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Thanksgiving is almost here, which means the biggest shopping day of the year is on the horizon. For moms that want to get their loved one the greatest gifts but don’t have the money, this is an incredible opportunity. Most things are half price or better and there’s an excellent collection.

But, BF is losing its novelty appeal as crowds of people fight, punch and kick for items. Everybody wants to a bag a bargain, yet nobody wants to get hurt in the process. Plus, all the good deals go before there is time to blink. Sometimes, the day after Thanksgiving is a bust and it’s frustrating.

The good news is there is a reason to give thanks on the 23rd of this month.

Double Up

Pretty much anything goes and that means you can double up your vouchers and gift cards. With Swagbucks, finding the golden tickets isn’t tough because it rewards its users for their usual online shopping routine. Anyone thinking “is Swagbucks a scam?” should think again because plenty of shoppers use it to great effect. All you need to do is build up coupons and type in the code when the clock hits midnight on the Friday after Thanksgiving Day.

Split Responsibilities

You want to buy so much yet can’t be in ten places at once. Typically, you’ll hit as many stores as possible but this will only be about three or four realistically. Rather than leave deals on the table, you can team up with friends and family members and spread out across the city. Sync your shopping lists and purchase anything on there which is discounted, and get them to do the same. Then, meet up and sort through the bounty, paying back whomever for their hard work. Teamwork is the winner on Black Friday.

Don’t Be An Early Bird

Usually, the early bird gets the worm, but not on Black Friday. By the time you’ve flown the nest, the night owls will have swooped in and taken all the best deals. Companies tend to begin their discounts on Thursday night going into Friday morning, so it’s better to stay up late than get up early. If you have the energy, and if they’re open, drive down to the stores and shop at midnight. Your dedication will reward you with incredible gifts, and you can sleep in the day after while everybody is in a panic.

Bring An Ad

Sneaky companies say they offer a price guarantee yet renege on the offer. It’s a marketing trick leading up to the day which encourages customers to shop with them online or in-store. Now that you know this, don’t let them get away with their trickiness. A fantastic tip is to make a copy of the ad and bring it with you as evidence so that they have to honor their promise. Then, go to a competitor and place the rivals off one another.

The phrase “if you can’t beat them, join them” is well worth remembering at the start of the shopping season.

When I started my blogging journey, I never really knew what was going to come of it.  I knew that I wanted something more than just being a mom, I wanted to help others through my experiences.  

Once I accomplished that, I wanted more. What do I mean? Did you know that there are so many freebies out there online?  I mean TONS of things.  Not just things for you to promote on your website or social media, but useful things.  It’s amazing. 

Here are some cool tips that I have put together as a blogger on where to get free things.  

Giveaways

This is the absolute best way to get free things.  Some websites have links or surveys that you must submit in order to enter the giveaway.  This can include one item,  a package or even gift cards. I have yet to actually win a giveaway, but I always enter them. Fingers crossed it happens soon. 

Online deals

Believe it or not, there are websites dedicated just to this!  There are some guidelines to the submissions but you can find some pretty great deals this way.  You can find out more by clicking this link. https://www.mojosavings.com/how-to-get-free-bath-and-body-works-full-size-samples/

For example, you can check out these really cool offers from CVS pharmacies. It’s a very awesome deal, especially if you are a beauty influencer.  It’s a great way to share products with your audience.  You can find out more about that by clicking here. https://www.mojosavings.com/free-revlon-kiss-lipbalm/ 

Apps

Another great way to spot deals are through apps.  I use the Target Cartwheel app like crazy.  Sometimes I buy things from target that I don’t need just to receive the 5 dollar gift card. With cartwheel you can save up to 75% on certain items.  You can monitor your savings on a monthly or annual basis.  I definitely recommend this app, especially if you love target as much as I do.  

I really hope some of these tips can help you grow your business or website.  

It’s always a great time to start thinking about your plans for your family’s future ahead. Family accounting and finance might not seem like something you wish to assess now, but thinking of new ways to increase your household income could set you up for years of return and profit in the long run.

Surely an increase and boost to your hard earned money and savings are worth a second thought? Property and real estate have long been a way for people to invest their money at varying ends of the scale. There are a variety of options and projects out there, and if you strike the right thing at the right time; you’ll reap the rewards.

Successful property investors can often leave their day job to do it full-time, but it’s not always feasible for busy working families. Therefore, it’s worth researching and exploring your options surrounding real estate, and discovering how, where, and when to invest.

You might have built up some equity in your own home, have savings put aside for a rainy day, or have come into some extra money through inheritance or a bonus. Wherever your money has come from; you’ll want to make wise decisions with it and make the most of it for you and your kids.

The following are some ideas, inspiration, and advice for those who are ready to make smart choices when it comes to investing in property for a brighter family future.

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Consider Your Family Abode

Maybe the whole idea of a better and bigger income is so that you and your family can move into a new home within the next five years or so. If your plans are focused on getting yourself further up the property ladder; it might be worth putting your effort and investment into the house you’re currently all living in.

A family home can always be improved to make it a more appealing option to buyers, and more importantly; increase its value. Therefore, look into ways that you can up the value of your house so that when you do come to sell it; you’ll have more money to utilise for your next property. Extra bedrooms, open plan living areas, and an added bathroom, can all help increase the value and appeal of a family home.

You may need to consider you financial options in regards to fixing various parts of your home, updating areas, and improving it as a whole; learning more about this topic will help you to discover your options regarding your income, and planning will become more straightforward.

You can always use professional services like accountants, architects, and financial advisors, to ensure that you’re on the right footing to achieve what you want and need from your property. Keeping an eye on the market will also be crucial to your investment journey; therefore, utilise your coffee breaks, or time in the evenings when the kids are asleep, to open that laptop, and have a look through what’s out there, and what things will cost.

The more you educate yourself on what other families are doing with their home, and the current prices and cost of things, the better you’ll be armed for success with your property journey.

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Find The Fun In Flipping A Property

If you’re planning to buy, renovate, and sell a home efficiently; it’s always best to pick somewhere you can visit with ease and be onsite throughout the building process. You can buy your first house or apartment to flip in a variety of ways; however, old and rundown homes in need of TLC can often be found in auctions. It’s worth visiting a few property auctions (take the kids along, they’ll love it) before you go to bid for yourself.

You’ll get to understand the process and get a clear idea of the current market and if it’s a good time to buy. Don’t get caught up in buying something just because you want it; you must set yourself a strict budget and never go over what you’ve worked out the house is worth. Your sole focus is to make money on what you buy, so a bidding war will never work out well.

Much like a rental property; you’ll want to keep an eye on developing and expanding areas around popular cities and suburbs. These places may not be the most desirable locations now, but if young couples and families are already starting to populate the area because of affordable housing, and there seem to be plans for further development;

you need to strike while the iron is hot. Once you’ve secured your doer-upper; it’s time to start the process of making it a desirable and habitable abode. If you, your partner, or family and close friends have any skills that will help to renovate and decorate a home; you could save thousands in building and renovation costs, so utilize them wherever you can.

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Utilizing A Vacation Home

One of the best things about looking at vacation homes to rent out, is that you can invest in somewhere that you could potentially visit. If you keep returning to a particular part of the country or world and understand the amenities for families like yourself; you’ll have excellent insider knowledge and an idea of how well the property will rent out during different seasons.

Depending on how you plan to rent your investment out; you can pop along as a family each year and have somewhere to stay free of charge. Not having to pay for expensive hotels and accommodation during in peak periods, will start to add up over the years, so you’ll be making your money back in more ways than one.

If you’re choosing to purchase a property that you’ve researched, but never visited; it’s always worth taking a trip to see where you feel the best areas are that will suit your chosen market and potential renters. You’ll have the advantage of looking through a family renters eyes, along with putting on your landlord hat.

Overseas property investment can sometimes be more challenging, but if you choose the right location; you could get a huge return on your investment in the future. As long as you’re doing all you can to work with a team or company based in the location you wish to buy, and don’t make any impulse or risky moves with your money; there’s no reason it couldn’t be the beginning of a lucrative real estate journey.

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Facing up to financial problems is a hard task that a lot of people have to endure. There are many ways that you can help to get yourself out of debt, and a common one is to consolidate all of your existing loans and debts into one payment and is called a consolidation loan. There are many benefits to this type of loan, but there are also some risks, so it is essential that you weigh up all of the pros and cons before deciding to take out this type of loan.

Lots Of Payments Every Month

Balancing your books every month can be hard, especially when all of the payments come out at different times. Another drawback of having lots of payments like this is that if you are using credit, you are often paying a very high rate of interest. When you add up all of your debts that you have and then work out the interest that you will be paying it may be quite an eye-opener for you!

Reducing The Amount Of Interest That You Pay

A significant benefit of a consolidation loan is that you can reduce the amount of interest that you pay to clear the loan, compared to paying the debts off individually. Instead of having multiple payments coming out of your account on different dates each month, you will have one payment to make to pay off the consolidation loan. Even if you have a bad credit history, many companies specialise in bad credit debt consolidation loans in Australia that can help you in your times of financial pressure.

Getting The Best Deal For You

When it comes to applying for a consolidation loan it is important to remember to shop around and speak to as many specialists as you can. Just like when shopping for anything else, when you shop around you can ensure that you get the best solution for your financial problems. You will need to compare the interest rates that each company charge and look at the terms and conditions of the loan. As much as you may not want to, make sure that you read the fine print and compare each company carefully. The differences can be quite significant but with some research and a few emails you can get all of the information that you need to make an informed choice and choose a company that offers you the best deal.

Make Sure That You Do Not Get Back Into Debt

Once you have consolidated your debts into one manageable monthly payment, it is imperative that you make sure that you stay out of the cycle of debt. If there is no penalty for paying off your loan early, it is in your interests to do so as you may be able to save even more money on the interest payments. Do not overspend and keep a balanced budget for your everyday necessities. If you have a credit card use it as a convenient way to pay rather than relying on it for credit as the charges soon add up when you do not pay off the balance at the end of the month.

There are a lot of useful advice available online regarding consolidation loans, what to look for as well as the pros and cons.

How much do you have in your savings? If you’re lucky, you might have a few thousand. You may even have ten, twenty or thirty depending on how smart you have been with savings over the past few years. It’s possible that you have always worked hard to save as much you can get each month. If that’s the case, you could have built up a massive amount. But what’s it doing? Usually, it’s just sitting there, and this isn’t a smart move at all. Instead, you should be thinking of how to use this nest egg so that it grows and becomes even more valuable. There are a few possibilities you can consider here.

Do You Own Your House?

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If you do, you can use that nest egg to make improvements on your property. Eventually, you will reach the point where it’s time to sell your home. If you make improvements, you can ensure that the house is more valuable and one day, when it’s time to sell, you can make a fantastic level of profit. It’s a great option if you’re worried that the economy could turn making the money that you have saved worthless. If you invest in your property, you can keep that cash safe and secure in a simple yet effective investment.

If you are going to do this, you should focus on the kitchen and the bathrooms in your home. These are the areas that will add the most value, even if you make smaller changes.

Should You buy Bitcoin?

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Bitcoin is the most valuable currency on the market today. Just one Bitcoin could be worth as much as nine thousand dollars depending on when you buy. Using Paypal for Bitcoin, it’s also easy to get involved in this type of investment securely. You can easily make sure that you get the new currency that you want. Even if you just buy 1 Bitcoin, that will quickly grow in value, and this is the benefit of the investment. Typically, when you invest, you’ll need to wait a while to gain that ROI. With a cryptocurrency investment, you will see massive gains immediately.

Buy A Holiday Home?

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Alternatively, you can think about purchasing a holiday home in a tourist hotspot. If you pick the right place, you will always have a profit coming in each month with people desperate to stay in your home. With this investment, you do need to think about the hidden costs such as maintenance. But you can usually cover most of these with one, easy to afford, management service.

The benefit of buying a holiday home is that one day you’ll be able to sell your old property and retire there. You won’t get rich with this type of investment, but you can make enough money with it each month or even annually to give you an easy life.

We hope you consider these possibilities. They could grow your current nest egg to a whole new level and give you the money you need for a fantastic quality of life now and in the future.

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Sometimes, the best way to save money is to spend a little. That might sound like the most counter-productive thing ever, but it makes sense, trust me. You see, in this blog post, I’m going to talk about a few investments you can make that will help your family save loads of money in the future. As the title suggests, these investments all focus on your home. Without further ado, here are my ideas:

Invest In A Small Extension

If possible, you should try extending your home just a little bit. Add one extra room to your property, and it will save untold amounts of money in the future. Eventually, your home will feel overcrowded and cramped. Kids grow up, they need more space, and you accumulate more things. This is why many people end up moving home to a bigger place. But, think about it, this makes no sense as your children get to a point where they move out. So, you’ll have a big empty house if you upgrade. With a small extension, you provide extra space, this could be another bedroom to stop your kids from sharing, or it might just become a storage area. Either way, you save loads of money by not needing to move home or spending lots of money renting out a storage locker for all your belongings.

Invest In A New Roof

How many of you have replaced your roof since you moved into your home? I know people that lived in the same house for decades and didn’t replace theirs. This is normally because roofing is designed to stand the test of time, but certain roofing materials can become outdated. If you head to www.wildwoodroof.com, you’ll see there’s a new type of roofing called architectural shingles. They’ve become very popular, mainly because they benefit you in a plethora of ways. For one, they’re more durable than normal shingles, meaning they won’t break as easily. Secondly, they add value to your home. Thirdly, they’re thicker, which means they’re better at insulating your home. Therefore, you can save money in different areas. Mainly, your energy bill will be lower as the new roof traps in more heat, meaning you can turn the thermostat down. But, because a new roof is more durable, it means there’s less chance it will crack, meaning you save on future repairs too!

Invest In Solar

It would be stupid of me to talk about things that save money without mentioning solar power. Yes, if your family invests in some solar panels now, you’ll pretty much reduce your energy bill until the end of time. The panels provide clean energy that doesn’t cost a penny. So, a small investment now will save you a lot in the future.

Do any of these ideas interest you? It’s kind of ironic how spending money can lead to saving money, but that’s just the way life works! You should always think about the future, instead of just focusing on saving money now.

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Keeping costs to a minimum when you have a family to feed is difficult, but there are always ways that you can make life much easier for you and your family without breaking the bank. You could opt for days out at the park instead of the theme park, cooking at home instead of going for meals, and making your home into a cinema rather than going to the movies.. but what about everything else?

With the rise of the digital age, every man and his dog is online. The great thing about this is thy companies make the effort to make their websites the most appealing, and alongside this they will often offer you cheaper prices. But how do you find the best deals online?

The product

The first port of call when you are looking for something online is to research the exact product you want. Most of the time if you find the product you like, you will be able to use the SKU code of that product or the item code to search it online. Make sure that if you are looking for a product that it is exactly the same one.

Search and compare

Once you have found the product you want, you can start looking online for it. The first thing you will likely do is search the product in google and you will see a list of sites come up. Before you click onto a site though, go onto the shopping tab in the search results and look there. You will be able to sort the items by price and see the lowest price for the product you are looking for.

Alternatively you can use comparison sites to find what you are looking for. You may be able to find a site you’ve never seen before selling the item much cheaper. However, before you make the decision to buy from a site you don’t recognise, you need to make sure to research the website itself and look at review.

Offer sites

There are other options apart from comparison sites, and these are offer sites. This means that you can type in something like ‘cheese’ and you will receive a list of all coupons which relate to this term. This type of site is more generally used when you want a service or not a specific product. For example you may go on thinking about getting a taxi from Uber, but instead see a lyft code which is much better.

Clear your Cookies

You may have seen cookies pop up on your browser plenty of times, and usually it will mean that the website uses certain features which require encrypted files to run on your PC. This isn’t usually an issue and it doesn’t affect the way you shop online, however some people have accused companies of using cookies to inflate prices of items on their websites. This means that if you enable you pr cookies you could be overpaying for an item without even knowing it. To stop this from happening you can go into your browser settings and disable cookies.

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Kids have simple taste, literally. A bowl of chicken nuggets, some baked beans and chips will satisfy your child’s cravings perfectly without the fancy garnishes on your own plate. It is important when deciding where to take the kids for food that they have a kid friendly menu, play area or even a colouring book for the table. Children have a short attention span so they need to be entertained.

Olive Garden

Olive Garden is known for its amazing pasta dishes and family atmosphere. They offer a kid’s menu which is separate the adults and contains things such as Cheeseburger Sliders, Marinara Pasta and lots more simple dishes for your kids to enjoy. You may find yourself falling in love with this place so much that you want to get a job here too: https://jobapplicationcenter.com/olive-garden-application/. You never know, you might even find out the secret recipe for your favourite pasta dish too.

Chili’s Grill & Bar

Chili’s already has an impressive kid’s menu, but it just keeps on growing every day. With new sides such as oranges, corn and pineapple- they are really pushing the boat out for the kids. Items on the kids menu are simple comfort foods such as chicken, pasta and pizza. The restaurant cares for kids so much that it has even raised $8 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in the last year. You can find out more about them here: https://www.stjude.org/

Uno Chicago Grill

Pizza is the ultimate food for us and our kids. It’s simple, diverse and can satisfy those cravings. Uno Chicago offers more than just your average pizza. They also offer flatbread-style pizza, grilled chicken, pasta and vegetable side dishes such as broccoli and apple to keep your child’s diet balanced. They allow the kids to get involved and make their own pizza, choosing toppings and sauce.

Mimi’s Café

Two words: free appetisers. Yes, Mimi’s Café welcomes children to the restaurant by offering them free appetisers such as Cheerio’s and crackers to keep them busy while waiting for food. Their menu includes a range of soups and salads, spaghetti, and even a turkey dinner.

Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes

If you want an easy option for food for you and the kids, take them to a buffet. It is the best way to keep the kids happy because they can just get up and fill their plates over and over again until they are full. It saves waiting around and trying to entertain them. They offer arrange of different foods such as focaccia pizzas, pasta, soups, salads and lots of fruit and veg.

Legal Sea Foods

At Legal Sea Foods, your child can go for the safe option of grilled cheese, or be more adventurous and opt for wood-grilled fish. Surprisingly, the fish is more popular. Any meal on the kid’s menu is served with grapes and corn on the cob, so you won’t have to worry about them having a dose of fruit and veg. The chain has banned trans-fat from its dishes as well as cutting back on sodium to provide a healthier experience for the whole family.

Summer Happy Sunset Beach Happiness Family

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The summer holidays are great for the kids, but for parents, knowing what to do to entertain them can be difficult, especially if money is an issue. Thankfully, we are here to help. Here are ten money saving tips you might find useful.


Make use of local attractions

You may not have to travel far to find something interesting to do with your kids. There are sure to be attractions local to you, and many of them will be free. From parks to museums, head online and find out what is on offer.

Get an annual membership

Some places still insist on charging us money every time we head through their gates. Still, there are ways to save money, and that is to buy an annual membership. This will be cheaper than paying for a ticket every time you choose to visit, and you have the freedom to visit whenever you like throughout the year.


Keep hold of loyalty cards

To retain your custom, many places will hand out loyalty cards. From eating venues to tourist attractions, make sure you keep your loyalty cards in one place. You may have to visit them ten times before you get your next visit free, but you will save money eventually.

Use your local library

The local library often has summer activities for kids of all ages, and they will be educational to boot. Of course, you could simply take your kids to the library and get them back into reading again.

Search online for holiday discounts

Don’t pay full price for a holiday when you can find fantastic deals online. Sites such as DontPayFull.com have many coupons and money off-deals for holiday makers, so whether you are looking for a last-minute deal or are planning for next year.

Sign kids up for local activities

Churches, community groups, and leisure centres often have a range of activities for the kids over the summer. Book your kids in early, and give yourself some much-needed rest as others look after your young ones.

Save money at the cinema

A visit to the cinema can cost you a fortune, but you can save money. For starters, keep hold of your 3D glasses so you can reuse them. Then buy drinks, sweets, etc. at your local supermarket. Your cinema should also have family discounts and have special days when everything is half-price.

Go for a picnic

Kids love picnics, so a day out somewhere scenic will be a treat. Parents.com has some great picnic ideas for kids, which are both healthy and affordable.

Buddy up with other moms

Cut down on your stress and expenses by buddying up with other moms. Share the costs of activities, and enjoy some adult company while your kids play with their friends.

Go camping

Finally, regular readers of Successfulmommyadvice.com will know we love camping. Not only are you getting the kids off the sofa, but camping outdoors is an affordable holiday for many families. Pitch your tent anywhere that is legal, and enjoy some quality bonding time together.

There’s a saying in the UK that goes ‘look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves.’ You don’t always need to save hundreds of dollars for something to be a good deal. Often, if you make small savings on a regular basis, it can make a massive difference at the end of the week, the month or the year. Here are some simple ways you could save more.

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Comparing prices

When was the last time you had a proper look at your energy bill? How long have you been with your current broadband provider? Have you had the same cell network for years? Do you automatically renew your car insurance without giving it a second thought? If you’re keen to spend less on bills each month, you could save a significant amount of money by switching providers. Competition in the marketplace often means that new customers get the best deals. If you’ve been with the same company for a long time, you may be surprised at the difference in rates for existing and new clients. As a new customer, you might be offered a lower price, as well as incentives, such as 6 months’ free movies or a new tablet with your cell phone contract, for example. It’s well worth shopping around. You may assume that it’s a hassle to compare prices from every provider out there, but there are websites that will do this for you in a matter of minutes.

Making use of coupons and codes

If you spend too much when you go to the store, or you’d like to save on shopping for clothes, toys, books or home essentials, it’s time to start collecting coupons and taking advantage of promotions and discount codes. Using websites like Coupon Sherpa, you can access a host of deals on a daily basis, which could save you a heap of money each month. If you see something you like at the mall or when you’re doing some online shopping, check for a discount code before you place an order. If you subscribe to mailing lists, you’ll get daily offers sent straight to your inbox.

Leaving the car at home

Are you guilty of driving everywhere? If so, you may be astonished to see how much money you could save in gas by leaving the car in the garage from time to time and walking or cycling from A to B. Many families spend a considerable portion of their monthly income on gas, but you don’t always have to drive everywhere. If you get into a habit of walking or taking your bike out, it’ll soon become second nature. You’ll save money, and you’ll also enjoy health benefits.  

You may think that saving a few dimes a day won’t make a huge difference to your savings pot. However, you’d be wrong. Pay more attention to the little things, and you’ll soon find that even the smallest savings play their part in helping you set more money aside and build for the future.