Monday, July 1, 2013

5 Ways to Help on a Tight Budget and more...

Money Saving Mom

SweetJack

Brightpeak Financial

Here's What's New

:: 5 Ways to Help on a Tight Budget

Guest post from Courtney of Blessed by Brenna

"What can I do to help?"

For many, this is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear of a family who has just welcomed a new baby, someone who is battling health issues, or a family who is grieving in the midst of a death. However, it can be difficult to know how best to help a family in need, especially when there is not much extra money around.

When our daughter was born in December 2011, with a life-threatening skin condition, our community leaped into action to aid in whatever ways they could while we dealt with many health problems during her first year.

From that experience, we gained a much better understanding about what can be very helpful during a time of crisis or need. And assisting a family in need doesn't have to hurt your tight budget, especially if you get a little creative.

1. Take charge and put your time to good use.

If you are close to a family in need, think about what you would want done in a similar situation, whether it's a new baby or a health emergency. Gather a group of friends to clean a family's home or let someone know you are going the store and ask what you can pick up for them, so that they don't feel they are inconveniencing you to request groceries.

Or, tell the family when you are available on a certain day or time period, so that they know it's not an inconvenience to ask for help during that time.

2. Organize meals.

There are online tools for this, such as MealTrain.com, that alleviate any stress of coordinating, as people who want to bring food can simply sign up with what food they are bringing. You can also tailor it for the family's schedule, so that if getting meals every day is too much food, you can limit it to two or three days a week.

Creating a meal is a frugal way to make a positive difference to a family who doesn't have time to worry about cooking and grocery shopping.

When it comes to food, you might also keep a couple of things in mind:

  • Consider preparing a frozen meal instead of fresh. When a family has a new baby, they are likely getting a lot of food right away. With a frozen meal, they can put it away to enjoy at a time when the food supply has died down but life is just as hectic. Be sure to tightly wrap the food with foil and Saran Wrap and to label what it is, the date it was prepared and any cooking instructions.
  • Breakfast and lunch items can be just as helpful as dinner items, and are often less expensive to prepare. Baking a batch of freezer-friendly muffins or bringing over deli sandwiches and soup is extremely appreciated by families who are likely getting only dinner meals.
  • Package all your food into containers or Ziploc bags that can be thrown away when done, so the family doesn't have to worry about returning a nice casserole dish to you.

3. Give a gift card.

If a family is in the midst of a health emergency and you want to help financially but can't afford to give cash, consider giving a gift card to aid with meals, gas or groceries. You can utilize your Swagbucks points or other rewards systems to "purchase" a gift card for someone at no cost to you out of pocket.

For months, I was unable to clip coupons, shop around for the best prices, or meal plan, so being able to use a gift card to run into a single store or order a pizza was a huge relief on our budget and our emotional state.

4. Consider the container.

If you are bringing a gift to a family, such as for a new baby, "wrap" your presents in a decorative basket or storage container instead of spending the same amount on a large gift bag. Containers can be put to good use to help store toys, craft supplies or other household items whereas a gift bag will likely just be thrown away!

5. Send thoughts and prayers.

If your budget is really tight, don't hesitate to simply reach out to someone and let them know that you are thinking of them and praying for them. Sending a heartfelt message with prayers can mean the world to someone who is trying to cope with a big change in their lives, good or bad.

Courtney Westlake is the author of the blog Blessed by Brenna, where she shares the challenges and triumphs of her family after her daughter Brenna was born with Harlequin Ichthyosis, a very rare and severe skin disease.

photo source

     

Have a more disciplined, productive year! Get 21 Days to a More Disciplined Life!

:: Baby & Toddler Product coupons: Huggies, Pampers, Brita Bottle, YoBaby, plus much more!

There are a three new diaper coupons this morning:

$1.50 off ONE Pampers Baby Dry Diapers
$1.50 off ONE Pampers Easy Ups Trainers
$1.50 off one HUGGIES LITTLE SWIMMERS Swimpants

More baby/toddler product coupons:

$0.55 off any ONE (1) Hefty Zoo Pals Product
$3.00 off any Brita Bottle for Kids
$1.00 off any U.S.A. Kids Sippy Cup 2-pack
$1.00 off any JOHNSON’S Baby Washcloths product
$0.75 off 1 YoBaby or YoToddler Organic Yogurt
$5.25 off when you buy any TWO (2) Enfagrow® PREMIUM™ Older Toddler Milk Drink Powder (1-3 years old)
$2.25 off when you buy any ONE (1) Gerber® Good Start® SOOTHE, 22 oz or larger size
$2.75 off when you buy any ONE (1) Enfagrow® PREMIUM™ Older Toddler Ready-to-Drink 4-pack (Natural Milk or Vanilla Flavor) (1 year and older)
Save 75¢ off any (1) DESITIN® product (Excludes trial sizes)
60¢ Off of any one (1) 4-pack or 12-pack of GoGo squeeZ
55¢ off any one (1) Ella’s Kitchen Nibbly Fingers or Yum Yummy Baby Cookies
$1.00 off any four (4) Ella’s Kitchen 100% Organic Products
50¢ off of any one (1) Little Duck Tiny Fruits

(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)

     

21 Days to a More Disciplined Life

:: Target: Free Dole Fruit Smoothie Shakers (with text coupon)

You can get free Dole Fruit Smoothie Shakers at Target this week. Here’s how:

Buy 1 Dole Fruit Smoothie Shaker at $1.33
Use $0.75 off Any One DOLE Fruit Smoothie Shakers coupon
Stack with $1 off Frozen Food Item $1 or more Target Mobile Coupon (text FRESH to 827438)
Free after coupons

Thanks, Common Sense With Money!

(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)

     

:: Free audiobook: Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry

Download a free copy of the Jayber Crow audiobook by Wendell Berry. I’ve had quite a few people recommend this book to me, though I’ve not had a chance to read it yet.

Thanks, Moms By Heart!

     

:: Chili’s: Free Kid’s Meal with adult entree purchase

Through July 3, 2013, get a free Kid’s Meal at Chili’s with any adult entree purchase.

Note: It looks like they’ve changed the coupon to be just one free meal per adult entree purchase instead of two free meals like it used to be before. :(

Thanks, The Freebie Blogger!

     

:: Family Dollar: Free Jell-O Pudding after Family Rewards (no coupons needed!)

You can score FREE Jell-O Pudding at Family Dollar this week. Here’s how:

Buy 3 Jell-O Pudding boxes at $1 each
Use $1.00/3 printable coupon (if you have it — no longer available)
Get $3.00 Family Rewards for buying 3 participating products
Free after Family Rewards (and you’ll turn it into a money-maker if you have the printable coupon!)

Thanks, For the Mommas!

     

:: Pampers Gifts to Grow: 10 free points

Pampers

Add 10 free points to your Pampers Gifts to Grow account with code FBW5RACADWP7113. This code is valid through July 2, 3013.

Thanks, Coupon Pro!

     

:: $1/1 Firefly Toothbrush coupon = $0.88 for a two-pack at Walmart

There’s a new $1/1 Firefly Toothbrush coupon available this morning. You can use it on the two-packs at Walmart priced at $1.88, two get two Firefly toothbrushes for just $0.88 total!

Thanks to I Heart the Mart for the deal and photo!

(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)

     

:: Walgreens: Simply Lemonade for just $0.74 after coupons!

You can get Simply Lemonade for just $0.74 at Walgreens this week. Here’s how:

Buy 1 Simply Lemonade $1.99
Use $.75/1 Simply Lemonade Coupon
Stack with the $0.50/1 Simply Lemonade in the July Walgreens Coupon Book (booklet will be by the weekly sale fliers near the door)
$0.74 after both coupons

See more deals at Walgreens this week.

Thanks, For the Mommas!

(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)

     

:: Download 5 Free EntreLeadership Lessons from Dave Ramsey

:: Target: Free bananas and corn on the cob (after text coupons)

You can get free corn on the cob and bananas at Target this week! Here’s how:

Buy 4 Ears of Corn at $0.25 each
Use $1.00/1 Fresh Vegetable Coupon (text JULY4 to 827438)
or use $1.00/1 Fresh Vegetable Coupon (text FRESH to 827438)
Free after coupon

Buy 4 Bananas at $0.25 each
Use $1.00/1 Fresh Fruit Coupon (text JULY4 to 827438)
or use $1.00/1 Fresh Fruit Coupon (text FRESH to 827438)
Free after coupon

Thanks, For the Mommas!

     

:: Printable coupons: Tide, Pantene, Crest, Snickers, Cheerios, plus more!

It’s a new month, so that means there are lots of new printable coupons available!

Hair Care

Beauty Products + Feminine Hygiene

Heath & Wellness

Pet Supplies

Beverages + Drinks

Dental Hygiene

Cleaning Supplies

Batteries

Snacks + Pastries

Breakfast Items

Food

(Note: The link in this post is my referral link. Read my disclosure policy here.)

     

:: Educational Deals & Freebies Round-up

Here are some of the best educational deals and freebies available right now from Katie who writes at Cincinnati Cents:

LifeCycles 8-Book Children’s Set for $14.98 Shipped: Groupon has their LifeCycles 8-Book Children’s Set on sale for $11.99. This set includes the following titles – Caterpillar to Butterfly, Egg to Chicken, Joey to Kangaroo, Pup to Shark, Puppy to Dog, Seed to Sunflower, Snakelet to Snake, and Tadpole to Frog. Shipping is $2.99, which makes each book just $1.87.

Scotch Thermal Laminator 2 Roller System for $30.24: Amazon has their Scotch Thermal Laminator System on sale for $30.24. This system laminates items up to 9″ wide, is suitable for use with photos, and includes a set of laminating pouches. This is an inexpensive way to make charts, graphs, and posters and is an ideal way to preserve your child’s artwork and papers throughout the school year.

Carson-Dellosa Educational Products starting at $7.99: Zulily is featuring a sale on their Carson-Dellosa Educational Products with prices as low as $7.99. There are several products included in this sale such as the Ladybug Letter Puzzle Set for $7.99, Learning to Sequence Set for $7.99, and Complete Book of Time & Money for $9.99.

Free Jack & the Beanstalk Printables: Download a variety of free Jack & the Beanstalk printables from 1+1+1=1. These printables include such skills as number identification, counting, graphing, cutting fun, and more.

Dora the Explorer 15-Book Collection for $24 Shipped: Groupon has a Dora the Explorer 15-Book Collection on sale for $24. This works out to just $1.60 per book. As an added bonus, this book collection ships for free.

Lego Duplo My First Zoo for $20.87: Amazon has their Lego Duplo My First Zoo Set on sale for $20.87. This 60-piece set includes a zoo keeper with a zoo vehicle, a baby elephant, tiger, fish, polar bear, giraffe, and more.

BenchPrep Test Preparation for $25: Groupon has their BenchPrep Test Preparation Courses on sale for $25. There are a variety of test prep courses available, including the GRE, GMAT, MCAT, SAT, ACT, and more. You can find a complete listing of the courses available on the Groupon website.

Free Pinkalicious Pack: 123 Homeschool 4 Me has a free Pinkalicious Pack available for download. This pack includes such skills as pre-writing practice, building words, letter sorting, graphing, and more.

Melissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Train Set for $6.11: Amazon has their Melissa & Doug Decorate-Your-Own Train Set on sale for $6.11. This set includes a wooden train craft kit, 4 pots of paint, a paintbrush, glue, and train decals.

Zoobooks Magazine Subscription for $10: Groupon is currently offering customers a one-year subscription to Zoobooks, Zoobies, or Zootles for $10. You can also purchase a 2-year subscription to any of the above magazines for just $19.

SODIAL My Family Finger Puppet Set for $2.07: Purchase a 6-piece SODIAL My Family Finger Puppet Set for just $2.07. This set includes grandma, granddad, sister, brother, mom, and dad. As an added bonus, this items ships for free.

Free 4th of July Pack: Download a free 4th of July Pack from 3 Dinosaurs. This pack includes such skills as patterns, matching, sequencing, basic math pages, American symbols, and more.

Gears! Gears! Gears! Building Set for $14.99: Groupon has their Gears! Gears! Gears! Beginner Building Set on sale for $14.99. They also have the Gears! Gears! Gears! School Set on sale for $16.99. Both of these sets include free shipping.

LeapFrog LeapPad 2 Explorer for $79.99 Shipped: Amazon has their LeapFrog LeapPad 2 Explorer on sale for $79.99. LeapPad2 inspires kids to imagine and explore and comes with 5 apps – Pet Pad, Learning Songs, Art Studio, 1 app of your choice, and Cartoon Director app, which lets you create your own movies. This item also ships for free with Super Saver Shipping.

Crayola Washable Markers (64 ct.) for $9.88: Amazon has their Crayola Washable Markers (64 ct.) on sale for $9.88. This item is also eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping with a purchase of $25 or more.

Free Fire Safety PreK Pack: Download a free Fire Safety PreK Pack from Royal Baloo. This pack includes such skills as matching, counting, patterns, tracing, puzzles, and more.

Modello Model Kits for $6.99: Zulily has their Modello Model Kits on sale for as low as $6.99 each. There are several kits to choose from including the bulldozer kit, convertible car kit, princess castle kit, and pirate island kit.

Skip Hop Zoo Insulated Lunch Bags for $9.69: Amazon has their Skip Hop Zoo Insulated Lunch Bags on sale for $9.69. Each bag includes a large main compartment big enough for sandwich, apple and juice box and an interior mesh pocket for utensils, lunch money and more.

Katie is a wife and homeschooling mother of four who writes at Cincinnati Cents about saving money and having fun as a family without breaking the bank. She enjoys sharing new recipes, ideas for frugal family fun, and tips for spending less at the grocery store.

     

:: Free Garnier Ultra-Lift Targeted Line Smoother Sample

:: Free Printable Oven-Free Menu for July

:: Educational Freebie: The Amazing Numbers Printable Book

 

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