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Archives for May 2012

Dental & Vision Insurance: Vision Documents

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With many little categories in this insurance filing system, I hope you are making lots of headway on getting your paperwork organized.

Last week, I started the dental and vision insurance category with the dental documents, and today is the last post dedicated to this sixth category.

Vision Insurance Documents

The information about our vision coverage, eligibility, and cost resides in our 2012 Insurance Benefits Guide, housed in our major medical category. The documents held in this eighth file opening include:

1. Insurance cards (since I can print more cards by accessing our account via the Internet, I do not keep copies of these cards in the file.)

2. Savings summary from our provider

3. Provider’s privacy practices

4. Correspondence from provider confirming activation of coverage

Since all these items came together in one mailing, I stapled these documents together. Keeping these documents in the same opening as our dental documents, I placed them behind the paper clipped group of dental paperwork.

Some of these file openings contain a few pages, and I find having the sections separated and labeled saves time and energy when needing the information contained within. As changes or other documents reach our home, I only need a few minutes to file those documents into the filing system.

Taking time to get the paperwork organized saves you time and energy for the long haul. In using time wisely, keep working. You will be glad you did. Happy organizing!

Question: How is your organizational system coming along?

How to Address Pricing Discrepancies – Part 2 of 2

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (James Brooks)

No matter where I shop, I always check the receipt for pricing discrepancies. My mom taught me to live frugally, and she always checks the receipts.

Following in her footsteps, I usually check the receipt before leaving the store. However, there are times when I have my hands full and need to take a look at another time.

Last week in part 1, I shared how I address pricing discrepancies before leaving the store. This week, I will continue with addressing pricing discrepancies after leaving the store.

To illustrate how I handle these pricing errors, I will share two examples: one when I found the error after leaving the store, and the other when I addressed the issue at the store and had to contact the corporate office.

Finding the Error after Leaving the Store

On one of my trips to Papa Murphy’s Pizza, our family’s favorite pizza place, I paid, picked up our order, and left. I had used a coupon and assumed I received the standard 2 for $6 deal on the side items. When I entered the receipt into my spreadsheet, I noticed that I was over charged for the sides.

Addressing the Error

After identifying the error, I called Papa Murphy’s Pizza and spoke to an assistant manager. Upon explaining my order, she apologized and gave me two options:

1. Refund the difference, or

2. Give a free side item.

Choosing the Solution

The savings snob within me weighed the options – the refund of $1.98 or the free side valued at $3.99. I chose the free side item – the better savings. Though I have not picked up the free side yet, I know that this Papa Murphy’s Pizza location appreciates my business and cares enough about me as a customer to correct this error.

By addressing the pricing discrepancy, I became a more loyal customer to Papa Murphy’s Pizza by their response to the error.

Addressing the Pricing Discrepancies after Leaving the Store

Before I share the next example, I want to say that I love CVS. My CVS store is awesome, and any problem I catch gets solved immediately and professionally which is why I shop at my CVS.

On the day of this incident, I stopped at another CVS. I had a short list and a few minutes between appointments, so this CVS example is not a typical experience for me.

On that morning, I shopped with my list, coupons, and Extra Bucks. The girls and I gathered the items and checked out. The employee requested all my coupons at once. I indicated that I may not need to use all my Extra Bucks, but he took them all anyway.

Addressing the Problem at the Store

I had the coupons in order, and he rearranged them taking the Extra Bucks off before the manufacturer coupons. As he ended the transaction, he rounded down a manufacturer’s coupon resulting in a total of $0.

Instead of being excited, I was upset. I had lost almost $2 in savings because he took the Extra Bucks (store credit) before the manufacturer’s coupons. I immediately addressed this discrepancy which he agreed to void and re-ring.

But when he re-rang the merchandise and took the coupons and all the Extra Bucks, the remaining balance was over $1. I indicated that something was wrong and referred to the previous transaction. By this time he did not care. I was not happy, so I asked to speak to the manager. Well, he was the manager, so I left.

Addressing the Problem with the Corporate Office

After cooling down since my blood was boiling over the incident, I went home and contacted customer service via telephone. I explained the incident, and my complaint escalated to the district manager. Within a day, the district manager called me back. He was extremely polite and apologetic.

Realizing that I was a loyal CVS customer, the district manager asked me to return to that store (which I. did. not. want. to. do.), where the store manager would apologize and give me a $10 CVS gift card for the lack of customer service.

Accepting the Offered Solution

After a few hours of stalling, I went back. The store manager was the same manager. Staying calm, I told him that I was there on the district manager’s request. Though I did not get an apology, I received a $10 gift card which I used at my favorite CVS store.

By addressing the pricing discrepancy, I received a gift card, but that CVS lost my business permanently.

Whether you find the pricing error later or address the error after attempting a resolution, you can get the issue solved after leaving the store. Sometimes employees have a bad day and make mistakes.

Give the store the opportunity to correct the error. But in those situations where even the manager refuses to help, keep moving up the chain of command until you reach an acceptable resolution.

In using time wisely addressing a $2-3 pricing difference was time well-spent. In stretching your dollars, check your receipt for pricing errors. When you find them, address pricing discrepancies while staying firm, kind, and professional. Happy savings!

Question: How do you handle pricing discrepancies?

Free Rainy Day Activities – Part 4 of 4

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In completing this series on free rainy day activities, I have barely touched the surface on the mass amount of possible indoor activities.

The activities shared in this series include: indoor picnics in Part 1, painting in Part 2, and baking, building, and napping in Part 3.

Even with all these ideas, I sometimes cannot think of an activity when my kids are going stir crazy. When these times occur, I turn to games. 🙂

Electronic

Though not my favorite, my children love playing on any type of electronic media. When they tire of their computers, they move to the X-Box 360, Wii, 3DS, or the iPad (when available). Besides playing referee, I spend more time teaching (or working on) sharing than they play. With limits, my children do play electronic games on rainy days.

Puzzles

My girls love to put together puzzles. My oldest daughter sees patterns and amazes me how quickly she puts together a puzzle. She is extremely creative and enjoys putting puzzles together over and over and over.

My toddler enjoys dumping out all the pieces and putting them in a safe place. Of course, if she could remember where the safe place is would help during cleanup. 🙂

My son enjoys puzzles on an electronic device more than working with his hands. Though all my children enjoy puzzles differently, puzzles offer another option for a rainy day activity.

Board

When all my children work together, we really enjoy playing board games. Both girls have a difficult time playing all the way to the end, but my son loves to have someone play board games with him. Besides my top 5 preschool board games, my children have added mouse trap, connect 4, and picture tri-ominos.

Imagination

My favorite games on rainy days are hide-and-seek and create a game. From building a train route and then using chairs to play train to using buckets and balls to compete with each other, my children can get very creative. With a rainy day and a little imagination, indoor fun can keep my children active.

  

Among electronic, puzzles, board, and imagination games, you might welcome the rainy days. Having lots of options for keeping little ones engaged during indoor playtime gives your family an opportunity for making memories and enjoying family time. Happy playing!

Question: What games do your children enjoy playing?

Summer Recipe: Pan Éclairs

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Today, I am sharing one of our family’s favorite summer dessert recipes.

These pan éclairs are not my original recipe. Since I am a baker (follow recipes exactly) and not a cook (adjust recipes to taste, what’s on hand, and spontaneity), I received this recipe from a friend a few years ago. I have seen similar recipes in magazines, but this particular recipe is my favorite.

Pan Éclairs

Ingredients

  • 2 packages instant vanilla or cheesecake pudding, 4-serving size
  • 2 cups milk
  • ¾ box honey graham crackers
  • Cool Whip, 8 oz.
  • Chocolate frosting (optional)

Directions

1. In medium mixing bowl, mix pudding and milk. Let it set for 5 minutes. Add Cool Whip and mix.

2. In a 9”x13” pan, put a layer of graham crackers, then ½ of the Cool Whip/pudding mixture, then a layer of graham crackers, then rest of Cool Whip/pudding mixture, and then graham crackers. Top with chocolate frosting and sprinkles. Refrigerate.

  

  

3. Make 1 day ahead and then cut into serving-size portions.

By allowing the mixture to cool for 8 to 24 hours before serving, the pudding mixture firms while the graham crackers soften which makes this dessert a crowd pleaser. This dessert must set, or you will have a runny mixture that will not cut into portions for serving.

Besides family gatherings, this dessert is great for parties, picnics, and cookouts. Made with milk, these pan éclairs are light, creamy, and delicious. Yum!

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In using time wisely, prepare your pan éclairs a day ahead, and you will have a fantastic dessert without the fuss on party day. Enjoy!

Question: What is your family’s favorite summer dessert?

Goals for May 2012: The Full-fledged Budget

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Photograph Credit: Flickr (Angie Torres)

Though some of these goals are a real pain in my side, I made these goals after lots of thought and planning. Just because they get hard means I need to find a way to keep them.

The financial budget is really hard for me. I do not find budgeting a gateway to freedom – yet. I love my food budget, but that emotion has not transferred into our entire budget. Maybe with some practice I will get there, but for now, I am at the beginning.

I have based my goals on Crystal Paine’s book The Money Saving Mom’s Budget, where Crystal breaks down the steps to reach your financial goals.

I have included my financial and other goals as I seek to change and improve. Though I do not meet every goal, I am plugging along. Progress, no matter how small, is still moving closer to my goals.

Physical

Drink 2 glasses of water per day.  Success! When the ice melts in my cup, I keep refilling ice and water. Many days I am drinking 3 or more glasses, so I am increasing this goal to 3 glasses of water per day.

Eat breakfast each morning. Yeah! I found a little secret that is working. When I make my son’s lunch in the morning, I make myself a peanut butter and honey sandwich to eat on the way to school. I know a peanut butter sandwich is usually a lunch option, but it works for me. Keeping this goal since summer is around the corner, and I might need to adjust my routine.

Exercise for 20 minutes at least 3 times a week. Fantastic progress! For two weeks I was very consistent before getting sick. After taking 2 weeks to fully recover, I am back to exercising. Designating a time for exercise has been the reason for my success this month.

Family

Plan at least one family outing/activity each week. Definitely accomplished! With 4 soccer games a week, we have spent lots of time together as a family. Love this goal, and keeping it all year.

Spend 10 minutes with each child each day. Still need more work on this goal. Recovering from my illness, I had much to do. With this goal, I will make this time a priority as I begin planning our summer routine.

Allow children to help with a household task each week. Paul and I are discussing adjusting our allowance system. Now that our children help more, we will be creating a chore list for each of them. Some chores help keep our household running and are done as a member of the family while other chores earn privileges, games, or money. This goal is a work in progress.

Financial

Follow Crystal’s year-long plan to reach my goals. On track. Our bare-bones budget continues. This month, I need to create a full-fledged budget which I have never done. Giving myself some grace, I may take a little more time with this goal. Though I am concentrating on the budget, I have chosen not to use cash. Having used $60 in Discover rewards to grant graduation gifts, our Discover Card (which we payoff every month) continues to serve our family well. I am not ready to lose these benefits.

Purchase dressers for my daughters’ room. This goal is ongoing. No progress made on this goal for April.

Purchase upgraded computers for hubby and me. This goal is also ongoing. We received the laptop for parts, but the seller did not include all the pieces advertised. This purchase was a $30 gamble. We learned, and continue to save for another upgrade.

Business

Write posts one week in advance. Bombed this one! With the illness, I fell behind, but I am almost caught up. Having my monthly blog schedule saved me from falling further behind. In fact, I adjusted the schedule by adding a Quick Tip Week, and this change worked beautifully. Thanks for sticking around during the lack of posts. My readers encourage me every day! You still read even when I post late. Thanks! I am keeping this goal and will continue to strive for one week of posts written and scheduled.

Make one improvement to the blog this month. Accomplished updating Using Time Wisely’s Facebook page! I hope you like the uniform look. I still need to work on the landing pages, so I will keep this goal for another month.

Read two chapters of blog book each month. Failed this goal in April as I did not read any business books. I did read my first Boxcar Children book and loved it. My son read it on his teacher’s recommendation, and I wanted to learn about the series. I really like this series, and I hope my son becomes a fan because it will make summer reading a blast. 🙂

My goals are working for me. With some easy and others challenging, the goals keep me on-task. By plugging along slowly and steadily, I am making progress. If you are struggling with your goals, then adjust. Small steps are still steps in the right direction. Keep going!

Question: How are your goals coming along?