Josh Elledge - Chief Executive Angel
Hi! I’m Josh Elledge, the Chief Executive Angel of SavingsAngel.com and welcome to the SavingsAngel show! I’m podcasting to you on a chilly fall day here in Orlando, Florida!
I am an extremely busy consumer expert, money-saving advocate, syndicated newspaper columnist, and that guy that helps consultants go from 6-figures to 7-figure rock stars at UpMyInfluence.com if you know someone who sells to business owners. I love what I do and can’t wait to get going on today’s episode.
In order to help you save more, earn more and live more abundantly on today’s show I’ll be covering:
- Navigating the Supply Chain Crisis During Holiday Shopping
- Earn Rewards While You Shop with Shopkick
- How to Save on Thanksgiving Dinner 2021
LINKS FROM THE PODCAST:
Check out the Shopkick app!
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Navigating the Supply Chain Crisis During Holiday Shopping
With distribution and supply chain issues hitting many cities and towns across America, shopping for the upcoming holiday season may be difficult. Here are some ways to navigate and strategically shop during this time.
Shop Early
Now is the time to do your holiday shopping. If you have specific gifts in mind and want to get them as cheaply as possible, it’s imperative to shop early this year. Start looking at retailers and stores now for gifts and make sure to use coupons, promos, and deals when you can. The earlier you shop, the less you’ll spend.
Shop Locally
Shop at local businesses and retailers to make buying gifts easier. Placing online orders to pick up at the store often makes for faster shipping and less likelihood that an item shipment might be canceled due to the current distribution issues. You can also check online inventories when you order this way and make sure what you want is actually in stock locally.
Don’t forget about shopping at local small businesses. Farmers' markets and even flea markets and antique stores can be some of the best places to find unique, locally-sourced gifts from small businesses in your area. Be open to trying new stores or mom-and-pop shops, too. Some of the best gifts are items that are handmade and one of a kind.
Don’t Overbuy Stock
Remember to be kind and conscientious toward other shoppers. Don’t overbuy stock of an item you know goes out of stock quickly; we’re all trying to find the best gifts for good deals this holiday season. Only buy what you need and leave some left for others. If we all practice buying this way, there will always be enough for everyone!
Consider Experiences
Don’t underestimate the value of gifting experiences. Look for movie theatre gift cards, gift certificates, event tickets, theme park vouchers, and other experience-based gifts. You almost certainly won’t have distribution issues with gifts like this, and you’ll give someone the gift of making happy memories.
Search for local experiences like this in your area and gift strategically to those you know would appreciate these types of gifts.
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Earn Rewards While You Shop with Shopkick
My goal is to always keep my audience updated on the newest ways to save money. I’m also always on the lookout for ways to help you earn rewards on money you already spend. Whether that’s cashback, loyalty rewards, whatever — I always encourage stretching your dollar for all it’s worth… Recently, I found an app that rewards you with gift cards just by doing your everyday shopping. Today, let’s talk about Shopkick.
Shopkick is one of the best ways to earn free gift cards through the shopping you already do. Shopkick uses currency, called “kicks”, as reward points. You earn kicks by performing simple in-store actions, such as buying or scanning items. You can even earn them by just walking inside the store. You can download the app and earn kicks for every dollar spent, too. Also, hook up your payment methods in the app to earn even more rewards while you’re shopping.
After you shop a few times, you can redeem your kicks for digital gift cards in the app. Shopkick rewards you with gift cards for some of your favorite restaurants and stores, like Amazon, Target, Starbucks, Groupon, and more. There are over 40 gift card options to choose from so you’ll always have variety in your rewards.
You can earn kicks in store and online — most Shopkickers earn one gift card weekly! My favorite way to earn kicks myself is to scan items at the stores I shop at. You just scan items as you go and collect kicks, it’s just like a fun scavenger hunt. Also — this feature is 100% purchase-free. You just scan the items, earn your kicks, and choose your gift card when you’ve accumulated enough kicks. I chose an Amazon gift card my first time around, and more recently, I snagged a Starbucks gift card! The savings I earned through the gift cards definitely made using the app worth it.
You can’t go wrong with earning gift cards and savings for free; I loved Shopkick and I highly recommend giving it a try. You really can’t go wrong since you earn all your kicks just by doing your regular shopping.
Download the Shopkick app today and use the code ANGEL to get your first $5 gift card for free! That’s right, I’m hooking you up again, friends. Once again, download the Shopkick app today and use the code ANGEL to get your first $5 gift card for free. That’s code ANGEL.
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How to Save on Thanksgiving Dinner 2021
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. This year, economists have said it will be more expensive than it's been in decades to throw our annual Thanksgiving feast due to supply chain issues and consumer behavior. Here are our tips on saving on ingredients this holiday season.
Make a List
Well in advance, you want to make a list of what you need to buy. Make sure to check your pantry and freezer for things you already have so you don't buy anything twice.
Find out from any family attending what others might be making. Once you're clear on what you need, put it all on a comprehensive list.
Shop Early
Shop for non-perishables now. Supply is less than demand right now, so buy absolutely everything you can now before prices start to creep up even more as we get closer to Thanksgiving.
Anything from the freezer section should also be purchased now and saved in advance. Don’t underestimate how great certain frozen items can be, so consider buying certain items from the freezer section to save even more.
Coupons and Promos
There are certain price points that are going up no matter what. Things like turkey and cranberry sauce are going up for sure, so get what you can while you can use relevant and helpful coupons and deals.
Remember to use store coupon apps while you're shopping at specific stores. Start looking now at weekly ads to see what you can save on this week at your favorite retailers. If you start buying now and shop strategically, you will save on Thanksgiving dinner costs. Most stores will offer loss-leaders on certain products. Don't feel compelled to buy all your supplies at one store. You'll get much better savings if you cherry-pick the best deals from each retailer.
Use Only One Protein
Turkey is typically the main event at most Thanksgiving dinners, but occasionally some people like to add chicken, ham, or even Cornish game hens to the mix. To save extra cash, just stick with one protein dish this year.
Turkey is already going to cost a bit of a premium price, compared to years past. With this in mind, try to save what you can on the turkey and don't spend extra on other meat dishes.
Save on Drinks
Be strategic when buying drinks for your dinner guests. Buy things wholesale and at a discount, or buy products designed for large quantities.
Individual bottles or cans of soda can add up. Perhaps a punch bowl might work just as well as a bottle of sparkling grape juice. Look for options like drink mixes and tea — things you can make yourself in large batches.
