Last week, we had a $100 gift card for one lucky winner to Swimspot, so she could get her tan on. Whether it's lounging by the pool or on the beach, you never need a reason to grab a new swimsuit. It's Friday, which means it's time for the announcement...

Congratulations to Savings.com member KarinaHouse, who said,  "My favorite vacation is one I haven't taken yet: this summer my DH and I go away for 5 days to celebrate our 15th anniversary. We got a place to stay through a Groupon, things to do via a gift certificate for Christmas, and we'll buy restaurant.com gift certificates to save on our meals. A new suit would be fantastic!" I absolutely love how you've incorporated saving into your vacation plan, since those small expenses can quickly turn a relaxing getaway into a headache.

Karina, I've sent you an email with instructions on how to claim your prize. If for some reason it doesn't reach you, send me an email at social@savings.com before the end of the day on Tuesday, March 13^th, or another winner will be chosen. 

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Everyone has a story. Our stories are what help define us and make us stand out in the world. My story, while similar to many, makes me unique and passionate about what I do. I was that person that found herself out of work and losing her home. I was that person that struggled just to put food on the table for her little ones. I'm also that person that pulled herself out of it by changing my spending and eating habits.

In my first year of couponing, I dropped my grocery budget to spending about $35 a week for a family of four. It was a life-changing moment when I realized I didn't have to live hand to mouth and pay the exorbitant grocery store prices that plague consumers.

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Free caffeine alert! A lot of us are like walking zombies in the morning. I know I wonder aimlessly in the kitchen until I get my first cup and suddenly the fog in my brain lifts. I couldn't get through my day without it. If your out driving this week and need a pick me up, stop by your local Quik Chek to grab a free medium caramel coffee. Don't forget to print the coupon from their Facebook page first, (expires 3/12), as you need it to keep the offer free. Nescafe has six free instant coffee individual servings you can order from their Facebook page. These are great for keeping in your desk drawer.
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By most accounts, Amazon's Kindle Fire is a pretty great tablet. It's reasonably priced at $199, and it's good for everything from music to movies to Angry Birds.

Oh, and e-books, of course. Lest we forget, books were the original Kindle's raison d'etre, and the Fire makes for a mighty fine e-reader.

Just one problem: You already own a bunch of e-books purchased from Barnes & Noble. Or perhaps you have Nook-using friends and family members who want to loan you some great reads, but can't because you have a Kindle. Heck, maybe Barnes & Noble's "Nookstore" is running a killer promotion on e-books, and you want to jump in.

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Saving money should be one of the key principles taught from a young age.  I remember my  grandparents would give me $1 and say, "Now don't go and spend it all!"  In high school, it was all about saving for college. You graduate from college, and you begin to start saving for those other big events. From there, saving often becomes one of the key components of life. While saving money is a great goal, we all spend on fun, food, housing and the occasional cup of coffee. Credit cards are known for being the "King" of the spending mindset. However, there are ways to save money while using a credit card. Below are four tips to get you started. Read More …

When I was little, I could hardly wait to be "grown up". Parading around the house in my Mom's high heels, my cheeks were covered in too much pink blush. At that age, being an adult meant wearing whatever I wanted, whenever (shorts in the dead of winter? Why not!). Sadly, Mom didn't seem to agree a dress covered in sequins and paired with glitter nail polish was an appropriate option for church.

Fast forward a few years. The workplace is its own fashion game and while every industry (and company) has its own definition of work appropriate, the answer doesn't need to be the boring dress pants and grey blouses that websites often depict as "business casual". As the years pass, I've fallen into a look that can usually be dressed up or down fairly easily. Switch out your cardigan for a leather jacket and the flats with some stilettos, and you're good to go! Still, I'm always in search of that cute, effortless outfit that's girly and chic.

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I don't know about  anyone else, but I don't sleep much. Why? My husband snores and it's loud (don't tell him I told you). Unfortunately, other than going to a doctors office there isn't much that can be done about it. There are a few over the counter remedies you can buy, but what if you buy them and they don't work. You can try a couple of them for free and give them a try and pick the one that works best for you.

There is the SnoreRx Therapeutic Pillow Liner. This is easy to use, just remove the adhesive backing affix SnoreRx to the top of your pillow inside your pillowcase. SnoreRx's patented essential oil delivery system is designed to enhance the air you breathe and open your nasal passages to help you get a better nights rest by suppressing your snoring. We haven't tried this one yet, though I did order my free sample.....fingers crossed! To get yours, Click 'free trial' then add to cart and go through check out process, no credit card required. The form does ask for a phone number, I entered my area code then 999-9999 and it was accepted. The "free trial" for this product does notenroll you in any auto-shipment programs that you'll have to cancel later. Read More …

What do you spend your money on?

I'm not talking about groceries, rent, and gas. Focus your thoughts for a moment. Are you with me?

Savings.com is about spending money on the right things- whatever that means to you. Maybe you call it a splurge, but I don't want to assign names. I prefer to think of it as a small price to pay for enjoying life. We all have expenses that we could cut, but we don't. Personal finance blogs and counselors recommend cooking at home and not going out to eat as much as a way to cut back on costs, and no one can really argue that it's more expensive to eat at home. But what if you're a foodie? What if your favorite thing to do is go to restaurants and try new cuisine? If so, then my suggestion to stay home not only won't be applicable, but I'll be missing the point entirely.

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Last week, we had a SmartWav Baby Sleep System to give away, so one new Mom could lull her baby to sleep (and get a break for herself!) It's time to announce the winner, so congratulations to Carrie Grace Soulliere! Carrie, I've sent you an email with instructions on how to claim your prize. If for some reason it doesn't reach you, send me an email at social@savings.com before the end of the day on Tuesday, March 6^th, or another winner will be chosen. 

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Here at Savings.com, we're passionate about helping people. Whether it's helping people save money by using a 25% off coupon at their favorite store, or teaching you how to incorporate small changes in your monthly spending habits, we're continually looking for new ways to give back. We feel that we have a social responsibility to give back to the community, but more importantly- we enjoy it!

This past month, I've had the privilege of organizing a campaign with DonorsChoose.org, an online charity that works with approximately 40% of schools nationwide to pair donors with classrooms in need. Public school teachers post about specific needs for classroom projects, so that you can donate directly to that project. Requests range from e-readers to promote literacy to musical instruments for band classes. Once a project has reached its funding goal, DonorsChoose.org delivers the materials directly to the school. Read More …

A show of hands, please:  How many of you have left the grocery store lately, looking at the receipt and wondering how your total managed to be so high?

Prices continue to rise, and as a result, consumers are paying more and getting less at the checkout. Read More …

Photo courtesy of Fooferkitten at Flickr

When you think about reducing your energy consumption, your mind automatically goes toward your AC or your lights. And while the big things like heating and cooling matter, the little things add up just as quickly. Case and point - your kitchen. In many homes, the kitchen contains more devices than any room in the house. And if you're an amateur chef like me, you manage to use all of them every time you go in there, which can lead to big utility bills. 

You don't have to give up cooking to save the planet, but you can reduce your usage if you use a few tricks in the kitchen. Read More …