The $mart Momma

Tip #5: Hip 2 Save

2011-12-10T21:02:00.001-08:00

Christmas shopping is one of the number one times that we momma's need to be saving our money! This is the season of spending, but if we do our research, it can also become a season of saving.

Don't forget heading into the holiday season to be using Retail Me Not. Try not to purchase anything online without checking for coupon codes there first! And remember momma's, price compare, price compare, price compare! I'll often have 3-5 shopping carts open with the same items in them from different shops as I enter coupon codes and promo codes until one of them shows a total price that satisfies me! Being thrifty takes work, but the pay off is worth it.

A great website I stumbled upon this holiday season is Hip 2 Save. Hip 2 Save keeps track of a lot of the current deals in the retail and grocery world and posts them daily for you to take advantage of! You can also sign up for their daily emails that will deliver a list of the best deals right to your inbox. They show you exactly what the deals are, and walk you through step by step as to how to take advantage of them. The images of their shopping carts show you that the deals are legit, so you know you're guaranteed savings.

A couple of my scores from Hip 2 Save so far this holiday season? 20 photo cards printed for $1.54! 2 fabulous toys (worth a combined total of $20) from YoYo.com for $4.99! and a pair of men's pajama pants from Target for only $7.13!

Hip 2 Save also features grocery coupons and deals so that you can save on everyday items as well. Definitely add Hip 2 Save to your list of money saving resources, mommas! This one is tried and true.

Tip #4: The Couponizer: Save More than Money

2011-03-03T07:38:00.000-08:00

<<This magic little book is worth every penny of it's $19.95 cover price. Believe me, in your first shopping trip with this amazing coupon organizer, you'll save more than that.

My first shopping trip after putting my Couponizer to work, I saved $62.33. Yes, friends. Simply by clipping the coupons that came in my Sunday paper and by following the Couponizers simple organizational tips, I saved $62.33 off of my grocery bill. That's pretty substantial if you ask me.

The Couponizer concept is really very simple. It's a book that organizes your coupons into simple sections. I have to admit... it's made me excited about clipping coupons. And, at least 5 people stop me at the store when they see me using it... and are amazed at how great it is.

The Couponizer also encourages you to track your results...because lets confess, saving money is addictive. And if you can look back and see how worth it it's been, then you'll persevere even when you don't feel like clipping coupons that week..

So grab yourself a Couponizer from Amazon.com, and subscribe to your local paper... and I guarantee you can save at least 40% off every week of grocery shopping WITHOUT putting in more than 20 minutes a week. (and that's an overestimation!)

Happy Saving!

**NOTE** remember, that clipping coupons will NOT save you money if you use the coupons to purchase items that you wouldn't buy otherwise. Don't buy something simply because you have a great coupon... only use coupons for the things that you already purchase. And if you have a name brand coupon, don't just grab the name brand... make sure that the generic brand isn't a better deal--even with your coupon***

Tip #3: Retail Me Not

2010-11-26T13:42:00.000-08:00

Hi Readers!
I'm going to connect you with my all time FAVORITE website. It's called Retail Me Not and it is, without a doubt, my best online friend.

Retail Me Not is an online "community" of sorts where people can share their coupon codes! And the great part about it is that it's reliable. Once you've used a coupon, send a little feedback. Let the community know if the coupon worked, when it worked, and how much you saved!

This is an especially great resource for all you smart phone users! (or any web-capable phone) A few times I've been actually standing in line at a store, hopped on Retail Me Not's website... found a coupon right then and there, and recieved savings on something I was already in line to buy... JUST LIKE THAT! I show the clerk the coupon code right there on my phone, and BAM! instant savings without clipping coupons!

Retail Me not is also a great place for diaper codes! Just type in Huggies or Pampers in the search engine, and you'll get diaper codes that users have shared!

I promise that if you start using this site, you'll be HOOKED! Enjoy!

5 Pampers Gifts to Grow Points!

2010-10-29T09:22:00.000-07:00

Hey Readers!

Enter the code: 4HAPPYHALLOWEEN

on Pampers Gifts to Grow site for 5 bonus points!!!

Tip #2: Google AdSense

2010-10-27T18:54:00.000-07:00

I swear, Google AdSense is one of the best kept secrets of the blogging community! If you have any form of website, Google AdSense is available to you!!! Google will place ads on your site (you choose where and how large!!!) and then when people click on those ads while at your site, you'll get paid!! CHA-CHING! I

'd heard alot about AdSense, but just wasn't crazy about the idea of having those ads on my site. But, recently I thought, "what the heck, I"ll give it a try". After only TWO WEEKS of having AdSense, I've earned 3 bucks! Now, I know.. that's not alot... but keep in mind: a) I only have 60 followers on my blog. b) I did NOTHING to earn those 3 dollars except add AdSense in a quick simple process a couple weeks ago, c) 3 bucks is 3 bucks. Ice cream is on me tonight!!!!!

If you have a Blogger blog, just look up at the tabs when you're posting a new blog. See the one labeled "Monetize"? Yep, that's the one. By clicking that tab and following the steps, you can EASILY add AdSense to your blog. Start earning simply by having your blog looked at! Sound great? IT IS!

If you don't have a Blogger blog, but have some other type of website, you can add AdSense by just going to their site (google it ;) and following the instructions for your particular type of site.

Happy Earning!!!

Tip #1: Diaper Rewards!!

2010-10-22T04:16:00.000-07:00

Hey Mommas!

Time for my first tip... and this is a great one! Did you know that Pampers & Huggies both offer Rewards Programs for their diaper products? Did you also know that those rewards programs aren't just a waste of time? I was shocked when I talked to a Momma friend of mine who has FOUR little ones in diapers. She's been buying Pampers for years, but I had no idea about the Rewards program! She could have been earning all kinds of great prizes, but simply had no idea the option was available to her. This made me realize that maybe there were more Mommas out there who just didn't know about this great resource!

Okay, here's the lowdown. Pampers Rewards Program is called "Gifts to Grow" The codes are located on the inside of your diaper package or wipes container. Just copy down your code, head over to the site... enter the code and VOILA! You've got points! Now, you can redeem these points for prizes! Pamper's prizes range from diaper coupons to Shutterfly photo cards (Hello Christmas card order for this year!!) to great toys and books and even a Jeep Brand Stroller!!! They also offer special deals with their partners that are available only to Gifts to Grow members! I have redeemed several prizes since I've been using Gifts to Grow and I've never had an issue with receiving what I've redeemed.

Huggies Program, "Enjoy the Ride Rewards" is very similar to Pampers. The same way, you find codes on your diaper or wipes package, enter them on the site and then redeem them for prizes! However, Huggies also offers some different ways to earn points. You can earn points by referring someone, by watching Huggies commercials, or by visiting Huggies partnering websites. However, Huggies doesn't offer as wide of a variety of prizes. Their prizes change often though, so keep checking back to find what you really like!!! They offer music downloads, diaper coupons, and (my favorite right now!) a $100 Gap gift card. But unlike Pampers, they rotate their prizes so you'll see new prizes every so often, and old ones will be no longer available. Huggies also offers "Instant Win" games where you can risk your points to see if you won a prize. I've played about 10-15 Instant Win games, and I have won once. (Free movie tickets!!!)

Mommas, both of these programs are GREAT incentives and really can help you save you money. Even if you use your points for nothing other than redeeming them for diaper coupons, then you've saved yourself some money on something your family already buys by simply take a few minutes to enter the codes on line. If you dont' have time to do it right when you open your diaper package, just make sure you save the wrapping! I often will have collected tons of codes and just forget to enter them.. so then one day when I have some time, I'll enter them all at once!

If you already knew about these programs, don't hesitate to share a comment about why you love them!!

Welcome to $mart Momma!

2010-10-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks for stopping by! I'm just getting started, but keep checking back for money saving/earning tips and ideas!

As a busy young mom, I'm always looking for quick, simple ways to maximize my budget. I want to be smart with my money in order to get the most "bang for my buck". There are quite a few simple things out there that can help you stretch your dollar or earn rewards all for things you probably either already do, or could easily fit into your busy schedule.

I'm not into gimmicks... I hate those online ad's that promise thousands of dollars in extra income and end up just being hours worth of surveys and WORK! I'm all about finding FUN, EASY, and PRACTICAL ways to save you money.

I can't promise you the kind of result that those gimmicks do, but what I can promise you is a few easy tips that will help you be a $marter Momma!

Be sure to click the follow button on the right hand side so that you can keep updated with my tips and tricks :)