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Have you been invited to a housewarming party but have no idea what gift to buy? I know that lots of us struggle to find the right gift while keeping within our budget. If you know someone really well it is a little bit easier, but what do you do when you don’t know the new homeowners very well or even at all? Here are a few ideas that might help out:
A Cookbook
A new cookbook is the perfect gift to buy for a housewarming present since every household should have at least one. It’s also a very convenient gift because you can purchase a good one for under $20 and there are lots of options.
Gift Card
A gift card is a thoughtful gift if you don’t know the new homeowners very well. It will allow the new homeowners to go out and buy something that they really want or need for their new place. Great choices would be a gift card from a home improvement place or a home accessories shop. Home Depot or Bed, Bath, and Beyond anyone?
A House Plant
A house plant is always a practical housewarming gift, but keep it small. The new homeowners may not appreciate a huge plant if they don’t have a great deal of space. A Bonsai tree would be a nice choice, due to its mass appeal. They are small and can be purchased in various sizes and styles. While large Bonsai trees can be quite expensive, the smaller ones are generally available for under $20.
Photo Frame
Most homeowners like to display their favorite photographs around the house. If you can try to find a collage photo frame. They are the latest thing in decor, they hold several photos, and don’t take up space on shelves.
Chocolate and Wine
If you are really struggling for ideas then a gift package containing chocolate and wine is a good gift to choose. You can easily purchase a nice box of chocolates and a bottle of wine for under $20 and the only major decision you’ll have to make will be choosing red or white!
Here are some great CVS deals available for this week. Thanks to Madame Deals for sharing them. You can see the entire list of deals for the week here.
If you are new to couponing or need help with the “coupon lingo”, please see the *coupon key* at the end of this post. As always if you have any questions or need more information, please leave a comment below. If you scored a great deal at CVS this week feel free to leave a comment below (and a link if you are a blogger) and let us know!
Stride, Dentyne Pure, Shift or Trident Layers $0.99, get $0.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
$1/2 Trident Layers Gum printable
FREE Stride Shift Gum wyb any Stride Gum, exp. 10-31-10 (SS 05/16/10)
Schick Hydro 3 or 5 $8.97, get $4 ECBs (Limit 1)
$5/1 Schick Hydro Razor, exp. 9-30-10 (SS 08/08/10)
Revlon Eye or Lip Colors psa $3.90, $5 ECBs wyb (2) (Limit 1)
$1/1 Revlon Color Cosmetics, exp. 9-19-10 (SS 08/15/10)
B1G1 Free Wisk Liquid Laundry detergent (26-32 lds.)
$3/1 WISK Laundry Detergent, exp. 9-26-10 (RP 08/29/10)
Final price varies (should be a good stock up price with $3 coupons)
*Coupon Key
ECBs refer to CVS extra care bucks. They are like CVS money that can be used on your next purchase. They can be combined with coupons.Printable coupons are ones that you can print on your printer from your own home.
P&G refers to the Proctor & Gamble coupon insert from the weekly newspaper. The date following the initials tells the date that the coupon was in the newspaper.
SS refers to the SmartSource coupon insert from the weekly newspaper. Again, the date after it gives the newspaper date that it was in.
RP refers to the Red Plum coupon insert from the weekly newspaper. Again, the date given refers to the newspaper date that it was included in.
We all want to spend less, but it is tough to do so without a good strategy. Just like anything else, with some good strategy it becomes easier to make good decisions when it comes to spending money. Following these four tactics can help just about anyone save money on a monthly basis.
Make a Budget
There is absolutely nothing more important when it comes to money management strategy than making a budget. However, many people still do not have one because they do not know where to start or because they feel like it will limit them when they want to spend money. If the idea of a budget is no good to you, think of it as a spending plan. You still get to spend the money on the things you want; you are just going to track it more closely. Later on, you can find ways to cut your spending when you are ready.
It has never been easier to set up a budget. There are plenty of templates and types of software out there to help you get going and keep it up. Just do a search online for budget templates or software, find one you like, and get started.
Cancel Unnecessary Subscriptions
Maybe you still have that magazine coming every month, and it goes in the trash. Or maybe you have the extended cable package even though you only watch 5-6 channels 90% of the time. Whatever subscriptions or monthly charges you have, take a close look to see what you actually use. Those few dollars per month down the drain can really add up over a year.
Pause Before You Buy
We all make impulse buys. We see that gadget or hear about that sale, and we think we just have to buy that item. However, if you take some time before purchasing something, you might find that you do not really need it as badly as you thought. If you see something that you want badly but do not need it, do not buy it right then. Leave the store and come back later if you still really want it. This way you can think about it more clearly and avoid buyer’s remorse.
Always Buy Used First
The internet has made it easier than ever to find used items. Before you go buy something new, make sure you go online and do some searching for a used version. Obviously, this does not work for everything, but for many items, buying used will get you a high quality item for half the price. However, when buying used, make sure you do your due diligence, and be wary of scams!
If you will follow these four simple tactics, you will find that you can really take control of much of your spending and keep more money in your pocket each month.
Going to the grocery store can be an expensive affair. We all have the story of the time we went in to spend $10 and ended up spending $100. However, with a little planning and good decision making, any grocery shopper can keep his or her bill low. Here are 5 mistakes every shopper should avoid to save money at the grocery store.
Buying Name Brands
These days almost every name brand item has a generic substitute. In most cases these generics have the same level of quality as the name brand. Sometimes they are even made at the same facility, but with different packaging! Make sure and go for the generic items unless you have some reason not to do so.
Buying Too Many Perishable Items
It is easy to overestimate how much you will use before another trip to the store. Be careful not to buy to much of any perishable items at the store. For example, it can sometimes save you money to buy the half-gallon of milk instead of the gallon if you will only use half a gallon before it goes bad, even if the gallon is cheaper per ounce.
Going to the Store When Hungry
Everything looks good at the grocery store when you are hungry. If you go to the store before eating you may find that you stuff your cart with more than you need, and with several unhealthy items as well! Try to go right after a meal to avoid impulse buys and to avoid getting more than what you need.
Not Making a List/Not Sticking to the List
It can be easy to think that you know everything that you need before going to the store and can figure it out when you get there. However, if you don’t make a list, you will find that you might make a bunch of impulse buys and come home with several things you don’t need. You will probably also waste time by wandering around the store trying to remember exactly what you need. Also, keep in mind that you need to stick to that list when you get to the store!
Ignoring Sales and Coupons
If you do not pay attention to sales and coupons, you can miss out on some serious deals. Make sure and check the local paper before you go to the store and see what coupons you can find. Clip those and take them with you. Also, see what stores are having sales. You may have to visit 2 or 3 stores to get everything you need, but it can be worth the effort.
Saving money at the grocery store can take some work. However, if you avoid the mistakes listed above, you can get the same groceries you get every month for much less!