spring cleaning – SnipSnap

Your Cheap Weekend: How One Girl Saved $60 on Food, Fashion, and Fun, Sat-Sun

April 29, 2013

Happy Monday, everyone! I’m really into making lists and, recently, I’m really interested in making lists about all the simple ways I save money + the environment. I save a ton of money on the weekends! Here are just a few of the ways I saved this past Saturday-Sunday:

1. Hoarded free Otis Spunkmeyer Muffins, Nature Valley bars, bananas, and bottled water at Saturday’s road race. (Hey! The leftovers were just going to get thrown away!) Ate hoarded food over the weekend for breakfasts/lunches instead of buying more food and creating more waste.

2. Ran 4 miles to grandmother’s house for dinner instead of driving. Carpooled home with my mother. Scored GIANT plate of turkey/stuffing/veggie leftovers. Will eat leftovers for dinner through Tuesday.

3. Donated a giant trash bag of super old but still very functional clothes (in good condition!) to charity.

4. SnipSnapped a coupon for $10 off any purchase at DSW. I desperately needed new running socks and so I scored this 6-pack of adidas premium running sucks (they are super comfy!) for just $7 (down from $17).

5. Shopped Old Navy online and scored free shipping, free returns, sale prices, plus 20% off my entire purchase with code ONSAVE20 at check out (this code is good until 5/6!) I saved well over thirty dollars on a pretty substantial addition to my spring wardrobe (I purchased: one pair of skinny jeans, two tank tops, one blouse, and one adorable, lavender sundress for just about $90).

All in all, I saved probably $60 in food/clothing costs and created less waste (I eat every last bite of free food that comes my way and the gas I save by using my training runs to actually get somewhere does add up).

Want a little more money-saving, list-making inspiration? Stay tuned for a post about some of my favorite inspirational, holistic, frugal lifestyle blogs later today!

Mo’ Money’s Top Home Improvement Coupons and DIY Blogs

April 9, 2013

Are you looking to spruce things up a bit for spring? We’re getting a huge dose of warm weather here in Philadelphia, and it’s just what everyone needs after a long, stagnant winter. It’s time to dust yourself off and clear out the cobwebs inside and outside of your home. I’m actually looking for home maintenance chores to do, just so I have an excuse to spend my time exclusively outside. What do you need besides warm weather to get things done around the house? Why, some coupons and some DIY inspiration. Home renovation and redecorating can be incredibly expensive; your best strategy is A) Do it the DIY way (whenever possible) B) Use coupons/store sales to stock up on your supplies.

I’ve been very happily putting together my Spring Home Improvement coupon bundle in the SnipSnap app. I’ve included some pretty sweet deals for power tools and other utilities from Harbor Freight, organizational items from The Container Store, home accessories from Bed Bath & Beyond, and home furniture and decor from Pier 1.

Now, onto the inspiration! I’m obsessed with all of these fabulous home improvement bloggers. Check them out and subscribe to receive constant creative inspiration!

Country Girl Home: Lindsay from Country Girl Home is amazing at building shelves and refinishing furniture. Her style is incredible and her super-human remodeling power is just what you need if you have a project you’ve been procrastinating.

Centsational Girl: Kate from Centsational Girl is another incredible inspirational force. She’s an expert thrifter, furniture rejuvenator, cook, and artist. You’ll be kind of blown away with the projects she’s able to execute.

Tatertots & Jello: Jennifer from Tatertots & Jello has some of the coolest, most enviable DIY projects online; just today, she posted this absolutely amazing, bohemian-chic beaded chandelier tutorial.

What DIY projects do you have planned for spring?

Recycle Your Clothes for Coupons at H&M

April 8, 2013

It’s spring! I hope your weekend was as wonderfully warm as mine. I’m getting ready to do a ton of spring cleaning; I have lots of clothes that I’ve been holding onto (I can be a wee bit sentimental) that I actually never plan on wearing again. I also have lots of clothes that are quite simply falling apart because I’ve worn them so many times. If you live a frugal life (you must if you’re reading this blog) then, hopefully, you’ve never committed the cardinal sin of simply throwing last season’s clothes away. There are simply tons of organizations to which you can donate your old clothes. But what if your clothes are so worn out that you’re convince nobody would want them? Or what if you really need a little extra cash to justify filling the holes in your wardrobe with some new warm weather pieces?

Good news! While some companies like Plato’s Closet will buy your brand name, gently worn duds, they won’t accept those Target sweatpants with the hole worn in the butt. Who will take your frumpy sweatpants? H&M will! And they will basically pay you to take any garment, of any brand, in any condition. How does it work? Just bring a bag of old clothing into any H&M store and receive a coupon for 15% off the next H&M item you purchase:

Through this global initiative, H&M’s customers can help save natural resources and contribute to reduced environmental impact by avoiding textile waste. Any piece of clothing, from any brand, and in any condition will be accepted. In return, customers will receive a voucher for each bag of clothing donated for 15% off their next item purchased.

Want some more frugal shopping inspiration for scoring affordable pieces at H&M? Check out some of these fabulous fashion bloggers’ recent H&M hauls:

Michelle Phan

Alison Penang from alisonous

Jenna Vidal

Joanna from Mademoiselle Lala

Sara from C’Chicc