Everyone's trying to save money these days! It's a tough proposition... It's just too easy to hemorrhage money on frivolous junk. So how do we baton down the hatches and enjoy the "the simple pleasures"; how do we have fun without breaking the bank? Here are some simple ideas:

• --Cook at home! This could save hundreds (thousands?) of dollars per year. Browse Penguin Cookbooks
  
• *Extra-thrifty tip: Cook double recipes and bring leftovers to work for lunch!
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• --Go to Free Local Events. Click here to search Penguin's author events in your area. 
• *Extra-thrifty tip: Many author events take place in a bookstore. Bring the kids and let them browse books with you! It's a fun, free way to keep kids entertained for hours (maybe just one hour) and increase their love of books at the same time.
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• --Give Yourself Spa Treatments at Home. Penguin's got a bunch of books on the best ways to pamper yourself without spending a ton!
  
• *Extra-thrifty tip: Make your own spa lotions and powders. Check out these recipes for spa-favorites from Time Out New York.
  
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• --Play Games. Find the best selection of game books here. 
• *Extra-thrifty tip: Copy each puzzle in the puzzle-book down by hand on extra napkins from fast-food restaurants so you can play each game over and over again. JUST KIDDING! Doing this would seriously violate our copyright, plus it's silly. Don't do it.
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• --Surf the Web. Read our award-winning blog. Ok, it's not an award-winning blog YET, but it did get mentioned in Galleycat. Check out our Amazing Podcasts and just browse our book pages - we have tons of excerpts, audio clips, videos and other great content to entertain you all day for free!  
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• --And, one of the best ways to entertain yourself without spending a ton of money (did you think I wouldn't be so obvious?), READ BOOKS!! You can read what everyone else is reading (Penguin Bestsellers) or read (and/or reread again!) the classics.

Posted by: Sarah Christensen Fu, Online Content Coordinator

 Sarah Christensen Fu, Penguin Bloggers, National Pie Day, Penguin Books