holidays

Hello again, savvy savers! If you are anything like me, than you are always looking for extra ways to widdle down your family budget. I myself am always looking for the next steal-of-a-deal out there, and sometimes I get so bogged down by looking for the best deals that I forget to keep my eyes peeled for the stuff out there that’s completely free. Fear not–that stuff still exists, and there is a lot of it! So for this weeks Wednesday Ways To Save, here is your ultimate guide to the top 10 things in 2015 that you should be getting for free.

1. Kids eat free: As the average American family has three children, going out can be a drain on the wallet; this is also the reason so many financial gurus, such as Dave Ramsey, advise against going out. Thankfully, there are about 78 restaurants that offer nights where kids can eat completely free! I have complied a list, here, where kids eat free with any adult purchase. So, if you take into consideration the cost of two cheaper adult options, with water as a drink, free meals for the kiddos, and gratuity, than its often cheaper to eat out than to cook at home for higher ticket meal items such as ribs, steak, seafood, and buffets.  
2.  Shipping: Many of the best deals don’t require you even stepping foot inside a store, and the cost of shipping should not be a deal breaker this year for you. Before you place an order be sure to check sites such as RetailMeNot, get a 30-day pass from ShopRunner, or call your stores customer service line, which usually will give you free ship codes for your trouble! 
3.  Free access to warehouse clubs: Warehouse clubs like Sam’s Club, Costco and BJ’s all make you pay to shop at their locations, and often times the memberships are well worth the investment; especially if you throw a Living Social or Groupon membership deal into the mix. However, anyone can shop at these warehouses for free simply by requesting a day pass at the customer service desk! Please note that as you are not a member, you will be required to load the funds you will pay to a gift card that is specific to the store you’re shopping at; this is also a great tool to keep your budget while shopping in-club! Consider using a portion of tax returns, and a free one-day pass, to attend your local warehouse club, and buy a years worth of meats for freezer cooking meals, upcoming holidays, and the like! 
4. Amazon Prime: Everyone can get a free 30-day trial of Amazon Prime, so everyone should be taking advantage of it! Sign up for your free Amazon Prime trial, here!
5. Free eBooks and audiobooks:  More and more eBooks are becoming free. Audible.com offers one free audiobook and a free 30-day trial of their service for first-time users. You can also access a ton of free audiobooks on Librivox. Also checkout this post for 101 free Amazon e-books, here!
6. Free gift cards: There are so many ways to earn free gift cards, so why not take advantage of all of these ways to get them? Applications like Ibotta, Snap by Groupon, and Checkout51, will all allow you to earn gift cards just for uploading your receipts. You can also earn gift cards easily with Bing. You can also earn points for cards by taking online surveys, using Swagbucks, Viggle, ExpoTv, Recyclebank, or Crowdtap, too! 
7. Free video-streaming: Last year I decided to cut the cable and it’s been such a great decision, as I’ve been able to save my family $1,344.00; you can read about this journey, here. If you’re still unsure about whether this should be your next move or not—then you should give it a try for free! You can do a trial of video-streaming services for free like Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime Instant Video. In fact, I actually prefer streaming, can customize my shows, and not expose my family to unnecessary commercials! I also use savings from iBotta and Checkout51, by way of paypal account earnings, to pay for my subscriptions monthly, too! 
8. Free magazine subscriptions: I never pay for magazines, with the exception of All You, which I purchase through offers listed when subscribing to free magazines! Be sure to check out my Free Magazine Section, here! 
9. Free photography sessions: Need to send photos to the grandparents of your newborn baby? Getting married this Spring? Photography can be so expensive, but you don’t have to pay to keep those memories. You can search Craigslist, local Facebook groups, or check your local college and university’s arts department for photographers who need to build a portfolio. For smaller engagements where you will be taking the photos yourself, checkout Groovebook for 100 free prints with the code, LADYGROOVE!
10. Personal hygiene items: If you follow many of my daily deal and weekend drugstore shopping scenario posts, you know that there are many personal care items that can be scored for free! Just as a reminder—oral care, travel size items, glucose meters, printer paper and other personal items can be completely free.

So, be sure to join me this year and vow to not spend unnecessary funds this year on the above mentioned items! Your pocketbook will be happier, your stockpile stocked, and your home running smoother than ever before!

Here’s to saving,

Hello again, savvy savers! The holidays are almost over, and you know what that means, After-Christmas sales!

For anyone on a budget, after-Christmas sales are a perfect opportunity to get all the gifts that Santa forgot to bring, staples for next years get-togethers, school functions, and the like, often at 50 to 70% off. Unlike Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales which seek to mark the beginning of holiday shopping, the real savvy savers know that the true sales come after  Old St. Nick!

However, not all bargains are made equally, and when your budget is tight and every penny counts.

Use these tips to spend as little as possible while getting the best and final bang for your buck this holiday season:

1. Look for luxury. The day after Christmas will find luxury home good, small appliances, linens, and coats drastically reduced; be sure to not return policies for these sales!
2. Plan A Strategy. After-Christmas sales are a great time to buy basics, especially for work. Stores are trying to clear out darker colors to make way for spring pastels. Before heading out to the store, look online for coupons, deals, apps, and try to match these deals with holiday gift cards. 
3. Think Big. This is a good time to buy big ticket items, if that is what you really need, but it also a good time to go shopping at bigger stores. End-of-year deals on TVs, stereos, and tablets will be at low, low prices starting today for the next week!
4. Be Realistic. A bargain is only a bargain if you really needed it. Otherwise, it is just money you spent unnecessarily, and coupled with long lines and grumpy gooses abound, being realistic will be your lifesaver today! Keep this motto in mind!
5. Check online. Many stores, such as Overstock and Amazon, have started offering after-Christmas deals on Christmas Day itself. Check online to get an idea how the price will drop in your neck of the woods.
6. The Have-To-Have Items. Stores want to entice shoppers to come in to their shops in the hopes that you will see something you just “have to have” and spend more than you intended. Allow yourself one splurge item, and then go about your jolly way!
7. Newspapers. You will find significantly better coupons in your local sales circulars the day after Christmas than online for items such as holiday-themed paper products, ornaments, and the like. Be sure to buy the Friday edition that precedes Christmas, as well as the one for the day after Christmas.

As well, there will be numerous deals at local retailers, especially discount and drugstores, for everyday goods. Be sure to price match, coupon shop, and throw as many app deals as possible into the mix. While looking for these end of season deals, he sure to look for the following:

• Winter Clothing; coats, robes, slippers, and pajamas will go as low at 90% off at many retailers, such as Sears!
• Toys and Small Gifts; consider stocking up for gift closet staples for Easter and Mothers Day, especially on spa and gift sets. 
• Decorations; Christmas trees, lights, decor, wrapping paper and more will all be 50 to 75% off within a few weeks after Christmas. 
• Fitness Products; retailers will start capitalizing on the public’s needs for weight loss resolutions, and online retailers will capitalize on these items! Look for hot deals on yoga balls, yoga mats, treadmills, kettle bells, and the like!
• Food; After Christmas is prime time to scoop up some serious deals in the grocery aisles. Baking supplies, wine, cheese and seasonal flavors of products are all on the way out, for as such as 90% off at discount stores such as Dollar General, Family Dollar, Big Lots, and even the Dollar Tree.
• Consumer Electronics;  Retailers want to stock store shelves with new 2015 models on the way, so they want to unload last year’s models and free up shelf space. Look out for great deals on washer and dryer sets, TV’s, gaming equipment, headphones, ear buds, and vacuums! 

So, there are a few tips for after Christmas sales, shopping, and strategies!

Here’s to saving,