I have been consumed with ways to save money lately, from buying at consignment sales and thrift stores for my kids' clothes to grocery shopping at warehouse stores. Everything's getting to be so expensive these days. Families absolutely have to find ways to save a few bucks whenever possible. Because I spend so much time on the computer, I must admit that I'm sometimes tempted to do a bit of extra shopping online that I probably don't necessarily need to do. So I was pleased to learn recently about a site called MyCoupons.com, a coupon site where you can find discounts on merchandise at thousands of online merchants.

MyCoupons.com is America's oldest online coupon site and was established back in 1995. The site offers an extensive directory of coupon codes and printable coupons for some of the biggest and most well-known brands. I was pleased to see that some of my favorite retailers participate in the site. I was able to find WalMart coupons, Overstock coupons and Nordstrom coupons I often look for discount codes before making online purchases, so I have some experience with sites like this. What I found to be impressive about MyCoupons.com is that the coupons I found were all recent and seemed to be valid for use, unlike some sites whose coupon codes are frequently expired or invalid.

There are also so many features available to users that can help to find coupons easily. That's something that is important to me. As a busy mom, I certainly don't have time to be hunting down the best coupons. Ahem, especially when I'm supposed to be doing other things online! You can search for coupons by category in the sidebar. Another popular option is the couponSTATS feature that allow you to see the coupons that are currently the most popular. I love that - especially when there are over 50,000 coupons in their database! Finally, you can actually talk to the site's CouponPros, read their blog or follow them on Facebook. Talk about individual service! Each pro is an expert at finding the best deals in individual categories and can answer questions for you about coupons pertaining to these subjects. This is an example of social media at its best. Pure genius!

So check out MyCoupons.com the next time you're looking to score a great deal online. Chances are you'll save plenty.

*sponsored post

This is the year I vow to be more assertive with affiliate programs. For those of you who may not understand affiliates, what it basically means is that by enrolling in and promoting an affiliate program or product, I can earn a commission on sales or sign ups made. I've dabbled in affiliates previously, but I've never really taken the initiative to promote them. I've never considered myself much of a sales person, and affiliates always seemed likes a sales pitch. But I've rethought the whole concept and have decided that affiliate program are just another way to earn income online. As a freelance writer, I earn money by providing a service online. To me, affiliate marketing is in a similar vein. By promoting programs and products I believe in, I can earn money. Like freelancing, affiliate marketing take time, talent and dedication. I think I can succeed at it, and I intend to make a go of it this year.

So I wanted to start by promoting three of the ways I've been using the Twitter platform to make money. While I've used two of these methods consistently for a while now, I've never promoted them as an affiliate. I'd like to change that. These three programs have made me some money in the past when I've really needed it, and if you're not using them, you just might want to consider doing so.

MyLikes

Let's start with my newest endeavor, MyLikes. My online friend, Crissy, recently told me about MyLikes and showed me how much money she was making from the program. Let's just say that she's doing better than I am and is even leading the running to win a referral contest. I'm so impressed with her! What I like about MyLikes is that you can really personalize you tweets and choose products you'd personally endorse, instead of waiting for advertisers to come to you. My strategy so far has been to customize the products I promote and the tweets I send to appeal to my followers on Twitter. You can even send your promotions to your Facebook status in order to reach more people. The highest payouts come from your referrals. (Sign up using the link above or the banner ad below, and I'll make a commission for referring you.) What I like best about MyLikes is that you get paid weekly, every Friday, as long as you've earned at least $2.00. I got an unexpected payment in my Paypal a couple days ago for nearly $10. Ten bucks for not doing much is fine with me!

Ad.ly

Ad.ly is one I've been using for a short time. I haven't gotten many offers to advertise through them, and their payout amount is $50. But it does seem like something worth looking into, especially if you have a lot of Twitter followers. I still get requests for ads through them, though, so I'm not sure it's an absolute requirement. So far, I'm up to $34.08 in my balance after about four months with ad.ly. It may not be a big money maker for me, but maybe it's something that will be worth it for you. It only takes a few seconds to approve an ad, so even at my small amount, it's worth it, as long as I'm able to reach that $50 payout soon.

Sponsored Tweets

Sponsored Tweets is probably one you've heard of. It's from Ted Williams of IZEA, and tons of people use it to make money on Twitter. I've made the most money from this program. I believe they used to have a $50 payout, but now you can cash out with a smaller amount by paying only a $2.00 withdrawal fee. I appreciate that, as sometimes you just need money, and you've earned it. I don't like to have my money just sitting somewhere and not being able to access it. I definitely think Sponsored Tweets is worth the time, and I've decided to utilize their referral program as well. Feel free to click on my links to try it for yourself!

What do you think? Would you use Twitter or Facebook to make money? Some don't feel comfortable utilizing these methods to earn income, and I can respect their views. In my opinion, as long as you're not using these platforms exclusively to solicit your followers and are genuinely engaging on a regular basis, promoting programs or products you believe in as an affiliate marketer is accpetable.  Have you had success with these or other programs?

I so need to have The Talk with my kids. No, not that talk - I'm making their father have that one with them. (Just kidding!) The talk about being responsible with money. I have three kids. They're nearly 12, 10 and 3. My older kids don't really seem to have an understanding of money except for the fact that we don't usually have any. I know I need to start talking with them now if I want them to begin to have a good relationship with money and to be financially responsible in the future.

I Want It, and I Want it Now

My kids have inherited their mom's need for instant gratification. The minute they get some money for a gift or for an allowance, they want to go to the dollar store and spend it up. I've tried to talk to them about saving their money so that they can buy something cool instead of some piece of crap dollar store item. They've been so pleased when they've  been able to buy significant things with their money. For instance, my daughter was thrilled to be able to pay for her own ear piercing, and my son loves the telescope he was able to buy with some of his own money and a gift card from grandma. But it's so hard for them to resist that instant fix of buying something fun with their money right away.

My Friends Have...

We live in an area where there are some very wealthy families. Unfortunately, we're not one of those families. Our home is in a trailer park that just happens to be located in close proximity to some pretty fancy housing developments. So when their friends have a Wii, an iPod, a trampoline, a mini-fridge and television in their bedroom, a cell phone, etc., it can be pretty hard for them to understand why they can't have the same things. I've talked to them about the advantages we have now that I stay at home, and they seem to grasp that it's not so terrible to have to wait to get what you want. That doesn't mean that they don't feel a little jealous or upset when they see their friends get cool things.

We're Pretty Lucky

Even though they're certainly not the richest kids in their class, my kids know they have it pretty good. I talk to them often about our small home and how it's safe and warm and how lucky we are to always have food, as well as some fun stuff like toys, games and videos. They do get it, but I don't think they really have a grasp of what other families might be going through, how much harder others have it. I'd like to get them involved in volunteering or charity initiatives to really teach them about giving to others and being thankful for what you have.

The Talk

So what I need to do is sit them down to talk more often about money and their relationship with it. Thankfully, iVillage has recently launched a program to help moms like me do just that. It's called The Talk, and there's tons of information there about talking to your kids about money. There are also great resources, informative survey results and even a forum where we can get involved and talk to other parents about what they're doing to teach their kids about money. It's very cool. Here's a video that tells a little bit about the program.

What is also cool is that iVillage is giving away a $50 American Express gift card each week to a participant in their Weekly Sweeps Question. This week's question is "What do you see as the biggest waste of money among teens?"

It can be hard to talk to our kids about issues such as money, but I'm so glad there are resources like this to help. If you'd like to continue conversation from the iVillage forum on Twitter, look for the hashtag #HaveTheTalk. I'll be there talking!

*I was compensated for this post but believe in the program strongly. I know I need to address money with my kids more often and appreciate that I can get a little help along the way.

My mother has sung the praises of outlet groceries for years, but I'd never actually gone to one myself. That changed last week when I decided to drive an hour to try one out. So after dropping the kids off at the bus stop, Brady and I headed out on our drive to Sharp Shopper. My husband was less than enthused. He assured me that the place was sure to be dirty, with little selection. I told him I wanted to give it a try. Boy, am I glad I did. When we arrived, this is what we saw.

I had a good feeling that I had made the right choice when the parking lot and exterior of the store looked nice and clean. Besides, my girlfriends had raved about the place. I don't think they'd steer me wrong. So we headed inside to be greeted with this.

Aisle after wide, clean aisle of groceries to choose from. There were ten aisles total. Seemed like a lot of variety to me. Turns out that there were lots of items to choose from. In fact, we ended up spending nearly two hours perusing the store by the time we left with our cart overflowing!

I was pleased to find that Sharp Shopper carried brand names. I chose these for hubby, original flavor because it's his favorite.

I believe they were $1.29 a bag. Another fabulous deal I found was the Edward's frozen key lime pie my family loved for $1.99. Today's lunch was pizza - Health Choice individual supreme French bread pizza that cost only .99! There were so many great deals there. Another favorite of mine was the case of 24 Propel flavored water for $7.99. This is something I wouldn't usually indulge in. They kids were ecstatic.

The baker in me was thrilled to see the aisle full of bulk goods. Check it out. There were chocolate baking chips, sprinkles and  all kinds of flours. There were also bulk candy, dried fruit and more.

When it was all said and done, I ended up with a cart overflowing on top and bottom, with a few items in my hands. All of which came to a grand total of $195 and change! Amazing. I will definitely be going back to Sharp Shopper. It was worth the drive for me and my family.

Do you have an outlet grocery store near you? How far would you drive to find one?

In my last post, I showed you examples of ways to find cute, quality clothing on the cheap at Coldwater Creek. I wanted to give you examples from more of my favorite clothing retailers, but I was having so much fun that I ran out of time! So I'd like to give you additional examples from another of my favorite stores, Christopher & Banks.

I like these stores because their clothing is comfy, casual, and cute - just my style! I have also learned that the clothes at these stores tend to fit my body shape. This is important. And, of course, the main reason I shop at these locations is for the bargains. I'm always able to find picks that fit my shopping rule.. In case you've forgotten it, my rule is simple. I usually don't pay more than $10 per item, $15 if I really like it. There you have it. These are examples of stores that work for me, but with just a little shopping spree with your girlfriends research, I'm confident you'll find stores with fabulous fashion finds that are just right for you!

Here's what I put together from the sales on the Christopher & Banks website. I will say, the selection in my size was not as extensive as what I was able to find at Coldwater Creek. Also, Christopher & Banks doesn't sell shoes, so I wasn't able to complete the outfits, but I was able to pick out a couple of cute outfits at great prices.

Tie Sleeve Belted Shirt $9.97

Plaid D-Ring Belt Pant $14.97

I think this is a really nice outfit for wearing out to dinner or to a conference, and it's less than $25.00 for the whole look. Of course, it's great if you work in an office. I, however, work in my living room. I chose these pieces because they were classic with a bit of a twist. I love white tops because they're so versatile. This one is fabulous with all of its details. I'm always happy if I can get a piece with great details or fabulous fabric for a bargain price like this. The pants are flattering with their flat front, and I just really love plaid.

Striped Boat Neck Tee $6.97

Brushed Twill Pant $14.97

Isn't this a cute outfit? Just what I need for a day of running errands around town with Brady in his stroller. I love boat neck tops because of the comfort factor, but I also think it's a flattering look for most women. Yes, this shirt has horizontal stripes, which are said to make us look wide, but I like it. I think the loose fit will counteract the widening effect, and the color is so cheerful. Perfect for spring. Khaki twill pants? You can't go wrong with this piece in your wardrobe. They go with everything, and are a nice way to complete this nautical look. Just about $22 is a fantastic price for this very wearable outfit.

Four separates for less than $50. Not bad. Though I'll tell you, I've done better. I once walked out of a Christopher & Banks store with 13 items of clothing for $72.00 and change, and it was all stuff I could still wear at the end of summer and into early fall. Tell me what stores fit your style and budget. Are you able to find affordable pieces at your favorite store? Let me know what you think about bargain shopping. I love to talk deals!

For today's tip, I'll be singing the praises of a website.  Some of you may already be familiar with the site, but those of you who aren't will thank me.  MyPoints is a website that allows you to earn points that, in turn, earn you FREE STUFF!  I mean it, totally free.  With very little effort on your part.

Sign up, and you can immediately begin earning points.  It's easy.  Have BonusMail sent to your inbox, and you can get points by taking part in the offer (buying the product, starting an account at the sponsor's website, etc.) or just earn 5 points for clicking a link to the sponsor's website.  I earn most of my points simply by clicking the links.  Another benefit of receiving the BonusMail is to learn about various services and companies out there that you may not know about.

Another easy way to earn mega points is to shop online with MyPoints sponsors, many of which you're already spending your money with!  For example, you'll earn 2 points for every dollar spent at eBay, 4 points per dollar at CircuitCity, and 10 points per dollar at Overstock.com. 

What can you do with your points, you ask?  Lots.  Depending on how many points you have and how good you are at saving them.  I, unfortunately, like to spend mine instead of saving up for something big.  I just sent for a $25 Walgreen's gift card, and it cost me 3600 points.  So I'll be getting my kids' back-to-school supplies for free!  It's been my experience that it usually only takes 2 - 3 weeks for cards to arrive in the mail.  There are lots of awesome things you can get with your points.  I've used past points to get gift cards to Toys R Us, Omaha Steaks, and Regal Cinemas!  Visit MyPoints.  It's worth checking out!

I need a little help.  Because I'm always indecisive and can never make up my mind, I need your help.  I need to buy a gift for Baby Emily.  I know I'm strapped for funds right now, but Emily's mommy has been a good friend since high school and has done a lot for me.  So I'd like to get something special.

Problem is, I can't decide.  I've been checking out this site, Personalized-Baby-Shoes.com, where they sell embossed baby shoes, among other cute baby gifts.  And they offer free shipping, which makes it worth shopping online for me.  Some of the most treasured gifts I received for my kids were personalized in some way.  I think a keepsake is a wonderful gift because it's something the parents can hold onto.  Babies grow out of clothing or sometimes never even get to wear it.  Other practical gifts like nursery items or baby gear are very helpful, but my friend has all of these things from her first child.

So here's what I'm considering.  I like the cute little pink and white shoes on the site's home page.  I can get her name embossed in gold foil on one shoe and her birthdate on the other.  The site offers gift wrapping or one of three personalized pails with your choice of an adorable stuffed cow, ducky, or frog.  They're all so precious, that would just be another tough decision for me, so I'll probably just wrap the gift myself.

But here's the other contender.  Personalized baby gifts are great because they make wonderful keepsakes.  Lots of choices here, too.  I really like the baby's first tooth and curl set, but I'm trying to be at least a wee bit practical, so I'm thinking about getting the personalized flap happy bonnet in pink gingham.  Isn't it just the sweetest thing?  I always loved putting my kids in hats, but I never got one of these cool hats with the flaps on the side to keep the sun off their little faces.  Practical and cute.  I'm lovin' that!

Please help me decide.  This is a special gift and, because money's tight right now, I feel like I want to make the best choice I can.  The personalized baby shoes cost a just a wee bit more, but I think it might be more likely that my friend would hold onto them as a keepsake.  But that hat - it even has a cute name, flap happy bonnet!  Help!  I just can't make up my mind.

Today's Monday Magazine Motivation comes from the August issue of Family Circle, where I found an article on home party businesses called "Money in the Bag".  As an Independent Beauty Consultant for Mary Kay, I fall under that category.  I haven't really been "working my business" lately, as I'm currently focusing on my writing, so this article helped to give me a jumpstart to get back into the swing of things.

There's a section on questions to ask and one on home party basics and whether direct sales is right for you.  I really liked the section on smart sales strategies, which gave me some good ideas to get things moving again.  The article contained some really good information, and I suggest reading it if you're interested in selling something like Mary Kay, Pampered Chef, PartyLite, etc. 

You can find another good article here from Brain, Child magazine.  This one warns of the hidden dangers of work-from-home companies and even includes Mary Kay as one to be wary of.  But I say read the articles, take the advice, ask your own questions, and use your intution to make the best decision.  I know that Mary Kay is a product I love and believe in and am realistic about the time and effort I want to put in to it.  Because I don't want to be away from home a few nights a week (leaving my poor husband with the wild children after a long day of work) and driving to lots of different places, I'm not willing to commit 100% right now.  Also, I didn't have a ton of money to put into inventory, so I chose to start small. 

The effort I'm putting into my business allows me to get out and about, meet other women, and have a drawerful of wonderful products I couldn't otherwise afford.  I'm also learning skills that will help me in my freelance business.  The best result is the confidence and pride in myself I've gained through taking the chance and getting started.  A home party business isn't for everyone, but it could be for you if you're realistic about your level of commitment and your desired results.

It's the middle of summer and with the rising price of everything, money’s tight for most of us right now. If you’re a stay-at-home mom, a work-at-home mom, or any parent at home with your school-aged kids this summer, you may be yanking your hair out by the fistful by now. If you are, stop, take a deep breath, and read on to find no-cost ways to keep your kids happy while you keep your sanity. Here’s a list of some things to do without even leaving the house. Okay, you might actually have to go out in the yard or walk around the block. Deep breath, you can do it!

1. Bubbles. The old stand-by. Kids love ‘em, and if you don’t have a bottle of bubbles around the house (but who doesn’t?), you can make your own by diluting dish soap.


2. Crafts. You can find great crafts on the internet or pick up a book or two at your local library.


3. Go for a walk. Put on the sneakers and head out for a stroll around the neighborhood. It’s good exercise, and your elderly neighbors will be thrilled to see the children.


4. Eat dinner outside for a change. Make it something simple like deli sandwiches or hot dogs. Easy and fun. Use paper plates to make it even easier.


5. Squirt gun battle! Who needs to pay $20 to go to the pool when you can run around in the yard, shooting each other with water for free? And catch some rays while you’re at it.


6. Movie night. Pick a night when no one has to get up early the next morning, find a movie on TV or a video you already own, and camp out in the living room. Stay up late. The kids will think they’re getting away with something, and you’ll get some laid back bonding time with them.


7. Play school. You can take notes, pay bills, or work on your laptop while they color or do worksheets. Find free printables at www.schoolexpress.com , www.abcteach.com, or www.freeprintablecoloringpages.net.


8. Exercise. Pull out your favorite exercise video and ask the kids to join in. You’ll be killing two birds with one stone. Get your workout in and ensure that your rugrats sleep well that night.


9. Art time. Let them go nuts with construction paper, scissors, and glue. Throw in paper plates, brown bags, and coffee filters, and you’ve really got a party!


10. TV. Come on, we all do it. Sometimes we just have to. Tell them to sit and watch a program or two while you do some work, and then you’ll go do one of the other fun things on this list with them!

Going out is fun, but let’s not forget that filling up the gas tank is the equivalent of a trip to the salon for a mani and pedi or some really great highlights. Let’s get our priorities straight here, folks! Use this list as a jumpstart to shaking up your routine a bit and helping you make it through the rest of summer without losing your mind.

By the way, this post will soon appear on a forum for moms, called Mommy Matter.  Check out this fun site at www.mommymatter.com!

Today's unofficial tip is don't take three kids on a two hour car ride to Grandma's.  It's exhausting.  And frustrating.  And headache inducing.  And. . .

Enough of that.  Today's tip is about saving money on groceries.  Here's how I do it, and I consider myself to be a pretty frugal shopper.  I don't have the patience or the attention span to deal with coupons, so I don't.  I do read the grocery store sale ads, but at $4.00 a gallon, who can afford to drive all over town picking up an item here and an item there?  So what I do is shop at discount stores like Aldi, Ollie's, and Big Lots.

I know many of you may say you don't like the bargain brands, and I can relate.  But I'd recommend giving it a try just to see the money you'll save.  I left Aldi a few weeks ago with my cart overflowing, and I only spent $140.  Not bad, I'd say.  My monthly food budget for a family of four (not counting the baby, of course) is approximately $300.

Stores like Ollie's and Big Lots do carry name brand items, and you can pick up a bunch of other stuff on the cheap like toiletries, cleaning supplies, and even home decor while you're there.  A box of name brand cereal, for instance, will cost between $1.25 and $2.00 at Big Lots.  These are just examples of stores in my area.  What stores do you have in your region of the country?  Are you lucky enough to have one of those places that sell "bent and dent" items, as my mom calls them?  I recommend checking it out.  Let me know what you think.

By the way, I just read on article in the August edition of Woman's Day called, "Secrets of Extreme Grocery Shoppers: How to Save Thousands", and it recommended many of these same things.  Check it out.