If you truly want to be financially fit, you’ll pay careful attention to the advice given here. Although the five money saving habits I have listed here are fairly easy to adapt to, they do require effort if you want to see them through. That means you need to have some staunch determination if you want to alter your financial situation in 2012. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

1. Pay yourself first. That’s right! How do you expect to save when you have nothing left over from your paycheck? Automatically draft payments into your savings account each pay period and you’ll be surprised how little you miss the money that’s being taken out. Treat yourself just like you would any other creditor and force yourself to pay the bill to yourself on time. This little trick can help you save a pretty penny each year. Stop wasting time and sign up for an Ally savings account. It just takes a few minutes and you can easily set up automatic and recurring deposits.
2. Find an alternate means of acquiring things. Before you shell out a bunch of money to purchase something, really think about your options. Is it something that will eventually go on sale? Can you pick it up at a garage sale or thrift store? Is it something you can make yourself? Can you do without it altogether? So many purchases are made impulsively. Stop and take a moment to evaluate an item’s necessity in your household. If you find yourself wondering for a second if it is needed, don’t buy it!
3. Create at least one stream of passive income for yourself. Monetize your blog. Pay for your groceries by becoming a secret shopper. Write an article for a magazine once every couple of months. Do whatever it takes to earn some extra cash. It may not be enough to pay all of your bills but it can help in the event of an emergency or whenever you want to take a special trip with your family.
4. Join a bartering or swapping website. Clothing, books, movies, and skills can all be swapped online and in your community. Rather than pay for these items, why not trade something you have for them instead? Websites like Freecycle, thredUp, and SwapTree are great for this reason. You don’t have to do without but you also don’t have to spend money every time your kids outgrow something or you grow tired of your book or movie collection.
5. Remember that less is more. It’s hard to enjoy the things that you acquire if you have to work all the time to pay for them. Buy less and enjoy more time with your family members and friends. It may be hard to adopt a simpler lifestyle at first but with some practice, you’ll be on your way to enjoying the world around you more.

Not all methods of saving are created equal. There are three basic kinds of savings vehicles consumers can use: savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and money market accounts. Each of these methods for saving money has their pros and cons that every consumer should be aware of. If you’re a conservative investor looking for something more than saving a little money, be sure to check out my piece on conservative investing instead.

Savings Accounts

The simplest and easiest way to get started saving money is by way of a savings account. These are relatively easy to sign up for and most banks simply require a small initial deposit to start an account. Most people get a savings account at the bank in conjunction with the checking account they use to pay their bills and other expenses.

The money in a savings account accrues interest as long as it is in the account. That means that the money you have been saving all year for Christmas presents will grow with interest. Savings accounts are also very easy to use. You can do transactions at your local bank branch, on the internet with your online banking account, or you can use an ATM card at virtually any machine.

One of the drawbacks of a savings account is that many local banks don’t offer the best account features. Some banks will only allow a certain amount of ATM withdraws for free before charging a fee, some require a minimum balance to avoid a monthly fee, and interest rates are often very low. So, while opening a savings account tied to your checking account at your bank might be the easiest way to go, it may not be the best.

Instead you’ll probably want to explore online savings accounts. Just like your traditional savings account at the local bank, online banks can provide much better rates and features because they don’t have the high overhead of staffing physical bank branches. In fact, these banks often have interest rates ten times higher than most brick and mortar banks. Learn more about your online savings account options here.

Certificates of Deposit (CD)

A CD can be a savings vehicle but it acts a little bit more like an investment. You deposit your money into a CD and then keep it there for a predetermined period of time, usually ranging from a few months to a few years. Because you are telling the bank you expect to leave the money in the account for a set amount of time CDs typically pay higher interest rates than a regular bank account. And the longer you agree to leave the money on deposit, the higher the rate.

Unfortunately, this can come at a cost if you decide you need to withdraw the money early. Typically you will pay a small penalty in the way of forfeited interest if you choose to cash out the CD before the term expires. While it isn’t a stiff penalty, it usually wipes out any of the added benefit you received by going with a CD in the first place, so money deposited here should be money you’re fairly certain you won’t need before the term is up.

Using a CD is a smart way to turn money you know you won’t be spending for a while into a little extra interest, but may not be the best place for an emergency fund where the need for that money could arise at any time. Instead, consider CDs for predetermined future uses such as a down payment on a house, buying a new car, or family vacation.

Money Market Accounts

Money market accounts offer some of the best of both worlds as they usually offer higher interest rates with penalty-free access to your money. The initial buy-in on a money market account is often  higher that a savings account or certificate of deposit, but the interest rates are also typically better that the other forms of savings accounts.

Money market accounts allow customers to withdraw money or write checks from the accounts up to a limit of six transactions a month. The higher interest rate means that money market accounts can sometimes be a better savings option than savings accounts for people that want to save larger sums of money.

A money market account is not the ideal solution for someone who wants a savings account with a low balance and easy access. The fees for allowing a money market account to dip below its minimum balance requirement can be very high and the minimum balance required can range from $1,000 up to the tens of thousands of dollars. The limitation on the number of monthly transactions makes a money market account slightly less convenient than a savings account.

Savings Bonds

Finally, there’s one more method of saving available to most people, but many consider it a bit old fashioned. Savings bonds have been around for ages, and in the past it was a very safe way to save money. Today, with the wide availability of banking institutions, FDIC insurance, and access to the internet, savings bonds aren’t as common, but they still provide a way to save. You can learn more about bonds and check out interest rates at the Treasury Direct.

Bonds typically behave more like CDs than a savings account. You are usually required to hold the bond for a certain amount of time before cashing it out, and if you cash it out early you’re subject to a small penalty. There are two primary types of bonds for you to choose from�’one that is tied to inflation and one that isn’t. Rates change with economic conditions so you’ll obviously want to check to see what interest rates are before buying a bond.

Again, if liquidity is more of a concern to you, a high-yield savings account or money market account is likely going to be your best bet. But if you’re putting money aside specifically for a distant event or purchase, then a CD or savings bond may be the better option depending on the interest rate environment.

That’s right. By being an Amazon Prime Member, you get access to books for free. Borrow what you like and keep it as long as you want. Unlike the public library, you won’t be fined for returning that Bestseller late. It’s like having your own virtual library.

Here’s how the service works:

• Own a Kindle Device. The service works with all generations. If you’re planning on buying on for the holidays, make sure you pass along this information to the recipient of your gift.
• Sign Up for Prime Membership. In addition to getting free two-day shipping on millions of items, you’ll also get access to over 10,000 movies and TV shows. You can even take advantage of an Amazon Prime free trial.
• Read Books for Free. There are over 5,000 titles to choose from, including more than 100 current and former New York Times Bestsellers, available to you through Amazon’s Lending Library. You can borrow up to one a month with no due dates.

Sample Titles to Choose From

Some sample titles that you can choose from include:

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
• The Last Lecture by Randy Pausch
• The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desi
• Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser
• The Big Short by Michael Lewis
• The Everything Soup, Stew, and Chili Cookbook by Belinda Hulin
• We Are All Weird by Seth Godin

Costs of Prime Membership

You get your first month of Prime Membership free. After that, you will be billed just $79 a year. Two-day delivery can be very expensive and during times where you need your item quickly, you’ll appreciate being a member of Amazon Prime. In addition to faster service, you can also take the Lending Library for a test drive. Considering many titles range from $9.99 to $22.99, you’ll save yourself a bundle by borrowing books instead of buying them. Best of all you get the portability and convenience of being able to read them on your Kindle. Now how’s that for being frugal!

Having an eReader has its advantages. You can carry hundreds of books in the device without any hassle. This is ideal when you’re required to travel light or want to take something to read to the beach. The Kindle is now $79, the Kindle Touch and Kindle Keyboard are $99, and the newest version, the Kindle Fire is $199 making it a very affordable gift to give any time of year. If you’ve already got a Kindle, give Amazon Prime a try and see if it’s right for you.

After stuffing yourself to the gills with turkey and pie, the last thing you’ll want to do is spend the day in busy shopping malls and department stores looking for this year’s bargain.  You’re in luck because we’ve also highlighted some of the best online deals being offered at Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, and JC Penney.

Here’s what you have to look forward to:

WalMart has the Compaq Presario AMD Dual-Core 15.6″ Laptop with 2GB, 250GB for $198.00.  It also has the Xbox 360 4GB Console with Kinect and Free $50 Gift Card for $199.96.  Hundreds of DVDs are $1.96 each and make great stocking stuffers.  A 40” Emerson LCD TV will also be going for $248. Get a list of the latest Walmart pre-Black Friday deals.

Target has the Nikon L105 12.1MP Digital Camera for $99.99 and the Apple iPod Touch 8GB with a $40 Gift Card for $195.  The RCA 9” Portable DVD Player will be $55.  You can also get a Playstation 3 Bundle with two games for $199.  If you’re looking for electronics, this is the place to be. Here is a list of Target deals.

Best Buy has the Apple iPhone 3GS 8GB free with a two year contract.  You can also pick up the Barnes & Noble NOOK Simple Touch eReader for $79.99.  There is also a great deal on the Dynex DX-24L200A12 24-inch Class / LCD / 1080p / 60Hz / HDTV.  You can pick one up for $79.99. X-Men, Green Lantern, and Fast Five on Blue Ray are all going to be $9.99.  Select CDs will be $2.99.  This is a great time to pick up a few extra presents for the different gift exchanges you’ll be participating in. Get a list of Best Buy deals.

JC Penney has a Cooks 1.5-qt. Slow Cooker for $7.88.  It also will be selling Juniors Denim and Twill Pants for $12.99 and Juniors Puffer Vests and Hoodies for $12.99.  Graphic Tees for Guys will be $8.88 and Home Expressions 30×54″ Bath Towels will be $3.88.  Genuine Pearl Earrings, Necklace and Bracelet Set for the Ladies will be $17.99 and Gift Pendants or Leather Inspirational Bracelets  will be $9.99.  There’s something on sale for everyone on Black Friday. More JC Penney deals.

As you can see, there are plenty of sales to look forward to.  To see a more comprehensive list of Black Friday specials, visit http://www.theblackfriday.com.  You can even see the sales ads for all the stores in full color.  This allows you to chart the course of your day and hopefully land everything on your gift list before supplies run out.

While changing your buying behavior takes more than a tip sheet, there are some problems that can be fixed without your ever missing them. Consider taking the “never-again” pledge and see how much you can save by ditching the following seven shopping habits.

1. Don’t Double Up With BOGOs

Buy-one-get-one-free offers require you buy two of a product, so ask yourself a few questions before going for the second item. Do you have enough storage space? How long before you’ll actually use the product? What if you don’t like the first half of the deal; will you just trash the second?

2. Resist Checkout Impulse Buys

Put on your blinders while waiting in supermarket lines. Merchants place tempting items directly in your line of sight — like tabloid newspapers — so you’ll grab and stash them in your cart. Check out “9 Ways Supermarkets Suck You In” for more sneaky strategies to avoid.

3. Nix Extended Warranties

Clerks selling electronics, appliances and other big-ticket items are often trained to push extended warranties. These upsells cost far more than they’re worth, since most of these products already come with manufacturer warranties for at least the first year. Extended warranties also can be difficult to cash in on, should the product break down.

4. Avoid Gift Wrap Services

Gift wrapping and gift boxes, particularly those purchased online, usually cost far more than they’re worth. Pick up your own supplies at the dollar store and get out the tape. Better yet, recycle gift bags you’ve received in the past, or consult Martha Stewart’s “Gift-wrapping Ideas” to re-purpose common household items for a truly unique approach.

5. Forgo Store Credit Cards

Merchants offer savings when you sign up for their credit cards, but you’ll ultimately pay through the nose via interest rates and potential late fees. For some reason, just applying for these cards also dings your credit rating. Just say no and, instead, buy cheap gift cards from websites like GiftCardGranny for your preferred merchants. You can save anywhere from 10 percent to 50 percent and still buy the merchandise you want at the card’s face value.

6. Don’t Drink and Shop

There’s usually a healthy mark-up on drinks sold in store coolers. If you’re the type that needs a bottle of soda or water to make it through a dreary shopping trip, plan ahead and bring your own from home.

7. Prevent Gift Card Waste

According to an article on Kiplinger.com, American households have an average of $300 in unused gift cards collecting dust in their wallets, purses and sock drawers. Holding onto gift cards is a costly habit, one which can be remedied by exchanging them for cash on Gift Card Exchange Day. Scheduled for Dec. 26, this one-day online event serves as both a reminder and a resource to trade gift cards for greenbacks, with resellers competing for your unwanted bounty.

8. Dodge Daily Deals

Daily deal sites like Groupon and LivingSocial make saving look easy, and as a result make spending even easier. Thanks to overzealous deal purchasing, there’s now an entire industry made up of merchants who buy your unused daily deals for resale. If you habitually purchase daily deals and rarely use them, consider going cold turkey for a while.

As a consumer and money-saving expert, Andrea Woroch dissects retail trends and provides smart shopping and money-management tips to help Americans save more. She has worked with top news outlets across the country including NBC’s Today, Good Morning America, New York Times, USA Today and Kiplinger Personal Finance. For better buying tips and personal finance advice, follow Andrea on Facebook and Twitter or check out her website atwww.AndreaWoroch.com.

I’ve been an ardent computer user since the early 90s.  This is actually quite a big deal, considering I was in middle school or so at the time.  I still remember my first computer, an Intel DX4 100 Mhz  (brace yourself, more nerd-dom incoming).  I then upgraded to an AMD K6 233 Mhz, followed by a Pentium III 450 Mhz (overclocked to 600 Mhz), and three years later I hopped back on the AMD bandwangon with a Mobile Athlon XP clocked to 3.2 Ghz. And now, 6 years later, I’m finally sitting on an Intel Core i5 clocked to 3.0 Ghz.

Suffice to say I’m a real hardcore computer geek.  If you’re also a computer hardware fan, you’ll notice that I’m also an EXTREMELY cheap ass, as I actually upgrade my computer infrequently, skipping generations of new chips in between (generally, I’ve upgraded about every 3+ years).

The fact is, I always consider a computer a major purchase.  My mindset was shaped by the hefty $2,000 price tags circa 1994, and I haven’t been able to shake that. (I suppose my wallet should thank me for being a 90s computer guy at heart.)

Because of the hefty price tag in my head, I was always incredibly wary of buying a laptop computer.  Not too many years ago, you’d have to part with quite a pretty penny to get comparable performance out of a laptop computer compared to a desktop computer.

Thankfully, we’re well into the 21st century and buying choices and options have never been better for the average laptop shopper.  Whatever amount you’re comfortable spending, you can really go far (in performance) with your dollars. Here I’ll break down one of HP’s most popular laptops as an example.

The Ultimate Bang for Your Buck: HP’s dv6t Quad Edition

This is the quintessential mainstream laptop that will be solid for both your wallet and performance needs.  All configurations of the HP dv6t quad edition laptops come with a quad-core processor (the brain of the computer), making it immediately faster than all of the older processors I’ve listed above (except for my desktop Core i5) — combined.

When you think about it, it’s really amazing how far along computers have come in terms of hardware capability.  We still have the same word processor software, similar web browsing experience, etc.  Unless you’re a hardcore computer gamer, your computing experience probably hasn’t changed all that much through out the years.

The best seller HP dv6 quad edition with Blu-ray player is currently at $854.99 after coupon “NBK85678″, includes latest perks such as USB 3.0 and a fast Radeon graphics card.

In that vain, the HP dv6t quad edition series of laptops will last you many years to come.  This laptop has almost the same exact hardware specifications as a MacBook Pro 15 which runs about $1,800 at retail.  Comparatively, the dv6t usually costs around $800.  In fact, it gets you a faster graphics card (for those hardcore gamers we mentioned earlier), more RAM, and a free blu-ray player.  Say what you will about the PC vs Mac debate, but PCs usually give you way more performance and features for a much, much cheaper price.

How Long Will Your Shiny New Laptop Last?

I’ve already mentioned above that a new laptop such as the HP dv6t quad edition will easily last you at least a few years.  The exact time frame, however, depends completely on the type of work/play you do on the computer.  If you use only all the basic things such as word processing, streaming videos, listening to music, and web browse — you might use your new HP laptop for 5 or even more years.  The fact is, software in those aspects won’t really catch up to your dv6’s processing abilities until many years later.

Now, conversely, if you (or someone in the household) plays a significant amount of computer games, or dabbles in the realm of video/photo editing, you will probably need to upgrade the computer after 2 to 3 years of extensive use.

Whatever laptop you end up buying, you can rest assured you’re getting a pretty solid value (well, as long as you’re not getting out-right ripped off, like 2x the price of a comparable machine) because a new computer today should serve you well for many years if you take care of it.  Computers have come a long way since 1994, and the things I can do on my laptop now amazes me when I think back to the days of a 4 MB (that’s right, “MB” not “GB”) RAM module, costing me over $100 just so I can play this silly game call X-Wing.  It’s a good time for a computer nerd (especially a cheap one), and its a great time for all computer users out there.

1. Find a friend or family member to stay with overnight. Staying with the people that you care the most about is far more fun than spending the night alone in the most expensive luxury hotel. If this is not an option for you, consider signing up for an account at CouchSurfing.org. It’s free to join and easy to find a place to stay for a night or two. Look at the profiles listed, contact the member with your request, and voila, you score free lodging for a day or two. It’s as easy as that. My friend Vicky traveled all over Latin America very cheaply as a Couch Surfer.
2. Pack snacks and beverages that are easy to consume in the car. Using the passenger seat as my “kitchen”, I was able to prepare a number of hassle-free snacks including pretzels with individual tubs of peanut butter, fresh fruit and raw veggies, and pumpkin seeds. I also have a cooler stocked with ice and bottles of water and juice. This allows me to eat and drink what I want without having to stop every few hours for a meal. You can easily put together a couple of sandwiches and eat these as well. Think about items that require little effort to eat while driving. Squeezable tubes of yogurt as well as individual bags of chips, crackers, and dried fruit are easy to unwrap or open with one hand.
3. Find the cheapest gas by using a mobile app like GasBuddy. Using my iPod Touch, I am able to locate the cheapest gas wherever I go. I just open an app like GasBuddy, allow the internal GPS to locate the city that I’m closest to, and select the filling station that has the best price based on the listings. This allows me to get out and stretch my legs from time to time as well. (By the way, I have to have a wireless Internet connection to do this. I prefer Virgin Mobile’s MiFi card because there is no contract and it is very reliable. You can connect up to four wireless devices using it.)
4. Avoid buying cheesy souvenirs. I have a brand new digital camera that I couldn’t wait to put to use. Instead of picking up bags upon bags of t-shirts, postcards, and magnets, I opted to take really beautiful pictures. High up in the mountains of Alabama, I was able to get some incredible shots. I was also able to see sights that I’ve only seen on TV. Now’s how’s that for amazing? If you really want something to help you remember a trip, consider picking up a cheap spiral notebook or dollar store journal. Record your memories that way.
5. Earn some income while traveling. There are a number of income boosting opportunities that can come out of a road trip. For example, if you’re a writer, you can share your experience with others by writing a travelogue of how-to article. The Lost Girls have a list of websites willing to pay you for your work on their website: http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/2011/01/travel-freelancing/. You can also take photos and sell them to magazines or websites. Here is another great resource: http://www.great-adventures.com/know/plan/publish.html.

One mistake can cost families their homes, their vehicles, and their sense of security.  That’s why in today’s economy, every purchase is evaluated and every dollar scrutinized.  Gone are the days of frivolous spending.  In the year 2011, thrift is in.

TLC’s Extreme Couponing couldn’t have aired at a better time.  People looking for ways to save a buck or two could watch the popular television series and pick up pointers from savvy shoppers like Jennifer Freeman, Joe and Kelly Charles, and Tammilee Tillison.  Those that have never clipped a coupon in their life could finally see the benefit of doing so by watching the show and apparently they learned something.

People are using coupons now more than ever before.  In fact, according to transaction settlement provider Inmar, “2010 coupon redemption held steady compared to 2009 levels. After years of decline, coupon usage began to rise markedly in October of 2008, coinciding with the U.S. financial crisis. That led to a 27 percent increase in redemption in 2009. For 2010, redemption remained at 3.3 billion consumer packaged goods coupons.”

Retailers Go to Extremes to Close Loopholes and Update Policies

Perhaps, more shoppers have started to take couponing seriously because of the economic situation while others paid more attention to what they were spending because of TLC’s show.  On the surface, it appears harmless to roll up to the checkout and pay pennies on the dollar for everything in your shopping cart.  The reality of this is that it takes one bad apple to spoil it for the bunch.

Extreme couponing tactics are apparently too extreme.  If stores had lax policies regarding the use of coupons, they don’t now.  Stacking coupons is now frowned upon by many retailers.  Others limit the number of items a person can buy on sale.  CVS and Walgreens clearly state the imposed limit on their store coupons.  Other retailers like them note that items are limited and rainchecks won’t be issued.  This gives consumers the heads up they need before stepping foot in the store.

Rite Aid, Target, and Publix revised their coupon policies so that they would limit the amount of store and manufacturer’s coupons accepted for one item and per shopping trip.  Years of dealing with “extreme couponers” forced them to rewrite policies and change the way they handle diehard bargain shoppers.  Apparently, free items do cost  something.  Large families that counted on stockpiling groceries and household necessities as a way of stretching their dollars complain about all of the changes.

Extreme Gluttons or Savage Savers?

One extreme couponer, J’aime Kirlew, was accused of fraud after her appearance on Extreme Couponing.  Mommy bloggers and personal finance experts question the integrity of this super saver.  Her tactics for obtaining free merchandise has been called “unethical”.  The NY Post reported that “Super-Couponing” instructor Jill Cataldo reported the evidence she gathered against Kirlew on her blog.  You can read all about it here.

Apparently, America loves to save money but its citizens do not appreciate standing behind a couponer in line.  They also feel a bit unhinged when they go to buy a product and find entire shelves emptied because a manufacturer’s coupon made it free.  I’ll be the first to admit that I love a bargain but I wouldn’t feel good stockpiling hundreds of sticks of deodorant in my garage when it takes me weeks to use just one.

TLC has unearthed a problem that went unnoticed for years.  Without limitations, how far will extreme couponers go to save?

A lot of national retailers, rental car agencies, and hotel chains put coupons in the book. That means you get to shop at your favorite stores, eat at your favorite restaurants, and travel to exotic locations all at discount prices. If you have to tighten your belt for any reason but still want to enjoy everything your city has to offer, the Entertainment Book will let you do just that.

The 2011 book has coupons that expire November 1st. That’s when the 2012 version comes out. Purchasing one each year ensures that you and your family never misses out on a deal. This is a great way to save when you’re on vacation as well. For example, if you take a trip to Orlando, Florida, you can pick up an Entertainment Book and expect to see the following types of coupons:

• Buy One Get One Free Admission to an Orlando Predator’s Game
• Buy One Regular Admission and Save 50% Off a Second Regular Admission to Gatorland
• Enjoy One Complimentary Arcade Armband When a Second Arcade Armband of Equal or Greater Value is Purchased
• Buy One Get One Free Admission to Arabian Nights Dinner Theater
• Buy One Starflyer Thrill Ride and Receive One Free at Magical Midway

These particular discounts are location specific but it does give you a better idea as to what to expect out of your Entertainment Book. If your family plans on going to a lot of different attractions, purchasing a book at a Walgreen’s or CVS can help you save a bundle of money.

If you know that you’re going to need an Entertainment Book ahead of time, you can always order it online at www.entertainment.com. They currently have 2011 books on sale for $5, or two for $10, plus free shipping. Some of the cities that you have to choose from are: Las Vegas, Hawaii, Los Angeles, New York City, Austin, and Charlotte. (Many cities have books that are sold out so it would benefit you to look through the complete list before purchasing one.)

Considering it will cost you at least that much money just to go to the movies these days, why not pick one up? It should pay for itself with just one use. The coupons don’t expire for another four months, there are tons of retailers and restaurants that have no purchase necessary offers, and you can still have your fun without paying full price for it. Sounds like a winner to me!

Here are five ideas that you can do for free:

• Go Letterboxing.  This beloved pastime is a scavenger hunt of sorts.  With Letterboxing, you read clues and look for landmarks so that you can locate a waterproof box filled with a notebook and a custom stamp.  To get started, you select a “trail name,” a rubber stamp that reflects your personality, a pencil or pen, a small sketch book, one or more ink pads or brush markers, a simple compass, and clues.  Once you have located a box, you remove the stamp from it so you can stamp your own sketch book.  You repeat the gesture using your stamp and the notebook found within the box.  This is a great activity to do with kids as well as adults.
• Attend a free concert in the park.  Summer is the perfect time to be outdoors.  Look through your local newspaper and city’s calendar of events online for free activities that fall on your birthday.  Pick up your favorite take-out food and spread out a blanket.  You’re in for a fun and entertaining night.  If you like a particular genre like Jazz or Classic Rock, look around town for posters and flyers advertising local bands and musicians.
• Borrow a movie from the library and invite your closest friends over.  Stop by the library and see what types of titles they have and choose the one that interests you the most.  Invite a few close friends and family members to stop by for a “Matinee”.  Make a couple of bowls or bags of popcorn and serve up some cold drinks.  (These items can be acquired very inexpensively at a dollar store or purchased in advance when on sale.)
• Finish one of your projects. If you like to knit, finish that baby blanket you started.  If you like to draw, get outdoors and recreate the scenery in front of you.  If you sew, create a new piece of clothing or add another panel or two to that t-shirt quilt.  Write an original song, create a piece of jewelry, screenprint a shirt, start a collection….You get the picture.  Whatever makes your heart sing, indulge!
• Spend the day volunteering for your favorite non-profit or charity.  Spread a positive message by giving back to a community that has given to you.  Your birthday is a great opportunity to spend time with the elderly, feed animals at the local shelter, tutor underprivileged youth or participate in a sports-related fundraising event.  The smiles and conversation you will receive because of your efforts is better than any other birthday present you will receive.