Every night, Ryan asks me to snuggle him in his bed and he sings me songs. This is a video I made tonight of him singing his songs. His repetoire includes "Finkle, Finkle, Wittel Tar", "Baa, Baa, Baa, Baa Bwack Seep" and "Mickey Mouf". Hang in there for the Mickey Mouse song. He's trying to sing the words, but sometimes it comes out like he's beat boxing or rapping. It's a good one!
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Doing the Math on Coupons, a Yahoo Story
This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit
Coupons: They're back in fashion, with good reason: An hour spent cutting and clipping can yield about $100 in savings.
Clipping coupons hardly sounds like the subject of high finance -- or even medium finance.
Save a dollar on cat food, some detergent or a couple of boxes of cereal. Who can be bothered? Who has the time?
A growing number of people, it turns out. And they're shrewder than it may at first appear.
The Great American Coupon is making a big comeback -- thanks to the Great American Recession.
We redeemed some 3.3 billion coupons last year -- a remarkable 27 percent leap from 2008, and the first year-on-year increase in 17 years, according to a report issued at the end of January by Inmar, a coupon-processing agent. (Online coupon use skyrocketed -- companies issued twice as many as in 2008, but redemptions rose 360 percent.) The big upturn took off in October 2008, just after Lehman went belly up.
At first blush you can see why coupons fell out of fashion for so long -- and why so many consumers still ignore them.
You have to make time to visit a coupon Web site or collect the flyers from your mailbox, the supermarket or newspaper inserts. You need to sort through to find the ones you want, cut them out, stick them in your purse or wallet -- and remember to use them when you are at the cash register and you are trying to remember whether you bought everything on your shopping list and where you parked the car.
Average saving per coupon: Just $1.44, according to the Inmar report.
But let's treat this low finance topic for a moment the way we treat high finance. Let's subject it to the same math.
How long does it actually take to clip and use a coupon? Certainly the more you use, the less overall time you will spend per coupon, because so many of the costs -- getting flyers, sorting coupons and so on -- are generalized. Let's assume you spend a minute per coupon.
Saving $1.44 for a minute's effort is the equivalent of saving $14.40 for 10 minutes'.
Hourly rate: $86.40.
Maybe this would be as good a time as any to point out that the typical American working stiff -- those lucky enough to have jobs right now -- climbs out of bed each morning, goes through the miseries of commuting and endures the daily grind at the workplace for about $20 an hour.
Furthermore, money saved comes with an additional benefit. Unlike the money you earn at work, it is tax free. No payroll taxes. No federal or state income tax.
If your marginal tax rate were, say, 20 percent, you would have to earn $108 before tax to take home $86.40. If your marginal tax rate were 30 percent, you'd have to earn $123.
Very few of us ever do this kind of math, because we tend to treat low finance differently from high finance, and small sums differently from big ones. No wonder, even today, 99 percent of coupons are thrown away unused.
Yet finance isn't a separate topic from the rest of our personal lives. For all of us, our scarcest resource is time. Putting the right value on it, and putting it to the most productive use, is a financial challenge, as well as a personal one.
And the individual amounts of money may seem small, but they prove the old adage about tiny acorns and mighty oaks. Someone who saves $25 a week will save $100 a month, and $1,200 a year. Over a lifetime that can easily grow to $100,000 or more -- even after accounting for inflation.
If motivation is an issue, the next time you find yourself facing a stack of coupon booklets and flyers don't ask yourself if you can be bothered. Try asking yourself if you'd like to earn more than $100 an hour for a job you can do, at home, while sitting on the sofa watching TV.
Coupons: They're back in fashion, with good reason: An hour spent cutting and clipping can yield about $100 in savings.
Clipping coupons hardly sounds like the subject of high finance -- or even medium finance.
Save a dollar on cat food, some detergent or a couple of boxes of cereal. Who can be bothered? Who has the time?
A growing number of people, it turns out. And they're shrewder than it may at first appear.
The Great American Coupon is making a big comeback -- thanks to the Great American Recession.
We redeemed some 3.3 billion coupons last year -- a remarkable 27 percent leap from 2008, and the first year-on-year increase in 17 years, according to a report issued at the end of January by Inmar, a coupon-processing agent. (Online coupon use skyrocketed -- companies issued twice as many as in 2008, but redemptions rose 360 percent.) The big upturn took off in October 2008, just after Lehman went belly up.
At first blush you can see why coupons fell out of fashion for so long -- and why so many consumers still ignore them.
You have to make time to visit a coupon Web site or collect the flyers from your mailbox, the supermarket or newspaper inserts. You need to sort through to find the ones you want, cut them out, stick them in your purse or wallet -- and remember to use them when you are at the cash register and you are trying to remember whether you bought everything on your shopping list and where you parked the car.
Average saving per coupon: Just $1.44, according to the Inmar report.
But let's treat this low finance topic for a moment the way we treat high finance. Let's subject it to the same math.
How long does it actually take to clip and use a coupon? Certainly the more you use, the less overall time you will spend per coupon, because so many of the costs -- getting flyers, sorting coupons and so on -- are generalized. Let's assume you spend a minute per coupon.
Saving $1.44 for a minute's effort is the equivalent of saving $14.40 for 10 minutes'.
Hourly rate: $86.40.
Maybe this would be as good a time as any to point out that the typical American working stiff -- those lucky enough to have jobs right now -- climbs out of bed each morning, goes through the miseries of commuting and endures the daily grind at the workplace for about $20 an hour.
Furthermore, money saved comes with an additional benefit. Unlike the money you earn at work, it is tax free. No payroll taxes. No federal or state income tax.
If your marginal tax rate were, say, 20 percent, you would have to earn $108 before tax to take home $86.40. If your marginal tax rate were 30 percent, you'd have to earn $123.
Very few of us ever do this kind of math, because we tend to treat low finance differently from high finance, and small sums differently from big ones. No wonder, even today, 99 percent of coupons are thrown away unused.
Yet finance isn't a separate topic from the rest of our personal lives. For all of us, our scarcest resource is time. Putting the right value on it, and putting it to the most productive use, is a financial challenge, as well as a personal one.
And the individual amounts of money may seem small, but they prove the old adage about tiny acorns and mighty oaks. Someone who saves $25 a week will save $100 a month, and $1,200 a year. Over a lifetime that can easily grow to $100,000 or more -- even after accounting for inflation.
If motivation is an issue, the next time you find yourself facing a stack of coupon booklets and flyers don't ask yourself if you can be bothered. Try asking yourself if you'd like to earn more than $100 an hour for a job you can do, at home, while sitting on the sofa watching TV.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Allergies
I know I just made a post, but this is funny! We were just eating supper and Molly told me she's allergic to snakes and tarantulas! It's a good thing I haven't let her play with any!!!
It's Testiny Time!?!?!
Molly and Ryan are absolutely going stir crazy right now. This afternoon after their naps, they started playing together, which was great. Molly decided that they were going to play "grocery store", which led into "restaurant" and Ryan was her waiter. Eventually this led into "Testiny Time". We had no idea what Testiny Time was. I tried not to act too interested because she'll stop bossing and playing if she knows I'm listening too closely. The next thing I know, she's giving him instructions on how to sing and that he's supposed to read these sheets and recite verses. We realized that she was trying to get him to have "Testimony Time" at church and he's supposed to sing some really long songs and she told us she "wanted to hear us sing loud today". She sounded just like Bill Fleming. She keeps asking us to recite Bible verses too. She's apparently been taking it all in on Sunday mornings during church. I just thought she was sitting there being quiet, but she's got the service format down, knows how to sound like Bill and she's ready for "Testiny Time" this Sunday!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Molly's New Recipe
Molly's New Recipe and the Deal that Goes With It
2 TollHouse Butter Crackers
1 Heaping Tablespoon of Sour Cream
1 Cheez It
Smear as much of the sour cream as you can on one of the crackers, smash the Cheez It on top of it and take the other cracker and make it into a sandwich.
Molly's Deal:
"Mom, if you eat this, I will share a chocolate bar with you."
I said, "No way!" "I'm eating my supper."
Molly said, "Fine then, you're not getting ANY snacks tonight!"
My goodness, how she learns fast! We told her tonight if she tried some new noodles that she would get a small piece of chocolate bar and after 1 tiny bite of 1 tiny noodle, she requested her chocolate bar.
Needless to say, I did NOT try her recipe. I don't understand how a girl can eat that, but she won't eat anything her mommy makes for the rest of the family. Maybe one day she'll learn, but til then, at least she's creating her own recipes!
2 TollHouse Butter Crackers
1 Heaping Tablespoon of Sour Cream
1 Cheez It
Smear as much of the sour cream as you can on one of the crackers, smash the Cheez It on top of it and take the other cracker and make it into a sandwich.
Molly's Deal:
"Mom, if you eat this, I will share a chocolate bar with you."
I said, "No way!" "I'm eating my supper."
Molly said, "Fine then, you're not getting ANY snacks tonight!"
My goodness, how she learns fast! We told her tonight if she tried some new noodles that she would get a small piece of chocolate bar and after 1 tiny bite of 1 tiny noodle, she requested her chocolate bar.
Needless to say, I did NOT try her recipe. I don't understand how a girl can eat that, but she won't eat anything her mommy makes for the rest of the family. Maybe one day she'll learn, but til then, at least she's creating her own recipes!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Top 10 Deals of the Week
This is a long, rambling post, not just a Top 10 Deals list. I'm trying to better explain this to those of you who haven't done this before. Read and post questions if you have any! I saved about $50 last week because of Price Matching!!! You can REALLLLLY save money doing this!
Okay, as I've said before, these are PRICE Matching deals. If you haven't price matched before, here's how it works. First, you need a Sunday paper. That's where you're going to get your sale bills and coupons! I don't like to go to several different stores. I like to go to Wal-Mart. Most of their prices are MUCH cheaper than EVERYONE else, other than Aldi. I don't really like to shop at Aldi's, because I don't like to use a lot of generic cooking supplies. However, I don't think the Wal-Mart brand is bad at all. Wal-Mart's policy is that they will match any competitior's ad. They will not honor percentage discounts and will not honor buy one get one deals. So, if Meijer has 40% off of something or a Buy 3 boxes of cereal, get a FREE milk, they WILL NOT honor it. However, if milk is $2 at Meijer's and it's $3.50 at Wal-Mart, you have to tell the cashier that milk is $2 at Meijer's and they give it to you for $2. At a lot of Wal-Marts you have to bring your flyers. You DO NOT have to bring flyers to Savoy Wal-Mart, which is the ONLY Wal-Mart I shop at. In general, their checkers are nicer and I know the store like the back of my hand, which makes my trips much easier. They also keep the sale bills in their registers for your reference if you need them!
If you are interested in some great coupon deals, read the post before this one called "Price Matching". My friend Alicia posted some AWESOME Tips for using coupons. I am very excited to use my coupons tomorrow and see how much I can save!!!
The best price matching deals are at the first of the month. For example, the Dollar Store does a flyer at the first of the month, but not throughout the month. Also, County Market doesn't put a flyer in my paper, but you can go to www.countymarket.com and see their flyer.
So, here are my Top 10 Price Matching Deals of the Week!!! (There are more than 10, but it's my list so I can do it :)
1. Milk is $2 at Meijer's.
2. Red or Green seedless grapes are $1.18/lb at Meijer's.
3. Tony's Pizzas are 10 for $10 at County Market
4. Green Giant Steemers are 10 for $10 at County Market
5. Totino's Pizza Rolls are 10 for $10 at County Market
6. Hamburger Helper and Chicken Helper are 10 for $10 at County Market (I have enough stocked up from last time :) But, it's an great deal!
7. Iceburg Lettuce heads are $0.88 at County Market.
8. 5 Lb. Bag of red potatoes is $1.50 at County Market.
9. Nabisco Snack Sacks (up to 8oz) are 10 for $10 at County Market.
10. Betty Crocker Potatoes (Scalloped or AuGratin) are 10 for $10 at County Market.
11. Valentine's stuff is 40% off at Hobby Lobby. They have candy, treat sacks, cards, etc. Hobby Lobby's flyer is not in with the other flyers, it's at the bottom of one of the pages of the paper.
12. Chocolate Milk is $1.50 for a half gallon at Meijer's.
13. Lubriderm Lotion (16 oz) is $6.49 at Meijer's. This is about $8.50 at Wal-Mart, so if you use this, that's a pretty good savings.
14. Oreos, Double Stuff Oreos, Large Triscuits or Wheat Thins (12-16 oz) are $2.69 at Meijer's.
15. Pepsi 2 Liters are $1.25 at Meijer's.
16. Ruffles are $2.19 at Meijer's (up to 10 oz)
17. Post Cereal is $1.69 at Meijer's (see ad for sizes)
18. Kellog's 10 Ct. Fruit Snacks or Fruit Yogos are 3 for $5 at Meijer's.
19. Lay's chips are $2.50 at Target (11 oz)
The 10 for $10 items are MIX AND MATCH this week. That means you can tell them they are $1 each as long as you have 10 of them. Sometimes, they don't make you have 10, but if this is your first time doing it and you don't know the checker, I would play by the rules and get 10 of them, mix or match.
The County Market flyers is TOO GOOD this week for you to not go to their site and read it. There are LOTS of other things listed on the flyer, these were just a few of the things I would use! Valentine's Candy is listed at the bottom of pg 3 on the flyer with some pretty good prices! www.countymarket.com
Part of the trick of Price Matching is knowing your prices in your Wal-Mart. For example, County Market has Imperial butter sticks on sale 10 for $10, which sounds good, but they are regularly $0.67 at Wal-Mart, which would be 10 for $6.70. Don't take the County Market deal. However, if you prefer Country Crock sticks, the 10 for $10 deal is a good one!!! They also have Weight Watchers yogurt at 10 for $6 and that's more than Wal-Mart. It's usually $0.50 there!
Sale bills like CVS and Walgreen's are great for beauty product price matching. However, keep in mind that they don't honor percentage discounts. Also, a lot of the CVS or Walgreen's prices are "with coupon" and Wal-Mart doesn't accept competitor's coupons.
Last, but not least, don't be suprised if you go to Wal-Mart and some of their things are marked down! Lots of times, if Meijer's having a big sale, Wal-Mart will mark their items down $0.10 cheaper than Meijer and you won't have to price match. Keep your eyes open, that's the best thing.
GOOD LUCK and let me know about your successes!!!!!
Okay, as I've said before, these are PRICE Matching deals. If you haven't price matched before, here's how it works. First, you need a Sunday paper. That's where you're going to get your sale bills and coupons! I don't like to go to several different stores. I like to go to Wal-Mart. Most of their prices are MUCH cheaper than EVERYONE else, other than Aldi. I don't really like to shop at Aldi's, because I don't like to use a lot of generic cooking supplies. However, I don't think the Wal-Mart brand is bad at all. Wal-Mart's policy is that they will match any competitior's ad. They will not honor percentage discounts and will not honor buy one get one deals. So, if Meijer has 40% off of something or a Buy 3 boxes of cereal, get a FREE milk, they WILL NOT honor it. However, if milk is $2 at Meijer's and it's $3.50 at Wal-Mart, you have to tell the cashier that milk is $2 at Meijer's and they give it to you for $2. At a lot of Wal-Marts you have to bring your flyers. You DO NOT have to bring flyers to Savoy Wal-Mart, which is the ONLY Wal-Mart I shop at. In general, their checkers are nicer and I know the store like the back of my hand, which makes my trips much easier. They also keep the sale bills in their registers for your reference if you need them!
If you are interested in some great coupon deals, read the post before this one called "Price Matching". My friend Alicia posted some AWESOME Tips for using coupons. I am very excited to use my coupons tomorrow and see how much I can save!!!
The best price matching deals are at the first of the month. For example, the Dollar Store does a flyer at the first of the month, but not throughout the month. Also, County Market doesn't put a flyer in my paper, but you can go to www.countymarket.com and see their flyer.
So, here are my Top 10 Price Matching Deals of the Week!!! (There are more than 10, but it's my list so I can do it :)
1. Milk is $2 at Meijer's.
2. Red or Green seedless grapes are $1.18/lb at Meijer's.
3. Tony's Pizzas are 10 for $10 at County Market
4. Green Giant Steemers are 10 for $10 at County Market
5. Totino's Pizza Rolls are 10 for $10 at County Market
6. Hamburger Helper and Chicken Helper are 10 for $10 at County Market (I have enough stocked up from last time :) But, it's an great deal!
7. Iceburg Lettuce heads are $0.88 at County Market.
8. 5 Lb. Bag of red potatoes is $1.50 at County Market.
9. Nabisco Snack Sacks (up to 8oz) are 10 for $10 at County Market.
10. Betty Crocker Potatoes (Scalloped or AuGratin) are 10 for $10 at County Market.
11. Valentine's stuff is 40% off at Hobby Lobby. They have candy, treat sacks, cards, etc. Hobby Lobby's flyer is not in with the other flyers, it's at the bottom of one of the pages of the paper.
12. Chocolate Milk is $1.50 for a half gallon at Meijer's.
13. Lubriderm Lotion (16 oz) is $6.49 at Meijer's. This is about $8.50 at Wal-Mart, so if you use this, that's a pretty good savings.
14. Oreos, Double Stuff Oreos, Large Triscuits or Wheat Thins (12-16 oz) are $2.69 at Meijer's.
15. Pepsi 2 Liters are $1.25 at Meijer's.
16. Ruffles are $2.19 at Meijer's (up to 10 oz)
17. Post Cereal is $1.69 at Meijer's (see ad for sizes)
18. Kellog's 10 Ct. Fruit Snacks or Fruit Yogos are 3 for $5 at Meijer's.
19. Lay's chips are $2.50 at Target (11 oz)
The 10 for $10 items are MIX AND MATCH this week. That means you can tell them they are $1 each as long as you have 10 of them. Sometimes, they don't make you have 10, but if this is your first time doing it and you don't know the checker, I would play by the rules and get 10 of them, mix or match.
The County Market flyers is TOO GOOD this week for you to not go to their site and read it. There are LOTS of other things listed on the flyer, these were just a few of the things I would use! Valentine's Candy is listed at the bottom of pg 3 on the flyer with some pretty good prices! www.countymarket.com
Part of the trick of Price Matching is knowing your prices in your Wal-Mart. For example, County Market has Imperial butter sticks on sale 10 for $10, which sounds good, but they are regularly $0.67 at Wal-Mart, which would be 10 for $6.70. Don't take the County Market deal. However, if you prefer Country Crock sticks, the 10 for $10 deal is a good one!!! They also have Weight Watchers yogurt at 10 for $6 and that's more than Wal-Mart. It's usually $0.50 there!
Sale bills like CVS and Walgreen's are great for beauty product price matching. However, keep in mind that they don't honor percentage discounts. Also, a lot of the CVS or Walgreen's prices are "with coupon" and Wal-Mart doesn't accept competitor's coupons.
Last, but not least, don't be suprised if you go to Wal-Mart and some of their things are marked down! Lots of times, if Meijer's having a big sale, Wal-Mart will mark their items down $0.10 cheaper than Meijer and you won't have to price match. Keep your eyes open, that's the best thing.
GOOD LUCK and let me know about your successes!!!!!
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