We all want to be smart shoppers. From watching the sale ads to clipping coupons, there are plenty of ways for us to get the items we need and save a few bucks in the process. I definitely watch for sales, and I've done a little coupon clipping. But, I always end up feeling like I put in more effort than what I save. PLUS, I always end up leaving the store with more than I went in for. Since joining Melaleuca, I have become a better shopper without even trying! And, I would like to share the 2 biggest reasons:
1. Obviously, I am going to Walmart and Target less than before (for Walmart, it has been non-existent so far, minus one time that Michael went in a rush for *GASP!* produce. He has since learned to not make that mistake again!). This has saved me from impulse shopping.
2. I am adding items to my Melaleuca basket as I go, the month before my order.
Let me explain... I make my orders based on what I need. As I go through each month, I start adding items to my basket that I anticipate I will be needing soon. I also add items that I would like to start trying or switch to from what I currently use. For example, I noticed today that I will be needing antiperspirant next month, so I logged in and added it to my basket. In about 2 months, I will need to decide if I want to try Melaleuca's Sei Bella line of skincare, or stick with what I have been using for over a year now. I added it to my basket knowing that I might not need it next month, but to keep it in the forefront of my mind. When it comes time to place my order next month, I will add anything else I need at that time and review. I may decide that I don't need items that I thought I did, or I may not have run out of whatever I thought. Either way, I can use that opportunity to really evaluate what my household needs and adjust my order accordingly. When I shop at Walmart or Target, if the item makes it into the basket, there is a 99% chance it won't get removed prior to checkout. Since I am usually trying to get in and out as quickly as possible, I never really took the time to evaluate what I was buying - was the the best quality, biggest bang for my buck, did I REALLY need it?
By shopping this way, I have not only saved money, but I have freed up some to purchase better perishable items for my family. I have been making Ethan's food, and it is very important to me to buy local & organic whenever possible. This has allowed me to be able to afford to do that, and put the best possible food on the table for my family.
I am currently working on my next money saving post from my April order, so stay tuned!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Thursday, April 19, 2012
REVIEW: ProFlex20™ Shake – Classic Vanilla
| GNC Pro Performance® AMP Amplified 100% Whey Protein-Vanilla | Melaleuca ProFlex20™ Shake – Classic Vanilla | GNC Pro Performance® AMP Amplified 100% Whey Protein-Vanilla | |
| PRICE | ~ $40 (Amazon) | $16.99 (Melaleuca) | ~ $40 (Amazon) |
| PRICE per gram* | $0.030/gram | $0.037/gram | $0.030/gram |
| Serving Size | 3 scoops (79g) | 2 scoops (31g) | 2 scoops (52.67g) |
| Servings per container | 17 | 15 | 25.5 |
| Calories | 280 | 150 | 186.67 |
| Calories from Fat | 10 | 40 | 6.67 |
| Total Fat | 1g | 4.5g | <1g |
| Sat. Fat | 0.5g | 1g | <0.5g |
| Trans Fat | n/a | 0g | n/a |
| Cholesterol | 20mg | 10mg | 13.33mg |
| Total Carbs | 7g | 11g | 4.67g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1g | 5g | <1g |
| Sugars | 2g | 2g | 1.33g |
| Protein | 60g | 20g | 40g |
| Sodium | 350mg | 75mg | 233.33mg |
| * More accurate price breakdown since the serving sizes are not exactly the same. | |||
The first row is from the Wheybolic label, while the 3rd row shows how I use the Wheybolic protein - 2 scoops instead of 3. At first glance, it appears that the Wheybolic is the better choice - more protein, less fat per serving, etc. However, the sodium is significantly higher. I also know that Melaleuca uses better ingredients that are closer to nature. I also have to think about how much protein do I really need. It is better to get your protein from natural sources - meats, beans, etc. But, if I need to utilize a different source (like a protein powder), how much do I really need? To answer this question, I had to do a little more research. After reviewing several medical and bodybuilding websites, I came to the conclusion that anything under 30g at one sitting is absorbed at the highest efficiency. Anything over, and you're going to be looking at some waste. You also need to take into account how much protein you have had over the day, or plan to have. In general, you should ingest 1g of protein for every pound you weigh. If you are eating a high protein diet, then you may not need a protein powder with a higher protein count. Basically, it depends on the individual and their needs.
CONCLUSION:
In general, I personally need a powder with more protein because I am not good at making sure I get enough every day. But, before I could even get that far, I wrote off the ProFlex based on taste alone. Using the ProFlex protein would save me a little money, and I feel like the ingredients are of a higher quality, but I just don't like the taste. For this race, the Wheybolic wins. Sorry, Melaleuca - ya just can't win 'em all!
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Edit to "Shake your money maker!"
As always, I want to be completely honest. So, I will need to make an edit to the previous post regarding my commissions with Melaleuca. I received my first check from them today, and...
I made $8.45 more than I anticipated. Not much, but hey! It's more!
~~~~~~~~~~~
I also want to take a moment to address an easy assumption that people have made when they hear that I am promoting a wellness company. I am not participating in a multilevel marketing company (like Mary Kay, Amway, etc.). I did not have to purchase a crapton of products and try to sell them to everyone I know. All I do is tell people about the awesome new online store I have discovered, and set up an account for them if they are interested. Each account holder is responsible for their personal order only.
If you're like me - fall in love with the products and want to tell everyone that there is a place where you can get Whole Foods quality products at Walmart prices - then, I can help you tell all of your friends and make some referral money. It's a win-win!
 |
| I cannot, for the life of me, get this thing to upload correctly. Sorry! |
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I also want to take a moment to address an easy assumption that people have made when they hear that I am promoting a wellness company. I am not participating in a multilevel marketing company (like Mary Kay, Amway, etc.). I did not have to purchase a crapton of products and try to sell them to everyone I know. All I do is tell people about the awesome new online store I have discovered, and set up an account for them if they are interested. Each account holder is responsible for their personal order only.
If you're like me - fall in love with the products and want to tell everyone that there is a place where you can get Whole Foods quality products at Walmart prices - then, I can help you tell all of your friends and make some referral money. It's a win-win!
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Shake your money maker!
If you're like me, you want the whole picture. When it comes to Melaleuca, I will be anything but shy. It's a great company with wonderful products, and they do not mind rewarding their customers. My first goal with the company, is to make enough money to break even on my purchases. Basically, I want to get my products for free from telling others about how I'm "sticking it" to Walmart.
In March, I was less than $20 shy of doing just that. I made $82 in my second month of telling others about Melaleuca. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?! And, that was just two people saying, "You know, I'd be interested to see if these products work for me and my family." And, really, it was my first real month with Melaleuca since I signed up in the middle of February.
I'm excited to see what April brings!
In March, I was less than $20 shy of doing just that. I made $82 in my second month of telling others about Melaleuca. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?! And, that was just two people saying, "You know, I'd be interested to see if these products work for me and my family." And, really, it was my first real month with Melaleuca since I signed up in the middle of February.
I'm excited to see what April brings!
Monday, April 2, 2012
Month 2 - Price Comparison
I think it is important to cover each month, especially in the beginning. I want to give honest reviews, and show where I am saving money. Beyond the Value Pack in the first month, I am only purchasing items we need at the time.
I've set up the following table to show what I bought, what it is replacing and the price of both. You will notice that I have three price lists - one for Preferred Customer (PC) pricing, one for what we actually paid after the freebies and additional discounts, and what we would have spent at Wal-Mart or a comprable store. Remember, I only bought items we needed this month, as I plan to do each month:
You may find that if you did the same comparison for yourself that it may be different. This would depend on where you shop, your preferred brands, etc. I encourage everyone who might be interested to make their own comparisons.
Please contact me at Kristen.Hathcox@gmail.com if you are interested in making your home a toxin and chemical free environment, and/or want to see how much you could save each month by switching stores!
I've set up the following table to show what I bought, what it is replacing and the price of both. You will notice that I have three price lists - one for Preferred Customer (PC) pricing, one for what we actually paid after the freebies and additional discounts, and what we would have spent at Wal-Mart or a comprable store. Remember, I only bought items we needed this month, as I plan to do each month:
| MELALEUCA PRODUCT | PC PRICE | WHAT WE PAID | PRICE | WHAT WE WOULD'VE BOUGHT |
| CounterAct PM - 50 ct | $4.09 | $0.00 | $8.84 | Tylenol PM - 24 ct (x2 to equal amount) |
| CounterAct Pain - 50 ct | $4.09 | $4.09 | $7.36 | Tylenol - 24 ct (x2 to equal amount) |
| CounterAct IB - 50 ct | $4.09 | $4.09 | $5.94 | Ibuprofen - 24 ct (x2 to equal amount) |
| Attain Shake - Strawberry | $14.99 | $14.99 | $35.00 | Lean 1 - Strawberry |
| ProFlex20 Shake - Vanilla | $16.99 | $16.99 | $25.99 | Amplified Wheybolic 60 - Vanilla |
| Access Bar - Choc Caramel | $14.99 | $0.00 | $20.90 | Power Crunch - Vanilla |
| Access Bar - Choc Coconut | $14.99 | $14.99 | $20.90 | Power Crunch - Vanilla |
| Renew Travel Sized lotion | $1.79 | $1.79 | $5.00 | B&BW Aromatherapy Travel Sized - Jasmine Vanilla |
| MelaSoft Dryer Sheets | $5.69 | $5.69 | $6.84 | Bounce Dryer Sheets |
| Spring Cleaning Special | $17.07 | |||
| Clear Power Glass Cleaner* | $5.69 | n/a | $9.96 | Windex (2 refills to equal same amount) |
| Tough & Tender All-Purpose Cleaner* | $5.69 | n/a | $5.94 | 409 All-Purpose Cleaner (x3 to equal same amount) |
| No Work Daily Shower Cleaner* | $5.69 | n/a | $9.27 | Scrubbing Bubbles Daily Shower Cleaner (x3 to equal) |
| MelaMagic Heavy Duty Cleaner* | $5.69 | n/a | $8.86 | Armstrong Floor Cleaner (x2 to equal amount) |
| Sol-U-Guard Botanical 2x Disinfectant* | $9.99 | n/a | $9.86 | Lysol Disinfectant (x2 to equal amount) |
| Magic Cleaning Sponge* | n/a | <>n/a | <>n/a | would not normally buy |
| Tough & Tender mixing spray bottle | $1.49 | $1.49 | $0.00 | n/a |
| Clear Power mixing spray bottle | $1.49 | $1.49 | $0.00 | n/a |
| Subtotal | $117.44 | $82.68 | $180.66 | |
| Shipping & Handling | $11.06 | $11.06 | $0.00 | |
| Sales Tax | $9.98 | $7.08 | $16.26 | |
| TOTAL | $138.48 | $100.82 | $196.92 | |
| TOTAL SAVED THIS SHOPPING TRIP: $96.10 |
You may find that if you did the same comparison for yourself that it may be different. This would depend on where you shop, your preferred brands, etc. I encourage everyone who might be interested to make their own comparisons.
Please contact me at Kristen.Hathcox@gmail.com if you are interested in making your home a toxin and chemical free environment, and/or want to see how much you could save each month by switching stores!
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