Don’t you just love it when Facebook suddenly makes another change?  {Note sarcasm.  Ahem.}

Well, they’ve made some recent changes that may be affecting your ability to stay up to date on the latest deals and freebies that I post on Facebook.  Since so many of the deals that I share are time-sensitive, I don’t want you to miss out!

Here are a few tips:

• First of all, and most importantly, make sure you have ‘liked’ Cha-Ching on a Shoestring on Facebook.
• Click on ‘News Feed’ in the left-hand column

• Press the gray ‘Sort’  textbox
• Click ‘Recent Stories First’

This will help to ensure that the stories that pop up in your news feed are the most recent ones posted.  That way you won’t miss all those time-sensitive deals that I share!

Another thing to note: You are more likely to receive my updates in your news feed if you ‘like’, share, or comment on my Facebook posts.  Facebook likes to hide updates if you haven’t interacted with that page recently in some way.

I hope this helps.  Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions!

I am very excited to share an additional resource to help with making the most of my Project Summer Guide to Everything Free and Fun.

My friend Sharon at Good True and Beautiful helped me put together a downloadable Summer Fun Planner, complete with a calendar and helpful resources to keep track of your Summer Fun List and Reading Programs!

Here’s how to make it work:

• Print out the downloadable planner here.
• Then grab a pencil and head over to my Project Summer Guide.
• Use the list of free activities and reading programs to begin making your Project Summer Fun To Do List!

I’m hoping this will be a helpful resource to beat the summer boredom blues.  I can’t wait to work on our list with my boys!

This is a post that I wrote last year, but wanted to share again for any new couponers.  Several readers have shared with me lately that they want to start couponing, but just don’t know where to begin.

It’s ok to feel overwhelmed when you first start.  I think everyone does.  But don’t let that stop you!  We are here to help! Here are a few tips to help you get past those first weeks.

Reader Jennifer e-mailed with this great question:

“Thanks for taking the time to put together this web-site. My problem is I don’t know where to start. I see all these great deal but yet I still find myself at the grocery store with NO COUPONS. I just need a jump start on how to get organized. Do you have any advice for me?”

I do have some tips for you, Jennifer (and for the rest of my readers who feel the same way)!  I was there not very long ago.

There are a few things that feel overwhelming when you first begin couponing:

• You haven’t had a chance to collect coupons yet. You may feel like you really can’t be a couponer until your coupon collection is completely organized and rivals the Library of Congress.  Not true.  Many of the deals that I post use printable coupons.  You’ll also discover that your collection grows quickly if you begin buying your Sunday paper each week.  (For tips on how to organize your coupons and other helpful hints, check out my Coupons 101 section.)

• You feel like you need to tackle every deal. Please don’t.  I post a lot of deals but each week I only try to visit one or two stores.  I recommend choosing one store to figure out first.  (If I don’t post the deals at that store, I can probably lead you to someone who does.)  Then choose a few of the deals that they post, clip or print the coupons, head to the store with a list and give it a try. (Once you score your first FREE after coupon item, I promise you’ll be hooked!)

• You are unsure when a good time is to use your coupon. Want to know when is a bad time to use your coupon?  Right away.  You may feel like it will get swallowed up in your coupon binder never to be seen again.  Have no fear. If you clip that coupon out and tuck it away in its rightful place, the time will come for it to re-appear in all its glory, I promise.  Reckless coupon usage can actually lead to spending more money out of pocket if you buy items that you usually wouldn’t buy. The best plan is to wait until that item is on sale and then plop that little honey of a coupon down.  (This is why following money-saving blogs is a great idea…we’ll do our best to remind you when you should dig out that coupon and USE it!)

• You are afraid that the big mean lady behind the cash register will send you to coupon time-out if you do something wrong. Now, I can’t promise anything, but I have yet to be sent to coupon time-out.  Have I been told I can’t use a certain coupon?  Yes.  In most cases, I have just taken the coupon back and that was that.  From time to time, if I know that I should be able to use a certain coupon, I ask to speak to a store manager.  But the reality is that probably 95% of my coupon experiences have been good (and I’ve used a lot of coupons!).  Don’t fear coupon time out. Simply put those coupons down and see how it goes!  That’s the best way to learn.

Here are my top three tips to get you started:

1. Buy a coupon binder.  You can use one like the one I started with here, or whatever suits your fancy.  Just make sure you have one!
2. Begin collecting coupons.  Buy the Sunday paper (or two!).  Print coupons that you think you will use.  (You can find the ones that I’ve shared about recently here.)  Sign up for coupons to be sent in the mail.  Before you know it, you’ll have a great collection!
3. Choose one store and begin to follow the deals that I post.  Then give it a try.  You’ll realize that the world is more coupon friendly than you ever thought!  (You can check out my Coupons 101 post to learn more about my coupon lingo and ‘rules’.)

Do you have any other helpful tips for Jennifer?  Leave a comment!