I’m always surprised when I look in my wallet and see paper money. I have it so rarely that it almost seems like it shouldn’t be in there. I rely mostly on my debit card, and occasionally on my credit card. The world seems made of plastic. You slide your plastic card through a plastic machine and then pick up your grocery bags, also made of plastic, filled with food containers that are plastic. Everything is sterile, factory-made, and impersonal. Have you ever watched “Little House on the Prairie” or “Anne of Green Gables” and seen the characters go into … Continue reading →

Stores want shoppers back. Stores are starting new programs to lure shoppers to their doors. I love to shop but with a toddler, an infant, two cats (know anyone who wants two cats?), and a husband, I need to be careful with how I spend my money. I appreciate anything stores do to help me save while still getting the things I need to keep my home running. Target is offering its REDCard customers 5% cash back on purchases. The next time I’m at Target I’m going to get a Target REDCard debit card so I can take advantage of … Continue reading →

I love clipping coupons. One of the highlights of the Sunday paper is the coupons. It’s nice and relaxing to sit on the sofa watching TV and clipping coupons. I find out about exciting new products through the coupons and set those coupons aside to be sure to look for those items. My coupon filing system needs to be updated. I use a plastic check box with dividers for sorting. I have different categories for my coupons. I keep a calculator and pen in my coupon box too. A lot of times I’ll set special coupons in the large open … Continue reading →

Recently tedgar wrote about her family’s trip to the pumpkin patch and her look at what money is worth. Our time is worth something. Our efforts are worth something. We all have a threshold of what we are willing to spend. It is a lot cheaper to buy a bag of whole apples at the store and cut them up myself when I get home. It is easier, faster, and more convenient to buy a bag of pre-cut apples. The pre-cut apples are more expensive, but the toddler is more likely to eat them than the apples I cut myself … Continue reading →

I love technology. I wish I had the inclination to invent something, because technology is amazing. There have been so many technological advances during my lifetime. Microwave Oven My parents bought their house when I was 10 months old. The house was built in 1915 and was always very hot in the summer. Mom didn’t turn on the oven, nor did she allow the children to do so, when the weather was warm because it made the house that much hotter. The microwave certainly helped. VCR The first VCR I remember was enormous. One of my sister’s friends brought it … Continue reading →

Today was an expensive day. We drove for about an hour to a pumpkin patch, where we picked pumpkins. Then we went out to a late lunch. It was a wonderful family time, but it was certainly expensive. This meant that we had to buy gas. We also paid admission to the pumpkin patch and we bought a number of pumpkins. Of course, we paid for lunch too. The bill for the day was likely around $80. Now, I love creating wonderful family traditions, and while I am not nearly as tradition-oriented and season-celebrating as I’d like to be, the … Continue reading →

When I was a little girl is was an exciting day when the JCPenney catalog arrived in the mail. It was always so big and held so many items that were fun to look at. The JCP catalog sat in a place of honor near the phone in our kitchen. Perusing the pages of the catalog was so much fun. Even more fun was when my mom and I would drive to JCPenney to pick up any orders placed from the catalog. Catalog shopping was all the rage. If you couldn’t get to the store, the store came to you … Continue reading →

There’s a new grocery store chain in my area called Aldi. I was really looking forward to this store moving into town because the prices are supposed to be very competitive and the products offered are supposed to be interesting and family friendly. Those things sound good and sound like things that I need for my family. I do want to get the most groceries and household products for the least amount. If I can make fewer trips to fewer stores to get all my family needs, that’s a bonus too. I was excited about Aldi, so I looked up … Continue reading →

I love a bargain. I love to save where I can. I love clipping coupons and am excited to find them in the Sunday paper or with the circulars in the mail. I have a great filing system for my coupons, but unfortunately all too often forget to use them before they expire or don’t have them with me when I need them. I often wonder if I would save more by buying the items that the coupons are for instead of just clipping coupons for items I typically buy. Today I went on a shopping trip at Buy Buy … Continue reading →