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It Just Makes Cents -- a money-minded column to share tips, helpful Web sites and Internet deals. We'll find ways to stretch your dollars, methods for trimming your spending and my favorite ... free stuff!

Tips

Here are some tips to make your grocery dollars stretch a bit further.

* Shop for whole foods without using your whole paycheck. Choose fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables, dried beans, dairy and meats in your cart rather than boxed, processed foods.

* Avoid pre-cut fruit which costs far more per ounce and stock up on whole frozen chickens when they're on sale to toss in your crock pot, rather than buying expensive pre-cut packages.

* Check the shelf label for unit price comparisons. Logically, the largest container should be the cheapest, but that's not always the case. Compare ounces to ounces to determine the best deal.

* Take some time to plan a weekly menu using items you already have on hand and incorporate sale items into your meals.

* Bring your own reusable cloth bags to limit use of plastic bags. Smith's gives you five points of credit on your shopper's card for each bag you bring. I found green mesh drawstring bags in the automotive department at Walmart to substitute for plastic produce bags. It just makes cents not to use a plastic produce bag for the drive home and then throw it away.

What about your tips for the grocery store? How do you cut costs and trim spending? E-mail your tips to jbeaudoin@pvtimes.com.

Web site

Need to know how to fold a fitted sheet? Cut a mango? Fold a fancy napkin?

Check out RealSimple.com, a Web site dedicated to making life easier.

Type "how to" in the search field to find dozens of short videos, along with written instructions to make everyday tasks real simple.

Totally Free in Pahrump

Home Depot offers a kids' craft workshop on the first Saturday of every month. This month's project is a wooden hardware sorter.

Stop by Home Depot June 6 between 9 a.m. and noon to participate in this totally free event.

Designed with kids 5-12 in mind, each participant receives an orange kid-sized apron and an achievement pin.

Money Quote

"The art is not in making money, but in keeping it." -- Anonymous

Reader's Tip

Here's a helpful tip about using rechargeable batteries (instead of disposable alkaline) from PVT reader Theresa Hall:

"In addition to size AA and AAA, rechargeable batteries are the only power source in countless cordless electronics such as laptops, cell phones, cordless phones, digital cameras, camcorders, power tools, cordless lawn equipment, cordless vacuums, electric toothbrushes, electric razors, two-way radios, just to name a few.

These batteries can be charged up to 1,000 times and last between two to five years.

When they can no longer hold a proper charge, all these rechargeable batteries can be 100 percent recycled for free through www.call2recycle.org. Type in your zip code to find convenient neighborhood drop off locations.

Have any ideas you can share with the community? Do you know an activity in Pahrump that will entertain, but not break the bank? How about a Web site you've found with cool tips and tricks? Submit your suggestions by e-mailing jbeaudodin@pvtimes.com. Your ideas and tips can help us all save a buck or two.