Payge Maker's Proverbs

Last month, unbeknownst to any of you, I wrote a blog post that I never published entitled Understanding Unpopular Views that used television as my examples.  I wasn't really happy with the writing, so it sits...  It did, however, bring up thoughts on recent television series.  I've always been a television junkie.  As, I've gotten older, the likable shows seem to have dwindled.  Have I become picky in my old age, or has the formula for writing television shows changed drastically? I can rattle off numerous television shows from the 70s, 80s, and 90s that I watched from start to finish.  Now, it's only a handful - and most I missed on first airing because it didn't grab me with their promos, so I binge watch them.  If they are good, I binge them all - or they head to the unwatched, possibly never to be finished "pile." Thinking back the first show that I had been excited about in quite some time was Heroes.  It did not disappoint!  That first season wa

Most people, I assume, have a Facebook account.  Through it they've made new friends, found old friends, and stay connected with long time friends.  It seems to be a great gathering place for "friends."  What exactly is a friend?  This definition has changed in the past 10 years as seen in the dictionary.com definition below. friend [frend] noun 1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard. 2. a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter: friends of the Boston Symphony. 3. a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile: Who goes there? Friend or foe? 4. a member of the same nation, party, etc. 5. (initial capital letter) a member of the Religious Society of Friends; a Quaker. 6. a person associated with another as a contact on a social media website: We've never met, but we're Facebook friends. As of this minute, I have 453 Facebook friends.  5 years ago, I had over 1000 maybe even 2000.  I f

As I type numerous updates on "the BookFace" (as my old boss used to refer to it), and proceed to delete most of them - as posting on Facebook is only a bonfire that's moments from becoming an out of control wildfire - I've been considering starting a blog to avoid all that.  I'm not saying fires won't be started here, but I'm okay with the public debating topics - as most of my friends seem to lack that ability and I'd like to keep them as friends...  sorry guys, but it's true. Note that I used the word debate and not argue.  I'm not here to argue with you on why you should do one thing and not another.  I'm not here to sway you in any way.  I am here to present my point of view and maybe you'll listen and learn something about me, about yourself, or maybe even about the topic at hand.  Listening is the best skill for a debater (talking is the best skill of an arguer who takes no time to listen).  Sometimes I lack this ability to lis

Going to start saving for the big graduation party!  I haven't been posting shopping trips - because there are way too many to keep up on.  So the new task at hand is the graduation party.  I've already started the picture printing saving with all of Walgreens free photo deals lately.  Next up hopefully this weekend is paper plates!  Of course, it's always a risk to plan on purchasing something at Rainbow on double double day as they are ALWAYS out of everything, but fingers crossed and I hope to get going early! (HAHAHA).

So, with the PS3 Challenge being done - I don't have the drive to keep posting my trips.  Organizing for trips is long and tedious - just ask my husband who agrees to go with and totally regrets it after the waiting forever for the coupons to be cut, organized, printed, gathered, etc. It's basically a part-time job for me now - I'd guess I spend anywhere from 5-15 hours a week couponing (preparing and the actual trip - which I include because it does take longer to shop with coupons and find the correct items - or rethink if they're out of stock). I've been keeping a spreadsheet of all purchases from Walgreens and Target for the past year.  I am missing some receipts from spring/early summer of last year since I originally started it in October, then dug through all my receipts to go back further.  Walgreens I believe I'm at 75% savings and Target at 55%.  I know why the difference is there - included in that is clothes, DVDs, video games, etc bought at Targ

And the PS3 challenge has come to an end - and after an awesome start it finished poorly...  I think it was still great, though!  Yesterday bought some Kikkoman products for a stir fry dinner we'll have tomorrow night and paid $1.39 for $3.39 (savings of 59%).  That left me with $11.44 in GC. Today bought lots of Skinny Cow and Snackwells (6 boxes of Skinny Cow and 3 boxes of Snackwells) along with mac and cheese, floss, and Uncle Ben's Rice at total of $39.33 for $11.97.  So, I had to pitch in 53 cents. The $75 gift card from the PS3 purchased $268.17 worth of merchandise and then I had to throw in 53 cents at the end, which makes sense, since the PS3 only cost $298 something so I didn't really have to hit $300 exactly. Overall savings of 70%.  I was going for 75% but Smart Ones frozen meals I bought earlier this week lowered my percentage - but they were a good purchase for my work lunches.  I only saved 40% on that day of shopping - which was the lowest percentage