5 Ways I Save Money Online

It's not always easy to save money.

It just isn't.

It's frustrating and can take way more effort than simply saving your coins for a rainy day.

Although I still do that.

It's actually been a while since I've carried the coins into the grocery store and clogged up the ole Coinstar machine. So. I'm definitely overdue there.

But I figured I'd share a few ways I've been saving money this year.

And yes, there are affiliate and referral links throughout this post. They help me earn a little bit of extra money towards the things I didn't expect to need. Please use them to enroll or look into any of these recommendations that might be interesting or brand new to you.

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5 Reasons You Haven't Been Writing and What To Do Next

It can be hard to be a blogger these days.

We write because we love to write. We write because we want to write.

And then, well, we write for so many other reasons.

And sometimes we just don't write at all.

Here are five reasons you (fine, maybe *I*) haven't been writing and how to take them on.

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Take Care Of Holiday Shopping With Groupon Goods

This is a sponsored post. All expressed opinions are strictly my own. 

Did you know that you can actually go shopping for products ON the Groupon site?

Groupon Goods is another aspect of Groupon that you'll want to have a look into.

I'm sure you're already familiar with their discount purchases, and I've introduced you to their coupon site, so now let me tell you about Groupon Goods!

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Groupon Coupons Will Save You Money

This is a sponsored post. All opinions expressed are my own. 

If you're like me you probably use Groupon frequently to test out local restaurants and businesses, but did you know that they have a site that specifically offers coupons?

Groupon Coupons is the site I head to when I'm searching for savings as I shop some of my favorite online stores.

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Shopping Deals: Black Friday and Beyond

I don't usually post about shopping deals but I found a few and figured I'd share.

Admittedly, some of these are affiliate links so I might make enough for a Peppermint Mocha at Starbucks if you use them - so please do.

Plus? NaBloPoMo. A few days left! Woo hoo!

First and foremost, people...

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Amazing Reads and a lot from me.

So, I started my morning off without diving right into the coffee I brought home with me last night from a motivating local blogger meet-up. Which basically means me and about 7-8 of my friends connected and talked blogging and whatnot. And it did motivate me. Enough to get me writing this morning.

And someone I know on FB shared a link to Jack's post over at TheJackB.com. And with a title like this one, you, too, will want to check it out. How Parent Bloggers are Killing Blogging. I mean, come on, right?

So I wrote a novel in response, and decided that my comment was worth including in this week's edition of (yes, it's back!) Amazing Reads.

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Zachary Levi needs our help! #IwantmyNerdHQ

Okay, so take a look at the adorable Zachary Levi. He's a nerd like me. And you. 

Don't pretend you're not one. We all know that most bloggers are ... at least a little bit. *wink*

Oh, don't get huffy now. It's a compliment. I promise.

Now - let's talk NerdHQ.

NerdHQ is an event that Zac (we're that close, I can call him that - fine, we're not but I will anyway!) is working to get off the ground again this year. He is trying to raise funds, get sponsors, do all the things that are required for an extremely large and exciting event such as NerdHQ.

I won't do it justice, but I'm happy to help promote this event because ALL OF THE PROCEEDS from the actual event will go to Operation Smile. So while the event is free to anyone attending, there will be things for sale and whatnot, and those proceeds will go towards supporting this incredible organization.

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Have you heard of Novica? Let me introduce you.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored and compensated post. I have been provided with a code to gift one of my readers directly from Novica. I have also been provided with a code for myself to purchase an item of my choosing. All expressed opinions are my own. I have ordered from Novica many times and am completely impressed with the products I have received. Because of this I choose to continue working with them and am thrilled to be introducing them to my readers. 

I've been fortunate to have worked with Novica several times before, and I absolutely love their products. Of course, if you know me at all, you can guess that I most especially have an eye on their jewelry.

This is my favorite piece I have purchased from them.

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Don't be shocked - it's a sentimental thing - but I really love it and it fits perfectly.

This time I'm thinking of going in a different direction with my purchase. Actually, a few weeks ago I was surfing around their site and eyeing the fabric hammocks. 

This one is absolutely beautiful.

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It's 100% cotton. And it holds up to 450 lbs. Sounds good to me. I can totally picture myself curling up with exhaustion in this thing on a cool fall night. Ahhh.

Now ... where was I?

Oh, right, Novica. One of the things I love most about them is that they actually work with the creators of their products. They do incredible things like facilitate loans by connecting artists with lenders, help artists reach a more global market and more. You can read up on their mission by checking out their website and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how important both, the customer and creator are to Novica. 

Novica also carries beautiful clothing. Cotton dresses in a variety of styles, batik dresses, beautiful ponchos, and a variety of accessories to go with them.

And for your household partying needs you can head over to Novica for things like serving platters (many more beautiful than any you've ever seen), margarita glasses (how fun!) and more.

I think that these margarita glasses are my favorite. I kind of have a glass-related obsession, and would probably buy a glass for every drink if I had the cabinet space. As it is we have flutes and wine glasses and pilsner glasses we rarely get around to using. But aren't these beautiful? Think how much your favorite Jimmy Buffet* fan would love them!

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* Please tell me you know Margaritaville ... please ...

Anyway - it's your lucky day - no matter what product you choose! I'm giving away a code for $50 compliments of Novica.com. So check out the Rafflecopter below. I decided to use them today because I was too lazy to come up with ideas that would earn you entries. I promise, though, no jumping through hoops. Just simple entries that will earn you a shopping spree. 

So what are you waiting for? Get to it! A winner will be chosen in about a week. More details on the Rafflecopter form. Now go on and enter. And good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

p.s. How beautiful is THIS rainbow hammock? I think this might be the one I end up getting ... now if only I could figure out where the heck to PUT one. Anyone have two huge pillars I can borrow?

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Shop A Small Business Today!

Recently on facebook I asked my friends to share their personal business websites so I could share them with all of you. So I'm figuring on sharing some of my favorites with you all, and I plan on including a few that I've only just learned about, too.

I recently found out that Natasha is a crafty mama. This woman sews like nobody's business. And I'll tell you how I know... because I saw this on Instagram and decided I had to have it. And so now I do.

Isn't it cute? It's really well made and I love it. You can get one for yourself, or for someone else, or check out her other items over at Houseful Of Stitches.

Moving on to another talented mama that I've met through the world of blogging, let me introduce you to A'Driane. Goodness, talk about an ability to create. She's got a beautiful display of her work at her shop, and is actually running an incredible sale right now, too. Save 30% on one of her paintings for the next week or two - but don't miss out - they're sure to sell fast. Check them out at abstractionsByaddyeB.

One of my favorite shops can be found at Christine & Co. Design. I absolutely love the jewelry that she makes, and I bought myself a necklace from her a while back because I was completely drawn to it. Her work is beautiful but you're going to have to check it out for yourself.

Another of my favorite creative people is Robin Plemmons of  Lemons with a Pea. Her creations will leave you laughing, but will also leave you wanting some piece of her creativity for your very own. While her sense of humor shows in her work, so does her heart. Trust me, you're gonna love this chick.

And speaking of chicks, one of my bestest friends in the whole wide universe has just launched her own Etsy shop, and I'd love it if you'd take a look. One Loopy Chick is busting her b-- well, her fingers off to earn enough money to get her incredible son a special needs stroller. Her crafty little critter are too cute, and a perfect gift for the person who has everything else you can think of. Click through to her profile for more on her story, if you would.

Jodi of Jodi's Cards has such beautiful ideas. She'll even send your holiday cards out FOR you with her special holiday card service. Look into it, because handmade cards rock, AND having someone handle all that extra for you? omg, why wouldn't you want that? For an example of her talent, just take a look at her gallery.

And if you happen to be local or anywhere in the North Carolina area, and you're looking for a photographer for ... say ... your holiday cards, or your upcoming family event, look no further than Red Bridge Photography. Annie and Rebecca are beyond talented. They're absolutely amazing. The way they engage with their clients, the moments they capture for you? There are no words. Go look at their website. Email them. Reach out and find out if they can come to where you are. You'll thank me later. I promise.

And since I mentioned it, let's talk travel. Are you looking to take a trip to Disney? Let my friend Crystal help you do that. She also works with various businesses to help you plan your cruise vacation, and can probably help you figure out a lot of the really important details you'll never think of when you're making your plans! Crystal can be found over at Magical Vacations by Crystal and not a single person I know has ever been steered wrong by this magical mama!

There were more friends who shared their businesses with me, but I just don't have the room to share everybody. I might have to do a second post. And a third. And I'll just keep 'em coming if you're interested.

And on that note, it's ONE O'CLOCK. IN THE MORNING. I MUST GO TO SLEEP!

Please shop small. It's a person you're supporting when you do. And more often than not, it's a friend of someone you know. And that? Alone? Totally ROCKS.

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TGIF!

And this weekend hubby isn't OOT! Thank goodness.

I hope you're all well and enjoying decent weather. Come tell me about it so I can be jealous. We're getting rain, rain and more rain, and it makes me cranky. And headachey. And emotional. And makes me think a lot, about a lot of things.

Yeah, I know. We all go through those kinds of days. Weeks. Months. G-d hopes not years! I guess that I've just been over-thinking, and thinking, and re-thinking so many things, and it makes my head hurt. And I found myself writing a message to a friend earlier today and there were tears rolling down my face. I don't even know why.

Maybe it was the class I attended this week. Did I mention it was awful? It was awful. Anyway, I've started thinking about how it's been so long since I have contributed to the finances in our household, aside from saving pennies by clipping coupons, and saving pennies and other coins, literally.

And I know, I know that I spend time at home with my daughter, and because of that we don't have to pay for daycare, or preschool, or anyone to watch her. And I know that I also don't drive (yet!) and therefore don't have to concern myself with taking a course and paying for it, extra ga$ money, and whatever else I would need to consider. But this week, after having my lil one have a few play-with-friends moments, I started wondering.

I know most of you know I've been working from home for the past two months, and I am truly enjoying the experience. And I think that I'm doing what is right for me at this time. And yet I still struggle, in my mind, when it comes to finances and what I contribute/don't contribute. Perhaps this is the struggle in the mind of many a stay-at-home-mom. Perhaps not. But I can't imagine that it's just me and my inner turmoil. Others have to have experienced it, as well, right?

And so, I spoke with a woman who was sitting next to me at the horrible course the other day. I mentioned that I am fortunate enough to be able to stay home with my daughter, and she said, you're not fortunate, you made a choice. That has stuck with me. I did make a choice. We made a choice, as a family. And I think that it was the right one for us. It is the right choice. But my daughter won't be three forever. And so then what? Sigh.

I told you I was thinking too much.

And so, I continue to challenge myself with various concepts, ideas, readings and discussions. And sometimes they all happen completely within myself. But as I started to write this post and feel thankful for Friday, with hopes for a nice and relaxing family weekend, well, I guess it all just popped up and out. Go figure.

Thanks for listening. As always, you bloggy peeps rock.

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Money Saving Tips!

Over the past few weeks I have found myself capable of saving money, and most of it has been saved on groceries!

Our first shopping trip several weeks ago had us wind up at Target. I had none of my coupons with me, so I focused my shopping on Target brand items. Archer Farms, and other generic kinds. We spent around $100 and I was able to mix that with what I had in the house (freezer, fridge and pantry) to get us through more than a week.

The next time we went grocery shopping we hit Lowe's, and I did have my coupons with me. I forget exactly how much I saved between Qs and Greenpoints (which they're discontinuing, btw, and that really pi$$es me off!) but prior to our shopping excursion I brought in a peanut jar filled with coins. We cashed in at the CoinStar machine, even with a fee deducted, and came out with $81, used that for our groceries, and wound up paying $28-ish OOP (out-of-pocket!)

The following week Harris Teeter had triple coupons. I sent my hubby to the store to pick up some "extras," and although it wasn't all that much, it somehow managed to get us through the last two weeks.

Last week I really STRETCHED the groceries we had on-hand. Our meals looked a little like this:

* Sun: cheesy crescent hot dogs for hubby/child, and I had the last two pieces of honey chicken strips (freezer)
* Mon: farfalle pasta (triples) and chicken strips (freezer, from last triples trip) with a can of cheddar cheese soup and a can of artichoke hearts mixed with some Good Seasons' Italian dressing mix and water (pantry)
* Tues: Velveeta mac-n-cheese (pantry) and sliced turkey breast (triples) mixed in for me and my lil one for dinner
* Weds: Our splurge night. We ordered Chinese food, mostly because I really didn't want to cook anything and was so tired of food, in general. Plus we had leftovers for the next day's lunch, and hubby's leftovers will be his dinner tonight!
* Thurs: Turkey burgers (from the freezer), french fries (freezer) and biscuits
* Fri: another lazy night, so we had Wendy's for dinner. I always opt for super value menu items for myself and my daughter, so that helps! I'm a cheap date!

We went grocery shopping today at Lowe's and my total came to a savings of $54 in coupons, and then I got an extra $1 off with Greenpoints, and finally a dozen eggs for free! So I did a major shopping to cover us for the next two weeks (minus milk, which we always run out of, and tissues, which I forgot, but WITH toilet paper and paper towel, which, right there, costs an arm and a leg!) for $210.05. I was SO proud, and the cashier was excited for me, as was the woman in line behind me, who I wound up letting borrow my Greenpoints card so she could get a small savings, as well!

Anyway, it CAN be done, and I'm living proof. While I'm not as talented as many mommies I know who walk out of triples having spent $2 OOP and saved $100+ on their groceries, I do what I can and I get by! And we can **all** get by with a little help from our friends. ;)

So, what are your money saving tips for me?

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How to save money on toiletries!

There are so many items that you probably already own that can be used for double duty, and then some! Here's my list of various things you can use for more than they're purchased for:

1. Toothpaste: Sure, it gets you those pearly whites, but toothpaste can also help get rid of those zits. I'm not kidding. It helps dry them up and in a day or so they're gone. It can also help stop the itch of bug bites, and if you don't mind smelling minty fresh is well worth the try.

2. Conditioner: A well-known solver of all hair problems, let's add shaving to the list. Conditioner and a decent disposable razor will get your legs soft, smooth and stubble-free!

3. A&D ointment/Aquaphor/Balmex (any of those clear diaper rash creams): Each of these can be used as lip balm, or a facial moisturizer when you have a cold and have blown your nose like 50x in the last hour, break out one of these babies and you're soothed beyond belief. They're also great for dry skin, cracked heels, and your baby's raw bottom!

4. Rosebud Salve: This is my personal favorite. For chapped lips, diaper rash, raw skin (from colds or winter weather) and bug bites. You can also use it as a cuticle cream, or a hand lotion, although it is a bit greasy for every day use. For under $6 you get this small, round container of the best stuff on earth. I promise you'll be happy if you buy this for yourself.

5. Baby wipes: Nothing better for nearly everything you need. I use baby wipes for my "baby," obviously, but also for my dog, cats, counters, floors (hardwoods or tile!) ... I use them for my bathtub and shower, for my sinks and to clean the surfaces of my washer/dryer, and have even pulled them out to remove window smudges. Oh, and they also work on several kinds of stains. Not as good as a Shout travel pad or a Tide stick, but hey, in a pinch, go for it! They might not be the cheapest thing, but in a baby wipe will never steer you wrong. I pretty much can only vouch for Huggies' wipes for these various uses, and yes, they are kind of pricey, but start clipping those coupons and you'll find some great deals out there.

So there you have it, my Top 5 toiletry items. Hope you find some of this information new for you, and maybe it'll save you a few pennies!

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My financial contribution!

This weekend, as always, I found myself searching for coupons and deals, any way to save money and still get what I want (or what we need!) What I should start doing, and might right now, is start calculating monetary value to see how much I save every month, or something like that. So, a measly dollar here, and a few pennies there, and it does add up.

So I kick-started the weekend by attending a consignment sale on Friday night. I gave myself $100 to spend, and wound up walking out of there with just $21 missing from my pocket! Yay, me! I bought a mini-husband pillow, a denim Mickey Mouse jacket, a fleece pullover, a ballerina sweatshirt/pants set, 3 pairs of leggings (for $1!) and a pair of sweatpants. Add a few baby dolls, a Little People garbage truck, 4 books and a princess-fairy dress-up set and we're done. Now, I couldn't say for sure the amount saved, but it was a definite batch of good finds.
And yesterday we went to dinner with some friends and hubby and I did the 2-for-20 deal at Applebee's, which included an appetizer and both of our entrees. Today we went for lunch at Texas Steakhouse, and I had a coupon for a free Harvest Salad, which I got for my lunch, and saved us $8.99! Add a $1 coupon for our dog food, and a 40% off coupon [$4 off] from AC Moore that I used at Michael's for a new cupcake tin, and I did pretty well these past 3 days!

My plan for our meals this week is to work on our fridge, freezer and pantry. I plan on working towards emptying them so I can create meals from what we have, as opposed to adding grocery shopping throughout the week to the budget. I'll also, as usual, try to clip and organize my Qs to ensure I have them at the ready for the next grocery run. I try to use the dollar and up Qs at Wal-mart, where the prices are pretty cheap, and then save the 99c and under ones for HT or Lowe's, so I can double them and get a better savings!

So, that's what I do, or try to do. How about you? What's your favorite way to save money?

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All it takes is $1 ...

A dollar and a dream? You've got to be in it to win it?

No, I'm not trying to talk you into playing the lottery (these are NY lottery slogans!) I'm telling you that all you need to do is spend $1 at Michael's, purchase a foam alphabet puzzle, and your 2 1/2 year-old (officially as of yesterday) will entertain themselves for hours.

She's attached to this little puzzle. She wanted it in the car. She wanted it in Chick-fil-a, but I had left it in the car, and she wanted to bring it into Wal-mart! When we got home she popped the letters out into her bucket and carried the whole thing upstairs, played it while I changed into my PJs, while we changed her into her PJs, and we put the whole thing back together before bed.

All for ONE DOLLAR! So if you haven't been to Michael's lately, you should seriously get over there. I never realized how many kid-friendly crafty and fun items they have, and how incredibly cheap they are. A steal of a deal!

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I am addicted to books.

Seriously. I know I have confessed this before. I must have. It's a serious addiction. I cannot walk into a book store and leave without buying something. It's worse now than ever before, because I also end up buying something for my daughter.

Yes, you think, it is important for our children to read and be read to. Of course, I say. Everyone needs their own personal copy of "If You Give a Pig a Pancake," regardless of what I just *knew* my husband would say when he saw the title. (Go on, don't think too hard, you'll come up with something that works!)

As for me, I bought myself a copy of "Firefly Lane," by Kristin Hannah. I had heard about her months ago, and put her on my look into list. And then I seem to have heard about this book more and more over the past few weeks, and so, well, I picked up the book, saw how huge it was and simply got sucked in. I looked at the book at Border's this morning, had a $2 off coupon (off my little one's book, too, so that helped!) and sucker that I am, I bought it!

I read the intro chapter, and man, I was ready to bawl. Having recently lost some long-time friends (lost them as in our friendships, they're both still well, thank goodness!) starting these pages and seeing the main character reflecting back on a best friend she had recently "lost," well, let's just say I'm in it for the long haul, I'm quite sure.

In the meantime I'm reading "The Senator's Wife," by Sue Miller, after having finished "Julie and Julia," by Julie Powell. More on that later, I'm off to listen to more Laurie Berkner with my daughter to relax a bit. And then I'll read some more ... and more ... and ... well, you get the picture!

Happy Reading, everyone!

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Addicted to Coupons

Seriously, I am.

I always have been. When I lived at home with my parents I would clip and organize Qs for my mom, although she didn't always use them. So now I'm even worse. There is almost nothing as satisfying as finding out the total amount saved when you've submitted your coupons to a grocery order. It's incredible!

Lately I've been ordering my groceries online, as I posted once before. So I submit the Qs and they're applied to my next order. It's pretty cool. Last week my husband brought them in a little late, and when the e-mail arrived crediting me for over $18 towards my next order I was practically singing! Hooray!

I just submitted another grocery order today, and I tallied up my Qs before he brings them in tomorrow, and I'm coming in at OVER $20!!! WOO HOO! So exciting!

I've even participated in coupon swaps with my fellow TriangleMommies. And I'm in the process of mailing out some of my extras in exchange for some that I really need, want and can use doubles, triples and quadruples of!

Is it lame? Sure. Is it dorky? Sure. Am I nutty? Yep. And proud of it. When it comes to saving money, there is no greater feeling! Especially for a non-working-mom who feels the need to contribute to the household budget in some way. I'll have to start tallying my savings each order and feel even better about it as the months go by! Yahoo!

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