Saving for Something - never pay full price if you don't have to.

Need Help Shopping for the Best Deal?

2015-03-01T16:19:00.000-05:00

So I asked my husband today what he thought I was good at - something I was passionate about. He said, "shopping for the best deal." His answer prompted me to post here on this blog - if there is something specific you are looking for, comment on this post, and I will do my best to give you advice about how and where to get the best deal. Consider it personal shopping. It is my challenge to you - to challenge me. I only ask that you allow me to present my findings on the blog for others to see. Let's see what we can find together.

Amazon Deals

2014-10-15T14:26:00.000-04:00

All items below are rated 4-star or better on Amazon.com. Whether you're preparing for guests to arrive for the holidays or starting your holiday shopping, check out these deals and get them while they last!

Kitchen Craft Colourworks Silicone Cupcake Cases, Pack of 12

Flexible, hygienic, silicone cupcake cases
Re-usable and stain resistant
Dishwasher safe
Can be co-ordinated with other items in the colourworks range

$2.21 + $0.99 shipping

Townhouse Rugs Luxurious 17-Inch by 24-Inch Memory Foam Bath Rug, Brown

Machine made memory foam bath rug
Microfiber memory foam
Machine wash cold, tumble dry low or lay flat to dry
1 inch thick
Polyurethane backing

$5.00 + $2.80 shipping

Hot Women Silver Plated Crystal Drop Pendant Necklace Fashion Jewelry

Chain Length:22in
Pendant Size:2.8*1.6cm
package included :1item
color:blue, pink, or purple

$2.21 + free shipping

Topstaronline (TM) Plating 925 Silver Plated Heart Shaped Hollow Ball Pendant Necklace

Hollow Out Ball Pendant Silver Tone Necklace Chain for Lady
925 Silver Plated
Hollow Ball Pendant
Necklace Girth : 48cm / 18.9";Pendant Size : 1.7 x 1.7cm / 0.67" x 0.67" (D*T)

$2.44 + $0.85 shipping

Disney Frozen Novelty Recyclable Tote Bag-1 bag

Makes a great gift bag for someone who loves Frozen!

$2.95 + $2.45 shipping

Gorton's Coupon

2014-10-03T14:37:00.002-04:00

Save $1.00 off 2 Gorton's Frozen Fish Items by clicking HERE.

Creative Homemade Cheap and Inexpensive Halloween Costumes

2014-10-01T16:20:00.001-04:00

If you're like me, you don't want to spend a ton of money for a costume you or your child will wear for only 1 night. My sewing capabilities are also very limited. I went on the web to search for creative costumes that could be made with regular household items. Take a look, there's still time to put these together!

Boombox

Although this isn't me, I did make a boom box out of a cardboard box and some paper plates one year. It was "cool" at the time, now it would be just "retro" or something. Still a neat idea and not something you see everyday.

Bunch of Grapes

Ah yes, a bunch of grapes. I did this one year. Pretty easy if you already have purple (or green) pants and turtleneck. Fun costume, but you can't sit down. Fine for trick-or-treating, though.

Old Lady Who Live in a Shoe Had So Many Children, She Didn't Know What to Do

This isn't me, either, but I did borrow a similar costume from my aunt one year to a company I worked for when they told us to dress for Halloween. It's a surprise my husband married me even after having seen me in something so weird.

Robot

Rubik's Cube

I never did the robot or Rubik's Cube, but they both seem time consuming but fairly easy to put together with cardboard and some dryer hose or colored paper. Cool ideas, although I would use different color paper on the Rubik's Cube.

Thomas the Train His Friends

If you have several kids that want to dress as a group, you could use cardboard boxes to make Thomas the Train and all his friends. They would look really cool if they did trick-or-treating walking in a line.

Little Old Lady

Gnome

OK - these are just adorable for teeny-tiny kids. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the old lady (is that offensive?) and the gnome is just something I really have never seen together. Crazy that they can wear regular clothes for the most part and just add a couple of accessories and you recognize what it is right away.

It's Raining Cats and Dogs!

Talk about creative with everyday items - awesome for something so simple.

Hot Air Balloon

This probably took some time, but it is such a neat idea, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to share it. Start with a cardboard box and some balloons and go from there.

Dice

Popcorn and a Movie

Got a couple kids that want to pair up? These are so cute! Well, the Dice could be a die, and I may switch out the VHS tape for a DVD, since no one knows what VHS is anymore, but these are awesome ideas for kids (or adults) in pairs, which starts with a cardboard box.

Outlet and Plug

What a great adult couple costume - so innocent, yet so provocative. This is boring and fun all is one!

Feel free to share any cool ideas you have seen.

Make Your Yard Sale a Success

2014-10-01T14:44:00.001-04:00

Having a Yard Sale serves as an alternative to donating, consigning, and throwing away your good items, and is a great way to make some extra cash. On my other blog, I researched the essentials to have a successful yard sale and would like to share those with you. CLICK HERE for more information on Successful Yard Sale Strategies, and good luck!

FREE Home Depot Kids Workshops

2014-10-01T09:59:00.001-04:00

The Home Depot Kids Workshops

Home Depot has some FREE kids workshops coming up, where kids can experience being do-it-yourselfers, and take their project home. Check the website for store locations and workshop dates:

How to Build an EMS Truck

Dates: Sat, Oct 4, 2014

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Come learn how to build an EMS Truck for Fire Safety Month
FREE hands-on workshops; designed for children ages 5 - 12
All kid get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last.
Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin.
Kids Workshop activities are scheduled on a first come/first served basis. Please do not arrive before 9:00 a.m.
Thank you for registering online to help us better plan our craft kit quantities needed.

How to build a Pallet Coaster

Dates: Sat, Nov 29, 2014

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Come learn how to build a pallet coaster
FREE hands-on workshops; designed for children ages 5 - 12
All kid get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last.
Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin.
Kids Workshop activities are scheduled on a first come/first served basis. Please do not arrive before 9:00 a.m.
Thank you for registering online to help us better plan our craft kit quantities needed.

How to build a Give and Save Bank

Dates: Sat, Nov 29, 2014

Time: 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Come learn how to build a Give and Save bank
FREE hands-on workshops; designed for children ages 5 - 12
All kid get to keep their craft, receive a FREE certificate of achievement, a Workshop Apron, and a commemorative pin while supplies last.
Children must be present at the store to participate in the workshop and receive the kit, apron and pin.
Kids Workshop activities are scheduled on a first come/first served basis. Please do not arrive before 9:00 a.m.
Thank you for registering online to help us better plan our craft kit quantities needed.

Where do you find most of your printable coupons? We need to start doing that.

2014-09-30T13:29:00.004-04:00

Today I got a question from a reader (WOOHOO!):

"Where do you find most of your printable coupons? We need to start doing that."

Well, you would link there would be 1 short answer, but there isn't. Not from me, anyway.

Grocery Coupons
For grocery coupons, a great place to start is www.coupons.com. There, you can print 2 of each coupon, and sign-up for an email reminder so they can tell you when new coupons are available. You can also sign-up for coupon notifications through http://www.freecouponalerts.com/ to notify you when coupons are available from various sources. Check your Sunday paper, too, if you get one.

If there are certain brands you are loyal to, I would go to their websites and sign-up for email newsletters, too.

Some people also swear by the following websites, too:
www.SmartSource.com
www.RedPlum.com

Store Coupons
If there are stores you frequent, it is in your best interest to sign up fr their email newsletters. Be sure to check your favorite stores for rewards programs, too - most are free, and for stores like Target and Staples you can use coupons WITH your rewards to take advantage of the deepest discounts. Remember to check the store's website for coupons before going on a shopping trip - they don't always email you everything, and just because there is a coupon in the Sunday newspaper flyer, doesn't mean the coupon is in the flyer available at the store.

Some stores like Walgreens and BJ's have coupons in the store only. Always check on your way into a store to see if they have a rack near the door with available coupons.

Restaurant Coupons
Similar to store coupons, I would visit the website and sign-up for email newsletters for any restaurant or casual eatery you visit often. There are many rewards programs available in this category, too, and once you're on the list, you're usually in it until you unsubscribe. Check the Sunday newspaper, too, if you get it - you can usually find coupons there for places like Subway, Uno's, Smokey Bones, Weathervane, Outback, Olive Garden, Papa Gino's, D'Angelo's and more!

Clothes Coupons
My best recommendation here is to sign-up for the store's email newsletter, and when you get coupons, shop the clearance rack unless your coupon tells you otherwise. You can find great deals at Target and Old Navy just to name a few. Clothes is one of those things we don't grow out of very often, so I try to stretch this budget as much as I can by wearing things until they are worn out. For kid's clothes, I look for hand-me-downs and offers on www.freecycle.org since the kids grow out of them so fast.

Gift Cards
Another great way to save money is to cut back on Christmas spending and use that extra money to buy gift cards. MANY stores and restaurants offer some sort of bonus when you purchase a gift card during the holidays. For instance, T-Bones usually offers $5 bonus for every $25 in gift cards purchased, Weathervane usually offer 20% off at some point during the holiday season - 2 offers I can think of off the top of my head. If you get gift cards for several people during the holidays, see if you can find 1 source for all of them so you can build up the number of "bonus" gift cards you get, and save them for date night!

Last year I took advantage of a GREAT deal from Papa John's. Every Friday we order pizza for dinner. We don't go out to eat very often, so this is our "treat". They offered a free pizza with every $25 gift card purchased. Knowing we buy pizza every Friday throughout the year, I basically pre-bought $400-worth of pizza by buying gift cards. Sounds crazy, but it got me 16 free pizzas! I used the free pizza vouchers, gift cards, and BOGO Free coupon code when ordering online, AND their carry-out club punch card (program is now discontinued) and didn't pay for pizza for the fist 10 months of the year!

Another way to save money with gifts cards is to buy them through www.plasticjungle.com or www.cardpool.com where you can buy discounted gift cards. Just beware that when you buy from these websites, cards with odd amounts are probably a store credit and not a nice gift card you can give as a gift. Still if you buy the discounted gift cards, you can use them as you do your holiday shopping.

Entertainment Coupons
If you still want to enjoy life and not spend WAY too much, you may be looking for entertainment coupons. There are several sources for these - probably many out there are unknown and hardly used. First, if you are planning a visit to a specific place, visit their website and look for coupons or specials. You can also find coupons for local entertainment at www.valpak.com. You can buy an annual Fun Pass if you live in New England and get discount to so many New England attractions - usually it pays for itself easily.

Although these may clog up your email a little, you may find great deals by subscribing to email lists from
Groupon
Living Social
Amazon Local
Half Off Depot

The above websites will ask you to choose what you are interested in, so they can send you deals of goods and services based on you location.

Don't forget to check your local library for passes to many local museums, etc. It's not just for kids!

There is more information I could give you, but this is a great way to start, and I am just hoping I didn't overwhelm you. Best of luck!

Lowe's Build and Grow Workshop for Kids

2014-09-30T10:20:00.002-04:00

Lowe's hosts fun Build and Grow clinics for kids, usually appropriate for kids ages 5+, and you should be available to assist your child with the project.

Lowe's Build and Grow

Check the website to verify the Lowe's near you and hosting this event, then register!

Haunted House

Saturday, October 11 (10:00 AM)

Halloween's right around the corner. Get your kids in the spirit by bringing them into Lowe's to build their own spooky Haunted House!

Kid's Craft Workshop Coming Up

2014-09-30T10:14:00.001-04:00

Looks like Michael's has a cool "Kids Club" workshop coming up...they are 30 minutes long, and you can shop while your kids do a craft. These workshops run about 30 minutes long and cost $2 per child. Appropriate for ages 3+.

Check the website to verify these are going on at your local store on the same dates and times: Michael's

Hand Painted Halloween Rocks

Saturday, October 4th
10am - Noon
Drop in and take home a completed Hand Painted Halloween Rocks project Saturday, October 4th, 10am – noon. Just $2 per child for 30 minutes of creative craft fun, supplies included. Ages 3 and up.

Pampers Gifts to Grow Rewards Code

2014-09-30T10:04:00.001-04:00

This Pampers Gifts to Grow rewards code will bring you closer to rewards!

50WICFSCL201415

If you're not a member yet, join today - You don't even need to buy diapers regularly, because we find free codes all the time...build up your points and select rewards. It's free! Pampers Gifts to Grow Rewards Program

Free Sample Face Wash from Target

2014-09-30T09:41:00.002-04:00

http://samples.target.com/

Act now - while supplies last!

Free sample of Dial Acne Control Face Wash and Body Wash from Target!

Just answer a few simple questions and it's yours.

101 FREE Prints from Shutterfly

2014-09-29T15:59:00.000-04:00

http://www.shutterfly.com/

If it's free, it's for me!

101 free prints (shipping extra)

ONLY 3 DAYS TO SAVE! Ends Wednesday

Use Code: XD9J-7M3Z-MF0K-VE971D when checking out.

Staples Deals - Including 20% off K-cups!

2014-09-29T15:52:00.001-04:00

20% off

all K-Cup^® flavors, 16 and 18/pack.	In-store code: 65548 Online code: 94284 Expires 10/4/14.

Get up to

$50

Staples^® gift card with any Keurig^® purchase.

10% off

any one item in store.

In-Store code:
3296377385431605
Expires 10/4/2014.

Papa John's Pizza Deal - Expires 10/31/2014

2014-09-29T15:32:00.000-04:00

Pizza and Wings for dinner. Right now you can get a FREE 8 piece order of Papa's Wings and a FREE 2 Liter Pepsi product when you buy any Extra Large Pizza at regular menu price.

Use the promotion code TMT14FFWING

Offer expires 10/31/2014

And if you're not already a member of Papa John's Rewards, now is the time! It's free, and you earn points for every online order. Once you're earned 25 points, you get a free pizza!
Papa John's Rewards

Selling the Stuff You Don't Use

2014-09-29T14:27:00.000-04:00

Now that Autumn is upon us, the cooler air is rolling in and as the house slowly closes down for the approaching winter season, I feel more and more cluttered in our indoor "sanctuary".

I decided months ago that I would have to de-clutter. But what I didn't realize at the time and soon discovered later was that trying to tackle "1 room at a time" was too overwhelming. Finally, I figured out that instead, I would have to do a more manageable load if I wanted it to actually get done...one BOX at a time.

As the kids take a nap (IF they take a nap), I have about an hour to sort through 1 box of stuff. Usually it's a box of stuff we haven't accessed in a while, so I know there is stuff in there I can get rid of. Here are the steps you want to take if you are going to get serious about de-cluttering, and take advantage of the situation and make a few $$ instead of just throwing things away:

1.) Sort the items into piles. You've heard this before, I'm sure. Break it up into:
Throw Away
Keep
Consign

2.) Throw Away Pile: This pile should be made up of non-usable items...things that are broken, missing pieces, etc. Throw this stuff away immediately after sorting the box.

3.) Keep Pile: These are things you absolutely CANNOT live without, for one reason or another. Make sure this pile is not the biggest pile. Sometimes I end up going through this pile later in the day or on another day to se if I have changed my mind about any of it. When you are certain your MUST keep these items, find a new home for them, where they belong - NOT back in the box.

4.) Consign Pile: This pile should be made up of items in EXCELLENT condition. Consignment shops will not take things that are missing pieces or have rips/stains in them. As far as clothing goes, some consignment shops are pretty strict about the brands they will accept, too. Find out where the local consignment shops are near you, and check their website. Be sure to take back the items the consignment shop doesn't accept.

5.) Take the items this consignment shop didn't accept, and bring them to a 2nd (usually not as popular or upscale) consignment shop. You may want to choose the consignment shop which gives you a lesser % amount as the second consignment shop, too. Either way, your great items in excellent condition deserve a 2nd (or 3rd) chance.

6.) Take all the items the were not accepted at the consignment shop and make a list of them. Donate them to a place where you can get a tax receipt, such as The Salvation Army. You will need to list your items and what condition they are in (which should be EXCELLENT, since they were once in your consignment pile). The least you can do is get some sort of tax credit for your items if you can't sell them.

A word about consignment.
Although they may keep more of your money, I have found consignment shops to be a superior option to selling things on eBay or Craigslist, simply for the time you put in. I know some will disagree with me, but personally, I can't stand the "no-shows" Craigslist has to offer, and I hardly have time to package and ship things for eBay. I used to do both of these things, but with my most recent busy schedule, consignment has proven to be the way to go, for me.

Also keep in mind that consignment shops usually offer a cash option or store credit. Cash option is usually a lower % of the sale. I like the store credit because you can usually find something you need/want in the store, or save it for later. I do alot of consigning of children's clothes, but the stores I consign at usually also sell (and consign) woman's clothing, and sometimes even men's clothing. You need an inexpensive dress or sweater you are probably only going to wear once or twice? Look there first, and use your store credit!

Free Cookie at Subway on February 29th

2012-02-23T16:01:00.000-05:00

Subway is celebrating Leap Day by giving you a free cookie with any purchase on February 29th. Sounds like a good day for a sub! No coupon necessary.

Free Shortstack of Pancakes from IHOP

2012-02-23T15:59:00.000-05:00

Receive a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes from IHOP on Tuesday, February 28th from 7am to 10pm. They are hoping you will then be willing to leave a donation for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals.

FREE Pretzel at Auntie Anne's on March 3rd

2012-02-23T15:56:00.000-05:00

Choose from original or cinnamon sugar - Auntie Anne's will be giving away one free pretzel to each visitor on March 3rd, from 10am to 3pm. No coupon needed, no string attached. They do hope some of you will visit their Facebook page and tell them about your free pretzel experience in a 3-question survey. 500 entrants will be selected to receive a free t-shirt.

To find your nearest location, click HERE. Enjoy!

Free Sample of Lipton Green Tea with Superfruit - HURRY!

2012-02-23T09:31:00.000-05:00

If you didn’t get a free sample of Lipton Green Tea with Superfruit flavors yet, here’s your chance. They're giving away a few more as a thank-you for being great Facebook fans. Get your Green Tea with Superfruit sample and coupon here, but please hurry – they will go fast!

Sorry about the Slow Week

2012-02-21T16:19:00.000-05:00

I have sort of been on sabbatical this week because I have a house guest - I haven't been able to spend much time on the computer, but I will be back at it more next week. Thanks for your patience!

Give a Free Lunch to a Hard Working Woman

2012-02-21T16:09:00.000-05:00

Go to the Hormel Compleats Facebook Page, get a buy one get one free coupon for Hormel Compleats, and nominate a hard working woman you know to give her a "free lunch". Offer valid while supplies last ~ 50,000 offers available.

Free Up & Up Ibuprofen at Target

2012-02-20T16:53:00.000-05:00

I haven't been to Target for this deal yet, but several sources say we can get FREE Up & Up Ibuprofen this week. Apparently Target sells small bottles of ibuprofen for $0.99 and there is currently a Target coupon for $1.00 off Up & Up pain relief item, making it free! Be sure to print 2 of these coupons and bring them with you - report back if you were successful at getting the deal.

Cancel the Mold Show Sweepstakes!

2012-02-19T13:37:00.000-05:00

Visit the Tilex Facebook page and click the "Like" button. Then enter for your chance to win ~ 3 Grand Prize winners will win a flat screen TV and 10 runners-up will win a year's subscription to streaming movies. Enter now on Facebook and invite your friends for additional sweepstakes entries. Sweepstakes ends March 17, 201.

Enter to Win Clorox $10,000 Giveaway

2012-02-19T13:26:00.000-05:00

Clorox® Clean-Up® Recipes for Fun is a virtual recipe box filled with fun, educational projects for kids. Choose from science projects, arts & crafts, cooking, and more. Enter for a chance to win a $100 gift card or $10,000 for an ultimate mess party! Find a fun activity, make a mess, then clean it up with Clorox! Register now to get started. By registering, you will gain one entry for the Grand Prize, and you will be eligible to receive entries into the daily $100 prizes, when you browse their recipes for fun. Ends March 27, 2012.

"Like" Langers Juice on Facebook ~ Receive a FREE Bottle!

2012-02-18T19:46:00.000-05:00

Go to Facebook and "Like" Langers Juice...they are close to reaching 70,000 "likes" and if they get there before March 1st, everyone who likes them will get a coupon for a free bottle of their juice! Don't miss out - go now!