OK - my friends know how much I LOVE Disney World. We go every year. Here is how I save some money so I can shop, shop, shop.
1. My husband has a conference down there in the fall - this year it was an awards conference for Six Sigma at a Disney hotel (which is on the property but not owned by Disney - confusing, I know). We pulled the girls out of school and DROVE down - yes, I said it, DROVE 11 1/2 hours with my girls.
How does this save money? His company would pay for him to stay there and for the transportation to and from. We tack on the additional nights and that reduces our out of pocket costs. Also, driving, while it might seem downright horrible, saves us over $500, as the cost of gas versus airline tickets for 3 is just obvious (plus, if you travel for work, some mileage could be included). This is one of those time versus money things each family has to consider.
2. We booked a package online. Since we go every year, we had a special offer emailed to us and I jumped on it - free dining plan. The more you go, the better your email offers from Disney become! Many people got this dining offer but only after the coupon code people booked theirs (I know this because my friends Paige and Krista got the public offer about a month after I got my code). As a matter of fact, I got an offer to book our 2010 trip before we left and get free dining AGAIN!
How does this save money (besides the obvious)? Even Disney is a bit hurt by the economy, in that every quarter it seems they are offering a new package to lure people down there. Last spring it was buy 4 nights, get 3 free. Then it was get a dining plan for free this last quarter (depending on the room cost) - now it is back to buy a few nights, get a few free (though check the website if you really want to know). It seems that 2009 is the best time to go - I've never seen more offers by the Walt Disney company in my years of trekking down there.
3. I have a Disney VISA by Chase. This helps you in a few different ways:
A - if you buy a Disney vacation package, you get 6 months with no finance charges
B - it is a rewards card to I set it up to pay our bills with it and gas for my car and rack up money in the form of a gift card to be used either toward the package, to buy tickets, or in the parks
C. it has a 10% off any $50 merchandise purchase all around The World.
SOOOO - we had my rewards gift card AND I made sure that we didn't nickel and dime spend but bought it all together so I could use the 10% off as much as possible
4. The Disney Dining Plan - there are four different plans now but we get the basic one, which is one sit down meal, one fast food meal and one snack. I use this even when it isn't free because we like character dining AND we get tired of eating fast food all the time.
Here's how I decided to do the dining plan - add up the number of sit down/character meals you plan to have. If it averages out to one a day, get the meal plan. A character meal is about $100 for a young family of four; the cost of the meal plan is less than that.
This is an iffy one and some families don't use it or need it and that is totally FINE. But we don't eat with characters every day, as WDW has some of the best food out there. And even with the dining plan, we brought juice and water and bought milk and a resort mug (free refills) to save because when it is 95 in Florida you sweat and 3 drinks a day just doesn't cut it.
5. Staying on-site saves us time and $14/day in parking fees. Add that plus the cost of gas to your room and you might find that it is reasonable to stay on-site. Plus you get more bang for your buck, like enjoying the park before and after hours for on-site resort guests only. So unless you have hotel rewards coming out of your ears, consider staying in The World.
6. I have many other tips to share but will save them for another time... like bibbidi bobbidi boutique, making a budget, etc
SOOOO - with my rewards gift card and saving 10% with the VISA and using my beverages wisely, I got to keep the money I saved... and bought myself two new tops, pajamas for the girls and me and some princess treats for the girls.
Anyway, these are the things I do to save money, and I hope they can help you, too!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Monday, June 1, 2009
Budget Budget Budget
As I was driving home from class tonight, I made an unscheduled pit-stop at Target to pick up some things on my list. But I didn't have my coupons and I was hungry and I was SPEECHLESS at the cost of men's razor blades - $18 for 8, what were they kidding?? Well Wes needs them and I said bad words in my head as I trekked back to the checkout, thinking I should have remembered them at CostCo when I went this morning (and next time I go, I'll buy 100 razor blades and use a coupon and save money). But I had a list and I stuck to it, except the Cheetos at the checkout, which were $1.24 (a bag 4 times as big is only twice as much... oops).
Do you make a budget? You should. You need to, really.
Make a list of all your regular expenses. Itemize the silly stuff, like oil changes or car repairs, stamps and birthday gifts (we have two or three a month, it seems), magazines and movies (under entertainment, I suppose), pet food and vet bills, etc. Then write down what you earn, what you save, what you give and what you spend. Pray it balances (because I do this regularly - prayers are good).
Need to trim your budget? Here are some of my suggestions:
1. Plan out at least one year of your expenses in advance - you can view most of your past bills on line for the last 6 months, and your gas and power bills for a year. Really look at your spending realistically.
2. Check out your cell phone plan - sprint has an optimizer that analyzes your last 6 billing cycles and then tells you if you need a higher or lower plan. Do you really need lots of cell phones? For YEARS we had just one - whoever was OUT or OUT OF TOWN had it.
3. Call around for cable/phone/internet combos and determine if someone has a better deal. I just called for no reason (well, I was missing a channel I like all of a sudden) and they lowered my bill because that channel wasn't premium any more but included in my regular lineup.
4. Talk to your power people about the budget plan. I generally don't advocate this but if it helps you maintain your spending, go for it.
5. Pay your bills early. PERIOD. Since my husband is paid twice per month, I get up the morning of payday and pay ALL THE BILLS due in those 15 or so days - and we live on the rest. Could be lots, could be not-so-lots, depending on the month. No late fees is better for your credit and better on your budget.
6. Use coupons - I don't care if it is for eating out, buying birthday presents, or household goods, just find a coupon (see my rather lengthy post on coupons). If you have fluff room in your budget, pay the full amount due and get back the coupon-amount and donate it, give it to your kids, or buy a small treat (this is how I afford hardback books here lately).
7. INSURANCE - call and get quotes on this, too - car, house, personal property, identity theft, flood, etc. We use one company for just about everything, but my husband went with insure.com (or something like that) and got a super-duper rate on his life insurance, which couldn't be matched by his employer OR or primary insurers so we switched that one.
The bottom line is that you need to know where your money is going. You need to make a budget. You need to balance your bank account. You need to file your receipts away. You need to save, and you need to give. You need to take the time to call everyone from the trash company (VWS has the cheapest backyard service in Hampton Park, by the way) to the insurance company to make sure you have the best, least-expensive deal.
Anyway some of those suggestions have worked for me and enabled me to pick up extra treats (specifically the coupons at CostCo give me money to buy books, since I don't like used ones). I hope you'll make a budget, stick to it, and use some of these cost-cutting tips to buy your own treats!
Do you make a budget? You should. You need to, really.
Make a list of all your regular expenses. Itemize the silly stuff, like oil changes or car repairs, stamps and birthday gifts (we have two or three a month, it seems), magazines and movies (under entertainment, I suppose), pet food and vet bills, etc. Then write down what you earn, what you save, what you give and what you spend. Pray it balances (because I do this regularly - prayers are good).
Need to trim your budget? Here are some of my suggestions:
1. Plan out at least one year of your expenses in advance - you can view most of your past bills on line for the last 6 months, and your gas and power bills for a year. Really look at your spending realistically.
2. Check out your cell phone plan - sprint has an optimizer that analyzes your last 6 billing cycles and then tells you if you need a higher or lower plan. Do you really need lots of cell phones? For YEARS we had just one - whoever was OUT or OUT OF TOWN had it.
3. Call around for cable/phone/internet combos and determine if someone has a better deal. I just called for no reason (well, I was missing a channel I like all of a sudden) and they lowered my bill because that channel wasn't premium any more but included in my regular lineup.
4. Talk to your power people about the budget plan. I generally don't advocate this but if it helps you maintain your spending, go for it.
5. Pay your bills early. PERIOD. Since my husband is paid twice per month, I get up the morning of payday and pay ALL THE BILLS due in those 15 or so days - and we live on the rest. Could be lots, could be not-so-lots, depending on the month. No late fees is better for your credit and better on your budget.
6. Use coupons - I don't care if it is for eating out, buying birthday presents, or household goods, just find a coupon (see my rather lengthy post on coupons). If you have fluff room in your budget, pay the full amount due and get back the coupon-amount and donate it, give it to your kids, or buy a small treat (this is how I afford hardback books here lately).
7. INSURANCE - call and get quotes on this, too - car, house, personal property, identity theft, flood, etc. We use one company for just about everything, but my husband went with insure.com (or something like that) and got a super-duper rate on his life insurance, which couldn't be matched by his employer OR or primary insurers so we switched that one.
The bottom line is that you need to know where your money is going. You need to make a budget. You need to balance your bank account. You need to file your receipts away. You need to save, and you need to give. You need to take the time to call everyone from the trash company (VWS has the cheapest backyard service in Hampton Park, by the way) to the insurance company to make sure you have the best, least-expensive deal.
Anyway some of those suggestions have worked for me and enabled me to pick up extra treats (specifically the coupons at CostCo give me money to buy books, since I don't like used ones). I hope you'll make a budget, stick to it, and use some of these cost-cutting tips to buy your own treats!
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Picky About Produce? Shop in-Season
You know by now how much I love shopping in-bulk. Here's my latest story:
I do most of my fresh produce shopping at the local farmer's market, the Chesterfield Berry Farm, from about May - September or October. They are closer than CostCo, they are in many instances cheaper than CostCo, and I'm supporting the local growers. Every week, CBF features a new crop, usually what is in-season. This week and for the next few weeks, it will be green (and yellow) squash.
As always I purchased the box, which is 13 pounds of zucchini for $10. Sometimes I am lucky and they'll mix up 1/2 squash and have zucchini but I have to wait a few more weeks, they told me. At present, zucchini is $1.89/pound. With all my zucchini I make:
I do most of my fresh produce shopping at the local farmer's market, the Chesterfield Berry Farm, from about May - September or October. They are closer than CostCo, they are in many instances cheaper than CostCo, and I'm supporting the local growers. Every week, CBF features a new crop, usually what is in-season. This week and for the next few weeks, it will be green (and yellow) squash.
As always I purchased the box, which is 13 pounds of zucchini for $10. Sometimes I am lucky and they'll mix up 1/2 squash and have zucchini but I have to wait a few more weeks, they told me. At present, zucchini is $1.89/pound. With all my zucchini I make:
- breakfast (sausage, egg, zucchini casserole - eat one and freeze one),
- lunch (zucchini soup, garden vegetable chilil, and sliced raw with ranch dressing),
- snacks (zucchini muffins -like bread but in muffin form),
- dinner side-dishes (grilled with olive oil or sauted with butter or simmered with tomatos and italian spices) and
- dessert (chocolate cake with shredded zucchini disguised in it)
One good thing - saving money.
Second good thing - eating healthy - my kids have no idea how much zucchini they eat and I know where the food is coming from
Third good thing - the produce lasts about TWO WEEKS in my fridge because it is farm-picked fresh.
And of course you're helping the local economy, a win-win for everyone.
If you want any of these recipes, just email me - they aren't mine to post but they are favorites that my whole family eats, especially the garden chili - towards the end of the summer, we make the whole thing solely from our garden. And because there are so many ways to eat zucchini (or other foods in-season, which gives me a whole 'nother idea for a set of blogs) we don't get tired of it. Finally when you are totally over zucchini, shred it and freeze it in 2-cup freezer bags and make fresh zucchini bread in the fall (but don't forget to add it to your freezer list so you don't forget about it).
Wes grilled it for me last night and I had it sliced with ranch this morning. Purchasing food at less than half price makes me so happy - it helps my food budget and I hope it gives you inspiration in the kitchen and within your own food budget!
Magazines - Have You Heard?
I love magazines. I mean I get a LOT of magazines - People, Us, Entertainment Weekly, Real Simple, Southern Living, Taste of Home, Scrapbooks ETC... more... and then Wes gets a bunch too. And that doesn't include what I trade with friends on the street.
DISCLAIMER
Magazines are an excellent place to save money. Don't buy them and don't subscribe to them if you're watching money. Read them at the library. But I don't like the library and don't like used paper products... so I cut somewhere else to get my magazine fix.
Have you heard about Maghound.com? A few months back I got an email about it and just can't figure out what's the catch! I've been a subscriber for a white now and am totally hooked. And I've hooked my family, too!
Here's how it works:
DISCLAIMER
Magazines are an excellent place to save money. Don't buy them and don't subscribe to them if you're watching money. Read them at the library. But I don't like the library and don't like used paper products... so I cut somewhere else to get my magazine fix.
Have you heard about Maghound.com? A few months back I got an email about it and just can't figure out what's the catch! I've been a subscriber for a white now and am totally hooked. And I've hooked my family, too!
Here's how it works:
- Inventory all the magazines you subscribe to and all the ones you buy at the store (and if you're buying them, you should buy them at CostCo)
- Go to maghound.com and see if any of your regulars are listed (most of mine are)
- pick a plan of 3, 5, 7 or more and pay one monthly fee to maghound.com
There are 300 magazines to choose from. The weeklies have a small surcharge, but the bonus is that if you select a magazine published bimonthly, maghound gives you SUBSTITUTES for free (like getting two subscriptions for the price of one). You can update your choices AT ANY TIME. You can stop your membership AT ANY TIME. The only comment I have is that you don't get to select your substitues, so if Maxim doesn't arrive one month, there's no guarantee that Men's Health will arrive in its place (but I've emailed them my suggestion).
NOTE, subscriptions through maghound.com no not affect your current subscriptions so if you have one, call the publisher directly to cancel it immediately.
Here's how I rationalize saving money: 1 issue of Southern Living costs $4.99 - one issue at CostSo is $3.50; a subscription is $20 for 13 issues if I recall, or $1.66/issue. But where you get caught are RENEWALS! Those costs aren't cheap! Or if you're like me, you get mad because the issue is in the stores before it arrives on your doorstep.
I have selected the 7-magazine tier for $9.95/month but I get People, which has a surcharge because it is a weekly. For the cost of what I would pay for People at CostCo PER MONTH, I get 6 other magazines for free (or what my budget perceives as free).
If you're looking to save money, this isn't the best 'save' for you, but if you're saving money within your magazines budget (I have a line-item in my budget for EVERYTHING), I think maghound.com is the best deal around. And like I've said - this works for me and I hope it works for you, too!
Cheap or Not So Cheap - Buying & Selling Girls' Clothes
Today I have lots of posts stuck in my head because it has been a while since I've posted - sorry about that.
I want to share with you my morning's purchase. I hit the mother-load at Gymboree this morning.
You know I sell my girls' used clothes on eBAY - and I've said before, I get it all on eBAY. Gymboree dresses, hair accessories, and swimwear sell used for about as much as I often pay for them, between $10 to $15 (new, full price dresses retail for $32ish and swim $22ish). That makes dressing my girls in the summer close to zero-cost.
READ ME - I save 'here' to spend 'somewhere else,' so I buy things like jewelry, outfits and the occasional pair of sandals, which don't turn over as well but still sell used. (This is a case of do what I say and not exactly as I do.)
My point is that it doesn't always save more to spend less - there are super-cute things from Kohls and Target that last through the season and might last for hand-me-downs for the next child. But you don't get much back at a consignment store, yard sale, etc. I can spend about the SAME amount per outfit on Gymboree clothes that someone else spends at Kohls or Target, and the difference is that I get more money back.
I take the time to list my girls' clothes on eBAY and then take that money to buy their summer clothes. Another instance of time versus money - I have or make the time so I can have the money. In the month of April, I made $1138 selling mostly used Gymboree and Lilly clothes - eBAYers lose about 10 - 15% to fees, but that's still $1000 take-home. My friend has a PayPal debit card to help control spending, a bit like 'my' money and 'our' money. I transfer most of my eBAY earnings to my savings account and withdraw when the occasion calls - like this morning.
To illustrate my best finds:
seashell shorts $4.47 & matching clam tank $4.47
Full price = $25.50
pineapple tee $8.67 & pineapple shorts $9.37 pineapple sandals $13.15
pineapple ponytail holder $2
FULL PRICE $81.25
stripe short $6.71 & matching top $5.59
FULL PRICE $44.50
Of course, I bought dresses and hair accessories from the watermelon line, which at present is full-price, 30% off plus my 20% off coupon - but those aren't the best, best deals, shown above.
The prices for tops and bottoms shown above are right in line with what I saw at Target last night, except those are complete Gymboree outfits. As I said above, for girls' clothes, dresses sell the best. But I have had 2 -piece outfits sell between $5 - $15 used. And I never, ever sell the hair accessories with the outfit. Some people pay MORE than retail for USED hair accessories still on the card (my personal best is $11.50 for lemony fresh, from 2004, I think, for which I paid $3).
In sum, you don't always save more spending money on lower quality clothing. I recycle my same money summer after summer, selling my old Gymboree clothes to buy my girls new ones, rarely spending more than what I have. Hit the sales, use a coupon, and find the time to list and sell and ship your auctions - I think you'll fare better than if you shop Target/Kohls or consign.
This works best for me, and I hope it works well for you, too!!
I want to share with you my morning's purchase. I hit the mother-load at Gymboree this morning.
- I used a coupon on top of a 30% off your entire purchase sale
- I bought sale items (not full-price, on sale for 30% off but clearance stuff)
You know I sell my girls' used clothes on eBAY - and I've said before, I get it all on eBAY. Gymboree dresses, hair accessories, and swimwear sell used for about as much as I often pay for them, between $10 to $15 (new, full price dresses retail for $32ish and swim $22ish). That makes dressing my girls in the summer close to zero-cost.
READ ME - I save 'here' to spend 'somewhere else,' so I buy things like jewelry, outfits and the occasional pair of sandals, which don't turn over as well but still sell used. (This is a case of do what I say and not exactly as I do.)
My point is that it doesn't always save more to spend less - there are super-cute things from Kohls and Target that last through the season and might last for hand-me-downs for the next child. But you don't get much back at a consignment store, yard sale, etc. I can spend about the SAME amount per outfit on Gymboree clothes that someone else spends at Kohls or Target, and the difference is that I get more money back.
I take the time to list my girls' clothes on eBAY and then take that money to buy their summer clothes. Another instance of time versus money - I have or make the time so I can have the money. In the month of April, I made $1138 selling mostly used Gymboree and Lilly clothes - eBAYers lose about 10 - 15% to fees, but that's still $1000 take-home. My friend has a PayPal debit card to help control spending, a bit like 'my' money and 'our' money. I transfer most of my eBAY earnings to my savings account and withdraw when the occasion calls - like this morning.
To illustrate my best finds:
seashell shorts $4.47 & matching clam tank $4.47
Full price = $25.50
pineapple tee $8.67 & pineapple shorts $9.37 pineapple sandals $13.15
pineapple ponytail holder $2
FULL PRICE $81.25
stripe short $6.71 & matching top $5.59
FULL PRICE $44.50
Of course, I bought dresses and hair accessories from the watermelon line, which at present is full-price, 30% off plus my 20% off coupon - but those aren't the best, best deals, shown above.
The prices for tops and bottoms shown above are right in line with what I saw at Target last night, except those are complete Gymboree outfits. As I said above, for girls' clothes, dresses sell the best. But I have had 2 -piece outfits sell between $5 - $15 used. And I never, ever sell the hair accessories with the outfit. Some people pay MORE than retail for USED hair accessories still on the card (my personal best is $11.50 for lemony fresh, from 2004, I think, for which I paid $3).
In sum, you don't always save more spending money on lower quality clothing. I recycle my same money summer after summer, selling my old Gymboree clothes to buy my girls new ones, rarely spending more than what I have. Hit the sales, use a coupon, and find the time to list and sell and ship your auctions - I think you'll fare better than if you shop Target/Kohls or consign.
This works best for me, and I hope it works well for you, too!!
Friday, February 20, 2009
Doctor, Doctor - Flex Me
Well I have to start by saying Thank Goodness for Health Insurance!
As was 2008, February 2009 is the month of plague in our house. And I'm a big fan of Lysol spray and Clorox wipes, so it has to come from somewhere else - plus they rarely get the same things... Lily had flu "b" ~ then Maggie had strep ~ and now Lily has a GI bug that supposedly lasts 24 - 48 hours. Since I've spent so much on copays and drugs lately, I tried a tip from a good friend and it WORKED! To counter the cost of the copay for the visit, I asked for a sample of one of the meds the pediatrician suggested. So next time you go to your doctor, consider asking for a sample, too.
Also along this vein is the flexible spending account that many employers offer. Don't worry you won't use it -or lose it because many programs offer a calculator to help you add up your out of pocket costs over a calendar year. And every year we use it, we run out well in advance. We save on taxes as well as with the employer contribution. Also, at places like Walgreen's, they bill our Flexible Spending Account directly so I don't even see the cost of prescriptions, which helps with cash flow... that you could use to buy your kids a movie or two or three since they are stuck on the couch or in bed!
Thanks for the great tip, Ness! It helped me and I hope it helps you too!
As was 2008, February 2009 is the month of plague in our house. And I'm a big fan of Lysol spray and Clorox wipes, so it has to come from somewhere else - plus they rarely get the same things... Lily had flu "b" ~ then Maggie had strep ~ and now Lily has a GI bug that supposedly lasts 24 - 48 hours. Since I've spent so much on copays and drugs lately, I tried a tip from a good friend and it WORKED! To counter the cost of the copay for the visit, I asked for a sample of one of the meds the pediatrician suggested. So next time you go to your doctor, consider asking for a sample, too.
Also along this vein is the flexible spending account that many employers offer. Don't worry you won't use it -or lose it because many programs offer a calculator to help you add up your out of pocket costs over a calendar year. And every year we use it, we run out well in advance. We save on taxes as well as with the employer contribution. Also, at places like Walgreen's, they bill our Flexible Spending Account directly so I don't even see the cost of prescriptions, which helps with cash flow... that you could use to buy your kids a movie or two or three since they are stuck on the couch or in bed!
Thanks for the great tip, Ness! It helped me and I hope it helps you too!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Coupons, Coupons and More Coupons
OK here's some neat information for you. Did you know that Michael's Arts & Crafts accepts all competitor coupons? Did you know that restaurants often accept expired coupons? And so does Bed, Bath & Beyond - and they take up to TWO coupons for one transaction!! Did you know that Lowe's and Home Depot honor each other's prices with an additional 10% savings of the difference? And have you heard about restaurant.com?
1. I am a crafter. And I never ever go into Michael's without a JoAnn's coupon. First, I don't always buy the paper and when I do there isn't always a Michael's flier in there. But when you walk in the store and go to customer service, there is a sign posted that reads something to the effect that we honor competitors coupons. So go to JoAnn.com and sign up for the online newsletter and coupons! Print those suckers out and leave them in your car for the next time you need a birthday gift or a craft item. You'll be surprised at how much you save.
2. I like Valpack coupons and the Reach magazine has good ones too. Some local restaurants honor their expired Valpack or Reach coupons. All you have to do is ask! I did!
3. Bed Bath and Beyond has two kinds of coupons - $10 off $30 purchase and 20% off one item. You can use them both at the same time. AND you can use expired coupons - so don't throw these away either! Save them for the next time you need something, anything - Yankee Candle, some kitchen-y or bath item you might get at Target or Kohls is now cheaper at BB&B.
4. When we were building shelving for our garage last year, Wes bought a bunch of lumber at Lowe's. We went the next weekend to Home Depot for the kids' event (I think the girls built a sailboat) and I was pricing the lumber behind me while they worked on the boat. Well wouldn't you know the wood was cheaper. So Wes bought it all again at Home Depot and since I had the Lowe's receipt with me, we could prove the prices at Lowe's so they we got the discounted price PLUS an additional 10 percent off the discount. Another instance where it pays to know the cost of things.
5. Restaurant.com is a website that offers prepaid coupons/gift cards online to local restaurants (no chains that I can see). This past week they ran a special where the coupons were $5 for $25 gift certificate. And we bought 6, 3 to a restaurant we love and 3 to new ones we wanted to try; we spent $30 to save $150. Now you must be warned that some of these coupons have a minimal spending of $35 and one coupon per family per night (just read the fine print). For my family of 4 it isn't hard to spend $35 on a meal, even without drinks. So the $35 meal will cost us $15 out of pocket plus the tip we would have had to pay anyway.
I LOVE COUPONS! Take the time to cut them out or print them out. Then organize them. Then use them! (Just don't use a coupon to get something you didn't need just because you have a coupon.) This help me save a little bit for the new Lilly Pulitzer dress I have my eye on, and I hope it helps you save enough to get your expensive treat, too!
1. I am a crafter. And I never ever go into Michael's without a JoAnn's coupon. First, I don't always buy the paper and when I do there isn't always a Michael's flier in there. But when you walk in the store and go to customer service, there is a sign posted that reads something to the effect that we honor competitors coupons. So go to JoAnn.com and sign up for the online newsletter and coupons! Print those suckers out and leave them in your car for the next time you need a birthday gift or a craft item. You'll be surprised at how much you save.
2. I like Valpack coupons and the Reach magazine has good ones too. Some local restaurants honor their expired Valpack or Reach coupons. All you have to do is ask! I did!
3. Bed Bath and Beyond has two kinds of coupons - $10 off $30 purchase and 20% off one item. You can use them both at the same time. AND you can use expired coupons - so don't throw these away either! Save them for the next time you need something, anything - Yankee Candle, some kitchen-y or bath item you might get at Target or Kohls is now cheaper at BB&B.
4. When we were building shelving for our garage last year, Wes bought a bunch of lumber at Lowe's. We went the next weekend to Home Depot for the kids' event (I think the girls built a sailboat) and I was pricing the lumber behind me while they worked on the boat. Well wouldn't you know the wood was cheaper. So Wes bought it all again at Home Depot and since I had the Lowe's receipt with me, we could prove the prices at Lowe's so they we got the discounted price PLUS an additional 10 percent off the discount. Another instance where it pays to know the cost of things.
5. Restaurant.com is a website that offers prepaid coupons/gift cards online to local restaurants (no chains that I can see). This past week they ran a special where the coupons were $5 for $25 gift certificate. And we bought 6, 3 to a restaurant we love and 3 to new ones we wanted to try; we spent $30 to save $150. Now you must be warned that some of these coupons have a minimal spending of $35 and one coupon per family per night (just read the fine print). For my family of 4 it isn't hard to spend $35 on a meal, even without drinks. So the $35 meal will cost us $15 out of pocket plus the tip we would have had to pay anyway.
I LOVE COUPONS! Take the time to cut them out or print them out. Then organize them. Then use them! (Just don't use a coupon to get something you didn't need just because you have a coupon.) This help me save a little bit for the new Lilly Pulitzer dress I have my eye on, and I hope it helps you save enough to get your expensive treat, too!
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