Kansas City MomBlogs

What Did I Do With that Receipt?

Tracie Fobes — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT

Bills. Forms. Envelopes. Endless Piles of Paper. It seems that no matter how “paperless” you try to become, you still deal with all of this. It can be overwhelming to see it in your mailbox, let alone trying to keep track of all of it. Being organized can actually help save you money. Here are some ideas on ways to help.

Create a Bill File. One of simplest ways to avoid additional costs is to pay your bills timely. If you create a bills file and place all of your bills in there as they arrive, you will have them all in one place when you sit down to write your checks. You shouldn't’t have to ever worry about not finding it or accidentally tossing it in the trash. Our family has a drawer in our desk. All bills go in there until they are to be paid. We never lose them and can find them in a moment’s notice.

Checks and Balances. This may sound silly, but take a couple of minutes and make sure that the payment that was applied to your account from the previous month, is actually the same as the amount you paid. Also be sure it was posted to your account within a timely manner from the time you mailed the check. Sometimes, late fees can incur due to a late arrival of your payment. If you have credit card statements, always review the charges to be sure that you agree with them. Two minutes now, can save a lot of headache down the road.

Also be sure to reconcile your checking account regularly. Having one missed entry could result in an overdraft fee to not only your bank, but also to the institution where you issued the check. If you didn’t have the money for the check you wrote – chances are you don’t have an extra $50 - $75 on top of that to cover these fees. Although I reconcile, I also always have an overdraft system in place just in case I make an error. Mine is attached to my savings account. Check with your bank to see what programs or services they offer to help cover you, should this happen.

Use Your Envelope System. I know I talk about the envelope system for cash. However, this envelope system is for receipts. Make an envelope for each of the retailers where you shop and then some for incidental receipts you might have. For example, I have these envelopes:

JCPenney

Target

Walmart

Kohl’s
Household
Auto
Misc
Birthday/Holiday

This way, if I have a problem with an item, I can easily find the receipt I am looking for so that I can return the item. If you don’t have a receipt, some stores will not take the item back. Others will issue store credit - - but for the lowest price of that item over the past 30 days - - making you end up in the red after your return.

Keep Track of Mail in Rebates. I love rebates. They really are a great way to get cash back on the things you buy anyway. Be sure that before you drop them in the mail that you make a complete copy of EVERYTHING and slide that into a folder. Then, when you receive your rebate, you can pull the forms out and discard them.

Invest in a Shredder. With Identity Theft on the rise, a shredder is almost a must anymore. You can pick up a small one relatively inexpensively at most retailers. When you get those credit card applications in the mail, or your bank statements, you should never toss them into the trash. These items must be shredded in order to protect your personal information. Dealing with a stolen identity can cost you more than money – it can cost you time away from the things and people you love.

These are systems my family uses and they really do help us stay on top of everything. Our bills are always paid on time. We can easily find anything we need at the drop of the hat. By implementing these few simple changes into your own life, hopefully you’ll feel a little less stress. Now, as far as actually HAVING to pay the bills – sorry, your own your own there!

Spring Cleaning with Me!?

Lizz Welter — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that today, after working in the kitchen, I had to dry my hands with a terry cloth baby bib. There wasn’t a single clean towel or rag in my kitchen drawers, so I had to settle for a bib that my children haven’t used in quite a while. Of course, I have a perfectly good excuse for being caught without a clean towel…I’ve been cleaning! No, seriously.

It started innocently enough a week or so ago when I decided that something must be done about our basement. I’m not exaggerating when I say the Christmas stockings were laying on the floor of our unfinished basement. In fact, only the ornaments had found their way back into their respective boxes. The rest of the Christmas decorations were scattered around the basement and March was fast approaching!

On a morning when we didn’t have to be anywhere and my three children were enjoying the company of each other, I decided it was time to tidy up the basement. I’ve still got some work to do and there is that donation pile to haul to a local charity, but I’m feeling pretty good about the reclaimed space in the basement.

The strange thing was, once I started on the basement, I started to notice the mess in other areas of the house. Sure, you might not see the mess when you walk in my house, but that’s only because you probably wouldn’t open my cabinets or peek in my laundry room. Trust me, it’s there.

Another morning, I found myself cleaning out some of my kitchen cabinets. I washed all of the pots, pans, serving dishes, and other items I found. I then wiped down the shelves and put everything back in a more organized fashion. Some items didn’t make the cut. (I’m hoping my kids won’t remember the Snoopy Sno-Cone Machine.) Once again, I felt pretty good about the tidier space. One week later, the cabinet is still in good shape. However, I haven’t touched the other cabinets. That’s where you come in.

I’m guessing I can’t be the only Kansas City mom (or dad) who wants to clean up the house a bit after a long, gray, slushy winter. Wouldn’t it be nice to have those chores done and be free to play outside (or inside) and not have to think about the dirt and clutter that is consuming your home?

Now, before you let the words “Spring Cleaning” scare you away, let me tell you what I’m thinking. I’m blessed to be a mom to three rather young children. That means my definition of spring cleaning might be a bit different than what is typically considered deep cleaning. In other words, you probably won’t find me cleaning my blinds. It isn’t that they don’t need it, it’s just that I know my limitations (or maybe the right word is motivation). It’s just that after cleaning the basement and some of the kitchen, I found myself losing focus. I like the benefits of all of the hard work, but it’s so easy to get caught up in the daily tasks that I forget my goal. That’s where I’m thinking accountability might be a good thing.

By next Wednesday, I’m planning on having finished Spring Cleaning my kitchen. Will you join me? I’ll be cleaning out my refrigerator, cleaning the oven (that doesn’t have a self-clean feature), wiping down the cabinet and pantry shelves, and getting rid of items I no longer need or use. There are plenty of other things I could and might do, but if I get that far, I figure my kitchen will be cleaner than it has been in a longer time than I’m willing to publicly admit. If you’d like to join in the “fun”, simply leave me a comment letting me know. ( If you have a blog, be sure to enter your address when you leave your comment and I’ll stop by to say hi.) Tell me what you’re going to do to spring clean your kitchen and if you have any cleaning tips, please share them!

If enough readers are interested, then we can spend a few more Wednesdays cleaning. Riveting, isn’t it?

So, won’t you join me? You can clean your blinds if you’re so inclined. You’re even welcome to clean mine if you like!

If you’d like to read more than you’d even like to know about the history of spring cleaning, you can head here. If you’d like ideas on where to start and what you might want to consider cleaning in your kitchen, I found this site helpful.

Speechless...

Kristina Light — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

"I Choose You. - K"... this is the inscription inside my husband's wedding band.

Just three months before we met, I was having lunch with a co-worker who asked me several "trivia /getting to know you" sorts of questions... my answers were, "I'd never marry a computer developer - having worked in IT for so many years, they bore me, but what am I saying? I'll be single forever. I love the single life." And I did.

Then.... I met Ron and it ALL changed. Within a week of our first date, the company he worked for went bankrupt and he was gainfully unemployed. For five months, he looked for work, all the while taking side jobs programming (which turned out to be quite profitable) and I watched closely to see how he handled "tough times." I knew that life isn't always easy - anyone can be delightful when there are flowers blooming and the sun in shining - how do you handle bad days? As far as I was concerned hot heads, whiners, and the lazy need not apply. Life throws you lemons? Make lemonade. And that is just what Ron did... and what he has consistently done for seven years.

And so, five months into our relationship, he landed a great new job... and that led to our proposal. He knew I wouldn't say yes until he had a steady paycheck with reliable insurance, and we now joke that it is for this reason it took five months to find work... if he'd asked sooner I would've been scared at the rush. Looking back, five months is AWFULLY fast anyway! But, the cliche is true.. when you know, you know.

On my 25th birthday, he proposed at Liberty Memorial (where my grandfather proposed to my grandmother)... I said yes and was then immediately speechless. For those who know me, you'll find that tough to believe, but it's true. I was COMPLETELY speechless. Ron asked me several questions and I could not answer - no sound would come out. Finally, after what felt like an hour, but was probably more like 5 minutes... I could speak again and reassured him that I was indeed confident in my answer.

We were married five months later on March 8, 2003... it was the second best decision I've ever made. For seven years I've been married to my best friend... the only person to ever render me truly speechless. :-)

Ron, I love you and I'm forever thankful "I Chose You" - K

Why Use Coupons?

Sara Keenan — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Coupons. Using them can be time consuming, confusing, house-cluttering, and frustrating. But for me and for the thousands of other people that use them, the benefits far outweigh the negatives. The obvious benefit to using coupons is simply to save money. But there are so many more underlying reasons to use coupons. Here are a few of my top reasons for using coupons...maybe one of them will inspire you to clip your first coupon today!

1. REALLOCATE. So saving $.40 on a tub of butter may not seem like a big deal. And by itself, it is not. But multiply that by hundreds of coupons and you can really save big on groceries and other household items. And when you don't spend that money on groceries, you can save it for other things. Like vacations or big ticket items or for more boring, but important, things like your child's college tuition or retirement. Using coupons allows my family to have more money for the things we truly want and need rather than spending it all on shampoo and pretzels. I have been saving some of the leftover money out of our grocery budget and from other things like Shop At Home and Ebates and we are going to be able to use that money for a night at Coco Key over spring break. That is something we wouldn't have the budget to do without using coupons and shopping savvy.

2. CHALLENGE. To really make the most of coupons, you essentially are playing a game. Researching the deals, planning your purchases and what coupons you will need for that shopping trip, combining coupons and sales and rewards programs, adding up the price per unit and what size of what product gives you the best deal...it can get really complicated! But that is what makes it FUN for me. The fact that I can use my knowledge of how coupons work and how I can best use them to my advantage is really challenging and exciting for me. There is a certain thrill in getting something for free or at a fraction of its retail price that gets me motivated to clip those coupons and scour the circulars. I feel like I'm winning a contest when I can get the lowest price for an item and who doesn't like to win?

3. KEEP WHAT'S YOURS. Why give money to retailers when you can keep it for yourself? I am just so mad when I think of the years that I spent paying so much more than I needed to for groceries before I started using coupons. It makes me sick, honestly! All of that hard earned money...down the drain! Sure, it is a lot easier to walk in the store, buy what you want, and not worry about the price tag. But that is YOUR money you are parting with and why not keep as much as you can?

So what are your reasons for using coupons? Do you like the challenge of the game? Do you do it so your family can stay out of debt? Whatever your reasons...keep up the good work and enjoy keeping those $$ in your own pocket!

Siblings Can Make a Mess of Birthdays

James Wilcox — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Last weekend, my daughter celebrated her third birthday. Although my wife and I decided not to have a “kid” party, we did plan to have my side of the family over for her birthday party (we celebrated with my wife’s side of the family the week before). We spent the week before cleaning, running back and forth to the story for decorations, supplies, food and presents, and my wife (who thinks she belongs on Ace of Cakes) made a “Dora the Explorer” cake. Everything was set and ready to go and everyone was looking forward to the party, until about 6:30 Saturday morning. It was then that my youngest son started vomiting.

Needless to say, my wife and I were crushed. It is never fun dealing with a sick child, but when they get sick on their siblings birthday, well it is a disappointment for everyone. My wife and I waited to see if it was an isolated event, if it was something he had eaten, or just one of those things that happen to kids sometimes. It quickly became apparent that we were going to have to cancel the party, as my son continued to be sick throughout the morning and into the afternoon.

As I made the calls to my own brother and sisters, letting them know the party was off, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for my daughter. She had been looking forward to seeing her cousins all week. Although she is only three, she was excited about her party and she knew that she wasn’t going to have one because of her sick brother. She was disappointed.

Fortunately, it was just a twenty-four hour bug and my son was running at 100% the next day. We made the calls, told everyone the party was on for Sunday evening and hoped everyone could come. Ironically enough, one of her cousins was sick, and two others couldn’t attend. Although we had to delay the party and throw everything back together at the last minute, my daughter had a great time , was smothered by her cousins, and made out like a bandit in the present department.

Although her brother tried to ruin things, it ended up being a happy birthday.

Hearing God

Margaret Sarver — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:38:48 GMT

Conversation in our car the other day:

Ally (5): I pray and talk to God, but I don’t hear him talking to me.

Me: (Thinking to myself, how am I going to get this across to a 5-year old). Well, God hears you and He talks to you, but not with a voice like I am using now to talk to you. It’s different.

Tori (8) pipes up: Yeah, it’s like when you are at school and you see someone playing alone and you hear God saying to you, “Go and ask that person if they want to play” that’s God talking to you.

Ally: Oh, now I get it.

Well done, Tori. Leave it to the children to know exactly what to say. When we adults try to overcomplicate and over analyze, children remember that to say it simply is to say it best.

Money Management - Start 'Em Young & Train 'Em Right!

Tracie Fobes — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 07:00:00 GMT

My mother taught me so much when I was growing up. She shared her morals and values with me and because of her I’ve grown into the woman, wife & mother I am today. However, there was only one thing she never talked to me about --- finances.

It seems that even the birds and the bees took precedence over money when I was growing up. No one talked about this. When a child asked mom or dad about saving and budgeting, they were more often than not told “Don’t worry about that” or “It is none of your business.”

As a result, I have had to learn a lot of lessons on my own. I am lucky that I am currently debt free and on the path to financial independence. However, looking back, I can’t help but wonder where I would be if I had started my financial education earlier than age 35.

It also makes me realize the importance of teaching our children about money and saving. I want them to understand the dangers of debt and to learn patience. I don’t want them to make the same mistakes I have made – isn’t that what we strive for as parents?

I am an avid follower of Dave Ramsey. He has a lot of great ideas and principles that he teaches. I have adapted some of them into our life style, but some, I have created from my own devices and discussions with my husband.

We have 3 children. Our family has decided to begin our children’s financial education at age 6. This means we will begin with our daughter this coming September. However, we have done our homework and are getting ready so we know what we want to do when the time comes.

So, will she get an allowance? Well – sort of. She will earn money for doing things around the house. However, it won’t be for the things that are “required” in order to be a member of this family. She will have to make her bed, clean her room, pick up her toys and help with the dishes. These are tasks that won’t earn her a penny.

When you are in a family – you have responsibilities. Just as I clean the house, do the laundry and make dinner – without pay – my children have to contribute as well. So, what are allowance makers? We are working out the details, but here is a short list:

1. Setting the dinner table.
2. Feeding the dog.
3. Helping her brother and sister with their chores.

4. Initiating clean up (family room or other rooms).

5. Helping with dusting / vacuuming.

We will make a chart to help her remember what earns money. Then, when she does these things, she can place an “X” on her chart and at the end of the week, we will pay her the predetermined amount per chore. This will, of course, differ from child to child for us and we will change it accordingly.

The one thing we will teach her immediately is that every dollar she makes, she has to put into her piggy bank. We don’t want her to rush and spend everything she earns, so we will slowly talk about saving, giving and spending. Then, by the time she is 12 years old, we can easily help her migrate into her own envelope system.

Since we currently do this ourselves, this system will not be a new concept to her. What it will help her learn to do is to divide her earnings into Save, Spend & Give. Since she has already learned about putting all of her money into her piggy bank, it should be an easy transition into having the cash in envelopes. This helps her see what she has available and she can also keep track of the running totals herself. She can also easily save for that big purchase and know that when her money is gone – it is gone. The “Bank of Mom & Dad” doesn’t give loans.

When she is 16 years old, we will introduce the checking account. By this age, she will hopefully be able to get a part-time job and begin to earn money outside of the home. She will still have her envelopes and pay for most things in cash, but it is important that she learns how to manage her money with a bank as well. She needs to learn about overdrafts and the proper way to balance her checkbook – BEFORE she heads off to college.

At this same age, we hope to implement a “M&D Matching Program.” What we will do is match her dollar for dollar for every one she saves towards her first vehicle – up to a predetermined amount. We don’t “owe” her a car to get around. If she wants one, she has to earn it herself. This is actually one of the concepts that Dave Ramsey discusses.

Our goal as parents, is to be sure that our children are raised with the morals and values that shape them to be contributing members of society. We want them to have good souls and to help others. We want them to be independent – both socially and financially. By starting early with their financial education, we hope to help them avoid the pitfalls to which we fell victim.

More Than an Insect

Lizz Welter — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I was relieved I wasn’t talking face to face with my friend as she told me about her daughter’s favorite pet. It seems her young daughter’s guinea pig injured its eye. She was planning on taking the little thing to the vet later in the afternoon. She was nearly beside herself with worry that the vet wouldn’t be able to help her daughter’s beloved creature. I admit I was a little bewildered at her concern over a rodent. Little did I know that only hours later I would completely understand.

Not long after I hung up the phone with my friend, my own daughter happened across a ladybug. She asked me if she could keep it. I said that she could keep it for a while. She grew more excited by the minute as I helped her find a home for the ladybug. After settling on a small plastic bowl covered with a carefully colored piece of paper, she was set. She used a rubber band to hold the paper in place and I poked a few holes at her request, so that the little thing could breathe.

She spent most of the day holding the bowl and gazing at the ladybug. I recognized a learning opportunity and searched for the book I remembered we had on ladybug life cycles (What can I say, I have a bit of a book- buying problem.). We read the book together before she went to sleep. I watched her sweet eyes light up as I read that the average life span for a ladybug is one year (otherwise known as forever to a child). Those same eyes filled with tears as I had to explain to her that there was no way her ladybug would live that long given its current living quarters. She realized that she would either have to soon let the ladybug go or wake up to find it dead one day. My heart broke.

I couldn’t help but remember my conversation with my friend earlier in the day. I suddenly understood how she could be so worried about the fate of a guinea pig. I hugged my daughter and fought back tears of my own as I realized this was but the beginning of heartbreaks she would endure in this less-than-perfect world.

I don’t know that I’ve ever been more grateful for comic relief as I was when I asked my crying daughter what she had named her ladybug. “Butterfly,” she seriously answered. I had to smile as I kissed her cheek and wished her a good night. I spent the rest of the night wondering how to best handle my girl’s tender heart. I also wondered if it would be okay not to let her catch any lightening bugs this summer. I don’t know that my heart can handle it.

For real information on dealing with a kids and the loss of a pet, click here for a an article at KCParent.com

If you've Seen One You Haven't Seen "Them All"

Kristina Light — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This month as I've taken the girls on outings, I've come to realize how important it is to realize "if you've seen one you haven't seen them all..."

For example, Kansas City is home to many fantastic nature centers, but the quality and quantity of exhibits varies significantly from one to another. Our FAVORITES are Burr Oak Woods in Blue Springs (their free programs are outstanding - check out Little Acorns for 3-5 yr olds once a month, Babes in the Woods, and Family programs), and Lakeside Nature Center (we hosted Em's 4th Birthday Party with an "I Spy" Theme there and had a great time!). Both of these centers feature many fantastic animal exhibits as naturalists are caring for animals that were injured or in danger. Both centers have many terrific hands-on exhibits and trails to hike... Burr Oak with miles upon miles of fantastic woodland, prairies, ponds, and streams to traverse. While we appreciate all of our local nature centers, our family definitely loves these two most of all and we make a point to visit them frequently!

The same is true for local farmers' markets (Overland Park, The City Market, and Parkville having some of the largest selections), libraries (if you haven't been to the Plaza or Central Libraries, you should visit - both are worth the trip! The Plaza Library offers fantastic family programs every Friday night), children's stores, restaurants, parks, etc.

Sometimes it's easy to slip into the habit of thinking, "I went to a similar place once and there wasn't much to see, so I won't waste my time on that one." It's always worth giving new things a chance, or asking someone who has been before if a particular place is worth the gas money to get there. If you're considering a Kansas City outing, I'm always happy to offer help and feedback! Check out All About KC for great tips or submit a Kansas City question of your own.

Ebay 101

Sara Keenan — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:40:58 GMT

I blog a lot about how to save a buck, but this time I'm going to talk about how to MAKE a buck! If you have never tried selling things on Ebay, it can be really intimidating and confusing. But I'm here to say...Try It! There is a little bit of a learning curve, but once you have listed a few things, it's really easy and worth the effort. Here are some of my tips on how to make it work for you. Keep in mind...I am not an Ebay pro. I'm not a Super Seller who lists 100 things a day. I'm just a mom who sells my kids clothes, but I hope that my experience can help those of you who have never tried Ebay!

WHAT TO SELL

You can LIST anything and everything on Ebay. But the question is, what can you SELL? The first thing you should do if you have an item you want to sell is do a search to see if there is a market for it on Ebay. You can do an "Advanced Search" to see completed listings to see what things have sold for to give you an idea of what kind of money you may make from selling an item.

When it comes to kids clothing, the only things worth selling on Ebay are brand name clothing in good condition. Brands like Gap, Gymboree, Polo, and boutique brands like Matilda Jane or Baby Lulu sell very well on Ebay, but lower end brands, no matter how cute the clothes are, just won't sell for enough to make it worth your time or the money you spend on fees. So sort through your kids' wardrobes and pull out only the best pieces for Ebay. The rest may sell better at a garage sale or on consignment where customers can see how cute it all is in person.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Once you decide what to list, make sure the time is right. Clearly you do not want to try sell a winter coat in July or a cute sundress in the middle of winter. A good way to decide when to sell kids clothing is to look at what is in the stores. When it is back to school time in stores, that is a great time to list your kids' fall wardrobe. Right now is the time to sell spring clothing (even though it still feels like the middle of winter here).

You also want to list your items at the right day and time. In general, items will sell for more if the auctions end in the evenings. And the best days for your auctions to end are Saturdays or Sundays. So whether you choose a 5 day or 7 day auction, make sure it ends at a good day and time. (You can schedule the starting time for your listing for $.10 per item, so you can work on the listings when you have time and the listings will start when you schedule them).

PREPARE YOUR LISTING

When you are preparing to list your items, take the time to get a good photo of them. For clothing, make sure the clothes are cleaned and ironed (or at least mostly wrinkle-free). Pick a neutral background and get photos of the whole item and close ups of details. You MUST have photos of your items if you want them to sell. The first photo of each item is free, additional photos are $.15 each. One photo is fine for many items, but close ups just help the buyers make a decision to bid.

Make sure the title of your listing includes the brand name, the size, and a short and sweet description of the item. Also make sure you list it in the right category...a mistake there could mean that no one finds your listing to bid on it!

Also write detailed descriptions of the items. In addition to describing the item and any details not visible in the photos, make sure to describe the condition of the items carefully. If the item has any flaws (including wash wear or fading), mention them. But put the focus on the things that make the item desirable. Also make sure to mention if your item comes from a smoke-free and/or pet-free home...that info is important to many buyers!

THE PRICE IS RIGHT

Picking your starting price on Ebay can be tricky. The first thing to do is to search for that specific item to see if there are any other identical listings. See what they are priced at and also search for completed listings to find selling prices. That will give you a ballpark. In general, you want to start the price as low as you can (keeping in mind that you have to sell it for enough to cover the fees you will pay to Ebay and Paypal) because high starting prices will turn away buyers. I try to start my items at a price that I think I could get at a garage sale (which is hopefully a lot less than what they will eventually sell for). In the end, you have to ask yourself, "If this item sells at this price, will I be satisfied?" If the answer is no, raise the price to a level you are comfortable with, keeping in mind that it may not sell at all if you price it too high.

Searching for identical items is also an important step because you may find out that you have an item that is more valuable than you think! Occasionally a certain line from Gymboree or a certain boutique dress will become sought after and you may end up selling it for more than you paid! In that case, you will want to price it accordingly.

Last, make sure your shipping costs are accurate. Offering shipping at too LOW of a rate will end up costing you money. But if you price shipping too high, buyers will not want to bid on your item. Ebay will allow you to research shipping rates based on the weight of the item and I suggest setting your shipping price at the exact amount you will pay. Buyers really hate inflated shipping costs (at least THIS buyer does!)

REPUTATION IS EVERYTHING

Ebay is built on user feedback and reputation. When you buy or sell an item, the people you interact with will give you feedback as a buyer or seller. Getting negative feedback can kill your reputation as a seller and prevent people from bidding on your items. A low amount of feedback can also be a deterrent, so if you are brand new to Ebay, I suggest you start by buying a few items to get a few positive feedbacks before you start to sell. Once you do start selling, the best way to get positive feedback is honesty and good communication. Be 100% honest about the condition of your items, make sure you ship them as soon as you can, and communicate openly with the buyers. Leave positive feedback for them as soon as you receive payment and they will be more likely to return the favor.

For more tips, check out the Basics of Selling and Ebay's Top 10 Tips. And then just take the plunge! List a few things to learn the ropes and then you will be off and running with a few extra $$ in your pocket! Happy Selling!

Price Check on Aisle 5

Tracie Fobes — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 02:46:34 GMT

One thing I have learned to do over the years is to always watch when the cashier is ringing up my items - as much as possible. This is especially important when the item is on sale.

A while back, I was in a store.....we shall call it "Bulls eye." I purchased some Pepperidge Farms crackers that had a sign in front of them that said Special Promotion - $2.50. Plus, I had a coupon for $0.75/1, so I thought that was a great deal, since my children consume mounds of these as if they are going out of style.

I was in a hurry, didn't feel well and just wanted to get home. Well, I should have paid more attention! They ended up ringing up at the standard price of $3.68. So, I had to go back to the store and show them my receipt and that I was overcharged. They of course took care of me without any problems, but the point was that I had to go back to get it taken care of.

While there is not any way you can remember the sale price of everything you toss into your shopping cart, you will want to pay careful attention so that you are not overcharged. Had I been “on my game” that day, I would have noticed it right away and it would have been taken care of immediately.

What is great is that some stores now even offer a scanned price guarantee. This means that if the item does not scan at the correct price, you will get it for free! A couple of stores that I know do this are Hy-Vee and Dillons. Do you know of others that do this too?

So, try to watch those prices when they are scanned so you don’t get overcharged. The difference could of course be only pennies – but they are YOUR pennies and you deserve to keep them!

Homebody

James Wilcox — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

As the Model UN Coordinator at my school, it is my responsibility to prepare my students to participate in the Model UN Conference, which is held in late February in Stamford CT. Now let me just tell everyone that I don’t actually like travelling all that much. Part of it has to do with the fact that I don’t like to fly. I don’t get sick or feel claustrophobic or anything, I just don’t like flying (especially with six high school students). When it comes down to it, my aversion to travelling comes down to the fact that I don’t like being away from my family. As corny as it may sound, I like being around my wife and kids. I miss them a lot when I am gone. I miss not being around to pick them up after school, helping with homework (I can’t believe I just said that), sitting down to dinner with them, and all the little things like singing songs and reading books before bedtime. Basically, I am a homebody.

Needless to say, I was not really looking forward to the Model UN trip last Sunday, especially with the freezing rain, the snow, and the cold weather Kansas City was experiencing. I was praying that our flight out of Kansas City would get cancelled, but it wasn’t. My six students and I were packed on the plane at 7:30 and it looked like we were all ready for the 7:45 am departure. Then the problems started. After we started to taxi to the runway, we had to stop for de-icing and then were delayed by almost an hour. Although I was frustrated by the delay, I became even more frustrated when it became apparent that we would not make it into Chicago in time to catch our connecting flight to New York. The low visibility in Chicago only compounded the problem. Sure enough, we missed our flight to New York and I spent the next 8 hours trying to get us another flight. I tried to change airlines, I tried to change airports, I even tried to fly us into a different city, all to no avail.

When it became apparent that we were not going to make it to the Model UN Conference, I had to fight to get us a flight back to Kansas City. Luckily, we were able to get seats on the last flight in KC and despite the weather, made it back into town. Once I got all the students packed away with their parents and dug my car out of the ice and snow, I headed for home. The roads were icy and the trip from the airport took over an hour. When I finally got home around 9:30, my boys were waiting for me. The second I walked in the door, they launched themselves into my arms, smothered me with hugs and kisses and told me how worried they were and how happy they were I was home. It was a nice ending to a long, frustrating day and a wasted trip.

My “wasted” trip to Chicago has only strengthened my dislike of travel (and of flying). I didn’t exactly want to go on the trip in the first place and having to fight the weather and the airlines only made things worse. Next year, when I am asked to chaperone the Model UN trip, I think I will decline because I am a homebody.

A Mom Getaway

Margaret Sarver — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:00:00 GMT

Last weekend I went away with four friends for a much needed moms’ weekend. We shopped, ate out, played games and laughed a lot! I feel so fortunate to have such a wonderful group of friends that I can talk to, celebrate with, commiserate with and laugh with. They are such an important part of my life-every mom needs friends like these.

While I was away, the girls and dad had the weekend together. Ty got together with one of the other dads and planned a slumber party for our two girls and his three. Ty, Tori and Ally shopped for snacks, grabbed a pizza and got the house ready for guests. While the friends were over, they had dinner, watched a movie, played the Wii, played princess and had a great time. In the morning Ty made waffles for the group while the kids had some more time to play together. Once the friends left Ty and the girls cleaned the house and got ready from my return.

I returned home a rested and relaxed mom. When I arrived, the house was clean house and the kids were happy. I am so thankful that I had the time away with friends and that Ty went out of his way to provide a fun weekend for the girls. I am blessed!

A Perfect Ending to a Tough Day

Lizz Welter — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We were only minutes away from bedtime and still, I thought I wasn't going to make it without seriously losing it.

      I looked at my oldest and asked her to come sit on my lap. I held her for a minute and told her I was sorry I was a bit short during the day. She told me that was okay and apologized for having a rough day as well.

      Then, she sweetly said, "Mommy, I need to tell you something."

      "What's that?" I asked.

      "I love you," she sincerely said.

      "I love you too," I replied. Moments like that feel like a gift.

       It proved to be just what I needed. As we walked up the stairs together, we found that a certain little man had dumped a nearly full bottle of baby wash into the bath tub. I just sighed and carried him to his room.

       My long day ended with snuggles with my favorite children in the world.

      It's a tough job, but somebody has got to do it. I'm grateful that somebody is me.

Life In Color

Marisa Frymire — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:00:00 GMT

Recently I blogged about my trip to Minnesota with my girlfriends. We were mainly going for the store IKEA. It's comparable to Crate & Barrel, only MUCH more affordable. I picked up this little table (called a lack table) in the color red for a mere $8! I thought it would be a great art table for our daughter to have, and at $8, I'm not too concerned about the table getting marks and scuffs.

The table was intended for her play room in our basement, but after trying it out in different places, it now resides in a corner of our kitchen. Since most moms spend a considerable amount of time in the kitchen, (and since she's still a little young to just send downstairs by herself to play), this seemed like a great place to put the table. I had also bought a roll of butcher paper while at IKEA (for an easel in the basement)...but I've now covered the red table with butcher paper and it has become a coloring table!

Now, I knew our daughter enjoyed coloring, but now that it's readily available, she REALLY enjoys it! It's all she wants to do! No complaints from me, that's for sure. It's a great solution to the 5:00 window when kids around the country start melting down, Moms check the clock every 30 seconds wondering when in the world Daddy will be getting home, and everything seems to be falling apart. Ava just colors and colors and colors....even things that she shouldn't.

I really didn't think I'd have THAT issue....you know, where you find crayon marks on your refrigerator, or your new wooden floors that your husband put in, or on the oven door, or all over the sliding glass door. Yet somehow, the kitchen is looking a little more colorful these days than I last remember it being. Thank goodness Crayola has made washable crayons (and that we actually spent the extra 0.30 to buy it), so we've managed to remove the crayon marks.

The new crayon table is great because it keeps our daughter occupied at crucial times of the day and keeps her interest for a pretty significant amount of time....but now I have to teach her exactly what she can color on (and in a toddler's eyes, that's not much). I guess I've halfway solved the dinner hour dilemma. If I can just get Ava to color on the paper only, then I'd be set for the night!