Category: Coupon Tips

Categories
Coupon Tips Marketing

Savoring the Save: 2021 Couponing Statistics

In the unofficial history of coupons, Coca-Cola is often cited as giving birth to the couponing movement when the company offered slips redeemable for a free glass of the magic elixir at any soda foundation way back in 1887.

From that trailblazing idea more than 130 years ago, the concept of offering consumers a bit of a tease to get them in the door or to try a new product has become an unwritten code of conduct for businesses of all stripes and sizes. Over the decades, couponing has gone from a sweeping trend for many to almost a lifestyle for some, with websites, books and even television shows dedicated to the art of mastering a savvy deal.

And the forward momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Let’s face it: Everyone loves a deal. It’s part of human nature. There’s a certain psychology that comes into play when you think you’re getting over on someone by striking a great bargain or finding a special value. It makes us feel good about ourselves, and it makes us feel productive and efficient. On the flip side of the cash register, it builds brand loyalty and invites potential buyers to explore new experiences.

The market and consumer data giant Statista released a 2021 report on U.S. coupon market trends that showed coupons are more than a mere gimmick — and although more and more people are putting the scissors back in the junk drawer in favor of digital deals, coupons are still shaping how consumers shop and influencing the shopping decisions they make. Some of the most striking statistics include:

  • U.S. coupon use dominates: 88% of survey respondents in the United States stated they had used coupons for shopping in 2020. That is slightly down from levels in the 90% range the prior two years, but the showing is nonetheless extremely impressive and hard to ignore.
  • A taste for something new: Ah, to be young and adventurous again. The younger the customer, the more likely they seem to be to let a deal inspire them to try something new. Among respondents, 89% of millennial shoppers in the United States would try a new brand if they were offered a coupon or discount. That makes millennials the most likely generation to do so, ahead of Generation X respondents with 86%.
  • The bargain of bare necessities: The U.S. shopper survey indicated household items (46%), restaurants and food delivery (41%), and grocery delivery (40%) were the most-searched-for coupon categories. That shouldn’t be a surprise since the survey was conducted in the middle of a global pandemic. Yet, it’s no stretch to think those areas would generate the most attention regardless of the coronavirus.
  • Tip your postal carrier: The mailbox still matters. Roughly 40% of survey respondents stated they looked in the mail for discounts or offers for shopping in physical stores, proving that going old school still has some swagger.

Coupons still matter. With more shopping options and more ways to reach those future customers coming to light every day, perhaps they matter more than ever. They build an unspoken bond between a business and consumer: If you’re willing to give my shop, product or service a chance, I’ll give you a bit of an incentive. The idea may be more than 130 years old, but the formula for success still works.

And by the way, that little Coca-Cola upstart is still in business.

SaveOn has been helping businesses connect with consumers since 1984. Contact us today to explore how we can help your business reach its fullest potential.

Categories
Coupon Tips

How to Save the SaveOn Way

Saving is the greatest feeling in the world. OK, so maybe it’s not the greatest feeling in the world, but it’s definitely up near the top. One of our favorite things is seeing how saving money impacts people’s lives — you can do more with the people you love and focus on the things that matter most. Our motto is to Live Life for Less, and our team is going to give you the secrets to saving through SaveOn so you can live life the way you want.

Sign up to be a Saver.

A Saver is just our fun name for the thousands of members we have across the Midwest. Savers always know about the best deals first, have exclusive access to contests and giveaways, and can easily save their coupons online so they always have them when they need one. Oh yeah, and it’s completely free.

When you become a Saver, you join a community of people who love to live their lives to the fullest and get the most bang for their bucks. They’re everyone from young people who are balling on a budget and moms with three kids to men who want a souped-up man cave and couples making the most of retirement.

SIGN UP TO BE A SAVER

Set your preferences.

When you become a Saver, you have the option to tell us what kind of coupons you want. Filling this out tells us what types of coupons to send you, what coupons and companies to consider adding to the SaveOn mix, and more.

Set up your couponing plan and explore SaveOn.com.

If you’ve read our past blogs, you know there’s an art to couponing. It’s easy to lose track of time looking for coupons, cutting them out and sorting them for your upcoming shopping trips. When you’re a Saver, you can search coupons by category or by business to quickly and easily find what you’re looking for. We’ve even taken your experience a step further and set it up so you can save coupons to your online profile. You can save the SaveOn.com shortcut to your home screen so you can quickly access deals on the go.

LEARN TO COUPON LIKE A PRO.

Enter contests and giveaways.

One of the exclusive benefits of being a Saver is that you have access to enter our monthly contests. We give away amazing prizes from gift cards and grills to weekend getaways and new cars. You can enter as many contests as you want and are eligible to win any and all of them.

CHECK OUT THIS MONTH’S CONTESTS

Check your email.

We promise to never spam you with useless emails. Our team sends hot deals, couponing advice, new contests and more to you weekly so you never miss out on a chance to save money and do more.

No matter where you are or what you’re doing, we’re here to bring you great deals and help you save money. If you aren’t a Saver yet, what’s holding you back? Sign up today to get access to the many perks of being a Saver. We can’t wait to see how you Live Life for Less.

HERE’S WHAT IT MEANS TO LIVE LIFE FOR LESS

Categories
Coupon Tips Online Deals

5 Ways to Stretch Your Summer Fun Budget Further

Summer is finally here, and since we spent the last year in quarantine, it’s time to make up for lost time. We all have a million and one things that we want to do this summer. The only issue — other than the fact that summer is never long enough — is how quickly costs add up when you’re out doing things. It’s such a bummer to have to choose between missing out or seeing your bank account drain.

Luckily for all our Savers, we have tips to help you have the perfect summer without spending your life’s savings. Here are five ways to stretch your summer fun budget further, so you can Live Life for Less.

Check out our blog on what it means to Live Life for Less

Coupon, Coupon, Coupon

You know we had to start with this one. The term couponing seems so boring and difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Using a site like ours (saveon.com), you can quickly search for coupons to your favorite places by company name or category. We have thousands of dollars in savings for your favorite restaurants, bars, clothing and retail stores, entertainment venues, and more. The best part is our coupons are local, so you can support the businesses that make your town special, while doing the things you love.

Learn to coupon like a pro the easy way

Attend Community Events

One of our favorite ways to have fun for free is to go to community events. Pretty much every city holds free events that are a blast to go to. Whether it’s a block party, concert, workshop or art show, we strongly suggest getting a group of friends together and checking it out. You’re not spending anything to be there, you get to meet new people and, if you keep an open mind and go with friends, we guarantee you’ll love going.

Track Deal Days

We’ve all showed up to a restaurant or movie theater and realized if we came the day before we could’ve gotten the same meal or seen the same movie for so much cheaper. The key to saving a bunch of money is checking for “deal days” and planning around them.

Change Up Your Budget

No, we don’t mean expand your budget or stop paying your student loans. Even though you might not be able to get special rates on tickets to Cedar Point, you can get deals on things like groceries and automotive repairs. Using coupons, specials or rewards to save money on essentials can free up money to let you do more of the things you love with the people you love.

Sell Old Stuff

Somewhere in your house you have a pile of old junk that you never use. It might be clothes, it might be video games or it might be kitchen appliances you’ve hardly used, but we know you have them. Why let them continue to clutter your house when you could easily sell them and spend the money on summer fun? You could go the traditional route and have a garage sale, or you could take a more modern approach and sell online. A lot of people have good luck with Facebook Marketplace, eBay and Poshmark.

We hope you’re as excited as we are to get back out this summer and safely create new memories with friends and family. If you’re serious about stretching your summer fun budget further this year, consider becoming a SaveOn member, or as we call them: Savers. It’s completely free and there are tons of perks.

Find out the perks of being a Saver

To stay up to date on our daily deals, contests, ways to save and more; follow us on Insta and Facebook; or check out SaveOn.com. Here’s to making this summer the best one yet!

Categories
Coupon Tips Online Deals

What It Means to Live Life for Less

Less is more.

Usually that phrase is used to prove that simplicity can, at times, outweigh the complex when it comes to making the biggest impact. However, the phrase can fit into other parts of our lives, too.

Less talking can mean more listening, which means more opportunities to learn, understand and grow as an individual. Less complaining can free up room for more encouragement. Less stress can mean more sleep — or at least a more restful sleep.

Then there’s ketchup on a hot dog. The less you have of that, the better. On second thought, let common sense prevail: Skip the ketchup altogether. It has no business on a hot dog.

At SaveOn, we take the less is more approach and flip it on its head. The more you save, the less you spend. Live Life for Less is more than our tagline at SaveOn. It’s been the focus of everything that we do for nearly four decades.

There is a perception that the more you spend, the better your life will be; however, our experience shows it’s not how much you spend but how you spend it that adds the feeling of fulfillment.

SaveOn works directly with your favorite business and provides Savers deals in your own community. We are your destination for offers, coupons and savings delivered to nearly 3.5 million homes in the Chicago, Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Twin Cities areas.

Everyone has a chance to enjoy more with those that matter most. We continually seek out new ways to connect Savers to everything from major brands you know, trust and love to the small businesses and local experiences that fuel the community you call home.

SaveOn has established a reputation in the industry based on our core values:

  • Integrity
    We communicate honestly to create trusting relationships and respect. We listen to understand, accept our responsibility and will always do the right thing.
  • Dedication
    We are dedicated to serving our business partners with innovative marketing solutions. We are accountable in our roles to one another and all we serve.
  • Attitude
    Focusing on the positive, we offer one another the benefit of the doubt. We seek creative solutions to overcome obstacles for the greater good of our team, savers and business partners.
  • Passion
    We are passionate about our team, the quality of our products, great values for our savers and about offering the best-in-class service to our partners.
  • Community
    We keep family first, strive for a healthy work-life balance and seek new ways to give back to the communities we call home.

Your lifestyle matters to us, and we know how hard you work to have it. That’s why we offer daily deals on everything for your life. From food and dining, home improvement and automotive needs to entertainment, health and beauty, retail and fashion, and groceries, saving time and money gives you the resources to dedicate to family, friends and all the other things in your life that you value the most.

We won’t even bat an eye if you use our grocery savings on hot dogs and ketchup. Live life for you by living life for less.

Visit us at saveon.com, and find out how you can live life for less today.

Categories
Coupon Tips Online Deals

Perks of Being a Saver

Life is short, and we all want to enjoy it as much as possible. We started SaveOn to help you save money so you can have more and do more with your friends and family. Even though you don’t have to be a member to take advantage of our huge savings, there are a lot of perks to being a member — or as we like to call it, a Saver. Plus, being a Saver is completely free.

Here are the perks of being a saver.

Never Miss a Deal

Savers never miss a deal because they get offers right in their mailboxes — actually, you won’t just hear about the best coups, you’ll be one of the first to hear about them. We hate getting spam just as much as you, so we never send emails unless we know you’ll love what’s in them.

Contests and Giveaways

Who doesn’t love free stuff? We do fun giveaways of gift cards, trips, gas, food, money and other cool items each month, but you have to be a Saver to enter our contests. We hope you’ll become a member so you can win.

Easier Way to Save

We know some Savers love clipping coupons — it’s therapeutic and fun for them. For everyone else, we make it easy to save coups for later, so you don’t have to clip, organize and remember to take them with you. When you sign up to be a Saver, you get the option to save coupons via your phone or computer. You can easily pull the coupons up later when you need them.

Deals Just for You

When you become a saver, you can mark your preferences of what types of coupons and savings you’re looking for. Our team uses this information to show you deals for the things and places you love and want, so you can save time and money.

Tips for Saving More

We make saving easier for you, and one of the ways we do that is by teaching you how to save like a pro. We send Savers the latest and greatest couponing advice and tips, so you can do more and save more.

How to become a Saver:

  • Head to saveon.com.
  • Click the “Sign In” button in the top-right corner of the webpage.
  • Click the “Sign Up” button in the pop-up window.
  • Fill out the form and hit submit.

Easy, right? We’re so excited to have you as part of our family, and we can’t wait to see how you Live Life for Less.

Categories
Coupon Tips Twin Cities

Twin Cities’ Ultimate Prep List for Getting Your Home Ready for the Holidays

Family Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is almost here, and if you’re like us, you’re probably excited to spend extra time with family and friends but are dreading getting the house ready. We get it, there’s a million and one things to do and never enough time to do them all. It seems like there’s always something big that slips through the cracks. But not this year. This year, you’re going to be the queen of holiday prep. Seriously, your friends are going to be so jealous of how together you have it.

We made the ultimate list of things you need to do over the next few days and weeks to get your house ready for the festivities, and we even threw in some of our favorite ways for you to save while you do it.

Cleaning

Let’s skip the obvious. We’ll all remember to clean the house before we decorate and have guests over. This is your deep-cleaning reminder. We’re not trying to impress just anyone. This year we’re going to impress the picky aunts and meticulous in-laws. To get your house to Monica Geller, clean don’t forget to clean these areas of the house:

  • Baseboards
  • Light switches
  • Windowsills
  • Oven (inside and out)
  • Doorknobs
  • Shower curtain
  • Fridge
  • Walls
  • Remote
  • Pillows
  • Inside closets
  • Outdoor lights
  • Mattress
  • Dishwasher
  • Garbage disposal
  • Bath fan grill
  • Trash can
  • Washer and dryer
  • Toothbrush holder
  • Coffee maker
  • Toilet brush and plunger
  • Under the fridge
  • Faucet aerators
  • Clutter

It can be a lot of work to get all these extra things cleaned, but luckily, we’re weeks out from Thanksgiving. Recruiting help from the kids is a great idea if they’re old enough. You could also crack open a bottle of wine (or two) with your bestie and have some laughs while you get the job done.

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Sprucing Up the Exterior

First impressions are everything, right? Start the holiday visits off right by having a spotless inside and outside of your home. Don’t forget to do these things to set your house apart.

  • Rake the leaves
  • Power-wash the siding
  • Put trash cans away
  • Clean up toys
  • Clean the gutters
  • Touch up paint
  • Wash windows
  • Sweep and wash the porch
  • Pull and dispose of dead weeds/flowers
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is unnamed.jpg
25% OFF Any Service at MasterCut Tree Service by West Michigan Glass Block
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Planning for Houseguests

We all love spending time with family (at least for a week or so), and we want them to feel comfortable and at home when they’re visiting. Put the extra time in getting the house ready now, so you can enjoy family time later.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is pexels-elly-fairytale-5859798-1024x683.jpg
  • Make up the guest bedroom or make room for guests to settle in
  • Declutter
  • Stock the bedside table with water, the Wi-Fi password and tissues
  • Childproof the house
  • Stock up on toiletries
  • Clear a drawer
  • Put out fresh towels
  • Set out extra blankets and pillows
  • Make plugs accessible
  • Set out a welcome snack

Stocking Up on Essentials

Don’t be the host that has no conditioner or can’t give a guest a bandage. Stock up on the essentials and save yourself from making countless trips to the store.

  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Mouthwash
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper Towels
  • Laundry detergent
  • Dishwashing detergent and dish soap
  • Extra razors and toothbrushes
  • Q-tips
  • First aid supplies
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is shutterstock_1677576121-1-1024x683.jpg
Snuggle, Clorox, Glade, Dove and More Household Essentials
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is view-deal-button-12.png

Decorating

Every year, it seems like we make 20 trips to the store to get supplies to decorate the house. Save time and make just one trip to the store by getting the following decorating essentials.

  • Thumb tacks
  • Command strips
  • Holiday lights
  • Light bulb replacements
  • Nails and screws
  • Tape
  • Extension cords
  • Spray snow
  • Ribbon
  • Scissors
  • Bulbs
  • Ornament hooks
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is 1602705471-gallery.jpg

Getting the Kitchen Ready

There’s nothing worse than waking up at 5 a.m. to get your butt cooking all day long, just to pull out a cold turkey at dinnertime. Make sure your kitchen appliances are working and you have all the supplies you need to have a rocking holiday dinner.

  • Check oven temperature
  • Stock up on storage bags, saran wrap, storage containers and other food preservation materials
  • Clean out the refrigerator
  • Stock your kitchen with food, baking essentials and spices
  • Create a cooking schedule
  • Declutter kitchen counters
  • Check your dishwasher efficiency
  • Get your serving utensils ready (sharpen knives, take inventory of serving spoons, make sure your meat thermometer works)
  • Inventory plates, silverware, cups, etc.
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Service-technician-refrigerator-appliance-repair-1024x683.jpg
$10 OFF Service Call at Simon’s Appliance
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Setting the Menu

Planning holiday dinners gets about as intricate as diffusing a bomb. OK, so maybe it’s not that serious, but it is one of the most important parts of the holidays. Everything revolves around dinner. Use this list and dinner won’t just be smooth sailing, but you’ll finally get to enjoy a hot meal on a holiday.

  • Shop early
  • Consider allergies, dietary restrictions and food preferences
  • Grab grocery coupons
  • Get extras — you can always donate unused food to food pantries
  • Make a cooking schedule
  • Determine who will bring dishes and what ones you will make
  • Have a backup plan in case the main course burns
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Screenshot-2020-11-24-134859.png
Hellmann’s, Pillsbury, Ben & Jerry’s and More Grocery Coupons
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is view-deal-button-12.png

Making Repairs

There are projects we put off all year long. Although guests might not notice, you’ll feel less self-conscious about the condition of your home if you take care of the small repairs that bug you ahead of holiday gatherings.

  • Touching up paint
  • Fixing squeaky doors and stairs
  • Tightening cupboard screws
  • Leaky pipes
  • Sticky doors or windows
  • Secure loose rails
  • Snip wayward carpet strands
  • Repairing heating, cooling, sewage or other systems
$50 Off Services at Mr. Handyman
This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is view-deal-button-12.png

Securing Safety

You never know what will happen when you get your wild and crazy family together in one place. Make sure your house has much-needed safety precautions in place.

  • Check fire alarm
  • Check carbon monoxide detector
  • Check fire extinguisher
  • Update evacuation plan
  • Have flashlights and batteries
  • Stock your first aid kit
  • Update and post emergency numbers
  • Childproof the house

Our final bit of advice for having the most laid-back, stress-free holiday is to plan ahead and stick to it. Or in other works, make your list and check it twice. Happy holidays from your SaveOn family. Don’t forget to check out our site for more local savings so you can live life for less.

Categories
Chicago Coupon Tips

Chicago’s Ultimate Prep List for Getting Your Home Ready for the Holidays

Family Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is almost here, and if you’re like us, you’re probably excited to spend extra time with family and friends but are dreading getting the house ready. We get it, there’s a million and one things to do and never enough time to do them all. It seems like there’s always something big that slips through the cracks. But not this year. This year, you’re going to be the queen of holiday prep. Seriously, your friends are going to be so jealous of how together you have it.

We made the ultimate list of things you need to do over the next few days and weeks to get your house ready for the festivities, and we even threw in some of our favorite ways for you to save while you do it.

Cleaning

Let’s skip the obvious. We’ll all remember to clean the house before we decorate and have guests over. This is your deep-cleaning reminder. We’re not trying to impress just anyone. This year we’re going to impress the picky aunts and meticulous in-laws. To get your house to Monica Geller, clean don’t forget to clean these areas of the house:

  • Baseboards
  • Light switches
  • Windowsills
  • Oven (inside and out)
  • Doorknobs
  • Shower curtain
  • Fridge
  • Walls
  • Remote
  • Pillows
  • Inside closets
  • Outdoor lights
  • Mattress
  • Dishwasher
  • Garbage disposal
  • Bath fan grill
  • Trash can
  • Washer and dryer
  • Toothbrush holder
  • Coffee maker
  • Toilet brush and plunger
  • Under the fridge
  • Faucet aerators
  • Clutter

It can be a lot of work to get all these extra things cleaned, but luckily, we’re weeks out from Thanksgiving. Recruiting help from the kids is a great idea if they’re old enough. You could also crack open a bottle of wine (or two) with your bestie and have some laughs while you get the job done. If you’re too busy to possibly get everything done — like most of us are — you can always get extra help from cleaning businesses. Bonus: You get to support local, while taking tasks off your plate.

$75 Off Three Cleanings at Maid Pro

Sprucing Up the Exterior

First impressions are everything, right? Start the holiday visits off right by having a spotless inside and outside of your home. Don’t forget to do these things to set your house apart.

  • Rake the leaves
  • Power-wash the siding
  • Put trash cans away
  • Clean up toys
  • Clean the gutters
  • Touch up paint
  • Wash windows
  • Sweep and wash the porch
  • Pull and dispose of dead weeds/flowers
Save On Gutter Cleaning At V & D Window Washing & Gutter Cleaning

Planning for Houseguests

We all love spending time with family (at least for a week or so), and we want them to feel comfortable and at home when they’re visiting. Put the extra time in getting the house ready now, so you can enjoy family time later.

  • Make up the guest bedroom or make room for guests to settle in
  • Declutter
  • Stock the bedside table with water, the Wi-Fi password and tissues
  • Childproof the house
  • Stock up on toiletries
  • Clear a drawer
  • Put out fresh towels
  • Set out extra blankets and pillows
  • Make plugs accessible
  • Set out a welcome snack

Stocking Up on Essentials

Don’t be the host that has no conditioner or can’t give a guest a bandage. Stock up on the essentials and save yourself from making countless trips to the store.

  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Mouthwash
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper Towels
  • Laundry detergent
  • Dishwashing detergent and dish soap
  • Extra razors and toothbrushes
  • Q-tips
  • First aid supplies
Snuggle, Clorox, Glade, Dove and More Household Essentials

Decorating

Every year, it seems like we make 20 trips to the store to get supplies to decorate the house. Save time and make just one trip to the store by getting the following decorating essentials.

  • Thumb tacks
  • Command strips
  • Holiday lights
  • Light bulb replacements
  • Nails and screws
  • Tape
  • Extension cords
  • Spray snow
  • Ribbon
  • Scissors
  • Bulbs
  • Ornament hooks
10% Off Total Installation of Holiday Lights at MML Premier Services

Getting the Kitchen Ready

There’s nothing worse than waking up at 5 a.m. to get your butt cooking all day long, just to pull out a cold turkey at dinnertime. Make sure your kitchen appliances are working and you have all the supplies you need to have a rocking holiday dinner.

  • Check oven temperature
  • Stock up on storage bags, saran wrap, storage containers and other food preservation materials
  • Clean out the refrigerator
  • Stock your kitchen with food, baking essentials and spices
  • Create a cooking schedule
  • Declutter kitchen counters
  • Check your dishwasher efficiency
  • Get your serving utensils ready (sharpen knives, take inventory of serving spoons, make sure your meat thermometer works)
  • Inventory plates, silverware, cups, etc.
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Setting the Menu

Planning holiday dinners gets about as intricate as diffusing a bomb. OK, so maybe it’s not that serious, but it is one of the most important parts of the holidays. Everything revolves around dinner. Use this list and dinner won’t just be smooth sailing, but you’ll finally get to enjoy a hot meal on a holiday.

  • Shop early
  • Consider allergies, dietary restrictions and food preferences
  • Grab grocery coupons
  • Get extras — you can always donate unused food to food pantries
  • Make a cooking schedule
  • Determine who will bring dishes and what ones you will make
  • Have a backup plan in case the main course burns
Hellmann’s, Pillsbury, Ben & Jerry’s and More Grocery Coupons

Making Repairs

There are projects we put off all year long. Although guests might not notice, you’ll feel less self-conscious about the condition of your home if you take care of the small repairs that bug you ahead of holiday gatherings.

  • Touching up paint
  • Fixing squeaky doors and stairs
  • Tightening cupboard screws
  • Leaky pipes
  • Sticky doors or windows
  • Secure loose rails
  • Snip wayward carpet strands
  • Repairing heating, cooling, sewage or other systems
$50 Off Any Repair Service at Eco Air Pros

Securing Safety

You never know what will happen when you get your wild and crazy family together in one place. Make sure your house has much-needed safety precautions in place.

  • Check fire alarm
  • Check carbon monoxide detector
  • Check fire extinguisher
  • Update evacuation plan
  • Have flashlights and batteries
  • Stock your first aid kit
  • Update and post emergency numbers
  • Childproof the house

Our final bit of advice for having the most laid-back, stress-free holiday is to plan ahead and stick to it. Or in other works, make your list and check it twice. Happy holidays from your SaveOn family. Don’t forget to check out our site for more local savings so you can live life for less.

Categories
Coupon Tips Detroit

The Ultimate Prep List for Getting Your Home Ready for the Holidays

Family Thanksgiving

The holidays are here, and if you’re like us, you’re probably excited to spend extra time with family and friends but are dreading getting the house ready. We get it, there’s a million and one things to do and never enough time to do them all. It seems like there’s always something big that slips through the cracks. But not this year. This year, you’re going to be the queen of holiday prep. Seriously, your friends are going to be so jealous of how together you have it.

We made the ultimate list of things you need to do over the next few days and weeks to get your house ready for the festivities, and we even threw in some of our favorite ways for you to save while you do it.

Cleaning

Let’s skip the obvious. We’ll all remember to clean the house before we decorate and have guests over. This is your deep-cleaning reminder. We’re not trying to impress just anyone. This year we’re going to impress the picky aunts and meticulous in-laws. To get your house to Monica Geller, clean don’t forget to clean these areas of the house:

  • Baseboards
  • Light switches
  • Windowsills
  • Oven (inside and out)
  • Doorknobs
  • Shower curtain
  • Fridge
  • Walls
  • Remote
  • Pillows
  • Inside closets
  • Outdoor lights
  • Mattress
  • Dishwasher
  • Garbage disposal
  • Bath fan grill
  • Trash can
  • Washer and dryer
  • Toothbrush holder
  • Coffee maker
  • Toilet brush and plunger
  • Under the fridge
  • Faucet aerators
  • Clutter

It can be a lot of work to get all these extra things cleaned. Recruiting help from the kids is a great idea if they’re old enough. You could also crack open a bottle of wine (or two) with your bestie and have some laughs while you get the job done. If you’re too busy to possibly get everything done — like most of us are — you can always get extra help from cleaning businesses. Bonus: You get to support local, while taking tasks off your plate.

Sprucing Up the Exterior

First impressions are everything, right? Start the holiday visits off right by having a spotless inside and outside of your home. Don’t forget to do these things to set your house apart.

  • Rake the leaves
  • Power-wash the siding
  • Put trash cans away
  • Clean up toys
  • Clean the gutters
  • Touch up paint
  • Wash windows
  • Sweep and wash the porch
  • Pull and dispose of dead weeds/flowers

Planning for Houseguests

We all love spending time with family (at least for a week or so), and we want them to feel comfortable and at home when they’re visiting. Put the extra time in getting the house ready now, so you can enjoy family time later.

  • Make up the guest bedroom or make room for guests to settle in
  • Declutter
  • Stock the bedside table with water, the Wi-Fi password and tissues
  • Childproof the house
  • Stock up on toiletries
  • Clear a drawer
  • Put out fresh towels
  • Set out extra blankets and pillows
  • Make plugs accessible
  • Set out a welcome snack

Stocking Up on Essentials

Don’t be the host that has no conditioner or can’t give a guest a bandage. Stock up on the essentials and save yourself from making countless trips to the store.

  • Shampoo and conditioner
  • Toothpaste
  • Floss
  • Mouthwash
  • Toilet paper
  • Paper Towels
  • Laundry detergent
  • Dishwashing detergent and dish soap
  • Extra razors and toothbrushes
  • Q-tips
  • First aid supplies
Snuggle, Clorox, Glade, Dove and More Household Essentials

Decorating

Every year, it seems like we make 20 trips to the store to get supplies to decorate the house. Save time and make just one trip to the store by getting the following decorating essentials.

  • Thumb tacks
  • Command strips
  • Holiday lights
  • Light bulb replacements
  • Nails and screws
  • Tape
  • Extension cords
  • Spray snow
  • Ribbon
  • Scissors
  • Bulbs
  • Ornament hooks

Getting the Kitchen Ready

There’s nothing worse than waking up at 5 a.m. to get your butt cooking all day long, just to pull out a cold turkey at dinnertime. Make sure your kitchen appliances are working and you have all the supplies you need to have a rocking holiday dinner.

  • Check oven temperature
  • Stock up on storage bags, saran wrap, storage containers and other food preservation materials
  • Clean out the refrigerator
  • Stock your kitchen with food, baking essentials and spices
  • Create a cooking schedule
  • Declutter kitchen counters
  • Check your dishwasher efficiency
  • Get your serving utensils ready (sharpen knives, take inventory of serving spoons, make sure your meat thermometer works)
  • Inventory plates, silverware, cups, etc.

Setting the Menu

Planning holiday dinners gets about as intricate as diffusing a bomb. OK, so maybe it’s not that serious, but it is one of the most important parts of the holidays. Everything revolves around dinner. Use this list and dinner won’t just be smooth sailing, but you’ll finally get to enjoy a hot meal on a holiday.

  • Shop early
  • Consider allergies, dietary restrictions and food preferences
  • Grab grocery coupons
  • Get extras — you can always donate unused food to food pantries
  • Make a cooking schedule
  • Determine who will bring dishes and what ones you will make
  • Have a backup plan in case the main course burns
Hundreds of Grocery Coupons for the brands you love

Making Repairs

There are projects we put off all year long. Although guests might not notice, you’ll feel less self-conscious about the condition of your home if you take care of the small repairs that bug you ahead of holiday gatherings.

  • Touching up paint
  • Fixing squeaky doors and stairs
  • Tightening cupboard screws
  • Leaky pipes
  • Sticky doors or windows
  • Secure loose rails
  • Snip wayward carpet strands
  • Repairing heating, cooling, sewage or other systems

Securing Safety

You never know what will happen when you get your wild and crazy family together in one place. Make sure your house has much-needed safety precautions in place.

  • Check fire alarm
  • Check carbon monoxide detector
  • Check fire extinguisher
  • Update evacuation plan
  • Have flashlights and batteries
  • Stock your first aid kit
  • Update and post emergency numbers
  • Childproof the house

Our final bit of advice for having the most laid-back, stress-free holiday is to plan ahead and stick to it. Or in other works, make your list and check it twice. Happy holidays from your SaveOn family. Don’t forget to check out our site for more local savings so you can live life for less.

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Coupon Tips

Become a Pro Couponer

Person Counting Money

Couponing is an artform — it takes time, energy and strategy. Whether you are brand new or looking to step up your couponing game, there are tactics you can implement to achieve your savings goals. As an innovative marketing company, specializing in connecting savers to relevant and trusted businesses, we know the ins and outs of couponing. The SaveOn team has compiled our best advice to help you become a pro couponer and expert saver.

Getting Started

Before you start clipping coupons, you should consider three things: savings goals, time devotion and couponing supplies.

The first thing you must decide is what your savings goals are. Are you looking to cut your monthly spending in half? Do you want to save $10 a week? Are you only going to make leisurely purchases if you have a coupon? Are you going to create a stockpile or are you just saving on current purchases? No matter what your goal is, setting firm objectives will be the first step to becoming a true couponer.

Next, you should determine how much time per week you want to spend couponing. The amount you regularly save tends to directly correlate with the time you devote to couponing, meaning you spend more time to save more money. It’s easy to get sucked into the fun of couponing and spend more time on it than originally planned. Determine how much time you will coupon each day and week and stick to it. It’s all right to work on a flexible schedule, but be firm with not going over your allotted time each week.

Lastly, you need to get your supplies in order. Most couponers like to have a binder with dividers to store their printed coupons. Three-inch binders are one of the more popular sizes for couponing, and getting baseball cardholder inserts is a great way to store the coupons without having them fall behind each other. Some people prefer plastic bins to coupon binders. This method can easily get disorganized, so we suggest rubber-banding coupons together by expiration day, placing them in alphabetic order by store and clearly labeling them. Another storage option for savers is filing bins or boxes. Again, storing them by date and alphabetic order and labeling in a way that makes sense to you will keep you organized on your upcoming shopping trips. Other supplies you may need for couponing are a printer and paper, scissors, a paper cutter, labels, and dividers.

Learn the Lingo

One of the most confusing things for new couponers is the lingo because there are a lot of abbreviations and terms that coupon sites and blogs tend to use. Here are some of the most important couponing terms to know while you get started:

  • Stacking — Using multiple coupons for one item (one manufacturer’s coupon and one store coupon usually)
  • BOGO/B1G1 — Buy one get one
  • Q — Coupon
  • WYB —When you buy
  • OOP — Out of Pocket
  • Double Coupon — Coupon that the store doubles in value
  • $/$$ — Dollars off when you buy X amount of dollars
  • $/X — Dollars off when you buy X number of items

Although these seem foreign and can be hard to remember at first, you’ll quickly catch on and find yourself using them all the time.

Stay Organized

You’ll hear us say this time and time again — stay organized. Organization is the single most important part of being a successful couponer. If you can’t find a coupon or don’t use it before the expiration date, all your hard work goes to waste. Find an organization method that works for you and stick to it.

Coupon Sources

Every pro couponer has a variety of sources to get the best savings. Coupons can be found in newspapers, magazines, store flyers, online or via apps. Magazines and Sunday newspapers are known for being full of coupons, and many new savers used to start there for local coupons. Companies often send magazines with their latest coupons in the mail weekly or monthly. In today’s world, many newspapers are folding or moving online, so if your local paper doesn’t offer a ton of local coupons or doesn’t exist anymore, a good place to start is online.

At SaveOn.com we offer thousands of hyperlocal coupons for food and dining, automotive, groceries, retail and fashion, health and beauty, and more. You can easily print or save coupons through your free membership account. Pro couponers subscribe to a number of online couponing sites and download apps to get coupons straight to their phones and emails. You also can subscribe to our magazine to have coupons delivered to your door monthly.

Another way to get coupons is to email or write to manufacturers of your favorite products asking for coupons. These companies are happy to send coupons because it encourages people to buy their products, and you will get great deals that you can sometimes stack with local store coupons.

Finally, signing up for membership/email lists that regularly send coupons is always a good idea. Whether it’s for a single store or a couponing site, you will be able to easily save, organize and use coupons.

At SaveOn, we are focused on giving savers access to reliable, local businesses and big savings so you can live life for less. To ensure you never miss a great deal and to receive more savings tips, sign up for our newsletter below.  

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Coupon Tips Marketing

Finish 2020 Stronger Than You Started

This past year has been insane — COVID-19, wildfires, riots, killer bees, the list goes on. These unexpected events have turned the world as we knew it upside down. It’s hard to imagine any business could finish as strong as it anticipated at the start of the year, yet there are still things you can do to help your business finish the year stronger than you started. 

Set Goals and Build a Plan

A lot has changed over the course of the year. Your goals have most likely changed too, and that’s perfectly fine. To finish the year off strong, you should decide what you want to accomplish by the end of the year and set SMART goals. SMART goals will ensure your objectives are tangible and reasonable for the timeframe left. Share your business’s goals with your staff and post them around the office where everyone can see them. This helps keep your team stay focused, motivated and moving toward your collective objectives together. Once you have your goals, it’s time to make a plan to achieve them. 

Most businesses created a business plan for the year last winter. Unfortunately, this is not the same world or business climate you started in when building your plan. If you haven’t already, the best thing you can do for your business is to reevaluate your business plan and make adjustments based on your new goals.

Get Creative

We know that COVID-19 and the other events of 2020 have created major obstacles for businesses. To maintain and increase sales, you’re going to have to get creative. Don’t be afraid to adjust or try out new business models/strategies.

For instance, people aren’t out and about like they were pre-COVID-19. If possible, consider building and promoting an online store. According to Digital Commerce 360, online merchants gained an extra $107 billion this year as a result of the pandemic. Starting or expanding an online store will help you reach customers who can’t physically get out right now or make your brand available to people outside or your normal market area.

Another way companies have maintained or increased sales is by altering product/service offerings. For example, restaurants have started expanding delivery and curbside pickup options by adding the service or partnering with companies like DoorDash and Uber Eats. We have seen similar adjustments in other industries as well. Auto manufacturers started producing respirators, the spirits industry has been creating hand sanitizer, and furniture and office supply companies are making partitions for offices and restaurants. These offerings don’t have to be permanent, but they can be great for bringing in new business while providing necessary products and services. 

On the converse, it can be a strong business move to limit product and service offerings. Majority of locally owned restaurants have condensed their menus for COVID-19 to cut back on costs. Additionally, clothing stores and other retailers have also limited their variety of goods to focus on more popular items. 

Adjustments are going to vary from business to business. At the end of the day, you have to do what works best for your business. Take the time to plan the rest of the year so you can maximize your bottom line. 

Motivate Staff

As a business owner or manager, you know how stressful this year has been. Your employees are also feeling the pressure and probably are experiencing some form of burnout heading into the fourth quarter. Reenergizing your staff is a good way to ensure you finish the year strong. Reenergizing and motivating staff can be accomplished through a number of methods. 

First, start by acknowledging their stress and burnout. By having an open dialogue with your staff, you can come up with helpful ways to incorporate fun, stress-relieving activities into the workplace. Some easy de-stressors you can incorporate are daily walks with co-workers, meditation time, trivia or (virtual) happy hours. Allowing time to unwind and relax at work is key to keeping employees motivated and moving forward. 

Another way to motivate staff is through incentives. Giving bonuses, time off, gift cards or some other form of incentive can help encourage employees power through the end of the year. Although these gestures seem small, they will make your staff feel valued for their hard work and show you appreciate all they do, especially during this difficult year.

Keep Promoting your Business

When money gets tight, one of the first things businesses want to drop to save funds is their marketing and promotions. This is a bad strategy because effective and thoughtful advertising has been proven to increase sales despite recession and other economic barriers, according to Zimmer Communications. By meeting your customers or potential customers where they are at, you have the opportunity to bring in new customers, increase sales and speed up the purchasing process.  

At SaveOn, we’re devoted to helping businesses be as successful as possible by connecting them to new customers and promoting product and service offerings at the hyperlocal level. To learn more about how our team can help your business reach your goals, visit saveon.com/business.