Man Shoes

I hate to make another post about shoes, but at least this time they aren't for me. We just happened to find some shoes in the hubby's size on clearance, and they were marked WAY down. I asked the shoe department man about the price, and he said to take them to the register and they should honor that price. Looking at it later, it still didn't look right, but I DID ask about it.
When we got to the register, I asked about it again and said what the shoe department man had said. With no question, the manager came and authorized the price. So Kevin got a brand new pair of $75.00 Converse high-tops which were on sale for $15 for $2.99.
Even if they're ugly, we couldn't leave them behind!

Speaking of Shoes

You most likely know that I love to shop at thrift stores to see what kind of bargains I can find. But I am not one to buy clothes there very often, as I feel odd about wearing other people's things. But occasionally, if I find something like new and it's a deal, I consider an item.
Well, again, I needed a dressy type shoe, and just happened to find a pair at the local thrift store that looked brand new for just a few dollars. They were my size, so I bought them. They're just what I wanted...something to go with skirts or dresses, without too tall of a heel, and they look nice.
You never know what you're going to find. Plus, this particular store uses the proceeds to help victims of domestic violence. Win-Win!

Ladies Love Shoes

Ladies love shoes, right? I know I do, and I definitely have plenty..actually, way too many. But when a store is practically giving them away, I am happy to take them. Wouldn't you be too?
I was at (you guessed it!) Kohl's, my favorite store to find bargains. Because of a previous shopping trip, I had $10 in free money to spend plus a 20% discount. I found two pairs of shoes, and they were a kind that I really like. No matter how inexpensive, I won't buy things if I won't use them. The shoes were on sale for only $6.99 a pair. 
So with the free money and the discount, I got BOTH pair for $3.43!!! That made each pair only $1.59. :))

Love My Coffee

There are two kinds of people in the world. One who loves coffee and one who doesn't. Plain and simple. I am the first kind of person beyond a shadow of a doubt. I have enjoyed coffee all of my life, as far back as in my baby bottle. Now before you get all upset at my parents for that, it was probably a teaspoon in an entire bottle of milk, just for flavor.

That continues to be why I drink coffee today. I don't drink it for the caffeine. In fact, I drink it for the taste and the warm, soothing feeling it gives me. I even try to drink decaf more than regular coffee, although the taste often leaves something to be desired, which is why most people can't be bothered.

But I have found a delicious AND inexpensive decaf at Trader Joe's. It is their house brand simple decaf, and maybe it tastes great because it comes in whole bean form which you have to grind yourself. A 14 oz. can is only $5.99. So it tastes fresh, rich and delicious. I highly recommend it. But save some for me.

Dress for Less

I could be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before how much I love Kohl's. :))


I had to go back today because I had $10 Kohl's cash to spend. So I scoured the store to see what bargains I could find. I found several, but I decided on a beautiful little $58 dress that I will be able to wear all year. It was on sale, so with my Kohl's cash and tax, my whopping total was $1.74!
I enjoy thrift stores too, but why wear someone else's clothes when I can get them new for cheaper? 

Love my ZEROS

Holidays are a good time to shop, and this Memorial Day weekend is no exception. I had $20 Kohl's cash to spend, PLUS they are giving $10 off for spending $25. So I bought a $29 purse, a $22 hat and an $8 pair of bandanas, which were all on sale. All together, my order came out to $0.00!!! 

Sundress

Today I found a cute little $40.00 (retail) lined sundress which wasn't marked down, even though it was on the clearance rack. Of course, I went to check the price, and it was indeed marked down to $8.00. I had a $5.00 reward waiting for me to use, plus I had a 20% off coupon. So my cute little dress with tax was only $2.60!!! Perfect for this time of year!

Birthday Dress

I received a $10 Rewards coupon for my birthday from JCPenneys. So I went to see what I could find. I tried on several things but finally decided on a cute little long sleeve dress. It originally was $60, on sale for (I thought) $23.99. I took it to the cashier, presented my coupon plus an additional coupon for 25% off. The dress was actually less than on the tag, so with the discounts, it was only $7.99. I was told that it looks "hippie modal." :)

Homemade No-Bake Oat Bars

Do you like granola type bars for snacks? I do. I found a great recipe on Facebook (but I can't remember whose it was...sorry! There are many.). These yummy bars are all natural and have less processed ingredients. Not sure if there is less sugar, but they're easy to make and a lot cheaper than a box of store bought bars.

They only have 5 ingredients:
1 1/2 cups oats (plain or can be toasted)
1 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup honey OR maple syrup
1 cup of chopped dates

You mix the oats, almonds and dates together.
Then you melt together on a low heat, the peanut butter and honey (or syrup) and mix it with the dry ingredients.
Then you spoon the mixture into a paper-lined pan and press it down.
Then refrigerate for two hours or more.
Then cut into pieces.

I like the maple syrup better, but you may like honey. I also use natural peanut butter. But they are so easy to make, and quick. They may be crumbly when you try to cut them, but that just makes for good granola to munch or to put on cereal. ;-) You can also add other ingredients you like, such as chocolate chips or raisins, etc. It wasn't my recipe but I make them a lot now! You might want to try them.

Buy More to Save

It may seem counter-intuitive to spend extra money when shopping. But certain stores offer gift cards for buying a certain number of products. For instance, if you buy a double pack of toothpaste, it may be on sale for $4.99 each. But if you buy three packs, you are offered a free $5 gift card. Or if you purchase a bottle of detergent, it may be $11.99 each. But if you buy three bottles, you can get a $10 gift card. So it's almost like getting one free.
Target offers these kinds of promotions on varying products. It would be crazy to buy products you never use. But if it's something you use all the time, why not stock up and have the money to spend on your next trip.

Just Ask

I've said it before, but I feel I need to say it again...Don't be afraid to ASK if you're not sure about a price. It may not seem important to you and some people don't like to bother, but if there's an item you really want, it may become something worth trying.

I was looking in a clearance section of the store the other day, and I found a pair of yoga pants there. It was marked the original $36 with no discount tag. So I first thought they must be in the wrong section.

But I tried them on and they fit perfectly. So I wanted to at least ask about the price. It turned out they were in the right section and were 90% off. So they were a whopping $3.60!

Can't beat that! It's worth the effort to go to a price checker machine, the customer service desk or even the main checkout to find out what the current price of something is. If you don't ask, someone else will.

Travel Savings

One of the hotels I like to stay in when I travel is Extended Stay America, mainly because their rooms have full kitchens. Being a vegetarian, and to save money, I like to take my own food with me. 

Extended Stay has always had fairly similar rates to places which don't have kitchens, although maybe slightly higher. But they also just started a rewards type of program called Extended Perks, which offer weekly deals and rewards.

I was traveling last week, so when I went to make my reservation online, it was one price with a AAA discount of $4. Then I saw the new perks program and just thought I would check to see if there was a better price before I purchased. The program gave me an ADDITIONAL 30% off! So I was so happy that I had taken the time to check on it.

Even the desk clerk was surprised at the price I received, saying that the most off she has seen was 20%. Of course, even that would still be good. But my stay cost less than it would have been at a Motel 6, which basically offers nothing extra. So it pays to shop.

Senior Perks

Qualifying for senior perks can be a little depressing, although I'm so thankful for everyday of my life, I've gotten over the shock and awe that comes with actually being a senior. Different places have different rules about what their senior age is, so you may have to ask if you don't see it listed. It can start anywhere from 50 years old on usually, although some places make you wait until you're 62. 

Restaurants, theaters, even some stores have senior discounts available. You often have to know about them, although occasionally, the clerk may ask you if you qualify. I don't go that many places where I can claim my privilege. But you can bet I do if it means I can save money.

I love coffee, and I just happen to like McDonald's coffee. That's about the only thing I purchase there (besides the occasional small fries). But I simply ask for a "senior" coffee, and I get the same cup at a cheaper price...and refills are free.

Not bad. It's always nice to be appreciated, and there are many senior discounts available in the neighborhood. So don't be afraid to ask for it if you qualify.

Save that Change

I'm sure we've all heard that we should try to save the change in our pockets every day. I finally started dong just that, and am not ashamed to pick up change off the sidewalk either. Those pennies add up.

I am a bit of of a collector, and love banks. So I counted out one of my banks which I have filled this past year, and rolled up the coins. I had over $110.00! Not bad, eh? :))