BzzAgent Trial

HEY FRIENDS! 

As you know this blog is all about what I'm all about, saving money and finding great new ways to do it.  

 
Well my latest discovery is called BzzAgent.  Basically, they'll send you products to try out (based on your profile) and then you 'Bzz' about them.  Talking about them on social media, as well as in person to your friends and family, helps generate a buzz about the products and works as word of mouth marketing.  Pretty neat idea, especially because they really encourage you to share your honest and unfiltered opinion about the products.  No fluffing up or covering up if you don't like something, they want your honest.


So now that I've completed all the survey questions to develop my portfolio, I'll anxiously wait until my first items to review come in the mail! 

Happy Savings!
- C

Take a Stay-cation

Welcome back!

Well it's been a crazy summer and now I guess it's "back to the grind". Which means, kicking back up the blog writing.

Although we did take a road trip vacation this summer, I got to thinking about how much there is to do within our own community. Especially in the summer, there are always events happening and things going down to keep all sorts of people entertained. It might actually surprise you what kinds of things may happen in your city. Instead of planning a big, expensive trip, why not check out what you can see locally?  Hikes, festivals, celebrations, exhibitions, anything!  Just go check it out.  Hop on Google and see what might be coming up. A lot of times, your city's web page might even highlight what is happening and all the details surrounding the events. Not only might you learn something about your own community, but you'll save a few bucks and probably have an awesome time, too!

Happy Savings!

- C

Drop the Hints

The key is to drop subtle hints without being that person that is blatantly flaunting or prying for deals.  For example, if you're going out to celebrate for whatever reason, let them know maybe what the occasion is when you call to book. A simple little "we're so excited to celebrate _______ this weekend at your resort/restaurant/facility. A lot of times organizations will treat you to a little bonus because it looks good on them, and then they're obviously going to get a good review out of you. So really, them helping you a little will help them a little in the long run. 

Try it out!  Have you ever gotten any great upgrades/bonuses by mentioning a special occasion?

Happy Saving!

- C

Price is As Marked!

So the hubby and I went out to find some decor for our house. We had a leftover gift card for Pier 1, as well as $40 for monthly house expenditures. Well we found an adorable tall vase and played around with it for about 15 minutes finding exactly what we wanted. We fell in love with the piece and headed to the register. The sale tag on the large vase (like 4' tall!) said $37.99. Yet, it rang through the till at $54.99, saying it was on sale from $70.00. We pointed out to them that the other vase the same as this was also marked at the $37.99. They said "well, it rings through at $54.99". I was ready to just say forget about it when my hubby said "well if that's what both tags say, then that's what we should pay for it". They said, "you're right, we'll over ride the system". Yippie!! So, I guess the moral of this escapade it to stand your ground. If the sticker isn't for something else, it's double tagged, or you just claim you got an un-tagged item under a sale sign, then they should honour it. At least question them, heck it save us almost $20! So I decided to share our gorgeous find below in the photo :)

Happy Saving!
- C

DIY Decor

In keeping with the savings plan, we hosted a New Year's Eve party last night, and stayed in to save a few bucks. We invited some great close friend, and everyone made a few food items. All in all it was a really great night!

I just wanted to show off my DIY Decor, in which I used a little leftover tissue paper with a little new stuff (dollar store), some purchased balloons (also from the dollar store, obviously!), and some items from around the house. A little inspiration and I came up with the items below :).

Hope 2013 brings everyone good health, happiness, and excellent savings!

Happy Saving!
- C

Coupon/Savings Books

There are many different types of coupon or savings books available in for purchase. Depending on your location, they range in price and usually have discount coupons for venues, restaurants, and attractions in your area. The books are usually between $15-$40, depending on which one you buy, and have deals like buy one get one for products, services, and admission prices. I have never purchased one of these for myself, as we live in a smaller city that I haven't found has an appropriate one yet, but I'm wondering if people find this saves you a good deal of money or not?! Usually they are sold as a fundraiser, so at least you're supporting a local organization, but what value do you really get? Please share your thoughts if you've ever purchased one of these books. Do you use a good chunk of the coupons? Do you feel you get your money's worth? Or does it get forgotten about until the coupons are all expired anyways? We were recently back at my parents for Christmas, and My mom let me take a few of the coupons that she would not be using. Which brought me to thinking, what about if you were to buy a book like this and share it with a friend: each would use the coupons most applicable to them and you could split the cost. Good idea- what do you think?!

Happy Saving!
- C

Lists lists lists!

Now I know I've said it before, but having a list truly is a smart thing to do when you're heading out shopping. And not just for groceries!

Although I am a gold personality type, lists are the money saver for anyone in this day and age, as well as during the holiday season. There are so many sales, gizmos, and gadgets that are strategically placed to catch your eye. Know who you need to buy for and have a good idea of either what you're buying them or of what you want to spend on them. That way, you won't be as likely to go over budget, or carry on buying for others that you've already bought for. Better yet, pay in cash, and only take the amount of money you want to spend. That way, you really are thinking about each and every purchase, and not wasting your money on impulse buys.

Also, watch that last 'home-stretch' before the till! All those cool little smaller priced items are out to get you, and they can really add up. They're usually great ideas for sticking stuffers, but unless you really still need them, keep your eyes on the prize (your item and the till!).

Happy Savings!
- C

Check Your Receipts

Have you ever really looked at your grocery receipt? Or is it something you just toss into one of your bags and might need again if you need to return something? Well, you could be cheating yourself out of a few bucks here at there.

Most major grocery stores have policies to credit you if you were improperly charged for items. That is, if an item rings through for a different price than it has marked on the package or on the shelf, they will literally pay for it. For example, Safeway will return the full price of the item incorrectly charged for and give you the item for free. Superstore has a similar protocol, but will give you up to $10 back, or if it is worth more, $10 towards the total of that item. These are the two that I am familiar with, but I'm sure the other major stores would probably honour a similar policy. So not only should you be reading the fine print on the sale sign (limit 2, buy in groups of 4), but you should also be making sure the price is correct on your receipt. Who knows, a quick skim over your receipt could be saving you a couple bucks a month!

Happy Saving!
- C

Weekly Deals

When shopping, especially around the holiday season, check for any deals happening in the stores where you're purchasing goods. Sometimes the deals are for rewards points, or bonus gift cards back if you spend over a certain amount, or even free items (BOGO). But asking or reading up is sometimes the only way to know! If you think you've heard about a certain deal, ask!!! Even if you've missed it by a few days, sometimes, and only if you're pleasant about it, they may go our it anyways, or give you another deal. So it is worth inquiring, for sure.

Perhaps you can save a couple extra bucks while putting smiles on a few more faces this season 😄

Happy Savings!
- C

I Haven't Vanished!!

Wow, have I failed at keeping up with the blog these last few weeks!?! I feel like a chicken with my head cut off, and finally I was able to get it put back in place to resume the blogging. My apologies, hopefully you can forgive me!

As a justification, or rather even just an update, I have picked up a second job to help bring in a little more cash flow. Double money saver: you are increasing your income and you have no free time to spend your newfound dollars anyways! It is really great, and I'm loving the three ladies I work with. Small department, but super fun environment :)

So whether it be a paper route, a hobby that you sell your makings for a few bucks, or something completely different, a second job or income helps you to save. a little more each month, helping you reach those financial goals a little sooner.

Happy Saving!
- C

Pay In Advance

Quick tip today! Check with some of your regular services, as some small shops will offer a discount if you pay in advance. I dropped off some dry cleaning to be done today, and the little lady offers a 15% discount if you pay when you drop off, as opposed to when you pick up. Hello! That is great! Even just a few bucks, but still makes a difference!

Happy Saving!
- C

November Grocery Follow up

I tried to buy everything all at once for a month's worth of meals for November. With the exception of some fresh fruit and veggies, and milk, I thought we'd done so good with one BIG trip. Also, I've got a girlfriend who can feed her family of 4 on $250 a month, including her diapers and wipes and needs of that sort. I've decided she is my hero!!! That is awesome! We thought we'd done so well, and we purchased our meat in a large quantity and froze it. Well, because we'd bought the big packs of meat, which are a way better deal than the small packs, our grocery funds were pretty slim after the big trip. Mind you, we had way more meat in the freezer than we were going to need for this Monty's planned meals. That being said, when we buy meats to replenish the freezer, we definitely need to budget a little more that month for groceries. As with any goal setting, you always have to re-evaluate to determine if your goals are in reach or not. So that is my diagnosis! Why? Because we ended up pulling out of other budgets to help buy more fresh food nearing the end of the month. On a good note, though, I think next month we won't spend as much, as we have so much meat still in the freezer! Also, meal planning for the whole month was awesome! We didn't even get though the 13 planned meals, as we had lots of leftovers and some impromptu meals. The one suggestion would be to figure out which ones you'll make in the first two weeks, and buy any produce for them then. And a second round of produce shopping at the start of week three for the next round of meals. Well, that would make more sense anyways! As long as you stick to your list!

Happy Saving!
- C

Get Paid for Your Opinion

It's not always beneficial to share your strong opinions with people you don't know. In this case, it is, and it will make you some extra money, too! Head to the web and check out some survey or opinion sites and find out how you can get paid for sharing your opinion. I usually fill out online surveys, given they have come from a reliable and valid source, but I recently discovered a Canadian site that pays you to share your opinions. It's not much, usually between $0.50-$2.00 per survey, but they add up! And they don't pay out your earning until you've reached $50, and then they send you a somewhat hefty cheque. For sharing your thoughts on things from products to bank services. It's that simple :)

Give it a try! Are there other ones perhaps you've heard of that you'd like to pass on?!

Happy Saving!
- C

Do Your Homework

When heading out to make a big purchase, are you the type to go buy right away or do you do some research? It is no surprise that impulse buys will cost you more than well-thought out investments, but you will also more likely than not end up spending more money than you need to if you're not doing your consumer homework! Go online, shop around, and one I've learned lately, ask about promotions!!! You never know what kind of deals may be currently available or coming up in the next few days/weeks. If you don't need the item that day, perhaps you can save a couple bones by waiting it out until a big sale.

The second benefit to wait it out or do some more research is that you may decide that you really, in fact, do not need that item! Novelty a huge influencing factor to impulse buys, and if you wait it out you could be saving yourself that awful buyers remorse.

So! How many of you research your big purchases, and how many head out and think "today I'll buy a flat screen tv!"? Perhaps this may now make you stop and at least think it over before you throw away your hard-earned dollars.

Happy Saving!
- C

Free Kindle Reads

Usually I am the one to share cool websites and Internet finds with my mom. However, she's upped her game and started to beat me to it! First one: Jesse the Jack Russell Terrier. It's a YouTube video series that has nothing to do with saving money, but it's pretty cute, funny, and impressive! Check him out.

The money saver that my mom recommended to me recently was a website to correspond with the Kindle. Now, I don't have a Kindle, but I do have an iPad and an Amazon account. Solution: download the Kindle app to my iPad. Step to, check out pixelofink.com. This website has daily deals including discounts and free ebooks. There are different featured books each day, and they are usually only available that same day. They download straight to my library on my iPad and are there for me when I'm ready. My biggest issue now is getting through them all!

Any other websites that you guys have heard of to get free ebook downloads?

Happy Saving!
- C

DIY - Haircuts!

As I have recently mentioned, I love my hairdresser! She is unreal and was the greatest suggestion of a hairdresser ever :). Matt also goes to her, as does my sister-in-law, our best friends (him and her - she was the initial referral), and a few more of friends that we've suggested along the way. However, despite our love for our kick ass hair dresser, Matt has decided that we can just cut his hair ourselves! Now this is a feat I will never attempt (obviously different hair situations!) but it is a smart move to save a few bucks. As his hair grows extremely fast, he usually gets a haircut every 6 weeks. So it adds up quickly!

Tonight was our first night we cut his hair. Success! We used the clippers and a #5 on the top and a #3 and a #2 on the sides and back. Now, it's not as fabulous as our hairdresser does, but it was free! We'll take it!

Would you be willing to sacrifice your hairdresser, if you don't have long, luscious locks?! Let us know :)

Happy Savings!
- C

Trick or Treat!

Weeks before Halloween, every store starts to sell candy and costumes, and it can be overwhelming. Different types of candy, different amounts per package, but where is the 'best deal'? Before you buy any candy, consider how many trick or treaters you may be getting. Last year, I believe we received 3 ghouls and goblins! Thankfully, we'd learned from the year before that we didn't get a high number, so I didn't buy a whole lot, this avoiding HAVING to eat any leftovers. However, being in a new neighbourhood this year, it's kind of a crapshoot this time around! So, we estimated low numbers, as a result of being at the end of a street, not a lot of kids at this end of the street, not all the houses are even lived in on our street, etc. So, I headed to good ol' Walmart to buy our candy. Why? Because its dirt cheap! So I bought 110 pieces of double bubble gum for $3.28! This way, if we have high numbers, kids may only get 2 pieces each, but if we start getting low turn out, kids can receive handfuls of treats at this house! Also, I bought double bubble because kids like gum and I won't eat it!! Hurrah! But back to the store you're buying from, Walmart also know has the Ad Match guarantee - bring in any flyer with a lower price and they'll match it at the counter! I didn't bring in any flyer because I wasn't buying a large package, but totally something to consider if you're looking to buy a lot of candy, or even other items that you're heading our to purchase.

As for decor, I didn't buy anything new this year. A few little decorations is more than enough (for Halloween). I bought a pumpkin and using my Save-on-More club card got my pumpkin for $2.99! We carved it to be eating a leg (see the picture) using an old pair of pants that were ripped up and ready to be turned to rags anyways. So, we've managed to get some deals and repurpose some goods to save a couple bucks!

Can't wait to see the scary trick or treaters tonight! And if they don't show, my husband can take the candy and hand it out at school!

Happy Saving!
- C

Thoil Your Desires

So I was reading Gail Vaz-Oxlade's blog today and wanted to pass forward the link to her blog post about Thoiling! Seems like a silly word, but as she explains it, it means to not be able to justify spending your money on something. She talks about being able to afford something, but not being able to thoil it!

http://gailvazoxlade.com/blog/archives/4251

Check it out here and let me know what you think, and whether or not you can thoil those wants that you know you don't need right now!

Savings vs Earnings

So far, my efforts to start saving and being a little more frugal have proven successful. We have become much more aware of our spendings, and where our money is/going at all times. However, with the new house and the lovely property tax assessment we've just received, I think it goes past sayings, and now becomes an issue of earning.

Don't get me wrong, there are still things we could be giving up and sacrificing things like cable, our iPhones, and having a second car, I'd rather work harder to be able to keep those things that aren't necessities, but are big parts of our lives (the car and phones more than the tv!). So, I've spent a large part of last night and this morning looking for a job. Something that is flexible, so that I can continue consulting, but something with a little more security than just consulting alone. In a field where you have to build your reputation, it is important that I can still keep consulting in some capacity. I cannot always guarantee that I will have a busy month consulting, but I can guarantee that every month we have fixed payments that will be there no matter what. Saving tricks will always help to make the earnings go even further, but more earnings wouldn't hurt either!

Therefore, on this snowed-in day in October, I'm going to be applying for a few different jobs today in order to fill up our savings a little more. Why not use the extra time that I do have to build up our funds as much as possible, instead of wishing it could be more and being upset that it is not. I'm taking this into my own hands and putting these little stumpy hands to work! I will keep you all posted on my earning endeavours, and hopefully how it can contribute to our saving endeavours! But first, I must go shovel the driveway!

Happy Saving!
- C

The Dreaded Taxes

So being first time new home owners, there are a lot of unexpected costs that you don't hear about. From little fees to big costs like blinds for your whole home, the extras start to add up fast. The quick way to deal with these costs is definitely to just not give in to the not-completely-necessary costs, such as blinds. We've done this for now, as the winter is approaching and the dark is arriving earlier and staying longer each day, we figure we can stretch it out for a little while longer! No peeps shows allowed-all changing and nude lounging is done behind closed doors with no windows! Sorry :)

But by far, our biggest unexpected cost, and one that we can't really push back, is the city taxes that showed up in our mailbox. 5 months worth of taxes due by the end of the month, yikes!! We knew we had to pay taxes, I guess we just didn't clue in to when they would be sent to us. So, how can we save here? When I go down to pay them, we're signing up for the monthly installment, automatic withdrawal program for property taxes that our city offers. Similar programs are offered in most cities as a way for tax payers to pay their dues on a more tangible, monthly basis, then the huge lump sums on a less-frequent basis. They also reduce your payments to only 10 months a year, and provide a slight discount (I believe 1.25%) for the monthly option. And let me tell you, with a husband who is a school teacher, we're all in favour of a two-month hiatus over the summer months!

So for savings on your property taxes, if you haven't already, consider looking into and signing up for a similar, monthly payment program! Besides the decreased amount to be paid out, who doesn't like a two-month holiday, even if it is just from the tax man!

Happy Saving!
- C