The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Archive for the ‘Save it Club’ Category

Thinking Outside the Food Box for the Pantry Challenge

By ERIN TURNER - A month-long Pantry Challenge really forces a person to be creative. It's pushed me to think outside of the box and break food habits I'd fallen into. ... more

Tips For NOT Eating Out

By ERIN TURNER - Eating out is expensive! Here are some tips for how to avoid the "eating out trap" and why a little planning can pay big dividends with your household budget.... more

Are You Up for the Annual Pantry Challenge?

By ERIN TURNER - On February 1, we'll start a month of trying to use what we have on hand and not buy groceries. It's called the Pantry Challenge. Are you up for it?... more

How to Use Coupons to Create a Wad of Pseudo-Cash

By ERIN TURNER - Once the clerk rang in all the coupons and Extra Bucks, I heard the words that make any couponer jump for joy…”Oh, maam your total is negative 14 cents, so you need to buy something else.... more

Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup

By ERIN TURNER - Homemade Cream of Chicken Soup...it's not only food for the soul, it's cheap and it's a whole lot healthier for you and your family.... more

A New Year, a Fresh, Frugal Start

By ERIN TURNER - 2013 is here, the resolutions have been written, and it's time put those resolutions into action! Here’s my plan to accomplish my frugal yearly goals.... more

Last-Minute Christmas Gift: Homemade Coffee Creamer

By ERIN TURNER - Need a last-minute Christmas gift idea? I have the perfect thing: Homemade coffee creamer! It's an easy, inexpensive gift for your favorite gourmand.... more

The Frugal Cure-All: Homemade Chicken Broth

By ERIN TURNER - Grandma was right to chase away colds with chicken soup! Here's my recipe for homemade chicken bone broth, Nature’s All-Purpose Medicine.... more

Discovering Thred Up–A New Online Thrift Store

By ERIN TURNER - If your kids have gone through a growth spurt and need new digs or you are cleaning out their closets in preparation for new clothing at Christmas, check out Thred UP--an online consignment sto... more

Fantastically Festive Pinterest Christmas Projects

By ERIN TURNER - It’s Christmas season and Pinterest is alive with an endless world of ideas, inspirations, recipes, and whatever else you can imagine for the holidays. ... more

Tips for Smart, Thrifty Holiday Shopping

By ERIN TURNER - Just because Black Friday's over doesn’t mean you missed all the deals! They may not be as obvious, but if you do your homework you'll find them.... more

Eleven Tricks to Keep Holiday Guests Happy

By ERIN TURNER - This week marks the beginning of holiday guest season. Here are a few of my favorite tips to make guests happy and keep your stress to a minimum.... more

Save Money with Seven Savvy Shopping Strategies

By ERIN TURNER - If you don’t adopt new attitudes towards shopping, you’ll never see any couponing success. Here are my Seven Savvy Shopping Strategies to save money.... more

Homemade Hot Sauce

By ERIN TURNER - Some like it hot and our family is no exception. When it comes to hot sauce we love it hot and use it on everything! Here's a homemade recipe for hot sauce. ... more

Little Grizzly Football: Much More Than Just a Sport

By ERIN TURNER - If you were a boy growing up in Missoula in the last 30 or 40 years, you may remember Little Grizzly Football. Our boys have learned more than a sport... more

Save Money by Reducing Wasted Food

By ERIN TURNER - Since October is National Unprocessed Food month, it may be helpful for you to explore how to save money by reducing the food waste in your house.... more

Take the No-Processed-Foods Challenge

By ERIN TURNER - October is national “Unprocessed Food” month. Take the Challenge: consume less processed/packaged food and more whole/real food. ... more

Frugal Living: Super Easy, Super Cheap Carpet Stain Remover

By ERIN TURNER - Last week, I found the "Miracle Carpet Stain Remover” technique on Pinterest. I'm happy to say that it definitely lives up to its name!... more

Frugal Living: Figuring Out Walgreens’ New Coupon Rewards Program

By ERIN TURNER - I've done some footwork to figure out Walgreens' new customer rewards program. It may seem confusing, but the Coupon Queen is here to help!... more

What To Do with All Those Tomatoes? Make Homemade Ketchup!

By ERIN TURNER - With the abundance of tomatoes this year, I’ve explored some new ways to use them, including homemade ketchup. Here's my recipe!... more

A Pinterest Project: Get Organized with DIY Spice Jars

By ERIN TURNER - My kitchen was being overrun by all my spices until I stumbled on a great project I saw on Pinterest: Recycle old bottles into DIY spice containers. ... more

Eat Local and Eat Well with Community Supported Agriculture

By ERIN TURNER - Community Supported Agriculture farms have started to become popular in Missoula. They're a great way to eat healthy, local, economical food.... more

Frugal Living: Use Your iPhone to Save Money

By ERIN TURNER - When a friend told me about the money-saving couponing apps for the iPhone, I realized I was missing out on some major couponing technology!... more

Frugal Living: Mouthwatering, Homemade Deli Meat

By ERIN TURNER - Last week, I made homemade deli-style sliced meat from an elk roast. Not only was it a Montana-style money saver, it was delicious!... more

Frugal Flu Season Remedies

By ERIN TURNER - Last week, the Missoula Health Department issued an Influenza Alert. Here are some tips for staying healthy and save a few bucks at the same time.... more

Frugal Living Pantry Essentials

By ERIN TURNER - During our Frugal Living Pantry Challenge this month, I’ve discovered some key items that are essential for a frugal pantry.... more

The Frugal Living Pantry Challenge

By ERIN TURNER - Our family is doing a Frugal Pantry Challenge for the month of February.... more

A Year in Review

By ERIN TURNER - Today, I celebrate my one year anniversary of writing the Save It blog for Make It Missoula! What have you learned and what should I write about in 2012?... more

Why a Household Budget is Necessary

By ERIN TURNER - The first step to fulfilling a New Year's resolution to save money, reduce debt, or manage finances better, is to set up a household budget. Here's how to do it.... more

In 2012 I Resolve to be Frugal

By ERIN TURNER. Happy New Year, Everyone! If you’re like me, I take the New Year seriously and try to make realistic resolutions which will improve my well-being, my house and my family. ... more

After Christmas Sales

By ERIN TURNER. I know, I know…the figgy pudding isn’t even finished yet and already I’m thinking about after Christmas sales! But hold on, you want to save money right? ... more

Extreme Couponing: Taking Stock of your Stockpile

By ERIN TURNER - I've given tips on how stock up and explained why it's crucial in the whole scheme of couponing. Come Christmas, stockpiling lets me be more generous to local charities, too.... more

Why Should I Take a Couponing Class?

By ERIN TURNER - Recently, I was asked to teach a couponing class through an Adult Education program at the Missoula Lifelong Learning Center. Learn more about the benefits of a coupon class.... more

Thanksgiving on a Budget – A Harvest of Abundance, Frugal Style

By ERIN TURNER - Hosting Thanksgiving dinner can get expensive. Erin shares some tips for planning a memorable dinner on a budget.... more

Reduce Christmas Stress by Planning and Shopping Ahead

By ERIN TURNER Happy Halloween, everyone! I hope you enjoy a day of spooks and frights! But once the last Snickers bar is consumed and the last cup of witches’ brew is poured, it is time to pull on the ... more

Teaching Money to Children and Teens

By ERIN TURNER. I am banking on the hope that my husband and I have laid a solid foundation and a respect for money in our kids so when they are faced with a financial decision on their own, they’ll know the... more

Cyber Couponing

By ERIN TURNER. Having a little retail craving but don’t want to change out of your pajamas to go shopping? Get online and shop to your hearts content using countless cyber coupons and discount codes. ... more

Reasons for Couponing

By ERIN TURNER. I am often asked, “Why do you coupon?” My bottom line always boils down to three very special reasons: Ethan, Logan and Quinn.... more

How to Score with Albertson’s Double Coupons

By ERIN TURNER It has been a winning week in my house! First, our family’s beloved Dallas Cowboys (no nasty comments, please!) started the week with a superb win, my oldest son’s Little Grizzly footba... more

What’s Your Favorite Missoula Grocery Store?

We want to know. What is your favorite place to buy Groceries, and why? Leave your response in the comments below, or simply give the one you like a Thumbs Up!... more

Doubles are Here!

The doublers are here! And they will be here until Tuesday night! Any manufacturer coupon you have that is valued up to $1.00 will be doubled with an Albertson’s twice the value coupon (found in their flyer f... more