Money Saving Challenge - week 29 in review

Here is a run-down of things I did to help save money this week:

• I matched sales and coupons at Tops to help lower my grocery bill.
• I submitted a Staples rebate online, which will return some of my spent money to me plus I saved the cost of a stamp by not mailing it in.
• I returned an empty printer cartridge to Staples and will get credit to use on a future purchase.
• We utilized the local public library for books and kids' activities.
• I combined errands on outings to help save on gas.
• I avoided using the oven on the hottest days in order to keep the house cooler and help save on air conditioning costs.
• I opened the windows to catch the cooler morning and evening breezes to also save on cooling costs, and avoided using the AC completely on a cooler day.
• I picked a lot of free raspberries from our plants at home.
• I cut the dishwasher tablets in half for each load.
• My kids played several games in a free softball league.
• I paid a bill online and saved the cost of a stamp.
• I used a free rental code at Redbox in order to enjoy a free movie at home.
• I noticed the condensed water dripping outside from an air conditioning window unit, so I placed a bucket underneath it to catch the drips and used it to help water my plants.
• I placed an online order through Ebates in order to get part of my purchase price returned to me.
• I redeemed my 3300 Tops gas points in order to get gas for just $0.29 per gallon.

Did you do anything in particular this week to help save some money? I'd love to read it in the comments below!

Money Saving Challenge - week 6 in review

I learned earlier this week that blogger Precious at Frugal Makes Cents has decided to shut down her blog.  While another blogger may possibly take over hosting the 2012 Money Saving Challenge, for now I'm going to continue to list my money saving accomplishments here as a way to keep myself accountable and possibly give my readers new ideas.  After all, I still need to save money this year!  Here are the things I did this week to save money:

• I cashed in Swag Bucks for a $5 Amazon gift card to use towards holiday shopping later this year.
• I received a Staples rebate in the mail.  I just need to get it deposited.
• I often find myself hungry when I'm out running errands and have to fight the temptation to not hit a drive-thru.  I decided to pack my car with a few non-perishable snacks and drinks from my stockpile (obtained for free or super cheap) so I can take the edge off my hunger when I'm out and about. 
• I saved electricity by baking 2 chickens at the same time in my oven earlier this week. After we ate one at dinner, I took the rest of the meat off of it and removed the meat from the second chicken.  After portioning and packaging up the cooked chicken, I froze it to use in future meals.  I also saved the carcass and will make chicken stock in the crock-pot.
• I saved gas by staying home 1 day this week.
• I matched sales and coupons at Tops but really saved the most by doing almost all of my "shopping" from my stockpile this week.
• I did some baking on a cold day in order to help heat my kitchen.  When I was done using the oven, I opened the door ajar to help continue to heat the room while the stove cooled down. Today is another cold one, so I think I'll bake cookies later!

I'd love to hear any ideas you use for saving money, too!

Print coupons for less

I refuse to pay a lot for paper I use for Internet printable coupons, so I always jump on a good paper deal when I see one. 

A 500-sheet ream of HammerMill Copy Plus paper is priced at $5.99 at Staples but they are offering a $4.99 easy rebate, which makes it only $1 after the rebate.  There is a limit of 2 rebates per household.

Hurry!  This rebate is valid only until tomorrow, January 7th.

Staples rebate = FREE paper

Because I print so many coupons, I'm always looking for paper deals. Print out the coupon here and use it when you buy a ream of Staples multipurpose paper for $5.99.  A $5.99 rebate will print out on your receipt and you can submit it via snail mail or online (which is super easy -- I bought mine earlier today and came home and submitted it right away).  Hurry, though, because the coupon is only valid until tomorrow, 10/1, and you'll need to use the coupon to trigger the rebate! 

Tip of the day: Printing coupons for less

Even though I have ink and paper expenses from printing online coupons, I'm positive I save more than it costs me to print them.  That being said, I do try to keep my expenses down and thought I'd share with you how I save money.

The most expensive aspect of printing coupons is purchasing ink.  I used to always buy new HP cartridges at office supply stores but a few months ago I switched to buying refurbished and have seen no difference in print quality or quantity.  Not only do I save money buying refurbished over new, but I also earn cash back from my purchases.  I buy ink at 123Inkjets (I've had no issues with refurbished ink cartridges, but if your printer won't use them they also sell some new cartridges, too) through Ebates.com and get a check back for part of my purchase price (currently the offer is cash back for 16% of your purchase price!). If you're not already an Ebates member and you do any shopping online, you will want to sign up.  All you have to do is search Ebates for the online retailer you're looking for (there are over 1000, including sites like Groupon, Lands' End, JC Penney, and Walmart just to name a few) then shop from their Ebates link.  Checks are mailed out quarterly -- I signed up earlier this year and just received my 2nd check from them recently!

Another option for reducing ink expenses is to set your printer to print in black and white and/or to set it on the draft or economy print setting.  I've recently experimented with the economy setting on my printer and my coupons don't seem to have any problems scanning at the register.

When my ink cartridges are empty I recycle them at Staples, where they give you $2 in Staples Rewards credit for each one (recently they were running a $3 special on HP ink, I think).  I watch for deals on paper and use my Staples Rewards towards my purchases.  Just this summer, I've been able to get reams of paper for free up to $2 each after Staples rebates.  If you're not a Staples Rewards member, you'll want to sign up.  (I think OfficeMax also offers an ink recycling program, but I rarely shop there since Staples is much more conveniently located to me.)

Even though I still have some expenses associated with printing coupons, I can do it without feeling the least bit guilty because of the amount of money I'm saving!

I'd love to hear about any other cost-saving printing tips any other readers have. 

Free Lysol wipes rebate!

I just posted my story of the dirt-cheap cleaning supplies I was able to purchase at Staples recently, and here is a mail-in rebate to make the deal even sweeter:

Purchase 3 Lysol products, with 1 of the products being Lysol wipes.  Mail in your receipt(s) and this rebate form and get your Lysol wipes purchase price (up to $3) refunded.  Purchases must be made between 7/1/11 and 10/31/11 and postmarked by 11/30.

Tip of the Day: Think outside the box

So, company is coming over and you realize you're out of toilet bowl cleaner and wet Swiffer wipes.  You run over and grab some at Staples, right?  What?  Not your first thought?  That's what I did recently but I had to think outside the box!

I have a Staples Rewards card that I use when I make purchases or recycle ink cartridges there, but I often forget to log into my account and print my rewards.  I remembered to do that a couple of weeks ago and was surprised to find I had about $20 in rewards to redeem at the store.  Since the only school supply item I still needed to purchase was a specific binder I couldn't find elsewhere, I decided I'd use part of my rewards to purchase it.  Then it hit me...Staples carries all sorts of office necessities including cleaning supplies, which I needed to buy.  Instead of taking my couple of coupons to the supermarket or discount store and paying out of pocket, I took them over to Staples and paid nothing (well actually, I stocked up and ended up paying $0.31 -- oh, and I found a Lysol rebate I'll be able to send in)!  So, don't forget to think outside the box when it comes to getting a good deal.

If you don't have a Staples Rewards card, I highly suggest signing up.  It's free and you'll earn a percentage back on select purchases and $2 for each ink cartridge you recycle there.

Back-to-school shopping at Staples

Can you believe it?  The kids have only been out of school 2 full weeks and the back-to-school sales have already started.  Time to start stocking up! 

My favorite purchases from Staples:

2 packages of Staples arrowhead cap erasers - $0.01 each (with $5 minimum purchase, limit 2)

2 packages of BIC Round Stic pens - $0.01 each (with $5 minimum purchase, limit 2)

2 bottles of Staples school glue - $0.01 each (with $5 minimum purchase, limit 2)

2 packages of BIC student choice mechanical pencils - $0.25 each (limit 2)

2 reams of Staples multipurpose paper - $0.25 each after rebate
Priced at $5.99 each, there is a $5.74 rebate (limit 2 rebates).  Since there is a $5 minimum purchase in order to buy the $0.01 items, the paper helped out in that regard too.  If you've never filed for a Staples rebate before, you can do it easily online.  I entered mine as soon as I came home.

2 pairs of Westcott 7" scissors - $1 each (limit 2)

1 Staples 3-hole binder punch (limit 2) - $1 (limit 2)

The $0.01 deals are only valid until Wednesday, July 13th, so make sure not to miss the sale!