When it comes to buying personal care items, the costs can really add up, especially when you have a larger family. The way that I save on these items is by buying smaller sizes to reduce my out-of-pocket costs, and buying a 3 to 6 month supply when the item is on sale and at a stock-up price.

The items that I typically stock up on are body wash, toothpaste, floss, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner, baby wash, baby shampoo, Q-tips, shave cream, razors, body lotion, mouthwash and deodorant. I know that may seem like a lot of items, but I organize my personal care products into small Rubbermaid containers and label them so I always know exactly how much I have so I don’t buy too much!

Let me give you a couple of examples. I typically buy all of my personal items at Target because I can usually save between 75 and 100%! I like Nivea body wash and I can usually get it for free or for just $.99 after stacking coupons at Target. (more…)

If your summer routine is anything like at the Gosselin house, it goes a bit like this:

School is out and the kids scatter, they swim in the pool and have endless ideas to keep themselves occupied and happy. That lasts until about June 30 and then the cries of “I’m bored” and “There’s nothing to do” starts. I’ve come up with a secret list ahead of time of inexpensive fun things to do at home over the summer to get ahead of the “boredom!”

1. Swim in the pool if you have one. I have gotten creative and made up a diving scavenger hunt game. Each random item has a different point value assigned. I’ve picked up all kinds of items to dive for at the dollar store for just $5 total! (more…)

Hi all! Your friend Kristie here again. I wanted to share my latest trip to Meijer. You may not have a Meijer in your town but trust me, you can employ my savings strategies anywhere! This week, I spent just $103.35 and saved $79.91, an overall savings of 77%! You’ll see below that I only bought things that my family actually uses.

Do you have coupon or savings questions? Leave a comment and I’ll address them in a future blog!

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Hi everyone! It’s Kristie again. This week I’ll be outlining how to save money on toys.

When it comes to buying toys for your own kids’ birthdays and holidays or as gifts, the costs can really add up. The best time to buy toys is when they’re on sale AND you can use at least one coupon for each toy. Christmas and your children’s birthdays fall on the same date every year so you should always plan ahead to maximize savings.

If you are lucky enough to have a Target nearby, you can usually find truly amazing deals on toys twice a year. When I see these deals, I make a list of the toys that I will need for the next six months to a year. I check out the toys that are on sale and determine if they are age-appropriate for the kids that I need to buy for and find the best deal.

For example, in March, Target released a ton of toy sales, along with a bunch of printable store coupons online. At the same time, you could print manufacturer coupons from Hasbro’s website. I was able to use two coupons on each toy, saving upwards of 80-90% on each! I picked up great deals on Transformers masks for $1.99, a Candyland board game for $1.79, Disney Princess light up cell phones for $1.87, Playskool Heroes and Star Wars Fighter Pod Packs for $.99 each. Listed below are the matchups for that week to show how I was able to score these deals! (more…)

Many of you may remember the year we filmed and aired Mother’s Day on our show, “Jon and Kate Plus 8.” The kids were too little to actually make me breakfast in bed, as is our Gosselin tradition, but oh, how things have changed!

Fast forward to 2012… my two almost 12-year-olds and six almost 8-year-olds have all been plotting and thinking for weeks already about what to make me for breakfast. Mady has even asked me for a list of foods I will eat, knowing how routine and “boring” my food choices can be to them! So, I’ve given them my Mother’s Day breakfast choices with foods that are easy and safe to make and serve:

• My favorite bran cereals including All Bran, Cascadian Farms Raisin Bran or Multigrain Squares or different Kashi varieties. I typically mix a few of those cereals together, add skim milk and sometimes slice a banana on top.
• I also suggested an egg white omelet with feta cheese and veggies as an option.
• And don’t forget the coffee! I’m set because Mady and Cara know how to make the perfect cup of coffee using my Keurig machine. On Mother’s Day morning, my feet won’t even have to hit the floor before having my first cup of coffee. That’s my kind of pampering!

The bottom line is, my kids are excited to join together and pull off our Mother’s Day tradition of breakfast in bed. And after church, I may even get to take a nap! Woo hoo! A relaxing day for Mommy… and no one had to spend a dime! Here are some other gift ideas that are cheap and easy for kids to make. (more…)

Hi all! It’s me again. I had an incredible savings spree at Target this week that I wanted to share with you. Not only did I use at least one coupon on every item, I spent only $40.64 and saved $38.60 – an overall savings of 48%! Check out my haul below – along with some of my best coupon matchups. Before you know it, you’ll be stacking coupons and getting great savings like I do!

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Are restaurant menus ruining our health ambitions?

Who doesn’t want a perfect evening out, away from the kitchen and the mass of dishes? Most Americans love dining out, but even those who can afford the luxury are abstaining from restaurant fare in an effort save cash and stay healthy. We take a look at what Americans truly want out of their restaurant experience.

We love data. View more of our infographics here.

Share this infographic on your site:
</p> <p><a href="http://www.couponcabin.com/blog/post/infographic-the-skinny-on-dining-out/"><img src="http://cc_wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CouponCabin_TheSkinnyOnDiningOut1-530x964.png" width="100%" alt="Dining Out" border="0" /></a></p> <p><small><a href="http://www.couponcabin.com/blog/infographics">Infographics</a> by CouponCabin.com</small></p> <p>

Moms play so many different roles over the years. As a child, she was the curer of boo-boos and remover of monsters under the bed. As a teenager, she was the inducer of eye rolls and the fun police. As an adult, she has become a trusted confidante and your best friend.

This Mother’s Day, no matter your relationship with your mom, we’re making it easy to spoil her with our Mother’s Day Giveaway. Every day from April 30 to May 6, we’ll be giving away incredible prizes from some of our favorite CouponCabin retailers, including jewelry, flowers, skincare products, chocolates and more. Check out the schedule of fantastic prizes: (more…)

When it comes to saving money on dinner items, I first plan out six or seven meals for the week before I leave the house. I also scour grocery coupons every week (in newspaper inserts and online) to find the best ones to use on dinner items.

When I cook, I make sure to make enough extra servings of each meal so I can put them in a Ziploc container to freeze. Then I’ll use them during my “freezer week” of meals so I don’t have to cook dinners at all! I just add side dishes as needed.

In my experience, you will never be able to use a coupon on every item you need for a week’s worth of meals, especially if you want to eat healthy. But, the money you save with coupons will allow you to buy more fresh produce to use with your meals.

In a typical week, I make two pasta entrees, two Mexican entrees, two chicken entrees and for the last day I have everyone eat a combination of whatever leftovers they liked the best.

Many of my meals use the same items so when they are on sale and/or at a stock up price, I will pick them up knowing my family loves these meals. Here are my tips on how to save on dinner. (more…)

One of my most rewarding and entertaining parenting experiences so far has been teaching my kids about making smart financial decisions.

As a kid, I would watch my dad spread his bills all over the dining room table. He methodically paid each one and instead of just watching, sometimes I even got to help by playing “mailman” and affixing the return address labels and stamps, then stacking them neatly. He often discussed how important it was to always pay your bills first to help keep your credit score perfect.

He also gave us a $5 per month allowance. No, I’m not that old, our allowance was low even for that day and age. (Sorry, Dad, it’s true!) He created a punch card using an index card for each of my brother and sisters and I. On the first of the month, we would get our cards punched and get paid. We did a lot (!!!) of chores and work around our house and property including feeding and caring for our small farm and helping to cut and stack A LOT of fire wood. We also had assigned rows of our two very large gardens that we had to keep weed-free! Our allowance was given in honor of our work contribution around the house.

These lessons made a big impression on me. I followed through in my adult life and feel that this is the key to financial freedom and success. I teach these important lessons on to my children but I have added and changed a few things. (more…)