Friday Five: Ways I Save Money

I feel like I am finding new ways to save money left and right. Here are the most recent ones that have made a difference in my pocket book:

1. Target REDcard Debit Card. Most every store offers a credit card, but few offer debit cards. Target does, and I wish I had known about it much sooner! It links directly to your bank account, and takes the money out in the exact way that your regular debit card would. The difference is, every time you use your REDcard, you get 5% taken right off your purchase automatically! And, as if that wasn't good enough, get this: Free shipping, no minimum, off target.com. I was able to order Rosie's winter jacket as soon as it went on sale without driving 30 minutes each way. Love it.

2. Cumberland Farms SmartPay Card. Yet another debit card that does the same thing as my regular debit card, except that when I use it, I get 10 cents off a gallon. I paid $3.19/ gallon for gas yesterday. Amazing.

3. Downgraded our cable package. Late this summer, I noticed our DirecTV bill had gone up about $6. As we hadn't taken a look at the different packages they offered since we moved in three years ago, I gave them a ring. I asked about the package that was one step below the one we currently had, and found out that we were only losing one channel that we would have liked, but were okay to go without. The sales associate was very respectful and didn't try to talk me out of it, which I appreciated. Now our bill is the same as it was before the price hike, but at least it's not any higher.

4. After- holiday sales. There was a time when I'd see the Halloween display a week after the event, and just look away, because I had enough. They had that stuff up since August and I was sick of looking at it! How things have changed. Now I see that huge pile of Halloween stuff and make a beeline for it. It's everything they were selling at regular price, except now it's 50-75% off! I think ahead to next year's party and what we'll need. This week I bought $9.50 worth of Halloween items for $3.74. To say I'm psyched is an understatement.

5. Coupons & Coupon Codes sent to my email. It's hardly ground breaking, as I'm sure most people get promotional emails sent to them, but these coupon codes have helped me save a bit. As I don't like weeding through personal email and promotional emails, I made a separate account for each- I have an email I use solely for all those times any store asks for my email. It keeps my personal email from getting cluttered. I unsubscribe from the stores I barely shop at, but keep my eye out for emails from my favorites, and often get some great deals because of it.

What's your money saving secret that I should know about? Do tell!