Category: tips

I’ve been couponing for a few years now.  I’ve had a few people ask me to teach them how to coupon. When they go to make that first trip themselves I’ve often heard that they feel nervous, maybe the forgot some coupons at home, forgot to grab one of the deals they went for, or had an issue at the register and just gave up. Here’s some ways to simplify your coupon trips to make them go smooth and get the most enjoyment out of saving money.

1. Start a coupon binder

It does not have to be fancy.  A simple plastic three ring binder will suffice. Make sure there is at least one big pocket on the inside (I’ll tell you why soon) Get some coupon sleeves.  You can search for them online or simply buy the clear baseball card sleeves.  Dividers are helpful too so you can divide your coupons into sections that work for you.  I personally have a baby section for things like diapers, baby wash, diaper cream etc. I have a cleaning section for well…cleaning products, a breakfast section for things like cereal, coffee, bacon, etc.  Set it up how ever you want, whatever works for you.  Take it with you wherever you go. You never know when you might find a deal

2.  Get a 3 ring binder zipper pouch and fill it with these things

Fill that zipper pouch with: a small notepad for your shopping list, a pair of kid safe scissors (you don’t want sharp scissors poking a hole in your bag), a pen, a couple paper clips.

3.  Keep the up to date sales papers in that pocket I mentioned in your binder

You can circle deals your interested in.  It’s also good to have it so if a price doesn’t ring up right you can double check it with the cashier or customer service to make it right or see where you may have gone wrong.

4.  Plan your shop before you go

That notebook and pen in your zipper pouch.  Write out a list of everything you want to buy. Write down name brands and quantities if you’re looking for very specific deals. I personally like to write down which coupons to use too.  Once you have your list written out, go through your coupons and match your coupons to your list.  Use a paperclip and clip them to your list so you don’t forget to use them.

5.  Start off with small trips

There are a lot of great coupon bloggers that do awesome coupon  matches for all kinds of stores.  You can also do it yourself by looking at your stores’s sale papers and matching it up with your coupons. Pick out a couple really great deals and just go to get those.  Do a couple trips like that until you get the hang of it. When you feel comfortable start doing bigger trips.

6.  If possible, shop alone

I’m a mom of 4 myself, I get it, it doesn’t always happen or maybe once in a blue moon.  If you have the opportunity to go alone your first few times you might find it easier to concentrate on matching the coupons to the deals, finding the correct sizes, and locating the sale products.  Plus I know my kids try to talk me into buying things not on the list and I sometimes give in.

7.  Don’t go on an empty stomach

This could be true for any grocery shopping trip.  I know I tend to throw a few more convenience foods in my cart if If I feel like I haven’t eaten all day!

What do you do to simplify the your life?

It’s that time of year again where our little ghosts and goblins will be scouring the neighborhood for all types of treats.  As a parent we want to keep out kids as safe as possible for Halloween.  Here are some tips to ensure the safest experience.

1.  Wear light clothing when possible.  I realize it’s not always possible I mean they don’t really make orange batman costumes and some kids just really want the black ninja costume. In that case there are plenty of items to help make your child more visible to traffic and YOU!

2.  Trick or Treat with your children.  You can make sure they cross the streets safely, help them determine which houses are ok to go to, help them up and down steps especially if it’s not well lit or they have a bulky costume, and make sure they don’t eat too much candy.

3.  Take a flashlight.  This can make you more visible to traffic, help you to see steps and bumps along the way, and perhaps even help your child if they’re frightened by some of the costumes.

4.  Check of alternative trick or treat locations.  If you’re not crazy about your kids roaming the town for candy or you want an even safer way to trick or treat check your paper or online for special trick or treats in your area.  Malls, churches, and schools will sometimes do their own trick or treat.  This year our school announced they are doing a trunk or treat in our local recreation park. These are becoming more popular.  A local church does trunk or treat every year in our area too.

5.  Check your child’s candy or look for special candy check places.  Go through your child’s candy and throw out any candy out of wrappers and that looks like it could have been tampered with.  In our area there is a local chiropractor that offers to x-ray candy hauls for free

6. Stay on the Main roads when possible.  Staying on a well lit busy area with your kids is a good idea.

7.  Make sure your child can see out of their costume.  It might seem like a no brainer but some of the costumes may be a little big or small.  Some masks just don’t have the openings that they should.  You can adjust things accordingly

Things to help make your child more visible to traffic and you!

Reflective Tape

Reflective tape is an easy way to make any costume visible. Just put some strips around the cuffs, legs back and or front of the costume and your child will be seen easily under headlights.

Glow in the dark bracelets

Glow in the dark bracelets and necklaces are a fun way to make sure your child is seen anywhere.  It could even be incorporated into a costume for those rock stars, aliens, and other characters.

LED reflective clip ons

wearable reflectors are another fun way to make sure your child is seen. clip them to the costume and you’re on your way.

Light up trick or treat bag

How about a light up trick or treat bag?  They’re gonna need something to carry their treats anyway.

Kids flashlights

Flash lights.  If your kids are anything like mine they love flashlights.  This great not only for visibility for cars but to help with footing when on steps and going through yards.

Light up earrings

For the girls..or guys..I’m not judging, you can get super cool light up earrings.

Interior decorating is one of the biggest trends today.
It is something that people take very seriously.
A lot of the time, painting the wall a single color is just not enough.
They want to make a statement, and make their room stand out.
Using vinyl wall art decals from walldecalscanada.ca
is a great way for people to
add their own touch in a space.
One of the reasons why people love using these decals is because it adds
an artistic touch to any room.
It is no wander that the decals are quickly gaining in popularity.
It is easy to use, and makes any room look great.

The sky is the limit when it comes to decals.
People can use pretty much anything that they want to.
It is a great way to add a focal point to any room.
For a lot of people,  wall art stickers are a
lot more than just of decorating a wall space.
It is a chance for decorators
and home owners to express themselves.
For example, you can design your quotes
for your own space.
They can use it to add a personal touch to any room.
It is a modern way to add creativity and personality.

There are different ways to get a hold of these vinyl wall art decals. Different home decorating shops sell them.
There are even different printing shops that can print one for an individual.
This is a great option for those who have a specific design in mind.

There are also different online shops that offer the same service.
These shops have tons of designs that people can choose from,
or they also have the option to submit their own design.
Buying from an online shop means that people
do not have to leave the comfort of their own homes.
This makes the process of choosing and purchasing
so much easier and hassle free.

People always want to make sure that they get their money’s worth
with any item that they purchase.
This is also true when buying  art decals.
There are different shops that sell these items.
This means that each one may be higher quality than others.
It could be tricky to figure out where to get these decals.
There are a few things that people should do to make sure
that they get the best one that they possibly can.
These tips are very easy to do,
and it can change the way that people buy their vinyl wall art.

1. A reputable shop

It does not matter if a person purchases his decals from
an actual shop or one that is online.
He always has to make sure that the shop is one that
can be trusted and sells high quality items.
People use vinyl  to decorate their homes.
They cannot afford to waste time and money on decals that are
just not what they are looking for.

Before actually buying one, people should always do a bit of research.
This might just seem like extra work for some,
but it will pay off in the end. A lot of shops that sell decals have websites online
that people are free to access at all times.
These websites will contain everything that people need to know about the item
from how to install it to how to maintain it.
An individual can also access to catalog to choose the design that he wants to.

If people want a more objective description of the decals,
they can always visit different online forums.
This is where people go to if they want to write a review about different shops.
Forums are filled with different tips and opinions that people can
use to choose where to buy their vinyl wall art decals.

2. Durability is important.

Vinyl wall art is not designed to be permanent,
but this does not mean that durability is not important.
People have to make sure that they get the decals that will actually last quite long.
Decals can last on a wall for a few months up to a couple of years.
The last thing that people want is for their decals to start
falling off the wall when they are not supposed to.

This is why they should always make sure that the ones that they buy are durable.
They should be able to stick well, and they should not get damaged easily.

There are vinyl arts that are designed to be placed indoors,
and there are others that are made for outdoors.
People have to make sure that they use the right one for the right place.
Decals that are meant for outdoor use should be able to withstand the elements.
Things like sunshine and rain should be no problem for them.

Durability is very important when looking for wall art,
but this is just one of the several things that people should look for to get the best decal
that they possibly can.

3. Choose a classy design

The great thing about wall art decals is that it gives people a wide range of designs and styles to choose from.
They absolutely love the sheer variety of it, but this means that there is also a chance that people
can choose something that is tacky.
The type of vinyl art that people should get should depend on the room and the owner’s preference.

For people who feel like they do not have the creativity required to choose the right decal,
they can always consult an interior designer or they can get inspiration
from different magazines and television shows.

Even if vinyl art is temporary, people should choose designs that will complement the entire room.
This does not give them a reason to just waste their money on decals that they
will not use because it is not the right design.

Vinyl wall art decals can make any space look great. It adds the personal to touch to a room that people
are always looking for. These tips may seem like additional work, but it is definitely worth doing
if people are looking to use the best decals available to them.