It has become something of a main-stay for video gamers to be rewarded for plunking down their hard-earned money well before release date of a major game. But, with so many businesses now doing preorder, who has the best deal?

Well, welcome to the new monthly special here at Frugally Fabuloso. I will endeavour, each month, to list out what games are released for the month, how much and what deals everyone has going on for preorder. I will be listing the games by release date, then alphabetically by both name and console. Let's get started shall we?

Legend
* = Earn rewards with this purchase. See store website for details.
Red = Best deal
Italic = Best price


Divinity II: Dragon Knight Saga - 4/12/2011
Amazon Promo & Price (new): $38.99 (console) $39.95 (PC)
PC - No preorder bonus as this is available now for instant download.
Xbox 360 - A free soundtrack CD featuring selections from the game's rousing musical score and a 52-page Exclusive Art Book.
CD Universe Promo & Price (new): $38.95
Xbox 360 - Soundtrack CD.

Gamestop Promo & Price (new): $39.99* (both PC & Xbox 360)
PC - No preorder bonus
Xbox 360 - A free soundtrack CD featuring selections from the game's rousing musical score and a 52-page Exclusive Art Book.

Kmart Promo & Price new): $39.99*
Xbox 360 - Soundtrack CD.
Toys R Us Promo & Price (new): $39.99*
Xbox 360 - Soundtrack CD.
Walmart Promo & Price (new): $39.96
Xbox 360 - Soundtrack CD.

Mortal Kombat - 4/19/2011

Amazon Promo & Price (new): $59.99

PS3 - $10 Amazon account credit; Klassic Reptile Playable Character Skin and the original Reptile Fatality; credit toward the rental of "Mortal Kombat" the movie.

Xbox 360 - $10 Amazon account credit; Klassic Reptile Playable Character Skin and the original Reptile Fatality; credit toward the rental of "Mortal Kombat" the movie.

Best Buy Promo & Price (new): $59.99*
PS3 - In-game character, Sub-Zero.
Xbox 360 - In-game character, Sub-Zero.
Gamestop Promo & Price (new): $59.99*
PS3 - Klassic Scorpion Playable Character Skin and the original Scorpion Fatality; Mortal Kombat Widget.
Xbox 360 - Klassic Scorpion Playable Character Skin and the original Scorpion Fatality; Mortal Kombat Widget.
Kmart Promo & Price (new): $59.99*
No promotions.
Target Promo & Price (new): $59.99
No promotions with preorder.
Toys R Us Promo & Price (new): $59.99*
PS3 - Kitana Classic Character Costume.
Xbox 360 - Kitana Classic Character Costume.
Walmart Promo & Price (new): $59.96
PS3 - $10 Walmart/Sam's Club eGift Card; Molina playable character.
Xbox 360 - $10 Walmart/Sam's Club eGift Card; Molina playable character.

Mortal Kombat Kollector's Edition - 4/19/2011

Amazon Promo & Price (new): $99.99

PS3 - Klassic Reptile Playable Character Skin and the original Reptile Fatality; credit toward the rental of "Mortal Kombat" the movie.

Xbox 360 - Klassic Reptile Playable Character Skin and the original Reptile Fatality; credit toward the rental of "Mortal Kombat" the movie.

Best Buy Promo & Price (new): $99.99*
No promotions.
Gamestop Promo & Price (new): $99.99*
PS3 - Klassic Scorpion Playable Character Skin and the original Scorpion Fatality; Mortal Kombat Widget.
Xbox 360 - Klassic Scorpion Playable Character Skin and the original Scorpion Fatality; Mortal Kombat Widget.
Kmart Promo & Price (new): $99.99*
No promotions
Target Promo & Price (new): $99.99
No promotions with preorder.
Walmart Promo & Price (new): $99.96
No promotions.

Mortal Kombat: Tournament Edition - 4/19/2011

Amazon Promo & Price (new): $149.99

PS3 - N/A

Xbox 360 - Klassic Reptile Playable Character Skin and the original Reptile Fatality; credit toward the rental of "Mortal Kombat" the movie.

Best Buy Promo & Price (new): $149.99*
No promotions with preorder.
Kmart Promo & Price (new): $149.99*
No promotions.
Target Promo & Price (new): $149.99
No promotions with preorder.
Walmart Promo & Price (new): $149.96
PS3 - Molina playable character.
Xbox 360 - Molina playable character.

Portal 2 - 4/19/2011

Amazon Promo & Price (new): $44.99 (PC/Mac) $54.99 (console)

PC & Mac - $5 off preorder (regular $49.99)

PS3 - $20 Amazon account credit; $5 off preorder (regular $59.99).

Xbox 360 - $20 Amazon account credit; $5 off preorder (regular $59.99).

Best Buy Promo & Price: $44.99* (PC/Mac) $54.99* (console)
PC & Mac - Save $5 by preordering (regular $49.99)
PS3 - $5 off preorder (regular $59.99)
Xbox 360 - $5 off preorder (regular $59.99)

Gamestop Promo & Price (new): $44.99* (PC/Mac) $54.99* (console) (reserve online prices only)

PC & Mac - Customized skins for the co-op bots Atlas and P-body; custom Bots & custom skins for Atlus and P-body, exclusive for co-op play.

PS3 - Customized skins for the co-op bots Atlas and P-body; custom Bots & custom skins for Atlus and P-body, exclusive for co-op play.

Xbox 360 - Customized skins for the co-op bots Atlas and P-body; custom Bots & custom skins for Atlus and P-body, exclusive for co-op play.

Kmart Promo & Price (new): $49.99* (PC/Mac) $59.99* (console)
No promotions.
Target Promo & Price (new): $49.99 (PC/Mac) $59.99 (console)
No promotions.
Toys R Us Promo & Price (new): $49.99*
No promotions.
Walmart Promo & Price (new): $49.96 (PC/Mac) $54.96 (console)
PC & Mac - N/A
PS3 - $20 Walmart.com eGift Card.
Xbox 360 - $20 Walmart.com eGift Card

SOCOM 4: U.S. Navy Seals - 4/19/2011

Amazon Promo & Price (new): $57.99

PS3 - $10 Amazon account credit; in-game SU90-S Shotgun.

Best Buy Promo & Price (new): $59.99*
PS3 - Says there is a special offer but couldn't find the special offer. Be wary!
Gamestop Promo & Price (new): $59.99*
PS3 - In-game SU90-S Shotgun and Abandoned Map.
Kmart Promo & price (new): $59.99*
No promotions.
Target Promo & Price (new): 59.99
No promotions.
Toys R Us Promo & Price (new): $49.99*
No promotions.

Socom 4: U.S. Navy SEAL's Full Deployment Edition - 4/19/2011
Amazon Promo & Price (new): $149.99
PS3 - In-game SU90-S Shotgun.
Best Buy Promo & Price (new): $149.99*
PS3 - N/A

Gamestop Promo & Price (new): $149.99*

PS3 - In-game SU90-S Shotgun and Abandoned Map.

Darkspore Limited Edition - 4/26/2011
Amazon Promo & Price (new): $49.99
PC - N/A
Best Buy Promo & Price (new): $49.99*
PC - N/A

Gamestop Promo & Price (new): $49.99*

PC - Armor pack with three stat boosting items.

Walmart Promo & Price (new): $49.96
PC and Mac - N/A
Note: Walmart is offering Darkspore & Spore Promotion Bundle for $79.96.

There is something special about eating the fruits, and vegetables, of your labors. With Spring officially here, despite adverse weather conditions, now is the time to get your seeds going and I am going to show you how.

First of all get some scratch paper. I use the unprinted side of paper. Now, do a rough drawing of the area you have designated to your gardening efforts. For me, I am going to have a 1st produce garden and then around back, a 2nd produce garden. Plus lining the back of my long home will be a few of the bigger plants, an area on the front of my home for herbs as well as 3 areas up front for flowers and other pretty things. I love living more rural in a bigger plot of property!

You can do your sketches to accurate measurements something that might be useful if this is your first time growing certain plants. I however am aware of my plants' specs. Example, I know my blood red corn needs to be planted in a double row so they can easy cross pollinate each other.

Now, somewhere on that paper in some spare space, write down all the things you want to grow. You will quickly see that what you want and what you have room for plus can physically tend to are very different. Now is your first pruning. Remove from the list things you can live without. If you are a little new to gardening, try sticking with the tried and true easy to grow things such as melons and squashes. I still grow these things. Yummy scrummy!

Once you have figured out what you want to grow and using the internet have figured out if you have enough room for it all (growing space etc.) now is the time to get your seeds.

For me, I get seeds from produce (grocery store or previously grown items) as well as buying seed packets.

This year I am growing:
Herbs
Chives 3
Oregano 2
Sweet Basil 1
Cilantro 1
Dill 1

Flowers
Marigolds (natural pest repellent) 10
Snap Dragons 4
Miniature Lilies 3
Bachelor Buttons 3
Morning Glory (pink to go around porch posts and tree) 4
Morning Glory (purple to go around porch posts & tree) 4
Miniature Roses 3

Vegetables
Turnip 4
Summer Squash 3
Butternut Squash 3
Black Squash 3
Summer Squash 3
Sweet Corn 8
Jack-O'-Lantern 1
Sugar Pumpkin 1
Onion (natural pest repellent) 14
Cherry Tomatoes 2
Variety bell peppers 3

Fruit
Honeydew
Strawberries

Now, this all sounds like a lot. But, I assure you I am not growing a full crop of each one. See the number after the name of the item? That is how many, in total, I am growing. I made the mistake last year of forgetting how prolific squashes were so I have cut back.

With all that done, we get onto the actual quick germinating of seeds, the fun part. So, grab some plasticware (metal is not good for this) that you won't be needing for a few weeks and a stack of paper towels/paper napkins/recycled disposable paper.

Step 1
Ensuring your plasticware is clean and dry, grab your paper towel and wet it. I find folding it down into a 3x3 square then wetting it helps.

Step 2
This is so important-SQUEEZE the extra water out of your paper towel. You are going for a damp paper product. Not wet. Don't want to rot your poor seedlings.

Step 3
Gently open the damp paper towel up and then place down into the bottom of your plasticware. Doesn't matter if the damp paper towel goes up the sides or they overlap, we are looking for a total bottom covered.

Step 4
Dry your hands and then get a hold of your seeds. Place then onto the bottom of the container, on top of the damp paper towels. Be sure to give them a few inches around of space for when they sprout so they have room. Also, add one more seed if you are unsure of the validity of your seeds. Sometimes seeds are dead and will not germinate, this will ensure you get the number you want.

Step 5
Label each seed section. I use regular sticky tape that I write on with a permanent marker so I can remove the label when I am done germinating. See the pretty picture below?

Here is my plastic Xmas Cookie container just to show you can use round as well. The triangles and arrows indicate which way the seeds for the label are.

Step 6
Repeat Steps 1 and 2. Then open up your damp paper towel and place gently over the seeds as seen below.

Step 7
Cover your plasticware with a tight-fitting lid. Ideally the lid that came with the bottom. If not, get some plastic wrap and seal it up.

Step 8
Place all your ready to germinate seeded plasticware in a dark place, of average temperature. I have mine in a corner of my bedroom under a towel as I reused some takeout plasticware that are clear.

Step 9
Leave the seeds alone at least a week before peeking at Mother Nature's beauty. Then check every few days until your seeds have sprouted are big enough to be moved into some soil. They will let you know, particularly squashes and morning glories. They will be struggling to get out of the plasticware!

Step 10
Move your sprouts into some soil. For this method I do recommend those seedling flats with a bit of soil and keeping indoors until all threat of frost is gone and your seedlings can survive in the cruel world outdoors.

I hope this has helped some of you get started in gardening.

Remember, you can grow produce at home, even if you live in an apartment. You just need to dedicated the space to it.

Things I have grown on balconies/apartments/containers are: Watermelon, Corn, Squash, Tomatoes, Potatoes, Strawberries, Miniature Citrus Trees, Green Beans, Peas and Sweet Potatoes.

If space is limited, just figure out what you love the most and want to try your hand at.

Finally, plants are a bit like kids. They need daily attendance. They need to be watered, weeded and tended. If you do as I do and refuse to poison/kill rabbits, beetles, and other garden pests, then you will have an added expense/time/effort of some raised beds or fencing plus mulch! I can not tell you how important mulch is to help reduce your water footprint, time and effort. And those paper towels you used to germinate the seeds? Tear them up very small as they can be composted.

More on gardening in a few weeks as the season gets going. Until then, feel free to tell the rest of us about your garden preparations, if this guide helped you, suggestions, etc. by commenting below!

Happy gardening!

Be sure to head over to RecycleBank to snag your coupons for Ziplock bags. Then, making sure you bought the specially marked boxes, look inside for a code to enter at RecycleBank to get your points. Point breakdown:

7 pts for:
50 Count Sandwich Bags
50 count Snack Bags
30 Count XL Sandwich Bags

10 pts for:
100 Count Snack Bags

12 pts for:
100 Count Sandwich Bags

What is RecycleBank ?
"We’re a group of passionate people who’ve made it our mission to inspire others to take action – small to big – that will have a positive impact on our planet.
We trade the actions you make that have a positive impact on your home by saving energy, community by recycling and the environment by conserving natural resources for points that you can use for rewards you choose. Those rewards come in a variety of flavors: Products, discounts and coupons from the world’s leading brands (think: Kashi, Footlocker, Dunkin Donuts), or you can pay the good deed forward by donating your points to support environmental education in schools.
Through these rewards programs, we not only help our own neighborhoods and cities, but we can see what how collective actions result in one serious collective impact. It’s our world, let’s better it together."

Disney Movie Rewards
Get 5 points when you enter the code K2HM73MC9L.

Stouffer's Dinner Club
Enter FARMERSHARVEST for 20 points.
Not a member? Get 100 points for signing up!

In honor of Spring Cleaning, I am bringing back a favorite article to help. Hope these tips help you get your home clean this Spring!

While housework itself is not fabuloso, it is frugal. Cleanliness keeps many diseases at bay and provides pride in self and home.

Some of my earliest childhood memories are of doing housework. As a result, I despise, no, loath, housework. I had much to do as a child, and when my sister, Jesse was old enough, much for her to do as well, though much less than I. When I was 11, she and I sat down and made a list of all the chores we had. We came to a startling revelation that we did all the housework. From that moment on, my hate-affair with housework started.

Other than basic instructions, my Mother gave me no real tips or clues to how to clean things. Over the years I gleaned information from my grandmothers, friends of my immediate family and my friends. Like a thirsty woman, I drank up knowledge about housework. Mentally filing away tidbits on making housework easier and quicker.

For you, my dear readers, I will try to present these tips. Be aware, there is no real order to them. Each are as valuable as the others. Use what you want, discard what is irrelevant to you. Regardless, I hope you find something to help you be more frugal with your time and efforts.

1. After each use of a condiment bottle give it a little rinse at the sink. This will help keep your refrigerator/shelves cleaner. Result? Simple. Instead of a bucket of water to clean, now only a cup of water. In addition, instead of hours cleaning, cleaning time is now minutes. Savings-Time, environment and effort.

2. Recycle means to use again/to find another purpose for and thus extend the life of. What it does not mean is you sort into brightly coloured tubs and leave out for a corporation to pick up and handle without another care in the world. Yes, that is part of it. But it means things you buy, before you plunk down money for them, can they be repurposed? Do they have multiple purposes? Once the item is consumed, is what is leftover dangerous to me and/or the earth? Have I gotten all I can from this as I stand over the waste bin ready to chuck it out? Savings-Time, environment, money and effort.

3. Housework is a job. Like all jobs should be scheduled. Laundry on this day. Vacuuming on that day and so forth. Regular maintenance will help prevent "housework overload". Even if you work 3 jobs and are raising kids by yourself, 5 minutes in a room in apartment or house will help keep things nice. Savings-Time and effort.

4. Old fashioned cleaning agents tend to be better and safer to use. While bleach is not environmentally friendly, it is darn good at destroying harmful bacteria and viruses. Also in ruining any black clothing I own. However, vinegar is just about the most perfect item on the planet as far as cleaning goes. Savings-Time, environment, money and effort.

5. Toothbrushes, brave soldiers in the war against cavities, are not retired to the landfills. Instead they are put to use in cleaning. Every sink in the home should be armed with a toothbrush. Every laundry room should have a toothbrush to help work out those stubborn stains. Only when the valiant toothbrush has died should it be given a hero's burial in the recycle bin. Savings-Time, environment, money and effort.

6. If you do not do any housework for a day or two, it is OK. No need to have negative emotions over it. The world will continue on. Days off are allowed. Repeat after me, "Days off from housework are allowed." Savings-Sanity.

7. Pretty scented cleaning agents are a luxury. Not a necessity. Most are not actually good for people with asthma and allergies. Most are not good for the environment. Want a pretty smell? Get a nice candle or open windows. Want a pretty smelling cleaning agent? Speak to an expert on essential oils. Savings-Time, environment, money and effort.

8. For an instant "House Is Clean" look, ensure doors and door frames are clean, counters are clutter-free and clean, tabletops (dining, coffee, side) are clutter-free and clean and any big spills much darker or lighter than your floor are spot cleaned. Savings - Time, effort, sanity.

9. Your way isn't the only way. This means, if your significant other cleans something, let it be. Seriously hun, put down the sponge and spray. Just because the chore wasn't done the exact way you do it, doesn't mean the chore was not done. Instead hugs, kisses and thank yous are in order. This also applies to friends helping out around your house. Once upon a time, I worked three jobs. OK it was really two jobs. I was gone from 8a until 11p each day Monday-Friday. I often worked 8 hours on Saturdays too. And Sundays I worked for 4 hours. I was tired. Really tired. But I did it all, work, housework, partying, friends. The problem was, things were starting to weigh me down. At this time I had a friend, Melonie. One day she just started doing my dishes. Being how I was, I tried to stop her. She stood up to me and explained how she was my friend. Friends help friend. She couldn't help me with my jobs. But she could help me with my house. Realization dawned on me as she shoved me to my bedroom insisting I have lay down for a bit. So what if she put my coffee cups with my drinking cups instead of the shelf above the coffee pot? Doesn't matter. What mattered was my friend loved me and was trying to help me succeed in the world. Unlike so many people that try to pull you down or hinder you. Savings - Time, effort, sanity

10. Learn, practice and prefect what I call "The Mama Whirlwind Maneuver". This is where, each day you dedicate between 5 and 15 minutes in each room of the house. Set a timer, watch a clock or use common sense to keep track of the time. Your goal is to make each room presentable within that time frame. Easy peasy. Just carry a clothes basket and chuck everything in the basket that does not belong in each room. Then at the end of the quick cleaning, put everything in the basket into its proper place. Should you not have time to hit every room just hit the big 3 - Kitchen, Living Room and Bathroom. I personally keep a spritz bottle with cleaning solution under my bathroom sink to give a quick cleaning. In addition you will soon find that items stop having to be replaced as they are no longer lost and your home will feel cleaner overall. Savings - Time, effort, money

Finally, and I think most importantly, have a schedule. That's right. Just like with working, housework is in dire need of scheduling. Some things need to be done daily. Others need to be done weekly. Some chores only rear their ugly heads monthly. And then there is the Spring Cleaning. For me there is Spring Cleaning and Fall Cleaning. Twice a year. Allergies and hygiene demand it of me. :D

I have provided some sample To Do Lists which are, of course, free to download.


A Week of Daily Schedule
Monthly Schedule
Now, remember with these lists:
a. Edit to fit your home and lifestyle.
b. Lists are only guides not the Holy Bible of Cleaning, if you miss/skip something see #6.
c. Time with children will always over-throw chores like an angry mob a bad ruler
d. It is OK to say "No" to someone if it will over-schedule you and send you into a downward spiral of "Hoarders".
e. Spring/Fall Cleaning lists are basically a combination of both lists. Many people also add outdoor chores to their Monthly and Spring/Fall Cleaning lists. I did not as this post is about indoor chores.
f. If you don't like the chores lists, you can always delete them from your hard drive.



A Week of Daily Schedule
Monthly Schedule

I am super excited with the brand new look I am working on for Frugally Fabuloso. Bear with me over the next few days while I get all the coding done properly. Once the new Frugally Fabuloso is ready to be uploaded, Frugally Fabuloso will be offline temporarily. Once everything is running smoothly, we will be back open!