Kyle's Online Coupons

Let's welcome Kyle back after 2 weeks of being away!! He has a few great ways to help you save more this month!!

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6 Easy Ways To Save $500 Per Month

I was browsing through the August issue of Consumer Reports when I found a very interesting article titled, Cut Your Spending By $500 Per Month. I thought the advice was excellent and included a few tips were worth passing along. According to Consumer Reports, here are the 6 easiest ways to save $500 per month.

1. Find Cheaper Auto Insurance. The idea here is to shop around for a better deal. There are websites like Insurance.com and Insure.com that allow you to compare premiums from a bunch of different providers. Definitely worth a look.

2. Optimize Your Life Insurance. The article points out that premiums on life insurance policies have dropped significantly since the 1990's; may be worth swapping out your current policy for a new one. But the advice I like the most is to adopt a healthier lifestyle and then get a new life insurance quote. Not only will you save money but you will feel so much better.

3. Shop Smart For Food. This includes planning your weekly menu and taking advantage of sales and coupons on fresh poultry, fish, meat, dairy, and produce. Also, pack your lunch with leftovers and eat out less. According to the article, a family of 4 can save $190 per month by doing these things.

4. Stop Paying Bank Fees. The idea with this tip is to bank at a large bank with a ton of ATMs to avoid withdrawal fees. Also, make sure to only use a bank that offers free checking. The article states that 48% of Americans still pay some type of bank fee every month. Pretty easy to eliminate these costs from your monthly expenses.

5. Cell Phone Savings. If you are not a heavy cell phone user you may very well be paying for minutes that go unused every month. The article states that you should "comparison shop among cellular service providers, the local phone company, independent long-distance carriers, and your cable TV company" for the rate that works best for you.

6. Pay Off Your Credit Card. Duh, no way really? So Consumer Reports is telling me that it is silly to pay credit card interest every month. Wow, I had never considered that! ;-)

And of course, I have to add # 7, which is to use online coupons whenever possible! Here are some of the more popular coupons that I have been given for July. Have a fun and safe 4th of July holiday!


JCPenney
Free Shipping on your online order when you spend $49 or more
Coupon Code: JULY4FS
Expiration: 7/07/08
See All: JCPenney Coupon Codes

Disney Shopping
2 Free Disney/Pixar Wall-E Movie Tickets when you spend $75 or more thru this Link
Coupon Code: WALLETKTS
Expiration: 7/06/08
See All: Disney Coupon Codes

Olympic Shop.com
Save 15% Off your online order at the U.S. Olympic Shop
Coupon Code: LKS38LFN
Expiration: 7/31/08

Ann Taylor
Save 20% Off your entire online order for 1 week
Coupon Code: JULY20
Expiration: 7/07/08
See All: Ann Taylor Coupon Codes

The Children's Place
Save 15% Off your online order when you spend $75 or more
Coupon Code: MSAT78
Expiration: 7/05/08
See All: Childrens Place Coupon Codes

Old Navy
Free Shipping on your entire online order (Must use Old Navy Card)
Coupon Code: JUST4YOU
Expiration: 7/15/08
See All: Old Navy Coupon Codes

Nike Store
Save $10 Off your $75 or more online order
Coupon Code: SUMSALE
Expiration: 7/06/08
See All: Nike Coupon Codes

American Eagle Outfitters
Free Shipping on your online order when you spend $50 or more
Coupon Code: 78997291
Expiration: 7/08/08
See All: American Eagle Coupon Codes

Kyle's Online Coupons

We're back with another segment of Kyle's Online Coupons!! And boy are you going to LOVE today's topic!!!

Quick, Unconventional, Ways To Earn Extra Cash

Car low on gas? Late on rent? Bills piling up? Need some quick cash? The other day I stumbled upon an article at AOL Finance titled 25 (Unconventional) Ways To Make Quick Money that I found interesting and quite amusing. Some of the advice is just great, and other tips are simply dumb and financial suicide. So I thought I would document what I think are the 5 smartest ways to make quick money and the 5 dumbest. Drumroll please.....

Five Smartest Ways

1. Sell Stuff on Craig's List or eBay. We all have stuff we don't use laying around the house. One person's junk is another person's treasure. Put it up for sale on Craig's List or eBay. It all adds up.

2. Become A Temp. Show up on time with clean clothes, don't stink, do what they ask with the slightest bit of initiative and they will love ya! That has been my experience. Typically very easy money. Anything north of theft and you will be a hero to the company your are temping for.

3. Have A Yard Sale. This one is similar to #1 above. Having a yard sale is a nice way to not only declutter your life, but also to make a few quick bucks.

4. Make Stuff To Sell. I know a person that has learned how to make jewelry for home and sells it at consignment shops and flea markets and makes a nice income with it. Here is your chance to get creative and make some money. Also look to sell your products online on ebay.com as well as crafty sites like etsy.com.

5. Wrap Your Coins. Just last month I rounded up all the coins in our home, wrapped them up, and I ended up with almost $75. Quick, easy cash!


And Of Course, The Five Dumbest

1. Sign Up For Medical Tests. Risky way to earn money. Typically, you won't know what they are testing for. And run for the hills if the conversation goes like this, "Here is your $10, we are studying eyes, now hold still please."

2. Go Gambling. Dumb, dumb, dumb. No further explanation needed!

3. Take Money From Your IRA. Typically there are major penalties for doing this. Keep in mind folks that tomorrow does not matter, just live for this minute. (Me being sarcastic)

4. Get A Pay Day Loan. If you have a continuing money management problem this is perhaps the dumbest thing you can possible do. These companies typically charge you 15% to 20% interest, ouch!

5. Take In A Boarder. Have an extra room in your house? Rent it out. For some reason, I have a hard time envisioning this working out well. At least try to run a background check first or rent to someone you know.

Now on to the coupon codes. Here are some of the more popular summer coupons to help you save some money. See ya next week!


Shutterfly
Save 20% Off your entire online order
Coupon Code: AF61-URK8
Expiration: 7/09/08
See All: Shutterfly Coupon Codes

MusicSpace
Save 15% Off your entire online order
Coupon Code: NEWMSPACE
Expiration: 6/23/08
See All: MusicSpace Coupon Codes

PetSmart
Save 15% Off your $55 or more online order
Coupon Code: PETWINNER
Expiration: 6/30/08
See All: Petsmart Coupon Codes

Gardeners Supply Co.
Save 15% Off your $50 or more online order
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 6/30/08
See All: Gardeners Supply Coupon Codes

Ann Taylor
Save 30% Off any full-priced Petites order
Coupon Code: PETITE30
Expiration: 6/30/08
See All: Ann Taylor Coupon Codes

Kohl's
Save 10% Off your entire online order
Coupon Code: NEW9536
Expiration: 6/21/08
See All: Kohl's Coupon Codes

Birthday Express
Free Shipping on your $75 or more online order
Coupon Code: UKL-451
Expiration: 7/05/08
See All: Birthday Express Coupon Codes

American Eagle Outfitters
Save 20% Off your entire online order
Coupon Code: 58248203
Expiration: 6/30/08
See All: American Eagle Coupon Codes

~~Posted by Kyle @ Rather be Shopping.

Kyle's Online Coupons

Let's welcome Kyle back with another rousing rendition of Online Coupons!!

Frugal Summer Fun

Hide the cat and inform the neighbors, school is almost out for summer! Say goodbye to peace and quiet and say hello to loud and crazy. But it won't last long as my wife and I keep the kids busy and active all summer without going broke. Here are a few of my favorite frugal summer fun activities.

~ Keep Them Cool and Wet. Last summer I bought a small above ground pool at Wal-Mart for only $39! It holds over 500 gallons and provides hours of fun for the kiddos. Plus, it helps burn a lot of their energy as they splish and splash for hours at a time. Other favorites include sprinklers and the infamous Slip N Slide. TIP: Kids only on the Slip N Slide as I almost broke my hip trying to slide down ours last summer!

~ Family Bike Ride. Typically once a week during the summer, I load up all our bikes in my truck and we head off for a ride on one of the biking trails in our area. I love our bike rides because it is something we can all do together and I have witnessed great family bonding on these outings. The best thing is that once everyone has a bike and helmet, it doesn't cost a cent. Plus, it is great exercise.

~ Check Your Local Library. Our local library has a weekly story time program where kids are invited to come and listen to a story and then do a small related craft project. This is a lot of fun for the kids, totally free, and nicely air conditioned. Check to see if your local library has a similar program. It is a great way to encourage reading, plus they think it is pretty cool checking out their own books every week.

~ Camping Trips. I am a huge fan of taking the family camping. We are heading out next week for our first outing of the year. Precious memories are built sitting around the campfire, your 3 year old with melted marshmallow in her hair, your 6 year old with dirt so thick the only way you can see him is when he smiles, plus it doesn't cost a lot of money.

Help me add to this list and please add your family's favorite summer frugal activity. Now on to the coupons. Here are some of the most used summer coupons I have been given for June.
Shoebuy
Save 20% Off your Online Order PLUS Free Shipping
Coupon Code: FATHERSDAY08
Expiration: 6/16/08
See All: Shoebuy.com Coupon Codes

JCPenney
Free Shipping on your $69 or more Online Order
Coupon Code: FSH4DAD
Expiration: 6/09/08
See All: JCPenney Coupon Codes

American Eagle Outfitters
Save 20% Off your Online Order
Coupon Code: 58248203
Expiration: 6/18/08
See All: American Eagle Coupon Codes

Footlocker
Save 25% Off your Online Order
Coupon Code: LKS18E25
Expiration: 6/06/08
See All: Footlocker Coupon Codes

eBags
Save $10 Off your $50 or more Online Order through this Link
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 6/30/08
See All: eBags Coupon Codes

Orvis (Great for Fathers Day)
Free Shipping on your Entire Online Purchase
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 6/13/08
See All: Orvis Coupon Codes

Office Depot
Save 10% Off your Entire Online Order
Coupon Code: 78445094
Expiration: 7/05/08
See All: Office Depot Coupon Codes

Kyle's Online Coupons

Let's welcome Kyle back with another Great Edition of Kyle's omline Coupons! This week, get prepared for Father's day with some great online coupon codes!!

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Father's Day Coupons

As a sequel to my post a few weeks ago featuring my best Mother's Day coupons, it is only fair that I give the same props to all the Dads out there. For those not in the know, Father's Day is coming up, June 15th to be exact!

I am going to try something a little different with this coupon post and break the online coupons down by category. All 3 categories are close to the heart of most Dads that I know! I hope these coupons help you save some money when shopping for your Father this year.


Tools and Stuff For The Home and Yard

Home Depot
Save $5 Off your $50 or more Online Order
Coupon Code: DAD2008
Expiration: 6/04/08
See All: Home Depot Coupon Codes

Tool King
Save 15% Off your Delta, DeWalt, and Porter Cable Accessory
Coupon Code: TKDPD15
Expiration: 6/15/08
See All: Tool King Coupon Codes

Ace Hardware
Save $20 Off your $125+ order (Discount appears at checkout)
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Ace Hardware Coupon Codes


Golf and Sporting Goods

The Sports Authority
Save 15% Off any Single Item in your purchase thru this Link (Discount appears at checkout)
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 6/15/08
See All: Sports Authority Coupon Codes

Fogdog Sports
Save 15% Off your Entire Online Purchase thru this Link (Discount appears at checkout)
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 6/05/08
See All: Fogdog Coupon Codes

Footlocker
Save 15% Off your Entire Online Purchase
Coupon Code: LKS18M55
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Footlocker Coupon Codes


Personalized Gifts

Snapfish by Hewlett-Packard
Save 20% Off your Photo Gifts order at Snapfish
Coupon Code: THANKSDAD
Expiration: 6/04/08
See All: Snapfish Coupon Codes

Shutterfly
Save $5 Off your $30+ Online Order
Coupon Code: AF48-FEB1
Expiration: 6/11/08
See All: Shutterfly Coupon Codes

Things Remembered
Save 15% Off your Online Purchase
Coupon Code: TRGIFT08
Expiration: 6/30/08
See All: Things Remembered Coupon Codes
hasEML = false;

Posted by Kyle @ Rather Be Shopping. Visit Kyle anytime you need to find an online shopping code!! If you need it, he's got it:)

Kyle's Online Coupons

It's that time again! Kyle is back this week with some Great Frugal Decorating Ideas!!

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My wife and I have been doing some home decorating projects the past few weeks. Which means she has been telling me what to do I have been temporarily obliging. We updated some family pictures hanging on the walls with new frames, painted the family room, and added some new decor to our bathrooms. We didn't spend much money doing these things. We do all the painting ourselves and pick up a lot of our wall decor and various home decor at yard sales, thrift stores, and at Target.com or All Posters.com. Here are a few of my favorite ways to decorate without breaking the bank.

~ De-Clutter and Organize - I walked into a friend's family room a couple weeks ago and said, "Wow, I like what you guys did in here. Is this coffee table new?" She said, "No, we just organized and got rid of a lot of clutter." It totally blew me away. Before you do anything major to a room, first simplify the space by getting rid of clutter, toys, dust collectors, and knick-knacks. I think you will be amazed at the difference it makes. As it turns out, their coffee table was not new, you could just see it now!

~ Find The DaVinci In You - One of the frugaliest ways to change the look of a room is to paint it yourself. If you have a Home Depot in the town you live in, go there on weekends (typically Saturday mornings), and take advantage of their free paint classes. They teach techniques like faux painting and how to pick the right color for your room.

~ Try Re-Arranging First - Instead of going out and buying a bunch of new stuff, first try re-arranging the furniture and wall decor that you do have. You just may be amazed at how much you like the new look.

Please feel free to add to my list! Looking forward to your ideas and comments. Here are some online coupons that hopefully can save you some money on your next decorating project.

All Posters.com
Save 20% Off your Entire Online Purchase
Coupon Code: 82P20
Expiration: 6/20/08
See All: All Posters Coupon Codes

Home Depot.com
Free Ground Shipping on your $49+ Online Order
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 6/18/08
See All: Home Depot Coupon Codes

JCPenney.com
Free Shipping on your $49+ Online Order
Coupon Code: MEMORIAL
Expiration: 5/27/08
See All: JCPenney Coupon Codes

Organize.com
Save $5 Off your $50+ Online Order
Coupon Code: SC1283
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Organize.com Coupon Codes

Bare Walls.com
Save 10% Off All Framed Art and Prints
Coupon Code: RTHRBFR
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Bare Walls Coupon Codes

Lamps Plus.com
Save $5 Off your $50+ Online Order
Coupon Code: 24AFFDC6
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Lamps Plus Coupon Codes

BlindsGalore.com
Save 15% Off your $400+ Online Order + Free Shipping
Coupon Code: NATURAL
Expiration: 5/27/08
See All: Blinds Galore Coupon Codes

Target.com
Save $5 Off your $50+ Online Purchase (Discount Appears at Checkout)
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 6/30/08
See All: Target Coupon Codes

Posted by Kyle @ Rather Be Shopping

Kyle's Online Coupons

Let's welcome Kyle back for his weekly featured post!! This week Kyle reveals the secret that keeps men alive during the summer months with their wives and 6 little magic words! Smart man he is,lol!! (Insert applause here for his dear wife!) Now on the mystery.....

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I realize the name of Jennifer's blog is Sisterly Savings, but on the off chance that a guy might be reading this, I have some timely advice for summer. Never, and I do mean never, say anything bad, or what could be construed as negative in any way, about your wife or girlfriend's swimsuit. If she asks your opinion never deviate from the following sentence, "Yes it looks great on you!" Say it quick, without the slightest bit of hesitation, and move on with your life as quickly as possible.

There is something about a woman and her chosen swimsuit that you just don't want to mess with. Although, in all honesty, I find myself looking in the mirror when I put on my suit to see if it makes my stomach look flabby or soft. I can't believe I just typed that. I think it is because we are at our most vulnerable with our swimsuit on, especially since most of our normally hidden body parts are on display. Geez, with that said, I had better start working out again as summer is right around the corner!

Here are some online coupons that can help you get ready for summer and save you some money:

Ann Taylor Loft
Save 25% Off your Entire Online Purchase + Free Shipping
Coupon Code: 104010029
Expiration: 5/18/08
See All: Ann Taylor Loft Coupon Codes

American Eagle Outfitters (Popular Swimwear)
Save 20% Off your Online Purchase
Coupon Code: 46561422
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: American Eagle Coupon Codes

Chadwick's (Popular Women's Clothing/Swimwear)
Save 40% Off Any Item in your Online Order
Coupon Code: CHMAY40
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Chadwicks Coupon Codes

Lane Bryant
Save 20% Off your Entire Online Order
Coupon Code: 000203838
Expiration: 6/01/08
See All: Lane Bryant Coupon Codes

Jessica London
Save 20% Off your first item and 25% Off your second item
Coupon Code: JLA4794
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Jessica London Coupon Codes

Catherine's Plus Sizes
Save 20% Off your Entire Online Purchase
Coupon Code: 776930802
Expiration: 8/27/08
See All: Catherines Coupon Codes

Woman Within
Save $20 Off your $80 or more Online Purchase
Coupon Code: WW20530
Expiration: 6/30/08
See All: Woman Within Coupon Codes

Delia's
Free Shipping on your $25 or more Online Purchase
Coupon Code: DWFAFF
Expiration: 6/11/08
See All: Delias Coupon Codes

Posted by Kyle @ Rather Be Shopping!

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Hey Kyle, how about sending us some pictures of you clad in your swimsuit? How about it ladies?? Mrs Kyle, we are just teasing, you have an excellent hubby who is smart ( credit given soley unto you!!)

Thank you kyle for another great and fun post, we'll see you next week!!

Kyle's Online Coupons

Happy Friday Everyone!! Let's welcome Kyle back for his weekly Online Coupons Segment! Which was supposed to be yesterday but I inadvertently thought that today was Thursday! Can you tell its been a rough week for us?? Yup, the girls had Lacrosse games twice this week and the the Bake sale for school among other things. Can I just tell you I'm glad that its Friday!! Now on to our wonderfule Guest who explains why going cheap isn't always such a great idea!!

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Sometimes It Pays To Not Go Cheap

I have discovered that there are times when it pays to spend more money for high quality products. Unfortunately, I have learned this the hard way. The cheapest option is not always the best because in the long run you will end up spending more in either repair or replacement costs. Here are some glaring examples from my own personal experience.

~ Furniture. Once my wife and I bought a coffee table that was a 'put-it-together-yourself' special. Once I finally got the thing together it only lasted a few months. Every time you put your feet up on it, the wobbling and shaking began. It felt like it was going to collapse right under your feet! The sad thing was we only had to spend an extra $50 to get the table that we have now that will last forever. Another tip: Old furniture is often very high quality and worth getting re-finished. Keep your eye out at garage sales and thrift stores for vintage furniture as it often still has a lot of life left in it.

~ Small Household Appliances. Two that stick out in my mind include our old coffee pot and clothing iron. Unfortunately, we went cheap when we first got married and we got burned. Specifically, burnt coffee and a burnt shirt!

~ Clothing (Especially Shirts). Speaking of shirts, as a taller guy, if I buy no-name shirts they look like the popular half-shirt from the early 1980's after a couple trips through the washing machine and dryer. I will happily spend a little more to buy Hanes or Jockey shirts that will actually maintain their original size!

What are some things that you will happily spend a little extra money on to insure decent quality? Here are some coupons that can help you save some money on quality stuff. If your favorite store is not listed please feel free to contact me and I will find you a coupon code!


Eddie Bauer (I love their shirts!)
Save 20% Off your Entire Online Purchase
Coupon Code: SUMACQ8
Expiration: 5/26/08
See All: Eddie Bauer Coupon Codes

Home Depot (Quality small appliances)
Save $5 Off your $50 or more Online Purchase
Coupon Code: SPRING21
Expiration: 5/11/08
See All: Home Depot Coupon Codes

Target
Save $5 Off your $50 or more Online Purchase (Discount appears at checkout)
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 6/30/08
See All: Target Coupon Codes

Kohl's
Save 10% Off your Entire Online Order
Coupon Code: NEW5459
Expiration: 5/10/08
See All: Kohls Coupon Codes

Shoebuy (Quality shoes are important!)
Save 20% Off your Entire Online Purchase
Coupon Code: MOTHERSDAY08
Expiration: 5/12/08
See All: Shoebuy.com Coupon Codes

The Company Store
Save 10% Off your Entire Online Purchase
Coupon Code: AFDSAVE10
Expiration: 5/11/08
See All: Company Store Coupon Codes

JCPenney (Quality in every department)
Save 20% Off your $75 or more Online Purchase
Coupon Code: WKIT842
Expiration: 5/25/08
See All: JCPenney Coupon Codes
hasEML = false;

~Posted by Kyle

Kyle's Online Coupons

Let's all welcome Kyle back with his Fantastic Frugaliscious Online Codes! Today's Theme: Mother's day!!!~~~

Believe it or not, Mother's Day is just around the corner, May 11th to be exact! With that in mind, I wanted to pass along some coupons that could save you some money when shopping for Mom this year. But first a fun little list that may inspire your creativity. I proudly present the top 5 gifts my kids and I have given to my wife for Mother's Day the past few years.

1. Photo Calendar from Shutterfly.com. My wife loved it! It had pictures of the kids and the family doing various activities. Plus Shutterfly let's you customize the pictures, colors, and fonts to make it really cool.

2. Music Mix. The kids and I used iTunes and made her a music mix on a CD that she still listens to in the minivan.

3. Breakfast In Bed. A classic! We do it every year and the kids have a fun and VERY messy time.

4. Fresh Cut Flowers. Not very original, but she loves flowers. I have used 1-800-Flowers and have been very happy with their service.

5. Car Wash. I will help the kids wash her car and then they will leave sticky notes to her all over the inside along with some balloons. We have done this twice and it was a HUGE hit both times!

Now on with some money saving coupons for Mother's Day 2008!

Shutterfly
Save 25% Off your Photo Books order
Coupon Code: AF47-SAVE
Expiration: 5/05/08
See All: Shutterfly Coupon Codes

1-800-Flowers
Save 10% Off your Entire Online Purchase
Coupon Code: RATHERBESHOPPING
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: 1-800-Flowers Coupon Codes

Snapfish (Similar to Shutterfly)
Save $10 Off your $30 or more Online Purchase
Coupon Code: CCABAPR
Expiration: 5/03/08
See All: Snapfish Coupon Codes

David's Cookies
Save 15% Off your Entire Online Order + Free Shipping (These cookies are awesome!)
Coupon Code: MOM15B
Expiration: 5/07/08
See All: Davids Cookies Coupon Codes

Lillian Vernon
Save 15% Off your $75 or more Online Purchase
Coupon Code: 458830100
Expiration: 5/31/08
See All: Lillian Vernon Coupon Codes

Red Envelope
Free Shipping on your $75 or more Online Purchase
Coupon Code: MDAYGIFTS
Expiration: 5/07/08
See All: Red Envelope Coupon Codes

JCPenney
Free Shipping on your $69 or more Online Purchase
Coupon Code: EAGLE
Expiration: 5/04/08
See All: JCPenney Coupon Codes

Hickory Farms
Save 10% Off your Entire Online Order
Coupon Code: MOM
Expiration: 5/12/08
See All: Hickory Farms Coupon Codes



Posted By Kyle from Rather Be Shopping.
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Thanks Kyle for all the Great Info! Now is the time is to start getting geared up for Mother's Day in order to Save Big!! Here's a few more added to the list:

Mother's Day Gifts for $5 & Under

DesignerGifts has over 300 items under $5, great ideas for filling up baskets for Mother's Day!

For some in- store shopping, Big Lots has some really Great, Inexpensive Gift Ideas.

Sentimental Books always make a nice gift, and HugSomeone has a nice selection at reasonable prices (I really want "14,000 Things to Be Happy About")

Here's a few Tempting Gifts Catergorized by Price range: $5, $10, $20 and "Splurge"!

Do you have any Shopping finds that are Frugally Fantastic?

Kyle's Online Coupons

Let's welcome Kyle again this this week for another great post!!

I stumbled upon an article on Yahoo! Finance the other day that documented '5 Ways To Save $1,000 Per Year', that I thought was very interesting and may be of use to you. I think the article has some solid advice which points to some fairly simple ways to reduce spending in your everyday life. Here are the major bullet-points followed by a little commentary by yours truly.

1- Drink Plenty of Water. The article points out that you can save a ton of money by drinking water the majority of the time. I think this is good advice, especially at restaurants where a soda often runs $2 and beer or wine averages around $4.50 each. Not to mention the health benefits of drinking a lot of water.

2- Drive Smart. By combining trips and planning your errands you can save gas by not driving the same route more than once a day. Simple enough. But the article missed some much bigger points. To get better gas mileage and save money you should drive the speed limit, keep tires properly inflated, maintain your vehicle, and use quality motor oil. Not only will you get better gas mileage but your car should last longer.

3- Thrift-Shop. Why pay $75 for a pair of jeans that have holes in them when you can find a similar pair at your local thrift shop for $5? Enough said.

4- Do Stuff Around The House Yourself. Get rid of the maid service, the lawn service, the pool service, etc., and do it yourself. Simple enough. Although my wife and I have none of these so it is kind of silly advice. People that have a maid service and a crystal clear pool would probably never seek out this article.

5- Cancel Expensive Services. This is my favorite piece of advice that is often the hardest to follow. The two examples that come to mind include the gym membership you rarely use and the 250 channel, cable subscription, of which you only watch 15 channels. By canceling the gym membership it does not mean you are giving up on ever being in shape, it just means you are going to start finding free alternatives like walking the neighborhood and going on bike rides.

What tips would you add to this list? Looking forward to reading your comments! And I will go ahead and throw in #6, which is to use coupons on as many purchases as possible. The coupons are there for the taking, and here are a few good ones I found during the past week.

1-800-Flowers.com
Buy 15 Tulips, get 15 FREE + FREE vase & chocolates thru this Link
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 4/28/08
See All: 1-800-Flowers Coupon Codes

Fashion Bug.com
Save 15% Off your Online Order thru this Link
Coupon Code: 776214603
Expiration: 6/18/08
See All: Fashion Bug Coupon Codes

All Posters.com
Save 25% Off your Entire Online Purchase
Coupon Code: EARTH
Expiration: 4/24/08
See All: All Posters Coupon Codes

Children's Place.com
Save 15% Off your Entire Online Order
Coupon Code: S1A48
Expiration: 5/04/08
See All: Childrens Place Coupon Codes

Ann Taylor.com
Save 20% Off your order of Full-Priced Items
Coupon Code: 104007215
Expiration: 4/27/08
See All: Ann Taylor Coupon Codes

One Step Ahead.com
Save 15% Off your Entire Online Order
Coupon Code: BDAYAPRL
Expiration: 4/30/08
See All: One Step Ahead Coupon Codes

Kohl's.com
Save 10% Off your Entire Online Order
Coupon Code: new9710
Expiration: 4/26/08
See All: Kohls Coupon Codes

Posted by Kyle at Rather Be Shopping!!

New Thursday Feature

With the help of our new Guest Blogger, Kyle James, we are adding a new Weekly Feature called "Kyle's Online Coupons" that will hopefully help you stretch your dollar even further online.

I know a lot of us tend to do at least some online shopping at 1 point or another because of the convenience it affords: You can shop at any time and you don't have to leave home (the best part in my opinion)! I love finding bargains online and of course there are the online coupon codes to be found! That in itself is a e another job which is where our Kyle fits right in:)

He'll post some of his great finds here every Thursday for Eternity and if you crave some of his online shopping expertise during the week and go into withdrawal you can always visit him at his home, Rather-Be- Shopping (Subliminal Message Hidden in Title) anytime! Be sure to tell him I sent you:)



Please give him some Sisterly Love and Welcome him to our Family ladies!! (Applause)

Kyle's Online Coupons

I want to thank Jennifer for giving me the opportunity to do a 'coupons' feature on her terrific blog. Very exciting opportunity. A little about me, my name is Kyle James, I live in northern California with my wife and 3 young kids. I own and operate a website called Rather-Be-Shopping.com which specializes in online coupons for over 500 stores, organized in 23 shopping categories. I also have a blog where I write about frugal living, tips on saving money, and other musings about family life.

Now that the preliminaries are out of the way, it is funny how people naturally assume that I must love to shop if I own a website called Rather-Be-Shopping. Actually, I am the average guy who hates to shop! The idea of going to the mall with my wife sends cold shivers down my spine. When I started my website 7 years ago, I though the name Rather-Be-Shopping would help attract people to my site who do indeed like to shop and could take advantage of my online coupons to save some money.

When I am actually "forced" to do some shopping at Christmas, kid's birthdays, or my wife's birthday, I opt for doing it online everytime. No driving. No walking. No talking. No standing. No listening. No bad music. No lines. No gasoline. You get the point. Plus, when shopping online you can very quickly do price comparisons at websites like Price Grabber.com, Biz Rate.com and My Simon.com to insure you get the best price available. I also like to use sites like Amazon.com to read product reviews from people who actually own the item and are giving their honest assessment. The vast amount of information at your fingertips really empowers you to make sure you are getting the best product at the best price.

I have had a lot of luck finding great deals at websites that specialize in selling name brands at clearance prices, often at over 60% off. They are kind of like the Ross or Marshalls of the online world. In many cases they may be last seasons model, but who cares. I could care less if the toaster is not the newest model that also brews your coffee and butters your toast. I just want something that is going to make my toast crunchy and brown! The sites I use the most are Overstock.com, Classic Closeouts.com, and Smart Bargains.com. The sell clothing, electronics, jewelry, sporting goods, furniture, and more. The cool thing is that in addition to their low prices, they also have coupons for you to use. Here are some online coupons they are currently offering, plus a few others that you might be able to take advantage of.

Smart Bargains.com
Save 12% off your Online Order thru this Link (New Customers Only)
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 4/30/08
See All: Smart Bargains Coupon Codes

Overstock.com
Save 5% Off your Online Order + Free Shipping thru this Link
Coupon Code: None Needed
Expiration: 4/21/08
See All: Overstock Coupon Codes

Classic Closeouts.com
Save $10 Off your $40+ Online Purchase
Coupon Code: SPWBTNS
Expiration: 4/20/08
See All: Classic Closeouts Coupon Codes

Old Navy.com
Save 20% Off your Order when you use your Old Navy or Gap Credit Card
Coupon Code: STUFFSAVE
Expiration: 4/24/08
See All: Old Navy Coupon Codes

JCPenney.com
Save 15% Off your Online Order at JCPenney.com
Coupon Code: SURVAPR
Expiration: 4/22/08
See All: JCPenney Coupon Codes

Lane Bryant.com
Save 20% Off your Entire Online Order
Coupon Code: 00203838
Expiration: 6/01/08
See All: Lane Bryant Coupon Codes

Snapfish.com
Save 20% Off Personalized Gifts for Mom for Mother's Day (Hint..Hint!)
Coupon Code: MOM20
Expiration: 4/26/08
See All: Snapfish Coupon Codes

If you are going to shop anyways for stuff you need, there is no sense paying full price. But everyone that visits Sisterly Savings already knew that! Have a great weekend.

**Posted by Kyle**