As I noted in my Goals for 2011, I want to help other people learn how to use some of the tools I know of to save them some money. Today's post is the first installment of a series I plan on doing highlighting some of the simple ways you can save money. I don't care how much you have, it is always good to save.
These are the basic things I use to save money. I will go into greater detail in subsequent posts for each of these deals. But for now, here is an overview.
The Grocery Game: Paid (small fee) web service that provides specific shopping lists for my local grocery and drugstores on a weekly basis. It lists out the items for sale for that week and then cross references that with a database of historical data. It will analyze the price based upon a 12 week grocery store cycle (did you know that all sales are on a 12 week cycle?) and color code them indicating what to stock up etc. It then tells you exactly where to find the coupons you need to combine with the sale price to achieve the best price on an item.
Amazon Mom/Subscribe and Save: I use this free service to get diapers. Just sign up and you automatically get the Amazon Prime service (free next day shipping on most items) and 15% off diapers. Couple that with the Subscribe and Save program, you get 15% more off diapers and you blow all other prices out of the water. I know, I have a huge spreadsheet comparing them all. AND they are delivered to your door on a set schedule.
Swagbucks: This free site basically is a game where you can earn points called Swagbucks and trade them in for stuff, most notably (and what I always get) Amazon.com gift cards. You can earn Swagbucks in a variety of ways including internet searches, they release codes, referrals, watching videos, and using their site to navigate to other vendors. Basically Swagbucks is an internet marketing company that has figured out how to make a game out of it all, and as a result, you get rewarded. I have currently gotten over $150 in gift cards in under a year.
Blogs / Google Reader: If you have a google account, you have access to a Google reader. That is site that will use an RSS feed to check thousands of sites for you, and consolidate them in one place. I currently use mine to check the news, follow friend’s blogs, get style tips and (most important to this post) follow deal posting bloggers. I have a number of sites that will notify me of deals available. From restaurants coupons, to internet Groupons, and Drug Store deals, these other women bloggers are nuts! But nothing gets through the cracks with these girls! And, when I use my Google reader, I see all of the deals all in one place, already figured out for me. Nice deal.
Groupon: This one most people know of, but did you know you could purchase deals from other cities? And often those deals are for internet sites that anyone, regardless of address, can purchase? I have been able to get my hands on a number of photograph deals (photo albums), Canvas on Demand, Snap Totes and even a Giant fortune cookie for more than 50% off! In addition to local restaurants and stores, we have also used it when we traveled, getting a nice tour of the Dallas Cowboy’s Stadium for cheap. It’s a great resource and you can even get Swagbucks when purchasing Groupons.
That’s it for now (is anyone still reading this far down!?!?)… more details on each on of these as the weeks go on….
1 comment:
Of course I'm reading it - Google Reader showed me a new blog post from the Smith's and that title certainly pulled me in! As you know I'm as cheap as they come!
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