In this economy many consumers are now purchasing products as they are needed. In order to save yourselves thousands every year, plan ahead and stay organized. You’ll thank me later!

GIFTS

Take a few minutes after you read this post to make a list of upcoming birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and special occasions. My list looks like this:

- Gift Certificate for Birthday Dinners
- Boot Camp Graduation Present for my Brother, Eric – unsure
- Christmas Gifts – (list names and what you’d like to purchase)
Parents – Trip to Biltmore Estates, Portraits of Kids,
Siblings – Gift Certificate for dinner, Make Coupon to Watch Kiddies
Mini Me – Power Wheels, Playskool Camera, Clothes, Shoes
Cousins – Wii games, books, Clothes (6m girl, 6 boy), board games
- Upcoming Birthday Gifts
Friend turning 40, Jason’s, my Hubby’s, bday, BFF’s kiddie turning 1, Mini Me’s 3rd Birthday
- 1 Year Wedding Anniversary Gift for Jason
- Kids Birthday Gifts throughout the year (again, list names of kids friends)

Now that I’ve got my list of gifts I need to purchase I’ll be on the lookout for deals. For example, the next time Restaurant.com runs their 80% off discount, I’m going to purchase a few gift certificates. My greatest best kept secret for kids gifts is Target. If you walk along the outside of the toy department you’re bound to find toys that are on clearance. I go to the toy department every time I’m at Target, you just never know what you’re going to find!

Also, Ebates.com is another secret a lot of us “professional couponers” often shop through. You earn cash back on purchases that you’re already making online. For example, click through JcPenney and you’ll earn 3% cash back! If you sign up now, you’ll automatically receive a $5 credit in your account. I use Ebates.com throughout the year and save up for Christmas gifts that I’ll purchase in November!

Do you like Swag? Well, Swagbucks.com that is! If you don’t know what Swagbucks.com is, I’ll tell ya. It’s a search engne that is powered by Google. You get rewarded in Swag Bucks just by searching the internet. Also, keep in mind that Friday is “Mega Swag Bucks Day”, where you’re rewarded with a lot higher payouts. Now you don’t win everytime you search, but, you win often! I can’t even tell ya how many Swag Bucks I’ve cashed in over the past year. I know I’ve cashed in at least $50 for Amazon.com gift cards, $20 in Target gift cards and currently have over 2,800 Swag Bucks that I’m gonna cash in to help with the upcoming holidays.

GROCERIES

Now that the season’s are changing, so does my menu. We eat a lot of soups, chili’s and comfort foods in the fall and winter. I can’t stand eating soup in the summer, just doesn’t feel right to me! So now I’m on the hunt for sales to match with coupons to grow my fall and winter stockpile.

Things on my list include:
- Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom soups
- Canned Tomatoes
- Pam cooking spray
- Nestle Morsels (Holiday Baking!)
- Vegetable Oil
- Lasagna Noodles
- Coffee-Mate Creamer (drink a lot more coffee and I can freeze!)
- Hamburger
- Chicken
- Frozen veggies (may purchase from local farmer and freeze)

By making a list I have been through my cabinets and know what I need and don’t need. Plus, it helps me to make meals with items that I already have on hand so that I don’t have to throw them away from being expired. By doing this, it saves a lot of money!

Once I find a great sale to pair with a coupon, I’m bound to stockpile these items. It saves me time by not running to the grocery store and money by purchasing at the lowest cost possible!

HOME ESSENTIALS

Take a look at your hall closet. Chances are that you only have a few rolls of toilet paper, maybe a bottle or two of shampoo and body wash and maybe one thing of deodorant. I’m willing to bet that you probably paid for all of that stuff too!

I’m hear to tell ya that there are a lot of things that you can stockpile when it’s FREE! Yes, majority of household products and health and beauty items can be picked up for FREE every week. Now, laundry detergents and paper products such as tissues, paper plates and toilet paper are products that you can pick up for free when a sale comes around. This is usually twice a year so be sure to stockup when you can! However, I’ve been having to purchase toilet paper these past few months and it pains me to do so!

In the next month or so household fragrances and candles are going to be cheap if not free. These are great items to put into gift baskets or your bed/bath rooms. By being a smart shopper you’re also going to be able to give more and it makes the soul feel great.

APPLIANCES & ELECTRONICS

All I have to say is Black Friday! Right before, on and after Black Friday is when you will get the best deals of the year on appliances and electronics. The past 2 years Sears and Home Depot have had the best deals on front loader washer and dryers. Electronics are also very popular during the holiday shopping season. So stay tuned to CincinnatiCoupons.net for the deals on these items! I’ll be sure to help you save this upcoming holiday season.

When you plan ahead to make a purchase, think about paying cash for it rather than putting it onto a credit card. If you don’t NEED it, don’t buy it. This is another way to save yourselves thousands of dollars a year. By not paying that credit card interest rate, it’s bound to save you a couple hundred dollar a year, alone.

The only debt Jason, my hubby, and I have is our home loan. I am so grateful to never have gotten into credit card debt. If we can’t pay cash for it, we don’t buy it. So the next time you’re in the market for a big ticket item, stop purchasing those morning coffees. That $5 a day for coffees on your way into work adds up to $1,305 a year. Put that $5 away and save for that new tv, the new gaming system for the kids or even a Disney Vaca!

This is the last of the Addicted To Savings Series. If you’ve missed any week’s be sure to check them out. There are 10 other greats posts that you won’t want to miss.
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