Ibotta = Cash Back on Groceries!!

FREE Money!!

Ibotta is an app available for smartphones. I love it as it gives me cash back on items I would regularly buy. You just scan your UPC and the receipt and that's it!! The money can be cashed out or instantly transferred to a Paypal account- whichever you prefer. You can also donate your cash back to any school in America. (if this isn't enough of an incentive to sign up- I'm not sure what is) The app was featured on Google Play and Good Morning America. It's super easy and fun... and let's be honest, there is nothing better than free money! Ibotta adds new products all the time and there are over 41 retailers to choose from. Make sure to check it out HERE. Sign up is easy and quick!

Fires in Maine - Donations Needed!

Help Needed!!

So I don't usually post items like this but this one hit close to the heart. A friend I was chatting with on Facebook mentioned how her neighborhood in Lewiston, ME has been affected by local fires. There was a huge fire on Monday leaving over 75 people homeless but another fire started yesterday which affected 3 more apartment homes. I am not asking anyone to donate money but I do know that as couponers we have a ton of extra items around which these people are truly in need of. The YMCA of of Central Maine is collecting donations. The list of items they are collecting is below. Please look it over and see if there is anything you could donate -the only thing it would cost would be shipping unless you are in Maine (the address can be found on the left side of the facebook page!). These people are in need and can use anything we can donate! I have already mailed in a care package with non-perishable foods and a ton of hygiene items. I could not imagine what it would be like to lose absolutely everything I own and can only imagine how devastating that would be. Please see a few photos below and contact me for more. You can also contact the YMCA of Central Maine for more information! 

 

 

*** These photos are actual photos of the fire. My friend took these photos herself and they are not photoshopped in any way.

Items which are needed: 

• Non- Perishable Food Items
• Personal Hygiene Items - q-tips, nail clippers, razors(new), feminine products, soap, deodorant, shampoo, baby shampoos, lotion etc
• Towels & Wash Cloths

Thank you Teachers!!! -- BOGO Chipotle!!

National Teacher Appreciate Day!

May 7th is National teacher appreciation day. I think teachers are an integral part of the education system and I truly appreciate their hard work and passion. I can definitely look back at my life and know of some teachers who truly touched my heart and my mind. Those are the teachers who inspire us to grow as individuals. I am happy to announce that any teacher who brings a school ID card  into a Chipotle, from 4 pm to close, will receive BOGO Burritos  bowls, salads or order or tacos. I personally LOVE the tacos and would recommend them to anyone visiting Chipotle. Comment Below with how a teacher how changed your life!!

FREE Pillsbury Newsletter - High Value Coupons and Delicious Recipes!!

Sign up now!

I love getting the Pillsbury Newsletter!! They sent out amazing recipes (which are SO delicious) and high value coupons. You can sign up HERE. It is totally worth checking out and the coupons usually go with the local sales! You can also snag some awesome freebies from time to time!

FREE $10 gift card from PLINK!!

I LOVE Plink!!

If you didn't follow my old posts HERE, now is the perfect time to check out PLINK! They are having a private offer which will give you $1,000 points. Enough for 2 $5 gift cards or 1 $10 gift card of your choice. I've been personally using PLINK for over 5 months now and love getting points at places I already plan on shopping at. You do have to link a debit/credit card to use link but they are an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and have a rating of A-. I would never suggest something to my readers without testing it first and I have gotten over $20 worth of gift cards from Plink. You get points when you shop at certain retailers including Burger King, Papa John's, Taco Bell, Old Navy, Gap, 7-11, AMC Cinemas and more. This is an awesome rewards program and one I highly recommend. Check out how to earn you 1,000 points ($10 worth) below!! Please remember this offer is good for new Plink members only!

1. Sign up for Plink HERE.

2. Link your Credit or Debit Card.

3. Spend at least $10 at Papa John's before 5/5 at 11:59 EST and pay using the registered card.

4. 1,000 points will be added to your account within 7 days.

5. Redeem for gift card of your choice (I love getting Target or Amazon!)

** If you are registered for Papa Rewards and use your card while registering online you will recieve Plink points AND Papa Rewards which is an amazing deal!!!

FREE Sweepstakes for American Express Gift cards!!

Make sure you enter!!

Make sure to check out Holiday Central and Mom's Recipes!! There are 2 awesome giveaway sites which both have tons of giveaways and sweepstakes for American Express Gift Cards. There are different opportunities with different end dates! The vaules of the prizes vary from $50-$100 in AMEX Gift Cards. I could totally use one of these and am doing a lot of wishful thinking. 

What would you buy if you won?? I would LOVE to win in time for Mother's day so I can send my mom some flowers -- she truly deserves it!!

$10,000 Scholarship giveaway for Moms!!!

Sign Up now!!!

It always makes me happy to hear from my followers and over the last few months I've gotten to know quite a few. I know a lot of my followers are... MOMS!!! When I came across this opportunity I just had to share!! Right now through May 15th, you can try and win a $10,000 scholarship. The money can be used for anything from bills, groceries, home repairs, child care or anything else you please. Make sure to enter this one as I don't know anyone who couldn't use an extra $10K. Make sure to go HERE and register. Once you register you are already entered into the drawing. You can choose to get information from colleges if you please but it does not increase your chances of winning**. This is an awesome opportunity for any mom!!!! The registration is easy and quick and if you don't enter you can't win!!


** If you do not want to receive any information from schools just click on the 'next school" button near the top right. I just clicked all the way through and it let me know I was registered for the drawing and that I will get a confirmation email within 30 minutes!

Discussion Time: What is your Budget??

Discussion time!!

I would love to host a discussion every Wednesday! I believe the advice of other couponers can be amazing in saving other money- If we can learn from one another, I believe we can save even more money!!

I wanted to talk about Budgets today!! I have a monthly Budget of about $100 dollars.. this includes all shopping done by my family (toiletries, household items and groceries). I am paying off student loans and every penny counts. Me and Carlos can  live off of my stockpile and I have to be very thankful for the items we have. If I did not coupon, I cannot imagine how life would be. We would constantly not have enough money to pay the bills and would probably be only eating Ramen noodles. I strive to cook a meal everyday (we know how that works out sometimes) and I always include some sort of fresh veggies (salad usually since I coupon for it). We are also weekly regulars at our local farmers market to pick up some amazing fruits for the week. It does get tough sometimes sticking to the budget so I sometimes roll over into the other months. See how my grocery budget works below!

I set a yearly budget of $1200 which is equivalent to about $100 dollars a month. I sometimes spend under $100 and sometimes I go over! I do not mind borrowing from the next month or using some cash which I have rolled over from the month before. This usually allows me to stay within the average $100/month budget. I stay very cautious of how much money I still have left for the year and how many months we have to go. I use my stockpile a lot and tend to stock up on items we use a lot (juices, salad, yogurt etc ) when they are free or very very inexpensive. Make sure to share what your budget it, how many people are in your household and how you manage you budget below!! 

FREE Bath & Body Works item with $10 Purchase!!!

Print your coupon NOW!!

This offer is only available in store until Friday, May 3rd. You can print a coupon HERE. You will snag a FREE item with any $10 purchase. I LOVE when I can get coupons for free goodies as I need to stock up on some candles and soap (Lilac Blossom is my favorite scent EVER!!) 

FREE Ovaltine Sample!!

Yummy!!!

I love these small samples. I keep them aside for when I have a serious chocolate craving! Last time, the sample came with a coupon for $1 off so I am hoping these samples will be the same. Make sure to grab yours HERE.

Toys 'R Us- FREE Lego Building Event!!

FREE Lego Event!

Toys 'R Us will be having a FREE Lego Building event this Saturday, May 4th from 12 pm -2 pm. Please make sure to call and double check if your store is participating. Your little ones will be able to build a mini-version of a Jek-14's Stealth Starfighter. They will be able to see the Starfighter featured on May 29th, 8 EST in The Yoda Chronicles on Cartoon Network. I think these events are an awesome way to get your child out of the house and doing something creative for FREE. They get to keep the Lego ship after they build it in store. Check out more information HERE. Comment below if you have attended an event like this and how it went!!