Get 21% off the next time you go shopping!

 

Why 21% off....because we are military people stationed in Belgium, or so my husband is.  This is one privilege for us over here (in Germany it is 19%)....see how high the salex tax is over here in Europe?!  We would croak if that ever happened in the US!  Here's how to get that tax money back.  In Germany, the process was easier...you purchased these VAT (value added tax) forms and handed them out like candy at ANY store where you bought a good or service.  My threshold for doing that was if I spent anything over 50 euro...period....it was then worth my time and the money I spent on my VAT form to get some chump change back (and more if I spent more).  Here in Belgium, not everything is tax-exempt and the process involves jumping through more hoops.

Why is our process so different from Germany?  I always like to joke it is because the guy who negotiated the Belgian part of the SOFA after the war was not as diligent as the guy who negotiated our SOFA in Germany...that's the only way I can explain getting a raw deal over here in Belgium!  Unless you are buying furniture, electronics and whatever items the VAT folks wave their magic wand over, you don't get tax relief and your 21% back.  
Like I said, anything over 50 euro (even here) is worth my while, so here's how to go about getting your money back.

After you make your purchase, take your receipt and head over to the store's customer service desk.  Have at least an idea of what goods are covered by VAT by checking with the SHAPE VAT office.  It is open Tuesday and Wednesday from 0900-1200 and Thursday from 0900-1300.

Step by step (using IKEA as an example):

The customer service desk is located to the right after the cash registers if you go to the Anderlecht IKEA outlet.  You'll see a ticketing machine instead of standing in line.  Push the button that says B - "Fakture".  When your number pops up on the display, head over to that counter.

Hand over your receipt and ask for a "Fakture" and saying "diplomatic forms" helps too (cause tourists can get tax back too once they get home).  I'm not familiar with that process, but there are many websites out there that detail how to get your tax money back.

They will get on their computer and type in your name and address.  IMPORTANT:  the Fakture MUST be in the sponsor's name (don't give them your name).  If you come to the VAT office with the receipt in your name, they will turn you away, and you'll have to go back to the store and get another receipt.

They will print out a Fakture and hand it to you.

Be sure to ask for the self addressed IKEA envelope with the "Demande de Remboursement" sheet inside (a colorful red form).

 

On the colorful red form, you will fill out your bank information.  Unlike Germany, where you will immediately get your cash back, in Belgium, you will see the tax amount show up on your bank statement one to two months later.  That's how you know you have been reimbursed.  Hang onto this form for now after you fill it out.

Go to the VAT office on SHAPE in the main inprocessing building.  Show them your fakture, and they will check mark which items qualify....like I said, the magic wand gets waved.

If you are American, go to the little white building behind the inprocessing building (where you get your passports renewed, etc), and they will fill out another computer printed form for you and stamp it and note the number of items that qualify for tax-free.  Other country members, go to your own country's processing office on SHAPE.

Take all the papers back to the VAT office.  They will in turn fill out some more information and give you a stack of papers.

Make copies of all the papers for your records in case something gets lost!

Put the originals of all the forms, including your "Demande de Remboursement" into the provided IKEA envelope.

 

Go to the Belgian post office (one in the HQ building and there is another one in the GB Supermarket...also off post obviously).  Mail in your packet and wait....and then wait some more...

Keep checking your bank account statements (or access online) to see if it got deposited.  If three months or so go by, and you get no money, stop by the VAT office to check it out.

Does anyone else want to share their VAT experience (Germany or Belgium or perhaps how they do it in the UK and Italy....if they have it?....also, as a tourist?).

Where to fleamarket close by?

Of course we've got the SHAPE flea markets on base during the summer months and the big flea market in Waterloo everyone recommends, as it is one of the larger ones in the area.  Almost every Sunday, there is a mid-size fleamarket near the mall by the marina in Nimy.  But what if you just want to do something different or visit a specialty flea market, like one that just has childrens' items (yep, there is one of those).

Be sure to visit Brocante.be

Choose "Chercher une brocante" link up top after you enter the site (you have to click French or Flemish on bottom first).

From dropdown menu, choose either of the two "Hainaut" area code regions.

Then choose a theme if you want or keep that blank.

Lastly, either plug in a date or choose today, during the week or weekend.

You'll get the specifics of what kinds of markets, locations and hours for the markets in your area.  I haven't gotten the nerve up to sell items at these  markets, but perhaps another day.  I did a few markets in Germany and sold out of my American products typically within the first few hours!  Plus, it was a lot of fun.

Best Shoe Shopping for Overseas APOs

I guess I am somewhat of a girlie girl at heart....I love shoes....but European shoes are SO expensive!  I do have a few Josef Seibels...and a few others....but I miss going into the lowcost shoe stores in the States and just looking at all the shoes!  Wasn't I pleasantly surprised when my absolute favorite discount shoestore came online, and since we've moved yet again to another European location, I recently revisited it and ordered three pairs of shoes for under $50 for all of them....not only on sale, but I hacked away at the price, until I got it down even more...here's how...

The site I'm talking about is Payless Shoes, and yes, they ship APO and quickly!  And yes, I know they make cheap shoes, and just maybe, you shouldn't get your top performance running shoes here or your Alaskan snowboots to withstand -30 degree Fahrenheit weather....but, you can get everything else from in between.  Even my kids have gotten into the kick and picked out some skate shoes.

Not only do they have reasonable prices, but their shoes frequently go on sale.  You can also get on their mailing list and take advantage of their BOGO deals.  I once ordered two pairs of shoes and suddenly, this BOGO thing popped up in my shopping cart, and I got the second pair at half off I believe.  I'm not sure how often they have these BOGO sales, but if you get on their mailing list, you'll be notified.  BOGO meaning "Buy One Get One".

You'll also get discount coupons on their mailing list, but I prefer to take my own advice on that.  Today, I was able to use one for 30% off....I was just persistent in searching for the highest discounted code!

Be sure to check it out!  What shoe sites do you like?

The Goods Brought Back from Deployment

I just realized I have a collection going. I call it my "brought back from deployment" cache from the many deployments I've endured (yes, endured). What's so funny about that? It's just that, about two dozen of my friends, have almost the exact same things I have. Let me add, that we are also very careful not to bring back any antiquities, weapons or other forbidden stuff (just don't do it; it's not honest and should make you feel bad really).  How much you wanna bet you have some of these same things yourself if your spouse is going where our spouses are going?

Here is my list of treasures:

• a "real gold" necklace in the shape of a palm tree from Kuwait that broke apart the first time I wore it
  
• a sterling silver hand-hammered necklace with a stone I don't recognize and that hangs just low enough to get hidden under my shirt and fall into my cleavage (not on purpose really)
  
• a Burkha (am I supposed to wear it or use it as a costume for Halloween?)
  
• a prayer rug from Afghanistan (makes a warm spot for my feet getting out of bed)
  
• a wooden African elephant with a possible termite living in his butt after repeated piles of wood dust showing up in his rear area (he is no longer with us)
• a soapstone tiger that looks more like a kitty
• a handmade chess set (really well done I might add)
  
• a real honest-to-goodness handmade Persian rug (one that is actually "real")
  
• a wooden collapsible basket with concentric circles (very cool and they make great gift baskets)
• a wooden heavily engraved door from Timbuktu (they are known there for these things you know)
• a handmade silver bracelet I truly believe is the only one like it, it is so unusual
• many colorful silk and pashmina scarves (I LOVE these!)
  
• a handmade silver ring with a Chinese stone and a scripture of protection from the Koran written in minute detail on the face of the stone (yes, I needed my neighbor who spoke the language and a magnifying glass to verify this was indeed true!)

I love all my treasures!  Thank-you hubby!  Do you have any favorites that were brought back from a deployment?

Deep Discounts on....Stuff

I suspect most of you have most of your Christmas shopping done. I see that many online stores have last minute specials and free shipping going on. If you really like to shop at a particular store, be sure to get on their email list...that's how I get my coupon codes, as well as googling the store's name and "coupon code". I've even talked about how to get almost brand new and nice furniture at rock bottom prices last year, even before the economy tanked. But did you know there is another option to get dirt cheap stuff for next to nothing other than by dumpster diving?

I know our economy is in a bad state...and this may be causing all these great deals to pop up online I am noticing just today. Being stationed over here in Germany, we just don't see much of it, but my MIL keeps me up-to-date of how terrible things are getting in her area. In fact, it is so bad, that business is booming for former realtors in her town who are now cleaning out the foreclosed and abandoned houses...how sad is that? Check your online yellow pages (or Better Business Bureau listings or your local bank) for companies in your area who are doing the cleaning and find out how they get rid of the items from these homes. What about all those small businesses who are not able to get loans to float themselves to do their payrolls or buy new inventory? There is tons of stuff to be had...right now, for pennies from these businesses.

To find the bulk of this stuff from companies who buy this kind of stuff...well....in bulk, all you have to do is google "unclaimed freight" and your city and/or state. Also try "freight salvage" or "truckline or truckload salvage". See what comes up in your area. Thanks to one of Clark Howard's guest who called in this little tip.

Do you have any tips of your own on how you save money with your household purchases?

Revisiting this Holiday Gifting Thing

Now we really have to be creative. Remember last year? Most of us had oodles of money at our disposal in our credit card limits and an unlimited stash of cash in our homes...life was on the up and up in 2007....fast forward to 2008...and many of us have less money and less options. Remember when I blogged about lots of interesting gift ideas then? How about a few more that you can assemble just by rubbing a few pennies together? I'll throw those in with a few that do cost a bit more...but are worth every penny (they're useful, and that's what matters in my book).

Here are my old standbys from last year.

Here are some more for this year:

• Homemade candy, wrapped in cellophane and tied up in a pretty bow. Believe it or not, these candy items are MUCH easier to make than cookies and baked goods. Give it a try. I like the turtles and the caramel corn.
• A pretty mug or other container of Polish pottery (we have huge mugs for $9 at the PX). Fill it with some interesting candy or chocolate...in my case, it's going to be specialty flavored gummi bears or German chocolates. Lay a cut-out piece of Saran Wrap on top to keep it sealed and fresh. Then wrap the whole container in cellophane and tie with a colorful ribbon. You can even add a nametag.
• Tervis tumblers with a lifetime guarantee. These double sealed plastic drinking containers...one is even 24 oz large and fits in your vehicle cupholder...and they last YOUR lifetime...and if they don't, you can send them back to Tervis, and they will replace them, no questions asked. I was once in their outlet store in Florida where a lady brought in a bag full of glasses from the 1950s...yes, that's what she said and that's what they looked like...and they gave her a ticket to go pick out 10 new ones..no receipt and no explanation needed. You can do this thru the mail too. My brother is always re-using those cheap 7-11 plastic cups..which for all I know, are made of unsafe plastic...so this would be right up his alley.
• A handmade nutcracker. This guy makes handcrafted nutcrackers...even military ones. You send him a photo of your loved one, and he does it exactly right...he has tons of military nutcrackers on his site, plus tons of others...including some Civil War generals. He pegged my husband just perfect. You'll pay anywhere from $40-50 for one. Sorry ladies, this offer is only good if you live in Germany. I'm thinking this will make a fantastic gift for his proud momma.
  
• We talked about assembling jars of cookie and soup mixes. How about jars of bath salts?
• If your significant other travels a lot...how about doing an mp3 book for him or her? Read his favorite book....with feeling...put it on his iPod or a CD and give it to him...especially if he is ready to deploy anytime soon. He'll love to hear your voice...it's not just the little ones who love being read to.
• Those instant recipe packets. You know the ones I'm talking about...instant gravies and ready-made spices for pork chops, chilis, meatloaf and whatever else, ala McCormick. You can put a slew of these in a little basket, or tie them up with ribbon and of course wrapped in cellophane (can you tell I love cellophane...you can wrap trash in cellophane, and it'll look nice). This makes a perfect gift for someone who just doesn't cook.
• "I Am Not a Papercup" Mug. This is perfect for my style-conscious, Starbucks-drinking stepmom. Now instead of a papercup that falls apart and smells funny, she can have a beautiful white porcelain cup that is both eco-friendly and clean (who knows where those papercups have been?). Starbucks and most other coffee shops will even fill their coffee drinks into your mug...it looks just like the papercups w/lid...just much nicer, much sturdier, and you won't need that stupid piece of cardboard to keep your fingers from getting burnt.
• Super Strong Magnet Wrist Thingy. Okay, so I had to include something for guys specifically...although when we had a house, and I was crawling in areas I normally wouldn't crawl in, this would've come in handy.
  

Let's hear some of your ideas this year...

Favored Catalogs for Overseas

With the holiday season rapidly approaching, I thought I would post my favorite catalog ordering sites. Please be sure to list your favorites below as well. We are almost running out of time being overseas, so order early to keep from being disappointed.

In no particular order (and be sure to add your favorites below):


Land's End - I get on their email list and order only if I can get free shipping AND discounts on whatever I'm buying.

Kohl's - same goes for this store.

Woot - A new item everyday and sometimes a Woot-off, where they sell an item, til it's gone and then quickly put up another item...deep discounts sometimes up to 90%, mostly electronics, but totally worth it to download the Wootalyzer to catch new items as they pop up (it runs in the background and also monitors a few other similar sites...gotta love the alarm...I jumped out of my chair the first time that thing came up)...This site is a big adv The only downside, shipping to us over here takes about a month!

Lakeside - This is mostly a gift items kind of catalog, but the stuff is so inexpensive that I sometimes get my volunteer gifts out of here (probably all made in China), and be prepared for very long shipping times...I think they ship everything by boat.

Amazon - This is an old standby...you can find almost anything here. Be sure to check their Goldbox deals, in fact, you can add them to your Blogreader, so you can keep up on their best deals as you read your subscribed blogs. I also like to put items in my shopping cart and check that every few days, as your cart will tell you if the price went up or down for each item in the cart. So far, in the five orders I have had shipped overseas, they all arrived within 8 days. I also used Amazon.de to get my cat a new litterbox, a little faux fur slumberhouse and a $10 cell phone with 5 Euro worth of minutes on it for my son. Be sure to know the terms and conditions of your credit card, but the stuff was inexpensive with free shipping and my VISA's fee was only a few cents for each item...totally worth it. I just used my German address for shipping and my CMR address for billing.

eBay - I always check to make sure they specifically ship to APOs and when not, I always ask. Everyone I've asked has always responded in the affirmative...that's yes. Just check seller feedback. I stick with sellers who have a 99% feedback rating or higher.

LL Bean - I sometimes get it confused with Land's End, but again, get on their email list and always use a coupon. It is very hard to find a free shipping coupon for them, but I try anyway. I just bought a $20 pair of heavy snow boots with faux sheepskin along with a matching bomber hat...the boots are like walking on pillows..they're great... I never would've found something at that price over here.

For all online orders, always google the name of the store and coupon and sort through all the results...I've sometimes found the best coupons on the third and fourth pages. Always save a copy of the receipt. I keep my email confirmations in a "Receipt" folder and before I leave the site, I do save that page in a receipts folder in My Documents. Lately, with all the holiday shopping, I've been printing each one out and posting it to my corkboard.

What are your favorites? What have been your best deals overseas?

Repost: Get in a Black Friday Mood

I talked about it last year, and I'm going to talk about it again....although this year, you do wonder if the crowds will be out in full force, considering the state of our economy and our pocketbooks.

See my blogpost below and check out the forums. I found things on Black Friday and CyberMonday last year, that I wasn't able to match...all year long, price-wise...even up til now! So, this year should be completely different for us over here. They don't have Black Friday in Germany, but I can still participate in CyberMonday...and get a jump, six hours ahead of folks still asleep in the States...at least the ones who don't want to stay up all night. Some major retailers, such as Walmart, are even offering very short deals in the weeks before Thanksgiving...so be sure to check their sites as well.

Four Days Til Black Friday

What interesting things will you be looking for this year?

Before You Order Online....Flush it Out!

I almost did it. I almost let my "I wannnaaaa" get control of me and order from some website I had never heard of. Yes, the price looked exceedingly good, which should've been my first clue. I frequently like to look for bargains all over the internet...and I mean all over. You can see some of the methods I like to use below.

But before buying from a new company, follow these tips:

• Just google the name. You may get what you need to know right off the top.
• Check the site complaints.com. Everyday consumers with everyday complaints.
• Check the Better Business Bureau. You just may see something that would make you think twice about ordering.
  
• See if they have some kind of Seal of Approval on their website. And then check what that seal means. Hopefully, it's not something they pay for, but something that they are given for their top customer service, secure payment methods and that kind of thing.
• Check bizrate.com. Here you'll find consumer feedback reviews of the different online stores, along with shopping comparison help.
  
• Check epubliceye.com. Another consumer shopping rating site worth visiting.
  
• Does the site have securing ordering? If the web address starts in https, then it is a secure site, or check the lower right hand corner of your browser and look for the locked symbol or whatever method your browser uses to show you are on a secure ordering site.
• Look through the site and find a real street address and phone number for customer service. If you can't find that, then there is no shame in being leery.
• Go to archives.org and see how often the site is updated. If not too often, I would hesitate to order from them. You can also see how long they've had their website. If they say they've been in business for umpteen years, but their website is almost brand new, I would just do some more investigating to make sure they really have been around...either at another web address or physical address.
• What is their return policy? I would just never order from any kind of company that didn't have some kind of return policy. No returns = customer no service = SOL if something goes wrong.
• Are they giving a warranty? Especially with electronic products. I'm not saying for you to buy the extended warranty. It doesn't pay off in the long run for you...just for them. I typically don't even look at an extended warranty for anything that is priced under $500. Statistics show you will mostly lose on that bet and pay something for nothing.
• Read their privacy policy. I once ordered from a site....with a brand new email...and darned if I didn't get signed up for at least a dozen different newsletters I didn't want or request. I could only trace it back to this order. Know what you're being signed up for as you go through the purchasing screens.
• Don't give out your social security number. This should be a given. Unless you are opening an account at a bank or getting your credit report from one of the reporting agencies...don't do it. They don't need it, and you shouldn't be taking the risk. Do your business elsewhere.
• Pay by credit card, which will give you more rights as a consumer than if you paid any other way. I know a lot of businesses also send you a confirmation email. Just to be safe, I save a copy of the webpage and put it in a receipts folder, with company name and date, so I can always have proof later. I save it as a jpg like with Screen Grab...no more gobbledee gook html pages and folders of all the graphics...it's unnecessary. Just one thing to save please.
  
• As much as I like to do this on my favorite sites, try not to save your password or credit card information. It's just less to get hacked into and taken.
• Don't ever order anything from a pop up ad. Nuff said there.
• Before you get to that final screen, check your total price with shipping. Sometimes they like to throw in that outrageous shipping charge right on the last screen, after you put in all your information.
• Don't get upsold on accessories. That's where many retailers make the bulk of their money. If you are getting a great deal on an iPod for example, don't get suckered into buying overpriced accessories from their store...shop around and be patient.
• When your item arrives, check it over thoroughly. Don't let it sit in the box or wherever and then decide to get it out and try it when you get a chance. Time will get away from you then, and it'll be too late to return it at a later date.

Many of these tips, I just developed on my own. I did get some from the Bargain Hunters Secrets to Online Shopping by Michael Miller...a library book I dusted off recently. It was a helpful book, especially if shopping online is unfamiliar territory. It's a bit on the dry technical side, but I bet you, he'll save you at least a little money if you go take a look.

What else can you add about shopping online?

Now I've Seen Everything

Many of you know I love to get catalogs...and just look through them. It doesn't mean I'm buying...I'm just looking...although looking will get you to occasionally buy, right? Well, over here in Germany...they have catalogs too. I decided to order a few in my German mail, and they dutifully started arriving this past week. There were some interesting ones in there with your average fare of catalog stuff of goodies. There was this one catalog though, where I had to say, "what the heck is that?"

This catalog kind of reminded me of our Hammacher Schlemmer or what is it called...Brookstone, with lots of gadgets and things. I can understand the gadgets of course...I like gadgets myself...I even understood the pet ramp to get your dog to walk up into your van or SUV and the mini digital camera...but what is that thing below?
Ride 'em cowboy! They call the thing therapeutic riding. I'm guessing it's not like one of those bullrider things...can you imagine having that in your living room? But look at the photo again. It has stirrups and everything. My mind is working in overdrive figuring out the possibilities...anyhow...

Or how about this gumby suit below? At least that's the first thing I thought of....this man has an uncanny resemblance to gumby. Doesn't he look like gumby? Do you remember gumby or am I too old? They say it's a sleeping bag you can move around in. But...who wants to move around in your fartsack? I thought the whole point is to cuddle up in there and then go to sleep? Who walks around? Is that something you can see yourself doing or wanting to do?

The most embarrassing looking thing I wouldn't be caught carrying around in the airport...or anywhere else for that matter is this shoebag thing. Each of these huge compartments is for ONE pair of shoes...so I guess if you have three pairs of shoes, it'll be stacked about waist high? How do you carry that? How do you carry the rest of your bags? Ridiculous...

What are some of the craziest things you've seen in a catalog? Remember Harriet Carter and Lillian Vernon? They sometimes have corny gadgets and those tshirts with the stupid sayings among other things. Or, what would you like to see in your next catalog?

Nurse Cookies in a Doctor's Bag

Being so far away from family and friends, it's hard to realize you can't just pop on over when someone is sick or needs comforting. Yeah, a phone is great, so is the webcam thing....I've done flowers, store bought cards, even some handmade ones...but here again, I was looking for something different.

I really like to send get well baskets. I used to make them myself. It was such a bargain to collect second hand baskets from Goodwill and other second hand stores, store them in my basement, buy a big roll of cellophane that can easily last a decade...and have at it with any kind of goodie I could dream up to put inside. But, with us being overseas...shipping can be so expensive, so I save those big baskets and gifts for the holidays. So what else can you do to let that special someone know you are thinking of them?

I recently found a site called Cookie Pots. Almost everyone can appreciate a good cookie. So, now for $20, I can send a doctor's bag or a Campbell's Soup bag, with a few cookies to munch on...and then an extra special cookie in the shape of a nurse. You can add a nice note, order online and shipping is superfast. They even have a few DVDs that can be thrown in. Note to Cookie Pots, please add more movie choices.

Would anyone else like to share ideas of what you like to send? Or receive?

The Bag Craze

If you've spent any amount of time in Germany, you know the bag craze. There is a bag, purse, box or container for everything. You see them everyday...the little old ladies walking down the streets with bags on wheels, bigger than themselves, dragging their daily purchases behind them. Germany is basically a society with very little wasteful plastic bags and a place where people shop almost daily for their groceries. My God, if you want a bag in a store, they will provide them...but you'll have to pay extra for it. We could learn something here. I know in the States, some of the bigger chains, such as Walmart, are jumping on the bandwagon and are providing these cloth recylable bags. Even the commissary and PX have gotten into the game. But what if you think these bags are ugly? What if you don't want to carry a traditional wicker basket, such as many of the Germans do. Do something different and be the first on your block (unless you are already in Germany and have seen these)....

When I first came to Germany, I noticed these canvas high-tech looking colorful baskets that collapsed when not in use. You could store one under the seat of your car or in your trunk, laid flat and then pop it up when you needed it. They look very fashionable, come in a variety of colors and can even be purchased with a lid, so not everyone can peek inside to see what you bought. I started seeing more and more young German women with these things and many Americans over here have taken the plunge as well.

I was at the annual Ramstein Air Base Bazaar over the weekend. They had about 140 vendors with all kinds of pottery (yes, I saw two booths of Polish pottery), linens, leather bags, shoes, rugs, antique and new furniture....all the things you expect to see at a bazaar. I also saw a small display of these collapsible bags and finally figured out that only one company makes these, Reisenthel. They were priced at $49.95. Gee, that's a lot for a shopping bag...but it is very sturdy...and does collapse in such a neat way...I DO want one. But I held off. I was proud of myself. I had planned to check German eBay and online. Much to my surprise, they were selling like hotcakes on German eBay...wait, surprise is the wrong word....disappointed and crestfallen is more like it. I looked around online some more...it was the same price at many online German stores when I included the postage. I was beginning to feel sorry I didn't buy one to begin with, until I found ReusableBags. What a neat site, not only did they have these Carryall Bags I was interested in, but also lots of other neat things. I ended up buying the wrap and mat sandwich thing, cause I always did hate wasting all those plastic sandwich bags for the kids lunches and mine. I used my advice here and also got 20% off with the coupon code. That brought my new shopping bag to just under $32. Isn't it much more fun to get something at a good price than to pay top dollar for it?

Does anyone else use these market bags? Are you happy with it? Do you use recycleable shopping bags? How do you feel about plastic bags? To be honest, the only reason I even take some home from the comissary and PX is because they do make great dog poopy bags..but that's another story for another day.

Looking Yet Again for that Unique Gift

Here I am again...same day, different year...for the last....let's see...5 years. My dad got remarried and his beautiful young wife likes things that are unusual and pretty. She is also a professional photographer, so has an eye for things that are different and unique. So once again, here I am on my quest to find something I think she would like.

I contemplated sending her flowers....but since I don't like flowers myself...don't get me wrong...it's not the flowers themselves I don't like, but the watching them die, and at what cost and also the clean up of the vase and moldy petals....I decided not to go that route this year. So I then started googling "unique gifts", even "stepmom gifts" and whatever phrases I could think of. I just couldn't come up with anything.

Then I stumbled upon a site called Etsy. It's the place toted as "your place to buy and sell all things handmade"...hmmmm...intruiging it was. It reminded me of eBay but without the auction part. Not only are there jewelry categories, but everything from baked goods to baskets to pet products, gadgets, paper goods and even seasonal items. There were all kinds of sellers on there, selling all kinds of unique things. Some of the things were obviously trash...sorry...I am not an artist, and I can put together some of that stuff, but hey, beauty in art is in the eye of the beholder...but other stuff, makes you go....wow, that is something very different! I ended up buying her a necklace with the image of a vintage Hasselblad camera. For those of you who don't know....Hasselblad is THE ueber camera manufaturer to have and to hold...a very high end many thousand dollar camera they make. My stepmom happened to get one for Christmas a few years ago. I didn't even know of the name before then, and I thought it would be neat to have a necklace as such. I'll let you know how it goes.

Be sure to check out the site when you get a chance. If you know of any other unique shopping websites out there, please do share them!

Make Money from Your Own Purchases at Amazon

I've had a little bit of cash coming in from my little Amazon Associates Store. I typically link my favorite items from this blog and elsewhere into my store. You do get a percentage of the profits...better than nothing...for doing nothing. But, here's one more catch.

Put items on your Amazon wishlist....which puts them in your store. Next time you want to order something from Amazon, purchase it through your store. You'll get part of the profit, which translates into a little discount for you on your purchase...nifty, huh?

Do you have any nifty tricks to share?

Why My House Has the Better Resale Value

Okay, it really doesn't. It is missing a lot of the things on this list, unfortunately. When we bought in Florida, three years ago, the pickings were slim! With our long list of criteria, there were only twelve houses in the entire Tampa Metro area that could even touch our "top 5 wanted features" list...and we won't even talk about the out-of-control prices we had at that time. We're all seeing the after effects of it now. But, with all that being said, we would do it all again, trying to stick to our list. If you want your home to sell for maximum buck and to make sure it stands out from the rest, be sure it has these features.

In no particular order, although I've listed the top desired features first:

• Largest or best situated lot in the neighborhood or street. Look for a cul-de-sac location, dead end street with no possible way to cut through your yard (don't laugh, I've seen that happen) or a pie-shaped lot on a not-too-busy street.
  

• No base elevation, meaning in a cookie-cutter neighborhood, don't buy the house with the most standard front, but the one the original owners paid more for because it'll have a different peaked front, natural stone, more eye candy. This is what is meant by elevation.

• Landscaping upgrade or nice landscaping that looks like it was professionally done. Great curb appeal will always put you in front of the others.

• Larger sized bedrooms. I realize you can't always get the square footage you want, but some builders do a better job than others of keeping the bedrooms larger than closet size.

• Lots of closets and storage space. As Americans, we need lots of places for our junk.
  

• A split bedroom plan. Master bedroom on one side, the others on the other side of the house.
  

• A three car garage. More and more people are not even looking at two car garages. Of course this can be region-dependent. I know some areas don't even have three car garages and in a few areas, the standard is now four!

• At least three bedroom and two bath. Don't even look at a house with just one bathroom. You'll cut out a large pool of potential buyers if you do.

• Tile in all wet areas. If a house is almost all carpeting, logic says it is cheaply put together. If it has linoleum instead of tile, then it is only the next step up from cheap.
  

• Neutral colors. I recently saw a house in a neighborhood of neutral colored houses, but this one had electric pink trim with a neutral base...it looked horrible! I know our market is bad, but this one will stay on the market even longer. No matter that this can just be painted. People want to see houses as if they were living in them.

• 42" kitchen cabinets, raised panel. Again, more than the ordinary and will make your house stand out.

• Choose functional over cosmetic. That thing, whatever it is, may look drop-dead beautiful or cool, but if it is a hassle to clean or keep in order, it'll only become a headache later on. Ask my neighbor about his three level tree house that is now a danger to anyone who goes in the backyard. Think of maintenance...and think of long-term when you see neat things such as this.

• Bigger side-by-side refrigerator, preferably with ice maker, and in the door too.

• Corian or granite kitchen counters. Even better if the bath counters are upgraded too.

• Lighter colors in the kitchen. It'll look bigger.

• Kitchen cabinets with roll-out trays, lazy Susans and lots of storage space.

• A walk-in pantry.

• Glass door in at least one kitchen cabinet. It just makes it look more upscale.

• Energy Star appliances.

• Kitchen counter color that contrasts with cabinets. Don't use all white in a kitchen, although an almond color is okay.

• A separate shower and bathtub in the master bathroom. Shower stall should be at least 42"x32". Use clear glass rather than frosted. Frosted glass is now officially out of style...I don't care how prude you are, hang up a towel or kick everyone out of the bathroom if you need more privacy. Frosted glass is a big turn-off these days with potential buyers.
  

• An acrylic bathtub. Fiberglass tubs lose their finish and become a dull gray color over time. Acrylic holds up well but scratches easily. Go for acrylic and don't use any harsh cleaners on the surface to keep it looking nice. We use a Clorox wipe after at least every other bath to tackle any bathrings or dirt. This is all you need to do too.
  

• Splurge on carpet padding with at least 6 lbs per cubic foot. Thick padding will even make a cheap carpet feel nice. Nylon carpeting will get ratty without proper care and padding and will stain without treatment. Polyester carpeting is not as strong and will shed more but is more stain resistant and cheaper. Carpets should be twist level 4 or higher, have a density of 3-4,000, a face weight of 35-40 oz, have a 10 year warranty and go ahead check the durability rating. What does all that really mean? Go for the upgraded carpet choice if you can. If you get a cheap one, buy a steam vac. I clean my almost-white bottom-of-the-barrel-cheap builder grade carpets with my steam vac every other month, and they look about as new as they are going to get. It DOES make a difference when you steam vac.
  

That about sums up our list. Again, I've only bought houses in Florida and Colorado, but I have looked elsewhere too. These seem to be the features touted over and over again in the ads I see, plus the houses that have these features seem to sell better than the rest. I also have a realtor friend who focuses on these items when she purchases homes as an investment and for their resale value. And even in this market, she is still able to flip homes that meet this criteria.

How are things looking in your housing market? What features do the best selling houses seem to have? What things do you like to see in a house?.

Music to Your Ears....Free Music!

Thanks Tootie for sending this in!

If you're like me, anything free is always music to my ears. But, this is something that will be, quite literally, music to (and for) your ears!

The following website is offering a free CD to all military and their family members: http://www.cdforthetroops.com/

The website has all the details, including a variety of music artists that are giving to this cause. The site will actually direct you to www.aafes.com to get your CD, where you can pick to download any or all of the songs they offer. The perk is you won't have to wait for a CD to arrive in the mail, and you can play the music on your computer or MP3 player.

Once on the AAFES website, just click on the "for the troops" banner. You'll have to use your AAFES login, or if you don't have a login, you can enter your ID card information to gain access to the site.

The music is really quite good. A variety of artist are participating, including Billy Joel (one of my favorites), Jewel, Brooks & Dunn, and the Five for Fighting.

So, go enjoy the music. If nothing else, hear that many are thanking you and your family for your service!

New Car Dream Wish List With Technology Available Today

Every once in awhile, I catch myself day dreaming about my car of the future...near future of course. Forget that I refuse to pay full price for a brand new car and forget that I just got a new car a few years ago, hence the refusal to ever pay for a brand new car again. But, that's what dreams are for, right? I mean, why don't most cars have the things on this list? The technology, for the most part IS available today, or at the very latest...tomorrow. Cost shouldn't be an issue, cause if the cars had all this stuff, more people would buy the thing! In light of my latest interest and car troubles, here is my list.

Okay, the car, or probably a van or SUV-type vehicle, cause a car is just too small, would need to have:

• Some kind of microchip in the key FOB so you will never lock your keys in the car again. Somehow, that darn key would know that it's sitting on the floor or carseat somewhere, INSIDE the car and not allow you to manually lock the car doors.

• Self inflating tires. I already told you about my run in with my no flat tires on my Honda Odyssey. Now I am so turned off by the price of those darn tires, I don't even want to talk about it anymore. How about, instead, having some kind of compressed air thing that would shoot some kind of goo and air into a tire, filling it back up and sealing it in the process? It would then give you enough time to safely get off the road and to somewhere where that tire can be replaced.

• System similar to OnStar that can't spy on you. Did you know that an OnStar operator can turn on your system and eavesdrop on your conversations? How's that for Big Brother? I read of a police department that actually used the system to listen in on someone...great for catching criminals..not so great when it comes to your civil liberties. Let's have some kind of OnStar thing that can only be turned on by someone in the vehicle and/or that is activated by a crash and no other way. Let's make it inexpensive enough to put it in every car and then have the cost of maintenance figured into every car's price.

• A GPS system with voice control. Our van has a GPS, but I have almost run off the road twice inputting data or looking for a hotel's phone number. Let's make all the commands voice activated. Of course, this probably means memorizing a list of commands..and no, I haven't memorized my Odyssey's list of commands, cause it does have voice control...but I don't need a voice control for "fan on" or what is the "time"...just the GPS please.

• Swivel seats in the middle and a little table. Oops, it's already being done in the new Chrysler isn't it? Let's see it in all minivans and SUVs.

• Have the middle row seats stow into the floor along with the rear seats. I know, I know...I had a Ford guy tell me that the stowaway seats are not as sturdy and as safe as those that do fold flat...but, in light of the superlight and strong materials they use these days, there must be some way to do it? Many vans already have storage compartments in the middle under the floor, don't they?

• Universal holders and chargers for cell phone and all your electronic devices. I read, that in the near future, there will be a "charging pad" that will be plugged in (this is for in-home use). You then put whatever device on top of this pad to charge...it's all universal and no cords are ever needed again...isn't that something? Let's see it in the car too.

• A Stereo headjack in the stereo system. Plug in your MP3 player or even your laptop, and play all your music, podcasts and stuff through your car stereo system. Right now, there really are no other options for the rest of us, other than those FM transmitters, that don't really work and headphones...a big no-no in the car... and possibly mini speakers.

• Dirt resistant paint on the exterior and interior seating and carpets. Look, I know there are some compounds that let dirt slide ride off. Wouldn't it be neat to have road dirt not collect on your vehicle? That it would just slide right off there...wow. Same goes for the inside. No more spots and stains!

• Storage, storage and more storage. I know we have little bins and things in many of our cars already...umpteen cupholders too. But, I am talking about storage where you can store things you might not use everyday, such as the mini Yellow Pages you get in the mail, road hazard stuff, extra jackets...and you know if you have kids, it's always best to have an extra outfit and/or jacket for everyone. It looks so unsightly seeing all this stuff sitting out and getting thrown around. Let's get it all stowed away.

• A built-in dustbuster. Just a little one that folds into the wall or something. Of course, it needs to be recharging there too. I hate getting out the big vacuum, and this would allow you to do a little crumb sucking during downtimes you just happen to be in your car. Waiting in my kids' school car line would be an ideal time for me. I usually run out of reading materials and radio shows by the time it's my turn at the front of the line.

• A display on the front window. You read it right. Just a quick blurb giving your speed and gas situation. That way, you don't have to constantly look down.

• Safety foam. This may actually be way off in the future, but I bet they are working on it. How about a foam that sets within seconds and will shoot out from all angles in a severe crash. I guess it would have to be forgiving enough not to crush you and still allow you to breathe! I don't think this request is totally science fiction, so I will add it to my list. I bet airbags had the same rap when they first came out.

What things would you like to see in your next vehicle of the future?

Do I Want It or Need It?

Remember when you were a kid and said, "But mom, I NEED that!"...Funny, we still do this today. I can't tell you the countless times I've told my husband I have to go to the store because I NEED something...correction...it should be because I WANT something. So how do you really distinguish what you need or want besides running through the basic food and shelter thing or the list of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, at least the basic ones?

Follow these steps before making a purchase, and you'll get a better clue if you really need it...want it...have the money for it...can really use it...or are you throwing your money away or worse, getting deeper into debt? Let me tell you, it was pretty disheartening watching the news this morning. I think I counted the word "recession" at least 20 times in a one hour newscast. Our houses are full of junk and stuff we don't need or want. We Americans have let this "credit monster" gain such control of us....that we are starting to flounder...but alas, that's another story all together. So, here's what you do:

• You and your husband decide a purchase amount where you must consult each other. At what point do you NOT buy something without discussing it first?

• Set an amount in your own mind when you will refuse to buy it....sleep on it. Is it going to be $50, $100 or more?
  

• When I see something I like, I write down the specifics, including the price (in my little spiral notebook I carry in my purse), and then LEAVE.

• I sleep on it at least a day...thinking about if I really need the item. Is it replacing something that has gone bad? Is it something I always wanted and will help me complete some task faster or more efficiently? Is it really a bargain at that price? If it's clothing you're interested in, most stores will hold it for you for 24 hours too...just ask.
  

• Go online, and research prices and read what folks have to say about it. I like Amazon and Epinions best for that. But you can also google whatever product it is and "review" and more opinions should come up. I almost bought this nifty looking steam vac the other day. Thank God I went home and read about it online. No wonder the darn thing was on sale. What a piece of crap!

• If the thing is not on sale, set aside a certain amount of money every week, which you will use to buy that item once you decide it is something you can really get some use out of. More times than not, once you have the money saved up, the thing comes on sale! I've had this happen more times than I can count.

• And don't use the excuse, "they only had three left"...there will ALWAYS be another thing, whether it's at that store, another store or on the internet. Unless you are looking at an antique or a work of art...this excuse doesn't hold any water...sorry.
  

• While you are looking online, you may also find it at a cheaper price. Be sure you check out the retailer first, to make sure they are legitimate AND stand behind their products AND ship promptly and efficiently.

• As a sidenote, if you pay with a credit card, be sure you can pay off your credit card bill at the end of the month. It makes no sense to get a good bargain, then not pay off your bill and pay 12 or 24% (whatever your credit card rate is) of whatever amount it was, again the next month.

I personally have been looking for an external computer hard drive. I have the Black Friday prices in my book, as well as the prices currently online. I have even been watching our local Compusa store, which is going out of business. But so far, they only have the thing at 20% off. I can get this particular model I am looking cheaper at Circuit City...but that is still not good enough for me. As of this morning, I still haven't bought anything. I continue to watch and wait and use my smaller back-up drive in the interim.

What techniques do you use to decide when you are going to buy something? Do you save up the money or do you put it on a credit card? Are you impulsive or are you more wary? Please share your ideas!

My Run In with the "No Flat Tires" - PAX System Michelin Energy LX4s

It looked good on paper. It really did. When I splurged a few years ago and bought my top-of-the-line Honda Odyssey Touring Van, I think I added every gadget there was to add....including those nifty tires that never go flat. The gist is that you can get a "flat tire" but still keep driving on these babies...up to 50 MPH for something like 50 to 100 miles.

Even though I do know how to change a tire...and I can even do basic car maintenance such as changing the oil...I always had this unnatural fear of having to change a tire under pressure. Maybe it is my introverted personality and not wanting to be judged in public, but I used to really fear having to stop in traffic with a van full of young children, and in a dress or worse, looking like a slob (my neighbor takes her kid to school in a bathrobe), having to change a flat tire with everyone speeding by and no one stopping.

So, when I saw this particular option, I didn't think twice about adding it on. In fact, I think with the Odyssey I bought,these were included in the price. Well wasn't that nice....it was nice....for about two years until yesterday, when my little tire pressure monitor display (yes, it has that too), told me the air in my one tire was a little low. I dutifully filled it back up and thought that was it. The next morning...same thing. In fact, not only did the monitor say I had low air...it said I was running the "no run flat" on that side with a big exclamation point and warning about keeping under 50 MPH.

Uh oh....I had never had that warning before. Since my van does talk to me when prompted...I decided to ask it a few questions...absolutely no answer...but the dashboard was still screaming that same message. Of course the husband was out of town, and I did have to pick up the kids from school that afternoon...actually a van full, not just mine.

Since I had to get some stuff mailed, I proceeded to the post office...and then on to the pharmacy...the dry cleaner too...they were all on the way, okay?...and then finally, on to the car place. I was patting myself on the back at this point...look how great these tires are...I can get it fixed on my time and still get all my errands done...how 'bout them peaches?

Three hours and $680 later...I had my answer. After the initial shock wore off. I realized what a stupid choice these tires were. I ended up having to replace two of them. With that $680, I could have realistically bought a whole new set of four regular tires, a tow and a weekend getaway for me and my husband. Don't you hate when you make a dumb decision? You think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread,and then much later, realize how stupid you've really been?

As I humbly got back in my van and drove to go get in line to get the kids....cause I didn't have the heart or energy to do anything else...I vowed to spend more brain power on my next large purchase..whatever that may be. I was not seeing the forest because of the darn trees. You gotta look at the details and not just the big picture. You pay now or you really pay later, right?

What have you bought recently that you regretted buying? I don't care if it's a toaster or a house...let's hear it. We could all learn from each other's mistakes!

Please be sure to read my two follow up articles below:

My Odyssey with the Honda Odyssey Minivan and Michelin

Honda and Michelin Both Win the "Nightmare of the Year" Award

A Prison Can Be a Place to Shop

Do you like hand crafted items? Are you a big fan of wrought iron and homemade wooden furniture? What about jewelry, pottery and personalized items? Now put that thought aside for a minute. Do you ever wonder what prisoners do in our prisons each day? I've lived near prisons in the past, where prisoners hobbled shoes, fixed furniture and made license plates. What if you could put our love of hand crafted decorative and gift items together with keeping prisoners busy and teaching them something in the process? Well, someone has already thought of that, and if you are a military ID card holder, you can walk away with HUGE savings with up to 80% off retail from my estimates.

When I was at Ft Leavenworth, I had the chance to go by the Disciplinary Barracks Store. They actually have a store, showcasing the prisoner's work. Do you know all those wrought iron Longaberger basket-type decorative items you are familiar with? I saw the exact same shelves, tiered items, pot racks and basket holders I am familiar with. I am just using Longaberger as an example here. I also saw beautiful furniture, chandeliers and decorative items. Even though you will find some oak in their furniture, for the most part, you'll see quality hardwoods just beautifully done. Our little group of ladies who visited the joint where just entranced by the bench that folds into a picnic table and kept folding it over and over again. That was pretty ingenious...and we had to do a double take at the price it was that low. If your husband is the carpenter type, they'll even sell you the hardware and ship you the plans, so you can use your own wood and put it together yourself.

When you browse through the store, you have a hard time believing a prisoner made some of these wonderful jewelry pieces, pots, artwork. A lot of care and talent can be found here. I was humbly impressed to say the least.

I made a note to tell my husband, that they also do embroidery, screen printed products and engraving. The display cases were loaded down with wooden boxes, plaques, glass and crystal mementos and even handy display shelves for your husband's ubiquitous military coin collection. All of these items can be personalized as well.

Why am I bothering to tell you this and most of us don't even live there? Because they ship! Most items they ship via FEDEX or UPS I was told. If you are interested in some of the heavy wrought iron stuff, how about getting together with your neighborhood girlfriends? If you fill a pallet with stuff, it only costs $150 to truck that pallet to you. If you put five items on there, you are already well ahead of the game and are still getting the items at a steal.

Be sure to stop by their site and see what they have to offer. If you have picked out some items, just send them an email, and they will give you a shipping quote. Again, only US military ID card holders may order. Check their website for any exceptions to that, as there are some. BTW, if you don't find something in the right dimensions, they will even build it to your specifications. Just ask! With all this being said, do you have a civilian prison in your area? Perhaps check out what they have to offer. They may have a similar program. Ft Leavenworth calls these things "vocational products".

Let me know what you order from the prison store! I myself really liked the three tiered pie stand, and my husband has so many coins...those display shelves would look nice too....hmmm, I still have some time before Christmas...