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Entry bubble Confessions of a Coupon Clipper

By: Jim | March 24, 2008 | Category: Money

When I was a smart aleck teenager back in Akron, Ohio I’d tease my mom about some of her frugal habits by calling her “Queen of the Margarine Tubs.” Her retort, “Who needs Tupperware?!” I swore she had enough tubs stashed in the kitchen cupboards to pack away leftovers from a 12-person Thanksgiving dinner. And then some. Now, guess who’s saying, “Ain’t it funny how the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?”

Even with Mom’s encouragement, my thrifty tendencies didn't take root until I came to work for FCIC nearly 12 years ago. Part of my job involves getting publications from government agencies to Pueblo, Colorado for distribution. One day I glanced through a copy of our publication 66 Ways to Save Money, and somehow I got the saving message.

scissors cutting coupon

Nowadays, I plop myself down on the couch with scissors and my one large, strong cup of coffee to peruse the Washington Post’s Sunday coupons. Hey, don’t laugh! Coupon clipping is respectable – September is National Coupon Month. Even Reader’s Digest offers coupon clipping tips. One tip is to clip only what you know you’ll use and leave the rest. Get Rich Slowly offers a great glimpse into the dangers of overbuying because you were tempted by a good deal.

So what do I do with my unused coupons? I bring them to the office on Monday to trade with fellow FCIC blogger Nancy as we lunch on leftovers.

| View Comments [8] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: coupons   jim   money   saving  

 

Entry bubble Green Spring Cleaning

By: Sommer | March 21, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

cleaning solution, orange rubber gloves, sponges, and scrub brushYesterday was the first day of spring so it’s time for annual spring cleaning again. But, how many of you, like me, dread the process because of the smell of traditional household cleaning products? Fake pine, lemon and orange just don’t make me think “clean” they make me think “hard to breathe” and “headache.” And the residue some cleaners leave behind is just gross!

I’ve recently tried to learn about less toxic products I can use to clean the house. Luckily, my research turned up tons of ways to clean without using toxic chemicals and store-bought cleaners.

Some basic staples to keep on hand for green cleaning include:

  • Vinegar: My favorite product to use around the house, plain white vinegar, works as a fabulous all purpose cleaner and it doesn’t leave behind toxic smells or residue. I mix equal parts water and vinegar and keep it in a spray bottle. A couple squirts and a clean rag go a long way to sprucing up the house. Vinegar with a sheet of newspaper works great for cleaning windows and mirrors while a spray of the water and vinegar mixture on the bathroom sink in the morning freshens it up for the rest of the day.
  • Baking soda works great as a mildly abrasive scouring powder. Used on a damp sponge it can even get a kool-aid stain off the kitchen counter! This natural deodorizer can also work wonders in a refrigerator, pantry or clothes closet to keep the air fresh. Hey, any product that can keep kitty litter smelling fresh is a miracle-worker in my book.
  • Lemons and lemon juice are nature’s bleach and disinfectant. I love to use lemons to freshen my garbage disposal. Sprinkling some salt on a lemon you've cut in half makes a great disinfectant and deodorizer for a cutting board.

When making your own cleaners use caution. Make sure you read all labels closely and follow recommendations. Never mix products that turn toxic when combined including bleach with ammonia or vinegar.

Here’s to a clean, green house this spring!

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: bakingsoda   chemical   clean   green   lemon   organic   sommer   spring   toxic   vinegar  

 

Entry bubble Hannah Montana By Any Other Name...

By: Nancy | March 20, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Hannah MontanaStop the presses.

Miley Cyrus, aka Hannah Montana, is changing her name. And there's a reason why you might care.

If you don't have a "tween" girl in your family or you neither own nor operate a television set, you might not know actress/singer Miley Cyrus. She plays the television character Miley Stewart, a young teen who, with the addition of a blonde wig and sparkly clothes, secretly lives the life of a pop music star named Hannah Montana.

To add to the confusion, "Miley" is not Miley's real name. Nope. It's Destiny Hope. "Miley" is just a nickname that her real life dad and TV costar, Billy Ray Cyrus of Achy Breaky Heart fame gave her because, as a toddler, she smiled a lot. Smiley. Miley. You get it. And this week, her folks filed court papers to make "Miley" her legal name.

Ok, so why am I going all Entertainment Tonight on you? Well, the subject of changing names happens to be a popular one at USA.gov. Marriage, divorce, adoption, stardom—there are so many reasons to change your name. And there are a lot of places you have to contact in the government if you're adopting a new moniker, starting with your state or county court. Then there are the government agencies you have to notify, from Social Security to the IRS. Not to worry though, USA.gov has a special section with links to all those places, when you're ready to let the world know the new you.

And heck, we're familiar with name changes around here ourselves. Until last year, USA.gov was called FirstGov.gov. Turned out people found USA.gov to be a more intuitive name, and they just plain liked the sound of it better. Under the new name, USA.gov had 100 million visits last year. That's an increase of 12 million from the year before.

So if you or somebody you know is looking ahead to a life event that includes a new name, head over to USA.gov to find out where to start. Like Miley (and us), a new name could change your destiny.

| Post a Comment | View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: change   name   nancy  

 

Entry bubble March Madness

By: Colleen | March 19, 2008 | Category: Fun

bballFill in your brackets and gather 'round your office water cooler—the madness has arrived!

It's the time of year when loyalty to one's school runs especially deep, and bitterness lingers long after your team is eliminated. It is simultaneously one of the most unifying, yet dividing events of the year.

While nothing is more satisfying than seeing your favorite team move on to the next round (or winning the Big East championship) there are an amazing few minutes right before tip-off when everyone is on the same team and rivalry is forgotten.

Just after each team is announced the whole crowd stands as one and sings the National Anthem. Singing the "Star Spangled Banner" can be an emotional moment as it reminds Americans of their great country.

A memorable instance for me was the first PITT football game after 9/11. An American Flag covering the entire field was brought out as the sold-out Heinz Field all stood and sang with one voice. We lost that game, but it still remains one of my fondest college memories.

While we may be rooting for one of 65 teams as the Big Dance starts up tomorrow, there are always those few moments pre-game, that we're all on the same squad.

Who is in YOUR final 4?

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: american   anthem   basketball   flag   madness   march   national   team  

 

Entry bubble Organic Gardening – Do It for Your Kids

By: Joanne | March 18, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Bailey shows off the strawberry harvestAs you’re planning your garden this year, consider going organic. It’s easier than you think. It’s as easy as NOT applying chemical pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers on your food.

Why have organic gardens? There are many reasons; the one that is dearest to me is for my kids. Nobody needs to ingest pesticide residues, and that is especially true for children who are going through critical stages of development. We hear so many claims that kids don’t want to eat fruits and vegetables, but when you give them a chance to wander through the strawberry patch and pick their own berries and then eat them – perfectly ripe and still warm from the sun – yum! The fact is, they beg for more. Many times we’ve picked up our baskets, picked peas and then moved under a shady tree to shell and eat sweet, raw peas straight from the garden. As a mom I know that I can hardly give my children a more nutritious (and easy to prepare!) lunch than that.

The people that owned the property before us had horses, so let’s just say that I’ve been blessed with an ample supply of organic fertilizer, and we augment that with our compost. I bet I’ve had an organic garden for over 10 years now, and I have to tell you that I never felt like I needed the chemicals. Give it a try, for your health, the health of your kids and for the good of the soil and water.

| View Comments [6] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: compost   fruit   garden   joanne   organic   vegetable  

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