Frugal ways to help your Child’s School!

Abby H.

For most of us, school starts soon, if it hasn’t already started… That means the fundraising will start.  Wrapping paper, candy, candles, you name it, you’ve probably seen a catalog and a doe-eyed child selling something to raise money for their school.

We’ve got a pretty tight budget around out house, and $12/roll wrapping paper is not in my budget, but I do want to help Lil’ Man’s school. Here are a few ways that you can help your kiddo’s school. If your kid isn’t in school yet, ask the parent of your favorite mini-fundraiser if their school participates in any of these programs!


Screen Shot 2015-08-12 at 10.21.07 AMBox Tops for Education (BTFE): This Program has been around for a while, and it’s probably one of the easiest ways that you can help the school of your choice. Look for these little box top doodads on hundreds of products that you probably already buy (here is a list), clip them, and drop them by your school’s office. LIl’ Man’s class sends home a cute themed Sheet for us to attach up to ten each month. If I have more, I just staple a ziploc bag full to the worksheet. Any parent would be thrilled to receive an envelope of bag of BTFE from family or friends!

Screen Shot 2015-08-12 at 10.21.16 AMLabels for Education: Similar to BTFE, but this program is run by Campbell’s. To find products that are a part of the Labels fro Education Program, click here.

Screen Shot 2015-08-12 at 10.21.24 AMTarget’s Take Charge of Education®:
Choose your kids’ elementary school, the neighborhood middle school or any other eligible K–12 school. We’ll donate up to 1% of your REDcard purchases at Target stores in the U.S and at Target.com.

 You can learn more here. 

Escrip: Now this one has been around since I was in High School. It’s super easy. Once your school is registered, all you do is sign your various loyalty cards (like your Vons Card), and shop like you usually do. You school gets a percentage of your total purchase!

The best part about these four programs is that you just do what you already do: Shop and save money! Clipping Box Tops for Education and Labels for Education are not that much different than clipping coupons off of packages.

 

Free box of snacks from Graze!

Abby H.

Have you heard of Graze?

Each Graze box is made up of perfectly portioned snacks customized for each individual based on taste preferences and dietary requirements. Available as a weekly or bi-weekly delivery nationwide to your office or home. Several different box options that showcase our assortment of 100+ snacks including the Variety Box, Sharing Box, Calorie Count Box, Sugar Count Box, and more.

And NOW- Graze is offering a box for free!! I am stoked. I love snacks, and I love free stuff, so I’ve signed up for ours. I’ll post of photo once it arrives (before we consume it).

If you sign up for your free box, I’d love to see a picture too! Which box will you get?

Good Deal Alert! 101 free 4×6 prints from Shutterfly

Abby H.

DSC03682I don’t know about ya’ll, but we’re melting here! Despite the heat, we’re managing to have lots of fun, and I’m taking a ton of photos.

Thankfully there is a new freebie from Shutterfly! Now through August 10, 2015 all customers enjoy 101 free 4×6 prints with promo code 101TREATS at checkout.

Boring Fine Print: Offer expires August 10, 2015 (11:59 P.M. PT). Offer is good for 101 free 4×6 prints through shutterfly.com, our mobile-friendly site or Shutterfly apps. Offer cannot be redeemed more than once per account and/or billing address. Taxes, shipping and handling will apply. Not valid on other sizes, other products, prepaid plans, prior purchases and orders placed for in-store pick up. Cannot be redeemed for cash or combined with other offers or credits. Not valid for resale.

 

 

How I’m dealing with International Breastfeeding Week….

Abby H.3 Comments

IMG_0501This is Birdy. She doesn’t want her picture taken. She’s busy nursing. If you’ve got a baby and/or a social media account, you are probably aware that it’s International Breast Feeding Week.

That means your feeds are being flooded with photos of happy, milk drunk babies, boobies, women nursing in public, articles about how breast is best, and ads for stuff like nursing covers or breast pads. But for some mommies it’s not all sunshine and flowers, soaked breast pads and milk stains on your shirts. I’m one of those mommies that isn’t blessed with bursting, milky breasts. I have IGT (insufficient glandular tissue). For me, it means trying everything I can- seeing several Lactation Consultants, having the baby checked for lip and tongue ties, supplements, special foods, pumping like it’s going out of style, tons of skin to skin. Anything to try and increase my output of milk. I’ve tried so many things and gotten a lot of advice, mostly unsolicited. Some are common sense things (get some rest, drink more water), and some were kinda weird (Eat nothing but red meat and 100 oz. of water a day). I have spent so much time crying in pain and shame because society has made mothers like me and so many others into pariahs. Well, no more. This International Breastfeeding Week, I’m holding my head high. I’m sharing with others that I have IGT! I’m still a breastfeeding mom~ I still nurse Birdy (mostly for her comfort and bonding), I still pump (only a few ounces a day) and bottle fed her expressed milk, and I give her formula.

belibeahookRecently, I was able to try a new bra that helped me. Not increase my supply, but made pumping easier, and helped me get every single drop I could into the bottles and not on me. When you don’t produce a lot of breast milk EVERY DROP COUNTS. I posted on FaceBook a few weeks ago, “Whomever said, “Don’t cry over spilled Milk”, has never pumped!”.

If you’ve never seen a typical pumping bra, well, it looks like a medieval torture device. The BeliBea bra is not at all like that. You can wear it as a nursing bra, or as a pumping bra. It’s got two sets of hooks, so there is no fiddling with it, trying to get your boobs out. BeliBea bras have a seamless stretch fit, plush-lined adjustable straps and a ribbed band to provide flexible support as well as a v-neck scoop and center ruching. I’ll save you the visual of a woman 8 weeks postpartum in a nursing bra selfie…

I will, however, show you what the bra looks like in it’s full pumping glory (on a mannequin, not on me.. I like you guys, but ya’ll don’t need to see mah boobs).

belibeaHaving worn a lot of nursing bras, first with Lil’ Man and now with Birdy- this bra is super comfy.

If you aren’t a nursing mom, or a parent, and you see someone in public bottle feeding their child, before you give them the side eye, stop. There are a million reasons that child is eating from a bottle.  Here are just a few:

  1. The baby was adopted. While there are medications women can take to make themselves lactate even though they have not given birth, they can be costly, and take months and months to go through the regimen of pills (and it isn’t always covered by insurance).
  2. The bottle has pumped breastmilk in it (That way Dad can feed the baby too!).
  3. The baby has allergies and cannot consume it’s mother’s breast milk.
  4. The bottle contains donor milk. Wet Nursing is the oldest profession, and even today there are women who over produce breast milk and donate it to help others who can’t make enough (or any at all).
  5. The mother has a medical condition such as IGT and cannot produce enough milk to feed the baby.
  6. The mother may be ill or undergoing a medical procedure which prevents her from breastfeeding.

As someone who has received the side eye (and worse) for bottle feeding my two babies in public, there is no worse feeling than dirty looks from others or receiving the “breast is best” lecture from complete strangers (especially those who aren’t even parents). As long as the baby is being fed and loved, it shouldn’t matter the source of the food!

mommyAll moms care for their babies the best they can- and that’s what we should be celebrating this week!

 

I received the BeliBea Nursing and pumping bra free of charge to facilitate my review. I was not monetarily compensated, and all opinions are my own.

Earn Points, Score rewards with Pampers Gifts To Grow!

Abby H.1 Comment

If you’ve got kids in diapers, this is a rewards program for you!

If you aren’t familiar with Pampers Gifts to Grow Program, it’s pretty simple (and you don’t need kids to participate).

Pampers Gifts to Grow is a long running loyalty programs. Earn points that you can redeem for gifts, coupons, toys, giftcards, magazine subscriptions, the list goes on!

Each package of Pampers diapers and wipes contains a code that can be entered on the Pampers Gifts to Grow website. Codes are worth points, and those points can be redeemed for gift cards, toys, even free diapers and wipes!

Depending on the size of the package, the amount of points varies. Larger packages yield more points. Visit the Pampers website to learn more each program and the amount of points that can be earned from each package. Make sure to sign up for their newsletters too. Codes are sometimes in the newsletters, posted on Twitter, or on the Pamper’s Facebook page.

I always post Pampers Gifts to Grow codes when I find them. Rewards include free toys, magazine subscriptions, gift cards, and Shutterfly codes, so there is something for everyone!

Here is a list of current codes to get you started:

BABYCWNCLEMFB15 (exp 8/5)
BABYEXPO5D93Q15
REG5E4TRGM79W14
THA2CNKU444FF15
REGTRG5E4MPA79W
REGWM5U3MRPA7X9
PRWELCOMEU10PTS
REG4KT5B7R65U94
REG4KT5BB6BAYB5
50WICFSCL201415
REGBRU5E4CPA79D
FBCSLNUCALCNW15

And if you need coupons for Pampers, here you go:


$1.50 off ONE Pampers Cruisers Diapers
$2.00 off ONE Pampers Easy Ups Training Pants

What I do with all the free samples I receive….

Abby H.

bright boxesOn Saturday, my mailman asked me, “What’s up with all of the free samples?” She’s not the only one who asks. It’s one of the questions I get a lot when people find out I coupon and we live frugally (the other question I get a lot  is: “Do you have TP under your bed?”

Well, here’s the deal: I donate them. And no, there is no TP under my bed. Just out of season shoes and dust bunnies.

I donate about 90% of the free samples I receive in the mail. The local American Legion post collects small sized toiletries to make into care packages which are distributed to local homeless vets.

Additionally, the other local charity that my coupon club supports (Naomi’s Closet) also collects and distributes small sized toiletries to women’s in need.

If that sounds like something that appeals to you, you can collect travel/sample sized products and donate them to your local charity of choice.

I like MySavings to find top quality freebies. I also sign up for the P&G Brandsaver (it’s a collection of free samples from P&G available once a quarter).  Once the samples arrive, I take them out of their shipping container and I have a small box under my bathroom sink where I store samples and donation goodies.  I donate the contents of the box each month.

I also regularly donate full size products too.  For example, my donation budget is $5.00/month.  That doesn’t sound like a lot of money, but when I match sales with coupons, I am able to save big, and that $5.00 goes pretty far!

So the next time you that I’m posting free sample offers here or on Facebook, know that there will be one headed my way, to help someone in need!

Review: Multi Colored Baltic Amber Teething Necklace

Abby H.

balticamberI love amber jewelry for kids. Not only do the anti- inflammatory qualities of the succinic acid help ease fussing when it’s teething time, but I’ve found that they also help ease the day to day discomfort that little ones suffer (growing pains, etc.).
I was thrilled to receive this Amber teething necklace for my little one. She’s worn it every day for a week and I’ve noticed less fussiness. A few of the other things I like about this necklace:
-The nice drawstring bag that I store it in at night (I don’t let her sleep in the necklace).
-The fastener. It’s a screw together type, rather than a metal or plastic lobster claw.
-The knotting between each bead. I have no fear of it breaking and losing all of the beads. It’s so well constructed and knotted, it would take a lot of force to break the necklace.
The length- It’ the perfect size for a child 10+ lbs. I know my daughter will be able to wear this necklace for at least 2 years, which makes this necklace an incredible value

My older son wore an amber necklace for a few years when he was little and I could def. tell a difference when he wore it and when I forget to put it on him. I was stoked to find this necklace right after my daughter was born to continue more natural care for my daughter.

I received this necklace at no cost thanks to Baltic Wonder and Tomoson to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Vacations of the Cheap, Part 3: Saving Money at the Park

Abby H.

Today we’re going to talk about saving money inside the park.  Specifically FOOD, but also souvenirs and other goodies.

I like most of the food choices at Disneyland (OMGoodness Gibson Girl Ice Cream), but it can get a little expensive. So here is what we do: Rent a locker and bring a picnic.

I pack a soft side cooler (like this one from Thirty-One) with a few frozen water bottles, lunch meat, fruit, frozen yogurts, and a small re-usable grocery bag with bread, individual packets of condiments (you can buy them at Smart and Final), and Ziploc bags with snacks, and we put all this stuff, plus our jackets and a few other misc. things into a locker.

We like the lockers on Main Street, but if you have a larger group going with you, there are bigger lockers immediately outside of the park.  More info about Lockers, including prices, and locations can be found here. Reviews of the lockers can be found here (I love Yelp!)

Screen Shot 2015-07-22 at 10.23.18 PMThere are various picnic areas inside the park (there is one up by Big Thunder Mountain, and various tables and benches scattered throughout the park), as well as one right outside the main gate by the large lockers.

For snacking during the day, I pack snacks that fit in our pockets (we both usually wear cargo shorts) like bags of pretzels, hard candy in Ziploc bags, and a 16oz. or so size bottle of water that we refill at the various water fountains throughout the park.  We’ll stop back at the lockers for fruit or a larger nosh if we’re nearby and hungry.

That doesn’t mean I’ll go without my beloved Ice Cream. We usually pick one treat a day and share it. Ice cream, frozen banana on a stick, Dole Whip…. Whatever we both can agree on.

We also save money by buying our Disneyland shirts before we go on vacation. The Disney Store usually has an end of summer sale, and I can stock up of D-land shirts for 50-75% off retail prices. The mall closest to our house has a Disney Store, so we cruise in frequently (Lil’ Man is obsessed with Mickey Mouse).  Other Disney Souvenirs like sippy cups I’ll buy in advance and sneak in our bags so he doesn’t see them until we arrive. In the past, I have scored a sweet new Disney shirt for $2.00!

99 Cents Only has a great selection of Disney Branded and Licensed items like crayons, coloring books, sippy cups, sandwich boxes, and other lunch/food storage containers. I’ve been sneaking 1 or 2 items into the cart each week when Lil’ Man isn’t looking!

We also set a budget when we go on a trip and stick to it. Bring cash with us each day of the trip, and when it’s gone we’re done spending. It’s just that simple.

 

 

My monthly Savings to do list…

Abby H.

file000901554050I get asked a lot about how do I manage to stay on top of all of the deals and programs that I take part in?

I calendar it.  I use my Google Calendar to remind me each month.  Here are just a few of the types of reminders I have set up:

 

 

 

 

1st (then once a week after that): Printable coupons refresh. Print new coupon from Coupons.com, SmartSource, RedPlum, Hopster. Check apps and add items that appeal. Here are a list of the apps I use.

1st: L’Oreal Gold Rewards– enter 2 more codes. I do love free hair color!

1st and 15th: Mail out SBKC junk mail envelopes. I process our mail when it all comes in and I put the junk mail in the envelopes as it comes in.

Daily: I spend a little time each day (usually when Lil’ Man is napping) working my points programs. This includes Swagbucks (doing surveys, watching videos) and Mypoints (I save all of my Mypoints emails and do them all at once, one time a day). I also try and do MTurk work too (about 20 minutes, usually while I’m on hold calling someone, or while Hubs and I watch a movie n the evening.

Once a Week: Log onto Recyclebank to see what new point earning opportunities there are to do, check BzzAgent and Smiley360 to see if there are any new campaigns to get in on (and score some sweet freebies).  I also clip out the coupons I need when I get coupon inserts. I stopped getting the paper, so I usually get inserts from friends and family who don’t coupon, or who use different coupons than I do.  I go through the cupboard and meal plan for the coming week.

As I am notified via email: Paid View Point (some of the surveys are time sensitive- those usually pay extra!), PineCone Research (surveys must be completed 3-6 days upon receiving the email).

Last day of the month: Clean out coupon wallet and removed expiring/expired coupons.

As needed/codes become available: Enter Pampers points, Huggies codes. I use the Swagbucks tool bar to do most of my internet searches, so I earn Swagbucks points intermittently with that too. I also order free samples when I see them available online. I’ll be posting about what I do with all the samples coming up.

I try to do as much shopping online with discounts as I can.  That means I check with Mypoints, Swagbucks,  and UPromise to see who is giving the better points/cash back, and I use my Upromise Master Card to make purchases online (which earns me even more cash- up to 5%, when I shop through the UPromise website at selected merchants). I also check Retailmenot for coupon codes before shopping online too.

How do you keep track of all of your programs to save money?

Review: ThinkFun Maker Studio Building Kits

Abby H.

Recently, ThinkFun sent me three Maker Studio building kits to test out. Last Saturday, amid the torrential downpour and retched humidity, Lil’ Man and I built two of the kits successfully, and one, well, not so successfully.

macncheeseracerWe started with the gear set. In this set featuring gears, we built a race
car (you can build a cable car, a 3-wheeler and a motorcycle). For each build you’re given Engineering Challenges – experiment with friction, torque and propulsion as you engineer your solutions.

 

Screen Shot 2015-07-24 at 10.19.11 PMScreen Shot 2015-07-24 at 10.19.25 PMWe used a Star Wars Mac and Cheese box (It’s what we had handy).

These kits are a great idea, however…. The directions are picotgrams and are pretty small, so we had to bust out the magnifying glass (which was a fun experiment all by itself).

winchessetNext we tackled the Winches set. This set featuring winches, you can build a tow truck, a jeep, a well and a crane. The tow truck we built completely fell apart before I even got a photo of it, and that made Lil’ Man lose his mind.

propellersetFinally, the Propeller Kit! With this kit you can build a chopper, a biplane, a windmill and a plane. We attempted to build the windmill, however, it proved too difficult for Lil’ Man to master, and I was engineered out at that point (going on 3 hours of making these sets).

The only problem I had with the kits is that it requires you to use a box or can. Most cardboard boxes are recycled so many times that they don’t stand up well to the poking and prodding to build the kit in addition to all of the torture and abuse toys endure. My son played with the car we built (mostly me- he grew frustrated after about 20 minutes) for a few hours before it started to come apart and we had to reinforce it with gorilla tape.

These kits are for ages 6+, but if your kiddo is interested in building stuff and fairly dexterous (which Lil’ Man is), and patient (which he isn’t) I think a younger kid could handle these (with parents nearby of course).

I received these kits free of charge to facilitate the review, courtesy of ThinkFun and Tomoson. All opinions are my own.