Head to Redbox on Facebook and you can send your friend a FREE Rebox Rental Code that can be redeemed on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 13th.
Thanks, Common Sense with Money!
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Holidays
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Adding fertilizer to newly planted onions, yesterday
Welcome to May! It’s time to chat about what I think you’ll find on sale, and what I’m up to around here.
As I’ve said many times before, most of my savings actually comes just from taking advantage of store sales. Coupons are the frosting on the cake. By paying attention to store sales, you can maximize your savings efforts.
What’s on Sale in May
According to my notes from previous years, here is my best guess for what we should find on sale this month:
- The first of the summer/BBQ items. This includes condiments such as BBQ sauce (which we are already seeing!), mustard, relish, charcoal.
- Shaving/skin care items. Time to shave those legs finally since you’ll be in a swimsuit, right? Watch for razors, shave gel, and also lotions and sunscreen.
- Mexican ingredients (Cinco de Mayo). Particularly watch tortillas. A couple years ago I found them as low as $0.04 a bag (for Mission).
- Ice Cream and Hot Dogs. Again, start to watch for summer fare.
- Strawberries. We should see an uptick in strawberry deals. As we approach summer, we’ll start to see more deals on the traditional summer produce like melons and peaches.
- Founder’s Day Sale (Fred Meyer). Arguably, one of their best sales of the year, Fred Meyer will be having their Founder’s Day sale this month. This sale usually focuses on grocery basics and good-for-you items (think produce, and items in natural section) at low, low prices. Pay attention.
- Memorial Day sales. Many stores will have sales for Memorial Day (both in store like Fred Meyer and online like Macy’s).
I’ve also noted promotions for brands including Kellogg’s and Kraft in May. Please download your FREE Sales Cycles download for more information.
What’s Happening at The Blog?
Here are some of the things that will be happening around here.
- Focus on Spring Cleaning. Enough is enough – it’s time to get my house clean! If you’re in the same boat, watch for my posts on spring cleaning to help get you motivated.
- More Gardening. I’ll be doing some more gardening this month and sharing those posts with you too, as well as Farmer’s Markets posts.
- Moms Nite Out. Moms, come meet me at the Tacoma Mall’s Moms Nite Out on May 10th. I’ll be speaking and I’ll have a table. Lots of freebies (including FOOD) will be part of this nationally-based event and you won’t want to miss it! More information to follow.
- FREE Coupon Class (Puyallup/South Hill). FISH Food Banks is sponsoring a FREE coupon class on May 30th. Please check out the post on more information on how to RSVP.
- Giveaways, giveaways! I’m in the process of coordinating a few giveaways this month. I’ll have one in the next week for Fred Meyer so stay tuned for your chance to win!
Given my speaking engagements as well as personal appointments this month, I won’t be hosting a webcast or will I be doing a series. But have no fear, Sarah is already hard at work on the next series which I hope will launch in June or July.
Is there anything else you’d add to my list of what to find on sale? Anything you’d like to see more of around here in May?
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Here’s a great freebie to snag just in time for Mother’s Day!
Head to Cardstore and you can make a free greeting card for Mother’s Day with coupon code LUVMOM. You’ll also snag FREE shipping!
This offer is good through 5/6.
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Apr
25
Ode to an Admin
You are a worker of miracles that go unnoticed everyday -
completing projects that require multiple emails, phone calls, and random coworker naggings,
navigating complicated two-sided, collated, and stapled copy jobs,
negotiating event contracts and hors d’oeuvres menus so employees can just show up and have a good time.
You are a collector of details -
you know the coffee preferences of each of the Board of Directors,
the dates of the next five Tech Committee meetings,
and the location of virtually every office supply imaginable.
You make your boss look good everyday -
remembering to add the pivotal report to her presentation portfolio just in time,
spiffing up his office the hour before that Big Client walks through the door,
reconciling conflicting schedules before she notices the error she’s made.
You orchestrate tasks others overlook -
the jobs so essential, yet often “beneath” your coworkers or bosses,
inventories, reports, orders, invoices, errands,
copies, research, phone calls, edits, filing.
You are a master of procedures, protocols, and programs -
the new accounting software that baffles everyone else,
getting reports to reconcile correctly the first time,
creating an Excel macro that no one cares about, until they need to care about it.
You are the ultimate multitasker -
juggling assignments, reports, and schedules,
handling phone calls, emails, cubicle drop-ins,
prioritizing and wading through tasks, deadlines, and endless requests.
You are the one people trust -
the resource on how a procedure is completed that no one else knows,
a shoulder to cry on when the task seems too big,
the cubicle folks like to stop by on their way from a coffee break.
Too often called “just an admin,”
(And too often you call yourself “just an admin”)
too often underestimated,
too often misunderstood.
No, you are a true professional, and without you,
the everyday and extraordinary things that happen at your workplace just wouldn’t happen.
So on behalf of bosses, managers, and coworkers everywhere,
and from one former Admin to another -
Happy Administrative Professional’s Day.
(Now go share this post with your boss and make sure they take you out to a NICE lunch. You deserve it!)
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It’s Earth Day tomorrow and I have a challenge for you: GROW SOMETHING.
I know I’ve gone on and on about my garden, but the truth is I feel the stress melt off when I’m back there. Growing your own food is a noble pursuit, but it’s also one that’s just good for your soul, too. Now I know not everyone has the space, money, time, ability, etc to do an elaborate garden, but today I want to show you how easy it is to start small.
I bought a couple of marigolds yesterday at Fred Meyer for $1.20 each. I was hoping for the $0.59 snapdragons, but wouldn’t you know it, they were all out! Even cheaper would be to start with seeds, but I wanted to give you an idea of the completed project, so plants it is!
I found these old rainboots of my daughter’s on the deck. They’d been forgotten outside and were in no condition to give away! So I decided to repurpose them.
Make sure to poke some holes in the bottom for drainage! I used a knife, but this was tough. If you have a drill, even better.
(Thanks to my daughter for taking the photo of me above. I think we have a budding photographer on our hands!)
Then you’re simply going to add some potting soil, the plants or seeds, and that’s it!
How adorable are those?
I placed them on the deck next to my deck container garden. (Yes, I’m growing more stuff there, too!)
The truth is, some vegetables such as lettuces, herbs, and radishes have very shallow root systems. You can grow them in containers like the one pictured above!
I’m also growing a few plant starts indoors right now. Cilantro anyone?
I hope I’ve encouraged you to get out this weekend and grow something – whether it’s flowers, herbs, or vegetables. You don’t need a lot of space or a lot of money to start small.
Happy Earth Day!
PS Want another garden craft idea? Check out these cute spoon plant markers!
PSS Don’t forget all the fantastic free and cheap deals you can score this weekend for Earth Day!
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This Sunday, April 22nd is Earth Day and many places are obliging with deals, coupons, and freebies to get you in the door.
Here are a few I found for you, and I’ll share more if I find them, too.
Lowe’s: Vegetable Plants are just 2 for $3 (normally $3.49 each). See the ad. Starts 4/19 runs through 4/23, in store only.
Target: will be giving away FREE reusable bags, while supplies last on April 22nd. Limit one per customer. See the website for more.
JoAnns: will be giving away FREE reusable bags, while supplies last on April 22nd. First 50 customers only, no purchase necessary. See the website for more.
Pottery Barn: giving away FREE sunflower seeds on Saturday, April 21st and Sunday, April 22nd. See the website for more.
Caribou Coffee: bring in a reusable mug on April 22nd, get a FREE coffee. See the website for more.
Disney Store: bring in 5 plastic bags to the Disney Store and receive a FREE reusable bag on Sunday, April 22nd only. See the website for more.
Whole Foods Market: select locations may be offering a FREE planting event for kids. Get FREE organic carrot seeds and a biodegradable pot on Saturday, April 21st. Please phone your location to ensure your store is participating. More information at Frugal Living NW.
Origins: bring in any current skincare product along with this form to an Origins store to receive a FREE cleanser. Good for Sunday, April 22nd while supplies last.
Michaels: make and take FREE reusable tote. Sunday, April 22nd 1-3pm ages 3+. While supplies last. See site for more.
My kiddos at the stunning Mt Rainier National Park
National Parks: why not enjoy Earth Day out in Nature? National Parks will waive entrance fees April 21st – April 29th! See the website for more.
Are you aware of any others?
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