Coupon Fair

For anyone who is into couponing, your day is almost here! It's Coupon Fair time this Saturday. Most of the local couponing rock stars will be there. What great people! We are so fortunate to have them in our community, and you can meet them in person on Saturday. See you there--Faith United Methodist Church, 9-noon

Getting Music for Free

This is not about Pandora or any of those other programs. This is about how procrastination sometimes saves you money.

In 1967 I was a typical high school freshman nerd. Oh, no, it was worse. I was overweight and IN A GIRLS' BOARDING SCHOOL. However, there was a signficant way to escape the nerdiness: music, and the best escape was S-O-U-L. My sister gave me what turned out to be my favorite record of all times. It was the Stax/Volt Revue, Volume 2, Live in Paris. Carla Thomas, Eddie Floyd, Sam & Dave and Otis Redding. Probably not a big seller compared to some of its contemporary recordings. Hmm, I am sure that it was not converted to eight-track, not a tape, not a cd. With our turntable long gone, I had thought about getting someone to make a cd from my old record. The internet has saved me!!! Some lovely person has put them on YouTube, and I can listen to the whole record through the playlist. I'm listening to it now.

Yeah, Sam & Dave, you got me hummin'!

Time Wasted in Cyberspace

I was in meetings all last week and all this week. There were no more than 20 people in the room, so it wasn't like you could get away with checking your phone during the meetings; but as soon as we took a break, everyone went into their own phone zone. It made me think of times gone by . . . .

There was a time you could smoke anywhere (reference Mad Men) and the time most people still smoked and then the practice started where you could go outside with all your buddies and stand around in the cold for a few minutes while you dragged on your cigarettes. Yes, during meeting breaks we all rushed outside in a pack. I feel for those few who still smoke. The smoking break used to be a real social event. I am assuming that it isn't anymore. (yes, I am a stereotypical babyboomer--smoked until my late 20's, then once in a while bought a pack, but the thought of smoking now makes me shudder.)

The rush to get on the phone reminds me of the rush to get the cigarette lit.

So much time can be wasted in cyberspace. I let my personal e-mail pile up this week, so I have just spent two hours catching up to last Sunday. My inbox still could be referred to as littered.

I need to weed! The first thing, appropriately for weeding, was a garden center that sends me notices. I have been in a condo for four years. Why do I need garden centers notifying me?

It will take some discipline, but I am going to unsubscribe to something EVERY TIME I get on-line. ugh.

A Little More Money AND the Healthy Living Fair

I am trying to find $5,294 (see Jan 2, 2011 post)

Still to go $5,191.61

Last week's CVS extra care bucks $9.50
coupon on salsa 1.00
Free chips coupon 2.00
Earth Fare Coupon from Healthy Living 5.00
Free Coke 12 pack 2.50
CVS gift certificate from MyPoints 25.00
total 45.00

Still to go $5,146.61

(I forgot to track the week before's coupons. oops.)

The Healthy Living Fair was held at the Knoxville Convention Center January 21 and 22. This is probably the fourth or fifth year they have held it. 2010's event was plagued with icy weather. There also seemed to be fewer vendors. 2011 was a great event. The weather was cooperative, so there were a lot more people checking out what seemed to be a lot more vendors. They were very fortunate because a couple of the Biggest Losers stars happen to be from Knoxville, and they were there.

I got in free because my health club, CourtSouth, was a sponsor; so they had free tickets at the club. However, I figure they were giving out a lot of tickets because I didn't see anyone buying tickets when I arrived.

The Convention Center is about a half mile from where I live, so I walked.

There was a $5 coupon to Earth Fare in the magazine they gave away as well. It has no expiration date on it. I'm wondering how long they will honor them.

The most impressive occurrence was the demonstrators on the main stage. There were a number of health-focused outfits, such as dance clubs,represented. The "performers" weren't professionals by any means. In fact, many of them would be considered on the heavy side. But their willingness to show the public that exercise can be fun and beneficial was inspiring.

Remember: the number one way, America, to save money is to keep well. Exercise supports good physical and mental health!!!

a little more money

Got the $40 reward Home Depot card from our credit card


$5,231.61
40.00
still to go:

$5191.61

Find More Money through Your Tax Return

Families who make less than $50K can get their taxes done and likely get other good financial advice at VITA sites. They only have to wait no more than a couple of weeks for their refund. Call 2-1-1 for the nearest site

Tax Preparers Feed on Immediate Gratification.

We have gotten flyers in the past two days or tax preparations. BEWARE!!! For fast money through commercial tax preparers, the filer is technically taking out a high interest loan against their anticipated refund. Also, there is a system of adding on additional fees.

Please, please encourage those who make $50K or less to go to a VITA site. There is a good chance they'll get back more than if they do their tax returns themselves.

Call 2-1-1 for a location convenient for you. They will start to open up in temporary sites in community centers, etc. next week.

Cmon, Couponers, Keep It Balanced

Recently TLC launched "Extreme Couponing." Unfortunately they are using their tried-and-true genre of exposing the unusual behavior of those profiled. The subtitle of the show could be "A Special Subgroup--Close To Becoming Hoarders."

The general perception of active couponers might be negative; but about a year ago a local coupon blogger, Coupon Katie, laid out the truth. Fortunately when I read it, I was in a teachable mood. She stressed that "It's all about BALANCE." At that moment I pledged to, indeed, keep it balanced.

After you have been couponing, you understand that there are cycles of sales. You'll get your chance at that super-duper toilet paper sale in a couple of months, so a couple months stockpile is probably going to hold you until the next great opportunity to buy cheap.

I am a business school graduate. One important thing I learned in school was "money now is worth more than money in the future." So, even a dollar or two applied to get a sale isn't worth it if you are not going to use the product until months later. Those dollars could be used TODAY to reduce your debt load or put into your retirement plan. That is why I don't understand people who save coins--make those pennies work for you!!!

If you DO get big into couponing, don't let the missed opportunities obsess you. Couponing is much like a sport. If you get news of a deal that, with a coupon, will actually MAKE you money, for example, and somehow you don't have that coupon in your file: show some character and take the loss gracefully. Think of yourself as a golfer who constantly looks at ways to take a few strokes off. Sometimes you get the shot, sometimes you don't.

I'd like to add that you need to look at the big picture--your entire life--and make sure that there is balance. For example, my husband is not a big fan of my couponing; so when he suggests doing something on a Sunday afternoon (that traditional time when couponers all around the nation are at their kitchen tables, gleefully mutilating the Sunday newspaper inserts), I would never say "nope, gotta get caught up on coupon clipping." Husband comes first and way before couponing. (We've been married 36 years). Another note: whatever he suggests, however, better be cheap or free. Last Sunday we went to the East Tennessee History Center--it's free on Sundays ($5 other days).

Finally, a tip on how to respond when you are at the store and someone makes some "funny" comment about your notebook or your big stack of coupons that you pull out. I tell them it's my hobby, and "if you have a hobby, does it MAKE you money?" They can't respond. end of conversation. Cha-ching!