Coupon Extremes

Some might say I am a coupon extremist, but others would say I am not. I do clip coupons (that I get from online), but I only use them if it's something I would normally get or a really good deal. I would not qualify for the coupon extreme reality t.v. show series, but I don't mind getting things for free. If Kohls wants to send me a five dollar coupon good for any purchase then I am going to purchase earrings on clearance and get them for around five dollars. My mom, friends and fiance always wonders why I get some of these coupons and deals. I sign-up for mailing list and email lists of stores that I like. Sure, I might get a lot of junk mail, but I am also saving a ton. I also follow a blog called, Hip 2 Save, which points awesome deals online, free samples and coupons. It also tells you how to shop in case you want to start becoming a coupon extraordinaire.

Here's some other sites you can reference:

• Coupons.com 
• Red Plum 
• Smart Source 
• Retail Me Not 
• Ebates

Finding Races

I like to plan out when I am doing races and triathlons on my free weekends. This helps to focus my training and organize my calendar. I have two sites that I go to find races:

• Running in the USA: This site has a listing of races in every state. You can pretty much pick what weekend you want to race.

• Trifind: Running in the USA doesn't have a complete listing of triathons so I utilize Trifind to find a triathlon.

What resources do you use?

Mr. McGregor's Garden

Yesterday, I felt like Mr. McGregor in the famous Beatrix Potter Books. A rabbit had crawled under my mesh fencing and was about to attack my vegetables. I chased him out and then did a search around my house to find something to stake the bottom part of the fencing down. The only thing I could find was a can of nails that I had removed from my basement walls. I found a hammer and nailed the bottom of the fence down. My fiance happened to arrive when I was about half way through and thought it was interesting that I was hammering nails into the ground, but at least the rabbits can't get to my vegetables! Maybe next year I will build a Peregrine Falcon house at the top of my garage....

How much did I Run?

I am a runner and when I train I like to know how much mileage I am going. There are several ways to map your run without actually having mile markers on your path:

• Purchase a Garman: A Garman has a GPS that helps you track your mileage.

•  Map My Run: A site to map your runs by street levels.

• Google Maps: You can also map your mileage by figuring it out through google maps and you can even move the markers to track the exact path that you've gone.

 You can also use the old fashioned way - estimation. If you know how long it takes you to run one mile approximately, you can guess how many miles you've run by your time.

Purging

Saturday morning, I did my ritual cleaning and scrubbing. I also started purging old floppy disks that didn't have anything important on them, making piles of books that I won't pick up again to go to a classroom or resale, going through my clothes, and checking papers to see what can be thrown out or recycled. A good purge is hard to do, but important to do. A lot of people are pack rats and keep things that they won't use or need. I've known people who've kept packets upon packets of sauces from restaurants (it's fine if you use them on a regular basis but if you don't it's just taking up space), books that they won't be picked up again or clothes that they won't wear. Purging helps prevent clutter and provides more space in your home. Once you have "stuff" to get rid of you can either give it away, donate it to goodwill and get a receipt to put on your taxes (also sometimes they give you a 20% off coupon), resell it through a resale store, have a yard sale, recycle it, or throw it away. If you are a pack rat, sometimes it helps to have a friend to help you purge!



Other resources:

Decluttering: Purging House and Mind

Purging the Unnecessary

The Quickest Way to Purge & Clean a House & Get Rid of Clutter

When to Do a Group Deal

Right now there are a lot of group deal sites, Groupon, Living Social, Mamasource and more! You can even purchase group deals on Facebook. With so many groups and so many deals it gets tough to decide which ones to join and what you should buy. I usually only buy a group deal when it's a company within a reasonable driving distance, I can order online and something I know I am going to use. It's easy to get caught up in the mentality, "Oh, this is such a great deal. I need to get it." However, if you purchase too "many" good deals, you might end up spending more than you would have going to places that you don't normally go to and blowing your budget out of the water. It's better to not do anything to an extreme and keep a proper balance. I do follow Groupon and Living Social so occasionally I purchase something from them, but it's certainly not on a daily, weekly or monthly basis.

Free Orange Chicken

Do you have a Panda Express near you? Well you can get free orange chicken tonight! Go here to get the coupon!

Fresh Vegetables and Fruits

My garden is starting to spring up! Even if you don't have a green thumb, you can still try and with time (and help from a book or two or advice from a regular pro) you will be a regular gardener! Gardens are great help to save money over the summer by producing fresh vegetables that you can use as soon as their ready to pick or freeze and can for the winter months. My first garden was an apartment garden and it only produced a few cherry tomatoes, but now with a backyard I am producing raspberries, tomatoes, green beans, spinach and (hopefully cucumbers, peppers and squash). The cost of initial start-up can be pricey, but the results can save you money and taste delicious!

Extra Moola?

Everyone needs some extra money. Even with the job market the way it is there's ways to earn extra money including:

• Reselling clothing at a resale shop. I resell my clothes at Platos. They also take books, movies, and jewelry.

• Hold a Garage Sale. Garage sells are a lot of work and to help make yours work, try and get your neighbors to have one too (this will help entice customers). 

• Online Surveys. There are companies that offer money and gift cards for your opinions and experiences. Some of the ones I utilize include: Harris Polls, Erewards, and Survey Savvy.

• Sell your crafty skills. Sell your crafts on Etsy or Ebay.

• Rent a room. Rent a room in your home to someone you feel comfortable with. Make sure you do your research into laws, getting a contract for your rentee and setting up ground rules.

•  Pet Sitting. Offer to take care of someone's pets while their on vacation. 

What are some of your ideas?

Christmas Shopping, Now?

I did the December Christmas Shopping once and I hated the crowds. I usually know what my family likes so I shop the clearance racks and hold on to it for Christmas, Birthdays, and other events. The results: saving money and not being overwhelmed during the holidays! For instance I got one $140 item marked down to $30 and additional 15% off. The only downside is that you have to make sure it's something that they want because most stores have a 30-60 day return policy.

Enews Sign-ups

I get a lot of my coupons from email sign-ups. If there's a particular brand, type of food, or store that you like make sure that you sign up to get their enewsletter. You might not like getting frequent emails, but I am sure you will appreciate the savings especially on something that you really needed to get.

How to....

I found out that I really enjoy ehow. The other day I wanted to see if I could cut my own hair then I could save time and money. Sure enough I did a google search found out it on ehow and was able to cut my hair straight and save $15-$20.

How I Cut My Own Hair:

1. Get your hair wet
2. Flip it over your head and comb it out.
3. Cut it off as it's flipped over.

I heard you can also put it in a ponytail and trim off the ends.

Day Trips

With the economy like it is, many people can't afford week long vacations like they used to. My family's never really did those as I was growing up. We did day trips or adventure trips around the areas we were living. It's fun to do as a couple or with kids (or even with a group of friends). Here are some of the ideas:

• Fishing
• Hiking
• Tour local museums or exhibits (our favorite was Air Force museums)
• Go to the local Zoo
• Water Park/Amusement Park
• Drive around exploring and stopping at anything interesting
• See local sites
• Swimming at local lakes or the ocean
• Feed the geese at a park
• Have a picnic
• Canoeing/Boating
• River Tubing
• Camping
• Go to a local fair 

What are some things that you've done that is inexpensive and fun? Also check out at Amazon or your local library 1,000 Places to do or see before you Die. The book lists interesting tour sites by state that are free or inexpensive to experience. I went to a couple of places listed in the book with a friend and we ended up seeing this cute little town that looked like it belonged straight out of a history book! Go out and explore!

Finding a Job

Okay, so you're out of work. We've all been there. I've noticed among the people I know that there are a couple of fundamentals that are missing that I've learned from my parents. No matter if you're just going to pick up or drop off a resume (and especially an interview) wear business wear. Yes, business wear. I mean a shirt and tie for gentlemen and suit or nice dress top and pants for ladies. My brother walked into ask for a job application at a gas station all dressed up and right away he got the job. I've done it for restaurants and retail stores too. First impression is a key step. It shows that you are serious about the job and will be professional. Another huge step that people forget is to write a thank you card after the interview. A hand written thank you card goes a long way.

Motts anyone?

If you're a vocalpoint member, use this link to register to get a free sample from Motts for Tots product line. I've been a vocal point member for a few years now and they offer great samples and coupons. 

www.vocalpoint.com/mottsfortots

Ebates

I love Ebates! I don't shop online every often, but when I do I love a good deal. Ebates offers money back on the purchases that you make online. If you haven't signed up for it, I would do it today. http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=3vxylO%2FYQmWL61VRj8YPMg%3D%3D