Grab Your Coupon Here

Before you head to the store, browse these coupons. There may be one...or two you can use!

Ink Garden Deals

You can't beat this deal.  100 FREE double sided business cards....and all you pay is shipping of $4.99.  Whether you have a business, a blog you'd like to advertise wherever you go, or simply want cards with family info such as phone numbers, emails, and addresses, this is the way to go!  It simple and FREE! 

USE CODE: 100FREE for front, and for back USE CODE: 100FREE2 for 100 Free double sided business cards.

Click on image to get started.





And yet another great offer! Make a custom desk calendar for $1.00, plus shipping!

USE CODE: DESKSP

Click on image to get started.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Get FREE Samples from Free Flys

I love coupons, but I only use coupons on items I know I love and need.

What I love about Free Flys, is that I can try a product for free before I spend money on it. Free Flys not only gives you access to great, free printable coupons, but also FREE SAMPLES!  And who doesn't like free samples, right?

Click on image or link to get started.  It's easy and you'll save money!

*And if you'll kindly sign up, I'll get a small commission.  Help me help you!  ;-)

8 Tips for Surviving the Economy Crunch

Anyone else feeling a bit tight these days?  Are you struggling to make ends meet?  Or just trying to put money away with little success?

As our family has grown, we've always been frugally minded.  However, with gas, groceries, and everything else on the rise...except my husband's paycheck...we've really had to tighten up and be wiser about our spending.  And did I mention that we're also planning a wedding?

Here are 8 ways that we have cut expenses to survive the economy crunch!


Calculate that trip!

We often calculate how much it will cost to drive to Grandma's out of state, or to the amusement park in the next city, but what about those frequent "short" trips?  Those sudden trips to the grocery store or those trips to Sonic for Happy Hour.  ;-)  It's important to know what even your short trips are costing because they add up quickly.

First, find out how many miles your vehicle gets to the gallon....in city.  Now, think of a place you go often.  How many miles is it from your home?  Divide the total miles of your trip by how many miles your vehicle gets per gallon.  Then multiply that result by the cost of gas per gallon.  This will tell you how much your trip costs.  Formula here.

For instance, Sonic is 4 miles from our home.  So round trip is 8 miles.  Our van, "Clifford, the Big Red Van" only gets about 10 miles to the gallon (pitiful, I know).  SO, it will cost me $2.52 (current price per gallon $3.15) to get to Sonic and back.  So now, my half price large Diet Coke just cost me $3.52 instead of $1.00.  If I do this everyday, I've just spent $105.60 in one month for Diet Coke.  Scary huh?

It's so important, if you're struggling financially, to calculate your gas costs.  We've had to cut out a lot of frivolous trips to save on our gas budget.  If you've got a fuel efficient car, it may not be so bad.  But with a 15-passenger van and a Suburban, we really have to pay attention to our fuel costs.

Turn up (or down) that thermostat!

We've all heard that during the summer, we should keep our thermostat at 78 degrees or higher.  How many of us actually do this?  We do.  You'll be amazed at how quickly you acclimate to a warmer temp in your home.  Now that we're approaching winter, try setting your thermostat one to two degrees cooler than usual.

Check the unit price!

When shopping for groceries, be sure and look at the unit price when comparing prices.  Look at the price per ounce or pound to find the best bargain.  If you're set on a particular name brand item, search for a coupon first or price match it if your local store does this.

Buying in bulk is often a great way to save money, but be careful!  Buying in bulk may not always be the best option.  For example, we shop at Sams.  Sams carries mostly name brand items.  Even though they may be cheaper than the traditional grocery store, most time, buying the generic store brand will be less expensive than buying name brand bulk. 

Eat at home!

If you're accustomed to eating out a lot, you can save huge by eating at home.  Plan a menu and make a coordinating shopping list.  And stick to it!  This will also prevent those frequent store runs since you will already have everything on hand to prepare your meals.

Check for used items first!

If you need something for your family or your home, don't forget to see if you can find it used first.  Chances are, depending upon the item, you can find it on eBay or Craigslist.  If you need clothing or Children's clothing, don't forget about those great thrift stores.

Downgrade your cable package

About a year ago, we downgraded our TV package.  We went to just the basic package which means we can watch only local channels for news and weather.  We saved quite a bit by doing this and we haven't missed all those channels one teeny, weeny bit.  Okay, so I do miss my Food Network and HGTV, but I've gone on crying living without them. ;-)

Sell Stuff

Look around your home and let go of things you don't need.  Sell books, toys, baby items, furniture, etc.  It's always fun to bring in a little extra cash from things you weren't using anyway. 

After seeing a friend's FB status about cashing in her unused gold jewelry, and getting more than she thought, I went through my small stash and found three broken gold chains and a small ring I never wear.  I took them to Gold Gals and made a quick 76 bucks from broken jewelry I may have ended up throwing out. 

Join Swagbucks!

I'm tellin' ya!  If you haven't done this yet, you're missing out on free stuff.  I purchased most of my home schooling material last year from Amazon credit that I earned from Swagbucks for free.  In addition, anytime I want a new book, or birthday gifts for our children, I build up my Amazon gift credit by buying Amazon gift cards with my Swagbucks.  Currently, I am saving up for Christmas shopping.  450 SB gets you a $5 Amazon gift card.  I usually accumulate 450 SB every week to week and a half just by doing regular Internet searches.  But there are other ways to rack up the Bucks, too. 

Once you redeem your SB for a gift card, you then go into your Amazon account and credit it with a code.  You can let it build as high as you want.  If you're not an Amazon fan, there are pages and pages of redeemable prizes and gifts.  You've GOTTA jump on the Swagbucks train! :)

How have you managed to cut back on your budget?  What would you add to this list?


Photo Credit

Home Depot Savings

I finally picked up paint to get started on my bedroom. We moved into our home for just over three years ago, and have been staring at the "builders off white" walls ever since. But with so much going on, I haven't had the time or energy to think about paint colors, let alone actually doing the painting.

My sweet daughter gave me a gift card for our anniversary. I was so glad to have had a coupon to reduce the cost of my purchase. I still don't have much time, but getting the gift card gave me that spark of desire to at least tackle our master bedroom.

Do you have any upcoming projects? Would a coupon be helpful? Would tips and guides be helpful? Sign up for the Home Depot newsletter and begin receiving special deals and offers, How-To's, Garden Club, and much more.

Click on photo above or click here to sign up.


*If you sign up, I'll make a bit of money....money helps to feed nine children.  ;-)

Free Printable Coupons

If you buy any the of the following products, or have wanted to try one, now is the perfect time.  Click on any of these links and print your free coupons.  I thought these were note worthy.

$1.50 off Clorox 2 Stain Fighter/ Color Booster

$4.00 off any Non-Drowsy Claritan Allergy Product

$1.00 off any Robitussin Product

$2.00 any one e.p.t. pregnancy test

$1.50 off any Johnson's Natural product

$0.40 off three (3) Campbell's Condensed Soup

Or, click below to browse the whole selection.

Coupons . com

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Free Chips and Queso

Would you like....

 

Simply click on link above and print your FREE chips and queso from Chili's!