Saving Money While Saving Time

We all like to save money, but not all of us have the time it takes to find the very best deals.  Between working, volunteering, child care, exercise, etc., it can be difficult to find that perfect balance between saving money and using our time wisely.  Below is a list of suggestions that can save you money even when time is at a premium.  

• Shop ONLINE!  Consider shopping online for everything.  People have looked at me like I have 3 heads when I mention that I've ordered dog food or napkins online, but really it's one of the best time/money savers I can think of.  You can shop in the comfort of your own home, eliminating the need to drive from store to store.  You don't have to haul bags of items from the store to your vehicle and then into your home.  You can get free/inexpensive shipping at many places and have all your necessities delievered right to your front door!  It saves you money on gas and maintenance on your vehicle.  Let someone else do the work for you!!  Some of the best sites for purchasing essentials inexpensively without a lot of hassle: 

• Amazon Mom:  By subscribing to Amazon mom (if you're a parent) or Amazon Prime (if you're not), you are eligible for FREE 2-day shipping on most of Amazon's inventory.  By combining that with their Subscribe & Save service, you'll save 15% off everything you order and it will be shipped directly to your front door at regular intervals.  Sweet!  
• YaySave:  YaySave is a site dedicated to saving you money through group purchasing on household goods like shampoo, tissues and shaving supplies.  They offer flat $5/day shipping and can save you a bundle if you don't have time to clip coupons.  
  
  

Take advantage of your grocers membership cards.  Many grocery stores now have coupons that you can download directly to your card, bypassing the need to clip or carry coupons.  Simply log into their site and add coupons to your card a few times a month.  Then, if you happen to purchase any of those items, you'll save on them.  You can also add coupons through the following sites:  Cellfire, Shortcuts.com, and P&G eSaver.   

Utilize your library's services.  The next time you find yourself searching for books or other media online, check your library first.  Most library systems now offer online access where you can reserve anything from books to magazines to DVDs.  When you find yourself near the library, simply stop in, pick up your reserved items and check out.  You don't have to pay a dime (as long as you return them on time) and you don't have to spend time wandering around the library.  You can also renew media online very easily so you rarely have to worry about returning things at the last minute.  At my library, we can renew an item 99 times before it must be returned (as long as it isn't on a wait list).  

When you do shop online, always shop through referral sites.  These sites offer you a percentage of your purchases back (either in cash or rewards) simply for clicking through their site first.  I recommend Ebates, Mr. Rebates, or Swagbucks.  Many credit card companies also offer extra rewards for shopping through their sites.  It only takes a few seconds to click through these sites before checking out and it can save you a ton!    

Follow a few deal-saving blogs that fit your interests on Twitter, Facebook, Email or RSS.  There are TONS of blogs out there, just peek around to find a few that fit you best.  Some of my favorites include: 

• SuperSaverMama :)
• Deal Seeking Mom
• Baby GoodBuys
• Budget Savvy Diva
• Coupon Dad
• Bargain Briana

Happy saving!!!  

 

Comments

[Teresa]

1.

I am currently a college student and I am constantly looking for great ways to save money while eating out. I found this awesome web and mobile site called SpecialsAgent that pulls together all the great offers, deals, new menu items, coupons... everything I need to save money. For all kinds of meal and occasions I've been able to save money with specialsagent.com. Check it out! :)

[Teresa]

2.

I am currently a college student and I am constantly looking for great ways to save money in a while eating out. I found this awesome web and mobile site called SpecialsAgent that pulls together all the great offers, deals, new menu items, coupons... everything I need to save money. For all kinds of meal and occasions I've been able to save money with specialsagent.com. Check it out! :)