Adventures In Frugal Land

Simply Frugal. Simply Natural.

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How To Ease Back Into Couponing

I used to be a coupon queen. Then, I slowly just stopped. Sure, I’d use a coupon if I happened to come across one but I didn’t actively seek out deals. While this has been fine for groceries (thank you ALDI!!!), I realized I was spending way too much money on other products.

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Do you want to ease back into couponing but don’t know how to get started?

 

Realize You Can’t Always Do It All

For so long, I thought that couponing was an “all or nothing” game. It drove me bonkers to find out later that I could have saved an extra $1 if I only would have printed that coupon or used that savings app. This line of thinking caused me to shy away from couponing for far too long. Now, I believe I have a much easier system that works for me and my family for right now.

 

If you are not interested in couponing, that’s perfectly fine. There are so many other ways you can save on groceries without coupons.

 

Sign Up For A New Email Address

Do you already have an email address for samples and coupons? If not, go sign up for one right now. You do not want all of the advertisements junking up your regular inbox.

How To Ease Back Into Couponing

Pick Only One Store

Trust me, trying to catch every deal at every store is not the way you want to start. Learn one store at a time. Or, if you like a bit more of a challenge, pick one grocery store and one drug store. Learn the rules of each store before attempting to shop at another.

 

Pick Only One Savings Program

Do not sign up for every savings program, coupon app or rewards programs out there. Pick only one to focus on. Add on to that a small amount at a time until you reach your mental coupon limit. I highly recommend starting with Swagbucks (you can print your coupons from them!) and Ibotta.

 

Use Printable Coupons

Printable coupons are so much easier to handle than newspaper ones. You only print out the ones you need and you don’t have to run to the store to get them! I save on the cost of ink and paper by using a laser printer, off brand ink and scrap paper.

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Visit Blogs

There are several blogs dedicated to providing matchups to your favorite stores. My favorites are ForTheMommas and MoneySavingMom. Their matchups save me countless hours of looking through sale ads!

 

Set Limits

When you are just starting out (or even when you are a seasoned couponer), setting limits can save you a lot of stress and money. This might mean that you only buy X amount of shampoo and skip deals until you are under that limit. Or, this might mean that you only spend $10 a week on stock up products. Find what works for you and your family and stick with it.

 

Don’t Compare

Don’t compare your shopping trip to the person who has a whole shopping cart of stuff that cost pennies. You will just drive yourself nuts.

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Avoid Stress

I don’t have the time or energy to do multiple transactions or shop every sale at every store. There was a time in my life where I was able to do this but that is not the season I am in now. I try to avoid stress by only going after the deals I REALLY want or could use. By not trying to catch every single deal that comes my way, I avoid a lot of stress. (Please know that 99% of the time, you will see the same exact sale within a month or two. Don’t stress if you miss a sale. It will cycle back again).

 

Have Fun

Having fun while saving money is what I love the most about couponing. To me, couponing is a game. While you are out hunting down deals, try to have fun!

 

Have you stopped couponing for a time? Was it hard to pick it back up again?

 

 

 

 

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through affiliate links, I receive a small percentage back. This helps me to provide content at no cost. Thank you so much for your help and support!

 

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Tried It: Treating A Yeast Infection With Garlic

Welcome to my latest series: Tried It Tuesdays. Here, I will share the latest tips, tricks, home remedies and other things I’ve tried. 

 

Warning: This post may be TMI for most men and some females. If that bothers you, please do not continue reading. Also, I am not a doctor. This post is based on my own experiences. Your experience may be different. I encourage you to do your own research before trying ANY home remedy.

 

Yeast infections, just another joy of being a woman. How many times have you been caught off guard by one? I know I have several times. I have extremely sensitive skin and am quite prone to yeast infections. For years, I tried over the counter remedies. Frankly, they were gross and messy. Then, I discovered the Diflucan pill. It is amazing. But, it doesn’t work immediately. It’s a pill, so, it takes at least 12 hours to “kick in”. Those 12 hours can really drag when suffering from a yeast infection.

 

I’m currently trying to use more natural remedies. When I got a yeast infection after a long bout with a sinus infection, I immediately began researching home remedies. One thing that kept popping up was using garlic to treat it. Some even say it will cure it. I cannot vouch for that as I was not willing to take any chances.

I Tried It Tuesday

STEP ONE

Prepare The Garlic:

First, make sure you are using a garlic CLOVE. Not powder or minced garlic. That should be common sense but you never know.

Peel that garlic and cut tiny holes into it. This helps the garlic juices come out faster.

If you want to, carefully thread a piece of string into the clove.

 

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STEP TWO

Insert It:

I don’t think this step needs much explanation. Some people may experience slight burning upon insertion. This is usually caused by cutting too many holes in the clove. Remove and try again with a new one if the burning is bad. Obviously, do not use this remedy if you are allergic to garlic at all.

STEP THREE

Wait:

For me, it began working immediately. Within an hour, all of the itchiness was gone. A strange side effect of this is you might actually taste the garlic in your mouth.

STEP FOUR

Remove:

If you put string in your clove, simply remove it as you would a tampon. If not, use your Kegels to push it out.

 

Repeat these steps as needed until your symptoms go away.

 

I will use this remedy again if I ever am unfortunate enough to get another yeast infection. This was truly the only thing that worked immediately. I was shocked to find that many people are unaware of this simple, cheap treatment. I wrote this post to share it with everyone who will listen! Yes, I want to shout it from the rooftops….”PUT GARLIC IN YOUR….” On second thought, people may think I’m a little strange if I did that. 🙂

 

Are you just not that into the idea of treating a yeast infection with garlic? Sign up for Vitacost and check out their selection of homeopathic yeast treatments. You can get $10 off your first order through Vitacost and your own affiliate link to share with your friends to earn credits for free products!

Have you ever tried to treat a yeast infection with garlic before?

 

 

 

This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through affiliate links, I receive a small percentage back. This helps me to provide content at no cost. Thank you so much for your help and support!

 

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How To Save Money On Your Period

Girl talk alert:

Being a girl is expensive. Buying bras are expensive. Giving birth is expensive. To top it off, periods are expensive and they come once a month. That’s a lot of expenses that go along with being a girl. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to save yourself some cash when Aunt Flo is visiting.Cut the costs of having a period.

Reusable Products

I’ve used a menstrual cup for a few years now. Some months I switch to tampons but mainly, I use my cup. I love being able to have the freedom to do whatever I want without worrying about the mess! Yes, there is a learning curve but once you get the hang of it, it’s pretty easy to use. Reusable products are more expensive upfront but will save you a significant amount over time. There are reusable pads available. I have never tried them but many women swear that they are great.

Coupons & Sales

Reusable products not your thing? That’s fine, you can still save a lot of money! Use coupons and sales and stock up when your favorite brand of tampons or pads go on sale. I’ve found that CVS has sales on their brand of feminine products every couple of weeks if you do not have the time to coupon.

Planning Ahead

Simply planning ahead can save you a lot of money with your period (and many other things!). If you are caught off guard, you might be tempted to pay full price for a box of tampons or pad. By planning ahead, you can obtain the necessary supplies at a fraction of the cost.

 

What do you do to try to cut down on the cost of having your period?

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How To Find Audiobooks For Cheap

I’ve recently starting LOVING audiobooks. I am able to keep my headphones in for a good bit of the time while I’m working and I’ve found that listening to a book makes the shift go a lot quicker. I do not like how expensive some of the books are. Most of the ones that I see are frequently priced between $10 and $20. That really hurts your wallet if you are like me and can go through 3 or more in a week! I’ve searched high and low for ways to feed my new audiobook addiction for cheap!

Ways to save money on audiobooks

Audible

Most people have heard about Audible. There’s a reason for that. Audible has a huge selection of audio books with great audio quality. Audible is a monthly membership between $14.95 a month and $22.95 a month. The $14.95 a month plan has one credit and the $22.95 plan has two credits. Each credit is worth one book. (There are some books that are more than one credit but these are very rare). Try Audible today and get two audiobooks for free!


Audible has “daily deals” where a customer can save a significant amount off of a book or a selection of books. These are nice but I’ve only ever found one deal that I thought was worthwhile for me. It’s a matter of preference. I do wish Audible would offer more sales throughout different genres.

Whispersync

Whispersync is a way to get Audible books at a very reduced cost if you own the Kindle book. Each month, there is a classic book available for free for both the Kindle version and the Kindle version. You can use the service to find audio companions for books you already own. 90% of the audiobooks I own have come from Whispersync. Also, with Whispersync, you can and listen seamlessly. This is great for children just learning to read! Some books are more expensive than other but often, you can add the audiobook version for $3.99 or less!

OverDrive

Many libraries use OverDrive to provide audiobooks and e-books to their patrons. Check to see if this is available at your local library.

Spotify

Did you know that Spotify has audiobooks? There isn’t a huge selection. There is mainly children’s stories and classic books available. Go to browse than to word within the Spotify app to access the audiobooks.

Hoopla

With Hoopla, you can check out free audiobooks, movies, and e-books. Check with your library to see if they offer Hoopla. If not, you can purchase a membership at a larger library to gain access. My local library doesn’t have a great selection of audiobooks but I was able to gain a membership to the Free Public Library of Philadelphia and have access to their digital copies. I am a Pennsylvania resident so I was able to get a free membership. Out of staters may pay $50 for a membership. Well worth the money in my opinion.

Tyndale Rewards

Are you signed up for Tyndale Rewards? With Tyndale Rewards, you are able to earn points by answering surveys, reviewing products and other tasks. You can redeem these points for books, audiobooks, and bibles. The audiobooks through them are not digital. Rather, they are shipped to you on a CD. These are great for car trips!

Do you like to listen to audiobooks? Where do you find them for cheap?

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How to Pick A Streaming Service

Cable has gotten to be so expensive anymore. Are you still on the fence about switching from cable to a streaming service? Don’t be, it’s quick, easy and cheap. The two biggest choices you have to make is to choose a streaming service and a streaming device.

How to Pick A Streaming Service

Streaming Devices Options

 

Dedicated Devices

I prefer Roku players as a dedicated device for streaming movies and music. Other options include FireTV and AppleTV. Pick the best one based on the services available and the price.

Gaming Devices

Playstation, Xbox, and Wii gaming devices all have the ability to stream your favorite service.

Computers and Tablets

All newer computers and tablets are capable of using the streaming options listed below. Better yet, use an HDMI cord and connect your computer to your television for the optional viewing experience.

 

Streaming Services Options

 

Netflix

Netflix is available for $7.99 a month for the basic membership package. With the basic membership, you can watch on one device at a time. With the standard package, you can watch on two devices at the same time for $9.99 a month. For $11.99, enjoy the premium package and the ability to watch on four devices at the same time.

Pros:

Huge selection of movies and TV shows.

Kid friendly section.

Multiple accounts to keep family viewing preferences separate.

Available on all devices.

Cons:

New releases aren’t available.

 

Amazon

Amazon Instant Video is included in all Amazon Prime memberships. Not a member? Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial.

Pros:

Ability to rent movies that are new releases.

A wide variety of movies and TV shows that aren’t available on other services.

Cost is factored into an Amazon Prime subscription so if you are already a Prime member, you don’t pay anything extra!

Can pay extra to have access to STARS, SHOWTIME and other special programing. Free trial is available. Join Amazon Third Party Video Subscriptions Free Trial today.

Cons:

A Smaller selection of movies and TV shows compared to Netflix.

Not compatible with all devices.

 

Hulu

Hulu subscriptions are available for $7.99 a month and up.

Pros:

TV new releases available soon after aired on the network.

A wide variety of TV shows.

Cons:

Not as wide of a variety of movies.

Not all shows and movies are able to be streamed on a device (but are on a PC)

Have to pay extra for a commercial free option.

 

These are not the only options for streaming services. Over the past few years, smaller services have popped up. Most of these services are tailored to specific tastes. I haven’t tried many of these so I cannot comment on how well they work. Have you tried any of the smaller ones? Which ones were your favorite? I have tried RightNow Media and I really enjoy it. RightNow Media is available for members of many churches. See if your church has this service for members to gain access to a wide selection of family friendly, Christian programming.

 

Do you have any other advice for someone wanting to make the switch from cable to a streaming service? What option is your favorite and why?

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So…you have bad credit, now what?

Ignore It Or Fix It

You could always ignore it. I don’t recommend this option but it’s there. If you don’t’ want to ignore it, then the next option is to fix it.

So, You have bad credit. Now What?

Check for errors with all credit bureaus.

 

You can check your report for free at annualcreditreport.com. Also, credit karma provides a report AND a score. Did I mention it is free?

 

Dispute any errors that you find.

 

I once found my student loans being reported twice! That sure made my credit score plummet. I was able to dispute it and the extra loan showing disappeared.

 

On credit karma, you can dispute your Transunion errors directly from their site. For other bureaus, you can dispute from the respective sites. It is so easy to dispute errors now that you can do it electronically.

 

Plead your case.

If you’ve missed a payment or two, it doesn’t hurt to ask the creditor to remove it. They are under no obligation to do so, but many will for faithful customers.

 

Start rebuilding.

 

In order to raise your credit score, you are going to have to rebuild it. I’ve found that the best option for me was to open up a secured credit card. After a few months of on-time payments, I was able to open up an unsecured card with the same company.

 

Other people have found luck with credit lines such as Fingerhut but they charge really high interest. However, if you are needing to raise your credit and you don’t have another choice, Fingerhut isn’t the worst option.

 

Have you ever found yourself if the position of having bad credit? How did you get your score up?

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What You’ve Always Wanted To Know About Blogging For The Huffington Post

I’ve recently began blogging for The Huffington Post. It has been a learning process for me. I had SO many questions starting out. When people hear that I am blogging for The Huffington Post, I ALWAYS get asked a ton of questions. I decided to write a short post with the most common questions and answers. If you have any other ones that I didn’t think of, just leave them in the comments and I’ll add them to the list!
What You Always Wanted To Know About Blogging For The Huffington Post

Do the articles have to be original?

No, they state they want your best, not your latest work. Sometimes, there might be something that is not a good fit for your blog but would be for The Huffington Post or vice versa. Use your best judgement.

How much exposure can I get?

It depends on the popularity of your article. I’ve personally haven’t had too much traffic from my articles on The Huffington Post (maybe a handful a day) but there are some bloggers who have had a ton of traffic.

How do I begin?

See my other post to learn how to start.

Do I have to publish often?

You can publish as often as you want. Not every post is accepted (yes, it still goes through the editing process!).

Can you link to your own site?

Yes! As long as it doesn’t come across spammy and actually ads something to the article.

Do I need an image?

You don’t have to have your own image but I’ve found it to be an asset. It’s really easy to create a graphic if you are not handy with a camera.

What else should I know?

You should make sure you really edit your post before submitting. The editors go through tons of posts every day, make their lives a little easier by putting your best foot forward before hitting submit.

Will I get paid?

No, you will not receive any monetary compensation.

Do you have any other questions about blogging for The Huffington Post? Let me know and I will answer what I can!

 

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13 Stupid Things Poor People Do

Did I catch your attention with that title? Speaking from experience, there are several stupid things that poor people do. Yes, I’m sure I know wealthy people do some of these too but for now, let’s just focus on this subject. I’ve seen several of these points first hand. I’ve struggled with many of them myself. 
 

Stupid Things Poor People Do:

13 Stupid Things Poor People Do

 
Neglect Health
This is by far one of the stupidest things anyone, in any situation can do. However, it’s a reality to those living with low incomes. I have neglected my own health (at great consequence) at times to pay my rent or buy groceries.
 
Buy Junk Food
Guess what? If you use coupons, it’s often cheaper to buy junk food. Yes, there are ways to shop for groceries without couponing but it is easier and cheaper to buy junk. This goes back to the neglecting health. Junk food is, well, junk. But, if you are hungry, you’re going to eat what you can afford. (***I am not advocating abstaining from all sorts of junk food forever. I enjoy my ice cream and cake as much as the next girl!)
 
Drive Unsafe Cars
Ugh. This is something I am totally guilty of doing. Not only is it unsafe…it gets expensive. Really quick.
 
Pay Bills With Credit Cards
What to do you do when your electric bill is due and you don’t have the money to pay it? Why, you put it on a credit card of course. Seems like a logical solution but it will bite you in your butt later on.
 
Take Out Loans With High-Interest Rates
When you are strapped for cash, what else can you do but take out a loan with high rates?
 
Avoid Psychiatric Treatment
I’ve seen so many people broke avoid paying for a counselor or medication when they need it.
 
Breaking Vehicle Laws
If you don’t have the money to pay your registration or insurance, it’s tempting to continue driving anyways. Don’t do it. The ticket you get is not worth it.
 
Take Up Vices
Smoking and drinking feel good. When you are broke, you do what you can to feel better about your situation. Please note that I do not advocate this. I’ve recently was able to quit smoking and I know you can too!
 
View Children As A Burden
Doctor’s visits, school clothes, food and toys are all expensive. Sometimes, people start to (even subconsciously) view their own children as a burden. Don’t think of your children this way. I don’t care how poor you are, if you love your child, you can be a good parent. There are programs available to assist you if you need help. (I’ve wrote about a lot of these in my e-book “Poor Me: Practical Advice For Navigating Welfare)
 
Spends Way Too Much Time Caring About Other People’s Opinions
Are you embarrassed to have people over to your home because of how run down it is? Does your car embarrass you in the parking lot? Do you feel that people are judging your clothing? It’s a common thing to feel judged. But, do you really care what strangers think? So what if you are driving a (safe!) clunker….it’s really no one else’s business. Unless they plan on buying you a new car (hey if anyone wants to take me on a shopping spree, I’m all in!).  I’m reminded of a story that Crystal Paine told of when she and her husband were paying cash for a house (awesomeness right there!), they were driving an old beat up vehicle. I look at that story and think how easy would it be for others to judge them for the state of the car, not realizing it was because they were actually smart and saved every cent to buy a mortgage free house. No one knows why you live where you live, drive what you drive or wear what you wear. 
 
Do Not Keep Up With Technology
Technology is an important part of the world. When you are poor,  it is hard to keep up with it all. While, you don’t need to go into debt to purchase the latest gadget, keep your computer skills up to par. You never know when you will need them for a job. Often, libraries will offer computer classes for free for their patrons.
 
Go Into Debt
Debt is a slippery slope. It starts out innocently enough with a little credit card and slowly, it builds and builds. Just, don’t do it. Trust me, it sucks.
 
Not Planning And Dreaming
Don’t give up on your dreams because of a temporary setback. Keep trying (and failing) until you get where you want to be. One thing I try to remind myself is that I’ve been in worse situations.
 
I did not make this list to judge anyone. I have struggled with several of these points myself. Yes, I write from experience. I’ve heard it say that poverty is an endless cycle. When you start making these choices, that’s what it becomes. Learn from your mistakes and hardships and move on, even if you can only afford to move on mentally.
 
 
What do you think are some of the stupidest things poor people do?

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Are You Overusing These 7 Products?

I hate spending money on household items like toilet paper or shampoo. I try to coupon as much as possible for these items and make them last as long as possible. It amazes me how much people (myself included!) waste their money by overusing common household products.

 

Are you using these common household products- (1)

 

Shampoo & Conditioner

 

I don’t see the point of rinsing and repeating. If anyone knows why I should be doing this, please let me know. Until then, I’m happily washing my hair once at a time.

 

Laundry Detergent

 

Try cutting the amount of detergent you use in thirds are even half. You don’t need the amount that is recommended.

 

Cleaning Supplies

 

Try using less than you usually do when cleaning. I bet you won’t even notice the difference. Most of time, cleaners are so concentrated that only a small amount is truly needed.

 

Paper Towels

 

I try to use rags whenever possible. It seems that when paper towels are in my home, they get used. For everything. You can also try cutting them in half to be the size of napkins.

 

Body Wash

 

You only need a small amount, not a giant amount to fill up your loofah!

 

Dish Soap

 

Are you guilty of using more dish soap the dirtier the pan is? I am. Try not to follow into that temptation. All you need is a tiny squirt.

 

Fabric Softener Sheets

 

Don’t use a whole sheet of fabric softener sheets. Cut them in half to save money.

 

Do you find yourself wasting common household products? Which ones are the biggest issue in your home?

 

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7 Reasons I Use Prime

This post is not sponsored in any way by Amazon. I have used affiliate links in it though (meaning if you purchase through my links, it helps support this site and allows me to provide free content.) All opinions are my own. I really, really, really love Amazon 😀

 

Why I Love Amazon Prime

 

I love Amazon Prime! Do you use it? Many people think that the only benefit is for the quick shipping. While, the two-day shipping is awesome, there are several other reasons I think Amazon Prime rocks.

 

Quick Shipping

 

I love being able to order something from Amazon and have it show up on my doorstep 2 days later.

 

Free Books

 

Through the Kindle Lending Library, Prime members can borrow one free book every month.

 

Frequent Credits

 

Often, Amazon will run promotions that gives a dollar in digital credit for choosing delayed shipping. These credits build up over time. I’ve redeemed mine for several books and movies.

 

Movies

 

Speaking of movies, did you know that Amazon has a movie streaming service (like Netflix!)? Also, you can purchase movies to watch anytime. Or, you can even rent one, which is great for me because I can never seem to remember to return movies.

 

Music

 

They also have a music streaming service (like Spotify!).

 

Subscribe & Save

 

Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program allows you to set up automatic deliveries of certain products. You can cancel the subscription at any time.

 

Reviews

 

I frequently use Amazon to review products that I get for free or greatly discounted. I love being to able to do this as I’ve been able to try new, often expensive, products at a fraction of the cost.

 

I cannot imagine ever going back to using Prime JUST for the shipping. How about you? Do you utilize all of benefits of Prime? Did you know you can try it before you buy it? Head over to Amazon and Try Amazon Prime 30-Day Free Trial.
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