Grocery shopping can be such a hassle, not to mention a financial strain, especially if you have a large family. Having two young kids running around screaming and throwing things into the cart willy nilly does not make the grocery shopping experience any easier. Half the time, you abandon your list altogether, completely forget to use coupons and buy the name brand, even when the generic version is the exact same but much cheaper. 

One way to make your next trip to the grocery store a little easier on yourself (and your bank account) is to plan out your trip before you go – and stick to it!  (more…)

We recently shared a user review of our CouponDetector - the toolbar that presents online shoppers with coupons for websites they visit. We received an email from Katy in Naperville, IL. Read how the mother of two and owner of a cake business describes her experience:

———- Forwarded message ———-

From: Katy <katy@thehappycake.com>
Date: Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 8:30 PM
Subject: CouponDetector
To: reviews@couponcabin.com

I love my CouponDetector! I was recently ordering my family Christmas cards from overnightprints.com and the detector popped up notifying me that there was a coupon for 50% off! Before I downloaded the detector I would have to leave the site I was shopping on to search for coupons. The detector saved me time in addition to the $16.50 I saved on my order. I usually don’t search for coupons for overnightprints.com because the site offers discounts. The coupon I found through Coupon Cabin saved me more than the discount the site was offering! Hurray for Coupon Cabin and the handy dandy CouponDetector!

Thanks, Katy
http://www.thehappycake.com/blog/

——————- End ———————

If you haven’t tried the CouponDetector, get it now for Internet Explorer, Chrome, Firefox or Safari and never miss a great deal again!

Try CouponDetector and tell us what you think: reviews@couponcabin.com.

The onslaught of coupon and daily deal websites has brought couponing into an entirely new arena. Shoppers can score incredible discounts on standard items like clothing, travel and restaurants but we’ve noticed that the coupon craze has branched out into unusual territory: plastic surgery and other medical procedures.

In a recent survey, we addressed the topic of using coupons for plastic surgery or other medical and cosmetic procedures. The surprising result: nearly one-in-four U.S. adults (23 percent) would consider getting plastic surgery if cost weren’t an issue.

Women were more likely than men to indicate this, at 28 percent and 18 percent respectively. A smaller amount of U.S. adults (15 percent) said they would consider getting plastic surgery, regardless of cost. Additionally, 5 percent have already used a coupon or daily deal for a medical procedure. (more…)

Taking a family vacation is a true luxury. Not only is it expensive, but creating the perfect vacation requires extensive research, careful budgeting and tedious scheduling. Whether you’re planning a long weekend, a road trip across the country or a month-long safari, planning and attention to detail is important.

• Think outside the box. So your kids want to go on a Disney cruise but it’s not in the budget. That doesn’t mean you can’t take a road trip to a nearby state or stay the night in a local hotel. Your kids will love swimming in an indoor pool in the dead of winter! - Jackie W.

• Get the entire family invested in the cause. Set a jar aside for the “vacation fund” and have everyone contribute. The kids can donate a percentage of their allowances and the adults can toss in spare change and extra cash when they have it. Every dollar counts! Plus, you’re teaching your kids how to be responsible about saving money at a young age. - Diane K.

• Sign up for travel deals and last minute offers from airlines and travel websites. Set a filter in your email box so they all go to one folder and you can check them when you have time. - Samm M.

• Pack smart. Don’t overpack but don’t leave a ton of room in your suitcase for souvenirs. Next year, the Mickey Mouse ears you shelled out big bucks for will be long forgotten. - Jess M.

• Shop around. Airfare is cheaper on certain days so make sure to shop around. This article is a great resource on shopping for travel. - Tim F. (more…)

In case you hadn’t noticed, winter is in full effect. Our noses are constantly running, we are freezing even when we are covered in multiple layers of clothing and our scarves, hats and gloves have become a part of our daily routine again.

Besides the black ice, traffic and outrageous heating bills, there are some positives to winter. Sometimes, when kids wish hard enough and the weather cooperates, a snowstorm cancels school. Your kids are screaming in excitement and you’re left wondering how you’ll keep them entertained all day. Instead of just plopping them in front of the TV and turning on a DVD, we put together a few fun ideas to help you get through a snow day with your sanity and your pocketbook intact.

1. Break out old school board games. Turn video games, cell phones and televisions off and spend some quality time with your kids playing the classics like Monopoly, Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit or playing card games. Here are some kid-friendly card games from TLC.

2. Play in the snow. There’s nothing more fun or wholesome than a good old-fashioned snowball fight! Build a snowman, construct an elaborate snow fort or make some snow angels.

3. Just because school is out for the day doesn’t mean your kids shouldn’t use their brains! Create a fun family reading area: light a fire, gather some comfy warm blankets (toss them in the dryer for a few minutes first) and curl up on the couch with a good book. Don’t forget the hot chocolate! (more…)

Everyone knows Shoka, right? If not, he’s our two year old German Shepherd. We got him and his sister, Nala, in December of 2008 when they were only 8 weeks old.

They were both named prior to us meeting them and we had decided to choose two puppies… Because we seemed to have all multiples in our house, it just seemed normal!

Shoka got his name from a very big security guard we met during our family trip to Hawaii in 2008. Nala was always on my list to name a pet because I loved Nala in the movie The Lion King.

I had never had or been responsible for my ‘own’ dog  before and was more scared to bring them home than I was to bring any of my kids home from the hospital! It honestly scared me to think I’d have to choose food, bedding and supplies for a dog– let alone two! I had no idea what I was in for! Who knew dogs had tartar issues or that choking on a certain toy was a concern?! (more…)

The gym can be a wonderful place where you can improve your health, work on your fitness and enjoy the camaraderie of a large group working toward the same goal. However, there’s something off-putting about using the same treadmill as 25 other people did before you, not to mention the sight (and smell) of hundreds of sweaty bodies gyrating in one airless space.

Instead of working out at a traditional gym, we came up with some alternatives that will help you save time and money, not to mention lose weight. To illustrate our point, we’ve put together a list of the top 5 gym etiquette offenders. Before you read, check out this hilarious article from the Wall Street Journal with some rules that anyone should learn before even considering hitting the gym.

Top 5 Gym Etiquette Offenders:

Sweaty guy. He’s rocking a full sweatsuit to maximize his sweat output, with no regard to his use of public machines and weights. His giant sweatband and armbands are doing next to nothing to protect the next user and his small army of used towels belongs in a biohazard bin.

Cell phone girl. She is dressed in expensive, head-to-toe exercise gear and has a full face of makeup, not to mention painstakingly straightened hair. She walks at a brisk 2mph on the treadmill and alternates between watching Teen Mom and The Real Housewives of Wherever on her iPad, all the while chatting (loudly) on her cell phone.

Super jacked guy. You know that guy. He sprints for an hour and a half straight on the treadmill and then uses the weight room as his personal IronMan training course. His arms are the size of tree trunks and you have no problem picturing him dragging a semi truck behind him on a rope. Just looking at him stresses you out. Do NOT get in his way. (more…)

In addition to clipping coupons, shopping the sales and buying in bulk when it makes sense, there are other some ways to save on food. We’ve noticed lately that great food deals are popping up in unexpected places. See below and expand your food buying horizons.

Drugstore Deals - Many Walgreens and CVS stores have made it a recent service goal to provide their customers with more fresh food options, including produce, salads, dairy products like yogurt and sandwiches, among other items. (Have you heard about the upscale Walgreens in downtown Chicago with great fresh food options in addition to a sushi bar!?) What’s great about purchasing these items at drugstores is that you can take advantage of their generous in-store coupons and rewards programs to save even bigger bucks on top of their drugstore prices. Plus, you get the convenience of a one-stop-shop for food, toiletries, prescriptions and more.  (more…)

With the fridge finally free of holiday leftovers, most Americans make the dreaded resolution to shed the pesky pounds they inevitably gained over the last few months. Vowing to be in better shape than the year before, some U.S. adults swear their fitness oaths loud and clear at local gyms. But what about those that don’t plan to get a new gym membership or renew an existing one? And how many actually stick to this popular resolution? Read on to find out how Americans plan to keep their bellies firm and their resolutions intact.

Share this infographic on your site:
</p> <p><a href="http://www.couponcabin.com/blog/post/infographic-lets-get-physical-americas-resolution-to-stay-fit/"><img src="http://cc_wordpress.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/CouponCabin_Fitness-Costs-and-Gym-Memberships-Infographic-530x892.png" width="100%" alt="Gym Memberships" border="0" /></a></p> <p><small><a href="http://www.couponcabin.com/blog/infographics">Infographics</a> by CouponCabin.com</small></p> <p>

Losing weight and getting in shape are typically top resolutions for many, but can be challenging to achieve. We couldn’t help but wonder how many people made lofty fitness goals for the new year and how many will actually stick to them.

Surprisingly, according to a new CouponCabin survey, nearly three-in-four (74 percent) U.S. adults report they won’t be getting a new gym membership or renewing an existing one this year.

In addition, 7 percent of U.S. adults said they have signed up for a gym membership as a New Year’s resolution and quit before the year was over. In fact, seventy percent of those who quit within a year quit within five months, with 9 percent saying they quit in January and 15 percent quitting in February.

While the majority of U.S. adults don’t plan to get a new gym membership or renew an existing one, 20 percent said they would do so. Of those who currently have a gym membership, 53 percent said they go to the gym once a week or more, with 15 percent saying they go once a day or more. Men are significantly more likely to go to the gym than women, at 79 percent and 67 percent, respectively.  (more…)