My friends mock me because I always have a coupon. I keep an accordian folder in my car (that's the secret) with sections for restaurants, retail, food coupons, pharmacies, and businesses that I frequent. Sometimes I stick the Sunday ad in there with items circled that are a good deal, or I put a post it note on the flyer with a list of what I need.
I also keep my frequent buyer cards in this folder. I want that 8th frozen yogurt for free!
Also, I always check on-line for a coupon before ordering anything. Just type in the name of the store, ie Borders coupon and print out the coupon and take it with you or use the code to buy the item on line.
When I am waiting in my car, I use the time to clean out the file and refresh my memory as to what is in there.
I am looking at some other blogs of "coupon queens" who put me to shame. I will be sharing those links, check back soon.
happy couponing!
Saturday, January 31, 2009
gifts on a budget
Here are some of the favorite gifts I gave and received at Christmas. Please share yours with us!
* family calendar-this year my sister used Vista Print, http://www.vistaprint.com/ to make our annual 12 month calendar. I love flipping over the months and knowing that my Mom and siblings are doing the same. Also include every family members birthday and anniversary on the calendar. Kinkos and most of the big box office supply stores will also do this for you.
* A Christmas CD with all of my favorite songs and a dorky picture of me as a teenager in the snow on the cover. Look for blank CD's that come with a clear case. Print out the list of songs and the artists and glue that to the inside of the cover.
* A key-finder from my sister which clips onto your purse so you can always find your keys quickly.
* A family picture DVD that I made at Wal-Mart. It costs about $15 and you can pick the music that plays along with the picture slide show. (The music choices were limited). I can't remember how many pictures you could use but I think it was 50 or 60 per DVD.
CVS also has these machines and is advertising them for $9.99 with a CVS card. I wish I could go back and have each of my kids birthdays on these DVD. This would also be a great idea before you scrapbook your pictures. Here in Yorba Linda, we had a terrible fire back in November. When we evacuated I took a car full of pictures and scrapbooks. These DVD's would be great to have.
* family calendar-this year my sister used Vista Print, http://www.vistaprint.com/ to make our annual 12 month calendar. I love flipping over the months and knowing that my Mom and siblings are doing the same. Also include every family members birthday and anniversary on the calendar. Kinkos and most of the big box office supply stores will also do this for you.
* A Christmas CD with all of my favorite songs and a dorky picture of me as a teenager in the snow on the cover. Look for blank CD's that come with a clear case. Print out the list of songs and the artists and glue that to the inside of the cover.
* A key-finder from my sister which clips onto your purse so you can always find your keys quickly.
* A family picture DVD that I made at Wal-Mart. It costs about $15 and you can pick the music that plays along with the picture slide show. (The music choices were limited). I can't remember how many pictures you could use but I think it was 50 or 60 per DVD.
CVS also has these machines and is advertising them for $9.99 with a CVS card. I wish I could go back and have each of my kids birthdays on these DVD. This would also be a great idea before you scrapbook your pictures. Here in Yorba Linda, we had a terrible fire back in November. When we evacuated I took a car full of pictures and scrapbooks. These DVD's would be great to have.
Proms, formal dances and special occasions
We just returned from taking pictures of my daughter and her date for their high school winter formal. We cut corners where we could but it is still ridiculously expensive. I told her to start asking her girlfriends to swap dresses for the prom.
One great tip I got from my clever friend Mindy is to have her make-up done at the Bobbi Brown counter at the mall. The cost was zero and the girl did an amazing job. I purchased a few products as a little splurge that we can both enjoy, but that is optional.
If I were going to a special occassion or getting my picture taken for something important, I would do this again. We made an appointment several weeks ago. The salesperson/make-up artist had to stop to wait on other customers during the process so allow extra time for this.
One great tip I got from my clever friend Mindy is to have her make-up done at the Bobbi Brown counter at the mall. The cost was zero and the girl did an amazing job. I purchased a few products as a little splurge that we can both enjoy, but that is optional.
If I were going to a special occassion or getting my picture taken for something important, I would do this again. We made an appointment several weeks ago. The salesperson/make-up artist had to stop to wait on other customers during the process so allow extra time for this.
College application tips
We are near the end of the college application process. Here are my best tips while they are fresh in my mind. Start thinking about this as soon as your child enters high school and start a 3 ring binder divided by schools/financial aid/scholarships etc.
Check the web site of the schools you child is interested in around July 1st to see if the essay questions for the application are updated and posted for the following year. Print them out and have your child look at them to start formulating ideas.
Have them keep a journal of favorites songs, books they have enjoyed and why, challenges they have overcome, interesting people they have met-you get the idea. When the time comes to write the essays, they have these notes to help them to remember.
If you child is a junior during the summer, have them work on these essays over the summer. Do not wait until school starts, especially if they play a fall sport or they are super busy with AP classes, etc.
Start collecting information on scholarships. Pay attention to the ones the schools offer, local scholarships that you might read about in the paper and through your high school guidance office. Look at the essays needed if applicable. Some of the entrace essays and scholarship essays can be shared, but not as many as you would think.
Keep detailed track of community service hours. Encourage your child to spend alot of hours on one or two projects rather than many with few hours involved.
You will most likely be shocked by your expected family contribution after you complete the FAFSA. Brace yourself.
I hope this helps. Has anyone ever known anyone to actually receive a scholarship through Fast-Web? I keep asking and the answer is still no.
Check the web site of the schools you child is interested in around July 1st to see if the essay questions for the application are updated and posted for the following year. Print them out and have your child look at them to start formulating ideas.
Have them keep a journal of favorites songs, books they have enjoyed and why, challenges they have overcome, interesting people they have met-you get the idea. When the time comes to write the essays, they have these notes to help them to remember.
If you child is a junior during the summer, have them work on these essays over the summer. Do not wait until school starts, especially if they play a fall sport or they are super busy with AP classes, etc.
Start collecting information on scholarships. Pay attention to the ones the schools offer, local scholarships that you might read about in the paper and through your high school guidance office. Look at the essays needed if applicable. Some of the entrace essays and scholarship essays can be shared, but not as many as you would think.
Keep detailed track of community service hours. Encourage your child to spend alot of hours on one or two projects rather than many with few hours involved.
You will most likely be shocked by your expected family contribution after you complete the FAFSA. Brace yourself.
I hope this helps. Has anyone ever known anyone to actually receive a scholarship through Fast-Web? I keep asking and the answer is still no.
Friday, January 30, 2009
getting up to speed-technology-wise
It is time for me to shake out the cob webs and embrace technology. I planned to start this blog last year and got bogged down in the setting-up part. This might not be the fanciest blog, but Google has made it a breeze.
I also signed up for Video Professor, http://www.videoprofessor.com/ and I am learning Microsoft Excel, Publisher and Quickbooks at my own pace and in my jammies at home.
I also signed up for Twitter and Facebook. You can follow me on Twitter at ljfelix@twitter.com
and my Facebook page is Lori Felix lorijfelix@gmail.com.
What else do you recommend?
I also signed up for Video Professor, http://www.videoprofessor.com/ and I am learning Microsoft Excel, Publisher and Quickbooks at my own pace and in my jammies at home.
I also signed up for Twitter and Facebook. You can follow me on Twitter at ljfelix@twitter.com
and my Facebook page is Lori Felix lorijfelix@gmail.com.
What else do you recommend?
my garden
In the summer I planted several types of lettuce, a few tomato plants, some zucchini, spinach and a few herbs. I bought everything from Home Depot in the tiny starter plants and hoped for the best.
It is almost February and we are still enjoying the lettuce and the tomatoes. I live in southern California and its 80 degrees today, sorry.
Anyway, what a great idea I finally latched on to. How does your garden grow?
It is almost February and we are still enjoying the lettuce and the tomatoes. I live in southern California and its 80 degrees today, sorry.
Anyway, what a great idea I finally latched on to. How does your garden grow?
cutting back and getting by
Here are a few things I have done over the last few months to stretch the dollar...how about you?
*made a meal plan on the Sunday based on the grocery coupons in the Sunday paper, wrote a shopping list after I checked my inventory and stuck to the list.
*starting washing clothes in the off-peak hours and washing more items in the gentle cycle instead of taking everything to the dry cleaners.
*discovered a great Thrift Store (thank you Lynn) and purchased some great basics for work.
*made a meal plan on the Sunday based on the grocery coupons in the Sunday paper, wrote a shopping list after I checked my inventory and stuck to the list.
*starting washing clothes in the off-peak hours and washing more items in the gentle cycle instead of taking everything to the dry cleaners.
*discovered a great Thrift Store (thank you Lynn) and purchased some great basics for work.
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