Mom Life in the PNW

5 Tips To Save Money When Shopping Online

5 Tips To Save Money When Shopping Online

Lately, I haven’t exactly been living up to my full frugal potential, but that’s going to change starting this year. My goal is to save as much money as possible instead of having it spent before it even hits my bank account. I know, I know.. bad bad, which is why I wanted to emphasize on ways to save money when shopping online in this post. Let’s face it, some of us can’t get out of the house every time a good deal hits, but that doesn’t mean you can’t save money when shopping online.

 

1. Research. Research. Research.

 

Just because it’s advertised as a good deal, doesn’t exactly mean it’s a good deal. Check Google for comparison pricing on the certain item you’re looking for, this will give you a general overview if it’s worth it or not at the price point it’s being offered. There will be local pricing and online pricing if available.

 

2. Use Coupon Codes and Stack Them if Possible

 

This is an obvious no-brainer. If you want to save money online, use coupon codes that you can either get by signing up for the brands’ newsletter or by searching on Google. Often times you’ll find that the coupon incentive is much higher if you’re an actual newsletter subscriber. Another thing to note if you find a coupon code on Google, it may be an account tied coupon or a one-time use, so it’s best to sign up for the brands you do like so you can be reminded of current and future sales. Some companies like ClothingRIC and SitewideCouponseven allow you to stack multiple coupon codes, so take advantage when you can.

 

3. Add Items To Cart and Leave Them If You Don’t Need Right Away

 

One thing I have noticed when I window shop online is that they’ll offer an incentive to give you a little push to make that purchase. You’ll receive emails like, “we noticed you left something in your cart, here’s a little discount.” etc. Now not every company does this, so don’t let the item sit if it’s a good deal as good deals usually have a limited availability and will go out of stock quickly. So jump on it, if it’s hot.

 

4. Use Cash Back Websites Like GivingAssistant

 

Giving Assistant is a free digital loyalty program, with over 1,100 of the largest retailers like Kohls for instance, and gives an average of 5% cash reward after each online purchase.

Not all cash back websites are created equal. Some will give you very little back and some will give you 100% of what they make off your purchase, and Giving Assistant is one of those websites if you’re a member. For non-member purchases, they retain the commission and make a small donation to Feeding America to give one meal. You don’t have to wait months for a check in the mail like other cashback sites, and minimum payout is just $5.01, not $25+ like most other cashback sites which are nice because it can take a while to accumulate if you’re like me and not spending hundreds of dollars frequently.

If you make a purchase through their website and you don’t get credit for it, contact them and they’ll make sure you receive your full cash back amount. That to me is GREAT customer service!

I actually had an issue with the purchase I did through Walmart not crediting, but they put the 4% cash back in my account after confirming my purchase. It’s as simple as that!

 

5. Ask For a Price Drop Refund

 

Ouch, it stings knowing you just purchased something and then it drops to a lower price a day or a week later. Contact the company and ask for a price adjustment; the worst thing they could say is no. I know that Amazon does this when you contact their chat customer support people. It may be a hit or miss though depending on who you’re talking to, usually, they will accommodate though and refund the difference.

 

Do you have any more tips to save money when shopping online? I know there are lots more, but it will have to wait for a 2nd edition post.

Review: Nutri Ninja® with Auto-iQ™ and Smooth Boost™ Technology Series Blender

You may have heard of Ninja and now you want to know what all the rave is about? Have you ever blended something in a low kilowatt blender and have it be chunky with food or ice still? Yeah me too. I was tired of my smoothies not being, ya know… smooth!

There are many different models, so how do you know which one is the best one for you? Well, it’s going to take a little bit of research on your part. Obviously price is a big factor; some are less and some are more. I opted for this Nutri Ninja® with Auto-iQ™ and Smooth Boost™ Technology Series because I have little space and didn’t need another big clunky kitchen appliance taking up space on my counter tops and it’s at an affordable price point. This one is small enough to hide in the cupboards and I like that since I have very little room on my counters as is.

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The Nutri Ninja® with Auto-iQ™ and Smooth Boost™ Technology Series comes with three 24 oz to go style cups, one of them being a stainless steel cup which has a double wall insulation to allow for colder beverages of up to 4 hours. This is awesome if something comes up,  oh you know, like work issues or mom issues and you can’t finish your beverage before it ends up warm. I love that I can take my time to enjoy my morning smoothie.

The Auto-iQ and Smooth Boost Technology features timed, intelligent blending programs that do the work for you, no guesswork required. This means you don’t have to hold the button down until you “think” you have the right consistency, it automatically does it for you depending on which cup/blade you have locked in and the button you have pushed. Pure awesomeness!

I had a crappy blender before being introduced to the Ninja and I hated it because it left ice chunks in my drinks. It definitely did not have the wattage needed to blend ice efficiently and smoothly like this Ninja blender does.

One of my favorite go to smoothie recipes that I make off the top of my head is below

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The seeds never get fully chopped up because they’re already fine enough, and I don’t mind anyways since it gives the smoothie a little bit of texture and me the nutrients I need to start my day.

Another thing I decided to give a try was coffee. I love love love ice blended coffee drinks but they get too damn expensive at local coffee shops, so why not make them with this trusty Ninja blender?

All you need is ice, your favorite coffee (cooled), some chocolate syrup/or favorite coffee creamer and whipped cream if you want to make it extra tasty. Hit the blend button and wa-la, it’ll stop when it’s just the right consistency.

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I’ve also tried blending up my little one some baby food to stick in my reusable food pouches. She loves bananas, avocados, apples, green beans all blended up together. You name it and she’ll probably eat it, which to me is a good thing since I won’t have to deal with picky behavior later on, I HOPE.

The only thing that is off-putting by this machine is that it’s LOUD. But, I now realize that Ninja is not for Ninja quiet, it’s interpretation is how bad ass the blades are at chopping food up!

As you can see, I love this Ninja blender and find it well worth the price tag. It gave me hope back in being able to create ice-chunk free smoothies that I so crave!

If you don’t already have one, I highly suggest checking them out; they’re awesome!

Drop Your Pants for #Underwareness and FREE Sample

Drop Your Pants for #Underwareness and FREE Sample

You may be surprised to hear that over 51 million women experience bladder leakage which breaks down to about 1 in 3 women, so unfortunately the odds are stacked against us. I remember starting to experience bladder issues in my early 20’s when I had a catheter done. But, women in their 20s are having more bladder leakage issues than women in their 80’s nowadays. I don’t ever really talk about it since it’s slightly embarrassing, but after realizing I am not the only one who deals with this issue, I feel a whole lot better.

I remember my great aunt in her 60’s having to wear bulky depends that looked like ginormous diapers under her pants. I was terrified that I would have to go down that bulky butt road too, but fortunately I no longer have to be afraid of the depends product because they now have the Depend Silhouette Active Fit Briefs which have a lower rise for an underwear-like look, fit and feel. I like that they’re not WHITE and actually come in black and beige colors in a package so they’re bound to work under any color of clothing without being noticeable.

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Depend is entering year two of Underwareness, a social movement and charitable cause to break down the bladder leakage stigma. As part of Underwareness, the Depend brand is encouraging people to show their support for women with bladder leakage. For every photo and video shared using #Underwareness and featuring Depend products, the Depend brand will donate $1, up to $3 million, through 2016 to fund charities that advance the research and education of bladder leakage.

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Help support this cause by visiting underwareness.com and while you’re there, request a free sample!

5 Cozy Ways to Use Starry LED String Lights Around the House

5 Cozy Ways to Use Starry LED String Lights Around the House


LED string lights are one of those decorations that can be used anywhere, parties, the home, your office cubicle, outside patio, bedrooms, inside glass bowls or even frosted cubes for the holidays. Creating a magical lighting experience for your home with the warm white Starry LED String Lights is essential in making it cozy.

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These particular ones from OakLeaf are crafted from high-quality copper and is designed for both indoors and outdoors. They come with a 5 foot adapter cord + 33 foot of lighting wire with 120 individual LEDs. This makes the starry string lights less intense and easy on the eyes. They are, however, powered by 2 size C batteries, which may be a nuisance to some since it’s not the common double A size.

So even though these take the huge batteries, I like that they take a battery instead of having to be plugged in since it opens up the door for many uses rather than dealing with a hideous outlet cord  showing everywhere and with limitations.

LED String Lights

 

Chandelier Lighting

 

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The downside to the LED Chandelier lighting would be having the battery compartment showing. If you’re a crafty genius, you may just have an idea already in your head on how to hide and incorporate it onto the chandelier, unfortunately, I do not. lol

Luminary Words for Bedrooms

 

LED string lights

A nice way to create bedroom lighting for little ones who may be afraid of the dark.

 

Outside Trees

 

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This is a fun one since it makes the perfect outside getaway. Not only are LED string lights pretty for backyards, but they’re great for night time weddings too!

 

Bed Canopy

 

 

LED string lights

Create a romantic atmosphere by hanging LED string lights behind the canopy of your bed. Perfect mood setter!

 

Around the Frame of a Mirror

 

LED string lights

Us women always need more lighting when getting ready; what better way than putting more lighting around a vanity or full body mirror?

I love these string lights and will be putting them around my curtain frame in my bedroom since the people who built this house decided not to put ceiling lights or any lights in our vaulted bedroom. Who does that!? Cheap builders… ugh. You can find these fabulous LED string lights over on Amazon.

If you can’t feed yourself, don’t have kids

I posted that the other day on Facebook because it seems like those that I know who are on govt assistance just keep producing and producing without preventing. It makes my blood boil knowing people carelessly bring children into the world who don’t give a damn about their well being or their future. How can you bring kids into the world knowing you can’t afford them? Which then led to a comment from a friend that usually these types of people don’t know that planned parenthood gives free contraception, basically free condoms.

 

So it got me thinking that maybe we need to maybe make it aware that there are preventable options out there. You just have to be willing to use it!

Now I’m not going off on people that have recently come on hard times and have to get public assistance (cash, food stamps) for the time being; I’m referring to the people who’ve been on it forever and have no plans to get off of it.

You may call me judgy, but I think of myself as smart.

I’ve worn condoms for 9 years with my husband because we were not ready to have kids. I don’t like pills, patches or shots because it messes with your womanly parts. I eventually wanted kids and I didn’t want any of those issues preventing me.

Guess what, we had no kids, no issues with condoms for those entire 9 years.

You may be thinking yeah lucky you, my condom broke or fell off and I instantly became pregnant. I don’t buy those stories 100% of the time. For most couples trying to conceive, the odds that a woman will become pregnant in any particular month is about 15% to 25%. So you’re going to tell me the first and only time your condom mishap happened resulted in pregnancy? It took me 5 months to get pregnant without a condom.

I know everyone’s different but I still have a hard time believing those stories, especially when it’s someone you know who used to never prevent.

So the point of this post is to use birth control and don’t act surprised or dumb-founded when you realize you’re knocked up from your recklessness.

Planned Parenthood gives free condoms, go get some.

They’ll also give you other forms which are based on your income.

Be smart.

No child deserves to be brought into the world where their parents can’t afford to take care of them when they can’t even take care of themselves.