Search Results for: blog how to shop smart

Amazon Go Might Change How You Grocery Shop

Everyone has to go grocery shopping sometime. Your family might go once a month and stock up on bulk items. Or, you could be among those who go grocery shopping once a week. Parents realize that grocery shopping can be difficult if you must wait in a long line with a toddler. Amazon Go might change how your family shops for groceries. Amazon Go describes itself as “the world’s most advanced shopping technology”. It promises there will be no lines to wait in and no checkout area to deal with. Shoppers simply grab the products they need – and go. … Continue reading →

Why Kids and Smartphones Don’t Mix

No one said using a smartphone is a sure-fire way to avoid making stupid mistakes. I’ve covered the not-so wonderful side of technology in previous posts.  However, this latest gem goes beyond falling down manholes or setting expensive texting records. If you are a parent, you now have another reason to safeguard your smartphone when your kids are around. Paul Stoute is living proof that protecting your cellphone from little fingers is one of the smartest parenting moves you can make. The Oregon dad is the new owner of a vintage car, thanks to his toddler daughter’s cellphone skills. Or, … Continue reading →

Take Inventory Before You Shop

Before you shop, stop! Try this quick trick that will save you money now and in the long run. To save money, do a quick inventory of what you already have before you go shopping.  This will help save money in so many ways. From duplicate purchases to avoiding the pitfalls of shopping for bargains that you don’t need, a quick assessment each time you are ready to shop can make a difference. DVDs I’m ashamed to admit that we have two copies of a certain new Disney princess DVD movie. We simply forgot that we had the movie and … Continue reading →

Benefits of Shopping the Easter Clearance Deals

Head to your favorite stores the day after to get some great Easter clearance deals. The bargains are so good that I know one mom who puts off the Easter baskets and the egg hunts until after Easter, just so she doesn’t have to pay full price. Smart lady. Many stores start there Easter clearance on Monday, the day after Easter, with bargains from 50 to 90 percent off. Don’t wait long, though, because these clearance sales, especially for popular stores such as Target, are very popular. Zone in on the candy first, and freeze it for later use. You … Continue reading →

Coupons for Hormel, Dial, Smart Ones, and More!

Here’s a quick tip that will help you save some money on your grocery bill. Bring lots of coupons with you, for products that you were going to buy anyway. Print them out right before you go shopping. I’ve got a batch of grocery coupons that you can start with right here in this blog! Coupons.com has a brand new batch of coupons for President’s Day. At least, that seems to be what they are being connected to. I got an email from them that had an image of an American flag, with text that said: “We Cannot Tell a … Continue reading →

Be Smart and Save on Hotel Stays

A year ago today my daughter’s dream of swimming with dolphins came true.  As a combination birthday/Christmas present, we traveled to a resort in Hawaii, which allows guests to frolic with marine mammals, for a pretty penny.  I knew exactly how much we’d have to fork over for the dolphin experience; however, when I got the bill for the overnight accommodations, my jaw hit the hotel’s travertine floor.  I was shocked by the exorbitant resort fees, which by the way, were not fully disclosed during the booking process. I later discovered that this is a common practice with hotels and … Continue reading →

Smart Mama Shopping

You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time.  That goes double if you are a penny-pinching mom playing Santa Claus. I am all about retailers trying to make cash this holiday season.  I get that, but when you are living on a tight budget and you have kids who are expecting St. Nick to deliver a little more than just a few stale candy canes this Christmas, don’t … Continue reading →

Why Smart Shopping Strategies Can Ruin Your Holiday Budget

It is usually the early bird that gets the worm, but when it comes to holiday shopping, the early bird may also get the bigger bills. People who shop the sales may also spend more than those who plan on buying items at full price. It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? But according to the American Research Group studying holiday spending, the average family who shopped early spent 14 percent more on gifts on average, and those who shopped the sales spent a whopping 53 percent more on average. what about online Yikes. Want another strange statistic? Those of us who … Continue reading →

Disney Park Apps for Smartphones

I got a smart phone for my birthday, when all I asked for is an mp3 player. Don’t get me wrong: it’s an awesome present, but sometimes I don’t know what to do with it. I disabled data, because I spend enough time online as it is. Although I downloaded one or two, I’m wary of most apps: I don’t want them cluttering up my phone. If you have smart phone, however, and you’re planning a Disney vacation, there are a few apps you should look into getting. Most of them are free, which is just icing on the cake. … Continue reading →

Coupons for Pillsbury, Smart Ones, Kotex, and More!

It is great to be able to bring a bunch of coupons with you when you go grocery shopping. One resource for coupons is Coupons.com. I’ve noticed that they always have coupons for name brand items, and most of their coupons can be used in any store. However, some of them are coupons that can only be used at Walmart. So, look closely before you shop. Post has a coupon that will save you $1.00 when you buy any 2 Post Kids cereals. This coupon is only good on the 11 ounce size, or larger. The coupon is only redeemable … Continue reading →