10/29/2008
Update
A few of you have emailed me about the test for my breast cancer scare and I have not heard anything from them yet. Thanks for all of the support that I have received by email.
HAVE YOU NOTICED......
...that more people are talking about being frugal. Since the economy has made people second guess their money, everyone is trying to find ways to spend less but still live good. It has brought more attention to homemade cleaners, homemade gifts, freebies, bartering, saving money, and more. My friend came over today and the topic that we got stuck on was Xmas Gifts. She has 3 children that range in the age of 4 years old through 10 years old. Naturally they have seen all the ads of the new toys for the season and have already included them on their growing Santa Wish List. Her concern was the prices have risen on toys as well as everything else in the retail world. I asked if she had ever shopped online and she had said that she has only ever purchased one thing ever online. Man, where has she been, lol. I then went to my computer and then asked her what one of the toys was that her children wanted. Her daughter wanted a Hannah Montona Guitar. I then went to Ebay (one of my favorite shopping sites) and did a search for the item. We found one that was almost half of what our local stores wants for it. That got her attention big time and then I explained what great experience I have had with purchasing things on Ebay. After I saw she was hooked on the idea, I introduced her to another site called BIG CRUMBS. The site offers cash back on Ebay (See site for more info) and many more big name stores. She sees the point in how you can save money by shopping online and doing research on the product you want.
10/23/2008
Are you a Candle Lover? Need a Gift Idea?
I love Creative Scentsations. She offers Homemade candles and the cutest burners, holders, and accessories that I have seen on the net. Candles are something that make great gifts for the holidays. There is a wide range of scents available and she currently has a large selection of holders and burners listed. Please take the time to check the site out at Creative Scentsations. If you have any questions please email me at marylynnstreasures@gmail.com.
Hi All!
It has been awhile since I last posted. There has been alot going on lately and I have had less time to be on the internet. I have been busy with my data entry job, ebay, and I am currently waiting on test results that will determine if I have Breast Cancer. I have not been able to focus lately because the first test results came back as a big concern. I went to the doctor to get a mamagram and a large mass was found in my left breast. Cancer does run in my family, my dad's mom is battling breast cancer herself at this very moment. The thought of this life changing event in my life is not only scary because of my health problems it will cause but the fact that I am a single mom scares me more. Her father is in and out of her life and he currently is not a good role model for a child to look up to. My family is close and will help me with her, if indeed I do have breast cancer, but of course my thoughts go to the fact that I could die from the cancer and miss seeing her grow up. I have about 1 week more to go for my test results to come back to my doctor. Well enough of the sad stuff...
Ebay has become a huge thing for me lately. I opened my own store, Click here to see. I have lots of things currently listed. I have to tell you that I am learning alot from a blog that I found on the net called Ebay Selling Coach. She has been selling on Ebay since 2003 and offers latest selling trends and hot items to pick up and sell. You have to go and check it out. I am now about to start selling worldwide. Ebay can be an income booster if you really get into it and do your research on what is hot and selling now.
Well I will be posting more through out the day and hope that you try out the blog I recommended above. Please feel free to comment on my post and any others that you want.
Ebay has become a huge thing for me lately. I opened my own store, Click here to see. I have lots of things currently listed. I have to tell you that I am learning alot from a blog that I found on the net called Ebay Selling Coach. She has been selling on Ebay since 2003 and offers latest selling trends and hot items to pick up and sell. You have to go and check it out. I am now about to start selling worldwide. Ebay can be an income booster if you really get into it and do your research on what is hot and selling now.
Well I will be posting more through out the day and hope that you try out the blog I recommended above. Please feel free to comment on my post and any others that you want.
10/08/2008
Halloween Costume
My daughter is 7 and in recent years she has been piglet, tinkerbell, a pumpkin, snow white and now she is wanting to be Cinderella. I looked at Wal-mart and saw that the prices for a costume was going to be $24.99 for the dress. I decided not to pay that price and went to Ebay for a better solution. After looking on Ebay for one I noticed that the costumes on there are cheaper (if you check out the lowest priced + shipping under best matches) I have placed a bid on one and it ends in a couple of days. So before you go spend money on a costume check out Ebay.
10/04/2008
Grocery Shopping Tips
Grocery shopping is something that every person has to do. It is, with most families, a time consuming task of life. With the rise in the gas and grocery prices, it is becoming more and more important to be well prepared for your shopping trip so that you won’t forget items needed or spend more than you intend. A friend that has went with me from time to time shopping asked me for my grocery shopping tips. I thought I would share them with all of you also.
1. NEVER shop hungry. The temptation to spend extra will begin at the door. Have you ever noticed how they have some kind of junk food positioned near the entrance? My local Wal-Mart and Kroger both have their bakery’s at the front door.
2. Make a LIST. Start by making a list of meals you are planning to have. Once you have that list, start making another list with the ingredients for the meals that you don’t have in your house. Then you can add any cooking basics that you need to add to your list such as milk, eggs, oil, and spices.
3. Bring your CALCULATOR. I found a calculator at my local Dollar Tree store that has a cord designed so that I can wear it around my neck. That was the best $1 I have ever spent. The calculator will keep you very aware of what you are going to be giving away at the register. It may also help you hold off urges when you see the total skyrocket up as you shop. You may want to set a budget and stick to it.
4. Use COUPONS. I know most people hate these pesky paper things but they are such a money saver. There are some stores where you can double the amount on the coupon. An example is I had a coupon for Fiber One Granola Bars that offered 0.50 off of one box, which at my Kroger they double it to make it $1 off. At the same time there was a sale at Kroger and they had them on sale for $2 a box. With the coupon and sale combined I only paid $1 plus tax.
5. PRICE COMPARE. Do you get ads on Tuesday from all of your local supermarkets like I do? Check with the stores that you do shop at and see if they price compare. My local Wal-Mart will price compare if the ad shows specific brands and descriptions of the items. The only thing that Wal-Mart won’t price compare is if the ad says an item is “Buy One Get One Free”. You can save big by doing this.
6. REBATES. I have found rebates in magazines, coupon section in the newspaper, and I have even printed some of them from the brands websites. You can earn some cash back by keeping your receipts and barcodes for the items.
7. Store DISCOUNT CARDS. My local Kroger has the “Kroger Plus Card” that saves you when you swipe it at the register. That is how you get the prices you find in the store with sales or special discounts. You can go to the customer service desk to sign up at participating stores.
8. Buy STORE BRANDS. That’s right, don’t be afraid of them just because they don’t have the big nationally known brand logo on the package. Take the time to look at the ingredients on a brand name item and compare it to a store brand version and you will see that the ingredients are almost the same.
9. DO NOT buy any item that is merchandised around the register. It is a shopper’s trap that they stores well place. Items that are usually put near the register are rarely on sale and the food items that are put there are most of the time junk food that you don’t need.
10. Last tip is to TAKE A LOOK at your cart before you check out and see if there is anything in the cart that can be taken out (such as any temptations that did make it in the cart). Get your coupons in your hand that you are going to give to the cashier and any ads that you are going to need to show the cashier for a price comparison deal. A tip on price comparison is to have the cashier check those items out at the end so it can cut down on any confusion.
I hope that these 10 tips can help you find some savings in your grocery bills. Try keeping at least four grocery receipts and compare them from trip to trip and see how you are progressing in your mission to save. You might have to alter your efforts around the holidays if you cook for a large gathering. The main thing is to set a budget and stick to it.
1. NEVER shop hungry. The temptation to spend extra will begin at the door. Have you ever noticed how they have some kind of junk food positioned near the entrance? My local Wal-Mart and Kroger both have their bakery’s at the front door.
2. Make a LIST. Start by making a list of meals you are planning to have. Once you have that list, start making another list with the ingredients for the meals that you don’t have in your house. Then you can add any cooking basics that you need to add to your list such as milk, eggs, oil, and spices.
3. Bring your CALCULATOR. I found a calculator at my local Dollar Tree store that has a cord designed so that I can wear it around my neck. That was the best $1 I have ever spent. The calculator will keep you very aware of what you are going to be giving away at the register. It may also help you hold off urges when you see the total skyrocket up as you shop. You may want to set a budget and stick to it.
4. Use COUPONS. I know most people hate these pesky paper things but they are such a money saver. There are some stores where you can double the amount on the coupon. An example is I had a coupon for Fiber One Granola Bars that offered 0.50 off of one box, which at my Kroger they double it to make it $1 off. At the same time there was a sale at Kroger and they had them on sale for $2 a box. With the coupon and sale combined I only paid $1 plus tax.
5. PRICE COMPARE. Do you get ads on Tuesday from all of your local supermarkets like I do? Check with the stores that you do shop at and see if they price compare. My local Wal-Mart will price compare if the ad shows specific brands and descriptions of the items. The only thing that Wal-Mart won’t price compare is if the ad says an item is “Buy One Get One Free”. You can save big by doing this.
6. REBATES. I have found rebates in magazines, coupon section in the newspaper, and I have even printed some of them from the brands websites. You can earn some cash back by keeping your receipts and barcodes for the items.
7. Store DISCOUNT CARDS. My local Kroger has the “Kroger Plus Card” that saves you when you swipe it at the register. That is how you get the prices you find in the store with sales or special discounts. You can go to the customer service desk to sign up at participating stores.
8. Buy STORE BRANDS. That’s right, don’t be afraid of them just because they don’t have the big nationally known brand logo on the package. Take the time to look at the ingredients on a brand name item and compare it to a store brand version and you will see that the ingredients are almost the same.
9. DO NOT buy any item that is merchandised around the register. It is a shopper’s trap that they stores well place. Items that are usually put near the register are rarely on sale and the food items that are put there are most of the time junk food that you don’t need.
10. Last tip is to TAKE A LOOK at your cart before you check out and see if there is anything in the cart that can be taken out (such as any temptations that did make it in the cart). Get your coupons in your hand that you are going to give to the cashier and any ads that you are going to need to show the cashier for a price comparison deal. A tip on price comparison is to have the cashier check those items out at the end so it can cut down on any confusion.
I hope that these 10 tips can help you find some savings in your grocery bills. Try keeping at least four grocery receipts and compare them from trip to trip and see how you are progressing in your mission to save. You might have to alter your efforts around the holidays if you cook for a large gathering. The main thing is to set a budget and stick to it.
10/03/2008
Do You Take Your Lunch to Work?
Start taking your lunch and save money. A friend that works in a store in the mall was a person that bought her lunch everyday in the food court. She said that would average around $30 to $40 a week. She then decided to take her lunch for a whole week and see how much she would save. For the week she took soup in a tupperware container that she had homemade, sub sandwiches she made, apple juice that she put in a portable container, and she carried a brownie a day that she homemade. She took her receipts that had her totals for the things she purchased to make her lunches and it came up to $15. She realized that she had been wasting $15 to $20 a week. She has been carrying her lunches for 2 months now and still watches how much she saves. Try fixing yourself a homemade lunch and watch how much you will save.
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