My JC Penney Steal!

Don't you just love it when you score such a great deal that you feel all giddy inside? This weekend's shopping trip was somewhat unplanned but because I keep my little accordian coupon folder with me inside my reusable shopping bag at all times, I was able to get exactly what I wanted for a great price! Since many of you have recently voted on our blog poll for more money saving ideas, I thought I'd end the weekend with this post.

While I was doing a little Christmas shopping/browsing yesterday, I remembered that I had another one of my favorite $10 of $10 or more coupons. If you've been following my blog for a while you may remember the first JC Penney post I wrote where I used this same coupon a couple months ago, and how I got a stunning pair of chandelier earrings for just $2.77!

I made a beeline for the jewelry counter with one item in mind-sterling silver hoop earrings. They're a staple in a woman's jewelry box.  Sure, you can buy a pair of hoops anywhere but if they're not real silver they will eventually tarnish badly over time. My old pair had started to turn color and were not responding to soaking and I didn't want to wear them out like that, so it was indeed time for some new ones.

A good pair of sterling can run you around $30-50 but I found a great sale for 65% off!! I used my coupon on top of this discount on the original $44.00 price and wound up only paying $5.40 before tax! Pretty sweet deal for sterling silver at 87% off. Even the cashier commented and said, "You're robbing us!" and I said, "Yup, gotta love coupons!" ;). So, this was a little present to me from me. Take a look at the receipt below for the breakdown. Oh, and here are my shiny new hoops!

Stay on the lookout for these coupons, they were circulating in my area last week and are good until Dec.24th on almost anything. If you find an item for ten dollars then you won't even pay a dime. Even if you are finished all of your holiday shopping, there's no reason why you can't treat yourself to a freebie, right?

Have you been able to take advantage of this coupon? What did you buy?

Saavy Sunday Shopping at JC Penney

I was inspired to do a little shopping today after receiving a JC Penney coupon in our weekly circular. It is essentially a $10 gift card as long as you purchase that amount or higher. There were some brief restrictions including fragrances, cosmetics, etc., but I wasn't going to pass this one up! I've used these coupons from them two other times, one time I purchased clothing and the last time it was jewelry.

I am on a budget at the moment as I am planning my next trip to visit my family and friends back home, so I'm quick to find sales for things I need. I also try to stay out of stores in general if I know that I'll find things that I can't afford to be spending money on at the moment. Hence, today's sale shopping.

Classy women don't spend money that they don't have. It is especially important in these economic conditions to be responsible and in control of our finances. That doesn't mean however, that we can't enjoy some fabulous finds at steep discounts along the way. The key is to master the art of using coupons, taking advantage of sales and clearances and remembering to bring those saved up gift cards to the store with us. That is why I'll be releasing a second book in early 2010 that will specifically focus on saving money without sacrificing the style you crave. It is a must read for anyone who dreams of the champagne lifestyle, but on a tap water budget. More to come on that later.

As an example of the types of sales I typically frequent, I wanted to show you what I got with my coupon today. I always try to stay as close to that $10 price point as possible so I can capitalize on the savings and only wind up paying tax. Luckily for me, there was a 30% off jewelry sale today too, so I got to use both the sale and the coupon!

The photo above is of my new chandelier earrings that I bought for only $2.77!! Below is another glimpse still in the packaging with discount info below:

Regular JC Penney Price: $18.00

Subtract 30% Discount: $12.60

Subtract $10 Coupon + tx: $2.77

Don't let my mediocre photos fool you, these sparkle and shine! I love them and can't wait to wear them soon. I can dress up a semi-casual look for evening or wear them with a cocktail dress.

Look out for JC Penney flyers that contain these coupons, they run this offer several times per year, especially during the holiday season.

I love sharing money-saving ideas and tips with others. Do you have any great deals you recently snagged or special sale tips?  Feel free to share them!

Happy Sunday,

Freebie Friday- Glidden Paint & Chocolate!

I believe that taking advantage of coupons, deals, freebies and other promotional offers is a great way to save money for the things you really want. I'm calling today Fabulous Freebie Friday because there are a couple free offers running that you'll want to take advantage of.

Mars Chocolate is giving away chocolate every Friday until the end of September. It's true! I've tested is already for you and I know it works. Here is the link: http://www.realchocolate.com

Visit the site and fill out the brief information required and you'll receive a coupon for free chocolate in the mail. Mine took about a week. Fill one out for each of your kids and your spouse too-you'll get a coupon for each person. (Up to 4 per household)

Glidden Paint is running a campaign from June.25-July.2nd where you can receive a free 1 quart can of paint in any color you choose and they will mail it to you! The finish is eggshell and there are many colors to choose from. If you want to be really accurate-go to your local Lowe's or Home Depot stores and get the exact paint chip then visit:

https://www.glidden.com/promotions/free-paint-giveaway.do

Wondering What to do with a quart of paint? Ideas below:

1. Paint a small piece of furniture like a desk, small chair, or even a smaller dresser to give it new life. I painted out an old antique dresser with a few coats of white and replaced the hardware. It looks amazing, you'd never know it was the same dresser!

2. Use the paint for a smaller accent wall in a bathroom or small office area. If you've finished every room in your home, could you use it in your laundry room for an accent wall?

3. Use old carpet remnant to make a rug and then use a stencil to create a pattern and use the paint to add a pattern to the rug.

4. By creating your own stencil or purchasing one, you can give a piece of furniture like a coffee table or end tables new life by simple creating a pattern on the tops of them or even a dresser or nightstand.

5. You can also use this paint for stencils on your wall too, such as writing words like dream, sleep, etc. in a bedroom or insipiring words in your home office.

Happy Friday Everyone & Enjoy your Freebies!

Shutterfly Promo Code Offers

A friend of mine gave me a Shutterfly promo code for a free photo book. I was so excited! With only 3 days left before the offer expired, I decided to get right to work and start creating a book featuring photos from a milestone birthday that I had been meaning to create for months. I couldn't wait to finish it and see that all I would have to pay would be the shipping and handling. Boy was I wrong!

Most people love snapping digital photos. They save them on their computer, send a few here and there, maybe upload a couple to their facebook account but rarely print any at all. So, now you’ve received a coupon code from a friend to try http://www.shutterfly.com/ which is similar to snapfish and kodak gallery. These online sites let you upload and store your photos and then later enlarge them, print them out or use them to create fun memory items like mugs, invitations, Christmas cards or a personal favorite, a photo book!

Most online retailers will accept the promo codes that circulate on the web. Some are different though, like Shutterfly. They use specific targeted marketing in the form of emails that get sent out to their current account holders. The promo codes sent to each person are specifically tailored to them and have long promo code numbers which correlate with their exact account. So, if you try one that your friend has given you, chances are that it will not work.

I wanted to share my story with you so that you do not experience the same disappointment

I’ll keep my book sitting in my account and perhaps one day when the offer is good enough, I’ll print it. But as it stands, without knowing what the print quality is like from Shutterfly, I want to wait until the investment is minimal and then I might consider ordering future books if the first one turns out well.

The good news is you can find many promo codes for other photo printing vendors online. So, happy coupon code hunting but always remember to test out the checkout center before doing all of the work first!