While it is true that couponing takes time, effort and fair amount of work, to be a successful couponer, does not mean you have to devote every waking moment to it. If you haven’t read the first part of this post click here: Successful #Couponing: Part 1

Planning Ahead

1. Plan out your couponing shopping trip – to the penny if you can. Use coupon matching sites to help you know what the best deals are. The more you plan it out, the smoother it will go in the store, so be as detailed as you can listing product name (and variety if necessary), size/ct., retail price, sale price, coupon value, and price you expect to pay.
2. Look at your calendar and shop accordingly. After major holidays you can find items that might have holiday specific packaging, which will be marked down with the rest of the holiday items.
3. Understand the coupons and sale prices usually coincide for free or near free pricing only twice a year. So if you CAN, buy enough to last your household six months.

Opportunity Awareness

1. Never go into a store that accepts coupons without your coupon binder. You never know when a store may be putting an item on sale – due to overstock, or package damage – that was not advertised.
2. When you have time, walk the outer perimeter of the store instead of the inside aisles. These endcaps often have items marked at clearance pricing.
3. Expand your store horizons – shop for cleaning products at home improvement stores, or hair products at a pharmacy.

Niceties

1. While you are a customer – like everyone else – your transaction may be a little more involved than others. So be polite and patient to both the other people in line and the cashier.
2. Never take more than a few coupons that are available in a store – peelies, tear pads, hangtags, booklets, recipe cards, etc. It is rude and will ultimately result in stores not putting them out as frequently or requiring you to ask for them at customer service.
3. Be the coupon fairy sometimes – if you have more coupons for an item than you plan to use or they are expiring soon, place them on the shelf next to the product. It’s a nice way to share the wealth, and make sure that a coupon doesn’t go to waste.

Stockpile Management

1. Rotate your products regularly. If you have a large amount of something, write the expiration date on the part of the label that will be visible while stacked on the shelf with a big marker, this will make it easier to see which to use first.
2. Do not get a large amount of an item that your family would never ever use – even if it’s free – unless you truly and honestly plan to donate it. For example – don’t get 30 bags of cat treats, just because they are free, if you don’t have a cat! Also consider the life of a product. If you have worked out a deal to get 20 pounds of strawberries for free or close to it, you need to be sure you have a means to use them all or freeze them.
3. Store items properly – cool dry place for most items, and freeze all of the freezable items.

{guest post submitted by Mina of Mina’s Journal}

It is that time again when we remind those special to us that they are thought of and loved.

Make these easy stand up Hearts for Valentine’s Day, a quick project that almost anyone can do, and a nice alternative to the regular Valentine’s Day card.

Materials:

• Stand Up Hearts download (*NOTE: You need Adobe Reader to use this file. Save it to your computer for future use. Design by Mina Keenan.)
• Card or paper
• Scissors
• Glue

Technique

• Just trim around the outer edges, and fold along the tab lines where indicated, and as shown in the photo.

• Apply glue to the end tab and bring it to the back of the heart, letting it ‘naturally’ find it’s place where to stick, approximately two thirds of the way up the back of the heart.

Welcome to Winning Wednesday for 2-1-12! Anyone know what it’s called when a word, phrase, number, or other sequence can be read the same forward or backward? (pause for those of you who need to hit up Google) That’s right – a palindrome! Today’s date is a palindrome. Just thought I’d put that bit of geeky goodness out there.

Today I would love to hear from you in the comments after you post your giveaway links. We’re glad you come here every week to promote your giveaways, but maybe you can give some help to others and tell us:

where else have you found success listing giveaways online?

Together with your combined knowledge and resources, maybe you can help another blogger find a new way to promote their giveaways online. Thanks for your help!

Thank you to who?Comics for sponsoring this post and encouraging my child to read biographies in comic book form! Please click here to learn more about the app. And follow who? Comics on Twitter for updates!

We’re hitting our mid-year homeschooling slump at the moment. This year I’m blaming it on pregnancy, but regardless of the cause, it’s clear that I need to do some serious revamping to get my kids excited about learning again. One tried and true way to get them excited about something is to incorporate technology so I use quite a few websites and ipad apps when we need something to get us out of a funk.

Who?Comics is a new app. that features biographies of famous people in comic form to make them more exciting for kids. The comics are geared towards kids ages 8 and up so when my 8 year old son started complaining that he was sick of doing math earlier this week I surprised him by parking him on the couch with my ipad and his choice of comics. Needless to say, he was thrilled.

The comics themselves are very visually appealing to kids. They have a bit of an anime style to them and in my son’s eloquent words, “I like them, but I don’t know why.”

I thought a few of the illustrations of people’s faces when they were angry or excited were a bit over the top and a bit on the scary side but my son didn’t seem to even notice that. As far as content goes, I really liked that they focused on some of the little details that might not be included in a regular biography but are really appealing to kids. We read the Steven Spielberg comic and my son thought it was hilarious that they included the pranks he liked to play on his family as a kid. It really made Spielberg real to my son and drew him into the story.

I really liked that the comics didn’t talk down to kids. I’m always in favor of teaching my kids with all the information I can, even if some of it is a bit above their heads initially. The Bill Gates comic included specific details on early computer technology that my 8 year old son hadn’t heard of before but it didn’t discourage him from being fully engaged in the comic and he picked up some new information. I have been told that some of the comics are more appropriate for older kids so you may want to either read with your child or preview the comic beforehand.

The app is new so it’s still a bit buggy. I had trouble actually purchasing a few of the comics. It just seemed to load and load and load and would eventually freeze up the app, which is a shame because there are quite a few my son still wants to read. I would have liked to see the app itself as a free download since you pay for each comic individually, although it does include several free comics so I suppose that makes up for the cost of the app.

I’m excited for what they have in the works though and I’m hoping to incorporate more of the who?comics into our homeschool plans for the year as the bugs get worked out. They have a great start on titles but I’d love to see more choices in the future.

Thank you again to who? Comics for sponsoring my post. Please click here to learn more about the app. Visit who? Comics for updates. I was selected for this opportunity by the Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are my own. #CleverWhoComics #spon

{Guest post by Terri DeWulf}

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If your family is anything like mine, we love eggs! Individual quiches are an easy way to prepare a quick and delicious meal anytime of the day. And they are good for you too! What I like most about this recipe is they can be made to order for each member of the family, and they all can be baked at once.

Ingredients

-Large Eggs (1 per individual quiche)

-1/4 C 1% Milk per three eggs

-Cooking spray

-Salt and pepper

-Various fillings such as turkey sausage, shredded cheese, left over veggies, shredded baby spinach, green peppers, lunch meats such as lean ham or turkey, salsa, hot sauce. Get creative!

Baking Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray muffin tins with non stick spray so the quiche will easily come out once cooked.

In a large bowl whisk three eggs, 1/4C of milk, salt, and pepper. Set aside.

In your prepared muffin tins, place your fillings. This is the fun part, especially for kids, because they get to choose exactly what they would like! Then pour your eggs into each filled tin. Don’t over fill because these will puff up.

Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. Tops should be golden brown. Let cool for a few minutes. To remove them, take a knife and run it around the edges and gently pop them out of the pan. Enjoy!

Terri DeWulf is a stay at home Mom to seven children, ages 16 down to two and a half. She holds her degree in nursing and currently resides in Indiana with her husband and children. She enjoys cooking and gardening.

Successful couponing is not about having 90 tubes of toothpaste or 80 bags of dog food. Successful couponing is about having an adequate supply of the items your family uses on a regular basis, so that you will not run out and have to pay full retail for that product. It is also about stretching your budget, and being able to buy high quality items for less than the price of generic. Here are some more tips on how to be a successful couponer.

Clipping and Collecting

1. You can either clip each coupon and put them into a filing system or you can save whole pages/inserts, it is a preference issue, as well as a storage system.
2. You need to decide how many papers you want to get based on what you expect each to have in them.
3. When shopping you should always scan the shelves for coupon booklets, blinkies, peelies, hangtags, recipe cards and tear pads. You can usually find useful coupons all over the store if you keep your eyes open. If you have small children with you, give the task to look for coupons on the shelf – it will keep them busy and engaged.

Organization

1. Choose a binder with clear “baseball card organizer sheets” or an accordion filer.
2. Divide your coupons into categories. Choose categories that are right for you, as well as make sense to you. Suggested categories: Frozen Foods, Fresh Meats, Beverages, Cooking/Baking, Cereal, Snacks, Perishables, Non-Perishables, Medications, Personal Care (can be broken up into Dental, His and Hers), Cleaning Products, Paper Goods, Non-food Misc., Pet Food
3. You must attend to your coupons weekly, at the very least. You also want to purge your coupons at least twice a month – checking for expiration dates, as well as to ensure that use a coupon before it expires. But keep in mind that you do not have to use a coupon just because, it just means you look for a deal on that item.

Understanding Policies and Procedures

1. Carry a printed copy of your most commonly frequented stores’ policies in your binder. And check to see if things have changed at least once every few months.
2. If a checker performs the transaction in a way that conflicts with the written policy, refer to it. Be polite and ask for clarification, from a manager if necessary. While each store might have their own practices, they should at least honor the corporate policy.
3. Do your best to read fine print – on both manufacturer’s and store coupons. Some coupons list specific limitations on using multiple coupons in a singular transaction, others have limitations on scents/flavors or sizes.

Come back next Friday for part two with more tips on how to be a Successful couponer.

We’re happy to be back after standing in solidarity last week with those sites blacking out over the SOPA/PIPA legislation.

We’re back in full swing and happy to provide you a place to list and enter giveaways!

Remember, if you want your giveaway featured here (in addition to the regular linky listings), please email Stacey@BusyMommyMedia.com.

There is one aspect of housework that many people overlook and that’s the cleanliness of your air. Every few seconds you take in a lung full of air, but do you consider the quality of it – probably yes, when you are outside in the city, but probably no when you are sitting on your couch. Having clean air can actually decrease your chances of illness and  reduce allergic reactions to pet dander or pollen.

Indoor Air Quality

While many people have switched out their windows for energy efficient ones, put in appropriate insulation and sealed all entrances, they may have created a different problem for themselves – stale air. If the only time fresh air enters your home is when you open and close the door to exit and enter, you may have stagnant air that keeps germs, pollents, vapors and allergens circulating around your home. You may want to open up your windows or back doors for a few hours each week. If you environment, doesn’t allow this, you should have fully functioning exhaust fans that can work to “exchange” the air in your home for the fresher air outside.

What About Air Purifiers

This is one of those uncertain topics as of late. When they were first on the market they were thought to be the greatest thing around. Then as children grew up from infancy into their teens in homes that were always purifying the air, it was discovered that they had a higher risk for airborne allergies as well as a higher tendency to get sick. The basic idea is that they simply had not been exposed as frequently as people without purifiers and thus hadn’t built the immunities. More simply put – the air is TOO clean.  Conversely, persons that have developed allergies can benefit from air cleaners that reduce the number of allergens in the indoor air.

Other Ways to Clean the Air

One of the easiest ways to clean the air is to use a damp rag to wipe surfaces as well as dust instead of dry rag. When you are wiping down your coffee table – even if it isn’t “dusty” it still probably has pet dander, pollen and other particles that can contribute to “dirty air” inside your home. By using a damp rag, you are collecting this mess instead of sending it into the air. Another tip is to change your vacuum bag frequently. When your vacuum bag or canister is full, many of the particles get pushed out into the air instead of staying in the machine. And lastly, invest in a good door mat and clean it often. You might be shocked to find out how much muck is on your door mat, but what’s worse is that when you rub your wet feet on it you are making it worse. Whatever you rub off, eventually dries and then gets tracked in by the next person and will eventually end up in your air.

My kids have worn pediped shoes since they were teeny tiny and we had a bit of a crisis moment when my 8 year old hit the top end of the sizes that pediped carries and refused to wear any other brand.

He’d been wearing his current shoes for over a year and a half and, as little boys tend to do, had worn the shoes to within an inch of their lives. We tried going shoe shopping but he refused every pair he saw.

Pediped recently came out with new larger sizes and saved my son from going barefoot for the next year. He’s thrilled to death that he can wear his favorite shoe style a bit longer, and as a mom, I love the fact that pediped shoes have been designed to be developmentally appropriate for a child’s feet.

One of the things that I love about pediped as a company is that they are always looking for ways to reach out and help support great organizations. Through February 5th, pediped is hosting the Purchases with Purpose Sale which benefits the pediped foundation, an organization who’s goal is to enhance the lives of children through financial and product support to charities and organizations that are aligned with the foundation’s mission.

There are great benefits for you during the sale as well. Selected styles of shoes will be on sale for up to 50% off! As an added bonus, pediped is launching the pediped Rewards program which allows you to earn rewards for every purchase you make from pediped.com.

•  Level 1 (spend $100 or more) – At Level 1, customers will receive a $5 credit to use on a future order and they will continue to receive a $5 credit for each additional $100 spent.
• Level 2 (spend $150 or more) – At level 2, customers will receive free shipping on any order of $30 or more for the remainder of 2012.
• Level 3 (spend $200 or more) – At level 3, customers will receive free return shipping for the remainder of 2012.
• Level 4 (spend $250 or more) – At level 4, customers will have through December 31, 2013 to use all of the rewards they have earned.

Join us on Thursday, January 26th (6 pm PST / 9 pm EST) for a #MomStorm Twitter Party with @pedipedfootwear to talk about ways you can reach out and help your own community.

Twitter Party

Date: Thursday January 26, 2012

Time: 6:00-7:00 pm PST / 9:00-10:00 pm EST

Hashtag: #MomStorm

How to Attend 

1. Follow @MomStorm,  @BusyMommyMedia, and @pedipedFootwear to follow the party hosts.

2. RSVP on the Mr. Linky below using your twitter id so that party participants can follow you on Twitter before the party starts and you can be entered to win party prizes.

3. Share this post with your friends by clicking on the share link at the bottom of the page.

4. A few minutes before the party, click here to load our custom Tweet Grid to make it easier for you to follow the party tweets.

If you haven’t attended a Twitter party before and need some help getting started, contact me before the party starts and I can help you with any questions you have.

Twitter Party Prizes

4 lucky winners will each receive a pair of pediped shoes. The winner can choose the size and gender. Pediped will choose the style sent.

This giveaway is open to the U.S. and Canada.

To be entered to win giveaway prizes during the party:

• RSVP below
• Tweet with the #MomStorm hashtag between 6 pm PST/ 9 pm EST on Thursday, January 26, 2011
• Help us spread the word by Tweeting about the party (you can simply click “Tweet” below if you’d like)

Need a Little Reminder?

We know your life is busy.

We’re happy to send out one (1) reminder email the day of the party so you don’t miss out on winning some great prizes. We promise not to put you on our mailing list (unless you want us to). Add your email address here to receive a reminder email.

RSVP for #MomStorm

]]> http://busymommymedia.com/2012/01/momstorm-pediped-purchases-with-purpose/feed/ 25 http://busymommymedia.com/2012/01/teaching-your-child-about-saving-and-spending-money/ http://busymommymedia.com/2012/01/teaching-your-child-about-saving-and-spending-money/#comments Mon, 23 Jan 2012 11:35:41 +0000 Lorie http://busymommymedia.com/?p=13208

Last month as my kids watched their favorite television programs, they were bombarded with a ton of commercials for toys and other things that they wanted or thought they wanted. My kids wanted just about everything they saw. My kids also love to go search out the toy aisles every time they go shopping with the family. They find a ton of things they want and then we hear the crying when they do not get what they want, or think they want. I thought this would be a really great time to start teaching them about how to save and spend money. Here are some tips to get your child learning about his/her money.

Be an Example

You are the best example for your child. They watch what you do and want to be like you. While I do not think kids need to be involved in the total family finances, I do think they can benefit from seeing parents save money. You can take kids with you as you go to the bank. Use that opportunity to talk to them about how you have an account at the bank to save money. You can even just collect coins in a jar to pay for a family goal like a summer vacation. Kids will start to get the idea of how important saving money really is to get some things on their want list just by seeing how important it is to you.

Give Kids Money

If kids are going to learn about money, then you have to give them some money. You can do this several ways. One popular way to give kids money is by giving them an allowance. As the parent, you will need to let you child know what kind of jobs you want them to do and then you can set an amount of money that they will be given. Some experts recommend $1 per age. So for my 12 year old, I give him $12. This can be weekly or monthly whatever your income allows. Another way to help your child earn money is to give them certain jobs and then pay them when the job is completed. Whatever you decide, giving your child money will give them a chance to practice spending and saving money.

Make It Fun

Kids enjoy doing things that are fun, so try incorporating that into teaching them about money. If you want your child to learn to save, then you could offer rewards when they reach certain goals. Another popular thing some parents do is to match kid’s money they save. This will encourage the kids to save since they will be getting twice the money as they save. Another fun activity is to have a special jar that you can save money in for a specific goal. Kids enjoy watching the money grow in the jar as they save the money for a wanted item. You can also make a wish list with your kids. Have them pick an item they want to save for and find a picture of the item. Place that picture on the jar, in the kid’s room, or anywhere else to remind the kid what they are saving to buy.