Ashley, Author at Embracing Beauty

8 Ways to Save Money on Kid’s Clothes

March 23, 2011 by Ashley 6 Comments

As I’m shopping for new kids clothes I’m finding that it is both a fun yet painful experience. Kids clothes are cute but not worth going in debt for! In order to save money I have sat down and tried to think of several ways that you can still dress up your little prince/princess without breaking the bank.

Here are a few suggestions I came up with but please, let me know if you have anything to add to this list!

ThredUp: Kids Clothing Swap

This is an online website that helps parents swap kids clothes. ThredUp has extensive list of available boxes that you can buy. They have a review system similar to eBay that allows users to be able to find popular swappers. Many of the boxes I looked at included a picture along with detailed description of what was included (brands, sizes, etc.).

ThredUp.com also allows a listing of toys that fit in a USPS box so this may be a good way to look for children books or small toys.

Currently, ThredUp.com has a promotion going where you can get 2 months free of PRO membership when you use coupon code “mysavings”. While ThredUp is free to use, the PRO membership does cost extra. The PRO membership feature allows you to view detailed pictures of the items as well as a few other personalized features that are still being developed.

When I signed up a few days ago they gave me a $5 credit to use on my first box purchased. I used the coupon code and the link above and I got an extra $5. I’m not sure how long this extra bonus will last so if you are considering ThredUp you may want to go and sign up now.

Children’s Consignment Sales

I have had my fair share of exploring children’s consignment sales recently…and let me tell you, I scored big! I think that consignment shopping is great way to shop for gently used clothing for yourself or your kids. If you love to search and hunt for a great bargain then this will be right up your alley. I’ve noticed that children’s consignment sales come twice a year, once in Winter and once in Spring. So check local bulletin boards and church signs for consignment sales in your area. You can also check ConsignmentMommies.com for consignments that have been posted in your area.

My only warning with consignment sales is to check and double check each garment for stains or holes before you leave. The policy is usually unstained, like new items but some moms don’t listen or perhaps don’t notice and a few stains appear throughout the racks.

This is also a great place to score used pack n plays, books, toys, high chairs, etc.

Zulily: Daily Deals for Moms, Babies, & Kids

Zulily is a daily deals site for mom and the kids. It’s a free membership site where each day, you will be able to buy great products from brand you love at 50-90% off. That’s right, 90% off! I think this is a great place to buy fancy baby shower gifts at a fraction of the cost.

Once you are a member you can invite others and if they join you get $15 per person!

One of my favorite things about Zulily is that they have mom’s clothes too (even maternity clothes!).

Yard Sales

Try not to turn up your nose at yard sales, they often have great items for amazing prices. Baby furniture, books, toys, and decor are also usually for sale for peanuts. This is the ideal place for play clothes here. You may be able to find t-shirts or shorts for a dime or a quarter that have a lot of life left in them.

Totsy

Totsy has been in the back of my mind for a while but I’ve recently checked it out for myself to see what all the excitement was about. Totsy is a site that hosts flash sales – that is a sale that lasts a limited number of hours (usually 72 hours for Totsy) and where you can score an amazing 40-90% off retail on higher end goods that might otherwise be outside your price range. This is great for companies who need to sell of their extra inventory, for Totsy who runs the company, and for the moms and dads who shop and score fantastic deals.

Totsy claims to be 100% and for every sale they make they plant a tree. How nice is that?

Totsy has a great referral program, for every friend that you refer who makes a purchase you get $15. For disclosure, my referral link is included above so if you sign up and make a purchase I will get $15 credit in my account. Win-win!

Buy Quality Clothes

Buying sturdy clothes will only save money if you get a good deal on those long-lasting clothes. Be ready to shop ahead for next year, check out my post The Best Time to Buy Everything for a few more details. Shop the clearance racks and become familiar with your favorite store’s sale patterns. If you have your eye on something that isn’t on sale watch and wait approximately 6 weeks from when you first spotted it and come back on a Thursday for the best chance of hitting the clearance rack first. Weekend sales usually start Thursday afternoons.

If you buy clothes online be sure to never, ever, ever shop without a coupon code or without shopping through a cash back site like Ebates. Many online retailers often have good sales and clearances with a wider selection than a local store.

Care For The Clothes You Have

When you take care of the clothes you have you give them a longer life and a larger value. Go back to the old-fashioned idea of play clothes and dress clothes. At our house we often wear jeans a couple of times before they get washed. Another way to care for clothes is to treat stains right away so they don’t have time to set it. If you have a long sleeve t-shirt that gets stained beyond repair just layer a short sleeve t-shirt over top.

Trade with Friends or Family

This is probably the most obvious way to save money – don’t spend any! If you have friends or family that are willing to pass on to you their hand-me-downs, graciously accept! Do the same for them if they have another child that could benefit from some other clothes you have. This is also a great way to encourage a new mom and get rid of clothes you just have sitting in storage. My sister-in-law gave me some of her maternity clothes (2 big bags!) and I am very grateful not to have to buy too much else.

Filed Under: Fashion, Uncategorized Tagged With: Children, Clothes, Money, save

Extreme Couponing 101 – Get Organized

March 23, 2011 by Ashley 3 Comments

Get Organized

Having a clear strategy is key in getting maximum savings with minimal effort!

This is my favorite method and I hope it will help you to organize your thoughts and coupons. 🙂 The binder method is composed of a 2” 3 ring’ binder with clear plastic binder pockets that act as mini-folders for each of your coupons. This is a great way to see and grab coupons as you need them! One option is to separate your coupons by category within store. I usually make the same trip through my local grocery store so I put them in that order. You can also have sections in the back for each store’s weekly coupons. This way if you don’t redeem all of your weekly coupons in time you can easily weed them out and add new ones. I also keep various coupons in the very back of my binder for storage even though I’ll never take my binder to those stores (Hallmark, Victoria’s Secret, Lowes, etc.) Clipping and organizing coupons this way is the easiest I’ve found!

This is my Coupon Clutch

I want to share with you the Coupon Clutch. It makes couponing easy and even fashionable! If the thought of lugging a big binder into Harris Teeter mortifies you, you are not alone. I hated the thought but luckily I bought a Coupon Clutch before I ever had to. With the Coupon Clutch your binder will travel in style and incognito. It looks like a purse until you open it up at your shopping cart.

The Coupon Clutch is handmade in the USA. It features a soft, padded outer cover and two interior pockets. These pockets are great for storing pens, calculators, and my favorite…for storing the coupons I’m using that shopping trip. Once I have the matching item in my cart I slip the coupon into the small pocket in the front until I reach the checkout.

The Coupon Clutch retails for $29.95. However there are different purchase options available, you can purchase just the Coupon Clutch, or the Coupon Clutch along with a variety of different size pages for organizing. I highly recommend buying the plastic binder sheets from here as well. They are much thicker than sheets I’ve purchased elsewhere and for nearly the same cost. If you are a talented and crafty person you could buy the pattern to make your own Coupon Clutch.

No matter which coupon organization method you use it’s important to do what works best for you. Once you find that system couponing will become even more enjoyable!

If you have any questions about the binder method or the Coupon Clutch just let me know through the comments or my contact button and I’ll try to respond as soon as I can. Feel free to share ways you’ve found to be helpful in organizing your coupons!

View other lessons in this Extreme Couponing series:

Lesson 1: Change the Way You Shop & Coupon Vocabulary

Lesson 2: 10 Coupon Myths Debunked

Lesson 3: Where to Find Coupons

Lesson 4: Get Organized

Lesson 5: Creating Your Price-List

Lesson 6: How to Maximize Coupon Savings

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Coupon Binder, Coupon Clutch, Extreme Couponing, Organized

Extreme Couponing 101 – Where to Find Coupons

March 22, 2011 by Ashley 26 Comments

Where to Find Coupons

There are many ways to get coupons and several of them are free! Remember as a couponer, you’ll want to get between 4-6 copies of your favorite coupons. this is so when you head to the store to get FREE toothpaste, you’ll be able to get 4-6 tubes instead of 1.

Sunday Paper

Tucked neatly inside each Sunday paper are “Coupon Inserts” which will contain Smart Source (SS), Red Plum (RP) or Proctor & Gamble (PG). Before you order a subscription to your paper ask them two questions- Do they offer a Sunday or weekly only subscriptions? and Do they offer a discount if you buy multiple copies of Sunday’s paper? Remember, it’s a huge benefit to have multiple copies of coupons!

Other stockpiling Sunday paper options:

Pick them up at the dollar store for an even $1.
Ask local coffee shops if you have have theirs (maybe offer to recycle papers for them as a trade).
Have friends and family save them for you. Most people won’t mind helping out.
Go to recycling centers and get them (before to ask the attendant if this is allowed before you start “dumpster diving”).
Get to know the newspaper carriers, they may be willing to give you inserts from papers that they don’t sell, also ask the convenience store clerks too…the store only has to turn in the top portion of the first page of the paper for credit.
See if your work subscribes to a Sunday paper and ask if you can have the insert.

Embracing Beauty Coupon Databases

Grocery Coupon Database

Retail Coupon Database

Printable Coupons

eCoupons

These are coupons that you can load directly onto your store card.

shortcuts.com
cellfire.com
pgesaver.com
upromise.com

Organic Coupons

Some of these will be mailed, some printed, and some loaded to your store card.

All You Magazine

$100+ worth of coupons each month, plus frugal articles, recipes & more! Sold at Walmart or you can click here to buy All You at a discount!

Blinkies

The little machines in the grocery isle with a red blinking light that hands out coupons.

Catalina Coupons

You know those extra strips of paper you get with each receipt? Those are Catalina Coupons and can be very valuable.

Peelies

Found sticking to the product itself.

Grocery Store Websites

More and more grocery websites are offering printable and downloadable coupons directly from their site.

View other lessons in this Extreme Couponing series:

Lesson 1: Change the Way You Shop & Coupon Vocabulary

Lesson 2: 10 Coupon Myths Debunked

Lesson 3: Where to Find Coupons

Lesson 4: Get Organized

Lesson 5: Creating Your Price-List

Lesson 6: How to Maximize Coupon Savings

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Coupons, Extreme Couponing

Interview with CEO of Faithful Fish, Chelsea Eubank

March 22, 2011 by Ashley Leave a Comment

A few days ago I was on a small conference Q and A call with Chelsea Eubank of Faithful Fish Clothing and I just want to share with you a little bit about her and her ministry. This amazing woman of 23 years has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Extraordinary Teens, a guest on the Dave Ramsey show (my dream!), featured on Fox & Friends, and numerous other TV and radio spots. I felt blessed to have the opportunity to talk with this passionate young woman! She has been through so many hardships in her life yet she has trusted God and grew because of her experiences. She is the CEO of her own Christian clothing line and recently she has started the Wear It Wednesday movement where more than 500,000 young people signed up! This is an amazing little idea that has grown wildly. I encourage you to check out Wear It Wednesday and her clothing line, Faithful Fish.

Chelsea with Tim Gunn from “Project Runway”

Here is a little interview I had with Chelsea after the conference call.

Where did you come up with the name faithful fish? Because Faithful Fish’s trademarked logo is such an iconic Christian logo I guess the word fish just had to be in the name. Then I was running and kept thinking of names that went with fish and the bible verse about “Fishers of Men” popped into my head, I could actually feel the light bulb go on. Now I can’t even imagine having another name.

What has been the hardest thing to overcome when starting your own business? The vision to provide a branded Christian logo’d clothing line that expresses the customers positive values and lifestyle doesn’t resonate with everyone and trying to market a Christian clothing line has been a big disadvantage in the retail store space. Stores are concerned that if they bring in a faithful line they will offend other customers. But I have a vision a BIG vision, a HUGE vision and I truly believe that we are ready to have a Christian clothing line that can compete with secular clothing lines like Ralph Lauren or a company like American Eagle. It just seems that we need a line that represents our positive values. So to actually answer your question just to keep being positive even when things aren’t going as quickly as you want them to.

What keeps you motivated to do what you do? It is so much fun and I also get to work with people who are just as jazzed as I am about being faithful. Faithful Fish also gives a portion of all sales to charities so that is a true motivator. I also believe that we are offering something that is not in the market place and Faithful Fish is meeting a need.

If you could tell my readers one thing what would that be? From my personal experience of losing my Dad on the phone with me when I was 17 and then losing 3 family members within 5 months of each other I know that God doesn’t do these bad or tragic things to us but that he helps us through these hard times. He held my heart when it was broken and didn’t let the pieces fall to the ground.

What is your favorite Bible verse? Fruit of the Spirit. I love that it talks about all of God’s positive values. So many people say that Christians don’t want this or don’t like that but The Fruit of The Spirit shows all of the positive values that God represents and wants for us. (Gal. 5:22-23)

Okay, and a question for me…what was it like to meet Dave Ramsey? : ) He is so very nice and a believer like us. After talking his “Financial Peace” course I also felt that he truly has a calling to help people in their lives in a very relevant way. He helps people become good stewards. To then be able to be on his TV show and his radio show really was a miracle.

Thank you again Chelsea for your time! God Bless!!

Filed Under: True Beauty Tagged With: Chelsea Eubank, Faithful Fish, Interview, Wear It Wednesday

Giveaway Winners Announced

March 22, 2011 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Crane humidifier – Elizabeth K.

SwaddleDesigns Ultimate receiving blanket – Amy P.

Preggie Pops – Jessica P, Elizabeth K., Kathryn, & Rachel.

Boogie Wipes – Sandra U.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: giveaway, Winners

Bashful Bump Giveaway – A Maternity Essential Ends 4/20

March 22, 2011 by Ashley 73 Comments

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, moms come up with the best products! The product I’m reviewing (and giving away!) today is no exception. Creative mom, Amy Naylor designed and sells what is in my opinion a maternity essential, the Bashful Bump bodysuit.

Amy wanted a solution for tugging at her shirts all day so she could avoid having her stomach or back showing. Being a woman with a long torso I can totally sympathize. Especially as the months of pregnancy pass by it becomes harder and harder to stay covered. I think this would also be a great solution for shorter, more petite women who might look swallowed up by longer maternity shirts.

Bashful Bump bodysuits are made of an ultra soft fabric that I love! The fabric is breathable, soft, and not at all see through. There is a slight amount of ruching on the sides to flatter your figure as your baby belly grows. There is also a built-in shelf bra to provide a little extra support. The body suit “hooks” like every other bodysuit, with snaps. I have to tell you that I was worried about how I was going to maneuver myself to get in and out of this. However, I found out that the snaps are moved forward for a much easier reach than I expected.

I love that I don’t have to be self-conscious about showing skin. This is an essential for every maternity wardrobe! I chose to review the three-quarter length sleeve shirt and it has been a lifesaver for me. I wore it under vests when I first received it and now as it’s warming up a bit I can wear it alone. Because it’s a simple black you can dress it up or go informal. I love the versatility and comfort it gives me.

The bodysuits are available in both full-seat and thong styles. There is a tank, cap sleeve, camisole and three-quarter length sleeve option to choose from. You can also buy a black or white bodysuit. The camisole and tank tops retail for $44 and the cap sleeve and three-quarter length sleeves retail for $48.

Ready to win a Bashful Bump bodysuit of your choice?

You can enter to win by doing one or more of the following; just be sure to leave a separate comment for each way that you enter. I’ll draw the winner, via random.org, on April 20th. The winner willl have 48 hrs to respond before a new winner is chosen. This giveaway is open to U.S. and Canada only. Good luck everyone!

Tweet about this giveaway including a link back; you can tweet daily to earn extra entries.
Like Beauty4Moms on Facebook.
Like Bashful Bump on Facebook & leave a message on their wall saying you entered this giveaway.
Follow @Beauty4Moms on Twitter.
Follow @BashfulBump on Twitter.
Subscribe to Embracing Beauty through email or Rss.
Submit this post to a current giveaway linky; you can do this unlimited times to earn extra entries.

Disclosure: I was given one Bashful Bump bodysuit to facilitate my review but the opinions expressed are solely my own.

Filed Under: Giveaways Tagged With: Bashful Bump, Maternity

Free Photo Book from Picaboo Ends 3/22

March 21, 2011 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Get a free Classic Custom photo book at Picaboo (retail $39.99)! Use code FREECC through March 22, 2011. You will have to pay shipping costs of around $8. View all shipping costs here. These are awesome books! You can totally customize them and they are superior quality. I highly, highly recommend Picaboo!

Details about Free Picaboo book:

Offer ends March 22, 2011.
The cost of one 20-page Large Classic Custom photo book (up to $39.99) will be deducted from the order total. Ex. if you added additional pages you will be charged$0.99 per page.
Taxes and shipping charges are extra.
This coupon is for first-time Picaboo X customers only.

Thanks, Deal Wise Mommy.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Picaboo

Free Movie Rental Blockbuster Express March 21 Only

March 21, 2011 by Ashley Leave a Comment

Get a free one-night movie rental ($1.00 value) on Monday, March 21 at your local Blockbuster Express. You may be able to reserve it online, they do accept promo codes online but not all blue boxes are available for online reservation. You can use each promo code more than once if you use it with a different credit card.

MONDAY (expires March 21 at midnight)

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Blockbuster Express

Sew t-shirts for the Children of Japan

March 21, 2011 by Ashley Leave a Comment

I know that there are a lot of us out there that would love to do something for the people of Japan. I’m sure that many of you have prayed and sent money, which is wonderful and is definitely still needed. However, I just came across something that I think is really a wonderful and simple idea for people to do. Susan from Living with Punks will be holding a Sew Along to make t-shirts for the children of Japan who were effected by the dreadful earthquake/tsunami and current nuclear evacuations. These shirts are cute and they look fairly simple to complete. There is NO sewing machine necessary and the supplies are pretty basic and easy to find. There is a girl pattern ready for download and the boy pattern will be coming March 28th.

The goal is 500 shirts, can you donate one or two? This looks like a fun project to do with your kids so maybe together you could make 3 or 4 and let your son or daughter keep one and donate the rest to the children of Japan. This could be another great opportunity

As a bonus for participating in the Sew Along, Chelsea from Pink Fig (pattern designer), will give you a 50% off coupon towards Pink Fig’s new doll pattern that will be released in May.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Children, Give, Japan

Extreme Couponing 101 – 10 Coupon Myths Debunked

March 19, 2011 by Ashley 1 Comment

10 Coupon Myths Debunked

Myth #1: Coupons are only for junk food.
While there are a lot of coupons for processed and junk foods, now a days there are just as many coupons for healthy and organic foods too. I have seen coupons for fruit, eggs, milk, yogurt, bagged salads, frozen veggies, etc.

Myth #2: You can’t save money if a store doesn’t double/triple coupons.
Drug stores such as CVS, Rite Aid & Walgreen’s are great places to save money even though they don’t double or triple coupons. Most drug stores have excellent store deals, sales, and rebate programs that most grocery stores don’t have. Don’t skip over a store just because they don’t double coupons. There are many higher dollar coupons which you can combine with a sale for deep discounts and possibly free items.

Myth #3: Shopping at discount stores and dollar stores will save you more money than using coupons.
Dollar Stores are often as expensive as other stores and have many extra disadvantages. They don’t have the store deals and rebates like other stores do. Also the food they have was likely to have been sitting on the shelf for a lot longer than at a grocery store.

Myth #4: Only poor people use coupons.
Maybe it’s just me but I am never ashamed to use coupons. Saving money is more important to me than giving the appearance of wealth. According to statistics, people with lower income (under $25,000 a year) are less likely to use coupons. Those in the middle class with a college background are the most likely to use coupons. Interesting.

Myth #5: You should only use coupons for products you normally buy.
By using coupons, I’ve gotten things for free or incredibly cheap that I would never have bought otherwise. Our family has new grocery favorites because of high value coupons. I’ve also learned to be more creative in meal planning to incorporate what’s on sale that week.

Myth #6: Store brand products are always cheaper than name brand products.
Yes, it’s true that store brands are typically a little cheaper than name brands. However, generic is rarely cheaper than name brand when you combine a coupon with a sale.

Myth #7: People who use coupons spend more than people who don’t use coupons.
If you are going to the store and buying everything you have a coupon for especially if the item is not on sale, you will spend more. However, if you use coupons the right way by combining coupons and store sales you will get rock bottom deals and will undoubtedly cut your grocery bill.

Myth #8: It’s not worth it to shop at multiple stores.
The 3 main stores I shop at are right near each other and 5 minutes from my house, so it really doesn’t take me much time to go from store to store. Even if your stores are not as close as mine, it can be worth it to shop at multiple stores. For instance, if you are able to get $100 worth of product you need for $15 and you only spent $4 extra in gas and an additional 20 minutes, then I would say that would certainly be worth it! You have to do what is right for you and your family but I wouldn’t rule out going to multiple stores right away without giving it a try.

Myth #9: You shouldn’t clip coupons for products you won’t use.
I clip coupons for every item I might buy. Some coupons I throw away after they expire because I never found an item on sale. Don’t dismiss a deal just because you haven’t used a product in the past–keep the coupon and look for a sale. I also recommend swapping unused coupons with a family member or friend. If you don’t have any use for baby coupons save them and give them to a new mom. I also keep coupons for items I know I won’t use and if a sale comes up and I can get the item for super cheap or free I will do so and later donate the item to a local woman’s shelter.

Myth #10: You will save more money by shopping at big box stores.
Big box stores such as Costco or Sams will save you money because you buy items in bulk but you can have much bigger savings if you buy a smaller quantity and use coupons.

This is lesson 2 out of 10 so click here for lesson 3, “Where to Find Coupons.”

View other lessons in this Extreme Couponing series:

Lesson 1: Change the Way You Shop & Coupon Vocabulary

Lesson 2: 10 Coupon Myths Debunked

Lesson 3: Where to Find Coupons

Lesson 4: Get Organized

Lesson 5: Creating Your Price-List

Lesson 6: How to Maximize Coupon Savings

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Coupon, Coupon Myths, Extremem Couponing