SWEET!! Half Price Movie Tickets on Fandango!!

Such a deal!

Screaming Daily Deals has a deal going today for Fandango where you can get $12 worth of movie tickets for $6. So that's half price for the movies! These are not good for 3D movies. Limit 2 per person. You can find the deal under Chicago or National Deals. Click here to get to the site.


Enjoy the movies on the cheap!

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Making Do With What You've Got: Part VI: Earn More

If you are like me, you are making ends meet by living frugally, couponing, and saving a little for a rainy day. But what do you do to pay off debts or make a little extra cash for a special trip or upcoming expense?

I like to make a little extra money on the side by mystery shopping, completing surveys online, paid emails, and earning points for shopping or tasks. There are tons of companies that allow you to make a little extra money though these means. You will not get rich off of these websites or by mystery shopping, but you can earn gift cards and make a few extra bucks a month. I made about $100 last month mystery shopping and almost have enough points on MyPoints to get a gift card for Shell gas!

There are some great companies out there that are reputable and pay you when they say they will. Unfortunately, there are also a lot of companies that take forever to accumulate points or do not credit you when you complete a task for them. This blog has a review section that will give you my experience and opinion of many of legitimate survey, points, and mystery shopping companies to help you choose the best companies for you and get the best payouts.

You may ask how gift cards can help you pay off debt, so I shall tell you. Get gift cards for things you will pay for anyway that are already in your budget, like gas or grocery stores. Or you can get prepaid Visa cards or have paypal deposits. Then, when you get a gift card for gas, transfer the amount of the gift card out of that budget line item/envelope and use it for debt. Voila, cash for debt!!! Now run along, sign up, and pay off that debt!!

Some of my favorites are listed below:

MyPoints- This company offers points for online shopping, surveys, completing signup offers, and paid email. The points accumulate fairly quickly (over a few months with average use) and can be redeemed for giftcards at hundreds of popular retailers. I will be cashing out my points for a $25 Shell gasoline gift card soon!

Memolink- This company is very similar to MyPoints and offers points for online shopping, surveys, completing signup offers, and paid email. The points accumulate fairly quickly (over a few months with average use) and can be redeemed for giftcards at hundreds of popular retailers. I have already received two $10 Target gift cards from Memolink!


Mystery Shopping Requires a bit more work than points companies but they pay much more! You need to be organized, a coherent writer, and pay attention to detail. It is easy to get the hang of and is really fun though! Remember: Never fall for scams that require you to pay anything to join a mystery shop company.
You may have to front some money to pay for your purchase or meal but most companies will reimburse you according to the requirements of the shop. Read the fine print, follow the directions, and you will have no problems completing the shop correctly to get paid.

Bestmark- Bestmark is a well known and respected mystery shopping company and has been an industry leader for 24 years. I have done a few mystery shops for Bestmark and have really enjoyed the experience. They pay monthly by check automatically so you can be surprised by a check in your mailbox in just a few weeks! I have gotten paid twice from them and look forward to doing more shops soon. Use referral ID MD5921 when you sign up!

MarketForce- Marketforce is the leading Mystery Shopping company and is widely known and respected. They have a wide variety of industries which they provide shops for including grocery stores, restaurants, fast food, and banks. I have done many shops with them and have had no problems with receiving payment. They pay by direct deposit the month after you complete the shops so at first there is a bit of a delay but if you continue to complete shops you will have steady monthly direct deposits.


Related Posts:
Making Do With What You've Got: Part I: Making A Budget
Making Do With What You've Got: Part II: Balance Your Checkbook!
Making Do With What You've Got: Part III: Lower Your Bills
Making Do With What You've Got: Part IV: Ten Principles of Couponing
Making Do With What You've Got: Part V: Save For A Rainy Day (or Week)

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Look What Came in the Mail!

My mailbox was pretty full last week!

Coupons for Hills Science Diet Dog Food (which I buy regularly)
Free sample of Quaker Squares cereal
Coupon for $5 off my next purchase at 1-800-Pet Meds
Cupon for Free Pantene Shampoo or Conditioner
CVS coupon for $1 off Lifesavers gummy candy
CVS coupon for $2 off Kotex U (this store coupon can be paired with a manurafturer coupon for further savings)

I love freebies! Signing up for rewards programs with companies and stores I frequently shop really can pay off.

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Free Sample: Olay Pro-X Clear

Olay is giving away samples of its Intensive Refining Sulfur Mask Sulfur Acne Treatment and Olay Professional Pro-X Clear Complexion Renewing Lotion. Click here for the sample.

Thanks Common Sense With Money!

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Deals at CVS This Week- Aug 21-27

Here are some of the best deals at CVS this week. Prices change on Sunday.
Remember to scan your ExtraCard card at the coupon machine (usually near the door) for in-store coupons.

This week the Coupon Machine is printing a $1.50/1 Speed Stick deodorant coupon for some people. Combine this store coupon with a manufacturer coupon and you can get deodorant for $.49!

Mennen Speed Stick (excludes Stainguard) $2.99
Buy 1, Receive $1.00 Extra Buck, Limit 1
Use $1.50/1 Speed Stick Deodorant from the CVS Coupon Machine
Pay $1.49, Receive $1.00 Extra Buck
Final Price: $0.49

Other deals:

Vaseline Body Lotion, 10 oz $2.50
Use $1.50/1 Vaseline Product from RP 7/31
Final Price: $1.00

Mitchum Deodorant, excludes 2 pks. $1.99
Use $1.00/1 Mitchum Product from SS 8/21
or $0.75/1 Mitchum or Mitchum for Women Product from SS 7/31
or $0.75/1 Mitchum for Women Product from SS 7/31
Final Price: as low as $0.99

Schick Hydro 3 or Hydro 5 Cartridges, 4 ct. or Razor, 1 ct. $ 8.49
Buy 1, Receive $5.00 Extra Bucks, Limit 1
Use $2.00/1 Schick Hydro Refill from SS 8/7
or $2.00/1 Schick Hydro Razor from SS 8/7
Pay $6.49, Receive $5.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $1.49

Colgate Optic White Toothpase, 4 oz or Toothbrush, 1 ct. $2.99
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 Extra Bucks, Limit 2
Pay $2.99, Receive $2.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $0.99

Bengay, Precise, Icy Hot, 2-4 oz, Patch, 3-5 ct. or Medicated Roll, Prices starting at $5.49
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 Extra Bucks, Limit 1
Use $3.00/1 Bengay Product from RP 7/31
or $3.00/1 Bengay Product from RP 6/19
or $3.00/1 – Bengay Product – (smartsource.com)
or $3.00/1 Precise Heat Patch from SS 7/31
or $3.00/1 Precise Product from RP 6/12
or $2.00/1 Precise Product from SS 5/8
or $2.00/1 – Precise Product – (precisepainrelief.com)
or $1.00/1 Icy Hot, Aspercreme, Capzasin, Sportscreme or Flexall from SS 7/31
or $2.00/1 Icy Hot Naturals from SS 7/31
Pay $2.49, Receive $2.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: as low as $0.49

Revlon Lip $6.99
Buy 1, Receive $5.00 Extra Bucks, Limit 3
Use $1.00/1 Revlon Color Cosmetics Product from SS 8/14
or $1.00/1 Revlon Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara or Color Cosmetic Product from SS 7/17
Pay $5.99, Receive $5.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $0.99

Orbit Gum 14ct, buy 1 get one free, $.75
Use 2 $.50/1 Orbit gum from SS 7/31
Final Price: $.50 for 2

You can find more great deals at CVS and other stores this week at Krazy Coupon Lady and Coupon Mom.

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Making Do With What You've Got: Part V: Save for a Rainy Day (or Week)

I have a confession to make: I am a terrible saver.

I can plan ahead financially, make budgets, think twice about expenses, and try to exercise some self-discipline, but I am bad at saving. I can cut expenses, lower my bills, and coupon with the best of them, but if I have the money sitting in a line item of my budget, chances are it will be spent before the month is up.

Saving for a rainy day is critical. If the car suddenly needs a new tire, or the dog needs an emergency trip to the vet, I really want to be able to have an extra $100 dollars available. Especially if a major problem arises such as a job loss or emergency medical expenses, I would like to have money set aside for that as well (and these things require far more than $100).

But how do you save when you are living on a tight budget and are just making enough to get by?
You make saving a line item in your budget.
It's the only way that I can squirrel away any money. If I see the money, I will spend it. So I take it out of my account automatically with monthly automatic deposits into my savings account.

Many banks have automatic savings programs which can work to your advantage. Bank of America has the Add It Up program which rounds debit card transactions to the nearest dollar and deposits that change into your savings account. I believe Wachovia has a smiliar program. These programs are an easy way to accrue a bit into your savings account every month without having to think about it. Since I use my debit card a lot I often end up with over $30 a month transferred into my savings account without even thinking about it.

To budget for saving using the Add It Up program, I start with a total amount which I want to save each month as my line item, then I enter the debits from my checking account into my savings account which draws down the balance. I also set up automatic debits from my checking account into my savings account each month and enter those as further debits from the savings line item. At the end of the month when there is any money left in any of the line items (or envelopes), then I transfer that money into savings.

This sounds simple but it is not easy. Saving is the epitome of delayed gratification. Sometimes, it doesn't even seem gratifying. It is much easier to buy something I want now than to hide that money from myself for when I will actually need it. But I'll tell you what, when an emergency comes boy am I glad that I have something squirreled away.

The alternative to saving is debt. If I do not have money saved and an emergency expense comes up, then out comes the trusty credit card. Honestly, the whole reason for having a credit card is to make a loan to yourself (with interest unless you pay it back within the month) for an expense you want or need. Now, I could forego that vacation that I could put on my credit card. Or that dinner out at our favorite Italian restaurant. But can I in all honesty say that I will forego paying for an necessary medical expense or car repair? Sure, I can get by without a car (begrudgingly), but not paying your medical bills only leads to debt.

As for those non-emergency payments that are still super important, like traveling to California next year for my sister's wedding, saving up for them is also really important. I have gotten into the bad habit of robbing my emergency saving money to pay for special events rather than saving separately. This often can backfire because then you return home with your savings totally wiped out. And life has a tendency of continuing on regardless of if you just went on vacation, so the car may still break down later that week.

So add saving into your budget. Even if it is only a little, it will let you breathe easier later.

Related Posts:
Making Do With What You've Got: Part I: Making A Budget
Making Do With What You've Got: Part II: Balance Your Checkbook!
Making Do With What You've Got: Part III: Lower Your Bills
Making Do With What You've Got: Part IV: Ten Principles of Couponing

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My Shopping Trip: CVS and Rite Aid

I went to CVS and Rite Aid to do a bit of stocking up and picked up the freebies this week.

CVS
Revlon Scented Nail Polish- sale $4.99
GFit 1 Prime- sale $1.50
GFit 02 Fuel- sale $1.00
GFit 03 Recovery- sale $2.50
Pre-Coupon Total: $9.99

Coupons Used:
CVS Magic Coupon Machine Coupon $3 off Revlon cosmetic product
Free GFit 02 wyb GFit 01 and GFit 03- $1 off (came in mail from CVS)
$5 Extra Care Bucks

Total Out of Pocket w/ tax: $1.45
Received:
$3 ECB for Revlon Nail Polish
$1 ECB for Green Bag Tag
$5 ECB for Gatorade Promo wyb $5 in Gatorade items

Moneymaker of $7.55!

Rite Aid
Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons- sale $3.99
2 Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent -sale $3.99 each
Cotton Balls-sale $2.33 (Not really a good price but I needed these. The sign said $2/2 but I guess it rang up wrong and I did not notice until after I had already gotten home)
Pre-Coupon Total: $14.30

Coupons Used:
$1/2 Arm & Hammer Laundry Products
$2/1 Playtex Gentle Glide Tampons
$2 +UP Reward

Total Out of Pocket w/ tax: $9.92
Received:
$2 +UP Reward Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent
$2 +UP Reward Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent
$1 +UP Reards Playtex

Total: $4.92 (great stock up prices at $1.50 each for laundry detergent and $.99 for tampons)

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Making Do With What You've Got: Part IV: Ten Principles of Couponing

Groceries are a necessity. Indeed, no one is really interested in trimming their grocery budget. Yet I often walked out of the grocery store after spending over a hundred dollars (again) and my heart sank. Yes, I need to feed myself and my husband, but what can I do about making this a much more manageable expense?

I had always compared prices on products and frequently bought generics. I even clipped coupons and carried them around in an envelope in my purse, but they usually expired far more often than I used them. After watching the TLC show Extreme Couponing I realized that I was doing it wrong. Granted, the people on the show are not couponing like that every day, but they discussed how to effectively use coupons to drastically slash your grocery budget. So I jumped on the coupon bandwagon, started my coupon binder, trolled the internet for blogs about couponing, and got a great how-to book, Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey: Save Big Money & Make the Grocery Aisle your Catwalk!, which I highly recommend to anyone who wants to learn how to coupon.

There is a lot to learn about couponing and I will do more follow up posts on it later, but for now here are the 10 basic principles of couponing.

1. Pair coupons with sales and read the store circular. When you use a coupon on an item which is already on sale, then you get the best bang for your buck. Sometimes the non-sale price of an item even with a coupon is still more expensive than the generic version. But when it's already on sale then you have yourself a better deal than before. Also, read the store's advertising circular. Learn what is on sale that week, when the sale ends, and what coupons you have for sale items so you can plan your shopping trip before you walk into the store. If you stockpile (see #3) then you can wait for a sale to come around to use your coupons because you won't run out when the items are full price.

2. Stack coupons. Manufacturer coupons are the kind that we are most familiar with and are distributed by the product manufacturer to save money on a product wherever coupons are accepted. But there are also store coupons which are distributed by the store for products the store sells. Usually, you can use both a store coupon and a manufacturer coupon at the same time if they are for the same product. This is known as stacking and results in great savings.

3. Stockpile. Sales go in cycles (often every three months) so when you get a great deal on a non-perishable item you frequently use, buy enough to last you up to three months, if you can. That way you don't have to buy that product again for a while and you got it at such a rock bottom price that sometimes buying a few of the product costs less that the full price of one! So go ahead, stockpile! Not in a crazy "when the zombies attack" kind of way though. Be reasonable about what space you have and what your families needs are. It may make your grocery trips a bit heavy at first as you build your stockpile but then you will see your costs drop as you realize that there is no need to buy more toothpaste, cereal, or crackers for many months. Then you only have to buy perishable goods and re-supply the stockpiled items when they get low.

4. Does your grocery store double coupons? If so then you are in luck! Many grocery stores double coupons up to $.99 which means that a $.50 coupon is worth $1 and a $.75 coupon is worth $1.50. This is important to take into account when calculating the final price of an item.

5. Join your store's loyalty club. If your grocery or drugstore has a frequent shopper/loyalty club, get that card and get it for all the stores you shop at. This is your ticket to great prices and extra perks (like CVS's Extra Care Bucks program).

6. Stop being brand loyal. If you are committed to saving money and buying what is on sale, you may not always end up with your favorite kind of toothpaste. But being willing to buy a different brand that still meets your needs and is deeply discounted through sales and coupons can save you beaucoup cash.

7. Be THAT Lady (or Man): Take your coupon binder into the store with you. Seriously! It's not anywhere near as embarassing as paying $50 more for your groceries now is it? Besides, most people that ask me about my binder are intrigued and compliment me on my home economics skills. Don't be ashamed of using coupons at the checkout either. These are worth just the same as cash and they are another means of paying your bill. Nothing more, nothing less.

8. Be informed of your store's coupon policy. An informed couponer is a good couponer. Many large chain stores post their coupon policies on their website and you can always speak to a manager for help. Learn their rules and play by them and everyone will get along better. If the store only allows four like coupons to avoid shelf clearing, abide by it. There is enough shampoo to go around so please don't make a bad name for couponers everywhere. If a cashier refuses your coupon, ask to speak to a manager. Politely reminding the store of their coupon policy (and show them the copy of it you keep in your coupon binder) can help you finish your transaction and inform the store employees. Being nice is key. You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.

9. Follow coupon matchup sites and blogs. These sites are such a time saver and tell you all the best deals for the week at national chain stores such as Target, Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid, as well as many grocery chains. Your grocery store may not be listed but its affiliate stores may run similar promotions. It is still important to read the circulars but these sites can help point out deals you may not see so easily. Some of my favorite are Krazy Coupon Lady, Coupon Mom, and Living Rich With Coupons. I will post other blogs I follow and sites I love on my blogroll (*coming soon*)

10. Shop the clearance rack. Often grocery stores have a clearance rack or shelf just like clothing stores. These shelves often contain items which they have surplus stock of or are items which are being discontinued. Be sure to check expiration dates but often you will find items which are still far from expiring (Note: this does not apply to discount meats or dairy items. If you buy these cook them immediately or freeze for later). Match a clearance price with a coupon and voila!, a great deal.

Related Posts: Making Do With What You've Got: Part I: Making A Budget, Making Do With What You've Got: Part II: Balance Your Checkbook!, and Making Do With What You've Got: Part III: Lower Your Bills.

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Save on Travel with SniqueAway!

SniqueAway is a great travel deals site which offers luxury vacations at a fraction of the price. They partner with TripAdvisor to give you real traveler's reviews on destinations, maps, and destination details to help you make your decisions.

SniqueAway offers a few handpicked travel deals for a few days at a time. Deals go fast so check it out! Right now one of the deals they are offering is a garden view suite at the brand new Villa Del Pelmar Cancun in Cancun, Mexico for only $125 a night! At 952 square feet this hotel room is bigger than my apartment!

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Making Do With What You've Got: Part III: Lower Your Bills

By now you have read Part I: Making a Budget and Part II: Balance Your Checkbook, but what if you are coming up short? What if your means don't quite get you to your ends?

Then you have to make some cutbacks. Look at your budget and look for where you can trim the fat. Is your gym membership never being used? Do you pay a lot in overages every month on your cell phone plan?

Some simple things you can do to cut your monthly bills are:

- Call your cell phone company and switch to a plan with enough minutes so you don't pay overagees. Trust me, its better to pay an extra $10 a month than an extra $30 in overages. Also, maybe combining your family's phones onto a family plan will be more cost effective. You can also shop around for another cell phone company that is cheaper, but be careful of fees to end your contract early (often over $100!) and that you may have to buy a new phone that is compatible with your new service.

-Call your cable, internet, and telephone provider(s). If you don't already have your cable tv, internet, and bundled, run the numbers because it may be cheaper to have it all at the same company. Also, they often offer promotions for new customers that they will give you if you ask. In the DC area, I have Comcast/Xfinity and have my services bundled. When my new customer promotion ended I just called them up and asked them to extend it. Easy to do and I saved a lot! Another cost cutter concerning cable tv is extra programming channels like HBO and the Sports Entertainment package. If you don't watch them nor have the money to pay for them, cancel them and save an extra $10 a month. Of course, some of us cannot live without True Blood...so we budget that in.

-Use your utilities wisely. Conserve water and electricity. Not only is it good for the environment but it saves you money on your utility bills. If live in an apartment, look for apartments where you pay a fixed utility amount or include utilities in the monthly rent. Often this will save you money in the very hot and very cold months. Many apartment buildings that offer utilities in the cost of the rent do so at a loss to the apartment management company and use it as a recruitment tool for prospective renters.

-Plead with American Express. If your monthly payments to the credit card company are high and you are only paying the minimum, you will probably be paying that card off over the next ten years. Read your statement! If you don't get it in the mail, you can access it on the bank website. Credit card companies by law now have to show on your statement how long it will take you to pay off your card if you only pay the minimum. Also, your statement will show what your APR (Annual Percentage Rate) is for purchases as well as for transfers and cash advances (often these are a higher rate). If it is above 7-11%, I would suggest calling the credit card company and asking them for a lower rate. Tell them that you know they want your money and you would love to give it to them and that a lower APR will make it easier to get this debt settled. They may not give it to you (it all depends on your credit and payment history) but it is definetely worth a shot. Also, check if you can dictate what debts you can pay first. If you have a cash advance debt (at a higher APR), ask that your payment go toward that debt first if it doesn't already. Start with the highest APR and work down.

-Only pay for what you use. If you have a subscription to anything, either use it or lose it. If you never go to the gym, either go or cancel it. I think everyone should exercise and take care of themselves, but there is no sense in paying for it if you still won't go. The same principle applies to magazines, website subscriptions, etc. If you don't read it, don't renew it.

Kaching! Money in your pocket! So what other suggestions for cutting monthly costs do you have?

Related Posts: Making Do With What You've Got: Part I: Making A Budget, Making Do With What You've Got: Part II: Balance Your Checkbook!, and Making Do With What You've Got: Part IV: Ten Principles of Couponing.

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Making Do With What You've Got: Part II: Balance Your Checkbook!

Yes, I still use my checkbook register. And guess what, I have never overdrawn my account (*as i pat myself on the back*). So here's my second tip for making due with what you have...balance your checkbook!

With the advent of online banking many people have decided that it is not worth their time and effort to keep their checkbook register up to date and balanced. It's just so easy to log onto your bank's website from your computer or phone, take a glance at the balance and figure out where you are financially, right? Nope. That number is not always accurate. Often, that balance may not include:
-debit card purchases made over a weekend or holiday
-purchases made to small companies which aggregate credit card payments before sending them in to the bank
-checks you wrote that have yet to be cashed
-payments for gas purchased at the pump
-online purchases

Yes, these purchases may be delayed a few days or longer if that check hasn't been cashed.

Additionally, there are sometimes those odd payments that do not ever show up. I have one such payment which I made to a computer software company to renew my anti-virus subscription for another year. I diligently wrote down the online payment in my checkbook register and waited for it to appear on the online banking site. Oddly, it never did. I called the company a few days later and asked why the payment had not hit my bank since I was worried that maybe the renewal purchase did not go through. The company checked their records and said that they had my renewal listed as paid and that I was good to go. Hmm...a call to the bank informed me that the company may have been delayed in submitting the charge to the bank, but that they have up to six months to submit the charge. After six months I can cross it off my checkbook register as they cannot put it through without contacting me first. Good to know so I don't get a surprise debit.

So for my accounting purposes, I keep my receipts and enter them into my checkbook register every couple of days. Whenever I write a check or make an online purchase I jot it down on the register right then. Honestly, sometimes I forgot what I bought or that I wrote a check, especially when I have been paying a lot of bills or if I have been shopping a lot. Balancing my checkbook and comparing it against the online banking website helps me to stay on top of my finances and learn what I've got to work with. This way, I don't get surprised by delayed charges nor do I overdraw my account. Win Win!

Related Posts: Making Do With What You've Got: Part I: Making A Budget, Making Do With What You've Got: Part III: Lower Your Bills, and Making Do With What You've Got: Part IV: Ten Principles of Couponing.

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Making Do With What You've Got: Part I: Making a Budget

So, when trying to make due with what you've got, how do you even know what you've got?

Enter, THE BUDGET!

Yes, the idea of a budget may bring up some scary ideas or even make people cringe. But it's actually liberating for me.

Why? Because I don't have to worry about whether or not I can afford something or whether I am going to be able to pay for my groceries if I buy movie tickets or a new skirt. By knowing what I bring in each month and what I owe each month, I am free to choose how I spend and am confident that I will be able to be fiscally responsible.

There are many types of budgets that you can choose to use, but my preferred method is envelope budgeting. Envelope budgeting is a system where you allocate a certain amount of money to a category each month.

First, write down all your static monthly expenses such as rent/mortgage, utilities, cell phone bill, car payment, credit card payment, and so on. Then make a list of variable-cost categories such as groceries and miscellaneous spending money. Be sure to also include a category for savings so you will always have money set aside to go into your savings account each month.

I choose not to use cash and actual envelopes though. It is, after all, 2011 and I have my smartphone and checkcard with me all the time. So I use the Easy Envelope Budgeting Aid.

This is an amazing app that is available for iPhone and Android phones. It's free (!) unless you want to get the upgraded version which has a fee. I have not found a need for the paid version personally but it's there if you want it. This app is really useful because it has a corresponding website (www.eebacanhelp.com) which allows you to manage envelope categories, enter transactions, and add funds. You can do those things from the app too but I like the flexibility of using either, plus staring at my little phone screen for a while gives me a headache. Having an app allows you to enter transactions when you are out and about and I love that I can open the app before I walk into a store and know exactly how much money I have available to spend on groceries or shoes (you know, necessities). Plus, you can share the app with family members so your spouse is also in the know.

I started budgeting back in college (yes, I have been frugal all my life. Thanks Mom!) and started out with a envelope budgeting system using an excel spreadsheet which my sister made for me (gotta give credit where credit's due). That works too since it operates off of the same basic principle. You enter your transactions into each envelope category and each transaction lowers the available amount for that category. Then you know how much you have spent in that category and how much you have left to spend.

So that's what works for me! What budgeting methods work for you? Leave a comment below. I would love to hear your ideas!

Related Posts: Making Do With What You've Got: Part II: Balance Your Checkbook!, Making Do With What You've Got: Part III: Lower Your Bills, and Making Do With What You've Got: Part IV: Ten Principles of Couponing.

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Look what came in the mail!

Look what came in the mail yesterday! A sample of Honey Nut Cheerios (from signing up from their website) which probably has a coupon inside the box, a coupon for a free bag of Skittles from entering a code from a Skittles bag on their website, and a coupon from CVS for a free Gatorade Fit product when you buy two others. So entering codes online and signing up for samples and store rewards programs definetely rewards you. I recommend signing up for rewards programs from stores you frequently shop at and for signing up for samples from legitimate companies. Not only do you get free stuff (yay free stuff!) but often samples come with money saving coupons, so double win.

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Krazy Coupon Lady

I thought I'd share some of my favorite savings/earnings/couponing websites with you so you can get out of them all that I have.

I freaking love the Krazy Coupon Lady website. Its super helpful, has great coupon matchups, and also has some personal content like stories, videos, and such. I personally think that the personal content really helps to make a blog or site readable and makes me want to keep coming back to it. Heather Wheeler and Joanie Deemer are two friends who started the site and wrote a book together. The book is "Pick Another Checkout Lane Honey" and it's really helpful. It's a quick read and packed with useful information, and it's definetely entertaining. Those are some funny ladies! I would suggest their book to anyone who is interested in learning more about couponing and I would encourage you all to go to their site. Like now!
krazycouponlady.com

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Wait! I have a coupon for that!

So, I started couponing earlier this year after watching "Extreme Couponing" on TLC. So I am a bandwagoner. Oh, so whatever. I think its awesome that I have a new hobby and my husband loves that we have a stocked pantry.

Before couponing, we would run out of money in the grocery budget by the last week of the month and we would end up with pretty bare pantry shelves, while we try to figure out what foodstuffs can go together onto our dinner plate. Now, we regularly have more food and are spending less. I average around 50% savings at the grocery store, and now am well stocked on toiletries and drugstore items that I don't need to pick up more shaving cream (or anything like that) unless its free. And I have been able to donate extra toothpaste and floss (which is frequently free!) to charity. No, I'm not a hoarder. I'm just thrifty. And a couponer!

The majority of couponers are not in their 20s nor are there many in the Washington, DC area (I think) but I saw a woman about my age couponing at the Giant last week and I complimented her on her coupon binder. So some are out there!

Speaking of couponing in the DC area, this article was in the Washington Post today about a local couponer. Very cool!
 http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/couponing-expert-teaches-the-art-and-science-of-saving-through-clipping/2011/08/05/gIQAdZyC1I_story.html

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