Tell us how you add your personal touch on a dime for a chance to win $500!

I like to look at clearance items and good sales. I also shop at thrift stores, I can always find some great clothes for super cheap!

I love shopping at thrift stores and yard sales to find unusual things. I also love making my own jewelry. I am an avid coupon user too. I sort of have an eclectic world traveler (that has never left the US), bohemian artist kinda look.

Even though my husband hates it, I am always trying to throw in my vintage touch to everything. I am trying to get him to help me paint and redecorate our entrance way because it is so blah now.
From little necklaces to craft projects, I always want it to be unique. Something you don't see everyday or anyplace else.

The Goodwill has so much unique stuff, and usually for a decent price (not always though!). Plus, students get a 20% discount on Wednesdays, which means more dimes for me!

I visit thrift stores to find one-of-a-kind pieces that fit my personality!

I try to avoid last minute shopping that can cost more money for the things I buy for myself and for others as gifts. I also have more time that way to buy more personal items and take advantage of sales! Thanks! senekers@comcast.net

I like to make cards to give a personal touch.

I had my personal touch buy buying items that I like that are sale or for clothes that are on the off season. I'm not into brand names, if it looks good that's all that matters.

i love to look up recipes and try to make my favorite foods, it really saves a lot!

I also use lots of coupons, and not only the traditional Sunday inserts; there are numerous online websites where you can print coupons and the manufacturers website will, most likely, have additional coupons.

When going out to eat, try and see if the establishment is on restaurant.com. When they have an 80 percent sale, which is almost every week, you can get a $25 certificate for $2! Some restrictions apply, but this is still a great deal. This way you can try new places without regretting it too much if it's really bad.

Color in my life is my way of adding my personal touch to things. I like to express myself through the use of color. I like bright colors to make me feel good.

Okay, it seems obvious, but I am a big fan of coupons and coupon codes. Online, before I make a purchase, I ALWAYS search the internet to see if their is discount code that I can apply to my stylish purchase.

Your attitude is the best way to add your unique touch to anything!

There are so many ways to add a personal touch without it costing very much, if you are clever! My personal fave is to find special treasures on ebay, sometimes you can get the best stuff for almost free! I also love Amazon for saving money :D

justine417@comcast.net

I love to cook and bake and find cook books and try them out but instead of sticking to the exact recipe I like to look at it and then change it up a bit to make it my own.

I shop consignments shops and yard sales. You can find great accessories!

I ADD MY PERSONAL TOUCH BY ADDING THE PHRASE " WOULD YOU LIKE FRIES WITH THAT " TO WHOMEVER I'M SPEAKING...MAKE'S NO DIFFERENCE IF IT'S POLITICS, ENVIRONMENT, INVESTING-
WHATEVER !

I get great belts, jewelry and handbags from our local thrift store. It's huge and you wouldn't believe the great name-brand finds they have.

Everything I buy reflects my personality - I know for a fact that you can be chic on a budget, so that doesn't hold my style back! For example, I once found a slew of cute cocktail dresses on clearance at Ross for .50 cents.

i add my touch to my yard i love gardening and i have so man perennials around my yard that it just looks and smells so beautiful..i love just sitting out there with a fresh brewed cup of coffee :)

I try to add my personal touch with things we make at home, which is also fun for the kids

I belive in shopping at discounters like Marshalls and TJ Maxx and always scan the sales rack.

Most things in my home are hand made or passed down through the family. I've also done a lot of shopping at auctions especially estate sales. I love older furniture and have found some great bargains. I got a beautiful 3 piece maple bedroom set for $75 by waiting until the last day of an estate sale.

I bring baked items to gatherings of friends. I get to enoy the sweet without putting the whole dessert onto my hips.
MJ is a contributing author at www.cheepchix.com ( http://www.cheepchix.com ) updated every Monday

I buy simple clothes that last you can't go wrong with jean and I love tees long and short.you can change it up by different colors.I save a lot of money and look for sales!
tishajean@charter.net

my local consignment stores. I always find great bargains.

I go through photos (old and new) and making gifts for my family and friends by using a site like Snapfish and printing a book, mug, calendar, etc. They often have sales and free shipping, so it is inexpensive and meaningful.

I add color by crafting! I literally add color with spray paint (it helps nearly everything!) :)

www.dollarstorecrafts.com ( http://www.dollarstorecrafts.com )

www.croqzine.com/blog ( http://www.croqzine.com/blog )

I use coupons when I shop for everything. Clothing coupons, dining out coupons and of course grocery coupons. We choose our places to shop and dine by the coupons that we have.

touch by being an individual. i do not follow the crowd. i do what i think is cool.

I love garage sales and like to look for gently used home decor items to personalize our living space

My husband and I are both voracious readers, and have the personal library to prove it. After I left my full-time corporate job several years ago to work for myself, we revised our budget, including what we'd spend on books. Now, our local library is our first recourse. We pay regular visits to a favorite used-book shop, and shop our annual library book sale. We're still big readers, but we're spending much less.

I like to give gifts that include personalized awards. I spraypainted a clothes hanger gold, glued it to a painted board and labeled it the Golden Hanger Award for Excellence in Shopping. My sister got that.

Hobby Lobby has the best 80% off items on home deco items.... I just bought a house can not wait to start putting things up on the wall

I stretch the food budget by making a huge pot of Chili. I freeze half of it in individual containers, lable them for what to use it in, and I can make chili dogs, taco salads , or add pasta and you have goulash! Cooking from scratch may take more effort, but the savings will be worth it.

I am a dedicated thrift and garage sale shopper. I have found almost all my household needs from small appliances to bedroom furniture for pennies on the dollar. Love a bargain!
carolmathesen@gmail.com

apologies somehow this double posted, my comment is just above- editing this to be blank.

I get together with friends & swap unused or lightly used samples, clothing & whatnots from around the house. I also decorate a lot by using thrift store frames & vintage fabrics- often just a touch here or there, but using an unexpected item in a new way can lend an element of surprise. For example I found a fabulous blue lamp & added a red Chinese lantern to it rather than the fuddy duddy shade it came with & it was a knockout! Also ebay or craigslist are great resources, particularly if YOU first use them to declutter! :D

I shop at places like Homegoods, Overstock.com and Smartbargains. We are also lucky to have several outlet malls and furniture outlets in our area.

For my wardrobe, I shop the sales and always see if there are coupon codes availabe.

I buy on sale, clearance and use coupons.

I love clearance racks, but am choosier than I used to be; trying to stick with classics and things comfortable. Comfort is more and more important the older I get.

Coupons are my best friends. I also look for things I want in magazines and then look for a cheaper alternative. And I only buy things on sale.

Ok, so this is when having 2 sisters comes in handy. We borrow clothes from each other, even in out late 30s and we alert each other of sales and special clearances.

I love to shop at flea markets, thrift stores and garage sales. It pays to scout around to recycle someone else's unwanted item - and I love to turn it into something stylish and useful.

in stead of buying some items new I have been getting recycled items through a local FreeCycle group. I post for what I would like and post with items to give away. Great way to save money and give new life to items that might have landed up in a landfill

I shop frugally at clearance sales for clothing etc... ALso like the yard sales for great deals

ardy22 at earthlink dot net

I add my personal touch frugally by shopping clearance sales and also go to yard sales on the weekends to find great deals

ardy22 at earthlink dot net

I live by the "Will I regret it?" rule. When I look at something I'm interested in purchasing, I say to myself, "Will I regret NOT purchasing this item in a day? A week? A month? A year?" if the answer is yes, then I purchase the item, but if the answer is no, then I walk away. Sometimes, I do regret walking away... so I walk right back! This way I don't waste money on impulse purchases, but rather only buy items that are essential to my sense of style.

i love the color purple and i try to add it to everything when i can.