When is an advertised bargain a real bargain? When it proves to be one by helping you save your hard earned dollars. Take advantage of best values and good buys for your whole family.

Take some time to search for immediate dollar saving value and added convenience as well as long term money savers. When you find something that you think will help you save money, stay with it for a month or two, making note of the money you have saved. If it is a winner, stay with it, if not get rid of it. It pays to treat your family and yourself to little niceties once in a while, so you don't feel bogged down or deprived.

How do you get those niceties, the little extras when money is tight? Join a group like MyPoints.com and reap the rewards; I have been a member for a number of years. Just remember to read the fine print, as you should with any of the suggested programs below. You can redeem your points for family restaurant gift cards.

• If you are not a coupon clipper, you can still save money by using a customer money saving card. Most supermarkets offer these free membership cards. Many pharmacy super stores offer them as well, CVS, Eckerds, etc. It only takes a few minutes to sign up. Generally, you receive these customer cards the same day. Get them and use them whenever possible, you can save hundreds of dollars a year. Get more savings by signing up for the stores advance sale e-mails also. Don't just use the cards, use the coupons that are sometimes attached to your receipts.
  
  
• If you use a dial-up service for Internet access, you can be alerted to all of your incoming telephone calls and have the option of taking the call or transferring it to your cell phone. The company CallWave offers this service, which presently starts at a very low cost per month. When you are on your computer, you are able to see the incoming telephone number and hear the message. Also included several other useful features, including a toll-free home telephone number to give to family and friends who are on a tight budget but need to stay in touch with you. CallWave will bill directly to your telephone service. Well worth the money. www.callwave.com
  
  
• Are one of those people who only their cell phone to call home to check on family or to say "I am on my way", prepaid is definitely the way to go. Why spend $25 and upwards monthly when you minimally use your cell phone. Tracfone offers stylish prepaid cell phones at very low prices. You can buy additional airtime online or from many large stores. Try prepaid for six months, you will be pleasantly surprised at the money you save. www.tracfone.com
  
  
• While you are at your local library, don't just focus on books for check out. Ask if there is a movie section. The library also has audio books that several people can listen to at once--something different for your book club? They may have audio books for children also. The site Storynory at https://storynory.com/ has free audio stories for children. Before allowing your child to access the site, be sure to read the Storynory privacy policy.