The start of the week always means the start of new deals. Here are some that I have come across and thought were too cool to pass up!
Free Hair Band Ties from Cyndi Bands. Thanks for the info The Thrifty Couple!
You can try Arm and Hammer Toothpaste for free too. If the click-thru on the link doesn't work, copy and paste this: http://tryarmandhammer.com/ into your browser.
Tanga is a great site that offers random deals - daily, weekly and otherwise. Act fast and you can get One Year of Scrapbooks Etc. Magazine for $5.99 (this is regularly $24)! What a steal for a crafty scrapbooker!
Just a few I thought were great. Don't forget to check in on the daily deals sites like Groupon, e-Reach Big Deals, Living Social and more! Today's Groupon in Cincinnati is amazing! $25 for $75 at Barclay's Wine!
Showing posts with label Savings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Savings. Show all posts
Monday, January 17, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Beat the Frugal Blues
The great thing about being frugal is the fact that there is no road map. Sure - it's nice to have bloggers like Andrea at Savings Lifestyle and Heather, AKA "Little Miss Know It All" keeping us all informed of the best deals around and giving us suggestions for how to save, but, what worked in their lives may not be feasible for you. And you know what, that is okay!
It took me almost a year of dedicated 'frugality' (and many slip-ups) to realize that living frugally and couponing is not a "one-size-fits-all" game. I used to beat myself up if I missed a great deal, but then I realized something - I was spending money on things I normally wouldn't buy only because I could get them for $0.18 instead of $2 a piece. So while I was saving a ton, I was also spending money that I wouldn't have otherwise spent. I also realized that kicking too many habits at once is a great way to set up failure. The week that I decided to give up chocolate, soda and eating out was pure hell for everyone around me (and even worse for me). I found myself thinking about soda all day long, craving chocolate like there was no tomorrow and obsessing over every fast food commercial I saw. So while in that one week I was a bit more healthy and saved $20, the following week I gained two pounds and spent $50! Results - not worth it. So instead, I cut back on those things instead of giving them up. I let myself eat out with my co-workers one day a week instead of five. I bought a bag of Dove chocolate and let myself one piece an afternoon (good for my heart, right) instead of a full candy bar a day. I had a soda if I really felt like I needed it, not just because it was in the work fridge and free. And you know what - I felt better about myself and really weighed my options.
Living frugally is not about torturing yourself. It's about living within your means and saving for something big. Right now, I won't lie - there is not a lot of savings because of student loans, credit card debt, a mortgage and a car payment. But, we are taking baby steps that are allowing us to realize we can be debt-free, we can have a savings and we can still be happy! Little sacrifices (like making dinner with friends instead of going out) turn out to be a blast and worth it.
If you are feeling the 'frugal blues' as I like to call it - don't stress too much. It happens to everyone and it just may mean taking a look at what your strategies are and adjusting them. Try new things for a week or a month at a time. If it doesn't work, don't feel bad. Move on and come up with a new solution. What are your best 'beat the frugal blues' tips?
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| Photo from www.jinij.com |
Living frugally is not about torturing yourself. It's about living within your means and saving for something big. Right now, I won't lie - there is not a lot of savings because of student loans, credit card debt, a mortgage and a car payment. But, we are taking baby steps that are allowing us to realize we can be debt-free, we can have a savings and we can still be happy! Little sacrifices (like making dinner with friends instead of going out) turn out to be a blast and worth it.
If you are feeling the 'frugal blues' as I like to call it - don't stress too much. It happens to everyone and it just may mean taking a look at what your strategies are and adjusting them. Try new things for a week or a month at a time. If it doesn't work, don't feel bad. Move on and come up with a new solution. What are your best 'beat the frugal blues' tips?
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Extreme Couponing
Last night TLC aired a one-hour program on Extreme Couponers in the U.S. Imagine my surprise when two of the four people profiled turned out to live within 20 miles of me! I was immediately intrigued because I consider myself a pretty avid couponer. I am nothing compared to these folks.
$1100 grocery bills turning into $51 OOP expense. You really just can't beat that. I was impressed, yet disgusted at the same time - if that makes sense. I found myself wanting to be able to get deals like that, but I wouldn't want to hoard them in my garage the way these folks do. A stockpile is one thing, but when you enough toilet paper to last you 40 years, it's time to share the wealth. There are so many non-profits, shelters and food banks struggling right now. The least that these people, who have upwards of $30,000 of product just sitting in their house, can do is to donate some of their stuff. Even a donation of a few boxes can help, and trust me - it won't make a huge dent in a three or four room stockpile.
Watching it, I realized that saving money can turn into an obsession, an addiction, and can alter your life. One of the women profiled said she is known to cancel plans with her husband and friends to go to the grocery store. And it's not out of necessity. It's because of the rush of adrenaline she receives when shopping. The haul that was caught on camera took over 6 hours - and shut down several checkout lanes in the store. At some point there needs to be restrictions. There needs to be rules. I mean, her register shut down because she hit the 1,000 scan limit!
So while I was impressed with the savings, part of me wonders what this type of behavior is doing to these people. Is it making them anti-social? Is it impacting their interpersonnal relationships? Is it driving their very behavior? Is it something they obsess about? I'd love to know your thoughts. Were you impressed? Were you disgusted? Were you just plain confused?
For more information on the program, visit http://press.discovery.com/us/tlc/programs/extreme-couponing/.
Disclosure: This post is entirely based on my own personal reaction to watching a program. TLC did not contact me about this post and all opinions stated in the post are those solely belonging to the author.
$1100 grocery bills turning into $51 OOP expense. You really just can't beat that. I was impressed, yet disgusted at the same time - if that makes sense. I found myself wanting to be able to get deals like that, but I wouldn't want to hoard them in my garage the way these folks do. A stockpile is one thing, but when you enough toilet paper to last you 40 years, it's time to share the wealth. There are so many non-profits, shelters and food banks struggling right now. The least that these people, who have upwards of $30,000 of product just sitting in their house, can do is to donate some of their stuff. Even a donation of a few boxes can help, and trust me - it won't make a huge dent in a three or four room stockpile.
Watching it, I realized that saving money can turn into an obsession, an addiction, and can alter your life. One of the women profiled said she is known to cancel plans with her husband and friends to go to the grocery store. And it's not out of necessity. It's because of the rush of adrenaline she receives when shopping. The haul that was caught on camera took over 6 hours - and shut down several checkout lanes in the store. At some point there needs to be restrictions. There needs to be rules. I mean, her register shut down because she hit the 1,000 scan limit!
So while I was impressed with the savings, part of me wonders what this type of behavior is doing to these people. Is it making them anti-social? Is it impacting their interpersonnal relationships? Is it driving their very behavior? Is it something they obsess about? I'd love to know your thoughts. Were you impressed? Were you disgusted? Were you just plain confused?
For more information on the program, visit http://press.discovery.com/us/tlc/programs/extreme-couponing/.
Disclosure: This post is entirely based on my own personal reaction to watching a program. TLC did not contact me about this post and all opinions stated in the post are those solely belonging to the author.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Cyber Monday Deals
Now that we have all recovered from Black Friday, it's time for Cyber Monday! I almost prefer Cyber Monday to Black Friday, because I don't have to deal with the hustle and bustle, elbows and feet that I do in a store. The only downside (in my opinion) is the chance that an item may run out between the time I put it in my cart, continue shopping and then checkout. The only way I have been able to alleviate this is to process each purchase separately - and ONLY if FREE shipping is offered on all purchases. That way, I am guaranteed to receive my item.
So what are the hottest deals this Cyber Monday? Check some out below. As always, this is not a complete list - but there are some great deals to be had! Feel free to add more deals in the Comments Section.
Amazon.com: Amazon has too many amazing deals to detail, but here are just a few. Don't forget to browse the site for everyone on your list! http://www.amazon.com/
Tommy Hilfiger: 30% off everything (discount will be applied at checkout - so make sure to look for it) + use code BLKFRIDAY20 for an additional 20% off. Orders over $125 ship for FREE!
Victoria's Secret: FREE SHIPPING off orders of $50 or more (FREE50), $25 off order of $150 or more (25OFF150), FREE Secret Reward Card with any order of $10 ore more, FREE scarf with sweater purchase (V10SCARF) and FREE slippers with sleepwear purchase (VS10SLEEP)!
Bath and Body Works: 25% off entire order with code CYBER25!
Barnes and Noble: 40% off Children's Picture Books, $5 off Toys/Games with $10 Purchase
Vera Bradley: Large Tote Bag only $45!
You can't beat these deals - so shop away and don't forget to use E-bates to earn cash back!
So what are the hottest deals this Cyber Monday? Check some out below. As always, this is not a complete list - but there are some great deals to be had! Feel free to add more deals in the Comments Section.
Amazon.com: Amazon has too many amazing deals to detail, but here are just a few. Don't forget to browse the site for everyone on your list! http://www.amazon.com/
- We Ski Videogame for the Nintendo Wii - $9.99
- Call of Duty: World at War for Nintendo DS - $9.99
- HP Photosmart Plus Wireless All In One Printer - $69.99
- Viore 24" Class LED-LCD 1080p HDTV - $199.00 + FREE Shipping
- Playstation 2 Entertainment Value Bundle - $388.00
- NEXT 20" Bikes - $39.00
- Cricut Expression Electronic Cutter (in aqua, plum, green or canary) - $199.00
Tommy Hilfiger: 30% off everything (discount will be applied at checkout - so make sure to look for it) + use code BLKFRIDAY20 for an additional 20% off. Orders over $125 ship for FREE!
Victoria's Secret: FREE SHIPPING off orders of $50 or more (FREE50), $25 off order of $150 or more (25OFF150), FREE Secret Reward Card with any order of $10 ore more, FREE scarf with sweater purchase (V10SCARF) and FREE slippers with sleepwear purchase (VS10SLEEP)!
Bath and Body Works: 25% off entire order with code CYBER25!
Barnes and Noble: 40% off Children's Picture Books, $5 off Toys/Games with $10 Purchase
Vera Bradley: Large Tote Bag only $45!
You can't beat these deals - so shop away and don't forget to use E-bates to earn cash back!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Black Friday Shopping Tips
Tip #1: Check the ad carefully to see when the sale starts. Two years ago, the Michaels ad came out and they had a special 3 hour sale on Thanksgiving Night. Cricut cartridges were as low as $15 a piece when you bought five.
Tip #2: Layaway. Get the leaked ads - place the item on layaway, with a price match guarantee. Get a signed and dated copy of the price match guarantee from a store employee. I do this regularly. I go in two weeks ahead (when I normally see the Black Friday pricing), put my 10% down, and get a signed price match guarantee. Friday afternoon, I go into the store (with the remaining payment) and pay the Black Friday price.
Tip #3: Spread Out. If you insist on getting up for door buster sales, get a group together and split up. Hit multiple stores to see who can get the door buster price. You have a better chance of getting the deal when you hit stores that are outside of city limits.
Tip #4: Shop online on Thursday. Most stores turn on a special Thursday price when you order online. So, around 9pm, start looking!
Tip #5: Don't be brand picky. If you come across a great deal and the brand you want is out of stock, ask for a manager and then ask if you can get a comparable deal on a comparable product. Example: the TV you want is 30% off regular price and they are out. Find a similar TV (as close as possible in specs/size/etc) and ask for 30% off regular price on that TV. Most stores will adjust, as long as you ask!
Happy Shopping!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Organizing Hundreds of Coupons
Keeping your coupons organized is a must for any avid couponer. There is nothing worse than getting to the grocery store and having to sort through hundreds of coupons to find the ten or twelve (or fifty) that are applicable to your order. (Well, dropping them all over the floor at the grocery store is worse I suppose).
Many couponers have found the secret to staying organized is not a one-size-fits-all system. It all depends on how you shop and how you can stay organized. It also is based on how many deals you want to take advantage of. If you try and hit every deal, you are sure to become exhausted, but what if you wanted to stock up and donate? Should you keep every coupon, every insert that comes your way? I can't answer that - only you can choose the system that works for you.
I stay organized by using a 13 pocket organizer. 11 pockets are dedicated for storing coupons between trips to the store. I have them grouped alphabetically (though within each pocket the coupons are not alphabetical). A/B, C/D, E/F, G/H, I/J, K/L, M/N, O/P, Q/R, S/T, U/V/W/X/Y/Z. Going through one pocket at a time is much easier and I can look based on the brand I want to compare. I started out with a category heading (produce, meat, canned goods, frozen, etc) and found that I really just wanted to see if XYZ brand was going to give me a better deal with a coupon. The back pocket of my file holds the coupons I plan to use on my shopping trip. Getting them organized prior to the trip saves me lots of time in the store. The front pocket holds any coupons for retail stores or restaurants.
I also keep a running spreadsheet with all of my coupons listed. I have the following column heads "Item" "Quantity" "Deal" "Expiration" and "Source". The item column contains the products, the quantity column contains the number of actual coupons I have available, the deal column lists the coupon value ($1/2, BOGO, FREE, $.25), the expiration column lists the expiration date, and the source column lists if it is a paper coupon that I have in hand, or a coupon loaded onto my Kroger Plus Card. I sort the spreadsheet alphabetically and then by expiration. That way, I know which coupons to use up first when there are multiple coupons for the same item. I print this out and take it to the store with me for a quick reference guide.
Some may say this is a little excessive, but it's what keeps me organized. How do you organize your coupons? What methods have you tried and found to be unsuccessful?
Many couponers have found the secret to staying organized is not a one-size-fits-all system. It all depends on how you shop and how you can stay organized. It also is based on how many deals you want to take advantage of. If you try and hit every deal, you are sure to become exhausted, but what if you wanted to stock up and donate? Should you keep every coupon, every insert that comes your way? I can't answer that - only you can choose the system that works for you.
I also keep a running spreadsheet with all of my coupons listed. I have the following column heads "Item" "Quantity" "Deal" "Expiration" and "Source". The item column contains the products, the quantity column contains the number of actual coupons I have available, the deal column lists the coupon value ($1/2, BOGO, FREE, $.25), the expiration column lists the expiration date, and the source column lists if it is a paper coupon that I have in hand, or a coupon loaded onto my Kroger Plus Card. I sort the spreadsheet alphabetically and then by expiration. That way, I know which coupons to use up first when there are multiple coupons for the same item. I print this out and take it to the store with me for a quick reference guide.
Some may say this is a little excessive, but it's what keeps me organized. How do you organize your coupons? What methods have you tried and found to be unsuccessful?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Scrumptious Savings
Grocery shopping is one of my favorite things to do. Crazy, right? Well, not so much. I love the challenge of meeting a budget, yet not sacrificing my basic needs and some of my wants. There are many ways I have learned to save money - couponing, manager sale racks, price lists, and NEVER paying full price for anything. When I hit an especially good sale or I help someone who didn't know about a deal, I like to reward myself for a job well done.
One of my favorite rewards is a nice warm, freshly baked cupcake. There is nothing better (okay, cookies and brownies tie for a close second) than the aroma of cupcakes rising in the oven, the sight of batter and sugar everywhere, and finally, the sight of the perfect dessert, right out of the oven.
It's so easy to save on these items too. Betty Crocker regularly has coupons for cake mix and frosting, as does Pillsbury and Duncan Hines. If you are in a hurry, it takes no time at all to run to the baking aisle in Kroger and pick up a box of mix and a tub of frosting. Hand the cashier your coupon, and viola! - instant savings! Pre-made frosting can get expensive though. I try to keep ingredients for frosting stocked in my house so that I can make my own. It's more fun to experiment with flavors and coloring this way too. When I priced out the cost of a single tub of frosting ($1.19 - $2.09 in my local store), I found that I can make my own for about one-fourth of that cost - roughly $0.30 - $0.55 a batch. All it takes are some basic baking ingredients and a little extra time. So why not stock up on these ingredients and some cupcake/brownie/cookie mixes (I alternate making from scratch and using boxes) and make your own instead of buying from the store?
After I make all the cupcakes and the frosting, I use Wilton's baking products and spread my icing on with icing bags and special tips, based on my mood. Somedays I want smooth creamy icing, other days I want stars and flowers. Wilton's had a ton of pans, icing, food coloring, decorating items and more! You can find Wilton's products 30% off this week only at Hobby Lobby. http://www.hobbylobby.com/weekly/coupon.cfm
How do you save while baking?
My favorite frosting recipe is out of my mother's old cookbook, but also available on Betty Crocker's website: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/buttercream-frosting/47ee314b-a783-4bd9-907a-1829a60104aa
4 cups of powdered sugar
1/2 cup of butter, softened
1/2 cup of shortening
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Beat powdered sugar, butter, and shortening together with an electric mixer. Add milk and vanilla in until smooth and creamy. Add in small amounts of milk if a creamier texture is desired (I use 1% and find that I typically use about 3 1/2 tablespoons). This will frost 2 13x9 cakes.
One of my favorite rewards is a nice warm, freshly baked cupcake. There is nothing better (okay, cookies and brownies tie for a close second) than the aroma of cupcakes rising in the oven, the sight of batter and sugar everywhere, and finally, the sight of the perfect dessert, right out of the oven.
After I make all the cupcakes and the frosting, I use Wilton's baking products and spread my icing on with icing bags and special tips, based on my mood. Somedays I want smooth creamy icing, other days I want stars and flowers. Wilton's had a ton of pans, icing, food coloring, decorating items and more! You can find Wilton's products 30% off this week only at Hobby Lobby. http://www.hobbylobby.com/weekly/coupon.cfm
How do you save while baking?
My favorite frosting recipe is out of my mother's old cookbook, but also available on Betty Crocker's website: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/buttercream-frosting/47ee314b-a783-4bd9-907a-1829a60104aa
4 cups of powdered sugar
1/2 cup of butter, softened
1/2 cup of shortening
3 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Beat powdered sugar, butter, and shortening together with an electric mixer. Add milk and vanilla in until smooth and creamy. Add in small amounts of milk if a creamier texture is desired (I use 1% and find that I typically use about 3 1/2 tablespoons). This will frost 2 13x9 cakes.
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