Saturday, October 2, 2010

Free Giveaway "Wow! You Saved How Much?" Step by Step Money Saving Guide

You can buy “Wow! You Saved How Much?” here for only $7.95, but it is worth far more and you can save more than the price of the book on your first trip to the store, if you follow the simple steps provided! Plus, you have the chance to win a copy for yourself right here. Simply leave a comment.

You can earn additional entries by:

Subscribing to our site by email or rss feed

Writing about this giveaway (blog, forum, public Facebook note)

Tweeting about this giveaway:

For your extra entries to be counted, be sure to leave an additional comment directing us to your entry. Only one additional entry per method (i.e. While multiple tweets are great it only one will count as one drawing entry.) The contest runs until 10/15/10 at 11:59 pm EST. One winner will be notified by email on 00/00/10 and receive a copy of “Wow! You Saved How Much?” by snail mail. The Winner will have 48 hours to complete the claim form or a new winner will be chosen.

Review by A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY

Wow! You saved how much? is a book for anyone interested in saving money with coupons. If you already use coupons there is still information in this book that is worth the price of the e-book. The author Renita R. Perrone is a stay at home mom who home schools her two children. She started couponing in order to save her family money after she quit her job that paid more than her husbands salary. They had to learn to make ends meet just to pay their mortgage. Sound familiar to anyone? It’s becoming a common story lately.

Renita routinely saves over $500 a month using coupons and she lives in an area that doesn’t double coupons. That has always been my frustration with coupons. The area I live in doesn’t double, most stores don’t accept other stores coupons or printed coupons. I live in an area with large families so you’d think that the stores would be a little more coupon friendly than they are.

The other problem I have had with coupons is that I’ve never had a consistent system that made sense to me. Renita walks you through that problem in an easy to understand, simple way. If you have had trouble in that area then this is a book for you. She lays it out step by step and includes tips and tricks to stay organized and get the most from your coupons. I loved the easy style in which she wrote this book. You feel like she’s sitting next to you and you are just having a casual friendly conversation about coupons.

There are two ways you can get this book. You can order her E-book for $4.95 or you can order a printed book from Create-a-Space for $7.95.

I bought my own copy of this e-book and was so excited about it I contact Renita to ask if she would like to do a giveaway. I received no monetary compensation to write this review.

If you would like to host a "Review and Giveaway please contact us at wowyousavedhowmuch@gmail.com We will provide a signed hard copy or a E-Book of "Wow! You Saved How Much?"

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Money Saving Book Review and Giveaway

Review by A REVIEW AND GIVEAWAY
Wow! You saved how much? is a book for anyone interested in saving money with coupons. If you already use coupons there is still information in this book that is worth the price of the e-book. The author Renita R. Perrone is a stay at home mom who home schools her two children. She started couponing in order to save her family money after she quit her job that paid more than her husbands salary. They had to learn to make ends meet just to pay their mortgage. Sound familiar to anyone? It’s becoming a common story lately.
Renita routinely saves over $500 a month using coupons and she lives in an area that doesn’t double coupons. That has always been my frustration with coupons. The area I live in doesn’t double, most stores don’t accept other stores coupons or printed coupons. I live in an area with large families so you’d think that the stores would be a little more coupon friendly than they are.
The other problem I have had with coupons is that I’ve never had a consistent system that made sense to me. Renita walks you through that problem in an easy to understand, simple way. If you have had trouble in that area then this is a book for you. She lays it out step by step and includes tips and tricks to stay organized and get the most from your coupons. I loved the easy style in which she wrote this book. You feel like she’s sitting next to you and you are just having a casual friendly conversation about coupons.
There are two ways you can get this book. You can order her E-book for $4.95 or you can order a printed book from Create-a-Space for $7.95.
Giveaway: One reader will win an E-book copy of Wow! You Saved How Much?
Open to Everyone
Mandatory Entry: Follow on Google Friend Connect
Extra Entries: Leave one comment for each additional entry.
Subscribe by either RSS or Email
Follow @giveaway on Twitter
Tweet about this giveaway twice a daily for (1 entry per tweet) leave a link to each tweet please.
Like A Review and Giveaway on Facebook.
Add my button to your blog. Leave a link telling me where it is located.
Blog about this giveaway. Leave a link please.
Giveaway will end September 20th at 11:59 EST. Winner will be selected by random.org. Please make sure you have an email connected to each of your entries either by profile or in the comments so that I can contact you if you win. Winner will have 48 hours to respond and claim their prize.
Thanks for entering!
I bought my own copy of this e-book and was so excited about it I contact Renita to ask if she would like to do a giveaway. I received no monetary compensation to write this review.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Hi Everyone,

I’m on vacation this week, so I’ve asked my friend, Cheryl, over at Simply CVS to be my “guest blogger” this week. I’ve followed Cheryl’s CVS advice for probably a couple of years now. Nobody does it better! I’ve been amazed at how she has turned a $10 CVS gift card into literally hundreds of dollars worth of products. What she can’t personally use, she donates to people or organizations that can. I’m sure you will learn a great deal from her “CVS 101: Ten Steps to Saving” blog! I’m posting “chapter one” but when you get done, head on over to her site and check out the rest! Thank you, Cheryl!

...Since 5/1/2010

.. ......Saved

.......$1483.93

.........Spent

... ....$24.09

..Saved Year To Date

...... .$2188.93

Disclaimer

Simply CVS is in no way connected to or compensated by CVS/pharmacy. I am just a satisfied customer who has learned to save thousands each year shopping at CVS and I love to teach others how they can, too.


CVS 101: Ten Steps to Saving

CVS Shopping = Super Savings

Do you want to learn to save money and easily keep your family stocked with necessary health and beauty items, some food and cleaning supplies for free or pennies on the dollar?

You can keep your family's H&B item needs met with very little out of pocket cash. You will also be able to have extra items for gifts, for sharing or for donating. Just by shopping at CVS and using their weekly sale ad, their coupons, their extra care bucks' program and manufacturer coupons.

It is a whole new way of thinking and shopping, but it is also very rewarding. It will take a while to learn the ropes, change your thinking and get the hang of the system, but before long you will be enjoying the benefits of learning to "CVS."

Below are 10 easy lessons to get you on the road to enjoying the benefits of shopping at CVS.

CHAPTER ONE:

CVS EXTRA CARE REWARD CARD

Have you ever thought of CVS as a place to save money on your basic health and beauty needs and some of your food needs? Even bring home some items for free? I never did, but CVS Pharmacy is a great place to do just that. I have been shopping at CVS weekly now for a couple of years and each week I bring home several to dozens of things for pennies on the dollar.

Let me help you get started saving at CVS.


Step # 1: Get an CVS Extra Care Reward Card.

With the CVS Extra Care Card you will receive sale prices, extra bucks on certain items (these are coupons on the end of your receipt to use almost just like cash at CVS) and quarterly extra bucks on all of your CVS purchases and prescriptions, and CVS coupons for a variety of products in the store (see the CVS 101 Lesson "What's an Extra Care Buck").

There are two ways to do this: you can either pick up an application in the store or fill one out on line. The benefit of picking one up at CVS is that you can get it immediately and can start shopping and saving.

Be sure to link your CVS card at Upromise to earn savings for college on selected items while you shop.

Step #2: Register Your Card Online

Go to CVS.com and on the top right hand side is an "Extra Care" icon which when clicked has a place to register your card. Be sure to put down that you want to sign up for all CVS home and email mailings--you will receive added savings in the form of periodic mailings of coupons.

Within a few weeks of registering your card you should receive an email from CVS with a $4 coupon good on a $20 purchase if you gave an email address. Then keep your eyes open for more emails with special savings.

CVS has great customer service. The 800 number is on the back of the card you will receive (800-SHOPCVS). You can also contact them thru their website. If you have any questions or concerns call CVS and they will clarify anything you might not understand or tend to any problems you encounter at your local CVS.
To read the remainder of this article, please visit Simply CVS.

Now, on to the deals this week!

Know the Lingo
BOGO – Buy one, get one free
SS – Smart Source (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
RP – Red Plum (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
PG – Proctor & Gamble (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
GM – General Mills (occasional coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
Blinkie – coupon dispensers in stores
Peelie – coupons found on products that you peel off
Hangtag – coupons found hanging on bottles
All You – Magazine sold at Walmart or via subscription

Whole Foods: Click here for their coupons. If you prefer to shop at Publix, they should accept these as competitor coupons.

Publix Greenwise: Click here for their weekly ads.

Many thanks to IHeartPublix.com for their great tips on shopping at Publix!

For Publix “super deals” for 8/16-8/25 please click here.

For Publix full sale list with coupon match-ups for 8/19-8/25, please click here

For Publix ongoing sale list, please click here

For Publix Advantage Buy Flyer sales, please click here.

Renita's Favorite Money-Saving Sites

http://www.simplycvsshopping.com/

http://www.specials.publix.com

http://www.iheartpublix.com

http://www.iheartwags.com

http://www.iheartcvs.com

http://www.cvsdeals.gather.com

http://www.grocerydeals.gather.com

http://publixpennypincher.blogspot.com

http://www.southernsavers.com

http://freefrugality.blogspot.com

http://getadealdude.com

E-Book now available!

I’m excited to tell you that my book is now available as an e-book! So, you can save money while you learn to save even more money by purchasing an e-book instead of a traditionally bound book! For more information, please click here. http://wowyousavedhowmuch.com/GET_YOUR_E-BOOK_.html

Renita is a resident of Palm Beach County, and author of “Wow! You Saved How Much?” For more information, visit her website at http://wowyousavedhowmuch.com.

I grant permission for every reader to reproduce on your website the article you are now reading but copy this article, without any alteration whatsoever. Include the copyright statement, too, please.

"Copyright © Renita R. Perrone All rights reserved. Permission granted to reprint this article on your website without alteration (excluding the weekly deals) if you include this copyright statement and leave the hyperlinks live and in place." http://wowyousavedhowmuch.com

Thursday, August 12, 2010

I know that may seem like an odd topic for an article on saving money. However, in my experience, it is very important to remain watchful so that you are not ripped off!

Let me explain.I recently contacted my telephone provider, who also supplies my internet and cell phone services. I wanted to see if they were offering any other service plans that would save me some money. I have found that every few months they change up their service plans and there might be something better available. They advised me of a plan that was supposed to cost less, and they had a free promotional offer which included free installation. I agreed to switch. During a call to technical support after everything had been completed, I found out that this new “plan” was digital phone service via a modem. So, if I lost power, I no longer had any phone service. After the experience we had during the last hurricanes that hit our area, this was not acceptable to me. To make a long story short, I eventually ended up making them switch me back to what I had before – a traditional landline and DSL internet service. They never once mentioned any cost to me for switching back. I received my first bill from them for the initial switch and it included a $149 installation charge. I immediately called and, after about thirty minutes of my time, was told the charge would be reversed. Later I received a “late notice” for the $149 fee. This required another phone call, and another 45 minutes of my time to get it corrected. Then, after switching back to what I originally had, I received another bill with another $149 installation charge! At this point I had spent probably four hours or more of my time on the phone with technical support, billing, etc already. I was almost tempted to just pay it and be done with it. However, we simply don’t have $149 to throw away, and even more it was the principal of the matter that I refused to ignore. So, another hour of my time on hold with a representative to get that charge reversed. Let’s hope it truly IS reversed so I don’t have to go through this yet again! My diligence in reviewing bills saved us over $300 (adding in taxes, etc).

However, I wonder how many people don’t pay attention to their bills and just end up paying fees like this? I have had various services charged to my home phone or cell phone accounts. When I call the number given, they try to tell me that someone in my house signed up for this special voice mail service or various other things. All of which I know is not true. Occasionally we’ve had unrecognized charges on our credit card bills. It turned out that someone had stolen our credit card number even though the cards were still in our possession. Again, how many people never review their bills and just pay the charges? I also found out that my telephone service provider can change your account to require a password to make any changes to it, which has prevented these unwanted services from being added. You may want to check into that as well, especially if you have children who might put your phone number in for something online, not realizing they are “authorizing” a charge to your phone. I cannot urge you enough to be diligent to review every bill before you pay it. It could save you a considerable amount of money each year.

Now, on to the deals this week!

Know the LingoBOGO – Buy one, get one free
SS – Smart Source (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
RP – Red Plum (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
PG – Proctor & Gamble (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
GM – General Mills (occasional coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
Blinkie – coupon dispensers in stores
Peelie – coupons found on products that you peel off
Hangtag – coupons found hanging on bottles
All You – Magazine sold at Walmart or via subscription

Back-To-School ShoppingBefore we start on the grocery store deals, don’t forget that this weekend is the Tax-Free Back To School Shopping. I found a great list recapping where the deals are for each type of item over at BeCentsAble.

Whole Foods: Click here for their coupons.
If you prefer to shop at Publix, they should accept these as competitor coupons.

Publix Greenwise: Click here for their weekly ads.

Many thanks to IHeartPublix.com for their great tips on shopping at Publix!

For Publix 'Super Deals' for 8/12-8/18, please click here.

For Publix full sale list with coupon match-ups for 8/12-8/18, please click here.

For Publix ongoing sale list, please click here .

For Publix Advantage Buy Flyer sales, please click here.

Renita's Favorite Money-Saving Sites

http://cvssimply.blogspot.com
http://www.specials.publix.com
http://www.iheartpublix.com
http://www.iheartwags.com
http://www.iheartcvs.com
http://www.cvsdeals.gather.com
http://www.grocerydeals.gather.com
http://publixpennypincher.blogspot.com
http://www.southernsavers.com
http://freefrugality.blogspot.com
http://getadealdude.com

E-Book now available!

I’m excited to tell you that my book is now available as an e-book! So, you can save money while you learn to save even more money by purchasing an e-book instead of a traditionally bound book! For more information, please click here.

Renita is a resident of Palm Beach County, and author of “Wow! You Saved How Much?” For more information, visit her website at http://wowyousavedhowmuch.com.

I grant permission for every reader to reproduce on your website the article you are now reading but copy this article, without any alteration whatsoever. Include the copyright statement, too, please.

"Copyright © Renita R. Perrone All rights reserved. Permission granted to reprint this article on your website without alteration (excluding the weekly deals) if you include this copyright statement and leave the hyperlinks live and in place." http://wowyousavedhowmuch.com

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Simple Saving Strategies / Weekly Deals 8/5-8/11/2010

Back-to-School time is quickly approaching! Have you been watching your stores sales flyers for the deals? I hope so! I managed to get some great deals at Office Depot last week. This week they are offering a free backpack with a $10 minimum purchase (while supplies last and in stores only). And most stores are offering some really good prices on school supplies right now. But, before you start buying, why not take yourself on a little shopping spree in your own home? We recently had to move our couch looking for something. Needless to say, I found enough pencils underneath to last us at least a year, if not more! I also needed a large 3-ring binder and didn’t want to buy one when I knew we had one somewhere. Sure enough, as we were de-cluttering our office, my husband found exactly what I needed, along with some page protectors that I wanted for organizing some of my children’s crafts. So, take a good inventory of what is in your own home before spending money unnecessarily. And don’t forget that the tax-free back-to-school shopping is August 13-15 for Florida residents. If you need more information on that, please click here.

A couple of other quick tips to help with your grocery budget:
1.) Make sure you are purchasing your produce in season. Publix has an easy guide on their site here. Or, you can find a guide map that shows each state (to help with purchasing local produce) here.
2.) Consider reducing the amount of meat you use. I will be the first to admit that this is very hard for us. But eating one meatless meal per week could cut down your grocery budget by a decent amount. Adding rice to a vegetable stir-fry will help it be more filling, and is also very healthy if you’re using long-grain rice.
3.) Stop buying all the different cleaners for your home! Most things can be cleaned perfectly well with vinegar, water and baking soda. Even bleach is a simple and effective cleaner that is very affordable. If you need more information on homemade cleaning recipes, please see my article on Frugality of Homemade Cleaning Products.
4.) Stop using paper towels! I know paper towels are convenient, but they are not very cost-effective. For many tasks, old rags work better and they don’t cost you anything. In addition, cloth napkins can save you purchasing paper napkins all the time.

Now, on to this week’s deals!

Know the Lingo
BOGO – Buy one, get one free
SS – Smart Source (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
RP – Red Plum (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
PG – Proctor & Gamble (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
GM – General Mills (occasional coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
Blinkie – coupon dispensers in stores
Peelie – coupons found on products that you peel off
Hangtag – coupons found hanging on bottles
All You – Magazine sold at Walmart or via subscription
Whole Foods: Click here for their coupons.

If you prefer to shop at Publix, they should accept these as competitor coupons.
Publix Greenwise: Click here for their weekly ads.

Many thanks to IHeartPublix.com for their great tips on shopping at Publix!

For Publix “super deals” for 8/5-8/11, please click here.

For Publix full sale list with coupon match-ups for 8/5-8/11, please click here.

For Publix ongoing sale list, please click here.

For Publix Advantage Buy Flyer sales, please click here.

Renita's Favorite Money-Saving Sites
http://cvssimply.blogspot.com
http://www.specials.publix.com
http://www.iheartpublix.com
http://www.iheartwags.com
http://www.iheartcvs.com
http://www.cvsdeals.gather.com
http://www.grocerydeals.gather.com
http://publixpennypincher.blogspot.com
http://www.southernsavers.com
http://freefrugality.blogspot.com
http://getadealdude.com

E-Book now available!I’m excited to tell you that my book is now available as an e-book! So, you can save money while you learn to save even more money by purchasing an e-book instead of a traditionally bound book! For more information, please click here.

Renita is a resident of Palm Beach County, and author of “Wow! You Saved How Much?” For more information, visit her website at http://wowyousavedhowmuch.com.

I grant permission for every reader to reproduce on your website the article you are now reading but copy this article, without any alteration whatsoever. Include the copyright statement, too, please."

Copyright © Renita R. Perrone All rights reserved. Permission granted to reprint this article on your website without alteration (excluding the weekly deals) if you include this copyright statement and leave the hyperlinks live and in place." http://wowyousavedhowmuch.com

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Easy Money on SideTick

Have you heard of SideTick yet? I have to say I'm impressed!!

SideTick is a new social networking site that pays members. I have to say I was skeptical at first. I've joined other social sites that were supposed to pay and then they just disappeared. The only exception for me so far has been Gather. Until now! SideTick gives you points that convert to cash. Almost every activity earns you a point, and when others view your articles/photos, etc, you get points as well. And, you can qualify for 1000 points per day by simply doing 2 things. They send you an email each day for some sort of advertisement. You have to view the ad. Then, you have to comment on one "tick blog" each day. There are a couple of tick blogs you can comment on. One is an article posted daily by Jenny Stein, one of the moderators (?) for the site. The other one I sometimes do is the daily tick blog topic in the "weightloss community" section. If you do both of these things in the same day, you get your 1000 points. I rarely spent much more time than that on the site, just because I don't have alot of time. But doing that alone will earn you $15 a month, miminum. You do have to reach a $25 value before you can cash out. But, I have now been paid twice from the site.

Why don't you join me? Just click here to join.

I'm always happy to help if you need it. Just send me an email on the site or privately at renitaperrone@gmail.com

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Crafty Savings / Weekly Deals for 7/29-8/4/2010

Many of us have children who love to do crafts. With the back-to-school sales beginning, now is a good time to stock up on some of the standard craft supplies such as glue, markers, crayons, water colors, etc. However, there are many items you can collect to use for crafts that won’t cost you a cent.

• Cereal boxes – cut the empty boxes and use the back side for painting or drawing on.
• Popsicle sticks – wash them and let them dry and use them to build bird houses, picture frames, or various other fun items
• Styrafoam trays – save these from your meat or veggie purchases, wash them and use them for making airplanes, cut out shapes to glue on other pictures, etc.
• Wrapping paper / wall paper – use the back side to draw, paint, color on. Or cut out interesting designs to glue onto pictures.
• 2-ltr bottles/milk jugs – can be used to make a birdfeeder
• Egg cartons – can be fun to paint, or use as an organizer for small items.

There are ideas for crafts from milk jugs, oatmeal boxes, toilet paper tubes, paper towel tubes, altoid mint tins, and so much more.

With a little help from the internet, you can find crafts that are appropriate for any age using mostly common household items. And, it’s a great way to encourage creativity in your child!

You may want to check out the following websites for some ideas:

Education.com

Enchanted Learning

Amazing Moms

About.com

So, be creative and have some fun! Please share your ideas as well!

Now, on to the deals this week!

Know the Lingo
BOGO – Buy one, get one free
SS – Smart Source (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
RP – Red Plum (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
PG – Proctor & Gamble (coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
GM – General Mills (occasional coupon inserts in Sunday’s papers)
Blinkie – coupon dispensers in stores
Peelie – coupons found on products that you peel off
Hangtag – coupons found hanging on bottles
All You – Magazine sold at Walmart or via subscription

Whole Foods: Click here for their coupons. If you prefer to shop at Publix, they should accept these as competitor coupons.

Publix Greenwise: Click here for their weekly ads.

Many thanks to IHeartPublix.com for their great tips on shopping at Publix!

For Publix “super deals” for 7/29-8/4, please click here

For Publix full sale list with coupon match-ups for 7/29-8/4, please click here

For Publix ongoing sale list, please click here

For Publix Advantage Buy Flyer sales, please click here.

Renita's Favorite Money-Saving Sites
http://cvssimply.blogspot.com
http://www.specials.publix.com
http://www.iheartpublix.com
http://www.iheartwags.com
http://www.iheartcvs.com
http://www.cvsdeals.gather.com
http://www.grocerydeals.gather.com
http://publixpennypincher.blogspot.com
http://www.southernsavers.com
http://freefrugality.blogspot.com
http://getadealdude.com

E-Book now available!
I’m excited to tell you that my book is now available as an e-book! So, you can save money while you learn to save even more money by purchasing an e-book instead of a traditionally bound book! For more information, please click here.

Renita is a resident of Palm Beach County, and author of “Wow! You Saved How Much?” For more information, visit her website at http://wowyousavedhowmuch.com.

I grant permission for every reader to reproduce on your website the article you are now reading but copy this article, without any alteration whatsoever. Include the copyright statement, too, please.

"Copyright © Renita R. Perrone All rights reserved. Permission granted to reprint this article on your website without alteration (excluding the weekly deals) if you include this copyright statement and leave the hyperlinks live and in place." http://wowyousavedhowmuch.com

Earn Money From Home

In an economy where most people are downsizing, our business continues to grow and expand. If you have been looking for a way to make ends meet, or make some extra money, this could be your answer. Invite some friends, attend one of the webinars below and see first hand what so many are talking about.

WEBINAR SCHEDULE (ALL TIMES EASTERN)
Tuesday, July 27, 8:30p.m. Hosted by John Boyd
Wednesday, July 28, 10 p.m. Hosted by Tye Riter
Thursday, July 29
10:30 a.m. Hosted by Tye
10:00 p.m. Hosted by Tye

LINK: Click Here

Dial-in Number: (712)432-0075
Access Code: 964251

Finally, if you are interested and would like more information email me and I will set up a special plan to help you reach your goals.

wowyousavedhowmuch@gmail.com

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Make Saving A Habit

In today’s society, the majority of us truly do live paycheck-to-paycheck. Sometimes it is because we are actually overspending and sometimes circumstances get us into a financial pinch. However, one key component of getting out of debt is learning to save. I know what many of you are thinking right now. “How can I save when my paycheck barely covers (or doesn’t cover) the bills.” Believe me, I fully understand!! But saving money needs to become a habit. It doesn’t just happen when you finally have extra money after paying bills. If you wait until then, you will continue to get deeper in debt.

I strongly suggest that you open a savings account that does not have a minimum balance to avoid a service charge. Then take a set amount of each paycheck and put it into that account. We prefer to use an ING Direct account (http://ingdirect.com) for this for a couple of reasons. First of all, ING offers a better interest rate than traditional banks. And secondly, since they are an online bank, you don’t have immediate access to your funds. Transferring money to and from your account is easy, but it does take a couple of days. Be sure to check with your bank about withdrawal or transfer fees. This prevents us from using the money for impulse purchases. However, if you don’t have a traditional bank to use to transfer funds, call around and find a bank that offers an account to suit your needs. By the way, ING Direct is FDIC insured.

So now you’re still wondering how you are supposed to do this if there isn’t any extra money after the bills, right? Would you really miss a buck or two out of each paycheck? Maybe even $5-$20 is manageable. Whatever amount you decide upon is good. The real point is to make it a habit to save. Mark your calendar for about three months after you’ve started saving and see if you can raise the amount you are putting into the account. Hopefully, by doing this, the next time something unexpected happens, you’ll have the money there to pay cash and not get into further debt. And it’s a good way to reduce financial stress by knowing you have a small “cushion.” I know some people who take the money they save by using coupons and put that into their savings accounts. Where there is a will, there is a way!

I grant permission for every reader to reproduce on your website the article you are now reading but copy this article, without any alteration whatsoever. Include the copyright statement, too, please.

"Copyright © Renita R. Perrone All rights reserved. Permission granted to reprint this article on your website without alteration if you include this copyright statement and leave the hyperlinks live and in place." www.wowyousavedhowmuch.com

Friday, July 16, 2010

Budgeting

A few weeks ago I talked about being aware of what you are spending. This is an important first step toward getting on a budget. None of us like having to be on a budget. But, the reality is that we won’t get anywhere, financially, until we learn to live on a budget.

Before my husband and I got married, we sat down to set up a budget for him. At that point he never really knew how much money he had or how much he was spending. And he used a “rounding off” method in his checkbook so it couldn’t even be balanced! For an ex-banker, like myself, that was a nightmare! He was not very happy when he saw that he had less than $20 a month left over (maybe it was even less), but after a few months he started realizing that he was getting things paid off and it was actually easier to know exactly where he was at.

So, how do you set up a budget? It’s really pretty simple. Start with making a list of your routine monthly bills. You should note when each bill is to be paid and approximately how much it usually is. Then take a look at your pay schedule to determine which bills have to be paid out of each paycheck. Obviously, if you get paid once a month this is easier because everything has to be paid out of that one paycheck. However, most people get paid at least twice per month. Once the basic bills are done, think about the expenses you have to pay less often than once a month – things such as haircuts, insurance, car maintenance, etc. Then average out how much to set aside each month. For example, if you car insurance is $300 every six months, then you need to set aside $50 a month so you will have the money when the bill arrives. Be sure to figure in expenses paid in cash as well, such as groceries, gas, etc.

Once this is all done, I strongly suggest using some form of the “envelope” system. If you are not familiar with the envelope system, the basic idea is that you would have an envelope for each budget category and actually put the budgeted amount of cash in the envelope until the bill is paid. However, few of us pay our bills in cash any more, and even fewer probably want to retain larger amounts of cash at home. Therefore there are several ways you can do this. Personally, many years ago we found a computer program called Money Matters, which has worked wonderfully for us. I’m not sure if you can even still purchase this program. Another option is to simply have a savings account and some form of a spreadsheet with the various categories listed out and use that as your savings ledger. Before the age of computers, I used to use accounting ledger paper (yes, I’m showing my age here! LOL). The key is to keep track of how much money you have available in each category at any given moment.

Now, are you ready for the real secret??? STICK TO THE BUDGET! It’s that simple. It’s not easy, but it is a simple process. For an online tool to help you out, try Budget 5000. I have not tried this, but found it while searching for tools to help you out. It’s a free service that looks pretty good. You can find it here. http://www.budget5000.com/budgeting-successfully/

Good luck on your budgeting journey! You can do it!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Barter Your Way to Savings

In tough economies such as we are currently experiencing, a good way to save some money is to barter for services. Many years ago, people bartered for services far more than we do. I remember watching TV shows, like “Little House On the Prairie” where the town doctor was overrun with chickens because that is how people would pay him!
My husband and I have been starting to do more bartering. He is a massage therapist and we’ve traded massage for music lessons, and have some ideas about bartering for dental care and haircuts. There are so many ways to do this. Maybe you don’t have what you consider to be a special skill. But we all have some abilities that others may want. Perhaps it is handyman work, cleaning houses, detailing cars, babysitting, bookkeeping, lawn care, etc. Or maybe you have a green thumb and love to garden. I know many people end up with more veggies than their family can use. Others would be thrilled to have home-grown produce!

Another idea I heard of some years back was group bartering. Instead of trading child care with the same person each time, a group of moms got together and set up “barter bucks.” They each started off with a certain number of “barter bucks” and determined a set value for childcare. When they needed childcare they would find someone else in the group that they could “pay” to watch their kids. But, if you ran out of barter bucks, that meant you weren’t doing your share and now couldn’t ask one of them to do childcare for you until you had earned barter bucks by watching someone else’s child(ren). This type of system could easily be set up among a group of people with varying talents/skills.

There are many options for bartering. It’s all about thinking creatively, and being bold enough to ask someone if they would be willing to trade services. In some cases, you may be able to barter for the labor, but have to pay for materials. But oftentimes, labor is the most expensive part of any bill.

I grant permission for every reader to reproduce on your website the article you are now reading but copy this article, without any alteration whatsoever. Include the copyright statement, too, please.

"Copyright © Renita R. Perrone All rights reserved. Permission granted to reprint this article on your website without alteration if you include this copyright statement and leave the hyperlinks live and in place." www.wowyousavedhowmuch.com

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Value of a Dollar

When is the last time you checked out a “dollar store?” Or maybe a discount store such as Big Lots? Well, it may be time to do so again.

In the last couple of years, I have noticed that many dollar stores seem to have disappeared. It really didn’t surprise me as I’m sure it takes a considerable volume of sales to pay the rent. However, just recently it seems that I’m seeing more dollar stores opening up again. In my quest for furthering my dollar, I decided to check them out.

I found Dollar Tree to be surprisingly good. This store is a true “dollar store,” meaning that every item in the store sells for $1 or less. They seem to consistently carry a variety of name-brand products. And even their food items have been within the “sell-by” date. In the past I have seen a fair amount of “outdated” foods in various dollar stores so I’m always cautious about the expiration dates. I even bought a loaf of bread from there that was fresh from the bakery – name brand, whole wheat! You can find a wide variety of items – greeting cards, paper products, seasonal items, cleaning products, food, and much more.

I’ve also seen Dollar General and Family Dollar stores opening up. These stores are not ones that have every item for $1, but they do have some good discounts on name-brand items. Be sure to know your prices before going shopping because other store sales may be the better deal. But, you may just find some incredible bargains as well.

Big Lots also seems to be expanding their store locations. Big Lots are usually fairly large stores that sell just about everything, including furniture. Their prices are discounted as, I believe, they buy out inventory from stores going out of business, or perhaps shipments that are rejected due to outer packaging being damaged, etc.

I’m sure there are many other similar stores around the country. I encourage you to go check them out periodically. These stores won’t always have everything in stock, but when you find what you need, it’s usually for a great price.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Stocking Up

In last week’s article I mentioned the importance of stocking up when items are on sale in order to not have to pay full price in between sales. Obviously, the immediate savings on the price is of value. However, another very important reason for purchasing in this manner is to eliminate the need for shopping at multiple stores in order to get the best prices. When you are driving all over town for the best prices, you are spending money on gas, wear & tear on your vehicle and, of course, your valuable time. It is helpful to know which stores have the lowest prices for regular priced items, but don’t assume that a discount store is going to be less costly than another store. Many discount stores, such as Walmart and Target, may have a lower regular price on the items you use, but generally I find that other stores have sales that are far better, especially when those sales are BOGO (buy one, get one free) sales. I usually only shop discount stores for items I rarely see on sale. And then when I go, I try to stock up enough that I won’t have to go back more than once a month.

Many people ask me where I find coupons. There are many sources that I will list below:

-The Sunday Newspaper. Almost every week, aside from a holiday weekend, there will be coupon inserts in the paper. Call and check the pricing on home delivery of your local paper. Oftentimes, home delivery is less expensive than buying it in the store. Also check the dollar stores in your area as many will carry the Sunday paper throughout the week, and often for a discounted price. I also know of people who have arranged to go into stores early on Monday morning and get the coupon inserts from the remaining papers.

-Many manufacturer’s will have printable coupons on their websites. If they don’t, email them and ask them for coupons. Many times they will send you a nice batch of coupons in the mail!

-Look for “blinkies” in stores – these are the coupons that are in a dispenser on the store shelves next to the products

-Look in magazines. Walmart’s All You Magazine is a great one for coupons - http://www.allyou.com/. A subscription rate is better than purchasing it at the store each month, but the coupons are not always the same. And many of these coupons are for health & beauty items so you may want to purchase a couple of issues before subscribing in case you find you don’t use enough to make it worth it.

-Many mid-week papers have coupon inserts as well. Locally the “Forum” and “Jewish Journal” both have coupons and they come out on Wednesday. Both of these papers are free.

-Publix has several magazines that usually have coupons in them. I suggest subscribing to them (they are free) as the store copies don’t always have the coupons.
Publix Greenwise - http://publix.com/wellness/greenwise/feature/Home.do
Publix FamilyStyle - http://publix.com/clubs/familystyle/Home.do
Publix Wine Guide - http://publix.com/clubs/wine/Home.do (I am not a wine drinker but sometimes there are coupons for cheese or other things that go good with wine)

In addition, if you qualify, sign up for the following:
Publix Baby Club - http://publix.com/clubs/baby/Home.do
Publix Preschool Pals - http://publix.com/preschool/NonMemberHome.do
These “clubs” offer coupons in the mail periodically.

Many stores will have extra coupon booklets that come out through the year. Always check their sales flyer areas to see if they have any available.

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Money Saving Blog & weekly deals for 2/4-2/10/10

Most of you know by now that I write a weekly blog for Boca Raton Magazine and The Examiner.com. I would very much appreciate your views and comments as it makes the editors happy too! :)

I found and compiled some excellent information on saving on fuel that I'm sure all of us can use! In addition, I've highlighted the super deals at Publix for the week of 2/4-2/10.

You can find it here.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Coupon Queen blog is up at The Examiner

Most of you know by now that I write a weekly blog on saving money for several sites. Along with a few good local deals, I also include tips that everyone can use to save money.

You can see my current post at The Examiner by going here.

You can also see my past blog posts by going here

I hope you find some information that will help you and bless you financially!

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

The Value of a Dollar

When is the last time you checked out a “dollar store?” Or maybe a discount store such as Big Lots? Well, it may be time to do so again.

In the last couple of years, I have noticed that many dollar stores seem to have disappeared. It really didn’t surprise me as I’m sure it takes a considerable volume of sales to pay the rent. However, just recently it seems that I’m seeing more dollar stores opening up again. In my quest for furthering my dollar, I decided to check them out.

I found Dollar Tree to be surprisingly good. This store is a true “dollar store,” meaning that every item in the store sells for $1 or less. They seem to consistently carry a variety of name-brand products. And even their food items have been within the “sell-by” date. In the past I have seen a fair amount of “outdated” foods in various dollar stores so I’m always cautious about the expiration dates. I even bought a loaf of bread from there that was fresh from the bakery – name brand, whole wheat! You can find a wide variety of items – greeting cards, paper products, seasonal items, cleaning products, food, and much more.

I’ve also seen Dollar General and Family Dollar stores opening up. These stores do not sell every item for $1, but they do have some good discounts on name-brand items. Be sure to know your prices before going shopping because other store sales may be the better deal. But, you may just find some incredible bargains as well.

Big Lots also seems to be expanding their store locations. Big Lots are usually fairly large stores that sell just about everything, including furniture. Their prices are discounted considerably as well. I always advise to check expiration dates on any perishable items.

I’m sure there are many other similar stores around the country. I encourage you to go check them out periodically. These stores won’t always have everything in stock, but when you find what you need, it’s usually for a great price.

**** Save money on eating out ****
Restaurant.com is offering an 80% off special right now! If you order online using the discount/coupon code INDULGE you can purchase a $25 gift certificate for $2!! Go check it out! You can do a search to see which restaurants participate. Code is valid through January 19, 2010, but gift cards don’t expire for a year after purchase.Now, on to some local deals for the week

For more information on my book, please visit my book's website here.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

December 2009 Online Earnings

Here's a summary of my earnings for December. It was a great month!! Grand total earnings were almost $400!

PaidTheFastest – paid $81.41 in December 2009

PaidTheFastest is a PTC/GPT site. The site offers regular PTC (paid-to-click) ads that pay anywhere from ¼ cent to 1 cent each, but there are only a few each day (2-3). However, they also have a large “offer” list where you can complete offers (many are free) for money. In that list of offers is a section called “Daily Clicks.” These ads can only be done once per day from ONE site (many sites offer the same ads but completing them from more than one site will get you banned or blocked). On these daily clicks, you click the link, then click on one of the advertisers within the link. Wait 10-20 seconds and then submit it for payment. They pay 2 cents each. I’ve cashed out MANY times now, for a total of over $130 since October 2009. The funds are always in my paypal within 5 minutes. They also offer Amazon gift cards, which they say are paid weekly. Minimum cashout for paypal is $3 and Amazon is $5.
Please note that this site does require a telephone verification. I had no problem with this, but they seem to be bogged down right now and it’s taking a bit longer. However, they have also stated that you may email them a copy of a photo ID that shows your address for verification.

To join, please click here http://www.paidthefastest.com/members/register.php?ref=renitaperrone

Swagbucks – paid $10 in Amazon gift cards in December 2009
Swagbucks is a search engine that randomly awards “swagbucks” that are redeemable for prizes. I simply “search” for every site I go to and usually get about 2-3 swagbucks per day. They also have a newsletter they send with swagbucks and a toolbar where they offer swagbucks periodically. I think there may be swagbucks on twitter too. I’m not really sure because I can’t keep up with twitter!

To sign up, please click here http://swagbucks.com/refer/Renita4075

Gombolptr – paid $1 in December 2009
This site is strictly a PTC (paid to click) site. They send about 20-25 ads per day to your email and you click a link, then click an advertiser on their link. Wait 30 seconds until it tells you your account has been credited. The ads range from ¼-1/2 cent each- not much but the site had paid consistently for several years that I am aware of.

To join, please click here http://gombolptr.biz/pages/index.php?refid=rperrone

Surveys.com – earned $1 in December 2009
A standard survey site. Not one of my favorites as I rarely get paying surveys from them. But every once in a while I get something! I couldn’t find a referral link so if you want to join, just go to http://surveys.com

Secret Internet Shopper – paid $57.23 in December, 2009
I'm always looking for ways to make money that don't take me away from my kids unless my husband can be home with them. And even then, I hate to not have any family time with everyone. A friend told me about a site that paid her. They send you a task list of 8 websites to visit. You are required to enter a valid email, address & phone number. You will want to set up a freebie email to use that is separate from your main email so that your email isn't clogged with spam afterward. I will be setting up a freebie one after each task list so that I know which emails were confirmations of my website visits, as these emails have to get forwarded back to the mystery shopping company.Each task list that I've done (2 so far) has taken me roughly 1/2 hour to complete. Then, figure another 10 minutes for completing your invoice and forwarding the emails. So, say 45 minutes to a hour to be safe. They pay $15 per completed task list, less the paypal fee, so you net a little over $14 per task list.The bad side...yes, there had to be a bad side... your phone is going to ring like crazy for the first couple of days. At first I was just using caller ID and not answering. But they just kept calling so I started answering and politely telling them that I was no longer interested.I completed the tasks on Monday, 11/30 and Tuesday 12/2. I was paid for both today, 12/4. My friend who told me about the site said it was about a week before she was paid (and I believe the site does say within 7 days).If you are interested, please go to http://secretinternetshopper.com. If you would please enter my name in the "referred by" box, I would appreciate it as they do pay $5 for referrals once they complete a set of shops. My name is Renita Perrone. Also, please let me know you signed up by either leaving me a comment here, or emailing me at renitaperrone@gmail.com so that I can follow up with them.I'm hoping I get more shops soon. As much as I hate the phone ringing like this, I need the money and I'll put up with phone calls if I could make $15 in an hour or less!

PrizeLive – paid $7.12 in December 2009
http://www.prizelive.com/r/renitaperrone - Another site that pays instantly via paypal, although other redemption options are available. All I do is login daily, click on the "Daily Tasks" section and complete those, click on the additional "Exclusive PTC's" that there is a link to once you've finished parts 1-3 of the first section. **Please note that if you do these “daily clicks” on another site, you will NOT get credited for doing them here and you run the risk of being banned from the site** Takes literally less than 5 minutes per day and I usually do these while multi-tasking. They've paid me several times so far and after the first one, each payment has been INSTANT. They have games you can play as well, once you earn enough points to play. I've only played the Match Up game but if you win, it's 18 cents added to your earnings. You also earn for level 1 & 2 downline referrals.

YouData – paid $0.24 in December 2009 (slowest month yet!)
http://www.youdata.com/join/renitaperrone
YouData is a site where you login to view ads. This is NOT your typical PTC site. The ads usually pay 10 cents each, sometimes more. They consistently deposit the money in your paypal each Friday (less paypal fees). Unfortunately the ads are few & far between lately, but it’s easy $$. You do have to have a cell phone capable of receiving a text message to join. They text you a confirmation code and that is the only time I’ve heard from them via cell. You also earn for your downline referrals.

Dollarclickorsignup & Clickorsignup – paid $36.43 in December 2009
I joined DollarClickorSignUp on 9/13/09. I received my first payment on 10/10. On 10/19 I requested my second payment and received it on 10/25. The admin states that if you request payment on or before the 5th, you will receive in on the 10th, or request it on or before the 20th and you'll receive in on the 25th. Both times she's come through!It's an easy site - doing PTC's (Paid-to-click links). There are also offers you can complete, as well as daily clicks. Some earnings are in cash value (paid through paypal) and other earnings are in "clickit coins" which are redeemable for a variety of prizes. I spend probably 5-10 minutes per day on the site. Hard to say exactly because I am always multi-tasking.The other thing I LOVE about the site is that it pays 100% referral earnings. So every time a referral earns a penny, I earn a penny. That can easily help the earnings rack up faster!http://dollarclickorsignup.com/members/register.php?ref=renitaperroneThis admin also owns another site that I have joined recently. I haven't reached payout level on it yet, but hoping to get there soon! It's run exactly the same way from what I can tell.That one is called ClickorSignup and the link is herehttp://clickorsignup.com/paidpts/home?ref=renitaperrone


CreationsRewards – paid $5 in December 2009
This site issues points for answering a daily trivia question, visiting websites daily, and answering surveys. You can also earn by shopping through their site. However, on the daily website visits – BE CAREFUL!! These are often the same as the “daily clicks” on other sites so once again, if you are doing them on multiple sites, you risk being banned. I only do the daily trivia and any website visits that are not the same as these daily clicks so it’s slow earning, but they’ve paid me several times since I’ve joined so I know they are reliable.

There doesn’t appear to be any referral program so if you want to join, click here http://creationsrewards.net

SurveySpot – paid $2 in December 2009
This is a standard survey site. It was never very high on my list until recently as their surveys were almost always simply for a sweepstakes entry. Paid surveys were rare. However, they have now implemented a points program which makes it much more valuable to me! Not all surveys offer points, so you have to watch them. But, if you qualify frequently, you could earn good $$ here.

There is not a referral program so if you wish to join, click here http://surveyspot.com

CrazyMonkeyGold – paid $6.25 in December 2009
This is a GPT site that offers PTC ads, offers, and the “daily clicks” that most sites now offer. Again, remember that doing those daily clicks on multiple sites is forbidden!! The site pays $1 for referrals once they complete an offer, which is a really nice bonus! But, I think it’s a one-time bonus… not sure if you earn on offers they complete after that or not. Payment was received within about 48 hours. Minimum payout is $1 to paypal and they offer other redemption options as well.

If you wish to join, please click here http://crazymonkeygold.com/members/register.php?ref=rperrone

MatrixMails – paid $2.97 in December 2009
MatrixMails is a GPT site that offers various ways to earn. So far I’ve only done PTC’s and paid emails. They have occational offers you can complete and if you do, you get paid on those quickly, regardless of minimum payout requirements. For PTC’s and paid emails, the minimum payout is $2 via paypal. Not sure if there are other redemption options or not… I don’t think so.

If you wish to join, please click here. http://www.matrixmails.com/?rid=226173

GSN – Game Show Network – paid $50 in gift cards in December 2009
There is so much to do on this site! You answer a daily trivia challenge, enter the bingo blitz, play games, and answer other trivia questions daily for “oodles” which are points redeemable for a variety of prizes. They have consistently paid me every gift card I’ve requested since June 2009 (over $500 now). The only “down” side is that they don’t put the gift cards up fast enough and you have to be quick to snag them! If you want more info, please look back further in my blog for more details.

They have yet to implement the referral program so if you wish to join, simply go to http://gsn.com

Dollarsurveys.com – paid $4 in December 2009
This is a typical survey site. They send you an invitation about once a day. Sometimes they don’t really have a survey so they offer something else. But, if you qualify for the survey you get paid $1, which is supposed to be paid in a week. However, the last few I qualified for took quite a bit longer. I was about to give up on them when 4 payments came through at once. There is no referral program so simply go to http://dollarsurveys.com to join.

Harris Poll online – paid $20 in Amazon g/c in December 2009
Another typical survey site. Earn points for completing surveys and redeem for a variety of prizes. This site has consistently paid me for several years but it can be slow to earn.
To join, go to http://harrispollonline.com

InstantCashSweepstakes – paid $52.08 in December 2009
This is a funny little site! Every 3 hours you can login and answer 5 quick little polls (3 questions each). Each time you do you earn “coins” and the possibility of earning cash. The coins are redeemable for prizes, but it takes A LOT of coins to earn a prize and prizes are limited. They also have a daily drawing of $50.00. When the person you were referred by wins a prize, you might also have won the same matching prize. This month the person who referred me won the $50 daily drawing so I got the matching prize! Yay! And then I earned various little amounts and was able to cash out a 2nd time. Paypal does take their cut, unfortunately. But, the minimum payout is $2. It seems like they’ve changed their rewards a bit because I’ve been winning many times a day, but always small amounts - $0.01-$0.07 each. Of course I have several active referrals so that has helped! If you wish to join, please click here http://instantcashsweepstakes.com/invitations/ref_link/15750

Synovate/Global Opinion Panels – paid $5 in December 2009
Another typical survey site. Points are earned for each survey. Points are redeemable for cash (via check). Has paid consistently for several years. No referral program so just go to http://globalopinionpanels.com to join

Gather – paid $25.00 in December 2009
Gather is a social networking site that rewards its members for participation. Points are issued for activity. The exact method is unknown, but getting people to view your articles/photos/videos is worth more than you viewing other’s work. Hardly seems fair, but in order to truly get the viewers, you pretty much have to be actively viewing the work of others to get them to reciprocate. Gather has paid consistently for years though, and I truly enjoy the friendships I’ve made from there. A large variety of prizes are available as well. To join, simply go to http://gather.com

SendEarnings – paid $27.31 via check in December 2009 ($30 less fees)
This is a paid-email program. They send you a few emails per day that are worth 2 cents each, I believe. You do have to reach $30 to request payment, which takes a while, but it’s mere seconds out of your day. And they have paid me a few times now. You can also earn by doing surveys, shopping through the site and completing offers. I rarely do any of those things.

To join, click here http://www.sendearnings.com/?r=ref149012


InboxDollars works exactly like SendEarnings. If you wish to join that one as well, click here http://www.inboxdollars.com/?r=ref739801