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Archives for 2011

Back to School: Sale Supply Lists

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Rebeca Falco)

As summer is winding down, the back-to-school sales are gearing up. Viewing the Sunday fliers, I am bombarded with sales from large retail suppliers competing for my attention and business. Sorting through the advertisements, I could spend 1-2 hours creating the perfect list of needed items at the best prices to stretch my hard earned dollars.

The Search

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a master list of all the school supply sales from all the major retail stores? Well, I have some great news for you  . . .

THERE IS.

The Find

Jenny Martin at southernsavers.com creates a master list of all the school supplies from all the stores. You can see this week’s deals (ending today) by clicking on this link. Armed with this master list, you can find the best prices on all your school needs.

Next week, Jenny will post another list. When I see her list, I will post the link on my Facebook page. (Are you following me on Facebook? If not, click on the Facebook icon in the right sidebar, like our page, and “talk” with me. I would love to hear how you are using your time wisely.)

The Timesaver

Having your created list, you are ready to hit the stores. What if you could get most or all of your items at the same store? A one-stop shopping trip would be a huge timesaver.

Hmm . . . have you heard that some stores, like Wal-mart, offer price matching? (You see where I’m going. Isn’t this exciting?)

If your store price matches, then take your list and all your sales ads with you while shopping. Here is how my shopping trip looks:

1.  Choose to shop at Wal-mart since I have price matched successfully with them in the past.

2.  Take my list and gather the items. The items need to be the same brand, size, and count as the price matched item.

3.  Sort the items by the price matched advertisement. To make the checkout process as organized as possible, keep all the items to be price matched from the Walgreens ad together, then all the Kmart ads, then the Target sales, etc.

4.  Go to checkout placing the sales ad with the group of items to be price matched. Let the cashier know you have price matched items. Then help him or her by locating the new price from your ads. Be calm, courteous, and don’t be afraid to ask for a manager if the cashier does not honor a sale price.

5.  Share your savings with your frugal friends, including Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page or leave a comment on this post. 🙂

Keeping your shopping trips to a minimum and maximizing your savings can both be accomplished by using your time wisely when creating your shopping list and choosing a store that price matches. I wish you a great shopping experience as you preparing for your family’s up-coming school year.

Question: What stores price match in your area?

Lowe’s Build and Grow: Binoculars

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Another great fun free family activity will be on Saturday at Lowe’s home improvement stores across the United States where kids can build binoculars. (I think these will be coming along to the ballpark at our next baseball game.)

Photograph Credit: Lowe's

Here are the details:

Date:  Saturday, July 23

Time: 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Where: Local Lowe’s stores

Project: Binoculars

On the second and fourth Saturdays of each month from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., the Lowe’s Build and Grow clinic offers a free project to each child. A different project is built at each session. At the child’s first clinic, he or she will be given a Lowe’s apron and safety goggles along with the event’s project.

Since the stores run out of projects, I highly recommend registering for the event (assuming you are planning to attend). To register, visit Lowe’s Build and Grow’s web site and proceed through steps 1 -3. At the end of the registration, there is a waiver to print. Though we have arrived without the waiver, I try to take it to the event since I like having the verification of our registration in hand.

We learned the hard way that you really need to register AND arrive before 10:15 a.m. at our local Lowe’s. In the past, we have arrived at 10:30 a.m. only to discover that all the projects had been distributed. Our store only holds the projects for registered attendees until 10:15 a.m. The projects are then given out first come, first served.

In addition to the project each child makes, Lowe’s also provides a certificate and a patch, with a picture of the current project. The patch can be sewn or glued (with Liquid Stitch) onto the child’s apron. When we fill up an apron with patches, I will remind that child at the next event to request a new apron.

After this Saturday’s event, the next Lowe’s Build and Grow clinic will be on Saturday, August 13, 2011, building a school house photo holder. You can register for both the July 23 and August 13 events through the Lowe’s web site.

Hope you and your family enjoy a great weekend together.

Question: Does your family enjoy attending the Lowe’s Build and Grow clinics?

Menu Planning: Discovering Your Type of Plan

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Amy E. Bivins)

Oh, no, did I lose you already by using the words: menu planning?

If you are envisioning a page of columns with the days of the week covered in detailed descriptions of masterpieces to create, then I would be disheartened as well.

If your expectations are too high to obtain, then you will be discouraged before you have a chance to begin.

The Menu Planning Tool

Before tackling the “how to” of menu planning, let’s put this tool into perspective. Yes, a menu plan is a tool. Can a tool be frustrating? Oh, yeah!  Let’s consider a basic tool: a screwdriver.

When I need to change the batteries of a toy with a back compartment, I will need a tool to assist me. In my husband’s tool box is a plethora of tools at my disposal. However, a screwdriver is the best tool to accomplish this job.

Though I have narrowed down the tool I need, I still have lots of options. Not knowing which one is best, I choose a flat-head screwdriver. When I attempt to remove the Phillips-head screw, I am met with disappointment and total frustration since the screw won’t come out. Is it the screwdriver’s fault that I cannot extract the screw? Well, of course, not. I am using the wrong type of tool. I will still need a screwdriver, but I need a different type: a Phillips-head. When I get the Phillips-head screwdriver and use it properly, the screw easily comes out.

From this illustration, the tool was not the problem. The problem was finding the right type of tool to offer assistance rather than frustration.

The Types of Menu Planning Tools

If the thought of planning a month’s worth of menus is overwhelming, then consider another type of plan. You could use a daily plan, weekly plan, or bi-weekly plan. If you need a template for the weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly menu plans, try these options from Vertex 42.

Try a daily plan. If it works, then stick with it. If you would rather work a little more in advance, then try the weekly plan. Keep trying until you find the right type of menu plan that works for you.

By using the best type of tool to meet your needs, you can accomplish your goal of menu planning without frustration. Menu planning does not need to be complex with every meal and snack itemized. You don’t have to plan a month in advance or even a week in advance. The menu plan is a tool to help you use your time wisely.

Discount Tire: The Second Tire Incident This Year

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Photograph Credit: MorgueFile (Kenn W. Kiser)

What is it with me and tires this year? If you can answer this question, then I’m all ears. Prior to this year, the only issue I have had with tires is replacing them from wear and tear.

Then along came this year.

First Incident:

I have already shared my dealing with the pothole incident that took about 3 weeks to resolve (although I am still awaiting reimbursement from the State for those damages), and then this summer I had a flat tire.

Second Incident:

I went out grocery shopping. When I returned home, I parked in the garage (like normal). As I walked around the front of the car, I noticed that the tire seemed low on air. I mentioned it to Paul that afternoon and forgot about it. Later that evening, the family piled into the car on our way to go swimming. As Paul backed out of the garage, the thumping began.

Oh, the tire.

We unloaded the car, and Paul began putting the spare tire back on the car. In using our time wisely, the kids and I walked down to the swimming pool where Paul met us after changing the tire.

Resolution:

The next day, I had a sick child, so we stayed home. The following day, the kids and I took the car back down to Discount Tire. Though I am glad these guys are here to help, I am getting tired of seeing them so often.

While sitting in the waiting area, the kids and I read books, and my two older kids enjoyed coffee. (Yes, my older two like coffee. This is even more humorous when I tell you that neither Paul nor I drink coffee. They picked up this habit from their Grandmother. Thanks, Mom. :-)) Thankfully, this visit was rather short, about half an hour, but the best part, . . . the visit was free.

Discount Tire employees were able to plug the hole, refill the air, and swap out the spare for the repaired tire. How did we get this service for free? By purchasing the additional coverage on our new tires, which has been worth every penny of the approximately $17.95 charge per tire, I did not incur a charge for the repair.

Lesson Learned:

I will never doubt paying for the additional coverage again. The extra $80 for the coverage has saved our family at least $100 this year. Since the warranty time limit covers the life of the tire up to the mileage parameters, these tires should last until the next tire purchase.

Now we are back on the straight and narrow. Hopefully, our tires will last us for another few years, but if not, I will be visiting Discount Tire with my warranty in hand.

Question: Do you purchase the additional coverage on tires for your vehicles? If so, have you had to use the warranty?

Learning: Place Cards

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Luigi Crespo)

Over the weekend, our family attended a large appreciation dinner. The hostess coordinated this event with over 800 individuals in attendance. Though the banquet was large in size, the hostess’ staff paid attention to the small details.

Having guests greeted at the door and informed of their seating arrangement kept the lobby from getting crowded and allowed easy access to the banquet room. After finding our table assignment, the place cards indicated our seat placement. These little details kept confusion at bay and allowed for a wonderful evening with friends.

When Paul and I were first married, we entertained a little. I remember making place cards for our table that sat 4 people. By spending a little extra time to print them off, I dressed up our table. Our events were not formal, but the place cards added a personal touch for our guests.

Fast forward to today where I am doing great to have the dinner ready on time. If I have help, then place cards get done. Like when my son wrote place cards for a dinner with friends. (My son enjoys writing and helping, so this project was perfect for him.) When dinner was served, each person quickly found his seat by following the place cards, and I enjoyed a break from telling everyone where to sit.

After attending the event last weekend and taking notice of the details, I will be adding place cards to our table when hosting an event with a meal. I really like the personal touch and being able to use my time wisely to serve the meal rather than directing guests to their seats.

Question: Do you prepare place cards for events that include a meal?