Sunday Paper Savings

I hope everyone is enjoying their New Year so far.  A few weeks ago I received a random offer in the mail from The Los Angeles Times, a paper I faithfully buy EVERY Sunday for.. you guessed it!  The coupons!!!  Some weeks can be better than others.  Last Sunday's paper was stuffed with savings!  They had two Red Plum coupon books and two Smart Source coupon books as well, on top of the usual offerings.  When I signed up, I chose the Thursday through Sunday option for $1 a week PLUS a $10 Target gift card via the mail.  They require payments every 12 weeks, so my initial payment was just $12!  If you would like to purchase a subscription online, The L.A. Times is currently offering $.19 a week for Sunday only delivery.  That is merely $9.88 a year!!  The online code for this deal is 460024.  Happy Saving!

New Site Alert!

I have known about Tanga for some time now but just realized I have yet to share it with the rest of the world!  This site operates simply by offering the best deals they can find on magazine subscriptions, gadgets, t-shirts, and MORE!  Deals are available for 24 hours and update every night at 7 P.M.  If they do not sell out of a particular deal within the 24 hour period, it is placed in "Good 'Til It's Gone" where you may purchase the item(s) until it's.. well.. gone.  Another way to get deals is to look in their Second Chance category.  Here, previous deals will come back for a brief period of time, allowing you to SAVE MONEY!!  The site also offers puzzles to keep you busy.. for what I don't know.  But I do know that recently I saved on a year-long Everyday With Rachael Ray magazine subscription for $3!!!  I also scored with a year-long Good Housekeeping magazine subscription for $2!  Just before Christmas, I bought a men's titanium wedding band for my husband for FREE and I just paid the shipping for $4.99.  All in all, this site is AWESOME!

Clearance Maddness!!

• In addition to Joann's, Walmart, and Target having TONS of After Holidays Clearance Sales this week, Toys'R'Us and Old Navy are also offering AMAZING deals.  Up to 60% to be exact, both in-store and online.  As always, Old Navy offers FREE shipping on orders of $50 or more and Toys'R'Us is currently offering FREE shipping with orders of $100 or more.  You can always find FREE promotional shipping codes at RetaIMeNot.
• On a side note, Toys'R'Us has a section on their website called Hot Deals.  It features all the current deals they have going on mostly in-store with expiration dates.

Last Minute End of the Year Savings!!!

Joann's Crafts is having a HUGE New Year's Savings Event!  All holiday items are on clearance both online and in-store at 70%!! off.   Find the closest location to you ASAP.  If shopping online and spend at least $50, the code for FREE shipping is EVDC4 and is only valid until Tuesday, January 4th.  Otherwise, don't forget to use RetailMeNot when checking out at a later date.  They could possibly have another FREE shipping code!  In addition, I was at Walmart tonight and they have all holiday items on CLEARANCE for 75% OFF!!  I bought 200 sq. ft. of wrapping paper for $1.25 and a 5-pack of gift boxes for $.75!  It's madness!  But only until sometime this week, I am predicting.  Also, Target has holiday items also at 70% off and toys are about 30% off.  I bought my son a $25 Leapster game for $6.17.  Happy Shopping!

1.1.11

A friend of my husband has brought to my attention an INCREDIBLE new outlet for savings!  He and his family are members of a baptist church in Canyon Country, C.A.  The church is involved in a program called Samaritan Saver.  It's mostly printable coupons but they offer discounts at stores including, but certainly not limited to, Walmart, Target, Petsmart, Home Depot, Foot Locker, and MORE!  We have already gotten use out of the savings Samaritan Saver offers for Regal Cinemas.  There are TONS of online discounts as well, including Overstock.com, Amazon.com, and iTunes!!  We are able to access exclusive savings though, because we bought a $20 card to support the church.  Activating the code on the card allows this.  Plus you get a FREE $10 on a flower order after activation.  If you are interested, you may contact me privately to get a card or you can just check with local churches.

Happy New Year 2011!

• For the last eight weeks I have been participating in online surveys with OpinionOutpost.  In my spare time, I managed to earn an extra $63!  Today I cashed out at an even $60.  
• The way it works is, you fill out profiles in several categories and this will help their program locate compatible surveys for you to take.  I have found, though, that only 75% of the surveys actually go through.  This is mostly because you are competing with other members to fill a quota for the company providing the surveys.  All in all, it is a great way to earn extra cash, especially if you are a stay-at-home mom!

How The Savings Snob Works

• I use the weekly grocery circulars to save most of our money.  Feeding a family of six is not an easy feat, especially with two teenage girls, a rapidly growing four year-old boy and a one-year old with hollow legs.  We predict Eli, the youngest, will be the biggest of all his siblings.  I cook dinner at home at least five days a week.  The boys and I eat breakfast and lunch at home seven days a week, while the girls occasionally eat breakfast on weekdays and are home for lunch on the weekends.  Of course, during holiday breaks they are home to eat three meals a day.  Jon mostly eats just dinner at home but he is also the biggest snacker in the house.  So with this being the usual plan, I should have a very long, very expensive grocery bill every week.  Wrong.  I spend between $70 and $85 a week grocery shopping and I do have the receipts to prove it!  Call me crazy, but I sort of keep them as personal trophies.  The FDA recommends a family should spend a minimum of $100 a month on each person living in a household, regardless of age.  According to this guideline, I save at least $120 a month on groceries, times 12 months in a year.. saving me an average of $1,400 per year.  And that's just in food.

• What I am aiming to do here is help others save just as much money.  Each week, I will go through the major food chain's weekly circulars in Southern California to start and develop meal plans suitable for families of four.  You can adjust the plans according to your family size.  This is how I do it in my house.  I also shop sales for pantry items and items that are freezable so I will also spotlight these deals.  You can never go wrong in having extra chicken breast or frozen vegetables on hand, believe me I know!  I will also tell you where you can find coupons for both local and chain restaurants, as well as various eateries and small shops.  This may take some time, but if you are a follower from a town or city considerably farther from me, I will do my best to accommodate you.  You deserve to save money too!  As a BONUS, I will post weekly codes for websites offering promotions for online shopping.