How to Save Money
FREE Apps , and a Variety of Couponing Methods, and of course Budgeting
It’s May of this year. Imagine you just closed on a house (moved in July), and bought a new vehicle all within a few months apart. Fall is beautiful with the leaves changing colors , but the season also brings a lot of expenses.
Expenses start to pile up, with two major investments within the same year. Expense of the vehicle and house. With a house, comes trash, which calls for a contract with the “Garbage Men” (Expense of Trash Disposal). As the months pass on by our spending continues as we deal with Home Decor Expense, “Man-Cave” (Manly Toys) Expense, and so much more…the first year is always the hardest, and thus is focused on saving money and budgeting out our expenses, so we don’t go into debt.
With Expenses High, I will Discuss How to Save Money Without Going Into Debt
Tips to Save Money
FREE Money Saving Apps to Download: Fetch, Groupon, and Free Stuff Finder
Credits: https://hip2save.com/deals/fetch-app/
Fetch App
With the Fetch App you can earn free points by scanning a receipt or playing a game (associated with the app). Gift cards are awarded in return for earning points, and shoppers can spend at any store they please. The goal of the app is for you to earn points and receive a gift card in return.
Imagine it’s a weekday, you are sick as you just took a vaccination, but need to complete at least a few hours of work. You do as promised, and take it easy by playing “Fetch” games, as well as get some shut eye. Next day you are feeling energized and well.
Credits: https://www.iphonelife.com/content/app-saturday-groupon
Groupon
Groupon is great for groups. It is an app which shows awesome deals within a wide variety of categories, from eating to beauty. Few tips before buying the service: Please Read The Fine Print, and Please Read the Deal details. Doing this ensures you are getting what you paid for.
Imagine its a Friday, you and your friends want to do something, you happen to mention the “Groupon” app. The next minute you and your friends are all heading to the Nail Salon, and applying the discounted price at the register. Fun Fridays are always the best !
Credits: https://www.freestufffinder.com/app/#google_vignette
Free Stuff Finder
The app list deal-breaker items, located at various stores (majority I bet are our favorites), From Amazon to Zara. We can look at the app at our convenience, and the best part is the “heart icon”. This icon lets you add your favorite deal-breakers within a list. Clicking on a particular item will take you directly to that item itself. Everyday I see deals, it’s crazy good.
Birthdays. Sign up for the rewards program at all your favorite stores, and get freebies on your B’day(anything from Makeup from Ulta to Free Dessert at Olive Garden), perks, and so on. Some like Target Circle Rewards Program, you will have to pay back on a monthly basis.
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Imagine it’s the afternoon. You finished with the day’s work, and reviewing the items on Free Stuff Finder. You see Starbucks’s Red Cup Day is coming soon, meaning you get a Free Coffee Cup. How did I find it ? I downloaded the app. Free Stuff Finder.
Couponing: Manufacturer, Digital, and Store
Couponing is using an offer to get an item at a discounted price. This could be paper coupons we find within magazines. We could also be looking at digital coupons, or even store coupons. Couponing has a term known as “Stacking”. First we find a store, then we look for items which are on sale, then we take those items and apply the coupon, after we get a store reward or incentive for future shopping, we finally have a rebate, or partial refund after the purchase has been made. Who knew couponing would be such a process ?
Manufacturer Coupons (Company)
Manufacturer Coupons are coupons provided by the manufacture versus the store. These type of coupons are used as a form of payment. The store takes the coupon from you during checkout, and is later reimbursed for the “face value” by the manufacturer.
Imagine you get hungry all of a sudden, so you and your husband decide to go to “Walmart” to get groceries and run errands. At the very moment , you recall the coupons within your purse and decide to use it. You buy yourself some “Gushers”, for a snack and to satisfy your hunger. You are happy.
Digital Coupons (e-coupon)
Electronic equivalent of a traditional paper coupon, used to receive a discount or promotional benefit when shopping online or in-store.
Instead of clipping paper out of a magazine or newspaper, you find, save, and redeem these offers electronically.
Imagine you are shopping via Amazon. You buy the necessities. It’s time for checkout. You hit “checkout” button, and as part of your payment you use a Promo Code (combination of letters and numbers) to deduct a percentage or fixed amount from your total.
Store Coupons
These are discounts which the store puts out, as opposed to the manufacturer of the product. Unlike manufacturer coupons- which can usually be used anywhere- store coupons are typically valid at the specific retailer which issued them, take “Target” for example.
Imagine you walk into “Target” as they are having a 50% discount on clothes. This is a store coupon, as the discount only applies to “Target”. You go to checkout and the discount is applied. If you clipped a coupon- good for you- you clothes get discounted further ! Congratulations !
Store Sales: Quite Repetitive
Store sales are quite repetitive. We will be seeing the same sales over and over again, at the same discounted price, during the same period, every year. Quite predictable huh ? Get Planning, and watch your bills plummet.
Imagine Thanksgiving is just around the corner, the time for get togethers, turkey, stuffing, veggies, and various other “festive” food. In saying this you know there will be sales on Turkeys, and the food often consumed during “Turkey Day”. Go to Market 32 (Price Chopper) and grab those deals !
Credits: https://www.fultonbank.com/Education-Center/Saving-and-Budgeting/Budget-Categories
Budget Budget and Budget
After a big purchase it can be tempting to purchase something, say on Amazon without taking notice of the expenses, such as the bills and other important payments. Set a budget for shopping, every month. Shop within the budget. Look for low prices, deals. One thing to make sure is that the quality of the product is good. When we shop we are shopping for a purpose, to purchase good quality products which will last a long time. Read the customer reviews, the ratings, and review customer photos.
Thank you for taking the time to read this article :)
Hope you all learned something new today
Take Care
-Bren&Nik9187-
