Do you think its too early to do your Christmas cards?  If I told you they were FREE would you still think it was too early?

I happened upon this blog awhile back. You will want to bookmark it, subscribe to it, check it daily, etc., etc.  I have gotten so many good tips on ways to save money, and yummy recipes, etc; this is a blog that I check DAILY!  (if not more often)  

Today, thanks to one of the posts on Crystals blog, I ordered 100 Christmas cards for FREE.  I’m talking, personalized, photo cards, with envelopes.  Go here to See Here by Fugifilm and register, upload a photo, and create your card.  Then add 50 cards to your cart, and enter the code newbaby at checkout, and you will see the price and the shipping go to $0.  You do not even need to enter a credit card or anything. 

After that, I placed another order for 50 more of the same cards.  And at checkout, I entered the code freebies4mom-1109, type it exactly like that.  And you will once again see the amount clear to $0.

=100 cards for FREE!  I already received my confirmation for both orders. 

Thanks Freebies for Mom and Money Saving Mom  for this great information! 

ENJOY!!!

If you know me at all, you know I am a bargain hunter!  I have been know to pick up ‘things’ here and there more because of the great deal, than because I actually ‘need’ it; however, that is a story for another time. 

At the beginning of the year I started a spreadsheet so I could keep track of my savings, primarily at three stores I frequent; Publix, Target, and CVS.  However, I am ALWAYS on the look-out for deals in other places as well.

So far this year, my savings year to date for 2009 is: DRUMROLL PLEASE…

$1450.61 (this is just from the receipts I have managed to enter-a couple have gotten lost in the mix)

This total does not include the countless rebates, and giveaways I have earned from different websites I frequent.  All you need is time, and access to a computer, and you too can be a savvy shopper.

Here are some great websites to get started:

Retail Me Not (search by online retailer name to save LOADS of money-even discounts for online flower companies…hint-hint…Mothers Days not far away)

My Points    (free to join, and you earn points for opening advertisements they send you offering deals-lancome, omaha steaks, etc; for surfing the web, printing and using coupons, completing surveys, and for purchases that you make from online retailers. Points cash if for gift cards-we have received $100 in a year to Home Depot, so our new sky lights will be free from Home Depot when we buy them) Put down my name if you join, and we’ll both earn 250 bonus points!

A Full Cup (free to join-everything categorized by store, so go to Publix, and find out about all the deals, and coupons to earn savings at Publix. Has every store you can possibly think of here)

Boodle     -free printable coupons…check here before you go to the store.  I got 2 bags of cat food for a total of $.49 by printing two coupons here a few weeks back, and combing a Publix buy one get one sale!

Make the economy start working for you…the deals are out there if your willing to do the legwork!  Keep track too…it sure is a great feeling when you realize how quickly the savings add up!

Here are some things I know for sure about Black Friday: (this is a list derived from many years of research, mind you!)

-Black Friday is not a casual shopping day…best trips are well calculated and planned out-if you wait to see the ads on Thanksgiving Day…you missed out.

-There is no other day of the year that you can shop for 5 hours, and be home for the day by 10AM.

-The people who slept in the R.V. in the parking lot have loads more energy than the ones who waited in the lawn chair in front of the store…Run in when the doors open behind those people, they will clear the path!

-If you look like a pro, with your AD in hand, people will assume you know what the best deal is, they will want to borrow your AD, and then they will decide to run into the store to grab the really good deal that you found…better to look like a newbie than a professional anyday; keep your ad under wraps.

-Sales people don’t know.  I mean whatever question you have…they don’t know.  Black Friday is not about getting product info…they probably don’t even know where your product is located in the store.  Run…and grab; run and grab…ask questions later.

-There is no time for a healthy breakfast…Mountain Dew (or coffee if you must), and some heavy duty chocolate will be the fuel you need for some serious shopping…there is leftover Turkey for later.

-Only buy items that you have room to hide…if your car is full by the end of the day, and you don’t have plans to keep the items in your car until Christmas, you need some cleverly planned ‘hiding’ spots.  Husbands and children will be waiting for sneak peaks when the car rolls in…

-Never forget…the successfulness of Black Friday=saved money=at least one little treat for the shopper.

-If all else fails, have you heard of Cyber-Monday?

If you see me (don’t ask I’m not telling where I’ll be   ), I’ll be wearing my ‘Jesus loves Black Friday’ t-shirt, and I’ll mean business!  Steer clear, or try to keep up, whichever you prefer!

I know I have probably said this before, but I live to find FREE or almost free deals on ’stuff.’  About a year ago, I happened upon this website for ADPERK you earn credits for watching marketing videos, and then you cash out your credits to earn magazine subscriptions.  So far in a year, I have gotten 6 different subscriptions for free.

Anyway, I was flipping threw one of my free magazines today called ReadyMade, and happened upon the best idea…

Slide a sock onto the head of a golf club, and you have an instant duster. You can use it to dust your ceiling fans, and other hard to reach places.  CRAZY…I mean, I never intended to spend $100’s of dollars on a duster, but I sure am happy to have another use for the expensive golf clubs in our garage. 

Jason shouldn’t mind, right?

I mean, wouldn’t any husband be thrilled to come home to freshly dusted ceiling fans???

Ok~so I feel the need to state 2 things before I get down to the nitty-gritty of my day today.  I’m letting you in-so don’t judge…

1)  I feel a responsibility being the ‘main purchaser’ (yes that is a job title) for our household to do my best to spread our money as far as I can.  (I check the internet for deals-I might be coerced to share my 2 favorite websites, but then again…maybe not!!!  haha)

2)  I DO have a problem walking away from a good deal.  A BIG problem!  (I need a group for this-I assure you)  So far at CVS drugstore this year I have saved $943.61 (it keeps a tally at the bottom of your receipt), and spent less than $60.  That is a story for another time though…

Anyway…onto this morning.  Target did a toy markdown today.  They had toys (good toys-not dollar spot ones) for anywhere from 30-75% off original price.  I racked up!!!  Birthdays for my kids, and cousins, and friends kids are done from now till Jan., and lets just say we started Christmas in July!  I was so excited.  The low point was probably realizing that I had peer-pressured Amanda to sacrifice her morning workout to join in on the hunt!  Good deals are so fun!  A $20 toy at 75% off = $5.   I even got some small items for operation Christmas Child boxes in December.  Anyway, you can probably sense my excitement…I know, I have issues…I guess there are worse ones I could have!  Mind you…the thrill of the hunt was only increased by the fact that I had BOTH of the kids with me, and they were clueless!  (I’m no novice, I brought m&m’s AND ringpops, and got the mack daddy shopping cart with the extension seats for the kids attached to the front.  We were quite a sight…  Brady was a chocolate, sticky, blue mess by the time we left, but the kids were happy and I was happy.)

What a day!  (Actually that was all done by 11:30-I should say what a morning!)

***Speaking of operation Christmas Child…school supplies are super cheap right now -there are $.01 deals if you watch the ads, so if you plan ahead, you could probably do 2 or 3 Christmas boxes to send to kids overseas, for the price you would normally spend on 1.  Crayons, markers, spiral notebooks, erasers, etc, are things all kids love!  Plus 75% off sales help too!