I have been a Work-At-Home Mom for about 3 years now and have researched ways to save myself some money, make extra cash, and more. I would like to share what I have learned with you.
Would you like to have more Facebook Followers and be able to find new blogs or businesses? If so come and Join me Every Friday For "Facebook Follow Friday!"
1. Add your Facebook Link, when you add it, it will automatically appear on everyone’s page that posts this Linky so you do not need to add it more than once.
2. Click on the Top 3 and like/add them: The first one will be me, Shining2Save and every week I will pick 2 more randomly. Please also follow the two people above you if you would like so everyone will get at least a couple new followers. You can leave them a comment letting them know your following from the Friday Facebook Hop.
3. Add/Like as many people on Facebook as you like.
4. You do not have to make a post to join: but it is always a plus if you do so everyone else can see and join in on the fun.
Help spread the word and add this Linky to your blog! The more we spread it the more followers we will get!
Below the Linky box, you will see see “What is a blog Hop? Get the Code Here" Click on it and just copy and paste that code into your post and the same Linky will appear. Your blog visitors can add their Facebook URL to your list and it will show up on all lists!
Feel free to copy and paste these instructions or just post the button and link back to me.
Are you hosting a giveaway on your blog or website? List them here so that my readers have a chance to enter. Just leave a link below with a direct link to the giveaway. I will remove anyone who does not link directly to your giveaway.
If you are a blog or website owner that host a weekly giveaway linky and want to be included on my growing list of linky’s email me with an image, day of the week you post a new one, and a url. I will be glad to add you to the list.
Play their instant win game to win Dole Fruit Bowls, All Natural Fruit in Plastic Jars, or a gift card for one of the great places below. New prizes make a splash each week!
WEEK 1: The Home Depot
WEEK 2: Amazon.com
WEEK 3: Cooking.com
WEEK 4: Nike®
WEEK 5: Bath & Body Works
WEEK 6: Kodak Gallery
WEEK 7: Macy's
WEEK 8: iTunes®
WEEK 9: Netflix®
WEEK 10: Spafinder.com
WEEK 11: REI
WEEK 12: Fandango
Also, when you play the instant win game you are entered to win a $15,000 Hawaiian Retreat.
This week it looks like there will be two inserts (1) Smartsource and (1) Red Plum. You can go to Sunday Coupon Preview to get a list of what coupons will be included. Make it part of your routine weekly to check this site out. You can use it to judge how many papers you will want to buy.
Zulily is fabulous! It's a new online store offering daily sales events on top-quality apparel, gear and other goodies for moms, babies and kids. They carry the best brands at the lowest prices. Members enjoy savings of up to 70% off retail prices. Zulily loves to find deals on favorite styles, and they love introducing our members to exciting new brands, too.
Zulily is not a traditional online store. Instead, they feature new items every day. They find great buys from lots of brands and work with them to ship you the goods. Zulily events last 72 hours . . . then they're gone! New brands move in and get their three days on the site.
Each weekday, they offer at least five limited-time shopping events. Membership is free.
Would you like to have more Facebook Followers and be able to find new blogs or businesses? If so come and Join me Every Friday For "Facebook Follow Friday!"
1. Add your Facebook Link, when you add it, it will automatically appear on everyone’s page that posts this Linky so you do not need to add it more than once.
2. Click on the Top 3 and like/add them: The first one will be me, Shining2Save and every week I will pick 2 more randomly. Please also follow the two people above you if you would like so everyone will get at least a couple new followers. You can leave them a comment letting them know your following from the Friday Facebook Hop. 3. Add/Like as many people on Facebook as you like. 4. You do not have to make a post to join: but it is always a plus if you do so everyone else can see and join in on the fun.
Help spread the word and add this Linky to your blog! The more we spread it the more followers we will get!
Below the Linky box, you will see see “What is a blog Hop? Get the Code Here" Click on it and just copy and paste that code into your post and the same Linky will appear. Your blog visitors can add their Facebook URL to your list and it will show up on all lists!
Feel free to copy and paste these instructions or just post the button and link back to me.
Author’s Bio: RP is a guest writer for various finance related Communities including CDFA, FCB, Debt Consolidation Care etc. She is a PG degree holder in Marketing and Finance and right now working in a reputed bank as a relationship manager. She is well equipped to write articles on debt consolidation , debt settlement, frugality, savings, economies of states etc.
Do you want to throw a house party to bid farewell to 2010 and welcome 2011? Are you a bit hesitant as it will cost you a lot of money? If yes, then stop being hesitant and follow these tips to throw a frugal house party without compromising on the enjoyment.
Plan a suitable budget – You need to plan a suitable budget before you begin with your arrangements. To plan the budget, decide how much you can spend and based on that allocate exact amount for each item such as, food, drinks, decoration, gifts, etc. It will help you arrange the party without building up debt on your credit cards that’ll be difficult to pay off later.
Reuse items for party decoration - If you search in your home, then you’ll find a lot of items that can be reused to decorate your house party. You can find party streamers, gift bags, balloons, ribbons, strings, etc., that you can use to decorate the party. Instead of hanging streamers and balloons all over the place, you can create a focal point in your house party celebration. You can keep a beautiful artifact at one corner and focus a bright light to highlight it. Complete the decoration by lighting candles and hanging red Christmas lights all over. It will create a great ambiance without costing you much.
Do not plan an elaborate menu – If you’re thinking that it is must to serve an elaborate menu on a house party, then you’re wrong. When you’re throwing a party at your home, try to keep it simple. While planning a budget party, you can arrange for finger foods and appetisers. They are easier to serve and eat as you can have such food while chatting with your friends. You can also ask your friends to bring their favourite desserts. In this way, there can be variety of items and your friends will also feel happy to be able to contribute to the party.
Stock the bar well – You can cut down the cost of beverage by keeping only one or two signature drinks instead of having a full bar. You can also keep non-alcoholic options as well. A great way to cut down expenses is to ask your guests to bring beverage of their choice and you can mix it to create a unique fruity punch. You should order drinks in a way that they are adequate but not excess.
One last tip – Instead of sending expensive invitations, call your friends and invite them for the party. You can also send e-mails to invite your guests. In this way, you can send personalised invitations as well as save a substantial amount on your house party celebrations.
Are you hosting a giveaway on your blog or website? List them here so that my readers have a chance to enter. Just leave a link below with a direct link to the giveaway. I will remove anyone who does not link directly to your giveaway.
If you are a blog or website owner that host a weekly giveaway linky and want to be included on my growing list of linky’s email me with an image, day of the week you post a new one, and a url. I will be glad to add you to the list.
To begin couponing and to keep your coupons maintained, you have to know where to find coupons. There are numerous ways to get them.
Newspapers: This is the most popular method of finding coupons. You can either buy them on Sunday from your local store or subscribe to your local paper. If you are interested in subscribing you can get a discounted subscription. I can get my local paper for a discounted rate (Sunday delivery only) for $6 a month (prices my vary by city). That is a savings of 45% off a normal subscription price. If you chose to get your papers at a local store, beware that there are people who take inserts out of the top papers on the stack, so aim to get your paper deeper in the stack.
Printable Coupons: There are some websites that offer printable coupons. The first time you print you may have to download their coupon printer. They usually have a great selection of coupons that are available, some that are not in your local newspapers coupon inserts. I usually scan these sites once a week to print out any new coupons that I would be interested in. There are downsides to using printable coupons. You can use up printing paper and printer ink, if you are not responsible and only print what you need. Keep in mind that not all stores accept internet coupons, so be sure to check your local stores coupon policy. Below is links to some sites that have printable coupons.
Digital e-Coupons: Some store loyalty cards have the option to load e-coupons on to them. These coupons will come off when the cashier scans the item and you can see it on your receipt. These coupons do not double like some manufacturer coupons do and digital e-coupons can not be used with manufacturer coupons on the same item. You can load your cards with these e-coupons at sites like Shortcuts.com, Cellfire, Upromise, and Kroger. If your store has a loyalty card, check their website to see if they have digital coupons available.
Facebook: Some manufacturers will offer coupons that can be printed directly from their Facebook page. You, of course, have to “Like” their page first. Go to some of your favorite brands Facebook page and “Like" them and you will be alerted in your News Feed when they post one. Here are a few brands you can go and "Like" now.
Friends and Family: I get a lot of coupons from friends and family. When I first started to use coupons, I put the word out to pass any unused coupons my way. I now get a large envelope (or two) full a week now. Get the word out to your fellow church members to. I get a majority from mine.
Coupon Trains: This is another great way to get coupons. A coupon train is when a group of people mail coupons to each other and pick coupons they are interested in and replace them with coupon you won't use. You can find a coupon train by Googling the term “coupon train” or forums like these, We Use Coupons and Mommy Savers.
Manufacturers: They love to hear honest feedback of their products. If you have a brand that you couldn’t imagine living without, contact them and tell them why they are so special to you and they just might email or mail you a coupon. It is not guaranteed that they will offer a coupon every time, but it is worth sharing your HONEST feedback with them anyway. You can find most contact info on their websites.
Buy Coupons: There are coupon clipping sites that offer whole inserts and clipped coupons for you to get for a small clipping fee. This is an affordable way to get coupons. They all usually ship very quickly (check each sites shipping time). Sites like Coupons and Things by Dede, and Coupon Carryout are two you can buy from. There are sellers on eBay that also sells coupons. Just search for the term “coupons” on the home page of eBay.
Coupon Blogs: There are some really good blogs out there that alerts you of printable coupons. One blog that I like the most is Free Coupon Alert. They usually update several times a week.
Twitter: You can search for the terms #coupons or “coupons” to find the latest tweets about coupons. You can also search for the brand that you are interested in to see if they have tweeted any new coupon links.
Next up, Couponing 101: How to Organize All Those Coupons
Would you like to have more Facebook Followers and be able to find new blogs or businesses? If so come and Join me Every Friday For "Facebook Follow Friday!"
Add your Facebook Link, when you add it, it will automatically appear on everyone’s page that posts this Linky so you do not need to add it more than once.
Click on the Top 3 and like/add them: The first one will be me, Shining2Save and every week I will pick 2 more randomly. Please also follow the two people above you if you would like so everyone will get at least a couple new followers. You can leave them a comment letting them know your following from the Friday Facebook Hop.
Add/Like as many people on Facebook as you like.
You do not have to make a post to join: but it is always a plus if you do so everyone else can see and join in on the fun.
Help spread the word and add this Linky to your blog! The more we spread it the more followers we will get!
Below the Linky box, you will see see “What is a blog Hop? Get the Code Here" Click on it and just copy and paste that code into your post and the same Linky will appear. Your blog visitors can add their Facebook URL to your list and it will show up on all lists!
Feel free to copy and paste these instructions or just post the button and link back to me.
Before I started using coupons, I looked at a coupon as if it were just a simple piece of paper that could just get you pennies off of your purchase. I didn’t realize the dynamics of how a coupon worked or even thought that one day my shopping habits would involve using them. I saw people at the checkouts with stacks of them in hand as people with too much time on their hands. Now, I am proudly one of those shoppers that people get irritated at for holding up the line because the cashier has a stack of coupons to scan through.
I first started to taking coupons seriously when I realized that my life called for a drastic budget change. I had decided to work from home and my income would take a hit because of my decision. Even with the realization I needed to start using them, I still didn’t understand them. I started to reading blogs about coupons and became amazed at how they can transform a families grocery bill. There were people actually buying a weeks worth of groceries for a family of 4 for half the grocery bill because they used their coupons strategically. It opened my eyes up to the saving possibilites that coupons provided.
During my wading through the internet to learn the best methods to cutting my grocery bill, one thing rang true with the pro couponers, Treat Coupons As They Are Cash In Your Pocket. What do I mean by that? It is simple, a coupon has a monetary value when a cashier scans it, so why not treat it for what it‘s worth. Say you have five $1 off coupons that you are using in one transaction, that is just like if you gave the cashier a $5 bill, only you got to keep the $5 in your pocket. Now think about coupons on a larger scale. On a normal grocery shopping trip to my local Kroger I usually have around $60 or more in coupons. That means that I just saved enough in my budget to pay my phone bill and have some left over to put toward another bill and I still got my necessities at the grocery store to have enough to feed my family.
$60 In Coupons= $60 In Cash Savings
$60 In Cash Savings= $60 Phone or Utility Bill Payment
It took my some time to get used to this mentality. When I finally got it, I started seeing my grocery bill change. I started menu planning, looking for ways to get more coupons, scouring for deals on the internet, and organizing my coupons in a more efficient way. It even gave me a chance to restructure my budget since I was not spending a ton of money on my grocery bill. I even started being able to put more into savings.
Thinking of coupons as cash in my pocket is the driving force for the series of post that I have entitled, Couponing 101. I wanted to start the new year off right and help others kick it off by saving them money in their pocket. If you have any questions or comments don’t hesitate to leave them below.
Tomorrow I will be sharing Couponing 101: Where Do You Get All Those Coupons?
Are you hosting a giveaway on your blog or website? List them here so that my readers have a chance to enter. Just leave a link below with a direct link to the giveaway. I will remove anyone who does not link directly to your giveaway.
If you are a blog or website owner that host a weekly giveaway linky and want to be included on my growing list of linky’s email me with an image, day of the week you post a new one, and a url. I will be glad to add you to the list.
The best coupon match up to find is when it makes the item FREE. Below is a couple of items that, with the right coupon, can be purchased for FREE at Walmart.
Schick Disposable Razors 10-12 ct Normally Retail for $1.97 Use Coupon that is found in the 12/5 Smart Source Coupon Insert for $2 Off any one Final Price: FREE
Reach Dental Floss 55 yds Normally Retail for $0.97 Use Coupon that is found in the 10/10 Red Plum Insert for $1 off 1 or Use A Printable for $1 off 1 Final Price: FREE
I thought it would be interesting to ask my readers how long you have been using coupons. I personally can’t remember the exact time I began using coupons, but at my best guess, I have been using coupons since 2006. Coupons have become an important part of my families budget and I don’t leave home without my coupon binder in the car with me. I spend about 4 hours a week on coupon related activites to keep my binder up to date, check for any great deals and print any internet coupons for products I use. I might seem obsessive about couponing, but it takes it to make my budget fall where it needs to be. In the next few days, I will be sharing with you some coupon using tips to help newbie’s and reenergize seasoned couponers. For now, please vote in our latest poll (located in the left sidebar).
If you are not an email subscriber, subscribe today by entering your email address in the left sidebar.
Join P&GBrandSampler to get free samples and coupons from brands that you know. Right now they have samples of Head & Shoulders, Tampax Pearl and Pantene Solutions and a coupon by mail for Cheer. P&G allows each household to order samples and coupons once each quarter (Ordering periods are generally between January 1 and March 31, April 1 and June 30, July 1 and September 30 and October 1 and December 31).
Would you like to have more Facebook Followers and be able to find new blogs or businesses? If so come and Join me Every Friday For "Facebook Follow Friday!"
1. Add your Facebook Link, when you add it, it will automatically appear on everyone’s page that posts this Linky so you do not need to add it more than once.
2. Click on the Top 3 and like/add them: The first one will be me, Shining2Save and every week I will pick 2 more randomly. Please also follow the two people above you if you would like so everyone will get at least a couple new followers. You can leave them a comment letting them know your following from the Friday Facebook Hop.
3. Add/Like as many people on Facebook as you like.
4. You do not have to make a post to join: but it is always a plus if you do so everyone else can see and join in on the fun.
Help spread the word and add this Linky to your blog! The more we spread it the more followers we will get!
Below the Linky box, you will see see “What is a blog Hop? Get the Code Here" Click on it and just copy and paste that code into your post and the same Linky will appear. Your blog visitors can add their Facebook URL to your list and it will show up on all lists!
Feel free to copy and paste these instructions or just post the button and link back to me.
On Christmas Eve, my family has a game night and we open one gift each. To make the night more fun, we make snacks foods that are good and filling to eat while we play. Chips and dip are always one food that has to make its appearance. I was lucky enough to get a package full of Wholly Guacamole products to try. The package included their Wholly Guacamole All Natural Salsa Dip, Wholly Guacamole Classic Queso Dip, Wholly Guacamole Classic Guacamole, and Wholly Guacamole Spicy Guacamole.
I usually make homemade guacamole because I have tried several store bought ready to eat guacamole and found that none of them stands up to the fresh homemade kind. I was pleasantly surprised when I tried the classic guacamole. It was smooth and perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of garlic. The spicy guacamole tasted great and stood up well to a salty chip. The seasonings were not overdone, they were just right.
Another favorite dip of mine is the queso. I immediately fell in love with this queso. It is made with creamy cheddar, vegetables, and spices. The mix of the veggies with the cheese is perfect. The seasoning blended well with the cheese and veggies and Tostitos. Of all of the dips sent, this was my favorite. I have tried all kinds of quesos in my life, but this one is addictive. My family is still talking about it. My only complaint is that I could not find the queso dip at my local Walmart, I found it at a Walmart in the city.
I would recommend Wholly Guacamole products to anyone. They are not only great tasting but healthy too. They have over 20 vitamins and minerals that are good for you inside. They also are noted as being gluten free. Have Wholly Guacamole at your next snack time and you will like them as much as me.
Are you hosting a giveaway on your blog or website? List them here so that my readers have a chance to enter. Just leave a link below with a direct link to the giveaway. I will remove anyone who does not link directly to your giveaway.
If you are a blog or website owner that host a weekly giveaway linky and want to be included on my growing list of linky’s email me with an image, day of the week you post a new one, and a url. I will be glad to add you to the list.
So today I couldn't wait to get the paper since it was expected to have a lot of coupons in it. Turns out this Sunday's paper had 2 Smart Source Inserts and a General Mills Insert. For those who get the Red Plum Inserts in their Sunday paper you will get 2 inserts otherwise you will get them in the mail this week like I will. Don't miss out on grabbing a few of these papers to help build up your coupon inventory since a lot of the expired last week. This would be a great week to hit up family and friends that don't use coupons for their inserts.
If you are not a subscriber to your local newspaper, cehck out Discounted Newspapers for a subscription.
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