Free Chocolate Friday
>> Friday, September 25, 2009
This is the last Friday to get your free chocolate. Go here to register for your FREE Real Chocolate coupon from Mars. Coupons are limited so register now.
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Breaking The Shopping Habit
>> Thursday, September 24, 2009
It's been about a year and a half since my husband and I really started to revamp our approach to handling our money. We've come a long way in how we view needs and wants in our lives and we've eliminated a lot of bad habits.
I think that for me one of the hardest habits to break was shopping for social entertainment. I have fond memories from my childhood of going shopping with my mom and sister. We would go to the mall, eat lunch out, get some new clothes and at the end of the day we'd get a yummy cookie before heading home. I developed a lot of positive feelings about the social aspects of shopping because of that. As an adult I began to follow that same pattern of shopping for social entertainment. And while I don't think there is anything wrong with doing that occasionally as we did when I was a child, as an adult I did it frequently; often weekly. I wouldn't always buy something at the stores but I would still be spending money on lunch out and sometimes a cookie at the end of the day. I really didn't see any problem with it because I was a bargain shopper. I never spent full price on anything. I tried to spend my money "wisely" by learning how to get the high quality clothing I liked at deep discounts. I admit my biggest weakness was buying cute clothing for my kids and Gymboree was and still is a favorite store of mine. I learned how to use sales and Gymbucks to maximize my savings to the fullest. The thing was that even though I wasn't paying anywhere near full price, I was still buying things we didn't really need. I also wasn't following any planned budget for that money. I would usually go on these shopping trips when the bills were paid and we had some extra money so I felt somewhat justified in spending it.
So when we started seriously budgeting and giving every dollar a place to go, I had to begin to reevaluate my approach to shopping. It was honestly very hard at first. I missed going to the mall just because I felt like it or because there was a great sale at a particular store. It was downright difficult to let those Gymbucks earning opportunities slip right on by but with time it began to get easier. I began to find it easier to stay home instead of taking advantage of the latest sale. And I have discovered lately that I hardly think about going shopping just for the fun of it. Shopping is becoming something I do because I need to not something I do because I need to do something fun. I'll be honest, I still have moments when I feel that pull and think I'd like to get out of the house and go do a little shopping but it's much easier to just brush it off these days.
This was a long process for me. I had to learn to replace old habits and ways of thinking about my life and my money with new ways of thinking about them. It all began with the decision my husband and I made to be more responsible with our money; better stewards of the financial gifts we'd been blessed with.
If you are a social shopper and want to break the shoppining habit, here are some of the things I did that you might find helpful as well.
- Change your attitude about money.
- Set up and follow a budget.
- Stop viewing shopping as social entertainment.
- Find positive new ways to fill that social need: find frugal ways to have fun with your family, blog, find places to volunteer your time, go for a walk with friends or have a friend over for lunch, etc.
- Remind yourself as needed that buying things on sale doesn't save as much money as not spending the money to begin with.
- Learn to be content with what you have.
I suspect that with time my attitude towards spending will continue to change. I'm sure there is still some wasteful spending that I do and need to work on but I've come along way and have found a lot of joy in being free from the shopping habit.
If you are a former social shopper, how did you break the shopping habit?
The Body Shop: Buy 2 Get 1 Skin Care
Buy 2 Skin Care products get 1 free during The Body Shop's Semi-Annual Clearance Event. Also get free shipping on all orders over $60.
Read more...Boston Market: 2 Kids Eat Free
>> Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Now through October 31, 2009, two kids can eat free with any adult meal purchase of $6 or greater. Kids must be present to claim meals. Go here for more details.
Read more...Smokey Bones $10 Off $20 Printable Coupon
Print this coupon to get $10 off a $20 purchase at Smokey Bones. Valid through 10/7/09. Go here to find a Smokey Bones near you.
Read more...Free Sample Honey Nut Cheerios And Coupon
>> Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Register here to get a free sample of Honey Nut Cheerios along with a $1 coupon.
Read more...Free Sample Kashi Cereal
Request a free sample of Kashi Cereal here. You can choose between Kashi Honey Sunshine & Kashi GoLean Crunch.
Read more...Menu Plan Monday 9/21/09
>> Monday, September 21, 2009
I'm trying to get back into the menu planning groove. I was rather uninspired for awhile but I know dinnertime goes so much better when it's all planned out. This is what I'll be serving up this week.
Monday-Chicken Pot Pie
Tuesday-Blueberry Pancakes & Bacon
Wednesday-Black Bean Burritos
Thursday-Stuffed Baked Potatoes
Saturday-Short Order Night
Sunday-Leftovers
*=New to us recipe
Walgreen's Deals 9/20/09-9/26/09
>> Sunday, September 20, 2009
Register Rewards
Oral B Indicator toothbrush 2/$4
RRs $2 wyb 2
B1G1 Oral B Indicator 8/23/09 RP
Free after Q and RR
Thermacare Heat Wrap single pack $2.49
RR $2.49
$1/1 printable
Free after RRs
Roots of Nature Haircare $6
RR $6
Free after RR
Formula 409 32 oz. 2/$5
RR $2 wyb 2
$1/1 Formula 409 8/30/09 RP
.50 cents each after 2 Qs and RR
Sudafed PE $5.99 each
RR $5 wyb 2
$2/1 Sudafed PE 8/2/09 SS
$1.49 each
Auussie Hair Care Shampoo or Conditioner 8 or 13.5 oz., Styling Products 6-14 oz. $2.99
RR $2
.99 cents after RR
Benefiber 28 pks., 48 or 62 dose or 100 ct. chewable $9.99
RR $3
$1/1 Benefiber 9/20/09 SS
$2/1 Benefiber 7/12/09 SS
$2/1 printable
$4.99 or $5.99 after Q and RR
Bic Disposable Razors 4 pk. Women's Soleil $4.99
RR $1
$2/1 Bic Soleil Disposables 9/20/09 SS
$3/1 Bic Soleil Disposables 9/20/09 SS
.99 or $1.99 after Q and RR
Other Deals
Reese's Pumpkin 2/$1 with In Ad Q
.55/1 any Reese's product
Free after Qs
Welch's Grape Jelly 32.oz. $1.59
.75/1 printable
.84 cents each after Q
Campbell's Soup .89 cents with In Ad Q
$1/2 printable(you will need to enter your email address)
.39 cents each after Qs
Walgreens Photo: 30 4x6 Prints For $3
Get 30 4x6 prints for just $3 from Walgreens Photo when you enter the code APPLE30 at checkout. Valid through Saturday, 9/26/09.
You can also get 25% off posters when you enter the code BASKET at checkout through 9/26/09.
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