Several people have been asking me lately "How/where do you find these deals?" So here it is: This mama's 6 best tips for getting stuff for free or close to it.
1. Pay Attention! This may seem like a "duh" do you, but you'd be amazed at how much stuff you can get for free if you just pay attention! While listening to the radio, my aunt heard an ad about Ace Hardware having a promotion on paint. We went in, filled out a little card (still haven't gotten any mailers yet), and got 2 free quarts of paint! So now I can repaint a piece of furniture for free! And via Facebook the other day, I found out about a deal for 101 4x6" photos ($15.15) for free. Only paid $8 on shipping.
2. Ask your friends/look online. Through mama friends of mine, I found out about story time at the library, where Sam and I go and get to play and see other babies and mamas every week for free; I found out about Emler Swim School's Bathtime Babies class, where infants 0-6 months swim once a week, and all we paid was the $25 registration fee!
It was also through friends/family that I heard about Aldi stores (a great place to buy off-brand groceries for very good prices!), a thrift store where I got 11 pieces of clothing for $35, and Sprouts' Wednesdays (when their weekly mailer comes out and they have both the previous and the new week's items on sale).
3. Look online. It seems cliche or dumb to say it - but Pinterest is also a great resource! There are all kinds of tips and tricks on it - if you'll actually follow through and use them! I read a tip that said to pick out a color swatch card at Home Depot or Lowe's and ask them for a sample in each color, and you get just enough paint to paint each drawer on a dresser in the same color scheme. Haven't tried it yet - but only because I haven't decided which color swatch matches Sam's bedding best yet. I will be trying this (as soon as Jennifer brings me my old dresser).
Websites like Restaurant.com offer terrific deals on restaurant gift certificates (we often get $25 gift certificates for $10), and LivingSocial and Groupon are great sites to use as well (I've found discounts on everything from restaurants to Nothing Bundt Cakes and DryBar). David also finds great deals on Best Buy's daily "Goods" emails on electronics or movies for great prices!
4. Use the Dollar Store! You would not believe what you can find at the dollar store: picture frames, baskets/buckets for storage, party items, bandaids, pregnancy tests (that are JUST as effective as the $15 ones!)... In the last month, I bought two planters and several packets of seeds for my patio that are now springing to life, and a butt-load of picture frames (total cost: $22). The latter, combined with my recent photo scores, means I can finally finish my photo wall in the living room! I can't wait to finish and show y'all the finished result.
5. Create an email address for mailing lists. This keeps your inbox (and spam folder) from getting clogged up with junk and good stuff. It also aids you greatly with step 6.
6. Sign up, sign up, sign up!! I get daily emails offering freebies and fantastic deals. In the last month I was able to get two 8x10" photos (normally $4 - hello, wedding and maternity photos!), and a photo book (normally $20+ - our weekly pregnancy photos all in one book!) - and all I paid was shipping! (If you're counting, that means I've now saved at least $49 just on photos!) Sites like Shutterfly send you all kinds of discounts and freebies, BuyBuyBaby sends you 20% off coupons all the time (you can use these at Bed Bath & Beyond too, and vice versa) and Joann Fabrics sends coupons for discounts like 20-50% off of one regularly priced item all the time.
So there you have it. The Broke Mama's Guide to Saving Moolah. I hope this helps or inspires someone. It's been a ton of fun for me seeing how much money I can save and still add to/decorate my home, entertain Sammy, and get things done! Happy Saving! And if you have any great tips, please share them, too!
1. Pay Attention! This may seem like a "duh" do you, but you'd be amazed at how much stuff you can get for free if you just pay attention! While listening to the radio, my aunt heard an ad about Ace Hardware having a promotion on paint. We went in, filled out a little card (still haven't gotten any mailers yet), and got 2 free quarts of paint! So now I can repaint a piece of furniture for free! And via Facebook the other day, I found out about a deal for 101 4x6" photos ($15.15) for free. Only paid $8 on shipping.
2. Ask your friends/look online. Through mama friends of mine, I found out about story time at the library, where Sam and I go and get to play and see other babies and mamas every week for free; I found out about Emler Swim School's Bathtime Babies class, where infants 0-6 months swim once a week, and all we paid was the $25 registration fee!
It was also through friends/family that I heard about Aldi stores (a great place to buy off-brand groceries for very good prices!), a thrift store where I got 11 pieces of clothing for $35, and Sprouts' Wednesdays (when their weekly mailer comes out and they have both the previous and the new week's items on sale).
3. Look online. It seems cliche or dumb to say it - but Pinterest is also a great resource! There are all kinds of tips and tricks on it - if you'll actually follow through and use them! I read a tip that said to pick out a color swatch card at Home Depot or Lowe's and ask them for a sample in each color, and you get just enough paint to paint each drawer on a dresser in the same color scheme. Haven't tried it yet - but only because I haven't decided which color swatch matches Sam's bedding best yet. I will be trying this (as soon as Jennifer brings me my old dresser).
Websites like Restaurant.com offer terrific deals on restaurant gift certificates (we often get $25 gift certificates for $10), and LivingSocial and Groupon are great sites to use as well (I've found discounts on everything from restaurants to Nothing Bundt Cakes and DryBar). David also finds great deals on Best Buy's daily "Goods" emails on electronics or movies for great prices!
4. Use the Dollar Store! You would not believe what you can find at the dollar store: picture frames, baskets/buckets for storage, party items, bandaids, pregnancy tests (that are JUST as effective as the $15 ones!)... In the last month, I bought two planters and several packets of seeds for my patio that are now springing to life, and a butt-load of picture frames (total cost: $22). The latter, combined with my recent photo scores, means I can finally finish my photo wall in the living room! I can't wait to finish and show y'all the finished result.
5. Create an email address for mailing lists. This keeps your inbox (and spam folder) from getting clogged up with junk and good stuff. It also aids you greatly with step 6.
6. Sign up, sign up, sign up!! I get daily emails offering freebies and fantastic deals. In the last month I was able to get two 8x10" photos (normally $4 - hello, wedding and maternity photos!), and a photo book (normally $20+ - our weekly pregnancy photos all in one book!) - and all I paid was shipping! (If you're counting, that means I've now saved at least $49 just on photos!) Sites like Shutterfly send you all kinds of discounts and freebies, BuyBuyBaby sends you 20% off coupons all the time (you can use these at Bed Bath & Beyond too, and vice versa) and Joann Fabrics sends coupons for discounts like 20-50% off of one regularly priced item all the time.
So there you have it. The Broke Mama's Guide to Saving Moolah. I hope this helps or inspires someone. It's been a ton of fun for me seeing how much money I can save and still add to/decorate my home, entertain Sammy, and get things done! Happy Saving! And if you have any great tips, please share them, too!
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