Controlling your spending.

     Saving money can be quite the challenge when you love shopping as much as I do. Every now and again if I come across what I think is a really good deal its a little hard to control myself. Lately I have been trying to go by a few rules that I have learned:

1. Do I WANT this or do I NEED this?
    Seriously think about it, how many things do we buy just because we want it. If we ask ourselves the
Need VS Want question in the store we are more then likely to cut down on our spending quite a bit.

    When it comes to doing groceries, you obviously need food but how many times do you buy things that end up in the trash because nobody eats it. If there is something new on the market that you are looking to try but are not sure you will like it, go to the companies website and look for a coupon.(If they don't have a coupon on the website call them and tell them you are interested in trying the new product and were wondering if they could send you some coupons) Since its a new product the company will be trying to push the sales so you will more then likely able to find a coupon for it.

2. How long will this last me?
    A more detailed form of this question would be "Will I still have this 4 years from now?" This question especially helps when making big purchases, such as a camera or TV. If you are going to spend a lot of money on something you want to makes sure you get the "bang for your buck"  or get your moneys worth. Even if in 2 years you try to resell you wont make the same amount you paid for it. Is it really worth the loss. To break it down even more...will this still be in working order.

3.Can I find this cheaper somewhere else?
   A few days ago I talked about shopping around for the best price and websites that will help you to find the best price.You don't want to buy something only to find the same thing later for a lot less then what you paid. So make sure what you are paying is what you think you should pay and you are not being overcharged. Remember that a lot of the things you find at stores like Macy's,Target and even Walmart most of the time when they are not sold or have minor defects they then get sent to stores like Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Ross for a lot less then what you would have paid. So know your prices and don't ever over pay.

4. Do I have or can I find a coupon for this?
   If you think you can find a coupon for it then wait. It's better to save a little then nothing at all. Remember all those little bits you save really add up!

   So the next time you go shopping try these questions out for yourself and see if they work for you. Keep track of how many things you put back on the shelf because you realize you just don't NEED it or you can find it cheaper elsewhere!

A Different kind of coupon

      While printable coupons are great some people may not realize they can save a ton of money just by shopping online. There are a variety of websites that accept online "promo codes". Some promo codes require more digging and others are right in front of your face. Its all about knowing where to go.

          One of the best things about online shopping is being able to compare prices instantly! Saving you time, gas, and money! For those of us with little kids this can be a blessing! Sometimes taking little ones out can feel like you have to pack everything but the kitchen sink (or sometimes even the kitchen sink!). So being able to shop with just the click of a button is great and the online promo codes? Think of them as the added bonus or even "the cherry on top".


         Ive said it once and I will say it again... Google is always your best bet to search for anything and everything. Searching on Google for promo codes has led me to a handful of sites that I love and would recommend to anyone when it comes to price comparisons and finding promo codes. Following is a list of the websites that I use.

Price Comparisons

WWW.PRICEGRABBER.COM

 Use Price Grabber to quickly get free information about products, services, merchants and sellers before making a purchase. You can search by category or by specific item name.


WWW.BIZRATE.COM


Bizrate operates just about the same as pricegrabber. But I think it is always good to have more than one website to go to when searching for the best online deals.


* Both Bizrate and Price grabber are my personal Top 2 but there are several other websites that offer price comparisons. Here is an article online comparing a bunch of different ones. This should help you decide which ones to use. (Which comparison shopping site is best?)




Promo Codes and Coupons 




WWW.RETAILMENOT.COM
WWW.COUPONCABIN.COM
WWW.PROMOTIONALCODES.COM


Search for promo codes alphabetically (by website/retailers name) or directly through the sites search bar. Expiring codes are located together with just one click of the mouse as well as codes for free shipping.


*All three sites offer the same thing and have very similar layouts (of course with different designs). They are all in my top just for that reason. When I look at a website I am looking to see if it is easy to navigate and if I can find what I am looking for in a timely manner. These websites fit that to a T.

ALL YOU

Recently I found out about a great magazine that offers useful coupons in each monthly issue! I wanted to let everyone know about it so you can start getting it too!

It is called ALL YOU- Enjoy Life for Less.
Right now they are offereing 2 FREE TRIAL Issues of ALL YOU. If you like ALL YOU, you will receive 10 additional issues, 12 in all (1 year) for only $19.90. This includes the cost of the 2 free trial issues. If you don’t want to continue with ALL YOU after the free trial issues, you can simply return your bill marked “cancel” and owe nothing. The cancellation is effective immediately, and any trial issues you receive are yours to keep, FREE!

Great Solution to a smelly problem!

   The cost of always buying air freshener and furniture freshener can add! Even with using coupons. But everyone does laundry and most of us use fabric softener. So why not kill two birds with one stone...so to speak. The following is a great way to save money and make your place smell great!

  Here is what you will need:

*A spray bottle
*Your Favorite Fabric softener (about a cap full)
*Water

  Take your spray bottle and pour the cap full of fabric softener in. Then fill the rest of the bottle with water. Mix together (Dont shake!) and spray away! This works great for pet odor too!

Snuggle happens to be a house favorite- but we really just buy whatever is on sale!

Before we begin...

     I have always had a knack for shopping. Any excuse to head out to my favorite store- I was there. Prices weren't too high on my list of priorities. Recently I became a new mom and finding a way to save money and spend less on everyday need was a must!
     So I started to do my research, reading up on extreme couponing and ways of being frugal. It really got me thinking "I can do this". What I noticed when I read up on extreme couponing was that these moms were saving so much money on groceries because grocery stores in the states they are in will double coupons up to $1 (If you have a coupon that is $0.75 off the store will match it so you get $1.25 off). Unfortunately for those up us moms in South Florida neither Publix, Winn-Dixie,Walmart, or Target will double coupons. So while we wont be able to get a $600 grocery receipt down to $4.00, we can still find great ways to save money!
    I will let you know now that I am no expert when it comes to couponing. But I hope for my family's sake to become one. So I am starting to blog to share in my on going experience on the journey to savings and so much more. I hope you will join me!