Super Savings Sites Continue!

In a previous post, I noted that there were several sites that I enjoy to save some money without having to spend a lot of time doing it!  Here is a continuation of that post with a few more sites for your perusal

Want coupons to come to you without buying a paper and want some of the latest freebies, check out @   http://www.pgeverydaysolutions.com.  Here you can sign up for coupons to be delivered directly to your email inbox and sign up to have sample delivered right to your door for free.

When I hear couponing, I think of  a table full of newspaper inserts, sharp scissors and a used up afternoon.  I also see myself spending money on products I never would have bought without the coupon and a pantry full of stuff I’ll never use.  Thanks to sites like CouponMom.com, I don’t have to spend countless hours clipping coupons.  I get to pick the coupons I want from CouponMom.com’s vast database of coupons.  I also get the latest deals from my local grocer and national chains so I know where to go to get the best deal and save the most without wasting any gas…a definite plus in my book.

CouponCabin.com also has some features I think you will find to be a great plus.  With their integrated toolbar for Firefox or Internet Explorer, you can shop and instantly have the coupon code you need to save some money on an already great purchase.  Nothing like saving on something you were already going to buy.  Some interesting facts straight from CouponCabin.com are listed to the right.  Pretty impressive really.  They also show a verified sign for each verified coupon, have a coupon club, show the latest deal specials and allow you to get your coupons by email.  Not bad for 80 seconds of browsing.

If you run a small business or just need some items like business cards, signage or stationary, your best best is VistaPrint.com.  With thousands of designs waiting for you to tweak, weekly specials and big discounts like free basic business cards (which are anything but basic), you really can’t go wrong.  No designing needed and if you do need design assistance, they have that too.  They also provide business marketing services.  No matter whether it is for personal or professional needs, you will find something for everyone at VistaPrint.com.

There are more sites and more deals to be had, but frankly I’m out of time today.  Please feel free to check back next week for more deals, more sites and more savings.

Kid Friendly FREE Fun

Since we are on a savings kick here at Homemaker’s Helper.  We thought we’d pass along some of the latest and greatest savings we could find.

Tops on our list is the FREE kids movies being offered this summer through Regal Entertainment.  You can expect your child to enjoy these top hit movies like:  Kit Kittredge: American Girl (G) & The Spy Next Door (PG) on one day or Jonah: A Veggie Tales Movie (G) & Monsters Vs. Aliens (PG) on another offered day….and besides, can you beat FREE?  To find out more, go to RegalEntertainment.com and click on the Free Family Fun Festival link.  You’ll be able to search based on your state and then locally.   It is a first come, first SEAT taken event (thank you for having it indoors where we won’t die from heat exhaustion!) offering…so get there early.

Another great freebie for the kids this summer is compliments of Kid-To-Kid resale shops.  Usually we mom’s are the first to swap out books, toys and clothes for out kiddos.  They just grow too fast!  Kid-To-Kid is as close to retail-mom-swapping-utopia as you can get without being free…until now.  If you pick up their FREE book club card, you can go into your local Kid-To-Kid resale shop and score one free book per month EVERY month all year long.  So go out there and fight illiteracy one free book at a time.

Ok, so this one is not necessarily for kiddos, but if you have them then you know how great Febreeze is!  Yesterday, we received a B1G1 (Buy One Get One Free) coupon for Febreeze Fabric Refresher through RedPlum home delivered coupons.  A search today of their online coupons at Redplum.com shows it does not show.  So keep that circular that should be showing up (if it didn’t yesterday) in your mailbox.

More savings sources to come…we are on a roll!

Wishing you a fantastic day…and many, many savings to come!

Savings Sites You’ll Want to Save

If you’re like me, you really want to save money…unfortunately clipping coupons (avidly) and spending all my day trying to save a few bucks are the least favorite activities that come to mind.  Thank goodness for those who get a thrill from finding the latest deals.

So here is a list of some of the best couponing sites I know.  If you have a favorite of your own, please feel free to share.  After all, we could all use a few more minutes of spare time AND spare change!

Restaurant.com is the first such site that comes to mind.  If you haven’t heard of it, you’ve either been dead or on a Walkabout.  Where else can you pick the savings for the amount you want to spend exactly where you want to spend it?  Even better, you can pick it out and have a year to use it!  Check out their policies on refunds, exchanges even gift cards for their services.  You WILL save money with them.

I think I’ve fallen in love with DealSeekingMom.com!  Everyday (and I do mean EVERYDAY) she comes up with the latest and greatest deals complete with coupon links, stores that are having the specials and how to maximize your savings.  She also provides information on the latest giveaways, best survey sites and more.  …AND, unlike some other sites, her giveaways and links don’t lead you down a road to a survey site where you have to click 50 million links and participate in umpty-squat promotions to get your coupon.  Check her out!

If you don’t mind following a bunch of links, the people at FreeBirthdayStuff.com have itemized all the free birthday offers that they can find and the links to those sites.  Many of the offers are from chains that offer special items for registered members.  You still have to register, but at least you don’t have to track down who has the offers.  For my daughter’s 4th birthday we ate and snacked all day for free from her offers.

Finally, to round out my top list of sites, please check out ClarkHoward.com.  Although he is on CNN all the time, his site has a wealth of links and information to help you save yourself time, money and aggravation.

Some of the best sites I have found are easy to navigate, simple to use and save me on things I already need or want.  My hope is that you will check out these sites, save some money and come back every month (or sooner) to check out my latest list of savings sites.  In these financially challenging times, it pays to save.

Best wishes for a prosperous future,

The Homemaker’s Helper

Making The Switch To Dish?

Unless you have not watched television anytime in the last year, you almost certainly know about the digital switch that is coming this June.

Right now cable and satellite companies are vying for your affection and defection from standard TV signals.  Many major companies like Time Warner Cable and Dish Network are offering enticing new customer promotions.  Of course advantages and disadvantages are inherent no matter what direction you decide to take.

If you don’t want to pay per TV, odds are you are leaning towards cable.   Cable does offer practically unlimited hook-ups with (unless you need a converter box) no additional fees other than the installation.  You don’t have to worry about weather-related outages or whether you have a direct line of sight to a satellite or permission to install a system from your apartment complex.  However, cable has historically charged more for basic service than satellite and has a bad reputation for increasing its rates with little notice regardless of whether you are under contract with them.

That being said, the industry itself has some inherent issues that, until now, were more closely associated with cable.  Time Warner has historically had difficulties with contract disputes between itself and the programming carried by it.  Most have been resolved in favor of the consumer.  However, Dish Network joined the ranks of those providers who found themselves having to make the choice between bottom line and consumer satisfaction.  Local stations who found themselves with expiring contracts requested an increase in payments from Dish Network to carry their broadcasts or face losing local access for Dish customers.  Eventually agreements were made and the consumer continued to receive their same programming.  Why is this important?  Because every carrier whether cable or satellite has its own package line up.  So if you want a certain channel, you better do your homework before you subscribe.  Getting a deal on a package that doesn’t carry your favorite station is no deal at all!

When it comes to deals, Dish Network continues to lead the industry in value pricing and service.  With HD programming, On-Demand Services and Pay-Per-View, Dish has become quite the competitor.  However, even with all the competitive bells and whistles, it still has not overcome the reality of satellite communications.  Consumers still must purchase or obtain additional equipment to transfer the signal to their television.  In some cases multiple units are necessary to meet consumer needs despite advances in technology allowing equipment to work on simultaneous televisions.  The ever present dish receiver still requires placement outside with clear line of sight to the southern sky (for most US. consumers).  Consumers should know that improvements in technology have lessened the chance that their service would be disrupted due to weather…and Dish Network has a good reputation for customer service.  What everyone should know is that Dish Network recently raised its rates even for those in contract with them, a first for Dish.  Consumers who thought they had locked in a price and programming found changes to both their pocketbook and viewing enjoyment.   Most found basic switches to their programming that were inconsequential and maybe even an improvement, but not having the power to dictate what you are paying for is a real “turn off” for most consumers and a worrying trend in business/consumer relations in general.

So with all this in mind…I urge you to check out the programming packages of all providers, their introductory offers (including the length of their introductory price) and compare their everyday programming rates to get a real idea of which provider will be worth your business in the long run.  Every household’s needs are unique…for some who have a smaller audience, the use of more than two to three televisions at a time is highly unlikely (if at all).  For other households with multiple members, having the versatility to watch and record various programs on differing and competing schedules may prove to be the deal breaker when choosing a provider.

Choose carefully and budget for increases to your programming rates…because apparently no one is safe from changes even with a contract.

For those of you who do decide to choose Dish Network as your new satellite provider.  Please feel free to use any of the following promotional certificate numbers to obtain an additional $30 credit on your first bill along with free activation and the offer of HBO free for three months and Cinemax for a penny/year with auto pay.  These numbers can be used only once…please let me know if you used a certificate so that I can remove it.

DRC286032176

DRC503070698

DRC145278370

DRC091863063

VCD0003075465

VCD0004143294 (latest certificate #)