JAJ Response

Julie.

This is my response to your question (sorry it took forever!)

Julie asked: Can you share your money saving secrets? Once you said you were going to do multiple posts about couponing. I got the paper and clipped ads for 6 months and I felt like I didn't save anything, and if I used coupons I would end up with a pantry full of boxed snacks and nothing more, so I quit. Since I consider you to be better than most people at stretching a dollar, I would like to hear your best secrets to frugal living. What are your favorite freebies? Where do you find the best deals?

I had a good friend in Texas try to teach me but I wasn't getting it. I felt like you. I was getting cheap snacks and nothing else. One day I googled couponing and a couple other words and I found this website on Michael and Mickenzies blog. It is called thekrazycouponlady.com. GO THERE. Look around.

If you REALLY want to save money read their "10 days to become a krazy coupon lady" they says everything I know about couponing. For example the 2nd day they talk about newspaper subscriptions and internet coupons. Did you know you can print coupons from your computer? You learn couponiing lingo and saving strategies.

So first, read that. YOU WILL LEARN A LOT!!

Second....Bookmark this page. One of the great things about this website is that it gives scenarios of what to buy and what coupons to use to maximize your savings.

Have you looked around it yet? Do that then come back and finish reading my post....

Alright. Good. Isn't it an amazing easy to use site?

Now what you need to do is to google "couponing" and other catch phrases and find a couple of websites that help you and that fit your needs. (Then share them with me!!)



Some more of my tips...

***When you eat out you need to use coupons. There are always coupons for restaurants that you may frequent. Look for them in your newspaper and your coupon books...Also, we also try restaurants that we wouldn't try otherwise because we might didn't know about them and are given a good deal. Try restaurant.com. You can regularly buy gift certificates for 70% to 80% off. That is you can buy a $25 dollars gc for $2!

***I know you HATE thriftstores but they are a GREAT way to save money. On Saturday Branch and I bought Little Miss her birthday gift (I will post pictures of it later). The toy we got her retails for $150 dollars. We bought ours for $4o. Brand new with a only a little problem we have to fix but SO WORTH IT! She has a lot of nice brand name clothing I spent $1-$4 one. I already have a large collection of 3T clothing for her- at least 10 pants and 20 or more shirt I have probably only spent $15. Most of them brand new! The saving in shoes alone has saved us a months rent at least!

Me, I have recently bought two new (to me) pair of pants at D.I. and I spent $8. This included a abercrombie and fitch pants that retailed around $80! Branch is really hard on his pants and shirts at work so we get $4 pants and $3 shirts for him pretty regularly.

We also buy other products at thrift stores too. Look around and you can find some amazing things that you can save money on.

Give it a try. (Just wash it when you get home)

***Garage sales. You can barter for the things. How cool is that!!

***Find a couponing friend. Someone that can help you that you can talk to and may even be able to take turns when you go shopping

***Look around before buying anything over $50. I am still learning about looking around but sometimes that save TONS!

All right that is all I can think of right now. Let me know what you think.
How about you other bloggers. What are your saving tips?

What a crazy couple of months.

Car was in accident but now fixed and it's beautiful.
Computer crashed and now fixed and it's still slow.
Other computer needs a new fan, working on that.
Branch was in Reno for 6 days, didn't have fun, but learned a lot.
Little Miss enjoys nursery now!!
Dad has a really big kidney stone, been in pain for last 10 days. Tomorrow he is having surgery to break up the stone, but still has to pass those. Poor guy.
The Olympics started. I really only enjoyed the winter Olympics when they were here in SLC, and I got to see TWO Olympic events! Maybe I will enjoy it more when figure skating comes on. Who doesn't love figure skating.
I promise you Julie I will write my post in response to you! I WILL!!
Branch and Little Miss are sick right now. Poor guys! L, J, and E are also sick! Not fun!!

Alright well anyway...