Money Saving Tip Archives • Couponing to Disney

26 Ideas For Shopping Bags + A Bonus Genius One

By Kristin from Couponing to Disney on July 19, 2023 at 6:57 am

If you are like me, you have an abundance of shopping bags and you need more ideas on what to do with them. Here are 26 suggestions plus a bonus idea that I am going to start doing!

Trash & paper shredder can liners
Take them back to the store & reuse them for another shopping trip
Cleaning out the cat box
Cleaning up after the dog
Packing material for products sold on Ebay
To wrap Christmas ornaments & other decor in for storage
Line juicer’s pulp receptacle for easy cleaning
In glove box or pocket behind seat in car for easy trash pickup or un-cluttering
In baby bag for soiled clothes and diapers
Dirty Diaper Disposal
Take to daycare centers to be used for dirty diaper disposal
Beach/pool bag for wet towels/swimsuits or collecting sea shells
To take on a hike or walk around the neighborhood to pick up trash
Use for quick pickup around the house of toys instead of multiple trips the toy bins
To line a garbage bowl while cooking for easy clean up
Packing yard sale customers purchases
Cut them down sides and use to protect surfaces when doing crafts or painting with the kids
Cut them down sides & use on seats as protective liner under kids booster seat in kitchen or car
Cover smaller appliances from dirt/dust for storage in closet or cabinet/pantry
Collecting & keeping dirty laundry separated during a hotel overnight stay
Roll candles in & tape loose end to protect from damage while storing in drawer or closet
Packing lunches
Clearing out pantry for food donations
Collecting fruits, veggies or flowers from personal garden
They can be used to crochet mats for homeless
Cover silk flowers and bows to keep dust off

Check out this great tip from Carol:
I do the grocery bag around the house trick; emptying garbage and wiping out sinks with wipes and such; I also do a bag to collect stuff that needs to be put away that is just laying out and driving me nuts; I put the stuff away at the end of the day

25 Tips To Help You Save On Your Power Bill

By Kristin from Couponing to Disney

25 Tips To Help You Save On Your Power Bill

1. Turn up your A/C or turn down your heat. Find the temperature that you can run your units at where you are on the verge of being uncomfortable. This is the temperature where you will see maximum savings (usually 78F in the summer and 68F in the winter).

2. Convert all of your light bulbs to LED lights if you can and turn off your lights when possible. Open the blinds in the morning and the evening (or all day long in the winter months) to let in as much natural light as possible.

3. Anything that is plugged into a socket is using electricity even when it is not powered on. Unplug everything when not in use. Make sure that all of your electronics are on a surge protector. This will help you to quickly unplug them.

4. If you live somewhere where there is more than 1 electricity provider, shop around. You might be paying more than necessary.

5. If you wash on hot or warm water, switch to cold water for everything but underwear, socks, towels and sheets.

6. Only run your dryer at night in the summertime. It really heats up your house and makes your A/C work overtime. Also make sure you clean your dryer venting to cut down on the amount of heat it produces.

7. Use ceiling fans but only when you are in the room. Ceiling fans merely move the air around making you feel cooler as the air moves over your skin. They do not cool the air. If ceiling fans run when the room is empty, it is wasting energy.

8. Turn down the temperature of your water heater. It doesn’t need to be more than 120 degrees Fahrenheit.

9. Put a lamp on a timer in the main room of your house to turn on when the sun sets and to shut off when you go to bed. This will keep you from needing to turn on the overhead lights.

10. Make sure your air filters are clean. Check with the manufacturer of your equipment or with your utility company to see how often filters on your units need to be cleaned.

11. Check your house for air leaks and seal them with products available at your local home improvement store.

12. Don’t put furniture and other things in front of heating and air conditioning vents.

13. Leave the interior doors of your home open as often as possible so that airflow is not restricted. Close closet doors if the closet does not have an air vent.

14. Make sure that outdoor lighting is turned off during the day. Use motion-detectors lights or timer switches.

15. Turn off the water when you are brushing your teeth and take shorter showers. This will not only save water, but it will also save the electricity it takes to pump and heat the water.

16. Decide what you want from the refrigerator or freezer before you open it so you do not waste electricity by standing there and looking with the door open.

17. Vacuum the coils of your refrigerator every few months in order to lower your energy bill and to keep the condenser working better.

18. Use a slow cooker instead of your oven, especially in the warmer months of the year.

19. Clean the lint filter of your dryer after every load.

20. Perform activities such as mopping and washing dishes in the coolest part of the day. Not only do these activities add heat and moisture to the air, they also increase your body temperature and it might tempt you to turn the air conditioning down so you can cool off.

21. Run the exhaust fan in your bathroom for 20-30 minutes after baths and showers. This will remove the moisture from the air and keep the a/c from needing to cool the room back down.

22. Make sure the fan on your a/c unit is set to auto instead of on. It only needs to run when necessary, not 24/7.

23.. Run your kitchen exhaust fan to remove excess heat, moisture, and cooking odors for 15 minutes after using the stove top. Make sure you don’t run it any longer than that or it will be removing cool air from the home.

24. Open and close your exterior doors quickly and as little as possible. Every time you open the door, heated or cooled air escapes and your unit has to run harder to compensate for the lost air. Do not open your windows unless your unit is turned off.

25. Remember that dark colors absorb heat. You can repel excess heat by using light-colored blinds, shades, and draperies on the sunny sides of the house.

Find out all the ways to save with our helpful Savings Bingo!

How To Easily Save 50% Off Your Grocery Bill

By SaraAuger on February 28, 2023 at 2:18 pm

Do you love to save money? Me too! Today I have tips on how to cut your grocery bill in half each time you shop. Learn how I took my $104.46 grocery bill down to $50.32.

Tips:

Shop Sales – I saved $36.28 JUST by shopping sales
Rewards App – Does your grocery store have an app? It is worth a download for extra savings.
Print Coupons from Swagbucks – Not only do I save money by using coupons, Swagbucks pays me 1sb per coupon print and 25sb per coupon redemption!
Multiplied Coupons – If your grocery store doubles coupons, this is a great way to save additional money.
Receipt Apps – The savings doesn’t end when I leave the store, instead I head home and earn cash back through various receipt scanning apps!

Apps I scanned to:

$0.14 from Coinout
2sb ($0.02) from SB Answer App
$0.75 from ibotta
111 points from Fetch Rewards
Scanned to ReceiptPal
Scanned to Receipt Hog
$1.00 back from Swagbucks (for using 4 printable coupons)

Total before these tips: $104.46
After sales, app savings & coupons: $52.23
Grand Total after apps: $50.32

Complimentary Card From Hallmark Each Month

By SaraAuger on January 14, 2023 at 7:40 am

I like to keep a stack of cards on hand, just in case. Even better, these cards cost me nothing! Learn how to get your FREE card from Hallmark each month! Do this deal all year and save $35.88.

Join Hallmark Rewards for nothing and sign up for email promotions. Then each month (on the 1st) look for this email to redeem your FREE card. Shop in-store for a card valued at $1.99-$2.99 and pay nothing.

You also get a coupon for $5 off a $10 purchase when you join.

In September, I chose the butterfly card, and it is blank inside, perfect to have on hand for any occasion!

Learn more Money Savings Tips! We are here to help you Save to Survive in 2022 with creative ways to trim your budget, save on groceries, afford Christmas gifts and more. Join the SavEars community of friends.

Want to chat about a Disney vacation? Travel Agents (at no cost to you) are ready to help in the SavEars group.

How To Save On Eggs

By SaraAuger on January 12, 2023 at 8:38 pm

Eggs are a necessity for many, and many have felt the crunch on the increasing egg prices. Read these 5 tips to save on eggs!

Ask for coupons. Read this: Tips To Get Companies To Mail F-R-E-E Coupons and then write to your favorite egg companies. Recently, I wrote to Eggland’s Best asking for some and they sent me coupons in the mail! It only takes a few minutes and the extra savings is always nice. The worst they can say is no.

Get $0.02 back for buying eggs. If you have a receipt with a dozen eggs or bigger on it, submit it to Swagbucks and earn $0.02 cash back! Valid on a dozen or more eggs, any brand or variety. Under magic receipts, they often have a $0.02 any egg offer.

Stock up at lowest price. This is a golden coupon rule, that is harder to follow with perishables. Even so, there are ways to preserve eggs if you come across a great deal. Consider looking up recipes to dehydrate eggs or how to freeze egg mixtures to prolong the life of eggs.

Shop Drug Stores & Dollar Stores. At my local grocery store, eggs start at $4.49/dozen. At my local Family Dollar, they are currently $2.50/dozen! Consider stopping by your local dollar store or drug store to check out pricing on eggs. Many shoppers overlook the fact that these stores carry eggs.

Loss Leaders. Look for eggs as loss leaders at your local stores by browsing weekly ads. A loss leader is a marketing stradegy used by grocery stores where they sell an item at a price that actually loses them money! The reason they will do this is to get you in the store, and then hope that you buy more while there. Look for loss leaders most often on the first page of grocery store ads. Also look for egg sales in weekly drug and dollar stores. Walgreens has had in-store coupons in the past in their weekly ads on eggs.

Plus check out these 5 egg substitutes you have at home (maybe!).

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9 Surprising Uses For Coffee Filters

By SaraAuger on January 9, 2023 at 6:37 pm

Coffee filters are relatively expensive for a large amount of them. Consider these alternative uses for coffee filters around your home to save money and time!

1. Cleaning glass & chrome. Coffee filters are streak free, making them great cleaning mirrors and windows.

2. Cooking fried foods. Instead of using a paper towel, use coffee filters to absorb grease when cooking fried foods. Such as for bacon or chicken fingers.

3. Strainer. You can then use a coffee filter as a strainer to save frying oil! This same method can be used for straining soup stock.

4. Coffee Filter crafts. A simple google or Pinterest search will get you many ideas for crafting with coffee filters. Perfect for frugal craft ideas with the kids.

5. Microwave cover. Use a coffee filter to cover a bowl when reheating splatter hazards in the microwave.

6. Storing China. Place a coffee filter in between China plates when storing, to prevent damage.

7. Christmas Ornaments. Give your ornaments an extra layer of protection with coffee filters as a wrap.

8. Polish Remover. Ran out of cotton balls? Give a coffee filter a try next time to remove nail polish.

9. Preserve Cast Iron. Place a filter inside your cast iron pans to prevent rust and absorb moisture.

Do you have any to add to this list?!

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7 Tips To Shop Holiday Food Clearance

By SaraAuger on January 3, 2023 at 5:31 pm

Now that the holidays are over, holiday clearance is in full swing. Today, we have tips for shopping holiday food clearance! Have you found any good deals lately?

1. Look for food and beverage clearance at your local grocery store. Many will run to Target or Walmart, however, do not overlook your local grocery store for holiday food clearance. Seasonal flavors such as pumpkin and peppermint are now likely 50% off or more. Stock up on items you will use.

2. Check the expiration date. When shopping food and beverage clearance, double check the expiration date and only buy how many you can used before then.

3. Look for rebates or coupon matchups to save even more. I had a $2/1 Dannon Light & Fit 4-pack peelie coupon in my stash that I put to good use. Select flavors were 50% off $4.99, after the $2 coupon I paid just $0.50 for a 4 pack of yogurts.

4. Consider your storage space. Does it need to be refrigerated? Can it be frozen? Is it a shelf-staple? Depending on the answers to these questions and the dedicated space you have, will determine how much to purchase when you see a stock-up price.

5. Know your stock up prices. An advantage of knowing your store is you get to know low prices on items you buy frequently. When you see something at its lowest price, it’s time to stock up.

6. Only purchase items you will use. Do not buy just because something is on clearance. Use clearance as a source to purchase items you already need.

7. Ask an employee when they do markdowns. Knowing your stores markdown schedule means best selection on clearance for future markdowns.

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23 Apps & Sites To Earn In 2023

By SaraAuger on January 1, 2023 at 7:40 pm

Incorporating money earning apps and sites into your daily routine is a great way to start 2023. Earn cash and gift cards for purchases you need or want, with nothing out of pocket. I suggest testing out many on this list and see which ones work best for you! Happy earnings in 2023!

1. Coinout

Have you heard of CoinOut? Add this receipt scanning app to your routine to earn cash back. This app was first featured on Shark Tank! It is quick and easy and a great addition to my other receipt scanning apps. Scan any and every receipt! This app accepts all receipts with very little exceptions. Cannot be older than 2 weeks. I’ve gotten up to 20 cents per receipt! Typical is 2-10 cents. There is no minimum to cash out for Amazon or Zelle and a $20 minimum for PayPal.

2. Receipt Hog

Get real rewards for your receipts by downloading Receipt Hog! Choose from an Amazon or Visa gift card or cash out to PayPal. Types of store receipts accepted include supermarkets, convenience stores, club stores, liquor stores, dollar stores, drug stores, toy stores, pet supply stores and more. We even had a win a $100 On Receipt Hog!

3. Receipt Pal

Earn points, enter sweepstakes and redeem for rewards with Receipt Pal! Fill Receipt Cards – Scan 4 valid receipts to fill one card = 100 points. Fill all 4 cards each week and earn 400 points. New cards appear on Sundays.

4. Swagbucks Live

Swagbucks Live is a live trivia app, play along on iPhone or Android. Players can win bonus sb for answering trivia questions, get them all correct and split the grand prize! Swagbucks offers live games at 8pm ET/5pm PT Monday – Thursday and Fridays at 3pm ET/12pm PT. Download Swagbucks Live and login with your Swagbucks info.

Typically the grand prize is at $1,000, split between winners. Occasionally the grand prize will be $2,500 or more for special lives.

5. Swagit

Swagit is the newest addition needed to complete your daily Swagbucks To-Do List (Gift SB through Swagit).

What is Swagit!?? It is a media platform launched by Swagbucks in May, 2021. Swagbucks users can follow each other, and share and watch each other’s videos.

How It Works:

Install the Swagit App
Log into the Swagit App with your Swagbucks credentials (sign up for Swagbucks first you have not)
Check out the videos your fellow Swaggernauts posted
Gift at least 1 SB to a video of your choice (Click on the blue Swagbucks icon circle on the right of the video, Pick how many SB you want to gift, Swipe up to finalize the gift)
Mark off this item on your To-Do List + gift at least 1 SB through Swagit you’ll get a 2 SB Bonus, up to 5 times every day!

6. Swagbucks Answer

Rack up SB faster on-the-go with Swagbucks Answer! This app has a handy list of surveys that refresh often. Give your opinion and earn SB! Also in this app is a feature I use often, and that is uploading any in-store receipt. Earn 2 SB for each valid receipt scanned.

7. Tada

Tada is another app by prodege (owner of Swagbucks). Earn cash back when you shop in-store and online, valid at many retailers! Check this app often for offers and then scan your receipt to earn.

8. Swagbucks

The main SB app is simply named Swagbucks. Here you can answer the daily poll, find hot Discover offers, games to play and more! I use this app often to check on my to-do-list progress and daily goal progress. This app is a great companion to earn SB on the go.

9. Checkout 51

Here is another app to help with grocery costs. Earn cash back from Checkout 51 when you add offers, buy the product and upload your receipt! Offers reset each Thursday at midnight (shop new offers Thursday through Wednesday at 11:59pm). One of my favorite things about this app is most offers are not store specific and can be bought from any store (unless specified on offer). Offers do have a limit, grab any hot offers soon after the week resets.

10. eBay

Make Extra Cash: Sell Unwanted Items On eBay. Are you starting to clean home and finding items you no longer want or need? Download the eBay app and start listing items today, read these tips.

11. Microsoft Rewards

Earn with Microsoft Rewards simply by changing your search engine to Bing. Earn daily by searching! Earn quicker by searching the daily maximum on a computer and mobile phone. Also, be sure to visit the dashboard for bonus opportunities to earn.

12. ibotta

Cash back with ibotta. Have you downloaded ibotta yet? This is one of my biggest earners from the apps I use for grocery and household good savings. Check for bonuses often, many times there will be multiple bonuses that can be stacked together to maximize earnings!

13. Fetch Rewards

Another great grocery savings app is Fetch Rewards! Turn grocery receipts into points and points into gift cards. Learn more with Earn Money Back with Fetch Rewards!

14. Shopkick

Have you started earning with Shopkick yet? Get points for discovering brands and more, rack up points for simply walking into select stores!

15. VerizonUp

If you are a Verizon Phone customer, earn credits to redeem for rewards for paying your bill monthly. Check to see if your wireless provider has a rewards program! I know T-Mobile does for their customers as well.

16. MyPoints

Earn from Mypoints by watching videos, taking surveys etc. They also own Swagbucks. This works best from the website (not app). Plus, sign up for email offers often worth 5 points just for clicking through. Redeem for PayPal or Gift Cards (gift cards are a better deal points wise).

17. Disney Movie Insiders

Check your Disney DVDs or Blu-rays for codes, worth points. Submit them on your Disney movie insiders account, look for other special codes on facebook or activities to earn such as submitting movie tickets. You can then save up enough points to redeem for a Disney Gift Card.

18. Sparkling Ice Rewards

Simply join Sparkling Ice Rewards today. Then earn punches for completing activities and purchasing Sparkling Ice drinks. There are 1-3 question surveys and a poll to earn. I was able to earn 4 punches with activities and then bought one Sparkling Ice (for $1.00) to earn a $5 Amazon gift card this month.

19. Field Agent

Field Agent is another free app, that earns real money – by completing mystery shopping tasks. Jobs will be listed by category and distance in the app. If you plan on running errands, see if there are any jobs to complete nearby. Stores include Walmart, Target, Home Depot and more. Simply answer questions and take pictures, there are job descriptions you can read over before accepting a task. Cash out to PayPal at any amount.

20. Sell your Books

Have any old text books/books lying around? Cash4books.net is a family owned company that will buy your old books from you. Start by entering the ISBN to see what they are worth, and shipping is free! Just provide a box, securely package the books, print pre-paid postage and send it out. Payment is via PayPal. Read FAQ’s.

@Rakuten

21. Rakuten

Have you heard of Rakuten? Earn cash back just for shopping online as you normally would.

Plus, New Members score a $10 Welcome Bonus now!

Details: To qualify for a Welcome Bonus, you must be a new Member and make minimum qualifying purchases
totaling at least twenty-five dollars ($25) within ninety (90) days of becoming a Member.

22. Sell your Crafts

If you are crafty, this can earn extra cash as well. Set up an Etsy shop and see how you do!

23. Swagbucks

We mentioned the Swagbucks app previously, if you are new, start with their website. Read this Beginners Guide To Earn With Swagbucks. This is one of my biggest earners. Learn how I Earned $150 In One Month On Swagbucks!

Want to chat about a Disney vacation? Travel Agents (at no cost to you) are ready to help in the SavEars group.

5 Money Saving Things To Do In January

By SaraAuger on December 27, 2022 at 3:50 pm

It’s almost a new year and time to start fresh! Here are 5 things to do in January to start the year right.

1. Track Spending for One Month

Make a commitment to track your spending for one month. It is OK to spend normally, as long as you are tracking it throughout one whole month. Then, at the end of the month see where most of your spending is going and what areas you can cut back on to add to your savings.

2. Shop Christmas Clearance

Wait for items to clearance out to 75% off or even 90% off and stock up. CVS and Dollar General are 2 stores that go down to 90% off. Make a list of any birthdays or special occasions you will be buying for throughout the year. Then, wait for deep discounts to score gifts for a fraction of the price.

3. Negotiate Lower Rates

Have you been consistently making payments on a credit card? Being in good standing is a good time to negotiate a lower rate, simply call and ask if you qualify for a lower interest rate. The worst that can happen is they say no. Also, look at an itemized cell phone, cable, etc. bills to see if anything can be cut out.

4. Check for unclaimed money

One in ten are owed money they forgot about or didn’t know about! Go to National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators to search for your unclaimed property. It costs nothing to search.

5. Reconsider Subscription Services

Make a list of all current add-on or subscription services you currently have. Can you live without any of them? If yes, that is more money monthly that can do to savings or debt payments.

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Use Up Bits & Pieces Of Food To Make Snack Packs

By SaraAuger on December 15, 2022 at 3:34 pm

I was going through my lunch meat drawer in my fridge the other day and found bits and pieces of food.

There was 1/4 of a sliced pepperoni package left, a small piece of smoked sausage and less than half a wedge of cheese. No one was eating these as they were. That is until I cut and divided them up into snack packs! Fruits and veggies are another perfect item to prep into snack packs!

It is much more likely to be eaten and requires just a small amount of prep time. Plus, it saves money by using up what we already have.

Want to chat about a Disney vacation? Travel Agents (at no cost to you) are ready to help in the SavEars group.

I Wrote To 40 Companies For Coupons & Here’s What Happened

By SaraAuger on December 12, 2022 at 7:40 pm

I wrote to 40 companies asking for coupons, and here’s what happened. See my list and which one was my favorite. Tips to Get Companies to mail you FREE coupons was recently posted and has always been a staple of the Couponing to Disney way.

I got many no’s, but many companies sent coupons and quickly as well! It was fun getting the mail and seeing 2-3 responses at a time filled with these gems, paper coupons.

I decided to take a break as many companies had stated they do not have their 2023 coupons out yet, so most of these expire the end of 2022. I will resume writing to companies after the new year for 2023 coupons!

Companies I wrote to:

7UP (no response)
Airwick (no response)
Aleve (No)
Alexia (Yes)
Al Fresco (Yes)
Apple & Eve (No)
Arnold (no response)
Arm & Hammer (no response)
Axe (no response)
Bagel Bites (no response)
Ball Park (Yes)
Band-Aid (No)
Barilla (Yes)
Bear Naked (No)
Ben & Jerry’s (No)
Blue Diamond (Yes, emailed)
Bolthouse (Yes)
Brach’s (Yes)
Breyer’s (No)
Blistex (Yes)
Burt’s Bees (No)
Bush’s Beans (Yes)
Cabot (no response)
Chobani (Yes)
Clif Bar (no response)
Clorox (No)
Del Monte (No)
Dial (Yes)
Eggland’s Best (Yes)
Entenmann’s (no response)
Florida’s Natural (no response)
Folgers (no response)
Glad (No)
Hungry Jack (Yes)
IBC Rootbeer (no response)
Idahoan (no response)
JIF (No)
Hidden Valley (no response)
Jimmy Dean (Yes)
Screamin Sicilian (Yes)

My favorite one was Chobani! They sent many coupons AND a handwritten card.

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Use Last Bit Of Hand Soap To Clean Sink

By SaraAuger on December 6, 2022 at 7:44 pm

I’m always trying to keep up with a clean home and finding clever hacks that save time or money.

Today, I am telling a clever hack to use up the last bit of your hand soap.

Even though the container looks like it only has a drop or two left, there are plenty of suds to be had. Simply fill with water and pour in your bathroom sink, wipe clean with a cloth or rag! I will also dump last bit down the toilet, scrub and flush.

Do you do this?

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5 Money Traps To Avoid While Christmas Shopping

By SaraAuger on December 5, 2022 at 6:52 pm

With the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping, here are 5 money traps to avoid. Stores know consumers are in full swing shopping mode and may rush purchases. Make wise decisions this holiday season and do not do these 5 things.

1. Store Credit Discounts

During checkout most big retailers will ask you if you have a store card, and if you sign up you can save X amount today. Politely decline, as the interest rate on the store cards are not worth the one-time savings.

2. Extended Warranties

Buy an electronic, an appliance and more and you will be asked if you want an extended warranty. Instead of doing this, know the condition of your current items and start funds for those that will need replacing in the next couple of years.

3. Gift Wrapping

If it’s not complimentary, then do it yourself. Exception, if it’s being donated to a non-profit, check with your accountant if it can be a tax write off.

4. Quicker Shipping

Plan ahead to avoid having to pay up for shipping. The faster you need it, the more it will cost. Plan ahead!

5. Paying For It Later

Avoid putting gifts on credit cards or buy now, pay later plans. Both can have hidden expenses that make it not worth it if you miss a payment. Instead, only buy what you can afford to pay for now.

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Make Your Own Note Pad w/ Scrap Paper & Clip

By SaraAuger on December 3, 2022 at 12:02 pm

I’m a list maker and love having a small notebook handy for everyday to-do lists. Here is a hack to make your own notebook for next to nothing!

Materials:

Scrap Paper
A Binder Clip (check your junk drawer!)

To Make:

Check junk mail, kids school notices and more that have a clean back side. Cut paper in four’s, clip at the top!

Simple, yet functional!

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20 Ways To Save Money Right Now

By SaraAuger on November 10, 2022 at 3:22 pm

Are you looking for ways to save money?! Here are 20 ideas!

1. Use Pine-Sol for multiple things around the house. Pine-Sol is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved product for disinfecting. Use to clean most surfaces in your home, and more. Here are 5 uses for Pine-Sol you may not have thought of!

2. Get a FREE card or item from Hallmark. I like to keep a stack of cards on hand, just in case. Even better, these cards cost me nothing! Learn how to get your FREE card from Hallmark each month!

3. Save on Family Entertainment. Life is no fun with all work and no play. Spending time together does not have to cost a fortune. Save money while still creating family memories! Such as National Parks do Free Entrance Days. Here are 10 Ideas To Save On Family Entertainment.

4. Less food waste. Do you have veggies in your fridge on the verge of wilting? Instead of them going to waste, use them up in a hot meal! Commit to less food waste to save! Use up vegetables, fruit and leftovers to stretch your dollar.

5. Sign up for rewards from stores you shop. Signing up for retail loyalty programs can certainly be worthwhile and rewarding! Here are 5 to sign up for now that allow me to shop for FREE.

6. Switch to generic brands and save. Not all generic brands are created equal, however many are just as good or better than the name brand. Try switching up some of your most used brands to generic brands to save big on your shopping list.

7. Cut costs around your home by using items you already have (or can buy on the cheap) in creative ways! Such as these 12 DIY Uses For Baking Soda To Save Money.

8. Shop Aldi. If you have one nearby, it is worth it. Read 18 items I love to buy from Aldi!

9. Write to companies for coupons. A tried-and-true way to save money is with coupons. Read these Tips To Get Companies To Mail F-R-E-E Coupons.

10. Make Extra Cash: Sell Unwanted Items On eBay. Are you starting to clean home and finding items you no longer want or need? Download the eBay app and start listing items today, read these tips.

11. Earn with Microsoft Rewards simply by changing your search engine to Bing. Earn daily by searching! Earn quicker by searching the daily maximum on a computer and mobile phone. Also, be sure to visit the dashboard for bonus opportunities to earn.

12. Stock up on cheap tarps, flashlights and more with this simple tip. Get cheap household items by signing up for Harbor Freight Tools FREE Insider club membership.

13. Grow your own veggies. Last summer we planted sugar snap peas, tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, zucchini and summer squash! We also have blueberry bushes.

14. Save condiment packages. When visiting fast food, save your condiment packages and put them to good use!

@ClipArtLibrary

15. Did you know you can get a FREE credit report yearly? Federal law allows anyone to obtain a free copy of your credit report, every 12 months, from each credit reporting company (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax).

16. Free gift tags, Look for specially marked boxes during the holidays for FREE gift tags!

17. Cash back with ibotta. Have you downloaded ibotta yet? This is one of my biggest earners from the apps I use for grocery and household good savings.

18. Cash back with Checkout 51. Here is another app to help with grocery costs. Earn cash back from Checkout 51 when you add offers, buy the product and upload your receipt!

19. Have you heard of CoinOut? Add this receipt scanning app to your routine to earn cash back. This app was first featured on Shark Tank!

20. Earn points, enter sweepstakes and redeem for rewards with Receipt Pal! Learn how to maximize your earnings with this receipt scanning app now.

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Commit To Less Food Waste & Save (Ideas For Vegetables)

By SaraAuger on October 30, 2022 at 7:31 am

Do you have veggies in your fridge on the verge of wilting? Instead of them going to waste, use them up in a hot meal! Commit to less food waste to save! Use up vegetables, fruit and leftovers to stretch your dollar.

I always have good intentions when I buy vegetables, however I have been guilty of vegetable food waste. To save money, I am committing to less food waste.

Ideas for Vegetables:

In you want to do the same, here are some ideas to get you started on what to do with vegetables that need to be used. They are great to add to soups and on top of Ramen Noodles. Dice them up and place in an omelet and have breakfast for dinner. Cut up carrots, celery and broccoli and keep in the fridge for snacks. Kids and I are much more likely to munch on veggies when they are prepped and easily grabbable!

What is your favorite way to use up vegetables?

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7 Clever Uses For Magazine Perfume Samples

By SaraAuger on October 24, 2022 at 7:28 pm

Inside magazines are often perfume samples. Many just pass by these samples and not think twice about them. However, here are some clever hacks to make them useful!

Read this list to score FREE magazines. Now, read 7 clever uses for magazine perfume samples!

1. Frangrance for your bathroom – place an opened sample inside your toilet paper roll for fragrance in your bathroom!

2. Place a sample in your clothing drawer – Consider placing a sample inside your sock/delicate drawer for a sweet scent when opened.

3. Rub on a stuffed animal or plush keychain – Make a stuffed animal or plush keychain smell pretty!

4. Put in your purse/gym bag – Pick your favorite scent and keep it in your purse or gym bag for a burst of scent.

5. Sneakers – If your sneakers are smelling less than best, place a perfume sample inside.

6. Make a Letter or Card smell fantastic – Getting mail is still exciting and making it smell pretty is a perfect touch!

7. Wear them – Of course you can always save them up and wear a different one each day! Yesterday, I smelt like Versace!

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5 Retail Reward Programs That Let You Shop For FREE

By SaraAuger on October 21, 2022 at 6:11 pm

Signing up for retail loyalty programs can certainly be worthwhile and rewarding! Here are 5 to sign up for now that allow me to shop for FREE.

Ace Hardware – Sign up for their rewards program and then download the app, link your account and get a FREE $5 reward! They also send $5 on your birthday.

Eddie Bauer Adventure Rewards – Sign up to earn 500 pts, that is $5 to spend online or in-store. I have also gotten random $10 reward emails to spend as I choose!

Express – Join Express Insider and earn points on every purchase, plus complete your profile to earn points too! They occasionally send me $5 or $10 for FREE.

Victoria’s Secret – Another company that sends me FREE cash to their store is Victoria’s Secret. If you are not on the email list, sign up now! They also send a birthday coupon.

Bath & Body Works – In the last couple of months I have gotten a coupon for a FREE hand sanitizer and a FREE full-size item! This month I received a coupon for a FREE body care gift (up to an $8.50 value). Be sure to get on this email and mailing list now.

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15 Side Hustles To Earn Extra Cash

By SaraAuger on October 20, 2022 at 4:21 pm

Earn extra cash for Christmas shopping by starting a side hustle. Here are 15 ideas! I have personally done 5 on this list myself.

1. Sell baked goods – If you love baking, turn it into a side business. Look for craft fairs in your area to set up a table.

2. Sell your Crafts – If you are crafty, this can earn extra cash as well and also worth looking into craft shows or church sales to set up at. Etsy is another platform to sell your crafts.

3. Become a DoorDash Driver – Driving for DoorDash is flexible, set your own hours and earn extra cash. Plus, sign up through Swagbucks for a limited time and earn an additional 10,000 SB (= $100)!

4. Babysitting – Offering your home as a safe space for kiddos during the day while parents are working or in the evening for date nights can bring in extra cash.

5. Walk Dogs or Pet Sit – Similar to babysitting, only for pets. Many pet owners look at them as just as much part of their family as their children. Check out PetSitter or advertise in a local FB group.

6. Sell Photographs or sessions – Do you own a nice camera? Start snapping some photos to sell, such as on Getty Images or Shutterstock. Or, offer family/graduation/special event photo sessions to earn.

7. Clean Houses – Set up a local cleaning business by advertising on local FB groups or craigslist. This requires a small startup fee to stock up on cleaning supplies.

8. Clean Cars – If cleaning a whole house seems overwhelming, try starting with car cleaning. It is one of those things people love but hate to do themselves!

9. Mow Lawns – If you own a lawnmower and have an eye for landscaping, this can be a great side income.

10. Start A YouTube Channel – Do you love doing makeup? Traveling? Crafting? Think of a niche you can use to create videos and start a channel.

11. Transcriber – This is a work from home job that you can create your own hours, check out transcriber jobs on TranscribeMe.

12. Deliver Groceries – Check out Instacart as an opportunity to buy and deliver groceries. This is another opportunity to work around your current schedule and create your own hours.

13. Offer Music Lessons – Are you talented musically? Guitar, piano lessons and more are in high demand. Share your knowledge and get paid for it.

14. Resell – Resell items you can find for cheap and earn a profit. Shop at thrift stores, church sales and yard sales to find inventory and then sell on Poshmark, eBay or WhatNot.

15. Take Surveys – Get paid for your opinion on sites such as Swagbucks and MyPoints. Check out other offers on these sites to earn even more!

Want to chat about a Disney vacation? Travel Agents (at no cost to you) are ready to help in the SavEars group.

Switch To Generic Brands To Save Your Hard-Earned Money

By SaraAuger on October 15, 2022 at 9:02 pm

Not all generic brands are created equal, however many are just as good or better than the name brand. Try switching up some of your most used brands to generic brands to save big on your shopping list.

One SavEar shared her experience with a store brand of motion sickness medicine! Read it now:

Let’s talk motion sickness: for YEARS, I’ve taken chewable meclizine 25mg for HORRIBLE motion sickness-the kind that’s so bad, you almost get paramedics called on you at Epcot. The results were…okay, but not great.

Well, this trip, I forgot to buy my chewable meclizine, and ended up at a Walmart in Orlando looking for it. They didn’t have any, so I bought these pills instead, and all I can say is, I’ll NEVER buy the chewables again! These things are AMAZING! I rode Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run, AND Avatar: Flight of Passage without closing my eyes a single time! For me, that’s HUUUUUUGE! I took 3 pills each morning, about an hour before park opening, and I was good all day long! 5 stars, highly recommend! Oh, and they’re cheap, only $1.82 per box! ETA: No, they don’t make me drowsy at all.

Thank you for sharing, Donna M.!

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12 DIY Uses For Baking Soda To Save Money

By SaraAuger on October 15, 2022 at 4:34 pm

One way to cut costs around your home is to use items you already have (or can buy on the cheap) in creative ways! Today we are discussing 12 Uses for Baking Soda to Save Money.

1. Use in your humidifier. Simply add 2 TSPs of baking soda to your humidifier water to get rid of any musty smells.

2. Freshen up mattresses. If you need to eliminate urine smells, sprinkle baking soda topped with a vinegar spritz and use a wet/dry vac to clean up.

3. Clean your coffee pot. Use baking soda and run hot water through a full cycle to clean your coffee pot. Then rinse with warm water.

4. Get rid of fresh Carpet Stains. Sprinkle baking soda over the stain and let it soak up, then vacuum clean.

5. For Ice & Snow. If you have a buildup of ice and snow outside your door, sprinkle baking soda to use as traction and prevent slipping.

6. Bathroom cleaner for tub and sink. Baking soda makes a great soft scrub for cleaning your bathroom.

7. Laundry. Skip the chemicals in other deodorizes and use baking soda to eliminate odors by placing a cup in with your detergent.

8. Mouth Guard cleanser. Use 2 TSP of baking soda in water water to soak and clean sports mouth guards.

9. Freshen Breath. Did you know you can make a freshen breath recipe using 1 TSP of baking soda in a glass of water? Swish as normal.

10. Tooth whitening. There are a number of easy recipes to find online that use baking soda as an ingredient for a natural tooth whitening mix.

11. Toilet Clearner. Mix 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup of water to use as a toilet bowl cleaner.

12. Non-Toxic Deodorant. Make your own non toxic deodorant by mixing 1/4 cup of baking soda, 1/4 cup of cornstarch, 5-6 TBS of Coconut oil and 5-6 drops of essential oils. Combine and then put in a jar or old deodorant stick, let harden in fridge.

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This Way for More Posts >>

Tips:

Apps I scanned to:

1. Coinout

2. Receipt Hog

3. Receipt Pal

4. Swagbucks Live

5. Swagit

6. Swagbucks Answer

7. Tada

8. Swagbucks

9. Checkout 51

10. eBay

11. Microsoft Rewards

12. ibotta

13. Fetch Rewards

14. Shopkick

15. VerizonUp

16. MyPoints

17. Disney Movie Insiders

18. Sparkling Ice Rewards

19. Field Agent

20. Sell your Books

21. Rakuten

22. Sell your Crafts

23. Swagbucks

1. Track Spending for One Month

2. Shop Christmas Clearance

3. Negotiate Lower Rates

4. Check for unclaimed money

5. Reconsider Subscription Services

Companies I wrote to:

1. Store Credit Discounts

2. Extended Warranties

3. Gift Wrapping

4. Quicker Shipping

5. Paying For It Later

Materials:

To Make:

Ideas for Vegetables:

Categories

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