CALLING ALL MOMS....AND DADS.

When Kimberly Danger went on maternity leave in 2000...she had some extra time to fiddle around with developing her own web page. She also had the need to figure out ways to stretch her budget. With a child on the way...every dollar counted. She created mommysavers.com after teaching herself about web design. It started out very simple and rather bare bones. Kimberly only had around 20 pages of content with ways for Moms to save a few bucks.Slowly, interest began to build and now her site boasts 3 million page views per month. So what makes mommysavers.com so appealing?

THE "FACEBOOK" OF FRUGAL MOMS

Kimberly's site is more than just a collection of coupons and links. Users can sign up for free and be given their own page in which to post tips and ideas on where to get the bargains. And when groups are regionalized..it makes it easy for members to share specific ideas and bargains for their particular area. The site also provides useful discussions and articles on personal finance..cooking...crafts and decorating. And the savings can be instaneous. On the site this week..printable coupons for baby formula, toys, food and beauty supplies

ONE MOM MAKING THE MOST...

Melissa Stuyvniski watches every dollar. She has to. With 3 kids, 7 cats, and a hungry husband..she has no choice but to find any and every bargian she can. She stumbled across mommysavers.com a few years ago and credits the site with helping her scope out bargains at her local stores. She even gets personal finance advice from the site. And when she finds a coupon she likes..she prints it out in black and white so she can save on her color cartridge. She has even become a moderator on the site for her region. She scurries around to various stores near her Jewitt City home and makes notes about sales and bargains and then lists them for fellow members. One nugget she especially likes....use vinegar for household cleaning..it's cheaper and can used on just about anything.

NEED SMOOTH SKIN?..TRY "SKINTOLOGY"

Alissa Cote and Alesha Prescher knew they wanted to get into the skin business well before they opened their Hebron spa. But what they found was the lack of a serious alternative to mainstream skin therapy. They both longed to find all natural..all organic ways to promote healthy skin and two years ago they embarked on a mission. They opened "Skintology" on Main Street in Hebron with a lineup of organic, food based makeups and the reaction was strong. With prices competitve with high end department stores...customers found that the all-natural approach to beauty made sense. But what to do about wrinkles?..Surely the only way to eliminate those is with pricey treatment like Botox..right?..Maybe not.

SHEDDING NEW "LIGHT" ON THE WRINKLE FIX

"Skintology" says you can rid of fine lines and wrinkles but not have to fork over thousands to get it done. Their alternative to Botox is simple and a whole lot cheaper. It's called LED Light therapy and a full six sessions runs around $320..a fraction of what you would pay to go under the knife. Alesha and Alissa say the LED therapy diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and age spots. Other benefits? The treatment can help tighten unsightly pores and promote collagen regeneration. The light treatment is provided by Eminence...an award winning company that also makes the organic makeup featured at "Skintology"

FULL SERVICE..FAIR PRICE

At "Skintology"..they have more than one way to help you relax and look your best. How about a signature facial with an apricot masque rich in beta-carotene...60 soothing minutes for $75.00. Maybe a massage is what you need to melt that stress away. You can be soaked in essential oils like grape seed and jojoba..rubbed into serenity for a full hour for $70. And if your feet are in need of pampering...settle into their chair and have your tootsies coddled with coconut lime or orange creamsicle oils. One hour of that for just $39. Want to know more? Check out their website at www.skintologyofhebron.com

CHIC SAVINGS AT CONSIGNMENT STORES

The need may have been driven by the collapse in the economy..but now it's a full fledged trend. And those who are flocking to consignment stores are part of nearly every income level. It's now considered "cool" to treasure hunt at consignment stores and retailers specializing in used goods. The way a consignment store works is very simple: anyone can bring in gently used items..from clothing to housewares..and have the store owner stock the items for sale. When a customer purchases that item...the owner gets a cut of usually around 40%. Not bad since the store has the overhead of the retail space and staff. It's slightly different at re-sale stores. They will give you cash or credit on the spot for your stuff.

"JUST LIKE NEW"

That's the name of a store in Glastonbury that is quickly gaining a reputation for stocking high end quality merchandise at Wal-Mart like prices. The first step is finding good stuff. Owner Helene Kapelewski says they look at any and all items brought in and then comb through the lot to find the best. Once the store accepts them for consignment....they are cleaned and presented in her well organized and friendly shop in the Putnam Bridge Plaza. The person bringing in the item gets at least 40% of the proceeds once the item is sold. All clothing and accessories must be in current style,in season, and in perfect condition. Sandy Bryan knows first hand what kind of deals can be found at "Just Like New". In her first trip to the store she snagged a pair of Nine West shoes that normally cost over 50 dollars for just 7 dollars and change.

NO "KIDDING"..FIND RE-SALE BARGAINS FOR THE LITTLE ONES

Parents, more than anyone, understand the need to save a buck wherever and whenever they can. One spot all parents should at least check out is "Once Upon a Child". With 5 Connecticut locations, the used clothing/accessory store is a gold mine for deep discounts on all things children. And like "Just Like New"...they want your used items. Every day, except on Sundays, they will appraise your items and if accepted..they will slap cash in your hands or give you a check or a store credit. The place makes perfect sense for parents whose children have outgrown their old clothes, toys or strollers. Before anything is out on the shelf for sale...each item is cross checked with government recall lists and given every safety check possible.

THE BOTTOM LINE

If your looking for mint condition upscale clothing and accesories and are smart enough not to be suckered into outrageous retail prices...check out "Just Like New" in Glastonbury. The staff is friendly and helpful and the merchandise is top notch. Best of all...the prices are stunningly low. And if you have stuff that needs a new home..bring it in and you could soon have a nice chunk of change with very little effort. Moms and Dads...do your wallet a favor and pay a visit to "Once Upon a Child". They have a need for strollers and equipment!

DONT LEAVE HOME WITHOUT THEM

For those who already belong to AAA..this is not news. For decades they have provided members with invaluable resources and savings for everything travel related. But in this new era where every dollar counts, taking advantage of their expertise can mean huge savings on that summer vacation. The range of services has expanded through the years. We all think about the maps and travel itineraries they can crank out for the traveler. But the scope of their ability to save consumers money has ballooned through the years. From booking hotels and flights..to crafting the ever popular "stay-cation"...AAA has seen a spike in membership.

CARLOADS OF SAVINGS

Jim McPherson has been a fixture in AAA offices in Connecticut for years. If there is a way to cut costs on travel...he is the one to talk to. And we did just that for his perspective on shaving a few bucks off trips near and far. We discussed the pros and cons of renting a car as opposed to packing the family into your personal vehicle. He noted that many people have leased cars and have to watch their mileage carefully. If they go over the pre-set mileage in the lease agreement, they will get hit with substantial fees. Couple that with sinking car rental rates and the choice is clear. He says AAA can secure rental cars for as low as 25 dollars a day with unlimited mileage.

SAVING BY STAYING..OR GOING

The big trend these days is staying close to home for vacations. Fortunately for Connecticut residents, we have a plethera of fun spots to hit..well within our reach. And the smart planner can grab discount tickets through AAA and other travel agencies to a myriad of hotspots. From Mystic's Aquariums and Seaports to Lake Compounce in Bristol to Six Flags in Massachusetts, savvy planners can enjoy the fun at a fraction of the regular cost. Karen Christiana of AAA says the key is to plan ahead. Give them enough time and they can wrangle hot deals on local hotspots or hotspots like Florida. It's a buyers market and hotels and resorts like Disney world and Universal Orlando are practically begging for business. Plan ahead and you can get a lot of vacation for a little amount of money. For more info on AAA and their services...their website is very helpful at www.discover.aaa.com

A SAD FAREWELL...

Over the weekend, the FOX61 family lost an amazing friend and colleague. Alice Morrin was killed in the tragic murder/suicide in Vernon late Sunday night. We lost more than anyone can imagine. Alice was such a pure soul and her smile and friendship lit up the newsroom every single day. She was so key in creating this segment for FOX61 and she always put her heart into every assignment she produced. I had the honor having Alice in my life for the last 14 months. Everyday, without fail, she was there with encouraging words and a spirit that captured every heart in the newsroom. She was smart, compassionate, joyful and caring. She put everyone else's needs first. She was genuine and real and everyone, and I mean EVERYONE in the FOX61 family loved her. She would bring her two beautiful daughters into the newsroom for visits and they were the shining light in her life. They adored their Mom. Her youngest daughter even appeared in one of our news segments and was so incredible. In her final days, Alice was given a promotion..she would become the executive assistant to Rich Graziano, our general manager and publisher of the Hartford Courant. Rich couldn't have made a better choice and she was so thrilled with the trust he had placed in her. For that, I thank you Rich. She was bubbling with excitement over her new job. Her final days were filled with hope for the future. We will NEVER forget you Alice and we will miss you every minute of our lives.