Deals

Extreme Couponing!?! Not so extreme with these strategies!

Coupons…are they your friend or do you despise using them?

I personally love to save money, so I shop with coupons all the time. Until now, I haven’t been strategic about my shopping though.
That is about to change!

When I shop for groceries, personal items and household items at any of my local stores, I always pay attention to the percentage and dollars saved by using brand coupons, in store coupons and store savings cards. I get really excited when the percentage of saving is more than 20%. I am super excited to see this percentage go up to 50%, 60% or even 75% off with the strategies I’m sharing below and will share in future blog posts.

The trick and key to using coupons to save the maximum amount of money when shopping for every day items and groceries…is actually pretty simple.

Most Sunday papers come with coupon inserts. There are 3 types of inserts;

R…or the Red Plum insert
SS…or the SmartSource insert
P & G…or Proctor & Gamble.

All of the coupons in these inserts can add up to hundreds of dollars in savings each month. What would you do with an extra $300 a month? Think about that for a minute… Start saving the inserts I mentioned above (with a sticky note, write the date of the Sunday paper they were in, i.e… 8/24 and file them away for the time being) and waiting until the products you normally buy go on sale, you will save the most money.

Another key to maximize your savings is to have multiple coupons and then when you shop, purchase as many products as you have coupons for. For example…if you have 5 coupons for $2.50 off of Kellog’s brand cereal, use all 5 coupons and buy 5 boxes of Kellog’s brand cereal. Basically, you stock up and always have a supply of the products (non-perishable, of course) you use most or love on hand. When you run low, you take from your own supply, then when they go on sale again AND you have a coupon, you shop for them and re-stock your stash. This means, you may shop for random things at different times, depending on what is on sale and what you have on hand for coupons. But by doing this, you will save the most and always have pasta, sauce, cereal, toothpaste, deodorant, etc…on hand when you need it.

I will share more about this exciting money saving topic in coming blogs, so check back often. I have also signed up to be an Extreme Coupon Instructor in the Denver area. The class will be FREE to attend. I’m excited to teach you more about using coupons to maximize your savings and keep your hard earned cash for other things that will bring you joy and happiness!

Earth Day = FREE Stuff

#47 – Free stuff for you and the Earth on Earth Day – this Sunday, April 22nd

Celebrate Earth Day with free coffee and more!

You can get a free hot or iced coffee from Starbucks (select locations only) or Caribou Coffee this Sunday, April 22nd. Just bring in a reusable mug. Also, the Starbucks Foundation is giving $…4 million in funding to nonprofit organizations, and you get to help decide where it goes. There’s still time to opt in through the Vote.Give.Grow. program. When you do, your registered Starbucks Card becomes your Community Card, and you get to vote each week through the end of April on where you’d like the money to go. I love that you can choose where your money will go!

Below are some more freebies to celebrate Earth Day but to use all year long!

1. Free Reusable Bag From Target

Visit your local Target store on Earth Day, April 22, and get a free reusable bag at guest services.
This Earth Day freebie is only available while supplies last.

2. Free Orgins Cleanser

Fill out the form and bring it into a local Origins store along with any current skincare product (full or empty) and they’ll give you your choice of two different Origins cleansers.
This is only valid on Earth Day, April 22nd and are only available while supplies last.

3. Free Reusable Bag From the Disney StoreBring in 5 plastic shopping bags into your local Disney Store on April 22nd and you’ll get a free Earth Day reusable bag.

4. Free Packet of Sunflower Seed From Pottery Barn Kids

Stop into a nearby Pottery Barn Kids store on Saturday and Sunday (April 21-22) and pick up a free packet of sunflower seeds from PBK and National Geographic. There are many free events for kids at Pottery Barn Kids all during the year.

5. Free Tote Bag From Jo-Anns

Stop by your local Jo-Ann fabric and craft store and if you are one of the first 50 customers on Sunday, April 22nd, you’ll get a free tote bag. No purchase is necessary and are only available while supplies last.

6. Free Entrance Into National Parks All Week – Love this one…get outside!

This Earth Day freebie will really help you celebrate the Earth! Go out to almost 400 national parks this week (April 21-29) and you don’t have to pay an entrance fee. Check with each national park as well because there are many free events happening this week.

7. Free Verde Energy Audit App for iPad until Earth Day

The application walks you through the process of listing your personal electrical usage,
and together with your local KWh cost found on your electricity bill, Verde will calculate your total energy consumption and make suggestions on how you can make changes to save money and energy!

8. Register at Recycle Bank to earn points and get rewards

Take everyday green actions to earn points, which add up to discounts, coupon savings, gift cards, or prizes. Love savings, gift card and prizes!

9. Receive up to $50 in printable coupons for Earthbound Farms

Enjoy all the great FREE stuff that is earth friendly on Earth Day and be part of making the world we live in a better place for generations to come!

Wellness Week is here NOW & Spa Week is coming in April – Pencil them in!

#48 – Wellness or Spa Week, both are great reasons or excuses…if you need an excuse…to get a fantastic wellness massage or spa treatment. And…YES…You do deserve it!

Twice a year, Spa and Wellness Centers across the country discount their treatment prices or come up with special pricing for certain treatments that they offer to new & returning customers to intice If you haven’t ever had a massage or just haven’t had the time or budget to indulge in a spa treatment in some time…this is a great way to get pampered for less.

This week – March 19th – 25th, on Spafinder.com you can see what locations in your area (yes it is a nationwide campaign) are offering $50 services or 50% off services. Check it out but make sure you call soon to make your appointment, as they do book up fast!

In April, the 16th – 22nd is Spa week. Go to Spaweek.com to see the Spas that are offering great deals that week too.

Make sure you pencil these dates into your calendar so you don’t miss out! Hey…why not book an appointment for both weeks. You work hard and deserve it! Little Miss Idea will definitely be booking an appointment for one of those weeks for sure.

Cheers to Wellness!

Don’t Miss Restaurant Week

#51 – Make a reservation to try a new restaurant in your city, you won’t regret it!

Starting on February 25th to March 9th many restaurants across the United States are participating in “Restaurant Week”, an event that actually spans two weeks. Many higher end restaurants will be offering multi-course meals for a discount. In Denver the price is $52.80 per couple or $26.40 per person, so you don’t have to be on a date to enjoy Restaurant Week. You can get a group of friends together and pay only $26.40 each. What a deal!

Check to see which restaurants in your area are participating in this great event by googling “restaurant week” and adding your city to browse the menu selections and prices. It’s a great way to try the restaurants you’ve been wanting to try for a low cost. Many of the restaurants also offer gluten-free selections for those who have gluten sensitivities, like I do. I was pleasantly surprised to see this. Make sure to call ahead and make reservations. Many restaurants fill up fast, especially on the weekends.

I have reservations at two different restaurants for Restaurant Week. I’m excited to try these restaurants and enjoy an evening out with friends that I may not have been able to afford, otherwise. Bon Appetite!

Beauty Bargain…today only in PA

#53 100% Natural Beauty products for a bargain…love it!

If you are in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area, then you’ll want to check this deal out. Living Social is offering $50 worth of 100% natural beauty products for only $25. We all know that “natural” or 100% pure is normally very expensive. So if you love using natural products, this is the deal you won’t want to miss. You can get a last minute gift for someone on your list and also one for you…without any guilt and feel great about being good to your skin. Check it out!

Holiday Decorating Ideas…on a budget!

#55 – Budget Holiday Decorations…

A co-worker of mine is a fantastic holiday decorator and with her help, we transformed our office space into a Holiday Wonderland. Her decorating skills on a budget inspired me to give you some holiday decorating ideas that you can do on a budget. The decorating that we did at the office has put me…personally…in the “holiday spirit”. I actually love coming to work in the morning and seeing all of the great decorations. It makes me happy and excited at the thought of spending time with loved ones in a couple of weeks.

So…you’re thinking…that’s great, but just tell us how to do it already! One of my favorite things that we did was to use wrapping paper in different colors (that we got at the Dollar Store, Target or Walmart) and then take framed art work that was hanging on the wall and wrap them like presents with a ribbon around them and a big bow with a plain ornament hanging off the middle of the bow with a paper clip. The art in the room looks like gifts haning on the wall and really finished the room when we were done decorating with white lights (that we wrapped around pillars – in the office) and different colored ornaments that we hung from the ceiling tiles with paper clips.

At home, if you have a dropped ceiling, you could do this…just prop the tiles up one at a time and use paperclips (you have to bend them to secure them to the ceiling tile frames) to hang the ornaments on (better if you tie nylon thread or string to the end of the ornament to attach to the paper clip and secure) at different lengths to create a really cool ceiling look.

Go to the Dollar Store, Walmart or Target and pick ups a couple rolls of contrasting holiday wrapping paper, some wide wired ribbon in one color that goes with both papers, and a package of different colored ornaments that goes with or is contrasting to the paper you choose…at Walmart & Target…they have boxes with two to three different contrasting colored ornaments that you can buy for $15 to $20. If that is out of your budget for this year or you’ve already decorated but like this idea, put it on your list for your after Christmas shopping and get everything you need for next year’s decorating at 50% to 60% off.

Another great decorating idea for the holidays is to use a large vase or hurricane and put two to three different colors of ornaments in the vase/hurricane and use it as centerpiece or in a corner of a room, if the vase is large enough. This looks very elegant and is also a favorite of Little Miss Idea.

I love how festive the office looks and am excited that we did it on a budget. I couldn’t wait to share it with you. Happy Holidays!

See New Release feature films…BEFORE they are released for FREE

#62 – Movie Screenings – this is worth checking out regularly…

Most big ticket New Release Hollywood films offer FREE screenings in major cities. Check out gofobo for upcoming FREE movie screening in your area. You must sign up for an account and also request tickets to the screening in advance. When you get tickets to a screening you can’t wait to see, make sure you get there early. They release more tickets than there are seats and always turn people away…so if the screening says it starts at 7 pm, I’d recommend getting there at 6 pm. You will have to wait in line, so take some snacks and a drink…especially if you are coming right from work. This is a great way to see new movies for FREE. If you’ve cut movies out of your budget, this is a great way to put them back in and enjoy going to the movies again without spending a dime!

Denver…H & M Grand Opening Party next Wednesday, 11/9/11…VIP Style!

#63 – Party…VIP Style for FREE

If you live in the Denver metro area, you won’t want to miss the H & M Grand Opening party which is being held, Wednesday, 11/9/11, the night before H & M, Denver opens to the masses. To get on the “list”, make sure you register, as your name must be on the list or you will be turned away. Space is limited, so if they fill up, check back for cancellations. You can only register one person on the link, so if you’d like your “crew”, your mom, your boyfriend or husband to come with you…make sure they register too. The invite is non-transferable and you must have an ID that shows the name you register with and be 21 or older (that must mean cocktails are being served!) to be admitted. The party is FREE and is being promoted by 303 Magazine. H & M is also offering a 25% off discount to everyone who attends on top of their already fantastically low prices, so you definitely want to get on the “list” for this one.

What a great way to get out for a fun evening and do a little shopping…maybe even get a headstart on your holiday shopping. Hey here’s an idea…if you are looking for a part-time holiday job and live in Denver, go check the store out next Wednesday to see if you might like to work there. Then go back on a day when it’s not so busy, and see if they need some help…you might be pleasantly surprised if they do need your help. Little Miss Idea will be there with some friends enjoying the evening and shopping the deals for sure!

Swapping…Instead of Buying Things New

#70 –

You can “Swap” just about anything instead of buying new. You can swap books, CD’s, DVD’s, electronic books (for Kindles & eBooks) and gently used electronics online. There are lots of different “swapping” sites out there, but one that I like is swap.com. They connect swappers and also let you know of “swapping events” in your area that you may want to take part in. There’s sometimes a minimum charge for participating in the swapping events that they promote, so check the event page for that information when you are deciding if you’d like to attend a swapping event..

Hosting your own “Swapping event” is also really fun and won’t cost you anything if you organize it yourself. I have participated and organized many clothing swaps in my day. The one thing to note about clothing swaps is making sure that you invite multiple people from different size ranges to make sure you have a variety of clothes to swap. A rule of thumb for any swaps you might organize or participate in is make sure that the items you are swapping are gently used, still in good condition, clean (for clothes, make sure they really are clean and don’t have stains or holes), and things like zippers work on pants, coats, jackets, skirts and handbags, etc…

Some people organize the swap to be fair and efficient, especially if there are many people participating, by setting everything out in piles separated by size or category and then let participants walk around and take a once over to see what’s available. Then allow each person to choose one item they like and then allow them to keep choosing one item at a time until everyone has a good amount of items selected. This can be very slow if your group is large.

Another option is to have the rule, that everyone can take the same number of items that they brought with them. I, however, like to have the swap flow more naturally and allow people to choose things they really like. Most clothing swaps aren’t hard to manage, because the clothes need to be tried on and things may be tried on several times before someone decides they love it and want to take it home to add to their closet. Whatever is left over at the end of the swap is normally donated to a local charity like Goodwill or ARC Thrift Stores so that everyone is only taking “new to them” items home. This is a great way to clean out the old and replace with “new to you” without spending a dime!

Remember…Friday’s are a great night for movie night, so plan ahead and get your tickets tomorrow!

Fandango and Visa Signature offer buy one get one free movie tickets on Fridays. Fandango has other great specials listed on their site for movie lovers to take advantage of. Check it out and if there’s a movie like the “Footloose” remake that you MUST see in the Theatre, at the very least, go see it for a budget price or a buy-one-get-one FREE promotion instead of paying full price. I can’t imagine the remake is going to out-do the original but I am hoping to be pleasantly surprised. Just in case…I plan on using a discount ticket to see it and then I can compare notes and not feel budget pain over paying full price if I don’t end up loving it as much as I love the original.