Day 3 – Use coupons!

 

This post is part of 31 days series – 31 days to decorate your home on a budget.  You can catch up on all the posts in this series here.

And if you don’t want to miss a post you can subscribe by email, join me on facebook, or follow this blog in your reader.

You didn’t think that I could write for 31 days on decorating on a budget without mentioning my favorite word, did you?  I would seriously disappoint my friends and followers over at my coupon blog – Centsible Savings!

I use coupons literally in EVERY area of my life!  Of course I use them for groceries, beauty products, cleaning supplies, and household needs.  But we also rarely eat out without a coupon or Groupon type discount.  (Like this coupon for FREE chips and queso at Chili’s!)  And I rarely shop at a craft or fabric store without coupons either (if I do buy something without a coupon, it is because it is already on sale exempting usage of a coupon on top of the sale price.)  And I even use coupons at department stores and online as well.

And even though we are talking about decorating on a budget, you are going to have to buy some craft supplies, paint, fabric, etc.   If you need to buy it, you might as well save money on it!

So I thought I would share a bunch of links and resources that I use, so you can sign up to get coupons by email or mail to save on your home décor too.

Michael’s

Sign up for emails and coupons here (at the bottom of the page)  I get a weekly 40% coupon and other special offers like 25% off your entire purchase including sale items.

Also Michael’s offers a rewards program called Michaels Rewards.  (Get more information here.) It is FREE to sign up, but you must sign up in-store to receive your membership card.  Then make sure that you scan your card each time you check out.  (I have heard rumors that they are going to discontinue the newspaper in-ad coupons and will load them on your rewards card for use – that has not happened yet.)

Here are the benefits:

• Welcome offer 20% off your entire regular price purchase
• Special discounts on products (member specials)
• Special Birthday offer 20% off any one regular price item
• Additional 5% off custom framing promotions

If you spend $150 in one year, you reach Gold status which will give you even more discounts.

Hobby Lobby

Sign up for a weekly email of sales ad and coupon – usually 40% off one item coupon each week.

Joann’s

Sign up for emails and sales ads containing coupons by mail.  Typically 40% off one item is available at all times, plus on holiday weekends/special sales there will be many coupons – 50% off 1 item, 15% off entire purchase, etc.

Kirkland’s

Sign up for emails.  I get a coupon every week and more coupons on holiday weekends – usually $10 off $50 but sometimes $5 off $25 or % off offers.

Kohl’s

Sign up for sale alerts and get a coupon for $5.00 off your next purchase of $5.00 or more (you could pick up a fall candle or something for FREE with that initial coupon!)  By email you will also get % off offers and occasionally a special coupon for $5 or $10 off too!

Big Lots

Sign up for the Buzz Club here (or signup in store to get your card right then.)  You will get notification of their 20% off coupon sales and weekly ad specials as well.

Lowe’s

Sign up for a weekly email of the sales ads. (don’t think I have ever gotten coupons by email, BUT I have gotten coupons in the mail like $10 off $50 of $25 off $250 and I probably got on that list by signing up.)

Online

ALWAYS, always, ALWAYS search for a coupon code when buying something online!  Check retailmenot.com or just do a quick search “coupon code for XX.”  Most of the time you will find a coupon code that will at least give you FREE shipping if not more.

Swagbucks

I joined swagbucks a few years ago and I can’t sing its praises loud enough!  Swagbucks is an online search engine dedicated to helping you earn digital dollars called “Swag Bucks”.  I suggest downloading the toolbar and using it to do all your searches.  You will randomly earn swagbucks for doing searches.  You can then redeem those “swag bucks” for exclusive merchandise including gift cards!  My favorite is a $5 Amazon gift cards for 450 swagbucks.

There are also many other ways to earn besides just searching:

• Enter your birthday on swagbucks.com to earn swagbucks on your birthday.
• Answer the “daily poll” question each day to earn 1 swagbuck
• Click on the “NOSO” tab each day, skip through the offers, then enter the code at the end to earn 2 swagbucks each day
• Watch videos on the home page to earn swagbucks
• Refer others to join and earn swagbucks when they earn swagbucks

and much more!  Just by searching, doing the Daily Poll, and doing the NOSO offer each day, you should be able to earn enough swagbucks each month to get a $5 gift card!  And Amazon sells everything, plenty of things you could use to decorate your home!

If you are new to swagbucks you can earn 30 swagbucks just for joining here.  Enter SBISONTHEGO at signup through the end of day today to get an additional 60 swagbucks added to that 30 for a total of 90 swagbucks!!

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(To inspire you a little –  the SLR camera that I use to take pictures for this blog, I bought last Christmas and paid for almost half of it with Amazon gift cards that I earned all year long with swagbucks!  So yes, it does work! )

I think that pretty much covers the main ones I use.

Do you have any other stores that you shop at that have coupon offers?  Or do you have other ways you save when purchasing craft items or home decor ?  Maybe you will have a new one I can join!

{cj}

{This post contains referral links.   Read my disclosure policy here.}