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

Super Savings Sweepstakes

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Savings Sweepstakes

For those of you earning while you save at Swagbucks.com, you could win $500 through their Super Saving Sweepstakes! For every Swagbucks Coupon you print or add to card in the month of June, you’ll be entered into a sweepstakes to win $500! Woo hoo! There will be five different winners chosen, and entries are retroactive, so if you printed a coupon before the contest launched on June 4th, you’re already entered. Neat, right? The winners will be selected and announced no later than July 15th. So go have fun printing and clipping those coupons, saving money, earning Swagbucks, AND getting entered into the Super Savings Sweepstakes!
If you aren’t using Swagbucks yet, what are you waiting for? It’s an easy way to be rewarded for all of the things you’re already doing online (like printing coupons!) with things like free gift cards. I’ve lost track of the number of Amazon gift cards I’ve stacked up from Swagbucks, but there have been many, and you can earn them too – sign up and join me today!

Extreme Couponin vs. Couponing

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Extreme Couponing vs. Couponing

tom thumbCoupons are a great way to save money on the items you buy everyday. For some people couponing is a hobby, but for others it can be a lifestyle. With the introduction of TLC’s Extreme Couponing show came tens of thousands of stay at home moms looking to get $800 worth of groceries for a buck. Many of which gave up on extreme couponing completely when they found out that shopping trips like that take hours and hours of planning, sorting, clipping, and more. Those people on the show work 40-50 hours a week on couponing. But should you just give up completely?
Saving money is always nice. Whether you are saving 100% on your grocery bill or 25%-50% shouldn’t really matter! Saving is saving and every penny counts! Try grabbing a Sunday newspaper and clipping a few coupons. Turn on your printer and print a coupon or two when you see something you usually buy. Keep them with you when you shop and you will start seeing the savings! Be sure you check you local sale papers for different stores. You may find the sales at one store are much better than another. Your local drugstore is also a great place to save big on your household items such as shampoo, conditioner, bodywash, cleaners, etc.
Some people use their savings each week to go out to dinner, or you can take the amount saved on your groceries and put it in a jar and watch it grow each week! Maybe even go buy yourself a new pair of shoes, or a bag! Whatever you do with your savings, you will be surprised at just how much money you can save by simply cutting a few coupons each week! You don’t have to be extreme about it! You can still coupon the “normal” way!
Special thanks to Angela @ Xtreme Qpon for this great post! If it wasn’t for someone like her, people like me would still be clueless about couponing!

Opening Shop – How to Save Money

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I’m so excited that I finally opened my Etsy shop! I’m still building more inventory before I add ALL the products I’ll be offering! One of the hardest things about having a crafting/sewing business is just getting started! I know this because I have been “getting started” on and off for 3 years! Did you know that’s actually how “Pea of Sweetness” came to be? It was intended to be my business website, and then I started blogging, and it took a totally different path! My delays were mostly due to medical issues within my family, but once that passed I found it very challenging to purchase supplies and materials. Sewing/Crafting businesses definitely use materials, and you don’t have a business without them. So, I wanted to share some money-saving tips to help get your business started without breaking the bank!

Money

  • Make a list. Planning is so important. If you just start your business on a whim and take a guess at what materials and supplies you’ll need chances are high you will end up with a lot of things you DON’T need. Resell value of unused material and supplies isn’t nearly worth a finished product, so with proper planning you won’t overbuy. Check the “market” as well for whatever type of products you will be offering. What is popular right now? What is their selling price? How can you offer something similar with your own unique twist?
  • Look for money-saving opportunities – like coupons! As coupons becomes more popular I think we’re more aware of how they can help us save! The same is true when you’re starting your sewing/crafting business! Look for coupons to great suppliers to get your starting stash of materials and supplies. Here are some great Jo-Ann Fabrics Coupons I found! Driving to the closest Jo-Ann Fabrics here isn’t worth the instant gratification of having the product now. It is over an hour away, and with high gas prices, it saves to shop online! I love that all of the coupons are redeemable on their website AND there is an opportunity to earn free shipping! It is definitely worth it to save money and just shop from home! I was able to stock up on both materials AND supplies! The material and supplies have to come before the profit, so saving money in this area is probably one of the most important parts!
  • Keep your receipts. One of the things that is imperative is to keep your receipt on purchases made for your business. When tax time rolls around and you have profit to report you’ll also want to make sure you have your expenses in order to report as well. Make sure you’re keeping track of things like: internet/phone costs, gas used for anything related to your business, etc. Talk to an experienced accountant for tips on what you can claim as expenses/deductions. It won’t save you money in the short-term, but it will definitely save you money in the long-term!
  • Make the most out of what you have. Don’t waste materials. Obviously, we make mistakes, and that is one thing, but throwing out something that can be used is something totally different. You will find yourself spending less on materials and supplies if you make the most out of what you have. Again, proper planning is key. If your business involves sewing make sure to use patterns in a way that saves the most material and use scraps on other projects where you can fit them in! You’ll be surprised how much material you can save with proper planning!

So, don’t be deterred by start-up costs. It may seem like a lot up front, but if you use careful planning, money-saving opportunities, and don’t overbuy you can get started without break the bank! Good luck! 🙂