Couponing 101

Just wanted to pass along a great post! It doesn't get much better than this insight into the couponing world!! Thanks so much Stephanie!

For those of you who live far away,  here is the information on how I organize my coupons.

Pinching Your Pennies is a free website that lists weekly deals with coupons. Click on the current list. I love that they give the deals STAR ratings. You know that 4 or 5 stars is a great deal.

If you live outside Arizona, click here to see the deals listed by other States!

Click here for information on organizing and couponing in Arizona.

Want to Increase Your Couponing Savings even more?

If you are wanting to seriously coupon, there are websites that charge to see a more intense list of coupons matched with what is on sale. Couponsense is the most used here in Arizona. They have a more comprehensive list for the serious couponer. They teach you how to combine online loadable coupons with manufacturer coupons to get even better deals. Right now they have a promotion for those who want to try it. $4 for the first month and $15 each month after. You can cancel at any time.  

I think I save at least $15 extra each week using Couponsense than I did using Pinching Your Pennies.

I also saved so much time using Couponsense.  Before I was copying and pasting each individual deal I wanted to use from Pinching Your Pennies to make my list.  Then, I'd go by each deal and cut out the individual coupons.  Couponsense cut at least 2-3 hours off my couponing last week.  You click on the deals you want to use, it generates you a shopping list per store and a coupon cutting list that tells you that from this specific Sunday insert, you need these coupons for your deals.  I'm LOVING this.

If you choose to try Couponsense, use the promo code:  enjoy the savings

Select Referred by friend and enter Stephanie Ashcraft.  It should show Andrea VanHorn as your instructor.  She lives here in Arizona and is one of the top 10 couponers in their company.

Newspaper Subscriptions

AZ Daily Star- $4.30 per month for Sunday paper. www.azstarnet.com

AZ Republic- Multiple Sunday Papers available. More expensive. More coupons. https://subscribe.azcentral.com/circpromos/promopages/pinchingyourpennies.php

AZ Republic- $1 per week for 1 Sunday paper https://subscribe.azcentral.com/circpromos/promopages/2010_deal_blogger.php

Printable Coupon Sources

There are so many ways to get coupons. 

Lately I realized that I am using more printable coupons than coupons from the Sunday paper. You can get printable coupons from so many sources for pretty much everything you need for your family. FYI-Most of these websites reset their coupons and add coupons at the beginning of each month. Some even reset coupons on the 15th so you can print them again.

• Arm & Hammer
• Betty Crocker
• Blue Bunny
• Box Tops For Education
• Cool Savings
• Coupon Bug
• Coupon Loop
• Coupon Surfer
• Coupons.com
• CVS Savings Central
• Eat Better America
• Home Made Simple
• Libby's
• Nestle
• Pillsbury
• Proctor & Gamble eSaver
• Red Plum
• SmartSource
• Target Coupon here and here

Power of Moms: Learning Circle

Okay I can't procrastinate it anymore I have been wanting to get started on this with the new year! Please comment to this post, or respond by email carlynewburn at gmail dot com. If you are the least bit interested and maybe we can really get this rolling by the end of Janurary. So with that if anyone has suggestions as to what night of the week or which week of the month would work the best. Feel free to let me know! I will have it at my house for sure Jan is going to be a PJ party it will be around 8pm for us to all be able to sneak away after the kiddos are put to bed. I will definitely have more details to come...Until then here is the general idea: 

According to a recent study, "joining a meaningful group that meets just once a month produces the same happiness gain as doubling your income" (New York Times, David Brooks, March 29, 2010). A Learning Circle can make a huge difference in your life.  

What is a Power of Moms Learning Circle?  

• part girls' night out (with a meaningful purpose - in addition to having a great time)
• part book group (with a lot less pages to read...yep, you can complete the reading for each month in about 30 minutes)
• part support group (we all need more opportunities to learn from, encourage, and even sometimes commiserate with other moms)
• part motherhood course (because you deserve a monthly class to help you grow yourself, build your fellow mothers, and shape the future that starts right in your own home)

A Learning Circle involves 5-12 mothers who gather each month for great conversation centered on an important motherhood topic (click here to check out the topics).

• step-by-step instructions to start up a very fun and effective group
• brief articles, great discussion questions and simple assignments to go with each month's topic

Easy neighbor/friend gift

How Does She? Is an awesome site, that I go to often for ideas. I love this one and have used it this year for neighbor & friend gifts. Everyone thought it was cute.

Just grab a roll of cookie dough and attach a cute card that reads "We could all use a little extra "DOUGH" this time of year!" Love, the so&so's

Tie it on with a pretty ribbon & your all set!

Portable North Pole: Personalized Santa Email Message

Okay this is probably the best one yet!! Click on the link below and just fill out each question about your little one and wahlah just like that it creates a personalized email from Santa with pics and facts that only Santa knows
http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/prepare-a-message
Here is our example of the one I made for Dylan it is so genius and definitely magical Enjoy!
http://www.portablenorthpole.tv/watch/guest/uz7i0rGHcLiLZNQCbbFnbA

Advent Calendar

Way cool Advent Metal Tin Calendar...

I made this advent calendar last year before ChristyNelson.net was born.  It is going to be used again this year and I'm really proud of it, so I thought I would show it off.

First things first.  Grammar.  Yes, I know I don't have the other "l" on "til".  If i had another "l" sticker, I would put it on there.  Instead I'm going for the urban spelling.

Now onto the crafting.  I made this using the tutorial from Splitcoast Stampers (they also laugh in the face of correct grammar).

The velcro holding on the tins held up surprisingly well.  I could only put two pieces of candy in each tin, though.  Any more than that and it would be too heavy.  Although, I guess that depends on what kind of candy you use.  This year I think I'll just put a few M&Ms in each one and a verse of scripture.

My kids are old enough now that they appreciate the counting down to a holiday.  I appreciate not having to answer the question, "Is it Christmas yet?" over and over.

Do you have an advent calendar you use every year?  Do you make a new one each year?  Do you use one at all?

From: ChristyNelson.net

Christmas Countdown Daily Deals

Whataburger's 12 Days of Whataburger:

  Go to the following link to sign up for the 12 Days of Whataburger!  Whataburger will email you a coupon for a FREE item every other day from 11/30-12/22/10:  http://12days.whataburger.com/share.php 

Chili's Holiday Specials Promotion:

From now until 12/24/10 each day Chili's will be offering a holiday promotional item; for example, today is a FREE brownie sundae!  Here is the website to check it out:  http://www.chilis.com/EN/holiday/Pages/holiday.aspx

Thanks, Stephanie!!

24 Photo Christmas Cards for just $2.49 shipped!

It's that time of year again!  Get 24  4″x 8″ photo Christmas cards shipped for just $2.49. Use the coupon code 25 cards at checkout!

1. Sign up or sign in at SeeHere
2. Create a 4X8 flat (single sided) card-add 24 to your cart
3. Use the code 25cards at checkout
4. Pay just $2.49

Thanks, Savvy Savings!!
Thanks, SeeHere!

Hallmark: $5 off $5 purchase at SELECT Halmark Gold Crown stores

There's a great printable coupon to save $5 when you spend $5 on your purchase at participating Hallmark Gold Crown retailers. This coupon is valid this weekend only (12/3-5). Thanks, ( Couponing to Disney! ) Stephanie
I would call to verify that your store is participating.

Gracious Gifts

Thanks for sharing Renee!!!

'In this time of giving, I thought I would share with you some places that I find VERY helpful when I am pressed with time. I hope that you find some neat ideas that will make you say "ohhh way cool!" (and feel free to pass it on)

Super Cute Photo Christmas Cards

Crafty Fonts

Darling gift tags

And don't forget the love of your life...

(great ideas...some darling ... some daring...)

Savvy Savings BLACK FRIDAY STEALS & DEALS

Here are Savvy Savings tips for preparing for the BIG morning:

1. Don't wait to scour the ads until they arrive in the paper on Thanksgiving Day. Most black friday ads have already been released online. You can view the actual adds on 2010blackfridayads.com. I like to use their website to visually see the adds. Then, I visit the website bfads.net where I can select the deals that I would like to get and print an itemized shopping list that I can take with me to the stores.
   
   
2. From your list, prioritize what deals you want the most and plan to hit the stores with those deals as soon as they open. Remember that bicycles, popular toys, computers and electronic deals tend to disappear the fastest. Clothes and furniture are usually not the first to go. Some stores are opening at 3 a.m. While others don't open until 4 or 5 a.m. on Black Friday.
   
   
3. Divide and conquer. If the checkout line is huge, I send my dear husband to wait in line while I grab the items we want to purchase. If the lines are not long, we divide up the list and meet back at the cash registers. My favorite year shopping was when my husband's family came down for Thanksgiving. We each made our list for each store, and each adult went to a different store to get the deals for everyone. Then, we just reimbursed everyone for what they purchased in our behalf.

4. Most of all, have fun and enjoy all the savvy savings that are available on Black Friday.
   Interview information:

Store Opening Times:

- Toys R Us is open on 10pm Thanksgiving night or Black Friday eve

- Old Navy will be open at 12:01am on Black Friday giving away copies of the Dance Central video game for Xbox360 and Kinect to the first shoppers who are early enough to receive a wristband and spend at least $25 purchase.

- Walmart -opens at midnight, customers can get their ticket and wait in line for the store buster special that begins at 5am and runs until 11am while supplies last.  The problem with this is that if you need to get out of line for any reason, you have to go to the end of the line so bring someone to switch you places in line.

- 3 a.m. Best Buy passes out tickets for the big items at 3am and opens for business at 5am.

- Kohls is open at 3:00am EST on Black Friday.

- 4 a.m. JC Penny, Target, Sears, and Macys open at 4 a.m.

- 5 a.m. Kmart opens and Walmarts doorbuster prices start.

Hottest Deals:

 The best deals are definitely on electronics. Walmart has 19-inch LCD television for only $98 or a 32-inch for only $198 or a basic laptop computer for only $198. Best Buy and Office Max also have some amazing deals going for laptops and computers with more memory and gigabites.

Front Loading washer and dryer combo at Sears for $600.

Replace mom's knives at JcPenney. They have a Kitchenaid 16 piece set marked down $80 for only $39.88! JcPenny and Kohls have great deals on kitchen tools.

You can find amazing deals on clothing for all members of the family. I buy the next sizes up for my kids on these sales. Sears has jeans for girls for $4.99. They have jeans for the rest of the family that are normally priced $20-44 for only $ 9.99.

Toy Deals-Zhu Zhu pets $4 at Walmart. Lincoln Logs for ½ off at Toys R Us.

Don't forget all the deals available at CVS and Walgreens.  Using their Extra Care Bucks and Register Rewards programs, you can get several items for free on Black Friday.

To see the ads, click here.  To go to the site where you can create a printable shopping list, click here.

Thanks Stephanie!!

By mysavvysavings.com

Anywhere to take Pictures?

Does anybody know a cool place this time of year to take some outside pics of the family for fall or a pic for christmas cards? We usually go to the beach back home for an awesome background, but really want to capture the great autumn folliage and look of North Carolina. Any suggestions?? Please just comment if you can think of a place that's good.

Awesome Website!!

My sis-in-law told me about this cool website check it out!!

http://www.howdoesshe.com/

8 X 10 Canvas Print

Canvas People is offering an Amazing deal. You can get a FREE canvas print. All you have to do is pay the shipping ($14.95). You get a $55.00 dollar credit to get an 8x10 canvas or to use towards a larger print. This is the perfect addition for your home or gift for anyone. Newborn photo, family photo, wedding picture, gift for grandparents and the list goes on and on!


Click HERE to go to Canvas People and get yours.

Great websites for kiddos!

Do your kids love to play on the computer? I have been on a search for educational and fun sites for my kids to play on. I found this site that has a whole compilation of them! Check out this button/link. (I added it to the sidebar if you want to refer back to it)

FREE Nursing Covers from Uddercovers

Uddercovers.com has a great deal going on.  

If you know someone who is expecting and planning on nursing, this is an amazing gift! 

I ordered one for my sister in law when they did this last year, and she loved it.

The covers normally cost $32 plus $9.95 shipping. Use Promo Code: ONEFREE

to get one for FREE. You only pay the $9.95 shipping!

Free Multiplication Computer Game!!

When I find a great thing, I feel compelled to share it! My son has been struggling to even begin learning his multiplication facts this year. I found an amazing educational computer program off another blog that you can download for free. Timez Attack is a fun game that teaches children to master their multiplication facts quickly. My son begs to play it now!
Click here for more information!

Couponing!

Just an FYI if you're interested in couponing. If you become a member (which is free) onhttp://www.pinchingyourpennies.com/. I did this in Arizona and loved it! It allows you to stock up on good sales. Good way to get a food storage for cheaper. The prices for the paper range from $18/month to $27/month depending on how many extra Sunday papers you want. It might sound like a lot but I promise you will save more than this every month if you use your coupons.

First Official Post!

So I thought this would be fun to post fun things to do, cheap deals you've heard going on, ideas or questions about your kids, tasty recipes you love, and any other fun comments to keep us better connected. Feel free to pass this along to others in the ward, those that we have left behind in other wards, or in the community. Please email me so I can give you permission to sign on and make posts; carlynewburn at gmail dot com.