I've decided to be more domestic this new year. I started a day early. Today, I cleaned the kitchen, soaked the little bowly things that go under the burners on the stove to get all the crud off, and I did two loads of dishes! I also cut some recipes out of Martha Stewart magazine and bought some little baskets that I used to organize the pantry. But, the best thing I did was cook dinner! I did a take on this recipe from all recipes. I made an italian butter but melting about four tablespoons of butter in the microwave and mixing in some italian seasoning. I brushed the mushrooms with it before cooking them. Then, after I put the blue cheese on, I made some more of the italian butter and poured on top of that. I don't like mushrooms, but Ash said they were incredible, so I'm happy about that!
I also successfully made burgers. I used ground chicken, and I put some italian seasoning on that, too. One helpful tip I found for burgers: put plastic wrap over the plate and pat out the burgers on top of the plastic wrap. Then, as you get the burgers cooked, peel back the plastic wrap and put the burgers on the plate! It worked great!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Fast Food Smarts
So, life has been rough lately, and you haven't heard from me in a while. Anyway, along with the rough life, I've been relying on fast food, and I've decided to compile a list of tips I have, um, compiled in my brain.
1. Do not buy the "value meal." It's not a value. And it's more food than you need. Included in this list are some substitutions.
2. Look at the dollar menu or the value menu. This usually has great options. For example, last time I went to Jack-in-the-box, I thought about getting the cheeseburger meal for around $6. Instead, I looked to the value menu, where I got a Jr. Cheeseburger for $1, a side salad (instead of fries) for $1, and a large tea for $1. With the meal, I would have gotten a cheeseburger, small fries, and a small drink for twice the price.
3. Check for specials, but beware! Whataburger has a survey you can complete on their receipts. AFter completing it, you get a code to use for a free burger on your next visit. However, when you go to use it, you have to buy a large drink and large fries to use the coupon. Also, cheese is $0.50 extra. So, you wind up paying about $6 or $7 anyway. Instead, go for the dollar menu--small fries, jr. whataburger with cheese, and a small drink for $3! On the other hand, some places have pretty good deals. McDonald's often has coupons in fliers for a buy one get one sandwich. This is a good deal! Especially for breakfast! Ashley and I can both eat breakfast for under $5 with these coupons.
4. Watch the drink. Almost all the fast food places now have special drink deals. McDonald's has any drink for $1. Some other place has any size drink for $1. Also, if you're just picking up food to take home, consider stopping by the gas station for a drink. Places like 7-11, Sheetz, and QT have cups you can refill for less than $1. QT also has a huge selection of drinks!
5. Drink refills. If you're eating in the restaurant, check the refill policy. If it's free refills, get a small drink, and refill it as much as you'd like! If you think you'd like to have some drink for later, empty the ice out of your cup, and get your last refill to go, with no ice. That way, you can put it in the fridge when you get home, and it won't get all watered down. A couple of precautions if you do this, though: a)be careful of the papery cups. They tend to leak after a while. b)Don't leave your drink in the car. Strange things happen. c)The drink doesn't last more than a few days. After the carbonation fizzles all out, you're left with a cup of thick syrup that does not taste too good.
6. Healthier options. As I mentioned earlier, salads are an easy choice. Watch the salad dressing, though. A McDonald's side salad with the whole packet of ranch dressing has more fat and more calories than a hamburger. Most places now have apple slices that you can substitute for fries. You can also sometimes get yogurt (if you like that kind of thing.)
7. Best buys. Here are some examples of the best savings I've had:
-McDonalds-I could have gotten a two cheeseburger meal that includes two cheeseburgers, small fries, and a small drink for about $5. Instead, I got two double cheeseburgers, small fries, and a large drink for $4. Since I ate in the store, I refilled the drink once while I was there, then I emptied the ice and filled up the cup for a drink later in the day. I also saved one of the cheeseburgers and had that for dinner. That way, I actually got two meals out of the deal instead of just one!
-Arby's-Today, I went by Arby's. Instead of the regular roast beef sandwich "value meal" for $6, I got two Jr. Roast beef sandwiches, small fries, and a small drink for $4. That way, I had a sandwich for lunch and a sandwich for later.
-Subway-This could have been my best one. I got four meals for $7. I had a coupon for a "buy one footlong, get one free." So, I got two $5 footlongs for $5. To add chips and a drink, it cost $2 extra. For that meal, I ate half of one footlong, the chips, and the drink. I refilled the drink and put everything in the fridge for later. Then, I had three more meals of six inch subs!
-Papa John's-If you order online, you get Papa points. Sometimes, they have double point times. Once you get 25 points, you can use this for a free pizza! You can use deals and coupons and still earn Papa points. They also had a "million pizza giveaway" where they awarded 25 papa points to a million users. I had banked 25 points, and I won 25 points, so I got two large two topping pizzas for freeeeee!
1. Do not buy the "value meal." It's not a value. And it's more food than you need. Included in this list are some substitutions.
2. Look at the dollar menu or the value menu. This usually has great options. For example, last time I went to Jack-in-the-box, I thought about getting the cheeseburger meal for around $6. Instead, I looked to the value menu, where I got a Jr. Cheeseburger for $1, a side salad (instead of fries) for $1, and a large tea for $1. With the meal, I would have gotten a cheeseburger, small fries, and a small drink for twice the price.
3. Check for specials, but beware! Whataburger has a survey you can complete on their receipts. AFter completing it, you get a code to use for a free burger on your next visit. However, when you go to use it, you have to buy a large drink and large fries to use the coupon. Also, cheese is $0.50 extra. So, you wind up paying about $6 or $7 anyway. Instead, go for the dollar menu--small fries, jr. whataburger with cheese, and a small drink for $3! On the other hand, some places have pretty good deals. McDonald's often has coupons in fliers for a buy one get one sandwich. This is a good deal! Especially for breakfast! Ashley and I can both eat breakfast for under $5 with these coupons.
4. Watch the drink. Almost all the fast food places now have special drink deals. McDonald's has any drink for $1. Some other place has any size drink for $1. Also, if you're just picking up food to take home, consider stopping by the gas station for a drink. Places like 7-11, Sheetz, and QT have cups you can refill for less than $1. QT also has a huge selection of drinks!
5. Drink refills. If you're eating in the restaurant, check the refill policy. If it's free refills, get a small drink, and refill it as much as you'd like! If you think you'd like to have some drink for later, empty the ice out of your cup, and get your last refill to go, with no ice. That way, you can put it in the fridge when you get home, and it won't get all watered down. A couple of precautions if you do this, though: a)be careful of the papery cups. They tend to leak after a while. b)Don't leave your drink in the car. Strange things happen. c)The drink doesn't last more than a few days. After the carbonation fizzles all out, you're left with a cup of thick syrup that does not taste too good.
6. Healthier options. As I mentioned earlier, salads are an easy choice. Watch the salad dressing, though. A McDonald's side salad with the whole packet of ranch dressing has more fat and more calories than a hamburger. Most places now have apple slices that you can substitute for fries. You can also sometimes get yogurt (if you like that kind of thing.)
7. Best buys. Here are some examples of the best savings I've had:
-McDonalds-I could have gotten a two cheeseburger meal that includes two cheeseburgers, small fries, and a small drink for about $5. Instead, I got two double cheeseburgers, small fries, and a large drink for $4. Since I ate in the store, I refilled the drink once while I was there, then I emptied the ice and filled up the cup for a drink later in the day. I also saved one of the cheeseburgers and had that for dinner. That way, I actually got two meals out of the deal instead of just one!
-Arby's-Today, I went by Arby's. Instead of the regular roast beef sandwich "value meal" for $6, I got two Jr. Roast beef sandwiches, small fries, and a small drink for $4. That way, I had a sandwich for lunch and a sandwich for later.
-Subway-This could have been my best one. I got four meals for $7. I had a coupon for a "buy one footlong, get one free." So, I got two $5 footlongs for $5. To add chips and a drink, it cost $2 extra. For that meal, I ate half of one footlong, the chips, and the drink. I refilled the drink and put everything in the fridge for later. Then, I had three more meals of six inch subs!
-Papa John's-If you order online, you get Papa points. Sometimes, they have double point times. Once you get 25 points, you can use this for a free pizza! You can use deals and coupons and still earn Papa points. They also had a "million pizza giveaway" where they awarded 25 papa points to a million users. I had banked 25 points, and I won 25 points, so I got two large two topping pizzas for freeeeee!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Memory Ties
There are many things that can trigger a memory: a song, a smell, a picture...My memory is often strangely triggered by passages from books. For example, I am watching The Importance of Being Earnest right now. There's a part where little Cecily reads to "Ernest" from her journal: "Today, I broke off my engagement with Ernest. I feel it is better to do so. The weather continues charming." For some reason, this brought back the memory of the last time I read this passage. I was sitting on a bus, wrapped up in about seven layers, riding to work. The bus had just pulled into the grocery store parking lot, and we sat for a while because the route was running a little early, so, wedged between the cold glass window and a tiny Asian girl dressed in a panda bear-shaped hat, I continued to read Oscar Wilde's comedy and wait to arrive at my destination.
Strange, huh?
It also works in reverse for me--I can go to a location and remember what I was reading (or listening to) at the time. For example, on the route between my parents' house in Kingsport, TN, and the Barnes and Noble in Johnson City, TN, there is a big curve I used to drive around to get from one highway to the next. Every time I have driven there, I have thought of a passage in Chuck Palahniuk's Rant. I was listening to the book on audio, and when I drove over that curve, I listened to the passage about party crashing, where drivers decorate their cars and crash into each other.
It's funny when and where it happens. It's almost like a movie, where the character is going on about his day, and suddenly, his mind drifts off to another time and place. He stays there for a little while until another character comes around and either slaps him in the face or throws water on him and says, "Hey! Wake up!"
I guess it's time for me to wake up.
Strange, huh?
It also works in reverse for me--I can go to a location and remember what I was reading (or listening to) at the time. For example, on the route between my parents' house in Kingsport, TN, and the Barnes and Noble in Johnson City, TN, there is a big curve I used to drive around to get from one highway to the next. Every time I have driven there, I have thought of a passage in Chuck Palahniuk's Rant. I was listening to the book on audio, and when I drove over that curve, I listened to the passage about party crashing, where drivers decorate their cars and crash into each other.
It's funny when and where it happens. It's almost like a movie, where the character is going on about his day, and suddenly, his mind drifts off to another time and place. He stays there for a little while until another character comes around and either slaps him in the face or throws water on him and says, "Hey! Wake up!"
I guess it's time for me to wake up.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Making Money Online
Everyone likes easy money. Of course, easy money is hard to come by. However, I have found a couple of things that help me support my book habit. Here are my top three fairly easy online moneymakers:
1. Mypoints--This is a legitimate click-to-earn site. You earn points, then you use the points to get gift cards. When I first started in college, I loved the $25 Tower Records cards. I now enjoy the $50 Walmart and Walgreens cards, but there are hundreds to choose from. They change from time to time, but right now, you can get gift cards from hundreds of different places, including clothing stores like Old Navy or LL Bean; restaurants like Red Robin or Steak N Shake; entertainment like Regal Cinema or Barnes and Noble, etc., etc., etc. There are several ways to earn:
a. My favorite is through the emails. You can sign up to get as many/few as you want. You usually get five points per click-through email.
b. You can also sign up for stuff. Signing up for newsletters, more information, etc. allows you to earn between 15 and 50 points, usually.
c. The ultimate purpose of the site is a shopping site. If you shop online at all, this is the place to do it. At one point (when I had extra money lying around-ha!), I did my shopping through mypoints, and I was earning about one gift card per month. All you do is go to the site, find the retailer you're wanting to shop, and click through the website to get to the retailer's site. Then, you earn points for each dollar you spend. Each retailer has different amounts of points. One little trick I often use is to get a gift card with my rewards for a retailer that also offered rewards through mypoints. Take, for example, Barnes and Noble. For 3,650 points, you get a $25 Barnes and Noble giftcard. If you go to the mypoints website, search for Barnes and Noble, then click through to do your shopping, you earn 10 points per dollar you spend.
d. There are other ways to earn rewards--various promotions, performing internet searches, watching videos, and, of course, recommending friends.
Email me for a link, and we'll both get extra points!
2. Inbox dollars--This site is similar to mypoints, but you earn actual cash. I've been a member for several years, and I recently earned a $50 check. In the grand scheme of things, it's not a whole lot of money, but it's super easy. All I do is click through a bunch of emails once or twice a week!
3. Secret shopping--While this is not completely online, per se, I've gotten free multi-course meals, products, oil changes, brake inspections, eye exams, and more. I'm a member of several secret shopping websites. To be a secret shopper, you sign up with a website (such as Intellishop), then you check for available jobs. The page about the job will have all the information you need--where you will go, when, what you have to do, how much you will be reimbursed, and how much you will be paid. When you're starting out, you'll mostly get shops that are either reimbursement only or a small shop pay (around $5 or $10), but the more shops you do, the better shops you get. And, a $50 meal that you get reimbursed for is better than no meal at all!
For any of these topics, email me for links or for more info. I can help you start earning rewards, and I can earn some, too!
1. Mypoints--This is a legitimate click-to-earn site. You earn points, then you use the points to get gift cards. When I first started in college, I loved the $25 Tower Records cards. I now enjoy the $50 Walmart and Walgreens cards, but there are hundreds to choose from. They change from time to time, but right now, you can get gift cards from hundreds of different places, including clothing stores like Old Navy or LL Bean; restaurants like Red Robin or Steak N Shake; entertainment like Regal Cinema or Barnes and Noble, etc., etc., etc. There are several ways to earn:
a. My favorite is through the emails. You can sign up to get as many/few as you want. You usually get five points per click-through email.
b. You can also sign up for stuff. Signing up for newsletters, more information, etc. allows you to earn between 15 and 50 points, usually.
c. The ultimate purpose of the site is a shopping site. If you shop online at all, this is the place to do it. At one point (when I had extra money lying around-ha!), I did my shopping through mypoints, and I was earning about one gift card per month. All you do is go to the site, find the retailer you're wanting to shop, and click through the website to get to the retailer's site. Then, you earn points for each dollar you spend. Each retailer has different amounts of points. One little trick I often use is to get a gift card with my rewards for a retailer that also offered rewards through mypoints. Take, for example, Barnes and Noble. For 3,650 points, you get a $25 Barnes and Noble giftcard. If you go to the mypoints website, search for Barnes and Noble, then click through to do your shopping, you earn 10 points per dollar you spend.
d. There are other ways to earn rewards--various promotions, performing internet searches, watching videos, and, of course, recommending friends.
Email me for a link, and we'll both get extra points!
2. Inbox dollars--This site is similar to mypoints, but you earn actual cash. I've been a member for several years, and I recently earned a $50 check. In the grand scheme of things, it's not a whole lot of money, but it's super easy. All I do is click through a bunch of emails once or twice a week!
3. Secret shopping--While this is not completely online, per se, I've gotten free multi-course meals, products, oil changes, brake inspections, eye exams, and more. I'm a member of several secret shopping websites. To be a secret shopper, you sign up with a website (such as Intellishop), then you check for available jobs. The page about the job will have all the information you need--where you will go, when, what you have to do, how much you will be reimbursed, and how much you will be paid. When you're starting out, you'll mostly get shops that are either reimbursement only or a small shop pay (around $5 or $10), but the more shops you do, the better shops you get. And, a $50 meal that you get reimbursed for is better than no meal at all!
For any of these topics, email me for links or for more info. I can help you start earning rewards, and I can earn some, too!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Book Selling Tips
After experiencing three different professional situations dealing with buying/selling used books, I have developed some hints to help you clear off your shelves (to make room for new books, obviously!):
1. Find your local used bookstore! There are some chains (Half Price Books, Mr. K's...), but you'll mostly find independents (Recycled Books, Powell's, Reader's Loft...). You'll have to scour phone books and the internet. Check Biblio.com or the yellow pages.
2. Do not expect to get rich. The point is to clean out your shelves and maybe get a little bit of money to buy a couple of new books. But, remember a few things:
a. The bookstore has to make some money off of what they buy from you.
b. The item is not worth what you paid for it. I don't care if you go to Barnes and Noble, buy a book for $25, then drive directly to the used bookstore and try to sell it to them. The book is now considered a used book, and you will not be getting $25 back for it.
c. Sentimental value is not equal to actual retail value. I have seen people come in, tell me they want to sell their box of books, and when I offer them $5 for the entire box, they get angry, telling me these books have sentimental value. A bookstore cannot afford to pay you that much.
3. Check the store's policy. Either give them a call or check the website, and get a brief overview of the store's buying policy. You'll need to find out:
a. When do they buy? Most stores will buy any time they are open, but some stores have specific buyers that are in only certain days of the week or certain times of the day.
b. How do they buy? Do they make an offer on the whole lot, or do they pick and choose items? If you're looking to get rid of a lot of stuff, you'll want to look for a place that buys the whole lot. Even if they cannot use everything, they will usually be able to donate or recycle the leftovers.
c. How do they pay? Some stores have a buy/trade policy, where you'll get a certain amount in trade credit, or you can opt for a lesser amount of cash. Some stores make a direct cash offer. Some stores offer trade only (for example, I went to a store where you could trade in two Harlequin romances and get one back in return). The advantage to a trade is that sometimes stores will have a little bit of leeway, so if you get $10 in trade credit and you buy a book that costs $11, they'll go ahead and call it even. Also, be sure you're clear on the trade policy. I traded items in at a store once and got $25 in trade credit. Then, when I tried to use the credit on a stack of items, I was told that those items did not qualify for trade credit, so I had to cash out the credit, get $15 in cash, and use that to purchase my items. Boo.) The advantage to a cash offer is obvious: you walk out with more money in your pocket than you came into the store with!
4. Pay attention to the types of materials the store buys. Do they prefer Western novels? Dvds? Magazines? Here are a few tips for specific types of materials:
a. Magazines--Current magazines and classic magazines sell best. Something from two months or two years ago is probably just going to be recycled, unless it is a specialty magazine, such as a Halloween craft magazine.
b. Music--LPs are in some demand, but they are in demand at the price of $1. Other than that, you'll need to have a big name, and it will need to be in great condition. Elvis and the Beatles will always be popular.
c. Books--Small paperbacks are not worth much. On the same note, hardbacks can also be worthless. James Patterson churns out about a book a week (exaggerated, but not by much). His books are a dime a dozen (not exaggerated). Books that are being made into movies sell really well. The Help is currently flying off the shelf. Reading list titles (Great Expectations, Fahrenheit 451) are much more popular in July-August-September than in other months. Brand new books will be worth more than books that are a couple of years old.
d. Games--Whether these are electronic, video games, game systems, or classic board games, there are many stores that will buy these for resale. Note that games that require an online access code cannot be reused, so they cannot be resold.
Above all, remember that condition matters!
5. Know what you have. You can check Amazon.com or Abebooks.com to see the going prices of your items. If an item is selling for $50 there, you can probably expect to get between $5 and $10 for your item. If it's in great condition, you might get more; if the store already has five copies you might get less.
This ridiculously long post stemmed from a combination of too much thinking and too much free time. I hope it was helpful for you!
1. Find your local used bookstore! There are some chains (Half Price Books, Mr. K's...), but you'll mostly find independents (Recycled Books, Powell's, Reader's Loft...). You'll have to scour phone books and the internet. Check Biblio.com or the yellow pages.
2. Do not expect to get rich. The point is to clean out your shelves and maybe get a little bit of money to buy a couple of new books. But, remember a few things:
a. The bookstore has to make some money off of what they buy from you.
b. The item is not worth what you paid for it. I don't care if you go to Barnes and Noble, buy a book for $25, then drive directly to the used bookstore and try to sell it to them. The book is now considered a used book, and you will not be getting $25 back for it.
c. Sentimental value is not equal to actual retail value. I have seen people come in, tell me they want to sell their box of books, and when I offer them $5 for the entire box, they get angry, telling me these books have sentimental value. A bookstore cannot afford to pay you that much.
3. Check the store's policy. Either give them a call or check the website, and get a brief overview of the store's buying policy. You'll need to find out:
a. When do they buy? Most stores will buy any time they are open, but some stores have specific buyers that are in only certain days of the week or certain times of the day.
b. How do they buy? Do they make an offer on the whole lot, or do they pick and choose items? If you're looking to get rid of a lot of stuff, you'll want to look for a place that buys the whole lot. Even if they cannot use everything, they will usually be able to donate or recycle the leftovers.
c. How do they pay? Some stores have a buy/trade policy, where you'll get a certain amount in trade credit, or you can opt for a lesser amount of cash. Some stores make a direct cash offer. Some stores offer trade only (for example, I went to a store where you could trade in two Harlequin romances and get one back in return). The advantage to a trade is that sometimes stores will have a little bit of leeway, so if you get $10 in trade credit and you buy a book that costs $11, they'll go ahead and call it even. Also, be sure you're clear on the trade policy. I traded items in at a store once and got $25 in trade credit. Then, when I tried to use the credit on a stack of items, I was told that those items did not qualify for trade credit, so I had to cash out the credit, get $15 in cash, and use that to purchase my items. Boo.) The advantage to a cash offer is obvious: you walk out with more money in your pocket than you came into the store with!
4. Pay attention to the types of materials the store buys. Do they prefer Western novels? Dvds? Magazines? Here are a few tips for specific types of materials:
a. Magazines--Current magazines and classic magazines sell best. Something from two months or two years ago is probably just going to be recycled, unless it is a specialty magazine, such as a Halloween craft magazine.
b. Music--LPs are in some demand, but they are in demand at the price of $1. Other than that, you'll need to have a big name, and it will need to be in great condition. Elvis and the Beatles will always be popular.
c. Books--Small paperbacks are not worth much. On the same note, hardbacks can also be worthless. James Patterson churns out about a book a week (exaggerated, but not by much). His books are a dime a dozen (not exaggerated). Books that are being made into movies sell really well. The Help is currently flying off the shelf. Reading list titles (Great Expectations, Fahrenheit 451) are much more popular in July-August-September than in other months. Brand new books will be worth more than books that are a couple of years old.
d. Games--Whether these are electronic, video games, game systems, or classic board games, there are many stores that will buy these for resale. Note that games that require an online access code cannot be reused, so they cannot be resold.
Above all, remember that condition matters!
5. Know what you have. You can check Amazon.com or Abebooks.com to see the going prices of your items. If an item is selling for $50 there, you can probably expect to get between $5 and $10 for your item. If it's in great condition, you might get more; if the store already has five copies you might get less.
This ridiculously long post stemmed from a combination of too much thinking and too much free time. I hope it was helpful for you!
Monday, September 5, 2011
My dad was recently diagnosed with appendiceal cancer. It's very rare, it's spreading, and it's aggressive. He starts chemotherapy treatments in about two weeks.
I can't imagine life without my dad. I've always thought he'd always just be there. When I lost my grandpa, I felt like life just stopped for about a week. I am scared and worried, and I feel helpless.
So, if you pray, please pray for my dad. He needs it right now.
Thanks.
I can't imagine life without my dad. I've always thought he'd always just be there. When I lost my grandpa, I felt like life just stopped for about a week. I am scared and worried, and I feel helpless.
So, if you pray, please pray for my dad. He needs it right now.
Thanks.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Gossip Girl. What!?!
On a whim (a stupid, stupid whim), I picked up the first Gossip Girl book. I thought 'OK, teen fiction, short book, let's give it a go.' Bad choice! I am absolutely appalled at this book. I mean, I know kids know about and read about questionable topics. Fine. But, what I don't get is why the GG books (and tv show, for that matter) are so popular. The first couple of pages reveal kids in high school having sex, doing drugs, drinking alcohol, skipping school, etc. as everyday occurances, with parental consent. In fact, I would call it parental condonement.
And it's not as if they're experimenting with these things. It's just part of their lives. I remember feeling scandalous reading about Margaret getting her period for the first time. I guess it does not really matter what I think about the GG books because they are popular, and children will read them and think all of these things they are not ready to do are super cool no matter what. However, I definitely think parents should just flip open the books their kids read and read a chapter of them for themselves sometimes. I think they might be surprised at what they find. Then again, maybe not. When you think about how kids (and sometimes their parents) dress and act, you (I) might rethink this.
Speaking of the way kids act, today at the check out, I handed a lady her change. There was a boy of about eight or nine with her (presumably her grandson). She looked at him, handed him a dollar, and said, "This is for being so helpful today." He paused, looked at her, and rebuked her, "A dollar? You're only giving me a dollar?" I was shocked. Before I could stop my mouth, it said, "Most people would say thank you for that." The grandmother looked like she was grateful to have someone finally take her side, and she said, "Yeah. Did you hear that?" The kid looked at me (the bad guy), and said, "She only gave me one dollar." I politely let him know, "It's a dollar you didn't have before." The grandma shrugged, the kid rolled his eyes, and they both walked away. I was close to snatching the dollar out of the kid's hand and saying, "Well, now you don't have to worry about the dollar because it is mine." This is why I think spankings are a necessary punishment. A nice thick leather belt to the bare butt might have helped that child a little.
P.S. I think my vocabulary is too advanced for blogger tonight. I am getting a lot of red squigglies.
And it's not as if they're experimenting with these things. It's just part of their lives. I remember feeling scandalous reading about Margaret getting her period for the first time. I guess it does not really matter what I think about the GG books because they are popular, and children will read them and think all of these things they are not ready to do are super cool no matter what. However, I definitely think parents should just flip open the books their kids read and read a chapter of them for themselves sometimes. I think they might be surprised at what they find. Then again, maybe not. When you think about how kids (and sometimes their parents) dress and act, you (I) might rethink this.
Speaking of the way kids act, today at the check out, I handed a lady her change. There was a boy of about eight or nine with her (presumably her grandson). She looked at him, handed him a dollar, and said, "This is for being so helpful today." He paused, looked at her, and rebuked her, "A dollar? You're only giving me a dollar?" I was shocked. Before I could stop my mouth, it said, "Most people would say thank you for that." The grandmother looked like she was grateful to have someone finally take her side, and she said, "Yeah. Did you hear that?" The kid looked at me (the bad guy), and said, "She only gave me one dollar." I politely let him know, "It's a dollar you didn't have before." The grandma shrugged, the kid rolled his eyes, and they both walked away. I was close to snatching the dollar out of the kid's hand and saying, "Well, now you don't have to worry about the dollar because it is mine." This is why I think spankings are a necessary punishment. A nice thick leather belt to the bare butt might have helped that child a little.
P.S. I think my vocabulary is too advanced for blogger tonight. I am getting a lot of red squigglies.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
A few words about money
When you are a cashier, you see a lot of things that are interesting. I have several things to say about money.
1. I do not want your boobie money. By this, I mean that when you come to the register to pay for your purchase, I do not want to touch the money that you pull out of your sports bra. Especially when that money is wet.
2. I do not want your wet money. I don't really care where you pull this money from. If it is wet, I become incredibly uncomfortable, and I think several things:
a. I do not want to touch this wet money.
b. Did this guy pee on this money?
c. Am I touching pee now?
3. I expect that, when you come to the register to check out, you will have money to pay for your items. I will not give them to you for free. I also will not pay for your items, as I have no money with which to do such a thing.
4. If you pay with a $100 bill for a $5 item, please know that you are probably wiping out most of the money in my register, and if you do not want $25 in ones, you are going to have to wait for a manager.
5. I know the 4 on the price tag may have looked to you like a 1, but it was not a 1. It was a 4. I will be charging you 4.98 and not 1.98. This is because I, unlike you, can read the tag.
6. This is indirectly about money because it is about the credit card machine. See the little pen-like thing that is attached to the credit card machine? That is used for signing your name in the box on the credit card machine. You do not have to write it with your finger or with a real pen (which, by the way messes up the credit card machine). Additionally, the pen is attached to the credit card machine so you can find it easily. You do not, in fact, have to reach under the machine and completely unplug it from the computer to search for the little pen thing that happens to be attached to the TOP of the machine.
Thank you.
1. I do not want your boobie money. By this, I mean that when you come to the register to pay for your purchase, I do not want to touch the money that you pull out of your sports bra. Especially when that money is wet.
2. I do not want your wet money. I don't really care where you pull this money from. If it is wet, I become incredibly uncomfortable, and I think several things:
a. I do not want to touch this wet money.
b. Did this guy pee on this money?
c. Am I touching pee now?
3. I expect that, when you come to the register to check out, you will have money to pay for your items. I will not give them to you for free. I also will not pay for your items, as I have no money with which to do such a thing.
4. If you pay with a $100 bill for a $5 item, please know that you are probably wiping out most of the money in my register, and if you do not want $25 in ones, you are going to have to wait for a manager.
5. I know the 4 on the price tag may have looked to you like a 1, but it was not a 1. It was a 4. I will be charging you 4.98 and not 1.98. This is because I, unlike you, can read the tag.
6. This is indirectly about money because it is about the credit card machine. See the little pen-like thing that is attached to the credit card machine? That is used for signing your name in the box on the credit card machine. You do not have to write it with your finger or with a real pen (which, by the way messes up the credit card machine). Additionally, the pen is attached to the credit card machine so you can find it easily. You do not, in fact, have to reach under the machine and completely unplug it from the computer to search for the little pen thing that happens to be attached to the TOP of the machine.
Thank you.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
free earphones
I can never have enough earphones! Partially because I lose them and partially because they sometimes get broken. Anyway, I found a free pair, and I thought I'd share it with you. I've gotten several free things from 1saleaday, so it's a legit site. No money required.
http://1saleaday.com/family/
http://1saleaday.com/family/
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
I know I haven't updated in a while...
Here's one of my favorite newsletters from which I often get excellent book recommendations and I sometimes get free book offers:
Other than that, I've just been working a lot lot lot!
Other than that, I've just been working a lot lot lot!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
CVS Day
Good job at CVS today:
one ruler
two bottles of face wash
one package of cow tails
one package of circus peanuts
two toblerone bars
total 65 cents! woot!
here's how we did it:
face wash was on sale for 1.94, i had two coupons for 2.00 off, so those were totally free.
there was a candy clearance, where the cowtails were 25¢, circus peanuts were 37¢, and toblerone bars were 32¢. That came to about $1.25, but I had a $1.00 extrabucks reward that printed when i scanned my card at the coupon center, so that all the candy together about 25¢.
finally, the ruler was on sale (3 for $1), but i just bought one, so it was 33¢.
Plus some tax and we are left with 65¢ total!
Good job!
I start at the used bookstore in an hour!
one ruler
two bottles of face wash
one package of cow tails
one package of circus peanuts
two toblerone bars
total 65 cents! woot!
here's how we did it:
face wash was on sale for 1.94, i had two coupons for 2.00 off, so those were totally free.
there was a candy clearance, where the cowtails were 25¢, circus peanuts were 37¢, and toblerone bars were 32¢. That came to about $1.25, but I had a $1.00 extrabucks reward that printed when i scanned my card at the coupon center, so that all the candy together about 25¢.
finally, the ruler was on sale (3 for $1), but i just bought one, so it was 33¢.
Plus some tax and we are left with 65¢ total!
Good job!
I start at the used bookstore in an hour!
Monday, July 11, 2011
Out with the old
Well, friends, today marks my official departure from Barnes and Noble. After six years, it was a bittersweet ending. It was definitely a completely underwhelming ending. You know, I always imagined what I'd do on my last day: tell customers how I truly felt, tell some managers how the staff really sees them, knock over a stack of books... something rebellious! None of those things happened. My last day was just like any other day. I went in, smiled and worked, and left. Tomorrow, I begin a new chapter with a used bookstore. I am excited to learn about a different aspect of the book world!
Now, for the daily deals:
1. 1saleaday.com sent me a bookmark today. It is simple and plain, but it was free!
2. Today, July 11, was the 7-11 Store Birthday. So, Ash and I got free Slurpees!
3. Ashley totally kicked butt with couponing today. She found a bunch of printable coupons on the Target website and hooked us up! For a total of $2.04, we got two full size pillows, 20 ink pens, 4 sharpies, 2 rolls of tape on those little plastic dispensers (one green and one purple), two large bottles of coffeemate creamer, and a dish scrub brush. That was a total savings of $17.08!
4. McDonalds is having a sale on ice cream cones. They're just fifty cents each! So, after our big day of great deals, we stopped by and had a little treat!
Think of me tomorrow evening as I start on my new path!
Now, for the daily deals:
1. 1saleaday.com sent me a bookmark today. It is simple and plain, but it was free!
2. Today, July 11, was the 7-11 Store Birthday. So, Ash and I got free Slurpees!
3. Ashley totally kicked butt with couponing today. She found a bunch of printable coupons on the Target website and hooked us up! For a total of $2.04, we got two full size pillows, 20 ink pens, 4 sharpies, 2 rolls of tape on those little plastic dispensers (one green and one purple), two large bottles of coffeemate creamer, and a dish scrub brush. That was a total savings of $17.08!
4. McDonalds is having a sale on ice cream cones. They're just fifty cents each! So, after our big day of great deals, we stopped by and had a little treat!
Think of me tomorrow evening as I start on my new path!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
book store
Well, it's back to work at the college bookstore again today. Not looking forward to it. I am also feeling a little bummed because of all the applications I sent out. (Fifty, remember?) As it turns out, some of them were scams. They looked legit on Craig's List--they had business names and locations listed, even, but the emails I had been getting back (I've gotten five so far) seemed a little strange. After some research, I determined that the emails were scams--the ones where they send you a check, and you're supposed to deposit it and send them some money, then after your check has cleared, your bank tells you that the check you deposited was fake. So, if anyone wants a check for $5,000, I have several coming to me pretty soon. :(
The fireworks were nice last night! We went to Grapevine Lake with my sister and her fiance, and we had a nice little time! The fireworks looked really neat over the water.
The fireworks were nice last night! We went to Grapevine Lake with my sister and her fiance, and we had a nice little time! The fireworks looked really neat over the water.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Swimmer's Ear
A throwback to my childhood today... My ear is full of water, and I am having a tough time getting it out. I have tried rubbing alcohol by itself, peroxide by itself, and my mom's special blend of vinegar-alcohol-water that used to always do the trick when I was a kid. None of these has worked. And, yes, I have tried laying on the ear to just let the water fall out. Needless to say, that has not worked either.
The first piece of good news, though, is that that's all the bad news! All the rest is good!
I applied for fifty jobs today. FIFTY! And I am at least qualified--if not over qualified--for all of them. School is going well. I'm making good grades so far! Also, yesterday was a big haul for yard saling. The first part of the day was not very successful, so that was frustrating. Just when we were feeling like we wanted to give up, we found an estate sale that had lots of weird and interesting jewelry--a box for two dollars. We bought that! Then, we found a sale with lots of t-shirts we liked, so we got a deal on those because we bought several of them. Then, on the way home, there was a sign that said "FREE" and had an arrow pointing down the road. We drove down, and there was a bunch of stuff sitting out by the curb. That was the biggest find of the day! I got a book, a candle, an iron (which we desperately needed, as all of our clothes look like elephant skin), and two extra awesome things: 1. a card table with a compass rose on top. It's really cool, and it kind of fits in with our world-travel-eclectic theme for the living room and dining room. 2. A SANTA SNUGGIE!!!!! Yeah, that's right. I can just sit back, wrap up in the red, white, black, and silver snuggie, and be in the holiday spirit. I know it's hotter than 100 degrees outside right now, and Christmas is probably not at the forefront of most minds, but I sure am excited about it!! Just wait until Christmas, everyone, because I am prepared.
Also, I got a free bottle of Bayer aspirin in the mail yesterday. I can't remember where I got it from, and there was no return address, but I was happy about it! I love free stuff!
The first piece of good news, though, is that that's all the bad news! All the rest is good!
I applied for fifty jobs today. FIFTY! And I am at least qualified--if not over qualified--for all of them. School is going well. I'm making good grades so far! Also, yesterday was a big haul for yard saling. The first part of the day was not very successful, so that was frustrating. Just when we were feeling like we wanted to give up, we found an estate sale that had lots of weird and interesting jewelry--a box for two dollars. We bought that! Then, we found a sale with lots of t-shirts we liked, so we got a deal on those because we bought several of them. Then, on the way home, there was a sign that said "FREE" and had an arrow pointing down the road. We drove down, and there was a bunch of stuff sitting out by the curb. That was the biggest find of the day! I got a book, a candle, an iron (which we desperately needed, as all of our clothes look like elephant skin), and two extra awesome things: 1. a card table with a compass rose on top. It's really cool, and it kind of fits in with our world-travel-eclectic theme for the living room and dining room. 2. A SANTA SNUGGIE!!!!! Yeah, that's right. I can just sit back, wrap up in the red, white, black, and silver snuggie, and be in the holiday spirit. I know it's hotter than 100 degrees outside right now, and Christmas is probably not at the forefront of most minds, but I sure am excited about it!! Just wait until Christmas, everyone, because I am prepared.
Also, I got a free bottle of Bayer aspirin in the mail yesterday. I can't remember where I got it from, and there was no return address, but I was happy about it! I love free stuff!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
earphones!
I received free earphones in the mail today! Yahoo! I got them from the site http://1saleaday.com/
I also signed up yesterday with them to get a free breast cancer pink ribbon pin. I wasn't sure if it would work, but the earphones arrived, so I'm very happy! Sometimes they have stuff you have to pay for (at a discounted price) but every now and then, they have a free item.
One of my best friends ever sent me this link today:
http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113020-10125-1-how-to-get-the-most-from-coupons?ywaad=ad0035&nc
I liked the article very much. I had actually been wondering about the effect the show Extreme Couponing was having on stores, people who previously did not use coupons, and people who do use coupons. There are several things you have to take into consideration about the show:
1. The deals they show on the program are usually the biggest deals the couponers have done. I mean, it has to be good t.v., or we wouldn't watch it!
2. Those people spend as much time doing coupon stuff as a normal person would spend at a full time job.
3. To get $1000 worth of groceries for 25 cents, these people have to be flexible on what they're going to buy. They already have a stockpile of items, so they do not have to shape their grocery list around what they need for the week; they shape it around what items are on sale.
4. They typically buy multiples of the same item with multiples of the same coupon, which make their savings look extreme.
I do not condone people stealing newspapers, trying to rip off stores, or using 30 coupons for the same item. I have been known to have some extreme savings (I once bought a brand new $200 coat for $10--It was out of season, it was marked down because it was missing a button, the store was having an additional discount on all discounted merchandise, and I had a coupon), but, I would typically call my savings pretty average. I love to watch my grocery bill drop $20 or $30 when the cashier runs my shopper card then my coupons. Even if I'm still spending $35 or $40 for groceries, I still feel like I've done a good job. There are specific things I need--bread for sandwiches, eggs for breakfast, milk for cereal, etc.--that I probably do not have a coupon for, but I am going to buy anyway because I have a family to feed!
I don't want to be that person holding up the line for three hours because I've jammed up the register with all my coupons. I also do not want to be the person who ruins it for everyone else. I don't need thirty bottles of mustard. I don't really know anyone who needs that! So, I'm not going to buy 30 bottles of mustard all at once, even it I have 30 coupons for it! That way, other people who need mustard can still buy it.
I would not recommend for anyone to quit his or her job to become an extreme couponer. I would also encourage those who do have stockpiles of items to share them. If you have 100 boxes of cereal, donate them, give them away, or let friends "shop" in your garage. You don't need them all, and you will probably be getting more next month!
---
On the job front, today was my second day at the book store. Tomorrow will be my last day this week. Then, I'm off for the weekend. I have decided I will give myself a job within a job. I appointed myself as cleaner, straightener, and keeper of textbooks today. I went around, gathering all the stray books and finding a home for them. I also cleaned up, organized the desk, grouped like things together (pencils here, paper there...), and picked up all the trash laying everywhere. This occupied my time for most of the day, which is a good thing, since the managers still do not know exactly what to do with me. Every time I ask one of them a question, he or she directs me to another manager, who directs me to another manager (you get the picture). Somewhere down the line, one of three things happens:
1. I am directed back to a manager who had already directed me away. At this point, I just figure out something to do.
2. The manager I have been directed to is no where to be found. At this point, I just figure out something to do.
3. I give up. I am tired of going up and down the escalators, through doorways, and across warehouses looking for managers. At this point, I figure out something to do.
Do you see a pattern here?
We shall see what tomorrow brings!
I also signed up yesterday with them to get a free breast cancer pink ribbon pin. I wasn't sure if it would work, but the earphones arrived, so I'm very happy! Sometimes they have stuff you have to pay for (at a discounted price) but every now and then, they have a free item.
One of my best friends ever sent me this link today:
http://financiallyfit.yahoo.com/finance/article-113020-10125-1-how-to-get-the-most-from-coupons?ywaad=ad0035&nc
I liked the article very much. I had actually been wondering about the effect the show Extreme Couponing was having on stores, people who previously did not use coupons, and people who do use coupons. There are several things you have to take into consideration about the show:
1. The deals they show on the program are usually the biggest deals the couponers have done. I mean, it has to be good t.v., or we wouldn't watch it!
2. Those people spend as much time doing coupon stuff as a normal person would spend at a full time job.
3. To get $1000 worth of groceries for 25 cents, these people have to be flexible on what they're going to buy. They already have a stockpile of items, so they do not have to shape their grocery list around what they need for the week; they shape it around what items are on sale.
4. They typically buy multiples of the same item with multiples of the same coupon, which make their savings look extreme.
I do not condone people stealing newspapers, trying to rip off stores, or using 30 coupons for the same item. I have been known to have some extreme savings (I once bought a brand new $200 coat for $10--It was out of season, it was marked down because it was missing a button, the store was having an additional discount on all discounted merchandise, and I had a coupon), but, I would typically call my savings pretty average. I love to watch my grocery bill drop $20 or $30 when the cashier runs my shopper card then my coupons. Even if I'm still spending $35 or $40 for groceries, I still feel like I've done a good job. There are specific things I need--bread for sandwiches, eggs for breakfast, milk for cereal, etc.--that I probably do not have a coupon for, but I am going to buy anyway because I have a family to feed!
I don't want to be that person holding up the line for three hours because I've jammed up the register with all my coupons. I also do not want to be the person who ruins it for everyone else. I don't need thirty bottles of mustard. I don't really know anyone who needs that! So, I'm not going to buy 30 bottles of mustard all at once, even it I have 30 coupons for it! That way, other people who need mustard can still buy it.
I would not recommend for anyone to quit his or her job to become an extreme couponer. I would also encourage those who do have stockpiles of items to share them. If you have 100 boxes of cereal, donate them, give them away, or let friends "shop" in your garage. You don't need them all, and you will probably be getting more next month!
---
On the job front, today was my second day at the book store. Tomorrow will be my last day this week. Then, I'm off for the weekend. I have decided I will give myself a job within a job. I appointed myself as cleaner, straightener, and keeper of textbooks today. I went around, gathering all the stray books and finding a home for them. I also cleaned up, organized the desk, grouped like things together (pencils here, paper there...), and picked up all the trash laying everywhere. This occupied my time for most of the day, which is a good thing, since the managers still do not know exactly what to do with me. Every time I ask one of them a question, he or she directs me to another manager, who directs me to another manager (you get the picture). Somewhere down the line, one of three things happens:
1. I am directed back to a manager who had already directed me away. At this point, I just figure out something to do.
2. The manager I have been directed to is no where to be found. At this point, I just figure out something to do.
3. I give up. I am tired of going up and down the escalators, through doorways, and across warehouses looking for managers. At this point, I figure out something to do.
Do you see a pattern here?
We shall see what tomorrow brings!
Monday, June 27, 2011
job, part 2
Well, I can't say I'm surprised, but I can say I'm disappointed. My first day of work was today. I felt as if the managers were not prepared for me to come in today, because they did not have all the necessary paperwork for me, and they really had nothing for me to do. I go back tomorrow, so maybe there will be something that magically popped up after I left. We'll see. I am definitely over qualified for this job. I am actively looking for something either to supplement this job or to take its place completely.
Ashley is still rashy and itchy.
Positive attitude! At least we both have jobs and a nice place to live, and we are finding stuff to fill up our apartment! But we are not hoarding! We have already freecycled one box of stuff that we put together as leftovers from stuff we got from other freecyclers that we didn't really want. Does that make sense? Maybe not because I am tired, and I just wrote my first paper for my first MBA class, so my brain is doing all kinds of crazy stuff right now.
Good night!
Ashley is still rashy and itchy.
Positive attitude! At least we both have jobs and a nice place to live, and we are finding stuff to fill up our apartment! But we are not hoarding! We have already freecycled one box of stuff that we put together as leftovers from stuff we got from other freecyclers that we didn't really want. Does that make sense? Maybe not because I am tired, and I just wrote my first paper for my first MBA class, so my brain is doing all kinds of crazy stuff right now.
Good night!
job
I begin working at 10am today at my new bookstore! It's in Fort Worth, so it's about 20 minutes away, but it can take longer to get there, depending on traffic.
We went to a few yard sales yesterday, and there was one where we wanted EVERYTHING! The lady was having an "estate sale" even though it was just really inside her apartment. She collected Egyptian stuff, African animal stuff, and Mardi Gras stuff. We bought a few things, but we wanted to buy it all! We also got a neat little media rack that fits nicely beside the television. Total, I think we spent about ten dollars. Woot!
We went to a few yard sales yesterday, and there was one where we wanted EVERYTHING! The lady was having an "estate sale" even though it was just really inside her apartment. She collected Egyptian stuff, African animal stuff, and Mardi Gras stuff. We bought a few things, but we wanted to buy it all! We also got a neat little media rack that fits nicely beside the television. Total, I think we spent about ten dollars. Woot!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Deal!
I had a sort of interview today for a position at the TCU bookstore. And, I start on Monday! 10am! But, I am not getting paid as much as I want (or as much as I deserve, for that matter!), so I am going to look around some more. I may even call up my old boss and see if he has anything for me. What I really, really want to do is work for Half Price Books. I think that would be aaawwweeesssooommmeee--that's awesome x 3.
Now for today's deal: 6 items at Walgreens:
a dozen eggs
two 20 ounce sodas
a can of folgers coffee
two packages of fun size candies
Total amount due: 25 cents! GO AMY!!!
Everything I got was on sale, I had two coupons for $1 off, and then I had a couple of register rewards from last week. Also, I was sure to not use any more than six coupons this time! I couldn't have done it without Ashley, though. So, actually, GO AMY AND ASHLEY! woot woot!
Now for today's deal: 6 items at Walgreens:
a dozen eggs
two 20 ounce sodas
a can of folgers coffee
two packages of fun size candies
Total amount due: 25 cents! GO AMY!!!
Everything I got was on sale, I had two coupons for $1 off, and then I had a couple of register rewards from last week. Also, I was sure to not use any more than six coupons this time! I couldn't have done it without Ashley, though. So, actually, GO AMY AND ASHLEY! woot woot!
Saturday, June 18, 2011
furnishing
Today we started our big push for getting the new apartment furnished. It was yard sale Saturday! We went to approximately 15 or 20 yard sales this morning. Here's the final loot tally:
-1 coffee table
-1 bag of office supplies, including, but not limited to:
---pens (also, including, but not limited to, 2 brand new Pilot V5 Precise Rollerballs! My favorite!)
---pencils
---a couple of desk organizer items
---a bottle of white out
-a plastic expandable file folder for extreme couponing
-a box of tabbed divider sheets, also for extreme couponing
-a weird vase from an Oklahoman Native American reservation for decoration
-an old looking but actually new world map in a cool frame
-a marker board-cork board combination
-four books (Brave New World, Crime and Punishment, Rereading America, and one more)
-a two and a half foot tall decorative candle holder with candle
-two heart shaped red sparkly plates
-five tiny ramekins that say "Country Crock" on them
All this for less than $15!! We were wheelin' and dealin' today!
Also, yesterday, at the Goodwill, we got a nice, big flat screen tv for $10! It's still a CRT, so it's a big, heavy thing, but, it works well, and it was super cheap! Wahoo!
I learned an important lesson this week: At Walgreens, you can only use as many coupons as you have items. This includes the Walgreens register rewards "cash." So, for example, if you are buying six items, you cannot use six coupons plus four register rewards. The best trick around this is to find some really, really, really cheap items, and add them in to your purchase so you can use more coupons. I found this out the hard way and did not think about adding the cheap items in, so I lost out a little on my Walgreen's excursion this week. But, I'll know for next time! Ha ha!
-1 coffee table
-1 bag of office supplies, including, but not limited to:
---pens (also, including, but not limited to, 2 brand new Pilot V5 Precise Rollerballs! My favorite!)
---pencils
---a couple of desk organizer items
---a bottle of white out
-a plastic expandable file folder for extreme couponing
-a box of tabbed divider sheets, also for extreme couponing
-a weird vase from an Oklahoman Native American reservation for decoration
-an old looking but actually new world map in a cool frame
-a marker board-cork board combination
-four books (Brave New World, Crime and Punishment, Rereading America, and one more)
-a two and a half foot tall decorative candle holder with candle
-two heart shaped red sparkly plates
-five tiny ramekins that say "Country Crock" on them
All this for less than $15!! We were wheelin' and dealin' today!
Also, yesterday, at the Goodwill, we got a nice, big flat screen tv for $10! It's still a CRT, so it's a big, heavy thing, but, it works well, and it was super cheap! Wahoo!
I learned an important lesson this week: At Walgreens, you can only use as many coupons as you have items. This includes the Walgreens register rewards "cash." So, for example, if you are buying six items, you cannot use six coupons plus four register rewards. The best trick around this is to find some really, really, really cheap items, and add them in to your purchase so you can use more coupons. I found this out the hard way and did not think about adding the cheap items in, so I lost out a little on my Walgreen's excursion this week. But, I'll know for next time! Ha ha!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Daily Deal
So, we've been staying at my sister's apartment until everything gets finalized with the new apartment. We're going by to finish moving our stuff in today. Here's the deal I got yesterday that I was most excited about:
At Steak and Shake, they have half price drinks and shakes between 2 and 4 (both pm and am!) Ashley and I went around 2:30, and we each had a coupon for a dollar or so off our meals. So, for less than the cost of a value meal at other fast food restaurants, we both had a late lunch and dessert! And it tasted better than McDonalds!
Additionally, I'll be going to Walgreen's later today to find some more good deals. I plan to fill up a cart and pay less than $10 for it all. I have some register rewards from last week, and I'm couponing it up! Very excited! I hope it all goes as planned. I'll let you know.
At Steak and Shake, they have half price drinks and shakes between 2 and 4 (both pm and am!) Ashley and I went around 2:30, and we each had a coupon for a dollar or so off our meals. So, for less than the cost of a value meal at other fast food restaurants, we both had a late lunch and dessert! And it tasted better than McDonalds!
Additionally, I'll be going to Walgreen's later today to find some more good deals. I plan to fill up a cart and pay less than $10 for it all. I have some register rewards from last week, and I'm couponing it up! Very excited! I hope it all goes as planned. I'll let you know.
Monday, June 13, 2011
On the upswing
We got a new apartment today! Woohoo! We love it! The pool is about forty steps from our back door! I have an interview at SMU's college store tomorrow. Wish me luck!
In Acquiring New Stuff news, I got two big boxes of random craft supplies and a three-tiered plastic cart from a fellow freecycler!
In Acquiring New Stuff news, I got two big boxes of random craft supplies and a three-tiered plastic cart from a fellow freecycler!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
And just like that.
I don't want to jinx it by saying too much, so this post will be short, but I think things may be looking up for us again...
On a side note, I've reconnected with an old friend, and I'm happy to have someone to call up and hang out with! Also, I've decided the hardest part of not having an address to call your own is not being able to sign up for free stuff, because you really do not have a place to send it to! So much for living in a van down by the river...
On a side note, I've reconnected with an old friend, and I'm happy to have someone to call up and hang out with! Also, I've decided the hardest part of not having an address to call your own is not being able to sign up for free stuff, because you really do not have a place to send it to! So much for living in a van down by the river...
Friday, June 10, 2011
one million titles
In my head, this post has had at least one million titles. A few of them include:
Roaches and Crack
Attacked by Snakes, part 2
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Texas
Bug Bites
Sunburn
Bum
Any guesses as to what's been happening lately? Right now, the outlook is somewhat grim. We had already signed a lease on an apartment that had a lovely exterior, three pools, a super nice staff, etc. We went to move our stuff in, and the place was crawling with roaches. The property managers were trying to talk us into staying in perhaps a different unit. Ashley went to get the mail, as we had already changed our address, and when she came back, she discretely told the lady who had been working with us that there were two guys in a truck smoking crack near the mailboxes. (It turns out Dog the Bounty Hunter can teach you many important life lessons--such as how to distinguish a crack pipe from other pipe types.) We decided not to live there. As we were driving away, something dawned on me and I asked, "Did one of the crack guys have a mohawk?" It turns out, it was the maintenance men.
Ashley's first day on the job was yesterday. She was actually attacked by snakes this time. They both struck her on her snake gators (these leg wrap things that protect you from snake bites), so she did not need the anti-venom that my sister recommended. Ashley reports that rattlesnakes are not, in fact, just as afraid of you as you are of them. They also do not act defensively. They strike.
It seems like with everything we've done lately, once we start to get ahead just a little, we fall behind once again. Long story.
In good news: we have arrived in Texas! Hooray! Pictures may follow, I'm just too exhausted to add them right now. We don't have a place to live, so we're crashing at my sister's right now.
We're both covered in bug bites and sunburns, but we're trying to stay positive!
Roaches and Crack
Attacked by Snakes, part 2
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
Texas
Bug Bites
Sunburn
Bum
Any guesses as to what's been happening lately? Right now, the outlook is somewhat grim. We had already signed a lease on an apartment that had a lovely exterior, three pools, a super nice staff, etc. We went to move our stuff in, and the place was crawling with roaches. The property managers were trying to talk us into staying in perhaps a different unit. Ashley went to get the mail, as we had already changed our address, and when she came back, she discretely told the lady who had been working with us that there were two guys in a truck smoking crack near the mailboxes. (It turns out Dog the Bounty Hunter can teach you many important life lessons--such as how to distinguish a crack pipe from other pipe types.) We decided not to live there. As we were driving away, something dawned on me and I asked, "Did one of the crack guys have a mohawk?" It turns out, it was the maintenance men.
Ashley's first day on the job was yesterday. She was actually attacked by snakes this time. They both struck her on her snake gators (these leg wrap things that protect you from snake bites), so she did not need the anti-venom that my sister recommended. Ashley reports that rattlesnakes are not, in fact, just as afraid of you as you are of them. They also do not act defensively. They strike.
It seems like with everything we've done lately, once we start to get ahead just a little, we fall behind once again. Long story.
In good news: we have arrived in Texas! Hooray! Pictures may follow, I'm just too exhausted to add them right now. We don't have a place to live, so we're crashing at my sister's right now.
We're both covered in bug bites and sunburns, but we're trying to stay positive!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Long Weekend
I have been having some viral computer issues, so I haven't posted in a few days. Also, I was in SC for a couple of days without internet access, so that also is a reason I haven't posted. Here's a brief review:
Saturday: Left VA around 1; drove to SC; arrived around 5:00; saw Grandma, Mom, and Dad; went to Skin's with Mom, Dad, aunt and cousin; went to other grandparents' house for visit; slept.
Sunday: Dad made omelets; milled around the house for a while; read the paper and looked for coupons (there were NONE in the Sunday Anderson Independent this week!); went to Cracker Barrel for lunch; tried on shoes at shoe store; had ice cream at Scoops; saw car Mom and Dad wanted to buy; went to Aunt's house to play with Wizard (lab-German Shepard mix), four new baby kitties!, and cousins; saw Aunt's beautiful yard with greenhouse and new bridge over walkway-which-is-soon-to-be-a-creek; spent some time with Grandma
Monday: Omelets again!; packed up; left SC; drove to VA; ate dinner with Ashley's family; rested; found out parents bought car!
Tuesday: Woke up early; went to Ashley's grandparents' house; painted four pieces of patio furniture (two couches and two chairs); put up three fence posts and two pieces of fence; cemented and built up front stoop; showered; about to go to bed!
Tomorrow will be a continuation of what has been deemed "Nanny Camp," which is where we go to Ashley's grandparents' house and work! At the end of the week, we get paid! WOOT!!!
It has been wonderful seeing everyone, and I am super tired now, so after I put the laundry in the dryer, it will be time for beddie-bye!
Saturday: Left VA around 1; drove to SC; arrived around 5:00; saw Grandma, Mom, and Dad; went to Skin's with Mom, Dad, aunt and cousin; went to other grandparents' house for visit; slept.
Sunday: Dad made omelets; milled around the house for a while; read the paper and looked for coupons (there were NONE in the Sunday Anderson Independent this week!); went to Cracker Barrel for lunch; tried on shoes at shoe store; had ice cream at Scoops; saw car Mom and Dad wanted to buy; went to Aunt's house to play with Wizard (lab-German Shepard mix), four new baby kitties!, and cousins; saw Aunt's beautiful yard with greenhouse and new bridge over walkway-which-is-soon-to-be-a-creek; spent some time with Grandma
Monday: Omelets again!; packed up; left SC; drove to VA; ate dinner with Ashley's family; rested; found out parents bought car!
Tuesday: Woke up early; went to Ashley's grandparents' house; painted four pieces of patio furniture (two couches and two chairs); put up three fence posts and two pieces of fence; cemented and built up front stoop; showered; about to go to bed!
Tomorrow will be a continuation of what has been deemed "Nanny Camp," which is where we go to Ashley's grandparents' house and work! At the end of the week, we get paid! WOOT!!!
It has been wonderful seeing everyone, and I am super tired now, so after I put the laundry in the dryer, it will be time for beddie-bye!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Attacked by snakes
First, let me tell you: I was not, nor have I ever been attacked by snakes. Second, this is the title of a very catchy song by the Aquabats--who I went to see once with Jackie and this kid that was staying in the dorm for a physics camp, whose name escapes me. Third, Ashley and I both spent a good deal of time last night dreaming about snakes.
At our house in State College, one of the guys had a pet snake named Billie Bob the Ball Python that was about 5 feet long. He hated Ashley. Every time she would sit beside his tank, he would come out and stare at her. I witnessed him strike the glass toward her, stare her down, and unhinge his jaw, open his mouth all the way, and size her up for the eating. Needless to say, she shared the snake's sentiment--she did not like him at all. A few minutes before we walked out of the door for the last time at the house, one of the roommates decided Ashley needed to face her fear and hold the snake. Billie Bob was coiled up, so the roommate picked it up in a big lump and brought it out. Ashley went rigid. She couldn't move. She started backing up slowly. Then the snake turned on the roommate who'd brought him out and hissed a little. The brave roommate dropped the snake on a nearby chair. Knowing the speediness and slyness of snakes, I grabbed him up. We wouldn't want to set the snake free on our final day. I put him back in the case, and we put the lid back on top, adding some extra weight to ensure he didn't come out by himself.
I saved the day!
We're headed to South Carolina today. Not sure yet when.
At our house in State College, one of the guys had a pet snake named Billie Bob the Ball Python that was about 5 feet long. He hated Ashley. Every time she would sit beside his tank, he would come out and stare at her. I witnessed him strike the glass toward her, stare her down, and unhinge his jaw, open his mouth all the way, and size her up for the eating. Needless to say, she shared the snake's sentiment--she did not like him at all. A few minutes before we walked out of the door for the last time at the house, one of the roommates decided Ashley needed to face her fear and hold the snake. Billie Bob was coiled up, so the roommate picked it up in a big lump and brought it out. Ashley went rigid. She couldn't move. She started backing up slowly. Then the snake turned on the roommate who'd brought him out and hissed a little. The brave roommate dropped the snake on a nearby chair. Knowing the speediness and slyness of snakes, I grabbed him up. We wouldn't want to set the snake free on our final day. I put him back in the case, and we put the lid back on top, adding some extra weight to ensure he didn't come out by himself.
I saved the day!
We're headed to South Carolina today. Not sure yet when.
Friday, May 27, 2011
Why you gotta be doing that?
The title is a tribute to one of the former roommates. We're still in Virginia; headed to SC for a couple of days tomorrow. We're supposed to go to Ashley's grandma's house today to build a deck and weedeat. It's been raining this morning, so I don't know if we will be able to work outside.
In other news, I looked at coupons and stuff this morning. If you're into free stuff, check out freestufftimes.com. I've gotten everything from stickers to bottles of barbeque sauce. Love it! I've also gotten free music, books, keychains, squeeze balls, pens, pencils, wristbands, t-shirts, all kinds of stuff! Under the "MONEY" tab, they post excellent coupon deals, helping you get a jump start on extreme couponing.
In other news, I looked at coupons and stuff this morning. If you're into free stuff, check out freestufftimes.com. I've gotten everything from stickers to bottles of barbeque sauce. Love it! I've also gotten free music, books, keychains, squeeze balls, pens, pencils, wristbands, t-shirts, all kinds of stuff! Under the "MONEY" tab, they post excellent coupon deals, helping you get a jump start on extreme couponing.
Thursday, May 26, 2011
To be or not to be
So, is it more important to make a post every day, or is it more important to make an interesting post? I did nothing yesterday. Well, I did watch some movies, but that doesn't really constitute as actually doing anything. At this point (you know, early in the game), I have decided it is more important to post every day.
I am enjoying being in the South again. You forget when you're away for a while that people will just talk to you randomly. Just because. You forget that things move a little slower--except on the highways and the back roads. You forget the accents. You forget that you've missed it!
I am enjoying being in the South again. You forget when you're away for a while that people will just talk to you randomly. Just because. You forget that things move a little slower--except on the highways and the back roads. You forget the accents. You forget that you've missed it!
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Virginia
The first leg of the trip was successful! Ashley and I only got into one fight. It was in the ninth hour, and I was driving. We got over it, though. We left State College a little after 1--there was some crying from both us and the roommates. We had to fill up the gas tank twice--forty bucks each time. We also had to stop for Ashley to pee about a hundred times. (Ok, so maybe it was more like four times.) The drive was fairly uneventful. When we arrived at Ashley's, her dad and her brother were at work, and her mom and her sister were in bed. The dogs didn't even bark.
After a good night's sleep, we're thinking about what will happen over the next two weeks. There are a couple of things we are pretty sure of:
1. We'll stay in Big Stone Gap and Wise for a few days
2. On Friday, we'll drive down to South Carolina to visit my family for a few days
3. We'll leave SC on Monday
What is unknown is where we will go when we leave SC. Will we come back to VA, or will we start on our journey to TX?
We'll have to decide from here whether we need to unpack the car and leave stuff here for a while or what. I'm voting for leaving everything in the car. I am failing to see the point of unpacking and repacking the car yet again.
In other news, I think that both Ashley and I are allergic to dog hair. Both of us have had watering eyes, itchy faces, and swollen throats from the moment we stepped in the door.
After a good night's sleep, we're thinking about what will happen over the next two weeks. There are a couple of things we are pretty sure of:
1. We'll stay in Big Stone Gap and Wise for a few days
2. On Friday, we'll drive down to South Carolina to visit my family for a few days
3. We'll leave SC on Monday
What is unknown is where we will go when we leave SC. Will we come back to VA, or will we start on our journey to TX?
We'll have to decide from here whether we need to unpack the car and leave stuff here for a while or what. I'm voting for leaving everything in the car. I am failing to see the point of unpacking and repacking the car yet again.
In other news, I think that both Ashley and I are allergic to dog hair. Both of us have had watering eyes, itchy faces, and swollen throats from the moment we stepped in the door.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Moving Day Take Two
Ok, today is actually moving day. So far, I have watched The Hot Chick, Will and Grace, I Love Lucy, and Reba. As you can imagine, there has not been a whole lot of moving going on. I've bid farewell to three roommates; just three more to go. I made some delicious scramwiches (scrambled eggs, cheese, bacon on toast) for Ashley and myself, and Ashley has done some laundry.
On a side note, I don't like the idea of a bear using toilet paper. (Commercials.)
Yesterday's unpacking/repacking session went well. I think we have come to terms that we will be starting out with pretty much nothing. The yard sale days helped get rid of a bunch of stuff, but the unpacking of yesterday pretty much filled the room back up. We're just leaving it all with the roommates. They will be having a yard sale soon, so hopefully they can get some more money from our stuff. We're leaving behind all the craft stuff--beads, felt, paper craft, sewing machine, and so much more! Also included in the abandoned stuff: all storage bins, shelves, etc.; every piece of kitchen stuff, such as the toaster oven, the Snoopy waffle maker, the silicon spatula, brand new pizza pans, pink skillet set, etc.; the record player; the books from the 1800s; the stockpile of toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, soap, shaving cream, lotion, toothpaste, etc. And etc., etc., etc.
I'm starting to get used to--and maybe even a little bit excited by--the idea that we're replacing everything. I think it will be quite an adventure. Between Freecycle, extreme couponing, garage sales, and my knack for finding a deal, I think we can do it. I think so.
On a side note, I don't like the idea of a bear using toilet paper. (Commercials.)
Yesterday's unpacking/repacking session went well. I think we have come to terms that we will be starting out with pretty much nothing. The yard sale days helped get rid of a bunch of stuff, but the unpacking of yesterday pretty much filled the room back up. We're just leaving it all with the roommates. They will be having a yard sale soon, so hopefully they can get some more money from our stuff. We're leaving behind all the craft stuff--beads, felt, paper craft, sewing machine, and so much more! Also included in the abandoned stuff: all storage bins, shelves, etc.; every piece of kitchen stuff, such as the toaster oven, the Snoopy waffle maker, the silicon spatula, brand new pizza pans, pink skillet set, etc.; the record player; the books from the 1800s; the stockpile of toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, soap, shaving cream, lotion, toothpaste, etc. And etc., etc., etc.
I'm starting to get used to--and maybe even a little bit excited by--the idea that we're replacing everything. I think it will be quite an adventure. Between Freecycle, extreme couponing, garage sales, and my knack for finding a deal, I think we can do it. I think so.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Moving Day
Well, ok, today is supposed to be the moving day. However, plans A,B,C,D, and now E have failed. We are kind of scrambling for a plan F now. Let's catch you up:
Ashley graduated May 14. At the beginning of May, she received several job offers, and the one she accepted is with an archeology firm in Texas. She graduated from Penn State, so, obviously, we're in Pennsylvania right now. That's a quaint 1400 miles away. Just a 23 hour drive!
So, I put in my two weeks' notice, we started packing, and we made a plan. We made several plans, actually. The original five or ten plans included us leaving today to go to Virginia to visit Ashley's family. These plans, obviously, have gone awry. Here's a brief rundown of the plans:
Plan A: Rent a U-haul, load it up, drive it and my car to Virginia, pick up Ashley's mom and sister, all four of us drive to Texas, then Ashley's mom and sister fly back to Virginia. This started out as a feasible idea, but as the totals started adding up, the price tag was starting to go over $1500, and that just wasn't doable.
Plan B: Ashley's sister--C--drives to PA, helps us pack up all the stuff, we all drive back to VA, pick up Ashley's mom--V--, all of us drive to TX. This either leaves C and V down one car for when they fly back to VA or it leaves them with a two day car trip from TX back to VA. People with jobs can't do stuff like that!
Plan C: Portable on Demand Storage. Refuses to deliver in State College.
Plan D: This plan was in two parts.
Part one: Yardsale. The first success! Between posting stuff on Craigslist and putting up signs all over the place, plus sitting outside on the porch for two days, we made a little over $200 on selling our stuff. We freecycled the leftovers. Go green!
Part two: Car topper. They make waterproof fabric toppers that are supposed to fit easily on top of your car. You should see the picture on the box! Everybody in that four door sedan is so happy to be moving a thousand miles away! How easy it is to travel with one of these! You don't even need a roof rack! Oh yeah, we forgot to tell you: it dents in the roof of your car. Woops!
Plan E: We rent a car in State College, pack it up with stuff, Ashley drives one car, I drive the other to VA. $40 a day for a rental is not too bad, right? Wrong. If you drop it off at a different location, extra charge. Gas: extra charge. Mileage: extra charge. Taxes: extra charge. You can only pick it up and drop it off at the airport. Guess what? They charge you extra if you're picking up and dropping off at the airport! Running total starting to surpass $300, and we haven't even thought about how we're getting the second car load of stuff to Texas.
Other ideas have included paying the roommates to drive to Texas, shipping our stuff to ourselves, getting lyme disease (I'll explain this one later)
For now, we are relying on plan F: unpack EVERYTHING, resort EVERYTHING, repack a few things, then try to replace what we need when we get to Texas.
Now, for the lyme disease: On Saturday night, after the yard sale, we sat down on the couch to watch a movie and eat dinner. My knee pit--you know, the back part of your leg under the knee area--hurt really badly. I figured I had pinched it at some point on something and it was rubbed by my jeans all day. I slapped a bandaid--which I hate--on it and went about my way. On Sunday, after the yard sale, it was still hurting really badly, so I pulled the bandaid off. There was a small scab hanging off, so I stared to pull it. It really hurt! It must have still been attached. Maybe it had grown around a hair or something. I pulled really hard, and the scab popped off! Then I noticed the scab had legs. That were still moving. What I didn't realize was that it no longer had a head. When I told Ashley about it later, she explained that you're not actually supposed to pull them off. You're supposed to light a match, stick it to the butt of the tick, and let it back out of your flesh. Otherwise, it pops off body parts so it can still eat away. So, after about 36 hours of having this thing eating its way around my knee pit, Ashley submitted me to the torture of squeezing, tweezing, mashing, and alcohol swabbing to get out the head.
I am trying to keep a positive attitude, but I'm not feeling very good right now.
Ashley graduated May 14. At the beginning of May, she received several job offers, and the one she accepted is with an archeology firm in Texas. She graduated from Penn State, so, obviously, we're in Pennsylvania right now. That's a quaint 1400 miles away. Just a 23 hour drive!
So, I put in my two weeks' notice, we started packing, and we made a plan. We made several plans, actually. The original five or ten plans included us leaving today to go to Virginia to visit Ashley's family. These plans, obviously, have gone awry. Here's a brief rundown of the plans:
Plan A: Rent a U-haul, load it up, drive it and my car to Virginia, pick up Ashley's mom and sister, all four of us drive to Texas, then Ashley's mom and sister fly back to Virginia. This started out as a feasible idea, but as the totals started adding up, the price tag was starting to go over $1500, and that just wasn't doable.
Plan B: Ashley's sister--C--drives to PA, helps us pack up all the stuff, we all drive back to VA, pick up Ashley's mom--V--, all of us drive to TX. This either leaves C and V down one car for when they fly back to VA or it leaves them with a two day car trip from TX back to VA. People with jobs can't do stuff like that!
Plan C: Portable on Demand Storage. Refuses to deliver in State College.
Plan D: This plan was in two parts.
Part one: Yardsale. The first success! Between posting stuff on Craigslist and putting up signs all over the place, plus sitting outside on the porch for two days, we made a little over $200 on selling our stuff. We freecycled the leftovers. Go green!
Part two: Car topper. They make waterproof fabric toppers that are supposed to fit easily on top of your car. You should see the picture on the box! Everybody in that four door sedan is so happy to be moving a thousand miles away! How easy it is to travel with one of these! You don't even need a roof rack! Oh yeah, we forgot to tell you: it dents in the roof of your car. Woops!
Plan E: We rent a car in State College, pack it up with stuff, Ashley drives one car, I drive the other to VA. $40 a day for a rental is not too bad, right? Wrong. If you drop it off at a different location, extra charge. Gas: extra charge. Mileage: extra charge. Taxes: extra charge. You can only pick it up and drop it off at the airport. Guess what? They charge you extra if you're picking up and dropping off at the airport! Running total starting to surpass $300, and we haven't even thought about how we're getting the second car load of stuff to Texas.
Other ideas have included paying the roommates to drive to Texas, shipping our stuff to ourselves, getting lyme disease (I'll explain this one later)
For now, we are relying on plan F: unpack EVERYTHING, resort EVERYTHING, repack a few things, then try to replace what we need when we get to Texas.
Now, for the lyme disease: On Saturday night, after the yard sale, we sat down on the couch to watch a movie and eat dinner. My knee pit--you know, the back part of your leg under the knee area--hurt really badly. I figured I had pinched it at some point on something and it was rubbed by my jeans all day. I slapped a bandaid--which I hate--on it and went about my way. On Sunday, after the yard sale, it was still hurting really badly, so I pulled the bandaid off. There was a small scab hanging off, so I stared to pull it. It really hurt! It must have still been attached. Maybe it had grown around a hair or something. I pulled really hard, and the scab popped off! Then I noticed the scab had legs. That were still moving. What I didn't realize was that it no longer had a head. When I told Ashley about it later, she explained that you're not actually supposed to pull them off. You're supposed to light a match, stick it to the butt of the tick, and let it back out of your flesh. Otherwise, it pops off body parts so it can still eat away. So, after about 36 hours of having this thing eating its way around my knee pit, Ashley submitted me to the torture of squeezing, tweezing, mashing, and alcohol swabbing to get out the head.
I am trying to keep a positive attitude, but I'm not feeling very good right now.
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