25 Freebies for Holiday Shoppers

December 11, 2011 By Leave a Comment
We are excited to bring another guest post to you today from Andrea Woroch!
Somewhere in all this frantic shopping, shouldn’t there be something just for you? We’ve found 25 stores and restaurants offering something they call “lagniappe” in New Orleans. Consider it your free thirteenth donut. From gift cards to gift wrap, these offers cross the spectrum. Most require a purchase, but a few are outright free.
Of course, the biggest freebie this year is Free Shipping Day on Friday, Dec. 16, when you can shop online from over 2,000 merchants with free shipping by Christmas Eve. Lots of e-retailers are offering free shipping on all orders with no minimum purchase required, so don’t miss your last-gasp chance to shop online with great deals.
Unless otherwise stated, offers are available only while supplies last. For additional holiday freebies, visit MrFreeStuff.com.
1. 4WD - Free 3-month courtesy subscription to “Off-Road Aventures.”
2. Aeropostale - Free $25 e-gift card when you spend $100 and use “25EGIFT” at online checkout. Aeropostale also offers free shipping on all gift cards.
3. Baby Phat - Free logo hat with any purchase when you register online.
4. Bath&Body Works - Free gift of your choice, worth up to $13, with purchase of $10 or more. Ends Dec. 24. Click on our link to print out the required coupon.
5. Becker - Free one-year subscription to Surfer Magazine with orders over $99.
6. Ben & Jerrys - Free scoop of ice cream when you spend $10 on gift cards.
7. Big Dogs – Free Polar Dogs Blanket with $100 purchase.
8. Chuck E. Cheese’s - Buy 60 tokens for $15 and get 30 tokens free, through Jan. 8. Click on our link for a downloadable coupon.
9. Cookies: The Kids Department Store - Free $25 Restaurant.com gift card plus 33% off Staff Picks with a minimum order of $25. Use code “RDC25” at online checkout.
10. Delia’s - Free I.D. holder with each $50 gift card purchase.
11. Dell – Free Canon ELPH 100 digital camera and Shutterfly 8×8 photobook when you purchase select PCs with Adobe Photoshop 9 and Premiere Elements 9. Dell is also offering free shipping on all TV orders.
12. DressBarn - Free $10 savings card for every $50 gift card purchase. You can redeem the card between Dec. 26 and Jan. 31. Offer valid in stores only.
13. Famous Dave’s - Free $5 rewards card with every $25 gift card in-store purchase.
14. GameStop - Free 1-year product replacement plan on all pre-owned hardware. Good with in-store purchases only.
15. Gordmans - $10 savings card with purchase of $50 or more of Gordmans gift cards. Ends Dec. 24.
16. HP - Free 4GB USB flash drive when you buy 2 ink multipacks.
17. Maidenform - Free manicure set with $75 online order. Use codes “FREESILVER” or “FREEBLACK.”
18. Neiman Marcus – Free gift packaging through Dec. 14.
19. OfficeMax - Free $10 OfficeMax gift card when you purchase $60 in national-brand ink.
20. Origins - Free gift wrap.
21. Plow & Hearth - Free $10 reward card with any purchase of $75 or more. Ends. Dec. 18.
22. Radio Shack – $100 in gift cards when you buy an iPad 2 with your Shack Credit Card.  (Trade in your original 64GB iPad and receive as much as $250 towards an iPad 2.)
23. Roxy.com - Spend $100 and get a $25 coupon code. Ends Dec. 14.
24. Sephora - Free scent in a mini collectible bottle with any order of $25 or more, with code “LUXEMINI.” Good with online purchases only.
25. Ulta Beauty - Free $60 luxury robe with any men’s or women’s fragrance purchase of $30 or more. Your choice of three styles.
Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc. As a nationally recognized media source, Andrea has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC’s Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more.
Filed Under: Budgeting Advice, SimplySaving Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Black Friday Tips Giveaway

November 10, 2011 By

In case you are hiding under a rock, Black Friday is coming up!  We asked in 2009, What is your Black Friday plan of attack? In that post, I offered up one of my favorite Black Friday tips.

My favorite tip … take some food with you. You will get hungry and you will over spend on coffee from Starbucks or bottle water and candy at the Best Buy line. Shove some candy in your pocket and a bottle of water in your bag and then head out on Black Friday.

The most obvious tip is to plan your trip out! Use the Black Friday ads … I go for both the online early released ones and the day of ones because I love the real ads! You might also check out this Black Friday Preparedness Guide!

 

We are excited to offer our a readers a $50 gift card to do some online Black Friday shopping! You can pick from iTunes, Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy or Target!

Details:
This drawing will end Thursday, November 17th at 11:59pm EST. The winner will have 48 hours to reply with their address. You must include your email address in the comment form so you can be contacted if you are a winner! You must complete the Mandatory Entry for the additional entries to count.

This giveaway is open to anyone with a valid email address!

So how do you enter?

Mandatory Entry: Leave us a comment with your favorite Black Friday tip. (Don’t use the two already listed!)

Additional Entries:

1) Follow us on Facebook HERE. Worth two entries so leave two comments here! (Psst … we love comments on Facebook so maybe you can leave us one!)
2) Follow BOTH SimplyBudgeted and This_Cookin_Dad on Twitter. Leave a THREE comment with your twitter name.
3) Tweet about this giveaway with this tweet:

RT #Win a $50 Gift Card @simplybudgeted http://bit.ly/vbArjI ends 11/17  #giveaway #giftcard #target #walmart #itunes #amazon

Leave a comment with the URL for your tweet. (One Tweet per day until end of giveaway!!)
4) Follow us publicly through the Google Friends Connect in the footer. Leave a comment with your name that you subscribe with.
5) Subscribe to the daily email here at Simply Budgeted. It is at the top of the sidebar!;) Please leave a comment. (worth 5 entries!)

NOTE: We were sent a gift card in exchange for this post. No other compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are our honest opinion.

Filed Under: Deals, Giveaways, Promotional, SimplySaving Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Meatless Monday: Middle East Feast

November 7, 2011 By 1 Comment

Today’s Meatless Monday was a clean out the cupboard meal. We had some Middle East mixes in the cupboard so they became tonight’s feast. We had the Manischewitz Falafel and Hummus mixes and a Near East Taboule.

My father visited the Middle East several times when I was growing up and introduced us to the lovely, simply cuisine of the region.  I have been to Israel a few times and to Iraq with the Army.  Sampling the local food only fueled my love of it.  When I introduced it to my wife, she didn’t really know what to think, but she has grown to appreciate and even seeks out this kind of food from time to time.  Now we are busy introducing this cuisine to our children.

Tonight’s plate has elements that are colorful, crispy, and creamy.  The taboulleh salad has fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, and bell peppers added after chilling the prepared box mix.  Store bought pita were cut into eighths and baked at 350 for 15-20 minutes to make crunchy chips for the hummus.  A couple of squeezes of lemon really brighten up the hummus and falafel, making them feel a little more like home made.  The salad with just a couple of drips of lemon rounds out the plate and adds a little color while upping the veggie ante a bit.

This is a full plate and shows that Meatless Monday doesn’t have to be complicated or super expensive.  The whole plate took about 30 minutes of active prep time.  Prepare everything the night before and dinner can be on the table in about 15 minutes!

Have any favorite Middle Eastern dishes?  How about a super simple meatless plate?  Leave us a comment and let us know!

Filed Under: Meatless Monday, Memes, Simply Food, Tips & Techniques Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , ,

20 Trendy and Cheap Halloween Costumes for 2011

October 9, 2011 By 2 Comments

We are excited to bring another guest post to you today from Andrea Woroch!

Halloween is now officially the second-highest grossing holiday of the year, right after Christmas. No doubt thrift shops come in for a major cut of that profit. Costume shops do pretty well, particularly since many are offering great deals and free shipping offers this year, but drugstores and big-box stores also enjoy the Halloween kaching!

In the end, who cares how much money merchants make off our favorite holiday? Finding just the right zingy costume is the best part of All Souls Eve, particularly if you can do it on the cheap. Here are 20 trendy ideas pulled directly out of the 2011 zeitgeist.

1. Tiger Mom
You gotta read the book to get this one, but those who kick into the joke will ROTFL. In “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mom,” Amy Chua wrote about how Chinese parents are better at raising kids. Instead, it became a clash of east against west, with many complaining Chua’s strict rules were too hard on the kids. Either way, it made for an interesting story and could make a fun costume.

Here’s the recipe: Pick up a set of mommy clothes (including high-waisted jeans) and some face paints, then do your best at recreating a tiger face. For a special touch, add a wild wig of blond hair and fluff to the max.

2. Rebecca Black “Friday” Video
The songbird that foisted auto-tune-heavy “Friday” upon the universe deserves a touch of parody. A long, frizzy black wig (don’t forget the side part), a purple, sleeveless dress from Forever 21, piles of eye makeup and a headbouncing posse should do it. Oh, and don’t forget to memorize the lyrics to this insipidly repetitive song.

3. Angry Birds
Anyone hooked on this addictive Facebook, mobile phone and Google Chrome game knows the deathly attraction of the chirping birds and snorting green pigs. This could be a great group costume, but you can also select your favorite birdbrain and go it alone.

While you can make your own version, you might want to check out the 20-percent off deal offered by Spirit. Spice your costume up even further with a small slingshot, if you’re a bird, and a basket of eggs, if you’re a pig. Keep an eye out for Spirit Halloween codes for free shipping as Oct. 31st approaches.

4. Hipster Barista
Enough with the skinny black jeans and snobbish attitude! Everyone loves to hate their own snotty Starbuck’s manager. Now you, too, can be loathed by hundreds.

The costume is simple: To the aforementioned skinny jeans, add a black, v-neck T-shirt, black scarf (wrapped in trendy fashion about your neck), and a batch of rub-on tattoos. Voila! You’re ready to stick your nose in the air. If you’ve got a Che Guevara T-shirt, this is the time to wear it proudly. The best part of this costume is that it’s androgynous, so either males or females can be a Hipster Barista.

5. Garden Gnome
For some reason garden gnomes have become the kitch costume of the year, showing up everywhere from Mardi Gras to the Tour de Fat bicycle parade in growing numbers. Strangely, Pottery Barn Teen has a great version of the little pointy-hatted guy, and is currently offering 20% off Halloween costumes. Get a Pottery Barn free shipping code to save even more.

6. Hurricane Irene
Once considered a deadly force of nature, Hurricane Irene limped to the East Coast with little more than heavy rains and a will to survive. Sure there was lots of flooding, but the weather-weenie predictions happily proved to be wrong.

The costume is fairly simple. Just print out a bunch of satellite maps depicting hurricanes and pin them to your clothes. Then limp around all night blowing gently into friend’s faces.

7. Charlie Sheen
Halloween Mart has all the components for this absolute-must costume. Combine their Malibu Maniac Kit (black wig and “Two-and-a-half Men” shirt), IV bag of Tiger Blood, and tiger-skin-banded hat emblazoned with “Winning!” Pop on your own dark shades and you’re ready to ramble around shouting “Duh!”

8. Tron Guy
Remember Jay Maynard, who had 10 minutes of fame for his homemade Tron costume? Then he used up his last five minutes when Duck Brand adhesive tape made a Tronish commercial that ended up inside Maynard’s head?

You don’t have to know about this computer programmer, however, to recreate his costume. Take a set of long underwear, a bike helmet and Frisbees and create a Tron pattern with fluorescent-blue duct tape. If you really want to mimic Maynard, slap on a porn-stache and a pair of aviator glasses.

9. I Love Lucy
August saw the 100th birthday of Lucille Ball, the comedic genius who started a television empire with Desilu Productions company. You can Desi Arnaz your night with a Luuuuuucyyyy outfit from Drugstore.com. Find free shipping codes for the e-retailer, plus 30-percent off costumes at sites like FreeShipping.

10. Bronies
For some reason, there’s a contingent of male nerds out there who are addicted to the animated cartoon “My Little Pony.” Known as “Bronies,” these fanboys watch pretty pictures of ponies — with names like Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash — have magical adventures. Seriously!

The costume is simple: Buy several of the pony “action figures” and attach them to slacker clothing, i.e. sweatpants and a bagged-out T-shirt. Then wax eloquently about the pink aisle at Toys R Us.

11. Insane Clown Posse “Miracles” Video
Sick of rapping about murdering people with axes, the Detroit hip-hop duo released “Miracles” about the magic in the universe. The Posse rapped in X-rated language that made the video one of the biggest joke memes in 2010. For a wicked twist, go with the Saturday Night Live version.

The costumes are simple: Dress in all-white gangster togs, paint on a black-and-white clown face and you’re ready to rap about magic and miracles being “just there in the air.”

12. Bridezilla
If you’ve seen the WE Network show “Bridezillas,” it’s easy to believe all women in white have turned into raving maniacs. While some brides can get a bit out of hand under pre-wedding stress, nothing can touch the WE’s matrimonial disasters.

To turn yourself into one of these nightmare brides, wear a trashy gown from your local thrift shop and scream into your cell phone all night. Key phrases, “You’re out of the wedding” and “You’ve ruined the biggest day of my life!”

13. Hawaii Five-0
Here’s an easy one for lazy guys, based on the resurrected television show on CBS. Rock a pair of shorts and a Hawaiian shirt with some nifty shades, pick up a set of handcuffs at the costume shop and you’re good to go. (Surfboard is optional.) Now book ‘em, Dano.

14. Republican Presidential Candidates
Watch just one of the Republican debates and you’ll have the costume down. Dark suit and a red tie for men and pearls for Michelle Bachmann imitators. Key phrases to push: Taxes, tax cuts and Ronald Reagan. This one is definitely better as a group costume.

15. “Entourage” Gang
Another group-costume concept, this one pays homage to the final season of HBO’s “Entourage,” featuring one movie star and his bro-mance with three homies (and one maniacal Hollywood agent). The costumes are pretty basic, but it’s the chemistry that will make this one come alive.

16. “The Big Bang Theory”
Speaking of TV shows ripe for the costume picking, the geeks from “The Big Bang Theory” are even easier to recreate. Take one skinny nerd in multiple T-shirts, add a shorter version in horn rims and a couple multicultural buddies and you’ve got your gang. Remember, the geekier the clothing the better, so hit up Goodwill for your Green Lantern T-shirt. The best accessory, however, would be an attractive blond.

17. “Bridesmaids”
You don’t have to replicate the “Bridesmaids’” movie cast; just follow the lead of so many modern bachelorette parties these days. The bride-to-be gets to wear a crown or goofy white veil. The bridesmaids all follow a common theme, like bobble headbands or goofy scarves or some such. Now go out and party!

18. Pirates
Johnny Depp has made the world safe for pirate costumes again, thanks to the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movies. Forget the eye patch, however, and follow the gorgeous movie star’s lead with a basic vest, white shirt, pants tucked into boots and lots of bangles, rings and scarves. Oh, and don’t forget the guy-liner.

Gals might go with a Penélope Cruz look: Big black hat with buckle, frock coat and much of the same look as Johnny, just without the dreadlocks. Grab a Target free shipping promo code and enjoy their great version of this look for the ladies.

19. Anthony Bourdain
Recreating Mr. “No Reservations” is easy as pie. Just wear a chef’s jacket and check pants (found at many thrift shops) then plop on a white wig. Can’t find the kitchen uniform? Bourdain is partial to blue polos and dress shirts with jeans.

The great part of dressing as the Travel Channel chef is that it requires you devour drinks and food all night. Non-party attenders can carry a frying pan and wine bottle to give their costume a “kitchenie” look.

20. Royal Wedding
Did you hear Prince William got married this year? If you followed the royal wedding closely, you don’t need much costume advice. Ladies wear a long, brown wig with a thrift-shop wedding gown and carry a white bouquet. Gentlemen have it tougher finding a red military jacket, but cardboard medals and a blue ribbon sash are easier. It also helps if your hairline is rapidly receding.

If your group includes additional females, follow Princess Beatrice’s atrocious lead by coordinating outfit colors with the ugliest hat possible. If you’re really ambitious, you might try recreating her terrible topper.

 

Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc. As a nationally recognized media source, Andrea has been featured among top news outlets such as Good Morning America, NBC’s Today, MSNBC, New York Times, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more.

Filed Under: Budgeting Advice, Lifestyle, Simply Life, SimplySaving Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Tips on Helping Kids Overcome Fears

October 6, 2011 By 6 Comments

We are excited to bring to our readers a guest post by Maha Huneidi!

 

Fear is a very broad subject, and children at different ages are afraid for different reasons. According to developmental psychologist Jean Piaget, kids aged 2-7 are afraid of things not based on reality. At this age kids endow animals, as well as inanimate object with feelings. They believe in magic and they think that everyone and everything thinks and feels exactly like they do, which is why at this age kids are usually afraid of monsters and ghosts.

I think it’s counterproductive for parents to dismiss such fears as not real. As far as the child is concerned, they’re very real and there’s no way a child at this age will believe you if you said that there’s no such thing as monsters. I was afraid of monsters and of the dark -where monsters lurked- as a child. My parent did come into my room and looked for them to prove to me that they didn’t exist. Of course they didn’t exist when the lights were on! As far as I was concerned monsters were afraid of light and of adults, which is why they scattered when adults came into the room and turned on the lights!

My younger son had nightmares on and off when he was six. I didn’t make him go back to his bed, and my husband protested because he thought that our son would get used to sleeping in our bed, and for good reason too. We had some friends who’s kids didn’t outgrow that habit till they were 9 or 10. I knew that that wouldn’t be the case with my son because kids get into this habit at a much younger age. I think that this problem arises from separation anxiety, and not from nightmares or fear of monsters.

Anyway, I told my husband that I couldn’t send him back to his room because I was afraid as a child, and I knew how real his fear was. I didn’t know how else to deal with his fear at that time, and I hadn’t read anything about Jean Piaget. All I knew was that my son’s fear was as real as mine was at his age. He never got into the habit of sleeping in our bed. The few times he had nightmares I let him crash with us till dawn, then I’d take him back to his bed when he felt comfortable enough to go back. Luckily, he soon outgrew his fear.

Come to think of it my older son had nightmares three nights in a row, when he was four, after his grandfather died. I let him crash with us too, but by the third night I was curious, so I asked him about his nightmare and he said that a man comes in through the window, every night, and just sits on the chair by his bed. I asked him who the man was, and he told me that it was his grandfather. I told him, “You know what? I think granddad is worried about you and just wants to make sure that you’re alright.” The nightmares stopped! I’m not sure if it’s what I told him, or if the nightmares had just taken their course, but I do think that it’s a good idea to discuss fears with kids. It gives them a chance to express their feelings, and I think when you talk about a problem you see it in a different light. It’s usually not as bad as it seemed before you talked about it. I’ve read a lot of self help/spiritual books since, and they’ve taught me a lot about empowerment.

In retrospect, if I had known better then, I would’ve given my children the tools that I gave my granddaughter in my picture book “When Monsters get Lonely,” by teaching them that our thoughts are like magic, they create our live. Kids at that age believe in magic and, I feel, that they would naturally follow the advice of thinking happy thoughts instead of scary ones.

Again, in retrospect, I would’ve taught my kids meditation http://www.empowerment-and-kids.com/meditation-for-children.html. Unfortunately, I didn’t start to meditate till after my kids had outgrown their fears.

Thankfully, I did the right thing by not dismissing their fears, by helping them express themselves, by talking about their fears, and  by keeping a regular routine in our house, which is a great help because it makes kids feel safe when they know what to expect.

Maha Huneidi is a wife, mother and now grandmother, who finally found out what she wants to be when she grows up. This book is the first step of her journey. She lives in Portland, Oregon.

Filed Under: Kids, Simply Family Tagged With: , , , ,

10 Holiday Planning Tips

October 5, 2011 By Leave a Comment

10. Pull out your Christmas card list and start editing it now. Who goes? Who stays? Who needs to be added?

9. Make a list of who you are giving gifts to … just names. A helpful tip is to organize this list by when you see everyone  so if you see one set of family members before Christmas, group them together and then group the ones you see after Christmas together too.

8. Check your stash. You have a gift stash, right? See what is in that can be used for Christmas presents.

7. Think about your Christmas card pictures … are you using one from your summer vacation or you trying to take one between now and then. Planning saves headaches … trust me on this one as I am always a last minute family picture type and it stressful! Three kids are hard to get into one picture!

6. Figure out when you are going to ask the kids for Christmas list. Maybe after Halloween? Do you give them the catalog and have them cut out pictures? Do you mail it? Our kids are still younger so we make lists and have it handy when everyone starts asking. I then write who I gave what to so I don’t end up with double gifts (have done that before!!)

5. Start to fill in your Christmas list. Use your stash list and come with the ideas of what you need to buy. Start buying now so you don’t have to buy all at once.

4. Order your Christmas Cards. Check out the Storkie Christmas cards! I like the Magnet ones like the one pictured above. How great is that to leave on your fridge? It wouldn’t fall off like all of the Christmas card pictures on my fridge!

3. Check your calendar often … carry it with you so you don’t over book your holidays. Over busy schedules are stressful and not enjoyable. It is OK to say no that you don’t have time.

2. Make some cookies. Cookies are the best at Christmas time. This is my favorite holiday activity. It is my best excuse to bake of the whole year so I go to town with cookie making … and then I sit at stare at them wondering what to do them! They make great gifts for teachers, school bus drivers, neighbors, and anyone who suddenly stops by the house so they do disappear fast!

1. Plan. Just plan something … start small is needed and work up to your full holiday planning!

NOTE: I wrote this blog post while participating in the Storkie holiday blogging program. I received compensation for my participation. All opinions are 100% mine.

Filed Under: Lifestyle, Promotional, Simply Life Tagged With: , , ,

9 Ways Receipts Can Help You Save

September 4, 2011 By 3 Comments

We are excited to bring another guest post to you today from Andrea Woroch!

Big-name stores like Gap, Kmart and Whole Foods Market are trying to cut back on paper. While they’re still happy to accept paper money, some major merchants are turning to electronic sales receipts as a means of recording sales. Still, they have a long way to go before the public is willing to forgo their paper slips as proof of purchase.

 

In the meantime, here are nine ways those pesky pieces of paper can help you save cash.

 

1. Surveys
Want a penny for your thoughts? Check the back of some restaurant and store receipts and you’ll find a survey that, once filled out, may result in a 10 percent to 25 percent savings on your next purchase. For example, Gap Outlet and Gap Factory presently provide a 15-percent off coupon as an incentive, while Old Navy offers a 10-percent-off deal. JCPenney kicks in with 15-percent to 20-percent off your next purchase. Restaurants prefer to offer freebies, such as a hamburger from Wendy’s, an entree from Panda Express or a free donut from Dunkin’ Donuts.

2. Rebates
No receipt? No rebate. It’s as simple as that. Before they fork over your refund, stores want proof you paid for a product, not just ripped a piece off the packaging. While you’re at it, make sure you keep copies of everything you sent in for the rebate, along with a record of phone calls and letters. Such info will help you get your money if you run into trouble.

3. Warranties
Merchants require you keep a paper trail to cash in on warranties, including a copy of your warranty and the receipt. In fact, keep every piece of paper related to your purchase if you want to take advantage of extended warranties. Alternatively, you can use a major credit card for a built-in extended warranty, but check out this article from Mint.com before you go that route.

4. Future Discounts
Many Starbucks stores offer $2 cold drinks after 2 p.m. if you proffer your receipt from an earlier purchase. Another similar trend, usually offered by smaller online merchants, is towards free shipping on your second purchase. In such cases, you’re “receipt” is recorded in your online store account.

5. Read It
If you’re stuffing receipts into your shopping bag without checking them out, you may overlook discounts that weren’t rung up. You don’t have to block the line while you scan the tiny numbers, but it helps to read over the receipt before you leave the store so you have immediate proof.

6. Car Paperwork
When it’s time to sell your car, you’ll want to show you provided it with lots of TLC. You’ll sell the vehicle faster with proof of regular oil changes, general maintenance and such major work as a new timing belt. The receipt also comes in handy in case something goes wrong after a repair job, otherwise it could be your word against the shop. (Check out the Shop Smart article on this topic for more information.)

7. Clothing Returns
Wait until you’ve worn an item before tossing the receipt. Most stores require the receipt for exchanges or returns and you might just find it doesn’t really work with other clothes in your wardrobe. Even if you’ve worn the item a couple times, the paperwork might get you a price adjustment, should the store mark an item down shortly after your purchase. One way to net such a deal is to find current promotions on websites like PromoCodes.us, and check with the store to see if they’ll honor the price of the promotion and refund you the difference.

8. Save at the Pump
King Soopers, Safeway and other supermarkets occasionally run promotions where you’ll receive a price reduction on their gas or a brand partner’s gas when you spend a set amount in the store. The opposite occasionally holds true, as well. Sometimes presenting your fuel receipt at a grocery store will earn you double reward points.

9. Catalina Coupons
This is the most obvious savings of the bunch. Catalina coupons are printed either on the back of your receipt or attached at the bottom. The register’s printer usually dispenses them in connection with a purchase you made that day.

 

 

Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc. As a nationally recognized media source, Andrea has been featured on Good Morning America, NBC Today Show, MSNBC, New York Times Bucks Blog, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more. To view recent interviews or for more savings tips visit AndreaWoroch.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Filed Under: Budgeting Advice, SimplySaving Tagged With: , , , , , ,

15 Tips To Save On Your Child’s School Supplies

August 21, 2011 By 7 Comments

Back-to-school time is always met with mixed reactions. Kids are excited about the status of moving up a grade and spending time with friends; parents, however, tend to feel some stress when they see the constantly expanding supply list.

To save money on supplies for your elementary school student this summer, try the following 15 tips.

1. Lists and Budgets
It’s well established that shoppers who make a list buy fewer unnecessary items. Before you hit the store, review your kids’ supply lists and figure out what you’ll need. Instead of having an open-ended budget, pick an amount you’re willing to spend and stick to it. This forces you to shop by price, not product.

2. Leave the Kids at Home
Instead of packing the kids into the car for a dreaded shopping trip, go ahead and leave them at home. This eliminates debates about which school supplies to buy, allowing you to shop based on needs, not wants.

If it’s important to bring them with you, curb their desires by giving them a small budget to use on any supplies they want. This way, they’ll be distracted picking out special items while you pick up the rest.

3. What’s in the Closet?
It’s surprising how much stuff accumulates in a house. See what you already have on hand before buying brand-new supplies. Supplies like notebooks, highlighters and pencils tend to pile up and can be used by students of any age. Even if you don’t find much, you can clear up some clutter by ridding drawers of dried-out markers and broken, mismatched crayons.

4. Use Coupons
With all of the coupons available these days, you shouldn’t end up paying full price for much. There’s a wide variety of online and printable coupons to choose from, including coupons for major merchants like Kohl’s and Walmart, at sites like CouponSherpa.com. There’s even a mobile coupon app availble to help find discounts while you’re on the go. When you find a coupon you like, the cashier can scan it right from your phone or input the UPS code.

5. Kids Pay, Too
Teaching kids smart shopping strategies can never start too early. If they absolutely have to have the coolest new sneakers, get them to chip-in on the cost. Agree to pay a certain amount and have them save the rest from their allowance. It can be surprising how quickly kids decide they don’t need tons of stuff after all.

6. Use Local Libraries
If your student has some supplemental reading to do, check the books out instead of buying them. If you’ve cut high-speed Internet service at home, most libraries have free, easy access. The library also offers less distractions, so your kids can stay on task.

7. Daily Deals for Kids
Sites such as Groupon and LivingSocial have made headlines for their daily deals, but there are several other sites with deals specifically for children. KidsSteals offers toys, kids clothing and gifts for up to 80-percent off. At Mama Bargains, they don’t limit the deal to one, instead providing several each day. Finally, Baby Half Off posts new deals at 10 a.m. EST and offers products for both parents and kids.

8. Swapping Supplies
You’re not the only one feeling the strain of back-to-school costs. Swap supplies with friends and neighbors who have kids around the same age. You don’t have to just trade school supplies, either. Try exchanging books, toys, games and clothes to help everyone avoid the high cost of buying new.

9. Garage Sales and Thrift Stores
You’re not going to find everything you need for back-to-school shopping at garage sales and thrift stores, but they can certainly help cut costs. With the garage sale season soon coming to a close, lots of people are looking to unload as much as possible while they still can. Some thrift stores even allow shoppers to fill a whole bag with clothing for a flat rate.

10. Cut Clothing Costs
Popular stores like Gap, The Children’s Place, and Old Navy typically have sale cycles planned out in advance. Ask the manager when the new sales start and then target your shopping for those days. This way, you don’t have to run all over town and you can make a plan for what you’re going to buy.

11. Smart Clothes Shopping
While the clothes you select may not meet your kids’ cool standards, rest assured they’ll understand someday when they’re paying the bills. For now, pick clothes that leave a little room to grow. If you find an especially good sale on something like shoes, pick up an extra pair a size or two larger. Clothes without wild patterns or wacky designs are best because they stay in style and can be passed down to younger siblings.

12. Hold off on Electronics
Expensive electronics are finding their way into classrooms more frequently. When possible, hold off on buying electronics until big holiday shopping events, like Free Shipping Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. If you must buy now, purchase second-hand or refurbished products. If buying new is your only option, check out the Coupon Sherpa savings guides for stores like Best Buy and Target. You’ll find helpful advice that can guide you to the lowest price.

13. Rewards Points
If you have no idea what to do with your credit card rewards points, consider using them for back-to-school purchases. Sometimes, points can be converted to gift cards so it feels a little like free money. While using rewards this way isn’t as glamorous as a weekend in Cancun, it makes smart shopping sense.

14. Buy in Advance
It’s never too early to start getting ready for the next school year. Once the mad rush on school supplies has died down, merchants will look to unload extra inventory before the next major shopping event. Keep in mind prices really drop after Labor Day. You can cut costs and avoid the crowds by establishing a pattern of shopping for reduced-price supplies a year in advance.

15. Social Media Savings
Just a few clicks can give you access to exclusive coupons and sales from your favorite stores. More merchants are now rewarding customers with discounts for following them on Facebook and Twitter.

Andrea Woroch is a consumer and money-saving expert for Kinoli Inc. and as a nationally recognized media source, Andrea has been featured on NBC Today, Good Morning America, FOX & Friends, MSNBC, Kiplinger Personal Finance, CNNMoney and many more.To view recent interviews or for more savings tips visit AndreaWoroch.com or follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Filed Under: Budgeting Advice, Kids, Simply Family, SimplySaving Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Two Cents Tuesday: Kitchen Scale

July 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment

As part of our continued expansion here at Simply Budgeted, we wanted to make sure that we take opportunities to share with you our simple tips, techniques, and tools that make life a little easier, a little cheaper, and a little more healthy.  These could show up anywhere on the blog.  So we decided to join other bloggers out there by calling this new feature “Two Cents Tuesday.”

This week’s tool:  The handy kitchen scale.

You may or may not have one of these.  If you do, you probably don’t use it nearly often enough.  If you don’t, you should strongly consider getting one.  They can save you a lot of money and keep you eating healthier.

Big box stores, like Sam’s Club and Costco, sell huge packages of shredded cheese.  Instead of trying to use up all of that cheese before it goes bad, measure out smaller 1 lb. portions into freezer bags and freeze them.  Pull one out a day before you need it and it’ll be fully thawed, ready for whatever you need it for at a significant savings over the 1/2 lb. bags at the supermarket.

Those same stores also sell large cuts of meat.  A large beef tenderloin could set you back a few bucks.  If you eat beef on a semi-regular basis, however, that purchase could save you a lot on your monthly grocery budget.  These stores normally sell these cuts for around $10 a pound.  A 4-oz filet mignon (so a 1/4 lb piece of the same meat) can cost more than that on it’s own.  So if you cut and weigh these right, you can more than pay for the entire piece of meat with only the small half of it.

As a bonus, the scale let’s you weigh out the portion size.  If you try to eyeball it, you’ll almost always overestimate, costing you money and calories.  Shoot for a 4-oz piece of meat, freeze on a sheet tray, and wrap up in plastic and the meat should last for a couple of months in the freezer.  Use the rest of the meat for tender, succulent steaks and skewers and use the scraps for a yummy stir fry or stew.

Don’t be afraid to weigh out your food.  It’ll help you eat a little healthier and it can ease that burden on your budget.  Leave us a comment telling us how you use your scale.

Filed Under: Budgeting Advice, Memes, Simply Food, SimplySaving, Tips & Techniques, Two Cents Tuesday Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Tips to get kids to brush their teeth

July 22, 2011 By 7 Comments

Today we are excited to bring you a guest post by Linda Valderrarna, R.D.H., the author of Brush Barry Brush.

  1. The most important idea is to create routines. Parents should describe to their child what they expect and keep repeating it consistently. You can make charts and use stickers, pictures, stories, whatever it takes to make your child aware of the routine that you expect them to follow. In a couple of words, “patient persistence” is a good description of what it takes to instill a habit. Consistency is important.
  2. Always encourage your child and reward good behavior when they comply. Set them up for success. They will see that it is more fun and rewarding to cooperate and participate in the routine. Set attainable short term goals by making daily, weekly and monthly charts and rewards. Rewards can be as little as a sticker or as much as going to a movie or a fun activity. Words of encouragement are important. Children 5 and older can even help to discuss what rewards could be.
  3. Give good directions and set a good example yourself.
  4. If you are brushing the teeth of a very young child, stand behind them. Let them hold the toothbrush and move their hand in the correct circular movement with both of you looking straight ahead into a mirror. You can make it fun by telling them to roar like a lion or open as wide as a hippo. You can count their teeth (1-10 top and 1-10 on the bottom).This time together is valuable and can be a bonding experience for you both.
  5. For older children in the 4-5 year range, you can try a home experiment that will leave an impression and bring home the importance of tooth brushing. Boil an egg. Place it in a dark colored soda for at least day. When you take it out it will be discolored with a yellowish brown coating. You can take a toothbrush and toothpaste to brush it off as an example of how plaque on forms on teeth and the importance of brushing.
  6. Have your child think of vegetables that begin with the same letter or sound as the first letter of their first name. Then, have them draw a picture of themselves eating it ,then brushing their teeth.

Linda Valderrama R.D.H. has over 25 years experience as a dental hygienist. She has treated patients from ages two to one hundred years old and has successfully developed preventative oral hygiene programs tailored to individual needs. Linda is a strong believer that good oral hygiene habits lead to good overall health and that these daily habits must be acquired early in life.

 

 

Filed Under: Kids, Simply Family Tagged With: , , , , , ,
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