Embracing Him

The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty. (Proverbs 21:5)

The other day I was standing in a long checkout line at Wal-Mart. Since the cashier was engaged in price check issues with the manager and current customer and I didn’t have the girls with me to occupy my time, I was left with about 15 minutes of down time. Normally, I would spend that 15 minutes reorganizing the contents of my Coupon Wallet, but I had just done so the day before in the waiting room of the doctor’s office.

The price check issues a few feet in front of me showed no immediate signs of resolution and the other checkout lines were just as long, so I decided to grab a magazine from the display. People, Us, Oprah, National Enquirer, and TV Guide are not my type of magazines, so I continued to scan titles in search of a better option. The bright, seasonal cover of September’s All You magazine caught my eye, but the byline, Hundreds of Ways to Save Time and Money, is what truly reeled me in.

I removed the magazine from the display and studied the bullets on the cover: 10 Smart gadgets that make chores easier (I’m all for that!), Serve healthy 30 minute dinners (Right up my alley!), Find comfy jeans that flatter you (Do tell!), and Packed with Value: Coupons and Great Deals (Hallelujah! Show me!).

When I opened the magazine and flipped through it quickly, I instantly became a fan of All You. Interspersed throughout the magazine’s pages, were lots of valuable coupons for products families like mine actually use (Tyson chicken nuggets, Kellogg’s cereal, Halls cough drops, Colgate toothpaste, Palmolive dish detergent, and Birds Eye Frozen Vegetables, just to name a few). The coupon savings alone more than paid for the magazine, which cost a mere $1.97.

Since I’ve had time to read the magazine, I’m hooked and have ordered a subscription, (which shaved approximately $3 off the magazine stand price). I found the articles, tips, recipes, and to be extremely helpful. If you want to be frugal fashionista, a sensible chef, and an economical organizer, I highly recommend All You magazine. Wal-Mart is the only store that carries it, but you can also get an annual subscription here.

All in all, All You is a great find for a practical, bargain hunting, coupon loving women like me! Perhaps you’ll enjoy it too.

Photo: Courtesy of finestationery (Flickr)

Because the girls enjoy playing with it so much (and because it’s fun for me to make), I’ve started making my own. I find that when I make it myself it lasts much longer. Plus, I can customize the Play Dough with unique scents, wild colors, and sparkly glitter. Best of all, when I make it myself, I know exactly what’s in it.

Homemade Play Dough is easy to make. I usually triple the recipe, split it into sections, color it with cake decorating gel (achieves a more vibrant color than food coloring), and store it in clean, empty frosting containers.

This Play Dough also makes a great gift. When packaged decoratively and accompanied by kid friendly, child sized cookie cutters, this an inexpensive but fun birthday present!

Whether you’re giving it away or keeping it for yourself, homemade Play Dough is a great treat for little ones.

Basic Play Dough Recipe:

1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup salt
2 teaspoons Cream of Tartar
1 cup water
1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Combine dry ingredients in a saucepan then stir in water and oil. Heat over medium heat and stir until thickened. (Mixture will resemble mashed potatoes.) Remove the pan from the heat and cool for about 5 minutes. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until dry but pliable.

Photo: Courtesy of zanarodgers (Flickr)

He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered. (Proverbs 28:26)

Have you heard? Eleven people have been charged with stealing then selling the credit/debit card information of 40 million people. If you’ve handed over or swiped a card at Barnes and Noble, BJ’s Wholesale Club, Boston Market, DSW, Office Max, Sports Authority, or TJ Maxx, your personal information could be at risk. According to US Attorney General Michael Mukasey, “This is the single largest and most complex identity-theft case ever charged.”

Though such information angers us, I highly doubt any of us are surprised. Identity theft is a common crime. Just yesterday, a friend was telling me she recently had to file fraud charges and freeze credit accounts due to possible identity theft. Since most of us choose to pay with plastic and not paper, we are all vulnerable. However, there are things we can do to combat the problem.

• Review your credit report at least once a year. The three major credit reporting agencies Equifax, Experian, TransUnion are required by law to provide consumers with a free credit report each year. At www.annualcreditreport.com, you can request your free report via their secure website. It is important to note that your credit score is not part of the credit report. You will need to pay to receive your credit score (usually $6 to $9). If you feel uncomfortable requesting the information online, you can call and have your reports mailed to you.
• Make sure your DSL or cable modem internet connection is secure. There are dishonest people out there (perhaps even YOUR neighbors) who will piggyback off your internet connection without permission from or payment to you. Keep these internet thieves out by installing a firewall on your home computer. This will also prevent hackers from obtaining personal and financial data from your hard drive.
• Opt out of pre-approved credit card offers. Call 1-888-5OPTOUT or visit www.optoutprescreen.com. When you “opt out” this will limit the number of pre-approved credit offers that land in your mailbox. This means the dumpster diving identity thieves won’t find your information on credit card offers when they rifle through the trash.

Photo: Courtesy of largeprime (Flickr)