March 20th, 2011 at 08:08pm
Under Uncategorized
The hubby and I are working on a big milestone in our lives – buying our first house in Phoenix. We have owned a home before in SD however, owning a home in AZ is on a different level. At least a different price point. 
But I digress from my original topic – car repairs.
Once we made the offer on our home we began to have car issues, on not one but both of our vehicles. We took them into the dealership and a well known automotive repair location. My vehicle at the dealership priced out at a could thousand for the work that needed to be done, the husbands at a little over a grand. REALLY! Like we need to be spending anymore money right now.
So I went into panic mode and began to talk to everyone I know about the exorbitant prices. We called for some other quotes and still didn’t find the prices we wanted. Finally a friend gave me the number for her mechanic and said that they are the best and very inexpensive (my second favorite word). We received a quote from her mechanic for almost half of what the hubbies well known auto repair location was. My car has yet to be looked at (they need to look to see what needs to truly be done).
The moral of the story – just like in anything shop around. And take your friends suggestions when they give you a name of the “greatest mechanic ever”.
By admin
February 15th, 2011 at 10:47pm
Under Internet Savings+ Retail Therapy
I just finished packing our bags for a four day excursion to the beautifully majestic Keystone, CO. We are visiting this snowy mecca for my oldest brothers wedding. As usual – I am doing this the frugal way. How can you save money while traveling and still travel well? RESEARCH and KNOWLEDGE!!!
- Flying Allegiant air, or the no frills airlines to most locations is at least half the cost of flying other airlines.
- Never check bags if I can avoid it.
- Shop around for hotel prices, check the travel sites, but then check out the hotel’s own site also. (This trip we are sharing a rental property and splitting costs.)
- Look for hotels/properties that provide amenities to help you save money. i.e. kitchenette, laundry, free breakfasts
- Don’t book your rental car until the last possible minute, and search for rental car coupon codes (this of course doesn’t apply if you know that cars are going to be scarce.)
- Check out the area before you go so you know the steals and deals for eating out and entertainment
- Ask for opinions and referrals from friends on how they save money.
Share your travel tips – I look forward to finding other ways to save!!!
By admin
February 11th, 2011 at 10:16pm
Under Local Shopping
One of the latest, and in my opinion greatest buying options to hit the market - forgive the pun - in the last few years is the food co-op. These are organizations that buy foodstuffs at bulk price and resell to co-op members for below what you would normally pay at the store. Typically thesefoods are items easily separated into smaller quantities – like fruits and vegetables. When I moved to Arizona I was lucky enough to find a local co-op and have been ordering from them during the last few years. When I first started with BB the only had co-ops in AZ and UT now they have expanded to eight other states!!! I love the food selections and the price at $15 a basket cannot be beat.
Check them out at http://www.bountifulbaskets.org/ - if they do not have a co-op in your location then don’t be afraid to search for a co-op that is closer to home. They are well worth the extra work to find.
By admin
February 5th, 2011 at 06:42pm
Under Uncategorized
I moved to N. Phoenix from a small town in South Dakota three years ago, and I have to say I am ashamed that I am just now discovering all of the savings opportunities that this wonderful metropolitan area has to offer. One such recent discovery is the local bread outlets. These are a goldmine for inexpensive bread, bagels, pastries, or in my case english muffins!!
I discovered an Entenmmens (yes, the yummy cakes) Orroweat outlet only a few miles away from my home and boy did I strike pay dirt! Last week I visited this location on Sunday, which is double saving stamp day, I ended up buying five packages of muffins for only .99 cents each! I also scored some bagels and bread on the cheap, because my total was over$7 I also was given a free item of my choice. Since it was double stamp day I am halfway to another fee item too!
There isn’t a website for these stores but if you do a search for a bakery outlet you might be lucky enough to locate one.
Here is the address of the store Entenmmans Store I found in N. Phoenix/Glendale – note there is also a Sarah Lee outlet bu I haven’t been there yet. Maybe tomorrow.
4925 W Bell Rd Ste 3
Phoenix, AZ
(602) 547-1459
Enjoy!!!!
By admin
February 4th, 2011 at 10:31am
Under Local Shopping
Recently on a shopping trip I decided to take the kiddos into a $.99 Cent Only store while the hubby ran into Best Buy. Now, my Mom in the last few months had advised that she was getting good deals on food items at a local $.99 Cent Only store in her neighborhood in Mesa. (If you didn’t get the theme, everything in the store is $.99 or less.)
When I went in my first thought was this is going to be a lot of junk that I will never use, but I am happy to say that I was surprised at the quantity of fresh produce, and other wonderful food stuffs. They even had fresh sliced crimini mushrooms for $.99!!! Yum!
That was my first trip, and since I have gone two more times to pick up items from eggs, to spices, and even some great learning aids for my 4 year old.
Visit their website to find a store near you, and don’t be deterred by the overly bright fluorescents!
By admin
September 27th, 2010 at 10:37am
Under Internet Savings
If you haven’t heard about Groupon yet, then you MUST check out this site. It is an amazing Deal a Day site that offers daily deals on cool local businesses. You buy a certificate, print it out and bring it to the store/restaurante/ or use it online (if it is redeemable online)! I have bought many groupons and today I wanted to share some of the fun deals I found.
***TIP – always check the other cities for groupons incase they have good onine deals (like the ones I found today)
Atlanta - Soap.com buy $10 groupon for $20 of merchandise at Soap.com
Grand Rapids – $25 for $75 at Wine Insider Online Store
Minneapolis - $15 for $30 at Costumerhub.com
By admin
September 14th, 2010 at 03:25pm
Under Retail Therapy
Did you know Target takes coupons?
Well if you didn’t know that, then you surely won’t know that they have coupons of their own right on the www.Target.com site (look at the bottom of the homepage under Target Stores) or go to http://coupons.target.com. To make things even sweeter they will let you stack a manufacturers coupon with their Target coupons making for some amazing deals on everything in the store.
One great deal that I want to point out this week is from their apparel coupon section (Yes this means coupons for clothing!!!)
Right now they have a coupon for $3.00 off of any Merona Dress. If you are a clearance rack shopper like I am then you know that many stores have racks with clothing at 70% off right now. If you can find a Merona dress on these racks then you can score a cute new frock for around $4.00!!! (I know because I did this deal the other day!)
***Tip: Check the target coupon website often as when apparel coupons they often disappear just as quickly.
By admin
September 14th, 2010 at 12:28pm
Under How to save on bills
So we are up to our neck in hospital bills right now and I hate how much they charge for the most inexpensive items. One thing I had never thought of doing is asking for a discount on my hospital bills. But as the bills for my daughters heart surgery are rolling in (even with insurance it is expensive) I slowly saw our savings rolling out. I had enough! So when I called to pay off a bill for the cardiologist I asked if they would give a discount!
IT WORKED!!! I was able to receive 25% off of the bill if I paid the amount owed with a credit card (debit card).
It does make sense, think of all of the bills that probably never get paid in situations like this.
So negotiate, oh and don’t take their first offer. They originally were only offering 15% but I asked if there was anyway they would offer more, the person I was speaking with said she could talk to her supervisor and her supervisor offered the 25%.
By admin
September 14th, 2010 at 11:22am
Under Internet Savings
Okay, so I am a little behind on this post for some of my followers since it is already the 14th. In my defense I have been dealing with an infant who had heart surgery just two weeks ago. But EVERYONE can still get in on the action, and get some amazing deals!
Just go to www.spaweek.com and sign up to enjoy $50 spa treatments! *Arizona, California, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon and Washington (Seattle)
Pick yourself up a luxurious day at an expensive spa that you have always wanted to try. Gentlemen this is a great “just because” gift that your lady will love!!! I know my hubby always tells me to go get my nails done or buy a massage for myself but I appreciate it more when he buys a spa treatment for me.
They also have tips, and contests so you can learn tricks or even win yourself some free pampering.
By admin
September 12th, 2010 at 09:12pm
Under Internet Savings
After seeing deal after deal posted for this particular site I decided to try it for myself. www.artscow.com and I have fallen in love. Right now they have a deal for a 6×6 photo book for only $3.99 shipped. You have to be one of the first 200 to use the code each day but as this runs until Oct. 10th I think there will be plenty of chances.
Code:
6″ x 6″ hardcover photo book $3.99 shipped 6X6FORFB – exp 10/10/10
*limited to first 200 orders per day
This site has many features that others do not offer when making photo books and I look forward to personalizing a couple of my girls. I have also seen many offers for this site for other gifts so keep your eye out and I will post more as I find them.
By admin
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