How I’m Saving Time and Money in 2023 and Beyond!

I’m posting a lot less these days because I now have a full-time job outside the house, and y’all- I’m freaking exhausted at the end of the day. weekends are spent doing family stuff (mostly playing with legos and drawing), and doing kid activities like martial arts and girl scouts.

I wanted to share with you some ways you can save money, score freebies, and even earn some money each month without running all over town, spending hours of time doing little penny surveys, or scanning your entire grocery order to earn points for junk (looking at you Neilson panel).

This is how I’ve been doing it for years, and now that I have even less time, I’m leaning on these more.

Automate

  •  Use the calendar in your phone to remind you of appointments, neighborhood free food distributions, sales, and even coupon events: I seriously put the Bath and Body Works coupon dates in my calendar so I remembered to use them.
  • I bought a subscription to  Yasukochi Family Farms CSA boxes. This way my fresh fruit and veggies are delivered to my door each week.
  • Set up auto-shipments for most needed household items. Vitamins/supplements, specialized food, and even pet food. There are all sorts of companies that offer this service including Amazon, Chewy, and Vitacost are just a few.
  • I order from Dream Dinners once or twice a quarter. Now that they have lower minimum orders, I can grab a few favorites and try a new meal with greater ease. I order online, and pickup is so easy- I drive up and they deliver to my car!

Organize

  • I reorganized the kitchen over Winter Break. I have printables available for free. If you are interested, please drop me an email and I can send them to you. They print in color or black and white.
  • I meal plan weekly. I may not have time to post them on the blog each week, but I’ll still have pics up on Instagram each week- it helps keep me accountable. I spend about an hour on Monday evenings meal prepping fruit and veggies that come in our weekly CSA box.
  • For more organization tips that work in our home, check out my post about managing a household with neurodivergencies here.

Disconnect

  • This one is hard, but I am trying to consume only meaningful media. Don’t be afraid to disconnect from Social Media Platforms, people, or advertising that does not serve you or your life. Unfollow people and brands, delete or pause apps as you see fit. Engage with media in a manner that serves you and fulfills you. Do what feeds your soul and makes you a better person.
  • Unsubscribe from emails that don’t serve you. It will make your inbox smaller and you won’t miss information and freebies that you actually want. In my case, it’s freebies from Social Nature, PinchMe, and research study invitations.
  • In the same vein, I am trying to consume less physical media, specifically, mail and advertisements. If I don’t see sales, I won’t be tempted to shop. Junk mail and sale fliers go directly into the recycling can next to our group mailbox.

Saving Money

This is the big one, the reason you wanted to read this post. All of the above will help you save money, but here are a few specific ways that I use to save money on top of all of the above.

  • Use the notes section on my phone to keep a running list of our stockpiles: Toiletries, laundry soap, canned goods, and paper products.
  • Use the notes section of my phone to keep a running grocery list for the week. As we run low on items, I add them to my list. Right now I shop at three stores: Food4less, Grocery Outlet, and Dollar Tree (for specific items that are cheaper there). Unless I have coupons or freebie offers for other stores-usually from Social Nature, I stick to those three. At this point with inflation, we eat meat once or twice a week.
  • Use money saving/rebate apps. My list is here, and it’s pretty up-to-date. Fetch, Ibotta, and Shopkick are my go-to apps, and they yield me the biggest payouts.

 

Amazon Returns at Kohl’s: My #1 Tip to Score Free Stuff!

Kohl’s. The frugal folks know all about this trick, but, if you haven’t been to Kohl’s in a while, it’s time to head over to the closest store, or their website.  This tip is for those Amazon Shoppers in my life!

When you buy something on Amazon, sometimes it doesn’t work out. Then it’s time to return your purchase. That can be a hassle, however, did you know that most items can be returned to a local Kohl’s location? YUUUUP. And when you return the Amazon item, you get a confirmation code, and a $5 off Kohl’s Cash coupon, and a 35% off when you use your Kohl’s Card (but I don’t have one).

I’ve been taking those $5 off Kohl’s Cash coupons directly to the clearance sections of the store and locating items in sizes that fit the fam for $5 or less.

Earlier this week I scored a shirt (pictured above) that I’ll be tie-dying later this month and giving as a gift later this year. It was $4.80, and after my coupon, I paid nothing!

Earlier this month I picked up a pair of PJ pants, and after the $5.00 Kohl’s Cash Coupon, I paid just $1.08! Which was all change. I had cleaned out my car earlier that day, and I filled my wallet with the change from my purse.

I have a note on my phone with all of our clothing and shoe sizes, as well as color and fabric preferences (especially important for those in the family who have sensory issues). As well as birthdays for family and friends, bedding sizes, and other notes that make gift-giving a cinch.

If you aren’t a Kohl’s Shopper, or it’s been a minute, check out their website to sign up for a 15% off coupon here, and sign up for their Kohl’s Rewards Program here.

I take advantage of store sales, Kohl’s Cash offers, and coupons to really save money at Kohl’s. We purchased our living room rug at Kohl’s (it was on sale and there was a Kohl’s Cash event), and I used the Kohl’s Cash to buy Christmas gifts.

 

Talk Back: If you have any tips or tricks to save at Kohl’s, Please leave them in the comments below!

Save Money on Gasoline with BPme!

If you have a BP or AMOCO gas station near you, check out this amazing money saving app!

Because gas never goes on sale, I’m always looking for ways to save money on gas!

Download the BPme app using the promo code OFFER to receive an introductory one-time 50₵/gallon additional discount (via email) on your next fuel up after you complete your first in-app transaction of $10 or more.

When you register for BPme Rewards you will start saving 5 cents on every gallon.

I’ve been using this app for over a year and we’re saving money left and right!

Cents of Style: HUGE Accessories Collection 4 For $20!!

Summer Sale** This post also contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking on my links.

This week Cents of Style is offering FOUR accessories for ONLY $20 which makes each item ONLY $5 apiece when four or more are purchased! These items would normally be up to 4 for $60!

Remember to use Coupon Code SENSATIONAL at checkout.

The most important part: FREE SHIPPING OVER $40! The code is active until 5/30/22 at midnight.

Two Chances to Celebrate National Shrimp Day at Rubio’s (5/9 & 5/10)!

Are you craving Shrimp? Rubio’s has you covered!

Celebrate National Shrimp Day at Rubio’s on two days this year, Monday, May 9, and Tuesday, May 10, when all Rubio’s shrimp entrées are just $6.99 with the purchase of any drink. Simply enter the coupon code TASTY with your order through the Rubio’s app, or online at Rubios.com. Or, scan the coupon when ordering at any Rubio’s.

Rubio’s guests can visit locations across California, Arizona, and Nevada and enjoy any shrimp entrée on the menu, including seasonal favorites, the Chipotle Honey Argentinian Shrimp bowl, burrito, or two taco plate.

Available for a limited time, the wild-caught, grilled Red Argentinian Shrimp features a sweet-spicy kick of honey and chipotle peppers. With its large size, bright color, and exceptional flavor, wild Red Argentinian Shrimp is a Rubio’s fan favorite. Guests can also choose other popular shrimp entrees including the Salsa Verde Shrimp two taco plate, the Shrimp and Bacon burrito, or the Mexican Street Corn bowl with grilled shrimp.

Guests are encouraged to order ahead through the Rubio’s app or Rubios.com. For more information about Rubio’s Coastal Grill and to view the menu, visit Rubio’sFacebook and Instagram.

 

May 2022: New Month, New Coupons!

file000786402730Here is your monthly reminder!  A new month means new printable and electronic coupons!

The printable coupon market is slowly coming to an end. Smartsource no longer offers printable coupons, and you may notice that there are fewer coupon inserts in your Sunday newspaper. This is in favor of more offers available on apps. But if you love printable coupons….

  • Coupons.com (printable coupons, e-coupons, and a cashback app)

One of my favorite websites is the Sunday Coupon Review.  It helps me plot out scenarios in advance and I can email friends to ask for coupons in advance. Remember if clipping coupons isn’t your thing, but saving money is, check out my list of Smartphone apps that can save you the big bucks! New offers are added on the Smartphone Savings Apps all the time!

May is the start of picnic season. Barbeque food, Hotdogs, hamburgers, ribs, and condiments will all be on sale throughout the summer and will be until September. Some of the sale items include:

    • Auto Maintenance (tires, oil changes, tune-ups)
    • Beverages, Hot dogs, Ground Beef, BBQ sauce, Ketchup, Mustard, Ribs (Often times there are some really great rebates for WYB beer or soda)
    • Bug repellents – Sprays and Candles

For a complete list of types of foods and items that will be on sale, check out this post on the cycle of sales.

Here are a few of my favorite new coupons:

Save $2.00 on ONE (1) Sonoma Gourmet Item (The Kale Pesto Sauce is great)
Save $0.75 on any ONE (1) Barilla® Chickpea or Red Lentil Pasta
Save $6.00 on any ONE (1) Culturelle® product
Save $0.50 on any ONE (1) pack of Energizer® Batteries up to 20 count
Save $2.00 on any (1) BENGAY® product (excludes trial & travel sizes). BenGay is life around here lately with my tendonitis.
Save $1.50 on ONE (1) 10 lb or larger package of TIDY CATS® Cat Clumping Litter (excluding LightWeight)

Kitchen Reorganization on a Budget!

We’re at the point in kitchen renovation where we need to put the kitchen back together. I was tired of eating out of the myriad boxes in my living room.

Being on a budget, I looked for simple and easy ways to make our kitchen work better for us. Our pantry is long (about 1 meter) and narrow. It’s such a pain. So much of it is inaccessible.

I cleaned out a bunch of the clutter as I unpacked the boxes. My mom gifted me these cool white baskets (which you can find on Amazon here).  She previously used them to store fabric. I put my label maker to good use and labeled the white baskets with the following categories:

  • Soup
  • Sauces
  • Baking Goods
  • Rice and Noodles
  • Oils and Fats
  • Canned Tomatoes
  • Canned Goods
  • Soup
  • Snack Box
  • Snacks (I use this for the overflow of snacks)

I also reorganized the spice cabinet, and I’ll be moving some of the bulk spices to these glass jars from the plastic bags they came in probably later this week.

Moving on to all of the drawers in my kitchen. Yeah. Nine Drawers of various sizes. I lined them with Contact Paper from Dollar Tree– which BTW, is so much cheaper than Amazon or the big box hardware stores. I also lined the cabinets that hold our dishes. I did not line the pantry shelves- They are really long and narrow and I can’t reach all the way to the back.

To contain all of the STUFF in each drawer, I picked up some of these skinny drawer organizers, and the drawer organizers in the picture, which are wider and medium-sized.

The Silverware has a drawer caddy (not shown in the photo, but it goes in the empty drawer), but the rest of the drawers were just a disaster. Now the cooking utensils will be corraled, the batteries rolling around the junk drawer will be contained, and all of the yummy drink powders and drink concentrates (like Mio) are corraled.

So for less than $50, I was able to reorganize the kitchen and spruce it up a bit.

After the kitchen is done and the water heater is installed, we’re having a cleaning service coming to do a post-construction clean up. There is drywall dust all over my freaking kitchen and living room. It’s so gross.

California Climate Credit- Savings on Your April 2022 Utility Bill!

It’s that time again! On your April California Utility Bill (Which includes PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, Bear Valley, Liberty, and Pacific Power), you will receive a California Climate Credit. For SDG&E customers, the amount is $43.06.

The California Climate Credit is part of California’s efforts to fight climate change. This credit is from a state program that requires power plants, natural gas providers, and other large industries that emit greenhouse gases to buy carbon pollution permits. The credit on your bill is your share of the payments from the State’s program.

Rather than receiving your electricity credits in April and October as in years past, the electricity credits have been moved to August and September for 2020 – 2022.

Please know you will still get your climate credits as they will be reflected in your utility bills this year. In fact, in April* your utility bill will include a gas credit identified as the “California Climate Credit.”

Changing the distribution months will not change the total value of the climate credits you receive in a year. The shift will provide bill relief for customers and reduce bill volatility.

 

And if you are looking for more ways to save energy and money, check out Ohm Connect! We’ve been using Ohm Connect for 5+ years and we’ve saved thousands of dollars on our power bill, and earned thousands of dollars in gift cards and cash via paypal!

Tips for Getting a Deal on Glasses!

Kids are rough on everything, including glasses. The big kid usually goes through 1-2 pairs a year, just in day-to-day wear and tear (and being a 10-year-old boy). Luckily I’ve found some ways to save money on glasses and I thought I’d share.

1- Take advantage of existing vision insurance. Look on the back of your kid’s health insurance card to find out which company handles the vision coverage, or give your child’s health insurance carrier a call. My kids receive one eye exam and 1 free pair of glasses per year. I’m not sure if it’s available in all states.

2-If you need help getting glasses or vision exams for your kids, check out Vision to Learn. They operate in 13 states and partner with the Boys and Girls Club, offering free eye exams and eyeglasses for kids. If you aren’t in a state where they operate, check out InfantSEE.  They offer Kids 6 months-1 year a free eye exam.

If you are 65+, you can obtain a free eye exam from Eye Care America.

3- Onto the deals. Once you have your prescription in hand, check out online stores like Abbe glasses. They have great deals on frames and lenses. I scored two pairs of glasses for under $50 for the big kid with their BOGO sale. ILoveGlasses also has good deals as well. Both of these companies are great for budget-conscious families. If you are looking for something a little higher-end (or for grown-ups), I also like Warby Parker.

They have a great glasses try-on program, and they also sell Contacts. In fact, they have a free contact offer.

Having used Warby Parker before, their glasses are great, and their service is amazing! We bought glasses online, and later when they needed to be adjusted (helpful tip: Don’t roughhouse with kids when you are wearing glasses), we took them to our local Warby Parker store and they “tuned up” the glasses FOR FREE!

And if you are wondering what to do with all of the old eyeglasses in your house that are no longer your current prescription…. The Lions Club helps recycle eyeglasses and get them into the hands of the needy. You can find out more about how and where to recycle your unwanted eyeglasses here.  I also recommend checking with your local optometrist’s office. They frequently partner with local Lion’s Clubs to collect old glasses. You could help a person in need get the glasses they can’t afford!

What are your tips for saving on glasses and contacts?

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