LOLOL Lilo. Some people have literally "saved" themselves into bankruptcy with that attitude. I figures if I don't know that I need it, then I don't need it....so the flyers get automatically turned into chicken bedding.

The only exception are the flyers to the food stores, so that I can decide which on would get that week's business.....based on which one had most of the stuff on my list on sale. I buy ahead so far, I don't ever NEED anything, save perishables like milk.

That was my mother's Life Code. "Buy on Sale. No matter what it is or how much it cost. You save money."

One day, one of local stores caught her eye with a display of toliet bowl deodorizers. You know the kind that hang over the rim of the bowl.....well, it was one of those close out deals. I think she bought two dozen of the things. It was lunch time and she went back to work and distributed toilet bowl deodorizers to everyone.

I can imagine the looks she got. I know what I thought when she presented me with about five.

Toilet bowl deodorizers? at lunch time? LOL

Lilo, I've been thinking the same thing. I'm getting lots of emails on "special" deals & almost every catalog that appears in my mailbox is offering free or 99-cent shipping.

Too bad. Almost everyone I know is drastically cutting back on spending for just about everything. Buying more junk, no matter how cheap is really a false economy.

I've been forced into the drastic-cut-back crowd. I used to work in the mortgage business. I've been unemployed for seven and a half months, my unemployment benefits have run out, there are no jobs in the mortgage industry, and I've gotten zero responses from my resumes sent in for other types of positions. So, I should buy a new refrigerator because I can save 20%? Right. And, then how would I buy any food to put into it?

Noticed on news tonight that a couple of the big box home improvement stores are planning on offering to cash those government checks for you and helping you spend them on green energysaver things to "save you even more money"...lol

I was congratulating myself today that I've carried over about 30 different Coleus, some for the 4th year, plus Alternanthera and other tropicals. And I've dozens of seedling Annuals and Vines, some already in 4" pots. I'm going to try and stay away from nurseries altogether this year.

I did succumb to Plant Delights again,though...lol
Among other things ordered another $12 Eucalyptus hardy in my zone ... it grows to 5-6 feet in one summer, then I cut some branches for Xmas wreath, and last week my DIL cut the whole 4 foot trunk off still filled wih rosy-silver leaves and carried home...so I definitely got my money's worth. The stubby trunk has already started resprouting but I just want another. Have some seeds to try but not sure they'll be hardy here.

I've tried to decide if it's cheaper to urge DH to shop for art supplies from catalog and pay shipping or risk his getting carried away at local over-priced art supply store...lol And books...the best place I've found is HamiltonBooks which is $3.50 shipping no matter how many books you order. I order discounted out-dated NYTimes crossword books and mysteries and (rarely) garden books 20 at a time and that'll do me for awhile. Don't read nearly as much as I used to...I've let most of our magazine subs expire (and I wish I'd let Horticulture die, too...the Jan. issue was horribly disappointing!). josh

My personal opinion is that it's better to shop from a catalog, even if S&H make the total cost more than from a hands-on store. Obvious savings include saving gas and saving time. Invisible savings are in being able to "window shop" the catalog/s at odd hours of the day or night, and numerous times without enduring salesclerks' non-knowledge of the offered products. Biggest savings occurs -- not in comparison shopping, but in removing the temptation of impulse purchases. Plant and bulb catalogs are the exception: I can go into any nursery and walk out with nothing more than what I went in for; however, my plant and bulb catalog orders invariably exceed my intentions... no plump bulb in hand can come close to inciting the desire to own that is inspired by an alluring close-up photograph of satiny petals and come-hither colors.

Marilyn ~ sorry to hear about the job loss. Been there, done that, and don't want a repeat. Maybe it's time to change fields?

Marda ~ remember that article which described in today's official job-speak all the accomplishments and details that was the average housewife duties?

I don't know about you, but I find it pretty easy to impulse shop on-line. You know when you add something to the shopping cart they always pop up "people who bought XXX also liked XXX + XXX + XXX" and there are those enticing little pictures.

However, the greenest thing is not to buy things - period. For books & music, I'm using the library. And I'm doing plant exchanges & starting things from seed rather than buying plants this year.

Marilyn, Good luck on looking for a job. I know it's tough out there right now.

I am pretty resistant to impulse buying, I generally have a list, when I shop groceries I use the store flyer to scope the specials and get what I want, but try not to get into "hoarding".
Still, a shopping cart is roomy and there are those deals hard to resist. Feeling the pinch, I changed my shopping protocol and use a basket to pick up what I want and need, when it gets too heavy to carry, I 'm done for this trip.
I go to town at least twice, often three times a week because I need to go to the Post Office for my mail and Geiger's is right on my way, so I am not wasting fuel, I just make an extra stop.
It works for me. Every so often I need a cart because I get bulky items.

Meldy-Believe me, I've applied for every type of job there is. I've heard rumors that employers are tossing resumes with mortgage experience straight into the trash, and since I've had absolutely no responses I'm inclined to believe it. A friend suggested that I pretend to have been a homemaker for the last 30 years. That might get me a minimum wage job, and the level of respect from employers that go along with low pay. In other words, if you'll work for nothing you must be worth nothing, so we will treat you like you are nothing.

That is too bad about your job loss. Marilyn. I have a neighbor who has been going thru the same thing. She is always a little over qualified for stuff.

I have a teen daughter so I have to go to the mall once in awhile. Last Sat. the local mall was packed. This could have been because the weekend before we had a blizzard and nothing was open and people had cabin fever. In the teen boutiques we had to stand in line at cash registers. However, the big dipartment stores seemed not so busy. I cut back on my clothes shopping so the dd can. It is more important to her than to me, and she is not a shopaholic. Always heads to the sale rack at the pricey but must have stores brands. Going to the mall was always a big deal, we would eat at a nice restaurant of her choice. Now we either don't eat until we get home, or grab a bite at the food court. I wonder how many other people are doing that and if it is going to hurt the dining industry.

Marilyn, so sorry you lost your job... I once reentered the workworld ater 16 years as SAHM, and worked for a temp agency for a few weeks to get my bearings (and my confidence). I found they valued my worth higher than the permanent jobs I was offered even after I paid their cut. A lot of companies use temps around here so they don't have to pay benefits...but the temp agencies are anxious to sign you up if you have good education/experience/skills. I would think loan agencies or anyone offering credit would/could use you...today that covers the spectrum. Hope you succeed soon in getting settled.

In my case I sold myself as an ad salesperson to a new city magazine...never had sold anything before...but proved to be good at it...even surprised myself. LOL So look around from another angle...I wonder if you could help people looking to restructure or advise re avoiding foreclosure. maybe a general credit counseling service...I'll bet those businesses are booming nowadays (sad to say). Another thought I had was if you could skew your resume away from mortgages in any way...no lies but just put more emphasis on other work you did. Sure hope something breaks for you soon. josh

I don't want to make this thread about me and my employment issues, but I want to thank everyone for their suggestions. Unfortunately, I've already tried all of them. I've applied at temporary agencies, I've made a second version of my resume that highlights the computer and general office experience. The companies offering foreclosure help are mostly scams, and I won't go there. I've done every thing I can think of, and I'm not getting any response to anything. Like I wrote in my blog the other day-perhaps I should make a sign and stand on a freeway off ramp.

UNEMPLOYED MORTGAGE WORKER. WILL DO YOUR LOAN FOR FOOD.

Here is a link that might be useful: Marilyn's Blog

Marilyn, your Easter eggs are exquisite and loved the Sarracenia(s?)...getting paranoid about my grammar and spelling now...LOL Anyway, enjoyed your blog.josh

I have to agree,those eggs are wonderful and I wish I had the patience to do something like that. Losing a job can be so worrisome,especially these days, but I have a feeling something will present itself to you and it will be totally unexpected.

I like some of the 2 for 1 coupons but most stuff on sale is not worth the sale price. Still there is too much stuff around here and that reality acts as a deterrent to buying.

Marilyn, enjoyed reading your blog. We will be at the SD zoo tomorrow to meet some of Missy's friends. Will be thinking of you.