Saturday, July 10, 2010
In the past week or so, daily morning shoes like Good Morning America and Today have been encouraging consumers to take advantage of sales and venture out to spend money in retail. They also mentioned that July is the best month of the year to purchase clothing, in particular. The retailers are clearancing everything out so that they can make room for back-to-school clothing, shoes and accessories.
My husband and I decided to load up the baby and put their stories to the test.
We began at Target. Target, indeed, had hundreds of items on sale. Most of their summer sandals are 50% off, many home furnishing items were clearanced, and some of their patio furniture was up to 75% off. The aisle end-caps were brimming with clearance items in all departments. I had been keeping my eye on a piece of layered canvas wall decor. The canvas is pink, cream, and teal with three small birds painted on it. The canvas retailed for $24.99. I purchased it for $6.48!
Then, on to Dillard's. My husband was interested in purchasing a new pair of black dress slacks, a pair of brown dress shoes, and a couple of button-down shirts for the office. Dillard's had excellent sales on the things we were looking to purchase, most of their shirts being 70% off. We purcashed a Roundtree & Yorke button-down dress shirt for my husband for $12.00! Although we didn't purchase any of these items, all of Dillard's luggage items were on sale for 50% off, and they have some beautiful things!
Let's try Macy's. Macy's ended up carrying every item my husband was interested in purchasing. The slacks he needed were originally $80 on sale for $40. The shoes he liked were $90 on sale for $59.99.
We were anticipating spending around $200 for everything he needed to purchase this weekend. We walked away spending around $125 for everything. Surprise!
World Market send me an email this morning enticing me with a free tote bag with every $10 purchase. Ooooh!
I guess the network morning shows are on to something! Take advantage of deep mark-downs and get started on back-to-school shopping now!
Showing posts with label Target. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Target. Show all posts
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A two-fer!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
So, I’ve told you several times before that retail stores are just itchin’ to have a sale. Any reason they can think of, and they’re going to bust out with a sale. Going through the Sunday paper reminded me of just that. Father’s Day is a perfect reason to have a sale on gifts for Dad, even if it is a stretch to see Dad in a floral apron or some designer perfume – it’s still all on sale.
I did notice, however, that a lot of apparel is on sale for men right now. Because my husband has a new job where he needs to be dressed a bit more formally than before, I am looking for ways to build his wardrobe without collapsing the bank account. JC Penney, Kohl’s and Target are all running specials on their polo shirts, dress shirts and neck ties. I purchased two polo-style shirts for my husband at Target for $6 each. Yes! The shirts I purchased were “athletic cut” shirts (designed for our broad shouldered/chested beaus) and they fit him very nicely. Their patterned, striped, and solid polos are on sale for $6, $8, and $10 each. Kohl’s and JC Penney each boasted $9.99 for their entire stock of polo-style shirts.
Although I purchased my husband’s Father’s Day gift several months ago, I was able to capitalize on specials for Father’s Day to meet other needs. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for things that you may want to tuck away for Christmas, Hanukah, or a birthday. You will save some serious cash, and all you’ll have to do is remember to wrap it when the time comes. LOVE IT!
Secondly, it is such a strange adjustment when you have been paying for only two meals at restaurants for a number of years. Our 17 month-old daughter is old enough to eat a complete child’s meal at a restaurant, and she’s never met a food she didn’t like. No…really. We are used to spending between $20 and $30 on dinner for the two of us at a medium-caliber restaurant. We are now pushing $40 each time, and we are usually a little bit blown away at the unexpected expense.
What to do about this? Patronize restaurants where kids eat free! Many restaurants, including Dickey’s Barbeque, feature KIDS EAT FREE with the purchase of an adult entrée. Occasionally they will run the special for an entire month, but this special is currently for Sundays only. Applebee’s is offering a free child’s meal with the purchase of an adult entrée on Mondays. Luby’s is currently offering the same promotion. Super Salad frequently sends significant savings through coupons, and they boast a “kids eat free” promotion as well. Having listed these, the majority of these restaurants are not places that I would readily choose if given the option of where to eat. However, if it is the difference between planning, cooking, and cleaning up after a big meal, I could be easily swayed.
Frequenting places where your children eat free could potentially save you enough money to eat out additional times in any given month. A bit of light research for promotions at your favorite dining destination is worth the work!
Now, don’t spill free food on your new polo…
So, I’ve told you several times before that retail stores are just itchin’ to have a sale. Any reason they can think of, and they’re going to bust out with a sale. Going through the Sunday paper reminded me of just that. Father’s Day is a perfect reason to have a sale on gifts for Dad, even if it is a stretch to see Dad in a floral apron or some designer perfume – it’s still all on sale.
I did notice, however, that a lot of apparel is on sale for men right now. Because my husband has a new job where he needs to be dressed a bit more formally than before, I am looking for ways to build his wardrobe without collapsing the bank account. JC Penney, Kohl’s and Target are all running specials on their polo shirts, dress shirts and neck ties. I purchased two polo-style shirts for my husband at Target for $6 each. Yes! The shirts I purchased were “athletic cut” shirts (designed for our broad shouldered/chested beaus) and they fit him very nicely. Their patterned, striped, and solid polos are on sale for $6, $8, and $10 each. Kohl’s and JC Penney each boasted $9.99 for their entire stock of polo-style shirts.
Although I purchased my husband’s Father’s Day gift several months ago, I was able to capitalize on specials for Father’s Day to meet other needs. Don’t forget to keep your eyes peeled for things that you may want to tuck away for Christmas, Hanukah, or a birthday. You will save some serious cash, and all you’ll have to do is remember to wrap it when the time comes. LOVE IT!
Secondly, it is such a strange adjustment when you have been paying for only two meals at restaurants for a number of years. Our 17 month-old daughter is old enough to eat a complete child’s meal at a restaurant, and she’s never met a food she didn’t like. No…really. We are used to spending between $20 and $30 on dinner for the two of us at a medium-caliber restaurant. We are now pushing $40 each time, and we are usually a little bit blown away at the unexpected expense.
What to do about this? Patronize restaurants where kids eat free! Many restaurants, including Dickey’s Barbeque, feature KIDS EAT FREE with the purchase of an adult entrée. Occasionally they will run the special for an entire month, but this special is currently for Sundays only. Applebee’s is offering a free child’s meal with the purchase of an adult entrée on Mondays. Luby’s is currently offering the same promotion. Super Salad frequently sends significant savings through coupons, and they boast a “kids eat free” promotion as well. Having listed these, the majority of these restaurants are not places that I would readily choose if given the option of where to eat. However, if it is the difference between planning, cooking, and cleaning up after a big meal, I could be easily swayed.
Frequenting places where your children eat free could potentially save you enough money to eat out additional times in any given month. A bit of light research for promotions at your favorite dining destination is worth the work!
Now, don’t spill free food on your new polo…
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Butt Out!
Note: This blog is a re-post from March that I thought you might find helpful!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Since I became a Mom 16 months ago, I’ve had several friends ask me if I had any helpful hints or secrets to offer up. The biggest secret that I am constantly having to restrain myself from telling people in a given store on a given day is…BUY CHEAP DIAPERS!
I have tried a LOT of styles and brands. When we were expecting, both my husband and I were Public School teachers. My school hosted a baby shower for me, and his school hosted a diaper pounding for him. Diaper pounding is just an old-fashioned way of saying that everyone participating brings the expectant parent diapers or wipes. If you are ever offered a shower, ASK FOR A DIAPER POUNDING! They are awesome! We didn’t buy a single diaper for 8 weeks and we lasted even longer than that with the wipes.
So, having said all of that, we have tried a lot of different kinds of diapers! The diapers that held the most “matter” without leaking, and stayed in place, were the Parent’s Choice at Wal-Mart. They are also significantly less expensive than their name-brand equivalents. The Up & Up brand of diapers at Target are also superior to any other diapers we have found. However, I have an issue with big, silly prints on the diapers as if my kid even cares about what her diaper has on it. Winny the Pooh?! Seriously? My kid can’t even see her butt, so the only person who gets “enjoyment” out of the pictures on her booty is me, and I don’t like seeing Eeyore poking out beneath a sheer onesie! The Parent’s Choice brand diapers have a small, gender-neutral pattern around the top of the diaper that does not seem to show through clothing. The Up & Up brand diapers have GIANT blue and green dots on the whole diaper. These dots DO show through her clothes, making Parent’s Choice my all-time favorite diaper when she was 6 pounds and now that she is 25 pounds.
Don’t let people pressure you into buying the newest, most fabulous product on the market. Stick with the Parent’s Choice or Up & Up diapers!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Since I became a Mom 16 months ago, I’ve had several friends ask me if I had any helpful hints or secrets to offer up. The biggest secret that I am constantly having to restrain myself from telling people in a given store on a given day is…BUY CHEAP DIAPERS!
I have tried a LOT of styles and brands. When we were expecting, both my husband and I were Public School teachers. My school hosted a baby shower for me, and his school hosted a diaper pounding for him. Diaper pounding is just an old-fashioned way of saying that everyone participating brings the expectant parent diapers or wipes. If you are ever offered a shower, ASK FOR A DIAPER POUNDING! They are awesome! We didn’t buy a single diaper for 8 weeks and we lasted even longer than that with the wipes.
So, having said all of that, we have tried a lot of different kinds of diapers! The diapers that held the most “matter” without leaking, and stayed in place, were the Parent’s Choice at Wal-Mart. They are also significantly less expensive than their name-brand equivalents. The Up & Up brand of diapers at Target are also superior to any other diapers we have found. However, I have an issue with big, silly prints on the diapers as if my kid even cares about what her diaper has on it. Winny the Pooh?! Seriously? My kid can’t even see her butt, so the only person who gets “enjoyment” out of the pictures on her booty is me, and I don’t like seeing Eeyore poking out beneath a sheer onesie! The Parent’s Choice brand diapers have a small, gender-neutral pattern around the top of the diaper that does not seem to show through clothing. The Up & Up brand diapers have GIANT blue and green dots on the whole diaper. These dots DO show through her clothes, making Parent’s Choice my all-time favorite diaper when she was 6 pounds and now that she is 25 pounds.
Don’t let people pressure you into buying the newest, most fabulous product on the market. Stick with the Parent’s Choice or Up & Up diapers!
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Shopping Extravaganza
Sunday, May 9, 2010
So, I’ve been waiting for this weekend for a while now. We have been spending the last 5-6 weeks eating all of the groceries in our kitchen to the best of our ability. I’ve been purchasing only foods and dry goods that we needed to finish off everything in our arsenal. When I looked in the pantry on Friday, I saw rice, Triscuits, and cereal. In the fridge – milk, condiments, grapes, and celery. The freezer: dinner rolls, popsicles, and some banana baby food. Now, don’t call CPS…I did all of this on purpose.
Before you freak – see my blog entitled “Stretching Your Meal Options” from April 1st.
Before I got to the end of the groceries and meal options, I knew that my shopping ventures would be expensive because we were out of everything: mustard, ranch, paper towel, canned goods, chicken breast, EVERYTHING. You name it, we were out of it! So I started by buttering up my husband. “Babe, we’re going to need to do the BIG PUSH this weekend and it’s gonna be ugly.” This way, he was prepared to go with me, help me, and make the whole nightmare that much easier.
However, you KNOW that when you shop with your husband, you often buy stuff that isn’t on the list; it’s just how it goes. They don’t usually do the shopping, so they see things that you never buy, and they want them! I, personally, will take the help and spend a few extra dollars.
Having said all of this, we went to four different stores in two days to complete our list. We started at Aldi – our brand new, discount grocery store to save as much money as we possibly could, and scratch as much off the list as possible. I had a detailed list, but I certainly picked things up as I saw them. After Aldi, we hit up Big Lots to get the majority of the list taken care of. They do not have a cold or frozen section, and I knew I’d need to visit Target or Wal-Mart thirdly.
Big Lots was important for one reason, mostly: Insanely low prices on sandwich bags in all sizes. A nice bonus was the canned goods, crackers, pretzels and chips, and dry goods like pasta and rice all at extremely discounted prices.
Target was third on my list – produce (only the items that I was unable to purchase at Aldi), lunch meat, and Stauffer’s Whales – found in the $1 section which beats the HECK out of the prices on Goldfish.
Wal-Mart was last, and we wanted to kill ourselves momentarily, as we were TIRED OF SHOPPING! Paper towel, frozen chicken breasts, store-brand allergy medicine, and canned tuna fish. DONE!
Now, we have purchased everything that we need except a FEW things that we only purchase in bulk at Sam’s…Purina Dog Food, Splenda, Coffee, lean ground beef, and bacon.
Stay with me – I know you’re exhausted! We were tired and cranky by the end.
Let’s break it down…
1. Aldi: $78.16
2. Big Lots: $51.39
3. Target: $36.54
4. Wal-Mart: $35.71
TOTAL: $201.80
By taking some time…and a great deal of patients…to travel to four different stores in order to complete my list and save the most money possible, I was able to stuff our pantry, freezer, and refrigerator FULL TO THE BRIM with groceries that will last us about six weeks. Of course I will be going to the store for fresh dairy, produce, and the few items that I still need from Sam’s, but I believe I truly saved a great deal of money by doing it this way.
Give my new technique a try one time, and see how much money you are saving. The savings is significant and it is such a good feeling to empty your pantry as much as possible, and then fill it, starting the whole process over again!
Happy Mother’s Day!!
So, I’ve been waiting for this weekend for a while now. We have been spending the last 5-6 weeks eating all of the groceries in our kitchen to the best of our ability. I’ve been purchasing only foods and dry goods that we needed to finish off everything in our arsenal. When I looked in the pantry on Friday, I saw rice, Triscuits, and cereal. In the fridge – milk, condiments, grapes, and celery. The freezer: dinner rolls, popsicles, and some banana baby food. Now, don’t call CPS…I did all of this on purpose.
Before you freak – see my blog entitled “Stretching Your Meal Options” from April 1st.
Before I got to the end of the groceries and meal options, I knew that my shopping ventures would be expensive because we were out of everything: mustard, ranch, paper towel, canned goods, chicken breast, EVERYTHING. You name it, we were out of it! So I started by buttering up my husband. “Babe, we’re going to need to do the BIG PUSH this weekend and it’s gonna be ugly.” This way, he was prepared to go with me, help me, and make the whole nightmare that much easier.
However, you KNOW that when you shop with your husband, you often buy stuff that isn’t on the list; it’s just how it goes. They don’t usually do the shopping, so they see things that you never buy, and they want them! I, personally, will take the help and spend a few extra dollars.
Having said all of this, we went to four different stores in two days to complete our list. We started at Aldi – our brand new, discount grocery store to save as much money as we possibly could, and scratch as much off the list as possible. I had a detailed list, but I certainly picked things up as I saw them. After Aldi, we hit up Big Lots to get the majority of the list taken care of. They do not have a cold or frozen section, and I knew I’d need to visit Target or Wal-Mart thirdly.
Big Lots was important for one reason, mostly: Insanely low prices on sandwich bags in all sizes. A nice bonus was the canned goods, crackers, pretzels and chips, and dry goods like pasta and rice all at extremely discounted prices.
Target was third on my list – produce (only the items that I was unable to purchase at Aldi), lunch meat, and Stauffer’s Whales – found in the $1 section which beats the HECK out of the prices on Goldfish.
Wal-Mart was last, and we wanted to kill ourselves momentarily, as we were TIRED OF SHOPPING! Paper towel, frozen chicken breasts, store-brand allergy medicine, and canned tuna fish. DONE!
Now, we have purchased everything that we need except a FEW things that we only purchase in bulk at Sam’s…Purina Dog Food, Splenda, Coffee, lean ground beef, and bacon.
Stay with me – I know you’re exhausted! We were tired and cranky by the end.
Let’s break it down…
1. Aldi: $78.16
2. Big Lots: $51.39
3. Target: $36.54
4. Wal-Mart: $35.71
TOTAL: $201.80
By taking some time…and a great deal of patients…to travel to four different stores in order to complete my list and save the most money possible, I was able to stuff our pantry, freezer, and refrigerator FULL TO THE BRIM with groceries that will last us about six weeks. Of course I will be going to the store for fresh dairy, produce, and the few items that I still need from Sam’s, but I believe I truly saved a great deal of money by doing it this way.
Give my new technique a try one time, and see how much money you are saving. The savings is significant and it is such a good feeling to empty your pantry as much as possible, and then fill it, starting the whole process over again!
Happy Mother’s Day!!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Just In Case...
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Just thought you might like to know:
*Sign up for World Market’s email distribution list and receive a $10 off coupon when you spend $30.
*Friday is the last day to use your Kohl’s email coupon and save 15%. You CAN use this coupon in conjunction with the $10 gift you received in the mail! They are also offering $10 Kohl’s cash when you spend $50.
*This week, Target has my favorite casual t-shirt on sale for $6 – regularly $8. They are short sleeved (not cap sleeve), scoop neck, long, shapely t-shirts. LOVE!
*Hobby Lobby is offering their traditional 40% off one regularly priced item with your printable email coupon.
*Old Navy is having their “shorts sale” this week. Women’s shorts are $15 and children’s shorts are $10.
GO GET ‘EM, TIGER!
Just thought you might like to know:
*Sign up for World Market’s email distribution list and receive a $10 off coupon when you spend $30.
*Friday is the last day to use your Kohl’s email coupon and save 15%. You CAN use this coupon in conjunction with the $10 gift you received in the mail! They are also offering $10 Kohl’s cash when you spend $50.
*This week, Target has my favorite casual t-shirt on sale for $6 – regularly $8. They are short sleeved (not cap sleeve), scoop neck, long, shapely t-shirts. LOVE!
*Hobby Lobby is offering their traditional 40% off one regularly priced item with your printable email coupon.
*Old Navy is having their “shorts sale” this week. Women’s shorts are $15 and children’s shorts are $10.
GO GET ‘EM, TIGER!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
NEVER Keep Your Opinion To Yourself!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
I really hope that you have already signed up for Kohl’s email and mailing distribution lists. They have sent me TWO postcards this week with $10 FREE! No purchase is required. I intend to spend $20 or $25 at Kohl’s next week and spend $0 or $5 of my own personal money! How delicious is that?!
I also received an interesting email from Target this week. They have introduced a new program of printable coupons via email. I viewed THIRTEEN PAGES of printable coupons, many of which I would likely take advantage of. You simply click the box within the coupons you are interested in printing, and Target.com compiles those coupons for you. You can then print ONLY the coupons you are interested in utilizing. Click HERE to see what I mean!
I am at Target at LEAST once per week, and I intend to utilize all of the savings techniques that they offer. Many of the coupons are for household and grocery items, but some of them are for items that are exclusively Target’s. For example: 10% off of patio furniture, $10 off a Kodak camera, and $5 off the ottoman of your choice. These are great deals that I am highly likely to take advantage of!
One more thing that I have begun taking advantage of is customer surveys. Many of the stores that we patronize offer discounts, or sweepstakes-like incentives as a reward for giving them feedback about your experience while shopping in their stores. Old Navy has offered 10% off your next purchase for filling out a short online survey for quite a while. Target offered me the chance to win $3,000 after taking part in a short online survey. Walgreens offered me the opportunity to be placed in a drawing for a $500 shopping spree after participating in their online survey about my experience. I have yet to win anything, but I will continue to take 5 minutes of my time to share my opinion (which is never lacking) and who knows?! I could be the next winner and so could you!
I really hope that you have already signed up for Kohl’s email and mailing distribution lists. They have sent me TWO postcards this week with $10 FREE! No purchase is required. I intend to spend $20 or $25 at Kohl’s next week and spend $0 or $5 of my own personal money! How delicious is that?!
I also received an interesting email from Target this week. They have introduced a new program of printable coupons via email. I viewed THIRTEEN PAGES of printable coupons, many of which I would likely take advantage of. You simply click the box within the coupons you are interested in printing, and Target.com compiles those coupons for you. You can then print ONLY the coupons you are interested in utilizing. Click HERE to see what I mean!
I am at Target at LEAST once per week, and I intend to utilize all of the savings techniques that they offer. Many of the coupons are for household and grocery items, but some of them are for items that are exclusively Target’s. For example: 10% off of patio furniture, $10 off a Kodak camera, and $5 off the ottoman of your choice. These are great deals that I am highly likely to take advantage of!
One more thing that I have begun taking advantage of is customer surveys. Many of the stores that we patronize offer discounts, or sweepstakes-like incentives as a reward for giving them feedback about your experience while shopping in their stores. Old Navy has offered 10% off your next purchase for filling out a short online survey for quite a while. Target offered me the chance to win $3,000 after taking part in a short online survey. Walgreens offered me the opportunity to be placed in a drawing for a $500 shopping spree after participating in their online survey about my experience. I have yet to win anything, but I will continue to take 5 minutes of my time to share my opinion (which is never lacking) and who knows?! I could be the next winner and so could you!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Fresher Produce!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Do you buy a lot of produce? I know I do! It seems like I always need to run to the store for some fresh romaine lettuce or a purple onion.
Things like carrots and onions seem to last longer in the refrigerator than grapes or tomatoes, but I have a solution that will help your produce stay fresh longer and keep you from having to throw out ripened fruits and vegetables.
Forever Bags are an As Seen On TV item, but they are available in most stores like Wal-Mart and Target. I, personally, purchase my Forever Bags at Big Lots. They are $4.00 for 16 bags ~ 8 - 9”x15” bags and 8 – 12”x17” bags.
Here’s how they work: Forever bags are made of an all-natural and environmentally friendly material. Fruits and vegetables exude ethylene gases as they ripen, and Forever Bags absorb and remove these gases, thus slowing the ripening and aging process.
The bags have proven to slow the ripening of my fruits and vegetables significantly. I am able to reuse the bags, preventing the inevitability of purchasing more bags. You will find that you can keep your fruits and vegetables fresh for a considerable amount of time, giving you the opportunity to eat them until they are gone, instead of throwing them out and buying fresh. Give them a try, Forever Bags are a great trick!
Do you buy a lot of produce? I know I do! It seems like I always need to run to the store for some fresh romaine lettuce or a purple onion.
Things like carrots and onions seem to last longer in the refrigerator than grapes or tomatoes, but I have a solution that will help your produce stay fresh longer and keep you from having to throw out ripened fruits and vegetables.
Forever Bags are an As Seen On TV item, but they are available in most stores like Wal-Mart and Target. I, personally, purchase my Forever Bags at Big Lots. They are $4.00 for 16 bags ~ 8 - 9”x15” bags and 8 – 12”x17” bags.
Here’s how they work: Forever bags are made of an all-natural and environmentally friendly material. Fruits and vegetables exude ethylene gases as they ripen, and Forever Bags absorb and remove these gases, thus slowing the ripening and aging process.
The bags have proven to slow the ripening of my fruits and vegetables significantly. I am able to reuse the bags, preventing the inevitability of purchasing more bags. You will find that you can keep your fruits and vegetables fresh for a considerable amount of time, giving you the opportunity to eat them until they are gone, instead of throwing them out and buying fresh. Give them a try, Forever Bags are a great trick!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
New clothes for everyone!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
I absolutely love to shop – I could do it every day! I am always looking for great prices on clothing for my toddler, Emily, and the rest of the family. I have found a few tricks as to how to shop smart, and keep the family from going naked or sporting those high-water pants we all know and love. I’m here to let you in on the secret!
Truth be told, it’s more common sense, but while you are busy thinking of every last detail of EVERYTHING else, you may have overlooked it.
Let’s talk about the little ones first: When you run in to Target for some milk and diapers, take a quick swing past the clearance clothing. Target is AWESOME about putting children’s clothing on clearance from 30% to 75% off. The clothes that are going on clearance, however, are usually the season that just ended. So how can you possibly buy this stuff? BUY NEXT YEAR’S! For example, Emily is a December baby. So she will be 1, 2,3 years old in the Winter. When Fall/Winter clothing goes on clearance, I purchase next year’s (don’t tell my husband!) clothing for prices that are UNREAL! When Spring/Summer clothing goes on clearance, I will buy clothing for next year as well. This saves you money, but also keeps you from the panic that you feel when you dress them in those jeans that fit last week, and are now cropped. Oops!
Before doing this, try to “look into your crystal ball” and determine if your child is true-to-size or if they are deliciously chubby or more petite. This will help you buy clothing that will actually fit them when the time comes.
Now for the big kids: The good news is…the same concept applies for you and your husband (or wife.) The bad news is…I am a little bit more hesitant to purchase things and then find that they are too small (or too big) by the time I’m ready to wear them. This isn’t a savings OR a self-esteem booster! If you remain constant in your sizing, you have no worries.
This is also something that you can apply to your life if you are planning to have a baby, as well. Kohl’s and Target are wonderful about putting their maternity clothing on clearance for prices that are too good to pass up. I was VERY pregnant in the winter, so I have mostly warm maternity clothing. If I were to have a summer or fall baby next time, I will need some things that coordinate with the season.
Keep these things in mind as you do your shopping. Keep your eyes out for things that are staples, or stuff that is just too cute to pass up. You are sure to save money and pick up some amazing deals at the same time!
Please visit Lindsay Walker's Piano and Voice Studio!
I absolutely love to shop – I could do it every day! I am always looking for great prices on clothing for my toddler, Emily, and the rest of the family. I have found a few tricks as to how to shop smart, and keep the family from going naked or sporting those high-water pants we all know and love. I’m here to let you in on the secret!
Truth be told, it’s more common sense, but while you are busy thinking of every last detail of EVERYTHING else, you may have overlooked it.
Let’s talk about the little ones first: When you run in to Target for some milk and diapers, take a quick swing past the clearance clothing. Target is AWESOME about putting children’s clothing on clearance from 30% to 75% off. The clothes that are going on clearance, however, are usually the season that just ended. So how can you possibly buy this stuff? BUY NEXT YEAR’S! For example, Emily is a December baby. So she will be 1, 2,3 years old in the Winter. When Fall/Winter clothing goes on clearance, I purchase next year’s (don’t tell my husband!) clothing for prices that are UNREAL! When Spring/Summer clothing goes on clearance, I will buy clothing for next year as well. This saves you money, but also keeps you from the panic that you feel when you dress them in those jeans that fit last week, and are now cropped. Oops!
Before doing this, try to “look into your crystal ball” and determine if your child is true-to-size or if they are deliciously chubby or more petite. This will help you buy clothing that will actually fit them when the time comes.
Now for the big kids: The good news is…the same concept applies for you and your husband (or wife.) The bad news is…I am a little bit more hesitant to purchase things and then find that they are too small (or too big) by the time I’m ready to wear them. This isn’t a savings OR a self-esteem booster! If you remain constant in your sizing, you have no worries.
This is also something that you can apply to your life if you are planning to have a baby, as well. Kohl’s and Target are wonderful about putting their maternity clothing on clearance for prices that are too good to pass up. I was VERY pregnant in the winter, so I have mostly warm maternity clothing. If I were to have a summer or fall baby next time, I will need some things that coordinate with the season.
Keep these things in mind as you do your shopping. Keep your eyes out for things that are staples, or stuff that is just too cute to pass up. You are sure to save money and pick up some amazing deals at the same time!
Please visit Lindsay Walker's Piano and Voice Studio!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Holiday Savings
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
I know we are a few days past St. Patrick’s Day, but Easter will be here before you know it!
Post Holiday sales are great ways to save money on things you are interested in buying. The day after a holiday is the best day to purchase items while retailers still have the “good stuff” – everyone knows that. Well, did you know that they often package regular merchandise in holiday wrapping, thus having to clearance these items out? Heck yeah!
You don’t care if your M&M’s are pastel, or Easter colors, do you? Do you care if your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup is in the shape of an egg? ME NEITHER! Does it bug you that your chapstick wrapper has a little bunny on it? I didn’t think so!
In the next couple of weeks, look beyond the candy and artificial grass for things that you would regularly buy. If it has an Easter package, odds are that it is on clearance.
The best examples of this are from after-Christmas shopping. Target, for example, packages many items that they carry in holiday boxes and bags to help entice people into buying them as gifts. Once Christmas is over, these items are immediately clearanced-out and you purchase regular, everyday items at 50% or even 75% off! Once you open the package, the product is no longer a “holiday item”!
Another great way to save money and relieve yourself of holiday pressures is to purchase things that you will need next year while they are on clearance from this year. I have already purchased several items for my toddler for Christmas, and I intend to do the same for next year’s Easter. If you have the space, pick up next year’s egg-dying kit or a few Easter basket “ingredients” for next year, based on the age(s) of your child(ren). This is a fabulous way to save a ton of money and you will be SO happy with yourself when you go shopping for special occasions, birthdays or holidays and you already have a SERIOUS head start. This takes the pressure off of the holiday hustle and bustle, and off of your wallet as well. Spread the burden out over several months and you’d be amazed how much less stressful it can be.
Visit Lindsay Walker’s Piano and Voice Studio. You KNOW you want to!
I know we are a few days past St. Patrick’s Day, but Easter will be here before you know it!
Post Holiday sales are great ways to save money on things you are interested in buying. The day after a holiday is the best day to purchase items while retailers still have the “good stuff” – everyone knows that. Well, did you know that they often package regular merchandise in holiday wrapping, thus having to clearance these items out? Heck yeah!
You don’t care if your M&M’s are pastel, or Easter colors, do you? Do you care if your Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup is in the shape of an egg? ME NEITHER! Does it bug you that your chapstick wrapper has a little bunny on it? I didn’t think so!
In the next couple of weeks, look beyond the candy and artificial grass for things that you would regularly buy. If it has an Easter package, odds are that it is on clearance.
The best examples of this are from after-Christmas shopping. Target, for example, packages many items that they carry in holiday boxes and bags to help entice people into buying them as gifts. Once Christmas is over, these items are immediately clearanced-out and you purchase regular, everyday items at 50% or even 75% off! Once you open the package, the product is no longer a “holiday item”!
Another great way to save money and relieve yourself of holiday pressures is to purchase things that you will need next year while they are on clearance from this year. I have already purchased several items for my toddler for Christmas, and I intend to do the same for next year’s Easter. If you have the space, pick up next year’s egg-dying kit or a few Easter basket “ingredients” for next year, based on the age(s) of your child(ren). This is a fabulous way to save a ton of money and you will be SO happy with yourself when you go shopping for special occasions, birthdays or holidays and you already have a SERIOUS head start. This takes the pressure off of the holiday hustle and bustle, and off of your wallet as well. Spread the burden out over several months and you’d be amazed how much less stressful it can be.
Visit Lindsay Walker’s Piano and Voice Studio. You KNOW you want to!
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Money-saving Tricks
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Good morning! Today’s blog is a hodge podge of just a few things that I have been doing lately to save myself money, and make my days easier.
When I start my day, I pack my husband’s lunch and I like to have SOME idea of what the dinner plan is. If something needs to be thawed or marinated, I start that process in the morning. With the use of PARCHMENT PAPER, I can make my dinner duties much easier. I bake fish, chicken, vegetables, cookies and oven fries on parchment paper. The greatest thing about parchment paper is that it is easy to tear, non-stick, and once you are finished baking on it, you toss it in the garbage and your dishes are done! The cookie sheet stays clean! Parchment paper is oven and microwave safe and makes my life SO much easier. I haven’t discovered a store-brand of parchment paper, but Reynolds makes a great product. It usually runs about $3 for a roll and the roll will last you quite a while. If you are going to check out the 99 Cents Only Store (see my blog from Monday, March 15th) I found my parchment paper for $.99 for 8 – 15in x 12in sheets! You will love how easy doing the dishes becomes when you use parchment paper.
I noticed that there were two things that we were purchasing regularly, that I could make myself and save a significant amount of money doing so.
The first of these items is pudding. I was putting a cup of pudding in my husband’s lunch every day, and Emily and I would share a cup of pudding on occasion. These packs of ready-to-serve pudding can run anywhere from $1.00 for (4) to $3.00 for (6). When those packages will only last you one week, you find yourself buying pudding every time you run to the store! So, I decided to buy store-brand instant pudding mixes, and make the pudding myself. You can either 1.) buy some tiny containers – I found mine at Target for $1.00 for a package of 9 or 2.) save baby food jars (glass or plastic) to be refilled with pudding. All you need is 2 cups of milk, and the package of pudding mix which runs less than $1.00.
Pay close attention to when your milk will expire, because the pudding will expire when the milk expires! I have found that I can make more pudding for significantly less money if I do the work myself. I can also control whether we are eating sugary or sugar-free pudding, and what kind of milk goes into the pudding to reduce the calories that are in each serving.
The second item that I have chosen to make myself is Gatorade. During the summer with yard work, softball, swimming, and playing, we seem to go through a lot of Gatorade! We usually purchase the largest bottle of Gatorade (one gallon) at Wal-Mart for around $4.00. When I began staying home full-time, we talked about cutting back on expenses such as this. I did a little price-comparing while I was shopping one day, and realized that I could keep the gallon bottle that I had purchased last time, and refill it with water and powdered Gatorade! A can of powdered Gatorade runs about $6.00 and makes about six gallons. So, I could have purchased six pre-made gallons of Gatorade for $24.00 or make my own Gatorade for $6.00. The powdered stuff tastes exactly the same and saves us a TON of money!
I’m sure that we do many things like this as we move through daily life. These are just a few of the most money-saving tricks that I implement on a weekly basis. This blog is not intended to get you thinking about pudding or Gatorade. It is designed to get you thinking about the things that YOU buy and how to save money on them!
Good morning! Today’s blog is a hodge podge of just a few things that I have been doing lately to save myself money, and make my days easier.
When I start my day, I pack my husband’s lunch and I like to have SOME idea of what the dinner plan is. If something needs to be thawed or marinated, I start that process in the morning. With the use of PARCHMENT PAPER, I can make my dinner duties much easier. I bake fish, chicken, vegetables, cookies and oven fries on parchment paper. The greatest thing about parchment paper is that it is easy to tear, non-stick, and once you are finished baking on it, you toss it in the garbage and your dishes are done! The cookie sheet stays clean! Parchment paper is oven and microwave safe and makes my life SO much easier. I haven’t discovered a store-brand of parchment paper, but Reynolds makes a great product. It usually runs about $3 for a roll and the roll will last you quite a while. If you are going to check out the 99 Cents Only Store (see my blog from Monday, March 15th) I found my parchment paper for $.99 for 8 – 15in x 12in sheets! You will love how easy doing the dishes becomes when you use parchment paper.
I noticed that there were two things that we were purchasing regularly, that I could make myself and save a significant amount of money doing so.
The first of these items is pudding. I was putting a cup of pudding in my husband’s lunch every day, and Emily and I would share a cup of pudding on occasion. These packs of ready-to-serve pudding can run anywhere from $1.00 for (4) to $3.00 for (6). When those packages will only last you one week, you find yourself buying pudding every time you run to the store! So, I decided to buy store-brand instant pudding mixes, and make the pudding myself. You can either 1.) buy some tiny containers – I found mine at Target for $1.00 for a package of 9 or 2.) save baby food jars (glass or plastic) to be refilled with pudding. All you need is 2 cups of milk, and the package of pudding mix which runs less than $1.00.
Pay close attention to when your milk will expire, because the pudding will expire when the milk expires! I have found that I can make more pudding for significantly less money if I do the work myself. I can also control whether we are eating sugary or sugar-free pudding, and what kind of milk goes into the pudding to reduce the calories that are in each serving.
The second item that I have chosen to make myself is Gatorade. During the summer with yard work, softball, swimming, and playing, we seem to go through a lot of Gatorade! We usually purchase the largest bottle of Gatorade (one gallon) at Wal-Mart for around $4.00. When I began staying home full-time, we talked about cutting back on expenses such as this. I did a little price-comparing while I was shopping one day, and realized that I could keep the gallon bottle that I had purchased last time, and refill it with water and powdered Gatorade! A can of powdered Gatorade runs about $6.00 and makes about six gallons. So, I could have purchased six pre-made gallons of Gatorade for $24.00 or make my own Gatorade for $6.00. The powdered stuff tastes exactly the same and saves us a TON of money!
I’m sure that we do many things like this as we move through daily life. These are just a few of the most money-saving tricks that I implement on a weekly basis. This blog is not intended to get you thinking about pudding or Gatorade. It is designed to get you thinking about the things that YOU buy and how to save money on them!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Auctions!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Today’s blog is about something that I am only semi-familiar with, but I’d love to become an expert.
Let’s back up. I have very gracious friends who are often complimentary of my home’s furnishings and decorations. As I look around, I see NOTHING in my home that I have paid full price for. Of course, I have received beautiful gifts and lovely gestures and I have no idea what they cost. However, I DO know that I own nothing that didn’t come from Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, Target, Wal-Mart, Goodwill, The Salvation Army Store, or garage sales.
Having said all of this, I exclusively shop these discount venues and have made a beautiful home in the process.
I would like to try something new to add to my “shopping rounds”. I would like to try an auction. I received an e-mail from my Dad regarding auctions that storage companies have when their customers leave their belongings behind. Securlock Storage Center has set up an email notification system that allows members to receive emails about up-coming auctions that they will be holding. How fun and swanky does THAT sound?! I’d love to try it and I’ll definitely blog about my experience when I attend the auction. I will be very disappointed if I find that they are not auctioning off pre-owned merchandise for fair prices, given the situation. They explicitly state, on their home page, that they are able to hold auctions to free up more storage spaces in their facilities, and offer the public great deals on previously owned items.
Exciting! Who wants to go with me?!
Visit Lindsay Walker’s Piano and Voice Studio. You KNOW you want to!
Today’s blog is about something that I am only semi-familiar with, but I’d love to become an expert.
Let’s back up. I have very gracious friends who are often complimentary of my home’s furnishings and decorations. As I look around, I see NOTHING in my home that I have paid full price for. Of course, I have received beautiful gifts and lovely gestures and I have no idea what they cost. However, I DO know that I own nothing that didn’t come from Hobby Lobby, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, Ross, Target, Wal-Mart, Goodwill, The Salvation Army Store, or garage sales.
Having said all of this, I exclusively shop these discount venues and have made a beautiful home in the process.
I would like to try something new to add to my “shopping rounds”. I would like to try an auction. I received an e-mail from my Dad regarding auctions that storage companies have when their customers leave their belongings behind. Securlock Storage Center has set up an email notification system that allows members to receive emails about up-coming auctions that they will be holding. How fun and swanky does THAT sound?! I’d love to try it and I’ll definitely blog about my experience when I attend the auction. I will be very disappointed if I find that they are not auctioning off pre-owned merchandise for fair prices, given the situation. They explicitly state, on their home page, that they are able to hold auctions to free up more storage spaces in their facilities, and offer the public great deals on previously owned items.
Exciting! Who wants to go with me?!
Visit Lindsay Walker’s Piano and Voice Studio. You KNOW you want to!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Diapers!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Since I became a Mom 14 months ago, I’ve had several friends ask me if I had any helpful hints or secrets to offer up. The biggest secret that I am constantly having to restrain myself from telling people in a given store on a given day is…BUY CHEAP DIAPERS! I have tried a LOT of styles and brands. When we were expecting, both my husband and I were Public School teachers. My school hosted a baby shower for me, and his school hosted a diaper pounding for him. Diaper pounding is just an old-fashioned way of saying that everyone participating brings the expectant parent diapers or wipes. If you are ever offered a shower, ASK FOR A DIAPER POUNDING! They are awesome! We didn’t buy a single diaper for 8 weeks and we lasted even longer than that with the wipes. So, having said all of that, we have tried a lot of different kinds of diapers! The diapers that held the most “matter” without leaking, and stayed in place were the Parent’s Choice at Wal-Mart. They are also significantly less expensive than their name-brand equivalents. The Up & Up brand of diapers at Target are also superior to any other diapers we have found. However, I have an issue with big, silly prints on the diapers as if my kid even cares about what her diaper has on it. Winny the Pooh?! Seriously? My kid can’t even see her butt, so the only person who gets “enjoyment” out of the pictures on her booty is me, and I don’t like seeing Eeyore poking out beneath a sheer onesie! The Parent’s Choice brand diapers have a small, gender-neutral pattern around the top of the diaper that does not seem to show through clothing. The Up & Up brand diapers have GIANT blue and green dots on the whole diaper. These dots DO show through her clothes, making Parent’s Choice my all-time favorite diaper when she was 6 pounds and now that she is 25 pounds. Don’t let people pressure you into buying the newest, most fabulous product on the market. Stick with the Parent’s Choice or Up & Up diapers!
Since I became a Mom 14 months ago, I’ve had several friends ask me if I had any helpful hints or secrets to offer up. The biggest secret that I am constantly having to restrain myself from telling people in a given store on a given day is…BUY CHEAP DIAPERS! I have tried a LOT of styles and brands. When we were expecting, both my husband and I were Public School teachers. My school hosted a baby shower for me, and his school hosted a diaper pounding for him. Diaper pounding is just an old-fashioned way of saying that everyone participating brings the expectant parent diapers or wipes. If you are ever offered a shower, ASK FOR A DIAPER POUNDING! They are awesome! We didn’t buy a single diaper for 8 weeks and we lasted even longer than that with the wipes. So, having said all of that, we have tried a lot of different kinds of diapers! The diapers that held the most “matter” without leaking, and stayed in place were the Parent’s Choice at Wal-Mart. They are also significantly less expensive than their name-brand equivalents. The Up & Up brand of diapers at Target are also superior to any other diapers we have found. However, I have an issue with big, silly prints on the diapers as if my kid even cares about what her diaper has on it. Winny the Pooh?! Seriously? My kid can’t even see her butt, so the only person who gets “enjoyment” out of the pictures on her booty is me, and I don’t like seeing Eeyore poking out beneath a sheer onesie! The Parent’s Choice brand diapers have a small, gender-neutral pattern around the top of the diaper that does not seem to show through clothing. The Up & Up brand diapers have GIANT blue and green dots on the whole diaper. These dots DO show through her clothes, making Parent’s Choice my all-time favorite diaper when she was 6 pounds and now that she is 25 pounds. Don’t let people pressure you into buying the newest, most fabulous product on the market. Stick with the Parent’s Choice or Up & Up diapers!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Baby Necessities
Thursday, February, 24, 2010
I think I’ll kick things off with the things that I have found most helpful in my adventures as a first time Mom. As we all know, EVERYONE wants to share their war stories and must-haves when you are expecting. This is a practical account of the things that have saved my butt on numerous occasions. Of course, everyone wants to talk about the most fabulous cradle and bouncy seat. Well, Emily would sleep in a pile of dirt if I’d let her. So, let’s not worry with the obvious stuff. Everyone’s going to buy a play yard and a crib. So, what do you ACTUALLY need? A cart cover! That thing is so amazing, I’m not even kidding. My cart cover is a Kozypal and it is AMAZING. You can purchase them from retailers like Target for around $25. I checked in with Melissa at Kozypal for a few weeks and found that she was having a fabulous sale. I got my $62 cart cover for $35! The small compartments that the cover has, the loops for hanging keys or toys, and the easy elastic ties make my cart cover my favorite baby product thus far. I use my cart cover nearly every day and I highly recommend them if your child is anything like mine – chewing the metal on any cart she can wrap her teeth around!
My second favorite baby product has to be my sling. They are available in much more fun colors and patterns than they have been in the past, and they come in very handy when you have a newborn/infant. I never quite mastered the “vacuum with ease” aspect, but I still love my sling! It offers hands-free shopping and your baby can sleep nestled close to you, or ride around on your hip while your hands are both free. My sling is a product of Babies ‘R Us and ran around $40. I found that I could more easily slide into my sling than I could maneuver my front-to-back carrier.
My third and final favorite baby item is definitely a gadget. As my husband and I registered for our baby shower, we were incredibly overwhelmed with all of the things on the market for babies. What on EARTH do we truly need amidst all of these things? Of course, you want to have the coolest new items, and my favorite find in the gadget department would have to be the Boon Squirt Baby Food Dispensing Spoon. They can be found at both Target and Babies ‘R Us for around $7. The spoon holds more than one 4oz. container of baby food, and as you gently squeeze the bulb, baby food fills the spoon and you can 1. feed your baby one-handed, and 2. avoid a huge mess. I found this item to be PERFECT for shopping trips because I could load the spoon prior to leaving the house. Emily was surprisingly less messy when we used the “Boon Spoon” because I could control messes with my left hand while continuously feeding her with my right hand. A dream come true!
I think I’ll kick things off with the things that I have found most helpful in my adventures as a first time Mom. As we all know, EVERYONE wants to share their war stories and must-haves when you are expecting. This is a practical account of the things that have saved my butt on numerous occasions. Of course, everyone wants to talk about the most fabulous cradle and bouncy seat. Well, Emily would sleep in a pile of dirt if I’d let her. So, let’s not worry with the obvious stuff. Everyone’s going to buy a play yard and a crib. So, what do you ACTUALLY need? A cart cover! That thing is so amazing, I’m not even kidding. My cart cover is a Kozypal and it is AMAZING. You can purchase them from retailers like Target for around $25. I checked in with Melissa at Kozypal for a few weeks and found that she was having a fabulous sale. I got my $62 cart cover for $35! The small compartments that the cover has, the loops for hanging keys or toys, and the easy elastic ties make my cart cover my favorite baby product thus far. I use my cart cover nearly every day and I highly recommend them if your child is anything like mine – chewing the metal on any cart she can wrap her teeth around!
My second favorite baby product has to be my sling. They are available in much more fun colors and patterns than they have been in the past, and they come in very handy when you have a newborn/infant. I never quite mastered the “vacuum with ease” aspect, but I still love my sling! It offers hands-free shopping and your baby can sleep nestled close to you, or ride around on your hip while your hands are both free. My sling is a product of Babies ‘R Us and ran around $40. I found that I could more easily slide into my sling than I could maneuver my front-to-back carrier.
My third and final favorite baby item is definitely a gadget. As my husband and I registered for our baby shower, we were incredibly overwhelmed with all of the things on the market for babies. What on EARTH do we truly need amidst all of these things? Of course, you want to have the coolest new items, and my favorite find in the gadget department would have to be the Boon Squirt Baby Food Dispensing Spoon. They can be found at both Target and Babies ‘R Us for around $7. The spoon holds more than one 4oz. container of baby food, and as you gently squeeze the bulb, baby food fills the spoon and you can 1. feed your baby one-handed, and 2. avoid a huge mess. I found this item to be PERFECT for shopping trips because I could load the spoon prior to leaving the house. Emily was surprisingly less messy when we used the “Boon Spoon” because I could control messes with my left hand while continuously feeding her with my right hand. A dream come true!
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