Swagbucks update, part 4

I just cashed in on my next Amazon $5 gift code through Swagbucks! Man, that second 45 swagbucks accumulated WAY more quickly than the first round. I've been a member for 3 months now, and I have $10 to spend on Amazon! Pretty cool. I think I'm sold on Swagbucks!

"How to Host a Trading Party"

Recently, my friend Michelle did a great post on "How to Host a Trading Party." I love this! Trading parties are one of my new favorite things. It's a fabulous idea in times like these! A trading party has some wonderful functions:

• Spend time hanging out and getting to know some really cool people.
• Get rid of stuff you don't want.
• Get stuff you DO want.
• Have fun!

Sounds great—sign me up! After reading Michelle's post, I'm inspired. I just may be hosting one of these really soon. The women in my church hosted a clothing swap this past summer, and it was so much fun! I'm thinking I may do a book and movie swap, like Michelle's, though. I'll keep you posted!

DEAL ALERT: 20% Cash Back at OldNavy.com through Ebates (2/1-2/4)

Now through February 4, shop Old Navy through Ebates.com to receive 20% cash back on EVERYTHING! This bonus is only available through Thursday (2/4/10).

FREE pancakes at IHOP, February 23!

IHOP will be celebrating National Pancake Day on February 23, 2010, by offering one free short stack of their buttermilk pancakes (three), 7:00 AM–10:00 PM. All they ask is that you consider making a donation to the Children's Miracle Network. Make plans to stop in for your free pancakes! Find a location near you.

DEAL ALERT: Free $5 Babies "R" Us eGift Card (today only)

Courtesy of The Freebie Blogger, TODAY ONLY become a Facebook fan of Babies "R" Us and receive a FREE $5 eGift card.

Swagbucks update, part 3

I have now been a Swagbucks member since November, 2009. I've cashed in my swagbucks for one $5 Amazon gift card, thus far, and am working my way toward a second one. As of 1/20/10, I had 29 more Swagbucks, and today (1/27/10) I have 40. This second round of points has seemed to go quite a bit faster than the first round. Now, keep in mind, there are many, many, many ways to use your points, but I have personally been working toward some Amazon gift codes. It's been relatively easy to just use the Swagbucks toolbar and search engine. That's how I've earned most of my points, and it's been pretty easy. And if it earns me some $$ toward my online purchases, I'm all about it. So, I would say that my Swagbucks experience has been pretty good so far! I think I'll keep using it, for now.

"7 Rules for the Thrifting Maven"

I just stumbled across a great article called "7 Rules for the Thrifting Maven" over at Smile and Wave. It's a great read, and offers some really great tips for making the most of your trip to your local thrift store. Check it out!

DEAL ALERT: 80% off at Restaurant.com (thru Sunday, Jan. 31)

Restaurant.com is offering 80% off through this coming Sunday. Get $25 gift certificates for $2 by entering discount code "BONUS" at checkout and hit "apply." The offer ends on Sunday, January 31, 2010.

Join Ebates (or visit the site, if you're a member), and visit their page for Restaurant.com (be sure to click the "Shop now" button), and get an astronomical 15% cash back on your purchase, plus the 80% discount with the "BONUS" code!

My Latest, Greatest Deal: Winter Clearance @ Re-Kid (local Lexington, only)

It's winter clearance time for many retailers, and a savvy bargain shopper's opportunity to clean-up on some fabulous deals! And, it's an even better opportunity to take advantage of winter clearance deals at second-hand/thrift stores, too. Talk about saving some money!

I was notified late last week that our local Re-Kid consignment shops are not only having their winter clearance sales, but are also doing a winter clearance $16-fill-a-bag promotion! My inner-bargain-hunter let out a squeal of delight when I read the e-mail, and I made a goal to get there as soon as possible. The sale works like this—you go into the store and they give you a bag to fill. Whatever winter clothing you are able to fit into the bag is yours for $16! According to the e-mail, "Sale is not on any summer clothing or items that are put out year round. For example, jeans, dress pants, sport coats, rain jackets and long sleeve dress shirts. Not valid with any other promotion or offer. Top of bag must be able to touch." That's it! So, I was chomping at the bit to get over there, and I finally made it last night. They still have quite a selection, and boy did I fill my bag! My goal was to stock up on some next year's winter items for my daughter. Here's what I found:

1. next year's Christmas dress (Gymboree)
   
2. two pairs of corduroy pants (Gap)
3. one pair of corduroy overalls (Gymboree)
   
4. three sweaters (Gap, Hartstrings, and Laura Ashley)
   
5. one turtleneck onesie (Old Navy)
6. one long-sleeved t-shirt (Kid Connection)
   
7. an Old Navy zip-up fleece

I SHOULD have paid $48.90 for all of this, but since I was able to fit it all in a $16 bag, I only paid $16! That's almost 68% off . . . a discount of $32.90! That's like paying $1.60 for each item! For those who are wondering, I believe the sale ends this coming Friday, the 29th, so hurry on over.

These are my latest, greatest bargain shopping deals. Happy shopping!

DEAL ALERT: Last day for an extra 20% off sale items at Gap.com

This is the last day to get an extra 20% off sale items Gap.com. Use coupon code GAPEXTRA20 at checkout to get your discount.

Don't forget! Visit Gap through Ebates first, and get an extra 10% cash back on your purchase!

DEAL ALERT: Extra 15% off your purchase at Kohls or Kohls.com (through 1/24)

Kohls is offering an extra 15% off EVERYTHING during their Power Shopping Sale through January 24. To get the discount with your online purchase, enter coupon code  MYJAN15 at checkout. To get the discount off your in-store purchase, print your in-store shopping pass.

AND . . . don't forget to visit the Kohls Ebates store first, to get your additional 2% cash back from your purchase at Kohls.com.

Swagbucks update, part 2

Well, I've been a Swagbucks member since November 30, 2009, and I finally worked my way to 45 points and purchased a $5 Amazon gift card. I had 36 points within my first month, and it took me a bit longer to reach the 45 point mark. But, I finally made it. I'm excited to use my gift card, but I'm thinking I might save it until I have another one, so that I have $10 toward my purchase.

Right now, I already have another 29 points. So, I'm hoping the next 16 points will come a bit faster.

The way I've been earning most of my points is by using Swagbucks as my search engine of choice. Sometimes a search will earn me 1 point, but sometimes it will earn me 2 or 3 points. I've also installed the Swagbucks toolbar, which sometimes has notifications of points earning possibilites. This strategy seems to be working ok . . . especially since it results in $$ toward other purchases.

DEAL ALERT: 80% off at Restaurant.com (Ends 1/19/10)

Get 80% off at Restaurant.com right now, when you use discount code INDULGE at checkout. This offer ends Tuesday, January 19, 2010.

PLUS . . . if you're an Ebates member, visit them first and get an extra whopping 15% cash back from your Restaurant.com purchase! If you're not a member yet, join Ebates now and start saving!

Hobby Lobby specials, Jan. 11-16 + 30% off coupon!

View this week's specials at Hobby Lobby, including a 30% off printable coupon for their unfinished wood crafts. Shop their new Web site, and get FREE SHIPPING on orders of $25 or more.

DEAL ALERT: 33% off your Walgreens.com photo order of $15 or more

Use coupon code SMILE33 through Walgreens Photo and get 33% off your photo order of $15 or more! The offer ends Saturday, January 16, so hurry!

And don't forget that you can get 4% cash back from Walgreens through Ebates! If you're not a member, sign up now, and get some extra cash back with your photo purchase! Who doesn't love even MORE savings?

DEAL ALERT: 15% off at Motherhood Maternity, TOMORROW ONLY!

January 11th Only: 15% off one regularly priced item at Motherhood Maternity, use code: MHsave15.

Free breakfast at IKEA, 1/9-1/10!

Courtesy of TheFreebieBlogger.com, IKEA will be giving away a free small breakfast this coming weekend (1/9-1/10), through 11:00 AM (local time). The offer is limited to one per person. The "IKEA Sale" also ends this weekend. Click here to find a location near you!

DEAL ALERT: 80% off at Restaurant.com + $10 Restaurant.com Gift Certificate with each order

Merry Christmas!

Swagbucks update

I wanted to take a second and update you on my Swagbucks (SB) experience. I've been a member since 11/30, and I'm up to 36 SB, now. If I wanted to, I think I could earn at least 1-2 SB each day, just by searching. It's taken almost a month for me to get to this point. I don't know if that's fairly normal or not. I can't afford much from The Swag Store yet, but when I get to 45 SB, I can get a $5 Amazon card. I've been doing most of my Web searches through them, and that's how I've gotten most of my points. I think I found about 3-4 Swag Codes, which are worth Swagbucks, too.

Swagbucks really pushes referrals, but I haven't earned many SB that way. From what I've heard, that's a difficult thing for a lot of people.

So, I'm on the fence with my experience so far. It seems like it takes a while to earn SB, and when you do, they don't count for much. I guess if I save them and save them, I could probably afford more from the store, but that might take a while.

On the road again . . . Saving money on your holiday road-trip

Image source

For many of us, the holidays mean travel. We've been traveling on and around the holidays for many, many years. Last year, everyone came to us because I had just had a baby, which was nice. But, we're back on the road again this year. And I was thinking about all the ways we try and save money while we're traveling, so why not share them with you?

The single best money-saving travel secret I have is . . . if you can make your lunch before you leave (or pack lunch fixin's), you'll not only save cash, but you'll probably eat healthier, too. This CAN work for a multi-day trek, too—not just a day-trip. Just pack a cooler with all the lunch items you need. We don't always have a chance to do this, but when we do it really saves us money.

Another tip is to take your "pit-stops" at rest areas, if possible. Besides using the ol' "Hold it!" method, this saves you from running into the gas station store and walking out with munchies that you just don't need. Sure, rest areas have vending machines most of the time, but you mostly have to walk out of your way to get to them, which makes them not as convenient as . . . well, a convenience store. You'll save money, and get a chance to stretch your legs without getting too far off the freeway.

I also found several great tips for Saving Money on a Road Trip with Kids. I thought you might find them helpful, too.

Merry Christmas, and happy thrifty travels!

Holiday photo deals!

So, a friend of mine was wondering about current photo deals that are going on right now. I was responding to her and thought, Hey! Why don't I post this on my blog? Now, there's a thought.

Here are some of the current online photo deals, going on right now. . . .

Shutterfly has free shipping on orders of $50 or more with promo code SHIP50. Snapfish has 35% off thier photo books thru Dec. 15 with coupon code DEC12. Walgreen's photo is offering 25% of orders of $25 or more thru Dec. 16 with coupon code SENDCHEER. They also have 25% off photo books and calendars with coupon code SAY25. AND they're offering 25% off 4x6, 5x7, and 8x10 single or collage-style prints with code PRINTS25 thru the 19th.

Don't forget that photo gifts make great gifts for the holidays. They're sentimental, and thoughtful . . . AND cost-effective!

DEAL ALERT: Get 25 Free Holiday Songs from Amazon!

According to the Amazon MP3 site, "Every day through Christmas, we're unveiling a new holiday song available to download free for a limited time. Check back daily to see what's next." Visit this link to get your 25 FREE Christmas songs: 25 Days of Free Music from Amazon!

Swagbucks

So, I've been hearing about Swagbucks constantly, and have been a bit skeptical and hesitant to join--even though the promise is that you can earn $$ for just searching the Web through their site. I just signed up, so we'll see how it goes. I've already earned 5 Swagbucks. I don't know if that's good or bad, but I'll keep you posted to let you know how it's working for me.



I haven't been into all the after-Thanksgiving sales this year, because our Christmas is going to be pretty simple this year. But, I did take advantage of Old Navy's Black Friday $15 adult jeans, and purchased two pairs for my husband, plus one pair of khaki cargos. The total? $50, with free shipping. AND, I earned 10% cash back through Ebates! Thought that was a pretty good deal!

DEAL ALERT: 100 FREE PRINTS from Snapfish (Today only!)

DEAL ALERT: Free nursing cover from Udder Covers

NOTE: you have to pay $8.95 for shipping, but you get the Udder Cover for free, using the promo code! Makes a great gift! I'm pretty sure this deal is only for today, but I've seen them release these coupon codes here and there.

DEAL ALERT: 80% off at Restaurant.com (Ends 11/12/09)

Latest, Greatest Baby Find

My daughter is now 10-months-old. Wow, I can't believe that! Her 1st birthday is nearing very quickly, and I'm not sure I'm ready for that.

She's been in her baby-carrier car seat since birth, but we've been seeing the need to move to a convertible car seat sooner than later. So I've been keeping my eyes open to shop for the best deal—of course. What kind of bargain shopper would I be, if I didn't? We wanted to buy something new—instead of used—simply because of the warranty and expiration dates. I had looked a bit at Babies R' Us, and had saved up some coupons if we ended up purchasing one from there. However, the coupons only reduced the cost to around $130. Not great, but we were willing to pay it, if we found something we really liked.

I was keeping my eyes open on kids.woot.com, just to see what might pop up—not really expecting to see a convertible car seat. Then low and behold, one day it was there! A wonderful Evenflo Symphony convertible car seat for $99! I couldn't click the "I want one!" button fast enough. With $5 shopping, this was a steal! Did I mention that this one holds children 5–100 lbs.? And this being my first Woot.com experience, I was interested to see if things would go smoothly, which they did. The car seat shipped quickly, and I couldn't be more satisfied with it. And for around $105, I saved a good amount over buying at a chain store.

And that's my latest, greatest baby find!

Back in a week

Taking a little trip . . . will return to blogging in a week. See you then!

New money saving sites I'm following

I've recently come across a crop of new bargain-licious sites/blogs that are fascinating, and I'm now following them. I wanted to be sure and share them with you all, too.

—right now they're offering Hooter Hiders for $14.99, but the deals only last so long, so hurry on over to get one!

1saleaday.com—another site that sells only one item until it's gone (similar to Woot).

TheSimpleDollar.com—"financial talk for the rest of us," and they offer some great bargain and money-saving tips

Simplemom.net—"Live simply, stay sane. Life hacks for home managers."

The Mom's Cheat Sheet— time and cost-saving tips for moms

I've recently fallen in love with these bargain-savvy, money-saving, life-simplifying sites, so I hope you'll enjoy them too!

Giveaway! Elmo's World: All About Faces

I just saw that 5 Minutes for Giveaways is doing a really fun giveaway right now. They're offering 3 lucky people the chance to win the brand new Elmo's World: All About Faces DVD!

Elmo's World: All About Faces, brought to you by Genius Products and Sesame Workshop, features Elmo teaching children all about the three main features on our faces: eyes, nose, and mouth.

So, click on over to the 5 Minutes for Giveaways Elmo's World giveaway, and enter for your chance to win!

Get Moby Wraps baby carriers for 10% off, plus FREE SHIPPING!

If you're on Facebook or Twitter, you can get 10% off Moby Wraps through seller Amanda Dolinski. Visit the Moby Wraps Facebook fan page HERE, or follow Amanda on Twitter HERE! Contact her to place your order and mention that you are a fan on Facebook or a follower on Twitter to get your discount and free shipping!

This offer is only valid through this particular seller, and not through their Web site. However, if you interested in finding out more about Moby Wraps, visit their Web site at www.mobywrap.com, then place your order through Amanda to get your discount. These are also a great gift idea!

I hardly ever see these discounted, so this is a really good deal. I love mine! Babies R Us has started selling them on their Web site (not sure if they're in stores, yet), but they mark the price up. Save money by visiting the Moby Wraps Facebook fan page, or follow Amanda on Twitter!

DEAL ALERT: 80% off at Restaurant.com (Ends 8/31/09)

Offer ends 8/31/09.

Attention Lexington Area Bargain Shoppers . . .

I just discovered that all Re-Kid locations in the Lexington area are having their end-of-season clearance sales! I picked up a ton of stuff last night for 99¢-$1.99 a piece, and a ton of great brands. These are thrift store prices! There are some toys/gear included, but it's mostly clothes—all sizes. I don't know how long the sale is going on, but I think they just started, so stop by!

Don't miss the "Great Trade-In Event" at Babies R Us + lots of savings!

Just got a new sale flyer in the mail from Babies R Us, and had to share the news—they're having a "Great Trade-In Event" August 28–September 20 (in-store only). According to the flyer, you'll get 20% off your new car seat, stroller, travel system, high chair, play yard (pack-n-play), bassinet, or crib (from participating brands) when you bring in any of these used items from any brand! The participating brands are: Babi Italia, Baby Cache, Bertini, Britax, Chicco, Contours by Kolcraft, Cosco, Delta, Eddie Bauer, Graco, Jeep, Natures Purest by Summer Infant, Safety 1st, and Sorelle. The offer is only valid on the day of trade-in, and there is a limit of one coupon per guest.

The event is to recognize that September is National Baby Safety Month, and I think it's a great way to trade in your older equipment/gear and get a nice discount toward a newest piece! Our daughter was just born last year, so I'm bumming that we don't have anything older to trade in. So don't forget to take advantage of the opportunity—20% off is a great deal!

Plus, the flyer does not say that you can't combine the 20% off with another coupon—an additional 10% off car seats, 10% off all strollers or travel systems, 10% off all play yards or bassinets, 10% off all high chairs, 10% off any nursery furniture purchase of $299 or more! The flyer also includes a 15% off one baby item coupon. So . . . you could potentially save a lot of money!

Sure-Fire Garage Sale Hosting Success Tips

Summer is garage sale season. If you've ever hosted a garage/yard/rummage/estate sale you know that it involves sorting through closets, boxes, and storage for those things that you just don't use anymore and need to clear out. Most people either think of garage sales with fondness, or dread them and avoid them like the plague. I happen to love them! There's just nothing better than clearing out my "stuff", putting a price tag on it, chatting with customers and neighbors, and hopefully making a bit of money while enjoying the great outdoors. And for those who shop, hopefully they will find a bargain or two!

So, if you're also planning a garage sale, or are just frustrated by the lack of success you've had in the past, pay attention to these sure-fire, no-fail tips for a successful garage or yard sale.

1. Market your stuff. Big, readable, attention-grabbing signs can make all the difference! Marketing, marketing, marketing! Spend the day or two before your sale and plot out key intersections around your neighborhood—and take in a wide radius. Focus on main thoroughfares and high-traffic areas. Make your signs big and readable—if people can't read them, they won't find your sale. Remember, less is more, so don't clutter your sign with a bunch of words. Make sure your directions are simple and clear. An arrow (pointing the right direction) at each key intersection should be enough. Many people don't surf the paper for garage sale ads, so this could be the only chance to market your sale. Use attention-grabbing phrases and words, such as "HUGE", "COMMUNITY SALE" (if there are several of you in your community having simultaneous sales), "TREASURES", "OPEN EARLY," and many others. Get creative! If it's not a windy day, balloons can always help. Include the days of your sale as well. And don't forget to spread the word through Craigslist, and all your social-networking sites! This is a must!
2. Organize your stuff. If your local grocery store was organized like the typical garage sale, you would be a very frustrated shopper. Organize your stuff into "departments" (e.g. furniture, books, toys, glassware, kitchen, etc.).
3. Stage your stuff. If you're selling furniture, stage it as a space so that people can imagine it in their own home. For example, if you're selling a dining table and chairs, dress it up with place mats and place settings, or put a rug under it, and a centerpiece on top. If you're not selling your dishes, be sure to put a sign on it that says something about that. People are more apt to take a second look if it looks like something that would fit in their home, and they don't have to put a lot of imagination into it.
4. Clean your stuff. There's nothing that turns a buyer off more quickly than dirty stuff! If you're selling clothes, wash them first. If you're selling furniture, dust it! This may seem like a no-brainer, but so many people just chuck their stuff onto tables and figure the buyers will see through the dirt and grime, but that's just not true. Odds are, you'll still be stuck with your dirty stuff at the end of the day.
5. Entice customers to see your stuff. Offer bottled water, if it's a hot day. Or have your hubby grill up free hot dogs. Serve free donuts and coffee in the morning. These simple little ways to cater to customers can keep people coming. If they come for free food or drinks, odds are they will stick around and see what you're selling, which could lead to a sale! You don't have to be extravagant—you do want to come out in the black at the end of the day. Just those simple kinds of touches will keep people coming.
6. Haggle your stuff. Don't be afraid to haggle—your customers aren't. Remember, you're trying to make money and get rid of stuff here, so don't drive too hard of a bargain. Figure out what your bottom line is, and try to get a price that's near it. Your customers are coming ready to haggle, and they're trying to get a good deal. Don't sacrifice a sale just because you're being offered an unreasonable or unacceptable price, and for crying out loud . . . don't get offended if someone tries to low-ball you! It's a garage sale!! Haggling is all about going back and forth on the price, so don't get emotional over it. If you just feel like the customer is offering too low of a price and you're just not willing to go that low, then don't make the sale. But, remember that you might still be stuck with that item and no sale at the end of the day.
7. Price your stuff. This is a piggy-back off the previous point, but don't charge an unreasonable amount for what you're selling. This is a garage sale, again—let's remember that. Whatever you get for your items is better than nothing at all. Yes, you want to get a good price, but you also want to price to sell. Make your prices reasonable! People don't go to garage sales to buy your 1980's Hawaiian print shirt for $5. No! They want that shirt for much, much less, and if you plan on selling that shirt you better not charge $5. Enough said.
8. Set good hours to sell your stuff. An increasing amount of people are visiting garage sales before and after work, during the week and on Fridays. I've noticed this as a growing trend over the past few years. And a lot of people are opening their garage sales on Thursdays, too. If you want to take in the greatest amount of people at your sale, I would recommend early and later hours, so that you can hit the before and after work crowds. Open at 7:00 or 7:30 AM, and stay open until 6:00 or 6:30 PM. Sure, it's a long day, but if you make it a family affair, you can all share the load. Odds are you'll make more sales that way, anyway. There are a lot of people who schedule out their garage sale shopping days, and plan on starting early. They'll most likely hit your sale first, if you have early hours. The bottom line is that you'll have more visitors if your open early and late.
9. Make it fun to sell your stuff. For your own sanity and in an effort to make your sale fun for yourself and your family, get creative and get the whole clan involved! I have some really fun memories of garage sales as I grew up. My parents always got us donuts or something fun for breakfast on the first morning. My mom let me set out a basket of my trinkets that I offered for a nickel a piece—she got me involved in the selling, and it made it exciting for me! It was fun to see how much I had earned at the end of the day! Break out the kiddy pool for the kids, make lemonade, etc. Make it fun for the whole family, and you'll make some good memories . . . and good sales.

DEAL ALERT: 80% off at Restaurant.com (Ends 8/13/09)

High off consignment sales!

I just got back from a huge local children's consignment sale, and I'll admit it . . . I'm a bit high off the bargains I got! I wasn't shopping for any furniture or "big-ticket" items, but I did find a few things I've been wanting or needing, and I saved a TON of money! Woo-hoo! Granted, the sale started on Friday morning, and I didn't make it until Friday evening and Saturday morning. I'm sure a lot of the phenomenal bargains got snatched up right away. But, I still feel like I got pretty lucky!

Here's the breakdown:

• grocery cart cover . . . $7
• 1st LeapPad + 6 games . . . $12
• 3 Dr. Suess books (incl. Cat in the Hat) . . . $2
• Car seat rattles . . . $2
• Snugli baby carrier . . . $5
• 4 snack cups . . . $0.50
• Car seat under-mat w/ pockets . . . $2.50
• Brother Bear movie . . . $2
• Car bottle warmer . . . $3
• Fleece Hotsling . . . $5
• 12M gray hoodie . . . $2.50
• 4 18-24lb onies . . . $2.00

I work full-time, so I had to run up to the sale after work on Friday, then I hit it again this morning during their 1/2-off sale. Anything with a dot was 50% off! Most everything I purchased was 1/2-off! I think I paid under $50 for everything.

A good bargain always gets me pumped up, so I just had to share!

Welcome new advertiser . . . Destination Maternity!

I'm welcoming new advertiser Destination Maternity, which includes Motherhood Maternity & Nursingwear, as well as A Pea in the Pod, and others. This new relationship will bring you new coupons and discounts on the latest maternity wear and nursing fashions! Keep your eyes pealed on the site, for the newest offers.