Rave Reviews for the $8 Pair

Hey remember those $8 glasses? I thought they were an awesome deal for frames. Especially when the cheapest eyeglasses at our eye doctors is $100. OMG! That is before the even pricier lenses are put in. No wonder so many Americans are going without regular check-ups. Just like the dentist.

Anyway, a talk show host on talk radio is talking about them now. And there are many with positive feedback.

My thoughts are, we all need to tell everyone about this deal. Our eyes are important. With the huge influx of computers in our lives, more and more folks are needing these. Younger and younger people are wearing glasses. It is creating a huge financial burden on families. One that they can carry. So, spread the news - that all can see at a reasonable cost.

Also, we need to get this information to the aging population. Fixed incomes can not carry the burden of prices on glasses. And even if they can, why? When there are more affordable options, we need to move with the deal.

"Please Contribute"

Working at home, I avoid the added expense created by group gifts for other employees. I would definitely call this a perk. Seems like everyone is reaching for your dollars in an office environment.

Of course, I am not free of requests. I still have the Group Gifts and Wishlists requests from parent groups. Mostly, looking for appreciation gifts for teachers and coaches. It generally comes with a "we are collecting ??? amount from everyone". They don't seem to care if it is in your budget or not. And at least in my area they purchase some really extravagant gifts. Just crazy.

Why or why do I need to contribute for a $100 a plate meal, when we (my family) would not splurge for such a huge tap?

If your in charge of these kinds of things:

• Try it online
• Don't set a minimum
• Don't judge the giver

I did order checks online

Back in June I realized I was running out of checks. Or at least I thought I was. I made my order checks online, utilizing the best price I could find. It cost me $11 for 2 boxes and no shipping. Definitely a bargain. Although, I did hit one snag, I couldn't order without having my bank fax over confirmation of me and my account.

A hassle, but worth it in savings.

There are many sites that offer savings on checks, from the bank offerings. I found my deal in the Sunday Paper. I suggest taking your time and checking all options before you order, if you need checks. Make sure you get all available discounts by checking for codes.

For instance - if you order from Vista use Coupon Code: Check25 and you will save 25%. Not sure if that is the best deal? Make a spread sheet. List:

• Company/Site name
• Quantity offered
• Price per quantity
• Discount offered
• Shipping if applicable
• Calculation of cost
• then another calculation of cost per check (last calculation divided by quantity)

At least then you know you are getting the best price. Funny thing is, I right so few checks, that I still haven't used one of the checks I ordered yet. :-( 2 Months Later.

My wallet is beginning to smoke

And everyone knows where there is smoke, there is fire.

This 4 day weekend is going to cost me damn near what our week in Jersey cost. Without all that entertainment! I'm going to miss my brother's humor. After sharing with my in-laws how much fun we had, they have high expectations for this families get-a-way. I hope my m.i.l. gets what she hopes for. I already told my DH to pay attention to his mom and spend some time. Time is our most valuable asset!

Picking up the Soccer Mom Rental today. It ended up being cheaper taking it for a week, then what 4 days would cost. Crazy math! So, we are grabbing it early and dropping it late to not feel so stressed. Plus, saving some cash along the way. Out the door, I suspect about $500 in cost with the insurance.

The hotel has been booked for a while and will be waiting for us. I negotiated an extra night not in the wedding package, to save a couple bucks. When the Groom heard about the cost for the extra night, he went all crazy on the hotel and explained how we are all coming so far away and need to rest before the wedding. ETC.ETC. He ended up getting them to extend the wedding price for extra days for everyone.

Food, Gas, Tolls, and miscellaneous - I'm lost. I have no idea. I'm still too new to this and Hurricane Ike has raised our gas prices through the roof. I can only hope that every where we go has credit card processing, because this will be the payment of choice. Our savings is ZERO and this is a mandatory family obligation.

I refuse to allow these expenses that will be gone within 30 days from our debt, to stifle my fun. I love weddings! There is just something so wonderful in the air when 2 people give of themselves completely for another. Creating what I call the MAN-Made Unconditional Love. As opposed to the kind one receives at the birth of a child or looking at their parents, this is free will.

"Nobody puts Baby in a corner"

I'm totally excited about Dirty Dancing coming to the stage in a live musical. I've already told DH this is a must expense. I'm going with or without him.

That line is a classic moment and a pure example of what I mean when I tell my girls that every girl deserves to be a princess. I tell my boys that it is the only direct way to becoming a King. Patrick placed his beloved on that pedestal.

Maybe it is because my husband doesn't have hair, but I'm still in shock of Patricks full head must be that Extreme Style by VO5. Why does my DH use Suave?

Keeping in mind the Ultimate Flirting Championship, you have to remember all the romantic lines from our favorite movies. I'm sure every one remembers "You had me at hello". Or how about Gleason's "Baby, your the greatest!"

It is too bad these lines don't work in the real world. I could never conjure up my own hit phrase. This is probably why I fail at the flirting championship. All my romance is hidden in movie lines.

Sugar doesn't help the sour

I know, first hand, how your finances can seem to suck the life out of you. You have to push yourself to get out of bed in the morning. You hear the phone ring and feel your pulse race at the same time. You just wish you could disappear.

These feelings are what sets so many up to be taken advantage of by services like NetDebt. I did not expect to find, what I did find, when I looked this site over. It caught my attention, by being a company that lets you hide. You don't have to talk to anyone, you can set it all up online. There is such a huge embarrassment from drowning in debt. We all, no matter who we are will try to find the easy way out.

If you venture out to find help, make sure you don't hear things like:

• Stop paying on your debts in a controlled environment
• 15% fee based on the total gross amount of your debt
• A minimal program fee
• You pay nothing out of pocket, we will take it out of the money saved in negotiating payments with your creditors.

The nice polite lady on the videos, is in business to make money. Do you think she really cares for you? How about your future? She sounds like the hope you have been looking for, but is she?

Folks, scour the web. Find out what ever you need to, to know YOU CAN DO THIS! Information is everywhere. You are not alone! Do not let them blast your credit score. Do not pay them to do this.

There are so many FREE options for help. But if embarrassment is the issue, start at step one. Pay minimums on everything. This will always keep you moving in the right direction. Yes, it hurts but you can do it.

Step 2 - no more spending on credit. It is going to be hard and you are going to want, just remember the goal and you can do it.

Step 3 - any extra money, apply it to one of your debts. Whether it is the smallest balance or the highest interest. Just remain constant. You can do it!

Met a fellow Self-Employed individual

He is almost 15 years younger then me and doing fabulous. What he does and how he does it is what caught my attention.

He operates his business from an apartment spare room in the city. He only has a computer and a telephone in his office. Making it look very streamlined, if not .... maybe non-existent. I had no idea he was making such a handsome living in there.

Currently, he is bringing in close to six figures a year. With virtually no overhead. Except for phone service, Internet service and a few minor office supplies. With fabulous hours of 9 - 5. He can walk away with little worries and no stress - almost as if he is working for a company.

I am so fascinated by this, especially when learning he is a middle man for merchant account's. He basically finds folks, businesses that need credit card processing and does all the work to sell them on the services he is offering. Then sets it up. Basically, the ones he helps only need to plug in the credit card scanners and they are in business.

Of course for a fee. Then he earns money on the set-up and acquisition, followed by residual income as long as they are using the companies services. Definitely a sweet deal.

My interaction with him was way too short. I am very interested in his line of work. I have to guess that where it may be slow to get moving, once it begins rolling, it rolls.

I wonder how the fees compare with him, compared to services that you can just sign up by yourself. My guess is there has to be an increase in cost to cover his costs. Or is this rolled in, whether you use a salesman or not.

Even in the business

Although, we have the ability and the knowledge to do anything on a construction job site, we don't do it all. We aren't getting younger and with age you gain an understanding that money isn't that important. I can't help but wonder what life would be like if this was learned earlier.

Or is this what the youth are doing now? They come to work late and they never seem motivated to go above and beyond their job description. Not all, but in my experience the vast majority. It may be more important to do it all in the beginning and get to a comfy place later in life. Time will tell for the young ones.

We get a ton of calls regarding jobs we will not do anymore, like roofing. If the job is in our area, most times we have someone to refer that we believe in. So, we will pass on their name and number.

Then there are times they ask for something strange, like Milwaukee roofing contractors. People tend to think if you are in the business, you know everyone, everywhere - not the case. At this point we tell them to talk to locals or do a local search.

I can't help but wonder why they don't do this immediately on their own anyway. I use the Internet for everything.

Graduation Tradition

Years ago, when one would graduate they would receive as a gift, a watch. It signified the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. One in which "you begin watching the clock". I'm not sure if all nationalities do this or all people. Heck, maybe it is only my families Polish tradition.

Graduations are not the only time to give watches. There are many folks who receive beautiful gold Cartier watches when they retire after a long service to a company. Okay, with our world the way it is - I'm not really sure if companies do this anymore.

This one always puzzled me - why would you need a Cartier watch, if you are retiring? When I retire, I'm not watching a clock. I imagine retirement being something like vacation, although cheaper hopefully. A time in your life, where the clock doesn't dictate where or when you go and do.



With cellphones, I think the time honored love of the wrist watch is being lost. Very few people wear a watch anymore. Does anyone really know what time it is? Sorry, it just came out.



Then again, maybe the lack of watches is why so many young people can't make it to work early. Time just seems to not exist for these young ones. Which got me thinking - maybe they all need WATCHES!

Vacation Planning

Like most of you probably do, we checked out online info before vacation. For our trip, I was looking for information on online travel guides helped me prepare for our trip, before we ever left home.

Of course, the best laid plans mean nothing, with you end up having more fun for free. We had so many characters on our trip; Captain Yoo-hoo, Barnacle [insert name] Jellyfish Hunter and even Aunt Moochie.

With the imagination and no Barney Bag, it is amazing that us older folks could blast our entertainment into the stratospheres. With rates that were better then any Kennedy space center discount.

When the jellyfish invaded the beach our own, Jellyfish Hunter was on the job. Thank goodness for his bravery and the boogie board. I never knew a boogie board was more then just a tool to ride a wave. Many jellyfish were back into the wild, instead of dried up on the shore. When his energy ran low, Captain Yoo-hoo was there to refresh him with his delicious, chocolately blend.

It did get precariously close to darkside of death of the jellyfish, when Aunt Moochie kept manipulating Captain Yoo-hoo to take the Yoo-hoo's before they nourished the Jellyfish Hunter. I have no idea what would have happened to the Atlantic Coast if Aunt Moochie kept depriving the Jellyfish Hunter!

Win a $150 Gift Card for Magellan's, by signing up for a travel newsletter. If your planning an escape, might as well do this to prepare. What is Magellan's by the way?

Cabin Cuddler -vrs- Gas Bill

Last year I froze working in my home office. My husband says it is because I am too cheap, but I feel a little frugal goes a long way. Maybe if he looked at the bills once in a while, he would understand why I drop the temperature to 60 while they are all gone.

With my gas bills showing a 75% increase this year, in the summer, it is going to take another substantial drop in the thermostat. I'm toying with the idea of 55 degrees in the day. I don't think I can go lower. I have many house plants and they would not survive.

With this in mind I was looking at getting a space (electric) heater for my office. Electric is cheaper then gas. Then I saw the Cabin Cuddler. This will help where my layers confine me.

It goes down to the size of a tote bag - which will make it easy to stow away in my cabinets. This tote bag made me thing that this would be an excellent addition for the trunk, a travel blanket for emergencies. This may be a gift for all the kids, just in case. We live in the Chicago area and it gets cold here. And it stays cold here for a long, long time.

Just thought some of you may be interested in this gift too - or just need to stay warm as we try to make it with the new higher heating costs.

My daughter has a new admirer, that I approve of.

Does anyone play Bingo anymore? This is one of my all time favorite games. As a child, my brother and I used to play for colored marshmallows. Yes, we bet with the rainbow. :-)

Then, when I had a family of my own, I invested in a really cool Bingo game. You know, with my own cage to roll the call pieces in. The kids always spat over who would be the caller. We had hours of fun at the kitchen table with this one.

Bingo is the only game, that it doesn't matter how smart you are, anyone can win!

While on vacation, a young 2ND cousin of my daughters, fell head of heals for her. It was so cute. And she is one of those people that love hanging with young folks. So they both had an awesome time coloring with sidewalk chalk and just messing around.

Anyway, I got an email that this little man wants to send my daughter a "love" letter. Too Cute! So, my daughter wants to send him something.

We were scouting out things and found
Disney Bingo at both Amazon.com & Drugstore.com. Plus, if you don't like online ordering, they have it at Best Buy, Kohl's, JC Penney, and Barnes and Noble. It's under $20. Pretty darn affordable. May be a good Birthday or Christmas Gift.

Although, with Ebates and other cost savers, it may be best to send from one of these sites. More research is necessary though.

Looks like fun to me.



Don't you love technology! I may grab one of these for my neighbor girls for Christmas too. Affordable fun all the way. And who doesn't like DISNEY????

Go Kart Racing!

I'm still amazed how a vacation stays with you! Or is it just because it is all new for me? Maybe regular vacationers leave it behind when they return home. I'm still talking to family daily and reminiscing about our days together. Like I told my parents, they gave us a week that created a lifetime of memories.

We've already been discussing our next trip. Yea! Things are just so fun together. We all bring up different fun things to do. Ideas we are currently mixing up; helicopter ride, rafting, canoe or kayaking, and even possibly go-karting and other options of Wildwood attractions.

Morey's Piers are more geared to a younger crowd, which thankfully, we are not anymore. Although, all of us have a lead foot that would enjoy go karting. The beaches and water park are also a huge draw for this crew. Something about water, just makes everything good. Much like ice cream. :-) Making Morey's an option for a family beach vacation idea.

I can't help but wonder, if we (my immediate crew), would have had nearly as much fun if we were alone. I doubt it.

Ouch that hurts the mommy ego!

True, though.

Rubber Stamps - 50% OFF!

Do you use deposit stamps? Address stamps? I do and the Rubber Stamps I'm looking at right now, are with RED Print and say PAST DUE! Although, secretly I'm wishing for a Green - PAID!

Welcome to the life of a desperate landlord. Could that be the next television hit? At this rate, I won't be in anything that glamorous from land lording. More likely to be a guest of Barbara Walters as she questions what pushed me over the edge.

On a happier note, one of our construction vendors has a nice little stamp that says TAKE A DISCOUNT OF $XXXX.XX. I like that one too! I would like to send it out, but until folks pay on time - discounts will be non-existent.

That's how I roll!

In order to get your discount, if you choose to order a nice stamp or an evil and demanding one use code:

Stamps50 - 50% Off Small Rubber Stamps

That will make them more affordable. Stamps are only good when the budget is balanced. :-)

I also have stamps with words like - FILE, SCAN and PAID. I like my stamps they make my life easier and help me keep organized.

Missing the oddest things

School starts next week around here. Of course, except for the last week, it never did feel like summer. This is the life when you have kids in football. These boys do conditioning and endurance training all summer. Now they are officially back in for "football" practice. We call them 2-a-days.

Which means go all day with a lunch break.

I'm sitting here with my favorite label maker and just realized, I have nothing to label this year.


I use my label maker for everything from File folders to the pantry. The most common use in the pantry is on dry items that I put into air tight containers. I never forget what is in the container this way. I love the speed and look of a nice clean label. I even use labels on my Ziploc bags and containers in the freezer.

The kids and I, used to pull out all of their school supplies and separate them by kid. Then I would begin printing labels. This was important when they were in grade school. We labeled everything from Crayons & Glue to Notebooks & Folders. Not only did it help in school, but it also helped stream line homework.

I'm tempted to go to my neighbors and see if they have a label maker or if they need my help. My DH thinks that, that is label pushing. I asked if it was worse or better then my coupon pushing. He just gave me a blank stare.

Just for laughs

Have you ever heard of Victory Hair? I'm sure if you think about it for a minute, you will know exactly what it means. We didn't call it this in my younger years, but Extreme Style by VO5 is so much more PG-13 then we were. We called it the Fresh (fill in shameful word) Look.

Funny, I don't recall anyone trying to hide this from anyone else.

I've been cracking up by VO5's Ultimate Flirting Championship. At first I was puzzled as to why anyone would go online to practice their flirting. But it was hilarious. People will say anything to 'get lucky' and end up with Victory Hair.

I have to say, there are perks to being female. Even today, as I am definitely not a young one, it doesn't take much to get to Victory Hair. Maybe it is a secure marriage, but we generally laugh that it only takes a touch. Literally. I can't imagine having to plot and plan the right line. Sounds like so much work. And for girls, do we really need one? No!

Guys on the other hand have to work their tails off to bring out our internal princess or crash and burn! No wonder so many guys shy away with a bit of negativity. How many NO's filled with rejection can a guy take?

If you find yourself with some time to burn, check this game out. Laughter is the best medicine and you will get a full dose!

Smiling with Radio Disney Memories!

When your kids are young you will listen, watch and do things like you never thought. It was just such an amazing time. I knew every word, to every song on Barney. In fact, often when away from the show called upon by my fans (the kids) to begin singing the beloved show tunes.

Drove a lot of adults nuts. I received quite a few looks. Didn't bother me, I had my fan base and they were movin' and groovin' to my rendition of their favorite tunes. I was the MOMMY STAR.

Good times!

With our trip on the horizon, less then 2 months away, I've been looking for things to do in New Jersey. I couldn't help but smile when I saw that Radio Disney would be performing at Morey's Piers on Magic Monday's.

All dates are in July :-(, not that I could entice my kids to walk down memory lane with me anyway.

Although, some of you with young ones may be able to attend. I promise you won't be disappointed. Just go to Wildwood events to get the specifics. And for those of you on a budget, you will be happy to hear the concerts at 1 & 4 pm, by the big Ferris Wheel are FREE!!!!

You can even find about Wildwood NJ hotels if you have to travel.

I think Jersey is highly underrated as a vacation spot. They have some really beautiful shores, thanks to that little piece of water we call the Atlantic. And do I really need to say BOARDWALK? Your hearing the song in your head already aren't you? "Under the boardwalk, down by the seeeaa yeah."

More discount info on Radio Disney:

July 26th Concert ticket holders may enjoy super savings at Morey’s Piers from the time of purchase through July 27, 2008. Simply show your official July 26 Radio Disney Summer Concert Series finale ticket at Guest Services on Mariner’s Landing and receive $10 off an all-day waterpark ticket for either Raging Waters or Ocean Oasis, or $10 off an amusement pier wristband valid for all three of Morey’s Piers, or $15 off a one-day splash and ride combination ticket

Who said vacations with little ones had to break the bank.

If you've got little ones and have never enjoyed the fun and entertaining (clean) sounds of Radio Disney, your missing out. Grab the CD's now and get them pumped for the excitement, prior to your arrival.

Why every school year begins in review?

I believe our school district wastes at least a month review prior year lessons, each time school resumes. This, as when I was younger is common practice. As an adult, it makes me feel that year round schooling may be a better option. Throwing in smaller breaks through out the year. Just seems wasteful, to spend so many of our 178 school days in review.



Imagine where the youth could be without this.



This is why, I think it is important for parents to step up to the plate during the summer. Bringing education through life lessons. Take the time to tour a museum, walk a lake shore discussing water creatures or even taking picnics to forest preserves to learn about the life around us.



Same logic - NEVER STOP LEARNING!



If you have the funds and a reason for travel, try to squeeze in an educational something on your trip. It doesn't take long and even when you think they aren't into this or learning, they are. Those little sponges can recall much wild, wild west history after seeing the Stark Museum of Art in Orange, Texas.



The important thing is, don't just throw the kids into the unknown. Take a little time and check out the places website. Learn about things you are going to see and try to fit them into your conversation along the journey leading up to the visit.

I used to make myself index cards with notes of interesting facts. Creating a story and asking them their thoughts. For instance, asking why they thought Crazy Horse was called Crazy? Was he offended?

The object was to make them realize these were real people like you and me.

I just thought this was appropriate with schools letting out for the summer now. And kids working their hardest to forget all they learned. The world is a classroom, let it help.

Be Dad's Favorite

I found a contest for anyone looking to be Dad's favorite. I checked my Dad's area and he is not eligible. Which means I can only share the news and not plan on blasting my gift giving into outer space.

Anyone hear of Charter Communications? They are having a contest that could put Father's Day in HD for some lucky dad. All it takes is a child, no matter their age, to write "Why does your dad deserve the biggest HDTV?"




This should be pretty easy for those of you with great fathers. After all, don't dad's do so much for us? Even if they aren't winning any parenting contests, I'm sure you can find something in your memory banks that place dad in the running.

One lucky dad will receive the Grand Prize:

• HDTV
• FREE Charter HD service and The Charter Bundle for life

Other prizes for runner-ups include:

• Charter’s Biggest Bundle, FREE for a year
• FREE Charter HD service for a year

Don't dawdle on this one. The deadline for entry is June 8th, which is a Sunday. Tell yourself the deadline is June 1st and ensure your dad's chances of winning.

I wish my cable company would do a promotion like this. Of course, they don't care about the customer, just the profits.

Deposit Crazy!!!

I have a customer, that is slowing the money flow in their business. I am more closely involved at the moment, because one of the partners is in Italy. So, I am seeing the lag in timing from their system. And frankly, it is driving me bonkers. This is no way to run a business. Especially a new and growing one (under 5 years).

They are receiving customer payments at one location and then mailing them to another to be deposited. How crazy is that? This is creating a 3-5 day lag in their money clearing the bank.

While I completely understand the why they do it, I'm determined to find a better way.

Which had me remembering that mailer from my bank a while back. Where they were going to let us test drive a "deposit from home/office" system. That is just what these guys need.

I was totally excited when I saw that DepositNow has a system that would work wonders with their Quick Books Manufacturing program. The first guy that receives the check, could just scan it in and get the money to the bank. The DepositNow system integrates with their software so the other office would see (and me too) the money and deposit through QB. SWEET!

My next task is to determine how cost effective it is. Because in a young business it all goes back to dollars and cents. Okay, in all businesses.

The initial unit (scanner) costs $225. The only extra plus here is that this scanner is not for checks only and could be used in other areas of the business. Making it even more cost effective.

There are immediate costs with every check they currently receive:

• Postage to 2nd location - 42 ¢
• Trip to bank estimating 10 miles round trip in a big Buick - I'd say 1/2 gallon of gas - $2.00
• Time - depending on schedule and location always a variable.
• Money saved on paying bills without delay and penalty - variable.

So, if we just say $2.50 per deposit, with an average of 2 a week, that is $20 a month. $20 that could go to other things. And could more likely, looking at the past, grow into much more based on fees.

The only loose end for me, is the cost to have this system up and running. They say it has too many variables to provide numbers online. Which means, I need to make some calls.

For the moment though, I am going to email a page link to them to check it out and see how it is received. Wouldn't want to waste my time, if it is a NO GO from the start.

Hey - if you need this system too put my blog site name into the referral box and they will give you $25 off the scanner. And let me send you a big thanks, because I will also receive $25.00. I need to figure out how to get my company to sign on this system, earning me the referral, without revealing my blog. I don't suspect this will be possible. :-(