CardCash.com Sale!!!

Get gift cards for less at CardCash.com - use code HAPPYNEWYEARS for an additional 3% off until midnight!!

Happy Holidays!

Whatever your faith or tradition celebrations brings, I hope they are filled with joy. I also hope that if your traditions involve gifts, you found some tricks on my blog to keep a little more money in your wallet and still enjoy the giving and celebrations!

From my family to yours, peace and blessings to you!!

Gift Card Deals at your Grocery Store

Keep an eye on your favorite grocery store for deals on gift cards during any 'giving' season. The current deal at my Safeway is 15% off a multi-pack of participating gift cards. In this case it was iTunes, Regal Cinemas, and a few other entertainment-type cards that come in multipacks. Through my Safeway app, I was also able to add an additional 5% discount.

I had intended to get my son one $25 gift card for iTunes, but ended up three $10 cards totaling $30 and I only paid $24. I also earn gas rewards.

Get familiar with the deals, sales cycles, and rewards at your favorites store and then keep watch.

Deals on Apple iPads, iPods and More

Deals on Apple products are few and far between. You have to be very savvy and spend time daily monitoring sites that seek out deals.

I have a trick to save a little extra on those high end electronics that rarely get discounted. First, I find a retailer that sells online. In this case, I've chosen Best Buy.

Then I find the best cash back website. My favorites are Upromise and Ebates. Upromise is connected with Sallie Mae and the cash back earned can be directed towards student loans or college savings. Upromise often has the higher percentage cash back, but I always check both. Today the cash back is 5%.

Next, I order discount gift cards. My favorite sites are CardCash.com and MonsterGiftCard.com. Discounts and supply vary so I always check both. Best Buy discounts average 4-6% off face value.

Let's break it down:

• 1 iPad Air is $499 full retail
• By accessing the Best Buy website via Upromise, I will get 5% cash back on $499. A savings of $24.95.
• I still need to pay the full $499 so I buy enough discount gift cards to cover the purchase.
• If I buy $500 in gift cards at 5% off the face value, I pay $475 for the cards. A savings of $25.
• That's a total savings of $49.95 or 10%. Not bad for a little extra effort.

A couple of other considerations:

• You don't need to pay or wait for shipping. I can order online and select store pickup. I get the 5% from the cash back site and can stop by my local Best Buy to pick up my item that day.
• If you pay sales tax and buy enough gift cards to cover the tax, you will get a discount on the tax as well.
• If you earn miles or other rewards with a favorite credit card, you can use it to buy your gift cards.
• I would still earn rewards at Best Buy for a $499 purchase.

Win, win, win, win, win!!!

Save on Holiday Decorating

Regardless of the holiday or season you're decorating, if you're patient and intentional in your approach, you can get some fabulous decorations for a fraction of the retail price.

Over the years, we collect more and more pieces, until we have a lovely stash to choose from. Instead of an impulse buy where you see something you like prior to the holiday and pick it up at maybe 20% or, heaven forbid, full retail, wait until after the holiday and pick up something new for the following year.

Ya, ya...you've heard this before and probably have done it, but take it a step further now. Today I browsed through the beautiful Christmas decorations at Pier 1 Imports. The store is irrelevant and so is the holiday, this could be applicable any time. I scoped out some terrific items that I would love to add to my collection and I purchased nothing at the store today.

I will, however, visit them again on the 26th. In preparation, I did go online and bought a discount gift card at CardCash.com for 21.5% off the face value of the card. Another favorite discount gift card website is MonsterGiftCard.com. Discounts vary, but today CardCash had the better deal.

I'll use 75% off as my after-holiday discount estimate. Here's how the savings would stack up:

• Retail price $100 @ 75% off brings the price to $25
• Paid with my gift card that was discount 21.5% saves another $7.13
• Amount paid = $17.87 or a total of 82% off

Now you know I'll be checking for coupons too. Fingers crossed that I'll find one!!

Holiday Savings - Free Turkey

I haven't paid for a turkey in years! This is one of my favorite tips and tricks for holiday savings.

Watch the flyers for your usual grocery store carefully. There are often promotions for all kinds of things over the holidays. My usual store typically offers a free turkey if you spend a certain amount. Read the fine print, buy only what you need to get to the required purchase amount, make sure you're still buying things on sale, and be sure to find the correct promotion turkey (ask if they're hard to find).

Make Your Own Sale

Here is a classic example of how I stack savings everyday. This example is with Dress Barn, but the store is irrelevant. It's the steps that are important.

I often buy business attire essentials at Dress Barn. Knowing this, I bought a discounted gift card for Dress Barn for 22% off the face value so I could have it handy when I needed to shop. For a $100 gift card, I paid $78. There are many reputable websites where you can do this. Cardcash is a personal favorite.

Yesterday, I was ready to shop!

1. I looked for a coupon code. I use a coupon blog called www.ThriftyNWMom.com. www.Retailmenot.com and www.CouponCabin.com are also favorite places to look. I found a 30% off + free shipping code!!

2. I went to a cashback site. A couple of sites I use are Upromise and Ebates.

3. I used my discount gift card.

Assuming I selected $100 worth of merchandise, here is how my savings stacked:

• $100 less 30% = $70 - this is what my receipt would look like
• Amount saved with the discount gift card 22% - $15.40
• Amount saved with 7% cash back - $4.90

Total savings - $50.30 - over 50%!!!

Now, if what I bought was on sale to start with, my total savings would have been higher. Regardless, I created my very own 50% off sale!!

The keys to this were some preplanning because I had a gift card ready (this is feasible with merchants you use regularly) and I looked for a discount code. Another key to savings is control. If I had been unable to find a coupon code, it would be better to wait and watch for one. Replace that instant gratification with the excitement of scoring huge deals! YOU are in control.

Cash Back Sites - Upromise

Using cash back sites is one of my favorite bricks in building my tower of savings. Upromise often offers higher cash back percentages or they may have retailers that other cash back sites don't. This is because they are linked with Sallie Mae and can direct your cash back towards paying down your student loans or building a 529 savings plan.

Here is my example from a purchase yesterday. 6pm.com is a favorite online shop of mine and I found some terrific UGG boots there for a great price. Here's how I stacked the savings:

• The boots I liked retailed for $240 and were available at 6pm.com for $117
• Found a 10% off promo code which brought the price down to $105.30
• Accessed 6pm.com through Upromise for 5% cash back (6pm.com does not offer cash back through other sites) - Total price $100.03 - a total of 58% off

The majority of that savings was with 6pm already, but Upromise gave me an additional $5.27 savings. It's easy to do and it adds up!

Moxie Jean - Upscale Resale for Kids Online

Another favorite online consignment store of mine is Moxie Jean. The concept is like thredUP, but this is only for children's clothing and they buy and sell smaller sizes. Give them a try and get $10 off your first order of $20 or more. Refer friend and/or send in your own gently used clothing for more credit. Easy!!

My Big Savings at Michael's

I knew I had a craft project I wanted to do with my daughter soon so I ordered a discount gift card for Michael's. Big score! They're 27% off of face value. Within a week it arrived and I clipped a coupon for 40% off a full priced item. These are in newspaper, mailers, or you can print right from Michael's website.

Armed with my savings strategies, off I went. Well, happy surprise for me! All Halloween 'stuff' was on clearance for 80% off!!! And some of their Christmas craft kits for pre-school aged kids were on sale for 40% off.

Ever get side tracked from what you originally intended to buy? I certainly did! But, I'm usually prepared with extra savings tricks and have my eyes open to opportunities. I bought a couple of items for Christmas (because they were only 40% off) and several things for Halloween next year. My total came to $19.52. Full retail would have been $61.39. That's a savings of 68%!!!

It's not over yet. I paid with my discounted gift card. I paid 27% less than what it's worth so I paid Michael's $19.52 with that gift card, but I had only paid $14.25 for that amount. This added up to a total of 77% off.

Get gift cards for less at CardCash.com

Discount Gift Cards

Get gift cards for less at CardCash.com

Discount gift cards are one of my favorite bricks when stacking my tower of savings. It's simple - pay less than what it's worth. If I buy a $100 card for $80, that is a 20% savings off any purchase I make with that card. I know where I spend money regularly so I can plan ahead and get a discount. CardCash guarantees the value on the card.

Major retailers, restaurants, and entertainment such as movie theaters are featured on these sites. I have gotten discounts from 2%-22%, but the typical range for me is right in the middle of that. Here is an example of what I've bought:

Safeway - 2%
Costco - 2%
Best Buy - 5%
Old Navy/Gap - 10-15%
LL Bean - 11%
Dress Barn - 22%
Gymboree - 16%
Red Lobster - 10%
Applebees - 10%

The savings can really add up!

I have also seen cards for airlines, hotels chain, fast food. Many of these are also offered as e-Cards for online purchases. The possibilities are endless. Periodically, I browse through what is available and snap up what I might need. You can also have them email you a notice if they get a card from your preferred retailer. Compare discount percentages because they can vary.

Be aware that some of the cards you receive may be merchandise or store credit. Most retailers use these the same way they would an actual gift card, but some have restrictions. Know your favorite retailers' restrictions on those types of credit. A fairly safe way to spot a true gift card is those that are even numbers (i.e. $25, $50, $100, etc.).

Don't forget to use them!!

Pennies

If you see a penny on the ground, do you stop and pick it up? If you don't, what would it take for you to pick up money...a nickel, dime, quarter, dollar? Pennies are money, pure and simple. Don't be too good or too busy to pick up money you see laying in front of you. When you're trying to 'save your pennies', this is a literal contradiction. Remember, what goes around comes around.

When my son was little, my husband kept him occupied at the check-out of grocery stores by having him look for change on the floor. Those check-outs are a treasure trove of loose change! Now, my son knows to keep an eye out for money that has been dropped. His biggest score was a wad of bills totalling $24!

See's Candies Free Lollipop July 20th

See's Candies is celebrating National Lollipop Day. Stop by for your free lollipop on Saturday, July 20th.

Coupon Karma

I do know that Karma is far more complex and I don't intend to offend anyone. This is simply my way of saying 'what goes around comes around'. I believe this in general in life, but I apply it to coupons as well. I am on several discussion boards online where deals and coupons are shared and have even suggested an old-school bulletin board at my daughter's daycare for people to give and take coupons.

The discussion boards I frequent are relevant to my interests and phase of life so the area where people share deals and coupons is also relevant to me. Very generous people graciously share valuable coupons for nothing but a heartfelt thank you in return. Or maybe not, maybe there is a little coupon Karma. The Secret also basically follows this philosophy that what you put into the world, comes back to you. So I generously and graciously share valuable coupons that I can't use. I intentionally take the time to respond to people looking or offer them up. In return, sometime in the future, I will need a coupon and it'll come back to me.

Yellow Jeep Theory

When was the last time you saw a yellow Jeep? Can't remember? For the next week, be on the look out for yellow Jeeps and count how many you see. 

The same is true for finding great deals. Once you're looking, you'll start seeing them. 

Vacation Savings - Hotels

There are savings to be had on every part of your family vacation. I began with booking a hotel room the other night. Here's how I worked my deal of 40% off:

• I compared prices. I typically expect to get a better deal through Hotels.com, but I did a quick search just in case. The two other sites were priced at $110 per night. Hotels.com was $84 per night.
• Knowing I wanted to use Hotels.com, I checked Ebates to see if I could get cash back. Indeed! Another 2.5% cash back. I clicked on Hotels.com through Ebates and began booking.
• Promo code? I went to Google and typed Hotels.com and discount codes showed as an option. Within a minute I found a 10% off code.
• Hotels.com also has a rewards program with your tenth booking.

Show me the money!

• Retail $110
• Hotels.com $84 - 24% savings
• Ebates cash back of 2.5% is $2.10 - 26% savings/cost $81.90
• Promo code of 10% (taken off of $84) is $8.40 - 33% savings/cost $73.50
• Rewards program - I estimate a average of 10% value since your 10th room booking is free is $7.35 - savings 40%/cost $66.15

What I paid out of pocket was $75.60 + tax with the immediate benefit of the promo code. The cash back accrues and is paid quarterly and the rewards accumulate too, but you can see the breakdown of how these tips and tricks add up in different ways.

Kindle Fire Case Deal on Amazon

Always be on the lookout for super deals on Amazon like this one for a Case Crown Kindle Fire Case priced at $3.99!!



Remember, Amazon prices can change quickly.

Never Pay Retail - Even at a Thrift Store

Do you think of shopping at a thrift store as paying retail or getting a great buy? For me it's a little of both.

When you're at a thrift store, you're considering the deal you're getting comparable to a full-priced brand-new item, but that is not what you are buying. There are even better deals to be made at thrift stores if you see them as another retailer (of used, donated merchandise) and you will not pay full-price (as your personal mantra).

How do you do it? Well, the same as everywhere else. Shop the sales, use the coupons, sign up for rewards and work their system to your benefit.

At my Goodwill stores, they have different colored price tags and to keep inventory moving they mark down a new color each week by 50% and the previous week's sale color gets marked down to $1.29 on Sunday and Monday. That's when I go shopping!! I want those $1.29 deals. Yes, there are fewer items to choose from, but there are still plenty of treasures to be found.

My Goodwill also gives out a 30% off one item coupon for every donation. I continually have a box tucked in a closet that I'm filling with unused and outgrown items that need a new home. I'm helping keep my hosue organized and have a coupon on hand for those days when I find a must-have item that isn't market down to $1.29.

It takes patience and control, but when you're aware of the deals and looking for them, you find them.

Deal on SpaFinder Wellness Gift Card

Check your Safeway App in Coupon Center Special Offers. You can get $10 off a $50 SpaFinder Wellness Gift Card. That's 20% off!!!

Yes, Savings Excite Me...Here's Why Part 2

Now that I had found my first thrift store treasure (something worth a lot more than I paid for it), I was off to another world I had no idea about. Enter eBay and all the other ways for reselling.

I had bought and sold on both eBay and Amazon many times before, but only my personal things that I no longer needed. The world of buying to resell and make money was new to me. 

My first debate was whether to sell that book or not. This adorable board book I bought for my daughter. Could I flip it and make $40? And, should I even try?

As I agonized over that decision, I started to research how to become a seller. I became a Stork. There are many resources out there to learn all kinds of things about all the different ways to resell online. I found the most amazing online forum of experienced sellers and supportive women. Here Comes The Stork- your guide to selling online! is a forum for sellers that requires a membership. It's not very expensive and it was worth every penny.

And I began to discover the cult-like following of Gymboree clothing for kids. This was a store I'd never gone into because I thought it was too expensive. Now I can't afford not to shop there. 

Stack Savings at thredUP 40% Off Sale

thredUP is having a huge 40% off sale on their like-new kids clothes. They have also launched their women's clothing line as well. New customers can save even more by using SAVE35 to get 35% off + Free Shipping on their first order.

If you're already a customer, you can stack your savings by earning Swagbucks and using SHIPSAVE for free shipping.

Lot's of amazing bargains for your little ones!

Yes, Savings Excite Me...Here's Why Part 1

Here is a little bit about me and how I came to know what I know and why I'm interested in sharing it with you.

I am married, in my early 40s, have a DSS teenager, and DD preschooler. I work full-time, teach a college class, am a Top Rated Seller on eBay, and am diligent about never paying retail!!! I get all excited about my various ways to save and my friends and family love to know, but their eyes glaze over after the second or third step. They all want me to share how to do it, however, so it's now here in one place for anyone who is interested.

Here's how it all started. Remember the economy quickly getting flushed down the toilet?? I do! I had always loved a good sale and coupon, but this event took us all to another level with creations like Groupon, Ebates, more rewards programs, extreme couponing, and thrift shopping (now hella cool thanks to Macklemore!).

Well, I like to shop on Amazon. Their prices are typically better than other places (particularly for books) and I have a prime membership which gets me quick shipping for an annual fee (if you're a regular, the annual fee is worthwhile). My husband was encouraging me to go browse through our nearby Goodwill for books for our new DD and one day I did. I found the cutest little board book that has all these glittery, sensory pieces built into the illustrations. On the back I could see that there were three other similar books and I thought it would be cool to have the set so I went back to my trusty Amazon . What did I find??? Well, my $1 thrift store find listed for $42!!! Check it out now - Ladybug's Gift (Glitter Bugs).

Check your Flyers - Gas Rewards at Safeway

Stores offer all different kinds of promotions. Keep your eyes open for different deals and work the system to your advantage. Safeway is offering 4X gas rewards on gift card purchases right now. Hmmm...I don't need to buy any gift cards right now so should I just ignore it? No way! Think of where you shop on a regular basis and buy a gift card.

I regularly shop on Amazon for all kinds of things. So I picked up a $100 gift card at Safeway today. This will end up getting us $1/gallon off gas for a couple of tank fills. That's around a $30 savings!!!

Check out our Facebook Page

If you haven't already found Thriving in a Crazy Life on Facebook, check it out, 'Like', and 'Share' with your friends. There are lots of handy tips for saving money.

Cash in on Holiday Weekend Sales

As holiday weekends approach, we get innundated with sales ads, commercials, and flyers. If you are intentional about what you're looking for and truly evaluate the deals, you can score some great finds. My big ones this week have been:

• Gymboree - $12.99 sale. Nothing in the store or online is more than $12.99. You can also stack this with a coupon, Gymbo Visa discount, and earn Gymbucks for a future visit.
• Hanna Andersson - $19 for girls dresses. Go through Ebates or Upromise for cash back too.
• PBS Store - $10 off a purchase of $49 or more or $20 off a purchase of $99 or more.
• ThredUP - 35% off + free shipping for new customers with code SAVE35 & earn Swagbucks

What are you looking to purchase right now? Check out the deals on this weekend. Don't buy the hype. Evaluate whether it is truly a great sale and jump on it if it is. Don't forget to stack the savings with coupons & cash back!

More Discount Gift Cards

Discount gift cards are one of my favorite bricks when stacking my tower of savings. There are several reputable, reliable websites where you can buy or sell gift cards. The first website I ever used was MonsterGiftCard.com and it's still the one I check first.

How it works is simple. They post available cards, their face value or remaining value, and the purchase price. If I buy a $100 card for $80, that is a 20% savings off any purchase I make with that card. I know where I spend money regularly so I can plan ahead and get a discount. The company selling you the card guarantees the value on the card.

Major retailers, restaurants, and entertainment such as movie theaters are featured on these sites. I have gotten discounts from 2%-22%, but the typical range for me is right in the middle of that. Here is an example of what I've bought:

Safeway - 2%
Costco - 2%
Best Buy - 5%
Old Navy/Gap - 10-15%
LL Bean - 11%
Dress Barn - 22%
Gymboree - 22%
Red Lobster - 10%
Applebees - 10%

The savings can really add up!

I have also seen cards for airlines, hotels chain, fast food. Many of these are also offered as e-Cards for online purchases. The possibilities are endless. Periodically, I browse through what is available and snap up what I might need. You can also have them email you a notice if they get a card from your preferred retailer. Compare discount percentages because they can vary. Another website I use is www.cardcash.com.

Be aware that some of the cards you receive may be merchandise or store credit. Most retailers use these the same way they would an actual gift card, but some have restrictions. Know your favorite retailers' restrictions on those types of credit. A fairly safe way to spot a true gift card is those that are even numbers (i.e. $25, $50, $100, etc.).

Don't forget to use them!!

Cash Back Sites - Get Paid to Shop through Ebates

Another favorite trick for stacking savings is a cash back site. I have a few I use regularly. Different sites offer a different percentage of cash back and different methods for payment. Today is Ebates' birthday and they are offering 14% cash back at many major retailers. Now is the perfect time to give them a try.



One of my favorite things about Ebates is that they mail you a check periodically. A transfer to my Paypal account is still cash, but a physical check in hand just feels good.

Here is how cash back works. You go to the Ebates website and register. Find the retailer where you plan to shop and click on the link. Now, you will automatically get cash back for the purchase you make. It is truly that simple. It may be 2% or 5% or, today, a whopping 14%, but it's always a little extra off your purchase to add to your stacked savings.

You can also use a coupon or promo code at the site, purchase sale items, etc. I always check to see if a retailer is on a cash back site before making a purchase.

Discount Gift Cards

One of the ways to get gift cards at a discount is to watch the flyers for your grocery stores. These deals are common around Thanksgiving and Christmas, but my Safeway has them right now as a Mother's Day promo. If I buy $50 worth of participating gift cards then I will get a coupon for $10 off my next shopping trip! Essentially, I'm paying $40 for $50 worth of gift cards which is a 20% savings.

I could buy one $50 gift card or five $10 gift cards as long at they total $50.

A few things to be careful of:

• fine print - this will only be applicable to certain cards so be sure to only buy those cards
• fine print - I get one coupon per transaction (I could do 2 transactions and get 2coupons - or more!)
• don't forget to use the coupon!!! (there may also be fine print associated with this)

If it isn't great enough that you're saving 20% on these gift cards, you can also stack your savings:

• get gas rewards to reduce what you pay at the pump
• use a card that earn miles or other rewards to make the purchase

thredUP Update - New Customer Promo Code - SAVE35

If you haven't tried www.thredUP.com yet, now is the time. New customers only, use the promo SAVE35 for 35% off your first order + free shipping.

If you already have an account, use the code LADY15 until tomorrow for your first purchase from their new women's line.

thredUP Women's Line is Here!

thredUP is an online consignment store that has just expanded from childrens to womens clothing. Great buys and $15 off your first purchase!

What Goes Around Comes Around

It's true that a huge community consignment sales means money in your pocket from savings and/or selling, but you're also contributing to something much bigger. Just Between Friends in Tacoma has 600+ consignors. This is putting more money into all of their pockets; money that is supporting the well-being of their family/home and will be spent elsewhere supporting the economy and local businesses.

In turn, this means businesses can remain open, are more prosperous, busier, possible hiring more staff. Then the business owners and previously unemployed people have more money to put into the economy... And so the cycle goes....

Volunteering at the sale puts a little extra money in your pocket, but your time is also a valuable investment in this cycle. In the end, we all benefit, but I always like to believe that when you put good out into the world, you'll get more good back at you.

The economy has forced most of us to spend less, but we have already learned to spend smart and savvy. JBF is a perfect example of smart and savvy.

All About the Money $$$

There is much more to a consignment sale like Just Between Friends than money, but it's time I mentioned the cash.

Consignors earn cash! As a consignor, you have choices as to how much money you make depending on hours of volunteering, whether you tag your own items, etc. I choose to volunteer 4 hours at the sale which makes increases my commission to 70% from 65%.  I also pay a $10 flat rate to consign and tag my own items.

What did I earn? The estimate for my payout is $468.80...woo hoo!! On the JBF website, you can check each evening which of your items sold and see an estimate of your payout. I sold a total of 126 items at an average of $5 per item.

And, did my extra 5% make a difference? I calculated my payout at $66 higher because I volunteered. It sure did make a difference!

Shoppers save money! You will save money on loads of everyday things you need for your kids. Clothes, shoes, toys, games, baby furniture and gear. Don't forget the full cycle I mentioned in a previous post. Not only do you get these items at a huge discount, when you are done with them, you can resell them. This can make your full cycle of those necessities very inexpensive (or possibly free if you are very savvy about your shopping).

Picking Up After the Consignment Sale

Chances are the you will have some things that don't sell at the consignment sale. You have choices on what to do with these.

• Donate - easy! As you tag each of your items, you can indicate whether or not you would like to donate them if they don't sell. If you do that, you're all done. The volunteers at the sale will make sure they are gathered for donation and you can get a tax receipt.
• Pick up - this is easy too. I had a ghastly vision of having to search through oodles of items to find all of my things. Nope. The volunteers on clean-up have this organized very well. There will be a sign with your unique consignor number on it and all of your items will be sorted there. Be sure to bring back your bins to pack things up and bring them home. There will also be a pile of hangers and you can grab a pile for next time.

Now what? Well, get ready for the next sale of course!

The Body Shop - Hot $10 for $20 Groupon

Groupon has the The Body Shop deal on again!! Pay $10 for $20 to spend at The Body Shop in store or online.

Want to save more??? Go through Big Crumbs for cash back. If you haven't already joined Big Crumbs, check it out. If you simply access your online retailer through Big Crumbs, you earn cash back. Different retailers offer different cash back incentives and Groupon is 5.6%!!

But wait...there's more!! If you also access The Body Shop through Big Crumbs, right now they are offering 10% cash back!!! If you use Big Crumbs for your Groupon and The Body Shop purchases, you earn $1.50 cash back total.

So, if you were headed out the door to The Body Shop and I said, "Here's a $1.50 off coupon," would you use it? Of course you would! This is how you stack up the savings.


Groupon: $10 for $20 Body Shop - On Location

Volunteer Perks at the Consignment Sale

These large consignment sales are operated by volunteers. I highly recommend it! Here are some of the perks:

• More $$ - for me an additional 5% payout on the items I have for sale
• Opportunity to shop early before the sale opens to the public and before the 50% off sale
• Sneak peaks at all the goodies
• Meeting new people
• Being part of a big effort to bring value to families and recycle toys, clothes, and more

First, sign up on the website for the time and type of shift you're interested in. You can choose the length of time (typically 4 hours will earn you the minimum incentives) and the type of work (set up, break down, sale, etc.). I always try to schedule my shift to coincide with drop off, pick up, or my shopping time so it saves me from an extra trip to the event.

Here's what to expect:

• Check in when you arrive - it may not be obvious where to go, but just ask
• There may be organized teams or just informal assigned tasks
• There may be snacks/water, but I also bring something
• Dress as you would for shopping - be comfy, carry essentials in your pockets (no purse)

You are there to work, but I do take an opportunity to sneak a peek at the loot. At one large sale a team of us was assigned to inspect as many clothes as we could. It didn't matter which clothes so I picked the size I would be shopping for my daughter. Then I had an idea of items to look for when shopping the next day :) Yesterday I was asked to clean up the shoe shelves - yippee!!! I had already scored big on the shoes at the presale, but I had a chance to thoroughly go through all the rest again.

I have done several different types of shifts and tasks and always enjoyed it.

Shop, shop, shop - first dibs at the presale!

When you volunteer at a consignment sale, this earns you certain privileges. One is the opportunity to shop before the public at the presale.

Here's how it works at my JBF. After all of the consignments are dropped off, volunteers and select groups (expecting moms, military, etc.) can shop the evening prior to the public sale. You get first dibs at the best deals! Really, there are plenty of deals to go around, but this is a little extra perk.

Be ready and be comfortable, it will be busy. Here are some tips:

• Wear comfy shoes and clothes.
• Don't carry your purse.
• Have pants with pockets for your cash/credit card, phone, and keys so hands are free to grab, feel, inspect, hold, carry, etc.
• Bring reusable shopping bags, a stroller or a wagon. Many sales have Ikea bags or carts for you, but they may be in use already. You still need to get your loot to your car too.
• Bring a list and know your sizes.
• Relax and have fun!!

My daughter was mostly in need of shoes and I scored big!! I found several pairs that she can wear now or grow into and I can resell them at the same (or higher) prices when she outgrows them:

• 2 pairs of lined Crocs @ $5 each
• 2 pairs of Pediped Mary Janes - $6 & $4.50
• 1 pairs of Stride Rite sandals - $4
• 1 pair of Keens sandals $8.50

I also got several quality pieces of clothing in great condition for a great price, a book, and a jewelry organizer (shaped like a dress...so cute!!).

Consignment Sale Drop Off - What to Expect

I have already mentioned community consignment sales as a terrific option for reselling kids clothes and toys. I go to two Just Between Friends sales in my area. The first one starts today and I'm excited!

Here's how it works. First you sign up for the sale and tag your items. I've covered this in a previous post and the JBF website has awesome tutorials.

Drop your stuff off:

1. Load up your vehicle and head to the drop off. There may be carts or clothing racks available to help you bring in your things, but you may have to wait for one. Be patient and give yourself time. If you don't have time for this, sign up for their Express Drop Off.

2. Your clothing will be inspected for stains, tears, etc. If you have less than 3 rejected items, you'll be on the list to skip inspection next time.

3. Put your items out on the sales floor. All done :)

It doesn't hurt to keep your eyes open for hot deals while you're doing this. You can't shop yet, but you'll be ready!

Next step, shopping the pre-sale...

Make Your Own 50% Off Sale

Here is another example of how I stack savings everyday. This example is with Dress Barn, but the store is irrelevant. It's the steps that are important.

I often buy business attire essentials at Dress Barn. Knowing this, I bought a discounted gift card for Dress Barn for 22% off the face value so I could have it handy when I needed to shop. For a $100 gift card, I paid $78. There are many reputable websites where you can do this. Plastic Jungle is one I often use.

Yesterday, I was ready to shop!

1. I looked for a coupon code. I use a coupon blog called www.ThriftyNWMom.com. www.Retailmenot.com and www.CouponCabin.com are also favorite places to look. I found a 30% off + free shipping code!!

2. I went to a cashback site. A couple of sites I use are BigCrumbs and Ebates.

3. I used my discount gift card.

Assuming I selected $100 worth of merchandise, here is how my savings stacked:

• $100 less 30% = $70 - this is what my receipt would look like
• Amount saved with the discount gift card 22% - $15.40
• Amount saved with 7% cash back - $4.90

Total savings - $50.30 - over 50%!!!

Now, if what I bought was on sale to start with, my total savings would have been higher. Regardless, I created my very own 50% off sale!!

The keys to this were some preplanning because I had a gift card ready (this is feasible with merchants you use regularly) and I looked for a discount code. Another key to savings is control. If I had been unable to find a coupon code, it would be better to wait and watch for one. Replace that instant gratification with the excitement of scoring huge deals! YOU are in control.

Sephora Earth Day Freebie!

Obviously freebies are the best way to save $$!! Keep an eye out for hot Earth Day freebies. Here is one for Sephora. Get a free full-size Origins moisturizer, when you bring is any empty cosmetic container!

'Like' Facebook Deals? One for Old Navy Now!

More and more organizations are using Facebook to get their deals to you. Usually you just need to 'Like' them on Facebook and the deal becomes available to you. This is one source I check before a shopping trip when I'm looking for a coupon.

Here is one example: Old Navy is offering a coupon in their Reveal a Deal section for $15 off a $75 purchase. This one is in store only so you can't stack it with a cash back site, but if you're already buying on sale or clearance, the savings start to add up!

Reselling at Community Consignment Sales

There are all kinds of creative ways to resell your kids clothes and 'stuff'. Large-scale community consigment sales are becoming more and more popular (and a great way to find good deals too). Google 'kids consignment sale' to find one near you.

I go to two sales each season in my area that are Just Between Friends franchises. Usually in the Fall and Spring, there is a scheduled sale in a community center or public venue and you can sign up to be a consignor for free. Once you sign up, you use their system to create tags that identify your items and you set the price (remember you want them to sell!). The websites have excellent guidelines and video tutorials that are quick to review so you'll have an idea of what sells and how to prepare your items. You will need some minimal supplies and I recommend this tagging gun because the fine needle is less likely to cause damage.

You canvolunteer at the sale and earn a better commission. I volunteer for 4 hours and earn a 70% commission on my items. Volunteers also have the priveledge of shopping early before the main sale and discount sale!

You'll see a schedule of when to drop off your items and they do the rest. You'll be able to login to your account and see what has sold (through your bar-coded tag and wait for a check to arrive in the mail in a week or two. You can pick up the items that didn't sell (and save them for the next sale) or just let them be donated.

Don't have time for tagging? You'll earn less commission, but many sales will do the tagging for you too. Easy breezy! How much time you spend on this is really up to you.

Reselling...you have options!

If you automatically think eBay and a lot of work, think again!

For kids clothes and toys, reselling is one of the final possible steps in the cycle. I'm not familiar with anyone who makes money on their kids toys, but if you have an item that is pristine or never opened and ends up hot and hard to find, you may be in luck.

Clothing...well, for my toddler/preschool-aged girl, she has a better quality/bigger wardrobe than ever before and I likely make money on it after I resell it. I've shared one tip for buying quality at deep discounts in my stacking blog with the Gymboree example and more tips will be coming. Reselling is an essential part of the cycle. There are endless options that are quite a bit of work or nearly effortless. You have plenty of options depending on the time and payback you want:

• eBay/Amazon/other online selling
• consignment: online or brick & mortar stores, or big seasonal sales
• garage sales
• tax deductible donations
• Facebook trading pages
• Craigslist and similar sites
• the list is endless...

Look for more details on options for each of these soon!

Only Buy What You Need

This is a quick and simple reminder to only buy what you need. To make the most of all these savings tips, you need to plan and be smarter than the advertisers who are experts at trying to entice you to buy things you don't need. It's also so easy when you see a great deal to think, "Wow, that's such a great deal, I should get it!" You hadn't even thought of getting it before you saw the deal and you don't really need it. So, you didn't really save anything...that was the advertisers candy and you were the baby!

Focus, keep your eye on the prize, remember you are paying special attention to these money saving techniques to be wise and savvy and benefit you and your family.

Work it baby, work it.... store rewards!!

Wherever you prefer to shop, rewards programs are the norm these days. They are also overwhelming. It's tricky to even find your card, let alone understand the intricacies of the system.

Out of your favorite stores, pick a couple and really get to know and use their rewards programs. Later you can check out a couple of other stores to compare. Keep it simple.

Let me give you an example. When my daughter was a baby, I would not even bother to walk into a Gymboree store because there was no way I was going to pay those prices. Now, it's hard to find anything in her wardrobe that isn't Gymboree!! The reason is that I understand their rewards program, use it to buy clothes at 70-90% off, and it's got good resale value (look for reselling in a future blog).

Here is how I stack up there savings:

• Sign up for their rewards card - instore or online, it takes two minutes, you'll get rewards vouchers, coupons, and advance notice/access to sales.
• Sign up for their Visa - you'll get an extra 5% off every Gymbo purchase (*Note: only do this if you can use a credit card and pay it in full each month. Interest charges negate any savings.)
• Always use a coupon - Family Fun, Parent, Parenting magazines.
• Always shop sales and clearance.
• Gymbucks - on a quarterly basis, you can earn $25 in Gymbucks for every $50 you spend and redeem them the same way during their 10-day redemption period. (Keep those purchases as close to $50 increments as possible to maximize savings.)

Let's crunch some sample numbers. Let's say I make a purhcase that would total $175 at full retail value. BUT...I never pay retail. So watch how the savings stack up:

• Brick 1 - I shop the clearance racks and average a 60% markdown (this is doable and you can do better) - $175 now will cost me $70.
• Brick 2 - I have a Gymbo Visa - additional 5% off - $66.50
• Brick 3 - I have a 20% off coupon - $53.20
• Brick 4 - I paid $53.20 and earn $25 in Gymbucks

So far I'm at 70% savings on my purchase, but have potential for more savings. Next, during the Gymbucks Redemption period:

• Brick 1 - I shop clearance for an average of 60% off - $140 in clothes on clearance - $56
• Brick 2 - I use Gymbo Visa - additional 5% off - $53.20
• Brick 3 (coupons cannot be used with Gymbucks)
• Brick 4 - Redeem $25 Gymbucks - pay $28.20

Now, over the past three months, I have purchased $315 in clothing for $81.40. That's 75% off!!!

Later I can resell it and likely pay $0 in the total cycle or actually make money. We'll save that for a future blog post.

Remember, I am sharing an example of how I stack different savings opportunities. Many stores have their own program. All stores, including Gymboree have policies that are subject to change so pick a favorite store and get familiar with the policies. You'll likely make a mistake or two in the beginning, but the savings really do start to add up.

How to get cash back on what you buy

Cash back tip. A cash-back site is where you access an online retailer via another website and that website gives you a percentage of your purchase as cash-back. There are several I use and Big Crumbs is one of my preferred cash-back sites.... Here's how it works. If you want to buy something online, go to Big Crumbs and see if the retailer is listed with them. Then click the link to go to the retailer's website. Periodically Big Crumbs will deposit what you've collected in your Paypal account. Too easy. Here is the link:
http://www.bigcrumbs.com/crumbs/landing.do?r=telljosie&s=93891

What this is...

With the turn in the economy, we needed to be aggressive in saving money on day-to-day purchases. Way beyond couponing, through trial and error and happy accidents, I have stumbled upon multiple ways to save on everyday stuff. Friends and family have asked me to share what I do, but their eyes glaze over when I reach the second step. You have likely heard of 'stacking' coupons. This is way beyond coupons! What this is: sharing my experiences with anyone who is interested. What this is not: a daily, comprehensive analysis of every coupon and sale, or financial advice. Enjoy learning about the savvy savings subculture!