If you've been following my blog or chatting with me, you know that 2008 was the year of the coupon in my house. As an active grocery gamer in the LOND (land of no doubles- double coupons, that is), I set out with one lofty goal in 2008: to generate enough in savings to equal the cost of my trip to Ireland this spring (2009). I'm pleased to say that I not only reached that, I may have come close to doubling it. To all the nay-sayers who don't bother clipping coupons because a piece of paper worth .30 isn't worth their time, I say, "how does $4500.00 sound?"
For the entire year I saved receipts; tracked how much I spent and how much I saved. Sales + coupons actually combined to equal well over $4500, I rounded it down because there were those things that I got for free which I might not have otherwise purchased. They kind of skew the numbers up so I wanted to adjust for that. Those automatic air fresheners come to mind- at $11.99 there is no way I'd buy them. But for $1, or even less, sure. They are fantastic in the litter box zone. Incidentally, I even bargain shopped my travel plans, saving several hundred dollars on booking that trip to Ireland.
Probably the best part of all this analysis was a heightened sense of shopping-awareness. Now I can see at a glance what expenses to expect in any given month and start forecasting. I've always been good about upcoming birthdays and holidays, but seem to get caught off guard for all the other kid things. For example Little League doesn't start until April, but sign ups (and therefore $ due) take place in January. I'm also able to look at the notes on what I bought last year to see that March is an expensive month...family birthdays, Easter, Spring Break, attire for the spring musical, girl scout cookies, school fundraisers, spring pictures, you get the idea. Lots of things that only happen once a year but all in a span of a few short weeks.
I've been watching the shopping forums I frequent with an eye toward bargains for these upcoming needs. Today I tried a new (to me) tool, Shop Wiki. Specifically the guide for Babies and Toddlers, located here- http://www.shopwiki.com/wiki/Babies+and+Toddlers, because in addition to all those other things coming up I also have to shop for a baby shower gift. There are more detailed guides for just about every baby and toddler thing imagineable. I skipped over the big ticket items like strollers, car seats, and play yards, instead checking out books and toys. {quick aside- dontcha love the p.c. term 'play yard' over playpen? Really, 6 square feet does not make a yard. We all know it is baby jail so mom can pee in private... the 'pen' for the under 2 set.}
Right off the bat I followed the link for more information on bedtime stories for infants. A selection of suggestions, prices, and where to find them popped up. Most seemed to be collections of stories so I did a quick search on one of my all-time-favorite stories to read to my own girls, Mem Fox's Time for Bed. Sure enough, I found I can buy it at over 20 stores. One place that I wouldn't normally think of, though, was Scholastic. Which made me realize, I could probably purchase this at the school book fair which I'm going to support anyway. Now, instead of tossing $20 blindly at whatever whims my kids have, I can support their school and fill a need at the same time. This book and a hand crocheted baby blanket will make a gift I'm thrilled to give. In less than five minutes I've picked out a present which likely would have involved 30 minutes staring at the 'le Target' (work with me- say it French) baby registry and not being thrilled with any of the choices in my price range. Note that the wiki wasn't perfect, as some of the 'bedtime stories' merchandise consisted of trinkets instead of books, however I'm happy to recommend it. The site saved me time and money which makes it a bargain in my book! I'm sure I'll use ShopWiki.com again.
January 28, 2009
2008 Savings and Baby Shopping Wiki
December 5, 2008
Is the public flogging about over?
Is it just me, or does anyone else take issue with the way the congressional hearings on the auto industry are playing out? Isn't it obvious what is going on? Their constituents are justifiably ANGRY about the bail out offered to the finance industry and now here are these apparant fat cats pleading for cash. Make a few nasty digs about private planes and obvious excesses, be sure to really put the heat on so that the folks who elected you can see that you are making someone pay for their frustration.
The fact is, policies enacted by both parties have created the economic disaster we are in right now and the one real solution I'm not seeing or hearing anywhere seems pretty obvious: buy American.
I think maybe the reason why you aren't hearing that is because you almost can't. NAFTA was supposed to bring a trade deficit into balance, but it failed. Seeing that it was failing, you'd think that more sentiment against expanding trade with China would have been considered. A million jobs lost due to NAFTA, over 2 million lost to China... it doesn't take a genius to figure out that without jobs, American's can't afford to buy American. They can't afford to buy anything but those ridiculously low-priced Chinese imports.
In light of the issues with Chinese manufactured toys and foods, I told myself to work hard at not buying Chinese products for my family, especially Christmas gifts. I had no idea what a challenge that would be. It isn't just an issue of cost anymore- so much manufacturing has left the US that it is hard to find goods that are made here. The world has gone global now, so a Japanese car is made in Tennesse and an American car is made in Mexico. With that globalization comes an equalization in wages. That may not have been the intention with these trade policies, but it is what is happening. Our $20/hr jobs are cut in half and there seems to be no sympathy for the worker who had it for so good for so long. Except that worker built a life around that level of wages and if the income gets cut so must the mortgage and every other bill. It isn't like the electric or gas companies are going to reduce your monthly bill by half just because your salary was re-negotiated as part of union concessions to just make sure you actually HAVE a job.
I spoke with my brother in California yesterday and he said that he hears a lot of resentment toward the big three. Many people on the west coast think foreign cars are better, have fewer issues. I won't argue that some US cars don't have the best record for reliability. Same can be said for a few foreign cars too. But we've already established that the lines between what is American and what is foreign are pretty blurry. The fact is, if Detroit goes down the rest of the auto manufacturers will follow. How is it no one outside the auto industry seems to see this?
In any given month, the smaller suppliers to the big three are owed millions of dollars for the parts they make. It is part of living in a net-45 or net-90 world. Well, suppose GM goes bankrupt. Is it realistic to think that losing millions isn't going to impact those suppliers? What about the companies which provide their raw materials? The suppliers' suppliers? Not to mention that the support companies don't usually make only one product. Suddenly they can't make products for consumer goods because they can't afford to make payroll and keep the doors open. It is like a house of cards built on a core of three. Remove one of those cards at the bottom and watch how many others come tumbling down.
So, when the Honda and Toyota can't keep their suppliers afloat what happens? The price soars on their vehicles. Who could afford them anyway, though? When we lose millions of jobs on top of the already 3+ million we've lost, how many people are going to struggle to pay mortgages and groceries, let alone anything else?
So it all comes back to JOBS. Now I realize it isn't as simplistic as signing a loan for the status quo. Clearly some major changes need to be made, not the least of which is that investors have to loosen the reigns on money. The credit crisis is in part why GM is begging the government to step in with an immediate loan. With Christmas coming, please keep in mind that how you spend your money matters. Maybe you aren't a Wall Stree Investor, but your money does make a difference. In that light, I have put together a list of sources for American-made items that might be on your shopping list. I can't speak to the vendors themselves as many are companies I haven't purchased from, yet. But please keep in mind when you are shopping this year that we all can make a bigger impact on the US economy when we purchase goods that were made here.
Toys of USA
Fat Brain Toys
Vermont Teddy Bear
Made in USA Forever
Still Made in the USA -directory
Toy& Game list from Fox News:
• Battleship
• Bicycle Playing Cards
• Boggle Jr.
• Candyland
• Chutes and Ladders
• Clue
• Connect Four
• Crayola Crayons *
• Life• Louisville Slugger
• Monopoly
• Mouse Trap
• Operation
• Parcheesi
• Play-Doh *
• Pop-O-Matic Trouble
• Radio Flyer Discovery Wagon
• Scrabble
• Sorry
• Stratego
• Tri-ominos
• Trivial Pursuit
• Yahtzee
• The Yot
Melissa and Doug U.S.A. Floor Puzzle (Most puzzles are made in the USA!)
* Note: Not all packages of Crayola Crayons and Play-Doh are made in the USA -- please check the label.
October 31, 2008
A little jack o'lantern went out to play...
Confession of a bad mom: this year we didn't carve pumpkins. I didn't even buy pumpkins, or any fall decorations for that matter. I did pull out the decorations for inside which we had stored in the basement and displayed them around the house, but forget decorating outside. My kids will probably vent about it to a therapist one day. "It all started when my mom didn't take the time to carve pumpkins with me..."
The thing is, they refuse to scoop the guts out (the fun part!) and I do it all. They think they want to carve pumpkins until it comes time to start. Then I get left alone on the kitchen floor to carve along their sharpie marks while they run off to watch tv, play in the yard, or kill an hour on Webkinz World. I get to stick my hands inside cold pumpkin goo and squeeze out the pumpkin seeds they refuse to help clean, roast, and eat. In the time before kids, I absolutely LOVED to do the time-consuming intricate carvings that make everyone go "oooh!" Call me a snob, but those cut out triangles and jagged smiles are boring. If I'm going to suffer through then I want my kids suffering too. So, instead of a mutual suffering session, this year I said skip it.
October 29, 2008
The frustration of finding the perfect bead
Last year when I designed my annual Stargazer Snowflake, I thought they were the prettiest I'd ever done. I was so pleased with them. Then, the horror of horrors happened: my supplier was sold out of the beads I needed. I spent hours, days even, searching the internet. Scouring sites the world over looking for more of the Czech two-tone beads which were critical to the design. I finally found some on ebay, but they weren't as brilliant as the first batch from my regular supplier. They were adequate, but not stellar. I bought the ebay seller out, but was only able to make 50 Peace Snowflakes. That meant only a $50 donation. Adequate, but not stellar.
This year, I vowed, I would not be caught under the gun. I started mulling over ideas this summer and came up with a plan to do a snowflake called Joy. It would be blue and frosty white. Why? I'm not sure, just because I can, I guess. Or maybe because they would look nice in my own home through February since they would be winter decor, not exclusively Christmas decor.
Well, I procrastinated again, but had a general idea of what I was looking for. I did some searching and found these beads and I knew what I wanted to do with the design. Except I wanted these beads in a clear glass or pale blue, but still with that mother-of-pearl coating so they look whimsical.
I planned to designate a children's charity as the recipient of my $1 donation per snowflake sold this year, one that has as its mission to bring Joy to children faced with terrible circumstances. I narrowed it down to two- either Make a Wish Foundation or American Dream Flite. I emailed ADF to see if they are open to being my named cause for 2008 but the email bounced back. I'm not without resources, however, so that is a minor glitch. I think ADF is my pick because they are a small organization doing big things for children with terminal cancer. The major glitch happened when all the other components of this snowflake arrived except these beads. I emailed the vendor. I waited.Apparantly, they can't fill the order. Which left me scrambling. You see, I now have THREE WEEKS until my biggest event of the year. THREE WEEKS to make at least 50 snowflakes. But I can't make anything if I don't even have the beads! I spend hours searching sites all over the world for these beads. I found some in Australia, but my inquiry about whether they have 600 of them in stock and how much/how long shipping to the US would take has gone unanswered. They probably think, "pushy demanding American, why do you think we should drop everything and cater to you?" I don't blame them. Except every hour I'd feel a little more desperate.
This morning I took a quick look again while I waited until it was time to leave for my current Beth Moore study. I remembered seeing some that were similar, although not exact. The ones I wanted were Cinnamon Buns. These were Jelly Rolls. I was on a mission...
These are a mm smaller and to me, not quite as pretty. Adequate, not stellar. Beggars of 600 beads can't be choosers, however. I snagged them while I could get them. I hoped that the order would go through fine as I chose the Fed Ex 2-day option. Oh, it kills me to spend a fortune on shipping. I worried that there would be a "so sorry but..." email waiting for me and I had a quick moment of panic when I got home and saw that there was indeed an email from this vendor in my inbox. Big sigh of relief, then, that they were just confirming the expedited shipping. Finally- outstanding customer service. My attempt at a fun and more whimsical design might work out after all, even if it isn't exactly as I had envisioned.
And if this post is choppy and rambles on, my apologies. I've been interrupted several times with calls from other crafters asking about this craft show. It isn't enough that this is my personal best show of the year, I co-organize the event. Man, I have got to slap some ducks in a serious row this week.
October 27, 2008
Love This!
A quick stop at the health food store last week turned up my new favorite decadence:
These are sooooooo good. The only variety I've had is the Almond & Coconut pictured above, but I will definitely buy more. They taste a little like baklava, but crispy. And light. With a kiss of coconut. Oh, I'll be buying these by the box.
From the Kind website:
KIND Almond & Coconut is delicious, all natural, gluten free, wheat and dairy free. This healthy snack bar contains no trans fats. It's a rich source of fiber, low in sodium and contains a low GI.
Packed with whole premium almonds, which are high in protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, and other antioxidants. Almonds help prevent osteoporosis and have properties that regulate blood pressure. In addition, coconut has been shown to improve digestive functions. With the taste of a macaroon more than that of a nutrition bar, our Almond and Coconut, KIND healthy snack bars, will satisfy even the pickiest sweet tooth.
INGREDIENTS:
Almonds, honey, shredded coconut, coconut chips, glucose, puffed rice, chicory fiber, soy lecithin.
NUTRITIONAL INFO.:
Calories: 190
Fiber: 4g
Fat Calories: 130
Sugars: 11g
Total Fat: 14g
Protein: 4g
Saturated Fat: 5g
Vitamin A: 0% DV
Cholesterol: 0mg
Vitamin C: 0% DV
Sodium: 25g
Calcium: 4% DV
Total Carbohydrates: 14g
Iron: 6% DV
Visions of Halloween Past
I have this crazy urge to go delving into photo archives. Maybe it was from reading a post at Camp-run-a-muk (see blogroll to the right). Maybe it was the quizzing the Guy gave me the other day (I passed). Anyway, let's take a little trip down memory lane:
Princess was supposed to be Glinda the Good Witch from Wizard of Oz. She changed her mind at the last minute. So, no Glinda crown. Dress found at Centsible Treasures second-hand store. I ducked in there with a friend who was looking for costumes for her kids, never expecting I'd find the perfect gown for my own. I tried to persuade Small Fry to be Dorothy, but she would have none of it. Tink remains her favorite Disney character.
2007- The Year of the Madonna-Wannabe Flamenco Dancers
The Guy brought these dresses back from Spain. I told him to bring the girls back a skirt or dress, something they could wear as a souvenier. I was thinking something cool and European they could wear to school. I did NOT picture these! However, they were great costumes and the girls loved them. There was some confusion, though, on just who/what they were. A platinum-blonde 40-something mom said, "OH! look, it's Madonna!!" I could tell she was a fan. Who was I to argue?2008- Princess as a Bride, Small Fry as Belle from Beauty and the Beast
Of note: my 8 year old is wearing my Senior Prom dress as her costume. It is not too long. It almost fits her perfectly. Yeesh, she better be a basketball player someday. My little Belle was very specific about her dress. Most Belle costumes weren't quite right. Thankfully this one was acceptable, otherwise I'd have had to *make* it. As it was, I made Princess' veil. I think that is enough craftiness for one season.
October 25, 2008
Do you hear that sucking sound?
It is the sound of a cosmic vacuum. An intelligent cosmic vacuum which seems to know when my couponing is at its peak and enhanced prosperity is just around the corner for my family. Just about the time my checkbook should be doing the happy dance, something unexpected plops on the bill pile. Like, oh, say $600+ for labs that we expected to be covered by insurance. Or car repair. Tell me you relate. Yes, I see you nodding in agreement.
A couple weeks ago the man of the house (hereafter named the Guy) said that we need to invest in a couple things for the cars before winter. The jeep needs a new top, that I already knew and have been sort of keeping one eye peeled for a good deal on an after market soft top. My last one was an internet steal about 8 years ago for under $200. So of course I want that kind of deal again. Then he went on to say something about the front brakes in the Durango and blah blah rear end making noise. I couldn't really catch the last part, what with all the racket the cosmic vacuum was making.
Surprise, surprise, then, when an email came through asking me my opinion of RepairPal.com .
I told you that cosmic vacuum was intelligent... persistent too. Anyway, I did venture on over there and was pleasantly surprised at the amount of real information. From the home page you can find a repair shop in your area, learn about common problems for your car, and my personal favorite: how much you should expect to pay for the repairs you need. Normally when I try these handy little gadgets there is nothing for my little Southwest Michigan town but surprisingly, every auto and body shop I know and trust is there- as well as a couple I hadn't even heard of. Do it, I dare ya: go to Repair Pal's site and test it for yourself. Leave a comment to let me know if it worked as good for you as it did for me in bringing up car repair shops in your town.
Of interest to me was finding out how much those front brakes were going to cost (let's face it, "blah blah rear end making noise" is not on my priority list yet). So under Common Car Repairs I clicked on Brake Pad Replacement and viola! There I was with easy to read info on the details of brake pad replacement as well as a few tips and of course the link to find a shop and get an estimate of what to expect to pay for brakes in my area. $102 - $215 is what the clever gadget told me.
Cautiously, I approached the Guy. "Honey, how much do you think parts would cost to do the brakes ourselves?" {YES, I SAID OURSELVES BUT YOU KNOW I MEAN YOURSELF} He's not sure. Well you know what? I'm going to go look up those parts for him and get back with a firm price. Because if it is like $35, he's just lost a Saturday afternoon. But if it is more like $75, well then it becomes time to shop around. His time is worth more than the $25 we'd save if we can get in on the low end of those estimates.
Armed with a little intelligence of my own, I'm tempted to tell the cosmic vacuum to suck this... but I won't. Can you imagine the unexpected expenses that would result from that?! I'm not stupid!
