Spring Cleaning Challenge

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challenge, checklist, home, seasonal, Spring Cleaning

If you participated in last month’s Reorganization Challenge, Spring cleaning will be easy to tackle.

Spring Cleaning Challenge ♥ Young Wifey’s Blog

XOXO,
Young Wifey

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Mountain Views

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home, mountain, view

This morning I was sitting on my deck drinking a cup of tea. I remembered that earlier this year when Hubster and I were ripping out over grown shrubs, I mentioned the mountain views that we could enjoy inside the house now that the shrubs weren’t blocking them… but I never posted the pics, despite a few readers asking. So here they are, our mountain views…

Mountain View 1

Mountain View 2

Mountain View 3

What do you enjoy while drinking a cup of tea/coffee?

A Year of Free Stuff

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coupons, discounts, family, freebies, home, how to save money, money, saving, saving money, tips, top 8, value

2011, the year where Extreme Couponing had its own show. I don’t clip many coupons, since I don’t buy many prepackaged food items (except when pasta is on sale 10 for $10 and I have a lot of $1/1 coupons… yay, free pasta!) and I usually buy generic brands.  My extreme couponing takes on a slightly different meaning.

What's in your wallet?

This is my top 8 tips:

J.C. Penny had quite a year of deals for me!
In March their circulars had a one day sale with a $10 coupon off any purchase (including sale & clearance items) $10 or more… I grabbed a stack of circulars (the sale was ending in two hours) and went to town. I checked out merchandise 6 different times (I would’ve continued but I had an appointment to get to), making sure my purchases were no more than $12. I spent a total of $9 to purchase Hubster 3 new polo shirts, 3 sweaters for myself and a few candles for the home
In April they mailed a similar coupon, and I received two in the mail! I got Pumpkin two nice shirts, and only spent $1!
I got similar coupons throughout the year!!!

Victoria’s Secret loves to send out free panty coupons paired with a $10 off a bra purchase coupon. The trick is to get the free panty and not spend money on a new bra. The values for the free panties run $8.50 – $10.50. This year I scored more than one a month, totaling over… $150 of free undies! Once upon a time I used to spend too much money in this store, now they’re paying me back.

Fresh Step cat litter offers Paw Points for each purchase, which you save to earn items for your cat. Luckily, my grandmother saved her points for me (or it would’ve taken me 5 years) and I earned a pet drinking fountain, $25 value. Plus, I got a one-year free subscription to some of my fav’ magazines! Just for cutting out a piece of cardboard!

Bed Bath & Beyond has been my biggest source of free items this past year. I have a BB&B Mastercard when I earn gift cards (which don’t expire) to spend in their store. I used instead of my check card to pay for co-pays, groceries, gas, everyday items and paid it off every month (I firmly believe you shouldn’t carry a balance on a credit card or purchase items that you don’t already have the money to pay for). I earned on average $20-$30 or more a month to spend! When we moved into our apt, I received a 20% off entire purchase. When we moved into our house we received it again… They often send out coupons for 20% one item or a $5 off a $15 purchase and paired with my credit card rewards gift cards, you can’t go wrong!
I scored 6 parson dining chairs ($400 in-store price) for a grand total of $75, and that included shipping!
Oil rubbed bronze bathroom accessories: 2 waste baskets, 1 Q-tip holder, and 2 toothbrush holders I spend $4
2 free Copco mugs & 3 free lunch bags
Plus I have more rewards waiting to be spent!

CVS – Extra Bucks are fantastic and there are so many was to earn them… I was strolling through the store while waiting for a prescription to fill, and I saw a 20 oz. can of cashews of clearance for $6. I scan my card at the kiosk and saw that I have $6 Extra Bucks waiting for me. Over a pound of free cashews? You can’t beat that!
Pairing in-store sales with product coupons, I’ve scored many quality beauty items at almost no cost or even free!

Coupon Sites – There are tons of website advertising deals and coupon match ups for all different stores, Groupon, CouponMom, MamaCheaps, etc…  Find a few sites that you like and like them on FB, then you don’t need to keep checking the site, they’ll pop up when you’re on FB. I really like Thrifty Wifey (yes, the name did it for me). The site helped me get Hubster a fantastic shop vac that we desperately needed for 50% off!

RedBox or Block Buster Express – We canceled our Netflix this summer. When Hubster wants a movie, he doesn’t want to wait two days for it, so we’re lucky that our town has two RedBox kiosks and a Block Buster Express. A simple google search will give us free rental codes. You can only use the code once per credit/check card. So we swipe Hubster’s check card, then mine, then his credit card, then mine and then we retire the code once we’re out of cards to swipe. Then we google a new code, afterall 3-4 movies per week can really add up…

Weis Gas Rewards – Many grocery stores have different gas incentive programs. At our local grocery store, you get 10¢ off per gallon for every $50 you spend. You rack up your gas points for three months and then get to redeem them at a Sheetz gas station. Pus you get an additional 3¢ off per gallon when you use your Sheetz Rewards card. You can fill up your vehicle, up to 20 gallons. If your car doesn’t hold 20 gallons, you can fill up your second vehicle with the remaining gallons on the same day. This summer I saw a man fill up his SUV completely free, and I knew it was time to make Weis my main grocery store. Even if you’re extreme couponing you’ll add up some gas rewards to use.

Now if only I could use all these deals to pay off my college loans!

Happy New Year! May the New Year bring you love, happiness, good health and a little extra cash in your pocket!

What is your favorite money-saving store, site or tip?

Dining Room Table

Tags

antique, chairty shop, dining room, dining table, furniture, home, postaday2011, preused, reclaimed, table, thrift, thrift shop, thrift store, used

If I were to describe my furniture taste, it would sound eclectic. Modern and antique pieces. A hodge-podge of furniture can work together if the decor is cohesive in design. 

I love everything about antique tables; well-crafted from strong wood with beautiful details, intricately carved in legs, a hidden leaf, and imperfections that whisper their secrets. To think I found this one on a whim. We were strolling through town and we decided to stop in our local charity shop. I went to pay and Hubster ran home to get the trailer so we could haul this beauty home.

Dining Room Table

Recently, my sister had a similar find, but carried her table home… You see, my table is too heavy for the two of us to carry home for a mile and a half up a steep hill.

Once home, it needed a gentle buffing with Old English (for dark wood). Evelyn has some aged company. Now I’m one step closer to revealing my new dining room.

Now time to run off and make a late dinner to eat in our dining room!!!

Coffee Anyone?

Tags

coffee, craft, crafting, etched glass, etching, gift, gift giving, gift idea, glass jar, home, house, kitchen, postaday2011, storage

Etched Glass Coffee Jar
After using it once for a Christmas ornament, I’ve always wanted to play around a little more with etching cream. The stuff is so expensive, I wouldn’t purchase it at the craft store without a 50% coupon. Recently, I actually got my hands on a 60% coupon and knew it was time to move.

I love using glass jars for kitchen storage, but I wanted to pretty up the coffee jar or two. Since I’m not a coffee drinker, that was the best place to start. Our realtor gave us some really great locally fresh ground coffee and Hubster and our guests have enjoyed our coffee maker…

Etched Glass Coffee Jar

Difficult to photograph, easy to create. I prepped the jar with glass cleaner then added a reusable stencil. Next I added a thick layer of etching cream and left it on longer than what the jar said. I actually got sidetracked and forgot all about it, it probably sat for 30 minutes opposed to the suggested 5 mins. I carefully rinsed the jar and stencils clean and then wiped the surface with glass cleaner.

Now with an etched jar, Hubster won’t mix up the coffee with my loose tea.

This would make a great gift for the coffee drinker…

What is your must have morning drink?

Champagne Toast

Tags

home, home owners, house, house hunting, new home, new house, postaday2011

With keys in one hand, champagne (actually sparkling cider) in the other, we’re ready to start our new journey…

First thing we did at our new house? Why, hold hands and jump into the pool of course!.. despite the chilly 66°F air temperature (said by the girl who doesn’t get into the pool until it’s 98°F for at least 3 consecutive days). Then we’re off to the store for cleaning supplies and paint (colors already picked out of course).

Sold!

Finally! Homeowners… again!

What was the first thing you did together at your current residence?

Weekend Project: New Deck

Tags

building, deck, grilling, home, home owners, house, improvement, landscaping, weekend

Hubster and I never use the back of our house… It’s the one side of our house that has a neighboring house. Four years ago we planted a dozen small blue spruces, last year we rocked, mulched and planted roses along the house. This weekend Hubster added a deck. My FIL helped him frame it on Saturday, my MIL and I pitched in also.

Deck Frame

Sunday, Hubster added the planks and started the railing (just one side left to finish). I helped him in between loads of laundry… He was so dedicated he worked in the rain and in the dark, trying to get it finished.

Deck Planks

It was a much-needed improvement, it is a very looong side of our already loooong ranch. The deck breaks up the length of our house definitely gives it more appeal. This is a prime location for grilling, I walk right out my kitchen door on my new deck. I plan to grow my herbs in planters on the deck. I can’t wait to move my grill to the deck and make dinner. Once Hubster has the last of the railing finished, I’ll be able to landscape around it.

Railing in the Rain

Hubster is a good man… sometimes. 🙂

What was your weekend project?