Ice cream season is near… well, for some of you its already here! I am assuming all of you know what Friendly’s, but for those of you who don’t know… its an ice cream shop. With the secret address, you will be able to get $5 off a purchase of $25 or more whenever you go to Friendly’s and buy ice cream or food.

To save you a few seconds, here is their coupon disclaimer:

Limit one coupon per visit. Not valid when used with any other discount or promotional offer. Except where expressly permitted by law, resale of this coupon, including on Internet auction sites, is prohibited. Not redeemable for cash. Not valid towards the purchase of a gift card. Applicable sales taxes apply. Valid at participating Friendly’s Restaurants only.

Aside from that, go to:

http://www.friendlys.com/coupon/print/sweeps_coupon.aspx

Print out the coupon… spend $25 or more at Friendly’s, present the coupon… and get $5 off your purchase!

Note: This coupon link is dynamic! Meaning, every day you visit the coupon page, it will show you a new expiration date. (You will have one month to use the coupon from the time printed… but can always print another with a new expiration date!)

Did you know that the A23 Battery that cost about two dollars has eight 1.5 volt button cell batteries!? You can buy a single button cell battery for about 4 bucks! By buying “in bulk” and going with the A23 battery you get about $40 worth of batteries for only $2! Now thats a great deal!

Ever get hurt in a place where a regular icepack just wouldn’t stay on? So you had to buy one of those disposable ice packs? Well you can actually make your own reusable one cheaply using Dish Soap and a zip lock bag! Dish soap has a very low freezing point so it won’t get rock hard, meaning you can shape the bag to the injured spot to help it stay on and it will stay cold for a very long time! Just fill about 3/4 of a ziplock bag with dish soap and toss it in the freezer! You may want to put another bag around it to ensure no leakage.

I know its a bit early for this as I haven’t even started Christmas shopping yet(i normally wait until the 23rd). But for New Years make a reasonable and new resolution. Not only will this create a better place for future generations it will also give you a bigger wallet!

Stop paying for branded water!

Plastic is really not that reusable, and it produces toxic fumes when burned. Also the bottles have to travel hundreds of miles to get to you and after your done they travel even more to go away! Which emits a bunch of carbon and uses up gas. Buy yourself a water filter and thermos, and eliminate all the excess traveling and production of plastic.

Reduce amount of electricity used

Switch over to compact fluorescent light bulbs in your house, not only are they more eco friendly, but they will save you money on your electric bill too!

Try recharging your small devices via solar power, here are some back packs and bags that will charge those devices via solar power!

Stay Caffeinated, Without Emissions

When going out for coffee try to bring your own mug, not only will this reduce the amount of paper you discard but a lot of places will give a discount!

Try biking when possible

Reducing carbon is the “hip thing to do” if possible bike to the closer places you would normally drive to such as the grocery store. Not only is this green but you may find you can cancel your gym membership if all you do their is the cardio equipment.

If your destination is to far away try these to increase your gas mileage

Make sure your tires are at their optimal pressure and keep them there, this will increase your mileage by a few mpg

Replace the air filter in your car on a regular basis to increase the oxidation of your fuel which will in turn give it more bang for your buck.

Keep your appliances electrics use in check

Buy a power strip and plug you appliances(such as microwave, toaster, TV) into it. By turning off the strips power button you don’t waste any electricity keeping those devices idle like they would be plugged into an ordinary outlet.

Changing your oil is one of those regular maintenance tasks that needs to be done to your car fairly frequently. Overtime taking it to a place like Jiffy Lube will hurt your wallet and or bank account. It is much cheaper to change your own oil and it’s not even that difficult. Before getting started for the first time we recommend you do some more searching on google and read other articles as you want to make sure you understand every step. It is vitally important you let your car cool down for 5-6 hours before getting started oil can be very hot after a drive home from anywhere.

THINGS YOU NEED

• Ratchet sets
• Car jacks
• New Oil Filters
• Car manual
• Funnels
• Oil Drain pans
• Oil Filter wrenches
• Plastic Containers
• Jack stands
• Rubber gloves
• Socket sets
• 4 - 5 quarts motor oil
• Car Creepers
• Old rags

Preparation

1. Gather necessary tools and materials. If you plan to change your oil regularly, consider investing in jack stands, a socket set and an oil drain pan.
2. Run the car for 10 minutes before draining oil. Warm oil drains faster than cold oil. But it will be hot so be careful.
3. Park the car on a level surface, engage the parking brake and turn off the engine. If your car has a low clearance, raise it by driving it onto a ramp or by jacking it up and supporting it securely.
4. Pen the hood and place the new oil and funnel on top of the engine to ensure that you won’t forget to add oil afterwards.

Tips & Warnings

• • Consult your owner’s manual or an automotive parts specialist to find out the weight of oil and type of oil filter your car needs.
  • You’ll need the year, make, model and mileage of your car if you go to an auto parts store.
  • Make sure the car is securely supported before you crawl underneath.
  • You will need two jack stands to support the front of your car after jacking it up. Never get under a car that is supported only by 1 jack! A pair of jack stands costs less than $20.

Draining the Oil and Changing the Oil Filter

1. Crawl under the car once it is securely supported.
2. Locate the oil drain plug on the underside of the engine, usually near the front center of the car. Consult your owner’s manual for the exact location.
3. Place the oil drain pan under the plug and loosen the plug with a socket wrench. Remember: turn counterclockwise to remove bolts.
4. Remove the plug by hand. Be prepared for the rush of hot oil!
5. Let the oil drain into the pan. Hold onto the plug.
6. Reposition the pan, if necessary, to catch all the dripping oil.
7. Wipe off the drain plug and the plug opening when the oil finishes draining.
8. Replace the drain plug gasket.
9. Reinstall the plug. Always start threading any bolts or screws by hand to prevent cross threading.
10. Tighten with a wrench or socket. Be careful not to over-tighten the plug.
11. Locate the existing oil filter. Oil filters are usually on the side of the engine.
12. Position the oil pan underneath the filter to catch any remaining oil.
13. Use an adjustable oil filter wrench to unscrew the old oil filter.
14. Use a rag to wipe the area where the filter mounts to the engine. Make sure the rubber seal of the old filter is not stuck to the engine.
15. Use some new oil to lightly coat the rubber seal of the new filter.
16. Screw the new filter into place by hand. It’s usually not necessary to tighten the oil filter with the oil filter wrench, but have it at the ready if you’re grip’s not strong (or large) enough.

Tips & Warnings

• • Wear gloves to remove the plug if it’s hot.
  • It’s always best to replace the oil drain plug gasket.
  • Use the right size wrench or socket. Don’t use an adjustable wrench: you can strip the bolt.
  • Handle hot automotive oil with extreme care.
  • Be careful when removing the old oil filter. It’s full of oil.

Installing New Oil and Cleaning Up

1. Locate the oil filler cap on top of the engine. Remove it.
2. Place the funnel in the opening and pour in the new oil. Typically, you will use 4 to 5 quarts of oil. Check your manual for the correct oil capacity.
3. Replace the cap when you’re finished.
4. Run the engine for a minute, then check the dipstick. Add more oil if necessary.
5. Check the area around the oil drain plug and the filter for oil leaks. Tighten the plug or oil filter if you find leakage.
6. Use rags and newspapers to wipe away left over oil.
7. Pour the used oil into a plastic container after the used oil cools
8. Dispose the used oil properly: either bring it to a recycling center or an auto repair shop that can recycle it for you. **Don’t pour it down the sewer**

Tips & Warnings

• • Record the date and mileage after you change the oil so you will know when your car is due for another oil change. It helps to put a small sticker on your windshield to remind you.
  • Handle hot motor oil with extreme caution.
  • Only dispose of used motor oil and filters at authorized locations.

Christmas is literally right around the corner. Less than three weeks from now, the Holiday season will be over. If you haven’t hung up any Christmas decorations yet, now is the time! When you go to check if your lights are working this year and find some broken, Terry Ritter has the solution for you on fixing those Christmas lights.

The lights in these strings [Christmas lights] are basically in series, and any open connection, whether in a wire, at a socket, or even inside a bulb, will turn off that whole circuit. Normally the bulbs have a “shunt” which shorts the bulb when it experiences full line voltage. That leaves the bad bulb OFF, and the rest of that circuit ON, which shows which bulb to replace. Unfortunately, the shunt often fails to operate, and then an entire circuit is off.

Obviously, if the lights your trying to fix are 5 years old, its probably in your best interest to buy some new LED Christmas lights. If the lights your trying to fix are from last year, then you might want to do some diagnosing.

[Via Ciphers By Ritter]