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West Valley City Journal

Coupons4Utah: Nine Easy Ways to Instant Gratification

Oct 31, 2016 04:52PM ● By Bryan Scott
By Joani  Taylor

In this world of instant gratification it’s become harder than ever to keep overspending at bay. Sometimes we neglect to see just how much those little things can add up. I ask you though, if you saw a $20 bill lying on the sidewalk wouldn’t you bend over to pick it up? Improving your bank balance can be as easy as stopping to pick up that cash. Here are a few ideas:

  


Hit the Library for Family or Date Night – Not only is the Library a great place to browse books, pick up videos and borrow music, they also host a variety of events throughout the year. A quick browse of the events section at my local Salt Lake County Library reveled, Teen Laser Tag, Yoga, Adult Coloring, Toddler Playtime, book reading, as well as various holiday events.


Use Ibotta – There is a plethora of money saving apps out there. My recommendation for getting started is with the Ibotta app. Ibotta allows you to submit a picture of your receipt and get cash back on purchases from everything from groceries to department stores. They’ll even pay you cash back when you shop online. Plus, for a limited time, new users get a FREE $10 bonus just for cashing in their first rebate. More info at www.coupons4utah.com/ibotta


Brew Your Own Coffee – On your way to work and stopping in the convenience store for that quick fix? An average cup of Joe can cost as much as $1.85 vs. the $0.25 fresh home brewed, more if it’s from a specialty shop. You may think it’s worth it, but calculate that for the entire year and that could be as much as $300 or more in your pocket. That makes me bounce off the walls just thinking about it.


Learn to Craft – Ever hear the saying you can’t buy love? Truth is little kids don’t care as much about toys as they do about time. Instead of buying that expensive toy break out empty toilet paper rolls, cereal boxes, left over party supplies and create some memories instead. Visit Coupons4Utah’s Pinterest page for a ton of ideas.


Use Your Crock Pot – Crock Pot cooking not only is easier on the electric bill than the oven, it’s also a great way to over cook. Use the leftovers for a second dinner and lunches. Check out Utah food writer www.365daysofcrockpot.com for some amazing recipe ideas.


Ditch Brand LoyaltyInstead of sticking with the same old brand name. Shop for sales instead. Or go generic; often the same company makes these products. Blind taste tests have shown that some people can’t tell the difference or prefer them. Nothing ventured, no money gained.


Skip The Shopping Cart – Running to the Grocery Store to pick up a few items. By forcing yourself to carry your purchases, you are less likely to buy things you didn’t go for. Or, skip going in the store all together and order your groceries online and pick them up at the curb instead. Many stores now provide this service, including Macey’s, Walmart and Smith’s. I tried out Smith’s Clicklist recently and found this method of shopping easy to use and the service didn’t cost me a dime. They even let you use coupons. See how it works at www.coupons4utah.com/clicklist


Buy Discounted Gift Cards – Remember, there’s no rule saying you have to give the gift card away. If you’re planning on making a large scale purchase, or find yourself shopping often at the same store, pre-buying the gift card at a discount is the way to go. There are many online companies where you can score these treasures; some that I have personally used include the eBay gift card store, Cardpool.com, and Raise.com. Remember, these gift cards spend just like cash, which means you can use them right along with in-store sales, coupons and online coupon codes.



Check for Cash Back on New Appliances – Did you know that Rocky Mountain Power has a bunch of cash back incentives. If you find yourself needing a new appliance, water heater, insulation and even light bulbs, make sure to visit the Watt Smart section of their website. If you’re going to purchase a new appliance you might as well be armed with the knowledge of which ones qualify. Also, consider buying these items online using a cash back app. Doing so will add another 3-7% savings.  


Challenge yourself to start with just a few money saving ideas and the next thing you know you’ll be hooked and on the road to making saving money, instead of spending it, your instant gratification.