James received a very special letter today (which is also his first birthday)!
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Thursday, March 27, 2014
5 Ways to Save Money at Target
I love Target. I always have, and always will. A good friend of mine and I refer to it as The Happiest Place on Earth. Buuuut...their prices have always been a little higher than Wal-Mart. That's changing, though.
They price match, and their prices have lowered over the years. Most Targets have at least a small grocery section, which is very convenient when I need a few things and don't want to drive around to a few different stores. Also, there's a Target store 5 minutes from my house....which is dangerous. :)
Over the past few months, I've discovered a few ways to save money at Target. My past two shopping trips were $112 and $113 and I bought them down to $68 and $74, respectively, using these techniques.
1. Cartwheel-This app by Target is free and easy to use. There are usually a few hundred offers on the app at any given time on items throughout the store. The discount is usually 5-10%, but I've saved as much as 50%. You select the offers you want to use, then have the cashier scan the barcode in the app. Wa-la! You start out with 10 spots (so you can use 10 different offers), but the more you use it, the more spots you get. I have 20 right now after using it for about 5 months. I've saved $30 since I started using it. It all adds up! They almost always have deals on their generic products (up&up and Market Pantry). They added a new feature in the app where you can scan an item to see if there are any Cartwheel deals for it-this saves a lot of time so you don't have to type in every item! I will typically scan an item before I put it in my cart to make sure I don't miss out on any savings.
2. Manufacturer Coupons-Target accepts one manufacturer coupon per item. You can find manufacturer coupons in the newspaper, in fliers, and on websites like coupons.com, where you print them from your home printer (you do have to take ink and paper cost into account using this method). Manufacturer coupons say "Manufacturer Coupon" on the coupon itself, usually next to the expiration date.
3. Target Coupons-Target has coupons in a few different places including mailers, Sunday ads, Catalinas (the coupons that print from the machine while your receipt is printing), and at coupons.target.com. The coupons say "Target Coupon" or "Target Web Coupon" on them. You can also use Target Mobile Coupons, which are texted to you (http://m.target.com/sms/coupon-alrts/form). Target Mobile Coupons are stored in the Target app (this is a separate app from Cartwheel-I wish they'd combine them, but it's worth the time and money to download both apps). Just show the cashier the barcode and wa-la! You can't use a Target Mobile Coupon and a paper Target coupon on the same item, but I haven't run into this issue yet. Some of the mobile coupons are awesome, like $1 off a purchase of $1 or more on a fruit or vegetable purchase. I got carrots for $0.19! They had a coupon in the paper a couple of weeks ago for $15 off your up&up purchase of $40 or more. There are loads of up&up products that I'd buy anyway (like diapers, wipes, baby food, paper goods, toilet paper, etc.) so why not save extra money? If you don't get a Sunday paper you can have the in-ad coupons texted to you, and they will be a mobile coupon.
You can combine one manufacturer coupon, one Target coupon, and one cartwheel coupon per item. I bought three boxes of General Mills cereal for less than $0.50 a piece using this technique!
4. Red Card-You can get Target's credit card to save 5%, or get a Target Red Card Debit Card, which is linked to your checking account, and also save 5%. The only downside to the debit card is that it can take a few days to come out of your checking account. It's 5% off everything in the store. EVERYTHING!
5. Sales-Last but not least...SALES! Or clearance. That works too. You can find Target's ad online a day or two before it comes out in the paper.
To maximize your savings at Target, you have to plan. And this takes time, which I know not everyone has. I usually plan my shopping trip after James goes to bed when I have an hour or two of peace and quiet before it's my bedtime. There are websites like Totally Target and The Krazy Coupon Lady who do "coupon matchups," which is a great time saver. The match up coupons, sales, and Cartwheel deals for you so you know what the best deals are.
Happy shopping!
They price match, and their prices have lowered over the years. Most Targets have at least a small grocery section, which is very convenient when I need a few things and don't want to drive around to a few different stores. Also, there's a Target store 5 minutes from my house....which is dangerous. :)
Over the past few months, I've discovered a few ways to save money at Target. My past two shopping trips were $112 and $113 and I bought them down to $68 and $74, respectively, using these techniques.
1. Cartwheel-This app by Target is free and easy to use. There are usually a few hundred offers on the app at any given time on items throughout the store. The discount is usually 5-10%, but I've saved as much as 50%. You select the offers you want to use, then have the cashier scan the barcode in the app. Wa-la! You start out with 10 spots (so you can use 10 different offers), but the more you use it, the more spots you get. I have 20 right now after using it for about 5 months. I've saved $30 since I started using it. It all adds up! They almost always have deals on their generic products (up&up and Market Pantry). They added a new feature in the app where you can scan an item to see if there are any Cartwheel deals for it-this saves a lot of time so you don't have to type in every item! I will typically scan an item before I put it in my cart to make sure I don't miss out on any savings.
2. Manufacturer Coupons-Target accepts one manufacturer coupon per item. You can find manufacturer coupons in the newspaper, in fliers, and on websites like coupons.com, where you print them from your home printer (you do have to take ink and paper cost into account using this method). Manufacturer coupons say "Manufacturer Coupon" on the coupon itself, usually next to the expiration date.
3. Target Coupons-Target has coupons in a few different places including mailers, Sunday ads, Catalinas (the coupons that print from the machine while your receipt is printing), and at coupons.target.com. The coupons say "Target Coupon" or "Target Web Coupon" on them. You can also use Target Mobile Coupons, which are texted to you (http://m.target.com/sms/coupon-alrts/form). Target Mobile Coupons are stored in the Target app (this is a separate app from Cartwheel-I wish they'd combine them, but it's worth the time and money to download both apps). Just show the cashier the barcode and wa-la! You can't use a Target Mobile Coupon and a paper Target coupon on the same item, but I haven't run into this issue yet. Some of the mobile coupons are awesome, like $1 off a purchase of $1 or more on a fruit or vegetable purchase. I got carrots for $0.19! They had a coupon in the paper a couple of weeks ago for $15 off your up&up purchase of $40 or more. There are loads of up&up products that I'd buy anyway (like diapers, wipes, baby food, paper goods, toilet paper, etc.) so why not save extra money? If you don't get a Sunday paper you can have the in-ad coupons texted to you, and they will be a mobile coupon.
You can combine one manufacturer coupon, one Target coupon, and one cartwheel coupon per item. I bought three boxes of General Mills cereal for less than $0.50 a piece using this technique!
4. Red Card-You can get Target's credit card to save 5%, or get a Target Red Card Debit Card, which is linked to your checking account, and also save 5%. The only downside to the debit card is that it can take a few days to come out of your checking account. It's 5% off everything in the store. EVERYTHING!
5. Sales-Last but not least...SALES! Or clearance. That works too. You can find Target's ad online a day or two before it comes out in the paper.
To maximize your savings at Target, you have to plan. And this takes time, which I know not everyone has. I usually plan my shopping trip after James goes to bed when I have an hour or two of peace and quiet before it's my bedtime. There are websites like Totally Target and The Krazy Coupon Lady who do "coupon matchups," which is a great time saver. The match up coupons, sales, and Cartwheel deals for you so you know what the best deals are.
Happy shopping!
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
9 months + DIY No-Sew Crib Rail Cover
Baby James is now 9 months (NINE!). I'm not sure where the time has gone. He's an awesome little man.
James has also, like any other 9 month old, putting EVERYTHING in his mouth. Every. Thing. He figured out that he can pull himself up on his crib and chew on it, leaving little flecks of varnish on his face. Pretty sure that's not healthy. Apparently there's actually a market for crib rail covers/guards, but most of them didn't good reviews and/or are pretty pricey. James and I scoured Pinterest and found a great tutorial from from Jane Marie Blog on how to make your own no-sew version using fleece. I LOVE sewing (and got a wonderful sewing machine as a gift from my Navy moms group!), but don't have much time for it anymore now that Jimmy Jams is much more mobile and curious. So, here goes: my first blog tutorial! (Disclaimer: These photos suck. I know. But the photography in this family is my husband, and he's on the night shift right now. So my crappy iPhone photos taken in poor lighting will have to suffice.)
His 9 month appointment went well! He's 28.5" tall and weighs 20 pounds 11.4 ounces. I can't believe I'm starting to plan his FIRST birthday party already! He now has 4 teeth (well, sort of-the top two have broken through but aren't coming down very quickly), eats almost anything you put in front of him (he loves sweets!), and has figured out (in order) how to crawl backwards, crawl forwards, push his walker, and pull himself up on anything and everything (couches, cribs, the dog, etc.). He's easily entertained and loves to laugh! No one makes him laugh more than his daddy. :)
Christmas was loads of fun (my mom flew up for a couple of weeks), and we went to visit Alissa in NOVA right afterwards. James loved DC! On Christmas Eve we went over to Katie's parent's house and had a blast!!
Christmas was loads of fun (my mom flew up for a couple of weeks), and we went to visit Alissa in NOVA right afterwards. James loved DC! On Christmas Eve we went over to Katie's parent's house and had a blast!!
Mark and James are best buds.
Christmas morning! (Sirius photo bomb.)
My mom, James, Matt, and I went and watched the Broncos game. :)
Alissa, James, and I in front of the Capitol.
We've also gone to the aquarium a couple of times, visited Nonnie and Grandpa (and Brian and Katie), and spent time with his friends, twins Emmalin and Keagan, who are a month and a half older than him. They're showing him the ropes. Every time we visit them, James learns a new trick! (I know that's a horrible way to describe it. But that's pretty much what it is, right?)
Keagan and James both NEEDED the Bumbo seat. NEEEEEEEEDED. Emmalin knows how cute she is-just look at that smile!
James has also, like any other 9 month old, putting EVERYTHING in his mouth. Every. Thing. He figured out that he can pull himself up on his crib and chew on it, leaving little flecks of varnish on his face. Pretty sure that's not healthy. Apparently there's actually a market for crib rail covers/guards, but most of them didn't good reviews and/or are pretty pricey. James and I scoured Pinterest and found a great tutorial from from Jane Marie Blog on how to make your own no-sew version using fleece. I LOVE sewing (and got a wonderful sewing machine as a gift from my Navy moms group!), but don't have much time for it anymore now that Jimmy Jams is much more mobile and curious. So, here goes: my first blog tutorial! (Disclaimer: These photos suck. I know. But the photography in this family is my husband, and he's on the night shift right now. So my crappy iPhone photos taken in poor lighting will have to suffice.)
DIY No-Sew Fleece Crib Rail Cover
Materials needed:
Fabric Scissors
Measuring tape, yardstick, or ruler
1.5 ish yards of fleece (it's on sale right now at Hancock for $3.99 a yard-great deal! How much you need will depend on the size and shape of your crib.)
Batting-optional (I used Sew Perfect Extra Loft Batting)
Ribbon or string-optional (for keeping batting in place)
First, the length of your crib. Mine was 51." I laid the fabric over the top of the rail to see how far I wanted it to hang down, and figured how that it needed to be 24" wide, so I cut out a piece of felt that was 51"x24". The edges were 27"x15.5." Because this is no-sew, you don't need to account for a seam allowance (yay!). Fleece is incredibly forgiving, so don't worry about having a perfectly straight line.
Cutting the 51"x24" section
The two 27"x15.5" sections
You don't have to use batting. I chose to add in a few layers of it because I have a heavy chewer. I cut the batting into sections as long as the length of the crib it would be protecting, and made it three layers thick (once compressed, it's not very lofty). I then used ribbon to keep it in place. Without the ribbon, it was sliding all over the place. It doesn't matter what color of type of ribbon or string you use for this, as it will not show-just make sure to cut the ribbon strings short. (I bought about a million yards of this hot pink ribbon for wedding invites without realizing just how hot it was. Oops.)
Next, lay the fleece over the batting (or directly over the rail if you are not using batting).
Now, there are a couple of ways to go about this next step. In some tutorials, people cut the strips while it's hanging over the rail. I found this to be very awkward, so I cut one strip to see how long the strip needed to be, then folded the fabric in half lengthwise and continued cutting the strips. My strips ended up being about 1.5-2". I probably should've measured them, but you really can't tell that they aren't all the same length.
Fabric folded lenghwise with strips cut
Next step: place the fabric over the batting and start tying!
I did a double knot because...well, my kid is smarter than he looks. :)
Continue tying knots, making sure to line up the strips. I had more strips than slats in the crib, so I tied some of them off to one side or the other. It doesn't really matter.
Repeat for the side rails.
This gives you a better idea of how I cut the fleece
Annnnd...wa-la! Crib rail covers!
Big Bird looks pathetic, don't you think?
Hey mom! I love my new fuzzy crib rail covers! Also, I probably just pooped.
From start to finish, this project took about an hour. It would've taken less time if James didn't have to be in the same room as me while I was working on it, but you know. That's how it goes. :) Total cost was just under $14, and I got to pick the fabric! (I originally went to the fabric store for green fleece, but then saw a zoo-themed fleece and thought that was cute, as that is the theme of James' room. Then I saw this fleece-dinosaurs AND zoo animals?!?! Had to have it.)
Happy Tuesday!
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