Are You Really Getting a Good Deal?

Anybody who knows me at all knows that I love a good deal. Paying full price for anything is practically against my religion! I believe in combining sales, coupons, rebates, and whatever else I can in order to get the best price possible on whatever I buy. Clearance is one of my favorite words! I especially love when things are marked 80-90% off regular price. Just 25-30% clearance isn't really good enough.

Just because something is 'on sale' does not necessarily mean that you are getting a good deal. It's important to have at least a general idea of the regular prices of items you normally buy. This is especially true of groceries. Many times I have seen a sale price advertised in the grocery ad for an item that I bought at a cheaper price the week before. But, if you don't know what the regular price is for that item, you might think you're getting a good deal - because it's on sale, right? Knowing the regular price will help you know when you do see a good deal, and that's when you buy. If it's something you use on a regular basis, buy several when you get it at a good price. The idea is to buy enough when something is on sale so that you won't run out and have to buy more before it goes on sale again.

Combine sale prices with coupons and rebates using cash back apps like Ibotta and Checkout 51, and the savings can really add up. Just remember - if you don't need it, all the coupons and cash back rebates in the world don't necessarily make it a good deal. Unless it's free. Free is always a good deal.  (at least in my opinion) If it's something you don't really need, consider donating it to someone who can use it.

A money-saving option that I haven't really explored is renting items that you may only need for a short time. Of course, this doesn't apply to groceries, but renting sports equipment for things you only do occasionally is often the best option - at least until you decide to take up that sport on a regular basis. And f you're planning to welcome a baby into your family, you may want to check out baby gear rental Florida for baby items that will only be used for a short period of time.  Renting tools from the local home improvement store for that one-time project instead of buying a tool you're never going to use again is also a good idea. Invest in items you can use for a significant period of time, and have room to store when you're not using them, and rent other items. Just be sure to do your research first. Find out how much it would cost to purchase the item then compare that to the cost of renting that item for the time you need it.

The bottom line is - arm yourself with knowledge. The more you know about how much something should cost or will cost over the time you will use it, the better equipped you will be to know if you are indeed getting a good deal. Remember your smartphone (most of us have those nowadays) and look up prices on Amazon or other retailers - yes, even when you're in the store - to see if you can get cheaper somewhere else. Some stores will even match those online prices, so don't be afraid to ask.

Sometimes You Gotta Spend More to Spend Less

We love shopping at Kohl's. Of course, the fun is in the savings and not really the shopping itself. I don't understand people who actually enjoy shopping for the sake of shopping. But when I can stack savings on top of savings, then I'm having a bit of fun.

Last weekend we stopped into Kohl's because we had some Kohl's Cash ($7.84) from an earlier return, and we needed to spend it before it expired. Combined with the 20% discount we had, we figured it was a good time to find something we needed. I ended up finding a quilt/bedspread - originally priced at $219.99 but marked down to $43.99. Since we had been looking for something just like that, we decided to grab it and go, which is the best kind of shopping trip - in and out without wasting a lot of time.

1st rule of shopping: Start with the clearance racks.

I can't actually imagine that anyone would spend $220 on this bedspread because the 2nd rule of shopping is to never pay full price. Of course, that's similar to the first rule but can also include sale prices. I personally think sale prices are usually too high, which is why I wait for things to go on clearance, and even then I usually wait for 70%, 80%, or 90% off before I'm willing to buy.

So, we got a nice quilt/bedspread for a total cost of $30.94, which was a pretty good deal - until I realized that we had a coupon for $10 off a $50 purchase for Mother's Day. I was thinking women's clothing, jewelry, purses and accessories, etc. and didn't realize it also included items from the Home department - which would include the quilt. No, we didn't spend $50, but we did spend $43.99 (before discounts and Kohl's Cash), which meant that all we had to do was spend an additional $6.01 to be able to use the coupon and save $10. If we had bought something else that cost exactly $6.01, using the same Kohl's Cash and the same 20% discount, we would have spent $27.53, saving $3.41 - and getting an additional item. More merchandise for less money. Who can argue with that?

It gets even better, though. We didn't make it back to Kohl's until this past Sunday. I asked if they could re-ring my purchase if I found something else so that I could use the coupon - because I would have if I'd realized it applied. They said sure, so I found a blouse I liked - not exactly $6.01 but close. It was on clearance for $8 (80% off). After 'returning' the quilt and then re-ringing the transaction with both the quilt and the blouse - with the 30% discount we now have - the total cost was $25.57, a savings of $5.37. (and remember, I got a blouse, in addition to the quilt I originally bought)

Of course, when we have a 30% discount we do like to see what we can find, so we did a bit more shopping the clearance racks. I found some more tops, some dresses, pants, etc. - enough to use the coupon again - and Jeffrey found some golf shirts and t-shirts. We spent enough that we got $10 Kohl's Cash, and when I added the receipt from the quilt and blouse I bought first, we had enough for another $10 Kohl's Cash.

This, of course, means that we have to go shopping again next week when the Kohl's Cash is valid. And if we wait until Thursday, there's a coupon for $10 off a $25 purchase. That means if we find something(s) worth $30, we can use the coupon to save $10 and then pay the difference with our $20 Kohl's Cash, and actually pay absolutely nothing.

Note: Kohl's Cash is only valid during specific dates. If you can't find something you actually need or want, just buy something, anything. Hold onto the receipt, and next time you go to Kohl's, return whatever it was you grabbed. They'll give you Kohl's Cash (good for 30 days) to spend then when you're ready.

Be sure to start with the clearance racks.

I Want My Sunday Ads

When we moved to Anderson, we wanted to subscribe to the Sunday paper - for the ads.  While I know you can access pretty much any store's ad online nowadays, we still like getting them in the paper.  We really don't read the paper, but we like to sit down on a Sunday morning with our coffee and the newspaper ads.

We'd been getting the Milwaukee paper in Wisconsin so we decided to subscribe to the Indianapolis Star instead of the local Anderson paper because we figured the big city newspaper would have more of the ads we wanted to see.  WRONG!  There really weren't very many ads in the paper at all.  Jeffrey even drove to the gas station a Sunday or two just to buy the Anderson paper so we could compare.  Every time, there were more ads in the Anderson paper.  So we canceled our Indy Star subscription before too long and subscribed to the Anderson Herald Bulletin.  It costs a bit more, because you can't get just Sunday but also have to get Friday and Saturday.  Still, definitely more ads.

After canceling the Indy paper, I would periodically get phone calls trying to get me to re-subscribe.  Every time I told them exactly why I'd canceled the subscription - not enough Sunday ads.  Each time I was assured that they had added more ads, or that the holiday season was coming up so there would definitely be more ads.  I was even offered a Sunday only subscription for only $6/month.  My cheap frugal little heart really wanted to grab that one, but I said NO.

But in July I got another call offering me three months for the price of one, and I was again assured that there were more ads in the Sunday paper and several ads in the Thursday paper, which was also included in my subscription.  So I decided to give them another try.  It had been almost a year since I first canceled the subscription so maybe they really had changed.  We also kept our subscription to the Anderson paper, so I kept track of the ads every week in this Sunday newspaper ad comparison.

The results were pretty interesting - The Indianapolis paper usually contained about half the number of total ads compared to the Anderson paper, and there were usually more coupons in my Anderson paper, too.  One week the  Indianapolis Star only had 3 ads.  Three! Talk about ridiculous.  And that Thursday paper they told me had ads only contained a Kroger ad - which I get in the mail either Wednesday or Thursday anyway - and sometimes an ad for a weekend sale at Kohl's.

Needless to say, I have again canceled that subscription, and I have no intention of ever subscribing again. If you live in the Anderson, Indiana area and you like your Sunday ads, avoid the Indy Star.  The 'big city' paper really has nothing on our local paper here in Anderson.

Anybody else look forward to their Sunday morning ads?  And comics!

Free Shopping Planner and Coupons for New Moms

Sign up to get a free shopping planner filled with deals and coupons.  The planner includes spaces for menu planning and shopping lists as well as tips for new moms and easy recipes, too.  It also includes coupons for things new moms need, from breastfeeding support products to organic baby wash.  There are in-store manufacturer's coupons and coupon codes for online shopping, and it all comes in a convenient booklet you can tuck into your purse or diaper bag.

The best part is - it's FREE!  And, the more moms who sign up, the more coupons and deals they'll be able to offer.

Sign up here

Remember the Coupon Code

In today's tough economy, every little bit you can save counts.  When shopping online, that means looking for a coupon code before you check out.  For instance, if you need a lot of table cloths, you can save up to 20% by using a tableclothsfactory coupon code offered right on the site.  Other times you'll just have to do a web search for coupon codes for the site you are buying from.  Whether it's 10% off your order, free shipping, or some other savings, it's worth the extra few minutes it takes to search.

Another great way to save money on online shopping is to use one of the cash back sites such as Ebates, ShopatHome, and Big Crumbs.  I have referral links in my sidebar for each of those sites, so if you haven't yet signed up for them, please consider using those links.  You'll get a bonus just for signing up, and so will I!

Not only do those sites give you cash back for practically every purchase you make online, they also list available coupons codes, helping you save as much as possible.

The key really is remembering to use them.  Every time.  You know me; I love to save a penny.  I still catch myself ordering something online and then remembering the next day that I should have checked one of those sites to see if I could get cash back on my purchase.  And I torture myself by checking to see how much I could have saved, and I promise to do better next time.

If you really want to save, remember those coupon codes and be sure to shop through one of the cash back sites every time you shop online.  Those savings can really add up.

I'm Addicted to Free Stuff

...whether I need it or not.

That's not really a bad thing, is it?  I mean, why pay for something if you can get it for free?  And why pass up something that's free, even if you don't need it right now?  You might some day!  That's my philosophy anyway.

I'm not nearly as bad as those 'extreme coupon' ladies you see on tv, but I do believe in stocking up on things like toothpaste, lotion, shampoo, free baby stuff, etc. - pretty much anything that I know we are going to use at some time.  If I can get it for free or practically free by combining a sale and a coupon, and sometimes a rebate, then I have a hard time passing it up.  I really hate the idea of running out of something and having to pay full price for it, and getting the stuff we need for free means that we have more money to spend on things we want.  Can't argue with that!

And if I can get something I may never need for free - I have a hard time passing that up too.  Except for now.  Now I'm trying to stop accumulating more stuff and just use the stuff we have, so we'll have less stuff to move when the time comes.  Of course trying is the operative word, because if they're going to give it to me...

I am continuing to collect free Kindle books and free Android Apps from Amazon - because those don't take up any space.  I probably won't ever read or play the majority of them, but they're free.  As for the rest, mostly I just stay away from the stores so I'm not tempted.

Save Big on Back-to-School with Dollar General

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

It's time for back-to-school shopping.  School supply lists have been posted, and parents everywhere are scrambling to get the pens, pencils, notebooks, folders, glue, and everything else on them. 

Our back-to-school shopping needs have changed, now that I only have one kid in school - and he's going to be a junior in college.  I don't even know what kinds of things he needs for school.  I think it's probably something simple like new notebooks and some pens, because he's already got all the stuff for his dorm room, and he has his computer, and pretty much everything he needs.  The big year for school shopping was a couple years ago, before his freshman year of college.  That was the year we had to get the sheets and the towels, the storage crates, the mini fridge, and all the other things he needed for his dorm room.  I wish I had thought to shop at Dollar General!

Dollar General calls itself the nation's largest small-box discount retailer.  What does that mean?  They carry a carefully edited assortment of the most popular brands at low everyday prices in small, convenient locations.  Basically, they have the things you need, and they sell them at good prices.  I've often wondered why we really need so many choices in our stores.  A notebook is a notebook is a notebook - seriously.  Why do I need 20 million choices when I'm just going to buy the cheapest one?  The same thing goes for pretty much everything on those back-to-school lists.
 

Besides offering the things you need for back-to-school or back to campus at everyday low prices, Dollar General offers even more savings with a changing mobile coupon. Mobile phone users simply need to scan the QR Code (at right) OR text "bts" to 34898 to get the current coupon.  I just downloaded an app for scanning QR codes, so I'll have to try it!  There may just be something Cory needs for school this year...  Or that I can't resist because it's such a good deal.  You should see how many notebooks, folders, book covers, glue sticks, pens and pencils we still have downstairs because I always bought more than the kids actually needed - because it was such a good deal.  I would have really been in trouble with Back to School Saving from Dollar General!
 
Anyway, if you've still got Back-to-School shopping to do, be sure to scan the code and get your mobile coupon and head to Dollar General.  You can save some money and some time.
 

SAVE in San Antonio

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of SAVE for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Are you still looking for a place to get away this summer?  Be sure to check out San Antonio.  There are plenty of things to do and see - theme parks, water parks, ranches, zoos, and much more.  San Antonio is already known as one of the nation’s most affordable vacation destinations, but it's even better with SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience.  SAVE offers more than $600 in savings on theme parks, animal adventures, top shops and historic tours, plus great deals on hotels.  You can print coupons from the site or download the free mobile app and use the coupons straight from your phone.  Either way you can save lots of money on a great family vacation.
 
You know how much I hate paying full price for anything, and I rarely go anywhere without first checking online to see if there is any way to save.  This site makes it super easy to find all the savings available in the San Antonio area - without checking multiple websites.  If I had some time to get away to San Antonio, I'd definitely be checking out SeaWorld San Antonio, Six Flags Fiesta Texas, and the world-famous Schlitterbahn water park.  There are multiple discounts available at all of them, such as buy one get one free admission at Six Flags and the option to pay for one day's admission to SeaWorld and go back as many times as you want.  We've been to SeaWorld in Florida, and we liked it so much we would have loved to go back, but we didn't feel we could afford it.  With these kinds of savings, we could have.  SAVE gets you $2 off full-price admission to Schlitterbahn.

Something that might be a lot of fun would be to take a helicopter tour.  What a great way to see the area!  I'm sure it's not cheap, but SAVE offers 10% off Alamo Helicopter Tours.  And, of course, there are savings on hotels. SAVE rates at the Comfort Suites Alamo/Riverwalk range from $79-$189, and you get a suite room with free hot breakfast, refrigerator & microwave in room, free wifi, and even a free shuttle to downtown, so it looks like a great place to spend some time away.  And the Days Inn Seaword has SAVE rates starting at $59.

These are just a few of the many attractions in San Antonio and the savings that are available.  Be sure to check out the SAVE – San Antonio Vacation Experience site to see how much you can save on the attractions and accomodations you're interested in.  The savings are especially great for families because, in many instances, children's admission is free.  The Alamo IMAX Theatre Rivercenter is one of those places that offers free children's admission, and McNay Art Museum is another.  There seems to be something for everyone in San Antonio.

Besides the regular discounts and coupons available, SAVE also has many Limited Time Offers, so be sure to check the site right before you leave for vacation, or even better, while you're there - the mobile app will be handy for that - because you may be able to save even more or find a deal on something you really wanted to see or do but didn't think you'd be able to.  Be sure to follow @SAVEinSA on Twitter as well for all the updates on deals, limited time offers & ideas to help plan your trip to San Antonio.

Try Glade® Expressions™ Risk Free

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Triad Retail Media for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

There are some new products available from Glade®, and now is a great time to try them.  First, there is a coupon for $1.50 off of any Glade® Expressions™ product.  Use it at Walmart to take advantage of their everyday low price, and you'll save even more.
 
Both products, the new Glade® Expressions™ fragrance mist and the new Glade® Expressions™ oil diffuser are designed to fit in with your home decor. They don't look like air fresheners.  The design is very simple and elegant - not something you'll have to hide away.  I also like that they feature a no-spill design, so that even if they get knocked over, you don't have to worry about a mess.  With cats in the house and a grandson who gets into anything he can possibly get to, that's important.
There are 4 fragrances to choose from -

• Pineapple & Mangosteen
• Cotton & Italian Mandarin (only available in Fragrance Mist form)
• Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice
• Lavender & Juniper Berry

I'm thinking that Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice scent sounds good - pear, apple, cinnamon, and cloves - nothing flowery.  The oil diffuser's scent is designed to last 30 days and requires no electricity.  The fragrance mist with its squeeze-to-spray activation lasts, well I guess that depends on how often you squeeze it!  When it's gone it's refillable with any Glade® Expressions™ scent, so you can try them all!

Glade® is so sure you are going to like these new products, that they're are offering a fragrance satisfaction guarantee.  If you're not satisfied, simply fill out this form and mail it with the original UPC and purchase receipt within 30 days, and they will refund your purchase price.
 
Now is a great time to try the new Glade® Expressions™ products risk free.  Which one do you want to try first?
 

I Left $3 on the Table

I went grocery shopping today, but first I went and got the oil changed on the van.  There's usually a coupon for the oil change, and I had one - $5 off.  Plus they gave me a coupon for a free car wash and $10 off my next oil change.  Not a bad deal.

That is, until I went on to Walmart and opened this coupon app I have on my new smart phone.  If I'd thought to check the app when I was getting the oil changed, I could have saved another $3!  I hate not saving all the money I could have.  Free money there for the taking, and I left it on the table!  I probably should have driven back to the oil change place and checked to see if they could give me an adjustment, but I didn't...

I am definitely going to have to get used to having this phone and all the extra options it has.  Of course, I've already found out why Beth didn't like this phone - not enough internal storage.  I've added this coupon app and a couple games, and the phone is already yelling at me that it's low on storage space.  Really?  Which means when I upgrade my phone, I'm definitely looking for one with plenty of internal storage so I can add the apps I want without worrying about running out of space.  In the meantime, I need to be choosy about the apps I install and only keep the ones I'm really going to use.  So far that's Words with Friends. *grin*

So, here's where you can help.  What coupon apps do you use?  Which is the best, and how do I remember to use it?  Let me know - because you know I'm all about saving the money!

Savings Tip: Use Those Coupons

I think more people are using coupons these days.  There are shows where people save ridiculous amounts of money buying ridiculous amounts of things they may or may not ever need.  Everybody wants to get in on the action!

Either that, or they're completely intimidated by the 'Extreme Couponing' and figure why bother, it's too complicated.  I say - use those coupons!  No, you don't have to go to extremes and collect coupons from every possible source so you can buy more stuff than you'll ever need.  What you can do is go ahead and cut out those coupons you get in the Sunday paper.  Those are like money somebody put into your paper, money you get to spend.  Once you've got the coupons cut out, organize them.  Set some basic categories - meat, dairy, cereal, frozen foods, etc. - and organize your coupons by category.  This will make them easier to find when you want to use them.  I also like to organize them by expiration date within each category, making it easier to discard unused expired coupons.  Yes, I said unused.  Just because you cut out and organize your coupons does not mean you have to use them.  What it means is that you can use them - which you wouldn't be able to do if you just left them in the paper or put them out with the recycling.  Cut them all out, and then be sure to take them with you when you go to the store.  I put mine in a plastic 3x5 card box with dividers for the different categories.  Other people use binders, and there are coupon organizers that will fit in your purse, so there are several options.  You'll have to figure out what works best for you.

Now, actually using those coupons.  First, go through your local ads to see what's on sale and match up your coupons with the sale items.   Just because you have a coupon and can save an extra 50¢ or $1 does not mean you should pay full price - unless it's something you always buy anyway, and then be thankful for that extra money you're saving.  Most things go on sale regularly, and that's when you want to buy them.  Using coupons will save you even more.  But wait - before you buy something just because it's on sale, and you have a coupon, be sure to check the other brands or even the store brand, because sometimes those will cost you less - even without the coupon.  The key is to have the coupons with you and to use them if and when they actually save you money - on products you need and will use.  And sometimes with a sale and a coupon, you can try a product you might not otherwise have tried - which is why you cut them all out, whether you think you're going to use them or not.

So, if you're not already using coupons - start.  The manufacturers are giving you money to spend on their products.  Take it.  Use it.  But be smart about it.  Remember it's the final cost you're looking at, not how much you save.

Take the Hill's Healthy Mobility Challenge

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hills Pet Nutrition for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.
 
When we had our dog Nikki, we just fed her whatever dog food we got the best deal on.  We didn't really realize or think about how important it would be to feed her better food.  With the cats we are trying to feed them better food.  We haven't yet tried the Hill's Pet Nutrition foods, but we have been trying to buy the better foods with more natural ingredients.  Reading some of the information on the Hill's Pet Nutrition page, I'm learning that there's a whole lot I don't know about what my pets need to eat to be healthy.  Be sure to check it out if you've got pets; there's a lot of information there.
 
If you have a dog (or dogs) you can register for the Hill’s Healthy Mobility Challenge.  Feed your dog the Hill's Science Diet^® Healthy Mobility^™ dog food for 30 days and track your dog's progress over those 30 days to see if/how it actually works.  At the end of 30 days you'll be able to see the results.  You're also encouraged to come back and share the results with othere dog lovers.
 
Just for registering you'll get $30 in Hill's Healthy Mobility Coupon offers and an automatic entry in the Healthy Mobility Challenge sweepstakes! 30 Winners will receive FREE PET FOOD for a year!  How awesome would that be?
 
Be sure to check out  Hill's Pet Nutrition on Facebook too.  You can share pictures of your pets, interact with other pet lovers, and even have the opportunity to win prizes or get additional savings on Hill's Pet Nutrition  products.
 

Try Proactiv Solution for FREE

For a limited time you can try Proactiv Solution for FREE.  Sign up and get the 3-step system for only $19.95 with free shipping, and get $20 credited to your Shop at Home account.  No Shop at Home account?  Sign up for a FREE account, and you'll also get a $5 bonus for making your first purchase.  That means you actually make $5 on this deal!

You also get to choose a free gift with your order and have the option to include a free 30-day supply of Vitaclear vitamins.  There is no commitment and no minimum to buy, but starting 30 days from your order date, you’ll receive a new 90-day supply of  the 3-Step System every 3 months at the guaranteed low price of just $19.95 per month plus $7.99 s&h per shipment, unless you call to cancel.

Proactiv is the #1 acne system in America, and I've been wanting to get this for Cory to try, so I'm not sure if we'll cancel or not.  I guess we'll see how it works.  It's supposed to be really good - and getting to try it for FREE is awesome.

To get in on this deal, simply visit Shop at Home, sign in or create your new account, search for Proactiv, and then click the blue 'Shop Now' to be taken to the Proactiv site.  Shop at Home will track you so they know you are placing the order and you can get the $20 credit.   Choose the 3-step system for $19.95, pick your free gift, check out and pay for your order.  Within a few days, you'll see the $20 credit in your Shop at Home account along with the $5 bonus if you're new.  And then, of course, don't forget to cancel, unless you decide you want to continue receiving Proactiv.

Thanks to Mom and More for the heads up on this one.

Back to School Needs - Get More for Less

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Dollar General for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

It's that time of year again - time to go back to school.  And that means shopping for school supplies and new school clothes.   Pens, pencils, crayons, notebooks, folders, lunch boxes, book covers, and so much more.  The costs can really add up.  Last year we had the added expense of furnishing a college dorm room.
 
The other day on Good Morning America, correspondent Becky Worley reported that one of the best ways to get back to school bargains is to buy the basics at the dollar store.  She bought the same list of 10 items at a pharmacy chain and a dollar store, and spent $35 less at the dollar store.  (Back to School: How Not to Pay Full Price)  That extra money could sure come in handy!  The GMA story said that the average parent spends $600 per child on back to school shopping.  This would be a good time to be below average.
 
So, if you're shopping for back to school supplies, be sure to check out the Dollar General Back to School sales for some deals on the supplies you need most.  $8 backpacks, Crayola colored pencils for $2, and pocket portfolios 3/$1 are only a few of the advertised items.  There's also a coupon you can print to save 20% off your entire purchase of back to school supplies and dorm decor.  That's my favorite way to shop - combine low prices with coupons so I can save the most possible.   There are several other coupons available to print on the DG website, and they take the manufacturer's coupons you get in your Sunday paper - and every little bit helps, 20%, 25¢, 50¢, etc.  Chip away at that $600 average!
 
I'm not sure what Cory needs for school this year since he can use the same stuff for his dorm room this year as last.  Besides pens, paper, and his laptop, I'm not sure what else he needs for classes.  And he is 19 and should be paying for his own stuff now.  Should be is the operative phrase there, but I will point him toward Dollar General and tell him you can Get more of your Back to School needs for less at Dollar General.  Now that he's spending his own money, I know that will be important to him.

Do You Upromise?

Image via Wikipedia

I signed up for Upromise ages ago. It's a free rewards program that helps you earn money for college. Sounds like a good idea, right?  But only if you use it.  Unfortunately, I rarely remember to use it.  Now that our son is in college, it would really be nice if I had, 'cause we'd have a little extra money to help with those college expenses.

When I log in, Upromise tells me, "We think you're missing out on the EXTRA college savings you could be getting when you..."  And then they give me suggestions for how I could be earning more money.  There are still 3 years left of college (at least) so there is still time, right?

I just need to remember to check Upromise when I'm shopping online, because lots of stores offer cash back.  For instance, when I ordered the crib for Beth, I could have gotten 10% back if only I'd gone through Upromise when I ordered.  But no, I didn't think of it.

In addition to cash back savings, there are coupon codes to save even more money on online purchases.  You know how much I like saving money and using coupons.  You'd think I could remember to search for pottery barn coupons before I check out.  Oh, and remember those glasses I ordered yesterday?  Could have gotten 5% back.  5%!  But I didn't think to check.  I hate when there's money for the taking, and I don't take it!

It's not really Upromise's fault.  They have their TurboSaver browser add-on that's supposed to remind me when there are college savings available, like if I could earn cash for college or get williams sonoma coupons.  I've just never installed it.  Like I said, there's still time, right?

How about you? Do you Upromise?  How much money have you saved toward college?  How do you remember to use it?

Saving Money with Online Shopping

I read yesterday that by 2015 purchases on mobile phones are expected to total $119 billion.  I don't know about the mobile phones, because that's not something I do, yet.  Possibly by 2015, though!

In the meantime, I do my share of online shopping.  I'm sure there are statistics about how much people are spending online and how that compares to money spent in physical stores, though I haven't looked that up.  I think the online shopping has to have a pretty good share of the sales, though, because there are so many good deals to be found online.  I'm not sure how they do it - low overhead maybe? - but sometimes the prices are just a fraction of what you can find in the store. 

For instance, we recently bought a couple digital camcorders, one for Jeffrey and one for Beth.  (We have a new grandson; there needs to be video)  When we bought the camcorders, we also bought two extra batteries and a battery charger, because we could get 30% off for buying them all together. We went ahead and bought them, because those things rarely go on sale, but we did not use them - until I had checked to see how much we could get them for online.  I ended up finding the exact same batteries and a charger that included an adapter to use it in the car.  All three items cost about $26, shipped.  The ones we bought in the store?  About $150.  They all went back.

Besides the better prices you can often find coupons codes for shopping online.  Once you've found the item you want, but before you check out, just search for coupon codes for the that store.  There are several online sites that compile lists and links for all kinds of online coupons.  You can find free shipping or just save some extra money off your purchase.  Even a few dollars savings can make it worth your time to search.  Even if you don't find any codes to save money off the initial purchase, you can often get money back by shopping through sites like Ebates.  Create a free account, then when you're ready to shop or check out, simply click through the site, and  you'll get money back.  It's definitely worth it!  I don't know why I didn't start using it sooner.

How about you?  Do you have any tips for saving money shopping online?  Are you one of those who uses your mobile phone for shopping?

Snapily Deals

Remember that cool greeting card I got with the two pictures of Cory?  Well, if you're thinking of ordering some of your own, today is the day.  Get Mom the best Mother's Day card ever.

Coupon code MOM3OFF gives you $3 off ANY order and SHIPFREE gives you FREE SHIPPING on any order. They CAN be combined! ONLY UNTIL THE END OF TODAY!! Get those Mother's Day photo gifts for almost free at Snapily!!

You can also save up to 50% by purchasing a savings coupon - click the image.  Coupons can be purchased through May 8, and can be used any time in the next 6 months.

Related articles

• Customized Animated Gifts from Snapily (alwaysbcmom.com)

Customized Animated Gifts from Snapily

Check out this card I ordered from Snapily:




It features my sweet son, now and back when he was just a little guy.  What mom wouldn't love to get a customized card like this?  The thing is, creating a card like this - using your own photos and words - really doesn't cost any more than buying those Mother's Day cards at the store.  Even better, you can get a coupon and save 50%.  Best of all - no other mother is getting the exact same card!

 
Snapily offers easy to customize Animated Printed gifts and customized 3D gifts.  It's easy.  Simply select your product type and then upload your photos and add text.  The animated card lets you display 2 images on one card!  You can see how it's going to look before you order with the preview - and even share that preview like I did above.  Once you're satisfied, simply complete your order, and your card will be custom-printed for you and delivered in days.

The card I ordered turned out really well.  The only thing I want to mention is that, even though the pictures change from one to the other, you can always sort of see the other picture.  Does that make sense?  For instance, when I'm looking at the baby-Cory picture, I still see grown-up Cory in the background.  So, if you're going to order an animated card, you might want to use two similar pictures, or at least pictures that have the same lightness so one picture doesn't distract from the other when you move it.  Either way, it's a very cool card, and I would have loved getting it for Mother's Day.

Speaking of Mother's Day, It's coming up soon, so you'll want to get busy designing and ordering your cards now!  Don't forget to grab a coupon first so you can save up to 50%.  The coupons are good for ANY and ALL of Snapily's personalized animated & 3D gifts - bookmarks, photo cards, greeting cards, scrapbook pages, notebooks and more.

Check out Snapily on Facebook.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

Saving Money on Groceries

Earlier this week I saw an 'intervention' on tv.  One lady was being watched by two others as she did her grocery shopping.  When she got to the check-out lane, her total was over $400.  That's when the other two ladies came out of hiding, stopped her from paying that much for her groceries, and then took her through the store showing her how to spend much less.  They used store ads and coupons and got everything she had in the first place, along with some extra things, and the total only came to about $37.

Both this lady and her husband were in complete shock and kept going on and on about how they didn't know it was possible to save so much money.  Me?  I was wondering how it was even possible to spend so much in the first place.  Over $400 in one grocery trip?  I know there have been times I had my cart at Walmart so full that I seriously considered checking out, taking everything to the van, and then finishing the rest of my shopping.  Instead, I creatively rearranged my cart and continued - and even then my total was nowhere near $400.

Every time I see things like this, television segments or magazine articles promising to show people how to save money, I get excited.  And then they just tell me things I already know, like this:

How to save money at the grocery store:

• Read your local grocery ads and plan to buy what's on sale.
• Make a list!  That way you keep track of what you need and what's on sale.
• Use coupons, but only on the sale items.  Using a coupon on a regular-priced item doesn't really save you money.  Usually.
• If your store offers double coupon days, shop on those days.  That way, your coupons are worth twice as much.
• When you find a good deal on something, stock up!  Don't wait until you are actually out of something before you buy more.  Your goal is to have a pantry and freezer full of the things you use regularly.  That way, you should never have to pay full price.  For anything.
• Plan your meals around the sale items you buy and the items you already have in your freezer and pantry.  Don't just run out to the store to pick up something for dinner. 
• In fact, once you've got your freezer and pantry stocked, you won't even need to go to the grocery store every week, except maybe to grab a gallon of milk - or have the husband grab it on his way home from work like I do.

Ummm, what else?  I know there are more. The main thing is to do your homework - plan, cut out the coupons, etc.  You know if you were looking for life insurance, you'd do your homework by reading all the life insurance terms and definitions and looking for the best price for the most coverage.  Why should buying groceries and household items be any different?  It's a huge part of your household budget, but it doesn't have to be quite so huge.  I realize that all this takes time, and you may not have time to become an extreme couponer, but every little bit helps, so do what you can.  As you start saving, you might just want to do more!

How much do you usually spend on groceries?  How often do you go to the store?  Do you have any money-saving tips you can share with us?  Please do!

Related articles

• Is extreme couponing worth your time? (momblognetwork.com)
• You CAN Eat Healthy on a Budget (couponshoebox.com)

Feed Your Family for Less

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Family Dollar for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

If you've been reading my blog for long, you know that I love a good deal.  I shop the sales, I use coupons, I love getting more for less.  That means I'm not loyal to many name brands.  We were just talking about this the other night, and there are a couple things I have to buy a particular brand, but most of the time I buy whatever is cheaper.  Usually the store brand or a generic brand is as good as, if not better, than the name brand item.

I just found out that Family Dollar has their own line of grocery products called Family Gourmet. These are high-quality grocery products, comparable to the national brands your family may be using now, but at lower prices.  All Family Gourmet products have been quality tested to match the name brand products, but on average buying Family Gourmet products instead of those same national products can save a family 30%.  With the rising cost of food, 30% is huge!
Here are just a few cost comparisons:

• Family Gourmet Ground Roast Coffee 34.5 oz vs. Maxwell House Original 34.5 oz ($2.50 savings)
• Family Gourmet Berry Crunch Cereal 15 oz vs. Quaker Cap'n Berry Crunch 15 oz ($0.75 savings)
• Family Gourmet Apple Juice 64 oz vs. Motts Apple Juice 64 oz ($0.60 savings)

Even better?  You can print coupons for some of these products right from the website, saving you even more.
If you're thinking that the savings sound good, but you're not sure you or your family will like these products, regardless of how much they tell you that they're just like the national products, that's OK.  Try them anyway.  If you don't like them, you can return them within 30 days for a full refund!  They're 100% guaranteed, so you really have nothing to lose.  Except for high grocery bills, that is.