Such a Deal

I love the stores which offer coupons and specials, and it's even better when the store lets you COMBINE them! For instance, one of the reasons I love and shop at Kohl's is because they allow you to do just that. I truly don't know how they make any money, but that's not my concern. 
When you shop, you might consider looking for sales to begin with, because you need not spend more than you have to for an item. When you have the store credit card, they send you emails with offers, like percentages off merchandise.  Also, when you look at their website, there are often coupons you can use for a dollar amount off your purchase.  And, of course, Kohl's offers their famous "Kohl's CASH" when you spend a certain amount, such as $10 for every $50 spent.  Other stores are starting to take notice and offer this as well now. Stores also often offer free shipping online when a certain amount is purchased.  So you just have to know what to look for when shopping.

We had recently done some holiday shopping at Kohl's and had spent a little and saved a whole lot.  So we received the Kohl's cash to spend for our next purchase.  On Christmas Day, I received an email from Kohl's saying they were offering and extra 20% off any purchases that day, but that the offer ended at midnight.  So I went to the website to browse, and my husband suggested we buy a new vacuum.  While I was on the website, I saw a coupon for an extra $10 off any purchase over $30.
So we found a great $219.99 vacuum on sale for $159.99. Then by using my Kohl's cash, the $10 coupon and the extra 20% off, plus the FREE shipping, we saved a total of $174.95, and our grand total for a brand new vacuum cleaner was only $69.11!

Same Products, Better Prices

When I first met my husband, he bought EVERYTHING at the grocery store.  I know a lot of people do that to save time, which is exactly why stores offer sundries of various kinds, only at inflated prices.  But it doesn't take too much effort to find the same products at reduced prices, especially with the variety of larger, more warehouse type stores available now. 
Depending on what you need, some items can even found CHEAPER at the dollar type stores.  Of course, you may still want to purchase certain kinds of brand name items for a little extra, such as shampoos, pet foods, canned items, etc. but for some things, why would you want to pay more?
Especially around the holidays, you can find cards, tinsel, ornaments and all kinds of things for $1 that might cost you $2-3 at another store.  You should look closely at the item or the wrapper just to see if you're getting what appears to be similar, since often an item might be half the size as at another store.  Or the quality might indeed be a lot better at another store. But if you know what to watch for, you can get some items for less money, and those savings add up!

Super Discounts

There is nothing else like the sales you can find on Black Friday, except those maybe on Cyber Monday. Some people love to shop and plan for it weeks ahead, while others avoid it like the plague.  But one thing is for sure, if there is something specific you are looking to purchase, usually you can save a lot of money.
It takes a bit of a certain mindset if you do go out to stores. It can be stressful if you do not enjoy crowds. But it can also be fun if you take your time and enjoy the hunt. You can also shop online, especially with ads coming out several days before the sales actually start, along with stores opening as early as Thanksgiving night. I definitely have my favorite stores, but it is well worth your time to compare prices.
So no matter what you might be looking for, whether you love new shoes, electronics, power tools or educational trainings (my big win this year), you can find some amazing deals.  I personally made out like a bandit online this year in the comfort of my own home, and estimate I saved almost $1500.  Woohooooo!  And Monday isn't even here yet!

Call Around

I used to go to the corner drug store to have my prescriptions filled.  It was fairly quick and convenient.  But as I've gotten older, and with the changes in health insurances, I've found that some medications can be extremely expensive and very little is covered on some of them.  So I decided to make a few phone calls and check prices.
While it may take a few minutes of your time, it can really be worth it to at least call and ask. Prices can fluctuate a LOT, depending on the store. Just because one store has cheaper prices on some things doesn't mean medications there will be the same.
I called several pharmacies, including drug stores, warehouse type stores and even grocery stores.  Surprisingly, the prices were different at all of them, and the price for just one prescription varied between $12 and $78!!!
Of course, I saved the extra $78 and got a coupon for $25 off my next shopping trip at that store for transferring my prescription!  Was it worth it to me to have to drive a little further? You bet!

They Must Know I'm Coming

Our stop this time at Kohl's was too much fun, just like always.  I had a $10 free money certificate to spend from a previous shopping experience.  I also had the free $10 coupon to use that Kohl's sent in the mail.  Plus, I had a coupon for 20% off my purchase.
We truly had only planned on spending the free $20 and to see what we could find with that. But, as usual, we found some bargains too good to pass up.  So with all the discounts, we got:

2 pairs of jeans
1 purse 
3 pairs of shoes

all for only $35.56!!!

We saved $303.04 off of retail prices!  Hard to believe, but see for yourself!

Again?

Kohl's was so kind to send me ANOTHER $10 coupon for something free. :))

Check Both Options

Often shopping websites offer reduced shipping prices when you spend certain amounts. There was one in particular recently where I was shopping, and I could save $4 if I spent $30 or more.  So I was happy about that (since spending $30 was easy to do). So with tax and the reduced shipping, my total was about $34.75. 

 

But at the last minute, I remembered I had received a 20% discount coupon in the mail for that website.  So just to be certain, I put in that coupon code and although I had to pay the full shipping price, my total was about $2.50 less!!!  And anybody who knows me knows that I'll pay as little as possible.  So it's worth seeing which option offers the best deal!

Red Shirt

I think I have mentioned before how my husband has taken lessons and really learned how to be a thrifty shopper too.  This is a perfect example of that, and I am so proud of him!

He recently needed a red polo shirt for an event, but hardly ever wears red.  So he didn't want to spend a lot of money on one that he'd rarely wear.  Fortunately, he has come to appreciate Kohl's as much as I do.  

He went there and found a nice $30 shirt that was perfect, on sale marked down to $9.  He asked the cashier about the pocket of the shirt being sewn just slightly off center (can't even tell), and she offered him and additional 15% off for that, bringing the price down to $7.65. Plus, Kevin also had a 20% off coupon for the day, which brought his purchase down to $6.12.  So with tax, his new $30 shirt only cost him $6.61!  GREAT JOB!!!

Best Deal in Town

One of the best deals in town is at the library. Specifically, I often go to the :La Quinta library, not just to check out books,  but to also purchase old books. They offer them for just a very small fee, and have biographies, self-help books, magazines and novels, among others.  So you can find some great deals depending on your interests.
This week I found a book on success by John Gray and an interesting book by Liz Carpenter on public speaking.  Each was $.10, so I got two hard cover, fun books in great condition for a whopping $.20!!! Not bad at all!

FREE movie

Got to see a FREE pre-screening of the new movie "The Judge" last night in Rancho MIrage.  The official release date is Friday Oct. 10th.  Robert Downey, Jr. and Robert Duvall are soooo good. Don't miss it!  Here's a peek: http://youtu.be/BJanBLo6AOY

Food for Thought

Just thinking about eggs.  Do you ever eat them out in restaurants?  I do.  I don't know how you might like eggs cooked, but I always order mine scrambled.  I often order a ONE egg breakfast when we go out on Sundays.  But it never fails, I get a plate with what sure seems like it's more than one egg.  I even went to a casino the other evening for a concert, and afterwards went to eat and ordered their two egg breakfast, and it was like I received four scrambled eggs. The plate of food was huge.  So if you like a big helping but don't want to pay more for it, try scrambled eggs.  Just a thought I wanted to share.  You might be surprised what a big meal you get for a smaller price.  And try it with a little salsa.

Fun, Fun, Fun

So it appears that Kohl's marketing campaigns sure work on me.  I love shopping and I love sales even more.  And my husband has taken lessons and become a super bargain hunter along with me.
This past weekend the store had an extra 25% sale on all it's (already) clearance merchandise, so we took a look around to see what we could find. 
Just to give you an idea of how much you can save if you make the effort, we got:

one $59.99 item for $8.99
four $20 items for $6.00 each
one $59 item for $8.85
one $36 item for $8.10
one $54.99 item for $12.97

PLUS another 20% off for using our store card

Total cost $54.35
Eight items, total saved $239.66

Plus they gave us another $10 free money to go back next week, YAY!

Free Tool

Found another FREE tool to use for your home or business, www.youcanbook.me.  It is a scheduling website that works with your Google calendar.  I actually made an appointment on someone else's site for their time before I began using it, so I know it works. Very easy to use and allows some customization, along with before and after forms included. Payment and other options available for a fee.  Definitely recommended!

Thank You, JCP

It was so nice that JCP sent me a FREE $10 coupon for my birthday this year.  The secret is to go spend it and try to find something for that amount or just a little bit over.  So I went and found a cute little $36 skirt on sale for $14.99.  So with the sale, the discount and tax, it only cost $5.39!  It's going to look so good with my black boots!

Coupons

Now even ValPak is sending out coupons, and for one of my favorites, Kohl's!  Watch your mail for money savers!

New Shoes

We had $20 FREE money to spend at Kohl's, so my husband found a great pair of $65 sandals on sale.  With the sale, the free money and an extra 15% off just for using our charge card, the final price for sandals he wears all the time and really likes was only $5.51!

WINNING

It is always fun to enter contests.  But it's much more fun when you WIN contests!
There may be reasons why you don't like to enter, but I have been very "lucky" and have won a lot through the years, including store gift cards, movie and concert tickets and even autographed guitars!  (And yes, that is guitars plural, as in more than once!)  People can call it luck, but I go expecting to win, and interestingly enough, I win, a lot.  
(For more information, I coach on techniques such as preparation, visualization and on using the laws of the universe to your advantage...which most people ignore.  Go to www.annhaerr.com)

If you go places and they offer a no-risk contest, why not participate?  Someone has to win, and it could be you!

New Toy Box

I was at Marshall's across town the other day and saw a cute little bin I thought would be perfect for the dog's toys.  It was on sale for $4.50.  But I left it thinking I didn't need to spend the money.
The next day, I went to my local Marshall's, and found it there too, but for only $3.50!  It pays to check the sale racks.

No More Teflon

One of our larger purchases recently was a set of beautiful, new, stainless steel pots and pans. They were still expensive, but we saved a lot and I wanted to share how.
We went to Kohl's (surprise) on a "bonus" shopping day. Plus I had $20 FREE money from a previous purchase to spend.  Plus I had $15 FREE Rewards money.  And the set was on sale. 

The set was marked to $170.16 down from $269.99.  We used the $35 free  money, plus got the 10% "bonus" off.  Then we also got an additional 20% off because we used our Kohl's charge. So with tax, the total came to $105.06!!!  And, by the way, we got $20 more in FREE money to spend next time!!!  Such a good deal for a set that should last for many, many years!

Rewards

Some people don't like to be bothered with "rewards" cards.  But it seems they are everywhere now, and although we know that they are often used to track customer preferences, they can save you money.  So for me, I use whatever places offer, which is one way it seems I always have "free money" to spend.
We went to a movie yesterday...a new movie we wanted to see anyway.  (Get On Up, the story of James Brown.  Well done, however a bit romanticized.)  I was pleasantly surprised that because of simply scanning my rewards card for the theater, I got a FREE movie ticket for our next trip to the movies at any Regal theater.  We know we're going to go back anyway, so what a good deal!

Thank You, Best Buy

Best Buy was so kind to send me a FREE $5 certificate to spend this month.  I went and picked out a CD I had been wanting for a long time. With the free money and tax, all I paid for music I love was $3.22!  

FREE eBOOK!

I am so excited to announce the publication of an amazing new eBook! As a contributor, I am happy to be able to offer it to you for FREE!

Get your FREE eBook now:  https://yj196.isrefer.com/go/marriage/AHAERR/

Going to the Movies

I love going to the movies, and we have a local theater that fits right into our budget. They show current movies just after the first few weeks of release, and the most they charge is $2.00 any time of day or evening.  So it's a bargain!  But we went in the early afternoon this week and it was even cheaper, only $1.25!!!  You can barely rent a movie for that price.  Of course, you'll spend more if you want popcorn, but it's still a great deal!

Just Ask

Went to another one of my favorite stores, HomeGoods, and needed to buy a present for a friend's birthday. I found one item, originally $25, marked down to $7.  It would be a perfect gift, but I wanted one for myself too.  So I continued to search and finally found a similar item, clearly made by the same company.  But it was marked down to $9.  So I simply asked if it was also going to be marked down to $7, and the cashier had to ask the manager, but did mark it down for me.  It doesn't always happen, but it sure doesn't hurt to ask!

Love Happy Hour

One of my favorite fun times is Happy Hour.  And I don't necessarily mean to drink!  When you can buy the same food for 50% off that you might buy for regular price, why not??  One of our favorite places is Las Casuelas in (of all places) Happy Point, because they offer their happy hour menu on the bar side EVERY day of the week except Saturdays, and until closing time!! PLUS chips and salsa!!!  There's even live music on the weekends!  What's not to love?

New Rugs

I went to return some pants at Kohl's that had shrunk (Yes, they do let you do that!), and I just happened to find two small rugs for my kitchen.  Coco liked them right away, as you can see. They were $39.95 rugs, marked down to 90% off, making them only $3.99.  We used our Kohl's charge, so automatically got another 15% off, making them only $3.34 each with tax!!!

Free Business Tools

I went to LogoGarden.com to build a logo for my business.  Not only did I do that and get a free small photo file to use, but they also offer a free website!  I am not too tech savy, so it meets my needs just fine. They offer other photo files and products if you need them, but for now, I am a real fan of FREE!  You can see the logo and my ongoing work in progress about me (besides my shopping) at www.annhaerr.com.

Blue Suede Shoes, Sort Of

Wore my new shoes today.  They were 90% off, plus a 20% off coupon, which made them $4.00!!!  Love them!

Yay, Me!

I did pretty good today.  I had choices, but I ended up with two bath towels, two matching hand towels AND a new pair of jeans.  I had $5 free money and a 20% off coupon, plus $10 in Kohl's rewards.  So with tax, I only paid a total of $4.23!!!

Can't Stay Away

Thank you, Kohl's for sending my Rewards bucks ($10) and for the extra $5 and 20% off coupons.  I don't need anything or have time to shop today, but you KNOW I can't resist.  I wonder how many new towels I can get for $15?  :)

Kevin Saves Too

We had a $10 free money coupon from the mail and a 20% coupon at Kohl's which was going to expire, so Kevin went shopping to see if he could find something for himself.  He has been such a good student and has learned what I would do.  So he found a great pair of $90 boots that had been marked down to $27.  He did a price check on them and they were actually marked down again to $20.  So along with the free $10, plus the 20% discount, with tax the boots came to $8.86!  YAY, Kevin!!!

Quantity and quality

This had to be one of my best shopping days!  I had $10 free money to spend, and I looked around the store for awhile.  I wanted to see how much I could really get for that $10 without going over.
I found some underwear packs which were marked down from $22 to $4.40, but knowing how Kohl's prices fluctuate sometime, I checked the price and it was HALF of the markdown!  That meant I got a pack of four pairs of underwear for $2.20!!!  So I got TWO packs!  Then I kept shopping and found a cute pair of $12 hoop earrings for $4.80!  So I still had $1 left to spend.  ;-)  Most shoppers would have let that go...but not me.  I went through the racks of sale clothing, and didn't want just anything.  But I did want to stay close to my limit while finding something I would wear.  I finally found a cute t-shirt for $1.60.
SO, with the sale prices and the free money, I got eight pairs of underwear, a pair of earrings AND a t-shirt, ALL of $.86!!!!!!!  Not bad, eh?

New Computer Bag

This is a typical example of how I shop for items.  I just got a new computer, so I needed a bag to carry it in.  I didn't want it just because it was nice and on sale. I actually needed it.  I got it at Kohl's, and it was originally $79.99, marked down to $15.99.  I had a 30% off coupon, which brought the price down to only $11.19, so with tax it was a whopping $12.09.  Not bad, eh?

 

How I Save Money

This is a new blog, so I will be posting some of the latest and current items I have purchased using my money saving techniques.  I want to make it clear that you have to enjoy shopping, and that you shouldn't spend money needlessly.  But if there are items that you need or can afford at low prices, I want to show you how easy it can be to find some really good bargains.

My methods involve knowing what I want, price checking, using coupons and knowing where to look for items.  I do not buy things just because they're on sale, and I do often frequent the same stores. But if I can get things for next to nothing, it is fun for me to see how little I have to pay.

So I hope you enjoy my posts.  If you spend a little time and put a bit of effort into it, there is no reason why you can't save money too.  Happy shopping!