Shopping Online to Save Money

There are a few stores I love to shop at. I don’t always have time to go to the mall, and shop. I rely heavily on shopping online. It is more convenient when you are a mom.  Two of the stores I love to shop at are Bath and Bodyworks and Victoria’s Secret.  Noah has classified these as girl stores and doesn’t like to go in either. I normally don’t take him in to Victoria’s Secret because it is an underwear store.  I do like for him to go to Bath and Bodyworks with me.  I like his opinion when I am purchasing hand soap because he uses it too.  I love to use coupons and coupon codes when I shop online. Every penny counts in my opinion. 

Bath and Bodyworks has semi-annual sales, which are great. They usually bring back some of the scents that are retired. When you are like me and most of your favorite scents are older it can be harder to find in stores, except during their semi-annual sales. Even then, you run in to not being able to find the scents you love. My most favorite scent is Pearberry, I wasn’t able to find it in stores this time. I know they have it online because I went back and forth trying to decide if I wanted to go to the store or order online.  I ended up getting Juniper Breeze, which I also really like. If I would have purchased online I would have been able to get both.

It’s really important to use coupon codes to save money. Even if it is a small savings it adds up. It’s funny because when I know my family or friends are shopping online, I always encourage them to use coupon codes.  It is worth the minute or two that it takes you to search for them.  When my mom and I would go grocery shopping when they had amazing coupon sales we used to pretend what we saved was what we earned on the trip, so if you think of online shopping the same way, it will be more of an incentive to take the time and use one. Some places like Victoria’s Secret you can stack coupons too, for extra savings or even a free gift.

LuckyDiem Combines Thrill of Slot Machines With Instant Rewards

One of the many things I inherited from my Grandma Rose is my love to play slot machines. When she visited my aunt and uncle in California, they always went to Reno. It partly was the place where they went shopping since they lived in the mountains in a town with a population of 37 and because Reno is fun.   My Grandma Rose liked to play the nickel slots and if you knew her it was funny because she didn’t seem like a gambling woman.  I found a brand new website called LuckyDiem and they have a really cool new game where you can win dELiA*s gift cards. Who doesn’t love cute clothes?  I know I love to save money so LuckyDiem is a win- win for me.  Here are some more details on the promotion:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LuckyDiem Combines Thrill of Slot Machines With Instant Rewards

Facebook Social Game partners with dELiA*s for launch 

New York, NY, October 17, 2012 -- Earlier this month, LuckyDiem launched its new Vegas-style game that combines the thrill of pulling the lever on a slot machine with the joy of saving money and getting a chance to win shopping sprees and other prizes. LuckyDiem’s launch partner is clothing retailer dELiA*s; other partners will follow in the coming weeks. Prizes include discounts, $1,500 worth of dELiA*s gift cards, and $200 worth of Amazon gift cards.

LuckyDiem.com serves up 10,000 points and 10 free spins to each new player, who can easily register by logging in through Facebook. With a click on the “Spin” button, players get to see what they’ve won. Basic prizes during the dELiA*s campaign include coupons that offer $5, $10, and $15 off purchases at delias.com.

 

Players can instantly increase their rewards by simply answering a single pop culture trivia question correctly.  Savings continue when players either signup or share their success on Facebook and Twitter, earning as much as 40% off their entire dELiA*s purchase.  However, when a player’s initial number of points for spins runs out, that’s when the rest of the game really starts to heat up. Players earn points through a variety of actions such as answering more trivia questions and sharing with friends. And players who share photos of their dELiA*s purchases on LuckyDiem’s Facebook page can collect 200,000 points.

Grand prizes during the dELiA*s campaign include $1,500 in gift certificates (one $1,000 gift certificate and ten $50 gift certificates), which are instantly won by users playing the game. In addition, $200 worth of Amazon gift cards will be given to the top players on the leader board at 7:00 PM Eastern time on Thursday, October 25.

Grand prizes planned for LuckyDiem campaigns with future partners include trips to the Super Bowl and backstage passes to concerts.

“LuckyDiem makes consumers feel like every day is their lucky day,” said LuckyDiem CEO Andrew Landis. “With 87% of 10 - 65 years-olds playing games online today, it’s imperative that advertisers integrate social gaming into their overall marketing strategy. Our turnkey platform is a launching-off point for brands to engage with consumers, but most importantly, LuckyDiem extends that initial engagement and sustains the emotional connection between the consumer and brand in a way that’s never been done before.”

“Instead of pushing the message out to the consumer, LuckyDiem’s users are happily engaging with brands through gameplay and rewards,”  Landis added. “We have several partners lined up to keep the excitement at a fever pitch year-round.”

About LuckyDiem:

LuckyDiem was founded with one goal in mind: to make earning rewards more fun. All consumers want to get discounts when they shop online, but most money-saving promotions involve filling out forms and waiting. Boring. LuckyDiem combines the visceral excitement of Vegas slot machines with the thrill of immediate savings and the enticement that big prizes could be just a click away. LuckyDiem launched in October 2012 with an initial campaign conducted with dELiA*s.

I hope you sign up for LuckyDiem and win big! Let me know if you are a lucky winner!

Shopping With Printable Coupons

I am sure you guys know how much I love to save money and use coupons. I do a lot of online shopping especially when I am shopping for my brother in law who loves camping. Camping stuff is so expensive so I like to use  a REI coupon when I shop for gifts for him. We all know about coupon codes but what about when you are going to an actual store? Sometimes it is cheaper for me to go to a store and avoid the shipping charges depending on what I am buying.  Sometimes it is something that I can’t wait for it to be shipped and it is easier just to go there and pick it up. Well, I like to save money at the store too. That is where printable coupons come in. They are coupons you can print from your printer at home.  When I started really getting in to online shopping and store coupons, I signed up for everything under the sun, to get coupons.  It would make for a hefty inbox full of stuff that I might have used once at a particular store.  For example I bought a gift and it was from a store that I would personally never shop for myself, last year. I signed up for the newsletter to save some money and I still get the emails every week. That’s why I prefer sites  that do all the work for me and most importantly, no hundreds of weekly emails.

Do you use printable coupons when you shop? I look forward to your thoughts.

Here's to Mom MasterCard Post Holiday Shopping

Now that you have finished your holiday shopping, and spent all your money you will have to figure out a way to buy the necessitates that you need to survive. I know sometimes you can find better deals for some grocery items online. Really, you can buy pretty much anything online.  Remember that you can use your MasterCard to earn a reward for buying those purchases online.  to sign up all you have to do is enroll your MasterCard card, do some of your holiday shopping online and after spending just $200 you receive a $20 MasterCard gift card! Remember that this deal expires on 12/31/2011, so if you haven't already sign up HERE. I look forward to seeing you all in 2012. Have a wonderful and save New Year.

I am participating in this MasterCard Promotion and I received a complimentary special Here’s to Mom kit for my participation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

MasterCard Here's to Mom Holiday Promotion

It is definitely time to start your holiday shopping. There are so many different presents you are going to buy for your children, loved ones and friends. When I was young, I used to always give my teachers and bus driver holiday gifts. They were sometimes homemade, but other times we would buy them a little something.  I know that teachers really appreciate those little thoughtful gifts, as a daughter of a teacher. Unfortunately, the economy isn’t at its best, so we rely on sales and promotions to help us stretch out our holiday bucks.  You all know how much I like to shop online. I won’t be fighting the crowds this holiday season.  I will be shopping online for gifts, that way Santa’s special gifts will remain a secret, until Christmas morning.

I am so excited to share with you a promotion from MasterCard. The promotion is called Here’s to Mom. Being a mom is hard work, so MasterCard thought they would celebrate us.  Signing up is really easy. All you have to do to receive your $20 MasterCard gift card is go HERE  and enroll with your MasterCard card (credit or debit) and e-mail address, shop online with that card between November 15 and December 31, 2011. After spending $200 online you’ll receive and e-mail where you can redeem your gift card reward.

This sounds like such a great deal and I hope you all will sign up and earn the rewards. I mean you are going to use those cards anyways, right? May as well, be rewarded for it. I love that it includes debit cards so, it shows that MasterCard really wants to reward us.  Let me know if you sign up. It takes only a few minutes and then you can kick back with a cup of hot chocolate and shop in your jammies.

Happy Holidays!

I am participating in this MasterCard Promotion and I received a complimentary special Here’s to Mom kit for my participation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sanity-Saving Objects for the Overworked Parent

Saving your sanity as a parent is a task best suited for things that don’t talk; namely, anything but other people.  OK, we’re just kidding for the most part, but there certainly are some physical things that can’t walk and talk that can help you find that inner peace you’ve been searching for, if even for only a few minutes.  So kick back, unwind, and pretend that you just don’t have any children with any of these items that an overworked parent should not be without.

Bath Robes

Few things are as relaxing to the major muscle groups in your body, as well as to a pounding headache, as a nice hot bath.  If you’re finding it difficult to get just a few minutes to yourself, a long bath is the perfect opportunity, because once you’re behind the bathroom door, even your kids can’t get to you (just be sure another adult or babysitter is watching them while you soak).  To make the exquisite experience last even longer, you should wear a luxury bath robe after getting out of the tub.  Comfortable, classy, and warm, these types of bath robes help you feel like a million bucks, even if you end up eating boxed macaroni and cheese afterward.

Headphones

When the word ‘headphones’ is mentioned, we’re not talking about that flimsy five dollar pair you picked up at Walmart or CVS.  We’re talking about high quality, noise reducing, comfortable to wear headphones.  Listening to your favorite music can be soothing, and sometimes a five minute break to hear your anthem can rouse you enough to keep going, even on a very long, busy day.

The Chair

The title for this section is vaguely described on purpose, mainly because there are no set descriptive characteristics you need have on your favorite chair.  Whatever couch, chair, or beanbag you decide to use is up to you, but whatever one you do select, it should be off-limits to the kids.  That way, when you need to sink into a comfy seat, there isn’t any competition from the kids, and you can restore your peace of mind before the kids restore chaos to your household.

Bargain Jill Helps Save Shoppers Time

It’s no secret that I love shopping online. I also like to get a great deal. I spend quite a bit of time trying to find the best deal when I am buying something that could be available at many different stores. I take the time to look for the best deal, so I can save money. Sometimes it can become a time consuming task. I am sure that there were sites I didn’t even think to look at. The other day I was buying a couple DVD’s that I have wanted for a while. I looked at all the usual suspects and was able to find what I thought was a good deal. I have recently learned about a site called Bargain Jill, it will look across the web for you and find a good deal for the item you want to purchase. You don’t have to check many sites now for a deal. I think that is really a time saver. They also have coupon codes available for even more savings. I hope you all check it all out.

For more information please visit Bargain Jill.

Check Out Yard Sellr and Get a $10 Free Credit!

Everyone knows about garage sales or yard sales, it doesn’t matter what you call them they are the same thing.  This past weekend was our neighborhood yard sales, I wanted to go to them as I had done every year since we have lived here, but I just didn’t have the time. I had so much to do and the thought of dragging Noah around in his wagon was not something I was really looking forward to.  His wagon can be a pain to pull, I would have him walk but we live in a huge neighborhood and I was sure he would get tired.  I came across a website called Yard Sellr. It is pretty much the same thing as a traditional yard sale but it is from your computer. 

You can sell your stuff without actually having to set it all up outside, and spending two or three days sitting outside hoping someone will buy something.  You don’t have to worry about the weather, if it is raining or if might rain. I have had to end a yard sale in the rain and it was not fun at all.  At the end of a traditional yard sale you have to lug all of your items back in and then do it all again the next day.  You don’t really know if you are going to make any money.  I would love to have one but I don’t want to deal with all the hassles of the traditional yard sale.

So, Yard Sellr does all the work for you.  You can list as many items as you want and then an interested buyer will look at your items. This is great if you have some different items that maybe only a few people would be interested in. I know for example, if I were to sell my seasons of Strangers With Candy in a yard sale, chances are they wouldn’t be sold unless my friend Victoria was in town.  No one would be like oooh Strangers with Candy, and then purchase it. That is an example of something that would have a limited audience.  Your listings can be linked to your Facebook and Twitter account to share your items with your friends in your Social Networks. Sometimes you change your mind about selling something, you can easily cancel the listing as long as no one has purchased it.

 You can also buy items on Yard Sellr, with Photons. Photons are Yard Sellr’s form of currency.  When I was scrapbooking a lot I would always look for stamps, and other scrapbooking items. I didn’t really end up finding any. I would now be able to type in scrapbooking items for example and see what is available.  I wouldn’t have to scour through people’ s items and drag my son around to find what I am looking for.  You are not bidding on an item so if you want it, you don’t have to wait 5 days and spend hours trying to get what you want by bidding and making sure no one outbids you. I think it sounds really cool. I am going to definitely see what treasures I can find.

Sign up for Yard Sellr HERE, and you get $10 to start spending. You can earn 1,00,000 photons a day by doing different tasks.  10,000,000 equals ten dollars.  That is a pretty awesome deal. You can’t really earn credits with other sites.  I hope you join Yard Sellr. Maybe I will purchase one of your items.

Black Friday?

Call me crazy, but I don’t understand the hype of Black Friday. I mean seriously, what is the point? Maybe there is something I don’t see. I hate crowds of people, grabbing things out of your cart when you aren’t looking, waiting in really long lines just to get a deal. It seems silly to me. If it is something you enjoy that is wonderful. It’s just not for me. One year we went to Wal-mart on Thanksgiving, just to go and get out for a little bit. It was like 8 pm when we left, we drove buy Best Buy and there were people standing in line already. It was cold and was weird to see people waiting for that long just to go shopping.

I haven’t really seen anything that would be worth my time to wait that long or go out period on Black Friday. I have only really done Black Friday once, that was enough for me. I went with an old friend so he could have company. I was very cranky at the end of it. I did not have any fun what so ever. I don’t think he even bought anything because the lines were ridiculously long everywhere we went. There are sales all the way up till the week before Christmas. I just don’t know why it is that big of a deal. I could see if you were buying like a TV or something that was extremely marked down that normally would cost a fortune. Otherwise, just to get a toy for your child for Christmas? With online sales and websites you can pretty much find anything online from the comforts of your own home.

It’s not like when we were kids and our parents or grandparents had to actually go to the stores to buy the hot item of the year. I think that anything I wanted for Christmas I always got, or if I didn’t it didn’t traumatize me enough that I remember now. I survived. There were not huge tears and disappointment on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning unless you count the whole silts, Barbie bed, Cabbage Patch cradle Christmas, which started with me crying on Christmas Eve, followed by my sister crying on Christmas morning.

Black Friday has turned in to this HUGE ordeal. I mean I think I have heard a lot more about Black Friday than Thanksgiving. That makes me very sad. Thanksgiving is an actual holiday when we remember what we are thankful for and about family. Black Friday is a day of greed and sales. It’s not even a holiday yet it gets more attention than Thanksgiving.

For Black Friday I will stay home. I will spend time with my family and play games and drink hot chocolate and snack on treats and make memories with my son, because Black Friday does not matter to me. There is also a Law and Order SVU marathon on. I can still find good deals on gifts; I am not worried about that.

So what if it costs me a little more, it is too much hassle and stress for me. I might shop online, but I haven’t found anything really worth it.
If you are going out for Black Friday, I wish you luck on finding deals and hope that you have a safe and happy experience.