tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19884046305141000572024-02-20T03:51:48.745-05:00BOGO BabyTwins: The Ultimate Buy-One-Get-One Deal.Jon Granthamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10730444988594582302noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-8853226594499462015-03-29T14:12:00.003-04:002015-04-01T15:22:19.760-04:00Save on Trees, Save the Planet.<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166062">
April is the perfect time to plant a tree, and save the planet.</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166062">
</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166062">
Bowie (where TwinPanic HQ is located)
is again running it's tree rebate program. $50 or $100 back (depending
on tree cost). Simply buy a tree at *Patuxent Nursery* (only). They have
rebate forms, which they will submit. Once you have planted the tree,
simply send a photo of the planted tree to get your rebate (You'll
receive email instructions on where to send it.)</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166318">
<a href="http://www.cityofbowie.org/index.aspx?nid=954" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166317" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Bowie, MD - Official Website - Tree Rebates</a></div>
<div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-attachment yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yiv5917741012enhancrCard_1" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Georgia', 'Times', 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; width: 450px;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166342" style="display: block; min-height: auto; width: 450px;"><tbody id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166341">
<tr class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="7" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1px; min-height: 1px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1px; line-height: 0px; min-height: 1px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169863"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" rowspan="5" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1pt; width: 1px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1pt; width: 1px;">
</div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" rowspan="5" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; width: 14px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; width: 14px;">
</div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="2" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169862" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; min-height: 6px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169861" style="background-color: white; font-size: 6pt; min-height: 6px;">
</div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" rowspan="5" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; width: 20px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" style="background-color: white; font-size: 20pt; width: 20px;">
</div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" rowspan="5" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1pt; width: 1px;" width="1"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1pt; width: 1px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166340"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="2" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166339" style="font-family: 'Georgia', 'Times', 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-text-part yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166338" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.5px; width: 414px;">
<div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166337" style="word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012icon yiv5917741012icon-shrink yiv5917741012link-enhancr-toggle"></span><span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012icon yiv5917741012icon-close yiv5917741012link-enhancr-delete"></span><a class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-card-urlWrapper yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" href="http://www.cityofbowie.org/index.aspx?nid=954" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169859" rel="nofollow" style="color: black; display: block; font-size: 18px; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012link-enhancr-card-title" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169858" style="color: black; display: inline-block; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin: 0; max-height: 43px; overflow: hidden;">Bowie, MD - Official Website - Tree Rebates</span></a><br />
<div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-card-description yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166336" style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Georgia', 'Times', 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; max-height: 81px; overflow: hidden;">
tree, planting, rebate, $100, $50, tree rebate, Patuxent Nursery, tree canopy</div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="2" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; min-height: 6px;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169915"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169914" style="font-family: 'Arial', 'Helvetica Neue', 'Helvetica', 'sans-serif'; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169913" style="font-size: 0pt;">
<a class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-card-url yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" href="http://www.cityofbowie.org/index.aspx?nid=954" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169912" rel="nofollow" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012link-enhancr-view-on" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166333" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 11px; max-height: 13px; max-width: 314px; min-width: 254px; overflow: hidden;"><span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012link-enhancr-mobile-no-resize" style="color: #999999; font-size: 9px; line-height: 11px; vertical-align: middle;">View on <span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-view-on-domain" style="font-weight: bold;">www.cityofbowie.org</span></span></span></a></div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169951" style="font-family: 'Arial', 'Helvetica Neue', 'Helvetica', 'sans-serif'; vertical-align: middle; width: 100px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012link-enhancr-preview-wrapper" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169950" style="font-size: 0pt; line-height: 11px; max-height: 13px; max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px; overflow: hidden; text-align: right;">
<span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012link-enhancr-preview-by yiv5917741012link-enhancr-mobile-no-resize" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169949" style="color: #999999; font-size: 9px; line-height: 11px; vertical-align: middle;">Preview by Yahoo</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169910"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="2" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169909" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; min-height: 9px;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169924"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="7" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169923" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1px; min-height: 1px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169922" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1px; line-height: 0px; min-height: 1px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166124">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166141">
Also,
the State of Maryland is offering a $25 coupon (payable to the
participating nursery), off the cost of a tree of at least $50. Coupons
at the Nursery.</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166270">
<a href="http://trees.maryland.gov/print-your-coupon/" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166271" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Print Your Coupon</a></div>
<div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-attachment yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yiv5917741012enhancrCard_0" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Georgia', 'Times', 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-top: 5px; width: 450px;">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166347" style="display: block; min-height: 170px; width: 450px;"><tbody id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166346">
<tr class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169877"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="8" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169876" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1px; min-height: 1px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169875" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1px; line-height: 0px; min-height: 1px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169881"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" rowspan="5" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1pt; width: 1px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1pt; width: 1px;">
</div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169887" rowspan="5" style="background-color: black; border-collapse: collapse; min-height: 168px; vertical-align: middle; width: 168px;"><div align="center" class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169886" style="width: 168px;">
<a class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-card-urlWrapper yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" href="http://trees.maryland.gov/print-your-coupon/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169885" rel="nofollow" style="color: black; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><img alt="image" class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-thumbnail-image yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" src="http://trees.maryland.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2014/10/tree_coupon_page-168x300.jpg" height="168" style="display: block; margin: auto;" width="94" /></a></div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" rowspan="5" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; width: 1px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1pt; width: 1px;">
</div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169883" rowspan="5" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; width: 14px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14pt; width: 14px;">
</div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="2" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169880" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; min-height: 6px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169879" style="background-color: white; font-size: 6pt; min-height: 6px;">
</div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169960" rowspan="5" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; width: 20px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" style="background-color: white; font-size: 20pt; width: 20px;">
</div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" rowspan="5" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1pt; width: 1px;" width="1"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1pt; width: 1px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169871"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="2" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169870" style="font-family: 'Georgia', 'Times', 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-text-part yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169869" style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.5px; min-height: 135px; width: 245px;">
<div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169868" style="word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012icon yiv5917741012icon-shrink yiv5917741012link-enhancr-toggle"></span><span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012icon yiv5917741012icon-close yiv5917741012link-enhancr-delete"></span><a class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-card-urlWrapper yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" href="http://trees.maryland.gov/print-your-coupon/" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169920" rel="nofollow" style="color: black; display: block; font-size: 18px; line-height: 100%; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012link-enhancr-card-title" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169926" style="color: black; display: inline-block; font-size: 18px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 21px; margin-bottom: 3px; margin: 0; max-height: 43px; overflow: hidden;">Print Your Coupon</span></a><br />
<div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-card-description yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169867" style="color: #999999; font-family: 'Georgia', 'Times', 'Times New Roman', 'serif'; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; max-height: 81px; overflow: hidden;">
Print
Your Coupon This coupon is worth $25 off the purchase of one tree with a
retail value of $50 or more at all participating retail nurseries and
garden centers....</div>
</div>
</div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169930"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="2" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169929" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; min-height: 4px;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169947"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169946" style="font-family: 'Arial', 'Helvetica Neue', 'Helvetica', 'sans-serif'; vertical-align: middle;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169945" style="font-size: 0pt;">
<a class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-card-url yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" href="http://trees.maryland.gov/print-your-coupon/" rel="nofollow" style="color: black; cursor: pointer; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012link-enhancr-view-on" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166286" style="display: inline-block; line-height: 11px; max-height: 13px; max-width: 145px; min-width: 85px; overflow: hidden;"><span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012link-enhancr-mobile-no-resize" style="color: #999999; font-size: 9px; line-height: 11px; vertical-align: middle;">View on <span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-view-on-domain" style="font-weight: bold;">trees.maryland.gov</span></span></span></a></div>
</td><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169958" style="font-family: 'Arial', 'Helvetica Neue', 'Helvetica', 'sans-serif'; vertical-align: middle; width: 100px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012link-enhancr-preview-wrapper" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169957" style="font-size: 0pt; line-height: 11px; max-height: 13px; max-width: 100px; min-width: 80px; overflow: hidden; text-align: right;">
<span class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element yiv5917741012link-enhancr-preview-by yiv5917741012link-enhancr-mobile-no-resize" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169956" style="color: #999999; font-size: 9px; line-height: 11px; vertical-align: middle;">Preview by Yahoo</span></div>
</td></tr>
<tr id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166345"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="2" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166344" style="background-color: white; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 0pt; min-height: 9px;"><br /></td></tr>
<tr class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169896"><td class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" colspan="8" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169895" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 1px; min-height: 1px;"><div class="yiv5917741012link-enhancr-element" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_169894" style="background-color: #e5e5e5; font-size: 1px; line-height: 0px; min-height: 1px;">
</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166156">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166158">
Trees
must be off the approved list (the Bowie list overlaps with the MD
list, so choose one off the Bowie list). We chose a River Birch (<i id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166199">betula nigra</i>)
this year and last. These are good for sun to part shade, and wet,
loamy soil. There are several great trees for shade and small animal
foods. Small trees such as Dogwoods are included.</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166223">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166229">
If you live in unincorporated PG County, you can receive up to a $150 rebate on the purchase of approved trees.
Montgomery County and other Maryland counties also have plant-a-tree
rebates. You can stack the Maryland State coupon on top of these rebates
for a deep discount!<br />
<br />
Check with your local township or county to see if they have a storm-water runoff management program that includes tree-planting rebates. In Bowie, for
a $145, 15-gallon tree, we paid less than $20! For a $75 smaller tree,
you could get it FREE (you might have to pay sales tax.)</div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166229">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166229">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166255">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" id="yiv5917741012yui_3_16_0_1_1427526950810_166255">
<br /></div>
christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-69120776483612279422014-12-01T12:08:00.000-05:002014-12-01T12:08:04.636-05:00Cyber Monday Car Seat DealLooking for a Britax car seat? We decided on the highly rated Britax Pinnacle 90, which is a 5-point harness to 90 pounds, and very highly rated. Pricey, and out-of-stock in many sites (including Target).<br />
<br />
The next-best price is at <a href="http://www.bambibaby.com/britax-pinnacle-90-booster-seat?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cse&gclid=COza3cKnpcICFcvm7AodBRYAoQ#">BambiBaby.com</a>, which also has a 5% off Cyber Monday coupon good today only! The Codes are listed <a href="http://www.bambibaby.com/cyber-monday-2014">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Happy Hunting!christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-41974826885902225672013-10-05T23:55:00.000-04:002013-10-06T00:12:08.496-04:00Best Deal for Furloughed workers: Free ClassThe <a href="http://www.visartsatrockville.org/">VisArts center in Rockville</a>, MD is offering one free class to anyone who has been furloughed. According to their email:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b id="yui_3_7_2_1_1380926961534_11098">T</b>o use the coupon,
register and on the payment page<b> select VisArts coupon</b> and then <b>use the
word Furlough in the second coupon box</b>. Please be a furloughed employee
to use this code. Spaces are limited and this is first-come, first
serve. Please limit yourself to one free class.</blockquote>
<br />
Choices include Drawing and Painting, Jewelry Making, and sculpture. My personal fave: <br />
Painting on Wine Glasses, which will help furloughed employees pursue that other popular activity, heavy drinking.<br />
<br />
To explore similar mixed media and shorten the distance from art to wine, try <a href="http://www.visartsatrockville.org/cocktails-and-canvas/event/2726-cocktails-and-canvas-funky-tree">Cocktails and Canvas</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-75197610634595312282013-08-09T15:50:00.002-04:002013-08-09T15:52:16.365-04:00Best deal this Weekend: Free Paint! August 10 only.Boutique hardware store Ace Hardware is offering a free quart of paint to anyone who comes in tomorrow, August 10, 2013. This is a great opportunity for art teachers or crafters to nab free supplies, or get that touch-up quart you've been meaning to get.<br />
<br />
Perfect for an accent color to highlight that nursery, too.<br />
<br />
Simply print this <a href="http://www.acehardware.com/coupon/">coupon</a> and fill it in, take it to your local Ace Hardware, and get your free quart. You must also sign up for Ace Hardware Rewards. Tinting included.<br />
<br />
This coupon also enters you for a chance to win a $1000 GC for Ace.<br />
<br />
Limited to certain flat enamels, and they say that each Ace store will only have about 40 quarts, so get there early! One per household, so enlist your friends for a bigger project.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-48352600392210091112013-07-17T10:30:00.000-04:002013-07-17T10:33:43.270-04:00Cold CouponingIt's been a while since I have had time to coupon seriously. But the other day I had a great time "cold couponing" at CVS. I walked in with no coupons, and left with 40% off. Here's how.<br />
<br />
First, I had a short list of needful items: <br />
Mrs. Fields' Cookies: 2/$5 ($3 savings)<br />
Cascade: $7<br />
Diaper Pail Refill $11.50 (yikes, twice the price of WalMart, but I'm desperate)<br />
<br />
I always check the diapers for deals, and see an XL bag of diapers for $20, PLUS an offer for Buy one Huggies diaper and one Huggies wipes, get $5 back in Extra Bucks (EB). Normally I don't use those wipes, but they were on sale too, for $6 for the "Naturals" travel packs (4 pack), so were almost free with the rebate.<br />
<br />
Scanning my CVS card produced a long set of coupons, including $3 off $15 or more, and $2 EB.<br />
<br />
So I split the order in two, and used the coupons on the first order:<br />
First order:<br />
Diapers $20 ($5.50 off)<br />
Wipes $6 ($2.50 off)<br />
-$2 CVS EB coupon<br />
-$3 CVS Coupon<br />
Total cost with tax: $22.25<br />
Total Saved: $13.00<br />
<br />
This kicked out two MORE coupons: the $5 EB I was expecting, and ANOTHER $4 off $15 or more purchase which I knew I had!<br />
<br />
Second order:<br />
Cookies: 2/$5<br />
Cascade $7<br />
Diaper Refill $11.49<br />
- $4 CVS Coupon<br />
- $5 CVS EB coupon<br />
Total Cost with tax $15.36<br />
Total Saved: $11.98 <br />
<br />
Total Cost <i>without </i>discounts, coupons, or tax would have been $60.44.<br />
<br />
My cost, just working the sales and CVS coupon kiosk: $35.46<br />
<br />
By picking up sales items, keeping my eyes out for specials among my regular purchases, using kiosk coupons, and splitting the order, I saved $25 total. Or 41% or so off MSRP. Cold.christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-67991652911771518022013-02-11T19:07:00.001-05:002013-02-11T19:07:52.222-05:00TAX FREE!Well, it's nearly President's Day, and it's that time again in Maryland. <a href="http://www.marylandtaxes.com/ShopMD_2012/default.asp">TAX FREE WEEKEND</a>!<br />
From the Comptroller:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"... there will be a tax-free three-day weekend during which
the sales and use tax will not apply to the sale of any Energy Star
Product listed below, or solar water heater. This tax-free weekend will
occur the weekend of February 16, 2013, through February 18, 2013.<br />
Energy Star Product means an air conditioner, clothes washer or
dryer, furnace, heat pump, standard size refrigerator, compact
fluorescent light bulb, dehumidifier, or programmable thermostat that
has been designated as meeting or exceeding the applicable Energy Star
Efficiency requirements developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy."</blockquote>
<br />
You'll save 6% in addition to all the President's Day sales! So get out there and shop February 16th, 17th, and 18th. christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-75378645919290486142012-09-20T15:21:00.002-04:002012-09-20T15:21:32.472-04:00Playing "Storage Wars" on EbayWhen you're married and childless, as we were for 8 years, you have lots of time for hobbies. Photography. Sewing. Collecting costume jewelry. Travel. Reading. But when you suddenly have twins, not only is time at a premium, so is space. <br />
<br />So I've been watching a lot of <a href="http://www.aetv.com/storage-wars/">Storage Wars</a> and <a href="http://www.trutv.com/shows/storage-hunters/index.html">Storage Hunters</a>, and it's as inspiring to me at this phase of my life as Home and Garden TV shows were to renovating our old home. The shows are funny, and inspire me to root through the leftover moving boxes for <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/salme3/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3686">unused items to sell on eBay</a>. It's kind of fun, and watching the show gives me the distance I need to just declutter.<br />
<br />
Now that I'm through the first season of Storage Wars on <a href="http://movies.netflix.com/">Netflix</a>, I'm wondering where my inspiration to continue will come from. Perhaps the twins, who just woke up, will have an idea or two.<br />
<br />
Check out <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/salme3/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3686">my items on eBay</a>.christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-38779561173621182262012-09-20T05:14:00.001-04:002012-09-20T05:15:43.892-04:00New eBay DealBetween listing things on eBay and prepping for the <a href="http://www.annapolismoms.org/sales.html">AMOM </a>sale this weekend, I'm slogging through a lot of clutter this week.<br />
<br />
Just to keep me on my toes, eBay sent me an invitation to a special event: List up to 50,000 items between 9/18 and 9/22 free. (This is over and above the 50 you get every month.) I was struggling to do 50! I wonder if I can manage to break the 50 threshold in just 3 days.....<br />
<br />christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-67270293634286596312012-09-06T11:51:00.006-04:002012-09-06T12:05:01.437-04:00Recipe for Half-price (or Better) Pampers It's a little late to be posting this... but it's a good deal if you can sneak it in today or tomorrow.<br /><br /><b>Ingredients:</b><br />P&G Coupon (2) $3 off two bags/one box Pampers<br />Target Coupon (2) $2 off two bags/one box Pampers (these were mailed out)<br />Target Promo: Buy two BOXES of Pampers, get back a $10 GC<br />Target Sale Price (>$22 per box)<br /><b><br />Recipe:</b><br />Pick up two boxes of Pampers in the size you need (larger sizes go fast, but if you've got a newborn, do it; you can always buy larger sizes and store them, so take advantage of what's available.)<br />Use all 4 coupons<br />Use the $10 on your next order (you can split transactions in the same visit)<br />Save a lot.<br /><br /><b>Cost:</b><br />$20 per box =$40<br />-$10 in coupons<br />-$10 GC credit (use immediately)<br /><b>Total cost: $20 for two BOXES</b>, which is a decent regular price for two bags at about 60% savings in the largest sizes!<br /><i><br />Note on splitting transactions: In order to get the $10 GC you must check the Pampers all out at once; so have $10 of other stuff to buy in the next transaction.</i><br /><br />christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-50993802414389793962012-09-04T17:39:00.002-04:002012-09-04T22:41:50.925-04:00The Twins College Fund Project At the beginning of this blog, I discussed how much it costs to send one child through college today, let alone twins 16 years from now. So we started Maryland Savings Plans for each of our kids--and here's the trick--by each parent (each kid has two college funds; each can max out at $321,000). The maximum tax benefit is reached once you deposit $2500 per year into the individual's plan.<br />
<br />
So here's the challenge I've set myself: Accrue $5,000 by December 31, 2012 (the deadline). I've got FOUR months*, and here are the rules:<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I do this all from home, by selling off overage, old toys and kids' clothes, stuff we never used, old books, and (hopefully) a little freelance writing. (Because someone has to watch the twins.)<br />
<br />
I have to deduct expenses for newly purchased supplies, but not for items we already own (boxes, envelopes, pack tape, etc.).</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Listing/selling the item cannot involve additional fees, but may involve a percentage cut once the item sells (no listing fees allowed, commissions ok.) </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
If someone wants to buy something I've listed, I MUST sell it, even for the minimum price. (No reserve pricing.)</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
If a previously listed item doesn't sell, it must be donated before we file our taxes. The total refund added on as a result of donations cannot be counted toward this FY, but can be counted toward next year's FY. So if I donate $100 worth of items, I get ~$30 toward next year's effort.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>Option</i>: Items purchased for resale must cost less than $5 each, and no more than $50 invested at once (items must sell before I purchase more). Again, all listed items not sold by year's end have to be recycled. I can keep unsold articles for publication.</blockquote>
<br />
Here's the plan:<br />
<br />
<b>Bookholders: </b>My year-to-date total is $44.47. Whoo-hoo! Gotta run some more books over there.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Craig's list:</b> I sold most of our moving boxes for about $50.<br />
<br />
<b>Ebay: </b>This is a fun one. Ebay recently (don't ask me when) began offering 50 FREE listings (no insertion fee) per month. This means that I can only list 50 times (relisting once counts again), and can't use any upgrades like gallery photos.<br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Check out <a href="http://www.ebay.com/sch/salme3/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=25&_trksid=p3686">my eBay auctions</a>. </span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Freelance </b>some parenting stories.<br />
<br />
<b>MOM Groups' Consignment sales</b>: We net an average of $300 per sale, so two annual sales should account for $600 of the money, but I think I can do better.<br />
<br />
Selling off precious metals. I'll keep you posted on the price of copper..... <br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>My running total for this FY? $364.57. </b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Only $4635.43 to go!</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
I think it's a good plan, especially as I'm at risk of becoming a hoarder.
<br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>*Author's Note: I amended this information because I erroneously thought the deadline was the same for 529 plans as for IRAs (Tax day of the following year, so 4/15/13). Not so! The deadline is the end of the calendar year. Instead of 8 months, I have 4. Yikes.</i>christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-90591222863296850352012-07-28T06:59:00.000-04:002012-07-28T06:59:14.790-04:00Maryland's Tax-Free Week is coming!This year, Maryland will hold its tax-free week starting Sunday August 12 to Saturday the18th. The Comptroller's <a href="http://www.comp.state.md.us/ShopMD_2012/shopmd-factsheet2012.pdf">information sheet </a>goes into great detail about how the sales work, but generally any clothing or footwear item that costs less than $100 is tax exempt, which means they are suspending the 6% sales tax and any local (county) tax that may be in effect.<br />
<br />
They also post a handy -- and exact -- <a href="http://www.marylandtaxes.com/ShopMD_2012/List-of-Taxable-Exempt-Items.pdf">list of qualifying items</a>.<br />
<br />
Beware -- check prices across retailers, because some have reportedly jacked up prices a bit to cover taxes anyway. You might do better shopping the week before or after. But my money's on after, or late in the week.<br />
<br />
<br />christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-86037653376149105912012-06-12T01:32:00.000-04:002012-06-20T05:14:15.087-04:00Landscaping on the CheapI've been thinking a lot about landscaping since we moved here. They stripped the land of topsoil, and the sand over slag is depressing. Over the last few weeks I've tried to throw some eggshells on the plants
that need calcium (flowering plants first, then poor growers), and
tried to water here and there, but much more needs to be done. The yard is practically bare. Not a lot of earthworms, either.<br />
<br />
The soil is poor and needs to be enriched, but dirt is the last thing I want to spend money on. A little Googling and some creative thinking, and I've come up with an on-the-cheap gardening plan that includes finding things free or dirt cheap:<br />
<br />
1. <i><b>Free </b><b>Compost.</b></i> Lasagna or hole composting appeals to me -- this is where you layer "browns and greens" in a hole or strip. (Browns are papery -- dry leaves, paper, or cardboard; Greens are kitchen scraps, green leaves, anything with life left in it.) Cover it with soil and mulch and let it cook over several months. If you want to plant in the bed immediately, most advise you include some "finished" compost, worm castings, or enriched soil to the mix; however, if you can wait the winter you can just let it be.<br />
<i>My Plan: Collect free composting materials around the house, and dig holes around existing plants and trees. Improve the beds with Lasagna Composting once November hits. I'm also considering worm composting, but honestly that grosses me out,
and I can't seem to discover what the native worms of Maryland are, in
case <a href="http://www.sustainable-gardening.com/inputs-tools/compost/invasive-worms">they escape</a>.</i><br />
<b>Browns: </b> Shreded newspapers. I usually just recycle, can be used to tamp down leaves, but their high Carbon/Nitrogen ratio makes them poor choices for a compost heap. (Cardboard can also be used to tamp down weeds in a bed, but is a poor brown because of the high carbon rate.) Fallen leaves are the best choice for browns, as are, oddly, corn stalks and hay (grass clippings). I'm having trouble coming up with browns.<br />
<b>Greens:</b> Kitchen scraps daily include 3-6 eggshells (the twoddlers eat a lot of eggs!); 2-3 banana peels. 1 cup other kitchen greens. The occasional spoiled veggie/fruit. Deadheads and twigs off existing plants.<br />
I plan to save the day's scraps in an airtight container for a 2-3 days, outside where the heat will make them start to rot quickly. Then I dig one small hole, and fill it with the scraps and twice as many browns, a 2:1 ration being the easiest rule to follow. I'm starting with a bed that I don't plan to plant soon, but which has several young boxwoods that need nutrients badly. It may not be the best plan, but it's doable right now!<br />
<br />
2. <i><b>Grow items from seed.</b></i> Duh. This is cheap, and instructive too. The twins can learn how to grow flowers, and one little packet provides 20-50 plants.<br />
<br />
<i>My plan: </i>I'm starting with Purple Coneflower and Mammoth Sunflower seeds, for the excitement, and the seeds the sunflowers will provide wildlife. Later maybe I can dry the stalks, like Corn stalks, for more browns. Chives I've heard are beneficial to roses. Seed packs cost about $1 at most stores, and I bought about $10 worth to get started, but I should have checked into sales because at the end of the season I've heard you can get seeds for 10 cents a pack. Free seeds can be had from other plants; I plan to liberate some Redbud seeds from a local park -- just a handful, 50 or so. Then I can start some of these beautiful trees this winter indoors, and in a couple of years, hopefully I'll have enough to line the side yard.<br />
<br />
For <b>containers </b>in which to grow seeds, I'm saving cardboard egg crates. I cut them into four pieces: the egg side, the lid, and the tab I cut off and and cut in half. I thread the two tab halves through the holes in the lid, to create a more secure seal. Then I'm going to put the egg crate inside the lid (nested) to provide extra protection again overwatering. The seedlings can be easily cut apart and planted whole, like a peat cup, providing some "browns" to the soil when I plant.<br />
I'll also need plastic containers, but these are widely available free.Or I can line a styrofoam egg crate with the cardboard variety. It's also easy to stockpile pots included with any plants I do buy. For big, cheap pots, the Dollar Store has nice 3-gal cleaning buckets into which I can poke holes for drainage.<br />
<br />
3. <i><b>Get Free plants</b></i><br />
Here's a place to get creative. Plant co-ops, plant exchanges, or a friend and eager gardener with a mature garden can provide you with free plants. I've read you can also get plants free if you see someone digging up a display and they're throwing them away. I saw this a week ago and missed out! Is someone ripping down another old-growth forest near you? Ask for permission to remove saplings and other plants before they do! Keep a plastic bag and a container in your car -- I'm thinking a box lined with a bag -- for this purpose. <br />
<br />
An aunt with a lot of volunteer trees in her yard offered us free saplings, and we're taking some river birch and maybe some holly's. I'd love some Eastern Red Cedars!<br />
<br />
4. <i><b>Get cheap plants</b></i><br />
I spotted the 50% off bin at Lowes the other day, but only walked away with a $5 verbena in fine shape. Dunno why it was on there, except most of the flowers had bloomed and it was really lopsided for a hanging plant. Verbena in a pint pot is $4. I got at least enough verbena in one hanging plant to equal 6 of those, so a savings of about $19.<br />
<br />
I've read you can ask nurseries if you can look through their castoffs, which may appear dead. You're taking a risk here that the plant is dead (or worse, diseased), but at the minimum you get a plastic pot and some free dirt.<br />
<br />
5. <i><b>Use Native Plans </b></i><br />
The <a href="http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/Habitat/WildAcres/wabugs.asp">Maryland Dept. of Natural Resources</a> lists lots of native plants for your garden. The <a href="http://www.mdflora.org/publications/nurseries.html">Maryland Native Plant Society </a>lists local growers and providers of native plants who hold annual open sales; the MNPS also has sales in the spring. Haven't made it to one yet, but I'm committed to using only native plants. They are lower maintenance and far better for the environment than imported invasives. Locally grown means lower shipping charges, less water (natives are used to the local rainfall to provide what water they need), and less maintenance all translate into more savings.<br />
<br />
6. <i><b>Invest in big specimens.</b></i><br />
"The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago." No one planted any here to shade the enormous, south-facing deck when they built it, and no one planted any in the 20 years since. If I can't find the Eastern Red Cedar or a fast-growing shade tree, I may have to buy a couple.<br />
<br />
Or ...<br />
<br />
Become a member of the <a href="http://www.arborday.org/index.cfm">Arbor Day Foundation </a>and get <a href="http://www.arborday.org/shopping/memberships/MembershipType.cfm?ZipCode=20715&OfferCode=&continue=Continue">10 "free" trees</a> for a $10, 6mo membership fee ($15 annual). You could theoretically repeat this to as many adults as live in your house, or a friend/family member could gift their trees to you for their membership fee! This is an astoundingly good deal. There is NO S&H.<br />
As a bonus, you can easily access several lists of trees that will work in your natural environment. If you're a minimalist about research, just go on the site, click on the free tree offer, and plug in your zip. You can then choose the "Flowering Tree Mix" for a list of 5 trees for your region, or the "10 Tree mix" for a list of deciduous trees that will work for you. Or you can order 10 of the same tree for several varieties. Then you can research just those trees for your soil type and available light.<br />
So what's <b><i>the Catch</i>? </b>The trees are 2yo saplings only about 8 inches tall, and need to be planted within 5 days, and protected from pests who just love a tender sapling; also, they only ship trees Spring and Fall. <br />
<i>My Plan: </i>Join the ABF for $15 (1yr), upgrade to $25 member to get their Guide to Trees normally $15, which I can use for shopping, education, and in my back yard. (Interestingly, if you get the $10 membership they also offer you the $25 upgrade to include the Guide, so if you want the Guide get the $15 membership because it's the same effective cost ($25) and you get an extra 6 months of membership). You get 33% off all tree purchases as a member, BTW.<br />
<br />
<br />
My goal is to spend as little as possible of course. We're already in for trees, but I plan not to spend money on anything but big specimens and needed equipment<br />
Lastly, garden ornaments. Chairs, tables, pots, all cost money, so I'll be trolling the summer yardsales and flea markets, not to mention the thrift stores, and Craig's list, looking for pots, plants, and gardening equipment. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-491566661382168362012-06-08T11:21:00.000-04:002012-06-08T11:21:14.024-04:00New Favorite Store?Wegman's in MD sent me some coupons for the opening of their new store in Columbia. There is another in Lanham, and one opening in Crofton shortly. Seems they double coupons up to 99 cents! Those 75-cent coupons that used to be $1 are now worth $1.50!!!<br />
<br />
Think I'll try them out.<br />
<br />
<br />christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-17189671997191759282012-04-03T14:57:00.002-04:002012-04-03T15:00:04.061-04:00Best Deal For Earth Day in Baltimore!April 22, 2012, the National Aquarium in Baltimore is celebrating with a tree-planting ceremony and various other "green" activities.<br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class=" on down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /></span></span><br />Ride your bike, and <a href="http://aqua.org/visit/baltimore/calendar/earth-day?EventID=%7B98EC4DAA-0ED0-4642-A1E6-0475D618E0E8%7D&utm_source=bronto&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Celebrate+Earth+Day+at+the+Aquarium&utm_content=us%40grantham.org&utm_campaign=120403_Member_News">get a free tuneup</a> from Joe's Bike Shop.christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-50053767127235016812012-04-01T10:12:00.003-04:002012-04-01T10:21:30.996-04:00No Fool Here.... Multiples DiscountsBOGO Baby: The Blog began as a treatise on how to save money with twins (or more). I recently heard about a group Mothers of Super Twins, "founded in 1987...the leading national nonprofit provider of support, education and research on higher-order multiple births."<br /><br />They provide this <a href="http://www.mostonline.org/membersonly/company.htm">handy list of company freebies</a> and discounts for multiples families. Shoes, formula, portraits, various toy companies.... the list is long. The site includes a sample letter for you to copy and amend for your needs.<br /><br />They also have a <a href="http://www.mostonline.org/freestuff.htm">list of freebie sites</a>, coupons, articles, and more for mothers of multiples.christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-84683055254527024762012-03-19T11:50:00.002-04:002012-03-19T11:52:52.117-04:00Today's Best Deal! 3/19/12Dunkin Donuts is hosting a free iced coffee promotion; go in for a punch card, and receive one free 20 oz ICED coffee free every Monday from today (3/19) through April 23rd.<br /><br />Avoid the Caramel Almond; it was totally gross.christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-91044498071307249652012-03-11T04:15:00.001-04:002012-03-15T17:22:27.408-04:00Today's Best Deal! 3/11/12CVS is running a great Pampers promotion! Buy 2 packs of jumbo diapers for $19.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-family:georgia;" >Work the deal</span><br />Buy 4 packs for $38<br />Use TWO coupons for $1/2 to reduce it to $36 ($1.50 off coupons also available)<br />Get $10 back in Extra Bucks (for buying $30 worth of P&G Goods)<br />Effective cost, $26, or $6.50 a pack! Regular price is around $11 or $12 a pack, so this is a 40% savings, more if you can find more valuable coupons from the manufacturer, often available online.<br /><br />Sadly, this time you can only do it once "Per card, per household". Nonetheless, I recommend you and your partner and Grandma and Grandpa take advantage of this deal this week!christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-45767954731673920582012-02-21T16:17:00.006-05:002012-02-24T12:57:00.420-05:00Time to Prep for Spring Sales!Thursday it's supposed to be 70 degrees here in Maryland. On the wind you can catch the scent of Febreeze and plastic clothing racks. Yes, the spring consignment sale market is almost here, and I wanted to post some resources for your prep work.<br /><br />In January I posted about creating a <span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span><a href="http://savings.twinpanic.com/2011/12/how-to-hit-consignment-sale-hard.html">Consignment Sale plan</a>. Here are some addendums.<br /><br />Don't know what size to plan for? Check out the excellent <a href="http://www.neimanmarcus.com/category/popup/kids/kidsizeguide.html">Neiman Marcus Chart</a> that provides sizing guidelines by weight and height. My boys are at the top of the toddler clothes already, and this general guideline helps me prepare to buy the right sizes in the right numbers. The boys are already well into the 4T range which we have some of, and they sprout in the summertime! I plan to buy a few (25%) shorts in 4T, and the rest in 5T. Imagine my surprise to discover there is no 6T.<br /><br />Surprisingly, 4 & 5 boys (XS) is the same as the toddler, except that the boys' clothes are made slimmer because they shouldn't have to accommodate a diaper.<br /><br />The sales start in late February and run through mid-April, at which point Yardselling starts. <a href="http://www.totswap.net/shop-columbia.html">Totswap in Columbia</a> is this weekend! Go to the Wilde Lake Shopping Center in Columbia for some great deals! I love Totswap because they're so well organized. They even have a list online of all the non-profit <a href="http://www.our-kids.com/static/?f=dcspringconsignment">consignment sales in the DC Metro Area</a>!<br /><br /><a href="http://camom.net/events/consignment.shtm">CAMOM's sale</a> is St. Patrick's Day! If your kids are growing fast, then you'll want to wait until this sale for some great deals and fine merchandise, plus two or three of everything! Cradlerock Elementary school, Saturday March 17, 2012, 8a-1p.christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-53974315303165893322012-02-19T01:27:00.004-05:002012-02-19T01:34:51.994-05:00Today's Best Deal! 2/19/12Everyone knows President's Day is the best sale since New Year's. What I just saw was that Maryland has a tax holiday this weekend, 2/18 -2/20 on qualifying Energy Star Replacement appliances. There is also a $100 rebate offer from Pepco and BGE (if one is your service provider).<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.marylandtaxes.com/ShopMD_2011/default.asp">State website</a> reads:<br /><br /><blockquote>Additionally, there will be a tax-free three-day weekend during which the sales and use tax will not apply to the sale of any Energy Star Product listed below, or solar water heater. <strong>This tax-free weekend will occur the weekend of February 18, 2012, through February 20, 2012.</strong><br /><br />Energy Star Product means an air conditioner, clothes washer or dryer, furnace, heat pump, standard size refrigerator, compact fluorescent light bulb, dehumidifier, or programmable thermostat that has been designated as meeting or exceeding the applicable Energy Star Efficiency requirements developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.</blockquote><br /><br />Maryland's next Tax Holiday -- "<strong style="font-weight: normal;">Shop Maryland Week" -- is August 14-20, 2012. Maryland rarely runs these, and didn't run one at all in 2009. So take advantage!<br /><br /><br /><br /></strong>christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-14831535337867485872012-01-16T11:07:00.000-05:002012-01-16T11:07:00.309-05:00Savings Idea #6: Earn by Buying<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:enableopentypekerning/> <w:dontflipmirrorindents/> <w:overridetablestylehps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">There are many ways to earn money by selling off unwanted goods, as discussed last week. But you can easily earn money with little input with these Internet ideas.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Review your purchases at Epinions, and earn money on them indefinitely. Be sure to check in frequently, or lose your balance. Electronics and travel reviews are popular.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you shop online and don’t use a shopping portal, someone’s losing money. You can shop through various charity portals; Box Tops for Education hosts 150 popular online retailers; click through the BT4E website and earn eBox Tops for your preferred school. Or you can get the cash back yourself. Our favorite online portal is <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.fatwallet.com">FatWallet</a>. The stores listed give you between 1% and 15% cash back on your purchases at their sponsored retailers, real cash which you can have delivered to your PayPal account or receive via check mailed to your home.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Register your grocery cards with Upromise, or your most favored credit card with a restaurant loyalty rewards program. These programs give you cash back, essentially, for purchases. Be careful, though; Upromise will send your earnings to the aforementioned escheats division in your state if you fail to login for 3 years.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Planning to get a credit card? Get one that gives you more; airline miles, hotel points, or cash back are all earnings that save you money in the long run.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Again, think creatively! Some stores, including WalMart, may pay YOU to take their goods home. Using coupons and store promotions, you can occasionally get the price of an item down to a negative number. WalMart, Kroger, and other stores return the change as a store gift card. This also works at drug stores with cash-back register rewards. If you have a coupon for an item that is going to earn you a rewards coupon on a future purchase equal to the amount of the item (buy a toothbrush at $2, get a $2-off reward), you can earn money by involving a cents-off MCP for that item.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-10208358357894659282012-01-09T13:25:00.000-05:002012-01-09T13:25:00.131-05:00Savings Idea #5: Use. Reuse. Repeat. (then Recycle.)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:enableopentypekerning/> <w:dontflipmirrorindents/> <w:overridetablestylehps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">It sounds so simple to use and reuse what you have until it’s no longer useful. Each time I huddle under one of Granny’s quilts, I’m reminded that recycling and reusing is an old, old idea. When I compare our new modern home’s amenities to the storage and electrical output of our former home, I realize that they didn’t have as many outfits, sets of dishes, or electronics in 1935 as we do three-quarters-of-a-century later. They reused items until they had to be torn apart to be useful, and then they composted the remains out by the garage. Our old home has an in-ground trash bin outside for garbage pickup, which is roughly the size of our office recycling can (maybe 4 gallons). Clearly they used less, and reused more than we do; the lifecycle of their goods was, in many cases, a lifetime.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Over the last decades, retailers have ramped up their efforts, and are constantly trying to hurry that cycle along so that you buy new goods more often, resulting in “can’t live without” upgraded models and planned obsolescence. Many people have bought into this system, and when their shoes get dirty they buy new ones. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Granny’s philosophy was: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">If you’re going to throw it out, why not try cleaning it up first? Use and reuse until it’s dirt.</i></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Case: My sons’ Robeez slipper shoes, bought with love by Grandma, were serving as the twoddler’s everyday wear inside the house. They resemble moccasins, and after a couple of month’s punishment and a few stomps in spilt milk, the soles resembled banana peels. They were dangerous. So I washed them with soap and water, and scraped the soles with a serrated knife, roughening the soles as ballerinas do. Ten minutes in the dryer on ultra-low, and these leather shoes were ready-to-wear once more. We got two more week’s wear out of them, and I'll donate these refurbished shoes when I get around to it.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If I have something I can no longer use, even if it's heavily used (like the Robeez) but not torn or badly stained, then I donate. Some balk at giving away heavily used goods, but I say to them: "Some poor people just watched their homes with all their possessions float downriver, get repossessed, crumble in an earthquake, or become a really big bonfire." Granny used to say: "Some poor people have nothing at all," and she'd know; she grew up in the Ozarks, and was a self-labeled "dirt farmer" before moving on to better things. People who have "nothing at all" will be glad for some shoes and clothes that aren't completely worn out.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">I also buy items that do double duty. Kids’ toys, for example. A simple set of blocks can entertain a 6-month-old as a chew toy, an 18-month-old as a building set… but one with printed letters, numbers, and symbols can be used again to teach when the child is learning the alphabet. Later, the blocs return to their status as just a building tool. Boppy pillows. I collected several of these, I think 4, and they were useful when my kids were newborns. As crawlers, the Boppys came in handy to soften their space. Now, they are perfect first pillows for toddlers. A pillow, after all, is always a useful item around small children. I imagine them at five, snuggling the Boppy’s in the back seat on our way to a theme park.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But here’s why I bring up these Boppy’s: I was shocked to rediscover a use for them when my boys turned 16 months, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">because I’d gotten locked into the manufacturer’s vision for the product’s purpose.</i> Now, we’re going through about 190 boxes, and I’ve finally got the “leisure time” (during the twoddler's naps) to sort through a couple a day. I can really consider whether to donate the item, refurbish the item (steam an old carpet, fix chipped goods), or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">repurpose</i> the item. If it's broken or trash, I recycle the components.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Your Assignment: Look around your house and see what you can repurpose, refurbish, or recycle/donate before you buy a replacement.</p>christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-65647362784607227962012-01-03T16:06:00.001-05:002012-01-03T16:06:00.669-05:00Couponing: Where do you find the slippery papers?<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:enableopentypekerning/> <w:dontflipmirrorindents/> <w:overridetablestylehps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">More specifically, where do you get several copies of the same great coupon? Because the best way to make a deal work is to find the best deal and beat it to death with as many purchases as allowed by your budget, limits on the coupon (often 4 like coupons for P&G per day), or limits imposed by the store (my local CVS only takes up to 3 a transaction). In Zen Couponing, we stockpile, but it’s a very small pile.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I aim for 4-6 sets of coupon books. That said, if I see (as I do this Thanksgiving), that the black Friday inserts were not only widely unavailable but stolen from my paper in front of my house, then I may go a little farther afield in collecting other coupons. Everyone was ignoring the stack of free P&G inserts over the weekend, which I felt ok about helping myself to late in the game, so I ended up with 14. I aim for a max of 20 in this type of situation. Why 20? Because you can sell the “collection service” and mail them to the winning bidder cheap. But less than 20 of any one coupon is not a large-enough lot for which you can sell your clipping services, if you want to do so. I tried it -- listed 8 sets of coupons on ebay and sold ONE. Not worth the time and trouble, in my book. Still, as a guideline 20 is a really good haul. Getting those P&Gs on a hard weekend where I got few other coupons was satisfying, and will stand me in good stead when I find a really great deal on one of those products. It's a balancing act.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Because 99% of people don’t use their coupons, thieves who rob your paper’s innards – the very ones you’ve bought the paper for – are annoyingly smug. I imagine them thinking, as my old neighbor did about moving my trashcans at his pleasure, that “if you’ve got a problem with me taking your paper/moving your trashcans/trespassing on your property/etc., all you have to do is let me know!” Do let your carrier know, and try to arrange a different delivery location than the public sidewalk. They may be willing to put it in your door, or throw it farther onto the property to discourage petty thievery.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">If you do miss some coupons, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal">look in the freebie Gazette paper</b> you normally recycle midweek. The same companies that put out the Sunday paper coupons – Red Plum (RP) and Smart Source (S) – print nearly identical ones for your local paper. You get an advance copy. So go dig last week’s copy out of your recycling bin, and take a look. Other copies of the gazette will be piled up around town, in strip malls, libraries, and public spaces.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Ask for them at stores you frequent</b>. I picked up several at Giant, which doesn’t really print its own coupons. It slaps its label on the MCP, which is a tricky bit of footwork. You can’t use the coupon anywhere else, but neither is it really a store coupon, so you can’t combine it with another MCP. Safeway prints coupons in its weekly circular, available in the Sunday Paper, as do RiteAid, CVS, and other stores. Walgreens also prints its own booklets.<span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Third, order <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">the Sunday paper</b>. You’ll get the Sunday insert on Saturday, at least with the Washington Post – and by ordering a subscription you’ll save more than a dollar on the cost of a $2 paper. Every week. Right now the Post is running a special (11/11), where you can get a year for 59 cents an issue (70% off!). One common $1 coupon a week will cover it.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Next, you can ask neighbors, relatives, and friends. A recent episode of TLC’s Extreme Couponing noted that 99% of coupons go unused, so people won’t mind donating them.<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Dumpster diving may be illegal in your state. Also, diving into dirty papers filled with bugs and possibly the sleeping homeless (paper is warm) is Extreme bordering on Crazy. Be Zen.<br /></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Keep an eye out at the store. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Tear sheets</span> (pads of coupons attached to the shelves), <span style="font-weight: bold;">Catalina Coupons</span> (register printed coupons), <span style="font-weight: bold;">ValPaks delivered to your house</span>… all are sources for coupons. These are of course mostly grocery coupons, but the ValPak has coupons for services as well, and often includes restaurant discounts. </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Some stores, such as Safeway, allow you to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">download coupons onto your loyalty card</b>. I haven’t tried this, but it seems like a nice paperless way to do business. It may also reduce errors and “coupon snipping”. However, it doesn’t sound like nearly as much fun.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">You can <span style="font-weight: bold;">print coupons on the Internet at various sites</span>, but I caution you against allowing crawlers to watch your every move on the Internet. Printing coupons is limited to two prints per computer, so having several computers in our house seemed ideal. But in the end we decided to put my old laptop into service as a sole-purpose couponer. My favorite site is <a href="http://www.couponmom.com/">CouponMom</a>, which allows you to view deals, gives you the coupon info., including the pub date, and lets you select deals and print a list.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Lastly, people do clip coupons and sell them as a service to others. That is, they are not selling you the coupon – that’s against the rules and technically invalidates the coupon. Nonetheless <span style="font-weight: bold;">coupons are available for sale at various sites, including eBay</span>. I bought the clipping service for 20 $2/2 packs Pampers, and they helped me get that great diaper deal a few weeks ago.</p>Finding coupons is not a problem. Organizing them might be.....christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-39944485583876973582011-12-29T14:49:00.001-05:002011-12-29T14:50:34.532-05:00Today's best deal! 12/29/11The Foursquare Promotion is back!<br /><br /><p>From Foursquare.com:</p><p><i>Shop Small to support small businesses! Load this offer to your synced <a rel="nofollow" href="http://bounce.fatwallet.com/redirect/bounce.php?afsrc=1&mid=16570154&url=http://www.americanexpress.com/" target="_blank">AMEX</a> Card: Spend $10 or more in one purchase at a participating small business and get a one-time $10 statement credit. Statement credit fulfilled by <a rel="nofollow" href="http://bounce.fatwallet.com/redirect/bounce.php?afsrc=1&mid=16570154&url=http://www.americanexpress.com/" target="_blank">AMEX</a> and processed within 3-5 business days. Purchase must be made within 24 hours of offer load. Limit one $10 credit across all participating merchants.</i></p><p>To find deals near you, launch the Foursquare App. from your phone. Click on Explore, then click on Specials. It will list up to 30 specials within 10 miles. Look for the ones marked with the <a rel="nofollow" href="http://bounce.fatwallet.com/redirect/bounce.php?afsrc=1&mid=16570154&url=http://www.americanexpress.com/" target="_blank">AMEX</a> logo.</p><p>To sync your <a rel="nofollow" href="http://bounce.fatwallet.com/redirect/bounce.php?afsrc=1&mid=16570154&url=http://www.americanexpress.com/" target="_blank">AMEX</a> card, go to <a href="http://bounce.fatwallet.com/redirect/bounce.php?afsrc=1&mid=16570154&url=https://sync.americanexpress.com/" target="_blank">sync.americanexpress.com</a></p>christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-20637912250095064632011-12-21T08:34:00.003-05:002011-12-21T08:34:00.111-05:00Couponing: Basics<!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng/> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves/> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> <w:enableopentypekerning/> <w:dontflipmirrorindents/> <w:overridetablestylehps/> </w:Compatibility> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont val="Cambria Math"> <m:brkbin val="before"> <m:brkbinsub val="--"> <m:smallfrac val="off"> <m:dispdef/> <m:lmargin val="0"> <m:rmargin val="0"> <m:defjc val="centerGroup"> <m:wrapindent val="1440"> <m:intlim val="subSup"> <m:narylim val="undOvr"> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" defunhidewhenused="true" defsemihidden="true" defqformat="false" defpriority="99" latentstylecount="267"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="0" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Normal"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="heading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="9" qformat="true" name="heading 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 7"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 8"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" name="toc 9"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="35" qformat="true" name="caption"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="10" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" name="Default Paragraph Font"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="11" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtitle"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="22" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Strong"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="20" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="59" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Table Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Placeholder Text"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="1" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="No Spacing"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Revision"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="34" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="List Paragraph"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="29" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="30" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Quote"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="60" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="61" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="62" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Light Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="63" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="64" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="65" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="66" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="67" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="68" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="69" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="70" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Dark List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="71" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="72" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful List Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="73" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="19" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="21" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Emphasis"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="31" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Subtle Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="32" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Intense Reference"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="33" semihidden="false" unhidewhenused="false" qformat="true" name="Book Title"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="37" name="Bibliography"> <w:lsdexception locked="false" priority="39" qformat="true" name="TOC Heading"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >Coupons come in several types: the most common are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Manufacturer’s coupons</b> (MCPs) in those inserts, Catalina machines, and other sources. Then there are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">Restaurant/Service coupons</b> (RC/SvC, in the ValPak envelope); <b>S</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal">tore coupons</b> (SCs) in their flyers are often called in-ad coupons. Recently Jon picked up a Macy’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">Reusable Discount Card</i></b>, stiff glossy card with start and end dates. Lastly, you'll find coupons on or in the goods you buy. Stuck on a product, it's a "<b>peelie</b>"; inside the product I would call <b>In-Item Coupon</b>, such as I've found in Pampers boxes, Celestial Seasonings Tea, and Duracell batteries. P&G likes to put coupons for various products in its boxes. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >Charity coupons </span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >(<b>CCs</b>) on purchased goods are increasingly popular. My binder has a tab for <a href="http://www.boxtops4education.com/"><span style="color:blue;">BoxTops for Education </span></a>(BT4E), and I print a collection sheet, and glue the little suckers on there. When it’s full, I take it to my local elementary school, where the twins will be attending in 4 years or so. Other charities with on-product coupons include the Susan G. Komen Foundation, and Campbell’s Labels for Education. I play Scavenger Hunt in my pantry for CCs. Also, there are <b>Codes </b>to turn in for goods; Pampers' <a href="http://en.giftstogrow.pampers.com/index.html"><span style="color:blue;">Gifts to Grow</span></a> program puts labels in its baby products, as does Coca Cola. You enter these online and use the points to purchase goods.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >Coupons come in several value groups. I break them down as:</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >20¢ - 49¢ Low. I’ve never seen a coupon lower than 20¢.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >50¢ - 99¢ The Golden Range.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >$1 - $1.50 Most coupons these days are $1, usually off two items. Occasionally stores double coupons to $1.99.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >$2 – $2.50 These coupons are rare. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >More than $2.50 “High dollar coupon”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >BOGO —Buy One Get One Free</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >BOGOHOFF—Buy One Get One Half-Off</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >Now, which is the most valuable coupon? Most of the coupons I see are for $1/2 items, more rarely $1/1. But some stores will double coupons with a face value 99¢ or less. So an 80¢ coupon is way more valuable than the $1 one, because it’s worth $1.60 at stores which double coupons<a style="mso-endnote-id:edn1" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1988404630514100057&postID=2063791225009506463#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span style="mso-special-character:footnote"><span style="line-height:115%;Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language: EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";" >[i]</span></span></a>[i]. Occasionally stores (such as Bloom) run promotions where they double coupons to $1.99. Depending on the cost of the item, the BOGO and BOGOHOFF coupons may be High-Dollar. Some stores double coupons to 49¢, 50¢ and up doubles to $1.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >Your Assignment: Get some coupon booklets. </span></b></span><span style=" mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-bidi- mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >Booklets are widely available. Most freebie papers include them; these are delivered to your home once weekly, or are available at malls, libraries, and grocers. Some stores put out their own coupon books and fliers, including Target, Giant, Walgreens, Rite Aid, and CVS. Ask for these at the service counter if you do not see them around the store's entry. The most ethical way to collect some spare booklets is to only take one free paper when you pass a stack. Maybe two. Check to be sure the inserts you're after are there. Although I personally feel someone else might want the rest of the paper, this rarely turns out to be the case. I asked about this on a message board, and was overwhelmingly voted down; the consensus -- take the whole paper, not just the inserts, and recycle it.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >For us, I aim for between two and six sets of (nearly) identical booklets. The booklets differ by region and source; the Post may have different ones than the Baltimore Sun, slightly, and these may be slightly different than the ones in your freebie paper, all of which may be very different from the coupons in the LA Times. When confronted with the rare but happy sight of a stack of new SC books, I take six. No more. Why six? There are four of us in my family, and I like to share with a couple of friends.<br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;">There is no need to be gluttonous about coupons. Pick a number that is roughly equivalent to the size of your family as a reasonable maximum goal. If you want extra coupons for a particular product, there are many ways to get one-offs (check out eBay and printable coupon sites).</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">Assignment Part B:</span> </span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >Once you’ve collected some booklets, look through them. On the first pass, clip coupons for items you currently have in your home, or which are on your grocery list. Use Listerine? Clip that $1 off 2 ($1/2) coupon. Use Trash bags? Clip that coupon. Is “cheese” on shopping list on your fridge? Clip it. And store them in a box (I used a large Ziploc fridge container for a while.) Find Coupons for items on your shopping list? Clip them to the list, and give it a try at your next shopping trip. </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style=" font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Assignment Part C:</span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Use some coupons at your next shopping trip. Part of some people’s resistance to couponing is that it smacks of food stamps. I do it with as much polish and calm as I can muster given mothering twins. It’s just another form of tender. Don’t be nervous no matter how many coupons you have, don’t worry about the people behind you (for large trips or complicated series of transactions, warn them cheerfully), and check your receipt before you leave the cashier’s station, your purchases as you load the car. I've had more than one instance where an item wasn't loaded into my cart, or the coupons didn't post right.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >Always remember: It’s a penny earned.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >I’ll discuss the various aspects of couponing over the next several blogs.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; font-family:times new roman;"><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >Basic Terms and Abbreviations:</span></p> <ul type="disc" style="font-family:times new roman;"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >$1/1, $1/2:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Save one dollar off one item, one dollar off two items</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >BOGO:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Buy one item get one free</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >B2GO:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Buy two items get one free</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >BOGOHOFF:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Buy one get one Half-off</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >Blinkies:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Coupon dispensers found on store aisles</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >CAT:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Catalina machine coupons print out at grocers, including Safeway and Giant</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >CC: </span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >Charity Coupon</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >CRT:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Cash register tape. </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >CODES: </span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-weight: boldfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >Rewards codes found in products, such as Pampers' <a href="http://en.giftstogrow.pampers.com/index.html"><span style="color:blue;">Gifts to Grow</span></a> program</span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >DND:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Do not double</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >ECBs:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > ExtraCare Bucks, CVS </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >FAR:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Free after rebate</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >IVC:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Instant Value Coupon, Walgreens in-ad coupon</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >MCP:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Manufacturer Coupon</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >MiR:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Mail-in rebate</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >OYNO:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > On your next order</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >Peelie:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Peel-away coupon on the product package </span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >PQ:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Printable coupon</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >PSA:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Prices starting at</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >RC: </span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" >Restaraunt Coupon</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >RRs:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Register Rewards, Walgreens Catalina rewards program</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >SCs:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Store Coupons</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >SCR:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Single-Check Rebate, Rite Aid monthly rebates program</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >UPC:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > Universal product code or bar code</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;tab-stops:list .5in"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";" >WYB:</span></b></span><span style="mso-fareast-Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-family:";font-size:100%;" > When you buy</span><span style="mso-bidi-mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;font-size:100%;" ><br /></span></li></ul> <div style="font-family:times new roman;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span> <hr style="height: 3px;font-size:78%;" align="left" width="33%"> <div style="mso-element:endnote" id="edn1"> <p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="mso-endnote-id:edn1" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=1988404630514100057&postID=2063791225009506463#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span style="lucida grande","serif""><span style="mso-special-character:footnote"><span style="line-height:115%;font-family:"lucida grande","serif"; mso-fareast-Times New Roman";mso-bidi-Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-US;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SAfont-family:";" >[i]</span></span></span></a></span><span style="Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latinfont-size:100%;" >[i]</span><span style="lucida grande","serif"font-size:100%;" > Giant and Safeway claim to double coupons every day. Walmart and Kmart double coupons once in a while.</span></p> </div> </div>christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1988404630514100057.post-3160039716386776182011-12-16T17:42:00.002-05:002011-12-17T13:30:08.212-05:00Savings Idea #4: Couponing without the CrazyFor most people, buying food and homegoods (diapers!) are the third biggest expense after their mortgage and car. It’s also the expense with the most flexibility. It's easy to see why people coupon, particularly after nearly a decade-long soggy economy.<br /><br />Recently I got into the show Extreme Couponing, on TLC. It’s fascinating, and it’s full of tips on how to get the most mileage out of your food budget, and stuffed with drama onscreen and off. I had shied away from coupons for years, but one recent episode asserted that you can get more than junk food. So I tried it. And it’s true.<br /><br /><div class="MsoNormal">Those couponers on TLC are… more than a little crazy. All the ones I’ve seen would have to be classified as hoarders; first they hoard coupons then they hoard a year’s worth of goods. I’m not suggesting anyone clear out the garage and install library shelving so you too can have a $20,000 stash of goods bought at less than wholesale. But I do know after 5 week’s research and shopping that you can easily save 30-60% off items for which you have coupons, and here and there you can get an item free. Once I've had the store pay me to take an item home (they accepted a $1/2 coupon for a set of items, one of which turned out to be free at transaction's end; they paid me 50 cents to take it home).<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">According to the USDA, a family of four with children under 5-years-old spend $800 to $1000 monthly on food. Even on a thrifty plan, they spend $520 a month. With coupons and careful shopping, anyone, no matter their spending level, should be able to cut 30% off their grocers’ bill. In a week. Note that $800 a month x 30% saved = $240 a month saved, or about $3,000 a year. This seems like reasonable couponing to me. My goal is not to be an Extremist, but a Zen Couponer; if you rarely use coupons, consider yourself labeled: <span style="font-style: italic;">Dabbler</span>.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The reason the Extreme Couponers on TLC attract attention is that they go to great – sometimes illegal – lengths to acquire coupons and cheap or free products. The illegal methods are anecdotally interesting, and include a method of using coupons for products other than those intended (<a href="http://jillcataldo.com/alleged-tlc-extreme-couponing-fraud?page=1">coupon fraud</a> resulted in a change in the UPC codes on coupons, to tie them to the intended items). Suffice it to say that trespassing and stealing your neighbor’s purchased subscription are illegal (criminal trespass and petty theft), as is buying coupons (which constitutes fraud in the coupon’s fine print). Dumpster diving may be illegal in your area. Certainly it's gross, and extreme.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal">Here’s the problem with hoarding coupons: it’s difficult to come by dozens of coupons for the same item, and pair them with the right deal before they expire. I’ve been clipping coupons since late October. The coupon cycle is 12 weeks. That is, most of my coupons expire Dec. 31, no matter when I clipped them. On January first, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">90%</b> of my coupons will make a very colorful ticker-tape parade for the babies' second New Year.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Before you get started, commit to Zen Couponing. To me this means having one place in my life where I exert organized control (did I mention I have twins?), and have a little fun while seeing how much I can squeeze out of a good deal for items I really want or need. Zen Couponing is fun; I do not stress over expired coupons, just let them float into the recycle bin; certainly Zen Couponers are savvy shoppers, but they are not so emotionally invested that losing out on one (or many) coupons feels like they "lost a family member", as one Extreme Couponer on TLC's show asserted. Expired coupons make fun confetti; that's all.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Zen Couponing, like many profitable hobbies, is fun, enlivening, and offers ample opportunities for rewards without the extremes reached by Extremists. Zen Couponers buy items they need whether they have a coupon or not, they do not go out of their way to make purchases they wouldn't normally make, and they maintain a small stockpile of dry goods and needful items. </div><div class="MsoNormal">I'm brand loyal. For anything that is going in (food, drink) or on (lotion, makeup, detergent) my body, I am particular. We use only Tide Free detergent, Dreft for the kids, and buy organic veggies, fruits, and meats. Every time I put the boys in something other than Pampers they get diaper rash. However, everything else is up for grabs. Toilet Tissue? Razors? Sponges? Who cares what brand of trash bag you use? You're just going to put trash in it.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">In college, one of my professors (Sociology) told our class that almost any product has one of two to five manufacturers. Pick a product: TP, car, shampoo, trash bags, candy. Any product. The number of manufacturers making that product is between two and five. (<span style="font-style: italic;">Test Yourself: name more than 3 brands of anything.</span>) Which means you're likely to find coupons for those major manufacturers' products <span style="font-style: italic;">regularly</span>. Smaller companies, such as Earth's Best (I like their toddler foods and diapers), don't put out coupons, usually. But the large companies put out so many it's easy to create a large stockpile in just a few months.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">My question is: Why would you want to?<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">No one needs 500 rolls of toilet paper in a basement storehouse, unless they’re running a mid-size business, or selling the excess to neighbors and eBayers. I actually wonder if many of TLC's Extremists are actually running small neighborhood stores out of their homes. It's assured no one needs 1000 razors to last them until the next big sale. A three-month supply is plenty for dry goods, a three-week supply is plenty for foods. Meat goes bad even in the freezer after 3 months. Why keep 12 years of detergent when you’ll be moving on from college in a few years? Why paint “The Joneses’ Store” on the door to your hoard of freebies? Why does the show’s announcer refer to these hoards as “minit-marts” and “in-home stores”? Hmmm.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Zen Couponing means keeping it small, manageable, organized, and still save half off goods you normally buy without devoting a room of your house to it. If you have the room for a store in your home -- a huge pantry, a large unused utility room, an empty bedroom -- go for it. Most of us would rather use the space.<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The Extremists remind me of the Steven Wright joke: “You can’t have everything. Where would you put it?”</div>christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08924518380861724550noreply@blogger.com0