Saturdays are usually my days to sleep in, but lately I've noticed that there's a truck that comes ever Saturday at noon t my neighbor's house. I looked outside last weekend and noticed that it wasn't a UPS truck like I imagined. In fact, it was a grocery tuck! What's this you ask? Well in this case it was a PeaPod truck, filled with fresh groceries delivered straight to my nieghbor's door. "Peapod [is]... one of America's leading Internet grocers.
Peapod is a wholly owned subsidiary of international food provider Royal
Ahold, and works in partnership with Ahold USA supermarket companies
including Stop & Shop and Giant Food" (PeaPod). The process is simple: you register online and start shopping, just like you were in a real store. You can shop by produce or entire meals, and it's so easy to narrow your search. Instead of browsing the aisles you just choose a category of food to look under and press Search. Not only is there free delivery for the first 60 days after placing your first order, but you save money on gas and time in line.
PeaPod isn't the only online grocer out there. A couple other ones are MyWebGrocer and NetGrocer. However, kind of like LivingSocial is the pioneer in online couponing, PeaPod seems to be the leading corporation in online grocery shopping. Although it may seem like the U.S. is taking everything to the extreme when it comes to instant gratification, I understand why this is a growing trend. I mean, who has the time to do things the old fashioned way anymore? The fast-food way of life is extending from our coffee to our shopping. We may as well take advantage and hop on the savings train. As far as I'm concerned, when I run a household I'm not spending my Saturdays shopping. I'll just do in online and pick a delivery date. Then instead of waking up and dragging myself to the store, I'll open the door and have my groceries carried right on into my home!
Sources:
http://www.peapod.com/
PeaPod.Virginia: 1990-2012. Peapod LLC., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2012
http://www.netgrocer.com/
Netgrocer.Virginia: 2012. Mywebgrocer.com Inc., n.d. Web. 27 Feb. 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Coupons Anyone?
With the economy the way it is, the number one thing on many people's minds is to save money. One effortless way to do this? Sign up for coupon sites! All you need to do is put an email and zip code. That's it! Crazy, right? With just this information, no credit card, no name, no number, you can receive coupons every day, for a variety of interest that you can customize, completely free. Not only do you just sit back and relax as the savings and offers fly your way, but the money you save quickly adds up. 45 dollars here, 140 there; the money saved for users of coupon sites adds up to the thousands in just a few weeks, or months if you're a once-in-a-while kind of user.
My mom used the site just last week for a spectacular deal from Bloomspot. She received an offer to her email for a spa day at 45 dollars, instead of the usual 150+. She got to choose one of the various spas that were offering the deal, had the coupon sent to her email after paying the 45 dollars, and was given months to redeem it. Of course she went the next day, but the fact remains that once you buy the coupon, you don't feel rushed to use it within a few days or weeks. She's happy from her spa day, i'm happy that she's in a good mood, and her wallet's happy for finding such a great deal.
Bloomspot is great for many types of deals, especially fine dining (dining is advertised right on the front page and seems to be their specialty). It isn't the only site out there, however. There are plenty of commercials, circulating various networks, that advertise other couponing companies. You may have seen the creative Living Social commercials. I definitely have, and it seems like Living Social is the pioneer in coupon sites. Groupon is another couponing service that my mom is a member of and takes advantage of just as much as the other two.
Couponing in the traditional sense, with all the cutting and rifling through ads, is such a hassle. Why not just put in 10 seconds worth of information and let the coupons come to you? I would recommend being a happy camper like my mom and signing up. At worst you'll get emails that you'll delete every day, and at best? You'll save tons of money!
Sources:
http://www.bloomspot.com/
Bloomspot.Virginia: 1995-2012. Bloomspot Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012
http://www.livingsocial.com/
http://www.groupon.com/
Groupon.Virginia: 1995-2012. Groupon Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012
My mom used the site just last week for a spectacular deal from Bloomspot. She received an offer to her email for a spa day at 45 dollars, instead of the usual 150+. She got to choose one of the various spas that were offering the deal, had the coupon sent to her email after paying the 45 dollars, and was given months to redeem it. Of course she went the next day, but the fact remains that once you buy the coupon, you don't feel rushed to use it within a few days or weeks. She's happy from her spa day, i'm happy that she's in a good mood, and her wallet's happy for finding such a great deal.
Bloomspot is great for many types of deals, especially fine dining (dining is advertised right on the front page and seems to be their specialty). It isn't the only site out there, however. There are plenty of commercials, circulating various networks, that advertise other couponing companies. You may have seen the creative Living Social commercials. I definitely have, and it seems like Living Social is the pioneer in coupon sites. Groupon is another couponing service that my mom is a member of and takes advantage of just as much as the other two.
Couponing in the traditional sense, with all the cutting and rifling through ads, is such a hassle. Why not just put in 10 seconds worth of information and let the coupons come to you? I would recommend being a happy camper like my mom and signing up. At worst you'll get emails that you'll delete every day, and at best? You'll save tons of money!
Sources:
http://www.bloomspot.com/
Bloomspot.Virginia: 1995-2012. Bloomspot Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012
http://www.livingsocial.com/
LivingSocial.Virginia: LivingSocial, LivingSocial LTD UK, LivingSocial Canada Enterprises Inc. 2012. eBay Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012
http://www.groupon.com/
Groupon.Virginia: 1995-2012. Groupon Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012
A Myriad of Ways to Shop
There are so many ways to shop now-a-days, that even the laziest or pickiest of people can find a way that suits them. Don't have a car? Try online! Don't have a computer? Try shopping on the T.V. (QVC)! Hate paying full price? Try outlet malls! Love the rush of a last minute snag? eBay is the place for you, or you can try any of the other bidding sites that are springing up everywhere on the internet. Let's take a look at some of the pros and cons of all these smart ways to shop, and how they can save you money.
Let's say you're a traditional shopper, maybe you don't have a credit card or you would rather not deal with skeptical methods of shopping. No problem! There's a way to get the full experience of shopping without breaking your budget: the outlet mall. Outlet malls can be huge mall-like places with tons of stores, or they can just a few stores contained in a building. I've seen mall that are both indoor like the traditional mall, and ones like strip malls, with outdoor walkways and small parks separating clusters of stores. The closest one to my home is Potomac Mills Mall, a Simon Mall (Simon Malls). Tour buses come from all over Virginia and even farther to shop at this outlet mall, and for good reason. It's growing every season, with more stores ranging on the posh side of the retail market, and the deals you can find are pretty great. Nordstram rack, Burlington, T.J.Maxx, and Marshall's are just a few of the bigger stores that offer last season and present season deals.
If you want to try something new, and save some gas money and valuable time, the internet is the place to look. You can buy literally anything! Want groceries delivered to your door? Done! Electronics or medical supplies? No problem. Everything from pets to games to 26 pound gummy bears (vat19), anything is possible with the internet and a credit card. With such a large medium of shopping, it's smart to stick to those sites with two things: deals and security! eBay.com is probably the most notable bidding site in the world, but others are following suit. Most sites will just ask for an email to be a part of the action, and then the bidding can begin. I've actually snagged a few deals on eBay, saving literally hundreds. It's rather addictive, and some sites will try to rip you off, but it sure is a great way to save if you do your research and take the time to hunt down the best deals. Just make sure that whichever site you buy from has a secure checkout, like PayPal or VeriSign!
Sources:
http://www.qvc.com/
QVC.Virginia: 1995-2012. QVC Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
http://www.ebay.com/
eBay.Virginia: 1995-2012. eBay Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
http://www.simon.com/mall/?id=1260
Mills Means More.Virginia: 2011. Simon Property Group L.P., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
http://www.vat19.com/
Vat19.Virginia: 2006-2012. Vat19.com., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
Let's say you're a traditional shopper, maybe you don't have a credit card or you would rather not deal with skeptical methods of shopping. No problem! There's a way to get the full experience of shopping without breaking your budget: the outlet mall. Outlet malls can be huge mall-like places with tons of stores, or they can just a few stores contained in a building. I've seen mall that are both indoor like the traditional mall, and ones like strip malls, with outdoor walkways and small parks separating clusters of stores. The closest one to my home is Potomac Mills Mall, a Simon Mall (Simon Malls). Tour buses come from all over Virginia and even farther to shop at this outlet mall, and for good reason. It's growing every season, with more stores ranging on the posh side of the retail market, and the deals you can find are pretty great. Nordstram rack, Burlington, T.J.Maxx, and Marshall's are just a few of the bigger stores that offer last season and present season deals.
If you want to try something new, and save some gas money and valuable time, the internet is the place to look. You can buy literally anything! Want groceries delivered to your door? Done! Electronics or medical supplies? No problem. Everything from pets to games to 26 pound gummy bears (vat19), anything is possible with the internet and a credit card. With such a large medium of shopping, it's smart to stick to those sites with two things: deals and security! eBay.com is probably the most notable bidding site in the world, but others are following suit. Most sites will just ask for an email to be a part of the action, and then the bidding can begin. I've actually snagged a few deals on eBay, saving literally hundreds. It's rather addictive, and some sites will try to rip you off, but it sure is a great way to save if you do your research and take the time to hunt down the best deals. Just make sure that whichever site you buy from has a secure checkout, like PayPal or VeriSign!
Sources:
http://www.qvc.com/
QVC.Virginia: 1995-2012. QVC Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
http://www.ebay.com/
eBay.Virginia: 1995-2012. eBay Inc., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
http://www.simon.com/mall/?id=1260
Mills Means More.Virginia: 2011. Simon Property Group L.P., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
http://www.vat19.com/
Vat19.Virginia: 2006-2012. Vat19.com., n.d. Web. 20 Feb. 2012.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
MoneyMom Loves to Save
When it comes to blogging, there are bloggers, and then there are the best of the best bloggers. My blogs happen to be on saving money, something I think everyone should care about. Hopefully you can take a bit of useful information from my posts to help save in even the smallest ways.
I got curious about how many other people were into blogging about money, so I decided to do a bit of research. It turns out that the blogger with the most hits on saving happens to be a woman named Crystal Paine, a mom of three, and a devout Christian. She started just by posting on other saving sites here and there. Her posts got such wildly enthusiastic responses that she took it to the next level and started her own blog. Things took off from there and now she is the top blogger, the best of the best, in the field of money saving blogs.
What makes her so likable to me is the fact that she's a normal person, just like us. She's not a super model or a pop star. She has kids, a husband, a life, and an interest in making the most of her buck. Her blog is well-organized, easy to read, pleasant to look at, and filled with information for a myriad of ways to save. Don't know where to start? She helps you out there too, by posting a Start Here list with some of her top posts.
What Crystal Paine has done is create a free source for anyone to view, on a medium that reaches anyone with access to the internet, and with plenty of links to others doing the same. I've taken a few pointers from her that I plan to use in order to make my blog more enjoyable for readers. Make sure you check out MoneyMom's blog so that she can help you save too!
Sources: http://moneysavingmom.com
Money Saving Mom.Virginia: 2012. Money Saving Mom, n.d. Web. 15 Feb. 2012.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Dishing Out the Daily Savings
Life gets crazy, and inflation is gong nowhere but up. Luckily, even in this economy you can be a smart saver. Whether it's shopping for food, gorcery shopping, or just filling up your tank, there are plenty of ways you can stretch your buck on a daily basis. I'm going to share with you just a few of my favorite tricks for making the most of my money.
No matter where you go, or how often, you're going to have to get there on some mode of transportation. For most of us, we get to where we need to go by car. According to virginiagasprices.com, by Gas Buddy Inc., $3.51 a gallon is the average price for a gallon of gas in Virginia. With the price of gas steadily increasing, we need to be smart about how we use it. When I know I have pending shopping trips for whatever needs buying, I make sure to plan my trips in an order that takes me in as much of a looped path as possible. Going back and forth, north ans south on 95, her and there and back here (and so on) is SUCH a waste of gas. Not only do I plan out the route, I also take note of which passing gas stations have the lowest prices. I make sure that if I'm passing my chosen gas station, I top off my tank, even if I stillhave half a tank less. In these tough times, every little penny counts!
We all need to eat. Bottom line, people get hungry, people buy food, rinse and repeat. There are a couple things I do every time I need to go grocery shopping. First, I go to the commissary. I know we can't all go here, but I'm fortunate enough to have a father who is a United States Marine, and because I'm his dependent I also get base privaleges. As a side note, if you're not aware of this, commissaries don't have sales tax on goods. That's alot of money in savings! To find out more about the nearest base, which happens to be Quantico Marine Corps. base, go to their website listed below.
For those of you who can't get into your local bases or forts, a BJ's, Costco, or Sam's Club will work just fine. The key thing to remember, no matter where you go) is to BUY IN BULK! Buying little bits at a time is like paying interest on your groceries for the amount of packaging your taking home, not the food. buying in bulk saves you trips to you grocer of choice, it saves money and resources on packaging, and really, you're going to use the product anyways so might as well get lots of it. Check back in soon for ways to save when it comes to one of my favorite pastimes, Shopping!
Sources:
http://www.virginiagasprices.com/
Virginia Gas Prices.Virginia: 2012. Gas Buddy Organization Inc., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.
http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCNFJ
Commissaries.com. Virginia: 2012. United States Commissaries, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.
No matter where you go, or how often, you're going to have to get there on some mode of transportation. For most of us, we get to where we need to go by car. According to virginiagasprices.com, by Gas Buddy Inc., $3.51 a gallon is the average price for a gallon of gas in Virginia. With the price of gas steadily increasing, we need to be smart about how we use it. When I know I have pending shopping trips for whatever needs buying, I make sure to plan my trips in an order that takes me in as much of a looped path as possible. Going back and forth, north ans south on 95, her and there and back here (and so on) is SUCH a waste of gas. Not only do I plan out the route, I also take note of which passing gas stations have the lowest prices. I make sure that if I'm passing my chosen gas station, I top off my tank, even if I stillhave half a tank less. In these tough times, every little penny counts!
We all need to eat. Bottom line, people get hungry, people buy food, rinse and repeat. There are a couple things I do every time I need to go grocery shopping. First, I go to the commissary. I know we can't all go here, but I'm fortunate enough to have a father who is a United States Marine, and because I'm his dependent I also get base privaleges. As a side note, if you're not aware of this, commissaries don't have sales tax on goods. That's alot of money in savings! To find out more about the nearest base, which happens to be Quantico Marine Corps. base, go to their website listed below.
For those of you who can't get into your local bases or forts, a BJ's, Costco, or Sam's Club will work just fine. The key thing to remember, no matter where you go) is to BUY IN BULK! Buying little bits at a time is like paying interest on your groceries for the amount of packaging your taking home, not the food. buying in bulk saves you trips to you grocer of choice, it saves money and resources on packaging, and really, you're going to use the product anyways so might as well get lots of it. Check back in soon for ways to save when it comes to one of my favorite pastimes, Shopping!
Sources:
http://www.virginiagasprices.com/
Virginia Gas Prices.Virginia: 2012. Gas Buddy Organization Inc., n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.
http://www.commissaries.com/stores/html/store.cfm?dodaac=HQCNFJ
Commissaries.com. Virginia: 2012. United States Commissaries, n.d. Web. 14 Feb. 2012.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Home Conservation
Going green is all the craze in today's society. Reducing, reusing, and recycling are everywhere; from the grocery store to your workplacee, the influence of the "green generation" is everywhere. I happen to be one of millions of people that follow the latest trend, so that got me thinking: how can I go green without even leaving the house? it turns out there are plenty of ways to conserve and RRR (reduce, reuse, recylce) from within the walls of your very own home.
Water conservation is one of the biggest and simplest ways you can go green. there are simple things you can do: shut off the water while brushing your teeth, handwash dishes instead of using a dishwasher, and only do laundry when you have a full load. Right alongside water conservation is making the most of your natural gas and/or propane. Dialing downyour thermostat in the winter, while diling up your thermostat int he summer, is a simpler way to go green; by reducing or raising the temperature in our homes, we can conserve heating fuel (Cohen). Washing you laundry laods with cold water is another water/gas related green tip.
Here are a few more tips on going green from the comfort of your very own home:
- Use rechargeable batteries
- NO space heaters! These energy guzzlers aren't worth it!
- Use solar powered lights if possible
- Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs
- Buy in bulk, less packaging= less waste!
- Use "green" cleaning products to keep your home spic and span
- Turn off and/or unplug electronics
Good luck goin' green!!!
Cohen, Zolton. "How to Conserve Energy at Home." TLC. Discovery, n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2012.
Water conservation is one of the biggest and simplest ways you can go green. there are simple things you can do: shut off the water while brushing your teeth, handwash dishes instead of using a dishwasher, and only do laundry when you have a full load. Right alongside water conservation is making the most of your natural gas and/or propane. Dialing downyour thermostat in the winter, while diling up your thermostat int he summer, is a simpler way to go green; by reducing or raising the temperature in our homes, we can conserve heating fuel (Cohen). Washing you laundry laods with cold water is another water/gas related green tip.
Here are a few more tips on going green from the comfort of your very own home:
- Use rechargeable batteries
- NO space heaters! These energy guzzlers aren't worth it!
- Use solar powered lights if possible
- Replace your light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs
- Buy in bulk, less packaging= less waste!
- Use "green" cleaning products to keep your home spic and span
- Turn off and/or unplug electronics
Good luck goin' green!!!
Cohen, Zolton. "How to Conserve Energy at Home." TLC. Discovery, n.d. Web. 7 Feb. 2012.
Dine in or out, the Smart way!
Dining out is the desired activity for many families in America. Fast food, sit-down restaurants, bars... the possibilities are endless. Dining out is a great way to get the whole family to spend time together, but it sure can come at a big cost. Most nice sit-down restaurants that a family would consider a treat will range from 15-20 dollars a plate (Lepp). A family of four could easily eat at McDonalds for 20 bucks, but let's face it, America has enough of an obesity promlem already. There are quite a few places, however, where a family can eat at 5-10 dollars a plate without having to pick from the kids menu. These places include Crab shacks, pancake houses, and various pretzel/bagel establishments (Lepp). It's up to you to decide whether a dinner of pancackes and waffles is a logical choice, but I think as long as it gets the family together after everyone's crazy day, it's worth it.
There's an alternative to pancakes for dinner, if you're more of the traditional dinner type. A simple, yet delicious, family meal can be a great way to get the family to sit down. Oh, and by the way, you'd be saving money! Save money on gas, save money on tips, and save money on the cost of plates per person. All you need is a recipe (which you can find practically anywhere), a stove/oven, and maybe a few helping hands and you've got yourself a nice sit down family meal, without your budget being in tears. Anything from Hamburger Helper to homemade pizza; so many recipies are out there for you to find and make. So try something new, whether it be breakfast for dinner, or spaghetti and meatballs; whichever you choose, in or out, you'll be dining smart!
Lepp, Eddy and mindy. Eat Play Williamsburg. 2011. Web. 7 Feb. 2012.
There's an alternative to pancakes for dinner, if you're more of the traditional dinner type. A simple, yet delicious, family meal can be a great way to get the family to sit down. Oh, and by the way, you'd be saving money! Save money on gas, save money on tips, and save money on the cost of plates per person. All you need is a recipe (which you can find practically anywhere), a stove/oven, and maybe a few helping hands and you've got yourself a nice sit down family meal, without your budget being in tears. Anything from Hamburger Helper to homemade pizza; so many recipies are out there for you to find and make. So try something new, whether it be breakfast for dinner, or spaghetti and meatballs; whichever you choose, in or out, you'll be dining smart!
Lepp, Eddy and mindy. Eat Play Williamsburg. 2011. Web. 7 Feb. 2012.
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