Couponizer – A Savvy Shopper Coupon Organizer

The Smart Way to Organize Savings

Have you ever taken the time to clip a coupon only to either lose it or have it expire before you have a chance to use the coupon?

Thanks to Alta, a reader and friend, I checked out The Couponizer – a coupon organizer that helps you save time, money and frustration.

The site states the “Couponizer is a proven system of tools designed to help you save more money, more consistently…”

Consisting of 18 category pockets to organize grocery and discount coupons; loyalty sleeves for customer loyalty cards, gift cards, and punch cards like Panera’s; shopping list, a savings tracker and pair of scissors.

Anyone else have some money saving ideas? Please tell us below.

Money Saving Coupon Site – Discounts You Can Use

Want to find a great coupon site that will help you save money on products you really use? Want discount coupons for household necessities?

I feel like I hit the grocery coupon jackpot!

I love value for my money. As a consumer advocate and financial educator, I am always on the lookout for great deals I can share with my readers. How did I miss this coupon site? Coupons from Kleenix to cookies, diapers to dog food, and all name brands that you are familiar with. Velveeta, Nabisco, Kraft, Maxwell House, Wisk, Huggies, Glamour Magazine, Crystal Light and OptiFree discount coupons are available.  Most the coupons I clipped and printed were for $1 off. You can find:

• Beverages
• Household
• Personal Care
• Health Care
• Entertainment
• Pet Care
• Local Coupons

Granted I shop mostly on the perimeter of the grocery store, stocking up on fresh vegies, chicken, and fish. But hubby and grandkids still demand their occasional treats and comfort foods. You can’t beat a cheescake made with Philadelphia cream cheese, and yes, there is a coupon this week for that too. I printed a number of coupons today and expiration date is one month from now. To really save money, wait till those items are also on sale at your local store and double dip!

Now as much as I love value shopping, I hate clipping coupons then having to organize them and then remember to use them before expiration dates. So I find myself only sporadically using available discounts. What is great about a coupon site is that you can very systematically check for coupons when you are actually ready to shop. No waiting for the Sunday paper or weekly community savings paper. The coupons are online, waiting for you to immediately download and print. The site does require that you download a printer script in order for the bar code to print correctly and be accepted at your local grocery store. The site is Truste guaranteed, so no need to worry about spyware or adware being installed.

So… with pre-planning and a little careful shopping, that new pair of shoes at Zappos.com could be free.

Talk about value. Now that’s a deal!

So it’s your turn to share. Have you found a great resource to cut costs or use money saving coupons?

Financial Serenity: First Step Awareness

Not sure how to get out of debt and gain financial serenity?

Our decision-making process, the Circle of Wisdom, teaches that awareness is the first step in creating a life you love. So how does that help you get out of debt and gain financial serenity?

It’s just like dieting. When you begin a weight loss plan, an “in your face” reality check can clearly show you that what you are consuming is the problem. This awareness can be the wake up call that transforms and energizes your goals. Now that you know the problem, you can achieve success.

If you don’t know where your money is going, it’s impossible to plug the leaks and gain financial peace of mind. Although I use QuickBooks for my business, I have been searching for a simple financial software system I could recommend for personal financial planning.   You Need a Budget is more than a simple, effective personal budget financial software system. It is a tool that will help you quickly gain an awareness about money and lead you on the path to financial peace of mind.

Get Out of Debt, Stop Living Paycheck to Paycheck and Stop Fighting with Your Spouse

End sleepless nights and the stress that financial insecurity brings. Create a written spending plan (I’m not fond of the term budget) that simply and effectively works. Money management is made easy when you know what you want, realistically look at your income and debt, and create a spending and saving plan that works for you and your family. Sometimes a simple financial software tool helps takes the dread out of budgeting.

Do you need a personal financial software tool to get out of debt?

Not necessarily. But gaining clarity about your current money situation will be your lightbulb moment. A true foundation to regaining financial control.

Whatever financial planning tool you decide to use (even a simple Excel or Numbers spreadsheet or spiral notebook), gaining a clear insight or awareness into your current situation is essential to get a snapshot of your financial picture.

These tools will shine a strong light on the problem and you will immediately know what you need to do to get out of debt and gain financial peace of mind. Awareness is the important first step.

An Amazon best seller with 93 5-star reviews, this You Need a Budget personal financial software can be up and running within minutes, allowing you to import your banking transactions, track all your spending, and quickly gain financial peace of mind by gaining control of your money. Compatible with Windows Vista/2000/XP, not Macs.  Users claim it is easier to use than Quicken or Money. As I haven’t used those tools, I can’t comment.  I do know You Need a Budget is a much less expensive financial planning software tool especially considering the provided support options.

Created by Jesse Mecham, a Certified Public Accountant, and based on four rules of cash flow, this personal financial software budgeting program helps you maximize your money as you set and fulfill all your financial goals. Get out of debt, save for retirement and remove guilt about spending money by having a defined spending plan already in place. Spreadsheets, online video tutorials, and community forums are made available.

Is this financial planning tool right for you? Maybe. Maybe not.

If you are interested, there is a 60-day free trial available to see if it’s a good fit.

Reviews:

“Just what I was looking for. I was looking for software that used the “envelope system” of budgeting where you take your cash and divide it up into different envelopes for your budget categories and then is removed as you spend. This software fit perfectly…”

“This software is very easy to use. The company goes way above and beyond to make sure you are comfortable through extensive video tutorials and customer support. You can even attend free webinars that go step by step…”

“I love it!! It is so freeing to get a month ahead on paying bills, but even if you aren’t planning to do that, you can use this software and tell your dollars where to go instead of wondering where they went!!!”

“The best thing about YNAB is that I know exactly how much money I have for everything. I know how much I want to spend on clothing, so I dont feel guilty when I buy something…”

“I have used Quicken and Money for several years and I can honestly say that, this is the best tool I have used so far. YNAB is a powerful budgeting tool, but if you only need to track and budget your income and spending, then this is the tool for you. “

Check out more success stories here.

The bottom line? Awareness is the first step to Take Control of Your Money

It is important to face reality, find the money leak and make the decision to fix it. Money matters. Start your Get Out of Debt Journey today.

Resource: 
You Need a Budget

Video Tip: Saving Money with Amazon Specials

Instantly Save $20 on LeapFrog Toys using Amazon Special

EDITED DECEMBER 16: The Gund Bear is no longer available from Amazon.

This video tip from the “Savvy Shopper” is about saving money with Amazon specials, and more specifically how to save $20 and get a free Gund bear on Amazon’s LeapFrog specials bundle package. The links included below make sure you effortlessly get the immediate extra $20 savings. If you don’t follow this link, you may have trouble. It took me awhile to get it right myself! (Note: seasonal video will be removed after Christmas.)

Here is the special page you need to use to easily Save $20 with Amazon’s LeapFrog “create your own bundle” promotion. As mentioned in the video, this page is very hard to find on your own and some people have had difficulty getting the $20 off. This page simplifies the process.

Check out further information on the LeapFrog toys at Educational Toys Kids Love to find more Christmas gft ideas for kids.

Top Ten Meaningful Christmas Gift Ideas

Christmas gift giving has taken on a special significance for me this year. In looking for ways to make gift giving fun again, I came up with a Christmas list I’d like to share.

Top Ten List of Meaningful Christmas Gifts

These gifts made my top ten list of Christmas gift ideas because I’m looking for memorable gifts that will help create, capture and share memories that will far outlast the frenzy of Christmas morning. Since meaningful gifts are determined by the recipient, your list may differ from my suggestions. Hopefully this will help get your creative ideas flowing. Now for my favorite gift and best free resource… Read more