Value, it's a heart thing...

Almost 3 years ago when I was laid off of my job, it was a turning point in my life. I had always used coupons, but never really focused my attention to save money the way I do now. I had a green plastic tote laying around that I wasn’t using and decided that I would fill it with items that I purchased throughout the year. I would constantly find items on sale or on a clearance rack. I would sometimes add items that were given to me as gifts that I planned on re-gifting.

I asked my husband this past weekend to bring out the box so that I could begin to sort and label particular gifts for the intended recipient. I was tickled when I came across a purse I bought 2 years ago still sitting there. I bought it from my local Goodwill store for $2.85, it is brand new, never used and still had the tag on it. The retail price was $97.99. It got me to thinking, too often we place the value of gifts that we receive in monetary form, rather than from the heart.

Who has to know that this purse only cost me $2.85? Just because I saved $95.14 doesn’t make the gift cheap. It doesn’t make the recipient less valuable to me.  Why is there so much emphasis placed on the money? It’s pretty disheartening to see that many people go outside of their means to buy a gift they can not truly afford just to appease someone.

Some may consider me cheap, but I believe that a true gift comes from the heart, not from the pocket. And the person receiving it should not want to see me struggle just to make them happy.

End of week totals...

This week we received $12.00 in free bucks from CVS. We've almost completed our Christmas shopping and still have plenty of time to find more bargains and deals. 

Swagbucks 5,165 points ($50 Gift Card)

Shopkicks 17,488 points ($65 Gift Card)

Plink 21,640 points ($215 Gift Card)

Inbox $34.34 (Via Paypal)

Panda $45.30 (Via Check)

Coke Rewards 889 points

Health Savings Account $124

Locket $11.92 (Via Paypal)

Mid week shopping trip...

This week's ECB's afforded us 6 free bottles of body wash at CVS. 

We paid .06 OOP

Total retail $17.54

Not a bad haul this week. 

Ebates a plenty...

A few years ago I heard about a website called Ebates as I was making an online purchase from Old Navy. I didn’t know that it would turn out to be a great source of money savings. Generally I do most of my online shopping in the months leading up to Christmas and I have saved so much.

Ebates is a program that offers cash back for your online purchases. You can earn anywhere from 1%-35% cash back off popular retailers. You even have a choice of how to receive your cash back via check or paypal every quarter. My favorite perk is that I can still use other coupons codes for even more savings (i.e. free shipping etc.).

Each day they also have double cash back savings for a variety of retailers. I’ve signed up for their daily emails and I made a list of my favorite stores so that I don’t have to dig around for them in a time crunch.

Since it’s just the start of my online shopping season, I’ve only earned $1.84 cash back, but by the end of December, I will see a decent sum to spend on myself.

Click here to sign up!

I heart Shop your way rewards...

A week ago I shared our story about utilizing Kmart’s layaway service, and I’ve discussed how we receive free Kmart bucks via their Shop your way rewards program. In the past two months, we have unexpectedly earned $51 dollars to spend on anything in store.

We decided to purchase necessities such as toiletries and cleaning supplies, but on one occasion, we splurged on a new pair of tennis shoes for my husband that we matched with an in store $5 off coupon.

I normally did not shop at Kmart because of the distance, but located one close to my job. Each week if we receive more free Kmart bucks, my husband and I meet for dinner then head off to Kmart to grab our freebies. I signed up for Shop your way rewards 2 years ago and have seen great rewards as a result. I recently downloaded their app which also allows me to add instant & exclusive coupons that can also be used for layaway.

I also enjoy using my rewards card at Sears to earn points and to get a freebie or two. All told, the benefits of shopping at Kmart have become much more enticing then shopping at my local Walmart.

Which rewards programs are your favorites?

CVS Weekly Shopping Trip 9/22/13

Off to CVS for great deals this week. 

Total OOP $1.98

Total Retail $23.77

The majority of our purchase was paid for with ECB's from weekly emails for customer loyalty. We paid .66 cents per bottle of Dawn Dish Liquid.

Just today we received another $12 in ECB's, I haven't quite decided how to spend those bucks yet. Stay tuned!

Christmas on a budget...

Each year my husband and I set a goal for Christmas spending. This year we set it at $215.00 which includes 12 people as gift recipients.

At first I thought this would be an unattainable goal, but while armed with my coupons, a nose for clearance sales and fighting for what is right, we are right on task.

After a trip to Kmart, we opened a layaway filled with Clearance items that we plan on giving as gifts. We spent $107.00 of our budget and need to purchase only 4 more gifts and we’ll be done. We plan on coming in significantly under budget.

We decided that many of the gifts we plan on giving will be home crafted. However, for those that we are spending money on, we’ve used a number of methods to keep our spending under control. Below are just a few money saving tips that we’ve used that may also help you keep your budget in check for the holidays.

• Use Amazon price check app
• Use Ebates for all online purchases for cash back rebates
• Use Retailmenot.com for coupon codes for free shipping etc
• Use Coupon Sherpa app for in store and online coupons
• Use Swagbucks to earn virtual bucks & cash them out for gift cards.
• Use Shopkicks to earn points & cash them out for gift cards.
• Use mobile coupons & combine with paper coupons for extra savings.
• Use Plink to earn points & cash them out for gift cards.
• Shop Clearance racks
• Take advantage of layaway programs (Kmart & Walmart)
• Shop at your local pawn shop
• Ask for a discount (Use your negotiating skills)
• Use loyalty rewards cards (Never leave home without them)
• Sign up for emails from your favorite stores for money          saving coupons
• Don’t be afraid to walk away from a “deal”.
• Use price comparison tools like “Invisible Hand” on your PC
• Use Ad Match guarantee @ Walmart, Toys R’ Us & other popular retailers.
• Shop yard sales & consignment shops for unique gifts
• Visit a craft fair for home made gift ideas
• Give a baked gift
• Give the gift of time (donate your Friday night to babysit for a friend)

If you have a tip you'd like to share, feel free to comment.

End of week totals...

This past month we have received so many free bucks from CVS & Kmart. We've used those funds to increase our stockpile but also to help with our Christmas Shopping. We have also racked up quite well on our points. 

Swagbucks 5,107 points ($50 Gift Card)

Shopkicks 17,184 points ($65 Gift Card)

Plink 20,490 points ($200 Gift Card)

Inbox $33.79 (Via Paypal)

Panda $44.41 (Via Check)

Coke Rewards 879 points

Amazon Credit $0 (Spent on gift for Dad)

Health Savings Account $139

These points do not include my husbands points that he has worked hard on earning. 

Fun Fall ideas...

This year in my local area there are many community events that I’d like to participate in. High on my list is a hay ride and visiting a pumpkin patch. Most metropolitan and small towns have wonderful fall events that are free or nominally priced. Check out your local community calendar for fun ideas for the family. Below are just a few to help get you started.

·        Corn field maze

·        Church fall harvest festivals

·        Pumpkin Patch

·        Hay Rides

·        Scary movie fests

·        Christmas light display tours

·        Craft fairs

·        Mini Carnivals

·        Botanical garden tour

The point is to get out and get active with a fun event with family and friends.