Archive for 30 days to save
Tips for Saving money on Internet Printables!
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Copy paper and ink for the computer can be really expensive and often times, I need to print coupons from coupons.com, redplum.com or other manufactures sites. Printing coupons can add up and we are trying to save money right.
I have a few tips I use for printing coupons to help save me money on copy paper and ink….thought I would pass them along!
1. Copy paper can often be found pretty cheap at your office supply stores. Often, it is free or just a penny if you do the rebates. If you can find it for those prices, do the rebates!
2. Here is another tip I like that I do all the time. Why waste perfectly good copy paper on IP’s (internet printables)? If you have kids, they come home from school with tons of papers from school. If the back is blank, use the blank side to print on. Recycle and reuse!
3. If you work….too many times, you print, find a mistake and have to shread! Don’t shread it if the other side is blank (unless confidential material is on the other side). Reuse the paper, by the time you cut it up for the coupon the back side is no longer in tact!
4. Ink drives me crazy and my printer loves ink…it just guzzles it! Many ink cartridges are refillable. Check you local Walgreens to see if they refill your ink. It saves a ton of money….about 50%!
5. Check out ebay for your ink cartridges. There are many sellers that sell expired ink, cheap! Ink expires and they can’t sell it in store! You don’t eat the ink right! Buy it expired and save a ton.
One thing I like to try to do as I save money is remember our environment. If we are going to use paper to print…reuse paper. Let’s not kill another tree for our coupons! Coupons don’t need to be printed on fresh new paper right! Just make sure you feed it in so the blank side is being printed on. I’ve made too many mistakes myself and ruined paper and coupons that way!
Tips for Saving Money on electricity around the house!
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I’m all about saving money and mostly I focus on the shopping, however, I have heard and I’m sure most of us have heard, that appliances turned off yet, left plugged in use energy! About 2 years ago, I shut off all of my landscape lighting for this exact purpose. It looks beautiful, but the article I read then was focusing on our environment and how much energy we are wasting. So, off went my landscape lighs!
I decided to do a little research on how much energy appliances around the house that are off, yet left plugged in, waste. I wanted to find out for myself.
You know what…it’s true and the amount of energy these appliances waste is shameful!
Turns out that appliances that are plugged in, but turned off have a name. Evidently, they are called Phantom Appliances, who knew? Not me!
Phantom Appliances draw energy when switched off and not in use. Examples of these are “VCR’s, Stereo’s, Computers and Kitchen appliances”. According to the US department of Energy, in an average home 75% of electricity used is when appliances are off, but plugged in! They estimate that 20% off our total energy comes from appliances. Energy Star differs a bit saying, “ The average U.S. household spends $100 per year to power devices while they are off (or in standby mode). On a national basis, standby power accounts for more than 100 billion kilowatt hours of annual U.S. electricity consumption and more than $10 billion in annual energy costs.”!
Crap, either way you say it, that’s huge! (Please, excuse that, but my electric bill is like $110 even in the winter months when the air is not on.) UMMMMM….I’m looking at my kitchen now with a coffee maker plugged in (it’s 10:30 pm and I’m not drinking coffee right now), my toaster (not eating toast), my cell phone charger (UHHH…no, not charging). I’m trying to save money everywhere else and look at my wasteful house!
Here are a couple of other tips I also read along the way that are totally doable….
1. Clean your air filter a minimum of once every 3 months. A dirty filter makes the system work harder~ wasting energy. I thought you need to clean the air filter only for the indoor air quality! Learn something new every day.
2. Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to help the air circulation to cut down on energy. OK…I thought you had to do that one so that the lint didn’t get all over the clothes!
3. Screen savers on the computer do not save energy….it’s a myth! Switch them to “sleep mode” or turn them off.
4. Unplug those products when they are off.
Now, maybe your thinking…who cares about the electric bill, it’s not going to go down that much monthly. Let’s just stop and think about our environment for a minute. If everyone unplugged when not in use….that could be a big thing!
Maybe we could help our environment and our pocket books just a little. I’m going to make a huge effort to start this….I wonder if I will notice my energy bill decrease? It may be difficult with the air going….it’s been so hot in Chicago this summer! Let me know if you have done this, have you noticed a difference? Give it a try and let us know what you find out.
Have any other tips that you know of….I’m one frugalista that’s interested in learning them. Please share!
Back-to-School shopping and saving!
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Since many of our Back-to-School sales are starting….I thought I would put together these shopping tips for you.
Back-to-school shopping can be costly for any family. Even if you are not shopping on a budget, it’s a bonus to save hard-earned dollars. Last year, I bought both of my daughters school supplies for the entire year for under $15.00! With smart planning and a few tips, back-to- school supplies can be cost-effective.
Get your child’s list: Make a copy of your child’s supply list and keep it with you when you shop. If an item on his or her list is at a great price, buy it marking it off your list. Many times, school supply lists ask for specific brand names. They do this so you can have a mental picture of the type of item they want. Don’t get caught buying the brand name. The off-brand eraser is much less expensive and equally as good a product.
Sort through what is left over from the previous year: Check supplies that came home from last year and see what’s salvageable. It’s one less thing to have to spend time looking for and buy this year.
Watch your Sunday Ads: As back-to-school time begins, so do the sales. Watch sales ads for different stores. While you are watching the Sunday ads for school supplies, look for those Sunday coupon inserts. Last year, with coupons, I got packages of pens for free. Back-to-School savings are found at your grocery stores, too. Pair your Sunday coupons with in-store sales for savings on Back-to-School snacks.
Shop more than one store: Stay away from one-stop shops. They are appealing with bulk items and bins of supplies all in one convenient spot, but they aren’t cost-effective. Stores do aggressive marketing around Back-to-School time. Don’t be lured into one store by its great marketing and buy everything there! You get better prices when you shop more than one store. Buy only what the advertised great buy is and leave. Shop different stores over a few weeks, plan, and buy as you find great prices.
Keep your receipts with you. If you go into a store and find a purchased item on sale for less than you bought it for, price adjust.
Don’t be afraid of rebates: Oftentimes, the office stores run rebates, making items free. It’s another way to save.
Stock up for during the year, too: Children run out of supplies during the year. Pencils, paper, and glue sticks are just a few items my children have been in need of. When you get the items at a great price now, buy extra. Store them away in your school supply bin for when they’re needed. During the year, school items are full price. It will save you time and money from having to buy later!
Stock up on clothes for the following year: Look for end-of-summer clearances to begin. Use these final sales for your next year’s summer and back-to-school wardrobe. Buy clothes a size up. Basics like kakis and t-shirts don’t go out of style. Start on next year’s clothes and store them away so you don’t have to buy them at full price later, ultimately saving in the long run.
Back-to-School shopping can take a chunk out of your hard-earned dollars if you let it. With a little planning, time, and savvy shopping, back-to-school supplies can be realistic for your family. In the end, these tips will save you time and money.
Thought for the day!
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I was talking to a gentleman today at Walgreen’s when I went to get my FREE Old Spice body wash and deodorant, Tampons and Saline Solution. I asked him, he works at Walgreen’s, if he did these deals. He said “no!”.
I just about fell over…I can’t imagine working there and not taking advantage of all of the great offers. So, I asked him why???
He said that he goes to the “super stores” and gets an enormous jug of body wash that lasts him for 4 months. He said the little ones only last a couple of weeks. So we started talking more. I mentioned that there was a BOGO coupon out 6/6 and that he could get 2 body wash for free with the coupon. If he had 2 coupons he could get 4 body wash for free. That would be two months of free body wash!
I get 2 papers a week and spend $1.50 a week on my papers so for $1.50 I got 4 free body was plus, I can’t even tell you how many other coupons I have already used out of those papers bringing in even more savings and free items!
My thought for the day: I just don’t understand why everyone doesn’t use coupons!
Some people might think that your still spending $1.50 a week on the papers, but one body wash is $4.49! Right there I have saved $3.00 and I got 2 body washes!!!
To me, couponing is a no brainer. I love it! It makes sense! Why not save the money when it is right there every week for the taking!
I’m happy to teach everyone how to do it, it’s easy, fun, and saves you a ton!
Feel free to email me at michellebankcoupons@gmail.com if you have questions!
Thought for the Day!
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In one of my 30 Days to Save posts (tip #21), I talked about hitting end of season sales and putting the clothes away for the kids for the following season. I did this, now I get to pull them out and enjoy all of my fabulous saving!
Many people are nervous to do this because styles change a bit, or the children might not like the clothes. I keep my purchases basic. Solid color tank tops don’t go out of style from season to season! I did however, run into a tiny blip in my system today!
I had a bag that I didn’t check and went and bought her some new stuff. Justice is having an awesome sale combined with my 40% off coupon I got 2 adorable t-shirts, 2 pairs of shorts, and flip-flops for $30! That’s a great deal for Justice.
My thought for the day: Remember to CHECK all bags of clothes for the next season befor shopping!
Ok, so now I have to return some tank tops I bought at Children’s Place because I don’t need them.
The cute stuff from Justice, put away for start of school. You need some new cute things that aren’t washed out and worn to start the year!
Watch your sales and shop them wisely. Just remember to check your bags of clothes put away so your not wasting time “like me” on returns!
Thought for the day~30 Days to Save!
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In my 30 Days to Save posts back in April, I mentioned as I came up with more ideas that would fit into this category that I would place them in with time.
So, I have come up with another 30 Days to Save tip, and thought I would put it into thought for the day.
Sometimes when we coupon, we run into cashiers that are not too happy to see our mile high pile of coupons.
Thought for the day and 30 Days to Save tip #31: Learn how to deal with unhappy cashiers.
I have cashiers and managers at every store that I am friendly with. When I shop, I enjoy talking to people and making friends.
Tip 1: If it’s a store you love and they are always good to you, let the managers know! Fill out those surveys and fill them out positively. It’ll take you an extra minute, but the stores appreciate it and they will remember you.
Tip 2: Talk to the cashier as you check out. Ask them how their day is, fill in little friendly chit chat. They are people too and honestly, they get flustered by long lines (just like customers do). Make their experience checking you and all of your coupons out a happy one.
Tip 3: Have your coupons all ready to go when you get to the register.
Tip 4: I hand over my coupons to the cashier one at a time. I have a few reasons I do this.
1. Sometimes, I have a coupon in my pile that I did not use, if I didn’t buy the item, I just place that coupon to the side and can move onto the next. This saves time from the register beep, and then the realization that I didn’t purchase the item.
2. On occasion, I have had coupons that did not get put into my purchase, if I hand over the coupon one at a time, I know every coupon has come off of the purchase.
Tip 5: Don’t use coupons that are expired at stores that don’t take expireds and don’t use coupons on wrong items. Sure, we all make mistakes, but stores will know if you are always using wrong coupons and will remember that. The cashiers can get in trouble for this.
Some cashiers do get flustered by all of the coupons. Honestly, it adds time to the check out process. If you make the time they are spending with you pleasant, all the coupons arn’t so bad.
It’s a fun game for me to watch my hundred dollar purchases go down to practically nothing. I get pretty excited, honestly, the cashiers do get excited for you too! Tell them what you are doing, get them involved. Everyone is happy to see another person happy. Get them in on your fun!
The Savings Experiment!
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Alecia at Savings and Stewardship did her Savings Experiment…Homemade kids toothpaste! Sounds like a great idea huh!
Her results are really funny…..read about them here!
30 days to Save!
Posted by: | CommentsThis is my last 30 Days to Save post. I hope you have learned something about how I coupon and save money for my family. I’ll keep giving you good ideas as I find them, but for now, I want to leave you with my top 29 and the links to them all. So, here they are!
Tip #1: Start a Budget
Tip #3: Buy 2 Sunday Newspapers!
Tip #4: Don’t Clip the coupons until you need them;keep the insert whole!
Tip #5: Check out Internet Websites for Coupons: part 1!
Tip #6: Check the Internet sites that offer electronic coupons to layer your saving!
Tip #7: Combine store and manufacturers coupons to increase savings!
Tip #8: Look for BOGO sales and BOGO coupons!
Tip #9: Everyone should use coupons…pair those coupons with sales!
Tip #10: Get organized and shop the sales only!
Tip #11: Learn how to shop at Walgreens!
Tip #12: Learn to shop at CVS!
Tip# 13: Learn to shop Jewel or find your grocery stores (in-store) ways to save!
Tip #14: Learn how to do a Catalina Deal part 1, conservative!
Tip #15: Find out if your store does their own Catalina Deals or participates in National Catlina deals!
Tip #16: Learn to work Catalina Deals at Jewel!
Tip #17: Look for Instant Saving
Tip #18: Learn Targets price matching and coupon policy.
Tip #19: Watch your expiration dates!
Tip #20: Watch coupon expiration dates!
Tip #21: Buy clothes a year in advance!
Tip #22: Call those Utility Companies!
Tip #23: Shop your friends/family’s closets!
Tip #24: Swap watching the kids with friends so, you each get a night out without the children!
Tip #25: Shop at more than one store!
Tip#26: Wait before you buy!
Tip #27: Pay attention to prices of item you buy!
Tip #28: Check for available coupon codes!
Tip #29: Remember your time is money, and it’s OK to try something new!
30 Days to Save!
Posted by: | CommentsWow, April flew by. I can’t believe that tomorrow is the last day of the month. I’m a bit sad since my 30 Days to Save post was for the month of April. I’m going to keep adding tips as I find new ones or pulling the old as refreshers for you. So, that brings me to our tip for today.
Tip #29: Remember your time is money, and it’s OK to try something new!
When I coupon, I’m saving tons of money, remember in my earlier post when I talked about people telling me they just don’t have the time? My opinion is that I save sooo much money that it’s worth my time! Saving over $1000.00 dollars a month is worth the hour it takes me! Many of us get up every day and go to jobs that don’t pay us near that an hour, right! So, put in a little time, it’ll pay off in the long run.
I know I’ve been doing this for a long time now, so, I’ve gotten pretty good at it. It’s my hobbie and one that I love. You will get this good too! You will learn, it will just take time and you will have a learning curve. Just like with anything new we do in life!
I’m a believer of trying something new. I’m not much of a risk taker, I’m a pretty conservative person, but taking a risk and trying to learn how to use coupons to your saving advantage is a risk worth taking. What’s the worst that could happen, you blow the deal and you pay what you normally would have? I messed up deals too in the beginning. Again, a learning curve, you will learn from your mistakes!
So, 30 Days to Savetip #29 is your time is worth money and it’s OK to try something new!
30 Days to Save!
Posted by: | CommentsWith the Internet come many incredible Internet deals. Buying online is easy and quick, not to mention convenient! However, often, shipping can be an added expense.
Tip #28: Check for available coupon codes!
One of the first things I do before I make an online purchase is to simply check for available coupon codes. I usually just Google search the store/website name and “available coupon codes” after.
I always find coupon codes out there for a % off, or even free shipping! Often times the coupon code is just not currently being advertised by the store or website, but it’s still current. It gets even better when a store will allow you to use 2 different coupon codes. I love when I find not only a % off, but a free shipping to combine it with!
When you are checking out, look for a spot where you can enter a coupon code. If the store or website has one, begin your search for what coupon codes will benefit you.
30 Days to Save tip # 28 is, if your going to buy something online, make sure you check for what coupon codes are available. Try them, if they work, you are just adding to your savings on an item you were going to purchase anyway. It makes it that much more fun to get that purchase when you know you got even a better deal than expected on it!
I just threw in the picture of the change jar because it made me smile…I have them all over my house! Somehow, loose change finds its way to our floors too often….I think it’s my girls or the change fairy?
