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!!!
Monday, May 27, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013
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
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
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!!
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!!
Monday, May 13, 2013
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.
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.
Saturday, May 11, 2013
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:
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)
- get gas rewards to reduce what you pay at the pump
- use a card that earn miles or other rewards to make the purchase
Thursday, May 9, 2013
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.
If you already have an account, use the code LADY15 until tomorrow for your first purchase from their new women's line.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
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!
Thursday, May 2, 2013
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.
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.
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