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.