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Source: pennypinchinmom.com
It might sound easy enough to do, but many parents actually don’t know the best way to save money for kids or, at the very least, where to start.
I am not saying my ways are the best, but they certainly work for me and my little ones. Depending on your current financial situation, they might help you figure out the best way to save money for your kids.
Using these tips has helped me come up with a way to secure a better financial future for my kids without overstretching or causing unnecessary financial strain in the now.
Healthy savings will get them off on the right foot when they leave home to start a life of their own, increasing their potential for a successful future.
The money savings process provides a platform to impart financial literacy, teach financial responsibility from a tender age, and teach discipline when it comes to things like budgeting and delayed gratification.
The savings also functions as an emergency fund should anything happen to us or our kids while they are still growing up. You will enjoy the peace of mind of knowing they are cared for in the case of almost any eventuality. A will or inheritance fund ensures the savings will be spent wisely for the benefit of your kids.
Here are some excellent tips on the best way to save money for kids.
The ideal savings option will vary for different parents based on their financial goals and circumstances. Motivation ranges from emergency funds to specific stages of the child’s future, like higher education, buying their first car, or even jump-starting retirement savings. Define what you are saving for, set targets, and draw up a plan.
Approach your preferred financial institution and set up an account designed for the savings you settled on. Similar solutions are structured differently across each financial institution.
As parents, we budget all the time. Budgeting is a great way to improve money management, ensuring you always leave something for your kid’s savings account (and your own fun fund for date night or vacation). Many sources of funds can be included in the savings plan.
You can set it up so that an amount is transferred from your own bank account to the kid’s account. Some parents, myself included, also deposit their work bonuses in their kids’ savings accounts up to a predetermined date.
Alternatively, you can agree to collect all the money the children earn from chores, lawn mowing, babysitting, or other side jobs they do on their own and then set that money aside in their savings accounts after giving them a weekly stipend for their hard work, of course.
All this planning and investment can be undone if your kid grows up without the financial education to develop positive money habits. Involve them in your financial planning at a young age so they grasp the concept of money. Teach them your ways, one might say.
Financial literacy involves more than what children learn from listening and observation. It involves practicing positive money management habits like restrained spending, taming the urge for instant gratification and budgeting.
Add a checking account to their savings account so they get used to financial tools like a debit card for younger kids and banking apps for teens. Most of these allow the parents to keep an eye on the child’s spending habits, too, so we can easily reign things in if they start running wild.
Now that you are familiar with the territory, let’s look at the options available as our kids outgrow the piggy bank we have been filling with spare change since they were babies.
College is quite expensive, and it pays to have a head start on your child’s college savings so there is adequate time to accumulate funds gradually. A good education increases your child’s earning potential and job security, leading them to financial success.
A 529 Investment Plan is a tax-advantaged investment account designed to encourage saving toward future education expenses. It’s named after Section 529 of the Federal Tax Code and is sponsored by the state or a state agency.
Savings are tax-deferred, and you can withdraw the funds tax-free to pay for qualified education expenses like tuition, books, and accommodation. It lets you save for your child’s future attendance at designated colleges or universities at prevailing rates.
A custodial account offers another opportunity to save on your child’s behalf or gift them when you get a bonus or any other windfall. One party, the custodian (typically the parent), controls the funds on behalf of the minor (the beneficiary), who will gain access to the account when they come of age (this ranges from 18 to 21, depending on the state).
As a custodian, you are free to spend the funds on anything, provided it is for the benefit of the minor. While they don’t come with the tax benefits of a 529 plan, they cover a wider scope of expenses. Once your child attains the required age, you will relinquish control of the account to them, and they can claim full use of the funds.
UTMA and UGMA accounts are popular examples of custodial accounts. They are set up to hold gifts that a minor has received. Once the gift is granted or transferred to the account, it can’t be revoked and becomes the minor’s asset. It is held under their social security number and taxed as their income.
A custodial brokerage account refers to when the custodial account is used as an investment account to increase savings. Savings and gifts can be channeled to a mutual fund, invested in stocks or bonds, transferred to money market accounts or any other credible investment. You will manage these investments until your child comes of age. And then it is up to them to take over.
You can always get a lawyer, an accountant, or a team with both professions to set up a trust fund for your kid(s). Besides savings, the trust fund can incorporate assets you want to transfer to the kids as they age. The trust will dictate the process and ensure your assets are transferred to the right beneficiaries when the time comes.
There is no limit to the number of savings accounts you can have for your child. It is actually encouraged to spread your eggs in different baskets so that you can optimize them.
One might have competitive interest rates, while another allows you to invest in assets. You can also save for a particular item that requires a separate account without locking out subsequent gifts.
Just identify the combination that works for you and make sure you teach them about other aspects of financial health as they grow, and you can cross one more thing off your list of worries as a parent. Happy savings!
Source: pennypinchinmom.com
It might sound easy enough to do, but many parents actually don’t know the best way to save money for kids or, at the very least, where to start.
I am not saying my ways are the best, but they certainly work for me and my little ones. Depending on your current financial situation, they might help you figure out the best way to save money for your kids.
Using these tips has helped me come up with a way to secure a better financial future for my kids without overstretching or causing unnecessary financial strain in the now.
Healthy savings will get them off on the right foot when they leave home to start a life of their own, increasing their potential for a successful future.
The money savings process provides a platform to impart financial literacy, teach financial responsibility from a tender age, and teach discipline when it comes to things like budgeting and delayed gratification.
The savings also functions as an emergency fund should anything happen to us or our kids while they are still growing up. You will enjoy the peace of mind of knowing they are cared for in the case of almost any eventuality. A will or inheritance fund ensures the savings will be spent wisely for the benefit of your kids.
Here are some excellent tips on the best way to save money for kids.
The ideal savings option will vary for different parents based on their financial goals and circumstances. Motivation ranges from emergency funds to specific stages of the child’s future, like higher education, buying their first car, or even jump-starting retirement savings. Define what you are saving for, set targets, and draw up a plan.
Approach your preferred financial institution and set up an account designed for the savings you settled on. Similar solutions are structured differently across each financial institution.
As parents, we budget all the time. Budgeting is a great way to improve money management, ensuring you always leave something for your kid’s savings account (and your own fun fund for date night or vacation). Many sources of funds can be included in the savings plan.
You can set it up so that an amount is transferred from your own bank account to the kid’s account. Some parents, myself included, also deposit their work bonuses in their kids’ savings accounts up to a predetermined date.
Alternatively, you can agree to collect all the money the children earn from chores, lawn mowing, babysitting, or other side jobs they do on their own and then set that money aside in their savings accounts after giving them a weekly stipend for their hard work, of course.
All this planning and investment can be undone if your kid grows up without the financial education to develop positive money habits. Involve them in your financial planning at a young age so they grasp the concept of money. Teach them your ways, one might say.
Financial literacy involves more than what children learn from listening and observation. It involves practicing positive money management habits like restrained spending, taming the urge for instant gratification and budgeting.
Add a checking account to their savings account so they get used to financial tools like a debit card for younger kids and banking apps for teens. Most of these allow the parents to keep an eye on the child’s spending habits, too, so we can easily reign things in if they start running wild.
Now that you are familiar with the territory, let’s look at the options available as our kids outgrow the piggy bank we have been filling with spare change since they were babies.
College is quite expensive, and it pays to have a head start on your child’s college savings so there is adequate time to accumulate funds gradually. A good education increases your child’s earning potential and job security, leading them to financial success.
A 529 Investment Plan is a tax-advantaged investment account designed to encourage saving toward future education expenses. It’s named after Section 529 of the Federal Tax Code and is sponsored by the state or a state agency.
Savings are tax-deferred, and you can withdraw the funds tax-free to pay for qualified education expenses like tuition, books, and accommodation. It lets you save for your child’s future attendance at designated colleges or universities at prevailing rates.
A custodial account offers another opportunity to save on your child’s behalf or gift them when you get a bonus or any other windfall. One party, the custodian (typically the parent), controls the funds on behalf of the minor (the beneficiary), who will gain access to the account when they come of age (this ranges from 18 to 21, depending on the state).
As a custodian, you are free to spend the funds on anything, provided it is for the benefit of the minor. While they don’t come with the tax benefits of a 529 plan, they cover a wider scope of expenses. Once your child attains the required age, you will relinquish control of the account to them, and they can claim full use of the funds.
UTMA and UGMA accounts are popular examples of custodial accounts. They are set up to hold gifts that a minor has received. Once the gift is granted or transferred to the account, it can’t be revoked and becomes the minor’s asset. It is held under their social security number and taxed as their income.
A custodial brokerage account refers to when the custodial account is used as an investment account to increase savings. Savings and gifts can be channeled to a mutual fund, invested in stocks or bonds, transferred to money market accounts or any other credible investment. You will manage these investments until your child comes of age. And then it is up to them to take over.
You can always get a lawyer, an accountant, or a team with both professions to set up a trust fund for your kid(s). Besides savings, the trust fund can incorporate assets you want to transfer to the kids as they age. The trust will dictate the process and ensure your assets are transferred to the right beneficiaries when the time comes.
There is no limit to the number of savings accounts you can have for your child. It is actually encouraged to spread your eggs in different baskets so that you can optimize them.
One might have competitive interest rates, while another allows you to invest in assets. You can also save for a particular item that requires a separate account without locking out subsequent gifts.
Just identify the combination that works for you and make sure you teach them about other aspects of financial health as they grow, and you can cross one more thing off your list of worries as a parent. Happy savings!
Source: pennypinchinmom.com
Are you looking for ways to save money on your weekly family budget? Look no further!
With discounts on food, to toys, to clothing, to household items, and more, Dollar General offers a lot of deals to help stretch your hard-earned dollars. I’ll dive into the particulars of how to find not only the clearance items but also the penny deals.
If you are new to penny shopping, I’ll explain the program, and at the bottom of this post, you can find the penny list and clearance items to help you save big and keep more money in your pocket!
Just want this week’s list? Click here to see the latest deals!
What are penny deals, you may ask? If you can catch the deal in time, you can buy all sorts of items from your local Dollar General store for just one penny!
Penny items are products that are being cleared out of the store. This can be from a product that is being discontinued or has gone past the 90% off clearance price. Penny items are generally supposed to be taken off the shelves already, but many stores don’t clear these in time. These discounted items ring up as a penny so the sales associates can easily identify them and know to pull the rest from the shelves.
Penny shopping isn’t for the faint of heart. It will take determination and visiting the store in person – and that doesn’t guarantee success.
Every Tuesday, select items are discounted to one penny. Most weeks, there will be penny items, but some weeks won’t. To stay up-to-date, check out my list below to see what items are being discounted.
There are a few frustrating things to be aware of when shopping for penny items. For one, just because an item has been listed for a penny doesn’t mean your store will have them because the employees have pulled them. These items are usually donated locally or sent back to the manufacturer. Also, you will find that in some stores, the item may be listed as a penny, and the store 1 mile down the road doesn’t.
The other frustrating thing is that while the registers of most stores will have the updated prices once the store opens on Tuesday morning, some of the newer systems don’t update until later in the day and sometimes not until Wednesday.
Last, just because you scored a deal, some stores may not let you purchase penny items once they ring up as $0.01 at the register. Most stores aren’t going to fight this, but while I haven’t had an issue at my stores, I’ve heard stories of some stores not allowing the sale.
To use the app, don’t enter the UPC in the search bar. Instead, click on the scanner icon on the search bar and then click “enter barcode number”
Click on the scanner icon
Enter the barcode number
A powerful tool to help search for which stores have the deals is the Dollar General app (iOS / Android). While you can’t use te DG app to search for penny items exclusively, you can use the app to do a price check by scanning the UPC (Universal Product Code) of the items before headding to the register. Word of advice – the app is able to check prices in real-time, so make sure the app has been updated before checking prices so the new markdowns are loaded.
A UPC is a bar code on the packaging that is used to scan the item. Here is a picture of what you are looking for.
The Dollar General app is fairly accurate on pricing, but there have been exceptions. Generally, if the app shows either $0.00 or $0.01, the price for that item is usually a penny!
In addition to using the app to scan the item in the store to see if it shows the price of a penny, you can also use it to search all of the stores around you by typing in the UPC to see what they have in stock. To check, set your location and type in the UPC of that week’s discounted items. Then change the location of the stores that you shop to see what inventory is available to purchase.
You can find Dollar General penny items anywhere within the store. I have the best luck finding them mixed in the clearance sections, by the register, and end caps. But don’t skip the normal-priced areas of the store. You never know what you may find.
There are sometimes clues about where the product is located when searching in the app. If the product name has “Fr End ck”, that means it’s up by the cashier.
In general, you should never ask employees about penny shopping. They know about it, but they are supposed to have pulled these items from the shelves. And most importantly, don’t complain about penny items or call corporate if your store won’t sell penny items to you. Complaining could cause corporate to end this practice, so in the long run, you are better off going to another store.
That said, I have a friend who, like clockwork, visits her Dollar General store right at 7 am every Tuesday, and when her local Dollar General store opens, the cashier pulls the items and puts them by the register for her. It took a little time, but it can be done!
A lot of people ask whether penny shopping is legal, and yes, it is. As long as the item is on the sales floor, Dollar General’s policy is to sell penny items. It is worth noting that their policy isn’t to let you go back for more items, though.
In addition to penny times, it’s also worth checking for checking Dollar General’s clearance items as there are some great deals to be found that are on sale.
Dollar General is also a gold mine after major holidays and events, especially after Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter, the end of summer, and the Super Bowl.
Clearance merchandise usually starts at 50% off of full price but can also go as high as 90% off. Usually, if those 90% off items don’t sell, they become penny items.
A great place to find deals is in the weekly ad and their website. Dollar General has BOGO deals and instant savings when you buy participating products. They also take manufacturer’s coupons, and Dollar General has a coupon for $5 off any $25 purchase, which is usually released on Saturday. And yes, you can pair the big weekly sales and clearance items with manufacturer coupons and the $5 off coupon to save big money!
Prices are automatically updated, and most registers are updated before the stores open. So, being at the store when it first opens each Tuesday morning is usually the best way to get the deals. Each store operates differently, and they don’t update until later in the day or even on Wednesday. Once you learn how your local stores operate, it’s not common for the timing to change.
Stores that aren’t well organized and a bit run down seem to have dealt more consistently than the better run stores.
Some Dollar General stores have updated their registers, so you have to wait until the employee to complete ringing your order up before the price drops to a penny. It’s a little stressful watching that total climb, but a bit of a rush when it does.
Please be respectful of the Dollar General employees. They don’t set the policy, and getting mad at them makes their job much harder.
Getting deals is great, but I have known people who buy every item on sale, without thinking whether they will actually use it. I get the rush of a deal, and while this is none of my business, I hope you will consider that if you aren’t going to be able to use the item by the expiration date, to leave penny items behind for the next shopper or donate them. Getting a deal is great, but if it is thrown away, was it really a deal?
May 2023
May 30, 2023 – No Penny list
May 23, 2023
May 16, 2023
May 9, 2023
May 2, 2023
April 2023
April 18, 2023 – No Penny List | Markdown List
April 11, 2023
April 4, 2023 – No Penny List
March 2023
March 28, 2023 – No Penny List
March 21, 2023
March 14, 2023
March 7, 2023
Source: pennypinchinmom.com
You may have seen the phrase “Rain Check” in your store’s weekly ad or been asked in the store if you want one. But, what is a rain check, and how does it work? Below you’ll find your complete guide to understanding and using rain checks.
It has probably happened to you. There is a great deal on something at your store. You stop by to pick it up to find out that the store is entirely out of stock. Does that mean you have to miss out on the deal? Not necessarily.
Some stores will offer rain checks on items that are sold out. But what exactly is a rain check? How does it work? I explain it below for you so that you know how to make sure you use them to ensure you get the best deal – even if it is not in stock right now.
A rain check is a voucher given to customers for items that are out of stock. It allows them to purchase the product at the sale price at a later date.
Stores will give out rain checks to retain customers. They know popular items may sell out and want to extend that sale price beyond their inventory.
While most stores will offer them, not all stores do. You will need to inquire at checkout or possibly at customer service. However, keep in mind that not all items are eligible for rain checks.
That varies from store to store. They may never expire at some stores and may be valid for just ten days at another. Review your rain check carefully to find out when it expires.
No. Rain checks are not required. The fine print in the store’s weekly ad will indicate if the item is not eligible for a rain check. If nothing is noted, then in most cases, it will be. However, the product must not be available at all in the store.
When you get to the checkout, hand the item and rain check directly to the cashier. He or she will need to override the price and manually enter the sales price.
It is most helpful if you save your rain check products until the end of your entire purchase. Otherwise, if your item is scanned in the middle of your purchase, the cashier will need to review your transaction to find the price and make the adjustment.
Doing it this way makes the cashier’s job a little simpler and saves both you and other customers possible frustration.
In most cases, yes. However, if it is a national chain (such as CVS, for example), some stores may accept another location’s raincheck. Ask before attempting to use it.
Yep – you sure can! As long as the coupon is still valid and falls within the store’s coupon policy, you can redeem a coupon for a product when redeeming a rain check.
It depends on the store or the store manager. For example, if you shop at CVS, they have a code beneath every offer in their sales flyer. The cashier will note the code on your rain check, so when it is redeemed, you can earn your Extrabucks. However, other stores may not offer them on select promotions.
Using rain checks is a smart way to take advantage of sales, even if the item is not available. Don’t be afraid to ask for one. The worst thing that will happen is the store will say no.
Source: pennypinchinmom.com
I’m a saver. She’s a spender. Or is it the other way around?
How can we find middle ground?
When it feels like your other half undermines your efforts to save or spend, that frustration can cause major issues in a relationship. As with any situation that appears to be black and white, it helps to walk a few miles in the other person’s shoes.
The “saver” in one relationship might actually be a poor spender. For example, if they’re putting away money for a big purchase, they can’t afford it in the long run (i.e. a Lexus, when you really only can afford a Camry). Or, the “spender” may have a more realistic understanding of what grocery costs really are for the family. Making an effort to understand the reasoning behind the other person’s behavior is typically pretty eye-opening for both parties.
Help each other out by establishing some ground rules. Vow to put 10 to 15 percent of your paychecks into savings or an emergency fund. Another example, set approval limits for purchases. Check with your partner before spending over, say, $100. This helps keep the lines of communication open and prevent unnecessary spending.
Source: pennypinchinmom.com
No matter whether the content is in print or online, there will always be a need for proofreaders. Becoming a freelance proofreader may be the perfect solution for you to make money working from home.
Everything we do today seems to happen in the digital space. It is all typed for us to read. And, if you have read anything lately, you may have noticed grammatical and typographical errors. Hey, it happens. But, it really shouldn’t (even for me, and I admit that it still does from time to time). Because of the increase in online marketing, articles, and websites, the need for proofreaders continues to grow. It can be a lucrative career for anyone looking to replace or supplement their income. But, you have to know where to start. That’s why I reached out to Caitlin Pyle, the owner and blogger behind Proofread Anywhere. If you want to increase or even replace your current income, freelance proofreading might be the answer for you. Caitlin was able to make more than $43,000 in 2014 just from proofreading. She has developed a plan to help anyone looking to either supplement or replace their income by becoming a freelance proofreader. Read More:
I started out working a 9-to-5 job as a receptionist at a busy court reporting office back in 2009. I was so good at spotting errors that court reporters started calling me “Eagle Eyes.” As I moved up at the office, I started proofreading for court reporters as a side hustle. In 2011, I parted ways with that firm but kept my proofreading clients. I’ve been on my own ever since. As I gained experience and got more and more clients, I streamlined my proofreading method so I could work more efficiently. Eventually, proofreading became my primary source of income. My friends and family took notice and started asking me how I built my business. I released Proofread Anywhere, and then later, Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice™, launched.
People (specifically bloggers and other business owners) are looking for passionate, detail-oriented proofreaders. Whenever words get put into print, they need to be proofread for accuracy. Someone can write a blog post or a resume (or anything, really) and read over it themselves, but they already know what they put on the page. That makes it super easy to read what you expect to be there rather than what’s actually on the page. That’s when writers can overlook a misspelled word (think their instead of there) or a missing word. So it’s always good to have someone else read over your writing. I even have someone read my blog posts before they go live. No one’s immune! It comes as no surprise, but my favorite type of proofreading is proofreading transcripts for court reporters (often referred to as legal proofreading). Anyone who’s watched crime drama TV shows has probably seen a person sitting in the front of the courtroom typing away on a little machine. That’s a court reporter, and they’re writing on a steno machine. They take down word for word what everyone in the courtroom says. Their steno notes are turned into a transcript, which then needs to be proofread before it’s handed over to the person requesting it. Transcript proofreading is a very specific niche and requires very detailed training before proofreaders start helping out court reporters.
Surprisingly, it isn’t just about being a whiz at grammar and spelling. It’s actually about having a good work ethic. You are in charge of your own success. Your reputation will determine if you’re someone in the proofreading community who will be known for your outstanding work ethic or rather as someone who can’t be trusted to respond to emails, return a quality job, meet a deadline, and/or be honest. A good proofreader likes to read. You will be doing lots (and LOTS) of reading. If you don’t enjoy reading, you definitely won’t enjoy sitting down and picking up a 300-something-page transcript. You need a desire to learn and keep learning. If you’ve never proofread a transcript before but think you know it all already — and just need to know how to get clients — you’ll be in for a rude awakening. Court reporters can smell inexperience from a mile away. Finally, you do need to be familiar with basic grammar and spelling rules. You don’t have to be perfect at them, but if you have a hard time catching errors as you read through advertisements or magazines and such, you’ll have a very difficult time with transcript proofreading, and I wouldn’t recommend it for you. Oh – and one more thing!! Proofreading is not a way to get rich quickly by putting in minimal effort. Transcript proofreading is a lot of work. If you’re looking for a willy-nilly little “course” to give you some general ideas on how to catch errors and make crazy cash, this isn’t for you. Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ isn’t designed to chuck a gazillion people haphazardly out into the world to scrounge for clients. It’s there to equip serious people with the serious skills needed to perform serious work.
While theoretically, anyone could call themselves a proofreader and start trying to proofread general text like term papers, blog posts, and the like, now you know that transcript proofreading for court reporters takes a different kind of skill set than general proofreading. Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ goes in-depth on everything, from the very basics of what makes up a transcript to how to proofread transcripts (you practice on over 3,000 real transcript pages) to marketing specifics. Even if you’ve proofread other types of text before, if you haven’t proofread a transcript before, you’ll need specific training before offering that as a service.
That depends on quite a few factors. Transcript proofreaders charge by the page, so your rate will depend on how quickly you can work through a transcript — and with what accuracy you can do that. Blasting through a transcript ultra-fast and leaving loads of errors in your wake won’t make you more money in the long run because it will ruin your reputation. It’s best to start slowly and build up speed. It also depends on your goals. Do you want to quit your job and stay at home? Some graduates of Transcript Proofreading: Theory and Practice™ consistently earn more than $2,000 a month and can stay at home with their kids. Others don’t want to quit their jobs but appreciate the extra cash to pay off debt faster or have more wiggle room in their budgets. There are students making $4,000 and more a month – working part-time. Others are making 6-figures annually. It’s your business. You decide how much you want to proofread. That kind of flexibility is exactly what makes me so passionate about the work.
Then be honest but kind to yourself. You won’t know until you try, so if it seems interesting to you, give it a fair shot. Don’t quit too early, but if you get into it and honestly don’t enjoy it, that’s a good sign it’s time to move on. Some folks get started and LOVE every minute of it. Others start and find out it’s really not something they enjoy. That’s why I break the training into levels. Students invest in each level as they go — not all upfront. So if someone decides it’s not something he or she wants to continue, then they’d simply not invest in the next level of training. Easy! Now while there have been students — and even graduates — who have decided proofreading just isn’t for them, the knowledge and confidence they gain through the community and the training (especially the marketing training) gave them the confidence to branch out into other freelance skills. Some stick with proofreading but instead of proofreading transcripts, they do other types of proofreading. Others find a completely different area of the freelance world they really love, like transcribing or writing. We even encourage branching out because more skills always translate to more money.
You can sign up for my free intro course for, well, free! It won’t cost you a dime to see if proofreading transcripts for court reporters is something you would be interested in pursuing further. Full disclosure: It takes a LOT of work to learn the ins and outs of this work, so you won’t learn everything you need to know in a free week-long course. BUT it will help you decide if you want to pursue transcript proofreading further in the intensive course, and you’ll get some excellent marketing tips for general proofreading. If you do choose to move on with structured training, you’ll find that compared to investing in a college degree to start a new career, our online training is quite affordable. Aside from your training, we recommend an iPad (around $200 for a mini) and a special annotation app we use (about $10).
Rather than spin your wheels trying to figure out how to get started on your own, I recommend you take a free course to get started. You’ll learn more about proofreading so you can decide if it is a fit for you or not.
Don’t second-guess yourself. If you have eagle eyes that are always catching errors all over the place, transcript proofreading may just be your niche. Self-doubt is one of the biggest reasons dreams never make it to reality. Time to do something about that!
Source: pennypinchinmom.com
Can you use manufacturer coupons on Amazon? Read on to find out.
Most of us look to save as much money as possible while still trying to enjoy the finer things in life. It’s a good reason millions of people shop on Amazon every day. It has some of the best, high-quality products at generally reasonable prices. But as we all know, these prices can get even lower by using coupons.
Benjamin Franklin once said, “Be industrious and frugal, and you will be rich.” Not sure that using coupons will make you rich, but they can save you a great deal of money.
What you do with those savings is what matters. You could direct it towards getting out of debt or use it to buy more stuff. The choice is yours.
So, can you use manufacturer coupons on Amazon?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is NO! Amazon does NOT accept manufacturer coupons, physical coupons, or any coupons from competitors.
Unlike other big-brand stores such as Walmart and Target or even your local supermarket, Amazon does not accept coupons in-store and does not accept any competitor coupons.
This is probably because Amazon already offers extremely discounted prices on most products, and accepting competing coupons might not be feasible.
That does not mean you can’t use coupons on Amazon at all because you can.
Also see: Where can I find manufacturer’s coupons?
Like any good retailer, Amazon does offer coupons for customers looking to save money when online shopping. There’s an actual page dedicated to just coupons alone.
On this page, you can find all kinds of Amazon coupons, with the most popular coupons appearing at the top of the page.
You can also filter through all the coupons on offer to find those that apply to your specific needs. You can even filter by category to find coupons for specific products.
Here’s a video showing you how to find and use Amazon coupons.
Also see: Best coupons apps to save money
Simply navigate to the Amazon Coupons Page, where you can find all the coupons on offer. While this page is the go-to source for Amazon coupons, occasionally, you can find additional coupons and savings with “Amazon Daily Deals” as well.
Apart from the usual coupons on various products, other types of coupons can be found on Amazon. These include Amazon Pantry coupons as well as Amazon Subscribe & Save coupons. These coupons give you up to 10% off discounts and even free shipping for your daily purchases on the platform.
While there is no specifically guaranteed amount of money you can save with Amazon coupons, they work like most other coupons. That means the savings you stand to make will be indicated on the coupon you choose when applied to the specific product as dictated by its terms and conditions.
As far as numbers go, you save anywhere between 5% and 50%, depending on the offer. These massive coupon savings are often very popular during big sales events like Black Friday.
Yes, you can stack coupons on Amazon, even on already discounted products. All you have to do is head to the Amazon Coupons Page and find the coupon for your desired product.
Now, if the product already has a discount on the platform, say a 10% discount, and you find a 5% discount on the same, you can clip that coupon and stack it onto the discounted product to get a 15% discount. However, this doesn’t happen very often. You can get lucky by keeping an eye on Amazon Daily Deals.
So, can you use manufacturer coupons on Amazon? No. But you can find wonderful coupon offerings on Amazon’s Coupon Page. The even better news is that these coupons apply across a wide range of the most popular product categories, so there’s a good chance that you can save on that product you have been meaning to buy.
Source: pennypinchinmom.com
Coupons. Just the word alone causes a little thrill of excitement to shoot through me! I’m a long-time coupon user. From the early days of carefully cutting out coupons when I was real young, to the newer, sleek, digital method that I came to know later, I’m a sucker for savings! However, sometimes the process of finding those coupons and achieving those savings can make you feel like you’re hunting for a needle in a haystack, instead of the fun treasure hunt it really should be. And as a busy stay-at-home mom to a toddler, you better believe that my days fly by, and hunting down coupons isn’t something I can do for long periods of time, especially when I surface with none to speak of. For my sake, and your own, I found a few of the best places to find coupons so your own little coupon treasure hunt can go from gritty confusion to shimmering elation!
There’re numerous different places to find coupons, but for a moment let’s talk about free coupons. Which are some of the most fun coupons to stumble upon. Thanks to lots of research, no longer will you wander around in the dark trying to locate your discounts. We’ve got you covered!
One of the simplest places to locate physical free coupons is in the Sunday newspaper. I’m not sure how many people get the average Sunday paper anymore, but the number of coupons inside it is, I believe, absolutely worth it. Many papers have a small coupon insert in the centerfold, and that’s where the gem of coupons is contained. There’s usually a small subscription fee for a newspaper but nowadays a lot of publishers give you the option to subscribe to just the Sunday paper. (Or a great little life hack that I’ve personally used a few times, is picking up a Sunday paper at the Dollar Tree store, if your town has one.) True to their wonderful name, you can snag a paper for only a dollar. Newspapers are loaded with free coupons, many of which promote the items you buy on the regular, fun unique products, or discounts on experiences that you might otherwise have missed. Things like coupons for grocery stores, restaurants, and fun hot spots in your local community, are just a few examples of the nuggets of treasure found within those black-inked pages. Keep a sharp eye out for any weekly ads as well. Newspapers are really good a resource for that.
Another great place to find free coupons is the normal stores and retailers that you frequent on a weekly or even daily basis. These could be manufacturer’s coupons that are directly printed on, or attached to any product that you buy in the store. Meaning as soon as you’ve bought that product, the coupon is yours to use for your next purchase of that same product.
Perhaps one of my favorite ways to score some good old free coupons, is to take a second glance at the junk mail that seems to arrive almost daily, or mail advertisements. It’s happened a few times where I’ve actually stopped and looked carefully through the miscellaneous mail, and I’ve found a gem of a coupon or a discount on something amazing. A restaurant for a fun date night in our area that just opened, or even a percentage off of a decadent facial from a nearby Zen-soaked spa. That one was coupon gold, my friend. (The moms will get it!)
A resource that is just a bit newer in the coupon game is coupons.com. It’s strictly a coupon site in which they have a whole section of printable coupons. You can just go to the site, search for the easily found printable coupon page, print out and cut out to your delight. There’s something kind of soothing about cutting out physical coupons and if they’re free, so much the better, in my opinion.
As with most things these days, they have a digital counterpart. Coupons are no exception. For this next batch of coupon-hunting ideas, you can set aside those sharp scissors and give your snipping hand a rest. Instead, you can pick up your phone and head to coupons.com again. However, this time you can scroll through their digital download coupon page! It’s chock full of tons of coupons that are as easy to access as just pressing a button on your phone to get some massive savings.
In case you’re new to the digital coupon game, they work the same exact way as physical paper coupons. Meaning you will redeem the coupon at checkout, but instead of a paper barcode, once you “click and clip,” your digital coupon you will most likely get a barcode or a coupon code that the cashier can scan to secure your discount on the product.
Social media is a fantastic resource for finding digital coupons, or mobile coupons, as they are sometimes called on the various social media platforms. They usually come with a promo code, or another type of barcode that will allow you to redeem your coupon at checkout. The next time you’re scrolling through Instagram, or your Facebook page, make sure to keep your eyes wide open for any great deals.
Along those same lines, Amazon is amazing for finding coupons. Even if you don’t currently hold an Amazon Prime Subscription, a lot of their products have one-time coupons. Things like grocery items, cleaning agents, pet supplies, electronics and baby supplies, have regular coupons and deals that you’ll be sure to benefit from. (As with any coupon, be aware of its expiration dates, and other fine print on your digital coupons!)
Also see: Can you use manufacturer coupons on Amazon?
A little further down the treasure hunt trail of searching for the best coupons, are coupon apps. Ibotta is a great resource. It’s more of a “save and earn cash back,” kind of a deal, and I have several mom friends who swear by this app. Sign up and see what kind of savings you can earn with this gem of a coupon app nugget.
Flipp is another great one. Meant mostly for grocery, home supplies, or pharmacy needs, this app caters towards shoppers with either iPhones or Android phones. It’s very simple to download and you’ll find a surplus of digital coupons sure to meet any and all of your shopping needs.
Also see: Is Amazon Prime worth it?
Some of the most popular coupon categories are in the area of grocery, kids, and pets. If you happen to be looking for coupons in this area, listen close and we’ll tell you some of the best places to find these!
For hardcore grocery coupon hunters, you can’t get much better than Grocery IQ. This app will pull some of the best coupons from coupons.com as well as other online apps and places them all in one spot for you to digitally sift through. Get ready to cut that grocery bill in half, my friend! It seems that the app owner (coupons.com) is a bit behind on updating the app and some people have difficulties using it. Hopefully, they will continue development as I haven’t found anything that works as well.
Need a new seasonal wardrobe for the kiddos, but would like to save a bit of money while doing it? The Children’s Place is your best bet. With everything from kid’s clothes to shoes, and accessories for your little ones, the amount of access to discount deals and exclusive coupons on this site, is truly staggering. I’ve used it several times myself, and if my 3-year-old daughter insisting that she wear her pink and purple, flowy, tulle-covered tutu, ten days in a row without washing it is any indication of how many points you’ll score by your purchases, I’d say you’ll be in for a parent of the year award, for sure. They even have a whole “vacation,” clothes section, so if you’re planning a fun summer getaway for you and the kids be sure to check that section out!
We oftentimes consider our pets to be just as near and dear to us as our actual children, so of course we’ll give you the lowdown on one or two of the best places to snag coupons for pet food and other supplies for our lovey, furry companions.
PetSmart, which you might be familiar with, is just about the best there is as far as coupons go for all of your four-legged friends. They allow you to use their store coupons as long as they have a PetSmart barcode, these can be either physical coupons or digital that you redeem right at the checkout when you’re making your final purchases. They also have a wonderful coupon receipt option that you can take advantage of. This is where the coupon is printed right on the bottom of a previous receipt, which you can redeem at the time of your next purchase. Every time I’ve been there, I’ve received awesome customer service, in that my cashier reminds me about the coupon on the bottom of the receipt for my next purchase. I love that about my neighborhood PetSmart!
Sometimes, as good as they are, one-time coupon savings doesn’t quite do the trick. If you find yourself in that same spot, you can do what I like to call, “one step further savings.” This is a semi-fancy way of saying, you can sign up for things like Target Rewards Circle, Kohl’s Rewards program, TJ Maxx Rewards, or Amazon Prime Membership’s Subscribe and Save.
These are rewards programs for these particular stores. (And, in case you’re not aware, most bigger stores like the ones listed above have a rewards program like this.) Even most online stores have them as well! They’re designed to cater to the loyalty of their shoppers and customers. Usually, they’re set up in the way that once you reach a certain number of “points,” or a certain amount of money that you’ve spent with them, you receive a percentage off of your entire purchase or individual items.
They really are wonderful programs. You can set yourself and your family up to save a bundle. If the stores mentioned here aren’t ones you usually frequent, never fear. As I said most bigger stores have these types of rewards for their shoppers and you can just about always find a great program fit at your favorite store to fit your needs. Places like Walmart, CVS, Home Depot, and Menards have been known to have them as well. And, as a little-known bonus, you’ll usually receive extra coupons during the year, and sometimes even a little special percentage off near your birthday. Well worth it for those little perks alone.
Hopefully, the way we’ve broken it down, your own coupon treasure hunt won’t be so much of a hunt anymore! Keep your eyes peeled, your hands outstretched, and your excitement on the rise as you gather up those big, glittering savings!
Source: pennypinchinmom.com
PetSmart is a leading shopping destination for pet parents. They offer deals, discounts, and coupons all to help save you money! Get some of the best little-known secrets for saving money on every PetsMart purchase you make.
But, shopping the deals is not the only way to save money at PetSmart! There are simple strategies you can use to save on everything you need for your favorite pet.
While it is usually best to use cash for all purchases, smart and responsible credit card users will want to use the card that offers them the biggest rewards. PetSmart does not have a branded card, but there are plenty of other reward cards that will pay you in some manner when you shop.
However, only use credit cards if you pay them in full every month and are disciplined enough not to overspend. Make sure you know how your credit score looks before you apply for a new card.
The simplest way to save money is to sign up for PetPerks. Doing so will not only score you in-store discounts, but you’ll also get money-saving coupons sent to you as well.
One benefit of being a PetPerks member is a free offer for your pet on his or her birthday! Make sure you cash in on yours.
PetSmart accepts both store and manufacturer’s coupons. You may find these coupons for grooming, food, health products, and more. However, before redeeming, make sure you fully understand their coupon policy.
One thing many people do not realize is that PetSmart accepts coupons from competing stores, such as PetCo. However, the coupon must meet the coupon requirements above and must be for the exact same item being purchased.
Each June, PetSmart has its annual friends and family savings event. It’s a great time to stock up and save.
Tracking down a PetsMart grooming coupon is pretty rare. However, they sometimes share one on their Facebook page. But, if you want to save more, you may want to book your grooming appointment during off-peak times as you may get a discount. Check with your local groomer to find out how to get their coupons and promotional offers.
Before you shop, check out sites such as Gift Card Granny to purchase discounted store gift cards. You can save money before you even walk through the door!
If you don’t live near a store, you can still take advantage of online discounts and offers. Check out sites such as RetailMeNot for a list of the current codes you can use.
Sometimes coupons are printed on the bottom of your store receipt. Before you toss it out, take a look to make sure there is not a coupon attached to it.
Browse the current ad for the best weekly deals before you shop. If you shop online, all of the current sales can be found on one page.
Customers who use Autoship can get products sent to their home at regular shipping intervals. Not only do you save time by not going to the store, but you can also save 5% on every single purchase! Shipping is free on all orders of $49 or more.
Save time and money by shopping online but opting for in-store pickup. You’ll not spend time walking the aisles shopping as your order will be ready when you arrive, you’ll also save 5% on your entire purchase.
Source: pennypinchinmom.com