Sunday, May 30, 2010
Ok, first... There is the SHOPPING side of things:1. Always compare prices. Get to know store's price matching policies. And sign up for their sale circular emails. Keep coupons. You can compare store prices online for most items. Such as with Petsmart, Petco, Walgreens, RiteAid, Walmart, CVS and Target. Once you know the lowest list price, check their circulars for a sale and your stash for a coupon.
2. I don't have any credit cards. But some stores have useful rewards programs. Victoria's Secret has a card thats pretty useful for building credit (but you need credit to get it). It allows you to buy the item on the card (thus getting points) and immediately pay off the card balance in cash right after the transaction so you don't carry a balance, but the transaction and timely payment will be on your report.
Nordstroms has a card that gives you two points back for every dollar spent at Nordstroms and Nordstroms Rack. Sales days provide double or triple points per dollar at times. As you earn these points, you get access to special sales, services and receive Nordstrom Notes to spend at Nordstrom. You also get 1 point per dollar on this card for shopping anywhere else.
3. If shopping online, always check google for e-coupon codes for the retailer and then check BING.com, EBATES.com and MYPOINTS.com before making a purchase. These three sites give you a little kick back for shopping. Anywhere from 2-25% back for bing and ebates. And Mypoints will give you points per dollar back, which can be applied toward purchasing giftcards to retailers like Amazon, Barns&Nobles, Walmart, Target and such. Sometimes, the kickbacks are paired with free shipping. Simply search the store on all three sites, choose the better deal, do your shopping and use your coupon code. You can even get rebates from shopping on ebay.
4. CVS, Walgreens and RiteAid have great rewards programs and sales promotions. Pair these up with coupons and you can get some great deals. But I don't recommend buying products that don't have a promo going. These stores generally cost more than target or walmart. But when they have a sales promo going, you can get an amazing deal. Like $30 worth of shampoo and conditioner for a mere $8 out of pocket.
5. Check out Discount retailers first. TJMaxx, Marshalls, ROSS, Nordstrom Rack and such usually have much better deals regardless of where you like to shop. They have everything from the EXACT same clothes Forever21 carries to the designer goods high end retailers carry (like Juicy Couture, Dooney&Bourke, Coach, Burberry, D&G, True Religion, Seven for all mankind, ect)And they usually have very full clearance racks. TJMaxx/Marshalls and Nordstrom Rack also have rewards cards.
5. When grocery shopping. Try and plan a menu around what you already have, whats on sale and what you have coupons for.
6. Petfood companies issue a lot of coupons. Some of them you need to request though. Blue Buffalo and Innova/Evo coupons can be requested through the company websites. As can samples. Purina and Iams coupons are EVERYWHERE. PetSmart usually accepts competitor coupons and is willing to price match. They also have nice sales now and then.
7. Craigslist: If you're looking for furniture, car parts, a fence or any large items. Check Craigslist first. There are many free and inexpensive finds on craigslist. And you can even barter for what you want.
8. If you like to eat out, look for coupons for the restaurant (on-line and in-print) and check out restaurant.com for significant discounts on restaurant gift-cards.
9. If you can't find a coupon for what you want, contact the company. Ask for a free sample while you're at it. Save the samples for when you're running low on something or for traveling.
The SAVINGS side of things:1. At the end of the pay period, add up what you've saved with in-store coupons and add that amount to savings.
2. Allow your e-savings to build up. You can allow these to be paid directly to paypal or request a check. Let your mypoints build up and get yourself a gift-card.
3. At the end of the day, if you have any loose change or $5 bills in your purse/wallet... Take them out and tuck them in a jar.
4. Of course: Budget a specific amount of money to go into savings each pay period.
How to make a little extra spare cash:1. Use Ebates, Bing and Mypoints.
2. Do a few online surveys and mypoints emails while you have your morning coffee or tea.
3. Don't toss out old clothes and jewelry. First consign them, consignments can usually give you a much better pay out than a yard-sale. Whatever doesn't sell at consignment, then try and yard-sale it or donate it and get a tax receipt.
4. Furniture: Sell/barter on craigslist or donate and get a tax receipt.
5. Books: Some dealers will buy books off you. You can sometimes make more selling them to a dealer than you will at a yard-sale. For textbooks, try cash4books.com. You can also list the books on Amazon.com or bonanzle. I wouldn't bother with ebay since you have to pay even if it doesn't sell. And if it does sell, you end up paying three different fees total: One fee to list. One final value fee and One paypal sellers fee. If they don't sell, again: Donate and get a tax receipt.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Animals don't have hissy fits over the stupidest crap and subject others to suffer for their idiocy.
People do.
ZOMG! Its sooooo prejudice to have Santa on a cola can. You can't call it Christmas! Its oppressive!
Ever consider how YOU are oppressing Christians and people that LIKE Santa? I like Santa. Maybe I WANT a jolly old fat guy with unusual fashion sense on my soda and all over my house in December. This is America, and thats my right to decide. Get the heck out of my life and liberty you psychotic fruitcakes!
If you don't like Santa or want to say "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas" than that is YOUR right. But don't go freaking out on others who don't share those views and attempting to force them to coddle your bs. You say "Happy Holidays" and allow them to say "Merry Christmas". Its simple. WHY try and ban crap.
Bored Americans today are Ban-happy.
OMG! That books about WIZARDS! EVVVVVILLLLLL!!!! BAN IT!
OMG, That store employee said a simple holiday greeting to me. HOW DARE SHE! BAN HOLIDAY GREETINGS!
OMG, Coke put Santa back on the soda can, OPPRESSION! BAN SANTA!
OMG, I'm an idiot that doesn't know anything about dog breeds and canine behavior, BAN THAT BREED!
OMG, Kids playing with plastic bracelets in silly shapes and acting like kids, BAN THE BRACELETS!
OMG, Kids like flavored products so flavored cigarettes MUST be targeted at kids, BAN THEM (but leave the flavored cigars, because thats totally different)!
OMG, They love each other and want to get married, but their marriage doesn't LOOK like mine. BAN THEIR RIGHT TO MARRY! (How would you like someone to tell you that YOU couldn't marry the love of your life because they didn't like or respect your choice?)
Seriously people. GET THE HELL OVER YOURSELVES.
Don't like something, Don't do it. Don't buy it. Don't use it.
BUT LEAVE THE RIGHT TO CHOOSE TO OTHERS.
If a company wants to have a Christian image or celebrate a specific Holiday by name. Thats their choice. Want to change it? Buy out the company and change policy. If not, shut up and mind your own.
This is America, you like your right to be a royal pain in the arse? Thats fine. But stop trampling the rights of others in the process.
And even if you disagree with something, like Gay marriage for example... Think about the legal precedence you are setting. And the reasons you give in setting them.
You are giving the government the precedent to tell Americans who they can and can not marry. Not too long ago, inter-racial marriage wasn't allowed either and was heavily discouraged. Do you really want to give government the power to tell you that you cant marry X individual, no matter how much you love them, because of their race? Or age difference (assuming both are legal consenting adults)? Or because of health concerns? How about back-tracking so far that any marriage where children could not be conceived is grounds for nullification?
I mean, thats actually one of the points used in support of banning gay marriage: They can't procreate. Well, then where does that put the heterosexual couples who can't have kids... Or who don't even WANT to have kids? Should their marriages be banned and nullified too? If that is put down on the books as grounds for banning marriage... That puts *MY* marriage at risk. And your's too, should you be found infertile, unable to have children due to health risks or just childless by choice. Is that really a risk you want to take?
When you start trampling the rights of others and banning things left and right, you put your own rights and interests at very serious risk.
Thats something Americans need to really start thinking about.
Labels: America, animals, ban, choices, idiocy, rights, santa
Friday, May 21, 2010
Welcome to nowhere. My little piece of oblivion on the digital landscape.
If you expect something profound, you probably wont find it here. I'm deep enough in my day to day life, allow me to enjoy the shallow pools of the internet for a change.
I'm Danielle.
I tend to obsess over the most absurd things... Like Strawberries. I'm absolutely addicted and obsessed with things that have a strawberry on them. Don't ask me why. Maybe it has some deep unknown meaning to me. Or maybe I just have a thing for this one random fruit. I'll probably never know.
I get riled up over equally absurd things. Like the colors in seasonal M&M bags. And randomly rant for no reason.
I tend to like animals more than people. Some people think thats a flaw in my nature... I instead believe it shows a flaw in the natures of others. And how can I be faulted for how they present themselves to me?
Thats not to say I don't like people. I know quite a few fine specimens of the human race who I enjoy immensely. I even married one. A very fine specimen of Homo Sapien males. I keep him on a pretty short leash. Can't have him out chasing cars, now can I?
But, if it came down to it... I admittedly will save my cat, Freya, from a house fire before a random adult stranger. I'm sorry, its non-negotiable. I recommend you get trapped in a fire with someone else. Frankly, even if I wanted to save you... I'd likely fail miserably being that I'm a rather small woman of mortal physical strength.
I enjoy swapping and writing letters. Its always amazing to speak to people from all walks of life who miraculously share many of the same interests as I do. I love meeting new people! But... I still like my cat more. Sorry. ;)
I'm rather indecisive. I love edgy, dark, goth themes. But I also have grown very fond of very girly themes... As though you couldn't tell from the layout of this blog...
To begin with, I will likely only update this blog once a week. But you never know, maybe it will be more often than that even.
