Thursday, December 27, 2012

Christmas Budget

Ah yes, the proverbial post-Christmas budget check-in. How did you do?


I didn't do all that bad but honestly, I hadn't saved much so it was over budget for me. All told I spent around $200 on gifts for my family; no friend gifts this year since money was so tight. And we couldn't afford cards for everyone so we sent out really nice free e-cards from Punchbowl. I hand made some gifts (thanks Pinterest for inspiration!) and bargain shopped sale racks for others. TJ Maxx always comes through for me. Also, my family is pretty frugal but we all agreed to have a more frugal Christmas. This year both my sisters weren't home here in DC because they both live outside of the US, so it was just my husband and I celebrating with my folks and visiting with his folks before they went to the beach through New Year's. So with less people there were less gifts and we kept it simple, though with more trips to the post office and paying international postage. My family is known for cheap, practical gifts. Lots of books (I just discovered Thriftbooks, great for used books), some of which were picked up from my parent's church rummage sale. My sister schemed to go all out though and deliver to my hubbie and I a new TV to replace the bohemoth we got for free from a friend two years ago. A new TV is a want, not a need, and so we hadn't yet bought a new one despite our distaste in moving that heavy thing around and its lacking picture quality. So a big thank you to my sister and her husband for the wonderful gift!

The rest of the day was spent cooking and eating, as is tradition as well. Mmmm...squash soup and leg of lamb...thank you slow cooker.

But now I am trying to review our finances and see what progress we have made in 2012 and set some goals for 2013. I just finished reading Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace book and am halfway through Total Money Makeover. My husband and I really want to make more progress in getting our finances in order and getting out of debt in 2013, so we are starting the Total Money Makeover, thanks to a suggestion from my husband's brother. Let's get started!

Friday, December 14, 2012

Book Review: Hot Broke Messes

I recently read Hot Broke Messes: How To Have Your Lattee and Drink It Too by Nancy Trejos. I checked it out from the library (saving money already!) and read through it in about a week. This book is a funny memoir of a former Washington Post personal finance writer's financial journey.


This is the part about personal finance that I love: the personal part. I like to know how people make their financial mistakes and successes and what motivates their relationship with money. It was really interesting to read this book for that memoir feel and to read about another young professional in DC who was learning to get her finances on track.

The book also offers much practical advice that the author learns from her financial planner and along the way as she researches articles for her personal finance column at the Washington Post. She discusses student loans, mortgages, savings accounts, credit cards, and the general gamut of basic personal finance. I learned things I did not know, like the history of credit cards, and it made me think about how much I am really paying for something when I leave it on the card accruing interest. You also can learn from her mistakes as she talks about buying a condo with a gifted down payment from her mom then losing it as the result of a breakup and a downturn in the real estate market.

She also talks a lot about the emotional aspects of financial security and our personal relationships with money. Like the author, I too have had to call my parents and ask for a loan then kick myself repeatedly for making a decent salary and being an adult yet not being responsible enough to not run out of cash and rack up debt. Sadly, this happened in 2007 when I maxed out my credit card (due to roommates not paying rent and utilities, a vacation to Hawaii for my friends' wedding, and God knows what else) and ran out of cash and had to call my folks to borrow $100 to pay for the metro to get to work and to buy some groceries. How humbling. Even worse, my folks found out about the card debt and gave me an interest free loan to pay it off so I wouldn't have to pay all the finance charges. Then, since I hadn't changed, I proceeded to rack up debt again. Now I owe my folks and the credit card company, who unfortunately raised my limit since I previously paid it off and now I have an even higher amount due. It's good to know that other people, like Nancy Trejos, have been in these jackpots before and her story of how she came to grips with her relationship with money and got out of debt really helps give me hope.

Have you read Hot Broke Messes: How to Have Your Lattee and Drink it Too? What did you think? What other personal finance books would you recommend?

Thursday, December 6, 2012

I Got Paid!


Online surveys and mystery shopping get a bad rap. Many people think that they are just scams but there are really some great (and legitimate) companies out there that will pay you for your time and effort. And to prove it, here's what I earned from online surveys and mystery shopping last month, among other endeavors. I completed these mystery shops and surveys in the previous month (or earlier) and received the payment this month. Some of these mystery shops required me to pay something out of pocket to purchase a good or service (which I get to keep) but I was reimbursed for my purchase and was usually paid an additional fee.

November 2012
Marketforce- $153.30
Goodwin & Associates- $12.00
Sinclair Customer Metrics- $15.00
American Express World Points- $25 Amex gift card (from credit card reward points)
Ebates- $19.11
Inspired Opinions/Schlesinger Associates- $125 (focus group)

Total earned this month: $349.41

Where did this money go? To be honest, some of it went toward Christmas gifts but only about $100. I am keeping a small budget for presents this year and making many of them to save costs.

The rest went to paying my speeding ticket (ugh) and for car repair for my husband's car. Yay responsibility, or lack thereof.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Personal Finance Resources for Couples


I talk about personal finance issues with my friends a lot and that means that we also talk about couples finance issues. It's one thing to try to come to grips with your own spending and debt problems, but merging finances and dealing with it for two people is doubly difficult. I have never met a couple that completely agree on their spending habits and personal finance goals when they first get together. Most of my friends, and myself included, had a lot of adjusting, fighting, and listening to do when merging finances with their spouse. Even if you keep separate bank accounts you are a team and have to learn to act like it.

This is especially hard when there is a big income gap between the couple or when there is only one income split between two people. Also, your personal views towards money and how you were raised also effect how you view your finances individually and as a couple. Who's the spender and who's the saver? Can you view your money as "our money" or is it all your money? All kinds of emotions come into the mix since no one likes to be told how to spend their money, likes to share, or wants to plan ahead. We are all still six year olds who want instant gratification and don't want to share. But, alas, we are adults now, and some of us are married to boot, so what do we do about our money? How do two people learn to work as a team and get on the same financial page?

I dug up some online resources that may be helpful. Check them out and let me know what you think. Read them with your significant other. Hope these help you get to a better financial state!

Suze Orman: 9 Important Financial Moves Couples Should Make

Suze Orman: Financial Couples Therapy

Oprah.com: Money and Relationships

US News: How Couples Can Achieve Financial Intimacy

Dave Ramsey: Financial Peace University
This is Biblically based but even if you aren't religious I have heard good things about it

Suze Orman: A Couple's Guide to Managing Money

Money Management International: Love & Money

This is a debt consolidation company so they may try to sell you their services but I have heard that they are a reputable company and have been recommended by leading financial institutions. They offer lots of free courses online.

Money Management International: Free Love & Money eBook

University of Idaho: Free Money 101 Online Class

Utah State University: Free Online Family Finance Class

Books
Check out your local library for many of these!
For Richer Not Poorer: The Newlywed's Financial Survival Guide

The Family CFO: The Couple's Business Plan for Love and Money

Money and Marriage: A Complete Guide for Engaged and Newly Married Couples

The Heart of Money: A Couple's Guide to Creating True Financial Intimacy

Financially Ever After: The Couples' Guide to Managing Money

Financial Peace: Putting Common Sense Into Your Dollars and Cents

The Financial Peace Planner: A Step-by-Step Guide to Restoring Your Family's Financial Health

Dave Ramsey's Complete Guide to Money: The Handbook of Financial Peace University

The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

The Money Saving Mom's Budget: Slash Your Spending, Pay Down Your Debt, Streamline Your Life, and Save Thousands a Year

Hot (broke) Messes: How to Have Your Latte and Drink It Too

What resources have helped you and your partner deal with your finances and get on the same page? Share your experience in the comments!

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

CVS Coupon Matchups: Nov 22-24 (3 Day Sale)



Here are coupon matchups for 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. If you need help deciphering coupon lingo click here.

This week CVS is running two ad cycles, a 4 day sale 11/18-21 and a 3 day sale including Black Friday from 11/22-24.

3 Day Ad: 11/22-11/24
CVS Alkaline Batteries AA/AAA, 4 pk $3.65
Buy 1, Receive $3.65 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $3.65, Receive $3.65 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Phillips Ear Buds $6.99
Buy 1, Receive $6.99 ExtraBucks,limit 1
Pay $6.99, Receive $6.99 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

CVS Flossers, 90 ct $2.00
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, limit 2
Pay $2.00, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

GUM Soft Toothbrush, 2 pk $2.50
Buy 1, Receive $2.50 ExtraBucks, limit 2
Pay $2.50, Receive $2.50 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Mars Chocolate Singles $0.75
Buy 1, Receive $0.75 ExtraBucks, limit 2
Get 3 and use Buy 2 Get 1 Free Milky Way printable
Pay $2.50, Receive $1.50 ExtraBucks
Final Price: 3 Free

Cheerios, Corn or Rice Chex Cereal, 8.9-14 oz $2.87
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Use $0.60/1 Cheerios, Original printable
Or $1.10/2 Chex Cereals printable
Or $1.10/2 – Chex Cereals – (eatbetteramerica.com)
Or $1.00/2 Chex Cereals, SS 11/11
Or $1.00/3 General Mills Big G Cereals, SS 11/4
Pay $2.27 for Cheerios, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, Final Price: $0.27
Or Pay $4.64 for 2 Chex, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, Final Price: $1.32 each wyb 2

Monday, November 19, 2012

CVS Coupon Matchups: Nov 18- 21 (4 Day Sale)



Here are coupon matchups for 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. If you need help deciphering coupon lingo click here.

This week CVS is running two ad cycles, a 4 day sale 11/18-21 and a 3 day sale including Black Friday from 11/22-24.

4 Day Ad: 11/18-11/21
Powerade, 32 oz $1.00
Buy 1, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $1.00, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Hot Wheels Car, 1 ct $1.00
Buy 1, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $1.00, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Coke Products, 1.25 Liter $0.99
Buy 1, Receive $0.99 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $0.99, Receive $0.99 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Starbucks Refresher Beverage, $1.50
Buy 1, Receive $1.50 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Use $1.00/1 Starbucks Refreshers printable (not a reset if you previously printed)
Pay $0.50, Receive $1.50 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $1.00 Moneymaker

Starbucks Double Shot, 6.5 oz or $1.99
Buy 1, Receive $1.99 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $1.99, Receive $1.99 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Kleenex Slim Pack Facial Tissue, 3 pk or Sparkle Single Roll Paper Towels $1.00
Buy 1, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks, limit 2
Use $.30/3 Kleenex Boxex 50+ ct, or bundle, SS 11/4 (if included)
Pay $1.70, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $.30 Moneymaker

Cepacol Sensations, Cooling, Hydra, or Warming, 4 ct $1.00
Buy 1, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $1.00, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

3M Command Hook Sample Pack $0.99
Buy 1, Receive $0.99 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Use $1.00/1 Command Product printable
Pay Nothing, Receive $0.99 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $0.99 Moneymaker

Advil, 10 ct vial $2.99
Buy 1, Receive $2.99 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $2.99, Receive $2.99 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Advil Children’s Suspenion Liquid White Grape, 1 oz $2.37
Use $1.50/1 Advil Children’s Product printable
Or $1.00/1 Advil Children’s Product, RP 9/10
Or $1.00/1 Advil Children’s Product, RP 10/28
Pay as low as $0.87, Receive $2.37 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $1.50 Moneymaker

AirWick Oil Warmer Unit $0.99
Buy 1, Receive $0.99 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Use $2.00/2 Air Wick Products printable
Pay Nothing, Receive $0.99 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $0.99 Moneymaker, when you buy 2

Kraft Mac ‘n Cheese, 5.5-7.25 oz $0.99
Buy 1, Receive $0.99 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $0.99, Receive $0.99 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Nips Candy or Haviland Thin Mints $0.88
Buy 1, Receive $0.88 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $0.88, Receive $0.88 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Carmex Lip Balm, select varieties, $1.00
Buy 1, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Use $0.75/1 Carmex Lip Moisture Plus Lip Balm printable (if included)
Or $0.30/1 Carmex Lip Balm, SS 10/21
Or $1.00/2 Carmex Lip Balm, SS 10/21
Pay $0.25, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $0.75 Moneymaker

Charmin Basic Single Roll $0.99
Buy 1, Receive $0.99 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Use $0.25/1 Charmin Product, PG 10/14
Pay $0.74, Receive $0.99 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $0.25 Moneymaker

Glade Scented Oil Base Warmer $1.25
Buy 1, Receive $1.25 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Use $1.00/1 Glade Plugins Scented Oil Warmer printable
Or $1.00/1 Glade PlugIns Scented Oil Warmer or Starter Kit, SS 10/14
Or $1.00/1 Glade Plugins Scented Oil Warmer, SS 11/4
Pay $0.25, Receive $1.25 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $1.00 Moneymaker

Scooby Doo Fruit Snacks, 10 pk $2.00
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $2.00, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

South Beach Diet Bar, 5 ct chocolate or whipped peanut butter $4.99
Buy 1, Receive $4.99 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $4.99, Receive $4.99 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Somnapure Sleep Aid, 4 ct $1.87
Buy 1, Receive $1.87 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $1.87, Receive $1.87 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Street King Energy Shot, 2 pk grape or orange mango, $3.99
Buy 1, Receive $3.99 in ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $3.99, Receive $3.99 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Thermacare Back & Hip Wrap, 1 ct $3.49
Buy 1, Receive $3.49 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $3.49, Receive $3.49 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Play-Doh Soft Pack Resealable Bag, 8 oz $1.00
Buy 1, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $1.00, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Youtheory Collagen Formula 1 & 3 $9.49
Buy 1, Receive $9.49 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $9.49, Receive $9.49 ExtraBucks
Final Price: Free

Chex Mix or Gardettos, 5.5-8.75 oz $1.99
Buy 1, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Use $0.50/1 Chex Mix or Chex 100 Calorie Snack, 4.5 oz or Larger printable
Pay $1.49, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $0.49

Nature Valley Protein Chewy Bars, 5 ct $2.99
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $2.99, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $0.99

Right Guard Total Defense Deodorant $2.99
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, limit 2
Use $2.00/2 Right Guard Total Defense 5 Antiperspirant or Deodorant printable
Or this$2.00/2 Right Guard Total Defense 5 Antiperspirant, Deodorant or Bar Soap Products printable
Pay $3.98, Receive $4.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $0.02 Moneymaker, when you buy 2

U By Kotex Barely There Liners, 18 ct $1.49
Buy 1, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks, limit 1
Pay $1.49, Receive $1.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $0.49

Listerine Cool Mint, Fresh Burst, Zero, 500 mL or Pocket Packs, 72 ct $2.99
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, Limit 2
Use $1.00/1 Listerine Whitening Rinse Product, 16 oz or Larger printable
Or $0.50/1 Listerine Pocketpaks or Pocketmists printable
Or $0.50/1 
Listerine Antiseptic, Ultraclean, Zero, Total Care or Fluoride Defense, 500 mL or Whitening, 16 oz or larger, SS 10/28
Pay $1.99, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $0.01 Moneymaker

Visine Tired Eye Relief, 0.5 oz $5.50
Buy 1, Receive $1.50 ExtraBucks, Limit 1
Use $3.00/1 Visine Product with HydroBlend Moisturizers, .5 oz+ printable
And use $4.00/1 Visine Tired Eye Relief Lubricant Eye Drops, .5 oz+, CVS Coupon printable
Pay Nothing, Receive $1.50 ExtraBucks
Final Price: $1.50 Moneymaker

Lindsay Olives $1.00
Use $1.00/1 Lindsay Olives Product printable
Final Price: Free

Gillette Fusion Ultra Sensitive Hydra Gel, 2.5 oz $2.37, regular price
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 ExtraBucks, Excludes Foamy, Limit 1
Pay $2.37, Receive $2.00 Extra Bucks
Final Price: $0.37

Couponing Time Out

I was watching Extreme Couponing last night (yes, even though its clearly exaggerated and cheesy I still enjoy it) and got to thinking about stockpiling. When is enough enough? When is it time for a couponing time out?

Over the past few weeks I have taken a couponing time out. Sure, I have continued to clip and use some coupons at the grocery store and such, but I am pretty well stocked on drugstore staples so I have skipped many of the CVS and Rite Aid deals over the past few weeks. Money has been really tight with car repairs and registration (hence the DMV this weekend) so I have been trying to stay out of the stores and eat what I already have. I have only gone for quick trips for staples like milk, bread, coffee, eggs, and cheese. Yes, because cheese is a staple.

The point of couponing is to save money and stock up on food and toiletries at rock bottom prices so that you don't have to pay full price for those items later on. This stockpiling method is the same method I grew up with my mother employing where she bought a few of an item when they were on sale and kept extras stocked in the basement so we never ran out of Cheerios, ketchup, or anything else we regularly used. I continue this tradition by combining it with coupons to get even better deals. But when I'm stocked on something, the key is to stop buying it, even if it's a great price. Why?

1. You need to use up what you have before it goes bad. Keep tabs on shelf lives, write the expiration date on the box, and refill your shelves from the back so that the oldest product is up front and gets used first.

2. Space costs you money. You don't need a bigger house with big closets for a big stockpile. Then you are paying more money to rent and heat/cool that space. Instead just make use of the space you have and don't cut into your living space. Paper towels aren't that important and shouldn't get in the way of your life.

3. Don't be greedy. Just because I can buy it and have a coupon for it AND it's a great price (or free) doesn't mean I need it. If I am well stocked on something, like toothpaste for example, I will start bypassing the sales and stop buying it. If I do get it I will donate it or give it to friends. Toothpaste and coupons are not the precious.

4. Save on out-of-pocket expenses. Once you are stocked, stop shopping and you will have more money left in your account that can be used for bills, debt, or going to see a movie with your family.

5. There are more inportant things in life than couponing. Yes, Extreme Couponing last night had a woman on that was at the beach clipping coupons rather than playing in the surf with her kids and husband. I sure hope that was just exaggerated for TV. Saving money is important and clipping coupons can help you do that. But if that means you are skipping family time to run out to get Black Friday deals and ignoring your loved ones because you need to clip one...more...coupon...that is not a life well lived.

That being said I will probably do some more couponing in the coming weeks to get items I am running out of and because there will be so many freebies soon with the holiday sales. But I am trying to remember to keep it all in perspective, to not be greedy, and to give thanks for what I have.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Oh joy, the DMV

Yes, I arrived at the DC DMV at 10:30am on a Saturday morning.  This is the line that is extending outside the building.  I would have gotten here earlier but I had forgotten to get my proof of DC insurance from State Farm and had to call around to them to get it this morning.  Sigh. Planning ahead is a time saver indeed.


Friday, November 9, 2012

I Got Paid!


Online surveys and mystery shopping get a bad rap. Many people think that they are just scams but there are really some great (and legitimate) companies out there that will pay you for your time and effort. And to prove it, here's what I earned from online surveys and mystery shopping last month, among other endeavors. I completed these mystery shops and surveys in the previous month (or earlier) and received the payment this month. Some of these mystery shops required me to pay something out of pocket to purchase a good or service (which I get to keep) but I was reimbursed for my purchase and was usually paid an additional fee.

October 2012
WeReward- $12.50
Pfizer Advil Rebate- $10.00
eBay sales profits- $21.00
Marketforce- $53.25
Second To None- $13.00
Trendsource- $8.25
Goodwin & Associates- $15.00

Total Earned: $133.00

Sadly, WeReward is going away Nov 30th and is transitioning into Staree. So there goes one of my favorite money-making apps.

I tried my hand at selling stuff on Ebay last month for the first time and it was really easy to do. I sold a pair of almost new jeans that I got from a clothing swap that don't fit and a perfume that I received as a gift but I have never worn. The process of listing and selling was really easy and eBay takes a small comission for their services. I think I will definetely do it again. One thing I learned though is that I really underpriced my items. I listed them too low in hopes that people would go into a bidding war. That didn't happen at all and I didn't get the price I wanted for my items. Oh well, at least I learned something.

What did I do with this money? I put it toward debt payoff. It's really nice to cross any items, even small ones, off my list. Well, my list is actually a google docs spreadsheet and is color coded. Yep. Cause I love spreadsheets. Also, I feel much more in control when I can see everything in one place and can keep track of my debt payments. Then I can see the dent I am making in my debt even if its a small one and that gives me hope.

Did you make any extra side income last month?

Monday, November 5, 2012

Harris Teeter Shopping Trip: October 31

Harris Teeter's Super Doubles promotion is this week and I some great deals! I saved 92% on my grocery bill!!

What I Got:
2 Silk Fruit & Protein quarts- $1.77 each (sale)
1 16oz Coffee Mate Pumpkin Spice- $2.75
1 16 oz Coffee Mate Peppermint Mocha- $1.69* (sale)
1 Harris Teeter Applesauce- $2.75
2 Sambazon smoothies- $2.50 each (sale)
Lender's Bagels- $2.15
Crunchy Nut Cereal- BOGO @ $4.25 (sale)
2 Minute Rice Multigrain- $1.24 each (clearance)
Triscuits- $3.00 (sale)
2 Nectresse- $3.49 each (sale)
2 Cabot Cheese- $2.27 each (sale)
4 McCormick Grill Mates- BOGO @ $2.69 (sale)
Waggin Train Dog Treats Yams- $3.75
Waggin Train Dog Treats PB&J- $3.69

*Argh! Different flavors and they weren't both on sale!)
Subtotal: $69.19
Tax: 1.14

Coupons Used (up to $2.00 value doubled or up to value of product):
2 $1.00/1 Silk Fruit & Protein printable
2 $.75/1 Coffee Mate printable (NLA)
2 $2.00/1 Sambazon printable
2 $.70/1 Crunchy Nut, RP 10/7
2 $.50/1 Minute Rice, RP 10/21
Free Triscuits Coupon- won on Facebook (NLA)
2 $2.00/1 Nectresse, SS 9/30
$1.00/2 Cabot Products printable
2 $1.75/2 McCormick Seasonings, RP 10/7
2 $2.00/2 Waggin Train, RP 10/21

Note: BOGO items ring at half price at Harris Teeter so you can use one coupon per item

Final Price: $7.42

Wow!!! That's a 92% savings!
And this goes to show that you can indeed get healthy food with coupons!

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Frugal Fashion: Twice- Secondhand Designer Clothes at Great Prices

Wow! I think I just found my new favorite website.


Twice is a designer secondhand clothing website which offers great clothes at great prices. I am a huge fan of clothing swaps and this is a virtual one! You can shop the website for great discounted items, sell your old gently used clothes, and help save the planet all at the same time!

The designers on the site are mostly what you would find at the mall. They have Gap, Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, J Crew, all the goodies. What I like about that is that I know how these clothes fit since I have a lot of the same labels in my closet already. But they also have some Marc by Marc Jacobs, Missioni, Tahiri and others in the mix. Also, the site offers free returns and full refunds within 30 days which is someting I always look for when shopping online because I want to make sure I love it and it fits right.

The website offers a wide selection of clothing (seriously, 1000s of pieces in each category) but the sizes are limited, as is usual with secondhand clothes. You can get free shipping on any order over $49 ($5 flat rate shipping otherwise) and if you click here you can get a $10 credit to use with a minimum $25 purchase to buy something that makes you happy! Seriously, here's $10 bucks and yes, you can get a sweater for that price!

You can sign up for Twice here and get your free $10 shopping spree on :)

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Paid Off!: Two Smaller Debts


Yayyy! I finally scraped some money together in the last two weeks to pay off two smaller debts totalling $117. Phew. Making progress in paying down debt feels good :)

If it wasn't for mystery shopping I would not have been able to make the extra money I need to throw at these debts. It's been such a help to have a small side source of income.

How do you earn extra money to pay off debts with?

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Rite Aid Shopping Trip- October 23, 2012

I had some soon expiring +UPs that I wanted to use and I got some useful items and Otter Pops....cause freeze pops are awesome. But I realized after I left the store that they had mis-labeled the Stride ID gum as having a $1.00 +UP and on sale for 2/$2.00. I had a cashier who got confused and cancelled my entire transaction so it took forever and I didn't check my receipt before I left. Argh....well, lesson learned. At least I like gum and my stash was getting low anyway.



Playtex Gentle Glide 18 ct- $3.99 sale (reg $5.49)
2 Luden's throat drops- $1.00 each sale (reg $1.99)
4 packs Stride ID gum- $1.49 each
Centrum Flavor Burst 60 ct- $8.99
Otter Pops- $2.49 clearance (reg $4.99)
Total: $23.43

Coupons used:
$2.00/1 Centrum Flavor Burst Rite Aid coupon from email
$3.00/1 Centrum in-ad coupon
$3.00/1 Centrum Flavor Burst coupon, RP 9/30
2 BOGO Stride ID coupons, SS 9/16
$.25/1 Stride ID video values coupon
$1.00/2 Luden's coupon, SS 10/21
$1.00/1 Playtex in-ad coupon
$2.00/1 Playtex Gentle Glide video values coupon
$1.00/1 Playtex Gentle Glide coupon, SS 10/21
$7.00 in +UPs

Total after coupons: $.20 + $.86 tax= $1.06

I thought I would get $2.00 in +UPs but I still did a great job and I can submit online for $3.00 in rebates from Centrum and Luden's. Sweet!

Have you forgotten to check your receipt before? What deals have you done lately?

Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Mystery Shopping Company Review: Trendsource/MSI Services

Trendsource is another great reputable mystery shopping company. It's widely recommended by other mystery shoppers so I thought I would check it out.


I have completed a few mystery shops for Trendsource (also known as MSI Services) and they are the most promptly paying mystery shop company I have dealt with. They offer shops in a wide range of retail services, food shops, product placement verification, etc.

Their website offers a list of all shops available in your area and you can request a shop from the site. It does not self-assign the shop and you have to wait until it is approved for you, but it's usually approved quickly. You have to take a short quiz to sign up for a shop you want to make sure that you understand the instructions and they offer all the instructions on their website so you can refer to them later as needed. Their shop reports are submitted on their website and are are easy to complete and usually pretty short. Shop payments are usually pretty low ($3-$5) but can sometimes be up to $10, plus reimbursement. But as with most companies, if the shop isn't completed quickly they will offer a bonus to raise the shop payment amount.

Trendsource pays twice a month on the 5th and 20th of each month, so if you have a pending payment by the time the pay date rolls around, they will send it to you via PayPal. Many mystery shop companies pay only once a month and sometimes they will only pay for those shops that you complete in the previous month, leaving you with a two month delay till you get paid. So Trendsource's quick payment is much appreciated. I would definetely recommend signing up with this company.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

How I'm Saving Today


The last two days have been interesting. I got injured and my dog got injured.

On Monday, I failed to properly line up a roundhouse kick to the heavy bag in boxing class (precisely after the instructor said to be careful to do it properly) and kicked the bag dead on with my right toes. Result: broken big toe.

Then yesterday, my dog and my sister's dog got into a fight (they usually scrap since they are the two youngest dogs and fight for second to last place). This time it was pretty bad and my dog got bit under his chin. He has a cut about one inch long down from his mouth.

How does this count as saving money? I tried not to panic and didn't rush off to the human doctor or the emergency vet.

I thought at first that I had jammed my toe and I carefully hobbled around on it the rest of the day. The next morning, after the pain kept waking me up, I had a picture text medical consult with my hubbie who is luckily studying sports injuries and knows his stuff. He confirmed that it was broken and that I needed to tape it up and stay off of it. No need to go to the podiatrist and pay the $30 copay plus whatever insurance doesn't cover for an x-ray and appointment only for him to tell me to stay off of it.

As for my pup? Well, I called the emergency vet and they said that if it doesn't stop bleeding after an hour and is deep then he may need doggie stictches. Doggie stitches!? Oh, I started to panic but after consulting again with my hubbie and having my parents look at the wound, we decided to wait on rushing off to the emergency vet and a $100+ fee. I trimmed his fur around the cut and cleaned it off with a wet paper towel then applied pressure to it. Eventually it stopped bleeding and I put ointment on it. This morning its clotting and is beginning to heal. Poor little guy but it looks like he's on the mend.

Would I normally recommend avoiding the doctor or veterinarian? No way. Your health and the health of your animals is important and should be treated as such. But there is immense value in calming down and observing a condition rather than rushing off to the doctor. So many times I have taken off work and rushed to a last minute appointment with a doctor (human or otherwise) only for them to tell me that it's not a big deal and keep doing what I was doing already to treat the minor injury.

But when it's necessary, I go to the doctor. I don't want to mess around with my health or my pet's health, so I have health insurance as well as pet insurance. Having insurance is super important because there will always be an unexpected fall or illness, or my dog will get sick suddenly. Human health insurance is pretty obviously a necessity in this day and age, but after my husband and I sat at the emergency vet and debated whether we could afford the $90 x-ray to determine whether the carpet strands that Julius had eaten were blocking his intestines, I don't want to risk not having pet insurance. If you have a pet and don't have pet insurance, I would look into it. It doesn't cover everything, but reimburses you a lot and basically pays for itself.

Have you avoided the doctor to save money before?

Thursday, October 4, 2012

I Got Paid!


Online surveys and mystery shopping get a bad rap. Many people think that they are just scams but there are really some great (and legitimate) companies out there that will pay you for your time and effort. And to prove it, here's what I earned from online surveys and mystery shopping last month, among other endeavors. I completed these mystery shops and surveys in the previous month (or earlier) and received the payment this month. Some of these mystery shops required me to pay something out of pocket to purchase a good or service (which I get to keep) but I was reimbursed for my purchase and was usually paid an additional fee.

September 2012
Viggle- $5.00 CVS e-gift card
ShopKick- $5.00 CVS e-gift card and $5.00 Starbucks e-gift card
Memolink- $25.00
Marketforce- $47.38
Trendsource- $6.60

Total Earned in September: $93.98

Whenever I earn gift cards I immediately transfer the gift card amount out of the relevant budget category into savings or my debt payoff budget category. For example, when I get a $5.00 Starbucks gift card, I transfer $5.00 out of my groceries/eating out budget envelope and transfer it into my debt envelope. I use a really easy budgeting website and app called Easy Envelope Budget Aid which helps me to visualize what that lump sum in my bank account is supposed to be used for and helps me to stay on budget.

This was another slow month for me. I really need to step it up with my mystery shopping and online surveys. These bills aren't going to pay themselves!

So what did I do with this extra income? Well, part of it paid for a baby shower gift for my friend (yay!) and the rest was transferred to my credit card to help pay it down.

What did you do to make a little extra last month? What's your side hustle?

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Link Love: Best Posts This Week

Here are some of the best blog posts I read this week. Check 'em out and I hope you enjoy them as much as I did.

Enemy of Debt- 7 Habits of Debt-Free People
My Alternate Life- Fun Money is Important!
Fashionably Broke in the City- Reaching "Financial Independence"
Get Rich Slowly- 15 Things You Need To Know About Financial Aid
Fabulously Broke In The City-  18 Free (and too often) Forgotten Ways To Beat Boredom

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Paid Off!: Medical Bill


Yay! I'm so excited that this medical bill has been paid off! We owed a local hospital $389.24 from an Emergency Room visit at the beginning of this year. Yep, we have insurance. Good insurance too. But that's how much we still owed for x-rays, tests, doctor fees, etc. Sheesh. It took 7 months of small payments but it's paid. Finally!

If you get a medical bill that you can't pay upfront, call the billing office for the hospital or doctor's office and tell them you can't pay all at once. Ask to work out a payment plan and they will usually be glad to set one up for you. When we got this bill we certainly didn't have a extra few hundred dollars lying around and very little extra per month, so I asked for the smallest amount we could pay monthly which turned out to be $50ish bucks. Yeah, we could probably have paid extra on it but we had other expenses that took priority so we just kept the payment plan on track. The good thing about a payment plan is that they don't usually charge you interest so you aren't going to owe less if you pay it sooner, hence there is less incentive to pay it off quickly. To counter this, the hospital will usually require that an automatic debit come out of your bank account every month so that they ensure that they get their money and that you don't default on your agreement.

The alternative is for you to throw away the bills and overdue notices, the hospital tries to recoup some of its losses and sells the bill to a creditor who starts calling you, and your credit report and score gets dinged, sometimes heavily. You would still owe that money and now you have creditors calling and sending you letters, as well as a lowered credit score. Not good.

It's just easier to work out the payment plan.

So now what?: So what happens to that $50 bucks we were throwing at this bill every month? It becomes part of our debt snowball. I don't operate exactly like Dave Ramsey's plan (I pay attention to interest rates and try to pay over minimum payments wherever possible), but I subscribe to the principle of it. This doesn't become extra money that gets blown on movies and pizza. Nope. It's still debt money and is now applied to another bill that need to be paid. So now we will start making larger monthly payments to pay down other debts faster.

Have you had to work out a payment plan for a medical bill? Have you paid off any bills lately? What do you think of the debt snowball method?

Why I Don't Want to Be A Millionaire

A while ago I was reading A Practical Wedding (one of my favorite blogs and yes, I still read it although I've been married for two years now), and I ran across this quote:

"and by 'doing so well' I mean able to eat"- Meg Keene, APW

It got me thinking. What does doing well mean? Does it mean you are a millionnaire? Does it mean you have cash you can throw at problems, a Porshe, a horse, and a vaction home? Or does it mean having enough money to live off of, not worrying about how you are gonna pay the bills and eat, and having enough money to live, travel, and enjoy life (not to show off)?

I personally fall on the side of wanting enough money to not have to worry about money but it doesn't really matter that much to me what that magical number is. Of course, that amount will vary depending on where you live (New Orleans v. New York), how big your family is, whether you have chronic health problems, etc.

I completely agree with Meg here. "Doing well" is a headspace not a bank account number. It's the place where you have enough that you don't have to worry about having enough, especially worrying about our most basic needs like food or shelter.

I think that it also includes being content and happy with the life I lead. I can find and be happy with life's real value in friendships, experiences, love, memories, etc. That doesn't have a dollar sign on it but it costs some money to have those experiences. I have to be able to travel to see my friends and family and it costs money to share a tasty meal (even if it's pie at the Tastee Diner). These costs can be big or small but they are still costs.

I read a lot of personal finance and other blogs and am often struck by how often financial advice veers into the lonely miser category. Sure, I can save money on my wedding by only inviting a few people, but I have so many people I love that I want there! Sure, I can decline invitations to dinner with my friends but then I miss out on that experience and opportunity to tighten those bonds of friendship. Sure, I can never take a vacation and work two jobs so that I can max out my yearly IRA contributions, but I would be bone-tired and cranky. What's life without vacations, friends, family, and dinners together?

Does that mean that I have to have millions of dollars to live a happy and full life? Nope. I can still live within my means and live frugally while still experiencing all life has to offer. That means for me that although I have debt and very little money in savings, I am planning to pay a small amount to go on a weekend spiritual retreat with some of my good friends later this month and I am planning a trip to visit my husband in Louisiana in November. It's why I scrimped and saved and mystery shopped to get money together to spend a week in California for my sister's wedding. It's why I got to attend and help throw two bridal showers this weekend. Because I love the people in my life and I value the experiences.

So for me, yep. I'm broke. But I'm doing well. Not a millionnaire and probably will never be, nor do I really strive to be. But I am rich in friends and family, even if all I can afford some nights is a grilled cheese sandwich. I don't have to complain. Besides, I love grilled cheese sandwiches.


Saturday, September 15, 2012

I joined the Yakezie Challenge!

I just joined the Yakezie Challenge and boy am I excited! Yakezie is a cooperative of personal finance and lifestyle blogs and websites that are chock full of helpful advice and experience for how to save money, get out of debt, and live frugally. I'm trying to grow my Alexa ranking so my blog can get out into the blog-o-sphere more and I can make more connections with other personal finance bloggers through Yakezie.

Wish me luck!

Proud Member of the Yakezie Challenge

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Harris Teeter Super Doubles Coupon Matchups: Sept 12-18


Oh wow! I love the Super Doubles promotions at Harris Teeter! So many free groceries!

Harris Teeters in the DC area normally double coupons up to $.99 but occasionally they run super double promotions which double coupons up to $2.00 with a limit of 20 doubled coupons per day per VIC card (that's their savings club card). So you may end up going multiple times this week as I plan to.

Harris Teeter has e-coupons and store coupons available on their website and you can stack their store coupons with manufacturer coupons. Also, be sure to sign up for their email newsletter and eVIC club because that will offer you special discounts each week that aren't normally advertised in the circular.

Here's some of the best deals for this week at Harris Teeter:
**eVIC Items**
Kellogg’s Pop Tarts, 12 ct- $1.97 (limit 4)
Use 3 $.70/1 Pop Tart printable
and $1.00/3 Harris Teeter ecoupon
Final Price: $.24 each wyb 3

General Mills Cereals, 8.5-11.25 oz- $1.77 (limit 4)
Use $1.00/1 Total Whole Grain printable
Final Price: Free

**************************************

Silk Soymilk Fruit and Protein Drink, 32oz- $2.00
use $1.00/1 Silk Fruit & Protein printable
or $.75/1 Silk Fruit & Protein printable
Final Price: Free to $.50 each

8th Continent Soymilk, 64 oz- $3.55
Use $2.00/1 8th Continent printableFinal Price: Free

Pure Protein Bars, 1.76 oz- $1.59
Use BOGO Pure Protein Bars printable
and use $1.00/1 Pure Protein Bar printable

Final Price: 2 Free


Glade Decor Scents Holder- $2.99
Use $1.00/1 Glade Decor Scents Holder or 2 refills, SmartSource 7/15
or $1.00/1 Glade Decor Scents Holder or 2 refills printable
and get $1.00 back in your SavingStar account from ecoupon
Final Price: Free

Lysol Power & Free Multi Purpose, 22 oz- $3.59 (BOGO, rings at $1.79)
Use $1.00/1 Lyson Power & Free printable
Final Price: Free

Stayfree Maxi Pads, 14-24 ct.- $3.89
Use $2.00/1 Stayfree, SmartSource 8/26
Final Price: Free

Snapware Airtight Med Rectangle Container, 1 ct.- $3.74
Use $2.00/a Snapware storage item, SmartSource 8/26
Final Price: Free

Reach Floss, 55 yds- $1.45
Use $1.00/1 Reach Total Care floss, Red Plum 7/29
Final Price: Free

Mueller’s Spaghetti, 16 oz- $1.75 (BOGO, rings at $.87)
Use $.55/1 Muller's pasta printable
Final Price: 2 for Free

McCain Baby Cakes and Sweet Potato Fries, 20-22 oz, $2
Use $1.00/1 McCain frozen potato items printable
and get $1.00 back in your SavingStar account from McCain Sweet Potato Fries ecoupon
Final Price: Free + $1.00 Money Maker on Sweet Potato Fries!

Wholly Red Tomato Salsa, 10 oz- $2.49
Use $1.50/1 Wholly Salsa printable
and use BOGO Wholly Salsa coupon, SmartSource 8/26
Final Price: 2 Free

Wholly Guacamole Classic, 7 oz – $2.79
Use $1.50/1 Wholly Guacamole, SmartSource 8/26
Final Price: Free

Pringles MultiGrain Cans – $1.49
Use $1.50/2 Pringles Multigrain, Red Plum 9/9
Final Price: 2 Free

Ken's Desssing or Marinade, 16oz- $3.45 (BOGO, rings at $1.72
Use $1.00/1 Ken's product, SmartSource 8/12
Final Price: Free

Texas Pete Hot Sauce, 6 oz- $.99 (BOGO, rings at $.49)
Use $.40/1 Texas Pete Hot Sauce, Smart Source 5/6
Final Price: Free

Eat. Think. Smile Bars- $1.50
Use $1.00/1 Eat. Think. Smile. single bars printable
Final Price: Free

Select Candy, 1.44-2.13 oz- $1.19 (BOGO, rings at $.59)
Use $1.50/3 M&Ms, Twix, Milky Way, 3 Musketeers or Snickers, Red Plum 9/16 (coming this weekend)
Final Price: 3 Free

Blue Diamond Almonds, 1.5 oz- $1.25 (BOGO, rings at $.62)
Use $1.00/2 Blue Diamond products printable
Final Price: Free

Welch’s Fruit ‘N Yogurt Snacks, 4.25 oz- $1.99 (BOGO, rings at $.99)
Use $.50/1 Welch's Fruit Snacks printable
Final Price: Free

Wacky Mac Veggie Spirals, 12 oz- $1.99 (BOGO, rings at $.99)
Use $1.00/2 Wacky Mac Pasta printable
Final Price: Free

Maruchan Yakisoba – $0.59
Use $1.00/2 Yakisoba, SmartSource 8/29
Final Price: Free

Nissin Cup Noodles, 2.25 oz- $.59 (BOBO, rings at $.29)
Use $1.00/4 Nissin Big Cup Noodles, SmartSource 9/9
Final Price: 4 for Free May be able to get 8 for Free since coupon doubles!

Hormel Compleats, 10 oz- $1.97
Use $1.00/1 Hormel Compleats printable
or this $1.00/1 Hormel Compleats printable
Final Price: Free

Gerber 2nd Foods Organic Pouch – $1.50
Use $.75/1 Gerber 2nd Foods printable
Final Price: Free

Neutrogena Make Up Remover Cleansing Towellettes, 7 ct- $2.50
Use $2.00/1 Neutrogena Face Product printable
Final Price: Free

Dawn Dishwashing Liquid, 9 oz- $.99
Use $.50/1 Dawn products, P&G 8/26
or $1.00/2 Dawn products, P&G 8/26
Final Price: Free

Feline Pine Cat Litter, 7 lb- $5.99 (BOGO, rings at $2.99)
Use $1.50/1 Feline Pine printable
Final Price: Free

Ocean Spray Juice, 4 pk and 48 oz- $4.19 (BOGO, rings at $2.09)
Use $1.00/1 Ocean Spray Sparkling 4pk printable
Final Price: $.09

Ore-Ida Easy Fries, 4.25-4.75 oz, $1.39
Use $1.00/2 Ore Ida Product printable
Final Price: $.39 each wyb 2

Rotel Tomatoes, 10 oz, $1.25- Buy 2 get 1 free
Use $1.00/3 Rotel Diced Tomatoes, SmartSource 9/16
Final Price: 3 for $.25

Hershey’s Simple Pleasures, 5.6 oz, $4.15
Use $2.00/1 Simple Pleasures 5.6oz, SmartSource 8/19
Final Price: $.19

Pillsbury Pie Crust, French Loaf or Breadsticks, $1.99
Use $1.00/2 Pillsbury Refrigerated Pie Crusts printable
and use $.75/2 Harris Teeter ecoupon
and get $.75 back in your SavingStar account from ecoupon
Final Price: $.24

Kellogg’s Nutri-Grain Bars, 4.6 oz- $2.50
Use $1.00/2 Nutri-Grain Bars printable
and use $1.00/2 Harris Teeter ecoupon
Final Price: $.50 each wyb 2

Betty Crocker Potato Mix, 3-3.3 oz- $.87
Use $.50/2 Betty Crocker Boxed Potatoes, SmartSource 9/9
Final Price: $.37 each wyb 2

YoCrunch Yogurt Cups, 6oz- $.70
Use $1.00/4 YoCrunch, SmartSource 9/9
Final Price: $.20 each wyb 4

Yoplait Go Gurt, Yogurt, or Trix, 12-18 oz, $2
Use $.75/2 Yoplait Go Gurt, Kids Cup, Splitz, or Trix, SmartSource 8/5
or $.75/2 Yoplait Go Gurt, Kids Cup, Splitz, or Trix printable
and use $.75/2 Harris Teeter ecoupon
and get $.75 back in your SavingStar account from ecoupon
Final Price: $.50 each wyb 2

Gerber Graduates Grabbers- $1.65
Use $.75/1 Gerber Graduates Grabbers printable
Final Price: $.15

Zone Perfect Bar, 1.58 oz- $1.39
Use BOGO Zone Perfect Bar printable
and $.55/1 Zone Perfect Bar, Smart Source 7/15
Final Price: $.29 for 2

Met-RX Protein Bars, 3 oz- $2.29
Use $2.00/2 Met-RX Protein Plus Bars, Red Plum 8/5
Final Price: $.29 for 2

Veet Wax Strips, 20 ct- $4.49
Use $2.00/1 Veet Product printable
Final Price: $.49

Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner, 24 oz- $2.89 (BOGO, rings at $1.44)
Use $1.00/2 Lysol Power & Free Toilet Bowl Cleaner, SmartSource 8/19
Final Price: $.44 each wyb 2

Brut Deodorant, 2.5 oz- $2.07
Use $1.00/1 Brut fragrance or deodorant, SmartSource 9/9
Final Price: $.07

Alka Seltzer Plus Allergy, 24 ct- $4.29
Use $2.00/1 Alka Seltzer allergy relief, Red Plum 5/06
Final Price: $.29

Viactiv Calcium Dietary Chews, 60 ct- $4.99
Use $2.00/1 Viactiv Soft Chews, SmartSource 5/13
Final Price: $.99

Vaseline Body Lotion, 10 oz, $2.99
Use $1.00/1 Vaseline Lotion 10oz+ printable
Final Price: $.99

K-Y Personal Lubricant Jelly, 4 oz- $4.79
Use $2.00/1 K-Y Product printable
Final Price: $.79

Gerber Graduates Puffs, 1.48 oz- $2.00
Use $1.00/2 Gerber Graduates Puffs printable
Final Price: $1.00

Dean’s Heat ‘n Eat Dip, 11 oz- $2.79
Use $.65/1 Dean's Heat 'n Eat Dip printable
and get $.55 back in your SavingStar account from ecoupon
Final Price: $.94

Chobani Little Champions, 4 pk- $2.99
Use $1.00/1 Chobani Champions 4pk printable
Final Price: $.99

Smart Balance Milk, 64 oz- $3.99
Use $1.50/1 Smart Balance milk, SmartSource 8/5
Final Price: $.99

Nestle Coffee-Mate Creamer, 6 oz- $2.19
Use $.55/1 Coffee-Mate printable
Final Price: $1.09

Magnum Ice Cream Bars, 3 pk- $3.99
Use $1.00/1 Magnum Ice Cream Bars printable
Final Price: $1.99

V8 V-Fusion Smoothie- $2.69
Use $1.00/1 V8 V-Fusion Smoothie, SmartSource 9/9
Final Price: $.69

Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Cinnamon Bread- $2.99
Use $1.00/1 Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Bread, SmartSource 9/9
Final Price: $.99

Pepperidge Farm Jingos Crackers- $2.99
Use $1.00/1 Jingos Crackers printable
Final Price: $.99

Kraft Natural Shredded Cheese – $2.00
Use $1.00/2 Kraft Shredded Cheese, Smart Source 8/19
Final Price: $1.00

Always Infinity, 12-18 pk.- $4.99
Use $2.00/1 Always Infinity 12+ ct, Proctor & Gamble Insert 7/29
Final Price: $.99

Visine Eye Drops, .5 oz, $4.99
Use $2.00/1 Visine Product .5oz+, Red Plum 6/10
or $2.00/1 Visine Product .5oz+, Red Plum 7/29
Final Price: $.99

Palmer’s Skin Conditioner with Vit. E, 8.5 oz, $4.99
Use $2.00/1 Palmer's Facial Item printable
Final Price: $.99

Clean & Clear Astringent or Medication, $3.99
Use $1.50/1 Clean & Clear Product, Red Plum 7/29
Final Price: $.99

Mrs. Paul’s Flounder or Fish Sticks, 8-10.1oz- $5.55 (BOGO, rings at $2.77)
Use $1.00/1 Mrs. Paul's seafood item printable
Final Price: $.77 each

Pop Secret Popcorn, 6 ct- $6.15 (BOGO, rings at $3.07)
Use $1.00/2 Pop Secret, Red Plum 9/9
or $1.00/2 Pop Secret printable
Final Price: $1.07 each wyb 2

Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage, 14-16 oz- $3.33
Use $.75/1 Hillshire Farm Smoked Sausage, Red Plum 8/12 (exp 9/15)
Final Price: $1.83

You can find these and other great deals at Capitally Frugal and Southern Savers.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Half Priced Starbucks!

You will want to hurry to grab this great deal! Right now Living Social is offering a $10 Starbucks card for just $5! The card is delivered in the form of an e-gift card and you can print it and use it in store (you don't have to use it all at once, it will store the value) or transfer it to your Starbucks card. Very nice. And just in time for Pumpkin Spice lattes.....mmm.....

You can snag this great deal here or by clicking on the picture below.



Tuesday, September 4, 2012

I Got Paid!


Online surveys and mystery shopping get a bad rap. Many people think that they are just scams but there are really some great (and legitimate) companies out there that will pay you for your time and effort. And to prove it, here's what I earned from online surveys and mystery shopping last month, among other endeavors. I completed these mystery shops and surveys in the previous month (or earlier) and received the payment this month. Some of these mystery shops required me to pay something out of pocket to purchase a good or service (which I get to keep) but I was reimbursed for my purchase and was usually paid an additional fee.

August 2012
Hill's Science Diet Ideal Balance dog food rebate- $12.99
Reward Port Surveys- $25.00
Opinion Outpost- $10.00
Olay Rebate- $10.00 prepaid Mastercard
CVS- $10.00 Shell Gift Card
Marketforce- $23.72
Sinclair Customer Metrics- $25.73

Total Earned in August: $117.44
Total Minus Out Of Pocket Mystery Shopping Expenses (which were reimbursed): $95.97

August was a slow mystery shopping month for me because it was a busy month. I finished my Master's thesis and travelled to California for a week for my sister's wedding. But I made up for it by completing and cashing out surveys online. I also got some rebates which I used coupons for so my out of pocket was less than the rebate amount. I would have purchased these items without the rebates so I consider the rebates and the gas card to be extra money for that month.

What did I do with this small bit o' extra income? Well, some went to offset costs associated with travelling to help me stay within my budget, namely the extra gas money spent on the rental car in California, and some went to paying for a parking ticket (ugh!). Another third went into savings to pay for my trip up to Pennsylvania for my good friend's wedding later this month. Hooray for weddings!

Monday, September 3, 2012

Frugal Tips My Mom Taught Me: Pack a Snack

My mom is a frugal woman. Growing up in a post-WWII household in Northern California with parents who had just weathered the war and the Great Depression, she knows how to make a dollar stretch. Over my life I have learned a lot from my mom and those tips have molded me into the thrifty and yes, cheap, lady I am today. This post series explores those tips my Mom has given me over the years that may help you too.


Pack a Snack
Growing up, my Mom always packed a snack in a Garfield-themed tote bag (I believe my 6 year old self picked that out) for myself and my two sisters. Yes, that's terribly common for a Mom with three young kids, but the principle applies. Why not bring a healthy snack with you from home rather than buy one while you are out?

I practice this today. I always have popcorn or granola bars in my desk in case I have to work late and I am starving. I try to keep a granola bar in the glove compartment of my to stave off hunger-induced road rage and late night trips to the drive through for a "snack" of a double cheeseburger and fries.

Planning ahead and bringing food with you allows you to continue with your plans and not have to stop to get food, and it also saves you money. If I bring a banana and a granola bar from home as well as a reusable bottle of water, I'm good to go all afternoon with groceries which cost around $.50 (less if I bought the granola bars with coupons). If I was out and needed a snack, a Luna bar at the Seven Eleven would set me back $2.50, plus another dollar for a banana. Add on another $1.50+ for a bottle of water. That's a $.50 snack vs. a $5.00 snack.

You're always gonna need to eat and God has blessed this world with an abundance of granola bars and coupons with which we can buy them cheaply. So throw a granola bar or two in your bag and go out into the world!

Thursday, August 30, 2012

CVS Shopping Trip: August 26- Sept 1

Yay! The gas card deal is back at CVS this week!

I had some ExtraBucks to spend and I converted them into a gas card, which is sorely needed. The Biore products are part of the Buy $30 in Participaing Products, get $10 Gas Card deal going on this week and I love their nose strips but they are way too expensive full price ($1.00 a strip at full price). The Dawn dish liquid is also part of the gas card deal.

Here's my trip:


Biore Combination Skin Cleanser- Sale $6.99 (Reg. $8.29)
2 Biore Nose Strips, 8 ct- Sale $6.99 (Reg. $8.29)
Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub- Sale $6.99 (Reg. $8.29)
2 Dawn Dishwashing liquid, 9oz- Sale $.99 (Reg. $1.67)
2 Stayfree Regular Pads With Wings, 18ct- Sale $2.00 (Reg. $4.19)

Total: $33.94
Coupons Used:
2 $1.50/1 Biore Nose Strips Facebook coupon
2 Buy Biore Pore Strips get Cleanser Free, Smart Source 8/12
1 $1.00/2 Dawn, P&G 7/29 or 8/26
2 $2.00/1 Stayfree products, Smart Source 7/22 or 8/26
$11 Extrabucks

Final Price: $.96
Tax: $1.38
Amount Paid: $2.34
Got Back: $10 Shell gas card!

You can find great deals at CVS this week at the Krazy Coupon Lady.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Budgeting Ahead

I’ve always been frugal. I’ve also never been flush with cash. Most importantly, I’ve always budgeted and made sure that my income, no matter how big or small, can work for what I need it for. Following a budget reigns in my spending and gives me peace of mind so that I feel in control of my financial destiny and know that I have money allocated to pay the bills and buy groceries as well as for fun nights out or a trip to the mall. I like budgets and spreadsheets and keeping track of my expenses. It works for me to have a detailed spreadsheet or the Easy Envelope Budget Aid (an amazing free app and website) which I can use to track every penny.

But not everyone likes budgets. When my husband and I were dating he never budgeted. He paid his bills and when the money ran out it was gone, even if it was gone before the fridge got stocked. He didn’t worry about where it went to and would just look forward to the next paycheck to pay for things he needed. He lived in the now and spent in the now. One day I stopped at the ATM and he saw my account balance printed on my receipt. “But you have money! Why do you always say you can’t afford things?,” he exclaimed. I explained that I had my budget set up so that I was two paychecks ahead (my April paychecks made up my May budget) so I had a buffer in case I needed to float an expense. That gave me security because I wasn’t actually out of money in case of an emergency. He didn’t get it and thought I was just being overly cautious and a pinch penny.

Three months before our wedding a few years later, he unexpectedly lost his job. We had rent to pay, groceries to buy, bills to pay and, suddenly, half the income. To the budget spreadsheet I went and I manipulated the numbers until we made it work. Granted, a lot of expenses had to be cut and we had to dramatically reduce our expenses, including food and entertainment (that’s when I learned how to coupon), but it worked. We didn’t have any money in savings but because of that two paycheck buffer, I had the cash on hand to pay our rent in full because not being homeless is a priority for us. Then we pushed ourselves back onto the month-ahead budget. All the bills got paid, we didn’t go hungry, and we had a plan for the future, all because we budgeted ahead. My husband thanked me for my plan-ahead budget and was grateful that we weathered that crisis. Now he gets why I budget so aggressively and tries to be more frugal himself. He’s not a penny-tracker and probably never will be, but he understands the importance of a well-managed budget. With the month-ahead budget, because we had the entire amount of that month’s budget up front, it allows us to pay the bills at the beginning of the month and still have money available for groceries so there’s no more worrying about whether we can eat cause we just spent our entire paycheck on rent (in the DC area that’s a frequent problem because rents are so high).

So how do you get on a month-ahead budget if you’re not already? It seems impossible if you are living paycheck to paycheck but it’s not.

First, make a good budget. Identify what your fixed bills are (rent/mortgage, utilities, cell phone, gym membership, debt payments) and what your floating bills are (entertainment, groceries, gas, anything that doesn’t have a fixed amount). A good way to determine how much your floating bills amount is to track your receipts for a month and use that as an estimate. You can always adjust it later. And don’t forget to include a category for savings. Having cash on hand for an emergency is priceless.

Second, make sure that the budget is lower than your monthly income. If it’s not, call the cable company and drop HBO, coupon more and cut your grocery budget, cut that entertainment budget dramatically. Do whatever you have to do to make your monthly expenses fit into your monthly income.

Once you get used to living inside that budget, push onto the month-ahead budget. This is easiest on those months where you get three paychecks rather than two. Leave that extra paycheck aside and allocate it for next month’s spending. See this monthly chart below? That’s how sticking to your budget can allow you to budget ahead painlessly if you get paid every two weeks. The circled dates are paycheck days and the colors correspond to the months which the paychecks will be budgeted toward.


If you don’t get paid every two weeks, then save up so you have an extra paycheck amount. Save your entire entertainment budget that month if you have to. Then once you are used to being one paycheck ahead, save up for the second paycheck amount.
Budgeting on the month-ahead plan is really easy. You have your current month’s income derived from the previous month’s paychecks so when you get those paychecks leave them in your account and just work off of the money in your current month’s budget. Then, when the next month rolls around, allocate those previous month’s paychecks into your budget and you will have all of your month’s budget money at once up front. This budget changes how you think about your bank account balance. Now the number you see in your balance will be your current month’s spending money plus next month’s spending money.

The month-ahead budget may not work for every family but it sure has worked for ours. Having a set amount every month keeps my budget on track and any extra income (“leap” third paychecks in a month, money from mystery shopping) gets funneled into savings or debt payoff, or to cover any unexpected over budget expenses. Most importantly, I appreciate the security that not living paycheck to paycheck brings. Yes, we are still broke and are barely keeping our heads above water financially, but we are making do with what we’ve got and I don’t have to wonder whether I can buy groceries this week or if I will have to wait until my next paycheck. And that’s financial security I can budget for.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Safeway Coupon Matchups: Aug 22-28



Remember, coupons double at Safeways in the DC area (except for ecoupons) so final price includes doubled coupon amount.

In-ad coupons can be added electronically as eCoupons to your Safeway Club Card on www.Safeway.com. Go to Just4U in the Coupons section. The Just4U section also has lots of ecoupons which you can add to your card. These ecoupons will not double and according to Safeway's coupon policy a manufacturer ecoupon cannot be stacked with another manufacturer's coupon, but occasionally I have noticed that the ecoupons will stack automatically. Ask the cashier to tare the transaction before you hand over your coupons to see which ecoupons come off. If you have the same printed coupon as the ecoupon, it will sometimes scan the coupon but won't deduct from the price. Be sure to check your receipt to make sure that your coupons went through.

Here's the best deals for this week:

Fresh Express Salad bags- $.99
*Look for Safeway's Fresh Idea magazine in produce section for $1.00/1 coupon making it free!

Red or Green Seedless Grapes- $.99/lb

Rancher's Reserve Boneless Beef Steaks- $2.99/lb

****Buy 4 General Mills Cereals, Save $4.00****
Cheerios, 8.9oz- $1.49 wyb 4
Use $.50/1 printable
Final Price: $.49

Cinnamon Toast Crunch, 12.2oz- $1.49 wyb 4
Use $.60/1 printable
or use another $.60/1 printable
or use $.50/1 printable
Final Price: $.29- $.49

Nature Valley Granola Bars, 6.7-8.9oz- $1.49 wyb 4
Use $.50/1 SS 7/15
or $.50/2 General Mills 8/5
or $.50/2 printable
Final Price: $.49- $.99
*There is also a Nature Valley catalina promotion which will print a coupon for use on your next purchase. Buy 3, get $1.00 back; buy 4, get $2.00 back; and buy 5, get $3.00 back. So, if you buy 4 boxes at $.49 each, you will get $2.00 back making them free!

*********************************************************
Lucerne Large Eggs- $1.79 with in-ad coupon, limit 2

Snackwells and Nabisco 100-Calorie Packs, 3.7-7.5oz- $1.99 with in-ad coupon
Use $1.00/2 Snackwells Bars, SS 5/20 (if bars included)
Final Price: $1.49 wyb 2

Welch's Grape Juice or Fruit Fizz, 64oz or 4pk- $1.99 with in-ad coupon, limit 3
Use $.75/1 Welch's Juice or Fruit Fizz, RP 6/24
Final Price: $.49

Ken's Salad Dressing, 16oz- $1.19 with in-ad coupon, limit3
Use $1.00/1, SS 8/12
or $1.00/2, SS 8/12 (depending on where you live)
Final Price: $.19 - $.69

Keebler Fudge Shoppe Cookies, 5.5-16oz, selected varieties- $1.99
Use $.55/2 Keebler Cookies, RP 7/29
use $.55/1 Keebler Cinnamon Roll Cookies, RP 7/29
Final price: $.89- $1.44

Barilla Meals- $2.00
Use $1.00/1 SS 8/12
Final Price: $1.00

International Delight Creamer, 32oz- $2.99 with in-ad coupon, limit 3
Use $1.50/1 printable
Final Price: $1.49

12-pack Coca Cola Products, Buy 2 get 2 Free Plus Free Snack Artist Chips

Palmolive, 10oz- $.99
Use $.25/1 Palmolive Ultra Dish Liquid SS 8/12 (if included)
Final Price: $.49

How I'm Saving Today


Well, it's been a very busy week. I flew out to California for my Grandpa's memorial service, a family reunion, and my sister's wedding.

I had a wonderful time on my "working vacation" and enjoyed spending time with friends and family even though we were quite busy preparing for all the festivities. My husband flew out and met me in California and wore a dashing seersucker suit to the wedding to boot. Plus, he got it on sale at Jos. A. Bank. Awesome :)

Vacation and travel is tough on the budget but we managed to stick close to it. I pulled out cash to take on the trip and that really helped me to watch my spending. When the money ran low, I knew we were running out. One way we saved some money was getting yogurt and granola from the nearby Safeway and keeping them in a mini fridge in our room so we had a cheap and healthy breakfast. Way better than overpriced room service (which I admit we did order the first day cause it's fun and easy). I had to use the card to get gas for the rental car and pay a baggage fee which put us over budget, but it could have been much worse.

Yesterday I defended my master's thesis and passed!!! Woohoo! So I am done with grad school and only have to make minor edits to the thesis and get it bound. Super sweet!

It feels good to accomplish something that was two tough years in the making, with semesters back to back and through the summers. Phew!

Now back to focusing on paying down medical bills and trying to crawl out of debt. Slowly but surely it will happen.

How are you saving today?

Monday, August 13, 2012

Frugal Fashion: Where'd You Get Those Shoes?

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Famous Footwear. All opinions are 100% mine.

Ah yes, the universal compliment. You love your shoes and that woman that just got into the elevator loves them too. So she asks, "Where'd you get those shoes?"

So where do I get those shoes? Famous Footwear.

And I got a great price too. I love getting compliments but I love even more when I can say, "Thanks! And I got a great deal on them!"

Then I feel smart, frugal, and chic.

 

Take for example these cute flats. Chic, comfortable, perfect for fall, and only $39.99 on sale at Famous Footwear.

In fact, you could even get two pairs of shoes right now for super cheap during Famous Footwear's Buy One Get One 50% off sale plus you can save 15% on your entire purchase (or save 20& if you are a member of their new Rewards program) during their back to school promotion. Good thing they carry Nike cause that's all my husband wears :). Print out this BOGO + 15% off Famous Footwear Coupon to get this great deal in store now through August 18th and snag those end of season and back to school sales!

You can easily snag great deals for your whole family since they have kids, men's and women's shoes and carry a huge variety in store and online. You can get in, grab your shoes, and get on with your errands. Or you can browse the shoes in store or online to find just the perfect pair. Either way they've got you covered.

If you don't find what you want in store, or they are out of your size, Famous Footwear will ship it to your house or another store. You can shop online at www.famous.com and pick up your order in store to skip out on the shipping fee.

Oh, and don't forget to sign up for their Rewards program (you all know how I love rewards programs!) where you can get one point for every dollar you spend and cash them in for gift certificates to Famous Footwear for up to $100 a year. Plus they have loads of exclusive discounts for Rewards members only.

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This is a sponsored post for Famous Footwear but all chic and frugal opinions are my own. I wouldn't rep a product that's not worth reppin'.

Visit Sponsor's Site