#ThriftyAppThursday meijer: mPerks

This #ThriftyAppThursday really did start on Thursday, but is being finished on Friday. I took the screen shots on my phone and was waiting for them to upload (they were taking a while). So of course, I walked away; started a new craft for my classroom (post to come); and then my friends came over to swim, which extended into dinner, firepit and summer fun!

Do you live in or are you going to visit Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, or Kentucky? Then this app is for you, sorry to those that this app does not apply to but I had to share this beneficial app that I use all the time. The meijer app contains mPerks. When you first download the meijer app you have to register with your cell phone number and create a pin (I'll explain why later).

Next you will find the homepage of meijer there are several things happening on this page. Meijer shares important information on the homepage and also have specific coupons that they are highlighting.

Click on the three horizontal lines in the upper left hand corner. This will show the menu. There are valuable tabs on this page but my favorite is mPerks. Now you may be at the point where you want to know more about mPerks and why you had to use your cell phone number to register.

The reason for using your phone number is because mPerks collects coupons and rewards personalized for the user. You are able to clip coupons and keep them in coupon bank. 

Clipping coupons is simple, just click on the coupon to clip it. When you go to the register, you click on the mPerks icon on the screen, type in your phone number and pin, and then your coupons and rewards are automatically applied to your order.

This is a great app to have on hand when shopping in meijer. My mom and I were shopping there a few weeks ago and I found the clearance clothes. They had some capri pants in a rainbow of colors. The pants were originally $20 and were on clearance for $10, which is great. At this point, you all know me, that was not enough of a savings. So, as our cart is filled with pants in all colors for my mom and myself, I pulled out my mPerks app and searched for an apparel coupon. I found the coupon and we purchased each pair for $6. I use this app before I go grocery shopping and during grocery shopping. This can help you plan your shopping trip. They also have prescription rewards that you can earn by filling your prescription at meijer.


I have some wonderful crafts and finds coming up. I will try my hardest to not have #ThriftyAppThursday on Friday next week!

#ThriftyAppThursday Amazon Edition

This week's #ThriftyAppThursday features the only company with a smile right on their box. I chose this app for the week because all teachers do in the summer is sit by the pool, eat bon bons and smile, right? Wrong! If you are like me, I spent all day in a professional development conference (hence the late post) and I need a smile on my face. Luckily the conference I am attending is all about technology in the classroom which pumped me up for this #ThriftyAppThursday.

The first thing you will find when loading this free app is the homepage. When looking at my homepage you will see at the top where my amazon says "prime" underneath. Now this is where the thrifty and crafty teacher looks at practicality and convenience and paid full price for something. I know, do not click the "x" on my page, it started out as a thrift! During my freshman year of college, I discovered that any .edu email address will get you free amazon student for a year, which includes amazon prime. This is how they get you. I love amazon prime and now pay for it each year. I am in the process of making my decision because the price has been raised to $99; which equates to $8.25/month. Here is what you get with amazon prime: unlimited streaming of their prime instant videos (hopefully more will be added with the price increase); kindle books lending; and, my personal favorite, free two-day shipping on all prime products! This is a choice you have to make but back to the home screen. The homepage has many features including recommendations...

a search bar...

and search by category.

Here is the part where you go, "okay now I know about amazon prime (jeez, Megan, do you work for them) and I know how to navigate the homepage, but how is this going to save me money?" No, I do not work for amazon and I know I have talked extensively about prime but I love the convenience and teaching the navigation helps me cater to my "digital immigrant" audience (those who did not grow up with technology).

I do not use this app much when I am at home, but when I am standing in an aisle debating on a purchase, especially a book, I whip out my phone and either type in the name of the product or simply scan the bar code.  

I sift through all the products and choose which one matches what I am currently holding in my hand. Once you have chosen the product, there will be a description of the product. I chose to search for The Cat in the Hat because I love books and use this app frequently to see if I can buy the book cheaper online (sometimes the book series is just too good to wait, though). The description will even show you the different dates that you can receive your products (always pay attention that next day and two-day shipping can be outrageously expensive).

Do not just click buy now! This is what you have been waiting for! Click on the "New & used" button. This is the place that will actually show you the prices of the same product available for purchase. Please do not look at this and go, "oh, look it is only a penny, that is the one I will buy." The penny price does not include the shipping and tax.

Here is the finally place that you go when comparing in-store and amazon prices (unless you decide to purchase from amazon). On this screen, notice that you can choose from: all offers, new, used, and collectible. This is where you can see the importance of shipping costs. The penny book is actually $4 with shipping. Now is time to compare the in-store and amazon prices and time to make your choice!

Check back next week for another #ThriftyAppThursday!

Their Mistake, My Saving

If you read my post for class, you know I can find a clearance section anywhere! One of the unusual clearance sections I have found is at Lowe's and Home Depot. How many times have we gone there with significant others or parents and wandered around the labyrinth of aisles? Here is something to make the trip worthwhile. The mistint section of paint. If you look at these major hardware stores you will see this section somewhere near the paint (you have to search for it). When the paint color is not correct, the paint is placed is placed in this section at a deep discount. I have no idea what I will do with the green paint I purchased on the right, but I am sure I can use it to craft something in my classroom (just wait and see what I come up with).

Still not convinced that this is a great deal? Check out the paint on the left. The paint on the left is almost $27 without tax. The can on the right is the paint I found in the mistint section for $5. For all my math teachers out there, that is about a $22 savings! I now have a gallon of rose-colored paint and primer. Now I just have to decide where this paint will lead me. Anytime you go in a major hardware store, check this section and maybe their mistake will lead you on a new decorative venture.

#ThriftyAppThursday: RetailMeNot

The first app is RetailMeNot! I don't buy anything, online or in store, without checking this app! If you do not have a smart phone, no fear, they have a website. However, I'm going to walk you through the iPhone app.

This is a free app that you can download (you know I wouldn't spend money on an app). The first thing you see is the search bar with recommendations of the hot deals for the day.

I have used this website to search for coupons from grocery stores, department stores, and many more places. Once you have chosen your store/company, you are prompted to choose in-store offers or online offers (do not worry, you can switch back and forth). 

In-store offers will let you pull up the weekly circular, if there is one. The in-store offers will also allow you to pull up coupons on your phone. 

Online offers are similar to in-store deals. The difference is that you can actually click on the deal and the app will send you to the stores website where you can use the coupon code.

DRAWBACKS:

There is one big drawback with this app/website. Anyone can put a coupon code on the website. The codes may be for a specific state, specific group of people, or may be expired. Under each code, you will find the success rate of the code and when it expires.

Check back next week for another #ThriftyAppThursday !

Drowning in a Sea of Hashtags?

#DontGetMeWrongHashtagsAreGreatToolsWhenUsedCorrectly; however most people overuse hashtags. Hashtags allow you to connect your post, photo, video, etc. with other media that is similar. If you are like me, all of your social media sites are bombarded with hashtags of throwbacks, crushes, and selfies. I am jumping on the bandwagon with #ThriftyAppThursday. Since it is summer vacation for this thrifty and crafty teacher, each Thursday I will showcase an app that I use to help save money at a store, online retailer, etc. I am one of those people that has app folders on their iPhone to stay organized; one folder is dedicated to shopping. Each week I will showcase an app from this folder on my phone. If you have ever investigated the app store, there is not a category for shopping or money saving apps. Check back Thursday for the first #ThriftyAppThursday.

A Post for Class

For my writing class, an assignment is to electronically publish a piece of writing from the semester. How appropriate that one of my pieces was on my frugalness. It can be found below:

Being a teacher has taught me the value of a dollar; being a Catholic schoolteacher has taught me the value of a quarter, though I would not change it for the world. I can always remember my family calling me frugal. I know the location of the clearance section in all of the stores I frequent. If I do not know where the clearance section is, I will find it. When I became a teacher, my dad said, “you know, now that you have a full-time job, you can buy clothes that aren’t on clearance.” To me, this is crazy talk. Why would I buy something when I can get something similar that is 50% off, or more? My grandma’s favorite game to play is “guess how much Megan’s outfit costs!?!”. The thrill I get from finding a new clearance item is exhilarating. I love hunting through the racks and bins. Shopping would be boring if you walked up to the rack, chose your item, and purchased it. I love the thrill of the hunt; it makes the purchase so much better. Clearance shopping is therapeutic to me. 

My favorite money saver would have to be my Coach purse. We went to the outlets to purchase a Coach purse as a prize for an event at church. They told me to pick one out, and I found this beautiful brown and pink bag that I would NEVER buy myself because no clearance will lower it to what I would pay. The night of the event, I spent my $5 on tickets for the wall of prizes. As I was listening to the first eight, or so, numbers, I thought, “that purse is already gone.” To my surprise, I was the ninth number drawn. When I walked up to the prizes, the purse was still there! I scooped it up, and I can now say that I bought an authentic Coach purse for $5.