1. Clip those coupons in the Sunday Newspaper! Manufacturer web sites online capture information like your IP address - (your computer address) to send you COUNTLESS emails. Instead write to them direct requesting coupons- give them your address if you don't want all the emails. If you prefer to go online. Go to the Manufacturers' website direct to get online printable coupons. When you are looking through the local Sunday Paper and see a coupon for $1.00 off on a Diaper Brand Product you prefer; call your relatives, or ask local Children Day Cares to collect and save then for you. If a coupon is good for 8 months and it is a regular product you purchase - buy another Sunday Paper -You'll save in the long run. Did you know that you could save up to $160. per year by purchasing Diapers in bulk versus going to a local drugstore? Shop the club warehouses.
2. Don't eat out so much! If you are able to do this once a month that's great. It supports the local restaurants and gives Mom a well needed break. However, have you ever kept tabs on how much you spend each month eating at the fast food burger places -- you know which ones we are talking about.... the ones that give you a toy in those box lunches. One parent added up her total with a family of six and she was spending $200. per month! Average was $24. twice a week..... Even once a week... that's $100. per month or $1200. per year! If you must go out, dine at places where you have coupons for.
Eat at home and give thanks...
Grocery shopping bargains...
3. Shop Wednesday or After!Here's why. Grocery stores send out their sale promotion flier on Wednesday in the mail. This is the perfect opportunity to see what is on sale and compare to what you have coupons for. Think about it, if a tube of toothpaste is on sale for $1.50 and you have a coupon for .75 cents off, AND, it is double coupon day! You just got the toothpaste for FREE! This adds up! You can put that money towards gasoline or child care! Start a coupon pile at your local elementary school, church, or Child Day Care. Shopping tips: Eat before you go shopping. Ask a family member to watch your kids (you'll spend more shopping with kids). Like suiting up for a sport, prepare, make a list, bring your coupons. As Americans we throw out a lot of food weekly. Consider gardening. Start a compost, this is a great educational experience for young children. Plan your meals or buy frozen. Avoiding casseroles allows you to incorporate next nights dinner with previous day leftovers.
4. Collect or Post what you need Are you aware that most stroller covers are removable and you can wash them? Air dry is best. Most parents end up donating or giving old strollers away that they paid big bucks for! Go to the Day Cares in your area, tell them you are in need of a double stroller or a gently used car seat. Most parents post what they are selling or looking for. One Mom found a $200. stroller for $45. This is a huge savings! Plus, Day Cares are usually given this stuff on a regular basis and may have a surplus of it. Remember, always check for any recalls on items first. Check for broken or cracked parts. Most parts are available direct from the Manufacturer of the product for a small fee. www.consumerreports.com
Start a coupon collection.....
Your kids can help you save!
5. Your kids can help you save! One Mom gathered her children together and figured out what her 'average' electric bill was per month. She then showed her children her high bill. She explained to them that she will pay them the difference in savings for shutting off lights, T.V.'s when they leave a room from the average. For example if her average bill is $75. and she gets a bill for $55. She divides up the savings to each kid. Why not pay your children instead of the Electric Company? You could put this money in their college savings or take half to go out to dinner to celebrate. Instead of driving your kids to school each day, could you carpool with another Mom and do the same for her? Be creative! Next, instead of taking Professional Photos at a Photographers studio. Reward your children with a Pizza night or family picnic for being your top models! Let them see the photos. Mom is never in the picture or any picture for that matter, let your children be the photographers for photos of you and your husband together!
Your little photographer! Who knew!
6. Check your receipts!Did you know the majority of people don't check their receipts or weigh their fruit? When your local Grocer is scanning those items watch to be sure there are no duplications. Sometimes things are scanned accidentally more than once. Or, they put in a higher weight for fruit. Keep in mind the Cashier has been doing this all day and may inadvertently forget whether or not something was scanned because she asked you how your day was going. Also, the sale item may have not been entered yet so you may get full price charged. One Mom said she was delayed at a store because the clerk ran out to tell her that the bagger put someone else's groceries in her cart! Who paid for them? Stay alert. Make sure your coupons were applied on your receipt.
Errors add up!
What they don't tell you about Gift Cards!
7. Gift Cards - what they don't tell you. Most Gift Card companies don't tell you that they are hoping that you forget about your Gift Card and don't use it. Most have an expiration date. BE CAREFUL! Be sure to look at the expiration date of the card before you give it to the cashier to tell how much you want on the card. Make them double check to be sure the amount was applied. ALWAYS ask for a receipt showing the amount on the card. Verify the number on the card matches the number on the receipt. Companies should keep track of the cards and issue them from the register. An employee could easily hold a similar card next to the register, scan it, and hand you an empty one with the receipt. Meanwhile your card has nothing on it and you give it as a Gift! A gift to the Cashier! Make sure the card scanned is the card received by verification with the receipt received.
