Kitty Update: Month 3 with Pippin

I would say our little fur baby has now fully adjusted to life in our home.  He's on a good schedule (minus the part where he wakes us up at 6 am on weekends for his breakfast), and has finally stopped attacking me every 5 minutes. He also has gotten a lot more snuggle-y. With me, anyway. He's always been a big fan of B and his fuzzy robe.

So far, Pippin hasn't managed to destroy any of our furniture or any of his toys (though some of his mice are missing noses). I haven't had to buy any more food since my last update on Pippin, and I believe I've only bought one container of litter. So month 3 = $6 total for keeping kitty.

We've also discovered yet another [cheap] toy Pippin seems to love: paper towel rolls.  They're about his length and thin enough for him to wrap his paws around.  He likes to attack and kick the living cardboard out of them!

Also, this picture:

Pippin sat like this in our bookshelf for a good long time. I laughed very hard.

Savvy Shopping Secrets

So one of my very best friends has moved into an apartment by herself. And I'm so excited for her!

But she told me it's going to be a little tight until she can find a roommate. So I thought I'd share a few shopping secrets I've learned to help her save more while still working on making her place more homey!


1. Bed Bath & Beyond accepts expired coupons.
     - They also accept coupons on your phone, and have a number you can text while you're in the store for them to send you a coupon nearly immediately if you haven't signed up for it before.
     - And they will accept one 20% off a single item coupon per item in your transaction.
     - Simple math: If the item you're buying is between $15 and $20, a $5 off your purchase coupon is more valuable. If the item is less than $15, the $5 off coupons are not valid, and if it's more than $20, the 20% off coupons are more valuable.
     - Side note: Buy Buy Baby is owned by the same company as BB&B. Buy Buy Baby will accept BB&B coupons (but not the other way around), and only if they're current.

2. Joann Fabric has a 10% discount club for students.
    - Show your Student ID to a manager for a club card that gives you 10% off your entire purchase every time, even combined with coupons.

3. Starbucks has a gold member rewards program.
     - Simply register any gift card and purchase 5 drinks on it and you immediately become a green level member that gives you a free drink on your birthday and free refills on tea and drip coffee while in-store.
     - Once you've purchased 30 drinks in a year, you become a gold member, with the same benefits as a green level, plus you earn a free drink every 12 purchases you make.
     - They're doing a current special where if you register a new card by February 7, they'll give you a free drink!  (Also, see details of green and gold benefits if you scroll down on that page).
     - Also, don't forget about Starbuck's pick of the week! They have a song, app, or book that you can download for free while in any store, or grab a card from the counter with a redemption code on it!

4. The Dollar Tree accepts manufacturer coupons
     - Granted, many things they carry are not name brand. But somethings are, so check!

5. Retailmenot 
     - Retailmenot.com is a website that lists printable coupons and online coupon codes for restaurants and department stores, as well as lists expiration dates and success rates people have had using the particular coupons.
     - This site also has a free mobile app, so even if you're making an unplanned purchase, you might be able to find a good coupon on your phone!  

6. Groupon has a whole section devoted to GOODS
      - Not only can you find deals on activities and getaways on Groupon.com, they also have a whole section devoted to deals on everything from jewelry to coffee to sheets!