I recommend everyone signing up for their favorite brand names websites.  This week I received an email from nestle with $11.00 worth of coupons in it and some fun facts and recipe ideas!  Just click HERE to go to there website and sign up!

Here's a code to get a free 3-peice Versace  Coffret set with your online order!

Enter code VDAYSETS in the promotion code box at checkout to receive a free Versace Pour Femme or Pour Homme Deluxe Sample Coffret Set on your online order with any merchandise purchase. Valid while supplies last. Not valid in retail stores, on previous purchases, or purchases of eGift certificates and gift cards. Cannot be used in conjunction with other promotion codes. Not available at Sephora inside JCPenney locations. Sephora reserves the right to end or change this promotion at any time.

Enjoy!

Best Deal Magazines Coupons

Another coupon code for this weekend that ends on Sunday at 11:59.  Just use SECRETSALE17 to get 17% off your order.

Deal of the Day:

Saturday - Woodcraft $5.39 with the code - 4.47
Sunday - Family Fun $3.89 with the code -3.23

Bath & Body Works coupons

Here's a new coupon!  If you cobine this with the current special of 7 anti bacterial soaps you'll only be paying $16!  Just click HERE.

Bath & Body Works coupons

Here's a coupon for a free anti-baterial soap with a $10 purchase!  Just click here!

Family Couponing

Now one thing that is very important in being a successful couponer is having family support.  The most important one being your spouse. And then your kids.   I’ve got the spouse down but I can’t quite get the kids to help out.  My husband helps me shop while I try to get my kids to sort and file the coupons.  Once you get organized (which I have yet to get to) it’s not that hard.  I’ve seen others who are better then me be able to do it.  But if I could just get the kids to help sort and separate the weekly inserts that would help.  I like to get around 20 papers a week.  While this may seem like a lot I didn’t start out this way. 

When I first began I only picked up 2 or 3  then after a few weeks I ventured to 5 to 10 and so on up to 20 within a 5 month period.  When there was a great sale on something and I only had a few coupons I was so bummed that I started getting more papers.  Since then I really don’t think I will have to buy any more soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant or shampoo for years.  Well that is if I don’t give it away (family, friends, and the food banks) or sell it at my garage sale.  Last year I was able to make $500 at one well publicized city garage sale event.  $100 was probably regular garage sale items the rest was from my stockpile! 

I file the coupons by weeks instead of cutting out the coupons I use.  I do this so when I see a sale I can go to a coupon data base to see what week that coupon was in the paper.  Then I cut it out put it in an envelope and off to the store I go to buy what I need.  Now if it’s something I don’t need to much of or don’t use often I will only take as many coupons as I think I might need.  If it happens to be for a free  item I will use all the coupons I can get my hands on.  If I know in advance of a sale  that will be happening I will even buy coupons off of eBay so that I can get the most out of it.  By surfing the coupon blogs and forums you can find all the combinations for great sales in your area.  I hope to add this to my blog soon.  I just have to become a little better organized. 

I'll end this with a funny spouse shopping story.  One day in the summer our Giant Eagle had a great sale on Mustard; it was 10 for $10.  I had at least 40 coupons for it, we were running low on it and I was having a large party that I would need it for.  Now while I was doing the majority of the shopping I sent my husband with his own cart to get 20 mustards and go through the line by himself.  He did do this willingly, but as he was standing in line another male customer kept looking into his cart.  Feeling very self-conscious he looked at the guy and said "I could tell you all the health benefits of using mustard, but I'd be lying"  The guy laughed and my husband said "It's a great sale and my wife is making me do this."  The guy chuckled and my husband went through the line.  He took those out to the car and came into make another run, but at a different register.  In front of him were a mom and her little boy.  When my husband parked the cart behind them the little boy kept looking at the cart and then my husband.  Finally he said "Boy mister you must really like mustard!"  Since this was a little boy my husband just laughed and said "yes", but to the mother he said "My wife made me buy them."  Now if that isn't love, what is?  LOL!

Couponing definition.

The definition of couponing as per dictionary.com is as follows:
 - Noun
1. The practice of distributing discount coupons to consumers as a form of product promotion.
2. The activity of seeking out or saving discount coupons to save money on food or household purchases.

Origin: 1950 - 55 from coupon + ing

Now the word coupon has been around have been around since 1815.

So the art of couponing is relatively new.  It’s only 60 years old!  You have to wonder why if they had coupons in the 1800’s why weren’t they couponing?  I’ll have to investigate that further.

For myself I’m part of the #2 definition.  I’m definitely seeking out those discounts and deals.  I will admit I have been a little lax.  I’m still looking at the deals but I just haven’t had the ambition to go out and get them.  I think it’s the weather, that or I feel I need to become more organized and have to use up some of my stockpile.

Currently we went from a 4 job household to a 1 job one.  Both my husband and I had 2 jobs, he a part-time and full time job and I had 2 part-time jobs.  It just was easier for me with school age kids.  Now when I’m deciding what bills to pay or how much I need to pay I don’t have to worry about the food.  We usually have enough in the freezer, we just have to be creative on how to use it.  Now if you ask my kids we have nothing to eat, no snacks, nothing to eat for dinner, nothing good to eat.  Amazingly they are not starving and we all really could loose some weight.

For our family of 5 I’m guessing I’m averaging between $100 - $200 a month on groceries, mainly  for the meats and produce.  I know some people just save the money they saved with coupons and have a set budget for groceries, but currently I just can’t afford that.  So if I don’t have a coupon and it’s not on sale I usually don’t buy it.  Of course there are those times, like everyone has had, where I just say the heck with  it because I’ve run out of time and need something desperately to finish dinner. 

So for us any extra money I make from eBay is helping us pay down the cards and the gift certificates I obtain from reward sites will help us out with gifts for birthdays & Christmas or even a night out. So for myself the #2 definition is what “couponing” is, searching out those deals wherever they may be.

Another Huggies Code

I found another Huggies Code:  BCTDHBQWLPZKPGB

If you joined you and entered in all the codes found in the previoius post, did the poll, site search and watched the videos you should have more then 100 points already!

Restaurant.com

If you saw my post regarding Restaurant.com and their 80% off deal, don't forget it ends tomorrow! Just put in the code INDULGE at the checkout.  If you checked the site out and didn't find anything you liked you might want to check it again, I just received an email from them that says they added new inventory.  I looked and they did!  Plus a few new restaurants in my area.

Amazon Deal

Here's a pretty good deal I found on Amazon.  If you are getting ready for next years Christmas dinner party, here's the Pfaltzgraff Winterberry 16-Piece Dinnerware Set, Service for 4
It's $49.05 with free shipping!

My mom likes this set and occasionally I will see if there are any good prices on the serving pieces.  I checked eBay out and the cheapest Buy It Now is $59 with shipping, there's an auction for $55. 

Dryer Balls

Has anyone else tried these?  We bought something from our local closeout store that were actually dog toys but if you compared them to the "Dryer Balls" looked, felt and appeared to be the same thing.  Now we did try them and both my husband and I felt that they did not make the clothes feel  softer, and it didn't stop that wonderful static cling.  I think it did help the larger loads dry a little faster.  I would say don't waste your money even if it is the cheaper dog toy version.

Semi Annual Clearance Sales

Yankee Candles sale will be ending tomorrow.

Bath & Body works ends today.

Both have awesome deals and I love to stock up on them during these times.

Best Deal Magazines

Here are the Magazine Deals for January 16th - January 23rd

Plus Save an Extra 18% through Monday the 18th using the code EXTRA18 at the checkout.

Sunday - Marie Claire - $4.29
Monday -  Life Extension - $3.99
Tuesday - Road & Track - $4.39
Wednesday - Everyday Food - $9.49
Thursday - Sporting News - $4.29
Friday - Seventeen - $4.29
Saturday -Men's Journal - $5.29
Sunday -Sherman's Travel - $3.89

Swagbucks

When I started this blog I decided to join Swagbucks, that was 2 weeks ago.  Since then from just downloading their toolbar, using their search and finding the bonus codes I've picked up 34 swagbucks.  This is the equivalent of $10 at Redenvelope.com or just 11 away from getting a $5 Amazon.com certificate!  Grant it that might not seem like a lot but I would definatley consider this a way to make money from nothing!  Just click on the link here or click on the icon to the right and start your own savings.

Save money on Photo's

There are so many online photo sites that offer you free photos when you sign up with them that I haven't had to pay for pictures in a while.  I just went to Snapfish and was able to get a free flip book and 50 free prints, all I had to pay was the shipping.  If you have more then 1 email address signing up for more then one account is helpfull too.  I'll put together a list of all the sites and post them for anyone interrested.

A great way to save money when going out is to purchase discounted dining gift certificates.  Many radio and TV stations participate in these types of promotions.  They usually will have a $50 gift certificate for $25. 

An online site you can purchase discounted certificates is www.restaurant.com .  They currently have a promotion where a $25 certificate can be purcahsed for $2.  Pick out the certificates you want and when you check out put in the code INDULGE for 80% off your total price!

There are a lot of ways you can make money on the internet that are legitamate.  These are not get rich quick sites and can take some time to build up some money but it's worth it in the long run. 

The first site I joined and have been a memeber of since 1997 is www.Mypoints.com.  It is a relatively simple site to do and obtain points from.  You can receive points from receiving emails, purchasing things off the web, and answereing polls.  If all you do is sign up for their emails you should be able to get a $25 gift card within a year.

I would recommend signing up for a free email account first, then you won't be bombarded with all the junk mail associated with the sign ups you'll do.  Then sign up for mypoints. 

If you send me your email I will send a referall email to you.  You can also make points from your referrals.

I know I've been very bad.  I started the blog and then life got in the way.  Sick kids, family wedding, and I had a tooth pulled!  Not fun.  I'll try and be a little bite better and more faithful just in case I actually have anyone who's interrested in what I have to say.

Coupon.com just came out with their Top 20 Frugal cities:

Couponing

One way to save money is by Couponing. I know some people just take their savings from their allotted budget and bank it at the end of the month and others who are living paycheck to paycheck just hope they have enough to cover what they need for the month. I will admit I'm the latter, but I do save a lot! Maybe I can eventually become the first type and save up for my 25th anniversary second honeymoon I would love to have!

There are many different ways to get coupons too.

• The easiest is to have family and friends save you their unused coupons.
• Another pretty easy way is printing out the online coupons, of course these are limited to 2 coupons per computer. I have 2 computers so I can usually print out 4 good coupons.
• Then there is Dumpster Diving. Where you go to the paper recycling bins at your local church or school and as your throwing your old papers in your pulling out any coupons others might have pitched. I do not recommend doing this in the rain or even right after it rains. Everything just gets too wet. I have done this on extremely Cold and Snowy days though (not this year yet). Somehow the Snow and cold is just very different then the rain.
• Some people do get together every week, month or few months and trade coupons. You know an Old Fashioned Coupon Swap. These can be fun and entertaining, however it always seems that if you are at the end of the line getting the coupon batches you usually miss out on the high value or really good coupons.
• I think the final way of obtaining coupons is by buying extra papers. There are a lot of grocery stores that sell the Sunday paper at a discount on Mondays. Of course on really great weekends you have to be at the store early because those papers will disappear.

That final statement said, I hope everyone who does buy extra papers were able to get some today.  There were SO MANY great coupons in the paper this weekend.  My favorite was the $2.50 Electrosal coupon. If you use it this week at Walgreens your final price after the Register Reward will be FREE.  Now on the average week I like to buy 15 -20 papers, today I was hopping to get 25 or 30, I only was able to buy 7!  What makes this worse is I'm almost out of my stockpiled Electrosal from last year, 7 more will only get me through a few more months.

Another Pretty Good Magazine Deal

This time it's from Amazon.  They currently have a $5 special on some Health and Fitness Magazines.  The current magazines are: Fitness, Eating Well, Yoga, Backpacker & Vegitarian Times.  Just click HERE and it will take you right to it!

Magazine Deals

Here's a site I love for getting cheap magazines, Best Deal Magazines.  If you subscribe to their email list every Sunday you receive and Email telling you what their deal of the day is for the upcoming week.  They will also send you special codes to get a discount on those very cheap magazines.  If you look at their deal prices you will realize that some of them are the same as one or two issues you might buy at a store!  Definately worth it.  These also make great Birthday and Christmas presents!

Here are the Magazine Deals for this week;

Monday - Weight Watcher  - $ 5.29
Tuesday - Sports Rider   - $ 4.29
Wednesday - Redbook   - $ 5.29
Thursday - House Beautiful  - $ 5.29
Friday - Cabela's Outfitter Journal   - $ 4.29
Saturday - Woman's Day   - $ 4.29
Sunday - Wine Enthusiast   - $ 4.29

Huggies Enjoy The Ride Codes

If you haven't done so, I would recommend signing up for Huggies Enjoy the Ride!  This is a great way to gather points you can use towards gifts for little ones or Gift Certificates for big ones.  I don't need the little one's gifts, except for 1 nephew, but I can definately use the Gift Certificates to help when I need gifts for the bigger kids and family members.  For me this is definately a way to cut down my expenses, so I can put more towards the Credit Cards.

There are many ways you can earn points without even buying the diapers or wipes:

• The EASIEST 10 points is by Registering here!
  
• Viewing videos for 2 points a piece.  If you are just registering there are 10 available videos which will give you an automatic 20 points.  Now if you really aren't into the videos, just hit the play button and do something else in another window. Come back a few minutes later and click the next one.
• Taking Very quick and simple polls for 1 point a piece.  It appears you can only do one a week but that's still a quick way of getting a point.
• Click and Earn!  They will take you to a website where you look for their link and it will give you a code to enter.  If you are going to do this today or the next day you might get the same codes I'm posting. 
• Making referrals.  It doesn't state how many points you get but once they have sent the email and the person has signed up you will get some points.  If you don't have an account yet and would like to be a referral of mine, just leave a comment with your email address and I'll have them send you their email to join.

Entering Codes: Feel free to cut and paste the codes to the site.  It also is not code sensative.

5 Point Codes -

bdhdnfbjghcmpgb                                    bsqddnxqfbbpgb
BXZWTNJFSLHCPGB                            HKNZJZGMDNKBPGB 
MLXRCCNRWKKWPGB                        pbwsmqgkclbkpgb 
PLWGFZRJNXFWPGB                           qwbzljfjlpmdpgb 
tpjngdzcqbhgpgb                                      whtzhnbdqfxkpgb 
XZRSSFHSQGFLTMN                            ZXLRKBTBBMNNPGB 
bcrxslgwcnnkpgb                                      bcstdhjxtkppgb  (Code exp 3/31)
bcwppsdllfsfpgb

1 Point Codes:

bbrgxfhmmdhgpgb                                    bcfrhsdwlpxfpgb 
bcjhphbtllkdpgb                                         bcmjggklmjkjpgb 
bcntpwxtnlxkpgb                                       bcpbbxqhphrjpgb 
BGCJJZSTLNNSPGB                               BGCSZMBLDWWDPGB 
BGDZBQLXKNNCPGB                            bdgtwxsqbjtxpgb


If you find any to not be working please leave a comment or email me so I can up date the list.  If you know of a code I haven't posted feel free to let me know too and I will update the list.

Hopefully within the next week I will try and post my credit card totals and each area that I plan on using to pay it off.  I hope to be able to use this as an extra payment and not as the actual monthly payment.  Feel free to send me your tips on your success or even your failures.  Everyone makes mistakes but the best part of mistakes are that you can use those mistakes to learn from them or help others to learn from them.  Hmmm, that being said I think that only applies to adults, anyone with a teenager knows they don't like to learn from our mistakes.  They would rather learn it the hard way!

One area I really need to get better at is refunding.  I can buy the product, cut the required part off the box and even fill out the darn form but somehow I really rarely get it in the mail.  I would greatly appreciate anyones suggestion as to how to improve this area of my money saving goal.

"I'm living so far beyond my income that we may almost be said to be living apart." ee cummings

That said I think it is the perfect start of my blogging career!  At the begining of 2009, between my husband and I, we had 4 jobs.  I had 2 part time jobs and he had a full time and part time job.  As of December 2009 we now have only his full time job.  I've been couponing for years, but only really started couponing about 2 1/2 years ago.  Between couponing and going back to different ways online to make money I am hoping I can get out of debt in a few years.  We currently owe just over $17K in credit card debt, I'm not even going to try and put in the medical bills, car loan, student loan, or mortgage we owe.  From the different blogs I've been to everyone pretty much agrees on one thing, tell someone about it and that should encourage you to be able to achieve your goal.  So here goes!