Tag Archives: Brain Bits

Rewarding a good store

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I find myself harping on this with regularity, because some don’t get it:  it makes no sense to shop at your local stores if they do not have treat you and your coupons with respect.  Case in point:  reader tells me she hit three “local” Jewels yesterday trying to score some free Pretzel Crisps.  Store one said the coupon was a copy (forgery) and wouldn’t let her use it, even after she explained that it was a print-out from the company’s FB page.  Second Jewel said that the coupon limits you to one per transaction and they would only allow one transaction.  Store three said that she could not use a BOGO on a BOGO sale, because then the item would be free (I did think for a minute that she had wandered into a Dominicks by mistake); she had to buy one and then three would be free.  She finally drove all the way to a store she knew to be über-coupon friendly and had no trouble getting her eight bags.  When I asked why she had gone to the first three stores (where she had had trouble in the past) she replied that they were close to where she lives.  So how much time and gas did she save by this decision?  Raise your hands, class…

My first rule is to shop at stores where they respect you as a customer and willingly accept your coupons, even if I’m not buying something with coupons.  Why not give a good store the extra business?  By only patronizing stores where we are treated well, those stores will eventually jump to the top of the food chain in sales.  Initially, the suits will claim it’s because of new store/layout/promotions, but month-after-month results will prove that we demand respect and will shop only those stores where we receive it.

end of rant.

Forecast for higher food prices

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This headline is run on an annual basis, methinks.  Here’s the article headline, which pretty much sums up a rather long-winded article:  Cheap food may be a thing of the past in U.S.  Americans spend only about 10% of their annual incomes on food, compared with as much as 70% in other countries, but with prices climbing, some economists wonder whether the nation’s abundance of affordable food is history. Here’s the Trib link to the entire story, if you don’t believe me.

Why we coupon

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Another of the reminder posts of why we do all these “crazy” deals.

DH calls and asks me to pick him up some orange spice tea.  Every now and then I actually do something he asks; it lulls him into a false sense of complacency.  See all these little boxes of tea?  Each lousy box was almost four bucks, non-sale, non-coupon.  Total came to over $17, but I used those free $3 Post RRs from last week’s Fruity Pebbles giveaway and ended up OOP .36.  The deals allow us to buy non-deal items without selling major organs.

This now concludes our lecture/post.

Reader brags post

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I’m sharing a picture I just got from Christina who says:   I sent a photo from my phone to my email, cuz I am technologically challenged. (And I can’t type as fast on those tiny keys!) I got all that for under $5! There is chap sticks and gum missing, because we used them, and threw them in our purses! My daughters were so ecstatic, as they only get like NEW socks and underwear. (We got four more pairs [of jeans] after that picture.)

I ran around yesterday and today, I scored big on Fruity Pebbles! AND the first lady used the ‘additional blue’ pebbles (FOR BOXES!) coupons too—as it spit out of the machine! I was like what?! She said if it scans, I figure go for it. I am still so green, I was like cool, but whatever… I only paid $1.95 for my sets of five and didn’t know it till I got home!!! No wonder I couldn’t get the damn fillers to fill up my orders!!! Guess which Walgreen’s is my new favorite!? Actually, I always liked my store, but some of the other stores have sooooooooooo much more room/merchandise! AND they just got approved for a new one like a mile from the closest to my house!

Life is Good!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Thank you for sharing your post and picture, Christina.  I know how excited your girls must be to have so many new, “stylish” jeans and jeggings to choose from.

Anyone want to share their brags, email the Goddess.

Where’s my coupons!?

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MUM just shot this video over to me and I told her I had to share it with you guys.  When you start to feel that you’re the only one suffering from missed inserts or ripped open bags…watch.

Good-bye Amazon

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In case you were wondering about the tax legislation that acting idiot Quinn (well, it’s probably not an act) signed late this afternoon, here is link to this organization which would be pleased to add you to their numbers (they’re actually nationwide):

Stand with Main Street

We are working to close the anti-small business online sales tax loophole. Online-only retailers are exploiting a massive tax loophole that puts small brick-and-mortar businesses at a significant disadvantage, leaves individual consumers at risk and paves the way for new taxes. (and it’s not like that SOB didn’t just pull a 66% tax increase out of our butts)

Sign up for emails now to learn more and to stand with Main Street.

They also have a Facebook page with panels of Washington, Lincoln, Truman and Kennedy along the top holding fake signs endosing this whack-pack.  puhleez.

Hot Women are, well, hot

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OK, this is a freebie here to make you laugh, ’cause it is funny.  And no, I do not want to get into a discussion (read:  bitchfest) about the truth behind the video – it’s funny, dammit! So just shut up and watch.

Gmail alert

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A PSA notice for everyone using gmail.  I just received an email “sent” from THE BOY with the following message:

big surprise
i just bought an Iphone4 from my friend
they are in china , offerd  thousands of new products
hope you can try .
choose here  : <emarket4you.com>
sure you will like

All his contacts received the same message.  They also used the gmail info to attempt the same trick with his university email, but that account then moved into moderation.  I would expect (and have experienced) hacking with whoremail (hotmail), but Google?  very upsetting.  and even more disappointing is he didn’t really buy an iPhone4 for me

I hope tens of thousands of people flame that site and burn it with the heat of a thousand fiery suns.

Desperately seeking pen pal…

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High IQ not necessary and, in point of fact, is actively discouraged …

From the “I see it, but can’t believe it” files:

Man out $200,000 in online scam

A 48-year-old Naperville man thought a woman he had an online relationship with for 2 ½ years, had been kidnapped. After all, he had given her $200,000 of his money during that time.

But a Naperville police report said the man “was in disbelief” when he found out the woman wasn’t in danger — in fact, she never existed.

The report stated the man called police Feb. 23 to say she had been kidnapped in London, and was seeking an officer’s help to find her. But after speaking with an officer, the man found out he had fallen victim to a scam. In all, the man sent $200,000 to Nigeria, Malaysia, England and the United States under the assumption he was sending it to the acquaintance.

“Whoever it is duped this person,” said Naperville Police Sgt. Gregg Bell. He said the case is under investigation but it is unlikely anyone will be caught. “We’ll investigate as much as we can.”

Bell said the “woman” apparently gave the victim a Florida driver’s license to prove her identity, but police found the identification was simply a sample license from the state. Bell said the man never met the individual in person.

By Mick Swasko
TribLocal reporter

Goddess Gourmet

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A friend once gave me a small sign which read:  “If we are what we eat, then I’m either cheap, fast or easy.”  I’ll take all the above, Alex.

In keeping with that sentiment, I’m going to show you what we’re having for dinner tomorrow.  Within the past six months or so, Jewel has started having a clearance meat section.  This is probably the only decision of old Craig’s with which I heartily concur.  The three packages of country ribs and one steak cost (after clearance stickers) less than ten bucks.  The country ribs have already been dumped into the slow cooker, together with some free barbeque sauce, some Hunts diced tomatoes, Wesson oil and a large onion.  ETA tomorrow (on low heat).  Tonight’s meal is tacos, using leftovers from a  clearance pork loin, slow cooked to fall apart.

For me, it’s easier to run meals this way than picking up something to go.  And if PITA and THE BOY want snacks, well, luckily we have a full basement of Fresh Mixers from Jewel and Smart Ones from Target.