PennySaverUSA.com Blog – The Best Resource for Online Classifieds, Coupons, and Online Contests!

In this Save Money Monday post, we’re introducing you to one of the best sites to get all of your grocery shopping/dinner time needs in order, Food on the Table.

Food on the Table is both a web and mobile service that creates meal plans and generates grocery lists. After selecting food preferences and dietary needs, members can choose from various recipes that fit their lifestyle, and Food on the Table automatically builds a grocery list for each item needed. It then goes a step further by showing the user local sales on grocery list items. It is meant to take the stress out of meal planning by providing recipes, organizing a grocery list, and fitting into your budget.

The better way to plan meals and save money!

Seriously… the only thing it doesn’t do is get the groceries for you and make you dinner.

Since we are obsessed with this wonderful site, we want to pass on the word and share the experience with our loyal readers and followers. Sign up for a free account today and start planning your meals!

To make this even sweeter, we’re holding a rafflecopter giveaway to give one lucky person the opportunity to win a premium membership to Food on the Table and a $25 grocery store gift card of your choice!

There are many ways to earn entries into the drawing, so the more you complete, the better your chances are for being chosen as the winner! The contest starts August 1, 2012 at 12:01am EST, and ends on August 7, 2012 at 11:59pm EST. See here for complete rules.

Giveaway starts August 1st. Good luck to everyone!
Food on the Table Rafflecopter Giveaway

If you have any problems entering the giveaway, please contact us at feedback@pennysaverusa.com so we can resolve the issue right away. Thank you.

It’s Summer, and as the temperature rises so do your electricity bills. It doesn’t have to be that way. In this Save Money Monday blog, we’re going to provide you with household tips to cut down costs on your electricity bills this Summer and through the rest of the year.

Turn off the Lights

Whenever you’re leaving a room, turn off the lights. Even if you may have the intention of returning within a few minutes, you can easily become distracted, and those few minutes can turn into an hour or more–resulting in a waste of electricity and your money.

Replace any incandescent light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs.

Use Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

If you know you’re the forgetful kind, and probably won’t heed the first tip very diligently, then replace any incandescent light bulbs in your home with compact fluorescent bulbs instead. These light bulbs not only use less electricity–saving about 50% when it comes to lighting, but they also emit less heat, reducing your air condition usage. These can be found at many home supplies/hardware stores.

Limit Electricity Usage at Peak Times

For most areas, peak electricity times are during the daytime. Utility companies capitalize on this, and charge you a higher rate during peak hours. If you’re at work during the day, make sure everything is turned off before you leave. If you’re at home during peak hours, open the windows and let the natural sunlight in. Save money and electricity by doing the laundry and washing the dishes late at night or early in the morning.

Turn Off/Unplug Appliances

You can easily save on your monthly electricity bill by turning off or unplugging appliances that are not in use. Some appliances will continue to use a small amount of electricity on a constant basis, even if it’s not in use. Over an extended period of time, the small but consistent usage adds up and leads to more money out of your pocket every month.

Buy Energy Star Appliances

When buying new appliances, look for those that have the Energy Star label. These appliances have been rated by the government and are energy efficient. They are usually slightly more expensive, but save you more during the lifetime usage of the appliance.

Use your Appliances Efficiently

Whether you have or don’t have Energy Star appliances, you can use the appliances that you do have in more energy-efficient ways. For example, when using the dishwasher or doing the laundry, make sure you have full loads and use energy and/or water saving modes.

While most of these tips seem to be just minor adjustments, when combined they can really add up. In today’s economy, every single penny counts, that’s why you’ve got PennySaverUSA to help you out.

So you just adopted a new pet… now what? It’s easy to get carried away at the pet store, so here’s your guide on what to buy and what to skip on that new dog supplies checklist.

New Dog Supplies Checklist:

• Adjustable snap-on collars, tags, and a leash – Go for the basics!

  Forget about the fancy accessories, a basic nylon 6-foot leash, nylon snap-on adjustable collar, and standard tags will be all your new pup needs to be on your way home. Skip the fancy bling and opt for a sensible choice. If your pup is teething, you’ll be glad , you didn’t go for the designer variety. As for collars, a basic adjustable, snap-on collar ensures that you’ll be able to accommodate properly based on your new pet’s growth.

• Training collar – Invest in a head harness!

  Head harnesses are widely used to help your dog learn proper manners while on walks. Because you can control their posture, you can easily teach your pup when to sniff, when to leave it, and how to walk without pulling. Once your dog is used to the head harness, he’ll have the skills to properly go on walks and you won’t have to invest in pricier body harnesses because your pup won’t have pulling problems.

• Food – Invest in higher quality ingredients!

  Keep the same brand that your pup has been fed and gradually mix in a new brand or flavor of food that fits your budget. It’s important to note that higher quality foods will last longer because they provide all the essential ingredients for a healthy canine. Do your research and check with a local pet supplies store to see if they have bulk discounts.

  

  Go for the basics in food and water bowls, and invest in higher quality ingredients!

• Food and water bowls – Go for the basics!

  Sure, a personalized set of bowls looks really cute, but you can save by choosing a dishwasher safe set instead.

• Toys – Repurpose old stuffed animals!

  Speaking from experience, my pups love old stuffed animals more than any new store-bought toy. After a cycle in the laundry, it’s like a brand new favorite friend. Pick out a few different toys and introduce them in rotation so there’s always “something new” for your pup to obsess over!

• Treats – Invest in raw knuckle bones!

  Raw bones are a great value find! These are very satisfying chewing treats and it’s very cheap to find these raw bones at your local butcher shop or carniceria.

• Dog bed and crate – Invest in a quality crate!

  A quality metal crate is a must-have for any new puppy. If your dog is already house trained, you may opt for a comfortable dog bed instead. Crates help with providing a safe place for your dog to be safe & comfortable when you are away.

• Training – Get free tips online!

  Dog training is all about training the dog handler more than the dog. So it’s more important for you to learn how to interact with your dog in a way that suits your lifestyle than letting someone else train your dog. You can get started online with a variety of videos that can teach you how to use positive reinforcement to train your dog.

Whether you have an active outdoor dog, or a dormant pampered inside dog, you definitely need to factor in grooming. From nail trims to hair cuts, your expenses could end up costing more than your personal trip to the salon! This Save Money Monday, we’re sharing  pet care tips for saving money while keeping Fido nice and clean!

Fido loves a bath in your tub even better than going to the doggy salon

Brush your dog daily.

One of the first things you should do when you get a dog is to get a nice brush or comb. Brushes are good for shorthaired dogs while combs are good for dogs with medium to long coats. And if your dogs’ fur tends to curl and get matted, a finer comb can help detangle and dematte. Now that you have the perfect brush or comb, use it daily. When you’re watching TV, grab the brush and start grooming away. If your dog is skiddish, it’s best to introduce your grooming tool slowly and reward your dog with a treat for each time they get closer to the brush. By brushing and combing daily, you can help with excessive shedding, and you’ll be able to keep your doggie’s curls free of tangles!

Doggy wipes.

Use unscented baby wipes to wipe down your pup’s face & ears a few times a week. This helps get rid of the stinky dog smell. You can also use wipes on their paws after walks to keep their paws clean! You can save a couple of bucks by making your own wipes! Just use diluted doggy shampoo or baby shampoo.

Clean your dogs’ ears.

Most of the time, the worst smell comes from a dog’s ears, especially if you have a dog with floppy ears. You can use a solution of 1 part vinegar, 1 part alcohol, and 1 part water to make your own ear cleaning solution. Dab it with a cotton ball and run it along the outer parts of your dog’s ears. If you suspect an ear infection, contact your vet immediately.

Bathe your dog.

Hopefully you’ve been brushing, wiping, and cleaning out your dog’s ears on a regular basis now. Your stinky companion should be not so stinky anymore. So maybe you can cut your baths to every other week, or even down to once a month. Either way, you can save a ton of money by bathing your dog yourself. Fill the tub and start scrubbing away. Lather, scrub, rinse, and repeat. Be sure to do an extra rinse to rinse off all the excess shampoo! If you don’t have a bath tub, check with your local doggy groomer to see if they have self-service stations available. For a small fee, you can rent all the supplies and towels you need to make your doggy squeaky clean!

DIY doggy hair cuts.

If you are confident in your handling skills, please proceed cautiously. You can use a hair trimmer on your dog to trim the fur to a desired length. Pick an area to start. It can be at the back of the neck, or at the shoulders. Run your trimmer in one long stroke. If you’re happy with the length, continue throughout the dog’s body. Invest in a high quality trimmer and avoid those huge grooming bills!

For more money saving ideas for the four-legged friends in your family, catch-up on some good reading with our Pet Care Tips blogs.

Father’s Day is right around the corner! June 17, to be exact. That Sunday, your favorite real-life superhero will be showered with gifts, food, and an amazing time. But how do you show the man who taught you how to walk, bike, and drive, how much you truly care without going overboard? In this economy, we all need to save where we can. And Save Money Monday has your back!

#Pennyshout Rewards Wonderful Dads for Father's Day

For the wonderful price of completely FREE, you can submit a #pennyshout to your favorite Pops. Just tweet @pennysaverusa with the hashtag #pennyshout, your message, and your dad’s zip code by June 7, 2012. Your message will appear in our Wednesday, June 13th, print PennySaver for your Dad to bear hug you for the genuine and heartfelt message.

To get some inspiration for writing an uh-mazing #pennyshout, check out our Love Notes on Tumblr where we showcase the sweetest messages printed in the PennySaver.

And don’t leave out your favorite grad! #Pennyshouts are now being accepted for graduates too. Just tweet @pennysaverusa with your message, #pennyshout, and the zip code of graduate to say a huge congratulations in our print PennySaver. Then remember to tell your graduate to read the Pennysaver on the following Wednesday to see your congratulatory message.

Other ways you can submit your #pennyshout, if you’re not a Twitter user:

Celebrate Your Favorite Grad with a #Pennyshout that Inspires

1. Call 1 (800) 995-3333 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1 (800) 995-3333 end_of_the_skype_highlighting and a PennySaver representative will help you
2. Mail your message to Attn: Dads & Grads Greeting/Private Party, P.O. Box 1689, Vista, CA 92085

This free Dads & Grads promotion is only available for California residents. But we would like to thank all the wonderful fathers out there for being supportive and loving as well as all the graduates for a job well-done!

Happy Memorial Day PennySaverUSA.com friends. We hope you are spending your day with loved ones and enjoying a sunny day off.

Before we proceed, we would like to take a moment to honor our armed forces this Memorial Day and the amazing sacrifices they have given to make our country safe and prosperous. Thank you to everyone who is serving, has served, or has lost a family member. What you have given is a gift we can never repay.

Now, onto the Save Money Monday discounts. We’ve rounded up the best Memorial Day sales from around the web to make your day off even more spectacular. Let’s get this party started.

Home Improvement Coupons

With the extra long weekend, many of you will be picking up a paint can and brush to knock off your home improvement honey-do list.

• Before you get started, head to Lowe’s for exclusive Memorial Day home improvement coupons on almost everything in store, like $20 off select paint and 10% off major appliances (Thanks Coupon Teacher for the tip).
• You’ll also want to stock up garden supplies because Garden.com is offering $10 off orders of $100 or more and $20 off orders of $150 or more.

Clothing Store Coupons

DIY not your thing? Don’t worry, while the rest of us are digging in the dirt, you can spend your day shopping with clothing store coupons in the cool, AC breeze.

• Justice Girls wants you to save up to 70% off on their fashion-forward clothing.
• Old Navy is breaking out one awesome online sale on 5/28 Memorial Day only. Just visit Old Navy’s online store and save 15% off your order (20% if you use your Old Navy, Gap or Banana Republic card) when you use the coupon code ONPLUSUP.

Grocery Store Coupons

Now that your home’s in tip-top shape and your wardrobe’s up to date, it’s time to prep for your Memorial Day Party with some great grocery store coupons.

• Albertsons is offering chicken as low as $1.29/1b, fresh Atlantic 5 oz salmon for $2.99 each, and russet potatoes for only $.49 a pound. We bet you’re firing up the grill already. (Thanks Queen Bee Coupons for the tips)

Last but not least, our favorite daily-deal site SaverTime.com will knock $5 off any daily deal you like. You just have to sign up before 5/31 to claim this exclusive offer.

We hope you’ll have as much fun attending these Memorial Day sales as we had finding them. See you back in the office on Tuesday!

Food, grooming, housing, toys, doctor’s visits… all of those little expenses add up. So be sure you know where to go to find deals on pet care!

Buy food in bulk

If you shop for your pets at your grocery store… stop! Where you buy human stuff isn’t the best place to buy all the items you need for the four-legged members of your family. Your choices are limited and you end up paying for the convenience of buying everything in one trip. Even when products go on sale, it’s probably towards the end of their shelf life. Pet supply stores offer quite a variety of products so you can compare prices and ingredients. Pet specialty stores tend to get frequent shipments and because they sell in bulk, prices are often cheaper! Rule of thumb: Purchase dry food that’s manufactured within the last 6 months and buy 3 months of food at a time. You can save the hassle of always having to restock while making sure the food you’re serving isn’t stale!

Set aside pre-seasoned portions to give as treats

This doesn’t mean start feeding Fido your table scraps! Whenever you are preparing a big meal, you can always save a pre-cooked portion for Fido. When you roast a whole chicken, you can bake the giblets plain in the oven for a nice little treat. Or if you’re cutting up some steak, before you season, set some aside for Fido!

Low-cost Vaccination Clinics

Annual vaccinations are required for pet services including boarding, grooming, licensing, and just plain playing in the park. When your pets are due for vaccination, be sure to check with your local animal shelter or animal hospital for low-cost vaccination clinics so you can save on the office visit fee that you would have to pay if you were going to your regular vet. You could also use veterinary service coupons to help save a couple of bucks on your annual vaccinations.

Pet Coupons

Visit your pet food manufacturer’s website for exclusive offers and free samples of new products! We’re always featuring great deals and freebies we find on our blog for both cat owners and dog owners!