At the beginning of the year, I entered a blogging contest and won a $100 Amazon gift card. I used part of it to buy a birthday gift and some tooth whitening trays (Because I had the gel and needed trays to go with it!), and put the remainder aside for the next time I needed something. Last month, I decided to purchase a bluetooth headset for $47.95 and a bottle of my favorite hairspray for $24.75. Between my gift card and a free trial of Amazon Prime that I received by signing up for “Amazon Mom” – more details on this program can be found here – I spent a whopping .50 cents for both items and received free 2-day shipping on the headset.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: $25 for hairspray? Has Super Coupon Girl lost her mind? You might be surprised to learn that I mostly use salon products on my hair. The reason for this is simply that they work 10 times better than anything else I’ve tried. Frugality isn’t just about getting the lowest price; It’s also about the value of what you’re buying. I used to constantly purchase new hair products at the grocery store, always searching for something that would work the way I wanted it to – so honestly, I don’t know if I really spend that much more now buying salon-grade products. One can of this hairspray lasts me about 6 months, and I buy it on Amazon with gift cards when possible in order to save. And it’s all relative: If I were destitute, I wouldn’t be blowing my money on hair products. But since I do have some wiggle room in my budget, I can indulge. Some people enjoy going to the movies; I like my fancy hairspray!

I’m also excited about this bluetooth headset. I’ve been considering one for a long time, and I think it will be quite an asset. Not only does this mean that I can listen to music at the gym without getting tangled in headphone cords, but it also has a built-in microphone, meaning it can be used with my computer to make phone calls. I’m always looking for ways to save on international calling, but have been very hesitant to give up my cordless landline phone. Half my family are in England, so I make long phone calls overseas several times a week – and it’s nice to be able to get up and make a cup of coffee if you’re going to be on the phone for 2 hours! Now that I have this headset, I’m going to look into alternatives such as Skype for international calls. I’ve already been enjoying my headset for listening to music, and have also placed several free domestic long-distance calls with it via Google Voice. (I don’t have a cell phone, so I’ve still been paying for long-distance in the US on my landline!)

Click the thumbnail above to see a screenshot of my receipt

I’m putting together a few articles that talk more in-depth about how I use contest prizes, such as Amazon gift cards, to expand my budget and save on things I need – so watch this space!