Head over to Passion For Savings to learn how to make your own sponge ball toss! I think this is SUCH a cool frugal tip for the summer season! You could buy your sponges at the dollar store. I love frugal tips that also provide hours of cheap entertainment.
Do you have a Frugal Tip you’d like to share? Please send me an email!
With the growing number of mobile users now owning smartphones, new apps are popping up constantly that offer ways to save or earn money.
Below is a list of ten of my very favorite smartphone apps that can help you to both save and earn money!
1. Jingit - Watch short ads and scan products in store to earn cash! Read the tutorial.
2. Groupon - I’m sure you know about Groupon by now, but did you know they have an app? Most Groupon vouchers can be redeemed by showing the cashier the voucher on the mobile app! No more wasting ink and paper by printing the vouchers – or forgetting the vouchers at home (been there, done that)!
3. Ibotta - This app rewards you with cash back on your grocery store purchases! Read the tutorial.
4. Wrapp - Give and get free gift cards with this social gifting app! Read the tutorial.
5. Shopkick - Earn points for shopping at your favorite stores. You can redeem your points for prizes like a Starbucks or Target gift card.
6. Viggle - Earn points for watching your favorite TV shows! You can then redeem your points for prizes like gift cards to CVS or Sephora.
7. Plink - Earn rewards just for shopping at your favorite stores and restaurants! Read the tutorial.
8. Amazon - This may seem like a strange app for saving money, but I actually use it quite often! If I’m shopping somewhere and considering a purchase, I will usually check Amazon first to see how it compares in price!
9. Grocery Store Apps - Check to see if your local grocery store has an app! I love the Tom Thumb app because I can load ecoupons onto my card while I’m shopping in the store!
10. Couponing 101 - This isn’t exactly an app, but I do love having direct access to the website when I’m out and about.
To get the little icon on your phone, just use your phone’s browser to navigate to Couponing101.com. At the bottom of the browser, click on the little square with an arrow in it. Several choices will pop up, and you’ll want to click ” add to home screen.” After you do this, you’ll find the icon on your phone, just like an app!
What are some of your favorite money-saving (or earning) apps?
Here’s a cool idea! Head on over to The Thrifty Couple to learn how to grow your own pineapples from leftover pineapple tops. You can do this indoors or outdoors!
It does take a couple years for the plant to produce a pineapple, but it sounds like a fun experiment!
I’m anxious to try this one out. Have you ever tried this?
Do you have a Frugal Tip you’d like to share? Please send me an email!
Recently my friend, Amanda, taught me how to tie a scarf and wear it as a vest. A VEST, people! Is that not totally brilliant?!
Amanda has a super cute style blog too, so be sure to check it out for more frugal fashion inspiration!
To tie the scarf, hold it out long-ways, holding the top corners. Fold the scarf in half and tie the top two corners together. While still holding it long-ways (now folded, with the knot at the top), grab the scarf in the middle at the top (where the crease is), bring it toward the knot you’ve made and tie it in.
You now have two arm holes on either side of the knot! Slip it on like a vest, and voila! So cute!
This is such a fun way to wear your scarves in the summer! It’s like getting a wardrobe update for FREE!
Photo bombed by my dog, Max!
Batik Dot Scarf via Stitch Fix
Check out this super fun and frugal kid’s craft for spring time!
Head over to Free Homeschool Deals to learn how to make a paper bag kite!
Do you have a Frugal Tip you’d like to share? Please send me an email!
Reader Stephanie sent in the following frugal tip:
“We have hard water where we live so I use a vinegar and water mixture in a spray bottle after every shower, and also just whenever I think to use it. I spray down the entire shower and curtain with the spray and let it sit. It eats away the hard water and soap scum build up with out any scrubbing at all. With my busy schedule, the less time I have to spend cleaning, the better.”
I love it! Vinegar is about the cheapest cleaning product you can use, and you avoid all those harsh chemicals in regular cleaners. Plus, this saves time and sanity. 
Other uses for vinegar:
Thanks, Stephanie!
Do you have a Frugal Tip you’d like to share? Please send me an email!
Need a little help getting your finances back on track and sticking to your budget?
Sign up for LearnVest, a FREE program that will give you daily financial advice, frugal living tips, monthly to-do lists, cheap recipes, and much more.
Right now, they are also offering a cool Create A Budget tool that helps you figure out a budget you can actually stick with. LearnVest makes it easy to get your financial life in control and organized for FREE.
Here’s an awesome natural cleaner recipe for you! Head over to The Nerdy Farm Wife to learn how to make homemade herbal scouring powder.
This scouring powder can be used for showers, sinks, tubs, and more!
I think these would make really nice gifts!
Do you have a Frugal Tip you’d like to share? Please send me an email!
Head over to Olga’s Flavor Factory for a great homemade English muffin recipe. She makes these stovetop on her griddle, and uses old pineapple cans for the muffin rings. Genius!
These look delicious! And the best part? They only take about an hour to make – prepping and rising time included!
Do you have a Frugal Tip you’d like to share? Please send me an email!
If you’re looking to go the DIY route on dying your Easter Eggs this year, here’s a great idea! Head over to Organic Deals to learn how to dye Easter eggs naturally!
This won’t be cheaper than buying the $2 egg dying kits, but it is definitely the frugal route to take if you want to use natural dyes. Natural dye kits cost $15 or much more. With this method, you probably already have many of the required ingredients on hand!
And you can eat your dyed eggs afterwards without any worry of ingesting harmful chemicals.
Do you have a Frugal Tip you’d like to share? Please send me an email!
Hi! I'm Stephanie! I'm a child of God, wife to Nathan, homeschool mom to two young children - ages 9 and 7, and founder of Couponing101.com. I have a passion for teaching others how to save money - no matter your income, diet, schedule, or experience! I like to make couponing simple AND fun, so you won't find your typical "school atmosphere" here! Couponing 101 is a practical education that you can apply to many areas of your life. Watch those $0.50 coupons turn into thousands in savings each year....READ MORE.