So, in the last few weeks I've become a little crazy about couponing. I'm excited about it. I love to save money. AND it's going to help our family continue to get even closer to becoming debt free. Yes, DEBT FREE! YAY! We're getting closer and closer, and our hopes to be debt free weren't dashed by a few setbacks. It's just part of the plan, part of the game, and we're still working hard on Baby Step 2! We're anxious and excited!
In the past few months I contacted some friends about learning about the real deal with couponing. The woman that came to share her knowledge with us at our MOPS meeting this past month got me (and several other moms) ready and geared up for couponing. Some of us didn't even realize what it all entailed (including me!). Although I can't share all of the things I gleaned from the meeting here, I can add to the list of sites that I've learned to utilize! Here they are
Couponersunited.com
Moneysavingmom.com
Frugallyblonde.blogspot.com
heyitsfree.com
orgjunkie.com
stretchingabuckblog.com
Although I can't devote my evenings and weekends to couponing, I'm going to give this weekend my very first "real good" shot. I've always couponed, but this time I'm using "prior knowledge" from those who go before me (aka PocketYourDollars and CreativeCouponing)
And if all this information goodness isn't "good" enough for you...here's a video to get your couponing fire burning!
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Money. Show all posts
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
Making It All Work
Recently at MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) meeting myself and several other moms gathered to pray together, chat, support, and learn together. Our meetings are monthly and this month we had a fabulous speaker who shared the importance of financial peace. The woman who shared many words of wisdom about finances gleaned her perspectives on several ways to save money on every day living expenditures.
In past blog posts I have shared sites that I have utilized in saving money. You can find those posts here and here. I have since then found more sites and more strategies to saving money. Here are some of the strategies I use to get the most on what we've been provided.
1) I scour and search for steals and deals on gifts, necessities, and the occasional splurge. Some of the sites that I have added to my money saving scavenger hunt are
PocketYourDollars
Creative Couponing
2) I always buy a Saturday paper ( they're cheaper than Sunday) sometimes I buy 2, purely for the coupon inserts. Both of the above websites alert me as to the number of inserts that will be in the paper for that weekend, as well as the value of the coupons I'll find. It's always nice when someone else does some of the work for you.
3) In order to keep to my $60-$80/week grocery budget for our family of 5, I plan the week's meals based on the foods that are on sale at Cub Foods and Target. Both stores offer deals and they also offer coupons either in store, by mail, or on the web. Many times you can match up a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon to score even bigger savings. I spend a good amount of time each week devising my plan for meals for the week in order to come out with a best case scenario, which usually keeps the pocketbook a little more full. I only go to the grocery store with a detailed list, and I rarely deviate.
These are just my top three things I've been doing to save money recently. It's all become so natural and routine now,that I don't really think before doing it, it's all become habit, and I'm working hard to make it all work.
~Amber
In past blog posts I have shared sites that I have utilized in saving money. You can find those posts here and here. I have since then found more sites and more strategies to saving money. Here are some of the strategies I use to get the most on what we've been provided.
1) I scour and search for steals and deals on gifts, necessities, and the occasional splurge. Some of the sites that I have added to my money saving scavenger hunt are
PocketYourDollars
Creative Couponing
2) I always buy a Saturday paper ( they're cheaper than Sunday) sometimes I buy 2, purely for the coupon inserts. Both of the above websites alert me as to the number of inserts that will be in the paper for that weekend, as well as the value of the coupons I'll find. It's always nice when someone else does some of the work for you.
3) In order to keep to my $60-$80/week grocery budget for our family of 5, I plan the week's meals based on the foods that are on sale at Cub Foods and Target. Both stores offer deals and they also offer coupons either in store, by mail, or on the web. Many times you can match up a store coupon with a manufacturer coupon to score even bigger savings. I spend a good amount of time each week devising my plan for meals for the week in order to come out with a best case scenario, which usually keeps the pocketbook a little more full. I only go to the grocery store with a detailed list, and I rarely deviate.
These are just my top three things I've been doing to save money recently. It's all become so natural and routine now,that I don't really think before doing it, it's all become habit, and I'm working hard to make it all work.
~Amber
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Coupon Savvy
Tis the season to spend money...fa-la-la-la-la -la-la-la-laaaaaa! I love to buy gifts for other people and I've been known to go overboard, to spend too much, thus taking away from the real, true meaning of Christmas.
Since becoming more frugal and taking charge of our spending, see here, I take advantage of any and all opportunities to SAVE MONEY. I'm not cheap, I just look for good deals on quality items. I am not ashamed to say that with some things I am a name brand junkie. I do prefer to buy my kids nice things that last.
I am one of those people who sign up for every "club" at the stores that I frequently purchase from. No, I don't get their credit cards, I only get the "perk" cards. I receive coupons frequently and I only use them when I need something...and Christmas is the perfect time!
Today I shopped for my nieces and nephews since we were iced in at home. I got something for each of them and I saved a bundle! I used both online and paper coupons. One of my favorite sites for online coupons is RetailMeNot.com . It's a great site to find super coupons for virtually every place online. It's free, you don't have to be a member, and you, too, can submit your coupon codes.
If you're looking for an item that is not coupon related, you can look at a bunch of different sites at once by using BeatMyPrice.com where you can enter the name of the product, the price you've seen, and where, and they'll comparison shop for you, listing out the places online that have the same item. It's fabulous! And a penny saved is a penny earned!
Another way to save is to use FREE SHIPPING! So many companies are offering it this season, and if you can shop from home, find a great deal, and have it shipped to you for free...why wouldn't you!?
Enjoy the holidays and be a good consumer! Save yourself money and have fun buying for those you love. I enjoy the "game" of finding good deals, just ask my little Santa's helper!
Since becoming more frugal and taking charge of our spending, see here, I take advantage of any and all opportunities to SAVE MONEY. I'm not cheap, I just look for good deals on quality items. I am not ashamed to say that with some things I am a name brand junkie. I do prefer to buy my kids nice things that last.
I am one of those people who sign up for every "club" at the stores that I frequently purchase from. No, I don't get their credit cards, I only get the "perk" cards. I receive coupons frequently and I only use them when I need something...and Christmas is the perfect time!
Today I shopped for my nieces and nephews since we were iced in at home. I got something for each of them and I saved a bundle! I used both online and paper coupons. One of my favorite sites for online coupons is RetailMeNot.com . It's a great site to find super coupons for virtually every place online. It's free, you don't have to be a member, and you, too, can submit your coupon codes.
If you're looking for an item that is not coupon related, you can look at a bunch of different sites at once by using BeatMyPrice.com where you can enter the name of the product, the price you've seen, and where, and they'll comparison shop for you, listing out the places online that have the same item. It's fabulous! And a penny saved is a penny earned!
Another way to save is to use FREE SHIPPING! So many companies are offering it this season, and if you can shop from home, find a great deal, and have it shipped to you for free...why wouldn't you!?
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Dave.
Last winter my husband and I met this man named Dave. Dave was eccentric, a little arrogant, but lived for the Lord. He was vivacious, humorous, and sometimes, a little rude. But rude, in a good way.
You see, Dave has changed our life. He's given us some tools to live the way we ought to live and since we've met him, WE are better. What has he urged us to do? Well, we've set goals, made changes, and we're working as a team to eradicate some evil in our life. Evil we call debt. We're working to better our lives, the lives of our children, and eventually give more to those in need. I can't wait! I can't wait to give "away" what has been given to us, to better the lives of others. It's fabulous. Yes, we tithe, yes, we sponsor, and yes, we help. But this new sense of GIVING is even beyond that.
I can't wait. Dave has taught us to go beyond ourselves. We are living like no one else so later, we can live like no one else. In a DEBT FREE way!
Do you do Dave? You can meet him here!
You see, Dave has changed our life. He's given us some tools to live the way we ought to live and since we've met him, WE are better. What has he urged us to do? Well, we've set goals, made changes, and we're working as a team to eradicate some evil in our life. Evil we call debt. We're working to better our lives, the lives of our children, and eventually give more to those in need. I can't wait! I can't wait to give "away" what has been given to us, to better the lives of others. It's fabulous. Yes, we tithe, yes, we sponsor, and yes, we help. But this new sense of GIVING is even beyond that.
I can't wait. Dave has taught us to go beyond ourselves. We are living like no one else so later, we can live like no one else. In a DEBT FREE way!
Do you do Dave? You can meet him here!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
It's Shrektacular!
If you haven't heard the news... Shrek the Final Chapter is out in full force in a theatre near you! General Mills is celebrating the release of this one 'Shrek' of a finale by offering you some fantastic ogre-sized savings on the foods you love!
Our family received a Shrek-tacular prize pack made up of a re-useable Shrek grocery bag, fabulous Big G cereals, Fruit Roll-Ups Minis snacks and Betty Crocker Blueberry Muffin Mix. The prize pack also included a $10 Shrek-tacular Savings coupon book with fun Shrek trivia, a Shrek water squirter, a Shrek highlighter and a $25 gift card that you can use to purchase tickets to see the new Shrek Forever After film! It was awesome the our boys LOVED it! This was all compliments of General Mills through MyBlogSpark.
The best part of this is the awesome savings AND one of you can win one of these great prize packs for yourself! Just become a follower of Mamathyme and leave a comment about how your family saves 'green'. One additional entry if you post this giveaway on your blog (with a link) OR post on your Facebook page with a link to this giveaway. One winner will be chosen on Monday, June 13, 2010. Be sure that your email address is included so I can contact you if you are the winner!
Until then, To save even more green, visit www.everydaysaver.com/shrek to download coupons today. While you’re there you and your little prince or princess can get in the mood to see Shrek Forever After by taking a peek at the movie trailer.
I look forward to hearing about your Shrek-tacular savings and how your family saves 'green'!
~Amber
Thursday, April 29, 2010
A Penny Saved...is a Penny Saved!
Hubby and I just finished Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University (learn more here) and we have been really proactive previously in the last two years in saving every nickel and dime that we are able to. When I was a SAHM with the boys before I got started in teaching at our church daycare and preschool, I LOVED looking for the best deals on everything and anything. I loved doubling coupons, finding great prices on the things we NEEDED, and learning how to get more for less. I felt like I had conquered the retail monster and learned how to shop with out dropping!
Here are my favorite places to find deals, steals, and the greatest prices around!
Groupon.com
AFullCup.com
RetailMeNot.com
MommySavers.com
BeatMyPrice.com
I'm always on the couponing bandwagon, but since I went back to work full time, I haven't been as gung-ho as I was earlier. I'm back at it and hoping to score some fabulous finds and of course, I'm always willing to share them with you!
~Amber
Oooo-- my friend Aimee has a great site to share... dealsonradio.com Check it out, I'm on my way!
Here are my favorite places to find deals, steals, and the greatest prices around!
Groupon.com
AFullCup.com
RetailMeNot.com
MommySavers.com
BeatMyPrice.com
I'm always on the couponing bandwagon, but since I went back to work full time, I haven't been as gung-ho as I was earlier. I'm back at it and hoping to score some fabulous finds and of course, I'm always willing to share them with you!
~Amber
Oooo-- my friend Aimee has a great site to share... dealsonradio.com Check it out, I'm on my way!
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