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At Home Rewards (SM), a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC®, offers members valuable advice on keeping a well-stocked pantry.

Storing a large supply of items that are most commonly consumed means fewer last-minute runs to the grocery store. With rising gas prices, even short driving trips can put a dent in the family's bottom line. By organizing the pantry and becoming more aware of what's most often consumed, unnecessary (and costly) driving can be avoided. Additionally, knowing what food items are on hand, may allow for more leisurely meal preparation.

Diet and personal tastes vary, so begin by making a list of a dozen or so items that disappear quickly at home. Depending on whether the family includes health nuts, meat-and-potatoes lovers or something in between, the list may look like this:

- Butter
- Cheese
- Peanut butter
- Eggs
- Bread
- Milk
- Staple fruits, like bananas, apples and oranges
- Staple vegetables, like carrots, potatoes, salad greens, onions and tomatoes
- Yogurt
- Cooking oils, like olive oil and canola oil
- Snacks, like nuts, pretzels or chips
- Chicken

Some of the foods listed above may need to be replenished more frequently than others. Becoming aware of the family's "dirty dozen" and stocking up when the timing's right will provide greater flexibility in menu planning -- without having to make repeated runs to the store or ordering take-out.

For the super-organized, type up the final version, and then make multiple copies. Each week, attach a copy to the front of the fridge, and simply circle those items that need replenishing, suggests AtHomeRewards. Here are a few suggestions for how to best stay organized:

-- Make a list. It may be helpful to expand the list and organize items by category, such as "spices," "condiments," "refrigerator items," "freezer items" and "fresh."

-- Maximize savings. Register to receive the grocery store's weekly online sales circular so as to plan ahead and take advantage of advertised sales, which tend to occur at regular intervals for certain items. Save coupons for use during an advertised special to double the savings. And buy in bulk when the price is right.

-- Prolong the life of groceries. Pay attention to "sell-by" and "use-by" dates. Select items that are marked with longer expiration dates whenever possible.

-- Keep things as cool as the other side of the pillow. Most food items, even those not requiring refrigeration, do best in a cool, dry place. Extreme high temperatures can shorten the lifespan and lessen the nutritional quality.

At Home Rewards is all about giving its members useful advice for getting the most out of life. Whether the topic is home maintenance, budgeting, cooking, decorating or home entertainment, just ask the home care experts from At Home Rewards.

Block parties are a great way to tighten the bonds of the community and create memories for children and adults alike. Home Savings Mall (SM), a leading discount membership program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, reports that throwing a block party is not as hard and complicated as people might think. It requires planning and teamwork, but with those two elements, half of the work is completed.

"Planning" is the key word for a successful block party. One person can act as the "supervising leader," while other neighbors take care of specific tasks, such as "food commissioner" or "entertainment chief", etc. The goal is to have people handle tasks they know or like, so they can enjoy the planning process and willingly cooperate when needed.

Plan a block party that everyone will remember, and have fun while doing so, with these practical recommendations brought to you by Home Savings Mall:

-- Set the date. Saturdays are the ideal day of the week, and the following Sunday could be the perfect rain date. Some experts recommend having the party just before or during the first or last week of school, when most of the families aren't out of town on a summer vacation. Others recommend scheduling the event to coincide with a national holiday, when everyone is in a festive mood. One block party a year is the ideal frequency.

-- Get the permits. Permits aren't needed if the block party will be held in different backyards of the street, but if the plan is to block off the street, permits are necessary. Visit the town hall or contact the local police to find out all the requirements. Usually, once the permit is granted, the block party can be held at the same location every year. Remember that the organizers are responsible for setting up and taking down the barricades and for all security measures.

-- Delegate responsibilities. Recruit old and new neighbors (a great way to break the ice), and create task forces of three or four people per activity. There should be a group of people working on each of these areas: food and beverages, entertainment, logistics and advertising. (The last group can also be in charge of getting sponsors for food or entertainment activities, such as a music band, bounce houses, etc.)

-- Set up and take down. People usually forget these two pieces of the puzzle, which are vital to the success of any block party. Trash receptacles should be placed all over the area of the party to make the clean-up process much easier. Other important tasks to keep in mind are traffic logistics and the control of the distribution of alcoholic beverages.

Block parties are a bigger success when the entire neighborhood participates. Send invitations, get people excited, and be sure to look for ways to save on party items, suggests Home Savings Mall.

High gas prices are only one of the many symptoms of the tough economic climate the country is facing. With energy, food, and healthcare prices all on the rise and salaries basically stagnant or rising at less than the inflation rate, many families are feeling the stress. With all these families in mind, Adaptive Marketing LLC^® has created Home Savings Mall (SM), a new discount program that allows members to save up to 30% on home and auto needs.

Members can take advantage of the discount benefits of HomeSavingsMall to cut costs on everyday needs from the family, from new bedding for the kids' room to new storage items for the garage or decorations for the next family gathering.

Lawn care maintenance, for instance, is one addition to the list of household expenses during the upcoming summer season. Families can rely on Home Savings Mall to save money on those needs or on previously planned summer projects, even in the face of higher prices. Some useful money-savings tips to keep in mind this summer are:

-- Lawn maintenance. With gas prices expected to continue soaring this summer, just filling up the lawnmower every two or three weeks will put a little bigger dent in the household budget. Finding ways to save money on motor oil, lawnmower blades and repair work -- even bags or tarps to haul away grass clippings -- can help offset the rising fuel costs.

-- Air conditioners. Before running out to buy a new window air-conditioning unit, check and rinse the filters. Clean them well, put them back in place, and try them out for a few days. Do the same with the filters on central air-conditioning systems.

-- Beautifying projects. Paint is a powerful tool to revamp the look of the house, inside and out, without breaking the bank. Add a fresh coat of paint to the window frames and the main door, using the same color or a totally different one, for a fresh and renovated look.

-- Deck protection. The beginning of summer is the perfect time to clean, repair and reseal an outdoor deck. Sweep the entire deck, and remove the stains and mildew accumulated during the winter. Then check for wobbly or broken rails or for popped nails in the surface, and make all minor repairs yourself. Do a thorough cleaning to save some money on staining chemicals, but make sure to apply a coat of quality sealer, one that will protect the deck all the way until next summer.

Consumers can enjoy significant, year-round savings and tips on decorating, remodeling needs, home improvement and much more for any room of the house. Savings are always welcomed, especially when the entire family can enjoy the benefits of the discounts, reports Home Savings Mall.

SavingSmart (SM), a premier membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, shares Americans' concerns about rising food prices. Here are 10 strategies to help families save money when grocery shopping.

1. Factor in gas when chasing sales

It may not make sense to drive to multiple stores each week for different sale items if the money spent on gas exceeds grocery savings.

2. Don't be store-loyal

Supermarkets aren't the only retailers selling groceries these days, notes AP9*SavingSmart. Many big-box stores, drug stores, warehouse clubs, discount supermarkets and even well-known online retailers offer groceries, household cleaning supplies and personal care items.

3. Sign up for email sale circulars

Sign up for supermarket email circulars containing each week's sale items to help plan ahead, advises SavingSmart. Signing up for more than one can help organize supermarket runs, based on which store is offering the best sales. Try to organize the family's weekly menu based on what's on sale that week. Use coupons, which most supermarkets double, to coincide with a sale and save even more.

4. Compare prices by unit costs

Always compare prices by the unit cost, which is based on the cost of the item per ounce, quarter, gallon or pound, not the item cost. This can help shoppers determine what size package offers the greatest cost savings. Larger quantities don't always offer the best prices.

5. Store brands rule

Store brands are less expensive than name brands, and there is no difference in quality.

6. Buy in bulk

Most discounted items go on sale in regular 10 or 12-week cycles, says Saving Smart. Stock up on items the family regularly consumes. Remember that many items, like milk, orange juice or bread, freeze well.

7. Go vegetarian

Consider replacing red meat in at least some meals with a less expensive (and more healthy) source of protein, such as beans, suggests AP9 SavingSmart. Free online recipe sites like http://www.recipezaar.com offer plenty of meal ideas. When choosing red meat, save money by buying cheaper, less tender cuts of beef, such as round, chuck and shoulder, and use the pressure cooker or slow cooker to make an equally delicious meal.

8. Stay in season

Never buy fresh fruits and vegetables out of season, when they're priced highest.

9. End aisles

Pay attention to the supermarket end aisles, where sale items are usually placed.

10. Look up; look down

Trying to rush in and out of the store means overlooking the best deals, so take the time to compare prices. The brands that dominate the market are placed at eye level; look at the top and bottom shelves for lesser known but more affordable brands, suggests SavingSmart.

As the organic food trend grows stronger worldwide, more people have decided to grow their own produce at home. Edible flowers, vegetables, fruits and herbs are among the favorites. At Home Rewards (SM), a leading discount membership program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC^®, reports that although herb gardening is less complicated than flower or vegetable gardening, there's still a learning curve.

Herb gardening is a good way for non-experts to start a garden, whether in a yard or in pots placed on a sunny windowsill. Selecting which herbs to grow is the first step, one that should be taken seriously. The garden should be composed by easy-to-grow herbs that can also serve as a complement for the dishes prepared at home. Pizza lovers will pick basil, parsley is a favorite of Italian dishes fans, and those who go for Mexican or Indian cuisine will choose cilantro first and foremost.

Once the herb choices are made, what's next? AtHomeRewards has put together a simple list of tips to have in mind before and during the growing process at home:

-- The beginning. Visit the local garden store or the closest nursery to find seedlings or seeds of the herbs you've chosen. Try your luck with two or three different kinds.

-- Initial treatment. Soak seeds in water prior to planting them in the soil. Another trick is to place them between wet paper towels and into plastic bags for at least four hours.

-- Well-grounded. Make sure to get the best potting soil, perlite and peat moss. A good potting mix is one that allows for fast draining, because all herbs need a well-drained soil.

-- A place to grow. Purchase clay or plastic window boxes or pots, and look around the house for containers you can recycle as pots. Clay pots are recommended because they provide better air circulation for the roots. Those who might forget to water the herbs frequently should pick plastic, metal or ceramic containers.

-- Let it drain. As important as the material of the pot is the drainage it provides. Herbs need a lot of water and a drainage hole for the moisture to escape as needed.

-- Enough sunlight. Indoor herbs need five to six hours of direct sun each day. Some expert gardeners recommend placing the pots on top of the refrigerator while the seeds sprout, then moving them to a sunnier spot once they have germinated.

-- Ideal pH. Measuring the pH of an herb garden sounds more complicated than it is. Hardware stores carry easy-to-use pH and fertility testing kits for beginners and experts. 6.5 is the ideal pH of the soil, which is slightly acidic.

-- Dry and use. The leaves have the best flavor, so it's recommended to remove them from the stem before drying. This will avoid later contamination of the flavor and aroma. Rinse them in cold water, and let them air-dry in a cool spot (two weeks for drier climates, three to four for humid areas).

Herbs make a healthy and flavorful addition to cooking and also serve medicinal and aromatherapy purposes, concludes At Home Rewards.