JeepMom Savings

Ok, you all know, I'm a Purex Insider. That means every so often I get products from Purex to try before they hit the market. This latest one caught me by suprise to say the least. It's the same, great quality Purex that I've been using for a while. What makes it different though is the scent. It smells like fresh baked cookies. Yes, that's right, fresh baked cookies. The scent is mild, not over powering. I'll admit, I'm wondering if I will gain weight or start to bake more though if I'm wearing clothes that smell like cookies. I know when I use my scented wax burner that smells like cookies, I'm inspired to bake. I also wonder if I will attract animals with the scent. The kids think it's fun to smell like cookies. Hubby just thinks it's odd. I'm not exactly sure when this will hit the market, but you will have to check it out for yourself!

I have two daughters; school is just around the corner. The girls are entering first and third grade. Each one has their own unique style. Taylor tends to be sportier, she will wear skorts, skirts and dresses but they are guaranteed to get dirty. Emma, the younger of the two loves her dresses and is a total girly girl.

Taylor likes for me to give her choices the night before she goes to school Emma likes to pick her own clothes. Taylor is always matching because I help her. Emma on the other hand, looks like a six year old picking out her own clothes.

With Taylor, I take her shopping so she can choose and approve her clothes. I made the mistake of purchasing her a shirt that she refused to wear more than one time. It was a Bart Simpson shirt, I loved it. I have a feeling some kid said something to her and then she never wanted to wear it again.

Emma, I have learned, to find mix-and-match styles. Many stores carry shorts/pants that match with multiple shirts. This works out great other than when Emma puts a pink stripe with a pink floral because in her mind they are both pink, thus they match.

Taylor’s hair is always in a head band. I started putting them in her hair in first grade when we decided to let her bangs grow out. Once in a while she will let me put her hair in a pony tail. The poor kid has her mother’s (mine) hair. It’s thick and brown, it’s a nightmare to brush.

Emma’s hair is the hair that I always dreamed of. She has straight as a board thin blonde hair. It has the natural high and low lights that women spend tons of money at a salon to have. If I didn’t love it on her so much, I would be tempted to cut it off and make a wig for myself, lol.

Shoes are the bane of my existence during the school year!!! My goal for this year to keep track of shoes better! Taylor just wants plain tennis shoes for every day. Emma however, wants different shoes for each day of the week.

All of this being said, I am looking forward to back to school shopping for both of the girls! I always loved getting new outfits before school started and love the tradition of taking them shopping to pick out that first day outfit!

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and jcpenney blogging program, for a gift card worth $50. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

I've been a Sam's Club Member for years now. My husband owns a business (Taboo Customs - check it out by clicking here) I was recently on Sam's Club Facebook Page, while under discussions there was a woman who asked for honest reviews about Sam's Club memberships. Being the honest person I am, here is what transpired:

Jen Bell

I've had a business membership for years. I've seen the good & bad. I've had "the cake from hell" expierence three different times with my one store.

1) My daughter's carebear rainbow cupcake cake was not a rainbow, they put it in too small of a box and it turned into a gay pride cake. (We were not offended, just mad they were too lazy to find the right size box.

2)Special ordered a cake, it was so bad I left it at the club and bought another cake elsewhere.

3)I went to get "stock" cupcakes for my class but all they had were swords and plain. They refused to put picks into the plain ones.

The bakery sucks, just avoid special orders. Period.

The good is the money you save, or the convience of buying items in bulk.

Sam's Club

We are sorry about your bakery experiences, Jen. Please let us know which Club you shop with so we can forward your feedback to Club Management.

Jen Bell

I've talked to club management and they do nothing. They seem to accept the poor quality of service they provide. It needs to be sent above the store level. It's sad because it would be a great value. I am now to the point of paying more for fewer cupcakes at another local store's bakery because the service is worth it to me. I would gladly discuss this with someone above the store level. This is regarding the Quincy, IL store.

Sam's Club

Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns with us. We will forward this to the appropriate people.

Sam's Club

Jen, we are very sorry about your experience. A Sam's Club representative will be contacting you via private message.

Jen Bell

Thank you verry much. The store manager called today and made me a wondeful offer.

So what was the wonderful offer you wonder? The manager gave me another full year of membership free! So instead of expiring October 2011, my membership was set to expire October 2012.

Sam's Club then  had a "tip jar" contest where business owners could put "tips" into a virtual jar. Not monetary tips, but helpful customer service tips. I'll be darned I won on of the prizes. I won a free Plus Membership upgrade and extenstion. I was a one year extension, sorta. I figured since I already had the extra year on the account they would just upgrade my membership until it expired.

WELL............I logged onto my Sam's Club app on my my iPhone today, and I now have a Business Plus membership until June 2013 (I guess one year that I won but since I already had a 2012 date, they put it to June 2013?) What ever, I'm not complaining. I now have what it valued at $200 in membership fees for free at Sams Club.

Just goes to show, be honest, sometimes people listen.

Even with a broken foot, I'm still a busy mom on the go. While it's embarassing to me, I have learned to use the electric carts at the stores. I've also learned to accept the "would you like help out to your car" that the bagger offers.

There are lots of great ways to save money even if you are in hurry, here are 10 of my favorites:

1) Earn while you search the web! Check out the Swagbucks link on the side of this page! I am constantly looking for coupons online. Drop the google. You can earn swagbucks and redeem them for great prizes like Amazon or Starbucks Gift Cards!

2) Use the swagbucks rewards to load your Starbucks reward cards and earn more free drinks! What's better than getting a free drink on top a free gift card? How about not having to take your wallet into Starbucks. Just grab your phone (and car keys) and head in the store!

Starbucks for Android™ and the Starbucks Card Mobile App for BlackBerry®, iPhone® or iPod® Touch have five core features:

Pay with your phone: Enjoy the fastest, more convenient way to pay at nearly 9,000 Starbucks locations. Just download the app, enter your Starbucks Card number, scan and go.

Manage your card account: Access your Starbucks Card balance directly from your phone.

Reload your card balance: Use your smartphone to reload your Starbucks Card using any major credit card.

Check your My Starbucks Rewards status: Find out how close you are to earning your next free drink.

Find nearby Starbucks stores: Save time by finding a Starbucks store near you.

3) Use blogs! I'll admit, I compile the ads on my site but I don't do the match-ups myself. I use multiple blogs to find the store deals that are in my area. No one else collects Quincy's match-ups in one place.

4)Pre-plan your trips. I know I am going to stop at HyVee on the way to the kids Karate class tonight. (I'm out for three more weeks thanks to this lovely broken foot). I already have my coupons & list ready to go. Most people would think I am crazy taking two kids in white karate uniforms to the grocery store right as the after-work rush hits. Even using the coupons, I should be out of the store in 10 minutes because I pre-planned my trip.

5) Find meals that work for your family. I know 2 nights a week I am gone from 4-6:15pm. Those nights I plan for steak or chicken that marinades in the fridge. Cooking time is down to 20-30 minutes when I get home. Two different nights a week I know I have to leave by 6pm. Those are my longer cooking nights and we eat early. Also find out what offers are avilable for free kids meals in your town! Here, Wendy's offers free kids meals on Monday nights. I have perfected saving time & money with this. The kids Karate school is right behind Wendy's. You can get 3 free kids meals with the purchase of one adult meal (we opt for the $2.99 Jr. Dbl Cheeburger meal) and I feed a family of 4 for $3.22 with tax. (Yes, I eat a kids meal).

6) Shop at the oddest times. I know, I know, I just said I was going at the worst time, but that's to save on gas and driving because the store is across the street from the karate school. I find if I shop at 7am or 8pm, the stores are empty. You save a TON of time not having to wait for the crowds of people to clear the store isles.

7) Do not sit idle! I find myself rushing to get to kids activities to only sit and be bored for an hour. With the invention of laptops & wifi, there is no reason for someone to say "I want to coupon but I don't have time". Yes, I pay attentio tno my kids and their activities, but yesterday we were at the library for a movie. Durring that movie I updated this site & searched for deals and coupons. I honestly don't need to learn to train my Dragon as I don't have one nor do I plan on getting one.

8.)Ask your spouse to help. WOW!! This seems simple doesn't it? I never realised my husband wasn't lazy, he was clueless. He would see the sink full of dishes and pass right by them. I finally asked him one day to help. OMG-He did! His response was "Oh, I didn't realise you needed help".

9) You have kids, make them work. Do you know how much time you can save by making kids help!?!?

10) Just have fun when you are late. Sounds crazy but it's true! I have been running so late and angry that I end up sabotaging myself. I have learned that if I just accept that we are late and slow down, we'll get out the door faster than if I were to keep yelling and screaming to hurry up, get your shoes on and get out of the house!

So, have some fun, slow down, and save some time!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Campbell's Chunky Soup $1.33
Printable Save $1.00/2
Printable Save $1.50/3
(9/19 SS) Save .50/2
Final Price Varies

Red Gold Tomatoes .75
Printable Save $1.00/3
Final Price $2.25/3

Birds Eye Steamfresh .79
(9/26 SS) Save $1.00/3
Final Price $1.37/3

Skippy $1.69
(10/3 RP) save .75/2
Final Price $2.63/2

Gortons Fish Fillets $2.50
Printable Save .50
Final Price $2.00

Eckrich Smoked Sausage $2.50
(10/3 SS) save $1.00
Final Price $1.50

Renuzit Adjustables .88
(10/10 RP) B3G3
Final Price $2.63/6

Jack's Pizza $3.00
(8/22 SS) save .55
Final Price $2.45

Cheerios $2.50
Printable Save $1.00/3
(9/19 SS) save $1.00/2
Final Price $4.00/2

Jolly Time $1.50
(10/3 SS) save .50
Final Price $1.00
Tote Bag Offer

Frigo Cheese $2.00
Printable Save .50
Final Price $1.50

International Delight $1.69
Printable Save .55
Final Price $1.14