Coupons Are Not Just For Groceries!

   When people hear the term "couponing" they immediately think about grocery store savings. But the truth is, you can save even more money on clothing, make-up and things like that with coupons too. This past weekend I saved $12 on cosmetic items just by clipping the weekly paper coupons.

    I recently noticed that I have an entire outfit in my closet that I got for $7. On three seperate occasions I found these great deals: 1 - I had a $10 coupon for Kohls that I received in the mail. I found a maxi dress on the clearance rack for $8. The dress was FREE. 2 - I saw these Vera Wang black pumps at Kohls for $26.99. I told myself I didn't need another pair of black shoes and went home. At home, I checked the mail and found a $10 coupon for Kohls. I went to put it in my wallet where I found $10 Kohls cash that I had forgot about!! So the next day I went back to Kohls with my $20 in coupons and bought the shoes for $6.99. 3 - At the beginning of the year DSW mailed me 2 coupons for $10 each, one for my birthday and one for being on their mailing list. With the expiration date approaching, I really needed a small black cross-body bag. So I went to DSW and wouldn't you know, in the entry way was a display of solid colored cross-body bags. One of them was black. It was $19.99. I used my coupons and got this bag for FREE.

Cancellation Fees Are So Aggravating!

   We just got jipped out of $50! Our boat insurance policy came due at the end of July. We didn't want to renew so we didn't send a check. I think that is universal. If I don't send you my money, I don't want your product or service! Well they didn't get the hint and auto-charged our AMEX credit card $360 for the next year's coverage. I called to reiterate the "No thanks" and asked to be refunded.

   Evidently there is fine print in the initial contract (which no one reads, but should for this exact reason) that says if they don't have written notice of cancellation upon the renewal deadline, they will automatically charge you. They can give us a refund of the whole amount if we provide proof of insurance that we switched to another company. We didn't. We are just uninsured on the boat. So we get a refund but it's prorated for the 20 days of unwanted coverage we've had since the last policy ended AND we have to pay a $50 cancellation fee for not notifying them in writing that we didn't want to renew. So stupid. I didn't send you a renewal check = I didn't want to renew.

Work and Play

   This week, I had the opportunity to spend a few days in St. Augustine for the Florida Public Relations Association's annual conference. I am an incoming board member for the Ocala chapter (president-elect) and felt strongly about attending this conferene. The original cost of the conference was $595 plus lodging at $130/night for 3 nights. Including the cost of travel and food, this conference WOULD HAVE cost me over $1,000, which is not in our budget.

   So what I did, was write a proposal to my administration outlining what I would get from the conference both professionally and personally. This is most comonly known as an ROI, return on investment. What is your employer going to get back from their investment in sending you to the training? Some of the highlights included in my proposal were crisis communications, event planning, social media tactics and leadership development. I sent a complete agenda with my letter and indicated which sessions I found to be most interesting and beneficial for my position at work. My request was approved.

  Not only did my agency pay for this training and the lodging expenses, I was authorized to take my department car - saving on gas, and I was given a per diem check for food expenses.

   I tell you I drove to St. Augustine, stayed in one of the nicest resorts in the state - the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort (Google it, it's sick), received 3 days of professional development training and delicious food while I was there, for nothing. I spent my last $5 on the afternoon of my return on a cup of Starbucks cofee.

   If you have the opportunity to travel for work, ask that the company pay for as much as possible. Keep receipts for everything you pay for personally, which is tax deductible. Also, while you're working, try to "play" during all your free time so you get some personal benefit from your trip as well.