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Stretching your Dollars: Return Unused Items

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Return Unused Items

Photograph Credit: Fotolia

I am notorious for purchasing more supplies than I need for a project leaving me to return unused items.

A project in our home gets approached differently depending on who’s doing the project.

Overestimating Items

Projects done by me are over planned. I desire to save time from running out for another piece of poster board or extra screws because I underestimated the supplies needed to finish the project.

With all the necessary or possible pieces gathered, I can finish the project and then return the unused items when it fits within my errand schedule.

Underestimating Items

Where I overestimate, my hubby underestimates. Either we are running to get more supplies or the project remains half done until we get to the store. However, we are not left with lots of extra supplies when the project is complete.

Planning to Return Unused Items

Though there are pros and cons to both approaches, I have developed a system that helps me return unused items. If I know I will not use the remaining supplies for any upcoming projects, then I choose to return them to the store. I do not need more stuff coming into our home when I can get reimbursed for those unused items.

My system may not work for you, but having this plan helps me get those items to the store before they clutter our home:

    1. Finish the project.
    2. Gather the remaining unused items.
    3. Sort those items by the store where purchased.
    4. Get the receipts.
    5. Add those items with the receipt to a plastic bag.
    6. Place the bags in the front seat of our van.

Then when I am running around town and have a few minutes to spare near one of those stores, I stop in and return those items for a refund. By keeping the supplies with the receipt, I have everything together when the opportunity presents itself.

Whether you overestimate or underestimate on your projects, return unused items purchased to keep clutter at bay while stretching your dollars. Without making a special trip to return the items, you can continue stretching your dollars at the gas station while using time wisely. Happy returning!

Question: What plan do you use when needing to return unused items?

Stretching Your Dollars: Dollar Store

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Stretching your dollars: Dollar Store

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

As our family is in the middle of birthday season, I am so thankful for our local dollar store. With party supplies and goody bag items available for $1, we can gather the supplies we need without breaking the bank.

I was surprised to find packages of colored napkins for only $1 at our dollar store. The same package costs $3.99 at Party City for the same count and color.

Not only is the dollar store a great first stop for party items, but also for school projects, household items, and food. Though not available in my area, some stores carry loaves of sandwich bread for $1 which competes with Aldi’s price.

Though I need to shop at other locations, I am finding more useful items at our dollar store. With two locations in close proximity to our home and a list of items needed for projects, I make the stop and usually find at least one, if not more, items that we need.

To not get drawn in by all the items that are only $1, I stop when I have a written list. If I just go in to roam, I will end up spending dollars on items we don’t need which is not beneficial to me or my family.

In stretching your dollars, keep the dollar store in mind. Where I usually passed by to visit Walmart or a craft store, I now stop by our dollar store to check for items before spending more than $1 on comparable products. This stop has saved our family money while using time wisely and shopping close to home. Happy savings!

Question: What do you like about dollar stores?

Old Navy: $1 Solid Colored Flip Flops – June 29, 2013

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Old Navy: $1 Solid Colored Flip Flops – June 29, 2013

Photograph Credit: Old Navy

Mark your calendars and check your closets for the colors of flip flops you need. On June 29, 2013, Old Navy is selling their solid colored flip flops for $1. The limit is 5 pairs per customer, and most stores are opening at 7:00 a.m.

I’m debating whether or not to attend this sale. I already stocked up on 4 pairs of $1 flip flops with J. C. Penney’s sale earlier this season, but I really could use a white and black pair as well. Guess I’ll have to see how motivated I am to get out and shop on Saturday, June 29, 2013.

If you do not need any flip flops, sales like these make great gifts. Pairing flip flops with a pair of earrings or a scarf makes a thoughtful, inexpensive gift while stretching your dollars.

To sweeten this deal, Old Navy’s weekly REVEAL A DEAL tab on their Facebook page offers a printable 10% off your in-store purchase coupon making each pair of flip flops $.90.

If you live near an Old Navy, consider stopping by on June 29, 2013 to check the $1 flip flops for yourself or a friend. Happy savings!

2013: Black Friday Store Hours

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2013: Black Friday Store Hours

Photograph Credit: iCLIPART

Not sure what to call this season anymore as Black Friday has expanded to include a few days on either side of the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Some stores are calling their event the After Thanksgiving Sale, but their on-line sale starts before Thanksgiving. *Hmm.* Since I am unaware of a new term given to this event, I will stick to Black Friday.

If you are interested in this craze of great deals which will save you lots of money when you time it right, then plan what you want to purchase, check your timing, and hunt for your favorites. The lines to some stores begin weeks, days, and hours prior to these sales.

To plan accordingly, here are the Black Friday Store Hours arranged by the time the stores open their sales.

Thursday, November 28

6:00 a.m.

 5:00 p.m.

6:00 p.m.

7:00 p.m.

8:00 p.m.

Friday

5:00 a.m.

6:00 a.m.

    • Home Depot (normal business hours)

8:00 a.m.

If you head out, be careful. Yes, the deals are great, but fighting, pushing, and trampling is not a way to using time wisely. Most stores are organized making this a time of fun, and I wish you lots of savings as you venture out, stretch your dollars, and use your time wisely. Happy shopping!

Question: Will you head out to the stores for Black Friday deals?

Cardpool: Purchasing Discounted Gift Cards

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Cardpool: Purchasing Discounted Gift Card

Photograph Credit: Cardpool

In stretching your dollars, Cardpool is a service that buys and sells gift cards. If one has a gift card that she will not use, she can sell her gift card to Cardpool for 70-92% of the value for cash.

Cardpool then sells legitimate and active gift cards to customers at a discounted rate without sales tax or shipping charges.

Per Cardpool, all their gift cards have no fees and no expiration dates.

If the purchased gift card is a physical card, then Cardpool will mail the discounted card to you. Delivery typically takes 3-7 business days with FREE shipping.

For electronic gift cards, Cardpool will e-mail within 1 business day the discounted card’s code and any pin numbers needed to use the gift card online.

Should you experience any issues, Cardpool has a purchase guarantee program to refund your purchase price. With all these benefits, I tried Cardpool and was very impressed and satisfied with my order.

My Cardpool Experience

Though I have not sold any gift cards to Cardpool, I have purchased discounted gift cards. The ones I purchased where electronic gift cards.

My experience was fantastic. Once I purchased the three gift cards, I received a confirmation that the electronic codes would arrive in my inbox within 24 hours.

Keeping an eye on my inbox, my electronic codes arrived within 20 minutes of my purchase which I used the full amount on each gift card immediately. My order processed without incident, and I saved over $30 by purchasing discounted gift cards from Cardpool.

Cardpool Tips

I only purchased gift cards to cover the subtotal of the amount in my shopping cart. As I was not sure if I could use a gift card amount to pay for the taxes, I erred on the side of caution since I did not want to have a gift card with a remaining balance.

Though I had a great experience, there have been a number of Cardpool users who have experienced problems when they did not use the entire balance in one transaction. Though there are documented incidents where customers purchased gift cards and the merchant did not accept them, I did not experience this problem.

Should I have, I would have dealt with the merchant, in my case Sears, to get the reasoning behind the denial. Then I would have contacted Cardpool, who has a 100-day purchase guarantee.

My future with Cardpool

Finding this service a wonderful way to stretch our dollars, I will definitely purchase from Cardpool again. Many other customers have found this service beneficial as some gift cards are discounted up to 35% off the purchased amount. I was thrilled with the 7% discount as every little bit helps.

If you choose to use Cardpool, then access the site via my referral link to get $5 off your first purchase. Wow! I wish I had received a referral link to save an additional $5. Oh well, though I cannot get this deal, you can. 🙂

In stretching your dollars, I can recommend purchasing discounted gift cards from Cardpool. However, I have no experience with selling gift cards to Cardpool. Honestly, I do not foresee needing to sell a gift card, but I wanted to share this resource with you because you might need the cash.

Cardpool is another resource to help you in using time wisely while stretching your dollars. Happy stretching!

This post contains Using Time Wisely affiliate links at no additional cost to you. For more information about Using Time Wisely’s associations with providers, please read my disclosure policy.

Question: Have you sold or purchased discounted gift cards through Cardpool?