Great Deals on Handmade Goodies!

I was recently introduced to Heartsy.me, a site for lovers of handmade to get great deals on jewellery, bath and body products, paper delights and more. For handmade businesses it looks like it can be a great opportunity to gain some exposure for your shop and introduce your products to a new set of customers. I viewed it as a sort of out of the box method of advertising. So I decided, why not, I love a great deal and why shouldn't Kawartha Beads customers have a chance to grab some goodies at a great price. The application process is sort of nervewracking...will they like me...will they really really like me! The initial voting process is anonymous, as a seller you submit 5 photos of your products and the community votes on if they would purchase your products at a deal or not. Currently you need 60 YES DEFINTATELY votes within a certain time frame for your deal to be reviewed at the next stage. I guess some people really do like me!!! Now I sit and wait a response from the next stage of the process which can take approx. 10+days. If you are considering exploring Heartsy.me as an opportunity for your business there is even an Etsy Team with a wealth of information. Stay tuned and wish me luck!

Coupon Fun Update

What a busy couple of weeks! I can hardly believe that our new addition turns one month old today. Despite being crazy busy with two little ones I have managed to try and scout the flyers for sales and use as many coupon as I can. Here are the sales/savings for the past few shopping trips:

• 2 bags of Cavendish fries- Regular price $3.49- FREE with coupons
• Old El Paso Taco Kit- Regular Price $4.49- $1 off with coupon AND theres a free salsa coupon in the box (with the purchase of another taco kit)
• $2 off diapers
• Nature Valley Granola Bars-Available at Walmart for $2- $1off coupon
• Oasis Junior Juice Boxes- Regular price at Walmart $1.33- $1 off coupon
• Glade Sense and Spray Holder- Regular Price $6.00- FREE with coupon
• Minigo Yogurt-  On sale at Food Basics for $1.99 plus 50 cents off coupon
• Apple Juice- 50 cents off coupon
• Other items I got on sale: cheese, ketchup, coffee, chicken, chocolate milk, bread, pizza, orange juice, strawberries

Total Savings this week: approx.$18.98

Total Savings to date: approx $73.07

On a non-couponing note (well sort of) I have applied to Heartsy.me which is sort of like a Wagjag or Groupon for the handmade world of Etsy. I could really use your vote to be considered for a deal so if you have a chance click on this code  https://secure.heartsy.me/deals/2789/like and then "Yes, definately". I'm only 16 votes away to get to the next step!!! Hurry...voting ends in 27 hours.

Coupon Fun Update

Despite life being a little hectic over the past couple of weeks I have still been trying to use coupons and chase sales. Overall I think I've done pretty well. Before I went shopping I made sure to organize my coupons and match them with sales. Canadian Coupons is a great site to help out with this (scroll about half way down to find the grocery match ups). My poor hubby had to take me to the grocery store last Saturday since I didn't feel up to doing it myself and after checkout he even commented that he thought the cashier had missed something since the bill was lower than he thought. I said it was just the power of coupons and sales!!! Here are some of the coupons and sales from the past couple of weeks that have helped me save!

• Betty Crocker Fruit Snacks- Reg price $3.99 On sale for $2.99 + $1 off coupon
• Big Box Diapers- Reg price $19.99 and up On sale for $16.93 + $2 off coupon
• Pillsbury Crescent Rolls- On sale 4/$3 + $1off coupon (and yes you could buy just one making this my fav. deal at just 34 cents!!!)
• Special K Cereal- Regular price $5.99 On sale for $4.49 + $1.50 off coupon AND there's a coupon in the box for free coffee
• FREE YOGURT COUPON from cereal box $4.29 value
• Green Giant Frozen Veggies- Reg price $2.99 On sale for $1.99 +1.00 off coupon
• Apple juice- 50 cents off coupon (yay for hubby for using this one all on his own!)
• Cheese- Regular price $5.99 and up Early bird special $4.44
• Sirloin Roast (with Sunday being a holiday alot of meat was on 1/2 price!)                                     Regular price $7.77 - 50%off
• Chicken Breast Reg price $9.51- 50% off
• Diapers (again...geesh) On sale for $14.99+$2.00 off coupon

Total saving this week: approx. $30

Total savings to date: approx. $54.09