2012: Sales Tax-Free Days

July 7, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Recon Cycles)

If your state or commonwealth participates in tax-free days, then waiting to make a qualified purchased during those times will stretch your dollars. The Federation of Tax Administrators issued the 2012 State Sales Tax Holidays list, including limits and information links.

Though designed to help offset the back-to-school costs, these tax-free days can save you money on items you need.

For example, in South Carolina our tax-free days have no limits on clothing, school supplies, and computers. If we plan to purchase an iPad or choose to purchase clothing from the summer clearance racks for next year, then those items will not incur sales tax on those tax-free days.

By planning ahead, waiting patiently, and scoring those deals during tax-free days, you can continue stretching your dollars while using time wisely. Happy savings!

Question: Are you planning a big purchase during your tax-free days?

BJ’s Wholesale Club: Free 60-day Membership Pass

September 22, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: BJ’s

For new members only, BJ’s Wholesale Club released a free 60-day membership pass.

When activating your 60-day membership by December 31, 2012, new members can tryout BJ’s for free throughout the holiday season. Talk about stretching your dollars! 😉

Possible Good Idea if . . .

1. You have never had a BJ’s membership.

2. You live near a BJ’s Wholesale Club.

3. Plan to visit and shop at BJ’s.

4. Will remember to cancel your membership before the 60 days end.

Waste of Your Time if . . .

1. You are or have been a BJ’s member.

2. Don’t have a BJ’s near you.

3. Have no interest in a wholesale club membership or already have a wholesale membership.

4. Won’t remember to cancel the membership before the 60 days end.

I like wholesale memberships. In fact, our family carries a Sam’s Club membership which I use for peanut butter, bread flour, butter, Bounty paper towels, Snuggle, All free and clear, and fuel.

In addition to matching coupons and sales at our local grocery store, I find these items worth our $35 annual business membership at Sam’s Club. Since BJ’s has no locations in South Carolina, this deal is not great for me.

In using time wisely and stretching your dollars, this pass may or may not meet your needs. If you are considering a BJ’s membership, then this is the perfect opportunity to evaluate the $50 per year membership fee before making the commitment. Keep stretching your dollars!

Question: What is your opinion of wholesale clubs?

Christmas Savings: Make a List and Check It Twice

December 8, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

In stretching your dollars this holiday season, you may need to think outside the box.

As you make a list and check it twice, stay within your budget. If your budget cannot accommodate your giving spirit, then don’t fret.

Turn toward free or less expensive options found in Feed It Forward, giveaways and sweepstakes, and bundles to separate.

Feed It Forward

The Feed It Forward program allows you to gift friends and family a $10 e-gift certificate for free. The limit on Facebook friends is 15 per day, while the limit on e-mail addresses is 100 per day. The daily maximum is 100 gifts per day. In using time wisely, you can gift thousands of friends this December for free with a little time invested.

Giveaways and Sweepstakes

Last year, I won a giveaway package from Southern Savers. My gift included a coffee maker, blender, and automatic wine opener. All three of these gifts arrived, and I wrapped them for a friend and family members. The recipients were so grateful, and I openly shared how their gifts were chosen for them. It was a great opportunity to share how entering giveaways and sweepstakes saves our family money.

For giveaways, I like Money Saving Mom, Freebies 4 Mom, Southern Savers, Meet Penny, Becentsable, and Simple Savings for ATL Moms. Giveaways are on-going on some websites and sporadic on others. As you see a giveaway that does not interest you, consider entering. If you win, give the item or service as a gift.

For current sweepstakes, check out Heather Hernandez’ Freebies 4 Mom. On the menu bar, you can find freebies, sweeps, and giveaways. I love how Heather categorizes the sweeps by entry type: weekly, daily, or once. Heather keeps her list current.

Bundles to Separate

When you need to purchase lots of items, look for bundles to separate into separate gifts. In previous years, I have purchased 3-count candles, package of ornaments, and jewelry sets. With the less expensive cost per unit, I can open the package and gift each item separately.

If you purchase on-line, start with E-bates or Shop at Home and find a promotional code to keep your savings within your budget.

In using time wisely and stretching your dollars, make a list and check it twice. Then look to Feed It Forward, giveaways and sweepstakes, and bundles to separate options. Though definitely not all the ways one can save, these three strategies can save you money, energy, and time.

If you still cannot afford Christmas, focus on the experiences. Creating a homemade coupon book, baking cookies, or going on an outing provides a special memory for the recipient beyond a temporal token. Happy gifting!

Question: How are you stretching your dollars this Christmas season?

Stretching My Daughter’s Birthday Money

March 9, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

My youngest daughter received a Leapster Explorer for Christmas. This gaming console was purchased through Amazon at a great sale price.

Though the unit, charging station, and case were discounted, the game cartridges remained around $25 each. Ouch!

Asking friends, whose children have the Leapster Explorer, where they find their games, I quickly discovered that sales are rare on these items.

Knowing that the purchase of games was in our future, I registered her Leapster device and checked the box to receive e-mail notification of sales and discount items. (Of course, I used my junk e-mail account to prevent overloading my personal e-mail account with offers.)

Waiting for a Sale

Last week as I checked my junk e-mail account, I discovered that for a limited time all the Leapster Explorer game cartridges were 25% off with free shipping. This deal came at the perfect time as my daughter recently turned 3 and had saved her money for games.

Acting on the Sale

In using time wisely and stretching our dollars, my daughter and I made the following purchase:

Logged into my Ebates account.
Searched for the Leapfrog company which carries a 3% cash back on my purchase.
Shopped through Ebates.
Selected two game cartridges and added them to my shopping cart.
Entered promotional code DISCOVER (which has now expired) to receive 25% off and free shipping on my order.
Reviewed the order for errors.
Placed the order using my credit card for which I will earn rewards.

Instead of paying $55 for the two games, we paid a total of $39.73 and will receive $1.19 back through Ebates and $.40 in credit card rewards. Spending less than $20 per game – rather than $25 plus shipping – helped in stretching my daughter’s birthday money. She did not mind waiting for a sale as she knew she could get 2 games rather than 1 if she was patient.

Teaching my children the value of money by showing them how we use the available savings tools to stretch our dollars, I enjoy watching them think through how they can save their money but also get the item they desire. Great lessons learned by waiting for a sale to come along. Happy waiting!

Question: For what have you waited to snag a great deal?

Note: This post contains affiliate links for Using Time Wisely. For more information, read my disclosure policy.

J. C. Penney: $1 Flip Flops – April 12, 2013

March 30, 2013 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Betsy)

Spring is definitely in the air. My allergies are flared from the layer of pollen coating our vehicles, yard, and house. Though some of you are still dealing with snow, spring is on the way. Even if you can’t see it yet, it’s coming.

To kick off the spring season, J.C. Penney is celebrating by selling $1 flip flops on Friday, April 12, 2013. At this price, you can purchase one pair per summer outfit without breaking the bank.

To sweeten this deal, you can combine this sale with this 20% off coupon making each pair $.80. This sale is only available in-store, while supplies last, and only on April 12, 2013.

Besides a new pair of shoes, these flip flops make great gifts, party favors, and house guest goodies. Keeping a stash of little gifts for unexpected needs or wants allows us to share with others without an emergency trip to the store.

Since spring is here, let’s get this celebration underway by painting our toe nails a bright color and sporting some new flip flops. With J. C. Penney’s sale paired with the 20% off coupon, you can score flip flops for $.80. Happy saving while stretching your dollars!

Question: What is your favorite flip flop color?