May 22, 2013

Staying In London On A Budget: Top Tips And Advice

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*This is a sponsored guest post

london

The city of London is appealing to thousands of people planning to visit, from all over the world, not least of which being Brits in search of a city break. A trip to London is high on the agenda of many people who fancy a few days in the capital, taking advantage of their time there to see what’s on offer. The wealth of attractions, landmarks and sights to see is unending, with the majority of people visiting the city finding that one trip isn’t enough to see it all.

London

With many people choosing to stay a little closer to home this summer, instead of spending money they don’t really have on holidays abroad, it’s no wonder the prospect of London is an attractive one. As far as cities go, it pretty much has it all – museums, theatre, music and sights all on the doorstep of your hotel.

London Bridge

Of course, staying in the centre of London can cost a bundle if you’re not careful. Boutique hotels and upmarket accommodation can cost hundreds per night, but don’t let that put you off. There are plenty of reasonably priced options in the city that are even cheaper if you’re willing to travel a bit. For example, rather than spending more for the luxury of the central London location, take a look at the good value hotels in Battersea. While it will take a few minutes on the tube to reach the city centre, it’s certainly not undoable and will be much kinder to your pockets.

London shopping center

It’s easy to let holidays run away with you and often, even with staycations, it doesn’t take long for it all to add up. If you’re not careful, you will have spent the same amount as you would have on a week in the Costas, which isn’t recommended if you have a strict budget to stick to. Take a look at these tips to help keep your spending down without scrimping on fun and enjoyment.

Accommodation

As said earlier, choosing a hotel a little further away from the centre will mean less cost per night. A stay in Battersea is only just across the river and won’t cost much for travel each day, often working out cheaper than a stay in the centre even when you do factor in the travel cost.

London Airplane

Travel

While you could spend money every day on a Tube ticket, it would be cheaper to buy a Travelcard. What would be even cheaper still is if you pick up an Oyster Card and top it up. Using one of these nifty cards gives you a discount every time you use the tube and as long as you keep it topped up, you won’t have to faff about at the ticket booths.

london attractions

Attractions

Depending on what you want to visit, you could invest in a London Pass for the duration of your trip, which gives you substantially cheaper entry to many of the main attractions, including the London Eye, Windsor Castle, London Zoo and HMS Belfast.

Keep an eye out for vouchers from Tesco Clubcard, in newspapers and on cereal boxes too for the Merlin Group attractions within the city.

Visiting London doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Make savings where you can and utilise offers where possible and you can enjoy a stint in the city for less.

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Apr 24, 2013

P&G and Dollar General Honor Everyday Heroes (Moms!) Giveaway Time!

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*product received.

CONGRATS TO

Margie Cawthron Young #3640!dollar_general_logo_swmm

In celebration of Mother’s Day this year, P&G has teamed up with Dollar General to honor Moms!!! Moms are every day heroes, that is for sure and they deserve some attention!

Using the theme “Moms Rule,” the Dollar General “Every Day Heroes®” campaign will also honor moms by offering great savings for the heroes closest to our hearts. Brilliant!

To celebrate and honor moms, Dollar General chose Maria Segura as its Every Day Hero for May 2013. Maria exemplifies the Dollar General Every Day Hero through her commitment to build a better life for her family through literacy and education. Maria was a migrant worker and through The Family Literacy Academy of Immokalee in Florida, she earned her GED and was able to offer her two younger children a better future. Today, Maria is the heart and soul of the program and donates much of her time to visiting families and assisting them with any needs they may have. Pretty neat, huh?

I am encouraging you all to pick up the May P&G brandSAVER® in your local paper on Sunday, April 28th. That way you can find some amazing ways to save some money!!

You can also visit the Dollar General Facebook Page in May and create a custom “Moms Rule” photo for your own Facebook Cover! Too much fun!

P&G and Dollar General Honor Everyday Heroes in May

Win

One lucky person will win the following prize package:

·         Venus Embrace Razor

·         Secret Outlast Invisible Solid Deodorant

·         Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Mega Firm Hold Gel

·         $15 Dollar General Gift Card

How?

Just use the Rafflecopter form below!

*Product was received. All opinions are mine.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Apr 22, 2013

My Love Affair with Coupons and Rewards Programs

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*Consideration was received for the editing and publishing of this postdollar sign

If you’re like me, you look for ways to save at every possible opportunity. And in today’s economic times, it’s more important to ensure you get the most bang for your hard-earned buck. Businesses are well aware of our need to be frugal. As a result, they’re practically throwing savings at us. Okay, sometimes the discount is not quite so obvious, but I guarantee they’re a lot easier to find than parking options at LAX airport.

Most product manufacturers offer coupons for consumers like us to try out their latest product. They want you to buy and fall in love with their latest flavor, scent, or what-not. Printable coupons can be delivered right to your inbox if you sign up on the company’s website. Others send circulars to your mailbox for you to clip and save. And a growing number of product makers are putting their printed coupons right in the store, typically right in front of the accompanying product, right on the shelf! (Those kinds are my personal favorite; no need to go searching for a coupon, it’s right there in front of you.)

When I go grocery shopping, I almost always make a list. Granted, with three kids running around and with a bazillion other things going on, I don’t always have time. It’s important to make time, though, if you’re really interested in cutting costs. Once the list is done and in hand, I generally won’t purchase anything not on it. If it’s not on the list, we don’t need it. It’s as simple as that, unless it’s on sale. That’s another story altogether. It’s important to browse the weekly circulars and to take note of the staples that your home always needs available. I’ve found these tips to be the most sensible way to create a shopping list, and to stick with it.

On top of manufacturer’s coupons and the added savings retailers offer for their weekly specials, a growing number of companies offer incentives just for being a loyal customer and choosing their store over their competitors. Major drugstore companies have been increasingly offering discounts for shopping with them in recent years. Actually, the discounts are more elaborate than simply offering drugstore coupons. They’re more along the lines of loyalty rewards programs which offer you additional perks the longer you shop with the retailer, or the more money you spend.

Signing up is simple, and typically free. Whether you’re purchasing a prescription or buying some over-the-counter upset stomach remedy, the cashier will ask if you have a rewards card. If you don’t, you need to get one. These price-slashing memberships have gained a fast following, squelching many traditional sales ads at drugstores. In fact, it’s been quite some time since I’ve seen a circular for the leading drugstore chains. It’s more effective for the companies to offer a one-time plastic card, versus wasting paper and postage sending out their weekly ads.

money

Plus, it offers greater convenience to the consumer. There’s no need to browse the print ads. With the rewards program, discounts are clearly marked throughout the store. It even seems like there are more “sales” than when their sales promotions were fully operational. Why? These newer programs offer points (in most cases) that you earn with every purchase, and that can be used towards every purchase. No need for a sales ad dictating what’s on sale; with these cards, it’s ALL on sale. You’d be hard-pressed to find an item that didn’t qualify. They’re hoping to reward you for your loyalty to their business.

Companies want our business, but they need to woo us in order to get it. They’re just as conscious about the economy as we are and they need to cater to our needs to entice us with savings so we whip out our plastic. It’s a win-win situation: they earn your business and you save. A little preparation can help you cut costs on everything you buy, making life a bit more relaxing. Just think, with all the money you saved, you’ll have extra to buy some of these unique finds. Now that’s a win for everyone!

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Dec 20, 2012

A Regular 45 Minute Run To The Store Is Now A 45 Second Task On NetPlenish.com!!

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netplenish_logo

Yes, I thought that would get your attention! It is true! NetPlenish is an awesome tool for all of us busy parents. They simply take all the things we buy in life,( like diapers, dog food, detergent, etc...) and will automatically get you the best prices by bundling them together and sending them to their partners: Walmart, Diapers.com, etc..!! How cool is that? I was certainly intrigued, so I had to look into it a bit more.

HomepageBanner

The magic really does happen when you are able to bundle! They have the lowest bundle price, guaranteed. That makes me feel good hearing this! I really can save money by doing this bundle thing!

It is as easy as one..two..three! Go to NetPlenish.com and search for you love to use. Next, their ShopGenius™ technology bundles your items and finds the best combination with the lowest price. Thirdly, they  remember your products, so when it’s time to replenish the essentials, it’s easy to do!!! Let NetPlenish do the coupon clipping and bargain hunting for you. After all, you are a super busy parent with kids to tend to!

best_prices

NetPlenish has everything from dog food to diapers and nutrition bars. They do not, however, sell any fresh fruits or perishable products. They have partnered with only the top most trusted merchants to ensure your products are top of the line. Save up to 60% on top name brand prices! There is so much that they offer!

Once you select everything you need, you just create your free account and will be able to enjoy their “No Checkout, Checkout”. There is no lengthy order forms to fill out, just one click to check out! That’s it! And, in 1-5 business days, your goods will arrive! Almost sounds to good to be true, but it is for real :)

So, are you going to check out NetPlenish and see what it is all about? I sure hope you do!

 

Disclosure:

 

 

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Sep 20, 2012

Maytag Bravos XL High-Efficiency Top-Load Washer And Dryer Help Make Even My Most Challenging Laundry Easy To Clean! #MaytagMoms

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Yep, you heard me right. Not only are the Maytag Bravos XL High-Efficiency Top-Load Washer And Dryer so easy for me to use, they make doing my laundry a breeze, even the most challenging laundry, like blood stains from my sons nose or other yucky laundry situations, much easier to deal with!

Sure, it is still gross, when you have yucky laundry, you want to just put it in the washer and be done with it, right? I do! With the Maytag Bravos, I can do this. They are bigger and more roomier too. At 4.6 cu. ft., the Bravos XL HE washers are Maytag brand’s largest capacity top load washers. They have the ability to clean 21 towels in a single load and that makes my laundry time go way down. That means less time in the laundry room and more time doing things I enjoy, like spending time with my family! I count on my Maytag washer and dryer to make laundry time less time-consuming and more easier. With this set, I can do this, easily! My kids even like to help me out, because they think these machines are very cool!

I have also been using the cold wash cycle to clean our clothes. I have always wanted to cut back on costs related to laundry and now I can and feel confident my clothes/laundry are still getting clean. Even the toughest stains (like I mentioned above) can come out, no problem. The Cold Wash Cycle provides the cleaning performance of a warm water wash cycle with the energy savings of cold water.  So, I save money and still get my clean laundry!

I have always been afraid to use cold water doing my laundry in the past, because the laundry has NEVER come out clean-looking, ever. So trying this on my new machines, I was skeptical, very skeptical. But, I tried it and now I find myself using the cold wash cycle more than any other cycle. The deep clean cold cycle powers out tough stains with its extra cleaning action and precise slow-motion soak, leaving clothes/laundry, CLEAN. I just adore this cycle and so does my laundry and check book :)

My Maytag Bravos Dryer is totally neat too. It evenly dries loads and virtually eliminates overdrying and shrinking, I know this for a fact, because I have tried it out with my son’s school clothes! He is growing so dang fast and keeping his clothes from shrinking is totally important to me. I was able to dry some of his school clothes and they have not shrunk up. Especially his school jeans. This is so nice.

The 7.3 cu. ft. high-efficiency dryer offers Maytag’s best drying performance and I can tell by how it dries my laundry. I can do big loads and still my laundry gets dried, ALL of it, evenly.

The performance and reliability of a great washer and dryer is soo important to me. I remember not too long ago, when I could NOT rely on my dryer to dry anything evenly or in a timely manner. I actually had to turn my dryer on at LEAST 2 times, in order for my laundry to dry! Just think of the time it took to dry my laundry and the energy it was sucking from us. Our electricity bill was HORRIBLE. Now, after having the Maytag Bravos for a few months, I CAN honestly say that my utility bill has gone down a bit. It is SO nice to be able to SEE this difference.

Getting the right cycle is up to you. There are lots of ways to wash your clothes with the Maytag Bravos, we for now, are loving the cold wash cycle!

 

Connect with Maytag on Twitter and Facebook!!

Disclosure:

I wrote this post participating in an Maytag Moms Dependable Laundry Ambassador program by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Maytag. I was provided with the Maytag washer and dryer set to facilitate my post. All opinions are my very own.

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Oct 13, 2011

Save Money With DirectBuy

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Are you working on a really really big project on your home and need stuff? Directbuy can help you save money. Directbuy can tell you secrets, retailers want to keep from you.

It is simple really. You have a big project and need some flooring, electronics, appliances, furniture or whatever, and you need a pretty decent deal. You visit Directbuy and join their Directbuy Club. This allows you to browse their selection of over 700 trusted brand names, to find what you need. You see the confidential insider prices on furniture, flooring, electronics, appliances and much more. You purchase what you need/want and money IS saved.

The Direct Buy Membership is for bigger purchases, where you will save money. If you don’t have a big purchase to make, this may not be for you. Think house remodel for the kitchen, bathrooms, living rooms etc..

There is also expert advice from professional design consultants, on site, to help you choose the right products for your home. There is hundreds of name brand manufacturers and their authorized suppliers, that you can choose from. And, right now, you can get your free visitors pass now and a free 30 day Direct Buy membership, so you can see if this is right for you.

This is a great service if you use it. It will save you money, but you have to make sure you use it, take advantage of it. In other words, if you commit to the Direct Buy Membership, use it!! Obviously you won’t be happy if you don’t.

Do you use Direct Buy or know someone who has? What do you (or that person) think of it?

 

 

 

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Jul 18, 2011

Dr. Scholl’s For Her Ultimate Summer Foot Kit Review

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Dr. Scholl’s has always been a favorite of mine. And now that Summer is here, my feet can certainly use a little pampering :) Dr. Scholl’s has a great line of feet pampering products for “Her”. A Women’s only line of great products to help make your tootsies look and feel great during the hot, sweaty summer months!

Are your ready for the adorable flip flops or strappy sandals? I wasn’t either, until I received my Dr. Scholl’s Ultimate Summer Foot Kit in the mail :)

Now my feet are walking pretty! The products I received were: Smooth My Sole Micro File,  High Heel Insoles, Ball of Foot Cushions and Open Toe Insoles! The Open Shoe Insoles are great for those strappy sandals. They fit comfortably in sandals. They have a massaging gel for the cushioning and it feels GREAT on bare feet! The High Heel Insoles I gave to my sister, because she wears plenty of high heels as opposed to myself. She like these and said that they were super comfortable on her feet. It helped prevent her feet from aching. These fit comfortably in heels 2″ and up, which she also liked. She could wear her heels longer and she liked that it actually shifts pressure off the balls of your feet. The arch cushion is also super soft. Smooth My Sole is nice to smooth out your rough feet spots. For me that is ankles and heels. It gently removes rough, dry skin in minutes. It is not messy as it collects all the skin shavings (eww!) inside of it, for a mess free experience. It is made to fit in your hand comfortably, which I really liked. Last but not least is the Ball of Foot Cushions. These fit comfortably in any shoe you need them in. It prevents “toe scrunch” and it really does stay in place, no moving around, which is awesome! You can also remove all of these, without damage to your shoes! Woot!

 Take A Quiz!

You can also visit Dr. Scholl’s for Her Facebook page, and take a really fun quiz!

Buy!

You can find out more about Dr. Scholl’s For Her products and purchase them, by visiting them online at http://www.drscholls.com

While you are on their site, don’t forget to grab your $2 coupon for Dr. Scholl’s Her Products!

Disclosure:

I was sent product to review. These are my own honest opinions, thanks!

 

 

 

Filed Under: Archives, Reviews · Tagged: , , , , , ,
Jul 17, 2011

Robby Wash Fuchsia Laundry Ball Review/Giveaway

By ·

CONTEST OVER! CONGRATS TO

Michele L #79!!

 

I do a whole bunch of laundry every week. It seems like my washing machine and dryer are always going! So, when I find a way to help cut down on my laundry detergent bill, I will do it.

I was introduced to the Robby Wash Fuchsia Laundry Ball and gave it a go right away. This laundry ball is formulated to clean colored items and is for use in cooler water temperatures (up to 86F) on an average of 12 months. When you use the ball, you don’t need extra laundry detergent nor do you need odor removing detergents, this ball is supposed to do it all.

The Robby Wash fuchsia laundry ball pack includes the fuchsia washing ball, a stain stick and three extra packets of macro-molecule pellets. For loads that are to be washed in water temperatures above 90F you should use the Blue washing ball.

It is really simple to use. You just throw it into the wash, and it does the rest. You refill ball when level of maco-molecule pellets is less than 75% full. For over-sized washing machines we recommend using two washing balls.

More Info About the Robby Wash Laundry Ball:

Economical: No need to buy washing powder, a savings of up to $100+ over 200 washes.

Caring for you laundry has never been so easy, efficient or inexpensive — as soon as the machine starts, the ball gets to work:
- Hypoallergenic and great choice as a baby laundry detergent cleaner or for someone with sensitive skin
- Cleans and protects your clothes
- Guards fabrics against oxidation and discoloration caused by chlorine in the water, and maintains your clothes’ springiness
- Eliminates unpleasant smells thanks to its antibacterial action

Robby Wash saves you money but that’s not all that makes it exceptional – it’s the only laundry ball that add a light fragrance that you expect from your washing experience.

My Thoughts?

I like the idea of not having to purchase seperate laundry detergent, when I use this ball. I like that it is simple to use and even easier to do my laundry. It lasts a long time and that is really nice and cuts down on laundry costs for us.

Cons?

I did not notice it making my laundry smell nice, it was just scentless, if that makes sense. I also still have to use a fabric softener in my dryer, to make my clothes soft and smell nice. Also, the directions were not very clear to me on the box or the insert inside. I had to visit their website to really understand how to use this product.

Would I recommend This?

Yes. I would recommend it for the person who does a lot of laundry like I do. It really does save you money in the long run.

Buy It!

You can purchase the Robby Wash Balls online at http://www.oransi.com/default.asp

Win It!

One person is going to win the Robby Wash Ball! Retail Value: $32.95

How?

Easy! Just visit Oransi.com and choose another product you love, and tell me in a comment below! Mandatory Entry!

Extra Entries!

Sign up for Oransi newsletter (found on the bottom left of their website) Let me know you did!

Tweet this giveaway 3 times a day, and come back with tweet links! Can use the share button above, or the tweet provided, below:

“Robby Wash Fuchsia Laundry Ball Review/Giveaway http://t.co/lOYgVgZ via @shopwithmemama #WIN #sweeps #giveaways PLS RT!”

Follow my blog publicly on GFC, see sidebar, and let me know you are!

Follow Shop with Me Mama on Twitter

Like Shop with Me Mama on Facebook

Leave a NEW Comment on a NON giveaway post and let me know which one for 2 extra entries! If you are entering other giveaways, you MUST choose a different NON giveaway post to comment on each giveaway or it will not count.

Interact on my Facebook Page and let me know you did!

Grab my site button, found in my sidebar, and proudly display it in your sidebar, towards the top if you can! Let me know where I can find it! 2 Extra Entries!

Blog about this giveaway and link back to this post. Let me know the link for 3 extra entries!

Subscribe to my blog, see sidebar at top, let me know you are and what email address you used (you can put the email address in the private section when you fill out form). 3 Entries!!

 

*Lots of ways to enter, so use them all! Contest is open to US  and will end on August 6th, 10pm PST 1 person will be chosen using random.org to win a Robby Wash Ball!! !! Winner will have only 48 hours to their win or a new person will be chosen. Good luck!*

Disclosure:

I was sent product to review. These are my own honest opinions, thanks!

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Jul 11, 2011

Meet Bargain Jill: Your New Personal Bargain Shopper (Guest Post)

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Guest Post Written By Lindsey

Meet Bargain Jill—Your New Personal Bargain Shopper


Ladies, ever feel like you spend too much time bargain shopping?  Are you sick of receiving dozens of emails in your inbox every day just to find the items you need for a good price?  Meet Bargain Jill, your new one-stop-shop for discount shopping.


Bargain Jill compiles daily and longer-term deals, coupons, and storewide sales from across the web on any item a woman needs: women’s clothing and accessories, beauty products, home and garden goods, and kid and baby products.  With Bargain Jill, you can redecorate your kitchen and spoil yourself with a new pair of shoes, all for rock-bottom prices and all in one trip!  The strongest section is definitely the home and garden deals, which currently features a $150 Martha Stewart Collection 12-Piece Cookware Set for $70.  Bargain Jill is a mom-and-pop business, so you can expect hand-picked, quality deals from the stores you love, like Home Depot, Banana Republic, Toys R’ Us, and more.


Bargain Jill is extremely user-friendly; visitors can organize deals by recentness, item type, deal type, and vendor store.  Bargain Jill also has a search bar on the left side of the screen, and if she doesn’t have the item you have, she shows Price Grabber store availabilities and price comparisons from around the web.  Best of all, Bargain Jill has an active social media presence, especially her Twitter and Newsletter, so that visitors can have discount alerts sent to them, all without a subscription.

 

 

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Mar 17, 2011

SaleLocator.com: A New Retail Sales Search Engine

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Now, hunting for sales is a thing of the past! With SaleLocator.com, a new local retail sales search engine. This is to help consumers who research online and purchase offline, with a geo-targeted one-stop sales site!

“SaleLocator is an advocate for consumers looking for the best advertised and unadvertised promotions.”

SaleLocator offers an average of 175,000+ nationwide sales DAILY! This is a new online service that brings the nations largest collection of retail sale information to you! There is no sign-ups necessary, which is appealing to me and no circulars to search or coupons to print up. This site brings together advertised and unadvertised promotions that are already happening in your neighborhood. You can search for local retail sales based on your city, zip or state by keyword or catagory.

What Do I Think??

I tried this site out, and I must say it is easy to use and navigate. It has a ton of information on it. I typed in jeans (after I put my zip code) and it pulls up all the places that are having a jeans sale. It shows the store, how far it is away from you, what exactly is on sale, the stores site, if they have one online, the address and map and more! Talk about everything you need to know, to make your shopping trip super easy. I find this VERY useful for mommy’s with kids in tow. I hate going out shopping with the kids. I know one or the other will have a melt down and if I take a bit too long, they start fighting. So, this website is so useful for me. I can plan out my shopping trip, know exactly where to go and what will be there on sale and how much it costs. What a great site. Oh, and I did not have to sign up for anything!!

So, this is really a great site. With gas prices on the rise, shaving time off you aimlessly running around in your vehicle, is a good thing, right?? I think so! So, next time you are out running errands, just take a peek at SaleLocator.com and quickly browse it to see if it can help you shave time off your daily errands and locate you an awesome deal or two :)

 

Disclosure:

BannerFans.com

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