FREE SHIPPING!!    GET X% OFF!!   BOGO!!

Using paper coupons is one thing.  When you venture into the world of online shopping, it can be a bit overwhelming to figure out which code is best to use.   Many of my friends are intimidated by shopping online because they think it’s more expensive.  Actually, I find that it usually is LESS expensive for me, but I take a few extra seconds to find the best deal before I click “submit.”

A few weeks ago I placed an online order for a specific item that was only found on one site.  I normally wouldn’t have ordered from this company because the shipping cost was outrageous ($11.95 for something that weighed about two ounces) , but they had something I could only find on that site, so I was out of luck.  My order was around $50 and shipping was $11.95.  CRAZY!!!!    They sent me an email with my first order offering me flat $4.95 shipping on my next order.  Okay…..that might be good.   In my package, there was a paper coupon for $5 off a $30 order.  Hmmmm…..could be even better.

Well, I went online last night and placed a second order.  Like I said, they have what I need and it’s exclusive to this site.   My order was around $37 and shipping was going to be $8.95.  Okay, let’s take a look at these scenarios…..
(1)  $37 + $8.95 shipping – $5 coupon= $40.95 total   (remember, I had to have a minimum purchase of $30 to use this one)

(2)  $37 + $4.95 shipping= $41.95 total

When I was browsing the website, I noticed that there was a different coupon code that could be used for a $25 purchase which gave me FREE shipping.  I had an extraneous item in my cart that was $10, didn’t absolutely have to have it, so I took it out of the cart and used the new code.  Check out my total now!

(3) $27 + $0 shipping = $27 total

Even if I did scenario #2 and took out the $10 item, my total still would have been higher at $31.95.  So you see, it paid off to search for just an extra few seconds to find a better deal.

If you have a hard time calculating which code gives you the best price, just enter the code at the checkout page and click “recalculate” or “update.”  Then pay attention to the total.  I use this often when I’m shopping on Boden or similar sites that have multiple codes at the same time.

Do you take the extra time to find a good deal?  Why or why not?

P.S.  I actually emailed the company and told them that their shipping was outrageously high.  More on what they responded in this post!!

Author Stephanie Perry Moore struck upon a really creative way to tell a story from two perspectives in Always Upbeat/All That.  In Always Upbeat, high school student Charli Black is the main character.  Charli describes her social dilemmas, trouble with a boyfriend, and problems at home.  She learns the value of being a strong leader both in personal relationships and in roles of responsibility.    When the book is flipped over to All That, the reader can hear the same story from Blake’s point of view.  Blake is Charli’s boyfriend who struggles with his own problems.   This is a great way to introduce reluctant readers to the idea that each character has a story to tell.  As the reader, I felt compelled to side with Charli as I read Always Upbeat.  Then when I heard Blake’s side of the story, I could understand some of his actions and emotions.  I liked that the two books were in one so that readers could have the experience at once.  Also, there was no bad language in the book which is always a plus for me.

The characters of the story are African American and this is obvious throughout the book.  The dialogue, descriptions, and culture are all centered around the ideals of a young black woman or man.  The adult role models in the story (parents, coaches) were flawed yet held high expectations for the teens.  Most teens could relate to this book, regardless of race or gender.  In my opinion, the reading level of this book is significantly lower than its target audience as a young adult book.  I would expect it to be on a high elementary school/low middle school reading level.  However, the characters are in high school and the issues they deal with are quite mature and I would hesitate to allow my middle school student to read the book without my guidance.  Read with a parent, it could be a really great opportunity to discuss some coming-of-age issues such as sexual morality and peer pressure.

Stephanie Perry Moore has published many titles in both Young Adult fiction and adult fiction.   Visit her website to learn more about her activity in her community.   She currently resides in Atlanta with her family.

(Disclosure:  I received this book to review.  The opinions are 100% mine.)

As a busy mom, you know how important it is to keep cleaning products in your diaper bag/purse/car.  Who has time to run to the restroom in the mall to wash those sticky hands?   Who wants to stop playing in the sandbox to have to clean up?   Keeping some wipes or other items in your mom kit will help to save your sanity.  

Me4Kids sent us Buddy Wipes and Smile Buddy.   The Buddy Wipes were a hit because they had a dolphin on the front of the package.  The package contained more wipes than the  regular packs of travel wipes I buy.   It was nice not to run out after the first time using them.   They had a pleasant fragrance and were alcohol free.  Sometimes products containing alcohol can sting sensitive skin, so we liked that there was no burning with Me4Kids.   The Smile Buddy is a convenient pack to take along in the car for those mornings when your kids forget to brush.  Surely that can’t be just mine!!   You can purchase Me4Kids products online or look for Me4Kids at a store near you (there’s a store locator on their website.)  Their products are made in the USA and they take pride in employing the disabled.

I received samples of various Kleenhanz products to try with my little ones.  This container is great because it fits right in the drink tray of your car.  Kleenhanz is alcohol free and safe to use on infants.    My kids don’t like to use hand sanitizer because of the stinging, no worries with Kleenhanz!    We also used the little travel packs and they were so much wetter than the wipes I usually buy……that made is easier to clean up after my kids’ messes.  My son went outside and was playing in the flower beds, brushing up against poison ivy.  I immediately wiped him down with Kleenhanz and I’m happy to report that he did not have an allergic reaction to the ivy!! Now, those results may  not be typical, but it was a blessing for me that day.   I loved that Kleenhanz saved me a LOAD of time and headache!   This will be a product that I buy again and again.  Their customer service is great! Visit Kleenhanz on Facebook and on Twitter.

(Disclosure: I received product samples for the review. The opinions are 100% mine.)

Budgeting and stewardship can start at a very early age….even my 3 year old son is aware of money and has an idea of its value.  How valuable a lesson could you teach by using this Financial Peace Junior kit to help your child develop money skills?  Junior’s Adventures is a full line of products for kids by Dave Ramsey. Check out all of the Junior books and other Junior products on daveramsey.com.

My parents never taught me about budgeting or the importance of saving; it’s something I figured out along the way (the hard way, might I add.)  I would love to help my children navigate these waters before it becomes too deep for them.  Financial Peace Junior is just $19.99 with free shipping on any order! Two games are being given away.  Each kit is valued at $19.99.  The giveaway ends 7/6/12 and is open to US/CAN readers.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

(Disclosure: I received a sample of this product for review. The opinions are mine.)

I am not a great decorator. The idea just exhausts me.  I love to look at home decor magazines and would like to believe that I can make my house look like that, but when it comes down to action….well, it’s just not there.   But WOOT  I finally found my calling!!  Vinyl decals!!  I have used these with success in my kids’ rooms over the past few months.  It was time to branch out into the main living areas of my home. [Read more…]

Interested in earning rewards from home? Think about joining the Nielsen Home Scan Consumer Panel. The Panel sends you a hand-held scanner and whenever you shop, you use the scanner to record the barcodes of your purchases. You send in the information once a week. Your participation earns you rewards that you can redeem, plus you get sweepstakes entries. If it sounds right for you, check it out.

I  enjoy doing things from home to earn some extra cash or gifts. I like it that I can do these things at night when my kids are asleep, so it doesn’t interfere with our family time. But I bet your kids would enjoy scanning your items for you!

Here is another opportunity for you…. MySurvey is one of my very favorite survey sites.  It’s easy to earn points that you can cash out for gift cards.  I have found that they add up pretty quickly, too.   We use those gift cards for Christmas gifts each year.

Do you participate in other programs like this? I’d love to hear about them!

(Disclosure: The links above are my affiliate links and my website will benefit from your click although it costs you nothing.  Feel free to post yours so other readers can use it to sign up!)

If you are a fan of Zoya nail polish, check out their current promotion!   Right now you can get 3 polishes from the Beach & Surf collection for $15 with FREE shipping.  Here’s how:

Instructions

1. Sign into your account at www.zoya.com
2. Add any (3) colors from the Zoya Beach & Surf Collections to your shopping bag.
3. Go into “My Account” and you will find the “Any 3 Zoya Beach and Surf for $15 Pinterest” Special Offer listed for (1) Love Point under “Redeem Points” (Shown in your account snapshot).*We added 1 ” Happy Point ” to all existing Share the Love Accounts (created before 12pm EST, 6/11/12) so that you can participate.
4. After redeeming your special offer, click “My Promotion Codes” on the left hand side of the screen to apply the code to your order.
5. Complete Check-Out Process, Review and Submit Order.

Your total should come to $15, which is a savings of $9.    I ordered mine this morning, can’t wait to see these great shades!

Did you know that you can often get a free deal through Shop At Home?  It’s called the WILD deal and it’s on the right side of the page (see circled area in picture).   You do pay for the item up front (usually at a much discounted price) then the WILD cashback is put in your account within 30 days.  The WILD deal usually expires around 8:00 AM EST and a new one is posted shortly after that.  The WILD deal can sell out.  They often put out a new offer if that happens.  Be sure to check in the morning to see what’s available and don’t forget to read the fine print.

If your freebie requires a shipping fee, be sure to look for a free shipping coupon before paying.  You can often double-up on savings this way.   Often the deal will post the free shipping code on the details, but it might require a minimum purchase.  For example, a few days ago I got Avon nail polish free on the WILD deal and there was free shipping with a $30 purchase.  The regular shipping was 99-cents, so I just paid that rather than spend $30 on other items.   I don’t mind paying 99-cents for pretty nail polish, what about you?

I have posted often about ShopAtHome and realize that you might not know how to use it.   It’s a cashback site that often has excellent coupon codes for online shopping.   They also have a guarantee to have the top percentage back—-if you find someplace with a better rate, ShopAtHome will beat it by 10%.  When you shop online, you click through their “shop now” button and a percentage of your purchase goes into your ShopAtHome account.  When your account balance is at least $20, they will send you a check that month.  It is so easy and one of the best ways that you can save online.  Plus, you double-dip by using a card that gives you reward points.    If you haven’t signed up for ShopAtHome yet, you can get $5 in your account just by signing up through this link.

(Disclosure:  This post contains my referral link.  I will benefit if you sign up through it.  Feel free to post yours below so that other readers can use it!)

Looking for a lighthearted summer read?  Lemon Curd by Homa Pourasgari is a good one to pack for the beach.  A gently budding romance between two career-minded Type A individuals is the premise of the story.  The obstacles standing in their way border on the predictable, but you won’t mind.  There is enough humor and cultural drama to keep things going.  I finished this book in two days because I just needed to see how the two fared by the end.  Sometimes I felt that the characters’s actions conflicted with their personalities….for example, Anna Lisa (the main character) appears to be intelligent and independent.  Somehow she comes across as desperate when it comes to men.  While I wanted to scream at her to buck up and put on her big girl panties, I have actually known some women like this and I ended up feeling a little sorry for her.  At the same time, her colleague Neil has a similar personality.   He brews tea from tea bags?  I wasn’t expecting that.  In this way, the character development was lacking for me.   My favorite character in Lemon Curd was Leila, the best friend.  She reminds me of the girl everyone wants to hang out with and I liked the spice that she added to the book.

Although this is a romance book, it didn’t have any graphic love scenes in it.   There was some bed sharing going on, it just wasn’t described in great detail.  Romance books are not my cup of tea so I was glad to see that this was a relatively clean book.  There were some expletives sprinkled in the storyline that could have been left out; they did nothing to add to the story.  The book needed another once-over from the proofreading department.  Still, it’s an overall decent read and one that I wouldn’t mind sharing with a friend.  Over some toast with lemon curd, of course.

The author is offering a giveaway of this book for one lucky Savings in Seconds reader!  Stay tuned for the giveaway coming up soon.

Author Homa Pourasgari is multilingual and well-traveled.  She has worked in several different areas including marketing, retail, and banking.  Lemon Curdis her first novel.   You can find out more about Homa Pourasgari by visiting her website.  Read a chapter of Lemon Curd by clicking here.

(Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for review. These opinions are 100% mine.)

I thought it was a world of change when I discovered printable coupons. Having a coupon right when you need it is such a huge money saver, not to mention time-saver! I spend much less time clipping, organizing, and searching for coupons when I can just find the exact one I need. Then I discovered online shopping and learned about getting codes and discounts through RetailMeNot and other sites. Well, times are a’changing again….now you can save while you’re actually IN the store! RetailMeNot has a new app that gives you in-store redeemable coupons on the spot. Best of all, it’s FREE! Their motto is “Save when you want, where you want” and it completely fits. You can grab the app from iTunes or by clicking here.

Watch this video for more tips on using this cool feature. Happy savings!

RetailMeNot Coupons app for iPhone from RetailMeNot on Vimeo.

Love sweepstakes?  Through today, just RT this @RetailMeNot tweet for a chance to win $500.

(Disclosure: By posting this information, I am eligible for a drawing at One2One Network. The opinions stated are my own.)