How does Shop at Home and Ebates work?

Shop at Home and Ebates are simple rebate programs where you earn cash back for your on-line purchases.  The cash back is in the form of a REAL LIVE CHECK!  Yes, you receive actual money back with no strings attached.  You also earn $5 for each referral.

**If you decide to sign up, please use my links  for Shop at Home and Ebates.  I use any little amount I make on this website to supplement my family's income since we are back to paying 2 mortgages (see condo in the right hand corner) :(  **

Shop at Home

• You receive anywhere from 2%-30% back.  
• You receive a check after your balance reaches $20.  
• You receive $5 for signing up.
•  $5 for EVERY referral.   

 Ebates

• You receive anywhere from 2%-30% back.
• They cut you a check every 3 months
•  You earn $5 for every referral as well. 

How Do I Use Shop at Home and Ebates?

Just this week, I used Shop at Home to buy items to complete my children's playroom and for a rug for my back door.  All of the pictures here are of items I bought! This is how I did it:

1. I went to Shop at Home and Ebates and did a search on Home Depot and Ballard Designs to see if these companies used either one of these services.
2. Shop at Home gives 3% back (6% today only) on my Home Depot Purchase (free shipping) and 6% back on my Ballard Designs Purchase.  
3. I went through the link on Shop at Home to get to Home Depot. ($3.81 back for going through a link- $7.62 today)  
4. I shop like normal and check out.  
5. Did a search on Ballard Design at Shop at Home 
6. Connected with Ballard Designs through the link on Shop at Home
7. Shop and Check out like normal ($9.00 back for going through their link).
8. I got my Fabulous Zebra Rug from Home Depot and my Burlap Drapes and French Jute Rug for my back door from Ballard Designs with $12.81 CASH BACK!  

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How does Shop at Home and Ebates work?

My Publix Routine with Match-ups for 2/04-2/10 (2/03-2/09 in some areas)

I am not a huge fan of "reinventing the wheel".  I Heart Publix does a fabulous job posting the match-ups of Publix deals with coupons.  These are the match-ups starting 1/03 (1/04 for some):

1. Know your Publix stores coupon policy: If not, call them now!  Do they take competitor coupons? If so, do they take drugstores, food lion, walmart and target coupons? Do they double coupons?
2. SUPER DEALS: I pick out items with their coupons from the Super Deals.  Try to buy enough of the item for 6 weeks or more if they are free.
3. DOLLAR DEALS: I pick out items from the Dollar Deals and the other Dollar Deals section section.  Again, try to buy enough of the item for 6 weeks or more .
4. Weekly Match-ups: Then I go to the Weekly Match-ups and pick out my menu for the week taking my stockpile of frozen meat and goods into consideration as well as get items that are needed around the house.  I also stock up 6 weeks worth of items that I can freeze or store since it is never a good idea to pay retail :)
5. Competitor coupons and man. coupons: I also check through the Food Lion Printable Coupons,  Target Grocery Coupons and other competitors coupons for the items that are not on sale as well as Coupons.com, Red Plum and Smart Source.You can save even if it is not the BEST DEAL.  I would only buy enough for 1 week since it is NOT the best deal.
6. $5 off or Walgreens Register Rewards:  I print my $5 off for every $25 coupon (if accepted). HERE if my store considers CVS/Rite Aid a competitor. Also most stores accept register rewards from Walgreens since they are a Manufacturer Coupon.  
7. Rewrite list on envelope:  Break them up in separate purchases ONLY if using multiple $5 off coupons (if your store takes them).  Paper clip coupons, place them in my envelope with my grocery list and head to the store.  Hand the cashier the coupons in the process of checking out with the $5 off on top.  I always hand them my Publix Upromise card to have them scan to save for my kiddos college fund.  If you have not signed up for Upromise, do it NOW!  Upromise is an EASY program to help save for your children, nephews, nieces and grandchildren's college fund with your simple purchases.   

I am no expert. This is just my routine which I am sure I will perfect over time as I know you will.  Let me know what you think!

*To get a little info on Publix, go to 10 reasons why I love Publix!

Don't want to miss a deal? Subscribe via Email or RSS feed to have free samples, coupons and deals sent directly to you. Click here to refer your friends to our site.

My Publix Routine with Match-ups for 2/04-2/10 (2/03-2/09 in some areas)

Why am I so excited about a $5 off Rite Aid coupon?

There is a new Red plum Rite Aid coupon available that is $5 off for every $25 purchase if you enter zip code 19543 and switch to a 50 mile radius.  Thanks, Who said nothing in life is free? !

Why am I so excited about this?  Well, obviously if you shop at Rite Aid this can be a really good deal.   Not so obviously is the opportunity to use this coupon at a Publix location that considers Rite Aid a competitor.  Don't know your stores policy?  Call your Publix location now! In fact, I would call every Publix location within a 10 mile radius of your house, but that is just me :)

Also there is another $5 off for every $25 dollar coupon HERE!

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Why am I so excited about a $5 off Rite Aid coupon?

New Target Printable Coupons that CAN BE USED AT PUBLIX and OTHER COMPETITORS!!!!

Guess what?  There are new printable Target coupons available.  Why am I so excited?  Because most Publix locations consider Target a competitor as well as Save-a-lot, Food Lion, CVS, Rite Aid and Walgreens REGISTER REWARDS (they are man. coupons) and  Walgreen's coupon books (which can be found in store)!  By the way, all of the links above are to the competitor coupons to save you time.

Do you know your local Publix Coupon policy?  If not, CALL THEM RIGHT NOW!  If I were you, I would know the coupon policy of all of the Publix locations within a 5-10 mile radius, but that is just me :)  A little lost, check out the following posts:

•  10 Reasons why I  love Publix
• My Publix Routine

Don't want to miss a deal? Subscribe via Email or RSS feed to have free samples, coupons and deals sent directly to you. 
Click here to refer your friends to our site.

New Target Printable Coupons that CAN BE USED AT PUBLIX and OTHER COMPETITORS!!!!

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Print your coupons before they reset & BUDGET

At the beginning of each month, the following websites reset their coupons.  That means you can go ahead and print the coupons from this month that you will need next month (to the print limit).

Coupons.com

Redplum.com

SmartSource.com

Plus, it is time to set up your Zero-based budget (then negotiate with your spouse) for February! If you are single, put together your Zero-based budget and get an accountability partner.  No excuses!

• What is a zero-based budget?  A zero-based budget is one where your total income minus your total expenses equals $0. In other words, it forces you to assign every dollar of income to an expense (or savings) category. As Dave Ramsey puts it, you’ll be “spending your month’s income on paper” before you spend it in real life.
• But my husband handles the finances!  My husband had a ton on his plate. I asked him if it would be okay if I, the unorganized spender, could do the budget.  With a smile, he said yes.  HELP him by helping your family make a budget.  Yes, numbers make my head hurt too. 
• Isn't the word budget a four letter word? No, I love my budget.  I have FREEDOM like you will never believe with a BUDGET!
• Overwhelmed? Sign up for Financial Peace University or buy Dave Ramsey's books!

Don't want to miss a deal? Subscribe via Email or RSS feed to have free samples, coupons and deals sent

directly to you. 

Click here to refer your friends to our site.

FRIENDLY REMINDER: Print your coupons before they reset & BUDGET

My Publix Routine with match-ups and links: 1/28-2/3

* For the week of 1/21 go HERE!

I am not a huge fan of "reinventing the wheel".  I Heart Publix does a fabulous job posting the match-ups of Publix deals with coupons.  These are the match-ups starting 1/28 (1/29 for some):

1. Know your Publix stores coupon policy: If not, call them now!  Do they take competitor coupons? If so, do they take drugstores, food lion, walmart and target coupons? Do they double coupons?
2. SUPER DEALS: I pick out items with their coupons from the Super Deals.  Try to buy enough of the item for 6 weeks or more if they are free.
3. DOLLAR DEALS: I pick out items from the Dollar Deals and the other Dollar Deals section section.  Again, try to buy enough of the item for 6 weeks or more .
4. Weekly Match-ups: Then I go to the Weekly Match-ups and pick out my menu for the week taking my stockpile of frozen meat and goods into consideration as well as get items that are needed around the house.  I also stock up 6 weeks worth of items that I can freeze or store since it is never a good idea to pay retail :)
5. Competitor coupons and man. coupons: I also check through the Food Lion Printable Coupons,  Target Grocery Coupons and other competitors coupons for the items that are not on sale as well as Coupons.com, Red Plum and Smart Source.You can save even if it is not the BEST DEAL.  I would only buy enough for 1 week since it is NOT the best deal.
6. $5 off:  I print my $5 off for every $25 coupon (if accepted). HERE if my store considers CVS/Rite Aid a competitor.
7. Rewrite list on envelope:  Break them up in separate purchases if using multiple $5 off coupons.  Paper clip coupons, place them in my envelope with my grocery list and head to the store.  Hand the cashier the coupons in the process of checking out with the $5 off on top.  I always hand them my Publix Upromise card to have them scan to save for my kiddos college fund.  If you have not signed up for Upromise, do it NOW!  Upromise is an EASY program to help save for your children, nephews, nieces and grandchildren's college fund with your simple purchases.   

I am no expert. This is just my routine which I am sure I will perfect over time as I know you will.  Let me know what you think!


*To get a little info on Publix, go to 10 reasons why I love Publix!


Don't want to miss a deal? Subscribe via Email or RSS feed to have free samples, coupons and deals sent directly to you. 
Click here to refer your friends to our site.

My Publix Routine with match-ups and links: 1/28-2/3

How to Give Yourself a $12,000 + raise in 2010

Are you living paycheck to paycheck or in DEEP debt?  Does your husband or you need a raise to get out of the hole you find yourself in?  These are all tools that we used when we found ourselves paying 2 mortgages. Here is how to create your own raise in 2010!  

1. Coupons for Groceries: Start couponing.  Learn all you can.  We gave ourselves an average $500 a month raise. If I can do it, you can do it!  I never used a coupon in a grocery store before this year.  

2.      Utilities: Cut out excess utilities.  

A.    Satelite/Cable: We cancelled our satellite which gave us a $80 a month raise.  We watched shows online at cbs.com, abc.com, nbc.com and mtv.com. 

B.    Home Phone:  Cancel your home phone and use your cell phone (metro pcs).  Up to $80 a month raise.  

C.   Yard: Cancel the yard treatment plan/yard maintenance.  $20 + a month raise. 

D.   Negotiate: You will be surprised also with how GENEROUS these companies will start being to keep you as a client.  **We just got our satellite back after 3 months (when we get a tenant for our condo) with a great package (HD, DVR etc.) for $40 a month for 12 months.

3.      Drugstore Game: Learn about the drugstore game.  I get $200 + a month  (raise) worth of cosmetics, hair care, over the counter medicine etc. for less than $10 a month.

4.      Eating Out: 

A.    Make yourself a couple of delicious soups or buy  ingredients for your favorite sandwich instead of going to a fast food restaurant 3-4 times a week  $15-40 raise a month depending on whether you are buying foods for your kids as well. 

B.    Go out to eat only once a week.  $160-300 a month raise. 

C.   Quit going to get fancy coffee and brew your own.  I just started using a cappuccino maker that I got as a wedding present.  Instead of going to Starbucks, I started my own home coffee shop, Savebucks J Around $40 + a month raise.

D.   Take your kids to McDonalds or Chick-fil-a AFTER lunch to buy them an ice cream cone or yourself a coffee so that they can have an opportunity to play in the Play Place without buying a Happy Meal.  $20-40 a month raise.  

5.      Salon Discounts: Go to a salon like Bob Steele Salon for the first time and get 50% off your first visit when you say that Courtney Breban sent you. That can be up to a $100 or more raise this month.  

6.      Preschool/Private School: Struggling financially?  Pull Johnny or Janey out of preschool and enroll him in some classes or sports in your community. $180-700 a month raise.  Or better yet pull them out of private school and either put them in home school or public school.  You will give yourself a $280-$2500 raise per month. 

7.      Cars: Sell the cars you pay payments on and buy a nice used car that you can pay cash for.  $200-1000 + a month raise. 

8.      Books: Use the library for you and your kids instead of buying new books.  $15-40 a month raise.

9.      Sell and Buy: Sell the stuff you don’t use or need and buy used on craigslist and ebay.  $20-100 + raise per month.

10.  Accountability/Sticking to your budget:   $$PRICELESS$$

A.   Married: Put together a Cash Flow Budget EVERY MONTH giving every dollar a name until you have spent your last cent WITH YOUR SPOUSE.  

B.  Single: If you are single, have an accountability partner who will hold you accountable to your cash flow budget and for meeting your financial goals.  

Some of this sounds extreme but if you are in a deep hole, you need a big shovel not a teaspoon to get out of the hole.  There is NOTHING Godly or good about being in debt!  If this is a generational pattern let this STOP with you.   A question we would ask ourselves is: Would our children rather have stressed out parents, in debt and have everything, or have parents abiding in peace, out of debt, setting an example and have little?  As Dave Ramsey says, "If you live like no one else, later on you can LIVE like no one else. "
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How to Give Yourself a $12,000 + raise in 2010

Publix: Preview of Ad with coupon Match-ups for 1/21 with My Routine!

I am not a huge fan of "reinventing the wheel".  I Heart Publix does a fabulous job posting the match-ups of Publix deals with coupons.  These are the match-ups starting 1/21 (1/20 for some):

 This is how I prepare my list and coupons step by step with links for ease:

1. Know your Publix stores coupon policy: If not, call them now!  Do they take competitor coupons? If so, do they take drugstores, food lion, walmart and target coupons? Do they double coupons?
2. SUPER DEALS: I pick out items with their coupons from the Super Deals.  Try to buy enough of the item for 6 weeks or more if they are free.
3. DOLLAR DEALS: I pick out items from the Dollar Deals section.  Again, try to buy enough of the item for 6 weeks or more .
4. Weekly Match-ups: Then I go to the Weekly Match-ups and pick out my menu for the week taking my stockpile of frozen meat and goods into consideration as well as get items that are needed around the house.  I also stock up 6 weeks worth of items that I can freeze or store since it is never a good idea to pay retail :)
5. Competitor coupons and man. coupons: I also check through the Food Lion Printable Coupons,  Target Grocery Coupons and other competitors coupons for the items that are not on sale as well as Coupons.com, Red Plum and Smart Source.You can save even if it is not the BEST DEAL.  I would only buy enough for 1 week since it is NOT the best deal.
6. $5 off:  I print my $5 off for every $25 coupon (if accepted). HERE
7. Rewrite list on envelope:  Break them up in separate purchases if using multiple $5 off coupons.  Paper clip coupons, place them in my envelope with my grocery list and head to the store.  Hand the cashier the coupons in the process of checking out with the $5 off on top.  I always hand them my Publix Upromise card to have them scan to save for my kiddos college fund.  If you have not signed up for Upromise, do it NOW! Upromise is an EASY program to help save for your children, nephews, nieces and grandchildren's college fund with your simple purchases.   

I am no expert. This is just my routine which I am sure I will perfect over time as I know you will.  Let me know what you think!

Don't want to miss a deal? Subscribe via Email or RSS feed to have free samples, coupons and deals sent directly to you. 
Click here to refer your friends to our site.

Publix: Preview of Ad with coupon Match-ups for 1/21 with My Routine!

10 Reasons Why I Love PUBLIX!

1. Buy One Get One Free sales or sale items-50% off is a GOOD DEAL!
2. Numerous Clubs and Programs- Sign up for each of their clubs and programs.  You will receive NUMEROUS Publix coupons and tons of savings...plus they are FREE! Here is the list: Publix Upromise Program,  Publix Grape Magazine, Publix Baby Club, Publix Preschool Pals, Publix FamilyStyle Magazine and Publix GreenWise Market Magazine.
3. Double coupons- My Publix doubles manufacturer coupons .50 or less EVERYDAY!
4. Rainchecks-They offer rainchecks if they are out of an item on sale where you can get the item at a future date for the same sale price. 
5. Liberal coupon policy-Publix takes manufacturer coupons, store coupons and competitor coupons.  Some Publix locations consider *drug stores, Target, Walmart, Kroger, Save-a-lot and Food Lion and more as competitors. Ask your local Publix who they consider as their competitors.
6. Stacking coupons-You can stack coupons.  You can use ONE Publix coupon /or competitor coupon and One manufacturer coupon per item.  
7. Advantage Buy Flyers- There are always a green and yellow advantage buy flyer at the front of the store full of store coupons.
8. Customer Sevice- It is their pleasure to help me...ALWAYS!  They offer cookies to the kids in the bakery and always offer to help you take your groceries to the car.
9. Grocery Cart-They usually have a car grocery cart for the kids. It is the little things!
10. FREE- With all of the deals I find in the stores, I get lots of groceries for free every week!

*Some Publix locations take Rite Aid, CVS, Walgreens etc. coupons.  Included (at select Publix locations are the privilege of using a  "$5 off for every $25 you spend" coupon. In the past, I would check out 2-3 times depending on how much I buy. I hand over my $5 off coupon" that I printed for each of my check outs.  Then, I hand them the corresponding coupons for the items I just purchased.  You can save $5-$20 or MORE, just to begin with, using this tip!

Don't want to miss a deal? Subscribe via Email or RSS feed to have free samples, coupons and deals sent directly to you. 
Click here to refer your friends to our site.

10 Reasons Why I Love PUBLIX!

Which coupons are coming out in the Sunday Paper?

Wondering what coupons will be in Sunday's newspaper inserts? Head over to the Sunday Coupon Preview to get the full scoop on all the coupons which should be in the two coupon inserts coming out. I use this so that I can make up my mind whether I will buy 2 or 5 newspapers.

Which coupons are coming out in the Sunday Paper?

Saving money naturally and organically

1. Shop your local farmer's market. Most of the time you save an average of 33%
2. Buy most produce in season.  
3. Buy in bulk. For beans, grains, lentils and nuts, go straight for the bulk containers. Just make sure you have a cool, dry place in your kitchen to store your dry goods for a couple of months. You can save on storage space by splitting your goods with a friend.
4. Frozen- In the off season buy preserved foods including frozen fruits and vegetables.
5. Shop Sales and house brands.  Look at the circular for your grocery stores to find the loss leaders.  
6. Shop on-line. The GreenPeople directory from the Organic Consumer Association is a good place to begin your online search for cost-effective organic foods. A list of additional organic directories is also available on the site.  There are also plenty of on-line stores offering organic products from Organic Kitchen and even Amazon. 
7. Be flexible.  Use store discount fliers when planning your weekly menus. More mindful shopping can save you money. Shop Aldi and other smaller stores.  They have a small, inexpensive selection of organic foods.  Combine shopping at smaller stores and bigger grocery stores to buy the loss leaders and stock up when they are on discount.
8. Buy a share in a community-supported agriculture program.
9. Coupons- You will find a few in the Sunday paper as well as online coupon websites like coupons.com. 
10. Sign up- Sign up for the following newsletters:  Kiwi, Mambo sprouts and Eating Well.  They e-mail great lots of coupons and meal ideas.   
11. Less Meat- Eat less meat. Organic meat can be expensive.  Also eating vegetarian is healthier.  
12. Grow your own- Start your own organic garden.  
13. Solicit- Look on the websites of your favorite organic companies and print out your favorite companies' coupons.  They do not provide coupons? Contact them, pay them a complement on their foods and they will most likely send you more coupons to keep you as a faithful customer.

List of Organic/Natural Food Companies with Links to coupons, newsletters that  offer coupons or contact information to request coupons:

• After the Fall
• Alta Dena
• Amy's Kitchen
• Annie's Homegrown
• Arrowhead Mills / Shansby Group
• Barbara's
• Bear naked
• Boca Burgers
• Burt's bees
• Brown Cow Farm
• Cascadian Farm
• Coleman Natural Products
• Dreamfields Pasta
• Earthbound Farm
• Earth's Best
• Eden Foods
• Green and Blacks
• Hain
• Horizon Organic
• Imagine Foods
• Kashi
• Kiss My Face
• Knudsen Juice
• Organic Valley
• Mambo Sprouts
• Mrs. Meyer's
• Morningstar Farms
• Muir Glen
• Naked Juice
• Organic Cow of Vermont
• Pearl Soy
• Seeds of Change
• Seventh Generation
• Simply Organic
• Stonyfield Farms
• Whole foods
• Wolf Gang Puck

Saving money naturally and organically