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[__Resurgam__]

How does one get a blog on the Monroe blogs thing-uh-muh-bob?

[Paula Wethington]

How does one get a blog on the Monroe blogs thing-uh-muh-bob?

Send a proposal to Rob!

rob@monroenews.com

[__Resurgam__]

Send a proposal to Rob!

rob@monroenews.com

Thanks. 

[TheShepherd]

How does one get a blog on the Monroe blogs thing-uh-muh-bob?

What would you want to blog about?

It is a lot of fun. Good luck if you decide to try it out.

[__Resurgam__]

What would you want to blog about?

The art of my science and the science of my art.

What else?

[Paula Wethington]

If you were wondering how to financially get through Christmas, you probably have no plans to celebrate the New Year holiday.

But I have some ideas at the Monroe on a Budget blog on how to do that on a budget, or make a “night in” a little more celebratory than just watching a ball drop on TV.

http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2008/12/ideas-for-a-new-year-celebration-on-a-budget/

[Paula Wethington]

We are entering Sunday coupon season. January is usually a pretty good month for coupons.

While I can't give you a heads up as to exactly what is scheduled for the Sunday papers tomorrow, I do know there are coupons on the way. Rite Aid's sales flier today is reporting "see most Sunday papers for additional coupon savings."

Are you just getting started with coupon shopping?

Have you been frustrated with all the hassle when you tried it before?

Are you rolling your eyes at the bloggers and coupon queens who brag about their receipts - only to find that they shopped at a store that has triple coupons or some crazy promotion we don't see in Monroe? :'(

Do not give up. It is well worth the trouble to shop with coupons in Monroe. One of the ways you do that is by watching for sales to coincide with available coupons. I do quite well on the grocery bill by combining coupon tricks with the food boxes I purchase from Angel Food Ministries.

Here are the stores that double coupon in the Monroe County area area: Kroger, Meijer and Busch’s all double coupon values up to 50 cents each. Food Town in Monroe also doubles coupons up to 50 cents. There are rare occasions when Kmart will double coupons (watch the sales fliers).

And here are the Monroe on a Budget tips for creating and maintaining a coupon box:

http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2007/12/15-steps-to-creating-and-maintaining-a-coupon-box/

[Paula Wethington]

Do you want grocery coupons? Go get today's paper.

There were five packets of coupons EACH in my home-delivery editions of The Monroe Evening News and the Detroit Free Press. If you miss getting a paper today, stop by the downtown Monroe office during the week where previous issues papers are sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Details are at the Monroe on a Budget blog:

http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2009/01/do-you-want-coupons-go-get-todays-paper/

[Paula Wethington]

Here are the headlines that are getting my attention this morning:

http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2009/01/michigan-morning-headlines/

[hardheadedwoman]

shortcuts.com is a website where you can load your store discount card numbers and pick through a list of coupons that are then loaded on your cards. (Kroger's foodtown if they still have them etc)  When you go shopping and the register or cashier asks if you have any coupons you say sure, they are loaded on the card.  But of course when going shopping you need to go back to shortcuts.com and remind yourself of what coupons are already loaded on your card that way you are aware of what to buy.  Hope this helps someone!

[Paula Wethington]

Thanks for the tip. I didn't know about that program. Here's the list of participating stores:

http://shortcuts.com/stores

Looks like Kroger is the only one in our area.

If you like this concept, make sure you check out the Proctor and Gamble version too.

http://www.pgesaver.com/Sites/PG_eSAVER/Page/HomePage/

[Paula Wethington]

There's been a lot of buzz on the Internet and in the media this week about the children's product safety law that takes effect in Feburary, and the potential impact on second-hand stores and mom-and-pop / crafter businesses.

Here's the latest twist ...

CPSC issued a statement Thursday Jan. 8 about second-hand stores:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09086.html

"The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children’s products made after February 10 meet all the new safety standards and the lead ban. Sellers of used children’s products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards.

The new safety law does not require resellers to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold. However, resellers cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit and therefore should avoid products that are likely to have lead content, unless they have testing or other information to indicate the products being sold have less than the new limit. Those resellers that do sell products in violation of the new limits could face civil and/or criminal penalties. "

[Paula Wethington]

There are lots of headlines today of interest to Monroe on a Budget readers, and I've still got some reading to do. You can expect more blogging off and on today.

Here are some of the posts I've put up in the past couple of days:

Monroe Goodwill store expands (yes, I know the MonroeTalkers have been chatting about this)
http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2009/01/busy-monroe-goodwill-store-expands/

Overwhelmed unemployment benefits system (another timely topic that my family is seeing first hand)
http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2009/01/monroe-jobless-claimants/

Government report on Cost of Food at home - how does your grocery budget compare?
http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2009/01/cost-of-food-at-home-how-does-your-grocery-budget-compare/

[Paula Wethington]

Get your grocery coupons clipped and sorted, because you'll be able to do a lot of matches to sales this week at the local grocery and drugstores. Both Meijer and Kroger are having 10 for $10 sales and that's just a start.

For a roundup of the Sunday inserts:

http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2009/01/10-for-10-sales-shopping-jan-11/

[Paula Wethington]

Do you want to see what I can do at a Meijer 10 for $10 sale with coupons? 

http://www.blogsmonroe.com/budget/2009/01/dont-make-this-mistake-on-the-10-for-10-sale/

I'll post about my Kroger finds this week after I go to that store. The shopping list has already been prepared.