First Impression~National Consumer Panel Scanner

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NCP Scanner

So, I was finally able to use the scanner that I recieved from the National Consumer Panel (NCP). It was easy to set up if you know how to work a computer, and the booklet is very detailed which benefits those who will need more help with setup.

Scanning my grocery items was easy and the questions on the screen were also easy to answer. I only had a small grocery order today, but figured it would be best to start out small. I do feel this could turn into a monotonous task if you have large shopping orders on a regular basis. But again, it is very simple to follow and all the information is included. If at any time I choose to leave the program, the box included a return shipping label and the postage is already paid.

I took a look at NCP's prizes (which can only be accessed by members) and they do offer some nice items such as electronics, camping gear, cookware, etc. But the really nice items have an extremely high point value, which would take years to attain. Although, you can earn extra points by completing surveys they invite you to.

I'm not sure if this is something I am willing to do every week for years to come. I am willing try it out for a few months and will update you all as time goes on if I feel I have found any more pro and/or cons to this program, but so far so good.

For those interested in looking at NCP further you can visit the website at www.ncponline.com

*Please note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own and all equipment was sent to me as a result of an application I completed to particpate in the NCP program.



Tip Tuesday: Make a List

Going to make this Tip Tuesday a really easy one. Make a list before you go shopping. Sounds simple enough right? Can you imagine how much money you would save each week if you stuck to a shopping list? Of course this doesn't help if you stray from your list while shopping, but if you can stick to it you will not end up buying unnecessary items.

Also, do your research before going to the store. Gather your coupons and sale ads and head to the store with the best deals and that offers price matching. Walmart is good for price matching, even without a sale ad with you. If you make a list of items that are cheaper at other stores, it will save you a lot of time in line and both the cashier and others in line will be thankful.

Oh, and don't forget to eat before you go shopping. Grocery shopping on an empty stomach is setting yourself up for buying more than you would if you go right after a meal.

That's all for this week's Tip Tuesday. I hope it was helpful to all of you. Be sure to check back often or sign up to have my posts emailed if you want to stay caught up on my weekly Tip Tuesday and many other posts to come! Have a great night everyone! :)

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Get your FREE Target Summer Beauty bag by clicking this link. Be patient and keep hitting refresh. http://tgt.bz/6018rwTg

It took me a good 10 minutes to get mine to go through, but they are offering some great beauty samples inside. Good luck everyone because they are going fast!

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Hope everyone is having a great day!

Project For Your Kiddos

I love doing projects with my children at home. Especially when it is both fun and educational. Pictured above are organic apple trees grown from an organic Gala apple that was purchased from a local grocery store. We germinated the seeds in a moist paper towel for almost 2 months in the refrigerator. Now that they were more than ready to plant, we purchased organic soil and some recyclable cups to put them in.

This is a fun project to do with your children. It's educational as well because it opens up so much to conversation. You can teach them to care for nature as well as the difference between contaminated foods and organic foods. And the great part is...they get to watch them grow!

What you will need:

1-2 Organic Apples

1 Paper Towel

1 Plastic Sandwich Bag

Also, some organic soil and recyclable cups when it's time to plant.

Directions:

1. Eat the apples of course! lol
2. Pick out the seeds and place them in a bowl to dry.
3. Once dry, place the seeds inside of a paper towel.
4. Fold the paper towel around the seeds and moisten with water. (We used purified water in attempt to keep it as healthy as possible.)
5. Place inside of the plastic sandwich bag.
6. Put inside of refrigerator.

Be sure to check on them every week or so to make sure the paper towel stays moist. After a while the towel may turn a little brown. When that happened to ours we changed out the paper towel for a new one and placed it back into the bag. Not all seeds are guaranteed to grow, but more of ours made it than didn't.

These also make a wonderful gift for friends, family, and even teachers when they are ready. You could get pots from the dollar store and personalize them with decorations. And a cute touch that my children will be adding is a picture of the apple that the seeds came from glued to a popsicle stick. They are going to stick it in the soil of the pot and on the back will be care instructions and maybe a cute little nature poem.

So, what projects do you like to do with your family? Leave a comment below. It's a great way to share ideas with others and get ideas for your own use. Be sure to check back often because I plan on doing more DIY projects in the near future. 

Tip Tuesday: Get Familiar With Your Facebook 'Likes'

We all do it. We 'Like' a page on Facebook because we use that brand of makeup or wash clothes with that brand of detergent, but do we really look at their posts like we should? There are so many offers out there that can be utilized through Facebook.

For example, I 'Liked' the page for Physician's Formula because I love, Love, LoVe their mascara. The company is so generous that they have a Promotions tab for those who have liked their page. They call them "Win It Wednesday" and "Freebie Friday" where you can enter weekly for a chance to win products.

But here's the thing; they aren't the only ones that offer special deals and contests. Check out some of your favorite brands and see what promotions they may offer. Some will even give you an exclusive coupon for clicking that 'Like' button. So have a look-see, you might be pleasantly surprised at what offers are out there.

Here is the link for Physician's Formula Facebook page if you want to check it out: http://www.facebook.com/#!/PhysiciansFormula

*Please note: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are my own regarding the above company and any information given was for example purposes only.*

Tip Tuesday: The Benefits of Organic

Did you know that you get more nutrients from organic produce than regular mass-produced produce? The pesticides used on produce kill off a lot of the nutrients that we depend on from our fruits and vegetables. Also, the pesticides cannot just be washed off. It has worked it's way inside of the produce and is in turn being ingested into your body. With organic produce, you can be assured that you will receive all the nutrition it offers and even find that the taste is significantly better.

I was in the check-out lane at the grocery store earlier today and the cashier made a comment about all the organic produce I had. I told her it was more beneficial to get organic for my family. With a disgusted look on her face, she commented that she couldn't possibly afford to eat like that and basically said I was wasting my money. I'm not one to join in on negativity so I kindly informed her that buying this type of food for my family actually saves me money each month because it has all the vital nutrients and no empty calories like expensive processed food does. On top of that, we don't feel the need to eat as much because the real food I buy satisfies our hunger and we aren't hungry an hour later like if we were to eat junk food. I could see that she was trying to process my words as I paid for my order and told her to have a good day.

That's what got me thinking, How many others out there think this way? Could that be what is holding them back from buying healthy foods? So this is my Tip Tuesday:

• Organic produce is more beneficial than regular produce.
• Eating healthy costs less because you eat less.
• Most important tip: Don't let others deter you from buying healthy, nutritious food for yourself and your family.

So tell me....Do you live by organic? Have you thought about it, but have been told it is too expensive? And if you made a change to organic, have you noticed a positive difference? I would love to hear from you so feel free to leave your comments and/or questions below.

Tip Tuesday: Department Store Credit Cards

Let's face it...everyone loves a good deal and the department stores know it. They entice you with special offers, percentage off sales and freebies if you use their store credit card. Stop right there! If you want all the perks without paying the interest fees, late fees or just can't control your spending these are tips that will definitely help you. Here are some ways to keep that balance down:

1. Use the store credit card to participate in a sale you want that is only eligible with the use of the card, but bring that amount in cash with you. You pay for your purchase with the card and get your sale, then use the cash you brought to pay that amount onto your store credit card.
2. Lower your balance limit by calling the customer service number located on your statements. A lot of times you are given an extremely large credit limit for a department store. No one needs $1,000 in credit for a clothing store. You can call and have it lowered to a reasonable amount that will keep your spending in check. You can even ask for $500 or even a $100 limit at some places. If they give you a hard time, you can explain that they can lower it or you can close it. Most companies will be happy to accomodate your request.
3. Remember, too many department store cards are a blemish on your credit report so be sure to only get them at places you can truly benefit from. This also applies to your major credit card companies. Less is more when your are building and/or maintaining your credit credibility. (;

I hope you found this week's Tip Tuesday helpful. Be on the lookout of some wonderful additions to come and be sure to 'like' my Facebook page for tips, deals and much more at the following link:

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