Even though more and more moms are technologically savvy, I must admit that I know just enough to get by. With that said, I'm moving this blog, Your Average Trillion Dollar Mom, over to Wordpress.com, where I have my main blog.
After using Wordpress and trying Blogger, I find Wordpress is a little easier for me, and a little more intuitive. And for busy moms, that's often enough.
I hope you'll join me over there in my blog: Crazyismylife.wordpress.com. I look forward to seeing you there!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
How to Spend $289 at Walmart
Unfortunately, no major electronics or winter coats were involved. Instead it was primarily food. But food for four kids, including three teenaged boys.
It was the new Walmart in Apex, North Carolina, and although I loathe the Walmart closest to my house, I decided to give this new one a try.
Why do I despise my local Walmart? Could it be the dingy floors, greasy smell, disgusting restrooms or uninterested employees? Yes, yes it could.
But I'm a sucker for shopping and I don't mind if my favorite discount store, Target, has a little competition. Especially if it benefits me.
So I went to Walmart and I stocked up. I bougbt enough frozen pizzas to keep my kids happy for at least a week. I found my fav hot dogs for at least $1 less than my regular grocery store. Soups, snacks, fruits, vegetables, meats and drinks--oh my.I stocked up, taking full advantage of the store's grand opening prices.
Even the Walmart employees were visible, plentiful and pretty friendly.
Has my mind changed completely about the Walmart shopping experience? Nope. But I'm willing to go back for the prices-- at least until the newness wears off, and this store develops the typical Walmart persona. We'll have to see.
Which camp do you fall in? Do you love or hate Walmart?
It was the new Walmart in Apex, North Carolina, and although I loathe the Walmart closest to my house, I decided to give this new one a try.
Why do I despise my local Walmart? Could it be the dingy floors, greasy smell, disgusting restrooms or uninterested employees? Yes, yes it could.
But I'm a sucker for shopping and I don't mind if my favorite discount store, Target, has a little competition. Especially if it benefits me.
So I went to Walmart and I stocked up. I bougbt enough frozen pizzas to keep my kids happy for at least a week. I found my fav hot dogs for at least $1 less than my regular grocery store. Soups, snacks, fruits, vegetables, meats and drinks--oh my.I stocked up, taking full advantage of the store's grand opening prices.
Even the Walmart employees were visible, plentiful and pretty friendly.
Has my mind changed completely about the Walmart shopping experience? Nope. But I'm willing to go back for the prices-- at least until the newness wears off, and this store develops the typical Walmart persona. We'll have to see.
Which camp do you fall in? Do you love or hate Walmart?
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
grocery Store Dilemma
After months of waiting, the new Harris Teeter opened up near us. It's new. It's shiny. The produce section beams. The employees stop and ask how you are doing and if you need help. Of course, it is only the first day.
Only problem standing between a new favorite store and me? Prices.
Sure, there were some good specials but some prices were jacked up from even the usual Harris Teeter high.
So the question is, will new, shiny and convenient mean more on a frantic weekday than saving a few bucks?
Only problem standing between a new favorite store and me? Prices.
Sure, there were some good specials but some prices were jacked up from even the usual Harris Teeter high.
So the question is, will new, shiny and convenient mean more on a frantic weekday than saving a few bucks?
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Things that Make Me Go: Hmm
Hebrew National hot dogs. Even the reduced fat version is delish.
But one question: why do they come in packages of 7? Hot dog buns universally come in packages of 8, so there's always one little wiener left out. In order to make them even out, I'd have to buy eight packages of hot dogs and seven packages of buns.
That will give us 56 hot dogs, so with my family of six, each one can chow down on 9 (not in one meal!), but two greedy kidlings would get 10. Still not even.
Better yet, I'll let the kids split the hot dogs so they can have 14 each, and my hubby and I can order Chinese takeout.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Help! Held Hostage by Verizon
I'm in lust with the iPhone. I love the functionality and ease of use of my Mac and my iPod, and I just know an iPhone would be just as useful.
Alas, I have Verizon Wireless, which for reasons it is now probably kicking itself, did not pick up the option to sell the iPhone. So instead, I have a Blackberry. Which I like a lot, but I'm sure you understand. I cannot be an iPhone Mom with a Blackberry.
Yes, I could switch to AT&T. Except we have a family of three teenagers who also have cell phones on Verizon. So as the renewal time for each cell phone comes up, we're digging one more shovelful of dirt into the Verizon pit.
It's not even as if I'm unhappy with Verizon. Service has been reliable. Customer service has been good. They just don't have a product that I really, really, really want. My family could put a halt on all new phones and wait until all of our contracts are due for renewal (that would be including the one I just renewed for my son yesterday...). But in reality, I know we're stuck on this albeit comfortable vise for the foreseeable future.
The Verizon family plan has been terrific--- unless, of course, you want an iPhone.
Rumor has it that Verizon may end up working out a deal with Apple in a few years. Maybe, just maybe, then....
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
The $270 Grocery Bill
I knew it would be bad, but this-- this was quite bad.
It was that last grocery trip before the start of the school year, and I was at one of my favorite stores, Super Target. Contrary to other (frequent) trips to Target, I wasn't buying clothes, books or accessories. I was buying food for the hungry mass that is my family.
What was different about this trip is that I had to really buy breakfast foods.
In the summer, my kids don't usually get up until it's really possible to have brunch. With early mornings for school, we needed foods that would tempt sleepy tummies into eating at least a little something before that 10:15 lunch time. I got Bagelfuls, Nutrigrain Waffles and Jimmy Dean's D-Lite breakfast sandwiches. Hopefully one of them will be a winner.
Then I had to get foods for lunches. Lots of turkey (thanks for the sale, Target), ham, cheese, chips, Juicy Juice for the younger ones, Coca Cola for the older ones.
Of course, we needed something to put the lunches in. Baggies, and lunch boxes were on the acquire list.
Fall sports season is also starting, which means that in the next 10 evenings, there are 2 where I don't (currently) have somewhere to take some kid or another, typically right at dinner time. Enter Stouffer's frozen entrees and anyone else's quick and easy cooking meals.
Okay, I did buy deodorant, but really, didn't you want me to?
I went to Target, even though it's less convenient than my plethora of nearby grocery stores because the prices are generally lower. Nestle's chocolate milk? $3.59. In my fav grocery store? $4.29. Really?
What I'd love is price matching. Harris Teeter-- I love you because your fruits and vegetables are always so fresh and plentiful. but that much more for milk? If you matched Target's prices, I wouldn't have to cheat.
I should cut coupons, but frankly, half the time I'm running to the grocery store from someplace that's not home, so even if I had searched, clipped and stored coupons, I wouldn't have brought them.
Can you email me relevant coupons instead, and just let me scan them from my phone? Maybe then, my grocery bill would have been only $265.
It was that last grocery trip before the start of the school year, and I was at one of my favorite stores, Super Target. Contrary to other (frequent) trips to Target, I wasn't buying clothes, books or accessories. I was buying food for the hungry mass that is my family.
What was different about this trip is that I had to really buy breakfast foods.
In the summer, my kids don't usually get up until it's really possible to have brunch. With early mornings for school, we needed foods that would tempt sleepy tummies into eating at least a little something before that 10:15 lunch time. I got Bagelfuls, Nutrigrain Waffles and Jimmy Dean's D-Lite breakfast sandwiches. Hopefully one of them will be a winner.
Then I had to get foods for lunches. Lots of turkey (thanks for the sale, Target), ham, cheese, chips, Juicy Juice for the younger ones, Coca Cola for the older ones.
Of course, we needed something to put the lunches in. Baggies, and lunch boxes were on the acquire list.
Fall sports season is also starting, which means that in the next 10 evenings, there are 2 where I don't (currently) have somewhere to take some kid or another, typically right at dinner time. Enter Stouffer's frozen entrees and anyone else's quick and easy cooking meals.
Okay, I did buy deodorant, but really, didn't you want me to?
I went to Target, even though it's less convenient than my plethora of nearby grocery stores because the prices are generally lower. Nestle's chocolate milk? $3.59. In my fav grocery store? $4.29. Really?
What I'd love is price matching. Harris Teeter-- I love you because your fruits and vegetables are always so fresh and plentiful. but that much more for milk? If you matched Target's prices, I wouldn't have to cheat.
I should cut coupons, but frankly, half the time I'm running to the grocery store from someplace that's not home, so even if I had searched, clipped and stored coupons, I wouldn't have brought them.
Can you email me relevant coupons instead, and just let me scan them from my phone? Maybe then, my grocery bill would have been only $265.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
This Makes Mama Happy #1: Borders Online Reservations
You know the phrase, "If Mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy"? Here's something that will keep everybody happy.
I love to read, and sometimes I hear about a book and want to take a look at it or buy it. In a busy day, I might not have time to search book stores for the book.
Borders.com has a great tool on its site. It lets you check a particular store's inventory to see if the book is in stock. If it is, you can get it put on hold for you and buy it when you get to the store.
(Not that anybody does this, but one could even double park outside the store, keep the car running but lock the door, run in, buy the book and run out-- all without waking the baby sleeping in the back seat.)
A few weeks ago, I was looking for a book and went to Borders.com. I clicked on the book and on the right side, the screen gives you options to add the book to the cart, add it to the wish list, or check store inventory. Punch in your zip code and the system will tell you if the book is in stock. You can enter some simple information to reserve it.
When I requested the book, it was about 7 a.m., two hours before the store was due to open. When a book is requested and a store is closed, you get a computer generated message saying we'll get back to you when the store is open.
Surprisingly at 8 a.m., an hour before the store opened, I got a message saying the book was waiting for me. At 9 a.m., I picked it up. And I was happy.
I love to read, and sometimes I hear about a book and want to take a look at it or buy it. In a busy day, I might not have time to search book stores for the book.
Borders.com has a great tool on its site. It lets you check a particular store's inventory to see if the book is in stock. If it is, you can get it put on hold for you and buy it when you get to the store.
(Not that anybody does this, but one could even double park outside the store, keep the car running but lock the door, run in, buy the book and run out-- all without waking the baby sleeping in the back seat.)
A few weeks ago, I was looking for a book and went to Borders.com. I clicked on the book and on the right side, the screen gives you options to add the book to the cart, add it to the wish list, or check store inventory. Punch in your zip code and the system will tell you if the book is in stock. You can enter some simple information to reserve it.
When I requested the book, it was about 7 a.m., two hours before the store was due to open. When a book is requested and a store is closed, you get a computer generated message saying we'll get back to you when the store is open.
Surprisingly at 8 a.m., an hour before the store opened, I got a message saying the book was waiting for me. At 9 a.m., I picked it up. And I was happy.
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