Getting Thrifty and Saving Money

Hello friends!  Today, I interupt my normal crafty posts for a post about saving money.  I am a pretty thrifty mom...I try to shop the sales and not buy more than we need but recently my husband and I watched a few episodes of Extreme Couponing and I found myself thinking that I could do even more to save our family a little money. 

Have any of you seen Extreme Couponing?  Boy...it is extreme and I don't plan to get too crazy but I have found that taking a little extra time to match coupons with sales is worth it (like only paying 50 cents for name brand cereals or crackers and free deodorant) and I have found a few sites that are really helpful.  So, I thought I would share a few thoughts/sites with you all today since I figured a lot of you might be interested in saving some extra money, especially around the holidays.

First, if you shop online at all I recommend Ebates
 They offer cash back on your purchases from a huge list of great stores like Old Navy, Nordstrom, The Body Shop, Nike, The Land of Nod, Target, Osh Kosh, Magazines.com, Toys R Us etc.  And there are often special deals too (for example I recently got an email with a code for 50% off everything at the Body Shop online). Plus when you sign up initially you will receive a $10 gift card (after you make your first $25 purchase).  I personally don't shop a lot online but still thought it was worth signing up.  I figure after a year I should have a good amount of cash back to use for next year's Christmas gifts!  But if you shop online a lot, it will be even more rewarding.

If you like Kellogs products, their Rewards program is a great way to earn points to purchase coupons (like $1.50 off one item...this is how I got cereal for just 50 cents) or you can save up your points for bigger rewards.

Coupons.com is one of the best online printable coupon sites that I have found and did you know that Target has printable coupons too?

There are a lot of expert extreme couponers out there who blog every day about great deals too.  One site that I especially like is Mindfully Frugal Mom because she focuses a lot on all natural/organic products.

And finally if you have any sports fans in your family, I was very pleased with my recent purchase from Finish Line  They have some great sweatshirts priced at 2 for $35 plus free shipping and you can get a little cash back too if you go through Ebates 

I hope this is helpful to some of you!  Please know that I did not receive any $ or requests to mention these sites, I just have found them beneficial to me so I thought I would share with you all.  I'd love to hear about any great sites or ways that you save money so please let me know in the comments section!

Unique Crafters December Challenge - Christmas

Happy Holidays!  I hope everyone had a lovely Thanksgiving...I hosted for the first time and it went pretty well.   Now, we are gearing up for Christmas.  I just love all the wonderful family time, traditions, and activities that surround the holiday.  So, this month over at the Unique Crafters Challenge blog the theme is Christmas.  Here is my project:

Any holiday or winter project will work as long as it represents Christmas to you. Remember, you can enter up to three different projects in our challenge each month.

This Christmas challenge is being sponsored by Cedar ChestDesigns so don’t forget to stop by and link your own project for a chance to win a free $10 gift certificate from their website. They also have several freebie images and tons of great new Christmas images so be sure to check them out.

Anybody who uses an image from Cedar Chest Designs will be entered into an additional random drawing for a whopping $35 gift certificate. As a special Christmas treat to all of our followers, you can download the “NaturesChristmas Tree Image” for FREE.  So, head on over to the Unique Crafters Challenge blog to get this great image and link up your Christmas projects for a chance to win!

Unique Crafters November Challenge - Sugar and Spice

Wow...November already!  This year has gone by so fast...but I am looking forward to the holiday season.  This month over at Unique Crafters Challenge the theme is Sugar and Spice so get out all your pretty pinks and girly crafting supplies and share your creation for a chance to win a great prize!

For my project I used THIS adorable image from Cedar Chest Designs.  I decided to make a fun, little birthday gift box.  All of the products (except for the image) are American Crafts.  I used their great fabric adhesive paper for the little girl's dress and wrapped the Dear Lizzy garland around the box several times then embellished it with a few rhinestones...cute, right?! 

Our challenge this month is sponsored by the brand new CedarChest Designs digital crafts website. Be sure to check out all of their great images. In honor of their grand opening, all of their images are on sale for 25% off. Just remember to use coupon code “GRAND” when you check out if you want to get your discount. They have lots of freebies too so be sure to check them out.

This month’s winner will receive a $25 dollar gift certificate to the Cedar Chest Designs site so be sure to link your projects up HERE by the end of the month for your chance to win!

Unique Crafters Challenge #8 - Halloween

Happy Fall everyone!  It's hard to believe that October is already here...the first month of school went by so fast!  It is time for a new Unique Crafters Challenge and this month the theme is Halloween.

So get out your cute Halloween photos or fun Halloween crafting supplies and get creating!  Then enter your creation over at the Unique Crafters Challenge blog for your chance to win!

October Sponsors

Octobers Halloween themed challenge is being sponsored by two generous businesses. The best scrapbook page will receive a $25 dollar prize pack of craft supplies from Crafty Crops and the best card or altered art project will receive a free $10.00 gift certificate to the new Cedar Chest Designs digital website.

Cedar Chest Designs
Digital stamps and pattern paper for the craft world.
http://www.cedarchestdesigns.com/

Crafty Crops - Start a Party! Craft with Friends!
The portable scrapbook store for craft parties and fundraisers.
http://craftycrops.blogspot.com/

Have a great week!

Unique Crafters Challenge Blog Hop

Unique Crafters Challenge Blog Hop

 

Come check out our blogs and enter to win a free digital stamp image for each of the design team sites that you visit. Simply check out the blogs on this list, find the blog hop post on each blog and leave a comment with your name. You will be entered to win a prize for each of the blogs you visit and comment on. You have until Sunday, September 30^th to enter. Please, only enter once per blog.

Watch for the winner announcement post on the Unique Crafters Challenge Blog on October 7^th along with our other prizes for the month to see who won.

Check out all the sites on this blog hop:

http://midnightpixydesigns.blogspot.com/

http://popperandmimi.blogspot.com/

http://scraphappensembellishit.blogspot.com/

http://capturingcreativity.blogspot.com/

http://oopsicraftmypants.com/

http://scrappyhappymom.blogspot.com/

http://scsdesigns.blogspot.com/

http://www.justwordz.ca/

http://cissyandfranshow.blogspot.com/

http://scrapbookingunique.blogspot.com/

http://uniquecrafterschallenge.blogspot.com/

And don't forget about our September 'Anything Goes' Challenge too!   Enter your fabulous projects HERE.

Here is an 'Anything Goes' project that I recently created:

We are not a big treat family, so when this little guy discovered marshmallows he thought they were the best thing ever!   :)  And when he was 2 1/2 he called them smarshmallows (isn't that adorable?!).  I just had to document this to remember and show him in the future.

Thanks for stopping by!  Make sure to visit the other blogs and leave a comment for your chance to win!

I Heart Faces Photo Challenge - Summer Fun

This month's photo challenge theme over at i heart faces is summer fun so I just had to enter this photo I took of my son at the swimming pool.  I love the silly look he is giving me with those goggles and swimming in the summer is definitely a must!   :)

To see more summer fun pictures, check out the challenge HERE.

 

Unique Crafters Challenge #7 - Anything Goes

Hello all!  If you haven't yet joined us for the Unique Crafters Challenge, then this is definitely the month to participate!  See below for details:

Big Chance Giveaway Contest

I am so excited to announce the Big Chance Giveaway Contest for September at the Unique Crafters Challenge Blog. You will have over 20 chances to win great prize packages when you enter this month.

The theme for this challenge is: “Anything Goes”

This month is going to be a little bit different. Instead of commenting on the posts our designers will be focused on discovering great new blogs to be highlighted in our Friday Spotlight Posts. Also check back on September 15 for information about the Designers blog hop where you will have another chance to win prizes. Remember, with an “Anything Goes” theme, you can post up to three links for any paper or digital craft project you have designed during the last three months.

We will be giving away awards for the following categories:

Best Home Decor Project

Best Party Favor

Best Alcohol Marker Colored Image

Best Altered Art Project

Best Digital Craft Project

Overall Favorite Scrapbook Page

Best use of Photos on a Scrapbook Page

Best Theme on a Scrapbook Page

Best Color Combination on a Scrapbook Page

Best Simple and Clean Scrapbook Layout

Most Elaborate Layout

Overall Favorite Card

Best Birthday Card

Best Baby Card

Best Color Combination on a Card

Best Simple and Clean Card

Funniest Card

Most Elegant Card

Most Elaborate Card

One Big Grand Prize

 

 

How awesome is that!  So, start posting your favorite projects that fit these categories and hopefully you're inspired to create a new project or two to enter too! :)  Here is my Anything Goes project:

I love the combination of this My Mind's Eye Miss Caroline collection with the Dear Lizzy Neapolitan banners and thickers.  I wanted this layout to capture the joy we felt when we saw our baby for the first time...definitely a moment to treasure and celebrate!  We are loving life with our three precious boys...I feel so blessed.

I'll be looking forward to seeing all your wonderful projects for the Unique Crafters Challenge!  You can link them up HERE  through the end of September for your chance to win a great prize!