Let’s Talk About Cents, Baby….

There is nothing more thrilling than the adrenaline rush of the chase and sticking it to the man. You see that beauty and you immediately hone in and make it your obsession; you have to have it in your possession; you want to make it yours. But that price tag makes you say– oh hell no! What? No one else out there enjoys chasing down the best deal possible like a cheetah hunting a gazelle?  Oh, you don’t know the fun you’re missing!! 

Ok, well buckle your seatbelts because in an effort to include all of you in on a few gazelle hunting, money saving, you won’t believe your eyes – and your fat wallet tips, I figured I’d share how Ed and I save our cents when shopping for big (and not so big) ticket items we refuse to pay retail price for. Actually, the words ‘retail price’ aren’t even words in our vocabulary and 99% of the time, we won’t purchase whatever it is we’re looking to unless we have some sort of a savings. Call us cheap, but I like to refer to us as fart smellers (smart fellers…no? not funny? It was in my head).

This house is by far the biggest, most expensive purchase Ed and I both have ever made. Sure we’ve purchased new cars (on the cheap mind you – yea, 0% interest, free extras, and paying under invoice) and furniture, but nothing to the extent of a home. See, even when buying our home we went frugal. I know, it’s a house, how can we buy a house frugally? Well, I’ll tell you how.  We pre-qualified on one salary. We shopped in the lower end of our budget. We waited for the lowest possible interest rate and locked in. We waited for a deal that couldn’t be beat and pounced with an offer lower than asking. It was like shopping for a house with big. fat. coupons. We made the kill and are proud of ourselves that we stuck to our guns and got what we wanted. It’s just too bad Ebates doesn’t give cash back on real estate.

This house (as I previously mentioned) is going to need love and a lot of it. The attic is filed with mold – as is the one full bathroom, the rec room has some, and garage, too. The heating system has pipe breakage and the once gorgeous hardwood floors, bathroom, and kitchen need a ‘What Not to Wear’ makeover by my Dad’s famed girlfriend Carmindy.

 However, with all of the love we are prepared to give, we are not prepared to give all of the cents out of our wallet (well, what’s left anyway).  So, enter online shopping at its best being mastered by the highly-skilled-coupon-stalking-retail-price-slashing-cash-back-maven: yours truly.  Yep, so far we have purchased some items that may look as if we spent upwards of hundreds of dollars, but no way, Jose. Not this chick. What’s that?? You’re all looking for examples?  Right-o. Ready?

Example #1: Fontaine High Arc Brushed Nickel Kitchen Faucet w/ Pullout Side Spray

Retail price is in the range of $150+ plus tax and shipping. Enter Overstock.com and their $1 shipping and NO tax. They had this puppy for an outstanding price of $99. PLUS I received 5% cash back on my purchase through ebates.com.  That’s right. Put back an extra $4.95 into our wallets, and this $150 faucet cost us approximately $96. Savings: $54.00

Example #2: Martha Stewart Collection Bedding, Poppy 6 Piece Set

Isn't it gorgeous?! Retail price is $250. Enter a sale at Macy's.com, plus a gift card plus Ebates.com cash back, and a dab of free shipping. The sale price was $99. I had a gift card for $50. Ebates offered 2.5% cash back and Macy's free shipping. Score! Total spent: $56.50. Savings: $208.50. 

Now I know I mention coupons and trust me, I use them. Solely relying on sales or websites like Overstock isn’t always the best way to get an awesome deal. I use retailmenot.com a lot and usually their coupons work best. I also use google.com/bing.com for coupons and/or finding additional sales on other sites I may have missed. Ebates.com is a Mecca of cash back goodness and it’s legit. I have received 3 checks so far from Ebates totaling $43.88 in cash back just by shopping through their site. Plus they also offer up any new and exciting coupons that can be used in addition to the cash back.  As far as brick and mortar stores are concerned – two words: Clearance Aisle. Ok, and Home Goods, and Outlet Centers. There’s a science – not a cool science like Marilyn & Tyler & Ed study, but a science nonetheless – to money saving. And much like science, it is literally so much fun to see results from the hard work invested, especially when it directly hits you in the wallet. I wasn’t kidding when I say that Ed and I don’t buy anything unless it’s a good deal – even groceries and clothes and presents. We’re currently on the hunt for the best possible deal on appliances. So far, nothing outstanding, but our sniffers are on it.  Anyone know of any super-dee-duper sales that they want to share?  Any inside scoops? Mmmm scoops …. Ice cream…