Lots of people want to try digital scrapbooking, but they’re worried that between the software, the hardware, the digital elements, and the printing and storing of their designs, it’ll end up being just as expensive as traditional scrapbooking was. It’s true that digital scrapbooking can start racking up costs fast, but there are several techniques that can keep costs down. In this series, I’ll explore frugal options for software, hardware, materials, printing, storage and display. Stay tuned, and prepare to get hooked.

Many digital scrappers use external hard drives (EHDs) on which they store their materials and projects. Starting at fifty dollars and going up to 400, EHDs can put a serious dent in an aspiring digital scrapper’s wallet. Fortunately, there are several ways to save space and avoid needing an EHD.

Be selective about the kits you download. Once you find out about the world of free scrapbooking materials (don’t worry, that post is coming soon), you’ll be tempted to go download crazy. Instead, be selective and choose only the kits that you really love. Reserve your precious hard drive space for the best of the kits and for your projects. The truth is that if you download too many, you’ll never use most of them anyway (ask me how I know this).

Choose one or two kits and use them for multiple themed layouts. Instead of collecting a variety of kits to make different-themed pages, use just one or two kits to create an entire series of pages. Not only does this cut way down on your need for kits (and the space to store them), it makes an excellent unified theme to put in a photobook or album.

Use a kit and delete it. If you prefer to use a different theme on every page, another alternative is to use a kit to make the perfect page and then delete it to make room for a fresh one.

Delete your design files. Each digital scrapbook page has two files: the design file in which you made the page and the jpeg you saved it as in order to print it. Once you’ve perfected—and I mean perfected­—your page, delete the space-hogging design file. (But seriously, make sure the page is perfect because once you delete the design file you won’t be able to modify the image anymore; you’ll be stuck with the jpeg you have.)

Using these techniques, you can put off needing the extra space provided by an EHD. If the time comes that you decide you absolutely must have one, here are a few tips for saving money:

1. Check shoplocal.com for deals on external hard drives. Shoplocal searches your local ads for sales, so if you find a good deal there you can just run to the store and get it.
2. Check shopzilla.com for deals on external hard drives. To support PYP, you can come back and use PYP’s affiliate links to make your actual purchase.
3. Newegg.com and Amazon.com have generally lower prices for electronics. If you can’t find a great deal at either of the above sources and you don’t want to wait for one, they’re the best places to buy hard drives.

Join me in a couple of days for frugal talk about scrapbooking software. See you
then!

If you’re interested in other aspects of frugal digital scrapbooking, you can read the entire series.

Create your profile and sign up for the Betty Crocker fan club. You will receive the Betty Crocker® email newsletter, access exclusive member benefits on BettyCrocker.com, and receive your FREE* sample of Yoplait® Whips!® The FREE sample comes as a coupon good for a FREE 6 oz serving. The coupon will be mailed to you in 6 ti 8 weeks. Yeah, it is a LONG time, but FREE is better than paying for it. Enjoy!

Many smart shoppers already know that grocery stores will feature sale items at a great price to get us into their respective store. These are called loss leaders. It is an example of a marketing in the grocery shopping business. And it is not the only one. But where a loss leader can save you money, the ones below will cost you more.

Items displayed on an end cap are NOT necessarily a sale item. This is called a Phantom sale. Manufacturers have a deal with grocery stores to feature their products prominently within the store, even if the items are not at their lowest price points. For example, Chips Ahoy! Cookies 16 oz are about $3.79 everyday price. A phantom price sales price of $2.99 will be featured on an end cap. But a Penny Pincher knows better! Wait a few weeks during the 12 week grocery sale cycle and the cookies will be on sale for $1.88 or $1.67 (3 for $5). How do I know this price point? I have access to a comprehensive pricebook from PYP and so do you! Check it out here.

Higher Priced Items are Placed at Eye Level. This is a general rule. To save money, get in the habit of scanning the tops and bottom rows of shelves. Be sure to use the Unit Price of items to maximize savings. See the shelf price tag- a unit price should be listed here, next to the item’s cost. And watch your kids views, too. Higher priced items that will appeal to them are placed at their eye level.

Higher priced items are found in the middle of the store. Instead, shop the perimeters of the store. The perimeter is where you will find the fresher cuts of meat, bakery and produce. In the center aisles, one will find the processed and convenience packaged food items. Also, don’t pay for the convenience of pre-cut or pre-packaged items. TipHero has a great study where they discovered it costs $43/hr to have someone cut fresh fruit in those convenient bowls based upon $2.67/lb. Check it out! Very enlightening.

Bulk Items are Not Necessarily Money Saving Items, Anymore. Once Upon a Time, buying in bulk equaled savings. But manufacturers and retailers caught onto this and started offering larger sized packaged items at higher prices. Many times it is cheaper to buy the smaller packaged item on sale. To maximize savings, use a coupon.

You Don’t Have to Play the Numbers Game. Grocery Stores will use marketing ploys like “Get 10 for $10” and they sound appealing. However, you don’t have to buy 10 items. Before you do, ask yourself, “How many do I need in my food storage until the next sales cycle has this item at its lowest price point again?”

Using these tips will help you lower your overall grocery bill and pinch those pennies til they scream!

Sign up for Kraft First Taste and be the first to hear about new products, get coupons, samples, etc. This sign up is for a limited time only…don’t miss it!

From the Deseret News…

Mrs. Fields is opening an outlet store June 22 at 1717 S. 4800 West. Those who arrive before 11 a.m. can enter to win one of the grand prizes of Mrs. Fields Cookies for a year.

The press release sounds as if this store is quite a bit different from the familiar Mrs. Fields mall kiosks selling freshly baked cookies.

It says, “Many of your favorite gifts from our catalog and online store are now available to locals at amazing discounts.”

Anyone going in the next day or two? Willing to share your experiences (and prices)?

Just got this note from RedPlum.com…

The 411 on Outback Steakhouse is this: for Father’s Day you can take Pop to Outback and choose from a special new menu of 15 meals under $15. What’s even better is that at the end of the meal Dad will walk away with a free $10 Gift Card to use on his next trip. Dinner must be on 6.21

Outback locations.

Printable 2 for the price of 1 coupon for admission to the Discovery Gateway Museum in Salt Lake City. Good for up to 6 people, expires 7/31/09.

Check out the museum’s website for hours, exhibits and ideas on planning your visit. My family is planning on taking the Front Runner (UTA)(and use a family all day roundtrip pass for $10- save on gas & stress) as the Trax stops in front of the Gateway.

Fun staycation idea!

PYP discussion.

Bath & Body Works is having its Semi-Annual sale right now. Sale items include:

*Candles 14.5 oz- $10
*Signature Collection Classics (foams, wallflowers, scents), $4
*Scentports, $4

To save even more, use the $10 off $40 internet printable cpn found at BBW’s site. (It originated in an email that suggested to ‘share with friends’ so I am!) The cpn expires Sunday, 6/21, so hurry to the mall to save this weekend.

PYP discussion & cp link~ here.

REMEMBER today’s/this weekend’s FREEBIES:

*Orange Juilius
*A&W floats
*TCBY yogurt for dad on Sunday

Thanks to PYP’er Thomsenmom for this HOT tip!

From ebay.com

Starting on June 16, 2009, Auction-style listings submitted through the standard Sell Your Item or Simple listing form will be eligible for new pricing which includes:

*5 FREE Insertion Fees every 30 days, regardless of start price of the item*

See link for details and restrictions.

Also PYP discussion.

Treat Dad to a FREE 12 oz Root Beer float at your local A&W on Friday, 6/19 between 2 to 8 P.M. Limit 1 per customer.

See here for locations (and be sure to check with your local A&W to see IF they are participating in this promotion) Enjoy!

Also print IP cpn that save you $1 off any Texas Toast combo meals. Expires 7/25.

Myth #1~ It takes too much time to clip and organize coupons. Yes, there are some coupon users who prefer to clip ALL their coupons and have them with them while shopping; however, Pinching Your Pennies has simplified the process. With detailed shopping lists for local stores, including a dated listing of each corresponding coupon to each sale item. Also, there is a sortable coupon list that tells you when each coupon was published. Together, this system takes about 95% of the drudgery out of couponing! And the best part is that Pinching Your Pennies is FREE and will always remain FREE!

All one needs to do is save your newspaper coupons each week, then when a HOT sale happens, you clip the noted coupons from a PYP list and save. With this system, I can prepare for a grocery shop in about 30 minutes, spend about 30-45 minutes in the store and save at least 50-60% each week. Most weeks more!

Myth #2~ I joined a paid website subscription or follow a little green self-proclaimed guru; therefore, the service must be superior. FALSE! No other website has much condensed information about couponing, is simple to follow, has the best supportive and ethical community on the net. Stick around and you will be a coupon pro in no time.

Myth #3~My family does NOT use the products that have grocery coupons. We don’t eat processed foods. It is not true that coupons are only available for processed junk food! In many instances, there are coupons available for dairy, eggs, milk, cheese, meats and even produce at times. (Just tonight, I saved $4 on fresh produce with grocery coupons!) See Horizon Organic Milk for coupons, for example.

Also, coupons are following food trends, so we are seeing more organic coupons. See Organic Valley for coupons on organic items that change monthly. Plus, there are TONS of coupons available for health, medicines, beauty, laundry soap, toilet paper and cleaning products. Household cleaning products ranked as the largest single coupon category distributed. (see link #1 below)

Myth #4~ It isn’t worth my time to use coupons to only save $ .25. Most of us would pick up a quarter IF found on the ground, and the truth is the average coupon is worth $1.18 in 2006 (see link #1 below). In 2006, food coupons had an average value of $ .82, while non-food had an average value of $1.42. Definitely money in my pocket to me!

Myth #5~ Why use grocery coupons? It is cheaper to buy store brands. Yes, there are times that a store brand item can be the better deal. This is especially true if you need the item and the comparable name brand is not on sale. However, I have never gotten store brand items for FREE! This happens all the time using grocery manufacturer’s coupons and combining store sales on name brands.

Myth #6~ To truly save money, I have to hit every store and every sale. Not so! Grocery sales at most stores cycle every 12 weeks and each store will see similar price points on many items. Simply pick your favorite store and shop there. If you do this and use the Pinching Your Pennies shopping methods (see Coupons 101 to get started), you will to see an increase in the quality AND quantity of food you are bringing into your house for the same or less than you previously were for MORE money by week 12.

Myth #7~ I don’t have time to coupon. Oh how false this is! Back when I started couponing 12 years ago, there weren’t great FREE sites like Pinching Your Pennies that does all the research for you. Never has couponing been so easy and a time saver. On average, I can get $200 worth of groceries for $75 or less. A CASH savings of $125 is worth my time of about 2 hours/week or around $65/hr. Most part-time jobs don’t pay that well and it is still a gameto see how much I can save, too.

Myth #8~ Only poor people use coupons. Just the opposite! Shoppers with household incomes of $150,000 per year or more tended to use coupons most frequently. (see link 2) And over 80% of grocery shoppers with household incomes between $50,000 to $75,000 use coupons. Obviously using coupons is a smart way to pinch pennies, for all of us!

Myth #9~ I can save just as much at Wal-Mart or a warehouse club (Costco or Sam’s Club) as I can using coupons. FALSE! I truly believe that many consumers shop at Wal-mart simply because it is easier and a habit. Wal-mart does NOT always offer the best prices, nor best quality food, espcially produce. Instead by shopping around town and supporting our local markets, we are creating competition amongst stores that keeps grocery prices lower, overall.

Myth #10~ To save anything substantial, I must get a newspaper subscription. While most coupons still come in the Sunday inserts (Smart Source, Red Plum & Proctor & Gamble), technology has enabled consumers to use Internet Printable (IP) coupons, check out coupons and store promotions to see real savings. For time tested ideas about this, check out Heidi’s blog entry. But a newspaper is still a good idea. See here for multiple subscription rates/deals in Utah.

So if you are ready? Check out PYP’s forums for shopping lists, tips, strategies and ideas on how to stretch your food dollar. If you are new, be sure to check out Coupons 101. It is packed full of good information that will get you on your way.

Data cited from the following sites:
https://www.adscope.com/news/07192006.htm
https://www.dailyherald.com/story/print/?id=230074

There are some great freebies (both products and events) happening right now. Thought it best to simply list them.

*Remember TODAY is the Disneyland Train stop in UT, Ogden Depot from 9-7. Details.

*Wednesday is FREE Arbys night (all summer long)! This week’s featured item is Free Regular Sidekickers® with any sandwich purchase Details.

*FREE 20 oz Orange Julius with internet cpn on Friday, June 19th. Details.

*FREE Gallon of NAPA Washer Fluid ~ ID, MT, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY with internet cpn. Thanks Dewey! Details.

*Coupon for Free Seattle’s Best Coffee Drink at Borders! Ends 6/18. Coupon states it is good for a 12 oz drink, incl. Italian sodas. (Check with your local store for details/participation) Discussion.

*FREE Godiva Chocolate by joining their rewards program. Details.

*TCBY is offering a FREE cup/cone to Dad on Father’s Day, 6/21. Details.

*FREE 90 Calorie Granola/Snack bar from Wal-mart.com Details.

What other freebies are there this week?

There’s nothing like a little free chocolate to pick a girl up! anon.

Sign up for Godiva’s e-mail rewards club and you’re entitled to a free treat every month when you go by your local Godiva boutique. (Please note there is only one boutique in UT- at Fashion Place Mall in Murray. See store locator for other locations (vacation OR for the rest of the PYP family outside of Utah. (please check with each individual location to see if participating)

True, the idea is to get you into the store once a month, but there’s no purchase necessary to pick up your free chocolate. If you do succumb, however, you’ll get another free gift each month that you spend more than $10. Plus club members get free standard shipping on one online orders. Sweet!

Thanks for friend Mary for e-mailing this tidbit to me.

Great family day at Snowbird! Have fun outdoors and for the .

..Second Annual National Get Outdoors Day. Children 18 and under receive a free Aerial Tram ride and a free session on the four-station climbing wall and Kid’s Inflatables. Additional summer activities will be operating from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., conditions permitting.

See PYP discussion thread.

From press release:

2009-05-29 — Snowbird To Host National Get Outdoors Day June 13

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SNOWBIRD, UTAH – Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort joins over 50 sites across the nation to participate in the Second Annual National Get Outdoors Day, Saturday, June 13, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Presented by the U.S. Forest Service and American Recreation Coalition, National Get Outdoors Day will highlight outdoor recreation opportunities provided by various local and national land management agencies and other outdoor recreation organizations and outfitters.

Children 18 and under can visit booths featuring Smokey Bear, Utah State Parks information, Wasatch Adaptive Sports, Girl Scouts and other exhibitors, and have specialty cards stamped to receive a free Aerial Tram ride and a free session on Snowbird’s four-station climbing wall and Kid’s Inflatables.

Snowbird summer activities will also kick off on June 13, including the new Wasatch Mining Company Gemstone Mine, Peruvian Chairlift and Tunnel, Alpine Slide, four-station climbing wall, ZipRider, Bungy Trampoline, Mechanical Bull and Kid’s Inflatables. Hours of operation will be 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and activities may be limited. Snowbird is currently offering Aerial Tram rides to foot passengers daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (and beginning at 8 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays).

In addition, Snowbird will be offering skiing and riding on the Aerial Tram and Little Cloud Lift Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through June 14 at a discounted ticket price of $49. Visit www.snowbird.com for details.

WHAT: Second Annual National Get Outdoors Day. Children 18 and under receive a free Aerial Tram ride and a free session on the four-station climbing wall and Kid’s Inflatables. Additional summer activities will be operating from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., conditions permitting.

WHO: U.S. Forest Service and State Parks representatives, including Smokey Bear, Coleman, American Land and Leisure, Wasatch Adaptive Sports, Cottonwood Canyons Foundation, Utah Bureau of Land Management, Girl Scouts, AmeriCorps, Utah Society for Environmental Education and Utah Federation for Youth.

WHERE: Snowbird Center Plaza Deck, Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort. Take Little Cottonwood Canyon Road to Snowbird Entry 2.

WHEN: Saturday, June 13, 2009. Event runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thanks to PYP member bowlamand for bringing this to PYP’s members attention.

PYP thread to disucss details.

From NPS.gov

America’s Best Idea – the national parks – gets even better this summer with three fee-free weekends at more than 100 national parks that usually charge entrance fees*.

Mark your calendars for fee-free weekends this summer:

June 20-21, 2009 (Father’s Day weekend)
July 18-19, 2009
August 15-16, 2009

More details about how to save inside the park are included, too.