Stick to a Tight Budget for Variable Expenses

Stick to a Tight Budget

I am blogging on behalf of Visa Prepaid and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa’s. Discover more at http://www.VisaPrepaid.com or view more Visa Prepaid videos at http://www.youtube.com/visaprepaid.

Stick to a Tight Budget

How do you stick to a tight budget for variable expenses like clothing? It’s so easy to impulse buy, especially for the kids. For years, I shopped the big consignment sales or yard sales for my kids’ clothing, but now that they’re older, it’s very difficult to find used clothing in great condition. I’ve switched to online shopping for my kids’ clothing, but I still buy low and stick to my monthly budget. Try these strategies:

  • Shop off-season: You can get clearance prices at the end of season for clothing like swimsuits and shorts. By buying a size or two up, get winter wear for your kids in the spring.
  • Shop clearance sections: Every online store has a tab for clearance and sale merchandise. I usually buy multiples of the same item once I know it fits my kids well.
  • Watch for free shipping and other offers: Sign up for emails from your favorite online retailers, and you’ll be notified for free shipping and offers like $40 of $100 that bring your clothing prices down even further. I always shop smart online by combining free shipping with coupon codes and shopping through a cashback portal like Ebates.
  • Set and stick to a budget: I have an amount set monthly for our clothing budget, and I work within it to replace shoes and clothing for all five of us. It can be challenging!

stick to a tight budget

One tool to help you stick to a tight budget when shopping online is the Visa Prepaid Card. You can load your card with a set amount, and use it at stores locally or online when shopping for your family. Look how easy it is to activate and load your card:

With a Visa Prepaid card, you can stick to any of your variable budget categories each month–clothing, grocery shopping, eating out, etc.–just by loading an amount and sticking to it.

How do you stick to a tight budget for variable expenses?

 

Original image by LizMarie_AK at Flickr

Disclosure: I am blogging on behalf of Visa Prepaid and received compensation for my time from Visa for sharing my views in this post, but the views expressed here are solely mine, not Visa’s. Discover more at http://www.VisaPrepaid.com or view more Visa Prepaid videos at http://www.youtube.com/visaprepaid.

Free Photo Greeting Cards from Shutterfly

Grad Announcement

Get 10 FREE Photo Greeting Cards from Shutterfly when you use coupon code SPRINGCARDS at checkout. Choose from a huge selection of 6×8 (new size!), 5×7, 5×5, or 4×8 flat stationery cards, or 5×7 folded greeting cards. Make them all the same, or do 10 different cards. You will need to pay shipping, which is around $5.99. Think of all the reasons you’ll need cards in the next few months: Teacher Appreciation Week, Birthdays, Mother’s Day, and Graduation.

free photo greeting cards

This offer is only good through midnight PST on Monday, April 8th, so head over to Shutterfly to get started. What will you choose for your FREE Photo Greeting Cards?

 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting MoneywiseMoms at no cost to you!

Today only–20% off and Free Shipping at Children’s Place

Birthday Girl Tee

Birthday ShirtToday only, February 14th, get 20% off and FREE shipping at Children’s Place online when you use coupon code LINCOLN at checkout to see the discount. You can also print a coupon to get that discount at the store. I love the big selection of Birthday Girl tees!

I’ve been waiting for a good sale on short-sleeved tees to replace the ones my kids grew out of last year, so the timing is perfect for me. Plus, my son needed new jeans, and they’re just $11.20 shipped. The coupon code works on the clearance and sale sections, too.

Remember that you can shop through Ebates to get 2.5% cash back on your online order. Here’s how:

  1. Login to your Ebates account and enter Children’s Place into the search window.
  2. Click on “Shop Now” to open a tracking ticket; that’s how Ebates keeps track of your cashback during the sale.
  3. Do your shopping: remember to use code LINCOLN to get 20% off and FREE Shipping on your order. Then, complete your purchase.
  4. When your order ships, you’ll see your 2.5% cashback posted to your Ebates account.
*Thank you for using my referral link!

Free Shipping Day 12/17

Free Shipping Day

This Monday, December 17th, is Free Shipping Day, with more than 1,500 online retailers offering FREE shipping with guaranteed delivery by Christmas Eve. Many sites are offering FREE shipping with no minimum purchase, but be sure to check the home page of your store. Often, the FREE shipping is automatic, which allows you to use other coupon codes.

 

Remember to shop through Ebates to find coupon codes and earn cash back on your online purchase. And, if you’re a new member, you earn a FREE $10 Gift Card when you spend $25+ in your first 90 days.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting MoneywiseMoms at no cost to you!

Sears Last Minute Gift Grab on December 17th

Shop Your Way Grab Bag

Shop Your Way Grab Bag

This Monday, December 17th, Sears is offering an exclusive online Last-Minute Gift Grab just for Shop Your Way Rewards members. The sale starts at 1:00am CST and runs through 11:59pm CST, and you’ll find amazing deals to finish off your gift list, plus get FREE shipping on orders over $59.

This online event is members-only, so sign up to be a Shop Your Way member if you haven’t already. It’s FREE to sign up, and you’ll find coupons and great prices as well as this exclusive sale next week. You also earn points for the shopping you do at Sears and other retailers.

 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with http://brandfluential.com, I am a Sears blogger, though all opinions are my own.

$40 off $100 at Lands End with FREE Shipping

Lands End

It’s one of my favorite deals of the year–get $40 off a $100 order with FREE Shipping at Lands End, through midnight on Wednesday, December 12th. Just use coupon code CANDYCANE and pin 5025 at checkout to see your savings. If you spend just a tad over $100, it’s like getting 40% off your order (that’s what I do!).

I picked out some cardigan sweaters for my girls on sale for $19.99, so they’re just $11.99 after the coupon code. Cardigans can be worn three full seasons, and they help us stretch our clothing budget dollars by layering with other clothes. This is also a great promo to use on quality Lands End Outerwear–their jackets and parkas last for years (my son is on his third year with his!).

 

I always combine Lands End sales with Ebates to get 6% cash back on  my online shopping. Here’s how you do it:

  1. Login to your Ebates account  (or sign up as a new member*) and enter LandsEnd into the search window.
  2. Click on “Shop Now” to open a tracking ticket; that’s how Ebates keeps track of your cashback during the sale.
  3. Do your shopping: remember to use code APPLE and pin 2930 to get 25% off and FREE Shipping on your $50+ order. Then, complete your purchase.
  4. By tomorrow, you’ll see your 6% cashback posted to your Ebates account, and if you ordered more than $25, you’ll also get your FREE $10 Gift Card as a new Ebates shopper*.

*New Ebates Members earn a FREE $10 gift card when they place a $25+ order in their first 90 days.

Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. Thanks for supporting MoneywiseMoms at no additional cost to you!

Family Movies under $5 from Amazon

The Iron Giant

If you’re putting together a family gift for relatives–consider a selection of family movies under $5. You can package them up with some popcorn and boxed candy and make a very frugal gift!  All of these family movies are currently under $5 at Amazon:

The Iron Giant is one of my family’s favorite movies, and I think most people have never heard of it. It’s animated but is not a typical children’s animated movie; instead it’s a complex story that plays out narratively just as a live-action film would. Set in the late ’50′s, it’s the story of a young boy who befriends a giant robot that crashes onto Earth and has to protect him from the government and military. Warning–you will cry at the end.

We love everything from the Aardman Animations studio, and Wallace & Gromit shorts are our favorites. This short film, Wallace & Gromit: The Wrong Trousers, won an Academy Award and is done in old-school clay animation (they don’t do that anymore!). It’s amazing how much communication there is between the dog (Gromit) and his person (Wallace), just by facial expression. The story is hilarious, and you’ll watch it over and over.

We’re reading Tolkien’s The Hobbit to the kids right now, and it’s making me want to re-watch all three of the Lord of the Rings films again–they’re under $4 each on DVD! I think these are too scary for my kids, but if you have tweens or teens, it’s a great film series. Start with The Fellowship of the Ring, then move on to The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

It’s old-school, it’s the original, and it’s the one I love the best. Not only is Gene Wilder wonderful in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, but this is the musical version! You get “The Candy Man,” Wilder singing “Pure Imagination,” and my kids’ favorite–the “Oompa Loompa Song.” This is such a fun movie to watch together. If you prefer the recent remake by Tim Burton version starring Johnny Depp, that Charlie & the Chocolate Factory is just $3.99 as well.

I’m now flying my nerd flag nice and high. I love this version of Annie. I love Carol Burnett, I love Tim Curry, and I love Albert Finney. I know the “Tomorrow” song is annoying, but all the others are great. My sisters and I reenacted all the song & dance numbers from this movie many times when we were young. It’s part of my childhood, and I will force my children to watch it with me many times while I sing along under my breath.

Have you read the Harry Potter books as a family yet? If so, start into the fabulous film series with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which is just $3.99. Several others in the series are $3.99 as well.

 

Oh, there are so many good ones under $5! I also like The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Tale of Despereaux, and Dr. Seuss’s Horton Hears a Who!

Inexpensive movies also make a nice stocking stuffer–if you’re shopping for teens or adults, find more movies under $5 at Amazon.

 

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting MoneywiseMoms at no additional cost to you!

18×24 Canvas just $32.99 Shipped!

Canvas People

I’ve been keeping an eye out for photo canvas deals, and this is the lowest price I’ve seen this season! Get an 18×24 Photo Canvas for just $32.99 shipped from Canvas People, and if you order today, they guarantee delivery by Christmas. Just upload your photo and follow their simple steps. I’ve used them many times in the past few years and have been very happy with the quality.

 

If you don’t have a photo in mind, consider making a piece of wall art. I love this free printable from eighteen25. You can choose your favorite color and have it shipped to you or right to the recipient. What a great gift! I also made a baby shower gift using an ABC printable earlier this year.

If you’re looking for a larger-sized canvas, you can order a 16×20 Photo Canvas for just $39 shipped from Canvas People.

Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. Thanks for supporting MoneywiseMoms at no additional cost to you!

Still available! $5 off $25 at Amazon

Amazon Logo

Through midnight on Sunday, December 9th, get $5 off a $25+ purchase at Amazon. I used mine this morning to order a board game for my husband. It’s so rare to get a coupon for Amazon–yippee!
You do need a Facebook account to get this coupon. You can uncheck that box that subscribes you to Amazon’s Deal of the Day as well. Go get your coupon!

 

Disclosure: This post contains my Amazon affiliate link. Thanks for supporting MoneywiseMoms at no additional cost to you!

 

Photo Calendar from Vistaprint just pay shipping

Wall Calendar

 

Get a FREE Photo Wall Calendar from Vistaprint, and pay just $5.32 for shipping. This is a good weekend to get this project done so it’s processed and shipped in time for Christmas. There are over 300 designs to choose from, so pick a favorite color or theme and upload your photos for a personalized calendar. If you’re making a calendar for your child, choose one of their exclusive Nickelodeon designs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you haven’t ordered from Vistaprint before, their website is very easy to use. After you proof your labels, be sure and check “No, Thank You,” to the message about receiving emails and other offers, and use your “junk” email account when you order.


Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. Thanks for supporting MoneywiseMoms at no additional cost to you!

 

NCAA Tees just $7.99 Shipped

NCAA Shirts

Great gift alert! Get Men’s NCAA Short-Sleeved Tees for just $7.99 shipped from Finish Line. Check the clearance section for your favorite team, then use coupon code FALLFS12 to get FREE Shipping at checkout. There are a number of other good deals in the clearance section, like Men’s Logo Henlesys for $9.99, so take a look.

 

Remember that every time you shop online, you can earn cash back with Ebates. At Finishline, you earn 5% cash back. Here’s how:

  1. Login to your Ebates account and enter FinishLine into the search window.
  2. Click on “Shop Now” to open a tracking ticket; that’s how Ebates keeps track of your cashback during the sale.
  3. Do your shopping: remember to use code FALLFS12 to get FREE Shipping on your order. Then, complete your purchase.
  4. When your order ships, you’ll see your 5% cashback posted to your Ebates account. If you’re new to Ebates, you’ll also earn a FREE $10 Gift Card when you place your first $25+ order in your first three months.

 

Disclosure: This post contains an affiliate link. Thanks for supporting MoneywiseMoms at no additional cost to you!