MAKE SACRIFICES WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG
I have had the advantage of gleaning wisdom from others. 'Everything in life is a tradeoff', 'choose your battles', and 'how you manage your money is more important than how much money you have' are just a few of those jewels. One of the best that I heard, and thankfully practiced, was to make sacrifices while you are young.
Now that I am middle aged, I am grateful for simple comforts that I did not enjoy in earlier years. I drove a car without air conditioning, while pregnant and living in a humid coastal area. I used old-school cloth diapers while working outside the home. Back in the day, diaper pins and rubber pants accompanied this chore.
When you are young, there is more energy for all tasks. Thinking on your feet comes naturally. Multitasking is a given. Each day may bring unexpected challenges but no problem, that is just a minor bump in the road. But those days pass quickly and before you know it, the next phase of life is upon you.
Thank goodness I made sacrifices along the way. Budgeting for a baby's repeated ear infection was hard, but necessary. I remember rocking crying infants during the night, knowing the routine once the pediatrician's office opened. Call for the earliest available appointment. Be thankful there was enough money in the checking account to pay the full office visit. Be even more thankful that enough was left to pay the drugstore's dispensing. Self file both out-of-pocket expenses with my insurance company. Wait for weeks and weeks to be reimbursed. Celebrate the occasional correct amount!
Predicting an out-of-town funeral was not possible, but this happened to me at least eight times. The emotional upheaval was hard enough. Additional stress of no travel money would have been almost unbearable. There were numerous other emergencies that required immediate attention. While they were difficult, they were at least manageable since I was a former younger and more energetic version of myself.
My emergencies still occur, but with one huge difference. I do not have the same amount of energy that I once enjoyed. I also have less functioning brain cells to think clearly with. The number is fast approaching the level where my children are fearful that I will forget my full legal name. Thankfully I can somewhat manage because I made sacrifices when I was younger. I might be able today to do those things I managed 30 years ago. Sure I could. They just could not be done all at once, such as on the same day. I doubt I could accomplish in a week what I used to routinely finish in one day.
There is not an outlined manual or prescription for an easy life. There is, however, a simple formula to make one's life easier in later years. It is not rocket science or brain surgery. It is a combination of common sense and a strong work ethic. Prepare for the inevitable because it will happen. Not if, but when. Memorize the previous two sentences, especially the shorter one. Don't forget to make those sacrifices while you are young.
Did I mention disposable diaper advancements? When my oldest child was being potty trained, companies advertised their latest and greatest improvement. Gathered pleats at the baby's legs would prevent leaks! I grow tired at the thought of those long-ago years. Once again, I am thankful I made sacrifices when I was young.
......article by Wendi Meredith
The Bluestone Review 2010 edition
Bluefield College's Literary Magazine
A 95% savings is always better than full price. I paid only 25 cents for each soup; the drinks and gum were free. This order was originally $35. I paid a grand total of $1.75!
I recently enjoyed the Sunday brunch at beautiful Mountain Lake Hotel, where the hit movie Dirty Dancing was filmed. I never grow tired of this place at the top of the world.
The convenience of wearing contacts ranks high enough for me to pay full price (begrudgingly!) since I save enough money on everything else. There are a few items that rarely, if ever, go on sale and coupons are practically nonexistent. In 32 years of purchasing cleaners and solutions, I have never found sales for the formula I use. Until recently, that is.
Savings like this are so routine that I find myself believing that 'only half off' is substandard. My book and seminars teach that a grocery budget can easily be permanently reduced by at least 50% ... on average by 75-90%. The total cost would have been $43.65 ~ instead I paid only $3.49.
The turkey and steaks would have normally cost in excess of $55. Instead, I spent $51. on my entire order which included:
The only expense was one pound of organic beef, which we purchased in bulk last winter. Our garden produced the fresh peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes and squash. The remaining items were at no cost, from previous shopping trips. Combining sale prices with manufacturer coupons allowed my recipe ingredients (macaroni, milk, cheese, butter, rice, tomato sauce and cornmeal) to be free.
I saved money even though my intended stop was for only one item. The olive oil was BOGO, so I paid half of the regular price. Everything else was either a weekly sales promotion or an unadvertised special, a result of store remodeling. I spent only $3.95 simply because I had my trusty (and very well-worn) coupon binder.
Yes, everything was free. Unadvertised specials and sale prices were good deals. Matching these with coupons made for an excellent shopping experience.
Learn how to save *at least 50%*
Taking advantage of the weekly sales ad paid off with an 86% savings. I had coupons for everything except the Gatorade. The majority of purchases on that deal's shop are included in the photo.
This is one of the frequent questions I receive when teaching the coupon workshops. I joke that no one could afford me if I charged ~ but that I will teach you how to save as much (or more!) than I do. I did a favor for someone special, matching her diaper rain checks with soon-to-expire coupons. I added surprises, most of which were free with coupons. The most 'expensive' additional purchase (milk) cost 99 cents. Three catalina coupons from the register were a bonus. Less than $44. was spent on this shopping extravaganza, so her personal shopping consultant saved over $100.
A well-stocked pantry will save money, in addition to time. Time savings will translate to fewer headaches and less stress.
If you are within driving distance of a Harris Teeter grocery store, they are offering a great deal until June 29, 2010.
Each cold item was either on sale or BOGO. I used matching coupons for even more savings. Surprising, I know! Less than $7 was spent on everything.
I have been admiring this set for a very long time, wanting to add it to my numerous nativity collection. Everyone knows how pricey these figurines are. Many people assured me that it would be impossible to get a bargain because Willow Tree never goes on sale. Really? I managed to pay only $100. for this 23-piece set. The creche retails for $95!
These kinds of deals are frequently available and taking advantage of them is second nature to me. Anyone who routinely shops knows the regular price of a 48-oz. bottle of oil is at least $4.99.
