Pushover, pushy, or somewhere in between?

This is the blog post I recently wrote for my monthly entry as a featured blogger on Girl Power Hour. In case you didn't read it on their site, here's my latest blog post! 

Picture this: you’ve just gotten home from grocery shopping. You’re unpacking your groceries and you notice that something you bought is way past its expiration date. Or, you’re looking over a receipt from happy hour last night, only to discover that you were overcharged. Maybe you’re checking out of the hotel at the end of a girls’ weekend, and at the front desk they try to charge you a different price than what you booked online.

What do you do? Do you ignore it, not wanting to make a scene? Or, do you point it out to the server, clerk, or manager?

Something similar happened to me last week. I was running late and trying to pull together a salad for my niece’s birthday party. I had gone to the store earlier that morning and bought all of the ingredients that I needed, including fresh basil. When I went to put the salad together, I discovered that not only was the basil past its prime – it was so moldy it was fuzzy!

I quickly threw together the other ingredients and swung back by the store on my way to the party. I calmly explained the situation to the woman at the customer service desk, and she was rude, condescending, and the words, “I’m sorry” never crossed her lips. Sigh. With no time to ask for a manager, I swapped out the basil and headed off to the party.

But, a few days later, I went on the store’s website and emailed the manager. I got a response this morning saying it had been elevated to someone higher up.

I don’t know exactly what I expect to come of this, but I do know one thing: I work hard for my money, and whether it’s $1, $10, or $100, I deserve quality products and respectful service.

So, next time you receive poor service, are overcharged, or find yourself with a sub-par product, speak up for yourself! Be calm, polite, straightforward, and assertive. Don’t be afraid to ask to speak for a supervisor. If you don’t receive the answer you’re looking for, simply take your business elsewhere in the future – money talks.

Expecting quality in exchange for your hard-earned dollars doesn’t make you a bitch; it makes you a savvy shopper.

Digital Coupons

I really admire couponers (except when they're in the checkout line in front of me), but I don't have the patience for it, for myriad reasons: our printer is perpetually out of paper, we don't get the newspaper, whenever I cut out coupons I promtly leave them at home (along with my grocery list), and I don't buy that much name brand or junk food, which is what coupons tend to be for, in my opinion.

But, yesterday I was doing some research on new dinner ideas. The Mr. and I are getting a little tired of the same dishes we make over and over again. I found some great recipes on Cooking Light. While I was browsing, I swung by my local grocery store's website (Fred Meyer).

I discovered that, once logging in with your rewards card number, you can download digital manufacturer's coupons automatically to your rewards card! So, I spent 5 minutes or so comparing my list with what which coupons were on sale, loaded them to my card, and headed out to the store.

My biggest win: Crest toothpaste was on sale at 2 for $3.00. I bought one ($1.50), plus my digital coupon for $.75 off, and I got my big tube of toothpaste for just $.75!

Another big win? No coupons to cut, no slowing down the line, no leaving them on the table at home. I saved $8 with only 5 minutes of work. Not bad!

Oh, and I'm testing out these three recipes. I'll let you know how they turn out: Barley and Beef Soup, Asian Green Bean Salad, and  Southwestern Chicken Pasta Salad.

The Spender vs. The Saver

I believe that in every relationship, one person is the saver, one person is the spender. The degree can vary, but I think it's rare that two people have the exact same outlook on the big M (that's money, if you're new to my blog).

In my relationship with the Mr., I'm the saver. Some might even call me cheap, penny-pinching, overly thrifty, whatever. I take that as a compliment, thankyouverymuch! My dear husband is the spender in our relationship. He loves nothing better than to buy "something nice" after payday, bonus time, tax return time, or hell, just because it's a Tuesday night with nothing to do. In my opinion, there are pros and cons to each side:

Saver
Pro: it's good to save money for a rainy day. You never know when you'll have a financial emergency
Pro: Some people (read: me) get a thrill out of transferring money from checking into savings. Victory!
Pro: Most Americans are bad with money. I'm planning for the future.
Con: Money issues really stress me out. Bad.
Con: I have a hard time letting loose and treating myself to something nice once in a while.

Spender
Pro: You worked hard for that money! You deserve to have some fun. The Mr. reminds me of this frequently.
Pro: As long as your bills are paid, what's wrong with going on vacation, buying nice Christmas gifts, or sprucing up your wardrobe. The Mr. is also very generous with gifts for loved ones. This is something I really admire.
Pro: Sometimes higher price does equal higher quality.
Cons: Bankruptcy. (Okay, I'm probably being a little dramatic)
Cons: When the economy is unstable, you never know how long the big and/or steady paychecks will last.

The Mr. and I are trying to reconcile my obsessive love of frugality with his appreciation for the finer things in life.

I've come to the conclusion, though, that when we are going back and forth about buying something we "need", he's right more often than not. (Don't send him this link! I'll never live it down!)

Here's a quick example. I have long hair. We also own a golden retriever. Between the two of us, all the hair broke our vacuum cleaner. Sigh. Of course, the Mr. wants a top-of-the-line Dyson. I want whatever's on clearance at Target. I finally give in and tell him we can get the Dyson, but I WILL find it on sale.

Fast forward one week. Between Macy's summer sale and some extra coupons, I score a Dyson for $200 off. I am pretty proud of this. I get home, assemble it, and I swear to you, I vacuumed up enough hair to make a whole dog. Maybe sometimes paying a little extra for quality is worth it.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments. Does your family have a saver and a spender?

Fun new coupon website

First, I'd like to say WOW where did the month of April go! Forgive the lack of posts. I'm laying the groundwork for a new life plan of sorts, that I will be able to fill you in on shortly! In the meantime, in my never-ending quest to save money, I have a new tool.

Check out CouponChief.com. There are a lot of coupon sharing websites out there, but I feel like a lot of the coupons don't end up working. Whenever I'm about to check out from an online store, I always do a quick google search for free shipping or discount coupons, but they are usually expired.

Coupon Chief has 50,000+ coupons to 15,000 stores, both brick-and-mortar and online. I've snooped around Coupon Chief's Coupon Codes and they have a ton of coupons for stores I visit, and reported success rates (the whole site is user-generated). They also have coupons tagged for special occasions and interests: check out their Mother's Day store, or Travel store (my fav).

Check out the site and let me know what you think, in the comments!

And the winner is...

[Update]: Our first winner never showed up to claim her prize, so Kim and I have decided to pick a new winner, lucky you!]

The big winner of a customized onesie from Eggo in the Oven is Christine Danner! Congratulations! Please email me at happilyeverclever@gmail.com to claim your prize!

Special thanks to Kim from Eggo in the Oven for donating the great prize!

I hope you all enjoyed reading my blog, and will continue to come back and read again! Please email me if you have any ideas of stories/topics you'd like to read about.

Eggo in the Oven: Profile of a Small Business Owner

Kim Wells and her son Colby in her home office.

Kim Wells, a stay-at-home mom from Lake Stevens, Washington, has always been crafty. After her son Colby was born last fall, she started her at-home business, Eggo in the Oven, creating and selling custom baby clothes and accessories. Since her business launched on January 1, she has fulfilled more than 200 orders, and has more than 1,400 followers on her company's Facebook page. 
I chatted with Kim recently about what it takes to make an at-home business work. (And, read to the bottom of this post for a giveaway!)

How did you get the idea for starting Eggo in the Oven?

"I have always loved crafting.  Scrapbooking, photography, sewing, and more.  A few years back when my friends started having babies, I decided to make blankets and burp cloths for them as gifts.  I continued to make more handmade gifts, and started branching out - creating onesies and nursing covers.  People kept telling me that I should look into selling the items that I make.  I shrugged it off.  When I found out I was pregnant with Colby, I joined an online group for women due in September 2010.  We did a few gift exchanges with that group, and again, people kept saying I should sell the items.  So I started to look into it!  Around October 2010, I really got serious.  I applied for my business license, and started working on ideas, products, and my Facebook page.  I was still hesitant to open, but friends, family, and strangers continued to suggest I open a shop.... so I finally did!

The name came about due to a nickname my husband Jimmy came up with for my son when I was pregnant -- Eggo the Embryo (just because of the alliteration, not because of the waffles!)."  

How do you get the word out about your business? How did you get so many facebook followers so quickly?

Onesie and 'L'eggo' (baby legwarmers) set.

"The girls I met online through the group for gals due in September 2010 has provided AMAZING support and have done tons of marketing for me! I have also participated in many giveaways through other businesses on Facebook.  I have found that many of them very helpful - I have networked with other great businesses, and gained a bunch of fans and new customers.  Getting more people to come and take a look at the items I sell eventually turns into more sales!"

What advice do you have for other people who want to start their own business? 

"Be prepared for it to take over your life! Since opening Eggo in the Oven, I've probably worked an average of 10 hours or more a day, 7 days a week.  Keep in mind I have a little one to take care of during the day, too, but I tend to work from when I wake up until when I go to bed! I now spend my "free time" shopping for fabric online and creating new applique designs,

I would recommend looking into the rules and regulations about starting a business in your area.  Many people who sell online choose to do it "under the table".  This works for some, but I went into this with the mindset that I wanted to try my hardest to do it by the books so that if I was successful, I wouldn't have to go back and re-learn how to run my business!  I'm so glad I did that.

Also, I found a few blogs of people who own companies that started out small and have grown immensely.  They had great advice about pricing, marketing, expectations, etc.  I found them to be very helpful, and continue to reference back to them on occasion.

Keep in mind it's not likely going to be cheap to start up your own company.  You'll need to pay for your business license and any other fees, materials, possibly new equipment (I bought a new sewing machine one week after my grand opening!), shipping supplies, and so many more things you aren't even thinking of!  I read one blog that said you likely won't actually start turning a profit or paying yourself a paycheck until about six months in.  I would agree with that.  At this point, I'm seeing a small profit, but I think that Eggo in the Oven has taken off much quicker than many companies do and it's still slow going!

Don't expect instant success - it will likely take a good amount of time, money, energy, and many failures before you hit your stride! 

Be proud of what you do, and decide what is important to you - it may be pricing your items as low as possible to give people a deal or maybe you want to create high-quality items and need to charge more,  or you may want to focus on increasing your customer base.  Whatever it is, develop a plan and stick to it... and don't let others talk you out of it!

Finally.... try it!  Start small, and see what happens.  You'll never know until you try, and it could turn into something HUGE!"

Kim's short term goals include finding a better work-life balance, and selling her products in local craft bazaars. She hopes her business will be successful enough that she can continue to stay home with her son, and eventually, she would like to launch her own website to sell her creations. In the meantime, you can find her on Facebook here. Best of luck, Kim! 

Giveaway from Eggo in the Oven!

Giveaway!! Kim from Eggo in the Oven is giving away one of her great creations! Become a follower of my blog, and comment on this post to enter. We're giving away a custom onesie or toddler tee, with either the ladybug or necktie print, and you get to choose the fabric from anything she has in stock! Enter to win today! These make great gifts too if you don't have any little ones of your own. I'll announce the winner here on the blog on Sunday night! 

Deal alert: What did I say!

Mere hours after I posted about the great deals to be found on denim at my friend Staci's Portland Boutique Mapel, I received her weekly "happy hour" email. Guess what this week's deal is... 20% off all denim, all week! Check out the email here.

A few words on Mapel. Not only do they have great designer denim, they also offer great clothing and jewelry from lesser-known, local Northwest designers (and free shipping ALWAYS!)

Also, as I mentioned back in November, I think it is so important to support small businesses. Check out Mapel today. 

Never buy designer jeans full price...Seriously, don't do it!

Consider this your public service announcement for the day. Don't ever buy full price designer denim. Guys' or girls'. (One possible exception might be if you have to have a new pair to wear tonight--but then again, unless you are a 6-foot-3 Amazonian supermodel you'll probably need them hemmed anyway.)

I have a love of designer denim, and have also recently pulled the Mr. onto my bandwagon, as he is currently rocking his first pair. However, I haven't paid full price for a pair of Sevens, Paiges, Joes, etc. in at least three years.

It takes patience, grasshopper. But the feeling of sweet success when you get a pair of $200 jeans for $67 can't be beat. Check out my favorite places to score denim deals:

• Nordstrom Rack. It may take a few trips to find the perfect pair, but they get shipments in all the time. Sign up for their mailing list and they'll send you postcards letting you know when new shipments are arriving. 
• Amazon.com and EBay. Before ordering online, make sure you've tried on the specific style, color, and size that you're looking for. 
• Mapel. This is a local Portland, Oregon store (at Bridgeport), but they do tons of online selling as well. They have a huge stock of designer denim, and the have amazing deals every few months on their  daily "Happy Hour" (More about them in a separate post in the next few days too.) Oh, and they have free shipping ALL THE TIME! Not to mention that they have lots of other cute stuff at different price points. 
• Subscription sites like Rue La La, Gilt Groupe, and Ideeli. More on them later as well. 

Head to the comments section and let me know if you have any other great places to score great deals! 

On Sharing Money

It's a well-known fact that I'm a huge fan of Slate. I love it for its fresh take on news, its advice columns, and its interesting blogs and bloggers.

There is a regular column called "Home Economics" about personal finances, and recently there was a 5 part series about a couple deciding how to manage their money together (or separate).

She broke couples up into three types: Common Potters, who have one joint account for everything; Sometimes Sharers; and Independent Operators, who maintain their separate accounts throughout life.

The Mr. and I are Common Potters--we joined our accounts when we bought our house, before we were married, and never looked back. However, the data calculator says that, in our demographic, 50% of people are Sometimes Sharers, 40% are Common Potters, and 10% keep separate accounts entirely.

Check this out:

• Common Potters have, on average, been together 11 years (we're at a whopping two).
• Percentage who are married: 94.1% (got it).
• Average age: 34.5 (our average age is 29.5...close enough).
• Percentage with children: 45.8% (not yet!)

Read the rest of the article here. It's a little different for everyone. What works for you? Let me know in the comments below!

Extreme Couponing: Is it for you?

A few weeks ago I came across a show on TLC called "Extreme Couponing". It's about people who are extremely dedicated to collecting coupons and saving money at the grocery store. In some cases, they even end up getting things for free, by combining store and manufacturers' coupons. Check out a clip from the TLC show here. It is truly amazing. Although impressive (and I love that he gave some of his purchases to charity), I was a little skeptical of "extreme couponing", based on the amount of time it would take out of my week to score these kinds of coupon victories.

Tracy with her kids

I was recently put in contact with Tracy Vinson, a mother of two kids in Dallas. She is a big coupon fan, and has saved her family lots of money over the last few years. I asked her a few questions about her coupon quest.

How did you get started clipping coupons and thinking about ways to save your family money?

I tried couponing a few years ago and found it was too frustrating, so I quit and kept paying full price for all my groceries and pharmacy items. About a year ago I started receiving the Sunday newspaper through a special promotion. I saw the coupon inserts and thought I would give it another try. I researched online and through couponing blogs to find out the best method to use my coupons. I slowly started gathering coupons every week and printing them from online websites. It took a few months to get the hang of things and learn my store’s coupon policies, and since I have started I have saved at least 50%-75% on all my grocery & pharmacy purchases.

How much time do you spend per week working on money saving projects?

I clip most of my coupons on Sunday when I have gathered all of my newspaper inserts. Sundays are the days most of the coupon websites refresh their coupons, so I will log on and print out all the coupons I think I will use. I probably spend about 2 hours clipping and organizing on Sunday, then maybe another hour or so during the work week finding other deals that have come out.

How do you stay motivated? Many people want to try and save on things, but they get too lazy to actually clip coupons, or take the time to plan out their shopping trip. 

I stay motivated by thinking back to my previous shopping trips and remembering how much I have saved. I think of it as a challenge each week. It is such an uplifting feeling looking at the receipt and seeing what I spent and what I saved.

What is your advice to people looking to save money while shopping?

Start out slow. Couponing can get very overwhelming and you will find yourself losing motivation. Just give it some time. Also, stay organized; find a coupon organization method that works best for you.

Do you have an estimate for how much money you have saved in the last year?

I am in the process of making a spreadsheet so I can keep track in the future. I usually save anywhere from 50%-75% my grocery bill each week.

What is your biggest money saving/coupon victory?

I have been couponing for just about a year and have had many successful shopping trips, but the one that stands out the most to me is a Walgreens trip I did about 1 month ago. I purchased several items including some food items, cosmetics, shampoo, conditioner and toothpaste. After all sales & all coupons, I didn’t pay anything and I received about $10-$15 in register rewards to use on my next shopping trip. So you could say they paid me $15!


Do you have the dedication to be a extreme couponer?

Small Business Saturday

Saturday, November 27th is Small Business Saturday. Amidst Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and general holiday fever, it's important to remember to shop at locally owned stores. (Yes, I realize this is sponsored by American Express, but regardless, they bring up a good point.

I am a big fan of shopping locally, especially when it comes to restaurants. I try to eat at local Seattle restaurants as much as I can, instead of big chain restaurants like Olive Garden, Cheesecake Factory, etc.

According to the Small Business Saturday website :

• For every $100 spent at local small businesses, $68 returns to the community.
• Small businesses employ half of all private sector employees.
• For every year over the last decade, 60%-80% of new jobs were generated by small businesses. 

Obviously, our current precarious economic problem is complex and not easily solved, but shopping at local small businesses has a direct impact on job growth and puts dollars back into your local community. 

As you shop for the holidays, try out a few new stores in your neighborhood where you've never shopped before. 

Coupon Clipping for the 21st Century

We've all been stuck in the grocery store checkout line behind the little old lady with a million coupons. Don't be one of those ladies (or gentlemen). Most grocery store coupons are for junk food, aren't that great of a deal, or expire before you remember to use them. Unless you have the time to commit to using coupons, it most likely won't be worth your time or money.

Here's a better idea: Pick your ten favorite stores--clothing, sporting goods, restaurants, furniture, whatever, and sign up for their online coupons. Most national chain stores offer serious discounts every few weeks, including free shipping, buy one get one free, etc.

Yes, you'll get a ton of emails in your inbox, but here's an easy tip: Either set up a separate email address for these offers or set up your email to filter those particular emails into a separate folder, bypassing your inbox. That way, you'll have the coupons when you need them, but won't be tempted to buy things you wouldn't buy otherwise.

Bottom Line: 30% off DSW, 40% off one item at Michaels, free shipping at Banana Republic, and more, all in one week.