Contrary to popular thought, coupons are not just for grocery stores — you can use them at drug stores or even discount department stores!

This came to mind when my blog pal, Elisa, posted on her great site, Fairy Flutters, that she had visited Walmart yesterday. I pointed out in my comment that she can use coupons there. Yes, it’s true! Walmart will not double, but they do honor Internet coupons. I have scored some major deals that way, including Windex for 34 cents, Shout for 88 cents and Pledge for about $1.10.

You can find the weekly list of specials at Walmart and the corresponding cents-off at my favorite site, CouponMom.com.

But this is not only your savings opportunity, Couponmom also posts the weekly deals at drug stores, such as Rite Aid, Walgreens and CVS.

The latter has a great program in which you can earn money on your card that will net you additional discounts at checkout. My blog pal Traci at Couponbelle.com did a wonderful job of explaining the program in this post and in this post.

So keep learning and keep reaping those discounts!

I hadn’t made this chili for awhile but did so last week, and I forgot how good — and easy — it was! I would say the prep time is less than 30 minutes, and just 30 minutes of simmering.

I found it on one of my favorite sites, www.Allrecipes.com.

I like the recipe because it’s very pantry friendly and is conducive to substitutions. No ground turkey? Use ground beef. No salsa? Use canned, diced tomatoes and some green chilis, instead. No black beans? Use kidney beans.

Either way you make it, it’s good! I served leftovers to my friend Steve, and he said it had just the right amount of heat. For kids, you may want to cut the chili powder in half, though.

Try this recipe — it’s good and done in less than an hour. Serve with sour cream or cheese on top, and some cornbread on the side, and you’ve got a wonderful wintertime dinner.

Turkey and Bean Chili

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound ground turkey
1 large onion, chopped
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves, crushed
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 3/4 cups chicken broth (one can and a little water)
1 cup chunky salsa (fresh or jarred)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed/drained
1 (16 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained

Directions:

1. Heat the oil in a 4-quart saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the turkey, onion, chili powder, cumin, oregano, black pepper and garlic powder. Cook until turkey is well browned, stirring frequently to break up meat. Drain off fat.
2. Stir the broth, salsa, sugar, beans and corn into the saucepan. Heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to low.
3. Cover and cook for 30 minutes. Stir the chili occasionally while cooking.

I remembered this tip last night, when I needed to measure two tablespoons of water. Not an easy task, with the water from the faucet overflowing the spoon in short order.

So what I do is put the water or other liquid ingredient in a small Pyrex measuring cup, and then spoon out the liquid into the recipe. Perfect measurement every time, and no overflowing.

You can use this also for oil and other ingredients, and just pour the leftover amount right back into the bottle.

Hope you get to try it soon.

Recessed lighting is great in kitchen, baths and even living areas, but most people try not to turn it on because you have four to six bulbs burning at full power — and it’s bright!

But a cheap upgrade is to add a $3-$4 dimmer to the light switch, then you can control the brightness and instill some ambiance at the same time. This is especially helpful for those with large kitchens in which you often entertain. No need to make you or your guests feel as if they are in a work zone.

I love dimmers. In fact, I have them all over the house, and you need not use them just where you have recessed lighting.

I have those “movie star” band of light bulbs in both baths, but most of the time, I don’t need that level of brightness, so we installed a dimmer on the lights. This is great when you wake up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom, or just want to brush your teeth before going to bed.

The installation in either case is simple. Normally, you just need to cut the power in the area in which you are working, remove the old switch, and add in the dimmer. That’s it.

Try adding them in at your house. Oh, and they have an extra benefit — you use less energy and will also save on your utility bill!

Want to travel in luxury on a beer budget?

You have to use the great travel sites — Hotwire.com and Priceline.com.

This time I used Priceline (odd for me, because I like the more no-brainer aspect of Hotwire), but Hotwire was not doing anything for me on the deals we were offered — 2 star hotel in Hollywood for $58. Great deal, but I am a more 3+ star kinda guy.

Anyway, did my bidding on Priceline, and got the Kyoto Grand Hotel in downtown LA for $60 a night!

On Travelocity, they wanted $139 a night for the same room! Love getting those bargains!

If you want to learn the tricks for knowing ahead of time an idea of what you’re going to get and how to use these services, look at this great web site BiddingforTravel.com. It will give you all the in’s and outs.

Just wanted to pass these tips along.

I just came across this video of Rachael Ray on a great new blog called “FoodNetworkHumor.com” and I just had to share.

There are so many comments that come to mind, but I’ll let the video stand by itself.

Rachael Ray Corn Porn

I don’t know about you, but I want a cigarette now.

Before you order anything online, I highly recommend that you search for coupon codes — they are free money!

I am planning a trip to Los Angeles in February on Amtrak, and searched “Amtrak” on the sites I mentioned in this post and in this post.

None there worked or applied, but then I just Googled “Amtrak coupon codes,” and found a deal in which if I referred a friend who traveled in the next 90 days and signed up for the Rewards program, they got 500 points and I got 500 bonus points.

Well, guess what? My friend Liz is traveling with me, so I sent her the email to sign up.

To go to LA free, it’s only 1000 points, and I already have 2,050, so when Liz signs up, I am halfway to another free trip (and when I book, I get another 200 points, so that means I am three-quarters to another free trip!)

This is free money for a little online time.

So check for coupon codes before you purchase anything online.

Thank you all for your patience this week as I help my best friend Annamarie through the loss of her fiance. The memorial service is Saturday, followed by a reception at a local golf club.

It’s been eye-opening to me in watching Annamarie get through this difficult time, because I have learned what someone really needs in these situations. I hope you remember these tips when you next encounter this situation.

So, let me give you some “do’s”

I hope these suggestions don’t sound too preachy, but they have been so eye-opening to me. Hope they help when you’re faced with the same unfortunate circumstances.

The post about Ina Garten’s great new “barn” brought to mind what I think is the best decorating magazine out there — and I am including a deal at only $10 for a year!

Let me tell you, I have subscribed and read ‘em all — Martha Stewart Living, House and Garden, Better Homes and Gardens, Architectural Digest, etc. But I can wholeheartedly say that House Beautiful is the one magazine from which I learn the most, glean the most ideas, and truly enjoy receiving every month.

Now, I am not making a dime, here. This is a true recommendation.

Even though House Beautiful often showcases homes in posh areas, you can learn so much — color, accessorizing, ideas, and truly great interviews with the designers.

I’m not saying I agree with all the decorators — and there are truly homes I look at and say, “I could never live there,” but in every issue there is at least one that strikes my fancy and provides inspiration. Even with designer furniture, you can see the “in” shapes and colors that you can replicate for a fraction of the cost. I always like, too, to see how they put things on tables, mantles, etc. (And of course, it has a monthly column by my favorite, Ina Garten, with a dish to make — or at least drool over.)

So with that recommendation, I can say you can receive this great magazine for 83 cents a month for one year. Here is the link to subscribe. I signed up for the 2 year subscription for $15 about 16 months ago, and I am glad I did. Next I will sign up for 3 years for $20.

Honestly, this is the only magazine I pay for nowadays, and I’m glad I do.

Ina Garten — better known as the Barefoot Contessa on Food Network — recently put up a new “barn” on her Hamptons estate in which to film her show (it previously had been shot in her kitchen).

The place is gorgeous, and I thought we deserved an “ahh” break just to “look at pretty,” as my Mom says.

So enjoy the tour by clicking this link.