For those of you that know me, you probably know that I am not one to spend money unless it is a necessary expense or it adds value in a way that makes life less stressful and more enjoyable. This usually means frugal living, shopping for deals, and delaying gratification…which can be brutal at times. But November is a great time splurge a little and feel good about it because there are so many great deals out there this month! Here are four ways to spend that are well worth your time (and money):
1) Shop Sales. This one is pretty obvious and straightforward, but November is THE month for sales. Not only do we have multiple holidays this month, but multiple sales offered by retailers including: Veterans Day, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday. As an added bonus, many retailers are starting their Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales up to a week early to entice online shopping and many are offering FREE shipping on purchases! This year, if you are planning to shop online, consider combining retailer deals with app rebates. One of my favorite apps is Rakuten and they are offering great deals at some of your favorite stores (up to 6% cashback at Macy’s and Walmart) and they even give cashback on gift card purchases, so if you have gift cards on your list of Christmas items to buy, check out Rakuten before you buy them in-store (up to 4% on Bath and Body Works gift cards and 8% on Adidas)! Use my Rakuten referral link and if you spend $40, you get $40 in rebates!* *Qualified Referrals are during the period beginning on November 6, 2020 and ending on December 25, 2020 (“Offer Period”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Referral Program Terms, this offer is valid only if the referral signs up and completes their qualifying purchase within 90 days. You and your referral must be located in the U.S. or Canada to qualify.
2) Thanksgiving Deals. Many of you are already savvy couponing experts, but did you know you can combine your coupon savings with app rebates? There are a TON of great apps out there and Ibotta is one of my favorites. Right now they are offering up to 100% cash back on items for your family’s Thanksgiving dinner at Walmart Pickup & Deliver. For additional savings, use my referral code: CRLMALR and receive a $20 credit!
3) DNA/Ancestry Kits. This one might seem random and strange, but if you’ve been waiting ALL year to buy one like I have, now is the time! Whether you’ve been thinking about buying one for yourself or you are looking for a creative gift idea, you will find the best deals in November. Both 23andme and Ancestry.com are offering discounts (these deals only happen once a year!) 23andme.com is offering a 20% discount on their basic kit and a 50% discount on their health kit through 11/26. Ancestry.com is also offering some great discounts, so check them out!
4) No-spend November. Ok, so this isn’t a deal per se, but this is a great time to try a “no-spend” month (also known as a “spending freeze”). Whether you are trying to save up some money for Christmas gifts or you want to try to cut back on spending to better prepare for the unknowns of 2021, this is a tried and true method that works. If a full month of no spending seems daunting, try a two week test run and see how it works for you. If you want more information about how to do a no-spend challenge, let me know and I will devote a future blog post of youtube video to this topic!