Check your Receipts!

Whenever you go shopping at any store, check your receipt. Some grocery stores have coupons printed on the back and you may find one that you can use. Also, check the bottom of your retail receipts. Many stores offer to give you a perk (a coupon or something free) if you answer a quick survey about your shopping experience. I have gotten everything from a free Chik-Fil-A sandwhich to 15 % off my next purchase at JCPenney to $5 off my next purchase at Stride Rite to $3 off my next Petsmart purchase just by answering a few questions online or on the phone about my service at the given store. It seriously takes 5 minutes of my time and if I use the coupon, great, if not, I don't feel like I wasted too much of my time telling a store that I frequent about my shopping experience.

Target/CVS Savings

I know this isn't a ton of money but hey, every little bit helps. If you bring reusable bags to the register at Target, you get a 5 cent discount for every reusable bag used at the register to hold your purchases. CVS also offers an incentive for using reusable bags however you have to be a loyalty program card holder and also pay an additional 99 cents for a GreenBagTag. After four "Green swipes" you earn a coupon for $1 off your next purchase. Great to know you can get discounts just for dragging that reusable bag you carry in the trunk of your car with you to the store (heck, if you have kids, have them tote it!)

The Cheapskate Next Door

I was puttering around on the library catalog the other day and came upon this book, The Cheapskate Next Door by Jeff Yeager. He wrote a previous book, The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches, which I now intend to read as well. I haven't finished reading his most current book yet but I can tell you that it's filled with tons of information. Some of the information I already have posted here however there were some new things that I hadn't even thought of that he presents a great case for in his book.

He offers many tips and tricks as well as websites that will help you to comfortably and happily live below your means. What I love the most about this book is that its entertaining to read in addition to its educational value. I also love how he offers suggestions on how to live debt-free and pay off the big ticket items like your mortgage, student loans, etc. The mindset that he presents in this book really made me think about how I spend money and time on a daily basis. While David is on his next underway, I am going to try to take Yeager's "money fast" challenge and not spend any money during a given week. (I'll let you know how I come out) I definitely recommend this book to add to your summer reading list. I have every intention of picking up his first book after I finish this one.