SofaCoins: get a money saving tip, save a buck. Why not?

Debbie Meyers' Green Bags...yep, they're saving me money

Everyone mocks me for ordering stuff from infomercials (well, actually, that's not entirely true. I think the "Shipping and Handling" charge they tack on is a total rip, so I usually end up getting the products at a drugstore or on eBay, where I can at least get a little savings. Such was the case with Debbie Meyers' Green Bags, which I randomly found at a CVS a few weeks ago. I had been wanting to test out the Green Bags for some time, as it seems we are always throwing away part of the fresh fruits and veggies because they go bad before we have a chance to eat them.

Extending the life of fresh food seems like such an obvious place to save money, I couldn't wait to get home and put all the food in the bags. By the way, in case you're thinking "I could just use a ziploc," I'm sorry to say it doesn't work. The Green Bags are treated with something that keeps the food fresh, so a regular ziploc isn't going to have the same effect. How do I know this? Yes, I tried it. Anyway, Debbie Myers' Greem Bags-- I put all the food in, and I'm happy to say it's all still good, even after two weeks. I'm estimating they're going to have paid for themselves by my next trip to the grocery store. So, I'm definitely giving these the thumbs up!

Review: Entertainment Book

This is the first year I've ever bought the "Entertainment Book," mostly because it was on sale at my grocery store, and I figured that, for $20, I could make it pay for itself sometime throughout the year.  If you don't know, the Entertainment Book is that coupon-type book that you can buy at stores or online, and it claims to offer $21,000 worth of discounts.  That would, of course, only be true if you used every single thing in the book, which you're probably not going to (I mean, when was the last time you went to Medieval Times?). 

I got the book and went through it, and managed to find at least $40 worth of savings that applied directly to me (that is, places I eat, movie theaters I actually go to, and grocery stores where I shop). That's one of my money-saving keys-- it has to fit in with what you're doing anyway, or else it's going to feel uncomfortable and you're probably not going to make it a habit.   But, as my friend with 3 kids pointed out, "All I have to do is use the $5 off a $75 purchase at Ralph's every month, and by April it's already paid for itself.  I think if you have kids, this book is going to pay off alot more for you, just because of the big discounts at the movies and entertainment/ theme-type parks.  Plus, if you get it online, it's even cheaper ($19.50), and as long as you can remember to use the coupons a couple of times during the year, you can make it work.

Bottom line:  look through the list of vendors on the website.  If you think you'll remember to use the coupons, get the book!  If it's going to be a big hassle and annoy you, skip it.  

What about you?   I'm open to hearing any and all stories about someone who saved the whole $21,000 by using this book.

Gift Card Log (Review)

Gift cards are all the rage now, and I'm all for them in principle-- it is totally ok with me to get and/ or give them, as I'm all for people getting what they want and not wasting money.

I did just find out, though, that multi-use cards (like American Express gift cards) are subject to all sorts of fees, including an activation fee for the giver, and a $3/ month "administrative fee" that the recipient incurs, starting one year after the card is activated.  So, that's not cool, and if you leave that for awhile, that Amex gift card could very well have no value left on it when you come back to it.    Some gift cards also expire, meaning if you're down to your last $10 on a Macy's card, you better be sure to remember to use it the next time you're there, or you're going to lose that money.  Perish the thought!

In order to combat this increasingly-complicated problem, a company called "Buttoned Up" has come up with a way to solve this problem-- Gift Card Log.  I'm on the fence about recommending this product-- on the one hand, I think it has already paid for itself by serving its intended purpose, which was to remind me how much I had on each card, and when they expired (and by forcing me to gather all the cards together and call to see how much each one had left, I actually discovered one that was about to expire that had $42.05 left.  Yikes!). 

However, while I'm thrilled about the function, it's the form of this product that I'm not wild about, though honestly, I gave this some thought, and I'm not sure how I would do it better). It would take a diligent (read:  anal) person to record the balance of each card, to keep writing down the new balances, and to constantly be reshuffling the cards so that they match the paper inserts which can be torn out and discarded when the card is used up.  Also, if the Gift Card Log is actually filled with all the gift cards it has slots for, it then won't close.  So-- great idea, moderate (but stylish) execution, and yet, it's already paid for itself.  Like I said, not sure whether to give this a "thumbs up" or not, as you might find that you really like it. 

Bottom line:   I'll say get it if you have more than, say, five or ten gift cards floating around, because you are probably going to lose money on one of them.  But, don't expect alot from the layout of this product.  If user-friendliness is important to you, I'd say wait for another version to come out.