Saving Money — Page 4

Gettin’ Free Swag Like a Rockstar Giveaway!

Weekly Freebie Round-Up and Giveaway!

When I started this site, I used to share loads of great freebies and deals with you guys each week. Over the past few months, I’d cut back on that a bit – I figured, there were SO many blogs sharing that type of stuff, you didn’t really need my help to find them.

But… I’m back!

I’ve had a ton of emails lately, asking me to bring back more of that content. It seems that while there ARE lots of sites sharing this stuff, some of you guys prefer to get it Sunshine-Style, in one BIG freebie list each week. And, I’ve heard that you miss some of the unique finds that I come across too – So look forward to seeing a new one each Friday from now on – along with a little mini giveaway thrown in too! I’ll be giving away a couple of coupon bundles each week – just as a thank you for being so awesome! Just leave me a comment with your favorite freebie of the week, and I’ll draw a couple winners NEXT Friday! So get all these goodies, and watch your mailbox start filling up full of free swag every day, rockstar style – like the pics above of my daily mail! Good times.

Fun Kids Freebies

Free Sandwich Box: This is adorable – Visit Rudi’s Organic Bakery on Facebook, upload an image of your kiddo’s artwork, and they’ll make it into a customized sandwich holder! Totally free, and so fun.
Organic Valley: Sign up to receive Organic Valley’s Farm friends newsletter and receive a free Farm Friends welcome kit!
Kinect: This is a giveaway to win a Kinect from M&M’s – and I’ve heard that some people are getting a runner-up style prize of a code for a free year of XBox Live?? Let me know if YOU get it!

Baby Essentials Freebies

Old Navy: Sign up for their email updates, to learn about awesome stuff like the major baby sale going on now. AND – I just got a $10 off coupon in my email, since this month is my birthday! Sign up so you can get one too.
Plum District: Register for Plum District today and get great deals for Moms, by Moms. They are one of my faves, and you can earn free credits to get tons of great kids toys and clothes, totally free. Click Here to check it out.
Printable Diaper Coupons: There are tons of other free samples and tools available on Everyday Family, but I use it most for the printable diaper coupons. Such a helpful resource!
Mommy Page: Another similar site – subscribe to get a daily email filled up with samples, coupons, and giveaways just for new moms.
Free Baby Book: This is an online baby book, and you can let your friends and family join in on creating it too – so everyone can add their fave photos and memories. Very cool.

Food & Household Freebies

Mrs. Dash: Free spice giveaway! Each day on Facebook, 30,000 fans will get sample products – Get yours before their gone!
Free TV: Enter for your chance to win a $5,000 Home Theater Package from P&G. This would be SOO awesome. The form is a little weird – fill out your info, click the button if you want to get promotion updates from P&G {good stuff} – then click that blue box that says, “Click her to open, read, and accept the rules.” I couldn’t figure out why it wouldn’t submit, then realized I had to open that and click accept!
Mio: Free bottle of MiO(r) Blueberry Lemonade Click Here to request yours. This stuff is SO great to throw in your bag and take with you for the kids. Love it.
Craft Warehouse: They’re celebrating National Scrapbook Day this weekend with a ton of fun freebies, giveaways, and cool activities. Get your pass here.
Remodeling: Get up to 30 FREE Samples from Smith+Noble. Hundreds to choose from. Order now for FREE! Click Here to see what they’ve got.
Treats Guide: Sign up for the Diabetic Health newsletter, and get a cool Sweets & Treats Guide book to help you make healthy choices!
UPS: Sign up for My Choice – it’s totally free, and is one of the my FAVORITE tools of all time. You can tell them where to put your packages, change them to your work location if needed, electronically sign for them in advance if you won’t be home – and even get alerts sent to your phone before things arrive. Awesome, seriously.
Glade: Get a free spring scents package – {And if you haven’t tried them, you MUST smell the Polka-Dot Petal! Love it.} – SC Johnson is giving 5,000 gift packs away – good luck!
TFS: Stands for That Freebie Site – you can browse here each day, and find new updated samples almost every hour.

Pet Freebies

Meox Mix: Get a free sample of Meow Mix for your furry friends, plus a $1.00 coupon in the mail. Awesome.
PetCo: Print out this coupon for a totally free pouch of Natural Balance Cat Food, so you can try before you buy and make sure your furry buddy will like it.
Purina: Learn how to love your puppy with Purina’s FREE Puppy Care eBook! It’s got some really helpful tips in it.

Beauty Freebies

Fragrance: Get a free sample of the new Lady Million Fragrance – a fresh, fruity type of scent. Just fill out the quick form to claim it.
Woman Freebies: They send out a newsletter once each day, with new fashion and beauty samples, and great giveaways. They’ll often include really high-value cosmetic coupons too. Great resource that I use a lot!
Clinique: Get a free 14-day sample of Clinique City Block Sunscreen. Visit the Facebook link to learn more on how to get it – you’ll love it!
Garnier: Get a free sample of their new Sleek n’ Shine products from Walmart.
Bath & Body Works: This is AWESOME – send a friend a free Facebook card for Mother’s Day, and they’ll throw in a coupon for a free product! Love that.
Color Care: FREE Fekkai Glossing or Technician Color Care Collection Sample for Costco members.

Enter to WIN!

Use the easy peasy Rafflecopter form below to enter to win – First, tell me which freebie on this page is your very favorite! Then do as many – or as few! – of the additional entries as you want. The more you complete, the more chances you have to win! And if you’re feelin’ lucky, check out the rest of the sweet swag that I’m giving away this month too, and enter to win them all – listed in the sidebar!

Love free swag? So do I! Grab a bunch of cool stuff off of this huge list- and then tell me your favorite, for a chance to win a little MORE free swag from me! :)

{This post contains sponsored content & affiliate links. Some of these offers earn me a few cents when you sign up, which helps keep this site running. But – I ONLY share and endorse companies I trust. So no spam, promise!}

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Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 4, 2012 Filed Under: Freebies, Giveaways | 22 Comments

Learn Why Prom Costs So Much, & How to Save

Coupons by CouponCabin.com

Are you prepared for Prom?

This infographic didn’t surprise me – I just read an article the other day, about how kids are taking prom to the same types of extremes that weddings have gone to – Elaborate set-ups similar to proposals, just to ask someone to be their date, total overspending on things like hair, make-up, tanning, nails, accessories, dress, shoes, bag, dinner, limo – Yikes! I do get that it’s a totally special moment for teens – But shoot, I didn’t even GO to my prom, and I turned out Ok, lol. This just seems like way too much money for teens to spend on one night, right?

What do YOU think?

Totally worth it, or waste of money? Share your opinion in the comments below…. And, do you have any other great frugal tips for saving money on prom expenses that you can add too? I’d love to hear them, and feature some of them in an upcoming post – so let me know if it’s ok to use them and credit back to you!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on May 2, 2012 Filed Under: Shopping | 10 Comments

Learn how the #IcedCoffee Challenge put $121 bucks in my pocket

You guys know that I love coffee, right? I’ve told you what my life is like when something happens and I don’t get my coffee, and about my crazy life that drives me to drink…. too much coffee each day. But, while I am totally and completely content to drink regular home-brewed coffee in the mornings most days, I have serious iced coffee cravings in the afternoon – and prefer it in the mornings too as the weather gets warmer. The trouble is, those iced drinks at the coffee house add up really quickly! So, since I’m a finder of “Smart Solutions for Busy Moms” – I found a solution!

The Iced Coffee Challenge Results

Remember way back at the beginning of the month when I started this Iced Coffee Challenge? Well, I estimated that I spend around $4 bucks a day on a coffee house drink – although there are quite a few days when I drink more than one! But based on JUST one per day, the awesome little counter widget in my sidebar shows me that I’ve already saved $121.87 this month!!! Can you believe that? Over $100 extra bucks in my pocket, just by switching to the International Delight Iced Coffee, that comes in a carton so I can serve it at home. And the best part? This stuff is seriously good. Like, addicting good. I’ve never ever found an iced coffee drink that I could buy off the shelf and actually enjoy – but this totally rocks.

My new morning routine

Pretty fresh flowers from our garden, my local daily paper, and a big glass of creamy and delicious iced coffee at home = Perfection. With the weather finally getting warmer, there is nothing better than relaxing on the deck in the early morning, feeling some sunshine on my face, while drinking this stuff over ice. And, it’s not just me lovin’ it and savin’ big bucks. Check out everyone else’s stories and savings results on Twitter – just search #IcedCoffee.

Seriously delicious savings

There is no way that you can tell me that doesn’t look amazing. And if your dreaming of how good it might be right now – you will NOT be disappointed when you try it in real life. It’s my new favorite drink – and in total honesty, it’s better than most of the coffee house drinks I used to buy anyway! And since I’m on a super strict budget to save for our airfare to Reviewer’s Retreat {where I’m speaking – yay!}, and BlogHer, the $100+ bucks a month that I’m saving will be a HUGE help in paying those expenses. What could YOU do with an extra hundred bucks next month? Find out by switching YOUR coffee house drinks to new International Delight Iced Coffee too!

Follow International Delight on Facebook and Twitter – for updates on new products and promotions!

{Disclosure: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias. All experiences, results, overuse of the word “awesome”, and photos are my own!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 30, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 7 Comments

My #IcedCoffee Challenge – Big Savings So Far!

Saving Money in the #IcedCoffee Swap Challenge!

I started this challenge at the beginning of the month, to see how much money I could save by switching from coffee house drinks to the uh-may-zingly delicious Iced Coffee in a carton from International Delight. To help me see those savings add up – I added a cool little gadget to my site, that automatically adds up the $4+ bucks a day that I’m not spending at Starbucks! See it over in the sidebar? Awesomesauce.

“A morning without coffee is like, sleep.” – Author Unknown

Most of you ladies know that I was invited on a last minute conference trip to Fort Worth, Texas last week. It was amazingly educational, amazingly fun, and amazingly BUSY!! We started at 7am and were running all day until 11pm. The hotel room had a coffee maker – but it only made 2 cups. So I staggered downstairs to the lobby in search of more caffeinated goodness to help me get started – and found the beautiful sight of a Starbucks sign! But – the part that was NOT good was the price!!! Yikes – It was close to $7 bucks for my usual drink – ACK!! That is NOT smart spending. And it really helped me realize what an awesome savings I’ve been seeing from NOT buying coffee house drinks this month.

“I believe humans get a lot done, not because we’re smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee.” – Flash Rosenberg

So what was the FIRST thing that I did when I got home again from Texas? Sleep. Ok, but the SECOND thing I did was go grocery shopping – and stock up on more of my FAVORITE Iced Coffee drink – the Mocha flavor from International Delight. I had to adjust my savings widget down a bit, to make up for my over-spending while traveling. But I’ve still saved over $70 this month – which is pretty exciting right? That’s some sassy new spring fashions shopping! {And, since I often would get MORE than one coffee house drink per day – and the calculator is only counting ONE drink per day – my true savings are actually much higher!}

“Coffee smells like freshly ground heaven.” – Jessi Lane Adams

I’m always searching for simple ways to save my family money – so that I can share them with you too. I love that with this Iced Coffee Swap, you’re not giving up anything, so it’s an amazingly easy way to save some extra cash in your families budget! What do you think? Do you want to try it too? Let me know how much YOU could save this week by switching to International Delight!!

I’m saving BIG BUCKS doing the #IcedCoffee Challenge – Join Me! sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/04/my-ice… #Cbias

— SunandSipCups (@SunandSipCups) April 18, 2012

Want to learn more? Follow International Delight on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated on new products and promotions!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 18, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 3 Comments

Easy Iced Coffee Swap Saves Big Bucks! #IcedCoffee #Cbias

“A morning without coffee is like sleep.” – Author Unknown

You guys know by now that I’m a total coffee junkie. I don’t just drink it – I chug bucket loads of it. All day. Every day. Without it, I’m like a tired mommy jellyfish, slithering along the kitchen floor. But with it, I can almost function normally, and act like a responsible adult. {Notice I said “almost”…. Lol.}

“I believe humans get a lot done, not because we’re smart, but because we have thumbs so we can make coffee.” – Flash Rosenberg

I drink all types of coffee – I’ll drink a full pot of regular brewed coffee by myself in the morning, I like a hot mocha drink when it’s cold out – But I definitely prefer an iced coffee drink. The problem is, I’ve never been able to make a good iced coffee at home. And I don’t have the extra budget to invest in a fancy espresso maker. So I end up buying a lot of coffee house drinks – but since I’ve been using some of the awesome free financial tools available on LearnVest.com to help me track my spending, I realized that those $4+ drinks each day are taking a HUGE bit out of my monthly budget! We have some big expenses coming up this summer, and really need to save every penny we can, and cut out the extras. But I just can’t give up my beloved Iced Coffee drinks!! So, you know me – where there’s a mom-life challenge, I’ll find a Smart Solution, right?

“Coffee is the best thing to douse the sunrise with.” – Terri Guillemets

My Smart Solution?? Switching from coffee house drinks that cost around $4 EACH, to the totally amazing new Iced Coffee drinks from International Delight, that are around $4 bucks per CARTON!! Can you say, “Big ol’ Savings!!??” Oh yeah. Plus, since I’m on the Nutrisystem diet right now, and am super excited to be losing some pounds, drinking one of these iced coffee drinks saves me a boat load of calories versus one bought at the coffee shop. More dollars in my wallet + more inches lost on my waist = Happy Momma. For reals.

“Decaf? No, it’s dangerous to dilute my caffeine stream.” – Author Unknown

I’m super excited to see my savings add up – check out the awesome little gadget over in my sidebar… That little baby will be adding up my savings all month long, to show how much money YOU can save by simple swapping out ONE coffee house drink a day, and enjoying an International Delight Iced Coffee drink at home. {What? You’re a momma on the go? Get a sweet travel mug or cup like I have, and bring your iced coffee with you. Easy peasy.}

Follow International Delight on Twitter and Facebook – to stay updated on new products and promotions. You can also see everyone else who’s doing this coffee-swap savings challenge too, by following the hashtag #IcedCoffee!

Share Your Thoughts –

Have you tried the awesome new iced coffees from International Delight – I’m so lovin’ all 3, but I think that the Original flavor is my fave. Do you love ’em? How much do you think you spend every month on coffee house drinks – and are you ready to try this savings solution too? Share some comments – I love hearing from you guys!

{This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias. All photos, opinions, and savings results are 100% my own.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 3, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 8 Comments

A credit card with training wheels

Helping Guide Your Kids to Financial Independence

Does your daughter ever look at you less like her M.O.M. and more like her A.T.M.? If it seems like every time you turn around you’re reaching into your wallet to give your kid a little cash then the Bill My Parents SpendSmart card is the perfect solution. It’s basically a pre-paid debit card that also works at ATMs and lets you fund it the from your credit card or bank account. You can add money in on a weekly or monthly basis, or just as needed for her desperate quest for the perfect pair of jeans. You get notified when purchases are made and, because it’s a debit card she can’t spend more than she has, which not only teaches her to make better financial decisions, but also doesn’t risk her credit rating.

Easy Peasy for them – Safe for you

It’s taken everywhere Mastercard is accepted and there is a nominal monthly, reload and ATM fee. Best of all, if it ever gets stolen or you see that she’s shopping like a Kardashian you can shut down that card faster than you can say, “OMG!”

So teach your kids how to spend responsibly and keep them out of your wallet.

What do you think?

Ok – Confession time. When I was in high school, I didn’t always spend the money that my parents gave me the way that they had intended it to be used. They’d give me lunch money for the week… I’d eat a granola bar instead, and save it for the weekend to go out with my friends. And I was a GOOD kid, lol. Imagine what the bad kids are saving up their money for, right? That’s what makes this such an awesome tool for parents – it gives you a way to monitor what your kids are up to, and where they’re spending their money – without getting too nosy.

More Great Ways to Use a PrePaid Card for Kids

This would be so helpful for tons of other situations too – Babysitters, the kid who mows your lawn, giving a tip to your paper boy/girl… You’d just give them a card, and auto-load it with payment instead of always trying to remember to have cash on hand. If you’ve used this, leave a comment and let me know what you think, and how it worked for you! And for more great tips – Follow my Smart Solutions and Tech Made Simple boards on Pinterest too!

Digitwirl.com Rocks!

Digitwirl is the weekly web show that offers simple solutions to modern day problems. In 3 minutes, Digitwirl brings busy women the very best time, money, and sanity-saving technology, and then teaches them how to use it, step-by-step. Digitwirl was created by technology lifestyle expert Carley Knobloch, who uses lots of technology to manage her busy life as mom of two and entrepreneur. Become a subscriber to get weekly show alerts and exclusive deals at Digitwirl.com, or follow Digitwirl on Twitter at @digitwirl.

Posted by Meagan Paullin on March 19, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 3 Comments

Trendy Mealtimes for Tots with Embelle Baby Bibs

Makin’ Mealtimes Fun!

Ok, mealtime with a baby is already fun, right? Who doesn’t love some mashed potatoes in their hair? The baby obviously thinks it’s hilarious. Don’t you? Maybe a green bean up the nose? Woah baby, we’re havin’ fun now! – Ok, but seriously. When you’ve got a baby or a toddler – {maybe you’re super lucky, and have both at the same time} – you deal with a lot of stressful, messy situations during your day. So – why not get some gear to make it at least a little bit more fashionable and fun, right?

Embelle Bibs from Target!

Check out these super fun bibs from Embelle – Are these super fun, or what? They look like a designer bib – but they’re available for a totally non-designer price at your local Target. Or Tar-jaaaay if you want to get fancy about it. And, since we all know that it’s not possible to go into Target and walk out again without somehow spending over $100 on pretty, trendy, sparkly things – I’ve got a coupon to save you some cash on these adorable bibs – Embelle Baby Bib Coupon – from Coupons.com. Type in your zipcode, and if these sweet bibs are available at your local Target, then you’ll see the coupon to save!

{Disclaimer: This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Global Influence. Coupon may not be available in all zipcodes.}