Using Internet Coupons

It used to be that thrifty spenders had to wait until Sunday to find out how to stretch the grocery budget. Coupons were available only when the Sunday morning paper hit the front porch. If you buy the newspaper just for the coupons it's time to give the comics a try. In 1994 the internet was launched to the public, changing the way the world does business. In the 16 years since, it is estimated that 25% of the world accesses the internet on a daily basis. One big business is the use of "internet coupons". Internet coupons are instantly available, and easy to obtain. If you choose to use internet coupons you need to be aware of a few rules.

1) Check with your favorite grocer to make sure they accept internet coupons.

2) Fully research your source.

3) Although coupons are a great way to save money only print what you will use.

4) Don't be tempted to spend money on something you don't need because there is a coupon available.

5) Make a list before you grocery shop and search the internet for coupons. Chances are you may find one.

6) Shop the ads and match up your coupons to enjoy even bigger savings.

7) Check your coupons frequently and remove expired ones

Like most things you should be somewhat cautious when searching for internet coupons. Fake "free" coupons are routinely distributed leaving both retailers and distributors somewhat leery. Counterfeit coupons are on the rise and they cost consumers a bundle each year. It's comparative to shoplifting from a store. Only you aren't being a willing bandit. Several medium and smaller grocery chains have had to refuse to accept internet coupons to avoid the risk of lost revenue. Another optional approach is to accept internet coupons, but refuse any coupon that is not accepted by the registers scanner.

So how do you know if you have a valid coupon without being embarrassed at the register? Compare the scan bar on the coupon to the scan bar on the product. They must match in order for the register to recognize the coupon. Often using this process won't be accurate. Counterfeiters are becoming clever enough to get around scan bars. One positive way to be sure your coupon is not counterfeit, always print coupons directly from the products official website. In addition there are several reputable websites on the internet that offer hundreds of coupons. These sites only accept coupons from authorized distributors. Coupons.com, smartsource.com and redplum.com are full of savings. In addition to grocery coupons you can find retail coupons, dining savings, and even magazine subscription discounts. Check these websites frequently for newly added coupon savings.

Kraft, Proctor & Gamble, Betty Crocker and many others will allow you to sign up on there website and become a member. Once you do this you can opt to receive e-mail savings, and occasionally an offer for a free item. Coupons can also be found on facebook.com. Search a product you enjoy and like it on facebook.com. Once you like it check to see if there is a button for offers. If there isn't one keep checking back. There could be one very soon. Target.com and Walmart.com also have exclusive savings coupons. Be sure to check Wal-Mart's savings site to see what free samples they are offering. You can find free samples of shampoo, toothpaste and many health and beauty products. Not only are they free, they are easy to sign up for.

Several communities have popped up on the internet that will show you the best way to save. They will point you to a printable coupon and tell you were to save the most money using the coupon. They are dedicated people whose only goal is to save money on everything from electronics to a box of Cheerios. They have a community blog where your questions can be answered. Check your town's news sources. They may have information on where to find a local website to visit.

Finding a way to save money is always beneficial. Knowing the right place to look and where to save will keep you on top. Remain diligent and cautions you will see a sizeable savings on your grocery bill

Dog's and Garden's Don't Mix

Two things I enjoy very much are my dogs and my garden. I have a small Shiatsu and a mid size Australian Husky. Sometimes, I think the dogs enjoy the garden more than I do. Add a little fuel to the fire and they really get out of hand when my neighbor lets her dog out to play. You can't really blame the dogs though. I willingly started my little vegetable garden along the fence line that connects the two properties. So, here come the dogs and there goes the garden.

Dogs are naturally drawn to plants. They are more cool and comfortable to lie on than the cement porch. Digging in the dirt is an instinctual necessity. Once a comfortable niche in the garden is created by your dog it will be nearly impossible to teach him to "stay out". I've researched and tried several options to save my sanity and my vegetables.

The best, most realistic option is to build a fence around the garden. This won't be as cumbersome as it sounds. Supplies can be found for a reasonable price at most hardware or home improvement stores. You will need to purchase several feet of fencing wire that will be high enough to keep the dog from jumping over it. Wooden posts will be needed to attach the wire, and post nails to secure the wire to the posts. Choose natural, untreated posts to avoid possible chemical reaction with the vegetables. Place the posts in all four corners of the garden. If needed you can place additional posts evenly spaced between the corner posts. Posts should be buried at least two to three feet into the ground. The fencing wire should be buried no less than one foot into the ground. Wrap fencing wire around posts and secure with post nails.

There are certain natural remedies that can be placed in or around the garden. Dogs are repelled by the odor and tend to back away. Some suggested items are ammonia, moth balls, black pepper, red pepper and even vinegar. These are initially inexpensive options. Keep in mind though that every time it pours rain you are more than likely going to need to redistribute the chemicals. It could become costly at some point.

Another option is to place chicken wire directly on the bottom of the garden. The feel of the wire on the little puppy paws is reported to be uncomfortable for the dog. I tried this option myself and had no success. My dogs didn't seem to be detoured by the wire at all. In addition, I had a very hard time removing dead plants from the garden in the fall. They were all tangled up in wire.

Lawn and Garden stores carry chemical items that can be placed around gardens. They generally come in granular form and must be replaced every three months. Moth balls can also be used in this format. I don't recommend this option. Any chemical interaction with a vegetable garden can be an unnecessary risk.

The final option is either an electric, or an ultrasonic repellant. The electric option works by emitting an electronic shock to your dog once he crosses a specified boundary. Boundaries are set by wires buried beneath the ground, and a dog collar. When the two items come within a few feet of each other a shock is released. The ultrasound option releases a sound burst which can not be heard by the human ear. The remote like device can be used within 15 feet of the animal. Both of these options can be a little costly, and are advertised to be safe for your pet. Many people find them to be offensive and too inhumane to use on their beloved family member.

Gardening can be a relaxing hobby. It can also be a lot of work and time consuming. Getting rid of my dogs will never be an option. I will always do whatever I can to make sure my dogs and my garden coincide in harmony. Otherwise, the dog beats out the garden every time

Off to College

It's that time of year again. Millions of parents are scrambling to rush their teenagers off to College. It can be one of the most emotional times of life. It's like a bad vacation and great birthday all rolled into one. Here is this life that still seems so young walking away from you into the unknown. Thoughts of baby bottles, pacifiers and dirty dippers wrestle with the pride and anxiety. Not only for the child you nurtured and watch grow to this point. There is the matter of your own uncertainty. What are we to do now that we don't have this daily purpose any longer? No mandatory meals to prepare, no more excessive laundry to fuss over. Take my word for it. The purpose is still there, it just shifts to a whole new direction.

I'll never forget the moment as long as I live. I knew my daughters ambition and her dreams. I secretly
wished they would disseminate somewhere over the vast blue. My husband and I encouraged her to pick somewhere close to home. She was our pride and joy. She is smart, ambitious, talented and beautiful. I wasn't ready to let her go. Then the expected notice came in the mail the week before Halloween. That dreaded piece of paper I had feared. We were all three sitting at the dinner table when the announcement was made. Our little angel had been accepted into the college of her dreams some 800 miles away. I am proud of her so I held back the tears, for now. I remember sitting in the kitchen floor crying my eyes out a month later. We were decorating the house for the holiday. That is where my husband found me and ask what the matter was. All I could blubber was "she won't be here to help me put up decorations next year". He hugged me tightly and assured me he would still be there.

After that we were off to the races. The circus had begun and would end all too soon. The deposit was down on her dorm room, she had picked out her classes and an unbelievable amount of supplies were purchased. Not just the paper and pens, but bed sheets, a vacuum and dorm furniture I never new existed. A list was supplied to us of things that could not be brought along. No open burner items were allowed which meant she couldn't take a coffee pot; she couldn't even take her George Forman grill (a graduation gift). She had to have a months worth of groceries (thank god she likes ramen) that are easy to cook in her microwave, and cleaning supplies. The laundry container and bed linens had to match, which had to match the storage containers that slid under her bed.

When an invitation to "Parents Day" showed up my heart almost stopped beating. The months of trying to convince myself this wasn't going to happen came crashing down on me. Still, I was grateful. We'd get to meet her teachers, see her room and cruise all the haunts that she would call home for the next four years. The car was packed with barely enough room left for my daughter to sit in the back. She squeezed herself in and never complained once. I think she knew better. The drive was quiet and somber. When we reached our destination my first impression was how beautiful the area is. There are green rolling hills, beautiful tress and quaint houses. After checking in to the dorm we unloaded all of the supplies. There were schedules of activities handed out for the parents and a separate one for students. I didn't want the weekend to ever end. We strode from activity to activity frequently meeting up with my daughter who joined us. Back at the dorm room after the first day of activities my daughters' newfound independence surfaced with a determination. I tried not to look hurt when she refused my help setting up her dew digs. It was her room and she would decorate it the way she wanted. I had to accept her insistence with resolve. After all, it surely didn't mean she would never need me again.

The weekend ended with a festive celebratory dinner for parents, students and staff. I can't even recall what was served. I was roaming around in am emotionally distraught daze. The next morning I would leave my precious child behind and travel home to sit in her empty bedroom praying that God is watching over her every minute just as I would if she would walk into the kitchen and flash one of those twinkling smiles that always melted my heart.