Organic Food Coupon Sources

Whenever possible, I like to buy organic and natural food for my family. However, it can be quite expensive so I went on the search for organic food coupon sources a couple years ago. I have had a few of my friends ask for sites for organic coupons in the past couple of years so I decided that I would compile a small list of coupon sources for the always pricey organic foods. 

Here they are:

organicdeals.com

www.mambosprouts.com

I also like a site called All Natural Savings. Go check it out.

One thing I have found is that often I wouldn't be able to find coupons for the organic brands I use on a regular basis. I then went to the individual sites for each brand. Not all, but a lot of brands will email coupons when they are available when you sign up on their site. Brands like Horizon Organic, Organic Valley, Applegate, and Stonyfield Farm just to name a few. If you can't find a coupon for a brand you like on the sites listed above, just go directly to the company. If there isn't somewhere to sign up for deals or coupons, then email them directly and ask for coupons.   

I hope this helps. I just wanted to pass this along in case you want to save money feeding your family healthy stuff just like I do.....and of course, organic on a budget can get tricky. 



Linking up to:

WYWW

No Spend August Recap

Hello, lovelies! I hope you had an amazing Labor Day weekend! My hubby, kiddos, and I had a really chilled out day, but it was nice to spend time together.  I cooked a huge breakfast (Jared and my girls' favorite meal of the day),  we went to a flea market and thrift store (and only spent right under $20, believe it or not),  and worked a little on our laundry room project (will share an update really soon.) (Go check Part 1 and Part 2 of our Laundry Room Rescue!)

If you remember, I accepted the challenge from +Lydia Senn  of Five4Five Meals and more to participate in No Spend August.  In my original post, I outlined the things I would not spend money on in August. Here's a recap of how well I did sticking to my guns. 

*No movie rentals: I did really well with this one. I didn't rent movies all month. Until this weekend.  And guess what I did? I forgot to take them back on time so I got hit with a double charge. Boom! That's why I need to stay away from rentals. I would acutally save money by subscribing to a streaming service if I keep forgetting to return the movies on time. 

*No book downloads: I stuck to this one as well. The only books I downloaded were free. I didn't spend money on books all month. 

*No buying home decor: I said I wouldn't buy any home decor other than stuff needed for projects we already had going on. I stayed out of flea markets and thrift stores all month. I even went to Target and didn't buy any home stuff. BUT. TJ Maxx got me. We stopped in TJ Maxx looking for something for my girls and I saw it.  There it was in all of its gold foil glory and I had to get it. I just had to. It. Was. The. Last. One! So, $16 later, I had a pretty little gold feather print that resides in my living room. 

Instagram photo. Hey, are you following me on Instagram?

*Eating out: This was the hardest one for us to stick to. Remember I didn't say that we wouldn't eat out at all, just limit it to once a week. We did well with that until last week. 

Overall, I am pleased with how our No Spend August went and look forward to doing it again!  It really showed me how much I usually spend on frivolous things. It wasn't that hard to NOT spend on those things for the most part. It forced me to get creative and we were all the better for it. 

No Spend Month

When +Lydia Senn of five4fivemeals.com posted a couple weeks about a "no spend" challenge, I decided that I was definitely going to get on board. Especially after having to buy school supplies and clothes for two kiddos.  And my affinity for thrift store shopping. And Target. Need I say more?  

While neither my husband or I are huge spenders, we do spend more than we should on some things and I really want to use this month for myself to pull the reigns in a bit on spending on frivolous things. 

This challenge isn't about not spending anything at all. After all, we all have our monthly obligations and bills that we are responsible for. This challenge, for me, is about gaining an upper hand on spending and hopefully by the end of the month, we will be all the better for it.  

Here is what I am not spending money on this month: 

*Movie Rentals- I am a movie watcher. Always have been and always will be. My girls love watching movies almost as much as I do. I rent movies almost once a week and usually at least two movies; one for me and one for the girls. If I rent two movies per week (from Redbox) that is $3 per week and $12 per month. (More if I forget to take them back on time and get hit with a double fee. Which has happened more times than I care to admit.) This month, no movie rentals for me. 

No-spend solution: Checking movies out from the library and taking advantage of free movie channel preview by recording movies with our DVR.  Or swap out with friends who are movie watchers. 

*Book Downloads: I love to read. While I try to download books that are free to my Kindle, most of the new best-sellers are not free. They can cost up to $10 for one book download. This month, I will not download any books that cost me money. 

No-spend solution: Check out books from the library or download books from the Alabama digital library. 

*Home Decor- While I do have some home improvement projects going on, which I consider previous obligation, I am putting a halt to decor buying. Whether that is at a thrift store, flea market, or Home Goods.  I hit up those stores frequently throughout the month on the search for a great bargain for something pretty. I don't usually go crazy and spend tons on that stuff, but $10 here and $5 there can add up really quickly. So no TJ Maxx, Ross, or Target for me this month. 

No-spend solution: Work on finishing home projects that I have already started and already have supplies to complete.  

*Eating Out- Okay, so I am going to say we will only eat out once a week and no more. I don't want to completely do away with it because that is something my husband likes for us to do as a family on the weekends. But, sometimes we eat out simply for the convenience of it even though I could cook at home. 

No-spend solution- Do a better job of meal planning and prep so that I am prepared to cook a good dinner and not caught off guard with, "I don't have anything thawed out."

(I realize I am posting this almost half way through the month, but these things I shared with you are things I have been adhering to since the beginning of August.)

Also, I am taking this month to clean out our closets and get ready for a yard sale. I have lots of really cute decor items that I loved and snatched up, but haven't really found places for them. If they have sitting in a closet for over year, I would say it's time to let them go. 

So what about you? Could you commit to using the rest of the month as a "no spend" time? Give up buying those extra sodas or coffee? Have a family game night instead of going out to a movie? Cooking instead of eating out?  It could be any small thing that you want to not spend money on.  As they say, "A penny saved is a penny earned."  I hope I can earn some of those pennies this month. 

Frugal Spring Decor: Shop Your Home

With spring approaching, I was getting a little impatient to see some blooms and spring color in my home. I wanted a new, fresh look, but didn't want to break the bank to get it.  I love my home to look pretty and inviting, but I have to keep budget in mind while bedecking our home seasonally. It just seems frivolous to spend a ton of money on seasonal decor that we can only enjoy for a short period of time each year. 

So, I decided to shop my home and yard and see what I could come up with without spending a single penny.  I wanted to show you that making your home look festive and pretty is attainable on a small budget.  You can do it, too.  You just have to get a little creative. 

I looked around my home and yard to see what I could use to create a fresh look. I used items like bird cages, books, vases, ribbon, and fresh cut blooms. I came up with six spring looks for my foyer without spending anything. 

1. Flower Power

I started by going outside and cutting blooms from one of my Camellia bushes, then snipped some branches from what I think is a Bradford Pear tree.  An old vase, tied with ribbon left over from Christmas, holds the branches, and a milk glass vase holds the Camellias. 

A bird cage sits atop a stack of books on one side, and a smaller bird cage and a bird figurine flanks the vase of pear blooms. 

2. Star Studded

This was a simple swap out.  I traded for the milk glass vase of Camellias for a mirrored star votive holder I got over a year ago at Z Gallerie. I only changed one thing, but it made for a different look. 

3. Middle Height

For this look, I cleared off the dresser and added two stacks of books symmetrically on each side. I put the height in the middle instead of on the side.  The books are topped once again with the bird cage on one side and an antique glass float on the other. 

4. Poetry Rules

Once again here, I put the books with bird cage on one side and the vase with branches on the other.  I added more elements this time; the star votive holder, the bird figurine, and the smaller bird cage all made an appearance along with a framed spring poetry printable in the center. (You can download the free printable here.)

5. Elegant Pairing 

For this look, I took away the bird cages and added the glass float, the milk glass vase, and a convex mirror.  I really love this pairing.  

Isn't it so pretty how the mirror reflects the the flowers?


6. Mirror Mirror

For this last look, I kept it simple.  The framed printable was put away and the convex mirror takes center stage.  I left everything else how it was in the previous look. 

So there you have it. Six spring looks without spending a penny.  

Here's what you need to keep in mind to get a new look for your home:
1.) Fresh cut flowers and branches are an easy way to brighten up a room. Look around your yard.  Look around your neighborhood.  I'm sure friends and neighbors wouldn't mind you getting a snip or two if you just ask.  Add your flowers to any existing vases you have. Freshen the look by tying ribbon around it.  Don't have a vase?  Use an empty tin can. Cover with pretty paper and you've got an inexpensive way to display your blooms. 
2.) Look in all the rooms in your home. Look for things like books with bright, spring colors, framed prints, figurines, or decorative candle holders.  By borrowing from other spaces in your home, you can get your new look without breaking the bank. 
3.) Play with it.  To get the look you want using your existing items may take changing things out a few times before you like it.  Do like I did and see how many looks you can come up with. Then, leave the one you like best. (I left #6.)

Go check these out! Linking up to:

Make it Pretty Monday at The Dedicated House
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch
The DIY'ers at Homecoming
Tuesday's Treasures at My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
Tip Me Tuesday on Tip Junkie
Tutorials and Tips at Home Stories A to Z
DIY Spring Crafts at SITS
The Weekend Link Party at Remodelaholic

How to Save Money Shopping Online

Since I started blogging, I've had a few people ask me how we afford to decorate and do the updates in our home.  I have been a stay-at-home-mom since my first daughter was born (she is seven), so we have lived on a single income for a while now.  

I wanted to share with you today some ways to save money when shopping online.  These are things that can be implemented easily and they all really add up over time, freeing up some cash flow.

*Use Swagbucks

Swagbucks is an easy way to earn extra cash.  There are a few different ways to rack up Swagbucks, which can then be redeemed for gift cards to stores like Amazon, WalMart, and Target.  You can shop from their site, earning Swagbucks per dollar you spend at participating sites, search, participate in surveys and polls, play games, and watch videos.  Go check it out.  Click here to sign up or have a look around.  

*Use Ebates

Here again, this is an easy way to earn extra cash back on purchases. Ebates is a site where you get cash back for shopping at your favorite websites.  If you shop online a lot this would really benefit you. Most sites offer 3-6% cash back, but always check and see which sites are offering a higher percentage. That changes all the time, but you can really score some great deals.  Right now, Aeropostale is offering 20% cash back! T Mobile and Verizon are both offering between $37.50 and $95 cash back. Need to book a room for vacation?  Check Ebates to see how much cash back travel sites are offering. 

I never shop online without going through Ebates.  And I have received a few cash back checks.  You really should go check it out!

*Utilize the Target Red Card

I have a thing for Target.  The closest one to me is an hour away. I go every chance I get, and I take advantage of the coupons they offer as well the great prices and the 5% off you get just for using your Target Red Card. But since it is hard to get to the actual store, this makes the Red Card even sweeter.  

The Red Card is not a credit card. It is a debit card that you use only at Target and Target.com.  Each time you use it, you automatically get 5% off your entire purchase. Also, you get free shipping from Target.com and an extra 30 days for returns. 

So how do you make it really earn you extra cash? Open a tracking ticket through Ebates. (Right now through Ebates you get 2.5% cash back.)  Open a tracking ticket through Swagbucks. (Earn 2 Swagbucks per dollar.)  Then shop away.  Get your 5% off by using your Red Card plus free shipping.  You've saved close to  10% on your purchase!  

By the way, Target.com is having an awesome home sale right now!  Save up to 30% on home items and get a $10 gift card when you spend $50 on home goods. (Use promo code SAVE10).

A couple more things:
~Shop on sites like Overstock.com or Amazon to find great deals!  Both offer great incentives to shop their sites, like low shipping or free shipping or coupon codes. 

~Sign up for websites' emails.  I know that when you sign up on a lot of sites that you can get inundated by emails, but they often send out special coupon codes or percentages off that you can take advantage of.  I have a separate email account just for this.  That way I can better keep track of my personal emails and they don't get bogged down with all of the website emails. 

I hope this helped a little!  Do you have any more tips that you can add?  Leave a comment!


*Disclosure: Links to Swagbucks and Ebates are through referral program.