"Simplify, Simplify, Simplify!" Learn to Say NO, Stop multi-tasking, and Declutter our Lives and Homes

From the works of Henry David Thoreau, "Simplify, simplify, simplify!" is the motto I will now strive to follow. Many times I have found myself up until odd hours of the morning only to meet myself going and realize that I have accomplished NOTHING but making myself worthlessly TIRED the next day. Or I work away from the home for most of the day, then come home tired and look around at the mess in my house I have lazily created by being too tired to do anything about it.

No more!! I recently reduced my workload to concentrate on more important and productive things. Now I have decided that this house is going to be (as I like to call) "lived-in clean" (not spotless, mind you). After all, I don't want to convey the stiff front that would make visitors afraid to touch anything, but I also don't want to be considered for the next episode of "HOARDERS" either. So "lived-in clean" is good enough for me.

I am going to learn to say "no" when I know I do not have the time to do a good enough job for someone else. Often I am asked by a friend or family member to do something (even small things) that would take away from my family's time and needs to accomplish. I am going to step back and look over my scheduled time and then remember that it IS okay to say "no" at times. This act will help me to declutter my daily life.

I used to be a list maker (and still am to a degree). But I have discovered that by becoming a "multi-tasker" I have found myself getting sidetracked from my main objectives and not accomplishing as much of my list as I would have if I had stayed focused on the items intended for the day. Now, I don't mean you can't stop something long enough to go changed out your laundry. You just can't get so sidetracked in doing this that you never return to the original task. Multi-tasking can do more harm than good if it is not managed properly.

Now, here is my challenge for readers:

I have a few empty boxes that I consider to be medium to large sized. I am going to challenge myself (and anyone who would like to do the same themselves) to fill those boxes with items from the home that are no longer used or needed. These filled boxes will then either be donated to a local charity or put into the next yard sale. I am going to begin decluttering my home by deciding if an item is necessary or not and then not be afraid to get rid of it. (I was a "military brat" growing up, so every few years we moved and with each move came the GIANT sale that got rid of a lot of childhood memories. I attribute this to the reason I have trouble "letting go" of EVERYTHING."

(I have some "before" pictures of my home, but I will not be sharing them until I have the "after" shots.)

By getting rid of the things that clutter my home as well as getting rid of the things that clutter my daily life, I feel I will relieve many of the stressors that I have allowed to slip in and hang on me like excess baggage. I do not want to be weighed down by the things that are unnecessary any longer. I WILL BE FREE!!!

July 2011 Tyler Area Coupon Club Meeting Announcement

Here is the announcement you have ALL been waiting for:

The next Tyler Area Coupon Club meeting will be on Thursday, July 28th from 6:30 - 8:30 PM at Whitehouse First Assembly (on 110 S). This meeting will be a discussion session where you can simply talk about your couponing with other members who attend. There will not be any "formal classes" but please bring any questions and we will all help each other out.

Event includes:
- Everyone please bring a snack to share (I will bring the drinks)
- Coupon swap (bring any coupons to trade)
- Door Prizes (name in drawing for each of the following: bring snack to share, bring friend, bringing up to 3 door prizes (items you got for FREE/cheap with coupons))
- recycle expired coupons (expired less than 6 months; I will be sending them to a military family overseas (Please donate $1 to help pay for postage.)) PLEASE PRE-CUT THESE.

Contest for "bragging rights" of "Q-pon Queen": Bring your BEST receipt and we will announce a formula for calculating the ratio of item value vs. amount spent. No prize for this, but it'll be FUN!! :o)

Please RSVP on the Facebook page: Tyler Area Coupon Club.

Thank you and I hope to see everyone there. :o)

Is It Worth the Insurance Money?

That was some storm we had sweep through East Texas last night. And July 4th was not the night for it to happen. I personally experienced a startling blackout at the house. It was not fun at all. When the lights finally came back on, we realized that our Internet modem was "blown" and we were left without access to the Internet. I unplugged the kitchen clock before going to bed as is my post-power surge ritual; it had been losing function lately, but "resetting" it by unplugging it usually worked. Not this time. And, finally, after trying to send a fax this morning, unsuccessfully, I realized that our phone was not working either. These are all items that our household uses daily, so off to Best Buy I went.

The items I purchased qualified for the 2-Year Buyer's Protection Plan at $15 each. Now, I ask you, "Is it worth the insurance money?" In the event of another power surge in the next 2 years I could get a brand new one to replace the old one if it were to cease working. But is it really worth it?

The clock/radio/timer/tape deck combo that I was replacing was about 15 years old and was bought for my first apartment. It was definitely outdated and the only things that actually worked on it for the last few years were the clock and timer functions. I was hoping to update our model for something with a CD player, but I am more than happy with the one I got. If the old one lasted 15 years and the Buyer's Protection Plan is only for 2 years, the additional $15 for the plan doesn't seem worth it.

The Internet modem that I got is necessary for our household because of our home-based businesses. I was able to replace 2 items with this purchase, though, because the new modem was also a router. The old one had been purchased about 5 or 6 years ago, maybe even before then. The Buyer's Protection Plan on this item may not seem worth the $15 either.

The phone/answer machine that was being replaced was a whole-house system with 3 handsets that is used daily for our household as well as our businesses. Replacing this item was more than a necessity because of our business line. However, the original purchase of the unit was almost 4 years ago. This too seems not worth the insurance.

Is it worth it, though? If any one of these units were to stop working in any way within the next 2 years (inside of the approval of the protection plan) they would be replaced.

Let me know what you think.

Rebates: Do's, Don'ts, and What to Do if Yours is Wrong

I received 2 rebate checks in the mail the other day, but I had also received the postcard pictured that stated that there was an error in one of my other rebates.

The thing about rebates is that the manufacturers set very specific rules and guidelines for each rebate that are tricky to follow. Sometimes I wonder if they are trying to get you so frustrated in filling them out that you either make a mistake or give up trying.

The first thing you need to do is check the dates required for the purchase (usually stated: between x/xx/xxxx and y/yy/yyyy). Next look at the specific item(s) allowed/required to be purchased to qualify for the rebate. Then read the directions as if they are "step-by-step" instructions: fill out the blah, blah, and the blah, blah; and mail this completed form and ORIGINAL cash register receipt WITH PURCHASE PRICE CIRCLED to: Name of Rebate, address, address, address 12345
by z/zz/zzzz (date). Sometimes the rebate even requests the original bar code from the packaging of the
item(s)

As soon as I make the purchase, I try to fill out the rebate that very day so as not to forget or misplace a receipt or bar code. When I fill out the rebate, I read the directions. Then I re-read them as I am circling the item(s) on the receipt. Then I, again, re-read the directions as I am copying the papers that I am sending in (never send off a rebate without copying every part). Lastly, I read the directions a final time as I put each part of the rebate into the envelope. Be sure to put a stamp on the envelope and, if asked for, include a SASE (Self-Addressed, Stamped Envelope).

Mail your rebate off that very day or at least by the next day; never hold on to them. If a company is only paying a certain number of rebates, you want to be sure yours is one of those first few.

Now, back to the postcard I received from the rebate company. I had never gotten a card like this before. It stated that my rebate was rejected. I new that I had done everything that was asked of my on the form, but there was still a problem. I checked on the website listed on the card and then contacted them via a toll-free number given. I was very polite and explained my case. The operator was very understanding and looked up my rebate. He told me that the reason it was rejected was because my purchase was not within the dates required. I knew it HAD been, because my records showed that I had mailed it out on the 2nd day of the rebate and I always mail them the day after purchase.

As soon as he saw that my purchase was from Walgreens, the operator knew that there must have been an error in reading the coded date on the receipt. He resubmitted my rebate reassuring me by stating that he did not see any reason why it would not be accepted this time.

As tricky as rebates might seem to be, they can be a great experience when you follow the directions carefully and follow up on them in a positive manner when necessary.

Couponing Info, Part 3: Untrained Cashiers, It's Not Their Fault

With the usual quick turnaround of cashiers at most stores, there is little time to properly train them on every aspect of the checkout process. Coupons usually take the back burner during training because not every transaction deals with them. For this reason when problems with the coupons arise, the cashier with the line full of waiting customers will usually try to handle them without knowing how just to get you out the door.

I constantly get this from the Cashiers and Managers alike: "The coupon states 'only one coupon per purchase.' You can only use one of these." What they do not understand is that a "purchase" is an "item" not the entire transaction. Each item in a single transaction IS a purchase, therefore, you can use a manufacturer's coupon on every single item in the transaction if you have one for each of them.

Another belief by some cashiers is that people who use coupons are "robbing the store" because they are not paying for the items. The truth is you ARE paying for the item, but you are not using actual money. The store gets the money for the item; they just don't get it from YOU. The store turns the coupons in to the address on the coupon to receive the money plus they get a "processing fee" (usually 8c as stated on the coupon itself) for doing this.

Now, let's pretend you are working at a store as a cashier. Along comes Katy Coupon with her binder in tow, a buggy full of items in multiples of 4 because she buys her Sunday papers four at a time (4 cans of soup, 4 cake mixes, 4 lotions, 4 deodorants, 4 bags of cat litter, 4 packs of diapers, etc.). Katy politely chats with you while you scan 4 of every item the store carries that newly has a manufacturer's coupon out. Every coupon is working until you get to the lotion coupons that, for some reason or another, is not programmed in the register to match the corresponding lotion bottles that the store carries.

This could go several different ways, but let's look at two different scenarios:

1. Katy gets upset with you when you express your limited coupon knowledge while trying to interpret the wording of the fine print on the coupon. You take a defensive attitude which only makes you frustrated, angry, and begin to have a feeling of dislike toward ALL coupon shoppers that are "robbing the store by using coupons."

2. Katy politely explains to you what the wording means in the "coupon world" and you learn something that you can apply to the next coupon transaction that comes across your sales counter. You begin to have a feeling of understanding and admiration for these smart shoppers who know how to get a lot for a little by living in the "coupon world."

Which Katy would you want coming to your checkout lane? If we all strive to be the Katy in scenario #2, the "coupon world" would be a better place.

Couponing Info, Part 2: Stacking Coupons

How many coupons can you legally use on a single item? Most people think one; this is a common misconception. I have used 4 at one time. This can only be done by "stacking". "What is stacking?" you ask. In couponing, stacking is the use of a store coupon (from a specific store that can only be used at that store on the item specified) along with a manufacturer's coupon (put out by the manufacturer of the product to be used on their specified product).

An example of this is a store coupon put out by store H stating that you can take $2 off of item P. But you have a manufacturer's coupon for $2 off of item P. Now you can buy item P at store H at a discount of $4!

Now let's just petend that item P is put on sale at store H for $5 this week. With either of the coupons by itself, item P would cost you $3. But by stacking both of the coupons on item P's sale price, you can get it for only $1! Wow!

Now let's look at how we can use up to 4 coupons on a single item:

First of all, the law of coupons states that you can only use one manufacturer's coupon on any single item at a time. This means that if you buy one, you can use one manufacturer's coupon; if you buy 2, you can use 2 manufacturer's coupons; and so on.

At some stores, you are able to use a store coupon on an item that also is on sale, but requires an "in-ad" coupon (printed in the weekly ad of the store) to get the sale price. Now you have 2 store coupons to use on one product and you can also stack a manufacturer's coupon with that because you have not used one yet.

There are also stores that put out savings books with coupons toward specific items in their stores. If the store recognizes these as different coupons, they can be used along with the above scenario. Now you have 4 coupons that can be used on one single item.

Although this concept seems confusing, through trial and error you will be able to master it. Just be patient and be ready for mistakes during the process because learning what doesn't work sometimes makes it easier to understand what does work.

Go "Green": Let's Recycle Expired Coupons

Whether you clip all the coupons each week, keep track of the inserts by date, or just clip the ones you think you will use, chances are you have thrown out your expired coupons a time or more. Have you ever wondered if anybody out there would honor those expired coupons. Well, the answer is YES!! A military family stationed overseas is able to use expired coupons. There are a few stipulations to what they can use, though.

Here are the guidelines I was told by a relative who is in China right now with the military:

The coupons must be within 6 months of expiration.
They must state "manufacturer's coupon" on them.
They must state what they are to be used on (item, product, brand, etc.).
They must be scan-able (have a barcode/upc number).
Printed coupons are acceptable if they meet the above requirements.

If you are in the Tyler, TX area, the Tyler Area Coupon Club (TACC) meets approximately every 4-8 weeks and takes up a collection of expired coupons at every meeting. Please watch the club's Facebook page: Tyler Area Coupon Club for information on the meetings.