The Original Coupon Coach

Amy | January 14, 2010

Last week, I wrote a post about how to create a simple budget that works for you.  There are tons of resources both online and off that can help you with budgeting and keeping track of your money.  One such resource is Mint.com.

Mint.com is a fantastic FREE website that helps you budget and plan for your financial future.  I first heard of Mint.com from a blog I read religiously,  The Centsible Life. (You should too; she is a very smart gal.)

Mint.com offers some amazing tools for personal budgeting, financial planning, and saving.  Here is how it works:

1. Sign Up. First, you sign up.  A logical first step.
2. Set Up Accounts. This includes loans, mortgages, credit cards, checking/savings accounts, investment accounts, etc.  Every account you can think of, set it up.  All you have to do is enter your online log in information for each of these accounts and Mint.com pulls everything from those sites.
3. Add Your Assets. Enter your address to get the value of your home.  Go to Kelley Blue Book to f ind out the value of your car(s).
4. Watch your accounts in action! You will see the information come together in graphs and bar charts like you never dreamed possible.  See where your money is going at any given time.  Each time you sign in, the accounts automatically update.
5. Know what is going on. Mint.com will alert you when your accounts get low or your are close to your limit on your credit car.  This could save you hundreds in fees and overage charges.  Plus, by seeing everything on a regular basis, it’s easier to keep a handle on your spending.
6. Time to Save. So now, you’ve got a handle on where your money is going and how it all works together.  But how do I cut out some unnecessary expenses?  Mint.com offers suggestions on areas you could save money based on your current accounts!

OK, I know what you’re thinking.  “Amy, there’s no way I’m putting all of my login information into this website!  It doesn’t sound very secure. “  I thought the same thing until I read about the site’s security.  Mint.com uses the same security practices as many US financial institutions.  (You can read about their information here)Plus, you cannot move any money on this site.  And they will even alert you of any suspicious activity.

Overall, I think this site is amazing.  I have only been using it for a couple of weeks and I don’t know how I ever managed without it before.  The only thing I don’t see it accounting for is accounts that are not available on the internet.  I suppose there are not many out there that fall into this category, but I have a couple that I have been unable to add for this reason.

Check out Mint.com and let me know how you like it!

Category: Couponing 101, Reviews | No Comments »
Tags: Resources, Reviews

Amy | January 7, 2010

You know how frugal I am, right?  When I heard about The Frugality Game, I just had to go check it out.  I personally think of being frugal as being a winning game all the time, but I don’t think most share in this attitude.

The Frugality Game is more than a game, it’s an adventure!  On this adventure you will take part in financial exercises and games in order to learn about how to save money.  As you complete each adventure, new treasures will be revealed in your own personal finances.  You will also earn tokens that you can cash in for prizes!! Maybe even $50,000 or a new car!!

Here’s the special offer part! You can enjoy 2,500 bonus tokens upon registration by using code CouponCoach (not case-sensitive)!!

The best part about this game is not the prizes (although who doesn’t love prizes?), it’s about a fun, interactive way to learn how to take charge of your finances and change your spending habits for life.

Register and play today!!

Category: Reviews | No Comments »
Tags: Reviews

Amy | November 26, 2009

I have a friend who ALWAYS remembers to get a card for my birthday, my kids’ birthdays, Christmas, and my anniversary.  Every year.  No lie.

So every year, when I forget to get her a card, I feel like a total jerk.  She must be more organized than me.  Who knows?

But now, I don’t have to look like an idiot each year -  Jack Cards can bail me out every time! Jack Cards is a fabulous service that sends stamped and address greeting cards to you to sign and send to your family and friends just in time for that special occasion!  And they have loads of different card categories and occasions to choose from such as birthday cards, anniversary cards, holiday cards, and many more.  Much better selection than the drug store I normally have to hit the morning of someone’s birthday!  And their collection of funny cards are hilarious and original.

So how does Jack Cards work?  I’m glad you asked.  It’s simple, really.  First, you become a member (it’s completely FREE).   Then you add your friends’ and family’s information (name, birthday, etc.).  Next you create a calendar with all the special events you choose that you want to remember.  While this set up might take a few moments, it’s totally worth it in the end.  Just hang in there.

Next (and here’s the fun part), you select the perfect cards for each occasion.  Click on ‘View Cart’ to select your address, stamp options, and when you would like each card sent to you.  That’s it!

The cards start at $2.45 and shipping is $0.49, however, if you spend $50 (excluding stamps), you get FREE shipping!  This shouldn’t be too difficult considering you can schedule cards to be sent in advance, so simply order them all at once to get your FREE shipping.

You can see more information on how this service works here.

Here’s the best part of the review…your DISCOUNT CODE!  For being a loyal reader, you can get 10% off by using the code TWITTERMOMS at checkout!  So head over to Jack Cards and don’t forget another special occasion!

Category: Coupon Codes, Reviews | No Comments »
Tags: Coupon Codes, Reviews

Amy | November 26, 2009

Holiday shopping season is here again and the Global Influence network has some great gift ideas for you, tried and tested by real moms. Click on the links to check out what our team of reviewers had to say about each of these gift ideas, and then take a moment to enter our fun giveaway and take a chance at winning some of these fabulous products.

Featured Reviews

Pouchees -

Busy moms need all the help they can get to stay organized and keep life as simple as possible. The Pouchee is the perfect solution to keeping all those little things together, putting everything you need, right at your fingertips.

Duck Hunter -

Duck Hunter turns the excitement of the hunt into an activity the whole family can enjoy. Launch the duck in the air and try to hunt it down with the toy shooter as it flies freely in the air. A fun choice for those who love outdoor sporting.

CardStore cards

-Personalized holiday cards are an important item on everyone’s to-do list and often a hassle to create and print. Cardstore.com has everything from family photo cards to invitations for your big holiday party, simplifying your holiday season.

Great Holiday Gift Ideas

Things Remembered Custom Couture Jewelry
Just Elfin’ Around
Card Cubby
Harumika By Bandai
Harumika Runway Showstopper
Harumika Style Starter
Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo
Strawberry Shortcake Playset
Kota Monty Rex
Wall to Wall Basketball
Nerf Pocket Vortex
Busy Ball Popper
Talking Chuck Truck
Leapfrog My Pal Scout
Leapfrog Tag Jr
Leapfrog Scribble and Write
Animal Planet Polar Land Playset
Animal Planet Dinosaur Playmat
Onionhead Adult/Teen Feelings Pack
OnionHead Children’s Feelings Pack
Onionhead A-Z Feelings Magnet Set
FotoboxPlus
MeTime Tees

Fun Holiday Giveaway! For this holiday guide, we want to share the love with the blogosphere! Some of our generous sponsors have donated prizes to be given away to lucky readers! To enter to win one of the following fabulous prizes, simply fill out the form here: http://tinyurl.com/y8t92rw

Prizes include: Things Remembered Custom Couture Jewelry Pouchee Elfing Around Harumika Onionhead Feelings Pack Nerf Wall to Wall Basketball Baby Alive Whoopsie Doo MeTime T-shirt Entries will close on December 6, 2009 at 11:59 PM EST. Winners will be contacted by email after the close of the contest.

Global Influence Member Guides Need more ideas for this holiday season? Check out the guides that some of our Global Influence members have put together on their own sites! Thrifty Jinxy, Happy Healthy Hip , And Twins Make Five , Because Two People Fell In Love, Mommy Musings , Lipstick to Crayons , Bargain Briana , Mommy PR , Shop With Me Mama, Santa Picks, Rave and Review, Connected 2 Christ , 3 Boys and a Dog, The Classy Closet , Contest Corner, Lisa Reviews , A Giveaway Every Day, HulaHoopinMom, Spalibrations, High Impact Mom, From Cribs to Car Keys

All reviews listed in the Global Influence gift guide were product provided. Featured positions were purchased by sponsors. Member gift guides are not affiliated with Global Influence.

Category: Giveaways, Reviews | 2 Comments »
Tags: Giveaways, Resources, Reviews

Amy | November 11, 2009

I received a jar of Olay Pro X Wrinkle Smoothing  Cream from Vocalpoint a few weeks ago.  I wanted to give this product a try for a while to see how it worked over time.  However, I didn’t really need to.

This cream worked so well in such a short amount of time that I saw results within the first few days.  I apply it after I wash my face at night.  It’s so rich and creamy that it acts as a great moisturizer as well as a wrinkle reducer.  Now, I don’t have a large number of wrinkles yet, but I do have a few peeking out.  This cream softened my entire face and reduced the appearance of those few wrinkles.

Because it also made such a good moisturizer, I have been using it in the morning as well.  With the colder weather, my skin gets extremely dry, but this product keeps my skin soft and supple.  I don’t know that I look any younger because of using this cream though.  But I definitely look like I spend hours taking care of my skin.

Overall, Olay Pro X Wrinkle Smoothing Cream is a fantastic product that I would recommend to women of any age and skin type.  As with any skincare product, use sparingly at first to be sure you don’t have a reaction.

And now, you can get a $20 rebate when you purchase $50 worth of Olay Pro X products before December 31, 2009 with this rebate form.  Combine that with the $5 coupon from the 11/1 P&G insert and you could save yourself a bundle!

Category: Reviews | 3 Comments »
Tags: Reviews