Provident Credit Union $25 Amazon GC

I signed up with Provident CU a few months ago.  Very impressed, easy to deal with company.  In CU co-op ATM network, makes it easy.  Sign up now.   Get your $25 Amazon card.  I get an Amazon card as well

Starbucks Addiction March 3

To start, I can't imagine anyone with a Starbucks addition won't have this already but, just in case - register for their rewards program to get your first free $5

http://www.starbucks.com/

I'm averaging 2 free drinks per month on their rewards program.   Free drink on your birthday.  You don't have to remember the postcard anymore, it goes right to your account so just tell the barista.  They'll apply the freebie to the highest priced drink or food item (read the fine print for anything peculiar).  They also run specials to get an extra drink for a free for less than the usual 12 drinks.

Watch the coupon sites, every so often a new daily deal site (i.e. Living Social) will offer a $5 Starbucks for signup.   Another place I frequent regularly are the discounted gift card sites.  The best discount has been on Raise.com.   Many times its over 20% off   The cards are usually higher value, i.e. spend $80 for a $100 card - but that's a great savings.   Its a better percentage than putting your money into other cards.  If you're going to Starbucks no matter what, use your cash on that card instead of trying to find a discount card for WM or gas (anywhere from 1-5%)

BTW - I used Endrose on my phone.   You can your receipts based on offers.   I actually got a small amount for scanning in my Starbucks receipt on morning.  I also got $1 back the other day from my Taco Bell purchase.   This is a nice to have program (android or iPhone), you never know when you might get cash back on one of your everyday purchases.   Please use my referral link so I can buy my Starbucks!!

Disclaimer - I am not associated with Starbucks, this is merely a personal opinion

Normal Couponing

Happy 4th of July to all. Many news outlets are running very similar articles to jump on the extreme couponing buzz. Mostly they talk about the stores changing policy because of the TLC show. Such is the article KSL tv website (Salt Lake City). The article mentions a local coupon message boarder, http://freebies2deals.com/, which is an excellent site. I don't know this lady but plugging her cause her board is really good, I visit it daily.

If you read through the comments, look towards the bottom of the first page, affytaffy1 comments include "I spend two to three hours a week planning and cutting coupons, " 2-3 hours? Sounds reasonable to me. Remember extremist spend 30-60 hours. Then read the reply from the twit jlin, "If your family needs the extra money that bad I would suggest a second job. You seem to have the time." - REALLY? What an idiot. Do the math jerk, if affyt saves her family $30 a week, that is $10 hour. How many part time jobs pay $10/hour, don't require a baby sitter or commuting? affyt seems to be doing the right thing, and replies "Your absolutely right! I should get a second job in addition to my first job, hire a babysitter, be gone for 10 to 20 hours a week, never see my children, all so you will not be inconvenienced at the grocery store."

jlin - you are a bozo, YOU GET A LIFE.

Extreme Couponing Take 1

I'm putting in my 2 cents worth (1 1/2 after loyalty card discount). I've been watching the show. The woman who compares couponing to crack needs rehab (is she a celebrity now?). These people do belong on a spinoff of Hoarders. The show is obnoxious.

But that isn't the point of my post today. I've started visiting the couponing sites, the majority of which are really good, nothing like the show. They don't advocating extreme stockpiling. I've also read the frugal sites. Never fails, on the frugal sites they always say "buy store brand" Bull crap. Rarely is this true.

Here is my example I am teaching my oldest, who complains the roommates only buy Great Value or Kroger. Walked into WM. GV potato chips are $1.88/bag so, do you buy them? I guess if you are in a hurry to buy chips for a party but, what about a little planning & discipline. Between WM & Kroger, Lays goings on sale at least once a month for $1.98. So, if you PLAN ahead and buy a couple of Lays bags while on sale AND you have the discipline to not wolf down both bags the first day you buy them, then you have spent 20 cents extra for a far superior product. The chips have a long enough shelf life to last a month. No combination of 4 or less people need more than 2 bags of chips a month. And, there is always (slip but always) a chance for a coupon which would bring the price down BELOW GV

Craigslist For Sale ASAP

Lots of things listed on Craigslist Ogden/Clearfield

Reef Tank

Ab Lounger

Piano

Executive Chair

Encyclopedia

Goliath the Red Eared Slider Turtle

Craftsman 10" Table Saw w/ Dado Blade

Loveseats

More to come, check back

Happy Sunday to all

How Do I Put This

Have not blogged in forever. Still working 50+ hr per week plus online surveys. Still drowning even though I have NO credit cards. Medical, dental, auto repair and home repair - no luxury or discretionary items, all basic can't live without. Can't work with abscess tooth. Don't understand why I have to pay $190 in "required" school fees on top of property tax.

Can't do any more extra acting work, the $ per hour sucks & too much gas $$ outlay. Guess I will try the local grocery stores tonight for part time work -who needs sleep? I'll be cranky and take it out on my family but, hey, maybe the hospital billing department won't call EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Yes, flat out, I need money. Please paypal $1.36 today through

. I have nothing to offer in return except thank you and, I hope to pay it forward someday. I'll find another middle class family that falls between the cracks. Sorry to sound so b*&chy, just really trying to take care of my family and I failing so fast I'm getting dizzy.

If the $1.36 is too much, please look at this Cash Crate thing, I've gotten about $60 from them so far. http://www.cashcrate.com/1227031


Or, read my eHow article http://www.ehow.com/how_4875197_tv-movie-extra.html, every read helps

Thanks for reading.