Pea of Sweetness

Christi the Coupon Coach book Review

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Coupon coaching

As part of the Molly Crew on the Schoolhouse Review Crew I also get the chance to review great products for money-saving tips like Couponing Made Simple by Christi the Coupon Coach. I received a print copy of the book for my review. Couponing Made Simple: Simple Steps to Successful Couponing wasn’t written to for “extreme” couponing, but for real couponing for real people. Christi the Coupon Coach has been blessed with the talent of helping others save money through couponing, and she shares her methods broken down in easy steps that anybody can understand – including someone like myself who doesn’t know the first thing about coupons other than using them when I have one! Her book isn’t about buying things you won’t use but rather saving money on the things you already do purchase and use on a regular basis.
First, I have to admit I was a little nervous after receiving the book and seeing the items pictured. If you follow my blog you may know my husband has had cancer twice, I have medical issues, and all three of our children have special needs. Therefore, we use natural products from our food to our personal care products. I am quite particular about the ingredients in our products and recently we even started switching over to gluten free products knowing it would reap major health benefits for all of us. One thing I truly appreciate about Christi, though, is that she has a heart for helping people. She doesn’t WANT our family to stock up on foods or personal care products we don’t feel comfortable using. She wants to help us save money on the things we DO use. This a relief because one of the reasons I haven’t really given couponing much effort is because I felt like it HAD to be that way – you buy the best deal whether you like it or not. That is definitely not what Couponing Made Simple is all about. Is is about saving you money on what you do use!

Coupon book

So there were a couple of strategies in Couponing Made Simple that wouldn’t work for our family such as the Sunday paper inserts. Our Sunday paper is $3.00 and is full of products we wouldn’t even consider using. The only time I would consider purchasing a Sunday paper now that I am plugged into these new ideas is when there is a local coupon swap because many others would LOVE to have those coupons I won’t use and most likely won’t be using the coupons for the products we do use. Although Christi doesn’t mention any specific websites (because websites could change) she mentions great ways to find websites online for coupon tips and matching. She also has a Favorites Page on her website. As you can see – one of them is Organic! I also used the power of social media to connect to others and ask around for sites where I could find eco-friendly personal care product coupons and organic and gluten-free coupons. There are more out there than you might think! Some even give back to charities!
Because it took me a while to pull all of these resources together I haven’t been able to implement the other strategies in Couponing Made Simple – yet, but I plan on using them! Now that I know where to find coupons I can start matching and implement her very thorough organization system! I know I will be ready! When I did have coupons before I just stuffed them in a drawer. I am sure she would gasp at the thought! Now I know how to keep them organized so they don’t go to waste!
In Couponing Made Simple Christi also explains in detail all of the coupon terms, the tools you will use in your coupon system, organizing your actual coupon run, choosing the right cashier, and more helpful tips. In addition, she shares a Bonus Section with more frugal tips such as shopping at Yard Sales and Thrift Stores!
Although, I don’t have any pictures to share of a successful coupon run yet, I know I will soon now that I am pulling all of the pieces together! Once I do, I will be sure to share some of my successful shopping trips!
The paperback version of Couponing Made Simple can be purchased on Amazon is $18, and the Kindle edition can be purchased for $4.99.
Be sure to check out the other Crew Members’ reviews as I’m sure many had different experiences by clicking on the banner below!
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Disclaimer

Frugal Dog Tips

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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of the Dog Bark Collar Store. All opinions are 100% mine. For more information please view my Disclosure Policy.
 
Saving money is so important. Having a large-breed dog costs can definitely add up. Here are some tips to help you keep those costs down.
Frugal Dog Tips

Do the Grooming Yourself

It’s not an easy task to bathe a mastiff that hates water, but spending $50 for someone else to give her a bath isn’t ideal. Bathe your dog at home or find a facility that offers self-serve dog baths, which cost less than having a full-service groom. This is a great way to save a few dollars. If your dog’s breed requires more than bathing consider purchasing clippers and learning how to groom them yourself. It may take time and practice but is well worth the savings.

Skip the Expensive Treats

We love to spoil our pup, but dog treats can become a big expense. Many of those high-cost treats aren’t healthy for them either! Treats are great for rewards, so you definitely don’t want to skip them altogether. Consider making your own treats. There are many resources out there. Or use fruits and vegetables! (Though please be aware of those that may be dangerous to your pup like grapes and avocados.)

Take Them With You

Boarding costs can be extremely expensive. When you add on the “extras” like play time, treats, etc. costs can rise into hundreds of dollars for a week away! Because we don’t want the bare minimum for our dogs it’s expected to add some “extras” during their stay. Hiring a pet sitter can be just as costly as rates have risen over the past couple of years.
So what are we to do?
If you’re not able to have friends or family members care for your dog while you’re away – take them with you! There are many pet friendly hotels, and some don’t even charge extra to include your pet. We have stayed in multiple hotels with our mastiff at no extra cost!

Training

Having been a dog trainer I often heard that most dog owners don’t take a training class or hire a trainer because of the cost. If you are unable to train them at home as well as provide proper socialization they may receive through a group training class you may find the costs of NOT having training far exceed the costs of training. Destroyed furniture, walls, carpet, yard, garden, etc. can be costly to replace.
If your dog isn’t socialized properly they may react negatively toward other dogs – or even other people, which can result in financial consequences (fines, court fees, etc.) – not to mention consequences beyond the financial consequences. So although training is an investment up front it is a money saver long term.

Keep Them Healthy

This may seem obvious, but it really is an important point. Make sure your dog visits the vet regularly for check-ups and is on preventive treatments for fleas and heart worms. Should they get fleas or heart worms due to not being on preventive treatment the costs to treat them can be steep. Many think of flea treatment as just a bath, spray, and/or collar, but you would actually need to treat your entire home and possibly even your yard. Costs definitely add up quickly. Heart worm treatment is very costly. It can cost over $1000 if you have a large-breed dog.
Beyond vet care and preventive treatment make sure your dog is eating well, getting plenty of water, and gets exercise regularly. These are all important to maintaining good health. Make sure when purchasing dog food you read ingredients carefully. This is an area where cheaper is not better. In fact, it can be far worse.
I actually suggest spending a little more for a high quality food because it will not only help them maintain better health, but they will eat less because it has more nutrients instead of fillers. My rule of thumb is – if corn is in the first five ingredients it is not a quality dog food as corn is a filler. They will eat more (and go to the bathroom more). So you may feel like you’re saving money by buying the less expensive food, but you’d do better to buy a food with better quality so your dog is healthier and happier.
Do you have any frugal dog tips you’d like to share?

What to Expect Financially When Expecting

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The day before Brayden arrived photo JoeyEmCake.jpg
It can be easy to get wrapped up in the joys of having a baby. With furnishing your baby’s nursery and learning all the wonders of pregnancy, it can be hard to think about anything else when you’re expecting a new bundle of joy. Unfortunately, there is a lot to consider financially when you are expecting. The average cost of raising a child is estimated to be $235,000 without considering college expenses, and so it is crucial that as soon-to-be parents, you and your spouse begin to financially prepare for the road ahead. Here are four tips to help start you on the right financial path to parenthood.
 

Start a Savings Plan

With the cost of food, transportation, housing, and childcare, raising a child is extremely expensive. Adding the cost of college to the mix can put you in a huge financial burden. That is why it is important to start saving early, and get into the habit of putting aside money each month for child-related expenses before you give birth to your child. The sooner you start to save for your child, the more time your money has to grow. Saving money for your child’s expenses will help you avoid any financial trouble you may find yourself in later in life. You don’t want to be forced into taking out payday loans, or another type of high-interest loan that can dig your financial grave.
 

Look Into College Saving

When it comes to saving for your child’s future, you may want to use a 529 savings plan.  This sort of plan is state sponsored, and whenever you put money into it, your contributions will become tax deferred. When it comes time to withdraw your money, you will be able to do so federal tax fee as long as you use it for higher education costs. Before you select a college savings plan, you will want to do research on what sort of investment options different savings plans offer.
 

Get Your Estate in Order

Before your baby is born, it is a great idea to set up a meeting with an estate attorney to create a living trust or will. These documents will ensure that your child will be taken care of in the case that something happens to you and your spouse, as well as designate who will get your assets. If you forgo getting your estate in order, you are essentially letting the state make the decision for you. Consulting with an estate lawyer will allow you to also create your after-death documents, which will help mitigate some of the tax consequences after your death, and help your child receive more money.
 

Consider Getting Life Insurance

In the case that something happens to you or your spouse, life insurance will help your family financially stay afloat. It will allow your surviving family to cover all their bills, including college expenses and child rearing costs. Life insurance is much cheaper when you are young and healthy, so it is a good idea to consider buying coverage before your baby arrives to make sure the costs of raising a child will be taken care no matter what the future holds.
*Thank-you to Dave Smith for this great guest post!*

Is the Eco Friendly Lifestyle More Expensive?

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Eco friendly
Making changes in your life to become more environmentally friendly is a worthwhile goal, but it can be a challenge at first to overcome to the costs of some eco-friendly options. Fortunately, there are many ways to lead a sustainable life while also saving money. This means that you save the planet while increasing your savings at the same time! Here are four inexpensive ways to be eco-friendly.
 

Don’t Let Your Energy Leak

The Department of Energy estimates that a fifth of energy consumption comes from heating and cooling your house. While it is understandable that you want to feel comfortable in your home, there are ways to do so while lowering your monthly energy bill as well as your environmental footprint. Much of your energy consumption is wasted because of the gaps and cracks that let the cool or hot air escape your house. To avoid this you can insulate you house to seal the air leaks, which will save you energy and money.
 

Install Solar Panels

Although in the short term solar panels can be costly, they are well worth it when it comes to saving on your electricity bill in the long run. Solar roofing will allow you to take control of your electricity expenses, especially as the electricity rates increase nationwide at an average increment of 6% a year. You will soon see returns on the money you spent on solar panels, because you will be guaranteeing a lower cost on your electricity expenses. You can contact a local roof repair contractor and asked about local saving and financial support you can get when getting solar panels installed.
 

Don’t Waste Energy on an Empty House

Investing in a programmable thermostat will allow you to regulate the temperature of your house based on the times that your family is in the house. It is a waste of energy and money to pay for a cool or warm home when there is no one home. Programmable thermostats will pay for themselves very quickly by cutting your electricity bill potentially in half. You should also consider lowering the temperature you keep your house at, as this will save you money and energy as well.
 

Use Hot Water Sparingly

The Department of Energy states that water heating is one of the largest energy costs in your house. Hot water accounts for about 12% of your utility bill; so to lower your energy expense, try to use less hot water. You can turn down your water heater’s thermostat, buy a more efficient water heater, or insulate the pipes and heater.
*Thank-you to Dave Smith for this great guest post!*