Failed to Save Money

Scott says….

I failed to save any money today.

She says…

Forgot your lunch again?

Scott says…

Yes. So I had to buy lunch at the Sandwich Shop of Death at the building. Yuck! There were too small pieces of meat on the sandwich and some cold French fries. They charged me almost $7.00!

Marie says…

So, if I take the $20 you get per week and subtract $7.00, you should have $13.00 left in your wallet. Right?

Scott says…

Wrong. Bought a few biscuits this week. And some sweet iced tea. I’ve not used one single coupon all week, either.

Marie says...

So, basically you are broke again....right?

Scott says...

Did you see that the Braves are trading Schmolz this year? (changing the topic)

Marie says…

Not good, honey. You have to carry donuts into work tomorrow morning don’t you?

Scott says…

Crap! Forgot about that. Can you go find me a coupon?

Marie says…

Bailing him out of a jam as usual.

Sometimes you’ll have a bad week. Sometimes things just don’t work out. Don’t beat yourself up! Regroup and plan for the next week. You’ll be fine and you’ll still save money. Scott is still very conscience of what he’s spending and he’s learning more every day. I probably need to provide him a more robust collection of coupons for when he has to eat out. Oh, and maybe I should make him a sandwich since I forgot last night!

Today’s Negotiating Tip

Negotiating for a raise starts the day you are hired. One of the things that I do that helps me prepare is that I keep a daily journal at work. Each day I write down the major things that happen and I list all of the really good things that I do. Let’s say I negotiated a great deal on a contract. I’d list the specifics of the deal, why it was good, how much we saved and any other benefit to the company. Then I write down what it was worth to the company. Sometimes money isn’t the only thing. I keep this list and just prior to review time I send my boss an email with all my successes outlined. While this sounds a bit pushy, it really is a benefit to him. As a manager it is much easier for me to take this synopsis and develop the employee’s review documents.

So make it easy on your boss and tell him or her how great you are! It is hard to not give a raise to someone who has well-documented successes. You’ll make more money!

Our New Negotiator's Book Store

I've posted a list of all the negotiating books that I have on my shelf for those of you that would like to learn more about the topic. I've reviewed all of these and highly recommend them.

RAINY DAY FINANCES NEGOTIATOR'S BOOK STORE

Les Miserables?

Am I miserable? Not really.

Marie and I teach Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University class at our church on Sunday mornings. We’ve been through the class ourselves, read all the books and have been able to pay off $38,000 in debt and save $25,000 in about 1 ½ years. I’m very proud of the hard work we’ve put in to do this.

But one of the people in the class asked me “but do you live a normal life?” Another asked me if I was miserable. I had to think about that one for a while. Really, I don’t live any different than I did before. My belly shows that I eat three meals a day. I’m fully dressed and the socks don’t have holes. Ok, one hole, but it is very small. Our car takes me to work. I have God, Marie and my daughter, so I think I’m far from miserable.

No, I don’t live abnormally. But I do live debt free. In America that is abnormal. But like Dave Ramsey says…”Live like no one else so you can live like no one else.”

So maybe I don’t live normally. But I like it.

Marie says…

I like it too, honey.

Today’s Negotiating Tip

The location of the negotiation can be very important to the outcome. Is it better to buy a used car at the seller’s home or at your home? Your home usually because you have the advantage of not having to drive the car back home. You may also have access to the internet to show the seller what the real Blue Book value is. If you want to negotiate with a Dentist is the best place his office where the other patience can hear you or over the phone where only the Dentist can hear? The Dentist is more likely to grant you a discount over the phone. Yes, you can negotiate with a Dentist. Yes, I have changed Dentist because I couldn’t get a cash discount.

Use location to your advantage and get the best deal for your dollar!

CVS Trip Today

Marie says...

I've decided this year that if I don't need an item, it has to be a moneymaker or Free in order for me to buy it. Now this may seem like common sense to you, but I have found myself buying some things that are a good deal and I've never used them. Of course, if it is a SUPER deal, I could buy and donate the item. However, there are so many items that I can get for Free, that even money spent on low cost / unwanted items is money that I don't want to spend this year.

Here's what I got today.

2 boxes of SoyJoy bars - 6 in each box - $6.00 each - get $6.00 ECB back on each
1 bag of CVS napkins - $3.49
1 Garnier Fructis shampoo - $2.99 - get $2.00 ECB back

Coupons used
$3/$15 CVS
$3 off CVS Brand item
$1/5 Soy joys bars - 2 of these
$1 off Fructis Shampoo, Conditioner or Treatment - RP 12/04
ECBS - $0.50, $4.99, $4.49

Total (before coupons) - $19.41
Total (after coupons & ECBs) - OOP - $.24

ECBS back - $12, $2
Profit = $3.78


Want to see more CVS savings? Visit the "Cents"ible Sawyer's CVS Superstars!...

Free Milk at Kroger

Kroger has a deal this week (through Sat 1/10) that if you buy 3 Kellogg products - you get a gallon of milk FREE.


PLUS, there are coupons available for some of the Kelloggs products which can really make this a sweet deal.

The items that qualify are:

• Kelloggs cereals
• Nutrigrain Bars
• Special K Bars and Bites

Jenny at SouthernSavers lists the following as coupons available.

-$1 Kellogg’s Cereals, any printable
-$1 off Kellogg’s Corn Pops, Frosted Flakes, Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, etc. , RP 12/14
-$1 Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats or All-Bran Cereal, any 11.4 oz.+ RP 12/14
-$1 Kellogg’s Special K or Smart Start Cereal, any 11.4 oz.+ RP 12/14
-$1/2 Kellogg’s Spcial K Bars RP 01/04
(Buy 3 Cereals, use 3 $1 coupons, makes it $5.01 for 3 cereals and Milk)