If you do not have one already, you will need to get yourself a MassValuePass right away.  I just signed up and there are so many great deals that you can take advantage of by having a MassValuePass.  All you need to to to get yourself a Value Pass is go to the Massvacation website and sign up.  There is no cost, it is absolutely FREE.  You just print out your pass, laminate if you wish and show it at Mass business’s that have MassValuePass deals.  Once you sign up for a card you can view all of the great deals that local shops, restaurants, spas, hotels and more are offering.  You can save 25% and more and there are great deals being offered April - June 2009.

I was searching the deals that are offered at Cape Cod business’s and found some really great deals.  I noticed there are several hotels that are offering 25% off a 3 nights stay and some I saw are offering up to 50% off off a night or two stay.

You can save 25% off Cape Cod Central Railroad ticket prices. Save 25% off balcony seats at the Cape Playhouse for select shows.  Pirate Adventures in Provicetown offers 25% off each admission, reservations required.  The Orleans Inn is offering a $25 gift card with a $100 purchase.  Westies Shoe Outlet in West Dennis is offering 25% off a $50 purchase.  And many more offers are also available and they are updated often.

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• We Support Local Business
• Disney Money Saving Tips

Are you thinking of getting rid of the roll of wax paper that is collecting dust in your kitchen drawer?  Well think again.  I know it may not come in handy all of the time, but when you read about the different ways your wax paper can come in handy you may start using it more often.  I was told recently by my sister-in-law Tabitha that she uses wax paper to line a cupcake tin when baking cupcakes.  No need to go out and buy special cupcake liners anymore.  Just tear off small squares or circles and stuff into each cupcake hole and spray with a little non stick spray, and viola, your own homemade cupcake liners.

After you have baked and decorated a beautiful cake, do you want to risk writing a message with frosting right on the cake and possibly messing up?  A no fail way to write a message on a cake and have it look perfect is to write your message on a piece of wax paper, freeze for 1/2 hour, loosen lettering and place in your cake.

Make dusting easier and place wax paper on the tops of bookcases, kitchen cabinets and shelves that are high up.  Every 2 months or so just fold up, dispose and replace with new.

Ball up some wax paper and wipe it along the bottom of a snow tube, snow slide or a shovel.

Press leaves between wax paper, melt to make a bookmark.

Frugal Tip: Use the plastic bags that hold your cereal as wax paper.  When your cereal is gone, just rinse, cut and reuse as if you were using wax paper.  Cost $0.

When freezing meat patties, fish steaks, chicken strips or any other meat, you can place a piece of wax paper between layers to help the meat to not stick together.

Rub a piece of wax paper along your shower curtain rod.  This will make your curtain glide back and forth, no more sticking.

Place a piece of wax paper between wet art projects, wet pages in a book or magazine.  Let dry.

Trace a pattern using wax paper.  You can copy an image from a book or even off of your computer screen.

When storing candles, wrap with wax paper. This way the colors from the candle will not bleed onto fabric or anything close by.

Wrap a sandwich with wax paper instead of a plastic baggy when packaging a bag lunch.

Wrap a gift with wax paper, add some ribbon and a bow. Watch video here.

Use wax paper when making candy, chocolate, cookies and more.  Lay some wax paper on the counter before rolling out cookie dough to make cleanup a breeze.

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• Is it dishwasher safe?
• Paperless Paper Towels….Save the trees

Do you sometimes wonder, can this go in the dishwasher?  I know that I have said that about things I have found around the house that may need a nice good washing.  I have two kids and they can get their toys and other items in the house pretty dirty.  They like to bring toys outside and leave them, they also like to grab items from around the house when they have food all over their hands and face.  And it is not only the kids that get stuff dirty around the house, my husband can come home from a day of fishing and need his entire outfit cleaned including his  Red Sox hat.

Because I have a family of four and a lot of bottles to clean, I run my dishwasher about once a day.  I also try to make sure that the dishwasher is as full as it can be each time so that I do not waste water and electricity.  I have been trying to find out what other items besides dishes can go into the dishwasher and I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of items that can actually be washed in a dishwasher.

I read that one woman spilled a whole cup of coffee on her keyboard, so she ran it in the dishwasher, let it dry and it is sparkling clean and works great.  I also read that a lot of people swear that the best place to wash a baseball hat is in the dishwasher on the top rack.  You can put most plastic non battery powered kids toys through the dishwasher.  You can also wash hairbrushes, cleaning brushes, plastic cutting boards, cup holders from your car, Crocs, plastic pen cups, plastic paper clip holders, plastic flowers, jelly jars, peanut butter jars, metal and or plastic dog/cat food and water bowls.

Believe it or not I have read that people have cooked salmon in the dishwasher!  They place a piece of salmon in tin foil with some spices, wrap, place near heat coil in dishwasher and wash.  Make sure that you are only washing the salmon, no dishes or soap!

Just be careful not to put everything in the dishwasher however, as some plastics will melt under high heat and some ceramics will crack.  Just use common sense and read labels.  There are several items that say “dishwasher safe” right on them and you may not even know it.

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• 10 Ways to save Energy for FREE
• Dishwashing Less>More

The other day I asked my brother Ryan to help install a new light fixture over my kitchen sink.  After he was done installing, I was put to the task of finding some light bulbs.  This light needed 3 light bulbs and I did not think anything of it at the time I purchased it, but 3 light bulbs put off a lot of light, especially in a small space.  As I handed Ryan the bulbs we began testing to see if we needed all 3, but with only 1 bulb in the light it looked weird because there were two empty slots.  Luckily Ryan came up with the ingenious idea of only screwing in 1 bulb all of the way and the other two part way.  This way when I turn the light on only one will work, and the light does not look like it is missing light bulbs.

I realized that this is a great way to save some money on the electric bill.  I did notice that my sister in law Hannah does this same thing with a light in her kitchen.  If you have any light bulbs in your home that do not really need to be screwed in all of the way, just unscrew just a tad and you can save some money on your electric bill too.  Also make sure to use compact fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent.  Just changing your light bulbs out for fluorescent ones will save you a bundle on your electric bill.

Just for fun, here are some light bulb jokes I found:

Q: How many recovering addicts does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: One, but it takes twelve steps.

Q: How many cops does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: None. It turns itself in.

Q: How many DIY’ers does it take to screw in a light bulb?
A: Only one, but it takes him two weekends and three trips to the hardware store.

Q: How many MAC owners does it take to change alight bulb?
A: Only one, but he’d have to go out and buy the light bulb adapter card first, which cost extra.

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• Save money…Replace your Light Bulbs
• 10 Ways to save Energy for FREE

With the current economic situation there is a real need to cut back on spending.  And although it may be hard to decide where to cut back, with so many local consignment shops on Cape Cod this may be one of the best ways.  I have been shopping at thrift shops for many years and I have to say that I actually enjoy it.  You never know what you are going to find and the selections are usually very good.  I find that prices, deals and specials are the best part of shopping at local consignment shops.

At most shops you will find that on specific days of the week there will be a price cut on certain items and this is a great way to save even more money.  I have even shopped at thrift shops while on vacation.  I was in Florida a couple years ago and I needed some summer baby clothes for my daughter so I searched for a local thrift shop and I found one that specialized in used baby clothes.  I found some really cut outfits and at some really great prices.  Last year I was in Florida again and I shopped at a local thrift store. I have also shopped at thrift shops in Northampton Mass and in Maine.  I am always in search of a great bargain and shopping at thrift shops seems to work very well.

I have found some great articles that feature information about Cape Cod consignment shops below:

The Savvy Thirfter

My Fair lady Vintage Clothing

Touring Local Consignment Shops

Consign Cape Cod

Cape Cod Online

Cape Cod Online

The Thrift Shopper

I have yet to find a listing of EVERY consignemt shop on the Cape, but as soon as I can compile a list, sorted by town, I will post about it.  Happy Shopping!

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• Shop Secondhand
• Tourist Coupon Books