pharmacies, like any other business, have price differences. You may be able to save money by calling around and pricing your prescription before you commit to the place where you’ll have it fille.d

Split the dose. Money-saving expert Rick Doble once suggested having your doctor prescribe tablets at a double dosage level and then splitting the pills to save as much as 40 percent. This should ONLY be done under the direction of your physician and with great care. It also doesn’t work for medication in capsule form, as the contents will spill when the capsule is split.

If you choose one of the mail-order operations that offer discounts, be careful. There are risks involved with buying prescription drugs online or via mail, especially with the rise in counterfeit drugs. The Food and Drug Administration has some great tips on both saving money on prescriptions and buying pharmaceuticals via mail-order houses.

It’s likely that you’re in the midst of shopping to send your little darlings back to school. (And it’s okay if you’re doing a little dance that the school year is almost here.) But the National Retail Federation predicts that families with school-age children are going to spend an average of $563.49 per child on back-to-school merchandise. That’s a big chunk of change.

 The good news is that there are some smart strategies to cut your costs:

* Take Inventory. By examining what your child already has, you can avoid buying more of the same. It’s likely that you’ve got plenty of pens and pencils stashed somewhere in your house, and your child may have more plain white t-shirts and socks than he or she could wear during the course of the year. Knowing what you need vs. what you have will help you avoid duplication.

 * Wait. Yes, that’s right — don’t join the mad frenzy of shopping for clothes and supplies right now. Buy only the essentials that your child will need for the first week. Pull out last year’s backpack and school supplies. By waiting until after the school year starts, you can take advantage of sales that begin after the first week of school. Also, since many children are so influenced by what their peers are wearing, you can be sure that you’re not buying the “wrong” clothes, backpack or book covers.

Visit the Dollar Store: Why pay more for a package of pens or rulers? The dollar store usually has a variety of school supplies that are wildly inexpensive.

Shop Online: Using sites like Shopping.com, BizRate.com or NextTag.com can help you quickly and easily compare prices for bigger-ticket items, such as clothing, scientific calculators, and dorm room supplies, with just a few clicks.

 Set a Budget: This is a great opportunity to teach your kids about money. Set a reasonable budget and explain to your children what amount of money is allocated. Help your child make choices about how the money is spent. Having this responsibility may help curb the “gimmies” and show your children how far a dollar really does — and doesn’t — go. This is also a good oppportunity to talk to your children about how media influence the brands and products that we want.

Got coupons? If not, these sites will give you more than you can possibly use.

http://www.couponmountain.com

http://www.coolsavings.com

http://www.valpak.com

Also, http://www.ebates.com gives you cash back on purchases with specific retailers based on spending. A little different than traditional coupons, but helpful, nonetheless.

Beware — some of these sites link to third-party sites. NEVER give your credit card info to get a coupon. That’s almost always some type of scam. The only exception is if you’re buying a big-ticket coupon from eBay. When we were renovating our home, I purchased a 10 percent-off coupon from Home Depot.

 Got a favorite coupon site? Share it in the Comments section.

Love to eat out? Don’t pay top dollar. There are some really great ways to dine in style — for less.

 First, if you want to try that pricey restaurant, opt for lunch instead of dinner. You can often get the same food that you would in the evening, albeit in slightly smaller portions, for as much as half off what you would pay after dark. Plus, you’ve got less to lose if you find out the food is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask the price when it comes to specials. Sometimes, those recited entrees and appetizers are anything but special in their price. You might find yourself paying as much as 20 percent more.

If you like to have a little vino with your meal, opt for a BYOB place. You’ll often find the entrees less expensive — and you won’t be paying the 400 to 500 percent mark-up that you’re shelling out for cocktails from the bar.

Look for coupons in the local paper or online. Entertainment Books (http://www.entertainment.com) and the like can be worthwhile as long as you use them. Some restaurants also have “kids eat free” or “buy-one, get-one” deals on certain nights of the week.

Sharing a couple of entrees between your family can shave dollars off your bill — not to mention calories. Many restaurants serve gigantic portions. Paying a per-plate sharing charge of a dollar or two is far less expensive than ordering a whole other entree. It also helps your children expand their palates beyond chicken fingers.

 Restaurant.com (http://www.restaurant.com) offers discounted gift certificates for hundreds of restaurants. Here, you can score a gift certificate, often for half off (e.g. $10 for a $25 gift certificate.) Search online for coupon codes for the site for even greater savings.

You could always opt for eating dessert at home or going out for an ice cream cone instead of enjoying what the restaurant has to offer. But, life is short. If the dessert cart looks good, it might be worth the splurge.

Bon apetit!