If you havent notices coupons are in! Everyone is couponing these days and if you arent you are wondering how do I do this. Well, I have found a few local gals that are doing a great job at it and are sharing all thier tips with everyone.
If you really dont know what the coupon craze is then let me tell you. These laddies and thousands others accross the country have found way to get stuff for at least a 50% savings. This is huge! Can you imagine cutting your grocery bill in half or even more? Well, I am here to tell you that it works! I have been saving at least 50% off of my purchases. I am having a great time doing it but couldnt of done it without a good start.
Take a look at these links and they will help you with your coupons! A Thrifty Mom or Jenn with a blog at Idaho Press Tribune Live On Coupons blog. She is teaching classes about couponing. I went to one about a month ago and found it very helpful. Happy couponing!!!!! Let me know your great deals!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
Yard Sales Anyone?!?!!
Yard Sale season is upon us!!! This is my favorite time of year. I am very excited! It will be interesting to see what the times will do to yard sales. More? Less? Hire prices? Lower prices? It will be interesting to see.
Never the less Yard Sales are great. This is a great way to find the things you need for a fraction of the price. Clothes, toys, furniture, bikes, housewares, ect.. Just about anything you can find at Yard Sales.
I have found some great finds at Yard Sales! I always buy part of my kids clothes at Yard Sales. I find great stuff. Gap, The Childrens Place, Carters, ect.. are some of the brands that I find. You would never know that I find my stuff at Yard Sales.
My husband resently pointed out to me how much money we spent on clothes last year. I had not really thought about it. $350 for 4 of us! Two adults and a 5 year old son and a 1 year old daughter. WOW!! Part of that was a great thanks to yard selling. I buy my kids snow coats, boots, hats, and snow pants at yard sales. This is a huge savings!
I also love to decorate! Anyone who has been to my house or seen my garage of "good intentions" knows this. I am able to afford this by Yard Selling! My husband and I added up how much it cost me to decorate my beautiful living room. $350 dollars! Thats it! Wow, this includes a Pottery Barn couch, a couple antiques & a player piano that is waiting to get through the door!
How do I start? Its easy. Just start stopping at the SALES! Pull over. Thats it. If you set out to go Yard Selling have an idea of what you might need. Wheather you might be school shopping or decorating a specific room but dont pass up those deals you cant resist. As long as you are going to use what you buy in the next month or so. Follow these Tips for a great experiance!
1. Go with someone!
2. Tell who you are with what you are looking for. They may see what you dont. 2 sets of eyes are better than one. It is amazing what my 5 year old son sees that I dont! I think its cause he is shorter to the ground but never the less it helps! Thats why it is good to go with someone.
3. Dont be affraid to make an offer for lower on something. The worst anyone can say is no or leave a bid if no one buys the item you want then they might call you. Or if you are not sure about an item get thier number. They might take lower later.
4. Use the news paper to map out your Sales you are going to stop at. Both local papers have maps of all the sales in the valley.
5. Have fun! If you dont enjoy it dont do it. Leave the yard selling to the rest of us but dont knock it until you've tried it. I have turnned alot of people onto Yard Selling!! Good Luck!
Never the less Yard Sales are great. This is a great way to find the things you need for a fraction of the price. Clothes, toys, furniture, bikes, housewares, ect.. Just about anything you can find at Yard Sales.
I have found some great finds at Yard Sales! I always buy part of my kids clothes at Yard Sales. I find great stuff. Gap, The Childrens Place, Carters, ect.. are some of the brands that I find. You would never know that I find my stuff at Yard Sales.
My husband resently pointed out to me how much money we spent on clothes last year. I had not really thought about it. $350 for 4 of us! Two adults and a 5 year old son and a 1 year old daughter. WOW!! Part of that was a great thanks to yard selling. I buy my kids snow coats, boots, hats, and snow pants at yard sales. This is a huge savings!
I also love to decorate! Anyone who has been to my house or seen my garage of "good intentions" knows this. I am able to afford this by Yard Selling! My husband and I added up how much it cost me to decorate my beautiful living room. $350 dollars! Thats it! Wow, this includes a Pottery Barn couch, a couple antiques & a player piano that is waiting to get through the door!
How do I start? Its easy. Just start stopping at the SALES! Pull over. Thats it. If you set out to go Yard Selling have an idea of what you might need. Wheather you might be school shopping or decorating a specific room but dont pass up those deals you cant resist. As long as you are going to use what you buy in the next month or so. Follow these Tips for a great experiance!
1. Go with someone!
2. Tell who you are with what you are looking for. They may see what you dont. 2 sets of eyes are better than one. It is amazing what my 5 year old son sees that I dont! I think its cause he is shorter to the ground but never the less it helps! Thats why it is good to go with someone.
3. Dont be affraid to make an offer for lower on something. The worst anyone can say is no or leave a bid if no one buys the item you want then they might call you. Or if you are not sure about an item get thier number. They might take lower later.
4. Use the news paper to map out your Sales you are going to stop at. Both local papers have maps of all the sales in the valley.
5. Have fun! If you dont enjoy it dont do it. Leave the yard selling to the rest of us but dont knock it until you've tried it. I have turnned alot of people onto Yard Selling!! Good Luck!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Buy Bulk!
Have you ever looked at what they have in the bulk food isle in Winco or Fredmeyer? They have just about anything you want from flour, beans, rice, spieces, peanuts, candy, pretzles, and even dog and cat food.
I resently bought unsalted peanuts and make my own peanut butter! It worked great. The kids love it. It is healthier cause I can controll what goes in it & less expensive.
I have make my own spice mixes too! Ranch, taco seasoning, sloppy joe seasoning. This is less expensive and its healthier. It cuts out the MSG which we all know is bad for us!
We also cook our own beans. I use beans in everything. I make alot of taco meat and to double the meat I add cooked black beans. This saves money and is a great way to get a good source of fiber into your diet. The kids not even notice the beans. Try white beans in sloppy joes, kidney beans in taco soup & chicken tortilla soup. Great way to save and strech out the protien source! Try it!
I resently bought unsalted peanuts and make my own peanut butter! It worked great. The kids love it. It is healthier cause I can controll what goes in it & less expensive.
I have make my own spice mixes too! Ranch, taco seasoning, sloppy joe seasoning. This is less expensive and its healthier. It cuts out the MSG which we all know is bad for us!
We also cook our own beans. I use beans in everything. I make alot of taco meat and to double the meat I add cooked black beans. This saves money and is a great way to get a good source of fiber into your diet. The kids not even notice the beans. Try white beans in sloppy joes, kidney beans in taco soup & chicken tortilla soup. Great way to save and strech out the protien source! Try it!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Start a Garden!
Have you ever heard the saying " grow a garden & you will never go hungry? Well, its time to start! Dont know how to start a garden? Its easy! You can start your seeds at home or buy your starts around the first week in May. To start your starts at home buy some seeds at the store tomatoes, peppers, squash, pumpkins, green beans, ect.. (save your egg cartons and milk jugs) put some soil in the egg cartons (if you dont want to buy any soil just dig some up outside, thats where the plants are going to grow anyways) plant your seeds and water. Let the kids help! They will have a great time growing things at home.
Dont have an acctual spot for a garden? Work it into your landscaping. One of the homes we lived in didnt have a "garden spot" so I just planted my squash in the landscaping! It looked great & when July, August & Sept rolled around we had lots of squash to share with the neighbors.
Planting a garden is a great way to save money even if it is just a few things you plant. I reccomend planting tomatoes, peppers, squash & pumpkins at least. Do you buy pumpkins in the fall? If you do you will know that they are about $3 ea. Well you can get about 12 for a pack of $1 seeds. You can plant them right into your landscaping. Your sprinkler will probabbly even water them for you. Great savings!
Extra tomatoes I can. Extra peppers and sqash I blanch and freeze. The possiblities are endless with a garden. It is a great way to save money and live healthy.
~Tip~ The milk jugs are to cover your plants if we have a late freeze. Just cut off the tops and turn them upside down when it freezes and your plants will stay safe!
Dont have an acctual spot for a garden? Work it into your landscaping. One of the homes we lived in didnt have a "garden spot" so I just planted my squash in the landscaping! It looked great & when July, August & Sept rolled around we had lots of squash to share with the neighbors.
Planting a garden is a great way to save money even if it is just a few things you plant. I reccomend planting tomatoes, peppers, squash & pumpkins at least. Do you buy pumpkins in the fall? If you do you will know that they are about $3 ea. Well you can get about 12 for a pack of $1 seeds. You can plant them right into your landscaping. Your sprinkler will probabbly even water them for you. Great savings!
Extra tomatoes I can. Extra peppers and sqash I blanch and freeze. The possiblities are endless with a garden. It is a great way to save money and live healthy.
~Tip~ The milk jugs are to cover your plants if we have a late freeze. Just cut off the tops and turn them upside down when it freezes and your plants will stay safe!
Unplugging!!
I recorded an Oprah show that talked about unplugging. This means unplugging everything in the home you are not using. My family started this around Valentines Day and we have seen a huge drop in our power bill. This last month we were down almost half of what we used last year for that month. I cant wait to get out next power bill to see what we have saved. Try it see what it does to your bill!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Lets Save!!
Well, with the economy the way it is who doesnt want to save? I am sharing my saving ideas that I have put into place in my home that have worked great for us. I hope I can help more people out. I have just started gathering ideas and putting them into place. If it hasnt been my idea I will let you know where I got it from. I want to give credit where credit is due. I get my ideas from magazines, tv (Today Show, Oprah, local news) news paper, & radio. If I see a preview for a show that is going to have money saving tips I record it and watch it when I have time. ( That way I dont have to sit and wait for it to come on. I can just use my DVR to record it and scroll right to the tip I am looking for.)
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